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#Tones
#Tones is an immersive experience that breaks the mold of traditional social media visualization. #Tones allows players to collaborate in a unique form of music-making by controlling virtual instruments with their bodies. They can also add lyrics to the song by Tweeting phrases to the designated hashtag, which changes from event to event. Players visually transform their surroundings as they interact with the responsive projections on the floor and their bodies.
RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENT
After installing multiple iterations of #Tones, Incredible Machines have developed a custom rig that orients all of the components needed for object tracking and projection mapping. It houses eight infrared lights, three short-throw projectors, and a wide-angle infrared camera and is flexible enough to work in locations with ceilings as low as ten feet. This setup allows IM to create large trackable areas in very tight spaces. IM’s object tracking application uses OpenCV and openFrameworks to locate players and transform their movements into programmatic animations that can be skinned in different visual styles. It also pairs with Ableton Live to allow an infinite variety of sonic environments. #Tones was featured at the 2013 Dumbo Arts Festival and premiered in partnership with Twitter at SXSW 2013. Incredible Machines also have installed it at a variety of high-profile music festivals including 2013’s RiotFest 2013 and Electric Zoo.
PHYSICAL INTERACTION
We designed #Tones to represent a more present and active way of using technology to interact with one another. While it leverages social media, it does so in a fun and playful way that provides a sort of inside joke only to those present in person. The actual musical controls are intuitive enough for anyone to master; they merely require that you let loose and engage in fun, physical play with the people around you.
TECH + TOOLS
Max For Live, Ableton Live 9, 3-Source Projection Mapping, MadMapper, Twitter API, Web Sockets, OSC, openFrameworks, node.js, C++
DUMBO // Photo Gallery Dumbo Arts Festival
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Tag: latin trap
Patterns of Rhythm: Trapetón (Latin Trap)
by Lynne D Johnson in Music
Bad BunnyDaddy YankeeEl Generalhip hoplatin trapreggaetontraptrap music
If you’ve ever bobbed your head or wiggled your hips to the remix of Post Malone’s “Rockstar featuring Ozuna or Farruko’s “Krippy Krush (Remix)” featuring Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage and Travis Scott, then you, my dear friend, have been hit by Trapeton (aka Latin Trap aka Trap en Español) fever. This latest international pop music craze—blending elements of Reggaeton, hip-hop and even its kissing cousin, Afrobeat—is blowing up all over streaming, especially YouTube and Spotify.
At its core, Latin Trap, as it’s most widely known in English-speaking countries, is what happens when you fuse Reggaetón with Trap music. On one side of the equation you have Reggaetón, a blend of Caribbean dancehall, Latin rhythms and hip-hop, while on the other end you have Trap music, a form of hip-hop that originated in the American Southern states as a sound that combines brass, triangle, loud kicks, snappy snares, low-end 808 bass samples, and most notably—aggressive triplet hi-hats. With the two genres combined and paired with a bravado-fueled artist singing and/or rapping in Spanish over the sparse beat, you have an infectious melody.
The artist most closely linked with Latin Trap’s blazing success is Puerto-Rican born Bad Bunny, who has a rhythmic cadence and low, slow slurring vocals that put him in a class with the Migos and Future from Atlanta. Hailed as the King of Latin Trap, he’s steadily been one of Youtube’s Top 10 Most Viewed artists and has done major collabs with chart-topping pop acts like Cardi B, Drake, Will Smith, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. His artistry has a dual nature, where he’s boasting on one track and then goes all emo on the next, he’s also as comfortable flowing over a trap beat as he is traditional Reggaeton. Considering Latin Trap has its roots in Reggaeton, his ability to ride both rhythms makes perfect sense.
What is Reggaetón?
Latin Trap is often viewed as the resurgence of Reggaetón, though the two styles are somewhat distinct. Today’s Reggaeton sounds like DJ Snake’s banger “Taki Taki” featuring Cardi B, Ozuna and Selena Gomez, as well as Justin Bieber on “Despacito” with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, or J Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente,” featuring Beyonce—a little bit pop and a little bit Moombahton, a mix of house music and reggaeton, and a little bit dembow. Dembow is a riddim built from dancehall artist Shabba Rank’s 1990 hit song, “Dem Bow,” produced by reggae and dancehall producer, Bobby Digital, who earned his name for being one of the first in his genre to experiment with digital rhythms. A riddim is Jamaican for the rhythm that accompanies a track and is stripped of its original vocals so that it can be used by other artists.
The dembow riddim, with its pulsating drum machine sounds, became the backbone of the Reggaeton sound. Reggaeton is said to have formulated in the early 90s in San Juan, Puerto Rico when DJ Playero put out mixtapes featuring Spanish freestyle raps over hip-hop and reggae fusions. At the time, Reggaeton was mainly underground because its themes were too aggressive or vulgar for radio play. There was also the musical collective, The Noise, consisting of a band of rappers, DJs and producers, including DJ Nelson, DJ Negro and Ivy Queen who were doing their part to bring Reggaeton out of the streets of San Juan and onto the mainstage.
But the most widely known Reggaeton artist, who is also known as the King of Reggaeton today is Daddy Yankee, who got his start on one of DJ Playero’s mixtapes that were recorded in a small studio back in 1991. Daddy Yankee would later go on to craft an explosive international Reggaeton hit in 2004 called “Gasolina,” featuring a catchy chorus and the dembow banging beat, that was said to definitively put the genre on the international music map.
In the 90s, there was another branch of Reggaeton emerging from Panama, led by El General, whose 1988 release of “Estas Buena,” a Spanish-language cover of Shabba Rank’s “Dem Bow,” sounded just like it came out of the Jamaican dancehall. El General found success with another track, “Tu Pun Pun,” that received American airplay, riding on the wave of the dancehall popularity of the time. He also experienced some cross-over love when he was featured on a pop music hit with C&C Music Factory. Some music critics call El General the father of Reggaeton, but others argue that his music was more Reggae en Español, because it was just Spanish-language Reggae, while Reggaetón has more of a kinship with hip-hop. This is one of the main reasons that Latin Trap is said to have its roots in Reggaetón music, especially since many Latin Trap artists ride the fence of both genres—hip-hop and reggae.
The early-to-mid aughts also gave birth to a Reggaeton movement within New York City, with rapper Noreaga’s release of “Oye Mi Canto,” in 2004 featuring reggaeton artists Gem Star, Daddy Yankee and Big Mato, as well as New-York based sister-twin duo Nina Sky. Nore and Nina Sky, with their Puerto Rican roots, fused the music of their native land with the hip-hop they grew up within NYC.
What is Trap?
Trap music originated in Atlanta in the early aughts. With this musical style, it’s like, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Some wonder whether the genre rose from its lyrical content or from its musical style—rapid-fire hi-hats and pared-down drum patterns programmed on the Roland 808, with pitchy resampled funk or hip-hop samples. Rapper T.I. claims to have coined the term when he released his seminal hip-hop album Trap Muzik, with trap being a reference for a place where drugs are sold and the content of the album centering around that lifestyle.
Other music critics suggest that trap music is really all about the sound, which can be credited to producer Lex Luger, who started out making beats on Fruity Loops featuring hard-hitting 808 kicks, spooky synthesizers and crisp snare drums creating a boombastic orchestral blast. His sound cemented its place in hip-hop with Atlanta-based rapper Waka Flocka Flame’s “Hard in da Paint,” single off the album of the same name released in 2010. Around the same time, producer Shawty Redd was also in Atlanta creating dope-boy music with Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane, also signaling the birth of trap, as these productions featured a multilayered, drum-laden style while the rappers’ lyrical content focused on life in the drug game.
Today’s Trap music has elevated itself to pop music status, with artists like Migos, Future and 2 Chainz crossing over into the mainstream, yet continuing the tradition of trap music from both a content and musical perspective.
What is Latin Trap (Trapeton)?
The worlds in which Latin Trap and American Trap converge is most notably when artists collab, but it’s also in the way the Roland 808 drum patterns sound, along with how the vocals flow in triplets, where you have three notes—either in a word or phrase—cascading over one beat. The triplet flow is also known as the Migos flow, the Versace flow, and the infamous mumble rap. But where mumble rappers and Trapeton artists diverge is where songs are sung either in all Spanish or bilingual style and the rhythm contains Latin flavor and elements of the dembow riddim most closely tied back to Reggaeton.
Latin Trap came about as the convergence of Spanish-language remixes of trap club bangers and Reggaeton artists gravitating toward a more hip-hop influenced sound. Besides Bad Bunny, artists like Ozuna, Farruko, Messiah and De La Ghetto are leading Latin Trap’s assault on the mainstream.
In this track “La Ocasión,” featuring Latin Trap and Reggaeton all-stars De La Ghetto, Arcangel, Ozuna, Anuel Aa, Dj Luian, Mambo Kingz, you can hear the influence of Trap—the staccato triplet rhyme flow, the punchy vocal ad-libs, the lo-fi bass, the crazy skittering hihats and the snappy snares—in an ominous orchestration.
Usually, a wave of music lasts about a good decade. Latin Trap is now just a little bit over 10, but hip-hop has lived long past 30. If the current focus on Latin-inspired music on the global stage is any indication of the genre’s long-lasting success, then Latin Trap just may go on to live as long as its hip-hop brother.
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GospelLovers.com Aims to Facilitate Meeting Gospel-Loving Singles Nationwide
Mar 29, 2018 | Lifestyle
Gospel fans from all over the country are finding online dating to produce far better results compared to traditional dating.
MIAMI, FL, March 29, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ — Gospel lovers from all corners of the US have discovered the joys of dating using any technological means at their disposal. Trying to expand social circles, meeting new people, making friends, and forging relationships is proving to be increasingly difficult by traditional methods. As a result, a large number of gospel fans are seen all over the web as they search for like-minded individuals sharing the same taste in music. According to psychologists, a taste in music speaks volumes about someone’s values and way of thinking, which is why people who are heavily into a music genre such as gospel will do anything to find as many gospel singles as possible, and there is no better “place” than the web.
According to a poll conducted in June 2015, as many as 68 percents of Americans had listened to gospel and Christian music the month before the survey. Not surprisingly, the gospel is particularly popular with African-Americans, with 93 percent having listened to gospel within the year the poll was conducted. The demographics are also rather interesting. Out of the 215 million people who had listened to Christian or gospel music in the month before this research, 53 percent were female, 47 percent were male, and 23 percent were female ages 25 to 44. This basically means that there are as many male gospel fans as there are female, and there are some pretty young ladies out there who like this music genre. With basically a quarter of gospel fans being young females, it’s no wonder they’re resorting to the web to meet potential gospel-loving partners.
The fact that gospel dating is a “thing” is evident from countless members of GospelLovers.com who can’t get enough of its appealing features, a user-friendly experience, and most of all a large member base with plenty of potential dates, which is only expected to increase in the future.
GospelLovers.com is available 24/7 all over the country and can be found at https://www.gospellovers.com.
For the original version of this press release, please visit 24-7PressRelease.com here
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Risk without Warning Properties
Twistadmin March 7, 2015 Poison Alerts
You knew it for the Board exam….but do you know it when you see it?
Carbon monoxide poisoning should feature prominently on the differential diagnosis for non-specific, flu-type symptoms during cold weather.
Risk without warning properties
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, non-irritating gas that gives no warning of its presence until animals and people become ill.
Although the majority of serious poisonings occur in suicide attempts and smoke-inhalation fire victims, other accidental CO exposures account for an estimated 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths nationwide each year.
CO is a risk when most fuels are burned with insufficient oxygen along with insufficient fresh-air exchange to dissipate it. Combustion of gasoline, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, charcoal, tobacco or anything else containing carbon can produce CO.
CO exposures rise during cold weather because portable generators, space-heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and other home-heating systems are in use. These join the frequent-player lineup of sources of non-intentional, non-fire CO exposure, such as indoor use of engine-driven tools, charcoal grills, and malfunctioning gas-powered appliances, and motor vehicles.
In the patient history, screen for recent initiation of fuel-burning heat sources, especially if symptoms are recurring in the same environment or with a discernable periodicity or pattern, or multiple people in the location at the same time develop similar symptoms.
Beware paint stripper products
An unexpected source of CO poisoning is the solvent methylene chloride, which is a common ingredient in paint strippers. Under conditions of poor ventilation, the vapor burden in the indoor work area can increase to unsafe levels.
After airborne methylene chloride is absorbed through the lungs, it is subsequently metabolized in the liver to carbon monoxide. Peak carboxyhemoglobin levels and toxic symptoms can be delayed up to 8 hours, making it difficult for patients to associate illness with their prior use of the paint stripper.
Easy to miss clinically
Misdiagnosis of CO toxicity occurs because of the non-specific presentation of mild-moderate exposures, most commonly headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, malaise, fatigue and shortness of breath. These are features of many viral illnesses which are prevalent November through March.
Children can become symptomatic with headache and dizziness before the exposure is sufficient to affect adults. Moderate to severe acute CO poisoning may present with an acute coronary syndrome. Chronic low-level exposure may present only as confusion, memory difficulties, or other subtle neuropsychiatric disturbances.
Complex cellular actions of CO
After systemic absorption, CO binds to hemoglobin with high affinity, producing carboxyhemoglobin which not only reduces oxygen-carrying capacity but also impedes oxygen unloading in the tissues.
CO binding affinity is even greater for myoglobin in cardiac muscle cells, depriving the tissues of their proximate oxygen source, and accounting for the high risk of cardiac complications of CO poisoning, including hypotension, ischemia, and arrhythmia.
Although there is definitely a component of hypoxia in severe carbon monoxide poisoning, it is clear that there is also distinct cytotoxicity occurring as well. For example, the classic pounding headache is due to CO-induced cerebral vasodilation, which is not a hypoxia-driven symptom. Residual neuropsychiatric dysfunction is likewise not a hypoxia-driven condition.
Research shows that carbon monoxide is produced by normal metabolism and has complex actions as a signaling molecule involved in vasoregulation and in curtailing inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Drugs that release CO to locally deliver very low amounts are under intense investigation as therapeutic agents.
Excessive exposure to exogenous CO impairs the normal operation of the CO signaling system, which produces immune-mediated injury, oxidative stress injury, and apoptosis primarily in the brain and cardiovascular system.
Full spectrum of CO poisoning
Beyond nonspecific flu-like symptoms seen in mild to moderate poisoning, more severe symptoms include ataxia, hallucinations, confusion, confabulation, visual disturbances, neuromuscular dysfunction, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, pulmonary edema, loss of consciousness, coma, seizures, cerebral edema, and cardiac arrest.
Cherry red skin is not a regular feature of CO exposure but occurs only in fatal CO poisoning due to the near-total replacement of oxyhemoglobin by the brighter-red carboxyhemoglobin. Most patients exposed to CO have normal or pale skin color.
Patients who recover from severe poisoning with coma can develop delayed neuropsychiatric impairment days to weeks later. Aftercare with a neurologist is recommended. Impairment does not completely resolve in all patients.
Pregnant patient: vulnerable fetus
Fetal hemoglobin has a higher affinity for CO such that fetal carboxyhemoglobin levels are usually 10 to 15% greater than maternal levels, and the elimination half-life is prolonged up to 3.5 times that of the mother. It is important to continue oxygen therapy in pregnant women for an extended period to protect the fetus.
Laboratory confirmation of exposure
Workup starts with a carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) measurement, the biologic indicator of CO exposure. If the patient is significantly symptomatic or has a high COHb level, other testing might include baseline metabolic panel, CBC, lactic acid, hepatic transaminases, creatine phosphokinase, and an electrocardiogram.
Some newer, non-invasive oximeters can accurately estimate COHb and are adequate to confirm exposure. If noninvasive testing is not available, a venous blood sample can be analyzed for COHb in the clinical laboratory by a co-oximeter to confirm exposure in the majority of hospital settings. Arterial blood gas is not necessary unless there is another indication for one.
Symptoms are thought to begin at a COHb level of 10%, although this is so highly variable that the COHb level is not a reliable indicator of clinical severity, outcome, or response to therapy. Variables that influence the level include the time since the exposure, any oxygen administered prior to obtaining blood, and whether the patient is a smoker. Normal COHb levels in nonsmokers range up to 2-3% due to endogenous CO production, while baseline COHb levels in smokers can be as high as 10-12%; approximately 2 to 3% elevation for each pack-per-day smoked.
Treatment of CO poisoning
Other than indicated supportive care, standard therapy is 100% oxygen by face mask to hasten removal of CO from the blood and tissues. The half-life of COHb with 100% oxygen therapy decreases to about an hour, whereas on room air the half-life is 6 -7 hours. Four to six hours of 100% oxygen is adequate to eliminate carboxyhemoglobin in most cases.
Infants, children, and pregnant women should be treated with oxygen therapy even at modestly elevated COHb levels of 10% to 15% for 4 to 6 hours.
Patients who present with COHb levels in excess of 25%, neurologic signs regardless of COHb level, abnormal EKG, shock, or other cardiovascular impairment, or metabolic acidosis should be admitted, treated with oxygen, and monitored for a minimum of 24 hours.
Otherwise, clinically stable patients can be discharged after 4 to 6 hours of oxygen therapy. Repeated venous carboxyhemoglobin measurement is not necessary in every case.
The role of hyperbaric oxygen remains controversial. It is not considered a standard of care although it is typically considered for a patient who has lost consciousness due to CO poisoning, or whose measured carboxyhemoglobin exceeds 40%.
Most hospital facilities do not have a chamber and a hyperbaric medicine specialist, thereby necessitating patient transfer. While HBO therapy is pending, the patient should be maintained on 100% oxygen by face mask and otherwise rendered appropriate supportive care.
Oxygen delivered at 3 atmospheres reduces the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin even further to approximately 20-30 minutes. Although HBO is proposed to attenuate the risk of delayed neuropsychiatric symptoms when compared to 100% normobaric oxygen by face mask; this has been difficult to prove.
Complications associated with HBO therapy are minimal. The most common is middle ear barotrauma, which occasionally necessitates myringotomy. Some patients experience claustrophobia while in the chamber. Vomiting, aspiration, and tension pneumothorax have been reported during decompression.
Pregnancy is not a contraindication to HBO treatment.
The Missouri Poison Center stands ready to consult on evaluation and management of exposures to carbon monoxide, including referral to hyperbaric oxygen centers if needed. Specially-trained and experienced health care professionals are just a phone call away at 1-800-222-1222.
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Tracing genesis of Jirongo's financial troubles
Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. The flamboyant politician was declared bankrupt because of a debt of Sh700 million he owed a long-time friend-turned-foe, Sammy Boit Kogo, in October 2017. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By KIPCHUMBA SOME
Mr Jirongo is a man with properties worth billions of shillings but woefully short of cash: a broke billionaire, unable to pay his debtors.
When the Sh500 note was first released in the early 1990s by the Central Bank, it was nicknamed ‘Jirongo’ because the note was widely dished out in the public by his YK’92 outfit during the 1992 campaigns.
Ironically, the genesis of his current financial predicaments can be traced to his involvement in the group.
The complexity of Mr Cyrus Jirongo’s deal with the Emirati investors to construct high-end houses in Ruai pretty much sums up the extent of the former MP’s financial misfortunes
Mr Jirongo is a man with properties worth billions of shillings but woefully short of cash: a broke billionaire, unable to pay his creditors, be they banks or his friends.
“He has properties worth billions but his liabilities running into billions as well, and therein lies the problem,” said a source with close knowledge of Mr Jirongo’s financial troubles, but who asked not to be named since he is acting for him in another deal.
In February this year, the Central Bank sold Mr Jirongo’s 103-acre farm in Uasin Gishu for Sh53 million in a bid to recover loans owed to the collapsed Dubai Bank. Through his three companies, Mr Jirongo owed Dubai Bank Sh495 million at the time of its collapse in August 2015.
In October last year, the High Court declared Mr Jirongo bankrupt after he failed to pay a loan of Sh700 million he borrowed through his friend and longtime friend Sammy Boit Kogo.
Cyrus Jirongo: The broke billionaire
Mr Jirongo had secured Sh700 million from the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) using properties registered under the names of eight of Mr Kogo’s companies.
He, however, failed to repay the loan and the bank sold the properties on May 22, 2009 through a public auction. Mr Jirongo appealed the High Court’s bankruptcy declaration to enable him to run in the October 26, 2017 repeat presidential election.
FLASHY LIFESTYLE
Mr Jirongo and Mr Kogo were founders of the infamous Youth for Kanu 1992 group, popularly known as YK‘92, a youth lobby group formed to campaign for President Daniel Moi in that year’s elections.
YK‘92 members are best remembered for their flashy lifestyles which is suspected to have been funded by money looted from state coffers. Over time, the group became a by-word for corruption.
In 2016 Mr Kogo went to court in an attempt to recover a piece of land in Upper Hill, Nairobi, from Mr Jirongo. The latter said he bought the land by acquiring a firm — Soy Developers Limited — from Kogo in 1991.
He claimed in court that Mr Kogo had admitted to being a proxy for Mr Jonathan Moi, a son of former President Daniel arap Moi, who was the actual owner of Soy Developers Limited.
APPEAREDMALICIOUS
Mr Jirongo said he gave Sh7 million to Mr Moi before using the Upper Hill land to secure a Sh50 million loan from Postbank Credit Limited.
Mr Boit and Mr Moi denied claims that the former president’s son received money from Mr Jirongo or that he is linked to Soy Developers Limited.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation recommended his prosecution for allegedly forging the land’s documents. However, in January last year, the High Court stopped the prosecution saying the suit, coming 24 years later, appeared malicious. But the court declined to determine whether Mr Jirongo was guilty or innocent in the matter.
Heavily in debt, friends appear to have deserted Mr Jirongo, a fact that he publicly admitted when he spoke two weeks ago at a funeral in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County.
During the event, which was attended by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto had abandoned him.
JOHN MAGUFULI
“I shall continue being close to the Luo community because even the other day, I visited Raila and told him how the top Jubilee leadership had abandoned me,” said Mr Jirongo.
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How NIS regained Uhuru’s trust and confidence
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Home Overcome Do you really know what’s in your e-cigarette?
Rate this article and enter to win
E-cigarettes are surrounded by a lot of controversy. They’re often billed as the “safer” alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. But are e-cigarettes really as safe as the companies who sell them would have you believe? The research is ongoing, but here’s what we know so far.
Chemicals, vaping, and what’s really going into your body
Scientists are still uncovering how chemicals in e-cigarette vapour affect your body. “Some studies have found things like heavy metals, formaldehyde (an embalming agent), and acrolein (a weed killer) in vapour emissions,” says Dr. Andrew Hyland, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Researchers know vaping exposes you to toxic chemicals. Granted, you’re already exposed to some of them in your daily life, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe to inhale. Researchers are still learning how the amount that you’re exposed to through vaping might impact your health down the road.
Here’s what we do know about the chemicals commonly found in e-cigarettes:
Yep, the stuff that’s used to preserve those specimens you dissected in biology class. Formaldehyde can form if the liquid in an e-cigarette overheats or not enough liquid reaches the heating coil (aka a “dry puff”).
In 2011, the US government’s National Toxicology Program officially classified formaldehyde as a “known human carcinogen,” which means there’s enough evidence to say that it causes cancer in humans.
Ever wonder what creates the “fog” used in a fog machine? It’s propylene glycol, which is also found in e-cigarettes (as well as some food and cosmetics).
The verdict is still out on the long-term effects of exposure to propylene glycol, but in the short term, concentrated exposure can cause irritation of your lungs and airway, according to the American Cancer Society.
Known as a “volatile organic compound” (VOC), benzene is found in car exhaust, according to the US Surgeon General. It can form at high temperatures from e-cigarette fluids containing ingredients such as propylene glycol, the flavour additive benzaldehyde, and nicotine.
It’s also been established as a carcinogen. Benzene exposure is particularly linked to leukemia and other cancers of the blood.
Diacetyl
Diacetyl is a flavouring agent found in e-cigarette liquids as well as foods like microwave popcorn and candy.
It’s considered safe in foods, but when it’s vapourized and inhaled, research suggests it’s dangerous, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It’s specifically been linked with a dangerous lung disease known as “popcorn lung,” or bronchiolitis obliteran, which was first noticed in factory workers who inhaled artificial butter flavouring in popcorn factories.
A 2017 study published in Environmental Research found a number of toxic metals in the liquids used in e-cigs—including cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel—which may come from the metal coil used to heat the liquid.
More research on the health effects of exposure to these metals is needed, but they’ve been linked to “breathing problems and disease,” according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
What about addiction?
“Anything with nicotine has the potential to become addictive to the user,” Dr. Hyland says. This is especially true for products you inhale, since they deliver nicotine to the brain quickly. The more you vape (as you become addicted), the more you are exposed to the other harmful chemicals found in e-cigs. “Nicotine doesn’t cause most of the health problems directly, but it creates addiction to keep users coming back,” says Dr. Hyland.
The key word there is most—nicotine has been found to have some harmful effects on its own, especially if you’re under 25. “We know that the brain doesn’t fully develop until the early 20s, and while it’s developing it is particularly sensitive to nicotine and other drugs,” says Dr. Hyland. Nicotine use has been linked to incomplete development of the brain, especially in areas that control attention and learning, impulse control, and even mood, according to NIDA.
The bottom line: Even though some experts agree that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy. “Vaping is almost certainly safer than smoking cigarettes, but vaping is not safe,” Dr. Hyland emphasizes. When you vape, you breathe in chemicals proven to be harmful—and open yourself up to long-term health risks that researchers are still exploring.
If you’re hooked, there are plenty of resources that can help you kick the habit, including free, personalized counselling. Check out the “Get help or find out more” section below.
Mohawk Resources
Health Centre (Fennell Campus)
Fennell Campus, Room C109
https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/s...s/health-centre
Our multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals allows for a thorough, holistic and individualized experience. We are accessible on campus for same day, early and late appointments, covered by OHIP and extended healthcare benefits.
Wellness4U
https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/s...ess/wellness-4u
Satellite Health Promotion and Education Team at Fennell, IAHS and Stoney Creek
GET HELP OR FIND OUT MORE
About vaping: Government of Canada
Vaping: Healthlink BC
Connect with a quit coach: Break it off
Smokers Helpline: Canadian Cancer Society
Quiting smoking for young adults: Government of Canada
5 tips for handling nicotine withdrawal: Truth Initiative
Everything you need to know about vaping, juuling, and cigarettes: CampusWell
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Indra Cidambi, MD, Medical Director, Center for Network Therapy, West Orange, New Jersey.
Andrew Hyland, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York.
American Cancer Society. (2019, June 19). What do we know about e-cigarettes? Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-cancer/e-cigarettes.html
Benowitz, N. L. (n.d.). Nicotine: Addiction, effects on the adolescent brain and electronic cigarettes. National Academies. Retrieved from http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/79C64AF3B65448ECBECE08FDFDDFC83E.ashx/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, February 4). Current cigarette smoking among adults in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm
Dai, H., Catley, D., Richter, K. P., Goggin, K., et al. (2018, May). Electronic cigarettes and future marijuana use: A longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 141(5). doi:0.1542/peds.2017-3787
Eaton, D. L., Kwan, L. Y., & Stratton, K. (2018, January 23). Toxicology of e-cigarette constituents. Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507184/
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2019, February 1). Common e-cigarette chemical flavorings may impair lung function. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/common-e-cigarette-chemical-flavorings-may-impair-lung-function/
Hess, C. A., Olmedo, P., Navas-Acien, A., Goessler, W., et al. (2017, January). E-cigarettes as a source of toxic and potentially carcinogenic metals. Environmental Research, 152, 221–225. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.09.026
Kamil, Y. A. (2019, January 4). The negative effects of nicotine vaping on students. SI News. Retrieved from https://www.studyinternational.com/news/the-negative-effects-of-nicotine-vaping-on-students/
Pankow, J. F., Kim, K., McWhirter, K. J., Luo, W., et al. (2017, March 8). Benzene formation in electronic cigarettes. PloS One, 12(3). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173055
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, May). 2018 monitoring the future survey. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, June). What are electronic cigarettes? Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes
National Toxicology Program. (2016, November). 14th report on carcinogens. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/pubhealth/roc/index-1.html#toc1
Stuck-Girard, C., & Mackenzie, M. (2019, January 23). Smoking Q&A: What do we know about vaping, juuling, and cigarettes? CampusWell. Retrieved from https://campuswell.com/new-smoking-scene/
Surgeon General. (n.d.). Surgeon General’s advisory on e-cigarette use among youth [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/surgeon-generals-advisory-on-e-cigarette-use-among-youth-2018.pdf
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Know the risks: E-cigarettes and young people. Retrieved from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html
Macaela Mackenzie is a graduate of Northwestern University and a freelance journalist for Self, Shape, Women's Health, and Allure, among others.
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The Future of Health Care
Medicare vs. private insurance: Which costs less
by Tami Luhby @Luhby April 21, 2014: 8:19 AM ET
Wonder why some doctors grumble when a Medicare patient walks in the door? It's likely because the government program typically pays only 80% of what private insurers do.
Medicare has the bad rap of being a big, bloated government program, but it's not because it's overpaying doctors.
CNNMoney analyzed the "allowed charges" for five common procedures, using data provided the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Truven Health Analytics, a research firm.
The differences can be stark. Private insurers allow an average of $1,226 for low-back disc surgery, while Medicare will only permit $654, for instance.
And the gap can grow wider depending on where the patient is. In New York, insurers allow $1,352 for a gall bladder removal, compared to $580 for Medicare.
Some services are more comparable. For office visits by established patients, for instance, Medicare will allow 92% of what insurers do.
Overall, Medicare's allowed charges are roughly 80% of the charges allowed by private insurers - about the same as they have been since 1999.
Obamacare in a Texas insurance desert
Sometimes, however, the government does reimburse health care providers more. In Florida, for instance, a doctor doing a colonoscopy in his office will receive $395 for a Medicare patient, but only $342 for one covered by private insurance.
How does Medicare get away with paying less?
"Medicare doesn't negotiate rates. It sets them," said Stuart Guterman, vice president at The Commonwealth Fund, an independent health policy research group.
And doctors might be okay getting less per procedure because Medicare patients tend to need a lot of care. As a result, the total bill can add up. Nearly 4,000 doctors were paid more than $1 million from Medicare, according to data released this month.
Private insurers, meanwhile, can't cut rates that deeply or they risk a revolt by doctors, who may opt to leave the carrier.
"When you want to market your health plan, you want to say all the great doctors are in your network," said Anne Fischer, director of Truven's Center for Healthcare Analytics.
This balancing act became evident when the Obamacare exchanges launched in October. In order to keep premiums low, insurers offered plans with more limited access to doctors and hospitals. Many health care providers complained that insurers' rates for exchange plans were too low, so they opted not to participate.
Why, then, is Medicare considered bloated?
It's more about use than prices, with the government under more pressure to pay for whatever services the doctor prescribes or the patient wants, Guterman said.
Insurers, meanwhile, have more tools to limit potentially unnecessary procedures. These include pre-authorization requirements to determine whether a treatment plan is medically justified.
"Medicare spending goes up because people use it more," he said.
CNNMoney (New York) First published April 21, 2014: 8:19 AM ET
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Growing Leek in Siberia
Leek is valued for its savory taste, rich vitamin composition and simple care. The culture is frost resistant and tolerates the climatic conditions of Siberia. For planting choose varieties of onions, resistant to temperature fluctuations, diseases and pests.
Leek - herbaceous biennial, growing in height up to 1 m. After planting, the plant forms a root system and a false bulb during the year. On the stem are green leaves.
The following year, the onion produces flower stalks; in the fall, seed ripening occurs. A feature of leeks is resistance to cold and demanding to watering.
Important! When growing leek in Siberia, a seedling method is recommended.
Eat onion and plant shoots. Onion tastes high, depending on the leek variety has an acrid or sweetish flavor. Culture contains vitamins, trace elements, protein. When stored in bulbs increases the concentration of vitamin C.
Leek is used fresh, it is added to snacks, salads, soups and main dishes. Culture is useful in the lack of vitamins, fatigue, impaired metabolic processes in the body, rheumatism, gout. Eating plants is limited in diseases of the kidneys, stomach, bladder.
Top Grades
For the cultivation of leeks in Siberia choose frost-resistant varieties that can tolerate temperature fluctuations. For early harvest, varieties ripen in late summer. The most fruitful is leek, ready for harvest in the middle or late period.
Early maturation
Early varieties of leeks ripen in August and September. Such varieties of onions are distinguished by narrow green leaves and small stalks.
The Goliath onion variety is grown only by seedlings. The plant is of medium height, the length of the white “legs” is up to 30 cm. The leek forms powerful bushes, it needs a constant supply of moisture. Harvest onions kept in a cool place for no more than 5-6 months.
Elephant's trunk
A variety of medium early ripening. The period from the emergence of shoots to harvesting culture takes 140 days. Onion height 60-70 cm. Bleached part 15-30 cm long. Onion weight up to 200 g. The variety is valued for good taste and long-term storage for 4-5 months. Onion The trunk of an elephant is used fresh in cooking.
Leek Columbus is recommended for fresh use or canning. The variety is rich in vitamins. The leaves are tight, grow to 80 cm in length. The white part of the bulb reaches 15 cm and is formed without hilling. Plant mass up to 400 g. The variety needs constant watering, it reacts positively to the introduction of nitrogen.
Medium maturity
Leeks, ripening in the middle time, has a lower yield compared with early varieties. These varieties are of high quality. When growing leeks in Siberia, varieties of medium ripening period are harvested in September.
Tall variety bred in Germany. Maturation occurs in 180 days. The plant forms a false stem with a height of up to 25 cm and a thickness of 3 cm. The Casimir variety is notable for its increased productivity. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases. When storing onion stalks become more juicy.
Medium early leek Maturation occurs over a period of up to 150 days. Leaves are saturated green color, stems are long and powerful. The variety of Tango bow is valued for its high quality legs. The plant is resistant to cold snaps and brings high yields in adverse climates.
Fast-growing productive grade, differs in a long white stalks, up to 50 cm in height. Onions Camus grows in moist soils enriched with humus. When planting in sandy soil, the variety needs abundant watering. For a grade the increased resistance to diseases is characteristic.
Late maturation
Late varieties of leeks in Siberia ripen over a period of over 180 days. Such varieties are highly productive and long stored.
Late onions are determined by large leaves with a waxy coating located tightly on the stem. Onion stem bud is usually dense and short. Harvesting is possible before the onset of sub-zero temperatures.
Karantan
Leek late ripening with increased resistance to frost. The plant is 90 cm high. False stem 25 cm long and 6 cm in diameter. Taste is piquant with a slight sharpness. Suitable for landing in the winter. Variety onion Karantansky positively responds to dressing.
Autumn giant
A powerful leek reaching a height of 1.2 m. The leaves are large and flat, reaching 80 cm in length. The shoot is large, bleached, up to 8 cm in size. Onion variety The autumn giant requires good lighting and regular watering. Plants aligned, long stored, rich in vitamins.
Tall late-ripening variety. The leaves are wide, reach 80 cm in length. False stem reaches 5 cm in diameter. Leeks Alligator has a semi-sharp taste, demanding light and moisture. The variety has high productivity, long stored.
Growing in Siberia
Planting leeks in Siberia at home perform in late February or early March. Pre-prepared planting material and soil. After warming the plants are transferred to the beds in a greenhouse or under the open sky.
Seed and soil preparation
For planting onions, containers with a height of 10-15 cm are used. The plant has long roots, so it provides conditions for growth. The dishes are washed with hot water and further treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The soil for onions is prepared by combining garden soil and humus. It is steamed in a water bath for disinfection or kept at sub-zero temperatures on the balcony.
Tip! Leek seeds are kept for 8 hours in a thermos filled with warm water. For disinfection, planting material is lowered into the solution of Fitosporin.
The soil is placed in containers and moistened. Onion seeds are planted in 3 mm increments, leaving 8 mm between rows. To accelerate seed germination, cover the planting with polyethylene. Shoots will appear in 10-14 days.
Seedling care
At emergence of shoots leek put on the lit place. The root system is protected from hypothermia. To do this, put the tank on the foam base.
The development of leek seedlings provides a certain care:
regular airing of the room;
maintaining the soil in a moist state;
day temperature 18-20 ° C;
night temperature is 12-15 ° С.
For watering onions using warm distilled water. The most convenient way is to use a spray bottle and spray moisture over the ground surface. If the onion has risen thickly, it is weeded.
The grown seedlings are fed with a solution consisting of 2 g of urea, 2 g of potassium sulphide and 4 g of superphosphate per 1 l of water. The solution is watered onion seedlings at the root.
3 weeks before transfer to the open area, leeks are hardened in the open air. First, the window opens for 2 hours in the room, then the landing is transferred to the balcony. Hardening allows the plants to better move the transplant and adapt to natural conditions.
Landing in the ground
Place for planting cultures start cooking in the fall. Plot pick solar and protected from the wind. Leek prefers loamy soil, fertilized with organic matter.
Onions are grown after legumes, herbs, cabbage, tomatoes and potatoes. In the autumn, they dig up the plot, add humus or compost. Leek planted in late May or early June, when the age of seedlings will be 50-60 days. It is necessary to wait for the soil and air to warm up.
In the spring, soil is loosened and furrows are made 15 cm deep and in 30-cm increments. Wood ash is poured at the bottom of each furrow.
Planting leeks:
The soil with seedlings plentifully watered.
Plants reach from the tanks, the root system is shortened to 4 cm.
The bulbs are placed in the furrows with a pitch of 20 cm.
The roots of the plants are covered with earth and watered abundantly.
If the probability of return frosts remains, the plants are covered with agrofiber overnight. In the morning covering material is removed.
Care culture
Growing and caring for a leek in Siberia includes watering, weeding, and loosening the soil. For high yield, the crop is fed with organic matter and complex fertilizers.
Leeks abundantly watered, preventing the drying of the soil. Moisture should not accumulate in the soil and cause root rot.
For irrigation of culture using warm water, settled in barrels. Drops of water should not remain on the shoots of onions.
After watering the onions, the soil is weeded and loosened for better penetration of moisture and oxygen. Leek necessarily spud to obtain a white stalk. The soil is mulched with humus to reduce the intensity of irrigation.
When growing leek in Siberia, plantings are fed with minerals and organic matter. The first treatment is carried out a week after transfer to the ground, further - every 2 weeks.
Leek feeding options:
5 g of urea and 3 g of potassium sulfate per 5 liters of water;
slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10;
solution of bird droppings 1:15.
The use of mineral substances alternate with organic fertilizers. Universal onion feeding is wood ash. It is brought into the ground when hilling in the amount of 1 cup per 1 square. m beds.
Protection against diseases and pests
If you follow the rules of cultivation and care of leeks in Siberia, rarely exposed to disease. When excess moisture develops rust, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.
To protect the landings from the spread of the fungus, spray the solution of Fitosporin. When signs of damage appear, copper oxychloride is used. All onion treatments are completed 3 weeks before harvest.
Leek attracts onion flies, weevil and other pests. Insects scare off odors. Planting is treated with ground black pepper or tobacco dust. Celery and herbs are planted between the rows with onions.
Cleaning and storage
Onions are removed until the temperature drops to -5 ° C. The bulbs are dug in dry weather and cleaned from the ground. Green shoots are not pruned, otherwise the bulb dries.
Leek is conveniently stored in boxes filled with sand. Plants are placed vertically. Capacities are left in the cellar, basement or other cool room. Depending on the variety, the shelf life of onions is 4-6 months.
In Siberia, leeks are grown seedling method. First, at home prepare the soil and planting material. Seedlings kept in a warm, lighted place. When the onion grows up, it is transferred to the open areas. Leek responds positively to regular watering, soil loosening and top dressing. Crop harvested before the onset of frost.
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Doncic posts 33 as Mavericks top Pelicans
PMN Sports
Luka Doncic had 33 points and 18 rebounds in three quarters as the visiting Dallas Mavericks rolled past the New Orleans Pelicans 118-97 on Tuesday night.
Doncic fell five assists short of adding to his league-leading seven triple-doubles in just 28 minutes as the red-hot Mavericks, fresh off a 114-100 road victory that ended the Lakers’ 10-game winning streak, overcame a cold-shooting first quarter to win for the eighth time in their last nine games.
Seth Curry came off the bench to score 19, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber added 12 each and Dallas made 19 of 45 3-pointers.
Brandon Ingram scored 24, Jrue Holiday had 18, JJ Redick added 12 and Josh Hart 11 to lead the Pelicans, who lost their sixth consecutive game.
Dallas stretched its six-point halftime lead to 10 points midway through the third quarter.
Ingram and Redick each made a 3-pointer as New Orleans closed within four points. The Pelicans got within four on two more occasions before Doncic made five free throws and the Mavericks held an 84-75 lead at the end of the quarter.
With Doncic on the bench to start the fourth quarter, his teammates quickly expanded the lead. Justin Jackson and Dwight Powell had consecutive baskets and Delon Wright added a free throw as Dallas took a 15-point lead before New Orleans scored a fourth-quarter point.
Ingram ended the scoring drought by making two free throws, but the lead grew to 104-84 on a 3-pointer by Curry with 5:24 left.
The Mavericks shot just 25 percent from the floor and 21 percent on 3-pointers, but managed to tie the Pelicans at 24 by making seven more free throws in the first quarter.
New Orleans scored the first 11 points of the second quarter, before Dallas took over with its 3-point shooting.
J.J. Barea and Hardaway made two 3-pointers each and Curry and Doncic made one each during a 35-18 run that gave the Mavericks a 59-53 halftime lead.
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A New Way of Thinking, part 2
Kevin Alfred Strom · 2 February, 2019
American Dissident Voices broadcast of February 2, 2019
BEFORE I BEGIN to answer the questions I posed last week, let me remind you of something you should be doing this month, February, which we ought to start calling Love Your Race Month.
Starting now, the National Alliance is once again making its Love Your Race campaign into an international outreach movement of worldwide scope — a Valentine’s Day present to all European-descended people of good will around the world. Our message: Love Your Race. In the text version of this broadcast at nationalvanguard.org are high-resolution downloadable copies of our simple and beautiful ‘Love Your Race’ flier in 29 different European languages. Download the one appropriate for your nation and, all this month, with a special emphasis on Valentine’s Day, the 14th, distribute them as widely as possible.
If you can provide a verified translation for a European language which does not appear on the list below, please send it to us via our contact form on this Web site, or by writing to us at Box 4, Mountain City TN 37683 USA.
Be sure and let us know how many of these fliers you have printed and distributed, so we can encourage others!
There are myriad legal ways to give these fliers to people in your community — so always distribute them lawfully. Thanks to the volunteers who gave us these translations — and thanks to every single one of you who does what it takes to get the word out.
English • Afrikaans • Albanian • Bulgarian (Cyrillic) • Czech • Danish • Dutch • Dutch (alternate) • Estonian • Finnish • French • Gaeilge • German • Greek • Hungarian • Icelandic • Italian • Latvian • Lithuanian • Macedonian • Maltese • Norwegian • Polish • Portuguese • Romanian • Russian • Serbian • Slovak • Spanish • Swedish
I hope we pass each other on the street as we spread our message of love and community.
ARE THERE laws of race-formation and evolution just as there are laws of motion and attraction?
I believe that there are, though the most important of these are almost never mentioned in public discourse because they run directly counter to the Narrative by which the current Powers That Be maintain their rule and their riches. (Just as the discovery of the natural laws of motion and cosmology and the re-discovery of true science, philosophy, and other elements of our race’s Classical heritage challenged the Narrative of the Powers That Be that existed several centuries ago.)
Let us consider the simplest, most basic, and most important of these laws. I claim no originality for the idea I’m about to express, though you’ve probably never heard it before. After I explain it to you, you will be astounded that it wasn’t taught to you in school — astounded that you never heard of it before. You never heard of it because its implications have the power to shake the power structure that misrules us to its core.
It is this: Life is continuously evolving in the direction of ever-greater differences, and it is evolving only in that direction.
Life began with the first molecule capable of self-replication. Purpose (survival of the life form and its descendants) and morality (actions that lead to a greater chance of survival) were born at that moment. Though complex by molecular standards, these first glimmerings of the Life Force were very simple compared to even the single-celled life forms that came later.
From the development of the cell wall (a kind of “border wall,” if you will) which was the first demarcation between the creature and the other creatures around it, and between the creature and its environment — to the development of multi-celled colonies and eventually multi-celled creatures sharing the same gene-patterns and possessed of a single purpose — to the development of sense organs and response mechanisms capable of detecting changes, opportunities, and dangers in the environment and dealing with them — to the development of consciousness, memory, emotion, instinct, and reason — life has taken a path of ever-increasing complexity, capabilities, consciousness, and differentiation over time. It has become ever more different from non-living matter. It has become and is becoming ever more different from the simple life forms which began the process.
At the beginning: utter simplicity and sameness. At every step of evolution in the billions of years since then: more and more difference from those simple beginnings — and more and more difference from the steps immediately before the current step in the evolutionary process.
Constantly, in a never-ending process that will last, must last, as long as Life exists, ever-increasing differences over time.
This principle of ever-increasing difference rules Life not only in the dimension of time but also in the dimension of space: As creatures obey the morality of survival, and expand their kind into new territory, they compete with other life forms already in those new territories. The creatures with the best gene-patterns among their kind for that particular environment and that particular situation and that particular competition are selected for, and prevail — and so the process of change continues. A species that was once one, spreads out into new areas, evolves slightly differently in each area, and eventually forms new subspecies — or races — of the same species. If these differences and the separation persist, the subspecies eventually become new species.
Space and time are inextricably linked, and the ever-increasing differences seen in life-forms when distances increase reinforce the differences that are generated by the Life process over time, and vice versa.
So as you explore the history of Life in spacetime, you find the principle: The further you travel from any given point in space or time, the differences increase — except in one direction. That direction is the past. In fact, one way to distinguish past and future is this: The future is the direction of ever-increasing differentiation and upward evolution of life forms; the past is the direction of ever-increasing sameness and oneness. If you follow that backward path far enough to reach “oneness,” you also reach death.
So, according to this principle, is racial separation in accord with the natural laws of Life and evolution? Does racial separation serve the Life Force and true morality, or hinder them?
Seen in the light of this principle, are “racial equality” and a “diverse” society in accord with the natural laws of Life and evolution? Do the ideas pushed by the media and the power structure and the churches and the school system today — that “there is only one race, the human race,” that large-scale racial mixture is good and inevitable, and that borders should be torn down — serve the Life Force and true morality, or hinder them?
The law of ever-increasing differences as Life evolves is but one principle of evolution that our people must understand. But it is a most important one. If you do not understand it, there is almost nothing else you can understand rightly.
(It is most instructive to contrast this principle of evolving Life with the very nearly opposite principle of entropy — the idea that the Universe as a whole is winding down, becoming less complex, with less and less highly differentiated states of matter and energy. I cover that idea in my broadcast series “The White Race and the Arrow of Time,” which is archived on our Web site, nationalvanguard.org.)
What do I mean when I refer to organized Jewish interests and their allies and employees as The Enemies of Life? Is that a metaphor, or something very real?
Well, if you’ve come with me this far, you can probably guess the answer to that question. The Jewish power structure which currently dominates the West is determined to replace, mongrelize, and thereby exterminate the most advanced race on the planet — our race, the European race. If they succeed, the best and probably only chance for Life to escape the bonds of Earth — the best and probably only chance to avoid the eventual death of all Life by cosmic collision or other catastrophe — would die with us. (To understand why the European race is by far the most advanced, and why we face certain death if we do not find new homes in the stars, please see my programs “The White Race and the Arrow of Time, part 2” and “Cosmic Catastrophe” — also available at nationalvanguard.org.)
The Jewish power structure wants a slave world, a world in which other races cannot compete with the apex-level Jews for power. The European race’s best minds are just as intelligent and more creative than those of the Jews. Thus we are a threat to their power, to their apex status. Replacing us with lower races through racial mixing and outright replacement is their plan. The plan is sold to the gullible as “love” and “diversity” and “morally right” through the mass media in the hands of the Jewish elite. But this vision of a Jewish world, their slave world, is a static vision of a materialistic “paradise” of masters, slaves, eunuchs, pleasure, and plenty. It comes from a mentality very different from ours. It is an earthbound Middle Eastern vision, not a Faustian and cosmic European vision of ever-increasing knowledge, and ever-increasing advancement and expansion and improvement. It would mean death for us in the short term, and quite likely the death of any chance for Life to escape the bonds of Earth.
Thus all those who promote racial mixing, globalism, open borders, and the death of the White race are the Enemies of Life.
What exactly do I mean by “cosmic stakes”?
Again, you are probably starting to answer that question yourselves after following my ideas to this point.
If our race does not survive, Life has no meaning for us.
But even further, if our race does not survive, all Life may well perish as a result. No greater tragedy is imaginable.
Both I and Dr. Pierce have said this before, but it is worth repeating: Everything that will ever be depends on what we do with our lives right now.
With our new spiritual and scientific knowledge — with the principles we at the National Alliance have been teaching you — with our glorious gene-patterns that remain undimmed as long as White men and women exist — we can and will have new Shakespeares, new Aristotles, new Pierces — new scientific discoveries, new lands and new worlds, new philosophies, and beauty and truth and accomplishment greater than ever before. Athens and Rome and Berlin were only the barest beginnings of what is to come.
You’ve been listening to American Dissident Voices, the radio program of the National Alliance. The National Alliance is working to educate White men and women around the world as to the nature of the reality we must face — and organizing our people to ensure our survival and advancement. We need your help to continue. Please send the largest contribution you can afford to National Alliance, Box 4, Mountain City, TN 37683 USA. You can also help us by visiting natall.com/donate. Once again, that address is Box 4, Mountain City, TN 37683 USA. Until next week, this is Kevin Alfred Strom reminding you to never give up.
Ludwig Klages: Cosmogonic Reflections, part 1
The Might of the West
Edgar Allan Poe: Cosmotheist?
Dasein und Umwelt
Superstition Is Not Religion
Man as Sense Organ of the Earth, part 2
The Moral Imperative of Our Future Evolution
Tags:CosmotheismEntropyEvolutionPhilosophy
What Drove Truman’s Presidential Policy on Israel? Threats by Jews
University of Georgia TA: "Some White People May Have to Die"
American Dissident VoicesAudioKevin Alfred StromRadioWilliam Pierce
2020: William Pierce Looks at the Big Picture
Hellfire and Brimstone
AdamNoman
Dear NV:
To paraphrase the Bard:
The future lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
Please re-post / mirror the following if you still have a YT presence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkeAFN2ph9A
2 February, 2019 6:15 pm
JM/Iowa
“Everything that will ever be depends on what we do with our lives right now.” Years ago while reading some science fiction, the story had it that a man with a time traveling machine went back several million years to one of those ages where dinosaurs were in their prime. Being careful of his actions so that the future wasn’t disturbed, the traveler took care not to do anything he believed harmful. But by walking around and observing, he stepped on and killed a plant. Returning to the future, he found it vastly different due to his one and only action millions of years ago. Each of us makes a difference now, one way or the other. By action or inaction. For better or for worse. This is what guides… Read more »
2 February, 2019 10:38 pm
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Turkey's action in Syria could see the rebirth of Islamic State
Some 11,000 suspected Islamic State fighters detained in camps guarded by Kurds including around 2,000 "hardcore" jihadists.
Deborah Haynes
Foreign affairs editor @haynesdeborah
Thursday 10 October 2019 10:14, UK
Image: Islamic State fighters currently held in camps could escape
Turkey says its offensive against Kurdish militias allied with the United States will create stability and security along its border with Syria.
Ankara has even dubbed the air and ground attack "Operation Peace Spring".
But many senior British and American officials who have spent years involved in the Syria conflict predict the action - taken without the support of any notable ally - will only make an already dangerous and volatile region even more of a disaster zone.
First, from the view point of Europe and the US, is the impact this operation will have on some 11,000 suspected Islamic State fighters detained in camps guarded by Kurds in the northeast of the country. This includes around 2,000 militants regarded as "hardcore" jihadists.
The US military appears to be taking into custody some of the highest value captured militants, including two men from Britain who are accused of being part of the so-called Beatles gang that kidnapped and killed Western hostages, including Britons.
But what about the rest?
A closer look at the Turkish conflict in Syria
President Donald Trump says Turkey will have responsibility for them. The Turkish authorities says it will share this responsibility with all the countries - including Britain, France, Germany and Belgium - that have nationals in the camps.
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There is no sign of such cooperation happening any time soon meaning any number of worse outcomes could unfold.
Already Kurdish guards at the detention centres and a number of sprawling camps filled with some 70,000 Islamic State-linked women and children are signalling they will switch guard duties for supporting fellow Kurds fighting the Turkish advance.
Listen to "Turkey begins military operation in northern Syria" on Spreaker.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
This makes the chance of a mass prison break likely, throwing open the possibility of IS regaining control of territory just months after the collapse of their so-called caliphate, or escapees melting into the desert to resurface anywhere in the world to cause harm.
Another equally grim possibility is that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, betrayed as they see it by the US, turn to the other main players in this fight - the Syrian regime of President Assad.
That would place the fate of this high-threat jihadist population in the hands of a country regarded as a foe by many in the West.
Whichever way you look there is a bad option when it comes to IS detainees and dependants.
Exclusive: Turkey's UK ambassador speaks to Sky News
But it's not like this is a surprise.
Britain and its allies have delayed and delayed making any kind of workable plan to resolve the intractable dilemma of what to do with captured IS fighters for the past two years.
The UK has repeatedly said it would not allow them to return home given the difficulty of gathering a prosecutable case or of monitoring and attempting to rehabilitate those who cannot be charged. But a policy of ignore should not have been an option either.
President Trump has asked for his allies to take charge of their own nationals in the camps, so on that level his frustration at the quagmire northeastern Syria had become can be understood.
But his actions on Sunday effectively paving the way for the Turkish assault in a reversal of US policy following a phone call with President Erdogan cannot be so easily explained.
The other strategic effect of Turkey's actions - and a main aim as far as Ankara is concerned - will be to push back Kurdish forces and families from territory they have held with support of the US military as well as other coalition forces, including the UK's.
Trump defends decision to withdraw US troops from Syria
This means a group, trained and armed by the United States, that saw many thousands of members die in the fight against Islamic State, will be forced to fight or flee.
Ankara regards the Kurdish YPG as a terrorist organisation that threatens its national security but the Kurds have been an ally to the US-led coalition against Islamic State.
In not blocking Turkey from launching its attack, President Trump has destroyed any sense the US is a country that protects those who take risks on its behalf.
Finally there is the threat of civilian casualties from the Turkish bombardment, despite assurances from the authorities that they are taking action to prevent collateral damage.
Ankara says it wants to create a safe zone along its border for two million Syrian refugees to return to their home country but if this results in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Syrian Kurds from that area then the potential for heightened ethnic tensions is acute.
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Raya Dunayevskaya Collection
50 Years later…The 1968 French general strike–its meaning today.
A participant looks at the 1968 French general strike, filled with potential to transform society, and discusses why it failed and the ramifications of that for today.
Call for Convention 2018
OFFICIAL CALL FOR CONVENTION
to Work Out Marxist-Humanist Perspectives for 2018-2019
To All Members of News and Letters Committees
Dear Friends:
The deeply ingrained rape culture, already widely known but often hushed up, has been exposed in the broadest way yet by the #MeToo movement. How deep and total is the needed uprooting [=>]
Now online! Guide to the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, the Marxist-Humanist Archives
The new online Guide at www.rayadunayevskaya.org contains clickable links to all the documents in the Archives. .
Now available online! Guide to the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, the Marxist-Humanist Archives
The new online Guide with links to all the documents is an extremely useful finding tool that helps the reader or researcher locate items and grasp the structure of the Archives. The website of the Raya Dunayevskaya Memorial Fund presents the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection as she organized it, together with the Supplement.
VII. Tasks
Although we do not have a daily newspaper, this crisis-ridden period compels us to strive to act as if we do. Organizational tasks as always are meant to include, not exclude, friends and new contacts who are not yet Marxist-Humanists.
From The Writings of Raya Dunayevskaya: Women as thinkers and revolutionaries
Olga Domanski’s summary of the series on “Women as Thinkers and as Revolutionaries” by Raya Dunayevskaya.
Reader’s Views: November-December 2015, Part 2
readers views, nov dec 2015, part 2
From the writings of Raya Dunayevskaya: A revolutionary attitude to Archives
To highlight the new online availability of the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, we present excerpts of her 1985 Marxist-Humanist Perspectives, which take up the development of the Marxist-Humanist concept of Archives out of the category made of the totality of Marx’s Archives as a new beginning for today.
Now available online! The Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, the Marxist-Humanist Archives
www.rayadunayevskaya.org presents the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection as she organized it herself, together with the posthumous Supplement. This is in addition to the entire 60 years of News & Letters newspaper available on this website.
From the Writings of Raya Dunayevskaya: The meaning of revolutionary archives
In celebrating the online publication of the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, we present excerpts of her Introduction/Overview to Volume XII, which takes up the Marxist-Humanist concept of archives as not only retrospective but perspective, in the quest to establish “continuity with the historic course of human development.”
Marxist-Humanist organization and philosophy
Spelling out the philosophical breakthrough on Hegel’s Absolutes as the total uprooting of the old and the creation of new human relations, in concrete relationship to struggles for freedom in practice and in theory, is at the heart of projecting Marxist-Humanism, and therefore of its organizational life.
From the Writings of Raya Dunayevskaya: The dialectic and women’s liberation
The article excerpts a summary of a talk by Dunayevskaya to a conference on Women’s Liberation in Detroit. The purpose of the meeting was to help Dunayevskaya work out the final chapter of her book then in progress, Philosophy and Revolution. That last chapter would take up the “New Passions and New Forces” for the reconstruction of society. The Conference was also the beginning of the News & Letters—Women’s Liberation Committee.
Dialectics of revolution: American roots and world Humanist concepts, Part II
From the November-December 2010 News & Letters
Editor’s note: For the centenary of Raya Dunayevskaya’s birth, we present excerpts from her March 21, 1985, lecture at the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, at the opening of a three-month exhibition of the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection (RDC). The [=>]
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News Technology Trend
Android Emergency Location Service: Locating Emergency Calls in a Wireless World (Google I/O'19)
Hello. Everybody and thanks for joining our session, my name is Maria Garcia puyol and I'm a software engineer on, the Android location, and context team and, I'm also one of the cofounders of the Android, emergency, location service which, helps find wireless, emergency callers. Faster. Now. By a show of hands who, in the audience like me has, ever dialed. 911. See. Number with. Their smart phone oh, wow. So I can see a few, let. Me share my story of the one time i dialed 9-1-1 which. Is one of the reasons why we started this project in the first place. In. 2014. Right, after I had just joined Google, I bought, my first car and, this is me all happy on that night. About. 10 minutes after leaving the dealership, I encountered, one of the scariest, moments, of my life suddenly. Out, of the blue out of, nowhere there, was a woman, standing in the middle of the highway, I, had. To very quickly sort of to avoid hitting her and luckily. I didn't. Immediately. After I took my phone and dialed 911. Number, in the United States and after. Explaining, what I had just witnessed, the, first question. They asked, me was. Where's. Your emergency and, they. Asked you this because to be able to send you help right, away they need to know your precise location. But. Today over, 80% of, emergency, calls are dialed, with smartphones, in contrary, to public belief first. Responders, may, have a really hard time locating you. This. Is because. They. Rely on very inaccurate location. Information as my. Colleague Sunil will, explain in a moment. Now. Back to my story I was new to the area I had just moved to the Bay Area to work at Google and I didn't know where I was everything. That I was able to say was I'm driving. On some Highway in Mountain View, luckily. For us other. 9-1-1, callers have reported, the lady on the road and they, were able to dispatch help. But. Finding, emergency, colors may. Not be as easy in many other situations. We. Are learning about this is that we rely on very accurate, location information for, pretty much everything. In our lives. Today. You. Can get a pizza delivered to your door from, a nearby restaurant. You. Can upload, a picture with the right precise, location, on social media and you. Can even get, a date. Around. You. But. Somehow that, accurate, location that, you see on Google Maps, cannot. Be shared with first responders, so. That they can find you during an emergency. So. Even though you see the blue dot that you're, so used to and that, you rely on for pretty much everything, nowadays, a first, responders may not be able to say where you're calling from in a big city I. Had. Just joined the Android location, team, so some colleagues, and I sat down and wondered, if there was something we could do to help fix this it. Boiled down to one, single, question what. If your mobile phone could send its precise location to, first responders, automatically. By. Precise, location again I mean that accurate blue dot that you see on Google Maps. We. Got very excited, about this, possibility, and a small team of us started, to work on this as a 20%, project, so. We spend 20% of our time roughly, one day a week at Google working, on the first prototype. And. We, focused on three basic. Founding, principles. The. First of them was that, we wanted to make it automatically, available everywhere. So, we decided to ship the Android, emergency, location service as part of Google Play services which. Is available on almost every, Android device out there and it's updated regularly and that, way users don't need to download an emergency, app you, just need to download the, emergency, number, normally. We. Wanted to protect the user's privacy, and so. The location, is computed. On the device on your mobile phone and sent directly from your phone to, first responders. And only during, emergencies, and. Our. Main goal was to improve. The state of emergency services around, the world and help. Save lives by, providing more accurate, but also faster, locations. The. Project became the Android emergency, location service, or Els, and I.
Started To get deployed in some countries, in 2016. Just two years later, let. Me share with you one of the most incredible, examples, of how this technology is but is helping save lives today it. Took place in Austria, last, year. A. Captain. From our own heart the, Santa Clara appreciative. Season only, by three uncom, there is too. Long our fan cave is disabled. Just, take it we tip the tonic unfortunate, Android the sanest. Can I'd like to send it, off in person. Didn't. Feel too. Far. Off to feel. And I'll help veining, second, metasoma. Indefinitely. Because. It's only become. Oh. I'm. Gonna hand it over to my colleague Sunil who's going to explain what, the state of emergency location, was when we started the project and why, it would have been very hard to find the protagonist of, our video. Thanks. Maria, so, I'm Sunil I'm the tech lead for ALS it's great to be here with all you guys today now. We've all seen the Hollywood movies or even TV shows where, as soon as there's a problem we can see a call taker with a high-tech screen, tracking, the callers location down, to the exact room they're in the. Reality not, quite as glamorous unfortunately. So, how is it possible that Google Maps can know exactly where you are but, a 911, call may not so, we're gonna start with a quick non, comprehensive, overview of how the non-one system actually works in the United States and what, can go wrong along the way. So. Enon on one or enhanced, 9-1-1, is a system, in use in most of the u.s. now. Enhanced, 9-1-1, specifically. Refers to the ability to get location, data alongside, a call in the US 9-1-1. Didn't exist until the late 60s and the vast majority of, what is now called the e-911 system. Was developed in the 70s, when the only type of phone was a landline, email. And one was of course a huge advance in at the time before, that there was just a call there was no location, information whatsoever now. Some quick pieces of trivia that red phone you see up there is the, actual phone that the first not on one call was placed on and below, that a real picture of one of the first call centers ever built pretty, high-tech for the time right. Alright, so this system was designed in the 70s but it hasn't really changed that, much since then, and even today if you visit a 911 call center much, of the data even though it might be presented on modern LCD, screens is likely, delivered, via serial cables, let's, take a look at how this aging, system, works behind the scenes in, order to get location. The. First thing that we want to know about is called the alley or the automatic location, information database. The. Alley is essentially just a big lookup table you get phone numbers in one end street, addresses out the other this, makes sense with landline phones. And landline phone is not going to be changing street addresses very often, but, as mobile phones came around the alley had to be retrofitted, support. For a latitude and longitude coordinates was added carriers. Had to be able to push cell or GPS location, into, this database, so. We take a look at this real, alley record, on the left there's a couple things to notice first. Of all this is a recent record this is from 2018, things. Still work just like this today the, maximum, record size here is 512. Bytes that's, all the information we have to work with here and in, many call centers those, 512. Bytes are delivered. Over a 1200, bps serial, link now. To do the math quickly that means it takes 4.2. Seconds, just. To download this tiny, amount of information and, get that in front of a call taker. Now. Some other things to look at first. Of all we have the address you can see here this is a call, 87, terrorists Street in Roxbury Massachusetts, we. Also have some latitude and longitude information kind. Of also bird in there is more accuracy, and confidence information. That goes with that now it was curious about this address so I decided to take a look at this on Google Street View here's. What we turn up this, is a cell phone tower the. Real call was, pinging off this cell phone tower but I bet that whoever was calling was not located anywhere, near this address and not anywhere near these latitude, and longitude, coordinates so.
That's One problem with the e91 system, but there's another problem that better location, could help solve and. That is call routing, now, in the u.s. there, are 6,000. Call centers that handle emergency, calls, alone. And whenever, you call 9-1-1, a decision, has to be made which, call center is going to answer that call usually. This is done based on the cell tower you're connected to it's, pretty straightforward usually. Works but there can be problems, Sall, towers will have often overlap, their range substantially. The jurisdictions. That they serve can overlap substantially. All, of this complications. Mean that calls can easily, go to the wrong place and one that happens the answering call center has to manually, transfer, the call to the right place and that incorrect, routing eats precious, time out of every emergency call to give you a quick example. It used to be the case that here in California, any emergency. Calls near highways, were, routed to the California, Highway Patrol even. If the call had nothing to do with the highway and the, CHP, call center was responsible, for triage in that call and then redirecting, it to local agencies as appropriate. Now one study in Sacramento. Found, that this led to an average delay, of almost 60 seconds, just to transfer, that call from, the CHP, to the Sacramento, Police Department, a 60. Second delay on every emergency call that really starts to add up so. If Els is able to deliver highly, accurate location before. The call starts or even in the first couple seconds of the call then we can route it to the right place immediately instead. Of routing it simply based on the cell tower, so. At this point we've covered us some background on Inanna one in the US but we haven't really talked about the rest of the world. Historically. There, have only been four countries that mandate, GPS as part of their emergency systems. And that have enon on one system similar to the US as you can see on the map Canada. The United States South. Korea and Japan for. Much of the rest of the world emergency. Location is broken it. Either doesn't exist or, is only supported, by cell tower location technology, which, is notoriously inaccurate, now, this is the problem we wanted to help fix and we designed the Android emergency location system provide, accurate, and quick, fuse locations, to every country as we saw in the video from Austria, earlier. So. At this point we've covered several of the problems that we want to solve Els. Was designed to bridge this gap providing, androids quick and accurate used, location, directly, to emergency, services as a supplement. To existing, enon on the location, and to, be integrated with next generation 9 1 systems. So. Let's talk about Els itself, and let's start with a high-level overview of how, our service works, we. Can break this flow down into four, discrete steps first. Of course the user has to call or text nine on one or other, emergency, numbers such as 1 1 2 internationally. And so forth as soon, as that call is made we, start computing the location, on the device once. We get the location, the, next step is to send that directly. From the device to, emergency, partners, and it's, direct and that it does travel through Google servers is then. The partners responsibility. To, send that location on to the call center and to make sure that it gets in front of the call taker who can use that location on their call. So. The left side of this is broadly Google's responsibility. And the right side is broadly, our partners, responsibility. Which, brings us the next point what exactly, is a partner so. Generally, we work with three types of partners there are government agencies there, are carriers and operators, and third party emergency, services, companies, so. With over six thousand call centers in the US alone we rely on our partners and their public safety expertise, to, get this location, delivered exactly where it needs to go. So. There's the overall flow how do we configure, and control this well google administers, this on behalf of our partners, and we, have an incredibly, flexible configuration. System that supports all kinds, of things I'll touch on just a couple we. Support arbitrary Geographic. Polygons, this lets us control our activations. At a county, level or a state level rather than just at the country level it lets us touch on you know all sorts of different jurisdictions. We, can use the country code and network code from cell towers to help base our logic based on the country and carrier that this call is coming from and of, course we support location.
Updates For the entire duration of the emergency. Call instead, of just a single update. So. Somebody. Made in nine one call or, get the location, now we need to send it how, do we do that at, the moment we use two methods either an HTTP, message or SMS. Message we're gonna examine both well let's start by examining the SMS message in a little more detail. Now. When, we first started thinking about Els, it happened, that British Telecom, in the UK had, proposed a new standard, for location. Over SMS messages, this, was called the advanced, mobile location format, or AML, we, adopted, AML and it's now common everywhere, in Europe there. Was one other thing we had to think of we originally, started experimenting, using, normal text messages the kind you might send to your friend every day but. There's one problem there's no way to keep this from being exposed in the users outbox and this presents a privacy, concern. Now if you've ever called, 9-1-1 from your android device and it sounds like a lot of you had to you. May have noticed that that number one call does not show up in your call log there's, a good reason for this in. A lot of cases such as domestic violence situations. It's actually very important, that there is no evidence on the phone that somebody has had to contact emergency services that the users privacy is preserved, so. Instead, we switch to data SMS, this is simply a subset, of the normal SMS standard, that allows for binary payloads, but more importantly, does not show up in the user's outbox and helps us preserve the users privacy a couple. Other things I want to mention as. The message generally functions better in lower signal coverage it doesn't require a data connection of course this, makes it very useful to us in emerging, markets it may require some coordination, with carriers of course, so. Let's contrast SMS, with HTTPS, now the. First and most important, difference for us is just HTTP, can handle much more information, it's not size limited, like an sm SMS, is it's, very flexible and more, importantly extensible. So you can add new information add, new, key value pairs to help give our partners. More information, and you, know help save lives that way now. We found that when a high-quality data, connection, is present, HTTPS, actually, turns out to be more reliable, than SMS, generally, of, course this depends on your cell environment your, signal environment, the the country you're in a whole bunch of things but overall we, see HTTPS. Is the way forward but, we're unwilling, to live out leave, out incumbent, markets so we encourage our partners to use both options, whenever possible so now, that we have a high-level understanding of, how we transmit, location, the, next piece of the puzzle is how we actually figure out where, the phone is in the first place so, to tell you a little bit about the Android fused location provider here's, Steve. Great. Thanks, to Neil hello. Everyone my name's Steve malkos, and I also helped, co-found Els, I'm, super, excited to be here with you all today now. Let's, talk about how location, is computed, because getting, an accurate location is, the key to all of this the, faster, and more accurate, location we could deliver the. Or people we can help, accuracy. And speed of location, will reduce, the emergency, response times here's, a great quote from the US government. The, FCC. Estimates, that 10,000. Lives could be saved every year. For, one minute sooner if the user, was calling, the emergency dispatching. Center that's, a very powerful statement, one. Minute sooner having, the potential to save 10,000. Additional lives, every, year it's. Quite powerful. Okay. So what you saw earlier from Sunil was that the existing, emergency, system today either used a cell based position, or GPS. Based position, let's first focus on cell cell. Tower positions to emergency, responders are not, considered. A location, that they could dispatch help to that's. Because the emergency operator is seeing the Civic address to, the nearest cell, tower and, that's, nowhere near where the actual emergencies, being, is, taking place and cell, tower position, ranges. In the thousands, of feet or hundreds. Of meters like, in this example where, we see the cell tower position, at our office, is over, 2,000. Feet or 600. Meters. GPS. Everyone. In this room is pretty much aware that GPS, works great when, we're outdoors in, the open sky environment. Like, in this example where. We, see GPS, position, fix of about 25, meters or 85. Feet, this, was taken indoors and it's, not that, good of a position GPS, doesn't work that well indoors this is the true location where. We were when we did this example. But. When you're outside in a pure open sky environment, GPS. Is typically, around five to six meters or nine, to ten feet. There. Are many issues with, getting GPS, into the legacy, emergency, dispatching, system I'm going to highlight two of those today the, first issue is that when, the GPS position is computed, it's, actually, computed, on the carrier's, network it's, not the location, that's available on your mobile device which is much more accurate the.
Second Issue is that the carrier, is only. Shooting a single, GPS, position, fix where, as Els can, compute multiple, fixes, throughout, the entire duration of that call. So. More. Or less GPS, has you covered for the most part when you're outdoors in, an open sky environment, but. What about a downtown, dense, deep urban area or when, you're indoors or deep indoors, that's, where we can help with. Our comprehensive. Positioning. Solution, which, includes, indoor, and outdoor, locations we. Call it the fused location provider or, FLP, the. Fused location provider is, comprised, of Wi-Fi. GPS. And sensors. To do sensor fusion, that. Gets us this very accurate, location and the fused location provider is, available, on almost every, Android handset in the market today, in this. Example the. FOP is able to compute a very accurate position. Indoors, right, here. We, produce the position at about 29, feet or nine meters. Earlier. Today there was a talk on at. Google i/o called, seamless. And smooth location, everywhere, with the new fused, location provider if, you didn't get a chance to see it live watch, it on YouTube. Ok. So this is the flow from, the lower hardware, to, the fused location provider it, looks something like this there's. Many, different location, providers, in Android let's. Say as an app developer which, most of you are in this room wanted, to create an app that only acts as GPS, only locations, you could do that by calling the, location, manager API is in Android, or let's. Say you wanted to build an app that only, access, to Wi-Fi locations, or cell-based, locations, then, you could call the NLP or the, network location provider, but. If you simply wanted to get the best of what Google offers, which, uses all the different location, providers, along. With the, sensors, doing, sensor fusion our, recommendation. Is to access the FOP directly, the. Fused location provider. Fuses. All these technologies. Together in order to derive the best possible, location and that's, what we supplied, to the emergency, respond others. So. The FOP is ubiquitous, it, works globally. By providing 3d locations, in all different types of environments, we're, especially proud, of launching, altitude, or 3d. Location for, indoors so, now we provide, 3d, XYZ. Locations, not, only for outdoor environments, but also indoors. The. FOP is fast. Gps, can sometimes take a very long time to get a position fix the, Apple P is almost, instant, on and gives, you very, quick location, updates as you move around this.
Is Important, as we, noted earlier because the Sooner help is sent the better, and. The. FLP, is accurate, according. To the EPA the Environmental Protection Agency. The, average American, spends 87%, of their time indoors this. Is including, while they sleep as well so, the FOP needs to work and it needs to work accurately. Especially. When we meet need at most wall indoors. Ok. Demo time as. We, were planning this demo for Google i/o we said, we wanted to do a demo that people could relate to so, we, went to one of the most recognizable. Places that we could think of I could. Hear Sean Connery's, voice right, now from, the movie The Rock okay let me try this on you welcome. To the rock, or. Otherwise. Known as Alcatraz. Island thank. You. But. Alcatraz, has its own set of challenges, it. Has lots. Of metal. Super. Thick concrete walls, and tiny, tiny windows, this, is not conducive, for good GPS, or Wi-Fi signaling. Conditions, when, computing, our fused location provider positions. But, we, said we like challenges let's, see how well we'll do so. We worked with the San Francisco emergency, dispatching, Center who allowed us to place real, calls, into, their center. What. This demo will show us is the, boys from the call taker will, be receiving, locations, nowhere, near the actual emergency. Where, that's taking place, but. I'd like you to pay 10 - how quickly the. Look the location, shows. Up on the phone and how quickly the, location, shows up on the laptop with the red blinking dite dot. That's, very. Accurate update. From Els even, before the call is connected let's. Play the clip. I. Have. One of our people, reporting, hi. This is a test call from Google I was reaching out to see if I can get the address on your screen. Hold. Up. 6-0. Hold 8 can. You repeat that one more time, 6, 1 0 hold a. Perfect. Can I also get the latitude and longitude. Latitude. Three. Seven point eight zero four. Three one. Four zero zero. Longitude. A negative, one to two point four five one three to eight. Perfect. Thank. You very much okay do up. What, we saw from the legacy emergency. System is unfortunately. Very common, the, dispatch, operator, noted, a latitude, and longitude, which, mapped to the nearest cell-tower address. Both. These locations, were to over two point five miles away from the actual emergency. But. What we saw with Els is the, location shown, here in red was. Right on top of the true location, and it, and it could have also been available to the emergency, responder, even, before that call was answered, we're. Really excited about this service and its, potential to help more and more people globally. Next. Up you'll hear from Fiona who will talk to us about some of the challenges around launching, Els, globally. Thanks. Steve. So. Sanel. Steve and Maria have, described. How we engineered, Els and, I. Think we've shown you that Els provides more accurate location. Faster. Than legacy, e-911, location, solutions but. Just because you, build a better technology, does not mean that people are actually going to use it so, I'm going to talk to you about how we launched Els around the world and I'm gonna focus on the non-technical factors, that, played a key role in our ability to successfully, deploy, Els on a global scale now.
Don't Get me wrong we didn't have all the answers on day one but we listened to our users we, learned and we iterated. Over time. So. The first factor to keep in mind is the ecosystem, what. Are the characteristics. Of the community, of people who will use your product or service what's. The environment in which they operate what, products do they currently use today, with. Els we, focus on two sets of target, users the public safety professional, and the, end-user who will just dial or text an emergency, number and expect, it to work so. When we looked at the public safety ecosystem. The first thing that jumped out at us is that it is disparate, and fragmented, so. You have some countries with just a handful, of emergency, communication, centers and then you have the US with over. 6500. That's more than all the emergency communication, centers in Europe. There. Are some. Emergencies. That are only staffed, by two people and then there are some that have hundreds, of thousands, of people taking emergency calls, they. All use different IT systems, in the. U.s. we have one emergency, number 911 is. 50 so. What that told us was that we have to build Els to be very flexible and, to offer options. And so, they will walk you through all the different configuration. Options that we provide. Second. Thing about public safety is that it is rife with legacy, infrastructure, this. Tends to be expensive proprietary. Have. High upgrade, costs and high switching costs, so. What. We did was rebuilt Els so it's standards-based. Right, so data SMS, adheres, to the advanced. Mobile location specification. And HTTP, as is HTTP. The, benefit, of adhering, to standards, is that it makes it very easy for your partners to deploy there's a uniform, process, to deploy, we. Also design, each Els. To be fast and easy, so, we can turn on a new configuration we, can change configurations. And we can roll that all out in under 24, hours. Finally. We design yell us to be safe when, we decide on a production rollout, we work with our partners, to role yell us out in phases we, usually start at 1% we let that soak for a few days then we increase, to 5% soak, some more and we increase. In increments and at any point in time it is really easy to roll back. The. Second, factor, to the. Third factor to keep in mind is Public Safety is risk averse right, so lives on the line the.
Cost Of making a mistake are very very high so. We built LS as I said to be safe and to. Roll out in phases. The second factor to keep in mind is your distribution or business model how do you plan on getting your product into the hands of users as. Developers. It's really important, for you to find a distribution, model that can scale rapidly. For. Us we, made LS free free, to partners, free, to public safety. Mostly. Because it is the right thing to do when we want to keep Android, users safe but, free is good free promotes, adoption, and Public Safety likes free because they tend to be budget constrained. Second. Key decision we made was to distribute Els via Google Play services this. Gave us a scalable, distribution, mechanism, and it, allowed us to be ubiquitously. Available because, Google Play services ships, with just about every, approved. Android phone the. Other nice thing about going, out with Google Play services is that Google. Play services updates. Over. Weeks, that, meant we could roll out Els, updates, quickly, and not be tied to an annual OS, release cycle and then. Finally we built Els to be user first, for. The user. Who cares about privacy we offer an opt-out, feature and as, my, colleagues have said we calculate, location, on the device and we only activate, Els when an emergency call is made now, there were trade-offs in this right because you can offer much more functionality. When, you do service site processing, but, we made a decision. Not to do that the. Other thing about LS, is the, user doesn't have to take any action no. Special hardware required, on the phone no need to download an app if LS. Is deployed in your region you just dial and text the emergency, number and it will work for. The public safety professional. We. Design Els so that els can be easily integrated into one of their existing, systems, so, I don't know if you've ever seen an emergency, call taker but they are juggling about five different screens, on their, desk and the, last thing we want to do is force them to have a six screen in order to get LS location, data so. One of our best practice, recommendations to. Partners is integrate. Els location, data into one of the existing systems, currently used at the emergency communication center usually. The mapping system of the computer aided dispatch system. Finally. Els, is future friendly, we have built it so that it will be easily integrated, into next generation, public safety systems that are being designed all over the world. This. Third factor is my personal favorite regulation, what. Are the laws pertaining, to your product and service who makes those laws and how explicit, is the language so. As you might expect there is a lot, of regulation, surrounding, public safety, it's a mission-critical service, and government's want to keep people safe and for, Els as an additional, implication.
For Us because we transfer because, we transmit, location, during an emergency called our privacy, implications as, well so. When we look at regulation, the first thing we notice is that laws are lagging. Regulators. Simply, cannot keep pace with technology so. We position, Els as a supplemental. Service it's not meant to replace existing. Emergency. Location solutions, it's meant to augment it and provide the. 911. Sea call taker with another tool in their toolkit. Second. Thing about laws is believe, it or not they, can be ambiguous, especially. Laws that pertain to privacy, with, respect to emerging, new technologies, so. When we looked at some countries we found that you, know there were no explicitly. Explicit. Laws saying that you cannot transmit location, during an emergency but, there were no laws that explicitly, said you can as well so this is gray area, and we, chose to exercise due. Diligence and, caution, and we decided. To calculate, location, on the device so, they and then transmitted, it directly to our partners, so that no, personally, identifiable, information is, stored on Google servers. Finally. Laws are complex. There, are different, regulatory, frameworks, and privacy, laws in each country. These laws believe it or not can be sometimes contradictory. Often, overlapping, and in the case of Els, generally. Multi-jurisdictional. Because. You make an emergency call over. The telecommunications. Network or you send an emergency text over the telecommunications. Network we had to deal with the, ministry of telecommunications. We, also had to deal with the Ministry of Interior which is generally responsible for Public Safety sometimes. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health and then, there were also data protection agencies, that we had to keep in mind. Last. But not least is partnerships. So, good partners, are bridges. We. View our partners, as a scaling. Force multiplier, and this is particularly, true in public safety because, Public Safety tends not to be an early adopter of technology, so, we rely on our partners to, educate, and train Public Safety and also, to work with them to operationalize. Els location, data so it can be useful in the emergency communications, center so. What we do is we look for partners that have really high standards in Quality Assurance, insecurity. In monitoring, in reporting, and in operational, support this. Ensures that we have a high quality end-to-end. Deployment. Of Els. So. How. Are we doing today today. Els, is live in eighteen countries serving, a population of six hundred plus million users, and we send location for over one, and a half million, emergency calls, per day, one. Of the nice things about being on the Els team is learning, about how Ellis has made a difference in emergencies, around, the world so I'd like to share a couple of stories with you the. First one has to do with a medical, emergency in Lithuania, eight-year-old. Boy calls. Emergency, services, he's found his father unconscious. Maybe dead he, doesn't know his home address he doesn't know the phone number of any of his family members now, remember, Lithuania. Public, Safety does not get location, by a GPS only cell so, the call taker is seeing a cell, tower location of a whopping, 14 kilometers, almost, nine miles in, a densely populated neighborhood. That's, hundreds, if not thousands. Of houses that you have to search but, thanks to Els which pinpointed, the exact, house where the boy made the call. Accuracy. Radius of six meters. The. First responders. Could be dispatched, to render medical help really quickly and as it turns out the man was suffering from an epileptic seizure. Second. Instance. Is a serious, mountain biking accident in Austria mountain, biker was alone had, a bad accident in a deeply forested, area no landmarks no, addresses, cell. Tower location was, 900. Plus meters but thanks, to Els which gave a 12 meter accuracy radius, they, could send medical. Help to the injured biker to take him to the hospital because they could locate him quickly. So. I'd like to hand. The microphone back to Maria to wrap up. Thanks. For you enough, so. Now that you've learned more about how the Android emergency, location service works I'd like to close the session with some final thoughts. Thanks, - LS your Android. Phone, is able to send accurate, location in, 18 countries during, emergencies, - first responders. But for us this is just the beginning we're. Working on deploying the Android emergency, location service in more countries because. We'd like to help as many people as possible. Also. Even, though our location accuracy is much better than the existing legacy location, systems, in emergency, services, we're always working on improving, location, both indoors, and outdoors, in. One. Of our very next challenging, goals and we like challenges is to, provide dispatchable, addresses, and also, floor numbers to first responders, so, that they can find you when you dial an emergency, number even, faster I.
For. One am very proud of the impact Els, has had on people's lives and I'm, very happy to know that if I were to dial 911 today, because. I found a person standing, in the middle of the highway first. Responders, would be able to locate me right away here in Mountain View. This. Product of course wouldn't have impossible with the help of our many partners and collaborators around. The world so we want to give them a special thanks, and also. Thank you all very much for coming to Google i/o and for coming to a session please, reach out if you have any questions, or wanna know more, that's. All from us thanks. You.
You Know2019-05-19 13:08
Wow, just wow
Ricardo Decend2019-05-19 18:54
Why such a thing took so long to come up with?!?
jojo padlan2019-05-20 00:48
Great video !!! Cheers !!!
HongSec Park2019-05-20 03:12
It can save somebody life . and also can break somebody life. You can deny huawei. means you can break somebody if you want. Google.
fabian fernandez2019-05-21 18:46
Maybe all wifi router can be opened in disasters automatically
Maybe in emergency disasters mobile phones enterprises can be open free calls and internet for all cities of disasters
Sohaib Ahmad2019-05-24 00:02
Name of 18 countries?
Insight into edge to core data management and analytics | THR2375 2020-01-18 05:22
Bottom up innovation with Microsoft Flow | BRK2201 2020-01-18 13:44
Building the World of Path of Exile 2 2020-01-03 03:03
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Long Island Woman Claims She Bought Potpourri With Snake Inside
Filed Under:homegoods, John Slattery, Levittown, Long Island, Natalie Malik, Potpourri, riverhead, Snake, Snakes, Sophia Hall, TJX Companies
Natalie Malik's bag of Potpourri (credit: Sophia Hall / WCBS 880)Natalie Malik's bag of Potpourri (credit: Sophia Hall / WCBS 880)
LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A Long Island woman is on the hunt, looking for a snake she said may have gotten into her home in a bag of potpourri.
Just the thought of a snake slithering around her Levittown home has left Natalie Malik unable to sleep at night.
Malik told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall that something was amiss the day after she bought a bag of potpourri from HomeGoods in Riverhead.
“Two pieces of the potpourri actually was out, crashed onto the floor,” Malik told CBS 2’s John Slattery.
After that, she said she found a nine-inch-long piece of snake skin in the potpourri bag.
“And then the whole other piece just came out in one long strand,” she told Slattery. “It was moist.”
Malik said she has not seen a snake, but is convinced there is one somewhere in her house.
“I freaked out. I just started getting really nervous,” she told Hall. “I don’t know if this is poisonous or not.”
Snake skin found by Natalie Malik (credit: Sophia Hall / WCBS 880)
Malik said she is afraid for her two teacup Pomeranians and she has set up a trap with crickets. She said she’s been checking around the baseboards in her house and has nets ready to catch the snake.
“I went to the reptile store yesterday with my mom. They did say that it was from a snake,” she said. “I just want it out of my house.”
Malik said the reptile dealers she spoke to couldn’t determine what type of snake left behind the skin. But they said snakes like warmth and advised Malik to check the radiators for the uninvited guest.
Malik said it was the first time she purchased potpourri and likely her last.
HomeGoods said it is looking into the matter and will take appropriate action. The TJX Companies, parent company of HomeGoods, released the following statement in response to the incident:
“Our vendor has assured us that the manufacturing process for this product makes it highly unlikely for this to occur.”
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Norval Morrisseau Masterpiece @ McMaster Universit...
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A candle for Copper Thunderbird
Fifteenth Anniversary of Exhibition of the Indigenous Art from Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Taiwan
Gatherings: Aboriginal Art from the Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery shown in Taipei
(September - October 2003)-
The image on a poster, "Astral Plain Scouts", acrylic on canvas
© 1976 Norval Morrisseau /Winnipeg Art Gallery Collection/
原生與創生－加拿大原住民藝術家作品展
Gatherings: Aboriginal Art from the Collection of The Winnipeg Art Gallery
本項展覽來自加拿大溫尼伯美術館，介紹加拿大自七○年代至今原住民藝術的發展。七○年代，原住民藝術家運用西洋現代藝術手法創作，結合藝術家個人心志與口述歷史故事，隱喻在作品中，開始獲得非原住民藝術團體的矚目；八○年代，經過藝術學院訓練的原住民藝術家，改以拼貼、攝影、綜合媒材、裝置藝術創作，一開始他們的創作因為不符合一般人觀念裡的「原住民藝術」，甚少公開展出，然而，經過鍥而不捨地發展，漸為標榜西洋現代藝術的文化機構所接受；九○年代的原住民藝術家，有較多機會完成專業學位及參加展出，以保存原住民藝術為宗旨的大型藝術機構相繼成立，藝術家的發展又進入另一個階段，他們運用當代藝術表現手法，表現文化雜交、地域性色彩以及自我認同等主題。
"Astral Plain Scouts,"
by Norval Morrisseau
The people of Taiwan gained a spectacular glimpse into Canada's cultural diversity, creativity, and history through the well-received exhibition of Gatherings: Aboriginal Art from the Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, at Taiwan's National Museum of History, during September and October, 2003. Associated events and extensive media coverage ensured Gatherings highlighted the rich and growing relations between aboriginal peoples in Canada and Taiwan. Gatherings, curated by Catherine Mattes, is a small but strong exhibition drawn from the Winnipeg Art Gallery's collection. It highlights three distinct periods of transition in contemporary Canadian aboriginal art since the 1960s, when the Winnipeg Art Gallery led the way in bringing these works into mainstream Canadian cultural institutions. Ranging from the dramatic paintings by Norval Morrisseau of the Woodland School, to more recent experimental installation art such the video/installation piece "Buffalo Bone China" by Dana Claxton and the photographic art of Rosalie Favell, Gatherings demonstrates amply the dynamic and modern diversity which has brought aboriginal art to Canada's centre stage.
Upon the opening ceremony within National Museum of History
Gatherings opened with a press conference and reception attended by friends and partners from the museum and cultural community, the aboriginal community, senior Taiwan officials responsible for aboriginal affairs, members from Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the media where they enjoyed traditional delicacies catered by a Taiwanese aboriginal company. Also on hand for the opening was Métis artist Favell, whose photographic art is featured in Gatherings. Accompanied by Jasmina Jovanović-Vlaović, WAG's Director of Museum Services and Collections, she delivered a well-attended lecture at the National Taipei University of the Arts, spoke at the opening reception, and presented a two-hour retrospective of her work at the National Museum of History the following day.
Taken in front of the outdoor banner (National Museum of History)(from left to right: Carey Archibald & Jasmina Jovanović-Vlaović from WAG, Chloe Chen and Weldon Epp from Canadian Trade Office, Rosalie Favell, artist and Huang Huichi, Curator of National Museum of History)
Gatherings provided an excellent and vivid backdrop to celebrate the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and Taiwan in support of developing relations between aboriginal peoples which has now been in place for the past five years. A delegation of Canadian parliamentarians, led by Hon. Judi Longfield, were able to visit the exhibition while on a Taiwanese government sponsored visit, reinforcing the positive and constructive elements of a challenging relationship that does not include diplomatic recognition. Together, both Elijah Harper and Dr. Kung Wen-chi, Chairman of the Council for Indigenous Peoples of the Taipei City Government, toured the Gatherings exhibit. Harper, a regular visitor to Taiwan and a major contributor, as is Dr. Kung, to the momentum of growing Canadian-Taiwan Aboriginal ties, provided uniquely personal insight into the exhibition as he personally knows - or is closely related to - a majority of Gatherings' featured artists.
-Extensive mainstream Mandarin and English print and television media coverage of Gatherings ensured that the exhibition was well attended. Both Jovanović-Vlaović and Favell fielded numerous print, TV, and radio interviews while in Taiwan, offering insight into the development of contemporary aboriginal artistic expression within Canada. Both were also interviewed for Spirit magazine of Toronto and CBC radio has subsequently reported on the exhibition.-
From left to right, Dr. Kung Wen-chi, Commissioner of Taipei Indigenous Peoples Commission, Elijah Harper, former Canadian MP, Weldon Epp, General Relations Director, CTOT, Jeff Ge, Exhibition Director, national Museum of History
The National Museum of History (not to be confused with Taiwan's National Palace Museum) is one of Taiwan's most-visited public institutions, with an average of more than 600,000 visitors annually (or as Winnipeg Art Gallery's Jovanović-Vlaović observed, roughly the entire population of Winnipeg every year), and active programming for Taipei-area schools. The Museum has previously hosted exhibits from Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum and the National Museum of Civilisation, and had taken the initiative to bring Gatherings to Taiwan. As Museum Director and established artist Huang Kuang-nan concluded, while hosting a wrap-up luncheon, the success of Gatherings guarantees that his Museum's appetite for future cooperation with Canadian institution continues to grow.
Jointly organised by the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Taiwan's National Museum of History and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Gatherings received strong support from Taiwan's Council for Indigenous Peoples (CIP), Taipei City's Council for Indigenous Peoples, and EVA Airlines. Through all these partnerships and the creative energies of the featured Canadian artists, Gatherings allowed thousands of Taiwanese to experience this diversity and broaden their experience of Canada's First Nations well beyond existing stereotypes.
Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (link not valid anymore)
Note: Jasmina Jovanović-Vlaović is currently AGA's (Art Gallery of Algoma) Executive Director; See WAG's Media Release "WAG Announces Departure of Head of Museum Services" of June 3rd, 2011
* The painting on the poster for the "Gatherings": "Astral Plain Scouts", size not known, © 1976 Norval Morrisseau /Winnipeg Art Gallery Collection - Gift of Dr. Louis Cogan/
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Getting the lead out
University of Iowa initiative provides free testing kits so Iowa residents can measure lead levels in their drinking water
As part of a statewide initiative, the University of Iowa is offering free test kits to Iowans so they can measure the levels of lead in their home’s drinking water. Photo by Mukesh Sharma/Unsplash.
By: Tom Snee | 2019.09.27 | 09:52 am
Editor’s note: The Get the Lead Out of Iowa Drinking Water campaign concluded with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which ended Oct. 26. Through the campaign, the University of Iowa distributed more than 350 lead testing kits, and are in the process of analyzing the samples. Results will be sent out to participating homeowners in the next three to four weeks. The researchers aim to run a similar campaign during next year’s Prevention Week.
Local residents who would like to have their water tested for lead can contact the State Hygienic Laboratory or other Iowa DNR-certified testing laboratories identified at the end of this document: www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/water/wso/files/Drinking_Water_Lead_Testing_in_Schools.pdf.
The University of Iowa is helping state residents to Get the Lead Out of drinking water.
The statewide initiative is offering free test kits to Iowans outside of Johnson County so they can measure the levels of lead in their home’s drinking water. The Get the Lead Out project will run through National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which takes place Oct. 20–26. The project is part of a larger initiative to compile a database of lead levels in drinking water in homes and schools throughout the state.
Eligible residents can request a home testing kit by sending an email to get-the-lead-out@uiowa.edu. The process is simple—the kits contain three bottles and instructions on how to fill each with tap water and return them to the university for lab testing. Homeowners will receive the results of the test, a sheet that explains the results in plain language, and information about what they can do if the test reveals potentially unsafe levels of lead in their water.
The initiative is led by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Iowa’s College of Engineering; IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering; and the Center for Health Effects and Environmental Contamination. Michelle Scherer, Donald E. Bently Professor of Engineering, says the goal of the initiative is to see if Iowans are being exposed to high lead levels through their drinking water, and if they are, offer strategies for the homeowner to reduce their exposure.
Get your testing kit!
Request a kit via email: get-the-lead-out@uiowa.edu
How do I perform the test?
It’s pretty simple: The kits contain three bottles and instructions on how to fill each with tap water and return them to the university for lab testing.
“A solution is not always going to be expensive or difficult,” she says. “Sometimes, it might be as easy as adding a filter to the tap or flushing the faucet for a minute or two before drinking the water.”
The project team also includes Drew Latta, assistant research scientist in IIHR, and doctoral students Amina Grant and Danielle Hollingshead. Grant and Hollingshead’s lead work is part of the Sustainable Water Development Graduate Program, which was created by a $3 million award from the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship program.
The team wants to determine if lead from drinking water is a significant exposure route in Iowa, and if so, provide outreach and education on how to reduce exposure to the toxic heavy metal. Young children are particularly sensitive to lead, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that there is no safe level of lead for children.
“Even small increases will impact a child’s IQ,” says Hollingshead.
Lead was once found in dozens of everyday products, such as gasoline, house paint, ceramics, canned food, and water pipes. As the dangers of lead exposure became more known, federal regulations required its removal from most products starting in the 1970s, sharply reducing daily exposure. But people can still be exposed to lead left over from past use.
One source of lead is water pipes that are themselves made of lead, or household plumbing that uses solder that contains lead. Even older galvanized pipes can contain lead in their coating. If the pipe or the solder corrodes, lead can get into the water. Drinking water has been estimated to be a significant source of blood lead levels in humans.
“A solution is not always going to be expensive or difficult. Sometimes, it might be as easy as adding a filter to the tap or flushing the faucet for a minute or two before drinking the water.”
—Michelle Scherer, University of Iowa College of Engineering
Excess levels of lead in the water supply have generated headlines in Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey. Grant says the issue became personal for her when multiple cities in her home state of New Jersey began finding lead in their water systems and schools.
But Scherer says the problem in Flint with excessive lead levels was caused by a change in water sources and inadequate corrosion control. She says most water systems in Iowa are doing a good job at controlling corrosion, but since there are lead sources in home plumbing, more homes need to be measured at the tap.
In addition to voluntary statewide water testing, Grant will work with local communities to test lead in small drinking water systems. She has tested water in homes in Johnson, Iowa, Van Buren, Cerro Gordo, Story, Dallas, and Kossuth counties, and will test water supplies at several public schools in Keokuk and Dubuque.
Tom Snee, Office of Strategic Communication, 319-384-0010 (office), 319-541-8434 (cell)
lead testing kits
Get Out the Lead
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
A valuable flow of groundwater information for Iowa
Iowa Geological Survey maps state’s aquifers, produces models for municipalities, industry
By: Richard C. Lewis | 2019.08.22 | 11:13 am
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Top 10 Animal POWER MOVES
YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=GkYbFr7dcIs
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In which John discusses the top 10 amazing power moves--both offensive and defensive--in the animal kingdom. From giraffes to frogs to acid-ejecting beetles, animals have some awfully bizarre and awesome survival behaviors.
If you don't get the Ze Frank joke: http://www.zefrank.com
Good morning, Hank, it's Wednesday.
Great top ten list on Monday, today it's time for my top ten list: Top Ten Animal Power Moves!
...God I love power moves.
Power move number ten belongs to the Bombardier beetle. Hank, when the Bombardier beetle is threatened, it turns around and sprays boiling hot acid out of it's butt!
Power move number nine: giraffes. You know how I love giraffes, Hank. Giraffes are like the Chuck Norris of the animal kingdom. When they roundhouse kick you, you forget what time it is. A giraffe kick has been known to decapitate a lion!
Power move number eight, and one of my personal favorites comes from Cantor's giant softshell turtle. Now Hank, we know the power move for regular turtles, it's their hard green shells, and we know the power move for red turtles, it's their heat seeking red shells. But the power move for a softshell turtle is motionlessness. Yes, Hank, Cantor's softshell turtle covers himself with sand in a riverbank and then sits completely still for 23 1/2 hours a day, moving only when something crosses his path that he can eat. That actually sounds a lot like my life, only Cantor's softshell turtle gets to live on the beach and I have to live in Indianapolis.
Power move number seven belongs to Trichobatrachus Robustus, which is a frog, and when he's threatened, he breaks a bone in his own foot and then uses the bone fragment from his compound fracture as a claw to stab you!
Power move number six is the cuttlefish. So Hank, cuttlefish can turn into crazy colors. They can light up blue and green and orange and yellow, and they'll swim over to some prey, and they'll start lighting up, as if to say "here's the party! Check it out! I'm a disco ball! Come and party with me! This is a crazy rave! OH WAIT! You just got eaten."
Power move number five: baby potato beetles. Hank, grown up potato beetles have hard shells, which makes it harder for predators to eat them, but baby potato beetles don't. Fortunately, they have poisonous poop. It's so rare in life that the word 'fortunately' precedes the words 'they have poisonous poop.' So what the baby potato beetles do is they poop and then they cover their whole bodies in that poisonous poop to discourage predators. Power move!
Power move number four: Mabra elephantophila. Hank, we all know that elephants have awesome power moves like stomping, and painting pictures, but I would argue that the moth Mabra elephantophila has an even better power move, which is feasting on the tears of elephants. Yes, Hank, there is a moth that gets most of it's sustenance from eating elephant tears, and when the elephants aren't crying enough on their own, the moth will go in and scratch at their eyes to make them cry more.
Power move number three: the Australian funnel-web spider. Hank, everybody in America is so afraid of Black Widow spiders, but funnel-web spiders in Australia are like for real with their power moves. For instance, they're very aggressive, and their fangs can shoot through human fingernails. That's so scary someone had to call me about it.
Power move number two: the duck billed platypus. Hank, not only are platypi one of the very few mammals that lay eggs, they also have a sixth sense--no joke--called 'electrolocation.' Platypi can use their fat little bills to sense electromagnetic fields, which means that the moment one of their predators moves a muscle, literally contracts a muscle, the platypi knows which direction that muscle is headed. It's like a literal superpower only it's contained inside of a glorified beaver.
And Hank, my number one power move in the animal kingdom goes to camponotus saundersi, a carpenter ant. So Hank, when this ant is in a fight and he notices that he's going to lose, instead of like fighting to the death or whatever, he gets as close to his prey as possible, and then blows himself up. These ants have these poisonous glands that run the entire length of their body, and when they realize they're about to lose a fight, they contract their abdominal muscles so intensely that they're entire body explodes, sending the poison flying.
Nerdfighters, I can't wait to read your favorite animal power moves in the comments. It's been fascinating to read about all of the diseases that you have.
Hank, I will see you and your last top ten list on Friday, don't forget to be awesome.
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CAT S40 review: A rugged Android phone for the field
By Eric Mack
CAT S40 review: A rugged Andro...
Gizmag reviews the Cat S40, an Android smartphone designed to take a licking and keep on ticking
Eric Mack/Gizmag
The S40 retails for $399 unlocked for GSM networks
Textured back and rubber corners make the S40 easy to grip
The S40 is rated for 1 hour of submersion up to 1 meter deep
Loaded with a nearly stock version of Android Lollipop
Designed for the job site
Drop resistant from 1.6 meters
The yellow side button is programmable
The branded phone is made by the Bullitt Group for Cat.
A sturdy SIM and SD card cover
The USB port has a water-tight cover
The S40's bright screen under direct sunlight
If we were still looking for evidence that smartphones have officially become a commodity, the line of ruggedized devices from iconic heavy equipment maker Caterpillar might just be that proof. We reviewed the Cat S40 Android phone to see if it offers a unique take on a rough and tough device or if it's just another phone with an unlikely brand name slapped on the back.
Caterpillar is a name that's synonymous with construction, big projects and big gear, so it's not surprising that the major selling points of the S40 include its ability to stand up to the kind of conditions you might encounter on the field or the job site. This medium-sized phone is rated to be water, dust and drop-proof with a 4.7-inch Gorilla Glass 4 display designed to work with gloved or wet fingers.
It's rated IP68, which means it should stand up to high-pressure jets of water and to accidental submersion. Bullitt Group, which manufactures the S40 for Caterpillar, goes a bit further to claim that it will resist submersion for a full hour in up to a meter of water. It is also rated to withstand drops from up to 6 feet (1.8 meters). It also fulfills the military standard for being resistant to salt, dust, humidity, vibration, shocks and solar radiation.
We had to keep our review unit in working order so we weren't able to really torture it, but it did stand up just fine to some moderately rough drops, serious splashes, submersions and attempts to scratch the screen. We also made sure to hand it over to a few kids for a while to really put it to the test, and it came away in one piece from those encounters.
Like many other affordable ruggedized phones, including Kyocera models like the Brigadier, the S40 seems to trade power and performance for toughness. Its Snapdragon 210 processor, 1 GB of RAM and 540 x 960 display don't exactly impress and can get bogged down by more memory-hungry apps.
So if you're a power smartphone user looking to push a phone to its limits through gaming, serious multitasking or as a heavy media consumption device, you can probably stop here and look elsewhere, but if you're still intrigued by a phone you can take anywhere to keep in touch, let's consider what else we like about this phone.
First there's the bright screen that's designed to work well even in direct sunlight outdoors. We found it workable even on bright days here in the high desert from most angles.
The 3,000 mAh battery is also above average, promising up to 18 hours of talk-time and 39 days of standby. While we weren't able to connect this unlocked GSM-only phone to a compatible LTE network to really test out the battery drain, it lasted several days connected only to WiFi without a SIM card inserted. It also lasted several hours on our looping video test, but without LTE on, it's hard to glean much from that.
The form factor, while about as bulky as other rugged phones, offers a nice textured back and rubber, angled corners for a better grip. Three physical navigation buttons across the bottom of the screen and a customizable extra side button are standard for phones in this category and work fine. It feels substantial in the hand, which is better for working in the field, perhaps with gloves, than trendy super-thin flagship phones.
The waterproof covers for the SIM, SD card slot, USB, and headphone jack are among the sturdier options available but also some of the easiest to access we've seen on this type of phone. We also like the waterproofing warning sensors that warn you when the covers aren't fully closed.
The Android 5.1 Lollipop OS the S40 ships with is pretty close to stock with no real bloatware to speak of, save for a CAT apps storefront, a file manager and a few other utilities, including SwiftKey.
Every other feature of the phone is pretty marginal or below average. The speaker is just okay, and not as loud as competing phones from the likes of Kyocera or Sonim. The lack of sharpness to the 234 pixels-per-inch display is also detectable, and becomes a minor irritant once you notice it, especially if you're switching between the S40 and crisper displays during the day.
The 8 megapixel rear and 2 MP selfie cameras are also quite average and basic. No fancy image stabilization or laser autofocus here, but for simple photos it should do just fine, although a processing lag due to the under-powered hardware is sometimes an issue.
In the end, this phone does feel a little bit like a commodity item in new packaging. But, the price of the CAT S40 is right at US$399 if you value toughness over power, especially since comparable phones from competitors like Kyocera are either growing stale or hard to find unlocked. However, if you want both resilience and performance, you may want to consider spending a little more on something like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active.
Product page: CatPhones
Buy it now: Amazon
Mobile TechnologySmartphonesAndroidRuggedisedCaterpillar
Eric Mack
Eric Mack has been covering technology and the world since the late 1990s. As well as being a New Atlas regular, he currently contributes to CNET, NPR and other outlets.
What we want from smartphones in 2020
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Bosch to debut lightweight and subtle new smart glasses HUD tech
The rise of the smartphone: Mobile technology in the 2010s
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Floating food forest brings nourishing nosh to New York
Floating food forest brings no...
The Swale farm is being installed on a 30 x 100-ft (9.1 x 30.5-m) flat deck barge
To grow its produce, Swale will primarily use rainwater, but it will also make use of river water
Among the produce available for the public to pick will be raspberries, huckleberries, pawpaw, kales, beets, chard, arugula, leeks and artichokes
A wealth of produce-types will be grown onboard, using a "food forest" approach, where diverse planting benefits the ecosystem as a whole
The barge will host community activities and artistic events, such as performances, tutorials and discussions
A soon-to-be-launched project in New York is set to float the idea of waterborne farms, literally. Swale, is a mobile floating food forest built from repurposed shipping containers that will provide the public with free access to visit and to pick its freshly grown produce.
A desire for fresh, high quality, locally grown food has seen the likes of the in-store Kräuter Garten, Growing Underground in London's disused tunnels and the more conventional FarmedHere vertical farm spring up. As part art project, though, Swale seeks not only to grow food for the public, but to encourage discussion about whether or not the provision of fresh food could be a free public service, rather than "just an expensive commodity."
Supported by A Blade of Grass, the Rolin Foundation and individual donors, the farm is being installed on a 30 x 100-ft (9.1 x 30.5-m) flat deck barge, with input from a nautical engineer, landscape architects, gardeners, artists, educators, students and the US Coast Guard.
A wealth of produce-types will be grown on-board, using a "food forest" approach, where diverse planting benefits the ecosystem as a whole. Among the produce available for the public to pick will be raspberries, huckleberries, pawpaw, kales, beets, chard, arugula, leeks and artichokes.
To grow its produce, Swale will primarily use rainwater, but it will also make use of river water. In order to use water from the Hudson, East and Bronx rivers, though, it will have first have to desalinate it and purify it of chemical and biological contaminants. This will partly be done using saltwater marsh plants, with the water also filtered through tanks, sand, and gravel. A second gravity-fed process will then filter it through sand, clay, silver and carbonated charcoal.
Swale says a modest estimate is that it will be able to serve 300 people per day for four days a week. In addition, the barge will host community activities and artistic events, such as performances, tutorials and discussions.
The plan is for Swale to launch in June and to dock at a number of piers in New York for a month at a time. Its current planned locations are New Rochelle in late June, Concrete Plant Park in July, Governor's Island and Pier 36 in August, Brooklyn Bridge Park in September, Brooklyn Navy Terminal in October and Staten Island Homeport in November.
You can donate to Swale New York at the New York Foundation for the Arts website.
Source: Swale New York
Health & WellbeingFarmingAgricultureFoodWatercraftNew YorkUrban Farming
Buellrider April 26, 2016 10:27 AM
Nice idea, but I'll believe it when photos are taken of the real deal.
natosoco April 26, 2016 11:16 AM
Sounds awesome. Now they just need to do it!
Stephen N Russell April 26, 2016 08:27 PM
Must be for NYC if they have to have a produce barge for fruits, veggies IE the supermarkets in NYC alone either really bad or outdated. Id expand to 4 barges for the whole city alone.
Could exercise be replaced with a protein supplement?
Longer lifespan linked to green tea consumption in Chinese study
Fat-measurement device sends pulses of light into users' bellies
Celiac disease may be partly triggered by bacterial infection
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NewCities Opens Search for New Executive Director
Montréal, Canada – July 12, 2017.
Following the NewCities Foundation’s successful 2017 Summit in Incheon Songdo, its Chairman John Rossant announced that Executive Director Maxwell Anderson will be returning to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in August 2017.
“Having conceived and planned our 2014 edition of the Summit in Dallas, Texas, Max stepped into the Foundation’s leadership the following year, and ably stewarded the move of our headquarters from Paris to Montréal,” Rossant stated. “As our Executive Director, he reorganized our staff, conceived and oversaw our embrace of twelve impact areas, relaunched our brand, and expanded our fundraising activities.”
Anderson stated: “I greatly appreciate the opportunity given to me by our Chairman John Rossant to guide a highly talented staff. Since first joining the Board of Trustees in 2014, I have been proud to be associated with our compelling mission to make cities more inclusive, connected, healthy and vibrant.”
Since June 2016, Anderson has served concurrently as president of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, which he is now making his primary professional focus.
NewCities is conducting an international search for the position of Executive Director. The new incumbent will be based at the NewCities headquarters in Montreal. Inquiries can be made to jobs@newcitiesfoundation.org.
To apply: newcities.org/careers-executive-director/.
Thomas Ledwell
NewCities
tledwell@newcitiesfoundation.org
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Work-focused interventions that promote the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions: a systematic review
Arif Jetha1,2,
Robert Shaw3,
Adrienne R Sinden4,
Quenby Mahood1,
Monique AM Gignac1,2,5,
Mary Ann McColl6,
Kathleen A Martin Ginis3
1 Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
4 McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
5 Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
6 School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Correspondence to Dr Arif Jetha, Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ONM5G 2E9, Canada; ajetha{at}iwh.on.ca
Objective Young adulthood is an important transitional life phase where careers are established. Young adults with chronic disabling health conditions are underrepresented in the labour market. Our study aims to examine the effectiveness of work-focused interventions that support the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions; and to examine whether the effectiveness of work-focused interventions differ across work transition phase (eg, preparation, entry and sustaining work, employment advancement) and disability type.
Methods A systematic review of articles published between January 1990 and July 2018 was conducted. Medline, EMBASE and PsycInfo were searched, and titles/abstracts and full texts of articles were reviewed for eligibility. Relevant articles were appraised for methodological quality. A best evidence synthesis was applied to medium-quality/high-quality studies to develop recommendations.
Results 5816 articles were identified; 10 articles were relevant and of moderate–high methodological quality. Six intervention categories were identified which focused on young adults with mental health or intellectual/learning disabilities (n=3) and addressed employment preparation (n=10) and/or work entry (n=9). No interventions addressed at-work issues or career advancement. Strong evidence existed for tailored supported employment (SE) interventions having a positive impact on preparation and entry into competitive employment. Also, moderate evidence existed for the positive impact of SE on preparation and entry into competitive employment for young adults with mental health conditions.
Conclusions Tailored SE is recommended to foster preparation and entry into the labour market. Evidence-based interventions are needed to facilitate sustained work and career advancement of young adults living with different disabling health conditions.
work transition
work-focused intervention
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
What is already known about this subject?
The young adult life phase is characterised by vocational transitions that mark entry into and advancement within the labour market.
Young adults with chronic disabling health conditions face barriers to finding and sustaining productive employment.
It is unclear what work-focused interventions would be beneficial to young adults with different chronic disabling health conditions as they transition into the labour market.
What are the new findings?
Strong evidence existed for tailored supported employment interventions having a positive impact on competitive employment outcomes.
Moderate evidence existed for tailored supported employment interventions having a positive impact on competitive employment outcomes for young adults with mental health conditions.
Few other evidence-based interventions exist that address the transitional employment needs of young adults with disabling health conditions.
How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?
To facilitate the transition into work of young adults with disabling conditions, tailored supported employment interventions should be implemented.
Additional research is required to examine interventions that facilitate sustained work and career advancement.
Young adults living with chronic and disabling health conditions are under-represented within the labour market.1 Of concern, challenges at the early career stage can have a long-term impact on involvement in paid work and affect the ability to access resources (eg, income, nutritious food and safe housing) that provide pathways to better health.2 3 Interventions that support the employment participation of young adults living with chronic disabling health conditions can advance health and quality of life. Our review synthesised evidence regarding work-focused interventions that promote the employment of young adults living with chronic disabling health conditions.
Young adulthood, spanning 18–35 years, is characterised by several transitions (ie, discrete vocational changes) that mark entry into the labour market including exiting educational roles, preparation and entry into paid work and advancement within one’s job.4 5 Research indicates that difficulties with employment in young adulthood can have a ‘scarring effect’ and contribute to adverse work (eg, unemployment, missed work days, earning less pay) and health outcomes (eg, psychological distress) that can extend across adulthood.6 7 The current generation of young adults (often referred to as millennials) face unique challenges with employment. When compared with previous generations, millennial young adults possess higher levels of formal education and technological literacy, but are less likely to be employed in full-time permanent jobs and more likely to face income insecurity.8 9 It is within these challenging socioeconomic conditions that young people with disabilities are entering the labour market.
Despite the existence of legislation which protects against workplace discrimination and mandates reasonable job accommodation,10 11 young adults with chronic and disabling health conditions are only half as likely to participate in employment than their peers without a disability.12 13 Data from industrialised countries like Canada and the USA indicate that young adults with disabling health conditions are more likely to report underemployment, precarious working conditions and at-work productivity losses.1 14 15 Also, young adults with disabilities have a lower median yearly income compared with their peers without a disability and are more likely to rely on income supports.15 16 Income and employment inequity between those with and without a disabling health condition widens with older age.15
Interventions that are work-focused (ie, where the specific intention is to promote employment engagement) play an important role in addressing the physical and psychosocial workplace barriers experienced by people with disabling health conditions.17 18 However, little evidence currently exists which can guide the development of policies and programmes that enhance the employment of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. Systematic reviews of studies of working-aged samples (≈18–65 years) with different disabling health conditions indicate the importance of multidimensional work-focused interventions that include workplace modification, health and rehabilitation care, supported job placement and work-related training.17–22 Another recent review of studies of vocational programmes of youth (15–25 years) with physical disabilities found that workplace-based training, job-specific mentorship and family engagement were intervention components that had the potential to improve participation in paid and unpaid work roles.23 Of note, the methodological quality of the intervention studies in this review was not reported. Hence, it is unclear what work-focused interventions would be beneficial to young adults with different disabling health conditions as they transition into the labour market.
Using a rigorous systematic review methodology, our study examines the following research questions: (1) What work-focused interventions are most effective in supporting the employment of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions? (2) Does the effectiveness of work-focused interventions differ for young adults living with different chronic disabling health conditions (eg, mental health, intellectual/learning, physical and speech/hearing/visual disabilities)? (3) Do interventions and their effectiveness differ across the period of transition into the labour market (eg, preparation, entry, sustaining work and advancement within employment)?
We used a systematic review methodology designed to synthesise evidence in the field of occupational health and safety and aimed at generating recommendations for practice.17 Investigative team members had experience with the systematic review process and specific backgrounds in information sciences, epidemiology, social sciences, rehabilitation and health sciences, occupational health and public policy. Embedded within the review process was engagement with relevant stakeholders including young adults with disabilities, employment support practitioners and public policy experts.24 The review protocols, described below, were registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018104550) and align with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Question development
At the outset, the investigative team and stakeholders participated in a series of consultations where research questions were generated. During consultations, stakeholders expressed a lack of evidence regarding the most effective interventions that could be used to facilitate preparation, entry and advancement within the labour market of young adults with disabilities. Stakeholders also described an absence of evidence regarding whether interventions should differ based on disability type. In collaboration with stakeholders, the study team also decided to examine work-focused interventions within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries which have similar socioeconomic contexts.
Search terms were developed iteratively with input from the lead author, information scientist, review team members and stakeholders. All database-specific search terms are available in online supplement 1. Collaboratively, search terms were refined to follow a PICO framework and capture the population of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions, work-focused interventions, comparison groups and work outcomes (table 1). To address our research questions, we searched for any disabling chronic health condition that could affect young adults including mental health (eg, depression), intellectual/learning (eg, attention deficit disorder), physical (eg, juvenile arthritis) or speech/hearing/visual disability. Database-specific controlled vocabulary terms and keywords were included. The terms within each category were combined using a Boolean OR operator and terms across the four main categories were combined using a Boolean AND operator. Medline (OVID), EMBASE (OVID) and PsycInfo (OVID) were searched for articles published between January 1990 and September 2017 to identify work-focused interventions for current and previous generations of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. The search was subsequently updated in July 2018. Aligning with previous occupational health and safety reviews, research prior to 1990 was considered informative but excluded to account for advancements with workplace, policy and health systems levels that have occurred in OECD countries.18 Non-English studies are indexed in the three databases with English-transcribed titles and abstracts. Accordingly, we captured non-English references using English search terms. Search terms were customised to align with each database’s specific controlled vocabulary. Reference lists of included studies were also examined to identify references not found in the literature search. The search yields were combined in a citation manager software. Once duplicates were removed, titles and abstracts were imported into Microsoft Excel to facilitate the screening processes.
Supplementary file 1
[SP1.pdf]
Population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) summary table
Relevance screen
Articles were included if they were primary research, published ≥ 1990, focused on a work-specific intervention, within an OECD country,25 and where the sample of interest was young adults (18–35 years) with any chronic disabling health condition. We included studies when the sample’s mean age fell between 18 and 35 years, and age range was <45 years or >16 years. Articles which had a broader age range were only included when sample characteristics and intervention effects were reported for young adults. Our operationalisation of young adulthood aligns with theoretical research on the young adult life phase and enabled us to capture various definitions used in the literature.5 20 Intervention studies could be randomised or non-randomised designs but had to have a comparator or control group.17 All languages were included in our search. Exclusion criteria comprised (1) non-intervention studies (eg, observational research); (2) secondary research (eg, systematic reviews); (3) non-work-focused interventions (eg, clinical interventions where employment was not an intended outcome); (4) commentary/editorial or case studies; and (5) studies where no statistical intervention effect was recorded. While previously published systematic reviews or meta-analysis studies were not eligible, their references were checked to identify relevant articles.
Titles and abstracts of references identified in the search were divided among three reviewers for relevance screening, such that each reference was screened by two reviewers independently. A quality control step was implemented to ensure inter-rater reliability and limit bias; 5% of titles and abstracts were examined by two reviewers and findings were compared. Reviewers came to consensus on any disagreements and consulted the third reviewer in cases that could not be resolved. Articles that met the first level of screening were carried forward for a full-text review. Two independent reviewers applied the same inclusion and exclusion criteria to examine each article. Disagreements between the two reviewers were discussed in team meetings. Moderate–high inter-rater reliability was identified in title/abstract and full-text reviews, suggesting that reviewers were consistently applying inclusion/exclusion criteria to the screening processes.
Quality appraisal and data extraction
Each relevant article was appraised for methodological quality by two independent reviewers. A 25-item quality assessment tool was used to assess study methodological (ie, study design and objectives, level of recruitment, intervention characteristics and intensity, outcomes and analysis)18 (online supplement 2). The appraisal tool has been used in previous occupational health and safety systematic reviews and provided an evaluation of internal, external and statistical validity of each article.26 During team meetings, reviewers were required to reach consensus on the application of the quality assessment tool for each study. Once consensus was reached, methodological quality appraisal scores were assigned to each study based on a weighted sum score of the quality criteria. Weightings were created through a consensus building exercise where members of the research team and study stakeholders ranked quality appraisal criterion based on level of importance with regards to methodological dimensions that were most important to addressing our research questions (1=somewhat important; 3=very important). Weightings are reported in online supplement 2. Using the weightings, a final quality score was generated and converted to a percentage. Studies were ranked as high (≥85%), medium (50%–84%) or low quality (<50%).27 While informative, low-quality studies were ultimately excluded from the review because of their potential risk of bias and methodological limitations. Data from included studies were extracted to create summary tables which included sample description, intervention details and work outcomes. Interventions that used similar mechanisms and conceptual principles were grouped together.
Evidence synthesis considered the quality, quantity and consistency of evidence to draw practice-based conclusions for each intervention category. Given that studies varied in their length of observation, design and confounding variables, pooled effect estimates were not calculated. However, a best evidence synthesis approach was taken to generate messages for policy or practice based on the level of evidence available.28
The effectiveness of an intervention was determined using criteria that were applied to each study. In particular, a study exhibiting a positive effect was characterised by findings which showed a significantly positive result and either no negative results or no null effects. A negative effect intervention referred to a study exhibiting any negative effect. Intervention effects, quality ratings and number of studies were all considered to determine the level of evidence for each category of intervention uncovered in the review. Evidence was synthesised using an algorithm that considers the quality and quantity of studies and consistency of study findings29 (table 2).
Best evidence synthesis algorithm/algorithm for messages18 27
The algorithm has been used in several systematic reviews in the field of occupational health and safety18 30 to guide policy and practice recommendations. An intervention that is supported by a strong level of evidence contributes to specific recommendations for policy and practice. An intervention supported by a moderate level of evidence contributes to practice considerations. In contrast, limited, mixed or insufficient evidence levels contribute to a lack of evidence to guide policies or practices. Interventions that were supported by moderate to strong evidence levels were examined further to determine if their effect differed based on disability type or phase of work transition. Practice recommendations were generated in collaboration with study stakeholders to develop specific messages that could be disseminated to knowledge users.
Literature search and relevancy screen
Spanning January 1990–July 2018, our search yielded 5816 articles from various databases and after removing duplicates. Following title/abstract relevancy screening, 5185 articles were excluded. Most common reasons for exclusion were studies not focusing on young adults (45%) and/or a specific work intervention (40%). Full-text reviews of the remaining 631 manuscripts resulted in 18 studies being carried forward for quality appraisal. Ten articles of moderate to high quality were identified as relevant for data extraction (figure 1). For three work-focused interventions, we identified two published articles. Multiple articles describing the same intervention were grouped together in table 1, but only the primary article was included in the evidence synthesis. All eligible articles were in English language.
Flow chart of study identification, selection and synthesis.
Quality appraisal
Using the quality appraisal tool, three studies were high quality (≥85% of quality appraisal score) and seven articles were of medium quality (50%–84% of quality appraisal score). Five articles were appraised rated as being of low quality (<50% of quality appraisal score) and were excluded from data extraction and evidence synthesis. Consistent across all medium-quality and high-quality studies, reasons for receiving a lower quality appraisal score were non-random selection of the study sample (n=10) and potential for co-intervention (n=10). Intervention articles that were appraised as low quality tended to not adequately describe sample inclusion/exclusion criteria (n=5), baseline sample characteristics (n=3), sample attrition (n=4) or key intervention mechanisms (n=3). Low-quality articles were also characterised by suboptimal statistical analyses (n=5) and did not control for important confounding variables in their analysis (n=5).
Of the 10 studies, 5 were randomized trials, 2 were non-randomised trials and 3 used other study designs (eg, cohort studies, post-test evaluation) (table 3). Over half of the intervention studies were conducted in the USA (n=6). The remaining were conducted in Australia (n=2), the UK (n=1) and Japan (n=1). Across the studies, over half had an observation length of ≥ 1 year and ranged from 6 weeks to 3 years.
Five main intervention categories were uncovered in our systematic review that support the employment of young adults with disabling health conditions (table 3).
Tailored supported employment (SE) (n=8)31–38
SE is a job training programme where a person with a disabling health condition is integrated within a business to acquire competitive employment. SE participants obtain tailored vocational coaching in a number of areas including interpersonal skills, behavioural self-monitoring, problem solving, requesting assistance, transportation, and workplace policies and procedures. The approach is collaborative and involves a multidisciplinary support team (eg, vocational rehabilitation service providers, healthcare professionals, families, educational agencies and employers). Notably, SE includes disability-awareness training within the workplace in which the participant is placed. Individualised placement and support are considered a variant of SE that is applied to people with mental health conditions. Individualised placement and support interventions were grouped under the SE intervention category.39
Tailored SE in combination with a disease-specific work intervention (SE+) (n=2)31 38 40
Several interventions combined SE with disability-specific work interventions. For instance, one study implemented autism-specific interventions including behavioural analysis, support/consultation from an autism specialist and workplace autism awareness.38 The second offered cognitive remediation to people with mental illness including training on sustaining attention, psychomotor speed, building learning memory capacity and managing cognitive problems.31
Tailored SE in combination with self-disclosure training (n=1)
One intervention offered an SE intervention that was combined with training on self-disclosure. Participants in this intervention were asked to identify which items of personal and health-related information they wish to share with others and were coached on the development of a strategy for disclosure.36
Youth transition demonstration (YTD) enhanced employment services (n=1)
YTD provided a cluster of employment services including individualised work-based experiences, empowerment building, family support and connection to service providers (eg, healthcare providers, education programme, transportation, assistive technologies). At the policy level, YTD participants also received waivers for income support that enabled them to engage in the labour market without loss of social security.41
Technology-based job interview training (n=1)
A virtual reality-based training programme was provided that simulated a job interview with a virtual organisational human resource representative. The job interview training programme provided customisable interview questions and simulated a rapport with an interviewer that would mimic a real-life job interview. Participants were provided with a score and specific feedback to improve interview skills.42
All 10 interventions focused on preparation for employment and 9 interventions also targeted entry into work. No intervention focused on sustaining employment or career advancement. Six interventions were administered to young adults living with mental health conditions (eg, psychosis, major depressive disorder),31–36 three were administered to young adults living with intellectual and learning disability (eg, autism spectrum disorder)37 38 42 and one focused broadly on young adults with different disabilities.41
Work outcomes
Eight studies examined the impact of the intervention on competitive employment, which is defined as meaningful integrated employment that is consistent with a person’s career interests and skills, and where wages are at the market rate.39 Competitive employment was measured dichotomously (competitively employed; not competitively employed). Three studies also assessed employment in any job including part-time or full-time paid work in contract or permanent positions (employed; not employed). Few studies also collected information on job tenure (ie, days employed for pay), employment income (ie, paid weekly earnings) and hours worked (ie, weekly hours worked) (table 4).
Study findings and quality appraisal
Evidence was synthesised for each intervention category and specific practice-based messages were generated (table 5). A strong level of evidence existed for SE on competitive employment (three high (H) and four medium (M) quality studies). Practice-based recommendations can be drawn from this level of evidence; implementing an SE programme is recommended for young adults with disabilities to prepare for and secure competitive employment. Moderate evidence was available for the effect of SE on employment in any job (2H and 1M). Practice-based considerations can be drawn from this level of evidence; SE can be considered to promote employment in any job. Findings showed insufficient evidence for the effect of SE on other work outcomes (eg, income, hours worked or job tenure). Also, insufficient evidence was identified for the use of other interventions including SE+, SE and self-disclosure training, YTD and technology-based job interview training.
Level of evidence for work-focused interventions targeting young adults and accompanying messages
When examining whether interventions differed for young adults with different chronic disabling health conditions, a moderate level of evidence existed for the use of SE to support competitive employment for young adults with mental health conditions (2H and 3M). Thus, SE should be considered as an effective intervention to increase the likelihood of competitive employment for young adults with mental health conditions. There was not enough evidence to support the use of SE for competitive employment of young adults living with other disabling health conditions. There was also insufficient evidence to examine whether the interventions would be beneficial for other phases of the transition to employment.
Young adults with chronic disabling health conditions face challenges finding and sustaining paid work and may benefit from specialised support. Our systematic review is one of the first to synthesise evidence regarding the effectiveness of work-focused interventions for young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. Interventions that support the transition into the labour market address a critical social determinant of health and provide young adults with pathways to better health and quality of life. Only a handful of work-focused interventions were uncovered through our systematic review. Among those that were found, sufficient evidence only existed for SE as an effective intervention that can help young adults with disabilities prepare and find competitive employment. Our systematic review underscores the need for additional development and evaluation of interventions that would support young adults with disabling conditions as they enter the workforce and advance within their careers.
A main finding from our study was the limited number of medium-quality to high-quality intervention studies which addressed the employment needs of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. Only 10 intervention studies were identified from our systematic review, a majority of which were based in the USA. Most intervention studies focused on preparation and entry into employment. Outcome measures examined in the intervention studies tended to focus on whether or not a participant was employed competitively or in any job. No studies examined at-work outcome measures (eg, absenteeism or presenteeism) or career growth (eg, job promotion, changes in income or seniority or perceived quality of employment43). Findings suggest that there is minimal high-quality evidence to guide the development of approaches for the long-term employment of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. There is a need to further develop and evaluate interventions that address the unique transitional work experiences of young adults with disabling health conditions using randomised trials of representative community-based samples.
Notably, sufficient evidence existed to recommend the use of SE to facilitate preparation and entry into competitive employment for young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. SE interventions identified in our review were multidimensional and included several common features such as competitive employment placements, job coaching, collaboration of a multidisciplinary research team and changing workplace attitudes towards employees with disabilities. It may be that the cluster of SE services are effective in addressing the physical and psychosocial barriers that young adults with disabling health conditions face at the early career stage.20 Of the SE intervention studies uncovered in this review, observational lengths ranged from 6 weeks to 2 years. It is unclear if SE can be helpful for young adults to sustain employment. Studies are required to expand on findings by examining the effect of SE on longer-term work experiences. Additionally, studies are required within a broader range of OECD countries to further investigate the effectiveness of SE in different contexts. Interestingly, several interventions included SE in combination with a disability-specific intervention (SE+).31 38 Although there was not sufficient evidence from our systematic review to support SE+, tailoring work-focused interventions to a particular disability has the potential to enable a young person to better navigate specific employment challenges they may encounter. Research is needed to examine the efficacy of SE+ interventions on the employment of young adults with different disabling conditions.
Studies consistently indicated that mental health disorders are one of the most significant causes of work disability in industrialised countries.44–47 Our systematic review provided moderate evidence for the use of SE for the competitive employment of young adults with mental health conditions. Results align with a previous meta-analysis, which also highlights the benefits of SE for the employment of working-aged adults with mental health conditions.48 A hallmark of SE interventions is work placement combined with health care and vocational rehabilitation support delivered by a multidisciplinary team.49 Accordingly, SE may offer the specific skills for young adults to balance their work with the management of mental health symptoms.49 With the exception of one study, no other intervention studies identified in our review focused on physical (eg, juvenile arthritis, multiple sclerosis) or speech/hearing/visual disabilities, or traumatic injuries (eg, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury). There is a paucity of interventions that address the employment needs of young adults living with some of the most commonly reported chronic disabling health conditions, many of which can be associated with significant challenges with involvement in paid work.44 47
Lastly, only one intervention identified in our review specifically addressed policy-level conditions to support the employment of young adult with disabling conditions.41 Some studies indicate that policy-level factors such as the loss of disability benefits represent a commonly reported disincentive to entering the labour market for people with a disability. Interestingly, Farkar et al offered social assistance waivers to young adult study participants so that they could participate in a job placement and training programme without loss of income support.41 Participants who received the combined intervention were more likely to hold paid employment and report greater income compared with the control group. Additional research is required to expand on the role of policy-level interventions in influencing the employment participation of young adults living with different chronic disabling health conditions.
Strengths of this systematic review included the utilisation of a rigorous methodology that has been designed and applied within the field of occupational health and safety, and involve stakeholder engagement and the use of a comprehensive methodological quality appraisal tool to evaluate risk of bias and methodological limitations. To answer our research questions, we included studies that reported statistical intervention effects, and excluded grey and qualitative literature.50 Additional research is required to synthesise other forms of evidence to enhance our understanding of work-focused interventions for young adults with disabilities, and to determine the contexts in which interventions are most effective. Even though we used a comprehensive search strategy that drew from the expertise of an information scientist and study stakeholders, it is possible that searching through additional databases could have yielded relevant studies that may have been missed. Creating weighted quality appraisal scores through a consensus-based approach enabled the research team to grade the methodological rigour of each study in terms of its ability to answer our research questions. At the same time, this process could potentially result in certain studies being excluded. Lastly, due to heterogeneity in intervention components and study designs, we did not perform a meta-analysis. Instead, we conducted a best evidence synthesis to determine levels of evidence and to provide practitioners with overarching recommendations.28
For young adults with chronic disabling health conditions, the transition into the labour market plays an important role in determining working experiences across the life course. Our systematic review of work-focused interventions suggests that young adults with disabling health conditions may benefit from SE. It is recommended that practitioners implement SE as an intervention to support preparation and entry into competitive employment. At the same time, findings also suggest an overarching absence of interventions of high methodological quality that address the needs of young adults with disabling health conditions as they sustain employment or advance within their career. Also, limited interventions existed for young people with physical or speech/hearing/visual disabilities. In conclusion, there is a need to further develop interventions which support the employment of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions. Enhancing our understanding of work-focused interventions will provide an evidence base that can inform strategic policy and programmatic design, and offer tailored approaches for income generation and health promotion.
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Emma Irvin, Dwayne Van Eerd and Kimberly Cullen at the Institute for Work and Health for their support implementing the systematic review methodology. We are grateful for the support of Joanna Liu for her assistance with the literature search and article retrieval. We would also like to thank all of the study stakeholders who contributed to the systematic review process.
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Patient consent for publication Not required.
Contributors AJ, RS, MG, MAMG and KAMG were involved in study conceptualisation, methodological design and stakeholder engagement. AJ, RS, QM, MG, MAMG and KMG developed systematic review search terms. AJ, RS, AS, QM performed title/abstract and full-text reviews. AJ, RS and AS conducted appraisals of methodological quality. All authors contributed to manuscript development.
Funding This work was supported by a Partnership Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (#895-2013-1021) for the Canadian Disability Participation Project.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
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« People Need Faith, Not Philosophy?
Gibbon’s “Decline & Fall of Roman Empire” In Pluto Context (Fall of Rome Part 2) »
Why The ROMAN STATE COLLAPSED (Part I; Plus Contemporary Analogy)
The climate is, and will, collapse incredibly fast, at some point in the near future. Same, potentially, for civilization.
The hints of climate collapse are in, they are piling all over. Irma, a hurricane packing recorded gusts of 363 kilometers an hour appeared. It got enormous: 330,000 square kilometers. At the same time, hurricane Katia attacked the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Behind Irma, Jose, a category 4 hurricane, nearly as nasty as Irma. When things collapse, they collapse fast: think of the proverbial Twin Towers of “9/11” twisting, turning and leaning, and then down in 8 seconds. This is what happens during a transition to a new equilibrium.
Collapses of civilizations have happened many times before. The most famous case, by far, is Rome. Roman society was the most complex, and the one most similar to the world civilization we have today. It collapsed, and it was first a psychological collapse.
Rome collapsed amazingly fast. Early in 379 CE, there was a refugee crisis, caused by a million Goths (including women and children) begging to enter the empire. The empire was at the height of its powers. By 406 CE, the empire had collapsed. The one million Goths had been allowed to enter the Roman empire. Under the condition of coming, unarmed. They cheated. Disaster ensued.
By 400 CE, though, a German Confederation, the Franks, had been put in charge of insuring the defense of the two Germania and the richest Roman province, Gallia (Gaul). In 406 CE, the Frankish curtain broke when the Rhine surprisingly froze, and many tiny German nations broke through Gaul, and even Spain and North Africa. By 410 CE, the city of Rome herself had been conquered by the Goths.
The Vandals, with 40,000 warriors, went quickly all the way to the Roman province of Africa, where they established a maritime empire, comprising the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta (439 CE)…
The Great Barbarian Invasions By Tiny German Nations Were Preceded By Roman Mental Collapse of the “Antifa” Type. Situation in 435 CE, after 29 Years of Invasions.
The Romans tried to dislodge the Vandals many times, but failed. In 455 CE, the Vandals sacked Rome (their fleet just went up the Tiber). Having seized control of the sea, the Vandals were able to control and cut the grain supply to the city of Rome (and much grain came from North Africa). This starved Rome, and the population collapsed. The Vandal empire would last more than a century, until an army sent there by Roman emperor Justinian defeated them.
By the late Fifth Century, Italy had fallen under the control of the Ostrogoths (who were relatively benign, except they killed the president of the Roman Senate, the philosopher Boethius; the king of the Ostrogoths had believed, erroneously, some lies about Boethius, he later bemoaned).
Emperor Justinian, the same one I just mentioned, decided to grab back Italy, and, in particular, Rome. The city was lost and taken several times. Ultimately, Oriental Romans won, and the Ostrogoths got annihilated (I say “Oriental Romans” because “Byzantine”, is an erroneous concept and word I try not to use: the Romans were calling themselves Romans, not “Byzantines”; the Romans had selected Byzantium as Oriental Capital; Byzantium, an ancient Greek city, had not selected them). However being besieged many times destroyed the city of Rome. Especially, most of her aqueducts. It was said that there was just one individual observed living in the ruins.
In ancient historiography, the Roman empire is described as declining, and then falling. However, the bias may have been introduced by the Christians, who controlled which books were worth saving. Christians hated (the) Greco-Roman civilization (which had created them), and were crucial to its demise, with the supine mentality which they promoted. So they committed a crime, and had interest to present the victim, civilization, as so decrepit, they had nothing to do with it. In truth, their fanaticism helped bring down a thriving civilization.
This is a clear bias, not supported by recent archeology. Archeology shows that the Roman State was actually richer, and more powerful, just before it collapsed. On the face of it, the army was the largest Rome ever had. Roma was much powerful in 379 CE than it had been, facing Hannibal. By a factor of ten. Rome should have been able to rise armies numbering millions in 379 CE (because a ten, or twenty times smaller Rome was able to rise armies numbering hundreds of thousands, facing Hannibal, or the German invasion around 110 BCE, by the Cimbri, Teutones and Ambrones!) The difference between the Punic and Cimbrian wars, when the Roman Republic faced annihilation, and the Germanic invasions of the Fifth Century, when it didn’t (the Germans being then half-civilized and anxious to become Romans), was mood. The Roman mood.
So what happened? How come that mightiest Roman army ever could be defeated, again and again and again, or shrink from battle? The Goth refugees had done whatever was needed (such as prostituting their wives and daughters, on an industrial scale) to keep their weapons. Mistreated by corrupt local Roman official, so corrupt that they didn’t take basic military precautions, the Goths, ably led by a charismatic leader, Fritigern, rebelled.
The Collapse of the Roman empire was sudden. This is the situation around 440 CE.
Emperor Valens rushed from Mesopotamia with the Oriental Roman field army. Thanks to an hubris reminiscent of that French generals around May 13, 1940, Valens rushed its dehydrated, exhausted army into battle on a hot August day, without having figured out where the mighty Gothic cavalry was. The Occidental Roman army chief of staff, the Frankish general Richomeres advised Valens to wait until the Occidental army arrived. The Oriental Roman field army was annihilated, Valens killed (in unclear circumstances). Richomeres kept discipline and saved part of the force (he would later become head of the army in the Orient, magister militum per Orientem, and a Consul).
We have some of the ingredients of the fall of Rome there: dictatorship by the emperor not listening to advice, and most of the top military genius of the empire having to do with Frankish generals.
The Roman State was severely defeated at Adrianopolis in 379 CE. That battle, against the Goths, was reminiscent of the massacre of Cannae, 600 years before. Cannae was a tremendous Roman defeat originating straight from Hannibal’s genius. Roman legions, including 60 Senators found themselves so compressed by Hannibal’s army of mercenaries, that they couldn’t fight: they had been drawn to the center by Hannibal himself, at the head of his Gallic troops. Adrianopolis was more of the same. However, whereas Hannibal was crafty at Cannae, the Romans were stupid at Adrianopolis.
After Cannae, the Romans rose another two large armies, and Scipio “Africanus” landed the main one in Africa, next to Carthage. . After Adrianopolis, the Romans didn’t rise a new army so much as they showed Constantinople to the Gothic king, who was mesmerized. The Goth thus decided to make peace. And to celebrate so much, that he died from it (his successor honored the accord).
Clearly, by the end of the Fourth Century, the immensely wealthy empire, much richer than Rome six centuries earlier, was able to rise armies (hence the systematic recourse to Frankish armies, forces and general; even emperor Constantine had a crucial battle won by the Frankish general Bonitus; another Frankish general, Arbogast, was emperor in all but name, as he tried a secular, laic counter-coup).
This lack of armies explains why the empire of more than 60 millions was defeated by tiny German armies (the Goths had by far the largest army, around 100,000 men).
Gibbon would perhaps point out that the Christian mentality was antagonistic to war. Right. Actually the Christian bishops were heading the empire by 400 CE (this government of bishops had started under Gratian, when he became weird after Adrianopolis; maybe he was weird because he had to name Theodosius emperor of the Orient; Gratian was barely 20, Theodosius, 33, and accomplished, however his father had been executed earlier for high treason…).
The Late Roman empire had become a very strange place. While the Germans threatened to roam all over the place, with their own Sharia (although they were Aryan Christian, but for the Franks, who were obdurate Pagans), the bishops declared that murderous highwaymen should not be executed (so the roads became impassible).
All this weirdness was there to hide the main fact: the Roman plutocrats prefered experiencing German invasions to paying taxes to the Roman State, to feed the prodigious army Rome could have had, and the Roman plutocrats had the means to NOT pay taxes by influencing people and blocking others. They married the invaders, and that was it.
Does this remind you of today?
It should!
Meanwhile, Trump operated a 180 degrees (long announced). He announced a deal with his new-found friends “Nancy and Chuck”. The buxom Nancy Pelosi has headed the Democrats in Congress since before 2006 (when she acquired control of Congress); “Chuck” is the head of the Democratic Senators. So the rising of the US debt ceiling was passed (it had been attached to 20 billion dollars heading to the relief of Houston). I wonder if all those who called racist whoever had a nice word about some aspects of Trump, will now direct their fury towards “Nancy and Chuck”. Probably not: too complicated for their simple minds.
To come back to Late Imperial Rome, all the wealthiest families had a bishop in their ranks: Christianism was a smokescreen for plutocracy. Among plutocratic families, Christian propaganda was basic civic service. By superficially embracing Christianism, and imposing it deeply, plutocracy made We The People into We the Sheeple.
The empire, in tatters, rose again thanks to the Franks, but the destruction caused by the collapse was beyond a force 8 hurricane. Because the minds, the rational, republican, democratic culture, had collapsed so entirely.
It would take seven centuries for civilization to rise higher. Even then, it got poisoned again by the second plutocratic wave known, with misleading semantics, as the “Feudal” system. That rose again with a second Christianization wave known for the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Religious Wars,and various terrors, which wrecked Europe for another eight centuries after 1026 CE (when burnings for “heresy” got launched again, after centuries without.)
More than 200 potential or known causes for the Decline and Fall of Rome have been listed. The plutocratic explanation therein suggested implies them all, so it is the master explanation.
Why was the collapse of the Roman state so thorough and so fast? Contemplate the present North Korean crisis. Suppose it would evolved in the way most unfavorable to civilization: Kim threatens the West, atom bomb a few cities, like Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, and then one makes a treaty with him, and North Korean and Jihadists become the overlords, under special laws applying to them alone. Meanwhile the “antifa” are in charge of the justice, police and military systems and impose to not fight crime in any form.
This is roughly what happened to the Roman state, and it happened within a few years. At the time, some Romans were indignant, and tried to react, to prevent the Decline and Fall of the Roman State. Maximus in Britain led his legions into Gaul, defeated (next to Paris) and killed emperor Gratian (in Lyon), because Gratian was roaming around dressed like a Scythian, and had put the Catholic bishops in power. Maximus became Augustus, and Theodosius had to live with him. Yet, the rot within average minds was already too deep.
The facts above are mostly ignored in the major universities, because such facts would disrupt them by disrupting their major sponsor, the plutocratic system, which feeds so well the top university leaders (they earn up to 2 million dollars a year in the USA). Still we, humble philosophers, shall obstinately preach the truths, just because they are there, and need to be conquered even more than the highest imaginable mountains.
Tags: Fall of Rome
This entry was posted on September 9, 2017 at 7:45 pm and is filed under Aristotle, Civilizational Collapse, Fall of Rome, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
21 Responses to “Why The ROMAN STATE COLLAPSED (Part I; Plus Contemporary Analogy)”
Yes, we are living in a strange world. In one side sciences and technology in progress, and even political and social sciences start to understand what humanity is all about, on the other hand the inexplicable phenomenon of the Islamic state, where Muslim youth with European education joins the local Middle Eastern partners, to start a war, with no aim, except to breach all the moral norms, that humans ever followed. Then the biggest world power elects a cloun to be it’s president, whose only possible contribution to the world and US itself can be, that eventually he will destroy the same political establishment, that enabled him to come to power. And then you have the British politicians, who let to a local clowns to provoke them to a decision, that no-one has clue what to do with.
But above all stand the mind set of people all over the world, who continue to play the ostrich to any kind of reality, and insist to stick themselves into norms, traditions and believes, that Europeans hoped to erase since the seventeenth century. Valtaire would probably turn in his grave, if he would see, what’s happening in today’s world. No rationality, no evidential knowledge but conspiracy theories, urban myths and ancient traditional follies rull the capitol.
To where are we heading too? Are we on the brink towards collapse just as the Romans did? Are we going to watch helplessly the evidently inevitable? Letting our leading intellectuals to support the others, just because they were “unjustly” colonised and suppressed by the western powers in the past, even if today they follow the road of the absolute evil? Just follow the stories of released residents of Raqqa, Mosul or any other place ruled by IS according to the fundamental interpretation of the Muslim law, and you can get quiet a good idea about what caliphat actually means. And if you think, that the idea of Caliphate is not a wet dream of every faithful Muslim, just ask any one of them. Knowing your tolerance to any kind of faith, even if it has built-in in its moral codes, the worst atrocities humans ever knew, they will voluntarily expose to you their final aim, the World Wide Caliphat.
Trump is no clown. The clowns are the intellectuals who embraced Islam, and GAFA GOOGLE APPLE FACEBOOK AMAZON. Also Trump does not hate Jews, is not a racist, and don’t eat babies
Are we on the verge of collapse as the Romans did? Probably not, because enough of us understand enough of that collapse. Hence my thinking on the subject… However modest, it supports the system as established in 1944/1945: United Nations with 5 permanent Security Council members. This depends heavily on none of the 5 going crazy (as Britain is playing with, and the USSR Russia and China still somewhat experiencing…). In any case the UN Sec. Council is made of secular members (with the part exception of Britain). Islam trying to repeat the Christian feats of the past hopefully will come short.
However, the Roman collapse showed showed that very few terrorists/barbarians could bring the empire down… One can’t just welcome hordes of the savages with open arms, as the Romans did with the Goths around 378 CE… Before that the Romans (Valens) had helped the Goths stabilize the front against the Huns… Then the policy/strategy was abandoned… Lesson for today: fight Boko Haram in Nigeria, not on the Seine or the Thames…
dominique deux Says:
Fairly interesting and informative as usual.
But you started on the climate change conundrum. It would be interesting if you gave similar attention to the collapse of mighty civilizations as the direct consequence of (local) man-induced climate change: Mesopotamia, the cradle of Western civilization, with its elaborate irrigation network ultimately bringing about large-scale desertification; Mayans, whose deforested lands declined to feed them anymore.
It could be argued that military (or migratory) invasions which are now perceived as threats will be directly linked with global warming (the un-PC but correct name of climate change).
Vulnerability to fouling one’s nest is a common thread of mighty empires, although TBH societies which are lauded as nature-friendly were not much better: both in Africa and pre-Colombian North America, local communities joyfully and extensively exhausted their lands, but thanks to very low demographic densities, they had the option to move to virgin tracts of land and allow regeneration, where possible (the build-up of lateritic layers after extensive deforestation in Africa was pretty much irreversible). An option we don’t have, and as you know, the dwindling arable areas in Africa is the root source of the recurrent conflicts, often started at grass-root levels by local competition between agriculturalists and cattle herders.
Dear Dominique: You make a very interesting point. I have made it in the past, and I hesitated to reinstate it, considering that was supposed to be a short “version”. But you are right, it’s no detail, and the case of the Maya, which I have explored in great detail in the past, is crucial. The Sumerian cities also got salted and then drowned in an event related to land overuse.
A graph is telling: the metallic pollution caused by Rome peaked in the First Century. The “world was getting old” the Romans complained in the Second Century, up to the highest level (the court and emperor). The way out was a technological surge. But that couldn’t be, as the emperors actively discouraged innovation, arguing that it would augment unemployment.
That was an idiotic reasoning, but nobody could call the emperor an idiot. And that idiotic reasoning has long legs: it was held in France in the last 30 years, with bad results.
The tech surge Rome needed happened in slow motion under the Franks. The next ecological crisis was handled well by Europe, around 1300 CE. However, although the European civilization survived, half of the population was dead by 1350 CE.
I pretty much omitted the ecological aspects, indeed, this time, so far, I will reinstate them in an essay and section…
cryptoRx Says:
‘In Late Imperial Rome, all the wealthiest families had a bishop in their ranks: Christianism was a smokescreen for plutocracy’
cryptoRx ⚔️ Retweeted Patrice Ayme
It’s the same with media and politics today
cryptoRx
This was the main point of contemporary significance of my essay. Media and politics are the new true religions, so they are owned by the wealthiest. Should be AGAINST the law.
TLDR; plutocrats’ greed caused fall of Roman empire that was arguably at its height; analogy to current Pax Americana
TLDR: Too Long Didn’t Read.
Anything which is complex will be TLTR. Thus the stupid youth. Moreover, anything which oppresses us will be complex. So any system of exploitation is TLDR. Thus the TLDR religion is equivalent to submission.
So it’s no coincidence that your psychological collapse theory from Plutocratic conspiracy was not exposed before?
As I said. The (allegedly top) universities are highly corrupt. I just learned that, over my many years of employment there, Stanford U and Berkeley, cheated on my Social Security tax. Looks like they pocketed it.
Wow! So they can get away with it. Like GAFA?
Joel Comm asked:
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
Answer: The hold of plutocracy on the mind generating mechanisms, worldwide. This is how the Roman State collapsed
pshakkottai Says:
Thanks, Partha! Much appreciated compliment!
colettebytes Says:
Plutocrats control everything that happens within society. They just allow us to play politics as a good diversion for our time and energy. The game achieves nothing more than keeping us occupied while Plutocrats decide our fates.
And this is exactly why and how the Roman Empire collapsed. A few bright emperors (Claudius, whom Gibbon considered a cretin; Nerva, Trajan, both in their 60s when reached their apex) didn’t compensate for the general fear emperors had of mental creativity. We have historical evidence, word for word, at least under emperor Flavius Domitianus (“Domitian”, circa 80 CE) that the top plutocrats were in a complete conspiracy, and fully aware of how hyper violent their system was… Not even sparing each other!
Eupatheia Says:
It was a great essay. I’ve read your latest ones. I’d love to read more of the fall of Roman Empire in relation to our current times.
Also as dominique deux mentioned in the comments, woven in with or more on climate change and fall of empires.
Romans used to say:”The world is getting old”. It means their technology was not adapted anymore to what they had made the world evolve into!
[Sent to LaTimes]
as the LA Times got in the Rome collapse business:
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-harper-pandemics-rome-20171015-story.html
Some truth about what happened in the middle of the Sixth Century, yet disinformation singing the praises of plutocracy: Europe resisted a way worse plague in 1348 CE, and the Western empire had long collapsed! Arguably in 406 CE, when several Germanic nations fought through the empire, all the way to North Africa. The military decay of Rome, which was sudden, was arguably caused by extreme fascist theocracy promoted by treacherous plutocrats, who preferred invasion to taxation!
https://patriceayme.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/why-the-roman-state-collapsed-contemporary-analogy-quick-version/ …
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Apartment inferno kills 10; deadliest Paris fire since 2005
In this image provided on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2012 by the Brigade de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (Paris Fire Brigade) a fire rages through the top floors of an apartment building in Paris, France. The Paris fire service says seven people have been killed and at least 28 injured in a fire in a residential building. (Benoit Moser/BSPP via AP)
Paris’ deadliest fire in over a decade killed at least 10 people Tuesday as flames engulfed a nine-story apartment building, sending residents to the roof and clambering across balconies to escape.
A 40-year-old woman who lived in the building, said to have a history of psychiatric problems, was arrested nearby and held on suspicion of having set the fire not long before. French police opened a criminal investigation for voluntary arson resulting in death.
Multiple neighbors said they heard the suspect and her neighbor, an off-duty firefighter, arguing over the woman’s music before the fire broke out.
Police responding to the dispute stopped by the woman’s apartment. The firefighter and his girlfriend told officers they were leaving to sleep elsewhere in peace and thought the neighbor had lost her mind and one day there would be an accident because of her, according to a police report seen by The Associated Press.
In an interview with Le Parisien newspaper, the 22-year-old firefighter said he returned to the building a few minutes later, shortly after midnight, hoping the woman had gone. Instead, he ran into her in the stairwell, which was already beginning to smell of smoke.
“She wished me good luck, telling me that I loved flames,” he recalled in the interview.
Another resident later told him the woman put paper and wood in front of his apartment door, the firefighter told Le Parisien, which did not give his name.
Survivors described a chaos of smoke and flames, and the young firefighter said he ran upstairs to try and evacuate the building. One neighbor recalled clambering out of her eighth-floor apartment and over balconies to reach safety.
“I climbed across several balconies, with nothing beneath, and then was backed into a corner. There were people climbing hand-over-hand to get to where I was and escape the flames,” said a resident identified only as Claire, her eyes wide with shock soon after her rescue.
Another resident, an off-duty police officer, threw on clothes and rang doorbell after doorbell, trying desperately to alert his neighbors.
“I couldn’t save everyone. I can’t forgive myself,” the man identified as Fabrice told France Info radio, adding that smoke and flames prevented him from climbing higher than the fourth floor.
Jacqueline Ravier, who lives on the same street as the apartment building, described seeing a young man blackened by smoke and a woman motionless on the ground.
For hours, she said, flames shot out from the top of the building as smoke-covered victims fled. Shaken residents were brought to her building and the one next door.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner spoke to reporters at the scene Tuesday morning, as plumes of smoke speckled the sky.
“I want to salute the huge mobilization of the Paris firefighters,” he said. “More than 250 people arrived immediately and, throughout the night, saved over 50 people in truly exceptional conditions.”
It was the deadliest fire in Paris since the April 2005 hotel fire near the capital’s famed Opera that killed 24 people. Over 30 people were being treated for “relatively” light injuries, Castaner said. Among the injured were at least eight firefighters.
Authorities suspect the fire resulted from a criminal act, he said.
Officials said suspect had “a history of psychiatric problems.”
A judicial official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation was ongoing, told the AP the woman was drunk when officers detained her.
A police patrol responding to a trash can fire around the same time spotted the woman with her hand in another trash can, according to a second police report obtained by The Associated Press. She was staring at the firetrucks streaming toward the building, the document states. The young firefighter said he saw her as well.
“She was waiting to see what would happen,” he said in the newspaper interview.
The document says the officers put the woman under brief surveillance and detained her at 12:45 a.m. after she allegedly tied a scarf around a car’s rear-view mirror and raised a cigarette lighter to it.
She was undergoing medical tests Tuesday evening.
City fire service spokesman Clement Cognon told the AP that firefighters were going door-to-door to ensure there are no more victims, and to prevent residual fires.
“The situation was already dramatic when the firefighters arrived,” Cognon said.
Firefighters plucked some people from the roof and balconies, at one point pleading with a man to stay where he was. The fire was extinguished by midmorning.
Emergency workers also sought to shore up the building, which was badly damaged. Images released of the operation released by the fire service showed flames shooting out of windows and stretching across the upper floors.
The building is on rue Erlanger in the 16th arrondissement, one of the calmest and priciest districts of Paris. It is close to the popular Bois de Boulogne park and about a kilometer (less than a mile) from the Roland Garros stadium that hosts the French Open tennis tournament and near the Parc des Princes stadium that’s home to Paris Saint-Germain, the country’s top soccer team.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter: “France wakes up with emotion after the fire in rue Erlanger in Paris last night.”
The fire comes a month after a deadly explosion and blaze linked to a gas leak in a Paris bakery.
In September 2015, there was a fire in a northern Parisian neighborhood that left eight dead.
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Profile | Marc Curtis
Recently, I visited the University of Oregon campus as a favor to a young friend of mine that wanted to get some insight about their interior design program. While there, we checked out the John E. Jaqua Center for Student Athletes, which my husband Marc Curtis had a big part in designing while working for ZGF Architects. Marc has worked as an interior designer for 13 years, mostly practicing a very minimalist aesthetic.
He has since left corporate servitude to open his own business with two partners: a bar called the Landmark Saloon inspired by saloons of the early 1900’s. And with this change has come a drastic change in aesthetic.
I interviewed Marc about the Jaqua Center, his minimalist past, and his current progression into warm organic design which seems to align with the turn that interior design and architecture have taken in the last few years. For Marc, this is actually a return to his childhood roots, set in the Southern California of the 1970s–rustic, filled with orange farms, animals, loads of outdoor activities and parents fond of old country music.
Can you describe your childhood surroundings? What were your biggest Influences?
We had lots of animals: horses, goats, sheep, chickens, quail, rabbits, chinchillas, cats, dogs, and my family was heavily involved in 4H. California was country back then. We played and rode horses in the undeveloped hillsides. So Country Americana is ingrained in who I am. My business partners, who were friends first, Erica Nukaya and Tim Hawk, have similar roots. We all go camping and enjoy the outdoors a great deal and we wanted to bring those roots to our place. It’s an extension of who we are.
What brought you to design such drastically Modern spaces?
In general, I have a very dualistic nature, so I am totally comfortable with both rustic organic design, and minimalism. I studied Architecture in the Netherlands and I was heavily influenced by the Dutch Modernists. I love how cerebral and extremely thought out Modern Design has to be. A lot more thought goes into those spaces than you would think. You’re working with elements like light, shape, space, and very elemental materials. Everything is so pared down, you cannot fake anything. The mental challenge of that appeals to me.
Your last minimalist project was the John E. Jaqua Learning Center. From a surface design perspective, what were some of the challenges of creating that interior?
We were constantly coming up with new ways to integrate our designs into the architectural fabric of the space so they had an authentic relation to each other. We didnt want to just apply another layer over the top. This required a great deal of research and testing. Lasers and CNC machines helped a bunch!
Recipients of the Academic Pac 10 Award
What is the bathroom tile all about?
The bathroom is a recognition of Don Essig, a famous announcer at U of O, and his famous line “It Never Rains at Autzen Stadium.” We recorded his voice, created a graphic representation of that recording, and that became the tile pattern in the restrooms.
What are some other projects of yours that have influenced this design?
Other Nike funded projects. They have deep pockets and will reach into them to achieve a unique result. The Sports Medicine Center on the campus was a direct predecessor to this project. Its a clearly visible progression. Besides that, every project informs the ones that come later.
The project I worked on before that was for a penthouse in Portland, which was one of the most minimalist projects I’ve ever worked on. There was a white epoxy floor that we had to re-pour seven times. That probably sums up it up right there.
Can you tell me about your latest design project, The Landmark Saloon? How was it different to design a space for yourself, where you are both the client and the designer?
For me, being able to design a space for myself is extremely refreshing. I love it when the process can happen organically. Decision making is one of the most tedious parts of the processes when you are working for someone else. For the Landmark Saloon, we were able to be fast, effective and cheap while still surpassing our initial notions of how it would turn out. The design aesthetic was much different than the usual modernism of my past projects but I had really grown tired of that so I loved being able to explore a less anal retentive aesthetic, a western saloon.
What was your thinking behind the wallpapers and other surfaces at the Landmark?
We did a great deal of searching around for inspiration before we even had acquired this space. We started with material textures and patterns at first. Of course, we looked at photos of old saloons and the types of Victorian-inspired wallpapers that were used. We wanted it to look like it had patina and had been there forever. The Pendleton blankets were used to create warmth and interest in one of the rooms. We were also drawing on local heritage.
The colors, textures and patterns are applied the way they are to reinforce the progression from one part of the space to the the next and create a feeling of coherence. Each room is different but very related to the others through color, light and texture.
I know you’ve dealt with lots of textiles, wallpapers and other surface materials as an interior designer. What are some of your favorite designers? Some of the most innovative or interesting surface treatments you’ve come across?
In textiles I love texture before print. I like when a fabric has a texture that is an honest result of what it is made from and how its made. The natural roughness of some wools, the luxury of a fine mohair or the patina of a well used leather is what speaks to me the most. They also have staying power. Lines like Kvadrat and Knoll fabrics are like that.
Do you have a dream project that you’ve always wanted to work on?
a public park where people can have a good time without having to spend money. I would also love to build a cabin in the woods for me but i think thats more about the woods than the cabin.
-Claudia Brown
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Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek | Book Summary by Paul Minors
Home » Blog » Book Summaries » Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek | Book Summary by Paul Minors
Leaders Eat Last is a fantastic read all about how leaders can create organizations and cultures that allow workers to go home at the end of the day feeling fulfilled by the work that they do. By creating an environment built on trust, teams will pull together, again and again, to help their tribe not just survive, but the flourish. If you enjoy this summary, I highly recommend you read the complete Leaders Eat Last book.
DOWNLOAD THE LEADERS EAT LAST SUMMARY PDF FOR FREE!
Who is this book for?
In this summary
We need protection
We need to belong
IT’S SCIENCE
It’s all about the chemicals
BRINGING IT BACK TO THE WORKPLACE
Blame the boomers
VIRTUAL WORLD & ABSTRACTIONS
Manage the abstraction
When it becomes destructive
ARE WE THE PROBLEM?
IT’S ALL ABOUT SERVICE
It’s going to be hard
Leaders Eat Last is ideal for anyone who leads, whether it be a small team, an entire organisation, a community or a family. As a leader, it’s important to create a culture that leaves everyone happy and fulfilled, and this is exactly what Simon describes. Simon emphasises that when an environment is built on trust, teams will work together, have each other's backs, survive and thrive.
Following on from Simon Sinek’s successful Start With Why, Simon continues on with his goal of inspiring leaders and organisations, to inspire others. Simon believes in a world where everyone is fulfilled by their work, that they know their ‘why’ and are constantly doing things that inspire them. Simon is a trained ethnographer and his books draw upon real-life experiences and examples to identify a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them.
To begin, this summary will cover our basic need for protection and security in working environments then we’ll dive into a few scientific facts to back this up. Then we will discuss why we are in our current state, how we got to this point before moving on to discussing Simon’s ‘Abstraction Challenge’. Next, we will summarise Simon’s Leadership Lessons before a brief look at our current society and finally, we will be examining what Simon thinks it takes, to be a leader.
Simon describes an environment where bonds are strong, where employees share the glory with others, success is celebrated and everyone goes home at the end of the day feeling fulfilled by their work. And this has nothing to do with money earns or prizes won. This environment that Simon describes is the result of leaders that put the well-being of their employees first. And in response to this, their employees work hard, give everything they’ve got to the organisation and support each other. If the employees feel that their leaders protect them, this will be reflected in their work.
Simon considers an exceptional organisation one where the leaders provide the protection, and everyone else looks out for each other. They feel safe to push each other and take risks with big payoffs. The key to making this work is empathy, and the leaders have to lead the way. Simon makes it clear that putting your employees first does not mean that business will not thrive. These are the organisations that will continue to innovate and out-perform the others.
“Being a leader is like being a parent, and the company is like a new family to join. One that will care for us like we are their own . . . in sickness and in health. And if we are successful, our people will take on our company’s name as a sign of the family to which they are loyal.”
'Being a leader is like being a parent, and the company is like a new family to join.'Click To Tweet
Simon talks about a ‘Circle of Safety’. This works to reduce fears and threats to everyone inside the circle. It means that employees feel safe and secure, they can, therefore, focus their time on seizing opportunities and helping the business to thrive.
”It is easy to know when we are in the Circle of Safety because we can feel it. We feel valued by our colleagues and we feel cared for by our superiors. We become absolutely confident that the leaders of the organization and all those with whom we work are there for us and will do what they can to help us succeed.”
Regrettably, Simon notes that unfortunately, this is not the norm. The norm is for companies to see profits and margins as the utmost importance, they fail to prioritise employees needs and happiness. This is where leaders and organisations are failing. Simon really pushes the message that our ability to perform depends entirely on how we feel, how safe and secure we feel in an organisation and if we feel well looked after. The key is to empower your employees and enable them to work to their full potential.
Simon explains that it’s in our nature to understand and take advantage of incentives. Our bodies work hard to provide feel-good chemicals that are used as a reward for working hard, looking after others, surviving and ultimately thriving. Just as a boss may provide a bonus for reaching a milestone, your body responds to successes with these feel-good chemicals.
Biologically, serotonin is an oxytocin that acts as an incentive, to encourage us to build trust and loyalty, and work well with others. Serotonin encourages social connections and cooperation resulting in better work and survival.
It goes way back, the basic human instinct to hunt, gather and ultimately achieve. The reason we have this instinct is the combination of both endorphins and dopamine.
”They make us feel good when we find something we’re looking for, build something we need or accomplish our goals. These are the chemicals of progress.”
Simon explains that endorphins job is to mask physical pain. More often than not activated when we are stressed or fearful, endorphins job is to mask the pains with feelings of pleasure.
When combined with dopamine, that feeling of satisfaction you feel upon completing a task or reaching a milestone, it becomes clear why these two chemicals work together well to encourage us to hunt, gather and achieve.
Confidence, as Simon discusses, is something that we all need a boost of from time to time. We need to feel that we are respected and liked. The feeling of pride comes from Serotonin.
Finally, Simon comes to perhaps the best chemical of all. Oxytocin, or better known as friendship, love, trust. This chemical is released when in the presence of our closest friends, or when we give and receive nice things. Oxytocin is what humans crave the most.
”If we work in an environment in which leadership tells the truth, in which layoffs are not the default in hard times and in which incentive structures do not pit us against one another, the result, thanks to the increased levels of oxytocin and serotonin, is trust and cooperation.”
Simon emphasises the role of leaders as the most pivotal. They are the ones who need to make sacrifices, to ensure that those working with and below them are looked after, respected and fulfilled. A leader builds trust by providing their time, energy, money etc. If it comes to it, a leader maybe even need to provide the food off their own plate.
“When it matters, leaders choose to eat last.”
Simon identifies courage as one of the most important characteristics of a leader. As a leader, you need to represent yourself as someone who is courageous and can provide protection to those working below you. In return, workers will feel trusted, they will feel like they have space, freedom, and ability to work harder, and innovate on new ideas, take risks and know that they will be backed up by their leaders. Simon emphasises that the result is always better work.
Simon explains, that if the leader is not courageous and the employees do not feel protected, they will be more likely to not innovate in fear of doing something wrong, or breaking a rule. They will simply come to work, do what’s necessary of them and nothing more. And this creates unhappy employees.
Simon explains, that due to the sheer numbers, the baby boomer generation has essentially remodeled society, they are in charge and have been leading the way for quite some time. This came into full-effect in the 1980s and 1990s. And due to this outnumbering, society is feeling the effects of an imbalance.
”Imbalance, as history has proven over and over, will self-correct suddenly and aggressively unless we are smart enough to correct it ourselves slowly and methodically.”
It’s the desire for instant gratification and the state of our organisations that lack strength, trust, and loyalty that means that our leaders may not be up to the job. They are not confident or patient enough to pave the path needed.
Simon points out that people are no longer just people, but perceived as anything from customers, employees or shareholders to e-mail addresses or expenses to be tracked. We live in a virtual world, and this, as an abstraction, means that not only our economy will suffer, but our state of being, our happiness.
Simon defines abstraction as something that extends beyond physical space to include the nature of numbers.
” The bigger our companies get, the more physical distance is created between us and the people who work for us or buy our products. At such scale, we can no longer just walk into the aisles and count the cans of soup on the shelf either. Now we rely on documents that report the numbers of what we’ve sold and how much we’ve made. “
Simons concerns are confronting, he points out that this abstraction of reality and the separation from other humans means that we, as a result, become less human. Our behaviours can be considered more and more inhuman and we end up doing more harm to others than good. The picture he paints is not pleasant.
Simon has come up with 5 rules to help manage the emerging abstraction, to try to keep people real and accountable;
Rule 1. Keep It Real—Bring People Together. It’s so important to have human-interaction, in real life, not behind a screen. This is where trust is built, empathy and how we learn to innovate.
Rule 2. Keep It Manageable—Obey Dunbar’s Number. Professor Dunbar established the concept that humans cannot maintain more than 150 close relationships. Anything beyond this will be affected and not receive the attention they relationships need to thrive.
Rule 3. Meet the People You Help. Again, get beyond the computer screen and take the time to see the actual, tangible results of our time and effort. In turn, this will motivate us to push harder, do more, be better.
Rule 4. Give Them Time, Not Just Money. It’s a common misconception that money is the only driver, but the reality is that a leader who offers their time and energy to those below them, will cultivate a workplace with people who are more willing to give their time and energy in return. And the result is always going to be better work and better innovation.
Rule 5. Be Patient—The Rule of Seven Days and Seven Years. Simon uses this rule to describe the trust process, he acknowledges that it will take longer than 7 days to earn trust, but fewer than 7 years. There is no strict formula and everyone is different. But he emphasises, that it will take time and patience to build trust.
Simons concept of ”Destructive Abundance” is the result of this imbalance. It happens when leaders prioritise the results; the margin, profit, product over the people who are responsible for creating the results; the employees, managers, staff.
”Destructive Abundance happens when the players focus almost exclusively on the score and forget why they set out to play the game in the first place.”
Simon outlines his 5 key leadership lessons;
So Goes the Culture, so Goes the Company – essentially, Simon explains that if the culture is lacking, the company successes will also be lacking. When the culture is one of trust, the company will reap the benefit of innovation and hard workers.
So Goes the Leader, so Goes the Culture – in this rule, Simon emphasises the importance of the leader taking responsibility for their employees, whether it be success or failures.
”To give them responsibility and hold them accountable to advance the mission. If the captain provides direction and protection, the crew will do what needs to be done to advance the mission.”
Integrity Matters – this one’s pretty obvious, leaders need to have integrity, telling the truth, no matter what is the foundation for building essential trust.
Friends Matter too – Simone emphasises the importance of bonding with your colleagues outside of the working environment. Leaving the workplace behind gives you the opportunity to really get to know each other, see your colleagues as people and friends rather than co-workers or even worse, competitors.
Lead the People, Not the Numbers – perhaps the one that Simon talks about the most throughout this book. Businesses need to look beyond profit, although it is the goal of every company, it cannot be the primary priority.
“It is the leaders of companies that see profit as fuel for their cultures that will outlast their dopamine-addicted, cortisol-soaked competitors.”
Simon defines the difference between leaders and managers as follows;
Leaders take responsibility for lives, not numbers.
Managers look after numbers and results.
Simon believes that all managers have the opportunity to be leaders, but they need to take a step back and look at themselves as the problem and start focusing on protecting their people, not the numbers.
Simon insightfully compares incentive programs to drug and alcohol addictions. Drug and alcohol addictions are essentially dopamine addictions. We are addicted to the rush they give us. In the corporate world, incentive programs are another way to get a hit of dopamine, we become addicted to performance. And just like drug and alcohol addictions, this becomes unhealthy.
Simon explains that it’s the strive for success and performance at any cost that becomes the issue, not the success itself. It becomes unhealthy and imbalanced when the motive is all about the results and overrides looking after the employees and those responsible for the results.
”In healthy organisations, as in a healthy society, the drive to win should not precede the desire to take care of the very people we claim to serve.”
Continuing his comparison to alcohol and drug addictions, Simon compares leadership to reaching step 12 in the AA program. He explains that when following the AA program, regardless of whether you complete the first 11 steps, it’s only those that complete step 12 that ever truly overcome their addiction. Step 12 is about committing to another person, someone who is also addicted to alcohol, and helping them overcome their addiction.
”Step Twelve is the commitment to help another alcoholic beat the disease. Step Twelve is all about service. And it is service that is the key to breaking our dopamine addictions in our organisations too.”
This example makes it very clear, that a crucial element of leadership is the service to others, service to those in the organisation that need support, trust, and respect in order to work hard and contribute to the organisation thriving.
”Leadership is not a license to do less; it is a responsibility to do more. And that’s the trouble. Leadership takes work. It takes time and energy. The effects are not always easily measured and they are not always immediate. Leadership is always a commitment to human beings.”
'Leadership is not a license to do less; it is a responsibility to do more.'Click To Tweet
It’s a basic human need to feel protected and respected. It’s important that leaders make their employees feel this.
A happy and safe work culture will cultivate harder workers and more innovation. The key is to empower your employees and enable them to work to their full potential.
A true leader needs to always tell the truth and needs to be courageous.
We live in a time where our reality is increasingly virtual. This creates an abstraction and leads to de-humanisation. We need to nurture our relationships and prioritise meeting people in real-life.
Time can be more valuable than money. Pay rises are not always the answer.
Businesses need to look beyond profit, although it is the goal of every company, it cannot be the primary priority.
It’s not easy being a leader, it takes time, patience and commitment
If you enjoyed this summary, check out Start with Why, also by Simon Sinek. Start With Why is about a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them. The more organisations and people who learn to also start with WHY, the more people there will be who wake up feeling fulfilled by the work they do.
The Art of People by Dave Kerpern is a great guide on how to manage some of the most important people and relationships in your life. Kerpern emphasises that people can make all the difference between an average life and a great life.
Built to Last, by Jim Collins examines a selection of ‘Visionary Companies’ and identifies what it takes to run a successful organisation that will prosper over a long period of time. If you’re looking to step up to a managerial or leadership position for the first time, check out The First Time Manager.
Finally, How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a book that aims to help you convince people to share your way of thinking, to avoid arguments and to become more liked.
Guidelines is my eBook that summarises the main lessons from 33 of the best-selling self-help books in one place. It is the ultimate book summary; Available as a 80-page ebook and 115-minute audiobook Guidelines lists 31 rules (or guidelines) that you should follow to improve your productivity, become a better leader, do better in business, improve your health, succeed in life and become a happier person.
Are you a leader? Take a step back and asses whether you are prioritising profits or people? Take another look at Simon’s definitions of a manager vs. a leader. Which category do you fall into?
If you’re a leader of a team or organisation, try organising an outside of work event – give everyone a chance to connect with you and each other on a more personal level.
Identify 3 things that can you do everyday to be a better leader.
If you liked this summary, you can purchase the book on Amazon.
For a great video summary of Leaders Eat Last, check out Simon's talk at the 99U conference.
This summary is not intended as a replacement for the original book and all quotes are credited to the above mentioned author and publisher.
Posted: 18/04/2016 By: Paul Minors
#Leadership #Management #Motivation
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Looking beyond the geek culture, but also exploring everything fandom has to offer.
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Tag Archives: Book Review
From Script to Book, Trollhunters! an Ongoing Saga
The Trollhunters Four Book Collection is due for Dec 11, 2018 release
Writer Richard A Hamilton can very easily further any fan’s love for DreamWorks Trollhunters. His work in the ongoing book series published by Simon Spotlight expands the world in legendary ways such that readers get to learn more about the history of Trollkind. As the wait for the next chapter in the Tales of Arcadia saga continues and this dedicated fan needs troll food badly, I am glad more tales are being told through the comic book/print medium.
The first graphic novel, “The Felled” is due to hit shelves in mid-October. Here, Hamilton explores the problems of being “boyfriend” material. Ever since Jim and Claire made it official, trying to make their relationship is not going to be easy, and Trollkind’s idea of courtship may well get examined. The history of Trollkind and their mating rituals may well be at the core of this first work. This chapter of the saga is illustrated by Timothy Green II.
In the written front, Four books are available to purchase (with more coming) and I knew I did not want to jump in with book three upon finding them at my local bookstore. The first volume is simply a retelling of “Becoming.” The scenes cut out are restored. The prologue centers in on Kanjigar. He knows his time is up and a new hero is needed. This Trollhunter prior to Jim Lake Jr. was well respected in Troll Market and for him to say his farewells is not without some sniffles. I feel the Knights of the Round Table will one day appear because this take of the Trollhunters saga reflects even more chivalric ideals.
Tags: Book Review, DreamWorks, Richard Ashley Hamilton, Simon Spotlight, Trollhunters
Categories Animation, Book Reviews, Computer
Author Ed Sum
Why Bury The Anubis Tapestry? A Book Review & What Could Have Been …
No reasons were fully revealed about why the cinematic adaptation of The Anubis Tapestry by Illumination Entertainment was removed from schedule. I had to seek out the book and wonder what was I missing? It’s doubtful that the story was untranslatable to screen. Author Bruce Zick is no stranger to the industry. He worked on the development of successful films like Prince of Egypt, Hercules and Wall*E. The project seemed like it was in perfect hands since the tale had all the elements required for a fun-filled adventure!
The story about a young boy wishing to be closer to his dad is good. When Chance Henry is left to his own devices to entertain himself, it’s not so much about the gang he hangs out with, but rather the distance growing between father and son. Mother died a while ago and when pops is often preoccupied with work, there’s no time for the two to bond. The senior is the curator for the Portland Museum of Eastern Antiquities. When two new mummies arrived for him to get ready for display, neither would realize Egyptian curses are real!
Tags: Aborted Movies, Book Review, Egyptology, Illumination Entertainment, Young Adult
A Trendy or Cool Japan? These Case Studies will Enlighten! A Book Review
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Tim Craig’s Cool Japan is an excellent study in nearly everything a student of Japanese pop culture will want to know more of and get answers to those aspects he or she is afraid to ask. If the product can be exported out of the country to experience then it is explored here. Specific companies are examined in this collection of essays, and the big three — traditional culture, popular culture and business — are looked at in synchronicity. The topics include nearly every aspect of the entertainment scene. Foodies will take delight in two chapters too (more on this later).
From the music industry to Sumo culture and even video games, the breadth of knowledge this author reveals (some units are in collaboration with others) is amazing. To take a look at the differences between Japanese games and Western ones is just one tiny part of this particular chapter. Not everyone knows about the details behind the merger of Square(soft) and Enix, and what it meant from a financial standpoint.
The title of this publication is aptly named as it is also the name of the initiative the Japanese government started back in 2010. The goal is to broaden the greatness of this country’s most exportable products and “capitalize commercially on the worldwide popularity of Japanese manga, anime, film, TV dramas, fashion, food, and other cultural products. It was also a response to the widely noted fact that—despite exceptions like Pokémon, Studio Ghibli and Sanrio’s Hello Kitty—Japan’s cultural industries were underperforming internationally. Despite the global popularity of their products, Japan’s cultural creators were earning far less than their counterparts in the United States and South Korea.”
Tags: Anime, Book Review, Case Study, Japan, Sake, Sumo, Tea, Tim Craig
Categories Book Reviews
“Victoria’s Most Haunted” Gets A New Book by Ian Gibbs!
Presentation at Bolen Books
1644 Hillside Ave #111
on May 9, 7pm
Many long-time residents of Victoria, British Columbia will not dispute the fact that this garden city is haunted. More ghosts are said to spook specific streets here, and most of the downtown core and neighbouring districts are covered in Ian Gibb’s debut book, “Victoria’s Most Haunted.”
From bars to homes to restaurants and schools, this variety of sites is welcome. A few places are missed — some of which I had the fortune to check out during my time with PARAVI, a local paranormal investigative society (understandably not mentioned in the book because it’s no longer in operation) — but to get every story crammed in means obtaining permission not only from the group but also from the current business operators to talk about them.
Tags: Book Release, Book Review, British Columbia, Ghosts, Ian Gibbs, Paranormal, Victoria
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The Middle of Middle Earth
By Rjurik Davidson
5.Dec.12
On the flight to Auckland, I watched Snow White and the Huntsman, a film made more famous for its leading lady’s alleged affair with its director than its cinematic success. The lead was none other than Kirsten Stewart, famed star of the Twilight franchise, which caused Twihards to collectively wail, gnash their teeth and post their meltdowns on YouTube. The film itself is a kind of Tolkienesque adventure that owed as much to the imaginative universe of a roleplaying game as to the fairytale on which it was based.
Indeed, the film will always be undercut by the pervasive irony that Charlize Theron’s statuesque beauty as the evil queen – even as she ages – will forever outshine Kirsten Stewart’s pixie-ish prettiness. This is a matter of charisma and acting skill as much as a matter of stereotypical attractiveness. The former commands the screen with grace; like a true star, she inexorably draws the viewer’s eye. By contrast, Stewart’s rousing ‘William Wallace-style’ speech at the end of the second act seems to come from a teenager playing dress-ups. At no stage are we ever under any threat of believing the mirror when it answers the queen with, ‘There is one fairer than you.’
In other words, the film can’t live up to its own conservative ideology, an unexamined beauty myth that’s hard to stomach. But in its Tolkien-like aspects, it was appropriate enough a beginning for a visit to a land advertising itself as ‘Middle Earth’.
When we arrive, we pass under a carved Maori archway. We will see them periodically through the journey: more than a secret history; less than the county’s national culture.
But to a Melburnian, Maori culture seems ubiquitous compared to that brave but marginalised Aboriginal culture that survives in my hometown.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premiered on 27 November in Wellington. The association of New Zealand and Middle Earth is itself ironic, for Tolkien’s idyllic Hobbiton is the province of simple-minded folk. In the novels (but mercifully not the films), our heroes return from the war (read: Second World War), like classic conservatives to find – horror of horrors – the Labour Party (ahem, Saruman’s ‘sharers’) are in power. As anarchist fantasy writer Michael Moorcock has pointed out, in its anti-urban, anti-technological stance, The Lord of the Rings is ‘Epic Pooh’.
Moorcock explains, Tolkien ‘sees the petit bourgeoisie, the honest artisans and peasants, as the bulwark against Chaos. These people are always sentimentalised in such fiction because, traditionally, they are always the last to complain about any deficiencies in the social status quo.’ Ho continues:
It is Winnie-the-Pooh posing as an epic. If the Shire is a suburban garden, Sauron and his henchmen are that old bourgeois bugaboo, the Mob – mindless football supporters throwing their beer-bottles over the fence the worst aspects of modern urban society represented as the whole by a fearful, backward-yearning class for whom “good taste” is synonymous with “restraint” (pastel colours, murmured protest) and “civilized” behaviour means “conventional behaviour in all circumstances”. This is not to deny that courageous characters are found in The Lord of the Rings, or a willingness to fight Evil (never really defined), but somehow those courageous characters take on the aspect of retired colonels at last driven to write a letter to The Times and we are not sure – because Tolkien cannot really bring himself to get close to his proles and their satanic leaders – if Sauron and Co. are quite as evil as we’re told. After all, anyone who hates hobbits can’t be all bad.
Karangahape road is lined with cheap ‘convenience stores’ and porn shops. A strip-joint called Las Vegas Strip Club features a painted picture of a naked woman lounging on some unseen piece of furniture. ‘The Vegas Girl’, as she is named, seems to be caught mid-crawl, her buttocks jutting unnaturally in the air in a way that would immediately raise the hackles of my physio. But she is not glamorous, for the paint in which she is depicted is stripping from the wall.
This is not Hobbiton, apparently.
Hobbiton, it turns out, is in the region of Matamata and you can tour the film set for a hundred dollars or more.
I want to visit the set. I do work in film, after all, I tell myself. But the price is too steep. No number of stories about Elijah Wood falling down sinkholes or cracking jokes with hobbitish bonhomie will do it. Anyway, there is something vaguely dissatisfying about learning the behind-the scenes stories of a film. You can never watch it with a suspension of disbelief. Instead, you find yourself ruminating melancholically about the twenty-seven animals that allegedly died during the making of it.
That kind of thing just doesn’t happen in Hobbiton.
New Zealand has not ridden out the GFC with the same surety as Australia. They have sheep. We have mining. Auckland’s run-down quality is offset, though, with old houses of regal beauty. A half-day trip to the former island of Devonport confirms it. An old-timer called Ray drives us around in a minibus. His everyday commonsense recalls an earlier time and a gentle simplicity long lost from the great metropolises of the world. Indeed, he’s not so far from Frodo’s loyal companion Sam Gamgee: an unworldly type whose horizons seem to span as far as the piers over the bay in Auckland. His knowledge of Devonport is encyclopedic; one can imagine him staring with suspicion at the exotic ways of New Yorkers.
As she races down Queen St, a woman is crying. She has the look on her face of someone bereft with her lot. She doesn’t try to hide her tears; this suggests that they are an everyday occurrence.
Later, L says, ‘She looked like she’s had a rough life.’
In Rotorua, we watch Once Were Warriors, a film still as powerful today as when it was released. The receptionist who gives it to us emphasises, ‘It’s a film about domestic violence in any culture. Not just Maori culture.’ He’s keen to ensure we don’t interpret it as racist.
L says of the actor Temuera Morrison, who plays the charismatic and violent Jake, ‘I’ve seen him before in something.’
At first we think it might have been in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Maori played some of the orcs, in a kind of inverse Orientalism to that featured in Avatar.
But later I discover it was in the latest Star Wars movies. No wonder he was hard to remember.
When I return the DVD the following day, the receptionist repeats, ‘It’s a film about domestic violence in any culture, not just Maori culture.’
Wellington has renamed itself ‘The Middle of Middle Earth.’ Huge billboards and flapping flag-advertisements look down ominously over the city. A grand model of Gandalf dominates the facade of the cinema. The shops are already filled with merchandise from the film.
We meet D – G joins us slightly afterwards – for a drink at an unpretentious bar in Newtown.
D holds up three fingers. ‘I’m one of the three people in Wellington who don’t like The Hobbit.’
He explains that the film had been made against the background of a conflict between director Peter Jackson and the actors union (The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance), who claimed that actors might be employed on inferior non-union contracts.
An enraged Jackson had said of the Australian-based union: ‘I can’t see beyond the ugly spectre of an Australian bully-boy using what he perceives as his weak Kiwi cousins to gain a foothold in this country’s film industry. They want greater membership, since they get to increase their bank balance.’
There were claims the film would have to move offshore. There were pro-Hobbit rallies.
D objects to the fact that New Zealand is being advertised as Middle Earth. ‘If you want fantasy,’ he says, ‘there’s plenty of Maori myths which are fantastic! But no – we’re “Middle Earth!”’
When we fly out, Wellington airport’s baggage claim has been transformed into ‘Baggins Services’. The conveyor belt runs around a mock-image of Bag End, the home of Bilbo Baggins.
On the flight home, I watch Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, the third film in a series about a group of animals that have escaped from the New York Zoo. Thinking they were happiest back in the Zoo, they aim to return.
But by the time they arrive, they come to understand that in truth they were most alive when they lived out in the wider world, far away from the narrow confines in which they had always felt safe.
When they returned, they found that Hobbiton was always a myth.
Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places.
If you like this piece, or support Overland ’s work in general, please subscribe or donate.
Rjurik Davidson is a writer, editor and speaker. Rjurik’s novel, The Stars Askew was released in 2016. Rjurik is a former associate editor of Overland magazine. He can be found at rjurik.com and tweets as @rjurikdavidson.
More by Rjurik Davidson
From TimT on 5 December 2012 at 10.53 am
Moorcock’s ‘Epic Pooh’ essay is hilarious but looking back on it now his arguments do seem rather wanting. I don’t take issue with the LOTR’s values so much – impossible to get a clear moral message out of that book, in which most of the major plot points are confused anyway (there seems little reason for the war, for instance). It’s more that the book itself is boring.
But there’s nothing wrong with the celebration of conventional behaviour and propriety, as far as I can see. Restraint and decency are virtues to be cherished and celebrated. Moorcock of course was an early enemy of these values – he tells a story somewhere about his mispent youth, in which he drunkenly demolishes the glass door of a London restaurant. He concludes that the butler at the restaurant who had to clean up his mess ‘was very apologetic’. A great anecdote, but the person who comes across best in that story is not Moorcock (likeable as he is).
From Jill Jones on 5 December 2012 at 12.04 pm
It’s Devonport, not Davenport.
From Dylan on 5 December 2012 at 4.31 pm
I’m loving the fact that the kiwis can wreak my childhood with the same panash as Hollywood.
The ‘epic pooh’ line has been making me smile lately. Moorcock’s Runestaff books could be described as epic Cinderella, as fairy god knights appear at the direst moments to save the day.
From rjurik on 5 December 2012 at 5.22 pm
Tim: I think the thing about LOTR is that like all conservatism, it recognises that some things – the ‘decency’, ‘civilization’, ‘culture – which modern neo-liberal capitalism destroys. In one sense, Tolkien’s love of ‘forests’ could be read as environmentalist, and indeed there’s a strong sense of this in his work – it’s just that his solutions are all wrong.
Jill: Yup, Devonport.
Dylan: I never read the Runestaff books, and truth be told, Moorcock himself is responsible for a lot of crap (as I think he’d probably acknowledge).
From Bronwen on 5 December 2012 at 6.44 pm
I won’t be going to see The Hobbit. Peter Jackson and Warner Bros got the NZ government falling over themselves to guarantee that actors were employed on non-union contracts, the threats to move offshore were shown to be empty as all the arrangements had been made to start shooting in NZ. Of course by then Warner Bros got what they wanted, the media had supported Jackson and created a big hate campaign against the MEAA and unions in general, and the govt made it clear that they were prepared to roll over at the slightest hint of corporate blackmail.
By the way, if you’re coming to NZ again, let me know – I’m living in Auckland now.
From Dougal on 6 December 2012 at 6.48 am
Thanks for writing this, Rjurik. It’s a big comfort, especially following the week we just had.
From Dylan on 6 December 2012 at 12.16 pm
Yeah it’s a cheap shot, but Moorcock’s shot is pretty cheap too. One of the strengths of fairy tales is their malleability. We can project whatever we want onto them. I never saw the two Ss of LOTR as representing the mob, rather I saw press gangs and a world threatened by a fight between siblings. Subjects that would have been familiar to many that read the books when they came out. I know that arguing about the rightness and wrongness of any interpretation of a fairy tale can get a little silly but attempting that would have to wait.
Toddle pip
‘Will have to wait’. Headdesk
From Claire Corbett on 6 December 2012 at 6.12 pm
Sauron and Saruman as representatives of the Mob? Silliest thing I’ve ever heard. They’re clearly totalitarian dictators (from the East, no less). Yes, we’re not supposed to see LOTR as an allegory of WWII but it’s ‘applicable’ as Tolkein says and trust the tale and not the teller anyway.
It’s simpleminded to just see LOTR values as conservative. If that were purely true the tale would not be so popular or enduring. Rjurik is right to pick up on the idea of environmentalism as something modern in the sensibility of LOTR (reminds me a bit of the feeling in Orwell’s Coming up for Air) but there’s something else.
LOTR is the only great quest I can think of not to FIND something but to LOSE it. This makes it a uniquely modern tale; it turns on the renunciation of too great a power and thus is uniquely potent for Western modernity. It’s not an allegory of nuclear weapons but applicable to the Faustian quest that produced them.
From Alison Croggon on 7 December 2012 at 9.36 am
The films and the books are entirely different phenomena, really. Peter Jackson takes liberties that would have Tolkien spinning in his grave – he might have admired the visual design, but judging from his essays he would have loathed the Hollywoodising and trivialising of his characters with every fibre of his being. I especially resented what happened to Faramir, an egregious vamping up of the psychic static. I’ll still be at The Hobbit on Boxing Day, though.
The thing that emotionally underpins TLOTR is Tolkien’s own experiences of mechanised warfare in the trenches of WW1. As he mentions in his preface, by the end of the war, all but one (?) of his friends was dead. And much of it was written during WW2 while his son was in Africa, which I suspect gives the sense of dread in The Two Towers real ballast. The environmental impulse isn’t a footnote, either. And Tolkien’s central moral point – that the greatest sin (and the greatest poverty) is to wish to possess, to turn people and the world into objects, instead of respecting their autonomy as themselves – always appealed to me. I can forgive him quite a lot for that, although I totally agree with Moorcock on many points (and, well, you know, women). The ideology is clear in all his work, but there are complexities: he’s not an out and out racist, although the imperial impetus of his books is undeniable – it’s just a question of the Good Empire vs the Bad Empire.
From Jeff on 7 December 2012 at 9.50 am
But what about the ‘little England’ element, which seems to be part of what Moorcock’s getting at. That’s what really sets my teeth on edge about the whole idea of hobbits: the tweeness of them, the sense that they represent an idealisation of village life where everyone’s a shopkeeper.
Obviously, there’s more than that to Tolkien. I mean, the fantasy genre that he kind of presides over as a founding father is so broad that you can find almost anything in it, and that is probably testament to the multiple ways he can be read.
As a side note, during my brief obsession with Norwegian black metal, I discovered that the central people in Mayhem (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayhem_(band) ) were heavily influenced by Tolkien — except that they obsessed over all the evil characters. Hence Varg called himself Count Grishnackh (after one of the orcs) and his post-Mayhem band (after he murdered Euronymous) was named Burzum, which apparently means ‘darkness’ in Tolkien’s ‘black speech’.
So there’s something that came out of LOTR.
From Giovanni Tiso on 7 December 2012 at 11.02 am
I must vigorously challenge D’s suggestion that he’s one of only three people in Wellington who don’t care for The Hobbit. There really are an awful lot of us – we are legion.
From rjurik on 7 December 2012 at 12.02 pm
Giovanni, you must rise up and throw the prints into the great chasm of Mount Cook … uh, erm… sorry.
From Alison Croggon on 7 December 2012 at 12.27 pm
Little England is where I’m bang beside Moorcock. The Shire is essentially the same as Midsomer Murders, minus the murderous aristocracy (maybe that’s Saruman): idealised bourgeoise village life. But it’s charm is because the hobbits were basically invented to charm children (they love eating and toys and presents, eg). And they do.
As an aside, I’ve long been intrigued that Tolkien essentially had the same idea as David Jones did in In Parenthesis and especially The Anathemata: to create an over-arching mythology for Britain. (Lots of myths in the British Isles, but none of them actually British, it being a recent thing – the closest would be King Arthur). Both came out of the trenches of WW1 and into modernity with that same idea. (And then there’s that mercifully brief flirtation that Jones had with Oswald Mosley’s fascism. Hmmm. I think Yeats’s odd fascistic moments also came out of this kind of mythological nationalism.) The one that powered into public consciousness was of course Tolkien’s fantasy, not Jones’s extraordinary artistic experiment – and then, as it turns into a behemoth of the cinema, it ends up symbolising the Colonies. I’m not sure what to make of it all, but it’s interesting, no?
From TimT on 7 December 2012 at 10.10 pm
Wow. Thanks for the tip-off, Alison! The 1st World War had wider – and stranger – effects on literature and the arts than we often realise I think. That brief description there reminds me also that C S Lewis wrote a long narrative during the 1st World War dealing with mythic themes. The common reaction between the two, perhaps, seems to have been a kind of subjective and romantic introspection – v. interesting!
ITS not IT’S. Aaargh.
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Leviticus 4-5: sin, guilt, and rhetoric
PROF. JAMES W. WATTS: Leviticus’ Rhetorical Presentation of the Sin and Guilt Offerings (TheTorah.com).
The transition from the chatat (חטאת) sin offering in Leviticus 4 to the asham (אשׁם) guilt offering in Leviticus 5 is sudden, even seeming to collapse them into one offering. The history of these offerings, when and why they were introduced into the Temple service, sheds light on the interpretation and structure of these chapters.
Review of Bull, The Mithraeum at Caesarea Maritima, vol. II
BYRN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Robert J. Bull, The Mithraeum at Caesarea Maritima, vol. II. American Schools of Oriental Research archeological reports, 25. Bristol: American Schools of Oriental Research, 2017. Pp. xiii, 100. ISBN 9780897570978. $74.95. Reviewed by Kevin Stoba, University of Liverpool (k.stoba@liverpool.ac.uk).
The mithraeum at Caesarea Maritima was constructed within an existing horreum, one of several such warehouses which had been built by Herod the Great at the end of the first century BC. There have already been several brief publications on this mithraeum (p. xi), but the present volume, edited by Jane DeRose Evans, provides much more thorough and comprehensive analysis of in situ Mithraic activity, which dates from the beginning of the third century AD to the beginning of the fourth century. ...
For a recent photo essay on the Mithraeum at Caesarea, see here.
Aries 19.1 (2019) on Practical Kabbalah
CURRENT ARIES (19.1, 2019) SPECIAL ISSUE: PRACTICAL KABBALAH. Contents:
Guest Editors’ Introduction
By: J.H. (Yossi) Chajes and Yuval Harari
How Jewish Magic Survived the Disenchantment of the World
By: Gideon Bohak
“Practical Kabbalah” and the Jewish Tradition of Magic
By: Yuval Harari
Intentionality and Kabbalistic Practices in Early Modern East-Central Europe
By: Agata Paluch
Pages: 83–111
Kabbalah Practices / Practical Kabbalah
The Magic of Kabbalistic Trees
By: J.H. Chajes
Pages: 112–145
New Lights on Oracles, Platonists, and Esotericism in Late Antiquity
By: Dylan M. Burns
The Siblys of London: A Family on the Esoteric Fringes of Georgian England, by Susan Mitchell Sommers
By: Christine Ferguson
Satanic Feminism: Lucifer as the Liberator of Woman in Nineteenth-Century Culture, by Per Faxneld
By: Michele Olzi
At the Brill website, but, alas, requires a paid personal or institutional subscription to access. But I'm pretty sure you can see the abstracts without one.
HT Dylan Burns at the NSEA Blog.
Koskenniemi, Greek Writers and Philosophers in Philo and Josephus
Greek Writers and Philosophers in Philo and Josephus
A Study of Their Secular Education and Educational Ideals
Studies in Philo of Alexandria, Volume: 9
Author: Erkki Koskenniemi
In Greek Writers and Philosophers in Philo and Josephus Erkki Koskenniemi investigates how two Jewish writers, Philo and Josephus, quoted, mentioned and referred to Greek writers and philosophers. He asks what this tells us about their Greek education, their contacts with Classical culture in general, and about the societies in which Philo and Josephus lived. Although Philo in Alexandria and Josephus in Jerusalem both had the possibility to acquire a thorough knowledge of Greek language and culture, they show very different attitudes. Philo, who was probably admitted to the gymnasium, often and enthusiastically refers to Greek poets and philosophers. Josephus on the other hand rarely quotes from their works, giving evidence of a more traditionalistic tendencies among Jewish nobility in Jerusalem.
“The World Between Empires” at the Met
EXHIBITION: See Ancient Trade Route Treasures at the Met. “The World Between Empires,” linking present and past, celebrates the distinctive art from all the cultures of the Middle East (Holland Cotter, New York Times).
Finally, through their arrangement of those objects — around 190, which date roughly from 100 B.C. to 250 A.D. — the curators make clear why imperial Rome and Parthia were so invested on asserting control of the Middle Eastern “world between”: because one of the most extensive and lucrative trade routes on earth stretched across it, and, gallery by gallery, culture by culture, the exhibition traces its path.
This begins in Southwestern Arabia (modern-day Yemen) and moves north to the kingdom of Nabataea — an ally of the Roman Empire — with its rock-cut capital at Petra (now in Jordan). From there the route continues through the rebellious territory of Judaea (Israel and Palestine), to the ritual center of Heliopolis-Baalbek in present-day Lebanon. Finally come the route’s grand, easternmost cities, until very recently well-preserved ruins: Palmyra and Dura-Europos in Syria, and Babylon and Hatra in Iraq. In the art at each stop, imperial influence is evident, if only as an overlay, and local traditions hold their own.
The article has good photos of many of the remarkable objects in the exhibition. Looks well worth a visit.
Posted by Jim Davila at 12:26 PM
The architects side with the Karaites
KARAITE-AND-CABLE-CAR-CONFLICT WATCH: Internationally renowned architects add opposition to Jerusalem cable car plan. Ron Arad, Moshe Safdie, Santiago Calatrava among 27 figures charging that ‘powerful interest groups’ are putting tourism and politics above safeguarding cultural treasures (Sue Surkes, Times of Israel).
The article only mentions the opposition to the cable car plan by the local Karaite community at the very end. But more on that here.
On mistranslations of biblical words
BELIEFNET: Biblical Translations We Keep Screwing Up. You keep using that word. It does not mean what you think it means (Stephanie Hertzenberg).
Two comments. First the section on the word Asherah is correct that it means more than just a "sacred pole" and that it is associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah. But the Hebrew word is used with the definite article, which means it refers to an object rather than directly to the goddess herself. (Personal names cannot take definite articles.) So perhaps translate "Asherah's sacred pole" or some such?
For many past posts on Asherah and the asherah, see here and here and links.
Second, "Lo Tirtsah does mean "you shall not murder" in certain contexts, but the range meaning is wider than that. It also refers to when someone accidentally kills someone else (which we call "manslaughter"). The verb means something like "to kill without provocation" or "to kill in cold blood." Additional details are here.
Opening Jerusalem's Nea Church to the public?
PETITIONED BY EMEK SHAVEH: Decades after discovery, Jerusalem’s Byzantine masterpiece may open to public (Ilan Ben Zion, Al-Monitor). The article reports that the Nea Church was founded by the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century. It was excavated in the 1970s by Nahman Avigad, but most of its subterranean vaults still remain closed to the public.
But Daniel Shukrun, secretary of the Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter, told Al-Monitor that the Nea Church vaults are presently unsafe for the general public. In late 2017, the company conducted a major clean-up operation inside the subterranean chambers to clear out years of accumulated bat droppings and refuse, but the area remains unsuitable for tourists, he said.
“The sanitation problems were so severe down there that we couldn’t even understand what we were up against,” he added. Nonetheless, Shukrun said that in light of Emek Shaveh’s petition, the company has gotten the ball rolling on evaluating a development plan for the Nea Church ruins.
But he says that it would cost a lot of money.
Halutza ("Elusa") inscription
EPIGRAPHY: Archaeological Excavations Reveal 1700 Year-Old Inscription of City Named ‘Elusa’ (Halutza) in the Negev (Jewish Press News Desk).
The name of the city of Elusa appears in a number of historical documents and contexts, including the Madaba mosaic map, the Nessana papyri and other historical references. However, this is the first time that the name of the city has been discovered in the site itself. The inscription mentions several Caesars of the tetrarchy which allow to date it around 300 CE.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Halutza is also one of two possible sites for the biblical city of Ziklag.
Pi Day 2019
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Origins: 3.14159265… Why did the ancients invent increasingly subtle and ingenious methods to arrive at an exact value of pi? Human curiosity (Kim Jonas).
For more on Pi Day and Pi and Judaism, see here and here and links.
Fishbane on poetics of the Zohar
THE BOOK OF DOCTRINES AND OPINIONS BLOG: Eitan Fishbane on The Art of Mystical Narrative: A Poetics of the Zohar.
Alan Brill interviews Professor Fishbane on his new book, The Art of Mystical Narrative: A Poetics of the Zohar (Oxford University Press, 2018). There is also a survey of recent scholarship on the Zohar. Excerpt from the long interview:
12) If this is the Zohar, then why read Zohar instead of Lord of Rings, Harry Potter, or Game of Thrones?
Certainly, it is a unique literary world unto itself, which is not reducible to these later instances of fantastic storytelling. But it does share certain features with the magical classics you mention here, the creation of a paranormal universe in which characters are transported beyond the bounds of our normal expectations within natural law.
I noted a panel discussion on the book here. And for many, many past posts on the Zohar, start there and follow the links. Cross-file under Zohar Watch.
Judaism and Coptic Magic
THE COPTIC MAGICAL PAPYRI BLOG: Religion in the Coptic Magical Papyri IX: Judaism and Coptic Magic (Korshi Dosoo). A wide-ranging post that starts with background on the history of Judaism in Egypt and goes on to specific magical traditions and texts, including a new Coptic magical papyrus involving Solomon.
I have noted the previous posts in the series here and here.
Dos and don'ts: cooking for the Sabbath
DR. SARIT KATTAN GRIBETZ: Shabbat with Food: From Biblical Prohibitions to Rabbinic Feasts (TheTorah.com).
Biblical prohibitions against preparing food on Shabbat are further developed in the Second Temple and rabbinic periods. At the same time, a new emphasis emerges: celebrating Shabbat with festive meals.
More on the Roman Temple of Peace
THE HOLY LAND PHOTOS' BLOG: Rome — Temple of Peace and a Map of Ancient Rome. Carl Rasmussen gives some further background on the Roman temple where the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple were kept after the Great Revolt of 70 C.E.
Background here and here, with Part 3 still to come.
Purim was regulated in the Theodosian Code
PURIM IS COMING: The Romans tried to ban wild Purim parties in 408 CE – for a very good reason (Henry Abramson, JTA).
An unusual bit of the Theodosian Code (16.8.18) is apparently the first non-Jewish source to document the phenomenon of Purim parties that get out of hand. Specifically, the law prohibited Jews from burning Haman in effigy. For Jews, the practice of symbolically destroying the notorious villain of the book of Esther, the paradigm of anti-Semitism, was considered an aspect of the Purim commandment to “erase the name of Amalek,” Haman’s Jew-hating ancestor.
The issue seems to have arisen over a misunderstanding of the biblical account of Haman's death.
UPDATE (19 March): I see I noted another story on this topic here.
Blank cartridges and a fake manuscript
APPREHENDED: Turkish police seize ancient manuscript stolen from Syrian museum (Anadolu Agency/Hurriyet Daily News). The Turkish authorities continue to round up fake ancient artifacts before they reach the antiquities market.
This codex bears the hallmarks of a crude modern fake. Most importantly, the writing on the page shown in the photo consists of lines of meaningless sequences of Hebrew letters with frequent repetition.
There are other suspicious features. The letters are written in gold leaf. The material and cut of the pages is similar to other fakes. There is a drawing, in this case of a wyvern-like creature. The drawing doesn't look very old to me, but I'm not an art historian.
The police also recovered (from the car of the suspects) a gun that fires blanks. Metaphor Watch?
The information that the book was stolen from a Syrian museum comes from the apprehended suspects, who may not be very reliable sources for provenance information. It would not surprise me, though, if it did come from Syria.
Many such artifacts have been apprehended recently in Turkey. The only ones I think are likely to be genuine are some coins. For past apprehensions, start here and keep following the links back. And this post on recent Hebrew forgeries from Arab countries seems relevant too.
Some early Christian women
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY reposted some posts on women in the New Testament and the New Testament Apocrypha, leading up to International Women's Day, which was last Friday.
Anna in the Bible. Luke reveals the prophetess as a Biblical model for aging (Robin Gallaher Branch)
Who Was Thecla? The early Christian saint, rebel, and protagonist of the Acts of Thecla (Megan Sauter)
Some past PaleoJudaica posts on Thecla are here and links and here.
Lydia and Tabitha in the Bible. Women leaders in the early Christian church (Megan Sauter)
For more on Tabitha and Lydia follow the links for posts by Phil Long in his series on the Book of Acts at his Reading Acts Blog.
The Seleucid coins, Part 3
NUMISMATICS: CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series – The Seleucids and Their Coins: Part III (Mike Markowitz, Coin Week). The Hebrew Bible does not mention any of these Seleucid kings. But all of those covered in this installment appear in 1 Maccabees and some also in 2 Maccabees.
I noted Part I of this series here. Also there, see a link for more on the Seleucids. And I noted part Part II here.
How Old is the Hebrew Bible? - authors respond to Young and Rezetko
Flawed Philology
Young and Rezetko’s whole discourse is oriented to the outcome, dictated from the start, that there is no historical linguistics of ancient Hebrew. This is a disingenuous procedure that makes for flawed philology.
See Also: Can the Ages of Biblical Literature be Discerned Without Literary Analysis?
How Old Is the Hebrew Bible?
By Ronald Hendel
Norma and Sam Dabby Professor of Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies
By Jan Joosten
Regius Professor of Hebrew
Background here. For other posts on the book that was under review (Hendel and Joosten, How Old is the Hebrew Bible?), follow the links there (cf. here).
On Herod the Great
THE WORLD IS FULL OF HISTORY: Who Was the Real King Herod? (Owen Jarus, Live Science). An excellent capsule history of the life of Herod the Great.
The subheading "Did he kill Jesus?" is odd, because it doesn't fit the contents of what follows. Perhaps it should have read "Did he try to kill Jesus?"
For many past posts on Herod the Great, start here and just follow those links.
On the Copper Scroll
ON THE SUBJECT OF TREASURE AGAIN: The Lost Treasure of the Dead Sea Copper Scroll (Joanna Gillan, Ancient Origins). As I have noted before, the quality of the essays in Ancient Origins is variable. This one is pretty good. It gives an accurate account of the discovery of the Copper Scroll, its contents, and some possible explanations of its contents. The essay could have added that one interpretation reads the amounts of treasure to be much smaller — and therefore more believable — than the traditional interpretation.
The essay concludes with the current efforts of one Jim Barfield to find the Copper Scroll treasures. I have commented on that here and links. For reasons explained there, I do not find Mr. Barfield's claims to be credible.
For many other past posts on the Copper Scroll, start here and follow the links.
Feldman, Story and Sacrifice
ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Dissertation Spotlight | Story and Sacrifice: Ritual, Narrative, and the Priestly Source.
Liane M. Feldman, “Story and Sacrifice: Ritual, Narrative, and the Priestly Source,” PhD Dissertation, University of Chicago, 2018.
With these questions in mind, my dissertation centered on the eight-day tabernacle inauguration episode in Exodus 40 through Numbers 8, with an eye to two interrelated issues: 1) the question of the relationship between ritual and narrative in pentateuchal literature, and 2) the issue of identifying stratification within a narrative text. This second issue prompted the development of a new narratologically-based approach for the analysis of composite narrative texts that I use throughout the dissertation, and which, I argue, would prove fruitful for the study of the Hebrew Bible and Pentateuch more generally.
The latest on the Tomb of Ezekiel
AJAM MEDIA COLLECTIVE: A Jewish Shrine inside a Mosque: the History of Ezekiel’s Tomb in Iraq (Alex Shams). An impressive, comprehensive history of the (traditional) Tomb of Ezekiel in Al-Kifl, Iraq, with many excellent photographs. It includes an update on the restoration work, which was noted here in 2010. According to the article, the "compromise" involved erasing Hebrew inscriptions from the mosque section, which does not sound very satisfactory to me.
I have been following the fate of the (traditional) Tomb of Ezekiel for many years. For other past posts, start here and follow the links.
HT AJR.
Najman on the DSS at 70
VIDEO: The Dead Sea Scrolls 70 Years On. A lecture by Professor Hindy Najman posted by Chabad at Oxford.
CFP: ETS LXX 2019
WILLIAM ROSS: 2019 ETS SEPTUAGINT STUDIES CALL FOR PAPERS. The deadline for proposals is 29 March 2019.
The Temple treasures and the Temple of Peace
THE HOLY LAND PHOTOS' BLOG: A.D. 70 The Destruction of the Temple — Where did the Temple Treasure Go? Part 2. In this installment, Carl Rasmussen tells us the fate of the Temple treasures in Rome. But for what happened to them after that, we have wait for Part 3.
Meanwhile, for Part 1 and additional coverage of the question, see here and links.
Unpublished Oxyrhynchus biblical papyri
THE EGYPT EXPLORATION SOCIETY: Unpublished EES biblical papyri. In brief, among the unpublished papyrus fragments from Oxyrhynchus, there are 20 New Testament fragments, 80 Septuagint (i.e., Greek Old Testament) fragments, and 10 patristic fragments. Follow the link for a few more details.
I hope they publish a more detailed list of which books the fragments come from. Also, I wonder if they are aware of any unpublished fragments of Old Testament pseudepigrapha? The most recent volume included some of Jannes and Jambres.
HT Brent Nongbri at Variant Readings.
Hannibal and the Second Punic War
PUNIC WATCH: Who was Hannibal? Sworn by his father to forever hate the Romans, Hannibal staged one of the most legendary attacks in the history of military warfare on the formidable army (National Geographic). Because you should know these things.
For past posts on Hannibal and his remarkably military campaign against Rome, see here and links. If Hannibal's luck had been a little better, the learned language of medieval Europe would have been Punic instead of Latin.
T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the Greco-Roman World (ed. Al-Suadi and Smit)
NEW BOOK FROM BLOOMSBURY/T&T CLARK:
T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the Greco-Roman World
Editor(s): Soham Al-Suadi, Peter-Ben Smit
Extent: 416
Imprint: T&T Clark
Series: T&T Clark Handbooks
Online price: £117.00
About T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the Greco-Roman World
This handbook situates early Christian meals in their broader context, with a focus on the core topics that aid understanding of Greco-Roman meal practice, and how this relates to Christian origins. In addition to looking at the broader Hellenistic context, the contributors explain the unique nature of Christian meals, and what they reveal about early Christian communities and the development of Christian identity.
Beginning with Hellenistic documents and authors before moving on to the New Testament material itself, according to genre - Gospels, Acts, Letters, Apocalyptic Literature - the handbook culminates with a section on the wider resources that describe daily life in the period, such as medical documents and inscriptions. The literary, historical, theological and philosophical aspects of these resources are also considered, including such aspects as the role of gender during meals; issues of monotheism and polytheism that arise from the structure of the meal; how sacrifice is understood in different meal practices; power dynamics during the meal and issues of inclusion and exclusion at meals.
There is also a lot of discussion of meals in ancient Jewish contexts.
Review of Bull, The Mithraeum at Caesarea Maritima...
Koskenniemi, Greek Writers and Philosophers in Phi...
How Old is the Hebrew Bible? - authors respond to ...
T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the...
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212: Do The Right Thing with Lifestyle Entrepreneur Ryan Lee
Learn To Rewind Today and Do The Right Thing From Today's Lifestyle Entrepreneur Ryan Lee:
Ryan Lee is the founder of REWIND - home of the world’s first nutrition “Superbar”. He’s also the author of The Millionaire Workout, Passion to Profits, was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, and called “the world’s #1 lifestyle entrepreneur” by Entrepreneur. He's here today to share his story and help us all, Do The Right Thing.
[spp-timestamp time="10:00"] It has to make you wake up in the morning and be aligned with your skills. Woody Woodpecker and more.
[spp-timestamp time="21:00"] Scott's terrible accent attempts and Ryan shares his kids lack of smartphone use for healthy lifestyle balance. Only one of four kids use a smartphone and she didn't get it until high school. Ryan has a safe in his bedroom that they put all of their electronics into.
[spp-timestamp time="29:50"] Connecting on Vinnie Tortorich, NSNG, and the new FAT: a documentary movie that's coming. Talking with Ryan on his inflammation.
[spp-timestamp time="31:00"] Ryan says the two big ones that impacted his inflammation were his nutrition and stress. Then simplifying his nutrition, his business practices, his family balance, and more.
[spp-timestamp time="41:00"] Respecting the music from the Eighties. Ryan loved all music which is why his business Rewind Today is themed around music, movies, and more.
[spp-timestamp time="42:20"] Realizing that he was building a Happiness Company.
Do The Right Thing - Ryan Lee
[spp-tweet tweet="Rewind Today with Ryan Lee. You Too Can LIVETHEFUEL! @_RyanLee "]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDBH-cy3ql4]
RewindToday.com
@RewindToday on Facebook.com
@RewindToday on Instagram
Vinnie Tortorich and his FAT: a documentary film
In life, as best you can, "do the right thing". It's not always the easy thing, often it's the harder thing, but do the right thing. This is important in the terms of the way you treat other people, serving others, doing the right thing for your family, doing the right thing for your clients, for the people that are buying from you, your own nutrition, your health, your exercise. JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.
Your Action Steps:
Submit an iTunes Review. More 5 Stars reaches more people!
Join my private Facebook community THE FUEL TANK!
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PfP Blog
…helping children reclaim their childhoods
Dr Ahmed Alkhateeb Takes PfP to the Summit of Mt Rainier!
Congratulations and gratitude to Dr Ahmed Alkhateeb, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard, and his friends for climbing Mt Rainier in support of PfP!
Dr Alkhateeb and his fellow mountaineers started the climb on June 6th and reached the summit (pictured) on June 11th. For more information and photos, click here or on the photo below.
Lajee Center Grand Opening of Community Space
On June 6th, Lajee Center held it’s grand opening for the community space and playground built by PfP.
We are very proud of the work being done by Lajee and honored to contribute this safe space for families and children. Susan, a PfP board member, was there and had an opportunity to speak with some of the children, all of whom expressed joy at having a place to play and asked for “more climbing and swinging things.”
Indeed, PfP will be adding more to this site in the coming months.
Another Way To Give, Without Giving!
Just designate PfP as your 501c3 nonprofit organization of choice, and Amazon will donate a portion of your what you buy there to PfP.
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Ger you Fair Trade, USDA Certified Organic Palestinian Olive Oil here. Both the Rumi and Nabali olive oils come in elegant 500 mL bottles or beautiful IL tin cans.
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2019 Annual Gala. Thank you!
Thank you so much for coming out to support Playgrounds for Palestine at our annual gala! It was an incredible night of food, music, and fun. Thank you to our wonderful patrons, volunteers, speakers, staff, and to Olive Press Eatery for catering.
My contribution makes me happy for the cause, and is inspired by my friends, Holly and Scudder, who are getting married.
Matthew DiFilippo
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Now reading: Two Ways That Citrus Peel Can Prolong Your Prime and Reverse the Effects of Aging
Two Ways That Citrus Peel Can Prolong Your Prime and Reverse the Effects of Aging
Imagine you had a remedy that was shown to help heal burns and achy joints, prevent bone loss, prevent premature aging in skin, muscles, bones, keep your nerves and your brain in top shape, protect your body from the effects of stress, and, while it’s at it, improve your digestion, heal ulcers, prevent cancer, protect you from heart disease and lower your cholesterol.
Would you throw it away?
This isn’t really a rhetorical question, because believe it or not, it’s very likely you have been throwing it away your whole life! Pretty much everyone has.
Many people know that there’s an abundance of goodness to be found in citrus fruits. What most people don’t know is that the greatest concentration of all the healing and life-enhancing agents in citrus fruits is found in the peel.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Has Used Citrus Peel for Two Thousand Years
True to form, traditional Chinese Medicine has known about the benefits of citrus peel for thousands of years. The first recorded use of Citrus Peel in Chinese Medicine was over 1800 years ago in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica.
In TCM, citrus peel comes in two forms: the peel of an immature orange or a green tangerine (Qing Pi) and an aged peel (Chen Pi.) Their benefits are very similar. (The greatest difference is that Chen Pi is milder in its effects.)
According to TCM, Qing Pi and Chen Pi help stuck energy (Qi) to get moving again. Stuck energy will manifest in several ways:
Digestive upsets of all kinds, including abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Phlegm in your lungs, bronchioles, and nasal passages.
Stiffness and pain in muscles and joints, usually from accumulated toxins in blood and lymph that haven’t been able to be eliminated yet.
Emotionally and mentally, stuck energy manifests in irritability and anxiety, with looping thoughts and recurring feelings of stress and anxiety.
So, is there anything to all this, or is citrus peel just a folk remedy with a nice placebo effect? Let’s take a look.
Is There Anything in Citrus Peel That Makes it Effective?
Chemists have identified a handful of compounds in citrus peel[1] that have shown a wide array of benefits in animal and human studies. In this article, we’re going to limit ourselves to four of the most promising ones:
Nobiletin
Alpha-Pinene
You’re going to see these names repeatedly throughout this article series, so get familiar with them now.
One of the things you might be been thinking when I listed all those benefits up there is this: how can one thing have so many different positive effects?
The answer to this can be found by exploring the answer to another question: do our thousands of maladies and diseases have some common causes? The answer to this question is, yes, absolutely. And if you have an ingredient that affects one or more of those common causes, you’ll see benefits spring up downstream all over the place.
So, in this series, we’re going to take a look at the effects of citrus peel on five specific areas that medical researchers know to be precursors to many forms of disease, and we’ll wrap it up by looking at the effects of citrus peel on specific conditions like cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, and more.
The five causal areas we’re going to look at are:
Neural Degeneration
In this post, we’ll cover the first two.
How Glycation Can Accelerate Aging
When there’s too much sugar in your system for too long, it alters your body’s proteins by forming what are called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), which make them hard, brittle, and resistant to change and renewal. AGE’s can accumulate anywhere blood goes: skin, muscle, bone, organs, and especially the endothelial tissue that lines your circulatory system.
As more proteins become abnormally cross-linked, larger portions of tissue can’t do their job correctly or preserve themselves properly. The glycation of your circulatory tissue is part of what leads to some kinds of cardiovascular disease and is a major problem for diabetics.
Many diseases related to aging are associated with too many damaged proteins clogging up the plumbing.
I could go on, but here’s the take-away: anyone interested in preserving prime health should pay close attention to anything that can prevent glycation.
Obviously, controlling your sugar intake is a smart first step. But if you want to get all of the protection you can, you should consider adding citrus peel to your daily regimen. Researchers found that the Limonene in citrus peel is able to prevent glycation by a whopping 75%[2]. It bound to proteins in a way that blocked the sugar from sticking to them, and the proteins stayed in their normal, healthy state.
They also found that the hesperidin in citrus peel lowers blood sugar, which can help to lessen the impact of glycation.[3]
The challenge with trying to get limonene from eating high volumes of citrus fruit is that, for all their benefits, citrus fruits come with high sugar content (especially modern conventionally farmed fruits, which have been genetically selected for their sweetness.) You’d be fueling the fires of glycation by eating that much sugar in order to try and get at the limonene content.
But all of the sugar is in the juice. The only carbohydrate content in the peel is dietary fiber, and the peel has the highest concentration of limonene. Two wins for the peel.
How Oxidative Stress Leads to Breakdown and Disease
Every day, you are bombarded by free radicals, which are a form of unstable oxygen that destroys whatever cells they touch. Natural processes produce some free radicals, so your body has a built in antioxidant defense system to deactivate them.
But modern life bombards you with far more free radicals through polluted air, toxins in your water and food, and the failure of the modern diet to provide you with enough antioxidants. When there’s more free radicals than what your body can handle, whatever tissues they touch start to break down--organs, arteries and veins, muscle and bone, everything is susceptible.
Heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders can all be brought on by excessive oxidative stress.
Citrus Peel Contains a Potent Antioxidant Network
Free radicals come in different forms and require different kinds of antioxidants to deactivate them. (For example, some are water soluble, and others are fat soluble.)
Citrus fruits are known to be excellent sources of many of these antioxidants (polyphenols, flavonoids, Vitamin C, and more.) When scientists studied 31 different fruits, they found that citrus peels had higher concentrations than the rest of the fruit, and that tangerine peel (Qing Pi and Chen Pi) had the highest concentrations, able to attack free radicals of multiple types. [4],[5]
What’s more, your liver is particularly sensitive to oxidative damage because of everything it has to process. It’s a major clearinghouse for a lot of good things and a lot of bad things--kind of like customs at a major international airport. But the hesperidin in citrus peel has been shown to reduce oxidative stress directly in the liver. [6]
Why should an athlete care about oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress isn’t just something to worry about if you have a disease. Somewhat ironically, exercise is a significant source of oxidative stress. The more oxygen your physical activity and recovery requires, the stronger the antioxidant network you’re going to need.
All the tissues you’re trying to build -- stronger muscle, denser bone, thicker skin, faster nerves, heart and lungs that give you more endurance -- all of them need antioxidant protection.
In the next article, we’re going to look at all of the ways citrus peel helps fight inflammation.
[1] Contemporary Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, 1997; 643-643
[2] Joglekar MM, Panaskar SN, Chougale AD, Kulkarni MJ, Arvindekar AU. A novel mechanism for antiglycative action of limonene through stabilization of protein conformation. Mol Biosyst 2013 July
[3] Jung UJ, Lee MK, Jeong KS, Choi MS. The hypoglycemic effects of hesperidin and naringin are partly mediated by hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2499-503
[4] Murakami, A., Nakamura, Y., Ohto, Y., Yano, M., Koshiba, T., Koshimizu, K., Tokuda, H., Nishino, H., and Ohigashi, H. Suppressive effects of citrus fruits on free radical generation and nobiletin, an anti-inflammatory polymethoxyflavonoid. Biofactors 2000;12(1-4):187-192.
[5] Rincon, A. M., Vasquez, A. M., and Padilla, F. C. [Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of flour of orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peels cultivated in Venezuela]. Arch Latinoam Nutr 2005;55(3):305-310.
[6] Tirkey N, Pilkhwal S, Kuhad A, Chopra K. Hesperidin, a citrus bioflavonoid, decreases the oxidative stress produced by carbon tetrachloride in rat liver and kidney. BMC Pharmacol. 2005 Jan 31;5:2.
Written by Hitesh Vadsmiya
Three Ways Green Tea Can Make You A Superior Athlete
The Many Ways Chronic Inflammation Threatens Your Health, and How Citrus Peel Can Help
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Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) An option scheme providing income tax advantages for UK employees working for independent companies. CSOP must comply with the current legislation and options must be notified to HM Revenue and Customs); also known as Tax-Advantaged Options. For more information see our CSOP page
Deferred Payment Shares See Nil Paid Shares
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EMI Options See Enterprise Management Incentives Option Scheme
EMI Share Options See Enterprise Management Incentives Option Scheme
Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) A discretionary trust for the benefit of employees of a particular company or group of companies. Also abbreviated to EBT or called employees’ trust, employee trust, employees’ share trust, employee share ownership trust or ESOT.
Employee Ownership A form of company ownership under which the employees as a whole own the whole company or a majority of it (or in some cases a significant but not controlling stake)
Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) A particular form of employee benefit trust which has a controlling interest in a business and which satisfies the conditions for tax reliefs for employee-owned businesses introduced by Finance Act 2014
Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) A generic term describing any kind of employee share plan or employee share scheme; also used to describe an arrangement involving an employee benefit trust.
Employee-owned company A company the whole or the majority of which is owned on behalf of the employees, normally on a widespread basis so that all or most staff have a stake in their company.
Employee Share Ownership Trust See Employee Benefit Trust.
Employee Share Trust See Employee Benefit Trust.
Employees Trust See Employee Benefit Trust.
Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) Option Scheme An option scheme providing income tax advantages for UK employees working for smaller qualifying and independent companies, also known as EMI option plan, EMI share option. For more information see our EMI page
ESOT Employees Share Ownership Trust. See Employee Benefit Trust.
Growth Shares Shares of a special class which only acquire a capital value if the value of the whole company exceeds a specified threshold. For more information see our Growth Shares page. Hurdle Shares are similar.
Joint Share Ownership Plan (JSOP) Describes an arrangement under which shares are jointly acquired by an employee and an employee benefit trust. The value of the trust’s interest in the shares is normally fixed at the same level as the value of the shares when they are acquired, whereas the value of the employee’s interest is based on any growth in value of the shares after their acquisition.
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Limited Liability Partnership A form of partnership in which members have limited liability, so that – unlike a conventional partnership – no member is liable for the obligations created by their fellow members.
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Non tax-advantaged Options Employee shares option which (unlike EMI options, CSOP options and SAYE options) do not provide participants with income tax advantages. For more information see our Unapproved Options and Long Term Incentive Plans page
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Restricted Shares Shares which are subject to initial restrictions affecting their value, such as absence of voting rights, or being subject to forfeiture if the employee leaves within a specified period. These restrictions may fall away after that period has passed.
Save As You Earn Options See SAYE Option Scheme
SAYE Option Scheme A UK tax-advantaged option scheme under which options may be granted to all employees of an independent company. Employees must agree to save a fixed monthly or weekly amount which at the end of the option period they may either use to exercise their options or simply withdraw. Also known as Sharesave and Save As You Earn options. For more information see our SAYE page
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Sharesave See SAYE Option Scheme.
Tax-Advantaged Options See Company Share Option Plan (CSOP), Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) Option Scheme, SAYE Option Scheme
Unapproved Options See Non tax-advantaged Options
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Home City Government New West Oakland Skate Park Runs into Bumpy Ground
New West Oakland Skate Park Runs into Bumpy Ground
A conflict over a skate park in West Oakland has become the latest skirmish over what some see as the wave of gentrification that is sweeping the Bay Area.
The builders say the skate park is a productive use for property that was an eyesore and going to waste.
But a number of community members view these new arrivals like the settlers who thought they discovered America.
At issue is the “Lower Bobs Skatepark,” recently built on 8th and Pine streets in West Oakland’s Lower Bottoms neighborhood.
The builder is Gauntlet Skateparks, a non-profit organization that consists of “skate park builders from Oakland, Portland, Atlanta and Pittsburg working with local communities to get skate parks built anywhere, everywhere,” according to the group’s website.
However, in this case Gauntlet did not work with the community or local officials before building the park and instead constructed it without permits and liability insurance to ensure the public’s safety.
Santiago Menendez, an organizer for Gauntlet, says the area was filled with garbage, and the group just wanted to do “something productive” for the community.
“We did build it. We’re not denying that, but we’d like to move forward and talk about what we’re going to do,” said Menendez.
Given the lack of effort to work with the city form the beginning, Councilmember Lynette McElhaney calls Gauntlet’s methodology “disheartening” and “disrespectful” to residents.
“Doing it the way they have, has been a drain on the city’s scarce resources,” she said. “It’s discouraging to investors who actually go through the process.”
McElhaney cited another nearby skate park, Town Park, as an example of a project that went through the process in the right way.
Built in West Oakland at the historic Defremery Park by Keith “K-Dub” Williams, Town Park has been in operation since 2008. While the project may have taken longer to get up and running, Williams followed the necessary steps, according to McElhaney.
Williams is now in the process of getting permits to rebuild the wooden skate park with concrete, which he says Oakland needs more of. As someone who is familiar with the culture, he says he understands the Do It Yourself (DIY) attitude of skateboarding and resourcefulness of skaters, but skate boarders should be caring enough to engage the community from the onset.
“Aesthetically it’s a beautiful site, but in terms of not engaging the community, [it] may have been a bit naïve,” said Williams. “I’m about skateboarding and skateboard culture, but I’m about community first.”
“There’s a need for this type of recreation,” he said. “[But] if I had did that in Piedmont, I’d be in jail.”
He said some skaters have told him they were not welcomed when visiting the new skate park because they did not help build it or because they did not bring beer.
Williams, however, is not worried about these glitches. Instead, he says he is committed to his primary focus, creating events for youth to engage in.
In the meantime, Lower Bobs Skatepark is closed until an agreement is reached between the group and city officials
“We didn’t build it with permits, but we want to go on from here out the right way,” said Menendez. “We don’t want to lose it.”
McElhaney says she supports the group going through the process. She hopes that if the park is not approved, the group will responsibly remove it just like they built it and not impose that burden on taxpayers.
Kdub
Lower Bobs Skatepark
Lynette McElhaney
west oakland
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Schaaf: “We will not have coal shipped through our city.”
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← Record Review: Shriekback – Peel Sessions + Singularities
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Record Review: Positive Noise – Positive Negative
Posted on January 17, 2017 by postpunkmonk
Statik Records | UK | 12″ | 1981 | STAT 812
Positive Noise: Positive/Negative UK 12″ [1981]
Positive/Negative [ext. remix]
Positive/Negative [instrumental]
This was a record I’d wanted ever since 1982. That year, I’d purchased what for decades was my only Positive Noise record, “Change of Heart.” When I played that disc, the brief but fiery song “Positive/Negative” fairly leapt out at my throat from the rest of the vinyl. For many years afterward, the 2:47 song was something that found its way to many a mix tape, as the song’s notoriety existed in inverse proportion to its electric sense of dynamics.
When I saw this bad boy in Wuxtry, Decator last October, I was more than happy to purchase it and report on my findings. For 34 years I had been waiting for the experience of this song to last longer than the scant running time of the album version. The remix of the A-side by Tony Cousins is mixed a bit strangely. Elements of the mix sound like they were recorded “in the red.” None moreso than the fat oscillating tone that under lied the song’s pixilated intro, gradually building up enough steam so that it threatened to take the whole song down with it when it peaked.
The vocals sounded crisp, but the music bed threatened to overmodulate at various points in the mix. This was disappointing at first, since it’s the vinyl mastering equivalent to brickwalling, but after more than a few spins, I’m somewhat used to the somewhat brash sound. The tightly coiled energy of the familiar LP mix was largely absent, save for the sequencer pattern that cut through the entirety of the song. In its place, were more expansive, dub-influenced spaces where the elements of the song aired out in a way such that all of the players got a chance for the spotlight in the 6:43 running time. I particularly noted that the kyperkinetic sax solos on the tune gave it a real jolt of energy redolent of Ian Nelson’s vibrant runs from Bill Nelson’s Red Noise.
The Instrumental B-side is more properly, a dub mix, that gives a good emphasis to the rubbery bass line driving this song. The 3:42 running time makes it longer than the 3:16 7″ mix, which is still 30 seconds longer than the always brief LP mix. The A-side tune was driven by drum machine, by the sound of it, but the B-side let drummer Less Gaff actually strike the skins for a more lively effect. Positive Noise were the sort of New Wave band I enjoyed in that synths were on equal footing with conventional instruments, but it’s true that guitar was mighty thin on the ground here, thought the dreamy synths anchoring the excellent “Energy,” needed to predominate the airy tune.
My first exposure to what Positive Noise did on a 12″ single was pretty satisfying, thought at the end of the day, I suspect that I will always carry the brightest of torches for the more tightly coiled energy of the rather brief LP mix. Given that the 7″ mix is 30 longer than that, I may have to grab a copy to compare and contrast, especially before I remaster “Change of Heart” and add the requisite bonus material.
This entry was posted in Record Review, Scots Rock and tagged 12" single, 1981, Positive Noise. Bookmark the permalink.
5 Responses to Record Review: Positive Noise – Positive Negative
35 years on and EVERYTIME I hear this song it sticks with me for the entire day.
That recording technique (or mistake) was really obvious from the first time I ever played the 12″ all those years ago….Thank goodness my Marantz receiver had a very delicate bass knob that really responded well. But there’s something almost Punk about this synth pop anthem and maybe the sort of “balls to the wall” recording was part of the brashness, as you so well put it, the band was going for.
Another observation – I own a decent number of albums and 12″ singles that came out on Statik and I don’t believe any of them had really great mastering…some of the flaws here could just be down to the label.
Echorich – Phew! Glad to hear there’s nothing wrong with my pressing. It looks flawless, and played without much noticeable crackle or pops, but it didn’t sound “right”from the get-go. It wasn’t until the third okay when I realized that it was meant to sound like that!
Taffy says:
The 7″ of Positive Negative got a ton of turntable play in my house back in the day, and I was thrilled that somebody digitized it for a long-forgotten music blog once upon a laptop. I never owned the 12″ and didn’t even hear the extended remix till the past year or two. It’s fine, but I actually think less is more in this case, and prefer the shorter version I’ve pogo-ed to for the past 35 years.
Speaking of pogoing, it’s rare I can play this while DJ-ing, as the tempo is so breakneck speedy it’s tough to work into a set. But i try!
Taffy – I am inclined to agree with you. While I did warm to the 12″ the LP mix is a potent bomb. I’ve not heard the 7″ version, which is even longer than the LP cut.
Have to agree for all of the 12″ version’s “brashness,” The 7″ version is the best one.
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Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) - World Bank Group
Acronyms Used in the Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects Database :
AFIDB
Central American Bank for Economic Integration
Build, Lease, Transfer
BOAD
Banque Ouest Africaine de Developpement
Build, Operate, Transfer
Build, Operate, Own
Build, Rehabilitate,Operate, Transfer
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A Amount of Multilateral Support: The resources committed by a multilateral agency to the project under a specific type of support (equity, guarantees, loan, quasi-equity, risk management, or syndication). See Multilateral Support.
Amount of Bilateral Support: The resources committed by a bilateral agency to the project under a specific type of support (equity, guarantees, loan, quasi-equity, risk management, or syndication). See Bilateral Support.
B Bilateral Support: Bilateral support include support from agencies of one specific government, which are usually development agencies (such as JICA) or export-credit agencies, which have a mandate to support domestic businesses in pursuing investments abroad (such as JBIC). Other examples of bilateral agencies include: SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), SECO (Switzerland), DEG/KfW/GTZ (Germany), French l'Agence Française de Développement (L’AFD) or COFACE, Canadian CIDA, British DFID, USAID or US Ex-Im, Chinese Sinosure, Dutch Hermes, Korean K-EXIM, etc. The other fields are the same as multilateral support. See Multilateral Support.
C Canceled Project: See Status
Capacity: It is the size of a project measured in the units of the capacity type assigned to the project. For electricity generation, energy transmission, water treatment, and transport projects, the capacity quoted is usually the one expected when project becomes fully operational. For energy distribution, water distribution, and telecommunications projects, the capacity is usually tracked for each year that information is available. While investment figures are either reported on total commitment basis in the year of financial closure or annual flows for some projects, capacity size information is cumulative. See Capacity Type.
Capacity Type:
Only one capacity type is assigned to a project so capacity type selected is the one that best represents the primary service provided by the project:
KM is used for road, railway, energy transmission and submarine or land cables
MW of installed capacity is used for electricity generation projects
Cubic meters per day (thousand) is used for water treatment plant projects
Number of installed connections (in thousands) is used for water or electricity distribution projects
Throughput (thousands of TEUs per year) is used for seaport container terminals.
Throughput (thousands of tons per year) is used for other seaport terminals.
Population (in thousands) is used for water or electricity distribution projects when information on number of installed connections is not available
Number of runways is used for airports.
Number of working locomotives and cars for railway projects which did not include fixed assets (kms for railways)
Contract Period: The length of time measured in years that the terms of a contract agreement are in place.
Contract Award Method:
This is the method that the government uses to award the contract to a private consortium. The options are:
Competitive bidding
Direct negotiation
License Scheme
Country: The low- or middle-income country(ies) in which the project has been developed and provides services to the public. Cross-border projects (i.e. the ones that involved more than one country) include all relevant countries.
Country IDA Status:
The International Development Association (IDA), member of the World Bank Group, classifies low- and middle- income countries based on the per capita income and ability to borrow on market terms. There are three categories:
IDA: Countries that are eligible for IDA resources on the basis of low per capita income and lack of creditworthiness to borrow on market terms
Blend: This category is used to classify countries that are eligible for IDA resources on the basis of per capita income but also have limited creditworthiness to borrow from IBRD.
Non-IDA: Countries that are only eligible to borrow from IBRD based on per capita income
Data in the Private Participation in Infrastructure Project Database currently uses the World Bank classification by IDA status of each low- and middle-income country published in July 2012.
Country Income Group:
The World Bank classifies developing economies in three groups based on per capita income:
lower middle-income
upper-middle-income
Data on the Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects Database currently use the World Bank classification by income group of each developing economy published in July 2012.
Cross-Border Project: A project that has been implemented in more than one country. The country designation field of a cross-border project lists all countries in which the project has been implemented.
D Description of Source: If there is public disclosure of the contract then a description of the source of information i.e. any government granting authority’s website, any ministry’s website, project company website, sponsor website is captured
Direct government support:
Direct government support are government liabilities that directly cover project costs, either in cash or in-kind, and are certain to occur. It can be a fixed payment or variable depending on a specified formula. Payments can bein installments or all at once. We now classify direct government support further as follows:
Capital subsidy:These are cash subsidies for capital investments of the project, i.e. to cover the costs of the physical assets during construction
Revenue subsidy: These are cash subsidies for revenue support, i.e. to help the private party recoup its investment during the operational phase of the project, such as availability payments or shadow tolls.
In-kind: These are in-kind contributions to the project (i.e. land)
F Fees to the government (formerly known as Investment in Government Assets): This refers to the amount of concession fee paid by the private party for the right to develop the project or the amount paid on the sale of the asset (in the case of a divestiture). Investments are recorded in millions of US dollars.
Financial Closure:
The definition of financial or contractual closure varies among types of private participation as a result of availability of public information:
For management and lease contracts, a contract authorizing the commencement of management or lease service must be signed with the private consortium assuming the operation of the services.
For brownfield projects, contractual closure is reached when the concession agreement is signed, and the date for taking over the operations is set.
For greenfield projects, financial closure is the date that whereby a) there is the existence of a legally binding commitment of equity holders and/or debt financiers to provide or mobilize funding for the full cost of the project; and b) the conditions for funding have been met and the first tranche of funding is mobilized. If this information is not available, construction start date is used as an estimated financial closure date.
For divestitures, the equity holders must have a legally binding commitment to acquire the assets of the facility. Such commitment usually occurs at the signing of the share purchase contract
Financial Closure Year: The year in which private sponsors agreed to a legally binding agreement to invest funds or provide services.
I Indirect government support:
Indirect government support are either contingent liabilities (liabilities that may not actually occur as they are contingent on a predetermined event) or government policies that support investment. The categories under indirect government support are:
Payment Guarantee: This is when a government agrees to fulfill the obligations of a purchaser (typically a state-owned-enterprise) of the infrastructure good in the case of non-performance by the purchaser. The most common example of this is when a government guarantees the fixed payment of an off-take agreement (e.g. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Water Purchase Agreement (WPA)) between a private entity and a state-owned enterprise.
Debt Guarantee: This is when a government secures the borrowings of a private entity. That is, a government guarantees repayment to creditors in the case of a default by a private entity.
Revenue Guarantee: This is when a government sets a minimum income for the private operator; typically this income is from user fee payments by end-use customers. This form of guarantee is most common in roads with minimum traffic or revenue set by a government.
Exchange Rate Guarantee: This is when a government protects a private entity from fluctuations in the value of the local currency. For example, the government will agree to reimburse the private entity for losses on debt services if the value of the local currency dips by, say, 20 percent or greater.
Construction Cost Guarantee: This is when a government protects a private entity from potential cost overruns in the construction phase of a project.
Interest Rate Guarantee: This is when a government protects a private entity from fluctuations in interest rates. Basically, this is the same concept as an exchange rate guarantee with respect to local interest rates.
Tariff rate guarantee: This is when the government guarantees a minimum tariff level for the project.
Tax deduction/Government credit:Tax deduction/Government credit: This is when the government provides a tax incentive or government credit to encourage infrastructure in a specific sector (often in renewables). Note: This is only considered government support if it is specific to the project or type of project. General corporate tax incentives, for example, are not considered government support.
Investment in physical assets:
Resources the project company commits to invest in facilities during the contract period. Investments can be either in new facilities or in expansion and modernization of existing facilities. Data entry varies across sectors:
For projects other than telecommunications and large energy utilities, the total cost of developing or expanding the facility during the contract period is entered as investment data in the year of financial closure (for which data are typically available).
For telecommunications projects and some large energy utilities, annual investments on facility expansion and modernization are entered as investment data in the year of investment when information is publicly available.
Investments are recorded in millions of US dollars in either the year of financial closure or year of investment as indicated above.
M Multilateral Support
The information tracked under multilateral support includes name of multilateral bank providing financial support, type of multilateral support and amount.
The types of financial support tracked are:
Equity. Some multilateral institutions are allowed to invest in equity, such as IFC and ADB.
Guarantees. These include political risk coverage and partial credit guarantees, which turn medium-term finance into a longer-term arrangement by guaranteeing longer maturity or offering liquidity guarantees in the form of put options and take-out financing.
Loan. Direct loan using the multilateral institution funds (also referred to as A-loan).
Quasi-equity. These products have both debt and equity characteristics and some of them are convertible debt, subordinated loan investments, and preferred stock and income note investments (also referred to as C-loan).
Risk management. The risk management products, or derivatives, allow project companies to hedge currency, interest rate, or commodity price exposure. Some of them are currency and interest rate swap, options and forward contracts and derivatives.
Syndication. A multilateral institution arranges the financing with the resources of other investors, but the institution is always the lender-of-record (also referred to as B-loan).
Other As types of financial support may vary, there is an option to add something that is not yet included.
NOTE: The database does not track non-financial support from multilaterals, such as transaction advisory support.
P Percentage Private: The percentage of the project company that is owned by private sponsors. Data on private shares are cumulative and reflects annual changes.
Primary Sector The primary sector is classified according to the four infrastructure sectors covered- Energy, Transport, Water, ICT, Municipal Solid Waste and is defined by the main infrastructure services provided by the project to the public. See Secondary Sector.
Project Company: This is the corporate entity created to manage the project. It is usually incorporated in the hosting country and in most cases the project company is quoted as the project name.
Project Location: This is the area where the facilities are located (for example, toll roads) or the geographic area (for example, water services or telecommunication services) that the project committed to serve under its contract.
Project Name: This is the most commonly occurring or recent name of the project in English. In some sectors, the name of the Project Company is the Project Name. See Related Names.
R Region: This is the region to which the low- or middle-income country in which the project has been developed belongs, according to the World Bank classification published in July 2012.
Related Project Name: All names other than the project name by which the project is referred to, including abbreviated names, acronyms, old or other names.
S Secondary Sector: For projects that provide services across more than one infrastructure sector, the secondary sector is the second main infrastructure service that the project provides to the public. Most common multi-sector projects involve the energy (electricity) and water sectors services. For projects that involve both electricity and water services, energy has been recorded as the primary sector and water as the secondary one. Therefore, aggregated reports attribute investment of those projects to the energy sector rather than to the water one.
Segment:
This is the most detailed definition of infrastructure services provided by a project. See Subsector, Sector, and Technology/Fuel. The segments by subsector are:
Collection and Transport- Waste Collection, Waste Transport, and both
Treatment/Disposal -Sorting and Recycling, Mechanical and Biological Treatment, Incineration/ Waste to Energy, and Sanitary Landfill
electricity - generation, transmission, and distribution
natural - gas Transmission and distribution
ICT – ICT backbone like hard infrastructure cable assets (such as fiber optic networks and other types of broadband networks) where the government is involved either through being a contracting authority (i.e. a party to a concession agreement), the owner of the assets, or some other form of government support.
airports - runway and terminal
ports - channel dredging and terminal
railways - fixed assets, freight, local passenger/light rail, and regional passenger
roads - bridge, highway, and tunnel
treatment plant – potable and sewerage treatment plants
utilities – water utilities with and without sewerage service, sewerage collection and treatment
Sponsor: Sponsors are private entities that together have an equity participation of at least 20% in the project contract for Greenfields, brownfields, and management and lease contracts, and 5% for divestitures. A foreign state-owned enterprise is considered a private entity although a domestic state-owned enterprise is not.
The status of projects in the database can be one of the following options:
Active for projects that are under construction (or about to start construction) or operational
Concluded for which the contract period has expired and was neither renewed nor extended by either the government or the operator
Canceled projects from which the private sector has exited in one of the following ways:
selling or transferring its economic interest back to the government before fulfilling the contract terms
removing all management and personnel from the concern
ceasing operation, service provision, or construction for 15 percent or more of the license or concession period, following the revocation of the license or repudiation of the contract
Distressed projects where the government or the operator has either requested contract termination or are in international arbitration.
Subsector:
The Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects Database divides each sector in subsectors as follows, see Sector and Segment:
energy - electricity and natural gas
transport - airports, ports, railways, and roads
water and sewerage - treatment plants and utilities
ICT – ICT backbone
municipal solid waste -collection and transport, treatment/disposal, integrated municipal solid waste
Sub-Type of Private Participation in Infrastructure:
The database identifies sub-categories for each of the four types of projects:
Management and Lease Contracts. A private entity takes over the management of a public asset for a fixed period while ownership and investment decisions remain with the state.There are two subclasses of management and lease contracts:
Management contract. Management contracts transfer responsibility for managing a utility to a private operator, often for three to five years. The ones considered PPPs are the ones that aim for efficiency by defining performance targets and basing the fee in part on their fulfillment. The payments are typically made up of a fixed sum and an incentive based fee for achieving specified results.
Lease contract (including affermage contracts). The term "lease” is used here for a class of arrangements under which an operator is responsible for operating and maintaining the business, but not for financing investment.
Greenfield Projects. A private entity or a public-private joint venture builds and operates a new facility for the period specified in the project contract. The private entity takes on much of the financial and operational risk, and recoups its investments through the life of the project. The Database classifies Greenfield projects in four categories:
Build, lease, and transfer. A private sponsor builds a new facility largely at its own risk, transfers ownership to the government, leases the facility from the government and operates it at its own risk, then receives full ownership of the facility at the end of the concession period.
Build, operate, and transfer. A private sponsor builds a new facility at its own risk, owns and operates the facility at its own risk, then transfers the facility to the government at the end of the contract period.
Build, own, and operate. A private sponsor builds a new facility at its own risk, then owns and operates the facility at its own risk.
Merchant. A private sponsor builds a new facility in a liberalized market in which the government provides no revenue or payment guarantees. The private developer assumes construction, operating, and market risk for the project (for example, a merchant power plant).
Rental. A private sponsor places a new facility at its own risk, owns and operates the facility at its own risk.
Brownfields. Brownfields are similar to Greenfields except that instead of building a new asset, the private entity takes over an existing asset and usually makes an improvement to it (rehabilitation) or expands it. They often take over operations of the existing asset first and then undertakes the capital investment. Like Greenfields, the private entity usually has operational responsibility for a set amount of time, during it recoups its investment from operation of the project, after which the project may revert back to the public sector. The Database classifies brownfields according to the following categories:
Rehabilitate, operate, and transfer. A private sponsor rehabilitates an existing facility, then operates and maintains the facility at its own risk for the contract period.
Rehabilitate, lease or rent, and transfer. A private sponsor rehabilitates an existing facility at its own risk, leases or rents the facility from the government owner, then operates and maintains the facility at its own risk for the contract period.
Build, rehabilitate, operate, and transfer. A private developer builds an add-on to an existing facility or completes a partially built facility and rehabilitates existing assets, then operates and maintains the facility at its own risk for the contract period.
Divestitures. A private entity buys an equity stake in a state-owned enterprise through an asset sale, public offering, or mass privatization program. A divestiture, like a concession, gives the private operator full responsibility for operations, maintenance, and investment. The Database classifies divestitures in two categories:
Full. The government transfers 100 percent of the equity in the state-owned company to private entities (operator, institutional investors, and the like).
Partial. The government transfers part of the equity in the state-owned company to private entities (operator, institutional investors, and the like). Share sales can be done in tranches. The private stake may or may not imply private management of the facility.
T Technology/Fuel: This field applies only to electricity generating projects. The options are coal, Diesel, Geothermal, Large Hydro (>50MW), Small Hydro (<50MW), Natural Gas, Nuclear, Steam, Waste, Wind, Solar PV, Solar CSP, Solar CPV, Wave, Tidal, Enhanced Geothermal, Biomass, Biogas.
Total Equity: The total equity contribution made by the sponsors of the project, towards the total project investment. It includes equity from both private and public sponsors.
Total Investment: It is the sum of investment in physical assets and payments to the government. Investments are recorded in millions of US dollars.
Type of Debt Provider: Type of debt provider can be commercial (typically a project finance bank), multilateral, bilateral, institutional (pension funds, private equity funds, etc), or public.
Type of PPI:
The database classifies private infrastructure projects in four categories:
management and lease contracts
brownfield projects
The definitions of Types of Private Participation can be found under the definition of Sub-type of Private Participation.
U Update Status date: The date when the project status changed. Sometimes this can be an estimated date based on the date of news articles.
Y Year of Financial Closure: The year in which financial closure was attained. See section on Financial Closure
Year of Investment: The year in which investments are committed to the project or in which the transactions take place for divestitures that are phased or where investment requirements are defined by requirements on service coverage and quality and data are available (such as for large privatized electricity and telecommunications companies).
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JetBlue Founder Plans to Fly State-of-the-Art Planes Between Small U.S. Airports
by John Harper Last updated June 18, 2018
by John Harper Last updated June 18, 2018 2 comments
The founder of JetBlue Airways is courting investors to start an airline, called Moxy, that could offer what none currently do: direct commercial service between small airports in the U.S.
David Neelman, who successfully launched contrarian JetBlue in 2001, is soliciting investment for Moxy and has placed 60 orders for next generation Bombardier C Series 300 jets, according to an article published in Airline Weekly. This is not a modest play. If all the orders are filled, Moxy would become the second largest U.S. operator of the jet; Delta Air Lines has 75 orders for the smaller C Series 100 variant.
The C Series is a smaller airplane, just shy of the Boeing 737 family of jets, but offers fuel economy and passenger comfort features similar to next generation long-haul aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 series. Image by John Harper, Point Me To The Plane
The new jets are efficient enough to provide cheap commercial service to airports that have, until recently, been relegated to regional jet connector flights. The new airline will be designed to uniquely take advantage of the new airplane’s capabilities, the magazine reported, operating long-distance routes between secondary airports like Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), in Southern California and Providence T.F. Green Airport (PVD), in Rhode Island. The CS300 variant that Moxy has reportedly ordered can seat up to 160 passengers in an economy-only configuration.
The CS100’s windows are of similar size to the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. This made for a very bright cabin, and great plane spotting! Image by John Harper, Point Me To The Plane
Depending on how Neelman outfits his new fleet, passengers could be in for upgraded confines. The C Series is designed with many of the passenger comfort features lauded on long-haul airliners like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350. The composit airframe supports a lower cabin altitude than standard jets, meaning the air is denser and easier to breathe. The jet is also designed to accommodate exceptionally wide seats in a 2-3 configuration, limiting the number of middle seats.
Read my review of a flight aboard a Swiss International C Series 100.
Moxy looks poised to take a page out of Southwest Airlines’ playbook — which has long focused on point-to-point direct flights between alternate airports — but with the advantage of a more efficient jet that can both land on shorter runways, and fly nonstop coast-to-coast. Southwest operates some transcontintental service using various Boeing 737 models, but those airplanes require longer takeoff distances than a C Series when fully loaded, and aren’t as cost efficient on a per-passenger basis.
Neelman worked at Southwest for five months after it acquired Morris Air, which he led.
Neelman has a reputation for successfully disrupting the airline industry in unique ways. JetBlue grew into a commercial success despite its auspicious launch in one of the worst financial periods in the history of American air travel. The airline focused on economy customers that Neelman thought legacy airlines had left behind. The airline flew brand new airplanes with fully decked-out economy cabins on major routes, forgoing the complicated fare and cabin structures common on the major carriers to provide a more egalitarian experience.
Neelman’s former brainchild, JetBlue Airways, offers economy passengers an experience unsurpassed on major airlines. Image by JetBlue.
Since his 2008 JetBlue exit, Neelman built and chaired Brazil’s Azul Airways, which applied JetBlue’s customer centric model to the South American market.
While JetBlue ran right up the middle against major competitors out of its New York Kennedy (JFK) hub, Moxy appears poised to take an outside route. If Airline Weekly’s assessment is accurate, Neelman is betting that passengers in suburban areas, like the San Fernando Valley, will forgo a slog to crowded Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in exchange for a service on a brand new CS 300 between smaller, less stressful airports.
If given the choice, would you fly a Moxy C Series plane out of a smaller airport over a legacy carrier’s transcon offering?
When I’m not working on building my news tracking startup, Grapple.News, I serve as Executive Editor at Point Me To The Plane. I also freelance as a points and miles travel advisor with Juicy Miles and am a contributing travel writer at The Points Guy, Travel + Leisure and Point Me To The Plane, and others. My love for travel started when I was barely a toddler; we would fly regularly out of PDX to visit my grandparents, aunts and uncles in Texas, and I earned my very first Southwest Rapid Rewards points in 1996, at age 6. My favorite all-time trips include Yangon, Myanmar, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Iguazu Falls on the Argentina-Brazil border. I love sharing my experiences navigating the complex world of airline policies and programs, in hope that my knowledge can help others enjoy smoother travels.
United Opened a Global Services Lobby(ish) in Denver
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Massive Service Expansion To Tokyo Haneda Airport Takes...
GlobalTraveller June 18, 2018 - 12:24 pm
The sounds similar to what ExpressJet tried to do when they offered direct service between mid-sized cities that otherwise only had connecting flights via hubs.
I used their Austin—Albuquerque service, but I remember that other airlines put quite a bit of pricing pressure on them to protect their hubs.
I applaud the creative thinking and I hope that the stars all line up for this!
Lee @ BaldThoughts June 18, 2018 - 12:30 pm
More competition from start-ups like this is a good thing for us. The crews will generally be friendlier, the planes newer and nicer, and the pricing will be better. Total win for travelers. I can’t wait!
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Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
Californians remove a controversial judge from the bench, Trump might be down with legalizing marijuana, and fourth-graders can keep going to national parks for free.
Rebecca Worby
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park.
(Photo: Frank Kovalchek/Flickr)
This week, we brought you stories on the shocking legacy of America's worst modern-day lynching, what's going on with the gig economy, and the high costs of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to vulnerable communities. Here are a few other stories we're watching.
The Judge Who Gave Brock Turner a Light Sentence Has Been Recalled
In 2016, Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Brock Turner, a former Stanford University student, to just six months of jail time after he was convicted of sexual assault. The victim's haunting and detailed statement, which BuzzFeed published, was quickly shared more than 10 million times. Stanford law professor Michelle Dauber led the effort to recall Persky. "He's very interested in what will work for the abuser and it's really to the exclusion of the victim," Dauber told HuffPost. Recall opponents expressed concern that this decision could make judges hesitant about leniency going forward even when it's appropriate. This is the first time a judge has been recalled in California in more than 80 years, the New York Times reports.
The President Suggested He'll Likely Support Legislation for Marijuana Legalization
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he "probably will end up supporting" a bipartisan proposal, recently introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), that would shift the question of legalization to the state level, NPR reports. This was evidently news to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has consistently opposed legalization. In other pot news this week, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper vetoed a bill that would have made marijuana "tasting rooms" legal in the state, and police in Minneapolis dropped charges and halted sting operations targeting low-level marijuana sales after it was revealed that 46 out of 47 people arrested this year were black.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Will Not End the Every Kid in a Park Program
Following lobbying efforts by advocacy groups including the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society, the National Park Service announced on Friday that Secretary Zinke has re-authorized the program that allows fourth-grade students and their families to enter national parks for free. Jackie Ostfeld, the chairwoman of the Outdoor Alliance for Kids, which advocates for outdoor opportunities for children and families, called the decision "a victory for kids across the U.S.," E&E News reports.
Marijuana LegalizationDonald TrumpBrock TurnerRyan ZinkeNational ParksSexual Assault
Rebecca Worby is an associate editor at Pacific Standard. Her work has appeared in High Country News, the Guardian, Orion, Outside Online, Salon, Guernica, and elsewhere.
The marijuana sector is growing, the Texas Senate plans for the next Hurricane Harvey, and some pets still need homes four months after the Camp Fire.
A Park Service Board gets new members, mudflows follow California fires, and a big company commits to clean energy.
One national park reopens, another sees closures, and a judge dismisses young climate activists' case.
Ethiopia and Eritrea enter a new era, Ireland makes a big climate change move, and a sock scandal strikes the Department of the Interior chief.
Grizzlies can soon be hunted in Yellowstone, Trump can't block you on Twitter, and a young arsonist gets what he had coming.
Federal employees are warned about taking part in the #Resistance, Californians look to a gun tax after a mass shooting, and transgender caravan members face extra challenges.
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Vic Fangio Frank Reich Jack Doyle Benjamin Watson Richie Incognito Antonio Brown John Elway Jon Runyan Mike Tomlin Vontaze Burfict Bashaud Breeland Jon Gruden Sean Payton Matt LaFleur Cameron Jordan Kerryon Johnson Sports NFL football Professional football Football Sports governance
Gruden's rabble-rousers are diminishing in numbers
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) runs to help make the stop on a rushing play during an NFL football game, in Oakland, Calif. Burfict has been suspended for the rest of the season for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. NFL Vice President of football operations Jon Runyan announced the suspension Monday.(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, FIle)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Bashaud Breeland crosses into the end zone, after recovering a fumble, for a 100-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Bashaud Breeland, center, is greeted after scoring a touchdown after recovering a fumble at the Detroit Lions goal line and returning it 100-yards during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) speaks with Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) after his helmet-to-helmet hit on Doyle during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. Burfict has been suspended for the rest of the season for the hit. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
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Why populist politics co…
Why populist politics could be good for markets
After a raft of political surprises in the past year, attention turns to the first round of the French presidential election. Keith Wade explains why this is such a big deal for markets and why populism can actually be positive for investors.
Keith Wade
Chief Economist & Strategist
Politics has become a big focus for investors over the last year. Mainstream centrist parties are losing votes and populist parties are gaining ground.
Following the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump, markets have been quite strong. So it could be argued that populism is good for markets.
More than politics driving markets
But there have been other factors at play. First of all, we have seen a global recovery taking place at the same time which has obviously helped markets.
Also, the UK market has obviously benefited from the fall in the pound and we had a cut in interest rates. These things which followed the Brexit vote have been very supportive.
Doubts creeping in
Looking ahead at the moment though, the fall in the pound is leading to higher inflation in the UK and that’s beginning to squeeze consumers. This will slow the economy down. So, there are a few doubts about the market benefits of populism creeping in.
Of course, the UK has just started the trade negotiations having triggered Article 50 and that’s creating additional uncertainty (as is the snap general election announced after this video was shot). That seems to be having an adverse effect on capital expenditure.
Shock UK election call could strengthen May's Brexit hand
The US and the reflation trade
For the US, it’s a slightly different story. Donald Trump’s pro-growth agenda has really boosted confidence in the markets and that’s been one of the factors behind the strong rise and outperformance of US equities.
However, even in the US, markets have had some doubts about what we call the reflation trade. Fiscal policy for example may not be as supportive as investors had hoped. Donald Trump is having trouble getting some of his policies through Congress. This might slow down the reflation trade going forward.
France in focus
The current area of focus is Europe. The French presidential election is coming up and again there are populist parties who are running for power, with Marine Le Pen of the Front National looking like she could win the first round.
We don’t expect Le Pen to win the second round. We think that there is a big difference between the French election and what happened with Brexit and with Donald Trump. That is, Marine Le Pen is more of a known quantity so we’ve got an idea of how much support she can really generate, whereas Brexit and Trump were completely new.
Should Le Pen win, she is also promising a referendum on France’s membership of the EU. If she were to win that, there could be very big consequences for the markets, because it would mean that France would leave the euro.
However, we don’t think that is likely to happen. In some ways the pressure that’s being created by the populists in Europe could be positive as it could shift the EU towards a more pro-growth, pro-fiscal policy agenda. That could ultimately be good for markets.
The views and opinions contained herein are those of Schroders’ investment teams and/or Economics Group, and do not necessarily represent Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.’s house views. These views are subject to change. This information is intended to be for information purposes only and it is not intended as promotional material in any respect.
Three themes for 2019 - and some black swans
We discuss three themes that will shape market performance in the coming year, as well as four events that could take investors by surprise.
Outlook 2019: 60 seconds on the global economy
We forecast global growth to slow in 2019 and the dollar looks set to weaken with US interest rates peaking mid-year.
Infographic: Annual review of the world economy in 2018
In this month's infographic we review the economic events of the year including trade wars and Brexit.
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Red Bulls play NYCFC to 1-1 draw in NY Derby
Aug 25, 2017 | 9:13PM
Red Bulls shut out Toronto FC, 2-0
Sep 22, 2018 | 10:21PM
Royer gives Bulls 2-2 tie with Whitecaps
Red Bulls shut out Chicago Fire, 1-0
Aug 11, 2018 | 11:13PM
Royer, Wright-Phillips lead Red Bulls past New England, 2-0
Jul 21, 2018 | 11:31PM
Red Bulls rally for 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City
Red Bulls fall to NYCFC on Moralez's late goal
Jul 8, 2018 | 9:43PM
Head coach Jesse Marsch leaves Red Bulls
Jul 6, 2018 | 10:37AM
Lawrence's goal holds up as Red Bulls top Toronto FC
Red Bulls shut out FC Dallas, 3-0
Jun 23, 2018 | 10:31PM
Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas, Saturday at 6 p.m.
Jun 23, 2018 | 4:45PM
Red Bulls, Crew settle for 1-1 draw
Jun 9, 2018 | 11:46PM
Red Bulls at Columbus, Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Jun 9, 2018 | 1:00PM
Red Bulls dominate NYCFC 4-0 in U.S. Open Cup fourth round
Red Bulls fall to New England, 2-1
Red Bulls vs. Revolution, Saturday night at 7:30
Red Bulls' win streak snapped with scoreless draw vs. Union
Wright-Phillips scores twice to lead Red Bulls to victory
Tonight's game: Red Bulls vs. Atlanta United, 7 p.m.
Red Bulls edge Rapids, 2-1
May 12, 2018 | 11:31PM
Tonight's game: Red Bulls vs. Rapids, 9 p.m.
Red Bulls cruise to 4-0 win over NYCFC
Today's game: Red Bulls vs. NYCFC, 1:55 p.m.
May 5, 2018 | 11:35AM
Red Bulls beat Galaxy 3-2
Chicago Fire edge Red Bulls, 2-1
Apr 21, 2018 | 8:11PM
Today's game: Red Bulls vs. Fire, 3:30 p.m.
Red Bulls top Montreal for 3rd win of year
Red Bulls tie Guadalajara 0-0
Apr 10, 2018 | 11:24PM
Tonight's game: Red Bulls vs. Guadalajara, 8 p.m.
Red Bulls drop first leg of Champions League semifinal to Chivas, 1-0
Apr 5, 2018 | 1:34AM
Today's game: Red Bulls at Orlando City, 1 p.m.
Mar 31, 2018 | 12:15PM
Red Bulls shut out Minnesota United, 3-0
Tonight's game: Minnesota United vs. Red Bulls, 7 p.m.
Mar 24, 2018 | 6:50PM
Real Salt Lake edges Red Bulls, 1-0
Tonight's game: Red Bulls vs. Reat Salt Lake, 9 p.m.
Red Bulls shut out Timbers, 4-0
Tonight's game: Timbers vs. Red Bulls, 7 p.m.
Red Bulls advance with 2-0 win over Olimpia
Red Bulls fail to advance to conference final despite winning second leg
Red Bulls look to bounce back vs. Toronto FC
Nov 5, 2017 | 12:33PM
Red Bulls lose to Giovinco, Toronto FC 2-1 in Eastern Conference semis
Oct 30, 2017 | 10:12PM
Relaxed Red Bulls brace for top-seeded Toronto FC
Red Bulls beat Fire, move on to semifinal round of playoffs
Red Bulls beat D.C. United 2-1 in final MLS game at RFK
Red Bulls to face DC United in their final game at RFK Stadium
Red Bulls, Atlanta United play to scoreless draw
Red Bulls going for the sweep vs. Atlanta United on Sunday
Red Bulls shut out Whitecaps 3-0, clinch playoff spot
Oct 7, 2017 | 7:39PM
Red Bulls look to play spoiler against Whitecaps
Toronto FC downs Red bulls to win Supporters' Shield
(Winslow Townson)
The Red Bulls couldn't secure a victory as they played New York City FC to a draw in the NY Derby, 1-1, at Red Bull Arena Friday night.
The visiting NYCFC got on the scoreboard first as David Villa found Maxi Moralez in the box to score in the 56th minute. It was Moralez's fourth goal of the year.
However, the Red Bulls would tie things up after Sacha Kljestan earned a penalty kick in the 70th minute. Gonzalo Veron would convert the shot to tie the game up.
No team could break the tie with an added three minutes of stoppage time.
The Red Bulls next game will be Sept. 2 when they travel to FC Dallas.
Tags: Gonzalo Veron
The Red Bulls have tied a team record for most wins
Sep 22, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Derrick Etienne (7) shoots the ball as Toronto FC forward Eriq Zavaleta (15) defends during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Alejandro Romero Gamarra scored in the 70th minute and the New York Red Bulls all but knocked defending MLS champions Toronto FC out of playoff contention with a 2-0 victory Saturday night.
The Red Bulls (18-7-5) tied a franchise record for most wins and are a league-best 12-2-1 at home. Toronto (8-15-6) entered the game nine points out of sixth place and one of three teams chasing Montreal for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. TFC has won just two of its last eight league games, and has five remaining including a trip to Montreal on October 21.
Scores in fifth and 90th minutes
Aug 18, 2018; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic (1) defends against a shot on net by the New York Red Bulls during the second half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports (Anne-Marie Sorvin)
Daniel Royer scored in the fifth minute to give the Red Bulls, then connected in the 90th to give New York a 2-2 with Vancouver in an MLS game Saturday in British Columbia.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the lone goal
Aug 11, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence (92) defends against Chicago Fire forward Luis Solignac (9) during the first half at Bridgeview Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports (Kamil Krzaczynski)
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) Bradley Wright-Phillips scored and Luis Robles had his eighth shutout of the season to help the New York Red Bulls beat the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Saturday night.
Robles finished with two saves, including a leaping, acrobatic stop of an arcing shot by Nemanja Nikolic in the 71st minute.
Wright-Phillips opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Daniel Royer stole a pass from Chicago's Dax McCarty at the top corner of the area and tapped it to Wright-Phillips for the finish with the outside of his right foot. He has 15 goals this season, tied with Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the Los Angeles Galaxy for second in MLS.
Jul 21, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer (77) celebrates his goal against the New England Revolution during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Daniel Royer and Bradley Wright-Phillips scored to help the New York Red Bulls beat the New England Revolution 2-0 on Saturday night.
Royer tapped in Marc Rzatkowski's free kick from near the corner to open the scoring in the 69th minute. Wright-Phillips connected in the 80th for his 99th MLS goal, a header off Alejandro Romero Gamarra's diagonal pass.
The Red Bulls (12-5-2) have won five of their last six.
New England (7-7-7) has lost three in a row. >> Read more
Tags: Bradley Wright Phillips
Jul 14, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; Sporting Kansas City defender Emiliano Amor (22) controls the ball in front of New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Marc Rzatkowski scored two goals after the 71st minute to rally the New York Red Bulls to a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Rzatkowski entered as a substitute in the 60th minute for Alejandro Romero Gamarra and made it 2-all for the Red Bulls (11-5-2) with his first MLS goal - a left-footed shot from inside the penalty arc to finish Tyler Adams' pass in the 72nd. Rzatkowski settled Sean Davis' pass in the 79th and sent a rocket into the upper left corner that got through despite a deflection of goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Roger Espinoza gave Sporting KC (9-5-6) a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute with a rising blast from just beyond the right side of the area.
Red Bulls lose in Armas' debut
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips heads the ball against New York City FC midfielder Alexander Ring during the first half at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
Maximiliano Moralez got the breakthrough goal in the 85th minute and New York City FC beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Sunday.
The Red Bulls' Aaron Long mismanaged Tyler Adams' back pass and NYCFC's Jonathan Lewis pounced on the loose ball. Lewis then sent over a cross that found its way through Long's legs to Moralez, who put it into the net with a straightforward finish.
Sean Johnson had four saves to record his sixth clean sheet of the season for City (10-4-4).
Chris Armas promoted
New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch will leave the team to pursue other opportunities and assistant Chris Armas was promoted to Marsch's title, the team announced Friday.
Marsch led the Red Bulls to a 58-35-25 record in three and a half seasons and coached New York to a 10-4-2 record so far this season, second place in the Eastern Conference.
Armas, a 12-year MLS veteran who won the MLS Cup in 1998, takes over after having been on the Red Bulls' coaching staff since February 2015.
Red Bulls win third straight
New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence celebrates a first half goal with teammates during the MLS game between the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC at BMO Field. (Gerry Angus/USA TODAY Sports)
Kemar Lawrence scored in the fourth minute and the New York Red Bulls made it stand in a 1-0 victory over defending MLS champion Toronto FC on Sunday.
Toronto had plenty of chances to tie it in the second half, including Sebastian Giovinco's 78th-minute penalty. But Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles was up to every challenge.
It was the first meeting between the two since Toronto dispatched the Red Bulls in an ill-tempered Eastern Conference semifinal last year.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 11th goal
Jun 23, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; FC Dallas forward Roland Lamah (20) battles New York Red Bulls midfielder Florian Valot (22) for a high ball during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his 11th goal of the season and the New York Red Bulls beat FC Dallas 3-0 on Saturday night, playing a man down for the final 60-plus minutes.
New York's Daniel Royer was given a straight red card in the 27th minute for a dangerous foul.
Luis Robles had a season-high six saves in his fourth shutout of the season for New York (9-4-2).
MLS action resumes after a ten-day break
Mar 1, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) battles Club Deportivo Olimpia midfielder Gerson Rodas (16) for the ball during first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)
When the New York Red Bulls opened the 2018 season in February, they were playing in three different competitions -- the CONCACAF Champions League, U.S. Open Cup and, of course, the MLS regular season.
That forced a delicate lineup balance for Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch and resulted in fixture congestion, especially of late when they played a brutal stretch of five games in 15 days.
The Red Bulls lost in the CCL semifinals to eventual champion Chivas de Guadalajara and on Saturday fell to the Philadelphia Union 2-1 in the Open Cup round of 16.
Alex Muyl scored the Red Bulls' only goal
Jun 9, 2018; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew SC midfielder Artur (7) plays the ball under pressure from New York Red Bulls defender Ethan Kutler (41) at MAPFRE Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports (Greg Bartram)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Alex Muyl tied it with a header in the 57th minute and the New York Red Bulls held on for a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Muyl scored for the Red Bulls (7-4-2) on Marc Rzatkowski's corner, beating backup goalkeeper Jon Kempin to the ball and heading it over the top of Kempin for the goal. Kempin replaced Crew (7-3-4) starter Zack Steffen who was on international duty for the U.S. men's national team in its friendly against France on Saturday.
Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season in the 26th minute with a strong header to finish Harrison Afful's looping cross from the end line.
Red Bulls' unbeaten run ended last weekend
Apr 14, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Michael Murillo (62) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Montreal Impact during second half at Red Bull Arena. New York Red Bulls defeated Montreal Impact 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)
The New York Red Bulls can gain ground on Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference if they can return to their winning ways in Major League Soccer on Saturday.
New York (7-4-1) saw a five-game unbeaten run end with a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution last Saturday but responded with a 4-0 victory over rival New York City FC in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match on Wednesday.
Even though Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch held out several regulars, he liked the approach of the team against NYCFC and thinks the outcome can build momentum heading into the match at Mapfre Stadium vs. the Crew (7-3-5).
Daniel Royer notched two goals in the victory
It was all Red Bulls in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, as they took down NYCFC, 4-0, on Wednesday night.
The Red Bulls got on the board early with Vincent Bezecourt scoring his first career first-team goal in the second minute.
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The Red Bulls are winless since May 20
Jun 2, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Alex Muyl (19) battles for the ball with New England Revolution defender Antonio Delamea Mlinar (19) during the second half of New England's 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports (Winslow Townson)
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) Teal Bunbury scored his eighth goal of the season at the 78th minute off Cristian Penilla's cross to send New England past New York for a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Penilla beat his defender to the left of the goal mouth and in tight quarters and found Bunbury from close range who punched it in.
New York hopes to get back on track after their four-game winning stream was snapped last Saturday
May 12, 2018; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids midfielder Dillon Serna (17) heads the ball in the second half against the New York Red Bulls of the match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports (Ron Chenoy)
The New England Revolution have several goals they'll try to reach Saturday night. They include getting back in the win column and shutting down high-scoring Bradley Wright-Phillips.
After two straight draws over the last week, New England looks to snap a three-game skid against Wright-Phillips and the New York Red Bulls.
The Revolution, who are playing their third game in eight days, failed to collect wins in the first two matches, but still salvaged points.
May 26, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara (18) collides with Philadelphia Union defender Auston Trusty (26) as he makes a save during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Goalkeeper Luis Robles was honored in a pregame ceremony for the conclusion of the longest Ironman streak in MLS history and the New York Red Bulls and the Philadelphia Union both had their winning streaks snapped as they played to a scoreless draw Saturday night.
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips kicks the ball around the defense of Atlanta United defender Michael Parkhurst during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)
Bradley-Wright Phillips scored two second-half goals in the New York Red Bulls' 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Sunday night.
New York (7-3-0) has won four in a row, outscoring its opponents 12-4 during that span.
Two clubs in good form will clash Sunday when first-place Atlanta United hosts the surging New York Red Bulls on the quick pitch inside raucous Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
May 12, 2018; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids midfielder Sam Nicholson (28) controls the ball against New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (4) in the first half at Dick's Sporting Goods Park Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports (Ron Chenoy)
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) Daniel Royer and Derrick Etienne scored to help the New York Red Bulls beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Saturday night.
Apr 21, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Michael Amir Murillo (62) fights for a header against Chicago Fire midfielder Aleksandar Katai (10) during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
The last time the New York Red Bulls came to Colorado, they were treated to some wintry weather -- in spring.
May 5, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York City FC defender Alexander Callens (6) plays the ball against New York Red Bulls midfielder Alex Muyl (19) during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Alejandro Romero "Kaku" Gamarra had a goal and two assists to help the New York Red Bulls dominate crosstown rival New York City FC 4-0 in the NY Derby on Saturday.
The first three years of the Hudson River Derby were about how different the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC were, on and off the field.
The Red Bulls were the Major League Soccer original team, a frugal squad that built from within and played at Red Bull Arena, one of the crown jewels of soccer-specific stadiums in the United States.
NYCFC is the big-spending boys from the Bronx, which play at Yankee Stadium and scour the ends of the earth looking for its talent.
Gamarra, Wright-Phillips help Red Bulls beat Galaxy 3-2
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, front, heads the ball away from LA Galaxy defender Ashley Cole during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (Chris Carlson/AP)
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Alejandro Romero Gamarra scored a late goal and Bradley Wright-Phillips had two assists to help the New York Red Bulls beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 on Saturday night.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Aleksandar Katai and Nemanja Nikolic scored and Richard Sanchez had a career-high nine saves to help the Chicago Fire beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Saturday.
With or without fans in the stands, the New York Red Bulls are enjoying some home cooking at Red Bull Arena this year.
Traditionally, the club has been tough to beat in Harrison, N.J., where they are 84-20-30 since the building opened in 2010.
This season, though, they've amped up the intensity at home.
Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) plays the ball against Montreal's Victor Cabrera during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
Alejandro Romero-Gamarra scored in the 57th minute to break a tie and Michael Mrrillo added an insurance goal 19 minutes later as the New York Red Bulls defeated Montreal 2-1 in an MLS match Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
Apr 10, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Aaron Long (33) chases the ball against Guadalajara during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Chivas of Guadalajara advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League final, playing to a 0-0 tie at the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday night for a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Mar 24, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Derrick Etienne (7) controls the ball against Minnesota United midfielder Ibson (7) during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)
The bye week means different things for different Major League Soccer teams. For some, it's an unwanted break from a good rhythm.
The New York Red Bulls lost to Chivas, 1-0, on Wednesday night in Estadio Akron in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal.
Chivas' Isaac Brizuela scored the match's lone goal in the 26th minute off an assist from Rodolfo Pizarro. Red Bulls goalie Luis Robles made two saves on the evening.
The Red Bulls were down to 10 men down the stretch after Aurelien Collin received his second yellow card in the 73rd minute. Collin and Alex Muyl each picked up a yellow card in the first half.
The second leg between the Red Bulls and Chivas will be April 10 in Harrison, N.J.
Mar 17, 2018; Sandy, UT, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Marc Rzatkowski (90) plays the ball against Real Salt Lake midfielder Demar Phillips (17) during the first half at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports (Rob Gray)
Saddled with a winless streak that dates back to last season, Orlando City SC is eager to come away with its first win of the year, and Sacha Kljestan wants to be a part of it.
Kljestan and the Lions play host to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon.
Orlando City (0-2-1) returns to the pitch for the first time since a 2-0 loss to New York City FC on March 17. The Lions are ninth in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only the Chicago Fire and defending MLS Cup champion and Supporters' Shield winner Toronto FC.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Bradley Wright-Phillips had two goals and Alex Muyl added another to help the New York Red Bulls beat Minnesota United 3-0 on Saturday night.
Mar 10, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Ben Mines (17) controls the ball against Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) during the first half against the Portland Timbers at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
The start of the 2018 season for the New York Red Bulls has been practically perfect.
SANDY, Utah (AP) Albert Rusnak scored on a penalty kick in the opening minutes and Nick Rimando had his MLS-leading 138th career shutout to help Real Salt Lake beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Saturday night in the snow.
Just two games into the season, Real Salt Lake is already scrambling to keep things from spiraling out of control on defense.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Carlos Rivas scored two goals and the New York Red Bulls opened their MLS season with a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Mar 1, 2018; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (4) and Club Deportivo Olimpia forward Carlos Costly (13) battle for the ball during second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)
The 2018 Major League Soccer opener for Luis Robles feels a little strange.
Red Bulls advance with 2-0 win over Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League
The New York Red Bulls beat Olimpia 2-0 on Thursday night in Red Bull Arena to advance, 3-1, on aggregate in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the opening goal in the 54th minute and Sean Davis made it 2-0 for the Red Bulls 10 minutes later.
The Red Bulls will face Tijuana in the quarterfinals, with the first leg on March 6.
They open their MLS season at home against the Portland Timbers on March 10.
Tags: Bradley Wright Phillips, Sean Davis
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles throws the ball into play during first half play against Toronto in the Eastern Conference semifinal at BMO Field. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
Toronto FC lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in an abrasive game Sunday and still advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference final on away goals after the two-leg series ended tied 2-2 on goals aggregate.
It was a feisty affair that saw Toronto striker Jozy Altidore and Red Bulls captain Sacha Kljestan sent off after a tunnel melee at halftime.
League-leading Toronto will be without star striker Sebastian Giovinco for the next game after his second yellow in two games. TFC will play the Columbus Crew SC or New York City FC in the Conference final.
Tags: Bradley Wright Phillips, Toronto FC
Oct 30, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence (92) defends against Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco (10) during second half in the Eastern Conference semifinal at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)
Toronto FC enters the second leg of its Eastern Conference semifinal trying not to take a spot in the finals for granted after a 2-1 away win in the first leg.
Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley defends New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer in the Eastern Conference semifinal at Red Bull Arena. (Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports)
Victor Vazquez and Sebastian Giovinco scored to help Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Monday night in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Giovinco drew a foul conceded by Felipe Martins just outside the box and then bent the free kick over a four-man wall to make it 2-1 in the 72nd minute.
The second of the two-game aggregate series is Sunday in Toronto. >> Read more
Copyright 2017 by The Associated Press
Tags: Toronto FC
The New York Red Bulls huddle after their victory after an Eastern Conference knockout round soccer game against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. (Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports)
Toronto FC begins the MLS Cup playoffs as one of the favorites after a season in which it set a league record with 69 points.
In the Eastern Conference semifinals, Toronto face a New York Red Bulls team that knows how precarious that position can be.
The Red Bulls came into the playoffs as the top team in the East in 2015 and 2016, only to fail to reach the MLS Cup final in both seasons. >> Read more
New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (16) reacts after scoring a goal against the Chicago Fire during the first half at Toyota Park. (Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan scored four minutes apart early in the first half, and the New York Red Bulls cruised by the Chicago Fire 4-0 on Wednesday night in a knockout-round game.
New York (15-12-8), in its eighth straight playoffs, advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals against Supporters Shield winner Toronto FC.
Tags: Chicago Fire
New York Red Bulls midfielder Alex Muyl controls the ball as D.C. United forward Paul Arriola looks on during the first half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. (Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports)
Gonzalo Veron and Michael Murillo scored minutes apart and the New York Red Bulls beat rival D.C. United 2-1 on Sunday for the Atlantic Cup in the final MLS game at RFK Stadium.
United is set to play home games next season at the new Audi Field, located three miles southwest of RFK.
New York (14-12-8), which last won at RFK in 2013, will be the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and play at third-seeded Chicago in the Knockout round. >> Read more
Tags: D.C. United
DC United to host Red Bulls in RFK Stadium finale
Sep 23, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; View of sign showing one game left at RFK stadium for the D.C. United during the second half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Mills)
D.C. United bids farewell to the focal point of a world of soccer memories in the United States as it plays at RFK Stadium for the final time against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Leandro Gonzalez defend against a direct kick by the New York Red Bulls during first half at Red Bull Arena. (Noah K. Murray/USA Today Sports Images)
Brad Guzan and Luis Robles each made three saves, and Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls, both playoff bound, battled to a 3-3 draw on Sunday. >> Read more
Sep 17, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (4) races for the ball against Philadelphia Union forward C.J. Sapong (17) during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
Atlanta United take aim at the No. 2 overall seed in the Eastern Conference when the surprising expansion franchise hits the road to take on the New York Red Bulls, who also are headed to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Oct 7, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer (77) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps with forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Daniel Royer, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Felipe scored and the New York Red Bulls clinched the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (99) yells at a teammate during the at half at an MLS game against the Toronto FC at BMO Field. (Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports)
The Vancouver Whitecaps hope they can become the next Canadian team to make history with help from the New York Red Bulls.
The Whitecaps (15-10-6) aim to clinch the top spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference for the first time on Saturday as they visit the Red Bulls (12-12-7), who are fighting for a playoff berth.
Tags: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Sep 30, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley (4) battles for the ball against New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer (77) during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports (Kevin Sousa)
ORONTO (AP) -- Victor Vazquez broke a tie in the 80th minute on a penalty kick and Toronto FC became the first Canadian team to win the Supporters' Shield as the MLS regular-season champion, beating the New York Red Bulls 4-2 on Saturday night.
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Tag Archives: Scumbags
It is not “Ridiculous” to Reject Hillary, Part 2: Bride of the Monster
In Part 1 of this article I argued that the 2016 US presidential race is the Alien vs. Predator election. The joke, which is at the expense of everyone on this planet, is that they are both aliens and both predators. Many ordinary people understand the situation perfectly well. A South Carolina real estate billboard shows Trump and Clinton and reads: “Moving to Canada? We can sell your home.” Even a month ago you could read this Onionesque headline at The Hill: “Poll: 13 percent prefer meteor hitting earth over Clinton, Trump”. It is even heard “out of the mouths of babes”. My 11 year-old daughter and her friend just told me a joke they heard in school:
Q: Clinton and Trump are together in a plane crash, who survives?
A: America.
Many ordinary US folks get it. They understand. Some may grit their teeth and vote for Clinton, but most people do not have positive feelings about her. A small number of others feel the same about Trump and argue that he is actually the lesser evil. I will return to that subject later.
Clinton and Trump are much more similar to each other than they are to any ordinary mortals. The Clintons are estimated to be worth $110 million in wealth. Trump is clearly also obscenely rich (even if it is partly delusional). It is widely known that Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton are friends, but Bill and Donald are much closer than people think. In 2012 Clinton said of Trump: “I like him. And I love playing golf with him,” and Trump called Clinton “a really good guy”.
The other link between Bill and Donald is their mutual friend, the paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. It is very important, if indirect, evidence that Clinton and Trump inhabit an elite sociopathic world where ordinary people’s lives are insignificant and expendable. People might think I am making the following stuff up, so I will simply quote from named news sources:
Daily Wire: “Both presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton have ties to convicted pedophile and Democratic donor, billionaire Jeffery Epstein and ‘Sex Slave Island.’”
Fox: “Former President Bill Clinton was a much more frequent flyer on a registered sex offender’s infamous jet than previously reported, with flight logs showing the former president taking at least 26 trips aboard the “Lolita Express” — even apparently ditching his Secret Service detail for at least five of the flights, according to records obtained by FoxNews.com.
…The tricked-out jet earned its Nabakov-inspired nickname because it was reportedly outfitted with a bed where passengers had group sex with young girls…”
New York magazine: “’I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,’ Trump booms from a speakerphone. ‘He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.’” [This is from 2002. The investigation leading to Epstein’s conviction for child-sex offences began 3 years later.]
VICE: “In 2010, Epstein pled the Fifth when asked by a lawyer representing one of Epstein’s victims about his relationship with Trump: ….
Q. Have you ever socialized with Donald Trump in the presence of females under the age of 18?
A: Though I’d like to answer that question, at least today I’m going to have to assert my Fifth, Sixth, and 14th Amendment rights, sir.”
Epstein was also allegedly involved as the procurer of the 13 year-old who was allegedly raped by Trump in Epstein’s apartment. As both Lisa Bloom and Drew Salisbury point out, these are not accusations that can be dismissed out of hand.
Hillary Clinton cannot wash her hands of Bill’s record of sexual violence, in part because her denials have helped him escape the consequences. Particularly damaging is Juanita Broaddrick’s belief that Hillary tried to ensure her silence after Bill almost certainly raped Broaddrick in 1978. The National Review reports: “Juanita Broaddrick’s claim was supported by not one but five witnesses and a host of circumstantial (though no physical) evidence.” The allegation seems difficult to deny because Broaddrick never voluntarily came forward. Rather, she was served with a subpoena and then taped without her knowledge after years of rumours. Hillary’s approach to this has been to brazen it out in a frankly Trumpian show of denial: “On December 3, a couple of weeks after Clinton tweeted, ‘Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed, and supported, ‘a woman at an event in Hooksett, New Hampshire, asked, ‘Secretary Clinton, you recently came out to say that all rape victims should be believed. But would you say that Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey and Paula Jones be believed as well?’ Clinton replied, ‘Well, I would say that everyone should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence.’ The audience applauded.”
These rape allegations are symptomatic of an aristocratic system in which Marie Antoinette would feel at home. Epstein, for example, received a secret “sweetheart” non-prosecution deal from the FBI and only served 13 months. There is no equality under the law and many ordinary people are becoming acutely conscious of the divide between Us and Them.
A good argument can be made that voting for Trump or Clinton is essentially exactly the same thing. They are friends, peers, comrades and co-conspirators. Trump puts on a good show of dirty negative campaigning, but remember that this guy really does come from the entertainment world and even from pro-wrestling. His CV includes “body-slamming, beating and shaving” WWE owner Vince McMahon, and anyone who doesn’t at least entertain some doubts about the sincerity of his campaigning trash-talk is simply refusing to see what is in front of them. It is possible that this invective is just his natural way of being, but if that is true then he isn’t actually sincere in anything he does. The only question is whether he remains friends with the Clintons after this campaign.
We have now reached a point where both of these super-rich aristos are campaigning for the votes of the working class. Trump knows that he gets far more votes campaigning against trade liberalisation than he does by pushing xenophobia, and it was a key component of his recent speech in Detroit (though he did promise jobs to “titties like… Detroit” instead of “cities”). But he mixed “fiscal conservative” tax-cut rhetoric with anti-trade-deal rhetoric in a way that was unconvincing. Trump runs as an outsider and a maverick, but so has every Republican candidate since 1996. He decries Clinton as a creature of Wall St., but his own economic team includes several billionaires including financier John Paulson.
In essence Trump and Clinton also have identical stances on the TPP, a point that should give as much pause to Clinton supporters as to Trump supporters. Tim Kaine, who went against most Senate Democrats in support of TPP “fast-track” authority and defended the decision hours before being nominated as VP candidate, stands out because his flip-flop objections to the TPP (a transparent ploy to dilute the left-wing anger against his nomination) differ sharply from Trump and Clinton in that they reference unfairness in practical, ethical, and moral terms. Clinton’s TPP stance agrees with Trump’s and his implication that the problem with the TPP is that US negotiators were outsmarted and outmanoeuvred by us cunning foreigners with our underhanded slyness. Indeed, while some of us here in Aotearoa are wondering why our government is signing us up to a pact which will hurt and alienate our biggest trading partner (China), Trump is saying that the TPP “was designed for China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone.” The media don’t particularly care to highlight the fact, but Clinton has stuck to the same risible line: “We can not let rules of origin allow China — or anyone else, but principally China — to go around trade agreements. It’s one of the reasons why I oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership because when I saw what was in it, it was clear to me there were too many loopholes, too many opportunities for folks to be taken advantage of.”
Understanding the dynamics of these elections, and the ramifications of taking one stance or another, cannot be reduced to “candidate X says they support A and I support A, therefore I support X”, but our journalists and pundits are simply not capable of dealing with the reality of the politics we have to live with.
Broadcaster Paul Jay (who would much prefer Clinton as POTUS than Trump) put his finger on something when he observed that people should choose the lesser evil but “the problem is… they don’t call them the ‘lesser evil’; they start saying good things about them.”
Trump and Clinton are both vicious parasitic lifeforms too loathsome for people to bear in ordinary circumstances, but the people’s instincts are blunted and confuted by a journalistic and academic culture that gets stuck in half-think. Half-think, I should explain, is the process by which some people take the surface appearance of things and then apply fatuous received wisdom. Half-thinkers apply pre-fabricated generalities to any situation in order to make all things conform to an established ideology of complacent authoritarianism. Thus, when the common plebeians of Pompeii became alarmed by a smoking mountain and shaking ground they were probably reassured by one of their social betters: “Well actually, according the Greek authorities on such phenomena, belching is a healthy response for the human body and if the earth itself should belch it is surely a good omen. Quod erat demonstrandaaaaaaaah!”
Those who use half-think gain a sense of superior education and intellect, having gone past the mere vulgar issues of “plain fact” and “common sense”. However, this is no process of interrogation in which the half-thinker delves beneath the surface. It is an unthinking response that can be arrived at instantaneously, or sheltered behind over a long period. The half-thinker simply grabs onto any generality which they can pass off as being an educated insight in order to defend the status quo. That is to say that half-think is used to defend racism, inequality, war, state violence and so forth. It is fundamentally conservative in nature and often revolves around defending the indefensible because it is natural, unavoidable, part of human nature, or what anyone would expect of any “red-blooded male”.
I mention all of this because in times of political and social decadence and dysfunction, half-thinkers will always do their best to convince people that there is “nothing to see here”. Chris Trotter, who readers may remember from Part 1, has been employing the phrase politics is the “art of the possible” as a kind of snobby way of blocking his ears and going “lalalalala I’m not listening, I’m not listening lalalalala”. On one hand he is using a commonplace generality to assert something that he could never safely assert in specific reference to Clinton herself, and on the other hand, in doing so, he is performing the standard half-think trick of making remarkable things unremarkable.
I do agree with the half-thinkers on one thing, because they believe that there is nothing new under the sun. Where I differ from the half-thinkers is that for them this means: Western liberalism is the acme of civilisation; the people in charge are there for a reason; the police are doing their best in a difficult situation; North Korea is a rogue nation; ordinary people are dangerously stupid; Putin is a villain; our politicians mean well; you have to have a seat at the table to enact real change.
Half-thinkers like Trotter never examine their assumptions, they just use safety in numbers to avoid being challenged. They use their compatibility with power to keep real intellectuals at the margins.
In contrast to Trotter, Luciana Bohne, compares Clinton to Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Agatha: “the one who chews broken bottles and kills rats with her teeth.” She casts Trump as Charybdis, “a huge bladder of a creature whose face was all mouth and whose arms and legs were flippers”, and Clinton as the Basilisk. “I’m raving, you say? This is the Age of Empire, and empire breeds monsters.”
Bohne’s imagery is extravagant because her eyes are open and the times demand it. Man-eating giants are striding the land stuffing screaming peasants in their maw by the handful, like so many jelly-babies, and people like Trotter are saying: “What giants? I can only see windmills and people have always been crunched up in windmill accidents. It is nothing new. Yelling about it will only cause more windmill deaths.”
Trotter wants us to be practical, but is his business-as-usual, vote-for-the-lesser-evil-then-appeal-to-her-progressive-principles actually practical? Or is it based on Panzaist delusions that turn a bloodthirsty mass-muderer into a well-meaning advocate of the rights of children? To counter cliché with cliché, is supporting Clinton the “art of the possible” or is it sticking your head in the sand?
Trotter doesn’t simply rely on the threat of Trump to argue that the US electorate should settle for Hillary, he also claims “This was the battle that Bernie won. As he told the Convention: ‘This is the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party!’ Yes, he endorsed Hillary, but in doing so he took care to bind her to that progressive platform with chains of rhetorical steel.”
In reality the platform is fatally flawed. Cornel West abstained from passing the platform because it did not oppose the TPP, acknowledge the occupation of Palestine as an occupation, or call for universal healthcare: “I have no other moral option”, he explained. Worse still, by stating “we will not hesitate to take military action if Iran violates the agreement”, the platform is advocating illegal aggression. The US has no right to take military action if Iran breaks its nuclear deal. Moreover the threat of a war with Iran horrifies most of the US public, particularly Democrats, so slipping a phrase like that in without mass protest shows how US exceptionalism and these “lesser evil” oligarchic politics create a massive and dangerous cognitive dissonance.
Even if the platform did have stronger and less ambiguous commitments, it is still nothing more than rhetoric. In the US system, there is no comeback for an administration or a caucus that does not abide by a platform. The platform means nothing. Obama entered his first term with Democrats in control of both houses of Congress so the 2008 Democratic platform should have been more binding than ever, right? Here are some of my favourite excerpts from that 2008 platform so you can judge for yourself:
* “We believe that the people of Puerto Rico have the right to the political status of their choice, obtained through a fair, neutral, and democratic process of self-determination. The White House and Congress will work with all groups in Puerto Rico to enable the question of Puerto Rico’s status to be resolved during the next four years.” [Under the Obama administration Puerto Rico has just been stripped even further of self-determination and been placed under similar governance to that which worked so well for Flint, Mi.]
* “We support equal rights to democratic self-government and congressional representation for the citizens of our nation’s capital.” [For the actual situation here is John Oliver’s rant]
* “We will close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay,….” [No comment]
* “We support constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans.” [LOL]
* “Working together, we can cut poverty in half within ten years. We will provide all our children a world-class education, from early childhood through college.” [Data from Feb. 2015: “The official poverty rate is 14.5%, meaning 45.3 million people in the US live in poverty, up by over 8 million since 2008. An additional 97.3 million (33%) of people living in the United States are low-income, defined as incomes below twice the federal poverty line, or $47,700 for a family of four. Taken together, this means that 48% of the US population is poor or low income, 1 in every 2 people. More than 1 in 5 children in America (21.8%) are living under the official poverty line. Half of all children will be on food stamps before they turn 20, including 9 out of 10 African American children. ]
* “To renew American leadership in the world, we must first bring the Iraq war to a responsible end. … At the same time, we will provide generous assistance to Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. We will launch a comprehensive regional and international diplomatic surge to help broker a lasting political settlement in Iraq, which is the only path to a sustainable peace. We will make clear that we seek no permanent bases in Iraq. We will encourage Iraq’s government to devote its oil revenues and budget surplus to reconstruction and development.” [The US just announced 400 more troops deploying to Iraq: “Last month, President Obama raised the “cap” on the number of ground troops in Iraq to 4,647. This cap has become something of a running joke, as the Pentagon has repeatedly admitted to having well more troops than that. Most recent estimates have over 6,000 US ground troops in Iraq already, before this new deployment.”]
The 2008 Democratic Party platform also promised to end nuclear weapons, whereas Obama has launched the biggest nuclear weapons programme since the Cold War. They promised to institute transparent government, but “transparency” and the FOIA system has become even more of a farce than under Bush II. Redactions are so commonplace and arbitrary that they release whole redacted pages that now have “redactions within redactions”, as if redacting something once is not enough any more.
So much for this year’s allegedly “progressive” platform, but we are still left with the major practical argument that supporting Clinton is necessary to stop Trump, even if she is not a desirable leader in her own accord. There are several important assumptions behind that which should be interrogated. One: can Trump win, and under what circumstances? Two: does supporting Clinton actually help stop Trump? Three: is Trump actually worse than Clinton? Four: balancing all these factors and more, what are the practical repercussions of supporting Clinton?
Like most people, I am frightened of what Trump might unleash on the world, but I have become much more relaxed on the specific subject of him winning the Presidency. All things being equal, Trump really doesn’t have a chance simply because this is a negative election (where the vote is decided on whom you most hate) and Trump alienates more people in swing states, while Clinton alienates people in populous safe Democrat states. In practical terms, as Rik Andino has pointed out, it is hard, if not impossible, to see a scenario in which Trump wins 50% of electoral college votes.
Since Clinton’s nomination, Trump is looking even less viable. In fact, with Clinton’s nomination it was as if a switch was thrown and suddenly the media that had previously made it seem that Trump could get away with murder, found his standard daily outrages now damaging and intolerable. Tellingly, it all began with him saying of Gazala Khan: “Maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me, but plenty of people have written that.” Suddenly this typical Trump comment was unacceptable, with news reports switching from telling people that Trump can say these things with impunity to running pompous features like this Guardian piece about how the dead “hero” Humayun Khan “could derail his campaign”.
Meanwhile, Trump has plummeted in the polls. Even previously safe Republican states , like Georgia, seem to be leaning towards Clinton. In Republican Arizona Clinton now leads in the polls. On the one hand this might seem to be expected in a state that is nearly 30% Hispanic, but on the other, Arizona has a history of supporting some extremely Trumpish policies including the notorious SB 1070 “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act”. This is widely felt to have encouraged racial profiling and was formally opposed by 11 other states, Mexico, large numbers of Obama administration officials and Obama himself, law enforcement heads, 68 national members of Congress, and dozens of human rights and civil liberties organisations. The state also banned successful Mexican-American studies programmes after Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal had been horrified to find that “they were portraying Ben Franklin as a racist”, and “they got a poster of Che Guevara.” Many books were banned from schools including important texts from James Baldwin, Isabelle Allende, and Howard Zinn along with Chicano writers that include some of the most important literary and scholarly figures in Arizona itself. They banned Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, and the novelist and professor Manuel Muñoz is banned in the school just across the street from where he lectures.
In Maricopa County, which is home to 4.2 million of Arizona’s 6.8 million population, SB 1070 was welcomed by 4 term “toughest Sheriff in America” Joe Arpaio. To call Arpaio controversial simply cannot do justice to his proven hatefulness, dishonesty, sadism, xenophobia (or crypto-racism), corruption and abuse of power. Arpaio is a Trump supporter who makes Trump himself seem like Mahatma Gandhi. I cannot detail his impressive record of lunacy, so I will take the unusual step of recommending this section of his Wikipedia page.
Arizonan’s have stuck with Arpaio through thick and thicker. They voted for a State Congress that banned hundreds of books from schools and a Senate that passed SB 1070. Yet they are turning away from Trump (perhaps they are also belatedly having qualms about their “tough” sheriff). It really doesn’t bode well for Trump’s bid for the White House.
There is also the question of how serious Trump is in his Presidential bid. From the beginning, on an escalator, his campaign has played out like a prolonged amateurish publicity stunt. A tax specialist who examined the possible reasons that Trump would continue to refuse to release his tax returns could only conclude: “Donald Trump will not publish his tax returns because he does not expect to be President, or at best has not internalized what becoming President actually entails. Trump’s tax return strategy is directed at a future in which he is not President, but is an even richer self-promoter.” More recently still, Representative André Carson (D-Ind.) claimed that Trump is “trying to sabotage himself to clear the way for President Clinton”: “It appears as if he knows he will not be the next President of the United States, so he’s trying to sabotage this thing because he’s not used to losing.”
Perhaps it is irrelevant whether Trump really wants to win or not. Trump is a threat and he has the potential to unleash violence upon the world, but it does not follow that supporting Clinton lessens that threat. As Kshama Sawant (a socialist city councillor from Seattle) suggested on Democracy Now!, if people to the left of Clinton give her their support out of fear, then they will drive masses of ordinary people into Trump’s camp. It is actually the politics of the lesser evil that have given us Trump. What is more Trump is not necessarily going anywhere.
If Trump is just playing a game, using extremist rhetoric to stampede people into the Clinton camp (like a sheepdog, but with rabies) then an electoral loss may or may not mean the end of Trump’s political career. If Trump is earnest, however, then everything we know about him suggests that he will not accept defeat in the way we have come to expect. Defeated major party Presidential candidates have a tendency to recede like clumps of rotting matter back into the roiling mire of party politics, thereafter surfacing occasionally or not at all. But Trump, if he is what he appears to be, will not accept defeat. He has repeatedly claimed in advance that the election will be rigged and one of his Republican Party supporters warned that there will be a “bloodbath” if he loses in November.
People are understandably concerned that Trump’s loaded language, such as his recent hint about “2nd amendment people” taking action, will inspire political violence, but let’s keep this in perspective: Trump may inspire some lone nutcases, but whoever is next President will be killing thousands of people with the US military.
The most tangible and certain fact about the Trump campaign is that his campaign is shifting the discourse of politics altogether. From that perspective it fits a long tradition of pushing rightwards, of increasing oversimplification, of increasing extremism, of increasing self-righteous chauvinism, and of decreasing empathy. It is a slow drift into what can best be described as a type of fascism. It is a one-way street, a ratchet system that can only go towards fascism and never away from it (though it may feature socially liberally aspects which are very different from historical fascism). The thing that makes this drift so certain and unremitting is the politics of the lesser evil. Democrat and Republican leaders have been playing Good Cop/Bad Cop since the Reagan years. The very logic of the lesser evil ensures that each new election cycle will see both greater and lesser evils being more evil than the last time around. We might worry about what Trump might hypothetically do if he takes office, but this is an effect that we know he is having. It is happening now and supporting Clinton only strengthens the shift towards a more encompassing and total fascism.
Not only does supporting Clinton empower Trump’s transformation of politics (bearing in mind that Trump and Clinton are merely the latest in a line of electoral double-acts), but some people see Trump as the lesser evil. Anthony Monteiro, for example, is an activist and African-American studies scholar linked to Black Agenda Report and Counterpunch: “His positions come as close to the working class as you’re going to get.” Talking to Don Debar and Glen Ford he says “he is to the left of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama….” He and others like him point out that Clinton is supported by the neoconservatives, Wall St., the military-industrial-complex, and appears much closer to overt plutocrats like the Koch brothers than Trump.
Those who see Trump as the lesser evil point out that Hillary Clinton is an undeniable war hawk, whilst Trump is an advocate of détente. Clinton has a public and undenianble track record of advocating, supporting, and committing war crimes that is far more significant from any perspective (including a feminist perspective) than Trump’s overt misogyny and probable history as a rapist. But then again, Trump is a monster, so treating him as the lesser evil is no more sensible than treating Clinton as the lesser evil.
Listening to Anthony Monteiro talk about Trump is exactly like listening to apologists for Clinton. The polemic follows exactly the same formula for either: Find the positive things and avoid testing them to see of they actually make sense; point out how scary the opponent is; state that there really are good reasons to treat the nicer rhetoric as substantive (like “chains of rhetorical steel”); find some reason to say that unlike the opponent this particular very rich powerful establishment figure is actually on the side of the common people; don’t mention the long public record that shows your candidate is against the common people (but do mention the corresponding record of the opposing candidate); et cetera.
In the end it is impossible to support Clinton or Trump in good conscience and that in itself is a practical consideration. Trump supporters should be aware of his extensive record of scams, lies and ties to organised crime. David Cay Johnston, for example, has been reporting on Trump for 27 years: he is not some stooge for the Clinton campaign; he isn’t protecting Wall St. from the new champion of Joe Lunchbox (quite the opposite really); he just reports that Trump has a long ongoing close working relationship with organised crime and reaches the conclusion (which is amply supported by evidence) that Trump is a dangerous “world-class narcissist”.
I am personally less interested in the individual character of a candidate than in the political dynamic that they create and that would result form their taking office. From that perspective Trump is terrifying. Almost everything that Trump says stokes anger. He is not only inflaming aggrieved white male entitlement syndrome, he is appealing to all who believe in US exceptionalism. He paints a picture of a noble and strong USA belittled and persecuted by inferior foreigners. This trope has historical roots from 19th century nationalism that continue through Fascism and Nazism. In the US context the conceit was a staple of the most violent hard-line Cold Warriors, but went mainstream under Ronald Reagan. Most relevant to Trump, however, was when it was used to justify one of the greatest war crimes of the 20th century by Richard Nixon – the invasion of Cambodia, which was followed by bombing that killed hundreds of thousands and is significantly responsible for the Khmer Rouge takeover and subsequent autogenocide. Nixon justified his act of aggression by saying that if the US “acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.”
Trump is openly Nixonian, which again suggests that he is not very serious about winning the Presidency. Aides avowed that Trump’s nomination acceptance speech was modelled on Nixon’s 1968 acceptance speech. There are many similar themes, but in fact Trump’s speech was far more alarmist and negative, and thus more inflammatory. The scariest thing for me is that Nixon’s speech was a launching pad for a campaign of right-wing authoritarian law-and-order at home combined with a crucial promise of “peace with honor” abroad. Trump 2016 and Nixon 1968 are part of a US tradition of loudly avowing peace in an election campaign when you are set on war. Other examples include Wilson’s 1916 slogan “He Kept US Out of the War” and Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 declaration “we are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves”. Nison’s “Peace with honor” meant 7 more years of war, in which millions died. Incidentally Nixon had recruited the Democrat and liberal Henry Kissinger (who was on LBJ’s staff at the time) to sabotage the 1968 Paris peace talks thus guranteeing more war.
Another war hawk who donned the election-year dove suit was George W. Bush. He opposed military over-commitment and nation building. He said, “I just don’t think it’s the role of the United States to walk into another country and say: ‘We do it this way, so should you!’” Trump has reprised Bush’s semi-isolationist pragmatic deal-maker rhetoric in its entirety. People seem to have forgotten that this was the platform on which Bush campaigned because he did exactly the opposite when he was in office but that should be a lesson about how we really need to view political rhetoric. Rhetoric has meaning, but it is not as simple as equating an expressed wish with an actual desiure or inclination. Sometimes it means exactly the opposite. In taking the same pragmatic dove stance (which does not reject chauvinist patriotism or exceptionalism) Trump is positioning himself exactly as Bush, Johnson, Wilson and Nixon did. He is stating a desire for peace in order to create political space to wage war.
Choosing between Trump and Clinton is a lot like choosing between Nixon and Kissinger. Clinton is unashamedly close to Kissinger and is rumoured to be seeking his endorsement. Clinton and Trump, by their positive referrals to the widely loathed Nixon and Kissinger, are showing how contemptuous they both are of ordinary people.
I tend to see Trump as more dangerous, but someone responded to my stance by pointing out that Clinton is more dangerous because she would have bipartisan support for waging war. In parliamentary terms (not in terms of public opinion) this is certainly true and may or may not become crucial to the future of the world. GOP senators and congressional representatives will support every military adventure, every increase in surveillance and secrecy, every assassination, every arms deal, and so forth. Like Tony Blair in the UK, the only legislative opposition that Clinton will face will come from a weak sub-group of her own party. So as well as being like the choice between Nixon and Kissinger, this election presents a choice akin to voting either for Tony Blair or George W. Bush: one is unstoppable because she has captured and controls the one party that might oppose her warmongering, the other is unstoppable because he has created the space to govern as a partisan rogue who is not subject to congressional restraint or restraint by public opinion.
In the final analysis, any acquiescence to Trump or Clinton is a grovelling surrender to a sick slave-master who is demanding that we eat a pile of steaming dog turds. People like Chris Trotter lick their lips at the prospect and expect us to do the same, but how can supporting for Clinton not be an act of self-debasement? The FBI, predictably, decided not to prosecute her even though it is clear from their account that they believe that she committed a serious crime, but their account contradicts what Clinton said on three occasions under oath. As Clinton will be aware, that perjury makes her eminently impeachable, which really should have ended her presidential run then and there. How can people be expected to vote for someone who could be impeached on the moment she takes office? Now she is involved in a “pay-to-play” scandal from her time in the State Department that, among other things, is the perfect example of why her attempt to keep her emails private was a serious crime. Clinton will enter office with a number of unresolved scandals that should disqualify her. The worst thing is that she will probably do so with impunity, revealing that she is above the law and that people like her can openly mock the law. To support Clinton is to support demockracy [sic] – the farce of elections that are used to legitimate an actual kakistocracy.
Chris Trotter recently compared Clinton to F. D. Roosevelt and claimed that the US role in Libya was just lending “support to British and French efforts in the UN Security Council to provide air support to Libyan rebels fighting Muamma Gaddafi.” He is coming very close to simple outright lying and seems completely unfazed by the masses of negative comments he receives and equally disinclined to answer any of the arguments and evidence presented within them.
I agree with Paul Jay that our best hope for the future is that Clinton becomes President, but then becomes the immediate focus for discontent and agitation. If we support Clinton (by “we” I mean those of us who know more than what is fed to us by a mendacious system of mass media) we will undermine our own future. Mumia Abu Jamal said “If Trump is the price we have to pay to defeat Clintonian neoliberalism – so be it.” I want to suggest that Trump is not likely to become POTUS and the we already pay the price of having Trump in our world. The real issue whether we are willing to risk an outside chance of a Trump presidency, or whether we will be self-defeating losers who let ourselves be spooked by the scary clown. People in the US and outside need to gear up to oppose the next President, whoever she may be.
Many Trump supporters are like Brexit supporters who, as Jonathan Pie pointed out, made an almost rationally irrational decision to choose a self-destructive hopeless gamble over the certainty of slow neoliberal degradation. They weren’t really being offered a choice, because the entire referendum was framed so that voting stay would be taken as an endorsement of the wider status quo. US voters are faced with a similar non-choice. Clinton’s election will be taken as a mandate for war, empire and neoliberalism. Moreover, if people do not make a show of rejecting both Trump and Clinton it will validate and consolidate the demockracy. It will be a watershed in the slow murder of democracy, perhaps not as irremediable as the 1932 Nazi electoral victory, but a definite goose-step in the same direction.
As a long-standing student of US history and wars, this election reeks to me of the election before a major war. I suspect that we will be tested by the next administration and our responses will write the future for us and our children. The distinction between war abroad and war at home has always been blurry and it looks like becoming much more so. The US is heading back into the Middle East at a time when conflict in the Middle East and North Africa is metastasising and consolidating into a single historic bloodletting.
It is time to ask the question, which side are you on? Supporting Trump could be hateful or delusional or simply the product of desperation, but supporting Clinton (even out of fear) is a clear endorsement of neoliberalism, neoconservatism and empire. Do you think that your hatred of Trump can justify supporting the killing of tens of thousands in the Middle East? the suffering of tens of millions as whole countries are slowly ground up and turned into failed states to maintain US hegemony? the immiseration of hundreds of millions as neoliberalism continues its march towards a nightmare future? If you choose Clinton, whether you are witting or only half-witting, you are the enemy of humanity.
The decadence of American Sniper
“Unhappy is the land that needs a hero” – Bertolt Brecht.
The US had Audie Murphy for a hero once, but they never made the same frenetic screeching that they now do about Chris “American Sniper” Kyle. In Murphy’s time enough people were touched by the horrors of war to know that deep down the notion of a “war hero” is irreducibly oxymoronic. Our notion of a “hero” is stripped of complexity and it is cartoonish; applying it to war makes as much sense as having a heroic cancer.
Manufactured heroes like Kyle are symptomatic of deep social cultural and political decay. Delusional myths are becoming ever more central to the functioning of the US state. Those who are not blinded by ideological fervour are systematically excluded from positions of power and influence in the private and state sectors. Sane people may remain in office, but sane actions are blocked, twisted, co-opted, reversed and/or simply drowned in the wider context of decadent insanity.
In the Bush era some of history’s worst mass-murdering war criminals effectively disguised themselves as fanatical ideologues, but ironically they left an empire stripped of its ability to function rationally. At best they bought their empire 15 to 20 years more life at the cost of more than 1 million Iraqi lives. But this is far from over, and the whole world, including the US people, will suffer greatly because of their actions.
Systemic dysfunction has become a global norm in the Western world and in its enslaved neocolonies. We have to face the challenges of global warming and the end of the petrochemical underpinnings of our economies with a bunch of deluded freaks running the show. Those who try to maintain reasoned professional conduct are also living in a type of delusion. Where evil giants ravage the land, they see only benign windmills. Active dissent, active rejection existing power, and active resistance are the only sane options left.
An Open Letter to an IDF Apologist at the BBC
After 10 years as a business reporter, Anthony Reuben is now the BBC News inaugural “Head of Statistics”. True to the spirit of 1984 he seems to take his role as being to remind people of such numerical truths as “2 + 2 = 5 fanatical Islamist terrorist Hamas militants”. In a report on what the statistics tell us about the recent fatalities in Gaza, he highlights the fact that a disproportionate number of young men are being killed. Another BBC report on Gaza casualties is quite shocking, but its impact is diminished by a link to Reuben’s article with the words “If the Israeli attacks have been ‘indiscriminate’, as the UN Human Rights Council says, it is hard to work out why they have killed so many more civilian men than women”
Someone else has already written an email to Reuben which is posted at the Media Lens message board. It covers some of the territory that I have, but I felt that I needed to add a few things in a missive of my own. I got a little bit carried away, but the result is heartfelt…
To Anthony Reuben,
I have to ask, just what sort of statistician are you? Surely one of the fundamental tenets in statistical thought is that correlation does not imply causation, yet without the implicit unsupported claim that a gender imbalance in fatalities indicates IDF discrimination, your article has no purpose.
When I write “no purpose” I really mean “no legitimate purpose”. It is a great propaganda point for Israel to use the deaths of “military aged males” to imply military legitimacy in their violence. Your work certainly goes a long way to helping the IDF promote its narrative. This means that you are helping them, and I hope you realise that you are therefore complicit in their actions.
Need I remind you that Srebrenica was primarily a massacre of “military-aged males” and that those who committed that genocidal act used the same excuse as the IDF? By itself that destroys the tacit premise of your article unless you also consider Srebrenica to be a legitimate military action. The fact is that it is normal that adult male civilians are targeted and murdered at far higher rates than women and children. There are a number of reasons why this is the case, including the psychology of those committing the murders. Military personnel find it easier to kill adult male civilians than others. Additionally, apologists such as yourself find it easier to muddy the waters over war crimes.
You breezily dismiss the issue of gender disparity in war casualties from other conflicts: “There has been some research suggesting that men in general are more likely to die in conflict than women, although no typical ratio is given.” With a flourish of misdirection, which seems to come naturally to the hack and the junk-merchant, you induce the reader to think that nothing of relevance is contained in the paper which you link to. You let people know that you have read it, but it really has nothing to illuminate the issue. However, the paper does establish that although there is a great deal of variation between conflicts, there is undeniable precedent for far greater numbers of male than female civilians being killed directly in conflicts. In other words, if you were half the statistician you claim, you would recognise that a disproportionate death rate amongst Gazan men is no evidence that more armed militants have been killed than Hamas claims, is not evidence that the IDF is practicing discrimination, and is not evidence that the IDF does not target civilians.
Moreover, the paper you cite is in itself too narrow in scope for the purposes of your article. There is relevant historical evidence which is denied by no one. Not one person who knows anything about the subject denies that there is a long standing practice of killing adult male civilians. It seems to be as old as human mass violence, and it is certainly as old as the phenomena we understand as war and genocide. It is a practice which falls under the category now given as “gendercide”. Like mass rape, the tactic of the mass killing of men is not merely aimed at the immediate victims, but is a genocidal tactic aimed at social cohesion. In a patriarchal society and/or one with high numbers of dependent children, the impact of killing a “military age male” – which is to say a “working age male” – is multiplied.
But perhaps the most important propaganda role you are playing is to access that moral and emotional numbness with which we have all been induced to view violence against young men. I have read many accounts of violence, and I will admit that the images that haunt me are those of violence against children. Yet I can also say that those who are close to the violent deaths of men do not view it with the equanimity that our public discourse accords the subject. These are human beings who love and are loved. They feel as much fear, pain, grief and guilt as anyone other human being in their last moments, whether they carry a gun or not. We project on to these dying men a sense that they are agents in their own deaths, as if war were some sort of shoot-out at high noon where every male carries a sixgun. The emphasis on “women and children” is an impulse of armchair humanitarianism by the insipid and the self-righteous.
Perhaps, to understand my point, you could watch and rewatch the video posted here of a young man being murdered by an Israeli sniper. Watch it and ask yourself, “what does my article say about this man’s death”? This is the death of a 20-29 year-old male, so if your article isn’t about this, then what on Earth is it about? I mean that seriously. Your holier-than-thou detached statistical conceits actually say nothing at all about the horrible death of this man except to suggest that somehow it doesn’t really count.
You are also making a big straw man out of the UN accusation of indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force. The real question is the systematic targeting of non-combatants. To date, Israel has targeted 7 UN schools being used as shelters. Fleeing civilians have also been targeted, as have rescue workers and UN personnel. This is based on 3rd party evidence and, quite frankly, only an idiot would give any credence to the IDF’s response to these accusations unless they were subject to cross-examination or were able to provide substantive evidence to back their claims.
But not only do you give unwarranted credence to IDF distortions, you are too lazy, stupid or evil to even check on the veracity of blatant lies. You quote an IDF spokesperson on the subject of Operation Cast Lead: “Hamas and Gaza-based organisations claimed that only 50 combatants were killed, admitting years later the number was between 600-700, a figure nearly identical to the figure claimed by the IDF.” This is a double lie. Firstly, I wouldn’t think it would be too much to expect a BBC reporter to look up what the BBC itself reported about claimed casualties after OCL: “Hamas has said 48 of its fighters were killed. The Popular Resistance Committee says 34 died and Islamic Jihad said it lost 38 men.” Hamas not claiming only 50 combatants killed, it is claiming that only 50 of its combatants were killed. Lie number two, just as easy to sort out by an internet search, is that Hamas or “Gaza-based organisations” have “admitted” to a figure of 600-700. No they haven’t. You are either wilfully being played for a fool, or you are deliberately deceiving your readers.
You also repeat that Israeli claim given exposure by your colleague back in 2009 – that “when militants are brought to hospitals, they are brought in civilian clothing, obscuring terrorist affiliations”. I love this one because you have to be a moron to believe it, but also at least a bit of a racist. There are really two options here, one is that when combat breaks out Gazan militants change into civvies on the rather Pythonesque logic that they will make the evil Zionists pay by seeking matyrdom in mufti [sic]. The other possibility is that these hate-filled fanatic terrorists are so rabid, so irrationally rational, so innately cunning and conniving, that when their comrades are wounded or killed their first response is to give them a change of clothing – presumably remembering to tear, incise and or burn the clothing so that it matches the flesh beneath. Hamas probably has special units of crack combat-tailors giving makeovers to the dead and dying. While they are working I imagine that the legions of Pallywood specialists are digitally altering stock footage and stills so that every rabid mass-murdering terrorist arrives at the morgue with pictures and video of their tender family life of caring for young children and sickly elders.
Your fatuous hypothesis is that the disproportionate fatalities of young males suggests that Israel is only accidentally killing civilians in the legitimate pursuit of “terrorists”, and that the IDF, in fact, is practicing discrimination. This is based on four things – ignorance, stupidity, self-satisfied arrogance and the blatant lies of an IDF spokesperson. By privileging statistical evidence as being of a higher order than mere anecdote you manage to suggest that the evidence of our eyes themselves is somehow suspect. This is vulgar scientism. The fact is that a single anecdote can sometimes destroy a statistical hypothesis. The different sorts of evidence provide different sorts of information, one is not inherently better at revealing an objective truth. Statistical methods are frequently abused to create distorted pictures. Statistics provided by belligerents about their own actions are more or less worthless anyway, but sometimes it is perfectly valid to dismiss a statistical account on the basis that it diverges far too much from the collected reliable anecdotes. For example, US figures on civilian deaths in the second assault on Fallujah are risible. Anyone who actually followed the eyewitness accounts of what was occurring at the time knows that these “statistics” are worthless. We know from accounts of US personnel that dead civilians were simply labelled “insurgents”. It is an old practice, perhaps best known from Indochina where it was referred to as the “mere gook rule”.
The “mere gook rule” was elucidated as being “if it’s Vietnamese and dead, then its VC”. The reasons for this were many and varied. People often cleave to the cliché vision of ambitious officers trying to outdo each other by claiming everything conceivable as a kill. Behind that, however, were far more important systemic causes. We do not talk about such things in polite society, but the fact is that the US war machine systematically targeted civilians on the basis that being in a certain location made you a legitimate target deserving of death. They overtly wanted to attack the civilian population in NLF controlled areas on the basis that they were VC “infrastructure”. But to do so they actually redefined them as being combatants. Hence William Westmoreland, that charming man, was able to confidently proclaim that no civilian had ever been killed in a free-fire zone, because he had defined free-fire zones as places where no people were civilians. So when William Calley described his reason for killing women as being because they had “about a thousand little VC” in them, he was actually just expressing official US doctrine.
I feel that I must point out here, in case there is any confusion, that contrary to what seems to be broadly taken as true at the BBC, powerful officials do not actually define reality. I know that this is hard for you to understand, but just because a US General says that the victims of bombing and shelling were all combatants, including the children, it does not make it true. There is a legal definition of “combatant” and international humanitarian law doesn’t actually rely on an honour system where the perpetrator owns up for any acts of naughtiness (and that includes Israel’s activities in Gaza). The Nuremburg Trials, for example, did not consist of a series of cleverly posed questions designed to trap German leaders into admitting that they had started a war and killed civilians. But while we are on that subject, it is always important to remember that every act of mass violence by the Germans was defined by them as an act of war against the “enemy” who were sometimes defined as being a “terrorist population”.
If a normal conscientious human being wrote an article about the gender and age characteristics of fatalities in Gaza, they might at least mention the very prominent fact that the US is now applying a gender and age specific version of the “mere gook rule”. Perhaps you have been sequestered under a rock for the last few years, but there has been significant mention in the news that the US automatically defines anyone killed in their targeted killings who is a military age male as being a “militant” until proven otherwise. “Militant” is such a great word as well because it gives people the impression of legitimacy, but it does not actually specify that the targets were combatants. A study of Israeli targeted killings some years ago found not only that they killed four times as many bystanders as targets, but also that 50% of the “militants” they targeted weren’t actually part of any armed activities. These militants were community organisers, political organisers and union organisers – you know, “infrastructure”.
To recap, then: a military aged male is not necessarily a combatant, but they are frequently targeted as such. This is known as gendercide. Targeting civilians in this way is often accompanied with official semantic approaches which seek to legitimate the targeting of civilians, but by nature any repudiation of legal definitions is in itself a war crime constituted necessarily of the systematic targeting of civilians.
Given everything we see of IDF personnel murdering helpless civilians, what seem to be targeted attacks on medical and aid workers – including UN personnel – and what seem to be deliberate attacks on UN facilities being used as shelters by displaced people, only an Orwellian freak could possibly go along with the idea that the UNHRC’s accusation of indiscriminate use of force is the real issue. Nor is the systematic targeting of civilians even the worst crime on evidence here. Israel is quite blatantly committing genocide as it is defined in law in the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (UNCG), and under the UN Charter it is guilty of criminal aggression. Genocide is considered an “aggravated crime against humanity” which parties to the UNCG are obliged to act to end, whilst aggression was defined at Nuremburg as the “supreme crime”.
I bet you think you know what the word “genocide” means. I bet that deep down in your guts you know that it was never meant to describe the way Israel treats Palestinians. You probably can’t exactly say what genocide means, but you understand its essence and you know that it is offensive and obscene to cheapen the memory of the dead by debasing the coinage with such politicised accusations. Save your indignant spluttering. The legal definition of genocide is quite clear and taking actions aimed at destroying “in whole or in part” the Palestinian people is genocide by definition. The expectation that genocide should always be manifested as a discreet orgy of violence is a vulgar misapprehension. Genocide is frequently a long process of sporadic, chronic violence in the midst of ongoing persecution. In fact, the slow nature of the Israeli genocide is what makes it so much less ambiguous or uncertain than most other genocides. The rhetoric, the strategic imperatives, the tactic, the doctrines and the policies in this case all align to make this an open-and-shut case with none of the usual difficult issues of intentionality. The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal not only found Israel guilty of the crime of genocide, but also found several named living Israeli officials guilty of genocide.
I know what you are thinking – you are thinking that the KLWCT is “political” and is motivated by “politics”. Let’s deconstruct that, shall we? In your twisted little world there is nothing “political” about the ICC which is an official body that just happens to spend almost all of its time prosecuting sub-Saharan African leaders who have angered the the US. Are these the worst war criminals in the world? No. Are they the worst war criminals in sub-Saharan Africa? No, not that either, certainly not on the basis of the numbers of victims killed. Apart from one token M-23 guy thrown to the dogs for the sake of appearances, the real crime of these people was that of defying Washington. The ICC, however, is “official”. In your grubby little corner of Oceania this means that it is not “political”. In the same idiom the US is an “honest broker” and John Kerry is a “credible authority”. In the real world, however, despite the involvement of Malaysian political figures, the KLWCT is constituted of independent scholarly and legal experts whose collective interest in the matter of Palestine is purely that of human beings who seek an end to injustice and suffering.
(Have you ever wondered about that? The way in which the pompous organs of the media reverse reality to say that the people who don’t have a vested interest are the suspect “political” voices, but the people who have immense power and money riding on the outcomes of events are considered at least respectable if not authoritative?)
The law may not be perfect, but often the fact that it is a codified standard which can be applied equally to each party is highly illuminating. Admittedly, by the time it reaches a court, international law is generally a selective disproportionate application of what amounts to victor’s justice. But we can independently examine issues in a legal light to get a good view of ethical dimensions of a situation. The question is this, in this instance who is the aggressor and who has the right of self-defence?
Israel claims the right of self-defence but what does Article 51 of the UN Charter actually authorise? “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.” Well, the UNSC has indeed been apprised of this situation and has passed resolutions to restore international peace and security, but Israel will not comply with those resolutions. In order to claim the right of self-defence Israel would first have to relinquish all occupied territories, among other things. And that is a normal established understanding. An occupying force does not have a right to self-defence. Nor is it permissible to blockade a country and then “defend” against their armed resistance to that blockade. If these things were not true then you would have a situation where both sides can claim self-defence with each supposedly defending against the other’s defence.
I know that it is heretical to even think such thoughts, but what if we spent as much time talking about Palestinian rights to self-defence as we do about the non-existent Israeli right to self-defence? When you actually apply international law, Palestinians have every right to use the arms that are available to them in resistance. They are the ones subject to occupation. Israel and its allies have used the statelessness of Palestinians to obfuscate their right to self-defence, but in law you cannot deny rights to individuals on the basis of statelessness which means that they have “the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence” until such time as the UNSC restores peace.
That brings me to something that I find almost as upsetting as seeing the bodies of children killed by “the most moral army in the world”. Those who take up arms against Israel are not legally or morally deserving of death. Most of them will have lost loved ones to Israeli violence. Every one of them suffers under the illegal oppression of the occupation. Deciding to fight back with arms is not some irrational fanatical decision. Yet in our media these men are treated as violent irrational ciphers in a way which both draws on and perpetuates a racist conception of Arab men. Nobody ever puts a human face on these fighters. They are tarred with the brush of Islamism, with its heavy freight of misogynistic savagery, but many of them aren’t even Islamists and those that are have not committed the sort of atrocities which Westerners claim come naturally to Islamists. We should at least remember who is and who isn’t killing babies here – that is not too much to ask is it? It is the IDF who are committing atrocities, and those who take up arms against them have the legal right to do so. They also have the right to life. They don’t enjoy dying, as the British used to claim about Arab tribesmen. They don’t eagerly seek martyrdom. Like isn’t “cheap” to them, as Westmoreland said of “Asiatics”. Those tropes are the worst kind of vicious racism. These fighters are human beings, and their deaths are legally and morally acts of murder.
Surely this doesn’t mean that Hamas can just fire thousands of rockets into Israel killing civilians, does it? Well, actually it does. Killing civilians is illegal, but the responsibility and culpability belongs with Israel’s leadership under the current circumstances. At Nuremburg it was adjudicated that Russian partisans could not be criminally responsible for atrocities carried out because they were in turn responding to the war crimes of the aggressor. Some argue that this Nuremburg precedent seems to give carte blanche to members of any attacked group. Perhaps jus in bello law must be equally applied to all parties no matter what, as a principle of equality under the law. But even if you take that position, was Kenneth Roth of HRW right to assiduously condemn Hamas’s indiscriminate rocket fire when he recently discussed war crimes in Gaza? No. Roth is just being a scumbag. He is either acting as a propaganda agent to deliberately build a false equivalence, or he cares more about pandering and sounding “credible” than he cares for truth and justice.
Let me put this into some sort of perspective. It is, quite frankly ridiculous and wildly disproportionate to even suggest that we need to take steps over the supposed illegality of using insufficiently discriminating arms by factions in a besieged population when the harm to civilians is so much less that that caused to the civilians of the besieged population. Gaza’s rockets and mortars have killed 28 civilians in the last 13 years. [And don’t give me any crap about the wondrous “Iron Dome” – it didn’t even exist for most of that time and Theodor Postol has calculated that it does not work. It is a horrendously expensive PR ploy to maintain the deception that there is some sort of parity between Israeli and Palestinian violence.] Not only would it be a de facto abrogation of the Palestinian right to self-defence to restrict the weapons allowed to those that can only reach the enemy when the enemy chooses to come within range. Moreover, it is another point of law that you cannot accuse someone of a crime when you are also guilty of that crime. If Palestinian rockets and mortars are illegal then so are Israeli rockets and mortars – which kill more people. They share exactly the same properties of being inherently indiscriminate, as do air and ground artillery munitions. There is no qualitative difference between these inaccurate primitive rockets and any other explosives used around civilian populations except that they are a lot less deadly than most. This twisted and sick idea shared between Israel an the US that they can effectively exculpate themselves by saying – “yes, we kill more civilians, but we do it more accurately” is appalling.
The point is, though, not to say that Israel can’t accuse militants in Gaza of war crimes, but to say that none of us can. How can we, in countries that have shelled and bombed and killed so many, accuse Palestinian militants of anything? How could anyone from the US claim that Palestinian munitions are insufficiently precise and discriminating when their own government uses depleted uranium, cluster munitions, napalm, fuel-air bombs, white phosphorous, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseam. The very idea that any Westerner can level war crimes accusations at an desperately poor and ill-armed besieged people for using the only primitive weapons with which they can reach their attacker is sickening and obscene.
I don’t like the rocket attacks. I don’t think Israeli civilians deserve death. But as Osama Hamdan pointed out, when they stop firing rockets, it doesn’t stop Israel from killing and blockading their people. How long do you sit doing nothing while people are killed and while the land, the little strip of a prison, gets ever closer to becoming irreversibly uninhabitable. (There is the Zionist genocidal intent – a realist’s Eretz Israel with a non-citizen Palestinian helots living in controlled West Bank enclaves, while Gaza is a post-apocalyptic pile of polluted rubble.)
If you have actually read this far, you might be marshalling answers with your little weasel brain. Please don’t bother. To put it politely, this letter is in the spirit of a condemnatory open letter. To put it more honestly, I don’t care what a toxic freak like you has to say in his defence. For forty years the dissident voices of our society have taken on this crippling notion that we should “engage” people in “dialogue”, as if our goal is to show people like you the error of your ways. But even engaging someone like you is to give validity to your insane world-view. What sort of callous freak actually goes out of their way to throw condemnations of IDF actions in Gaza into question? Do you wake up in the morning and think, “I know what the world needs, it needs more geeky smug reasons for not having to feel compassion and the desire to end suffering”?
So, frankly, I don’t care what you have to say for yourself. I just want you to know that you are hated. A person half a world away, who is very well educated about the issues involved, hates you for the simple reason that you are the enemy of humanity and your work promotes the suffering of innocents.
All the best for you and your hack friends in your future self-congratulatory endeavours,
Kieran Kelly
The Numbers Game: New Research Shows that US has Saved Millions of Iraqi Lives.
[Warning: this is satire. I apologise for any confusion. If I offend anyone I want to make absolutely certain that they are the right people.]
In 2006 The Lancet published the second of two ideologically driven mortality “surveys” which claimed that the US had caused over 600,000 deaths in Iraq. This was followed by other such “research” conducted by those who made no effort to conceal their own political bias against George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. Some of these organizations claimed to have found astronomical numbers of fatalities, even over a million. One of those who has led the fight to correct these subjective and biased studies is Jim Slobberdrib. For eight years Slobberdrib headed Applied Research Science Enterprises prestigious Iraq Death List project. More recently Slobberdrib has overseen a new study which, by applying newer and even less biased techniques and standards, has found that US actions actually saved many thousands of Iraqis who would otherwise have perished. Since the release of these explosive findings Slobberdrib has been very busy promoting the work by granting interviews to the media. Fortunately, however, he was able to take time out from all of that in order to grant me an interview:
KK: If I could turn first to your work with the respected Iraq Death List project – how exactly did you get the inspiration to start the project, and what were its aims?
JS: Well, it is funny how inspiration can strike at any moment. I was working for Blush, McLieberger and Koch, the PR firm, and, I don’t know, I… I must have been quite dissatisfied with the meaninglessness of it. So much so, I think, that my boss could actually tell even before I really knew myself. He told me that I needed something more meaningful in my life, a chance to give back. As it happened, he said, our firm had a relationship Applied Research Science Enterprises…
KK: A relationship?
JS: Yes, I think they shared office space in Kuala Lumpur or something. And they shared other things – you know, photocopying costs, long-arm staplers and so forth. They also had the same Human Resources department, funnily enough. It worked out quite well for me in the end, because it meant that I could just stay on the payroll despite suddenly and drastically and ummm…
KK: Boldly?
JS: Yes, yes, boldly. Boldly changing my career completely. Of course, there was a significant pay rise and I think that this shows that being daring and taking risks can be quite rewarding in that sense. The rewards are more than merely material, they are also monetary.
Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself. Basically, I came up with the idea of doing a truly definitive body count in Iraq which would ensure that the Bush and Blair regimes were absolutely accountable for every single death of every single innocent but only if we could truly verify their innocence and their deadness. I believed utterly, then as now, that it would be wrong to hold someone accountable for abstract statistics, it is only when we can absolutely verify absolute innocence and absolute death that we can think of holding those in power accountable.
KK: So it was a sudden inspiration born out of an urgent humanitarian impulse?
JS: Exactly. They sent me along to meet the people at Applied Research Science Enterprises. They could also tell that I was stricken with a Humanitarian Impulse. They said it made me look troubled and intriguing. They mentioned that the main humanitarian concern in the world was probably the impact of the US invasion of Iraq and that people desperately needed reliable information to make judgements on the moral dimensions of the US action. I said something like: “Hey, wait a minute. If you guys are a research company, why not do some research about the effects of the invasion?” They were really impressed with my idea.
KK: So you didn’t have any directly training or experience as a statistician or epidemiologist or researcher of any sort did you?
JS: Yes, well, I think that this was the greatest strength that I brought to the job. I was an outsider, with a fresh perspective, not some stale old bean-crunching maths person. I wasn’t like The Count from Sesame Street being all mathematical about everything but losing sight of the human picture. I was there because of my Humanitarian Impulse and I could feel it getting stronger all of the time. Some people said I was becoming quite Bohemian. I even thought about writing a poem. I was the ideas man – the humanitarian ideas man. I could do the numbers too, if I wanted. I was used to it. In PR and marketing, we live by the numbers. I was never one of those people who actually makes the numbers, but I was around lots of numbers. Some of these numbers were really big numbers. I mean really big numbers, but they didn’t scare me. I can talk about infinity without getting scared.
KK: Walk us through what Iraq Death List actually did?
JS: Well, we collated reports of fatalities, but we would only actually include a reported fatality if it was independently verified by two Western media sources who had access to eyewitnesses of unimpeachable character. After that it was necessary for us to conduct our own independent verification to absolutely ensure that the eyewitnesses could be relied on.
KK: And then the first Lancet study came out in 2004. According to one of the researchers, they had initially expected that they might see an increase in mortality due to increased rates of disease or disruption to health and sanitation services, but instead they found that tens of thousands of people had been violently killed.
JS: Well, it just goes to show how political and unscientific they were. How are you going to show that someone died of disease because of the invasion? Did George W. Bush come up to them with a syringe full of dysentery or thyphus and inject them? A disease isn’t like a bullet. No one shoots someone with a disease. They were just going to count up some dead people and use some fancy number trick to say if was America’s fault. It’s like If I said that 78 percent of people who died of cancer died because they listened to rap music.
KK: But that wasn’t their main finding.
JS: Sure, but what they did was just as bad. They went around just asking Iraqis if anyone they knew had died and they just took their word for it that. These are Iraqis. They’re the ones who, I mean they’re practically the same people as… well, you know, they hate America. Of course they’re just going to say that the Americans killed my habeebi, or whatever. Hey, that reminds me of a joke a Marine told me: What did the Haji taxi driver say when he saw his child’s severed foot in the middle of the road?
KK: Umm, maybe just tell me later.
JS: Anyway, that wasn’t even the worst of it. They took those claims and then said that if these people said that their loved ones had died it must mean lots of other people had died well. They just made up all of these fictitious dead people. Completely made up. I don’t know how they thought they’d get away with this nonsense, but luckily we had our own definitive Iraq Death List and we could categorically refute their findings.
KK: So this is when you first began to clash with people like Gilbert Burnham and Les Roberts?
JS: Yeah.
KK: So, to set the scene, by this stage it is the end of 2004. A year and a half has passed since the invasion. What confirmed mortality figures did Iraq Death List have at this stage?
JS: That’s the amazing thing, these jokers were claiming that 100,000 people had died but our confirmed fatalities were zero.
KK: Zero?
KK: That’s quite conservative.
JS: Thanks. Well, anyway you can imagine how ridiculous these people looked, claiming that these nameless 100,000 people had died when we could show that there were no confirmed deaths at all.
KK: But surely some people must have died by this stage.
JS: People die all the time, but none of these deaths could be properly confirmed as being the result of US actions and confirmed as being real.
KK: Being real?
JS: Yeah. I guess one of the greatest challenges we faced at that point was the security situation. Our confirmation protocol is rigorous and we often found it impossible to deploy the hologram team to the areas in which fatalities were witnessed.
KK: Hologram team?
JS: It was vital that we assured ourselves that eyewitnesses had in fact witnessed real events, in those cases where eyewitnesses were considered sufficiently credible. We had to eliminate the most obvious possibility – that eyewitnesses had in fact witnessed only a clever projection made with hologram technology. But, there were often unacceptable risks in deploying the team.
KK: You mean that these alleged fatalities tended to occur in violent hotspots, in neighborhoods that were too dangerous to send a team into?
JS: I mean in deploying the team to Iraq. It was a very violent place…
KK: Despite having no actual confirmed fatalities?
JS: I know what I’m saying. Let’s not forget that American heroes were dying there every day. If we’d actually had a hologram team, we could never have risked sending them to the country.
KK: You didn’t even have a hologram team?
JS: Apparently it is difficult to find personnel who are appropriately trained and qualified to analyze this sort of technology.
KK: Because it doesn’t exist?
JS: Well, it is definitely cutting edge technology, maybe a bit beyond cutting edge. Anyway, one of our interns proposed a workaround and the “powers that be” decided that this was the way to go. It was decided that a quick trip to the morgue would serve to confirm that the dead were not holograms but in fact corporeal. I was against the decision. You know, I could understand the public relations aspect to it. People were thinking that zero fatalities was too low a figure. Edward Bernays understood this sort of thing. He invented public relations and he knew that ordinary people were very stupid. He called the average man “Dumb Jack” and he would have understood that “Dumb Jack” would never accept that the most scientific and objective measure of fatalities in Iraq was no fatalities at all. I understood the PR aspect of it, but by this time I had my scientist hat firmly on my head and my scientist hat told me it was all wrong.
KK: This was quite a dark time for you, wasn’t it?
JS: Yes, I did suffer from this sense of being conflicted. I was haunted by a recurrent nightmare. I would see “Dumb Jack” who looked just like my dad in his work coveralls. Then “Dumb Tariq” the suicide bomber would come along and decapitate my dad while singing “I Got You Under My Skin” in Frank Sinatra’s voice. Then me and “Dumb Tariq” would kick the head around like a soccer ball. Suddenly I’d realize that all along, every time I opened my mouth a stream of foul brown liquid would gush out, as if I was literally spouting liquid diarrhea. My therapist told me that it meant that when confronting trauma I became fecund with insight.
KK: “Fecund with insight”?
JS: Yeah, full of it apparently.
KK: But eventually you adjusted?
JS: Things got worse before they got better. My proposal that we initiate a capture and release program where Arabs would be banded and, if feasible, microchipped did not go down well. Detractors said that having such a program in the continental US would be of little use in determining death levels in Iraq. I tried to point out that this very same technique had been invaluable in studying declining numbers among Whooping Cranes and that the Arabs in question must themselves be migratory, otherwise they would not be in the continental US if the first place. I was widely pilloried for these ideas. I guess, in hindsight, that I should have talked them through with someone before calling a press conference.
KK: So if we move forward to 2006, and the release of the second Lancet study, widely referred to as “L2”. They estimated a very high mortality at this stage. In fact they estimated around 650,000 excess deaths, with 600,000 due to violence. What was the death toll according to IDL at this time?
JS: In approximate terms it was roughly around 3.
KK: Could you be more precise?
JS: It was 3.
KK: So there was an even bigger difference between your figures than there had been in 2004?
JS: In absolute terms, perhaps, but in percentage terms the gap had narrowed and I…
KK: Sorry, you say the gap had narrowed? What to?
JS: Well, a little over 20 million percent. That sounds a lot, but remember that in 2004 the percentage difference between our estimates was infinity. Infinity is much much larger than 20 million. 20 million is nothing compared to infinity. It’s like comparing, say, the size of a tennis ball with, umm, I don’t know, something infinitely bigger than a tennis ball.
KK: The universe?
JS: OK, maybe not that much bigger, but you get the point. I was very alarmed by the way politics had interfered with our science as if we should just compromise our methods in order to fit in with some antiwar malcontents and their made-up death study. Still, a difference of 20 million percent was just enough to show people once again that the Lancet study was dangerous nonsense.
KK: And now the Democrats in Washington started to take notice?
JS: Yes, they realized that our confirmed and undisputed body count was an invaluable weapon against the President. Of course, Republicans were not happy with me at that point. Senator Oren Stretchy (R-KY) physically threatened me with a yoghurt at a breakfast meeting. Bill O’Reilly said he wanted to chop me to pieces with his hedge-trimmer and feed me to his neighbor’s dachshund, but I think he might have mistaken me for Bernie Sanders’ cousin.
KK: And then, of course, that all changed when Bush actually admitted that your figures were correct.
JS: It was a great moment. Not just for me. Not just for IDL. But for the entire country. The President himself came out and admitted three innocent people had been killed due to his actions. He had saved us from Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction and from the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. He had finally brought the justice that would give peace to the restless souls of those lost on 9/11, in the Maine and at the Alamo. He had saved the lives of millions of Americans and the price he paid was to carry the burden of guilt forever for those innocent lives lost because of his actions. It was a great moment from a great leader.
You know, people like to compare Bush to Reagan or to Teddy Roosevelt, but to me his greatness transcends the parochial confines of US politics. If the great Winston Churchill and the beloved Mahatma Gandhi had through some miracle conceived a love child, that love child would be George W. Bush.
KK: This was, indeed, a great moment. Bush showed a humble and saintly side to himself that clearly moved people. But there were still those who questioned the actual figure of 3 killed, suggesting that it was on the low side. Perhaps if you gave more detail about IDL‘s methods. I mean, surely there must have been a lot more than 3 people confirmed killed in nearly 4 years of occupation.
JS: More “people” maybe. If you could call them that. But “people” could mean anything. “People” could be insurgents, or terrorists, or militant Islamic extremist fundamentalist Muslim militants. If you think those people are actual “people” then you go ahead and call them that. But you’ll excuse us if we don’t take the same stance. IDL was created out of a Humanitarian Impulse to definitively document the deaths of innocents so that the powerful can be held to account. You can’t treat the good killing, where we kill the bad guys, as being like the bad killing. In fact it should really be set up so that each good killing is subtracted from the number of bad killings.
KK: That would be another reason for saying that the US has killed a negative number of people. Sorry, I guess that is getting a bit ahead of your narrative.
JS: No, you are right though. The US has probably negatively killed much higher numbers of people than we outlined in our latest study. We should maybe revise our findings to take into account the negative killing aspect of killing bad guys. Sorry, where was I?
KK: I think you were about to outline the methods you used to make sure that you only counted the bad killing and not the good killing that we want our politicians to carry out.
JS: Oh, yeah. Right, you see the way I saw it was that we needed unimpeachable character witnesses who could testify to the goodness and innocence of the stiff. You see, one of the problems America faces is that its enemies don’t fight fair. They don’t wear uniforms. They don’t carry weapons. And they aren’t all military age males. You can’t even trust the kids and the babies. These people are so fanatical and so full of hatred that they sew explosives up into their own babies and then fire them out of modified mortar tubes. It was just the same in Vietnam. As one soldier said: “The old men, the women, the children – the babies – were all VC or would be VC in about three years. And inside of VC women, I guess there were about a thousand little VC now.”
KK: Who was that?
JS: That was Lieutenant William Calley. He had a breakdown, like combat fatigue, and then they just persecuted him because they needed some sort of scapegoat. Luckily President Nixon knew a thing or two about being the victim of a witch hunt, and he gave him a pardon.
Anyway, so we needed a way to tell who were the fanatic insurgent terrorist Islamists. In a real country we would ask the priest or the preacher, but obviously we couldn’t ask Muslim priests. We couldn’t say that they needed the testimony of a Christian priest either, because that might seem insensitive. I still thought that a respected religious figure was the right sort of person to give this testimony. It finally came to me that the ideal religious personage, who was not objectionable and who commanded very wide respect, was an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk.
KK: So you would accept that someone who had been killed was, in fact, innocent if in life they had been known to an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk who was prepared to vouch for their character?
JS: Obviously there is a fine balance that must be achieved here, but we thought that our approach was very reasonable.
KK: And do you still think it was a reasonable approach?
JS: Of course.
KK: Despite what occurred near Kut al-Farraj in mid-2008?
JS: I’m not sure what you are referring to.
KK: Perhaps I can refresh your memory. August the second? A village near Kut al-Farraj? An airstrike using multiple 500lb J-DAM against farm buildings which US personnel described as “hardened”? Surely you must remember that the official IDL mortality count jumped overnight from 4 to 179? Does it ring a bell yet? The airstrike at the village where the Venerable Abdallah al-Bakr happened to live?
JS: Yeah. I’ll never really get that. How can someone called Abdallah be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk? Don’t you need to be Tibetan?
KK: No. Tibetan is also a type of Buddhism. Allen Ginsberg was an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk.
JS: Wasn’t he some sort of Nazi or Communist or something?
KK: You’re thinking of someone else.
JS: Look, our results were sound and the Kut al-Farraj incident only strengthened the validity of our results. It showed that our method was flexible and responsive.
KK: “Strengthened the validity”? Are you really still defending this now? You had assured people for such a long time that the definitive and absolutely reliable death toll was 4 and suddenly almost in an instant it jumped by over 4000 per cent! How can you possibly justify that?
JS: Look, as a layman you might not understand that the best and most definitive figure isn’t some sort of happy medium that corresponds with common sense and accords with a full holistic picture of the context in which the events occur, it comes from taking the most narrow, restrictive and conservative approach possible. For a layman that might seem outwardly to throw up anomalies, like overnight jumps in the figures, but that is exactly how we ensure that our figures are utterly sound and definitive.
And anyway, a 4000 percent jump is tiny compared to a jump of infinity.
KK: This isn’t even particularly relevant because the percentage jump is actually the least of the problems with the new tally.
JS: I know where you are going with this. I just want to say that we had been using a set statistical method for years. We produced the definitive mortality data using that method and as I said before just because the method throws up results which, to a layman might seem really stupid, that does not invalidate the method.
KK: You know what I’m going to ask. The 175 killed Kut al-Farraj in 2008 – were they people?
JS: Look these were 175 certified innocent lives lost. I mean, the word “people” could, you know…
KK: Were they human?
JS: Not as such.
KK: They were…?
JS: OK, they were ducks.
KK: They were ducks. Innocent ducks maybe, but they weren’t people.
JS: Well, from the perspective of an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk they actually are people.
KK: Alright, fine, they were innocent dead duck people. But that doesn’t alter the fact that after more than 5 years of brutal war, your official respected mortality figure was that 179 innocents had been killed of whom the vast majority, 175 out of 179, were, in fact, innocent ducks! 175 out of 179!
JS: Could you express that as a percentage?
KK: No.
JS: But you would agree that it is quite a lot less than infinity percent?
KK: If you keep this up, I am going to terminate this interview.
JS: Okay, alright. But you are really missing the most important aspect of this whole thing. The Venerable Abdallah al-Bakr had given names to every single one of the sadly departed innocent ducks, and we knew the names of the four humans. It is only because we know these names that we can honor these innocent lost lives. It is only because they are named and documented that we can give them a measure of justice. It is only because we know exactly who they are and the exact circumstances of their deaths that we can seek accountability or, at the very least, acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Those who die without us documenting and naming them died pointless deaths that made their whole lives totally futile and meaningless. They are nothings and nobodies.
KK: What about those people who have lost loved ones that you have not named? Aren’t they liable to think that you are a self-satisfied insensitive shithead who should have his face smashed in?
JS: Well, people do post that comment on my Facebook wall a lot, but really, I believe that in circumstances like these violence is not the answer.
KK: The whole “innocent ducks of Kut al-Farraj” incident caused quite a loss of confidence in IDL, didn’t it?
JS: We lost a lot of institutional support including that of some of the most prominent US lawmakers and congressional representatives.
KK: Isn’t that the same thing?
JS: No, I’m sure the lawmakers are the ones who write the laws, mostly lobbyists I think. Anyway, then they give the laws to the congress people who, I don’t know, I think they give it to the President to sign or something. Maybe they have to, you know, fight each other to get to the President with their favorite law. They must do something.
Anyway, the real loss, and it was a bitter blow, was the loss of support from some of the most respected foundations. Those guys have got real deep pockets. And do they know how to give a guy a good time? I did a dinner with Ford Foundation once – man, I was seeing double for a week afterwards. Oh God, yeah, I remember now – I had to go on a 4 week course of antibiotics and I had this discharge that I swear to God actually glowed in the dark. It really did!
KK: Right, umm, OK. I think we get the picture, although I am trying very hard not to get an actual mental picture. To get back to the loss of credibility, it must have caused a loss of confidence in the public also.
JS: I never had any confidence in the public.
KK: I mean, the other way around. The public lost confidence in you.
JS: Yeah, like we really cared. Look, I don’t think the public ever really supported our efforts. We took that as a good sign. Our work was clearly too scientifically valid for the layperson to grasp, but people in power could immediately see how useful it was. I think that this is the true test of rigor and validity. This is the way things are heading now. This is the future of science and research because it is usefulness to power that ultimately is the true measure of what is valid and true.
KK: OK. But regardless of that the “innocent ducks of Kut al-Farraj” did spell the end of the IDL project.
JS: Well, that was the foundations, like I said. Our parent company realized that the profits from IDL were on a death spiral downwards and decided to pull the plug before the rot set in. They told me that I felt like I needed a change and funnily enough they had this relationship with a publishing firm.
KK: And the resultant memoir was Slobberdrib: Saint or Savior? It did well?
JS: Yes it did extremely well. Incredibly well really. It was really really successful. Not so much in terms of sales. But it was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was really about the whole process, you know, like writing things and that sort of process stuff.
KK: There were also financial rewards. I believe that despite never having published a book before you were given a 2.8 million US dollar advance. How much of that advance have the publisher made back from sales of the book?
JS: As a percentage it would be about, umm…. Can you think of something that is 176 times as big as a tennis ball?
KK: And then things changed for you once again?
JS: Well I was in Jordan on location with the cast and crew of the new biopic Slobberdrib: Shake Hands with Satan – actually that’s coming out in the fall and it’s got George Clooney playing yours truly and that black guy from Homeland (did you know that he’s actually British?) Anyway, it’s got him playing my best buddy in military intelligence. It’s gonna be a hit movie. Anyway, so there’s me in Jordan, consulting for the film – telling Clooney how to be more, you know, like me, and I get this call…
KK: No, wait, wait, wait… I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to clarify. You said Jordan, but you never actually went to the Middle East before?
JS: No this was my first visit. It’s pretty amazing, especially in the desert. It’s like, really sandy just like it is in the movies.
KK: The point I was trying to make, or ask maybe, is, why are they filming your life story in the Middle East when you were never in the Middle East?
JS: Oh yeah, I mean no. Yeah, no they decided that to make the story more accessible they would have my character as some sort of maverick humanitarian who struggles against the powers that be to save his buddies and to do the right thing. That’s basically me, but they gave me a slightly different back-story. In the movie I’m a bomb disposal expert who dedicates his life to protecting the innocent after the trauma of seeing a duck killed due to the callous indifference of a French rival bomb disposal guy. I kill the baddies and win the girl from the French baddy (who actually turns out to be Muqtada al-Sadr in a rubber mask – so I kill him too).
KK: So it’s more like some sort of fantasy version, not the humdrum reality of a guy working from an office in DC?
JS: I wouldn’t call it fantasy. There’s no dragons or orcs or whatever. They didn’t even use my idea about finding Aladdin’s lamp and rescuing the sexy Princess in those see-through culottes or whatever they’re called.
KK: OK, can we get back to the call you got in Jordan? Could I just guess that your employer had suddenly realized that you needed a drastic change in career?
JS: There’s no need to be facetious. It was actually the old crew from Applied Research Science Enterprises. New techniques and new approaches had been developed that virtually threw the whole issue of mortality in Iraq on its head. They needed me to come back to head a new study. This one would be far less restrictive than the last. It would be more of a totally inclusive survey of excess mortality.
KK: Like the Lancet surveys?
JS: No, not like those, obviously. They were political, we wanted to to do a survey that was purely scientific without all that politics. A recent study found that there were nearly 500,000 excess deaths in Iraq. As every reputable newspaper pointed out, this totally destroyed the findings of the Lancet studies. It absolutely blew those bastards out of the water.
KK: But surely these figures were much closer to the Lancet results than, say, your own results?
JS: Read the papers man! Don’t take my word for it. It just blew those bastards away. Totally discredited the washed up hacks. But we were still worried that there was some sort of political antiwar bias. Like I said, I don’t care if your politics are antiwar, but if you’re going to do science then, Brother, you gotta leave that shit at the door. You know what I’m saying? You can do science and say that lots of Iraqis died, but it becomes political when you say Americans killed them. That is just projecting your antiwar anti-America bias onto the figures. So even though some of the latest work to be done on Iraq suggests that lots of people died, over time we are seeing that less and less political bias is included in the figures.
KK: So it’s not political to say that Iraqis were killed by other Iraqis?
JS: No of course not. I like to explain it this way; back home we have a big problem with what we call black-on-black violence in the inner cities. Now, if you say a black man killed another black man that’s just saying something because it happened. It happens all the time. But if you say that a white cop killed a black man that’s political. You’re not describing a fact, you’re making a political statement. Now maybe if you’re wanting to run for mayor of, oh I don’t know, some black city, you might say a white cop killed a black guy. You might get lots of votes for saying that. But science isn’t about winning votes and there’s no room in science for politics like that.
KK: Reporters Without Borders put out a report about journalists killed in Iraq and it basically said that 83% of the killers of journalists were unidentified, but were enemies of the United States. Someone, someone who I actually know personally, criticized them for blithely characterizing unknown murderers this way without evidence. I think she even used the word “political”.
JS: Well, obviously that’s not political is it? Enemies of the USA hate our freedoms and hate our free press. My God, its the First Amendment – the First! Obviously our enemies kill journalists. Its dog-bites-man stuff. Perfectly non-political. Absolutely scientific. As for your friend – you know I think some people are so politicized they don’t even know what the word political actually means. Really, I could say some stuff myself about that Reporters Without Borders outfit and their so-called “report”. You know how they said that 9% of reporters were killed by US forces? Well, it turns out that two of those so-called “reporters” were insurgents on that film they put out with the helicopter shooting.
KK: You mean the Reuters employees whose deaths were shown in the Collateral Murder video?
JS: Buddy, they might have taken a paycheck from Reuters and done some journalism on the side, but those guys were fully-fledged one thousand percent insurgents. The Army even said they were insurgents. I’m pretty sure I saw that Collateral Damage thing and those guys were shooting rockets at our boys in the Apaches and then these reinforcements drive up using their own kids as human shields, and then they were just shooting off their AKs, a total killer frenzy. They were even shooting themselves just to make our boys look bad.
KK: Are you sure you actually watched Collateral Murder?
JS: I’m 98 percent certain. All I’m going to say is that if Reporters Without Borders researched those alleged Reuters employees they wouldn’t have found a single ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk who would testify that they definitely weren’t insurgents, and I bet the same is true of every one of those guys that our boys killed.
But going back to our new project, we saw our job as being to produce research a product that reflected a high mortality expectation, which we find a lot of the audience demands, but doesn’t have this distorted political component of US forces killing Iraqis. Our focus groups found that the best way to present the most credible results that the public would actually believe in (but were actually really really scientific and in no way political) was to have a very high mortality rate but to say that it was all brought about by Iraqi on Iraqi violence.
Things have changed a bit since the early days of IDL and that sort of approach wasn’t possible back then.
KK: Why is that, exactly?
JS: Well, you know, the whole invasion and occupation of Iraq was a very sensitive issue. There was a lot of misunderstanding. The President did his best to enlighten people. But even after Donald Rumsfeld explained all about “unknown unknowns”, a lot of people thought that Saddam’s WMD’s would either be found, or they didn’t exist. It’s just one of those “unknown unknowns”. He could have developed weaponized sand for all we know, and just left it in the desert to degrade into inert form. We will never ever know.
So the whole situation was very political, and I guess that is why the reporting was political too. For the first few years it was all about Coalition forces fighting against Iraqis. There was hardly anything about Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence. Maybe it’s not the journalists’ fault. They would wander along and than see a bunch of dead Iraqis and think: OK the US is fighting a war here, and war is hell, so they must have killed these guys. We now know, of course, that these Iraqis were almost certainly killed by other Iraqis. Iraqis kill each other all of the time, and the great irony of the situation was that it was only the mass-murdering genocidal maniac tyrant Saddam who, like Tito in Yugoslavia, stopped them from their traditional fratricidal violence. It’s like that British guy said a century ago, Iraqis “love fighting for fighting’s sake” and “they have no objection to being killed”.
I guess after that, you know from 2006 onwards, the news started to cover more and more Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence until that was all they covered. All of that political stuff about Americans killing Iraqis kind of faded away and we saw that it was all really about the same thing its always about – the same thing we see in movies and on TV – it was all about fanatical Islamists, terrorists, suicide bombers and cruel barbarians who chop people’s heads off.
KK: So the predictive programming of the entertainment media which unrelentingly pounds people with notions of Eastern barbarity and Western superiority made it natural for people to gravitate to this new narrative of incomprehensibly violent Iraqis who just kill each other for no reason that a civilized Westerner could ever really understand?
JS: Did you mean to say that?
KK: No, it just kind of slipped out. Do continue.
JS: Well, I guess I really have to confess now that I’d really got it all wrong earlier with the IDL. You see, you remember how I told you that there was good killing and bad killing? Well, that’s a perfectly good scientific way of understanding the difference between, well you know, the difference between good killing and bad killing. Anyway, it might be great science, but it’s not actually very mathematical. After talking it over with my people I came up with this great inspiration. Instead of good and bad killing, we should be talking about positive and negative killing in the mathematical sense. So when you positively kill someone there’s one less person in the world but when you negatively kill someone then there is one more person in the world. Now so there is no confusion let me make it absolutely clear that this is not about procreation. These are processes which we refer to as dekilling, or unkilling, or enlifing. This might be confusing initially, but when you enlife someone it means, well it doesn’t usually mean that there’s this person that you actually see that you’ve actually somehow enlifed. It’s more like say if there was a unit and at the end of a tour we calculated that they have killed negative 100 people, that means that by their actions there are 100 more people alive today than there would have been otherwise.
KK: Is that an indicative example. Would, say, a company have that sort of negative kill rate in a one year tour?
JS: Look, this is all new science and we really haven’t gone through the individual outfits completely yet, but our initial findings are phenomenal. We have some outfits that racked up huge negative kill rates. I even joked with a Sergeant from a mortar battalion that they should change their motto to “Life from Above”.
KK: Just so our audience understands, negative killing isn’t the same as killing bad guys? It’s not just another name for “good killing” is it?
JS: Oh no. Nothing could be further from the truth. No, negative killing is the sum total of all of those actions which are, in fact, life giving or life preserving. I need to emphasize again that this is not about procreation. The Pentagon would never countenance that sort of thing, not with Iraqi’s anyway. Like a lot of military outfits around the world they do have a long and proud tradition of having a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to sexual violence, but they really draw the line at fraternization. And they especially draw the line at there being a bunch of half-Iraqi half-White-Christian-American babies. I think you can see how that would not be in the interests of national security.
Negative killing is more about those things that save people from short or long term mortal threats. So, say, you might go into a house and in the confusion shoot dead one of the members of a family, but if by way of compensation you give the remaining family members a lifetime supply of chlorine tablets and that saves all eleven survivors from a deadly cholera outbreak, that means you’ve actually got a net negative kill rate of 10 people.
KK: So the negative killings come mainly from, say, civic action programs? From those outfits who build the wells and vaccinate the kids and have slogans like “we care, so you don’t have to”?
JS: Well, obviously that is a major part of the US military’s negative killing capacity. But our research has shown that often it in those activities that attract the most criticism from the bleeding-heart antiwar douchebags that actually have the greatest capacity to give life. Often people say our boys are trigger happy to the point of being a rampaging murdering horde. You have GIs just shooting up Iraqi cars just because they’re on the road, more or less, and people get wasted for almost any dumb reason. I mean, in 2005 we shot over one billion bullets during a period when our best estimates were that there were only 30,000 insurgents. That means we shot over 30,000 bullets for every insurgent in the whole country. That’s a lot of bullets, and those things are dangerous. It’s almost like you’d think that those guys who did the Lancet studies were on to something after all.
KK: Okay. I’m sure this is leading somewhere.
JS: Just hang on a sec, I’m getting there, but first you’ve got to think about the kind of firepower our grunts are packing these days. I mean a platoon of these guys could just about take out a city block as long as there weren’t any enemy soldiers or anything. Imagine you’ve got a mounted patrol. Every fourth GI has an M249 light machine gun. Every vehicle is mounted with maybe a .50 caliber machine gun or a Mk 19 grenade launcher which is like a sort of machine gun which fires 40mm grenades at a rate of about one every second. So, when this patrol hits an IED what they do is that they all just open up with all their weapons. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of dead civilians, right?
KK: If you say so.
JS: Well it’s true. Doing things like that does actually generate a positive kill rate, but have you thought about how much of a negative kill rate this could generate?
KK: Err…?
JS: Picture this: A cute little baby girl at home with mom. Mom’s proud of her beautiful first-born. Daddy’s out working his job at the office. It’s Friday, he’s planning on doing some renovations on the weekend and he’s going to drop by the Haji Home Depot after work. Mom’s feeding her beautiful baby girl from her firm young breast, little knowing that outside there creeps the dirty swarthy misshapen figure of an Islamic fundamentalist terrorist insurgent laying his filthy coward IED bomb. Mom puts baby down for an afternoon nap. Feeling good about herself she glances out through the window and waves to the friendly and handsome GI’s who wave back and make playful boyish remarks to each other about the beautiful young Haji woman. Then wham! The explosion throws mom back against the wall and she slumps unconscious. But oh no! What’s happened to baby girl? Unfortunately, Haji homes are flimsy, and Daddy hasn’t had the chance to fix up that sagging detached wall. The wall has fallen on baby’s crib! She has no air, and Mommy’s lying unconscious! Just then, like the ferocious thunder of freedom, the sound rings out of a couple of dozen really heavily armed red-blooded American boys letting loose with all they have. Just in the nick of time a .50 cal round punches a hole through the flimsy Haji wall and the baby is saved. What do ya think of that?
KK: It sounds a little umm… specific or, I don’t know, maybe a little unlikely.
LS: You might well think that. But remember just how many bullets we fired in Iraq – about a billion each year, right? Well if each bullet was the size of a tennis ball, then a billion bullets would be like infinity or even bigger.
KK: So, if you fire enough bullets at inhabited buildings you will save lots of lives by punching air holes in collapsed masonry?
LS: Well, were not completely stupid, you know. We do realize that there is a limited number of people who actually end up in the situation of being trapped under rubble without air, even during a US-led occupation. (We did actually offer an infantry regiment to China to shoot up the city where they had that last quake, but they declined due to security concerns.) Anyway, it’s not just about that, there are many other ways in which stray bullets can save lives. Picture now 36 year old Mohammed al-Derpderp. He’s just got that promotion he’s been after for years. He’s regional sales manager for the Haji vacuum-cleaner company. Finally, after all of those years of hard work he has his feet on the ladder. The only way is up. But, uh-oh! What is that on his neck? Could it be a pre-cancerous mole that is destined in ten years time to bring about poor Mohammed’s death in the most painful, degrading and lingeringly awful way possible? Why yes it is. Luckily he’s walking down the street one day and he’s coming up to where his uncouth Haji neighbours have left a pile of their shitty junk lying blocking a side road. Now, the nearby friendly US dismounted patrol heard AK’s firing earlier that day, so they know that the bad guys are around. They see the junk and they know it could have been put there by the bad guys. The leader decides that it’s time for some reconnaissance by fire. He tells his men to open up and they let loose steel hail like the volley of the titans! A round hits the wall near our friend Mohammed, it shatters and a searing fragment zips through the air slicing off the offending mole and cauterizing the wound to boot. Hey-presto and Allahu-fucking-akbar – 53 years later Mohammed al-Derpderp dies in bed surrounded by weeping relatives while from outside he can hear his great-grandkids laughing as they chase the Haji chickens around the dusty yard. Now that’s a happy ending.
KK: I see. So US forces have “enlifed” (if I have the terminology right) lots of Iraqis with stray bullets. Anything else?
JS: You bet there is. The list is as long as your arm. Airstrikes taking out dangerously substandard housing. White phosphorus sterilizing contaminated chicken. Fuel-air bombs taking out colonies of plague-bearing rats. We’ve found that people who have been exposed to toxins from our burn pits are significantly more likely to quit smoking, for example.
KK: So what does this all add up to, in terms of numbers of negative kills?
JS: Well, I haven’t even got to the best part yet. You see, we started thinking about what was the greatest threat to Iraqis, and you know what we came up with don’t you?
KK: Ummm.
JS: You’ll kick yourself. … Give up? Alright I’ll tell you – the biggest mortal threat to the life of an Iraqi is another Iraqi. You see now? That’s right, it’s just what we were talking about before. So we sat down and we calculated just how much risk Iraqis posed to other Iraqis. Are you ready for this? Yes? Alright. We calculated that over the average lifespan, taking all possible deadly acts and working out, conservatively, the likelihood that they would undertake such acts, we calculated that over the average lifespan the average Iraqi kills approximately 2.8 other Iraqis. You know what that means, don’t you?
KK: That means that every time you kill an Iraqi, you actually save Iraqi lives. Extraordinary.
JS: Well, once we realized that, it was a whole new ball game. We started looking way further back, right back to 1990. Do you know what we found? This will blow your freaking mind. We found that if you look at all the demographic data and look at the overall increased mortality form all causes there have been an excess of 4.6 million deaths. Because of our bombing and sanctions before our invasion and occupation, the good old US of A can take credit for nearly every single damn one of those Iraqi deaths! Conservatively, we can claim at least for at least 4 million of those deaths, which translates to us saving 11.2 million Iraqi lives. That means that we have saved the life of nearly half of every single Iraqi alive today by killing their neighbors and loved ones.
KK: Amazing. Well that seems as good a point as any to wrap this up. It just remains for me to thank my guest Jim Slobberdrib…
JS: My pleasure.
KK: …and I’d also like to thank the National Security Agency for allowing us to publish their transcript of our conversation. Next week I will be discussing the issue of Palestine with a woman who sounds caring, but advocates genocide. Be sure to tune in.
Kieran Kelly blogs at On Genocide.
MP from Aotearoa so Islamophobic that even the Israeli Ambassador calls his remarks “vicious”
An MP from the “New Zealand First” party wrote an opinion piece in which he wrote:
“If you are a young male, aged between, say, about 19 and about 35, and you’re a Muslim, or you look like a Muslim, or you come from a Muslim country, then you are not welcome to travel on any of the West’s airlines . . .” He then referred to New Zealanders lossing their rights because of “a sorry pack of misogynist troglodytes from Wogistan”.
He also claimed that El Al did not allow Muslims to travel in their aircraft, which made them one of the safest airlines in the world. Israeli Ambassador Shemi Tzur said: “Claims by MP Prosser that Israeli airline El Al bans passengers on the basis of their ethnicity or religion are not only false but also vicious in character. All travellers are equally important on El Al and in Israel”.
Prosser’s party leader is standing by him in the face of calls for resignation, but he may be liable to legal action under the Human Rights Act and the race relations laws. Nevertheless, it is essential that Prosser be forced to resign. It cannot be acceptable to have a representative of the people of Aotearoa who uses a word like “Wogistan”.
As such, I would humbly like to implore those of you who are not residents of Aotearoa (AKA New Zealand) to contact a New Zealand embassy or consulate in order to register your disgust and call for Prosser’s resignation. Please help. How would you feel if a democratic representative of your country lost the moral high ground to the Israeli ambassador?
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3 Baybayin Studies
Ramón Guillermo’s enthusiasm has kindled the interest of the other scholars (Myfel Joseph D. Paluga, Maricor Soriano, and Vernon R. Totanes) who have contributed to this volume. The general approach of this invisible faculty contrasts greatly with the amateurish interpretations tinged…Read More
An Orosipon kan Bikolnon
If the monologic force of narration produces a nation, orosipon, an old Bikol word for story, interrupts this production by telling a different story or different stories. Coming from the root word osip which approximates “tell,” orosipon points to more than one person involved in the act of telling… Read More
Halakhak
HALAKHAK is an examination of how humor is deployed in Philippine popular cultural forms, a response to the paucity of studies in which Filipino humor is analyzed. In attempting to provide a definition of Filipino national humor, it examines popular cultural forms as repositories of different… Read More
Science Philippines: Essays on Science by Filipinos, Volume IV
Science Philippines Volume IV is the fifth and last in a series of books on popular science articles written by Filipino scientists, science educators, and administrators about their work and related studies done by others in the Philippines and the rest of the world. The first four…Read More
Southern Stories and Strays
This collection of fiction and nonfiction pieces is peopled by women who live or come from Mindanao, that “faraway” place in the Philippine South known for its political wars and religious strife. But this book is not about that. It is about a warehouse, fermented fish, water pipes, bougainvilleas…Read More
Tilt Me and I Bend
Tilt Me and I Bend, Ned Parfan’s second collection of poetry, is the quintessential topography of contradicting desires. Unlike its precedent that forays into self-reflexivity (an open challenge for the darker Id to surface, or at least amend its misgivings), this collection is…Read More
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Deshaun Watson NFL football Professional football Football Sports Noah Fant Jahleel Addae Drew Lock Jeremiah Attaochu Kareem Jackson Keke Coutee A.J. Johnson Alexander Johnson Jeff Heuerman DeAndre Hopkins Zach Cunningham Devontae Booker Justin Hollins Whitney Mercilus Courtland Sutton Royce Freeman phillip lindsay William Parks Jake Martin Mike Purcell
Houston Texans Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos at Houston Texans 12/8/2019
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant (87) pulls us a catch for a touchdown in front of Houston Texans strong safety Jahleel Addae (37) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is pressured by Denver Broncos linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (97) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) passes against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans wide receiver Keke Coutee (16) fumble as he is hit by Denver Broncos linebacker A.J. Johnson (45) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. Denver scored on the play. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman (82) scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker (23) makes a catch in front of Houston Texans inside linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Hollins (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) breaks up a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws as he is pressured by Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, left, is swarmed by Denver Broncos defenders during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman (28) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammate Courtland Sutton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) celebrates a score against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) runs for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) leaps over Denver Broncos strong safety Will Parks (34) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) is sacked by Houston Texans linebacker Jake Martin (54) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) runs against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) celebrates his interception with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is stopped by Denver Broncos nose tackle Mike Purcell (98) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) celebrates his interception against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2019 file photo Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston. After each of his three touchdown throws in Denver's 38-24 win at Houston, Lock impersonated Buzz Lightyear firing his laser beam. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana
Clement Alo, Robert Gilmore Pontius
We use remote sensing and GIS to map changes in land cover and to identify systematic land-cover transitions in Southwestern Ghana. Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery of 1990 and 2000 is used to create two land-cover classifications, and the two maps are then compared to produce transition matrices both for protected and for unprotected areas. These matrices are analyzed according to their various components to identify systematic landscape transitions based on deviations between the transitions observed and the transitions expected owing to random processes of change. The results show that closed forest regions inside the protected area transition systematically to bare ground or bush fire, but closed forest outside the protected area transitions systematically to open cultivated woodland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that logging is the main cause of the loss of closed forest inside the protected areas whereas farming is the main cause of the loss of closed forest outside the protected areas. The research highlights the need for the implementation of this methodological approach to landscape change. Identification of strong signals of forest transformation is particularly important in the light of efforts by policy makers to curb deforestation in Ghana.
Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
Geographical Information System
Landsat thematic mapper
Alo, C., & Pontius, R. G. (2008). Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 35(2), 280-295. https://doi.org/10.1068/b32091
Alo, Clement ; Pontius, Robert Gilmore. / Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS : The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana. In: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2008 ; Vol. 35, No. 2. pp. 280-295.
@article{7bc42d45254c490c82cb365adcf06e3f,
title = "Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana",
abstract = "We use remote sensing and GIS to map changes in land cover and to identify systematic land-cover transitions in Southwestern Ghana. Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery of 1990 and 2000 is used to create two land-cover classifications, and the two maps are then compared to produce transition matrices both for protected and for unprotected areas. These matrices are analyzed according to their various components to identify systematic landscape transitions based on deviations between the transitions observed and the transitions expected owing to random processes of change. The results show that closed forest regions inside the protected area transition systematically to bare ground or bush fire, but closed forest outside the protected area transitions systematically to open cultivated woodland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that logging is the main cause of the loss of closed forest inside the protected areas whereas farming is the main cause of the loss of closed forest outside the protected areas. The research highlights the need for the implementation of this methodological approach to landscape change. Identification of strong signals of forest transformation is particularly important in the light of efforts by policy makers to curb deforestation in Ghana.",
author = "Clement Alo and Pontius, {Robert Gilmore}",
doi = "10.1068/b32091",
journal = "Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design",
Alo, C & Pontius, RG 2008, 'Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana', Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 280-295. https://doi.org/10.1068/b32091
Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS : The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana. / Alo, Clement; Pontius, Robert Gilmore.
In: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, Vol. 35, No. 2, 01.01.2008, p. 280-295.
T1 - Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS
T2 - The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana
AU - Alo, Clement
AU - Pontius, Robert Gilmore
N2 - We use remote sensing and GIS to map changes in land cover and to identify systematic land-cover transitions in Southwestern Ghana. Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery of 1990 and 2000 is used to create two land-cover classifications, and the two maps are then compared to produce transition matrices both for protected and for unprotected areas. These matrices are analyzed according to their various components to identify systematic landscape transitions based on deviations between the transitions observed and the transitions expected owing to random processes of change. The results show that closed forest regions inside the protected area transition systematically to bare ground or bush fire, but closed forest outside the protected area transitions systematically to open cultivated woodland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that logging is the main cause of the loss of closed forest inside the protected areas whereas farming is the main cause of the loss of closed forest outside the protected areas. The research highlights the need for the implementation of this methodological approach to landscape change. Identification of strong signals of forest transformation is particularly important in the light of efforts by policy makers to curb deforestation in Ghana.
AB - We use remote sensing and GIS to map changes in land cover and to identify systematic land-cover transitions in Southwestern Ghana. Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery of 1990 and 2000 is used to create two land-cover classifications, and the two maps are then compared to produce transition matrices both for protected and for unprotected areas. These matrices are analyzed according to their various components to identify systematic landscape transitions based on deviations between the transitions observed and the transitions expected owing to random processes of change. The results show that closed forest regions inside the protected area transition systematically to bare ground or bush fire, but closed forest outside the protected area transitions systematically to open cultivated woodland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that logging is the main cause of the loss of closed forest inside the protected areas whereas farming is the main cause of the loss of closed forest outside the protected areas. The research highlights the need for the implementation of this methodological approach to landscape change. Identification of strong signals of forest transformation is particularly important in the light of efforts by policy makers to curb deforestation in Ghana.
U2 - 10.1068/b32091
DO - 10.1068/b32091
JO - Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
JF - Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
Alo C, Pontius RG. Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: The fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2008 Jan 1;35(2):280-295. https://doi.org/10.1068/b32091
10.1068/b32091
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Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices
M. Ouled Chtiba, S. Choura, A. H. Nayfeh, Sami El-Borgi
We propose an optimal design for supplementing flexible structures with a set of absorbers and piezoelectric devices for vibration confinement and energy harvesting. We assume that the original structure is sensitive to vibrations and that the absorbers are the elements where the vibration energy is confined and then harvested by means of piezoelectric devices. The design of the additional mechanical and electrical components is formulated as a dynamic optimization problem in which the objective function is the total energy of the uncontrolled structure. The locations, masses, stiffnesses, and damping coefficients of these absorbers and capacitances, load resistances, and electromechanical coupling coefficients are optimized to minimize the total energy of the structure. We use the Galerkin procedure to discretize the equations of motion that describe the coupled dynamics of the flexible structure and the added absorbers and harvesting devices. We develop a numerical code that determines the unknown parameters of a pre-specified set of absorbers and harvesting components. We input a set of initial values for these parameters, and the code updates them while minimizing the total energy in the uncontrolled structure. To illustrate the proposed design, we consider a simply supported beam with harmonic external excitations. Here, we consider two possible configurations for each of the additional piezoelectric devices, either embedded between the structure and the absorbers or between the ground and absorbers. We present simulations of the harvested power and associated voltage for each pair of collocated absorber and piezoelectric device. The simulated responses of the beam show that its energy is confined and harvested simultaneously.
Journal of Sound and Vibration
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
Flexible structures
Vibrations (mechanical)
Electromechanical coupling
Equations of motion
coupling coefficients
Ouled Chtiba, M., Choura, S., Nayfeh, A. H., & El-Borgi, S. (2010). Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 329(3), 261-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices. / Ouled Chtiba, M.; Choura, S.; Nayfeh, A. H.; El-Borgi, Sami.
In: Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 329, No. 3, 01.02.2010, p. 261-276.
Ouled Chtiba, M, Choura, S, Nayfeh, AH & El-Borgi, S 2010, 'Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices', Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 329, no. 3, pp. 261-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
Ouled Chtiba M, Choura S, Nayfeh AH, El-Borgi S. Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices. Journal of Sound and Vibration. 2010 Feb 1;329(3):261-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
Ouled Chtiba, M. ; Choura, S. ; Nayfeh, A. H. ; El-Borgi, Sami. / Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices. In: Journal of Sound and Vibration. 2010 ; Vol. 329, No. 3. pp. 261-276.
@article{8be2c86eb6db4d38b1fb152ec76597b3,
title = "Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices",
abstract = "We propose an optimal design for supplementing flexible structures with a set of absorbers and piezoelectric devices for vibration confinement and energy harvesting. We assume that the original structure is sensitive to vibrations and that the absorbers are the elements where the vibration energy is confined and then harvested by means of piezoelectric devices. The design of the additional mechanical and electrical components is formulated as a dynamic optimization problem in which the objective function is the total energy of the uncontrolled structure. The locations, masses, stiffnesses, and damping coefficients of these absorbers and capacitances, load resistances, and electromechanical coupling coefficients are optimized to minimize the total energy of the structure. We use the Galerkin procedure to discretize the equations of motion that describe the coupled dynamics of the flexible structure and the added absorbers and harvesting devices. We develop a numerical code that determines the unknown parameters of a pre-specified set of absorbers and harvesting components. We input a set of initial values for these parameters, and the code updates them while minimizing the total energy in the uncontrolled structure. To illustrate the proposed design, we consider a simply supported beam with harmonic external excitations. Here, we consider two possible configurations for each of the additional piezoelectric devices, either embedded between the structure and the absorbers or between the ground and absorbers. We present simulations of the harvested power and associated voltage for each pair of collocated absorber and piezoelectric device. The simulated responses of the beam show that its energy is confined and harvested simultaneously.",
author = "{Ouled Chtiba}, M. and S. Choura and Nayfeh, {A. H.} and Sami El-Borgi",
doi = "10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028",
journal = "Journal of Sound and Vibration",
T1 - Vibration confinement and energy harvesting in flexible structures using collocated absorbers and piezoelectric devices
AU - Ouled Chtiba, M.
AU - Choura, S.
AU - Nayfeh, A. H.
AU - El-Borgi, Sami
N2 - We propose an optimal design for supplementing flexible structures with a set of absorbers and piezoelectric devices for vibration confinement and energy harvesting. We assume that the original structure is sensitive to vibrations and that the absorbers are the elements where the vibration energy is confined and then harvested by means of piezoelectric devices. The design of the additional mechanical and electrical components is formulated as a dynamic optimization problem in which the objective function is the total energy of the uncontrolled structure. The locations, masses, stiffnesses, and damping coefficients of these absorbers and capacitances, load resistances, and electromechanical coupling coefficients are optimized to minimize the total energy of the structure. We use the Galerkin procedure to discretize the equations of motion that describe the coupled dynamics of the flexible structure and the added absorbers and harvesting devices. We develop a numerical code that determines the unknown parameters of a pre-specified set of absorbers and harvesting components. We input a set of initial values for these parameters, and the code updates them while minimizing the total energy in the uncontrolled structure. To illustrate the proposed design, we consider a simply supported beam with harmonic external excitations. Here, we consider two possible configurations for each of the additional piezoelectric devices, either embedded between the structure and the absorbers or between the ground and absorbers. We present simulations of the harvested power and associated voltage for each pair of collocated absorber and piezoelectric device. The simulated responses of the beam show that its energy is confined and harvested simultaneously.
AB - We propose an optimal design for supplementing flexible structures with a set of absorbers and piezoelectric devices for vibration confinement and energy harvesting. We assume that the original structure is sensitive to vibrations and that the absorbers are the elements where the vibration energy is confined and then harvested by means of piezoelectric devices. The design of the additional mechanical and electrical components is formulated as a dynamic optimization problem in which the objective function is the total energy of the uncontrolled structure. The locations, masses, stiffnesses, and damping coefficients of these absorbers and capacitances, load resistances, and electromechanical coupling coefficients are optimized to minimize the total energy of the structure. We use the Galerkin procedure to discretize the equations of motion that describe the coupled dynamics of the flexible structure and the added absorbers and harvesting devices. We develop a numerical code that determines the unknown parameters of a pre-specified set of absorbers and harvesting components. We input a set of initial values for these parameters, and the code updates them while minimizing the total energy in the uncontrolled structure. To illustrate the proposed design, we consider a simply supported beam with harmonic external excitations. Here, we consider two possible configurations for each of the additional piezoelectric devices, either embedded between the structure and the absorbers or between the ground and absorbers. We present simulations of the harvested power and associated voltage for each pair of collocated absorber and piezoelectric device. The simulated responses of the beam show that its energy is confined and harvested simultaneously.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
DO - 10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
JO - Journal of Sound and Vibration
JF - Journal of Sound and Vibration
10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.028
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AKA and DJ Zinhle’s four year old celebrity daughter has partnered with mommy’s brand to launch her first line of watches!
Photo Credit: Supplied
Arguably one of South Africa’s most influential children, 4-year-old Kairo Forbes, has launched her first collaboration – the Kairo Watch with ERA by DJ Zinhle.
With a prominent crown feature and Kairo branding, the Kairo Watch symbolises the passing down of a legacy as one would pass down a crown from mother to daughter.
Retailing at R699, the limited edition Kairo Watch will be available from 1 December 2019, however can be pre-ordered online.
“Kairo has been a brand since she was born. It’s been a natural progression to get to this stage of her releasing her own product, the first of many to come,” shares Lynn “Glammy” Forbes.
“Kairo is very aware of her brand and the watch that she has released which made this collaboration an authentic one with a great fit. When you ask Kairo about it, she’s clear to say: “this is my business”.
This is the first influencer campaign for ERA and we look forward to releasing this limited edition. The Kairo Watch will be available for purchase individually or as a Legacy Combo (Mommy&Me) this festive season,” shares ERA Sales Manager, Masego Molefinyana.
The Kairo Watch with campaign tagline, It’s My Time, represents Kairo’s brand DNA. The watch is packaged as an educational offering. It comes with a colouring box for children to personalise. The imagery on the box speaks to elements that Kairo enjoys.
If you want to be the first to get your hands on a Kairo Watch or Legacy Combo, head over to Mall of Africa this Sunday, 24 November 2019, from 2pm – 3pm (Crystal Court Entrance 25 – next to Life Grand Café) where Kairo will be doing a meet and greet with DJ Zinhle and sign all stickers on purchases.
From 1 December 2019 the Kairo Watch and Legacy Combo will also be available at the below ERA by DJ Zinhle stores:
Forest Hill City, Centurion
Newtown Junction, The Workshop, Newtown
A Store Named Beautiful in Rosebank
Fabrosanz in Durban
Join the Conversation By Leaving Your Comment In The Comments Section Below, on Twitter and Facebook. We Love You for Reading!
The good sis was a showstopper at the Nigerian awards glint.
This time last year, Bonang Matheba was just weeks away from the launch of her bestselling House of BNG bubbly, which she debuted at an exclusive upper echelon gathering attended by a bevy of South Africa’s biggest celebrities.
And just days into 2020, the media darling proved her chops are sharper than ever as she stunned an A-lister filled audience at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival!
Held in Lagos, Nigeria at the Eko Convention Centre, the glitzy shindig honoured the finest in the African music industry. Our golden girl piloted the show, and kept everyone stunned with her multiple outfit changes.
Bonang Matheba shimmied in a glittering gown at the Soundcity MVP Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo Credit: Instagram/Bonang
Bonang opened the big night in a glittering Erica Moore gown. The host was a vision in the shimmering frock, which revealed one side of her upper body.
Queen B accessorised her look with diamond jewellery, which elevated her chic look. Matheba also served inches as her trademark long beachy tresses cascaded down her shoulders,
Look, a lady in scarlet honey! Bonang Matheba dazzles in a plunging XtraBridesLagos creation at the Soundcity MVP Awards. Photo Credit: Instagram/Bonang
Proceeding with the evening’s business, which saw Burna Boy walk away with the most gongs, Bonang garnered herself ‘ooh’s and ‘ah’s as she showed up in this glistening red XBL dress with a plunging neckline.
She twinned in with red heels.
Shanté, you stay! Bonang Matheba hosted the Soundcity MVP Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo Credit: Instagram/Bonang
Not done with the outfit changes, Bonang then served boss lady realness in a gold, molten metalic suit by Olars Grace. She finished ultra glam and clean look with a ponytail.
For the after party, our golden girl a glowing black mini cocktail dress.
Discover New Music, Festivals, Exclusive Interviews and Album Reviews!
Black Coffee and Enhle have asked for privacy during “heartbreaking” and “challenging” divorce.
South African DJ Black Coffee has asked the public to afford his family some privacy during his highly publicised divorce from Enhle.
The 43 year old House music DJ and producer, who recently made headlines when he hung out with Drake during one of his resident shows in Ibiza, in the process sparking speculation of a collaboration, on Wednesday took to social media to share a heartfelt statement about his ongoing divorce.
“I wish to state that we have been trying to sort out our problems amicably and in private for a year”, he revealed in the statement. Adding, “It has been the most heartbreaking period and challenging period.”
“As Mbali has stated, our priority are to protect our children at this point [sic]. This is now a court matter. We ask for privacy.”
The statement comes a few days after the actress confirmed that the couple is officially going their separate. Prior to this, Black Coffee had maintained silence on the divorce.
Responding to an article confirming the divorce in the Sunday papers, Enhle took to Instagram to share a heartfelt video about the situation.
“I’ve been getting called by journalists a lot lately, and I’ve stuck by my ‘no comment’. It works for me”, she said in the video, barely able to hold back tears.
“I would like a bit of space with regards to questions and so forth. “I do believe the system will do what is due and what is fair.”
“It has been a long couple of years for me, and it all of that, all I ask is for silence. Not for me, or anyone else, but for my children. Everything I’ve done, to this day, is to protect my children.”
“All I’ve ever tried to do was to be a great wife, a supportive wife, one that is respectful. Not only to my partner, but also to everyone around him.”
“It has been a very rough year, but I still stand tall and proud. It is indeed a situation no one ever wants to see themselves in, but here we are.”
Black Coffee and Enhle have two children together.
Stay on The Pulse of The Latest South African Celebrity News and Join the Conversation By Leaving Your Comment In The Comments Section Below, on Twitter and Facebook
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: 2019 E! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS — Pictured: Bonang Matheba arrives to the 2019 E! People’s Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on November 10, 2019. — NUP_188994 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
QuenchSA recently reported that South African media Queen, Bonang Matheba, would be getting honoured with an inaugural E! award for African Influencer of The Year.
And now viewers will get to see their fave collect her gong at the glitzy awards show, which was held in Los Angeles, California.
WATCH BONANG WIN THE E! ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
https://quenchsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BONANG-WIN-Edited.mp4
All the glitz and glamour at the E! People’s Choice Awards 2019, as the E! recognised and honoured some of the most iconic and influential people on the continent including South Africa’s own Matheba, will be airing today on the E! Entertainment channel (DStv Channel 124).
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: 2019 E! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS — Pictured: (l-r) Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kim Kardashian West arrive to the 2019 E! People’s Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on November 10, 2019 — NUP_188989 (Photo by: Amy Sussman/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank)
The award comes as Bonang Matheba, who’s House of BNG bubbly brand was recently spotted being flaunted by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, shared her plans to conquer the world in the latest issue of Drum Magazine.
CELEBRITY NEWS: BONANG HONOURED AT ‘5 FOR CHANGE’ GALA
In addition to honouring Bonang Matheba, Jennifer Aniston was awarded the People’s Icon Award, P!nk was awarded the People’s Champion award and Gwen Stefani with the Fashion Icon Award. The E! People’s Choice Awards celebrated the best in TV, music and pop culture on Sunday, November 10 in Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
Stay on The Pulse of The Latest South African Celebrity and Lifestyle News and Join the Conversation By Leaving Your Comment In The Comments Section Below, on Twitter and Facebook
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Category: Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu
Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu – 03
Both Kuroda and this show’s title make reference to the “wasteland” / “wildlands”, but this show covers precisely zero new ground and blazes no new trails. Its premise and themes have already been thoroughly explored by other shows. There’s no uncharted territory here; only a retracing of steps.
KOYA also continues to paint its six main characters with the broadest of strokes in the dullest and least adventuresome of tones. This week features an interminable “training camp” that is supposedly intentionally aping the Hot Spring Inn cliché for comedic effect, but really only comes off as a Hot Spring Inn cliché, full stop.
There are two main developments at play here: the constant philosophical clashing of Kuroda and Andou, and feelings for Bunta awakening in Yuuka, depsite her hard friendzone status in his eyes (as far as one can tell). I personally prefer the raw, spunky Yuuka to the more muddled raven-haired maiden that is Kuroda, but portraying Yuuka as suddenly so blushy and weak-kneed around Bunta – who is barely a character at all at this point – does her no favors.
As for the conflict between Kuroda and Andou, well…Kuroda’s a hard one to figure out. Her character has a couple of distinctive ticks and qualities that don’t mesh into a cohesive whole. She’s more of a promising idea of a character not fully thought out. As for Andou, well…she is a character driven by one thing and one thing only: BL. And using the word “fangirl” as a verb; she really digs doing that.
She loves BL so much, in fact, she’s willing to see the treatment of Kuroda’s game through BL eyes, labeling it a “Yuri-homo” rather than a straight-laced shoujo story. Her constant reminders to everyone that she’s obsessed with BL even seems to wear on the cipher Bunta.
No, the most impactful moment of this increasingly dreary episode was when Andou got fed up with sparring with Kuroda, said “I’m done”, and peace’d out. Bunta managed to very easily lure her back to the inn from Akiba (he spends a lot on rail travel this week!), but I fear no amount of convincing will bring me back to KOYA. There’s just not enough here to sink my teeth into. To borrow Andou’s phrase: “I’m done.”
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016 Fri, 22 Jan 2016 Categories Anime Reviews, Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu, Winter 2016Tags akiba, andou teruha, bishoujo, BL, bunta, clashing personalities, Girls beyond the youth KOYA, houjou buntarou, inn, kai atomu, kobayakawa yuuka, koya, kuroda sayuki, staff, training camp, video games, wasteland, writing, yuuki uguisu, 少女たちは荒野を目指す1 Comment on Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu – 03
Now that Bunta has agreed to make a bishoujo game with Kuroda, he must be properly initiated into the world, which Kuroda achieves by leaving a choice selection of games in his shoe locker. She also shows him where the magic will eventually happen: the room she has reserved for the “Marketing Research Club”, which she helpfully points out is just a front in another quirky discussion between the two.
The Bishoujo Club has a producer in Kuroda and a writer in Bunta, but they’re short, a minimum, four more staff positions: for lead animation, programming, CG Art, and voice acting. She uses English-based acronyms to describe these jobs, but since this isn’t my first otaku rodeo, I found her explanations to Bunta somewhat redundant.
Despite Kuroda’s belief his social skills would make him the perfect recruiter, Bunta brings back a bunch of unmotivated poseurs. Then Yuuka and Atomu barge into the club to look around, and Bunta realizes Yuuka would be perfect for the voice actress role (of course she is; she’s Hanazawa!) and Yuuka herself is interested in voice acting, even if she doesn’t much care for games.
That leaves Atomu, who isn’t sure how he can contribute, and fails to impress Kuroda…until the subject of dating comes up, and he goes on a bitter rant about how fickle girls are and how he wants nothing more but to abandon the 3D world for 2D paradise. That gets Kuroda’s applause, and she appoints him assistant director.
Kuroda continues the initiation of her new club members by returning to Akiba. Strangely, Bunta acts like he’s there for the first time despite having gone there just last week with Kuroda alone. Maybe now that he’s into games he’s seeing the place with freshly opened eyes?
There, Kuroda shows them some very nice doujin works (including some by pros) and boldly proclaims they’ll create a game that will leave all the others in the dust. This isn’t a labor of love for her, results matter. Especially when her brother runs a highly successful game company.
After the group breaks up for the day, Bunta visits a maid cafe…where his classmate Andou Teruha just happens to work part-time in secret under the work name “Luka.” I thought sparks would fly, but both parties keep their cool, with Teruha switching from her normal deep voice to the bubbly Luka at the drop of a hat, while making clear her job will remain a secret (she doesn’t have to say “…or else”).
After spending all night playing games he’s legitimately into, Kuroda’s next task is for him to acquire an artist. He’s not that good at discerning good art from bad, but that’s the person she wants searching for talent: if he’s moved by something, than it’s going to be something special.
Sure enough, while perusing the wares at a bookstore, he comes across a little sign drawn in a style that makes his heart flutter. His research determines it was done by “Hokikiyo”, alias of the top-ranked-on-Pixi Yuuki Uguisu, who also just happens to attend their school as a first-year, and works at the bookstore Bunta visited.
However, she’s also a painfully skittish milquetoast, however, so the club’s aggressive attempts to recruit her fail at first (i.e., drawing her out with a love letter and then surrounding her menacingly).
It’s when Teruha sits beside a frustrated Bunta and learns he’s making a girl game and looking for “Hokekiyo”, Teruha reveals she’s a fujoshi (another term defined by side-chatter), is familiar with her work, and helps recruit her, cornering her in the girl’s lavatory and bringing her to the club room. Everyone praises her enough to convince her to createart for their game, though she quietly confesses she really wants to draw for an eroge.
Teruha herself also joins the club as a programmer, and just like that, the team has been assembled, presumably leaving the rest of the show to the production of the game. On this efficiency, I’m a little torn: quickly getting the “building the team” out of the way is satisfying in its way, but it relied on an awful lot of convenient coincidences.
Also, and this is could be an ongoing thing if the two episodes are any indication: the characters all feel rather smoothed over, subdued; as if they lack sharp edges; Atomu’s “breaking”moment being the lone exception. The characterization and accompanying comedy often walks a fine line between understated and overly buttoned-up, even to the point of tedium.
I hope it doesn’t stray too far to the latter side. What with all the intros, there wasn’t a lot of time to go in depth with anyone. Perhaps the show will find a stronger voice once the game-making gets underway in earnest.
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Thu, 14 Jan 2016 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 Categories Anime Reviews, Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu, Winter 2016Tags actor, akiba, andou teruha, bishoujo, bunta, communication, dumped, fake date, Girls beyond the youth KOYA, hanazawa kana, houjou buntarou, kai atomu, kobayakawa yuuka, koya, kuroda sayuki, maid cafe, secret job, staff, test, video games, wasteland, writing, yuuki uguisu, 少女たちは荒野を目指す1 Comment on Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu – 02
Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu – 01 (First Impressions)
Haruchika and Prince of Stride had pleasant enough first episodes, but weren’t particularly dazzling or earth-shattering. To be honest neither is Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu, but it did do something more often than those other two shows: it made me laugh, and it impressed me with its characterization and snappy-ish dialogue. So far, SKM reminds me of a quieter, less punchy, less fanservice-y Saekano.
Continuing the theme of honesty into this second paragraph, none of the characters in SKM are staggeringly unique, but they’re well-executed and I quickly came to root for not only the hard-working, gregarious Houjou Buntarou, but also his little circle of friends, the “inconveniently popular” Kai Atomu and in particular his good female buddy/possible childhood friend Kobayakawa Yuuka, a talented girl who wants “to do everything she wants to do” whom Hanazawa Kana breathes life into.
While the raven-haired loner maiden Kuroda Sayki gazes mysteriously from afar, “Bunta”, as everyone calls him, is always in the thick of it, whether it’s seeing to everyone’s needs at the restaruant where he works, to shooting the breeze with his neighbors, to settling classroom disputes amicably. He’s a nice guy; the only problem is, unlike Yuuka, he has no idea what he truly wants to do.
Enter Kuroda. In a uncomfortably funny (but not vulgar) scene in the men’s room, she has a very interesting (and also funny) conversation with Buntarou, likely the longest one he’s ever had with her by far. It’s full of compliments: he’s observant, in tune with the needs of those around him, and knowledgeable about the “leisure areas” of town. Their talk ends with Kuroda asking him to arrange a date for them on Saturday, so she can tell him something she can’t say at school.
From the get-go, I had the feeling this wasn’t anything as simple as a date with a girl who likes him, but rather some kind of evaluation by a girl who might find him useful. Nevertheless, Bunta proceeds as if it were a conventional date, complete with accepting Yuuka’s offer to put him in touch with an underclassman known as the “Bitch Queen” who offers him sage advice on tomorrow. Her line about “cladding herself in innocence for the sake of her bitchiness” was pretty amusing, and I hope we get to put a face to the voice.
The day of the “date” arrives, and Kuroda encourages Bunta to take the lead, showing her a good time at the amusement park while responding to most of his personal queries with “it’s a secret.” By sundown, he realizes what we viewers realized, but like me, he knows there’s nothing sinister about her motives.
Rather, she takes him to a game store in Akiba, shows him the value of the successful games versus the failures, and lays out what she wants: to make a bishoujo game with him. She believes he has the writing chops and the personality to help make her dreams come true.
As for the details of those dreams, all she’ll tell him is that “the world is a wasteland” where “the innocent are only devoured”, and wants to strike out and stake her claim in that wasteland with Bunta by her side. Bunta, unsure of what to do up until now, has been given an intriguing opportunity; he’d best not waste it!
Author sesameacrylicPosted on Thu, 7 Jan 2016 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 Categories Anime Reviews, Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu, Winter 2016Tags actor, akiba, amusement park, andou teruha, bishoujo, bitch queen, bunta, childhood friend, communication, dialogue, fake date, gal game, Girls beyond the youth KOYA, hanazawa kana, houjou buntarou, kai atomu, kobayakawa yuuka, koya, kuroda sayuki, test, video games, wasteland, writing, 少女たちは荒野を目指す1 Comment on Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu – 01 (First Impressions)
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Jimmie Johnson Daniel Suarez Kyle Busch Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Martin Truex Jr. Joey Logano Kurt Busch Kevin Harvick Erik Jones Chase Elliott Austin Dillon Brad Keselowski Sports NASCAR Automobile racing
Jimmie Johnson Daniel Suarez Kyle Busch Denny Hamlin Martin Truex Jr. Joey Logano Kurt Busch Kevin Harvick Erik Jones Chase Elliott Austin Dillon Brad Keselowski
Harvick wins pole at Richmond Raceway
By HANK KURZ Jr. - Apr. 12, 2019 07:23 PM EDT
Kevin Harvick speaks to the media after winning the pole for Saturday's NASCAR Cup auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, April 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Kevin Harvick won the pole for Saturday night's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
Harvick turned a fast lap at 124.298 mph Friday for the 27th pole of his career and his second this season. He's the first driver with more than one pole this season.
Erik Jones will start on the outside of the front row, with Kurt Busch and Joey Logano in the second row. The top 10 also includes Kyle Busch, who will be seeking his third consecutive victory on the track, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez and Jimmie Johnson.
"For me, all three rounds went really good and we had a good race practice," Harvick said.
A second scheduled practice was rained out.
NASCAR set each round of qualifying at just 5 minutes, leading some drivers to worry that there would be too many cars on the 0.75-mile track at once. When qualifying was over, though, that proved not to have been much of an issue, several drivers said.
"It was really just more congestion," Harvick said.
Despite a solid starting spot, Logano was not a fan of the format.
"I think here it is not really a necessary thing because cars wanted to go out early and it doesn't allow teams to cool off and go back out in the same round to improve their time," he said. "I think you actually kind of lose a little bit of the drama of a car going back out and can that car knock the car that is on the bubble out."
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won five of the first eight races of the season with Kyle Busch winning three and Denny Hamlin two.
Busch is trying to win his third straight race at Richmond.
Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski (two wins) and Logano have won the other three events.
WEATHER WATCH
Rains fell intermittently Friday and more is in the forecast for Saturday.
The uncertain weather took a huge toll on the crowd, which was very sparse under still overcast skies.
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing
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Off-message art/related commentary by Devon Britt-Darby
Reliable Narratives
Archive | January, 2013
Received Wisdom (installation shots)
David Hardaker’s shadow falls across my paintings as he installs the show the night before the opening of ProjeXion, a three-person show with Tim Gonzalez, Devon Britt-Darby and Alexandre Rosa at Avis Frank Gallery.
Here’s how the same paintings look when shot with a flash.
Another installation view.
From left: Received Wisdom (Friday), 2013; and Received Wisdom (Fiber), 2013.
We passed out LED flashlights at the opening to play up the paintings’ interactive elements.
Received Wisdom
Anal sex looms like a big brown star over gay male identity. Long before we come out, straight culture tells us it’s what we do and why we’re unnatural. Gay porn reinforces the former message, and once we come out other gays tend to sort us according to our presumptive “roles”: top, bottom or versatile. Even if your honest answer — one that may take awhile to get to — is none of the above, much of your hunt for your sex involves navigating a landscape littered with expectations of butt sex and advice on how best to go about it. Given the generational disconnect between younger and older gay men, received wisdom on how to bottom is one of the few traditions getting handed down. The advice I see on Internet message boards today reminds me of what my friends and sexual partners used to tell me.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Bear Down), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Bear Down), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
I don’t bottom, and my topping technique consists of closing my eyes and hoping for the best. While the fact that I’ve been able to escort indicates that I’m far from the only one, the fact remains that I’d have made a lot more money throughout my escorting career if I liked to fuck and get fucked. If someone buys one of these paintings, I’ll be making money off bottoming without actually having to do it.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Don’t Douche), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Don’t Douche), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Because the white backgrounds are coated with glass microspheres — the tiny beads that make the paint on roads reflective at night — the white text is effectively backlit under certatin lighting conditions and the background shimmers and appears satiny, whereas they appear more muted and minimalist in at other times.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (You’re Tight), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (You’re Tight), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
I got the idea of using the microbeads from Mary Corse, a Los Angeles painter who shares some perceptual concerns with the Southern California light-and-space artists. Her paintings are completely abstract and geometric, while the way I’m using the glass beads is more akin to Glenn Ligon‘s use of coal dust to created legibility issues in his text paintings, although in mine the words fall in and out of legibility depending on lighting conditions and where the viewer is. (It was about a year ago that I discovered Corse’s work in Pacific Standard Time exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the Getty Museum; around the same time I saw the Ligon retrospective on its stop at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. That is, the road trip that this blog documented during its first few months made this series possible.)
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Fiber), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Fiber), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, enamel and acrylic on canvas.
Similarly, how one reads the content — as funny, sad, disgusting, practical, maybe even erotic — depends on where the viewer is vis-a-vis his or her own feelings about anal sex, which is a topic that defines most straight people’s and many gay men’s views of homosexuality despite its rising popularity among heterosexuals. I wanted to make paintings in which issues of physical perception and interpretive perception intertwined, and I liked the idea of trying to make a beautiful, shimmering, seductive painting of vaguely scatological subject matter.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Friday), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Friday), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on canvas.
Although they look nothing alike the iron-on paintings on view through Saturday at Zoya Tommy Contemporary (closing reception 6-8 p.m. Wednesday – please come!), both bodies of work were created with methods that allow for both structure and deviation, for both planning and chance, for both reproduction and the handmade, for both autobiography and appropriation. Both are also informed by — and in some respects crudely mirror — my experiences as a print journalist who increasingly relies on new media to create old media. And what’s more old media than painting?
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Poppers), 2013 (photographed in ambient light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on gessoed panel.
Devon Britt-Darby, Received Wisdom (Poppers), 2013 (photographed under direct light). Glass microspheres, acrylic and enamel on gessoed panel.
These paintings will be on view as part of ProjeXion, a three-person show with Tim Gonzalez and Alexandre Rosa opening with a reception from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Avis Frank Gallery. Come check them out. In my apartment, the changes are gradual and subtle, but we’re experimenting with lighting them to more theatrical effect for the opening.
Molly Glentzer fluffs the Art Guys
For the Houston Chronicle’s postmortem on the Menil Collection’s removal of The Art Guys Marry a Plant from its campus — but not from its collection, despite what you may have read on Glasstire — ace reporter Molly Glentzer plays stenographer to Michael Galbreth and Jack Massing, serving up this fawning, one-sided account of the controversy that sums up an anonymous, shadowy group of critics’ alleged interpretation of the piece without identifying or quoting one of them. (I never described the performance as “a parody of same-sex marriage.”) Nor does it report the fact that not only did The Art Guys lie when they wrote Glasstire that the tree and plaque had been removed from the museum’s collection — the Menil had decided to rotate the work off view and let The Art Guys store it off-site on its behalf, but retained ownership — but that Galbreth’s wife, Glasstire founder and executive director Rainey Knudson, posted a diatribe falsely accusing the Menil of de-accessioning the piece that is still on the nonprofit website’s homepage. (Moments ago, Knudson wrote that she stands “by the spirit and letter of my article.”)
Everything you need to know about the state of journalism at the Houston Chronicle.
While Knudson continues the scorched-earth part of The Art Guys’s brand war, seeking to inflict maximum embarrassment and fundraising difficulties on the Menil as punishment for their humiliation, Glentzer busies herself burnishing the duo’s victim status and good-guy brand. (There’s money at stake, after all: The Art Guys are trying to sell their brand.) After mentioning the No Zoning catalog’s assertion back in 2009 that “(The Art Guys) hope their wedding guests will shape the meaning of this provocative union,” Glentzer lets loose with this howler:
Maybe, in hindsight, they wish that last sentence hadn’t been printed. Some people thought “The Art Guys Marry a Plant” was just silly. The scrappy little oak could have just disappeared quietly into someone’s yard after that, where it might have flourished in spite of the drought and enjoyed a quiet life of shading humans and sheltering squirrels and raccoons.
She doesn’t say whether “the scrappy little oak” that withered for months inside the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston during the five-month No Zoning run is the same “scrappy little oak” that got planted at the Menil, but never mind. What’s really outrageous about Glentzer’s suggestion that the tree could have “just disappeared” is that it ignores the well-documented fact that, although Massing said during our original interview that somewhere “deep in the woods” might be the tree’s best destination, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rice University and the Menil had already rebuffed The Art Guys’s attempts to give them the tree. (They had already been trying to give the MFAH the tree when we talked but said it didn’t look like it was going to happen.)
A few paragraphs down comes this whopper:
Massing said they want to return to their older methods – “more ArtGuysian in attitude” – when it was all about the fun of investigations, research, trial and error, and “doing things out in public, away from the paradigms of galleries and museums.
“The ‘Marry a Plant’ project was very much about all that,” he added. “But there’s great pressures on the art world.”
Huh? The ‘Marry a Plant’ project was performed in the sculpture garden of a museum with a $1 billion endowment — the same museum The Art Guys hoped would permanently plant it there. They also sold wedding cake toppers in the gift shop of the museum across the street and had the tree-planting ceremony on the grounds of yet another museum (during which they made a point of thanking every current and former director of every institution that had come into contact with the piece). I guess by that definition, my wedding on the stage of a gay strip club was inside the gallery-museum paradigm. The Art Guys’ desperate longing for institutional acceptance at any price is partly what made this performance’s inclusion in No Zoning — a show that, come to think of it, was supposed to be about Houston artists “doing things out in public, away from the paradigms of galleries and museums” — so ill-conceived. Also, if they actually had done the piece “out in public, away from the paradigms of galleries and museums,” not only would less controversy accompanied the performance, but it would have died down once it was over.
As it happens, I pointed out in my original article the fact that this piece didn’t measure up to previous ArtGuysian actions. Read the bulk of my criticism below, and you’ll see that I didn’t call The Art Guys or their piece homophobic, but objected, first and foremost, to their insistence that it was a real wedding and their claim to blur the gap between art and life. I also pointed out that the piece inadvertently reinforced the slippery-slope argument. The word ‘inadvertent’ should indicate to any literate person that I understood this was not their intention. I was pointing out failures in carrying out their intentions, not accusing them of evil intentions.
“This is an actual wedding,” Galbreth insists. “This is not a pretend wedding. When the Art Guys do things, it’s the real thing.”
Usually, that’s true. For the 1994 behavior work Bucket Feet, the Art Guys really did walk 10 miles through downtown with buckets of water attached to their feet. For Blow Through Town (1995), they actually took to the streets with leaf blowers, blowing piles of debris across a 15-mile stretch of the city. And they’ve vowed that their wives won’t get to keep so much as a teaspoon of their ashes if Forever Yours sells.
For their big fat not-so-gay wedding, the Art Guys are playing it straight. The vows and format will be as traditional as possible. An ordained minister will officiate, and he’ll only address the Art Guys, because trees can’t talk and the Lorax hasn’t been invited. After all, one “fairly simple read(ing)” of the piece that Massing suggests is that it’s “an acknowledgement of man’s existence and how it bumps up and interacts with nature.”
But there won’t be a marriage license, because the Texas constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which voters passed overwhelmingly in 2005, leaves no wiggle room for quirky exceptions, spelling out that marriage “shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.”
As for the sapling, it’s not moving in with either of the Art Guys, who plan to plant it in a location to be determined — Massing says he thinks somewhere “deep in the woods” might be the best place — with or without a commemorative ceremony and plaque.
Press releases notwithstanding, this “behavior” doesn’t blur the boundary between art and life. It draws a bright, bold outline between art and Galbreth’s and Massing’s lives, at any rate. The same federal government that recognizes the Art Guys’ trademark also recognizes their real-life marriages to women.
But when it comes to the boundary between this artwork and the lives of gay and lesbian couples — even those in states where gay marriage is legal — the piece blurs it much more effectively. As far as Uncle Sam is concerned, their unions have no more legal standing than the Art Guys’ marriage to a tree. Of course, it also inadvertently reinforces the “slippery slope” argument that if we let gays wed, next we’ll allow people to marry animals, and so on.
If I thought The Art Guys Marry a Plant was “a parody of same-sex marriage,” I would have led with the “slippery slope” point and dropped “inadvertently.” But in order for The Art Guys to head off damage to their brand, they’ve spent the last few years working overtime to brand others as PC bullies so they can rebrand themselves as victims. Their lie about the ownership of the tree is the latest iteration of that branding campaign, and they’ve enlisted the statewide art website — a nonprofit, at that — and Houston’s newspaper of record to do their bidding for them. The institutional rot at the Menil is nothing compared to that at the tag-team of Glasstire and the Houston Chronicle.
Who owns the tree The Art Guys “married”?
Somebody’s lying about what happened to the tree and plaque comprising The Art Guys Marry a Plant. The Art Guys and Glasstire founder Rainey Knudson — a wife of one of The Art Guys — say the Menil Collection removed the artwork from its collection, and other media outlets have duly repeated their account. But Menil director Josef Helfenstein told Texas Monthly writer Mimi Swartz that “The Menil Collection and the Art Guys removed the work The Art Guys Marry a Plant from the grounds where it has been on view since 2011. The Menil Collection wishes to make clear that it has not de-accessioned the work, nor has it taken any steps toward de-accessioning the work, which continues to be a part of the institution’s collection.”
Either The Art Guys own the piece or are merely acting as off-site storage for it on behalf of the real owner, the Menil. The distinction matters. If The Art Guys and Knudson want to make a case that the Menil acted improperly in rotating the piece off view, let them. Of course, that would put them in the awkward position of arguing that somehow their piece, unlike the museum’s Magrittes, Picassos, Rothkos, etc., is too important ever to be taken off view. Now, putting a piece into storage to avoid dealing with the controversy around it is a pretty cowardly thing for a museum to do, but it’s nowhere near as bad as de-accessioning it. And The Art Guys, whose practice is all about branding, have chosen to respond the damage to their own brand by trying to inflict as much damage as possible on other people’s — first mine, then Hiram Butler’s, and now the Menil’s. So instead of attacking the Menil on legitimate but less scandal-worthy grounds, they used an influential media platform to accuse the Menil of one of the gravest possible sins — de-accessioning in order to avoid controversy.
Unless Helfenstein is lying. Hard to see how he could get away with it, though.
Still, the cognitive dissonance it takes to absorb the rest of Helfenstein’s statement to Swartz is overwhelming:
The Menil is fully aware of the intense responses that have arisen regarding this work. The Menil has engaged in numerous discussions with parties who have felt injured or offended because the work was being displayed, and parties who have felt injured or offended because the work has been vandalized and might not be displayed. The Menil has preferred to conduct these conversations in private.
The Menil seeks to engage in a vigorous conversation about contemporary works of art and their subjects. We exhibit sometimes controversial works and organize public discussions of the issues they raise, including same-sex love and gender identity. In this regard, we are proud to be presenting the current exhibition The Progress of Love and the forthcoming exhibition Forrest Bess.
Huh? Where’s the public discussion of the issues raised by The Art Guys Marry a Plant? We’re still waiting.
When museums lose their way
Yesterday Glasstire reported the remarkable news that the Menil Collection had decided to remove The Art Guys Marry a Plant from its permanent collection. (The background story is long and complicated, but there’s background here, here and here.) Today, Glasstire founder Rainey Knudson posted a rant in which she defended the piece and distorted the criticism it has received — she’s the wife of one of The Art Guys, after all — but rightly attacked the Menil’s “institutional cowardice.” Here’s where she hits the nail right on the head:
The Menil Collection has caved. And now they are trying to quietly make this whole situation go away.
From 2009, the time of the original wedding ceremony, to the moment the Menil announced in mid-2011 that they would be accessioning the piece in a dedication ceremony, until last month — all through 3+ years of off-and-on, sometimes frenzied media attention — the director of the Menil Collection, Josef Helfenstein, never once communicated with the artists, either via email, or phone, or letter, or in person. He never asked them what they thought about the artwork, and certainly never lent reassurance that that the Menil would stand by them, as it stands by all the artists in its collection who were “provocateurs” during their time (more on that issue later). In addition, he made no public statement regarding the artwork whatsoever, one way or another. The director was mute.
All true, and also consistent with how the Menil dealt with the critics of its acquisition, not just the artists. All the Menil has wanted to do since coming under fire for the accession is “quietly make this whole situation go away” — first by trying to silently ride out the controversy, and then, when it became clear that wouldn’t happen, to move the tree.
Notice I said move the tree, not remove it from its collection. So what happened?
Finally, in December 2012, the Art Guys were asked to meet with Helfenstein for a meeting in which he announced his decision to move the tree, either behind a building somewhere on the Menil campus, or preferably, off the premises entirely. The Art Guys were asked what they wanted. They said they wanted the tree to stay where it was. Their request was refused, and they were told that the tree would have to go. Given that decision, they asked to have it returned to them rather than be ignominiously hidden behind a building somewhere in Montrose.
So the museum, which owns thousands more artworks than it can put on display at any given time, apparently gave the artists the choice of whether to allow it to put this artwork in storage or to give it back to them. Is it standard Menil policy to let artists or collectors decide whether an artwork they have given the museum can ever be taken off view? Was the artwork given to the museum on the condition that it never be put into storage (in this case outdoor storage, given the nature of the piece)?
The real evidence of “institutional failure of breathtaking cowardice,” to use Knudson’s phrase, lies not in whether the tree stayed or went — no one’s going to approve of every piece a museum owns — as in the museum’s unwillingness to foster an open discussion of an artwork in its collection. The Menil acted embarrassed about the accession from the start, never truly backing up the piece, and Knudson aptly sums up the reasons why:
– They’re tired of the controversy around the artwork;
– They need to raise money for their drawing center and want this distraction to go away;
– They don’t believe in the artwork and are sorry they ever accepted it into their collection.
Given that silence was the Menil’s insistent posture, moving the tree and its accompanying plaque are better than leaving them, but if you believe museums should encourage and facilitate debate about controversial artworks they have collected, then it’s hard to argue with Knudson’s conclusion that the “Menil Collection has clearly lost its way.” Of course, that was already clear back in 2011, when the Menil quietly acquired The Art Guys Marry a Plant.
Devon Britt-Darby: Keepsakes from Several Occasions
My first commercial gallery exhibition opens from 6-8 p.m. tonight at Zoya Tommy Contemporary, 3227 Milam, Houston. Please come if you can. Here is a statement I emailed Zoya about the works on view:
In summer 2010 I ended a six-year layoff from making art by stumbling upon a simple, rudimentary process to produce pictures in which performance, photography and painting could interact. The process involved using inkjet heat transfer paper intended for t-shirt iron-ons to sear images that had been captured on video into painted or unpainted canvas, then, in some cases, isolating figures in the images with more paint.
Devon Britt-Darby, The Performative Impulse in Art and Craft, 2010. Iron-on inkjet transfer and acrylic on canvas.
Due to such an off-label use of the transfer process, the inkjet film adhered irregularly to the canvas and suffered various abrasions, scars, burns, peeling and other “skin conditions” analogous to deterioration of the flesh. From a practical standpoint, the method allowed for both structure and deviation, for both planning and chance, for both reproduction and the handmade, for both autobiography and appropriation. It called for enamel paint and cheap, consumer-grade materials and equipment, the parameters of which determined the size and format of the pre-stretched canvases I used – typically 18-by-24 inches, which could accommodate a simple grid arrangement of four 8.5-by-11-inch transferred images.
Another important quality of the process related to my intended use of the paintings: Initially, at least, I saw them less artworks for public display than as objects to be photographed for inclusion in a fictitious monograph of a fictitious character, a deceased, “rediscovered” artist who had died under mysterious circumstances.
The character was based on who I had been prior to abandoning painting: a San Francisco-based artist/sex worker with a widely read blog that generated not only business but art sales. I stopped painting in 2004 after suffering a psychotic episode induced by a brief but intensely destructive crystal meth addiction and returning to Houston to start over, but I wasn’t sure what would cause my character’s demise. However, I knew I wanted him, like me, to have spent time in a mental hospital, and I wanted a plot twist that involved his persuading some of his clients and admirers to make and sell paintings on his behalf according to his instructions.
That wouldn’t be possible if the character painted the way I did before my 2004 implosion – in the mannered manner of an umpteenth-generation abstract expressionist. He needed a perfunctory process that broke down into simple steps that could be executed by people with little to no skill, especially since, in practice, I was going to be the one making them.
Devon Britt-Darby, Circa 2003, 2010. Iron-on inkjet transfer and acrylic on canvas.
Since I was also “playing” the character, I retrieved old escort advertising photos, some of which had included depictions of encounters with clients as well as non-clients – always with permission – from my long-defunct website using the Wayback Machine. But there wasn’t enough imagery to work with, so I started recording present-day liaisons and making paintings from the stills.
The paintings themselves, which were mostly only seen by men who saw me naked, acted as seductive signifiers for new “sitters.” Guys who otherwise might have balked at appearing in a sex tape were willing, even flattered, to be in a painting that necessitated making one. Occasionally incorporating stills I’d captured at “high-art” performances and exhibitions into the imagery further reinforced its status as art. And it no doubt helped that the often severe image degradation inherent to the process of transferring already low-resolution video stills often gave the participants a fair amount of “discretion.”
Devon Britt Darby, Sex Tape, No. 2, 2011. Enamel, inkjet transfer and acrylic on canvas.
This, in turn, dovetailed with the fiction that these paintings were keepsakes clients bought from my fictitious artist/sex worker to remember him by; even if their features weren’t sufficiently obscured by the transfer process, these boudoir pictures were small enough that they could be hidden at a moment’s notice. Clients who didn’t want to be in a painting but wanted one related to their time with the character might buy a canvas that just depicted me or featured related but appropriated imagery from YouTube or XTube.
Conducted in secret due to my semi-high profile as the Houston Chronicle’s art critic and one of its society reporters, the process took on a life of its own as I became increasingly interested in the interaction between the paint, the inkjet and the image. Meanwhile, my interest in the fake monograph was sidelined by real-life developments in late 2011, as my participation in a performance led to a nervous breakdown that prompted me to come out about my once-hidden past as an escort and to reenter the profession to finance a road trip that retraced the steps of one I’d made on meth in 2004. The paintings from 2012 relate to that breakdown and journey but are not meant to illuminate it; they are among the most painterly, least informative pictures in the show.
Devon Britt-Darby, Ceremony, 2012. Enamel, inkjet transfer and acrylic on canvas.
In contrast to my upcoming group show (ProjeXion with Timothy Gonzalez and Alexandre Rosa opening Jan. 25 at Avis Frank Gallery) and solo exhibition at Art League Houston (opening May 17), Keepsakes from Several Occasions consists entirely of works made before Zoya approached me about exhibiting them. I thank her for unexpectedly giving these fictitious paintings their 15 minutes of real-world exposure. Perhaps people’s real reactions or lack thereof will make it into a fake dead-artist’s monograph yet.
Housekeeping note
The 10 best museum shows I saw in 2013
“Detroit is the place to be”
Let us now praise lowish ceilings
Tyree Guyton, museum curator
Art Attack (Houston Press)
Culture Monster (Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County Museum on Fire
Real Clear Arts
Slog News & Arts
Texphrastic
The Great God Pan Is Dead
Devon Britt-Darby on Facebook
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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: All-Time Greatest XIII
John Coomer
on March 6, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Long-time rugby league fans generally either love or hate the Manly Sea Eagles. The Northern Beaches club entered the NSWRL/NRL in 1947 and have since won eight premierships. They secured their first four titles during a dominant era in the 1970s when they were famously dubbed ‘The Silvertails.’ Interestingly, the Sea Eagles have never won the wooden spoon.
Manly went through three seasons of turmoil between 2000 and 2002 when the club was part of an ill-fated merger with the North Sydney Bears, historically one of their bitter rivals. Games played and points scored by Manly players for the merged Northern Eagles are counted separately in official rugby league records. That means Steve Menzies is not the leading all-time try scorer for Manly (Brett Stewart, technically, has that mantle), nor has he played the most games (instead, that record is held by Cliff Lyons).
Coming up with the Sea Eagles’ all-time greatest XIII invariably means some tough decisions have to be made. I have left out some absolute legends like backs Graham Eadie, Dale Shearer, John McDonald, Ken Irvine, Alan Thompson and Des Hasler. In the case of Ken Irvine, the all-time leading try scorer in NRL history, he played the majority of his career with North Sydney. He would be the first player picked for their all-time greatest XIII.
In the forwards, Paul Vautin, Noel Cleal, Anthony Watmough, Bill Hamilton, Fred Jones and John O’Neill could all count themselves unlucky to miss out. In the case of O’Neill, he played the majority of his career at Souths, and he was named in our Rabbitohs’ all-time greatest XIII.
In the end, I think that the players I’ve selected had greater success over a longer period of time with Manly. The stats I’ve listed for each player reflect only their matches for Manly or the Northern Eagles, not for any other club or representative team.
Fullback: Brett Stewart
233 matches (2003-16), 163 tries.
It had to take someone special to knock Graham Eadie out of this spot. Known variously as the ‘Prince’ or the ‘Barron’ of Brookvale, Brett Stewart is sixth on the list of all-time try scorers in Australian rugby league history. His electrifying speed and anticipation to bob up in the right place at the right time made him a nightmare for opposition defences. Stewart was a key player for Manly during a strong era for the club where they made the finals every year for a decade and won two premierships, in 2008 and 2011.
Winger: Ray Branighan
114 matches (1972-78), 30 tries.
Ray Branighan played mainly as a centre at Manly, but it’s only on the wing that I can find a spot for him in this all-star line-up. He was a winger in his early career with Souths prior to becoming a prized signing for the Sea Eagles. Branighan was already an international by that stage, but his representative career continued for another four seasons with Manly. He helped the club win their first two premierships in his first two seasons, scoring 15 of his team’s 19 points in their breakthrough grand final victory over Eastern Suburbs in 1972.
Centre: Jamie Lyon
224 matches (2007-16), 86 tries, 533 goals.
After starting his career at Parramatta and then having a successful stint in England, Jamie Lyon made Brookvale his home for ten seasons. ‘Killer’ was another key player in a very successful era for the club, winning two premierships and captaining the team in their 2011 grand final win over the Warriors. Although he played plenty of representative football, Lyon would have secured many more State of Origin and Test appearances if he had made himself available for selection.
Centre: Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton was one of the original four ‘Immortals’ chosen by Rugby League Week when they came up with the concept, so his selection is a ‘no-brainer.’ A brilliant attacking player, he won three premierships with the Sea Eagles in the 1970s. In the brutal 1973 decider against Cronulla, Fulton was the difference between the two sides, scoring Manly’s only two tries. ‘Bozo’ also captained the team in their 1976 grand final win over Parramatta and had a glittering representative career.
Winger: Michael O’Connor
A dual rugby league/rugby union international, Michael O’Connor found his way to Manly via St George. He played mainly in the centres, but to squeeze him into this all-time greatest team I’ve taken into account his performances as a Wallaby and Kangaroos winger. O’Connor created countless tries with his brilliant footwork and was also a handy goalkicker. In the Sea Eagles’ 1987 grand final win over Canberra, he scored 14 of his team’s 18 points with a try and five goals.
Five-eighth: Cliff Lyons
After starting his career at North Sydney, Cliff Lyons became an ageless and skilful five-eighth for Manly over fourteen seasons. He consistently mesmerised defences and set up his outside men with uncanny ball work. The brilliant indigenous playmaker won two premierships with Sea Eagles, and was named the Clive Churchill Medallist in their victory in the 1987 decider. Lyons also won two Dally M Player of the Year awards during his career (1990 and 1994).
Halfback: Geoff Toovey
Manly – 238 matches (1988-99), 35 tries. Northern Eagles – 48 matches (2000-01).
The diminutive Geoff Toovey is undoubtedly one of the toughest rugby league players of all time. Few who witnessed Adam MacDougall stomp on his face in the 1997 grand final loss against Newcastle will forget Toovey’s astonishing courage. The elusive halfback also had plenty of skill and developed a wonderful halves combination with five-eighth Lyons throughout the 1990s. Toovey captained the Sea Eagles to three consecutive grand finals (1995-1997), including their victory over St George in the 1996 decider. He also had successful State of Origin and Test careers, showing his versatility by often playing at hooker in those matches.
Prop: Roy Bull
Tireless prop Roy Bull is revered as one of the Sea Eagles’ greatest players
Roy Bull made his debut as a 17-year-old in Manly’s inaugural season in 1947. He quickly established himself as a great scrummager and workhorse around the ruck, becoming the Sea Eagles’ first ever representative player when selected for New South Wales and Australia in 1949. Bull dominated in the forwards like few before him and is considered by some as among the greatest props in rugby league history. Sadly, Bull never won a premiership with the Sea Eagles, losing three grand finals in the 1950s. The club’s annual first grade Best and Fairest award is named in his honour.
Hooker: Max Krilich
Not counted in Krilich’s match tally above are the more than 100 games that he played in reserve grade for Manly as a young player behind the incumbent Test hooker Fred Jones. Krilich eventually got his chance in first grade in 1974 and stayed there for the next ten seasons, winning two titles. He captained the team in their 1978 premiership victory over Cronulla, which was eventually won when the match was replayed after the original grand final finished in an 11-all draw. Krilich also captained the famous 1982 Kangaroos (‘The Invincibles’) on their unbeaten tour of Great Britain and France.
Prop: Brent Kite
Front rower Brent Kite helped Manly to premierships in 2008 and 2011.
After starting his career at St George, Brent Kite became an integral member of Manly’s forward pack in their recent successful era, winning two premierships with the club. He was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for his performance in the Sea Eagles’ 40-0 rout of Melbourne in the 2008 grand final. Kite was also a mainstay of New South Wales and Australian teams in his prime.
Second Row: Terry Randall
The revered Terry Randall was a fearsome defender, who played in four premiership-winning teams with the Sea Eagles during the 1970s. ‘Igor’ was renowned for the sting in his defence and his overall toughness in what was a very physical era of rugby league. An extremely versatile footballer, Randall covered centre, second row, lock and prop during his career. He was rewarded for his consistency at the Sea Eagles with multiple New South Wales and Australian jerseys, including selection in the 1975 and ’77 World Cup squads.
Second Row: Steve Menzies
Manly – 280 matches (1993-99, 2003-08), 151 tries. Northern Eagles – 69 matches (2000-02), 29 tries.
Steve Menzies is second on the list of try scorers in Australian rugby league history with an incredible 180. A long striding backrower with exceptional pace, he formed a great partnership running off Cliff Lyons early in his career. ‘Beaver’ was also a strong defender with wonderful timing and a tireless worker. He played in two Manly premiership-winning teams – twelve years apart – and fittingly scored a try in both deciders. Menzies forged an extensive representative career with New South Wales and Australia and retired, arguably, among rugby league’s greatest second-rowers.
Read More: The Greatest Grand Final Tries
Lock: Malcolm Reilly
89 matches (1971-75), 13 tries.
Mal Reilly was already a Great Britain international when he joined Manly at the age of 23 and he made immediate impact. Reilly helped the club to their first two premiership wins in 1972 and ’73. A noted hard man, he was targeted as a key player by Cronulla in the infamous 1973 decider, being taken out early and injured off the ball. Knowing he wouldn’t see out the match, Reilly was given pain killers as well as instructions by coach Ron Willey to do as much physical damage as he could for as long as he could last. He followed those instructions to the letter in 25 minutes of mayhem, helping the Sea Eagles secure another title. Reilly was so influential during his five seasons at Manly that he is considered by many to be the greatest ever British rugby league import.
So that’s my opinion for the Manly Sea Eagles’ all-time greatest team. What are your thoughts and how do you think they would stack up against other all-time greatest teams that we’ve covered in our series so far?
Naparazzi
Bob FultonBrent KiteBrett StewartCliff LyonsGeoff TooveyJamie LyonMalcolm ReillyMax KrilichMichael O'ConnorRay BranighanRoy BullSteve MenziesTerry Randall
10 of the Best Indigenous Rugby League Players of All Time
Australian Rugby League's Greatest Centres
Matthew French on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 14:37
Brent Kite over Ian Roberts? Ben Kennedy doesn’t even rate a mention? And regardless of how good Cliffy was Fulton in the centres??
Jamie Jones on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 14:40
Why not? Fulton was a brilliant centre. Better to have them both in the side
Rugby League Opinions on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 14:49
Matthew French – fair points. There’s always going to be some controversy. What would your lineup be?
Aaron French on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 15:42
Agree with Roberts over Kite. That’s a no brainer. Would have Shearer on the left wing as well. Am ok with Cliffy at 6. Some of his best games for Australia were with Daley in the centres. Fulton was a gun centre.
John Coomer on Facebook on 10 March, 2017 at 16:37
Great player Ben Kennedy but at the end of the day he played only 2 seasons at Manly. Kite’s longevity and achievements with Manly just give him the nod over Roberts in my opinion, but you could certainly argue for Roberts to be there.
Anonymous on 6 March, 2017 at 14:39
No shearer,no boustead,ridge,matai,cleal,vautin,Danny Moore,nic kosef,Phil Blake,mal chocrane,Ron Gibbs,Chris close,etc etc.
Ray on 10 March, 2017 at 16:29
So do you want 12 replacements for the team named or are you just pointing out some additional good players Manly have had over the years? As a long time Manly fan I think the 13 named in the article is pretty much on the money.
Mark Melville on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 14:43
i dont really agree with a lot of that personally ….
i would have both ridge and Eadie ahead of Stewart
kerry Boustead should be there ….
Probably depends a lot on the style of fullback you prefer re Stewart, Eadie and Ridge. Stewart’s attack gave him the nod for me but you could certainly mount a good argument for the others. Great winger Boustead too, but he suffered from the glut of centre options in my side and the versatility of both Branighan and O’Connor who I chose on the wing instead.
David Gillspise and Roberts should be there
Fair enough, but you’d have to leave out Roy Bull, who was good enough to make the NSW Team of the Century.
can possibly put roberts in the second row
1 Eadie/Ridge
3 Lyons / O’ Conner
4 Fulton
5 Boustead
6 lyons
7 Toovy
8 Glilispe
9 Kilitch
10 roberts
11 Kennedy ??
12 Menzies
13 Reilly
mine would be something like that .. prob better back rowers than kennedy, but cant think of any at top of my head
Good line-up, Mark – but you can’t pick two players in one spot!
Joe Reihana on 6 March, 2017 at 22:06
You didnt even name a bench how bout that.put them on the bench
yeh its a bit hard to judge in different eras …. i would prob go ridge tbh … his defencive organisational skills are the best ever … and is aguably the greatest goal kicker to play the game
and bit of a coin toss with lyon and occonner … would prob go oconner by a whisker
Tama Rua on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 16:28
I would have Roberts over Kite. You also need to add a bench cos I feel guys like Des Hasler, Gillespe, Ridge could squeeze on the bench.
Yeah, Roberts / Kite is a tough one. Roberts never won a comp with the Sea Eagles, so that’s one consideration. Kite also played more than double the amount of matches for Manly… Still, it’s a toss of the coin
Thats true but I reckon Roberts was the better player.
Jake Sherlock on Facebook on 6 March, 2017 at 16:52
I’d have Irvine despite only 40 odd games made a huge impact, scoring 60 tries and winning two comps
Yeah, that’s a good point, he could’ve easily been there, Jake. You’re right about his impact – what an unbelievable strike rate!
Anonymous on 21 March, 2017 at 17:58
Eadie is a must. But I agree with the rest
Rugby League Opinions on 21 March, 2017 at 20:34
Yeah, that’s a fair comment. Eadie was very unlucky to miss out here…
Hayden on 14 April, 2017 at 14:50
Darrell Williams, Kevin and Tony Iro would have to get a mention. Darrell especially.
The Best British Rugby League Players of All Time
The 10 Greatest Rugby League Test Matches
Sydney Roosters: All-Time Greatest XIII
The NRL's Greatest British Imports
Wigan Warriors RLFC's 10 Greatest Players
Australian Rugby League's Team of the Decade (1970s)
The Greatest Goalkickers in NRL History
The 10 Most Successful Coaches in Australian Rugby League History
The World's Top 10 Female Rugby League Players
The Best Fullbacks in Australian Rugby League History
Australian Rugby League's Greatest Halfbacks
Nick Hinds on Facebook on 18 Dec
Val definitely shouldnt be in the conversation anyone can catch a ball run 10 meters and put it down
Glenn Redgen on Facebook on 18 Dec
I agree he was least effective out of the 4 wingers in the final
Charlie Lak Ngulayg on Facebook on 17 Dec
I was prepared to write a full essay if Holmes was ahead of Mcgillvary.
Rugby League Opinions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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Posts Tagged ‘Yi Jianlian’
The Wire Troll: Starbury Edition
March 2, 2009 | by Herija Green | Comments Comments Off on The Wire Troll: Starbury Edition
Joel Przybilla has thrived with yet another lingering injury to Greg Oden.
Kendrick Perkins, Boston Celtics: With Kevin Garnett out of action, Perkins has a chance to elevate his production, though that hasn’t really happened yet. Still, he showed in December (11.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG) that he could be a fantasy force, which makes him at least worthy of flier status in deeper leagues.
Greg Oden’s knee injury continues to linger, keeping Joel Przybilla in the starting lineup. His work on the boards remains exemplary, though he has logged just two double-digit scoring efforts in 2009…Owners looking for a boost in the shot blocking department needn’t look any further than Denver, where Chris Andersen has marked 25 shots “return to sender” in the last six games…We talked up Roy Hibbert in this space a couple weeks back and we’re not giving up on him yet. The rookie can’t stay out of foul trouble, averaging a disturbing 4.8 fouls in just a shade over 16 minutes a night in Indiana’s last six games. He’s a flier to be sure, but those grasping for straws can think about it…Matt Bonner was a beast from beyond the arc last month, knocking down better than two treys a night and averaging 10.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. Don’t overlook him.
John Salmons, Chicago Bulls: Any concerns about a decreased role in the Windy City for Salmons should have been assuaged now that he has logged better than 30 minutes in each of the Bulls’ last three games. Outside of a 25-point effort his scoring hasn’t been what it was in Sacramento, but his production should increase as he becomes more comfortable in Chicago. He’s worth owning in all leagues.
Matt Barnes, Phoenix Suns: Injuries have depleted Phoenix’s frontcourt, which has helped Barnes get back into the flow of the offense. He has also benefited from the coaching change and renewed emphasis on pushing the ball. Barnes reached double figures in four of five games before lighting up the Lakers for 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven dimes on Sunday afternoon. Don’t hesitate to pick him up in deep formats.
Everyone’s favourite document forger, Yi Jianlian, returned to the starting lineup for the Nets on February 23, though he hasn’t found the range (12-for-31) just yet. He was scoring well before his injury, which makes him at least an interesting roll of the dice in most formats…Now that Brian Scalabrine has joined KG on the sideline, Glen Davis is getting the starting nod. In three starts, Big Baby is averaging 16.7 points per game – he may not be long for the fantasy world, but he’s worth a short-term roster spot…One of the players heading west in the Salmons trade, Andres Nocioni, seems to be enjoying his relative freedom in the offense. The fifth-year forward is a volume shooter who is too loose with the ball, but he can score, drop threes and even chip in on the glass…It didn’t take long for the Thunder to find a spot in the starting lineup for Thabo Sefolosha, who posted 15 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday. Those in deeper leagues should act now before less informed owners take notice…Who is James Singleton? Anyone that can’t answer that question should take a quick peek at his game logs – we may be on to something here…Dominic McGuire continues to get a ton of burn in DC and averaged seasonal bests in both points (6.2) and rebounds (7.0) during February. That’s not great production, but it might raise some eyebrows in deep leagues.
Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz: Utah’s swingman is morphing into a legitimate fantasy force, scoring 16 or more points in all but one of the team’s 11 February tilts. His range isn’t great, but he shoots an excellent overall percentage for a guard, converting 55.7 per cent of his shots this past month. There’s no reason for him to be available in any league at this juncture.
Anthony Parker, Toronto Raptors: The 33-year-old struggled for much of February but ended the month on a high note, dropping 62 points over Toronto’s final three games. He has been very hit (13.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.6 APG in January) or miss (6.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG in December) this season so don’t mortgage your future to acquire him, but when he’s on he deserves a roster spot.
Sebastian Telfair averaged 11.9 points per game in February though he continues to misfire with great regularity from the field. Be prepared to take a hit in field goal percentage for his modest contributions in points and assists…Even with Mickael Pietrus returning to action on Friday, Courtney Lee continues to start for Orlando, and why not? Lee has averaged 14.4 points a game in his past five starts and launched a dozen three-pointers (hitting four) his last time out. At the very least he’s worth watch list status in most formats…In two games with the Celtics, Stephon Marbury has scored eight points, all of them coming in his Boston debut. Keep a watchful eye on Starbury.
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Tags: Andres Nocioni, Anthony Parker, BASKETBALL, Boston Celtics, Brian Scalabrine, Chicago Bulls, Chris Andersen, Courtney Lee, Denver Nuggets, Dominic McGuire, fantasy basketball, Glen Davis, Greg Oden, Herija Green, Indiana Pacers, James Singleton, Joel Przybilla, John Salmons, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Matt Barnes, Matt Bonner, Mickael Pietrus, NBA, New Jersey Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Ronnie Brewer, Roy Hibbert, Sacramento Kings, Sebastian Telfair, Stephon Marbury, Thabo Sefolosha, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Yi Jianlian
Posted in BASKETBALL, Herija Green, The Wire Troll | Comments Off on The Wire Troll: Starbury Edition
The Wire Troll: Walking Wounded Edition
February 8, 2009 | by Herija Green | Comments (4)
Francisco Elson (right) has a hell of a fight on his hands as he tries to replace Andrew Bogut for the Bucks. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Centres Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls: The second-year Florida product has taken up a semi-permanent residence on the Wire Troll by continuing to produce solid totals both in points and rebounds. […]
Tags: Andrei Kirilenko, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, Anthony Johnson, Antonio McDyess, BASKETBALL, Brad Miller, Charlie Bell, Chicago Bulls, Courtney Lee, Craig Smith, D.J. Augustin, Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons, Drew Gooden, Earl Watson, fantasy basketball, Francisco Elson, Francisco Garcia, Herija Green, Jameer Nelson, Joakim Noah, Keith Bogans, Kevin Love, Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom, Luke Ridnour, Mario Chalmers, Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Redd, Mike Miller, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, Nenad Krstic, Nick Collison, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Ramon Sessions, Ryan Anderson, Sacramento Kings, Spencer Hawes, Tyronn Lue, University of Florida, Yi Jianlian
Posted in BASKETBALL, Herija Green, The Wire Troll | 4 Comments »
The Wire Troll: Rodney McGruder Should See More Minutes
The Wire Troll: Joel Eriksson Ek Poised for Production Boost
The Wire Troll: Chris Boucher to Throw Block Party
Video Game Review: Children of Morta
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R. Douglas Manning, Ph.D., Named Dean of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics at Santa Ana College
(Santa Ana, CA)—Rancho Santiago Community College District announces the appointment of R. Douglas Manning, Ph.D., as dean of kinesiology, health and athletics at Santa Ana College (SAC). In this role, Manning is responsible for leading and administering all aspects of the division, including the design, delivery, staffing, administrative support, and supervision of academic and athletic programs.
With over 17 years’ experience in teaching and sports management, he previously served as an assistant professor of sport management at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). In that role, he taught in graduate and undergraduate programs, assisted in curriculum development, provided supervision for interns, advised students and served on college and university committees.
Prior to that, he was dean of students for the Albuquerque Public Schools. Earlier, he served as instructor and program manager for the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Science at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He has also coached for women’s volleyball and boys/girls volleyball at university and high school levels. His experience also includes serving as the manager of coaches’ education and volunteer services for Special Olympics Southern California.
Over the years, Manning has received numerous awards and honors for his professional leadership. They include receiving a Service Learning Fellowship through the Center for Community and Civic Engagement funded through the USM Provost’s Office. He is also a recipient of the President’s Service Award from the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the Lobo Coach Award from UNM Athletics, and the Instructor of the Year Award from the UNM Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences.
He has also been widely published in a range of academic and professional journals. Most recently, along with M.C. Keiper and S.E. Jenny, he contributed to “Pedagogical Innovations for the Millennial Sport Management Student: Socrative and Twitter,” published in the Sport Management Education Journal. He also co-wrote “No Reason to lol at LoL: The Addition of eSports to Collegiate Athletic Departments” with Keiper and Jenny for the Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education.
Manning earned a B.S. in education and K-12 physical education teaching certification from Florida State University (FSU). He also obtained an M.S. in sport management from FSU and a Ph.D. in sport administration from the University of New Mexico.
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Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Tustin.. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.
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Simplified Interface Handling in a Digital Business Landscape
How to Implement, Monitor, and Manage Interfaces with SAP Application Interface Framework 3.0
by Markus Gille | SAPinsider, Volume 18, Issue 4
Efficient integration is critical in a digital business landscape that spans a growing network of integrated systems and applications. To enable this integration, many companies have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of application interfaces, ranging from internal interfaces to interfaces with customers, partners, government agencies, and other scenarios. Seamless data exchange is crucial for running a digital business, so organizations must find a way to efficiently manage the entire interface life cycle — from implementation through ongoing maintenance and operations.
SAP Application Interface Framework is an interface management tool that runs in the application layer of your system landscape as a complement to your technical middleware and integration layer. Integrated with your SAP applications and optimized for SAP HANA, SAP Application Interface Framework provides an effective way to monitor, analyze, and manage your existing application interfaces from a single, central location, and enables you to quickly and easily build and deploy new interfaces, helping to improve governance across your system landscape.
While a previous SAPinsider article introduced version 1.0 of SAP Application Interface Framework,1 this article covers the latest release, version 3.0 — which includes new features and functionality for supporting modern integration scenarios and technologies — to provide integration architects and business users with the foundational knowledge required to effectively manage interfaces with this tool. SAP Application Interface Framework 3.0 can be used with SAP S/4HANA release 1511 and higher, and with SAP Business Suite components based on SAP NetWeaver 7.0, support package 17 (SP17), and higher.
You might be thinking, “But I am happy with my middleware. Why should I introduce another component?” Before we explore how SAP Application Interface Framework 3.0 simplifies and improves interface handling, let’s take a closer look at why implementing interface management is a good business practice, even when you already have middleware in place.
Why Use SAP Application Interface Framework?
When it comes to interfaces, most organizations follow an “integration logic in the integration layer and application logic in the application layer” approach, which provides a clean architecture with a clear separation between integration and application functionality and responsibilities. With this approach, core integration functionality — including routing, security, connectivity, and handling of technical formats — is handled in the integration layer using a middleware solution such as SAP Process Integration, SAP Process Orchestration, or SAP Cloud Platform Integration.
In the application layer, the application-related interface logic — such as business validations, business mappings, and data enrichments — is often distributed through various technologies, making its management a more resource-intensive task. For example, some interface logic might be implemented in exits or business add-ins (BAdIs) while other logic is implemented in proxy methods or other coding places. The interface logic also requires monitoring and error handling — even with the best middleware technology, there will be failed IDoc postings and service calls in the application layer — and the distributed nature of the logic can make this challenging. An additional complicating factor is the involvement of both technical and business users with interface logic.
SAP Application Interface Framework provides an easy, structured way to manage your application layer interface logic from a single tool. It has its own runtime for creating and executing interface logic and provides an easy way for technical and business users to monitor, analyze, and correct errors in both newly created and already-existing interfaces inside your application systems. It also supports integration architects by providing a clear separation between the technical integration and the application integration-related features and implementation. Together, these features enable strong governance, reduced implementation and lifecycle handling effort, and increased visibility that allows rapid error identification and resolution.
SAP Application Interface Framework was introduced in 2010 as a modification-free add-on to SAP NetWeaver — release 7.0 SP17 and up — that integrates with SAP Business Suite applications, including SAP ERP, SAP Customer Relationship Management, and SAP Supplier Relationship Management. Since 2015, SAP Application Interface Framework is also delivered with SAP S/4HANA,2 where it serves as the default monitoring and error handling tool for SAP S/4HANA release 1511 and higher as well as for SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
How Does SAP Application Interface Framework Work?
Figure 1 provides an architectural overview of SAP Application Interface Framework. As you can see, the tool resides within the system architecture, which allows it to complement the technical integration on the application layer while also ensuring a clear separation between the technical integration logic and the application integration logic. The tool uses SAP NetWeaver functionalities and technologies to communicate with integration layer components and systems. One significant advantage of locating the tool inside the application system is that the interface logic within SAP Application Interface Framework can locally access and reuse application logic. In addition, data inside the application system, such as configuration and transactional data, can be locally accessed and used within interface logic.
Figure 1 — An architectural overview of SAP Application Interface Framework
With this architecture, SAP Application Interface Framework helps organizations manage interfaces across their system landscape, in particular through:
Guided implementation of application-related interface logic for technical users
Simplified monitoring, error handling, and alerting capabilities for business users
Standardized support for integration technologies
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features delivered with version 3.0 in each of these areas.3
Guided Implementation of Application-Related Interface Logic
Interfaces usually require the implementation of application-related logic. For example, additional validation rules are sometimes required, or business data fields may need to be derived based on application system configuration or transactional data. In other cases, data may need to be enriched by additional fields. In a digital business landscape that requires agility, rapid implementation is key.
SAP Application Interface Framework makes it easy for technical users to quickly add logic to interfaces, both for SAP standard interfaces and for custom interfaces, with a guided, template-based approach. Instead of performing manual ABAP coding, the technical user can configure most interface logic using predefined customizing transactions — making selections from dropdown lists and using F4 help to select values, for example. The overall implementation follows a structured approach in which the interface logic is implemented in small, configurable logic components, such as checks, mappings, and actions. This approach enables the reuse of interface components in multiple interfaces and across technologies — for example, you can use the same validation rule in IDocs, services, and so on.
While the structured framework supported in version 3.0 is the same approach used in previous releases, version 3.0 expands the range of technologies that are supported and includes additional features. For example, SAP Application Interface Framework has added supported for OData and queued remote function calls (qRFCs), as well as new features for value mapping.
Simplified Monitoring, Error Handling, and Alerting Capabilities
When it comes to monitoring and error handling of interfaces, someone from IT or operations is typically responsible and uses technical transactions — such as BD87 (Status Monitor for ALE Messages), WE02 (Display IDoc), and SXMB_MONI (Integration Engine – Monitoring) — to perform these tasks. Since the majority of interface errors are business-related and not technical, however, IT and operations users often do not know how to resolve these errors — and in many cases cannot resolve them without business involvement (due to segregation-of-duties rules, for instance). For this reason, technical users usually must request input from business users (often using a ticket-based approach or a manual interaction, such as email), meaning that multiple users end up working on the same issue, which can cause delays and a risk of duplicate efforts.
SAP Application Interface Framework enables business power users to be responsible for certain parts of interfaces, providing them with visibility into data errors and quick ways to resolve them on their own. System administrators can control this visibility in a role-based way with authorization settings and the ability to hide sensitive fields or structures from monitoring and error handling. For example, let’s say that user A is only allowed to see order IDocs for company code 1000, and user B is only allowed to see data with document type EC. SAP Application Interface Framework enables business users to see errors only in their area of responsibility, and can also actively alert users about errors via email notification, text message, or other channels.
With SAP Application Interface Framework, a business power user is presented with a role-specific display of the interfaces assigned to that user. The tool provides overview features, such as number and types of errors, and the user can search by key fields and filter by date and other criteria. Starting with version 3.0, system administrators or business power users granted with this authorization can also configure custom error texts to replace the technical error messages that are usually sent from back-end processing, including hints and guidance on how to resolve specific errors. It is also easy to configure custom functions related to an error type — to allow the user to drill down into application logic in a context-sensitive way directly from the monitoring and error handling transaction, for instance.
For business users, it can be difficult to recognize which field of the data payload is causing a specific error. With SAP Application Interface Framework, the user can navigate to the field causing the issue simply by double-clicking on the error message. The power user can correct errors directly from SAP Application Interface Framework by drilling down into an application transaction, executing restarts, or changing data in a controlled way. This control, along with role-based access, the ability to hide sensitive fields or structures, and the audit log of manually changed data maintained by the tool, also supports increased security and regulatory compliance.
Traditionally, each interface technology — such as IDocs, services, remote function calls (RFCs), and data load by batch input or files — is, in the worst case, handled by different groups of developers with different skill sets, and maybe even different organizational assignments. In addition, other logic may be distributed through application exits and BAdIs. This scattered scenario makes the sustainable management of interfaces challenging.
To reduce this complexity, SAP Application Interface Framework supports different integration technologies by having a generic architecture capable of supporting various technologies. With this generic architecture and approach, logic can be reused across interface technologies, saving time and effort, and power users can perform monitoring and error handling of all interface logic through a single monitoring transaction that can support interface documents across a wide range of technologies. Since the architecture is built in a generic and open way, customers can “teach” SAP Application Interface Framework how to deal with additional technologies using customization if required.
Due to its standardized architecture, you can easily introduce SAP Application Interface Framework into your system landscape in a variety of ways. As you can see in Figure 2, SAP Application Interface Framework supports a broad range of integration technologies — which is new with version 3.0 (previously, only services were supported) — and multiple usage scenarios. The tool can be used to implement new interfaces from scratch using the guided framework or to add logic to existing interfaces (scenario 1); to monitor existing interfaces (scenario 2), which is also new with version 3.0 (previously, only interfaces implemented with SAP Application Interface Framework could be monitored); or to enable the reuse of logic in the SAP Application Interface Framework runtime (scenario 3).
Figure 2 — SAP Application Interface Framework usage scenarios
The framework’s structure enables you to choose to deploy SAP Application Interface Framework in consecutive phases, rather than all at once — for example, you can implement some of your existing IDoc types for monitoring in an initial phase and roll out the rest later — allowing you to take a gradual approach, so that you can start benefitting from its advantages without needing to execute a long redesign or implementation project. Enabling existing interface logic in SAP Application Framework 3.0 requires minimal effort — to enable an existing IDoc type, for example, there is a generation report available that generates the monitoring object for you.
What’s Coming Next?
SAP Application Interface Framework 3.0 includes a range of features designed to meet digital business requirements, and going forward, SAP will continue to add features to address the needs of its customers. As mentioned previously, in addition to enabling a significant reduction in time and cost, SAP Application Interface Framework also increases security and regulatory compliance, and this is an area in which further capabilities are planned for future releases.
For companies that process the personal data of European Union (EU) citizens — regardless of whether the companies are located in the EU — there will be a significant change in 2018 that will bring interface security and regulatory compliance to the forefront. The EU has introduced a new set of regulations — known as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — designed to increase the protection for personal data. The regulation’s requirements include logging access to personal data, auditing data changes, blocking access to data records containing personal data after a certain time, deleting personal data, and more.4
As personal data can also be processed in interfaces, software support in this area will make it easier for companies to comply with the GDPR. Many companies with custom interface monitors will likely need to review their interface handling procedures to comply with the GDPR, and new features are planned for SAP Application Interface Framework to help organizations with this task. For example, an additional configuration layer is planned where interfaces can be attributed if they contain personal data or sensitive personal data. These settings can then trigger generic functionality, such as logging at data access, blocking after initial retention time has passed, and deletion when the overall retention time has been reached.
Additional plans for SAP Application Interface Framework include extending some of the existing technologies with deeper integration into the underlying SAP NetWeaver technologies. This would allow even easier integration of interface calls into the runtime features of SAP Application Interface Framework — for example, the logic of a standard service call enabled with SAP Application Interface Framework could be “hooked” into the tool’s runtime without additional coding. So instead of coding additional features in proxy methods or copied standard interfaces, changes or additions to standard interface logic could be configured inside SAP Application Interface Framework, further reducing the effort required to implement interfaces or enhance existing interfaces with new logic such as validation rules, business mappings, and data enrichments.
Implementing SAP Application Interface Framework in a new or existing application system can bring many benefits to organizations. It supports customers in simplifying and optimizing their interface strategy — in some cases, SAP customers have reported that using the tool helped them reduce the implementation time for application-related interface logic by up to 40%, and achieve savings of up to 75% in monitoring and error-handling effort.
It complements both existing and new interface implementations with a framework-based approach to implementing and managing application-related interface logic inside the SAP application system, and with cross-technology support that reduces implementation and monitoring costs and minimizes risk. SAP Application Interface Framework also provides many features that help ensure compliance, including role-based access to interface data, the ability to hide sensitive fields or structures from monitoring and error handling, control at the field level over which fields can be changed, and an audit log of manually changed data.
In a digital business landscape built on growing networks of integrated applications and systems, SAP Application Interface Framework provides the features you need for effective interface management. Learn more at www.sap.com/aif.
1 For an overview of the initial release of SAP Application Interface Framework, see the article “Build and Maintain Better Connections” in the October-December 2011 issue of SAPinsider (SAPinsiderOnline.com). [back]
2 Note that to use SAP Application Interface Framework, you must obtain a license. [back]
3 A complete list of the new features delivered with SAP Application Interface Framework 3.0 is available at SAP Help Portal (http://help.sap.com/aif) in the Application Help under “Changes and New Features.” [back]
4 Learn more about the GDPR in the article “Meeting Modern Data Protection Requirements” in the July-September 2017 issue of SAPinsider (SAPinsiderOnline.com). [back]
Markus Gille
Markus Gille (markus.gille@sap.com) is the Global Product Owner of SAP Application Interface Framework at SAP SE in Walldorf. Previously, he worked as an architect and project manager in many international customer projects. Markus has a university degree in computer science and economics.
Build and Maintain Better Connections
Every ERP implementation includes an important step: building interfaces that can transfer data both accurately and reliably. Whether you're moving data from a legacy system into an ERP system, or...
Meeting Modern Data Protection Requirements
As the volume of data collected by organizations continues to increase, so too do regulations designed to protect data from misuse, particularly when it comes to personal data. One of...
Application Integration in a Cloud-Connected World
The growing use of cloud technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) is creating integration challenges for many companies. This article takes a close look at four integration scenarios, including...
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RECAP: Blades storybook comeback not enough, fall 7-6 to Moose Jaw in OT
Blades Braylon Shmyr Cam Hebig game-recaps Libor Hajek nolan maier warriors
It could have been the biggest comeback in recent memory for the Saskatoon Blades but unfortunately it was spoiled with just over a minute remaining in overtime as the Moose Jaw Warriors edged out the Blades 7-6 on Tuesday night. The much needed single point gives the Blades an 8-12-2-0 record on the season.
The game started heavily in favour of the league leading Warriors, opening the scoring 4:29 into the game off a rebound from Jaxan Kaluski. Then a pair of power play goals from Jayden Halbgewachs– his 21st and 22nd of the season– gave the Warriors a 3-0 lead and a 15-5 advantage on the shot clock after 20 minutes of action.
Saskatoon came out looking refreshed in the second period and matched Moose Jaw’s efforts. The Blades scored twice, both coming from Cameron Hebig, but the three goal deficit remained as the Warriors also netted two more goals to make it 5-2 after 40 minutes.
It wasn’t a great night for the Blades special teams who allowed 3 power play goals and a short handed marker within the first 2 periods.
With the game looking out of reach and already putting in a evenings worth of work, Nolan Maier was on the bench to start the 3rd period. Joel Grzybowski came in to start the final frame after Maier made 29 saves on 34 shots.
MY OH MAIER! WHAT A GLOVE SAVE!! pic.twitter.com/mtK59Rk0St
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) November 22, 2017
Moose Jaw added to their lead 2:55 into Gryzbowski’s tenure to make it 6-2 for Saskatoon. This is when something changed for the Blades. For whatever reason, instead of folding up the tent and going through the motions until the final buzzer, a fire erupted in the visiting squad.
Brad Goethals responded for Saskatoon just 16 seconds later to make it 6-3. This was Goethals first goal in 14 games, and it was only the beginning of the comeback for the Blades. With 13 minutes remaining and the Blades on the man advantage, Braylon Shmyr fed Cameron Hebig in the slot for a perfect one-timer to make it 6-4. The goal was Hebig’s 3rd of the night, 18th of the year, and his second hat-trick of the season.
Two minutes later, Josh Paterson banked a pass off a Warrior defender to score his 7th of the season to put the Blades within one. Suddenly, the crowd wasn’t as cheery as they were earlier in the period and the Moose Jaw bench looked bewildered. The Blades had stolen 100% of the momentum from the top team in the Western Hockey League.
But then Michael Farren took a hooking penalty at the 9:01 mark of the period, which looked like the comeback could be halted given the Warriors deadly power play unit that was already 3/4 on the night. However, Saskatoon killed it off and got back to even strength still riding the lions share of the momentum.
With 6:21 remaining in the game and still down by one, the puck bounced off the boards and out near the Moose Jaw blue line where Caleb Fantillo spun and fired a slap shot over the glove of Brody Willms to stun the crowd, and the Warriors, tying the game at 6-6.
Moose Jaw pushed back trying to avoid the unthinkable, but Joel Grzybowski kept the game tied to force overtime.
Gryz keepin' this one tied with the glove! 🙅 pic.twitter.com/6hjjDp4mAP
In the extra period, the Blades controlled the puck for the first half but couldn’t muster any quality chances. Eventually, the Warriors were able to stretch out the Blades to create some open ice and Brayden Burke ripped a wrist shot glove side on Grzybowski to spoil the storybook effort by Saskatoon and win the game for Moose Jaw with just 1:03 left on the clock.
The game wraps up three meetings in 7 days between the Blades and Warriors with Saskatoon going 1-1-1-0.
Statistically for the Blades, Cam Hebig lead the way with his 2nd hat-trick of the season. Caleb Fantillo (1G,1A), Braylon Shmyr (2A), and Libor Hájek (2A) all had multi-point games. Josh Paterson scored his 2nd goal in as many games, and Kirby Dach chipped in with an assist; his 3rd point in 4 games since returning from the World U17 challenge.
Rookie d-man Randen Schmidt registered his first career WHL point with an assist on Hebig’s 2nd goal while finishing the night with a +1 rating.
Nolan Maier posted his best save percentage of his three career WHL starts with an .853, while Joel Grzybowski stopped 10/12 shots faced to allow the Blades to force overtime and ultimately get the point in the standings.
Next up for the Blades is another division rival Wednesday night; the most familiar foe for Saskatoon as they visit the Swift Current Broncos for game #5 of the season series. Game time is 7:00pm in Swift Current and fans can tune in live on 92.9 The Bull FM or streaming at WHL Live.
The next Blades home game is Friday, November 24th at SaskTel Centre versus the Brandon Wheat Kings. Click here for tickets or call 306.975.8844 to book your group night or experience package!
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Virtual Press Kit
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Fried Potatoes (French Fashion)
Potatoes have long been a staple of both English and Irish cooking. Still, I was surprised to find a Victorian-era recipe for “Fried Potatoes (French fashion)” which is what I would consider potato chips. Check out Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management (online at http://www.mrsbeeton.com). She talks about thin slices of potato fried in oil—if that’s not potato chips (or crisps, in British English), I don’t know what is. Mrs. Beeton was a Victorian lady who gathered household tips and recipes into the aforementioned book, which was published by her husband. I’d like to try the “Potato Snow” recipe. It sounds interesting (and far better than the real snow everyone has been experiencing).
Food, Regency Tidbit
Connect with Sabrina
Subscribing to Sabrina’s e-newsletter lets you be one of the first to find out all the hottest details on your favorite novels and other exciting updates.
January Contest
Sabrina Jeffries starts off the new year with goodies for three lucky winners! Enter to win one of three autographed copies of the Duke Dynasty series starter, PROJECT DUCHESS, plus bookmarks from the series. The winners will have just enough time to finish reading PROJECT DUCHESS before THE BACHELOR (Duke Dynasty, Book 2) comes out next month. Happy reading!
Regency Tidbit
Names like Minerva and Regina were popular in the Regency because of the fascination with everything classical—Greek architecture, Roman history, antiquities of all kinds. That’s why those early Regency gowns were so toga-like—they were influenced by the costumes that the English saw on Greek and Roman figures. The vertical lines, simple designs, and emphasis on white was a tribute to their love of classical sculpture.
copyright © 2020 Sabrina Jeffries. all rights reserved.
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Blog and Press
Samba TV Partners with MediaMath to Offer Programmatic Segmenting and Retargeting of TV Audiences
Behavioral and purchase data paired with real-time viewership will enable brands to develop highly integrated television and digital campaigns
San Francisco, September 6, 2016 – Samba TV, the leading provider of real-time audience driven advertising and analytics, today announced it has been selected as the first smart TV data provider to MediaMath, a global technology company, that will provide the agency’s clients with exclusive audience targeting tools and custom segmentation, allowing for better integration of television and digital ad buying.
“Leveraging Samba TV’s deep understanding of audience segmentation and real-time viewership data, MediaMath clients will now be able to retarget specific TV audiences across all platforms to drive increased engagement and purchase,” said Ashwin Navin, CEO and co-founder of Samba TV. “We are happy to be working with MediaMath, a leading DSP, to not only enable brands to easily target across TV and digital but also measure cross-screen reach and ad effectiveness.”
Samba TV will provide MediaMath clients with custom segmentation tools that identify unique audience groups based on behavioral and purchase data, as well as enable customers to specifically target viewers of individual shows and events, as well as viewers exposed to specific TV ads, and hard to reach audiences like cord-cutters. MediaMath will use programmatic data from Samba TV to retarget TV audiences across their platform.
“Targeting audiences based on Samba’s TV viewership data has proven to be an extremely effective tactic for us,” said Garrett Dale, co-founder and SVP of Optimization & Innovation at Kepler Group. “Based on client data, we know that consumers with certain TV viewing behaviors tend to be much more responsive to specific messages and offers, and now we’re able to very precisely target them across MediaMath-accessible inventory. We look forward to expanding this tactic across our client base.”
“We are excited to partner with Samba TV to seamlessly extend standard and customized TV audiences for targeting on our platform. This allows for a unique and differentiated way to reach audiences, and we are already seeing substantial demand from our clients for this offering” said Aruna Paramasivam, Head of Audience Partnerships at Mediamath.
Samba TV is built directly into TVs and set-top boxes, and through its portfolio of TV platform technologies and applications, enhances the user experience with relevant programming information and other interactive features. The company also provides analytics for broadcasters and advertisers, enabling a better understanding of the rapidly evolving audience for video across television, smart phones, tablets and personal computers. Samba TV applications are currently available on more than 180 million screens in 36 countries.
About Samba TV
Samba TV is a cross-platform media and analytics company that provides a real time understanding of TV viewership – and its impact on consumer behavior and purchase – as it truly is.
Embedded in millions of smart TVs, Samba TV’s technology lets consumers discover and watch the shows they love while giving brands a holistic view of content and advertising consumption across broadcast and cable TV, OTT, apps and digital. Pairing Samba TV’s second-by-second, first party, TV viewership insight with its household device map, Samba TV helps brands run TV-synchronized digital ads and confidently chart the consumer path to purchase, from online to offline, to make informed media buying decisions. Using a nationwide, census like panel that is fully representative of the U.S. population, Samba TV measures TV and digital ad exposure over time for the same household. Samba TV’s proprietary household device map totals more than 180 million devices, including smart TVs, set top boxes, smartphones and other connected devices. For more information, please visit platform.samba.tv or follow @samba_tv on Twitter.
About MediaMath
MediaMath is a global technology company that’s leading the movement to revolutionize traditional marketing and drive transformative results for marketers through its TerminalOne Marketing Operation System™. A pioneer in the industry for introducing the first Demand-Side Platform with the company’s founding in 2007, MediaMath is the only company of its kind to empower marketers with an extensible, open platform to unleash the power of goal-based marketing at scale, transparently across the enterprise. TerminalOne activates data, automates execution and optimizes interactions across all addressable media, delivering superior performance, transparency and control to all marketers and better, more individualized experiences for consumers. It has a seasoned management team leading 16 global locations across five continents. Key clients include every major agency holding company, operating agency and top brands across verticals.
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Geek romance: How to make a Storm Glass pendant
By sciencepunk on January 15, 2012.
Toward the end of last year, being in possession of two novelties - a girlfriend and a steady job - I decided to spend my free evenings crafting a very special piece of jewellery. I was inspired by a visit to Barometer World in the late summer, where I discovered the curious material known as storm glass (tragic backstory recounted here).
In short, a storm glass is a weather divination tool so old that nobody really knows where they came from. It's likely they were borne out of alchemy experiments performed during the medieval period. Inside a sealed glass tube, crystals bloom, wither and vanish spontaneously, apparently spurred on by weather fronts. It was a thing of wondrous beauty.
Nobody knows what exactly makes storm glasses act this way. I've read in many places since that it is pressure changes, as with a barometer. This clearly isn't true, as the fluid is sealed inside a solid glass chamber. Others cite temperature fluctuations - far more probable - or, more exotically, electrical discharge across the glass (again, unlikely, glass is a very fine electrical insulator). Even spooky quantum forces get a mention.
It was around then that an idea hatched in my head: if it was really heat that caused a storm glass to sigh and sway from one condition to another, then why couldn't it be turned into a pendant? One that would react to the body heat of the wearer? I would make a storm glass - not one that predicted the passing of nature's cold fronts, but one that signalled the tempests of the heart! A crystal that would melt in the heat of my girlfriend's passions, and grow hard in the cooling of her mood. It would be easy, right?
The recipe for storm glass can be found almost anywhere, although a slightly different version exists for warmer climes, hinting at where I would need to go. It contains only five chemicals: water, ethanol, camphor, potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride. Without access to a lab, some of the chemicals can be quite tricky to get. Don't believe anyone who tells you that chemists will stock these. If you want to find a pharmacist that will sell you potassium nitrate, you'll have to go to one in the 1960s. Probably because pretty much every one of the ingredients can be used in a bomb. Thankfully, capitalism and the internet conspire, and you can find all the ingredients in discrete quantities on Amazon.
I'm not going to get into the practicalities of making genuine storm glass, as there are several good videos on YouTube that you can follow. But here's where the normal storm glass, and a romantic storm glass pendant differ.
Camphor is quite soluble in alcohol, but not at all in water. Similarly, potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride dissolve far better in water than alcohol. So the whole lot is like three fat men struggling to perch on a single bar stool. It's this inherent instability that makes the storm glass sensitive to small fluctuations in the environment.
The solution produces two different crystals: cloudy snowy ones that are the camphor. They are big and fluffy and suspend in solution quite well. The other solids crystalise into far more beautiful, spiky or feathery frost-like crystals. These, however, do not suspend in solution, and sink to the bottom. A badly-made storm glass separates out:
The traditional recipe is unsuitable for a storm glass pendant for two reasons: One, it is primed for an outdoor barometer, so functions at 10 to 15 degrees C. My storm glass of the heart will sit next to my girl's skin, and be a lot warmer. Wearing normal storm glass at this temperature renders it clear, so firstly you need to increase the concentration of the ammonium chloride and potassium nitrate. Basically, warm up your water to skin temperature, and keep adding those chemicals until the solution is saturated. Add the saturated solution to your camphor-alcohol mix. Personally, I think the amount of camphor in the traditional recipe is grossly over-stated (most of my early glasses came out over-fogged), so there's no need to add more - in fact, you may need to add a little (A LITTLE) alcohol to your storm glass to clear out the stubborn camphor crystals. In short, it's a lot of tweaking, sealing, wearing, testing, retweaking... and so forth.
Put the mixture in a small vial - I bought mine here. Small vials help keep the crystals suspended, but even so, this one, like many, many others, was rejected:
Eventually, you'll have a glass that is almost clear when warm, and produces beautiful crystals. I've seen snowflakes, clusters, clouds, fog, frost, and delicate crystal ferns grow inside my storm glass. It's run the entire gamut from clear to pearlescent to quartz. And best of all, it seems to work whilst hanging around the neck of my belle. Unfortunately, it's very tricky to photograph, especially after you give it away, but here's a try:
If you pull this off, expect brownie points aplenty from any self-respecting nerd girl, and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back!
Now, before the inevitable requests: yes, I still have lots of storm glass fluid left over. And yes, I have several empty vials. But no, I will not make you a storm glass. I will not sell you one. Sadly, I can not even give any storm glass pendants away, or trade them for other curios, as I planned. My #1 nerd has forbidden it. She won't play dice with the idea of another woman walking around with my signature gift hanging from her neck. Proving once again that although I might know a lot about science, I have much to learn about a woman's heart.
Best of luck, chemistry lovers, you're on your own from here.
Geek romance: How to make a Storm Glass pendant [SciencePunk]
Toward the end of last year, being in possession of two novelties - a girlfriend and a steady job - I decided to spend my free evenings crafting a very special piece of jewellery. I was inspired by a visit to Barometer World in the late summer, where I discovered the curious material known as storm…
Storm Glass: the mysterious weather-predicting fluid crystal
As it's shaping up to be my final days in Devon, me and my #1 Nerd travelled to Barometer World, a pilgrimage we'd been promising to make since the start of summer. As the name suggests, it's a Mecca of meteorological wonder, boasting hundreds of aneroid and mercury barometers, barographs,…
Past and Future Forecasts
Meteorology still depends on a bit of clairvoyance, but in the 19th century many sailors, fishermen, and farmers "had to rely on storm glass, an inexpensive and profoundly inaccurate divining tool." The mixture of "camphor crystals, potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride, water and alcohol"…
Science Party!
What better way for a bunch of science geeks to celebrate a birthday than by having a science party? We spent a lot of time making delicious science-themed snacks, and I have to say, they came out pretty good! Bacterial jello plates. They looked a bit too relastic, the cell biologists wouldn't…
You may want to change "beau" to "belle" in the 3rd last para if you don't want said nerd girl to box your ears ;)
By 66steve (not verified) on 18 Jan 2012 #permalink
I was so ready to call you out, but then I discovered you're totally right! How many decades have I been misusing that, I wonder...
By sciencepunk on 19 Jan 2012 #permalink
Would your belle mind if you posted a more exact final recipe of proportions for your suspension?
By CuteDedGrl (not verified) on 19 Jan 2012 #permalink
Hi CuteDedGrl
The final proportions aren't set exactly, it's more of a process of discovery. It goes a bit like this:
1) Make up a storm glass as per this video, treat it as your base mixture, and take samples from it to experiment with.
2) Put a little fluid in a vial and wear it. If it's full of cloudy crystals all the time, add some ethanol to your working sample and refill the vial. If it's clear all the time, add more camphor.
3) If there are no sharp crystals, add some more ammonium/potassium to your sample and refil the vial. If there are grains collecting at the bottom, add more water.
Remember to warm up your samples when you're fine tuning them. As I recall, added quite a bit more alcohol, and increased the ammonium/potassium content until the solution was saturated.
"This clearly isn't true, as the fluid is sealed inside a solid glass chamber."
Unless extremely rigid, the solid glass container will deform and you'll get pressure. The better way to test that is to squeeze the tube in a grip and see if it changes.
By Wow (not verified) on 26 Jan 2012 #permalink
Hi, thanks for the great idea here:)
I'm a bit scientifically inept, and I've tired several dozen times to get the mix right but I always get soemthing too cloudy or that doesn't mix.
Is there any other advice you can give to help please?
By Rah (not verified) on 28 Jan 2012 #permalink
@6 Rah - The camphor is very difficult to dissolve in ethanol; you will need to warm it up (careful! it's flammable! use a water bath / non-flame heater) and keep stirring for 15-30 minutes. It will eventually go almost clear.
As soon as you add the camphor and alcohol mixture to the water and potassium/ammonium mix, it will go cloudy again. Warm it up again and add small amounts of ethanol until it clears. For a test tube filled the typical storm glass fluid, I found 10 mls of ethanol should make it go clear.
@5 Wow - I'm confident that any deformation in a glass container will be negligible compared to pressure changes resulting from temperature change; though if I had the tools I'd definitely try to calibrate a storm glass!
I think it's more likely temperature changes, since a sealed "Galileo Thermometer" is also in a sealed glass container and does something similar (in that case the floats either float or sink depending on the temperature, IIRC because the density of the water is a maximum at 4 degrees C and varies from there).
But this does sound like a very cool project.
That said, glass does deform with temperature as well, just a bit. I live in a cold climate (New York) and if it is sufficiently cold out -- say, 10 to 20 degrees F outside(-12 to -6 C) -- windows will sometimes crack if your apartment is warm, or if a candle or lamp is too close to the glass. Touching a single-paned window you can really feel the difference -- glass transmits heat pretty well.
By Jesse (not verified) on 01 Feb 2012 #permalink
Wonderful !I'd like to try it !
By Yingtong (not verified) on 18 Feb 2013 #permalink
my chemistry teacher said that if i can get more exact measurements, she will give me ingredients to make this... is there any way i can more exact measurements? the closest possible? please?
By azula (not verified) on 16 Mar 2013 #permalink
SciencePunk has evolved...
I'm long overdue saying this, but SciencePunk has evolved once again, and diversified to the point where not a tremendous amount gets published here anymore. Some very exciting projects including a return to freelancing and a new gig at Medium called Futures Exchange is consuming most of my time,…
"Technique of reanimation", 1955
Before James Lovelock conceptualised the world as a single organism (the Gaia hypothesis), he would spend his lab hours freezing hamsters into solid blocks of ice before reanimating them. Image from The physiology of induced hypothermia: proceedings of a symposium, 28-29 October 1955
RIP Richard Matheson, father of the zombie
Sci-fi and fantasy author Richard Matheson has passed away aged 87, leaving behind a legacy of books, TV and film. Even if you don't recognise his name, you will probably have seen his work on screen. Many of his stories were adapted for film, including I Am Legend, Duel, and A Stir of Echoes, and…
Russians who raised the dead: book review and excerpt
Those still sitting on the fence over whether to buy this month's best pop science debut about zombies can read a review by the kind folks at Arc magazine here, and read an extract from the book in Salon magazine, entitled: Russians Who Raised the Dead: Bryukhonenko had heard about Kuliabko’s…
Diagram of the ecliptic would make a great piece of jewellery
I stumbled across this image by Wikipedia contributor Tauʻolunga whilst researching constellations for a tattoo I'm musing upon. It shows Sun's apparent path across the heavens. I think it would look great as a ring or a bracelet! Wikimedia Commons
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Tag Archives: WPlongform
How Did Rome’s Vitruvius, Become The World’s First Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Architecture?
An example of a variety of architectural styles influenced by Vitruvius. Florence, Tuscany Region, Italy. Photo by: David A. Johanson © All Rights Reserved
To see an alternative graphic view of this essay please visit: www.BigPictureOne.wordpress.com
If you would like to experience some ancient Roman music while viewing this essay, open one more browser and click on the Roman music link provided below (Synaulia III, has Latin signing and soothing melodies)
Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man for whatsoever uses, that the sight of them contributes to his mental health, power and pleasure. Aphorism 4. All architecture proposes an effect on the human mind, not merely a service to the human frame. — From John Ruskin’s – The Seven Lamps of Architecture ————————————————————————————————
The first historic footnote of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, was not as an architect — but of his military engineering service for another overachiever, Julius Caesar.
Vitruvius first job description involved being in charge of a Roman legion’s heavy artillery —the terrifying Ballista or catapult. Ironically, this future architectural genius was responsible for destroying opposing structures that came before his weapons of mass destruction. You could say, Vitruvius, literally had a major impact on architecture throughout the arc of his careers.
Vitruvius’ date of birth is recorded around 90 B.C. and apparently the recipient of a broad-minded education —
The floor plans from a Greek House – Vitruvius. Peterlewis – wikipedia project – image free to use with no copyright restriction
science, mathematics, drawing, music, law, rhetoric and history. He is believed to have apprenticed with a Greek architect, which gave Vitruvius the basic foundation and qualifications for becoming a subject matter expert (SME) on architectural principles.
Vitruvian Man by Leonardo de Vinci was named after & inspired by Vitruvius. —This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less.
It’s speculated at the time Vitruvius began circulating his writing, wealthy Roman citizen’s private libraries were accessible to him for specialized study in architecture and engineering.
An upheaval caused by the Empire’s civil and foreign wars channeled Vitruvius’ professional direction towards engineering military machinery. It may have seemed like an irony to him that his skills were being used to destroy architecture, rather than create it.
Contrary to popular belief, the Romans liberally used color & brick instead of marble. -Herculaneum, Campania Region, Italy.
Julius Caesar’s father-in-law residence – Villa of Papyri is located at Herculanieum, which was buried along with the neighboring city of Pompeii in 79 A.D., by the volcano Vesuvius, seen in the upper top frame.
OPPORTUNITY OPENS A DOOR FOR VITRUVIUS’ CAREER IN ARCHITECTURE
Following the assassination of Emperor Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., Vitruvius found employment with Caesar’s nephew and successor —Octavian. Another decade of Roman civil war and the eventual defeat of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., led to a Pax Romana (Latin for “Roman peace.”)
With Octavian as the undisputed ruler of the Empire, he was granted a new title — Augustus, the Emperor of Rome. Augustus channeled Rome’s wealth towards cultural, civic and public works development. This reinvestment for Rome’s glory, eventually gave Augustus bragging rights, as he is quoted, ‘I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble.’
An example of Roman ingenuity is in using brick for most of a building’s construction, then a facade of marble or limestone is applied and finally followed by vibrant color applications.
Augustus’ civic benevolence finally created an opportunity for Vitruvius’ great engineering and architectural contributions to move forward.
As the saying goes — behind every great man there is a great woman. It’s Augustus’ sister, Octavia, who sponsors Vitruvius to write the architectural treatise. Officially, the Books of Architecture are dedicated to Augustus, who uses them wisely to help create a marvelous metropolis.
The white outline of the architectural structure show where the colors were applied — from inside a residence at Herulaneum site, Italy.
Interior of residence in Herculaneum. Mosaics were used to bring the outside world indoors.
Mosaic tile in the ancient port city of Ostia Antica, Lazio Region, Italy.
Vitruvius, throughout his career keeps a low profile, perhaps due to observing what envy and jealousy could inflict on the Romans who attempted to shine too brightly.
Statue in the ancient port city of Ostia Antica, next to the Tevere River, Italy.
Cross section of Rome’s Coliseum – The World’s first ‘super dome.’ This two-thousand year old stadium remains in use with major music concert & various public events.
PAST NONCONFORMING STANDARDS IN ARCHITECTURE THREATENS ROME’S RENOVATIONS
In antiquity, Hellenistic Greek architecture sets the standards for beauty, quality and form. The Greeks, inspired by much older civilizations established around the Mediterranean, refined architecture to its classical ideal. However, precious little had been written down regarding the styles and standards of Greek architecture, until Vitruvius ambitious efforts were realized.
Ruins at Ostia Antica, near Rome, Italy.
As an effect from lack of architectural standards, instructional integrity of buildings could result in disastrous consequences, as well as the aesthetic value of religious, civic and private buildings.
Ionic style capital on top of column
Ancient Rome’s Forum
3D, computer generated image
Image Created by: Lasha Tskhondia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 – Some Rights Reserved.
Vitruvius efforts of researching classic Greek architectural techniques and styles developed into a comprehensive series of books on the methods and theories of architecture. These guiding books on style, function and practice, served as a foundation for architects and engineers for over two thousand years and are still observed today.
Rome Forum
Cross section of Forum
Remains of Rome’s Forum
How Did Rome’s Vitruvius, Become The World’s First Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Architecture? —More to be uploaded on Vitruvius in the coming days.
Links to learning more on Vitruvius
http://blogs.nd.edu/classicalarch/2012/09/28/many-canons-many-conversions/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man
http://www.bostonleadershipbuilders.com/vitruvius/
How about some ancient Roman music to enlighten your day? Click on the link below ↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X83IYWmcEFg&list=RD020MwBCorqBW0
Tags: Ancient History, Architectural History, Architecture best practices, Blended learning, Critical thinking, David A. Johanson historian, David A. Johanson Multimedia Content Specialist, David Johanson Vasquez multimedia essay on Vitruvius, eLearning multimedia on architecture, Greek Architecture, John Ruskin's - The Seven Lamps of Architecture, liberal education, multimedia eLearning on Vetruvius, Photos and graphics of Roman architectural designs, Roman Greek architecture, Vitruvius, Vitruvius the World’s First Impact Player In Architecture, WPlongform
Categories Architecture, Architecture Best Practices, Blended Learning, Critical Thinking, E-Learning, Edcuation Technology, Educational, Multimedia Learning, Roman Empire, Web-Based E-learning, World History
A Full Throttle Multimedia Video of Seattle From the R22 Beta II helicopter – Part 1 of 2.
The Robinson R22 helicopter is often described as a sports car version of helicopters — ultra light in weight, it takes off quickly and is so responsive it will literally make your head spin. Weighing in at only 1200 pounds fully fueled, it often feels like you’re wearing the helicopter like a “jet-pack” rather than riding in it. As a thrilling life experience, helicopter flights are at the top of the list, however, it requires the highest level of professionalism to safely fly and be involved with helicopter operations.
Videos by: David Johanson © All Rights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMVD3-P0fdM&feature=player_detailpage
As a multimedia specialist who produces stories supported by photography and video content, I’ve used a variety of helicopters for an image capture platform. Everything from the compact , high – performance Huey 500D up to the large tandem rotor Kawasaki KV 107 (a licensed version of the Boeing Vertol BV107 “Chinook” helicopter.) It’s the R22’s light weight, which in my opinion, gives you the most thrill for getting from point A to point B.
The Robinson R22 Beta II Helicopter was arranged for me to use as part of ◊ a six-month photography contract with the Port of Seattle. In between locations photographed for the Port, I shot video content for multimedia educational applications.
Multimedia Enhancements For Greater Learning
This multimedia video includes graphic overlays, lower third titles and an integrated color key, which indicate: ΘSeattle historic architecture (Smith Tower), ↔ municipal, transportation and industry infrastructure along with the ↑ R22’s performance ratings. The style of writing for this multimedia essay structures information using bold and italicized text to optimize key content for quick scanning by readers. For accessing your recall and comprehension a quiz is included at the end of this essay. You’re also invited to explore provided web links related to the essay’s content for learning more about subjects of interest. Your opinions and insights on how to enrich this multimedia experience is valued, so a comment section is included for suggestions and feedback.
Advantages & Challenges For Image Capture from Helicopters
The advantages of using a helicopter over an urban setting are many including: multiple low angle views, which are unavailable when using fixed winged aircraft, hovering over specific areas, an efficiency in reaching desired altitudes for a variety of perspective views.
Ξ Aerial photography and especially video are challenging to produce in a helicopter compared with using fixed winged aircraft. Two major issues, which can hamper imaging are: ↑ vibrations and noise caused from the engine next to the cab and rotor vibrations caused from elastic torsion deformations while flying. Aerospace companies such as Boeing and big budget feature film projects will occasionally use high-end aerial photography companies, which have specialized cameras mounted into their aircraft. This specialization can reduce some aerial photography vibration issues associated with hand-held cameras, but it requires a large budget to justify the expense. The R22 helicopter is a very light craft and the summer afternoon, which was used to shoot these aerials, had strong turbulence, so some scenes will have some unavoidable vibration and noise in them.
This is the first of two videos, which features aerial views of Seattle provided by Helicopters Northwest out of Θ Boeing Field. The second video, soon to be posted, shows the return for refueling and includes initial mechanical issues getting the helicopter back in the air. ↑ In regards to refueling, it’s critical a helicopter has been properly grounded before operations begin. Helicopter rotor blades are capable of generating large amounts of static electricity —especially in dry, dusty environments, which can pose a serious threat to both flight and ground crews.
Outcomes From Infrequent Helicopter Accidents Are Usually Tragic… But There Are Exceptions
One of my first jobs after graduating from college was with KREM-TV (King Broadcasting) in Spokane. A few years after I moved on from working with the station a tragic accident occurred with its news helicopter. The helicopter had just picked up Gary Brown —an outstanding KREM videographer (who I remembered as always being upbeat, positive and friendly) — when its rotor blades struck the guy wires supporting the station’s transmitter tower. Both the photographer and pilot were killed instantly.
I’ve included a link below, which has an article with a photo of the accident scene from the Spokane, Spokesman Review – May 7, 1985 edition. The story has comments from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA ) official coordinating the accident’s investigation. Ironically at the same page is a syndicated, New York Times story of a larger helicopter accident, which occurred on the following day of May 6. That tragedy was of the loss of 17 Marines in a large Sikorsky, CH-53 Sea Stallion off the southwestern coast of Japan. A joint operations helicopter reported witnessing the CH-53 suddenly lost power and dropped 500 feet into the sea.
About ten years ago a friend of mine survived a helicopter crash, with only a few scratches. He had bought a used helicopter from a sheriff’s department to State his own flight service business. Over time, parts needed to be replaced with upgrades and he was sold a defective fuel-line, which was installed and failed while in flight. He was approximately 100 feet in the air with two clients when the helicopter’s engine shuttered to a stop. Fortunately he got his helicopter into ↑ auto rotation (emergency helicopter procedure, which shifts rotor blade’s pitch to use stored kinetic energy for making a “soft landing”) and as they began descending, the helicopter’s skid caught the center of a tree and its branches helped them slow the descent even more.
Education and Training Is the Key to Helicopter Safety
Overall, if you consider how many hours and flights in a day helicopters perform flawlessly — they are safe and reliable. What these specialized aircraft can achieve in vertical maneuverability and performance is nothing short of marvelous and amazing. To ensure engines and structural frames are safely maintained the FAA certifies aviation mechanics using two certifications. Helicopter mechanics are required to have: an airframe mechanic and or a power plant mechanic certification. Most employers prefer their mechanics having both certifications, which requires 1,900 hours of coursework in order to pass oral and written exams that prove their skills.
Both videos demonstrate the essential level of professionalism required for helicopter operations during a high volume of jet and helicopters landings and takeoffs at Boeing Field.
Now, just sit back and enjoy the ride!
QUESTIONS FOR CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND TO TEST YOUR RECALL?
1.) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a helicopter for aerial photography?
2.) Name one of the first skyscrapers, which also was the tallest building on the West Coast until 1962?
3.) What is the most important overall requirement for flying helicopters?
4.) What is the name of the emergency procedure for when a helicopter’s engine fails inflight and what process takes place for a soft landing?
5.) Name the FAA requirements for being a helicopter mechanic and why are they necessary?
6.) Describe the multimedia enhancements on the video, which were used to promote greater learning.
Integrated Learning Color/Symbol Key for Career Technical Education:
↑Navy Blue — Aerospace Engineering related including: aerodynamics, structural dynamics & avionics
Ξ Dark Green — Multimedia & graphic design techniques used for Integrated learning
Θ Maroon — Historical structures, locations and or districts
◊ Indigo – Professional photography & video production
↔ Purple — Civil engineering related
Tags: aerial photography, Boeing Field, CTE education, David Johanson Vasquez, dramatic aerial views of Seattle, E-Learning, helicopter accidents, helicopter aerial photography, helicopter maintenance, helicopter operations in Seattle, helicopter safety, helicopter static electricity, helicopter video, helicopters, information graphics, Instructional design, multimedia eLearning, multimedia essay, multimedia learning, News helicopter accidents, Port of Seattle, Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, science technology multimedia essay, sciencetechtablet, Seattle History, tragic news helicopter accidents, video aerial views of Seattle, WPlongform, WPLongforms
Categories Aerospace Engineering, aerospace multimedia presentation, Aviation History, Aviation in the Pacific Northwest, Aviation Video, Boeing History, E-Learning, Educational, Multimedia presentation, Multimedia technology essay, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Northwest History, Post modern history, Postmodernism, Science Technology Essay, Seattle History, Seattle's Century 21 Worlds Fair, Uncategorized, Video editing techniques effects, Washington State Economy, Web-Based E-learning
Who Were the Titans of Telecommunication and Information Technology?
Multimedia Essay By: David Johanson Vasquez © All Rights – Second Addition – Series 1 & 2
— Inventions are rarely the result of just one individual’s work— but are created through collective efforts overtime, from several individual’s observations, theories and experiments. Benjamin Franklin’s role in demystifying electricity, Michael Faraday’s discovery of “induced” current, Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi’s wireless radio communication… are just a few of the technology pioneers responsible for developing modern telecommunications. I regret not having the resources for this essay’s inclusion of all men and women, whose’ discoveries made telecommunication and information technology possible.
Definition of technology — “the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.” (J.K Galbraith) “the application of scientific and other organized knowledge to practical tasks by… ordered systems that involve people and machines.” (John Naughton)
For an alternative graphic format on this program, please visit: http://www.BigPictureOne.wordpress.com
Telecommunications took its first infant steps as the industrial revolution was rapidly compressing concepts of time and space. The first half of the 19Th Century witnessed modern societies using steam locomotive trains for mass transit and electronic communication through telegraph technology. Steamships shrunk the world by delivering capital goods, raw resources and people to remote locations within fractions of the time it took before. With the industrial revolution nearing its peak at the close of the century, a new communication, innovation was developed, which helped transform the modern age into a postmodern era.
Inventor, Alexander Graham Bell’s Washington D.C. company, which developed the telephone, eventually evolved into a prime research laboratory. His vision for a R&D lab, created a foundation for the digital technologies of today. In the following century, another key, R&D technology titan— Xerox PARC enters the stage, which helps to set in motion personal computing and expand the information technology revolution.
The steamship S.S. Empress of India near Vancouver B.C.
From the private collection of: David A. Johanson ©
Scottish born Alexander Graham Bell
from the collection of: Library of Congress
The French Technology Connection
A French, visionary government in 1880, recognized the importance of Alexander Bell’s invention, and awarded him the Volta Prize. A sum of 50,000 francs or roughly, $250,000 in today’s currency came with the honor. The funds were reinvested into research for use in education to enable knowledge on deafness. Growing investments to fund the creation of Bell Telephone Company on March 20, 1880 allowed for expanded research on recording and transmission of sound.
The telegraph and telephone were the first forms of electricity, point-to-point telecommunications and qualify as early versions of social media platforms. Over time, phone service, convenience and quality have steadily improved.
In my youth during the early 1960s, I spent summers visiting relatives with farms in Wisconsin who had phones connected on “party lines” (several phone subscribers on one circuit). When picking up a phone connected with a party line, your neighbor might be having a conversation in progress. If a conversation was taking place you could politely interrupt and request to use the phone for urgent business. Today, phone service has become so advanced that it is taken for granted as a form of personal utility.
In 1925, Bell Telephone Laboratories were created from the merger of the engineering department of American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) and Western Electric Research Laboratories. Ownership of the labs was shared evenly between the two companies; in return, Bell Laboratories provided design and technical support for Western Electric’s telephone infrastructure used by the Bell System. Bell Labs completed the symbiotic relationship for the phone companies by writing and maintaining a full-spectrum of technical manuals known as Bell System Practices (BSP).
An Invisible Bridge From Point A To Point B
Bell Laboratories instantly began developing and demonstrating for the first time, telecommunication technology, which we now depend on for economic growth and to hold our social fabric together. Bell accomplished the first transmitting of a long-distance, 128-line television images from New York to Washington, D.C. in 1927. This remarkable event ushered in television broadcast, creating a new form of mass-multimedia. Now people could gather together in the comfort of their homes and witness… live news reports, hours of entertainment and product advertisements, which helped to stimulate consumer spending in a growing economy. Radio astronomy’s powerful space exploratory telescope, was developed through research conducted by Karl Jansky in 1931. During this decade, Bell lab’s George Paget Thomson was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of electron diffraction, which was a key factor for solid-state.
The Forecasting Power Of Numerical Data
An important component of renewable energy is the photovoltaic cell, which was developed in the lab during the 1940s by Russell Ohl. A majority of the United States’ statistician superstars, such as W. Edwards Deming, Harold F. Dodge, George Edwards, Paul Olmstead and Mary N. Torrey all came from Bell Labs Quality Assurance Department. W. Edwards Deming’s genius would later go on to help revitalize Japan’s industry and be used in Ford Motors’ successful, quality control initiatives in the 1980s.
The U.S. government used Bell Labs for a series of consulting projects relating to highly technical initiatives and for the Apollo program. Several Nobel Prizes have been awarded to researches at the laboratory, adding to its fame and growing prestige. In the 1940’s many of the Bell Labs were moved from New York City to nearby areas of New Jersey. ……………………………….Replica of the first transistor
Inventors of the transistor, l. to r. Dr. William Shockley, Dr. John Bardeen, Dr. Walter Brattain, ca. 1956
Courtesy Bell Laboratories
Smaller Is Better In The World Of Electronics
Perhaps Bell Laboratories most marvelous invention was the transistor invented on December 16, 1947. Transistors are at the heart of just about all electrical devices you’ll use today. These crucial artifacts transformed the electronics industry, by miniaturizing multiple electronic components used in an ever-expanding array of products and technical applications. Transistor efficiencies also greatly reduced the amount of heat in electronic devices, while improving overall reliability compared to fragile vacuum tube components. Once more, the labs’ select team of scientists was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics, for essential components of telecommunications.
The mobile-phone was also created in 1947, with the labs’ commercial launch of Mobile Telephone Service (MTS) for use in automobiles. Some 20 years later, cell phone technology was developed at Bell and went on to become the ubiquitous form of communication it is today.
In 1954 the labs began to harness the sun’s potential, by creating the world’s first modern solar cell. The laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) was dated in a 1958 Bell Lab, publication. The laser’s growing spectrum of applications includes — communications, medicine and consumer electronics.
A Perpetual Revolution In The Sky Unites The World
In 1962, Bell Labs pioneered satellite communications with the launch of Telstar 1, the world’s first orbiting communication satellite. Telstar enabled virtually instant telephone calls to be bounced from coast to coast and all over the world. This development unified global communications and provided instant 24 – hour news coverage. Bell Labs introduced the replacement of rotary dialing with touch-tone in 1963, this improvement vastly expanded telephone services with — 911 emergency response, voice mail and call service capabilities.
The image used in Byte Magazine for an article on VM2 assembly language. Photo-illustration by: David A. Johanson © All Rights
A New Distinct Language For Harnessing Machines
It’s been greatly underreported that Unix operating system, C and C++ programing languages, essential for use in Information Technology (IT), were all created within Bell Labs. These crucial computer developments were established between 1969 -1972, while C++ came later in the early 1980s. C programing was a breakthrough as a streamlined and flexible form of computer coding, making it one of the most widely used in today’s programing languages. Unix enabled comprehensive networking of diverse computing systems, providing for the internet’s dynamic foundation. Increasingly, Bell Laboratories inventions were transforming and expanding the frontiers of micro-computing, which helped to make personal computing possible. In 1980, Bell Labs tested the first single-chip 32-bit microprocessor, enabling personal computers to handle complex multimedia applications.
A major corporate restructure of AT&T, the parent company of Bell Laboratories, was ordered by the U.S. Federal government in 1985, to split-up its subsidiaries as part of a divestiture agreement. This event proved to be an example of over regulation, which severed important links for funding technology R&D projects. Although AT&T previously had an economic advantage with a monopoly in the telephone industry, it allowed for necessary funding of Bell R&D labs. Indirectly, U.S. tax payers made one of the best investments by subsidizing the foundation for our current telecommunication and information technology infrastructure.
AT&T Bell Laboratories became AT&T Labs official new name in 1996, when it became part of Lucent Technologies. Since 1996, AT&T Labs have been awarded over 2000 patents and has introduced hundreds of new products. In 2007, Lucent Bell and Alcatel Research merged into one organization under the name Bell Laboratories. Currently, the Labs’ purpose is directed away from scientific discovery and focussed on enhancing existing technology, which is intended to yield higher financial returns.
Pause & Reflect: Questions for continuous learning part 1.
1.) What were the first forms of electrical, point-to-point telecommunications?
2.) What revolution was taking place when early forms of telecommunications were invented and name at least two technology innovations?
3.) Define the word technology?
5.) Who founded Bell Research and Development Labs?
7.) Name at least two developments which Bell Labs were awarded Nobel Prizes in?
6.) Pick one Bell Lab invention, which you believe was most important for helping develop modern telecommunications or personal computing.
Any Sufficiently Advanced Technology Will Appear As Magic. — Arthur C. Clarke
Advance Technology Takes Root In The West
In the first half of the 20TH Century, Bell Labs’ dazzling R&D creations aligned seamlessly to establish a solid foundation for telecommunications. Most of the Labs’ bold research had been conducted in the industrialized, Eastern portion of the United States. By the 1950s, new developments and evolving industries on the West Coast were benefiting from Bell’s technological inventions. Palo Alto’s, Stanford University research facilities, south of San Francisco, acted as a magnet for pulling in corporate transplants— most notably IBM, General Electric and Eastman Kodak. In 1970, XEROX Corporation of Rochester, New York established a research center known as—Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated). PARC’s impact in R&D would soon be felt, acting as a stimulating catalyst for personal computing and information technology development.
Creative Sanctuary For Nurturing Bold Ideas
Jack Goldman, Chief Scientist at Xerox enlisted physicist Dr. George Pake, a specialist in nuclear magnetic resonance to help establish a new Xerox research center. Selecting the Palo Alto location gave the scientist greater independence and freedom than was possible near its Rochester headquarters. The location also provided huge resource opportunities for selecting talent pools of leading engineers and scientist from the numerous research centers located in the Bay Area. Once the West-Coast lab had a foothold, it became a sanctuary for the company’s creative misfits— passionate science engineers who were determined to create boldly. One of the few downsides for the new facility’s location was—less opportunities for lobbying and promoting critical breakthrough developments to top management located a continent away.
XEROX PARC had an inspiring creative influence, along with universal appeal, which attracted international visitors. A collaborative, open atmosphere helps to define the creative legacy of PARC. The cross-pollination of ideas and published research between the R&D facility and Stanford’s computer science community, pushed digital innovation towards new thresholds.
A Premier Unveils The Future Of Personal Computing Tools
XEROX PARC, discovered a target rich environment of ideas from Douglas Engelbart, who worked at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in Menlo Park. Engelbart gave the Mother of all personal computing presentations in December of 1968, — astonishing the computer science audience with a remarkable debut of: the computer mouse, hyper text, email, video conferencing and much more.
Bitmap graphic, graphical user interface (GUI), which provides window like graphic features and icon objects — are just a few of the revolutionary concepts developed at PARC for personal computing. The list of PC innovations and developments continues with laser printers, WYSIWYG text editor, InterPress (prototype of Postscript) and Ethernet as a local-area computer network — inspiring PARC Universal Packet architecture, which resembles today’s internet. Optical disc technologies and the LCD, were developed by PARC material scientist adding yet more to its diverse technology portfolio.
Xerox PARC’s R&D, efficiently blended these vital new technologies and leveraged it all into a personal computer, workstation, called “Alto.” The futuristic Alto, was light-years ahead of its 1973 debut—bundled with a dynamic utility including: a mouse, graphical user interface and the connectivity of Ethernet. Interest in this revolutionary PC wonder kept expanding as countless demonstrations were given to the legions of intrigue individuals. The increasing demand for witnessing the power of PC computing was telegraphing the need for a new consumer market. For the first time, a “desktop sized computer” could match the capabilities of a full-service print shop.
Advance technology always comes with a hefty price tag, and the Alto was no exception, making it beyond reach of most consumers. Despite a high price-point — prestige and enthusiasm for Alto grew — as did admiration for the bold new world of Apple Computers and of its superstar founder — Steve Jobs.
Xerox Alto -1973 Was this the apple in Steve Job’s eye? It certainly was the first personal computer, which included most of the graphic interface features we recognize today.
Torch Of The Titans Lights New Horizons
By 1979, Apple was beginning to advance its own user-friendly interfaces with the development of the Lisa and Macintosh personal computers. Both products featured screens with multiple fonts, using bitmap screens for blending graphics and text. There were Apple graphics engineers associated with Xerox PARC — either through former employment or in connection with Stanford University. Apple engineers aware of advances made in graphic interfaces with PARC’s ALTO, prompted Steve Jobs to have a parlay with PARC. In late 1979, Steve Jobs with his Apple engineering entourage arrived to view an AlTO demonstration at Xerox’s facilities. The meeting’s outcome proved Jobs’ was a master of showmanship and marketing JudeJitsu by not disclosing a previously negotiated, sizable investment from Xerox’s venture capital group.
Gravitational forces began shifting in favor of Steve Jobs and Apple Computer to capitalize on the market potential for personal computing. PARC computer engineers and scientist clearly understood the economic potential of an information business they help build… but Xerox top executives certainly did not. Xerox had a history of dominating the lucrative copy machine market — it was the business model corporate decision makers were comfortable with and they would not risk venturing very far from. Most of PARC’s personal computing developments experienced the same frustrating fate of withering on the vine — allowing for lucrative opportunities to go for bargain rates to new companies like Apple Computers.
Apple’s alchemy of — perfect timing, creative talent and visionary insight quickly aligned towards harnessing information technology products for an emerging market convergence. The creative inspiration and marketing savvy, which Steve Jobs’ applied towards personal computing—created seismic ripple effects, which we’re still experiencing today.
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Recently, there’s been a handful of media and tech industry critics, siting undeserved shortcomings of Bell Labs and Xerox PARC. Too often, corporate R&D labs are faulted for not fully marketing their technology developments or capitalizing on scientific inventions. Rarely mentioned is the research & development lab’s purpose or mission of innovation, which is directed by the parent company’s strategic goals. Failing to understand the reality of this relationship, detracts from the technological importance and diminishes the accomplishments of these remarkable engineers and scientists. Lost in the critics hindsight, is the titanic obstacles facing the marketing, manufacturing and distribution of innovative products.
Thrilling technical breakthroughs are what grab headlines — rarely are the successful efforts of corporate marketing or brilliant production logistics recognized or mentioned. It’s a disconnect to judge a R&D’ lab’s success completely on the financial returns of its inventions.
The laser printer’s success, in particular, should erase the myth that Xerox PARC miss-managed all of its developments. Gary Starkweather, a brilliant optical engineer for Xerox PARC, developed the laser printer. Starkweather had pitched battles with Xerox management over promoting the laser printer, but eventually he triumphed and the laser printer went on to earn billions of dollars — enough to repay the investment cost of Xerox PARC several times over. Eventually Starkweather sensibly moved on to greater opportunities when Steve Jobs offered him a job in Cupertino.
Brilliant R&D technology, requires an equally creative or open-minded group of executives for converting technology innovation into a marketable product. These decision makers must maintain iron-wills and courage to shepherd the technology product through its entire volatile development process. IBM’s iconic 305 RAMAC, the first commercial ‘super computer,’ is a classic example of a product development challenge. Introduced in 1956, the RAMAC featured a hard disk drive (HDD) and stored a — whopping five megabytes of data. Apparently, the HDD storage capacity could’ve been expanded well beyond the 5MB, but was not attempted because — IBM’s marketing department didn’t believe they could sell a computer with more storage.
IBM 305 RAMAC — first commercial computer to use a hard disk drive in 1956.
R&D Labs take creative risk in developing new ideas, most of these developments won’t make it to market, but that’s the price of creativity. Using intuition for taking risks and knowing some failure is necessary to pave the road toward successful discoveries — builds confidence in trusting one’s creative resources. So often, the creative-process is misunderstood and undervalued in our society’s perceived need for instant control and results. In the past, I’ve personally witnessed this attitude reflected in our educational system, however the viewpoint is progressively shifting to realize the value of the creative-process.
Steve Jobs and Apple Computers are a good illustration of a company, which traditionally emphasized and embraced the creative spirit. Creative employees are considered the most valued resource at Apple as they are encouraged to nurture their creative uniqueness. Shortsighted emphasis on quarterly results, which has affected most of American business culture, is refreshingly absent from Apple’s overall mindset, allowing for more sustained and successful business initiatives.
Where Have All The R&D Labs Gone — Innovation VS Invention
The era of industrial, ‘closed inventive’ research & development labs — have faded into the background of yesterday’s business culture. Internal silos, once the proprietary norm, have been day-lighted to allow fresh ideas and collaborative efforts to circulate. For the past 10 years, corporations have steadily reversed their long-term, pure scientific research in favor of efforts towards quicker commercial returns. In 2011, Intel Corporation, dropped its ’boutique’ research ‘lablets‘ in Seattle, Berkeley and Pittsburgh — opting for academic research to be conducted at university facilities. Intel continues to maintain its more profit oriented Intel Labs. This industry strategy repeatedly cloned itself within the corporate research world, as it is far easier to realize a profit from innovation than it is from pure invention.
Perhaps the golden-age of great research & development labs have run their course — but not before replacing the analogue, industrial era technology, with a digital one. A century ago, using creative, innovative and bold scientific vision, Bell Labs set the standard for future R&D labs. Xerox PARC, helped to extend Bell Labs’ marvelous inventions and innovations with a solid platform of creative research for developing mass markets in the postmodern telecommunications and personal computing of today. ~
Pause & Reflect: Questions for continuous learning – part 2.
1.) Name the parent company (based in Rochester New York) and its research and development lab, which moved into California’s Bay Area in 1970?
2.) What was the product (used for duplicating documents), which this New York based company had made its fame and fortune on?
3.) Give at least two reasons why this R&D lab was so inventive?
4.) What stop the lab’s parent company, which developed the first commercialized personal computer from realizing more profits from its inventions?
5.) What was the name of both the young, iconic tech entrepreneur and his company (named after a red fruit) who was able to creatively use and market early Silicone Valley PC innovations?
6.) What’s the difference between invention and innovation?
7.) In your opinion, who were the top 10 inventors of all time and how did they make your top 10?
wp- CREATIVE COMMUNITIES v5.indd
Bell Labs – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bell Labs
Telstar 1: The Little Satellite That Created the Modern World 50 Years Ago | Wired Science | Wired.com
Was Bell Labs Overrated? – Forbes
Top 10 Greatest Inventors in History | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net
History of Lucent Technologies Inc. – FundingUniverse
Volatile and Decentralized: The death of Intel Labs and what it means for industrial research
Inventive America | World | Times Crest
Bell Labs Kills Fundamental Physics Research | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
http://www.westernelectric.com/history/WEandBellSystemBook.pdf
Xerox PARC, Apple, and the Creation of the Mouse : The New Yorker
1956 Hard Disk Drive – Disk Storage Unit for 305 RAMAC Computer
IBM 305 RAMAC: The Grandaddy of Modern Hard Drives
WSJ mangles history to argue government didn’t launch the Internet | Ars Technica
The Industrial Revolution: A Timeline
A History of Silicon Valley
The Tinkerings of Robert Noyce
XEROX PARC had an inspiring creative influence, along with a brilliant universal appeal, which attracted international visitors. A collaborative, open atmosphere helps to define the creative legacy of PARC. The cross-pollination of ideas and published research between the R&D facility and Stanford’s computer science community, pushed digital innovation towards new thresholds
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There’s Nothing New Under the Sun, or is There?
Science Tech Tablet provides periodic updates on solar activity, the essay begins after the Space Weather Prediction Center Report
Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.
Updated 2013 Jul 19 2200 UTC
Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Geophysical Activity Report and Forecast
SDF Number 200 Issued at 2200Z on 19 Jul 2013
IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 18/2100Z to
19/2100Z: Solar activity has been at very low levels for the past 24
hours. There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the disk.
IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is likely to be low with a
slight chance for an M-class flare on days one, two, and three (20 Jul,
21 Jul, 22 Jul).
IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 18/2100Z to 19/2100Z: The geomagnetic
field has been at quiet to unsettled levels for the past 24 hours. Solar
wind speed, as measured by the ACE spacecraft, reached a peak speed of
674 km/s at 19/1650Z. Total IMF reached 12 nT at 18/2100Z. The maximum
southward component of Bz reached -9 nT at 19/0122Z. Electrons greater
than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached a peak level of 2710 pfu.
IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected
to be at unsettled to minor storm levels on day one (20 Jul), unsettled
to active levels on day two (21 Jul) and quiet to unsettled levels on
day three (22 Jul).
III. Event probabilities 20 Jul-22 Jul
Class M 15/15/15
Class X 01/01/01
Proton 01/01/01
PCAF green
IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux
Observed 19 Jul 114
Predicted 20 Jul-22 Jul 115/115/115
90 Day Mean 19 Jul 121
V. Geomagnetic A Indices
Observed Afr/Ap 18 Jul 016/015
Estimated Afr/Ap 19 Jul 011/014
Predicted Afr/Ap 20 Jul-22 Jul 014/020-011/015-008/010
VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 20 Jul-22 Jul
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 35/30/25
Minor Storm 20/10/05
Major-severe storm 05/01/01
B. High Latitudes
A multimedia eLearning essay by: David Johanson Vasquez © All Rights — First Addition
Please note: This essay is a follow-up from my chronicle on solar storm effects of the 1859 Carrington Event on an industrial era society— forward to the postmodern, microelectronic world of today. To better understand the context of this article, it’s suggested you view my introduction solar storm essay found by selecting the March 2012 archives found on left side of this page. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (funded by the U.S. Congress) produced a landmark report in 2008 entitled “Severe Space Weather Events— Societal Impacts.” It reported how people of the 21st-century depend on advance-technology systems for daily living, The National Academy of Science stated— Electric power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A century-class solar storm, the Academy warned, could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina. [1] Some leading solar researchers believe we are now due for a century-class storm.
Photo courtesy of NASA
You’re encouraged to help make the essay interactive by entering comments or observations in the dialogue box at the end of the essay.
The essay is a work in progress, please check back as more content will be added
in the coming days. — To see this essay in another format, please visit the site: http://www.BigPictureOne.wordpress.com
July 15, 2012 aurora borealis sighting near Everett, WA. This event was caused from an X-class solar storm, which occurred within a week of another X-class storm (X-class being the most severe classification). The 11-year solar cycle is approaching a solar maximum around 2013, this will most likely bring more intense solar storm activity.
Depending on your interpretation of the essay’s title, there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to our neighboring star’s behavior. Since our Sun left its infancy as a protostar over 4 billion years ago, by triggering a nuclear fusion reaction and entering a main-sequence stage, its solar mechanics have maintained relative consistent patterns. What has not remained the same is the evolution of life on Earth, in particular, our species’ development of a civilization which now is dependent on a form of energy called electricity. Our Sun is now playing a version of solar roulette with the World’s social and economic future.
The name “aurora borealis” was given by Galileo Galilei, in 1619 A.D., inspired from the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and Boreas from the Greek name for north wind. First record siting was in 2600 B.C. in China. Collision between oxygen particles in Earth’s atmosphere with charged (ionized) particles released from the sun creates green and yellow luminous colors beginning at altitudes of 50 miles (80 kilometers). Blue or purplish-red is produced from nitrogen particles. The solar particles are attracted by the Earth’s northern and southern magnetic poles with curtains of light stretching east to west.
Reaching back only a few generations into the 20th Century, electricity was considered a luxury—today ordinary life would be impossible without it! And that’s where our beloved Sun comes into the picture, to potentially cast a shadow on our dependency of electricity. Solar storms have been a reoccurring event before time began, but they didn’t affect people outside of providing a fantastic, special effects light-show until a critical event happened in 1859.
In the mid 19th century, while the industrial revolution was near full development, the resource of electric power was first harnessed. Shortly after electricity was put into use for communication using telegraph technology (a 19th century equivalent of the Internet), is when the Sun revealed a shocking surprise in the most powerful solar storm ever recorded, which was known a the Carrington Event.
The year 1859 was near a peak in the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle, when the Sun’s polarity readies for reversal. Approaching the end sequence of this magnetic shift, brings a solar maximum , which produces violent solar flares and ejects plasma clouds outwards into space. If the flare occurs in a region opposite of Earth, a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) may send a billion-ton radiation storm towards our planet. Fortunately, the Earth is protected by a robust atmosphere and a magnetic field surrounding the globe, which protects us from most solar winds. However, an intense solar storm with its charged plasma cloud can overwhelm our planet’s protective shields. When an extreme solar storm’s magnetic energy counteracts with our planet’s protective magnet field, it creates geomagnetic induced currents (GICs). GICs are massive amounts of electromagnetic energy which travel through the ground and ocean water, seeking the path of least resistance in power lines, pipe lines and rail tracks.
In the 1859, Carrington event, the GICs surged through the world’s emerging global communication system,known as the telegraph. So much power was generated from the solar storm entering the Earth’s atmosphere, it sent massive currents through telegraph wires, catching offices on fire, nearly electrocuting operators and mysteriously continued sending signals with batteries completely disconnected.
A visual indication of the Earth’s magnetic field being overwhelmed occurs when the aurora borealis appears. If the cosmic-light-show can be seen near the tropics, it’s an indicator our planet’s magnetic fields are severely being overrun. In the extreme solar storm of 1859, the aurora borealis was seen near the equator and it was reported people were able to read newspapers outdoors at midnight. Navigational compasses (19th century version of GPS) throughout the world spun-out-of-control due to the flux of electromagnetic energy.
A more recent, dramatic example of a solar storm’s impact is the 1989, Quebec-Power blackout. The geomagnetic storm created was much milder than the solar maxim of the 1859, Carrington Event. However, it’s a chilling preview of what a complex, unprotected electrical grid faces when up against the forces of super solar storm. Quebec-Power’s large transformers were fried by the GICs overloading its grid network. Electrical grids and power-lines act like a giant antennas in pulling in the massive flow of geomagnetic energy. In the 1989 solar storm incident, over 6 million people lost power in Eastern Canada and the U.S., with additional connecting power grids on the verge of collapsing. Again, the powerful 1989 solar disturbance was not the 100 year super storm, but a small preview of what can if preparations are made to protect the power grid.
Solar scientist are now able to put together how extreme storms follow an 11 year solar maxim cycle, like the one we’re now entering, and should peak sometime in 2013. Already this year, six major X-class solar storms, the most intense type, have occurred since January. Within one week of July, we had two of the X-class storms, with last one pointing directly at Earth. On July 13, 2012, the Washington Post’s Jason Sometime, wrote an article with his concerns on how NASA and NOAA were sending out inconsistent warnings about the solar storm from July 12.
A spectrum of telecommunication may be lost during severe solar and geomagnetic storms. Photo: David Johanson Vasquez © All Rights
The federal agency FEMA, appears to have learned its’ lesson from Hurricane Katrina and being proactive with a series of super solar storm scenarios. These scenarios illustrate the many challenges towards maintaining communication and electric power, based on the strength of the solar event. Without reliable power, food distribution will be problematic. Today we have less reliance on large warehouse inventories and more dependenancy on — “just in time” food delivery. According to Willis Risk Solutions (industrial underwriter insurer for electric utilities) and Lloyds World Specialist Insurer (formerly LLoyds of London), there’s a global shortage of industrial large electric transformer, which now are only made in a few countries. It would take years to replace the majority of the World’s electric transformers and technically require massive amounts of electric power, which ironically, would not be available in an event of an extreme geomagnetic storm. http://www.lloyds.com/News-and-Insight/News-and-Features/360-News/Emerging-Risk-360/Transformers-a-risk-to-keeping-the-power-on-230810
The companies and the federal agencies mentioned in this essay, are overall, considered highly respected and cautious in forecasting major threats to societies and national economies. All of the mentioned government entities and scientific organizations realize it’s not a matter if, but when will the next super solar storm be aimed and sent to Earth.
The good news is we can still take the necessary precautions to protect our society and economic future form this clear and present threat. Here’s a link to the 2008 National Academy of Science (funded by congress) report: Severe Weather—Understanding Societal and Economic Impact: A Workshop Report (2008). This group meets every year to work on preventative strategies. The report contains cost-effective protection plans for electric power grids, please see link provided. http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12507
Second Addition: More to be added in the days ahead including…
— Update on U.S. House of Representatives and Senate sponsored legislation for solar and geomagnetic storm preparedness.
— Electric power industry mitigation and preparedness for solar and geomagnetic storm preparedness.
Chronicles of the largest solar and geomagnetic storms in the last 500 years.
1847 — First geomagnetic storm caused by solar flare inadvertently documented with telegraph technology. Reports were the telegraph system was sending clearer signals by disconnecting its batteries and using the geomagnetic energy from the storm. First published affects caused from geomagnetic storm.
1859 — Becomes known as the “Carrington Event;” telegraph system becomes inoperable worldwide as reports of offices are set on fire from supercharged telegraph wire. This is the largest geomagnetic storm in 500 years. Scientist impressed with the event begin documenting future solar storm activity. The destructive power from a storm of this magnitude would devastate global power grids, satellites, computer and communication systems.
1921 — Know as the “Great Storm,” it impacted worldwide telegraph and radio signals with total blackouts and cables were burned beyond use. This scale of geomagnetic storm is likely to occur approximately once every 100 years. As we approach a century mark since this type of storm took place — it’s possible another one could happen at anytime, with devastating results unless preventative measures are taken.
1989 — Major solar flare erupts on surface of the Sun opposite of Earth; a resulting solar storm trigers a massive geomagnetic storm, which overwhelms Quebec’s power grid. As a result of the storm, six million people instantly loses power as U.S. Northeast and Midwest connecting grids come within seconds of collapse. As a result, Canadian government becomes proactive and takes effort to protect its power grid from future solar storms.
2003 — Know as the “Halloween Storms” this series of geomagnetic storms disrupted GPS, blocked High Frequency (HF) radio and triggered emergency procedures a various nuclear power plants. In Scandinavia and South Africa, section of power grids were hit hard, many large power transformers were destroyed by the powerful geomagnetic induced currents (GICs).
Chronological Reports and News Accounts of Solar Storms From 1859 to 2003
This is one of the most comprehensive list of solar storm accounts on the web. The site chronicles strange solar storm happenings; such as reports in the early 1960s with TV programs suddenly disappearing and reappearing in other regions. Other unsettling reports include the U.S. being cutoff from radio communication from the rest of the world during a geomagnetic storm. Please see link below:
http://www.solarstorms.org/SRefStorms.html
Solar Storm Acronyms and Terms
ACE — Advance Compositional Explore = NASA satellite used in detecting and monitoring potential damaging solar flares and CMEs.
AC — alternating current
BPS — bulk power system
CME — coronal mass ejection = caused from a solar fare near the surface of the sun, which sends a billion-ton radiation storm out into space.
EHV — extra high voltage
FERC — United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
GIC — geo-magnetic induced current = an extreme solar storm’s magnetic energy counteracts with our planet’s protective magnet field, creating electric current which conducts or travels through the ground or ocean water.
GMD — geo-magnetic disturbance
GAO — Government Accounting Office
GPS — global positioning system = A series of satellites positioned in an Earth, geostationary orbit for use in military and civilian navigation
NERC — North American Electric Reliability Corporation
NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminestration
POES — Polar Operational Environmental Satellite
SEP — solar energetic particle
SOHO — Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (satellite)
STDC — Solar Terrestrial Dispatch Center (Canada)
STEREO — Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (Satellite)
Sources and Links
NASA Resources
Illustration courtesy of NASA
A useful illustration for understanding NASA’s efforts with Heliophysics System Observatory
Detail explanation of space weather and NASA monitoring can be found at the following link: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/spaceweather/index.html
NOAA Solar storm monitor sites:
NOAA is the nation’s official source of space weather alerts, monitoring and alerts. The following NOAA site provides realtime monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
http://www.n3kl.org/sun/status.html
Washington Post story on conflicting NASA and NOAA solar forecast warnings for the July 12, 2012 solar storm event.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/solar-storm-incoming-federal-agencies-provide-inconsistent-confusing-information/2012/07/13/gJQAkm06hW_blog.html
NASA and NOAA sites (post warning of impending dangers to the electrical grid from solar storms producing extreme geomagnetic induce currents (GICs) on Earth). http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/21jan_severespaceweather/ http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/26oct_solarshield/ http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/space.php
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/18/solar-storm-flare-disruption-technology
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/solar-flare-cme-aurora/
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/subjects/emr-isac/infograms/ig2012/4-12.shtm#3
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sww/sww11/SWW_2011_Presentations/tues_340p/Extreme_Solar_WeatherandCCPublicV2.pdf
My solar storm articles from February www.bigpictureone.wordpress.com and in the March addition of www.ScienceTechTablet.wordpress.com present a comprehensive picture of how solar flares and solar storms originate, with the potential of producing geomagnetic storms on Earth. If these geomagnetic storms are severe enough, they can threaten our way of life. Some strategies and common sense precautions are offered for civic preparedness in the case of an extreme solar event.
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Categories Aerospace Engineering, Alternative energy, Aurora Borealis, Computer architecture, Computer Engineering, Dramatic surreal landscapes, E-Learning, Educational, Electric Power Grid, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental concerns, Environmental Studies, fine art photography, G2V, Landscape photography, Low light photography, Lowlight photography, Multimedia presentation, NASA Satellites, Natural Science, Nikon Cameras, Northern Lights, Pacific Northwest, Photography and video technique, Post modern history, Postmodernism, Science Technology Essay, Science Technology Site, Solar Activity, Solar Physics, Solar Storm Forecasting, Solar Storms, Uncategorized, Washington State Economy, Web-Based E-learning
The World Event Which launched Seattle into a Postmodern Orbit, 50 Years Ago Today.
Seattle panorama with Space Needle in foreground and Mt Rainier in background.
Multimedia eLearning essay by: David Johanson Vasquez © All Rights – Third Edition
Content includes: Blended learning, critical think, Seattle Postmodern History, (Video Links – MGM film segments with Elvis Presley at Seattle’s World Fair, postmodern video of early NASA rocket launches & spacewalks, video defining “postmodernism”) (Web links, history org feature of Century 21 Seattle’s World’s Fair & Architect Japanese American Minoru Yamasaki)
Century 21 World’s Fair logo.
On this day, April 21st, 1962, Seattle’s Century 21 World’s Fair opened the doors for its national and international visitors. Eventually, almost 10 million guests would attend the entire event to—imagine a futuristic tomorrow, which promised technological wonders for improved living and for promoting world harmony.
In the previous century’s, 1851 London World’s Fair, taking place at the Crystal Palace, it was a first of its kind event . The industrial age was in a mature stage of development, offering new forms of emerging technologies. In this era, people became aware of time speeding-up, caused by steam-powered’s ability to hasten the speed of long-distance travel with locomotives and steamships. The dimensions of time and space were being reduced by these transportation developments… which brought distant nations and cultures together, allowing for— the creation of World’s fairs for promoting industrial development and international exhibits. Seattle’s first World’s fair, the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, in 1909, took place near the peak of the modern industrial age.
The Space Needle, an iconic landmark from Seattle’s 1962 Century 21 Worlds Fair.
Significantly, the Century 21 World’s Fair was successful with a number of tangible results— it was one of the few world’s fairs, which made a profit and most importantly, it lifted Seattle out of its perceived provincial setting, while placing it on a world stage. The timing was ideal for the city’s economic and development trajectory. With Boeing Aerospace as a prime Seattle-based company, it benefited from the international exposure, right when the postmodern world began embracing jet travel for enhanced global access.
Aerial view of Seattle Center, part of the original site: Century 21 World’s Fair.
Optimism and enthusiasm associated with the 1962 Worlds Fair was authentic, however, in the big picture, a dark shadow was growing in super-power tension as the cold war thermometer was reaching a boiling point. President Kennedy’s excuse of having a cold for not attending the Century 21 closing ceremony in October was a ruse, actually his efforts for de-escalating the Cuban Missile Crisis were urgently required. As a result of averting a nuclear war over Cuba, President Kennedy successfully presided over the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union’s signing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in the following year of 1963.
Ironically, it was the Soviet Union, which created the theme of “science” for Seattle’s Century 21 Worlds Fair. On October 4, 1957 the Russians launched Sputnik, the first orbiting satellite, which gave them an edge in space development. With the Soviet’s apparent satellite success, Americans feared they were falling behind in science and technology; as a result, the theme of “science” became the framework for Seattle’s Worlds Fair. From this time forward, the U.S. set goals to be leaders in space exploration and development.
The shock-wave effect created by Sputnik, awoke America from its idealistic complacency of the 1950’s. Now a sense of urgency was created in looking for optimism within future technology of tomorrow. This quest for all things technological— was the fuel which Seattle used for launching its World’s Fair. Late in 1957, the title: Seattle Century 21 World’s Fair was selected as the brand name—to help promote America’s vision of optimism for a technological future. To champion this cause, Albert Rossellini, Washington State Governor from 1956 to 1965— selected an exceptional group of business and civic leaders for a commission, which successfully acquired financing for the World’s Fair.
Governor Albert Rossellini on Veteran’s Day 1961.
Governor Rossellini, a Pacific Northwest civic titan, had a vision, which helped develop the region into a world-class economic dynamo. The World’s Fair, along with a modern transportation infrastructure, and post secondary education developments are just a few examples of the legacy Rossellini created. One more fascinating contribution from Governor Rossellini was his success at bringing the of “King of Rock and Roll” to Seattle’s World Fair.
Albert Rossellini pitched the idea to MGM, for making a movie with Elvis Presley (click on the video link →) It Happened at the World’s Fair — (Movie Clip) Happy Ending Enlisting Elvis, a mega superstar, to help promote the Fair in a movie was a brilliant marketing move, with true creative vision!
Most impressive icons of the Century 21 Fair are the Space Needle and Monorail, both went on to become revered Seattle landmarks and preferred tourist attractions. Internationally, the Space Needle is more recognizable as a reference to Seattle, than the city’s actual spoken name.
The ever-popular Seattle Monorail glides into view.
Low angle view of a futuristic Space Needle.
The Inspiration for the “Space Tower” as it was initially called, came from a napkin sketch by C21 chairman, Eddie Carlson. The chairman was motivated by his visit to a 400’ TV tower, complete with an observation deck and restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany. The idea of a tower with a “flying-saucer” shaped restaurant at the top, was presented to architect John Graham, who added the concept of a rotating restaurant to allow viewers a continuous change of panoramic views. Victor Steinbrueck, professor of architecture at the University of Washington and architect John Ridley produced concept sketches which featured an elegant tripod, crowned with a saucer structure, observation deck.
Minoru Yamasaki, a first-generation, Japanese American, born in Seattle, was the lead architect— along with Seattle’s NBBJ Architects chosen for designing the U.S. Science Pavilion, today’s Pacific Science Center.
Originally titled the U.S. Science Center, now the Pacific Science Center, was designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, using his “Gothic Modernism” style.
Yamasaki’s innovative, graceful style was also used in Seattle’s most daring piece of architecture, the Rainier Tower— supported by a gravity defying inverted pedestal!
Yamasaki’s dynamic Rainier Tower architectural design in Seattle.
Another of Minoru’s Emerald City designs is the IBM Building, used as a model for the New York City twin tower design (destroyed in the 9/11, 2001 terrorist attacks.)
Seattle IBM Building designed by Minoru Yamasaki, was used as the model for NYC WTC Twin Towers. An example of Yamasaki’s “gothic modernism” style.
The Pacific Science and NYC twin towers architectural style is “gothic modernism,“ which is a signature feature found in most of Minoru’s designs (please see examples of gothic modernism elements in the photographs below.)
Yamasaki’s iconic Twin Towers, Once part of NYC World Trade Center.
NYC Twin Towers designed by Minoru Yamasaki.
The futuristic Century 21 Monorail, gracefully gliding above the busy streets of Seattle. One of the City’s most popular tourist attractions.
During the summer of the World’s Fair opening, my parents took me to experience the exposition. Although I was very young while attending, the images and feelings of wonder from seeing the futuristic architecture and exhibits are still with me. The theme of life in the 21st century, awoke my imagination and interest in science technology at an early age, which still continues to this day. ~
Twilight view of Seattle Space Needle and Pacific Science Center.
A must see postmodern era video featuring the beginnings of the space race. Click on link below. ↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfVfRWv7igg
What is postmodernism video (click on video link below ↓)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL8MhYq9owo
HistoryLink to Century 21 — The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, Part 1 ( Click on link below ↓)
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=2290
Links to Seattle Architect Minoru Yamasaki ↓
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoru_Yamasaki
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19630118,00.html
What can be more important than reaching for excellence in education, still not sure? Read what one of the greatest storytellers of our time is saying about the importance of education. Iconic filmmaker, George Lucas is true to his word regarding support for education. Please read what he wrote this week in his Eductopia.org. Site, regarding the importance of teaching. My written response to Mr. Lucas’s article is how I use web-based multimedia experiences to share passion for learning. I wonder if GL took a look at what I had to say?
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/importance-of-education-george-lucas
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/importance-of-education-george-lucas
www.edutopia.org
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Tags: 1851 London World's Fair, 1962, Albert D Rossellini Governor of Washington State, Architect Minoru Yamasaki's design for the Century 21 Seattles World's Fair, Blended learning, Boeing, Boeing History, Century 21 Chairman Eddie Carlson, Century 21 Worlds Fair, Civic Titan, Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, David A. Johanson historian, David Johanson Vasquez, David Johanson Vasquez Science Tech Tablet, definitions of postmoderism, E-Learning, Elvis King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, Emerald City, futuristic tomorrow, Governor Albert D Rossellini, history of world's fair, Japanese American, John Graham, John Ridley, MGM film clip of Elvis Presely at Seattle World's Fair, MGM movie, Minoru Yamasaki, Monorail, multimedia essay, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Pacific Science Center, Postmodern, President Kennedy, promised technological wonders, Russian space program, Science, Seattle 21 Century Worlds Fair, Seattle Architecture, Seattle architecture history, Seattle Center, Seattle Development, Seattle History, Seattle monorail, Seattle's Century 21 World's Fair multimedia e-learning education, Soviet space program, space age, space development, Space Needle, Sputnik satellite, Technology history, The Boeing Company, Victor Steinbrueck, Web-Based E-Learning, world travel, WPlongform
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Tag: Peter Elbling
Memories of Me Script
Director:Peter Elbling, Henry Winkler
Written by:Billy Crystal (Writer), Eric Roth (Writer)
Script Synopsis:After a heart attack, Abbie Polin (Crystal), a New York doctor, goes to Los Angeles to see his father, Abe (King), who works in Hollywood as the "king of the extras." Their relationship has been strained for several years. This was the first movie directed by Henry Winkler, and much of it was filmed inside the MGM Studios in Culver City, California, only a few miles from Hollywood. Lisa, the romantic interest in Abbie's life, also comes for a visit and bonds with Abe, who gets along famously with everyone but his son. Abe begins having memory loss and eventually is diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. He and his son grow closer in time and, before it's too late, Abbie tries to get Abe a speaking role in a film.
Memories of Me Script Resources:
Memories of Me Script PDF - 9/9/87 FINAL *missing pages at Script City ($)
Memories of Me ( tt0095613 ) at IMDb
Memories of Me ( 107569 ) at TheMovieDB.org
February 4, 2017 Tags Billy Crystal, Eric Roth, Henry Winkler, Memories of Me screenplay, Memories of Me script, Peter Elbling
Honey I Blew Up The Kid Script
Director:Randal Kleiser
Written by:Stuart Gordon (Characters), Brian Yuzna (Characters), Ed Naha (Characters), Garry Goodrow (Screenplay), Thom Eberhardt (Screenplay), Peter Elbling (Screenplay)
Script Synopsis:Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine unexpectedly starts working. And when Adam comes right up to the machine, he gets zapped along with his stuffed bunny.
Honey I Blew Up The Kid Script Resources:
Honey I Blew Up The Kid Script PDF at Script Fly ($)
Honey I Blew Up The Kid Transcript at Springfield! Springfield!
Honey I Blew Up The Kid Script PDF - 4/2/91 6TH at Script City ($)
Honey I Blew Up The Kid ( tt0104437 ) at IMDb
Honey I Blew Up The Kid ( 11158 ) at TheMovieDB.org
January 19, 2016 Tags Brian Yuzna, Ed Naha, Garry Goodrow, Honey I Blew Up The Kid screenplay, Honey I Blew Up The Kid script, Peter Elbling, Randal Kleiser, Stuart Gordon, Thom Eberhardt
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ArticleImmunology Free access | 10.1172/JCI16015
Costimulating aberrant T cell responses by B7-H1 autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis
Haidong Dong,1 Scott E. Strome,2 Eric L. Matteson,3 Kevin G. Moder,3 Dallas B. Flies,1 Gefeng Zhu,1 Hideto Tamura,1 Colin L.W. Driscoll,2 and Lieping Chen1
1Department of Immunology,2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, and3 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Medical School and Graduate School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Address correspondence to: Lieping Chen, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Phone: (507) 538-0013; Fax: (507) 284-1637; E-mail: chen.lieping@mayo.edu.
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Published in Volume 111, Issue 3 on February 1, 2003
J Clin Invest. 2003;111(3):363–370. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI16015.
Received: May 28, 2002; Accepted: December 4, 2002
A pathogenic hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is persistent activation of self-reactive CD4+ T cells. The cause of this aberrant activity remains elusive. We report here detection of autoantibodies against B7-H1, a recently described member of the B7 family, in 29% of patients with RA versus 4% of healthy donors. High-level expression of cell surface B7-H1 are found on activated human CD4+, CD8+, and CD45RO+ T cells. Immobilized autoantibodies to B7-H1 are capable of costimulating the proliferation of CD4+ T cells in vitro, and the presence of these autoantibodies correlates with active disease status. Using immobilized B7-H1 mAb’s and programmed death 1Ig, we demonstrate that engagement of B7-H1 on CD4+ T cells costimulates proliferation and secretion of IL-10, and subsequently leads to programmed cell death, accompanied with upregulated expression of TNF-related apoptosis–inducing ligand and activation of caspase-3. Taken together with our previous findings, these data indicate a bidirectional signaling role of B7-H1 in T cell costimulation and apoptosis and implicate B7-H1 autoantibodies as contributing to the progression of RA by inducing aberrant T cell responses.
Leukocyte infiltration into the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients results in extensive joint inflammation, characteristic of disease pathogenesis (1). The majority of infiltrating cells are CD4+ T cells, which express activation/memory markers including CD45R, CD44, HLA-DR, and VLA-1 (2, 3), suggesting a persistent state of hyperreactivity. The cause of this aberrant T cell activation has been attributed to the presentation of arthritogenic antigens by HLA-DR (4), existence of superantigen, and homeostatic proliferation (5, 6).
One alternative explanation for persistent T cell activation in systemic autoimmune diseases such as RA may come from the study of T cell costimulation. It is well accepted that, in addition to the engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) with antigen, costimulation is required for optimal activation of T cells. The best-characterized costimulatory pathways are interactions of CD28 and CTLA-4 on the T cell with B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) on APCs (7, 8). In addition to the natural receptor-ligand interaction, receptor-specific agonistic Ab can also deliver costimulatory signals. In fact, agonistic Ab often results in much stronger signaling than that from natural ligand, possibly due to their high affinity and/or immobilization on cells expressing Fc receptor in vivo (9–12). Agonistic Ab ligation of costimulatory molecules may be particularly relevant in autoimmune diseases in which autoantibodies are commonly detected. In fact, autoantibodies against CTLA-4 recently have been identified in the serum of patients with RA and Behcet disease, although the functional significance of these autoantibodies remains unknown (13).
B7-H1 is a third member of the B7 family that costimulates primary T cells through a putative receptor (14), but may inhibit proliferation of preactivated T cells (15). In vitro stimulation of primary human T cells with B7-H1Ig or B7-H1 transfectants promotes both IL-10 secretion and proliferation, but without the accompanying increased production of IL-2. A putative counter-receptor, PD-1 (programmed death 1), were reported recently (15). Recently, we reported that many human malignancies express B7-H1 and ligation of tumor-associated B7-H1 to a non–PD-1 receptor promotes apoptosis of activated T cells (16), suggesting the expression of B7-H1 may represent a new mechanism for tumor evasion of immunity.
In addition to signals through binding receptor on T cells, select members of the B7 family could also have receptor functions, mediated through a process termed reverse signaling. Specifically, B7-2 demonstrates reverse signaling on B cells, resulting in differentiation and class switching (17). B7-H1 is expressed on activated human and mouse T cells (14, 18). This pattern of B7-H1 expression led us to postulate that engagement of B7-H1 might play a direct role in the regulation of the human T cell response in autoimmune diseases, such as RA, resulting in a persistent state of T cell activation in affected individuals.
Patients and healthy donors. Sera samples were obtained from 63 patients with diagnosed RA autoimmune disease and 54 sex- and age-matched healthy donors under the approval of the Internal Review Board of the Mayo Clinic. Diagnosis of RA was defined according to the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Sera or plasma samples were collected from 63 RA patients (53 women and 10 men, mean age, 58 years; age range, 17–80 years) and 54 healthy donors (42 women and 12 men, mean age, 52; age range 20–69). Human IgG was purified by ImmunoPure (G) IgG purification kits (Piece Chemical Co., Rockford, Illinois, USA).
ELISA. Purified human B7-H1Ig (mouse IgG2a Fc) (14) or control mIgG2a at 2 μg/ml in PBS was coated overnight on an ELISA plate at 4°C followed by blocking with PBS containing 10% FBS. Sera from healthy donors or RA patients were diluted in PBS at 1:1,000 in triplicate before adding to the plates. After reaction, the wells were washed six times in PBS with 0.1% Tween-20. Bound Ab’s were detected by horseradish peroxidase–conjugated goat anti-human IgG Ab (BioSource International Camarillo, California, USA) at a 1:2,000 dilution for 1.5 hour at room temperature, then reacted with tetramethylbenzidine, and measured using a multimicroplate reader at 450 nm. Nonspecific binding of sera to plates coated with control Ig (mouse IgG2a) was subtracted from each sample.
Generation of mAbs to B7-H1. BALB/c mice were immunized with purified human B7-H1Ig mixed with complete Freud’s adjuvant (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) and boosted three times with B7-H1Ig in incomplete Freud’s adjuvant. Sera from the mice were collected, and their specific binding to B7-H1 was determined by ELISA and by FACS analysis on B7-H1/293 cells (14). The spleen cells from mice with highest titer of antisera were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells to produce hybridoma cells. After several rounds of selection by ELISA and by FACS, two clones, 2H1 and 5H1, which consistently stain B7-H1/293 cells, were selected. The isotype of 2H1 or 5H1 is IgG1. The culture supernatant of hybridomas was concentrated and purified by a protein G-Sepharose column (Pierce Chemical Co.) and dialyzed in LPS-free PBS. In some experiments, polymyxin B was incorporated in the assays of cell proliferation and cytokine secretion to neutralize residual endotoxin.
T cell activation and FACS analysis. Freshly isolated human PBMCs (107 cells/ml) were stimulated with 5 μg/ml of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (Sigma-Aldrich). Cells were harvested and analyzed at 0, 24, and 48 hours upon treatment. For direct immunofluorescence staining, T cells were incubated at 4°C with 1 μg of FITC- or phycoerythrin-conjugated (PE-conjugated) mAb for 30 minutes and analyzed by FACScan flow cytometry (Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, Mountain View, California, USA) with Cell Quest software (Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems), as described previously (14). The mAb specific for CD4 (RPA-T4), CD8 (RPA-T8), and CD45RO (UCHL1) were purchased from BD-PharMingen (San Diego, California, USA), and rabbit anti-human TNF-related apoptosis–inducing ligand (TRAIL) polyclonal Ab’s were purchased from Alexis Biochemical Corp. (San Diego, California, USA). For indirect immunofluorescence staining, cells were first incubated with B7-H1 mAb (3 μg/sample) at 4°C for 30 minutes. The cells were washed and further incubated with FITC-conjugated (BioSource International) or PE-conjugated (Southern Biotechnology Associates, Birmingham, Alabama, USA) goat anti-mouse IgG F(ab′)2 for 30 minutes at 4°C. The mouse IgG-1 (Sigma-Aldrich) was used as control Ig. In some experiments, cells were treated with human Ig before incubation with FITC- or PE-conjugated mAbs to block interference of Fc receptors.
Costimulation of T cell responses. Purified human CD4+ T cells at 2 × 105 cells/well in triplicate were cultured in 96-well flat-bottomed plates that were precoated overnight with anti-CD3 mAb (HIT3a; BD-PharMingen) in the presence of B7-H1 mAbs, PD-1Ig, or control Ab (mouse IgG1). To detect cytokines, supernatants were harvested at 24, 48, and 72 hours of the cultures, and the concentrations of IL-10 were determined by sandwich ELISA methods (BD-PharMingen), according to manufacturer’s instructions. Anti-CD28 mAb (CD28.2; BD-PharMingen) was included as positive control. For blocking the effects of B7-H1 mAb, soluble B7-H1Ig or control Ig (mIgG2a) was precultured with coated B7-H1 mAb for 30 minutes before the addition of CD4+ T cells. T cell proliferation was determined by the addition of 1.0 μCi 3H-TdR for the final 16 hours of culture. The incorporation of 3H-TdR was counted by a MicroBeta TriLux liquid scintillation counter (Wallac, Turku, Finland).
Induction and analysis of apoptosis. Purified human CD4+ T cells (4 × 105/ml) were cultured with B7-H1 mAb’s or a control mAb at 10 μg/ml in the presence of immobilized anti-CD3 mAb (500 ng/ml). At each time point, aliquots (105) of the cells were stained by FITC-conjugated annexin V (AV) (BD PharMingen) at 5 μl/test and propidium iodide (PI) (Sigma-Aldrich) at 5 μg/ml for 1 hour. The samples were analyzed by FACS. For blocking the effect of apoptosis, the neutralizing mAb to IL-10 (R&D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), IL-2 (MQ-17H12; BD-PharMingen), or to Fas ligand (NOK-1; BD-PharMingen) were added at 10 μg/ml at the beginning of culture.
Detection of apoptosis-related genes. Total RNA was prepared using TRI Reagent (Sigma-Aldrich) from 5 × 106 T cells, which were stimulated by anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb or anti-CD3/control Ab for 24, 48, 72 hours. RNA (10 μg) was used as a template for 32P cDNA probe synthesis. Human apoptosis1 GEArray (SuperArray Inc. Bethesda, Maryland, USA) is composed of 23 apoptosis-related genes and two housekeeping genes, actin and GAPDH. Analysis of gene expression was carried out by side-by-side hybridization with the cDNA probe according to the user manual. A STORM PhosphoImager system (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, California, USA) was used to directly quantify the intensity of the signals. The relative abundance of a particular transcript was estimated by comparing its signal intensity to the signal derived from β-actin or GAPDH. The results represent a fold increase of signals from T cells that were stimulated with B7-H1 mAb versus control Ab.
Detection of active caspase-3. The CaspaTagTM Caspas-3 (DEVD) Activity kit (Intergen Co., Purchase, New York, USA) was used to detect the activated form of caspase-3 in CD4+ T cells. The kit detects active caspases in living cells by using a carboxyfluorescein-labeled caspase inhibitor (FAM-DEVD-FMK). The inhibitor irreversibly binds to active caspases, and the caspase-positive cells are detected by flow cytometry (see the manufacturer’s manual). Briefly, 300 μl of 106 cells/ml was transferred to a fresh tube and incubated with 10 μl of FAM-DEVD-FMK solution diluted 30 times for 1 hour at 37°C under 5% CO2 in the dark. After incubation, the cells were washed twice with 2 ml of 1× wash buffer and then were resuspended in 400 μl of 1× wash buffer before analysis with FACS.
Costimulatory B7-H1 autoantibodies in RA serum. In an attempt to evaluate the potential role of autoantibodies in prolonged activation of T cells in RA, purified IgG from the sera of RA patients were evaluated for their ability to regulate the proliferation of T cells in vitro. In the presence of suboptimal doses (30–50 ng/ml) of anti-CD3 mAb to mimic TCR signaling, purified IgG from the sera of two RA patients, but not control IgG, significantly enhanced the proliferation of purified CD4+ T cells in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion (Figure 1a). In the absence of anti-CD3 mAb, purified IgG from RA patients had no effect (data not shown). The soluble form of these autoantibodies did not have any activity in the same assay (Figure 1b). The costimulatory activity of the autoantibodies was completely blocked by inclusion of soluble B7-H1Ig fusion protein containing human B7-H1 extracellular portion and mouse IgG2a Fc (14), but not by PD-1Ig or control IgG (mouse IgG2a) (Figure 1c). Our results thus suggest that the costimulation activity for CD4+ T cell was mediated by autoantibodies against B7-H1 in the sera of RA, rather than by the soluble form of B7-H1 per se or autoantibodies to PD-1.
Detection, costimulatory function, and disease association of B7-H1 autoantibodies in RA patients. CD4+ T cells were cultured with immobilized (a) or soluble (b) sera IgG at the initiated dose of 20 μg/ml in the presence of suboptimal anti-CD3 mAb. The titers of RA 1 and RA 2 patients are 0.32 and 0.25 (OD450), respectively. (c) For blockade, the control (ctl) Ig, PD-1Ig, or B7-H1Ig at 3 μg/ml were added before the addition of CD4+ T cells. The growth of T cells was detected after 72 hours of culture. (d) To examine specificity of RA sera binding to B7-H1, diluted sera were preincubated with PBS, 2 μg/ml of soluble B7-H1Ig or control Ig (mIgG2a). (e) Diluted sera of 63 patients with RA and 54 healthy donors were tested for binding to B7-H1Ig by ELISA. Samples with OD450 values greater than 0.123 were considered positive. P value for differences between cohorts is shown (t test). (f) The sera at 1:1,000 dilution were examined for binding to B7-1Ig–coated vs. B7-H1Ig–coated ELISA plates. (g) Mock/624mel or B7-H1/624mel cells were stained with diluted (1:5) sera from 16 ELISA-positive RA patients. The inset bar shows the average percentage of positive staining. A typical histogram of FACS assay is shown on the left. (h) Sixty-three RA patients were sorted according to the active status of their disease, and the presence of B7-H1 autoantibodies. Statistical analysis of the correlation was performed as P = 0.0179 in a Fisher exact test.
To directly demonstrate the existence of autoantibodies against B7-H1 in the sera of RA patients, sera from 63 patients with RA were examined by a specific sandwich ELISA using plates coated with purified B7-H1Ig. Autoantibodies binding to B7-H1 were detected by anti-human IgG mAb. Our ELISA is highly specific for human B7-H1 because binding of patients’ sera could be selectively blocked by preincubation of sera with soluble B7-H1Ig, but not control mIgG2a (Figure 1d). We used 0.123 OD450 as a cut-off based on the mean (0.057) + 2 SD (0.033) of the values with sera from 54 healthy donors at 1:1,000 dilutions. As shown in Figure 1e, sera from 18 of 63 sera from patients with RA (29%) had elevated autoantibodies to B7-H1, while only 4% of 54 healthy donors were marginally positive for the presence of autoantibodies to B7-H1 (P = 0.0002). Similar to the findings of Matsui et al. (13), we did not detect any autoantibodies to B7-1, even in the sera that were positive for B7-H1 Ab’s (Figure 1f). The presence of B7-H1 autoantibodies was also tested by binding of 624 melanoma line (624mel) that was transfected to express human B7-H1 (B7-H1/624mel) (16). A significant portion of sera from 16 patients, which were positive in ELISA assay, also stained for B7-H1/624mel but not Mock/624mel. The specificity of the binding was also confirmed by complete blockade with B7-H1Ig, which was preincubated with the diluted sera (data not shown). In addition, all the samples that were negative in ELISA for the presence of autoantibodies to B7-H1 did not bind B7-H1/624mel (data not shown). Our results indicate that a significant population of patients suffering from RA has elevated autoantibodies to B7-H1.
Correlation of B7-H1 autoantibodies with RA activity. As a preliminary functional determinant, we examined the possible relationship between the presence of B7-H1 autoantibodies and disease activity. Active disease was defined as the presence of at least nine tender joints, six swollen joints, and one or both of the following: 1 hour of morning stiffness or elevated Westergren sedimentation rate (19). We found a significant correlation between active disease and the presence of autoantibodies in 63 patients with RA. Eighty-nine percent of RA patients in the B7-H1 autoantibody-positive group had active disease, while only 56% of RA patients in B7-H1 autoantibody-negative group demonstrated disease activity (P = 0.017) (Figure 1h). These results suggest that autoantibodies to B7-H1 may be involved in disease progression by a direct effect on T cells.
Reverse costimulation of CD4+ T cells by B7-H1 mAb. Autoantibodies from sera are polyvalent with multiple different specificities, limiting the potential for functional analysis. To facilitate further study of the effect of autoantibodies to B7-H1 on T cell response, we generated hybridomas that secrete mAb against human B7-H1. We identified two mAbs, 2H1 and 5H1, which specifically bound to B7-H1 on 293 cells transfected with human B7-H1 plasmid (B7-H1/293), but not mock-transfected 293 cells (Mock/293) by FACS analysis (Figure 2a). In these and later studies, 5H1 and 2H1 showed identical features and were used interchangeably.
Preferential expression of B7-H1 mAb on activated CD4+ T cells. (a) On the left, 293 cells were transfected with mock (pcDNA3 vector) or human B7-H1 plasmid (pcDNA3-B7-H1cDNA) for 48 hours. B7-H1/293 cells were pretreated with 20 μg of control Ig (mIgG1) or 5H1 before staining with PD-1Ig (5 μg). On the right, activated M99 CTL cells were pretreated with 10 μg of mIgG1 or 5H1 before staining with B7-H1Ig (10 μg). B7-H1 mAb, PD-1Ig, or B7-H1Ig were used to stain the transfected 293 cells and activated M99 CTL cells. Representative fluorescence histograms of isotype control reagents (open lines) and B7-H1 mAb or fusion proteins (filled lines) are shown. (b) Induction of B7-H1 expression on human T cell subsets. Human PBMCs were activated with PHA for indicated times and subjected to FACS analysis with B7-H1 mAb and mAb to CD4, CD8, or CD45RO. The numbers indicate the percentage of B7-H1 and CD4, CD8, or CD45RO double-positive cells in total populations, and the percentage in parentheses indicates the percentage of B7-H1–positive cells in each CD4+, CD8+, or CD45RO+ subsets.
To determine whether or not our mAb can block interaction between B7-H1 and PD-1, we examine the ability of 5H1 mAb to block the binding of PD-1Ig to B7-H1/293 cells. As shown in Figure 2a, PD-1Ig bound B7-H1/293 cells but not mock/293 cells. Inclusion of 5H1 mAb up to 20 μg/ml during staining did not interfere with the binding of PD-1Ig. Inclusion of 5H1 mAb, however, could inhibit the binding of B7-H1Ig to M99 T cell clone from 31% to 8% (Figure 2a), suggesting that 5H1 could partially block the binding of B7-H1 to a non–PD-1 receptor (16). Similar blocking function was also found using 2H1 mAb (data not shown).
FACS analysis using B7-H1 mAb showed that B7-H1 is not detectable on freshly isolated PBMC subsets with CD4, CD8, or CD45RO markers. However, stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a T cell mitogen, rapidly upregulated expression of B7-H1 on 64.2% of CD4+ cells at 24 hours and 78.2% at 48 hours. Meanwhile, only 44.7% and 32.1% of CD8+ T cells expressed B7-H1 at 24 hours and 48 hours after PHA stimulation, respectively. High levels of B7-H1 (84.2% at 24 hours and 62.3% at 48 hours) were also detected on CD45RO+ memory T cells (Figure 2b). We have also found that stimulation of CD4+ T cells with immobilized CD3 mAb in optimal doses rapidly upregulate the expression of B7-H1 within 24 hours, while suboptimal doses of CD3 mAb requires more than 48 hours to induce B7-H1 expression (data not shown). We conclude that B7-H1 is inducible on human T cells and is preferentially expressed on activated CD4+T cells and CD45RO+ memory T cells.
To evaluate the function of CD4+ T cell–associated B7-H1, we stimulated purified human CD4+ T cells with suboptimal concentrations (30 ng/ml) of anti-CD3 mAb in combination with B7-H1 mAb. While anti-CD3 mAb alone induced an absent or weak T cell response, significant increases in T cell proliferation were observed by inclusion of B7-H1 mAb. This effect, however, was less potent than that of anti-CD28 mAb (Figure 3a). Costimulatory activity was also observed using immobilized human PD-1Ig fusion protein, suggesting an agonistic effect of B7-H1 mAb. The effect of the B7-H1 mAbs was dose dependent in a range of 2.5 to 10 μg/ml (Figure 3b). Immobilization of B7-H1 mAb was critical for the effect since B7-H1 mAb in soluble form in doses up to 20 μg/ml were ineffective (Figure 3c). TCR signaling was also required for proliferation, because B7-H1 mAb did not stimulate T cell proliferation in the absence of anti-CD3 mAb (Figure 3a). Inclusion of soluble B7-H1Ig, which competitively inhibits the interaction between T cell–associated B7-H1 and B7-H1 mAb, significantly reduced the costimulatory effect of B7-H1 mAb on T cells. In contrast, soluble B7-1Ig or control Ig had no inhibitory effect (Figure 3d), confirming the specificity of the response.
B7-H1 mAb costimulates human CD4+ T cell proliferation. (a) Purified human CD4+ T cells were cultured with immobilized 10 μg/ml of control (ctl) Ab, B7-H1 mAb (2H1), PD-1Ig, and 2 μg/ml of CD28 mAb in the presence of precoated different dose of CD3 mAb. Cultures were pulsed with 3H-TdR for a final 16 hours, and the cells were harvested at 72 hours. (b) Dose-dependent costimulation of immobilized anti–B7-H1 mAb in the presence of suboptimal dose (30 ng/ml) of CD3 mAb. Titration of mAb or fusion protein was started at 20 μg/ml of control Ab, B7-H1 mAb, PD-1Ig, and 4 μg/ml of CD28 mAb. (c) Human CD4+ T cells were costimulated with 20 μg/ml of soluble control (ctl) Ab, B7-H1 mAb (2H1), PD-1Ig, and 2 μg/ml of CD28 mAb as the same condition in a. (d) Blocking of B7-H1 mAb–mediated costimulation by soluble B7-H1Ig. Soluble control Ig, B7-1Ig, or B7-H1Ig (10 μg/ml) was preincubated with immobilized control (ctl) Ab or B7-H1 mAb (2H1) for 30 minutes before the addition of T cells. B7-H1 costimulation was assayed in the presence of suboptimal dose of CD3 mAb for 72 hours of culture. (e) FACS analysis of IL-2 receptor (CD25) expression in CD4+ T cells after B7-H1 mAb costimulation. (f) IL-10 secretion from CD4+ T cells in the presence of immobilized CD3 mAb (500 ng/ml), and B7-H1 mAb (10 μg/ml), or CD28 mAb (2 μg/ml).
The costimulatory functions of B7-H1 mAb are very similar to the autoantibodies isolated from RA patients, which induced both phenotypic T cell changes and distinct patterns of cytokine secretion. Specifically, B7-H1 mAb induced high-levels of CD25 expression on CD4+ T cells, an effect similar to that using anti-CD3/CD28 mAb (Figure 3e). Additionally, anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb costimulation led to increased secretion of IL-10 (Figure 3f). A small increase of IFN-γ secretion was also observed in culture supernatant, while IL-2 and IL-4 were not detected (data not shown). Taken together, our results suggest a reverse-signaling function of B7-H1 for CD4+ T cell costimulation.
Promoting apoptosis of activated CD4+ T cells by B7-H1 mAb. We have shown that one role of B7-H1 mAb is to promote proliferation of CD4+ T cells. This suggests that B7-H1 autoantibodies in RA patients may contribute to the persistent activation of newly recruited T cells when they encounter self antigens. In RA patients, however, many CD4+ T cells are already mature/activated. The effect of B7-H1 triggering by Ab’s on activated T cells may be different from those observed on primary T cells. To examine the effect of B7-H1 mAb on activated CD4+ T cells, we employed an in vitro culture system in which optimal doses of anti-CD3 mAb can drive T cell proliferation without additional costimulation. In this setting, B7-H1 mAb significantly increased apoptosis of CD4+ T cells, as determined by double staining of PI and AV (Figure 4a). The cell death induced by B7-H1 mAb was completely abrogated by preincubation of the mAb with B7-H1Ig, but not with control Ig (Figure 4b). Similarly, immobilized PD-1Ig also increased apoptosis of activated T cells. Neither soluble nor immobilized mAb to B7-H1 or PD-1Ig alone had an effect (data not shown). In a different setting, CD4+ T cells were preactivated by optimal doses of anti-CD3 mAb for 48 hours, in which all CD4+ T cells express high levels of B7-H1, and further stimulated with B7-H1 mAb. Similarly, preactivated T cells also had increased apoptosis after exposure to a coligation of immobilized anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb, but not to ligation of B7-H1 mAb alone (data not shown). Our results suggest that B7-H1 mAb in the presence of strong TCR signaling promotes apoptosis of activated CD4+ T cells.
B7-H1 mAb promotes programmed cell death of activated CD4+ T cells. (a) Human CD4+ T cells were cultured with 10 μg/ml of immobilized control (ctl) Ab, B7-H1 mAb, PD-1Ig in the presence of precoated optimal dose (500 ng/ml) of CD3 mAb. The cells were analyzed by FACS to determine apoptotic cells (positive in AV and negative in PI staining). (b) Blocking of B7-H1 mAb-induced apoptosis by soluble B7-H1Ig. Control Ig or B7-H1Ig at 10 μg/ml was preincubated with immobilized control Ab or B7-H1 mAb for 30 minutes before the addition of T cells. Percentages of apoptotic CD4+ T cells were shown at 72 hours of culture. (c) Expression of apoptotic genes by B7-H1 mAb costimulation. Purified human CD4+ T cells (5 × 106) were cultured with immobilized B7-H1 mAb or control mAb at 10 μg/ml in the presence of optimal dose of CD3 mAb. The mRNA levels of each gene from B7-H1 mAb-stimulated T cells were presented as the fold induction, relevant to that from control mAb-treated T cells. (d) FACS analysis of expression of TRAIL protein on CD4+ T cells 3 days after anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb costimulation. (e) Purified human CD4+ T cells were stimulated in the presence of indicated mAb or fusion protein in immobilized form as indicated in the legend of a and the activated form of caspase-3 at the indicated time point was stained by FAM-DEVD-FMK and subjected to FACS analysis. (f) Blocking of B7-H1 mAb-induced apoptosis of activated CD4+ T cells by anti–IL-10 neutralizing mAb. Purified human CD4+ T cells were stimulated with immobilized CD3 mAb and B7-H1 mAb for 72 hours, and the apoptotic cells were analyzed by AV and PI staining. Control Ab and mAbs to Fas ligand, IL-2, or IL-10 at 10 μg/ml was included at the beginning of the culture.
To define the mechanism of the apoptotic effect, we used DNA arrays for expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes stimulated by B7-H1 mAb. Up to 72 hours after ligation with anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb, mRNA from CD4+ T cells was extracted and hybridized to a DNA array membrane. In three separate experiments, transcription of caspase-10 and caspase-3 genes was reproducibly increased. TRAIL was also upregulated (Figure 4c). Enhanced gene expression was also confirmed by protein analysis. Specifically, elevated TRAIL was found in anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb–stimulated T cells by staining with anti-TRAIL Ab in FACS analysis (Figure 4d). Significant increases of active caspase-3 were also detected at 48 and 72 hours after stimulation (Figure 4e). Neither B7-H1 mAb nor anti-CD3 (at suboptimal doses) alone stimulated these changes. Anti-CD3 at high dose (1 μg/ml) could induce the activation of caspase 3 but not the expression of TRAIL in activated CD4+ T cells (data not shown). These observations emphasize dependence of a TCR signal in the effect of B7-H1 mAb. Our results suggest that B7-H1 mAb upregulates caspases and TRAIL on T cells, which may facilitate activation-induced death of CD4+ T cells.
IL-10 is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine that stimulates Th2 CD4+ T cell responses and enhances the apoptosis of activated human T cells (20–23). B7-H1 mAb stimulated secretion of IL-10 from activated CD4+ T cells (Figure 3f), providing presumptive evidence that IL-10 might play a role in the increased apoptosis induced by B7-H1 mAb. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether neutralization of IL-10 in anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb inhibited apoptosis. As shown in Figure 4f, inclusion of anti–IL-10 mAb significantly reduced the amount of apoptosis induced by anti-CD3/B7-H1 mAb at 72 hours. In contrast, neutralizing Ab’s against Fas ligand and IL-2 had no effect. Our results suggest that IL-10 facilitates, at least in part, the induction of apoptosis by B7-H1 mAb ligation.
Autoantibodies to B7-H1 are found in the sera of a significant portion of the RA patients, and the existence of the autoantibodies is correlated with active status of the disease. This finding suggests a role of B7-H1 autoantibodies in the progression of RA. Further studies indicate that human CD4+ T cells preferentially express B7-H1 and engagement of T cell–associated B7-H1 by Ab costimulate activation, proliferation, cytokine secretion, and programmed cell death. Our results thus support a role of T cell–associated B7-H1 in reverse signaling of CD4+ T cells, and increased B7-H1 autoantibodies may play a role in aberrant activation of T cells in RA and possibly other systemic autoimmune diseases.
Correlation between the existence of elevated autoantibodies in RA patients and active disease provides an important clue to consider regarding the potential role of B7-H1 autoantibodies in the progression of diseases. It is unknown, however, whether or not B7-H1 autoantibodies are also quantitatively correlated with active diseases due to the semiquantitative nature of ELISA and subjective diagnostic standard for active diseases. Our in vitro studies, however, suggest an important contribution of B7-H1 autoantibodies in aberrant T cell responses, which is often observed in RA patients, by costimulating the resting T cells and inducing apoptosis of preactivated T cells. It is attempting to speculate that CD4+ T cells in RA patients will have a higher turnover rate and shorter life of T cells in the presence of B7-H1 autoantibodies. One should keep in mind that our results could represent a gross underestimate of the importance of B7-H1 autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of RA. Specifically, nearly all of the therapeutic agents (e.g., methotrexate) employed have regulatory effects on the immune system and T cell biology, making correlation of clinical markers of disease and B7-H1 expression very difficult (24). Importantly, definition of the effects of individual agents on B7-H1 expression may facilitate correlation of autoantibody detection with both diagnosis and disease activity.
Although our results support that engagement of T cell–associated B7-H1 transmits functional signaling, the nature of this signaling is unknown. The cytoplasmic domain of B7-H1 does not contain obvious structural elements that are directly relevant to signaling for cell activation or death (25, 26). Therefore, adapter proteins might play a role in transmitting B7-H1 signal to T cells. It is possible that multiple signaling pathways might be involved, since B7-H1 signaling leads to diverse outcomes including costimulation of T cell growth, secretion of IL-10, upregulation of caspases, and TRAIL leading to increased apoptosis of activated T cells. In addition to autoantibodies, binding of B7-H1 by PD-1 receptor may also play a role in the B7-H1 signaling. PD-1 is a CTLA-4–like molecule expressed on activated T cells and has been implicated as a receptor for B7-H1 (15). PD-1–deficient mice spontaneously develop systemic lupus-like autoimmune diseases characterized by immune complex deposits in the renal parenchyma of aged B6 mice (27). The in vitro effects of B7-H1 autoantibody ligation were analogous to those observed with immobilized PD-1I g (Figure 3), suggesting a possible role of PD-1 as a ligand to trigger T cell–associated B7-H1 in aberrant CD4+ T cell activation in RA patients. Further studies are needed to clarify these issues.
Our results reveal that activated T cells could simultaneously express B7-H1, PD-1, and the putative second B7-H1 receptor. Therefore, B7-H1 Ab’s can potentially affect the interactions among these molecules. While our results strongly support that B7-H1 autoantibodies directly deliver an activation signal to T cells by cross-linking B7-H1, it is also possible that B7-H1 Ab’s may block or “sequestrate” B7-H1 from interacting with PD-1, leading to a decreased negative signaling for T cell response. Several lines of evidence, however, do not support this hypothesis in our system. We demonstrate that only immobilized B7-H1 Ab’s could induce reverse costimulation while soluble Ab’s did not (Figure 3c). This result emphasizes the importance of cross-linking rather than neutralizing Ab’s in the activation of T cells. Furthermore, our 5H1 mAb could not block the interaction between B7-H1 and PD-1, whereas it can partially inhibit binding of B7-H1 to a non–PD-1 receptor on M99 T cells (Figure 2a). This result suggests that blocking or “sequestration” of B7-H1 by Ab’s in our experimental condition would still allow B7-H1 to interact with PD-1. Consistent with these findings, reverse costimulation by B7-H1 autoantibodies could not be blocked by PD-1Ig (Figure 1b), a result similar to our previous finding that PD-1Ig also did not block the effect of anti-CD3 mAb in the stimulation of T cell proliferation and cytokine production (16). Taken together, our results suggest that PD-1 is not involved in the suppression of T cell responses in our systems.
The prevalence of autoantibodies to B7-H1 in the sera of RA patients raised the question as to why tolerance to B7-H1 is broken. Actually, we did not detect any B7-H1 expression on the freshly isolated T cells from ten RA patients (unpublished observation). This may be caused by transient nature of B7-H1 expression and by the anti-inflammation treatment of these patients. Previously, we have reported that the mRNA of B7-H1 can be detected in various organs, including heart, lung, liver, placenta, and spleen in healthy individuals. However, immunohistochemistry analysis using B7-H1 mAb demonstrates no evidence of protein expression, except macrophage-derived cells, including Kupffer cells in liver and monocytes in blood (16). Expression of B7-H1, however, can be induced in cells such as activated T cells (14, 18). It is thus possible that in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory tissues and cells may lead to ectopic expression of B7-H1, which might serve as an antigen source for elicitation of autoantibodies. Recently we have found similar increases of B7-H1 autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune inner ear disease (unpublished data). Defining the roles of B7-H1 and gaining a better understanding of the molecular pathways elicited after B7-H1 ligation will facilitate the development of novel therapies for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
This study was supported by the Mayo Foundation. We thank Jorg J. Goronzy and K. Tamada for helpful discussion, Stephen S. Cha for statistical analysis, Jane Jaquith and Lucinda Hinkley for their work as study coordinators, and Kathy Jensen and Julie Lau for editing the manuscript and graphs.
Haidong Dong and Scott E. Strome contributed equally to this work.
Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.
Nonstandard abbreviations used: rheumatoid arthritis (RA); T cell receptor (TCR); programmed death 1 (PD-1); phycoerythrin (PE); TNF-related apoptosis–inducing ligand (TRAIL); annexin V (AV); propidium iodide (PI); phytohemagglutinin (PHA).
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Chambers, CA, Allison, JP. Co-stimulation in T cell responses. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 1997. 9:369-404.
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Ioan-Facsinay, A, et al. FcγRI (CD64) contributes substantially to severity of arthritis, hypersensitivity responses, and protection from bacterial infection. Immunity. 2002. 16:391-402.
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Dong, H, Zhu, G, Tamada, K, Chen, L. B7-H1, a third member of the B7 family, co-stimulates T-cell proliferation and interleukin-10 secretion. Nat. Med. 1999. 5:1365-1369.
Freeman, GJ, et al. Engagement of the PD-1 immunoinhibitory receptor by a novel B7 family member leads to negative regulation of lymphocyte activation. J. Exp. Med. 2000. 192:1027-1034.
Dong, H, et al. Tumor-associated B7-H1 promotes T-cell apoptosis: a potential mechanism of immune evasion. Nat. Med. 2002. 8:793-800.
Jeannin, P, et al. CD86 (B7-2) on human B cells. A functional role in proliferation and selective differentiation into IgE- and IgG4-producing cells. J. Bio. Chem. 1997. 272:15613-15619.
Tamura, H, et al. B7-H1 costimulation preferentially enhances CD28-independent T-helper cell function. Blood. 2001. 97:1809-1816.
Felson, DT, et al. American College of Rheumatology. Preliminary definition of improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995. 38:727-735.
Georgescu, L, Vakkalanka, RK, Elkon, KB, Crow, MK. Interleukin-10 promotes activation-induced cell death of SLE lymphocytes mediated by Fas ligand. J. Clin. Invest. 1997. 100:2622-2633.
Saito, I, et al. Fas ligand-mediated exocrinopathy resembling Sjogren’s syndrome in mice transgenic for IL-10. J. Immunol. 1999. 162:2488-2494.
Mignon-Godefroy, K, Rott, O, Brazillet, MP, Charreire, J. Curative and protective effects of IL-10 in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). Evidence for IL-10-enhanced cell death in EAT. J. Immunol. 1995. 154:6634-6643.
Clerici, M, et al. Type 1/type 2 cytokine modulation of T-cell programmed cell death as a model for human immunodeficiency virus pathogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1994. 91:11811-11815.
Genestier, L, et al. Immunosuppressive properties of methotrexate: apoptosis and clonal deletion of activated peripheral T cells. J. Clin. Invest. 1998. 102:322-328.
Zhang, J, Cado, D, Chen, A, Kabra, NH, Winoto, A. Fas-mediated apoptosis and activation-induced T-cell proliferation are defective in mice lacking FADD/Mort1. Nature. 1998. 392:296-300.
Siegel, RM, Chan, FK, Chun, HJ, Lenardo, MJ. The multifaceted role of Fas signaling in immune cell homeostasis and autoimmunity. Nat. Immunol. 2000. 1:469-474.
Nishimura, H, Nose, M, Hiai, H, Minato, N, Honjo, T. Development of lupus-like autoimmune diseases by disruption of the PD-1 gene encoding an ITIM motif-carrying immunoreceptor. Immunity. 1999. 11:141-151.
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Southeast Alaska Gay and Lesbian Alliance
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Tomato Facts You Had No Idea About
Enigmatic as it is succulent, the tomato lies at the intersection between fruit and vegetable, falling just barely into “fruit” category. In the 1886 case of Nix v. Hedden the U.S. Supreme Court actually made the ruling that tomatoes are vegetables; however, tomatoes are fruits, botanically speaking. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Botany defines a fruit as “strictly, the ripened ovary of a plant and its contents. More loosely, the term is extended to the ripened ovary and seeds together with any structure with which they are combined.” Which means the tomato is a fruit, Supreme Court be damned. Want to know some more little-known tomato facts? Read on.
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Carol Tumminello
Carol joined Sensory Spectrum in 2008. As the Director of Accounting, her duties are varied, in addition to running Sensory Spectrum’s business interests; she is a key liaison to our clients’ purchasing and procurement departments.
Carol earned a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Her work experience includes working in the entertainment/music industry and the Catholic Church.
Amy Trail
Amy Trail has been working exclusively in the sensory and consumer insights domain for over 20 years. Her tenure crosses a range of different company experiences including consumer goods, supplier side business, and consulting. Amy has explored almost every food and beverage and spent extended time on chocolate, coffee, vanilla, fruits, and dairy. Consulting also expanded her expertise beyond foods to cover personal care products, fragrance, and clothing. Amy has been leading descriptive trainings and workshops, managing consumer studies, interpreting data, and working in the diverse world of consumer qualitative throughout her entire career. Her passion for sensory and consumer research all started with a B.S. in Food Science from Virginia Tech and a M.S. in Food Science from North Carolina State University.
Lee Christie Stapleton
Lee’s experience in sensory and strategic consulting leverages her deep understanding of the descriptive sensory properties of foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal and home care products, and paper and fabrics to provide information and insight to her clients and colleagues. Lee studied Food Science at Clemson and NC State University and held several positions involving product development, quality, technical sales, and sensory prior to joining Sensory Spectrum in 1998.
As Director of Training & Education, Lee leads Sensory Spectrum’s trainers in refining the Spectrum training model to meet the evolving needs of its clients and oversees Spectrum’s public courses. Whether providing training & support for descriptive analysis or sensory quality, facilitating development of objective sensory language for cross-functional groups, moderating sensory-focused qualitative research, coaching, or evaluating, Lee feels that working at Sensory Spectrum provides her never-ending opportunities to learn and to share knowledge.
Joanne Seltsam
With more than 20 year’s experience in sensory science, 15+ with Sensory Spectrum, Joanne has participated in evaluating the sensory properties of a great span of products. Her industry background in both food and non-food allows her to offer clients a blend of scientific precision with a real world, practical approach well-suited to the corporate world.
Joanne has experience in both qualitative and quantitative testing. However, Joanne’s true passion lies in food product descriptive analysis (DA). Having trained many panels, both internally & externally, she has depth as both a trained panelist & a descriptive panel leader and has taught the Descriptive Panel Leadership & Flavor Courses for close to a decade.
As the Director of Consultancy, it is Joanne’s responsibility to develop newer consultants and enable them to create a skillset that has both depth & breadth. Joanne monitors the flow of work within the consultants, directing incoming projects in a manner that allows each consultant to increase their overall knowledge of sensory methods.
Marie Rudolph
As Director of Managed Services, Marie draws on a diverse background of leading and managing descriptive analysis panels; planning and execution of consumer studies; and, development & management of human resource programs to propose, negotiate and oversee all managed service contracts. Her business focus provides maximum benefit for all parties while ensuring that the contract terms and conditions are upheld.
Marie has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Cook College, Rutgers University and a Master’s of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Annlyse Retiveau Krogmann
With a strong background in consumer research and descriptive techniques, Annlyse Retiveau Krogmann has developed skills and expertise in evaluation methods for a diversified array of products – including foods and beverages as well as non-food products, such as home care, air care and personal care products.
She especially enjoys working with fragranced products and has done extensive research (including descriptive testing, qualitative and quantitative consumer research) on fragrances, focusing on understanding the impact of fragrance hedonics and sensory properties on consumers’ perception, imagery, emotions and moods.
Across all product categories, she enjoys uncovering the sensory story underneath the data and revealing the interrelationships between products sensory properties and consumer acceptance and perception.
Annlyse holds a PhD in Food Science / Sensory Analysis from Kansas State University. She also holds a M.S degree in Human Nutrition / Sensory Analysis from the same university and the equivalent of a B.S. in Food Science and Engineering from France.
Ivy Koelliker
Ivy Koelliker joined Sensory Spectrum in 2010. As a Director at Sensory Spectrum, Ivy manages a team of consultants whose expertise spans a wide variety of consumer product categories and sensory research techniques. Ivy specializes in food descriptive analysis and training food descriptive panels, and has expertise in statistical techniques, including linking consumer and descriptive data.
Ivy has an M.S. degree in Food Science from Rutgers University and completed her B.S. in Biological Sciences there, as well. She also has a Grand Diploma in the Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute.
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Nicole Butkiewicz
Nicole joined Sensory Spectrum in 2006. As Technical Operations Manager at Sensory Spectrum, Nicole manages a wide variety of projects with a focus on technology and innovation. She has extensive experience in non-food descriptive analysis, as well as expertise in statistical techniques, including linking consumer and descriptive data.
Nicole has a BA degree in History and Political Science from Rutgers University.
Clare Dus
As a member of the senior staff at Sensory Spectrum, Clare leads work and development at both Spectrum’s NJ and NC facilities.
Clare listens to the clients, asks questions and then designs and implements innovative methodology to meet their product and consumer understanding needs.
She has tasted, smelled, felt and looked at a wide range of foods, beverages, personal care products, paper products, fabrics and pharmaceuticals. Clare leverages deep understanding of sensory properties to provide information, insight, training and coaching to her clients and colleagues.
In her work in linking consumer and product understanding Clare actively seeks tools, techniques, and ways of thinking to assist her and Sensory Spectrum in understanding consumer decision criteria and motivations as related to desired sensory product features.
For the Society of Sensory Professionals (SSP), Clare used her creative problem solving training and co-designed and co-facilitated the SSP ideation at the inaugural conference. She is an active member of both the Professional Development and Strategic Planning Committees. In addition, Clare co-chaired the 2012 SSP Conference.
Clare has a Bachelors’ of Science in Food Science from Rutgers University, NJ. She is a long-time leader and presenter for the Creative Problem Solving Institute and is currently enrolled in the Polarity Management mastery Program.
She spends her free time volunteering with youth ministry at her church where she has done everything from playing monopoly at 3:00 am to mission work involving rolled roofing, hammer and nails.
Bob Baron
Bob has over 20 years of experience working in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. As a former Research and Development Director, Bob has served on many senior leadership teams focusing on strategy, business growth, and associate development. This level of leadership experience is a tremendous asset to Sensory Spectrum and its clients.
Bob’s expertise includes Sensory Evaluation, Consumer Insights, Product Development and Innovation. He has been deeply involved in all aspects of the product life cycle from ideation to launch, followed by product maintenance. Bob’s expertise also includes a wide range of sensory evaluation methods, quantitative and qualitative consumer research techniques, raw material functionality, product development approaches, and innovation management.
Bob uses his extensive background and experience in the industry to provide solutions for our clients, develop new approaches for product understanding, and provide sensory leadership through training and education. Additionally, Bob continually enhances our client partnership through building strong strategic relationships, working to solve difficult problems, and creating a collaborative environment.
Bob holds a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Science degree in Food and Nutrition Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Gail Vance Civille
Gail Vance Civille, President of Sensory Spectrum, Inc., has pioneered advanced sensory evaluation approaches for industry, academia and the government. For over 50 years her application of strategic business initiatives to R&D and marketing projects has impacted sensory science globally. Her fundamental development of flavor, texture, fragrance, Skinfeel and Fabricfeel Spectrum Descriptive Analysis methodology, references and protocols is the foundation for sound analytical tools in sensory science. As an expert in the evaluation of sensory properties, Ms. Civille has worked with thousands of food and personal care products using sophisticated consumer and descriptive techniques.
As a course director for Sensory Spectrum and the Center for Professional Advancement she has developed diverse original workshops and courses in basic and advanced sensory evaluation methods and theory, as well as, consumer testing, panel leadership, quality control and leadership in sensory programs.
Ms. Civille has published articles on general sensory methods, as well as, sophisticated application of sensory strategy, and is co-author of Sensory Evaluation Techniques (5th Edition), Sensory Evaluation in Quality Control and co-editor of Aroma and Flavor Lexicon for Sensory Evaluation.
Ms. Civille was awarded in 2002 the David R. Peryam Award given to outstanding professionals in the applied sensory science field by the ASTM Committee E18. In 2006 she was awarded the ASTM Award of Merit.
As part of the organizing and founding committee Ms. Civille was instrumental in the establishment of The Society of Sensory Professionals and has served as its Chair.
After graduating from the College of Mt. St. Vincent, New York (for which she serves on the Board of Trustees) with a BS degree in Chemistry, Ms. Civille began her career as a product evaluation analyst with the General Foods Corporation.
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Tougher U.S. sanctions make Cuba ever more difficult for Western firms
By Marc Frank
Reuters 9 October 2019
A tanker ship leaves the Havana's bay as it passes by vintage cars in Havana
HAVANA (Reuters) - Tougher U.S. sanctions against Cuba have led international banks to avoid transactions involving the island, while prospective overseas investors put plans on hold and foreign firms operating in the country consider restructuring to lower their risk exposure.
Just a few years ago, foreign businesses were rushing to take a firsthand look at Cuba's opening economy, lured by the Communist government's market reforms and a detente pursued by former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Yet two dozen Western executives, consultants and diplomats interviewed by Reuters said President Donald Trump's reversal of that detente and ratcheting up of the U.S. trade embargo have poisoned the business climate, in combination with Cuba's homegrown economic woes.
On top of the decades-old embargo, the Trump administration has sanctioned nearly 200 Cuban military-run companies and hotels as well as any company or vessel involved with shipping Venezuelan oil to Cuba.
In April, Trump also activated Title III of the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which allows Americans to sue U.S. and international companies profiting from property that was nationalized or confiscated after Cuba's 1959 Revolution.
American Airlines <AAL.O>, Melia Hotels International <MEL.MC>, Amazon Inc <AMZN.O> and French lender Societe Generale <SOGN.PA> are among the companies that have been slapped with lawsuits under the Helms-Burton Act, which they are contesting in court.
"The situation is catastrophic, at least for Western countries. I can’t speak for Russia or say China,” a European commercial attache said, asking not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Many Western banks have long refused Cuba-related business for fear of running afoul of U.S. sanctions and facing hefty fines, as well as the country's poor credit history.
Now, the combination of Trump’s aggressive stance, the complications of new sanctions and fear of being sued under Helms-Burton are deterring the few that remained. PostFinance, the last Swiss bank to process Cuba-related transactions, informed clients last month it would no longer do so. Bank spokesman Rinaldo Tibolla said in an email PostFinance relied on a trust-based network of correspondent banks as well as access to U.S. dollar payments.
"There is a risk that we will be excluded from this access if payments to Cuba, which may be subject to U.S. sanctions, are allowed to continue," he said.
Panama’s Multibank shut down numerous Cuba-related accounts this year and European banks are restricting clients associated with Cuba to their own nationals, if that. Asked about the closures, Multibank said in a statement it constantly revised its foreign accounts from the perspective of regulations and risk.
Businessmen and diplomats said large French banks, including Societe Generale, no longer want anything to do with Cuba and some are stopping payments to pensioners living on the Caribbean island. Neither Societe General <SOGN.PA> nor Paribas <BNPP.PA>, both of which have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, responded to a request for comment.
But for the first time in years, the island has had problems financing the upcoming sugar harvest. Various joint venture projects, from golf resorts to alternative energy, are finding it nearly impossible to obtain private credit, the executives, diplomats and other sources consulted by Reuters said.
Even Cuban embassies abroad are finding it more difficult to open accounts, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told a news conference in Havana this month as he blasted sanctions as "genocidal.""Financial sanctions are weapons of mass destruction," said John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, which closely follows U.S.-Cuban relations. "Enforcement by the Treasury Department can have a devastating impact.”
NOT WORTH THE RISK
Every time a Helms-Burton suit is filed, or Washington sanctions a bank for violating the embargo, corporate compliance officers say business with Cuba is not worth it, the sources said.
"It is like the old Chinese death sentence by a thousand cuts," said a European financial services representative, who also asked to remain anonymous. Clients from Canada, Europe and even China were still interested in Cuba, said Canadian lawyer Gregory Biniowsky, who lives in Havana and consults foreign businesses for the law firm Gowlings Consulting Inc.
"What has changed is their calculations for the short- to medium-term, as in, let's kind of shelve this for now and go into a holding pattern at least until November 2020," he said, echoing the observations of other consultants.
While recent U.S. sanctions have spooked many potential partners, Cuba’s existing 200-odd joint ventures and other agreements with foreign companies appear to be staying the course.
A number of well-known corporations such as Nestle <NESN.S>, Unilever <UNA.AS>, Imperial Cigars <IMB.L>, Sheraton, Pernod-Ricard <PERP.PA>, Total <TOTF.PA> and AB InBev <ABI.BR> have ventures in Cuba and none have fled in response to the U.S. crackdown.
The companies did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. However, the sources said some were considering restructuring along the lines of British beverage giant Diageo PLC <DGE.L>, which recently arrived in Cuba and partnered with a local firm in August to market rum.
Luca Cesarano, general director of the joint venture, has said he was confident Diageo was shielded from Helms-Burton, which assumes some U.S. exposure to collect penalties, since it was operating in Cuba through a subsidiary.
"Neither the subsidiary of Diageo, which is the partner, nor the venture, will interact with any Diageo entity or person that interacts with the United States," he said in August.
(Reporting by Marc Frank, additional reporting by Maya Nikolaeva in Paris and Eli Moreno in Panama; Editing by Tom Brown)
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SubTopic Troubleshooting VMware products
Best practices for working with a VMware appliance
As VMware appliances become more ubiquitous, administrators should consider a number of options for troubleshooting common virtual machine issues.
Rob Bastiaansen
As VMware continues to grow, the software giant is shipping more appliances than ever. Currently, when you choose...
the Windows version of a VMware offering, there's a fair chance that you'll only be able to choose an appliance with a future version. Therefore, it's a good idea to be prepared for troubleshooting these virtual machines and to know how to configure features that are not available through the Web management interface.
Instead of troubleshooting a VMware appliance, you could choose to delete it and deploy a new one, but that's not always practical, nor is it the best choice if your data is stored inside the appliance itself. The best option is to have a backup so you can restore yesterday's working version of the appliance but sometimes troubleshooting is worth the effort. Read these practical tips to figure out where to get started.
The anatomy of a VMware appliance
Most of the recent appliances shipped by VMware are based on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11. You can easily verify which version of Linux your appliance uses. One indicator is the information in the vSphere Web Client VM summary, which shows which OS is installed. However, this isn't always completely accurate. SLES allows you to install another OS or version without any complaint from VMware. To access more accurate information, it's best to log in to the command line and look into the file /etc/SUSE-release with the following command:
cat /etc/SuSE-release
This will report that you are using SLES 11 with a given patch level. This information is useful if you would want to troubleshoot an appliance that no longer functions and want to start it with a rescue system.
Not all troubleshooting needs to start with booting from a rescue disc. There are a few scenarios where doing so could be beneficial such has having to reset the root user's password. Let's take a look at how to boot with a rescue disc.
Booting with a rescue disk
To boot with a rescue disk, you must first download a CD or DVD for the same version of Linux running inside your VMware appliance. This is why it's useful to find out which distribution your appliance is running. You should find out this information right after deploying the appliance and have a rescue disc available so you don't have to stress out when there's an actual problem.
It's best to download the same version of SLES -- currently 11 -- but if that is no longer available your best bet is to download a newer one.
Place the ISO file of your download on a data store or on your local hard disk and attach it to the VM. You can connect the ISO file -- don't forget to enable the checkbox to connect at power on -- but the VM will keep booting from its hard disk. Therefore, use one of the two options shown in Figure A to boot from a CD or DVD. Increasing the boot time to, say, 10,000 milliseconds -- 10 seconds -- allows you to press "Escape" in the boot screen or enable the checkbox to have the VM boot into the BIOS at next boot. This setting allows you to modify the BIOS permanently to be able to boot from an ISO file. Be careful with this setting because if you forget to eject the ISO file, it will keep booting from the removable media.
Figure A. Adjusting boot delay and BIOS settings.
In the SUSE install disk, choose to start the Rescue System. We'll discuss how to change the root user's password later.
When the rescue system has loaded, you can log in as root user without a password.
Accessing the command prompt
As I explained, you don't need a rescue disc to work on your system's command line. In most appliances, you can access the command line on the console of the VM. When accessing the console, the screen might have a menu without a command prompt, but if you press Alt+F1, a new Shell window opens that allows you to log in. Figure D shows what the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) login process looks like.
Figure B. vCenter Server Appliance login window.
As you can see, this vCenter appliance requires you to enter the commands shell.set –enabled True and shell to access the true Linux Bash Shell.
Once logged in to the appliance, you might want to investigate if the services needed for the appliance are running. For a vCenter appliance, this can be accomplished with the service command and the name of the service:
service vmware-vpxd status
You can use commands to stop, start and restart with the name of the service in much the same way. But what if you don't know which service you're trying to check the status of or restart? The easiest way to find out is to look at the /etc/init.d folder because it lists the startup scripts for all services installed in the appliance. Use the following command to look at the directory listing:
ls /etc/init.d
You could also enter ls -l /etc/init.d to see more details.
You should also investigate the log files. The location of the log files varies from appliance to appliance, but a good starting point is the /var/log folder or, specifically, the /var/log/vmware folder. You can use the cat command to view the folder's entire contents, or tail to access just the last ten lines of the file. You can use of the most useful commands – less – to use a browser to look up and down the file. You can search for specific keywords with the following command:
less /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log
While in the browser screen, press the H key for help, which will tell you to that using the slash allows you to search for keywords.
Configuring SSH
You can always access the command line on the console, but sometimes it's more practical to access it though Secure Shell (SSH) with a tool such as Putty or another SSH client. For some appliances, you can enable SSH during the deployment, but if you choose not to or choose to enable it when it's not supported, you can still go back and enable it afterward. Be sure to check if permanently enabling this service complies with your organization's security policy and otherwise disable the service after using it. One reason to enable SSH is to use session control protocol (SCP) -- or WinSCP -- to copy files to a VMware appliance.
Use this command to enable the service, also called daemon:
service sshd start (replace "start" with "stop" in order to stop)
To permanently enable it, use this command:
chkconfig sshd on
These commands will change when VMware makes the shift to SLES 12, which uses systemd.
Changing the password for user root
When you no longer know the root user's password, you can use the rescue disc procedure to access the local Linux-system to set a new password. After booting the Rescue System, execute the following commands to show disk assignments and device names:
fdisk -l
The root partition is most likely at /dev/sda2 or /dev/sda3, so that is the partition you need to mount. You can do so with this command:
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
Next, mount the so-called pseudo file systems that are loaded into RAM:
mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev
mount -o bind /proc /mnt/proc
mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sys
Finally, change the running root file system to the appliance's file system by loading it in a chroot jail:
chroot /mnt
From now on, all commands you execute will be relative to the installed file system, so you can execute the passwd root command to set a new password for user root. Likewise, you can issue other commands, as they are all relative to the active chroot file system. After making changes, reboot the appliance and access it with the new password.
Working with disks and partitions
You can also use commands to manipulate the file system when logging in. But first, a warning: When making changes to the system, it's a good idea to first create a snapshot of your VMware appliance. VMware offers information on how to do this for a vCenter 6 appliance. This procedure also works for other appliances that use Logical Volume Manager. Otherwise, if you have traditional partitions, you'll need to take a Linux-based approach to decrease the VM's disk size and to increase the partition size with the GParted tool. You could also use a live CD to boot and resize partitions on the hard disk of the machine.
Troubleshooting VMware vCloud Automation Center
The basics of troubleshooting VMware performance
Troubleshooting VMware vSphere Replication
Dig Deeper on Troubleshooting VMware products
Use GRUB to fix Linux boot problems
By: Sander van Vugt
Win10 Safe Mode Breakout Technique
Bootrec Fixes Win10 Boot Problems
Troubleshooting vCSA root password failure
By: Anthony Poh
Rob Bastiaansen asks:
What are some drawbacks to booting a VMware appliance with a rescue disk?
Reduce Network Complexity and Empower Your Hybrid Cloud with a Modern, ... –IBM
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Win10 Safe Mode Breakout Technique – SearchEnterpriseDesktop
Rob Bastiaansen - 25 Apr 2016 7:26 AM
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a small snippet of the art protest
Broken Heart for the DWP is a art intervention, supported by Future Ventures. This is a symbolic protest to remember those who have not survived the cuts. Each person will carry a large red heart with the name of a person who has died due to DWP cuts. We are concentrating on 4 names, even though there are thousands to choose from. These hearts were once beating, but the building behind it helped those hearts to stop forever. These names cannot speak for themselves any more, we as fellow disabled people, are going to show we mourn these hearts stopping. The government is deeming people ‘fit to work’ despite being dying of cancer, unable to leave their beds, having heart attacks during assessments.
We carried out the action on July 22nd, 2019 and here are some pics.
FOR RELEASE ON 22nd JULY 2019 at 8am
Artist and activist takes protest ‘Broken Hearts for the DWP’ to Caxton House after our prospective Prime Minister ignore letter requesting no more DWP deaths.
After writing a letter to our future Prime Minister asking for them not to break any more hearts at the hands of the DWP https://section136.co.uk/?page_id=14 and having no response, on Monday 22nd July 2019 at 11am, artist and activist Dolly Sen will be staging an action outside DWP head office at Caxton House, Tothill St, Westminster, London SW1H 9NA, called ‘Broken Hearts for the DWP’.
Dolly will be accompanied by disability rights activists and family members who have lost loved ones due to DWP benefit cuts.
This will take the form of a peaceful protest outside the entrance to Caxton House on the pavement. Those taking part will hold up large broken hearts with the names of people who have died. This is to remember, in a personal and human way, people who have not survived the cuts.
There will be a filmmaker present to capture events. Section 136 is Artist and Activist Dolly Sen’s radical mental health art-action programme where madness is questioned, and institutional monsters are confronted.
Why it’s happening
This is a symbolic protest to remember those who have not survived the cuts. Each person will carry a large red heart with the name of a person who has died due to DWP cuts. We are concentrating on 4 names, even though there are thousands to choose from. These hearts were once beating, but the building behind it helped those hearts to stop forever. These names cannot speak for themselves any more, we as fellow disabled people, are going to show we mourn these hearts stopping. The government is deeming people ‘fit to work’ despite being dying of cancer, unable to leave their beds, having heart attacks during assessments.
Dolly says, “Disabled people feel like they are being treated in a similar way to how disabled people were treated in Nazi Germany. Not quite led into gas chambers, but put into a lose-lose situations where they have no money, no support, no hope and no food in their fridge. They feel like the public don’t care because there is little outrage. Is it any wonder some end their lives because of it?”
The UN have recently described what is happening in the UK as a “human catastrophe” due to “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights under successive Conservative governments.
One of the participants taking part is Joy Dove, Jodey Whiting’s mum. Joy said, “I miss her so much, if I can help others, Jodey won’t have died in vain. I will be proud to hold her name up but I’m sad it came to this through the DWP’s failings.”
Facts & figures (based on United Nations reports)
62% of people that the DWP sanctions live with mental health issues.
10,600 people died after their benefit claims ended.
90 people a month are dying after the DWP declares them ‘fit-for-work’.
590 people have taken their own life due, in part, to DWP fit-for-work tests.
OUR 3 KEY MESSAGES
We want:
The ending of assessments that are not fit for purpose, which have done things like find people with terminal cancer, people who cannot feed themselves, and people in hospital, fit for work. These unfair, punitive, devastating assessments have also driven people to suicide.
Recognition that DWP is damaging to people’s mental health.
The DWP to make radical changes to its policies and administration of social security benefits to make the safety of all claimants a priority
The names of the people written on the ‘Broken Hearts’:
Jodey Whiting. Jodey was a mother and 42 years old when she died. She was penalized for not attending a benefit assessment by having her benefits stopped. She couldn’t attend the assessment because she was seriously ill in hospital. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/243337
Stephen Carre, 41, struggled with depression and anxiety to the point he never left his house. He ended his life after being found fit for work. His GP and psychiatrist were not asked to provide evidence. On his appeal form, he wrote that the assessment arranged by the DWP “bears no relation to the medical I had.” https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/wca-death-scandal-dwp-and-atos-killed-my-son/
Mark Wood, 44, was found fit for work against doctor’s advice. He had complex mental health needs. His benefits were stopped. He starved to death. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/28/man-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut
Susan Roberts, 68, took her own life two days after learning of her failed PIP appeal. https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/pip-investigation-woman-took-her-own-life-two-days-after-learning-of-failed-pip-appeal/
Where – Caxton House, Tothill St, Westminster, London SW1H 9NA
When – 22nd July 2019 @ 11am
www.section136.co.uk
www.dollysen.com
Caroline Cardus – caroline.cardus@mail.com 07990 010408
Dolly Sen – dollysen70@hotmail.com 07794161200
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The New Agile: Deployment Pipelines and DevOps
Our last post reviewed key tools to conduct security tests in the development process, and before that we discussed big picture process adjustments to accommodate security testing, but didn’t fully how to integrate. Agile itself is in the middle of a major disruptive evolution, transforming into a new variant called DevOps, bringing significant long-term implications which are beneficial to security. The evolution of development security and Agile are closely tied together, so we can start by specifying how to integrate into the deployment pipeline, then discuss the implications of DevOps.
Understanding the Deployment Pipeline
The best way to integrate security testing into the development process is by integrating with the deployment pipeline. This is the series of tools an organization uses to take developed code from the brain of a developer into the hands of a customer. While products vary greatly, the toolchains themselves are relatively consistent, although not all organizations use all components.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE): The IDE is where developers write code. It typically consists of a source code editor (a text editor), a compiler or an interpreter, a debugger, and other tools to help the programmer write code and build applications (such as a user interface editor, code snippet library, version control browser, etc.).
Issue Tracker: A tracker is basically a project management tool designed to integrate directly into the development process. User stories are entered directly, broken down into features, and broken down again then specific developer tasks/assignments. Detected bugs also go into the issue tracker. This is the central tool for tracking the status of the development project – from earliest concepts, to updates, to production bugs.
Version Control System/Source Code Management: Managing constantly changing code for even a small application is challenging. Source code is mostly a bunch of text files. And we mean a lot of files, which may be worked on by teams of tens, hundreds, or thousands of developers. The version control system/source code management tool keeps track of all changes and handles checkout, checkin, branching, forking, and otherwise keeping the code consistent and manageable. Whichever tool is used, this is typically referred to as the source code repository, or repo for short.
Build Automation: Automation tools convert the text of source code into compiled applications. Most modern applications include many components which need to be compiled, integrated, and linked in the correct order. A build automation tool handles both simple and complex scenarios, according to scripts created by developers.
Continuous Integration (CI) Server: A CI server is the next iteration of build automation. It connects to the source code repository and, based on rules, automatically integrates and compiles code as it is committed. Rather than manually running a build automation tool, the CI server grabs code, creates a build, and runs automated testing automatically when triggered – such as when a developer commits code from an IDE. CI servers can also automate the deployment process, pushing updated code onto production systems.
There are an unlimited range of possible deployment pipelines, and the pipeline is often actually a series of manual processes. But the broad steps are:
The product owner enters requirements for a feature into the issue tracker.
The product owner or someone else on the development team (such as the program manager) breaks the user story and features down into a set of developer assignments, which are then added to the backlog.
The program manager assigns specific tasks to developers.
A developer checks out the latest code, writes/edits in an IDE, tests and debugs locally, and then commits it to the source code repository using the version control system. The developer might for existing for independent development and testing, depending on the nature of the feature.
The build automation tool compiles the code into the main application and may perform automated testing. The compiled product is then sent to QA/testing and eventually to operations to push into production. If something breaks, that is marked as a bug in the issue tracker.
If the organization uses continuous integration the code will be automatically compiled, integrated, and tested using the CI server. It may be pushed into deployment or handed off for additional manual testing, such as user acceptance testing. Again, if something breaks that becomes a bug in the issue tracker, probably automatically.
Not every organization follows even this general process, but just about everyone running Agile uses some variation of it.
Integrating Security
If you map our security toolchain to the deployment pipeline there are clear opportunities for integration. The ones we most commonly see are:
Security manages security issues and bugs in the issue tracker. Security features are often entered as user stories or feature requirements, in cooperation with the product owner or program manager. Security sensitive bugs are tagged as security issues. In some cases security teams monitor the issue tracker to help identify potential vulnerabilities that might have been entered as simple bug reports.
Static analysis is integrated in the IDE, build automation tool, or CI server. Sometimes all of the above. For example when a developer commits code locally it can undergo static analysis, with issues highlighted back in the IDE for easy identification and remediation. Static analysis may also be triggered when code is committed to the source code repository.
Dynamic analysis is also typically integrated at the build automation or CI server, using tests defined by security.
Other security tests, such as unit, component, and regression testing, are also often best integrated at the build or CI server.
Vulnerability analysis may be automated if the organization uses a CI server, but otherwise is often a manual or periodic process.
Any problems discovered by the testing tools generate entries in the issue tracker, just like any other bugs. Ideally security needs to sign off on any unremediated security bugs before release.
Security and DevOps
There is no single definition of DevOps, but essentially it means deeper integration of development and operations in the software deployment process. A better way to phrase it is integration of more Operations in Development, and more Development in Operations. If you remember the corny Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ads — “You got your peanut butter in my chocolate, no, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter.” — it’s kinda like that. Integrating the two make very good things possible.
Putting code into production is a very important step, one we’ve ignored in this series as it’s generally not part of the Agile development discussion. This step is incredibly error-prone because developers tend to work in their own vacuum, separated from production systems, and separated from the operations folks who deploy it. Heck, that’s often a security and compliance requirement. As a result their development and testing environments are very different from production, and the differences grow over time. This materially increases the chance things will break when they are deployed, because developers cannot account for all the differences.
The process is also very manual, usually with Operations teams running through deployment steps to get everything configured correctly on their systems and then updating the code. Even if an organization builds code using Agile, they often deploy infrequently to avoid breaking production: Agile development but Waterfall deployment!
DevOps addresses this through extensive automation. Thanks to virtualization and cloud computing, we have tools to consistently and programmatically define our environments and “rebuild production” as we update code. This is thanks to two key pieces we add to the process:
Configuration Management: Newer configuration management tools completely manage and define a system using programmatic scripts. In DevOps we use these tools to define and push server configurations to enforce consistency and automatically update systems.
Cloud and Virtualization Environment Configuration Tools: Some cloud providers support building out complete environments based on templates. There are also stand-alone tools to manage the same automation. At a basic level you can define networks, servers, configurations, and connections – all using scripts.
In both cases the tools are largely driven by text files from a version control repository, just like code. This means we can completely define the environment, the server configurations, and the application in text files; and build, test, and deploy consistently.
This supports continuous deployment, the heart of DevOps. A developer, working with Ops, defines server and environment requirements within the development process. Both Development and Operations use the same deployment pipeline, which now updates not only code, but also the environment in which it runs. This means, for example, that the CI server can create an entire test environment (on a local virtual platform or in the cloud) which is completely consistent with production. Operations testing is thus integrated with development to detect more problems earlier.
DevOps dramatically improves consistency and predictability, while (thanks to automation) also speeding up deployment if desired. It can be an extension to Agile, aligning with sprints, or become a truly continuous process where code is deployed into production as soon as it is complete and has passed automated tests. Some organizations using DevOps deploy new code into production dozens of times a day, without sacrificing security or resiliency. Errors still occur, but they are smaller, with a faster feedback cycle, and improved ability to roll back to known good states because everything is in version control.
DevOps is ideal for security integration because it enables us to integrate security requirements and testing into Development and Operations – often completely automated. This continuous integration is another key element of DevOps, ensuring all of the code and supporting services work together, but also an ideal place to automatically integrate security. For example we can add server hardening requirements into configuration management scripts. We also get improved audit trails because all production changes start at the beginning of the pipeline, rather than with administrators modifying servers in production.
This is only one aspect of DevOps, but it is the one most relevant to security teams and Agile development. DevOps itself is incredibly disruptive because it increases agility and resiliency while reducing operational overhead costs. At the same time improved consistency and ability to enforce security standards – without impeding the development process – bring tremendous security advantages.
Summary: Be Agile, for Agile
Security’s job is to manage risk for an organization. That is impossible if you don’t understand the risk, and few things are harder to understand than new untested applications. Development teams and security have historically battled due to their competing priorities: Development needs to hit deadlines and get code out the door, while Security needs to understand the code and ensure it’s safe.
If Security sits on one end of the pipeline and tries to evaluate and fix everything before it walks out the factory door, there is no way they can keep up. By the time they see problems – especially in a rapid Agile environment – it is late in the process, more expensive to fix, and sure to hold up business needs.
The answer is to integrate as directly as possible into the development process. Start early with threat modeling, define security requirements, use a shared issue tracker, and automate security testing into the development (or deployment) pipeline. Agile is all about being more responsive and better meeting customer requirements, and these days nobody can credibly argue that security isn’t high on the list. You just need to understand where developers are coming from and how to integrate into their process – trying to make development processes conform to security has a very poor track record, and Agile exacerbates the problem.
Posted Tue, October 07, 2014 8:00am • Filed Under: Research and Analysis • (0) Comments • Permalink
Firestarter: Hulk bash
Summary: Physicality
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New Video: Teyana Taylor – ‘Gonna Love Me (Remix)’ Ft. Wu-Tang Clan
By Singersroom|2018-12-17T12:02:53-05:00December 14th, 2018|R&B Music Videos, R&B Videos|
Following last month’s homemade visual of the original song, R&B star Teyana Taylor drops off the self-directed music video for the single’s remix featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon.
The ’90s-inspired clip kicks off with Taylor and her boyfriend, played by Ghost, having an argument after she discovers his hidden cellphone. After throwing a few pillows and the TV remote at Ghost, Teyana leaves the apartment, passes Method Man in the staircase and hits the streets. Trekking through Harlem, she rocks a throwback Vanson motorcycle jacket, baggy jeans, and other ’90s-influenced gear as she delivers the intoxicating relationship gem. Sh*t went left at the end after Taylor sees Ghost speaking with another woman, leading to an altercation and someone pulling out a gun and shooting what looks to be Meth.
Taylor’s vocal performance is angelic and mesmerizing on the Kanye West production while Killer Bee members Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon (who doesn’t appear in the video) paint a vivid picture of their ride or die women through thought-provoking rhymes.
The original version of “Gonna Love Me” appears on Teyana’s 8-song sophomore album K.T.S.E., released in June (2018).
Video: Mariah Carey – A No No
Jagged Edge Releases New Single “Closest Thing to Perfect”
Solange Drops New Album ‘When I Get Home’ (Stream)
Music: Brian McKnight – When I’m Gone
[PREMIERE] AJ Hernz – No Voy A Dormir (I Won’t Sleep)
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Oodles of doodles.
TOTH: CARTOON/REALISM and FLAT-PACKING
Welcome again to more ruminations on the drawing techniques of Alex Toth. I've posted several essays in recent years on Toth's skills and methods; those essays can be found here, here, here, here, and here. (Also, two bits I wrote on his tastes and personality can be found here and here. And, for Comics Journal subscribers: an obituary I wrote for that magazine here.) This time, I'd like to discuss the way Toth melded cartooniness with realism, as well as his approach to rendering three-dimensional objects without the usual depth indicators.
REALISTIC VS. CARTOONY
Among the traits that most distinguish Toth from other comic book artists is his willingness to unite realism with cartooniness. Most comic book artists fit into one camp or the other: the 'realists' seem reluctant to sully their hard-won realism with cartoony stylings, and the 'cartoonists' fear either the hard work of achieving realism, or the stiffness that so often accompanies it. By embracing both realism and cartooniness, Toth was able to give brio to his realism and authority to his cartooning, telling stories with both the alacrity of cartoons and the gravitas of more serious fiction.
Compare, below, Toth's drawing on the left with a drawing, by fellow cartoonist Jose Salinas, on the right.
Both drawings are skillful and show a thorough grasp of realism, but Toth's is simpler and therefore slightly easier to read. Salinas seems to have been among those cartoonists who grew up emulating the great line artists of books and magazines, such as Charles Dana Gibson or Joseph Clement Coll. There's a busy-ness in that style of linework that, though impressive in a single image, grows tiresome over the course of a comic story. It's like gothic lettering: attractive on a novel's cover, but wearisome if used throughout.
The classic remedy to such busy linework in comics is to cartoon: to render the narrative in a simple, exaggerated style. Most 20th Century cartoonists known for their storytelling have used a cartoony approach: Carl Barks, E.C. Segar, John Stanley, Frank King, Harold Gray, Walt Kelly, Chris Ware, Herge, Tezuka, etc.
However, there's often an unfortunate side-effect to using a cartoony style. We have long been taught that drawing "cartoony" means giving characters infantile proportions and behavior. Cartoony drawings usually entail traits like clumsiness, cuteness, big heads/eyes/feet, rubbery limbs, and silly behavior.
This is reflected, for example, in the way Toth's colleague Pat Boyette portrayed the spectrum of cartoony to realistic:
Notice that, as he becomes more cartoony, Boyette's caveman also becomes more child-like and silly, implying that silliness and cartooniness are related. The connection we typically sense between these two things has long been fostered by popular media, but it has no basis. There is no necessary connection between the cartooniness of a drawing and the maturity of its subject. A figure may be simplified and exaggerated, but its features can still be adult: small head/eyes/feet, long limbs, angular joints & muscles, etc.
Artists outside of comics have understood this for ages. Note the simplicity and exaggeration of these non-silly cartoons:
Themes as diverse as majesty, horror, and sophistication are on display in these cartoons, yet without silliness or infantilism.
Toth, too, understood that cartooniness is not silliness or immaturity, but a technique: the exaggeration and simplification of shapes to make a point. Compare the Toth drawing at the left, from Hot Wheels, with a similar drawing on the right, from Archie:
Both characters are drawn in a simple, exaggerated style: few details, mouths and noses drawn with a mark or two, humongous chins, and hair "helmets" with little texture. However, Toth's face has a sharp-featured quality that suggests seriousness and commands respect, while the other face looks like he belongs only in a humorous context. Toth here uses simplicity and exaggeration without demeaning his character with the giant eyes or chubby cheeks of a child.
Compare, too, these Toth drawings of a chubby man in a suit with these other artists' drawings of Archie's Mr. Weatherbee:
Both sets of drawings are similarly simple and drawn with few lines, but Toth's use of proportion (beady eyes!) and posture conveys seriousness, not frivolity.
Of course, no Archie artist can be faulted for giving their characters a humorous spin. But it's hard to find ANY examples of cartoony comic art that don't treat characters as humorous and infantile. Part of Toth's genius was to enjoy the liberties of cartooniness while side-stepping the tendency to infantilize his characters.
FLAT-PACKING
Some of you will recall a point I made about depth in a previous essay, where I discussed the Z-axis. I expand on that point below. This time, the focus is not on Toth's technique of angling objects toward the viewer, but on how he rendered those objects once they were so angled.
First, some background on perception and common technique.
Typically, when we picture an object in our minds, we default to a flat, straight-on image of the object. For instance, if asked to picture a MAN, or a HAND, or a CAR, we will picture something like the following:
This is because it's easier for us to conceptualize and remember objects in the simplest, most representative fashion. We store objects "flat" in our minds to save space and for quick reference. Like IKEA furniture!
However, a primary challenge of drawing is to represent objects in three dimensions. To do this, the artist must resist the flat-packed default which is common to most people, and try instead to visualize objects from various perspectives, such as these:
This practice is very counter-intuitive, and accounts for much of the difficulty people have with drawing. Your EYES may record an object foreshortened, but your BRAIN keeps wanting to force the image into its usual flat-packed state, resulting in drawings that tend to flatten out. This tendency can be seen in children's drawings, as well as in drawings from cultures where drawing in depth hadn't yet been mastered:
To combat this flatness, students of art are taught various depth-indicating techniques. Among them is what might be called SWELL-CREASING (for lack of a better term):
This technique entails giving the planes and contours of an object a rounded, swollen quality, like overlapping hills, which emphasizes the fact that parts of the object either crease inward or swell outward.
Another such technique is TAPERING:
The ends of lines are tapered, and the middles thickened, to give the object a weighty, bulgy quality.
A third technique is CONTOUR HATCHING:
Shading is added that wraps around the contours of the object to indicate its roundness and three dimensionality. You can also see Salinas use this approach in his gaucho drawing, above.
Now, these depth-indicators are like the adverbs of the drawing world: they can be usefully descriptive, but they clog the work if used constantly, and are often a lazy substitute for smarter planning.
Unfortunately, cartoonists -- especially those of the "realistic" school -- find it difficult to do without depth-indicators. "They make everything seem to pop out! So alluring!!! CAN'T...STAHHHHP....!!!!!" Some even feel that the absence of such techniques in a drawing is a sign of laziness or inexperience.
Which brings us back to Toth. A common refrain among his admirers is that they initially found his work "plain" or "boring," and only later came to appreciate what he was doing. I think this is mainly because Toth so often eschewed common depth-indicators. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," and often a reader with a knowledge of depth-indicators (but not their pitfalls) will note their absence in Toth's work and deem it lacking. "Where are the bulges and creases and tapered lines?" they seem to ask. "Where's all the contour hatching?" Even some of his inkers appear to join in. (Mike Peppe!)
Compare this Tarzan face on the left, pencilled by Toth and inked by a young Mike Royer (hired to imitate the detailed style of Russ Manning, I should add), with these faces pencilled and inked by Toth on the right:
Notice, in the Royer-inked drawing, the lines near Tarzan's mouth, nose, and cheek. These lines seem to be the inker's attempt to add depth to Tarzan's face, through swell-creasing. But in the Toth-inked drawings, we see that Toth himself often deemed such lines unnecessary.
This lesson is seen again and again in his work. Toth knew the importance of resisting the brain's flat-packing of objects, but he also knew the importance of the "easy storage" that results from flat-packing. So, after re-positioning objects in foreshortened angles for depth, he would often allow their contours alone to convey three dimensionality, instead of using swell-creasing, tapering, or contour hatching.
Check out these hands drawn by Toth, and compare them with the hands above.
Many comic book artists understand the importance of angling objects for depth, but few can resist getting carried away and rendering everything for depth as well.
Toth was among the few.
Some odds'n'ends.
Sorry not to have been updating around here; most of my art updates appear now at my website. Recently, I drew 10 pages of Hawkeye #7, currently in stores, so here's a pin-up of the character I worked on. Also, here's Kei (Dirty Pair), Storm (X-Men), and the first page of a 3-page X-Men comic I did for fun (click on the image for the rest).
Meskin The Obscure, and The Hall of Fame
I'm sorry to see that Mort Meskin was refused induction into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame this year. I'm frankly surprised he isn't already listed in that pantheon. (Rudolph Dirks made it in? Dirks, who based his career on a watery imitation of Max & Moritz?) Though Meskin isn't as famous or beloved as many other cartoonists of his era, I do believe he's among the most significant, and I'd like to explain why.
Admittedly, Mort Meskin is not a big favorite among comics fans. He never worked on major characters, being limited to third-stringers like "Fighting Yank" and the anonymous denizens of horror and romance one-offs, and his figures have an ugly, marionette-like quality that discourages vicarious identification. He's the opposite number of approachable, crowd-pleasing greats like Alan Davis, Nick Cardy, or Curt Swan.
But what Meskin brought to comics was rooted in that very quality that deprived his characters of their appeal. Specifically, he taught us to see comics panels as abstractions: a language of blunt shapes floating on the page, rather than dioramas of nicely drawn people. Before Meskin, cartoonists drew in a curvy, sinewy fashion intended to portray rounded organic forms. Whether their aim was stark realism or goofy humor, the goal was to draw credibly three-dimensional figures and imbue them with life. Meskin, too, initially pursued this goal, as one can see in his work from the early '40s. But throughout that decade his work underwent a strange evolution. He became less concerned with conveying three-dimensionality, and more concerned with balancing shapes against each other on a flat, two-dimensional plane. His lines no longer dovetailed together at the corners of a shape in a way intended to establish that shape as a real object. They instead met roughly, like the corners of loosely drawn letters. His drawing became like kanji -- like writing.
The effect of this change was off-putting, because it suggested to readers that the scenes portrayed were not happening before their eyes, but were instead more like written pictorial accounts of what happened. These weren't the immersive fantasies of more popular fiction -- like those beautifully realized in the art of Hal Foster, for instance -- but crude diagrams of those fantasies. It's as though Meskin had traded drawing comics about heroes for drawing comics about the lines and shapes he had seen in comics about heroes. (A similar shift had occurred already in gallery art, where painters like Picasso and Matisse drew diagrams of nudes instead of nudes. Notably, Meskin's only spiritual brethren in comics were influenced more by gallery art than by comics: Garret Price, Jesse Marsh, Lionel Feininger....)
To be sure, a similar codification had been occurring in comics long before Meskin. For example, Billy DeBeck's comics obviously didn't depict human beings in a strictly literal sense. But it was with Meskin that this trend turned the corner and became a thing of its own. Pre-Meskin cartoons still clung -- however loosely -- to conventions of literal shapes and emotive faces. When you drew a cartoon person, you drew an exaggerated, simplified version of a physical person; the intent was still to mimic an object in space, and one with personality at that. But when Meskin drew a person, he drew an assortment of shapes: a lovely dance of black/white/black/white/black. His abandonment of literal conventions cut the final dock-line between the ship of cartooning and the port of representational art.
What is the advantage of this approach, if any? Is it just a bunch of arty-fartying around? The advantage is that it pushes the language of comics beyond clunky literalism and up into a jet stream of fluid comprehension. Once the reader becomes accustomed to the strange idea that drawn lines aren't meant to BE the object they represent, but that they can merely REPRESENT that object, the reader's ability to comprehend drawn information flashes forward. It's like that moment in the distant past when (according to my sloppy and probably false idea of history) a Chinese scribe first realized,"I don't have to DRAW a house to denote a house; this house-like configuration of lines can simply MEAN a house." With that revelation, writing -- and, more importantly, reading -- suddenly became much easier.
Meskin's breakthrough didn't go unnoticed by his fellow artists. Three artists in particular show heavy signs of his influence: Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Alex Toth. Toth was arguably the most influential DC artist of the 1950s; Kirby and Ditko were the most influential Marvel artists of the 1960s. All three powerfully influenced not only the American mainstream, but alternative and foreign comics besides. If Meskin's influence on those three artists was as strong as I believe it was, then he indirectly fathered more American cartooning styles than anyone outside of the newspaper strips, and he absolutely deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.
So did Meskin influence those powerhouses? Toth and Ditko have enthusiastically confirmed Meskin's influence on them in print, but the case of Kirby is more tricky. To my knowledge, Kirby never cited Meskin as an influence, and in fact Meskin did cite Kirby as an influence, so one could argue that the influence flowed only from Kirby to Meskin, not vice versa. But Kirby and Meskin's work during the '40s suggests otherwise. (At least, as much of it as I've seen. Due to the scarcity of reprints, I haven't had a chance to compare a thorough sampling of Meskin's '40s work with a thorough sampling of Kirby's, but the trend as I see it is that Meskin's work veered toward geometric abstraction sooner than Kirby's.) Kirby began the decade drawing in the conventional fashion. His figures were sinewy and organic, a la Lou Fine or Alex Raymond, as were Meskin's. But midway through the '40s, Meskin's work started to take on an oddly geometric, abstracted quality. By the end of the decade, after working side by side in a studio with the evolving Meskin, Kirby's work, too, had become strangely blocky -- much more like the Kirby we all know and love.
This new style of Kirby's matured during the '50s in stories like Boys Ranch, and then achieved even greater power during the '60s on titles like The Fantastic Four. Kirby's figures by then had a rocky, geometric, robot-like, inorganic quality that made them all kin to The Thing. This quality -- to which Meskin had apparently opened the door -- is what elevates Kirby's characters from strongmen to gods. Their visual inhuman-ness (pun intended) grants them permission to be more than human in our minds. Imagine how much weaker Kirby's art would have been had he tried to draw his characters in a conventional, organically three-dimensional manner. Imagine if Galactus or Apokolips -- or MODOK, or the Juggernaut -- had been drawn by Lou Fine or Hal Foster or Curt Swan! In fact, we don't have to imagine that: we can see it in any number of proficient artists who try to draw like Kirby without understanding what Kirby was doing. Every time we see a non-Kirby drawing of a character designed by Kirby but with rounded-off, realistically-rendered muscles, looking like a pro wrestler instead of a mythic totem, we get a taste of how Kirby's art may have turned out without the needed abstraction. Which is to say: without the influence of Meskin.
Meskin's geometric abstractions helped make way for Kirby's mythic superhumans, for Ditko's awkwardly angular Peter Parker and dimension-defying Dr. Strange, and for Toth's austere, modernist elegance. He influenced the pillars of the American mainstream and re-introduced the language of hieroglyphs to American comics. That he isn't already in the Hall of Fame perhaps only shows how broadly pervasive his influence was.
But it sure would be a good idea to put him there anyway.
Interested readers should check out the art book/biography "From Shadow to Light: The Life & Art of Mort Meskin," which I'm currently reading and enjoying, or Out of the Shadows, a collection of Meskin comics which I haven't read but looks promising.
Been awhile! Some recent stuff:
Moebius.
Saturday left us without Moebius, one of my favorite artists. Cancer, cancer... there goes Dave Stevens, Dylan Williams, Moebius, and so on.
But let's discuss the good.
The thing which first attracted me to Moebius's work, and which I still admire most about it, was that ( Collapse )
Here are some prelims for recent pics I've done, starting with the "Witch Hazel" pic from my Cartoon Redheads blog.
This first one is a rough to get the feel of the overall shape of the figure. I establish the simplest outside edges first, and then carve out the negative spaces (such as where her legs part), like cutting into a pie.
I did this next one to give myself an idea of what the main lines would look like. As you can see, her feet didn't line up at first. I later decided that it would look better if the toes of both her feet all followed the same arc (which you can see in the diagram of the final version at the left).
Here's my first attempt at her head, followed by the version I ended up with, in which I tried to make her look less "Sabrina" and more mischievous.
Here are a couple of hat designs. Chuck Jones's original design was more cartoony, so he got away with placing the hat on her head like a coin on an egg, but since my version is slightly more realistic, I had to figure out a sensible way to fit her hat onto the dome of her skull, without intruding on her bangs or ponytail.
And here's the rough of my Viveca Lindfors portrait. (I didn't end up doing a rough for the Lisbeth Salander portrait. The final versions of realistic portraits take longer than the finals of cartoon drawings, so I don't always have time to mess around with roughs beforehand.) In this rough, I'm getting a feel for the three-dimensional shape of her head, and the shadow pattern.
And that's that!
Common parlance.
Yesterday I read this article by Heidi MacDonald, in which she discusses the enormity of the current market for fan art (that is, art which features trademarked characters without permission). Various interesting points were raised, but what struck me most was this reply from artist Ulises Farinas, whose fan art sales Heidi mentioned in her piece:
"After reading this article, i have to admit i feel a little weird. But my only response is, nobody looked at my work until i started drawing black-market licensed work. It is sad, but i gotta pay bills. And if i draw a lego-dude as Green Lantern, everyone is impressed. But if i just draw my own work, everyone’s just 'eh'."
With uncommon frankness, Ulises describes a problem that has troubled artists throughout history: ( Collapse )
Debating whether to devote the requisite free time to that next Toth post. All in favor...?
Grammi Bear
Bouncing here and there and everywhere...
TOTH: CARTOON/REALISM and FLAT-PACKING — 0
Some odds'n'ends. — 2
Meskin The Obscure, and The Hall of Fame — 6
Moebius. — 13
Process — 0
Common parlance. — 20
Grammi Bear — 0
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Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility
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Submitting samples
Intact protein
Biotyper
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Acknowledging the Facility
MS definitions
Publication help
A short list of terms and definitions for mass spectrometry as recommended by IUPAC
(from K. K. Murray et al., Pure Appl. Chem., 2013, Vol. 85, No. 7, pp. 1515-1609)
Accurate mass
Experimentally determined mass of an ion of known charge.
Can be used to determine elemental composition to within limits defined by both the accuracy and precision of the measurement.
Accurate mass and exact mass are not synonymous. Accurate mass refers to a measured mass, and exact mass refers to a calculated mass.
See also exact mass.
AQUA – absolute quantitation of proteins
Method for absolute quantitation of proteins through measurements on constituent proteolytic peptides using chemically synthesized isotope-labeled peptides as surrogate internal standards for mass spectrometry.
API – atmospheric pressure ionization
Ionization process in which ions are formed from atoms or molecules at atmospheric pressure.
Note: Atmospheric pressure ionization is not a synonym for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.
APCI – atmospheric pressure chemical ionization
Chemical ionization of a sample that is a gas or nebulized liquid, using an atmospheric pressure corona discharge or beta emitter such as 63Ni.
CID (and CAD) collision-induced dissociation (and collisionally activated dissociation)
Dissociation of an ion after collisional excitation.
Note: The terms collision-induced dissociation (CID) and collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) can be used interchangeably.
CRM – consecutive reaction monitoring
Multiple-stage mass spectrometry experiment with three or more stages of m/z separation in which products of sequential fragmentation or bimolecular reactions are selected for detection. See also multiple reaction monitoring.
DDA – data-dependent acquisition
Mode of data collection in tandem mass spectrometry in which a fixed number of precursor ions whose m/z values were recorded in a survey scan are selected using predetermined rules and are subjected to a second stage of mass selection in an MS/MS analysis.
DE – dynamic exclusion
Software method used to minimize repeat selections of identical precursor ions for collision-induced dissociation in replicate chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of complex mixtures. See also data-dependent acquisition.
ECD – electron capture dissociation
Process in which multiply protonated molecules interact with low-energy electrons followed by fragmentation. The capture of an electron by the even-electron cation [M + nH]n+ liberates energy and reduces its charge state, thus producing the corresponding [M + nH](n–1)+• odd-electron ion, which readily fragments.
ETD – electron transfer dissociation
Process in which multiply protonated molecules accept an electron from an anion with relatively low electron affinity. Capture of the electron leads to the liberation of energy and a reduction in charge of the ion with the production of the [M + nH](n–1)+• odd-electron ion, which is readily fragmented by collision-induced dissociation. See also electron capture dissociation (ECD)
ESI – electrospray ionization
Spray ionization process in which either cations or anions in solution are transferred to the gas phase through formation and desolvation at atmospheric pressure of a stream of highly charged droplets that result from applying a potential difference between the tip of the electrospray needle containing the solution and a counter electrode.
Calculated mass of an ion or molecule with specified isotopic composition.
See also accurate mass.
FTMS – Fourier transform mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry technique in which m/z values are represented by frequencies of ion motion and mass spectra are generated by Fourier transform mathematical operations from time domain transients produced by image current detection.
Note: Fourier transform mass spectrometry is typically carried out using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometers or Kingdon traps (e.g. Orbitraps).
GC-MS (or GC/MS) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry)
Technique by which a mixture is separated into individual components by gas chromatography, followed by detection with a mass spectrometer.
Note 1: Either a hyphen or slash can be used to indicate combined instruments.
Note 2: The mass spectrum is typically obtained on a time scale that allows resolution of the component in a single chromatographic peak.
ICP-MS – inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry technique based on coupling a mass spectrometer with an inductively coupled plasma as an ion source that both atomizes samples into their constituent atoms and ionizes them to form atomic cations.
Note: The technique is highly sensitive for a range of metals and several non-metals, and provides information on isotopic distributions.
IT – ion trap
Device for spatially confining ions using electric and magnetic fields alone or in combination.
iTRAQ – isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation
Chemical labeling reagents used for relative or absolute quantitation in proteomics, based on covalent labeling of the N-terminus and side-chain amines of peptides from protein digestions with tags of varying mass.
IDMS – isotope dilution mass spectrometry
Quantitative mass spectrometry technique in which an isotopically enriched compound is used as a surrogate internal standard
IRMS – isotope ratio mass spectrometry, stable isotope mass spectrometry
Measurement and study of the relative abundances of the different isotopes of an element in a material using a mass spectrometer.
Isobar (in mass spectrometry)
Atomic or molecular species with the same nominal mass but different exact masses. Isobaric ions are isobars that all carry an electric charge.
LIT – linear ion trap
Two-dimensional Paul ion trap in which ions are confined in the axial dimension by means of a static electric potential.
LC-MS (or LC/MS) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry)
Technique by which a mixture of analytes is separated into individual components by liquid chromatography (typically high-performance liquid chromatography), followed by detection with a mass spectrometer.
Note: Either a hyphen or slash can be used to indicate combined instruments.
Lock mass
Mass of an ion of known m/z value, derived from a suitable standard compound introduced into an ion source together with the sample to be analyzed, which permits real-time recalibration by correction of m/z shifts arising from instrumental drift.
Monoisotopic mass
Exact mass of an ion or molecule calculated using the mass of the most abundant isotope of each element.
MS – mass spectrometry
Study of matter through the formation of gas-phase ions that are characterized using mass spectrometers by their mass, charge, structure, and/or physico-chemical properties.
Note 1: The term is a misnomer because it is m/z rather than mass that is the independent variable in a mass spectrum.
Note 2: Mass spectroscopy is an obsolete synonym for mass spectrometry that should not be used to avoid confusion with spectroscopies in which the measured quantity is the absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation.
MS/MS – mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry
Acquisition and study of the spectra of the product ions or precursor ions of m/z selected ions, or of precursor ions of a selected neutral mass loss.
Note: MS/MS can be accomplished using instruments incorporating more than one analyzer (tandem mass spectrometry in space) or in trap instruments (tandem mass spectrometry in time).
MS/MS spectrum
Mass spectrum obtained using tandem mass spectrometry.
Symbol for multiple-stage mass spectrometry experiments designed to record product ion spectra where n is the number of product ion stages (n-th-generation product ions).
MudPIT – multidimensional protein identification technology
Variant of shotgun proteomics in which proteins are first digested and then separated by a combination of strong cation exchange and reversed-phase liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry detection.
MRM – multiple reaction monitoring
Application of selected reaction monitoring to multiple product ions from one or more precursor ions.
Note: This term should not be confused with consecutive reaction monitoring, which involves the serial application of three or more stages of selected reaction monitoring.
m/z
Deprecated: mass-to-charge ratio, thomson. Abbreviation representing the dimensionless quantity formed by dividing the ratio of the mass of an ion to the unified atomic mass unit, by its charge number (regardless of sign). The abbreviation is written in italicized lowercase letters with no spaces.
Note 1: Mass-to-charge ratio is deprecated. Mass-to-charge ratio has been used occasionally for the horizontal axis in a plot of a mass spectrum, although the quantity measured is not the ion’s mass divided by its electric charge (SI units kg C–1). However, m/z is recommended as an abbreviation to represent the dimensionless quantity that is used almost universally as the independent variable in a mass spectrum.
Nominal mass
Mass of a molecular ion or molecule calculated using the isotope mass of the most abundant constituent element isotope of each element rounded to the nearest integer value and multiplied by the number of atoms of each element.
See also monoisotopic mass.
QIT – quadrupole ion trap (Paul ion trap, QUISTOR – quadrupole ion storage trap)
Ion trapping device that depends on the application of radio frequency potentials between a ring electrode and two end-cap electrodes to confine the ion motion to a cyclic path described by an appropriate form of the Mathieu equation. The choice of these potentials determines the m/z value below which ions are not trapped.
QTOF – quadrupole time-of-flight
Hybrid mass spectrometer consisting of a transmission quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled to an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A collision quadrupole is typically inserted between the two mass spectrometers.
QCAT – quantitation by concatenated tryptic peptides
Method for absolute quantitation of a protein or proteins in a multiplexed fashion using isotope-labeled peptides as surrogate internal standards. The labeled peptides are produced by synthesizing a gene coding for all desired peptides, expressing this gene in E. coli culture containing appropriately labeled substrate, and digesting with trypsin the expressed protein composed of the desired concatenated peptides.
SIM – selected ion monitoring
Operation of a mass spectrometer in which the abundances of ions of one or more specific m/z values are recorded rather than the entire mass spectrum. See also selected reaction monitoring (SRM).
SRM – selected reaction monitoring
Data acquired from one or more specific product ions corresponding to m/z selected precursor ions recorded via two or more stages of mass spectrometry.
SILAC – stable isotope ratio analysis of amino acids in cell culture
Proteomics technique that detects differences in protein abundance between cultured cell samples using stable isotopic labeling achieved with labeled amino acids in one cell culture and unlabeled ones in a separate culture.
SISCAPA – stable isotope standards and capture by anti-peptide antibodies
Method for absolute quantitation of a protein or proteins in a multiplexed fashion using isotope-labeled peptides as surrogate internal standards. The labeled peptides are produced by synthesizing a gene coding for each desired peptide, cell-free transcription, and translation of this gene in a medium containing 13C6-labeled lysine, and digesting with trypsin the expressed protein composed of the desired concatenated peptides. For low-abundance proteins the sensitivity is increased by selective enrichment of the target peptides by antibody capture.
TOF-MS – time-of-flight mass spectrometer
Mass spectrometer that separates ions by m/z in a field-free region after acceleration through a fixed accelerating potential. Ions of the same initial translational energy and different m/z require different times to traverse a given distance in the field-free region.
TIC – total ion current
Sum of all the separate ion currents carried by the ions of different m/z contributing to a complete mass spectrum or in a specified m/z range of a mass spectrum.
TICC – total ion current chromatogram, reconstructed total ion current chromatogram
Deprecated: total ion chromatogram. Chromatogram created by plotting the total ion current in a series of mass spectra recorded as a function of retention time.
3 thoughts on “MS definitions”
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Home/Featured, News/Good Butterfly News!
Good Butterfly News!
Adventurous flyer “Amelia” at Frazer Preserve | Photo: Susan Vernon
For the last several years, the only place in the world where the Island Marble Butterfly was known to live was in a few small patches on the seaside prairie at American Camp, near the southern end of San Juan Island.
That changed in late May, when a lone Island Marble was seen flitting among yellow field mustard blooms in one of several habitat patches that San Juan Preservation Trust staff and volunteers have been cultivating since 2015 on the County Land Bank’s Frazer Homestead Preserve, near American Camp.
“It was so exciting to see our work paying off,” says SJPT Stewardship Manager Kathleen Foley, who leads the Island Marble Habitat Expansion project. “This was exactly what we’ve been hoping and working towards for four years.” Kathleen nicknamed the butterfly Amelia, after another adventurous female flyer.
“Amelia’s” appearance at one of SJPT’s habitat plots was significant: It was the first confirmed sighting of an Island Marble outside of American Camp in years. Even better, though, she stayed and laid eggs! Most of the 18 eggs hatched into caterpillars. After maturing, they will form a chrysalis and, if all goes well, emerge as butterflies next spring—a hopeful step for this exceedingly rare insect, which has been proposed for federal listing as an endangered species.
“These exciting developments speak to the integrity of the initial design of the Preservation Trust’s habitat patches,” says Susan Vernon, a San Juan Island naturalist who has been deeply involved in Island Marble conservation efforts since they began more than 15 years ago. “Creating the conditions that encourage this butterfly to repopulate historic breeding areas has been hard work, but it seems like ‘Amelia’ found just what she was looking for.”
Craig Canine2019-07-10T13:56:42-07:00July 10th, 2019|
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Search results for "Touring": 8
From cabaret guest spots at UK festivals to international tours of major comedy and theatre shows, our ambitions are to take the work out to people who may not know...
Natasha Marshall
Natasha is a writer and performer from the West Country and was a rising star in our Soho Theatre Young Company. With Soho Theatre, she’s been to Edinburgh and touring...
NEWS: Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 programme
...and three world premieres. Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh based Touring Producer, Sarah Dodd said: ‘Alongside our acclaimed Soho programme, we increasingly take work outside of London – in the last year...
SOHO GETS AROUND
True to our Artistic Vision, we’ve found ways to make Soho Theatre reach even further over the past 12 months. We’ve been to The Abbey in Dublin, Lyric Belfast, Oxford...
So we’re on the lookout for an additional venue to bring the best of new theatre, comedy and cabaret to an even wider audience....
Diwali Festival 2017
We brought the very best comedy from the UK and India with Nish Kumar, Aditi Mittal, Anuvab Pal and Kai Samra (a former member of our own SYC) in a...
Soho Theatre in association with CAA present
Vir Das: Loved UK Tour
Sun 7 – Fri 12 Jun 20
Soho Elsewhere
Soho Theatre and Tim Whitehead Management presents
Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales: Together Again, Again! @ Leicester Square Theatre
Tue 7 – Sat 18 Apr 20
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Wake Up, Get Up
by sophie yalkezian
As the clock turns to 4:50am, Raina turns over in her bed for the 4th time. Her eyes gently open. She's awake, and there's no way around it. Her body has already decided.
It's Monday, which means it'll be a slow day at IKEA. Who buys furniture on a Monday, anyway? But slow or not, she'll need a shower.
Raina slowly twists her body out of the bed and plants her feet on the floor. "Successful people get up when they wake up," she thinks to herself, recalling a quote from Terry O'Reilly, her favorite motivational speaker.
Raina has been following Terry's wisdom for 2 years now. When her and Peter broke up she felt like a shell of a person. She would listlessly float between work and home, with no purpose. No reason to feel excited or joyful. Like nothing could ever quite engage her brain fully again.
Then on her drive home one night, she heard Terry on NPR. "We are more than the things that happen to us. We are what happens after the things. We pick ourselves up, or we don't. Our true character is defined by our reaction."
After relieving herself in the bathroom, Raina slumps over to the mirror above the sink. She looks up at her reflection with a mix of disdain and comfort. It's time for her morning affirmations.
"I know who I am, and I like who I am."
"Today is my day. I own this day."
"I am worthy of my greatness and power."
As she says them 5 times each, she tries to look herself in the eye. Deep into the irises. Have you ever looked deep in your own eyes in the mirror? It's terrifying. Terry says you should look yourself in the eye at least three times per day—that you make the most important impression on yourself.
Now on to hair-brushing. 25 strokes, each side. This one's not a Terry O'Reilly nugget but instead a ritual she's performed every morning since she was 8 years old.
It may have to do with her mother, brushing her hair straight out of the bath, with tugs and torture. A child-aged Raina would wince, wrapped in her towel, feeling both annoyed by her mother's rough touch and secretly pleased to have held her attention this long.
As she rounds the corner on the 19th stroke, Raina sees something dart across the floor.
A goddamned mouse, Raina thinks to herself. She drops the hairbrush.
She had spent last weekend plugging all the holes she could find in her cupboards, baseboards and walls. But alas, one last entryway must be left open.
Raina is deeply afraid of mice. But Terry says when we look closer at what we're afraid of we can learn about ourselves. So she gets down on her hands and knees.
There's absolutely no way this is a mouse, she thinks. You're an idiot, you're seeing things because you're tired. And you're tired for no reason, because your life isn't exciting enough to deserve to be tired.
This is how Raina speaks to herself in her head.
And there it goes again! It IS a mouse, she wasn't wrong.
Raina follows the mouse with her eyes as it gets to a recently plugged hole. It has nowhere to go. She quickly runs to the door of the bathroom and shuts it—the mouse is trapped here with her.
Raina has no idea what to do. She can't kill the mouse with her bare hands or something. She is shaking from being so close to it already.
She starts to lean down and spots the mouse again. It's now sitting still in a corner, and surprisingly, it's staring back up at Raina.
Raina looks into the eyes of the mouse, deep into its irises. They are locked in contact. For a moment, everything moves slowly.
She feels like this mouse every day, scurrying from place to place without feeling. Moved only by basic instincts. Trying her best to avoid conflict. Trying her best to hang onto her ideas and thoughts and feelings like they matter, but ultimately knowing they don't.
Raina feels like she's dropping into some kind of trance, so she starts to get up. This mouse's eyes are still locked with hers.
She remembers the hammer in the bathroom closet. She leans back slightly until she feels it in her hand, never breaking eye contact with the mouse.
Terry says we are not the things that happen to us, we are our reactions.
Terry says that in order to become our fullest selves we have to let go of what holds us back.
She brings the hammer up from behind her and the mouse begins to run towards the door. She brings it down in perfect time to land right on its head. It makes a light squish sound. There is a surprisingly small amount of blood.
Raina is still shaking, but for the first time since Peter left, she feels sure of herself.
Back to Oct. 19 | Back to Main Page | On to Oct. 21
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Football Arabian Gulf League
Champions Sharjah headline Tuesday's Arabian Gulf League return after month away
Matt Monaghan - Senior Football Writer 19:12 09/12/2019
(Twitter/@SharjahFC).
The Arabian Gulf League returns with a bang on Tuesday after more than a month away
An extended hiatus was decided upon for the UAE’s top flight once the national side accepted a late, second invitation to compete at the 24th Gulf Cup – won on Sunday evening by Bahrain.
With this tournament following on from last month’s usual international break, a much-changed fixture list saw play restricted, instead, to the Arabian Gulf Cup.
A trio of enticing fixtures await when round eight kicks off. Champions Sharjah will hope to maintain the division’s only unbeaten start against Bani Yas, while at the opposite end of the table Ittihad Kalba host Ajman and Khor Fakkan welcome Al Dhafra.
“We return after a long pause of the league matches,” said King boss Abdulaziz Al Anbari, who witnessed his title chasers go down 2-1 to Al Ain in Friday’s AG Cup quarter-finals. “Our preparations have been short after the Al Ain match.
Arabian Gulf Cup glory within touching distance for Friday’s heavyweight semi-finalists
Find out how you can join the five loyal Arabian Gulf League fans who’ve won Audi A3 cars
“I hope all players are ready for the match. We have to get used to the pressure of matches, because this is what we will face in the next stage.
“We have a good group of players and we will give opportunities to the most prepared.”
Extended time on the training pitch has been embrace by Kalba tactician Jorge Da Silva.
The Tigers did not make the Cup knockouts and resume in the AGL outside of the drop zone only because of a superior head-to-head record versus Fujairah.
“It was a very good week for training and preparing for the Ajman match,” said the ex-Uruguay striker.
“We know that the Ajman team was not in a good position during the last games, but they have the desire to return.”
Promoted Khor Fakkan are the only AGL outfit yet to win, while Dhafra have lost their last six games in all competitions.
Arabian Gulf League sharjah
AFC Arabian Gulf League Global Football UAE
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NFL bets you need to make in Week 14: 12/4
Covers.com
Rotoworld December 4, 2019, 11:32 PM UTC
SHADING THE MVP
The Buffalo Bills' hype-train is chugging along after a convincing win in Dallas with the country watching in Week 13. But things will get much more difficult this week with the Baltimore Ravens traveling to New Era Field.
This game will feature the first and fourth-best rushing quarterbacks (rush yards/game) in Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Jackson is nearly impossible to game plan against because no teams can mimic Jackson in practice - except the Bills.
The Bills Defense is used to practicing against a mobile QB and if any team in the league is prepared to slow down Jackson, the Bills stand the best chance. The same can be said with Allen as he will see a defense that faces an elite QB rushing talent in practice every week.
We think there’s a chance that the Allen and Jackson (not to be confused with the rugged country singer) rushing markets could be overvalued with all the attention they have been getting after Week 13. We are going to fade both dual-threat quarterbacks, taking the Under on Jackson’s rushing total of 75.5 yards and the Under on Allen’s on 39.5 yards.
The Arizona Cardinals may be 4-1-1 ATS at home this year but their opponents have enjoyed success on the offensive side of the ball in the desert. The Cardinals are giving up the second-most TDs at home (3.8) and have allowed their opponents to score 30 or more points in four straight weeks. Even the L.A. Rams scored 34 points versus Arizona last week after averaging just 11.6 points a game from Weeks 10 through 12.
The Pittsburgh Steelers under Devlin Hodges have scored in seven of their last 16 drives and are putting up 5.5 points a quarter. Not incredible numbers but facing the league’s 28th-ranked red-zone defense will make things easier. Getting center James Pouncey back from suspension certainly helps and if James Connor can suit up, the Steelers have a good chance at eclipsing their team total, even if JuJu Smith-Schuster is out.
We’re riding the Over on the Steelers’ total of 22.5 and are waiting for TE Vance MacDonald’s prop market to open as he faces the league’s worst TE-defending team.
PRIMETIME SIX-POINT TEASER TIME
Dallas (+3) is lucky it plays in the worst division in football this year. Nobody wants to win the NFC East but Dallas may have more motivation after getting shown up on Thanksgiving and Jerry Jones basically saying Jason Garrett will not be back next year. Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears are also due for a dud. Cowboys +3
The Rams decided to run up the score last week which hopefully gives that offense and their full slate of receivers some confidence ahead of their matchup versus the Seahawks. Seattle sits sixth in points per play while its defense is allowing 24.4 average points against. Take the Over 42.
Over their last three games, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are averaging 52 points combined. The Giants Offense will be forced to put up some points on Monday night as their defense is allowing the second-most points on the road. New York is also 5-1 O/U on totals of 41 or higher over its last six games. Take the Over 41.
FIRST-HALF CIRCUIT BAKER
The Cincinnati Bengals have the 31st DVOA first-half defense and are giving up 14.3 first-half points on the road this year. The Bengals have won their last two first halves against the Steelers and the Jets and this week may be a great time to fade Cincy in the first half as it recovers from a victory hangover.
Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield will be good to go for Sunday and feasted on the Bengals last year. In his two games against Cincy, the former No.1 pick has thrown for seven TDs and completed 73 percent of his passes.
Cleveland will take out its frustrations on its division rivals. Take the Browns first-half spread of -4.
TOM TERRIBLE
Kansas City’s defense is amped up to play the Patriots and their anemic offense. We won’t put all the blame on Brady as that receiving corps has been a revolving door this year and there’s a serious lack of experience outside of Julian Edelman.
The Chiefs have six interceptions over their last two games and if Patrick Mahomes and the offense get up in New England, they will force Brady to pass - something the 42-year-old QB hasn’t been very good at. Brady is just 17th in QBR, between Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston.
Brady has only one interception at home this year but threw eight at Gillette Stadium last season. Aided by the eye test, we are putting our money on the Over 0.5 INTs for Tom Terrific.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
21+. NJ only. Odds may vary. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
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Atlantic Health System menu search
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Precocious puberty
Puberty is the time during which a person's sexual and physical characteristics mature. Precocious puberty is when these body changes happen earlier than normal.
Puberty usually begins between ages 8 and 14 for girls and ages 9 and 16 for boys.
The exact age a child enters puberty depends on a number of factors, including family history, nutrition, and gender.
Most often there is no clear cause for precocious puberty. Some cases are due to changes in the brain, genetic problems, or certain tumors that release hormones. These conditions include:
Disorders of the testicles, ovaries, or adrenal glands
Tumor of the hypothalamus (hypothalamic hamartoma)
The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones that control:Body temperatureHungerMoodRelease of hormones from many glands, especial...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Tumors that release a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
In girls, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop before age 8:
Armpit or pubic hair
Beginning to grow faster
First period (menstruation)
Mature outer genitals
In boys, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop before age 9:
Growth of the testes and penis
Facial hair, often first on the upper lip
Voice change (deepening)
The health care provider will perform a physical exam to check for signs of precocious puberty.
Tests that may be ordered include:
Blood tests to check hormone levels.
CT or MRI scan of the brain or of the abdomen to rule out tumors.
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...
Depending on the cause, treatment for precocious puberty may include:
Medicines to stop the release of sexual hormones, in order to delay further development of puberty. These medicines are given by injection or shot. They will be given until the normal age of puberty.
Surgery to remove a tumor.
Children with early sexual development may have psychological and social problems. Children and adolescents want to be the same as their peers. Early sexual development can make them appear different. Parents can support their child by explaining the condition and how the doctor plans to treat it. Talking to a mental health worker or counselor may also help.
Children who go through puberty too early may not reach their full height because growth stops too early.
See your child's provider if:
Your child shows signs of precocious puberty
Any child with early sexual development appears to be having problems in school or with peers
Certain medicines that are prescribed as well as certain supplements may contain hormones and should be avoided.
Your child should maintain a healthy weight.
Open References
Garibaldi L, Chemaitilly W. Disorders of pubertal development. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 562.
Haddad NG, Eugster EA. Precocious puberty. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 121.
Endocrine glands - illustration
Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).
Male and female reproductive systems - illustration
The male and female reproductive systems, viewed from a mid-sagittal section.
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
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Introduction to Hindu Religions
This course provides a general introduction to the religious cultures associated with Hinduism, from a historical as well as a thematic perspective. The course traces the historical background and development of the various religious and cultural traditions that converged into the notion of a pan-Indian religion under the label Hinduism. The course takes an open and pluralistic approach to the study of Hindu religions, drawing attention to the diversity of traditions, but also aims at defining general features of the notion of a unified religion. Students will also be introduced to the modern and contemporary lives of Hinduism through the colonial, post-colonial and contemporary periods, both within India and in Hindu communities spread across the world.
Topics addressed in the course will include: identity formation of ‘Hinduism’; ritual and religion of the Vedas; Hindu mythology, theology and philosophy; devotion and pilgrimage; Hinduism and society; relation to other religions such as Buddhism, Jainism and Islam; Hindu social, intellectual and political movements in the modern period; rise of contemporary Hindu nationalism; and Hinduism beyond India.
The course will welcome students to understand Hinduism historically, both as theory and practice, and also, as a social, cultural and political formation.
Knowledge of key terms, concepts, texts and traditions of Hindu religions.
Familiarity with the historical background and development of Hindu religions.
Awareness of the diversity of Hindu religious cultures and traditions.
Familiarity with the cultural and political dimensions of Hinduism in the modern and contemporary world.
Critical awareness of the relation between theory and practice in studying Hinduism.
Classes (13×2) and exams (2×2): 30 hours
Reading: 50 hours
Revision and preparation for exams: 56 hours
Examination: 4 hours
Total: 140 hours (5 EC x 28 hours)
2 written examinations: one written examination (w) at the end of the first block (50%) and one written examination with essay questions (we) at the end of the second block (50%).
The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Resit
The individual exams cannot be retaken. There is one opportunity for a re-sit of the entire course (100%).
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.
communication about classes and exams
distribution of powerpoints and readings
Selected readings will be announced on Blackboard.
Students are required to register through uSis. To avoid mistakes and problems, students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetable in the column under the heading “Act.nbr.”.
Not being registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the ‘Registration procedures for classes and examinations’ for registration deadlines and more information on how to register.
### Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs Studeren à la carte.
Contractonderwijs.
Dr. P. Pasedach
The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accomodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.
Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).
P. Pasedach
5481KIHR
Religiewetenschappen Bachelor
Religion in a Changing World Minor
South and Southeast Asian Studies Bachelor
Onderwijstijd in uren (excl. zelfstudie): 30u
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The truth about the great wind power fraud
Wind Power Fraud
You are here: Home / Australia's renewable energy target / Businesses Belted by Australia’s Renewable Energy Target: Power Prices Spiral Out of Control
Businesses Belted by Australia’s Renewable Energy Target: Power Prices Spiral Out of Control
May 28, 2017 by stopthesethings 16 Comments
Australia’s Renewable Energy policy is an economic suicide pact, from which there is no escape.
The result of that winning combination of greed, ignorance and downright stupidity, the Renewable Energy Target has destroyed businesses and is set to destroy whole industries.
Manufacturers, miners and mineral processors are screaming blue murder as they watch once reliable and affordable power supplies destroyed by ideologically driven lunatics wedded to the delusion that sunshine and breezes actually provide meaningful power.
Australia’s telecommunications businesses are not immune from the insanity.
Telstra, in its former incarnations as Telecom and before that the Post Master General was a government owned monopoly, that set up and ran Australia’s telephone system. More recently, Telstra has moved into the provision of internet services and digital media streaming to households.
Having been privatised in several stages, Telstra – a commercialised government business enterprise – enjoys market dominance as a result of its naturally cozy relationship with government. With that advantage, Telstra is not a business that would be considered as any kind of financial risk for investors or creditors.
However, Australia’s rocketing power prices have just delivered a $100 million increase in its annual power costs and that whopping hike in input costs has it and others calling for urgent action to prevent a wave of de-industrialisation and job losses.
The Australian’s Sarah Martin is a political correspondent who – in the article below – effortlessly demonstrates her ignorance of Australia’s energy policy and reinforces it by relying on commentary from characters who are obviously part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.
Telstra power costs up $100m as energy crisis bites industry
Telstra has warned the federal government its power costs have surged by more than $100 million in the past year, with a senior executive calling on Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos for urgent action to address the crisis.
Speaking at a meeting between the minister and Australian Industry Group’s national council this week, Telstra’s group executive of corporate affairs, Tony Warren, is understood to have outlined concerns about the harm inflicted on the telco’s operations by spiralling power costs.
Telstra’s plea for action underlines a warning from the peak industry group that without price relief, Australia faces a “national economic security emergency” that risks triggering a wave of de-industrialisation and job losses.
The warning came as the Federal Court handed down a contentious ruling on network charges that is expected to exacerbate the energy crisis, adding $3 billion to electricity prices over three years, on top of spiralling wholesale prices.
Telstra would not confirm the $100m figure, but said it was attempting to respond to rising energy prices. “We are one of Australia’s largest users of electricity,” a spokesman said.
“Like all companies, our power costs have gone up in recent times and we have a range of initiatives in place to reduce our carbon footprint and to use technology to become more efficient in managing our energy use.”
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said members from a range of key economic sectors in southeast Australia reported electricity bills as much as quadrupling from one contract to the next. “A tripling of prices is commonplace and a mere doubling of bills is regarded as a perverse triumph,” he said.
“The closure of Hazelwood (power station) and its ill-thought-through consequences, the dramatic rise in domestic gas prices and a rise in network costs are contributing to massive energy cost pressures on industry.
“Given the mess that has been created, there are no clear short term fixes but at the very least industry urgently needs backing from government around energy efficiency measures.”
Mr Willox said Ai Group understood the situation was a government priority and industry was “doing its best” to adapt.
“But if the situation continues for even a year or two, we genuinely face the risk of a significant Australian de-industrialisation.
“With the steep and unsustainable gas and electricity price increases taking hold, Australia faces nothing less than a national economic security emergency.”
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said there was “no single reason for the higher energy prices” and “no silver bullet” for the problem. “The government is responding on a number of fronts and in particular is taking action to ensure more gas is available for the domestic market as higher gas prices have been a key factor in rising bills,” he told The Weekend Australian.
He claimed state governments should take more responsibility by reining in network costs, abolishing “unrealistic” state-based renewable energy targets and “lifting their mindless moratoria” on gas extraction.
Last month, in an attempt to address the spike in gas prices, the government announced it would impose export controls on energy companies when there were domestic shortfalls.
However, Andrew Richards, chief executive of the Energy Users Association of Australia, which represents large energy users, said government action so far had not addressed the problem, and further intervention might be needed. He called on the government to release a national plan for energy and climate change, which is under review by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel.
Innes Willox helped put me here … and Josh keeps me here…
The Ai Group’s Innes Willox has spent years promoting subsidised wind power, with the kind of zealotry one naturally expects from crony capitalists, in on the deal.
A former journalist and PR master, Willox has plenty of skin in the game – as a director of union super funds, including Australian Super which is headed up by former Labor/Union heavyweights.
Union super funds have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into wind power outfits, such as Pacific Hydro and Infigen. In recent times, Willox has dominated the commentary and opinion pages of Australia’s mainstream press, pushing the ‘wonders’ of renewables; and deflecting and preventing any criticism of Australia’s Federal Renewable Energy Target.
As Upton Sinclair put it: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!”
Although, in fairness to Willox, we expect he fully understands the benefits of being on the right side of the largest single government mandated wealth transfer in the history of the Australian Commonwealth.
Then there is the man who would be King: Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg.
Frydenberg never ceases to disappoint, leaving STT wondering which malevolent foreign agency he is working for? Because everything he does and says is thoroughly hostile to the interests of Australian businesses and households.
No man with the power and authority gifted to Frydenberg would claim that there is no solution to Australia’s energy crisis, unless he was suffering from some congenital mental defect, rendering him incapable of acting; or there existed some kind of financial incentive, causing him not to act, due to the risk of being unable to obtain whatever it is that he’s been promised.
For Sarah Martin’s benefit, we will deal with the elephant in the room.
Australia’s Large-Scale RET is a subsidy scheme designed to transfer more than $3 billion each year from Australian power consumers to wind and solar power generators; and to do so every year until 2031: It’s Time for Frydenberg & Turnbull to Come Clean on the Cost of Subsidised Wind Power
The market perversity caused by the LRET is what led to the closure of Hazelwood, a power plant representing 25% of Victoria’s power generation capacity, and which is what also drove the closure of South Australia’s only coal-fired power plant at Port Augusta, last May – resulting in a further power price surge in SA – and plenty of load-shedding and blackouts whenever wind power output collapses.
When the wind is blowing, wind power outfits literally pay the grid manager to take their skittish wares, relying upon the guaranteed prices they receive under Power Purchase Agreements with retailers (most of which are in the order of $110 per MWh – 3 times the cost of coal-fired power), underpinned by the value of the renewable energy certificate (aka RECs or LGCs), designed to trade at $93 each: Turnbull’s Reliable Power Play: Australian PM Pushes Coal-Fired Future
The alternative for retailers is coughing up the $65 per MWh shortfall charge for each and every MWh of mandated renewable energy that the retailer fails to purchase in order to satisfy the annual 33,000 GWh set by the LRET.
When subsidised wind power is being dumped, below cost, into the grid, conventional generators (who operate without subsidies) are forced out of the market, unable to literally give their power away (as wind power outfits can and do). Conventional generators get paid nothing, unless they are delivering power to the grid and yet they will continue to burn coal or gas waiting for their chance to deliver power – incurring fuel and other operating costs, but with no revenue to cover those costs, the path to insolvency is assured. Hence the demise of Victoria’s Hazelwood and South Australia’s Port Augusta plant.
For Frydenberg to argue that there is “no single reason for the higher energy prices” and “no silver bullet” for the problem beggars belief.
The cost of satisfying the LRET, in terms of the purchase of renewable energy certificates or the shortfall penalty alone, tallies up to a cool $42 billion from now until 2031, a cost entirely born by all Australian power consumers, including Telstra.
The howling about increasing network costs also overlooks the fact that when seas of solar panels are scattered across the outback and wind turbines are speared all over the back of beyond, the electricity they occasionally produce has to be directed from the wrong end of the network (ie where the power consumers are not); or from places where the network is practically non-existent.
Moreover, as South Australians have learnt to their staggering cost, conventional grid systems are not designed to tolerate massive surges and collapses in electrical output. Meeting the strict tolerances as to voltage and frequency required by functioning grids is a doddle for coal and gas fired plant, nuclear plant and hydro. However, where, as in SA, output depends entirely upon the time of day, whether it’s cloudy or windy enough (and not too windy) maintaining grid stability is a daily battle.
The cost of building grid infrastructure to bring occasional power from remote locations is as staggering as it is unnecessary. The cost of over-engineering networks in order to cope with weather driven surges and collapses in wind power output merely adds to that unnecessary cost.
Attacking grid managers for doing what being forced to rely upon sunshine and breezes inevitably demands is just a little rich, especially coming from those who’ve engineered and/or profited from Australia’s renewable energy debacle.
Andrew Richards is right when he says government action so far has not addressed the problem. However, when he says that “further intervention might be needed”, if he means further subsidies thrown at pie-in-the-sky fantasies like grid-scale battery storage, then every Australian power consumer, including Telstra can expect even more punishment. In truth, the only “intervention” needed is to scrap the Renewable Energy Target, right now.
Australian power consumers might be complaining about their power bills at present, but for Telstra – and every other Australian business and household – the worst is yet to come.
With rent-seekers like Innes Willox – and the Union Super Funds he and his ilk own and control – pushing to maintain the status quo; and with gormless or disingenuous political facilitators, like Frydenberg, in charge of the policy that feeds Willox & Co, Australia’s energy crisis is guaranteed to escalate to the point of an economic and social disaster. It’s well on the way, and yet none of those with the opportunity to address it have any inclination of doing so: Nero fiddling with his home town incinerating around him springs to mind.
It’s a little like watching the same train wreck, over and over again. Australia’s power pricing and supply calamity is something that STT has been predicting for years.
Now that the disaster has been realised, major consumers are beside themselves – among business owners, large and small, there is a pervasive sense of helplessness, blended with barely concealed rage at the morally bankrupt idiots that pretend to govern the Country.
That a full-scale revolution has yet to occur is probably down the observation made by the late, great STT Champion, Alby Schultz, that:
“The only reason people are not rioting in the streets about the unjustified increase in their power bills is that they simply have no idea what is going on.”
That prescient little vignette was delivered by Alby in the Federal Parliament in February 2013, when he was the Liberal member for Hume.
With power prices doubling and even tripling on an annual basis, it won’t be long before Australians take to the streets. When they find out that they have been lied to for years by a mercenary and cynical, political and media clique they won’t just be angry, they will be furious. And rightly so.
Filed Under: Australia's renewable energy target, Big wind industry, Big wind politics, Jobs, power prices, South Australia blackouts Tagged With: Ai Group, Alan Finkel report, Australian energy crisis, Australian power prices, Australian Super, Cost of subsidised wind power, cost of wind power subsidies, Innes Willox, Jay Weatherill power crisis, Jay Weatherill power plan, Josh Frydenberg renewable energy target, labor 50% renewable target, Malcolm Turnbull renewable energy target, Power costs for business in Australia, Sarah Martin The Australian, South Australia power prices, Telstra shares, The cause of Australia's energy crisis, Why are Australian power prices rising
« Mexican Meltdown: Tehuantepec Community Erupts Over Wind Turbines Leaking Toxic Oil
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About stopthesethings
We are a group of citizens concerned about the rapid spread of industrial wind power generation installations across Australia.
This line from above underscores the entire ugly reality – “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!”
Also add that – “the same man will not acknowledge the truth if his job exists because of a lie”, and the extent of the hidden danger should become clearly apparent.
The seeds of this huge looming disaster were sown when the admirable and highly competent State Electricity Commission of Victoria was streamlined then privatised by the Liberal Party Government of one Jeff Kennet.
Mark Stephens says:
So, now Victoria announces a plan for a multi billion dollar wind farm off shore from Gippsland. They seem incapable of learning.
hard cell says:
Former NSW Labor minister is now behind bars with a 10 year sentence for corruption. Perhaps that is a lesson Victorian Labor has chosen to ignore?? Oh, I forgot, that was to do with coal, so corruption and ‘renewables’ is OK then??
alfredmelbourne says:
Right now, 3PM on Saturday, Wind plus Large Solar is producing under 1% of electric demand. It is incredible how what a stupid situation our corrupt politicos have got us into.
http://qbusters.com.au/ida/e23.htm
Son of a Goat says:
Hip hip hooray, the calvery are arriving!
Today, that toothless tiger or watchdog (more like noisy poodle) in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC have announced they will be looking into escalating power prices.
Hey boys, I hate to disappoint you but I think the horse may have well and truly bolted.
I look forward to the final report, whatever you do,don’t blame renewables and make sure you use Tom Kotsantonis’s well worn line “the market is broken”.
You see, as someone described in today’s Advertiser, SA is like a mushroom farm, always in the dark and constantly being fed bullshit.
Graeme No. 3 says:
The Government is counting on an expansion in generation from natural gas, which used to be about twice the cost of coal fired and (roughly) half that of wind (using the forbidden equation
Real cost of wind = selling price + subsidies).
Were frakking allowed then this might lead to a drop in electrcity bills, but ban that and with the current high price of gas in Australia gas fired generation will be more expensive. (I’m talking about CCGT not OCGT which are far more expensive to run).
The problem for the Government will come after July when the increased electricity bills hit households; watch for the slump in the polls.
Jackie Rovensky says:
Can this Federal Government actually take anymore hits from surveys.
Since Turnbull took over the mess has intensified, he is ineffectual and incapable of taking the step to cut the LRET and don’t forget the place the RECs play in all of this.
Action should have been taken before now, plans for new partly or fully Nationally owned energy plants in each state should have been in the final stages of preparation – but what has he done – oh yes said it MAY be possible extend the Snowy Mountains hydro system, but that relies on there being sufficient water, what if we get a drought and isn’t that on the cards if the Climate changes suggested occur. We have seen how a drought can affect Hydro – just look at Tasmania this year.
The other is to cry about people not wanting Fracking for gas – well lets check – oh yes if there is a failure then a whole district and even a whole water system stretching across thousands of hectares could be affected – even from a very small incident that is stopped quickly. The land is fouled, peoples health is harmed, and the environment and eco systems are destroyed. But that’s OK we and the environment don’t need water do we!
Yes that clear thinking PM has certainly come up with some wonderful suggestions on how to kill Australia.
High hopes were expected from the Liberals, but they have proven no better than Labor – well since they did the dirty on Abbott – they seem to be a completely different party now and its hard to distinguish them from Labor. Their ‘Climate Change’ policy has little to distinguish it from Labors with Turnbull glibly suggesting there will be no this or that without the locals being supportive – for that to happen it needs the States to go along with it and they won’t – well not here in SA anyway. He even wants them to reduce or remove their Renewable Energy Targets – as if that’s going to happen. States one-up man-ship is still alive in Australia.
The mix of State and Federal control over energy policy and the international agreement is a complete chaotic mess. That States having their own targets looks as if each State signed that disastrous International Agreement, as well as the Federal Government.
The whole thing has been mishandled in an alarming manner. But then signing up to something without fully assessing possible good and bad results or how best to proceed was a failing anyway.
Tony Z says:
For me, it’s come to down to a quiet acceptance watching the inevitable train wreck while keeping well clear of the danger zone whenever and wherever that might be. The Labor Party was happy to be the locomotive driver. The Liberal Party is in the driver’s seat now and it’s full steam ahead. The renewable energy industry, the ABC and many other key players are shoveling fuel into the furnace as fast as they can while most of the Australian population are in the carriages cheering them on, enjoying the ride and borrowing on their increasing property values for even more fuel to make the train go faster. Warning flags – big, giant warning flags – are being ignored. It would take a brave train driver to pull the emergency brake now. Unfortunately the point at which the brake could have been activated for a gentle deceleration and change of direction is well past now. This train is going over the cliff. Watch for the train drivers to leap out.
Your train wreck analogy is on the ball Tony Z, perhaps just a couple of suggested additions.
The current train driver Milkcum N. Turnlift has been told by his employers Manen Thastreit that his performance is considered unsatisfactory and that his services will not be required after this journey.
Having long considered himself the world’s greatest train driver, going over the cliff in a final blaze of glory is starting to look attractive to Turnlift.
The ABC of course has long believed the use of coal for any purpose including trains to be evil, so it will be happy to see Turnlift get his wish. It also wants to see Turnlift’s main competitor Bill Shortwit, a long time supporter of train wrecks, take over as Turnlift’s replacement.
With this in mind the ABC has cunningly arranged for the carriage windows to be papered over to show peaceful, scenes with happy people frolicking in lush fields of red poppies with numerous windmills in the background, this in the hope that the passengers won’t realise they are about to go over the cliff until it’s too late.
Uh oh! Trump has just pulled back the curtains on the carriages. Whether the passengers want to face their impending doom or ignore what’s going outside is up to them.
andreasmarciniak says:
Reblogged this on ajmarciniak.
Crispin Trist says:
I was bemused to see renewable toilet paper in my local supermarket the other day. How does that work then?
We are constantly being bombarded through advertising and other forms of media that the word ‘Green’ is good and therefore you should buy our products and support the concept.
If Green is so good, how come the Greens show consistently poor polling results? Surely if 80-90% of the public support wind power, then it stands to reason that 80-90% of Australia would have voted for the Greens in the last election?
Are the Greens green or Gangrene – ‘where an infection develops deep inside the body and the bacteria responsible begin releasing gas’.
Maybe we could capture the gas they are releasing and use it to produce electrical energy.
thejaffer says:
Reblogged this on Jaffer's blog.
Terry Conn says:
I would be remiss not to acknowledge this excellent summary by STT of the sorry story surrounding Sarah Martin’s article, which was extremely difficult to find on the digital media where a ‘comment’ could be made. It is quite simply a fact that Australian citizens do not have a clue as to why power prices are escalating and the national grid is collapsing – the chance they will ever come to understand the ‘truth’ is remote – regardless of this and despite the best efforts of the likes of Frydenberg and Willox to bluff their way through the crisis the fact remains that Australia’s electricity grid will collapse unless the RET is abolished and abolished now – should the current political, bureaucratic and intellectual class ultimately find themselves as decorations hanging from the trees will not surprise anyone in this country with a modicum of interest on the topic of ‘cheap, reliable generation and distribution of electricity’ that just happens to be ‘national electricity law’. The dominoes are already falling like flies but still the ‘fantasy’ of wind turbines powering the nation remains supreme.
Industry super schemes have been surveying members on “ethical” investments and social engineering aspects of investments. Seems like they are starting to look at saving the planet as a priority rather than member returns. Ah well, if it saves one polar bear it will be worth it.
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Government’s Wind Industry Protection Racket: Wind Farm Noise ‘Rules’ A Sick Joke
Risible Renewables: World Finally Waking Up To Wind & Solar's Nightmare of Nonsense
Germany's Renewable Energy Disaster - Part 1: Wind & Solar Deemed 'Technological Failures'
Australia’s Energy Crisis: High Time For Government to Grow Up and Back Nuclear Powered Future
How Much CO2 Gets Emitted to Build a Wind Turbine?
andreasmarciniak on Australia’s Energy Crisis: Hig…
Jacqueline Rovensky on Government’s Wind Industry Pro…
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STT TV
Unmitigated Wind Industry Torture: Wind Farm Neighbours Driven to Insanity by Screeching Wind Turbines
Pacific Hydro’s Cape Bridgewater Wind Farm Public Relations Disaster: Video of a Corporate Calamity Unfolding
Pac Hydro promises but fails to fix its screeching fans at Cape Bridgewater
Health Impacts of Waterloo Wind Farm
Gary Weaven’s Pacific Hydro: the Neighbour from Hell
STT on Twitter
RT @noturbine: @StopTheseThings The U.S. government has known about Wind Turbine Syndrome since 1987 (U.S. Dept. of Energy). This article c… 17 hours ago
RT @paulyb2008: @StopTheseThings Christmas Day 2019 in the U.K.- don’t worry the wind picked up the day after 😂 https://t.co/0qFYrbD3mX 2 days ago
RT @MRobertsQLD: “Following the cancellation of 758 wind projects in Ontario, its government has further delighted locals with the decision… 1 week ago
RT @Zealandian: Remove the taxpayer-funded subsidies and they're gone. twitter.com/StopTheseThing… 1 week ago
Follow @StopTheseThings
Huge crowd has their say over wind farms off Maryland and Delaware #DE #MD January 19, 2020
Lighthouse Wind’s fate still to be decided #NY January 19, 2020
Ocean City offshore wind: what you need to know from public hearing #DE #MD January 19, 2020
1,800+ People voice concerns at Ocean City offshore wind turbine meeting #MD January 19, 2020
Shade defends support for wind turbine project #MD January 19, 2020
What politicians, developers said at the Ocean City offshore wind hearing #MD January 19, 2020
Questions emerge as wind projects roll out across SE Wyoming #WY January 18, 2020
Packer windmill farm session hears sound expert #PA January 18, 2020
New human rights complaint over Europe’s largest onshore wind farm #NOR January 18, 2020
What a Supreme Court ruling could mean for contested energy projects #OR January 18, 2020
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Home / Men's Shop / Local Edition Baseball Cap
Local Edition Baseball Cap
The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island
For more than 165 years, The Times has been reporting the truth from all five boroughs, bringing readers the stories that have shaped and defined the city. The Times Store is celebrating our renowned journalism as well as the city itself with the Local Edition, a collection of products made in collaboration with New York suppliers who strive for excellence and focus on details, just as we do. The collection includes our 100% cotton baseball caps, handmade and stitched in Ridgewood, Queens.
Local journalism is growing increasingly rare, but The Times remains committed to providing fact-based city reporting, which it has done since September 1851 — nearly 10 years before the Civil War.
High quality and exacting detail, hallmarks of our journalism, also went into our Local Edition hats. Each was produced by Winner Caps, a family owned manufacturer specializing in American-made headwear for 20 years. Located in an old factory building in Ridgewood, Queens, Winner Caps prides itself in using the finest materials to produce hats by hand in New York.
Each black cap is sanded and brushed after the dyeing process to give it an authentic worn look. Embroidered with white lettering, it has a medium profile, curved visor and threaded eyelets. The headband contains a solid brass clasp for adjusting. Each hat pays tribute to a borough and displays a small “T” logo on the back, showing it’s from The Times.
Color: White Stitch on Black Hat
Material: 100% preshrunk cotton with brass buckle
Each item in this collection celebrates the local journalism The Times has been committed to providing since 1851.
“T” Necktie $70.00
“T” Polo Shirt $35.00 Now $25.00
Super “T” Wool Baseball Cap $30.00
Men’s “The Daily” Pocket Shirt $32.00
“All the News That's Fit to Print” Sweatshirt $85.00
“All the News That's Fit to Print” Shirt $34.00
Throwback Logo Shirt $34.00
Wool “T” Baseball Cap $33.00
Times Journeys Baseball Cap $25.00
Linen “T” Baseball Cap $30.00
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Research centres institutes and groups
The Novel Network
Study arts and social sciences
School of Languages and Cultures
School of Literature, Art and Media
School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry
Sydney School of Education and Social Work
Sydney College of the Arts
FutureFix
Partnership enquiries
Centres and institutes_
Investigating the role of the novel in a digitised society
The Novel Network group examines the relationship between the novel and the ‘everyday’.
Comprising academics from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Novel Network examines the novel from a range of disciplinary perspectives: from the literary critical to the socio-historical, philosophical and ethnographic.
We consider:
how the global novel functions politically and socially
whether periodicity is a useful way of classifying novels or whether there is another more compelling way they can historicised
the current state of novel theory
whether there is more than a nostalgic place for the novel’s particular readerly pleasures, such as: for deep absorption, for the framework of the page and the tactile rhythm of its turning.
Our group supports the work of the postgraduate Novel Studies Reading Group, which meets across semesters for detailed discussion of specific authors or novel theorists.
The Novel Network is formally affiliated (via a Memorandum of Understanding) with the Society for Novel Studies in the United States.
Mark Byron’s recent research focuses on the material genesis of the novel as textual process, from notes, glosses, annotations and manuscript drafts to published texts, versions and various kinds of scholarly editions.
John Frow has a continuing interest in narrative theory: his current ARC Discovery Project, "Regimes of reading", will deal with particular cases of interpretive conflict that will include the novel.
Sarah Gleeson-White's project, “The Mechanics of Regionalism”, investigates regionalism's interactions with modernity by examining the novels of a diverse group of American regionalists along with their really quite significant but frequently overlooked contributions to cinema, radio and mass publishing.
Françoise Grauby’s recent project on literary vocation addresses the birth of vocation in French literature by studying the novels, diaries and autobiographies of a selection of French writers, from the 19th century to the 21st century.
Melissa Hardie's most recent project, entitled "novel objects", addresses the mid-century Anglophone novel and considers publication, translation, distribution, remediation, citation, collection and pricing as forms of circulation.
Isabelle Hesse’s recent work, entitled Palimpsestic Tropes: The Holocaust, Israel, and Palestine in contemporary British and German culture, considers the aesthetic strategies authors use to engage with the Holocaust, Israel, and Palestine since the first Palestinian intifada and how these tropes can be seen as challenging or confirming political and historical representations.
Fiona Lee’s most recent research explores how writers and artists in British Malaya and postcolonial Malaysia deploy realist modes of representation in historical and graphic novels to grapple with the mutating forms of colonial racial knowledge that persist in the life of the nation.
Peter Marks's research interests include 20th century and 21st century literature, particularly –but not exclusively – British literature. His interest in the novel includes the study of film adaptations; the political novel (broadly defined); surveillance, utopian and dystopian fiction; modernist fiction and questions surrounding realism as a mode.
Peter Morgan’s most recent work includes the book-length study of the novel as a form of exploration of emerging male homosexual identities in the context of European, particularly German modernism.
Nicola Parsons's has recently worked on an ARC funded project that uses the twinned careers of Eliza Haywood and Daniel Defoe as a means of rethinking the connections between gender and genre in the formative decades of the novel.
Brigid Rooney's project "The novel and the suburb in Australia: 1901 to the present" investigates a productive nexus between fictional and real suburbia in Australian novels over the past century.
Vanessa Smith's recent research project, "Toy Stories: object relations from Defoe to Winnicott", links novel writing with British object relations theory via representations of juvenile writing and reading.
Carolyn Stott’s research focuses on the contemporary French novel with a particular emphasis on French detective fiction and the roman noir featuring Paris, and more specifically the north-eastern quartier of Belleville.
Matthew Sussman's most recent research focuses on the aesthetics of prose fiction as understood through the history of style and rhetoric.
Anne L Walsh’s area of research interest is contemporary Spanish narrative, specifically the popular novel of the 20th century and 21st century. The link between society, and how society expresses itself through fiction, reveals much about the everyday concerns of the general population.
The Novel Network is made up of academics and researchers from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. We welcome the opportunity to connect with other researchers in various and similar disciplines.
Professor Vanessa Smith
Associate Professor Mark Bryon
Professor John Frow
Associate Professor Sarah Gleeson-White
Associate Professor Francoise Grauby
Dr Melissa Hardie
Dr Isabelle Hesse
Dr Fiona Lee
Professor Peter Marks
Professor Peter Morgan
Dr Nicola Parsons
Dr Brigid Rooney
Dr Carolyn Stott
Dr Matthew Sussman
Dr Anne Walsh
Find out about our research degrees
Group Convenor
Visit Professor Smith's academic profile
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5 reasons why being a geek is cool
Study engineering
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It really is hip to be square
The worldwide celebration of nerdom is in full swing to commemorate international Geek Pride Day (that’s 25 May for those not ‘in the know’).
Allegedly selected to honour the release of Star Wars IV: A New Hope (25 May 1977), Geek Pride Day is the brainchild of Spanish blogger Germán Martínez, who instigated the inaugural festivities to celebrate all things geek in 2006.
Since then, the annual initiative has grown and been adopted the world over, with many parties and meet-ups expected to take place across the four corners over the next 24 hours.
To honour the day, here are five amazing, incredible and uncanny byte-sized (yes, the pun is intentional) examples about why being a geek is cool.
Geeks created the new social norms
Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg are all geeks who revolutionised the way people interact with each other.
Whether it be the way we invite friends out to dinner, organise video game gatherings or try to impress work colleagues with big words (who hasn’t looked-up ‘verisimilitude’?), these examples all stem from the contributions of these mega-nerds (as well as their equally nerdy peers).
Geeks are the new handy people
Computers, tablets, smartphones – nearly every facet of society is somehow entwined with technology. But who do you call when these devices let us down (or when we have no idea how to use them)?
Geeks are now the new ‘go to’ people, solving and soldering these technical problems when they breakdown to keep business and social lives running. To avoid being further embarrassed by your inferiority in all things tech, be sure to check first if you simply need to “switch it off and switched it back on”.
Geeks are good at trivia
Nerds know a lot of things. Lots and lots of things. It's why they're usually the first on any invitation list for a pub trivia team outing.
Whether it be Captain James Kirk’s middle name (Tiberius), Mars’ smallest moon (Deimos) or even the Konami Code (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A), there is no question that can stump a bonafide geek.
Geeks make the future possible
What do Pythagoras, Isaac Newton and John Bradfield all have in common? They’re all examples of historical geeks who followed their passions while overcoming criticism (and built proverbial bridges, one literally) in order to fulfil their vision to improve society.
Geeks have their very own code of ethics
As every geek’s honourary Uncle Ben once touted, “With great power comes great responsibility”.
Originally known as the Decálogo de derechos y deberes del friki in Spanish, the following manifesto is what all geeks are bound by:
1. The right to be even geekier.
2. The right to not leave your house.
3. The right to not like football or any other sport.
4. The right to associate with other nerds.
5. The right to have few friends (or none at all).
6. The right to have as many geeky friends as you want.
7. The right to choose one’s own style.
8. The right to be overweight and near-sighted.
9. The right to show off your geekiness.
10. The right to attempt being as geeky as Morgana Summers, and the right to fail. (Topher Stumph came quite close, but he too failed).
11. The right to develop serious crushes on Randall Munroe, Shane Carruth and Bo Burnham, as opposed to say... James Franco. (See #10).
12. The right to carry a Thesaurus with you at all times, as opposed to an iPhone. (See #10)
13. The right to execute shameless self-promotion via the Wikipedia Geek Pride Day page. (See #10).
14. The right to falsely assume the surnames Finkleton, Waldman, Stratzer and Krukemeyer.
15. The right to quote Firefly, xkcd or both whenever possible.
16. The right to take over the world.
1. Be a geek, no matter what.
2. Try to be nerdier than anyone else.
3. If there is a discussion about something geeky, you must give your opinion.
4. To save and protect all geeky material.
5. Do everything you can to show off geeky stuff as a "museum of geekiness".
6. Don't be a generalised geek. You must specialize in something.
7. Attend every nerdy movie on opening night and buy every geeky book before anyone else.
8. Wait in line on every opening night. If you can go in costume or at least with a related T-shirt, all the better.
9. Don't waste your time on anything not related to geekdom.
10. Befriend any person or persons bearing any physical similarities to comic book or sci-fi figures.
11. Try to take over the world!
Study engineering and computing
Fast track your career
Building bridges between research and industry
The University of Sydney has expanded its industrial connections and educational opportunities with two new Professors of Practice appointments in the areas of advanced structural materials and bridge engineering.
Engineering researchers awarded over $2 million in funding
The Faculty of Engineering has secured five research projects with funding totalling over $2 million through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards.
Training centre offers experience in innovative engineering laboratory
Funding provided by ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovative Bioengineering will allow ten PhD students to train and work with industry-leading biomedical engineering academics and facilities.
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Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses
Well as far as synopses go, these are three of the biggest we've ever seen in both length and in description! The Crisis on Infinite Earths is at hand and now we are getting our first idea just what is going to happen. Despite everything that Lena and Kara have been through, is sounds like they will have to put whatever divides them aside as Earth 38 is in immediate danger! J'onn must devise a plan to save them all, could Ma'alefa'ak be the key? Check out all the synopses below:
THE KICKOFF TO THE EPIC TELEVISON CROSSOVER EVENT, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) sends Harbinger (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) to gather the worlds’ greatest heroes - Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), The Flash (guest star Grant Gustin), Green Arrow (guest star Stephen Amell), Batwoman (guest star Ruby Rose), White Canary (guest star Caity Lotz), The Atom (guest star Brandon Routh) and Superman (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) - in preparation for the impending Crisis. With their worlds in imminent danger, the superheroes suit up for battle while J’onn (David Harewood) and Alex (Chyler Leigh) recruit Lena (Katie McGrath) to help them find a way to save the people of Earth-38. Jesse Warn directed the episode with story by Robert Rovner & Marc Guggenheim and teleplay by Derek Simon & Jay Faerber (#509).
CAN THE REAL CLARK KENT PLEASE STAND UP? PART TWO OF CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS CONTINUES WITH SPECIAL GUEST STARS TOM WELLING, ERICA DURANCE AND KEVIN CONROY – The group uses Ray’s (guest star Brandon Routh) invention to track new recruits to help save the universe. The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) sends Iris (guest star Candice Patton), Clark (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois (guest star Elizabeth Tulloch) in search of a mysterious Kryptonian, while Kate (Ruby Rose) and Kara (guest star Melissa Benoist) head out to find Bruce Wayne (guest star Kevin Conroy). In addition, Mia (guest star Katherine McNamara) challenges Sara (guest star Caity Lotz), Rory (guest star Dominic Purcell) discovers a hidden talent, and Lex Luthor (guest star Jon Cryer) returns. Laura Belsey directed the episode written by Don Whitehead and Holly Henderson (#108). Original airdate 12/9/2019.
BLACK LIGHTNING JOINS THE ARROWVERSE IN THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE CROSSOVER – Pariah (Tom Cavanagh) enlists Black Lightning (guest star Cress Williams) to help stop the Anti-Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) after Flash-90 (guest star John Wesley Shipp) shares what he learned from his battle in ‘Elseworlds.’ With the help of Black Lightning, Barry (Grant Gustin), Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) come up with a plan that could save them all. Meanwhile, Iris (Candice Patton) has a heart-to-heart with Ryan Choi (guest star Osric Chau), while Oliver (guest star Stephen Amell) and Diggle (guest star David Ramsey) return to an old familiar stomping ground. David McWhirter directed the episode with story by Eric Wallace and teleplay by Lauren Certo & Sterling Gates (#609). Original airdate 12/10/2019.
Let us know what you think in the comment below and in the forum!
#26 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — Eire El 2019-11-27 01:43
A new update for European viewers according to geektown.co.uk. on 25 November 2019:
"However, Sky has not managed to acquire the rights to broadcast Batwoman… This is due to them having been already acquired by “another party”, but they do not know who has acquired those rights and do not know where or how the series will be broadcast in the UK.
There were some stories going around saying Sky weren’t broadcasting the crisis event at all. Those stories are incorrect. They are, however, holding the 4 crossover episodes they do have until early 2020."
Still uncertainty but now we have to wait until the new year. The only positive spin I can think of is either they use the time to negotiate further or give another broadcaster the time to catch up (assuming everyone has access to the other broadcaster). However going by previous years it's not unusual for Sky to start the second half of the seasons in March/April.
I know some have a preference for watching certain shows but may not watch others and that's a mater of personal choice. Whereas although Supergirl is my favourite, I watch and like all that are available to me.
Quoting Romulus:
Nonetheless, the COIE recaps will have to suffice since I, like you, will only be watching certain parts of the crossover and not each individual show. I'll tune in for SG and BW, will get the recap for the Flash, and may/may not watch Arrow and LOT, since they're not top priority shows on my list. Naturally, your viewing preferences will vary.
#25 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — Kelly 2019-11-26 20:01
Quoting CatPat:
Quoting LibertyPrime:
I'm just guessing, but Flash fansites are probably freaking out because Barry isn't mentioned in part 2 and Iris is.
Oh I'm sure they are crying on Twitter as I type....
Just like Supergirl isn't mentioned in part 3 but her cousin and his ither earth doppelganger are...
Any word on Helen Slater's Supergirl or Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman? The latter will send fans into overdrive. I keep thinking The Legion could pop up from the future with President Danvers (Helen).
I think we would have heard by now if she was in it, other than mom Danvers. And we've seen nothing that even has her in it in that role.
#24 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — vantheman77 2019-11-25 00:47
Flash is in the Batwoman part. There is a BTS photo of he, Oliver, Constantine, Jonah Hex, Sara, and Mia. I assume that they're traveling back in time to the Wild West to see Jonah Hex.
#23 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — superbill 2019-11-24 14:26
To the Admin...
A new trailer has popped up about the crossover...AND THIS ONE IS HEARTPOUNDING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Stp7TH9GE
Not a huge fan of crossovers and haven't been anticipating this as much as many, but d**n, this got my attention!
+3 #22 I have seen a new trailer — RobertAnthony 2019-11-24 12:34
+1 #21 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — kdickerson87 2019-11-24 10:32
Bring on the whole Justice League. This should be very good.
#20 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — CatPat 2019-11-22 15:38
+1 #19 Crisis part 1 synopsis — CatPat 2019-11-22 15:30
Unless something really, really event turning happens on TWoRK, it will be interesting to see J'onn and Alex recruiting Lena after what she did to their respective siblings Mal a d Kara.
I'm also a little surprised J'onn wasnt mentioned as one of the world's greatest superheroes being assembled as he is far more powerful than several listed.
I am so looking forward to TWoRK and Crisis. Totally giddy... LOL!
#18 RE: Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 Synopses — Romulus 2019-11-22 12:05
@Eire El,
You would be correct as it applies to Western Europe, the UK and Ireland. However, Eastern Europe and elsewhere are other matters altogether.
So, it's likely to be, as you pointed out, the highest bidder (and not Sky) that won it but have not yet decided to advertise or air the episodes. An unusual move, yes, but nothing in today's world makes logical sense. It's possible that they (whomever it might be) will begin to air the show in the New Year. Anything's possible.
Now, back to the overall topic at hand.
I'm not so sure that conservatism and moral standards would have much of effect over here on a show like Batwoman. We do have our limitations and watersheds but most Europeans are well used to and welcome plenty of liberal programming that gets broadcast on this side of the Atlantic that would make North American broadcasters and censors cringe.
The latest according to geektown.co.uk dated way back on 17 October 2019 is:
"However, Sky has not managed to acquire the rights to broadcast Batwoman… This is due to them having been already acquired by “another party”, but they do not know who has acquired those rights and do not know where or how the series will be broadcast in the UK."
This would suggest Batwoman could have gone to the highest bidder, not Sky. To the detriment of the non-American fans I don't think the networks care about ratings outside of North America and sell broadcast rights to whomever offers more cash.
As to why an alternative broadcaster hasn't even advertised yet? It's odd.
Yes, very true, that frustration has also been expressed in the BW forums as well since the show has not been widely picked up internationally yet. I suspect politics, economics (i.e. international airing rights) and conservatism / moral standards might have something to do with it. I'd suggest dropping by that forum for more info.
Don't worry though, the recaps here and elsewhere will keep you up to date during and after the crossover. For us in Canada, the Flash is no longer broadcast locally (only via the CW channel, which is a costly add-on to any TV cable package), nor is Black Lightning (also only on CW) but SG, BW, LOT and Arrow are. Go figure! Politics and economics are the best guess culprits in these scenarios.
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Network Engineering and Operations
Public grants
Industrial grants
Publications of the team
1st Neo retreat
Workshop in the honor of Eitan Altman
2nd Neo retreat
Alain Jean-Marie 2020/01/02 2020/01/15 News, People
2/1/2020: Samaresh Bera is joining us as engineer working with Nokia. Welcome! 2/1/2020: Ghilas Ferrat is joining us as pre-PhD student. Welcome! 2/12/2019: Othmane Marfoq is joining us as pre-PhD student. Welcome! 2/12/2019: Vidhya Kannan is joining us as intern of the Data Science master of the Data ScienceTech Institute in Sophia. Welcome! 19/11/2019: Kaiyun Pan and Younes Ben Mazziane are joining us as Ubinet PFE interns until mid-December. Welcome! 1/10/2019: Tareq Si Salem is joining us as PhD student. Welcome! 1/10/2019: Kishor Patil is joining us as a Postdoc. Welcome! 1/9/2019: Siemo Zhang, Master student from the University of Twente, is visiting us for 3 months. Welcome! 1/7/2019: Anirudh Sabnis, PhD student from UMass, joins us for a 3-month…
Mahmoud El Chamie, former MAESTRO member presently research engineer at United Technologies Research Center, USA, is visiting us from December 16 to December 19. Welcome! Prof. Witold Szczechla from Warsaw University, Poland, is visiting us from October 23 to December 20. Welcome!
Past Visits
Alain Jean-Marie 2019/12/11 2019/12/17 People
Prof. Angelia Nedich, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, visited us from December 9 to December 11. Gugan Thoppe from IISc Bangalore visited us from November 25 to December 6. This visit was in the framework of the MALENA Associate Team. Carlos Eduardo Marciano, post-master student at UFRJ, Brazil, visited us from September 13 to December 9. This visit was in the framework of the THANES project. Prof. Georgy Shevlyakov, from Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, visited us from November 3 to November 17. Pr. Mindaugas Bloznelis, from Vilnius University, Lithuania, visited us from Oct. 2 to Oct. 8. Pr. Vladimir Gaitsgory, from Macquarie University, Australia, visited us from Sept. 1 until Oct. 31. Tejas Bodas, post-doctoral fellow…
Alain Jean-Marie 2019/11/21 2019/12/10 News
Maximilien Dreveton, PhD student in NEO, has co-authored a book: Leçons pour l’agrégation de mathématiques. Congratulations!
New research collaboration
Alain Jean-Marie 2019/11/20 2019/11/20 [:en]Contracts[:fr]Contrats[:], [:fr]Projets[:en]Projects[:], News
NEO has signed a research convention with the Payback Network company. This convention involves also the EPIONE team.
Postdoctoral Grant
Alain Jean-Marie 2019/11/15 2019/11/15 Jobs, News, People
Eitan Altman obtained the funding of a postdoctoral position from the Gaspard Monge Program for Optimization, a program from the Hadamard Foundation. The topic is “Game Theoretical Tools for Pricing the Grid”. Congratulations!
IS services
Bastri
Raweb
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Globalizing Player Accounts
Hey there! I’m Tyler "Riot Adabard" Turk, Senior Infrastructure Engineer, and I work on the Player Accounts team at Riot. The Player Accounts team is responsible for every player's ability to log in and manage account data, and we recently re-architected our system to become GDPR compliant, provide a better player experience, and enable Riot to become a multi-product company in the future.
I also recently talked about the system in great detail at re:Invent. Check out the video below for all the deep tech details or read on for a high level overview of our accounts system and our shiny new backend database. This article will provide some historical context on the authentication and authorization platform and then dive into the database layer we're using for player accounts. In the future, we hope to cover Atlas (the replacement of the Global Account Service) and provide deeper dives on building global services with a focus on functional, load, and chaos testing.
We deploy League of Legends to 12 disparate game shards in Riot-operated regions, and many more in China and southeast Asia via our publishing partners Tencent and Garena. With 10 clustered databases storing hundreds of millions of player account records, hundreds of thousands of valid logins and failed authentication requests, and over a million account lookups per minute, we have our work cut out for us.
Accounts are the backbone of the player experience in League. Without accounts, players wouldn’t be able to track their progress, stockpile achievements, or use the cosmetic content they’ve unlocked. Without accounts, players would have no identity in the game.
As League of Legends grew, so did its supporting systems. Riot expanded into new regions using a “shard” strategy, with individual shards containing a complete League of Legends platform and all the systems needed for players to play our game. The accounts system was one such foundational system included in every shard.
The advantages of this shard growth model are pretty easy to describe: Each shard is an isolated unit, geographically co-located and contained. Systems that are constrained to a single local datacenter are simpler than systems distributed across multiple datacenters - they’re easier to design, build, and operate.
The model worked well for Riot, League of Legends, and most importantly, players. Teams were able to focus on feature development and scaling, and growth was relatively predictable and manageable (though not a simple problem to solve).
While the shard model was successful, we realized early on that there were some serious limitations. The shard model, designed with the needs of League of Legends players in mind, restricted how players could interact, socialize and engage in future games.
Some folks in our community like to joke about Riot being a small indie company, and at one point, we very much were. Our growth was rapid, and as we scaled and adapted over the years, we built and deployed several competing authentication and authorization implementations running in parallel. Here’s a snapshot of what our accounts infrastructure (dubbed RiotSignOn or “RSO”) looked like in early 2018. We’ve zoomed in on two AWS regions out of the four we’re deployed into:
Diagram Quick Overview
Internet - This is where our players live
CloudFlare - DDoS mitigation provider
NS1 - Geographical routing via DNS for global service distribution
Router - Front-end proxy to route authentication requests to destination cluster
Velcos - Rate-limiting service to mitigate traffic bursts, backed by redis
Provider - Primary business logic focused application that handles authentication
Remember - Handles session remembrance for staying logged in, backed by redis
Auth - Authentication proxy that distributed requests to the appropriate GAS server
C2ID - Connect2id is a commercial product for handling OpenID Connect logic
DirectConnect - AWS service for linking AWS and external networks
GAS "Global Account Service" - backend source of truth for regional player account records, backed by MySQL and colocated with each League of Legends shard
Setting Context
We’ve aligned on the use of OpenID Connect as the standard for handling authentication and authorization. If you’re not familiar with OpenID Connect, it’s an identity layer built on top of the oAuth 2 protocol.
We’d already done some significant refactoring work to standardize authentication. Today, if you log in to any Riot Games service, be it League of Legends, our forums, or our merch store, you’re using RiotSignOn for authentication and authorization.
The account data provided to each service is controlled via scopes that limit what data is available for read and write for that login session and service, and this helps to ensure our player accounts are more secure than they were with the bespoke services that had existed before. We have RiotSignOn deployed into four AWS regions with a front-end router that provided us with a federated authentication model. A login session would be pinned to an AWS region upon instantiation by appending metadata to a part of the authorization response, and any request to refresh or validate this session would be routed back to the origin cluster if it was online. While all of the account lookups and authentications would be performed through RiotSignOn as the front-end, the accounts were still stored in the disparate game shard databases. You can see in the diagram above that DirectConnect was heavily leveraged to tie into our physical datacenters where the GAS service was located as well as other AWS regions.
The system worked, but it had some built in limitations that we knew would come back to haunt us in the future:
Even though we called the backend authentication system the Global Account Service (GAS), it wasn’t truly global.
Our original design was rigid; some of our expectations for what data was present and how it should be presented no longer made sense.
Our authentication and authorization systems required large changes to meet new challenges, but we couldn’t change it all at once. Small, incremental change over time was needed. We needed to both rebuild the plane while in flight and keep it flying.
We had no way of integrating with third parties who wanted to work with us, and this became painful as new platforms and services requiring scoped access to player data came online.
We needed the ability to federate our authentication and authorization with community tools to provide more value.
Maintenance in one region could result in service interruptions for global services.
It wasn't GDPR compliant.
In short, we knew that alignment around a well-adopted standard would help to drive significant change of the accounts platform and greatly increase our security. With our requirements and limitations in mind, we set out to build our new system. The next section will cover the back-end database technology we've implemented to handle globalizing our player accounts infrastructure.
Database Layer
We use MySQL as the database backend for our accounts platform instead of other options such as Cassandra, Riak, Postgres for a few reasons. MySQL is widely adopted at Riot and our parent company Tencent, which means we have a lot of engineers with a good understanding of how it works. For us to provide the best player experience globally, this kind of consistency is crucial. We put a high priority on having full ACID compliance - atomic operations, guaranteed consistency, isolation, and durability of our queries. Given the nature of the data we’re storing, this helped provide us with confidence that our players’ accounts are safe.
Clustering Technology
We chose to use a product called Continuent Tungsten Clustering suite which consists of a number of processes that live alongside MySQL that wrap around and manage the cluster. From the perspective of MySQL, there is no clustering or replication configured. Since MySQL is not clustered nor configured for replication, the servers do not need to be aware that there are other servers with the same data.. There are three primary components of the Continuent Clustering suite: the replicator, the manager, and the connector.
The replicator reads MySQL binary logs on the master server and converts them to a transaction history log, shortened to THL, which is a sequential list of events. It then serves the THL-based events to the other nodes in the cluster. These events are immutable and are written to disk without buffering in order to prevent software failure causing a problem. When receiving events from another database server, the replicator will add them to a queue, write the THL to disk, and then apply the transaction to the database to mitigate server failure causing partial writes. This replication is performed asynchronously.
The manager is a cluster orchestrator service that keeps tabs on the current state of the cluster and handles membership as well as quorum. The manager service includes an API that provides JSON outputs of the current view of the cluster from the perspective of itself and can be used for monitoring and reporting.
The connector is a MySQL proxy that talks to the manager service to identify which of the database servers function as a primary and which servers function as secondaries. Our implementation uses read and write splitting based on connected port (3306 for writes and 3307 for reads) but Continuent also offers a connector mode that will introspect MySQL queries and do intelligent routing based on query type.
We deployed a multi-region composite cluster with the intended primary residing in us-west-2. As you can see in the image above, there are three nodes per region with a primary or relay and two secondaries. A relay functions as a local read-only primary that replicates off of the current global primary node. The secondaries local to each relay replicate off of their local relay node. The connector is configured to send read requests to the most up-to-date node in the same AWS region, but if there is a local outage, requests will be proxied off to the other regions. This global cluster has a single write primary, and each of our backend services that do writes to the database connect to the appropriate primary over the DirectConnect backend by leveraging a connector.
These database instances are deployed using Terraform and allocated static IP addresses when provisioned. The services are all containerized and launched via docker-compose, which is written through userdata startup scripts. All general maintenance, restarts, and upgrades are managed by Ansible. We also wrote a helper osascript to automate creating an active SSH session to each server in an environment and entering the Docker container as the appropriate user. This enables rapid iteration and triage if we need to investigate any local logs/service health. While these servers are treated much more like pets than cattle, we have a good amount of fault tolerance and automation for server instability and service recovery. They still require a bit of tender loving care, but they will self-heal and attempt remediation steps when necessary. Each of these database servers are deployed as r4.8xlarge with a 5TB encrypted EBS volume for data and 15TB encrypted EBS volume for logs and backups. We chose these instance types and disk sizes for performance reasons, primarily the guaranteed 10 gigabit network performance and write IOPS for the SSD EBS disks.
Managing the Database Schema
The database schema for the legacy service Atlas was replacing was designed to have a sharded access model. All of the accounts that existed in the local database were expected to be for a region or small subset of regions. The new schema would require the PUUID as well as additional identifier information to allow the table to be unique. A fairly significant mistake in our approach was to have an auto-increment ID field called primary ID as part of the migration, and a legacy ID field that was called ID and was only unique when combined with the shard ID. This resulted in a frantic attempt at recovery when doing our first pass of the right to be forgotten requirement of the GDPR laws. One of our engineers had his query proofread by several folks, including myself, who had forgotten we had chosen to do such a silly thing as having multiple fields called ID, at which point we debated adding a primarier ID and potentially primariest. As noted in this slide, our current schema is not final, and we should be transitioning to a final schema Soon™ which will clean up most of the legacy data types we had to keep intact for the initial migration.
We have the capability of doing live schema updates, as long as they’re backwards compatible, by removing a database from the cluster, performing the schema change, and bringing it back into the cluster. Once all nodes have been completed, we’re able to perform a cluster switch which will promote a new primary, and the schema change can then be applied to the former primary node. This ensures the change is never executed on a primary, thus bypassing the write to THL and avoiding the replication hit as well as performance hit due to isolated table locking.
Performing Database Backups
As part of our production rollout plan, we had made the decision to perform a daily backup in each region due to the amount of data. We wanted to avoid doing S3 replication after a backup completed, and manually copying the database over the network was also too slow. Our backups are triggered via automation that elect a backup node - any secondary node in the cluster intentionally skipping relay and primary nodes - and then executes the Continuent wrapper around xtrabackup. We chose this method to ensure an easy restore process by just invoking the restore command and referencing a backup performed through their tooling. This backup performs xtrabackup, copying the files from the data EBS volume to the logs and backup EBS volume, compressing it using pigz, the parallel gzip, and finally uploading it to a local S3 bucket. The resource utilization pattern started with heavy network and disk i/o due to copying files from one EBS volume to another, then high CPU utilization to compress the backup, and finally high network i/o again as the backup was uploaded to S3. The EC2 instances we deployed the database on are beefy, and we had a good amount of CPU to spare, so we chose to use 8 threads for the parallel compression. Everything was great, and we went fully into production with each region performing their own local backup. The backup process was taking roughly 5-7 hours every day to complete, but it was working as intended, with compressed backups being stored in S3. We celebrated success and started to tackle other features.
A couple of weeks after cutting over all of our production traffic, we started to see consistent full cluster outages occurring around the same time every day. The images above show slightly elevated CPU utilization and high load with consistent memory utilization. During the high CPU traffic here, there’s very low network utilization, but it spikes immediately after the elevated CPU ends. The bottom image demonstrates our monitoring showing a Continuent resource during a flapping outage where the service would report up and then cycle itself, causing it to go down. After having several triage and troubleshooting calls with Continuent, we discovered that the elevated CPU utilization, even though it capped at less than 50% of the cluster’s available CPU, was causing latency in the manager and resulted in the wrapper monitor service that checks the health of the manager via polling calls to think it was unhealthy and trigger a restart. This would result in other nodes attempting to check and validate quorum again, pinging for health, and entering similar scenarios. The rapid successive restarts of the manager resulted in cluster instability that would sometimes auto-recover and other times cause up to an hour-long outage of the database layer.
We were able to do some configuration changes to the manager to provide more resources and higher tolerance to processes competing for resources, reduce the number of cores used for the parallel compression, and focus backups to only 1 region, which receives the lowest amount of database traffic. These backups are still uploaded to S3 and are fully functional. The best part is that the backups don’t impact the cluster stability anymore. We intend to take this one step further and implement the cluster-secondary replicator offering from Continuent. This is effectively a node that dangles off of an existing cluster as a standalone node. This offering provides a nifty feature that we intend to use when we deploy it, which is effectively an intentional delay on replication. This enables us to have a full, near real-time copy of the MySQL data that is insulated from developer error. If an engineer, for instance, ran an operation to update player accounts and mark them as pending deletion (which renders them unusable) and accidentally used the wrong key, we would be able to relatively quickly revert the mistake. We wouldn’t have to cull through event audit logs and previous backups to verify which accounts needed to be returned to service. This is a standalone tungsten-replicator node that can be used for ETLs, backups, reporting, and general queries which are not part of the connector’s pool of hosts. This means any impact to the database is not seen by the production running service. The configuration is relatively straightforward, and it is non-impactful to add to an existing cluster post-deploy.
This is an overview of some of the lessons learned and ideas we followed throughout this project. If you're interested in more in-depth information, check out the re:Invent talk.
Ensure you have rock-solid monitoring
Consider and practice multiple migration methodologies to find what'll work for you
Evaluate if containers are right for your task
Document and draw your designs, and ensure detail is provided
Focus on iterative architecture, not ivory tower design principles
Think everything through, and when designing a VPC, plan your subnets
Consider your network access control implementation, what strengths and weaknesses are there, and what you have to do to provide only what's necessary
When load testing, evaluate your resource constraints and test with actual usage patterns
Avoid reinventing the wheel and use services when possible
WAN replication is very fragile and susceptible to error when hiccups occur
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about this article or the re:Invent talk, feel free to post them in the comment section below.
Posted by Tyler Turk
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raw news
Japan: Core Machinery Orders, y/y, October -6.1% (forecast -1.8%)
Japan: Core Machinery Orders, October -6% (forecast 0.9%)
Schedule for today, Thursday, December 12, 2019
Previous value
00:00 Australia Consumer Inflation Expectation December 4% 3.5%
00:30 Australia RBA Bulletin
06:45 Switzerland SECO Economic Forecasts
07:00 Germany CPI, m/m November 0.1% -0.8%
07:00 Germany CPI, y/y November 1.1% 1.1%
07:30 Switzerland Producer & Import Prices, y/y November -2.4% -2.2%
07:45 France CPI, y/y November 0.8% 1.0%
07:45 France CPI, m/m November 0% 0.1%
08:30 Switzerland SNB Press Conference
08:30 Switzerland SNB Interest Rate Decision -0.75% -0.75%
10:00 Eurozone Industrial Production (YoY) October -1.7% -2.3%
10:00 Eurozone Industrial production, (MoM) October 0.1% -0.5%
12:45 Eurozone ECB Interest Rate Decision 0% 0%
13:30 U.S. Continuing Jobless Claims 1693 1678
13:30 Canada New Housing Price Index, YoY October -0.1%
13:30 Canada New Housing Price Index, MoM October 0.2%
13:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims 203 213
13:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, m/m November 0.3% 0.2%
13:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, Y/Y November 1.6% 1.6%
13:30 U.S. PPI, y/y November 1.1% 1.2%
13:30 U.S. PPI, m/m November 0.4% 0.2%
13:30 Eurozone ECB Press Conference
17:30 Canada BOC Gov Stephen Poloz Speaks
21:30 New Zealand Business NZ PMI November 52.6 49.8
23:50 Japan BoJ Tankan. Non-Manufacturing Index Quarter IV 21 16
23:50 Japan BoJ Tankan. Manufacturing Index Quarter IV 5 2
New Zealand: Food Prices Index, y/y, November 2.4%
New Zealand: Visitor Arrivals, October 0.1% (forecast 0.4%)
Major US stock indices closed in positive territory
The main US stock indexes rose slightly, which was facilitated by the results of the Fed meeting and the increase in the conglomerate sector.
The Federal Reserve System left interest rates unchanged and signaled that it did not plan to raise them in the near future. Fed officials in their accompanying statement continued to be optimistic about the economy. "The Committee considered that the current monetary policy is adequate to maintain a steady growth in economic activity," while there are favorable conditions for employment and price stability, the statement said. As a sign of a little more confidence in their position, managers excluded from the statement the phrase that “the uncertainty of prospects remains”, which they used in October. The statement still points to moderate inflationary pressures and the situation in the global economy as risks that should be monitored. New Fed forecasts have shown that, according to most executives, rates are low enough to spur economic growth. They expect rates to remain unchanged until the end of 2020 if the economic outlook does not change.
The focus was also on US data. A Labor Department report showed that the consumer price index rose 0.3% last month, as households paid more for gas. The consumer price index rose 0.4% in October. In the 12 months to November, the consumer price index rose 2.1% after rising 1.8% in October. Economists had forecast a consumer price index growth of 0.2% per month and an increase of 2.0% year on year. Excluding volatile food and energy components, the consumer price index rose 0.2%, which corresponds to an increase in October. In the 12 months to November, the base consumer price index rose 2.3% after a similar increase in October.
Investors also continued to closely monitor developments on the trade front, hoping to receive clear signals that the US and China had reached a trade agreement that could cancel or lower current tariff levels. On Sunday, Washington should introduce new tariffs on Chinese imports, including phones and toys.
Most DOW components completed trading in the red (16 out of 30). Outsider turned out to be the shares of The Home Depot Inc. (HD; -1.91%). The biggest gainers were United Technologies Corporation (UTX; + 1.07%).
Most S&P sectors recorded an increase. The conglomerate sector grew the most (+ 0.9%). The real estate sector (-0.3%) and the financial sector (-0.1%) showed a decrease.
At the time of closing:
Dow 27,911.30 +29.58 +0.11%
S&P 500 3,141.63 +9.11 +0.29%
Nasdaq 100 8,654.05 +37.87 +0.44%
Schedule for tomorrow, Thursday, December 12, 2019
DJIA +0.05% 27,896.01 +14.2 Nasdaq +0.40% 8,650.25 +34.06 S&P +0.28% 3,141.21 +8.69
U.S.: Fed Interest Rate Decision , 1.75% (forecast 1.75%)
U.S.: Federal budget , November -209 (forecast -196.5)
European stocks closed: FTSE 100 7,216.25 +2.49 +0.03% DAX 13,146.74 +76.02 +0.58% CAC 40 5,860.88 +12.85 +0.22%
U.S. CPI at one-year high hardly signals inflation is getting out of hand – Wells Fargo
Analysts at Wells Fargo note that higher energy and services prices pushed the Consumer Price Index up 0.3% in November.
“The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in November and is up 2.1% over the past year. That marks the strongest 12-month pace in a year, but hardly signals inflation is getting out of hand. Much of the pickup in the CPI over the past year has stemmed from a diminishing drag from energy prices after oil prices swooned last fall.
We continue to see few signs of recent tariffs having a meaningful effect on inflation, with core goods inflation flat in November and weakening on a year-ago basis.
Core CPI is up 2.3%. That is toward the top end of this cycle’s range, but is unlikely to move the FOMC away from its easing bias. FOMC Chair Powell has suggested higher inflation is the main criteria for the committee to reverse course again and raise rates. But the trend in core CPI has not strengthened meaningfully in recent months; on a three-month average annualized basis, the core has been rising at a 2.1% pace.
The FOMC has been emphasizing symmetry around its inflation target since 2017. Even as the core PCE deflator looks poised to return to 2.0% within the first half of next year, we suspect it will need to push well above that for a time considering it has averaged just 1.6% this expansion. With slowing growth expected to keep a lid on inflation and longterm inflation expectations near historic lows, the Fed’s next move on interest rates is much more likely to be down than up.”
EIA’s report reveals a surprise increase in U.S. crude oil inventories
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed on Wednesday that crude inventories increased by 0.822 million barrels in the week ended December 6. Economists had forecast a drop of 2.763 million barrels.
At the same time, gasoline stocks surged by 5.405 million barrels, while analysts had expected an increase of 2.561 million barrels. Distillate stocks climbed by 4.118 million barrels, while analysts had forecast an advance of 1.950 million barrels.
Meanwhile, oil production in the U.S. declined by 100,000 barrels a day to 12.800 million barrels a day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.9 million barrels per day last week, up by 899,000 barrels per day from the previous week.
Fitch Ratings: 'No-deal' Brexit unlikely to pose risk to EU27 structured finance transactions with UK swaps
Fitch Ratings says it does not expect a 'no-deal' Brexit to lead to downgrades for the roughly 90 EU27 Structured Finance (SF) transactions that continue to have swaps with UK counterparties.
"A no-deal Brexit is still possible and the general election in the UK tomorrow may not lead to clarity on whether it will be avoided at the end of either January 2020 or any transition period.
Swaps with UK counterparties would not become void following Brexit and counterparties should continue to perform under the existing contracts, which, in the case of SF transactions, are rarely amended post-closing. However, if UK counterparties lack the necessary contingency national licences to amend contracts following certain 'lifecycle' events in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the contract may need to be novated to an EU27 counterparty. The contingency arrangements are still evolving and must be reviewed individually on a trade and country basis, as the scope of measures varies across jurisdictions.
Many counterparties have already novated or effected a Part VII transfer of their swaps to new or existing EU27 entities that are part of the same banking group. Should swaps that are essential for the operation of an SF transaction not be novated ahead of or shortly after a no-deal Brexit, SF rating downgrades could occur if an amendment is needed and if novation to an EU27 entity does not occur to make this possible."
U.S.: Crude Oil Inventories, December 0.822 (forecast -2.763)
U.S. CPI reading unlikely to change calculus for Fed in near-term – TD Securities
Analysts at TD Securities note that U.S. headline inflation surprised to the upside at 0.3% m/m (0.258% unrounded) in November, lifting the annual rate to 2.1% from 1.8%.
"Looking into the details, core goods inflation was flat m/m in November following two negative prints in September and October. A still-firm 0.6% m/m gain in used vehicles and a stabilization in apparel prices (0.1% m/m) contributed to the core goods category.
On the other hand, core services inflation recovered to 0.3% after the slight drop to 0.2% in October (Figure 2). Shelter prices advanced a firm 0.3% on the back of 0.3% and 0.2% m/m increases in rents and OER and a 1.1% rise in other lodging. Medical care services inflation, while slowing versus October, remained strong at 0.4% m/m, as hospital services printed 0.3% in November.
Although inflation has been a factor in the Fed's reasoning behind its easier stance this year, we don't see this month's CPI reading changing the calculus for the Fed in the near-term. Core PCE inflation remains below target and inflation expectations continue to hover below the historical levels associated with price stability. We expect the Fed to keep rates on hold in the near term, but to ease further in 2020 as economic growth continues to moderate."
Two 25bp rate cuts still seen in 1H20 - ING
James Knightley, the Chief International Economist at ING, provides his 2020 Fed view.
"Given ongoing trade uncertainty, weak external demand and the strong dollar we are comfortable to be on the softer side of market expectations for GDP growth (1.4% versus 1.8% for 2020 GDP) and bond yields (targeting 1.4% in 1H20). Political uncertainty surrounding next year’s election could also see businesses taking a more cautious approach on expansion plans, with an emphasis on “wait and see”.
With inflation looking benign the Fed has the flexibility to respond and so we continue to see the potential for two 25bp rate cuts in 1H20."
Chinese newspaper The Global Times reminds that in response to the US tariffs planned for Dec 15, China also announced in Aug that it would impose tariffs of 5% and 10% on more than 3,300 types of US goods
U.S. Stocks open: Dow -0.26%, Nasdaq +0.12%, S&P +0.06%
Before the bell: S&P futures +0.10%, NASDAQ futures +0.20%
U.S. stock-index futures rose slightly on Wednesday, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest decision on monetary policy (19:00 GMT), while keeping an eye on U.S.-China trade front.
Global Stocks:
Index/commodity
Today's Change, points
Today's Change, %
S&P/ASX
Wall Street. Stocks before the bell
(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)
ALTRIA GROUP INC.
-0.05(-0.10%)
Amazon.com Inc., NASDAQ
3.69(0.21%)
AT&T Inc
Boeing Co
Chevron Corp
Citigroup Inc., NYSE
Exxon Mobil Corp
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., NYSE
General Motors Company, NYSE
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Home Depot Inc
Intel Corp
International Business Machines Co...
JPMorgan Chase and Co
McDonald's Corp
Merck & Co Inc
Starbucks Corporation, NASDAQ
SBUX
Tesla Motors, Inc., NASDAQ
The Coca-Cola Co
Twitter, Inc., NYSE
UnitedHealth Group Inc
Verizon Communications Inc
Walt Disney Co
Yandex N.V., NASDAQ
YNDX
Downgrades before the market open
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) downgraded to Equal-Weight at Wells Fargo; target lowered to $61
U.S. consumer prices up 0.3 percent in November
The Labor Department announced on Wednesday the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3 percent m-o-m in November after an unrevised 0.4 percent m-o-m gain in the previous month.
Over the last 12 months, the CPI rose 2.1 percent y-o-y last month, following an unrevised 1.8 percent m-o-m climb in the 12 months through October. That was the highest annual inflation since November 2018.
Economists had forecast the CPI to increase 0.2 percent m-o-m and 2.0 percent y-o-y in the 12-month period.
According to the report, gains in the shelter (+0.3 percent m-o-m) and energy (+0.8 percent m-o-m) indexes were major factors in the seasonally adjusted monthly increase of the all items index. Advances in the indexes for medical care (+0.3 percent m-o-m), for recreation (+0.4 percent m-o-m), and for food (+0.1 percent m-o-m) also contributed to the overall rise.
Meanwhile, the core CPI excluding volatile food and fuel costs advanced 0.2 percent m-o-m in November, the same pace as in the previous month.
In the 12 months through November, the core CPI rose 2.3 percent, the same pace as in the 12 months ending October.
Economists had forecast the core CPI to rise 0.2 percent m-o-m and 2.3 percent y-o-y last month.
U.S.: CPI, Y/Y, November 2.1% (forecast 2%)
U.S.: CPI, m/m , November 0.3% (forecast 0.2%)
U.S.: CPI excluding food and energy, Y/Y, November 2.3% (forecast 2.3%)
Canada: Capacity Utilization Rate, Quarter III 81.7% (forecast 82.1%)
U.S.: CPI excluding food and energy, m/m, November 0.2% (forecast 0.2%)
Will UK's PM fall at the final hurdle? – TDS
Ned Rumpeltin, the European Head of FX Strategy at TD Securities, notes the UK's political landscape remains fluid ahead of Thursday's crucial election.
“Sterling has given up some of its recent gains overnight after a key poll showed the Conservative's lead was starting to shrink. A hung Parliament would mean the UK's political chaos would continue, but even a diminished Tory majority means a still-cloudy future. We think cable would have plenty of room to fall if the Conservatives stumble at the ballot box.
The post-poll dip back below 1.32 overnight suggests we have edged back from that a bit. Despite this, however, we think there is still quite a bit of scope for disappointment if the market's primary expectation is disappointed.
As a result, sterling's recent gains leave it vulnerable to a meaningful correction if anything less than a full Tory sweep is the result this week. If we do get an unstable Conservative majority, we would not be surprised to see cable push lower to test the 1.2985/1.3015 breakout zone. This may not provide sufficient support, however. We would not be surprised to see a deeper correction toward 1.2880 ahead of 1.2820/25 by early next week. Beyond this, sterling may settle down and establish new trading ranges into year-end with leadership reverting to the USD leg overall.”
OPEC sees 2020 demand for its crude averaging 29.58 mln bpd, unchanged from previous forecast
Sees non-OPEC supply rising by 2.17 mln bpd in 2020, unchanged from previous forecast
Leaves forecast for 2020 global Oil demand growth unchanged at 1.08 mln bpd or 1%
Points to 2020 supply deficit of 30,000 bpd if OPEC keeps production at November’s rate, down from 70,000 bpd surplus in previous estimate
Says November oil output fell by 193,000 bpd m-o-m to 29.55 mln bpd as Saudi Arabia cuts supply
CAD: Carry advantage to prevail - ING
Analysts at ING note the Canadian dollar has been facing the hurdles of grim data flows and subsequently increased bets on BoC easing.
"However, CAD is up 3% versus the dollar YTD, mostly thanks to the supportive rate environment in Canada. While we expect the BoC to deliver a cut in the next few months, we do not see this as ultimately denting CAD’s rate advantage.
The figure above shows how – according to our forecasts – CAD is bound to retain the best risk-adjusted carry in the G10 space, even in a scenario with one or two BoC cuts. A stabilization in risk sentiment should allow, in our view, commodity currencies to outperform in 2020 and we expect CAD to lead the pack as it should be able to cash in on its attractive carry.
On the external side, our commodities team is looking at more OPEC+ cuts in 2020, which should put a floor under oil prices. The long-awaited ratification of the USMCA may also add to the relative positives for CAD. All these factors lead us to believe that USD/CAD will be able to move below 1.30 in the first half of 2020, despite the prospect of BoC easing. We see the pair at 1.25 in 4Q20."
UK election risk for GBP – ABN AMRO
Bill Diviney, Senior Economist at ABN AMRO provided a brief insight into the upcoming UK general election on Thursday, wherein PM Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is expected to win a majority.
“The UK goes to the polls in a general election on Thursday, and we should have a good idea of the outcome on Friday morning. The latest opinion polls still show the Conservatives with a comfortable lead, with the Britain Elects poll of polls moving from 11.2pt lead at the start of the campaign to a 9.7pt lead as of today. Individual polls range from a 6-15 point lead. Should the ultimate outcome be closer to the lower end of that range, we could yet end up with a hung parliament.
But regional polling suggests that, while both main parties have gained at the expense of smaller parties during the campaign, the ‘Remain’ vote is much more split between Labour and Liberal Democrats than the ‘Leave’ vote is split between Conservatives and the Brexit Party (whose support has collapsed). This will make it easier for the Conservatives to get a majority, and the political betting odds on Boris Johnson remaining Prime Minister have increased from a 72% implied probability at the start of the campaign to 80% as of today, according to PredictIt.”
China wants December 15 tariffs canceled as minimum pre-condition for continued negotiations of phase one deal - CNBC's correspondent reports, citing Chinese experts
U.S. weekly mortgage applications increase
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on Wednesday the mortgage application volume in the U.S. rose 3.8 percent in the week ended December 6, following a 9.2 percent plunge in the previous week.
According to the report, refinance applications surged 8.7 percent, while applications to purchase a home fell 0.4 percent
Meanwhile, the average fixed 30-year mortgage rate edged up to 3.98 percent from 3.97 percent.
“The 30-year fixed mortgage rate remained under 4% for the fourth straight week, and rates for FHA loans declined close to their lowest level of the year,” noted Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. “The decrease in FHA rates led to a 27% jump in refinance applications for those loans, and their share of refinance activity - at 14% - was the highest since 2016.”
“The November jobs data showed increased payroll gains and low unemployment, which means conditions remain favorable for steady purchase growth in the coming months,” added Kan.
Trading the ECB – TDS
Analysts at TD Securities provide their view on the upcoming ECB monetary policy decision on Thursday and expect no change in interest rates.
“Despite expected growth downgrades, we expect Ms. Lagarde to focus more on building consensus than on further easing, with the hope that the policy currently in place will be enough.
We look for the EUR to react only mildly as policy continuity should be the main takeaway. Lagarde's style and tone is a wild card. Barring an early misstep there, the slight downgrades we see to growth may be offset upgrades to next year's inflation forecast. This should keep EURUSD confined to familiar ranges overall.
With markets only pricing in 3-4bps in rates in 2020, we continue to favour receiving the front-end of the EUR curve expressed via Rec 2y1y EUR OIS.”
GBP price action after UK election likely to be asymmetric - ING
Analysts at ING suggest that GBP price action after the election will be asymmetric; less pronounced gains on a market-friendly outcome vs more meaningful losses on a non-market friendly outcome.
"A large Conservative party majority would be perceived as an expected market-friendly outcome and lead to additional sterling gains. A Conservative Party majority of say 30-40 plus would be more positive as it would reduce potential uncertainty around a possible extent of the transition period. EUR/GBP to reach 0.82 and GBP/USD 1.35.
A smaller Conservative majority would initially lead to GBP gains, too (to 0.83), yet the scale of GBP strength is likely to be marginally more limited. While the Withdrawal Agreement would very likely be passed by the end-January 2020, the question of a hard Brexit might return around mid-year if eurosceptics in the European Research Group oppose an extension to the transition period beyond the end of 2020 (which would, in turn, suggest there is no Conservative Party majority for an extension). Still, as this is an issue for 2020, it is unlikely to prevent initial GBP gains.
A hung parliament would lead to a full pricing out of the GBP Brexit resolution premium (which is currently worth more than 2% based on our estimates), a rebuilding of sterling speculative shorts and GBP/USD likely dropping to 1.26 (and EUR/GBP rising 0.8700 this week).
An outcome consistent with a fragile Labour-led minority government would, in our view, be the most negative of the most probable election outcomes. This reflects (a) the market not pricing such a scenario; (b) initial market concerns about nationalization and fiscal concerns (i.e. a material rise in borrowing needs as implied by the Labour manifesto). While the prospects of a second referendum could eventually help to stabilize GBP (as well as lower the probability that Labour policies would be introduced in full under a minority Labour-led government) the initial reaction would likely be GBP negative."
Scenario analysis for GBP post-election price action
BoJ's Governor Kuroda: Positive signs are seen for the global economy
Overall 2020 outlook seems to be relatively bright
Trump will have final say on U.S.-China trade deal - White House trade adviser
U.S. President Donald Trump will be the one to make the final decision on tariffs and the U.S.-China trade deal, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said.
"Either way we're going to be in a great place ... The president loves them (the tariffs)," Navarro said in an interview with Fox Business Network.
"If we get a great deal, we'll be in a good place as well. But it will be the president's decision. It will come soon," Navarro added.
Germany wouldn't invest less in economic crisis - minister
Germany will not scale back its investments even if tax revenues come in lower, the country's finance minister was quoted as saying by weekly newspaper Die Zeit on Wednesday.
"It would be wrong to reduce investment in an economic crisis," Olaf Scholz said, according to comments released by the newspaper.
"That's exactly what happened in the past. That will not happen with me," Scholz was quoted as saying.
China tightens controls on ownership transfers of state-owned financial firms
China finance ministry will tighten controls on ownership transfers of state-owned financial institutions, a notice released on Wednesday said.
Effective Dec. 20, any capital increase or share sales of state-owned financial institutions that could cause the government to lose its controlling stake would need final approvals by local bureaus of the finance ministry and local governments, according to the notice.
Ahead of the highly anticipated FOMC decision, Mikael Olai Milhøj – Senior Analyst at Danske Bank – offered his take on the US central bank's near-term monetary policy outlook.
“The Fed has made two U-turns in 2019. At the beginning of the year, the Fed skipped its plan to raise rates further. Then, since July, the Fed has cut rates three times and the target range is currently 1.50-1.75%. At the latest meeting in October, the Federal Reserve changed its forward guidance and now believes the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate. On the back of the Fed’s new ‘wait-and-see’ approach, we recently changed our Fed call and now expect only one more cut in 3-6M (previously three more cuts). We keep a cut in our forecast profile, as we still believe the US economy is more fragile than the Fed believes and that the renewed trade optimism is unlikely to be enough to trigger a rebound in business investments yet.”
EUR/JPY: Sell the bounce circa 120.85 - Commerzbank
According to Karen Jones, Analyst at Commerzbank, EUR/JPY’s upside attempts will continue to get sold into its 5-month downtrend, currently located at 120.86.
“EUR/JPY’s outlook remains negative while capped by its 5-month downtrend, currently at 120.86. This is reinforced by resistance at 121.45/48 - this is the location of the 200-day ma, the 50% Fibonacci retracement and the late October high. While capped here, attention remains on the 119.48 uptrend. This should hold the initial test, however, longer-term the risk has increased for a break lower. Failure here will target the 117.09 October low ahead of the 115.87 September low. Above the 200 day-ma lies the 123.34 July high.”
Italian coalition parties modify demands for ESM debt restructuring terms
Parties in Italy’s ruling coalition have dropped demands for a veto on part of a planned reform of the EU’s bailout fund that could make it easier to secure agreement on restructuring public debt of countries seeking help from the fund.
Previously the parties had rejected so-called single limb collective action clauses that allow a single vote to be taken on restructuring bonds of countries seeking a bailout under the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
A final version of a resolution by the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party on Wednesday dropped demands for a veto on the single limb clause contained in a draft form of the resolution.
NZD: Challenging high conviction call of weakness - ANZ
Analysts at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) have revised up their forecasts for the Kiwi dollar, in light of the recent streak of upbeat New Zealand’s fundamentals and government’s fiscal stimulus. ANZ now sees NZD/USD rising to 0.66 in Q1 2020.
“For the Kiwi dollar, the facts have changed rather quickly in the last couple of weeks, challenging our high conviction call of NZD weakness. Little has changed from a top-down perspective, however better data, a possible fiscal injection, and a more muted capital ask from the RBNZ have removed the catalysts we saw for near term weakness. As such we are revising our forecasts and taking out much of the weakness that we had previously anticipated in the NZD. This will have the biggest impact on our near-term bias for the AUD/NZD cross, and for how we think about the NZD/JPY in a better risk environment.”
Fed on hold as we wait for Trump's decision on trade deal – Danske Bank
Analysts at Danske Bank a brief preview of Wednesday's highly anticipated FOMC decision, wherein the US central bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged.
“Today's main event is the Fed meeting. As most FOMC members have said they think the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate, the Fed is now on hold after three cuts in a row. Political uncertainty has declined, global growth has stabilised and US recession fears have eased after strong job reports lately. Most will look at the 'dots' for hints about what the Fed thinks about next year. Given the Fed has cut one more time than it thought in September, it will automatically be lowered but we think the Fed will signal it is on hold also next year. Markets are pricing in another cut during 2020.”
USD/CHF has eroded the base of its range – Commerzbank
Karen Jones, an analyst at Commerzbank offers key technical levels for trading USD/CHF ahead of the key Fed decision.
“USD/CHF is eroding the .9844/41 September and October lows. We consider the market to be vulnerable as we note the confirmed sell signal on the DMI and it remains capped by the 55- and 200-day ma at .9925/44. Failure at .9830 would push key support at .9716/.9659 to the fore. This is the location of the January, June, mid- and late August lows. Below here sits the .9659 August low and the September 2018 low at .9543.”
Outlook for European banks turns negative as economic growth weakens - Moody’s
Outlook for European banks has changed to negative from stable.
Weakening economic growth in much of the region will cause banks' loan quality and profitability to decline.
In UK, outlook for banks is also negative as Brexit-related uncertainty will weaken operating conditions and slow loan demand
Outlook for Euro-area banks is negative as economic slowdown, continued accommodative monetary policy will erode already weak profitability.
In CEE, economic growth will slow but it will still outperform the Euro area and foster business opportunities for banks.
In the Nordic countries, economic growth will slow but remain supportive.
If trade tensions escalate, between the US and China or US and EU, there would be a bigger deterioration in European banks.
US CPI to tick higher in November – TD Securities
Analysts at TD Securities note that the US inflation is likely to accelerate in November but it could possibly be the Fed Chair Powell’s comments that should support the US dollar later on Wednesday.
“We look for headline inflation to to tick up two tenths to 2.0% y/y in November (0.2% m/m), mostly reflecting a gain in prices in the ex-food and energy segment. In effect, core inflation should stay unchanged at 2.3% y/y on the back of a 0.2% m/m increase. Changes to the FOMC statement and dot-plot are well anticipated. Propensity to compel major FX shift is low at this time of year. Powell's tone in the press conference should diverge from a cautious ECB (the next day), and should modestly support the USD.”
“Either way we’re going to be in a great place ... The president loves them (the tariffs),” Navarro said in an interview with Fox Business Network.
“If we get a great deal, we’ll be in a good place as well. But it will be the president’s decision. It will come soon,” Navarro added.
New Zealand cuts 2019/20 GDP growth forecast, unveils capital spending boost
New Zealand cut its growth forecast for 2019/2020 and flagged a budget deficit on Wednesday, but announced a significant lift in capital spending to bolster the economy with a plan to invest more than $12 billion on infrastructure projects.
The Treasury department predicted a NZ$0.9 billion budget deficit in the current 2019/20 year in its half-year economic and fiscal update, down from the NZ$1.3 billion it had forecast in its May budget.
“A small deficit in the current year is not surprising, given the impacts global headwinds are having on confidence here,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said.
Treasury also trimmed expected surpluses for 2021 and 2022 as economic growth slows amid heightened risks from factors such as the U.S.-China trade war and Brexit uncertainty.
The growth forecast for the current year was cut to 2.3% from the previously forecast 3.2%.
Robertson said that while the economy was expected to grow more slowly, New Zealand was still outperforming its peers. “The economy continues to grow, it continues to outpace most other economies,” he told.
Robertson also announced the government’s plan to spend NZ$12 billion on new infrastructure investment, which he said was the highest level of capital spending in more than 20 years.
ADB cuts Developing Asia's growth outlook
The Asian Development Bank downgraded its Developing Asia's growth projections citing challenging global environment.
The lender said developing Asia will grow 5.2 percent in both 2019 and 2020. The projection for 2019 was lowered from 5.4 percent and that for next year from 5.5 percent.
Growth in developing Asia continues to moderate as domestic investment weakens under a more challenging external environment with slowing global trade and economic activity, protracted trade tensions between the United States and China, and a global downturn in electronics, the ADB noted.
Growth forecasts for East Asia were downgraded to 5.4 percent in 2019 and 5.2 percent in 2020 as China and the Republic of Korea endure continuing trade tensions and slowing domestic investment.
Given recent deceleration, China was expected to expand 6.1 percent in 2019 versus prior estimate of 6.2 percent, as domestic demand weakened and external headwinds stiffened.
Meanwhile, the projected growth rate in Central Asia as a whole was raised to 4.6 percent for 2019 from 4.4 percent in the Update and to 4.5 percent for 2020 from 4.3 percent.
Options levels on wednesday, December 11, 2019
Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)
$1.1215 (2720)
$1.1184 (867)
Price at time of writing this review: $1.1089
Support levels (open interest**, contracts):
- Overall open interest on the CALL options and PUT options with the expiration date January, 3 is 49735 contracts (according to data from December, 10) with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,1050 (5415);
- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date January, 3 is 21493 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3500 (5297);
- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date January, 3 is 18044 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,2500 (2393);
- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 0.84 versus 0.84 from the previous trading day according to data from December, 10
* - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange bulletin (CME) is used for the calculation.
** - Open interest takes into account the total number of option contracts that are open at the moment.
Commodities. Daily history for Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Change, %
Brent 64.53 0.03
WTI 59.05 0.36
Silver 16.64 0.3
Gold 1464.24 0.18
Palladium 1895.85 0.82
Stocks. Daily history for Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Change, points
NIKKEI 225 -20.51 23410.19 -0.09
Hang Seng -58.11 26436.62 -0.22
KOSPI 9.35 2098 0.45
ASX 200 -23.1 6706.9 -0.34
FTSE 100 -20.14 7213.76 -0.28
DAX -34.89 13070.72 -0.27
Dow Jones -27.88 27881.72 -0.1
S&P 500 -3.44 3132.52 -0.11
NASDAQ Composite -5.65 8616.18 -0.07
Currencies. Daily history for Tuesday, December 10, 2019
AUDUSD 0.68098 -0.17
EURJPY 120.621 0.44
EURUSD 1.10925 0.27
GBPJPY 143.053 0.28
GBPUSD 1.31545 0.1
NZDUSD 0.65429 -0.03
USDCAD 1.32302 -0.04
USDCHF 0.98431 -0.34
USDJPY 108.737 0.17
China's economy expanded at the slowest pace since 1990 - NBS
Earnings Season in U.S.: Major Reports of the Week
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50 for 50 (“Doctor Who” Interview Collection)
Written by Paula Hammond
Celebrating 50 Years of the Doctor Who Family
To celebrate Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary, Telos Publishing is proud to present a collection of 50 previously-unpublished interviews covering all five decades of the show’s history. A perfect way for fans to celebrate this important landmark for their favourite show!
240pp approx A5-format paperback.
50 for 50 ("Doctor Who" Interview Collection) quantity
Category: Doctor Who
To celebrate Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary, Telos Publishing is proud to present a collection of 50 previously-unpublished interviews covering all five decades of the show’s history. Author Paula Hammond has gathered fond and insightful reminiscences from a wide range of actors and behind-the-scenes personnel, including stars Colin Baker, Frazer Hines and Louise Jameson, directors Waris Hussein and Michael E Briant, writers Victor Pemberton and Bob Baker, guest cast members Derren Nesbitt and Angela Bruce, model-maker and author Mike Tucker, fight director Kevin McCurdy, costume designer Ray Holman – and many, many more. A perfect way for fans to celebrate this important landmark for their favourite show!
240pp A5-format paperback.
1 review for 50 for 50 (“Doctor Who” Interview Collection)
Telos Publishing – May 15, 2014
http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/book-reviews-latest-literary-releases/8679-book-review-50-for-50-celebrating-50-years-of-the-doctor-who-family
‘Something new and fresh, giving us an insight to Doctor Who that we’ve never seen before’
‘It’s an absorbing, wonderful book that really deserves to be on the bookshelf of every self- respecting Whovian and don’t be surprised if it inspires you to rewatch some vintage episodes.’
10/10 – review by Robin Pierce for Starburst Magazine
Talkback Vol 2: The Seventies (“Doctor Who” Interviews) p/b
Talkback Vol 1: The Sixties (“Doctor Who” Interviews) p/b
Talkback Vol 3: The Eighties (“Doctor Who” Interviews) p/b
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In reply to SoTXAg09 • 1:49p, 4/21/19
SoTXAg09 said:
Yeah the fire **** gets old. GRRM has already said Dany's fire transformation was a one-time miracle, not a "fireproof Targaryen" thing.
Well he lied...
because even in the 5th book Dance with Dragons (which was published after his quote saying it was a one time thing) she survives fire again in the dragon attack in the pits of Meereen. It burns away her hair but her skin is left unburned. There though she also does experience blistering of her hands when touching a hot spear. So there she seemingly was immune to dragon fire but not other fire/heat.
His words have now been taken to mean Targs are not all immune to fire and not always immune to fire even if they are sometimes.
basically it means whatever he wants it to mean when it suits his purpose.
same for the show as they included her walking out of the dothraki temple unburnt. and some other things like the super hot baths where she did not feel the heat.
TxSquarebody
In reply to MaroonStain • 1:53p, 4/21/19
MaroonStain said:
Except for burning all of the Khals that other time she walked out of fire and did not get burned...
Came back for this rebuttal!
In reply to Rick Dalton • 1:55p, 4/21/19
ATM1876 said:
"Fight every battle everywhere, always, in your mind. Everyone is your enemy, everyone is your friend. Every possible series of events is happening all at once. Live that way and nothing will surprise you. Everything that happens will be something that you've seen before."
He missed one scenario
Hey...so.. um
In reply to redline248 • 1:59p, 4/21/19
I think I the fall of littlefinger really shows us that one lapse in judgement can be your undoing. I think that is the difference between littlefinger and Cersei. Littlefinger loved sansa and her mom. Cersei loves herself first and her kids second. Her kids are gone so now it is just her. She doesn't let emotion get the best of her.
That's precisely my point, one of the biggest players in the game was bested by that formerly self-described "stupid little girl." I think that Sansa and Cersei are the two best players remaining.
SoTXAg09
This is so funny you shed a tear? Notice I said GRRM... that Dothraki scene was show writing. And fire resistant doesn't mean fire proof
gomerschlep
2:05p, 4/21/19
I'm in the "tonight will be a lot more shocking than we think" camp. They don't have enough episodes left to have any snoozers. I'm ready (even though I'm on shift until 0200 and have to watch it on my DVR in the morning).
McQuarters
Here's my theory that builds on a previous theory. The NK bypasses Winterfell and heads to Castle Landing where there is the beginning of a siege. In my theoretical scene, Cersi stares out from her castle at the NK and his hordes. Suddenly, The Mountain's eyes turns blue, he pulls out his sword and chops off Cersi's head and kills the rest of the King's Guard., who then become zombies. They let in the army of the dead and the NK raises the dragon bones at the bottom of the castle.
In reply to McQuarters • 2:32p, 4/21/19
MaroonStain
That is an AOC level post there, buddy. Congrats!
NK and his dragon could get to Kings Landing (not Castle Landing btw)..... but there is no way his army of the dead could (imho). He can fly there and it's not much further then Dany flew from Dragonstone to north of the wall.
But the army of the dead are walking from the wall south and have barely gotten past Last Hearth in the last episode. that puts them halfway to Winterfell...... but it's easily 4x that far to King's Landing.
they couldn't detour half (or even part) of the army to KL and get there until well after they get to Winterfell basically.
Anyway still he could wreak havoc with 1 dragon of course and still do what you suggest if he goes straight for the Red Keep. Don't have to bother with the army guarding the gate, etc if you can fly over them and ice burn anything in your path.
And I showed you above where GRRM made her fireproof again in the books so..... kinda seems moot.
you seem really bent out of shape over a throwaway comment he made at the time (1999 and again after S1). Maybe it was "true" then in his head but he changed his mind. He also changed his mind about the entire arc and ending as he has said his original summary synopsis of the ending (which was written) is no longer accurate.
He has changed his mind on many things - he originally implied only Targs could ride dragons and now he has written the exact opposite as he has had non Targs ride dragons in the companion (cannon) books The World of Ice and Fire (2014) and the prequel Fire and Blood (2018). All were Valyrian or knew blood magic though.
Things are getting chippy in here. I sense a lot of virtual Sansa/Dany side-eye.
wangus12
Episode is out on reddit btw
How the **** do they keep leaking? They had been really good thus far.
I bet some rando HBO in Europe ****ed up again.
In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 2:43p, 4/21/19
when people take role playing too seriously.
must exert... willpower to not... download.....
looks and sees it is very crappy 480p.
much easier decision to not download.
I need a scene of Jon placing a blue rose in front of Lyanna tonight.
And then a moment in front of Ned.
yeah, I suggest spending the next 6 hours with your family, surfing porn, working on next years taxes.
Stay off social media.
I'm pretty much starting to be convinced that Jon will end up killing Daenerys.
And as long as Cersei dies too, I'm good.
Can we spoiler tag any episode reviews until it airs for everyone?
I would hope that people would be courteous enough to keep that **** off of here until after the episode officially airs. Not going to take any chances though, see y'all back here in a little over five hours. Seven hells...
Fine, as long as you guys refrain from discussing anything until it has aired on the West Coast.
You DID say "EVERYONE"
I like how everyone decides that Central Time Zone is official or whatever.
In reply to C@LAg • 3:47p, 4/21/19
You are on an Aggie site after all.
That's because CT is correct an everyone else is wrong.
In reply to wangus12 • 3:48p, 4/21/19
wangus12 said:
on the subject of being "wrong"....
Stands for Crap Time.
In reply to Zombie Jon Snow • 3:50p, 4/21/19
Certainly not bent out of shape, just find the over-used cry-laugh annoying. Last post on it, then moving on...
GRRM specifically states she darts under the flames, implying she avoided the brunt of the blast. He also specifically refers to her burns in her next chapter. And Jon was burnt when they fought the wight, so I think any fire-related reveals at this point are silly. But you're right, he's not consistent, so who the hell knows.
Back to the BOW tonight!
cisgenderedAggie
You must have supported Stannis Baratheon in the war
PatAg
In reply to double aught • 4:08p, 4/21/19
BCG Disciple said:
Props to Ned Stark. Did not even tell his wife that Jon was his nephew. A man of honor such as Ned having the public shame of his infidelity is one thing, but having to deal with the personal shame with his children - hard to teach honor and discipline being tantamount when you do that to your family. Then, the personal issues with his wife, including the trust issues, etc. I mean, how easy would it be to trust in your wife and love and tell her the truth when it could have alleviated so much pain. Just unbelievable to me to have the strength to bear that burden alone.
Well, I mean...he's not real.
You might be in the wrong thread
RogerEnright
In reply to PDEMDHC • 4:27p, 4/21/19
Watched Godfather last night!
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Theatre Press
Viewing and re-viewing Melbourne theatre
Tag: Cassie Lee Elliget
Events, Musical Theatre, Performances, Review, Theatre, Whats On June 26, 2011 June 26, 2011
REVIEW: Original New Musical ONCE WE WERE…
Young, fresh and brimming with potential
By Deborah Langley
It is a rare to sit in the audience of a first. First dates are exciting because you just don’t know where it’s going to lead you. With similar anticipation, the audience shuffled into The Lithuanian Club in North Melbourne to be introduced to another kind of first: the emergence of some really fresh, raw musical theatre talent that has been hiding somewhere in Melbourne.
Once We Were…. opens with a Broadway-style ensemble number where we are introduced to some very familiar characters. This contemporary musical is set in the States (which is slightly disappointing for an Australian musical – but that is a side note) with catchy, pop-inspired music, fun accessible characters and witty dialogue which would feel just as at home on any Gen Y hit TV show.
At its heart this musical explores relationships as our writers understand them. We meet the straight couple who get together during college, the gay guys who are feeling their way through coming out to parents and dealing with an eight-year age difference, and the awkward lesbian couple who prove that opposites do attract.
The creators, Rowland Braché (composer/lyricist) and Lauren Seymour (writer/co-director) have been able to combine honest tales of love with great music and perfect timing in a musical which is reminiscent of a pop-inspired Spring Awakenings. Kim Edwards (director) has brought it to the stage with simplicity and sincerity which allows these characters to really come to life.
The ensemble cast including Jacqui Levitas, Tyson Legg, Kathleen Amarant, Callum Botica, Christian Cavallo, David Miles, Kellie-Anne Kimber, Maverick de Leon, Cassie Lee Elliget and Jack Van Staveren work brilliantly together, but easily the stand-out in both performance and story line is the lesbian couple, Cindy (Jaclyn DeVincentis) and Olivia (Candice Sweetman) whose awkward banter and unpretentious reflections were both silly and poignant, and simply a joy to watch.
Like all first runs of successful shows, Once We Were…. is brimming with potential and spotted with imperfections that need an audience to highlight. I can’t wait for the second season and feel privileged to say that I was there to witness the first…. and you should be too.
Once We Were… is playing until 2nd July at The Lithuanian Club, 45 -50 Errol Street North Melbourne. Go to www.trybooking.com/OLJ for more information or contact 0487 487667
Filed under: Callum Botica, Candice Sweetman, Cassie Lee Elliget, Christian Cavallo, David Miles, Jack Van Staveren, Jaclyn DeVincentis, Jacqui Levitas, Kathleen Amarant, Kellie Ann Kimber, Lauren Seymour, Maverick De Leon, Rowland Brache, Tyson Legg
Film Review: Bombshell
Review: The 91-Storey Treehouse
Review: Cirque Stratosphere
Review: The Choir of Man
Review: Songs For Nobodies
Review: Chicago
Review: Anna
Review: The Barber Of Seville
REVIEW: Punk Rock
REVIEW: The Taming of the Shrew
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Choosing Cabaret Songs
Common Cabaret Mistakes
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My Weblog theblackmansview
Drilling on Mother Earth
It seen that most young peoples want o cont the old idea of drilling for oil, the big oil company’s have already been in power for the last 100 years and one would think that with all this element that we have on earth we would try to teach our young one a better way for alternative and renewable energies. I don’t know about you, but I like the birds, fishes and all the things that God gave us to take care of, just like we take of the baby’s and the old peoples of this world, with all this brain power that we have I know we can change from the old to the new,even if it 40s years to late.
Tags: people:energy
The Race is turning to a point of anger.
Well now that summer is over with and everyone have picket side, we are now in the state of mind where there are a few people’s that will come out and try to make thing’s bad for other peoples. Before I make a point about any thing’s in this world let me say this that I’m a Black Republican an be live in the Almighty God, it something that I LEARN some 40s years ago. Now about this anger where some of the re-publican’s are getting to the point of having raw anger are the kind that just miss the whole picture, but if you step back ad look at the world for the last 12 years you would see that this was coming. Not that I’m a supporter of the democrat party because of the talk they have given to the blacks people’s with the plantation idea’s that were in the south when I was born, but when you right you are right. There are a lot of thing’s wrong with both party’s because of what was given to us when the peoples with their idea’s went to the light, so we are ones that are here and have to make a better life the for rest of us that are still here on earth. When I begin to love my country back in the year of 1968 to 2008 it was a personal matter between me,my mother and God. Have always support Presidential race because of our history. Being black may have been a little hard but we are here, I was in the United State Army when John McCain war a P.OW. so there is a bond there, now that I have begin to see that some thing’s have change and is going to change by a black man running for president is another bond to have, but the point that need to be makes this there are a lot of good men who given their life for this country to have he kind o freedom’s that w have and it would be very good that all this cont on a good note from all us. Both condition are very good people in my eyes so that no problem’s for me, but think about how a few bad people’s that make thing’s bad terrorist,treason,and traitor who have put the main street people’s in this dog fight we will have work together to bring down this high cost of living that the few have put up on the world, with all this wisdom and knowledge that God have given us we can do better.
Tags: President:leadership:freedom
Transgender Troops Tell Congress That They Excel in the Military — TIME
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Transgender troops testifying for the first time to Congress on Wednesday said transitioning to another sex made them stronger, while Pentagon officials defended the Trump administration’s desire to bar people like them from enlisting in the future. Army Capt. Alivia Stehlik, an infantry officer and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy…
via Transgender Troops Tell Congress That They Excel in the Military — TIME
Beauty Products Marketed to Black Women May Contain More Hazardous Chemicals: Report — TIME
Beauty and hair products marketed to black women are more likely to contain potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients, according to a new report from a nonprofit environmental research group. Researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed 1,177 beauty and personal care products marketed to black women and compared the ingredients to a scoring system…
via Beauty Products Marketed to Black Women May Contain More Hazardous Chemicals: Report — TIME
Read Hillary Clinton’s Speech Touting ‘American Exceptionalism’ — TIME
Hillary Clinton went on the offensive against Donald Trump in a speech she gave Wednesday in Cincinnati. Appearing at the American Legion’s national convention, Clinton spoke of “American exceptionalism” and of Trump’s misunderstanding of the term. Read the full speech below. CLINTON: Good afternoon. I am delighted to have this great honor of being here…
via Read Hillary Clinton’s Speech Touting ‘American Exceptionalism’ — TIME
http://www.topix.com/member/profile/jesse285
HUGGY LOWDOWN: So Many Damn Medals, Al Roker Is Still Stirring — Black America Web USA Basketball team it that time for football now.
https://ioneblackamericaweb.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/082216huggy.mp3 8/22/16- Find out just how many medals #TeamUSA brought back home and why Al Roker is still stirring his mojito after his blow up with Billy Bush.
via HUGGY LOWDOWN: So Many Damn Medals, Al Roker Is Still Stirring — Black America Web
Prince Dead at 57 — The DL Hughley Show
Prince is dead at 57 years old. According to TMZ, the legendary singer’s body was found at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota early Thursday morning. He was previously reported to have been battling the flu. TMZ writes: Authorities responded to a medical emergency at his Paisley Park studio on Thursday morning. The Carver County Sheriff’s department in…
via Prince Dead at 57 — The DL Hughley Show
A Republican Coup – Not Against Obama, But its Own Voters
The Republican establishment is facing a revolt of its base and the only solution seems to be a top-down coup against the beast it created
Source: A Republican Coup – Not Against Obama, But its Own Voters
OXYBENZONE || Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database | EWG
This is what killing the coral of the sea:Source: OXYBENZONE || Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database | EWG
Emilia Clarke Talks ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale and That Supposed Death
I’m hoping this last for 10 years.
Lenny Kravitz Accidentally Exposes His Manhood On-Stage (Updated)
I suppose sometime things happen.
Lenny Kravitz rocked out with his c**k out. Unfortunately for Kravitz, he literally did just that.
Kravitz was playing a show in Stockholm, promoting his latest album Strut, when his extra tight leather pants split open. He was crouching down as he doing during guitar work when the NSFW exposure happened.
This isn’t a word of mouth legend akin to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. There’s a picture of Kravitz’s babymaker floating around social media right now. We won’t post the explicit version here, but if you really want to see it, you’ll be fine if you use a search button.
Lenny Kravitz’s leather pants split on stage and the world saw his Little Lenny http://t.co/nsOQtP3ulz#mashable
— Bob Untz (@UntzUntzWubWub) August 4, 2015
The show didn’t stop after Kravitz revealed he might’ve went commando. He got a new pair of pants and continued on.
Kravitz didn’t address what happened yet…
jesse285 on Transgender Troops Tell Congress That They Excel in the Military — TIME
jesse285 on Read Hillary Clinton’s Speech Touting ‘American Exceptionalism’ — TIME
jesse285 on Prince Dead at 57 — The DL Hughley Show
jesse285 on OXYBENZONE || Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database | EWG
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Shark fears 'out of proportion': surf club
HAYLEY GODDARDBunbury Herald
Tuesday, 27 August 2013 12:34PM
Camera IconShark fears 'out of proportion': surf club Credit: Bunbury Herald
The State Government has promised $23.3 million over fiveyears to keep the beaches safer following an increase in shark attacks and sightings.
This year $6 million has been allocated.
But South West surf lifesaving clubs are concerned the threat of shark attacks is being blown out of proportion.
City of Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club director Chris Dunbar said the club had not had an incident while on patrol for years.
“The last shark attack at Back Beach must have been eight or 10 years ago, when a boogie boarder was bitten on the lower leg,” he said.
He said sharks had been a concern since the club’s inception, but was unsure how much the risk had increased.
He assured people the club’s weekend patrols would resume in October but wanted the public to be more accountable when entering the water.
“My advice is for people to contribute to their own safety by swimming in appropriate weather and sea conditions, not eating heavily or drinking alcohol before entering the water,” he said.
“Let someone know where you are and don’t go out in conditions where you can’t recover yourself.
“Last summer, we had a number of people injured at the beach and taken to hospital after being dumped by the Back Beach’s notorious shore break.
“Forget the fish, it’s the shore break that’ll get you.”
Fisheries Minister Troy Buswell said this year’s funding would include activities in the South West such as the helicopter beach patrols.
“Research, education and community engagement strategies will also continue to help West Australians understand more about sharks and help them make more informed decisions when entering the marine environment,” he said.
The story behind GoPro’s ‘reboot’Premium
London gets behind koala crisisPremium
South WestNews
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The debut novel, and first in a new exciting series, by Mike Hembury
New Clone City is Literary Cyberpunk for Today’s Dystopian Era
An urban fiction thriller set in a cyberpunk world, New Clone City tells the story of a down-at-heel metropolis. A melting pot of tribes, technology, poverty, and chaos. New Clone City is a rollicking compulsive read, as queer and captivating as its inhabitants.
This is a slipstream world where a refugee crisis looms, the environment is in chaos, and an authoritarian political movement threatens the very fabric of the city. These dark forces battle a colourful cast of heroes, from anarchist rednecks to genderfluid sex workers.
Mike Hembury’s prose is urgent, sexy and “unprecedented”. Sharp and poetic, compelling and passionate, the political and environmental themes resonate for these troubling times. This is a novel to be read today.
READ THE FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS
New Clone City is a lush, multi-layered rollercoaster through an alternate reality—one populated by genderfluid sex workers, anarchist rednecks, and worshippers of the Church of Kali. It’s surreal, unprecedented, and hot as hell.
Jane Flett
Author of Mashnotes
Bladerunner meets The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo—but with a sense of humanity and humor that’s very much the author’s own. A vivid and compelling exploration of important themes that resonate in our current semi-apocalyptic era. An Amazonian-trans hero, CGI panthers, and steamy sex …oh my! Readers, you’re not in Kansas anymore.
Maria Behan
Writer and columnist
A wild ride through a perfectly crafted world. If action is your love, this is a book for you, if intrigue is what you like this is a book for you, if you are a sci-if fan this is your book. Throw in a dash of Eastern mysticism, add a dose of politically important persuasion and you have New Clone City.
Tim Clark
Writer and blogger
Mike Hembury is an Anglo-Berliner originally from Portland, England. He’s a writer, translator, musician, coder, sailor, environmentalist, and guitar nerd in no particular order. He is the SOAPBOX columnist at The Wild Word magazine. You can follow Mike on Twitter here:
twitter.com/schnappz
Image by Jan Radtke
For author interviews, readings, and all media queries and questions please contact Kusi Okamura/Erin O’Loughlin at [email protected]
1. What was the inspiration for New Clone City?
The events of the first chapter – with the naked hipsters on the street – actually happened to me, and I took them as the basis for a short story. After that, the project took on a life of its own.
2. Is it true that you wrote during NanoWrimo?
Yes, I did a considerable part of the writing during NaNoWriMo, but that wasn’t enough to finish the book, so I carried on at the same pace for another month.
3. New Clone City is a slipstream universe, but is it inspired by a real place? Can you give us a hint where?
Shhhh, it’s a secret! Said in my best theatrical whisper. But if I had to give you a hint, I would say the best thing to do is to treat the title as a kind of crossword puzzle clue.
4. You have a full-time job, play in three bands, write an environmental column, how and when do you find the time to write?
That’s a good question. Sometimes there is so much other stuff going on that writing has to take the back seat. So I have to actively work writing time into my schedule. Like, a week here, or a month there. It’s difficult, but it seems to be the only way at the moment.
I’ve been working on a collection of short stories and a sequel to New Clone City.
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Oviedo Baby
Tico star Bryan Oviedo talks about the injury that derailed his World Cup dream
Costa Rica declares injured star Bryan Oviedo out for the World Cup
Tico star Bryan Oviedo says he won’t play in the World Cup unless he feels at full strength
Signs point to a World Cup return for Costa Rican star Bryan Oviedo
Costa Rica star Bryan Oviedo suffers double leg fracture during match in England
Costa Rican soccer star Bryan Oviedo undergoes successful surgery, recalls grisly leg injury
The Tico Times January 28, 2014 June 16, 2014
Everton's Costa Rican midfielder Bryan Oviedo (R) vies with a Queens Park Rangers' midfielder during a match on Jan. 4, 2014. (AFP)
Costa Rican star midfielder Bryan Oviedo underwent a successful surgery on Monday night to repair a gruesome leg injury, according to his Premier League club Everton.
Oviedo, 23, broke his leg in two places while making a play on the ball against Stevenage during a match Saturday. The fractures to his tibia and fibula put his chances of playing in the World Cup in doubt. Now Oviedo has a several weeks to rehab before the Costa Rica National Team will decide if one of their best players is able enough to make the World Cup roster.
Everton’s head of medical services Danny Donachie told the team’s official site that Oviedo had a clean break in his leg. Doctors placed a rod through Oviedo’s tibia, and the Tico is “in comfortable and stable condition,” Donachie said.
Oviedo described the immediate aftermath of the injury to evertonfc.com. He said he felt a shudder go through his body, and then saw his leg distorted. Once he noticed teammate Kevin Mirallas in tears, Oviedo said he knew “something was seriously wrong.”
“All sorts of thoughts went through my head,” [Oviedo] added. “It wasn’t too uncomfortable at first, but I then felt very strong pain and tried to endure it.
“I thought about everything, my father, the World Cup. The minutes felt like hours.
“It is a real blow to my hopes, and it is painful for me just to look at the images.
“I have tried to stay strong and positive but I don’t want to watch the video of the incident. I don’t think I will ever want to see it.”
Medical experts say the broken leg will need four months to recover, giving Ovideo a chance to be healthy in time for the 2014 World Cup. It begins in Brazil on June 12.
“”Ever since it happened, I’ve been thinking about the World Cup,” Oviedo told Everton’s site. “I have to remain calm, but in the hands of God, I will be ready for it.
Costa Rica unveils preliminary 30-man roster for the World Cup
Brazil World Cup 2014bryan oviedoEvertonLa Selesoccer
Costa Rica’s tourism sector opposes ‘dry law’ on Election Day
New poll: Support dropping for Araya, Villalta, but candidates still appear headed for a runoff
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Are the Rolling Stones Toronto-bound with their No Filter Tour?
Jane StevensonMore from Jane Stevenson
Updated: February 8, 2019 11:24 PM EST
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Well maybe Toronto can get some satisfaction after all.
When the Rolling Stones announced the 2019 leg of their No Filter tour it included only U.S. stadium dates following a successful run in Europe and the U.K.
But now statues of the Stones iconic red mouth and lips have popped up at both Toronto’s Eaton Centre and Union Station with the date 06/29/2019 and #stonesnofilter written beneath.
Mick Jagger (left) and Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones, perform during their No Filter tour in London, England, on May 25, 2018. (Mark Allan/Invision/AP)
A call to the Stones U.S. publicist wasn’t immediately returned Friday but since their last U.S. date is the second of two nights at Chicago’s Soldier Field on June 25, it’s a pretty good bet the Stones are coming to play in T.O. on June 29.
Rogers Centre is currently booked for a baseball game on that Saturday night but Downsview Park — the scene of their SARS-Stock headlining show in 2003 — is a possibility.
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The Stones last played in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre, now Scotiabank Arena, in 2013 for the 50 and Counting Tour.
JStevenson@postmedia.com
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How Your Money Is Being Used to Corrupt Adolescent Girls
How Your Money Is Being Used
to Corrupt Adolescent Girls
Randy Engel
Old timers in the prolife movement will remember the Population Crisis Committee and the Hugh Moore Fund among the earliest population control groups during the late 1960s and early 1970s. These groups have morphed into a single group called Population Action International (PAI).
The new tax-funded $85 million program to make sex instruction, contraception and abortion available for young girls will be funded by the federal U.S. A.I.D. in cooperation with other private and public population control agencies worldwide. Take a gander at the scope of this international program which the Obama Administration wants to put into place before the next election.
This press release is from PAI's U.S. Global Strategy for the Empowerment of Adolescent Girls. PAI is, in its own words, a "global organization advancing the right to affordable, quality contraception and reproductive health care for every woman, everywhere." This new program is one giant cover for spreading the anti-life agenda worldwide with U.S. tax dollars and is already in motion.
How Will the U.S. Global Strategy for the Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Become a Reality?
On March 15, 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry launched the U.S. Global Strategy for the Empowerment of Adolescent Girls. The strategy brings together State Department (including PEPFAR), USAID, Peace Corps and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to “ensure adolescent girls are educated, healthy, economically and socially empowered, and free from violence and discrimination, thereby promoting global development, security, and prosperity.”
Kerry pledges millions to boost programs to ‘empower’ girls with contraception services
PAI and other members of the advocacy community, including our partners in the Youth Health and Rights Coalition and Girls Not Brides USA, have long advocated for the US government to articulate a comprehensive, interagency plan to address the unique needs and potential of adolescent girls. Throughout the development of the strategy, girls’ health advocates have repeatedly stressed that an effective strategy must address the important role that sexual and reproductive health and rights play in girls’ empowerment. This is a great first step, and now we must shift our advocacy to implementation and realization of the strategy.
Addressing major barriers to sexual and reproductive health
Adolescent girls face many challenges related to their sexual and reproductive health. These challenges are often deeply interconnected and are compounded with other issues, such as girls’ education and economic empowerment. The strategy addresses several of these challenges including child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, early pregnancy, HIV, and an overall lack of information and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Girls in Nairobi take a sex education class; below, a US teen is counseled on contraceptive ‘choices’
• Sexual and Reproductive Health information and services: The strategy explicitly includes under its objectives the need to expand girls’ access to information about reproductive health and their sexuality, and to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services including, family planning.
To accomplish this, the State Department will continue to engage with governments and civil society to advocate for the legal and policy reforms needed to “institute comprehensive sexuality education in national curricula, and remove barriers to sexual and reproductive rights and comprehensive, accessible, quality health services.” (pg. 20). USAID will continue to provide support to programs and interventions to ensure sexual and reproductive health information, family planning, and other reproductive health services are available for girls.
• HIV: In sub-Saharan Africa, girls account for 71 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents. Recognizing these girls as a key population in efforts to address the global HIV epidemic, the US Global Strategy for the Empowerment of Adolescent Girls will complement and reinforce the holistic approach of DREAMS, an ambitious new PEPFAR initiative to drastically reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
DREAMS will address the structural drivers that increase a girl’s risk of HIV, such as GBV, poverty, and lack of education. Included in DREAMS evidence-based interventions are HIV testing and counseling, PrEP, contraceptive method mix and sex education. Accompanying the release of the Strategy, Secretary Kerry announced that $40 million dollars of DREAMS Innovation Challenge funding would be designated to help keep girls in school.
• Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM): CEFM is a severe violation of girls’ rights and also puts their health at risk. A key objective of the strategy is to change harmful norms and practices, such as CEFM and female genital mutilation (FGM). Addressing CEFM and meeting the needs of already-married girls is recognized as an issue that cuts across U.S. foreign policy and assistance work.
Taxpayer dollars fund international programs like World Contraception Day
Efforts include engaging with the UN and governments to develop plans to address CEFM, reform laws and also ensure they are implemented. Additionally, target communities will be educated about the harms associated with the practice and mobilized to change norms. USAID will build off of their vision for Ending Child Marriage and Meeting the Needs of Married Children and their growing evidence base of what works to prevent CEFM.
• Adolescent Girls in Humanitarian Settings: Although much of the strategy focuses on adolescent girls in the development context, it does recognize the increased challenges girls face in humanitarian emergencies, including heightened risks of early marriage and gender-based violence.
Highlighting the U.S.-led initiative “Safe from the Start”, the strategy emphasizes the need to quickly deploy GBV specialists at the onset of an emergency and ensure that all staff has received training on gender-sensitive response and the specific needs of adolescent girls. Also, included is the need to identify adolescent girls and ensure that they are able to access targeted “girl-specific” services, including sexual and reproductive health services.
Articulating a U.S. vision for adolescent girls
The Global Strategy for the Empowerment of Adolescent Girls seeks to build off of the U.S.’ existing framework of gender and youth-focused policies initiatives. It is an articulation of an overall goal and objectives for the government’s work on adolescent girls in our foreign assistance, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic efforts. In many ways, it is a vision of what could be accomplished by fully leveraging the resources and influence of the U.S. government to intervene on behalf of girl’s rights and well-being around the world.
Girls march for reproductive services so they won't become teen mothers - not a word about morals
While overall, we were very pleased with the strategy itself, concerns still remain around how the strategy will become reality. For example, among the key government positions identified by the strategy’s implementation plan is the USAID Youth Coordinator. Although called for in the 2012 Youth in Development Policy, the position remains unfilled.
Also, although the strategy calls for an inter-agency working group to be formed to measure progress and assess the strategy in relation to other existing policy frameworks, it’s unclear how strong of a coordinating and accountability mechanism this will be. Finally, with less than a year left in the Obama administration, it’s unclear how deeply the strategy can be embedded in each of the implementing agencies.
http://tradcatknight.blogspot.com/2016/04/un-troops-are-corrupt-sex-trafficking.html
http://tradcatknight.blogspot.com/2015/09/common-core-cabbalist-corruption-of.html
http://tradcatknight.blogspot.com/2016/04/tradcatknight-radio-suzanne-venker.html
http://tradcatknight.blogspot.com/2015/03/feminism-anti-mary.html
http://tradcatknight.blogspot.com/2015/05/sisters-indoctrinating-girls-with.html
Labels: contraception, Corruption, Feminism, sex education, youth
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Navigation:Main
You are here: Main » Tom Hiddleston to return as Loki in new TV series
Tom Hiddleston to return as Loki in new TV series
by Gordon Cummings - at November 10, 2018
Diego Luna had this to say about the new series in a statement. The show will take place before the events of Rogue One and show what made Andor into the callous calculated operative that he was in the Star Wars prequel.
'The rousing spy thriller will explore tales filled with espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire'. Well, as I've learned many a time in this line of work, never assume that any title is going to stick around (hell, Edge of Tomorrow proved that a movie's title could change even after its release), and Disney Play is no different. Netflix users have long bemoaned how often films are buried or lost on the homepage, and the Disney+ model promises the possibility of a superior user experience.
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Diego Luna starred alongside Felicity Jones in new Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
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Astronomers think that the Solar system called for a probe of aliens
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Yes, Disney is about to make some new Star Wars content again.
Along with its spiffy new moniker, it's also been announced that the service will get a second show based in the Star Wars universe, following Jon Favreau's series The Manadalorian, which is already in production. The series will start production in 2019.
Iger sought to differentiate Disney+ plus from Hulu, the streaming service it will gain a controlling 60% stake in with the completion of the Fox deal.
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The Express Tribune > Life & Style > Music
Bolo Bolo: 35 years of Sajjad Ali
The music virtuoso shares highlights from his journey and his contribution to the Pakistani music industry.
By Rafay Mahmood
As the music virtuoso shares highlights from journey, we take a look back at his invaluable contribution to the Pakistani music industry.
The year 2014 marks 35 years of singer Sajjad Ali weaving magic through music. Timely and providing a retrospective glance at the music virtuoso’s career trajectory, his latest offering is a revamped version of his timeless hit Bolo Bolo as Kya Dekha. Comprising shots from his previous music videos, the song seems to be Sajjad’s tribute to himself.
On this occasion, we talk to Sajjad and his brother, musician Waqar, to take a stroll down memory lane and revel in the illustrious music that Sajjad has produced over the past three and a half decades.
“The key to my success has been to remain modest and comfortable with whatever you have achieved,” Sajjad tells us. “I have always been grateful to Allah for everything that has come my way and that is also the reason why He has blessed me with one milestone after another” he adds.
In 1993, Sajjad and Waqar had no idea how things would unfold when they were recording the song Babia. It was their take on the Arabic track De Dedia, which they made, not because it was a great song to replicate and launch an album with, but because their mother wanted to listen to the same song in Punjabi. It’s a fact confirmed by Sajjad himself.
What followed were white joggers, a Boombox and riveting dance moves by the maestro and his pals. For many, this marked the arrival of Sajjad, but he had already been a part of the industry for 15 years as he released his first album Master Sajjad Ali Sings Classics in 1979 at the age of 13. Since then, he has never looked back and his latest song Har Zulm Tera Yaad Hay (2013), which became an instant hit, is a testament to this.
The versatility of Sajjad’s music makes it difficult for anyone to classify his genre as a musician as he has given us a flavour of everything during his career. The one song that has stood the test of time and is played at almost every other underground gig even two decades after its release is Bolo Bolo.
“The reason why Bolo Bolo became such a huge success was because it was the first Pakistani rock song that received mainstream acceptance. Not that there weren’t other rock songs, but those couldn’t really grip the masses” explains Sajjad.
From Chief Saab to Cinderella, Sajjad has gifted us with one hit song after another. He stayed relevant during a time when his contemporaries such as Vital Signs and Junoon and Awaz were also making good music. With a few gaps in between, he consistently carried on and gave new-age pop musicians who arose during the Indus Music days a run for their money with songs such as Sohni Lag Di and Paniyon Mein.
“I have never done a lot of back-to-back work in my career. I feel that kills the soul of your expression,” shares Sajjad. “These days, the average life of a song is one week, so instead of releasing a song or video every month, I’d release one that lasts longer than many average songs. That’s just my style.”
What bothers Sajjad is that budding artistes depend on technology for music and he believes that in this rat race for better studio equipment, musicians these days are keeping away from good songwriting.
“You’ll laugh if I tell you the kind of equipment on which Har Zulm was recorded,” he laughingly says. “No matter what the genre may be, songwriting will remain the central idea behind memorable music and that can only be improved with more exposure to all sorts of music and a yearning for experimenting.”
Sajjad Ali’s love for the martial arts
If you remember the video of Chief Saab, then you’ll also remember how smoothly Sajjad played nunchaku and threw some flying kicks in it. Well, that’s how Sajjad expressed his dedication to different forms of fighting and he has been a regular taekwondo student at Ashraf Tai’s academy.
“He used to learn lessons there and apply them on me and other siblings at home,” Waqar says. “He had received various achievements in taekwondo, but certainly couldn’t reach the level of having a black or brown belt,” he explains.
However, his yearning to learn different combat practices didn’t stop there as he, along with his brothers, read taekwondo books and watched Bruce Lee films to learn the martial arts. So much so that even Waqar could play with double nunchakus.
“We used to guess Bruce Lee films after looking at a certain fight sequence,” shares Waqar. “Such activities inculcated in us a strong passion for fighting to an extent that the martial arts became our second love after music.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.
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Reader Comments (11)
Babar Shah
No doubt Sajjad Ali is one of the best pop singers of Pakistan and unfortunately he didn’t get all that respect he deserved!
Sajjad is king
Sajjad is king of all the kings
Parvez
He is absolutely amazing……especially the way he sang Bolo Bolo on Pakistan Idol was brilliant.
Although he has originals, but him and his brother also copied tunes from other countries. Recommend
originality?
Lol..so much fuss about a straight rip off ‘babia’ and the Abba ripoff ‘bolo bolo’..pak has this problem of making legends just like that..unoriginal..how wud he come up on an international stage? Imagine him standing side by side with eitherAbba or that guy who originally did babia in Arabic? Won’t he come across as a cheap imitation?
I am not a sajjad hater or paki pop hater but the real talent- Abbas Ali khan qayaas, Faraz anwar, irtaash, sajid and Zeeshan and countless others – who actually are global standard – remain underappreciated. And we create legends just like that..whatevs running on the tv.
Usman Aziz
It is an honor to write a comment about my favorite Singer of pop and ghazal, his voice is too good and he is a true patriot unlike other in the same field.
May 22, 2014 - 3:07PM
@originality?:
Oh shut up! And ET excellent work.
Asad Khan
Well done ET, please do highlight no only music guru but also from Arts, Culture, Poets, Writer and Old Freedom Movement personalities. once again well done.
He is the only artist praised by many legends including Mastro Nusrat Fatih Ali Khan. A great voice from Pakistan – we want more music of him.
Ali S
None of the guys you mentioned can write a semi-decent song in their own language. And world class? Haha, only if you think the world likes to listen to derivative secondhand rock in English with funny desi accents. The only real world-class ‘rock’ act that Pakistan has produced was Junoon, and even they relied on a professional poet (Sabir Zafar) for much of their songwriting. Sajjad Ali did plagiarize on some of his songs, I agree, but he’s still a capable songwriter.
Ali S – please do your research. Like i said you are only talking about whatever you’ve see on TV.
First of all go and check out Abbas Ali Khan’s recently released album..so much work done on that..it has all the musicians from karachi to islamabad to lahore to peshawar on it- pop and folk both..decent songs? its an unprecedented piece of art for Pakistan but seldom mentioned. that album is what the standard of contemporary classical music should be.
Faraz Anwar’s instrumental album was released by Allan Holdsworth’s record label globally – he hailed FA as the king of guitars in Asia. if you don’t know the guy google him.. AH is the icon of prog-rock and acid jazz.
Then there is Qayaas – who have won awards from jack daniels, the only time Pakistan produced decent hardrock/metal. if you follow some international metal blogs goras have given them rave reviews.
Finally Sajid and Zeeshan – two state of the art electronica/alternative rock albums. got invited and performed at the Worldtronics 2008 festival in Germany.
If they are getting international recognition (and by international i don’t mean bollywood coz most of their stuff is below a person’s intellectual abilities), they must be doing something right…should be making something decent..no?
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Did you know?: Babia was played for the first time at Beena Benjamin’s wedding
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REVIEW: Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles in The Sugar Club
The Sugar Club is packed to capacity as Cory Henry and his band take to the stage. The Snarky Puppy keyboardist needs no introduction and his fans have come out in droves to see what his solo side project has to offer.
From the moment the first song begins it’s clear that this will be a night to remember. Cory is a masterful bandleader, taking time to step out of the limelight. While the band members rip it up with extended solos, Cory struts around the stage egging each of them on. Shouting, instructing “Hit me on the one.” Bham! “Hit me on the two.”…Bham! “Hit me on the three”……Bham! “Take it back home.”
When it’s his time to shine, he goes into a trance like state. He stares straight ahead, not even glancing at the keys as he plays incredibly complicated improvisational pieces. “Was that alright?” Cory asks, “YEAAAAH!” we reply.
Funk is music that is innately fun. The audience and the performers share the thrill of taking risks, laughing when it doesn’t work and cheering when it does. If there was a single word to describe this show, that’d be it. FUN! My highlight of the night was the dark, brooding, bass heavy cover of Prince’s “1999”, with it’s slow build eventually erupting into a massive crescendo. Incredible stuff. Soulful backing singers, walking baselines, syncopated guitar and insane drum groove. These guys had it all.
The shouts of “ONE MORE TUNE” threatened to bring the house down and they graced our ears with one more dose of musical medicine. Afterwards Cory stood by the exit meeting fans and thanking anyone who said hello. This is a man who truly appreciates his fans. I’d highly reccomend checking him out next itme he hits our shores.
A special mention to the band and their great hats!
Keep up to date with Cory Henry on:
FACEBOOK//TWITTER//WEBSITE
November 10, 2016 tmftml choice cuts, cory henry, cory henry and the funk apostles, dublin, funk, live, snarky puppy, sugar club, the funk apostles
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Westland launches new children imprint ‘Red Panda’
By The Open View on November 14, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )
New Delhi, Nov 14
Leading Indian publishing house Westland announced the launch of their new children publishing programme under the imprint “Red Panda”, on Children’s Day on Thursday.
Under the imprint, Westland will publish a range of books for children across genres including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, activity books and young adult fiction.
“‘Red Panda’ adds a new and exciting dimension to our publishing in India and, in some ways, completes the circle for us. We hope these books will be read and loved by young readers as well as by their parents and educators,” said Gautam Padmanabhan, CEO, Westland.
The first release from the imprint will be “Happy Birthday, World!”, a picture book for young readers (four years and above) by India’s beloved children’s writer Ruskin Bond in collaboration with artist Maya Ramaswamy.
It will be followed by innovative picture books on India, picture biographies that introduce children to contemporary icons of science and sport, and translations from Indian languages like Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s best-selling book “Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat”.
Vidhi Bhargava, a publisher with Westland said they zeroed in on ‘Red Panda’ for the name, hoping it would help spread awareness about the endangered animal.
“There are less than 10,000 red pandas left in the wild in India, primarily in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Our books will carry little snippets and factoids about the endangered Indian species in an attempt to spread awareness and combine storytelling with information — a key tenet of our publishing for children,” she said.
“And, of course, it helps that the red panda is not only charismatic, it’s also skilful and resilient, just like the kids we hope will read our books!” Bhargava added.
‘Red Panda’ books will be available online and offline starting January 2020.
Categories: India News
Tagged as: Red Panda, Westland launches
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WELCOME TO SCOTT C.’s SHOP!
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This is the place where you can relax and peruse Scott C. products, like books, prints, things you can wear, things you can drink from. Everything is really quite nice on here. You are completely welcome to have a Scott C Shopping Spree whenever you’d like!
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Scott C original paintings, prints, and merchandise at Gallery 1988
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For more things Scott C. you can visit his site pyramidcar.com
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