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St Anthony En
Franciscan Thaumaturgist, born at Lisbon, 1195; died at Vercelli, 13 June,1231. He received in baptism the name of Ferdinand.
His father was Martin Bouillon, descendant of the renowned Godfrey de Bouillon, commander of the First Crusade, and his mother, Theresa Tavejra, descendant of Froila fourth king of Asturia. His parents were noble, powerful, and God-fearing people. Having been educated in the Cathedral of Lisbon school, Ferdinand, at the age of fifteen, joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, in the convent of St.Vincent, just outside the city walls (1210).
Two years later to avoid being distracted byrelatives and friends, who frequently came to visit him, he betook himself with permission of his superior to the Convent of Santa Croce in Coimbra (1212), where he remained for eight years, occupying his time mainly with study and prayer. Gifted with an excellent understanding and a prodigious memory, he soon gathered from the Sacred Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers a treasure of theological knowledge.
In the year 1220, having seen conveyed into the Church of Santa Croce the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs, who had suffered death at Morocco,16 January of the same year, he too was inflamed with the desire ofmartyrdom, and resolved to become a Friar Minor, that he might preach the Faith to the Saracens and suffer for Christ's sake. Thus Ferdinand left the Canons Regular of St. Augustine to join the Order of Friars Minor, taking at the same time the new name of Anthony, a name which later on the Convent of Olivares also adopted.
A short time after his entry into the order, Anthony started for Morocco,but, stricken down by a severe illness, which affected him the entire winter, he was compelled to sail for Portugal the following spring, 1221.
His ship, however, was overtaken by a violent storm and driven upon thecoast of Sicily, where Anthony then remained for some time, till he had regained his health.His only desire was to follow Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Accordingly, he applied to Father Graziano, provincial of Coimbra, for a place where he could live in solitude and penance, and enter more fully into the spirit anddiscipline of Franciscan life. Father Graziano, being just at that time in need of a priest for the hermitage of Montepaolo (near Forli), sent him thither, that he might celebrate Mass for the lay-brethren.
With the zeal of an apostle he undertook to reform the morality of his time by combating in an especial manner the vices of luxury, avarice, and tyranny. The fruit of his sermons was, therefore, as admirable as his eloquence itself. Among the many miracles St. Anthony wrought in the conversion of heretics, the most important miracle is that of the poisoned food offered him by some Italian heretics, which he rendered innoxious by the sign of the cross.
The zeal with which St. Anthony fought against heresy, and the great and numerous conversions he made rendered him worthy of the glorious title of Malleus hereticorum (Hammer of the Heretics).
After the death of St. Francis, 3 October, 1226, Anthony returned to Italy. , Anthony retired to the Convent of Padua, which he had himself founded. The last Lent he preached was that of 1231; the crowd of people which came from all parts to hear him, frequently numbered 30,000 and more. His last sermons were principally directed against hatred and enmity, and his efforts were crowned with wonderful success. Permanent reconciliations were effected, peace and concord re-established, liberty given to debtors and other prisoners, restitutions made, and enormous scandals repaired; in fact, the priests of Padua were no longer sufficient for the number of penitents, and many ofthese declared they had been warned by celestial visions, and sent to St. Anthony, to be guided by his counsel. Others after his death said that he appeared to them in their slumbers, admonishing them to go to confession.
At Padua also took place the famous miracle of the amputated foot, which Franciscan writers attribute to St. Anthony. A young man, Leonardo by name, in a fit of anger kicked his own mother. Repentant, he confessed his fault to St. Anthony who said to him: "The foot of him who kicks his mother deserves to be cut off." Leonardo ran home and cut off his foot.
Learning of this, St. Anthony took the amputated member of the unfortunate youth and miraculously rejoined it.
In 1230, while war raged in Lombardy, St. Anthony betook himself to Verona to solicit from the ferocious Ezzelino the liberty of the Guelph prisoners. At the end of Lent, 1231, Anthony retired to Camposanpiero, in the neighbourhood of Padua, where, after a short time he was taken with a severe illness. Transferred to Vercelli, and strengthened by the apparition of Our Lord, he died at the age of thirty-six years, on 13 June, 1231. He had lived fifteen years with his parents, ten years as a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, and eleven years in the Order of Friars Minor.
Immediately after his death he appeared at Vercelli to the Abbot, Thomas Gallo, and his death was also announced to the citizens of Padua by a troop of children, crying: "The holy Father is dead; St. Anthony is dead!" St. Anthony wrote several works: "Expositio in Psalmos", written at Montpellier, 1224; the "Sermones de tempore", and the "Sermones de Sanctis", written at Padua, 1229-30.
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Bericotes Bronze Age
Richard Saint’s Bericote is poised to develop a £100m logistics scheme in Kent after buying a site from former employer Astral Developments.
The Leamington Spa-based developer plans a three-building scheme in Erith, including a 423,894 sq ft (39,381 sq m) distribution unit, following the purchase of ProLogis and Apollo Real Estate Advisors’ Bronze Age Park.
Bericote is expected to reach completion in January 2008.
The deal marks a return to the site for Saint who bought it when he was a director at Astral. He is to pay £30m – almost twice what he paid when he bought the site for Astral from Pirelli Cables for £16m in 2004.
The deal is Saint’s biggest since forming Bericote at the end of last year. It follows his first £10.8m purchase of Gazeley and Morley Fund Management’s Garden Shed at Welwyn Garden City in January.
It is also the first significant sale of Astral’s sites by ProLogis since its £530m purchase as part of the US company’s acquisition of parent company Parkridge. CB Richard Ellis advised ProLogis and Apollo.
Land Portfolio
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C-130 News
C-130 Deliveries
C-130 Hercules News
Yet another Nigerian C-130 returns to service
May 20, 2014 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The Nigerian Air Force will soon take delivery of a refurbished C-130H-30 Hercules transport aircraft after a two and a half year rebuild by specialist company Marshall Aerospace in the United Kingdom.
Nigerian Air Force C-130H-30 #NAF918 is seen here on finals to runaway 23 at Cambridge Airport after being escorted in by two RAF Typhoons on QRA due to a lack of functioning radio equipment; this incredibly rare Hercules has ventured all the way to the UK for major overhaul with Marshalls Aerospace on August 27, 2011. [Photo by Sam Pilcher]
C-130 #NAF918 made its second flight from Cambridge Airport in the UK on May 1, 20 months after the aircraft arrived on Aug. 28, 2011, from Lagos, Nigeria, where it had been dumped, out of use, for a period of 7-10 years. The anticipated budget for the overhaul works, which were originally expected to last only four months, was exceeded many times, during which time it eventually became almost a complete rebuild,
The Hercules underwent ground runs in early April and performed a first Air Test on April 16. The flight on April 15 was cancelled due to an oil leak from one engine, and electrical snags that had manifested.
Under a U.S. financed restoration program, the Nigerian C-130 was flown to the UK for major overhaul with Marshall Aerospace. Due to massive corrosion of the front windscreen frames however, the aircraft was unable to pressurize, It was flown low level at 12,000 feet from Lagos to England, by pilots wearing helmets and oxygen masks. After its radio failed, pilot changed his transponder code, alerting French authorities to the problem. French Mirage 2000s were dispatched to escort the C-130 across the English Channel. Once across, two RAF Typhoons of the 11 Sqn QRA escorted the transport from Coningsby to Cambridge Airport.
Upon landing, police were waiting for the crew, who were interviewed by immigration officials before being cleared for entry. The aircraft itself was immediately impounded and grounded, fumigated and inspected for snakes, beetles and other non indigenous creatures.
During the 1970s, Nigeria bought six C-130H aircraft from the United States and another three a decade later. One of them, C-130 #911, crashed on September 26, 1992, killing at least 158 people on board were killed, including 8 foreign nationals.
The Nigerian Air Force aims to refurbish five of its eight surviving C-130Hs. The Nigerian C-130 fleet is more than three decades old and by 2009 only one example was still flying while the others were sitting in obvious disrepair idly at Ikeja Air Base with less than 5,000 flying hours.
After more than a year of major repairs and maintenance, the U.S. Air Force helped return the first of five Nigerian C-130s to operational service on January 21, 2011. The aircraft went through an extensive process called Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) in a Lockheed Martin depot in Lisbon, Portugal.
In September 2013 the Nigerian Air Force received another refurbished C-130. This time it was refurbished with the assistance of French aviation company Sabena Technics.
In-country depot maintenance is done by the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Air Force Holdings Company.
U.S. helping get Nigeria’s C-130s back off the ground (2010-01-05)
C-130 Hercules news archive
Forum discussion:
Start a discussion about this article in the C-130.net forum.
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Cabot High School Named Best of the Best High School
You are currently viewing: Home / News / Cabot High School Named Best of the Best High School
Congratulations to Cabot High School for being named Best Public High School in Central Arkansas by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette readers.
In May, five high schools were announced as the Top 5 nominees. Nominees included Benton High School, Bryant High School, Cabot High School, Little Rock Central High School, and North Little Rock. After more than 280,000 votes were submitted in this year’s Best of the Best, official results were released Friday, October 26th.
Cabot High School is honored to be chosen the Best High School in Central Arkansas for 2018.
Here is some background about CHS:
At Cabot High School, “Graduation Happens Here!” Faculty and staff are committed to providing a safe environment that promotes academic excellence and prepares students to become knowledgeable and contributing citizens in our society and in the world - every day, and in every classroom. Cabot High School is a 10th-12th grade high school with more than 2,000 students on a 45 acre campus. Even though we are in the top 5 in enrollment in the state, we offer a friendly and inviting environment.
Cabot High School has over 300,000 square feet dedicated to student learning which includes: 130 classrooms, 12 science labs, and offers a vast array of Career and Technical programs.
Within our 12 programs which include, agriculture, auto technology, AFJROTC, broadcasting, business, construction, criminal justice, Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST), engineering, Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG), and our medical academy, we offer over 80 courses that help prepare students for their future career.
High school students also have the option to choose from more than 160 electives, including our award-winning forensics, debate, theater, dance, stagecraft, choir, and marching band. In fact, Cabot’s Fine Arts program is recognized as one of the exemplary comprehensive programs in the state. These students consistently perform at the highest level in state competitions.
Our district also offers a unique opportunity for students to join the AP Academy, which provides a relevant and challenging educational experience, emphasizing critical and creative problem solving, effective communication, and community service. Every year, seniors receive millions of dollars in scholarships.
Students also participate in a dynamic athletic program for both male and female students. Cabot athletes compete in the 7A Central Conference, the largest conference in the state. Cabot has 81 teams in fifteen competitive fields of sport.
It’s a tradition for our athletic teams to perform at the highest level and that’s proven by the number of conference and state titles our student athletes receive each year. The Cabot School District employs four highly experienced athletic trainers. Our Sports Medicine Program is nationally-recognized and our athletic trainers mentor other districts in implementing this curriculum in schools across the state.
“The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sends its congratulations to Cabot Public Schools, especially to the staff, and students of Cabot High School, and to the city of Cabot. This honor is well deserved.”
Congratulations again Cabot High School for being named Best Public High School. We are very proud of our staff and students!
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Advantages for architects
Healthcare buildings
Hybrid operating theatre
individual data center
Radio and transmission stations
Clean rooms and laboratory buildings
Office and administrative buildings
Selected references
Purchase and rental properties
New construction on the hospital as a passive house north of the Arctic Circle.
Nye Kirkenes sykehus.
Temperature, weather, lighting conditions. Challenges wherever you look, and here we are in the middle of it all. The hospital project in the Arctic Circle was tailor-made for Cadolto Modular Construction. We are in our element when we build under difficult conditions. We use smart, simple solutions that are at the cutting edge of technology, efficient and above all ready for use. Our “made in Germany” design and quality impressed the customer. Since autumn of 2015, about 300 modules have made the 3,000-kilometre journey into the Kirkenes hospital in Norway. Here, on 16,300 m² of polar soil, a local hospital was built by September 2016 using a completely modular construction technique. Fully equipped with an A&E facility, operating and delivery rooms, radiology laboratories and 54 beds, as well as a surgical, medical and psychiatric outpatient departments. Naturally, everything meets the standards of passive housing, which has very high requirements for thermal insulation and heat recovery.
We approached the project flexibly even during preparation, and that it typical of us and our construction technique. After all, the client’s original design for the hospital was not modular. That is why we adapted the modules to the conventionally designed floor plan in such a way that we could already prefabricate complete rooms in our factory in Cadolzburg. The modules, up to 6.0 m in width, can then be quickly and easily mounted on top of the basement in Kirkenes, which was built previously in the conventional manner. That saves a great deal of time, which is particularly important when the winter is long and the construction phases are short. All so that, by September 2016, we could say: Development continues in the Arctic circle – new hospital building complete.
We are looking forward to receiving your call:
Or your e-mail:
Overview of all locations
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Grave - _Burial Ground_
(Regain Records, 2010)
by: Mark Dolson (5.5 out of 10)
After having been an avid collector of cassette tapes from the mid '80s through the early '90s, I was definitely a latecomer to the world of CDs. On the topic of cassettes (if you'll permit me this brief aside), I had this really bad looking beige and brown cassette carrying case -- something that looked like it was right out of 1983 -- that held a maximum of something like 30 tapes. Inside you'd find everything from Paradise Lost's _Lost Paradise_, Loudblast's _Disincarnate_, Voivod's _Nothingface_, Nuclear Assault's _Survive_, and Desultory's _Into Eternity_, among other metal gems. So, where on earth am I going with this? It was during the last week of July 1993 that I turned my back on tapes and bought my very first CD ever. And what, pray tell, was this CD? Well, it was none other than Grave's mighty _Into the Grave_. A few of my friends had been into Grave's debut for quite some time (remember, this album was released in 1991), so I was pretty slow to discover them for myself.
I liked this album to a certain extent; however, a major sticking point with me was the fact that there was little variation in structures other than a steady thrash beat accompanied by scads of the then standard tremolo picking. As well, there seemed to be a paucity of memorable riffs -- especially when compared to their country mates Dismember and Entombed. With each consecutive release after _Into the Grave_, though, whether it be _You'll Never See_ (1992), _Soulless_ (1994), _Hating Life (1996)_, or any of the albums after their 2002 comeback, I have to admit that I've had trouble getting into Grave's approach to death metal. Well, to be honest, I really liked the _And Here I Die Satisfied_ EP from 1993, but that's pretty much it, unfortunately.
And so, bringing us into the present now, what do we have in store for us with Grave's latest offering, _Burial Ground_? Well, to be honest, in terms of changes, there aren't a whole lot on display here. This is still Grave through and through. You can still expect heavy, chugging down-tuned guitars, complete with waves of tremolo picking pitching and yawing all over the place. Things do slow down quite a bit in some songs, which adds a very doomy feel to them (check out the last quarter of "Dismembered Mind" and "Burial Ground" to see what I mean). Ronnie Bergerstål's drumming is pretty standard for the field -- it's solid, definitely, but there's nothing really outstanding going on here. Fredda Isaksson's bass playing, much like the four previous albums he's been featured on, is low in the mix, and therefore fairly inaudible. And then we have Ola Lindgren's vocals, which are pretty much exactly the same, in terms of register and delivery, as they were on the last album, _Dominion VIII_. Also, the production to me is quite similar to the aforementioned album: it's dry, flat, and pretty lifeless, actually. I think this approach to the production aesthetic and mix definitely works for black metal, but in death metal (and this is just my opinion), you need a full and dynamic production, enough to cover the breadth and tone of every instrument in all of their intended heaviness.
Now, there are a few surprises offered here, though they're sadly not in the songwriting / structure / arrangement department. On track eight, the second last track on the album, Karl Sanders of Nile fame has contributed a brief but interesting guitar solo. And, as with _Dominion VIII_, Matti Kärki, the long-running vocalist of Dismember, has written the lyrics for one song (aptly titled "Dismembered Mind"). Other than these minimal incentives, there's really not a whole lot for me to praise here. In fact, three songs in I found myself getting a little bored. I just feel that there is really very little variation between the last three albums Grave has released. Sure _As Rapture Comes_ might sound a little heavier than the rest, but that's because of its beefier production. I think what really gets me is that Ola Lindgren has done nothing to change up his vocal delivery since _Hating Life_; and because of this, I'm just left thinking that the last three albums sort of blend into one another in terms of really memorable songs. Despite these critiques, though, _Burial Ground_ most definitely features some very well played "old-school" style death metal; and, if this is your thing, make sure to check it out.
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/gravespace
1/1/1998 A Wasylyk 5 Grave - Extremely Rotten Live
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Gordon Guyatt
BSc (Toronto), MD (McMaster), MSc (McMaster) FRCPC, OC
Dr. Gordon Guyatt is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University and one of the founders of Evidence-Based Medicine. He has played a key role in over 30 major clinical studies (including both large-scale observational and randomized trials) and has extensive expertise in study methodology. As co-founder and co-chair of the GRADE working group he has been intimately involved in the development and evolution of the GRADE approach.
Guyatt has published over 1,000 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals and his work has been cited more than 80,000 times (Web of Science). His contribution to quality of life research, randomized trials and meta-analysis have been considered groundbreaking. In 2007, the British Medical Journal launched an internal election for the most important contributions to healthcare. Evidence-based medicine (a term that Guyatt coined) came 7th in the line-up. beating the computer and medical imaging. Dr Guaytt is the co-editor of the Users' Guides to the Medical Literature, a comprehensive set of journal articles and textbook for clinicians that wish to incorporate evidence-based medicine into their practices.
From 1990 to 1997, Guyatt directed the internal medicine residency program at McMaster University. In that role, he coined the term Evidence-based Medicine and created the first residency program with an EBM focus. Dr Guyatt had led the McMaster Evidence-based Health Care Workshop for 20 years, and is active in undergraduate and post-graduate education as well as leading EBM workshops around the world.
Guyatt co-founded the Medical Reform Group, a doctors' organization devoted to universal high quality health care for all Canadians. He was a leading spokesperson for the group for 30 years until the MRG passed on the torch to the Canadian Doctors for Medicare. Guyatt has published over 100 articles related to healthcare in the lay press, and ran as the New Democratic Party Candidate in four federal elections between 2000 and 2008.
2016: Member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
2013: CIHR Researcher of the Year Award
2012: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
2011: Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to the advancement of evidence-based medicine and its teaching."
2011: Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Science.
2010: Was runner-up for the BMJ Lifetime Achievement Award.
2010: Distinguished University Professor, at the time one of 8 McMaster University faculty holding this rank.
1996: McMaster University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Course or Resource Design).
Wikipedia: Guyatt
Wikipedia: Users’ Guide to the Medical Literature
Click here to find Dr Guyatt's Faculty listing.
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GDP per capita 20,402 US$
Sector risk
Payment & Debt Collection
Budget balance (% GDP) 0.7 1.5 1.5 0.9
(e): Estimate. (f): Forecast.
Central geographic location at the heart of industrial Europe
Tightly integrated in the international, especially German, production chain
Preferred destination for FDI in Central Europe
Significant industrial potential
Robust public accounts and banking system
Small, open economy: exports account for 80% of GDP
Dependent on European demand: 65% of exports are to the eurozone, one third to Germany
Automotive sector occupies a large share of the economy
Lack of rapid transport links with the rest of Europe
Ageing population and shortage of skilled labour
Dynamic economic activity
The Czech economy is expected to keep a fair rate of growth in 2019. As in previous years, the economic activity is strongly supported by growing household consumption, which benefits from increased consumer confidence thanks to growing wages and decreasing unemployment. The jobless rate remains at the lowest level in the EU, reaching 2.3% in September 2018. Whereas the situation on the labour market is positive for households, companies are concerned: the talent pool is limited and the number of job vacancies has soared to the highest level in the EU. Facing labour cost increases, further strong wage pressures, and higher input prices, companies’ profitability has barely increased. The Czech labour market will still be challenging for businesses in the coming years, especially as the supply of labour will suffer from aging population. Private investment continues its recovery and remains the second-most important contributor to growth because of the high capacity utilisation ratio and the surge of public investments supported by EU funds. Despite this, investments are likely to be less robust in 2019 than in 2018, mostly due to moderating public investment.
Since August 2017, the Czech central bank has been gradually raising its interest rates, further worsening the tensions on the koruna that have been in force since the bank decided to abandon the cap on koruna/euro exchange rate in April 2017. This had led to the domestic currency’s appreciation, although this was not amplified by recent interest rate hikes. Nevertheless, higher rates temper inflationary pressures. Inflation in 2019 is likely to exceed the Czech National Bank’s target of 2%, but drop below it the following year.
As a small open economy, Czechia is highly dependent on the external sector. The automotive sector – which accounts for 28% of industrial production, 20% of exports of goods and 10% of GDP – is expected to grow fairly. Western European demand is crucial in this regard, but the inclusion of Czech companies in global production chains (not only in the automotive sector) makes them vulnerable to weaker global trade dynamics.
Solid fiscal position and trade balance surplus
Despite some easing, the government's fiscal policy remains cautious, helping keep the public accounts to similar levels as last year and still generating a budget surplus. The increase of public wages and higher indexation of pensions are expected to be compensated by rising revenues, thanks in part to the improved tax collectability. Public debt will remain on its alleviating path.
The trade balance shows a structural surplus (5.0% of GDP in 2017) thanks to close integration in the European – especially German and automotive – production chain. However, the previous appreciation of the koruna, as well as robust domestic demand, limits the trade surplus. Moreover, weaker external demand will contribute to slowing the growth of exports. At the same time, imports are likely to record lower dynamics in line with moderating investments, which have relatively high import content.
Formation of a minority government, weakened by allegations concerning the new Prime Minister
The ANO 2011 (centre-right) movement led by Andrej Babis won the October 2017 elections by a large margin, obtaining 30% of the votes cast and 78 out 200 seats in Parliament. Nevertheless, the traditional parties refused to enter into a coalition with this party, whose leader has been charged with the fraudulent use of European funds. The traditional parties received a historically low share of the votes, with the Social Democratic Party (CSSD), to which the outgoing Prime Minister belongs, relegated to sixth place (only 7% of the votes). Conversely, the rival parties have made significant progress with the Czech Pirate Party (10.8%) and the extreme-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (10.6%), who were able to profit from distrust of migrants and Euroscepticism. With nine parties represented, the fragmented Parliament made it impossible to form a majority government. The government won confidence votes in July 2018 and again in November 2018. The Communist party supported the minority coalition between Ano and the CSSD. Although the Communists remain outside the government, their deal with Mr Babis brought them the closest they have been to power since 1989.
Czech law limits cash payments to a maximum of CZK 270,000 (approximately EUR 10,000). Purchasers who wish to make payments that exceed this limit must pay the entire sum via wire or bank transfer. Bank transfers are by far the most widely-used means of payment. The SWIFT system is fully operable in the Czechia, and provides an easier, quicker and cheaper method for handling international payments. The Czechia is part of the SEPA system, simplifying bank transfers inside the European region.
Cheques for domestic transactions are not widely used. Bills of exchange and promissory notes are commonly used as a security instrument, which present the purchaser with the option to access a fast-track procedure for ordering payment by court (under certain legal conditions). Electronic invoices are widely accepted.
To ensure the recovery of a debt in case of default, creditors should keep all documentation related to the transaction. This includes the original (written) contract, any documents related to the transaction (e.g. invoices and confirmed delivery notes), individual orders, and any other relevant documentation and/or correspondence. The main factors influencing effectiveness in debt collection are the age of the debt (the earlier the start of collection, the larger the chance for a successful recovery) and the reason for non-payment.
Amicable phase
Amicable debt collection is recommended, because it remains cheaper for creditor compared to legal proceedings. Amicable settlements are also enforceable in court.
Legal proceedings
Fast-track procedure / Order to pay
Platební rozkaz is a practical and rather short procedure, outlined in sections 172-175 of the Code of Civil Procedure (občanský soudní řád, CCP). The judge, convinced of the merits of the claim and without hearing the case, issues a payment order which is served to the defendant, who may either accept it or file a statement of opposition against it within fifteen days of its service. If the debtor opposes the debt, then the process continues as standard court proceedings.
If the legal action duly described and substantiated the creditor’s claim, the court can issue an order to pay, even if the creditor has not requested such an order. It takes on average three months for a decision to be made, ranging from a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months.
Ordinary procedure
Ordinary proceedings takes place after the defendant has disputed the claim during the platební rozkaz or by filing a dispute directly via the courts. Ordinary proceedings are partly in writing (parties filing submissions accompanied by all supporting case documents), and partly oral (both creditors and debtors present their cases during the main hearing). In practice, ordinary proceedings typically last from one to three years before the court renders a final and enforceable judgement.
On July 1, 2009 (Act No. 7/2009 Coll.), the CCP was amended to introduce more digital options in the justice process, so as to lessen the burden of judges and ensure the prevention of delays in proceedings. Since this amendment, all correspondence from Czech authorities to legal entities is delivered electronically via registered data boxes with special legal regulations (Act No. 300/2008 Coll., effective as of July 1, 2009).
Enforcement of a Legal Decision
Judicial enforcement is reserved only for matters specifically listed in the law. Monetary claims stemming from business relationships are enforced by a judicial executor (soudní executor) under Act No. 120/2001 Coll. (exekuční řád, the Execution Act). Enforcement by judicial executor is considered to be more effective, because the executor is a private-sector entity whose fees depend on a successful enforcement. A specific fees schedule applies based on the amount concerned by the execution.
As part of the EU, enforcement of foreign awards issued by an EU member state will benefit from advantageous enforcement conditions, such as the EU Payment Order or the European Small Claims procedure. Foreign awards rendered by non-EU countries can be recognized and enforced, provided that they have gone through the exequatur procedure under the Czech Private International Law and Procedure Act.
Insolvency Proceedings
An insolvency petition can be lodged by either debtors themselves or their creditors, but a creditor must provide unambiguous evidence to support its claim, with one of the following:
an acknowledgement of debt (with the certified signature of the debtor or its representative);
an enforceable judgement;
an enforceable notary act;
an enforceable executor´s act;
confirmation of auditor or expert witness or tax advisor.
The creditor must in addition prove the existence of other creditors. Creditors are liable for damages caused by filing a bankruptcy petition where the conditions of insolvency were not met.
All insolvency petitions are recorded in an insolvency register (insolvenční rejstřík) kept by the Ministry of Justice, where all important information on insolvency proceedings is published. This also allows for insolvency proceedings to remain transparent.
The insolvency act introduces new methods and faster process, with single proceedings where the court decides on three particular solutions:
Reorganization is a method of resolving insolvency that aims to preserve the debtor’s business, while granting satisfaction to creditors. Insolvent debtors may initiate proceedings, but debt restructuration proposals must be approved by the court, with periodical inspection of its fulfilment by the creditors. The management retains the right to manage the business.
Bankruptcy is a court-ordered method of resolving insolvency, whose aim is to monetize all assets of debtor and thus obtained yield to distribute between creditors who have lodged their claims into the proceedings. The authorization to dispose of debtor´s assets and to sell those assets is granted to a bankruptcy trustee who is appointed by court. At this point; the business declared bankrupt is no longer allowed to conduct business operations independently.
Debt clearance
Used mainly by individuals (non-entrepreneurs), this is a method of resolving insolvency which presents an alternative to declaring bankruptcy. The Insolvent debtor clears the debt, but under Court control he is obliged to pay only a reduced percentage of total debts.
The liquidation procedure begins once it is decided that a company is to be wound up. Either the management or the court appoints a liquidator in charge of liquidating the company’s assets and collecting receivables. Creditors must register their claims within 90 days following publication of the court’s decision, in order to get satisfaction during the liquidation proceedings. All claims of creditors must be fully satisfied in liquidation proceedings. It is important to note that liquidation proceedings are not considered as a method of insolvency in Czech law: in the event that the liquidator finds there are not enough assets to satisfy all claims during liquidation, he is obliged to file a petition for insolvency. At this point, the liquidation turns into insolvency; a separate proceeding.
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The company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose goal is to help young writers reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with professional journalists. (Adopted from the Mission Statement of the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of America.) Effective Date: This Mission Statement is effective and was last updated on September 4, 2015. v2.00 The purpose of the site is to engage and inform readers about the important issues of the day, while serving the information needs of the community. Unique among business enterprises, the news media relies on a provision of the Bill of Rights that protects the Freedom of Speech. Therefore our core value is a belief in upholding the First Amendment. We feel a special obligation to defend civil liberties and human rights. The site will be a place where neighbors can thoughtfully discuss the important issues of the day. Here, we'll search beyond appearances for deeper understanding. We'll challenge conventional wisdom and expose corruption, prejudice and nonsense. We'll report with continuity and depth while instantaneously updating as news develops. Effective Date: This Mission Statement is effective and was last updated on March 18, 2010. v1.01
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Brady magic rescues Patriots on day of widespread protest
Brady threw for five touchdowns in the 36-33 victory.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on September 26, 2017, on page 13.
Geronimo Allison
Donald Trump. Trump
Tom Brady conjured a last-gasp Houdini act to save the New England Patriots in a thrilling win over the Houston Texans Sunday as the Atlanta Falcons preserved their unbeaten record.
The crowning moment of a 378-yard passing display by the 40-year-old Brady came with the Patriots trailing 28-33 with just over two minutes remaining.
An eight-play 75-yard drive ended with Brady hitting receiver Brandin Cooks with a 25-yard pass into the end zone for the game-winning score.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for two touchdowns and 213 yards to spark the Bills.
Saints veteran quarterback Drew Brees shredded the vaunted Panthers defense with three touchdown passes for 220 yards.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco meanwhile had a nightmare day, making just eight of 18 pass attempts for 28 yards with two interceptions.
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California Has MORE to be Proud Of: High Speed Rail Wins Golden Fleece Award.
April 18, 2016 By Stephen Frank 1 Comment
One of the most corrupt and incompetent political/special interest scams in history of mankind, the High Speed Rail has been recognized for what it is, a scam. “The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has won the Independent Institute’s first California Golden Fleece Award for its lack of transparency and history of misleading the public about key details of the state’s “bullet-train” project, which no longer reflect what voters approved in 2008.
The agency’s “bait-and-switch” strategy justifies a statewide vote on whether or not to proceed with the train system. Californians should reject this unnecessary and expensive boondoggle.”
To steal from Californians it took a Governor to openly lie, business people to lie and unions to drools over the payoffs (ur, union contracts they would receive) and the government officials thinking of the power they would have in using, or not using laws to protect the public. For High Speed Rail people, in the bond measure promised to obey California environmental laws, they won in court the right to tell Californians to go to hell. The laws do not mean anything to them—they are the California version of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. When will the people revolt against this corruption?
California’s High-Speed Rail Authority Wins Dishonor of the California Golden Fleece Award
By Lawrence J. McQuillan and Hayeon Carol Park, Independent Institute, 4/13/16
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has won the Independent Institute’s first California Golden Fleece Award for its lack of transparency and history of misleading the public about key details of the state’s “bullet-train” project, which no longer reflect what voters approved in 2008.
In November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9.95 billion bond measure authorizing construction of a high-speed “bullet train” between downtown San Francisco and the greater Los Angeles area. The vote was 53 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed. The ballot measure contained key details regarding the project’s cost, dedicated tracks, trip time, and financing plan. Many of these details have been changed repeatedly since 2008.
The Cost: A Moving Target
Before the 2008 vote on the bond measure, the California High-Speed Rail Authority said: “The total cost to develop and construct the entire high-speed train system would be about $45 billion.” Proposition 1A also promised voters that the train system would operate without taxpayer subsidies: “The planned passenger service by the authority in the corridor or usable segment thereof will not require a local, state, or federal operating subsidy.” Soon after voters approved the project, however, cost projections escalated.
In its original 2012 Business Plan, the CHSRA set the price tag at a staggering $98 billion. Public and political outcry caused rail officials to quickly backtrack. Just five months later, the revised 2012 Business Plan lowered the cost by $30 billion by moving to a “blended” route: one that would share existing rail tracks in urban areas with other train systems, rather than building new dedicated tracks.
Based on this radical redesign, CHSRA said the entire 520-mile system would be completed in 2029 at a cost of $68 billion, but only by eliminating high-speed service between Los Angeles and Anaheim and between San Jose and San Francisco.
Then in 2016, the CHSRA Business Plan lowered the cost by roughly $4 billion net, to $64 billion, through a combination of vaguely specified “design refinements,” “system optimization,” “value engineering,” and “lessons learned from bids.”
At this point, the ever-changing cost estimates defy belief. As noted by Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee columnist and longtime observer of state government: “Those charged with building California’s north-south bullet train system have been more or less making it up as they go along.” But regardless of whether the final cost is $64 billion, $68 billion, $98 billion, or even higher, the reality should be clear: The cost far exceeds the $45 billion approved by voters in 2008, and now with substantial track redesigns.
Tracks and Trip Time: From Bullet Train to Choo Choo Train
Public outrage over the $98 billion price tag prompted train officials to abandon the original plan of building dedicated tracks in urban areas. Instead, officials shifted to blended tracks in urban areas: the bullet train would share tracks with the existing Metrolink commuter network in Southern California and the Caltrain system in Northern California. But the blended approach increases trip time considerably from what was promised to voters.
Voters in 2008 were told the high-speed train would whisk travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a “maximum nonstop service travel time” that “shall not exceed” 2 hours and 40 minutes. This specific trip time was often mentioned by supporters to sell the bond measure to voters. (See for example, here and here.) But with the blended approach, the fastest time between these cities is now estimated by the CHSRA to be 3 hours and 8 minutes, with zero nonstop trips planned—another violation of Proposition 1A. But more realistic trip times are expected to be 3 hours and 50 minutes, or more, under real-world travel conditions.
The original 2:40 trip time assumed that trains would operate at peak speeds of 220 mph, and “sustained revenue operating speeds of at least 200 miles per hour.” But under the blended approach, high-speed trains must share tracks with commuter trains and freight trains, forcing them to slow down at the urban “bookends.” And today’s older urban tracks can typically handle maximum speeds of only 125 mph.
In February 2016, officials announced that the first operating leg of the high-speed train system would be built for $21 billion from downtown San Jose to an agricultural field in Shafter, north of Bakersfield, which would begin operating by 2025. The previous plan called for trains to operate first from Merced to Burbank by 2022, three years earlier. This change in the initial route might appear innocent, but by moving the first leg of construction further north, officials can delay construction on a tunnel through the Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains, which is likely to bust the current $64 billion budget.
According to a Los Angeles Times special report:
The monumental task of building California’s bullet train will require punching 36 miles of tunnels through the geologically complex mountains north of Los Angeles.
Crews will have to cross the tectonic boundary that separates the North American and Pacific plates, boring through a jumble of fractured rock formations and a maze of earthquake faults, some of which are not mapped.
It will be the most ambitious tunneling project in the nation’s history. . . .
However, a Times analysis of project documents, as well as interviews with scientists, engineers, and construction experts, indicates that the deadline and budget targets will almost certainly be missed—and that the state has underestimated the challenges ahead, particularly completing the tunneling on time.
“It doesn’t strike me as realistic,” said James Monsees, one of the world’s top tunneling experts and an author of the federal manual on highway tunneling. “Faults are notorious for causing trouble.”
Serious questions remain about whether sufficient funding will ever materialize to complete the newly proposed first leg from San Jose to Shafter, and then to eventually extend the line north to San Francisco and south through the mountains to Los Angeles as originally promised.
The Financing Plan: Smoke and Mirrors
Supporters of the high-speed rail project envisioned financing coming from multiple partners. Under Proposition 1A, California voters approved a $9.95 billion bond in 2008 to help finance construction of the rail network (interest costs will be an additional $9.5 billion). Voters were told that if they approved the bond, the federal government and the private sector would pay for the rest.
Supporters were counting on private investors kicking in as much as $36 billion. The federal government was also expected to contribute up to $18 billion. Another source of funding that arose in 2014 consisted of earmarking 25 percent of the proceeds from auctioning credits to emit greenhouse gases under California’s “cap-and-trade” program, which is estimated to yield the rail project about $500 million a year. (Under the plan, the rail authority would use the annual “cap-and-trade” revenues through 2024, and then seek to borrow $5.2 billion against future carbon fees from 2025 to 2050.) To date, much of the promised financing has never materialized and largely amounts to wishful thinking.
Congress has pledged an initial grant of $3.3 billion, mostly through President Obama’s economic stimulus package. But the state has received only $503 million of that money as of 2015. And Congress has balked at additional funding. “Congress is never going to allocate more money to a project that lacks the ridership numbers, speeds, private funding, and voter support once promised,” said Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), chairman of the House rail subcommittee.
The legal authorization to impose the state “cap-and-trade” fees expires in 2020, making the future availability of this money questionable. And a lawsuit seeks to block use of the cap-and-trade fees for the high-speed rail project. According to Jessica Peters, principal fiscal and policy analyst with California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO): “About half of the [San Jose to Shafter] funds would come from cap-and-trade beyond 2020,” when the fees are set to expire. A LAO review of the CHSRA’s 2016 Business Plan also questioned the logic of choosing a field in Shafter as the initial southern terminus:
Even with a temporary station or platform, ending the IOS [initial operating segment] in an unpopulated agricultural area does not appear to be an effective approach. This is because this location would not have the types of facilities and nearby businesses, such as transit connections, rental car facilities, and shops necessary to meet the needs of train passengers.
Finally, the private sector has not invested in the project, which is unlikely to ever be profitable. Summarizing, the LAO said that the CHSRA’s current funding plan is “significantly short of the level needed to complete [the entire San Francisco to Los Angeles system] and does not identify how this shortfall [of $43 billion] would be met.”
Moreover, the pledge to voters in 2008 that the high-speed train would operate without taxpayer subsidies was based on ridership estimates that are quickly evaporating. In 2008, the CHSRA forecasted a base annual ridership of 65.5 million intercity riders and a high projection of 96.5 million intercity riders by 2030.
But independent analysis concluded:
The CHSRA ridership projections are considerably higher than independent figures developed for comparable California systems in Federal Railroad Administration and University of California Transportation Center at Berkeley studies. Using generous assumptions, this Due Diligence Report projects a 2030 base of 23.4 million intercity riders, 64 percent below the CHSRA’s base of 65.5 million intercity riders, and a 2030 high of 31.1 million intercity riders, nearly 60 percent below the CHSRA’s high of 96.5 million. It is likely that the HSR will fall far short of its revenue projections, leading to a need for substantial additional infusions of taxpayer subsidies.
The blended 2012 redesign will increase trip times substantially, making air travel, driving, Skype, or phone calls more attractive relative to a slower train ride:
[A]ssuming the optimistic travel time projection of 3:50, the 2035 interregional ridership would be approximately two-thirds (67 percent) below CHSRA projected levels [of 21 million] at 6.9 million annually. Assuming realistic automobile costs and more-plausible outside-the-corridor ridership, the 2035 interregional ridership would be 77 percent below the CHRSA forecast, at 4.8 million annually. Even if the number of automobile drivers switching to rail equals the European experience, ridership would still fall nearly 65 percent short of the CHSRA projection.
Thus, the CHSRA’s downgraded ridership estimate of 21 million people is still likely to be wildly exaggerated. The promise to operate the high-speed trains without subsidies, therefore, is fantasy using realistic ridership numbers: calculations by Joseph Vranich and Wendell Cox concluded that day-to-day operating losses will generate annual deficits totaling between $124 million and $373 million at the operating-cost midpoint projected by CHSRA for 2035. Subsidies would be needed to backfill these deep deficits.
The money secured to date is far less than needed to complete the project. With no clear path to obtaining the funds needed for completion, many Californians now decry “the train to nowhere.” And realistic ridership projections show that annual subsidies will likely be needed to keep the trains rolling, if the project is built at all.
The Pathologies of Government: A Lesson in Perverse Political Incentives
California’s high-speed rail project highlights that governments do a poor job of assessing the costs and benefits of capital-investment projects since politicians do not personally bear the costs and benefits of the projects or of their calculation errors. In fact, politicians have an incentive to exaggerate the benefits and hide true costs, as was done with the bullet train, to build support for these projects. In contrast, private investors and private operators generally have an incentive to develop accurate projections of capital projects because, if they are wrong, they will typically bear the costs, and, if they are right, they can reap any profits from the wise stewardship of resources.
Train officials and supporters have repeatedly told the public that the train will cover operating costs, will not require any operating subsidies, and “generate sufficient cash flow to attract private capital” for future construction—even the first leg from San Jose to Shafter will feature “non-subsidized operations,” according to CHSRA officials. If the project is as good of an investment as supporters claim, then taxpayer/government involvement to bankroll the construction and operation is unnecessary. Private investors and private operators can, and should, provide this transportation service.
But the evidence indicates that the high-speed rail project will not be self-sustaining. As it will waste scare resources, the bullet train qualifies as a boondoggle and should not be undertaken.
The Recommendation
The serious discrepancies between the original plan for the high-speed rail project and current promises warrant a statewide ballot referendum on whether to proceed with the project and, if so, how. There is growing opposition to the project now that more information is known about the true cost, slower routes, and financing uncertainties.
In February 2015, Gavin Newsom (D), California Lieutenant Governor and former mayor of San Francisco, said:
We’re not even close to the timeline (for the project), we’re not close to the total cost estimates, and the private-sector money and the federal dollars are questionable. . . . I am not the only Democrat that feels this way. I am one of the few that just said it publicly. Most are now saying it privately.
Following Newsom’s candid remarks, Assemblywoman Patty Lopez (D-San Fernando) said that she now opposes the project, and that five other legislative Democrats are also considering a switch to opposing it. Lopez supports a re-vote on the issue.
A January 2016 poll found that 53 percent of Californians support killing the high-speed rail project and using the unspent money on water projects; only 31 percent do not. Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee echoes this sentiment: “We should put at least as much effort into protecting our vital water supply as we are wasting on a bullet train that we neither want nor need.”
A March 2016 survey found that only 26 percent of likely voters in California consider the high-speed train as “very important” for the future of California. More Californians, 27 percent, view it as “not at all important.” A majority of likely voters, 54 percent, now oppose building the high-speed rail system.
Californians deserve a re-vote on the high-speed rail project. Voters should use the opportunity to kill this unnecessary and expensive boondoggle sold to the public using tricks and deceit.
Filed Under: Stephen Frank's California Political News And Views
About Stephen Frank
Stephen Frank is the publisher and editor of California Political News and Views. He speaks all over California and appears as a guest on several radio shows each week. He has also served as a guest host on radio talk shows. He is a fulltime political consultant.
Last reply was April 23, 2016
Amy Montano
Best article I have ever read regarding this stupid, corrupt rail.
San Francisco trial court ruling a temporary setback for Prop. 13
HEARD ON THE TOM/TOMS
Eber: Beware of what you wish for
9th Circuit rules in favor of Trump admin in ‘sanctuary city’ case
Radanovich: California Conservative Again
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Why recruit at Cambridge
Adverts in publications
Targeted mailings
Using your alumni
About Cambridge University
The University generally
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world, and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. It has a world-wide reputation for outstanding academic achievement and the high quality of research undertaken in a wide range of science and arts subjects.
The University pioneers work in the understanding of disease, the creation of new materials, advances in telecommunications, and research into the origins of the universe. It trains doctors, veterinary surgeons, architects, engineers and teachers. The University's achievements in the sciences can be measured by the sixty or more Nobel Prizes awarded to its members over the years.
About half of the students at Cambridge study arts and humanities subjects and many of these have gone on to become prominent figures in the arts, print and broadcast media. It may be helpful to see information on all of the courses offered at Cambridge, as well as the explanation of Cambridge's degree classification system.
Every student is a member of the University of Cambridge, of a faculty or department, and of a college. The University organises examinations (these are mainly in the Easter Term, see exam timetable), awards degrees, and through its 21 faculties and 50 departments manages and provides teaching and research.
The 31 colleges look after their students' accommodation, general welfare and personal tuition. Each college will ensure that its students have a Tutor who is responsible for helping with any problems, a Director of Studies who oversees the individual student's academic work, and supervisors who supervise academic topics.
The University of Cambridge is not a campus university, therefore unlike other universities it has no central Students' Union building or cafeteria, nor are there any central notice boards. Contacting your target audience of students can sometimes involve a number of different routes, and the Careers Service can offer invaluable advice on advertising vacancies, presenting at Cambridge, attending careers events and effective publicity.
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← New Hampshire’s Favorite Irish Son: Somersworth’s General John Sullivan (1740-1795)
New Hampshire’s First Day of Spring →
New Hampshire’s Former First Lady: Constance Rivington (Russell) Winant Eppley Earle (1899-1981)
Posted on 18 March, 2015 by Janice Brown
Mrs. Constance (Russell) Winant, circa 1941, at the time of her husband’s appointment to the Court of St. James.
Constance Rivington Russell was born on 18 September 1899 in New York, the daughter of Archibald Douglas & Albertina Taylor (Pyne) Russell. She was the granddaughter of Percy Rivington Pyne, and great-granddaughter of Moses Taylor. Her father was a financier and philanthropist, her grandfather a banker, financier and philanthropist, and her great-grandfather an early president of the National Bank of NYC and stockholder in the Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The family were benefactors of Princeton University.
Mrs. Albertina T. (Pyne) Russell, circa 1909 seated, with her daughters (L to R) Helen Rutherford Russell, Constance Rivington Russell, and Ethelberta Pyne Russell.
Constance had a privileged early life, and as a young woman was very well known in Princeton and New York Society. In 1900 she was living with her parents on Stockton Street in the upscale section of Princeton, New Jersey. In 1910 then 10-year-old Constance and her sister Helen had an Irish governess, 41-yr-old Frances M. Jackson. Possibly Constance and her sisters attended Miss Fine’s School in Princeton, NJ. The 1930 census (after Constance was married and living in Concord NH) states that she completed four years of college.
A young Constance traveled abroad to Europe at least three times with her parents–in 1908 on the SS Celtic, in 1912 on the Kronprinzessin Cecile, and in 1914 on the SS. Mauretania. In 1911 her mother, Albertina, founded the Garden Club of Princeton, and no doubt Constance, was also part of the club’s ongoing events.
In 1917, Constance along with her sister Helen were the guests of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Carnegie and their daughter, Margaret Carnegie of NY at their country home in Lenox, MA. Constance’s mother Albertina T. (Pyne) Russell died in 1918, when Constance was only 19 years old.
John G. Winant, Bain News Service pub., George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington DC
Constance met, and was courted by, a handsome, ex-WW1 pilot, and former NH legislator named John Winant. The Oct 19, 1919 issue of the Trenton Evening Tribune newspaper announced: “Archibald D. Russell of Princeton and New York announced the engagement of his daughter, Miss Constance Rivington Russell, to John Gilbert Winant, son of Frederick Winant, of New York City.” A month later on November 28, Constance’s father died suddenly, precipitating great changes in her life, and she inherited a substantial amount of money. In the midst of her grief, she did not wait until Spring to marry. Instead, on 20 December 1919 in the Church of the Incarnation in New York City, Constance R. Russell quietly became the wife of John Gilbert Winant, son of Frederick Winant.
John G. Winant was a member of the class of 1913 Princeton University and at the time assistant to the headmaster of St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH. During the war (WW1) he served in the Aviation Corps with the rank of captain. From 1919-1923 the newlyweds were living at Edgerstoune, the Russell mansion on Stockton Street in Princeton, New Jersey. By 1924 they had moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where John was president and treasurer of the Merrimack Realty Company, and vice-president of Steven-Winant Lumber Co.
News article from 14 August 1924 News Herald (Franklin PA) with Headlines: “Millionaire Seeks Governorship To Fill Desire to Be Second Lincoln.” Constance is seen seated on the right with her two eldest children. He became the youngest New Hampshire governor at age 36.
John Winant continued in politics in Concord, as New Hampshire representative and senator, and then he was elected to three terms as governor of the state (1925-1927; 1931-1935). His portrait hangs in the New Hampshire State House.
An April 1926 Granite State Monthly article, entitled “The Governor’s Herd,” provided some detail about his home-life on his “Edgerstoune Farm,” but offered little insight into his, or Constance’s, personal lives. Later in December of 1926 the same publication on then-Governor Winant’s administration added: “Governor Winant could not have made his administration the success it has been without the background of an ideal home life to give him rest and strength. Of that home life the public has had glimpses on such occasions as the reception at the Governor’s home to the editors of the country on the occasion of their visit to New Hampshire or the join meeting at Edgerstoune Farm of the Pomona Grange and Farm Bureau; but only those who have had close association with the Chief Executive appreciate the extent of the inspiration for his career which has come to him from his family life.” Constance was the driving force behind organizing the huge gatherings that frequently occurred at their home.
The John G. Winant family in February of 1941, after his appointment as ambassador. Constance (Russell) Winant and John G. Winant seated. Standing (L to R), Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Velando [daughter Constance], John G. Winant, Jr. and Revington R. Winant.
During this time, Constance was also making her own public appearances. A news article in the Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg MA) of 29 Jan 1932 mentions Mrs. Constant Winant’s speaking at a meeting of the Greenville (NH) Women’s Club, where she told of her trip to India, “showing motion pictures which she took.”
In 1935 President Roosevelt appointed him as chairman of the first Social Security Board. Later he became chief of the international labor office in Geneva, Switzerland (an affiliate of the League of Nations). Constance and at least one of their three children were with him constantly during this service. John was known throughout his life for working late into the night, and so, no doubt, the responsibility of caring for the children was almost solely Constance’s. In 1941, John Winant resigned from the post of Director of the International Labour Office in order to accept the appointment as American Ambassador to London (succeeding Joseph P. Kennedy). Following this service, Winston Churchill called him “a true, faithful and unyielding friend.”
July 1942 Dominion Day Service at Westminster Abbey, London, England. From left to right: Constant (Russell) Winant [Mrs. John], John G. Winant ambassador, and Ivan Maisky, Russian Ambassador.
The St. Petersburg (FL) Times of 28 February 1941 printed an article about Constance entitled, “Mrs. Winant Plans for Service in Role of Ambassador’s Lady.” It states that Constance was “sure England will win the war. ‘Right will always win out,’ she told the interviewer. ‘The English are defending democracy and everything a Christian would want in these days.’ She adds, “I hope to be of service there. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t think I could be. I want to help in whatever way I can find to help–to be the most use possible.”
The article goes on to state, “She seems surprisingly young for the mother of a married daughter and two sons in their teens. There are no deep lines in her face, no gray in her light brown hair. She talks with a mixture of reserve and eagerness and spills a quick river of words when she is interested. She likes pretty clothes well enough, but I doubt if they mean a great deal in her life.” The story tells that she enjoys flying, and that her plan is to follow her husband in London in the next few months, wanting to spend a holiday with her children, the youngest of which are still in school.
“In the past two decades she has been busy keeping herself informed on his job problems, running the Winant’s big colonial house on the outskirts of Concord, N.H., mothering the three children and doing a good deal of church and civic work. Her only hobby, she says is her Edgerstoune kennels…”
Edgerstoune Kennels advertisement
After moving to Concord with her husband, Constance had begun Edgerstoune Kennels in Concord, New Hampshire (apparently named after her New Jersey homestead) and bred both Scottish Highlander Terriers and West Highland White Terriers. She continued the business during and after World War Two. Mrs. Winant was a top breeder and a prominent importer having won Best in Show at Westminster in 1942 with the Westie bitch, Ch. Wolvey Pattern of Edgerstoune . In 1950 she also won Best In Show, this time with the Scottish Terrier dog, Ch. Walsing Winning Trick of Edgerstoune.
During their time in England, the British newspapers focused mostly on John Winant.
May 1941, Mrs. Winant (far right) visited the Regent Lodge Receiving Nursery, following her husband’s presentation of $280,000 to the W.V.S from the American Red Cross. On left holding the child is Lady Reading, Chairman of the Women’s Voluntary Services in Britain. The child is not identified.
There are a few published photographs showing Constance moving into her new home, and of her visiting a local nursery (see). So though she is mostly left out of the official histories, it is obvious that she indeed was “of service there” in England. In 1943 their son John Jr., was a prisoner of the Germans during World War II after the Flying Fortress he was piloting was shot down. No doubt although greatly relieved that he was alive, the news of his capture was stressful and troubling for Constance and her entire family. On January 22, 1944, their younger son, Rivington R. Winant, then 18-years old and a freshman at Princeton was inducted into the Marine Corps at Grenier Field Station, Manchester NH.
In March of 1946 President Truman appointed John Winant as permanent U.S. representative on UNESCO. By May the Winants returned to the United States. He resigned in January of 1947 because he wanted to “pick up my life again as a private citizen in my own country.” Ten months later, on 3 November 1947, he was dead, from a suicide. His book, “Letter From Grosvenor Square: an Account of a Stewardship,” was published the following day.
The News-Herald newspaper of Franklin, Pennsylvania. dated 14 November 1947, reported on the funeral of John G. Winant
At the time of his death, John Winant was alone in their Concord, New Hampshire home. Constance was at their home in New York, and distraught at the news, she quickly flew to New Hampshire. John G. Winant was mourned locally and internationally. A simple funeral was held at St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Concord, and John Winant was buried in the St. Paul’s School cemetery nearby. A few days later, on 19 November 1947, a memorial service attended by 23 ambassadors and ministers was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral for John Winant. Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee spoke briefly, and Winston Churchill paid tribute to him.
Constance Winant and her family mourned John G. Winant as a husband, a father, and a son. No doubt in her time of grief she was plagued with questions by reporters, and probably refused such interviews, as I find none mentioned in the newspapers. In 1948 and 1949 the papers of John Gilbert Winant were deposited in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum by his widow, Constance. These were later donated to the same institution by descendants. In 2014 a Winant Memorial Statue Committee was formed, a sculptor chosen and fund raising began to build a memorial on the grounds of the NH State Library. Reportedly the “sculpture will feature Winant sitting on a bench, with room for passers-by to sit down next to him.”
Eventually the Winant home in Concord was sold to the State of New Hampshire for a child study center that was never built. The property was sold again, the large house was torn down, and a Unitarian Church was built on the spot.
John G. & Constance (Russell) Winant had three children, now all deceased: (1) a daughter Constance Russell Winant, b. 3 January 1921 in New York City, NY who m1) 9 February 1941 Carlos W. Velando de Cossio, a Peruvian scientist, and had a son Charles Winant Velando. They divorced in June 1953, and she m2d) 21 December 1953 as his 3rd wife, Claude K. Williams of Houston TX, son of Mrs. Pleas B. Rogers of Llewellyn, Berryville Va., and the late Earl K. Williams. She died April 7, 1978 at the age of 57 and is buried in Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston TX ; (2) John G. Winant, Jr. of Princeton, and (3) Rivington R. Winant of New York who married Joan O’Meara. He died 3 February 2011.
In June of 1952 Constance’s older sister, Ethelberta Pyne (Russell) Eppley, died in New York at the age of 65, after an illness of five months. Ethel was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. She was the wife of Marion Epply, a scientist, and owner of Eppley Laboratory, who served in WW2 as chief of staff of an Eastern Sea Frontier and as chief of cencorshop of the Pacfiic Fleet on the staff of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz and they lived in Newport, Rhode Island from 1922 to 1942 mostly at “Beacon Rock” on Harrison Avenue, then later at “Eastover” in Portsmouth RI before moving to Oyster Bay.
Six months later, on 22 December of 1952, Archibald D. Russell, Jr. announced his sister Constance’s engagement to widower, Capt. Marion Eppley, USNR, (ret). in the newspapers. At that time she is described as being a member of the Colony Club, New York, on the board of managers of St. Luke’s Home, that city, and founder and owner of the Edgarstoune Kennels. Constance and Marion married in January of 1953 at Church of St. Mary the Virgin, New York City. Her son, Rivington R. “Riv” Winant was best man for Captain Eppley. A reception followed in the Colony Club. They were married for 8 years when Marion Eppley died 22 November 1960 at their home on Steamboat Landing Road, Oyster Bay, Long Island. He was 77 years old.
Five years later, Mrs. Marion Eppley (Constance R. Russell Winant) married in September 1965 to Walter K. Earle, becoming the 2nd Mrs. Walter K. Earle. He was a partner in Shearman & Sterling, New York lawyers, was the founder and curator of the Whaling Museum Society in Cold Spring Harbor, L.I. and the author of “Scrimshaw Folk Art of the Whalers.” Walter K. Earle died February 10, 1969 at their home on 510 Park Avenue in New York City.
Headstone of Constance R. (Russell) Winant Eppley Earle in Arlington National Cemetery, beside that of her 2nd husband, Marion Earle. Photograph courtsey of Arlington National Cemetery web site.
Constance Rivington (Russell) Winant Eppley Earle died on February 10, 1983 in New York City after a long illness. A funeral service was held at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 145 West 46 Street, New York City, and she was buried in a private ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery, along side her 2nd husband Marion Eppley. In her will, she bequeathed an oil painting of George Washington, originally belonging to her older sister, to the Art Museum in Princeton New Jersey in memory of their mutual husband, Marion Eppley.
In 2009, Rivington Winant, with his wife Joan, donated 85 acres of land in Concord for the creation of Winant Park in honor of his late father and mother. The property sits on what was formerly the elder Winants’ estate and offers the public biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails.
Among Constance’s paternal ancestors were Lewis Morris, chief justice of New York from 1715 to 1733 and governor or New Jersey from 1738 to 1746; Lewis Morris, judge of the New York Admiralty Court and member of the New York Assembly, and Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a delegate to the second and third Continental Congresses. Among other paternal ancestors were John Watts, first president of the New York Hospital 1770-1784 and his son-in-law William Alexander, Lord Stirling, one of George Washington’s generals during the Revolution. Her maternal great-grandfather was Moses Taylor, early New York City merchant and financier and president of the National City Bank of New York. She was also a descendant of Galcerán de Pinós.
—My thanks to:
1. Ruth Speed, past president of the Penacook (NH) Historical Society who provided some information and photographs on the lives of the Winant family while they resided in Concord.
2. David Levesque, Technical Services Librarian/Archivist, Ohrstrom Library, St. Paul’s School, who returned my email and provided several leads on where to obtain more information.
This entry was posted in History, New Hampshire Women and tagged 2, awards, bed, blue blood, club, Concord, Constance, dogs, Earle, Edgerstoune, Eppley, first lady, Governor, II, John, kennel, New Hampshire, NH, raised, Russell, two, wealthy, wife, Winant, World War. Bookmark the permalink.
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Home / Welfare reform – early impacts
Welfare reform – early impacts
Issue 231 (December 2012)
Kate Bell looks gives an overview of what early research has uncovered about the future impact of welfare reform.
The 2012 Welfare Reform Act ushered in a wide range of changes to the social security system that will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on many benefit claimants. While the sheer scale of change makes precise assess-ment very difficult, one thing that became very clear during the parliamentary debates during the passage of the Act was that the cuts would have a disproportionate impact on London. For example, the impact assessment for the benefit cap found that 49 per cent of those affected would be in the capital.1
London has the highest child poverty rates of any UK region, and CPAG runs a specific London campaign. We wanted to investigate what the likely impact of the changes was on families, and what local authorities and advice agencies could do to mitigate these. Our report, published jointly with Lasa, Between a Rock and a Hard Place: the early impacts of welfare reform in London, came out in November and is based on interviews with 11 London local authorities and 10 advice agencies.
The report focuses on the changes affecting housing support, as it is those that we felt would have the biggest (initial) impact on families. In previous research (reported in Bulletin 229), we’ve looked at the localisation of the so-cial fund, and our ongoing national work is examining the impact of universal credit. But the focus of this report was as follows.
Caps to local housing allowance (LHA) restrict the level of support that families can receive with their rents to the 30th percentile of rents within a local area, and set absolute limits depending on the number of bedrooms the claimant is allowed under the size criteria. These began to take effect in April 2011, although many families will not have seen their level of support reduced straight away.
The benefit cap will restrict the total amount of support received by any one household to £500 a week for families with children and £350 for single people. The initial impact assessment found that 27,440 households in London are expected to be affected by the cap, but the DWP has now written to over 100,000 people in London who could possibly be affected.
Underoccupation penalties will reduce the level of support for families in social rented housing if they are deemed to have an extra bedroom. The impact assessment published as part of the Bill found that this will affect 80,000 households in London. We wanted to assess the impact of the reforms against the government’s own aims, gleaned from statements throughout the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill and statements within impact assessments.
We found four possible objectives of the changes:
reduce expenditure on housing benefit (as part of the overall plan for deficit reduction);
improve work incentives;
tackle overcrowding; and
increase ‘fairness’.
Will the plans reduce housing benefit expenditure? One fairly obvious response to this is that if government cuts the amount of support available, the cost of that support will be less. But we found that the changes would do nothing to address the underlying causes of rising housing benefit expenditure over the last decade: increases in unemployment, an upward trend in people living in the private rented sector, and significant rises in rents. While the government has stated that it expects the reforms to bring rents down, we found no sign of that in London, with rents rising by 7 per cent last year, and most local authorities thinking it extremely unlikely that we would see a fall in the following year.
What’s more, the changes are likely to have significant knock-on costs for local authorities in terms of homelessness. The benefit cap, restricting families’ benefits to £500 a week, has no exemption for temporary accommodation, leaving families and local authorities in a trap. London councils predict that 63,000 families in London may be unable to afford their rent as a result of the caps.2 If these families present to their local authority as homeless, the dilemma of finding affordable accommodation below the cap rates is passed on. Many local authorities we spoke to were seeing their only option as procuring accommodation outside London, and research by The Guardian following our report found them looking as far afield as Manchester, Hull, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham and Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales.3 The social costs for these families are likely to be significant. The government has suggested that discretionary housing payments (DHPs) will fill the gaps in ‘tough cases’ but their scale is highly unlikely to be able to meet the level of need: the additional funding put into DHPs is just 9 per cent of that taken out of housing benefits.
What about work incentives? Again, there’s a response that argues that if you reduce the support people have to live on, the gains to employment will be greater. But while we found many local authorities engaged in innovative and intensive work to help families find employment, including within their own services, the reality is that many parents will either be unready for work, or unable to afford the cost of childcare, which is 24 per cent higher than in the rest of the country. Parents’ employment rates are already significantly lower in London than those for UK families.4
Will the underoccupation penalties tackle overcrowding? Authorities predict that they may encourage some families to down-size, if there is property available, but the statistics show that there are 126,000 overcrowded households in London’s social rented sector, well over the number that look set to be hit by the ‘underoccupying’ penalties. What’s more, many authorities predict that families hit by the benefit cap may choose to move into smaller, overcrowded accommodation, in order to be able to stay near to families and social networks.
What of fairness? CPAG believes that the polices do not treat families fairly. For example, while the benefit cap includes child benefit as income for out-of-work families, it was not included as income for families in work when determining what the level of the cap should be. Children are nine times as likely to be affected by the benefit cap as adults.
How can advice agencies respond to these challenges? We found that many were feeling slightly overwhelmed by the scale and pace of reform, with several still mired in the ongoing debacle of employment and support allowance reassessments. Looking ahead to April 2013 when many of the changes will kick in, advisers are also likely to be seeing claimants affected by the change from disability living allowance to the new personal independence payment. But we found many advice agencies with good practice to recommend. Most important perhaps was building strong links with the local authority to understand how it would be implementing the changes, and to help communicate the changes to residents. Local advice partnerships, where these existed, were playing an important role in helping to share out expertise across a range of agencies. Some agencies were investing now in training for their staff, and in developing clear and concise materials for clients.
Dealing with the impact of welfare reform is going to be extremely difficult for advisers, for local authorities, and most of all for the individuals who will have their income and homes taken away. Perhaps the most important message from the report is the need to monitor the impact of these changes, so that a clear story can be given to policy makers about how benefit cuts affect families.
Please be aware that welfare rights law and guidance change frequently. Therefore older Bulletin articles may be out of date. Use keywords or the search function to find more recent material on this topic.
1. DWP, Benefit Cap (Housing Benefit) Regulations 2012: impact assessment for the benefit cap, DWP, 2012, www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf
2. Navigant Consulting, Does the Cap Fit? An analysis of the impact of welfare reform, London Councils, 2011
3. Patrick Butler, ‘Homeless families to be expelled from London by councils’, The Guardian, 5 November 2012
4. See Bell K (ed), We Can Work It Out: parental employment in London, CPAG, 2012
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I Miss My Grandparents
April 16, 2015 Elana Roth Parker
Nathan and Edith Roth. Engagement photo, just months after liberation, 1945.
I've been drafting this post since January, starting around the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. I usually keep my Holocaust philosophizing to a minimum on these channels. It's almost too easy to take up the mantle of "survivors' granddaughter" and assume a position of self-righteousness when confronted with any number of human rights or Jewish continuity issues. It's also a kind of weird trump card I just don't like playing very often.
So I don't share the links. Or jump into the online conversations. Come to think of it, historically I've also avoided any kind of public participation in Holocaust remembrance, even so far as avoiding seeing Holocaust movies. I don't think I saw Schindler's List until they showed it on TV without commercials (presented by Ford, right?). And I only saw Life is Beautiful last year when coerced by my husband. (Beautiful movie, but I was a wreck for days afterward.)
My reasons for avoiding the engagement are complicated. Sometimes it feels like it cheapens the subject matter to toss it around on the internet like this. Other times, I feel like the movies and the articles are targeting a different audience—people who don't know anything about the Holocaust but really should, not someone like me. I already know everything I need to know about the Shoah. And I know it from the source.
Growing up very close with my two survivor grandparents, the Holocaust was alive and well in my life, as strange as that sounds. There wasn't a family gathering where it didn't have to be remembered as a matter of public ceremony. If any conversation took a serious turn, Bubbie would jump in and make it relate to the Holocaust somehow. And before Zayde died, we all went to a huge-scale gathering of survivors at the USHMM. The Holocaust was almost a proper member of the family, not just a major cornerstone in our origin.
Because of this trauma's constant presence, I developed a thick skin and a dark sense of humor about it—as did (most of) my family, including my grandmother. That same trip to Washington DC had my sister and I shooting macabre comments at each other all day, some even to my grandparents directly ("Bubbie, are you going to see your camp friends today?").
I, like many other Jews of my generation, have mixed feelings about contextualizing the entirety of our Jewish identity with the Holocaust and its aftermath. There's only so much longer that it can stand as justification for how Jews act today. Eventually the statute of limitations runs out, just like it did for the other communal tragedies Jews suffered over the centuries. Maybe it already has. We can't be victims forever. (Though with recent events in Europe, maybe we can.) We can't only be identified by the bad things that happen to us.
But we can't forget either. Survivors are dwindling in numbers. Soon there won't be any people left who can tell us what happened to them. Soon the stories will only be available second-hand. Someday I myself will be unique, one of a small number of people who actually knew survivors in real life. My grandparents did everything they could to record and transmit their stories. They were interviewed and taped on countless occasions. They spoke in high schools, talking to kids who'd never met a Jew let alone heard about the Holocaust. They needed to know that what happened to them wouldn't be forgotten.
This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day is hitting a nerve for me in a new way. My grandparents—my survivors—are both gone. I look at these portraits of Auschwitz survivors and I can't help but see my grandparents among them, and wonder what their photos would have looked like had they been alive to participate. And I am so sad they aren't here to tell their stories anymore.
The last year has brought a number of occasions to confront their loss again and again. I named my son after my grandfather last May. My sister named her daughter after my grandmother in November. And in what might seem only tangentially related, was the deep dive dive my husband and I took into Ancestry.com this winter. The branches of my tree on my father's side hit a terrible wall in 1944. There are barely any records prior to that point. I only have misspelled names, mis-remembered birth dates, and fuzzy memories once shared with me by my grandparents of lives and families ripped away from them when they were just children.
For the longest time I thought I was desensitized to the Holocaust. Now I know how hard it actually hits me. Every day is a little bit Holocaust Remembrance Day for me. I owe that much to my grandparents.
Introducing Nathan Loggins Parker
June 1, 2014 Elana Roth Parker
A week ago today, on another beautiful Sunday in New York City, our son was born with the Manhattan skyline visible from our 10th floor delivery room at NewYork Presbyterian. We named our son this morning at his bris. Today feels like it’s been a very long time coming, and we’ve been overwhelmed with the emotions that come with adding a new member to the family.
That newest member is Nathan Loggins Parker.
Nathan is getting his name from several sides of mine and Stephen's families. Most of my family isn’t at all surprised by the choice to name him after my zayde, Nathan Roth. I think I called dibs on it shortly after his funeral almost 9 years ago.
The first Nathan was a complicated man with a complicated life story. He was born in a shtetl in far eastern Czechoslovakia. He survived Birkenau, harsh labor, and death marches. He married a feisty redhead and got involved in the black market, then fled the communists. He started a newspaper in the displaced persons camp in Germany, before finally being relocated to Dallas. He dug ditches for the city. He began acting, including a stint in Waiting for Godot, which he quoted until the end of his life. He worked for more newspapers, moved to Wooster, Ohio, and then Detroit, where he eventually settled at the ad agency that would round out his career. In retirement he camped out at a Barnes & Noble, which he treated like his own personal office and library, talking to people and reading everything he could get his hands on.
Zayde was a passionate man. He was brilliant but tortured, haunted by his experiences and survival. So much so that the man I knew as my zayde, was not the same man that my father knew as his dad.
For all those complications, he was a great zayde. And our relationship thrived because of the things we had in common. He loved words and creativity, both things for which Stephen and I share a lot of passion, and which Nathan can expect to grow up surrounded by. Zayde was always encouraging (read: pushing) his grandchildren to be creative in that basement art studio filled with stolen supplies from the ad agency. He always wanted to read what we’d written for school. He coached us to be articulate and thoughtful in our public speaking because the right words, spoken loudly and clearly were important. While we know that little Nathan will have his own loves and strengths, we hope that curiosity, appreciation of language, and creative energy will be part of them.
I was fortunate to be a first-born granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors. Their history was a hallmark in my Jewish identity, and I grew up knowing that I was a link in an important legacy. Now that they’re both gone, I’ve felt that legacy more acutely. It’s sad to know that my children won’t grow up knowing any survivors, especially their great-grandparents. But Bubbie and Zayde would both be happy to know that their stories and names are being passed on to the next generation.
From Stephen:
Nathan is obviously a Parker. Some day I’ll instruct him on the finer points of writing the Parker “P”, teach him about servant leadership, and tell him all about the fathers of old. But he is also a Loggins...
I have always considered it a point of great pride that my mother gave me her family name as my middle name, and over the years the name Loggins has come to mean a great deal to me. When I hear the name today I think about what it means to be a family, and I think about the people who raised me. I remember the familiar sounds of people reading the morning paper aloud to each other, the sound of chatter over cocktail hour, and the smell of vegetable soup simmering on the stove.
I think about a group of people that love each other, a group that absolutely refuses not to be together during the holidays. I think about people completely devoted to the accurate recreation of tradition. And, I think about a group of people forever heartsick about the loss of their mother, Beverly.
When I think about all these things, I know exactly what’s in a name, and I think Loggins is a pretty good one. It’s a great privilege then to be able to pass on the Loggins family name to my son as his middle name. I hope that it will be a conversation starter for him in the schoolyard, as it was for me, and perhaps nudge him toward the preservation of family history.
The Bubbie Baking Experiment
March 7, 2014 Elana Roth Parker
These are mine...not hers.
I'd say I must be nesting (which I am), but I've been having an irresistible urge to bake and cook a lot more lately. We can't chalk it all up to the final stretch of this pregnancy though. Between working on a cookbook and watching too much Food Network, it's kind of a natural conclusion. But what is new is finally wanting to dive into my bubbie's "famous" recipes. Maybe it's that her first yahrtzeit (anniversary of death) is coming up just after I have a baby. Maybe it's that some holidays are hitting soon that we would bake for together, like Purim. Who knows. But I have a plan. I'm going to starting making her recipes.
Bubbie's cooking and baking prowess is actually somewhat of a mixed bag. By the time I was born, or at least as far as my memory serves, she had a somewhat limited repertoire. From her savory cooking, I mostly remember a lot of paprika. There was (dry chunky) mashed potatoes with paprika, chicken with paprika, stuffed cabbage and stuffed peppers (both with paprika). You get the idea. Oh, and there were some kugels. Those were good.
It was her baking that held more of the family tradition and fame. She made several of the same cakes and babka-esque pastries, all variations on one another. The best one was her kukosh (the most babka-like of them all). But there was also turosh (cheese), deeosh (nuts), and makosh (prune). I don't know if any of these are real words anywhere else (and I'm obviously winging the spellings), but they are real terms in my family.
Of course, these pastries came complete with a story she told about a weekend when her mother was away and it was her job to make the kukosh, but she didn't know how. So she prepared it the best she could from memory watching her mother do it all those years, took the finished product to the bakery (no one had ovens at home—you baked communally), and when it was ready, everyone declared her kukosh even better than her mother's. A legend was born.
Making kukosh together (and hamantaschen and the rest, but especially the kukosh) was an event for us grandkids. We loved when she rolled out this particular dough on a huge wood pastry board and let us go to town, sprinkling cocoa powder and squeezing chocolate syrup all over it. (It was messy. It was chocolatey. It was tasty. She knew how to let kids have fun.)
But none of us have ever really tried to make any of them alone. I've inched toward it by making the krantz cakes in Jerusalem: A Cookbook, the closest thing I've seen to kukosh to date. But no one has tackled her actual recipes. Maybe it just hasn't felt right yet to do it without her. But maybe it's the other big problem: the recipes were really just in her head, made only by memory and repetition, never from a source text—and probably a little different every time she did it. On a few occasions, one of us asked her to dictate the recipe for us. I wrote down a few, so did my mother. But if you were to read them (if you know anything about baking), you'd immediately recognize their incompleteness of directions. Also their contradictions. And possibly some ingredient ratio problems.
Looking over these scans now, what's also really clear is that Bubbie didn't necessarily understand the true nature of keeping kosher, at least as far as making something dairy or parve was concerned. The kukosh recipe is made with margarine and Coffee Rich (gross) in order to keep the dough parve—but she filled it with dairy chocolate. One of the hamantaschen recipes is also made with margarine—but has buttermilk. And I am 100% positive that she passed these pastries off as non-dairy at family meals. (I'm not alone. My cousin Mindy told a similar story in the eulogy she gave.)
So it's going to be a project to recreate them, test them, and get them into a reproducible format. I'm going to make them both dairy and parve. I'm going to figure out what the difference is between the 3 variations on a yeast dough recipe she dictated to us over the years. I'm even going to try the recipes and fillings I thought were gross as a kid (nuts and prunes, obviously). And I'll report back on the results.
In All Things Elana
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Movie theme concert, October 2015
The Training Band has some 25 playing members aged 8 upwards who are approximately grade 2 standard and above. Its an excellent ensemble for players to improve their band ensemble skills and to make new friends. We also welcome adult players.
The class meets once a week every Friday evening from 6.30pm – 7.30pm and is conducted by Miss Samantha Harrison who also conducts the youth band. Samantha is also supported by Janice Davison who plays Eb Horn and French Horn.
The band usually performs 2 or 3 concerts each year for parents and friends and sometimes at local primary schools. We also aim to perform at the Regional Festival of Music for Youth and the National Youth Brass Band Championships.
The cornet section, October 2015
The repertoire covers a variety of styles, from Film & Disney music through to traditional Marches and Hymn tunes.
Eventually, when a certain standard is reached members are encouraged to join the youth band which meets every Saturday morning.
Membership fees are £10 per month, paid monthly in advance by Direct Debit. Where possible instruments are provided free of charge from our instrument lending library. We also take a small £20 deposit against instruments which is refunded on return of the instrument in good working order.
If you would like further details about the training band please contact our band Secretary, Kathleen, using our contact form.
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Self-Guided Walks
A Century of Architecture
A Popular Temple and a City Transformed
Cornucopia of Delights
Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail
Evolvement of a Fishing Village
Markets for Leisure and Pleasure
The First Heritage Trail in Hong Kong
Walled Village
Where Modern Classics Meet Historical Charm
Home>Things to Do>Tours & Walks>Self-Guided Walks>Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail
Take a trip along the
Renowned as the father of the Chinese revolutions of the last century and one of the founders of the Republic of China, Dr Sun Yat-sen is an important figure in modern Chinese history. The Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail not only commemorates the formative years Dr Sun spent in Hong Kong but also his historical legacy and achievements.
Dr Sun arrived in Hong Kong during his teens. Throughout the next nine years he received secondary and tertiary education here, and made friends with many who shared his political persuasions and aspirations. Committed to strengthening the nation for the betterment of the people, they eventually staged uprisings to overthrow the Qing government.
Hong Kong provided much inspiration for Sun’s ideas. Most of his activities at that time were based in Central and Western District. The places on the following trail all featured in those formative years, and the plaques are designed by local artists to showcase the rich history and culture of the city.
Find out more about the trail and the ‘iM Guide’ app that offers easy navigation.
1. The University of Hong Kong
Founded in 1911, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is the region’s oldest institute of higher learning. Dr Sun Yat-sen studied from 1887 to 1892 at the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong, which was incorporated into HKU in 1912 as the Faculty of Medicine. Dr Sun visited HKU on 20 February 1923 and gave a public speech in the Great Hall (now Loke Yew Hall), in which he declared that “Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong are my intellectual birthplace”.
Address: Bonham Road, Hong Kong Island
MTR HKU Station Exit A1, head to Loke Yew Hall at the Main Building. It’s about a five-minute walk.
2. Original Site of the Diocesan Home and Orphanage
After studying in Hawaii for four years, Dr Sun Yat-sen enrolled at Oahu College, founded by the American Congregational Church, in early 1883, and returned to his hometown of Cuiheng half a year later. He then came to Hong Kong towards the end of 1883, where he initially attended the Diocesan Home and Orphanage (now Diocesan Boys’ School), which was founded by the Anglican Church, before transferring to The Government Central School in April 1884.
Address: Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island
From Loke Yew Hall of The University of Hong Kong, walk along Bonham Road until you reach Bonham Road Government Primary School.
3. Original Site of the Reception Centre of Tongmenghui
Dr Sun Yat-sen founded Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance) in Tokyo, Japan in 1905 and served as its first leader. The Hong Kong branch was established by the end of the same year, and it set up reception centres on Caine Road, Po Hing Fong, Morrison Hill Road, Lan Kwai Fong and Queen’s Road to provide safe havens for revolutionaries.
Address: Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From Bonham Road Government Primary School, walk along Eastern Street, High Street and Bonham Road, turn left when you reach Hospital Road. Po Hing Fong is on your right, next to Blake Garden.
4. Original Site of the Preaching House of the American Congregational Church
When Dr Sun Yat-sen arrived in Hong Kong in late 1883, he initially attended the Diocesan Home and Orphanage of the Anglican Church as a day pupil. He lived in the Preaching House of the American Congregational Church (now China Congregational Church) at 2 Bridges Street and was baptised here later, taking the Christian name ‘Yat-sen (‘Rixin’ in Mandarin)’. Dr Sun continued to live in the preaching house even after transferring to The Government Central School.
Address: 2 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From Po Hing Fong, head to Bridges Street via Kui Yin Fong.
5. Original Site of The Government Central School
The Government Central School was founded in 1862 as the first public secondary school providing a Western education in Hong Kong, and it produced many bilingual members of the region’s elite who were enlightened by modern knowledge and held both Chinese and Western perspectives. Dr Sun Yat-sen enrolled in the upper classes of the school on 15 April 1884 and graduated in 1886.
Address: 44 Gough Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From the original site of the Preaching House of the American Congregational Church, turn left on Shing Wong Street, and walk across Hollywood Road. Walk until you reach Gough Street. The original site of The Government Central School will be on your right.
6. Original Site of Yeung Yiu Kee, the Meeting Place of the ‘Four Great Outlaws’
When Dr Sun Yat-sen was studying medicine in Hong Kong, he often met with his close friends Yau Lit, Chan Siu-pak and Yeung Hok-ling at Yeung Yiu Kee, the shop owned by Yeung Hok-ling’s family, at 8 Gough Street, where they were able to talk freely about politics and the anti-Qing revolutionary cause. As their views violated the mainstream point of view at the time, they were called the ‘Four Great Outlaws’.
Address: 8 Gough Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
(Artwork located on Shin Hing Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island)
Walk along Gough Street until you reach the original site of Yeung Yiu Kee, the Meeting Place of the ‘Four Great Outlaws’.
7. Site of Yeung Ku-wan’s Assassination
Yeung Ku-wan joined the newly established Hong Kong Headquarters of Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society) as its president in 1895. The society then planned uprisings in Guangzhou and Huizhou, both of which ended in failure. From 1900, Yeung taught English at his residence which was on the first floor of 52 Gage Street. He was murdered in January 1901 by an assassin sent by the Qing government.
Address: 52 Gage Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
(Artwork located in Pak Tsz Lane Park)
Walk along Gough Street, across Aberdeen Street to Gage Street.
8. Original Site of Foo Yan Man Ser
Foo Yan Man Ser (Chinese Patriotic Mutual Improvement Association or Furen Literary Society) was founded by Yeung Ku-wan and Tse Tsan-tai and occupied the site on the first floor of 1 Pak Tsz Lane in 1892. Its aim was to enlighten the public, but often meetings are held in private here to discuss political issues and reforms in China. Dr Sun Yat-sen maintained close contacts with its members, and Yeung and Tse later became the core members of the Hong Kong Headquarters of Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society), with Yeung serving as its president for a time.
Address: Pak Tsz Lane Park, Pak Tsz Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From the Site of Yeung Ku-wan’s Assassination, via Aberdeen Road, turn left on Sam Ka Lane to Pak Tsz Lane Park.
9. Original Site of Queen’s College
On 26 April 1884, the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the new premises of The Government Central School at the junction of Aberdeen Street and Hollywood Road was presided over by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. Dr Sun Yat-sen had just enrolled at the school, and it is thought likely that he attended the ceremony. The school moved to the new site in 1889, when it was renamed Victoria College; it changed its name to Queen’s College in 1894. In 1950, Queen’s College moved to its present premises in Causeway Bay, and the original site has been revitalised to become PMQ.
Address: Junction of Aberdeen Street and Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From Pak Tsz Lane Park, head to PMQ via Aberdeen Road.
10. Original Site of Alice Memorial Hospital and the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong
Dr Sun Yat-sen began studying medicine at the Canton Hospital of Guangzhou in the autumn of 1886. He then transferred to the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong, which was attached to Alice Memorial Hospital, to continue his medical training the year after that. Dr Sun graduated with distinction in 1892. The college was integrated into the University of Hong Kong as its Faculty of Medicine in 1912.
Address: 77–81 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
From PMQ, walk along Hollywood Road until you reach the original site of Alice Memorial Hospital and the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong.
11. Original Site of To Tsai Church
When Dr Sun Yat-sen was studying medicine in Hong Kong, he lived in the lodgings at the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong. Dr Sun often attended the gatherings held by To Tsai Church next door to the hospital, and it was here that he established the interpersonal network that later provided support for his revolutionary cause. Both Alice Memorial Hospital and To Tsai Church were founded by London Missionary Society, who wished to help the local Chinese by healing their bodies and saving their souls.
Address: 75 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
Original site of To Tsai Church is just next to the original site of Alice Memorial Hospital and the College of Medicine for Chinese, Hongkong.
12. Original Site of the Hong Kong Headquarters of Xingzhonghui
Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society) was the revolutionary organisation founded by Dr Sun Yat-sen in Hawaii in 1894 with the aim of overthrowing the Qing government. The Hong Kong Headquarters was set up in February 1895 under the guise of Kuen Hang Club, at 13 Staunton Street with Wong Wing-sheung as its first president. Members of the headquarters then proceeded to plan and organise their first revolutionary attempt, the Guangzhou uprising.
Address: 13 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
From the original site of To Tsai Church, walk along Elgin Street and turn left to Staunton Street.
13. Original Site of Heng Yin Lau Restaurant
Heng Yin Lau was one of Hong Kong’s most well-known Western-style restaurants in the late 19th century. Situated at the intersection of Lyndhurst Terrace and Pottinger Street, it served as a favourite meeting place for Dr Sun Yat-sen and his friends to discuss national affairs while he was studying medicine.
Address: 2 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong Island
From the original site of the Hong Kong headquarters of Xingzhonghui, walk along Staunton Street, turn left onto Shelley Street and turn right onto Hollywood Road, then turn left to reach Lyndhurst Terrace.
14. Original Site of the China Daily Office
In 1899, Dr Sun Yat-sen instructed Chan Siu-pak to set up a newspaper in Hong Kong to provide propaganda against the Qing government, and China Daily was first published in January 1900. The newspaper’s office served not only to publish the revolutionary newspaper, but also as a contact point for members of Xingzhonghui and revolutionaries from different places. The Huizhou uprising in 1900 was planned and organised on the second floor of the office.
Address: 24 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
From the original site of the Heng Yin Lau Restaurant, via Pottinger Street, turn right onto Stanley Street.
15. Original Site of Wo Kee Chan
Set up as a seamen’s boarding house on the third floor of 20 D’Aguilar Street, Wo Kee Chan served as a base for revolutionary activities, and it was here that the Guangzhou uprising of 1903 was planned and organised. Led by Tse Tsan-tai and supported financially by Li Ki-tong, a wealthy Hong Kong merchant, it eventually failed. Tse withdrew from the revolutionary campaign and founded South China Morning Post with the aim of promoting reform and revolution.
Address: 20 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
Walk along Stanley Street and turn right onto D’Aguilar Street.
16. Plaques introducing Hong Kong in the Time of Dr Sun Yat-sen
Dr Sun Yat-sen not only completed his studies in Hong Kong, he also used the city as a base for his revolutionary cause. What he saw and heard in the territory gave birth to the epoch-making revolutionary ideas of this great Chinese statesman.
Address: Along Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong Island (PMQ, Entrance at Staunton Street)
From the original site of the Wo Kee Chan, walk along Wing Wah Lane, turn right onto Wyndham Street and turn left to Old Bailey Street, then turn right to reach Staunton Street.
Enjoy the contrast of modern and colonial architecture in Central.
Read more about A Century of Architecture
Take a stroll through Wan Chai — an area steeped in the city’s multicultural heritage while reflecting its vibrant contemporary lifestyle.
Read more about Where Modern Classics Meet Historical Charm
Dive into some of the world's most fascinating street scenes in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.
Read more about Markets for Leisure and Pleasure
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HomeDISNEY•PIXAR’S “CARS 3” Fuels TWO ALL NEW Soundtracks for the Film!
DISNEY•PIXAR’S “CARS 3” Fuels TWO ALL NEW Soundtracks for the Film!
Pixar, Walt Disney Animated Features, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
As Lightning McQueen heads to the big screen alongside his new tech-savvy trainer Cruz Ramirez, Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” fuels two soundtrack releases—both available from Walt Disney Records on June 16 as the film opens in theaters nationwide. The Cars 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, features eight tracks—including original songs by Dan Auerbach and ZZ Ward, four covers by various artists, and two instrumental tracks from Brad Paisley. The Cars 3 Original Score Composed and Conducted by Randy Newman reunites the…
Walt Disney Records Set To Release “The Finest Hours” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
A heroic action-thriller, “The Finest Hours” is based on the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, the film transports audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale. “The Finest Hours” original motion picture soundtrack features score by award-winning composer Carter Burwell and will be available digitally on January 29, 2016. “The Finest…
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Original Motion Picture Soundtrack From Oscar®-Winning Composer John Williams Debuts At No. 5 On The Billboard 200 Chart
Lucasfilm, Star Wars, Walt Disney Blu-Ray / DVD, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures
The original motion picture soundtrack for the record-breaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens, featuring new score conducted and composed by five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams, has entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 5, scanning over 100,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The last and only all-score soundtrack to debut in the Top 5 was Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999. The album is No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtrack and…
Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection ‘FANTASIA’ Review
Walt Disney Classics, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
by: D-Team Paige In the 75 years since its release, “Fantasia” has been bringing the beauty of animation and music together for audiences in a way only Disney can do. Now, the soundtrack for the film has been released for all to enjoy. “The Legacy Collection: Fantasia” 4-disc set includes all of the original music by Leopold Stokowski, a digital re-recording by Irwin Kostal, and more. Disc 1 will immerse you in a score of music performed by the Philadelphia…
Walt Disney Records Set To Release “Inside Out” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack With Score Composed By Michael Giacchino
Disney News, Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” features an original score that captures the emotional spirit of the story by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino. The soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on June 16, 2015. Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”, “Up”) and produced by Jonas Rivera, p.g.a. (“Up”), Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2015. Giacchino worked with director Pete Docter on “Up” (garnering an Academy Award® for best original score) and also counts Disney•Pixar’s films “Cars…
Walt Disney Records Presents The Cinderella Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Available March 10
Walt Disney Records will release the original motion picture soundtrack for Cinderella on March 10, 2015. The album features original music by Patrick Doyle (“Brave,” “Thor”) marking the eleventh time Doyle has teamed with director Kenneth Branagh. The score was recorded at Air Lyndhurst Studio in London, and was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Shearman and produced by Maggie Rodford. The film arrives in theaters on March 13, 2015. Patrick Doyle’s long-time creative collaboration with Branagh began in…
Walt Disney Records’ Big Hero 6 Soundtrack Features Original Song “Immortals” From Fall Out Boy And Score By Henry Jackman
The Big Hero 6 original motion picture soundtrack will be available at digital retail on November 4 and on CD November 24th and features an original song, “Immortals” from Fall Out Boy. The soundtrack includes score from Henry Jackman (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain Phillips” and “Wreck-It-Ralph”). Pre-order for the album begins today. Fall Out Boy was tapped to write and perform the song for the film’s sequence in which the “Big Hero 6” team is transformed from a group of super…
Hollywood Records And Marvel Set To Release Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Deluxe Soundtrack, Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1 And Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Digital Score Soundtrack
Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
Hollywood Records and Marvel are set to release three albums from Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy on July 29, 2014. The Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe soundtrack features classic 1970s songs from the film, plus score by composer Tyler Bates (“Watchmen,” “Slither,” “Dawn of the Dead”). Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1 is the collection of 12 songs including Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc, Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” and The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb,” and Guardians of the Galaxy is the…
DisneyBlu’s Disney on Demand Podcast Show #48 w/ Special Guest BRUCE BROUGHTON (Composer, Spaceship Earth, Monster Squad, Ellen’s Energy, Recuers Down Under, Silverado, Tiny Toons, Harry and the Hendersons, Monster Squad) on DizRadio.com
Animal Kingdom, D-Team, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney Legends, Disney Movie Reviews, Disney News, Disney on Demand Podcast, Disneyland, Diz on Demand, dizradio, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Animated Features, Walt Disney Blu-Ray / DVD, Walt Disney Classics, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records, Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney World
DisneyBlu’s Disney on Demand Podcast at DizRadio.com September 19, 2013 – Show #48 It’s time D-Heads! This week, music plays a huge role as we welcome famed composer BRUCE BROUGHTON! Bruce has composed a wide range of movies, tv, and theme park attractons such as Silverado, Rescuers Down Under, Spaceship Earth, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Monster Squad, Tiny Toons, Dinosaurs, Harry and the Hendersons, O Canada, It’s Tough to be a Bug and more! Bruce is going to stop in and…
Walt Disney Records Presents Oz The Great and PowerfulOriginal Motion Picture Score Soundtrack
Disney News, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records will release the digital original motion picture soundtrack for “Oz The Great and Powerful” on March 5, 2012. Oscar®-nominated composer Danny Elfman reunites with director Sam Raimi for “Oz The Great and Powerful” after composing original scores for the filmmaker’s blockbuster hits “Spider-Man,” “Spider-Man 2,” “Darkman” and “A Simple Plan.” Elfman said, “I didn’t really go in with any sense of what I wanted to do other than just to follow the film. It was incredibly clear because the characters and what they…
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Categories: News, Trendings // Tags: Belgian films, Bouli Lanners, Cinéma, Festival Awards, Festival Movie, Festival Movie Awards, Kevin Janssens, Lubna Azabal, Movie Awards, Natacha Régnier, Olivier Gourmet.
The program of the 74th Venice Film Festival was disclosed this Thursday including a few Belgian preparations and co-creations.
docsdf – A mostly French-dialect Belgian film and three co-creations & Mexico International Documentary Film Festival , both upheld by the Center du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, and a self-delivered short film, will be displayed at the Venice Film Festival.
Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else (Tueurs) by François Troukens and Jean-François Hensgens will be debuted in the ‘Film nel Giardino’ segment (official choice). Hannah is the personal representation of a lady’s loss of way of life as she wavers amongst dissent and reality. Taken off alone pondering the results of her significant other’s detainment, Hannah starts to disentangle. Through the investigation of her broke feeling of character and loss of restraint, the film researches cutting edge distance, the battle to associate, and the separating lines between singular character, individual connections, and societal weights.
The element film recounts the narrative of Frank Valken, a high-flying equipped burglar, who has quite recently done one final consistent significant heist. At any rate that is the thing that he trusts… As the perfect suspects, Valken and his posse get themselves made up for lost time in a criminal case dating from thirty years sooner. It looks as though the frantic executioners are back…
The film highlights Olivier Gourmet, Lubna Azabal, Bouli Lanners, Natacha Régnier and Kevin Janssens, among others.
Delivered by Versus generation, Above the law (Tueurs) is additionally co-created by Capture the Flag (FR), Savage Film (BE), Proximus and RTL-TVI, with the interest of Canal+ and Ciné+. It likewise got help from the VAF, the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government, Inver Tax Shelter, and the European Commission – Creative Europe Program – MEDIA, in relationship with Indéfilms 5. The film got bolster from Wallimage and screen.brussels. It will be conveyed in Belgium by O’Brother Distribution and in France by Rezo Films. TF1 Studio is accountable for universal deals. Exempt from the rules that everyone else follows (Tueurs) will be discharged in Belgium on 6 December 2017.
The film is created by Partner Media Investment (IT), Good Fortune Films (FR), in relationship with Rai Cinema, Casa Kafka Pictures, Take Five, To Be Continued and Solo Five Production. Hannah has gotten bolster from Eurimages, Creative Europe and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government. It will be appropriated in France by Jour2Fête. TF1 Studio is likewise accountable for worldwide deals. Hannah by Andrea Pallaoro, co-created by Left Field Ventures, will be introduced in the official rivalry.
Co-created by Tarantula, Nico, 1988, by Susanna Nicchiarelli, will open the “Orizzonti” segment.
A fallen group battles to get by on a remote island. A young lady appears to hold up under an unusual illness that influences the vegetation and the creatures to die. A forlorn shepherd volunteers to escort her in the abandoned marshes to keep her from tainting whatever remains of the town.
A street film devoted to the most recent years of Christa Päffgen, otherwise known as “Nico”. One of Warhol’s dreams, artist of the Velvet Underground and a lady of incredible magnificence, Nico carried on with a moment life after the story known to all, when she started her vocation as a performance craftsman. Her music is among the most unique of the Eighties, and has impacted a great part of the melodic generation that took after. The “priestess of haziness”, as she was called, discovered her actual calling after age forty, when she shook off the heaviness of her excellence and revamped her association with her overlooked child. Nico, 1988 is the narrative of Nico’s last visit with the band that went with her around Europe in the Eighties. It is the narrative of a resurrection, a craftsman, a mother, the lady past the symbol.
At the point when Gino “Gigi” meets Bénédicte “Bibi” at the circuit, it’s all consuming, instant adoration. Be that as it may, soon destiny pulls them separated. Savage and steadfast, Gigi and Bibi are compelled to battle for their adoration against reason and their own particular shortcoming. Be that as it may, how far would endurance be able to be extended? How far would they be able to go to attempt and spare what may as of now be lost?
The film is delivered by Savage Film (BE), in coproduction with Eyeworks (BE), Stone Angels (FR), Kaap Holland (NL), Submarine (NL) and RTBF, with the help of the VAF, Creative Europe, VOO and Be TV, Wallimage, Screen Flanders, screen.brussels, Eurimages, the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government, in relationship with Wild Bunch, Paté France, Kinepolis Film Distribution, Telenet STAP, Canal+, Orange. The film will be discharged in Belgium on 4 October 2017 and in France in first November 2017.
Delivered by Vivo Film (IT) with Rai Cinema, the film is additionally co-created with VOO and Be TV, with the help of Wallimage, Eurimages and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian government – Casa Kafka Pictures engaged by Belfius. The film was produced with the help of the European Union’s Creative Europe – MEDIA Program. Celluloid Dreams is accountable for universal deals.
Co-created by Frakas Productions, Racer and the Jailbird (Le Fidèle), by Michaël R. Roskam, will be exhibited in the official choice, out of rivalry.
The short film Himinn Opinn, self-delivered standard Clyde Gates, Gabriel Sanson, Scum Pictures and upheld by Need Productions, will likewise be introduced in the “Orizzonti” segment.
The 74th release of the Venice Film Festival will happen from 30 August to 9 September 2017.
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The Rockin Jake Band plays Blue Monday
« 217 Burger Week
In Town: Illinois Assn of School Administrators Joint Alliance Legislative Summit »
Rockin’ Jake has been hailed by many as one of the premier harmonica players in the country. His original sound is a hybrid of second line, swamp funk, blues and zydeco with influences from Paul Butterfield, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, The Meters, WAR, J. Geils Band, Clifton Chenier, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Jake has conjured up this formula that is blowing crowds away from coast to coast. Widely known as a touring juggernaut among his peers, his schedule of over 200 performances per year include clubs, concert venues, and festivals.
Based out of New Orleans since 1990, Rockin’ Jake relocated since being flooded out by Hurricane Katrina, then settled in St. Louis and now lives in Southern Florida.Originally from the East Coast, the “blues bug” bit at an early age for Jake. He immersed himself in the thriving regional blues scene, which boasted such talents as Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Sugar Ray. Primarily self-taught, Jake briefly studied with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters.
In 1990, when Jake moved to New Orleans where he began to work with such notable New Orleans mainstays as: blues diva Marva Wright, Mem Shannon, Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Bo and other local legends. During this time Jake also toured nationally with G. Love & Special Sauce, blues and pop legend Maria Muldaur as well as logging international miles with bluesman T.J, Wheeler. He was selected to perform in an all-star band featuring blues legends Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin at the Howlin’ Wolf.
In 1995 he formed the Rockin’ Jake Band as an outlet for his original music and his unique swampy sounds. One year later Jake recorded his debut CD, “Let’s Go Get ‘Em” (on Rabadash Records) which earned him national recognition. In 1999 Jake produced “Badmouth”, on Zuluzu records followed by “Full-Time Work” in 2002 on the same label. It included an all-star cast of musicians such as John Gros (Papa Grows Funk), Ron Johnson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), Bryan Stoltz (the funky Meters), Ben Ellman and Theryl “Houseman” de Clouet (Galactic). In the spring of 2004 he recorded his band’s first live cd. Over four days in Key West, Florida at the Green Parrot, he and his band recorded 5 p.m. Breakfast on Zuluzu records. Jake’s work has also been heard on the soundtrack of “The Big Easy” television series, the theme for the “Mike Ditka Show, ” and a Miller Beer commercial. In 2010, Rockin’ Jake became an official BBQ judge for the Kansas City Barbque Society!
He is a five-time winner of Off Beat Magazine’s coveted Best of the Beat award for best harmonica player. Jake is truly a hard working musician with extraordinary talent. He and his band pour out their souls in every performance with high energy and electricity which consistently brings the audience to their feet. In his spare time Jake managed to snare some culinary kudos in New Orleans, taking the trophy for “Best Barbequed Brisket” at the 1999 New Orleans Musicians Barbeque Competition, and launching his own line of signature hot sauce: “Badmouth” (the edible version)…”man it’s hot!”…just like the band! Jake also takes time to give back to his New Orleans community with Project Prodigy Music Camp for children as well as the Blues in the Schools programs in New Orleans and other cities in the US.
Music 8:00 PM, $5 at the door.
Springfield, IL 62701 United States + Google Map
https://www.facebook.com/AlamoSpringfield/
Shopping around with Mrs. Lincoln is fun and educational. Only a few more weeks to join. Saturday’s at 11 meet at the Lincoln Law office/Springfield Visitor Center. ... See MoreSee Less
Downtown Springfield, Inc. shared a post.
Hey, thanks for the visit!! Come back soon!! We <3 Springfield Public Schools - District 186!The Extended School Year special needs class participated in a community trip that included a scavenger hunt in Downtown Springfield, Inc. and trip to Jimmy Johns and Dunkin Donuts that included question and answer session about job opportunities. The students also painted rocks and placed the rocks in various locations outside the school building.
#iheart186 ... See MoreSee Less
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Injury Prevention and Ergonomics
Injury prevention and ergonomic programs are designed to reduce the number of injuries occurring in the workplace.
Since the best way to treat an injury is to never get it in the first place, a proactive approach involving strategic planning to minimize injury should be taken by all employers and employees, especially where the risk of injury is high. This would include workers who sit for extended periods of time, perform repetitive movements, and workers who lift or move heavy objects.
Notice to California Residents - Making a false or fraudulent workers' compensation claim is a felony subject to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $50,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater, or by both imprisonment and fine.
Work Injury Studies
Mon 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tue 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wed 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fri 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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A little while ago, I wrote a piece which referred to the "naming of parts", stressing the importance of clarity and precision in the use of words, remarking that sloppy use of vocabulary leads to confusion and muddle.
But it isn't just the avoidance of confusion and muddle that is at stake. Clarity and precision also goes to credibility. I used for my example the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle and one can imagine the reception which might be given to a self-proclaimed expert on the rifle who referred to the magazine as, say, "the bullet container".
In that context, one takes a rather cynical view of the self-styled Alternative Arrangements Commission (AAC) and its Interim Report. The report is put together by supposed experts but displays an alarming number of what might be called "rookie errors". For instance, if one turns to Chapter 9 (page 109) one sees the assertion that:
Under EU law, there are multiple regulations requiring inspections of animals, animal products, food and plants ("Veterinary and SPS goods") at the EU's external borders. … For example, under EU law, imports of plants and plant products must comply with phytosanitary measures that require the goods to … undergo customs inspections at the BIP at the point of entry into the EU.
From this short passage, a few points emerge. Firstly, one sees the reference to "Veterinary and SPS goods", which is rather odd. SPS stands for Sanitary and Phytosanitary – respectively products of animal and plant origin. The "sanitary" goods are veterinary goods. The term SPS is sufficient – the addition of "veterinary" is tautologous and is not used by practitioners.
Secondly, customs do not carry out SPS checks. They are not customs inspections and are carried out entirely separately to customs controls. They include veterinary border controls and plant protection controls, many of which come under the generic term "official controls".
Thirdly, plants and plant products are not inspected in Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), as such. The BIPs are veterinary inspection posts. Legally, under EU law, plants and plant products go to Designated Points of Entry (DPE). However, foodstuffs of plant origin, for the sake of administrative convenience, are often inspected in combined units which are both BIPs and DPEs.
Even if insistence on accuracy in this instance might be regarded (by some) as pedantry, the manifest inaccuracies certainly go to the credibility of the AAC. If they can't get such details right, what credence can be given to the rest of their report?
Furthermore, there is an important omission in the short passage to which I refer. While it is indeed the case that plant and plant products are inspected at DPEs, there is no reference to an important exception which allows approved importers to have their checks carried out "at a place other than the point of entry into the Community or at a place close by". This is quite a crucial point as there is already far more flexibility in the system than is indicated by the original assertion.
As it happens, official controls (which are not mentioned anywhere in the AAC's report by their correct designation), form an important part of the report – understandably so, as they create major problems in the event of Brexit, with or without a deal. Under almost all circumstances, the Republic will be required to install on its border with Northern Ireland what are to be renamed Border Control Posts (BCPs), where mandatory SPS checks will have to be carried out on goods imported from the UK (and other third countries).
Given the length of the Irish land border and the multiple crossing points, and the relatively high volume of SPS traffic, this presents one of the most intractable problems for Brexit, and doubly so in the event of a no-deal. Thus, it is one the AAC is keenest to solve, in terms of proposing "alternative arrangements".
But here, the AAC's report is not tainted just by inaccuracy but by a downright lie. Desperate to sell the concept of "beyond the border" inspections, the AAC wants to replace the BIPs/BCPs with "mobile inspection vehicles" which are "capable of providing the platform for required veterinary inspections in-situ on farms and food producers locations".
I will return to the concept of mobile units shortly, but currently, the AAC report does at least acknowledge that, "As a general rule, veterinary inspections must be conducted at BIPs which should be located in the immediate vicinity of the point of entry for the importation of the animals and veterinarians must be present to carry out such inspections".
This is set out in Regulation (EU) 2017/625 although the AAC also asserts that "SPS goods may also be inspected at an approved inland location, for example in a cold storage facility where a container is unloaded". I am unable confirm the veracity of this claim – it is unreferenced and I can find no such exception in EU legislation.
Interestingly, all references are omitted from the AAC report, but it does go on to make a more substantive assertion, that:
EU law contains an exception that, where necessitated by geographical constraints (such as an unloading wharf or a pass), a border inspection post at a certain distance from the point of introduction may be tolerated if approved by the EU through the applicable procedures and, in the case of rail transport, at the first station stop designated by a Member State. For example, in Rotterdam the BIP is located 40km inland from the container terminal in the harbour.
And here we have the lie direct, with a degree of creative ambiguity which is quite obviously calculated to deceive. Firstly, EU law, currently, doesn't contain an exception – not at the moment. A new law, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012, has recently been promulgated. But this does not take effect until later this year, on 14 December.
The point here is that a law not currently in force cannot apply to the existing situation in Rotterdam where it is claimed that "the BIP is located 40km inland from the container terminal in the harbour". But the lie is more subtle, seen last year in a report written by Peter Lilley.
As I wrote at the time, not only is this not true in principle, it is disingenuous at several levels. Rotterdam is not so much a port as a port complex, stretching from the Maas estuary at the North Sea end, with the Kloosterboer Delta Terminal, into the heart of the city, with an outpost Dordrecht on the Oude Maas. In all, it extends over 40 kms from end to end.
Putting this in context, even if the BIP was bang in the centre of the port complex, it would still be 20 km from the "border" – i.e., the seaward edge of the complex. As it is, there are four separate BIP facilities registered by the EU within the Rotterdam Port area, including one at the Kloosterboer Delta Terminal, right at the entrance to the estuary.
But, as far as the AAC is concerned, no lie is so egregious that it cannot be usefully recycled, and then swallowed uncritically by the gullible. And that brings us to the creative ambiguity, the claimed exception to the "immediate vicinity" rule set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012.
Although the AAC would have you believe that this is a wide-ranging exemption, it is remarkably limited. Basically, it applies to points of entry: with a geographical configuration that imposes major constraints on the transportation system; which are subject to recurrent floods in certain periods of the year; where maritime wharves are surrounded by cliffs; where border roads cross a high pass; where rail transport of animals and goods makes it necessary to locate the border control post at the first station stop; or where there is no suitable land in the vicinity.
Spelling out the detail makes one thing abundantly clear: nothing in the new regulations would permit the movement of BCPs away from the Irish border, much less allow "veterinary inspections in-situ on farms and food producers locations". The AAC scheme is pure moonshine.
As for using "mobile inspection vehicles", at the top of this page is a picture of a BIP (one I have used before). These are substantial buildings, with the requirements set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014. The detail reflects the range and complexity of the functions carried out in them. And the AAC thinks they can use vehicles to do the job? Seriously?
But just in case there might be any uncertainty about what is intended, yesterday we saw Shanker Singham address the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, where he was asked by Lady Hermon about these famous mobile inspection units. Said Singham:
You have to differentiate between veterinary checks and classical SPS checks done inland in facilities and veterinary checks which historically have had to be done at border inspection posts at the border. So the UCC and the Border Inspection Post regulation allows you to move in certain cases the infrastructure off the border, so that's the first step. The first step is to move the infrastructure off the border.
Questioned about this specific aspect, Singham reiterated that, "the BIP regulation allows you, you don't have to have a Border Inspection Post at the border for SPS checks". Lady Hermon quickly asked which inspections were going to be moved, whence Singham asserted:
Needless to say, the Union Customs Code does not apply to SPS checks, so Singham is perpetuating the rookie error of eliding official controls and customs controls. The exemptions (not derogations) on BIP locations are set out in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012 and they are as previously stated.
There is, however, an exemption where a "mobile official control team" can be used, but that applies to border control posts, "which, due to the long coastline or borders of the Member State concerned, only operate at the time of performing controls on consignments of unprocessed logs and sawn and chipped wood". The BCPs are not replaced, and the checks can't be done "away from the border". What this allows is for several specialist posts dealing only with unprocessed logs and sawn and chipped wood to be staffed, under certain conditions, by a mobile team of officials.
This misrepresentation is way beyond moonshine. But, returning to my original "naming of parts", if your gullible audience doesn't know what a rifle magazine is, then the "expert" gets away with calling it a "bullet container".
So, yesterday, we had Shanker Singham spouting the most unbelievable guff at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. There wasn't a single MP ready to call him out, pointing out that the mythical mobile units were a complete invention and can't exist within the framework of EU law.
The reality is that Brexit creates a requirement for multiple Border Inspection Posts (BCPs). But, says Singham (quite rightly): "Obviously, we can't do that for the island of Ireland". So he invents a fantasy solution which, with a straight face, he puts to a committee of gullible MPs, to the plaudits of most of the members, some of whom are on the board of his commission.
It is no wonder we're getting nowhere with Brexit. When liars stalk the land, polluting the debate with their poisonous nostrums, and no one calls them out, we cannot progress, especially when the Guardian is more interested in Mr Johnson being "criticised for [his] male-dominated campaign team".
And it gets even worse. It is this garbage, as the Independent notes, on which Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson relies.
Singham claims that the job of his AAC was "to come up with the arrangements that we think will makes sense". But the only "sense" here is that he and Johnson, liars both, deserve each other. Yet, as is reported equally uncritically by the BBC, he still gets away with saying that his "alternative arrangements protocol is intended to supersede and make the backstop unnecessary. It would be almost like a 'front stop'", he says.
Sadly, once the European Commission has finished with it, it would not be a "front stop" so much as a full stop.
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2012-13 Men's EHF Cup
Feature: In the sign of big "H"
Despite celebrating sixty this year, the EHF Cup Finals hosts from Nantes are just in their toddler´s years in European handball.
»EC Channel More information on »2012-13 Men's EHF Cup
»Frederic Dole
»Alberto Entrerrios Rodriguez
Handball in Nantes, the hosting city of the premier edition of the EHF Cup Finals, has always been an interesting story. The story, which has been written under the sign of the letter “H” and not only because of the name of the most dynamic sport art of the world.
“H” like a History in making, “H” like a Hope to fulfill, “H” like a Honour in hearts when dressed in the club´s uniform...
The town's main club, the HBCN (Handball Club of Nantes) was born in 1953, but never made it to the 1st division until 2009.
Before that, the best years had been at the end of the '90, when the club accessed the fourth division, and even participated in games qualifying for the third divisions, but lost all of them. The HBCN then quickly sank down and went all the way back to Nationale 3, the equivalent of the fifth division.
But at the beginning of the new millennium, handball rose again, and thanks to the arrival of former professional players (such as Bruno Pagès, once goalkeeper in Montpellier) the club made the steps forward very quickly.
Nantes promoted to the second division and then to the first division, with the addition of another former Montpellier player, Frédéric Dole, who still plays with Nantes.
At this point, Nantes was enjoying a huge success locally, so much that the ancient arena (Gymnase Mongin) had to be expanded, and the club even had to go and play at the much bigger Palais des Sports de Beaulieu (5000 seats), which is its home these days.
Gael Pelletier, the club´s president, gave his team a lot of credits by having a lot of advertisement in local media, so that the Nantes team could count on a very strong local fan-base.
"When I arrived in Nantes, I knew something great could be done here, but a lot of changes had to be done. The arrival of Thierry Anti, with his past and experience, changed a lot of things," Dole explained.
"When you've got a coach with such an experience, it's easier to sign good players. And then, the more good results you get, the more good players want to play with the club," he added.
The word spread quickly and the national handball authorities were really happy to have a club in this major French city. Nantes welcomed twice the French league cup final four, and made its first toddler’s steps in the EHF Cup last year.
Last summer, Nantes recruited one of the most famous Spanish handball players in history Alberto Entrerrios, alongside his national teammate Jorge Maqueda. They were not the first Spanish players to sign for the “H” club though, since Valero Rivera, the son of Spain's head-coach, arrived a year earlier, proving to be a very successful transfer since he immediately became one of the league's best scorer.
Alberto Entrerrios felt like at home very quickly.
"All went really quickly and really well. The team is really young in terms of history in European competitions, but we're very strong, because we're playing as a team.
"The squad is very well balanced, handball-wise or generation-wise. The older players get along with the youngsters very well," Entrerrios said.
But before them, a handful of players had written a part of the HBC history. Two Danish players, Marrott and Nielsen, were the first foreigners to ever play in the French championship back in the mid-fifties.
The Hungarian Attila Borsos also played in Nantes. More recently, some international players are still playing in Nantes, since Marouène Maggaiez and Mahmoud Gharbi play for Tunisia and Gunnar Jonsson plays for Iceland.
This squad is now steered by Thierry Anti, who previously coached Paris and Créteil and who's been in charge of Nantes for five years now.
Nantes still thoroughly keeps an eye on forming new players. Obryan Nyateu, a regular fixture in Nantes' squad, was formed here, while Thierry Anti recruited Gunnar Jonsson and signed Stefan Vujić, two young players that he hopes to develop in the near future.
It is him who put the club in the spotlight, but nothing would have ever been possible without the help of Stephane Moualek who, back in the beginning of the 2000's, came as a player and quickly added some much needed seriousness and professionalism into the club.
The pinnacle of the club's short European story came last December, when the city was chosen to organise the EHF Cup Finals in May.
Gael Pelletier was indeed first to recognise that the club would be nothing without the dozens of persons that give their time to the club each day.
"This nomination is above all a reward for the 120 enthusiastic volunteers of the club who are working daily to build the history of our club with a big `H`. It is the icing on the cake for the club's 60th anniversary," he stressed.
TEXT: Kevin Domas / br
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Laura LeHew
Laura LeHew is an award-winning poet whose work appears in a myriad of national and international journals and anthologies, such as A cappella Zoo, Eating Her Wedding Dress: A Collection of Clothing Poems from Ragged Sky Press, Gargoyle Magazine, Her Mark Calendar '07 & '09, Pank, you say. say (an anthology from Uphook Press), and the 2010 edition of the Syracuse Cultural Workers' Women Artists Datebook. Her chapbook Beauty was published by Tiger's Eye Press in 2009. Laura received her MFA in writing from the California College of the Arts and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She edits Uttered Chaos.
49 The Tension of Triangulation - Poetry 49 In My Sky of Sand (a sestina) - Poetry
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Tag Archive for Franklin Delano Roosevelt
In the Days Before
by Mary Pitt • April 27, 2013
Farmers paid $100 per year plus a share of the crop for the privilege of occupying the land.
History and legends are rife with tales of “Old Crones” who educated the people and the leaders of nations in their search for further civilization by telling them the stories of what had gone before in their history. This writer has reached that stage in life where I am ready and willing to accept the title of “Old Crone” and to try to educate our people of “the days before”, in this case specifically, of the days before many of the political and social programs which affect our lives today. Today, my story will be about what life was like for many in the days before some of taken-for-granted social programs of today.
I was born in 1930, during the administration of Herbert Hoover and in the early days of the famous Dust Bowl, to parents who were already elderly by the standards of the day. They already had eight children and had lost one in infancy. My father was a farmer and they reared their family on eighty acres of rented farmland as had their own families before them. I can remember the 1936 elections and my father’s ire at the successes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He hated government and resented any intrusion of said government into what he had considered the business of private persons.
Father paid $100 per year plus a share of the crop for the privilege of occupying the land. The money for the landlord had to be saved by pennies and nickels throughout the year to avoid having to move to another property the following year, so hard cash was very hard to come by. Therefore, all the household support was accomplished by my mother. She would plant huge gardens of vegetables which were canned in glass jars and stored in the storm cellar for use all year. Any patches of native fruits and berries were harvested and processed into the jars for winter consumption.
She kept chickens, laying hens that would provide the eggs which were carefully cleaned and boxed for transport to town to get enough cash to purchase the basic food which was our fare. A large box of eggs and a couple of gallons of cream from our cows would buy a huge box of oatmeal, a can of lard, and a 24-pound sack of flour for the bread which was our staple. On a good week, we could also afford a pound of oleomargarine, the kind that had to have the coloring removed from the packet and stirred into the glob of white goo which substituted for butter. Only occasionally was there a nickel left to buy a bit of sugar to sweeten the fruit or, wonder of wonders, to bake a cake.
When Roosevelt established the Work Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corp, we worried that Father would die of apoplexy! A married older brother with a family went to work for the WPA and another brother joined the CCC. At last, there was a bit of cash in the household. And then, to Father’s horror, the farm commodities began to be distributed, “forcing” the families of farmers to “eat from a tin can.”
In the summer, Father and the boys would contract to bale hay for farmers with larger acreage. Some of that work was for cash while some was for a share of the bales, which could be sold to accumulate cash toward the annual rent. In the hardest years, there would not be enough cash income from the contracting and the sale of other crops to cover the $100 rent. Fortunately, since Father was such a good farmer with so many mouths to feed, the landlord was often lenient and accepted only the share. It was hard, energy-sapping work and people just wore out at a much younger age than they do now.
When Father was only 60 years old, he began to suffer more from his chronic cough and there would be days that he would spend the day in the house, worrying aloud….very loud! On many occasions, due to the hard work and the vagaries of nature, he had suffered from severe pneumonia for extended periods and his cough had worsened each time. There were doctors at that time but even they were limited in what medicines or procedures were available. Even if the doctors had the capabilities and the knowledge of today, the poor had no money and would lie-in at home until nature took its course.
In 1940 another of the older brothers left home. Since there was no work locally, he joined the Navy, so he would not be available for the next haying season but, somehow, we made it through. Then Pearl Harbor happened and our whole world turned upside-down. The oldest brother who was left at home went to the county seat and enlisted in the Army. This left only three brothers at home, not enough to do all the work, much less to compensate for Father’s lessened abilities.
There was no choice but to sell out what we owned on the farm and move into town. Being still a child, I was more concerned with losing all the friends when the animals had to go to new homes, but there were more serious concerns than that. Later in life, in going through Mother’s papers, I came across the accounting from the auction of all my parents’ worldly goods. With the sale of every animal, every piece of farm equipment, and all the appurtenances that went with them, their “lifetime savings” amounted to slightly over $600!
My mother has always been my hero, and she proved it then. She rented a house in our small town and moved in with three almost-adult boys, an elementary-school daughter, and a dying husband and she made us a home! The brother who was in the Army arranged for her to be given $15 a month as a “family allotment.” This amount covered the rent with nothing left for food. The brother in the Navy had married and his allotment was going to his wife. The two older sons who were at home did find part-time work around town, as helpers in various shops, and contributed their earnings to the family.
You may ask, “Why didn’t she go on welfare or apply for SSI for your father?” The answer is simple. That was in “The Days Before!” When you hear the politicians complain about needing to “reform entitlements,” and you know that their aim is merely to end them, be sure to watch for my next article about what life was like in the days when there were no entitlements or other assistance for the poor.
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely.
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Logan Marshall-Green – IMDb
Logan Marshall-Green, Actor: The Invitation. Logan is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. His parents are both drama teachers. His mother, Lowry Marshall, is the artistic director of Brown University’s repertory theatre department.
See Full Bio · Upgrade · Logan Marshall-Green · Damnation · Photos · Quarry
Logan Marshall-Green (@elemgy) • Instagram photos and videos
Logan Marshall-Green – Wikipedia
Logan Marshall-Green – Rotten Tomatoes
Logan Marshall-Green Celebrity Profile – Check out the latest Logan Marshall-Green photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at Rotten Tomatoes!
Tom Hardy Or Logan Marshall-Green? – BuzzFeed
Celebrity Tom Hardy Or Logan Marshall-Green? Can you tell the difference between these two celebrity dopplegängers? Considering how the latter is the star of Prometheus (out this weekend!), you
Logan Marshall-Green | Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
Logan Marshall-Green portrayed Jackson Brice/Shocker in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Trivia Logan Marshall-Green auditioned for the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy., Logan Marshall-Green had an on-off relationship with Marisa Tomei., Logan Marshall-Green previously worked with Bokeem
Character: Jackson Brice / Shocker #1
Logan Marshall-Green Photos, News and Videos, Trivia and
Logan Marshall-Green (born November 1, 1976) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the television series 24, The O.C., Traveler, Dark Blue and Quarry, as well as his roles in the films Prometheus, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Upgrade.
Logan Marshall-Green Actor | TV Guide
Learn more about Logan Marshall-Green at TVGuide.com with exclusive news, full bio and filmography as well as photos, videos, and more.
Logan Marshall-Green 2019: Wife, net worth, tattoos
On 1-11-1976 Logan Marshall-Green (nickname: Logan ) was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He made his 1 million dollar fortune with The O.C., The Invitation. The actor is married to Diane Marshall-Green, his starsign is Scorpio and he is now 42 years of age.
Logan Marshall-Green – Biography – IMDb
Logan is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. His parents are both drama teachers. His mother, Lowry Marshall, is the artistic director of Brown University’s repertory theatre department.
Logan Marshall-Green on Upgrade and Quarry Season 2 | Collider
Logan Marshall-Green tells us about filming Leigh Whannell’s sci-fi thriller Upgrade, the most challenging part of the performance, why the practical effects made a huge difference, and if he
Logan Marshall-Green – Topic – YouTube
Logan Marshall-Green is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the television series 24, The O.C., Traveler, Dark Blue and Quarry, as well as his ro
Amazon.com: Upgrade: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel
After his wife is killed during a brutal mugging that also leaves him paralyzed, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Prometheus) is approached by a billionaire inventor with an experimental cure that will “upgrade” his body.
Logan Marshall-Green | Xenopedia | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Logan Marshall-Green (born November 1, 1976 or February 26, 1978) is an American actor who played Charlie Holloway in the 2012 film Prometheus, as well as the 2012 short film Prometheus Transmission.
Appearances: Prometheus
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Farringtons is a community dedicated to the spiritual, moral, academic, emotional and physical well-being and development of its members. As senior members of the School, Sixth Formers will wish to do all in their power to develop and promote these aims amongst those around them.
It follows that they will at all times conduct themselves in a way that demonstrates a positive example to others, both inside and outside School, observing – and where necessary enforcing – all the norms of decent and acceptable behaviour.
Some detailed information and guidelines are given below; any specific matters which cannot be resolved in the light of these should be referred directly to the Head of Sixth Form.
All Sixth Form boarders must register with their Form Tutors in the morning and attend Chapel; they must also register after lunch. During the school day, Sixth Form boarders will need to devote their time, almost exclusively, to timetabled lessons and private study. Therefore they must work independently in School during free study periods; this will usually be in supervised study with the other Sixth Form students. They may only have unsupervised study afternoons when this privilege is made available by the Head of the Sixth Form.
All Sixth Formers are asked to sign a Pupil Contract, giving specific details about expectations and home study time. They must also complete Home Study Request and Visits/Excursions Forms.
Day pupils are welcome to spend time with friends in the Boarding House on any day of the week, but must inform House Staff and sign in/out if they are on the premises beyond 6pm. They must leave before 8pm.
The Form Tutor should be kept informed of medical appointments and other necessary visits.
In order to provide information in the case of an emergency, any Sixth Former leaving the premises during the school day must sign in and out at East House reception.
All Sixth Formers are role models and are expected to be leaders in the School community. They take their share of various school duties including lunch duty and shared prep supervision. They are also responsible for routine tasks such as ensuring common room tidiness and kitchen hygiene. Sixth Formers are also required to act as Form Prefects and guides for prospective pupils as and when necessary, but not normally during their lesson times.
Duty rotas are drawn up by the Form Tutor in conjunction with students.
If a member of the Sixth Form cannot carry out their duty on a particular occasion, they must notify their Form Tutor. They are free to find a substitute (normally by arranging an exchange) but must inform either the Form Captain or the Form Tutor. If a Sixth Former is unexpectedly absent, the Form Tutor in conjunction with the Form Captain will arrange for their duties to be covered, but they will normally be expected to make up those duties on their return.
Contact books are provided for Sixth Formers in order to facilitate the organisation of their studies and these should be used on a daily basis. Independent learning is the responsibility of each student and facilities are available for quiet private study.
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Showing results for tags 'Playstation 3'.
Spotify Now Available On Sony Consoles
Sailor Liztress posted a article in Sony
There are times when playing a game that you just might prefer to listen one of your favorite jams instead of the soundtrack within the game. You want something that getting the blood pumping when you take on opponents in one of many FPS titles. Or perhaps, you just want to cruise along in a racing game with some good old Johnny Cash. Sony had announced earlier that their Music Unlimited service would be coming to end on March 29 and that they had a new and exclusive partnership with Spotify. Spotify, for those who haven't ever used it, allows you to create and listen to over 30 million songs while you play your favorite games. While Spotify basically works just like Music Unlimited, one notable difference is the ability to use it without paying the monthly fee. But if you want to listen to your playlists without ad interruptions, the Premium upgrade is only $9.99 a month. Subscribers of Music Unlimited get a free two-month trail while others can get a free month of Spotify Premium. Source: PlayStation Blog
Review: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
Venom posted a blog entry in Venomous Incorporated
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is in a bit of an odd spot - it's a licensed game, which usually means trouble, but the show it's based on is itself based on an established gaming icon. Does it overcome the stigma of licensed games to earn a spot in the collection of every Pac-Maniac, or is this ghostly adventure haunted by its status as a tie-in product? Read on to find out! Developer: Bandai Namco Games, Monkey Bar Games Publisher: Bandai Namco Games Platform(s): Wii U, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, PC via Steam Release Date: October 25, 2013 ESRB: E10+ Review is based on the PC/Steam version Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a 3D platformer based on the DisneyXD television show of the same name. In the game, Betrayus, whose name pretty much tells you everything you need to know, is up to his old tricks and aims to take over Pac-World and turn all its residents into ghosts! Only Pac-Man and his friends can stop him, but you already knew that. This time around, Pac-Man must traverse various dangerous worlds looking for stone tablets that, once deciphered, may hold the key to stopping Betrayus' villainy once and for all! Of course, if you're like me and have never seen an episode of the show, none of that will really matter. The characters (besides Pac-Man, Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde) were all new to me, and some references to events from the show went over my head. If you are a fan of the show, you'll certainly get a kick out of these, but if not, then you'll be left wondering what they're talking about - thankfully, other than the winks and nods, the story is self-contained enough that anyone could follow it regardless of prior knowledge. Story cutscenes are also generally few and far between and really only serve to fill in the gaps between levels, so the real focus will be on the hopping and chomping you'll be doing. Ghostly Adventures takes you through different worlds as you run, jump, chomp enemies, and gather collectibles as well as the ever-present pellets and fruit the series is known for. You'll also come across various power-ups ranging from the ability to throw fireballs to puffing up Pac-Man like a balloon to float through windy areas and reach new heights. The power-ups play into the levels by requiring you to use them to traverse certain areas or defeat certain enemies, and you'll often use more than one powerup in a single level (or even in a single area of a level) which keeps the gameplay from getting too stale over the rather short course of the campaign. You'll also need them for the majority of the boss fights, which pop up in different levels rather than always at the end of a world, so they'll keep you on your toes. When not partaking in perilous platforming and performing powered-up poundings on poltergeists (try saying that five times fast) there's a hub world to play around in the form of Pac-Man's school, where you can converse with characters and play a few arcade-style games that you'll unlock over time, none of which, for some reason, are the original Pac-Man. While the game works fine as a 3D platformer - which makes sense because it's not even new ground for Pac-Man - it also falls prey to some of the pitfalls of the genre, notably a finicky camera that sometimes struggles to show you where you're going. Thankfully, the controls work well enough that you can often recover before plummeting to your doom, and if not, the game is generous with extra lives, which can be picked up in the levels or obtained after defeating enough enemies. You won't really need them that much, though, because most of your deaths will come by accident rather than from the enemies, since, as a game based on a children's show, it doesn't offer up a whole lot of challenge. Some of the later levels can get a little hectic, but you'll never see anything on the same scale as, say, a late-game level in one of the 3D Super Mario games. Also, in comparison to Super Mario, the game's physics, level layouts, and general gameplay all have their own feel to set Ghostly Adventures apart from the competition, so fortunately you're not likely to suffer from déjà vu during your playtime. Aside from the campaign, there's also a multiplayer mode, but it's local-only so I was unable to try it out. From a visual standpoint, the game is generally bright and colorful, which is typical of 3D platformers but welcome nonetheless in today's gaming climate. Each area also has its own distinct look, and there's a good bit of set dressing to really give each world its own personality. While the game isn't a graphical powerhouse - and indeed, barely looks the part of a seventh-generation console game - it doesn't really need to be one, either, so it's not likely to bother even older players. SInce the show is done in CGI, the game is able to simply emulate the same three-dimensional look, which helps tie the game to its source material. On the audio side of things, the game features a fun, bouncy soundtrack that incorporates some tunes from Pac-Man's past as well as the show itself, a nice touch for fans of both. The sound effects in the game are mostly pulled from the arcade game as well, though there are a few new ones that work just fine too. The game also features full voice acting, though soundalikes were used in place of the show's original cast. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a fun and colorful platformer with a laid-back attitude, with all the key elements of the genre coming together to form an enjoyable romp through Pac-World. However, a couple of things hold it back from true greatness - foremost is the game's length, which clocks in around 5 hours. The other is that, while the game is certainly distinct from other 3D platformers and stands on its own, it still doesn't do anything new or particularly interesting with the genre. Add to the fact that this game is mostly aimed at the younger crowd, and you've got a recipe for a good rental, but not necessarily a good purchase. There's certainly a lot of fun to be had, but there's just not enough to the game to really chomp into, leaving a ghostly trace that will haunt players with a hunger for more. Score: 7/10 TL;DR version - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a fun platformer that manages to stand apart from the likes of Mario, and also manages to escape from the general awfulness of licensed games. There's a lot to like for fans of the show and even those who haven't watched it may still find the game enjoyable, however, the game's short length and lack of true challenge for hardcore gamers keeps it from being a truly significant experience. It might be worth a rental if you're hankering for a 3D platformer that doesn't star a portly plumber, but I honestly can't recommend a purchase.
Monkey Bar Games
Review: Battle Princess of Arcadias
gaiages posted a article in PS3 Reviews
Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: NIS America Platform: PlayStation 3 Release Date: June 17, 2014 ESRB: T for Teen When Vanillaware hit it big with audiences back in 2008 with the release of the PS2 title Odin Sphere, niche companies took notice. People were interested not only in 2D hack-and-slash titles, but also games with unique and beautiful art styles that portray a wonderful world to delve into. Developers listened, and not only did we get more Vanillaware games in the same artistic vein such as Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Dragon's Crown, but also efforts from other developers, like the indie darling Dust: An Elysian Tail. Battle Princess of Arcadias seems to be Nippon Ichi's attempt to break into the market Vanillaware has created, throwing players into a colorful, pretty world with plenty of monsters to fight through. Does Battle Princess carve out a good name for itself in this niche market, or does it fail to impress beyond the wonderful graphical coating? Battle Princess of Arcadias takes place in the land of Arcadias, wherein dangerous monsters have suddenly appeared and began wreaking havoc in the land. In response to this, the princess of the Schwert Kingdom, Plume, takes up her sword and defends her land, earning her the title of Battle Princess. The game follows Plume and her companions throughout their struggles against monsterkind, as well as a new threat that makes itself prevalent as the game progresses. The plot, while at first seeming a bit bland, ends up being very intriguing, though to explain precisely why would lead to spoilers. It is also lighthearted and humorous; while it does take itself seriously from time to time, Battle Princess of Arcadias never drowns in melancholy. The characters are usually cheery and happy to take hoards upon hoards of monsters... with a few exceptions. Also, while most of the secondary characters initially fall into predictable tropes, most of them break out of said tropes in interesting ways. It leads to having interesting dialogue on the rather unusual events, and gives the title plenty of charm beyond its aesthetics. But, with any game of its ilk, the gameplay is the most important aspect of Battle Princess of Arcadias, compelling story or not. There are three different, very distinct types of battles to work through. First up are Combat missions. Combat missions take up to three characters into the 2D field, where you fight monsters in a typical beat-em-up fashion. These types of missions are typically best for leveling up the various characters you'll recruit throughout the course of the game, as well as getting a feel for each character's play styles. As characters level up, they learn more elaborate combos and moves, giving one reason to keep them all leveled somewhat equally. Combat missions tend to show the most basic part of Battle Princess of Arcadias, but the other types of missions tend to expand on this basic aspect to varying degrees of success. Siege battles have your three chosen characters and the Princess Brigade fighting against a large monster. Since you are controlling essentially an army, you have to give orders to ensure that the Brigade doesn't get decimated by the boss. You can order them to go into an all out attack, lowering their defensive abilities for when the monster counters, or go on the full defensive, limiting your losses, but placing the majority of the damage dealing onto yourself. You can also order the troops to retreat to recover their numbers while you fight alone (if the Brigade is wiped out, you fail the mission), and if morale raises high enough, you can initiate a showdown that can do massive damage to the enemy. The explanations the game offers and all the bars moving about on the screen make Siege battles look complicated, but it's really all that simple: Keep whaling on the enemy while making sure not too many of your troops fall, don't change your commands too often (as a command costs some morale), and finish the boss off with a Showdown when it becomes available. The key is to ensure that you yourself don't get caught in the monster's attack, as they do a lot of damage. As such, Sieges become more battles of careful positioning than anything, and because of that, they tend to be the weakest mission type in the game. Skirmishes, on the other hand, are an interesting mix of the Combat missions and the use of the Princess Brigade, but the actual execution can sometimes be hit-or-miss. In Skirmishes, you take certain units of the Princess Brigade (defined by the weapon they use) into battles against other units, while your character dukes it out with enemy troops in the foreground. What troops you'll want to bring depends on the weapons the enemy's troops are using, as each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses. You will also have to command the troops in this type of mission, although instead of retreating you'll have the command to change out the current unit for the next in line. Skirmishes also effectively put a level stop-gap on your progression through the game. Skirmishes become very difficult if the right units aren't near the level the enemy units are--and this is even more apparent if you don't have a good unit to counter against an enemy unit. The only way to level up these units, however, is to first get the Leader to the desired level, then level up the unit with money. You cannot raise a unit's level beyond the leader's level, and the use of exponentially increasing amounts of gold ensure that, at least in the early parts of the game, you'll be forced to grind a bit until the units are up to speed. During the late-game, though, your units and characters gain enough versatility that grinding isn't nearly as much of an issue, and is more of an option available for an easier victory. Battle Princess of Arcadias also has a few, relatively small annoyances that need to be brought up, aside from the early game forced grinding to succeed at Skirmishes. All new playable character come come at a level significantly lower than your current members, so it takes a while of replaying older stages and equipment upgrades to make them viable... and simply ignoring them isn't an option either, due to the Skirmishes. The title also has random difficulty bumps which can, again, be solved by grinding, but it can lead to annoyance to have to go and grind to get past a random battle. Regardless of these hiccups, Battle Princess of Arcadias is a very solid package. Beneath the candy-coated exterior is a well-thought out plot, interesting characters, and deep combat. It's worth checking out if you like any sort of action game or action RPG; it's not likely Battle Princess of Arcadias will disappoint. Pros: + Interesting plot will keep you moving through the missions + Trope-breaking characters add genuine depth + Combat is satisfying and rewarding Cons: - Difficulty bumps, especially in the beginning, can frustrate - Grinding up new characters is tedious, yet necessary Overall Score: 8.5 (out of 10) Great Battle Princess of Arcadias is a satisfying mix of elements that make for an enjoyable, somewhat lengthy journey. Disclosure: This game was reviewed using downloadable PS3 code provided by the publisher.
Review: The Witch and the Hundred Knight
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software Platform: PlayStation 3 Release Date: March 25, 2014 ESRB: T for Teen Sometimes a game is more than the sum of its parts. There are titles out there that may have drab mechanics and a dull story, but everything blends together so well that the game is better for it. Whether it's the result of a clever designer or some voodoo programming magic, a game that would normally be considered boring or bad is now suddenly playable and, dare I say, fun. Normally these types of games don't really end up being masterpieces or classics, but instead are pleasant surprises—a neat little game that was just a little bit better than expected. Is The Witch and The Hundred Knight greater than the sum of its parts? Not quite, but this is a title that requires you to look past just its disjointed pieces and judge it as a whole, because while no particular part of this game is stand-out, it is still an enjoyable (if obtuse) experience. In The Witch and The Hundred Knight, you control the Hundred Knight, a legendary creature that is capable of spreading death and destruction around the world. Unfortunately for the summoner, however, the legends were a little exaggerated, and instead of a giant world destroyer, the Hundred Knight is a puny monster incapable of even human speech. This doesn't deter the self-appointed Great Witch of the Swamp, Metallia, however. Menacing or not, she plans on controlling and using the Hundred Knight to her own evil deeds, and take over the world with a sea of swamp water and muck. The thing is, Metallia is evil. Not "evil" in the typical fashion that you might expect a Disgaea protagonist to be, but flat out demonic. She does not simply stop trying to take over the world because of some wonderful revelation, nor admit to doing so to achieve some vaguely noble cause; Metallia is pretty mad at the world, and she'll do whatever she wants in order to take her revenge. The game doesn't show you the Swamp Witch's torturous acts in action as the graphics aren't really up to that challenge, but it doesn't pull any punches in describing these acts to you. The fact that this title dares to have such an evil, mostly unlikeable protagonist is pretty impressive on its own, but when you add on the game's ability to balance these gruesome scenes with touches of humor and light-heartedness, you've got quite the intriguing plot on your hands. However, intriguing doesn't always equal perfect. Many jokes in The Witch and the Hundred Knight fall flat, and the writers made Metallia so despicable it can be truly hard to care about her plight, and by extension, the story itself. Also, the storytelling is pretty uneven, in terms of how it meshes with the gameplay. There are long stretches of fighting with only a few quick lines to break it up, and then there are long scenes that shove far too many plot points in twenty minute stretches. Had the storytelling been better disbursed amongst the chapters, rather than dumped inelegantly at the beginning and end, The Witch and the Hundred Knight would have stood a lot better on the story front. When not wading through cutscenes, you'll be wading through the blood of Metallia's enemies, as well as any wildlife that happens to get in your way. The Witch and The Hundred Knight is an Action RPG with some dungeon crawling mixed in, and frankly the game makes the oddly named and various systems it implements sound way more complicated than it is. When exploring the various fields the Hundred Knight will be sent out to, the first thing you'll notice is a number in the upper-left hand corner of the screen. The Hundred Knight's GigaCal meter, which starts at 100%, will constantly go down while exploring. Every single action the Hundred Knight takes will deplete the GigaCal gauge (even if it's miniscule), and if the Hundred Knight runs out of GigaCals while out on the field, you'll be sent back to Metallia's home with some hefty penalties. While it seems like you'll always have to keep an eye on GigaCals, it's really not as troublesome as it sounds, though. The game gives you some very clear indicators when you're running low, and even if you happen to run dry, you'll be able to scurry back to a checkpoint-like Pillar to return to base... as long as you have enough HP to survive the constant drain, that is. There's also various ways to restore your GigaCals, and the presence of said Pillars allows you to go back to base and rest up fairly frequently. Like most Action RPGs, the Hundred Knight can equip a variety of different weapons to take down his foes. The thing that makes The Witch and the Hundred Knight different from other RPGs, however, is how weapon combos work. Instead of a weapon having a canned combo, the weapon itself is the combo, and you can customize it to your needs and situation. You have fives slots to equip weapons in, and where you equip your weapons will effect how your combo plays out depending on the weapon type. For example, Hammers are slow but very powerful, so they tend to be better at the end of a combo. However, they also have a high chance to stun the enemy, so they could also go well at the beginning of a combo so you can get a full round of hits off before an enemy can retaliate. It all depends on your playstyle, but it's also important to keep track of enemy weaknesses. If it all sounds overwhelming, it really isn't. The Witch and the Hundred Knight is a bit on the easy side, barring some random, small difficulty bumps. Enemies scale to your level, but only to a certain point; it's supposed to encourage leveling the really-not-that-different Facets evenly, but it ends up make the adventure simply a task of equipping the right weapon at the right time. There are other small mechanics and tricks that help the player succeed, but for the most part these mechanics can be ignored. That's one of the larger problems with the gameplay, really. For all the intricacies and nuances the game has, little of it really matters when you're going through the game. This isn't helped by the fact that many of these aren't alluded to in the game itself. Instead, they are briefly mentioned in the tips displayed when the game is loading. Since the tips come up randomly and out of order, it could be chapters before you learn of certain aspects of the game. Therefore, they mostly become throwaway mechanics—neat when you learn about them, but ultimately having no real impact on the gameplay. The Witch and the Hundred Knight is far from perfect, but it is still a title that's worth a look for those with an interest with a different storyline. It has its quirks, and even its stretches of boredom in between cutscenes, but can be worth powering through in order to see what happens next. Pros: - Intriguing characters give you reason to see the plot until the end - Weapon combo system allows for a lot of customization - Tenpei Sato's soundtrack is exceptional Cons: - Uneven storytelling makes battle and dialogue alike drag on - Many of the mechanics throughout the game are throwaway Overall Score: 6.5 (out of 10) Decent The Witch and The Hundred Knight is going to be one of those 'love it or hate it' games with Nippon Ichi fans. The title has a lot of interesting concepts, but are haphazardly implemented and weaken the overall package. Disclaimer: This game was reviewed using PS3 downloadable code provided by the publisher.
The Greatest Generation of Gaming?
Blazeknyt posted a blog entry in Blazing Storm
With the newest consoles having been released by November of 2013, the latest generation of gaming is now in full swing. There is a lot of talk about how each system does not have standout games, but rest assured, those games are being made. But the new generation has just started, and while the last one is still going, it“s a good time to look back and see what it accomplished. There was a lot that happened in this generation of gaming. And in order to bring the whole thing into perspective, we have to go back to 2005… Microsoft, during a conference, had introduced HD TVs. The point of those HD TVs was that the next gaming console, the Xbox 360, was to be compatible with HD picture quality, in order to bring a whole new experience. In order to do that, you had to buy a TV that had the capability to do so. The Xbox 360 eventually came in a slim model. During E3 of that year, Sony“s and Nintendo“s hands were forced and they unveiled their respective new machines. While Sony showed a more traditional mock-up, Nintendo, being Nintendo, had their president pull out their mock up out of his jacket pocket. The machine, codenamed the Nintendo Revolution, had been revealed. However, everything presented had been just promises, and dreams. No one had made any of the dreams a reality…yet. Microsoft released the Xbox 360 in November of 2005. It was the first of the three new consoles to be released. With a year head start it was allowed to set up some industry standards: HD graphics, which was promised earlier. Eventually it would bring the advent of streaming media to and from a video game console as Youtube grew in popularity. It sold very well, and was a bit more stable compared to Sony“s Playstation 3 during the beginning of its life. While it was plagued with the infamous “red ring of deathâ€, Microsoft“s bad customer service regarding fixing the console, and only a 20GB hard drive when it was first released, it was a working system beyond the fear of the red ring of death. Come 2006, Sony and Nintendo were ready to place their respective machines on the market. Sony“s Playstation 3 was incredibly powerful. It was not just a gaming console, but also a Blu-Ray player, and it was backward compatible! (At first) Sony had catered to various markets, (some people bought it solely for blu-ray) but it was one expensive box for most consumers. Released at a whopping $600, the Playstation 3 struggled. It was hard to develop for, and the PS2 emulation was causing glitches, which caused Sony to re-develop the PS3 and take out the backward compatibility. Remember the original "fat" model? Nintendo on the other hand, TOOK THE WORLD BY STORM. Nintendo managed to create yet another new control scheme: Motion control! This controller allowed people to play by actually moving the controller, and was a lot more intuitive to those who were not gamers. Nintendo combined the new control scheme with an easy to play game, Wii Sports. Everything you needed to do in that game was swing the wii remote. It was easy to play and easy to get into. Combine the other two elements with a marketing scheme that showed the entire family playing video games, and the end result was exactly as advertised! Wiis were flying off the shelves, and everyone was playing Wii Sports. The Wii was the cheapest system as well, at $250. (Compared to the Xbox 360 at $300 or $400 depending on the model, and the PS3 for $500 or $600 depending on the model) I specifically remember going to a store and hearing that since Wiis were so popular, the store could only sell 1 per customer. One last thing the Wii did to destroy the other two was to bring the past to the present, with the Virtual Console. Gaming was entering its seventh generation, and there were people who had fond memories of games and systems of old. Now you could play your old games on a new system, and not go through the hassle of buying said old system, a compatible tv, controllers, etc. That“s right, games from Sega Genesis, NES, SNES, Sega Saturn, N64, and more could all be on that sweet little Wii. Oh, and it was backwards compatible with the Gamecube too. You still needed a Gamecube controller and memory card, but the controller would work with those N64, or SNES games too. The game changers And so, the seventh generation of gaming had begun. But the grass was not necessarily greener on the other side. The Red Ring of Death for Xbox 360, the glitchy compatibility and hefty price for the PS3, and the breaking of numerous TVs because of weak Wii straps, all caused the respective companies to release new models very early on in the lifespan of the consoles. Microsoft soon released an “elite†model, which contained a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI cable, in 2007. The Playstation 3 did away with PS2 compatibility in favor for more hard drive space. (came in 20GB, 60GB, and a few 80GB models) The Wii didn“t change at all, and in fact just reinforced the strength of the Wii remote straps. Then everything slowed down and stabilized a little. Streaming media such as Netflix came (Xbox 360 got it first in 2008). People got more comfortable with the technology, and the expected newer models came out. Xbox 360 had the Xbox Live Arcade, and the Playstation 3 got the Playstation store, both online stores to buy games digitally.(basically the respective systems“ versions of the Wii“s Virtual Console). Micro transactions soon became popular, and so did downloadable content. Was this the greatest generation of gaming? That question is a matter of opinion. It was however, the most impactful generation of gaming. There are too many milestones to count. There were many early faults, and then fan anger against the changing marketplace as everything went digital. There was the copying of the Wii motion controls by Microsoft and Sony, only for those to flop. Despite all of that, this gaming generation was a fun ride.
© Sony
Review: Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse
Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse got a pretty bad rap from game critics, but they just did what they were paid to do - they reviewed it based on its merits as a game. However, that's not (entirely) what I'm here to do today. I've noticed that many reviewers of the game had varying knowledge of the show, but not many of them actually claimed to like the show - heck, I saw one review where the reviewer admitted to not even liking the show. So I decided it was high time a die-hard fan of the show reviewed the game. This is that review. *cue that "dun dun" sound from Law & Order* Developer: Heavy Iron Studios Publisher: Activision Platform(s): Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Release Date: November 20, 2012 ESRB: M This review is based on the Xbox 360 version of the game Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse is a third-person shooter based on the Family Guy television show, specifically, the episode "Road to the Multiverse." In that episode, Brian, the Griffin family dog, and Stewie, the baby of the family, travel into parallel universes that show Quahog, Rhode Island - the setting of the show - in various states such as a scientifically advanced utopia and a world run by dogs. Back to the Multiverse runs with that theme by setting each level in an alternate universe, many of which are based on other episodes and gags from Family Guy that have nothing to do with "Road to the Multiverse." So does the game get the Family Guy humor right, or does it fall flat on its ass-neck? The story of the game begins with Bertram, Stewie's evil half-brother who was killed in the episode "The Big Bang Theory," returning to swear vengeance on Stewie - it turns out that this Bertram is from an alternate universe, and is amassing an army from other universes to destroy the universe in which Stewie, Brian, and the other Griffins reside. Stewie and Brian leap into action, with Stewie grabbing guns from his secret bunker in his room and grabbing his multiverse remote to chase Bertram through the multiverse and stop him from exacting revenge. While the premise is interesting, the universes visited in the game aren't really all that inspired, compared to the universes featured in the Road to... episode. There's a world ruled by frat boys and sorority girls, then a world ruled by Amish, a world where everyone is evil, a world ruled by alien chickens, a world ruled by...well, you get the idea. While having one constant theme to the universe isn't a bad idea in itself, it's the choice of themes that drags the game down, because none of them are really that interesting. Stewie explains the basics of what's happening in each universe when he and Brian arrive, but you wouldn't really have to be all that sharp to figure out that a level teeming with pirates is a pirate universe. The one saving grace of each universe is all the call-outs and winks to episodes of the series - for instance, in a level where handicapped people have all the power, there's a Wheelies Cereal ad from "Ready, Willing, and Disabled" and the Big Pete's House of Munch restaurant from "No Meals on Wheels." You'll also find appearances from other characters in the show, who are usually dressed to suit the theme of the level. You might find Herbert patiently waiting for school to let out in the Amish world, or find Quagmire tied to a bed in the evil universe. These nods and cameos really help to let you know that you're in the Family Guy world, and often provide some humor that other parts of the game are lacking. Many characters from the show make appearances, regardless of whether they fit the level's theme. By lacking, I mean the dialogue - most of it isn't all that funny. I certainly chuckled a few times, but overall the jokes really fall flat. Thankfully, all dialogue is recorded by the voice actors from the show, so at least it's done right even when it's not done funny. The worst part about the dialogue is that very little of it was recorded specifically for the game. The cutscene dialogue is mostly new, but the words uttered by various characters (including Brian and Stewie) throughout the level are mostly lifted directly from the show. What's worse, much of the voice work is repeated throughout each level, where a few canned lines play each time a character picks up ammo or health, resulting in a lot of repetition that gets old fast. It's certainly funny to hear a line the first time and remember which episode it's from, but not so funny after you've heard it a hundred times over the course of the fairly brief, 10 level campaign. I'm not sure how long it took me to complete the game since it doesn't keep track of playtime, but I can safely say it wasn't more than 6-7 hours, and that was only because I scoured every part of every level looking for collectibles and shout-outs to the show. If you just blow through the game, it might take 4 hours at most. The game's music isn't too bad, and it sounds like music that was composed specifically for the show, even on the occasions where it wasn't. Where the game really shines is the graphics, because the game essentially looks like a 3D version of the show. The graphics are cartoonish and all the characters look like they should, which is a great touch that brings the game closer to the source material. It also helps that the game opens with the show's intro, though it would have been cooler if it was rendered in 3D and not a direct video. The game also runs at a smooth 60 FPS framerate, and it almost never bogs down regardless of on-screen action. The game certainly looks the part. So how does it play? Back to the Multiverse is a pretty standard third-person shooter, which is an odd fit for a Family Guy game, but it's at least more entertaining than the mish-mash of gameplay styles from the 2006 Family Guy game. You play as Brian or Stewie and can switch out between them, unless you're playing co-op, which is local only - no online here. Each character has a set of weapons that they gradually unlock over the course of the game, and their weapons are different enough from each other to make both characters useful in certain situations. There are also a handful of powerups to use, such as one that summons Ernie the Giant Chicken to attack your enemies, or dropping a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Man to distract enemies. Unlike most third-person shooters of this generation, this isn't a cover-based shooter, and there's no regenerating health - the enemies will sometimes take cover behind objects, but for the most part, they stand in the open to fire at you or run right up to you to hit you with melee attacks, which you can ward off with your own clumsy swinging of Stewie's golf club or Brian's whiskey bottle. That is, the enemies do these things when their programming actually works - oftentimes enemies would simply stand and stare at me, even when I was right in front of them, as if waiting to be put out of their misery from this fairly mediocre experience. The gunplay works, the melee doesn't work quite as well but still does its job, and the AI gets better later in the game for some reason, but taken as a whole, this game just doesn't have anything unique to offer. Really, it doesn't have much to offer at all - there are some neat unlockables, like costumes from various episodes of the show, as well as multiplayer characters, but it's not likely that you'll want to take the time to unlock everything the game has to offer anyway. Aside from the campaign, there's a multiplayer mode that I didn't get to try, because it's all local-only. There's the regulation deathmatch mode, a horde mode, something called Infiltration, and in a shout-out to an older episode, a mode called Catch the Greased-Up Deaf Guy. In multiplayer, you can play as various characters including and besides Stewie or Brian, many of which have to be unlocked from the in-game store with money collected during the campaign. The game also has a challenge mode, where you're dropped into one of the campaign maps and given some objective to complete, such as defeating a certain number of enemies or rescuing a number of NPCs. The challenges have 3 difficulty levels and can be played solo or co-op, but there's really not much reason to play them outside of a few unlocks and possibly boredom. All in all, Back to the Multiverse is a fairly solid game aside from some enemy AI issues, just one low on content and with nothing unique to set it apart from the myriad of other shooters out there. As a game, it works, but isn't going to wow anyone. As a Family Guy game, it's got plenty of references and nods to the show, and at least some of the humor is there, but in the end you're still playing a fairly bland shooter that just happens to feature characters and themes from a popular show. Die-hard fans may get a kick out of some parts of the game, but definitely shouldn't pay the asking price of admission - just give it a rental if you want to get in on the fan service, or if you've ever wondered what a particularly long episode of Family Guy with lots of violence and no cutaways would be like. Score: 6.0 out of 10 Closing comment: A middling score for a middling shooter. There's a little something here for fans, but only if you're willing to play through a standard shooter with spotty AI and aren't concerned about not being able to play multiplayer online. Maybe if you have friends who also like Family Guy to play co-op and multiplayer with you, you could try to get the game cheap, but otherwise, just stick to a rental.
Heavy Iron Studios
E3 2013: Sony Conference Recap
Marshall Henderson posted a article in Sony
A lot of people were excited to see the large showing of games for the Xbox One, but there were still some issues. The PlayStation 4 has been playing ti close to the vest, however, as to whether they've got any responses to that, Now, at E3 2013, the battleground has been set. Will this be when Sony decides to take off the kid gloves and start punching Xbox in the face? Or has the library revealed for the Xbox One, as well as the hype train from it being more recently announced, given Microsoft a chance to win E3 once and for all? Check out the recap below to find out! [6:17 PM] Okay, so they were almost 20 minutes late, but hey, it's finally starting! Some sweet jams play while swirly ribbon-y things flip around the screen. Face button shapes appearing and whatnot. [6:18] The jams are being pumped up, while we get a montage of a bunch of different games. The Last of Us, GTA5, Final Fantasy X, some baseball, other stuff. We are now moving into our third genre of music. [6:20] Jack Tretton takes the stage. The bass has been dropped, now he's going to drop some Sony business... after he talks about how much he loves everyone. The feelings are high. [6:22] He said "Playstation Vita," which I thought was illegal for Sony. Time to drop some knowledge about the Vita. "Vita owners have purchased an average of ten games." He doesn't specify what kind of games, so that is probably the most inclusive statistic. Arkham Origins, Counterspy, Doki Doki Universe, Kill Zone Mercenary, and Tearaway. God of War HD 1 and 2, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, Flower, Dead Nation are all coming to the Vita. [6:25] The Walking Dead, 400 Days, is coming this summer to Vita. A bundle with the full first series and the new one come this Summer. The Vita's supposedly super-attached to the PS4. It's supposed to be the ultimate companion app. [6:26] PlayStation 3 game lineup time. They're opening with The Last of Us, which Tretton identified as "Game of the Year candidate." I think it's already pretty clear how dope this game is supposed to be, based on reviews and stuff. [6:28] Puppeteer is next. The trailer shows off the platforming and stuff. Very LBP-esque. Immediately after that, the trailer for Rain, coming this Fall. Soft music and stuff to make us all cry openly. [6:29] Beyond: Two Souls. Willem Dafoe's here, telling Ellen Page to go join the military, and the rest of the trailer os far is about her doing just that. Running through tires and firing guns and stuff. [6:30] Now Ellen Page has to go hunt down terrorists. This trailer makes it look basically like a military shooter, with mild sexual tension between Ellen Page and Random Guy. [6:31] Gran Turismo 6! More cars that look good, more driving around. Weird emphasis on solar panels. It has a new physics engine, so your car can flip. New tire models, new suspension model. New aerodynamics model. Adaptive tessellation. New rendering engine. [6:32] So the lesson to take away, as with every racing game, is that cars go fast, stuff looks mad real. You should more or less know what to expect with this stuff. [6:33] That was all for PS3 stuff. Tretton's now talking about The Last of Us again. [6:34] It's Batman time. Bane was there, Black Skull have a small amount of face time. Black Mask is not happy with Batman, so he puts a hit out on The Batman. Deathstroke, Deadshot, and Bane. [6:35] If your fears about Troy Baker as the Batman were sincere, you have nothing to worry about. Gadgets are different, even in a prequel, they're better. As usual. The Joker had a bit of voice-time as well. [6:36] Some PlayStation-exclusive stuff. Also, an exclusive GTA5 bundle for $299 for PS3. Also, a headset, because you want to use stage time to talk about peripherals. [6:37] Sony dreams of bringing a more "Immersive, innovative experience." Let's go ahead and check that off of everyone's bingo lists. [6:38] Andrew House is here to talk about PlayStation 4. [6:39] The PlayStation 4! It's....! Well, it's a black box. Kind of looks like the PlayStation 3 mixed with a Wii? Or like a Blu-Ray player. [6:40] They strive to assure that their services are relevant and meaningful, House says. They're showing a bunch of videos and stuff, so I guess they're covering the Microsoft in the livingroom stuff... Why? [6:41] CEO of Sony Entertainment Michael Lynton takes the stage. Lynton says they're ready to do next generation stuff "for gamers." He's discussing the music and other media, and name-drops Daft Punk, Nine In Nails, and Jack White. The '90s live! [6:43] Sony's big connections to all forms of media are apparently to play into the PlayStation Network, and the programming is to be tailor-made for gamers, so he says. [6:44] Video Unlimited, where you can buy videos and stuff. [6:45] Music Unlimited is still a thing, and can be used on non-PlayStation stuff. [6:46] Redbox Instant is coming to PlayStation Network. They're making a point where, as they talk about the media-oriented stuff, they keep saying, "This is tailored to gamers." [6:47] Shuhei Yoshida is taking the stage now that they're done talking about that junk. [6:48] "I'm so excited to begin... *pause*" Yoshida is wearing a really sleek suit. "We, the gamers, use social media" for the purpose of discussing games. Yoshida discusses his Twitter. [6:50] "A highly imaginative new IP, coming exclusive to the PS4." Santa Monica Studios. Looks sorta of Steampunk-y. Victorian-esque setting, airships of some variety, as well as guns. Whitechapel. A woman with a gun, some guys with awesome facial hair. [6:52] Uh oh! The carriage driver was killed! They have radios, and subway trains. [6:53] A bunch of groaning humanoids are all in the fog and causing a ruckus, so the characters are killing them. The Order is the name of the game. [6:54] Yoshida says the demos and stuff will be online on their Facebook and Twitter, and on PlayStation.com. [6:55] Killzone Shadow Fall. As expected, it's another FPS, though this seems a little more colorful, and the gadgets include a drone that can put up shields and stuff. [6:56] RACING time! Driveclub, which was just pretty cars and driving fast. [6:56] inFamous: Second Son. The main dude is a vandal, his brother is a cop. The facial capture is really good. [6:58] Nirvana remix in the trailer... [6:58] Another look at Knack, which still looks pretty good. Very briefly. [6:58] All three of those games will be released on launch. Q1 of 2014. [6:59] Quantic Dream has done another tech demo, this one named The Dark Sorcerer. The Old Man is back! He's the Dark Sorcerer. [7:01] Oh, it's a funny! It's a film-screen room! (Note: It was not funny) [7:03] Time to talk about indies. Adam Boyes takes the stage. He says that Shuhei Yoshida has the most infectious smile in the industry. He is not wrong. [7:04] Supergiant Games's Amir Rao Greg Kasavin take the stage. Transistor is to make its debut on PS4 early next year. Cloudbank is the city, where everyone has a voice, but some people are disappearing. The art style is similar-ish to Bastion, and the gameplay is not dissimilar, but the feel of the game seems pretty different. [7:06] Indies are to be able to self-publish their own content. [7:07] Don't Starve is apparently PS4-bound. Tribute Games is working with them again to bring Mercenary Kings to PS4. Young Horses is joining. Octodad: Dadliest Catch is coming to PS4. Secret Ponchos, a shooter/fighting(?) game, Outlast, Odd World Inhabitants. New remake of Oddworld. Galaxy, a sidescrolling space shooter. [7:10] Each of these above are PS4 exclusives. [7:11] Diablo III will have exclusive items from PlayStation games. [7:12] Tetsuya Nomura left a video message about Square Enix. There's a Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer. That child's face is stupid-looking. [7:14] A little bit of gameplay. It's action-oriented, some wall-climbing. It looks largely like a hack-and-slash. Some familiar classic monsters, like a Behemoth, Leviathan... Well, it's Final Fantasy XV now. [7:16] A new Kingdom Hearts trailer! Recaps of the old games, and now Sora is on Destiny Island, in a different version of his KH2 outfit. Actual gameplay! "Now in Development," meaning we'll see it in 20 years. [7:18] Final Fantasy XIV will be coming to PS4 and PS3. Pirates PIRATES Assassin's Creed: Black Flag pirates. [7:20] The environments look pretty great, a rich forest, fog and stuff. [7:22] The gameplay looks mostly samey, but if you like AssCreed, the jungle environment might be reason enough to pick it up. [7:23] Back to set-pieces! And Kenway's on a boat now, because pirate. Ship-to-ship combat and what not. The demo's freezing to business. They cut it. [7:25] Watch_Dogs. You can drive, go in coffee shops. [7:30] A little more gameplay than we've seen in the past, showing off some of the hacking and ranged stuff. [7:31] Ugh, it looks like they're using the hacking as a generic puzzle-solving method. [7:33] PlayStation owners get an hour of additional gameplay for Watch_Dogs. [7:33] Sports time! Lebron James is playing basketball digitally. It's a bunch of glamour shots. NBA2k14. [7:35] Bethesda time, The Elder Scrolls Online. For the first time, this actually looks like a TES game to me. It comes to PS4 Spring, 2014. It will have a beta first on PlayStation 4. [7:38] Some dead bodies, a junked up car... Is... Is that a Raider outfit...? Is this... [7:39] Is this.... Oh. It's just Mad Max. [7:40] Exclusive Road Warrior survival kit only on PlayStation. Jack Tretton is back on stage. [7:41] PS4 won't impose restrictions on used games. The audience is crapping themselves right now. [7:42] Just as the applause dies down, it starts back up again. They don't require an online connection, yet another audience cheer. [7:44] Cross-game voice chat, transition to friends network, share button, whatnot. PlayStation Plus is a focus now. PS+ membership carries over to PS4. They secretly slipped in that multiplayer is a little more in-line with Microsoft's previous stuff, in that you have to pay for multiplayer. [7:45] PlayStation Plus gets Driveclub on PS4 at the PS4 launch. [7:46] A new game every month for free, Don't Starve, Outlast, Secret Ponchos as examples. "PlayStation is all about games." [7:47] Now, Destiny is on-screen. Some ambient music, "Earth, Many Years from Now." Landscapes. A small collection of rusted out cars, and some bug monsters jumping around and scoping down planes and stuff. [7:50] It's some normal FPS gameplay so far, multiplayer. They're approaching a huge city. The lighting is pretty, it's fairly colorful as a game, relatively-speaking. There's some magic. He summoned a "ghost" which flies around and provides a flashlight. [7:51] There are integrated HUD features, like the ammo count on an LED screen on the gun, but it stil lhas a conventional hud for some reason. [7:52] A little combat. Iron sights, soe melee. The bad guys can fire Spirit Bomb-looking things. I think Jack Tretton just cackled. [7:54] Jack Tretton's a terrible team player. It has loots and stuff. [7:57] A third player shows up, a public event. Apparently a lot of people can join and they are fighting in an arena. Dropship is dropping stuff, including a gant robot spider monster. [7:58] Lots of people showing up now. They're shooting the legs off of the robot spider. [7:59] Despite the awful stage banter, Destiny looks like a pretty solid FPS. [8:00] Andrew House is back. They're discussing the cloud-based videogame stuff. Cloud service is available in 2014, including PS4, PS3, and PS Vita, allowing fast gaming networks. [8:02] PlayStation 4 is priced at $399. It'll be out this holiday season. And that's it! Sony had one little slow point, but they apparently were geared to fight in this E3. They addressed people's fears about Microsoft, brought out a strong and diverse line-up, and even nailed it on price. Online connection has to be paid for now, and the Vita got very, very little love on stage, but other than that, it looks like a categorical victory for Sony. Recap written by Marshall Henderson. Screencaps provided by Jason Clement. But who wore it better? Sony. Sony wore it better, but if you disagree, or just want to let loose, hit the comments below and let your voice be heard!
Rockstar Drops Three Convention-Reaffirming Trailers for Grand Theft Auto V
Marshall Henderson posted a article in Industry News
Brace yourselves, for the rumor mill will be churning at full speed yet again: Rockstar has just released three character trailers for Grand Theft Auto V. Each trailer shows off a different character's life and back story, with snappy jams backing each for added effect. But you don't have to take my word for it, let's watch: First up is Michael. Not to be confused with the Sony marketing campaign of 2011, Michael is the ground-breaking archetype of a rich white guy, bored of his lofty life and spoiled family. He drinks, he wrestles his daughter for the remote to watch violent movies. Of course, his wife is cheating on him, so the trailer demonstrates. Michael's your All American guy, living the dream. He ultimately seems to be going through some midlife crisis, however, and, given the narrative of Grand Theft Autos past, probably comes to glamorize crime or something. This trailer is set to Queen's 1984 song, "Radio Ga Ga." Watch here! Next up, there is Franklin. Franklin is also a narrative cliche, a young black gang-banger (the kind we're allowed to talk about here) who seems to be looking to get "out." This trailer is more about showing off the action and violence, contextualizing Franklin through his lifestyle, rather than the personal narrative that Michael got. Franklin's backing track is Jay Rock's 2011 song, "Hood Gone Love It." Check it out! Finally, the third trailer is of Trevor. Trevor plays to the 'crazy hillbilly' archetype. We learn that he is a drug dealer, and seems to act and react in immensely extreme ways, showing him as being the mentally unstable one of this cast of criminals and murderers. He seems to play a sort of cross between Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and The Dark Knight's The Joker, committing crimes and reveling in it. We even see him in his underwear! It is really just the craziest thing. He's backed by Waylon Jennings's 1975 hit song, "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" Your eye feet look tired from all this reading, take a load off, and watch this video instead: Grand Theft Auto V will be hitting PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on September 17th of 2013. It will be hitting PC... probably eventually. Until then, stay tuned for all the latest here at Game Podunk!
Why you should never play The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
This started out as a review for The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. I genuinely wanted to give people my honest opinion of the game, while outlining where it shines and where it needs work. But after getting trapped on the second level of the game by a never-ending flood of walkers that block the only escape route to the exit, it's apparent that I'll never finish the game. Since I can't review it effectively, I'll instead take the time to tell you why you should stay far, far away from this rotten, godawful mess of a game. Upon starting the game for the first time, it's already apparent that this game lacks polish - the controls are loose, the graphics are bland, character models are ugly, shadows are blocky and jagged, and voice-overs sound like they were recorded into a tin can rather than a microphone. Meanwhile, the framerate often struggles to stay at 30 FPS, which, for a game that looks as outdated as Survival Instinct does, really shouldn't be that difficult. There's also the fact that, during the tutorial, the messages that tell you which button does what often appear after you've figured it out yourself, or just don't appear at all. These are all little things though, and certainly no reason to avoid the game outright. But I'm just getting started... Well? We're waiting... I only played two levels of the game (more on why in a moment) but in both levels the overall objective was "find gas so you can drive to the next level." Granted, the second level did have some secondary, optional objectives, but they were both fetch quests for survivors found in the level. For a game with the word survival right in the title though, you'd think it would have maybe put more emphasis on surviving than getting gas, but I digress - I've never seen the show, so that may be what they're doing all the time anyway. Sure, you do have to survive against the "walkers," but under normal circumstances that really isn't all that difficult. Getting behind a walker will allow you to stealth kill it (even if it knows you're there) and melee killing them from any angle can be fun. The walker AI is so brain dead (pun kinda-sorta intended) that they'll happily stand there while you gleefully beat them to death, maybe occasionally taking a feeble swing at you. It's when they grapple you that things get annoying - your reticule floats around the screen at random, and you have to center it on the zombie's head and press the attack button while it's centered to instantly kill it. This would be fine if it wasn't for the fact that the game often didn't register my button press when I was certain I had the reticule lined up, making this little QTE more annoying than it should have been. The best (worst) part is that if there are multiple zombies around, after one grapples you any others nearby will grab you the moment you kill the previous one, which often means getting surrounded = getting killed because you can't stop getting grappled to heal. And therein lies the reason I never passed the second level - I got surrounded by so many zombies that I literally could not kill every one of them grappling me over and over and over. But let me back it up a minute, because this requires a little context, I suppose. When you start the level, the road is blocked so you have to go through a small general store to get around the cars in your way and get to the gas station. In order to get gas (as I mentioned, your objective for the first two levels) you have to get a key to turn on the gas station's generator, and once you do that, all the noise from the generator attracts the walkers, which another character helpfully tells you before completely disappearing. Like, literally, he just disappears, you don't see him run out of the station or anything. So anyway, whether you could see any walkers or not, some will inevitably show up to try and ruin your escape, so you have to leave as quickly as possible. But remember that grocery store I mentioned walking through? Yeah, I still have to go through there, only now it's full of walkers. Seriously, full of walkers. There's just a sea of flesh-eating zombies waiting right there along your escape route, every time, all the time, and as soon as you get to them they will grab you, and they will kill you - there's way too many to fight off no matter how good you are at the grappling QTE. So I tried, and tried, and tried again, but there was absolutely no way through. I finally had to give up because after I reloaded my checkpoint several times, the game apparently couldn't handle it anymore and the framerate stuttered and froze every few seconds, making the game entirely unplayable. I don't know who took this screenshot, but I do know their game probably crashed shortly afterwards. Yep, I used the dreaded "u" word, and it is entirely justified. Not just because of the crippling framerate issue, but because this game is so shoddily made that it would be impossible for the average gamer (and I'm hardly an "average" gamer) to make progress in this game without the aid of a cheat device or something. First of all, the game doesn't know how to remove dead zombies from the world - there was one point where I was standing on the fire escape of a building, and two zombies followed me out. I killed them, and turned around to contemplate going down the fire escape or back the way I came. Suddenly, I was grappled by a zombie, who I promptly killed, but I was wondering how he got there so I looked in the room I'd just came from - nothing. I went back to my quiet contemplation, only to be attacked again - by the same f***ing zombie. And this isn't one of those "maybe you didn't kill him all the way" situations - his body disappeared, but apparently the game decided to just respawn him right there, infinitely, until I was smart enough to go somewhere else. This is apparent throughout the game if you're paying attention, since a zombie that you killed in a particular place will often be there again if you get far enough away, by which I mean a few freakin' steps. Second of all, the checkpoint system is horrid - one of the survivors I mentioned earlier asks you to find him batteries. Sure, no problem. I made my way to the police station, fought off some walkers, got the batteries, gave them to him, and went on my merry way. I died shortly after meeting a second survivor inside the station and starting his fetch quest, only to be popped back outside the police station. My objective? Find batteries for Officer whatever his name was. This game is so terrible at remember what you've done that dying could mean a few seconds lost (the generator thing I mentioned earlier happened to be a checkpoint, surprisingly) or several minutes. And if you quit the game and start it up again, it doesn't start you at your last checkpoint like most games - no sir, you're going right back to the beginning of the level, because screw you for quitting the game, that's why. Maybe I'm just angry, but there is absolutely no reason anyone should ever play this game, for any reason, unless, I guess, you really - and I mean really - hate someone and want to show them in one of the worst ways possible by giving them this thing as a gift. This is one of the sorriest excuses for a video game I've ever played, and I've played Postal 3, Sonic '06, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces, Samurai Slowdown III (a.k.a. the PSX version of Samurai Shodown 3), uh...well, you get the idea. The worst part is that the game could have been fun, if it wasn't for the fact that it tries its damnedest to make you fail repeatedly. I really liked bashing in zombie heads, I really liked the idea of getting sucked into the world of The Walking Dead, but all of this was ruined when I realized I could never leave the second level no matter how hard I tried. This could have been at least half-decent if more work had been put into it, but as it stands, this is a rushed, buggy, unpolished, and nearly broken game that no fan of Walking Dead or zombie culture could ever enjoy. So, if you're looking for a good Walking Dead game, play Telltale's game based on the comics. If you're looking for a good zombie game, play literally just about any other game with the word "Dead" in the title - Dead Island, Dead Rising, Dead Pixels, Dead Nation, take your pick. Just, whatever you do, don't go anywhere near this game, because you'll only find the frustration and annoyance of a game that almost, almost could have made it if only the developers had actually tried. It's a crime against all gamedom that lazy developers like Terminal Reality are getting handed money by publishers to puke out something like this when so many decent, hardworking studios are shutting their doors one by one. Maybe that's what this game was trying to represent - that there's only a few "survivors" left in the world (the developers who barely have enough to keep functioning but manage to cling to life) being swarmed by a bunch of foul, rotten, husks (terrible developers who coast off publisher money) who only care about one thing: flesh (money) and will do whatever it takes to get it. If so, then, good job Terminal Reality, you really did well with your social commentary. Just, maybe next time, try to do well with your Walking Dead game instead.
Terminal Reality
Bethesda Halts Playstation 3 Development of Dawnguard and Hearthfire, Focused on Dragonborn
John Kidman posted a article in Sony
If you are playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on the Xbox 360 and PC, chances are you have already experienced some of Bethesda's newer content. Dawnguard and Hearthfire may be old news for most gamers, but the hunger is growing for those playing Skyrim on the Playstation 3. Unfortunately, Bethesda created a proverbial carrot-on-a-stick situation with this older downloadable content. Bethesda discussed in a recent blog post that Playstation 3 owners will now be waiting even longer on Skyrim's first two downloadable content packs. The company decided to place its current work on hold in order to focus all of its effort on bringing Dragonborn, Skyrim's first true expansion, to the Playstation 3 and PC in the early months of 2013. Why, you ask? The developers felt that this expansion is the better experience for the user and hopes to eliminate another untimely delay. No definitive date has been offered for Dragonborn, but Bethesda made it abundantly clear that Dawnguard and Hearthfire will not be worked on before Dragonborn's release. Patience may be a virtue, but how long are Playstation 3 owners willing to wait before throwing in the towel on Dawnguard and Hearthfire... or on Skyrim itself?
Smooch! Chulip Gets Ready for a PS3 Re-Release
Chances are, you haven't heard of this niche PlayStation 2 title. Chulip is the quirky little game about a boy who's turned down by the girl of his dreams. To capture her heart, the boy must raise his reputation by impressing and then kissing the residents of Long Life Town. Yeah, that seems pretty weird. In any case, if you're intrigued by this adventure/simulation game now, then you're in luck. The ESRB has just rated Chulip with Sony Computer Entertainment America as the publisher, which means a PSN release as a PS2 Classic sometime soon. Hopefully that now means more attention for the originally GameStop-exclusive game. What are your thoughts on Chulip? Will you purchase it when it is available on the PlayStation Store?
Chulip
Review: 007 Legends
Jordan Haygood posted a article in PS3 Reviews
Developer: Eurocom Publisher: Activision Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Release Date: October 16, 2012 ESRB: T for Teen This review is based on the PlayStation 3 version of the game His name is Bond. James Bond. He likes things shaken, not stirred. And not too long ago (two years, to be specific), developer Eurocom shook things up when they decided to re-imagine Rare“s Nintendo 64 classic with GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo Wii. The formula was simple: take a classic film, update it into the modern world, throw in Daniel Craig“s Bond and BAM – you“ve got yourself a winner. But when Eurocom decided to stir up that formula in 007 Legends, things got way out of hand. The game has its moments, but certainly not enough to make this the game it was supposed to be. 007 Legends begins by showing us a virtually re-enacted scene from the new Bond film Skyfall, where Bond is duking it out with some bad dude atop a moving train when suddenly, he gets accidentally gunned down by a female sniper (oops), causing him to plunge into the depths of the river below. With Death creeping closer, Bond has that moment where his life flashes before his eyes. This, of course, is where we get all our missions – five of Bond“s past adventures that he relives as he drowns. Each mission is taken directly from the classic Bond films Goldfinger, On Her Majesty“s Secret Service, License to Kill, Die Another Day, and Moonraker. There“s also a free DLC mission based on Skyfall that you can download if you care enough about finishing off the campaign (yes, you have to download the end of the game). And just like with the re-imagined GoldenEye, each mission has been modernized with smartphones, updated weapons and vehicles, and Daniel Craig. Except …that voice isn't Daniel Craig, but a soundalike who provides the game with some pretty atrocious voice acting. Unfortunately, each mission has been stuffed into a very short playtime, which leaves the narrative extremely choppy and confusing to those who have never seen one (or more) of the six films featured in 007 Legends, especially since you“re thrown into specific scenes that explain very little of what“s going on. Even the opening sequence makes little sense, since no attempt seems to have been made to give this game a proper exposition. Seriously, who the hell was James fighting on top of a moving train? And who was that sniper with terrible aim? These questions are no doubt answered in Skyfall, but considering this game was released before that movie, it was a very poor place to start the game. Sure, 007 Legends does have some fun nods to its source material, such as the famous scene where James almost gets his junk laser“d off by Goldfinger, but scenes like this are just thrown together into a jumbled mix of poorly-designed levels and repetitive gameplay that makes the game play a bit too much like a failed attempt at a Call of Duty mod and less like a 007 game. And each mission is basically the same: kill hordes of respawning enemies on your way to a checkpoint, attempt to be stealthy with the game“s horrible stealth system, use your smartphone to hack/take pictures/scan for fingerprints, partake in the occasional poorly-controlled vehicle chase sequence, and eventually engage in some lame quick-time fisticuff match with some of the big baddies that are way too easy and way too short to feel like appropriate boss fights. I appreciate the developer“s attempt at trying to give players more variety throughout the game, but the result is, at best, several steps below mediocre. The game“s stealth mechanics are probably the worst offenders here. Oh, you can be stealthy alright, but only by crouching down and walking silently. As soon as you take out an unsuspecting enemy, you“ll often find yourself screwed as you can“t do a thing with their body. And as soon as someone else comes along and sees the body, your cover is blown. So I just spent most of the time running into the heat of battle, guns a-blazing, until I hit my checkpoints. The horrible stealth mechanics wouldn“t be much of a problem for me, though, had I been able to do that all the time, but Eurocom deemed it necessary to throw in a bunch of mandatory stealth sections that result in an instant mission fail as soon as you get spotted. Do you get a chance to blast your way out of there? Nope! And your inability to peek around corners makes these sequences all the more frustrating. Of course, you CAN peek over ledges from time to time, so that helps. And the radar on Bond“s wristwatch doesn“t make things much better either. Though I suppose the ability to shoot lasers out of your wristwatch to distract enemies helps. So does the dart-shooting pen, but you don“t even get that until about halfway through the game. I won“t go into too much detail about the other gameplay mechanics this game has, but believe me, some of them are pretty bad. For example, the enemy AI is loads of fun (sarcasm detected). Having the enemies occasionally firing at obstacles instead of finding a way past them and blindly running into walls is some top-notch stuff, Eurocom. There“s also some pretty annoying frame rate problems to look out for, and the game“s somewhat outdated graphics, coupled with crummy character animations, doesn't help anything. There IS a silver lining in the sea of mediocrity, however, and that lies with the multiplayer. Just like in the re-imagined GoldenEye 007, you get a pretty good selection of well-known characters that bring along their own unique qualities and abilities (like throwing Oddjob“s trademark hat). You also have 12 modes to choose from, which provides a lot of diversity amongst competing players. None of this really matters, though, unless you have a buddy or two (or three) to play with locally because chances are fairly low that a game of this caliber will even have enough people playing it online after they“ve played the campaign. At least, I certainly wasn“t able find too many people… I really wanted to like this game, especially after the fantastic job Eurocom did with the updated version of GoldenEye 007, but 007 Legends simply didn“t have enough good qualities to make it the game it should have been – a big, fun collaboration of some of James Bond“s finest moments re-imagined to the same degree as GoldenEye. Instead, Legends shows us how not to make a 007 game. Not only was it not a big game (about five hours), but the fun factor was only really there if you were playing multiplayer. With its choppy narrative, shoddy gameplay mechanics, and lackluster level design, this game has bombed. James Bombed (sorry). Pros: + Multiplayer is fun Cons: - Choppy, confusing narrative - Missions are repetitive - Shoddy gameplay mechanics - Lackluster level design - Painfully dull boss fights Overall Score: 3 (out of 10) Poor 007 Legends shows us how not to make a 007 game, providing us with perhaps the worst James Bond title in video game history. This is not the 50-year celebration Bond deserves.
007 Legends Oddjob
From the album: Jordan's Review Images - Part II
© Eurocom
007 Legends Multiplayer
007 Legends Fisticuffs
007 Legends Golden Girls
Review: Mugen Souls
Number 905 posted a article in PS3 Reviews
Developer: Compile Heart Publisher: NIS America Platform: PS3 Release Date: Out Now ESRB: T for Teen No matter how big the gaming industry grows and how commonplace multi-million dollar budgets become, one of the most wonderful aspects of the market is that there is always room for small titles. Some companies have forgotten this, but if there“s one thing the medium is, it“s diverse. Unfortunately, niche appeal only goes so far if the game can“t deliver a quality experience. Mugen Souls is the latest in the ever growing genre of anime-inspired JRPGs designed for a niche market. Conceptually, the game has a lot going for it. The story focuses on a girl named Chou-Chou, a self-proclaimed undisputed god, and her conquest of the universe. Her grand plan is to subjugate the hero and demon lord of each world by transforming into their specific desire and performing a moe kill. It“s definitely an over-the-top premise, but it“s a fun idea and the different moe forms are interesting. The combat isn't groundbreaking, featuring turn-based gameplay with free movement, but it spices things up by allowing you to knock enemies around the field and into other objects to increase the damage you do. It can be a little hectic at times, but it is satisfying to send a foe bouncing around the field with a well placed attack. The make-or-break feature of Mugen Souls is the grind. In addition to the standard level grind, Mugen Souls also lets you level up spells and equipment to varying degrees, with level caps to unlock and a peon subjugation system that lets you teach different moves to characters. Like most RPGs, there are optimal ways to gain the points and money you need, but the sheer number of stats you can grind is staggering. If you“re a fan of min/maxing, there“s a lot of content for you and the optional dungeons will keep you challenged even as you reach for omnipotence. If you don“t like grinding, you“ll become quickly frustrated when you hit a grind wall and realize progressing will require more than raw levels to advance. Unfortunately, the game“s level progression is poor. As mentioned, raw levels aren't a huge advantage; you“re going to need to level up equipment and spells at some point to stay ahead of the curve. My biggest issue is that the best way to grind is in the form of an optional dungeon on your ship, the Mugen Field. Because of how small the planets are, there isn't a solid sense of enemy progression, so it“s easy to find yourself outclassed by a boss if you don“t grind like a fiend in the field or spend a little time in the Mugen Field. On a technical level, Mugen Souls is a mess. Movement on the field is hampered by a poor camera and a framerate that, while not choppy, is definitely struggling. The loading times are ridiculously long, even with the game“s data installed, with some taking longer than a minute. Viewing skits also requires the area to reload, making multiple scenes a chore to watch. The real killer comes in battle. With battle animations turned on, loading isn't bad as the animation covers most, if not all, of it. You can turn the animations off in an effort to speed up the game, but you may find that it only makes things worse. With the animations off, the attacks still have to load, sometimes taking as much as five seconds for each turn. In addition to this, turning off animations results in more hectic battles, as the camera doesn't focus on the target of attacks. It makes it hard to keep track of how much damage has been done without manually checking at the end of every turn. I have heard that changing the PS3 to output at 720p can improve performance, but I noticed no significant benefit while playing. Although the concept behind the story is interesting, the actual content is dull and rife with generic cliches. Most of the game“s humor comes from breaking the fourth wall and low-brow sexual jokes and situations, which isn't inherently terrible, but it does become grating over the course of the game. While most of the situations are pretty tame, with things like bloody noses from arousal being commonplace, Mugen Souls holds the unique honor of being one of the few games to actually repulse me with its content. Even with the content that“s been cut from the Japanese version, the game still manages to cross the line by applying sexual situations to young characters. The story itself is fairly predictable and not very compelling, so if you“re not head-over-heels for ecchi and perverted situations, Mugen Souls won“t offer much outside of gameplay. As is the fate of games targeting a niche audience, you probably already know if Mugen Souls is in your wheelhouse or not. If you“re on the fence because you like the anime style but are concerned about depth and content, there still might be something for you if you love grinding. For those of us that aren't number crunchers though, Mugen Souls just doesn't offer a compelling reason to be played. Pros: + The moe kill system is a fresh concept + Solid soundtrack with Japanese and English voices + Tons of levels to grind Cons: - Tons of levels to grind - Poor framerate and even poorer load times - Low-brow humor ranging from cliched to offense Overall Score: 3.5 (out of 10) Poor Mugen Souls will appeal to very small audience that likes ecchi humor and grinding. If that isn't you, chances are it just isn't your game.
Compile Heart
God of War Goes Social with 'The Rise Of The Warrior'
New franchises routinely fall victim to the desire to create longevity by introducing multiplayer modes, but well executed innovation can be an excellent addition to fan favorites. God of War: Ascension will be the first game in the God of War franchise to introduce a multiplayer option. Warriors in this mode must pledge their allegiance to an iconic Greek god, each of which will grant the player special moves and bonuses. The Playstation Blog confirmed that Plus members can expect access to the multiplayer beta this winter; however, non-subscribers will also have an opportunity to earn their spot in the fight for favor amongst the gods. The official God of War website will house an interactive social experiment for those hungering for the first taste of Ascension. The Rise of the Warrior is a story designed with the hallmarks of a graphic novel which chronicles your warrior's journey. Fans will choose to join the ranks of the Spartans or Trojans and complete social tasks in an effort to gain early beta access and 30-day trial of Playstation Plus. Participants can also earn other rewards like early unlocks and exclusive gear for the God of War: Ascension multiple player mode. Will you be taking part in The Rise of the Warrior?
Review: Double Dragon: Neon
Developer: WayForward Technologies Publisher: Majesco Entertainment Platform: XBLA, PSN Release Date: Out Now ESRB: T for Teen This review is based on the PSN version of the game It's no secret that WayForward Technologies loves to give a helping hand in rebooting old franchises, what with Contra 4, A Boy and His Blob, and BloodRayne: Betrayal all previously under their belt. And now it seems they've gotten their hands on the Double Dragon license and decided to release a retro reboot Double Dragon: Neon for XBLA and PSN. Borrowing so heavily from its forefathers, you may think this game's a remake at first glance, but once you get to know it a little better, you'll soon see what makes Neon something new. Unfortunately, this game has too many flaws to be as enjoyable as it could have been... What do you get when twin brothers fight an evil Skeletor wannabe to save a girl they both like? What? New Super Mario Bros.? What on Earth gave you THAT idea? Anyway, the correct answer is the story for this game, because that's basically the gist of it. In Double Dragon: Neon, twins Billy and Jimmy Lee chase after the boney Skullmageddon to rescue their kidnapped love interest. Why does Skeletor Skullmageddon want to kidnap her? Who cares! The details aren't important. In fact, neither is the story in general. Similar to the vast majority of the beat-'em-up arcade games of yore, this game is all about the gameplay. The story is just an excuse to catapult us into the action. And the action sure is fun. Correction: the action sure is fun if you have a bro playing with you. Arcade beat-'em-ups were always meant to be played in co-op (or in this case, "bro-op"), and Double Dragon: Neon is no exception (it's called "Double Dragon," not "Single Dragon"). In that sense, it's a shame that the game doesn't currently have any online bro-op. Basically, you'll have to invite someone over or play with a relative/roommate/clone to get the most out of your brawling experience until a patch can be released. Take away that other person, and the game gets significantly less fun. Especially considering how cumbersome the mechanics can be. For instance, if you aren't lined up EXACTLY on the same level as your enemy, you will almost definitely miss. Neon expects you to be precise in your attacks when the game itself just doesn't allow it. Furthermore, the game moves far too slowly. Seriously, this game is supposed to be a reboot, not a remake. So why do the Lee bros. have to keep up with their slower-than-molasses past selves? You won't save the girl at that pace, boys! Sure, they threw in a sprint, but it's way too sluggish for you to use it very often. And with the slow walking and sluggish running, the platforming segments are frustrating as hell. Yes, I said it; Neon throws in platforming segments in most of its levels, and...let's just say I fell to my doom enough times to know that it doesn't do a very good job. It goes without saying (but I'm gonna say it anyway) that Double Dragon: Neon pretty much nails it when it comes to catering to nostalgics. With its powerful mullets, air-guitar solos, and era-appropriate music, this update is actually much more '80s than the '80s original. And speaking of music, that may very well be the best thing this game has going for it. With such radical, groovy, and [some other silly word from back then] songs, the soundtrack sounds like it stepped right out of 80s radio. Basically, the music is so...um...gnarly that the soundtrack itself might be worth owning (it's free), even if you feel the game isn't. Sadly, I can't say the same about the God-awful voice acting. I swear, Double Dragon: Neon has some truly atrocious voice acting, and when you throw some horribly-cheesy dialogue into the pot, things sometimes get a little hard to bear. Thankfully, Neon also has some pretty humorous dialogue that compliments the cheese like it's delicious fondue. Especially when the game makes fun of itself. I love when games do that. Going back to the subject of music, Neon made it a point to make music a hugely emphasized part of this game. Namely, some of the newly-added features were “tuned†up for the game. For example, when your bro“s health hits zero, you must rewind a cassette tape with a pencil if you hope to keep him alive. Another of these music-themed features is the skills system, otherwise known as “songs.†As you progress through each level, you will find songs to build your supply of passive and special abilities, whether from enemies dropping them or purchasing from shops. And the more you find, the higher your songs will level up. And as you defeat bosses, you gain a certain currency that you can spend at the “Tapesmith†to increase your song limit. Unfortunately, the game is too short for these things to have much meaning, and playing through levels multiple times to master skills just gets tedious. But as tough as Neon gets on harder difficulties, that may be your only option if you hope to reach the credits… Also, you know how this game has the sub-title “Neon†(if you don“t, where have you been?)? Well, that“s exactly what the game“s graphical style reminds me of. Like neon lights, Double Dragon: Neon is a very bright and colorful game. It“s beautiful, and makes the game a pleasure to look at. Double Dragon: Neon is a nice little update to a great arcade classic. It brings back some of the magic of the original while still managing to spice things up a bit with things like a unique skills system, awesome '80s-esque music, and of course, a fresh, modern look. But none of that hides the obvious flaws the game throws at you, such as clunky gameplay mechanics, lackluster level design choices, and some…questionable voice acting. It“s such a hit-and-miss sort of game, it“s hard to say whether or not you should spend ten bucks on it. I guess if you like beat-”em-ups and have someone to play with, it“s worth a buy. Pros: + Bro-op play is really fun + The radical soundtrack is fun to listen to + Customizable skills system allows for more interesting combat + Bright, colorful graphics are a pleasure to look at Cons: - Gameplay is really cumbersome and broken in some places - Some lackluster level design choices get in the way - Voice acting is atrocious - Too short for some features to have much meaning Overall Score: 6 (out of 10) Decent Double Dragon: Neon is a fun trip down memory lane with great, catchy music and fun "bro-op" play. Unfortunately, there are too many flaws in this game to make it as enjoyable as it could have been.
Double Dragon: Neon
WayForward
Double Dragon Neon Screenshot 4
© WayForward
Dragon Fantasy's Second Book to Open on Sony Consoles Next Year
Do you ever wonder what happens to a hero years after their retirement? Dragon Fantasy for iOS and PC brought us the tale of Ogden, a hero who may have lost the limelight but has managed to gain some girth, in charge of saving Westeria from evil. This retro-styled game by Muteki Corporation brought us an entertaining 8-bit adventure. The official Playstation Blog announced today that a sequel titled Dragon Fantasy Book II will be available for Sony consoles next year. Although a specific date has not been announced, the blog confirms that this title will be available via digital release for both the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita. Unfortunately, the inclusion of the original Dragon Fantasy or availability on the Playstation Network has not been addressed. Although exclusivity has also not been addressed, it is safe to assume that there will be an exclusivity window for this title for Sony due to the utilization of Sony's Pub Fund. Sony's Pub Fund assists developers by helping to match development costs in exchange for an exclusivity window. The original goal for this this sequel was to follow in the original title's footsteps and offer a gradual acceleration through the 16-bit era by adding features throughout the individual chapters. Muteki Corporation decided to utilize Sony's Pub Fund in order to abandon that idea, simply making a title that focuses on features seen towards the end of the 16-bit era like fully animated attacks. Bryan Sawler, founder of the development company, also noted that Dragon Fantasy Book II will include a multiplayer mode.
Dragon Fantasy
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Gnfnr.dk • Vis emne - Artikel: War Of The Roses! (Gilby Clarke interview)
Artikel: War Of The Roses! (Gilby Clarke interview)
What the hell is up with GUNS N' ROSES?! At the start of '94, Guns axeman Slash told Kerrang! that the next GN'R album would be out in the Summer - now rhythm guitarist GILBY CLARKE reckons: There is no next album! What's more, Why doesn't even know if he's in the band or not! He tells all in this shock K! exclusive! Interview by LISA JOHNSON.
WHEN GILBY Clarke joined Guns N' Roses, the most controversial rock 'n' roll band in the world were in a state of crisis. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin, a founder member and chief songwriter, had quit a couple of months into a world tour.
With Gilby, Guns gelled again. The tour finished smoothly, and was followed by the release of 'The Spaghetti Incident?', Gilby's first recording with the group.
Two years after he joined the band, Gilby is preparing to release his first solo album, `Pawn Shop Guitars'. But not everything is as cool as it seems.
Guns N' Roses are again in turmoil - and there isn't a damn thing that Gilby Clarke can do about it! The following conversation happened just last week in Los Angeles...
Kerrang!: What have you been up to lately, Gilby?
Gilby: "I practised today. Well, first I woke up very early..."
K!: Like, eight?
G: "No. I meant like about 11! I got on my motorcycle and I went to an interview for a video director. And then I went to rehearsal, cos we're changing guitar players in my solo band. We're changing Jo (Dog, ex-Dogs D'Amour) for Ryan. Jo's great, but Ryan is just more diverse. Ryan can play the Rock stuff and the Blues stuff, where Jo can only play the Blues stuff."
K!: Is this the Gilby Clarke Experience?
G: "I don't know what it's gonna be called!"
K!: Who is Ryan; how do you know him?
G: "Ryan Roxie was in my old band, Candy, with me. I was the guitar player. And then we had a year when we didn't know what we were doing, and that's when I started singing and Ryan became the guitar player. The black Candy year!"
K!: How was your solo show at the Viper Room?
G: "Oh, God, it was wild! It was one of those nights! There was just so much going on so fast. I thought, `Oh, this is gonna be kinda casual, this'll be fun'. And I got there and the f**king line was around the block! I didn't know it would be like that."
K!: Were there any celebrities there?
G: No, just Tommy...
K!: Tommy?...
G: "Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe drummer), and John (Corabi), the singer. Matt (Sorum, GN'R drummer) was there. And my friend from Depeche Mode showed up. (DM singer Dave Gahan lives in LA with his wife - an old friend of Gilby's.) There was just too mucn going on. As soon as I was offstage, I just jumped into my corner booth."
K!: What is a typical day for Gilby Clarke?
G: "It's pretty simple. I start out with my coffee out by the pool (he laughs at himself). I really do do that every day! And then I'm always running around town. I got a lot of business and stuff. I always do that in the morning. I'm on the phone for the first couple of hours. Then I get on the motorcycle and go do whatever I have to do.
"Usually, I'm at Slash's every night. We work on new material and different things, whether it's my stuff, his stuff or whatever. He's got a studio in his house. We're working on some stuff right now - me, him and Matt. GN'R's not gonna do anything, so we just go up to Slash's place and work.
"Slash doesn't like not working. He has to have something to do. And I'm just the same. So that's it. My wife Daniella and I have dinner together, and then I head up to Slash's. Spend the night there."
K!: You don't actually spend the night...
G: "I do sometimes. We usually work till about five or six in the morning."
K!: Your first child is due in June. How do you think things will change then?
G: "With the baby? 1 think everything's gonna change. It's gonna be strange because it's hard to say, but there's gonna be someone coming into my life who's gonna be the most important thing.
"It's gonna be weird, because me and Daniella just mess around a lot, but now there's gonna be someone who's gonna take everything from us. You know, all of our attention. Everything we do is gonna be for the baby."
K!: Will you have a nanny?
G: "We don't know yet. Since both of us are home all day, we don't know that we'll really need one. But we'll see what happens. Everyone says that we're gonna get one, but we don't want one."
K!: Will you take the baby everywhere?
G: "Yeah. When we go out on the road, I'm gonna hole up in the back of the bus and that'll be me and Daniella's room with the baby."
K!: Is Slash gonna be the godfather?
G: (laughs) "No. I wouldn't trust him with it - he wouldn't know what to do! No, he's a pretty good father. He's got a baby cougar - it's like having a kid, and he's been really good with it.
"The cougar's cool; we hang out with him a lot. Now he's getting big, he's like eight months old, and he's the same size as me now - he's 150 pounds! He's fun. If you're sitting there playing pinball, he'll stalk you and pounce on you. It's fun. He's got a really good personality."
K!: How much has your life changed since being in Guns N' Roses?
G: "As a person, I don't think I've changed at all. I don't think I've mellowed or gotten wilder. I think I'm pretty much the same.
"The only thing that's different is that financial things are more taken care of. But then, again they're not... You know, I have a house and I got more cars and motorcycles, but now I gotta work to pay for 'em! People always say, `Well, you have more money'... I say, `Maybe I have a couple more zeros, but my debts also have a couple more zeros'!"
K!: How's the next GN'R album progressing?
G: "There is no `next GN'R album'!"
K!:EVER?!
G: "I don't know about ever. For now. We started working on one, and it got canned."
K!: How come?
G: "Well, it's an Axl thing. He just wasn't into what we were doing, so he's kind of rethinking what he wants to do. He just kind of threw a wrench into everything that me, Slash and Matt had worked to. And then Duff came in.
"Duff and Axl have an idea what the album should be, and the rest of us have another idea. So right now, we're not gonna do anything. And anyway, from July to the end of the year, I'm not gonna be available, because I'm gonna be working on my record.
"If the band decide to make a record during that time, then there's a good chance I'm not going to be doing it."
K!: What about the rumour that you were fired by Axl last week?
G: "Nothing's happening right now. We're not gonna do anything. We were gonna do a lot of shows, but we're not gonna do 'em now. Nobody's really getting along right now. Everybody just called everything off, and we'll work on it when everybody feels like doing it again."
K!: My next question was going to be, how much have you been contributing to the writing?
G: "For a while there, I contributed a lot. But now, I don't know how much I'm going to contribute. Like I said, Axl pretty much threw a wrench into everything. He didn't like what we were all doing.
"It's Axl's band, and he runs it the way he wants. And whatever he wants to do is gonna happen. So we can work on songs all year long and come up with 20 songs, but when it comes down to it, if Axl writes 10 songs, he'll go, 'I want my 10 songs on the record'. And that's what's gonna happen.
"So as much as we work on 'em, it doesn't mean anything, because they may never get anywhere. Slash and I are working on some stuff right now together. It's stuff that we put together for the next GN'R record, stuff that isn't gonna make it now. So we're putting something together. We don't know if this is gonna be a Slash solo album or what it's gonna be."
K!: The single 'Since I Don't Have You' is out next week...
G: "It's a terrible song."
K!: Don't hold back! How do you really feel about it?
G: "I don't like it. When we did the Punk album (`The Spaghetti Incident?'), we'd record stuff on days off. We did 'Since I Don't Have You' in Boston in one day! I didn't think it was gonna be on the record.
"I dug cutting the T-Rex song - that was cool. But I thought we were making a Punk Rock cover album. And then it turned into being not a Punk Rock cover album! But, it's not my choice. When people ask me about the song, I just say, 'Look, I don't like it'."
K!: Maybe the kids'll love it.
G: "I don't know if they like that kind of stuff. They want Guns N' Roses and they want them to play songs like 'New Rose' and sh*t like that. And for the most part, that's what the band likes to play, too."
K!: `The Spaghetti Incident?'was your first recording with GN'R. How was that for you?
G:` "It was strange, because it wasn't like we went in to make an album, we did it as different things. They had seven songs already recorded, then I went in and re-did all Izzy's (former GN'R rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin) guitars or put on guitars where he didn't play on 'em.
"While we were on the road, we'd go and record a couple more songs here and there. We actually did a couple of Hanoi Rocks songs that never made it, and a bunch of Iggy Pop songs that never made it, though one did make it. We recorded a bunch of stuff over a year, every now and then. It was cool.
"It's really strange, because the band is like two separate things. There's the guys, everybody except for Axl, and then there's the band with Axl.
When we're on the road, we're always together. We hang out together, just like a band. But that's not including Axl. And then there's the band with Axl. He just kinda comes in and does what he does, puts the vocals on and all that kind of stuff. So when we're in the studio, it's cool. But, you know, I'd been playing with the band for two years before we recorded stuff."
K!: Was recording 'The Spaghetti Incident?' like a party, a casual studio atmosphere?
G: "That's exactly what it started as. When we go in the studio, it's not like we go in and make a record - like 'Alright, we're goin' to work'. That's not it. It's more like, `Hey, we're goin' to the studio. Hey, cool!'. We hang out and we record a little, then we go and we play a little pinball. It's really fun. When the band, for the most part, is together, we have a really good time. It's really not like work at all."
K!: Were you freaked out when you bust your arm and Izzy filled in for you on a bunch of European dates last year?
G: "A little bit. But I was so drugged up I didn't really notice it!
"Yeah, it was really strange, but when it first came up I was literally still in a hospital bed. I'd just gotten my wrist reset. And that's when they brought it up. 'Well, we can't cancel the tour. Who are we gonna get to play guitar?'. And I'm like, 'Wait a minute...'. And so they came up with the Izzy idea.
"In the back of my head I was going, 'Well, I don't think that's a very good idea', because what if Axl goes, `Hey, this is kinda cool, let's just get Izzy back'. But it didn't happen that way.
"It was nice - as soon as I got home, Izzy called me and we talked for a while. He just did it to see the guys, cos he hadn't seen 'em in a while. And then it was funny because I had Izzy on one line going, `When are you coming back? I gotta get out of here!', and Slash was on the other line going, `When are you coming back. We gotta get him out of here!.' It was the funniest thing.
"They did five shows without me, and I didn't get to go because I was in surgery. And then I got in for the last Milton Keynes show. We jammed. It was nice, because I hadn't seen Izzy in a long time."
K!: I suppose it was kind of like getting together with an old lover. Both parties had just moved on.
G: "That's exactly what had happened with the band. What's kinda cool is they just kinda realised, `Oh, Gilby really is a part of the band and Izzy's not a part of the band any more'. It worked out the best for everybody, cos Izzy didn't want back in any more than they wanted him back in. But it was fun, it was kinda cool, and I think it was really special for anybody who got to see any of those shows."
K!: The rumours that you were out of the band were flying around at the time.
G: "That kind of stuff, you can never stop it. I've heard so many reports that I got fired - and, you know, I've been in the band for two-and-a-half years, and I've been fired a few times. All kinds of people have been fired!
K!: For real?!
G: "For real. I've seen more than just me being fired. I've seen other people quit, I've seen other people fired, you know, whatever. It's not that big a deal."
K!: And it's still the same band.
G: "Exactly. Realistically, in the whole GN'R world, you don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what's going to happen. From the day I got the job, I didn't know if I'd be there for a week, a year, whatever.
"I think the same can be said about most people around the band. Axl and Slash call most of the shots. The rest of us just kinda go with the flow. You just never know, cos it's not our call. You're relying on Axl, and he changes his mind quite a bit.
"I have been fired a few times, and it was for nothing that I did. That was another reason for me making my album - you don't know what's going to happen in GN'R. I don't know if I'm going to be around for the next album. I don't know who's going to be around!"
K!: Tell me about your solo LP. Are you calling it the Gilby Clarke Experience?
G: "It's not the Gilby Clarke Experience. I'm just going to do it like a solo thing, kinda like how Peter Frampton did it."
K!: Who is in your band?
G: "In England, the only person people have heard of is Jo, who was in Dogs D'Amour. Jo made most of the record with me, but now, he's got a new band in town with David Roach of Junkyard - they're called Las Barrachos.
"Now I've got Ryan Roxie on guitar he was in Electric Angels and Candy; and Mark Dansice is the drummer, he was in Little Caesar and the iverdogs; and Will Efford is the bass player and he hasn't been in anything. He's just my friend. And everybody has black hair!"
K!: Is it big black hair?
G: "No, not big black hair. Just little choppy black hair! I've known Ryan and Mark for 10, 11 years. When I was putting the band together, I decided I'd do it with my friends, some who haven't really been on the road, like Will. I'm going to go out and have a lot of fun. If I gotta go out and do all that work again, I'm going to go with my friends."
K!: When do you start touring?
G: "We're going to Japan. And then we'll tour the States in July."
K!: Are you happy?
G: "I'm very happy. Everything has kind of worked out for the better. You know, we kind of live for the minute. And this minute is kinda nice."
K!: Where are you off to now?
G: "I'm going to Slash's. We're going to hang out on Melrose and go to Leathers & Treasures!"
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Home > HBG Battle Markers & Tokens > 1700's > Quasi War
Quasi War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought almost entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800. After the toppling of the French crown during the French Revolutionary Wars, the United States refused to continue repaying its debt to France on the grounds that it had been owed to a previous regime. French outrage led to a series of attacks on U.S. shipping, ultimately leading to retaliation from the U.S.
The war was called "quasi" because it was undeclared. It involved two years of hostilities at sea, in which both navies attacked the other's shipping in the West Indies. The unexpected fighting ability of the U.S. Navy, which destroyed the French West Indian trade, together with the growing weaknesses and final overthrow of the ruling Directory in France, led Talleyrand to reopen negotiations. At the same time, President Adamsfeuded with Hamilton over control of the Adams administration. Adams took sudden and unexpected action, rejecting the anti-French hawks in his own party and offering peace to France. In 1800 he sent William Vans Murray to France to negotiate peace; the Federalists cried betrayal. Hostilities ended with the signing of the Convention of 1800. [See Wiki HERE]
HBG Britain Flag (1707-1800) (10/Set)
HBG France (1794-P) Flag (10/Set)
HBG New France (1534–1763) Roundel (10/Set)
HBG U.S. (15 Stars) Flag (1795-1818) 10/Set
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Hard Times Jan. 23, 2009
Slim Pickings for Starbucks CEO
By Daniel Maurer
Not only is Starbucks stock down 50 points from this year’s high point, but CEO Howard Schultz had to settle for a mere $9.7 million in compensation this year, compared to $12.6 million last year. Among the man’s job perks — over $500,000 for personal security. [AP]
The Absolute Best Restaurant in the West Village
the future 7/9/2019 at 11:35 a.m.
Inside the Race to Redefine ‘Meat’ and Change Burgers Forever How long will it be before cows are obsolete?
By Marissa Conrad
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CIGAR DOGMA
The word cigar originated from the Spanish cigarro, which in turn probably derives from the Mayan sicar ("to smoke rolled tobacco leaves" – from si'c, "tobacco"). There is also a possible derivation, or at least an influence, from the Spanish cigarra ("cicada"), due to their similar shape. The English word came into general use in 1730.
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaf, rolled in a series of types and sizes, that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth.
Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Canary Islands (Spain), Italy and the Eastern United States. The origins of cigar smoking are still unknown. In Guatemala, a ceramic pot dating back to the tenth century features a Mayan smoking tobacco leaves tied together with a string. Sikar, the term for smoking used by the Maya, may have inspired the name cigar.
CIGAR MANUFACTURE
Tobacco leaves are harvested and aged using a process that combines use of heat and shade to reduce sugar and water content without causing the large leaves to rot. This first part of the process, called curing, takes between 25 and 45 days and varies substantially based upon climatic conditions as well as the construction of sheds or barns used to store harvested tobacco. The curing process is manipulated based upon the type of tobacco, and the desired color of the leaf. The second part of the process, called fermentation, is carried out under conditions designed to help the leaf dry slowly. Temperature and humidity are controlled to ensure that the leaf continues to ferment, without rotting or disintegrating. This is where the flavor, burning, and aroma characteristics are primarily brought out in the leaf.
Once the leaves have aged properly, they are sorted for use as filler or wrapper based upon their appearance and overall quality. During this process, the leaves are continually moistened and handled carefully to ensure each leaf is best used according to its individual qualities. The leaf will continue to be baled, inspected, un-baled, re-inspected, and baled again repeatedly as it continues its aging cycle. When the leaf has matured according to the manufacturer's specifications, it will be used in the production of a cigar.
Quality cigars are still handmade.[11] An experienced cigar-roller can produce hundreds of very good, nearly identical, cigars per day. The rollers keep the tobacco moist — especially the wrapper — and use specially designed crescent-shaped knives, called chavetas, to form the filler and wrapper leaves quickly and accurately.[11] Once rolled, the cigars are stored in wooden forms as they dry, in which their uncapped ends are cut to a uniform size.[11] From this stage, the cigar is a complete product that can be "laid down" and aged for decades if kept as close to 21 °C (70 °F), and 70% relative humidity, as the environment will allow. Once cigars have been purchased, proper storage is usually accomplished by keeping the cigars in a specialized wooden box, or humidor, where conditions can be carefully controlled for long periods of time. Even if a cigar becomes dry, it can be successfully re-humidified so long as it has not been handled carelessly and done so gradually. The loss of original tobacco oils, however, will greatly affect the taste.
Some cigars, especially premium brands, use different varieties of tobacco for the filler and the wrapper. Long filler cigars are a far higher quality of cigar,[12] using long leaves throughout. These cigars also use a third variety of tobacco leaf, called a "binder", between the filler and the outer wrapper. This permits the makers to use more delicate and attractive leaves as a wrapper. These high-quality cigars almost always blend varieties of tobacco. Even Cuban long-filler cigars will combine tobaccos from different parts of the island to incorporate several different flavors.
In low-grade and machine-made cigars, chopped tobacco leaves are used for the filler, and long leaves or a type of "paper" made from tobacco pulp is used for the wrapper which binds the cigar together.[11] This alters the burning characteristics of the cigar, causing handmade cigars to be sought-after.
CIGAR COMPOSITION
Cigars are composed of three types of tobacco leaves, whose variations determine smoking and flavor characteristics.
Wrapper: A cigar's outermost layer, or wrapper (Spanish: capa), is the most expensive component of a cigar.[23] The wrapper determines much of the cigar's character and flavor, and as such its color is often used to describe the cigar as a whole. Wrappers are frequently grown underneath huge canopies made of gauze so as to diffuse direct sunlight and are fermented separately from other rougher cigar components, with a view to the production of a thinly-veined, smooth, supple leaf.[23]
Wrapper tobacco produced without the gauze canopies under which "shade grown" leaf is grown, generally more coarse in texture and stronger in flavor, is commonly known as "sun grown." A number of different countries are used for the production of wrapper tobacco, including Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon, and the United States.
Binder: Beneath the wrapper is a small bunch of "filler" leaves bound together inside of a leaf called a "binder" (Spanish: capote). Binder leaf is typically sun grown leaf from the top part of a tobacco plant and is selected for its elasticity and durability in the rolling process.[23] Unlike wrapper leaf, which must be uniform in appearance and smooth in texture, binder leaf may show evidence of physical blemishes or lack uniform coloration. Binder leaf is generally considerably thicker and more hardy than the wrapper leaf surrounding it.
Filler: The bulk of a cigar is "filler" — a bound bunch of tobacco leaves. These leaves are folded by hand to allow air passageways down the length of the cigar, through which smoke is drawn after the cigar is lit.[23] A cigar rolled with insufficient air passage is referred to by a smoker as "too tight"; one with excessive airflow creating an excessively fast, hot burn is regarded as "too loose." Considerable skill and dexterity on the part of the cigar roller is needed to avoid these opposing pitfalls — a primary factor in the superiority of hand-rolled cigars over their machine-made counterparts.[23]
By blending various varieties of filler tobacco, cigar makers create distinctive strength and flavor profiles for their various branded products. In general, fatter cigars hold more filler leaves, allowing a greater potential for the creation of complex flavors. In addition to the variety of tobacco employed, the country of origin can be one important determinant of taste, with different growing environments producing distinctive flavors. The fermentation and aging process adds to this variety, as does the particular part of the tobacco plant harvested, with bottom leaves (Spanish: volado) having a mild flavor and burning easily, middle leaves (Spanish: seco) having a somewhat stronger flavor, with potent and spicy ligero leaves taken from the sun-drenched top of the plant. When used, ligero is always folded into the middle of the filler bunch due to its slow-burning characteristics.
If full leaves are used as filler, a cigar is said to be composed of "long filler." Cigars made from smaller bits of leaf, including many machine-made cigars, are said to be made of "short filler.”
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Clarence H. Carter
Down the River, 1937
36¼ by 45¼ inches
Signed Clarence Carter and dated 1937 center right
Clarence H. Carter was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, and, although he attended art school in Cleveland and later moved to Pittsburgh and New Jersey, memories of his childhood in southern Ohio continued to inform his work. Floods were a regular occurrence in Portsmouth, and in January 1937 the Ohio River swelled to devastating proportions, killing more than 375 and destroying the homes of a million people.
Down the River portrays two women looking out over floodwall that surrounds Portsmouth. The painting is imbued with a quality of stillness and solitude, as the stoic female figures witness a scene that remains hidden from the viewer. There is a mysterious quality to the composition that foreshadows the surrealist manner Carter would embrace later in his career. His work became increasingly abstract after 1960, but Carter never completely abandoned his roots: he painted another version of the present subject, titledThe Flood, in 1976–77.
See a work by John Atherton
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John Rogers Cox
Wheat Field Landscape, late 1940s
John Rogers Cox was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, the free spirit among four boys growing up in a prominent local banking family. In 1941 he became the first director at the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute. Cox was responsible for forming the core of the museum’s collection, including major works by Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, and Edward Hopper. In 1943 Cox left the museum and enlisted in the army. After the war he left dedicated himself to painting. He moved to Chicago in 1948 and taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago until 1965.
Considered one of the great American scene and magic realist painters, Cox produced approximately 20 oil paintings during his most important period of the 1940s. Wheat fields were the artist’s favorite subject: “A wheat field has a whispering sound and an awe-inspiring quality like drifting music and, like an ocean, it gives you a lonely feeling.” In the present work, the moon and cloud set against the midnight blue sky over the wheat field depict the eeriness seen in Cox’s best pictures.
See a work by Albert Bloch
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Artworks of Thomas Gainsborough
Lady Sheffield
new24/Thomas Gainsborough-637376.jpg
1727-1788 British Thomas Gainsborough Locations English painter, draughtsman and printmaker. He was the contemporary and rival of Joshua Reynolds, who honoured him on 10 December 1788 with a valedictory Discourse (pubd London, 1789), in which he stated: If ever this nation should produce genius sufficient to acquire to us the honourable distinction of an English School, the name of Gainsborough will be transmitted to posterity, in the history of Art, among the very first of that rising name. He went on to consider Gainsborough portraits, landscapes and fancy pictures within the Old Master tradition, against which, in his view, modern painting had always to match itself. Reynolds was acknowledging a general opinion that Gainsborough was one of the most significant painters of their generation. Less ambitious than Reynolds in his portraits, he nevertheless painted with elegance and virtuosity. He founded his landscape manner largely on the study of northern European artists and developed a very beautiful and often poignant imagery of the British countryside. By the mid-1760s he was making formal allusions to a wide range of previous art, from Rubens and Watteau to, eventually, Claude and Titian. He was as various in his drawings and was among the first to take up the new printmaking techniques of aquatint and soft-ground etching. Because his friend, the musician and painter William Jackson (1730-1803), claimed that Gainsborough detested reading, there has been a tendency to deny him any literacy. He was, nevertheless, as his surviving letters show, verbally adept, extremely witty and highly cultured. He loved music and performed well. He was a person of rapidly changing moods, humorous, brilliant and witty. At the time of his death he was expanding the range of his art, having lived through one of the more complex and creative phases in the history of British painting. He painted with unmatched skill and bravura; while giving the impression of a kind of holy innocence, he was among the most artistically learned and sophisticated painters of his generation. It has been usual to consider his career in terms of the rivalry with Reynolds that was acknowledged by their contemporaries; while Reynolds maintained an intellectual and academic ideal of art, Gainsborough grounded his imagery on contemporary life, maintaining an aesthetic outlook previously given its most powerful expression by William Hogarth. His portraits, landscapes and subject pictures are only now coming to be studied in all their complexity; having previously been viewed as being isolated from the social, philosophical and ideological currents of their time, they have yet to be fully related to them. It is clear, however, that his landscapes and rural pieces, and some of his portraits, were as significant as Reynolds acknowledged them to be in 1788.
1785-1786 Medium Oil on canvas cyf
| Bride | Creation of the Animals | Christ on the Cross with Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Dominic and an Angel |
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MainAll NewsForeign AffairsSenate Set to Consider New Round of Iran Sanctions
Senate Set to Consider New Round of Iran Sanctions
The Senate is set to consider a broader round of economic sanctions on Friday against Iran's energy, port, shipping and shipbuilding sectors
Rachel Hirshfeld , 30/11/12 12:47
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The U.S. Senate is set to consider a broader round of economic sanctions on Friday against Iran's energy, port, shipping and shipbuilding sectors, in an effort to further curtail Tehran’s nuclear program.
The new sanctions were proposed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act by Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey.
Menendez reiterated the importance of the amendment, stating that new evidence from the International Atomic Energy Association indicates that Iran appears to be adding centrifuge capacity and conducting explosives tests that could be used to detonate a nuclear weapon.
"Our message is clear: the window is closing. The time for the waiting game is over," Menendez said on the Senate floor late Thursday.
While he said that the sanctions approved last year hit Iran's central bank, Tehran has found ways to bypass the penalties, such as Turkey's use of gold to pay for Iranian natural gas imports.
"Yes, our sanctions are having a demonstrable effect on the Iranian economy, but Iran is still working just as hard to develop nuclear weapons."
The amendment, which was co-sponsored by Mark Kirk (R-Ill), would build on the sanctions passed last year by designating Iran's energy, port shipping and shipbuilding sectors as "entities of proliferation," because of what he said was the role they play in Iran's "proliferation activities."
It would also sanction entities that supply certain commodities to Iran that are seen as contributing to Iran's shipbuilding capacity. These commodities include graphite, aluminum, coal, steel and software used to integrate industrial processes.
Furthermore, the legislation also would designate the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its president as human rights abusers for broadcasting forced televised confessions and “show trials”.
Tags:Iran, Defense, US, economy, nuclear program, Senate
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MainAll NewsInside IsraelAbu Khder murder: 2 convicted, leader evaluated
Abu Khder murder: 2 convicted, leader evaluated
Two minors convicted of murder, 29-year-old who led the brutal murder sent for psychiatric evaluation before conviction.
Shlomo Pyotrkovsky, 30/11/15 11:12
Yosef Haim Ben-David
Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90
The Jerusalem District Court on Monday issued a ruling on the gruesome murder of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder that took place on July 2, 2014.
Abu Khder was abducted and burned to death by 29-year-old Yosef Haim Ben-David and two 17-year-old accomplices.
The two minor accomplices were convicted on murder charges by the court Monday, while Ben-David has not yet been convicted, having been sent for psychiatric evaluation. Only after the evaluation will the ruling against him be determined.
Ben-David has a history of mental illness, and was arrested two years before the murder on suspicion he tried to strangle his own infant daughter. He had been on psychiatric treatment ever since.
Shortly after being arrested the three admitted to the crime and reenacted how they bludgeoned and then burned the Arab youth to death in the Jerusalem Forest.
They said the murder was an act of "revenge" for the murders of Israeli teens Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Sha'ar (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19), who were abducted by Hamas terrorists on June 12 and murdered shortly after.
After the confession the three were given a full trial, during which the two minors claimed that Ben-David was responsible for the murder. In response, Ben-David's attorney argued that he was not mentally fit to stand trial.
According to the indictment, the three first unsuccessfully tried to abduct an Arab infant from its mother's arms, then tried to set an Arab car on fire, and the following day abducted and murdered Abu Khder. The youth was strangled and hit in the head, and then burned to death while unconscious.
Tags:mohammed abu khder, Yosef Haim Ben-David
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Utah Avenue, 1968
Wed, Apr 2018 11:08 | Permalink
Fifty years ago I was a baby sitting in my mother's lap in south Louisville, Kentucky. Fifty years ago this day in her parents' kitchen on Utah Avenue, the apartment upstairs to the left. Half a mile from the distillery, half a mile from the L&N railroad, just a couple of blocks from Churchill Downs. Yellow and green parakeet named Peety chirping relentlessly in its cage at the kitchen window, hoping from perch to perch and honing its beak against a cuttlebone. Late afternoon, my mother bouncing me on her knee at the formica table pushed up against the wall, her mother in the kitchen doing I don't know what. She didn't smoke, she didn't drink coffee, she didn't much cook. She loved grapefruit smothered in sugar, and she used to pour a small pyramid of salt into the palm of her hand before licking it off. She was sweet, but that's all she was, and when she sat she sat like layers of bread dough one on top of the next. Her feet were cracked at the heels. April sun stretching across the courtyard, across the clothes-trees outside with the neighbors yellowing underwear and graying dishtowels, across the hoods of the saddlebroke 15-year-old Buicks and Fords parked out across the way. Across the dead yellow grass.
A scream downstairs and I jump in my mother's lap. Somewhere between sexual ecstasy and gut-shot pain, and we could hear the door slam shut in the hallways downstairs. We could hear the feet pounding up the linoleum in their raggedy slippers. The woman who lived below my grandparents since my mom was a baby, hill woman from Shelby County, woman whose husband was on some kind of primitive dialysis provided by the V.A., woman whose daughter's neck and chest were horribly scarred when she reached up and pulled a pan of boiling water down off the stove, woman who used to take my teenage mother in when my grandfather would get really bad, she came running up the linoleum stairs to us. Woman whose name I wish I could remember now. Knocked on the door. Pounded on the door.
He's dead, she cried, in a voice she couldn't control. They shot him and he's dead. She was downstairs ironing when the radio told her Dr. King was dead. Had been shot on the walkway of some rinky-dink colored Memphis motel. Had stepped outside for a cigarette when the bullet caught him in his golden throat. He's dead and I'm glad he's dead. She was almost crying now. I don't care who knows it. I hope they kill every last one of them.
What do you do? What do you do in a place like that?
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The Blago Obsession
Is it just me, or is Patrick Fitzgerald starting to look and sound like Captain Ahab?
Vacation Suggestions for the Marie Antoinette of the West
Michelle Obama took a modest little vacation to Spain this month, but what I'm wondering is this: has the First Lady ever taken a vacation to Washington D.C.? Perhaps she would profit from a guided tour of the historic places that give so many reasons to be proud of The United States.
If D.C. is too pedestrian for Michelle's refined tastes, maybe a vacation to Boston, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to visit places like Bunker Hill, Dorchester Heights, Trenton, Princeton, Valley Forge, and Independence Hall.
While in the hood, Mrs. Obama might take in the military cemetary near Gettysburg, where President Lincoln memorialized the brave Americans who gave the last full measure of devotion so that government of the people, by the people and for the people should not perish from the earth.
These vacation spots might inspire the First Lady with some pride in her Country, beyond that derived from the Presidential candidacy of her husband; but if vacationing stateside suits her not, how about something more cosmopolitan? What about a trip to Normandy, to see Omaha Beach and Point de hoc? How about Italy to visit Anzio? Remembering how America saved the World from Hitler might stir even a Harvard Law grad to a touch of appreciation for The United States of America.
Updated: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 3:42 PM CDT
One of the selling points for the Democrats' Financial "Reform" law was that it will protect consumers from the fine print in credit card contracts that consumers don't read. But, at 2,000+ pages, the Dodd-Frank bill is nothing but fine print, which no member of Congress read before voting for it.
Why is that procedure hazardous for opening a Visa card account, but safe for passing laws that affect our lives, liberty and property?
One Gun Policy
The Chicago Sun-Times reports: < Chicagoans should be limited to one handgun for every eligible person living in a home — and gun dealers should be banned within the city limits — in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to shoot down the city’s handgun ban, the city’s top lawyer said on Tuesday. One day after Chicago’s strictest-in-the-nation handgun ban was rendered unenforceable, Corporation Counsel Mara Georges argued that it’s “critical to public safety” to at least draw the line on the number of handguns in Chicago.>
When you read something like this you may be tempted to ask, “which part of ‘shall not be infringed’ don’t these people understand?” But, that would be a mistake. It’s not that these gun-grabbing big-government Liberals don’t understand the U.S. Constitution, it’s that they don’t like it. After all, that’s the whole point of the “Living Constitution” bit.
Our betters don’t like being bound by constraints on government power, they like constraining us -- or as the City's lawyer puts it, “draw[ing] the line.” Our Founding Fathers had a term for this type of activity: “Tyranny.” They pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to overthrow it and secure liberty to their generation and ours, and the least that our generation of fathers can do is teach the facts of liberty and tyranny to our children around the dinner table, so that they don’t grow up to be either the clueless victims of tyranny, or the perpetrators of it.
So Obvious That Even The Supreme Court Gets It Right
The Supreme's got it right by striking down Chicago's handgun ban, but Richard M. Daley is beside himself (even more than usual) over the decision.
Why? Because Mayor Daley can't see why any law-abiding Chicagoan would object to being disarmed by the City, when the Chicago Police Department has a flawless record of arriving at the scene of the crime in plenty of time to identify the victim's body.
Teachable Moment?
The smack-down of Texas Rep. Joe Barton by his fellow Republican Congressmen, and the mock outrage of Democrats should provide, as they say, "a teachable moment."
Our Founding Fathers in crafting a government to fulfill its proper role of securing Americans' God-given natural rights, while deriving it's legitimate authority from the consent of the governed, were careful not to create a democracy, where a simple majority could do whatever they pleased. Instead, the wise men who formed the greatest experiment ever in self-rule by free men, designed a Republic, in which the consent of the governed is expressed through elected representatives, and based upon the Rule of Law, not the mere whims of 50-percent+1.
So, President Obama summons the CEO of BP to the White House and makes him an offer he can't refuse. Under ordinary circumstances, this transaction would be recognized as a SHAKEDOWN. In this case, however, it so happens that 80% of the American People are in favor of the shakedown. Does that make the shakedown not a shakedown? Does that make the shakedown legal? We now know that it makes the shakedown unmentionable.
The Obama shakedown of BP is tyranny. It just happens to be popular tyranny, and perhaps BP had it coming. But what about the next time this usurped power is used by the government? A society governed by the rule of law has considered the question, "what about next time?" A society governed by the rule of man (whether an individual despot, a majority, or as in this case, a combination of the two) looks only at the moment, without regard for the consequences to liberty in the future. Our U.S. Constitution, with its hedges against both despotism and mob-rule, was instituted in order to secure the blessings of liberty not only to ourselves, but also to our posterity.
When I heard Rep. Barton's remarks the first time, I didn't know (and I still don't) that he was directing his apology to BP. I assumed he was apologizing to the American People, or his constituents, for the actions of the Federal Government (Eureka! we found an apology that Barack Obama doesn't like) in violation of the rule of law. Whoever the object of Barton's apology was, the fact remains that his characterization of the shakedown as a shakedown was true, but truth isn't always popular, and that's a good reason to protect and defend our rule of law Republic from inroads by tyrants as well as incidental majorities.
Updated: Thursday, June 24, 2010 1:40 PM CDT
Shakedown for BP, Miranda for Al Qaeda
Silly BP, Civilian Court due process is for Terrorists.
New(don't)Speak
Memo to Republicans: Never call a shakedown a shakedown.
Of Straw Men and Mere Men...
1) Obama on the BP Oil Leak: “the one approach I will not accept is inaction.”
Whoa, that must have been a devastating blow to the inaction lobby.
Obama's characteristic straw manning is exactly the type of bovine scatology with which college professors bemuse 18-year olds in the lecture hall; but can it really work long-term on the adult populace? I think not.
Why does someone employ a straw man argument? I’d say there are two possible reasons, and in Obama’s case both probably apply. A) straw man is used because you can’t answer the real arguments of the other side, and/or B) straw man is used because you don’t know the arguments of the other side.
We hear a lot about how intelligent Obama is, and that may be true, but his intelligence has been applied to mastering a breathtakingly narrow-minded set of ideas, not to critical thinking. And having lived a life essentially devoid of intellectual diversity, Obama is unacquainted with the ideas of his ideological and political opponents. Arrogantly secure in the knowledge that everyone he knows knows everything he believes to be true, Obama is able to dismiss his opponents’ ideas out of hand, without the bother of thinking about them. After all, why waste time thinking about ideas that are not only wrong, but evil? Imagine the hyperventilating there would be at NPR or the NY Times Editorial Board over the proposition that Barrack Obama is the most narrow-minded President in the history of the Republic. “Obama narrow minded? Why, how could that be? He believes everything we believe!” Hmmm, thou sayest.
2) Have you ever seen the Sean Connery, Michael Cain movie based on Kipling’s short story, “The Man Who Would Be King”? It’s the old ignorant-aborigonies-mistake-a-stranger-for-a-god-and-he-milks-it-for-all-it-is-worth-until-a-wound-exposes-his-mortality-and-the-natives-rise-up-and-murder-him story.
Well, I think that’s a good picture of Obama at this juncture. Some very ignorant Americans, armed with voter registration cards (in most cases), mistook this neophyte, Lefty college lecturer for an actual leader -- in some cases they actually mistook him for Jesus (who they also mistook for a Community Organizer) – so Obama’s incompetence and CYA lack of leadership in dealing with the oil leak has exposed not only his mortality, but the sad fact that he isn’t even a particularly exceptional mortal; and now many of the people who were fooled during the campaign have realized their mistake, and nothing Obama can say or do can make them love and worship him again. In fact, the more he tries the more it reminds them how gullible they were to believe in this phony, and being so reminded, the more irritated they become at the image of his face and the sound of his voice.
There's another old Lon Chaney silent movie in the genre, "West of Zanzibar," in which the final subtitiled line could serve as the epitaph on the headstone of the Obama Presidency: “No believe.”
Updated: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:43 AM CDT
Obama finally catching up
The other day, President Obama, in stage-managed exasperation about the Deep Horizon oil leak, demanded that BP "plug the damn hole."
Welcome to our World, Mr. President.
Obama and the Democrats pass an eight-hundred billion dollar "stimulus" package, that stimulates nothing, but explodes the federal budget deficit. Americans at Town Hall Meetings and Tea Parties demand, "plug the damn hole," but Obama impassively lectures us on how his "stimulus" has brought America's economy back from the brink.
The U.S. economy is hemorraging jobs, with 10% of the workforce unemployed, and Public Opinion Polls scream, "plug the damn hole," but Obama instead devotes his attention and political capital to a government take-over of our healthcare system.
The Southwest border states are overrun with illegal immigrants crossing the Mexican border, so the People of Arizona pass a law to "plug the damn hole," and Obama's response is to slander Arizonans as racists, and nod in agreement as the President of Mexico insults American Patriots, all the while continuing his refusal to enforce our national border.
So, after a mere seven weeks of oil spouting into the Gulf of Mexico, Obama thinks he's frustrated. For 16 months Americans have been demanding that Obama "plug the damn holes" but he just keeps making them bigger.
Posted by larry_naselli at 8:57 AM CDT
Updated: Friday, May 28, 2010 11:20 AM CDT
Meddling, then and now
A year ago Professor Obama lectured Americans on the impropriety of “meddling” with the internal affairs of a sovereign nation, Iran, then engaged in cracking the skulls of pro-democracy demonstrators. This week Mexico’s President, stands before the U.S. Congress and castigates America for Arizona’s immigration enforcement law, and Obama says, “Amen, amigo, meddle away.”
Updated: Friday, May 28, 2010 9:35 AM CDT
Turned Upside-Down
What is the dividing line between Conservatives and everyone else in America today? Limited –vs- Unlimited Government.
In a society where government is the first resort for every problem and psuedo-problem, what role does a Constitution play? Usually, in the hands of judicial activists, it becomes a cordon to prevent popular and representative majorities from executing guardianship of the foundations and traditions of the social and political fabric. Example: Californians pass a Proposition defining marriage as it has traditionally been defined for millennia, and the Courts say, “you can’t do that, it violates the Constitution.”
We have the Constitution limiting the consent of the governed, rather than the Constitution limiting the scope of the government. This turns the framers’ intent on its head.
Sedition? Never Mind.
Protests in Arizona, by advocates of illegal immigration.
Would these represent the kind of seditious, anti-government sentiment that Liberals were warning of earlier this month, when the Tea Party protests were happening, or should we, in this case, try to "understand their rage"?
Updated: Monday, April 26, 2010 3:59 PM CDT
Did you miss the investigative reports?
<Crying "Raise our taxes!" and "Show some guts!", thousands of people rallied at the Illinois state Capitol on Wednesday to protest lawmakers' inaction on a tax hike.>
This must have been a grassroots collection of ordinary citizens from all walks of life, because news consumers were not treated to weeks of reporting and analysis of the participants' racial composition, income-level, education or political party affiliation. We were not introduced to any slang terms for perverted sexual acts, applied to the protestors by network news broadcasters, nor were we regaled with ominous hints about the propensity of such dissenters to commit acts of anti-government violence, accompanied by stock footage of carnage from The Unabomber's handiwork.
News reports of the rally did give passing mention to the presumably innocuous fact that the crowd included "public employees, labor union members and school teachers," so permit me to translate: this astroturf rent-a-mob consisted of a bunch of parasites, angered that the Democrats in Springfield have thus far failed to hike the rate at which they rob the productive private sector through taxation, in order to adequately suckle the unproductive sector, as represented by public employees, labor unions and school teachers.
Now, not being a Stalinist thug myself, and therefore unqualified for employment in the "mainstream" media or the Obama administration, I am perfectly content for this brood of blood-sucking parasites to skip work in order to clamour outside the State Capitol for policies that they support. I merely note, for the record, the double-standard of media scrutiny compared with the Tea Parties.
Updated: Thursday, April 22, 2010 11:09 AM CDT
Well-read
My niece recently asked me what books she should read to become a well-read person. Here's the list I gave her, off the top of my head.
Rob Roy – Sir Walter Scott
A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
King Solomon’s Mines – H. Rider Haggard
Beau Geste – P.C. Wren
Beau Sabreur – P.C. Wren
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkein
The Brothers Karamazov – Fyodor Dostoevsky
A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich – Alexander Solzenheitzen
Little House on the Prarie – Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Scottish Chiefs – Jane Porter
Harry of Monmouth – A.M. Maugham
The Last of the Mohicans – James Fennimore Cooper
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Ivanhoe – Sir Walter Scott
A Tale of the Western Plaines – G.A. Henty
Adam Bede – George Eliot
Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
Madeleine Takes Command – Ethel C. Brill
The Aubrey-Matarin Novels – Patrick O’Brien
The Blackford Oakes Novels – William F. Buckley Jr.
Longitude – Dava Sobel
A History of the English Speaking Peoples – Winston Churchill
After the Flood – Bill Cooper
Heroes – Paul Johnson
Ronald Reagan, How an ordinary man became an extraordinary leader – Dinesh D’Souza
Manhunt: the 12-day chase for Lincoln’s killer – James L. Swanson
A History of the American People – Paul Johnson
The Fall of the Berlin Wall – William F. Buckley Jr.
The Secret Kingdom – Pat Robertson
Dictatorships and Double Standards – Jeanne Kirkpatrick
The Forgotten Man – Amity Shlaes
The Long Walk – Slavomir Rawicz
My Early Years – Winston Churchill
Men and Marriage – George Gilder
Up From Liberalism – William F. Buckley Jr.
Free to Choose – Milton Freedman
America the Last Best Hope – William J. Bennett
Architects of Victory: 6 Heroes of the Cold War – Joseph Shattan
The Genesis Flood – Harold Morris
Don’t Tread On Me – H.W. Crocker
Trafalgar: an Eyewitness History – Tom Pocock
America Alone – Mark Steyn
Liberty & Tyranny – Mark Levin
Coolidge – Robert Sobel
Economics in One Lesson – Henry Hazlitt
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage – Tyndale House
Updated: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 1:20 PM CDT
Mentionable and Unmentionable
The Daily Herald ran a priceless headline, "FBI Arrests Christian Militia," over its copy & paste of the Associated Press story identifying arrested militia members as "Christian" and "Right-Wing."
I'm not quite sure what makes these particular militia-ists "Right-Wing" -- perhaps they favor cutting the federal budget, reducing marginal income-tax rates, or drilling in ANWR -- but the willingness of AP and The Daily Herald to label them as "Christian" reveals a transparent double standard that says more about the weasels in the news media, than it does about militiamen, Christian or otherwise.
When Muslim terrorists, open fire, torch cars, or blow up innocent civilians, while shouting "Allahu Akbar" AP routinely treats us to tortured euphemisms like "alleged gunmen," or "extremists," even though the perpetrators self-identify as adherents of Islam, quote from Islam's holy book, and are acknowledged as legitimate by vast numbers of Muslim leaders and followers. For some reason, AP, Rueters, and the news reports that parrot them, can't bring themselves to use the "M" Word.
But, AP has no such compunction when it comes to labeling militia wackos as "Christian." Certainly, these militia self-identify as Christians and quote from Christianity's holy book, but can any investigative reporter locate any significant support from Christian leaders and followers? Any prominent Christian to give credit to this militia's doctrines? To ask those questions is to answer them.
Updated: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:41 AM CDT
I heard a man on the news, who compared the passage of the Democrats' healthcare takeover to "Christmas Morning."
That's really not too far from the truth. What do so many people do between Thanksgiving and Christmas? They run up massive credit card charges so that Christmas Morning has a heap of goodies under the tree. Then Christmas is over. Then comes January, and the bills arrive. Then comes the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, and the remorseful questions, "what have I done?" "why did I do it?"
Well, that's what Obamacare will be like for that man on the news report, but to most Americans it will be slightly different. We didn't run up our own credit cards. Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and your Democrat U.S. Senator and Representative ran them up for us. Christmas will be over soon. The bills are in the mail. Merry Christmas...or not.
Updated: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:26 AM CDT
Democrats have rammed through a government takeover of American health care. What now? National Review Online's editorial aptly begins with the words, "Nil Desperandum," and that is the right attitude for Americans distressed by this unprecedented inroad on the private sector.
David Horowitz likes to say that "in politics, there are no lost causes, because there are no won causes." But, much will depend on the intrepidity of Republican legislators and candidates -- isn't that a scary thought? -- who are America's last best hope to repeal Obamacare. Is there a Republican leader out there who can lead this fight? Paul Ryan, perhaps?
Ultimately, however, the American People will decide at the ballot box whether to restore Constitutionally limited government, or accept the new order. Will our future be free markets and individual choice, or will it be, "Comrade, it has been noticed by the Ministry of Healthcare Cost Control that you frequently eat ice cream after 9pm. Surely you know, Comrade, that this kind of reckless behavior costs the taxpayers millions of dollars a year in medical expenses, that could be used to feed a hungry child, or pay the college tuition of a disadvantaged youth..." We'll have a pretty good idea on November 3rd.
Updated: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 9:51 AM CDT
Associated Press reports <Mar. 5, 2010 9:23 AM EST
Somali pirates, security personnel in 4 shootouts
KATHARINE HOURELD
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Swarms of Somali pirates are moving into the waters off East Africa, triggering four shootouts Friday...
The end of the monsoon season and the resulting calmer waters signal the beginning of the most dangerous period for ships traveling the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Nearly half the 47 ships hijacked off Somalia last year were taken in March and April.
Cmdr. John Harbour of the European Union Naval Force said a spike in attacks was very likely in coming weeks. But this season, ship owners and sailors are more prepared to try to evade pirates, fight back, or have armed security onboard, raising the likelihood of violence.
"We know the monsoon is over. We know they're coming," Harbour said. "We're taking the fight to the pirates.">
Ships arming to fight pirates? What does this accomplish, other than to perpetuate the cycle of violence?
Instead of imitating the American Cowboy types, like those Navy Seal snipers, Europeans should take a lesson from American Universities and declare their ships as GUN-FREE ZONES. Problem solved.
Updated: Friday, March 5, 2010 10:55 AM CST
Breaking News: ILLITERATE GUNMAN AT LARGE ON NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Evidently, the gunman could not read the “GUN-FREE ZONE” signs at the campus entrance.
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It Could Happen To You...
Obama and the Democrats won the cheers of the Public by telling Auto Execs not to fly their private jets, by telling AIG not to pay bonuses, and by sending those Corporate Bondholders to the back of the bankruptcy line. Well, who can complain? After all, if the taxpayers are paying the bills, the government, as representative of the taxpayer, will tell the recipients of government money what they may and may not do. What could be more reasonable? So, we can all rejoice that the fat cats are getting their come-uppence.
Now that that inequity has been resolved, let’s move on to the Health Care Crisis. 40 zillion Americans are without health insurance, the big insurance companies are getting rich on skyrocketing policy premiums and the cost of medical care is out of control. Enter the Federal Government to fix the problem (building on its previous successes with Medicare, Medicaid and VA Hospitals). The solution? Government-subsidized healthcare. What a relief, huh? Oh, and by the way, since the taxpayers are paying the bills, the government, as representative of the taxpayer, will tell the recipients of government money what they may and may not do. What could be more reasonable?
Neighbor, I hope that was the change you believed in when you cast your vote for Obama, because that’s the change you’re in for.
Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
Outrage is alive and well among homosexual activists
Please note that the “news” reporting of this “controversy” follows the tried and true mainstream media formula of, “Congressman Jones, your Democrat opponents accuse you of eating small children for breakfast. Many Americans are wondering whether you put ketchup or tobasco sauce on them.”
From the self-appointed guardians of the first amendment we hear not a peep of principled defense for free conscience, free thought or free speech, much less common decency. Too bad for Miss CA that she wasn’t burning Old Glory, or ranting against the U.S. Military. She wouldn’t want for pop culture or big media defenders then.
I would suggest that no movement excels homosexual activists in dealing in hate. Not the Skinheads, not the Feminists, not even President Obama negotiating with Chrysler’s Corporate Bond holders. But of course, this is the GOOD hate. After all, homosexuals are an oppressed minority. The law prevents them from marrying the person they want to. Well, welcome to the real world you bunch of crybabies. None of us boys got to marry Raquel Welch, even though we grew up wanting to, and now that we are married men, the law prevents us from marrying the old gal, even if she wanted to. One of your swishy icons, Mick Jagger, made the point pretty well when he croaked, "you can't always get what you want."
Rick Santorum didn’t go far enough, commenting on the Lawrence decision, because he only noted (albeit correctly) that having established a constitutional right to perversion, the Court had left no permissable legislative barrier to bigamy, bestiality or even Liberalism (ok, I may have added that last part myself).
Santorum accurately identified the legal stakes, but the real rest of the story is the TOTALITARIAN character of homosexual activism. Not only may we not pass laws to restrict the practice of homosexual perversion, but we may not even THINK thoughts against the practice, propagation and celebration of homosexual perversion. On the contrary, as illustrated by the Miss California episode, we are not merely forbidden by the homosexual activists to think counter-revolutionary thoughts, we are required to think favorably about the mainstreaming of their abomination.
How then can we continue to identify as "Liberal," the political philosophy which, by both silence and affirmation, countenances such thought control.” Just what about such a political philosophy is Liberal? A more accurate term might be Radical Secular Socialist Totalitarianism – is that too much of a mouthful? How about, The Totalitarian Political Philosophy Formerly Known As Liberalism. My Dad always loved a good acronym, maybe that would help. Something like Liberalism Is More Precisely Radical Secular Socialist Totalitarianism or LIMPRSST (pronounced Limp Wrist).
William Bennett famously wrote of “The Death of Outrage.” A decade later the coroner's report on our side is inconclusive, but you can be certain that Outrage is alive and well among homosexual activists, and what outrages them is not the dishonoring of the hallowed institutions of our civilization, but anyone daring to disagree with them.
For the sake of our vanishing free republic, I pray that Carrie Prejean would have a spine of steel, and that God would graciously grant an Ollie-North-Moment, when a little person, targeted for routine destruction, speaks truth to power, and the veil is momentarily blown aside, allowing the American People a glimpse of the Leftist Beast. They won’t like what they see.
Updated: Friday, May 8, 2009 9:24 AM CDT
Two Americans, Carrie Prejean, Miss California, and Barack Obama, President of the United States, have something in common. They have expressed IDENTICAL views on same-sex marriage: they both say that they believe marriage ought to be between a man and a woman.
The tolerant, dissent-is-patriotic, free-thinking, lovers of free expression who speak (unrepudiated) on behalf of the same-sex marriage movement, have reacted to the two rather differently, but the really big difference between the President and Carrie Prejean is that the American People now know so much MORE about Miss California's background than they know about Barack Obama's.
Shrink to Win?
Peggy Noonan takes the occassion of Senator Jim Demint's remark, that he "would rather have 30 good and reliable conservative senators than 60 unreliable Republicans," to mock Social Conservative Republicans for having a "shrink to win" political strategy. Noonan is too smart to unintentionally miss Demint's hyperbole, wherein she is behaving like a Liberal, pretending to be outraged in order to win an argument.
But, who started the "shrink to win" talk anyway? Social Conservatives are merely counter-attacking against the Washingtonian -- Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker, George Will -- Republicans who called for Social Conservatives to disappear from the GOP, beginning with their snide dismissal of Sarah Palin before the election and continuing into the post-election finger pointing.
The sleight of hand is that the call to purge Social Conservatives from the Party is couched in an accusation that Social Conservatives are trying to purge Moderates from the Party. This simply does not compute. 78% of Conservatives voted for John McCain, the Poster Boy of Moderate Republicanism, which means that most Social Conservatives supported McCain -- hardly a purge of ideological impurity.
The endlessly repeated "ideological purity" riff doesn't pass the Laugh Test. For heaven's sake, Arlen Specter was hardly a loyal Republican, who crossed the aisle from time to time; he regularly vexed the GOP Senate Leadership and dispicably leveraged his vote for personal advantage whenever possible. Is there no point short of voting for GOP-led organization in the Senate at which Republicans should draw the line and say an elected official is disloyal to the Party? After all, Mitch McConnell can win Minority Leader with or without Senator Specter's vote. Moreover, relief at the departure of a canker like Arlen Specter is hardly the Inquisition of Ideological Purity that the pundits claim motivates Conservative Republicans.
Social Conservatives are not arguing that the GOP should win by purging Moderates, rather that the GOP should win by persuading swing voters who ought to identify with the Republican Party by the power of Conservative ideas, not by me-too adoption Liberal ideas to pander to those voters.
When Moderates had their way, Republicans spent decades as the minority Party in the House of Representatives, and most of the same period as minority in the Senate. Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich were able to grow the Party to majority status by wooing Social Conservatives, among others, to the Republican Party through the power of Conservative ideas, so wouldn't it be fair to describe GOP Moderates’ insistence that Social Conservatives take a hike as a shrink to win strategy? Peggy Noonan et al should take a look in the mirror.
Updated: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 3:29 PM CDT
Specter The Defector
If Arlen Specter had been arrested for being a Republican, Scottish law would have ruled, "case not proved."
Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 8:37 AM CDT
Shooting the Pirates gives Obama a New Job Responsibility
Now that the Muslim Pirates are literally screaming bloody murder, Barack Obama is about to learn the difference between being President of the United States and merely being an itinerant Critic of the United States.
In fact, it may not be long before an insomniac Obama is roaming the halls of the White House in the night watches, holding conversations with portraits of Lincoln, Truman and George W. Bush.
Updated: Monday, April 13, 2009 10:41 AM CDT
The Oprah President
President Obama's Spokesman, making an official prepared statement about the kidnapping of the Captain of a U.S. flagged merchant ship by Muslim Pirates off the East Coast of Africa, actually said that President Obama's biggest concern is the safety of the Captain.
Memo to Barack Obama: Private citizens have the luxury of having the safety of an individual as their biggest concern, but you are now President of The United States of America, therefore your biggest concern ought to be the interests of The United States of America.
We all hope and pray that the Captain comes out of this OK, but the lives and safety of every other American merchant seaman, and the future freedom of the seas to American shipping are rightly the primary concern of the President of the United States.
When Obama issues a weak-kneed, touchy-feely statement like "[my] biggest concern is the safety of the Captain," Bad Guys all over the World are listening and taking the measure of the man, and the Bad Guys are celebrating over the measurements.
Now he tells us...
Hmmmm, during the Presidential Campaign Obama never mentioned how "conflicted" he is about America.
Of course, anyone could tell that Obama has mixed feelings about the U.S.A., provided they 1) were not conflicted about the greatest nation on God's green Earth, and 2) had the courage to believe the truth. Alas, the number of people fitting that profile fell somewhat short of that needed to comprise a majority in the Electoral College.
From the man who said he couldn't throw Jeremiah Wright under the bus...
The Telegraph UK reports on Obama throwing America under the bus:
<Barack Obama: 'arrogant US has been dismissive' to allies
President Barack Obama has offered an apology for the Bush era, declaring that America had “shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive” towards its allies.>
Notably, unlike Obama, President Bush never has been dismissive or derisive toward the United States of America.
Updated: Friday, April 3, 2009 4:00 PM CDT
Take Me To Your Leader...
A subset of the lack of Cultural Confidence among the elites of Western Civilization is the lack of Cultural Confidence among Moderate Republicans. They agonize over what others will think of them, which leads them to a bizzare sort of passive-aggressive behavior.
These Moderates tread ever-so-softly when advocating the policies they favor, and attack boldly fellow Republicans who decline to make their case with "civility" (in case you don't know what that means, you are witnessing "Civility" every time you see Republicans following the Marquis of Queensbury rules, while Democrats gouge the eyes and knee the groin). John Mark Reynolds post about Rush Limbaugh's speech to CPAC is a good example. <Rush Gave a Bad Speech by John Mark Reynolds on 3/2/09
I listened to the Rush speech at CPAC. You can here, but it is mostly a waste of time. It was a bad speech, as a speech, and it made an argument that in our present societal context sounds like a spirited defense of the White Star Line on April 16, 1912...> Click Here to Read the Full Post and <Sam Adams was ... a leader in the early stages of the Revolution who sacrificed his all for the Cause. He was personally brave and an effective rabble rouser. Revolutions need a Sam Adams like they need air.
If, however, he had become the face fo the Revolution in those days, we might very well have lost. He could not appeal (and turned off) many people we needed on our team. Instead, Washington became the face of the revolution and our leader and the Revolution was saved...> Click Here to Read the Full Post of 3/4/09 Rush is not the right leader for the Reagan Revolution Phase Two>
Mr. Middle-of-the-Road Reynolds misses the point that leaders of movements are not chosen by election, they are chosen by the fact of having followers (with the obvious exception of the "leaders" of the "Civil Rights" and "Women's" movements, who have been chosen by national media anointment, in spite of an embarrasing paucity of followers). Rush IS the leader of the Conservative Movement (this just in: George Washington is not returning calls). because he leads and Conservatives follow.
Is Reynolds telling Conservatives to spurn Rush? Great strategy. This is the Republican Self-Destruction Disorder to which I was alluding when I suggested that Michael Steele would do better to point his weapon down range. You don't win a political fight by picking off everybody on your own side who falls short of some arbitrary standard of perfection, especially if their shortcoming is that some people don't like them (see Gingrich, Newt).
Even General Washington who was certainly a popular hero in his own time, was not without his detractors (see Gates, General Horatio) during the War for Independence. Anyone who believes something worth believing and tries to persuade others will have enemies. In fact, Reynolds recommendation is so thoroughly wimpish that it's likely to appeal to four out of five Republican elected officials, but won't hold water with Conservatives.
Finally, the idea of Rush as leader of the Republican Party is an invention of Obama War Room strategy (see Ayers, William C.), so Reynolds should direct his plea to the President.
Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009 2:37 PM CDT
Two Cheers for Obama
I commend President Obama for dumping (by Executive Order) the Prevailing Wage provision in Stimulus Act-funded Government Contracting (an absurd inefficiency that was never anything but a payoff to labor unions). Last week the WSJ challenged him to do so, and he did. I imagine there are quite a few red-faced union thugs feeling cheated out of some of their swag by the man they helped put in the White House. Obama would do still better to propose that Congress eliminate the policy for all Federal contracts.
Government Bubble
Excerpt of exchange between Larry King and Gov. Jindal:
< King: Governor, do you think people are thinking about capitalism now or are they thinking about problems?
Jindal: Look, clearly, the American people are worried about paying their mortgages, keeping their jobs and paying their health care bills. I think Rush is a great leader for conservatives. I think he articulates what a lot of people are concerned about.
King: Do you want him [Obama] to fail?
Jindal: I don't want those policies to be adopted. I want my country to succeed, but I don't want policies to be adopted.
King: What if the policies work?
Jindal: Well, again...
King: What if they work? >
Re-wind to September 2008 when the credit crisis hit. Republican Presidential candidate John McCain had the opportunity to define the issue, instead he readily adopted the Liberal Template that Capitalism has failed, i.e. the problem = “Wall Street greed.” Not only was that the beginning of the end of McCain’s presidential aspirations, but it is a trap that Republicans have universally fallen into, opposing Obama’s “Stimulus” porkage primarily on the grounds of overspending and ineffectiveness at triggering economic recovery.
While the other side is swapping out the FOUNDATIONS of the American Experiment, Republicans are focusing on the details of governance. When the foundations are under assault a PHILOSOPHICAL defense must undergird the fight over line-items (see Reagan, Ronald and Buckley, William F.). This is what’s missing from the Republican argument – although NOT missing from Rush’s arguments, which is why the Left has trained their sights on him. I’m not sure exactly how to put it for a dumbed-down audience (they’re watching Larry King!), but the GOP had better publish some talking points that explain why it doesn’t matter whether policies “work,” in the short-term, if the lasting effect is to diminish liberty and fundamentally alter the relationship of the individual and the state.
Buying into Obama’s Government-as-savior policies is the political equivilent of buying a house beyond your means, because you expect the value to continue rising indefinitely. Haven’t we lately caught on that there comes a day-of-reckoning? But in this case, it’s not your house value that’s “under water,” it’s your freedom, your son’s freedom and your grandson’s freedom. Maybe a phrase like “Government Bubble” could work to communicate the hazard to liberty contained in Obama’s policies, whether or not they “work.”
Not Disappointed
Jay Cost, writing on RealClearPolitics.com says he is "disappointed" that Obama is engaging in the politics of personal destruction against people, like Rush Limbaugh, Rick Santelli and Jim Cramer, who oppose Obama's agenda.
As for me and my house, we shall NOT use the words “disappointed,” “surprised,” “shocked,” “stunned,” “aghast,” etc… to describe our sentiments when the radical Leftist Obama acts like a radical Leftist. Why should anyone be disappointed, etc… unless they were in thrall to a self-delusional belief that Obama is not a narrow-minded Marxist political hack, nourished at the teet of the corrupt Chicago Democrat Machine, and discipled by the America-loathing, racial greivance monger, Jeremiah Wright.
What I am disappointed about is that Republicans (notably RNC Chairman, Michael Steele) would say they are “disappointed.” Don’t say that! Say, “see I told you so!” say, “this is what happens when we elect a wolf in sheep’s clothing; but, the American People don’t get fooled for long, that’s why Jimmy Carter was a one-term President.”
Then, when an outraged Washington Press Corps demands to know what Steele means by calling Obama “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” instead of backpedaling and apologizing, the leader of the Republican Party could explain that it’s a phrase from a book – one they’ve probably never read – that refers to a person who cloaks a sinister agenda behind a harmless appearance, and yes that is exactly how he intended to describe the President of the United States, who is a very affable fellow attempting to use that affability to “fundamentally transform America” from constitutionally limited government and a free-market economy to a Europe-like Social Welfare State with no boundaries to Government’s activities; and once the affable exterior loses its novelty, the American People will take an objective look at the policies Obama has enacted and the consequences of those policies, and they won’t like what they see.
Posted by larry_naselli at 2:05 PM CST
Updated: Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:05 PM CST
Economics and Politics in One Lesson
Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day…and he'll vote to re-elect you.
Take away half of all the fish a man catches and use them to buy other men's votes, and the man who catches fish will quickly learn to catch only enough to live comfortably, no more.
But, what motivates the man who catches fish to catch as many as possible, so that he needs to hire fishermen, invest in boats and nets, and has a surplus to sell, thereby lowering the price of food and increasing the disposable income of the consumers of fish, leading to a general improvement in the standard of living?
It’s simple actually. You have to let him keep more of the fish he catches. Although simple, this is quite unpopular among politicians, because doing so will inevitably reduce the number of people who need a fish given to them, in turn diminishing the incentive to vote for the man who gives away the fish that another man caught.
Updated: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 3:47 PM CST
Dyslexia Alert
Since 9/11/2001 the Central Intelligence Agency has been a major player in keeping the United States free from terrorist attacks, and since 1/5/2009 the U.S. Senate has been a major player in keeping the United States buried in debt for generations. So, I thought the following headline must have been a typo:
Senate to look into effectiveness of CIA methods
AP News, Friday February 27, 2009
Updated: Monday, March 2, 2009 5:13 PM CST
Increased Pay Grade At Last Enables Obama To Make Life and Death Judgments
AP Reports: < WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is moving to rescind a federal rule that reinforced protections for medical providers who refuse to perform abortions or other procedures on moral grounds, an official said today.>
There’s some “change we can believe in,” medical doctors forced to perform abortions, or else…
So much for the claim that the pro-abortion crowd is “pro-choice.” Healthcare professionals whose conscience forbids them to participate in abortion will be coerced to violate their conscience. No choice for the doctors. The pro-abortion argument has often assured us that a pregnant woman’s decision about an abortion is “a matter of conscience” (as if the decision to proceed with the abortion could constitute the triumph of conscience), and in that spirit, President Obama (whose recent paygrade increase has now qualified him for such judgments) has resolved the often messy struggle of conscience on behalf of doctors. Attention: doctors, by Executive Order the correct answer on abortion is: Choose Death. Now that’s settled. Thank you for clearing that up, Mr. President.
Christian Obama voters OWN this abomination, along with every other freedom-destroying, ungodly policy that candidate Obama promised but some Christians were too starry-eyed to notice. Love is blind, they say, but the word of God says, “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful,” which presumably would include paying attention to the stated agenda of the candidate for whom you are voting, especially as it affects the disposition of the image of God.
Of course, reckless irresponsibility is the generous interpretation of why Christians would vote for a candidate who promised policies that predictably would increase the slaughter of unborn innocents. It is also probable that some Christians knew about Obama’s pro-abortion radicalism and supported him anyway. In “the old days,” when the church was less focused on being nice and more focused on being “the pillar and ground of the truth,” we would have said that those Christians have innocent blood on their hands.
Updated: Friday, February 27, 2009 1:52 PM CST
Math Tutor Wanted
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been very good at math, so can any of you smart people explain this equation to me?
According to the Associated Press article dated February 25, 2009
Troops to leave Iraq in 18 months, officials say
By ANNE GEARAN and PAMELA HESS
< President Barack Obama is expected to order all U.S. combat* troops to leave Iraq by August of next year>, but wait, that’s not all.
If you continue for a few paragraphs (no easy task, considering the tediousness of reading AP claptrap) you’ll learn that < The emerging plan now leaves Obama two months off his campaign pledge, and with between 30,000 and 50,000 troops still in Iraq to advise and train Iraqi security forces and to protect U.S. interests…. The complete withdrawal of American forces will take place by December 2011, the period by which the U.S. agreed with Iraq to remove all troops.>
So, exactly as agreed between President Bush and the Iraqi government last November, American troops are scheduled to stay in Iraq until the end of 2011, and that is the glorious fulfillment (cue Hallelujah Chorus) of Obama’s campaign promise? Mr. Orwell, call your office.
The rest of AP’s lead is priceless too: < President Barack Obama is expected to order all U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq by August of next year, administration officials said, closing the door on a war that has led to the deaths of at least 4,250 members of the U.S. military.> What is it the theologians say? “a text without a context is a pretext.” Why not “closing the door on a war that has liberated 25 million Iraqis from tyranny, deposed a terrorism-supporting enemy of the United States, and established a pro-American democracy in the heart of the Arab Middle East.”
Moreover, in Journalism 101 future reporters are taught to ask, “What? When? Where? Who? Why? and How? But, when it comes to reporting on George W. Bush’s success – a.k.a. America’s success – in the Iraq War, AP Reporters have no curiosity about How the U.S. got in a position to be able to withdraw our troops from Iraq, when three years ago Barack Obama and the AP, among others, were calling the situation in Iraq “a Civil War,” and hopeless. An inconvenient fact that might also make the AP Reporters curious as to Why they were wrong and Bush was right.
*That's "all combat troops," you see. This level of nuance was strangely missing, however, every time AP (and the rest of the Tweedledum media) delivered (with evident relish) lines like, "...bringing to x,xxx the number of American Soldiers and Marines killed in since April 2003 when President Bush announced the end of major combat." Never mind that, in order to facilitate the influx of international relief to the Iraqi People from the U.N. and various pansy nations who would not set foot in Iraq while the U.S. offensive was underway, President Bush announced "the end of major combat operations." But, let's not confuse the issue with facts.
Where's That Living Constitution When You Need It?
A singular curiosity of the past few years, about which not a soul in the Drive-by Media has been the least bit curious, is the Constitutional dogmatism of critics of George W. Bush's handling of enemy captives in the War on Terrorism.
For the sake of argument, I'm going to adopt the conventional wisdom of elite opinion, by pretending that the U.S. Constitution requires Prisoners of War (to say nothing of Illegal Combatants apprehended on the battlefield) to be accorded the same legal regimen as a U.S. Citizen charged by the civil authorities with a statutory violation. I will further pretend that Constitutional "Due Process of Law" equals the procedure used in U.S. Courts for Criminal and Civil proceedings, and nothing else.
This pretence requires me to ignore history, logic and precedent, but hey, in the spirit of civility, bi-partisanship and collegiality, I want to show a little empathy with Liberals.
OK, why is it that in the Liberal universe, "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged," is subject to Living Constitution modification by Judges, to better fit with the realities of life in modern America? Why is it that "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the free exercise [of religion]" can be tweaked to get attuned to our Pluralistic Society? Why is it that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to The People," is routinely ignored by Congress and the Courts, as the Federal Government increasingly offers itself as the solution to every problem and the arbiter of every dispute? And this just in: the Constitution is explicit that a Representatives must be an inhabitant of the State from which they are chosen, but there are lots of Democrats living in Government City who could add power to Democrats in the House, so the Democrat Congress is proceeding to simply ignore the plain language of the Constitution in the interests of "fairness."
If a "Living Constitution" is good enough for these issues, why can't we have a Living Constitution when it comes to dealing with the Jihadist menace? As understood by Liberals, the Constitution we have clearly does not allow for effective handling of captured enemies, so why is it a problem if the President of the United States simply updates the meaning of the Constitution by whim, to better fit the current circumstances?
Is this Living Constitution thing a game that only Legislators and unelected Judges can play? It's no more unreasonable for the President to make up the Constitution as he goes along than it is for the pnumbra-diciphering black-robed high-priests at the Supreme Court.
So, why all the angst about a couple hundred Jihadis cooling their heels indefinitely at GITMO? Suddenly, the same Liberals who brought us The Living Constitution are the guardians of every jot and tittle. Are Liberals genuinely blind to this inconsistency, or do they just figure everyone has their BS Detectors turned off?
Updated: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 2:39 PM CST
Here's Some Obama Change: Defining Patriotism
Remember the Old Days (c. 2008 A.D.) when Patriotism consisted of paying more taxes (see: Biden, Joseph Robinette) and speaking out on important issues (see: Obama, Barack Hussein)?
Well, that was then, this is now. President Obama warns Republican Congressmen to steer clear of Rush Limbaugh, an American whose name we know only because he speaks out on important issues, and Obama hands out plum Executive Branch appointments to tax cheats like Tim Geithner, Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer.
So, on their own terms, the Obama-Biden Administration ostracizes a patriot, while rewarding the unpatriotic. Hmmmmmm.
Updated: Thursday, February 5, 2009 2:37 PM CST
General Petraeus at Superbowl
It was good to see the great American General, David Petraeus, honored at the Super Bowl Coin Toss. Considering the magnitude of his military accomplishment, he is the most unsung hero in the Country.
Why? Well, simply because publicizing General Petraeus' victory creates embarrassment for Liberals, from Move-on.org to Hillary Clinton to Commander in Chief Obama, all of whom bet against the General. Remember "General Betray-Us" and "a willing suspension of disbelief"? Obama was more discreet (and less like a leader, by the way), simply declining to meet with the military Commander in the theater of war from which candidate Obama was promising to precipitately withdraw our Armed Forces.
None of the above have bothered to admit that General Petraeus was right and they were wrong, and unlike former President Bush, none of the above is continually hectored by the Washington Press Corps to confess errors they have made. No "reporter" has thought of asking the new President, the new Secretary of State or the old Commies of Move-On whether Iraq and America would be better off if their side had prevailed two years ago. It would evidently be impolite to inquire, especially since admitting that Petraeus was right would imply the unthinkable . . . that George W. Bush was right. Horrors!
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Title XLVIII
K-20 EDUCATION CODE Chapter 1013
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES View Entire Chapter
F.S. 1013.15
1013.15 Lease, rental, and lease-purchase of educational facilities and sites.—
(1) A board may lease any land, facilities, or educational plants owned by it to any person or entity for such term, for such rent, and upon such terms and conditions as the board determines to be in its best interests; any such lease may provide for the optional or binding purchase of the land, facilities, or educational plants by the lessee upon such terms and conditions as the board determines are in its best interests. A determination that any such land, facility, or educational plant so leased is unnecessary for educational purposes is not a prerequisite to the leasing or lease-purchase of such land, facility, or educational plant. Prior to entering into or executing any such lease, a board shall consider approval of the lease or lease-purchase agreement at a public meeting, at which a copy of the proposed agreement in its final form shall be available for inspection and review by the public, after due notice as required by law.
(2)(a) A district school board may rent or lease educational facilities and sites as defined in s. 1013.01. Educational facilities and sites rented or leased for 1 year or less shall be funded through the operations budget or funds derived from millage proceeds pursuant to s. 1011.71(2). A lease contract for 1 year or less, when extended or renewed beyond a year, becomes a multiple-year lease. Operational funds or funds derived from millage proceeds pursuant to s. 1011.71(2) may be authorized to be expended for multiple-year leases. All leased facilities and sites must be inspected prior to occupancy by the authority having jurisdiction.
1. All newly leased spaces must be inspected and brought into compliance with the Florida Building Code pursuant to chapter 553 and the life safety codes pursuant to chapter 633, prior to occupancy, using the board’s operations budget or funds derived from millage proceeds pursuant to s. 1011.71(2).
2. Plans for renovation or remodeling of leased space shall conform to the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code for educational occupancies or other occupancies, as appropriate and as required in chapters 553 and 633, prior to occupancy.
3. All leased facilities must be inspected annually for firesafety deficiencies in accordance with the applicable code and have corrections made in accordance with s. 1013.12. Operational funds or funds derived from millage proceeds pursuant to s. 1011.71(2) may be used to correct deficiencies in leased space.
4. When the board declares that a public emergency exists, it may take up to 30 days to bring the leased facility into compliance with the requirements of State Board of Education rules.
(b) A board is authorized to lease-purchase educational facilities and sites as defined in s. 1013.01. The lease-purchase of educational facilities and sites shall be as required by s. 1013.37, shall be advertised for and receive competitive proposals and be awarded to the best proposer, and shall be funded using current or other funds specifically authorized by law to be used for such purpose.
1. A district school board, by itself, or through a direct-support organization formed pursuant to s. 1001.453 or nonprofit educational organization or a consortium of district school boards, may, in developing a lease-purchase of educational facilities and sites provide for separately advertising for and receiving competitive bids or proposals on the construction of facilities and the selection of financing to provide the lowest cost funding available, so long as the board determines that such process would best serve the public interest and the pledged revenues are limited to those authorized in s. 1011.71(2)(e).
2. All activities and information, including lists of individual participants, associated with agreements made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 119 and s. 286.011.
(c)1. The term of any lease-purchase agreement, including the initial term and any subsequent renewals, shall not exceed the useful life of the educational facilities and sites for which the agreement is made, or 30 years, whichever is less.
2. The initial term or any renewal term of any lease-purchase agreement shall expire on June 30 of each fiscal year, but may be automatically renewed annually, subject to a board making sufficient annual appropriations therefor. Under no circumstances shall the failure of a board to renew a lease-purchase agreement constitute a default or require payment of any penalty or in any way limit the right of a board to purchase or utilize educational facilities and sites similar in function to the educational facilities and sites that are the subject of the said lease-purchase agreement. Educational facilities and sites being acquired pursuant to a lease-purchase agreement shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation.
3. No lease-purchase agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state or a board or shall be a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or a board.
4. Any lease-purchase agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall stipulate an annual rate which may consist of a principal component and an interest component, provided that the maximum interest rate of any interest component payable under any such lease-purchase agreement, or any participation or certificated portion thereof, shall be calculated in accordance with and be governed by the provisions of s. 215.84.
(3) Lease or lease-purchase agreements entered into by university boards of trustees shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1013.171 and 1010.62.
(4)(a) A board may rent or lease existing buildings, or space within existing buildings, originally constructed or used for purposes other than education, for conversion to use as educational facilities. Such buildings rented or leased for 1 year or less shall be funded through the operations budget or funds derived from millage pursuant to s. 1011.71(2). A rental agreement or lease contract for 1 year or less, when extended or renewed beyond a year, becomes a multiple-year rental or lease. Operational funds or funds derived from millage proceeds pursuant to s. 1011.71(2) may be authorized to be expended for multiple-year rentals or leases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, if a building was constructed in conformance with all applicable building and life safety codes, it shall be deemed to meet the requirements for use and occupancy as an educational facility subject only to the provisions of this subsection.
(b) Prior to occupying a rented or a leased existing building, or space within an existing building, pursuant to this subsection, a school board shall, in a public meeting, adopt a resolution certifying that the following circumstances apply to the building proposed for occupancy:
1. Growth among the school-age population in the school district has created a need for new educational facilities in a neighborhood where there is little or no vacant land.
2. There exists a supply of vacant space in existing buildings that meet state minimum building and life safety codes.
3. Acquisition and conversion to use as educational facilities of an existing building or buildings is a cost-saving means of providing the needed classroom space as determined by the difference between the cost of new construction, including land acquisition and preparation and, if applicable, demolition of existing structures, and the cost of acquisition through rental or lease and conversion of an existing building or buildings.
4. The building has been examined for suitability, safety, and conformance with state minimum building and life safety codes. The building examination shall consist, at a minimum, of a review of existing documents, building site reconnaissance, and analysis of the building conducted by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed structural engineer.
5. A certificate of evaluation has been issued by an appropriately licensed design professional which states that, based on available documents, building site reconnaissance, current knowledge, and design judgment in the professional’s opinion, the building meets the requirements of state minimum building and life safety codes, provides safe egress of occupants from the building, provides adequate firesafety, and does not pose a substantial threat to life to persons who would occupy the building for classroom use.
6. The plans for conversion of the building were prepared by an appropriate design professional licensed in this state and the work of conversion was performed by contractors licensed in this state.
7. The conversion of the building was observed by an appropriate design professional licensed in this state.
8. The building has been reviewed, inspected, and granted a certificate of occupancy by the local building department.
9. All ceilings, light fixtures, ducts, and registers within the area to be occupied for classroom purposes were constructed or have been reconstructed to meet state minimum requirements.
History.—s. 808, ch. 2002-387; s. 171, ch. 2007-217.
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By Camila Villafañe
16 Must-See Architectural Wonders Of The Modern World
Who needs the 7 Wonders of the World when you've got some of the coolest buildings right here in modern times? It seems as though with each passing year, we find cool new ways to outdo ourselves when it comes to architecture. Just look at these buildings that defy your average sterile bland looking average structures you see every day. Some of these look like something that came out of a sci-fi movie or something. The designs are simply mind-blowing and spectacular, and it's safe to say that when these architects got their hands on these buildings, something amazing happened.
In Wujin, China, the Lotus Building looks more like a blooming flower of delight.
Nestled in an artificial lake, this flower is home to Wujin's planning bureau, and provides an aesthetically pleasing sight both inside and out that's perfect for any season.
Chen wei - Imaginechina/EAST NEWS
Move about inside a giant atom ball made of metal inside the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium.
You can actually move between the spheres using the tubes that on the inside look a bit like a submarine. But they're actually bridges that will connect you between a restaurant and a science museum.
Mike Cattell
Paul VI Audience Hall is a Roman building used by the Pope for Wednesday morning audiences.
It might not look like a place you'd expect the Pope to preach in, but there's more to this structure than meets the eye. For one thing, it has a solar roof with 2,400 photovoltaic panels that provides all of of the electrical needs for the building year-round.
The interior is far fancier and really blows the lid of the conventional design of a church.
Then again, you have to admit that this audience hall is extremely celestial and beautiful, and it's even kept the traditional tinted windows on the side, which looks splendid.
If you're fortunate enough to sit in for one of the Pope's sermons, you're in for a treat.
There's so much to look at, that your eyes might start wandering at the lovely architecture that surrounds you. Whoever said that heaven was a place on Earth failed to mention it's a place to congregate too.
Bart Hanlon
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MajorTaylorKC.com
Kenneth Walker & the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Some back history is in order to understand this website and why I think it's important that is not disappear in the basement of expired domains. In 2005 Kenneth Walker, a local cycling advocate, started the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City. After leaving the organization in March, 2008, he started work on a new Urban Kansas City Community of Cycling project as well as this website. Just days after the website went live, an anonymous donor, offering some financial help, gave him a push in the right direction. Call it serendipitous, call it good fortune, call it an answer to a prayer, call it a miracle. It was just right.
It would be nice if fortuitous moments like that occurred more frequently. I was the lucky recipient of such a moment not long ago. I was working on building a website for a brick and mortar store that sold glasses frames. One day I casually mentioned to the owner that having a complimentary online site that would offer replace prescription eyeglasses lenses might be smart. The frame store owner enthusiastically endorsed the idea and said if I wanted a 50/50 partner he would love to work with me. I would build the onlne site and he would use his connections to find a quality glass lens maker. I don't think I would have been able to make that leap from idea to actual store without his help. The lense manufacturer he found allowed us to offer all kinds of replacement lenses, including single vision, progressive, bifocal, and trifocal replacement lenses. Our replacement lens materials was able to run the full gamut, from plastic and polycarbonate, to high index, Trivex and even glass lenses. And we were able to also offer replacement prescription sunglass lenses with custom tint, Transitions technology, polarized, and mirror coated lenses. Our online lens replacement site is doing well. I still am amazed that a casual remark resulted in where I am today, a partner in a successfull ecommerce store.
Now back to Kenneth Walker and his story. At some point, this site's domain expired. When I discovered it was available I immediately bought it with the goal of rebuilding from archived pages at least some of the former site’s content.
This domain and its content should not disappear. Kenneth Walker did wonderful things for the youth of Kansas City and I want this site a testament to his good deeds. Please be indulgent, if the site is not exactly as you remember it. Not all it's pages and images were retrievable.
A heart felt thanks for all you do, Kenneth! Your story is truly inspirational.
About Kenneth R. Walker
Kenneth R. Walker is a 46-year old cyclist with an impressive dossier whose level of commitment to both the sport and local youth programs within his Kansas City community is without equal. As the Founder and President of Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City in Missouri, Ken gives large amounts of his time, talent, and abilities to “bringing into the light” the advantages of cycling within the African-American community.
Brother Ken has spent most of his life in Kansas City busying himself with many different sports. Among his myriad of interests are basketball, skating, track, and now, cycling. His first taste “in the saddle” was at the young age of 26 and he has yet to turn his back on it. Even after 30 years, and recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon (2003), he’s still one of the strongest riders in his city. . . always emphasizing the importance of staying strong and exercising.
“Kansas City has one of the highest rates of obesity in the nation, and a huge proportion of that is represented in the African-American community. ... I saw first-hand how our youth were getting bigger and bigger at younger ages and began thinking about a way to give my community some options.”
Brother Walker’s mission to spread the news about the benefits of cycling has reached the ears of hundreds of other cyclists, as well as those who support his attempts to enlighten the community. One such supporter of his agenda is the Kansas City Mayor’s Office that has graciously extended to him an invitation to assist in the planning of one of their city projects.
“Ever since I asked those questions of myself and went out and started to make a difference, things have changed. Now I am going to do whatever I can do to get more African-Americans on bikes!”
Ken has been married 12 years and has three boys and one girl. His 17-year-old son also races, and is proving to follow in the footsteps of his father. His first win was the Tour of Kansas City bike race in August, 2005, where he made history as the first African-American in its 43-year history to win such race. Two weeks later, his oldest son, Thomas, won in Sedalia, Missouri. It’s easy to see that the apples aren’t falling far from the tree. Even more so, this is evidenced by Ken’s own recent win of the Road Bike Action Magazine’s $10,000 racing sponsorship for the 2008 racing season. Excellence all the way around.
It is Ken’s hope that a love for cycling will take root in his community--as well as within the nation--because he knows the possibilities are endless if the African-American community were to come together and make their numbers known.
More background: Since Kenneth Walker departed the Major Taylor Foundation in March 2008, ;he was not idle. During the summer of 2008, he worked with 10 students at the Genesis School, an alternative middle school for inner-city youth, introducing them to cycling.
Genesis Cycling Scholars
Written by Marcus Brown
I wanted to take a moment of time out of your busy day to share with you some updated information from MTFGKC about it's Cycling Scholars Program at Genesis School. We have been working this program over the last three weeks and I have selected you as the first to learn more about what has been going on. So please bear with me.
We plan on offering only 10 cycling scholarships, but the response we got was more than we expected. So far we have received over 30 applications from students and have decided to create a waiting list. This really started after we selected the very first two scholarship winners- assigned them their loaner bikes, gave them helmets, gloves and jerseys- and took them out on their first rides.
Both of these guys, whom I call 2smooth and Kamikaze, have taken to riding and instruction very well. They were also very willing to wear the clothing, regardless of the jokes from fellow students! After a couple of ride with these young men, I saw students in the school started treating them differently... with admiration, full of questions about what it is like, and "do you think I can do it?".
What is really amazing to me is that riding with these two reminds me exactly of when my sons Thomas and Christian started racing. Look to see race results from these two soon.
We selected a young lady, we call "Binky", who showed bravery and courage on her first ride out. She is riding with the boys and is very steady. She goes at her own pace and does not give up. The other day, she fell off her bike riding uphill, got up and caught up with the group. She scraped her elbow, but she never gave any indication that it hurt. She says she has a twin sister who does not attend Genesis who wants to start riding with us.
Classroom sessions have gone very well also. We cover some aspect of cycling education, hand and voice signals were the topic last week... and the kids seem to like the idea of knowing more about Major Taylor. I have seen an increase in focus and improved behavior from those we have already selected. These kids are like sponges and they are fearless, ready to take on every new challenge. In each of them, in just a short period of time, I have seen them grow and develop. Presently, we have awarded 5 scholarships, and have a fix on the selection of the final 5 students.
So far, so good. I have been spending 4 days a week at the school for 3-4 hours of the day. There are so many kids talking with me about riding and racing bicycles, and it has been rubbing off on the teachers as well. At least 5 Genesis teachers have volunteered to assist the program and want to begin riding bicycles themselves, alongside the kids. An unexpected plus!
Genesis School has been a pleasure to work with. Despite the fact that we have limited (limited is a politically correct term) funding presently for this program, they have stepped up and supported me, the mission of MTFGKC and the Cycling Scholars program.
They have produced a very professional looking promo DVD for MTFGKC and have gotten airplay on UMKC's cable channel.(Let me know if you would like a copy to help us spread the word) They are providing storage for bikes and equipment- they even wash the jerseys after every ride. They have made a way to make sure that kids have access to and eat healthy food and drink before we leave for our rides, cleared their parking lot for us to work on biking skills and handled the classroom side of much of our cycling education information. With the addition of their volunteers for the program, we are on our way!
My hope is that someone will see the value, expertise and impact in what we are doing, spread the word, and others will want to jump in and assist in raising funding for this program.
But if not, know that I will still be out here plugging away. I have found that despite the drudgery of board development and endless meetings and late nights, being with these kids brings me all the way back to why I started doing all of this. I was given this "mission" by God, and he never said anything to me about raising money. He told me to go out and help kids- and by God, I will. But of course, if you know someone who wants to help, feel free to direct them to me.
I have not really released this update publicly as I usually do. Most of you have been chosen because I value your opinion and I trust you. So as you have a chance to look this over, please contact me with any ideas, suggestions, corrections, resources, etc. I would most appreciate it. Thanks you, as always for your time, interest and support of the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
Genesis Cycling Scholars Program
Genesis is a five time nationally recognized Charter School serving middle school age students in Kansas City, MO. It was established as a VISTA tutoring project in the mid 1970’s. With public and private funding the program soon grew to become an alternative high school serving “at risk” students. In the year 2000 Genesis became a charter school. Genesis offers many extracurricular activities for students to participate in such as, Radio and Video Production, African Dancing and drumming, basketball and tennis.
The Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City, (MTFGKC) is seeking to add to the list by partnering with Genesis to provide a Cycling Scholars program.
The program will start with 10 scholarship recipients. Students participating in the program should have the following Qualifications::
A desire to ride a bicycle·
Moral value
Good sportsmanship·
C+ grade point average or better·
85% school attendance
Scholarship applicants will have to submit:
;Written essay on social and sportsmanship issues faced by Major Taylor and how students might handle a similar situation today.
Parent Permission form
Letter of recommendation from a teacher/li>
The program will last 8-12 weeks, meeting twice a week. Sessions will begin with 30 minutes of class instruction with an emphasis on riding safety. Another 45-60 minutes will cover maintenance, sportsmanship, riding skills, health/fitness, Major Taylor.
Saturday Rides Include narrative on what the Saturday ride is:
Teacher participation
Bike Buddies - 1:1 adult/student mentors that ride with the students
After completion of program student receives bicycle, helmet, basic gear and MTFGKC t-shirt.
Attendance and volunteer participation at the upcoming Tour of Missouri
Reviews posted on website
Reviews read on school radio program
Equipment and Supplies (stored at Genesis)
10 Mountain Bikes
10 Helmets
Meet the MTFGKC Board
As supporters of the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City, I thought that I might take this opportunity to share with you the confirmed listing of MTFGKC's Board of Directors for 2007.
These are the dedicated individuals from our community who have seen the vision of the Foundation and have stepped forward to further it's development. Each of them, in their own way have made epic contributions and bring the needed skills and commitment that has allowed MTFGKC to become a viable community resouce for youth and adults alike.
You may know some of these individuals, so PLEASE JOIN ME, as I publicly introduce the MTFGKC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, in saying to them, THANK YOU for your time, efforts, and commitment to the Kansas City community, and the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
Best Regards, Kenneth Walker
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Ohio River commission debates dropping pollution standards
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — An interstate commission that monitors the Ohio River’s health is considering eliminating its pollution control standards, raising concerns among representatives from states including Indiana.
A majority of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission voted last month to advance the idea of dropping its pollution standards, opening the proposal to public comments, the Courier & Press reported.
The commission oversees an agreement between eight states with watersheds draining into the river, with commissioners appointed by each state and the federal government. The Ohio River touches on six states along its 981-mile (1,578-kilometer) course, including Indiana and Kentucky, and has consistently topped lists of the country’s most-polluted waterways despite decades of cleanup and increased regulation.
States are required to maintain water quality standards that meet minimum Clean Water Act standards. The commission’s proposal argued that states are already effectively applying such criteria and don’t need the commission’s input.
Some representatives are concerned the move would lead to a patchwork of confusing state regulations governing pollution discharges into the river.
“To say the standards should be removed because all of the states are enacting them already, that is simply not the case,” said Tom FitzGerald, a federally appointed commissioner who voted against the proposal. “While it has improved significantly, these standards still have value.”
Jason Flickner, director of the new Lower Ohio River Waterkeeper group in Indiana, questioned the timing of the proposal. The group formed to champion water quality in the watersheds draining into the Ohio between the Kentucky and Wabash rivers.
“ORSANCO’s proposal comes as rules designed to protect human health and the environment are being weakened across the country,” he said.
Commission Director Richard Harrison stressed that the pollution control standards are not dropped yet.
“There has been no decision made,” he said. “The earliest it would be voted on is Oct. 4, when the commission meets in Lansing, West Virginia.”
The commission held a public hearing on the proposal Friday.
Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com
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Love Sings
The below information is from the brand new Love Sings website, created by Jennifer John and Jazamin Sinclair with photos by Matt Ford, Jo Roberts and Neil Kendall.
Love Sings is the brainchild of creative director Jennifer John. In her many years as co-founder of the award winning music company Sense of Sound she has trained, developed and inspired thousands of singers and choirs in her hometown, Liverpool, nationally and internationally. This latest venture aims to bring people together through massed singing events.
Jennifer says: “It’s one of the magical gifts in life that easily unites us socially, creatively and spiritually. People love to sing in all kinds of scenarios and the natural resonance that group singing creates, guides people into a safe familiarity and closeness that stays with them profoundly even when the singing has stopped. People who sing together especially in choirs become families of choice and it’s powerful. My aim, through the creation and development of singing initiatives and projects, is to bring people and communities together naturally and joyfully.”
Matt Baker is a multi-talented professional – with masses of music and theatre experience working with people of all ages from within the profession and in many communities. As artistic director of Theatre in the Quarter, artist for the International Schools Theatre Association, musical director for A Handbag of Harmonies, composer of many theatre productions across the country including Chester Mystery Plays 2003 – 2018, professional actor and all-round entertainer, Matt’s talents are always in high demand.
At the heart of much of Matt’s work is music, in particular singing. Matt inspires people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the power of singing together. He runs singing workshops of all scales, from large scale national conferences and town squares to school playgrounds and village halls.
Matt says: “It is always an enormous joy to ignite a space with the joy of song, harmony and movement, whether that is a stadium or a cathedral, a street or a school hall. The power of singing can bring people together, fill people with joy, let people tell their stories, or enable people to celebrate who they are, remember times past or dream of a brighter future.”
Matt Lammin is a versatile musical maestro with a wealth of experience in many facets of the musical world, and he is constantly in demand. He is a musician, vocalist, arranger, composer and musical director.
Matt’s love of music stems from being brought up within a musical family; he went on to study Music and Popular Music at the University of Liverpool and obtained his Masters degree in Music Performance (Popular Vocals & Piano) at The University of Salford. His true passion and commitment to music came when he joined Sense of Sound Singers in 2005. With Sense of Sound Singers, Matt has performed on BBC television, provided backing vocals for and collaborated with a number of critically acclaimed artists, and he has also provided musical direction on an array of high profile projects.
Matt is highly regarded as a vocal arranger and his choir arrangements are performed all over the globe. His commissions have included composing a piece for a choir in Pennsylvania and being flown over for the world premiere performance of it.
Matt is also a part-time music classroom teacher and singing teacher at Birkenhead High School Academy, which is a specialist music academy. He invests a huge amount of energy and passion to the students there and has established high quality ensembles and developed innovative and professional performance opportunities.
Matt says: “There are so many things that I love about music but there is nothing quite as special as people coming together to sing. It empowers people, it builds bonds between people and it requires people to let their guard down and trust each other. I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what the world needs right now!”
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Leader in limbo…
LEX | September 14, 2012 | Politics | No Comments
By LEX
A First Point: Politics is not moving as intensely and as fast as we would have liked. The MSM is in organization mood. The leader of the party has cleared one sticking point concerning the leadership of the party. I was under the impression that Pravind Jugnauth had given up his post of leader in favour of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the erstwhile leader, when the latter gave up his position of President of the Republic.
Now Pravind Jugnauth has cleared the air: Sir Anerood is staying away from the recruitment exercise of fresh members, especially those belonging to the minority sections of our population, which means to the exclusion of the majority section. Pravind Jugnauth says that Sir Anerood is the leader of the ‘Remake 2000’.
Paul Berenger is the leader of the MMM, that is clear. Pravind Jugnauth is the leader of the MSM, so we understand. And in between is to be found Sir Anerood Jugnauth. He is the leader of the ‘Remake 2000’, but he does not have a party to lead and therefore he cannot give any order or instruction to Paul Berenger or to Pravind Jugnauth, because each of these two leaders has his own party to listen to and to give whatever order he thinks fit depending on the circumstances.
This arrangement leaves Sir Anerood in a very difficult situation. How can a politician who stands alone, who does not have a party, claim to be the candidate of an alliance between two parties? He is a kind of stranger between these two leaders of the parties. There is something that is not clear, and I fail to understand the reasoning of these two supposedly experienced leaders, therefore I would request somebody to explain to me what is happening.
I do not also understand the political behaviour of Paul Berenger at the moment. He used to show a certain degree of political maturity in the past. I do not understand how he conceded 30 tickets out of 60 to an eventual ally. Why did he start talking politics with Navin Ramgoolam and put a temporary stop to the ‘Remake 2000’, sending jitters to the MSM? Is he serious about the ‘Remake 2000’ on the terms that have been disclosed, to start with Sir Anerood Jugnauth as the prime ministerial candidate and as the Prime Minister for at least for three years, in case they win the next general election and the MSM being given thirty tickets? Both the followers of the MMM and the MSM are anxious to have these questions answered.
The opinion of the ordinary Mauritian is different from that of the leaders of the MMM and the MSM. They say that both parties are taking the public for fools, trying to make them believe in what every child knows to be mere falsehood. At least for once they must tell us what is the real situation and then wait for the reaction of the public. Members of the public generally are more intelligent than what the politicians think, but I can say that they are far more intelligent than most of our politicians, all parties lumped together.
Of pension and compensation
A Second Point: Our citizens who are over sixty or sixty five years of age depend in some cases on their pension to live. The older they get the more expenses they need to incur especially in terms of medicine, care and the people who look after them. An old friend of mine paid me a visit and he had a sad story to tell.
He has worked hard during his entire working career and has retired on a good pension. He was leading a rather comfortable life, with five persons working for and with him. There is a part-time driver, a maid who looks after his household duties during week days and another during weekends, then there is one person who comes in the evenings everyday and he has a gardener. They are all part-time workers except for the maid. He pays all of them as much as he can and everybody is satisfied. Every year he gives the workers an increment and their end-of-year month.
He now says that it is not possible for him to continue employing all these persons and there is a very good reason for this. Every year, the Minister of Finance decrees the amount of compensation that everybody should be given. Unfortunately, those receiving above a certain sum were not given any compensation. But my friend says that he had to pay the compensation that was due to his part-time workers though he did not receive any compensation, according to the decree of the Minister of Finance.
He is out of pocket by over one thousand rupees. If he did not have to pay to his part-time workers, he would not have been out of pocket, though he would not have received any compensation. He is the loser on two scores. He wants me to put a question to the Minister of Finance. Is it fair and reasonable to continue giving compensation when my friend has been deprived of his compensation and also how is it possible for the Minister to explain this discriminatory treatment that is meted out to so many of our citizens? I would suggest that those who were deprived of their compensation should be reimbursed for the loss of last year and they must be given their due this year.
My friend is asking nothing more than what is due to him, to continue employing who are now working for him and also to allow him to continue leading the same kind of life as before. How can the Minister of Finance frustrate the expectation of those who have earned their pension by dint of hark work and their compensation to which they must be entitled as any pensioner?
I agree with the contention of my friend and I do think that he has a good case. Will the Minister of Finance listen to the voice of reason?
Legislation for thieves to compensate victims of praedial larceny
A Third Point: Praedial larceny is the theft of agricultural produce or livestock. It is generally admitted that such thefts are on the increase manifold. The thieves range from those who do not work or those who do not want to work and others who have a thieving streak, those who sell agricultural produce on a regular basis and who, instead of buying the produce that they sell from the producers, prefer buying it from the thieves.
A vegetable grower I know was happy to notice that his pumpkins were getting bigger and bigger. About fifty pumpkins were ready to be harvested and the planter thought that he would first perform the relevant puja before harvesting. Unfortunately, a few days before the event, thieves came to his field at night and they stole about twenty of his pumpkins, each weighing about thirty pounds.
The planter was feeling fed up with the whole business of planting, harvesting and selling what he had planted. The thieves should have come to his plantation in a van or some other means of transport to carry away those heavy pumpkins and they spent their time to pick the best of what they stole.
What can be done to check cases of praedial larceny? I have said it, and I repeat it here, that the system of punishment in all criminal cases should be reviewed as quickly as possible and in most cases the fine that is imposed should be increased several fold. And this is the job of the politicians. But would the politicians really try to bring down the number of praedial larceny cases, and for that matter, all criminal cases? I wonder. A prison sentence is looked upon as a moment to rest, to renew contacts and generally to have a good time.
Several accused parties found guilty are fined but they tell the Magistrate that they cannot pay and they are prepared to go to prison. Why? The reason is clear. This is not what a prison sentence is about. The treatment should be such that a person will never want to go to prison a second time, but here a prisoner goes in as if he is going to his father-in-law’s house, where he is given the choicest dishes together with other goodies, and his close relatives are given a pension.
We are talking of praedial larceny. On the administrative side, everything depends on the Commissioner of Police. So far as I know, there is no Policeman who has the experience of catching those who commit praedial larceny. Therefore the suggestion is that a unit be set up just to look after praedial larceny. Let the members of this unit be busy in all the places where vegetables and fruits are cultivated and where goats and fowl are raised. Such a measure will at least put a slow down the nefarious activities of those thieves.
Further, government should come up with legislation to compel the thieves to compensate the victims of larceny and other criminal offences. This should provide for compensation without going through a second case to be lodged by the victim. The conviction should be good enough for the thief to compensate the victim on an assessment by the Magistrate who hears the case. What does the Attorney General think of such measure? After all, he is the chief legal adviser of government.
* Published in print edition on 14 September 2012
In Search of the Elusive Mauritian
No Comments | Oct 3, 2014
Belle Rose-Quatre Bornes: The Voice of Mauritius?
1 Comment | Oct 6, 2017
When Academia Meets Politics
Beware of Election Polls
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Kauai, Hawaii, Films on the Small Screen
Last week I feigned bafflement about why films which were set in Alaska were often filmed elsewhere. But really, I get it. The logistical challenges of filming so far from Hollywood, in often inclement weather, where the sun rarely shines, pose problems that are difficult to overcome.
Hawaii, on the other hand, is a place that’s been popular for location shooting for a long time. Sure, it’s pretty far from Hollywood, and at times it must be a challenge to transport equipment to shooting sites. But I’m sure it’s easier to talk talent and technicians into spending months of their lives near beaches rather than tundras, so there are many Hawaii-made films to choose from.
I decided to narrow things down to the island we went to, Kauai (thus ruling out all the World War II films set at Pearl Harbor. Sorry, Michael Bay.). Even by selecting films made on this one island, I had to eliminate many films. It’s a popular place.
Nonetheless, I’m going to start with a movie that wasn’t filmed on Kauai. In a sense, it wasn’t filmed anywhere. Lilo and Stitch (2002) was part of the new wave of Disney animation that continues to this day. The film, about lonely little girl who befriends a mutant creation from outer space, is set on the island of Kauai and uses many local landmarks, such as the Kilauea Lighthouse. Stitch, the mutant alien, manages to make chaos cute. Lilo is his equal, reminding audiences both how horrible and wonderful little girls can be. There is no church in the film, but the theme of community (which we’ve returned to again and again in our posts about churches and bars) is represented here in the idea of ‘ohana, family, where “no one is left behind. Or forgotten.”
If you’re a fan of a certain Jimmy Cagney gangster film, you might be surprised to see White Heat mentioned here. But I’m writing about the 1934 melodrama about love between whites and natives on a Hawaiian sugar plantation. I haven’t seen the film, but it looks like it would not have been made after the Hayes Code of censorship were enacted.
"Bali Hai" - Kauai North Coast
I have seen South Pacific, the 1958 film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit Broadway musical about star-crossed U.S. Navy personnel and South Sea Islanders during World War II. Though not set on Kauai, the island was used for location filming and signaled to Hollywood the possibilities for location shooting on what was about to become the 50th state.
Elvis Presley actually filmed two musicals on Kauai, 1961’s Blue Hawaii and 1966’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style, but the first film is much more remembered and beloved. The Coco Palms Resort Hotel in Kapa’a used for Blue Hawaii was the height of elegance at the time, but is now closed awaiting destruction. And yes, that is Murder She Wrote’s Angela Lansbury co-starring in the film.
The worst of the three major films made about the famous giant ape, 1976’s King Kong, used Kauai for the location of Skull Island. (The 2005 version used New Zealand for Skull Island and the best version from 1933 used a miniature model in Culver City.) While the first version of the film used stop-action models to bring the Beast to life, and the more recent version used CGI, in 1976, Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange were terrified by a man in a gorilla suit.
There are a number of films that compete in my head for greatest film of all time, but one that’s perhaps the most fun is 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. And the awesome opening sequence that introduced the world to Indiana Jones in a booby trapped temple in “Peru” was actually filmed on Kauai.
Jurassic Park, unlike Peru, is not a real place. But in 1993, Raiders director Steven Spielberg returned to Kauai to create a world where prehistoric dinosaurs came back to life. One can look out on the lush greenery of the island and imagine it all coming true, even though you are little more likely to see chickens than dinos.
In Ben Stiller’s 2008 comedy, Tropic Thunder, Kauai is (again) not allowed to play itself but instead is playing the role of “the Golden Triangle” playing the role of Vietnam. Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black play spoiled Hollywood actors who must find a way to survive when they are abandoned in the jungle without their massages and cappuccinos. The actual film (as opposed to the film within the film) is said to have been the largest production in the island’s history.
Kauai is allowed to play itself in 2011’s Soul Surfer, which was featured previously here at Movie Churches.
George Clooney drank here in The Descendants
Kauai is also allowed to play itself in 2011’s The Descendants, a dramatic comedy or comedic drama from writer/director Alexander Payne. George Clooney plays a realtor attempting to connect with his daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. Many Kauai locations and locals are featured prominently in the film.
Our visit to Kauai made us understand very clearly why Hollywood continues to film on this beautiful island.
Labels: Alexander Payne, Ben Stiller, chickens, dinosaurs, George Clooney, Hawaii, Jack Black, Kauai, King Kong, Lilo and Stitch, South Pacific, The Descendants
Sports Churches -- Chariots of Fire (1981)
Rhode Island Movies on the Big Screen
Rhode Island movies on the small screen
Sports Churches -- Rolling Home (1946)
Connecticut movie on the big screen
Connecticut films on the small screen
Sports Churches: The Leather Saint (1956)
On the big screen in Washington State
Washington state films on the small screen (Part 1...
Sports Churches: Home Run (2013)
Hawaii Movies on the Big Screen
Sports Month: Soul Surfer
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World Through My Eyes
Review by Josh Turner
The new album from RPWL arrived on my doorstep at the exact same time as a much anticipated copy of Spock's Beard's latest. I hadn't even realized RPWL was working on a new release. It was a toss-up, but I went with Spock's Beard. I expected a good album from the bearded ones and got a great one instead. After a few spins of Octane, curiosity started scratching at the door and I finally let RPWL on in. I wasn't sure what to expect. Their debut God Has Failed topped my charts in Y2K. The one to follow, Trying to Kiss the Sun, was more or less sufficient. The one to follow that, Stock, was credible enough when you consider it was nothing more than surplus from their warehouse. I was intrigued to see where RPWL would take us next and World Through My Eyes resoundingly responds to my nagging questions.
With this album, they sink an ace in the hole, bringing together everything that worked in the past. While the Pink Floyd influences are still quite prevalent, there is also U2 feel in all the nooks and crannies. The bridges and solos are well-timed. Each melody is fine-tuned. The songwriting is so good even a Beatles' fan would be more than satisfied. In essence, World Through My Eyes engages the listener on several fronts. I feel bad showing such outright favoritism to Octane. Despite its excellence, there's no reasonable excuse for my despicable behavior. I duly apologize for making RPWL stand out in the cold for much too long. If it's any consolation, I was penalized with delayed gratification.
World Through My Eyes has the progressive peculiarities of the first, the stupendous sensibilities of the second, and the experimental eccentricities of the third. If you've liked anything in RPWL's discography, you'll definitely take pleasure in this one. While I'll certainly rave about Spock's Beard's latest, this band deserves its due.
This song takes the same direction as U2 in How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which is odd considering the proximity of their release dates. There is a commonality in the bombastic nature of this song and U2's Vertigo. At the same time, this is unquestionably RPWL. It's a great track that brings the popular and progressive together.
Aside from Yogi's voice, and even that differs, several aspects are way out of character. They take a stab at harmony and it is surprisingly on target. They even mix a muted sax into the background. While these traits are unconventional and unexpected, they work so well, you'd think they've been doing them for years. As a side note, the keyboard solo at the end, while short, is quite stupendous.
Everything Was Not Enough
The songwriting is rife with Beatles' riffs. It's slow and pensive like Yesterday, but lush and poetic like Crazy Lane. While I like all their past albums, each of them may have been guilty of carrying a certain sameness from start to finish. What I like best about this album is the fact that every song is innovative from the last and this one is no exception. The many bridges along with the wrap-up at the end are extraordinarily gripping. This is where Yogi's voice really shines, expressing eagerness and empathy. Drifting through my open mind, there seems to be much more beyond the words he has to say.
When I first heard this song, I thought, this is weird; Yogi's voice sounds a lot like Ray Wilson's. This is déjà vu for me. Once upon a time, I was listening to Spastic Ink when I thought the vocalist sounded an awful lot like Daniel Gildenlow. It turns out this really was good old Danny boy. Don't mean to toot my own horn, but I've done it again. It's been confirmed that this really is the tender voice of sweet Sugar Ray. It seems Yogi heard Ray playing in concert. When he wrote this song, he just knew Ray's voice was perfectly suited for it. He asked Ray if he would like to sing this single and voila, we have a match. Whether fostered by Ray Wilson or raised by RPWL, this is welcome in either home. I think we'll all agree. This track adds a certain sense of balance and assists in further augmenting the album's diversity. It's a great song and Ray's voice is the right one baby, aha.
Even though the band has only been around for a few years, I can honestly say this is classic RPWL. This would fit appropriately on the God Has Failed album. I'd be flabbergasted if I found out this was not recycled from material written back in the day. That's strictly going on comparison. This is by no means a hand-me-down and it's as good as anything from that album. The choruses alone are incredibly clean and comprehensible. This one goes a little longer than the others. The extra portion is damn near neo-progressive.
Sea Nature
Like the first track, this is a cross between U2 and RPWL. It also incorporates a jackpot of jazzed-up elements. The pot is left to simmer with this ideal combination of spice and ingredients. The assorted sounds and ideas are coherently combined. They culminate on the range with warmth and affection. The result is a bowl of scrumptious jambalaya containing gobs of yummy goodness.
Day On My Pillow
This bittersweet ballad is a combination of RPWL's God Has Failed, The Beatles, and Oasis. Some moments, especially the bass, remind me of Transatlantic's Suite Charlotte Pike, others integrate influences from the Orient and India.
This large and lethargic beast is slow to grab you, but once it gets you in its grasp, it's hard to break free. The title track passes the 10 minute mark before it fades off to oblivion.
I like each and every song, but if I was hard-pressed to choose a favorite, this would be it. I enjoy the crafty melody, the compelling beat, and all the calculated instrumentations. This trumped-up track drives like a high-performance luxury sedan pushed to its limit. When it comes to a rest, vapors pour out this vehicles' roasting engine.
Bound To Reach The End
This is such a great choice to finish the album. I wouldn't put the song in any other slot. Yogi stated that they planned to put a 15 minute epic in this position, but when the album came together, they just didn't have the room. For those interested, the missing track comes in the special edition minus a few missing minutes. That may be one bonus worth checking out. Fortunate for us, the standard edition is utterly idyllic. I wouldn't change one second of it. For a group that has already given so much to progressive rock in the past few years, World Through My Eyes may actually be their most charitable contribution.
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Country in western South America. Except for the Lake Titicaca basin in the southeast, its borders lie in sparsely populated zones.
The boundaries with Colombia to the northeast and Brazil to the east traverse lower ranges or tropical forests, whereas the borders with Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and Ecuador to the northwest run across the high Andes. To the west, territorial waters, reaching 200 miles (320 km) into the Pacific Ocean, are claimed by Peru.
Peru is essentially a tropical country, with its northern tip nearly touching the Equator. Despite its tropical location, a great diversity of climate, of way of life, and of economic activity is brought about by the extremes of elevation and by the southwest winds that sweep in across the cold Peru Current (or Humboldt Current), which flows along its Pacific shoreline.
The immense difficulties of travel posed by the Andes have long impeded national unity. Iquitos, on the upper Amazon, lies only about 600 miles (965 km) northeast of Lima, the capital, but, before the airplane, travelers between the cities often chose a 7,000-mile (11,250-km) trip via the Amazon, the Atlantic and Caribbean, the Isthmus of Panama, and the Pacific, rather than the shorter mountain route.
The name Peru is derived from a Quechua Indian word implying land of abundance, a reference to the economic wealth produced by the rich and highly organized Inca civilization that ruled the region for centuries. The country’s vast mineral, agricultural, and marine resources long have served as the economic foundation of the country, and, by the late 20th century, tourism had also become a major element of Peru’s economic development.
Favourite destinations for international travelers include Machu Picchu, a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, and museums housing artifacts excavated from ancient tombs in northern coastal Peru.
Peru is traditionally described in terms of three broad longitudinal regions: the arid Costa on the west; the rugged Sierra, or Andes, system in the centre; and the wet and forested Amazonia—the tropical Amazon Basin—on the east.
The coastal plain can be readily divided into three parts—north, central, and south—on the basis of the amount of level land and the distance between the Andean ranges and the sea. Generally speaking, the amount of level coastal land diminishes from north to south. In the northern region, from Ecuador to Chimbote, the plain is typically some 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 km) wide, with a maximum width of more than 90 miles (140 km) in the Sechura Desert south of Piura. The central coastal region, which stretches from Chimbote to Nazca, is narrower than the northern region and is characterized by areas of rough hills that extend from the Andes to the shores of the ocean. From Nazca southward to the Chilean border the coast is for the most part lined by low mountains; the southern valleys are narrow, and only in scattered spots are level lands found near the ocean.
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Ellisons – The Fair Department Store – The first Fair Store was opened in Minot in 1902 on Main Street, in a location next to and south of what is now Western paint. It was like most stores of the time with a 25 foot frontage. In 1910 the Ellisons moved the store a block south into a new building known as The Fair Block, just south of the intersection of Main Street and 2nd Avenue. In 1929 a newer building was added at the corner and adjacent to The Fair Block. The new building, a large 2 story building with a basement, eventually incorporated The Fair Block in 1955 giving Ellisons a 100 foot store front on Main Street. During the Diamond Jubilee in 1961, Ellisons ran a contest to see who could bring in the oldest sales slip showing merchandise purchased at the store. The winner received a wool blanket…. Unfortunately I do not know who won or how old the receipt was.
Ellison's first Store 1902
Posted by minotmemories at 4:04 AM No comments:
More Past Businesses – KG Men’s Store – The first KG Men’s Store opened in 1955 and was in Downtown Minot on Main Street. When Town & Country Shopping Center opened in the early 60’s, KG Men’s Store moved to the center and for a brief period of time was in the Dakota Square Mall. …. Kinney’s Shoes – a full line family shoe store originally located at 200 Main Street South. Kinney’s moved to the Town & Country Shopping Center when it opened. …. Shark’s Men’s Store – On Main Street in Downtown Minot, formerly Olson’s Men’s Store .... Squtt's Men's Wear ... Downtown Minot
Squtt's Clothing
Posted by minotmemories at 3:53 AM 1 comment:
More Past Businesses – Fashion City – A ladies fashion store at 111 South Main St. …. “Next Door to H&H Variety” – Celebrated their grand opening on October 30, 1958 – H&H Variety Store - Located on the west side Main Street in the 1950’s ….. Diamond’s jack & Jill Grocery Store – 505 2nd St NW (North Broadway) – In 1958 a 2 lb can of coffee was only $1.49 – 10 cans of tomato soup was $1.00 and you could get a 50 pound bag of red potatoes for 98 cents ….. Greengard – Cranston – Men’s clothing store- originally on Central Avenue before moving to Main Street
Past Businesses of Minot – Goldberg’s Furniture – Located at 6 – 8 North Main, on the east side of Main Street. Goldberg’s was open until 9 pm on Monday and Thursday. (Most stores were only open until 9 pm on Thursday. Their telephone number was 20-218 ….. Waterman Motors – Highway 83 South. Minot’s Volkswagen Dealer in 1958 ….. George Valker Floral – 216-218 South Main Street. Valker’s was located across from what is now Bray’s on Main Street ….. Bader’s – Ladies wear store located on Main Street. They advertised themselves as being “The Store of Famous Labels” …..
St Joseph’s Hospital – The Ward County Hospital was completed in 1896. In 1911 the Sister’s of St Francis came to Minot to manage the 30 bed hospital. They changed the name from “Northwestern” to St Joseph’s and began their mission of caring. In 1917 the Sisters purchased the hospital from the county for $28,000.00. The hospital grew from its original 30 beds to a 197 bed modern facility. St Joseph’s was eventually acquired by Trinity Medical Center.
St Joe's - 1920's
St Joe's - 1910
Prairie Gardens Bakery Restaurant – located at 711 South Broadway in the King’s Food Host building – the building was completely remodeled – Display cases added for pastries and craft and gift area also added. Prairie Gardens also provided catering services and daily breakfast specials …. Fax or call your order to Prairie Gardens and they provided delivery service …. At one time they had over 25 employees ….. The location is now the home of McDonalds on South Broadway.
The Other Place – located at 14 West Central Avenue, The Other Place opened on August 17, 1970. It was a clothing store catering to the younger female generation. The Other Place claimed to have the “Swingingest” styles in Minot. They carried everything from ponchos, floppy hats, pant suits, and gaucho pants to mini and midi skirts. The first 500 customers received free “love” flowers and entertainment was provided by an all girl bank known as Crimson Lace. This location would be the north end of the parking lot across Central Avenue from Brady Martz.
Harold’s Car Wash – located at 719 North Broadway the grand opening was held in May of 1971. Harold’s was completely new and the largest of its kind in a three state area. It was built at a cost of $185,000.00. Harold’s sold Gulf gasoline, had 12 pump islands, 10 vacuum cleaner drops and featured a hot wax application. They also claimed they could wash 120 cars per hour, (a feat that would be difficult to match today)… During the grand opening they gave away 2 portable TV sets, 8 oz. glasses with each purchase along with a family size bottle of coke, and 10 people won 50 gallons of gasoline. This would have been in the area of the Westlie Auto Center on North Broadway.
Wild West Show – it came to Minot in August of 1970…. Tommy Scott’s Country Caravan and Wild West Show featuring Col. Tim MCCoy. The shows were held at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The caravan claimed to have 10 carloads of radio, TV and recording stars direct form Hollywood and Nashville. Some included The Hollywood Hillbillies, Dave DeLock, the world’s fastest six gun , sharpshooting and rope spinning act. There was also real cowboys and Indians, circus acts and funny clowns. The Masked Rider from TV fame was also appearing. Tickets were $2.00 and the show was sponsored by the Minot Sertoma Club
Westlie – Truck Assembly Line – In May of 1927 the Ford Motor Company stopped production of the Model T Truck to retool their plants for the new Model A. The conversion was going to be a 2 year process. During that time, Westlie Motors set up an assembly line on the top floor of its business here in Minot. The parts were ordered directly from Ford Motor Company. Westlie Motors was the only dealer in the country to do this. In the fall of 1927, 38 trucks rolled off the assembly line. In 1928, 50 trucks were assembled. When the Model A trucks came out in late 1928, the demand for the Model T ceased as did Minot’s first and only automobile assembly line .
Westlie Motors on Central Ave.
1971 Major Construction Projects – one was the expansion of the Broadway viaduct. A new 2 lane structure was to be completed in the fall. The other was the Milton R Young Towers on Burdick Expressway. A number of buildings were purchased by the city and moved or destroyed to make room for the Towers. The Samuelson home was acquired by the Historical Society, two other houses and a barn were sold and moved to other locations. The houses sold for $500 to $1000 and the barn for $102. All those sold were moved. Two houses and the barn traveled in a caravan down South Broadway to their new home.
Milton R Young Towers Construction
Salty’s Beef & Fish House – In August of 1970 it was the grand opening of Salty’s Beef & Fish House. Located next to the Dutch Mill. The menu consisted of Fish ‘n Chips…. Salty’s Roast Beef on a Bun…. And assorted burgers. The grand opening special was buy on and get one free on the roast beef or the Fish ‘N Chips …. The Dutch Mill is now known as the Rocking Horse Bar and Salty’s was in the small building just to the west of the Rockin Horse…. Now used as a rooming house for traveling bands playing at the club.
Dutch Mill
Posted by minotmemories at 4:03 AM 2 comments:
The “Big Leo” – in 1970 King Leo’s Drive In at 1734 South Broadway was advertising its new sandwich, The Big Leo. It consisted of 2 beef patties…tasty cheddar cheese… crisp, fresh lettuce… sliced pickles … all held together by a triple sliced Sesame Seed Bun that was toasted and served with King Leo’s own special sauce all for only 55 cents. ….. Sounds a lot like the McDonald’s Big Mac….. King Leo’s also featured piping hot apple turnovers for on 20 cents King Leo’s was in the location now occupied by Arby’s on South Broadway.
Sam Snyder’s – World’s Greatest Revue in Water came to Minot in September 1970. It was help at the Municipal Auditorium in the world’s largest portable pool and stage. Tickets were $2.00 and were available at White Drug and Northwest Piano – both on Main Street at that time. The show ran for five days and was brought to Minot by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds were to go to the Ward County Mental Health Center and the Minot Area Ambulance Inc. The crew for the shoe stayed at the Clarence Parker Hotel. Local auditions to try out for the show could be made by contacting the show’s producer. If successful one could join the traveling troupe.
Past Businesses of Minot #14 – Family Furniture – located ½ block north of the old YMCA on 1st Street in Downtown Minot ….. Wylie Piano Company – 117 West Central Avenue – Authorized Baldwin dealer for western North Dakota ….. Minot Federal Savings & Loan – 24 West Central Avenue – established in 1935 ….. Mr Steak Restaurant – on top of Minot’s North Hill – Next to North Hill Bowl ….. Big Bear Store – located on North Main Street – next to what is now 10 North Main – sold western clothing and sporting goods for the hunter and fisherman. Big Bear then moved out to South Broadway at the intersection of 31st Avenue, where the Gas Stop is now.
PW Miller Co. – Ad Jan 1959 – In 1959 the PW Miller Company was located in the Grand Hotel Block on West Central Avenue – This is the parking lot across the street o the north of Tom’s Coin Shop. Prior to this location PW Miller was located on the west side of Main Street north of Central Avenue. In 1959 the ad for PW Miller stated “Our Inventory is up and our bank account is down”. They were advertising – boy’s suits - $6.00 … Men’s work shoes - $2.99 ….. Full size blankets - $1.00 …. Men’s Sweatshirts - $1.00 ….. Used British Parkas - $8.88 …. Marine Corps insulated boots - $6.66 pr …. PW Miller called themselves “The jacket headquarters of the Northwest” . They also sold usd items and military surplus … Later the PW Miller Company moved to 1st Ave. SE just west of the Clarence Parker Hotel. This location is now the home of the Olson Law Offices
PW Miller Original Store
Truax-Traer Coal Company – Office in Minot, at one time in the First Avenue Building. Coal mine near Velva ….. Top Valu Market – 4th Avenue and 21st Street NW – Meats, Groceries, Frozen foods and open on Sundays – (Eventually became Heislers Market) ….. American State Bank – (now Bremer Bank) in Downtown Minot ….. Johnson Chevrolet - Became Auran Chevrolet and then Ryan Chevrolet ….. The Corset Shop – Located at 16A South Main – either up or down a stairway between Minot Drug and Buttrey’s – The shop obviously catered to women – Hulda Hoskins was a Registered Corsetiere.
1915 Tales From Old Timers #15B – First Buildings in Minot – The first bank occupied the site of Jim Johnson’s Law Office. At that time the city limits extended two blocks North, South, East and West of the Fountain on Main Street. (the fountain was in the middle of the intersection of Main St. and Second Ave.) The Fire Department was not quite up to the standard of the modern equipment, and in case of fire, the building was blown up to prevent the spread of the flames. An enormous fire occurred about this time (early 1890’s I believe) that practically wiped out the entire village. But nothing could daunt the spirit of those old timers and bigger and better buildings were erected to take the place of those destroyed. (side note: This was also the time in Minot’s history where ordinances were passed allowing only brick buildings to be built on Main Street to hinder loss due to fire.)
The First Buildings in Minot - From the 1915 History
1915 Tales From Old Timers #15A – First Buildings in Minot – The first frame hotel was managed by Mrs. W.A. Parker, and was situated on the site now occupied by the Elks home. (the southwest corner of Main St and 2nd Ave.- now the Wells Fargo Building). Mrs. Parker is the mother of the present proprietor of the Leland Hotel. The Leland was originally started as a tent and now stands on some of the most valuable property in Minot. ( the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue – Now Artspace). The first brick building was erected by W.E. Mansfield, and used for a drug store. The first residence built is now (1915) situated opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of First Street and Second Avenue (now the northwest corner of Minot High – Central Campus).
1888 Minot City Ordinances – In 1888 it was illegal to ride or drive horses in the city limits faster than a trot or 8 mph – while it sounds funny today, with no traffic signals a galloping horse was a threat to public safety …. There was a “vice” ordinance prohibiting anyone from owning or visiting a “bawdy house” or a house of “ill fame”…… Drunken or disorderly conduct was subject to a fine of not more than $19.00 and/or 9 days in jail ….. it was also illegal to keep horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats or swine (pigs) within the city limits ……
1915 Tales From Old Timers #13 – The Dull Seasons -- For a number of years after the Great Northern passed through the town of Minot was very quiet. Times were dull and the citizens resorted to many strange pranks to pass the time. Mock trials were held, the prisoners were always found guilty and the penalty was usually cigars and refreshments for the entire crowd. When the boys wanted a barbecue they would shake dice and the loser had to catch one of Tompkins pigs, kill it, and prepare it for the roast. Chasing the “Pig” is popular today, but it is of a somewhat different breed. If the needed a little money to buy whiskey they would appropriate anything that was lying around and peddle it over at the bar. One day, W.E. Mansfield missed the youngest member of his family. He searched everywhere without success, so the police department took up the mystery. Imagine Mansfield’s surprise when he found the child had been peddled to a saloon-keeper for a round of drinks for the boys. He took the joke good naturedly and paid the bill before he could redeem his offspring. Thus the citizens managed to relieve the monotony of the dull period of Minot’s history.
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Elissa Breaks Taboo with Clip Announcing Cancer Fight
by Naharnet Newsdesk 10 August 2018, 18:08
It was an unusual way to reveal a struggle against cancer, particularly in a part of the world where the illness is still largely considered a private matter and taboo.
But a video clip released on Twitter is how Lebanese singer Elissa chose to share the news with her fans and millions of followers on social media.
"You are the reason I am strong and healthy ... you are my strength. And this story is a thank you," she posted, along with the song uploaded on YouTube entitled: "For all those who love me."
The video clip begins with a woman inside an MRI machine and someone saying 'It's an early stage of breast cancer,' and goes on to show the 45-year-old singer in various situations at a hospital, with doctors and surrounded by friends. It features a voiceover of Elissa speaking about her battle.
The response was overwhelming from fans, celebrities and politicians across the Arab world who posted, tweeted and retweeted messages of support. The video clip has garnered more than seven million views from fans and supporters since it was posted on Tuesday.
The clip and outpouring of support were all the more striking because cancer in most of the Arab world, and particularly breast cancer among women, is rarely discussed in public, and cancer patients often struggle in solitude. Some among the older generation continue to refer to cancer as "that disease," without mentioning it by name.
Elissa declined a request for comment through her agent, who said the singer was not giving interviews.
Elissa, whose real name is Elissar Khoury, is among the best known and highest-selling female artists in the Arab world and received several music awards in her career, mostly for Arabic pop songs delivered in the Lebanese or Egyptian dialect.
She was diagnosed with the illness in December 2017 but kept it secret, even after she collapsed on stage during a live performance in Dubai in February this year. She later tweeted to her fans that she was healthy, adding: "Nothing serious don't worry!"
The collapse is featured in the seven-minute video released on Tuesday.
"I do my radiotherapy session, I go to the studio, I finish another session, I rest for two hours and go to the studio again," Elissa says in the video clip, describing how she kept up her work during her treatment.
The song has a feel-good catchy tune with a refrain that says: "Yalla, yalla yalla (come on!), let's sing and be happy, let's make up for time lost, come on let's live," alternating between scenes at a hospital and Elissa singing and dancing on stage.
Fans across the Arab world posted supportive messages, describing her as a super hero and a model of strength. They included Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who tweeted that Elissa should be an inspiration for all women with cancer not to give up.
Elissa, who is scheduled to perform in Beirut on Friday night, ended the video with the words: "I've recovered. I've beaten the illness, and I won. ... Early detection of breast cancer can save your life. Don't ignore it, face it. ... Do it not only for yourself, but for your loved ones."
On the Net: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=jYqd7qPNTm0
SourceAssociated Press
s.o.s 10 August 2018, 21:13 04
Get well soon, we wish you a swift and full recovery unlike Asma al Assad.
nuetral 11 August 2018, 14:19 10
That's nasty
الله يلعن بشار
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Saab Announce First Steel Cutting of Swedish Navy’s Future SIGINT Vessel
March 2018 Navy Naval Defense Industry News
Posted On Friday, 02 March 2018 08:34
The Polish Nauta Shipyard has today cut the first steel for the Swedish Navy’s SIGINT ship, officially beginning the production phase of the vessel. The ceremony was also attended by officials from Saab, the Swedish defence group, which awarded the ship construction contract to the Nauta Shipyard, a part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), in 2017.
Saab CGI of the future SIGINT vessel.
This important milestone is fully in line with the project schedule for the special purpose ship, which is to be built in Poland and fitted out in Sweden for delivery to the Swedish Navy. The first steel cutting takes place following intense cooperation between Saab and the Nauta Shipyard, supported by the MMC ship design and marine consulting company. The entire construction process has been positively appraised by the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV), which signed a contract with Saab for the design, construction and delivery of the Swedish SIGINT vessel. While the ship will be constructed, launched and tested in Poland, it will sail to Saab’s shipyard in Karlskrona for additional fitting and installation.
“The steel cutting ceremony marks the successful completion of the ship design stage and the beginning of production work. This contract for a special purpose ship, a key asset in any Naval portfolio, is very important from the point of view of the end user, the Swedish Navy and requires special handling from the shipyard doing the work. We remain in daily contact with Nauta and we are pleased the work is progressing according to plan,” says Jyrki Kujansuu, Vice President, Poland and Baltic States at Saab.
“We were originally chosen by Saab as a trusted partner in shipbuilding after a long selection process. Similar to our Swedish partner we are happy to have performed the first steel cutting for the ship. We can now progress on to full-scale production,” explains Adam Potrykus, Vice-president of The Board of the Nauta Shipyard.
The contract for the construction of the special purpose ship is the result of a MoU signed between Saab and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) in 2016. Saab constantly seeks to expand its working relationship with Polish industry, and has, for example, tasked the Base Group with construction of components for Swedish A26 submarines.
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Former Student-Athlete
Kelley Gay: Strength through adaptability
Lessons in sports helped former UConn athlete prepare for corporate success
December 1, 2016 9:13am Kristina Stockburger
The power of reflection, including an ability to critique herself and receive constructive criticism, is central to Kelley Gay’s desire to constantly expand and perfect her skills.
As vice president of corporate marketing and communications, Gay oversees seven business units that support the delivery of OneAmerica’s brand management initiatives. Success in her role at the life insurance, retirement plan and employee benefits company based in Indianapolis requires her to strengthen the company’s culture and offer inspiration through storytelling. Each day, Gay draws upon childhood, collegiate experiences and on-the-job learning to develop herself as a person, professional communicator and corporate executive.
Kelley (Hunt) Gay
Vice president of corporate marketing and communications at OneAmerica
Hometown: Londonderry, New Hampshire
Current residence: Zionsville, Indiana
School: Bachelor’s degree in English, University of Connecticut, 1998
Sport: Women’s basketball
Fun fact: Gay is passionate about diversity and inclusion initiatives, especially those designed for students from preschool to high school. She supports and leads those programs when she can.
Raised in Londonderry, New Hampshire, with her twin sister, younger sister and parents, Kevin and Joan Hunt, Gay had a happy childhood. Her father, a retired NFL player, encouraged Gay to pursue athletics at a young age. Her mother drove home the belief that you can do anything you set your mind to.
“I remember playing soccer and softball; my father instilled the value and benefit of being on a team,” Gay explained. “He wanted me to experience working with others to achieve a common goal and taught me teamwork requires humility.”
After trying a variety of sports, Gay decided to focus on basketball. Through hard work and self-enforced practice, she became an up-and-coming star. During her final years of high school, Gay was recruited by numerous colleges and ultimately decided to attend the University of Connecticut and join its rising basketball team.
“I knew I wanted to be close to home and part of something bigger than me,” Gay said. “And by bigger than me, I’m talking about making me a better person and athlete. I had a very narrow view on life and what was expected of me as a student-athlete. I knew UConn and their coaches would challenge me.”
In 1995, Gay’s freshman year, the women’s basketball team, under coach Geno Auriemma, won its first national championship. And while Gay celebrated with her teammates and basked in their groundbreaking accomplishment, internally she was struggling to come to terms with her role on the team.
“In high school, I was a 25-points-per-game player, but sitting center stage at UConn, I was on the second team,” Gay recalled. “My main job was to make the starters better, and I struggled with accepting that. My pride and my head got in the way.”
Riding the bench tested Gay’s emotional strength and belief in her abilities. It was a physically and mentally taxing process, but over time Gay was able to find her feet and thrive in the supporting role that her coaches and team needed her to play.
“Every single element of my game was broken down and reformatted. Trust in myself, teammates and coaches was a really important part of my journey,” Gay said. “I had to be resilient and really believe that the new me was the person UConn needed. I was determined to help this team and work for playing time.”
Gay graduated from UConn in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in English and began working as a communications specialist at Phoenix Life Insurance Co. Although Gay quickly learned that an office job working in a cubicle wasn’t necessarily suited for her energy level, she focused on how she could best benefit from this position to propel her career.
After two years, Gay had learned to develop strong relationships and connect with colleagues. She realized that working hard didn’t mean one had to work 12-hour days. Instead, it meant working smart and focusing your efforts.
“Being receptive to positive and constructive feedback was crucial,” Gay said. “I responded and thrived on how to improve my workplace performance, which mirrored when I was coached at Connecticut. From my playing days, I knew I respond better to before-the-game coaching versus after-the-game coaching.”
Gay became a financial advisor for Smith Barney, now Morgan Stanley, in 2000. After two years, she joined MassMutual as a director of life product marketing, a position that broadened her business skills. Gay credits her career growth to having strong mentors who invested time into developing her. She remained at MassMutual until 2011, eventually becoming an assistant vice president.
In her role today at OneAmerica, Gay regularly reflects on lessons she learned as a student-athlete to strengthen her relationships.
“New Hampshire was pretty homogenous, and I did not experience a lot of diversity,” Gay said about her childhood. “At UConn and during the beginning of my career, I realized that different perspectives and backgrounds create deeper conversations and experiences. Working together creates better outcomes.”
Gay believes that for organizations to thrive, employees must embrace adaptability — a trait she feels is undervalued in today’s workplace. Gay has learned change isn’t just required in today’s business world; it is an essential life skill. The ability to adapt is crucial for success.
“It’s the combination of lessons learned on and off the court that turns you from a student-athlete to a corporate athlete,” Gay explained. “We have integrity, teamwork, a strong work ethic, competitiveness, authenticity and resiliency. Athletes, like corporate leaders, see the long game. They know that you might lose a game today, but you’re going to win the championship later.”
Submitted photos by UConn Athletics, OneAmerica.
Why this former student-athlete works out with 100 people in one year
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Jerrell Moore: Using relationships to find success
We need your help. Taken together as a whole, the former NCAA student-athlete contribution to society is staggering. Better yet, many credit their student-athlete academic and athletic experiences as being the key to their life-long success. NCAA After the Game is looking to tell these compelling former student-athlete stories. If you know a good story idea, click on the link below and send it to us.
Submit a Story >
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Home Cities Chennai
Autism clinic for children opened at ICH
In an attempt to offer specialised treatment, an autism Clinic was inaugurated for children at the Government Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore on Friday.
Published: 01st February 2014 07:35 AM | Last Updated: 01st February 2014 07:35 AM | A+A A-
Inaugurating the clinic, Dr V Kanagasabai, Director of Medical Education (FAC) and Dean, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, said that the clinic was launched, following a Government Order, in an attempt to offer specialised counselling for both the mother and child.
“According to MCI norms, there has to be a child guidance clinic in hospitals that have pediatric department. This is the first government hospital to have such an autism clinic in the country,” the dean said.
The clinic will have a six-member team including a child psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and a hospital worker. After identifying a child with autism, the mother would be counselled on the extra care that needs to be given to the child. “Children with autism will have behavioural abnormality, lack of verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive action. If they are identified at an early stage and given treatment, they will become a normal child in two or three years. This genetic disorder affects one in 88 children,” the dean explained.
Doctors at the government children’s hospital said they see at least eight to 10 children with this disorder every day. The autism clinic will function as out-patient clinic from 8 am to 2 pm every day.
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Home Cities Kochi
Cabinet Nod for Metro to Kakkanad
Published: 12th November 2015 04:10 AM | Last Updated: 12th November 2015 04:10 AM | A+A A-
The State Cabinet on Wednesday cleared revised administrative sanction of Rs 2,024 crore for the 11.2-km stretch of Kochi Metro Rail from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Kakkanad. Briefing the Cabinet decisions here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said a decision was taken to fix the Union Government share of funding as 20 per cent and submit the same before the Centre for approval.
The Union Government had earlier informed the state that it should meet expenses of all developmental activities to be carried out as part of Kochi Metro Rail project. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is of the view that the 11.2-km Metro Rail project from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark through Kakkanad is not part of the existing project. It's a separate project which can be linked with the existing one.
It was pointed out that once the new Metro Rail line to Infopark becomes a reality, it would be more beneficial to the city. The KMRL Board meeting had held detailed deliberations on the new project and had requested the state government to submit the proposal before the Centre for approval.
Math Lab,” a press statement said.
Belong Foundation is a network of volunteers working to create social equity.
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Home Education Edex
Hope Has a New Name
Students are asked to become involved in fundraising activities like running, cycling, dance nights and mountain climbs.
By Blessy Mathew Prasad
Getting out of bed, taking the bus, or just walking to the store might seem too insignificant a task to many. But, there are thousands who only dream of such independence. Freedom to walk, work and be independent should be a basic human right and that is what the ‘Mukti Project’ aims to give amputees and those affected by polio.
The Mukti Project is organised by a team of students and staff from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde who work jointly with ‘Mukti’, a charitable organisation in Chennai. The project was initiated following a scoping exercise by Anthony McGarry, Kevin Murray and Ms Christine Donald in January 2012.
“The vision behind this project is to expose students to the realities of providing low cost prosthetic and orthotic services. We hope to improve the quality of these services for the benefit of their patients,” says Anthony McGarry. As part of the project, students engage in the treatment of amputees and people with polio in order to return to work. In most cases these patients have been unable to receive treatment due to the difficulty in accessing services. “The students are involved in assessing the requirements of patients and along with the Mukti staff, manufacture low cost prostheses and orthoses. This can involve a great deal of physical work like draping hot plastic and using hammer and chisels to carry out our basic repairs,” Antony adds.
Funding for the trip is raised by student activities and charitable donations. Students are asked to become involved in fundraising activities like running, cycling, dance nights and mountain climbs.
“Mukti for me was a life changing experience. When I was able to see the first hand differences in treatment, the quality of the prostheses and orthoses, compared to what is freely available in the UK, I realised I would like to work in parts of the world that could benefit from my training and expertise,” says Thomas Robertson, a student.
The focus this year was the introduction of a low cost polycentric knee for above-knee amputees. “Four patients were fitted with ‘Free’ knees that bend while walking,” adds Kevin Murray.
Reach out: www.strath.ac.uk
Point of focus - 2016
Introduction of a low cost polycentric knee for above-knee amputees
For the first time, 4 patients were fitted with ‘Free’ flexible knees
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BJP in Uttar Pradesh: The year the lotus started to wilt
A year-and-a-half later, in 2018, the lotus has begun to wilt as evident from several developments over the year.
Published: 18th December 2018 03:26 PM | Last Updated: 24th December 2018 06:04 PM | A+A A-
The disconnect with the people and disenchantment of its voters can be clearly seen as the BJP lost the Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana parliamentary by polls. (IN PIC: PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath)/AFP file photo
LUCKNOW: The lotus was in full bloom in 2017 as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged out of its 14-year political exile and stormed to power in India's most populous and politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
On the one hand, there is tremendous resentment in the party cadres, who slogged to keep the party flag flying for 14-years under successive and very hostile Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) governments. On the other, the very people who voted it to power are seemingly feeling betrayed as the BJP government under monk-turned-politician Yogi Adityanath is engaged in acts that are not only unwarranted but also least people-oriented.
A spree of police shoot-outs in the beginning of the BJP regime had sent chills down the spines of criminals across the state. The government strongly defended its police on the issue as human right watchdogs called them staged killings, especially in western Uttar Pradesh. Many people openly patted the BJP government for their action against criminals and the mafias, but in 2018 the picture changed.
There was the shock killing of a dreaded mafia don, Munna Bajrangi, inside a high-security prison, the shooting down of an Apple executive going back home from a product launch party by trigger-happy cops in the heart of the state and a ruling party legislator thrown into jail for the gang-rape of a minor girl -- who then conspiring with his brother and henchmen to kill victim's father.
The father had been crying out for justice by knocking on the doors of the police. His killing sent shockwaves across the state as many, even BJP supporters, felt that the "jungleraaj" the party inherited had not gone. The inept handling of the situation by the police and the state government worsened the crisis until the media launched a campaign and the judiciary was forced to sit up and take notice.
"I am terribly upset and disturbed by these incidents. I feel betrayed because we voted for the BJP so that the criminals are hounded out and peace returns to the state and its people feel secure" said Preeti Nigam, a teacher, adding that incidents of mob lynching and cow vigilantism have picked up in the past one year.
The last nail seems to be the killing of police Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh in Bulandshahr earlier this month, apparently at the hands of right-wing affiliate group cadres of the ruling establishment. Instead of the Chief Minister condemning the killing and asking the police to crack down on such fringe elements, who now threaten to disrupt the mainstream, he chose to maintain a stony silence.
The disconnect with the people and disenchantment of its voters can be clearly seen as the BJP lost the Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana parliamentary by polls. Phulpur was held by incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya while Gorakhpur had elected Adityanath as its MP for five straight terms.
The coming together of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) has changed the electoral equations in the state and political pundits feel that if this arrangement continues till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP might be in for a major shocker in terms of its numbers. At present, with ally Apna Dal, it has 73 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats.
On Monday, Om Prakash Rajbhar, a leader of an alliance partner who is a cabinet minister, predicted "decimation" of the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the proposed SP-BSP alliance goes through.
Adityanath's utterances, behaviour and choice of words have shocked even his own party members. On the floor of the state assembly, the saffron-robed chief minister called the SP a "party of terrorists", threatened them with violence.
He then, calling Lord Hanuman, the monkey God, a Dalit infuriating Hindus in large numbers. It is being felt that a large cross-section of the Hindu community prefers the Congress's new-found 'soft-Hindutva' than the hardcore being served to them by the BJP. To top it all, the Ram Mandir followers are also disgruntled.
The state's fledgling bureaucracy, after initial days of control, seems to have returned to to its uncontrolled ways. There are many instances when ministers and allies have openly charged babudom of not paying heed to them. Insiders in the government admit that "things are not too rosy now". The outings of Adityanath to Gorakhnath Peeth and his many meetings with seers and saints, some feel, has "made him look casual towards governance and in continuity with his Hindutva image".
While some good things -- creation of the One District one Product (ODOP) campaign, farm loan waiver, electrification of the villages, investors meet -- too have happened, they have had little impact on the ground.
With just a few months to go for the general elections, many find the ruling BJP on shaky ground while some are hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal would see them through this time too, albeit with a lower margin.
BJP in Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh in 2018 Yogi Adityanath jungleraaj in UP Bulandshahr mob violence Munna Bajrangi
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Winship physician named nation's most outstanding young cancer researcher
Woodruff Health Sciences Center | April 4, 2013
Lynne Anderson
virginia.l.anderson@emory.edu
Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri, surrounded by colleagues at Winship Cancer Institute, including institute executive director Dr. Walter J. Curran Jr., who stands to Khuri's immediate right.
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Biosketch: Fadlo R. Khuri, MD
Winship Cancer Institute
Faculty, Philanthropy, Patients, Health, Research, Emory Healthcare, School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Awards and Distinctions, Cancer, Health Sciences Research, People
Fadlo R. Khuri, MD, deputy director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and one of the world's leading experts in lung and other aerodigestive cancers, will be awarded the coveted Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award from the American Association for Cancer Research in recognition of outstanding contributions and accomplishments as an investigator in lung and aerodigestive medical oncology. The award recognizes Khuri's work for the prevention and treatment of lung and head and neck cancers.
The Rosenthal Award is given each year to an investigator not older than 50 whose contributions to cancer research have led to new understandings of cancer and show promise for even greater advances in the future. Two Rosenthal winners have gone on to become Nobel Prize winners.
Khuri, who holds the Roberto C. Goizueta Chair in translational research at Emory University School of Medicine and is also the Editor-in-chief of Cancer, will receive the award April 10 at the AACR's annual conference in Washington, D.C.
"As a practicing clinical oncologist and as a physician scientist, it is a profound honor for me to receive the AACR Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award, particularly in light of the extraordinary role models who have previously received this award," said Khuri, who is also professor and chair of hematology and medical oncology, adjunct professor of medicine, pharmacology and otolaryngology. "The award recognizes work by our team of physicians and scientists at Winship Cancer Institute and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, all of which was carried out with the sole purpose of making a difference for patients with lung and head and neck cancers."
Walter J. Curran, Jr., MD, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute, nominated Khuri for this award and said that the honor is not a surprise to those who know his work.
"Fadlo's leadership in lung and head and neck cancer research is legendary, and he has helped advance our understanding of the nation's number one cancer killer by introducing novel therapeutic agents that have changed how people live with this disease," said Curran. "More than any other person I can think of, he has changed how we think about lung cancer – and how people live with this disease as a chronic, manageable illness in many cases, rather than as a death sentence. I am thrilled that he is receiving this prestigious national award for the tireless work he has invested in patients with lung and other aerodigestive cancers."
Khuri's positive influence is felt by patients, colleagues and students says Christian P. Larsen, MD, DPhil, dean of the Emory University School of Medicine and vice president of health center integration. "Not only is Fadlo an outstanding researcher and leader, he is an exceptional and compassionate physician who is a role model for students, trainees and faculty alike."
Howard Halpern, a survivor of head and neck cancer, was so impressed with Khuri that he and his wife Lynne established a $2.5 million endowed chair at Winship in honor of him.
"Dr. Khuri and his team saved my life," Halpern said of Khuri. "Lynne and I can hardly express the depth of our gratitude for the extraordinary care we received at Winship."
The Rosenthal award is designed to provide incentive to young investigators early in their careers. It was established in 1977 by the AACR and the Rosenthal Family Foundation to recognize research that has made, or promises to make, a notable contribution to improved clinical care in the field of cancer.
Khuri was instrumental in obtaining the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation to Winship Cancer Institute in 2009. Additionally, he worked to increase NCI peer-reviewed funding in cancer at Emory, from $7.4 million in 2000 to more than $30 million in 2011. His contributions to cancer research and patient care extend beyond the laboratory. He helped increase patient enrollment in therapeutic clinical trials from 143 in 2001 to more than 500 in each of the last three years.
Khuri currently serves on the editorial board of AACR's journal, Cancer Prevention Research, and is the editor-in-chief of American Cancer Society's Cancer. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation. Additionally, he has received the American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award, the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award and the Middle East Medical Assembly's Naji Sahyoun Memorial Award.
Khuri received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in in 1989. He completed his internship and residency at the Boston City Hospital, Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts in 1990 and 1992, respectively, and a fellowship at the New England Medical Center at Tufts University School of Medicine in 1995.
His award lecture, "Targeting Survival Signaling in Aerodigestive Cancers," will take place at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 10 in Ballroom C in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
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Women Travellers and Women's Travel Writing
Travel Writing and Guides - Africa
Women in Africa
in categories:Feminism & Women, Poetry & Writing, World - Africa,
Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria
by Noo Saro-Wiwa
£9.99 paperback Granta Books (2013)
Noo Saro-Wiwa was brought up in England, but every summer she was dragged back to Nigeria - a country she viewed as an annoying parallel universe where she had to relinquish all her creature comforts and sense of individuality. Then her father, activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, was murdered there, and she didn't return for 10 years. Recently, she decided to rediscover and come to terms with the country her father loved.
She travelled from the exuberant chaos of Lagos to the calm beauty of the eastern mountains; from the eccentricity of a Nigerian dog show to the empty Transwonderland Amusement Park - Nigeria's decrepit and deserted answer to Disneyland. She explored Nigerian christianity, delved into its history of slavery, examined the corrupting effect of oil, investigated Nollywood. She found the country as exasperating as ever, and frequently despaired at the corruption and inefficiency she encountered. But she also discovered that it was far more beautiful and varied than she had ever imagined, and was seduced by its thick tropical rainforest and ancient palaces and monuments.
Most engagingly of all she introduces us to the people she meets, and gives us hilarious insights into the Nigerian character, its passion, wit and ingenuity.
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Historic American Revolution Interview Saturday
Ever imagine what it would be like to ask Revolutionary War soldiers about their life and times? The Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont, will bring to life the Revolutionary War at the site tomorrow Saturday, September 4, at 2:00 p.m. with the program, “An Investigation into the Revolutionary Mind: What Were You Thinking, Isaac Kendall and Benjamin McCool?”
Modern day historian and site interpreter Paul Andriscin will interview two soldiers so he and the audience can find out first hand from two American soldiers what happened 233 years ago at Mount Independence and during the Northern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War.
“Paul will interview two soldiers who were garrisoned on and helped build Mount Independence,” said to Elsa Gilbertson, Regional Historic Site Administrator for the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. “He’ll ask them, ‘What were you thinking?’ as they served on Mount Independence and in other locations after the leaving the fort in 1777.”
“What was their work? What was their life like? What did they think about their officers and fellow soldiers?” Gilbertson said. “These re-enactors really help humanize these historical figures in a way that textbooks simply can’t.”
Isaac Kendall will be portrayed by Mike Austin, Castleton State College history professor and president of the Vermont Alliance for Social Studies. Benjamin McCool will be portrayed by Karl Crannell, Chimney Point State Historic Site interpreter.
The men will discuss what happened as British General John Burgoyne and his British troops advanced and the Americans abandoned Mount Independence and nearby Fort Ticonderoga.
On July 5, 1777, faced with a British force more than twice his size that had occupied a position from which they could bombard him with impunity, General Arthur St. Clair withdrew from the fortifications without firing a shot.
Though his actions helped preserve the army, Congress was outraged and censured St. Clair for the loss. He later argued that his conduct had been honorable- demanded review by a court martial- and was ultimately exonerated.
Admission is $5.00 for adults and free for children under 15, and includes visiting the museum and access to all the trails on the over 300-acre site.
The Mount Independence State Historic Site is one of the best-preserved Revolutionary War sites in America. It is located near the end of Mount Independence Road, six miles west of the intersections of Vermont Routes 22A and 73 near Orwell village- carefully follow the signs. Regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily through October 12.
Call (802) 948-2000 for more information or visit: www.HistoricVermont.org/sites.
Photo: Karl Crannell, who will play Benjamin McCool.
John Burgoyne Lecture at Mount Independence On Saturday, October 20, at 1:00 p.m., historian Douglas Cubbison will present a program at the Mount Independence State Historic Site just across Lake Champlain in Orwell, VT on Burgoyne […]
Neil Godwin Speaks at Mount Independence On Saturday, October 22, at 1:00 p.m., author Neil Godwin comes to the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell to talk about the subject of his acclaimed book, We Go as Captives: […]
Soldiers Atop Mount Independence Event It was 235 years ago this July that American soldiers began building one of the largest Revolutionary War fortifications in the country—on what would become known as Mount Independence in […]
Military History American Revolution, Mount Independence, Vermont Leave a comment
← Albany Institute Offers Shoe Exhibits
Barry Hopkins Run at Olana →
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Posted on October 2, 2013 by Dominic Hanley
One heck of a right back for both club and country, Willy Sagnol was a true professional. It’s a shame that his Achilles heel was infact his Achilles heel, that eventually saw him retire early.
Sagnol started his professional career at Saint Etienne in 1995, playing 10 times that season, before becoming a regular the next season, appearing in the league 36 times. His performances that season, secured a move to newly crowned Ligue 1 Champions AS Monaco. In moving to Monaco, Sagnol got his chance to test his abilities in the Champions League. All in all Sagnol spent three seasons at Monaco winning two Trophees des Champions and in his final season the Ligue 1.
Bundesliga comes calling.
Come the summer of 2000, clubs from around Europe began sniffing around the young right back. Bayern Munich were the club that managed to secure his signing, and Sagnol moved across the border and into Bavaria. It didn’t take long for Sagnol to become a regular fixture at right back for Bayern, also on occasion being asked to play as an attacking wing back. His first season with Bayern ended in great success, winning both the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League. Sagnol would go on to win plenty more trophies with the German giants, including another four Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokals, two LIGA Pokals and a Intercontinental Cup.
It was during the year of 2000, that Sagnol made his debut for the French National squad. Initially he found it difficult to displace stalwart Lillian Thuram at right back. He spent a lot of time sitting on the bench for Les Bleus, until Lillian Thuram moved into centre back. Sagnol did win two tournaments with France, both Confederations Cups, and was a runner-up in the infamous 2006 World Cup Final, mainly rememebered for the Zidane/Materazzi incident.
Sagnol eventually retired in 2009 because of a continuous Achilles heel injury. It drew to a premature close a very successful end to a career for the man from Saint-Etienne
Sagnol (left) up against Spain’s Fernando Torres at the 2006 World Cup in Germany
This entry was posted in #LCQ Player Profile and tagged Bayern, Bayern Munich, FFF, Ligue 1, Monaco, Munich, Sagnol, UCL by Dominic Hanley. Bookmark the permalink.
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New York OSIA Raises Funds for the American Red Cross
Your check should be made payable to the New York Grand Lodge Foundation and mailed to the Grand Lodge Office, 2101 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710, Attention: Disaster Relief Fund
As always, thanks so much for the sincere generosity of all the Brothers and Sisters of the great Grand Lodge of New York.
For you information, here is a copy of the press release that was sent out to the media this morning:
Fraternally,
State President Thomas Lupo
For Immediate Release ……………………………………….. November 15, 2012
The New York Grand Lodge Foundation, Order Sons of Italy in America - in responding to the dire need of American Red Cross funding, for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, is proud to announce that a $5,000 donation has been given to the American Red Cross. This donation has been made on behalf of the over 10,000 Italian Americans who belong to the New York Grand Lodge, Order Sons of Italy in America.
Foundation President Thom Lupo has implemented the organization’s Emergency Relief Fund and in anticipation of the generous response from members, he has received the approval of the Foundation Board of Directors to make this donation immediately. President Lupo said, “The American Red Cross is leading the way during this very difficult and emotional time. They have responded without delay to all the needs of those victims of Hurricane Sandy. As a 501(c)3 organization, it is our obligation on behalf of New York OSIA members to be part of this relief effort.”
Established in 1982, the New York Grand Lodge Foundation works at the community, state, and national level to promote the heritage and culture of Italian Americans. The Foundation offers an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and corporations, to contribute to our many charitable programs that we support.
For further information, please contact the office of the New York Grand Lodge, Order Sons of Italy in America at 1-800-322-6742.
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Leanne Zacharias on Preventing Passivity
Credit Kevin Bertram.
LEANNE ZACHARIAS is a Canadian cellist, interdisciplinary artist, and performance curator. She has been breaking ground in the post-classical music landscape since the 90s, in collaboration with artists of all stripes. Zacharias' ongoing performance project Music for Spaces reimagines concert, public, and natural spaces with sound. Other notable work includes CityWide, which consisted of simultaneous recitals by 50 cellists to open the International Cello Festival, and Sonus Loci, a winter sound installation on Winnipeg’s frozen Assiniboine River. Her cello performance formed the climax of Odyssey Works' piece for Rick Moody, When I Left the House It Was Still Dark.
A performance works best when everyone feels they are contributing.
Leanne Zacharias: The point is to prevent anyone, audience member or performer, from operating in anything resembling a passive or inconsequential mode. A performance works best when everyone feels they are contributing—via navigation, work, or some form of interaction.
LZ: Experiences do more than most performances. They are lived rather than witnessed, so they exist differently in the memory. I think the best art is of this nature. As a performer, the task of creating an experience for someone shifts the intention from self-satisfactory pursuit to gift-giving. In giving a gift to someone, you ask different questions: What do they need? What do they want? What would they like?
LZ: To enable close encounters with live performance, sound, and other people. To create musical scenarios that engage both listeners and players in a more direct way than typical concert settings do. To enhance awareness of gesture, place, and time. To ask what the audience would like that they don't know of yet.
In many concerts and performance situations, there's little to no collaboration between artist and audience. There's an agreement on the terms, often in the form of a transaction: audience pays admission fee, artist delivers a program. This agreement is a contract and playbook. It outlines expectations. To me, the most interesting place to find the artwork is at the explosion of that transaction—the moment when the audience realizes they're being offered a different type of contract, a new playbook with unorthodox or unclear terms.
A heightened sensitivity to space, surroundings, and people invites elements of surprise and risk; it requires and builds trust, and creates an exciting tension that is integral to great performance.
LZ: Crucial. If the work is a musical composition, the performer's role is interpretative. Even if a piece has been performed dozens or hundreds of times, it must be made new—through interpretive decisions, its placement in proximity to other musical works, its placement in the environment, or the placement of the performers and audience. Ideally, everyone is experiencing the discovery of a new interpretation of the piece together, in real time. I think of the entire performance, not just the music, as the work, so I attend to all the details: musical landscape, physical landscape, movement, proximity. A heightened sensitivity to space, surroundings, and people invites elements of surprise and risk; it requires and builds trust, and creates an exciting tension that is integral to great performance.
Credit Katalin Hausel.
LZ: I'm influenced by knowledge and language beyond my home base in music: architects on community, designers on space, choreographers on movement, visual artists on images and materiality, theatre artists on presentation, and athletes and yogis on repetitive practices. I'm also inspired by naturalists, wilderness gurus, and explorers. I admire their embrace of wildness and their expeditions in search of sudden, fleeting beauty.
My first encounter with Janet Cardiff's Forty Part Motet was significant. It didn't change me so much as distill or crystallize a fundamental part of my identity as an artist. The piece consists of forty individually recorded voices each singing their part of Thomas Tallis' Spem in alium, playing through forty speakers placed throughout the space. It is a stunning, complex installation and a beautiful experience with a single musical work that never changes. Her piece succeeds as a rare opportunity for art-goers to become listeners, and get close to each voice. What it doesn't do is bring the piece to life as a unique performance, or allow listeners to get close to the musicians' real-time efforts, the physical and intellectual work of executing a single part of a grand composition that is unique with each iteration. I had a very strong reaction: I realized my purpose as a musician involves advocating for liveness and finding ways for live performance to involve the level of accessibility, interaction, and immersion of Cardiff's piece. Come to think of it, the experience of performing for Rick Moody in the Straw Bale Observatory is a perfect example of achieving this.
Tagged: Leanne Zacharias, cellist, cello, interdisciplinary, performance, curator, post-classical, music, Music for Spaces, CityWide, Sonus Loci, sound installation, When I Left the House It Was Still Dark, Rick Moody, preventing passivity, immersivity, interactivity, gift-giving, close encounters, liveness, engagement, enhanced awareness, gesture, place, time, exploding transaction, different type of contract, new playbook, new interpretations, attending to the details, heightened sensitivity, surprise, risk, trust, tension, community, space, movement, images, materiality, presentation, repetitive practices, wildness, fleeting beauty, Janet Cardiff, Forty Part Motet, Thomas Tallis, Spem in alium, real-time, experiences, accessible, public space, asking, interpretation, discovery, musical landscape, physical landscape, proximity, surroundings
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This film was part of the New Filmmakers Festival.
click here for the New Filmmakers Festival Page.
click here to watch the 14 min. Short Film (re)birth.
What inspired you to make this film? did you HAVE to tell this story.
I was inspired to make this film because I was in the process of trying to have a baby with my wife and the thought came to me that things would be very traumatic if one person really wanted to have a child and the other person REALLY didn’t want to have a child. What would you do? Is it possible that you would leave your partner for over 10 years to try to find someone else who was willing to have a baby? There are a lot of complicated situations there.
Would you shoot the film if you did not have access to digital equipment?
I probably would not have shot this if i didn’t have access to digital equipment. The cost of shooting film is so cost prohibitive that unless you have a real budget…it makes it very difficult. so being able to do it myself made it easier to do this project.
At what moment during shooting did you think this is going to work or not work?
The final climatic scene in the film is very very emotional. It required a huge commitment from the actors to really bring the pain of this situation. We were over our time budget and the scene was scheduled to be shot at 9pm wasn’t ready to shoot until 2am. The actors were exhausted and we shot it in the middle of the night. It just wasn’t working. It was very disorienting for them and it wasn’t working. The film just doesn’t work without this final scene. At that point I didn’t think this was going to happen. I thought it might not work out. The two actors took some some and worked through some things together and came back and absolutely blew the doors off. It was so emotional for both of them that I was able to only shoot it once. They just emotionally exploded and it was exactly what the scene needed. Once that scene was done…i knew we had a film.
Sonoma Coast Prints
UncategorizedPeter Konerko July 11, 2013
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Towns of the Avon Valley
The Avon Valley is located east of Perth and is dotted with historic towns. We started with York and worked our way up towards New Norcia, with a stop at the Big Camera in Meckering on the way.
About 60km east of Mundaring is York, a quiet, weekend town with lots of friendly folks. The main strip is decorated with beautiful period buildings like the York Town Hall. Built in 1911, it is the largest town hall ever built in WA and its elaborate Edwardian design plays an important part in the town’s identity. We went for a stroll down the main street and stumbled upon Penny Farthing Sweets, a lolly shop that sells all sorts of local and imported sweets. The guy is really nice and offered to take a photo of us with his penny farthing and some jumbo lolly pops.
Nearby town is the Swing Bridge, built by convicts in 1853 as the first temporary bridge to cross over the Avon River. It was reconstructed in 1988 due to safety concerns. There is also the Sock Factory, which is a bit disappointing because it’s just a sock shop. The York Mill is a little more interesting – the building used to be the old flour mill but is now a retail and hospitality complex.
Just outside of York is the Mount Brown Lookout. The ascent is about 342m above sea level and gives stunning 360 degree views of York and the surrounds. There are picnic facilities and electric BBQs and we stuck around for lunch after taking in the views.
This town was a lot bigger than what we expected. It was mainly a residential town with the standard shops and pubs, but it is also home to Australia’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge.
Toodyay
This great little town was originally establishment in the 1830s on the Avon River about 5km from the current town site. The local Aboriginals called the area ‘duidgee’, which means place of plenty because there was heaps of wild game and bush tucker in the area. The settlement moved up river 30 years later due to seasonal flooding. It used to be called Newcastle after the Duke of Newcastle, and in 1911, the name was changed to Toodyay to avoid confusion with the town of Newcastle in New South Wales.
Toodyay also used to be Moondyne Joe’s home. We learnt all about Moondyne Joe while exploring the Fremantle Prison so it was great to see the country town that he lived in. Joseph Bolitho Johns arrived in Australia in 1853 to face about ten years of imprisonment because he stole some cheese, bread and bacon. Because he was so well behaved on the ship, he was offered his ticket of leave to find employment, land and a woman when he arrived in Fremantle. He worked in Fremantle until the end of 1854 before he received a conditional pardon and moved to Toodyay in 1860. Over the next 10 years, Joseph was arrested twice, escaped prison six times and was eventually pardoned by the governor in 1873. Every year on the first Sunday of May, the town holds the Moondyne Festival and the streets are filled with entertainment and displays. There is even a moustache competition, but unfortunately we would be halfway up the west coast when the festival would be on.
A kooky attraction in town is the Cola Café & Museum. It has heaps of Coca Cola paraphernalia like glasses, posters, clocks, tins, toys, everything you can imagine. The collection started 60 years ago and there are now over 6,000 items. The café serves retro food so grab something to eat while you check out all their junk.
New Norcia
A very quiet, tranquil town that was established in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine monks. The monks live according to the guidance and rhythms of The Rule of St Benedict, which has been followed by monks since the 6th century. When the monks settled in New Norcia, they experienced many hardships in the arid conditions of the Australian environment. They taught the local Aborigines about agriculture and Christianity and in the early 1900s, two boarding schools were built – one for boys and one for girls. The emblem for the town includes the Latin word PAX, which means peace.
The town has a very strange atmosphere. There were signs all over the place that said PRIVATE – NO ENTRY, or RESIDENTS ONLY, even though we never actually saw any residents. The Abbey Church bell rang every 15 minutes and the busiest places in town were the pub and roadhouse.
The New Norcia Hotel was one of our favourite places. The grand building was constructed in 1927 as a hostel for parents visiting their kids at the boarding schools. We stopped by on our first day for a drink and got to taste some of the local beer and wine while listening to the jukebox play the worst of the 90s.
Abbey Ale – 7% deep golden clear brew with a refreshingly sweet and crisp taste full of tropical fruit, honey and malt and very gently hopped.
New Norcia Shiraz – full of sweet plums, prunes, chocolate and currants. Fine, gentle tannins, a rum spirit and sweet like a fortified.
New Norcia Muscat Liqueur – a rich brown caramel with lots of spiced fruit flavours, smooth and warming with long-lasting finish of honey nut, caramel and coffee.
Our second favourite place in New Norcia was the swimming pool and it proved to be the perfect way to cool off. The water was surprisingly cold.
If you plan to stay in New Norcia overnight, there are only two places to stay – The Roadhouse or next to the oval. It costs $7 a night for an unpowered site.
Bindoon
We stopped by Bindoon on our way to the Coral Coast because we had strong recommendations for three independent sources that the town’s bakery was amazing. When we rolled up, the small town looked fairly average with a strip of shops that included an IGA, butcher and a medical centre, but once our eyes set on the Bindoon Café & Bakehaus, we knew we were in for a treat.
Set in a new, modern building with a funky black and orange interior, the Bakehaus has been open since 2000 and is an award-winning business that makes great baked goods. The friendly staff were more than happy to go through what pies and savouries they had available while we gazed at their massive range of cakes, slices and rolls. Dave settled on a bacon and cheese sausage roll while Juz went for the steak, bacon and cheese pie. Both were delicious with each ingredient’s flavour standing out individually.
This entry was posted in Cities & Towns, Experience, States, Western Australia and tagged bakery, beer, Bindoon, church, historic, monastic, New Norcia, Northam, Toodyay, wine, York.
2 thoughts on Towns of the Avon Valley
Dougie on May 5, 2013 at 8:43 pm said:
Dave in the pool looks like a monk from Abbey church
Pingback: One Year On The Road | Our Naked Australia
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A Public View
How did this plane vanish?
Posted by John Kanelis on
I'll need to set the record straight right off the top: I believe Malaysia Air 370 crashed somewhere into some very large body of water on March 8, 2014.
I do not believe it was hijacked and flown to some remote landing strip. Nor do I believe it was shot down by sinister forces seeking to terrorize the world.
You see, MH 370 contained more than 200 passengers and crew. They were flying aboard a Boeing 777 -- one of the world's largest commercial jetliners currently in service.
One just doesn't lose a plane that large, with that many people aboard, with so much technology available.
Still, the question persists: What in the world happened to that aircraft?
NOVA seeks to find out.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
The next NOVA installment airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday on Panhandle PBS.
"Why Planes Vanish" provides an inside look at what might have happened to MH 370. The science documentary series, produced by WGBH in Boston, interviews principals from all over the globe in search for clues to what has happened to the aircraft.
Malaysian aviation authorities have declared that the plane likely crashed and that no one survived. The Malysian government has stumbled badly at times as it has coordinated the search effort, along with Australian avaition and government officials.
They've looked across large expanses of the southern Indian Ocean, the Java Sea, anywhere they believe the plane could have traveled.
The most compelling question of all, I suppose, is: Why is there no sign of wreckage anywhere if an aircraft that large crashed into the water?
NOVA seeks to get some answers as to what could have happened to the aircraft and why the world's most technologically advanced experts cannot find its remains.
Some of us -- most certainly the loved ones of those who vanished with the aircraft -- want to know.
More brutality from ISIS is revealed
Fukushima: It could have been much worse
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Tag: World Changer Wednesday
A Changed Life: Augustine (354-430)
Augustine of Hippo, who stands as a church father of theology, was an intellectual giant whom I must confess I fall short in writing about. He wrote over 100 books, 500 sermons, and 200 letters. Many who read Augustine relate to him because of his rebellious life and the inward struggle with truth. The Bible reminds us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). Augustine as a new creation was able to look at truth, which he passionately pursued, with new, clear lenses. With a clear look at truth, he saw that truth is found in Christ. He is a world changer—he impacted not just those in North Africa in the 4th century, but so many believers throughout history because his writings have been preserved.
Continue reading “A Changed Life: Augustine (354-430)”
A Lesson on Humility
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
Though Andrew Murray has now been with the Lord 100 years, his life still shows us the closeness one can have with God. The life that he lived is contagious to the believer. Just like an infectious laugh, someone who shows the reality of God’s presence is someone the Christian wants to model after. He penned over two hundred and fifty titles, which include some of his more well-known books, Humility and Abide in Christ. Andrew Murray is a world changer.
Continue reading “A Lesson on Humility”
Convicted with Truth-John Knox (1514-1572)
One of the most colorful and impactful figures who led the Scottish Reformation is John Knox.
It has been said that Martin Luther was the hammer of the Reformation, John Calvin the pen, and John Knox the trumpet.[1] Martyn Lloyd Jones would call Knox the first English Puritan as Knox desired for the church to be pure and would pave the way for puritanism.[2]
This remarkable man may have been somewhat forgotten through the ages as his gravesite is in parking stall #23 of St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.
This defender of truth who fought against religious idolatry in Scotland and England was born in 1514. Knox went to school and was part of Roman Catholicism. It was through his study of John 17, Jesus’ high priestly prayer, that Knox was converted. He was like a sponge absorbing the water of God’s Word. He couldn’t get enough and he devoted himself for over two years to meticulously studying the Bible.
Continue reading “Convicted with Truth-John Knox (1514-1572)”
D. L. Moody (1837-1899)
Dwight Lyman Moody has been described by Warren Wiersbe as possibly the most remarkable Christian layman America has produced.[1] He was a pioneer in evangelism and thought outside the box when it came to reaching the lost. His legacy and vision can be seen through history in the lives of evangelists such as Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and now today Greg Laurie.
He never was ordained nor did he ever have any formal pastoral training. Yet, he was willing to learn and seek counsel from men who were formally trained. God would use a man with very little education to become an administrator over an educational facility, Moody Bible Institute. God would use a man who was not formally ordained or trained to reach a whole generation. God would use a man who came from an unknown family to leave a legacy in so many lives of other men.
Continue reading “D. L. Moody (1837-1899)”
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
I was first introduced to C.S. Lewis not by reading the Chronicles of Narnia, but by reading Mere Christianity as a college student. I received a copy of Mere Christianity from a friend who loved Lewis and was flabbergasted that I was ignorant of this great literary giant. You may be thinking how I could go so long without reading Lewis. I know, I can’t believe it myself either! I didn’t know the riches that would come through reading Lewis. Yes, there are some of his writings that I must take great pains to read and re-read and contemplate over and honestly some still goes over my head. I believe this shows the vastness of Lewis’ abilities as a writer. Though Lewis and his intellect far surpassed anything that I was familiar with at the time, I was intrigued with his use of words to convey deep truths. Lewis, who is so influential today, has had many people look to him for insight and inspiration. His accomplishments cover children’s literature, satire, poetry, apologetics, and Christian living. He is probably one of the most quoted authors today. He is well-read and well-known in so many circles that even secular universities have C. S. Lewis classes where they discuss his writings.
Continue reading “C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)”
Jim Elliot (1927-1956)
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose,” wrote Jim Elliot as a college student in his journal in 1949. These words were deeply seated in his heart. He did not just write a pithy phrase; he believed what he wrote and was willing to live and die by these words. These same words have also encouraged and inspired so many other men and women for the cause of Christ.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
Jim Elliot lived to be 28 years old, a life the world would call short-lived and wasted. That would be farthest from the truth. Jim Elliot’s life, though short, was not wasted. God, who directed Jim every step of the way, would direct him to serve the people in Ecuador. God directed Jim and fellow missionaries in taking the dangerous journey to a native Indian tribe that had the potential to be violent. They boarded a plane and landed on a beach head to make contact with this Indian group. It was the end of Jim’s life as he and the fellow missionaries, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian, were killed at the hands of the Huaorani people of Ecuador, whom they went to win for Christ. It may have been the end of their life on earth but it was the beginning of God’s grace and outpouring on that people group.
The world called it a nightmare, a tragedy, wasted life, but what the world did not know was that through tragedy, God does great and mighty things. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, who would share Jim’s story with the world, said, “To the world at large this was a sad waste of five young lives. But…the Auca story…during all the years since as I have recounted it…has pointed to one thing: God is God. If He is God, He is worthy of my worship and my service. I will find rest nowhere but in His will, and that will is infinitely, immeasurably, unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.” Through Jim’s death and Elisabeth’s faithfulness despite tragedy, God would use Elisabeth Elliot to minister to the same tribe that killed her husband. The murderous tribe would become a tribe of forgiven men and women who looked to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Jim Elliot is a world changer as he shows us God uses those who are willing to be spent for Him. Jesus said, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25 ESV).” He was willing to lose it.
Jim Elliot was born in 1927 in Portland, Oregon, in a God-fearing family. He, at a young age, desired to follow Christ and live for Him. Where we see a lot of spiritual development is when he went to college.
Within the first two years at Wheaton College is when he realized that he was called to be a missionary. The Great Commission was directed at him. His black journal that he would carry around in college, which later would be found on the beach of the Curaray River where his body was found, was filled with sermon notes in different languages such as Spanish, English, and Quechua. He had notes on the Auca language, and several pages of mission statistics. It contained several hundred names of people that Jim was praying for and he even had a recipe on how to make a bar of soap as if he was preparing for the pioneer life of mission work.[1]
This was a commitment that he was willing to stick with. He was so passionate about mission work that he hitchhiked during one of his summers to Mexico to visit a friend’s parents who were missionaries. There he was amazed and in love with mission work. This confirmed his calling by the Lord.
Jim would graduate from college, where he took the time to prepare for the mission field of Ecuador. He was not idle and spent his time preparing properly.
The story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot is quite remarkable and could be another article in and of itself. They met in college and were quite good friends. Yes, Jim was interested in her but he took his time to know what exactly was the will of the Lord for their relationship. They both had the same desire: to reach the lost in Ecuador. They would eventually be married in Ecuador where the Lord directed both of them serve.
He had a strong focus on his calling.
Jim Elliot was very mature for his age and what helped in his maturity was his focus and confidence in his calling. Jim would write in his journal,
“Men who live and never understand what they were created for may be said indeed to be ‘dead,’ As the Scriptures say, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’”[2]
This means the decisions of what classes and even his extracurricular classes were made with this objective view in mind. He would have this single-focus vision as he spent his free time and studied Scripture and prepared his body for mission work.
We can learn how important it is to have a strong focus in our lives. We can easily get distracted from the things of this world. He wrote how important it is to have quietness to help with determined focus.
“‘And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17).’ ‘In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.’ I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds.…But he will not allow quietness. For he believes Isaiah where we do not. Satan is quite aware of the power of silence. The voice of God, though persistent, is soft.”[3]
It is easy to get distracted with the busyness of this world. If the devil can’t have you, he will distract you. Christians should have a singular focus, and that is making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Obedience is costly.
At age 20, he said somewhat prophetically, “I seek not a long life but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.”[4] He may not have known that the Lord would call him home at the age of 28, but he did desire to live a full and faithful life to the Lord.
He knew in Scripture it shares that obedience to follow after Christ can be costly, but it is worth it. He would write out 2 Timothy 2:4: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”[5]
Jim Elliot is a world changer as he was willing to count the cost and take the risk, which cost him his life, to seek the lost and share Jesus with them. Through his death and the death of his fellow missionaries, we see that God did not waste their deaths. Many were saved by faith through God’s grace. We may not even know the extent of their impact as their story continues to be shared to the world. May we be like Jim and say, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
[1] Elliot, Elisabeth. Shadow of the Almighty. Pg. 54
[2] IBID. Pg. 182
[3] IBID. Pg. 112-113
David Brainerd (1718-1747)
A Life Pursuing Holiness
What our world needs today is not to see more gimmicks or even a good production to appease the masses. They need to see a sincere desire of the pursuit of God. This is the pursuit of holiness and it is attractive when it is genuine. We need more men and women who desire to please God and let that be their example instead of something flashy or what looks good on the screen, such as celebrity Christianity. We need the example of men and women who desire purity and who are displaying what it looks like to be the bride of Christ, to be set apart from the world. We need the example of what it looks like to hate sin and to love God.
Continue reading “David Brainerd (1718-1747)”
World Changer Wednesday: George Muller (1805-1898)
God’s Faithfulness on Display
I am always amazed at the type of people God uses to accomplish His will. He uses people you would not always choose. If you were picking people for a team to be used by God, George Muller would probably be the last one picked, yet God, who is sovereign, makes beautiful things out of the mud and knew that Muller would be the man that God would use to save upwards of 10,000 children abandoned in England.
George Muller was born in Prussia, modern-day Germany, in 1805. He was a student of divinity. Though he knew about God, he did not know the things of God. He may have known somewhat of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, but the gospel did not permeate his heart. He knew nothing of the saving grace of God.
Continue reading “World Changer Wednesday: George Muller (1805-1898)”
World Changer Wednesday: Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
I am reminded of the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). These are the reflection of Jesus Christ. We are to reflect Jesus in all things, and that is also in the fruit of the Spirit.
Not everyone may be familiar with Amy Carmichael or her writings but she is a world changer. There is a sweet vault of wealth that comes from the writings of Amy Carmichael. You read the spiritual riches that she possessed that came from her heart that was joined to Christ. Amy Carmichael is a world changer as she served the country of India by bringing the message of salvation to a dark place.
Amy served India for over 55 years, opening an orphanage and founding a mission in Dohnavur. She was a prolific writer, which includes many books of poetry, her testimony of the mission work, her biography, and devotionals.
My first hearing of Amy Carmichael was as a child in school. The story goes that Amy, who is the oldest of seven siblings, was born with brown eyes but wished she had blue eyes like her brother. She would often pinch his cheeks to make the blue in his eyes stand out. As an adult, she realized that God gave her brown eyes to help her gain more acceptance in India. I don’t know if this story is true. I couldn’t find a credible source either way, but she knew God had molded her and created her to be a vessel in India.
Amy was born in a small village in Ireland in 1867. She was raised in a God-fearing family. God equipped Amy with a strong personality. She left Scotland as she was accepted by the Japanese Evangelist Board, and sailed to Japan in March 1893. Once she entered Japan, she wasted no time going throughout the streets with a translator sharing Jesus Christ. She wore the native dress.
She entered India in 1895, where she remained until her death in 1951. Though her original goal in going to India was not to start an orphanage, God directed her steps. It started when a seven-year-old girl, Preena, came running to Amy to be rescued. Rescued from what? Her family was going to sell her to the temple where she would become a temple prostitute. Though dark, this was the custom in India and Amy would make her aim in caring for the children that were to be forced in this life. She would wear the dress of the culture, and dye her skin with coffee to make her skin darker in appearance to be accepted.
By 1904, seventeen children were under her care. It would continually grow. Amy soon was called “Amma,” which in Tamul means mother. At the mission, her job was to be a nurse to those who were sick, to teach the children the basics, and raise them up in the ways of the Lord. Though Amy never married or had children, God gave her many children to raise as her own. Through Amy’s life, she was able to help thousands of children and to this day, the Dohnavur Fellowship continues.
In 1931, she suffered a serious fall, which would change her daily life. Though not completely bedridden, she was very limited in mobility. She would never recover from this injury, and had another serious fall in 1948. This fall resulted in her being bedridden for the remainder of her life until the Lord brought her home. Through this season in her life, she wrote more than 13 books, which shows her diversity and knowledge.
Her Impact:
You may not be familiar with Amy Carmichael but once you read some of her writings it doesn’t take long to see her impact. Elizabeth Elliot, greatly impacted by Amy Carmichael, said, “With the exception of my parents, there is no one who has more deeply influenced my spiritual life than Amy Carmichael.”
Amy is known to have said, “Nothing is important but that which is eternal.” She lived by that mindset by counting the cost, leaving her home, and living in an unfamiliar place where should would be an example of Christ to them.
Amy never solicited funds from anyone. She never left India and never sought financial help. Amy was encouraged by the way George Muller trusted God for His provisions of the thousands of orphans that were under his care, and she had the same mindset with the ministry God entrusted to her. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” That was her motivation.
She had a mindset of prayer and had this motto with everyone who served in the mission:
1) We don’t need to explain to our Father things that are known to Him.
2) We don’t need to press Him as if we had to deal with an unwilling God.
3) We don’t need to suggest to Him what to do, for He Himself knows what to do.[1]
Amy not only left an impact with the thousands of children she rescued and freed from temple prostitution, but left a greater impact through the power of the gospel as many lives were changed forever.
She was in a dark land that was in the clutches of Satan, but we know God is in control and is greater. We must remind ourselves that when it may seem the darkest, light shines the brightest. God has called His church to infiltrate, and that is exactly what Amy did with her life.
She Teaches Us the Importance of Being Steadfast Until the Very End:
It would have been understandable for Amy to go back home to Scotland with her family at any point in her life, but she resolved in her heart that India was her home. I am reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy in his last letter to his son in the faith. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV).
In one of Amy’s poems, she so eloquently portrays her steadfastness by saying:
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.[2]
Amy Carmichael is a world changer. As you read about her life, may it be a fan to your flame of faith as you serve the Lord.
Shadow and shine art Thou,
Dear Lord, to me;
Pillar of cloud and fire,
I follow Thee.
What though the way be long,
In Thee my heart is strong,
Thou art my joy, and song —
Praise, praise to Thee.[3]
[1] Wiersbe, Warren. 10 Christians Every Christian Should Know. Pg. 90.
[2] Murray, Iain H. Amy Carmichael: Beauty For Ashes. Pg. 26
Continue reading “World Changer Wednesday: Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)”
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Ruth Wagner
Ruth K. Brinser Wagner, 101, formerly from Lancaster, has spent the last 20+ years as a resident of Frey Village Retirement Community in Middletown. She has been welcomed home by the Lord on Friday, July 22, 2016.
Ruth was born on 06-05-1915 to the late Josiah and Mary (King) Brinser in rural Middletown and married her adoring husband John “Fred” Wagner, also born in Middletown, who has been patiently waiting for her to join him since 1996.
She spent much of her life as a shoe clerk at Garvin’s Department Store in Lancaster, and her whole life loving and spoiling her nieces and nephews and all their children.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by five siblings.
Ruth is survived by three nieces, Dolly Messick Baum, wife of Clair of Elizabethtown, Patricia Rudy Miller, wife of Paul of Harrisburg, and Donna Kaylor Moore, wife of William of Elizabethtown; and one nephew Jay E. Epler and his wife Wilma of Middletown.
In addition, Ruth has 12 grandnieces and nephews, 19 great-grandnieces and nephews, and nine great-great-grandnieces and nephews.
She and “Fred” were devoted members of the Trinity E. C. Church of Lancaster until moving to Frey Village in the 1990s. She will be missed by a former longtime neighbor who loved her as “Wag,” and many, many other people whose lives she has touched on her journey through life.
A tribute to Ruth’s life will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 260 East Main St., Middletown, PA 17057, with the Rev. Donald Walters officiating. There will be a viewing from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service on Thursday.
Interment will be at Hillsdale Cemetery, Middletown.
Condolences may be sent online to www.matinchekfuneralhome.com.
Mildred M. Blouch
Theresa M. Novak
Michael P. Sabol
Vale A. Rebok
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Principal Real Estate Europe was formed through the acquisition of INTERNOS Global Investors by the Principal Financial Group in 2018.
INTERNOS was founded by Jos Short and Andrew Thornton in May 2008. Both have a strong track record in international real estate investment having previously held senior positions with Pramerica and Invesco respectively. The Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008 was the backdrop to the first year of the Company during which it had recruited the nucleus of a strong executive team..
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INTERNOS was founded by Jos Short and Andrew Thornton in May 2008. Both had been top managers in international real estate investment for large American corporations for some time – Pramerica and Invesco respectively. The Lehmann Brothers collapse in 2008 was the backdrop to the first year of the Company during which it had recruited the nucleus of a strong executive team.
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Andrew Thornton, together with Jos Short, founded INTERNOS Global Investors (now Principal Real Estate Europe) in 2008. As CEO, Andrew is responsible for driving forward the business and delivering performance from our funds under management. Andrew has led key business initiatives including the acquisition of GPT Halverton and CommerzReal Spezialfonds, securing manager replacement mandates and structuring fund transformations.
Previously, Andrew was one of the founders and ultimately Chief Operating Officer of Invesco Real Estate in Europe, a business formed in 1997 as Parkes and Company. From 1993 to 1996, with developer Lend Lease, he was involved in the viability study, site acquisition and eventual development of Bluewater, one of Europe’s leading shopping centres. He joined Lend Lease from Weatheralls where he valued, leased and transacted properties across England and Central London.
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Jos Short
Jos Short, together with Andrew Thornton, founded INTERNOS Global Investors (now Principal Real Estate Europe) in 2008. In 2009 they jointly led the acquisition from GPT, and subsequent integration into INTERNOS, of the Halverton real estate investment management business. From 2000 to 2007, Jos was CEO of Pramerica’s real estate private equity business, where he founded four funds, the last of which raised $700 million of equity. These funds were involved in many noteworthy real estate transactions across Europe and included important pioneering and performing investments in counter-cyclical assets such as self storage and senior housing.
From 1998 to 2000 Jos was with Lazard Bros initially as head of the 18 man property division running three funds. Disposing of this business for Lazards, he went on to run their M&A unit in European real estate. From 1991 to 1998 with Barings, he became head of the team responsible for securitisations, banking and corporate finance for European real estate clients.
From 1986 to 1991 with SG Warburg, he was first responsible for capital markets, bond issues, commercial paper and MTN programs for Japanese subsidiaries in Europe and in his last three years, in the real estate team, for devising structured banking and bond issues for the UK property sector. He joined Warburg’s from American National Bank and Trust Co of Chicago.
Jos has a degree in banking and finance from Loughborough University of Technology and is a member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers.
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TAGS: permaculture, organic gardening, bill mollison, gaia's garden, toby hemenway, pemaculture,
more links, more links, more links
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Green Investing
S E R V I C E
O R G A N I Z A T I O N S
Overview | Online Videos | Books & Media | Web Resources
What are Service Organizations?
You've seen them on TV, or read about them in the newspapers -- these are the people on the frontlines providing food, shelter, and support where it's most needed around the globe.
Many people have adopted a practice of contributing a set percentage of the income (typically 5 to 10%) to worth-while charities and projects.
Why it's so important...
So many of us yearn to make a difference in the world, but tend to get caught-up in the many details of our day-to-day lives.
By contributing a small percentage of our monthly income to projects and organizations that are actively contributing to the greater good, we expand our own sphere of influence, as well as fostering a sense of well-being and self-esteem.
How do I learn more?
In the websites section of this site are listed a number of organizations that have a solid track record of utilitizing their contributed funds into effective action in the world. Also take a look at the videos section for a first-hand glimpse of what these organizations are up to.
In the books section, I've listed a number of books that discuss clear ways to transform your contributions into effective service.
And, of course, volunteering for these organizations can often be the best contribution you can make. Each of the organizations listed in the websites section have chapters all of the world and are contantly looking for volunteers.
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Survivors of abuse often get embroiled in justice system
/ Criminal Justice
/ agenda, AVA, domestic abuse
National Commission finds victims & survivors of domestic abuse often wrongly dragged into the justice system.
Last month, I blogged on an important piece of peer research by women with lived experience of surviving violence published by the charities AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) and Agenda, the alliance for Women and Girls at Risk. The research laid bare the challenges facing survivors of violence and was a key part of the evidence submitted to the National Commission on domestic and sexual violence and multiple disadvantage which published its full report on 27 February.
Today’s post focuses on the findings of that report relating to the criminal justice system.
The criminal justice system was a common point of contact for women who have faced abuse, violence and multiple disadvantage, with evidence indicating that the impact of shrinking resources in housing, mental health, substance use and domestic and sexual violence services has led to more survivors becoming embroiled in the criminal justice system as a result of offending – much of which was far less serious than the crimes they had been the victims of.
Women’s experiences of violence, abuse and coercion were rarely recognised as drivers of offending, the Commission heard. Evidence shows that women facing multiple disadvantage are frequently seen as less credible by the police.
For example, when alcohol is involved in a domestic violence incident, the police are more likely to arrest both parties even if no counter allegation has been made against the woman. In these instances, women are seen as criminals, rather than as victims. It is also of note that those from BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) communities are significantly more likely to be arrested than those who are not.
Women said that more should be done to redesign the system to respond to women as victims first and offenders second, supporting women to elicit disclosures of abuse and to support those who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse, understanding the connections this has had with their offending behaviour.
There is a growing body of evidence that strengths-based approaches can be particularly effective in supporting women in the criminal justice system.
The Commission heard that survivors of domestic and sexual violence frequently face difficulties when involved in the criminal justice system, particularly due to the lack of knowledge about these experiences in the courts amongst magistrates and judges. This includes expectations about how victims should look, sound and behave, with women facing multiple disadvantage experience additional barriers related to assumptions about their credibility.
Evidence shows that women regularly have their mental health, use of alcohol and sexual history analysed as a way to undermine their legitimacy when in court, and are regularly let down by the justice process.
There is some hope emerging, as a number of Police and Crime Commissioners have prioritised the development of a multi agency response to domestic abuse. An analysis of Police and Crime Commissioners’ plans found that 95 per cent of them had identified domestic abuse as a priority, 95 per cent had identified mental health and 88 per cent had identified substance use as the key vulnerabilities in their areas.
An example of good practice is the Domestic Abuse Whole Systems Approach lead by Northumbria PCC summarised below:
Much of the success in reducing domestic and sexual abuse in Northumbria has been down to working in partnership with local authorities, groups, individuals and organisations . . . Working with our partners is crucial in providing the necessary support and we have domestic violence workers accompanying police officers on patrols to ensure that this engagement with victims happens at the earliest opportunity .. . Recently, the force has taken the lead on a government funded, multi-force transformation project which aims to provide a better service to victims and brings agencies together.
Lack of funding hits domestic abuse services The hidden hurt of violence against women Survivors of multiple disadvantage give their views on services Seeking help for domestic abuse Domestic abuse and change resistant drinkers
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Reading Watchmen
A year-long journey examining, analyzing, and discussing Alan Moore's & Dave Gibbons's seminal graphic novel, Watchmen, in order to better appreciate this groundbreaking book.
A Mission Statement & A Caveat
Watchmen: Chapter VI - complete annotations
CHAPTER VI:
THE ABYSS GAZES ALSO
A quick note: The characters of Walter Kovacs and his alter-ego Rorschach are two very distinct people in the hands of Moore & Gibbons. With that in mind, the text that follows distinguishes between each depending upon which character is seen in a particular panel (physically, not psychologically). I had initially considered identifying the character according to his personal timeline within the greater narrative of Watchmen, but felt that would be far too confusing – for myself as much as anyone. I hope the fact that I move from Rorschach to Kovacs and back does not affect the response I hoped to avoid.
Thematic Overview:
Chapter VI of Watchmen opens with an image of a Rorschach blot. Appropriate, as this chapter delves into the mind of Walter Kovacs laying bare the experiences that formed his alter-ego, Rorschach. Additionally, this Rorschach blot is described by Kovacs on Page 1, panel 8 as “a pretty butterfly,” which elegantly illustrates the main theme of this chapter – metamorphosis. In this chapter we finally discover, through flashbacks, the events that transformed Walter Kovacs into Rorschach concomitant the present-day narrative that details the metamorphosis of Dr. Malcolm Long from the upbeat psychiatrist treating Kovacs to a person more akin to his infamous patient than he could have ever imagined.
It seems inevitable that Kovacs, an unloved and abused boy, should have become the hardened, uncompromising vigilante Rorschach. His worldview, formed at an early age, spurred a need for a black and white world rather than the muddled, gray one in which we all live. As Rorschach, Kovacs meted out justice on the criminal underclass. But we learn Kovacs, in his guise of Rorschach, spent years as a “soft” crimefighter before alter-ego was truly born. And when Moore & Gibbons provide the final straw that sent Kovacs over the edge, it’s chilling – the culmination of a slow, steady metamorphosis into the scourge of the underworld introduced in the first chapter of Watchmen.
In order to help Kovacs, Dr. Long must fully understand what motivated his patient to become Rorschach. He expects a malady well within his ability to cure. But humans are complex, and Walter Kovacs is no exception. Probing further into the events that transformed Kovacs into Rorschach, Dr. Long falls deeper into the abyss and becomes more sympathetic toward his patient’s plight. With this fuller understanding of Kovacs/Rorschach, Dr. Long transforms into a person who sees the world through similarly tinted glasses to Rorschach. It’s an emotional descent into a personal hell that can be hard to watch and just as difficult to turn away from. These parallel metamorphoses occupy the narrative of this chapter through its twenty-eight pages, until the Rorschach blot metaphorically coalesces, as these two men become one.
Throughout the chapter, the butterfly image – most notably in the form of the Rorschach blot from the cover – acts as a harbinger, revealing itself during significant junctures in the narrative, turning points in one or the other character’s story. It is subtle but elegant in its simplicity, emphasizing the transformations these characters go through. And at the heart of this entire chapter is the realization that, given the right number of circumstances and the right amount of wrong turns, anyone could have become Rorschach. In the end, it just happened to be Walter Kovacs who answered the call.
Cover Image: This chapter focuses on Rorschach, or more precisely on his alter-ego, Walter Kovacs. So it is appropriate that the cover image be a close-up of a Rorschach blot. And, as with every cover image before, this is an extreme close-up view of the image found in the first panel on
Panel 2: Moore utilizes the caption box here to exhibit the true motivation for Dr. Malcolm Long’s decision to take on Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach, as a patient. He is in it for the money and fame that might come from a successful rehabilitation of Kovacs.
This is yet another example of Moore creating fully-realized and believable characters. The people in Watchmen are not the prim and proper cut-outs found in so many superhero comics. They are conflicted characters with varying degrees of both good and evil within themselves.
Panel 5: Dr. Long’s comment that “[he] could stare at [Kovacs] for hours … except that he stares back,” is a direct commentary on the title for this chapter, “The Abyss Gazes Also.” This title comes from a longer quote by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” This line foreshadows Dr. Long’s psychological journey through this chapter – i.e. in his attempt to rehabilitate Walter Kovacs/Rorschach, Dr. Long will come to view the world in the manner that Rorschach does and ultimately become more like his patient than he ever conceived possible.
Panel 7: Again, Moore & Gibbons utilize the strengths of the comic medium, juxtaposing the “unspoken” optimism expressed by Dr. Long’s voiceover in panel 2 with the grotesqueries found in Kovacs’s mind, and then subverting that in
Panel 8: as Kovacs gives Dr. Long the answer he knows the doctor wishes to hear.
This panel mirrors Panel 2, exactly two panels above it, as Kovacs builds his façade, just as Dr. Long did with his stated reasons for taking this case above.
Panel 5: The final line in this panel’s caption box, “How on Earth did [Kovacs] get like this,” foreshadows what this chapter will be about – the secret origin of Rorschach.
It is also worth noting that so far, Dr. Long has only addressed Rorschach as “Walter,” in an attempt to humanize him and have his patient focus on this “true” self rather than his Rorschach persona. This will be important later.
Panels 1-2: As with the previous Rorschach blot, this latest one that Dr. Long has provided Kovacs morphs directly into an image from Kovacs’s past. In this instance, the blot becomes the shadow of his mother and one of her “johns” shot against a yellow wall, mirroring the yellow background of the Rorschach blot card.
Panel 3: Interestingly, this silhouette, seen more clearly in this panel, mirrors the imagery of the Hiroshima lovers’ graffiti that we have seen in the streets of this New York City.
Panel 5: Young Walter Kovacs pleads with his Mom, apologizing to her for interrupting, while trying to explain that he “thought [the man] was hurting [her.]” We can see, even at this young age, that his sense of duty – violently manifested as Rorschach in his later years – was already in place.
Panel 8-9: And, in an appropriate use of symmetry, we see the shadow of young Kovacs being beaten by his mother morph back into the Rorschach blot he was looking at during the beginning of this flashback scene, transitioning us back into the present.
Panel 4: The shallow smile given by Kovacs in this panel (subtly rendered by Dave Gibbons) could be read by Dr. Long as an admonition that “there’s hope,” as the doctor professed in the previous panel. But, in reality, Kovacs is smiling at the absurdity of the doctor and his willingness to believe Kovacs’s fabrications in this therapy session.
Panel 5: Judging by Dr. Long’s response to Kovacs’s smile, it is possible he understands more fully what his patient is thinking. But, more likely, the doctor just finds the change in expression from this taciturn and intense fellow unsettling in and of itself.
Panel 2: The dog remark in this panel (“You got a dog? It’s [dead.]”) is rather ironic considering the scene on Pages 21-23 of this chapter involving Rorschach and the German shepherd already glimpsed on Page 1, panel 7.
Panel 6: The dialogue in this flashback panel: “…Talking to you, runt,” and “Yeah, whatsa matter? Ya deef or what?” is not only directed at the young Walter Kovacs in this panel, but is also referring to the somber, quiet manner in which the present-day Kovacs listens to all the epithets and threats hurled at him by the rest of the prison population in yet another example of Moore providing dialogue with multiple meanings.
Panel 1: The image of a young Walter Kovacs with an unidentified fruit smashed across his face is symbolic of the “face” he will adopt as Rorschach.
The overlapping word balloons – signifying the overlapping remarks being made toward Kovacs – mirrors the cacophony he experienced in prison on the facing page. However, in this scenario, the young Kovacs reacts differently than his older self.
Panels 7-8: This page showcases the turning point in Kovacs’s life – the point when he first fought back – and the way Gibbons draws these panels perfectly exemplifies that fact, the eerie, “animalistic” look in the boy’s eyes in panel 7 mirrored with the eyes of Rorschach in the close-up of panel 8, as we transition back to the present.
Panel 1: Note the coffee mug just visible off the left side of this panel. It shows half of an “A” and a “D,” which one must assume would represent the word “DAD,” giving us a bit more insight into Dr. Long’s life.
Panel 3: This early in the case Dr. Long is insistent that anyone discussing it – in this instance, his wife – not use the “fantasy personality” of Rorschach for his patient. Walter Kovacs is his patient, and losing sight of that could hamper any progress.
Panel 4: The remarks by Dr. Long’s wife in this panel foreshadow what will happen through the course of Dr. Long’s work with Kovacs/Rorschach, despite Dr. Long’s protests to the contrary.
The coffee mug is fully visible in this panel, and it does say “DAD.”
Also, the odd mobile hanging from the office ceiling – which is more evident in Panel 6 of this page – foreshadows the end of the series. The form of the mobile being closely related to the “squid” transported to New York by Ozymandias at the end, and symbolizes the threat hanging over everyone in this story.
Panel 5: In the background, on the wall, we see the shadows of Dr. Long and his wife, shadows that closely resemble the “Hiroshima lovers” spray-painted around the city, as seen in earlier chapters. The relationship to those silhouettes symbolizes and foreshadows the breakdown of the Long’s marriage, which we will observe through the course of this chapter.
Panel 6: The shadows of Dr. Long and his wife here, juxtaposed with the dialogue that Long feels he “can guide [Kovacs] out of [his psychosis],” along with his wife agreeing that “if anybody can, it’s you,” symbolizes how this case will not only make him a shadow of his former self, but it will also make their marriage a shadow of its former self.
Panel 7: Again, Dr. Long’s wife foreshadows what is coming for her husband. Her anxiety will be proved out.
Panel 9: Note the inkblot spreading from Dr. Long’s pen, which foreshadows the transformation Dr. Long will go through in this chapter – from the jovial contented man he and his wife discuss on this page, to someone more akin to Rorschach (symbolized by that inkblot).
Panel 2: Note the pill bottle in front of Dr. Long, which was not on the table during his first session with Kovacs. This will become an important piece of Dr. Long’s story as we progress through this chapter.
Panel 3: The “butterfly” Rorschach blot is on display at the top of Dr. Long’s pile of inkblots. Not just a symbol of Rorschach, the “butterfly” inkblot symbolizes the metamorphosis both of these characters go through in this chapter – Rorschach’s metamorphosis is observed through flashbacks, while Dr. Long’s metamorphosis happens in the story’s present.
Panel 6: In this panel, the pill bottle is fully visible, and we can see that it holds pain killers – probably similar to aspirin, but maybe a bit stronger – as evidenced by the name, “GOPAIN.”
Panel 2: Dr. Manhattan is indirectly responsible for the “birth” of Rorschach, thanks to the Dr. Manhattan fabric that would become his mask.
Panel 3: Note how the fluids in the dress almost form a face, symbolizing the face that Kovacs would make from this fabric for his alter-ego, Rorschach.
Also, the voiceover caption exhibits Rorschach’s most basic instinct, that there is no gray in the world, only black and white, only good and evil. This is the primary tenet of Rorschach and this fabric perfectly embodies that philosophy.
Panel 4: “When I had cut it enough, it didn’t look like a woman anymore,” reveals the deep psychological scars Kovacs has from the time he lived with his mother, and also exhibits a very real, and terrifying, personality trait within Kovacs/Rorschach.
Panel 5: This monologue by Kovacs is quickly getting to Dr. Long, as exhibited by his hands working to get the GOPAIN bottle open.
Panel 6: Here Moore brings in real-world events, not only to ground the story a bit more, but to more readily exemplify the horrors that man can perpetrate against one’s fellow man, which is what spurs Rorschach/Kovacs to action. By utilizing this event, Moore adds depth to Rorschach’s motivation and, in turn, makes it more real for those reading who are familiar with the case.
Panel 7: Kovacs’s remark, “Some of them even watched,” can be taken a number of ways – as a statement on humanity and its ugliness, as a reference to the “Watchmen,” or even as a statement on Dr. Long and how he could be described as a voyeur on his patients’ lives – in particular, on Kovacs, at this point in time – with the invasive questioning he utilizes to get at their basic problems.
It can also be seen as a reference to this chapter’s title, “The Abyss Gazes Also,” with those gazing down at the horror occurring beneath them seen, in Rorschach’s and others’ eyes, as becoming just as ugly and horrific as that which they witnessed, due to the fact that nobody tried to help.
Panel 9: As Kovacs relates the tipping point, at which time he took on “a face that [he] could bear to look at in the mirror,” one that did not exhibit the ugliness humanity hides behind with their benign countenances, we see that Dr. Long has finally gotten the cap off of the GOPAIN and is dropping two pills into his hand. With the “climax” of Kovacs’s story, Dr. Long is so overwhelmed that he needs those pain pills.
Panel 9: The dialogue: “‘You’ll find out.’ I wonder what [Kovacs] meant?” juxtaposed with the image of the “butterfly” Rorschach blot symbolizes, once more, the metamorphosis Dr. Long experiences throughout this issue. He will slowly come to be more like Rorschach, foreshadowed by Kovacs’s remark, “You’ll find out.”
Panel 5: Kovacs’s use of hot cooking fat – throwing it into the face of the inmate threatening him – mirrors the image of a young Kovacs having the fruit smashed into his face by the older boys from Page 7, Panel 1, even down to the coloring by John Higgins for the faces. Kovacs has come full circle.
Also, the burning fat is used as a visual transition into
Panel 1: and the boiling coffee that is making a similar splatter as the hot fat did when Kovacs thrust it in the face of the inmate.
Panel 2: One thing that is distinct about Kovacs/Rorschach is his perspective on things. Not only does he have a black and white view of the world, but he also seems to see all scenarios/experiences in a manner slightly askew to everyone else. The line in this panel: “None of you understand. I’m not locked up in here with you. You’re locked up in here with me,” exemplifies this very distinct perspective perfectly.
Also of note in this panel – Dr. Long now has two different kinds of pain killers he is using, as evidenced by the bottles of GOPAIN and PAIN AWAY in the foreground of the image.
And possibly the most important bit in this panel can be found in the first caption box where we see Dr. Long’s notes discussing “Rorschach” rather than Kovacs. It’s the first major sign that his will is starting to break down and the metamorphosis he undergoes has begun in earnest.
Panel 3: Dr. Long makes note of the error in calling his patient Rorschach instead of Kovacs – also pointing it out to the readers who may have missed it – but he does not see this slip for what it is, the first step down into the abyss.
Panel 4: Note that the dripping coffee in the coffee maker has formed a tiny butterfly, emphasizing his metamorphosis (evidenced by the juxtaposition with the captions: “Kovacs. Not Rorschach.”).
Panel 5: Note the clock on Dr. Long’s desk is at the familiar 5 to midnight that permeates this story, signifying the lack of time we all have left – and, more specifically, symbolizing the lack of time Dr. Long has to save his marriage, which shows the first signs of cracking in the following panels.
Panel 6: This crack in the Longs’ marriage begins here with Malcolm basically telling his wife he isn’t in the mood for sex – mirroring Rorschach’s aversion to women and sex – which comes as a result of Dr. Long’s obsession with his patient – mirroring Rorschach’s obsession with crime and criminals.
Panel 9: It’s interesting that Gibbons chose a down-shot here (or Moore, if this shot was in the script), as it feels more voyeuristic, since it is not from a “typical” angle, i.e. head-on. Juxtaposed with the repeat of Rorschach’s comment, “You’re in here with me,” makes it feel as if we are looking down on Dr. Long in his own personal cell. We also see that he is reaching for his painkillers again, and that the coffee pot is in the 5 to midnight position, again accentuating the sense of inevitability and doom that permeates this story. And this image transitions directly into
Panel 1: which is also an overhead scene, but back in the prison, as Dr. Long speaks with Kovacs.
As this scene opens, we see Dr. Long now slip verbally, almost calling his patient Rorschach, but catching himself before finishing the name. Also note, Dr. Long appears to have three bottles of pain killers before him on the table, the increase in his medication symbolizing the deeper he is sinking into the “abyss.”
Panel 3: The idea that when Kovacs first put on the mask of Rorschach he was still only, “Kovacs pretending to be Rorschach,” is a very interesting one. At this point, through the flashbacks, we will experience the metamorphosis of Kovacs into Rorschach.
Panel 6: Not only does Rorschach leave a calling card that is a Rorschach blot – the mirror image of a stylized ‘R” – but the criminals he “let live” in this image are also a near mirror image, a human Rorschach blot for the police to find.
Panel 4: Yet another image of a clock at 5 to midnight. Also, from this angle – in a flashback that we’ve seen before in Chapter II, Page 11 – we are able to verify that Captain Metropolis was indeed worried about “Black Unrest” as something for the Crimebusters to tackle.
Panel 6: Kovacs’s voiceover in this panel, particularly the lines that, “we do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to,” is related over imagery showcasing the illegality and suspicion the populace has toward “masks.” Specifically, we see the unfinished graffiti, Who Watches the Watchmen?, the news headline that the Keene Act has passed, outlawing masked vigilantes, and the sign that says: “Badges not Masks,” all of which are being ignored by Rorschach, who has turned his back on these cries against him as well as the person who was spray-painting the graffiti whom Rorschach obviously “worked over” to stop him from defacing the building.
Panel 5: Note, in the background, the edition of NOVA that included the exposé on Dr. Manhattan.
Panel 6: Only three days into his sessions with Kovacs – as evidenced by the dates of Dr. Long’s journal in the caption boxes – we see he has finished at least one of his bottles of painkillers.
Panel 7: Note the clock in the background is at the familiar 5 to midnight position, and that Dr. Long and his wife, Gloria, are back to back forming a reversal of the “Hiroshima lovers” graffiti, as seen in the previous panel, which is also a Rorschach blot. Dr. Long’s rather quick transition from taking his wife up on the offer of making love the first night after speaking to Kovacs to turning in early with no affection – as symbolized by their sleeping arrangement in this panel – is symbolic of Dr. Long’s metamorphosis into a person more like Rorschach, who has a strong distaste for women and sex, in general.
Panel 2: Kovacs’s reply to the question from Dr. Long, “How are you today?” is another example of his distinct perspective, as he answers, “In prison.”
Panel 3: Again, the “butterfly” Rorschach blot is here not only for the narrative, but it also accentuates the metamorphosis of these two men. In this next scene, Dr. Long will tumble even deeper into the abyss, while we, and the good doctor, will finally come to understand what it was that birthed Rorschach.
Panel 1: By utilizing this aerial view of the scene – a technique used rarely throughout this story – Gibbons puts the “butterfly” Rorschach blot at the center of the image, emphasizing the theme of metamorphosis that permeates this chapter.
Also note that the shadows of Dr. Long and Kovacs hearken back to the “Hiroshima lovers” we have seen spray painted on the edifices of this alternate version of New York City. This use of shadow could be seen to symbolize the ontological deaths of these two characters – which we will observe over the following pages and which will result in the true “birth” of Rorschach (in the flashback sequences) and the “birth” of a new Dr. Long more in line with Rorschach.
Panels 2-3: By closing in on the “butterfly” image, Moore & Gibbons accentuate the metamorphosis we are about to observe. And the use of this Rorschach blot allows for a smooth transition to
Panel 4: which has a close-up image of Rorschach and his “ink blot” mask, in flashback, when he was investigating the kidnapping he is recounting to Dr. Long in the present.
Also note how this scene, wherein we will finally see the true birth of the vigilante Rorschach that we have come to know in the present, mirrors Kovacs’s initial foray into vigilantism, as both “births” take place at a dressmaker’s.
Panel 6: That “knob of bone” over which the two dogs are fighting will become important shortly.
Panel 7: Again, Moore & Gibbons use similar imagery/actions – i.e. the kicking in of a door, dislodging the lock mechanism in the process – to create these very real characters. The attention to their actions, their body language, and the way they interact with others – and keeping that consistent throughout the book – helps ground this story in a manner not often seen in comic stories. Of course, it helps that Moore & Gibbons conceived this as a single narrative, forestalling the possibility of other writers and artists coming on and utilizing these “heroes” in manners that would be seen as out of character.
Also, it’s interesting to note that, despite his black-and-white view of the world, Rorschach still has a sense of irony, as evidenced by his description of his entrance: “Went in through front, like respectable visitor,” juxtaposed against the kicking in of the door.
Panel 8: Note the time-clock on the right of the image; its hands are near the familiar 5 to midnight position.
It is worth noting how rare it is for a writer, especially one who is prone to purple prose like Moore can be, to allow the images to tell the story. But it works perfectly here; everything we need to know is featured in these eighteen panels, and the realization of what happened to the young girl – as we close in on the two German shepherds fighting with what appears to be a leg bone – is shocking, and accentuated by the “look” on Rorschach’s face (a look of shock on his mask) and the coloring transition of panels 7-9 of Page 20 from orange with spots of red (specifically one of the dog’s eyes) to Rorschach bathed in red in that final panel.
And again, this scene where Rorschach quietly investigates the scene mirrors the scene from Chapter I when he investigated Blake’s death, accentuating the consistency of these characters.
Panel 5: Note how colorist, John Higgins, bathes the panel in red, signaling the killing blow that Rorschach is about to execute upon the German shepherds with the cleaver – which is the instant just before the image in PAGE 1, Panel 7 of this issue.
Panel 6: The image of the “butterfly” Rorschach blot in extreme close-up symbolizes the transformation from “playing Rorschach” to actually “being Rorschach” that Kovacs recounts in this and the following panel.
Panel 9: The Rorschach blot – now, even closer to “us” – fully bathed in red signals the death of the child molester at the hands of Rorschach.
Panel 1: Note that the street number for this dressmaker’s is 808 – a palindrome that is also a mirror image of itself when bisected, in the same manner that a Rorschach blot is a mirror of itself when bisected.
Panel 1: The use of a large panel – taking up the top tier usually reserved for panels 1-3 – magnifies the impact of this scene, and John Higgins’s use of reds, once again, heightens the drama and symbolizes not only the death of the dogs and the “death of Kovacs,” but it also foreshadows the death of this child molester, Grice.
Panel 5: It isn’t as vivid a shade of red in this panel, but again, Gibbons and Higgins utilize the space on the page and the hue of red to accentuate the tension of the scene.
Panel 4: The large stain of blood on Rorschach’s overcoat can be taken a number of ways. Obviously, it is a result of his killing of the German shepherds, but it also hearkens back to the spot of blood on the Comedian’s smiley-face button – an image that hangs over this entire story – and it could also be seen as the result of a blood ritual performed by Kovacs that transformed him into Rorschach – the unrepentant, unforgiving vigilante who is the scourge of this world’s underbelly and a thorn in the side of the police.
Panel 7: If there was any doubt about this man’s guilt, the fact that Grice voluntarily states he had nothing to do with the kidnapped little girl, even though Rorschach has said nothing to him and made no accusation to that effect, incriminates him fully.
Note: Again, Higgins utilizes various hues of red to accentuate this harrowing scene with Rorschach.
Panel 7: Rorschach stepping out of the dressmaker’s with the fire fully engaged behind him can be seen as a phoenix-like symbol, as this whole incident is the turning point where Kovacs transforms into Rorschach, reborn in an episode of blood and fire like the mythical Phoenix.
Panel 9: Again, the “butterfly” Rorschach blot is evident on the table, symbolizing the metamorphosis of Rorschach, as just recounted by Kovacs.
Panels 1-3: These three panels really hit home the “Phoenix” symbolism, as we watch the dressmaker’s go up in flames while Rorschach talks over the scene, commenting on how he felt “cleansed,” as if born anew in that instant.
Panel 4: Kovacs’s description of life here: “… has no pattern … save what we choose to impose,” is also an apt description of the Rorschach blot test, accentuated by the extreme close-up of the significant “butterfly” Rorschach blot in this panel.
It is worth noting that, within the personal timeline of Rorschach, it is this point in his career where he goes from being a “proactive” hero who tries to help people and forestall crime, to becoming a “reactive” anti-hero who metes out punishment on the guilty with little regard for much else. When he snapped, his agenda was flipped on its head, so to speak.
Panel 1: The man selling Rolex watches, who curses at Dr. Long, will be seen again. Having a watch seller in this panel is a call-back to Dr. Manhattan, who has been absent in these past two chapters, but could also be seen as a symbolic emphasis upon Rorschach’s thoughts on God – Rorschach says that “God [does not] kill the children … it’s us,” which falls in line with the Watchmaker theory of God, a divine being who created the world, set things in motion, and then stepped away to allow events to transpire of their own accord.
Panel 3: Once again, Moore & Gibbons infuse the narrative with irony and symbolism as they juxtapose the words – a recounting of what to do with dead family members in the case of a nuclear attack (they should be wrapped in plastic garbage bags and placed outside for collection) – with the pictures – that of the Hiroshima lovers graffiti (an image that reminds us of the devastation wrought by the United States nuclear attack on Japan during WWII) just behind a trash can, where the young boy reading the pirate comic at the newsstand is throwing away a mmmeltdowns wrapper.
The juxtaposition of a minor, disposable candy wrapper with the thought of doing the same to one’s family is ironic, while the use of the Hiroshima lovers graffiti accentuates the message of a nuclear holocaust that may be raining down on America any minute, within this alternate world – a literal meltdown.
And the image of the Hiroshima lovers facing one another as they embrace transitions directly into
Panel 4: where we have Dr. Long and his wife in a reversal of the graffiti, as they get dressed with their backs to each other. The curtains in the background, which separate directly between the couple, emphasize this symbolic “breaking” of their marriage.
Panel 7: Here we see the finalized metamorphosis of Dr. Long into someone akin to Rorschach. Asked a titillating and immature question, he does not shy away from the stated query and answers his dinner guests directly with simple statements that do not hide the true “black and white” nature of the incident. Typically, in such company, one might consider glossing over the facts because society expects that. But Dr. Long now sees the world in a manner similar to Rorschach and seems unable to do that.
Panel 2: The “crude sexual insults” toward Dr. Long from his wife mirrors the similarly crude insults we can infer Rorschach received in Chapter II, Page 25 as he cruised through the red light district and did not respond to the prostitute’s propositions, just as Dr. Long had stopped responding to his wife’s propositions. These two are now more alike than Dr. Long might like to admit.
Panel 3: Note that the pain killers Dr. Long has been taking have a typical warning at the bottom – “Caution: Do Not Exceed Stated Dose” – and from what we have seen throughout this issue, it is easy to assume Dr. Long has been regularly exceeding the stated dose.
Panel 5: Dr. Long’s description of what he sees in this “butterfly” Rorschach blot is evidence of the transformation he has undergone in this chapter, a transformation symbolized by the presence of this “butterfly” blot.
The grubs he describes in the caption, “frantically tunneling away from the light,” are symbolic of the populace at large, and of Randy and Diane and his wife, specifically. They were the ones who asked him about “weird” and “kinky” things that Rorschach may have shared with him, but when Dr. Long revealed the truth of what Rorschach told him, with the all too real horrors inherent with the story, they were reviled by it and pulled away, just as the grubs did in the dead cat Dr. Long saw so long ago.
Panel 8: And we fall, along with Dr. Long, into the dark abyss that has been gazing back at him, and us, throughout this entire chapter.
The Back-matter:
As with the past few chapters, Moore again offers up a very different text pieces as a means to flesh out this chapter’s narrative. With Chapter VI focusing on Dr. Malcolm Long’s attempt to rehabilitate Walter Kovacs (Rorschach), it is only fitting that we should get a glimpse into the file Long had on his infamous patient. We get the police report, a summary of Kovacs’s life from the New York State Psychiatric Hospital, two essays – with accompanying artwork – from Kovacs’s time at boarding school, a photo of a young Kovacs, and a note from Dr. Long expressing his enthusiasm to commence his work with Kovacs. These shreds of Kovacs’s personal history, like the moments chosen in the main narrative by Moore & Gibbons, provide, when combined, a relatively broad view of Kovacs.
Most of what is found on these few pages speaks for itself, recounting – and in some instances expanding slightly – events already seen in the main chapters of the story. But there are a few things of note that can be taken away from these documents. The essay title, “Dream 5/27/63” and the accompanying artwork emphasize how scarred Kovacs was by his mother’s prostitution. The second essay, “My Parents,” provides better insight into Kovacs’s fixation with President Truman – attributing it to his father, as recounted by his mother. Of course, realizing that President Truman did not take office until a few years after Walter’s father had already left, one must question his mother’s motivation for sharing such a fallacy with her son. She could have been confusing Kovacs’s father with one of her johns, or it might have been fabricated on a drunken whim. You can draw your own conclusions as to that, but it’s these little pieces of humanity (even the sadder parts of humanity) that add depth to even the most minor characters in this story. And the police report provides the names of the detectives working this case, Detectives Fine and Bourquin, who have gone nameless up to this point.
Perhaps most interesting, though, is the name of the boarding school Kovacs attended, as noted on the letterhead of the stationary used for his essays. The Charlton House. Originally, the story that became Watchmen was initiated by Moore as a treatment for the Charlton characters DC had recently acquired – characters such as Blue Beetle, Nightshade, and the Question. But when DC editorial realized how radical Moore’s story was going to be, they balked at utilizing the Charlton heroes. So Moore & Gibbons were free to create their own characters for this story. The letterhead on this stationary is a recognition of that.
Posted by Chris Beckett at 11:00 AM
Labels: Alan Moore, annotations, Chapter 6, chrisbeckett, complete annotations, Dave Gibbons, Watchmen, Who Watches the Watchmen?
William Hamberlin July 20, 2014 at 8:47 PM
I still have trouble with Rorschach's obsession with Truman. Ozymandias’s scheme is essentially the exact same as Truman’s but on a larger scale. Instead of killing thousands to save millions, Ozymandias kills millions in order to save billions. However, Rorschach is the only person who refuses to keep the plan a secret. Does that make Rorschach’s admiration of Truman out of character or his refusal to keep Ozymandias’s plot a secret out of character?
Gabriel Grinsteiner May 12, 2015 at 12:09 AM
Good point! Rorschach seems to believe that his father (who is his nonpresent antithesis to the traumas he experiences during childhood) is associated intimately with Truman and his country. This explains his referring to both individuals as great (or a similar adjective, I don't recall) men, as well as his defense of the Comedian. However, your question may still be valid; is Rorschach's treatment of perhaps innocent bar patrons not similar to Veidt's utilitarianism? Note: These cases may suggest that Kovacs is not as self aware as his intelligence might suggest. This humanness of Watchmen's characters is referred to in the description of Dr. Long's motivations above.
Diego ernesto August 6, 2017 at 6:03 PM
That is the first sign something is wrong with rosh, he go out is way to pretty much blame her mother of everything in her childhood as the idea of his father living him, this put something clear in his mind: is about pushing evil rather than protect good ones.
email address: cmbeckett1972@gmail.com
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
If you have not read Watchmen, be warned that – as this site delves into the symbolism, use of foreshadowing, and meaning of the book – spoilers abound. In fact, the annotation for the very first page, as included here, reveals the identity of who murdered Edward Blake. This site is meant to enrich one’s reading experience of Watchmen, but I would certainly not wish to spoil that for anyone.
"One reason it might be nice for critics to take a look back at the original book [Watchmen] right now is that despite claims to the contrary, these new works [Before Watchmen] will for most audiences have some sort of impact on the original -- if only by providing narrative detail on story events from the original whose power derives in part from their ambiguity, a filling-in-the-blanks that will be hard to shake."
-Tom Spurgeon at the Comics Reporter
Chris Beckett
Full Chapter Annotations
Comic Geek Speak - Footnotes on Watchmen
Watchmen Annotations - by Doug Atkinson
A sister site dedicated to my comics & prose writing
Alan Moore (361) analysis (9) annotations (31) Back-matter (9) CGS (1) Chapter 1 (29) Chapter 2 (31) chrisbeckett (356) Comic Geek Speak (1) complete annotations (12) cover image (13) Dave Gibbons (358) Jim Dietz (1) Legion of Dudes (2) LOD (2) podcasts (2) thematic overview (14) Watchmen (359) Who Watches the Watchmen? (216)
Watchmen: Chapter VI - the Back-Matter
Watchmen: Chapter VI - page 28
Watchmen: Chapter VI - pages 19-20
Watchmen: Chapter VI - page 9
Watchmen: Chapter VI - cover image + page 1
Watchmen: Chapter VI - thematic overview
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Date published: June 17, 2016
PhD student jets off to Bermuda to measure effect of captivity
When it comes to plans for the summer, student Luiza Passos’s schedule might take some beating!
After a fascinating week at Chester Zoo getting up close and personal with the reptiles, the PhD student is jetting off to Bermuda, where she will spend three weeks on a tropical island nature reserve, before heading off to China to present her research findings.
Out-of-bounds to tourists, tiny Nonsuch Island on Bermuda’s southern tip is one of the world’s undiscovered nature reserves and as near to paradise as you can imagine.
“It’s going to be unbelievable,” exudes the 30-year-old. “I choose to study in Salford just for these types of opportunities and I can’t wait.”
Luiza, from Belo Horizonte in Brazil, is working towards her Doctorate in Wildlife Conversation and is fascinated by lizards, frogs and other vertebrates.
Nonsuch Island is known for its endangered seabird – the Cahow – but also is a haven for the Jamaican Anoles Lizard, a popular reptile in zoos for its beautiful bluish green and purple colouring and, according to Luiza “easy to catch!”
“I will trap and observe these lizards and then release them after taking note of a number of factors – colour, hormone levels, communication behaviour and other things. I will then compare these characteristics to our observations of the very same species in Chester Zoo.
“We want to know more about what happens to animals in captivity, what changes they undergo and how that may affect their chances of survival on release back into the wild.”
For instance, it is thought diet in captivity could affect colouration and in turn impact on a specimen’s ability to mate.
Professor Robert Young, Luiza’s supervisor and the reason she came to study at Salford said the partnership with Chester Zoo and the Bermudan authorities offered life-changing opportunities for his research students.
“Trips like Luiza’s come about through years of building contacts around the world, including the Science Without Borders scheme (with the Brazilian government) which has enabled seven young researchers to come to Salford and benefit from these experiences.”
Luiza will present her findings from Chester Zoo and Bermuda at the International World Congress of Herpetology in Hangzhou, China (15-21 August).
Luiza will be providing regular updates throughout her trip which we will be sharing via the University’s social media channels on Twitter @salforduni and @salfordscience – follow to keep up with her adventure.
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Latest News - Breeding and the Scottish wildcat studbook: update from RZSS cat conservation officer, David Barclay
Breeding and the Scottish wildcat studbook: update from RZSS cat conservation officer, David Barclay
As the winter draws nearer in the Highlands of Scotland and the warm summer mornings are replaced with a frosty chill, we enter a key part of the year for Scottish Wildcat Action. Not only will monitoring and trapping efforts become more intensive, but come January and February the breeding season for wildcats will be upon us. This of course plays a big part in the conservation breeding programme.
Ensuring that valuable pairs of wildcats are together in time will increase the chances of wildcat kittens come early spring. One significant development that took place over the summer was that I took over the coordination of the European studbook for the Scottish wildcat. This puts us in a position to manage the UK population of captive Scottish wildcats in a way that preserves the best genetic diversity within the population. To do this I work closely with our geneticists at RZSS’s Wildgenes lab at the Zoo, who are analysing genetic samples to determine whether animals are pure wildcats or a mixture of wildcat and domestic cat. Using these modern scientific techniques gives us the best chance of finding suitable wildcats that will act as the foundation for a robust and viable captive population, which in turn can be used for releases into the wild in the future.
As the number of landowners and private estates we are working with increases – and Scottish Wildcat Action’s presence across the north, east, south and west of Scotland continues to grow – it is clear to see that this ambitious and diverse approach to saving the Scottish wildcat is moving in the right direction.
It is also important to highlight that the work and support of Scottish Wildcat Action is not restricted to Scotland. To ensure that we give ourselves the best chance of saving the Scottish wildcat we have been collaborating with colleagues and organisations from across the world that specialise in cat conservation. These additional skills in global conservation management, post-release monitoring and conservation breeding coupled with their opinions and networks are vital to the long-term security of the species.
During September I attended the annual conference of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) in Wroclaw, Poland. During this conference of over 700 delegates, I was able to give presentations on Scottish Wildcat Action and our role with conservation breeding for release. This gave me the chance to promote the project and to raise the profile of this species. These presentations – given to the EAZA reintroduction and translocation group and the EAZA felid taxon advisory group – were not only well received but allowed other countries and projects to see what could be one of the first ‘models’ for small cat conservation and reintroduction. I have now had enquiries from colleagues in Taiwan and Sri Lanka regarding our work with Scottish Wildcat Action and how it could be a model project for their native threatened small cat species.
There will of course be challenges throughout the five year action plan, but this is the same for all conservation projects across the globe. Scottish Wildcat Action is the only national project for wildcat conservation but is also a statement that says we care enough about Scottish wildcats to do everything in our power to save them. As long as we prepare ourselves for future challenges and remember that the work we are doing is the best hope for Scottish wildcats then we can and will succeed.
This article was first published on 6th November on the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland blog
Scottish Wildcat Action is the first national project to save the highly endangered Scottish wildcat from extinction. It is a partnership involving over 20 organisations, including, Scottish Natural Heritage, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Cairngorms National Park Authority, Forestry Commission Scotland, National Museums Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Government, as well as its partners. See www.scottishwildcataction.org/how-you-can-help to get involved.
"Scottish wildcat kitten" by Alex Riddell/RZSS
This content was made possible by our Partners & Funders at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
By: David Barclay
David is the Cat Conservation Project Officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and manages the conservation breeding programme for Scottish Wildcat Action.
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ShulamitNazarian LosAngeles
ARTSY
616 N La Brea Avenue
info@shulamitnazarian.com
From Pangs to Pangolins:
Curated by Trenton Doyle Hancock
June 2 – July 14
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 2, 4-6pm
Exhibition walk-through with the curator on Saturday, June 2 at 4pm.
Artists: Christopher Chiappa, JooYoung Choi, Llyn Foulkes, Zoe Hawk, David Hockney, Cheyenne Julien, Mike Kelley, and Nathan Margoni
“The pangolin is an actual creature that seems to be the stuff of childhood myth. It bears a resemblance to an armadillo and a lizard, but is neither. It also seems to be prehistoric—a living fossil. I swear I’ve seen this creature attached to essays on dinosaurs. Maybe it’s a baby dragon-thing. Pangolins also would fit right in with descriptions of cryptids and other mythological beasts. The artists in this show are pangolins.”
-Trenton Doyle Hancock
Shulamit Nazarian is pleased to present From Pangs to Pangolins, a group exhibition curated by pioneering American artist Trenton Doyle Hancock. The exhibition’s title is partly derived from a misheard song lyric—growing pain vs. growing pang—and riffs on the way in which both phrases allude to the rigors and traumas of childhood.
From Pangs to Pangolins includes an intergenerational selection of artists, with works ranging from the early 1980s to present. Each artist explores the theme of adolescence and play (concepts central to Hancock’s own artistic practice), while drawing from a wealth of symbols and narratives from childhood’s various hard-fought rites of passage.
The works in the exhibition explore aspects of each artist’s own beginning—a productive, scary, magical time—and embrace this transformative period of development to engage with the anxious, out-of-place, dream-like spaces of childhood imagination, and the rhythms of their subsequent retracings.
About the curator:
For almost two decades, artist Trenton Doyle Hancock has been constructing his own fantastical narrative. Part fictional, part autobiographical, Hancock’s work pulls from personal experience, art historical canon, comics and superheroes, pulp fiction, and myriad pop-culture references, resulting in a complex amalgamation of characters and plots that possess universal concepts of good and evil, light and dark, and the gray area in between.
Hancock was featured in the 2000 and 2002 Whitney Biennial exhibitions. In 2014, his exhibition Skin & Bones: 20 Years of Drawing was presented at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, and traveled to Akron Art Museum; the Studio Museum in Harlem; and Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. His work has been the subject of one-person exhibitions at Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis; The Ringling Museum of Art; The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum; The Savannah College of Art and Design; The Weatherspoon Museum; The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami; Institute for Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania; Olympic Sculpture Park at the Seattle Art Museum; Fruitmarket Gallery; and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
In 2019, his work will be the subject of a solo exhibition, Mind of the Mound: Critical Mass at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts.
From Pangs to Pangolins, 2018, Shulamit Nazarian, Los Angeles
Zoe Hawk. Cassiopeia, 2018. Oil on board. 18 x 24 inches
Chris Chiappa. Composition #48, 2017. Plywood poplar and lacquer, 23 x 20 x 24 inches
Llyn Foulkes. He'll Always Be Here, 2017. Acrylic, photograph, wood stain and sourced media on wood panel, 52 1/16 x 42 1/2 x 2 1/8 inches
Nathan Margoni. No Fear, 2017. Acrylic on canvas, reflective material, felt, trash, 48 x 60 inches
Cheyenne Julien. Studio Visit, 2018. Ink on paper, 12 x 9 inches
David Hockney. Double Portrait, 2011. iPad drawing printed on paper, Edition of 25, 37 x 28 inches
JooYoung Choi. Journey Vision 5000 - Pangolorian Edition, 2018. Flat screen, plywood, digital video art files, acrylic paint, 24 x 25 x 6 ⅝ inches
Mike Kelley. Untitled (Man with Flute, drawn for Kappa, 1986, video by Bruce and Norman Yonemoto in collaboration with Mike Kelley), ca. 1983. Ink on paper, 17 x 11 inches
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International Women's Day: The Natural Power of Women
With this Thursday being International Women’s Day it couldn't be a more appropriate time to discuss the female heritage of Wing Tsun Kung Fu and its empowering methodology.
Typically martial arts requires females to act in a more masculine way (consciously or unconsciously), because they are attempting to match the male methods of frontal aggression and use of force (just think of boxing as an example). Not only is this disempowering, but it is also putting women at an inherent disadvantage. Wing Tsun, however, completely changed this paradigm, making it both desirable to act in a more natural feminine manner and, far more powerful to do so. The irony in modern Wing Tsun classes is that it is majority male, with a maximum of 30% women attending (and often far less). While I have trained numerous female teachers over the years, it still pales in relation to the number of males. Perhaps now is the time that this male dominance of the art will change. Time to reclaim this female heritage I feel…
The history of Wing Tsun is steeped in female influence. Not only is it named after a lady, Yim Wing Tsun, but there were actually 3 women involved in its creation. This is more profound than it may seem - no other martial art in the world was created by a female, let alone three.
What is less well known is that the heritage of the Shaolin Temple, where Wing Tsun came from, is based on the teachings of a female. Bodhidharma, who brought Zen (Chan in Chinese) into China and introduced the concept of enlightenment through physical movements, was taught by a female master called Prajñatara. It was through her insistence that Bodhidharma went to China, so from 520AD the Shaolin Temple had a strong female teaching at its heart. Fast forward 1,200 years and it is, therefore, no coincidence the last surviving heir of the Ming Dynasty, Princess Changping, choose the Shaolin Temple as her refuge. She was to become the nun Ng Mui, and begin the first chapter of Wing Tsun…
Wing Tsun’s effectiveness is renowned - from saving lives in self-defence to training military, police and Special Forces units throughout the world. What is less understood, however, is the reason why it is so potent. And it is a really simple reason… the fundamental female influence. While other martial arts talk about how to fight someone, Wing Tsun instead focuses on how to win. Although at first blush this seems similar, the approach is radically different.
Wing Tsun starts from the viewpoint that the opponent is always taller, faster, stronger, more powerful and highly skilled. If you are physically smaller and weaker you cannot afford to play the “Rocky” game of trading punches - that way you are guaranteed to lose (not to mention the potentially serious repercussions from repeated blows to the head). Realising this, the founders took a completely different strategy, knowing that the only real question to ask was ‘how can I win in the fastest, easiest manner?’.
The resulting answer was the creation of a ‘blueprint for success’, which allowed for each individual to apply the principles to any scenario or opponent. These principles were revolutionary, ditching all the previous religious and animal moves of the Shaolin and instead only focusing on natural body movements. Wing Tsun was all about harnessing the natural potential of the human being. Following the Zen wisdom, it taught you to first look at yourself, instead of worrying about another. It took away that fear and intimidation, replacing it with complete certainly.
These natural ways of winning created a whole new paradigm of martial arts methods. These included: using relaxed force to generate the maximum speed and power with the minimum effort; to never use blocks, only deflections, allowing the opponents force to be turned against them; to use simultaneous attacks and defence to increase speed and effectiveness; to move in close to surprise and shut down the opponents options; to only strike weak points; to use the shortest possible lines in defence and attack and; to make all strikes non-telegraphic, through utilising the elbow not the shoulder, so that the opponent can never see it coming.
It’s rare you find any of these in other martial arts, let alone all of these combined. When you truly understood these, you come to the realisation that whatever an opponent does can be utilised to your advantage. A powerful message indeed, and one that still resonates strongly today…
Finally, Wing Tsun also took the enlightened approach that fighting and physical force never wins in the long run - something, us males, have difficulty to make as our way of life. ‘Might is right’ has too long been the maximum that most physical arts (and indeed methods of management and strategy) have taken. It’s time to realise that winning and fighting are diametrically opposite. It is then you are finally presented with the beautiful paradox of Wing Tsun; you learn these sublime skills, and by doing so, you never have to use them…
Sifu
Fancy trying Wing Tsun for yourself?
Join our FREE Women's Only Wing Tsun Class
Si-Fu Julian Hitch March 7, 2018 women, women's day, international womens day, wing tsun
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CORE Blueprint Update
Lovely Sherman Oaks!
Jian BBQ
Carthay Circle Medians
LA Museum of the Holocaust
Proposed Cell Tower
AIDS Walk Los Angeles
A Tale of Two Erics
822 S. Robertson Blvd.
The 27th Annual Claude Pepper Day will be help Saturday, October 16, at the Claude Pepper Senior Citizen Center. Call (323) 938-7023 for details.
Bikur Cholim will hold a community blood drive to benefit Childrens Hospital at Yeshivat Yavneh on Sunday, October 17. Please make your appointment at wwww.bikurcholim.net or call (323) 852-1900.
The Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce will host the Sherman Oaks Street Fair on Sunday, October 17. Click HERE for details.
The National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles will present a free community event on Wednesday, October 20 about the prevention and prosecution of sexual predetors. Click HERE for details.
On Thursday, October 21, Los Angeles will participate in the Great California Shakeout, an emergency preparedness drill. Click HERE to learn more.
On Thursday, October 21, the Century City Chamber of Commerce will host its 2010 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon. Click HERE for details.
The Century City Chamber of Commerce will hold a Halloween "Spook-tacular" Networking Night on Thursday, October 28. Click HERE for details.
Riverside Drive Elementary School will host its Fall Festival on Saturday, October 30. All ages are welcome and all proceeds benefit school programs.
Bring your unused cell phone to City Hall before Friday, November 12! Your cell phone from any service provider will be refurbished and sold for proceeds to be given to victims of domestic violence through local domestic violence agencies. Just remember to erase your personal information first!
If it can't be refurbished, Verizon will recycle the phones and accessories in an environmentally sound way saving our landfills from tons of electronic waste (200 tons so far!). For more information please visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
Councilmembers Greig Smith, Paul Koretz and Bernard Parks hold a joint committee meeting about the CORE blueprint.
As Councilmember Koretz promised, the Audits and Governmental Efficiency Committee that he chairs has immediately gone to work on what he called "job number one" -- implementing important recommendations to help financially strapped Los Angeles improve its revenues and collections capacity.
On October 4, the Ad Hoc Commission on Revenue Efficiency (CORE) issued its "Blueprint" – a report with recommendations detailing how some city departments have for years routinely disregarded directives and guidelines for collections while ignoring good ideas about solutions. As a result, many other large cities do a far better job of collecting money owed than does Los Angeles: of the estimated $541.1 million owed the City in non-tax receivables, over 75% is more than 120 days past due, and over 40% is more than 2 years past due. That's why Councilmember Koretz has said that, “Los Angeles is in a terrible fiscal mess precisely because in years past, the City and its departments have failed, time and time again, to implement available solutions, corrections and improvements regarding revenues and collections."
On October 12, the Audits and Governmental Efficiency Committee met jointly with the Budget and Finance Committee (Chaired by Councilmember Bernard Parks) and heard from CORE, including its Chair, Ron Galperin. Many issues and recommendations were discussed, with the joint committees moving aggressively to implement what may be the most crucial Blueprint recommendation: the creation of an Inspector General for Revenues and Collections. As Councilmember Koretz has noted, "an Inspector General can give us knowledgeable, objective, no-nonsense reports indicating who in the City is succeeding and who is failing when it comes to embracing the Blueprint and making it work." Acting in tandem, the two committees started the ball rolling by calling for action that will bring the Inspector General proposal quickly to the floor of the City Council.
Saturday, October 9 was a great day for Sherman Oaks. The Office of Councilmember Koretz was pleased to join the Sherman Oaks Beautification Committee, the 2nd Council District office and many volunteers from the Buckley School and New Directions for Youth in an important beautification effort. The day's labors began at Ventura Blvd. at Van Nuys Blvd. and then the group headed north to Moorpark and down Moorpark to Hazeltine. When work was complete, Sherman Oaks was gleaming. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated!
Jian BBQ and the Conditional Use Permit Process
Many people enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. Additionally, some studies have explored whether possible health benefits may accrue when wine is consumed with a meal in modest amounts, though that is still very much being examined and debated. What is not open to debate is that the commercial service of alcohol can have a major negative impact on a community’s quality of life, and that is why our local and state governments carefully regulate and control the sale of alcohol.
Since the early 1980s, restaurants have been required to obtain Conditional Use Permits before they can sell alcohol to their customers. These Conditional Use Permits give the City the legal mechanism for placing conditions on such restaurants, including the limiting of hours of service and the requiring of security. Such conditions help protect the neighbors and the community at large, while still allowing a restaurant to succeed: a careful balance has to be struck to protect communities while also creating vibrant business districts for all of us to enjoy.
Councilmember Koretz and his staff review each request for alcohol licenses within the 5th Council District. The Councilmember then advocates for the best decision and conditions, based upon such factors as the potential impact on the community, the history of the business and its relationship with the neighborhood, and the input of the Police Department, residents, homeowner associations and neighborhood councils. The decision maker in these cases is the Zoning Administrator – one of a special set of employees within the Department of City Planning delegated with the authority to act on land-use approvals. These decisions can be appealed to the local Area Planning Commission by any aggrieved party.
Recently, the case of Jian BBQ came before the City. Jian BBQ is a large restaurant at 8256 Beverly Boulevard in the Mid City West neighborhood. While the current restaurant runs a quiet operation, there have been problems at this location in the past, with a bar and night club masquerading as a restaurant, out of control drunk patrons, parking in the residential neighborhood and relentless noise disturbances. It was for this reason that the Council Office advocated for limited hours and tough parking restrictions to ensure that the restaurant would remain a neighborhood-friendly business and not another neighborhood eyesore and nuisance.
The process worked and the Zoning Administrator listened to the community and Council Office concerns. The written decision from the Zoning Administrator required an updated parking plan, restrictive parking and valet requirements and most importantly restrictions on the hours and a requirement that alcohol only be served in connection with food orders. The restaurant appealed this decision to the Central Area Planning Commission but Councilmember Koretz stood with the community and the Zoning Administrator in defending the restrictive conditions. The Commission made only minor changes to the permit and the community remains protected. A special thank you goes out to neighborhood activist John Henning for his tireless work advocating on behalf of his community and working with Councilmember Koretz on this important restaurant issue.
Workers were busy cleaning the median on October 12.
The medians in Carthay Circle received crucial maintenance service on October 12, 2010. These medians are on San Vicente Blvd. between Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave., and are an integral and much appreciated part of the community – drivers know when they are on San Vicente because of these medians.
(Other medians elsewhere on San Vicente Blvd but not in the Carthay Circle have also received maintenance servicing in recent weeks.)
Budget cuts forced maintenance cuts to these medians; Councilmember Koretz and his colleagues worked to obtain federal money to pay for renewed maintenance. These medians are now to receive continued maintenance as the city works its way through very tough budgetary times. Also, the Councilmember has requested that next year's budget include money for city medians, so that all city medians will continue to be maintained in the future. The Councilmember has furthermore requested that native and/or drought tolerance plants be considered to help save money in the long term.
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
This LAMH ribbon cutting marks an historic occasion!
Councilmember Koretz joined fellow supporters at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly opened Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (LAMH) building. While it is the oldest Holocaust museum in the United States (it was founded in 1961 by Los Angeles based Holocaust Survivors) it has lacked a proper permanent home for decades.
More than one hundred people gathered at the site for the ceremony. Among them were Holocaust Survivors, community leaders, students, and many of those who have made this dream of a permanent space a reality. Located at Pan Pacific Park, LAMH’s new home is both architecturally significant and educationally cutting edge. Under an agreement with the City, the LAMH is allowed to be at Pan Pacific Park for an annual lease payment of $1 per year.
Councilmember Koretz joined other speakers, including Recreation and Parks General Manager Jon Mukri, Assemblymember Mike Fueur, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslovsky, Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Eric Garcetti, and Mayor Antonio Villaragosa.Councilmember Koretz, recalling his own family's ties to the Holocaust, spoke about how crucial it is for this Museum to exist in Los Angeles, and how important it was that the City aided in its creation: “If ever people claim, by lies and falsehoods, that the Holocaust didn’t happen, we can bring them here.This truth can never be lost.”
Councilmember Koretz particularly wants to thank his colleague Tom LaBonge for his decades (literally) of work making Pan Pacific Park the urban treasure that it is. Councilmember Koretz said, “Tom LaBonge loves Los Angeles and that love is nowhere more evident than in Pan Pacific Park, a true urban oasis. Thanks, Tom, for all of your efforts over many years.”
The proposed wireless facility was to be located on the roof.
In many neighborhoods across Los Angeles, residents wonder and worry about proposed cell towers and their potential impact on the local quality of life. Sometimes these proposals to locate wireless facilities are challenged procedurally, but such challenges are often routinely denied. Furthermore, one area of specific concern to many – the possible impact on public health – is not allowed as a reason for such challenges: Federal law maintains that the health issue has already been fully considered by the Federal Communications Commission.
Councilmember Koretz has challenged inappropriate cell tower applications wherever possible, based on such factors as height, aesthetics and the need to co-locate with existing facilities. Despite the legal odds against these challenges, CD 5 has several "upset" wins to its credit. On October 12, another cell tower application in the 5th Council District was at stake, with a proposed wireless facility on North Doheny being contested in front of the City's Central Area Planning Commission. Councilmember Koretz opposed the tower, citing its "residential location, height, unsightly nature and outpouring of community concern." The Commission subsequently voted to support the community and oppose the application! There may be further administrative and judicial proceedings, but the Commission is to be applauded for doing the right thing.
AIDS Walk Los Angeles this weekend
On Wednesday, October 13, the City honored 2010 AIDS Walk LA and its leadership and team coordinators.
Every year Councilmember Koretz looks forward to participating in the annual AIDS Walk. This year is certainly no different! The 26th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles will occur this coming Sunday, October 17 in CD5.
This event is responsible for bringing together over 30,000 people rallying behind a common goal: to raise awareness and help find a cure for AIDS.
Councilmember Koretz, along with his staff assembled as "Team Koretz," are proud to represent all of the council offices. If you still need a team to join for Sunday's walk, please consider joining "Team Koretz" by clicking here.
The Fifth Council District has some new staff! Three new field deputies – two in West Los Angeles and one in the San Fernando Valley – are serving our CD 5 communities with great dedication and resolve.
Sheila Kouhkan has just joined the CD 5 staff, but she’s already quite experienced at helping our constituents – for the past two years, she has been interning in the 5th Council District’s West Los Angeles field office.
Sheila grew up in Palm Desert, California before attending UCLA. She graduated in the spring of 2010, having majored in Political Science and minored in Education. Sheila originally dreamt of becoming a veterinarian, and has often been a foster parent for rescue dogs, she has become increasingly interested in the law, and spent this past summer working at a law firm.
Sheila’s interests include community and urban schooling (access to education); helping children with developmental disabilities; participating in Persian community efforts, and liaisoning with the LGBT community. Sheila is a proud resident of the 5th Council District, and is delighted to be serving it in her new role as field deputy, where she will be a go-to person for the communities of Century City, Cheviot Hills and Rancho Park. She says, “I love CD 5. I love that everyone is active about their communities and works together to better the community.”
David Giron is a native of Los Angeles who also grew up here, attending Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, then Santa Monica College, then Cal State Northridge. He graduated from Cal State Northridge in the summer of 2008 with a degree in political science and a focus on government.
Among his many passions are baseball (he played shortstop and third base for his high school team), skiing, and travel. Though his eventual focus might be working in the legislative process, David is very happy to be meeting constituent needs as a field deputy while serving Palms, the SORO area, Mar Vista and Beverlywood: “I am thrilled to be working with Councilmember Paul Koretz and his wonderful staff, and I’m equally impressed and inspired to be working hand-in-hand with so many dedicated residents who care about their neighborhoods.”
Councilmember Koretz with Wesly (left) and David.
Wesly Hernandez was born in North Hollywood. He currently attends Cal State Northridge, where he is getting his Masters in Public Administration. He graduated from UCLA in 2009 with a double major (Political Science and Public Policy), then interned with Councilmember Koretz’ City Hall office and worked as a clerk with the Santa Monica Superior Court.
Wesly will be helping to serve the neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Valley Village. He is well used to seeking the best solutions for constituents, and presently serves on the Sun Valley Neighborhood Council. (He also loves to play sports, and surfs.) Wesly considers his new role as a field deputy to be “a great opportunity to give back to CD 5. It’s truly rewarding and fun to finally work up close with the same people I’ve been working with and helping legislatively. I feel like I’m very in-touch with the issues that matter to the community, having worked on so many of these same challenges in City Hall.”
It’s always a good thing to have fine people willing and eager to serve the public. CD 5 welcomes Sheila, David and Wesly, and wishes them all the best.
Eric Norton (left) and Eric Weiser hard at work.
Life was made easier for CD5 staffers and constituents when Councilmember Koretz cleverly swapped Eric Norton from the City Hall office downtown for Eric Weiser of the Westside District Office. As a result, people can just keep on saying "Hi, Eric" without missing a beat.
The two Erics proved themselves to be extraordinarily talented and diligent in their formal roles, with both of them now relishing the opportunity to expand their horizons while learning new facets of governance and public service. Eric Norton will now be assisting the residents of Westwood between Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards. Eric Weiser will be handling the duties and responsibilities of the front desk in City Hall and helping to write the Hi Five to keep our communities informed.
Westwood, welcome Eric Norton. City Hall, welcome Eric Weiser.
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Skyway 2020 Open Call
Skyway 2017
A Contemporary Collaboration
About Skyway
Following the success of the initial Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration in 2017, the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art , the Tampa Museum of Art, and the USF Contemporary Art Museum are collaborating on a joint exhibition to be presented in the summer of 2020. Skyway 2020 will feature the work of selected artists from the five counties served by our respective museums: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and Sarasota. Selected artists will be featured across the four venues and will highlight the diversity of contemporary art created in the Central Florida region. A call for artists will occur in the summer of 2019, and the submissions will be juried by representatives from each of the museums, plus a guest juror. The four participating institutions will co-publish a fully illustrated catalogue, featuring the work of each exhibiting artist, to accompany the exhibition.
Skyway 2020: A Contemporary Collaboration Curators
Sarah Howard, Curator of Public Art and Social Practice, University of South Florida Institute for Research in Art
Christopher Jones, Curator of Photography and Media Art, The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Katherine Pill, Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
Joanna Robotham, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Tampa Museum of Art
Ola Wlusek, Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Guest Juror: Claire Tancons, Independent Curator
About Guest Juror Claire Tancons
Photograph by Nicola Bustreo.
Claire Tancons is a curator and scholar invested in the discourse and practice of the postcolonial politics of production and exhibition. For the last decade, Tancons has charted a distinct curatorial and scholarly path in performance, inflecting global art historical genealogies with African diasporic aesthetics as well as decentering and othering curatorial methodologies as part of a wider reflection on global conditions of cultural production.
Tancons recently co-curated the first edition of Tout-Monde, Caribbean Contemporary Arts Festival (in partnership with the French Embassy Cultural Services, Miami, 2018) and curated etcetera: a civic ritual (Printemps de Septembre, Toulouse, France, 2017). Other curatorial highlights include Tide by Side, the opening ceremony of Faena Art’s Miami Beach district (2016); Up Hill Down Hall, a BMW Tate Live commission in the Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, London (2014) and En Mas’: Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean, organized and presented by Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans and co-organized as a travelling exhibition by Independent Curators International, New York. She has also curated for established and emerging international biennials such Prospect.1 New Orleans and Gwangju Biennale (both 2008), Cape Town Biennial (2009), Biennale Bénin (2012), Göteborg Biennial (2013) and Sharjah Biennial 14 (2019).
Over the years, Tancons’ independent vision has been supported by a Prince Claus Fund Artistic Production Grant (2009), two Curatorial Research Fellowships from the Foundation for Art Initiatives (2007, 2009), an Andy Warhol Foundation Curatorial Fellowship (2008) and an Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award (2012). She is the recipient of a 2018 Creative Capital | Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for her book, Roadworks: Processional Performance in the New Millennium.
Tancons holds an MA in Museum Studies from École du Louvre, Paris (1999) and an M.A. in Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London (2000) and is a former Curatorial Fellow of the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, New York (2001).
Born in Guadeloupe, Tancons lives in diaspora and works in situ.
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Dedicated athletes
The Southeast Missouri State University football team's season ended earlier this month with a heartbreaking loss to Murray State.
The Redhawks, coming off last year's historic run that led to the program's first OVC championship and playoff berth, didn't have the strongest of records this year. However, there were some positives.
Senior quarterback Matt Scheible finished his record-setting college football career, a tenure that included 36 consecutive starts dating back to his freshman year. Scheible was named to the second-team all-OVC team and finished his collegiate career with 7,436 yards of total offense (2,595 rushing and 4,841 passing). This school record is even more impressive when you consider that no other Southeast player has ever achieved 6,000 yards of total offense.
Scheible ranks in the top 10 in several other Southeast single season and career categories. He was also recognized with the OVC Player of the Week Award and nationally with the College Football Performance Awards Football Championship Subdivision National Performer of the Week for Oct. 2.
Junior linebacker Blake Peiffer, a Jackson High School graduate, set a single-season school-record with 151 tackles this year. Peiffer's season total led the OVC and was second in the nation. Named to the first-team all-OVC team, Peiffer had 10 tackles in 10 of 11 starts this season.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver/return specialist Spencer Davis also received conference honors. Davis was named to the all-newcomer OVC team.
Congratulations to these Southeast players.
Column (7/16/19)
AOC plays race card -- and loses
Adrienne Ross
I believe in freedom of speech. I also believe in using it wisely and calling out those who do not. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or AOC, as she is called, gives ample opportunities for such calling-out. Since she has stepped into office, I...
Editorial (7/16/19)
Athletes steal the show: thanks to all involved in Semoball Awards
We were honored and pleased to host the Sixth Annual Semoball Awards show Saturday night, recognizing the best of the best high school athletes from all across the Southeast Missouri region. Semoball.com is a regional sports website that involves...
Some may have been disappointed to see the River Campus discontinue its touring shows, but the end of one era will usher in new opportunities. Local university performing arts students, which are growing in number, will get the chance to put on...
South Cape church, pastor can play important role in area's redevelopment
Lucas Presson
There are the beginnings of something special in Cape Girardeau's South side. And one of the figures who could find himself in the middle of it is the Rev. Adrian Taylor Jr., pastor of LighthouseCape. You might know LighthouseCape by its previous...
Center Junction: To close or not to close? Good question
If you live in Jackson and go to Cape Girardeau frequently, or vice versa, you're probably already making plans on how to avoid the upcoming demolition and reconstruction of the Center Junction interchange. Some 20,000 cars travel that section of...
Letter (7/11/19)
Touching tribute to veterans
Just wanted to take the time to thank the Southeast Missourian for the great tribute "Faces of valor" recently published honoring several of the veterans at our local Veterans Home. They each had a different take on what serving their country meant...
Thanks to Pannier for years of service at Nell Holcomb
After 13 years as the superintendent of the school he attended as a child, Darryl Pannier is retiring from the Nell Holcomb School. Pannier returned to the district in 2006, returning home to the rural Cape Girardeau County school. He plans to golf...
A Fourth of July secret for next year: Best place to watch fireworks
Jon K. Rust
This year the fireworks at Arena Park launched with a boom and two explosions of fire, sending a heat wave into the crowd and black mushroom clouds into the night. The crowd, surprised by the hot wind, gasped -- and one of the best fireworks shows...
Column (7/9/19)
Fourth of July protests just more anti-Trump antics
The Fourth of July is supposed to be fun, isn't it? Fun and reflective. We get together with family and friends, barbecue, watch fireworks, listen to Lee Greenwood sing "Proud to Be an American." But something has changed. What I once observed as a...
Common Pleas Courthouse does not need to be City Hall
By Charles Bertrand
In referencing the 2009 Strategic Plan for downtown Cape and the update of 2017, you find, and I quote, "a clear vision for civic leaders to guide the future of downtown Cape Girardeau, Missouri." Also quoting, "The many assets of downtown Cape...
Editorial (7/9/19)
Hospitals come together on Community Health Needs Assessment
Local hospitals are working on plans to specifically address health needs determined by a recent joint study. Overall results of the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment were presented recently at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's...
Recognizing efforts; renew capital improvements tax
Bob Fox
Councilman Victor Gunn attended his last meeting on July 1, having to resign due to moving out of Ward 3. We thanked him for his dedication and service to the people of Cape Girardeau. Victor deferred that praise to our city's employees. He...
Safe House welcomes women into new facility
It’s been a long time coming, but the new and improve Safe House for Women is open and serving women in need. The organization announced late last month it was open with 18,000 square feet of space and serving women there. The new facility is...
Letter (7/8/19)
Don't split up immigrant families
I served my nation as an educator for 44 years. There is political wrongdoing being perpetrated on vulnerable children in the name of politics. Separating refugee children and parents should not occur in a nation that has for centuries accepted...
Blair Moran exemplifies the spirit of America
Thursday evening's Fourth of July program in Cape Girardeau was a touching tribute to America filled with patriotic tunes from the municipal band, recognition of our local veterans and the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America award...
Hollywood doesn't want to film in pro-life states. More reason to refuse their handouts.
By Holly Rehder
It should come as no surprise to us in rural Missouri, and around the state, that Hollywood elites continue to look down their noses at our values and beliefs. The same industry that is plagued by sex predators, violence, and an anti-Christian...
Cape can't afford more projects
Are you listening? Could this be the wisdom of the city council, administrators and park department when it comes to spending funds for the betterment of Cape? Why should the citizens approve funds and bonds for new facilities just because the...
Sikeston's James Blair Moran recognized with Spirit of America Award
If there's a running theme among all our past Spirit of America Award winners, it might just be humility. It seems none of our winners want to take credit for their accomplishments -- for the very reasons why they were nominated and then selected as...
As Missouri implements medical marijuana laws, there should be no rush to legalize recreational use
Sometimes I smell it while walking along the Mississippi river. A group of kids, perched on rocks away from the trail, a skunky aroma lingering near them. It's the tell-tale smell of marijuana. In San Francisco, when I've traveled there, the odor...
My top 5 Democratic debate takeaways
I wasn't sure I would do it. While staying abreast, of course, of what is going on politically, I have had no interest in the last year of steeping myself fully into the mix-mess. I ended up doing it, though: I watched the second half of the first...
Be safe when using fireworks this Independence Day
Fireworks season is upon us, and now is a good time to remember some safety tips. First, don't forget about your pets, who can become skittish upon hearing the pops in the distance. As we learned from Dr. Loni Patke at the Cape Small Animal Clinic...
Thank you to honest people
Thank you for taking time to read this. Last year around Christmas my husband and I were in Walmart. We left the store not realizing I had left my cell phone lying on the counter. My husband got a call from one of our daughters. Someone had found my...
St. Louis fans show what a great sports city looks like
Before he took his football team and left, Rams owner Stan Kroenke made claims suggesting St. Louis wasn’t a good sports town. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been reminded of how wrong he was. First came the Blues’ Stanley Cup victory. The...
Urban art styles will be celebrated in Cape this weekend
Art is for everyone. And as the old cliche goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Part of what makes art great is that certain people enjoy certain types of art over others. This weekend in Cape Girardeau, there will be an opportunity for...
Things that make you go hmm...
The U.S. has had vehicles on Mars for years that run without using oil or coal energy. How can this possibly be done? There are no gas stations on Mars. Solar power would be impossible; Mars is farther from the Sun then Earth and solar power for...
Missouri not keeping pace
For the past few decades Republicans have taken the position that low taxes, fewer regulations, along with pro-business legislation and laws that restrict union power will lead to a growing economy. However, U.S. Commerce Department statistics show...
Thanks to Shaken Fury volunteers
A great big "Thank You" to volunteers participating in the recent Shaken Fury exercise held in Cape Girardeau. These volunteers gave the professionals actual live victims to simulate real world experience. The search dogs were able to work finding...
On Hovis' in-district meeting
I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for a representative to sit and listen to angry constituents. While many were on the attack during Rep. Barry Hovis' in-district meeting with constituents, we should recognize that we are all human and make...
What did Aunt Stella eat?
I'm in my 70s and most people of my generation were taught to be very courteous on the telephone, especially to callers. Therefore, it was very hard to learn to hang up on liars, scammers, telemarketers, identity thieves, etc. But we have to. Most...
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Return to Research Papers
APPENDIX 7: Varying c, Maxwells Equations & Special Relativity
(i) Maxwell’s equations
(ii) Special Relativity (SR) & Some Problems
Those who were taught to derive Maxwell’s equations from Relativity may object that (4) is obtained on the assumption that c is a constant. But, as shown in Bleany & Bleany [196], (4) can be readily derived without any initial assumptions about the behavior of c, ε, or μ, just as Maxwell himself did. This is done by obtaining a set of four simultaneous partial differential equations based on (a) Gauss’s theorem applied to electrostatics; (b) Gauss’s theorem applied to magnetic fields; (c) Faraday’s and Lenz’s law of electromagnetic induction; and (d) Ampere’s law for magnetomotive force. The equations from (a) and (b) become ε div E = 0and μ div H = 0 for a vacuum, and so are independent of any variations in ε and μ. The equations from (c) and (d) eventually become curl E = -μ(∂H/∂t) and curl H = ε(∂E/∂t). Provided that μ varies slowly with respect to H, and that ε varies slowly with respect to E, this formulation is still valid. The general wave equation which (a), (b), (c), & (d) reduce to has the form [del]2A = (1/v2)(∂2A/∂t2)where v2 = 1/(με) = c2 and A is some scalar or vector quantity. Again, this equation is valid for describing wave motion provided that v2 varies slowly with respect to A. But this condition is always maintained with a varying ZPE since a ZPE change manifests as a change in ε, μ, and c, as well as proportional changes in atomic clock rates which govern atomic processes. In addition, another derivation of Maxwell’s equations shows an almost infinite variation in ε, μ, and c is permitted in the system of units that Maxwell himself was using [49]. The analysis here therefore indicates that Maxwell’s equations can be satisfied with a varying ZPE, ε, μ, and c.
If the physical properties of the ZPE and hence the vacuum are indeed changing, giving a changing c, this is not so different from the change that occurs in c when light goes from air into glass or water. SR is not called into question because the speed of light is slower in glass or water than it is in air. Similarly, on the approach used in this paper, the changing speed of light should not call SR into question because there was still an upper limit to what the speed of light was initially in the primordial vacuum. This upper limit value for c comes through from the redshift data as being around 6 x 1011 c now. What has happened to the vacuum is effectively the same as its optical density increasing uniformly on a cosmological scale from its initial low value. Therefore the speed of light has dropped from its upper limit velocity down to its present speed. The same situation would apply if the optical density of an infinitely long cylinder of water was smoothly increasing as light traveled along it. SR would not be called into question in that case. Therefore, because the upper limit velocity still exists (even though it is significantly higher than the currently accepted limit velocity), then simultaneity is maintained and SR is valid on that basis. But this topic embraces other issues so we explore further.
Originally, the whole necessity for relativity in one form or another arose because of the Michelson-Morley experiment which was conducted in 1887. In this experiment, each half of a split light beam travels along one of two equally long but perpendicular arms of a special optical device, and then bounces off mirrors back to an observer. The optical device was an interferometer which will produce interference fringes when the combined light waves of the split beams are out of step. At the time, fringe-shifts had been expected because it was thought that the vacuum was a light-carrying medium or aether, and that light moving through the aether would take longer in one direction than another as it moved against the aether “current”, rather like a canoe on a river. An aether current was expected because of the motion of the earth through the aether. In other words, it was expected that the aether would provide an absolute frame of reference against which all other velocities could be measured.
As it turned out, no significant fringe shifts were observed, even when the device was rotated to other positions. Observation showed that the round-trip times for light going in any direction were the same. This result drove Lorentz [197] in 1904 and Einstein in 1905 to formulate their respective theories of relativity. Einstein explained the result in Special Relativity (SR) by proposing that (1) There was no absolute frame of reference anywhere in the universe. Lorentz did not have that restriction. (2) That the speed of light was an absolute constant. Lorentz did not need that. (3) Einstein proposed that mathematical transformations had to be applied to time, space, and mass and had to be applied both ways when comparing two objects in motion. By contrast, Lorentz Relativity (LR) says that such transformations only apply one way and that is only to clocks, meter sticks and momentum, not time, space and matter. There is an important distinction in this latter point. For example, SR requires time itself to be affected by velocity or gravitational potential. By contrast, in LR nothing ever happens to time itself, just to certain types of clock attempting to keep time. In a somewhat similar way, an increase in temperature may lengthen the pendulum of some clocks and affect their time-keeping, but not the actual time itself. LR thus accepts that other types of clock exist for measuring time that may be unaffected by speed or potential. But SR requires time itself to be actually affected by velocity or potential, and the same applies to mass and length. Just recently, an entirely new approach to the problem was attempted and the results suggest that Lorentz was basically correct and that Einsteinian physics is deficient [219].
Einstein made use of his required length transformation of space to overcome the problem of the lack of fringe shifts. He claimed that the contraction of the arms of the interferometer in the direction of travel made the interferometer arms shorter by just the amount needed to compensate for what was expected to be a longer travel time for light through the moving aether. Note that in his lectures even as late as 1929, Einstein claimed that the aether existed, but that his SR overcame the problems with the observations in an aether-filled universe. But there is another, perfectly logical, explanation for the lack of fringe shifts in the Michelson-Morely experiment. The absence of the fringes may primarily mean that the earth apparently has no motion relative to the aether or light carrying medium. This was a problem in 1905. But if we now exchange the old aether concept for the now known Zero Point Energy (ZPE) that fills the cosmos, and through which light propagates, we can obtain a perfectly satisfactory answer to the problem caused by the lack of fringe shifts.
The local gravitational field of the earth can be shown to be an augmentation of the ZPE in our vicinity brought about by the presence of oscillating point charges [198]. This local field of the (augmented) ZPE has no motion with respect to the earth’s center of mass since it originates with the presence of the earth’s mass. Thus, the Michelson-Morely experiment will show no fringe shifts. But the Earth does rotate with respect to its own gravitational field, and hence with respect to the augmented ZPE. Importantly, this does produce fringe-shifts, known as the Sagnac effect, that were first seen in 1913 when a rotating platform was used for the experiment. It was replicated in the Michelson-Gale experiment of 1925 using the earth’s own rotation. The ZPE approach is thereby shown to be a far simpler explanation for the lack of fringe-shifts than the complication of SR. This, then, calls into question the necessity for SR at all.
But if the necessity for SR is called into question, it will then be objected that SR produced Einstein’s famous equation of mass-energy equivalence using the speed of light. Nevertheless, O’Rahilly has shown that this equation can be deduced without the necessity of SR at all [201]. Again, it may be pointed out that the later General Theory of Relativity (GR) was based on SR and has many successes to its credit. In answer to this two points need be noted. First, GR was built on SR by using only one-way mathematical transformations (not both ways as SR requires), and those transformations were relative to the local gravitational field, which became a preferred reference frame, namely the centre-of-mass [202]. This means that GR is in line with LR [203] but is not really consistent with SR. The second and key point that must be noted is that all the predictions of GR, including the bending of light in a gravitational field, and the advance of the perihelion of Mercury, can be reproduced using the ZPE and classical electrodynamics without the necessity for any kind of relativity at all [see reference 204 and references therein]. This, too, suggests that relativity may be redundant with a ZPE whose existence and effects answers questions relating to a large number of physical phenomena.
If the original reason why relativity was introduced has thereby been negated, one may be forgiven for questioning other aspects of SR. Take the claim that the speed of light is (1) an absolute constant and (2) that c is the universal speed limit with nothing going faster. In order to achieve point (2), the SR position requires mass to increase as velocity increases. It is certainly true that this is the observed behavior of particles in accelerators since the particles have not reached, let alone exceeded, the speed of light. There are two points to note here. First and foremost, it should be emphasized that ZPE theory gives some good reasons why mass should increase with velocity quite apart from anything to do with relativity. Second, Van Flandern has pointed out that a similar situation existed for propeller driven aircraft in level flight trying to exceed the speed of sound. The air molecules cannot be driven faster than sound no matter how fast the propellers spin, so the aircraft itself cannot go any faster. However, if there was a force propagating faster than the speed of sound, or a continuous acceleration, such as in a jet engine capable of exceeding that limit, then higher velocities are potentially achievable.
As for the claim that nothing can exceed this universal speed limit, science has been living with the existence of tachyons for some time, and these particles certainly travel faster than light. But that is not all. There is some, currently contentious, evidence that the speed of gravity may in fact be very significantly faster than light [205, 206]. If this is in any way correct, it would establish that the postulates on which SR is based are probably fallacious. But we can go further by considering point (1), namely that c is an absolute constant. This paper has shown that the speed of light is dependent upon the physical properties of the vacuum, and the evidence is that these properties are changing. The speed of light has also been experimentally measured as consistently changing over a 350 year period [61, 25]. It is true that these experimental results have been criticized as being out of step with SR, but are we going to follow the data trail as a more correct description of reality, or support a theory that may need some surgery?
It is true that c was declared a universal constant in 1983 as a result of using atomic clocks from 1972 to 1983 to measure c. As shown above, atomic clocks tick at a rate proportional to c, so that if atomic time intervals are t, then ct is a constant as shown in (18A). Thus the speed of light measured by atomic clocks will always be a constant. A comment by Van Flandern emphasizes this. He had measured the atomic clock as slowing compared with orbital time and stated, “Assumptions such as the constancy of the velocity of light … may be true only in one set of units (atomic or [orbital]), but not the other” [75]. So measurements of c using atomic clocks for macroscopic measurements will also maintain this requirement of SR, and c will always be a constant in the atomic frame of reference. Thus the integrity of the relativistic equations with the term c2t2 is retained if atomic time, t, is used. For an example, see reference [207].
Associated with these equations is the matter of length contraction originally claimed by Einstein. Incredibly for a theory that is so widely accepted, it seems that length contraction has never been seen directly in any experiment, but has only been inferred. For a discussion about this and the constancy of lengths in SR see [208]. That article concludes “…the clear implication of our considerations here is that length contraction is not a physical shortening, but is merely an observational consequence of time desynchronization. In SR, physical bodies do not actually change dimensions.” The whole idea of length-contraction, and the necessity for relativity in one form or another, originally arose because of the Michelson-Morley experiment. This development brings into question the relevance of SR particularly since the ZPE explanation is far simpler.
But what about the major basis on which SR is built, namely that all frames of reference to be equal, which means that there is no preferred frame of reference. If SR is correct, this means that two spacecraft traveling in different directions with different velocities would have no frame of reference whereby they could determine their absolute velocity in space relative to each other. But there is a way of testing whether or not there is a preferred frame of reference, and it comes from astronomy. The test involves the microwave background radiation, which is the evidence that space was expanded out initially. The velocity of our Solar System has been measured as 390 km/s towards the constellation of Leo, and our Milky Way galaxy is moving at 600 km/s in the direction of the Centaurus cluster when referred to the microwave background [209]. In other words the background radiation provides an absolute frame of reference on a universal scale.
On this matter, Harwit states: “Current observations indicate that the universe is bathed by an isotropic bath of microwave radiation. It is interesting that the presence of such a radiation field should allow us to determine an absolute rest frame on the basis of local measurement.” He then goes on to salvage what is left for SR by saying, “Such a frame would in no way violate the validity of special relativity which, as stated earlier, does not distinguish between different inertial frames. Rather the establishment of an absolute rest frame would emphasize the fact that special relativity is really only meant to deal with small-scale phenomena and that phenomena on larger scales allow us to determine a preferred frame of reference in which cosmic processes look isotropic.” [210].
So two spacecraft traveling in different directions can determine their individual absolute velocity relative to the microwave background radiation and each other since an absolute frame of reference does exist macroscopically. Harwitt then concludes that SR can only apply to small-scale or atomic phenomena. By contrast, ZPE formalism covers a broad area in which SR is not holding up well. Thus Magueijo pointed out that “…the urge to reconcile VSL [variable speed of light] to relativity is motivating much ongoing work… It now appears that the constancy of c is not so essential to relativity after all; the theory can be based on other postulates.” [211]. But conclusions from Cahill’s work at Flinders University go further. His experimental results mean “that the Einstein postulate regarding the invariance of the speed of light was incorrect – in disagreement with experiment, and had been so from the beginning. This meant that the Special Relativity effects required a different explanation, and indeed Lorentz had supplied that some 100 years ago: in this it is the absolute motion of systems through the dynamical 3-space that causes SR effects, and which is diametrically opposite to the Einstein formalism”[219].
[25] B. Setterfield, D. Dzimano, ‘The Redshift and the Zero Point Energy’ Journal of Theoretics, (Dec. 2003). Available online at http://www.journaloftheoretics.com/Links/Papers/Setter.pdf
[49] K. Wanser, Fullerton University, private communication about his article in press (July 5, 2004).
[61] T. Norman and B. Setterfield, ‘The Atomic Constants, Light, and Time,’ Research Report, Stanford Research Institute (SRI) International & Flinders University, South Australia, August (1987); available online at http://www.setterfield.org/report/report.html
[75] T.C. Van Flandern, Precision Measurements and Fundamental Constants II, B.N. Taylor and W. D. Phillips, (Eds.), National Bureau of Standards (U.S.) Special Publication 617, (1984) 625-627.
[196] B.I. Bleany and B. Bleany, op. cit., pp.236-239.
[197] H.A. Lorentz, “Lectures on Theoretical Physics”, Vol. III, pp.208-211, Macmillan &
Co., London (1931), contains summary and citation of 1904 paper.
[198] B. Haisch, A. Rueda & H.E. Puthoff, The Sciences, Nov/Dec 1994, pp.26-31.
[201] A. O’Rahilly, “Electromagnetic Theory”, pp.304-323, Dover Publications (1965).
[202] M. Edwards, Editor, “Pushing Gravity”, pp. 93-122, Apeiron Press, Montreal, (2002).
[203] Ibid.
[204] B. Setterfield, 2003, op. cit. (see reference #19) as well as references contained therein.
[205] T. Van Flandern, Physics Letters A 250 (1998), pp. 1-11.
[206] T. Van Flandern & J.P. Vigier, Foundations of Physics 32:7 (2002), pp.1031-1068.
[207] A.P. French, op. cit., pp.153-154. (see ref. #73)
[208] T.Van Flandern, Apeiron, 10:4, (October 2003), pp. 152-158. Also Apeiron 10:1 (2003), pp.69ff.
[209] N.F. Comins & W.J. Kaufmann III, “Discovering the Universe, ” 7th Edition, p.466 (W.H. Freeman & Co., New
York, 2005).
[210] M. Harwit, “Astrophysical Concepts”, Second edition, pp. 178, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1988.
[211] J. Magueijo, “Plan B for the Cosmos,” Scientific American, January 2001, p.47.
[219] R.T. Cahill, Progress in Physics, 4 (2006), pp.73-92
Go to: first page, section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or appendix 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or tables, or figures 1-7, or figure 8 or reference page.
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Council of the Swiss Abroad Expats push for e-voting and electoral reform
By Urs Geiser
The Swiss Country Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the more than 700 Swiss associations around the world
The Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) has decided to broaden its electorate and boost the younger generation. The assembly also served as an occasion for repeated calls on the government and the cantons to introduce electronic voting for all Swiss expats by 2019.
The 140 member assembly, meeting in the Swiss parliament on Friday, agreed to allow Swiss abroad communities in their countries to extend its electorate. The one-day session took place ahead of the annual Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Bern over the weekend.
Following protracted discussions, the delegates voted for a proposal to grant expats, who are not members of Swiss clubs or associations, the right to take part in elections for the Council.
Opponents argued the move would deprive the more than 700 Swiss clubs around the world of their power.
Matthias Zimmermann, delegate from Germany, repeatedly warned that any easing of rules went against existing rules.
“Swiss clubs and associations have an exclusive right to choose the delegates of the Council. Anything else is against the law,” he said.
Others said it would be too complicated to organise free elections among the Swiss abroad community which is often seen as lacking interest.
The Council of the Swiss Abroad met for its biennial session in the parliamentary chamber of the House of Representatives
However, the Council’s leading committee argued that broadening the potential electorate could help improve the legitimacy of the body, as only about 4% of expats are members the Swiss clubs .
Remo Gysin, president of the now 100-year-old Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, tried to encourage the delegates to follow the example of the expat communities in Britain and Belgium.
“They can serve as models for communities in other countries,” he said.
Both communities introduced a mixed system, where delegates are partly elected by Swiss associations but also by other registered Swiss citizens abroad.
In a move to rejuvenate the assembly, delegates on Friday also decided to increase the minimum number of representatives from youth organisations from one to three.
“It’s a small step but important step,” commented Gysin. He also congratulated the Swiss expat community in Italy for its successful efforts to attract young members.
Council members also heard a panel discussion on the promotion of electronic voting. The government last year blocked the use of one of three different technical systems, quoting security issues.
Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter praised expats around the world for their unofficial role as “ambassadors” for Switzerland.
“Thank you for what you have done during a whole century for our country,” he told the audience at the beginning of the anniversary festivities on Parliament Square on Friday.
He singled out the young generation of Swiss Abroad. “Young, young people, you are the most important persons. You are a great part of the future of our country,” he said in a speech he gave in German, French and English.
end of infobox
The decision meant that eight cantons could no longer offer e-voting to their citizens living abroad. Before, 13 cantons, - accounting for about half of the potential Swiss abroad electorate – were allowed to cast their ballot online.
While the Federal Chancellor, Walter Thurnherr defended the government’s move, the co-director of the OSA, Ariane Rustichelli, called on the cantons to increase their efforts, giving all registered Swiss expats the possibility to use the internet for the 2019 parliamentary elections.
Trials with e-voting began in 2000 under the auspices of the federal authorities. Cantons such as Geneva, Neuchâtel and Basel City are among the pioneers.
Promoters of e-voting argue that some Swiss expats have no possibility to exercise their direct democratic rights as the postal delivery of the ballot papers is not reliable enough in some countries.
But there are also concerns that some online voting systems lack the necessary verification safeguards.
By the end of last year, some 142,000 Swiss expats had registered to take part in votes and elections in Switzerland.
The Swiss Abroad Council
The 140-member assembly is part of the Swiss Abroad Organisation (OSA) and meets twice a year.
It is made up of representatives of Swiss clubs and associations abroad and of members of domestic institutions, including swissinfo.ch.
The assembly represents the interests of the more than 760,000 Swiss expatriates before the authorities and public opinion in Switzerland.
Swiss Abroad
Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA)
Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA)
Expats push for e-voting and electoral reform Urs Geiser Aug 5, 2016 - 21:09 The Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) has decided to broaden its electorate and boost the younger generation. The assembly also served as an occasion for repeated calls on the government and the cantons to introduce electronic voting for all Swiss expats by 2019. The 140 member assembly, meeting in the Swiss parliament on Friday, agreed to allow Swiss abroad communities in their countries to extend its electorate. The one-day session took place ahead of the annual Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Bern over the weekend. Following protracted discussions, the delegates voted for a proposal to grant expats, who are not members of Swiss clubs or associations, the right to take part in elections for the Council. Opponents argued the move would deprive the more than 700 Swiss clubs around the world of their power. Matthias Zimmermann, delegate from Germany, repeatedly warned that any easing of rules went against existing rules. “Swiss clubs and associations have an exclusive right to choose the delegates of the Council. Anything else is against the law,” he said. Others said it would be too complicated to organise free elections among the Swiss abroad community which is often seen as lacking interest. Legitimacy However, the Council’s leading committee argued that broadening the potential electorate could help improve the legitimacy of the body, as only about 4% of expats are members the Swiss clubs . Remo Gysin, president of the now 100-year-old Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, tried to encourage the delegates to follow the example of the expat communities in Britain and Belgium. “They can serve as models for communities in other countries,” he said. Both communities introduced a mixed system, where delegates are partly elected by Swiss associations but also by other registered Swiss citizens abroad. In a move to rejuvenate the assembly, delegates on Friday also decided to increase the minimum number of representatives from youth organisations from one to three. “It’s a small step but important step,” commented Gysin. He also congratulated the Swiss expat community in Italy for its successful efforts to attract young members. E-voting Council members also heard a panel discussion on the promotion of electronic voting. The government last year blocked the use of one of three different technical systems, quoting security issues. “Ambassadors” Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter praised expats around the world for their unofficial role as “ambassadors” for Switzerland. “Thank you for what you have done during a whole century for our country,” he told the audience at the beginning of the anniversary festivities on Parliament Square on Friday. He singled out the young generation of Swiss Abroad. “Young, young people, you are the most important persons. You are a great part of the future of our country,” he said in a speech he gave in German, French and English. The decision meant that eight cantons could no longer offer e-voting to their citizens living abroad. Before, 13 cantons, - accounting for about half of the potential Swiss abroad electorate – were allowed to cast their ballot online. While the Federal Chancellor, Walter Thurnherr defended the government’s move, the co-director of the OSA, Ariane Rustichelli, called on the cantons to increase their efforts, giving all registered Swiss expats the possibility to use the internet for the 2019 parliamentary elections. Trials with e-voting began in 2000 under the auspices of the federal authorities. Cantons such as Geneva, Neuchâtel and Basel City are among the pioneers. Promoters of e-voting argue that some Swiss expats have no possibility to exercise their direct democratic rights as the postal delivery of the ballot papers is not reliable enough in some countries. But there are also concerns that some online voting systems lack the necessary verification safeguards. By the end of last year, some 142,000 Swiss expats had registered to take part in votes and elections in Switzerland. The Swiss Abroad Council The 140-member assembly is part of the Swiss Abroad Organisation (OSA) and meets twice a year. It is made up of representatives of Swiss clubs and associations abroad and of members of domestic institutions, including swissinfo.ch. The assembly represents the interests of the more than 760,000 Swiss expatriates before the authorities and public opinion in Switzerland.
Voting with a click Hacking fears jeopardise e-voting rollout
A recent government decision to deny nine cantons the ability to offer e-voting for the upcoming national elections has come under fire. Critics ...
OSA centenary ‘Switzerland can make better use of its diaspora’
How has the Swiss abroad community changed over the past century? Rudolf Wyder, former director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), ...
By Marko Lehtinen, editor-in-chief Swiss Review
German (de)"Die Auslandschweizer wurden als Musterpatrioten präsentiert"
French (fr)«Les Suisses de l’étranger ont été présentés comme des patriotes modèles»
Italian (it)«Gli svizzeri all’estero venivano presentati come dei patrioti modello»
Going back to your roots Learning how to be Swiss at summer camp
For young Swiss who live abroad, it can be hard to know what their citizenship really involves, or means.
By Jo Fahy with input from Christian Raaflaub
Council meeting Swiss expats discuss pensions and insurance
Concerns about the country's old age pension scheme and health insurance coverage were high on the agenda of the most recent assembly of the Swiss ...
By Urs Geiser, Brunnen
Networking Making the voices of Switzerland’s young expats heard
They have much in common, but are spread around the world – so, to meet their own needs, young Swiss abroad have created an online youth ...
By Sonia Fenazzi
German (de)Die neue Community für junge Auslandschweizer
Spanish (es)Una red para dar voz a los jóvenes suizos en el exterior
French (fr)Un réseau pour faire entendre la voix des jeunes Suisses de l’étranger
Italian (it)Un network per far sentire la voce dei giovani svizzeri all’estero
Portuguese (pt)Uma rede para dar voz aos jovens suíços no estrangeiro
Swiss Abroad congress ‘Democracy does not fall from the sky’
Communications Minister Doris Leuthard has called for active participation in October’s parliamentary elections to keep Switzerland’s system of ...
By Urs Geiser in Geneva
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Save the Rave: A community coming together on Facebook
“We’re dealing with the most difficult-to-motivate generation ever. People today feel so powerless, like they can’t have an impact on anything that matters. But you can! So one of the things I’m trying to share with the community is that when you come together, we can make a difference. ”
— Save the Rave organizer Liam Shy
Save the Rave had been in the planning stages for a while, an advocacy organization for Bay Area electronic dance music community to push back against the “war on fun“. It kicked into overdrive in December, when Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s proposed Anti-Raves act of 2011 (also know as AB 74). Matt Haze began organizing a protest; Liam saw the announcement on Facebook and connected with him; and it’s snowballed from there.
posted by Jon at 8:41 pm
Emergent Chaos
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Vol 10 No 3 (2017): Methods, tools and best practices to increase the capacity of urban systems to adapt to natural and man-made changes /
Land Use, Mobility and Environment
UAV Based Agricultural Planning and Landslide Monitoring
Servet Yaprak Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
Ömer Yildirim Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
Tekin Susam Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/5278
Keywords: UAV, Remote Sensing, agricultural land planning, image processing, landslide monitoring.
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) tools has become widespread in map production, land surveying, landslide, erosion monitoring, monitoring of agricultural activities, aerial crop surveying, forest fire detection and monitoring operations. In this study, GEO 2 UAV manufactured by TEKNOMER equipped with SONY A6000 camera has been used. The flight plan have been performed with 100 m altitude, with 80% longitudinal and 60% side overlapping. Ground Control Points (GCPs) have been observed with Topcon and Trimble GNSS geodetic receivers. Recorded GNSS signals have been processed with LGO V.8.4 software to get sensitive location information. 985 photos have been taken for the 344 hectares the agricultural area. 291 photos have been taken for 50 hectares the landslide area. All photos were processed by PIX4D software. For the agricultural area, 25 GCPs and for the landslide area, 8 GCPs have been included in the evaluation. 3D images were produced with pixel matching algorithms. As a result, the RMS evaluation was obtained as ±0.054 m for the agricultural area and as ±0.018 m for the landslide area. UAV images have indisputable contributions to the management of catastrophes such as landslides and earthquakes, and it is impossible to make terrestrial measurements in areas where disaster impact continues.
Servet Yaprak, Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
Department of Surverying Engineering
Ömer Yildirim, Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
Tekin Susam, Gaziosmanpasa University (Turkey)
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Peppa M. V., Mills J. P., Moore P., Miller P. E., Chambers J. E. (2016). Accuracy assessment of a UAV based landslide monitoring system, The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLI‐B5, 2016 XXIII ISPRS Congress, 12–19 July 2016, Prague, Czech Republic. doi:https://doi.org/ 10.5194/isprsarchives-XLI-B5-895-2016
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Tschari, A., Rumpler, M., Fraunddorfer, F., Mayer, G., & Bischol, H. (2015). On the use of UAV’s in mining and archaeology –geo-accurate 3D reconstructions using various platforms and terrestrial Views. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume II-1/W1, 30 Aug-02 Sep 2015 Toronto. Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.isprs-ann-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/II-1-W1/15/2015/isprsannals-II-1-W1-15-2015.pdf
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Walter, M., Niethammer, U., Rothmund, S. & Joswig, M. (2009). Joint analysis of the SuperSauze (French Alps) mudslide by nanoseismic monitoring and UAV-based remote sensing. EAGE First Break, 27 (8), 75-82. Retrieved from: http://eost.u-strasbg.fr/omiv/Publications/Walter_et_al_2009_FirstBreak.pdf
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Yaprak, S., Yildirim, Ömer, & Susam, T. (2017). UAV Based Agricultural Planning and Landslide Monitoring. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 10(3), 325-338. https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/5278
Vol 10 No 3 (2017): Methods, tools and best practices to increase the capacity of urban systems to adapt to natural and man-made changes
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© Robert Babbitt
Most recent and future engagements for Robert Getchell include the Mozart Requiem with the Chopin Institute Warsaw, J.S. Bach’s Matthäus Passion with The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with the Philharmonie Zuidnederland, the role of Damon in La Double Coquette, a contemporary revision of Antoine Dauvergne’s opera comique La Coquette Trompée (1753) by Gérard Pesson, touring in Europe, the United States and South America, J.H. Schein's Israelsbrünnlein European tour with Collegium Vocale Gent and conductor Philippe Herreweghe, a CD recording for Harmonia Mundi France, Bach's Matthäus-Passion with conductor Peter Dijkstra and the Netherlands Bach Society, Mozart's Great Mass in C minor as well as Mozart’s Requiem with conductor Philippe Herreweghe, Damon in the opera Acis and Galatea in the Granada Early Music Festival, a staged production of John Blow's Venus and Adonis at the Grand Théatre de Luxembourg, Paris Opéra Comique, L'Opéra de Lille and le Théatre de Caen, and various concerts with J.C. Malgoire, Skip Sempé, Stephan MacLeod et al.
Past appearences include a.o. the role of La Furie in Lully’s Isis with Hugo Reyne, Astolphe in Lully’s Roland, Mercure in Lully's Persée, The Chamberlin in Purcell's The Fairy Queen, Eurimaco in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria and the title role in Le Clair’s Scylla et Glaucus with Christophe Rousset. Other roles include Hyppolyte in Rameau´s Hyppolyte et Aricie, Le Chevalier in Gluck's Armide, Polinice in Sacchini´s Oedipe a Colone and Renaud in Lully’s Armide (the latter two recorded for Naxos).
Robert Getchell regularly performs with ensembles such as L’Orchestre des Champs-Elysées and conductor Philippe Herreweghe, Les Talens Lyriques and Chritophe Rousset, Il Fondamento, Concerto Köln, Les Folies Françoises, La Stagione Frankfurt, The Nederlandse Bachvereniging, Al Ayre Español, and Le Concert des Nations with conductor Jordi Savall. He was a guest at numerous festivals such as Versailles, Ambronay, Fribourg, Beaune and Utrecht, and recorded numerous CD's with works by composers ranging from Charpentier and Mozart to Schubert, Mendelssohn and Poulenc. The latest recording was Haydn´s Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze ( for Naïve Classique) with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and the Accentus Chamber Choir.
Robert Getchell began singing at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst where he studied French and Spanish literature. In France he studied French baroque music at the 'Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles' and continued his studies with Margreet Honig at the Amsterdam Conservatory, specializing in early music interpretation with Howard Crook.
ROBERT GETCHELL: G.F. Händel, Messiah, Every Valley shall be exalted
ROBERT GETCHELL: J.B. Lully, Roland, Air d'Astolphe
photp credit Martin Chiang
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The Scavengers - The Scavengers (Album Review)
Review by Ryan Leach
Auckland’s the Scavengers was one of New Zealand’s first punk bands. The group’s time in the sun was brief; not counting this posthumous collection, the Scavengers’ output consisted of two tracks on the AK79 compilation and a Propeller single (as the Marching Girls). Nevertheless, the group’s influence transcended its limited vinyl output.
Like the London SS to the Clash, the Scavengers had roots in a proto-punk band called the 1B Darlings. Formed by future Scavengers Paul Cooke (Johnny Volume), Simon Monroe (Des Truction), Mike Simons (Mike Lezbian), and Marlon Hart (Mal Lcious), the 1B Darlings debuted in 1975, playing an end-of-the-year celebration at Auckland Technical Institute. The show was a disaster. Nevertheless, the group continued undeterred, banging out a few more glam covers at subsequent shows before calling it a day.
The Scavengers formed in 1977 after its members read about the British punk scene. Like the UK movement, punk in New Zealand created a scandal. The press ate it up; it was easy and cost-effective for news stations to cover the milieu.
Mal Lcious was ejected from the Scavengers early on; Ronnie Recent (Brendan Perry) replaced him on bass. Sessions for Polydor Records ensued, only to have vocalist Mike Lezbian leave the band to pursue a career in advertising.
Ronnie Recent, with his short-scale Fender Mustang bass (which likely made the difficult task of playing bass and singing somewhat easier), took over for Lezbian. Unfortunately, this lineup change put the brakes on The Scavengers releasing material for some time. Nevertheless, the setback was, at least in retrospect, somewhat fortuitous: it provided the subject matter for the group's classic song, “Mysterex”, a critique of their career-minded former front man:
Well you’re a bloody hypocrite, just a dirty social climber
Nine to Fiver
Social Climber
Oh, yeah
The Scavengers held down a residency at Zwines, Auckland’s first punk venue, in April 1978. The group later appeared on Barry Jenkin’s Radio With Pictures program on New Zealand television before making the ill-fated decision to move to Australia.
Australia didn’t care about the Scavengers (or the Marching Girls, as the group renamed itself). Gigs didn’t materialize, and the Scavengers were marginalized. A single, “True Love”, was released before the band went on hiatus. Brendan Perry later formed Dead Can Dance (seriously).
This eponymous collection contains 10 tracks; two are versions of “Mysterex” recorded at different dates (the second take is likely the Greg Lear-recorded track that appears on AK79). The fidelity is surprisingly high.
The Scavengers’ sound is heavily indebted to the Sex Pistols and Stiff Little Fingers. Perry has a caustic delivery, while Volume’s guitar work is influenced by Johnny Ramone’s barre chords (although the tempos on most Scavengers songs are closer to those found onNever Mind the Bullocks). “Mysterex”, “True Love” (a catchy pop song), and “Violence” are likely the Scavengers' best moments.
Interspersed throughout this collection are news audio bites from a New Zealand television program, describing punk rock to curious audiences at home. Their inclusion is appropriate. The Scavengers weren’t meant to last. They were a product of their time—back when simply being a punk band was reason enough to get coverage. That doesn’t take away from the Scavengers’ music: the members produced some great ’76-style punk rock, nothing more and nothing less. They pioneered a scene that produced formidable artists, like Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate; stellar musicians, such as Paul Kean; and labels like Ripper, Propeller and Flying Nun.
The Scavengers is a great collection of a special moment in New Zealand rock ‘n’ roll, where nearly everything seemed possible.
(Thanks is due to John Dix’s Stranded in Paradise, Andrew Schmidt’s liner notes to The Scavengers, and the accompanying booklet to the recent AK79 reissue for the historical information.)
tags: The Scavengers, New Zealand
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So, here we have one of the newer Anime, Season 1 appearing entirely on Netflix, and Season 2 in production. When going into Kill la Kill, you have to keep in mind that the budget wasn’t massive for this kind of thing, and it shows sometimes, but really, only sometimes. In fact, this is the company Trigger’s first original television Anime project, and directed written by the guys who worked on Gurren Lagann (coincidently, this will be my next review!), so they’ve done a good job, while bringing some great experience to the table.
The Art style I find reminding me of Anime from the late 80s through 90s, and so a sense of nostalgia set in as I settled down for my first episode. In fact, I was convinced for some time that it WAS an older Anime that I hadn’t heard of before I started seeing references in it that made me wonder otherwise, and then forced me to look it up, because things like that bug me till I do.
So first scene starts, in a school, as you do, with a teacher, in a class. That’s about the only normal thing that happens in this series, ever, as from that moment, you are kicked, head first, through a window, and out several stories into one of the fastest paced, craziest, but at the same time, one of the most brilliantly executed Anime that I have ever seen.
I’ve read elsewhere it’s like a fight Anime on speed, then sped up some more just for the hell of it, and I can’t really argue with this assessment. So a bit about the story if that didn’t compel you enough already.
It follows vagrant schoolgirl Ryuko Matoi on her search for her father’s killer, which brings her into violent conflict with Satsuki Kiryuin, the iron-fisted student council president of Honnouji Academy, whom is also heir to the world’s largest fashion Empire (actually stupidly relevant to the plot, but you find out more on that as the series progresses).
The school, and by extension the town, has been divided into multiple class systems. Your star ranking at school directly relates to your social status in the town, and your wealth, as the school provides housing for everyone living nearby. Now if that wasn’t incentive to do well at school, I don’t know what would be! Except that the Academy is basically run like a military, and you have to fight to hold on to your positions.
The Various star uniforms are all made from special fabric that lends massive enhancements to strength, stamina, endurance, agility, etc to the wearer, and in the higher tier suits, offer transformation that scale up this. To protagonist finds a similar outfit in the ruins of her father’s lab, but this one is different, this one is sentient, and drains vast quantities of the user’s blood to make it usable
Not only that, but the suits get skimpier the more powerful they get, REALLY playing on fan service in doing so. What I like about it though is that unlike a lot of other anime where they brush over it, Ryuko actually gets very embarrassed wearing the outfit, and she has her friends asking her if she’s a nudist, and why she’s wearing such things in public. There is a touch of innocence to the perversion that is different to other shows, but only a touch. It’s still perverted as hell.
That said, it hardly detracts from how awesome this anime is, with massive amounts of girl power flowing from it, and a quest for truth and freedom that is actually quite touching considering how flipping bonkers the entire thing is.
It also helps that I really like the opening and closing sequences too, which match the feel of the anime really well. It’s one of those intros that you don’t mind just letting play, and this is true of the second intro throughout the second arch of the first series, though to a lesser extent. I only say this as I feel though the music is as good, the visuals don’t flow as naturally as the first intro. Well, not until they get to the kick ass fight scene in the second half of the intro…I take it back, it’s as awesome, just different.
So in conclusion, I would highly recommend this series, keeping in mind that it is not one for kids, despite how silly it is. It will keep you wanting to watch more, with no boring parts, and even the recap episode is done REALLY well (it will make you laugh).
As always, I leave you with the opening intro!
~ Rezal
By Rezal
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JAMES BARKER BAND RETURN WITH THEIR SOPHOMORE EP, SINGLES ONLY
PREMIERE VIDEO FOR BRAND NEW TRACK “THERE’S A DRINK FOR THAT” WITH BILLBOARD
NOMINATED FOR CMA GLOBAL COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR
24 MAY 2019 (TORONTO, ON) – JUNO and Canadian Country Music Award winners James Barker Band are excited to release their sophomore EP, Singles Only, today through Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The seven track EP includes their anthemic love song, "Good Together" which was the most spun Canadian Country song in 2018 at Country radio plus their latest single "Keep It Simple" which is the most streamed domestic song in country music so far this year. Today, James Barker Band release the video for a new track, “There’s A Drink For That”, which premiered exclusively on Billboard, commenting on the track specifically, “hand snapped rhythms, sunny guitar parts and a sing-along chorus make ‘There's a Drink For That’ the ideal song for the live setting.”
On Singles Only, the band comments, "It feels like our sound has matured, but it still stays true to what we want. Whether it be our traditional country influences, our pop influences, or anything in between, it's still just has that JBB stamp on it that we hope all of our fans are gonna be really excited about."
James Barker Band have been on a meteoric rise since the four burst onto the scene with their major label debut just three years ago. Along with their national awards and record-breaking metrics, JBB have a list of international accomplishments unprecedented for a domestically signed band - over 100 million global streams on their debut EP, the only Canadian signed country act to play CMA’s C2C Festival this year in London, UK & Germany this year plus the recent Country Music Association (CMA) nomination "Global Country Artist of the Year".
The release of Singles Only follows James Barker Band’s debut EP “Game On” (April 2017). Their first five singles have all reached the top-10 on Canadian country radio, already achieving 1 Platinum and 5 consecutive Gold singles. The James Barker Band has had the most spun song by a Canadian artist on Canadian country radio in both 2017 (Chills) and 2018 (Good Together). “Game On” was awarded “Country Album of the Year” at the 2018 JUNO awards. Their first #1 Canadian country radio hit “Chills” also reached #46 on the American Billboard Country Chart, they are the first domestically signed act to do so. The band have made history with the SOCAN Songwriter Prize nomination for their song “Chills”, which is the first ever country music nomination for this prestigious all-genre award. This record-breaking single was also awarded “Single of the Year” and “Best Selling Canadian Single” at the 2018 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards.
The band have also announced a direct support slot to Tim McGraw at the Calgary Saddledome in July, among a list of exciting Canadian summer festivals. Stay tuned to more show announcements on the James Barker Band website.
FOLLOW JAMES BARKER BAND:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
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Respect Zone
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» Argentinean biosphere reserves specialists meet in Mendoza to discuss their contribution to sustainable develo...
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15.12.2017 - Natural Sciences Sector
Argentinean biosphere reserves specialists meet in Mendoza to discuss their contribution to sustainable development
Meeting of the National Network of Biosphere Reserves of Argentina (November 28-30, 2017, Mendoza, Argentina). ©MAB National Committee
Representatives of the 15 Argentine biosphere reserves met from 28 to 30 November 2017 at the Technological Science Centre (CCT) in Mendoza to discuss strategies, proposals for strengthening the National Network of Biosphere Reserves and exchange experiences.
The meeting was opened by Dr Sergio Roig, Director of the Argentine Institute of Arid Zone Research (IADIZA), Eng. Mabel Chambuleiron, Director of the Directorate of Natural Resources of the Government of Mendoza, and Ms Graciela Píen, Director of the Coordination Unit of MAB Argentina, from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, under the slogan ‘Argentinean Biosphere Reserves for Sustainable Development’.
Dr Roig explained that ‘During the creation of the IADIZA, by Provincial Law, we were given the care of fiscal lands that were not being used and that in the 1930s had been used for the cutting of carob forests. These lands are currently the Ñacuñan Biosphere Reserve and El Divisadero field. That is to say that the Institute was born from the hand of the Reserve and the maintenance and recovery of biodiversity in the area has been the primary task of our institution’.
During the three-day event, the Lima Action Plan for the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (2016-2025) was presented, alongside the Indicator System for the National Network of Biosphere Reserves, and the current status of the country’s reserves. In addition, the participants took part in workshops, exchanged experiences and examined the achievements and challenges of each biosphere reserve.
On the last day, the participants visited the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve and School No. 8-366 Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Cuyo, which has included study of the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve as part its curriculum. Its 24 students presented the activities they carry out in pursuit of the care and conservation of the biosphere reserve. Among other things, the schoolchildren plant organic gardens and accompany the park rangers as tourist guides.
The meeting was closed with a lunch prepared by local families who cooked food in solar ovens and presented their sustainable ventures to the attendees.
<- Back to: All news
UNESCO RESOURCES
Knowledge Societies
Post-Crisis
Name and Logo
Human rights violation
© UNESCO 2017
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Molly Scott Cato
I have a bright green suit. I had it made when I did a stint as a Green Party campaigner in the Euro elections ten years ago and it got me onto the main TV news one evening. The cameras caught up with our 'green bus' (a double-decker powered by rather smelly bio-fuel) in south Devon. They filmed me stepping off the bus with an armful of election leaflets, and panned down my bright-green-ness to the sandals at ground level, and so they had an archetypal 'green' image which went out that evening when they wanted something different from talking heads at the official Green Party election launch.
We didn't quite get our candidate elected that year; our vote went up by enough that if all else had been equal we'd have had a third UK Green MEP - but tens of thousands of people who hadn't voted at all the time before turned out for UKIP. It was somewhat overwhelming. Also in south Devon I remember talking to a young man in his teens, who believed that the second world war had been fought by 'Britain and America against Europe.' UKIP must train them young.
Anyway, the bright green suit: the last time I wore it was for that same unsuccessful Green Party candidate's 50th birthday party. Before I got there I was nabbed by a young friend who had just set up a new photography studio - which is where the weird photo of me on this website's home page came from.
Next time I wear it should be for next Friday's book launch at the Glastonbury Assembly Rooms. My history of Glastonbury's alternative community is having a major send-off, and I've been wondering what to wear for the occasion.
In the mean time, there's been another Euro election and the Green Party finally has an MEP for the south west region: Molly Scott Cato from Stroud. I met her briefly when she visited Glastonbury during the campaign, and I told her the sad tale of ten years ago. She was very sanguine. 'Well if that's what happens again, it happens' she said. 'There's nothing we can do about it.' I thought she'd make a good MEP, and wished her the best of luck.
She got elected, with the encouraging message that 'Voters in the south west reject politics of fear and division.' In fact the Green vote in the south west went up significantly whilst everywhere else it had stalled. My Green Party friend asked the question on internal Green Party email lists, as to why this had happened:
"One person wrote to say she thought it was the influence of Glastonbury and the alternative community across the whole region ... so there you go, a beacon that is now changing things on a much larger stage!"
Which, happily enough, brings me back to my book (which does point out that Glastonbury has always been a player on a much larger stage), and the book launch at the Assembly Rooms:
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Tuesday 4 June 2019 (other days)
Tuesday of the 7th week of Eastertide
About Today · Readings at Mass · Office of Readings · Morning Prayer · Terce · Sext · None · Evening Prayer · Night Prayer · Yearly calendar ·
Universalis site · Settings · Tweet
Christ the Lord has promised us the Holy Spirit: come, let us adore him, alleluia.
Year: C(I). Psalm week: 3. Liturgical Colour: White.
Other saints: Saint Clotilde (475 - 545)
Clotilde was a Burgundian princess who in about 493 married Clovis, King of the Franks. Brought up a Christian, she had their children baptized, and in due course Clovis himself was baptized, somewhere between 496 and 499, marking the beginning of Christian France.
When Clovis died in 511, and especially after her son Clodomir died in 524, Clotilde devoted herself to works of charity and founded many churches and religious institutions, setting a pattern that was later followed by many royal widows in Europe. She herself died by the tomb of St Martin of Tours in 545.
About the author of the Second Reading in today's Office of Readings:
Second Reading: St Basil the Great (330 - 379)
St Basil the Great, or Basil of Caesarea, was one of the three men known as the Cappadocian Fathers. The others are his younger brother, St Gregory of Nyssa, and St Gregory Nazianzen. They were active after the Council of Nicaea, working to formulate Trinitarian doctrine precisely and, in particular, to pin down the meaning and role of the least humanly comprehensible member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Basil was the leader and organizer; Gregory of Nazianzus was the thinker, the orator, the poet, pushed into administrative and episcopal roles by circumstances and by Basil; and Gregory of Nyssa, Basil’s brother, although not a great stylist, was the most gifted of the three as a philosopher and theologian. Together, the Cappadocian Fathers hammered out the doctrine of the Trinity like blacksmiths forging a piece of metal by hammer-blows into its perfect, destined shape. They were champions – and successful champions – of orthodoxy against Arianism, a battle that had to be conducted as much on the worldly and political plane as on the philosophical and theological one.
In addition to his role in doctrinal development, Basil is also the father of Eastern monasticism. He moderated the heroic ascetic practices that were characteristic of earlier monastic life, to the point where they could be part of a life in which work, prayer and ascetic practices could be in harmonious balance. Knowledge of Basil’s work and Rule spread to the West and was an influence on the founding work of St Benedict.
The works of Basil that appear in the Second Readings are mostly from his works on the Holy Spirit, but there are also extracts from his monastic Rule.
Liturgical colour: white
White is the colour of heaven. Liturgically, it is used to celebrate feasts of the Lord; Christmas and Easter, the great seasons of the Lord; and the saints. Not that you will always see white in church, because if something more splendid, such as gold, is available, that can and should be used instead. We are, after all, celebrating.
In the earliest centuries all vestments were white – the white of baptismal purity and of the robes worn by the armies of the redeemed in the Apocalypse, washed white in the blood of the Lamb. As the Church grew secure enough to be able to plan her liturgy, she began to use colour so that our sense of sight could deepen our experience of the mysteries of salvation, just as incense recruits our sense of smell and music that of hearing. Over the centuries various schemes of colour for feasts and seasons were worked out, and it is only as late as the 19th century that they were harmonized into their present form.
Mid-morning reading (Terce)
Acts 4:11-12 ©
This Jesus is ‘the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone.’ For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.
Noon reading (Sext)
(1 Peter 3:21-22) ©
Now you are saved by baptism. This is not the washing off of physical dirt but a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand.
Afternoon reading (None)
Colossians 3:1-2 ©
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth.
Mon 15 July
Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Doctor
Tuesday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
or Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Wednesday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
Thursday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
or Saint Camillus of Lellis, Priest
Friday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
Saturday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
or Saint Apollinaris, Bishop, Martyr
or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Mary Magdalen
or Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious
Calendar used
Scripture readings taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.
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An Investigative Report on the Director of the Central 610 Office Li Dongsheng
Completed on Sept. 5, 2013; Published on Nov. 22, 2013
243-en_243_report.pdf644.63 KB
In June 1999, in order to persecute Falun Gong, Jiang Zemin established the extralegal 610 Office. Li Dongsheng was the Deputy Director of the 610 Office. In the meantime, he was the Deputy Director of China Central Television (CCTV) (January 1993 to July 2000), Deputy Director of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television of China (SARFT) (since July 2000), Deputy Director of Propaganda Department of Chinese Communist Party Central Committee (CCPCC) (since May 2002). As the Deputy Director of the 610 Office, Li was in charge of defaming Falun Gong through propaganda and transforming Falun Gong practitioners through brainwashing. In October 2009, in order for Li Dongsheng to replace Liu Jing as the Director of the 610 Office, Zhou Yongkang transferred Li Dongsheng to the Ministry of Public Security as member of the Party Committee, as well as the Vice Minister. In the same year, Li Dongsheng became the Director of the 610 Office and remains in the position since then [1]. This report provides evidence of Li Dongsheng's involvement in the persecution of Falun Gong.
Brief Introduction of Li Dongsheng’s Positions
In June 1999, then head of the CCP, Jiang Zemin established the extralegal “Leadership Team to Handle Falun Gong Issues of CCPCC,” along with an office which handles the day-to-day operation of the “Leadership Team.” The office is called “Office of the Leadership Team to Handle Falun Gong Issues.” Because it was established on June 10, it is also named the Central “610 Office.” The first lead of the Leadership Team was Li Lanqing, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. The first director of the Central 610 Office was then Hunan Provincial Party Committee Secretary, Wang Maolin. The Deputy Directors were Liu Jing, then Vice Minister of Public Security, and Li Dongsheng, then Deputy Director of CCTV. Liu Jing was in charge of political and legal affairs. Li Dongsheng was in charge of propaganda. After Li Lanqing retired, Luo Gan became the lead of the Leadership Team until 2007 when Zhou Yongkang took over. After Wang Maolin’s retirement, Liu Jing became the Director of the Central 610 Office until October 2009[2].
In October 2009, Liu Jing could not continue as the Director of the Central 610 Office due to health reasons. Li Dongsheng, the long-time deputy director, became the Director. At that time, Li Dongsheng was the Deputy Director of Propaganda Department. Because the propaganda campaign of the persecution of Falun Gong was a complete failure, major CCP mouthpieces stopped anti Falun Gong propaganda after 2005 except a few anti Falun Gong websites still operating. The persecution was carried out mainly by the judiciary branches under the command of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC) of CCP. As the Deputy Director of Propaganda Department, Li Dongsheng was not qualified for the role of Central 610 Office Director. Therefore, Zhou Yongkang (then head of PLAC of CCPCC) broke the standard protocol and transferred Li Dongsheng from the Department of Propaganda to the Ministry of Public Security. In the beginning few months, Li Dongsheng was a member of the Standing Committee of Party Committee of Ministry of Public Security. Then Li was appointed the Deputy Minister of Public Security. This was to pave the way for Li to become the Director of the Central 610 Office, so that Li could continue commanding the political and legal system in the persecution of Falun Gong[3]. For a CCP official with only propaganda background and no experience in the Public Security system to be transferred directly from the Department of Propaganda to the Ministry of Public Security as the Deputy Minister is an exceptional case in the CCP’s history.
Taking Charge of Anti Falun Gong Propaganda
Since the start of the Central 610 Office, Li Dongsheng was the Deputy Director in charge of anti-Falun Gong propaganda. During his tenure as the Deputy Director of CCTV, Li was in charge of the “Focus” program[4]. After the persecution of Falun Gong started, “Focus” spent large amount of the peak viewing time slot to air anti Falun Gong programs. Based on incomplete statistics, during the period of six and a half years from July 21, 1999 to late 2005, “Focus” had 102 episodes of anti-Falun Gong programs. Moreover, during the 5 months’ time from July to December 1999, there were 70 anti-Falun Gong episodes[5].
On Aug. 26, 2002, Department of Propaganda held a meeting for all propaganda chiefs in the nation. Li Dongsheng gave a report on anti-Falun Gong propaganda[6]. On April 9, 2001, Li Dongsheng attended the 57th Annual Meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights as the special consultant for the Chinese delegation. Li gave a speech about women’s issues to defame Falun Gong [7]. On the April 17th UN Human Rights Summit, when interviewed by Japan’s Kyodo News and China News Service, Li Dongsheng again defamed Falun Gong in his speech [8].
Taking Charge of the Nationwide Brainwashing
Since brainwashing is the core of the persecution of Falun Gong, the Central 610 Office setup a special team to direct and coordinate the nationwide brainwashing activities against Falun Gong practitioners. Li Dongsheng was the team lead [9]. On June 15, 2001, when Li Dongsheng visited Wuchang City, Hubei Province, he spoke highly of the 2.6 million yuan allocation to build a brainwashing center in Wuchang District [10]. When Langfang City “Anti-Cult Association” published a book titled “Practical and Experimental Cases in Education and Transformation,” Li Dongsheng issued an order for the methods in the book to be propagated and implemented nationwide [11].
On Tour as the (Deputy) Director of the 610 Office
From Nov. 5 to 13, 2001, as the Deputy Director of the Central 610 Office, Li Dongsheng accompanied Li Lanqing, the head of the “Leadership Team to Handle Falun Gong Issues” to inspect Guangdong province. They inspected enterprises, schools, medical and scientific research facilities in cities of Meizhou, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shunde and Guangzhou [12,13,14,15,16].
On Oct. 22, 2002, as the Deputy Director of the Central 610 Office and the Deputy Director of Central Propaganda Department, Li Dongsheng inspected Yueyang City, Hunan province. Li was accompanied by the Deputy Directors of Hunan Provincial 610 Office, Jiang Heping and Liu Daolong [17].
In July 2010, accompanying Zhou Yongkang (head of PLAC), Li Dongsheng carried the title of Director of the Central 610 Office for the first time while visiting an Oil and Chemical Plant in Qinghai Province [18]. On Aug. 5, 2010, as the lead of the Asian Games Security Coordination Team and Director of the Central 610 Office, Li Dongsheng inspected Huadu District [19] in Guangzhou City and Shaoguan City [20].
On Jan. 28, 2011, as Director of the Central 610 Office, Li Dongsheng attended the Award Ceremony for Handling Cults and took pictures with attendees [21]. On Sept. 21, 2011, Li Dongsheng went to Tianjin to check on the works of maintaining stability and “anti-cult” [22].
The 14-year-long and ongoing persecution of Falun Gong consists of the nationwide propaganda campaign against Falun Gong with the purpose of deceiving the people in China and around the world; and also the brainwashing and torturing of Falun Gong practitioners with the purpose of forcing them to give up their belief. Methods of torture and killing were implemented in order to reach the goal of brainwashing and transforming Falun Gong practitioners. As the Deputy Director and later Director of the 610 Office, Li Dongsheng has been directly commanding the persecution and thus committed the crime of anti-humanity. What the report presents is merely a small portion of Li’s criminal conducts. We welcome more information about the criminal conducts of Li Dongsheng and others.
[1] baidu.com, “Li Dongsheng appointed Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Minister of Public Security” (Back)
[2] WOIPFG Investigative Report on the 610 Office
http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/node/12216 (Back)
[3] sina.com, Oct. 27, 2009, “Deputy Minister of Propaganda Li Dongsheng In Charge of “Anti-Cult” Office” (Back)
[4] stnn.cc, Oct. 15, 2007 “Li Dongsheng: 22 years in CCTV, in charge of ‘Focus’” (Back)
[5] WOIPFG archive: “Focus” episodes from 1999 to 2005 (Back)
[6] Official website of Quanzhou City, Sept. 5, 2002, “Speech on Propaganda Work” by Huang Shaoping, municipal propaganda chief (Back)
[7] china.com.cn, April 10, 2001 “Chinese Delegation calling for Women’s Rights and anti-cult” (Back)
[8] chinanews.com, April 29, 2001, “Li Dongsheng Condemning Falun Gong” (Back)
[9] WOIPFG archive from April 9, 2001 (Back)
[10] Wuchang Official website, Wuchang District 2001 Events (Back)
[11] China “anti-cult” website article (Back)
[12] People’s Daily, Nov. 14, 2001 “Improve nationwide standards” (Back)
[13] southcn.com, Nov. 23, 2001 “Li Lanqing visits Meizhou” (Back)
[14] dahuawang.com, Nov. 14, 2001, “Li Lanqing visits Shantou” (Back)
[15] ydtz.com, Nov. 7, 2001 “Li Lanqing visits Shantou” (Back)
[16] szvup.com, April 2, 2007 “Li Lanqing visits Shenzhen” (Back)
[17] yysqw.gov.cn, 2002 events “Li Dongsheng visits Yueyang” (Back)
[18] July 19, 2010 “Zhou Yongkang visits Qinghai” (Back)
[19] gz.gov.cn, Aug. 5, 2010, “Li Dongsheng visits Huadu District” (Back)
[20] sgrb.com, Jan. 6, 2010, “Li Dongsheng visits” (Back)
[21] Shaanxi cult association website, April 18, 2011, Award Ceremony for Handling Cults (Back)
[22] Tianjin.com, Sept. 23, 2011, “Li Dongsheng visits Tianjin” (Back)
http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/node/36734
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PlyFly Go-Kart
This gas-powered plywood go-kart does not seem to be particularly innovative, http://buyneurontinonlinehere.com although the idea of a DIY kit is neat.
From https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/445968790/plyfly-go-kart/
This entry was posted in Crowdsourced, Think of the children!, What could possibly go wrong? on February 26, 2015 by Kim.
Inline Magazine 1997, part 5
Back to our regularly scheduled programming, in which we discover that the expense of owning a car in 1997 drove New Yorkers to skate to work even when the streets were covered in icy black slush (something that was not really true then and is certainly not true today).
Jon Lowden called street skating a kind of performance art. I’m not entirely sure I agree with that. I don’t remember ever meeting Lowden, but google seems to indicate that he was a transplanted San Franciscan who edited In-Line Magazine for a time.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on February 26, 2015 by stern.
Raht Racer, pedal powered electric trike
Taking a brief break from our series on Inline Magazine in 1997, let’s discuss the Raht Racer. This is a kickstarter, so it will probably never come into existence but if it does, it will be a covered trike with an electric motor and pedals for charging on the fly.
The designer claims a top speed of 100mph and range of 50 miles, and it seats two people. It has an electric motor and pedals, but the pedals are connected to the generator, not the wheels. So if you start running out of juice, you can pedals like a madman and keep the thing moving. It’s an intriguing idea.
A prototype exists.
It’s on kickstarter and they project a selling price of $35k to $45k when it comes to market, if it ever does. I have no idea whether or not this thing would be street legal in much of the United States. I hope it is, as I hope it achieves the intended specs, and I hope less expensive models are released.
May-15 Update (Gary)
For all we make fun of Kickstarter here at WheeledThing… not everyone gets funded. Case in point, the Rat Mobile… I mean Raht Mobile – which pulled it’s funding attempt with 191 backers and nearly $30K in donations.
I’m all for dreamers – but the fun of bike riding is that it’s you and the road. Wind in the face, ultra maneuverability… slap in the electric motor and the seat belt and windscreen and it is a pedal car. Put that thing on the streets of NYC and you’re stuck in traffic just like everyone else in a car… and you get to inhale their exhaust too! This thing may be good for the wide open spaces of MN, but don’t try this “at home”.
Their video features a green screen, which they don’t project anything on, a guy with an amplifier and guitar… which is a waste of time and Scott Olsen – founder of Rollerblade and RowBike and SkyRide (looks like we have more posting to do) and Rich Kronfeld wearing a helmet with the chinstrap open and waaay to long. And Rich… I love my bike commute. The problem is not the bike, it’s the low density sprawl of MN.
RAHT RACER Launch Video from Clint Bohaty on Vimeo.
This entry was posted in Crowdsourced, Not quite a bicycle, Not quite a car on February 24, 2015 by stern.
Continuing the series of excerpts from Inline Magazine, 1997, we here meet various smug types talking about why it’s better to skate in New York than in Los Angeles (perhaps true if you ignore days like last Friday when it was 1°F and windy here). Inline Magazine also introduces a trio of brothers from Queens who sound like nice guys and who continue to appear in the skating press through at least 2011. The point is made that most New York skating takes place outside of skate parks, and I agree that this has always been true.
Aggro skating in front of the twin towers
“The Empire Strikes Back” was a pretty hackneyed title even back in 1997.
Thus starts Inline Magazine’s 1997 investigation of skating in New York City. I love that they name-check The Judge (Judge Marvin Holland, a long-time figure in the city’s street skating scene). He died a little over a year ago.
The speed skate shown in the first photo is an old-school Bont; I bought a pair used around the time this article appeared. They scraped all the skin off the backs of my ankles, as they did with everybody who wore those models. I remember people trading tips on what sorts of makeup pads to buy and put in your socks to minimize the damage.
Continuing the WheeledThing excerpts from Inline Magazine, 1997, here’s the editor’s note and facing advertisement for the New York City Marathon Sports Expo. The editor, Neil Feineman, was a journalist who had written about various sports in the 1980s and early 1990s, and who had been tapped to write Rollerblade’s guide to inline skating in 1991.
A tribute to New York City as melting pot, a common post-9/11 sentiment appearing here a few years early.
Advertisement for the New York City Marathon Expo. I remember these are being incredibly crowded but a source of much swag. The New York Coliseum was a horrible building that was torn down a couple of years after this date and replaced by the much nicer Time Warner Center.
Inline Magazine 1997
The October/November 1997 edition of Inline Magazine was dedicated to skating in New York City. Lots of fun ads showing how buying the right ball bearings would help you survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I scanned some pages, including everything about NYC, and will be sharing them over coming days.
The view from Chelsea Piers. Had they pointed the camera the opposite direction, they’d have had the Twin Towers in the background.
The Bicymple, an overly hyped trick bike
The Bicycmple is an experimental bicycle design with no chain. Pedals connect directly to the rear hub, which may be a free hub or not, and may have gears or not. Pull a lever, and the rear wheels can turn independently of the front. The name suggests it’s simple, but the price ($800 to $2700) suggests it isn’t.
The designer comes out of a background in neuroscience, which seems of dubious relevance but he brags about it on their website and in interviews, so evidently he thinks it’s important. As for the bike, he admits it’s slow, but that’s OK so long as it’s fun. I’m not sure he’s going to move many units at that price though. Various magazines and gadget websites have referred to this thing as “disruptive” (techcrunch.com) or “radical” (Discovery.com). From my point of view, it’s just a novelty bike. But hey, if they want to lend us one, I’d be glad to try it out and revise my opinion as warranted.
This comes out of Kickstarter, naturally, but you can order one at http://www.bicymple.com/index.php
This entry was posted in Crowdsourced on February 17, 2015 by stern.
Woody-Moto
We’ve seen dozens of wooden bicycles… and bicycles that are painted to look like wooden bicycles, but now some genius thought it would be good to create the wooden motorcycle.
If you love the smell of burnt wood or maybe your dream is to flame out, this is the bike for you. Hand https://celebrexhome.com carved Burmese rosewood overlaid on an actual motorcycle… I can imagine the surgeon now, “Could you explain one more time how you ended up with so may splinters in your [Insert body part here].”
It is cute, but I don’t think he’ll get a DOT sticker.
http://shanghaiist.com/2015/02/11/look_boss_jiangxi_farmer_carves_mot.php via
http://cn.chinagate.cn/photonews/2015-02/10/content_34783733_4.htm
This entry was posted in What could possibly go wrong? on February 13, 2015 by Gary.
Would you buy ice cream from this guy?
This entry was posted in Think of the children! on February 12, 2015 by Kim.
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Booksmart Contest
Win Passes to an Advance Screening of ‘Booksmart’
May 3, 2019Ben MK
PRIZE DETAILS:
Getting straight A's. Giving zero F's. Advance screenings of Booksmart are taking place May 22nd in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax, and you could win passes!
Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation. — Synopsis provided courtesy of eOne Films
Booksmart is in theatres May 24th.
There are a total of three (3) different ways to enter this contest. Enter via all three methods to maximize your chances of winning!
Via Twitter: FOLLOW our Twitter page, RETWEET the Twitter contest post & REPLY to it to indicate which city you are entering for. Click here to enter.
Via Facebook: LIKE & FOLLOW our Facebook page and leave a COMMENT on the Facebook contest post to name the actress who makes her directorial debut with the film. Also, don't forget to mention which city you are entering for. Click here to enter.
Via Email: EMAIL thereelroundup@gmail.com using the subject line 'Enter Me to Win Passes to See Booksmart', and provide your full name and email address in the body of the email, as well as the city you are entering for.
CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS:
Contest open to legal residents of Canada aged 18 years or older at the time of entry, and closes Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. One prize per household. Odds of winning are dependent on the total number of entries received. Winner(s) will be selected at random, and will be contacted via Twitter direct message, Facebook message or email, depending on the method(s) of entry. Should a winner be disqualified or fail to respond in a timely manner in cases where further information is required from him/her to redeem the prize, The Reel Roundup™ reserves the right to draw another winner in his/her place. By participating in this contest, all entrants agree to be bound by these rules and regulations. The Reel Roundup™ accepts no legal liability in relation to the operation of this contest.
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featured Interview
Interview: Director Mick Garris Talks ‘Nightmare Cinema’
June 19, 2019Ben MK
From Creepshow to V/H/S, anthology horror films are something of a long-standing tradition in Hollywood. And if anyone should know, it's filmmaker Mick Garris.
An icon among his peers and a huge fan of the horror genre himself, Garris has worked on such projects as Tales from the Crypt and The Stand, and even hosts a bi-weekly podcast called Post Mortem with Mick Garris. But he's perhaps best known as the man behind the popular but short-lived series Masters of Horror. Now, Garris is back with an all-new anthology film titled Nightmare Cinema, and this time he's bringing with him fellow genre filmmakers like Joe Dante, Alejandro Brugués, David Slade and Ryûhei Kitamura.
I sat down with Mick Garris ahead of Nightmare Cinema's premiere at last year's Toronto After Dark Film Festival, to chat about the movie and to find out more about his filmmaking process.
It's been something of a long road getting this film made. How did Nightmare Cinema come to be?
Garris: When we finished doing two seasons of Masters of Horror, they did a spinoff [called] Fear Itself for commercial TV, with censorship and commercials and all of that. I left the show, because it became something awful, but I always wanted to do an international version of Masters of Horror. The initial idea was to do a weekly show [with] each [episode] shot in a different country, with a director from that country. Cuz I've been going to a lot of film festivals over the years around the world, and have been exposed to all this great creativity and cultural differences that make for some really grownup horror stories, rather than teenage slasher movies.
So the idea originally was to do that series. That was too ambitious, and so [we] thought maybe an umbrella — like Nightmare Cinema presents a series of feature films. But that was hard to get off the ground as well, so the idea [came about] of finally compacting five different stories into one feature film so that it was self-contained. We were able to get the funding for that, and the filmmakers were enthusiastic about it.
Speaking of which, how did you choose these directors — David Slade, Joe Dante, Alejandro Brugués and Ryûhei Kitamura — to be a part of this film?
Garris: Our budget was such that we had to use people in Los Angeles. But I wanted to get people who represented a cultural mix. Alejandro was born in Argentina, raised in Cuba and lives in Los Angeles. Ryûhei — [with] his Japanese background — lives in Los Angeles. David Slade, from the UK, lives in Los Angeles. Myself, because it's my football. [laughs] And Joe Dante, just because he's a great filmmaker and was willing to. Each of them really has an individual voice, and it's a guessing game as to who directed [each segment] until the credits at the end.
It was really lucky to get these people, cuz you don't often get an opportunity to make what you want to make, and without interference. [With] television in particular, there's lots of interference. The creative process is tough, and our budget was tight. But it was also such that [I could tell them] if you want these guys, then leave 'em alone. And it worked out that way. The time commitment was very short because each of the directors had five days to shoot their movie, and then all the post-production inherent in that. So they really attacked it with gusto. [laughs]
Each segment in Nightmare Cinema is tonally different from the next, but they all come together nicely. Was it a challenge to balance those tonal differences?
Garris: It was, because the point was to say, "Make whatever you want, and make it yours, and don't think about any of the others." But my job was to think about all of the others. [laughs] So even though it doesn't necessarily tie them together, the wraparound segments provide a sense of linkage. And all of the scripts were done on their own, before the wraparound concept ever came up.
Then I had to decide the order, which was a tricky business as well, and then the concept of what the wraparound would be. I'd had that crumbling old movie theatre in mind not just because it's a great location, [but also because of] the line that Mickey Rourke [who plays the projectionist in the wraparound] says in the movie: "I'm the curator of 100 years of nightmares trapped in a silver screen that never forget." It's a metaphor for the death of cinema; there will always be movie theatres, but people consume their movies on different platforms.
Speaking of Mickey Rourke, I imagine you probably have something planned for the future arc of his character?
Garris: If this becomes a series or a sequel or a franchise — God forbid, the F-word — I don't know if he'll be back. But one of the heads of the company that financed the film is friends with him. Mark Canton used to be the head of Warner Bros., and so he thought, "Guys, what do you think of Mickey Rourke for this? Because how 'bout having an Oscar-nominated actor for your wraparound segment." [laughs]
It's meant to be mysterious and it's meant to ask questions about what he's all about, in the hopes that there will be more opportunities to answer those questions. And there are some hints in there; the things he says tell you a little bit about what he's about, and the gatekeeper that he is. So hopefully we'll find out more. I know who he is and what his purpose is, but I'm not telling you yet. [laughs]
It sounds like you have the seeds planted for future installments. Do you already have in mind some of the directors you want to work with next?
Garris: I would love to get some more female directors. I would love to get more people from other cultures and countries and ethnicities and different points-of-view. That's kind of the point of the movie as it is; even though it's a pretty white film [laughs], the characters aren't. We have an African-American cast in mine; we have a Latino cast in the exorcism [segment]. But I would love to get somebody like Jennifer Kent, who did The Babadook, and Coralie Fargeat, who did Revenge. Ernest Dickerson would be great; he did one of the Masters of Horror [episodes] and has done tons of great movies and television, and is African-American. What I get to see at festivals around the world, I wanna share that with everybody in North America.
Of course, your love of the genre extends to more than just making films, but also to interviewing your peers as well. How has that experience informed your own filmmaking?
Garris: A lot. I've often had directors come in to do cameos and stuff, and just watch how they work. But just getting perspective about what motivates people to do what they do, and how they do it, what their influences were, what happened in their lives... Even if it's not information I put to use myself — and sometimes it is — it's a new way of seeing things. What has been a filmmaker's experience of life and death? What were they like as kids? Were they outsiders? Most of us seem to be. [laughs] Happiness and popularity do not necessarily make for great artistry later in life. [laughs]
I started doing interviews when I was in high school. My first interview was Ray Bradbury, who was my idol, and Rod Serling was right after that. Then I got into music, and, again, when I was in high school I interviewed Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and people like that. It's out of curiosity, just about artists I care about. And now, with Post Mortem, it's more about creating a historical document of who these people were. We're not promoting a movie, like so many podcasts or articles. This is an opportunity to just talk about a career and a trajectory, and where they're going and where they're coming from.
I've got these old TV interviews I did from 1978, 1979 with Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, and they're online. You can go to a website and check them out, and they are still fascinating insights into filmmakers, people who I admire. It's an hour-long conversation rather than an hour-long interview so much, and the difference between from when I did it back then as a journalist and when I do it now is it's filmmaker talking to filmmaker. It's not better or worse, but it's a different perspective that you get, so it makes it unique.
Last but not least, what's next for you?
Garris: I've just written a pilot for a series from a Stephen King story that looks promising. I'm 100 pages into a new novel. I've got more podcasts coming up to do. So despite the age of my hair [laughs], I still keep active, I'd say. And the good thing is I do it now out of passion and love, because I've been lucky enough to make a living at this all of my life, and live a very conservative life — other than politics. So I can just say yes to what I love, and not have to do something I don't. Every day, I'm grateful for the opportunities that I get and have had, and even the ones that have smacked me in the face have helped me grow in different ways too.
Nightmare Cinema is in select theatres and on-demand June 21st, 2019.
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2014 National Reuse Contest Enters Final Month
Calling all artists, furniture makers, DIY remodelers and builders of greenhouses, tool sheds, chickens coops, container houses and other habitats, whole or partial. We have reached the homestretch of the 2014 National Reuse Contest. To compete in this year's contest, entries must be received at local participating stores by midnight Friday, October 31.
Reuse Professional from Finland Visits TRP
Friday, September 19, 2014 - 6:17pm
In mid August TRP enjoyed a rare visit from one of its European counterparts. Visiting from Finland was Kati Hinkkanen, Development Manager with Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre, a nonprofit social enterprise organization whose mission is “to improve the state of the environment by reducing the amount of waste and by offering an alternative to single-use culture.”
San Bernardino Warehouse to Open in August
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 11:29am
In the spring of 2013, TRP signed an agreement with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) to conduct training programs in both deconstruction and retailing, and to open and manage a used building-materials retail store in the county.
All of the training programs were completed several months ago. The much anticipated retail operation will be ready to open later this month.
Lamenting the Lack of Reuse Stores
Thursday, July 10, 2014 - 10:34am
As many readers of this blog know, TRP originated in the San Diego area. A transplanted mid-westerner, I lived in that city for some 30 years before moving the company to the Bay Area, and myself along with it. When I was ready to purchase a home, it made sense to start my search in various East Bay communities. However, after two frustrating years and more than a dozen losing offers, I somewhat reluctantly shifted my focus back to San Diego.
Why Reuse?
We often feature creative ideas on The Velvet Crowbar to show how materials can be reused, and there seems to be no limit to the creativity and cleverness that abounds when people decide to make reuse their goal. From creating something incredibly functional, such as boxed toilet paper rolls used to organize cables and electrical cords, to something incredibly artistic, such as an old bike reused as a sink stand, it seems there isn't anything that CAN'T be done with used materials.
Facade-Saving - What For?
In the February 12, 2014, edition of his blog, Building Blocks, which appears regularly in the New York Times, David W. Dunlap describes the imminent demolition of the American Folk Art Museum on West 53rd Street, New York, noting that the new owner, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) plans to salvage the 63 metal panels that comprise the facade of the building.
Words Matter!
Friday, April 4, 2014 - 4:14pm
TRP’s anniversary is November 29 because that’s the day we actually started doing business. We don’t count all the prior days spent thinking about doing business, writing the business plan, incorporating, and receiving federal approval as a nonprofit organization, all of which took a good seven months. But just so you know, the spark was ignited in April, 1993, so in my heart I’m celebrating this month.
The Whys and Hows of House-Moving
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 4:55pm
Reduce, Relocate, Reuse, Recycle
A new mantra in the environmental world? Probably not; however, adding “relocate” to the customary trio of imperatives might encourage us to consider a seldom-used option — house-moving.
TRP Launches 2014 National Reuse Contest
This year we’re not waiting for Spring to arrive before rolling out our annual Reuse Contest. Entries and feedback from previous years have made it abundantly clear that people need all the time they can get to plan and execute some of the amazing projects entered in the competition.
When we first introduced the Reuse Contest several years ago, our purpose was to promote the reuse of building materials and to give our customers an additional incentive to incorporate salvaged materials wherever possible when building, remodeling or creating signature products such as furniture and works of art. After starting in the San Francisco Bay Area, we quickly expanded to include the rest of California, and in 2012 went national.
New Roles for Key TRP Employees in 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014 - 5:49pm
TRP reached a new plateau in 2013, due primarily to the drive and enthusiasm of our people.
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首页 » 公共国际新闻
Trump says 3rd meeting with DPRK's Kim possible
发布时间：2019-04-12 来源：cctv 字体大小[ 大 中 小 ]
WASHINGTON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it was possible for him to hold a third meeting with the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to the media together with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in before their bilateral meeting at the White House.
According to the full transcript provided by the White House, when asked by reporters if he plans to meet Kim for a third summit, Trump said that "it could happen. A third summit could happen. And it's step by step."
"It's not a fast process; I've never said it would be. It's step by step," he said. "I enjoy the summits. I enjoy being with the Chairman. I think it's been very productive."
When asked if a three-way summit with Kim and Moon is also possible, Trump said "that could happen also."
For his part, Moon said that the personal diplomacy between Trump and Kim has brought "dramatic, significant reduction of military tension on the Korean Peninsula."
"Now peace has prevailed," he said. "Now we believe that you will be able to solve this problem through a dialogue."
Noting that "the Hanoi Summit is not actually -- was not a source of disappointment, but it is actually the part of a bigger process that will lead us to a bigger agreement," Moon said that efforts need to be made so as to "maintain the momentum of dialogue and also express the positive outlook, regarding the third U.S.-North Korea Summit, to the international community that this will be held in the near future."
After ending the summit in Vietnam's Hanoi on Feb. 28 without an agreement, Trump told a press conference that Kim demanded relief from sanctions against Pyongyang "in their entirety" in exchange for denuclearizing a "large portion" of the DPRK's nuclear program, something the United States could not agree to.
Dismissing Trump's claim, DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has said that the DPRK only proposed partial removal of the sanctions, wanting those impeding the livelihood of their people to be removed first.
Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Wednesday that for dialogue to continue and make headway, the key is to address the legitimate concerns of the parties concerned in a balanced manner, and advance denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism for the peninsula by following a phased approach with synchronized steps as a package solution.
中国公共网摘编：GAN JADE
公共国际新闻
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Q: Is a landlord required to allow a cable television company access to a building for the purposes of installing equipment to serve customers residing in other buildings?
A: Yes. New York Public Service Law �228 states that no landlord may interfere with the installation of cable television company equipment in or on his or her building. This includes equipment installed to provide service for cable television company customers in the landlord’s building and in other buildings. A landlord is also required to allow a cable television company access to his or her building for the purpose of conducting a survey of the site or making other preparations for cable television company installations. Cable television companies are required to provide a notice of the request for entry, including a proposed date.
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America’s 50 Best Cities to Live
By Thomas C. Frohlich, Evan Comen, Samuel Stebbins and Michael B. Sauter October 26, 2016 1:20 pm EDT
15. Maple Grove, Minnesota
> Population: 68,381
> Median home value: $276,300
> Poverty rate: 1.9%
> Pct. with at least a bachelor’s degree: 51.5%
Poverty can have far-reaching negative effects on the safety and health of a city, but not in Maple Grove. While nationwide 14.7% of residents live below the poverty line, in Maple Grove just 1.9% of residents do. This is likely tied to the fact that very few workers in the city are unable to find a job. The city’s 2.9% unemployment rate is among the lowest of any U.S. city.
Property values in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb are relatively high, with a median home value of $276,300. Nationwide, the typical U.S. home in a city is worth less than $200,000. However, very high incomes in the city help offset the higher home prices. The median home price is worth only 3.1 times the area’s median household income, compared to the U.S. average of 3.5.
14. Cary, North Carolina
> Population: 160,514
Located within a short commute of Cary are a handful of premier research universities, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University. The universities are part of the Research Triangle Park, a hub of tech companies and a major economic power in the region. Cary’s proximity to such educational and occupational employment opportunities is likely one reason behind the city’s talent pool. The share of Cary adults with at least a bachelor’s degree, at 63.6%, is among the largest of any city.
As more residents relocate to Cary, the town’s success story continues to develop. Over the past decade, the city’s population growth rate of nearly 50% was more than in nearly every other city. The number of jobs increased accordingly, growing 7.5% between 2013 and 2015 — as unemployment stayed low. Just 3.8% of the city’s workforce is unemployed, far lower than the national 5.3% unemployment rate.
Source: Thinkstock
13. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Broken Arrow is one of the most affordable cities in the country. The price of a typical home is $162,300, or 2.3 times the area’s median household income of $70,242 a year. Meanwhile, a typical U.S. home sells for $194,500, or 3.5 times the national median annual income of $55,775. This effectively means homeowners in Broken Arrow pay about 14 months less worth of income when purchasing a home than the typical American.
While Broken Arrow residents are relatively wealthy, the 29.7% of area adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is a smaller share than is typical in high-income cities. Residents without degrees may find high-paying jobs in the city’s expansive manufacturing industry. Broken Arrow has the third highest concentration of manufacturers in Oklahoma, including companies such as flight simulator developer FlightSafety International, oilfield machinery manufacturer Zeeco, and ice cream maker Blue Bell Creameries.
12. Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury residents enjoy some of the best quality of life nationwide. The typical household earns $101,481 a year, far more than than the $55,775 a year a typical household earns nationwide. Just a short drive down I-94 from St. Paul and Minneapolis, much of the Woodbury economy is tied to the Twin Cities area. The easy access to the occupational opportunities of a major metropolitan area may be one reason why just 2.6% of the Woodbury workforce is unemployed, less than half the national unemployment rate.
While Woodbury residents enjoy the economic advantages of the Twin Cities, they are less exposed to the dangerous aspects of a large city. There were 703 violent crimes in St. Paul and 1,063 violent crimes in Minneapolis per 100,000 residents in 2015. By contrast, just 52 violent crimes per 100,000 residents were reported in Woodbury.
11. Olathe, Kansas
Relative to local incomes, real estate in Olathe is some of the most affordable in the country. Though the $207,000 value of a typical home in Olathe is approximately $67,000 more than the comparable statewide figure, the higher cost is offset by higher incomes. The typical Olathe household earns $80,242 a year, making the ratio of income to home value among the most affordable in the country.
With high incomes and a proportionately high housing costs, few Olathe residents struggle to make ends meet. Just 6% of Olathe residents live in poverty, less than half the national poverty rate. Like many cities where poverty is scarce, violent crime is relatively uncommon in Olathe. There were just 113 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in the city in 2015, among the least nationwide.
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Read more: Special Report, featured
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Storm Info
Return to ‘Downton Abbey’ With the Movie’s First Trailer [Video]
Well for sure the house is definitely in the movie.
You don’t really get to see Downton Abbey’s famous cast in this first teaser for the movie spun off from the hit television show. But hey, the house is front and center. The house!!
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
The television series Downton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, 69 Emmy nominations in total, making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys - even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.
For the record, here’s the credited cast for the spinoff film: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Haig, Geraldine James, Robert James-Collier, Simon Jones, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Campbell Moore, Lesley Nicol, Kate Phillips, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, and Penelope Wilton. That’s a lot of classy British actors in one movie.
Directed by Downton series creator Julian Fellowes and written by Michael Engler, the Downton Abbey movie opens in theaters on September 20, 2019.
Gallery — The Best TV Shows of 2018:
The 25 Best Children’s Shows Ever
Source: Return to ‘Downton Abbey’ With the Movie’s First Trailer [Video]
Filed Under: Downton Abbey, TV
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