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Americanah chosen for One Book, One New York Campaign
Matt Grant 03-20-17
On Thursday, March 16, the New York City Office of Media and Entertainment announced the first book selected for the largest-ever community read in the country. The winner is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2014 novel Americanah.
Five books were chosen by committee and presented to the NYC public for a vote. Celebrities made video pitches for each book. Over 50,000 votes were cast, and Adichie’s novel, pitched by actress Bebe Neuwirth, emerged victorious.
The choice of Americanah, the story of two Nigerian immigrants coming to the West and facing hardship, racism, and questions of identity, is a salient one. At a time when immigrants are under attack from the Trump administration, igniting protests and activism across the country, Americanah is just the sort of empathy-building book that makes community reads like One Book, One New York valuable.
As a sanctuary city, New York is home to over 3 million foreign-born residents, a population that has doubled in the last half-century. The city’s legacy on immigration is still tangibly felt, with Ellis Island sitting in the Hudson River’s Upper Bay, attracting over 3 million visitors each year.
To celebrate the choice of Americanah, The OM&E has released a calendar of events taking place across all five boroughs, including readings, film screenings, and talks on a variety of subjects at the heart of the story. Penguin Random House has also developed a reader’s guide to encourage book clubs to form their own discussion around the novel.
It remains to be seen just how far the influence of One Book, One New York will extend, and how many New Yorkers will end up taking part. But with the choice of Americanah, it seems that New Yorkers have made their feelings known on immigration policy. It’s a step in the right direction.
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#News#americanah
100 Must-Read Books with Unlikable Women
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Keio University Joins Google's Library Project
Posted by Laura DeBonis, Director, Book Search Library Partnerships
Last week, Keio University became the latest partner to join Google Books Library Project, and our first library partner in Japan. The combined collections of the Keio University libraries total more than two million printed works. Working together, Google and the Keio University Library will digitize at least 120,000 public domain books from these collections, so that readers around the world can view, browse, read, and even download public domain materials by simply searching online at books.google.co.jp. (You can also search these books by typing your search term in Japanese on books.google.com.)
"The Google project allows us to make our collections visible worldwide, allowing us to contribute to research and education on a global scale. Our university was founded in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, who was well known for his commitment to bringing information and media forward into the modern age. This makes Keio ideally suited to be the first Japanese library to participate in Google Book Search," says Professor S. Sugiyama, Director, Keio University Library.
We are glad to announce our first library partner in Japan with the Keio University Library. This is the 26th library to join the Google Books Library Project, which digitizes books from major libraries around the world and makes their collections searchable on Google Book Search.
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Founded in 1987, The Boston Music Awards is an annual set of music awards that showcase the very best talent in the Massachusetts area.
The 2018 Boston Music Awards will take place at House of Blues in early December.
Our mission is to unite and celebrate the music scene in Massachusetts. In today’s fast paced environment, The Boston Music Awards are the one time of the year that we hope the music scene takes a moment to celebrate, and appreciate, the talent within our State.
Please visit our FAQ (coming soon) or Contact page for more info
Past Winners.
Since 1987, the Boston Music Awards has celebrated the finest musical talent in the Massachusetts area.
The Boston Music Awards Hall of Fame is the home of Boston music royalty.
Hall of Fame - Coming Soon
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Autumn landscape: research in Catalonia
Posted on 30 de November de 2017 27 de October de 2018 Author AQuAS 0
Ramon Gomis
Research in Catalonia, or better said, the environment in which researchers work in our country, is fragile and is not immutable. Like landscapes, research is very sensitive to changes which take place in the environment and one must be attentive to these changes in order to maintain an adequate environment for researchers.
It must be said that for almost a decade, research – especially biomedical – has created a tapestry where the best researchers have carried out good projects.
The leadership of some research centres and institutes, hospitals and universities have made a concerted effort in making this happen. Actions like the ICREA programme, the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, have contributed very effectively in enabling these institutions to host national and international researchers of the highest calibre who have chosen projects which, at the very least, have changed some paradigms.
Nevertheless, we need to pay attention to some specific actions which have taken place recently, such as the Advisory Board in Research and Innovation Policy (CAPRIS), which will need to be assessed in coming years, not only with regards bibliometric impact but also in terms of how our health system might be improved in very specific fields such as precision medicine, big data and data analysis, and innovation in health.
But spring is not everlasting, and nor does the fullness of summer exist if new spring times do not come. For this to be possible it is not enough to live from past gains obtained in the good times, one needs to grow. But how?
As we have been doing till now, we need to take on senior researchers, some from abroad. It is important but not enough. We need to encourage the training of young people, well-funded and with guarantees that if they are good there is a future for them in research. We are not doing this or we are doing it in dribs and drabs. I am referring to potent PhD/MD projects and others of tenure track with a posterior assessment of excellence that can permit a competitive career in research.
By investing in infrastructures and technologies. We have done it, but we need to persist in our efforts and in the most efficient way possible.
By limiting policy in institutes and centres to those where the critical mass generates an environment which allows the best projects to come to fruition. And by closing the centres that do not meet these requirements.
By proposing large interdisciplinary programmes that favour frontier research and are open to researchers from a variety of institutions. We lack these.
By having a policy which stimulates private investment in research, while facilitating a policy of donations. This has begun and there are foundations which have played a key role, CELLEX or La Caixa, among others, but this policy needs to be broadened and strengthened. Public funds have a ceiling that needs to be broken.
By generating a laboratory of ideas in biomedical research which sets possible horizons.
By assessing the efficiency of the IPA of different institutions and redesigning them for a research of the future, especially in order to be able to compete internationally, at the European Council, the NIH and other scenarios.
These are some brief notes for a more extensive and possible discussion. In any case, attention, autumn has already begun.
Post written by Ramon Gomis, Emeritus Professor at the University of Barcelona and Emeritus Researcher at IDIBAPS (@idibaps).
« Reusing health data: oral anticoagulants and cerebral haemorrhages
Open access depredatory journals »
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Home > News > Presiding Judge John Frank “Jack” Onion Jr., 1925-2018
Posted inCourt of Criminal AppealsNewsPeople
Presiding Judge John Frank “Jack” Onion Jr., 1925-2018
By Adam Faderewski on September 5, 2018
Former Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Frank “Jack” Onion Jr. died Sunday, September 2, 2018. He was 93.
Onion served as a judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals from 1967 to 1970 and as presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals from 1971 to 1988. He was the first presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals to be elected by voters.
“He was a great judge and a great friend, and he loved the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller said.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has a news release here.
Tags: Court of Criminal Appeals, John Frank "Jack" Onion Jr., Memorial, Onion, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
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Watch This Collection of Amazing Animal Migrations
Trekking hundreds of miles across vast terrain; enduring weather conditions of extreme heat and cold; fighting off dangerous predators while facing the unknown — this is what it takes to survive in the wild. Migrations occur across every branch of the animal kingdom, from birds to mammals to insects, but you may not realize how awe-inspiring some of these feats of endurance truly are. From the Arctic tern that flies over 44,000 miles between the Earth’s separate poles to the gray whale whose 172-day journey spans a whopping 14,000 miles, this video from National Geographic showcases some of the most epic migrations that take place in the animal kingdom. That five-minute trek to the supermarket isn’t looking so bad after all.
How exactly do animals navigate from Point A to Point B? Check out some of the incredible research scientists have done on the behaviors and migration patterns of migratory birds.
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Eco-onto-politics 3: Wilber, Integralism, & Whitehead
April 16, 2011 by Adrian J Ivakhiv
This post continues from the previous in this series, which looked at integral ecophilosopher Sean Esbjorn-Hargens’s writing on the ontology of climate change. Here I examine the relationship between leading integral theorist Ken Wilber, integralist Esbjorn-Hargens, and process philosopher Alfred North Whitehead.
It’s a little difficult to separate Wilber’s and Esbjorn-Hargens’s views on Whitehead. I will simply refer to “IT” (Integral Theory) in speaking of both their views, though these are generally ascribable to Wilber. (And I should note that identification of the term “Integral Theory” with Wilber himself is not uncontested.) I will use “KW” (Wilber) or “EH” (Esbjorn-Hargens) when quoting from specific written sources. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes attributed to EH will be from his article “Integrating Whitehead: Towards an Environmental Ethic,” which is found online, undated and unpaginated, at the integralworld.net website. Most of the Wilber references are either from “Appendix A: My Criticism of Whitehead as True but Partial,” found here, or from printed sources, especially The Eye of Spirit: An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad (1997) and Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution (orig. 1995, revised 2000).
I should mention at the outset that my understanding of Integral Theory is far from expert. The following thoughts are based on a selective reading over the years of scattered Wilberian writings, and a more recent revisit of his later work that I am still in the midst of. I welcome being corrected if I’ve made any mistakes in interpreting his work.
Starting Points: Wilber Pro and Contra Whitehead
Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory (IT) attempts to create a user-friendly synthesis of the world’s knowledge, a distillation or “orienting map” drawing on sources in the human, social, physical, and life sciences (from Darwin to autopoiesis, systems, and complexity theories; from Piaget, Kohlberg, and Gilligan to Habermas and Luhmann; and much more), on philosophers ancient to modern and beyond (including Aristotle, Plotinus, Hegel, Schelling, Whitehead, Aurobindo, Gebser, Foucault, and Charles Taylor), and on what Wilber calls “the Wisdom Traditions,” including Advaita Vedanta, Mahayana Buddhism, Neoplatonism, and the mystical traditions of the world’s religions. Drawing, in other words, on everything.
Given Wilber’s ambitious grasp, it’s not surprising if he muddies the details, misinterpreting some sources and overreaching with others. The overall picture that emerges, however, warrants examination as a thought-provoking ontology, epistemology, and ethics for living in the twenty-first century.
His overall ideas build on certain key insights within process-relational philosophies and developmental and systems sciences. In particular, his concept of the “holon” is intended to resolve a range of issues that substantialist and processual philosophers could otherwise debate forever. (I could expand here on the particular relevance to the object/process debates that this blog has been involved in, but I trust that that will become evident to regular readers.)
A holon is the basic constituent of reality. It is a whole that is simultaneously a part of a larger whole, “all the way up and down”; it is emergent, and characterized by interiority and exteriority, and by the capacities of self-preservation (or agency), self-adaptation (or “communion,” meaning something more like “other-” or “context-adaptation”), self-transcendence (meaning something like Whiteheadian creativity), and self-dissolution (meaning the reverse, when a thing eventually comes apart).
Relations between holons are holarchic, which means they are developmental, emergent, and coevolving, with each emergent holon including and transcending its predecessors, and each emergent level tending toward greater levels of complexity, differentiation/integration, organization/structuration, relative autonomy, and telos. And it goes on. If any of that intrigues, then by all means move on to his writings, starting perhaps with Sex, Ecology, Spirituality (especially if you’re a philosopher), or just going straight to the Collected Works, which currently run to eight volumes.
In its basic foundations, Integral Theory bears strong resonances with the process metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead, but also very clear divergences. Both KW and EH show a strong overall admiration for Whitehead. Wilber characterizes Whitehead as a key transitional figure who “opened up science to interiority,” but only to subject-object (upper left quadrant, in IT terms) interiority, not to subject-subject (intersubjective, lower left quadrant) interiority. IT theory thus incorporates Whitehead’s move, but also transcends it, as EH puts it, “fortifying its strengths and gently exposing its vulnerabilities.”
IT critiques of Whitehead run along three lines:
(1) that Whitehead’s metaphysics is not “all-quadrant”; specifically, that Whitehead’s key concept of “prehension” restricts itself to subject-object relations and therefore ignores the crucial fourth quadrant (and “postmodern insight”) of intersubjectivity;
(2) that he is not “all-level,” insofar as he reduces all interiority to “prehension” and thereby misses the genuine complexity of interiority at “higher” levels of development; and
(3) that he also ignores “post-rational stages of interiority,” such as the nondual, transpersonal forms of consciousness described by Buddhist, Vedantic, and other traditions of spiritual practice and theory.
Let me discuss each of these critiques in turn.
1. Subjectivity vs. Intersubjectivity
Whitehead’s notion of “prehension,” which has the structure of a subjective (mental) pole and an objective (physical) pole, and which therefore can be characterized as a subject-object relation, applies to “actual occasions,” which are the most microscopic “bits” of reality.
IT argues that this subject-object structure is true inasfar as it goes, but that it is wrong to reduce all forms of interiority to it. There are, in addition, subject-subject relations, which Wilber, following the phenomenological and interpretive traditions, refers to as “intersubjectivity.” Wilber, on this basis, critiques Whitehead’s metaphysics as “monological,” to which Whiteheadian David Ray Griffin objects, saying that it would be fine for Wilber to characterize it as “partial” and “incomplete” from his perspective, but that calling it monological is inaccurate and unfair.
Here the argument, it seems to me, hinges on what it is that Whitehead is trying to accomplish with his concept of prehension. In my understanding, he is merely describing a structural building block of the universe — the mechanics, in effect, of its basic relations, a kind of “vector structure” and “directionality” that characterizes each act or occasion that makes up a living, directional universe. While intersubjectivity may not be evident in this basic building block, prehensions are inherently relational. It is only because of the temporal and durational directionality of prehension that occasions do not prehend each other; rather, they prehend the concresced “data” of other (previous) prehensions.
EH writes that Whitehead “denies contemporaries the ability to know each other.” But this is only true at the level of the actual occasion. Once it is understood that the universe is a fabric of such occasions, such acts of prehension, and that nowhere does a single prehension stand on its own, isolated from the relational processes in which it arises, then intersubjectivity becomes easily accommodated within Whitehead’s system.
Whitehead is not (in my understanding) arguing that human beings, or any other entities, only relate to other things as objects. He is saying that prehension is this kind of one-way thing. Social entities, like humans, are tremendously complex societies of occasions, with prehensions interwoven at multiple levels such that sociality emerges out of the complex interaction of (probably millions of) such prehensions. A human person’s “structure” as a society of occasions persists across the “space” of multiple contemporary occasions and the “time” of multiple consecutive occasions. A person’s interaction with another person, or with a whole social group, thus has plenty of opportunities, at very microscopic levels even, to interact socially and intersubjectively with those others. We act, needless to say, based on our understanding of others like us as similarly social and subjectively oriented individuals.
One could argue that this defense of Whitehead misses the point: that if prehension is as central as he makes it, then it ought not be thought of as a one-way interaction at all. There is always, Wilber asserts, a shared background from which any prehension emerges. Or, to put it in Wilber’s terms, there is always a four-quadrant structure to any holon: an individual interiority (a first-person “I”), a collective interiority (a second-person “we”), and an individual and a collective exteriority (“it” in its two aspects, one being bodily-individual, the other being systemic-relational, since each holon is part of a larger holon within which it relates to a social context).
This is a clear difference in the Wilberian paradigm, and since it characterizes holons “all the way up and down,” one could reasonably ask how far down it goes. If holons are all subdivisible into smaller holons, then they must by definition subdivide infinitely — though even Wilber isn’t interested in speculating much beyond the subatomic level.
(As an aside: In my own work on cinema, the prehensive subject-object structure is one that emerges out of a more basic relationality, which for all intents and purposes can be perceived as a percolating flow of interactivity, an in-betweenness that emerges between correlated points of subjectivation and of objectivation. In turn, in complex, symbolic creatures like us, the habits ingrained over time in how this flow is actualized lead to the emergence of certain sedimented and habituated understandings of what is “objective” and what is “subjective”: for instance, that a chair is an object, to be sat on but not to be talked to, while the cat that rests on it is a subject with which I can interact, or that the mountain behind my house is a mere object, a landscape to be admired, whereas the nation actively calls me to defend it. This is where the variability between what gets constituted as object and what as subject becomes an ethico-political matter of great significance.
(If this structure of subjectivation/objectivation arising from a more primordial interactivity were to go “all the way down and all the way up,” it would both descend and ascend into percolating flow, but not into quadrants. Since I favor Peirce’s triadism to Wilber’s quadrantism — the two are somewhat reconcilable, but I’ll leave that aside for now — I could see thirdness and even secondness diminishing, as we move back in time, as it were, to a primordial point characterized only by pure firstness, that is, sheer spontaneity. Similarly, at the “top” end, at some final evolutionary end-point, we might attain something like pure and unadulterated thirdness, that is, sheer meaning/pattern/organization with nothing left over. But here I feel like I’m speculating over angels dancing on the head of a pin… Best to leave such speculation to one’s dreams.)
So on this first point, I’m not convinced that Whitehead is necessarily missing anything. I agree, however, that Wilber’s four-quadrant AQAL model emphasizes intersubjective (“I-you,” or “we-we”) relations in a way that Whitehead doesn’t. It also emphasizes objectivity and interobjectivity in a way that Whitehead doesn’t. Whitehead is describing a structural feature of the universe, while Wilber is providing something more like a lens through which we should think of all things in the universe. Both can complement each other well, I believe.
2. Prehension vs. Interiority
Where IT builds on Whitehead more originally and effectively, I believe, is in its conceptualization of prehension and of interiority in general. IT is entirely consistent with process-relational theory in its contention that “interiors and exteriors both arise together and have correlative emergent properties” (EH, “Integrating Whitehead”). Wilber’s concept of “worldspace” to describe interiors is a useful move, as it brings a Whiteheadian “pan-experientialism” into closer communication with other understandings of experience, mentality, psyche, and so on, such as those of phenomenology and Uexkullian umwelt theory.
Interiority, for Whitehead, is a general feature of all real things in the universe; but, as IT claims, his description of the different kinds of interiority is limited. Wilber’s expansion of it leads him to call himself a “pan-interiorist, not a pan-experientialist, pan-mentalist, pan-feelingist, or pan-soulist.” To this list one could add “not a panpsychist.” The point, for Wilber, is that all these things — experience, mentality, feelings, soul, psyche — emerge at some level, but they do not characterize all things in the universe “all the way down.” What does, “all the way down” and “all the way up,” is interiority.
In contrast to Whitehead, IT reserves the term “prehension” only for the most rudimentary form of interiority, that ascribed to the atom. Above that “level,” we get other kinds of interiority: protoplasmic irritability (in cells), rudimentary sensations (in metabolic organisms), perceptions, impulses, emotions, images, symbols, concepts, and so on. EH provides the following chart listing these. (Read it from the bottom up to get a sense of the developmental levels.)
Interiors Exteriors
concepts complex neocortex (humans
symbols neocortex (primates)
emotion/image limbic system (paleomammals
impulse/emotion brain stem (reptiles)
perception/impulse neural cord (fish/amphibians)
perception neuronal organisms (e.g., annelids
sensation proto-neuronal organism (e.g., coelenterata)
rudimentary sensation metabolic organisms (e.g., plants)
irritability cells (genetic)
prehension atoms
Furthermore, where Whiteheadian process philosophers conventionally distinguish between actual individuals and aggregates, or “wholes” (such as an organism, which IT would call a “holon”) and “heaps” (such as a pile of rocks), IT adds the notion of the “social holon,” which is “between a whole and a heap because it is composed of individuals united in relationship but it lacks a locus of self-awareness.”
Rocks, EH writes, “are heaps (with no interiors except more exteriors), that are composed of atoms which do have interiors, but only of the most basic types (propensities and patterns that endure across time).” Social holons, on the other hand, could be described as wholes with interiors composed of individuals also with interiors, but with the interiority of the whole being a negotiated, networked and relational ensemble rather than a centrally directed and singular one.
Individual holons’ relationship with social holons is part of what constitutes the former’s collective side, i.e., its lower-right and lower-left quadrants, but the social holon is not itself fully a holon in the same sense, or on the same level, as the individual holon. This is what prevents a State or ethnic group from taking precedence over individuals: individuals have greater depth but less span that the social groups they are a part of. Individuals have, as Whitehead put it, a dominant monad (which, for humans, would be the form of awareness that makes decisions, has agency, etc.). Social holons, on the other hand, have a “dominant mode of discourse” or of “mutual resonance” (KW, Integral Spirituality, p. 149).
All of that requires more time to spell out, but it relates, indirectly at least, to one of the most interesting features of Wilber’s model, which is its identification of the possibilities, both positive and negative (or pathological), arising at each developmental stage or level. I won’t get into these here, except to quote one of the intriguing implications.
Recall that viewed in the first-person external, i.e. upper-right quadrant, humans consist of things like a body, a nervous system, a triune brain (as described by neuroscientist Paul MacLean), and so on. Wilber writes:
When MacLean said that when humans lie on the couch for psychoanalysis, they lie down with a crocodile and a horse, that wasn’t the half of it: we lie down with the planets and the starts, the lakes and the rivers, the plankton and the oaks, the lizards and the birds, the rabbits and the apes — and, to repeat, not simply because they are neighbors in our own universe, but because they are components in our own being, they are literally our bones and blood and marrow and guts and feelings and fears. (KW, SES, 1995:103-4)
This is because in our mental (or, as he calls it, “noospheric”) development, which includes the development of progressively larger “social” (i.e. political, linguistic, technical, economic) holons up to the (currently emergent) level of the planet, we have had to deal with our adaptive “fit” at each scalar level. So the possibility for mega-pathologies grows as that mental or noospheric level grows — something that it doesn’t do for horses or apes (unless perhaps they, too, get dragged into larger noospheric ensembles, but Wilber doesn’t speculate about that, and neither will I here).
In conclusion, IT’s analysis of interiority builds on Whitehead’s essential insight, but adds a richness to it that it gets from an incorporation of a broad array of psychological and social-scientific resources, including those that look at the “exterior” of things (i.e., view them scientifically or objectively) and those that focus on the “interior” (the experiential, phenomenological, and hermeneutic).
3. Transpersonal and Nondual Experience
The final point on which IT critiques Whitehead is his lack of understanding of transpersonal and nondual states of consciousness. Whitehead’s limitations here are understandable, according to Wilber, since he was an early twentieth century Christian who did not engage in contemplative practices of the kind that would lead to nondual states. I won’t comment on that, since I’m not sure what exactly Whitehead did practice. The point is that Wilber here is raising an issue that would not have occurred to someone who was not a mystic, and that would not have been very obvious in any case except to someone more familiar with Asian metaphysical traditions.
This, I think, is a useful critique, and one that ought to prompt Whiteheadians into a closer dialogue both with Mahayana Buddhist, Advaita Vedantist, and other Asian nondualisms and with Wilber’s particular interpretation of them. (The two are not identical.)
There have been a number of attempts, over the years, to compare Whiteheadian process philosophy with Buddhism, Chinese philosophy, and other Asian traditions. I have referred to some of them on this blog, e.g., the work of Peter Kakol, Steve Odin, Charles Hartshorne, and others (see, e.g., the special issue of Philosophy East and West dedicated to the topic from 1975; and the later work of MacFarlane and others). Western understandings of Asian philosophical traditions have undergone rapid change in recent decades, however, as the volume of available translations and of comparative work has increased exponentially, so there’s much more comparative work that could still be done.
Without getting more deeply into Wilber’s work on nondualism and transpersonal experience (which I’m not the best qualified to do, in any case), I’ll just conclude here by saying that my hunch is that IT is correct in this third critique, up to a point. But we are far from having any kind of consensus about nondual and/or transpersonal states of consciousness and what they represent, so all of this remains a little bit like shooting in the dark at a moving target.
One of the problems is that speaking authoritatively about these matters requires both significant experiential practice and authoritative knowledge of the different traditions of interpreting that kind of practice. Other such traditions have developed over centuries, but bridging between them and Western scholarship is something that’s still in its infancy. Given the position and the dynamism of Western intellectual traditions in the world, however, seeking a shared understanding while avoiding those traditions is not really viable. So we take baby steps and see where they lead us.
4. What about the Politics?
Finally: what does all of this have to do with politics? At least two things, I’d say.
First, there is the politics of comparison across traditions in a post-traditional world: What counts for knowledge, and what doesn’t? Who says? Who is to arbitrate between and among the sciences, the religions, the intellectual schools, the political ideologies, the artistic blocs, et al.?
For me the best approach to these questions is a cosmopolitical one (in the Latourian-Stengersian sense), which admits that we don’t really know how to proceed, and can’t really know, but we must nevertheless, and that we work our way toward building mutual understandings through trial-and-error and give-and-take. Here, Wilber’s project is very interesting, even if its totalizing tendencies ought to be critiqued (and it seems to me that they have diminished over the years).
Second, there is the politics of experience, as R. D. Laing once called it. Here, a pluralistic and respectful approach to consciousness still seems to me the best policy. This doesn’t mean valuing schizophrenic or delusional states equally with rational ones (as some superficial readers of Deleuze and Guattari have thought they advocated). It does mean paying close attention to the historical construction of categories like madness, schizophrenia, mysticism, religion, fanaticism, secularism, superstition, God, faith, piety, spirituality and spiritual attainment (of one or another kind), shamanism, and the rest. (My listing of these in the same sentence isn’t intended to suggest they are all on the same “level” of phenomenon, but rather just to indicate the breadth that needs to be covered in any assessment of nonordinary experience.)
Among Western intellectuals, Wilber has provided one of the most coherent, consistent, and broad-ranging efforts at making sense of this full territory of consciousness. His model has been critiqued for imposing a hierarchy that devalues certain modes of consciousness (and the traditions related to them) as opposed to others. Specifically, he has frequently written about (and taken flak for) what he calls the “pre/trans fallacy,” or the confusion between regressive and transcendent states and stages.
Some of the other theorists in transpersonal studies (Washburn, Grof, Ferrer, Varela-Thompson-Rosch, et al.) offer, to my mind, viable alternatives. And there is the entire rapidly growing “science of consciousness” field, including its neuroscientific and cognitive branches as well as the phenomenological (or “neurophenomenological”), all of which ought to be part of this conversation. But delving into this area would take me much farther than I can go in this post.
The politics of this delving, however, brings us back to the first point: the politics of how we value and privilege (or deprivilege) statements made by scientists as opposed to those made by mystics, religious believers, spiritual practitioners, indigenous peoples, and various others. The first step here, for me, is always the cosmopolitical one of admitting that there are no longer any sciences that are not ethno-sciences: all “sciences” and “knowledges” are situated within particular traditions of knowledge-making, authority-claiming, and world-staking. The same goes for philosophy or anything else. “We are all ethnos now” might be our post-Latourian slogan.
Leaving it at that isn’t enough, however. The point is to always make sense of those wider contexts, bringing them into some coherent relationship with each other, without assuming that the grounds for that relationship are already made. We play on a playing-field that may be level, but that still requires goal posts (which are movable) and rules (which are negotiable). If some of us wish to play by the rules of, say, scientific objectivity (repeatable experiments, double-blind-reviewing, and so on), whether it is around the issue of climate change or of psychic experiences or anything else, we ought to be able to make the case for why these rules are good ones for others to respectably make room for.
Wilber’s attentiveness to the social and interpretive milieus by which we build our worldspaces seems a very useful one here. He’s not the only one to make that point, but he captures it well with his simple AQAL framework. At the same time, his framework, while it claims to be “integrally pluralistic,” does require taking on board certain value-laden assumptions about what is “higher” or more “developed” and what is “lower” or less developed. Its political implications remain, for me, uncertain. (Here’s just a little indicator of where that uncertainty arises from.)
So I think the Wilberian paradigm needs more rigorous scrutiny than it has received. That is something that I hope will occur in the reading group on Integral Ecology.
Wilber’s post-metaphysical turn
Eco-onto-politics 2: Integralism & climate change
Buddhist objects & processes
Process integralism
Those objects in the rearview mirror…
On anthropomorphism: making humans, pencils, & souls
Slice of time
Interview & autobio
Posted in GeoPhilosophy, SpiritMatter | Tagged integral theory, integralism, nonduality, object-oriented philosophy, process-relational thought, spirituality, transpersonal psychology, Whitehead, Wilber | 5 Comments
on April 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm | Reply Adam
Great stuff here, Adrian. I’m looking forward to the reading group where I am sure many more of these issues will come to greater clarity, though I think your handling of the IT framework is already quite impressive.
on April 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm | Reply Immanence on Whitehead-Integral Ecology « Knowledge Ecology
[…] of explorations on integral theory, integral ecology and Whitehead. Check out Eco-Onto-Politics 3 HERE. Adrian offers us a great glimpse into the complex world of ontology, politics, integral theory and […]
on April 19, 2011 at 4:59 am | Reply Mark Crosby
Just chipping in to say thanks and wish I had something more substantive to contribute.. ‘Holon’ certainly has some rhetorical advantages over ‘object’, although perhaps bland is better in these stark times? I’ve sometimes disliked PROCESS & REALITY for being too ‘physical’, in the same way I’ve sometimes disliked DIFFERENCE & REPETITION or being too ‘ontological’. There’s got to be a more mediate entry point to these abstractions. Cinema and other art forms are probably that portal. Certainly we need more sophisticated categories than simply ‘real’ and ‘sensual’ objects. Nor do atomic-level ‘actual occasions’ seem to do justice to the events we’re most interested in?
In these times when everything is supposed to be simultaneously ‘contingent’ or ‘finite’, Ken Wilber’s “developmental levels” seem a fresh breeze compared to “flat ontology” – which is NOT to support any Great Chain of Being.. Rather, as you put it, “The point is to always make sense of those wider contexts, bringing them into some kind of coherent relationship with each other, without assuming that the grounds for that relationship are already made”.
Every day we repeat our interactions with the child, lover, student, friend, or new co-worker, and the differences seem so slight. But where is the longed-for event of difference if not buried in those infinitesimal baby steps between one actual occasion and the next?
Thanks again, Mark
“A man cried, ‘God, speak to me!’ and a bird sang, but the man did not hear..”
on April 25, 2011 at 8:24 pm | Reply ai
Thanks, Adam. I’m looking forward to your take on these things during the reading group.
And thanks, Mark – very nicely put. Rereading Wilber (especially SES), I would have to agree is something ‘fresh-breezy’ about his gothic multidimensionality and its striking contrast to all manner of flat ontologies. If he didn’t use such plain language (levels, stages, states, etc) but instead opted for something more Lovecraftian, he’s no doubt have a larger audience among the post-Deleuzian & OOO sets…
When it comes to ontological building-blocks, I still find action-nouns like ‘event,’ ‘event-relation,’ ‘event of difference’ (as you put it), ‘encounter,’ & even ‘occasion’ to be more evocative than ‘object’ or ‘holon.’ But I agree with you that things don’t get really interesting until we bring in cinema & the other arts (which is why I find Deleuze and Guattari to be a nice portal to the other philosophers, and to Deleuze’s own more ontological writings, i.e. Difference & Repetition).
on April 27, 2011 at 2:46 am | Reply Slim Jim
I came across this site quite by chance and found it so interesting – thank you!
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CJ @ CinemaCon: Q&A Interview with ECA’s Melissa Cogavin
By Patrick von Sychowski | April 15, 2015 5:09 pm PDT
In the run-up to CinemaCon 2015 CJ is interviewing and profiling several leading companies, trade bodies and people to capture the mood of the cinema industry as it enters its post-digital era.
Today we talk to Melissa Cogavin, Managing Director of the Event Cinema Association (ECA), the trade body representing those enabling the projection of other things than just films in the cinemas – and beyond.
Celluloid Junkie: 2014 seems to have been a year of advances for both event cinema and the Event Cinema Association. What are your key observations about the field since the last CinemaCon?
Melissa Cogavin: Yes I think you’re right. Following on from the successes of 2013, we saw some more record breakers with the release of the One Direction documentary (Arts Alliance) and the live Billy Elliot stage show (Universal). We saw NT Live’s War Horse in 4K delivered by Sony. We saw a slicker than ever delivery of opera and ballet worldwide, with newcomers the English National Opera/Altive Media establishing themselves in 2014.
But more than that at the ECA we’ve seen interest in gaming rise and the monetisation of this genre becoming established. There are a several providers of this kind of entertainment exploiting the passion that gamers experience in tournaments and I am looking forward to seeing that played out in cinemas over 2015.
TV is making an impact at the cinema too, and that’s very exciting to see. Awareness seems greater of the medium amongst the general public and judging by the diverse nature of the enquiries we receive at the ECA, interest in cinema as a release platform is growing all the time.
At the ECA we’ve had a year of milestones too; at CinemaCon last year it was very much a fact-finding mission and we were stunned by the level of interest at the Open House that the convention’s organisers kindly hosted for our industry. I handed out 250 business cards in 90 minutes, I couldn’t believe it.
Our presence at CineEurope was unlike anything the event cinema industry has seen before and our partnership with Philips enabled us to provide a meeting space for members all week in a bespoke cinema environment, and our members had the opportunity of participate in a showreel on a cinema screen with 5.1 surround sound, running throughout the week every other hour.
Our 2014 ECA Conference at the Genesis cinema was attended by 250 people from 23 countries worldwide and was a great success. We provided 6 very popular breakout sessions over the course of the day that went down very well, and in one of them we actually had a live satellite link up provided by our sponsor Arqiva based on the street in an OB truck, which was an industry first and was very entertaining!
Our Technical Delivery Handbook was also a great success and we have shipped copies all over the world. It has been well reviewed, and we are very proud of it. I think it answers a lot of questions. Robin Boldon of BBC Worldwide said it best – ‘If I’d had this handbook before we started work on Dr Who it would have saved me a lot of headaches.’
We are working on a French version of the Technical Handbook for release later in the year, and there are plans for a Marketing Handbook, as event cinema has a unique marketing methodology and it’ll be aimed at newcomers to the industry especially exhibition.
We’ve expanded overseas in the last few months as well, and now have Jonathan Ross representing the ECA in the Americas, and Olivier Hillaire in France. In the UK we have taken on Nigel Dennis to help with our membership recruitment and administration, and we hope to expand in to Germany later this year.
CJ: Membership of ECA has also grown significantly in the past 12 months. Is it the same type of companies joining as before or are you finding new types of members?
Melissa Cogavin: Our membership has almost doubled in the last 12 months; we now have 90 members from 22 countries worldwide including Colombia, Malta and Korea. Our membership has always been a broad church and continues to diversify; but generally the membership reflects the supply chain so we have producers and directors of event cinema at one end and exhibitors at the other.
But as the only trade association catering for this business and as a result it has the bulk of the industry represented in its membership, it attracts members totally unconnected to the business; we even have one member whose business aims to save its clients money on utility bills, for example. Businesses are springing up as a result of the success of event cinema and we have website designers, trailer producers and ticket selling websites also in our membership, which is a recent phenomenon.
CJ: 2015 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for Hollywood movies at the box office. Is there a risk that event cinema will be overshadowed by all the Avengers and Jurassic dinosaurs?
Melissa Cogavin: Cinema, like any business, is cyclical; there are years like 2015, cluttered with blockbusters, and then a barren year may follow, I’ve seen it happen time and again over the years. It’s the nature of the business and the creative process.
Not only that but let’s remember the historical context; he Hollywood studios have had a tough few years like the rest of us, so it’s only now we are seeing the release of films (that were perhaps greenlit 5 years ago as the recession stared to bite) make it to the big screen.
But the studios are well aware of the power of event cinema and are getting involved now too, so as I expected, the lines are blurring and we are not in opposing camps, we never were. Universal are very supportive members of the ECA. I’m looking forward to seeing how the landscape starts to shift in this regard.
CJ: Television seems to be making inroads to cinema with “Game of Thrones” on Imax screens and the two “Doctor Who” cinema outings before that. Should we expect to see more ‘small screen’ content on the bigger screen?
Melissa Cogavin: I would really hope so. It seems a marriage made in Heaven. TV, especially US produced TV has become more filmic and high budget, and the quality is superb.
The viewing habits of the public have changed with the advent of VOD, so binge-watching box sets is now commonplace. The result is a fanatical fan base that will very willingly dress up to go to see their favourite show on the big screen, surrounded by likeminded fans, and with some added value such as a Q&A or exclusive content, the possibilities are endless.
It will just take time for the various parties involved to come round to them. I’d like to see UK TV season finales exploited at the box office as well – it’s been done before but we haven’t seen that for a while. The cinema is the only platform where you can embrace that shared experience and feed off the energy of others in the auditorium with you.
CJ: How is event cinema doing in the United States and is it still referred to as ‘alternative content’?
Melissa Cogavin: We’re still researching this but the consensus seems to be that as a whole, the US has a way to go and yes, it’s still being referred to as alternative content.
There are lots of economic and social reasons why it’s not taken off – and let’s not forget they aren’t called the United States for nothing. The USA is enormous and complex, and growth in event cinema won’t happen overnight.
The ECA will be working with our US members to build the awareness and support the industry there as time goes on. But let’s not forget the US is where alternative content came from, the Met started all this.
CJ: What about markets like Latin America and Asia, where event cinema seems to have been slower to take off?
Melissa Cogavin: At the moment these markets tend to acquire rights to content produced in the USA and Europe. There are events that are home-grown that don’t get exported as well. There are language barriers associated with this of course.
CJ: What will the ECA’s presence and activities at CinemaCon be this year?
Melissa Cogavin: This year at CinemaCon we are hosting a networking event on the trade show floor with our good friends at Philips who are there to promote LightVibes to the event cinema industry.
And we’re also present at CinemaCon all day on Tuesday with a cabana poolside in the fresh air so we’re looking forward to meeting and greeting our members during the day in the sunshine!
CJ: Do you have any personal favourite event cinema screenings, or would that be considered favouritism?
Melissa Cogavin: I couldn’t possibly comment…!
CJ: In that case, thank you for taking the time to share your insights.
Patrick von Sychowski
Editor at Celluloid Junkie
Patrick was a Senior Analyst at Screen Digest, went on to launch the digital cinema operations of Unique and Deluxe Europe, then digitised Bollywood at Adlabs/RMW, and now writes, consults and appears on panels about cinema all over the world.
Latest posts by Patrick von Sychowski (see all)
CJ Opinion: PwC Keeps Embarrassing Itself With Its China Cinema Predictions - July 3, 2019
Hunting Ghost No. 1 – China’s Three Year Quest to Take Down The Most Sophisticated Movie Piracy Ring Ever - June 6, 2019
Cinema of the Month: Zoo Palast Kino – Berlin, Germany - February 28, 2019
Tags: CinemaCon, event cinema, Event Cinema Association, ECA, Melissa Cogavin
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WebAssign Integrates Online Tutoring Tool
News Update :: Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Middlebury Bans Wikipedia as Academic Source
Vermont's Middlebury College has banned the use of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia as an acceptable source of academic information for students at Vermont's Middlebury College, United Press International reported.
The open-source, free encyclopedia lets anyone create and edit citations, which has resulted in the publication of incorrect information. Because of the errors, Middlebury's history department recently instituted the ban. Because of errors, Middlebury's history department instituted a policy that says, "Wikipedia is not an acceptable citation, even though it may lead one to a citable source," according to Vermont-based Burlington Free Press.
But writing in the Middlebury Campus student newspaper, undergrad Chandler Koglmeier said, "are you really arrogant enough to say that the opinions of the general public, albeit a general public who cares enough to get on Wikipedia and post about a specific topic, don't matter? To me, this stinks of the beginnings of censorship."
The Wikipedia Foundation supports the new policy, the Free Press said. In an e-mail to the newspaper, the foundation said it is an "ideal place to start" for students; "however, it is not an authoritative source."
Cornell Forms Committee to Examine Use of Facebook
Cornell University has formed a Facebook Task Force to help make decisions on how and whether the college should educate students on safely using social networking sites, the Ithacan Online campus news service reported. The committee, composed of 12 members of the faculty, two administrators, and three students, will also look at ways the college might use Facebook to get information to students and to create a protocol in determining whether to examine Facebook for safety and security reasons.
Brian McAree, vice president of Student Affairs and Campus Life, told the Ithacan that the task force was developed because they decided it was an issue worth looking into, not for any specific situation or reason.
"One of the things we have seen over the [last] couple of years is when room assignments go out in the summer, students go to see who their roommate is on Facebook," he said. "Then all of a sudden they may conclude that they are not going to be comfortable with this person as a roommate, and so they call Residential Life."
At the committee's first meeting last week, the group discussed whether the university’s public safety staff should regularly go on Facebook or MySpace to look for violations of the student conduct code or the law. McAree said the task force is looking to develop protocols for how Public Safety should respond. "The question that we are posing to ourselves is should we be on Facebook on a regular basis," he said. "To be honest, I don't think we have the time or personnel to do that."
Indiana Researchers Identify "Drive-by Pharming" Threat
Researchers at Indiana University School of Informatics and computer security firm Symantec have discovered a new computer security vulnerability they say could put millions of computers at risk. So far, the mode of attack--called Drive-by Pharming--has only been spotted in Symantec and in university research labs.
Drive-by pharming attacks originate from bad code embedded in a website, e-mail, or even a MySpace profile. When a user clicks on the site, the code is automatically downloaded and uses JavaScript to change the DNS settings of the user's broadband router.
Zully Ramzan, a Symantec researcher, said it was "only a matter of time before drive-by pharming becomes common. In fact, any kind of potential loss could sum up to millions of dollars. Once it goes out in the wild, the potential damage could be huge."
Pharming can also wreak havoc via identity theft. A pharmer could direct a user who is trying to visit their online banking site to an identical fake version. Once the user enters their password, the attacker can access the account on the real site and withdraw funds or even start new accounts.
University of Rome Researchers Study Tagging Patterns
Researchers at the University of Rome are trying to determine the underlying statistical properties of new forms of social media by studying how people use tags--words used to describe the content of a Web-linked article or photo.
"The idea was to try and see if we could [model] a system which is an IT system, but exposing, in a very explicit and complex way, the social component--the activity of people," said Ciro Cattuto, one of the researchers. "In this system, the linguistic element--the word, the symbol--is a dynamical entity and plays the role of a particle in statistical mechanics," he added.
The researchers determined that user behavior in collaborative tagging schemes followed a "power law" in which certain words were highly associated with the chosen tags. For instance, "design," "web," and "news" appear most frequently with "blog" and "javascript;" "web" and "xmlhttprequest" occur most often with "ajax." There is a steep dropoff where several terms appear less often with the chosen tags.
The authors say they were not surprised by the presence of a power law in their model, because this sort of curve is "the standard signature of self-organization and of human activity."
Indiana Colleges Urge Secondary Schools to Adopt e-Transcripts
In a unanimous request, Indiana's public universities urged the state's high school guidance counselors to adopt electronic filing of transcripts. In an "open letter to Indiana high school counselors," admissions officers from all of Indiana's public universities said high school college advisors should adopt the state's e-Transcript Initiative (ETI) as "the preferred delivery method of transcripts for applications" to the state's public colleges.
The letter was signed by admissions directors from all the campuses of Ball State University, Indiana University, and Purdue University.
Since Indiana launched the ETI one year ago, the use of electronic transcripts has jumped from almost no activity to 10,000 admissions transcripts. The letter from the admissions officers pointed out that a majority of students already submit their applications online, and 90 percent submit financial aid applications and registration materials for standardized tests online.
"The broad adoption of electronic transcripts will complete the online and paperless delivery of all materials necessary for college admissions" the counselors noted. "The State of Indiana has the opportunity to be a national leader and model in this regard."
Carnegie Mellon to Offer Degree in Software Management
Carnegie Mellon West will start offering a master of science degree in software management, in part to meet demand for people educated in how to cost, develop, and fit software to the strategic aims of their businesses. The school said the discipline will be an important tool in competing in the burgeoning global economy.
"The rise of the global economy has shifted the emphasis of software engineering," said James Morris, dean of the school. " This technical, business, and organizational cross-training gives our students the perspective and contextual understanding they need to see and seize opportunities in the global market."
The program will build on the school's heritage in software engineering, administrators said. But it will also break with that tradition by giving students the kind of economic and management education they will need to succeed in next-generation distributed software organizations.
Pittsburgh Art Institute Opens Campus in Second Life
One week after announcing an online social network to facilitate collaboration, the Pittsburgh Art Institute said it was opening a student campus in Second Life, the virtual business community.
Second Life will be a forum for a new business communications course, according to the art school, that will involve "learning by doing," as well as simulation-based learning. "By providing real-world objects and scenarios, students will be able to experiment with business processes and techniques of the real world in a virtual environment," according to the school.
The impetus for opening the virtual community came from the students: "An environment such as this takes advantage of lateral and community-based learning," said Jeannie Novak, academic program director at The Art Institute Online. "We are always striving to create that within our current 2D online courses, and this certainly takes lateral learning to the next level."
Instructors say the Second Life class experience is particularly enhanced for online learners. "Students will always know they're taking a course," said Novak. "But they'll be playing a game in the process, which is what serious gaming is all about."
MIT Student Wins Lemelson Prize for Spiderman Device
Nathan Ball, an MIT mechanical engineering graduate student, has won the school's prestigious $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize. Ball won the award, given each year for the most ingenious and useful invention, for creating a device to help paramedics and fire fighters scramble up the side of buildings. Dubbed the Atlas Powered Rope Ascender, the device consists of a motorized pulley that can pull a heavily weighted firefighter up a building in 30 seconds.
"It is literally like what Batman or James Bond has," Ball told the MIT press office. "It is a cordless power tool that you hook onto your safety harness. It has variable speed control just like a drill."
Ball has also invented an improvement in needle-free injection technology developed at MIT's BioInstrumentation Laboratory. Merton Flemings, director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, said, "[Ball's] battery-powered rope ascender and needle-free injection technology both have life-saving capabilities and many commercial applications."
Expanding the Horizons of Augmented and Virtual Reality in Higher Education
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Ricketsons Food and Dietary Recommendations
Foodways are the ways in which people define, find, prepare and consume their nutrients, including drinks as well as solid and liquid foods. Diets are ways in which people define their food consumption practices related to the types of foods they consume and how these foods can be classed into categories of similar types of foods, and then these categories used to define preferred menus or groups of foods commonly consumed according to tradition. Diets may serve as day-to-day biological and physiological operations, or in some cases they can tend towards being more culturall or socioculturally driven and performed due to expectation of others. In the case of medical dietary practices, there are specific observations rules Shadrach Ricketson experienced, and knowingly grew up with, that impacted the content of his chapter “Food”. This chapter was the longest chapter in his book, containing the most detail and longest quotes from references, suggesting his level of understanding of this aspect of human behavior as a medical problem, one that could be very easily personally influenced and regulated, in order to prevent oncoming diseases to take form due to unhealthy eating practices or behaviors.
There are a couple of important contributions this style of writing made to medicine, in particular New York and Hudson Valley medicine, that the other writers of health, hygiene, diet, foodways and the like failed to produce in such aa succint fashion. Ricketson was one of the first American physicians to observe a relationship between diet and disease. Although many associations between poor food habits and disease were well demonstrated by European culture, the stresses of the American lifestyle and need for obtaining foods in ways no longer important to European surival, such as the need to hunt for a full winter’s supply of meats or the need to make use of the best natural food substitutes available to you, either as a part of the combined Native American-Colonial foodways tradition, or fully European Survivalist method of making it through the winters, droughts and period with little incoming food shipments, as part of the history, there was a manner and method to how and why some foodways habits and patterns became important parts of the Hudson Valley culture and tradition. This was true for colonial times, and following the succession of the United States from British Colonial rule, this was once again a major part of the American lifestyle from 1783, the end of the Revolutionary War, well into the mid 1800s when large farming establishments were developed, agricultural industries then invented, and livestock and poultry industries established as part of the Hudson valley and New York lifestyle. If we take this important change in the United States lifestyle one step further, the importance of large businesses which formed as offshoots of these primary resource industries also came to form and flourish in the United States. Some of these industries formed for reasons such as avoiding the high costs needed to obtain certain products from overseas, avoiding the need to pay any sort of shipping or import fees and taxes, and above all, becoming self-sustainable as a country, with limited need for survival related interventions from coutnries abroad. It is for this reason that the first industries in the Hudson Valley involved the establishment of tree and fruit farms (a Dutch history by-product), and the development of several fabrics industries, but most importantly the wool industry.
Each one of these signs of a self-sustaining society also had its related links to personal health and disease prevention practices. Even industries that we typically think had little to do with health, in fact had a strong assocaition with healthy living practices, and so were included in many reviews of the healthiness of a given part of the local countryside or continent. During Ricketson’s life, foodways and what he perceived as food-related health problems became a major concern for him. Ricketson speels this out on 59 pages of his book Means of Preserving Health and Preventing Diseases. Since the entire book consists of about 300 pages, this means the importance of this topic to health comprised about 20% of the written information that he was providing. Another 10% each (ca. 25 pages each) were spent discussing “Drink” and “Air and Climate”. These topics and then followed by chapters on Exercise (7.5%), Sleep (5%), Clothing (5%), Passions of the Mind (2.5%), and a 30 page section devoted to “Stool” (4%), urine (<1%), Perspiration (4%), “Saliva or Spittle” (2.5%). The final 70 pages (approximately 22%, or about 1%-2.5% per topic) of the book reviewed Rules for valetudinarians, rules for those with good health (several pages each) and discourses on nine other topics related to methods of treatment that can be employed to deal with diseases, ranging from cautions regarding the uses of specific potentially dangerous medicines or treatment methods (mercury, opium, the use of bitters, blood-letting), to ways of preventing diseases (in particular bathing, domestic cleanliness, and ventilation), to new exploratory topics in healing such as medical electricity.
Foodstuffs and foodways were the most important topic Ricketson had to discuss. This part of the book is fairly complex and detailed, and eludes to a number of dietary health practices that need to be extracted from Ricketson’s writings. Ricketson’s writings delved into the following medical or health related conditions, and how diet causes, treat or prevents these maladies from taking form or becoming fatal. He notes that for the most part, the noted Ricketson personally makes are for those residing in the United States (see p. 62). But he makes use of a number of other writers and references pertaining to cultures and individual, healthy or unhealthy, residing in otehr countries, usually some where in Western Europe (please note, in the following lists, some of the terms are not his own).
Notes Pertaining to Diet and Health
1. General statements
“Food is, undoubtedly, a matter of no little importance in preserving health, and, upon a due attention to it, the prevention of diseases,” 58
“[E]very person’s health depends much on the quantity and quality of his diet”, 59
“Moderation and temperance have, from their importance, been not improperly called, ‘The golden means of preserving health'”, 62
convalescence and diet has its concerns, 61
“luxurious eaters” and those who practice “excessive drinking” are unhealthy, 61
“Indeed it is doubted by some, whether more people have not been destroyed by excess of diet, than ever have been destroyed by famine”, 62
“A proper attention to diet, as well as to pure air, is no less important, and necessary in the cure, than in the preservation of diseases, and in the preservation of health in general. Hence, many disorders prove incurable by medicine, without a well regulated diet and regimen to which, those of a chronic nature often yield, more than to the whole materia medica.”, 62-63
Encyclopedia Britannica: “modus utendi ex veneno facit medicamentum, ex medicamento venenum.” (The mode of use makes a poison a medicine, a medicine a poison.) 73
Cullen: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” 73
2. Excessive eating
Fothergill: “[T]hose who are happy enough to abstain from the first sense of satiety, have made great progress in the art of maintaining such a command of appetite, as, under most chronic indispositions, is one of the greatest aids of recovery; and, in health, is one of the surest preservatives against them.”, 63
Fothergill: “It is a doctrine, however trite and familiar, which cannot be too strongly inculcated; as a neglect of this attention to the quantity of food proportioned to the necessity of each individual, is, sooner or later, followed by the most serious consequences.”, 64
Fothergill: “The repeated excesses at dinner are serious affairs. It has been thought, that more people suffered by hard drinking than immoderate eating.”, 65
Willich: “every satiety, or superfluity, is noxious,” “excessive supplies not only are unnecessary, but produce the most serious and fatal disorders” 66
“A much greater number of diseases originate, upon the whole, from irregularities in eating, than in drinking; and, in the latter respect, we commit more frequent errors with regard to quantity than quality”, 67
“[Only] eat as much as necessary . . . if we exceed this measure, we produce too much blood”, 67
3. Obesity
Encyclopedia Britannica: “Fat people should fast at times, but the lean should never do so.”, 70
4. Dietary errors and their consequences
It is “only in particular persons, that diseases arise from errors in diet.”, 74
Breakfast, Encyclopedia Brittanica: “There is no error in this country more dangerous, or more common, than the neglect of bread; for it is the safest vegetable aliment, and the best corrector of animal food…”, 77
5. Children and Diet
education of children about eating, 67
“Both tea and coffee are a far less salutary part of diet, particularly for children, than milk and its different preparations, with those of arrow-root, sago, tapioca, and salep.” 93
6. Disease causes and prevention
6a. Diet and Exercise
Willich: “A milk diet, joined with exercise, and abstinence from animal food, anf rom wine, may not only be considered as a preventative, but an almost certain cure for the gout, and many other inflammatory disorders . . . Milk, with fresh vegetables and fruits, has been found no less effectual both in preventing and curing the sea-scurvy, and other diseases occasioned by a putrescent state of the fluids.” 82
6b. Diary Products
Hot climates or seasons cause butter to become “stale or rancid”, “disagreeable and offensive”, 77
butter overdose, 77
raw milk is good for the healthy, but not the convalescents or valetudinarians, boil it, 80
cheese, old cheese useful for assisting digestion, 81
whey, as a drink, considerable nourishment, “particularly serviceable in hectic, nephritic, and calculous, or gravelly disorders, and, in other complaints of the urinary passages, 81
milk is intermediate between animal and vegetable, avoid using in those who are irritated, such as by the hectic fever, 81
Encyclopedia Britannica: favors the same regarding use for the hectic, favoring it for those of inflammatory temperaments, 84
6c. Teas
Tea, Percival: “constant and liberal use of the highly flavoured kind, drink strong and hot, with little or no addition, relaxes or weakens the stomach, and impairs digestion,; and is therefore, injurious to health”, 92.
Teas which are made “containing volatile, cordial or reviving principles, for powers of a stimulating nature, when long continued, are sure to be followed by an atonic or debilitated state of the stomach; and, finally, the whole constitution.” 92-3.
Percival: “Tea, when received into the stomach, is highly debilitating and relaxing, and the immoderate use of it is attended with the most pernicious effects. . . Inflammatory diseases more rarely occur; and, in general, are much less rapid and violent in their progress, than formally.”, 93
Percival: “Green tea is much more sedative and relaxing than bohea; and the finer the species of tea, the more debilitating and pernicious are its effects.” 94
Willich: “The bad effects of tea noted include: “in large quantities, is attended with bad consequences. It thoroughly relaxes the coats of the stomach, weakens the bowels, and predisposes them to flatulency upon the least occasion, and destroys all the energy of the digestive organ.” 94
“A moderate use of tea may, sometimes, be of service to persons in a perfect state of health,: yet, for daily use it cannot be recommended,” 95
Counterbalancing this are the impacts on the constitution of the body of Europeans that has commenced due to its use.
6d. Dieting, Pregnancy and Breast-feeding
Some evidence has been found suggesting Ricketson played an important leadership role in the local medical society around 1806-1808. He was apparently in charge of managing the more expensive surgical and other medical tools or objects purchased by local physicians. On one occasion he was forwarded a trephining tool for safe storage for the committee. Other tools of this cost and importance included the standard surgical instruments required for field services in cases of local military excursions or even war (the War of 1812 had its precursors forming in form of m,ilitary encounters that took place at the Canadian Border and several ports as early as 1809), and obstetrical instruments such as the forceps. It is not unlikely that Ricketson would have played some role as an obstetrician delivering local children whenever a physician was needed to perform this task. His sensitivity to the maternity part of his profession is made apparent by huis understanding of the breast-feeding responsibility, and so, as a sign of his awareness about this special concern, engaged in a fairly length section discussion maternal milk production and its quality based on maternal dietary practices. This discussion progressed somewhat into properly feeding and misfeeding the youngest children, with section on feeding older children included throughout in the other sections of this chapter.
His suggestion to mothers who are Breast-feeding are as follows:
pp. 84-89–breastfeeding and milk
a mixed diet is recommended for breast-feeding mothers, 86
Cullen: “I must say a great deal to show, that the human economy, except in few instances, does not absolutely demand the use of animal food; that, in fewer instances still, does it demand it in large proportion: and that, for the most part, the health of the human body is best preserved by a large portion of vegetable food. So, from all this, I think it will readily follow, that the health of women, during the time oft their nursing, may be safely sustained by the use of vegetable aliments alone”, 86
6e. Over-indulgence
Fothergill: regarding invalids and false appetite (i.e. overindulgence, bulemia, anorexia, etc.), “by which means, their sufferings are increased; the disease gains ground; defeats every purpose of the physician; and leads them into some permanent and incurable malady”, p. 64
Ricketson: “The constitutions of people are injured and worn more by gorged or overloaded stomachs, especially at night, than they are by laborious exercise.” 138
Ricketson: “Apoplexy and palsy are not uncommon consequences of full meals and over-distended stomachs, after dinner and supper.” 138
6f. Diseases or Conditions
apoplexy and palsy, 138
general health, broth and soups, 107
Colds and catarrhs 95
eructation, 70
heartburn, 136
Gout p. 91
Hypochondria 77 (bread), 95, 107
Hysteria 95, 107
gluttony and disease, 60
Behavioral or Psychological Gluttony, 61
colic. 133, induced by plum seed bezoar
6g. Foodways and health
Encyclopedia Brittanica: “Health depends almost wholly on a proper crasis of the blood; and to preserve this, a mixture of vegetables, in some degree is always required.”, 70
coffee, irritating to those who are corpulent and weak 102
the effects of fats in the diet on the health of the body, 124
6h. Foodways and Exercise
a milk and vegetable diet is recommended for exercise, 104
Preludes to Nationalism?
Willich, quoting Solander, regarding imbibing the wrong beers and other herbal drinks too much: “But, if this practice must be indulged in, we ought to choose the herbs growing in our own meadows and gardens, instead of making ourselves tributary to distant nations”, 96
One interesting point is Ricketson’s familiarity with Willich’s work, and in turn Dr. Solander’s work on producing the next panacea or “Modern” version of the elixir of life (as noted in the Poughkeepsie Journal, ca. 1799-1803, the term “Modern” was used by pharmacists to differentiate their most recent patent medicine formulas being marketed from the more traditional “antient” remedies). Solander’s main issue was with the medicinal actions and qualitites of tea. Bohea tea from India was considered to be the most medicinal tea at the time and therefore was often the most recommended and most popular. Its replacements, substitutes, adulterants, and even couterfeits were teas obtained from elsewhere, such as China. Solander’s interpretation of these different looking teas was that they were not as effective as Bohea tea and to some users even detrimental. To prevent this, Solander designed his own “Sanative Tea” blend to serve as a replacement for the potentially adulterated Bohea tea products. These teas were produced using local plants raised by Solander himself, in his own garden, under the best growing conditions, and so provided the best form of medical values desired from the Indian versions of Bohea tea. According to Sir John Sinclair (Ricketson’s competitor as a writer perhaps?), woodruff (Asperula sp. or possibly Galium sp.) was also a common substitute. Like many others trying to promote their own recipes and special formulas at the time, Solander was a “quack” but his tea was not at a poor equivalent for Bohea teas. Sinclair stated his own recommendations for a Bohea tea substitute: “the first leaves of whortleberry, properly gathered, and dried in the shade, cannot be differentiated from the real teas.” (Sinclair, fn, pp. 81-2).
Sinclair and Solander’s statements have direct relationship to local Hudson valley history. Like any popular culture concept, belief systems can be passed from one area to the next. In this case, could the nationality Solander assigned to his recipe over that of other countries to market his “Sanative Tea” be transferred to the United States. the obvious answer to this question is “yes” and so the real question is where and when did such beliefs take hold of the popular views about medicine as both a proper natural theological practice and as a sign of the country’s nationalism and economic sustainability.
Aside from Ricketson’s brief statement, proof that this notion was becoming highly popular locally is difficult to uncover proof for as a part of Hudson Valley history. Suffice it to say it probably did happen, and attempts will be made to uncover further evidence for such a claim at the local level. This nationalism felt after the war, and throughout the post-war depression years, is expected to be present to some extent due not only to winning the Revolutionary War a generation or two before, but also due to the up and coming or very recent election of the first president of the United States. Even though Solander was not American born and raised, the idea of growing herbs in one’s own backyard versus making one’s self, family and friends a “tributary to distant nations” probably wasn’t that far off from local political strategies and economic plans for the time. Ricketson’s quote of Willich, referring to this aspect of Solander’s gardening philosophy, may have struck a nerve in the Hudsson Valley and New York readers as well. Supporting this notion in the medical journals is the increasing interst in local plant medicine that finally became a regular topic in the local Medical Repository, for the first time on a fairly regular basis, from 1800 and 1810.
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Botanical Medicine Influences
Perhaps one of the most important impacts Colden had on medicine was his contribution to the growing field of knowledge in American Medical Botany. During the initial years of American colonial and early post-colonial medical history, the value of American plants as potential medicines was recognized but rarely taken seriously enough by physicians to result in much use prior to the 1800s. Of course there were exceptions to this in general, but as for the regular physicians with a well-respected apprenticeship and/or medical schooling experience to promote their skills, most physicians familiar with the use of local plants were trained by local physicians, who in turn were also trained by local physicians. During these periods of training trained, from one generation to the next, was when new plant discoveries were introduced to the physicians to be. The majority of these new local plant medicines would take one or two generations longer to get the attention of more professionally trained physicians, with a European background in their training. Overall, there were very few exceptions to this rule. The best example and evidence for this claim is found in the Revolutionary War records, where the most accepted medicines were included on the pharmacy lists. The only American medicine that seems to recur on American forces regimental surgeon’s lists is the Snakeroot, either of the Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia Snakeroot) or Polygala Senega (Seneca Snakeroot, from New York) origin.
To many doctors during the 1500s and early 1600s, the evidence provided about American medicine suggested these remedies weren’t as effective as the traditional remedies. For example, in the series of reviews of American medicines published by Nicolas Monardes during the mid to late 16th century, these plants are recognizable due to their later fame amongst professionals, but at the time of publication were believed to be fairly weak compared with the traditional European equivalents obtained from already explored countries. For this reason, the ipecacuanha of South America took a half century to become popular, as was the case as well for the New World products of Sassafras and White Cinnamon, and even Peruvian Bark or quinaquina (cinchona), a panacea and valuable fever remedy during the next century.
By the 1700s, as more information was gathered about local plants, this resulted in increased interest in their possible uses. This increase in popularity was enough to make each of these plant an important part of the local culture, and some of the unique methods of treatments these cultures defined. But few of these methods of treatment were heavily promoted by most of the medical training programs in Europe during this time. It took the persistance of medical botanists like Colden and his associates to remedy this culturally based biasness found throughout Europe and the medical professions. Even so, much of this recognition of local American plants that came about was due to American physicians and non-Anglican scientists interested in these potential new medicines, not Anglican physicians. Colden’s initial influence in medical botany had its greatest impact on Germanic and/or Prussian trained physicians, along with some Dutch and French botanists willing to document Colden’s ethnobotanical findings. Whereas English botanists like Peter Collinson took Colden’s finding in stride and mentioned them, but did little to effectively promote them, Germanic and Scandinavian botanists made up for this lapse in professionalism on behalf of the British. Ultimately, Colden’s findings impacted all of European and World history, not just eastern European and Prussian scientific history.
During the late 1700s, a decade or more following the Revolutionary War, Colden’s single most important impact was his documentation of several uses of local plants in concordance with similar notes taken and published by other botanists. This information provided by Colden at times stood by itself in terms of anthropological medical value, and at others times helped similar findings by later botanists begin to become more credible and accepted. This is exactly what took place when Schoepf reviewed the findings of Cadwallader Colden, as well as those of his daughter Jane, and used this information to produce a materia Medica on American plants. In this way, Colden’s work helped to define and/or solidify the possible values local plants had for practice of medicine for generations to come. In some cases, they served not only as substitutes for the more expensive imported plant medicines popular to the marketplace, they also provided an important motive for American physicians to begin to fend for themselves both personally and professionally. These outcomes of Colden’s work turned medicine into an American practice, not just a simple reiteration of beliefs and practices already popularized within the Old World marketplace.
Just before the Revolutionary War, there were several schools established during the Colonial years, two specialized in medical training, and a number of schools that provided a limited amount of medical training, not enough to allow the student to earn a degree. during the post-Revolutionary War years, these schools were reopened and their medical programs re-established. The first medical schools to open in the States were located in New York and Philadelphia. Other college programs like in New Haven and Boston also commenced programs to develop complete medical school training programs. This part of the first and foremost movement to re-establish schools in the country also helped to establish a better manner of documenting, researching and testing the use of North American medicinal plants as new medicines. At the time of the publication of his work, the only major precedent to Schoepf’s writings were those of Manessah Cutler, who in 1781 had completed a series of writings on American plant medicines, which were published in 1785. Unlike Cutler, Schoepf paid more attention to all of the information available to him at the time, and by residing at the edges of both Western And eastern Europe, he had access to information that Cutler perhaps never even knew was available to him at the time. For this reason, Schoepf’s materia medica includes the writings produced by both Cadwallader and Jane Colden. These sources would be documented in his writings, which for both Coldens was the first time their work made its way into the medical books. For Jane Colden, this led to her recognition for the first time as the first American female botanist to receive the admiration and support of leaders in this scientific profession, providing important insights for members of the medical world to take also advantage of.
With both Linnaeus’s and Schoepf’s writings there are several important conclusions that can be drawn related to Cadwallader Colden’s influences. Of first and foremost importance is the fact that Colden’s work, as well as the work of others, provided American physicians and citizens with substitutes or replacements for the traditional remedies they had to rely upon during the previous decades. Evidence for this in Colden’s work include the several plants he mentions with names akin to a traditional remedy already in use, an expensive medicine which they served as a substitute for. Examples of this include to the American version of Ipecacuanha (Cephaelis ipecacuanha from South American) which at least one local herb bore the same common name for (“ipecacuanha”) provided for it by Colden. Similarly, the value of the Indian Physic as an emetic was likewise related to traditional Ipecacuanha’s use (all were emetics).
Colden’s work also added to the growing fascination botanists already had with some of the Native American remedies, in particular those used to treat snake bites. This most curious movement about Snakebite remedies was initiated decades if not centuries earlier, when venomous snakes, which were sometimes called “asps”, became a major problem to physicians and travellers making their way through India. In the North American setting, a similar problem surfaced due mostly to the Rattlesnake and Copperheads, immediately preceded by other venomous snakes typical of South and Middle America. Due to a common philosophy about the ability of a snake to bite and then kill its prey, the public belief or superstition was that the snake used some sort of unique power or ability, typically related to its animal spirit, in order to mesmerize its prey. This philosophy was popularized due to numerous writings about this by several important physicians, including physician and botanist Carl von Linne and physician Richard Mead. Assuming the reason for this ability was not due to some physical cause, common speculation was that it had to with the ability of a snake to “mesmerize” or attract its prey by using some form of “animal magnetism.” This belief was in turn related as well to another commonly found snake of the New York area, the Black Snake, a snake which was not venomous.
The idea that a snake performed some sort of animal magnetism to afflicts its prey, to some, seemed an ability transferable to non-venomous snakes as well. This belief was held to be true for the local Black Snake, a snake common to fields and farm settings in the Hudson Valley. Evidence for this we find in Colden’s Plantae Coldenghamiae, in the form of an ethnobotanical note about the use of Black Snake Root to treat snakebite remedies. This contrasts with the other snake bite remedies already popular–Virginia Snakeroot and Seneca Snakeroot–plants used to treat the bites of venomous snakes.
Just how this common folktale fed into Linnaeus’s work is seen in some of Linnaeus’s medical teachings and writings as a physician. Colden’s local community and common public belief about snakes and snakebites are inferred by at least two of the more important herbal medicines in his Plantae Coldenghamiae manuscript. Colden had at least three remedies with a history of use related to Snakebites, his daughter Jenny had at least two. Various botanists up and down the Atlantic coastline also had their own local equivalents for this particular use of the local plants. In the end, it appears that every region of the colonies and later states had a local snake bite remedy, designed for use if such an emergency should ensue. This was a Native American remedy, transferred to European and Euro-American use once it became a well-document piece of local plant folklore history.
One additional outcome to this documentation of the snake bite remedies rarely noted by historians in medical botany is the tendency European and Euro-American cultures had towards re-writing this use so that it better fit their personal observations and underlying medical or physiological theories. This “transformation of common belief” is evident throughout the late 1700s to mid 1800s medical botany writings. The transformation of belief that takes place converts an older philosophy, not meeting the definitions and requirements of the newcomers now adhering to it, in such a way that it better fits their understanding of things–in this case medicine and physiology. For this reason we find the following snake bite remedies having new uses applied to them in upcoming years, for example:
Scullcap (Scutellaria sp.)–converted by the late 1800s into nerve tonics or to treat convulsions mimicking those brought on by a bite
Black Cohosh (Caullophyllum thalictroides) as an anti-spasmodic/contraction agents of the uterus (menstrual cycle related problems); employed at first for remedies that result in severe contractions and pain due to the bite, but later for specific organs or body parts, such as the uterus.
During Spoerke’s and Colden’s times, this is in part how and why Asclepias tuberosa, another snake bite remedy, came to be used instead as a treatment for breathing problems and chest pains (such as those induced by snakebites), by then related to the same brought on by pleurisy (thus its common name, is Pleurisy root).
In the end, this large number of snakebite herbs found in North America fascinated not only the local botanists, but also Linnaeus himself, to such an extent that he wrote an essay devoted to this unique trait of the New World/North American medical botany history. This resulted in Linnaeus writing an essay that covered about a dozen Indian Snakebite remedies, with an equal number yet to be described and documented by other botanists in the years to come. (Linnaeus’s review of this is to be provided under another section.) Colden noted some of these original beliefs about the herb, but also provided the new uses for these same remedies for snakebite-related symptoms. (The same could be said for Jane Colden’s work.) Schoepf’s writings often provide a little bit more about the modified theories for a particular plant medicine use, aside from its original use for treating particular snakebites.
The following is the first medical botany work produced by a botanist that makes extensive use of Cadwallader Colden’s nova-boracensis taxonomy and medical botany notes. There are two other plants in Schoepf’s work worth noting as well due to this feature, each of which will be covered separately under the botanist most worthy of being associated with these two medicinal plants. Jane or Jenny Colden documented the existence of a plant which almost bore her name in Schoepf’s text, and another of significant medical importance also reviewed by Schoepf. The first was a Hypericum, the second Fibraurea.
One small criticism was laid upon Schoepf’s work by past writers during the mid-nineteenth century. Some have viewed Schoepf’s work as a direct result of Schoepf’s proximity to Jenny’s original manuscript and related botanical illustration materials, and, due to his heritage, his familiarity with the languages typical of Linnaean scholars (Latin and Swedish). Schoepf was able to readily review and summarize the works of a variety of botanists, in search of the value of their works to the field of medicine, and so produced this first summary of American medical botany, in a fairly succinct materia medica form, with ample notes pertaining to the specific uses for these plants and citations specific for these uses. These various uses were by no means the complete review of the values of these American plants, but they served as an important starting point, which American physicians worked hard to take advantage of during the next two decades. Schoepf’s writing initiated the use of taxonomic data for medical botany purposes in America, the work of Bartram, Barton and Hossack completed this process of defining the field of American Medical Botany by 1810/1815.
These plant reviews by Schoepf are split into three catagories. The first set of plants reviewed are those with a medical botany communicated specifically by Cadwallader Colden (those for Jenny are in the next section on her work). The next section reviews the plants that are noted by Colden, who is so cited by Schoepf for such, and although their uses were not provided by Colden, they serve as examples of how Colden’s taxonomic work was put to use in further identifying these potential resources. The third section reviews plants mentioned by Colden in his own work, and yet for some reason his work was not noted as a source for this information by Schoepf. Any related mention of Schoepf’s plants, such as in Colden’s letters or monographs and published essays (i.e. Limonium), will be discussed in this section as well. By the end of this review, the most historically significant plants reviewed by Colden, according to Colden’s and Schoepf’s writings, should become clear as well.
The following is a listing of the plants noted in Schoepf’s writings as bearing information derived from at least three different resources produced by the Coldens: Plantae Coldenghamiae (referenced by Schoepf as “Cold.”), Jenny’s Flora of New York manuscript (referenced as “Cold. Flor.”), and Jenny’s pressed plant and drawings collection (“Cold. Filis”). [Corresponding notes about Jenny are provided in a separate section.] These represent some of the most important influences Cadwallader Colden had on local medicine and local medical history.
Schoepf’s entire book is written in Latin. Residing relatively close to the Linnaean Society (in comparison with Western European and American botanists), he had a geographic advantage enabling his to include the works of Cadwallader and Jane Colden into this treatise. This is one of the very few times Jane Colden is cited directly in a botany of medical book in a professional fashion. Most of the references made to Jane are usually found in writings celebrating her accomplishments, but not making scientific mention or use of her discoveries in a professional science publication. This is the only example of such a citation that I have uncovered as such to date. This is also one of the very few citations to Cadwallader Colden’s botany work made in a professional botanical writing.
In the following section, five North American botanists are cited for their work. Interestingly, Gronovius is not included even though numerous examples of his citations appear in the book. The overall presentation of these authors throughout the book suggests that Schoepf favored the writings of Clayton, Catesby and Kalm over those of both Colden, due mostly to the richness (more species) and broad application of their taxonomic content. However, it is also important to note that Schoepf almost went out of the way in a professional sense to be sure to include mention of Colden’s daughter Jane. Other writers such as Gronovius, Clayton, Michaux, and later post-1790 writings could have also cited the Coldens as well, but chose not to. Also note the mention fo a Georgia Flora article published in a German magazine print and distributed out of Hamburg. This has not yet been uncovered, but is not expected to make mention of Colden’s work due to the portion of North America reviewed by this article.
Discussions of Place and Medicine
Schoepf’s review of the American plant medicines in relation to internationally known traditional plant sources is part of a growing movement the public had in general towards favoring local medicines over imported or “exotic” medicines. There is an inferred recommendation made in this section as well for the possible exporting of some American herbs internationally. As early as 1600 this was already the case. Around 1600-1610 Bartholomew Gosnold gathered and shipped Sassafras from Massachusetts to England, due to its popular use as a remedy for Syphilis following some supporting statements made by the British Queen. Sir Walter Raleigh recommended the gathering and importing of a local Smilax species as a starch substitute for a highly popular and expensive Oriental starch produced by a relative of this plant. (This starch was popular because it was pure white in color and produced an exceptionally fine powder). In Pennsylvania and New York, attempts were made to begin gathering the American version of Ginseng (Panax quinquefolia, as a substitute for the Chinese Panax ginsenga).
Clayton as an Example
A number of descriptions are used as examples in this discussion about the latin nomenclature in use for his book. He notes that descriptive terms of medical significance very useful for identification in the field are italicised. Based on the examples given, the rest of this format is self-explanatory.
European and American Species
A comparison is made between tradition European and American species of plant medicines. During previous years and decades, the European versions of a medicine have been considered stronger than the American varieties, a result of ethnicity on behalf of many of the mother countries. Schoepf suggests that some of these substitutes found in America are very comparable (fortes = strong) to those from Europe. The left column lists the American species, the right the European species.
Native American Note
Schoepf begins by contrasting Euro-American uses with Indigenous American uses. He notes the similarities between how each of these two cultures use similar methods to define their uses. Several very important American plant uses are noted (antisyphilitica, etc.). He also notes the Snakebite cure for ‘Crotali’ (Crotalus or rattlesnake), which he tries to define as a piece of “magic”. “Videant Americani . . . ” is celebrating America’s patriotism and new-found nationalism.
Baruthum or Bayreuth is a town in Old Germany (Deutschland).
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What RE/MAX's big push into the Buffalo real estate market means
Ryan Connolly, associate real estate broker with Re/Max, outside a home he sold in Getzville. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News)
By Jonathan D. Epstein|Published Thu, Aug 25, 2016
RealtyUSA and Hunt Real Estate Corp. have dominated the local real estate market, but they are about to get competition from a national rival eager to make a big push into Buffalo.
RE/MAX LLC, one of the nation’s biggest and best-known real estate companies, wants to significantly grow its presence in Western New York, bringing more money and resources from the organization to its local franchise.
“We need to grow in Buffalo. We need a larger presence, as large a city as it is,” said Terri D. Bohannon, the corporate region vice president. “We like to go into a community and stir up the market a little bit. We feel like Buffalo is one of those untapped markets.”
RE/MAX’s emergence won’t necessarily enable Buffalo-area homeowners to sell their properties for higher prices or even pay lower commissions on sales. Commissions vary widely from firm to firm, and often consist of multiple parts. They can even vary within a firm, as individual agents decide how high to set them above a base amount. And sale prices are determined by the market, not by agents.
But it is going to mean more heated competition for the most precious resource in real estate: the best agents.
The region’s real estate firms, especially its two biggest, are constantly poaching agents from each other and smaller rivals with more attractive commission structures, benefits or resources. As with similar professionals in other fields, those agents bring their clientele and business with them. And unless the market itself grows, that’s the only way to increase market share.
To drum up brand awareness among agents and consumers, RE/MAX expects to increase its television, radio, print and billboard advertising in the Buffalo marketplace.
The company will also mine sales data to identify and target local agents with a high production volume and large clientele in an effort to build a more professional team and grow its customer base. And it will introduce its existing agent team locally to other services it offers nationally that they may not be familiar with, such as an online design center for brochures and fliers.
Primarily though, RE/MAX counts on recruiting agents from its competitors by letting them keep a higher share of the commissions they earn on each sale. But that may not work, undaunted rivals say.
“Their appeal is a financial appeal and that’s compelling to some agents. But agents have to make a decision: do they want to choose their broker based on who will pay them the higher commission or on value. There’s no way any broker can be both,” said Peter Hunt, CEO of Hunt Real Estate Corp.
Attracted by growth
The heated real estate market in Western New York appears to have prompted the Denver-based company to expand its two local offices with 28 agents. The Buffalo area has experienced a steady increase in prices for the last 20 years and more frenetic activity than other parts of the state. Homes are flying off the shelves in many neighborhoods almost as soon as they are listed, with multiple bids and heavy competition driving prices to new peaks.
Buffalo region home prices hit a record high for the month of June, while the number of homes available for sale tumbled to a record low, according to statistics from the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors.
Additionally, RE/MAX is counting on potential turmoil among real estate agents and consumers that could be created from Pittsburgh-based Howard Hanna Real Estate Services’ acquisition of RealtyUSA this month. That deal combined two family-owned companies and created the nation’s third-largest brokerage but also ended Orchard Park-based RealtyUSA’s independence. And it could trigger moves by agents to other firms.
Finally, RE/MAX is betting that its recent corporate acquisition of the previously independent statewide RE/MAX franchise in New York will pay dividends in strengthening its relationship with its local franchise, RE/MAX North, which is owned and run by Margaret L. Eisenhauer. The deal doesn’t change the ownership or operations of RE/MAX North.
“We’re very excited. We feel so much more connected to the power of RE/MAX,” said Eisenhauer. “They’re actively engaged, energetic and proactive. I’m expecting more growth.”
Last year, Eisenhauer’s agents completed 447 residential transactions, or about 17.8 per agent, and she has added four agents in the last year to her Amherst and Grand Island offices. She said she hopes to add at least another four in the coming months – one was hired this week – and also expects to start developing the brand’s commercial division, which will be new to Western New York. Additional offices are also possibilities in the future, she said, without giving specifics.
“We are proactively trying to work with our region owners,” said Bohannon, who’s now overseeing New York. Eisenhauer “has done a great job, has a good company, and she is ready for some growth. We’re ready to help her do that.”
But RE/MAX isn’t new to the marketplace, and has struggled to gain traction in upstate and Western New York over the last 20 years. “They’ve been here for a long time. It’s nothing new,” said Hunt, of Hunt Real Estate. “When they first came to town, they did all kinds of stuff to woo our agents. They achieved a certain market share off the bat that they maintained for a while, but they’re going in the wrong direction.”
And both Hunt and RealtyUSA are accustomed to competing successfully against Re/MAX, executives said.
“I’ve been banging heads with RE/MAX around the state for years. We’ve been very competitive and we’ve been able to grow market share and prevail,” said Merle Whitehead, CEO of RealtyUSA and now chairman of New York State operations for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Pittsburgh. "RE/MAX is certainly a great organization, but we compete very well against them in all markets.”
Difference in structure
RE/MAX’s financial structure won’t be as appealing for agents as it may seem, the rivals said. That’s because agents end up paying for a lot of other things at RE/MAX that they don’t at RealtyUSA, Hunt and other brokerage firms.
“If you just focus on the split, it’s a better deal,” Whitehead said. “Their business model gives the agent a higher split, but then in turn the agents pay for some other items that would be included in more traditional companies.”
Those items – such as rent for their individual office space, plus the cost of signs, advertising, copying and other expenses – are included in the package at many other firms like Hunt and RealtyUSA, which can afford to pay for training, supplies and other resources precisely because they keep more of the commission for overhead. By contrast, RE/MAX’s structure gives the agents more money but leaves the franchisees unable to cover those costs.
“If I’m paying out 100 percent of the commission to the agent, what do I have left to pay the bills?” Hunt asked. “It just defies any kind of business logic. So they have to extract their revenue stream through a series of fees and rents for space. We’ve chosen just not to go in that direction.”
Indeed, Whitehead noted, many RE/MAX agents lacked cash flow to pay their rents during the 2009 recession, forcing them temporarily to go to more traditional and lower commission splits while they built up debts to their broker-owners. And some RE/MAX franchises have gone out of business across the state.
On the other hand, RE/MAX might pose more competition for agents against smaller real estate firms in the area, including national franchises that lack a big market presence. Besides the market’s big three firms of RealtyUSA, Hunt Real Estate Corp. and MJ Peterson Corp., RE/MAX competes against a host of other national brands, such as Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and Keller Williams, and locally based firms like WNY Metro, RealtyEdge, Gurney Becker & Bourne, Stovroff & Taylor Realtors and J. Lawrence Realty, among others.
“There’s probably more pressure on smaller companies because they just wouldn’t have as many resources to compete,” Whitehead said. “A small independent without those tools would be at a competitive disadvantage.”
Founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, and still based in Denver, RE/MAX has more than 100,000 agents in nearly 100 countries, and is ranked as North America’s leading brokerage brand by number of transactions. All of its offices are independent franchises of the corporate brand. But the privately owned company also sold off many of its statewide and regional operations – known as master franchises – decades ago to raise cash to expand.
Now a publicly traded company after an initial public offering three years ago, RE/MAX has been reacquiring many of its regional franchises as those owners aged and sought an exit. Since 2007, the company has repurchased 12 master franchises, including California-Hawaii, Carolinas, Florida, Mountain States, Texas, Central Atlantic, Southwest and Alaska.
Most recently, this month, it repurchased its Long Island-based New York State region from Pierre Titley, who has owned RE/MAX of New York since 1987, and still owns RE/MAX Quebec. That purchase gives RE/MAX more control over its 60 independently owned and operated offices from Buffalo to Long Island, with 850 agents.
“Our goal in New York is to support the development of our affiliates and to expand our presence across the state,” said Dave Liniger, chairman and CEO of RE/MAX LLC. “Our focus is always to provide the tools they need to deliver the best customer service possible to homebuyers and sellers.”
email: jepstein@buffnews.com
Jonathan D. Epstein – Jonathan Epstein is a business reporter at The Buffalo News, where he covers commercial and residential real estate and development. He has worked at The News since 2004.
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„The essential quality of life is living' the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution; and we are part of it.“
— John Wyndham
John Wyndham6
britský autor 1903 - 1969
Podobné citáty
„The spirit expresses itself in many ways while itself remaining essentially the same but the body must change to suit its changing environments if it wishes to live.“
— Sri Aurobindo Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru and poet 1872 - 1950
Context: It is the nature of human institutions to degenerate, to lose their vitality, and decay, and the first sign of decay is the loss of flexibility and oblivion of the essential spirit in which they were conceived. The spirit is permanent, the body changes; and a body which refuses to change must die. The spirit expresses itself in many ways while itself remaining essentially the same but the body must change to suit its changing environments if it wishes to live. There is no doubt that the institution of caste degenerated. It ceased to be determined by spiritual qualifications which, once essential, have now come to be subordinate and even immaterial and is determined by the purely material tests of occupation and birth. By this change it has set itself against the fundamental tendency of Hinduism which is to insist on the spiritual and subordinate the material and thus lost most of its meaning. The spirit of caste arrogance, exclusiveness and superiority came to dominate it instead of the spirit of duty, and the change weakened the nation and helped to reduce us to our present conditions. 22 September 1907
„We live in order to develop the superior qualities of man which are, as yet, for the most part latent.“
— Felix Adler German American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, and lecturer 1851 - 1933
Context: I believe in the supreme excellence of righteousness; I believe that the law of righteousness will triumph in the universe over all evil; I believe that in the attempt to fulfil the law of righteousness, however imperfect it must remain, are to be found the inspiration, the consolation, and the sanctification of human existence. We live in order to finish an, as yet, unfinished universe, unfinished so far as the human, that is, the highest part of it, is concerned. We live in order to develop the superior qualities of man which are, as yet, for the most part latent. Section 9 : Ethical Outlook
„Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.“
— Robert F. Kennedy American politician and brother of John F. Kennedy 1925 - 1968
Context: And a third danger is timidity. Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.
„Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.“
— Sidney Sheldon American writer 1917 - 2007
„If standard of living is your major objective, quality of life almost never improves, but if quality of life is your number one objective, your standard of living almost always improves.“
— Zig Ziglar American motivational speaker 1926 - 2012
„Sometimes when you work in advertising you'll get a product that's really garbage and you have to make it seem fantastic, something that is essential to the continued quality of life.“
— Augusten Burroughs, Dry
„We know from experience that technology can be changed. We have learned in the quality-of-working-life enterprise not to accept the technological imperative.“
— Eric Trist British scientist 1909 - 1993
Eric Trist cited in: Alternatives. Vol 8 (1980). Trent University, University of Waterloo. Faculty of Environmental Studies, p. 146
„As the quality of water changes with the nature of the soil;
So will a man’s reason vary with the quality of his friends.“
— Thiruvalluvar Tamil poet and philosopher
Verse XLVI.2
„Hebrew word for "charity" tzedakah, simply means "justice" and as this suggests, for Jews, giving to the poor is no optional extra but an essential part of living a just life.“
— Peter Singer, The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty
„There is a quality of life which lies always beyond the mere fact of life; and when we include the quality in the fact, there is still omitted the quality of the quality.“
— Alfred North Whitehead English mathematician and philosopher 1861 - 1947
Religion in the Making (February 1926), Lecture II: "Religion and Dogma".
„There are some things in life that shouldn't be given so much importance, if they don't change what is essential.“
— Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate
„Of all the virtues we can learn no trait is more useful, more essential for survival, and more likely to improve the quality of life than the ability to transform adversity into an enjoyable challenge.“
— Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Happiness
„Improving quality requires a culture change, not just a new diet.“
— Philip B. Crosby Quality guru 1926 - 2001
Philip B. Crosby (1989), Let's Talk Quality: 96 Questions You Always Wanted to Ask Phil Crosby, p. 47
„Openness is an essential factor underlying a system's viability, continuity, and its ability to change.“
— Walter F. Buckley American sociologist 1922 - 2006
p. 50 as cited in: Roberta R. Greene (2011) Human Behavior Theory and Social Work Practice. p. 182.
„Easier to keep changing your life than to live it.“
— James Richardson American poet 1950
„True life is lived when tiny changes occur.“
— Leo Tolstoy Russian writer 1828 - 1910
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SportsGuyRy’s Fantasy Corner: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings Pt. 2
Posted on August 1, 2018 August 1, 2018 by SportsGuyRy
SportsGuyRy’s 2018 Fantasy Football Rankings
Wide Receiver Edition (11-20):
*Photo provided by the Detroit Free Press*
As we continue on with our wide receiver rankings, you will find that there’s still a lot of talent left on the board past the top ten. Again, this is a very deep class and you will find that there are still going to be players that aren’t on this 11-20 list that you’d expect to be listed already. Some of this is personal preference and some of it is just the depth of the class. Either way, as we continue to jump into this fantasy receiver class, please let me know your feedback and what you disagree with. I love the feedback.
11. Josh Gordon – Cleveland Browns – #94 ranked WR to end 2017 with 35 points (7 per game)
*Photo provided by Jason Miller/Getty Images*
I’m still dreaming of the day where Josh Gordon was the model citizen. He didn’t know what marijuana was, never drank alcohol, he volunteered almost all his free time to at-risk youth and he played every game in his NFL career like he was back in 2013.
Unfortunately, that’s not reality. After what seems to be a four year break from football to get his life straightened out, he is looking to play in every game in the 2018 season for the first time since 2012. In that season, his rookie year, he had 50 receptions for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns. The year after that was Josh Gordon’s coming out party. After being suspended for the first two games due to drug related issues, he put up a whopping 1646 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He also added 88 rushing yards to that as well. He did all of this with below average quarterback play. There’s a reason the Browns took a chance on him in the supplemental draft even with his issues.
We all thought we had the next great receiver in our midst until he got in trouble with drugs again, and again, until he received an indefinite ban from the NFL. Through a lot of hard work on his part and support around him, he was reinstated into the NFL for 2017 until he decided he wasn’t ready and decided to check himself back into rehab to make sure he sure’d up everything as he knew this was his last chance. He did get right and participated in the last 5 games of the season, turning in 335 yards and a touchdown.
So Gordon is the ultimate wild card. Will he stay clean? That’s the biggest question that no one can answer. Will he return to that 2013 form? I’ve always been a big Josh Gordon fan and think he has all the tools to be a great player. I’m betting on him staying clean and being dominant with Baker Mayfield/Tyrod Taylor throwing him the ball. Prove me right Josh. If he does, 11 is way too low for him to be on this list.
12. Marvin Jones – Detroit Lions – #5 ranked WR to end 2017 with 155 points (9.7 per game)
I know what everyone is thinking right now. “Okay, sure. I can see the high potential of Josh Gordon getting him that high on the list but Marvin Jones? Over guys like Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, Demaryius Thomas, etc.?” Well, yes, I do have Marvin Jones over the likes of those guys and do you know why?
Marvin Jones last year put up the 5th best fantasy season for a receiver in 2017, averaging 9.7 points per game. Those numbers equated to 1101 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. He averaged 18 yards per catch as the main deep threat on the Lions. He has a very competent QB in Matthew Stafford. He plays for a team that’s run game has yet to be proven worthy and a team that throws a ton to make great comebacks. And he’s the WR1 on the team. Golden Tate is the bigger name but Jones is the better player.
In the last three season, he has consistently got better in yards as he enters his prime years. He increased his touchdown production by more than doubling his previous two years combined last season. There’s a ton to love about Marvin Jones. Injuries haven’t been a major concern in his career, outside of the busted knee in 2014. And although I have him ranked 12 on my receiver list, the aforementioned guys like Evans, Thomas, Cooper, etc. will all go ahead of him in the draft, giving you great value in the 4-6 round range.
13. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – #20 ranked WR to end 2017 with 123 points (8.2 per game)
*Photo provided by the Tampa Bay Times*
Even with a very uncertain and mediocre QB play on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I couldn’t push Mike Evans any lower on this list. Evans talent is, at times, elite. He’s big, strong and can run well for a player his size. He’s a matchup nightmare, towering over the corners covering him and he can leap high and catch that ball at its highest point. He gets a lion’s share of the targets for his team. He’s been relatively healthy in his career and has never NOT (double negatives are fun) surpassed 1000 receiving yards in a season in his career.
So why so low on a dominant player that always gets at least a 1000 yards. Let’s be clear here, this ranking for Evans is heavily influenced by the QB play rather than his talents. Jameis Winston, when he’s not grabbing Uber drivers crotches and stealing lobsters, is just as questionable of a decision maker on the field as well. He’s got talent but often times misses the right play or makes an errant throw. Due to the previously mentioned bad decision making off the field, he’s suspended to start the season, giving Ryan Fitzpatrick the start at QB for the first few games. He’s also not the best decision maker in the world on the field (model citizen off the field).
This mixed with a history of drops and a touchdown production that’s been a rollercoaster ride since he’s been in the league (12 – 3 – 12 – 5) is why I have him at 13. According to the touchdown trend, he should see an uptick in the touchdowns. If he turns to 2016 form, I’ll admit being wrong and having him too low on this list, but my concerns about his QB play has me putting him at 13.
14. Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs – #6 ranked WR to end 2017 with 151 points (10.1 per game)
*Photo provided by Chiefs Wire – USA Today*
Looking back at Tyreek Hill last year, I was quite surprised that he had 1183 yards and 7 touchdowns to put the 6th best receiver output in 2017. I do remember him being a bit of a boom or bust style player where some weeks he put up 30 fantasy points (week 13) and others have 2 fantasy points (week 8). I’ve never been a big fan of those type of players in the past (Desean Jackson comes to mind). So where does that leave us for 2018?
I can’t ignore the fact he has put up two quality seasons in a row and has been productive in this offense. However, there are a couple of concerns. Alex Smith is gone and we don’t know what we have in Patrick Mahomes. I’m high on Mahomes skills and talent but we will see how it translates on Sundays. They were able to add Sammy Watkins which is a huge upgrade across from him compared to Albert Wilson. Travis Kelce is still there and the emergence of Kareem Hunt means there’s a lot of mouths to feed in KC. I don’t see this as an awful thing for Hill as it may open up some more big plays for him but with a first time starting QB at the helm, there’s just a bit concern of his production.
If you’re drafting Hill, know what you’re getting with him and love the big games and don’t hate when the drought games happen. Know that is what you’re getting with him.
15. Doug Baldwin – Seattle Seahawks – #11 ranked WR to end 2017 with 141 points (8.8 per game)
*Photo provided by TitleTown Sound Off*
Doug Baldwin is definitely a cool player. For all the work he does for the community, it’s very admirable. He wasn’t a highly touted player but worked hard to get to be a consistent top performer at the receiver position. Ranking #11 last year in the fantasy rankings, he was one of the few bright spots on that Seattle team last year. I typically cheer for these types of players.
Playing in 110 of the possible 112 games in his career, he’s been reliable. Although last year was a statistical down here for Baldwin, pulling in 991 yards for 8 touchdowns, those are still solid numbers. He still has the poor supporting cast around him, giving Russell Wilson his only legitimate target. I’m not sure if this means he’ll get more attention than he usually does with Graham being gone but his ability to work at the X, Z and slot allows him to move around to avoid some of the shadowing that happens.
What you do know is, since taking over as a full-time starter for the Seahawks 4 years ago, he’s averaged 1003 yards, 8 touchdowns on 78 receptions. He is reliable. You can draft with a clean conscience.
16. T. Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – #24 ranked WR to end 2017 with 111 points (6.9 per game)
*Photo provided by Youtube*
This ranking of T.Y. Hilton is predicated on a healthy Andrew Luck, which it appears that he is. Hilton and Luck form a great duo that turns Hilton into another level of player. Since becoming a starter on the Colts in 2013, he’s put up crazy numbers with Luck, averaging 1250 receiving yards and about 6 touchdowns a year. Last year, without Luck, wasn’t awful either. 4 touchdowns with 966 yards with Brissett is not bad by any means.
He’s stayed healthy throughout his career so similar to how I view Mike Evans, I’m also taking a similar approach with Hilton meaning his value is predicated on his QB play. With Frank Reich bringing some of the magic that the Eagles had last year and a healthy Luck – this could be a “bounce back” year for Hilton.
17. Amari Cooper – Oakland Raiders – #31 ranked WR to end 2017 with 101 points (7.2 per game)
*Photo provided by NBC Sports*
I have a vendetta against Amari Cooper. I drafted him high last year and he was a major disappointment. Luckily, I was able to trade him but still, it hurts when you draft a guy high and for him to flame out like Cooper did.
However, putting vendettas aside, Cooper should be in for a bounce back year this year for multiple reasons. The first being, he’s just got too much talent to not return to his 2015 and 2016 form. In those two years, he averaged 78 receptions for 1112 yards and 6 touchdowns. That’s a solid average for your first two years as a pro. The step back to 680 yards was not fun but his 7 touchdowns was a career high.
Derek Carr should also be in for a bounce back year which will help Coopers cause, as well as having fellow WR1B in Michael Crabtree gone, giving Cooper the clear WR1 targets he deserves. He’s healthy again which should help and a new, offensive minded coach at the helm. We’ll see if the bounce back year can happen at a discount in the draft.
18. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos – #23 ranked WR to end 2017 with 115 points (7.2 per game)
*Photo provided by WTMJ.com*
Demaryius Thomas is a beast. The 6’3” 220lb receiver is strong, fast and is excellent at run after the catch. He’s also been very healthy for the last 6 years after spending the first two years of his career battling injuries. He had 5 straight 1000+ yard campaigns going into the 2017 season. As expected, he fell short of those numbers at 949 yards and 5 touchdowns due to awful quarterback play of Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch, a far cry from an even aging Peyton Manning.
However, there’s new blood in Denver in the man that brought the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship Game (albeit behind a great defense and awesome supporting cast), Case Keenum. I like Case and think he could really elevate not only Thomas but Emmanuel Sanders as well. The one thing that goes against Thomas is his lack of reliable hands. Always a man known for drops, he needs to sure that up if he wants to repeat the successes he had in this 2012 – 2015 years where he averaged 1447 yards and 10 touchdowns a year. He’s set up for a bounce back year and a return to the 1000+ yard club with more a more stable QB in 2018.
19. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – #9 ranked WR to end 2017 with 144 points (9 per game)
*Photo provided by Sporting News*
Mr. Reliability. Larry Fitzgerald just never seems to age or decline in his production. At age 33, Larry put up yet, another great season for the Cardinals with 1156 yards and 6 touchdowns leading to a top ten finish in fantasy points by receiver. He did this with an aging Carson Palmer and without David Johnson keeping defenses honest. After putting up his 3rd straight 1000+ yard season and 100+ reception season, he’s primed to keep going with a oft injured but uber talented Sam Bradford at the helm or a polarizing rookie, Josh Rosen, who may beat out the aforementioned Bradford out of the starting job in the preseason. Either way, either player should be an upgrade at the QB spot. Not to mention, the return of David Johnson to bring more balance and skill at the RB position and a new head coach bringing new energy.
Of course there’s the concerns of him being 34 this season and another year to slow down and let father time catch up to him but I honestly feel this could be one of Larry’s best seasons since his early years.
20. Brandin Cooks – Los Angeles Rams – #8 ranked WR to end 2017 with 145 points (9.1 per game)
*Photo provided by Patriots Wire – USA Today*
I thought it was an interesting move by the Patriots to move Brandin Cooks over to the LA Rams this offseason. Cooks just came off of a pretty solid year where he turned in a top 8 finish in fantasy production with 1082 yards and 8 touchdowns. I understand money came into play here as he was up for a contract in which the Rams made him a very rich man, bringing in $80M with $50M of that guaranteed over 5 years.
In his career, Cooks has averaged just shy of 1000 yards per season and just shy of 7 touchdowns per season. Those are pretty solid numbers for a receiver who’s just entering his prime years of his career. He does most of this with big play ability both catching the long ball and making runs after the catch with his elusive ways. He’s remained relatively healthy throughout his career. The one thing I will say is he’s enjoyed much success so far in his career, playing behind arguably two of the top five best quarterbacks in NFL history. Will he fare so well with Jared Goff? I think so, not so much because of Goff, but because Sean McVay is a great offensive minded coach who will find ways to get the ball into the hands of his best receiver. He’s also got a great supporting cast of Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp around him to free him up from constant double coverage and a phenomenal RB in Todd Gurley keeping defenses honest.
That wraps up my receivers 11-20. We still have some great receivers coming in the 21-30 article that will be posted here soon as well. With all the great talent at this position, you can see why I felt this is a deep class with guys like Alshon Jeffery, Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson yet to be mentioned.
Tags: Josh Gordon, Marvin Jones, NFL, SportsGuyRyCategories: Fantasy
Published by SportsGuyRy
An active sports fan with an opinion. Deep rooted love for the Vikings and Sooners and a fantasy football nut. View all posts by SportsGuyRy
Previous7/30-7/31 Vikings Training Camp Photo Gallery
NextE24: Pocket Protectors [Kirk vs Case]
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Archive for the ‘E3 2012’ Category
Caffeinated Thoughts on Nintendo’s 2012 E3 Press Conference
Nintendo’s main E3 press conference was just over a week ago now. It was the first big showing for Nintendo’s next home console, now officially named Wii U. A year had passed since Nintendo’s initial showing of the console and some teaser trailers for it at E3 2011, but did another full year of development time for the console and games make much of a difference? Did that time allow Nintendo to bring the games and features for Wii U to their 2012 E3 to help sell the console before it’s even available for sale?
What did Nintendo show in their 2012 E3 press conference, and what coffee roast grade do I give it? Let’s take a look!
The Brew
Nintendo started their E3 conference by debuting Pikmin 3. While Pikmin 3 had originally been announced for the Wii, it will be able to use both the Wii Nunchuk with Wii MotionPlus controls, as well as the Wii U GamePad depending on how you want to play the game. Pikmin 3 will be the first in the series to make the jump to “high definition” graphics, and I can imagine this will help make the level of detail even better and the environment/setting for the game more realistic.
Rock Pikmin, growing a flower? Interesting.
The next game Nintendo showed was New Super Mario Bros. U, and Reggie mentioned how the Wii U Gamepad will be used by possibly a 5th player to add additional blocks throughout the level to help players. Reggie did not mention whether the game will have any online multiplayer, and I was disappointed that information was not mentioned, or even hinted at. If I had to guess based on Nintendo’s poor online service, I would guess right now that New Super Mario Bros. U will not feature online cooperative multiplayer, but I will be GLAD to be proven wrong on that guess.
During this portion Reggie confirmed that the Wii U will be compatible with using two of the GamePads at once, and the news was received with audible cheers from the audience. It had been one of the rumors floating around before E3, with some saying it would and some saying it wouldn’t be compatible with two GamePads at once.
The third game Nintendo showed was a third party title (third game, third party? interesting!). The game was Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition. While I have only played a demo of the original Batman: Arkham Asylum and enjoyed the demo, it’s kind of difficult for me to get excited about this game, because I own a PS3 and can get the game on that console, and probably for a lot cheaper than the Wii U version later this year. At least the Wii U is getting the game though, and I am glad to see the developers using the Wii U GamePad for some game-play elements. Scribblenauts Unlimited was shown next, and I wasn’t that excited for it, because like Batman, it’s not an “exclusive” and will be on the 3DS as well.
Nintendo then showed a “sizzle” trailer with Darksiders II, Mass Effect 3, Tank! Tank! Tank!, TEKKN Tag Tournament 2, Trine 2: Director’s Cut, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, and Aliens Colonial Marines.
What do I think about those games in the order shown? Non-exclusive, non-exclusive, interesting but poor trailer choice, non-exclusive, port, port, and non-exclusive. Only one of the seven games is a Wii U “exclusive” that we know of right now, that being Tank! Tank! Tank!, which I think is somewhat unfortunate.
Reggie then started talking about Wii Fit U. Let’s just skip to the next!
SiNG. Irony of ironies. I had not heard the song in the demo video for SiNG until they showed it at E3, then the very next day I saw a work related video…with the SAME EXACT SONG in it! Perhaps it’s telling me I should buy this game day one?
I will say, the best part about the trailer and game I thought was the use of the Wii U GamePad displaying the lyrics for the song. I really liked that, as I think it frees people up from facing just the tv for the lyrics if they don’t know the song, and it appeared the font was easy to read so I wouldn’t have to squint my eyes to read it from the television.
Scott Moffitt then came out to talk about the 3DS and games for it, but complained about not having enough time to talk about the games and spent nearly a minute talking about the 3DS press conference the next day. A MINUTE. That’s two 30 second game trailers. Three 20 second. Or even just one 1 minute trailer. You get the point? Complain about not enough time, and waste time complaining and promoting another conference?
He started off talking about New Super Mario Bros. 2. He then showed Paper Mario: Sticker Star. I have never played a Paper Mario game, but I gotta say this one did get me interested, and in a console I don’t even own yet. He ended with the three first party titles, talking about Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Like Paper Mario, I was impressed with what I saw for the game in the trailer, and I think it looks pretty well polished. Moffit ended his time with a “sizzle” trailer for the 3DS showing off third party games. The trailer started with Castlevania: Lord of Shadow – Mirror of Fate, then Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, Scribblenauts Unlimited, and KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Reggie was back now showing off LEGO City: Undercover. The game looks like a cool kid friendly “Grand Theft Auto” to me, which I don’t find to be a bad thing if that’s how it turns out. I thought the trailer was very weirdly pieced together though, with certain things happening apparently for humor that left me more puzzled as to what/why they were showing it, than actually laughing (perhaps I just missed the references they were using?). The trailer did end with a nice Nintendo fan throwout though, and Reggie also confirmed a different version of LEGO City is being developed for the 3DS and will release later this year as well.
LEGO Elvis? Check. LEGO T-Rex? Check.
After the LEGO City: Undercover showing, Ubisoft took to the stage and started by showing off Just Dance 4, which uses the GamePad in a simple manner allowing a person to select dance moves for players. Then they showed a trailer for ZombiU, and before Ubisoft’s representative left the stage, they used the game’s software and Wii U GamePad to show Reggie in his true state. A zombie.
They ended the Ubisoft conference with a sizzle trailer of Ubisoft Wii U games: Assassin’s Creed III, Rabbids Land, YOURSHAPE Fitness Evolved 2013, Rayman Legends, SPORTS Connection, Marvel Avengers Battle for Earth. Rabbids Land and Rayman Legends are already on my “to watch” list, and possible day one purchases if we end up getting a Wii U for the Coffee House.
Nintendo Land. Nearly the last 15 minutes of the conference. NEARLY 15 MINUTES. Nintendo Land just did not appeal to me from what I saw of it, and it definitely didn’t make me think, “Wow, so this is the incredible game Nintendo has to show for the Wii U!” Sure, some of the ideas and mini-games they showed in it look interesting and probably will be fun, but I didn’t think it was the game to end the conference with by any means.
Overall, I give Nintendo’s 2012 E3 press conference a “Light Roast” coffee grade. While they started strong with Pikmin 3, the middle of their conference could have used more exclusive Wii U games, and I thought ending the conference with Nintendo Land was a terrible choice, and not very “strong.” Out of Microsoft, Sony, and the Nintendo E3 press conferences, I feel that Nintendo’s is the only one that did not “Start Strong, Finish Strong”.
I thought Nintendo had the most to gain from a strong E3 press conference, but also the most to lose from a weak showing this year. If they originally overpriced the 3DS because of the strong reception at E3 in 2010, I really wonder if they won’t lose money on the Wii U for the first time in a console’s release for them, just to give it a price point that is very appealing to help move units.
Before E3, I viewed Nintendo’s E3 press conference as smelling coffee roasting in the morning, and thinking, “Coffee is brewing, and it will be awesome and get my day started right!” Only to get to the coffee pot, and realize the coffee that was brewed was decaffeinated. That is a fail.
Bitter – Very few details of the Wii U’s online service during the conference. No mention of friend code use. No mention of online multiplayer in New Super Mario Bros. U. No real mention of online anything, other than MiiVerse, which Reggie pretty much said won’t be available at launch. No major exclusive game announcement, that wasn’t really known about before the conference. No Project P-100 announcement or trailer during the conference. Terrible trailer portion shown for Tank! Tank! Tank!, not giving initial viewers a good idea of the actual game-play in it. Last, apparently the Nintendo Wii does not exist anymore to Nintendo, and they did not mention one single game for it during the conference (did I miss it? please tell me I did somehow). Which I thought was pathetic. I’ll stop here for now.
Sweet – Ubisoft and Warner Bros. getting stage time and showing Wii U support, even if some of the games they showed are going to be ports. ZombiU not only having a trailer that showed the Wii U GamePad being used in a wide variety of ways, but the presentation for the game ending by turning Reggie into the “zombie”.
Agree, or disagree? Do you think Nintendo did more harm, or good, for the Wii U with their E3 press conference? Was anything shown in Nintendo’s official E3 press conference that made you decide 100% to try and buy the Wii U day one?
If you are interested in the Wii U, you can sign up on GameStop.com and Amazon.com right now to be notified when more information about the console becomes available to the retailers. Amazon.com’s page link is below, and I will add GameStop’s when I find it (doing a simple search didn’t locate it just now for some reason):
Posted in Caffeinated Thoughts, E3 2012, Nintendo | 9 Comments »
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Thoughts from Galicia: 7.6.17
Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain.
Life in Spain:
Click here for another example of how Spain is slowing ceasing to be 'different', as more and more rules are enforced. Sometimes merely for revenue purposes, of course. Austerity and all that.
Fabulous news . . . Terry Gilliam has finally made his version of Don Quijote. As an owner of his DVD Lost in La Mancha, I can't wait to see it. I say 'owner' but someone has clearly borrowed it . . .
Reverting to one of yesterday's issues . . . Economists - and the EU technocrats - have a nice label for the fall in salaries and the massive unemployment suffered in Spain and other European countries over the last 8 years. It's internal devaluation. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? And, true enough, it doesn't much affect the rich and those in secure, state-protected jobs. Quite the opposite in fact. Things get cheaper. Including people.
I recently bought 2 new tyres and asked the mechanic not to exceed the recommended pressure."We always put more in", he replied. I know that full well, I replied. But why? His answer was, effectively, that they knew better than the manufacturers of the car.
There's a nice brochure for Galicia's Tourist Trains. It's in very-nearly-English. For example: The [lighthouse] lights that guide the boaters will lead you to unique locations. I might be wrong but I thought boaters were only a type of hat. Maybe not in the USA.
Yet another non-surprise . . . An investigation has been started around the possibility(!) that bribes have been paid around the as-yet-unfinished construction of the AVE high-speed train tracks up near Ourense. My guess is that things would have been even slower if they hadn't been.
Nutters' Corner: More of the you-couldn't-make-it-up stuff:-
The execrable Jim Bakker:- What was the name of that concert? ‘Dangerous Woman concert.’ They literally invited these kinds of things to happen. They almost cursed themselves with this concert. I tell you what, God’s not going to put up with mockery. ‘Be not deceived, God is not mocked.’
A Republican Congressman. And a Christian:-
Bakker, by the way, was imprisoned years ago for various bits of skullduggery and now makes a fortune selling buckets of food to gullible Evangelists who think The End Times are here. Click here for a video about this crap.
Finally . . . .If you still hope that Donald Trump is merely the bullying braggart and buffoon he appears to be, then read the 2 articles at the end of this post, where he is professionally analysed. You might also consider buying Trump Revealed. According to Amazon this has been hailed as “authoritative” and “essential”. Bear in mind that the Russians rescued Trump from his bankruptcies in the 70s and will have known of his personality - and his weaknesses - for decades. They must be unable to believe the leverage they now have. Like the rest of us, they can't ever have believed he'd be president of the USA and leader of the free world. If you want some evidence of the idiocy of the man, watch this video of his self-serving, lie-based attack on the mayor of London. And weep.
Today's cartoon:-
TRUMP ARTICLES
1. Robert Reich
In the mind of Donald Trump, you’re either a strong winner whom others respect and fear, or you’re a weak loser whom others exploit and laugh at. There is no other alternative.
This choice underlies Trump’s approach to other people as well as his view of America in the world. "At what point does America get demeaned? At what point do they start laughing at us, as a country?" he asked Thursday during his major announcement from the White House Rose Garden that the US would be withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. “We don’t want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore. And they won’t be. They won’t be."
For Trump, there is no such thing as collaboration for mutual gain. Cooperation is a sham. Social insurance is a con. Billionaires can be trusted because they’ve already made their money -- presumably by out-exploiting others. Dictators are admirable because they’re respected and feared.
But democratically-elected prime ministers and presidents need to be shown who’s boss – their hands grabbed in white-knuckled contests of dominance, their bodies shoved aside if they get out in front. And treaties and compacts need to be renegotiated so America wins.
It’s the same at home: Political opponents must be humiliated, White House staffers demeaned (even the Vice President shown his place), the press degraded, recalcitrant judges debased, others intimidated. Everything is a giant zero-sum game in which either you win and they lose, or they win and you lose. And if they dare put up a fight, you get even.
This is the personality of a sociopath. He is now the single most powerful person on the planet, with the ability to order the destruction of the world in just over four minutes. It is our responsibility to get him out of the White House, peacefully and legally, as quickly as possible.
2. Psychoanalyzing Donald Trump: Michael Bader
I’m going to psychoanalyze Donald Trump. In doing so, I may seem to be violating the “Goldwater Rule,” that enjoins psychotherapists from diagnosing public figures based on secondhand information. However, I happen to agree with the consensus of a recent conference of mental health professionals at Yale University that argued mental health professionals have a “duty to warn” people about the danger posed by Trump’s mental illness.
I’m going to analyze Trump because I think that media analyses have been too superficial and that understanding Trump more deeply can help us decipher actions and attitudes that might otherwise seem bewildering. In my view, there isn’t anything quirky or confusing about Trump’s psychopathology. It makes perfect sense if seen through the right lens.
Most approaches to psychotherapy assume that people naturally avoid painful emotions. One person can’t tolerate feeling dependent; for another, it’s anger; and for still another it might be guilt. People do all sorts of things to avoid painful emotional states. They might simply deny them (“I never feel sad”). They might exaggerate the opposite ("I’m happy, not sad"). Or they might project these feelings outward, making an internal problem into an external one (“I don’t hate the world, the world hates me”). These are examples of psychological defenses. More often than not, the difficulties people experience in their lives—or create for others—come from their attempts to defend themselves against emotional pain. Their solutions, in other words, become a problem.
So, for example, if someone fears feeling angry, she might assume an exaggerated position of meek compliance which might then lead to situations in which she is inauthentic or self-sabotaging. Or such a person might externalize feelings of anger and become paranoid about imagined aggression in others, believing she is the target of others’ anger. Such a person is chronically defensive and mistrustful of others. A paranoid person is very hard to get along with.
Our psyches are wired to seek to eliminate or escape painful feelings. Sometimes, however, emotional states feel so dangerous that a person’s efforts to safely avoid them have to be similarly extreme and involve distorting reality. And if that person has a lot of power—the president, for example—such extreme defenses pose a serious threat to others. Donald Trump’s psychopathology is expressed primarily by his defenses against certain painful feelings. I would argue that the emotions he dreads the most are inferiority, helplessness and shame. This triad lies at the heart of what makes Trump crazy.
Trump can easily be diagnosed, as many have done, as a “malignant narcissist”—someone who has, according to the DSM-V, a narcissistic personality disorder, but who shows prominent symptoms of paranoia and an inability to feel guilt or remorse. Such a diagnosis, while accurate, is simply descriptive and doesn’t go deep enough into the real sources of his pathology. It’s not enough to diagnose him. Instead, we have to understand how a man with such a diagnosis is likely to feel, the fears and desires that motivate him and the strategies he uses to escape painful emotions. Understanding how Trump is constantly defending himself against feelings of inferiority, helplessness and shame brings us closer to the truth. Viewed this way, malignant narcissism is merely the shape that Trump’s defenses—he defenses of any malignant narcissist—take as he struggles against the threats of this triad of feelings.
Take Trump’s extreme grandiosity. He is always the biggest, the best and the greatest. This self-aggrandizement makes sense if it is seen as a defense against feeling small and insignificant—in other words, inferior. The exaggerated degree of his grandiosity is a measure of the depth of his dread of being inadequate. Similarly, Trump surrounds himself with a type of garish luxury (gold fixtures in the bathroom, and golden trophy wives) to counteract feelings of lack of worth. In other words, this surface is absurdly glorified in order to counteract feelings of internal damage. Further, his incipient dread of feeling small (for example, his obsession with proving his hands are not small) is also defended against by projecting “smallness” onto others. So he called Marco Rubio “little Marco,” and he calls people he doesn’t like “losers,” thereby reducing the pressure of feeling that way about himself. Over and over again, he paints his critics as losers, petty powerless people, momentarily escaping a dreaded belief that he is the real loser.
Trump is constantly battling feelings of shame and humiliation. We know that because he is frequently expressing “disgust.” Disgust is a way to keep shame at a distance. It’s a way of saying that something bad isn’t inside, it’s outside, and disgust warns us to keep away from it. Trump can barely contain expressions of disgust and contempt. During the campaign we saw this defense emerge in regard to women; he was disgusted by Hillary’s use of the bathroom during their debate at Saint Anselm College, and he fulminated about Megyn Kelly’s bloody secretions after she was tough on him in their first debate. Trump is obviously extremely vulnerable to feeling shamed and humiliated. I would argue that in general, he finds women to be essentially disgusting and he avoids getting too close to this dangerous feeling by using women as things. Relationships with things are safer than actual intimacy and exposure.
Shame, helplessness and inferiority are mutually reinforcing. Helplessness and inferiority are shameful and being exposed as pathetic or inferior increases feelings of vulnerability and helplessness. The threat of experiencing all three of these emotions can be seen in Trump’s now famous inability to pay attention in meetings and his lack of interest in reading. When he has to pay attention for too long, he may begin to feel anxious, as if he is being helplessly cornered and made to feel one down, and he can’t stand it. Further, if he has to consider a difficult problem or focus on material about which he is ignorant, Trump has to face feelings of being flawed, helpless and embarrassed. In other words, he begins to feel like a stupid loser, which he can’t tolerate. So he has to interrupt and quickly change the subject to one with which he’s comfortable or one that features his greatness. In this way, he relieves himself of dreadful feelings of being defective. Such feelings trigger his private fear that he is, indeed, insignificant and weak.
For someone plagued with feelings of helplessness, shame and inferiority, the danger of exposure is ever-present. Such a danger is captured by the colloquial expression “being caught with one’s pants down.” It shows up in our dread of incontinence, of an involuntary disclosure of one’s private secrets, of being found out. But found out as what? In Trump’s case, it’s found out to be dirty and bad, unworthy and defective, instead of deserving and greatly valued. This is why he is a conspicuous spender—also a defense. Trump is consumed by this conflict. His paranoia reflects his constant worry about the critical judgment of others, a worry that in his heart, Trump secretly fears is justified. As a result, he is angrily fixated on being “found out” by investigative reporters or exposed from within by “leakers.”
In the context of such a formulation, it makes sense that more than anything, Trump dreads revelations that make his electoral victory last November seem illegitimate. He simply cannot tolerate the fact that he lost the popular vote, nor even a hint that the Comey letter and/or the Russians helped him defeat Hillary Clinton. In Trump’s disturbed mind, this makes sense because he is horrified by feelings of being a loser, horrified by evidence of the dirty fraudulent underbelly that might lie at the foundation of his personality and his life. He has to stamp out this accusation—which is really a self-accusation—at all costs.
In his years as a real estate tycoon, Trump could exercise enormous control over his environment, sanitizing it of any evidence that contradicted his idealized version of himself. He could surround himself with flatterers and the trappings of wealth and power—the external cues that he is special. As president, however, he finds himself under constant hostile scrutiny, and this scrutiny threatens his defenses. He is constantly compelled to preemptively reassert his invulnerability, his power and greatness, which come across as what they are: boorishness, a braggart desperately trying to save face.
If reports are true, Trump frequently loses his temper, striking out and blaming others for chinks in his narcissistic armor. These outbursts are a belated attempt to master and control an environment that is relentlessly whispering—at times, shouting—that he’s a bad, inferior, defective man. He can’t stand being the helpless victim of these whispers and shouts. He’ll do anything to shut them up—fire press secretaries, obstruct justice, bribe allies, anything to restore the moat defending him against criticism.
Real losses—say, votes in Congress—are psychically equated with being a loser. Revelations that his campaign colluded with Russia are psychically equivalent to admitting his victories weren’t real. Impeachment would be the ultimate realization of Trump’s nightmare—proof that he is helpless, damaged goods, a public failure who deserves contempt. Such a trauma could produce extreme and radical reactions, from a frank psychotic break to a reckless military attack to resignation and a panicked flight back to his private castle in Trump Tower.
Knowing what makes Trump tick doesn’t allow us to make specific predictions about his likely political positions, but it should make his chaotic and sociopathic maneuvering around the Russia investigation seem quite understandable. I’m sure that intelligence agencies around the world already have a book on how to deal with Trump that is based on analyses of his personality similar to this one. As part of his domestic opposition, we ought to understand at least this much; namely, that Trump will always be propelled by his defensive need to prove he’s good, not bad; powerful, not weak; a winner, not a loser. This need will be behind everything he does.
Michael Bader is a psychologist and psychoanalyst in San Francisco. He is the author of "More Than Bread and Butter: A Psychologist Speaks to Progressives About What People Really Need in Order to Win and Change the World" (Blurb, 2015).
'Internal devaluation… Things get cheaper. Including people.'
jorge said...
In the U.S.A. boaters are those who operate either a motor or a sailing boat.
Many thanks, Jorge. Thought it might well be. Cheers.
Thoughts from Galicia: 30 June 2017
Thoughts from Galicia: 29.6.17
Thoughts from Galicia; 28.6.17
Thoughts fromn Galicia: 23.6.17
Thought from Galicia: 15.6.17
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Miley Cyrus Profile, photos, videos, latest news
Miley Cyrus Profile
Miley Cyrus was actually born as Destiny Hope Cyrus, being brought up in Franklin, Tennessee by her mother ‘Tish Cyrus (Leticia Jean Finley) and her father Billy Ray Cyrus, a famous country singer. Her name was officially changed to Miley Ray Cyrus in 2008 when she was fifteen-years-old.
Most of the world has heard of this Disney TV star turned music artist. She started out as an innocent role model for children while playing the role of Hannah Montana, on a Disney Channel TV series; and grew up to embody a powerful woman with great values that proves anyone can be who they want to be. She has become a very talented singer and philanthropist.
She comes from a large family and has several siblings. Two of her siblings were born to her mother and father after they were married, a son named Braison and a daughter named Noah. She also has two older siblings named Trace and Brandi, as well as a half-brother named Christopher. Four of her siblings work in the entertainment business in different venues.
Cyrus was raised on a huge farm in her hometown and attended a regular elementary school until she began working on Hannah Montana. After her breakthrough role, she studied with a private tutor for schooling. She was raised as a Christian and was baptized in 2005. When she was eight years old the family moved to Canada, while her father was playing a role in a film. Around this time, she expressed to her family that she wanted to become an actress. Being the supportive parents they were, Miley was put in singing and acting classes in Toronto where they were residing.
She had a few small roles as a child listed under her birth name, her first and long lasting hit started when she starred as Hannah Montana in 2006. Miley’s mother actually became her manager for her acting career and was instrumental in making sure Miley’s career took off the way it did. Keeping the business in the family, Miley’s finance manager was actually also her father’s finance manager. Making her singing career a possibility was partially attributed to Dolly Parton, who she directed to sign with the Morey Management Group.
She became the star of the Disney TV show Hannah Montana when she was only eleven years old. She originally auditioned for the role of the main character’s best friend, but was instead called back to audition for the lead role. It is little known that she was initially denied the lead role because she was ‘too young and small’ for it, but was chosen later because of her exemplary singing and acting abilities.
After the show aired on television and became a huge hit, she toured with the Cheetah Girls and performed songs from the Hannah Montana show in 2006, furthering her music career. The Disney company actually released an album of music from Hannah Montana that was a huge success and topped the Billboard 200 when it came out. This led to her being the first act to work with the Walt Disney Company and have deals in television, movies, consumer products and music.
Aside from her role on the Disney hit Hannah Montana, she released several albums on her own and toured with such success that it was compared to the likes of The Beatles and Elvis concerts. She and a friend also made a YouTube channel that was mostly for fun but ended up receiving a huge following of her fans.
Starting what would become a long string of controversy, Miley had some photos leaked in 2008 of her in her underwear and swimsuit by a hacker that accessed her email. Furthermore, photos of her posing topless at the tender age of 15 for a photo shoot were leaked, adding fuel to the fire. It was later discovered that she actually wasn’t fully topless, and was covered with a sheet during the shoot, but the damage was already out there. She was starting to be noticed as a regular teenager, and possibly not the ideal role model for young children that people initially thought.
After the controversy, she released a few more albums and starred alongside John Travolta in the movie Bolt which ended up earning her a Golden Globe nomination. In 2009 she released the song ‘The Climb’, which became her fourth entry on the Billboard 200. This made her the youngest act in history to have four number one albums on the chart at just 16 years old. Later that same year, she launched her fashion line through Walmart, becoming even more of a success than she already was at her young age. Also in 2009, she went on her first world tour, entitled the ‘Wonder World Tour’, which became a huge hit and was so successful that she performed for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal family.
In 2010, Miley was at a crossroads of sorts with being associated as the young teenager from the Disney channel and a young woman who was coming into her own. She began to make more mature music to separate herself from the Hannah Montana image and starred romance film The Last Song. She ended up dating her costar, Liam Hemsworth, after its production, with whom she got married on December 23rd, 2018. In 2010 she also released her third album ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ in another attempt to distance herself from the little girl image. The album caused some controversy due to the lyrics of the songs and how she behaved in her performances, causing many mixed reactions. Later that year, she performed her last ever song as Hannah Montana, which was a total flop due to the previous controversy over her new album.
After her last hurrah as Hannah Montana, things became even more controversial for Miley. Videos of her smoking a substance out of a bong were publicized and largely criticized by the public. Shortly after this, she decided to take a break from her music to focus on her acting career. She made several appearances on various reality shows, not really growing into a star in the theatrical film area like expected. Possibly her greatest attempt to reinvent herself came in 2013 when she hired a new manager. She leaned more towards the hip hop side of music and dramatically changed her physical appearance, finally breaking away from the Hannah Montana image.
Because of her sometimes bizarre behavior, and the dramatic changes she made in 2013, it can be easy to forget the fact that she is a philanthropist. She visits sick fans in the hospital whenever she can, and performs concerts for benefits such as Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She openly supports charities that support cures for AIDS and other diseases, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Service America, and Music for Relief just to name a few. She participates in the charity Kids Wish Network and met one of her fans with Spina Bifida in 2011 through the foundation. Despite the image that she projects, she is actually a very good-hearted human being and others would do well to follow in her footsteps.
Miley Cyrus Public Image
Miley’s public image has changed many times throughout the years since she started her career. At first, she was a very innocent teenage idol and an ideal role model for children who watched her show or listened to her music. After the “scandal” of the topless photo shoot, her public image started to change. Unfortunately for her, growing up was not something the public largely wanted to see. They wanted to maintain their innocent, wholesome image of her even as she grew older.
When she released her album ‘Can’t Be Tamed’, she made a silent statement that she wasn’t the same girl anymore. The lyrics were more controversial and mature in nature and her physical image started to change into that of a young woman. As she grew, she tested the limits with her clothing and performances at her concerts, much to the dismay of the parents of her fans.
Though she was raised as a Christian and identified as such into her early adult life, it isn’t clear where her religious beliefs stand now although she references Buddhism in some of her songs. She does identify herself as pansexual and gender fluid, which some of her fans don’t agree with. She has had these views of herself since she was 14 and was and is a huge supporter of the LGBT community. She openly uses marijuana and sexualizes herself in performances and music videos. It is safe to say that the image of the past is buried when it comes to who she is now.
Miley Cyrus Personal Life
Miley’s personal life has made headlines mostly for her romantic relationships. She dated Nick Jonas in 2007 from the Jonas Brothers group. She has also been linked to model Justin Gaston and actor Carter Jenkins. The list doesn’t end there though as she has been with her fair share of celebrities, most notably Liam Hemsworth. Miley and Liam were together for three years before getting engaged. Unfortunately, they broke off the engagement just a year after announcing it. She then went on to have a small romance with Patrick Schwarzenegger, but it was very brief. Soon after that Miley and Liam got engagement again, and got married in a super low-key ceremony the weekend before Christmas, on December 23rd, 2018.
A post shared by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Dec 26, 2018 at 12:49pm PST
Miley Cyrus Net Worth: $200 million as of 2017
Miley Cyrus DOB: 11/23/1992
Miley Cyrus is married to Liam Hemsworth.
Everything you would like to know about Miley Cyrus
You should check the links in this page to see all content related to Miley Cyrus news, videos and photos.
Miley Cyrus Music:
Meet MileyCyrus (2007)
Breakout (2008)
Can’t Be Tamed (2010)
Bangerz (2013)
Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015)
Younger Now (2017)
Miley Cyrus Movies:
Big Fish(2003)
HannahMontana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008)
HannahMontana: The Movie (2009)
The Last Song(2010)
LOL (2012)
So Under Cover (2012)
Miley: The Movement (2013)
The Night Before (2015)
A VeryMurray Christmas (2015)
Crisis in Six Scenes (2016)
Miley Cyrus Tours:
Best of Both Worlds Tour (2007–2008)
Wonder World Tour (2009)
Gypsy Heart Tour (2011)
Bangerz Tour(2014)
Milky Milky Milk Tour (2015)
Related Celebrities :
TagsMiley Cyrus
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Highway safety spokesperson blames pedestrian deaths on Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign?
Amanda Carey Contributor
January 20, 2011 10:55 AM ET
UPDATE: Scott McCabe, Reporter for the Washington Examiner, pointed out in an email to The Daily Caller that the GHSA brought up Michelle Obama in a story pitch for their report about pedestrian deaths.
Their pitch included a bullet point that read “One is the possible increase in distracted pedestrians and distracted drivers. We’ve been focusing on the drivers, but perhaps we need to focus some attention on distracted walkers! Additionally, Mrs. Obama and others have been bringing attention to “get moving” programs, so perhaps pedestrian exposure has increased.”
Additionally, another GHSA spokesperson mentioned Michelle Obama by name this morning during an interview with a local radio station. Michelle Obama is “trying to get us to walk to work and exercise a little bit more. While that’s good, it also increases our exposure to risk,” said GHSA’s Jonathan Adkins.
UPDATE: Governors Highway Safety Association Director Barbara Harsha says she was misquoted in a story alleging she blames a rise in pedestrian deaths on Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity program, according to the Atlantic.
“I was misquoted, said Harsha. “We in no way oppose Ms. Obama’s program.” She said she was trying to make a broader point about pedestrian awareness and safety. If Obama’s program is getting more people to walk, “they need to be aware of their surroundings and do so in a safe manner.”
Pedestrian deaths increased sharply during the first half of 2010, according to the GHSA.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Harsha said that while there are not yet definitive answers as to why there were more pedestrian deaths in 2010 than 2009, Obama’s “get moving” movement could be at least partially to blame.
“There’s an emphasis these days to getting fit, and I think people doing that are more exposed to risk [of getting hit by a vehicle],” Harsha told the Examiner. “Obviously, further study is needed.”
Harsha also said electronic devices such as cell phones and iPods could have contributed to the higher death rate.
Obama’s “get moving” push is an effort to reduce childhood obesity rates. The movement went into overdrive early last year when President Obama created the White House task force on childhood obesity.
The increase in pedestrian deaths is notable because overall traffic deaths decreased by 8 percent. Moreover, the spike in fatalities in 2010 marks the end of four consecutive years of steady decline in pedestrian deaths.
Tags : barack obama michelle obama obesity united states
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2017 National Workshop on Developing a Research Agenda for Connected Rural Communities (CRC17)
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CPS-VO » CPS Archives » 2017 National Workshop on Developing a Research Agenda for Connected Rural Communities (CRC17)
National Workshop on Developing a Research Agenda for Connected Rural Communities (CRC17)
September 7 - 8, 2017 | Charlottesvllie, Virginia USA
John A. Stankovic, PhD
Karen S. Rheuba,nMD
Tho H. Nguyen, PhD
Small, remote, and rural communities are an important component of the nation's identity, economy, and global competitiveness; yet, many of these communities are often unable to take full advantage of services and resources offered through communications, networking, and technology advances. These under-connected communities can exist within a large urban center or located in remote areas. Due to the varying differences in resources, needs, and interests, no one solution is expected to scale across all communities. Instead, a playbook approach is suggested where cases of successes and failures can be shared, and communities can choose to adopt solutions or best practices that meet their needs.
The lack of infrastructure, especially for communication and networking, is a front and center issue in under-connected rural communities. Researchers are encouraged to pursue practical as well as bold and creative technical approaches to deliver resources and services instead of waiting for advanced infrastructure to be available. Infrastructure development must also couple with capacity building programs to enable communities to take advantage of the newly available services and resources. Quality of service (e.g., accessibility, performance, and cost) must be considered as research drivers and not an afterthought in the deployment phase.
Community culture, values, and identity are the foundation upon which a community can sustain and grow. New socio-technical metrics must be developed to assess the overall community wellbeing and impact of R&D efforts. Capacity building (e.g., orienting a community toward entrepreneurship or developing a new workforce) begins with changing the community's attitude toward changes and adopting new solutions. Community core competencies are important considerations for successful programs. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) model should be considered by technical researchers to engage community input from identification through to the solution deployment stages.
Critical public services in under-connected communities such as emergency response and public safety are challenged by the lack of infrastructure and further burdened by the economies-of-scale bottleneck. For example, advanced data analytics and public outreach are more difficult due to the limited technology, expertise, or simply enough critical mass to justify investment. On the other hand, there are several advantages afforded by rural settings that support service deployment, including low-cost right-of-way, available wireless bandwidth, small-grouped community, and community cohesion. Researchers are encouraged to leverage these advantages in designing new public service solutions. A key priority identified for public services is to lower the barrier-of-access for community managers and community members. This includes: visualization to support understanding and awareness, automated systems to reduce the need for advanced expertise, and leveraging existing technology services such as social media and crowd-sourcing platforms.
Access to quality healthcare is a critical factor in advancing quality of life in under-connected communities. Currently, availability and quality of healthcare services vary significantly due to limited resources, lack of infrastructure, and policy not responsive to support new programs. Telehealth services are recognized as a successful model for delivering care. Telehealth is also an area ripe for technology collaborations. Assessing community health and health outcomes to measure program effectiveness is also a major hurdle ready for technology innovations. Technical researchers are encouraged to work with social scientists and healthcare providers to identify challenges as well as assessing the impact of intervention programs - including potential unintended consequences (e.g., drone drug delivery). Public health projects are often well-setup for collaborations with other domains such as education, emergency response, and transportation. Data protection is a priority for health intervention efforts. Technology development can also provide more effective methods of collecting, storing, and analyzing health data securely - for example, an end-to-end secured system from wearable and edge devices to a security-compliant cyber infrastructure can engage diverse technology, actors, and enable collaborative research across disciplines.
In addition to addressing the issues summarized above, the following report details many specific technical and social research questions and their dependencies on each other. These questions must be solved to avoid having rural and depressed areas of major cities being left out of the smart city revolution. In spite of many specific research questions being identified, two overarching questions proved difficult for which to articulate specific answers. These questions are: (i) What current smart city technology can or cannot be easily moved to rural communities, and why, and (ii) what totally new technology is required precisely because of the cultural, social, economic and other properties of rural areas?
A few examples of key research challenges are:
How to enable access to information in the rural community that is easy to use and highly robust?
How to support using information technology and services even when people or systems become disconnected from the Internet?
How to create affordable maintenance and use solutions?
How to make information produced by rural communities an asset?
How can we take advantage of data science to bring opportunities to communities?
How do we scale what worked in smart cities into rural environments?
How do we design and implement better workflow to handle, and disseminate data in acute emergency systems (e.g., active shooter at school) to balance timely access to relevant data and preventing mass hysteria?
How do we leverage the latest in material technology and integration with the local environment to design sensors and systems that are minimally invasive?
How can we improve reliability of ad-hoc communication channels (e.g., social media, shortwave radios) for emergency communication and coordination?
How do we ensure security of these systems and integrate into patient electronic records?
Overall, the community joined in a strong call to action for the federal government to create and implement programs and policies specifically targeted at serving the under-connected population. If not done, there is a great risk at leaving rural communities further and further behind the technological revolution and its benefits. Any research agenda on this topic must engage both technologists and community people and organizations. The agenda should include underlying research that spans application domains as well as dealing with specific issues that arise in particular domains such as transportation, education, healthcare, work force development, and emergency and safety services. A research agenda should also leverage current research being conducted on smart cities.
In the following sections, we share detailed notes of discussions as well as specific research questions arising from community consensus. At the end, we also include related and relevant material from government and community organizations further illuminating the challenges and opportunities in advancing quality of life for under-connected communities.
See the attached PDF for full report.
PDF document 862.99 KB DownloadPreview
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John B. Rogers, Jr.
Cofounder & CEO, Local Motors
Cofounder & CEO
John “Jay” Rogers is helping to build a game-changing American car company. Jay is relentlessly passionate about cars and the industry which surrounds them. His rides have included a 1991 BMW 535, 1971 Mercedes 300SL, a 1996 Dodge Viper R/T10, 1994 Chevrolet 1500 with hydraulic dump-bed, a 2002 Honda Element, and now he drives a 1971 Mercedes 280SL. Previously, John served for 6 years in the United States Marine Corps, where he was an Infantry Company Commander. He has worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Co., as an investment analyst at Ewing & Partners, and at a startup medical device company in the People’s Republic of China. Jay serves as the Chief Investment Officer and director of the RBR Foundation, a philanthropic foundation focused on education and healthcare. He is a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar). He lives in Arizona with his wife, Susannah, and four sons, John, Charles, Houston, and Ralph.
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War honour for ‘forgotten soldier’ 111
by Alexander Lawrie
A SCOTTISH soldier killed during WW1 has finally been honoured – more than 90 years after he fell on the battlefield.
Robert Liddle Kilgour died during the Third Battle of Ypres – more commonly known as Passchendale.
And the brave private’s name has been missing from his hometown’s war memorial ever since.
But that omission was rectified yesterday during a ceremony which was attended by some of Pte. Kilgour’s closest living relatives.
A specially cast bronze plaque bearing the Scot’s Guardsman’s name was attached to the sandstone ‘wayside cross’ memorial in Tranent, East Lothian.
The 22ft memorial was erected in the town’s centre in 1923, and features the names of the town’s 90 heroes who gave their life during both world wars.
The emotional ceremony took place on the 91st anniversary of Pte. Kilgour’s death.
Robert Kilgour MBE, 84, Pte. Kilgour’s nephew and a former Pipe Major, said: “Robert Kilgour was my father’s brother and I was not even a baby when he was killed.
“I didn’t know too much about Uncle Bobby, but thanks to Mr Lawson I have found out so much about his short life.
“I’m extremely grateful I can now come to Tranent and look at the war memorial and there’s a special plaque with his name on it.
“The family are delighted with today’s ceremony.”
The story of Pte. Kilgour was unearthed by amateur historian Robert Lawson who, during his research, discovered the soldier’s name was missing from the Tranent memorial.
Mr Lawson, 64, said: “I’m very pleased to see Pte. Kilgour’s name finally recognised. There has been a lot of hard work put into making today so special.
“It was quite a moving occasion because he was truly a Tranent lad and it was lovely to see so many people here to see his name remembered.
“It means a great deal to the family as they still feel bitter he was slain at the command of General Haig.
“It was a truly appalling battle that Robert Kilgour died in, and I’m just pleased he has finally been honoured today in this way.”
Once his research was completed, Mr Lawson contacted East Lothian Council and the area’s local councillors in an effort to rectify the missing entry.
Cllr. Donald Grant said: “Last November I received a letter requesting Pte. Kilgour’s name be put on the town’s memorial.
“I contacted council officials and arranged for his name to be rightfully placed on the memorial today.
“The council were extremely glad to help in the family’s cause.”
Private Kilgour was one of 32,000 men killed during the Great Push on July 31, 1917.
He is buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, north of Ypres.
His older brother John was also killed on active service in India, in 1909.
Born in Tranent in 1892, Kilgour left the East Lothian town as a teenager to work as a tinsmith in Edinburgh.
He joined the Third Reserve Battalion of the Scots Guards in 1915, and just under a year later he was transferred to France as a member of the First Battalion.
Pte. Kilgour fell on the battlefield on July 31, 1917, aged just 24.
Categories: 1, News, Scottish News . Tags:deadline press and picture agency, east lothian, edinburgh, First World War, Robert Kilgour, Robert Lawson, Scots Guards, Third Battle of Ypres, tranent, war memorial . Author: carasulieman
On-board performance ahead of Tattoo 110 Student jailed over child porn images 112
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Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee
Tuesday, 25th September, 2018 6.30 pm
Croydon CCG Operating Plan 18-19 Update and Commissioning Intentions 19-20 PDF 891 KB
SLaM Presentation and Report for Health & Social Care Sub-Committee PDF 946 KB
Printed minutes PDF 106 KB
Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX. View directions
Contact: Simon Trevaskis
02087266000 x 64840 Email: simon.trevaskis@croydon.gov.uk
Link: To view webcast
Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 79 KB
To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 27 March 2018 and 23 April 2018 as an accurate record.
Minutes of Previous Meeting , item 25/18 PDF 82 KB
The minutes of the meetings held on 27 March 2018 and 23 April 2018 were agreed as an accurate record.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.
There were none.
Urgent Business (if any)
To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.
There were no items of urgent business.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust - CQC Report PDF 388 KB
To receive an update from representatives of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust on their recent CQC inspection.
SLaM Presentation to H&SC Sub-Committee , item 28/18 PDF 552 KB
The Director of Nursing presented the findings and recommendations as well as the improvement work to date arising from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Core Service and Well Led inspection of July- August 2018.
The Sub-Committee learned that the inspection took place over a two week period. Five pathways as well as 20 acute wards were inspected.
There were two key areas of concern which resulted in the issue of warning notices under the Health and Social Care Act which were:
•Concern about the governance systems in a small number of wards.
•Lack of oversight of senior management on the significant issue of lack of beds on 36 occasions, 12 months prior to the inspection.
Since the inspection and feedback received there had been eight meetings of the Trust management team to address the highlighted areas of concern and had focussed upon the following:-
•The adoption of a borough by borough model of operational directorate, as well as a Clinical Director supported by a multi professional leadership team to look specifically at Croydon issues.
•Addressing issues within the clinical leadership in order to achieve parity of esteem.
•Recruitment and retention of staff and the voice of the staff across the whole organisation.
•Receipt of the draft findings from the CQC inspection and working to a strict timeline to submit to the Board as well as the CQC the improvement plan.
•Addressing challenges arising from funding challenges
In response to a Member question about what was being done to strengthen the leadership of the Croydon directorate, officers advised that many of the senior posts had been recruited and there was now a robust senior management team in place who had been devising and working on the delivery of the implementation plan. The team would be tracking and managing facilities and teams as well as focusing on patient experience.
A Member commented that the report highlighted concerns that Croydon had specific difficulties with a lack of patient discharge plans. Officers agreed that the Trust had experienced commissioning issues and which had impacted on the quality of service. The introduction of a borough based leadership and management structure would ensure that these issues were managed as a priority.
In response to a Member concern about the financial implications in terms of displacement to other services if patients were accelerated through the system too quickly, officers stated that it was important to ensure that service users were not kept as in-patients for longer than required. Indications show that the Trust was not being proactive enough in moving patients on from one system to another and the CQC had made it clear there was a need to provide care to patients in the least restrictive environment.
It was commented that it was disappointing to learn about SLAM’s rating, which had usually been good, and it was questioned whether this could be attributed to the directorate having lost line of sight. It was confirmed that lack of oversight was a key issue and one which the ... view the full minutes text for item 28/18
Clinical Commissioning Group Update PDF 744 KB
To receive a report from the Croydon CCG on their commissioning intentions (report to follow).
The Director of Commissioning gave a presentation which provided an update on their operating plans for 2018/19 and the draft commissioning intentions for 2019/20.
During the presentation the following points were covered:
•The strategic vision and how challenges would be managed
•Addressing the imbalance in systems relating to the Strategic Transformation Plan (STP).
•Significant improvement had been made with the out of hospital programme including the development of improved community services, life programme and other social care initiatives.
•Improvements to the accessibility of community based services were being explored with business cases for various potential improvements being prepared.
•Further challenges were identified in planned care services due to complexities
•Mental Health Services continued to be an area of challenge and remained a priority.
•Further work on action planning around discharged patients would be implemented.
•Commissioning intentions had incorporate working together to ensure service provision was in line with people’s needs.
In response to a question about what was hoped to be achieved through commissioning intentions, officers stated that they were trying to achieve a more integrated service and encourage effective partnerships through building networks with the voluntary sector, SLAM, and NHS, as well as ensuring services were being commissioned appropriately. It was important that partners worked together due to the complex needs of patients and to ensure their needs were being met, which could be achieved by working in partnership.
It was questioned whether there were commissioning challenges in terms of employment of European Union (EU) staff, officers responded that workforce in general was a challenge for the borough which was not limited to the recruitment of EU staff.
A Member questioned the waiting times for GP appointments in the borough and if any noticeable trends had developed. Officers responded that generally people could get an appointment with a GP on any day, but there were more difficulties getting an appointment with a specific GP and there was variation in different areas. Demand would always outweigh supply and the key was to change culture by empowering people to self-care where appropriate as a proportion of appointments made do not require GP interface.
It was commented that inequality was mentioned through the final pages of the report and not the beginning and that there was a need for this to be more explicit in the report. Officers agreed that it was important for this to be highlighted at the forefront and more in depth work was needed in the areas mentioned.
A Member queried the optimism of the financial proposals and questioned the feasibility of the predictions made for the coming year. Officers advised that they were now out of special measures and were in a good place to fulfil the predictions made in the financial proposals.
In response to a question about how confident officers were that the new Accident and Emergency unit at Croydon University Hospital would open in 2018 and what was being done to change the culture of patients wanting to attend neighbouring hospitals for acute health ... view the full minutes text for item 29/18
Croydon Adults' Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2017-18 PDF 28 KB
To review the activity of the Adults’ Safeguarding Board April 2017 to March 2018.
Appendix A - CASB Annual Report , item 30/18 PDF 2 MB
The Independent Chair, who was appointed in January 2018, presented the draft annual report. The report was an amalgamation of work from the agencies involved as well as contributions from the groups and sub-groups of the Croydon Safeguarding Adult Board (CSAB).
The priorities set for 2018/19 was to build on the work of the priorities from 2017/18 which were deemed to be good strategic priorities and included the following:
•Prevention and early identification of adults as risk of abuse
•Improved commissioning of services
•Improved and effective communication with residents, boards, partnerships and agencies
•Voice of service users to be central to the work of the CSAB
•Safeguarding to be at the heart of commissioning and delivery of services.
It was also noted that more work was needed to ensure the involvement of BME groups in the work of the CSAB and that improved engagement with colleagues would enhance the quality and increase the number of referrals.
It was commented that the report highlighted that 18% more female than male experienced abuse but the report was not explicit in stating what types of abuse was experienced and as a result there was no real sense of what the main issues were.
A Member commended the work that had been done to highlight the serious illness of hoarding and praised the Council for championing this area of focus.
A Member questioned what had been done to address some of the issues identified through the feedback received from the interviews post safeguarding process, in particular where the feedback stated:
‘Worse part of the process was being anxious to attend meeting, communication poor, drawn out process and length of safeguarding processes.’
The officer responded that they were investing in communication, training and development of sub-groups. The information received was fed back to staff, through training and development in order to improve practice over time.
It was suggested that it would have been useful if the report had contained comparative figures for other local authorities on the safeguarding referrals received during 2017/18 as it was difficult to determine if the figures for enquiries that turned into substantiated referrals were average figures. The officer stated that this cross matching of data was not common practice and that it was important to note that conversion rates of referrals to investigation was more about the level of understanding of what a safeguarding referral was, additionally it was difficult to compare figures with other local authorities due to complexities and uniqueness of each borough.
A Member stated that in relation to learning and development of staff, the report suggested that there was a low uptake of e-learning. Officers replied that whilst e-learning had its benefits, it was important for staff to have more face to face training and staff were being encouraged to sign up for these sessions.
A Member enquired about the lessons learnt from the Ofsted report on Croydon Children’s Services. Officers advised that it had resulted in a refocus of the whole service and ... view the full minutes text for item 30/18
Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee Update
Oral Update
The Chair and Vice-Chair informed the Sub-Committee that they would be attending future meetings of JHOSC and were awaiting dates to be finalised.
Members encouraged the Chair and Vice Chair to write a letter to the South West London STP regarding the lack of consultation with Croydon regarding the proposals under the STP which they were legally obligated to consult on.
Work Programme 2018/19 PDF 110 KB
To note the work programme for the 2018/19 municipal year.
Work Programme 2018-19 , item 32/18 PDF 146 KB
The Sub-Committee stated their interest on possible items to scrutinise in future meetings which included the following:
- Closure of New Addington Community Dental Service
- Croydon University Hospital A&E
- Update on London Ambulance Service following special measures status
- Croydon Drug and Alcohol Services
- NHS England’s commissioning strategy for Croydon
The Sub-Committee also discussed the possibility of an additional meeting to be held in January 2019 in order to be able to accommodate the amount of topics that required scrutiny.
The work programme was noted for the remainder of 2018/19 municipal year
Exclusion of the Press and Public
The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:
“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”
This was not required.
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NDCWales presents the Facebook Live premiere of P.A.R.A.D.E.
National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) are delighted to announce that Facebook audiences across the UK and internationally will be able to view the hour long highlights of P.A.R.A.D.E which was performed at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff last October as part of R17 centenary in Wales.
P.A.R.A.D.E. created by NDCWales and Marc Rees, was one of the flagship events in Wales’ Russia ’17 programme, marking the centenary of the Russian Revolution. And like the original Parade, it sees a supergroup of artists and companies – NDCWales, Marc Rees, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rubicon Dance and Dawns i Bawb, choreographer Marcos Morau, graffiti artist Pure Evil, architectural designer Jenny Hall, aerialist Kate Lawrence and composer Jack White – joining forces to recreate, with a Welsh twist, one of the most revolutionary episodes in 20th Century culture.
The highlights of which were shown exclusively on BBC FOUR and BBC Wales in 2017 and now Facebook audiences can watch the hour long highlights of P.A.R.A.D.E on Facebook Live on Friday 18 May at 7pm.
The broadcasts are part of ground-breaking partnership with The Space, the organisation working to help reach new audiences through digital technologies which is supported by the BBC and Arts Council England.
Watch from Friday 18 May at 7pm on Facebook www.facebook.com/NDCWales
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Federal Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann has given the strongest signal yet that Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Registry jobs will remain in Traralgon even if the service is privatised.
Minister Cormann this week responded to concerns raised by Gippsland MP Darren Chester and Latrobe City Council Mayor Dale Harriman with a letter outlining the Government’s approach to the competitive tender process.
Mr Chester and Councillor Harriman also met with the Finance Minister’s Chief of Staff and emphasised the importance of retaining local jobs if the privatisation proceeds in two years’ time.
ASIC JOBS SHOULD STAY: GOVERNMENT PREFERENCE
Jun 19, 2015 | 2015 Archive, ASIC TRARALGON
Tags: Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Darren Chester,
“We are working together to highlight the importance of ASIC to the Latrobe Valley economy and I’m heartened by Minister Cormann’s letter which provides some assurance to the community,” Mr Chester said.
In the letter Minister Cormann indicated the Government would “make it clear at the start of a market testing process that the choice of an operator will take into account the Government’s strong preference for the registry to maintain its existing operations in Traralgon.”
Minister Cormann also wrote “the Government will assess proposals against the level and nature of commitments that private sector contenders make to maintaining or enhancing operations within the Latrobe Valley area.”
Councillor Harriman said the announcement was a positive indication that the Government was listening to community concerns and he has welcomed further information regarding the opportunity to expand the registry in the future.
“We still have a long way to go as the competitive tender process unfolds over the next 12-18 months but it’s pleasing that the Finance Minister has listened to our concerns and given a strong direction to the market place that any private operator will need to maintain operations in Traralgon to be successful in the bidding process,” Councillor Harriman said.
“The bottom line for our community remains local jobs and we are open to working with the potential private operators to expand operations in Traralgon into new areas of business.”
Mr Chester said he would continue to work with Council and the Finance Minister as the tender process progresses.
“In our discussions the Minister has indicated that he believes the registry business should remain in Traralgon and there is a likelihood of increased job opportunities as a private sector provider offers more value-added services to clients around Australia,” Mr Chester said.
“There is a long detailed process to be completed but existing ASIC staff should take some confidence from the Minister’s assurances and I am very optimistic that we can work together to secure local jobs in the longer term.”
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Home > Academic Units > Graduate Studies > Electronic Theses and Dissertations > 381
The Examination of Real-Life Implementations of Critical Elements in a Professional Learning Community for High-Performing Middle Schools and Low-Performing Middle Schools
Damita Griffin Bynes, Georgia Southern University
Doctor of Education in Education Administration (Ed.D.)
Dissertation (open access)
Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development
Deborah Thomas
Russell Mays
Sonya Shepherd
Dawn Tysinger
In a September 2 Education Week Commentary, Kahlenberg (2009) identified 5,000 schools across the nation categorized as failing or low-performing schools. A significant amount of attention and resources are dedicated to transform low-performing schools to high-performing schools promoting student achievement. Because of the increasing demand that low-performing schools be turned around, Georgia schools that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) two consecutive years for the same indicator are placed in Needs Improvement (NI) status and face escalating consequences from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). In the midst of all of the demands to meet local and state requirements, there were school personnel who made structural or organizational changes by implementing professional learning communities to achieve the desired outcome of improving student achievement and became high-performing schools. Conversely, there were school personnel that made structural or organizational changes by implementing professional learning communities to achieve the desired outcome of improving student achievement, yet remained in low-performing status. This research focused on six middle schools in Georgia, in which the five critical elements of a professional learning community were implemented as a response to school reform. Of the six middle schools, three schools were selected because they were recognized as high-performing. Simultaneously, three middle schools were selected because they had yet to meet all of the criteria of a high-performing school and were labeled as low-performing. The researcher examined real-life implementations of critical elements of a professional learning community in these high-performing and low-performing middle schools to determine if there were significant differences or patterns that existed among or between the two groups of schools. This research was approached using a mixed method design. The quantitative data were gathered and analyzed adopting the Olivier, Hipp, and Huffman (2009) survey instrument, Professional Learning Communities Assessment - Revised (PLCA-R). The qualitative data were gathered and analyzed by conducting recorded semi-structured focus group interviews and individual interviews, observing and documenting PLCs, and collecting and reviewing artifacts.
Bynes, Damita Griffin, "The Examination of Real-Life Implementations of Critical Elements in a Professional Learning Community for High-Performing Middle Schools and Low-Performing Middle Schools" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 381.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/381
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Maniac Review
Maniac is a new Netflix original series. It takes place inside a science lab where they are testing new drugs that could potentially fix the brains of mentally ill humans. The show features two major actors, Jonah Hill and Emma Stone.
Owen Milgrim (Hill) and Annie Landsberg (Stone) are being held inside a drug trial consisting of ten patients. Most of these patients agreed to the testing because in return they will receive good pay. Each patient has a different reason for being there. For example, Owen suffers from schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. Annie suffers from broken relationships with her mother and sister that she has struggled with throughout her life.
The drug trial consists of three different pills that you take at three different stages consisting of “A, B, and C.” When they enter this drug trial they are told by scientists running the experiment that the drugs will permanently solve all of their problems with no complications or side effects. The patients fall into these dreams where they go from being a mafia based family all the way to living in medieval times.
After the final pill “C” was taken Dr. James yells “Congratulations you’re cured” and then handed them a paycheck. The other doctor, Dr. Azumi knew he was at fault here and that the patients couldn’t possibly have been cured just like that.
The patients seemed very confused and out of it since they had basically just been tripping on drugs for the last three days. They were not cured but it appeared as they were urged down the path to self-reflection and were more in the present than their minds.
Overall, the show was a great mix of both comedy and drama. It felt as if you were in the character’s minds and traveling through their past traumatizing experiences. This device made you really become attached to the characters unlike in some shows where there’s no specific plot throughout the TV show and just a different plot every show. Overall, this show would be a 7/10 because the early episodes were amazing as well as the ending episodes but a few episodes in the middle were a little dry.
Celebrating a Year With Anouk, Charlotte, and Pedro
A Language Of Good Chemistry
Why cheese is simply MAGNIFICIENT
Lily W – Star Golf Athlete
An Ode to High School Journalism
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Douglas families Byfield & Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire, England
Posted by Cara Douglas on April 2, 2015 at 12:38
My great grandfather Daniel John Douglas (b. 1849) boarded the "Duke of Westminister" in Nov 1885 and arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on the 11 Jan 1886 wife his wife Harriet ?. His father was Daniel Douglas (occupation - shepherd) born 1820 in Byfield, Northamptonshire, England and mother Elizabeth Woodfield of Tysoe, Warwickshire. I believe his father was Daniel Wells Douglas born in Chipping Warden 1784 and died in Byfield in 1863, and mother Elizabeth ?. He had two brothers and one sister, George born 1814, Susanna born 1823 and John Douglas born 1829. If anyone has any further information on the Douglas families of Byfield and Chipping Warden i would truly appreciate it.
Comment by William Douglas on August 24, 2018 at 21:28
In May 1744 a bill was moved in the House of Lords to dissolve the marriage between Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort and Frances Scudamore.[17] Among witnesses who testified under oath before their Lordships was John Pargiter, a farmer of Chipping Warden, who stated:
"That, in the Beginning of June, 1741, he observed a Man (whom he described), and afterwards found it was Lord Talbot, to meet the Dutchess as she was walking alone in the Fields near that Place; and thereupon mentioned adulterous Familiarities which passed between them."[17]
Witnesses William Douglas and Thomas Bonham corroborated Pargiter's evidence
There have been Douglas families in Northamptonshire since 1527 when a Thomas Douglas of Chipping Warden probated his will. In 1528 his wife Agnes's will was probated. There was a Robert Duglas who died in Greatworth, Northants in 1569, but he only left a wife Margaret and a daughter Francis (Frances?).
The county is of particular interest to those researching William Douglas, b1610
John Douglas, 1790 - 1873
John Douglas was born in 1790 to Thomas Douglas and Elizabeth Douglas (born Inns).
Thomas was born in December 1748, in Chipping Warden, Northants.
Elizabeth was born on September 5 1748, in Towcester.
John had 7 siblings: Thomas Douglas, Elizabeth Douglas and 5 other siblings.
John married Elizabeth Douglas (born Cowper) in 1817, at age 27.
Elizabeth was born in 1788, in Ash Le Walls, Northamptonshire, England.
They had 4 children: John Douglas and 3 other children.
John died in 1873, at age 83
Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale on March 2, 2017 at 15:42
William , I had this piece that refers to both Little Douglas and George Douglas http://www.genealogywise.com/group/drysdalearchives/forum/topics/11...
Comment by William Douglas on February 8, 2017 at 11:20
I have unearthed these notes on the Douglas family in Northamptonshire, which may/must link in somewhere:
John Douglass born 30 April 1805 Culworth married Ann Talbot 1808 Morton Pinkney North Hants in 6 June 1830 Culworth
John's father Samuel (29 Jan 1752 Died 8 Feb 1822) Mother Ann Makepeace (1766 Thorp Mandavile died 1854 Culworth).
Samuel's father George Douglas born 1730 Culworth died 1801 Culworth married Ann Pittom (1737 Whitlebury died 20 May 1788 Culworth).
It is possible that George was related to William Douglas 25/10/1590 Culworth father was William born 1565 Culworth also possible he is connected to Volly Douglas 1554, usher to Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587). Mary exucution took place At Fotheringhay Castle.
**** If Sir Walter Scott had been so fortunate as to have seen some of the letters in these volumes, which have been subsequently brought to light, he would have been able to improve the story of his fine historical romance of "The Abbot" in noj slight degree, by a closer adherence to facts. George Douglas, who cuts ,so conspicuous a figure in that tale, was a gallant gentleman, about Mary's own age. He generously made the arrangement for her escape, but, on the failure of the first abortive attempt, fled, leaving a second more successful enterprize for her deliverance to be achieved' by his orphan cousin, William, a boy of sixteen, who was known in the castle by the name of the little Douglas. This youth remained faithfully attached to Mary's adverse fortunes till her death; he received a pension from her, and is occasionally mentioned with great tenderness in her letters as "her orphan." In her will she calls him "Volly Douglas;" the letter W was evidently treated by Mary after the foreign fashion. ****
Please note that this discussion cross-references with this one: http://douglashistory.ning.com/forum/topics/northamptonshire-dougla...
Is this the Curious Fox entry referred to below?
Searching for relatives of Daniel Douglas- (abt 1786) and Elizabeth (abt 1788)their children were Daniel Douglas (abt 1820) John Douglas (abt 1829) and Susanna Douglas (1825)they lived in Byfield, Northamptonshire.
Comment by Karen Collins on February 6, 2017 at 0:23
hi cara,my maiden name is douglas and my grandfather William was born in byfield,he was born illegitamely to sarah douglas who was born in 1857,my grandfather was brought up by sarahs father John (therefore kept the surname of douglas) could this be the john you are looking,if so if he was born 1829 he would havebeen around 28 at the time of sarahs birth.Could this be a link?Have other information but pretty limited.Feeling excited if there is the link we are looking for,as when we tried to go back further (back in 2006) we had limited information
Comment by Cara Douglas on April 3, 2015 at 13:50
This was in the Northampton Mercury 9 July 1825. Daniel was a farmer.
Added by William 7 Feb 2017: Daniel appears to have some status in the community. He is recorded as owning land in the poll of 1831
Hi William
I have them living in Byfield in the 1841 census and John would only be around 15 years old in 1844. The curious fox message may have come from me years ago.
Cheers Cara
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by: Geeta Sharma
Aurangabad: City hospital upgraded to state Cancer Institute status
Latest News, Medical Education, News
Aurangabad: The city’s Government Cancer Hospital has been granted the honour of being called the State’s Cancer Institute.It has also been upgraded by being provided financial assistance to the tune of 120 crores (60% of the total cost) during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).This was revealed in a press statement released this Saturday.
The first phase payment of forty percent, amounting to Rs 48 crore has already been released. The Government Cancer Hospital is the first health facility to have got a project of such elevated status. The Rs 120 crore is meant to help strengthen the tertiary care cancer facilities at the hospital.
The elevation from a cancer hospital to a cancer institute is meant to drive it towards mentoring and coordinating the activities of other institutes in the state, dealing with tertiary care for cancer. The State Cancer Institute is also meant to provide outreach services, diagnosis and referral treatments, develop treatment protocols, undertake research, and enhance the capacity of personnel in the State in the field of cancer.
According to the Officer on Special Duty of the Cancer Hospital, Arvind Gaikwad, the institute is also to be be equipped with the latest and the most advanced techniques for patients suffering from cancer. The institute is also meant to facilitate the initiation of a post graduation in radiotherapy in the college.
Source: with inputs
0 comment(s) on Aurangabad: City hospital upgraded to state Cancer Institute status
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EECS Weekly News: January 8, 2018
Seeing the unseen
With a degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University, Melanie Jenkins took a job as a process engineer at Micron Tehcnology in Boise, Idaho where she spent 12-hour shifts in the cleanroom. Even though she was learning a lot at Micron, her ultimate goal was to have a career in research. “I wanted to work in research, because I want to learn about things that haven’t been discovered or known before. The thought of always learning is really appealing to me,” Jenkins said. EECS
Computer science for everyone
"It all started on the bus,” said Martin Erwig of his new book, “Once Upon an Algorithm,” published this year by The MIT Press, which won a 2017 Best Book Award from American Book Fest. Erwig’s seven-minute commute by bus was the perfect situation to inspire him to boil down computer science for the general public. Discussions naturally developed on those daily bus rides with many of the same people. EECS
NOT NEWS, BUT OF INTEREST
Oregon remains a top destination, moving companies say
Oregon continues to draw far more residents than it sends elsewhere, according to the companies that haul those newcomers' stuff. Two moving services ranked Oregon among their top 10 destination states, where more people moved in than away. The Oregonian
Kate Johnson in as CEO as Act-On restructures, plans to hire 50 workers
Act-On Software, in consolidating its North American operations in Portland, has named a new CEO and COO. In making the move, Act-On plans to expand its Portland footprint. It'll hire as many as 50 new employees, in the engineering and customer service areas, during 2018's first half. The company is the Portland area's 18th-largest software operation, with 105 local workers among its 311 overall staffers. Portland Business Journal
Course Announcement: Applied Bioinformatics BB485/585
MWF 11:00-11:50 am | MF BEXL 416, W BEXL 324 | Professor: David Hendrix
Applied Bioinformatics gives a thorough, hands-on introduction to the problems and methods of the bioinformatics of nucleic acid sequences and proteins. The goal of this course is to teach you the fundamentals of bioinformatics and enable you to understand and employ software and methods used in answering contemporary questions in bioinformatics. The student will gain a working knowledge of the bioinformatics analysis of contemporary techniques such as sequence alignment, BLAST, motif finding, databases, phylogenetic tree construction, GO Terms, ChIP-Seq peak identification, transcriptome profiling by RNA-Seq, and predicting RNA interactions and structure. Students will gain familiarity with BioPython and the GNU/Linux command line interface. Now with supplementary video lectures!
Winter 2018 HWeekend
January 20-21 | Kelley Engineering Center
Do you know of a real-world problem that needs solving? Do you have an idea that can improve lives? Do you want to build something amazing? If so, you are invited to apply for the next HWeekend! The theme for this event is Engineering and Design; meals and snacks are included during the 30 hour build session. Participants have access to cutting edge tools, including 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics, tablets, computers, and more! Come alone or with a group of friends to create a gadget or gizmo that solves a real-world problem, shows how art can use the medium of technology as its canvas, or how good design can drive business. Some examples could be: Automatic door control for the disabled, an anti-theft bike alarm, a portable coffee brewer, a webpage that tells you if your house is unlocked, or even a new water desalination device. Apply by January 15.
URSA Engage - Call for Student Applications - Undergraduate Research
The goal of URSA Engage is to provide first and second year students, and transfer students in their first year at OSU, opportunities to pursue research or a creative activity under the guidance of an OSU mentor. Students who are selected will receive an award of $750 and their faculty mentors will receive $250 in development funds. The program is available to undergraduates across all academic disciplines. Projects will take place from the middle of winter term 2018 through the end of spring term 2018 (15 weeks at 5 hrs/week). Applications due January 15.
Research Ready Workshop - OSU Undergraduate Research
Wednesday, January 17 | 5:30 PM - 7 PM | Location TBA
The process of getting involved in undergraduate research or creative work with a faculty member can be intimidating, especially for students who are new to OSU. We’re here to help! Join us for an evening workshop where we’ll discuss the benefits of working with a professor at OSU and how to identify and contact the professor you want to work with. You’ll also have an opportunity to hear directly from a panel of OSU professors about what they look for in undergraduates who ask to join their teams.
AAUW 2018 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders Scholarship
May 30 - June 2, 2018 • University of Maryland, College Park
Addressing important and contemporary leadership issues, building leadership, advocacy and networking for the next generation of women leaders. Skills, networking, and resources are provided that are necessary to lead change on your campus and in your community. AAUW of Oregon will award up to $1200 in scholarship funds to attend this conference for 2 eligible student leaders who are currently enrolled in college full time. Electronic applications must be received by January 15, 2018.
The Next Great Startup is taking applications now!
NGSU is a campus-wide competition beginning in January where student-led teams compete to win cash prizes, in-kind services and the chance to turn a startup idea into a real company. Open to all teams led by a currently-enrolled OSU student. (Last year's winner was computer science student Gabriel Kauffman, who developed a game based on a neural network.) For more information and to apply: http://nextgreatstartup.oregonstate.edu/ . Application deadline: January 16, 2018 at noon.
CASS Software Development Series
Learn the latest software development tools and techniques from the group who knows it best - CASS!
Basic Track: Intro to Building Web Applications using Python
January 17 & 24 | 5-7pm | KEC 1005
A hands-on, two-part workshop on building a Python Web Application using Django.
Advanced Track: Vue.js – Progressive JavaScript Web Framework
Spinning Into Butter
The OSU College of Engineering is sponsoring “Spinning Into Butter,” a play by Rebecca Gilman, produced by Bag&Baggage Productions, that explores the dangers of both racism and political correctness in America. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, in room 200 at the Learning Innovation Center on OSU’s Corvallis campus. Tickets are free but required and can be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at http://engineering.oregonstate.edu/community.
Stanford Research Conference - Apply to Present
Stanford University’s Undergraduate Research Association is seeking applicants to present at their annual Stanford Research Conference. Undergraduates from across the country are invited to apply! In fact, a handful of students from OSU presented at the Stanford Research Conference just last year. This is an excellent opportunity to network with students and faculty from other institutions. Applications are due January 28.
Super Model Design Competition
Tech Soft 3D wants YOUR best 3D assembly to be the poster model for Tech Soft 3D products! Contestants are required to submit an original 3D mechanical part or assembly that will be judged according to overall quality and model complexity. Winning contestants will receive recognition and cash, with the first place prize of $1500. The submission deadline is March 15, 2018.
Cornell Materials Science and Engineering M.Eng Information
Cornell’s Materials Science and Engineering M.Eng. enhanced program is designed to develop the professional engineering leaders of the future who understand the Technical, Business, and Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Technology. The MSE M.Eng. program is designed to give you hands on experience while doing an internship and equip you with entrepreneurial skills to become true tech leaders. The Fall admissions deadline has been extended to April 1, 2018!
Argonne National Laboratory Internship Opportunities
Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where teams of world-class researchers work alongside experts from industry, academia and other government laboratories to address vital national challenges in clean energy, environment, technology and national security. This environment makes Argonne a great place for undergraduates to participate in cutting-edge research and develop a skill set for the next stage in their career. Argonne offers a number of internship programs across various science and technology disciplines that range from a seasonal appointment to a co-op experience. Applications deadlines: January 12 - February 1.
2018 Summer Repperger Program
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) is currently accepting applications for its 2018 AFRL Repperger Research Internship Program. This civilian research opportunity is a 10-week summer program intended for MS/PhD candidates pursuing degrees in STEM. Each year the laboratory will appointment a couple exceptional undergraduate students into the program. There are 36 posted opportunities, once the application January 21, 2018 deadline passes, each application will be reviewed and AFRL will fund 15 participants for the summer period. To qualify, applicants must be pursuing their Master or PhD (some outstanding bachelor students will be considered as well), have a minimal 3.2 GPA in a STEM discipline and be a U.S. citizen. Application deadline: January 21, 2018.
Cognitive and Autonomous Test Vehicle (CAT Vehicle) Research Experience for Undergraduates - University of Arizona
Students will be working on a real autonomous car with technologies dealing with control systems, robotics, cognitive communications, machine learning, software engineering, etc. Participating students will gain experience in writing academic publications, preparing and giving presentations, and in articulating the story of their compelling research problem and its solution. Participants will gain experience in applying their research to an actual autonomous vehicle. Application deadline: February 15.
Spring Data Science Fellowship Opportunity
The Data Incubator is an intensive 8 week fellowship that prepares masters students, PhDs, and postdocs in STEM and social science fields seeking industry careers as data scientists. The program is free for Fellows and supported by sponsorships from hundreds of employers across multiple industries. In response to the overwhelming interest in our earlier sessions, we will be holding another fellowship. Anyone who has already obtained a masters or PhD degree or who is within one year of graduating with a masters or PhD is welcome to apply. Applications from international students are welcome.
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships
Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited U.S. institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women’s participation traditionally has been low. Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded for master’s programs in architecture, computer/information sciences, engineering, and mathemathics/statistics. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Application deadline: January 10, 2018.
Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program
Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning during the academic year following the application date. Applicants must submit an application and essay explaining his or her career, academic and/or vocational goals. The Mensa Education & Research Foundation college scholarship program bases its awards totally on essays written by the applicants. Consideration is not given to grades, academic program or financial need. Application deadline: January 15, 2018.
Wayne V. Black Memorial Scholarship Award
In 2006, the Board of Directors of the Energy Telecommunications & Electrical Association (ENTELEC; www.entelec.org) established the Wayne V. Black Scholarship Award. Through its strategic plan, ENTELEC is committed to providing quality educational programming for all levels of energy professionals from novice to executive. The Applicant must be working towards a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following curricula: Engineering/ Engineering Technology, Computer Science/MIS, Pre-law, Political Science, Telecommunications/Information Technology. The Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident or Canadian citizen. Application deadline: January 26, 2018.
Idaho National Laboratory Graduate Fellowship
The INL Graduate Fellowship program is designed to identify exceptional talent in research areas aligned with INL's strategic agenda to enable the current and future mission of the INL. The program, a collaboration between INL and universities, provides mentoring and financial support for outstanding students who plan to enroll in graduate degree programs. The posting will close February 1, 2018.
Scholarships for Women Studying Information Security
The SWSIS program provides scholarships of up to $10,000 for women studying for their Bachelors and Masters degrees in fields relating to information security. The purpose of these scholarships is to provide assistance to women at the formative stages of their careers in these fields. Application deadline: February 1, 2018.
L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowships
The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science fellowship program awards five women postdoctoral scientists annually with grants of $60,000 each for their contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields and commitment to serving as role models for younger generations. Applicants must have a conferred PhD and have started in a postdoctoral research position by February 2, 2018; must maintain the status of postdoctoral researcher throughout the fellowship year; must be American born, naturalized citizen or permanent resident; must be affiliated with a U.S. based academic or research institution; must plan to conduct their postdoctoral studies and research in the U.S. Application deadline: February 2, 2018.
Microsoft Tuition scholarship
Microsoft awards tuition scholarships each year to encourage students to pursue studies in Computer Science and related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines. You must be enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico at the time the application is submitted. The scholarship is open to students pursuing Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related STEM degree. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 4.0, or a 4.0 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 5.0. Application deadline: Feb 9, 2018.
SPIE Scholarship Program
The Optics and Photonics Education Scholarships are available to SPIE student members located anywhere in the world, in high school (pre-university/secondary), undergraduate and graduate programs, who are studying in optics, photonics or a related field. The key criterion in evaluating and ranking applications is the "prospect for long-term contribution that the granting of an award will make to the field of optics, photonics or related field." Need, in and of itself, shall not be considered as a criterion. Application deadline: February 15, 2018.
Apriorit Computer Science Scholarship Program for College Students
Apriorit offers a $1000 educational technology grant for high school seniors and college freshmen who have been enrolled at a college or university for a computer engineering or computer science program this year. We want to support young people passionate about IT and planning to build their career in this field. Application deadline: July 1, 2018.
GRADUATE EXAMS
PhD Oral Preliminary Examination – Peter Rindal
Tuesday, January 9 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | KEC 1007
Improved Private Set Intesection
Major Advisor: Mike Rosulek; Committee: Attila Yavuz, Rakesh Bobba, Payman Mohassel; GCR: Clayton Petsche
MS Final Examination – Sruti Srinivasa Ragavan
Wednesday, January 10 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | KEC 1007
Version Control Systems: An Information Foraging Perspective
Major Advisor: Margaret Burnett; Committee: Anita Sarma, Eric Walkingshaw; GCR: Cindy Grimm
COLLOQUIA/SEMINARS
First-order Optimization Methods for Large-scale Problems
Monday, January 8 | 4:00 - 4:50 p.m. | LPSC 125
Hoi-To Wai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Arizona State University
A Robot Walks into a Bar: The comedy and social lives of machines (Science Pub Corvallis)
Monday, January 8 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Old World Deli, 341 2nd St., Corvallis
Robots will increasingly rub shoulders with people at home and in the work place, so machines need social attributes: humor, personality and body language. Heather Knight, an assistant professor in computer science at Oregon State University, aims to develop machines that use their social qualities to empower people, not replace them. She directs the CHARISMA Lab (Collaborative Humans and Robots: Interaction, Sociability, Machine Learning, and Art) at OSU.
Martin Erwig Book Signing
Monday, January 8 | 7:30 PM | Powell's City of Books, Portland
Picture a computer scientist, staring at a screen and clicking away frantically on a keyboard, hacking into a system, or perhaps developing an app. Now delete that picture. In Once Upon an Algorithm, Martin Erwig explains computation as something that takes place beyond electronic computers, and computer science as the study of systematic problem solving. Erwig points out that many daily activities involve problem solving. Getting up in the morning, for example: You get up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast. This simple daily routine solves a recurring problem through a series of well-defined steps. In computer science, such a routine is called an algorithm.
2018 Graduate Research Showcase
Thursday, February 8 | LaSells Stewart Center and CH2M Hill Alumni Center
The 2018 Graduate Research Showcase is a daylong opportunity for graduate students to advance their professional knowledge and skills, network with industry partners, and share your research with industry, faculty, peers, and the community. We are also pleased to welcome Jorge Cham, who will be giving the keynote at a luncheon exclusively for College of Engineering graduate students who present a poster and/or attend the career panel. Please read the schedule and details regarding the Graduate Research Showcase, and learn what last year’s graduate students had to say about the event.
Experience Oregon Tech
Wednesday, Feb 21 | 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm | Matt Knight Arena, Eugene | FREE (Ticket Required)
Experience Oregon Technology is a Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) initiative that brings top students from Oregon Colleges and Universities together with premier technology companies in the state. This program introduces students (at no cost) to Oregon’s large and growing tech industry, everything from the exciting startup scene to global leaders in technology. Students who participate will tour industry companies and network with CEOs, CIOs, HR managers, Marketing Managers, Business Development Managers, Project Mangers, programmers, designers, and interns – the entire spectrum of roles. Students will learn about the culture of these companies and get a huge head start on the many internships and jobs available there.
JOB SEARCH AND CAREER ADVICE
College of Engineering Career Drop-In Hours
Mondays 10AM-11AM | Fridays 3PM-4PM | 122 Johnson Hall
Have a quick career development question? Come by our fall drop-in hours to get pointed in the right direction.
Ask a Credible Career Coach: Can I Negotiate When the Job Description Lists a Salary?
Negotiations are often nerve-racking for candidates because they don’t want to ask for too much and have an employer withdraw an offer. But I want to give you reassurance that as much as you fear losing out on an opportunity, companies also fear losing great talent (like you!) by coming in below expectations. That’s why companies and candidates often have an open discussion to meet somewhere in the middle. The Muse
How to answer 5 of the toughest interview questions
The better prepared you are for each type of interviewer, the better your odds are at landing a new title and office environment that’ll start your next lap around the sun on a positive foot. Though it might seem silly or redundant to go over each and every last question that could be thrown at you, practice does indeed make perfect, and sharing your response out loud in front of a mirror — or to a trusted mentor or pal — will ensure you’re ready for anything. Ladders
Five Ways To Answer The Question 'Why Should We Hire You?'
The worst way to answer the question "Why should we hire you?" is to say "Because I'm smart, I'm hard-working and I want the job." Every candidate will say that! You have to change things up. You have to shift the script. That's the only way you will remain in the interviewer's mind after the interview is over. Forbes
Student Web & Communications Assistant - OSU Institutional Analytics and Reporting Communications
This position will assist the Communications and Engagement Manager in the creation of a new IAR website. Additionally, the Student Web Developer will support the IAR team in the daily tasks required to migrate and maintain content to the new IAR site, build and test new web-based features, as well as assist with the communication and marketing of these technologies and IAR services to the OSU community.
AppleCare College Advisor
Discover a college job that fits schedules and exceeds expectations. Apple has always done things differently, including customer support. As an AppleCare College Advisor, you’ll work from where you live and work around your class schedule, helping customers have the best experience possible. And like college itself, working with Apple can take you where you want to go — and where you never imagined.
OSU MIME IT Student Support Specialist
Do you enjoy meeting new people and helping to solve problems? We're looking for students to help support the OSU School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering with technology-related needs. Duties include assistance with computer operations and installation, user support, classroom technology, programming and analysis, network support, and installing and configuring applications. Please apply to posting number P02518SE https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/45990 or send your resume and cover letter to lori.burgeson@oregonstate.edu.
CBEE Info Tech
This recruitment will be used to fill multiple part-time (a maximum of 20 hours per week) Student Information Technology position for the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU). Managing windows computers and applications in the College of Engineering. Assist in automation of operating system deployment and software using Microsoft Systems Configuration Manager, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, Windows ADK, and other tools. Building of operating system images and silent software installations of engineering applications. Hardware and software trouble shooting, and maintaining an accurate inventory.
ECE & CS Internships - Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
As a member of the Facilities & Operations Services team, you will help to engineer the magic. You will be part of a team that works each day to design, build, service and maintain a level of service that exceeds our client and guest expectations. Your team's responsibilities may include: provide strategic and project support for new and existing attractions and facilities; develop global design and safety standards; design and supervise the fabrication and testing of enhancements and new designs for ride vehicles and systems; provide software services for ride, show and other process control systems being developed and installed in the Disney parks.
Internship at Autodesk (Portland): Visual Design, Simulation UX Team
The Simulation UX team in the Manufacturing group designs solutions for products that focus on Generative Design, simulation of metal additive manufacturing, plastic injection molding and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We are looking for a talented visual designer, skilled at web, mobile and desktop design to help us align the visual interfaces of our many products. Some of these products are established desktop software that need an overhaul and others are new web interfaces that need ongoing visual design support. Additionally, we are embarking on a new strategy focusing on generative design for one of our oldest desktop products. As part of this strategy shift, we will need someone who is exceptional at dealing with data visualization for multi-objective genetic algorithms (MOGA). We need to make this easy for our customers to understand the output of these types of algorithms so they can make good design decisions easily.
Autodesk Internship (San Francisco): Security, GDPR & Privacy by Design
The Product Security at Autodesk is seeking a talented software engineering intern with an interest in learning about and gaining hands-on exposure to security and privacy practices. You will have the opportunity to work closely with Security and Privacy Champions, Security and Privacy Engineers, and many others throughout Autodesk. The ideal candidate will have a background in software development. The role includes writing code, primarily with NodeJS, to automate the collection and reporting of metrics into the Product Security Dashboard, to assist with effective measurement of progress and compliance to privacy requirements.
Software Engineering Internship at Autodesk (San Francisco)
Responsibilities: Build new features, with unit tests, that can support our growing user base. Build scalable and complex web applications and platforms that support large-scale 3D graphics, big data and machine learning. Evaluate current software architecture and implement enhancements as required. Help develop and maintain high quality code by pairing in a TDD process with senior tech leads. Build and scale automated testing infrastructure to support rapid hands-off QA. Cross-team collaboration and coordination to ensure reliable, secure, available and scalable releases.
Internship Machine Learning Robotics - Autodesk (San Francisco)
The Autodesk Applied Research Lab is a multi-disciplinary team, whose job is to explore the future landscape of automation and look for blind spots for Autodesk. We pursue a broad scope of inquiries – from Advanced Robotics, Machine Learning and VR/AR, to Storytelling and Future of Work. At Autodesk, we have a unique advantage of accessing 3D model data from a wide range of industries, from architecture and manufacturing, to films and video games. Data from these diverse areas connect everything from conceptual design to physical instantiation of objects and environments. As such, we have an unprecedented opportunity to apply machine learning to these cross-pollinating data across industries that don’t typically coincide, to solve a broad variety of problems. This summer we are looking for a Machine Learning Robotics intern who will help bridge the gap between simulated reality and the real world using machine learning and robots.
Internships at Autodesk
Our interns work on real projects that are challenging and make a difference. Every year we hire hundreds of interns, co-op students and new grads to join our global teams and experience incredible access to our technology and industry mentors. With opportunities in Software Development, Cloud Technologies, Computer Graphics, Data Science, Mechatronics/Robotics, Reality Computing, Machine Learning, Research Engineering, Quality Assurance and Web Automation, you’ll be a part of an important mission creating innovative technology to help people imagine, design and create a better world.
Product Security at Autodesk
Our team of security experts helps Autodesk design, build, deploy and maintain secure products. We are embedding security in the full spectrum of how we build our products from inception, design, development, testing to how we are running them in the cloud as well as how we are responding to any existing or emerging threats to our products or the building blocks of our products and services. We are looking for an Application Security Engineer with 0 to 3 years of software development experience to join the Product Security team at Autodesk. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely and frequently with thousands of software engineers across Autodesk to help them design, develop and test with a security-first mindset.
Electrical Engineer--Entry Level - Boeing
We are looking for energetic, creative, and self-driven Electrical Engineers to work on Commercial Aircraft Electric Systems. The candidate will work in a collaborative, exciting environment supporting new products, improving existing products, and/or supporting our fleet of airplanes in service. The job offers the opportunity to be mentored by senior engineers and work with world class experts across functions (design, suppliers, manufacturing, and in-service support). You will develop or modify your hardware and software designs through the lifecycle including requirements definition, architecture definition, design development, testing, and monitoring performance in service. You will research basic technologies for potential application.
Software Engineer - AddiTec
The Software Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, testing, and controlling acquired or developed software used by AddiTec or software used in products designed and manufactured by AddiTec. The successful incumbent will utilize coding skills to actively support AddiTec product innovation on a real-time, fast prototyping basis. In addition, this position will manage the software development life cycle for in-house developed software and will ensure that software configuration items are controlled.
Analyst Programmer - OSU Web and Mobile Services
Web and Mobile Services (WAMS), part of the Information and Technology Division at Oregon State University, invites applications for two full-time (1.0 FTE) , 12-month Analyst Programmer, competency level 2, positions. WAMS provides systems and services in support of Oregon State University instruction, research and administration functions. WAMS hosts and develops content for external and internal web visitors. Staff are directly responsible for the daily operation, administration, and welfare of systems hosting OSU web pages and associated databases that provide access to research and other information for users on campus, in Oregon, and around the world.
Bioinformatics Analyst - OSU Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing
This position will provide bioinformatics consulting and analysis services, and participate in collaborative bioinformatics research. Responsibilities and duties include analysis of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data sets, development of new tools in bioinformatics and computational biology, and assistance with the preparation of publications and grant proposals.
Assistant Computational Scientist - OSU Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing
This position will work closely with CGRB staff and the OSU research community to provide a high quality of service and promote the CGRB’s mission of bioinformatics education and research. The successful candidate will (1) Research, develop, and maintain a next-generation software stack for the ACTF, specific to the needs of data science education and practice, and (2) Provide training and support to users of the CGRB computational infrastructure.
Faculty Positions in Data Science - Purdue University
Data Science aims to accelerate the advancement of knowledge in a wide variety of fields to enable more rapid discovery and advances in technology. Problems to be solved range from machine learning and data analytics, deeper analysis of experimental data, new algorithms for improving these areas, to computer systems optimized for rapid analysis and energy efficiency. Purdue’s College of Engineering is looking to significantly expand its capabilities in all of these areas. We are seeking multiple highly qualified individuals in the broad area of data sciences. Areas of emphasis include machine learning and data analytics, signal processing and coding, optimization, artificial intelligence, statistical inference, and computer systems research. Candidates with an outstanding research record and a proven capability of interacting with researchers across different areas of engineering will be favored.
Assistant/Associate Professor position in Computer Engineering - University of Central Arkansas
The Department of Computer Science at the University of Central Arkansas is seeking exceptional candidates for a tenure-track Assistant /Associate Professor position in Computer Engineering beginning in August 2018. The position requires a doctorate degree in Computer Science/Engineering or a related discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in Computer Engineering.
Assistant Professor position at Westminster College in SLC, Utah
With an average class size of 17 and a commitment to active learning in the classroom, Westminster College offers faculty a chance to get to know all your students. We are excited to announce a search for a new Computer Science Assistant Professor. This is full-time, continuing faculty position at the rank of assistant professor. All candidates should have some level of prior teaching experience. While a PhD in computer science is preferred, candidates with an MS in computer science (or related area) and teaching experience are encouraged to apply as well. We will begin reviewing applications on December 19, 2017.
Assistant/Associate Professor - Computer Engineering - University of Central Arkansas
The Department of Computer Science at the University of Central Arkansas is seeking exceptional candidates for a tenure-track Assistant /Associate Professor position in Computer Engineering beginning in August 2018. The position requires a doctorate degree in Computer Science/Engineering or a related discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in Computer Engineering. Duties include teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, research, and professional service.
Lecturer in Computer Science - Emory University
Emory University’s Mathematics & Computer Science Department invites applications for a full-time faculty position as Lecturer in Computer Science, to begin in Fall 2018. Appointments are for an initial period of three years with possibilities of renewals and promotions within the lecture track, which includes Senior Lecturer and Professor of Pedagogy, Practice and Performance. Applicants must have a PhD in Computer Science or a related discipline and will be expected to provide outstanding teaching, advising, and service related to the undergraduate programs. All areas of specialization will be considered.
Partial list of jobs posted in the past week through LinkedIn (these are just a few of the hundreds of jobs listed). Sample jobs:
ELT Field Engineer Electrical Field Service for Turbine Excitation Systems | Fieldcore - Salem, OR
Hardware Design Engineer | Hennessy Industries - Everett, WA
Entry Level Distribution Engineer | Power Engineers - Portland, OR
Associate System Generation Trader | PacifiCorp - Portland, OR
NOC Engineer I | Network Computing Architects, Inc. (NCA) - Bellevue, WA
Software Engineer | Radiant Vision Systems - Redmond, WA
Application Engineer | Radiant Vision Systems - Redmond, WA
Entry-level Software Engineer - Agile Cyber Solutions | Assured Information Security, Inc - Portland, OR
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Business / Corporate Law
Buy-Sell Agreements
Choice of Entity
Non-Competition Agreements
Non-Profit Corporations
Shareholder Rights and Issues
Not-Competition Agreements
Compliance and Risk Analysis
Equal Pay Act
ERISA Compliance
Trade Secrets Law
Wage and Hour Law
Whistleblower Litigation and Public Policy Exception to At-Will Doctrine
Requirements for HOAs
Establishing HOAs
Running an Association
Condominium Associations
Physicians & Healthcare
HIPAA and MACRA Are Changing, Are You Prepared?
David P. Weiss
Douglas Whitlock
Jacob O. Grimes
Kyle Haubrich
Quinn Murphy
Heads Up, I Win; Tails Up, You Lose.
Did Both Parties Really Agree to Arbitration?
by e-LawLines | Mar 31, 2015 | Commercial Law, Contract Law, Employment Law, Litigation
It’s a simple concept on its face: To be binding, an arbitration agreement must contain mutual promises by both parties to arbitrate their claims. But if one party to an employment contract excepts one or more types of claims from arbitration, is there mutuality, meaning both parties to a contract are bound to the same set of rules?
In practice, determining mutuality has proven difficult for courts to resolve, particularly when an arbitration provision references and relies upon other sections of a broader contract. A recent decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals illustrates this difficulty and also emphasizes the importance of overall contract interpretation.
In Jimenez v. Cintas Corporation, the plaintiff brought suit challenging her termination from employment with the defendant. The defendant thereafter filed a motion to compel arbitration, relying upon the arbitration provision in the parties’ employment agreement (the “Agreement“). Specifically, Section 8 of the Agreement provided that any disputes “between Employee and Employer concerning whether either party at any time violated any duty, right, law, regulation, public policy or provision of this Agreement” that cannot be resolved in good faith, must be “resolved through impartial and confidential arbitration.” Section 8 mandated that both the plaintiff and the defendant arbitrate any unresolved “claims for damages, as well as reasonable costs and attorney’s fees, caused by [the other party’s] violation of any provision of this Agreement or any law, regulation or public policy.” Section 8 further provided:
The rights and claims of Employee covered by this Section 8, including the arbitration provisions below, specifically include but are not limited to all of Employee’s rights or claims arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment with Employer, such as rights or claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (including amendments contained in the Civil Rights Act of 1991), the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, state antidiscrimination statutes, other state or local laws regarding employment, common law theories such as breach of express or implied contract, wrongful discharge[,] defamation, and negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress. Excluded from the arbitration provisions below in this Section 8 are all unemployment benefit claims, workers’ compensation claims, claims for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief concerning any provision of Section 4 of this Agreement, and claims not lawfully subject to arbitration, including charges or complaints filed with an administrative agency (but not litigation connected with any such charge or complaint). (Emphasis added.)
The plain language of Section 8, the arbitration provision, excluded from the requirement to arbitrate all: “workers’ compensation claims, unemployment benefits claims, claims for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief concerning any provision of Section 4 and claims not lawfully subject to arbitration …” This language proved critical in Jimenez, as the Section 4 claims which were exempted from arbitration related only to covenants binding solely on the plaintiff. Importantly, Section 4 also contained a clause which stated as follows:
Employer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or other injunctive relief to enforce Employee’s compliance with the obligations, acknowledgments and covenants in this Section 4. Employer may also include as part of such injunction action any claims for injunctive relief under any applicable law arising from the same facts or circumstances as any threatened or actual violation of Employee’s obligations, acknowledgments and covenants in this Section 4. (Emphasis added.)
After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the defendant’s motion to compel arbitration, and the defendant appealed. On appeal, the defendant argued that the arbitration provision in the Agreement was valid because, among other things, the arbitration provision contained mutual promises by each party to arbitrate their disputes. The Missouri Court of Appeals disagreed.
As the court noted in its decision, arbitration is a matter of contract, and parties will be compelled to arbitrate their claims only if the arbitration agreement satisfies the essential elements of a valid contract. In Missouri, legal consideration is essential for the formation of any contract, including one for arbitration. Consideration is created by either (1) a promise to do or refrain from doing something, or (2) the transfer or giving up of something of value to the other party.
In Jimenez, the defendant argued that the parties’ consideration was provided by the arbitration provision’s mutual promises to arbitrate disputes. In contrast, the plaintiff asserted that the agreement to arbitrate was not “mutual and reciprocal,” and was therefore devoid of consideration. According to the plaintiff, the arbitration provision exempted the defendant employer from arbitrating those claims it was most likely to bring against the plaintiff, while the plaintiff remained bound to arbitrate those claims she was most likely to bring against her employer.
In analyzing the parties’ arguments, the Missouri appellate court noted that where there is no consideration other than the parties’ mutual promises, the agreement constitutes a bilateral contract. Valid consideration supporting a bilateral contract rests solely upon whether the parties’ promises to each other are mutually binding. Consequently, in Missouri, a bilateral contract requires “mutuality of obligation” as essential to the formation of a valid contract. Mutuality of obligation means that an obligation rests upon each party to do or permit to be done something in consideration of the act or promise of the other. Hence, neither party is bound unless both are bound.
Importantly, when determining whether there is an enforceable arbitration agreement, Missouri courts must consider the lack of mutual promises to submit claims to arbitration. A contract that purports to exchange mutual promises will be construed as lacking legal consideration if one party retains the right to unilaterally divest itself of an obligation to perform the promise initially made.
With the foregoing in mind, the defendants in Jimenez argued that the terms of the arbitration provision in Section 8 plainly required both parties to arbitrate their disputes, with several exceptions, and that these terms should be construed as “mutual in all relevant respects.” On its face, the Missouri Court of Appeals agreed that the language in Section 8 stated that both parties must arbitrate all of their claims except: workers’ compensation claims, unemployment benefits claims, claims not lawfully subject to arbitration, and “claims for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief concerning any provision of Section 4.” However, the court stressed that it must read the terms of the Agreement as a whole, giving each term its plain, ordinary and usual meaning, so as to not render any terms meaningless. In doing so, the court concluded that Section 4 had the effect of exempting only the defendant employer from arbitrating alleged violations of the Agreement’s non-compete provisions, while the plaintiff was bound to arbitrate those same claims. The Section 8 exceptions also allowed the defendant to refrain from arbitrating those claims it was most likely to bring against the plaintiff, while the plaintiff was bound to arbitrate all those claims legally arbitrable.
In essence, the Missouri Court of Appeals found that the defendant employer was allowed to litigate at its discretion, while the plaintiff was bound to arbitrate all her claims. Accordingly, while Section 8, on its face, required the parties to arbitrate their claims, the practical effect of reading Sections 4 and 8 together was that the arbitration provision bound only one of the parties to arbitration. The court therefore held that the arbitration provision lacked mutuality of promise, was devoid of consideration and was consequently invalid.
The Jimenez court’s task of harmonizing the language of Sections 4 and 8 is commonplace in today’s arbitration-friendly society. Courts are regularly forced to decide complex contractual issues when determining whether an arbitration agreement is valid and enforceable. While some jurisdictions take a different approach than Missouri, there is no question that Missouri courts require mutuality of obligations in order for an arbitration provision to be valid.
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e-LawLines is published by David P. Weiss, an attorney at law affiliated with Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. His practice serves the entire St. Louis metropolitan region, including City of St. Louis, St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Lincoln and Cole counties in Missouri, and Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois. Learn more about David’s background.
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Chinese Communists essays
Mao Zedong And The Chinese Communist Party
INTRODUCTION On October 16, 1934,100 000 Chinese Communist troops set out on a 6,000 mile trek from their base in Kiangsi. 1 This trek, later to be known as the Long March, began after Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalist armies (the Kuomintang) frustrated the Communist organization in Southeast China. The Long March was a difficult journey; approximately 90,000 men and women died before it was over. 2 However, communism was not eliminated in China. This paper argues that the Long March galvanize...
Young Deng Xiaoping
Introduction "I don't care if the cat is black or white, I just want it to kill the mice". - Deng Xiaoping. Deng Xiaoping has been the individual with the most impact on China since the 1970's. Along with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, he is looked at as one of the key figures in evolution of communism in China. Deng Xiaoping will be remembered as a national hero, but this was not always the case. The real story of Deng includes the fact that, on more than one occasion, his peers ostracized him. Dur...
Chinese Communist Attitude Toward China's Traditional Past
To say that the Chinese Communist revolution is a non-Western revolution is more than a clich'e. That revolution has been primarily directed, not like the French Revolution but against alien Western influences that approached the level of domination and drastically altered China's traditional relationship with the world. Hence the Chinese Communist attitude toward China's traditional past is selectively critical, but by no means totally hostile. The Chinese Communist revolution, and the foreign ...
Mid 1959 Criticized Leap Policies
Great Leap Forward (1958-1960), economic and social plan initiated by Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), with the intent of radically increasing agricultural and industrial production in the People's Republic of China, and of bringing China to the brink of a utopian communist society. The Great Leap Forward was a reaction to the Hundred Flowers Campaign, a more moderate development program in China in 1957. In this earlier program, Mao Zedong tried to win the support of Chinese ...
Malraux's Confidence In Communism
Man's Fate is a fictional story based on the 1927 Chinese revolution in Shanghai. The main characters, Ch " en, Kyo, May, Katov, and Old Gisors represent different facets of Malraux's belief system and personality. The story opens where Ch " en is in the room of a sleeping man who he's about to assassinate. The assassination of the businessman can be seen as the destruction of the capitalism Malraux saw as the cause of the "oppressed and exploited Chinese" (Greenlee 59). Malraux came from a brok...
Chinese Thought And Culture
Confucius and Mao in the Formation of Chinese Communist Ideology The People's Republic of China is officially classified a communist republic and has been for quite some time now. The Chinese Communist Party thoroughly dominates Chinese society, controlling all major governmental, economical, and cultural institutions. This formation of government can be accredited greatly to Confucius and Mao Zedong. Both of these figures significantly impacted the cultural, socialistic, and ideological beliefs...
Demise Of The Chinese Communist Party
0. Introduction More than a decade after the fall of the former Soviet Union and Eastern European communist regimes, the international communist movement has been spurned worldwide. The demise of the Chinese Communist Party is only a matter of time. 1. On What the Communist Party Is This article concerns the impact on the civilization of China of the communist movement and the Communist Party. Looking at the history of China's last 160 years, nearly one hundred million people have died unnatural...
China's Communist Party
As many other countries around the world China has its long history of a struggle for equality and prosperity against tyrants and dictatorships. The establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949 seemed to have put an end to that struggle for a better life. "The Chinese people have stood up!" declared Mao Tse-tung, the chairman of China's Communist Party (CPP) - a leading political force in the country for the time. The people were defined as a coalition of four social classes: the workers,...
Mao's Reliance On Traditional Chinese Ideals
The Life of Mao Zedong Dressed in the drab military uniform that symbolized the revolutionary government of Communist China, Mao Zedong's body still looked powerful, like an giant rock in a gushing river. An enormous red flag draped his coffin, like a red sail unfurled on a Chinese junk, illustrating the dualism of traditional China and the present Communist China that typified Mao. 1 A river of people flowed past while he lay in state during the second week of September 1976. Workers, peasants,...
Chiang Kai Shek's Domestic Economic Policy
I. Introduction During the final years of the Sino-Japanese war (1944-45), hegemony over Mainland China was distinctly split between the contending authorities of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist Party) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Despite attempts to settle their differences through American-mediated negotiations, in August of 1945, Chiang refused Mao's demand for a free election, and Mao would not give up arms without a KMT guarantee to relinquish its one-party monopoly. By the end...
Films Of Chinese Film Maker Zhang Yimou
In conclusion it can be said that personal and political factors have shaped the films of Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou and caused him to come under the close surveillance of the Chinese censors. Zhang's family's opposition to the ruling Communist Party prevented him from being able to join the Youth League which was the stepping stone to the Communist Party. During the Cultural Revolution he had to work as a labourer in a spinning mill. The enforced "rustication" undergone by those who, like Z...
China And Chiang's Nationalists And The Communists
Man's Fate: A Historical Criticism Introduction The focus of this historical criticism is on why Andre Malraux, (1901-1976) created the novel Man's Fate and the events that shaped it. To lend substance to the literary relevance of this work, one can look into the background of the main characters, deciding whether or not Malraux has based his work on actual martyrs. One can gain further insight into Man's Fate by looking at Malraux's beliefs themselves. Man's Fate is an unflinching look at some ...
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Africa, Asia, Global Policy, Middle East
The UAE Will Help India “Multi-Align” Against China In Africa
Written by Andrew Korybko on 2018-12-05
More in Africa:
Belt And Road Connectivity is Essential For Sudan 2019-07-13
People From Developing And Post-Colonial Countries Should Reject The Poison of Western Universities 2019-07-07
Haftar Is Trying To Trick Turkey Into Overextending Itself In Libya 2019-06-30
The announcement that the UAE and India signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly invest in Africa will see Dubai greatly assisting New Delhi in its grand strategy of “multi-aligning” against China there, though Russia could play a stabilizing role by “balancing” many of the various actors engaged in this modern-day “Scramble for Africa”.
The modern-day “Scramble for Africa” has been ongoing for quite a while, but it had hitherto mostly been between the US and China until the past year or so, with these two Great Powers encroaching in their own ways in the continental-wide “sphere of influence” that France has historically staked out as its own. Since then, America’s GCC allies – chief among them the UAE – have established themselves as the diplomatic kingpins in the strategic Horn of Africa region, coming on the heels of their Turkish competitor’s comprehensive strategic push all throughout the landmass. Concurrent with this, Russia surreptitiously returned to the continent via the unlikely route of its UN-approved military assistance mission in the Central African Republic, while the US’ Indian and Japanese allies have attempted to expand their reach in this part of the world through the “Asia-Africa Growth Corridor” (AAGC).
Consolidating The American “Camp”
While this many independently moving parts might make it seem like the “scramble” for Africa’s resources, markets, and strategic location is utterly chaotic and at risk of causing a kinetic conflict between the various player s involved, the fact of the matter is that a stabilizing convergence of sorts is presently ongoing whereby a vague system of “bipolarity” is poised to set in across the continent, albeit one where Russia could play a crucial role in “balancing” between both “camps”. This “consolidation process” was indirectly set into motion once the GCC and the Indo-Japanese members of the anti-China “Quad” began to actively probe opportunities in Africa, which aligned with the tacit strategic desire of the US to involve as many of its allies as possible there as it seeks to eventually assemble an economic coalition to challenge China’s dominant presence.
The announcement that the UAE and India just signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly invest in Africa is the first tangible step to formally linking together the US’ disparate allies, with the possibility now emerging of the UAE – and by extension, the entire GCC – becoming part of the AAGC. It would be natural for the US to endorse this union at a convenient time in the future and ‘bless’ it with support through the so-called “BUILD Act”, as well as encourage France to jump on board this emerging multilateral “containment” platform by providing investment and security services given its historic hegemony in the continent. The reasons why the UAE is siding with India’s AAGC and not China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) in Africa are manifold, but they basically boil down to three main ones.
Building The Two “Blocs”
The first is that the UAE is a solid American ally that’s positioning itself to replace its “big brother” Saudi Arabia as the GCC hegemon, so it has an interest in cooperating with the US’ grand strategic schemes anywhere in the world. Secondly, there are concerns – whether legitimate or not – that CPEC’s Gwadar terminal port might one day overshadow Dubai and make it economically redundant, hence the most immediate self-interested motivation that the Emirates has to “multi-align” against BRI in Africa. And thirdly, as an added incentive (not that it actually needed one), the UAE will never forget how Pakistan refused to become militarily involved in the War on Yemen, which deprived the coalition of the country’s world-class anti-insurgency experience that could have been a game-changer and averted the current quagmire that’s draining the GCC’s blood, treasure, and international reputation.
Bearing all of these considerations in mind, it’s a no-brainer why the UAE wanted to partner with India instead of China in Africa and therefore catalyze the US’ envisaged “consolidation process” there, which could have far-reaching long-term ramifications as the New Cold War heats up and this continental theater becomes all the more important. The natural response would be for China to facilitate its Pakistani partner’s entrance into this competition by helping it transform its Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC) between Gwadar and several BRI-built (or -linked) East African ports into multilateral economic partnerships, with Islamabad then reaching out to its Ankara ally to include Turkey into this developing win-win framework. Only through such a means can China stand any chance at sustainably competing with its American-aligned rivals given the intensifying infowar being waged against its investments in Africa.
Russia’s “Balancing” Role In Midwifing A “Renaissance 2.0”
Accepting that the American-backed “bloc” is much further along to fruition than the Chinese one, but that these two “camps” are nevertheless in the midst of forming in Africa, it’s relevant to discuss the role that Russia could play in all of this. As it stands, Russia is endeavoring to become the 21st-century’s supreme “balancing” force in Afro-Eurasia, to which end it’s clinching a variety of strategic partnerships with competing pairs of countries, which pertinently includes the GCC & Turkey, India & Pakistan, and Japan & China. Russia’s uniquely neutral position enables it to conceivably serve as a bridge for bringing together these rival states, seeing as how it’s the common denominator between them. In principle, Russia could join both the AAGC and BRI”s African initiatives as an equal strategic partner, though provided that certain criteria are first met in order to allow this to happen.
For example, Russia needs to sign a peace treaty with Japan before formally joining the AAGC in the future, though this could greatly be facilitated by courting Japanese investments in the Far East and then advancing the proposal for a so-called “Northern Islands Socio-Economic Condominium” over the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, and Hokkaido. Concerning the Chinese angle, Russia is proving its worth as a no-nonsense security provider in Africa capable of exporting its “mercenary”-driven “Democratic Security” model all throughout the continent and especially in BRI partner states, thereby fulfilling the demand that Beijing has for ensuring that Washington’s Hybrid War schemes don’t offset its investment projects there. If Russia can succeed in simultaneously joining the AAGC and BRI through these means, then it could encourage the “China-India-Plus-One” model to be applied all across Africa in linking these two global initiatives, sidelining the US and France, and midwifing a “Renaissance 2.0”.
The UAE’s decision to team up with India and develop third-party African states is a major move that’s bound to have an enormous impact on the course of the New Cold War in the continent, especially in regards to catalyzing the consolidation of a larger American-aligned anti-Chinese “containment” “camp” there. This might actually be more of a stabilizing development than a destabilizing one, however, so long as China seizes the moment to assemble its own economic coalition with Pakistan and Turkey, therefore creating a bipolar system of sorts for managing African affairs. Russia’s role in all of this is to “balance” between the two “blocs” in order to broker the ultimate convergence between them, one that would take advantage of its strategic partnerships with each party apart from the US and France in order to create a sustainable win-win platform for incorporating Africa into the emerging Multipolar World Order.
DISCLAIMER: The author writes for this publication in a private capacity which is unrepresentative of anyone or any organization except for his own personal views. Nothing written by the author should ever be conflated with the editorial views or official positions of any other media outlet or institution.
Andrew Korybko is an American Moscow-based political analyst specializing in the relationship between the US strategy in Afro-Eurasia, China’s One Belt One Road global vision of New Silk Road connectivity, and Hybrid Warfare.
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Normative documents for the delivery of goods (Ukraine)
Normative documents (Ukraine), which regulate the activities of companies for the transport of goods.
Instruction on the organization of customs control and customs clearance of international express- Sendings that are transferred (transferred) across the customs border of Ukraine . (Order of the State Customs Service of Ukraine 03.09.2007 N 728. Registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on September 21, 2007 for No. 1081/14348).
The procedure for completing customs declarations on the blank of a single administrative document a>. (Order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on May 30, 2012 No. 651. Registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on August 14, 2012 under № 1372/21684.)
Procedure for performing customs formalities in the implementation of transit movements </a >. (Order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on October 10, 2012 No. 1066. Registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on December 19, 2012 for No. 2120/22432.)
Regulations on the form of foreign economic contracts (contracts) </a >. (Order of the Ministry of Economy and European Integration of Ukraine on September 06, 2001 No. 201. Registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on September 21, 2001 for No. 833/6024).
Issues related to the use of customs declarations . (CABINET OF MINISTERS OF UKRAINE, DECISION No. 450 of May 21, 2012, Kiev).
The procedure for the performance of customs formalities in the course of customs clearance of goods using customs declaration on the form of a single administrative document . (Order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on May 30, 2012 No. 631. Registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on August 10, 2012 under No. 1360/21672.)
Eastern European Express – express delivery of goods, parcels, cargoes from China, USA, Europe to Ukraine
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Antoine César Becquerel
Antoine César Becquerel (7 March 1788 – 18 January 1878) was a French scientist and a pioneer in the study of electric and luminescent phenomena.
(1788-03-07)7 March 1788
18 January 1878(1878-01-18) (aged 89)
École Polytechnique
Differential Galvanometer
Copley Medal
Electricity, Electrochemistry
Note that he is the father of A. E. Becquerel, and the grandfather of Henri Becquerel.
LifeEdit
He was born at Châtillon-sur-Loing (today Châtillon-Coligny). After passing through the École polytechnique he became engineer-officer in 1808, and saw active service with the imperial troops in Spain from 1810 to 1812, and again in France in 1814. He then resigned from the army and devoted the rest of his life to scientific investigation.[1]
In 1820, following the work of René Just Haüy, he found that pressure can induce electricity in every material, attributing the effect to surface interactions (this is not piezoelectricity). In 1825 he invented a differential galvanometer for the accurate measurement of electrical resistance. In 1829 he invented a constant-current electrochemical cell, the forerunner of the Daniell cell. In 1839, working with his son A. E. Becquerel, he discovered the photovoltaic effect on an electrode immersed in a conductive liquid.[citation needed]
His earliest work was mineralogical in character, but he soon turned his attention to the study of electricity and especially of electrochemistry. In 1837 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, and received its Copley Medal for his various memoirs on electricity, and particularly for those on the production of metallic sulphurets and sulphur by electrolysis. He was the first to prepare metallic elements from their ores by this method. It was hoped that this would lead to increased knowledge of the recomposition of crystallized bodies, and the processes which may have been employed by nature in the production of such bodies in the mineral kingdom.[1]
In biochemistry he worked at the problems of animal heat and at the phenomena accompanying the growth of plants, and he also devoted much time to meteorological questions and observations. He was a prolific writer, his books including Traité de l'électricité et du magnétisme (1834–1840), Traité de physique dans ses rapports avec la chimie (1842), Elements de électro-chimie (1843), Traité complet du magnétisme (1845), Elements de physique terrestre et de meteorologié (1847), and Des climats et de l'influence qu'exercent les sols boisés et non boisés (1853). He died in Paris, where from 1837 he had been professor of physics at the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle.[1]
He became a correspondent of the Royal Institute in 1836, when that became the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1851, he became a foreign member.[2]
He was the father of the physicist A. E. Becquerel and grandfather of the physicist Henri Becquerel. His name is one of the 72 names inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.
List of works by Eugène Guillaume
A. E. Becquerel (his son)
Henri Becquerel, (his grandson)
Jean Becquerel (his great-grandson)
^ a b c Chisholm 1911.
^ "Antoine César Becquerel (1788–1878)". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Becquerel". Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 611.
Royal Society (brief biographical details)
Catholic Encyclopedia article
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antoine_César_Becquerel&oldid=898446833"
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Stephenson, Samuel Martin (DNB00)
←Stephenson, Robert
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 54
Stephenson, Samuel Martin
by Alexander Gordon
Stephenson, Thomas→
635772Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 54
Stephenson, Samuel MartinAlexander Gordon1898
STEPHENSON, SAMUEL MARTIN, M.D. (1742–1833), Irish presbyterian divine and physician, youngest son of James Stephenson, by his wife Margaret (Martin), was born in 1742 at Straidballymorris, parish of Templepatrick, co. Antrim. From the school of John Rankin, presbyterian minister at Antrim, he went to Glasgow University, where he was a pupil of William Leechman [q. v.] After being licensed in 1767 by Templepatrick presbytery he became master in the diocesan school at Monaghan, where for two years he lodged with Braddock, an apothecary. This gave him a taste for medicine, which he studied in Dublin and in Edinburgh (1773–6). Meanwhile he received a call in August 1773 from the congregation of Greyabbey, co. Down. His trial sermon, preached on 19 April 1774, was of doubtful orthodoxy, and he declined to subscribe the Westminster confession of faith. By a majority of one he was admitted on 31 May to ordination, and ordained by Bangor presbytery on 21 June (the date, 20 June, in report to synod, is wrong) 1774, reading a written declaration of his faith. On 12 June 1776 he graduated M.D. at Edinburgh, and practised gratuitously at Greyabbey, where his salary was 50l. besides regium donum. On 1 Aug. 1785 he resigned his charge, and was succeeded by James Porter [q. v.] Settling as a physician in Belfast, he obtained great distinction in his profession, revolutionising the treatment of fever cases. He founded, in conjunction with James McDonnell, M.D., the dispensary in 1792 and the fever hospital in 1797. He was also a zealous promoter of the (now Royal) Academical Institution which was opened 1 Feb. 1814. In recognition of his high character for public spirit and private charity, the general synod of Ulster in 1818 replaced his name on the ministerial roll, though he had exercised no clerical duties for over thirty years. In 1821 he resigned his public appointments in favour of his son, Robert Stephenson, M.D. (d. 1869). Latterly he amused himself with farming. He died on 13 Jan. 1833. He married Mary, daughter of James Armstrong, presbyterian minister of Portaferry, co. Down, and had a numerous family.#
He published: 1. ‘The Declaration of Faith,’ Belfast, 1774, 8vo; 2 edits. same year; reprinted, with title ‘Of Articles of Faith,’ [1822?], 8vo. 2. ‘A Review of the Reasons … and … Remarks upon a late Declaration of Faith,’ Belfast, 1775, 8vo. 3. ‘De Typho,’ Edinburgh, 1776, 8vo (graduation thesis). 4. ‘On the Linen and Hempen Manufactures of … Ulster,’ Belfast, 1808, 4to. 5. ‘An Historical Essay on the Parish … of Templepatrick,’ Belfast, 1825, 8vo. 6. ‘An Historical Essay on the Parish … of Greyabbey,’ Belfast, 1828, 8vo. The last two works are somewhat miscellaneous in character, but deserve credit as early examples of attention to Irish local antiquities.
[Bible Christian (Belfast), 1833, pp. 46 sq.; Irish Unitarian Mag. 1847, pp. 288 sq.; Reid's Hist. of Presbyterian Church in Ireland (Killen), 1867, iii. 337 sq.; Killen's Hist. of Congregational Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 1880, pp. 157, 215; Benn's Hist. of Belfast, 1880, ii. 161 sq.; Witherow's Hist. and Lit. Memorials of Presbyterianism in Ireland, 1886, ii. 187 sq.; Records of Gen. Synod of Ulster, 1897, ii. 507, 561.]
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The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Whitworth, Robert Percy
←Whitton, John
Whitworth, Robert Percy
Whyte, Hon. James→
1460479The Dictionary of Australasian Biography — Whitworth, Robert PercyPhilip Mennell
Whitworth, Robert Percy, was born in England in 1831. He landed in New South Wales in 1855, and, after a varied experience, joined the reporting staff of the Empire in Sydney. He was subsequently in Queensland, and in 1864 became connected with the Melbourne press. He wrote a successful farce, entitled Catching a Conspirator, in 1867, and assisted in compiling a series of colonial gazetteers.
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» WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? » SCIENTOLOGY PRINCIPLES
DIANETICS: UNDERSTANDING THE MIND
The Dianetics symbol uses the Greek letter delta as its basic form. The green stripes stand for growth, the yellow stripes are for life.
The four green stripes represent the four subdivisions of Man's urge to survive which are delineated in Dianetics.
Dianetics: dia (Greek) through, nous (Greek) mind or soul.
To understand exactly how Scientology is used, something should be known of the track of research L. Ron Hubbard traveled and the antecedent of Scientology—Dianetics.
Dianetics is a methodology which can help alleviate unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses (illnesses caused or aggravated by mental stress).
It is most accurately described as what the soul is doing to the body through the mind.
Prior to 1950, prevailing scientific thought had concluded Man’s mind to be his brain, i.e., a collection of cells and neurons and nothing more. Not only was it considered that Man’s ability could not be improved, but it also was believed that with the formation of his cerebral cortex, his personality was likewise irrevocably established. These theories were, however, inaccurate and as a consequence science has never evolved a workable theory of the mind nor a means to resolve problems of the mind.
L. Ron Hubbard changed all that with Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Its publication in 1950 marks a watershed in the history of Man’s quest for a true understanding of himself.
Like Scientology, Dianetics rests on basic principles, easily learned, clearly demonstrated as true and every bit as valid today as when they were first released in 1950.
In this portion of the website, you will become familiar with the basic concepts of Dianetics and how it works, the goal of Dianetics, and an understanding of the state of “Clear.”
Personal Integrity—by L. Ron Hubbard
Scientology Is New
The Goal of Life
Survival and the Mind
The Time Track
“Awakening” The Engram
The Solution to the Reactive Mind
The Clear
Attributes of Clear
More on Dianetics
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Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Lampa
From Wikisource
< Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)
←Wilhelm Lamormaini
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 (1913)
by Sophron Pétridès
Lamp and Lampadarii→
102864Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Lampa
(LAMPAE, LAPPA).
A titular see in Crete, suffragan of Gortyna, was probably a colony of Tarrha. It was taken by storm and almost entirely destroyed by the Romans. Augustus restored it and in consideration of the aid rendered him in his struggle with M. Antonius, he bestowed on the citizens their freedom, and with it the right of coinage. It has been identified with the modern small village of Polis. The episcopal see is mentioned in the "Notitiae episcopatuum" as late as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It was re-established by the Greeks about the end of the nineteenth century; the bishop resides in the monastery of Preveli. Lequien (Oriens Christianus, II, 268) mentions Petrus, who attended the Council of Ephesus, 431; Deneltius, at Chalcedon, 451; Prosdocius, in 458; John, who appealed to Rome against his metropolitan Paul, and attended the Council of Constantinople, 667; Epiphanius at Nicaea, 786.
SMITH, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, s.v. Lappa; CORNER, Creta sacra, I, 233, 235, 251.
S. Pétridès.
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CE biographies
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Xtreme Concepts No. 96 Susan G Komen Toyota Driven by Jeffrey Earnhardt Will Stand Out in Pink
Sep 29, 2018 Mark 0
Press Release (ePRNews.com) - CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sep 29, 2018 - No. 96 Xtreme Concepts Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt isn’t just racing for the checkered flag this season. Over the next several Races, beginning with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400, starting at 2 p.m. this Sunday, September 30, Earnhardt will also be joining Susan G. Komen®’s fight to save lives from breast cancer.
The “Fueled By Hope” No. 96 Toyota will definitely stand out in the field with its pink paint scheme, pink wheels, and clear challenge for everyone to text KOMEN to 50555 to help raise funds to support the world’s leader in breast cancer research and patient support.
For Xtreme Concepts and iK9 CEO Landon Ash, it’s personal, as he lost both parents to cancer. The car is a tribute to his late mother Suzanne Bashinsky, who passed from breast cancer in June 2010. The car also provides an opportunity to help the millions of people currently affected by the disease and to help fund research to end breast cancer for future generations.
It’s an honor running a Susan G Komen car to support their fight against breast cancer, which affects so many people,” says Earnhardt. “It’s awesome to help them in the fight for the cure. As a team, we want to show the same grit, hard work, and drive we have on the track in the important fight against breast cancer. We want to do all we can to make a difference in this battle, and I can’t wait to run this unique design in #96 this weekend.
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Driver, No. 96 Susan G Komen/Xtreme Concepts Pink Toyota
Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt is passionate about this initiative. “It’s an honor running a Susan G Komen car to support their fight against breast cancer, which affects so many people,” says Earnhardt. “It’s awesome to help them in the fight for the cure. As a team, we want to show the same grit, hard work, and drive we have on the track in the important fight against breast cancer. We want to do all we can to make a difference in this battle, and I can’t wait to run this unique design in No. 96 this weekend.”
More than 250,000 women in the U.S. are estimated to be initially diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. While rare, breast cancer can occur in men, as well, with an estimated 2,550 new cases this year.
The entire Gaunt Brothers Racing Team, Xtreme Concepts and iK9 crews will be supporting Komen and the people and families it supports throughout the weekend, including appearances, fan engagement, Facebook Live events, and other promotions.
About Xtreme Concepts
Xtreme Concepts Incorporated (www.xtremeconcepts.com), based in Birmingham, Alabama, is a worldwide leader in providing turnkey security solutions, special operations training and technology integration to Government agencies, Department of Defense and commercial entities on a global scale. Its sister company, iK9, LLC (www.iK9.com), is a comprehensive Canine Solutions provider for detection and service dogs, along with professional handler education.
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit outside of the federal government while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen has set a Bold Goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $988 million in breakthrough research and provided more than $2.2 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 60 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. That promise has become Komen’s promise to all people facing breast cancer. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at ww5.komen.org/social.
Eric Hartsock, 443-858-4437, ehartsock@exit10.com
Source : Xtreme Concepts
CATEGORIES : Homeland Security Non Profit
Tags : breast cancer Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval Gaunt Brothers Racing Jeffrey Earnhardt Landon Ash Marty Gaunt No. 96 Toyota Pink Toyota Susan G. Komen Xtreme Concepts
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Fidato Wealth Announces Christmas in July Supply Drive with Local Cleveland Charity 'Shoes and Clothes for Kids'
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Displaying 51 - 75 of 875 items.
L. R. Jones
R. L. Jones
Plan B: Emergency Contraceptive Pill
Plan B is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) that can be taken within seventy-two hours of unprotected sex in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Plan B was created in response to the United States Food and Drug Administration's (US FDA) 1997 request for new drug applications (NDAs) for a dedicated ECP product, and was approved for sales in the US in 1999. Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, manufactures Plan B for The Women's Capital Corporation (WCC), which owns the patent for Plan B.
"The Results of Operations for the Cure of Cancer of the Breast Performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from June, 1889, to January, 1894" (1894), by William Stewart Halsted
In 1894, William Stewart Halsted published The Results of Operations for the Cure of Cancer of the Breast Performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from June, 1889, to January, 1894, in the medical journal Annals of Surgery. In the article, Halsted describes the results from fifty of his operations on women with breast cancer, performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Those operations involved a surgical procedure Halsted called radical mastectomy, which consists in removing all of the patient’s breast tissue, chest muscle, and underarm lymph nodes.
China's One-Child Policy
In September 1979, China's Fifth National People's Congress passed a policy that encouraged one-child families. Following this decision from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), campaigns were initiated to implement the One-Child Policy nationwide. This initiative constituted the most massive governmental attempt to control human fertility and reproduction in human history. These campaigns prioritized reproductive technologies for contraception, abortion, and sterilization in gynecological and obstetric medicine, while downplaying technologies related to fertility treatment.
Subject: Ethics, Legal, Reproduction
David Edwin Wildt (1950- )
David Edwin Wildt developed and applied assisted reproductive technologies to conserve rare and endangered wildlife species in the US during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He advocated genome resource banks to help preserve biodiversity, and he advocated for practical ethics to guide wildlife reproductive biologists when they use technology and environmental planning. Wildt often focused on the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), but he researched greater than fifty vertebrate species.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
In the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court ruled that laws banning abortion violated the US Constitution. The Texas abortion laws, articles 1191–1194, and 1196 of the Texas penal code, made abortion illegal and criminalized those who performed or facilitated the procedure. Prior to Roe v. Wade, most states heavily regulated or banned abortions. The US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade secured women's rights to terminate pregnancies for any reasons within the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1890- )
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is a non-profit research institution that specializes in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, quantitative biology, and genomics. The organization is located on the shores of Cold Spring Harbor in Laurel Hollow, New York. The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences established the CSHL in 1890, to provide scientists with facilities to research Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory. The first mission of CSHL was biological science education.
Simat Corp v. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (2002)
In the 2002 case Simat Corp v. Arizona Health Care Containment System, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the Arizona Health Care Containment System must pay for abortions when they are necessary to preserve the health of pregnant women in the system. In the case, the Court ruled that the Arizona Revised Statutes 35-196.02 and the Arizona Health Care Containment System (AHCCCS) policies, which banned public funds from being used for abortions, were unconstitutional. AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid insurance system, which enables low-income residents to receive medical care.
Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood banks are institutions designed to store umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells. UCB, a source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), has garnered attention from scientific and medical communities since its first successful use in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in 1988. The umbilical cord is the lifeline by which the growing fetus is nourished by the mother. Once regarded as medical waste, the umbilical cord has become a source of lifesaving treatment.
Buck v. Bell (1927)
In 1927, the US Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell set the legal precedent that states may sterilize inmates of public institutions because the court argued that imbecility, epilepsy, and feeblemindedness are hereditary, and that the inmates should be prevented from passing these defects to the next generation. On 2 May 1927, in an eight to one decision, the US Supreme Court ordered that Carrie Buck, feebleminded daughter of a feebleminded mother and herself the mother of a feebleminded child, be sterilized under the 1924 Virginia Eugenical Sterilization Act. Buck v.
The Eugenics Record Office at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1910-1939)
From its founding in 1910 until it closed its doors in 1939, the Eugenics Record Office (ERO) at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York was the center of the American Eugenics Movement. Charles Davenport, a geneticist and biologist, founded the ERO, and served as its director until 1934. Under the direction of Davenport and his associate, superintendant Harry H. Laughlin, the influence of the ERO on science and public policy waxed during the early twentieth century until after World War II.
Endoscopy is a medical procedure that enables the viewing and biopsy of, and surgery on, internal tissues and organs. Endoscopic examinations are characterized by the introduction of a tube containing a series of lenses into the body through either an incision in the skin or a natural opening or cavity. During the mid-twentieth century, photographer Lennart Nilsson used endoscopes to capture the now-familiar images of embryos and fetuses.
Kurt Benirschke (1924-)
Kurt Benirschke studied cells, placentas, and endangered species in Germany and the US during the twentieth century. Benirschke was professor at the University of California in San Diego, California, and a director of the research department at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California. He also helped form the research department of the San Diego Zoo and its sister organization, the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species.
Humanae Vitae (1968), by Pope Paul VI
The "Humanae Vitae," meaning "Of Human Life" and subtitled "On the Regulation of Birth," was an encyclical promulgated in Rome, Italy, on 25 July 1968 by Pope Paul VI. This encyclical defended and reiterated the Roman Catholic Church's stance on family planning and reproductive issues such as abortion, sterilization, and contraception. The document continues to have a controversial reputation today, as its statements regarding birth control strike many Catholics as unreasonable.
Subject: Religion, Reproduction
Patrick Christopher Steptoe (1913-1988)
Patrick Christopher Steptoe was a British gynecologist responsible for major advances in gynecology and reproductive technology. Throughout his career Steptoe promoted laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows a view inside the abdominal cavity, successfully advancing its usefulness in gynecology. After partnering with embryologist Robert Edwards in 1966, the pair performed the first in vitro fertilization in humans.
Oregon State Board of Eugenics
In 1917 the Oregon State Legislature, in Salem, Oregon, passed a bill titled, 'To Prevent Procreation of Certain Classes in Oregon.' Passage of the bill created the Oregon State Board of Eugenics, an organization that presided over the forced sterilization of more than 2,600 Oregon residents from 1917 to 1981. In 1983, Legislation abolished the State Board of Eugenics, by that time called the Oregon State Board of Social Protection.
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC)
Established under the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Act of 2004, Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC), also known as the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada, was created in 2006 to oversee research related to reproductive technologies and to protect the reproductive rights and interests of Canadian citizens. AHRC serves as a regulatory body for the development and use of such research and technology while enforcing the guidelines and restrictions laid out by the AHR Act.
Isaacson v. Horne (2013)
In the 2013 case Isaacson v. Horne, the US Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit ruled that Arizona House Bill (HB) 2036, which prohibited abortions after twenty weeks of gestation, was unconstitutional. The Arizona State Legislature passed the law in 2012, which was then challenged by three physicians who filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law violated women's constitutionally protected rights to abortions, rights that may only be infringed once fetuses are viable outside of the womb.
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Mariana Mazzucato to give Robert Oakeshott Lecture in EOA40 year
Professor Mariana Mazzucato PHD will give the Employee Ownership Association’s (EOA) 2019 Robert Oakeshott Lecture – a key event in the 40th year of the EOA.
Mariana, a celebrated economist – named “one of the three most important thinkers on innovation” by the New Republic – advises policy makers around the world and is known for her strong challenge to rethink capitalism, through her books and articles, advisory roles and speaking engagements.
The theme of the lecture, which is being held on April 4, at International Students House, One Park Crescent, Regents Park, is titled Rethinking Value and Public Purpose: a mission-oriented approach and links to her latest book The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy.
EOA member Postlethwaite, an employee owned law firm specialising in all forms of employee share ownership, is supporting the lecture, which was established to commemorate and celebrate the life and legacy of EOA founder Robert Oakeshott after his death in 2011. The lecture, a key feature of the EOA40 celebrations, has previously featured Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley, Sacha Romanovitch and Will Hutton.
Mariana, is a professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL), and is Founder and Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP), which is dedicated to rethinking the role of public policy in shaping both the rate of economic growth and its direction – and training the next generation of global leaders to build partnerships that can address mission-oriented societal goals.
As a prelude to Mariana’s lecture there will be a speech by David Erdal, who worked closely with Robert Oakeshott on a number of employee ownership projects, including taking his family’s business Tullis Russell into employee ownership, ahead of becoming interim MD of Job Ownership Ltd (the EOA) when Robert retired in 1999. David has authored two books on employee ownership Local Heroes – the Story of Loch Fyne Oysters and Beyond the Corporation: Humanity working.
Deb Oxley OBE, CEO of the EOA, said: “I am delighted to have Mariana give the Robert Oakeshott Lecture in our milestone year. In her most recent book which talks about businesses that extract value rather than those that create value I can see synergies with some of the findings in the report the Ownership Dividend: the economic case for employee ownership; in particular employee owned businesses creating value by using their independent status to root jobs and investment in regions over the longer term.
“As the EOA celebrates 40 years of better business together we have our sights set on our target of three million employee owners by 2030, and supporting a new economic era where the impact of business on individuals, their families and their communities starts to work in the interest of the many, not the few.”
Robert Postlethwaite, founder of Postlethwaite, said: “We are delighted to support the lecture in this milestone year for the EOA and the EO sector.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from David Erdal on his links with Robert Oakeshott and the early days of employee ownership as well as gaining insight from Mariana’s lecture into how employee owned businesses can create value and support growth in the economy over the next 40 years.”
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Highlights from Mayor Garcetti’s 2019 State of the City Speech
Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered his 2019 State of the City address on Wednesday, April 17th at Lincoln High School in East Los Angeles. As the site where the Chicano Blowouts of 1968 began – a youth civil rights movement where 22,000 students walked out of LAUSD high schools to protest unequal conditions there – Lincoln High was an aptly symbolic setting for the Mayor’s speech, which focused heavily on the future of Los Angeles education.
Check out our summary below, or visit the Mayor’s website at LAmayor.org/state-city-2019 to read or watch the full speech.
Mayor Garcetti, who played a major role in negotiating the end of the LA teachers’ strike in January, stated that it is time “to stop complaining that our schools are underfunded – and actually fund them.” He detailed the many ways in which Measure EE, which will be on the ballot in June, can make a difference for LA schools, including reducing class sizes; staffing school libraries; providing full-time (rather than visiting) nurses on campus; adding more after-school and tech studies programs; and cutting counselor caseloads, to allow them to more fully support the students in their care. If approved by at least two-thirds of voters, Measure EE – which would add a 16 cents per square foot parcel tax for LA property owners – will annually generate an estimated $500 million for LAUSD revenues, for the 12 years that the tax will be in effect.
The Mayor also discussed a few other education-related proposals. One was to certify 2500 new early childhood educators by 2025, in order to close the school readiness gap for vulnerable students. He also set a goal to double the students participating in the College Promise program – provides tuition, student jobs, internships, and study abroad experiences to LA Community College students – from 5,000 to 10,000 by 2022. And the City has also committed to opening 25 additional Community School Parks by 2025, by providing funds and staffing that would keep school campuses open on weekends to be used as public parks.
Homelessness, Affordable Housing & Help for Low-Income Renters
LA’s plans to address its homelessness problem was another central topic in this year’s State of the City address. Mayor Garcetti noted that in the coming year, at least 15 new bridge housing projects would open across the City. And in fall of 2019, the first of the permanent supportive housing developments funded by Proposition HHH will open its doors. A total of 107 HHH-funded developments are in the pipeline, Garcetti said, which will together contain nearly 7,000 units for homeless and low-income Angelenos.
In addition, the City partnered with non-profit PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), to launch a program called LeaseUp with Measure H funds. Landlords can sign up on the program’s website at www.LeaseUpLosAngeles.org, where they will be matched homeless Angelenos (and support from local housing non-profits.)
And to help prevent the displacement that contributes to homelessness, the Mayor announced that the City is starting a new program where low-income LA renters can get free legal representation, if they are in danger of being illegally evicted from rent-controlled properties by landlords trying to get them out in order to raise the rent (please contact the Mayor’s Help Desk for more info about this forthcoming program).
“Plane Train” to LAX
$14 billion has been earmarked to improve infrastructure around LAX airport, the centerpiece of which is an Automated People Mover to take passengers straight to the terminals from surrounding parking lots, rental car agencies, and public transit. The Plane Train is expected to be completed and serving 30 million passengers a year by 2023, according to this project overview on the Mayor’s website.
Community Safety Partnership for LAPD
LAPD’s Community Safety Partnership program keeps officers in a community for five years, to allow them time to develop real relationships with the people they serve. During the coming year this program – which has already proven very successful in three LA neighborhoods – will be expanded to other parts of the City.
LA’s Green New Deal
Mayor Garcetti announced that LA would move ahead to implement its own local version of the Green New Deal that D.C. lawmakers have been considering, by building on the Sustainable City pLAn established four years ago. Points include:
A zero carbon buildings mandate, to ensure every public and private building in the City is emissions-free by 2050
A zero emissions transportation network, to provide more local charging stations and more alternatives to cars
A zero carbon electricity grid, with a goal of reaching 80% clean energy by 2036 and 100% by 2045
Commitment to a zero waste future, beginning with elimination of all single-use straws and styrofoam containers by 2028 and culminating in no trash being sent to landfills by 2050
100% wastewater recycling by 2035 (see an overview)
A new Jobs Cabinet, to create 300,000 new green jobs over the next 15 years
The Mayor said that his office will release the fully-fleshed out version of LA’s Green New Deal later this month.
Infographics courtesy of the LA Mayor’s Office
By Ann-Marie Holman|2019-07-08T11:09:24-07:00April 18th, 2019|Blog, City Hall, LAPD, LAUSD, Mayor / Mayor's Office, Public Safety, uncategorised|Comments Off on Highlights from Mayor Garcetti’s 2019 State of the City Speech
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Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 X
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Digest of Education Statistics 2013. NCES 2015-011
The 2013 edition of the "Digest of Education Statistics" is the 49th in a series of publications initiated in 1962. The Digest has been issued annually except for combined editions for the years 1977-78, 1983-84, and 1985-86. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American…
Descriptors: Elementary Secondary Education, Higher Education, Dropouts, Educational Finance
Youth with Special Education Needs in Justice Settings. NDTAC Fact Sheet
Read, N. W. – National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk, 2014
Many youth involved with the juvenile justice system have education-related disabilities and are eligible for special education and related services under the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In most cases, the rates of disabilities in the court-involved youth population are much greater than those in the general youth…
Descriptors: Juvenile Justice, Delinquency, Disabilities, Special Education
Disability Watch: The Status of People with Disabilities in the United States.
Kaye, H. Stephen – 1997
This report presents data in text and graphs on the situation of people with disabilities in the United States in the context of requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. An introduction identifies four reasons for the observed slow pace to compliance with disability-rights laws: (1) ignorance about what constitutes accessibility and…
Descriptors: Accessibility (for Disabled), Civil Rights Legislation, Compliance (Legal), Demography
Impact of the Civil Rights Laws.
Office for Civil Rights (ED), Washington, DC. – 1997
In the last 3 decades, Congress has enacted a number of civil rights statutes prohibiting discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. These statutes are: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting race, color, and national origin discrimination); Title IX of the Education Amendments of…
Descriptors: Access to Education, Civil Rights Legislation, Constitutional Law, Educational Discrimination
The 1998 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities.
Risher, Peter; Amorosi, Stacey – 1998
This publication provides statistical information from a nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans with disabilities, aged 16 and older, that was conducted in April and May of 1998. It is designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date measures in a number of areas, including: (1) the nature and severity of the disability; (2) participation in…
Descriptors: Adolescents, Adults, Assistive Devices (for Disabled), Attitudes toward Disabilities
Is the Status of People with Disabilities Improving?
Kaye, H. Stephen – Disability Statistics Abstract, 1998
This report discusses the findings of national surveys that show little evidence of improvement in the economic well-being of Americans with disabilities. Positive and negative findings include: (1) the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities aged 18-64 remained more or less constant, at about 52 percent between 1990 and 1994;…
Descriptors: Accessibility (for Disabled), Adults, Disabilities, Disability Discrimination
Annual Report of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to the President and to the Congress on Federal Activities Related to the Administration of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended. Fiscal Year 1990.
Rehabilitation Services Administration (ED), Washington, DC. – 1991
This annual report describes activities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) from October 1, 1989, through September 30, 1990. The report presents activities by each section under General Provisions and by each of seven Titles. An executive summary highlights specific activities. These include; continuation of Rehabilitation Services…
Descriptors: Compliance (Legal), Demonstration Programs, Disabilities, Employment
Digest of Data on Persons with Disabilities.
Ficke, Robert C. – 1992
This report summarizes existing data on persons with disabilities in narrative and tabular form. The first section considers definition and measurement of disability including such topics as activity limitation, functional limitation, special population groups and measures, chronic conditions, work disability, federal benefit programs, and state…
Descriptors: Chronic Illness, Daily Living Skills, Definitions, Disabilities
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'Blazing Saddles' at 40: A conversation with Mel Brooks
By Jeff Labrecque
Warner Bros./Courtesy of Getty Images
Blazing Saddles
When Mel Brooks demands a harumph, you give Mel Brooks a harumph.
Harumph, harumph, harumph!
After all, he’s carving time out of his day to speak about Blazing Saddles, the delirious western that is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special edition Blu-ray, out May 6. Time is of the essence: “I have people coming in to give me awards,” Brooks jokes. “Every 45 minutes, roughly, someone will knock on my door and give me the United Jewish something or other. I always get an award every day, some kind of award.”
Well, it’s good to be the king. And Mel Brooks has worn the crown well since Blazing Saddles, since The Producers, since Get Smart, since writing for Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows. But Blazing Saddles might be his zaniest movie ever, which is saying something. In 1874, a mustache-twirling villain (Harvey Korman) wants the valuable land that belongs to the white residents of Rock Ridge, so he names a black railroad worker who’s scheduled to be hanged (Cleavon Little) as their new sheriff. His plan backfires when the charming sheriff pairs up with a pickled old gunfighter (Gene Wilder), winning over the hearts, minds, and loins of the simple folk.
1974 was a different time — but even then, Brooks knew he was venturing into uncharted and possibly offensive territory. The film is punctuated with racial epithets, including multiple appearances of the n-word. For guidance, he relied on Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script. “Every time I said to Richard, ‘Can I use the n-word here?’ he said, ‘Yes,'” says Brooks. “I said, ‘Richard, it’s a little dangerous here.’ He said, ‘Yes.'”
Brooks thought Warner Bros. might bury the film and never release it — but somehow, it made its way into theaters and became a huge smash. “Blazing Saddles figured it out,” says Brooks. “It was the truth, and everybody raised the flag. They raised the flag and said, ‘We love it. We’re going. We’re going to see this movie over and over again,’ and they did.”
Click below for an exclusive clip from a new Blazing Saddles documentary, and an extensive interview with Brooks.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Blazing Saddles has been honored by the Library of Congress, and President Obama has waxed nostalgic about seeing it as a child. I’m guessing you didn’t envision such accolades when you made it.
MEL BROOKS: I envisioned a race riot. I thought everybody would come after me and kill me for what I said about the Chinese, and the blacks, and the Jews. I thought if this was shown in Waco, Texas, the whites would storm the screen and cut it to ribbons. Because we were kind of hoisting the black sheriff up on our shoulders and made him a hero. But Texas liked it as much as New York.
I’m trying to put myself into the shoes of the Warner Bros. execs, thinking about all the things they’re seeing in their 1974 mindset — whether it was the n-words or the “sissie-Marys,” or breaking the fourth wall on the lot at the end on the movie.
That was dangerous because I was asked by Warners — they said I can do everything you said, but they kept saying, “Don’t do the gay scene. Don’t break through the walls and do the gay scene. You’re crossing a line there.” I said, “Don’t be silly.” There’s always these musicals being shot at Warner Bros. with top hats and tails and dopiness, you know. I said, “It’s a good mixture of cowboys and gay chorus boys.” So I kept it all in. I had final cut.
How did you manage final cut on Blazing Saddles? Your first two movies were great films, but hardly box-office successes.
Jeff, I got final cut on The Producers, and I wouldn’t do any movie unless I got final cut. Because I knew — even on The Producers, even with final cut, I had big fights with the studio. They wanted to change 100 things. They wanted to — [laughs] they wanted to take out Hitler. Could you imagine? Take out Hitler? There’s no movie. Hitler is the driving force that makes the movie work.
Blazing Saddles epitomized what became known as a “Mel Brooks Movie,” an irreverent romp that broke all the rules. What led you to this type of wacky satire?
I just wanted to exorcise both my angels and demons. I said to all the writers, “Look, fellas, don’t worry, this movie will never get released. Never. [Warner Bros.] will see it and they’ll say, ‘Let’s bury it.’ So let’s go nuts. Let’s write things that we never would dare write.” And we did. There’s a few guys doing that now — Tarantino’s doing that. He’s not being politically correct or in any way correct. Getting Goering and Hitler and Goebbels and all of those guys into a movie house in Paris and setting it on fire. [Laughs] I mean, that’s so crazy. So I think I just let it all go. I said, “I’m not gonna f—ing worry about what they’re going to like or not like. It’s what I like and what I don’t like.”
Richard Pryor helped write the script, and you wanted him to play the sheriff, Bart. What did he bring to the film?
I was so lucky to get him, because he’s just funny in every way. He made a profound contribution to that script. He gave me some really beautiful 126th Street, St. Nicholas Ave. [Harlem] lines. I quit for three days because Warner Bros. wouldn’t [let me cast] Richard as Black Bart. Richard came over and said, “If I was the black sheriff, I could pass for Cuban because I’m coffee-colored. Now, this guy Cleavon Little: He’s classy, he has poise, and he’s really charming. But he’s black as coal. He will scare the s - - - out of them.” I said, “Okay, I’m coming back.”
In comedy, the rule of three often applies, but you blew past that in the bean-fueled campfire scene. How did you decide how many farts were the correct number of farts?
That’s a very good question. I had a rough cut, and maybe I had 16 farts. Things didn’t get exciting until the fourth or fifth one, and the laughter began to diminish around the 12th fart, so I said, “Okay, cut it off at 12.” I did it kind of systematically. I do a lot of homework.
Pound for pound, minute for minute, there are probably more laughs in Saddles than in any other movie ever made.
I think the AFI number one all-time comedy is Some Like It Hot, which I like. I thought it was really terrific. But it’s certainly not half as funny as Blazing Saddles. I mean, it can’t compare. When you limit your lists to comedies, Blazing Saddles should be first, second, third, and fourth. And then maybe Young Frankenstein should be fifth. That’s the way it should roll. Between me and you — you can print it — that’s why I didn’t do the AFI Man of the Year thing for a long time.
Our attitudes towards sex and violence in movies have grown less severe. You watch a movie like Dirty Harry or a Marilyn Monroe film, and they almost seem tame compared to what we see today. But with Hollywood comedy, we’ve gone in a different direction, in terms of political correctness. I don’t think you could make Blazing Saddles today.
Isn’t it strange? It could hardly be made then. Certainly not 10 years before then. And now it’s suddenly, it’s 40 years later, it cannot be made today. That’s weird. The prejudices or whatever, the restrictions, should have thoroughly diluted by now, and here we are — it’s amazing. We’re playing it safe. I don’t think the individual person is playing it safe, but I think the organizations — let’s call them television networks or studios — they’re playing it safe. They don’t want to get sued. They don’t want to lose the Latino endorsement or the black endorsement or the Jewish endorsement.
Would you still like to see Blazing Saddles on Broadway?
I’m still seriously thinking about. I think it’ll work. I’ve written a couple of songs already. I just have to talk to people like Susan Stroman and think about how to do it. I’d like to open it up in Houston or something. If it goes there, it will go anywhere.
Cleavon Little,
Gene Wilder,
Mel Brooks,
Madeline Kahn,
Harvey Korman,
Mel Brooks came up with one of the most famous horror movie taglines of all time
John Turturro's The Big Lebowski spin-off The Jesus Rolls set to strike in 2020
A critical conversation about Avengers: Endgame
The Losers' Club reunites in exclusive photos from It Chapter Two
Mel Brooks calls The Producers the 'miracle of my life'
Mel Brooks signs on for Blazing Saddles inspired animated feature
Seth Rogen says Beyoncé got a standing ovation at The Lion King premiere for 'just existing'
Ethan Hawke beautifully honors a doomed musician in Blaze: EW review
Oh Terry! Marlon Wayans says no deal in place yet for White Chicks sequel
EW's Best of Shows podcast: Better Things creator Pamela Adlon on 'adding to the #MeToo' conversation
Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke saddle up in trailer for Western The Kid
Watch Anna Kendrick take on the (prehistoric) patriarchy in exclusive Human Discoveries clip
Watch the first trailer for Rian Johnson's star-studded murder mystery Knives Out
Vanjie, Brooke Lynn Hytes discuss their romantic future in exclusive RuPaul's Drag Race clip
Podcast Interviews
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Feudal Endeavor
Current and Past Issues
1.1 (Winter 2017)
Volume 1, Issue 1: Introduction - Tolkien and the Medieval
“Pearl and The Lord of the Rings”
“The Melding of Anglo-Saxon Themes in The Lord of the Rings”
“The Medieval and the Modern in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings”
"Politically Driven or Out for Blood? A Closer Look at Grendel and Gollum as Villains"
Feudal Endeavor: Open Access Undergraduate Journal of Medieval Studies
“Politically Driven or Out for Blood? A Closer Look at Grendel and Gollum as Villains”
Ashley Donahoo
In examining deeper into the characteristics of villains, scholars and readers are able to analyze motivations and intentions of villains because of each character’s specific personal experience. The villain of the story tends to react appropriately to his or her past and current environment and is sometimes even damned by fate beyond control. Here, I analyze the motivations and morals of villains from Lord of the Rings and Beowulf. Specifically, I look closer at Grendel and Gollum in order to uncover their true motivations and reasonings for their presence in each story. In comparing these two specific characters it is clear that both Grendel and Gollum derived from human-like creatures, making them relatable to both the protagonists of their respective texts and the readers. In doing this, we can see that both of the characters are doomed by fate they cannot control, yet continue to survive and attempt to live out their damned lives.
Grendel is damned to a life of misery due to his ancestor, Cain, and survives with his mother peacefully in the wetlands of Scandinavia. It is not until Grendel feels as if his territory is threatened (due to the noise and music that echoes from Heorot) that he puts up a fight against the happy and cheerful hall and is understood to be a bloodthirsty villain. However, if readers consider the history of Grendel and his uncontrolled fate, it may reveal new interpretations as to how the villain can be perceived. Comparing this to Gollum, the one Ring controls Gollum’s destiny, even when his inner Sméagol tries to reason with himself. Throughout Gollum’s adventure with Frodo and Sam, he has many moral arguments with himself over what he wants and what is meant for him. Though he struggles with emotion and misses his life as a Stoor Hobbit, he internally understands the destiny that has already been set for him. In analyzing Grendel’s and Gollum’s motivations, it is significant for readers to reflect on each character’s role in their stories with sympathy in order to truly understand their desires. This argument is significant because it changes the dynamic of the story for the readers, allowing a closer observation of each character’s motivations and histories. Instead of viewing the villain as evil and murder-driven, imagining them in a human manner allows readers to sympathize with their motivations. Instead of the traditional mindset of hero vs. villain, readers can consider each character’s role within the setting allowing sympathy for their motivations.
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem that tells the story of a Geat warrior who travels to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes. A monster known as Grendel has targeted Hrothgar’s mead hall, Heorot, and Beowulf is the soldier the king relies upon to save them. Grendel is introduced in Beowulf as a “grim spirit called Grendel, / mighty stalker of the marshes, who held / the moors and fens; this miserable man / lived for a time in the land of giants, / after the Creator had condemned him / among Cain’s race- when he killed Abel / the eternal Lord avenged that death. / No joy in that feud- the Maker forced him / far from mankind for his foul crime” (ll. 102-110). Scholars most commonly debate the characteristics of Grendel and work to prove either his more monstrous or human-like characteristics. However, the history and ancestors of Grendel show that he is descended from the biblical Cain, and therefore possesses internal humanoid emotions. Within the translated description of Grendel’s history, the author uses words such as “mankind” and “man,” proving that Grendel has himself descended from man. The author then includes: “From thence arose all misbegotten things, / trolls and elves and the living dead, / and also the giants who strove against God / for a long while- He gave them their reward for that” (111-114). Therefore, it was through Grendel’s human ancestry that he became damned and monstrous. Due to the actions and history of others, Grendel is faced with hate and exile beyond his control. However, as noted in Norma Kroll’s article “‘Beowulf’: The Hero as Keeper of Human Polity,” it can be argued that Cain’s destruction of Abel “provides the moral pattern that is inherited by every man and woman in all times and places” (118). What cannot be denied are the human characteristics that remain in Grendel’s DNA; as Chih-chiao Joseph Yang points out: “In this sense, they are humans; they are considered ‘different’ only because their ancestors have been expelled from human society” (5).
Grendel’s life is set in Scandinavia, where he dwells the wetlands of Heorot. Within Brent Nelson’s article “Cain-Leviathan typology in Gollum and Grendel”, he argues that Grendel, “[m]arked by the guilt of his associated violence…is a wandering outcast living in everlasting exile from human society” (468). As a result of Grendel’s curse, he especially despises light, music, and noise. John Halverson claims that the characters in Beowulf mold to their world, leaving their relationships crucial to the story: “Such fears arise from the condition of the real world, or if more deeply embedded in the human psyche, they are at least activated and amplified by the condition of the world” (601). Grendel proves to be envious and angry with mankind. As pointed out by Yang, “they do not choose it themselves. Being ‘banished and accursed’ (1267), they are forced to leave the human world” (4). After considering Grendel’s loneliness and shame from exile, readers are able reconsider the effect that Heorot hall has on his existence. The contrast of the happiness and joy of the hall right outside Grendel’s gloomy and dark home can help readers better understand the sorrow that Grendel feels. Yang claims, “Like an alienated boy jealous of the joy in company and annoyed by the revels in Heorot, he finally goes on a rampage, breaking the harmony of the human society that excludes him” (5). Grendel had been a marsh-dweller for centuries before Beowulf arrives at Heorot and feels as if his dark territory is threatened by celebrations from the hall. Grendel has lived in his territory long before presence of human societies, and though he is exiled from humanity, he is left to deal with the noise and disruption that the humans put upon him.
The differences in motivations to attack can be analyzed through both Grendel and Beowulf. I will take a closer look at Yang’s argument regarding the morality of Beowulf versus Grendel in order to examine the comparison further. In Yang’s article, he argues that Beowulf proves to be even more monstrous and villainous than the three villains present in the poem. Yang claims that the three antagonists of Beowulf “possess more human characteristics than the hero” (1). He touches upon an important consideration, proving how Beowulf is portrayed in a super human way, allowing readers to compare his super strength and combat to Grendel’s. Yang explains that the poet of Beowulf intentionally gives the villains unique characteristics, leaving readers to sympathize with them as individuals. He argues that throughout the duration of the poem, the three antagonists simply protect their rights and territories from human beings and outside elements. Because these characters are damned and forced to live miserable lives, they separate and protect themselves from other characters. Yang reminds readers how both Grendel and his mother are descendants of Cain, proving that they are human-like, yet damned by fate. I believe by comparing and contrasting Grendel to Beowulf in the poem, readers will be able to identify Grendel’s more human characteristics. I do not agree that Beowulf turns evil and monstrous himself by the end of the poem. Instead, I would argue that the idea of glory and recognition is what leads Beowulf to his destiny, rather than villainous aggression.
In comparison to Grendel’s fate being beyond his control, Gollum within Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings proves fated by a single factor: the Ring. Throughout the series, the Ring works to control all of existence and dominates any other powers or plans. Sméagol’s friend, Déagol, discovers the Ring at the bottom of a river while fishing with Sméagol on his birthday. Sméagol is a Stoor hobbit, who live near a river and enjoy swimming and sailing. When Déagol shows Sméagol the Ring, Sméagol’s fate is changed forever and is controlled by the power of the Ring. Sméagol is immediately compelled to kill his friend in order to keep the Ring for his own, which he calls “precious.” Brent Nelson states, “Smeagol and Deagol are not biological brothers, but the rhyming of their names suggest kinship of some kind. They are at least brothers in a figurative sense, and the results are the same as in the Genesis story: the profound guilt of the murderer, his exile, and a subsequent growth of wickedness” (467). The history of Sméagol reveals that he was born into a powerful Hobbit family and that he had always had an eye for adventure and the world around him. Now with the possession of the Ring, Sméagol attempts to go on with his everyday life, but is faced with the effects of the Ring on his fate. After he discovers that the Ring will make him invisible, he moves to thievery and other villainous acts out of greed. He becomes suspicious of all the Hobbits around him and starts to gurgle a “gollum” sound in his throat as he praises his Ring. Because of Sméagol’s new personality, his clan of Hobbits grows to fear and dislike him and eventually drive him out of the community.
Now named Gollum, he adapts to the powers of the Ring. He is faced with a crippling loneliness and sense of betrayal from his initial clan. In Robin Robertson’s article, she argues, “As he wanders alone, feeling deeply sorry for himself over his mistreatment by his fellow Hobbits, Gollum’s tendency to look toward the dark rather than the light increases” (95). He becomes dependent on the Ring, and starts to despise the light of day. Due to his knowledge of water, Gollum is able to catch and eat raw fish for nutrients and attempts to run further away from light and warmth. He heads toward the Misty Mountains and imagines that beneath them awaits a cool and dark place he could call his own. Nelson connects Gollum’s territory to that of Grendel’s, stating, “Gollum occupies a similar place, both socially and scenically, to that of Grendel. Water is a dominant theme in Gandalf’s account of Gollum’s history with the ring” (475). This idea links Gollum’s and Grendel’s habitats to that of their curse, contrasting the dark and wet to the light and warm. This works to show readers how the curse affects each villain and the ways they live. Instead of striving for happiness and light, they learn to hate it all together and instead aim for cold, wet, and dark environments. Nelson reminds readers why wetlands are a fitting territory for these villains: “It is a place that is horrifying and repulsive to land creatures, but comfortable for the monsters and tolerable only for the superlative hero” (472). For six hundred years, Gollum dwells in the caves of the Misty Mountains, until Bilbo changes the course of fate. As Gandalf initially informs Frodo regarding Gollum’s feelings toward the Ring: “He hated it and he loved it, as he hated and loved himself” (70).
Bilbo first meets Gollum at a pool surrounded by darkness, described as dripping and creepy. Bilbo is attempting to escape from Orcs through the Orc-mines beneath the mountains when he becomes lost. While wandering through the mines Bilbo spots a shiny, gold ring on the floor, which he picks up and puts into his pocket. As he continues to wander, he reaches where Gollum lives. Robertson reminds readers that, at this time, “Gollum has degenerated to such a point that no one would ever recognize him as being a Hobbit. After all this time cut off from the light of the sun, he is totally grey, with large, bulging eyes that help him to see in the darkness” (96). Instead of killing and eating Bilbo right away because of his handheld sword, Gollum offers to test his chances with a riddle game. Gollum follows through with his riddle game without breaking or disrespecting his part of the deal: “This riddle game is a reminder that there is still a Hobbit alive somewhere in Gollum, for Hobbits love riddles, and the riddle game is respected by all creatures. The riddle game is life’s attempt to call back Gollum from the depths to which he has sunk. It is a reminder that he was once a Hobbit, and that there are rules that are respected by all—even by him” (Robertson 96). Though Gollum is introduced as unrecognizable as a Hobbit, his understanding and respect for the rules of the riddle game allow readers to consider his remaining morals and motivations. Gollum could have gone against his word and attacked Bilbo after he had won; however, he followed through with his responsibility to Bilbo. It soon becomes clear to Gollum that Bilbo is in possession of his precious, which is the point where he can no longer follow through with his bargain and springs to attack the fleeing Bilbo. Though Gollum attempts to attack Bilbo, it proves to be a defense of territory and possessions. Instead of portraying a vicious villain through his introduction, Gollum proves to be a somewhat reasonable villain when faced with danger, considering his riddle game and initial resistance to attacking Bilbo.
After two years of building strength, Gollum sets out to hunt down his precious through caves and dark forests, still avoiding any sign of light and society. With help that could have come from the call of the Ring, Gollum manages to follow Frodo and the Fellowship on their journey. As Robertson points out, “Sam and Frodo see Gollum differently. Sam sees him through realistic eyes and knows he’s a villain and not to be trusted. Frodo sees past the creature Gollum has become to the Hobbit he once was, and might be again. We all have to find the right balance between justice and mercy” (102). The perspective of both Frodo and Sam prove important due to the portrayal of Gollum to the readers. Given the reactions of the two characters, readers are better able to consider Gollum’s potential and inner battles. After Gollum attempts to attack the sleeping Frodo and Sam, he is consumed by darkness due to his pain and shrieks with the pain caused by the Elven rope. Gollum agrees to serve Frodo as his master after learning of his possession of the Ring and appears to change in front of their eyes. As Nelson points out, “In Tolkien’s depiction, he becomes instead a petty tyrant, a Leviathan on a small scale who manipulates a close personal relationship. His breach of this oath results in the most intense struggle of his divided self, pitting Sméagol, the voice of pre-fallen conscience, against Gollum and his Cain-like desire” (478). Gollum agrees to lead Sam and Frodo through the dead marshes that he knows so well and eagerly presses on. The effect of showing the readers how Gollum functions with the Hobbits allows a clear comparison of his damned life to the carefree life they embody.
Instead of blaming his master for the lack of food, Gollum travels in the dark of night on his own in search of muddy grubs and snacks. He rightfully returns to Frodo, as he is expected, after he has satisfied his natural need for food. When the group is approached by Black Riders, Gollum is thrown back into worry and fear, reminded of the fate laid out for him. As Robertson mentions, “The passage of the Black Rider has reminded Gollum that his fear of Sauron is greater than his momentary loyalty to Frodo. Though, for a while, Frodo’s kindness transformed him back into at least a semblance of the Hobbit that he once was, he now adopts a phony, friendly tone” (105). Sam is the first to witness Gollum’s inner battles as he argued with himself as if he was speaking to a different person. Readers are able to see the two sides directly debate their morals, emphasizing the hold and control that the Ring has on Gollum’s fate. As Robertson brings up, “The fact that such a moral argument can go on inside Gollum shows that he has not become totally evil. The fact that the evil side wins the argument shows, unfortunately, that even Frodo’s kindness is not enough to save Gollum from himself” (106). Alhough Gollum plans to lead Frodo and Sam through a path of a promised death, he finds that he brings them to the only path there is to complete the quest. Inside Shelob’s lair, Gollum informs Shelob about her upcoming snack and returns to fetch Sam and Frodo. At the sight of the two Hobbits sleeping, Gollum suffers yet another moral conflict: “Very cautiously he touched Frodo’s knee—but almost the touch was a caress. For a fleeting moment, could one of the sleepers have seen him, they would have thought that they beheld an old weary Hobbit, shrunken by the years that had carried him beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing” (323). As emphasized by Robertson, “For one brief moment, Gollum might have redeemed himself. But if he had, perhaps then he would not have fulfilled his destiny—the destiny tied so deeply to the fate of the Ring” (109). From the very start, Sméagol’s fate had been decided by the Ring. Although his conscious challenges and battles this fate, there is no altering its path or plan for each character.
At the top of Mount Doom, Frodo and Sam have finally reached the only element that can destroy the one Ring. As we see the hero fall into temptation over the Ring, fate works its way out to reveal Gollum’s destiny. Robertson reminds readers, “Before the Quest had properly begun, Gandalf speculated that Gollum would play some role in it, whether for good or for evil, he did not know. And so Gollum did play a role, a central role, both for good and for evil” (110). Not only does Gollum step in take the ring, he takes it in the natural way that he knows: to bite it off. Though Gollum is acting through selfishness, he completes the quest and therefore saves Middle Earth. Nelson works to connect the fates of both Grendel and Gollum, mentioning, “At this final moment, both Frodo and Gollum are implicated as Grendel figures (Gollum the cannibal and Frodo the dismembered) who represent a struggle with evil that afflicts all characters who come within the reach of the ring. In Beowulf the Ring is a device of social order and cohesion, associated with the fully digitated hand that builds comitatus” (479-480).
Analyzing the motivations of both Grendel and Gollum can work to change the story’s meaning from the simple “good vs. evil” to more of a humanized political battle. Instead of viewing the story as villains against heroes, it proves important to consider the true feelings and intentions of the villains. Although authors such as Michael Drout remind scholars that they frequently get lost in the idea that “the monsters are us” (5), it is significant to view the story through a different perspective. As a reader, the audience is more likely to sympathize with the protagonist of the story and deem the antagonist as evil. However, considering the villains’ history and inner feelings adds a different dynamic to the story that helps to understand the nature of each character. Robertson brings attention to an important topic: “Gollum, flawed as he was, fulfilled his destiny; he played the role of villain in order that heroes might live” (110). By attempting to sympathize with the antagonists, readers are able to grasp a different approach to the judgment they set upon them: “Tolkien acknowledges Grendel’s status as an enemy of God but contends that he is very much a denizen of this world. In his own monster Tolkien has made explicit what he misses in the subtlety of Grendel: the monster that is within, an inner struggle with a divided self” (Nelson 1).
Beowulf. New York: Dover Publications, 1992. Print.
Drout, Michael D. C. “‘Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics’ Seventy-Five Years Later.” Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R.Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature 30.1-2 (2011): 5-22. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Halverson, John. “The World of Beowulf.” ELH 36.4 (1969): 593-608. JSTOR. Web. 2 Apr. 2017.
Kroll, Norma. “”Beowulf“: The Hero as Keeper of Human Polity.” Modern Philology 84.2 (1986): 117-29. JSTOR. Web. 5 Apr. 2017.
Nelson, Brent. “Cain-Leviathan Typology in Gollum and Grendel.” Extrapolation 49 (2008): 466-485. Academic OneFile. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
Robertson, Robin. “Seven Paths of the Hero in Lord of the Rings: The Path of Tragic Failure.” Psychological Perspectives 52.1 (2009): 93-110. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. 50th Anniversary ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004. Print.
Yang, Chih-chiao Joseph. “Humanizing the Monsters: A Schematic Reading of Beowulf.” Tamkang Review 44 (2013): 3-24. Academic OneFile. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
Previous: “The Medieval and the Modern in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings”
Feudal Endeavor: Open Access Undergraduate Journal of Medieval Studies by Kisha G. Tracy, Editor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
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Home > Football Predictions > Primera Division Predictions > Athletic Bilbao – Valencia
Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia PREDICTION & BETTING TIPS - 04/10/2015
Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia Prediction was posted on: September 28, 2015
Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
After collecting the first 3 points in the Champions League against Lyon with a 0-1 victory Valencia will have to travel towards Bilbao where Athletic de Bilbao will host the 7th round of the Primera Division. The last 4 games between both teams end in a draw with only 6 goals in total. Athletic de Bilbao didn't start the national league as expected with only 1 victory in the first 6 games. Valencia on the other hand is placed 8th which is quiet disappointing for a team with a certain amount of quality. Both teams played played in a European competition which will affect their performance.
Highlighted Team (Valencia):
Founded on March 18, 1919, Valencia FC are a Spanish football club that compete in La Liga. Los Che play their home games at Estadio de Mestalla, the stadium which was opened back in May, 1923. The capacity of the venue is 50,000. Seeing that bats are quite common in Valencia, it is no surprise they are nicknamed the Bats.
Valencia made it to the Champions League final on two occasions (2000, 2001), but they were beaten in the title games by Real Madrid and Bayern Munchen respectively. The Spanish club, though, did well to win the UEFA Cup title in the 2003/2004 season, with the team beating Marseille in the final of the competition.
A number of top-class footballers were part of the club in the past, with the likes of Pablo Aimar, Ruben Baraja, David Albelda, Santiago Canizares, John Carew and Gaizka Mendieta all playing for the Estadio de Mestalla outfit. Valencia main colors are white and black, whilst they often where orange jerseys and shorts when playing on the travels.
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You are here: Home / News / Watford head coach Gracia unsure if goalkeeper Gomes will retire after FA Cup final
Watford head coach Gracia unsure if goalkeeper Gomes will retire after FA Cup final
Watford head coach Javi Gracia insists he does not know if goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will retire after the FA Cup final.
The 38-year-old had looked set to hang up his gloves after the clash with Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
Gomes – who said in March he was “99 percent sure” he would retire this summer – is expected to start the final having been Gracia’s preferred goalkeeper throughout the competition, deputising for Premier League first-choice Ben Foster.
Ben Foster has been Watford’s number one in the Premier League (Nigel French/PA)
Although Gracia would not be drawn on who will be picked to keep out the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, and Bernardo Silva, he said that if Gomes does play it would not necessarily be his farewell appearance for the Hornets.
“First of all, I don’t know if it will be the last game,” he said when asked about whether Gomes would keep his place.
“I would like to speak with him and the club and see if he is able to carry on next season, we have to speak about that.
“We will see, the keeper on Saturday, I don’t like to speak about it.
“I only focus on the game and try to choose the best keeper for the game, after that we will see what happens in the future.”
Gracia conceded he has already selected his side for just the second FA Cup final in Watford’s history – but admits there could be late changes if a player is particularly impressive in training over the next few days.
“Yes, I have decided,” he said of his starting XI.
“Always you can change something but when you prepare the game, I was thinking about it many days ago, and I think about how it is better to defend, better to attack and the players who are better to do that.
“At the end, you can change because I have different options, I want them all to play the final but that is not possible.”
Filed Under: News Tagged With: coach, Watford
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PoliticsVideos
Senator Rand Paul Pushes To End Indefinite Detention - Is He Being Blocked By SC Senator Lindsey Graham?
Tim Brown June 8, 2018 2k Views
As Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) continues to push to remove the unconstitutional indefinite detention of American citizens, sources say that he is secretly being blocked by South Carolina US Senator Lindsey Graham.
None of this should come as a surprise from those following this site. As we reported years ago when indefinite detention was a hot item in the alternative media but not in the mainstream media, Graham advanced the idea that those suspected of terrorism, even if they were an American citizen would not get a lawyer.
Take a look at this brief interview with Graham and let his own words speak for themselves.
That interview came in response to Graham's own words on the Senate floor.
Paul has been arguing for years that this kind of behavior is a violation of the rights that are supposed to be protected under the Sixth Amendment.
The Kentucky senator has also been pushing for an amendment to end this unlawful conduct by the federal government in a "must-pass" defense legislation authorizing Pentagon spending that would repeal a 2012 provision giving the president the ability to indefinitely detain anyone based on the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).
However, Breitbart reports that sources believe that Senator Graham is secretly blocking that amendment.
...sources suspect that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is secretly blocking the amendment from being included in a package of GOP amendments that would be voted on and attached to the defense bill, since its inclusion requires consent from all senators.
“It is inconceivable that in 2018, a senator would block language to prevent indefinite detention of Americans. What happened to the rule of law? Lindsey Graham should own up to this and explain to innocent Americans why he’s fine with detaining them indefinitely,” said a senior Senate aide.
Breitbart News reached out to Graham’s office to confirm whether it was true, but did not receive a response on that specific question.
Graham, a retired colonel, has in the past supported the ability to indefinitely detain those captured under the current AUMF and has opposed limits on the president’s ability to conduct war.
As for Paul, he bases his stand upon the Constitution alone. The Sixth Amendment reads:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
In other words, one must be proven guilty of a crime, not assumed guilty of an alleged crime before being punished. Graham is providing the very opposite of this.
“Giving the accused their day in court isn’t a suggestion,” Paul stated in 2017. “It’s enshrined in our Constitution as a cornerstone of our judicial system. My bill reminds our government that the Founders did not put an expiration date on the Sixth Amendment.”
He's exactly right, and when politicians think they can jump the words of the Constitution based on a twisted version of their understanding of it, then they are attacking the very Constitution they swore to uphold.
Paul is not alone though in his demand for an amendment to the AUMF. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has voiced his support for such an amendment.
“America should never waiver in vigilantly pursuing those who would commit, or plot to commit, acts of treason against our country,” Lee said. “But the federal government should not be allowed to indefinitely imprison any American on the mere accusation of treason without affording them the due process guaranteed by our Constitution.”
These men should be heard, but much of the mainstream, state-controlled media is in lock step with tyrants in DC rather than upholding the Constitution.
Let's hope the people back men like Rand Paul and Mike Lee as they are seeking to stand for our rights and the law of the land that limits the federal government.
Previous 50 Years After RFK Was Killed, Here are 5 Reasons Why His Own Son Doesn’t Believe the Official Story
Next Teacher Forced To Resign Over A Name
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Home Multi News Amazing News Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee Passes Away
Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee Passes Away
Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee Passes Away. Former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday. Who was undergoing treatment in New Delhi hospital at the age of 93 years old, Indian media report.
According to the Indian media reports, Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was suffering from chronic kidney infection and chest congestion since 2009.
He was under treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences since June.
During Vajpayee’s last days, Indian PM Narendra Modi and other leaders also visited him at the hospital and inquired about his health.
Vajpayee first became PM of India for only 16 days — May 16-31, 1996. He was reelected for prime minister-ship in March 1998, where he remained in the office until May 13, 2004.
The former Indian premier was born in 1924 in Gwalior and was among the founding members of the Bhartiya Janata Party.
Vajpayee had taken retirement from politics in 2005. Four years on, he suffered a stroke that eventually led to dementia as well.
Previous articlePakistan’s Hamza Akbar waiting for Indian visa to participate in snooker championship
Next articleAustralian teen sparks FBI action after hacking Apple: media
Saudi crown prince to visit France in whirlwind global tour
Alina Uzma - April 20, 2018
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Missing Children/Torture/Rape/Satanic Ritual Abuse (Moderator: egypt) »
FBI Investigating Dem Senator Menendez For Sex with Underage Dominican Hookers
Author Topic: FBI Investigating Dem Senator Menendez For Sex with Underage Dominican Hookers (Read 23912 times)
http://www.humanevents.com/2013/01/25/fbi-reportedly-investigating-top-dem-senator-for-sex-with-underage-dominican-hookers/
Now we find out that the FBI has been investigating top Democratic Senator Bob Menendez for having sex with underage Dominican hookers
Barack Obama, former Dem Governor Jon Corzine and Senator Bob Menendez
The Daily Mail reported:
Documents published online for the first time Thursday indicate that the FBI opened an inquiry into New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez on August 1, 2012, focusing on repeated trips he took to the Dominican Republic with longtime campaign contributor and Miami eye doctor Salomon Melgen. TheDC reported in November that Menendez purchased the service of prostitutes in that Caribbean nation at a series of alcohol-fueled sex parties.
http://viralread.com/2013/01/25/melgen-donates-nearly-200k-to-dems/
Dr. Salomon Melgen Donates Nearly $200K to Dems
Dr. Salomon Melgen, now currently under investigation by the FBI alongside Sen. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) for their alleged activities with underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic, is no stranger to both current and former Democrat Senators -
FEC records show that “America’s Most Compassionate Doctor” has donated over $193,000 in support of Democrats in the Senate and other Congressional candidates, and PACs.
Melgen contributed to some very notable campaigns including:
Hillary Clinton for President
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
http://www.voxxi.com/dr-salomon-melgen-recognized-with-life-time-achievement-award/
Dr. Salomon Melgen received lifetime achievement award
National Hispanic leader and philanthropist, Dr. Salomon Melgen received the ”Lifetime Honorary Member Award,” from the Dominican Healthcare Association of Florida, during the fundraiser Gala “Noche en Honor al Médico Dominicano” at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla., Friday night.
VOXXI chairman and co-Founder, Melgen was honored on the basis of his professional achievements, personal contribution to the association and service to the community at large.
“The journey to get here tonight has not been an easy one. When I came to the United States from the Dominican Republic, I faced many challenges. I did not speak the language and I was also discriminated against for being Hispanic,” said Melgen, during his acceptance speech. “But when one door closes, another one opens. We must learn how to fight and be persistent. It is the only secret to success in life.”
And success he’s had in everything he’s set his mind and heart to.
Soon after completing his training at Harvard University in 1986, Melgen, who was born and raised in Dominican Republic and experienced first hand the struggles of being an immigrant, became the first surgeon to perform outpatient retina surgery in South Florida, and became a pioneer in laser therapy.
In 1988, the doctor founded Vitreo Retinal Consultants, which at the time was affiliated to Harvard Medical School’s Schepens Eye Research Institute (the largest independent eye research institute in the United States). Together they conducted successful research leading to the use of the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO), which became the basis of the development of instruments that are currently utilized to diagnose and treat retina-related diseases.
“He’s well recognized not only in Florida, but in the whole country for his treatments for eye diseases,” said Daisy J. Baez, founder and executive director of the Dominican Health Care Association, who added that, with the award, they wanted to recognize Melgen’s significant contributions to the medical profession as well as express gratitude for his support to the association.
“Dr. Melgen attended our very first meeting,” Baez said. “He listened to our ideas and provided encouragement, feedback and guidance. He made us believe our cause was worthy and his input has been always very valuable.”
Patient’s interests at heart
Beyond his pioneering work in the medical field, what sets Melgen apart from most other doctors is that he places the patient’s interest at heart, which has earned him four times the award as one of the United States’ most compassionate doctors.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/25/emails-show-fbi-investigating-sen-bob-menendez-for-sleeping-with-underage-dominican-prostitutes/
Emails show FBI investigating Sen. Bob Menendez for sleeping with underage Dominican prostitutes
The documents, which The Daily Caller had obtained hours earlier from an anonymous source, also indicate that Carrie Levine, research director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), was alerted on April 9, 2012 to Menendez’s habit of paying for sex while outside the United States
http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/25/emails-show-fbi-investigating-sen-bob-menendez-for-sleeping-with-underage-dominican-prostitutes/2/
With an interviewer asking her to identify a photograph of Menendez, the unnamed woman replies, “I don’t need to look again. I’m quite sure this is Bob Menendez, the friend of Salomon Melgen I had sexual relations with. I had sexual relations with him several times and I can’t forget his face.”
“I actually met him as Bob,” she says in the transcript. “Then I knew who he was, that he’s a Senator in the United States and that his name is Bob Menendez.”
Asked how often she had sex with the senator, she replies, “In 2009 I saw Bob three times at least. The first one in February, and then in May and June. I recall his visit in June so well because that month was my 17th birthday. Then we met twice one in May 2010 and then in December 2011. … I was underage when I met him. But I can’t say for sure whether he knew it or not.”
She is identified in the transcript as “young participant #2.”
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18.
The PROTECT Act, a U.S. law passed in 2003, made it a federal crime for Americans to engage in sex for money with anyone under 18, even in countries where the age of consent is lower.
CREW executive director Melanie Sloan told TheDC on Thursday evening that her organization shared the allegations it received with federal law enforcement
larsonstdoc
Re: Re: FBI Investigating Top Dem Senator For Sex with Underage Dominican Hookers
Shameless---a 58 year old having sex with teenagers.
He must have ticked off some of his handlers--Luciferian NWO Scum in DC and London.
I'M A DEPLORABLE KNUCKLEHEAD THAT SUPPORTS PRESIDENT TRUMP. MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND KEEP HIM SAFE.
https://thedaleygator.wordpress.com/tag/democrat/
But it's OK - I'm a Democrat sex felon ...
Information made available to Schwartz and Levine at that time included allegations that some of Menendez’s prostitutes were as young as 16.
The source also alleged that Sen. Menendez was taking “non-authorized trips” to the Dominican Republic, suggesting that he may have been evading Senate Ethics committee rules covering disclosures when third parties pay for a senator’s travel. (RELATED: NRSC says Menendez may have broken Senate ethics rules, federal campaign finance laws)
Menendez may have broken ethics rules. Hilarious to even think that the US Senate has ethics rules.
We are ruled by the worst of psychopaths and narcissists.
JT Coyoté
"REMEMBER THE ALAMO!"
Quote from: larsonstdoc on January 26, 2013, 04:38:17 pm
No Doc... likely he didn't "tick off his handlers" rather he drew the short straw...
He may have been getting ready to spill some beans, but maybe not... In any case this is why virtually everyone who climbs to high position in this "gangsta" power structure has to do something heinous for their "leaders"... a gang initiation if you will. Just try to imagine the crap Obama, Corzine, Feinstein and Biden have done...
This is more likely a "take the heat off" ploy... there will be several more over the next few weeks in the run up to the big false flag... beware the Ides of March...
Oldyoti
"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general
knowledge among the people, who have...a right,
an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine
right to that most dreaded and envied kind of
knowledge, I mean the character and conduct of
their rulers." ~John Adams December 27, 1816
Duke & Katie
Monkeypox
He Loved Big Brother
I'm sure this is perfectly normal in DC...he just got caught - or pissed someone off.
War Is Peace - Freedom Is Slavery - Ignorance Is Strength
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
Quote from: Monkeypox on January 26, 2013, 05:08:26 pm
Nothing like a seedy sex scandal to take the heat off the gun-grabbers...
"All sober inquirers after truth, ancient
and modern, pagan and Christian, have
declared that the happiness of man, as
well as his dignity, consists in virtue."
~John Adams, "Thoughts on Government" 1776
Quote from: JT Coyoté on January 26, 2013, 05:02:40 pm
I pray that a FF doesn't occur. As is every year, they talk about the Super Bowl---Sunday, the 3rd.
Have you seen these trailers JT? RIGHT THERE FOR OUR EYES.
Tom Cruise and the Super Bowl---OBLIVION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_PBWtV1kRI
DC and the White House being destroyed---OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar-IaAx7s8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hGI_IBFwoY
the DR is a know tourist sex hot spot, along with Cuba, Thailand and Indonesia.
Hey Larson, there ya go,* hammer hits the nail. He stepped out of line with the big dogs.
Quote from: ScipioAfricanus on January 26, 2013, 06:36:40 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2hr1BGfwys
http://dr1.com/articles/prostitution_1.shtml
Dominican Republic Prostitution
Bringing a girl back to his hotel is usually not a problem for a tourist as most hotels allow guests. The hotels policy generally is to make sure the girl has a “cedula”. This is the national identity document that states that the girl is over 18 years of age. It is common practice for the hotel to take the cedula and return it to the girl when she leaves. This way, if there is any problem while the girl is there such as an allegation that valuables are missing, the hotel can take the girl’s cedula and go directly to the police.
Some women in the more affluent areas of the country work as prostitutes in a different manner. They are what are known as “beeper chicas” and cater to more affluent Dominican males. Their clients are generally doctors, lawyers, businessmen, etc. What these girls generally do is enroll in a university and take classes to give the false impression that they are interested in getting an education and mask the fact that they are hookers. However, they are always on call to their affluent Dominican clients. Once “beeped”, she will usually meet a client in an upscale motel and he will pay a generous amount of money to have sex with her. Some of these girls are actual models and model for well known companies. However, they will make quite a bit of money on the side as “beeper chicas”.
Obviously, a big health risk for prostitutes is the possibility of contracting STDs. The HIV rate among prostitutes is naturally higher than among the general population. Additionally, diseases such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, trichomoniasis, syphilis and others are common. Unfortunately, some of these prostitutes are not educated in the use of condoms. Therefore, it is very possible that a prostitute may contract one or more STDs and pass it on.
Prostitution is technically legal in the Dominican Republic. It is illegal however for a third party (pimp) to have any involvement. In an effort for police to counteract the problem in tourist areas, they will generally arrest any girl who appears to be a prostitute and is walking on the street after dark for loitering. To avoid arrest, the girls simply take a motoconcho taxi directly to the discos and operate from there. If they leave with a client, they will ask him to provide them with the motoconcho fare back to the disco or for him to walk her back himself. If the girl is being escorted down the street by a man, the police will leave her alone. If a prostitute is arrested for loitering, she may spend several days in jail and will generally have to pay the police to be released. She might get this money from a family member, a boyfriend or more likely, another prostitute. Then immediately upon release, she will resume the life she knows.
Yes, I have heard of these sex perverts traveling the world to have sex with kids. Sickos, all of them.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Some of these guys are dedicated, especialy so agents assigned to bank robery, mass murderers, etc.
Can't knock em all, can we. However we can single out superiors who coordinte the teams assigned to carry out their orders knowing its all politicial, and ultimelty protecting the true power. They have their LIL teams who are devoted, loyal NWO sucklings.
These guys are humans who have decided they can't fight the trend, do your job and play ball, wait for retitement or climb the ladder.
Just take a close look at Eric the Holder and give a thought!
He got caught, my arese, he was targeted, they have ears and eyews everywhere, he mucked up, stepped on the wrong toes or was loose lipped, just my oppinion.
Not to say he isnt a parasite.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/rush-limbaughs-dominican-stag-party
Rush Limbaugh's Dominican Stag Party - Jul 6, 2006
29 Viagra pills, two "24" producers among radio star's all-male crew
Limbaugh returned to Palm Beach, Florida on June 26 with Joel Surnow, "24"'s co-creator and executive producer and Howard Gordon, another of the Fox hit's executive producers (Hollywood agent Jeffrey Benson was also part of the Limbaugh quintet).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5196381
In 2006, Rush was stopped at an airport en route home from the Dominican Republic because he was in illegal possession of the drug Viagra, for which he did not have a prescription
Talk about the ugly american's
http://wonkette.com/439447/fbi-file-ted-kennedy-had-secret-sex-parties-rented-out-brothel
THE GOOD OLD DAYS 2:30 pm February 28, 2011
FBI File: Ted Kennedy Had Secret Sex Parties, Rented Out Brothel
Ted Kennedy is dead, so we are now able to look at his (albeit very redacted) FBI files to see some of the very Kennedy sorts of things he did over the years.
For example: An ambassador’s ex-wife said he and his brothers had sex parties with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Marilyn Monroe at a New York hotel.
Also: He rented out an entire brothel in South America for one night in the 1960s, where he was meeting with various Reds and other leftist people part of the giving-people-access-to-health care conspiracy.
Still, even when Teddy was renting out brothels for himself, he was a man of the people: “Kennedy allegedly invited one of the Embassy chauffeurs to participate in the night’s activities.” What a kind man.
This was all obtained from the FBI by the right-wing Judicial Watch, an organization that apparently hates sex and fun:
“The FBI’s reluctance to follow the law and release this material shows that it, too, is not above politics.
Our tough fight with the Obama administration shows that it was not keen on letting the American people know that Ted Kennedy, one of Obama’s leftist politician heroes, liked to hang out with communists and prostitutes,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“We will continue to investigate why the FBI improperly chose to keep this information secret.”
If it was kept secret, it wouldn’t be a secret sex party, duh. It would just be a sex party, which sounds gross.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/28/ted-kennedy-sought-to-ren_n_829290.html
Ted Kennedy Sought To Rent Brothel: 1961 Memo
WASHINGTON — An FBI file contends that a young Edward M. Kennedy arranged to rent a brothel for a night while visiting Chile in 1961, a year before he was elected to the Senate.
The previously redacted State Department memo, dated Dec. 28, 1961, was released by Judicial Watch, a Washington-based organization that said it obtained it through a Freedom of Information lawsuit.
According to the memo, the Massachusetts Democrat made arrangements to rent the brothel "for an entire night" in Santiago earlier in 1961. "Kennedy allegedly invited one of the Embassy chauffeurs to participate in the night's activities," according to the memo.
One State Department official described Kennedy as "pompous and a spoiled brat," according to the memo. Kennedy was making a fact-finding trip to several Latin American countries. "Kennedy met with a number of individuals known to have communist sympathies," the memo said.
Kennedy was a 29-year-old assistant district attorney in Boston at the time of the trip. He was elected to the Senate in 1962 and served more than four decades until his death in 2009.
Oh now they're cleaning up evidence of the eye doctor procurer (and probably a Dem money BUNDLER ).... Melgen
i love how he says he was discriminated ... I only wish i could get discriminated into Harvard med school. Did he procure DR girls as a way of earning his way thru college?
http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/30/fbi-raids-office-of-donor-linked-to-sen-bob-menendez-prostitute-scandal/
FBI raids Florida eye clinic of donor linked to Sen. Bob Menendez’s prostitution scandal
1:10 AM 01/30/2013
FBI agents have raided the West Palm Beach, Fla. eye clinic owned by Dr. Salomon Melgen, the wealthy donor to New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez who allegedly procured prostitutes for him — some of them as young as 16 — during trips to the Dominican Republic.
The Miami Herald reported that federal agents lined up vans outside the Melgen Eye Center late Tuesday night to haul away evidence in the case.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/29/3207543/fbi-raids-west-palm-beach-office.html
FBI raids West Palm Beach office of doctor tied to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez
They seem to want to get rid of the New Jersey Senator over what? Corzine?? How did a junior Senator get on the high end senate committees? Unless he had tight connections and now he's out with them
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/biography/
Bob was sworn in to the Senate on January 18, 2006, having been appointed by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to fill the remainder of his term. Later that year, New Jerseyans elected Bob to serve a full six-year term as United States Senator.
He currently serves on the Senate Committees on Finance; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and Foreign Relations. Bob is also the Chairman of the Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development; and the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs.
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/
As New Jersey continues on its long road to recovery from Hurricane Sandy, Senator Menendez will continue working to secure the resources needed to help New Jersey rebuild. Working together, at all levels of government, New Jersey will emerge stronger than ever. Click Here for photos from Senator Menendez's tour of storm damage.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57567120-10391739/senate-ethics-committee-investigating-menendez/
Senate Ethics Committee investigating Menendez
The Senate Ethics Committee is reviewing whether Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., inappropriately accepted gifts from a political donor who is under investigation by federal investigators.
"We are aware of the news reports regarding the FBI raid on Dr. Melgen's office," Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the top Republican on the ethics committee, said to CBS News in a statement. "The Ethics Committee will follow its established procedures in this matter."
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/280381-reid-fends-off-questions-about-menendez
Reid fends off questions about Menendez allegations
By Alexander Bolton - 01/31/13
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fended off questions about Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) at a press conference about immigration reform
Reid defended the Menendez as a “friend” and “outstanding senator” but declined to discuss any details he may have had with the New Jersey lawmaker about media reports of allegations that he had sex with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.
“First of all, Bob Menendez is my friend. He’s an outstanding senator. Any questions in this regard, direct to him. I don’t know anything about it,” Reid said.
youtube - Whorehouse Harry: Senator Reid's first campaign funded by brothel owner
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-harry-reid/the-good-fight_b_99228.html
Sen. Harry Reid.
I come from a mining town.
But by the time I came along - December 2, 1939 - the leading industry in my hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, was no longer mining, it was prostitution. I don't exaggerate. There was a local law that said you could not have a house of prostitution or a place that served alcohol within so many feet of a school. Once, when it was determined that one of the clubs was in violation of this law, they moved the school.
As a boy, I learned to swim at a whorehouse. Nobody in town had ever seen such a fancy inground tiled pool in their lives as the pool at the El Rey. Or any pool at all, for that matter. At least nobody that we knew. The El Ray was the main bordello when I was growing up in Searchlight. Every Thursday afternoon, the whoremonger in town, a kindly bear of a man by the name of Willie Martello, would ask the girls who worked the El Rey to clear out, and he'd invite the children in town, usually no more than a dozen of so at a time, to swim in his pool. And we would live the life of Riley for a couple of hours, splashing in the azure blue of that whorehouse pool. This was a rare luxury in a hard town. When I was coming up, there were several other brothels in Searchlight - the Crystal Club, Searchlight Casino, Sandy's - thirteen in all, and no churches to be found.
Quote from: TahoeBlue on February 01, 2013, 02:16:55 pm
house Harry: Senator Reid's first campaign funded by brothel owner [/url]
Story hour with Harry Reid.
Make us laugh Harry Reid.
What's this got to do with Menendez?
If guilty, shouldn't Menendez be categorized as a sex offender?
The more they have on a POL the less chance of him spilling his guts.
I had a boss who couldn't find his backside with both hands, I asked him "How the muck did you ever get to be management"
He didn't look at me but said with a grin, he saw one of the big dogs scre***ING A GOOSE, I resigned shortly after.
This post has brought back that memory. He was smiling but couldn't look at me, kinda like he just had the goods on some high mucker leverage.
The FBI all of a sudden found this out, YUP OK (3 bags full). These sucklings are paying for ever step up that ladder, they are expendable if they should stray from the pack.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/bob-menendez-denies-prostitute-smears-87168.html
RULE #1 FOR LIBERALS---If you are in trouble, always try to blame right wingers for your troubles.
Robert Menendez denies prostitute ‘smears’
By KEVIN ROBILLARD | 2/4/13 6:34 PM EST
Sen. Robert Menendez denounced allegations that he had flown to the Dominican Republic to solicit prostitutes as “smears” from “right-wing blogs” Monday, his first comments on the lurid accusations.
“The smears, the smears that right-wing blogs have been pushing since the election,” the New Jersey Democrat told CNN. “That is totally unsubstantiated. It’s amazing to me that anonymous, nameless, faceless individuals on a website can drive that kind of story into the mainstream. But that’s what they’ve done successfully. Now, nobody can find them, no one ever met them, nobody ever talked to them, but that’s where we’re at. The bottom line is all of those smears are absolutely false, and that’s the bottom line.”
In November, shortly before Menendez stood for reelection, The Daily Caller, a conservative website, published an article alleging Menendez had flown to the Dominican Republic to sleep with prostitutes, some of whom were underage. One of the alleged prostitutes told Univision earlier Monday she had never met or seen Menendez.
Seems like the WeinerGate exposure... It's Ok to be a Democrat sex tourist...
When caught deny deny deny ... oh has the FBI got cold feet now?
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/01/27/abc-gives-sen-menendez-six-minute-interview-no-questions-about-fbis-h
ABC Gives Sen. Menendez Six Minute Interview With No Questions About FBI's Hooker Investigation
By Noel Sheppard | January 27, 2013 | 13:16
On Friday it was revealed that the FBI is investigating Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) for allegedly sleeping with underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.
Despite this, when Menendez was given a six-minute interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC's This Week Sunday, he was not asked one question about the investigation or the allegations
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/01/31/2002-email-links-sen-bob-menendez-to-young-prostitutes/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/05/robert-menendez-denies-prostitute-allegations
Robert Menendez denies prostitute trip allegations
New Jersey senator accused of paying for sex in Dominican Republic says allegations are part of a smear campaign
A prominent Dominican lawyer who has been accused of hosting outings on his yacht in which a New Jersey senator used the services of prostitutes strongly denied the allegations on Monday and said he would seek a criminal investigation into the source of the reports.
Senator Robert Menendez also issued his own denial of the allegations from Washington, calling them "smears."
The FBI has declined to say why it searched Melgen's office or whether he is under investigation.
http://theothermccain.com/2013/02/04/hookergate-miami-herald-confirms-elements-of-menendez-prostitute-story/
HookerGate: Miami Herald Confirms Elements of Menendez Prostitute Story
Posted on | February 4, 2013 | 12 Comments and 5 Reactions
The shadowy (and probably pseudonymous) tipster “Peter Williams” gave specific details about the prostitutes who were allegedly provided to New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez in the Dominican Republic. Two Miami Herald reporters, Kathleen McGrory and Melissa Sanchez, traveled to Santo Domingo to check out the story and, while they were unable to locate the prostitutes, they were able to confirm certain details:
Shreds of evidence in Santo Domingo show that, at the very least, the women Williams described exist.
Take an apartment in Santo Domingo’s upscale Gazcue neighborhood that Williams said was used for sexual liaisons.
In April emails to a watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Williams alleged that Dr. Salomon Melgen, a friend and major campaign donor to Menendez, rented a unit for a Brazilian prostitute named Maria and a Colombian prostitute named Geraldine.
The apartment exists. When reached by phone, the landlady said that two young women named Geraldine and Maria had indeed lived there last year, and said the nationalities matched.
However, the landlady, who declined to be named, did not believe the women to be prostitutes — she said she thought they were beautiful foreign exchange students — and had never heard of Menendez or Melgen visiting the apartment. But she complained that the women had nearly destroyed the unit, even leaving the wallpaper torn up when they abandoned the apartment last year.
“They behaved very badly,” she said. The apartment has since been rented to others and is now back on the market for $1,000 a month.
You can read the whole thing. The details confirmed by the two Miami Herald reporters are important because — as anyone with experience chasing this kind of story would tell you — if the story were totally bogus, basic facts like names and addresses wouldn’t check out.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/02/03/The-Mystery-Flight-of-Bob-Menendez
This is highly interesting, because on Jan. 4, Menendez paid back Dr. Melgen $58,500 for three flights, but this (alleged) Easter weekend trip wasn’t one of those, and it was during the Easter weekend trip that one of the sex parties (allegedly) took place.
Call me a conspiracy theorist but I THINK MENENDEZ AND HIS HANDLERS ARE SHOVELING MONEY TO THESE YOUNG GIRLS NOW. TODAY IS WHEN THE TEENAGERS ARE MAKING REAL MONEY FOR THE SENATOR'S GOOD TIMES IN THE PAST.
Geez are these guys in charge of the drug shipments TOO? Hookers and Coke and Dope Inc.
They obviously want to control the screening of DR shipments to the US for SOME REASON HMMMMM... what could it be?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/politics/menendez-discouraged-giving-port-security-equipment-to-dominicans.html?_r=1&
Menendez Backed Donor on Port Security Plan
By ERIC LIPTON and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM
WASHINGTON — Senator Robert Menendez sought to discourage any plan by the United States government to donate port security equipment to the Dominican Republic, citing concern that the advanced screening gear might undermine efforts by a private company — run by a major campaign contributor and friend of his — to do the work.
Mr. Menendez has broadly rejected any suggestion that his official actions have been driven by an effort to favor Dr. Melgen, a wealthy Florida ophthalmologist who has repeatedly flown the senator on his private plane and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Democrats in the Senate as well as Mr. Menendez’s re-election campaign.
“Nobody has bought me, No. 1. Nobody. Never,” Mr. Menendez said in an interview late last week with Univision, the Spanish-language news station. “In the 20 years that I have been in Congress, never has it been suggested that this could even be possible.”
The relationship between Dr. Melgen and the New Jersey senator has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks as Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, has taken over the chairmanship of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee.
But the questions about the port security contract are potentially more troubling for Mr. Menendez, who is already facing questions over his fitness for the Foreign Relations Committee chairmanship, because the contract involved a foreign policy concern: curbing the flow of cocaine to the United States from the Dominican Republic.
http://www.mahalo.com/opium/
Mr. Menendez and Dr. Melgen have been friends since the 1990s, around the time Mr. Menendez was first elected to the House of Representatives and began regularly visiting the Dominican Republic, where Dr. Melgen has a home in Casa de Campo, a gated oceanfront resort where houses cost as much as $20 million.
In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security donated to the Dominican Republic one X-ray scanning device, which is used at Multimodal Caucedo, one of its largest ports, where Dominican inspectors worked alongside representatives from the United States government to scan more than 1,700 containers last year. Nearly 5,000 pounds of cocaine was found hidden in a cargo container of peaches in the first week the equipment went into operation.
In February 2006, just as Mr. Menendez was beginning his push to require screening of all ship containers headed to the United States, Dr. Melgen began negotiations to buy a small company that had a longstanding contract to do such inspections in the Dominican Republic.
His plan was to provide his own X-ray equipment, purchased with private funds, and then charge the Dominican government to do the inspections
Abinader Fortunato, a spokesman for the Dominican customs agency, said late last week that Dr. Melgen’s contract wrongly leaves screening in the hands of a private company and not a state agency
More hearsay evidence but the model is from court records. How is Melgen floating in money?...:
http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/05/dominican-government-official-sen-bob-menendez-a-frequent-guest-at-sex-hookers-and-drinking-parties/
Dominican government official: Sen. Bob Menendez a frequent guest at ‘sex, hookers and drinking’ parties
A high-level government official from the Dominican Republic told The Daily Caller that New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and wealthy campaign donor Dr. Salomon Melgen have been having sex parties on the Caribbean nation for years.
“As far as Bob Menendez is concerned he has a very good life there,” the official said during an in-person interview with TheDC. “He likes sexual things.”
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears retribution from powerful people connected to Menendez and Melgen, has direct knowledge of the goings-on at Melgen’s private villa in the luxurious Dominican Casa de Campo resort. He said Menendez travels with Melgen to the property at least three times per year.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/02/13/Menendez-friend-We-spend-every-Easter-together-in-Casa-de-Campo
Menendez Friend: 'We Spend Every Easter Together' in Dominican Republic
A friend of New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez and Democratic Party mega-donor Dr. Salomon Melgen may have mistakenly confirmed more details of the senator’s alleged wrongdoing.
On Monday, Dominican Republic lawyer and politician Vinicio Castillo Seman confirmed that Menendez was at the posh Casa de Campo resort on Easter last year.
“I’ve known Menendez as a friend and of my cousin Salomon Melgen,” Castillo said, according to the news outlet Dominican Today. “No one has come forward on the allegations and evil accusations, we spend every Easter together in Casa de Campo.”
Menendez is currently under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee for his relationship with Melgen.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/12/court-documents-menendez-donor-leased-oceanfront-condo-for-alleged-prostitute/
Court records show that Salomon Melgen, the longtime Democratic donor linked to New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, provided an oceanfront condominium to a Ukranian model at the center of prostitution allegations lodged against both men.
The Palm Beach Post reported Sunday that Melgen arranged for Svitlana Buchyk to occupy a condo he leased for her on Singer Island near Palm Beach, Florida in 2009. (RELATED SLIDESHOW: Meet one of Bob Menendez’s alleged call girls)
http://svitlanabuchyk.com/
http://theothermccain.com/2013/02/04/svitlana-buchyk-mystery-woman-in-menendez-hookergate-scandal/
Svitlana Buchyk: Mystery Woman in Menendez HookerGate Scandal
Posted on | February 4, 2013
Matthew Boyle of Breitbart.com just published a photo of a woman who reportedly “worked” for Dr. Salomon Melgen, the Palm Beach opthamologist at the center of the scandal surrounding embattled Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). Melgen’s office was raided by the FBI last week, amid accusations that Menendez attended “wild sex parties” with prostitutes during trips to the Dominican Republic provided by Melgen.
The Russian-born woman, Svitlana Buchyk, figures prominently in the prostitution accusations against the scandal-plagued Menendez, who is in line to become chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
Kathleen McGrory and Melissa Sanchez of the Miami Herald reported:
Public records show that a woman named Svitlana Buchyk got into a minor crash while driving a Chevrolet Impala on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables in 2010. The car belonged to Melgen’s wife.
Buchyk gave Melgen’s North Palm Beach address as her own.
Buchyk spoke briefly with a Miami Herald reporter by telephone Thursday, saying she had worked for Melgen in the past.
But Buchyk wouldn’t answer questions on the type of work she did, and was eager to defend Melgen — particularly when asked about stories of Melgen’s alleged sexual liaisons with prostitutes.
“He is an amazing person,” she said. “He was always with his family. There is nothing else I can say.”
Buchyk added that many women would have liked to have spent time with her former employer.
“He treated me well,” she said. “He had money. He was very generous.”
Melgen has a history of spending big money on his mistresses, Boyle reports, noting a 2002 federal court case involving Yuddehiris Dorrejo, a woman on whom Melgen spent $700,000, allegedly in exchange for ”an intimate romantic relationship” that began in 1998.
Melgen, who has contributed generously to Menendez’s political campaigns, reportedly owes $11.1 million in unpaid federal income taxes.
If you're involved with drug and sex trafficking and money laundering then you need a powerful person in the government for cover. Also with that kind of protection , why pay taxes or is it just being sloppy ?
Mr. Menendez and Dr. Melgen have been friends since the 1990s
So were they involved with the Clinton's with running cocaine and guns in Mena Ark ?
http://www.reddirtreport.com/Story.aspx/22870
Jackson Stephens, BCCI, and drug-money laundering
This propitious union came about just as the Mena, Arkansas, drug-and-arms trade was creating a vast local demand for money-laundering services. At the Asian end, with Mochtar Riady, Stephens purchased Seng Heng Bank in Macao, the "Oriental Las Vegas", where gambling is the primary source of government revenue. Stephens' Systematics supplied software to the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the cashier and treasury bank of the Macao government and the bank that issues the local currency. (Macao is located less than 40 miles from Hong Kong, the center for heroin trade.)
http://deadlinelive.info/2013/02/05/exclusive-bob-menendez-prostitution-and-the-security-industrial-complex/
EXCLUSIVE: Bob Menendez, prostitution, and the security-industrial complex
February 5, 2013 by supermario
The accusations against Senator Bob Menendez of being involved with underage prostitutes is only the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger scandal, involving shady deals and a war between two port security companies and the Dominican Republic Government.
By Mario Andrade
Melgen took the senator to a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic, called Casa de Campo.
Coincidently, this is the same resort that has been used by organized crime as a cocaine stash house. Puerto Rican and Russian drug traffickers ran smuggling operations from Casa de Campo.
They would buy cocaine from the Colombian drug cartels and ship it to Puerto Rico and Europe. The smugglers were busted a year ago with 120 kilos of cocaine. It is said that after that local drug ring was dissolved, the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel moved in… but that’s another story.
According to many U.S. media outlets, Mr. Melgen is being investigated by the FBI for ‘healthcare fraud.’ However, there may be more to this story. In 2010, Dr. Melgen purchased half of a company stake in the Dominican Republic, called ICSSI.
http://dominicanwatchdog.org/page-Huge_drug_ring_shipping_tons_of_cocaine_from_Casa_de_Campo_busted
Huge drug ring shipping tons of cocaine from Casa de Campo - Bought from Cali Cartel
DominicanToday.com - The National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) yesterday busted an international drug trafficking ring based in the country’s icon resort Casa de Campo, La Romana (east), seized 122 kilos of cocaine on a boat headed to Puerto Rico.
It arrested 29 people, among them five Puerto Ricans and 17 Russians, the latter the crew of a ship where the drug would’ve been shipped and one Dominican and one Colombian.
In the resort the authorities also seized two villas, two apartments, a yacht, a freighter used to transport fuel and molasses to Caribbean islands, and an airplane.
“This structure had its operation between the capital and La Romana, where from a private pier an amount of cocaine was sent and money was received from the United States,” said DNCD spokesman Roberto Lebrón.
He said “Operation earthquake” had the ring under surveillance for a year, and the detainees are being questioned in DNCD headquarters.
Lebrón said the arrests were closely coordinated with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The Dominicans detained are Cinthia Catherine Paula Valerio, Scarle Crisoris Gross de los Santos, Yanira Martínez Pión, Félix María de la Cruz and Genito Toribio Custodio
Puerto Rican headed the ring
The DNCD said the Puerto Rican Omar Alberto Diaz Pavón is the owner of the villas and head of the network; Eduardo Larios Sanchez is the owner of the boat and the yatch where the cocaine was found; Alex Ocasio, pilot and owner of the airplane retained at the La Romana International Airport, and Edwin Nieves Lozado, identified at the contact to buy the drug.
“That network receive drug from South America, especially Colombia, to hold it in the East region, and from there, sent it to Puerto Rico. The money received from those transactions was used to buy properties worth millions, especially villas and apartments,” Lebrón said.
UPDATE: Traffickers based in famous resort bought drugs from Cali Cartel
The group of drug traffickers that operated out of Dominican Republic’s most famous resort Casa de Campo, in eastern La Romana obtained cocaine from the once powerful Cali Cartel and was dismantled after three years of surveillance by the DEA, which detected suspicious financial transactions in Grand Cayman by those detained Tuesday.
The paper trail from those transactions determined that the network had set up operations in Dominican territory since around 2001 and kept a low profile while its ringleaders amassed their fortunes.
That’s how around three years the National Drugs Control Agency was informed of the group’s existence and began to detect several shipments of large amounts of money on an airplane seized Sunday.
In several occasions antinarcotics agents seized money while other confiscations were conducted by Customs agents, but assuring that the ringleaders didn’t become aware that they were the final objective of those operations.
Thus far the ring is considered an independent group of narcotics traffickers which received cocaine from the Cali Cartel, brought it to Dominican Republic to then send it to Puerto Rico using boats, yachts and cargo ships. From the neighboring island they brought the profits in dollars in the small plane seized Tuesday, which flew in and out of the La Romana International Airport.
The band was formed mostly by Puerto Ricans and Colombians, with Dominican collaborators. The 17 Russians arrested in the raid were apparently part of the crew of the ship where the 122 kilos of cocaine seized during the weekend would be sent to Puerto Rico.
The five women arrested, including one Colombian, would be simple “ladies of company” hired by the traffickers for a party they had planned to celebrate the success of one of their drug transactions. They are being held since yesterday in DNCD headquarters to determine if they in fact form part of the drug traffickers.
The Puerto Rican Omar Alberto Diaz Pavón, owner of the villas and presumed ringleader; Eduardo Larios Sanchez, owner the retained ship and boat and in whose power the cocaine was found; Alex Ocasio Morales, an employee of the airline American Eagle, who was Diaz Pavón’s alleged contact to mobilize the money from his “command and control center” located in the villa number 31 the street Barrance Este, in Casa de Campo, valued at least US$20.0 million.
Great research Tahoe Blue. When sex and drugs are involved across borders, there is usually crime.
Quote from: larsonstdoc on February 15, 2013, 02:27:44 pm
It's amazing when all the pieces fit together. They will push the sex angle when tons of cocaine are being moved and billions of dollars are being laundered in the caymans. The Spice must flow.
Also notice New Jersey with him and Corzine - Remember ESSO - Standard Oil of New Jersey is the home of the Rockefeller Empire. They still OWN the state , financially and politically.
Oh and why didn't Mend. pay for the melgan flights with his offshore slush money? That he forgot to pay in the first place. Because it was AFTER he'd been found out, he couldn't use that money now. He had to use his own onshore US money.
see: http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/senator-bob-menendez-spent-up-to-87-of-his-savings-to-repay-donor-for-dominican-republic-flights-20130205
“He waited until he was caught to pay them back,” she said. “If you rob a bank—and you’re caught—you don’t say, ‘Take the money back and forget about it.’ ”
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Robert-Menendez-Media-Suppression-of-a-Senate-Sex-Scandal
http://www.politickernj.com/tags/bob-menendez
Menendez stumps for Clinton in Puerto Rico
By Wally Edge | April 8th, 2008 - 12:41pm
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was in San Juan on Sunday and Monday, joining former President Bill Clinton on a two-day campaign swing in Puerto Rico – where 63 delegates will be elected when the island holds a Democratic presidential primary on June 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H8k1UXPoLM
Bill Clinton rallies for Bob Menendez (Pt. 1)
Uploaded on Nov 6, 2006
Bill Clinton rallies for Bob Menendez in Hackensack, NJ on November 5th, 2006
interesting Corzine connection:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Jon-Corzine
Senator Called On to Recuse Himself from MF Global Hearings
4:00 PM, May 7, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER
New Jersey Senate candidate Joe Kyrillos, a Republican, is calling on Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, to recuse himself from congressional hearings on MF Global, the financial firm led by Jon Corzine that went under last year.
There's been no word yet whether Menendez will grant this request.
"I am concerned that Senator Menendez’s personal and professional relationship with former New Jersey Governor and MF Global Holdings CEO Jon Corzine could be a conflict of interest during the Committee’s investigation," said Kyrillos in a statement.
In 2006, when Corzine himself was governor of New Jersey, the now embattled money man appointed Menendez to the U.S. Senate. Kyrillos worries that this relationship will interfere with Menendez's ability to do his job in the Senate.
Corzine is still an Obama campaign bundler, raising more than $500,000 last quarter for the president relection effort.
http://www.againstcronycapitalism.org/2012/05/senator-menendez-appointed-by-jon-corzine-to-the-senate-should-recuse-himself-from-mf-global-investigation/
Posted on May 8, 2012 by Nick Sorrentino
New Jersey Senator, and Jon Corzine appointee Bob Menendez has yet to recuse himself from the Senate investigation of MF Global. Some believe he hasn’t so that he can protect Corzine.
http://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=311647
Subcommittee Investigation Reveals Decisions by Corzine Led to MF Global Bankruptcy and Missing Customer Funds
Washington, Nov 14, 2012 -
Decisions by Jon Corzine to chart a radically different course for MF Global and try to turn the 230-year-old commodities broker into a full-service investment bank were the cause of the firm’s bankruptcy and failure to protect customer funds, Republican members of a congressional subcommittee will report this week.
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Randy Neugebauer, will release the full results of its year-long staff investigation into the collapse of MF Global on Thursday.
“Our investigation is essentially an autopsy of how MF Global came to its ultimate demise and what can be done to prevent similar customer losses in the future,” said Chairman Neugebauer.
Corzine, a former co-chairman of Goldman Sachs who later became a U.S. senator and governor of New Jersey, resigned from MF Global on November 4, 2011, almost 20 months after becoming the firm’s Chairman and CEO. The brokerage had declared bankruptcy four days earlier and its collapse revealed a $1.6 billion shortfall in customer funds.
“Choices made by Jon Corzine during his tenure as chairman and CEO sealed MF Global’s fate,” Chairman Neugebauer stated. “Farmers, ranchers and other customers may never get back over $1 billion of their money as a result of his decisions. Corzine dramatically changed MF Global’s business model without fully understanding the risks associated with such a radical transformation.”
The Subcommittee’s staff investigation of MF Global involved three hearings, more than 50 witness interviews, and the review of more than 243,000 documents obtained from MF Global, its former employees, federal regulators and other sources.
“By expanding MF Global into new business lines without first returning its core commodities business to profitability, Corzine ensured that the company would face enormous resource demands and exposed it to new risks that it was ill-equipped to handle,” the subcommittee report states.
In order to generate the revenue needed to fund MF Global’s transformation, Corzine invested heavily in the sovereign debt of struggling European countries. These investments, which carried enormous default and liquidity risks, were a “prime focus” of Corzine’s attention and he failed to develop a corporate strategy for managing the risks, the subcommittee majority staff found.
Do these cocaine stories have anything to do with the Senator's story??? No that can't be ...
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/DomRep--US-agents-seize-900-kilos-of-cocaine
DomRep, US agents seize 900 kilos of cocaine
Monday, January 14, 2013 | 7:47 PM
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — US and Dominican Republic authorities have seized about 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) of cocaine thrown off a speedboat.
The Caribbean country's National Drug Control Agency says the boat was heading toward a bay west of the capital Sunday when it was detected by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
The DEA reported the suspicious vessel, and three Dominican Republic aircraft and four military boats began pursuing the speedboat. The Dominican Republic anti-drug agency says the traffickers threw bales of cocaine into the sea in international waters during the chase and escaped.
Members of the US Coast Guard recovered the drugs and sent them to the US island of Puerto Rico.
Earlier this month, Dominican Republic authorities confiscated a cocaine load of 1,870 kilograms (4,122 pounds) from an abandoned boat in the same bay.
here is an interesting comment:
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2012/5/1/43486/Puerto-Rico-agents-seize-102Ks-of-cocaine-sent-from-Dom-Rep
Local - 1 May 2012, 8:17 AM
Duffle bags found in containers for the third time this month
Puerto Rico agents seize 102Ks of cocaine sent from Dom. Rep.
Written by: Grosero, 2 May 2012 8:33 AM
Plain $ Simple
Uncle Sam is a dope smuggler
CASEPOINT: U.S. federal agents allegedly allowed the Sinaloa drug cartel to traffic several tons of cocaine into the United States in exchange for information about rival cartels, according to court documents filed in a U.S. federal court.
The allegations are part of the defense of Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who was extradited to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges in Chicago. He is also a top lieutenant of drug kingpin Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman and the son of Ismael "Mayo" Zambada-Garcia, believed to be the brains behind the Sinaloa cartel.
Who's the biggest smuggler in the Carrib ? Why it's Uncle Sammy!
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18608410
Documents: Feds allegedly allowed Sinaloa cartel to move cocaine into U.S. for information
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Timeselpasotimes.com
Posted: 08/04/2011 08:30:37 AM MDT
U.S. federal agents allegedly allowed the Sinaloa drug cartel to traffic several tons of cocaine into the United States in exchange for information about rival cartels, according to court documents filed in a U.S. federal court.
The case could prove to be a bombshell on par with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' "Operation Fast and Furious," except that instead of U.S. guns being allowed to walk across the border, the Sinaloa cartel was allowed to bring drugs into the United States. Zambada-Niebla claims he was permitted to smuggle drugs from 2004 until his arrest in 2009.
Randall Samborn, assistant U.S. attorney and spokesman for the Justice Department in Chicago, declined comment.
The court in Chicago had a status hearing on Wednesday and ordered the government to respond to allegations in Zambada-Niebla's motion by Sept. 11.
According to the court documents, Mexican lawyer Humberto Loya-Castro, another high-level Sinaloa cartel leader, had his 1995 U.S. drug-trafficking case dismissed in 2008 after serving as an informant for 10 years for the U.S. government.
Guzman and the Zambadas allegedly provided agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with information about other Mexican drug traffickers through Loya-Castro.
"Loya himself continued his drug trafficking activities with the knowledge of the United States government without being arrested or prosecuted," the court documents state.
Zambada-Niebla met voluntarily with U.S. federal agents on March 17, 2009, at the Sheraton Hotel in Mexico City, which is near the U.S. Embassy, "for the purpose of his continuing to provide information to the DEA and the U.S. government personally, rather than through Loya," court records allege.
"DEA agents (then) told Loya-Castro to tell Mr. Zambada-Niebla that they wanted to continue the same arrangements with him as they had with Mr. Loya-Castro."
Five hours after the meeting, Mexican authorities arrested Zambada-Niebla and extradited him later to the United States. His father and Guzman are fugitives.
The court documents also allege that the U.S. government is using a "divide and conquer" strategy, "using one drug organization to help against others."
Zambada-Niebla's motion seeks U.S. government records about the 2003 Juárez case involving an informant who participated in several homicides for the Carrillo-Fuentes drug cartel, while under ICE's supervision.
He also requested records about the ATF's "Operation Fast and Furious," which permitted weapons purchased illegally in the United States to be smuggled into Mexico, sometimes by paid U.S. informants and cartel leaders.
"It is estimated that approximately 3,000 people were killed in Mexico as a result of 'Operation Fast and Furious,' including law enforcement officers in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, the headquarters of the Sinaloa cartel," the court documents allege. "The Department of Justice's leadership apparently saw this as an ingenious way of combating drug cartel activities."
What I find interesting is the Russian connection to the drug traffiking . Here we have a Russian party girl with Melgen who makes trips between DR and Peurto Rico... Also the Caso de Campo connection with the russians
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/07/17/mexican-cartels-russian-mob-operating-in-dr-govt-says/
Mexican Cartels, Russian Mob Operating in D.R., Gov't Says
The rise in drug consumption and trafficking in the Dominican Republic in recent years is due to the country's geographical location, the penetration of broad swaths of society by the illegal drug trade and the operations of Mexican drug cartels and the Russian mob, an adviser to the government on anti-drug policy, Marino Castillo, said.
"We have the entry of the worst traditional organized crime groups, such as the Russians, and agressive cartels, like Mexico's Sinaloa and Los Zetas, (into the country)," Castillo said in a statement.
Nearly 300,000 young people are now addicted to drugs in the Dominican Republic as a result of the arrival in the country of international drug trafficking organizations, Castillo said.
The illegal drug trade has made progress in the country due to its infiltration of the armed forces, police, political parties, business, banking and the real estate industry, Castillo said.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112shrg73934/html/CHRG-112shrg73934.htm
THE U.S.-CARIBBEAN SHARED SECURITY PARTNERSHIP: RESPONDING TO THE
GROWTH OF TRAFFICKING AND NARCOTICS IN THE CARIBBEAN
Mr. Benson. We have seen the trafficking organizations shift. We have seen them use air. We have addressed that
threat. Then we see go-fast boat activity. We have seen as well innovative approaches such as semisubmersible submarines.
Senator Rubio. I guess my point is they are not using Jacksonville, FL, or other places, nor do I want them to, by
the way. But my point is that they are not using these places for a reason. Is there some specific vulnerability in Puerto
Rico's capabilities that they are exploiting? And at the end of the day, is that a resource problem that needs to be addressed?
Do they just not have good resources on the island to deal with some of these law enforcement----
Mr. Benson. I mean, I could get back to you with a number on the staffing level of the Puerto Rican state police.
Senator Rubio. Yes, please.
Mr. Benson. Our staffing has been constant over the last several years. So that really has not--we have kept our full
complement of resources throughout the Caribbean.
Senator Rubio. I guess the last point I would make is if this criminal activity were happening in Jacksonville people
would be screaming about it right now. I just want to make sure from not just the administration but from the congressional
perspective that we are paying just as much attention to it because Puerto Rico is a domestic responsibility of ours. It is
not another country. And so I want to make sure that we are giving it the attention it deserves both resourcewise and
publicly. So I look forward to exploring with your office what we can do on our end on the congressional level to ensure that
we are providing them the resources they need to address this problem.
Senator Menendez. Thank you, Senator Rubio.
I have another round of questions here.
I am particularly concerned within the context of the Caribbean about the Dominican Republic, and I would like to ask
Mr. Benson to help us understand what is happening. I am particularly concerned about the substantial increase in
narcotics consumption and trafficking in the DR, as well as the presence of international crime syndicates reportedly,
including Mexican and Colombian cartels, as well as mafia-affiliated entities from Venezuela, Russia, and even Albania.
In just the last few weeks, there have been reports from France and Puerto Rico documenting significant finds of narcotics
coming from the DR.
Can you comment for the committee on the growth in the narcotics trade in the DR, how it is entering and leaving the
country, what effect corruption has on our ability to address this growing problem and reform the police? So let us start
with an oversight on the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Benson. Senator, the Dominican Republic, as we look at it from a targeting point of view, plays a major role as a
transshipment point for those drug trafficking organizations.
We see loads of cocaine and heroin moving up into the Dominican Republic. We saw utilization of aircraft. We see go-fast boat
activity bringing loads of cocaine. We see containerized cargo moving up into the DR. It is still probably the most
significant transit point for criminal organizations to take those loads of cocaine and then we see it move from that point
to the United States. We see also significant loads of cocaine leave the Dominican Republic and also then move to Europe as
well. So it is a critical spot for us to work with our counterparts in the Dominican Republic from a targeting
strategy point of view, and we do that every day.
There are issues of corruption in the Dominican Republic, and then there is also great partnerships and counterparts that
we work with every day to get the job done.
Our targeting strategy there is effective. One thing we are trying to do is build throughout the Caribbean additional
information and intelligence exchange with all of the nations there in Caribbean to build that more robust targeting
approach, and that is how we see us going forward in the future from DEA looking at the Dominican Republic, Haiti as well, with
the overall goal of dismantling those criminal organizations.
Senator Menendez. When you and I spoke--and you mentioned this in your response to Senator Rubio's previous question--you
talked about submersibles. Could you expound upon that? It seems to be a relatively new but growing mechanism that they
are using to try to ship drugs to the United States.
Mr. Benson. We clearly see drug trafficking organizations changing their tactics in response to the successful operations
that we have. So they have, over the period of the last few years, begun to utilize semisubmersible submarines, fully
submersible submarines as well, to transport larger quantities of cocaine being constructed in South America and then being
utilized to move narcotics up into Central America and Mexico.
Senator Menendez. Now, I read just a few days ago the statements of one of the Presidential candidates in the
Dominican Republic who stated, ``We are at the risk of converting ourselves into a narcostate,'' and then went on to
cite a series of cases which are pretty alarming if they, in fact, are true, and maybe, Ambassador Brownfield, you can help
us with this as well as Mr. Benson. He cites the cases of former army captain, Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, who
operated within the military structure, recalling that the navy had guided and transported drug shipments instead of protecting
the marine frontier.
He also spoke about someone--and maybe, Mr. Benson, you could help us with this, as well as Ambassador Brownfield--Jose
David Figueroa Agosto having an ID card from DNA, which is Dominican National Intelligence, and was supposedly guarded by
police colonels, as well as having official license plates. Those are just some of a series of examples that have existed.
interesting - Menendez plays patty cake with Bernanke today....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSQUODxZqo0
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/5uMCyXxvh3O/Bernanke+Delivers+Semiannual+Monetary+Policy/CVhmBbmCIpS
Bernanke Delivers The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report To Congress
In This Photo: Robert Menendez, Heidi Heitkamp
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) (C) greets Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) before a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee after the release of The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress February 26, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke urged Congress to avoid the harsh sequestration cuts scheduled to begin March 1 with a plan to reduce federal deficits more gradually. He warned the sequestration could harm the economic recovery.
(February 25, 2013 - Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America
http://www.businessinsider.com/live-ben-bernanke-senate-testimony-2013-2
BERNANKE: Stocks Aren't Overvalued, And QE Is Doing More Good Than Harm
Matthew Boesler|Feb. 26, 2013, 9:49 AM
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his semi-annual "Humphrey Hawkins" testimony on monetary policy before the Senate Banking Committee this morning.
Market participants were listening closely for a dovish tone from Bernanke.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/live-ben-bernanke-senate-testimony-2013-2#ixzz2M28j7k2f
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-usa-fed-idUSBRE91P03T20130226
Bernanke says Fed stimulus benefits clear, budget cuts a risk
Now that the real story is about drugs - How about the Mexican drug cartel money laundering of HSBC (allowed under Goverment cover)?
http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/08/sen-menendez-responds-hsbc-dirty-dollars-inquiry.html
Sen. Menendez Responds (Sort Of) to HSBC Dirty Dollars Inquiry (Commentary)
Media scrutiny of the HSBC money-laundering scandal has died down, but I am not letting Sen. Robert Menendez (D) -- who represents me here in New Jersey -- nor any other congressional recipients of the disgraced bank's political action committee's generosity off the hook.
Despite calling -- as a journalist -- the leadership of the House Financial Services and the Senate Banking committees, until today only one member responded. And the spokesman for that one leader (one of the few who has not gotten or taken a penny from the HSBC PAC in fifteen years) -- declined comment.The rest have remained steadfastly silent.
Today, however, Sen. Menendez had this to say in response to my questions, "In light of HSBC's dealing with Mexican drug lords and suspected Iranian terrorist supporters, what do you plan to do with the bank PAC donations you have received over the years? Will you reject future offers?"
Dear Mr. Peacock :
Thank you for contacting me regarding an issue with my re-election campaign.
As you may know, I am currently up for re-election to the United States Senate, with the election taking place on November 6, 2012. While I would like to respond to your inquiry, I am legally prohibited from discussing any activity related to a political organization, such as my re-election campaign, with official Senate resources. As such, I would encourage you to contact my campaign with your inquiry.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not he sitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance. I invite you to visit my website http://menendez.senate.gov to learn more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate.
Sincerely,.
Robert Menendez, United States Senator
http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/scandal-plagued-hsbc-shopped-congress-for-favors/
Scandal-plagued HSBC shopped Congress for favors
No officials offer to return bank's blood money
Published: 07/29/2012 at 5:53 PM
http://www.unpartial.com/a/a656d2fd35296e27e4b7402a7e800c644ab56677/hsbc-to-pay-19b-to-settle-money-laundering-probe
HSBC to pay $1.9B to settle money-laundering probe
By Pete Yost, Associated Press updated 02:07 AM EST, Tue December 11, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) — HSBC, the British banking giant, said Tuesday it will pay $1.9 billion to settle a money-laundering probe by federal and state authorities in the United States
A U.S. law enforcement official said Monday that HSBC will pay $1.25 billion in forfeiture and pay $655 million in civil penalties. The $1.25 billion figure is the largest forfeiture ever in a case involving a bank. Under what is known as a deferred prosecution agreement, the financial institution will be accused of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and the Trading With the Enemy Act
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/12/govt-arrests-illegal-immigrant-senate-intern-for-menendez/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29
ICE reportedly arrested illegal immigrant sex offender interning for Menendez
WASHINGTON – Sen. Robert Menendez had an unpaid intern working in his New Jersey office who was an illegal immigrant and a registered sex offender and now is under arrest by immigration authorities, The Associated Press has learned. The Homeland Security Department instructed federal agents not to arrest him until after the Nov. 6 Election Day, a U.S. official involved in the case told the AP
Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta, an 18-year-old immigrant from Peru, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in front of his home in New Jersey on Dec. 6, two federal officials said. Sanchez, who entered the country on a now-expired visitor visa from Peru, is facing deportation and remains in custody. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of Sanchez's immigration case.
The prosecutor's office in Hudson County, New Jersey, said Sanchez was found to have violated the law in 2010 and subsequently required to register as a sex offender. The exact charge was unclear because Sanchez was prosecuted as a juvenile and those court records are not publicly accessible. The prosecutor's office confirmed to AP that Sanchez registered as a sex offender, although his name does not appear on the public registry. The acting county prosecutor, Gaetano Gregory, is a Republican.
Authorities in Hudson County notified ICE agents in early October that they suspected Sanchez was an illegal immigrant who was a registered sex offender and who may be eligible to be deported. ICE agents in New Jersey notified superiors at the Homeland Security Department because they considered it a potentially high profile arrest, and DHS instructed them not to arrest Sanchez until after the November election, one U.S. official told the AP. ICE officials complained that the delay was inappropriate, but DHS directed them several times not to act, the official said.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/02/25/The-Manuel-Noriega-Connection-to-the-Family-Behind-the-Melgen-Menendez-Dominican-Port-Security-Deal
The Manuel Noriega Connection to the Family Behind the Melgen-Menendez Dominican Port Security Deal
by Michael Patrick Leahy26 Feb 2013
When Belinda Galvan Beauchamp, widow of Juan Rene Beauchamp, the former head of the Dominican Armed Forces assassinated in 2000, signed the now infamous and controversial "Melgen-Menendez" Dominican port security deal in 2002 on behalf of ICSSI, her newly formed company with few assets and no port security experience, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega had been in an American prison for a decade.
But the Beauchamp family had deep ties to Noriega that extended back to the 1960s and 1970s, when both Noriega and Beauchamp were ambitious junior military officers in their respective countries. According to a December 27, 2000 report in EFE News Services, "Dominican Gen. Juan Rene Beauchamp Javier, the former head of the Dominican armed forces gunned down Tuesday by unknown assassins, was a close friend of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega and had served as ambassador to Argentina."
Beauchamp's son, Jean Rene Beauchamp, married Noriega's daughter, Sandra Noriega, in 1987, at the height of Noriega's six year reign as Panama's military dictator. The two subsequently divorced. It is not clear if the divorce took place before or after the Beachamp family's newly formed ICSSI company secured the Dominican port security deal in 2002.
When Noriega was deposed during the American invasion of Panama in 1989, his wife and two of his sons fled to the Dominican Republic, where they lived with General Beauchamp and his family for a period of time. Noriega's daughter Sandra was apparently already living in the Dominican with her husband, Beauchamp's son.
In August, 2011, Dr. Salomon Melgen purchased a controlling interest from the Beauchamp family in ICSSI, and with that purchase came the rights to the disputed 2002 port security contract with the Dominican government.
Where did Soloman Melgen get his money - From the MIC Military Industrial Complex:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/eye-doctor-salomon-melgen-lost-68-million-in-inves/nWK6B/
Melgen’s resume says he was a co-founder of Seisint, a data company that was purchased by LexisNexis for $775 million in 2004.
Seisint created a data-mining tool that it said could help law enforcement track down terrorists [covert military ops] .
“Dr. Melgen was a seed investor in a high-tech company that did extremely well. He made a great deal of money in that particular investment,” said Scarola. “He did not make those kinds of dollars practicing medicine, although he has a very successful practice.”
Melgen also has an ownership stake in ICSSI, a company that had a long-dormant contract with the Dominican Republic to provide port security at an estimated value of $500 million. Menendez spoke to State Department officials about the contract and at a hearing last year, urged State and Commerce Department officials to press the Dominican government to revive that contract.
http://www.lexisnexis.com/presscenter/mediakit/history.asp
In 1994, Reed Elsevier acquired the LexisNexis™ service. Begun in Dayton as a contractor to the US Air Force in 1966, its electronic data-search system became the first to retrieve full-text documents. In 1973, the company introduced a legal-research system that revolutionized the way in which legal research and analysis was conducted. The technology propelled the legal profession into a new era.
In 1979, a companion news and business-information service was introduced under the Nexis banner. Michie™, founded in the late 1800s and the sole provider of statutes for 35 U.S. states and territories, joined the fold of LexisNexis in 1987.
With the advent of the World Wide Web, LexisNexis moved its information products and services to the new distribution channel, eliminating the need for proprietary software or extensive training. In September 1997, LexisNexis debuted the first Web-based service for U.S. legal professionals, the precursor to LexisNexis™ at www.lexis.com.
In 2002, LexisNexis Butterworths Canada and Quicklaw Inc., Canada’s leading online legal research service, agreed to merge. Late in the year, they were formally joined to become LexisNexis Canada, a business unit of North American Legal Markets.
The history of LexisNexis Group represents one of converging companies that today operate within a unified global organization. First to join Reed Elsevier via Reed in 1970 was the legal publishing Butterworths Group, founded in 1818 in the UK. By the 1930s, Butterworths had expanded to other common-law countries, with operations in India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 1990 Martindale-Hubbell, became part of Reed Elsevier bringing with it a history dating back to the first Martindale law directory published in 1868.
Now a truly international player with established and expanding operations in North America, Europe, South Africa and Asia Pacific, Reed Elsevier in 1998 acquired respected U.S. legal publisher Matthew Bender (founded in 1887) and the remaining interest it did not own in leading citator Shepard’s Company (founded in 1873). The scene was set for the globalization of the LexisNexis Group that, for the first time in October 2000, united the different parts of Reed Elsevier’s legal-publishing activities. In 2002, the company acquired legal online publishers Quicklaw Inc. of Canada and MBO Verlag GmbH of Germany
With 13,000 employees worldwide, LexisNexis is a global company with sales representatives in all major U.S. cities as well as in:
Frankfurt,
Milan,
Warsaw,
Budapest,
Prague,
Wellington,
New Delhi,
Durban,
Singapore,
Buenos Aires,
Santiago de Chile,
and in many other national centers.
Now, didn't I say this story was NOT about "underage" hookers? ...
http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2013/03/04/gasp-hooker-paid-to-fabricate-claims-against-menendez/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/escort-says-menendez-prostitution-claims-were-made-up/2013/03/04/31299fe2-8514-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html
Escort says Menendez prostitution claims were made up
By Carol D. Leonnig and Ernesto Londoño, Updated: Monday, March 4, 1:57 PM
An escort who appeared on a video claiming Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) paid her for sex has told Dominican Republic police that she was instead paid to make up the claims in a tape recording and has never met or seen the senator before, according to court documents and two people briefed on her claim.
The woman identified a lawyer who approached her and a friend to make the videotape, according to affidavits obtained by the Post. That man has in turn identified another lawyer who gave him a script for the tape and paid him to find women to fabricate the claims, the affidavits say
http://wonkette.com/504279/menendez-hooker-interviewed-by-daily-caller-i-cant-believe-we-made-up-the-whole-thing
Daily Caller’s Menendez Hooker: I Can’t Believe We Made Up The Whole Thing
by Rebecca Schoenkopf
Next-gen rightwing journamalism Great White Hope Matthew Boyle was pretty proud when the FBI did some boring raid on some shady eye doctor allegedly organizing underage sex-hookers for New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez. Boyle had been beating his horse for months over it, while no one respectable would touch it. (Your Wonkette, along with the rest of the civilized universe, does not consider itself “respectable.”)
But now it is time for Boyle to figure out what his clever alibi will be as to why the woman who identified herself to Boyle’s readers as New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez’s prostitute now says she was paid money by some shady lawyer guy to read from a script when she said she did sex on New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez for money.
Did Boyle get Burketted? Boyle probably did not get Burketted. (This is where Karl Rove false-flags you with memos that are identical to the memos the Army secretary remembers typing up, but MOAR PIXELZ!) At least, it seems improbable that Boyle got Burketted, since he was there for the videotaped “interview” with the lady, which he conducted himself, and in which the lady says she was reading from a script, and ALSO which does not seem to be in the story trumpeting the interview along with “VIDEO” any longer.
Since we are more intellectually honest than anyone to ever work at either the Daily Caller (Boyle’s old home) or Ghost Andrew Breitbart’s Internet Brothel, where he now plies his trade, we will point out that just because this lady says she was paid to give her fake testimony about the bonking of the senator does not mean that all the other ladies who allegedly orgied the senator are equally made up.
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GamesRepublic.com Darksiders
Simulators Darksiders
The best sim games for the best price
Have you heard of Darksiders? One of the most climactic, dark, and spectacular action games of our time? If not, read this introduction. Darksiders is a video game franchise created by Vigil Games and published by THQ. There are currently two main installments, both of which are a unique combination of action role-playing and hack ’n’ slash genre. The franchise is inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with the player taking the role of two of them: War (Darksiders) and Death (Darksiders II). In Darksiders games, players take control of War and Death, two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Both games are shown in third-person perspective and engage players in combat, exploration, and various puzzles. The world is divided into many separate locations with some areas initially inaccessible. The first game was released in 2010 for multiple platforms and its sequel in 2012. Darksiders franchise has sold over 3 million units worldwide. Darksiders is one of the best action games ever made for consoles. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s incredibly addictive. Check it out at Games Republic!
Darksiders Simulators
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Home / News / Local News / CASD Discusses Elementary Reading Support
CASD Discusses Elementary Reading Support
Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 by Jessica Shirey in Local News, Top Stories
CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield school board discussed its elementary reading support “watch list” and also approved Clearfield High School summer school and Keystone Exam remediation programs at Monday night’s combined committee and board meeting.
Bruce Nicolls, director of curriculum/instruction and federal programs, detailed the district’s current, three-tier model for elementary reading support. In Tier 1, he said nearly all of the students participate in the core program with 70-80 percent successful at this level of reading support.
In Tier 2, he said some students, or 10-15 percent, require additional time or differential instruction to be successful. This usually consists of tutoring or lighter level of support. In Tier 3, he said some students, 5-10 percent, may need intensive, research-based programs to be successful.
So far as Tier 3, Nicolls said Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) is delivered daily to small groups of two to three students for 30 – 40 minutes, in addition to the core program. Under ideal conditions, he said students should be at near grade level in 16 – 18 weeks if they have regular attendance and at-home support.
According to him, these students are assessed early in the year, as the staff determines who could benefit most from immediate Tier 3 support. He said additional students are placed on a “watch list” and receive Tier 1 or Tier 2 support. Near mid-year he said students are re-evaluated and some exit from LLI and others enter the program.
Nicolls said 11 students are on the “watch list” at Centre Elementary, where there are 28 students receiving LLI. He said six students are on the “watch list” in third grade at the Clearfield Elementary School. Initially at the CES, Nicolls said there were 20 students in LLI and 25 students on the “watch list.”
“These are our two, bigger groups that we’re looking at more closely,” he said. Nicolls believed the district was pretty close to the appropriate level of staffing for its elementary reading support program. However, board member Jennifer Wallace disagreed, saying their top priority was education, and she’d rather be proactive and employ an extra staff member to benefit the district and its students. Nicolls said they were trying to balance fiscal responsibility and needs and making the best with what they have.
Board members Susan Mikesell and Rick Schickling sought answers for the big difference between the second and third grades at the CES. Mikesell said in the second grade, only 10 students were on the initial “watch list.” When compared to other grade levels, Nicolls said the CES third grade group was unusually high and represented about 30 percent of students at that grade level.
CES Principal Jamie Quick said for that reason, they’d gone to one staff member per grade level rather than three overall for reading support. Unfortunately as students get older, he said there’s also more likelihood of identification, finding students are happier behind while they have more time to grow. Centre Elementary Principal Mary Michael Sayers said its increase could be directly correlated with the increase of new students this year.
Wallace asked how the district approaches correcting its reading support issues and solicited further discussion among board members. Superintendent Dr. Thomas B. Otto said the district’s Title 1 program will probably be underfunded at the federal level in the upcoming year. Even still he thought the board could entertain the hiring of another staff member for reading support.
When asked after the meeting, Nicolls said he’s estimating the district will lose around $150,000 in Title 1 funding from the federal level. If the district would hire another staff member for reading support, he estimated it would cost around $100,000 for salaries and benefits.
Otto believed students’ reading skills were regressing over the summer months. Nicolls said it was a “big issue” with some students reading very little or not at all, which could be resulting in the higher initial identification of students who need reading support. Nicolls said some get into the swing of things, while others require some additional monitoring.
Board member Dr. Michael Spencer wanted the district to make the right decision and asked if the district would be better served to switch its reading support to K-3 rather than including the fourth grade. He said studies have shown more growth occurs at the lower grade levels. Nicolls said the PSSA had been their “strong incentive” for including the fourth grade in the Title 1 reading program.
Nicolls said the high school administration wanted credit recovery mechanisms in the form of summer school to improve its graduation rate. He said two years ago, the federal and state standards changed the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) graduation target rate from 80 percent to 85 percent. Nicolls said they also changed the way it’s calculated.
According to him, the graduation rate is now calculated by the percent of ninth graders who graduate in four years. He said any student who obtains a GED, any IEP student who stays additional years, any student who drops out, any student who graduates in five years, any student who moves but never enrolls and any cyber school student who returns without enough credits to graduate all count against the district.
He said the district’s graduation rate was 78 percent in 2011; 81 percent in 2010, which was the first year of the four-year cohort without any disaggregation of subgroups; and 84 percent in 2009 under the old graduation formula and target. He said the district’s AYP status is determined by the previous year’s graduation rate.
Nicolls said the district is currently classified as “District Improvement.” He said this requires that 10 percent of its Title 1 funding, or $83,000, be used for professional development and other initiatives to raise the graduation rate. Nicolls said this year, the district is going to invest in instructional coaching at the high and middle schools, as well as in the purchase of books for all professional staff on teaching students from poverty.
He said the high school hadn’t provided summer school or correspondence classes to help with credit recovery for several years. Last year, he said the summer school helped 15 students graduate on time that otherwise wouldn’t have without it.
Principal Tim Janocko said they had met with the faculty in the core subject areas. He said they’re looking at allowing students more opportunities to make up work on a quarterly basis and still offering summer school.
Janocko said they wanted to provide summer school this year, beginning June 12 and ending June 26 at the Centre Elementary School. He said each session would be held from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., except for Friday, which would be from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. He said they wanted one teacher from each of the core areas: English, social studies, mathematics and science with one also certified in special education. If a dual-certified teacher couldn’t be found, Janocko said there would be a need for an additional teacher certified in special education.
The board approved the proposed high school summer school program.
Nicolls presented the results of the Winter Keystone Exams during which students were tested in Algebra I, Biology and Literature. He pointed out that in Algebra I, 60 percent of students passed, which was 6 percent above the state average. He said 41.8 percent and 65.8 percent passed in Biology and Literature, respectively, which was comparable to the state averages for those subject areas.
Nicolls said the students who didn’t pass would be retaking the Keystone Exams in May. He requested to provide up to 12 plan periods from seven high school English teachers for remedial purposes prior to the May Keystone Exams. He said it’s important to have the maximum students passing for the district to meet AYP targets. Nicolls said the cost would be approximately $2,200.
The board approved the requested Keystone Exam remediation.
Nicole's Niche Opens in DuBois
PGC Releases 2012-13 Deer Harvest Estimates
SWG Fund Approved for Projects
DRMC Offers Smoking Cessation Classes
State Police Investigating Kersey Man’s Death
Bucks County Man Charged with Worker’s Compensation Fraud
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Home / News / National News / Photos of unsmiling Roof on manifesto website show symbols, gun
Photos of unsmiling Roof on manifesto website show symbols, gun
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2015 by CNN in National News
A website featuring a racist manifesto and 60 photos has become part of the investigation into Dylann Roof, who has been charged in the slaying of nine people at Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The 2,000-word text explains the writer’s philosophy of white superiority, saying the Trayvon Martin case “truly awakened me” and that “I chose Charleston because it is most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country.”
Motive has become the biggest question as state and federal investigators work on the case — and statements and photos on the website match what investigators have determined so far.
For instance, CNN Charlotte affiliate WBTV, citing a source, says Roof told investigators in Shelby, North Carolina, where he was arrested, that he researched the church and targeted it because it turned out to be a “historic African-American church.”
Three photos show Roof posing with a pistol. One closeup shows a gun that can be identified as a.45-caliber Glock — the model of gun investigators say was used in the church shooting. Those photos were taken in April, after his 21st birthday, when his family said he purchased a .45-caliber gun.
The website, called the Last Rhodesian, is bare bones. Roof’s name doesn’t appear anywhere on the site but he is shown in many of the photos.
An Internet ownership search shows the website was registered to Roof and listed as the administrator. The ownership search listed not only Roof’s name, but his address in South Carolina, his email and his phone.
The website was registered in February but surfaced on Twitter and other social media Saturday.
The FBI and Charleston police are looking at this document to see whether it is Roof’s, according to a posting on the Charleston police verified Twitter account. So far there’s no evidence the attack was directed by a white supremacist group, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The name “last Rhodesian” is apparently a reference to the former British colony in Africa that was ruled by a white minority until it became independent in 1980 and changed its name to Zimbabwe.
One of the photos on the website shows Roof wearing a jacket with a flag of Rhodesia as well as one of apartheid South Africa. The white supremacist movement venerates both governments.
Roof confessed to the shootings in interviews with the Charleston police and FBI, two law enforcement officials told CNN.
“Whites” always capitalized
The writer of the text explains how he or she came to believe that whites — a word he always capitalizes — are superior to other races.
“I was not raised in a racist home or environment. Living in the South, almost every White person has a small amount of racial awareness, simply beause (sic) of the numbers of negroes in this part of the country.”
The writer says blacks have a racial awareness, which is something whites need to develop. He says segregation was a good thing because it protected whites from blacks and integration is bringing whites down to the level of blacks.
He discusses Jews and Hispanics in derogatory terms but says he respects East Asians because they could be “allies” to whites.
The writer says the Trayvon Martin case “truly awakened me.” Martin was a black Florida teen fatally shot in 2012 by George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in court.
“I kept hearing and seeing his name, and eventually I decided to look him up,” the text says. “I read the Wikipedia article and right away I was unable to understand what the big deal was. It was obvious that Zimmerman was in the right.”
In a statement, Benjamin Crump, lead attorney for Martin’s family, said “it is not uncommon for those who commit unspeakable acts of violence to blame their heinous behavior on the actions of others.”
“Regardless of how this demented, racist individual attempts to shift the focus of his murderous actions, we will remain steadfast in our defense of the voiceless around this country,” the statement said. “They need it now more than ever.”
The writer says he looked up “black on White crime” on the Internet.
‘I have no choice’
“I have never been the same since that day,” he said.
Near the bottom of the manifesto, the writer says:
“I have no choice. … I chose Charleston because it is most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country. … Well someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me.”
It’s not clear who took any of the 60 photos, which were shot between August 3, 2014, and June 17, with the majority shot in March and April. Roof appears alone in many of them, never smiling. The other pictures show objects or landscapes and no other people.
Photo of gun with laser sight
The pictures of the .45-caliber Glock handgun posted on the website show Roof had installed a Sig Sauer compact pistol laser on the weapon. The laser-targeting device, which sells for about $100, mounts under the front of the gun’s barrel.
In one of the images where Roof is seen pointing the gun directly at the camera, the laser appears to be illuminating.
Authorities have said Roof used a .45-caliber Glock model 41 in the attack at Emmanuel Church. The pictures posted to Roof’s website match that model. Police have not mentioned whether the weapon was equipped with a laser-targeting device and it is not known whether the laser device was actually used in the attack. Such a device would have made aiming the weapon much easier.
One picture shows Roof sitting on a low chair in what looks like a back yard with potted flowers on both sides and in front of him. He gazes into the camera over sunglasses that have slipped down to the end of his nose while holding a pistol in one hand and a small Confederate flag in the other.
Roof waves Confederate flag
Photos taken May 11 show Roof burning and spitting on an American flag. Another May 11 photo shows him holding a small Confederate flag.
Other pictures could have been taken of anybody visiting tourist sites around Charleston. Many were taken the same day and touch on issues of slavery and the Confederacy.
He’s photographed at Boone Hall Plantation, a former rice plantation open for tours; beside the Angel Oak, an ancient and massive tree; beside an informational sign for Sullivan’s Island, where thousands of slaves were off-loaded; and at the entrance to an African-American cemetery. The entrance to a Confederate cemetery is pictured.
He also poses outside the Museum and Library of Confederate History in Greenville.
One picture shows Roof crouching on the sand, apparently at the beach, with the numbers “1488” drawn in the sand.
The Southern Poverty Law Center says those digits refer to a 14-word slogan coined by David Lane, who was convicted in the killing of a Jewish talk show host, and that 88 means “Heil Hitler.” H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
Worshippers will return to Charleston's Emanuel AME on Sunday
Prison break: Police converge on southwestern N.Y. county
San Francisco and Berkeley brace for politically-charged rallies
Sanitation worker’s early pickup leads to two weekends in jail
Martin Luther King Jr.’s children return to court over his Bible and Nobel Prize
Former MLB star Dave Henderson dies
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Archbishop Gregory, other leaders urge inquiry into abuse claims against former cardinal
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE | Published August 10, 2018
WASHINGTON (CNS)—U.S. Catholic church leaders have been calling for an internal investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick and urging such an inquiry be spearheaded by laypeople.
“I think we have reached a point where bishops alone investigating bishops is not the answer. To have credibility, a panel would have to be separated from any source of power whose trustworthiness might potentially be compromised,” said Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of Albany, New York.
In an Aug. 6 statement, the bishop said he was “heartened by my brother bishops proposing ways for our church to take action in light of recent revelations” and he agreed “a national panel should be commissioned, duly approved by the Holy See.”
But the bishop said laypeople had a crucial role to play in this work, noting that they are “not only willing to take on this much-needed role, but they are eager to help us make lasting reforms that will restore a level of trust that has been shattered yet again.”
“In speaking with them, “ he said, “we all hear their passion for our universal church, their devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and their hunger for the truth. They are essential to the solution we seek.”
Bishop Scharfenberger said what is currently needed is “an independent commission led by well-respected, faithful lay leaders who are beyond reproach, people whose role on such a panel will not serve to benefit them financially, politically or personally. These will be people with a deep understanding of the Catholic faith, but without an axe to grind or an agenda to push. It will not be easy, but it will be worth every ounce of effort, energy and candor we can muster.”
He stressed that U.S. bishops must “get this right” and he said he is confident they can “find a way to look outside ourselves, to put this in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and to entrust our very capable laypeople, who have stood with us through very difficult times, to help us do the right thing.”
Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory issued a print and video statement Aug. 9 expressing his “profound anger, sadness and distress concerning sexual abuse by church leaders of children, young people and those over whom they exercised authority.” Archbishop Gregory is pictured during the 2017 Catholic convocation in Orlando, Fla. CNS photo/Bob Roller
“We need an investigation — the scope of which is not yet defined but must be defined — and it must be timely, transparent and credible,” he added.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory issued a print and video statement Aug. 9 on expressing his “profound anger, sadness and distress concerning sexual abuse by church leaders of children, young people and those over whom they exercised authority.”
“My anger and disappointment, shared by Catholics and others, are only heightened by the reality that leaders who have engaged in or neglected to protect others from such damaging and deviant behavior have for many years failed to be held accountable — and have even risen in leadership positions,” he said. “We must do better — for the sake of all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and for the sake of everyone whom we serve.”
Archbishop Gregory said Catholics everywhere, including him, “are stunned and justifiably angry at shameful, unrelenting recent revelations of bishops accused of abuse or mishandling allegations of abuse — behavior that offends and scandalizes the people of God entrusted to our care.”
He said Catholics are specifically “enraged” about allegations of abuse by Archbishop McCarrick and find “any pastoral negligence in protecting our people is similarly grievous.”
“We are weary of this cloud of shame that continues to shroud church leadership and compromise our mission,” he said, adding that he is “personally disheartened” because in 2002, as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he made assurances that this crisis was over and would not be repeated.
“I sincerely believed that the unprecedented steps we took at that time would help to heal this wound in the body of Christ. And so they have, “ he added, “though obviously not completely or even sufficiently.”
The archbishop said he was saddened because many good priests are again “seen as suspect not because they have done anything wrong” and he was hurt that his respect and fraternal esteem for Archbishop McCarrick “were clearly misplaced.”
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, former head of the U.S. bishops’ committee on child and youth protection, said in an interview with America magazine that he supports an investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop McCarrick that includes laypeople.
The cardinal told the Jesuit magazine he was shocked to learn about Archbishop McCarrick’s double life and would support “a full inquiry” into why those settlements against him were not disclosed.
“We have to find out exactly what took place, especially with regard to the adult misbehavior that was alleged,” he said, adding that if dioceses lack policies on how to deal with allegations of misbehavior involving adults, then “we need to correct that.”
Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl told the National Catholic Reporter Aug. 5 that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops should create a new panel to receive and evaluate any allegations or rumors of sexual misconduct by a member bishop, adding that the Vatican could designate one of its offices to act on the proposed panel’s findings.
The cardinal said he had not personally been aware of rumors about Archbishop McCarrick’s alleged abuse of young men while he was a priest and bishop, but the cardinal said there should be a mechanism where rumors about bishops could be reviewed.
“It seems to me that’s one possibility, that there would be some way for the bishops, and that would mean working through our conference … to be able to address the question of sustained rumors,” he told the independent, lay-owned biweekly newspaper
He said the proposed panel of bishops might turn any findings it makes on an accused bishop to the apostolic nuncio, who could pass these findings on to a Vatican office.
“We don’t pass judgment,” Cardinal Wuerl told NCR. “That has to go to Rome. So, it seems to me there has to be some mechanism in the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith or in the Congregation for Bishops to evaluate any concern that a conference of bishops might have about one of its members.”
He said his idea of a new panel was in response to the Aug. 1 statement by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, that said the bishops’ conference would discuss at its annual fall meeting “the right course of action” in wake of revelations of Archbishop McCarrick’s abuse.
Cardinal Wuerl said bishops need to be ready for this meeting with work already done and ideas in place.
Cardinal Cupich similarly urged bishops to be ready to discuss this issue at their November meeting.
He told America magazine that Catholics should ask their bishops to explain the policies in place to protect both children and adults from harassment and abuse.
If church leaders “need help in that nationally, then we need to do something,” he said, adding: “Let’s roll up our sleeves when we get together in November and do it.”
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, also mentioned the bishops’ fall meeting, saying in an Aug. 6 statement that when the bishops convene they will “consider ways to embrace spiritual renewal and to rebuild trust.”
“I pledge to do everything I can to make the process of handling the accusations of bishops more transparent and effective,” he added.
He thanked diocesan Catholics for warmly welcoming him to the diocese last November which he said: “contrasts sharply with the sting of the recent reports of scandal regarding Archbishop Theodore McCarrick and the silence of so many bishops who knew about him.”
“It is almost unbearable,” he said, of the allegations and lack of church response, noting: “How could a brother bishop disrespect with such callousness the dignity of young boys, seminarians and priests over decades and no one called him on the carpet?”
“It is inexplicable to me. This cannot continue, and I hope with God’s grace there will be a change of culture among the clergy,” he said.
Archbishop Gregory said that while the USCCB’s current leadership considers its next steps, he strongly urges these leaders to “engage the laity in reviewing and recommending courses of action that will assure the faithful that we are serious in curing this blight from our church and from episcopal governance once and for all.”
He pointed out that when the USCCB established a national lay review board in 2002, there was some pushback because some people felt they were “improperly ceding control of the ministry of bishops” but given the current situation, he said, oversight by laity “may well provide the only credible assurance that real and decisive actions are being taken.”
“Our trustworthiness as bishops has been so seriously compromised that acting alone — even with the best of intentions and the highest principles, policies and plans — may not move the hearts of the faithful to believe,” he added.
Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Tucson, Arizona, similarly called for further action, saying in an Aug. 1 statement that it is important for the USCCB to review the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” to address clergy abuse.
“The charter needs to ensure that procedures and practices are in place to hold clergy, employees, volunteers, and bishops to the same level of accountability,” he said.
“In addition to adhering to the Dallas charter, we bishops can and must enter more deeply into a life of prayer and penance,” said Bishop William A. Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida.
“All of us have sinned; all of us are in need of God’s mercy,” he said of the bishops, noting that “acts of penance on behalf of individuals can help to heal the body as a whole.”
Along with further prayer, fasting and spiritual direction, he said the bishops also should make efforts to be “more inclusive of laypeople in our decision-making and in our social lives as well in order to break some of the unnecessary bonds of secrecy and privilege.”
Bishops should “welcome friendships with people outside the episcopacy and priesthood,” he wrote in a letter to diocesan Catholics, adding that it has been a blessing for him to get to know families in parishes and the diocese and share with them his own struggles and concerns.
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Art and Culture, Education, Environment & Sustainability, Featured, Food and Agriculture, Guest Posts, Indigenous Rights, Latin America, Partner and Trip Leader Stories, Peace and Conflict, Reality Tours Blog
Juan de Dios Gomez Ramírez – Our Partner in Oaxaca
Juan de Dios Gomez Ramírez has been leading Global Exchange trips to Oaxaca since 2005. In the lead up to our annual Day of the Dead trip to Oaxaca, we are featuring a write-up of his fascinating background, written by Juan de Dios himself. And yes, there are still spots available on this year’s trip! *Please note the following has been translated from Spanish.
by Juan de Dios Gomez Ramírez
I was the tenth son of thirteen brothers, my mother Francisca Josefina was a native of a Zapotec community in the South Sierra of Oaxaca, and my father, Leonardo Zechariah, was a mestizo from a Zapotec community of the town of Etla. I was born in 1957 in the city of Oaxaca, where I lived for the first few years of my life. When I was 4 years old my family moved to live in the Federal District for my father’s work.
The last year I lived in Mexico City, 1968, was fateful for Mexico: it included the terrible events of Tlatelolco and the Olympics. During the first years of high school I lived in a village in Oaxaca and I had friends with whom I would walk to school for one hour daily. We also visited the hills at the foot of the high cerro de San Felipe and repeatedly climbed to its summit to admire the great landscape of the Central Valley and the city of Oaxaca, instead of being in school as we should have. During the last year of high school I started working as an apprentice to a photographer in the center of the city.
My high school studies passed with an awakening to politics, long hair and work. They were years convulsed by the student movement that was emerging from the University, demanding greater opportunities for participation in decision-making of University life. The clumsy handling of this situation by the Government proliferated arbitrary arrests (myself and my roommates included), as well as the killings of citizens at the hands of the police. During that time I regularly attended the school of fine arts of the University, as an irregular student of screen printing and engraving workshops. That link took me to work more than one year as a restorer of colonial paintings from the Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, an emblematic architectural monument of that period that resided in the city.
Yucatán, a rich academic and social experience
In 1977, the police and the army patrolled the city, and took the facilities of the University as a measure to squash social revolt. That year I finished my high school and I wanted to study anthropology, but in Oaxaca there was no school, so without much hesitation I traveled to the city of Mérida, Yucatán, and with the recommendation of an anthropologist friend I was accepted. But not everything was so easy, because to sustain me in school I had to find a job. That situation forced me to temporarily quit school to work in the small town of Valladolid, in a school for Mayan-Spanish bilingual teachers. Then I moved to Puerto Juarez, in the State of Quintana Roo, where I worked as a sign writer in the nascent tourist city of Cancun. This work allowed me to become familiar with boats of all sizes, hotels and restaurants before opening, as well as listening to lectures, projects and views on world tourism (which still had not come) as well as allowing me to save to return to University.
After a while I abandoned the idea of anthropology, I was seduced by archaeology, to study the mysteries of ancient history. During the summer I enrolled in the Normal Superior de Yucatán to obtain a Bachelor’s degree as a teacher in social sciences and teach in high school. During the years that I studied for a Masters I became convinced that the traditional school system conditioned or inhibited some skills and talents of the students into specialized work force away from consciousness and social criticism.
Trade unionism and politics
At that time the President of the Republic was Lopez Portillo, whose administration was characterized by corruption and wastage, tried to rebound with the nation by nationalizing the country’s banks towards the end of his administration. This new situation allowed for the creation of banking unions and the Henequenero Trust. Many co-workers agreed on the formation of a Trade Union and at a meeting of all employees I was appointed as a secretary of the Executive Committee of the Single Trade Union of the Workers of the Henerquero Trust (SUTFH).
My public position led me to be postulated as a State candidate for a coalition of parties of the left (PSUM-PRT-PMT) by some local groups and anarchist unions in the first district based in Mérida. It was an opportunity – I approached people to show the degree of marginalization, exploitation and injustice facing people living in the countryside and the city in various fields of Yucatecan society, as well as the great need to organize and implement political changes in legislation to ensure respect for the constitutional and human rights of citizenship.
We never believed that the State would allow our triumph, although the official results were very favorable, more than expected. However, a few days after the elections concluded, I was arrested by police, tortured psychologically overnight and released the next day on trumped up charges. Some time later, the Henequenero Trust signed a collective agreement with a ghost union, and so began a series of dismissals to waive labor without compensation of law. I was relocated and when my dismissal was imminent, we received the news that the Henequenero Trust was settled by presidential decree and with it came our dismissal with compensation.
A haven in the artistic life
After that episode, I dabbled in the field of painting and the Visual Arts, and decided not to return to work in the bureaucracy. My fondness for the drawing of the mayas took me to win a project I worked on with the support of several painters and bricklayers of the town; I painted a mural on a large wooden frame curated with stucco, and media reviews were benevolent with my work.
The return to the country of the Clouds
It had been more than 10 years since I had come to the Yucatan Peninsula, and nostalgia for going back to Oaxaca to be close to my family was more consistent. So, I made a trip to try my luck with the intention of finding a job. My return to Oaxaca was very pleasant, the climate and food that my mom made was the reward for many years of absence. Because of my experience, I was accepted at the Secretariat of Agriculture as an analyst, but after working 4 months without pay, having organized and conducted training courses and produced several brochures, I received a salary as a plumber, four times below what was offered. It was necessary to make use of my trade union experience to make them pay me the agreed salary, but I eventually had to leave the employment.
I then collaborated on a government program which promoted cultural and artistic activities, as well as workshops, on drawing, screen printing, photography, etc. However, the state bureaucracy did not allow me to fully develop the programs, and poor management of the budget and a thousand bureaucratic procedures prevented simply beginning work in the communities. I soon understood that these government programs were only to give an appearance abroad that the Government took care of indigenous communities without actually doing anything of substance.
I decided to return to Mérida, where I went to work in the newspaper Diario de Yucatan, which is the largest circulation on the Peninsula. My work was as a graphic designer and I trained to use computers, which then were still not common. I spent about a year in the journal which allowed me to have a rapprochement with the guild of journalists. Then I began a printing workshop, in which we worked with some friends on several projects, and after having saved some money I returned to Oaxaca with the idea to set up permanently.
The movement and indigenous journalism in Oaxaca
Upon my return, I was invited to work in the isthmus of Tehuantepec with the union of indigenous communities of the area north of the isthmus (UCIZONI), to develop a project which consisted of video and audio of the customs of the indigenous peoples who inhabit the region (Zapotecs, mixes, Zoque, Mixtec, chinantecos and Afro-mestizos); It was a monthly magazine which held for 3 years, with the implementation of a program of training workshops in communication, press and the accompanying cultural and agricultural projects. This work allowed me to attend meetings and national and international indigenous conferences to participate in various committees and delegations, notably to promote a campaign of 500 years of indigenous resistance in the Yucatan Peninsula during the summer of 1991. The following year I was invited by the University of Victoria Canada to deliver several lectures on the project of indigenous journalism, where I stayed for a month.
New routes and the Oaxacan social movement
In 2005 we began our partnership with Global Exchange, receiving groups through the “Reality Tours” program, with the first group visiting in the month of November for the celebrations of Day of the Dead.
In July a delegation of teachers from the United States arrived through GX, and we carried out visits scheduled in the middle of marches, barricades and police actions. In the month of November a second Global Exchange delegation was interrupted on the penultimate day, Nov. 2, by difficult conditions that existed in the city. On November 25th I was arrested by the Federal Police and two days later I was transferred to a maximum security prison, accused of criminal organization, setting fire to public buildings, etc., where I remained for a month in extreme isolation and 2 years process of parole, until I was acquitted for lack of evidence.
In 2007 I was invited to work on the implementation of a “participatory planning workshop” on the bays of Huatulco National Park, in the small low coastal community of Coyula, where I worked for 6 months on the development of a community ecotourism project and made a tourist route through the coast of Oaxaca to the Afro-mestizo area through the lagoons of Chacahua. In the village where I live currently, Sta. Cruz Xoxocotlan, the Commissariat of communal invited me to work as a consultant. We developed an ecotourism project to protect the slopes of the hills of Monte Alban, areas comprising the communal property of the population. At the end of that year we established the Association Ecoturismo Comunal El Chapulin A.C. (ECOCHAC). We started with a diagnosis of the site’s features, and invited several specialists and through their suggestions started a program of reforestation and a storm water recharging area. At the end of that year the book The Battle for Oaxaca was published by Editions Yopepower, in which I give testimony about my arrest and federal imprisonment in Nayarit, as well as the cruel treatment to which we were subjected.
Community ecotourism and Monte Alban
Throughout the year of 2008 I dedicated myself to developing ecotourism projects in the communal land. We called upon all schools in the municipality to reforest and in 3 years, with the support of students and teachers, 16 thousand seedlings of native species were sown. That year a flow of tourists to Oaxaca resumed, as the 2 previous years it had fallen off almost completely. I had a small Global Exchange group during the month of November, but local schools were our main economic support during that year and the next. During 2009 through ECOCHAC we conducted several workshops with members of the community and edited some publications related to the environment and ecotourism (www.ecochac.wordpress.com) which remains up to date and is intended for the students of the schools of the municipality.
Seminars, solidarity tourism and Mezcalier
In the year of 2011, I did a seminar on migration – “the first inhabitants of Oaxaca were former migrants” – for students from Quebec of the College Edouard-Montpetit of Canada. Through the contact of Global Exchange, we began a series of cultural exchange experiences. That year we restarted our journalistic work in the “Indian regions” program.
In 2012, we had several workshops for various agencies and schools, and that year we started our cooperation with Food Sovereignty Tours, on the recommendation of GX, with whom we organized the week-long seminar “Sovereignty Food and Heritage Food of Oaxaca”. In the middle of that year, I was invited by the owner of the old House of the Mezcal bar to select traditional mezcals in the palenques or artisan factories and to organize tastings at the bar and other sites for the dissemination of this traditional drink. Through tastings the consumer can become informed about commercial mezcals and their drawbacks for the health and economy of populations and areas in which traditional mezcal is closely linked to the ceremonial life and culture of indigenous peoples.
During 2014 was invited to deliver several lectures to various body such as Forest Stewardship Council, A.C., (FSC Oaxaca), Witness for Peace, the Intercultural University of the State of Mexico, Universidad del Mar and other educational institutions, and also to carry out some tours of archaeological sites and communities. We convened and organized a workshop on how to install a TV channel on the internet, addressed to indigenous organizations. We also continued advising some projects of community-based ecotourism (S. Pedro Nexicho, Teotitlán del Valle, San José de el Chilar, Coyula, among others).
I occasionally continue to publish articles in newspapers and local magazines. And we are now working on preparations for the launch of the 3rd workshop of training for cultural guides, museums and projects of community-based ecotourism by 2016, with the support of the University of Oaxaca.
In 2016 I proposed a new program to Global Exchange covering many of the same themes as the Day of the Dead trip, but running at the time of the Guelguetza Festival. I am excited to welcome two groups from Global Exchange a year, as well as designing custom trips for groups interested in traveling to Oaxaca with Global Exchange.
For more information on the October Day of the Dead trip to Oaxaca click here and click here for information on the Guelaguetza Reality Tour.
Trump Cuts People to People Ties with Cuba, but We Can Still Take You There
Mexico: End Drug War & Redirect Funds to Regional Development?
Sign on: Mexican and US Civil Society call for an end to the sacrifice of migrant lives
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Urbanowicz, Witold A.
Witold A. Urbanowicz, Poland’s leading ace in World War II, flew combat with the Polish Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and the US Army Air Corps in China. Born in 1908, he grew up under Russian occupation in eastern Poland. He was commissioned in the air force...
David, W. Dennis
One of Great Britain’s leading aces, William Dennis David, downed 20 enemy aircraft during the Battles of France and Britain. Commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1938, the 19-year-old Welshman earned his wings in August. His first post was to Hurricanes with...
Beamont, Roland P.
One of Britain’s most distinguished aviators, Roland P. “Bee” Beamont was commissioned in the Royal Air Force (RAF) just before World War II. He first saw combat as a Hurricane pilot in 87 Squadron during the German invasion of France. On 13 May...
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Climate Change, Co-operation, Corporate Governance, Economic History, Economics, Financial Sector, Free Market Capitalism, free trade ideology, Regulation
Big Theme or Muddling Through
December 12, 2010 Gordon Pearson Leave a comment
In a recent article in The New York Review of Books, Michael Tomasky suggested the lack of any alternative big theme gave the free marketeers a head start in shaping and continuing to dominate the United States economy. The free market big theme may have been planted by Adam Smith, but it developed on the open prairies of North America where land was the free resource – confirmed by the Homestead Acts – which drove the early development of the US economy. So the big theme was not just markets freed from government interference and control, but personal freedom to claim a bit of America and the right to defend it with guns to fight off its previous occupants, the native Americans. That tradition gave primacy to ownership. When Friedman declared that corporate officials had no social responsibility other than to make as much money as possible for shareholders, it was hardly a shot out of the blue, but the confirmation of a long tradition.
The British tradition was different. Instead of empty prairies there was a village system which had to be destroyed for the enclosure of land and the dispossession of village labourers which was later partially compensated by more enlightened regulation. Until the Thatcherite swing to American values, Britain was more ambivalent about the primacy of ownership rights above everything else. It was generally accepted that all human beings had the right, the basic human right, to an education, health and social services, provided and defended by the state, and paid for out of taxes, it being not unreasonable, as Adam Smith pointed out, that the rich should pay a rather more than proportionate rate of taxation.
The big theme of latter day free marketeers is free trade, small government, minimised public sector, minimised and non-progressive taxation, and, so far as private industry is concerned, complete dominance of shareholders over all other stakeholder interests. These elements are all woven into a logically consistent, and simple to communicate, justification of corporate tyranny by the financial sector. The result has been massive inequalities, unsustainable depletion of resources, pollution, damage to the climate and eco system, and the rape and pillage of real economy firms, as referred to in other postings on this site, as well as the continuation of booms and busts which reveal the self-defeating flaws in the big theme itself.
The alternative, logically consistent big theme produced the centrally planned, totalitarian, socialist states, which so spectacularly collapsed in 1989.
Why is it so difficult to accept that big themes, ideologies of whatever persuasion, simply don’t work? Evidence is all around where the free market ideal has not been blindly accepted. In Japan and Germany, for example, a more balanced approach to corporate governance still rules, with long term gains given priority. The same is true in the emerging economies, such as China and India. And they are all rather more successful than the post-mature economies of America and Britain.
Maybe the British tradition of muddling through has something going for it. Its distribution of wealth and income, may or may not have been efficient, but its semblance of fair play, might have encouraged a more co-operative level of enterprise from which the economy as a whole could gain.
Previous PostA Further Word on CadburyNext PostThe Next Big Theme
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Home > Artists > Gavin Bond Photography > Backstage III Adriana by Gavin Bond
Backstage III Adriana by Gavin Bond
Backstage Volume 3 (Untitled 10) by Gavin Bond was shot at the Victoria’s Secret runway show and evokes all of the drama and excitement of the event itself.
Digital c print photograph on paper
Backstage Volume 3 (Untitled 10) by Gavin Bond was shot at the Victoria’s Secret runway show. The series evokes all the drama and excitement of the event itself. Included in the portfolio are photographs of Victoria’s Secret lingerie models Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima and Selita Ebanks.
“This particular year the Victoria Secret show was held in Los Angeles at The Kodak centre where The Oscars are held each year. Sir Richard Branson was kind enough to lend VS a plane to fly the girls from New York to Los Angeles. It was kitted out in pink and the outside of the plane read ‘Here Come The Angels.’ I was fortunate enough to be onboard that flight, that was one to remember.” – Gavin Bond
With a backstage pass the equivalent of pure fashion gold dust, Gavin Bond gained unprecedented access to every moment of the goings-on at the sexiest fashion show on the planet – starring a stockings-and-stiletto-clad Victoria’s Secret Angels cast.
“It has its own aesthetic: a kind of sexy-Cirque-du-Soleil, inspired by Man Ray, Magritte and Salvador Dali. Throw in live performances from the Spice Girls (dressed as forces sweethearts), and Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, and you have one of the most remarkable nights of the year,” writes Andy Morris of the event.
Gavin Bond is one of the most sought after celebrity photographers in the world. Sultry and slick, his photographs capture the surface-oriented worlds of celebrity and fashion culture. A mixture of sophistication, sex and smiles combine with contemporary sensibilities to produce an intoxicating effect.
Temple by Roy Lichtenstein
Sunrise by Roy Lichtenstein
Mike Tyson (Red) by Michel Comte
Elephant by Richard Orlinski
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Claustro Mundial Universitario (World University Committee) and Secretaría de Educación Pública (Secretariat of Public Education), MX.
2018 Science & Culture Society Global Award 2018…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/48378521_10156513770066501_8956081301308309504_n.jpg 958 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-12-18 15:25:132019-04-10 16:20:07Claustro Mundial Universitario (World University Committee) and Secretaría de Educación Pública (Secretariat of Public Education), MX.
74.- Conference speaker for Women’s Entrepreneur Day at United Nations in New York, New York, EUA.
Español Conference speaker about tolerance, bringing awareness…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/46488462_10156448184076501_7807422719246467072_n.jpg 958 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-11-17 15:43:432019-05-15 15:38:3574.- Conference speaker for Women’s Entrepreneur Day at United Nations in New York, New York, EUA.
177- Donation of water, juices, shampoo, soap, tuna, beans, rice, diapers, sanitary pads, notebooks, precooked meals, and English books for over 1500 people on the Mexico-Guatemala border.
Español October 20-23, 2018 Jaff Foundation donated water,…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/44370910_10156392689161501_5722820321627602944_n.jpg 720 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-10-21 14:32:142018-11-23 17:46:41177- Donation of water, juices, shampoo, soap, tuna, beans, rice, diapers, sanitary pads, notebooks, precooked meals, and English books for over 1500 people on the Mexico-Guatemala border.
176- Donation of English lessons and books to 100 children of the School Primaria Italia in the area colonia Guerrero in Mexico City, MX.
Español Jaff Foundation donates English lessons and books…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/43599492_10156368422181501_7718745933940260864_n.jpg 960 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-10-09 14:44:002018-11-23 17:48:27176- Donation of English lessons and books to 100 children of the School Primaria Italia in the area colonia Guerrero in Mexico City, MX.
175- Donation of food for 200 less fortunate children from Puerto Márquez and Avenida Costera in Acapulco, Guerrero, MX.
Español July 2, 2018 Donation of 200 pizzas to underprivileged…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/d98c219e-959d-459b-b80b-424904164958.jpg 720 1280 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-07-02 13:44:572018-09-13 15:42:39175- Donation of food for 200 less fortunate children from Puerto Márquez and Avenida Costera in Acapulco, Guerrero, MX.
174- Organized awareness campaign to promote transparency, honest elections, and security with 200 people at Ave. Francisco I. Madero in Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
Español Organized awareness campaign to promote transparency,…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/32871389_857206301147693_2577348941628571648_edit.jpg 640 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-05-18 13:10:472018-08-20 19:41:10174- Organized awareness campaign to promote transparency, honest elections, and security with 200 people at Ave. Francisco I. Madero in Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
173- Jaff Foundation Cinema Day to Cinepolis, where we donated transportation, food, and movie tickets for 600 less fortunate children from the school Jardín de niños Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Jardín de niños y Primaria 21 de marzo and Primaria Ignacio Zaragoza, who scored 80 and above in English class in Tecate, Baja California, MX.
Español We brought to the cinema 600 underprivileged children,…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/31250493_10210883940565725_4887542984641347584_n.jpg 720 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-04-24 12:31:352018-09-13 18:06:57173- Jaff Foundation Cinema Day to Cinepolis, where we donated transportation, food, and movie tickets for 600 less fortunate children from the school Jardín de niños Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Jardín de niños y Primaria 21 de marzo and Primaria Ignacio Zaragoza, who scored 80 and above in English class in Tecate, Baja California, MX.
172- Participation in the march against bombings Syria and support of refugees, raising awareness to open borders for refugees seeking asylum worldwide in London, UK.
Español Participation in the march against bombings Syria…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/30726804_10155997918011501_8889216619083988992_n.jpg 960 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-04-16 17:41:262018-08-20 19:47:46172- Participation in the march against bombings Syria and support of refugees, raising awareness to open borders for refugees seeking asylum worldwide in London, UK.
171- Donation of paint cans and 15 volunteers to repair and renovate a public park Unidad Deportiva en Villas del Pedregal in a less fortunate community in Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
Español Donation of paint cans and 15 volunteers to repair…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/29512186_831417880393202_6691613181899806625_n.jpg 720 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-03-24 15:40:262018-08-20 19:51:30171- Donation of paint cans and 15 volunteers to repair and renovate a public park Unidad Deportiva en Villas del Pedregal in a less fortunate community in Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
170- Donation of English books to 100 children with disabilities at the Centro de Rehabilitación e Inclusión Infantil Teletón (CRIT) in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, MX.
Español Donation of English books to 100 children with disabilities…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/28577291_10155895577416501_8431551115781343418_n.jpg 642 960 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-03-05 16:39:342018-08-20 19:53:58170- Donation of English books to 100 children with disabilities at the Centro de Rehabilitación e Inclusión Infantil Teletón (CRIT) in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, MX.
73.- Conference speaker at TEDxUDLAP In San Andres Cholula, Puebla, MX.
Español Conference speaker about human rights and world…
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC03377.jpg 3264 4912 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-02-24 12:06:592018-08-20 23:05:0573.- Conference speaker at TEDxUDLAP In San Andres Cholula, Puebla, MX.
169- Donation of paint cans and 10 volunteers to repair and renovate a school Escuela Emiliano Zapata in a less fortunate community in Umecuaro, Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/28070749_814884762046514_6684774210731252195_o.jpg 1152 1728 Hanna Jaff https://hannajaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hanna_logo.png Hanna Jaff2018-02-19 15:05:532018-08-20 19:55:59169- Donation of paint cans and 10 volunteers to repair and renovate a school Escuela Emiliano Zapata in a less fortunate community in Umecuaro, Morelia, Michoacán, MX.
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Harris Tours Benedictine School
RIDGELY — U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1, visited the Benedictine School on Tuesday, April 18, to learn more about the school and the vast range of services it offers to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The stop was the first throughout the First Congressional District on his schedule this week, while Congress takes a recess.
Harris took a tour of part of the sprawling campus outside Ridgely, seeing classrooms, residential halls and the school’s graphic design business, and talked to administrators about the school’s future.
Students presented Harris with gifts created by the school’s multiple in-house businesses, and Harris gave the school a U.S. flag that flew Feb. 13 over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., in recognition of the school’s mission.
The Benedictine School was founded in 1959, by the Sisters of St. Benedict, and today serves 67 students, ages 5 to 21, from throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region, most of whom live on campus full-time.
In 1982, it added its Adult Services program, now serving more than 120 adults ages 22 and up, offering employment in its own businesses, including graphic design, a greenhouse, landscaping, a bakery and mobile cleaning services, or employment training for adults seeking jobs elsewhere.
The Adult Services division also provides residential support to more than 70 adults living in 18 homes in Annapolis, Easton, Henderson, Denton and Ridgely.
In total, Benedictine employs about 425 full- and part-time people, making it one of the largest employers in Caroline County.
Scott Evans, executive director of Benedictine programs and services, is the first lay person to head the organization in its history, after co-founder and longtime executive director Sister Jeannette Murray retired in 2012.
Evans said the school has transformed many times over the years to meet the changing needs of its students, and is facing yet another transition in the near future.
For one, the Sisters of St. Benedict, who are part of a diocese based in Wilmington, Del., will move to the Wilmington area in the next couple of years, as convents merge due to declining numbers.
Evans said only two active sisters work on the campus now.
To prepare for that shift, Evans said, Benedictine’s board of directors bought 130 acres from the sisters, to make sure it still belongs to the school if the sisters leave.
Benedictine is also talking to potential local, state and federal partners, who might be able to use the massive infrastructure already in place on the campus.
For instance, the Caroline County Department of Recreation and Parks is in talks to use the school’s pool to offer summer swimming lessons, Evans said.
“We weren’t in a position to do that before, but now we can look at what resources we have, and see how we can be of further service to Caroline County and the entire Eastern Shore,” Evans said.
New federal regulations are also coming, Evans said. Of particular concern is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule change.
Passed in 2014, it says all settings for people with disabilities must be integrated into the community, and non-residential settings must meet the same standards to ensure people receiving supports are experiencing the greater community just as much as they would were they not receiving Medicaid services.
The compliance deadline is March 2019.
Evans said while he agrees with the spirit of the rule change, he is worried about the deadline.
“Not having our funding changes answered is our biggest concern,” Evans said.
Harris said he would look into the deadline.
“If federal regulations are impeding your ability to do what you need to do, let me know,” Harris said.
Source: Times-Record
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Rising Star, Texas
Rising Star, TX
First settlers–families of Andrew Agnew, Isaac Agnew, Fletcher Fields, David McKinley, Allis Smith and W. W. Smith–arrived in a wagon train from Gregg County, Jan. 6, 1876. Area was known for hardships: Indian raids, vigilante activities, gunfights. But a stable community developed around log school-church building erected in 1876. First store was founded about 1879 by Thomas W. Anderson and son William. The first post office in Rising Star Texas was established 1880. The most creditable story as to how the town got its name is that the settlers suggested the name Star for the post office but it was rejected by the U.S. Postal authorities as another Texas town had that name. The settlers argued all night over the name selection, looked up and saw the morning star as they started home from their meeting and agreed to call it Rising Star. The city was first incorporated in 1891. In a 1905 election, there was a vote to dissolve the corporation but the charter was restored later the same year. Rising Star is the home of Texas (1939-1941) poet laureate Lexie Dean Robertson. Unique local structure is city hall built of stone from buried petrified forest. Economy is based on ranching, farming (a chief crop is Spanish peanuts), commercial pecans, industry, oil. – Historical Marker located at the City Park, erected in 1968.
Rising Star TX
Texas Rising Star
First United Methodist Church of Rising Star. Rising Star was only a sparsely settled community when schoolteacher James Irby organized this congregation in 1879. The Rev. L.S. Chamberlain of Sipe Springs led the first service, which was attended by Irby, his wife Sallie, and Dennis Bond, in a small log building east of the present town. The congregation worshiped at several locations before 1888, when member Lucy L. Anderson donated a plot of ground for the building of a small frame structure at the present site, where the church held worship services and Sunday school classes for nearly forty years. In 1903 the Rev. D.A. McGuire was appointed to serve the First Methodist Church of Rising Star and became the fellowship’s first full-time pastor. The 1920 oil boom brought new members into the church, resulting in the need for larger facilities. The current church building was completed in 1926 during the pastorate of the Rev. Fizer M. Noe. For more than one hundred years, the First United Methodist Church of Rising Star has provided the community with significant service and leadership. Its emphasis on Christian education and mission work has produced a number of ministers and missionaries from among its members. Historical Marker, erected in 1984, located at South Anderson at West College.
TX Rising Star
Rising Star, TX 32° 5′ 45.5064″ N, 98° 57′ 49.2156″ W
Alderbranch, Texas
Bethel, Texas
Cayuga, Texas
Denson Springs, Texas
Elkhart, Texas
Fields Chapel, Texas
Fitzgerald, Texas
Fort Houston, Texas
Counties in Texas
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Founder and Honorary Chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners
Hermann Simon is the Founder and Honorary Chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners. He is an expert in strategy, marketing and pricing. He has an extensive global range of clients. He is the only German in the Thinkers50 list of the most influential international management thinkers in the world. In German-speaking countries he has been continuously voted the most influential living management thinker since 2005. In China, a business school has been named after him.
Before committing himself entirely to management consulting, Simon was a professor of business administration and marketing at the Universities of Mainz (1989-1995) and Bielefeld (1979-1989). He was also a visiting professor at Harvard Business School, Stanford, London Business School, INSEAD, Keio University in Tokyo and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1995 to 2009 he was CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners. His Hirsch-Index is 49.
Professor Simon has published over 35 books in 26 languages, including the worldwide bestsellers Hidden Champions (Boston 1996, cover story of BusinessWeek in 2004) and Power Pricing (New York 1997), as well as Manage for Profit, Not for Market Share (Boston 2006). His book Hidden Champions of the 21st Century, Success Strategies of Unknown World Market Leaders (New York 2009) investigates the strategies of little known market leaders. His book Confessions of the Pricing Man was published by Springer, New York in October 2015. Price Management, the US version of his leading German textbook, will be published in 2018.
Simon was and is a member of the editorial boards of numerous business journals, including the International Journal of Research in Marketing, Management Science, Recherche et Applications en Marketing, Décisions Marketing, European Management Journal as well as several German journals. For several decades he regularly wrote columns for the German business monthly Manager Magazin. As a board member of numerous foundations and corporations, Professor Simon has gained substantial experience in corporate governance. From 1984 to 1986 he was the president of the European Marketing Academy (EMAC). Simon is co-founder of the first Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listed on the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt, which acquired Exceet Group S.E. in July 2011.
A native of Germany, he studied economics and business administration at the universities of Bonn and Cologne. He received his diploma (1973) and his doctorate (1976) from the University of Bonn. Simon has received numerous international awards and holds honorary doctorates from IEDC Business School of Bled (Slovenia), from the University of Siegen (Germany) and from Kozminski University Warsaw (Poland). He is a honorary professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
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CEO, Zignago Holding
Participated in: 2014 Summer General Program
Mr. Luca Marzotto has been the Chief Executive Officer of Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita SpA (Zignago Holding SpA) since September 27, 2005. Mr. Marzotto served as the Chief Executive Officer of Santa Margherita SpA since September 30, 2005. He served as Vice-Chairman of Santa Margherita SpA since September 30, 2005. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Zignago Holding S.p.A. since May 10, 2007. Since 1995, he has worked in companies belonging to the Marzotto family. He has been the Chairman of Zignago Power Srl and Bagnolo Power Srl since 2008. In his role of Chairman of Zignago Power Srl, he has been promoting the realization of a biomass power plant, conceived in compliance with the most advanced technologies aimed at the production of green energy based on renewable sources. He has been the Chairman of Federvini since June 2008. Mr. Marzotto serves as the Chairman of SM Tenimenti Srl. He serves as a Vice Chairman of Kettmeir SpA, New High Glass Inc. and Cantine Torresella Srl. He serves as the Sole Director of Zignago Servizi Srl and a Director of Ca’ del Bosco Srl, Valentino Fashion Group, Hugo Boss AG and of Vetri Speciali SpA. He serves as a Director of Zignago Immobiliare SRL. Mr. Marzotto has been a Member of Supervisory Board of Hugo Boss AG since February 21, 2010. He has been a Non-Executive Director at Zignago Vetro S.p.A. since March 22, 2007 and served as a Director at Banca Popolare Friuladria SpA since March 2007. Mr. Marzotto served as a Director of Marlboro Classics Division since 2003. He served as a Director at H-Farm S.p.A. He served as an Independent Director of Telecom Italia S.p.A. from April 2014 to May 4, 2017. Since 2000, he has focused his activities on the Asian markets and the development of the Valentino Fashion Group SpA in Asia. Since 1997, he has developed a notable degree of experience in the textile and clothing market and in particular in the production, management control and marketing sectors. From 1997 to 2003 he gained experience on the Asian market. His on-site experience covers the whole textile chain, from production to management control and marketing. He is an engaged upholder of the environmental policies, paying a particular attention to the energy issue. Mr. Marzotto graduated in Law in 1995.
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Research Article|April 30 2013
Perceptions of bottled water consumers in three Brazilian municipalities
Josiane T. Matos de Queiroz
Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627, Antônio Carlos Avenue, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
E-mail: josiane.matosqueiroz@yahoo.com.br
Miguel de França Doria
Division of Water Sciences, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 1 rue Miollis, Paris, France
Mark W. Rosenberg
Department of Geography, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada K7L 3N6
Léo Heller
Andréa Zhouri
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627, Antônio Carlos Avenue, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Josiane T. Matos de Queiroz, Miguel de França Doria, Mark W. Rosenberg, Léo Heller, Andréa Zhouri; Perceptions of bottled water consumers in three Brazilian municipalities. J Water Health 1 September 2013; 11 (3): 520–531. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2013.222
This study presents perceptions of consumers of bottled water in their households in three Brazilian municipalities. Data from interviews were analyzed using the Discourse Collective Subject method. Interviewees spent, on average, the equivalent of 40% of their water bill for the public water supply on the purchase of bottled water. The decision about water consumption in the household was predominantly made by women. Interviewees were particularly concerned with health risks and expressed a strong preference for the safety and organoleptic qualities of bottled water, particularly in cases where the tap water supply did not fully meet the regulated water quality standards. Interviewees were largely unaware of the origin, type, storage, and social and environmental impacts of bottled water. Results highlight the importance of water education efforts among the general population and the key role of women in the processes related to drinking water. The need for gender-specific interventions and the empowerment of women on water issues is noted. Results also strongly support the relevance of ensuring the provision of safe drinking water, from the source to the consumption point, with the trust of consumers.
bottled water, drinking water consumption, tap water, water perceptions
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Home Long Term Care Back in the Game: Study Links Negative Mood Disturbances to Sports Concussions
Back in the Game: Study Links Negative Mood Disturbances to Sports Concussions
Researchers from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) and the University of Toronto (U of T) have documented for the first time that negative mood disturbances such as depression and confusion can be a direct result of concussions caused by sports-related head injuries.
The study, which appeared in the March issue of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, found a causal link between sports concussion and subsequent emotional distress by charting the course of emotional recovery of concussed athletes. The researchers found that concussed athletes were not emotionally different from their teammates before an injury, but were more depressed and confused than uninjured peers after sustaining a concussion.
“This research is an exciting first step in our exploration of how mood interacts with cognitive deficits that often accompany concussion,” says Sean Bisschop, the project’s research coordinator and psychometrist in Toronto Rehab’s Neurology Service. “These findings let people know that emotional changes are common after concussion and that they should report mood changes to their clinician, just like any other symptom of concussion.”
According to Lynda Mainwaring, a psychologist and associate professor in U of T’s Faculty of Physical Education and Health, there has been little research into the emotional impact of concussions and subsequent recovery. The study will help clinicians determine when patients have completely recovered from a concussion and are able to resume athletic activities.
Researchers at Toronto Rehab and the University of Toronto note that the data they have generated with otherwise healthy concussed athletes who are motivated to return to play, could serve as a benchmark of emotional recovery for anyone who sustains a concussion not only athletes.
About 20-25% of athletes involved in high-risk sports may experience one or more concussions of varying severity each year. Athletes who return to high-risk activities too soon after a concussion are thought to be at greater risk of a second, potentially more dangerous injury.
The study also found that the depression, confusion and total mood disturbances that resulted from the concussion usually disappeared within three weeks. There were different rates of decrease for each emotion- depression resolved in approximately seven days while confusion and total mood disturbance took seventeen to twenty-one days. Post-injury mood disturbances did not appear to be a result of the injured athlete’s pre-injury emotional state.
Three groups were studied: concussed athletes, uninjured teammates of the concussed athletes and healthy, physically active undergraduate students. Baseline mood state for athletes (members of U of T Varsity sports teams) was measured during a pre-season medical and neurological assessment. Those athletes who suffered a concussion during the season were then repeatedly reassessed in the weeks after injury.
The U of T/Toronto Rehab Varsity Athlete Concussion Program is just one study in Toronto Rehab’s interprofessional neuro rehabilitation research effort. One collaborative project associated with the Concussion Program includes helping researchers in the US test sophisticated software called ANAM (Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics), which can be used to assess an individual’s cognitive functioning. The software was developed to assess changes in mental functioning of U.S Air Force fighter pilots, astronauts on the space shuttle, submariners and infantry related to adverse or harsh environmental conditions.
“Eventually, a program like ANAM could be a significant piece of Internet-based clinical assessments being developed at Toronto Rehab. This way, a patient in Northern Ontario who doesn’t have easy access to a neuropsychologist could complete a clinical assessment that they might not otherwise receive,” says Bisschop.
Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), can be caused by a sudden jolt to the brain that can lead to an alteration of consciousness that does not necessarily cause someone to lose consciousness. Physical symptoms of concussion include blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of coordination.
For more information about Toronto Rehab, please visit our Web site at www.torontorehab.com.
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Iassen Zahariev – Minervas Donkey
BETWEEN FOREIGN AND OWN, BETWEEN THE OWL AND THE DONKEY. PHILOSOPHERS AND METAMORPHOSES
Nevena Panova
author: Iassen Zahariev.
title: Minerva’s Donkey.
Sofia: New Bulgarian University, 2011, 236 pp.
According to a popular notion, philosophy in Bulgaria today is characterized primarily by the fact that it was highly ideologized for a long time and will take a long time to break with ideology. On the other hand, in Bulgaria history of philosophy holds a stronger position than original philosophical research. Here we are interested more in the second proposition, and especially in whether it is true also for the sphere of history of Bulgarian philosophy: for if it is, this means that Bulgarian philosophy does not exist in a sufficiently scientific form and therefore cannot really have a history of its own. This relationship is among the main subjects under investigation in Iassen Zahariev’s book. Minerva’s Donkey (New Bulgarian University Press, 2011) offers on its approximately 230 pages a total of thirteen studies. The first part is methodological, while the second (in eleven chapters) deals with particular Bulgarian philosophers and philosophical phenomena arranged in chronological order: from the National Revival (with a focus on Sophronius of Vratsa, Petar Beron, and Ivan Seliminski) to the contributions of Ivan Georgov, Ivan Gyuzelev, Dimitar Mihalchev (three chapters are devoted to him), Spiridon Kazandzhiev, philosophers of science, philosophical associations, philosophical forums (in the traditional, pre-digital sense of the word), Ivan Sarailiev’s lunar diary. The impossibility – in the positive sense – of producing a purely Bulgarian history of philosophy is suggested in the very title of the book. It refers (as does the picture on the cover) first to the goddess of wisdom and her sacred bird, the owl, but also to the plot of a Latin novel about metamorphoses, Asinus aureus or The Golden Donkey (better known as The Golden Ass) by Apuleius. Beyond the title page, it turns out that the question of the intertwined ‘genre’ boundaries and the scope of Bulgarian philosophy is one of the main concerns of the book. But the associations suggested by the above-mentioned hybrid language-play are even more diverse: they also point, for example, to the hybrid and metamorphotic character of philosophical thought itself. In addition, the Greco-Roman element in the title does not merely build a metaphor; it seems to imply also the author’s view, expressed explicitly several times in the book, that philosophy in the narrow sense of the word is a European achievement.
If we return to the question of whether a history of Bulgarian philosophy is possible, then we must say that Iassen Zahariev attempts first to specify precisely the object of his study. As noted in one of the first introductory sentences, despite the growing number of studies on this subject in the first decade of the twenty-first century, there is still ‘an absence of deeper reflection on the substantive scope of this tradition’ (p. 7). Further on, the author notes that his motive for writing this book was ‘the need for a concept of the tradition’ (p. 13). At issue here is the Bulgarian philosophical tradition, but the book also seeks to determine what is the most accurate phrase: ‘Bulgarian philosophy’, ‘philosophy in Bulgaria’, ‘Bulgarian philosophical thought’, ‘Bulgarian philosophical culture’ or ‘Bulgarian philosophical tradition’. Although the last variant is part of the subtitle of the book, Transformations in the Bulgarian Philosophical Tradition from the National Revival to the End of the Twentieth Century, Iassen Zahariev seems to invite us to think more about ‘philosophy in Bulgaria’. Thus, one of his theses is revealed at the end of the preface – namely, that philosophy in Bulgaria is a ‘synthesis of local dispositions and foreign influence’ (p. 8). Although this thesis sounds banal at first sight, the exposition shows that it is very true, with different degrees of positive or negative connotations: ‘The history of the transformation of this “foreign” into “own” is, to my mind, the true subject of the history of philosophy in Bulgaria’ (p. 51). Thus, for instance, when comparing the contributions of Petar Beron and Ivan Seliminski, Iassen Zahariev says that Beron was concerned more with natural philosophy and Seliminski much more with ‘western philosophy in the classical sense of the word’; but then, Seliminski did not try to integrate his philosophical knowledge into Bulgarian culture and therefore his significance is less even than that of Sophronius (pp. 63-64).
The question of the transition from foreign to own is presented both synoptically and metaphorically at the beginning of the chapter devoted to Ivan Georgov (whose main contribution is defined by Zahariev as being precisely in the sphere of history of philosophy even though Georgov’s work remained ‘objectivistic’). Using photographic terms, here the author outlines the main stages of the transformation in question:
Hence, several main moments can be identified in the whole process: (1) Subject: western philosophy; (2) Exposure: representatives of Bulgarian culture study philosophy and attain some knowledge (idea, image) of the latter; (3) Development and printing: philosophy is ‘translated’ into Bulgarian culture, and finally (4) Representation in its capacity as such, a projection of the original image: philosophy in Bulgaria. Photographers know that in this scheme, the end product is something quite unpredictable. (pp. 78-79)
Although the book does not seek to identify a linear growth in Bulgarian philosophy, some development is nevertheless to be found. If we again use photographic metaphors, we may say that the different philosophers applied different ‘photographic techniques’: for example, Gyuzelev created the first comprehensive philosophical theory; Mihalchev and Kazandzhiev differed by the indicator of non/abidance by a concrete system.
The above-quoted subtitle is important also in that it sets a chronological framework which does not just serve to limit the subject-matter under study to a particular period; it also indicates that according to Iassen Zahariev, a philosophical tradition in Bulgaria should not be sought before the National Revival: because of the gap with regard to philosophical endeavours in Bulgarian mediaeval culture, but also in order to avoid ascribing – in a not entirely scientific way and often with nationalist overtones – authentic antiquity to various cultural phenomena. In addition, according to Zahariev the above-mentioned time limits can also be justified on the grounds of ‘absence of philosophical language in Bulgarian culture in the early and mid-nineteenth century’ (p. 65) – a proposition which we cannot fully agree with in substantive terms; as an approach, however, this linguistic argument is correct and it is applied systematically in the book. The methodological part also examines ‘the national factors in philosophizing’ – with regard to them, let us note that the observations made here allow us to rethink and investigate other Bulgarian ‘national’ achievements as well, thus pointing us in directions that definitely need to be explored. That is why Minerva’s Donkey is a book that is innovative also at a more general methodological, interdisciplinary level.
It is especially important (from Plato onwards) to speak both of philosophy and of philosophizing. Iassen Zahariev successfully follows, even on the formal plane, this dual approach throughout his study. On the formal plane because it is precisely here that we can point out as positive the collection of heterogeneous texts in a single volume: one longer and several later and shorter texts devoted both to the activity and works of individual philosophers and to different forms of collective doing of philosophy (for example, in the case of the philosophical associations). Thus, the book seems to offer not so much a long (which is impossible) and linear history of philosophy in Bulgaria as a broadened history that is synchronic rather than diachronic, with elements of typologization of the different forms and themes of philosophizing. The distinction between philosophy and philosophizing is indeed key, for it is precisely through it that one can discover what is ‘unique’ to a given philosophical tradition, that which is part of the intellectual life of the country where philosophizing takes place: ‘Kant and Rehmke [two philosophers who very strongly influenced Bulgarian philosophers of the first half of the twentieth century, all of whom were educated in Germany] have nothing to do with Bulgaria, but the way we philosophize in Bulgarian on Kant and Rehmke is already unique in itself’ (p. 31). Zahariev’s claim that the creation of the journal Filosofski Pregled/Philosophical Review (and its declared pluralistic platform) was Dimitar Mihalchev’s most important achievement (cf. pp. 126-127) can also be read as an implicit indication of the importance of philosophizing and of debates, be they oral or written. However, when generalizing the participation of Bulgarian philosophers in international forums, Zahariev points out the positive influence of such participation on their own prestige, but he also notes: ‘Once they receive access to them [the international forums], however, they do not identify themselves with their colleagues from Bulgaria and, hence, with their philosophical community’ (p. 213). This conclusion is comparatively pessimistic and shows that the opposite process is also possible, that is, the transformation of the own into foreign.
Again in connection with the interest in philosophizing, we must note as a contribution of the style of the chapters devoted to individual philosophers the author’s effort to construct comprehensive personal biographical sketches instead of discussing separate works or lectures – again because philosophy is an activity in a particular environment and depends on that environment. For example, Zahariev defines Mihalchev’s Form and Relation as ‘the most serious and comprehensive Bulgarian philosophical work until then because of two main reasons: it is written in Bulgarian and it defends original philosophical positions on the basis of which a critical analysis of the comprehensive development of knowledge is done’ (p. 122). This actually points to a positive aspect of the transformation of the foreign into own. As for original philosophical research, Zahariev’s key observation is that in the period under review Bulgarian philosophers were interested primarily in the theory of knowledge, as noted already about Ivan Georgov; but neither was Spiridon Kazandzhiev, to whom the last personal ‘sketch’ is devoted, an exception to this tendency. Was this accidental, could it be explained with concrete foreign influences on Bulgarian philosophers, or does it betray some tendency whereby philosophy in Bulgaria in this period did not only build its own history but also tried to ‘cognize’ cultural development in general and to provide epistemological instruments to the other sciences as well, at least to those in the sphere of the humanities?
Minerva’s Donkey is a fascinating and instructive read, not least because of the variety of trends, approaches, attitudes and philosophical questions outlined in the book. Here is yet another direction for reflection: what do the philosophical associations tell of Bulgarian intellectual life in general – they are many in number and somehow network-based, and their history is unclear. It is obvious that in Bulgaria even the philosophers who come from comparatively populous university courses construct a rather narrow professional community which fails to maintain an active community life on its own; a community that is highly volatile, with people constantly joining and leaving in order to communicate/dispute with others.
So far we have noted only separate ‘plots’ intertwined in Iassen Zahariev’s study. To completely understand and think them through, one also needs to read the complete book. Even at the beginning, the author explicitly declares that his intention is to offer a book that can be used also as a textbook for university courses on the subject-matter in question, and it can indeed serve as such – it is highly readable and engrossing, although the style is sufficiently scientific and pithy. Such a history of philosophy in Bulgaria can indeed introduce the reader to some past philosophizing and to invite him or her to understand it historically and to read the works discussed; it can also (hopefully) prompt its readers to join in different, existing or new, forms of philosophizing.
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Author: Noura Erakat
Response to Michael N. Schmitt and John J. Merriam: On the Tyranny of Context
June 17, 2015 June 18, 2015 / Noura Erakat / 1 Comment
In their forthcoming paper, The Tyranny of Context: Israeli Targeting Practices in Legal Perspective, Michael Schmitt and John J. Merriam examine Israel’s targeting practices against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Their purpose is to scrutinize the context in which these attacks take place as well as the Israeli Army’s relevant legal standards regulating them. The paper reads like read like an estimable apology on Israel’s behalf. That is because their findings lack the benefit of operational practice that would bear upon their legal conclusions.
Their findings are based on two visits to Israel in December 2014 and February 2015. During those visits, the Israeli Army granted them:
…unprecedented access that included a “staff ride” of the Gaza area, inspection of an Israeli operations center responsible for overseeing combat operations, a visit to a Hamas infiltration tunnel, review of IDF doctrine and other targeting guidance and briefings by IDF operations and legal personnel who have participated in targeting. The authors also conducted extensive interviews of senior IDF commanders and key IDF legal advisers. (3)
Schmitt and Merriam do not speak to a single person who may be a victim of Israel’s targeting practices. They acknowledge that their approach “might be perceived as leading to a pro-Israeli bias” but insist “the sole purpose of the project was to examine Israeli targeting systems, processes and norms in the abstract.” (3) In essence, they acknowledge that this entire paper examines what IDF lawyers say rather than what IDF operators do. At best – we should read it as a supplementary report to the Israeli Army’s war manual: it is just theoretical. However, they they also claim that their combined experience enables them to assess the “credibility and viability” of Israel’s claims and the outcome is “granular and exceptionally frank.” (4) This is an arguably impossible task if they do not assess Israel’s assertions about their practices in comparisons to actual practice.
As my colleague and legal scholar on laws of war explained to me, he has become accustomed to reading such reports like an anthropologist. Indeed, the value of this paper is its insightful display of the production of knowledge on national security and counter-terrorism from the US and Israeli metropolises. While this may be reason to dismiss the paper all together, it is also precisely why the paper merits response. Schmitt and Merriam are hardly insignificant. Their tremendous body of scholarship and influence means that their interventions will be taken very seriously and will inevitably bear upon the ways we come to understand, justify, and/or reject the development of the laws of armed conflict. This short piece aims to use three select examples to highlight the methodological shortcomings that give rise to insufficiently tested findings that are emblematic of the paper. (I include only one here, for the full article, you can read it here.) For the sake of specificity and fidelity to context, I will focus just on Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s 2014, 51-day attack on the Gaza Strip.
Operation Protective Edge: Legal and Political Implications of ICC Prosecution
October 20, 2014 October 20, 2014 / Noura Erakat / 2 Comments
George Mason University’s Middle East Studies Program, Global Programs, New Century College (NCC) and the Trans-Arab Research Institute welcome four international law experts to discuss the political and legal implications of an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of recent conflict in the Gaza Strip. This discussion will be held in Johnson Center, Room C, at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2014.
In July and August, hostilities in the Gaza Strip left 2,131 Palestinians and 71 Israelis dead, including 501 Palestinian children and one Israeli child. Of Gaza’s 1.8 million residents, 475,000 are living in temporary shelters or with other families because their homes have been severely damaged. The extent of destruction has raised questions around culpability for war crimes on all sides of the conflict. International organizations including the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for independent investigation.
Palestine is considering accession to the Rome Statute, which would grant the International Criminal Court the authority to investigate war crimes conducted in Palestinian territory. Such an investigation would bring both Israel and Palestine under scrutiny for events from this summer and as far back as 2012, and possibly to 2002 when the ICC was first formed to investigate war crimes.
This panel will explore the relevant legal questions under international criminal law as well as the political issues related to ICC accession by Palestine. Panelists include:
David Luban of Georgetown University Law Center
Margaret deGuzman of Temple University Beasley School of Law
George Bisharat of University of California Hastings College of the Law
Kevin Jon Heller of the SOAS, University of London
NCC Professor Noura Erakat will moderate the discussion. This event is free and all are welcome to attend. You can follow the event on live stream here.
Arab Bank Case Sets Limited Precedent
September 24, 2014 September 24, 2014 / Noura Erakat / 1 Comment
On Monday September 22, 2014, a jury in the US District Court of Brooklyn found that the Arab Bank is liable for financing terrorism. This is the first jury trial to find a bank liable for financing terrorism under the 1990 Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The Arab Bank contends that the case was riddled with errors that should be rectified upon appeal before the Second Circuit. The Central Bank of Jordan has come out in support of the Bank, whose earnings constitute a quarter of the country’s stock market portfolio.
The decision, dubbed as a “trial against Hamas,” has been welcomed by some Palestine advocates. They are hopeful that this means, Israeli or US banks can be sued for facilitating the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. That, however, is just not possible for two reasons. First, US federal courts have demonstrated an unwillingness to challenge Israeli policies, preferring to punt those questions to the Executive Branch instead. Second, it is a legislative invention, namely the ATA, that has made this case possible. Together, executive shielding of Israeli actions from judicial review and legislative endorsement of suits against Arab defendants, makes similar suit challenging Israel’s settlement policies very unlikely.
The U.S. federal court system has consistently invoked the political question doctrine to shield individuals connected to the Israeli government. The doctrine prevents the U.S. federal court system from adjudicating an issue that the U.S. Constitution textually commits to another branch of government. Since the Constitution commits foreign relations to the executive and legislative branches, the judicial branch may reject a claim as in-actionable by invoking the political question doctrine.
In 2005, Palestinian bystanders injured and killed during an operation intended to kill a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip brought a lawsuit under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) against Abraham Dichter, the former director of Israel’s General Security Services responsible for the operation. The plaintiffs in Matar v. Dichter, 563 F.3d 9, 11 (2d Cir. 2009) claimed that the targeted killing was extrajudicial, prohibited by the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA), and actionable in U.S. courts under the ATS. The Second Circuit dismissed the case for raising a political question. It characterized Dichter’s military actions as part of Israel’s foreign policy and therefore non-justiciable. The Department of State (DOS) submitted a Statement of Interest to the Court urging it to not hear the case. Israel’s Ambassador to the US at the time also submitted a letter claiming that Dichter’s actions constitute official Israeli policy. These letters had considerable influence on the panel.
In Belhas v. Ya’alon, 515 F.3d 1279, 1282 (D.C. Cir. 2008), Lebanese citizens – who were injured and killed when Israel shelled a United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) compound – sued Moshe Ya’alon, head of the Israeli Army Intelligence during the time of the shelling. The DC District Court dismissed the case for being barred by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which prohibits suit against a foreign country in US courts.
The claims were never heard on their merits.
The Right to Development & The Arab Uprisings (Part II)
October 9, 2013 / Noura Erakat / Leave a comment
Neo-liberal Development, Human Rights, and the Arab Uprisings
Rather than consider the state’s failure to empower, include, and provide, adherents of neoliberal development framed the Arab Uprisings as a revolt against government bureaucracy and rent-seeking. While there may be truth in that, by de-linking the gains of national economic and political elite from an international neoliberal development project, stakeholder states and IFI’s mistakenly exculpate themselves.
Fittingly, Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, attributed Bouazizi’s self-immolation to his frustration with “red tape.” Zoellick advised that Arab states should “quit harassing people and let them have a chance to start some small businesses.” (128) However, at the time of its Uprising, Egypt ranked as the eightieth easiest state in which to start a small business. Either the irony or the dispositive evidence was missed on Zoellick. Myopic focus on institutional governance fails to scrutinize the privileged access to economic opportunities in developing states that thwarts development, democracy, and human rights.
Over the course of three decades of authoritarian rule, the Mubarak regime, comprised of Mubarak himself together with its incumbent economic and political elite, amassed a tremendous amount of the country’s wealth for their personal benefit. The state has acquired thirty-five billion USD in loans, eighty-five percent of which is publicly guaranteed, and none of which benefits the general population. In the course of repaying its loans, more loans flow from Egypt to the West than the other way around. Since the ouster of Mubarak, no attention has been given to remedying this condition. To the contrary, from the democratically elected Muslim Brotherhood and now, within the military regime that has ousted it, these neoliberal policies have become further entrenched. States and IFI’s pledged 15 billion USD to post-Mubarak Egypt within three months of his ouster. However, according to Professor Adam Hanieh of SOAS University,
“This investment…is premised upon a profound liberalization of the Egyptian economy. They will only be undertaken concomitant with measures such as a deepening privatization (undoubtedly in the form of PPPs), deregulation (initially likely to be connected to the opening up of more sectors to foreign investment), the reduction of trade barriers (connected to access to US and European markets), and the expansion of the informal sector (under the banner of cutting ‘red tape’). They will necessarily involve, furthermore, a rapid expansion in Egypt’s overall indebtedness – tying the country ever more firmly to future structural adjustment packages.” (134)
Although its protests did not develop into sustained mass mobilization, in Jordan, the demand for human-centered development reverberated clearly. While Jordan’s economy ranks thirty-eighth freest in the world and the fourth freest in the Middle East, the majority of its citizens are poor and have weak purchasing power. Its most economically vulnerable population constitute the working poor and do not benefit from these trade privileges. The exclusive concern with growth rates is misplaced in Jordan where trickle-down effects have been dispositive and only a select economic and political elite has access to profitable investment arrangements.
Syria stands out as the exception among its Arab neighbors only for resisting a similar developmental shift until the late 1980s. In 1986, the Syrian regime shifted its social and political alliances from labor to business. In a context of economic stagnation, this shift also marked a slow but gradual reduction in state subsidies for basic goods upon which a significant cross-section of the Syrian population was reliant. By the 2000s, combined with the deleterious effect of policies driven by a new business class with ties to the government, this resulted in greater absolute poverty and social polarization as well as a dramatic increase of the informal sector. According to Professor Bassam Haddad, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Mason University,
“the most lucrative new economic opportunities were monopolized by regime loyalists, relatives, or partners…The striking proximity of policy makers to policy takers made rent-seeking and structural corruption extremely efficient, producing a plethora of tailored policies that weakened, fragmented, and taxed the national economy.”
All the while, the Syrian Regime steered this shift in the name of ‘investment,’ ‘growth,’ and ‘modernity.’ Together with the most severe drought that has caused the forced internal migration of more than 1.2 million Syrians since 2003, social polarization and discontent reached extraordinary levels by the late 2000s, tipping the balance in favor of a mass-based Uprising in rural areas. While this may explain the origins of the conflict, it hardly explains how the Uprising has turned into internal conflict and a regional proxy war, which I will not discuss here.
I do not mean to suggest that failure to adhere to the interdependent development approach has caused mass mobilization across the Arab world; that would be rather simplistic. The anecdotal case studies above do, however, illustrate the gravity and enduring relevance of human-centered development. They also show how other states and international institutions are implicated in national struggles. Both lessons are instructive for practitioners, organizations, and analysts concerned with development, democracy, and human rights in the Arab world.
On a national level, states must be able to subvert international economic prerogatives that conflict with their own national goals. By limiting democratization to unfettered markets, IFIs impede the ability of governments to freely determine the use and distribution of their own resources. Worse, they provide incentives for political-business elite networks to benefit from these exclusive arrangements while publicly-backing loans that avoid personal risk. The overlap of local interests and global neoliberal prescriptions has economic and political elite to benefit tremendously even as they professed a commitment to nationalist ideals. (i.e., Syria continued to boast its socialist constitution until 2005 while adopting state/crony capitalism in the best form.) Uncritical approaches to national sovereignty, self-determination, democratization, and participation that are not linked to equitable distribution fail to account for this deleterious pitfall. Equitable distribution must be part and parcel of any developmental formula in countries where inequity has become a recipe for either authoritarianism or chronic instability. Such reform must be internalized within national development agendas as well as within the IFIs themselves, which facilitate these hazardous arrangements.
Above all, the case studies are a stern reminder of the inextricability of civil, political, and social, economic rights. It is much easier and much simpler to attribute the upheaval in the Arab world to a lack of democratic governance, free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, and police accountability. However, it would be short-sighted to extricate these coercive measures from an international economic system that precludes democratic participation with equity and is contingent upon a truncated state. Under these terms, development must occur in spite of popular will rather than on its behalf. It is telling that after Ben Ali’s ouster from Tunisia, Tunisians opted to loot luxury villas, shops, and supermarkets identified as belonging to the family rather than attack police stations.Human rights practitioners and organizations should bear in mind that expansion of political and civil participation for individuals within government must be interlinked with more meaningful economic self-determination.
These prescriptions are not new. The UN Convention on the Right to Development captured them twenty-three years ago, the Vienna Convention on Human Rights reaffirmed them three years later. Self-determination of individuals, collectivities, and states cannot be overestimated in alleviating these conditions and making central the person and society, not just the person himself. Human rights advocacy should take its cue from those local and regional movements that are viscerally and daily affirming this principle.
The Right to Development & The Arab Uprisings (Part I)
In mid-December 2010, a young street vendor set himself on fire after his ill-treatment by Tunisian police. Mohamed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in Sidi Bouzid and inspired an entire region to revolt against decades of authoritarianism. Mass protests in Tunisia led to the ouster of its autocratic head of state Zine Abidine Ben Ali. This revolutionary fervor then spread to neighboring Egypt, where eighteen days of protest removed Hosni Mubarak from the helm of power. Soon, these tectonic shifts inspired protestors in Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, and Syria to challenge their autocratic leaders who had, for decades on end, also denied them the right to freely determine their political, economic, and social conditions. The protests have since successfully led to the negotiated removal of Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh from power. NATO military intervention, initially mandated by the UN Security Council to thwart a massacre in Benghazi expanded into a mission of regime change and ended the rule of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya. Today, protests continue in Syria, Bahrain and the transition processes have never ceased in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain, and Yemen.
The emergence of authoritarian regimes in the Arab world reflects a sordid history of colonial rule and post-colonial interventions that have created oppositional politics among states within the Middle East. The Middle East is rich in natural resources like gas and oil and has been one of the most penetrated regions by foreign interests. French and British intervention after the First World War derailed regional aspirations for unity and arbitrarily carved the Arab populations into several states. Each of these states later became independent from colonial rule and, ultimately, they became authoritarian.
Though devoid of political ideology, Arab regimes cultivated popular legitimacy by combining authoritarianism with a redistributive welfare state, in what political scientists refer to as “authoritarian populism.” Accordingly, states successfully “consolidated power by trading development for the political loyalty of key social forces, such as workers, peasants, and professionals, and others educated in the middle class.” Despite significant opposition, most Arab populations welcomed this social contract: in exchange for political and civil rights, the regimes would provide economic stability in the form of basic goods like subsidized housing and food as well as security to live free of internecine violence.
This contract, however, quickly began to unravel. GDP growth rates generally rose with the beginning of populist policies and public sector expansion only to begin falling in the 1980s as a result of a combination of repression, corruption, and mismanagement. The contribution of human and physical capital dropped from 3.4% in the sixties to negative 1.5% in the 1980s and stagnated throughout the 1990s. As Arab authoritarian regimes have entered into the globalized economy through the neoliberal prescriptions window, they began to privatize public goods like water, electricity, housing, and education through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). By steadily retracting redistributive policies whilst maintaining authoritarian governance, Arab authoritarian populists breached their tenuous social contracts.
By the 2000s, and as the gap between rich and poor expanded and as gender and other social-based disparities deepened within Arab countries, their aggregate economic figures oddly improved, but at the dire expense of equitable distribution. The IMF, for example, in 2010 praised Tunisia’s “‘sound policies and reforms’ for helping the country weather the global downturn.” The inverse relationship between aggregate and socio-economic development is not unique to the Arab world. In fact its ubiquitous nature among developing states, especially, reflects the principles first captured in the 1986 UN Declaration of the Right to Development and later reaffirmed in the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights. The missing ingredient was distributive equity.
Development as a Human Right
Drafters of the UN Declaration of the Right to Development were careful not to reduce development to purely economic aspirations. Instead, the document reflects a textured understanding of human and national development, which it defines as
“a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom […]”.
The Declaration affirms the interdependence of development, democracy, and human rights. It suggests that in order to benefit from development, human persons must be free from structural abuse, so as to freely participate in their cultural, economic, social, and political development.
In practice, centering human persons in national development means, ensuring active and meaningful participation; securing non-discrimination; fairly distributing the benefits of development; respecting self-determination and sovereignty over natural resources; and allowing human development to inform all processes that advance other civil, political economic, social
and cultural rights.
In 1993, the Vienna Declaration reaffirmed development as a human right (para. 10) as well as the interconnectedness of development, democracy, and human rights. Like the UN Declaration of the Right to Development, the Vienna Declaration is clear that human persons, not national economies are central subjects of development. Paragraph 10 reads, “while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgment of internationally recognized human rights,” thus capturing the tension between state and individual rights and prioritizing the latter.
The Vienna Declaration emphasizes that democratization in this context “is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social, and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives.” (para. 8) In marked contrast, neoliberal prescriptions define democratization in pursuit of development as opening up the market without regard to human rights or agency. Its overreliance on trickle-down effects casts the state as an obtrusion to prosperity. Worse, policymakers who aimed to dismantle state regulation and control of natural resources took for granted how neoliberal prescriptions globally overlapped with the interests of local and political elite. The effect was a redistribution of state wealth and opportunities to new a new elite class of public and private actors without regard for equitable distribution of opportunities and resources. “Democratization” and “participation” therefore remained exclusionary in content and structure.
Since the 1990s, international financial institutions (IFI’s) have strategically linked the function of markets with their international governance. It is in this context that the
“World Bank and other institutions have emphasized notions such as the ‘rule of law,’ ‘decentralization,’ ‘good governance,’ ‘separation of the legislative and executive,’ and so forth, which supposedly aim at reducing the rent-seeking capabilities of state officials, and guarantee greater transparency in economic affairs.” (127).
This developmental program in the Middle East, characterized by autocratic governance and marked by economic stagnation, has been intensely undemocratic and brutally indifferent to the dignity of individual persons and their collective formations.
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Author: Catherine Powell
Inhumane Proposal to Separate Women and Children Fleeing Violence Will Cost U.S. Taxpayers
March 11, 2017 March 24, 2017 / Catherine Powell / 2 Comments
Earlier this week, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly confirmed reports that he was considering a policy that would separate women and children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. If enacted, the policy would be both devastating for women and their children—many fleeing violence in Central America— and costly for the American taxpayer. Under the proposal women would be kept in detention while applying for asylum and children would be put in protective custody. Currently, women and children are released from detention quickly as they wait for a decision on their case, in part, because of a federal appeals court ruling that prohibits keeping children in prolonged detention.
Last year, however, there was an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors and families with children fleeing Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. From October 2016 to January 2017, 54,147 families (typically defined as mothers traveling with their children) arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border with a vast majority from those three Central American nations. The three countries have continued to experience a surge in gang violence and organized crime along with impunity for perpetrators. Over the last three years on average, 88 percent of families passed their credible fear screening—a screening that determines if an asylum seeker has a credible fear of persecution. Women and girls in these countries increasingly face the threat of sexual violence, forced prostitution, and gender-based violence by organized crime and gangs.
Women and children fleeing Central America have faced violence in their home country and along their journey. Separating traumatized mothers and children from one another will add to that trauma. In addition, placing children in protective custody will place more of a burden on our child welfare system. Plus, keeping women detained for the duration of their case will increase the number of people kept in detention, which poses increased costs for U.S. taxpayers. During FY2016, the United States spent on average $123 per day on an adult bed in detention and $342 per family unit per day with an annual budget of around $3 billion for detentions. Maintaining the current policy—which keeps families together—is not only the right course of action, it’s the smart, fiscally prudent course to follow.
The potential policy comes as the Trump Administration pursues more aggressive immigration enforcement policies, including, for example, through new administrative directives. On Monday, President Trump signed a revised executive order (EO) on “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” replacing the earlier controversial executive order on immigration, signed in January, that was blocked by a federal appeals court. The new order continues the ban for ninety days on travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen but Iraq is no longer included. Iraq’s removal from the list was requested by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, along with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Advisor Gen. H.R. McMaster. It also replaced the indefinite ban on Syrian refugees with a 120-day ban. However, the new order retains a core element of the old one— slashing the total number of refugees to be admitted to the United States per year from around 110,000 to 50,000. As I have written before, since the United States is the largest resettlement country in the world, the decision to cut the total of number of refugees will both adversely affect women and have destabilizing effects globally, as it affects not only the U.S. resettlement infrastructure, but the refugee resettlement landscape worldwide.
*This post is cross-posted at cfr.org.
Court Order Protects Women Refugees (For Now)
February 11, 2017 February 15, 2017 / Catherine Powell / Leave a comment
As I’ve discussed previously, President Trump Executive Order (EO), “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” had particularly grave consequences for women refugees. Under the EO, all refugees were suspended from entering the United States for 120 days, which adversely affected women in particular. The EO also suspended all citizens from seven targeted countries—Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen —from entering the United States, and it banned refugees from Syria indefinitely. Women refugees often flee sexual violence and other persecution, and without refugee protection, women are often stranded in refugee or temporary settlement camps where they face a heightened risk of sexual and physical violence.
In light of this, the nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge in Washington last week and the other day’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to uphold that injunction are good news for women refugees. Under the injunction, the provision in Trump’s EO suspending refugee admissions is on hold for now, and refugees are once again allowed to enter the United States and seek resettlement as planned. However, President Trump has threatened to fight the decision, indicating he may appeal now to the Supreme Court.
While the Ninth Circuit opinion was not a full-fledged decision on the merits (as it was merely reviewing whether or not to lift the district court’s temporary restraining order), as Jen Daskal helpfully notes on Just Security, the court drew a number of important conclusions. First, while it found that the President’s power over immigration is entitled to substantial deference, the court rejected the Trump administration’s claim that this power is unreviewable, particularly when constitutional rights are at stake. Second, the Ninth Circuit noted due process rights cover all persons in the United States, including aliens. Third, the court indicated its concerns that the EO is intended to disfavor Muslims, potentially violating the Establishment and Equal Protection Clauses, but ultimately noted it would “reserve consideration of these claims” until the merits have been fully briefed. Fourth, the court emphasized deep skepticism of the national security claims asserted by the government, noting that the administration has presented “no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named in the Order has perpetrated a terrorist attack in the United States.” In fact, ten top national security experts from across parties and across several administrations filed a declaration with the court indicating that the Executive Order did not, in fact, achieve national security goals and may, in fact, undermine them.
Indeed, refugees scheduled to arrive in the United States have already undergone an intensive vetting process.
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Scott Tainsky published in Journal of Sport Management
Associate Professor of Management and Director of Sport and Entertainment Management Scott Tainsky had an article published in the Journal of Sport Management. It is available online ahead of print.
The article, "Shared Market Competition and Broadcast Viewership in the National Football League," was co-authored with Michael Mondello of the University of South Florida and Brian M. Mills of the University of Florida.
The peer-reviewed Journal of Sport Management is the official journal of the North American Society for Sport Management. Its content covers the management, governance, and consumption of sport, such as: organizational theory, behavior, and strategy; sport operations; law and policy; economics, finance, and accounting; marketing, consumer behavior, sponsorship, advertising, and licensing; media, communications, and public relations; sport tourism; facility and event management; and gender and diversity.
This work evaluates the cross-quality elasticity of related products in the context of Nielsen Local People Meter ratings of all regular season broadcasts from 2010 through 2013 from six National Football League teams in three shared markets. Using a fixed effects panel regression, we do not uncover evidence that viewers are swayed by the success of a rival market team in their aggregate viewership patterns, contrary to what has been found in Major League Baseball. In addition, when within-market rivals play one another, we find that viewership levels increase but in a way that indicates considerable overlap of viewership and possible substitution choices made by consumers. We expand upon the implications of this work for demand estimation in sports economics research as well as the importance of our findings to sport management-related policy.
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Glenn C. Nye III
iMMAP Board Member
Rep. Glenn C Nye III is the President & CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress (CSPC) in Washington, D.C. CSPC is a nonpartisan think tank aiming to educate future public policy leaders while serving as an honest broker between the White House, Congress and Private Sector.
Nye is a former Member of Congress who bridges the public policy and technology communities. He served Virginia’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he distinguished himself as a bipartisan legislator, ranking among the top-10 most independent voting members.
After serving in Congress, Nye became an advisor to technology companies, acting as liaison between executives and policymakers in the areas of data analysis and the personal data economy. Nye served as a senior advisor to Palantir Technologies, a leading Silicon Valley data analytics company, and is an advisor at Datacoup, a personal data marketplace company, as well as a member of the board of advisors at FiscalNote, a government relations management software company.
After graduating from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Nye spent his early career as a U.S. diplomat serving the State Department and USAID in the Balkans, Southeast Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East. He was recognized with a Superior Honor Award for brokering the release of an American held hostage by insurgents in Macedonia and participated in negotiations for the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. He also led economic and political stabilization operations supporting counterinsurgency missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Nye continues to enhance understanding between branches of government by lecturing about the behind-the-scenes workings of the U.S. Congress to members of the foreign policy community. He remains active in thought leadership on technology and public policy issues.
Nye is a member of the Congressional Leadership Council of the “Fix the Debt” campaign. Nye has written and led discussions on politics, security, and digital technology issues as a Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., a trans-Atlantic think tank.
About iMMAP
iMMAP is an international not-for-profit organization
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Day 75: The Ark of Bukhara
Intentionally International Uzbekistan 15 April 2018 14 April 2019 3 Minutes
massive fortress gate flanked by two towers, the impressive entrance of the Ark of Bukhara
A massive fortress 20 meters deep in historical layers dating back to the 4th Century BC, the Bukhara “Ark” is the epicenter of history in this crossroads of the silk road city in central Uzbekistan. While not the most picturesque monument in Bukhara, the Ark is certainly the most historically significant. Behind the relative safety of the walls of the citadel lived generations of Emirs, their chiefs and advisors, servants, and where citizens of Bukhara looked for safety. When Genghis Khan and his mongol horde were bearing down of the city in the 13th century, the citizens of Bukhara took refuge here as the city was burned to the ground. The Ark fell then just as it did 800 years later to the Red Army, providing a false sense of security to the inhabitants of this silk-road stronghold.
refurbished battlements greet the 21st century visitor to the Bukhara Ark
The Ark also rather famously hosted a particularly gruesome chapter of the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, when in 1838 Colonel Charles Stoddart arrived in Bukhara to attempt to arrange an alliance between Emir Nasrullah Khan and the British East India Company against the Russians. Unfortunately the Colonel unwittingly committed diplomatic faux pas after faux pas and was eventually thrown into the dungeon. Months later, Stoddart agreed to convert to Islam to avoid execution. He was reprieved the dungeon and instead placed under house arrest.
Finally, in November of 1841, Captain Arthur Conolly arrived in Bukhara to unite Central Asia under British rule, Christianize the region, and abolish the slave trade. The Khan politely refused. It soon became apparent to the Emir that he was being used as a pawn in the Great Game between the British and Russians, and in January 1842, following the defeat of the British East India Company garrison at Kabul during the First Anglo-Afghan War, threw Stoddart and Conolly into an Ark prison cell.
On June 17, 1842, the Khan ordered that Stoddart and Conolly be brought to Registan Square where the two men were forced to dig their own graves. Publicly declaring the Khan a tyrant, Colonel Stoddart was the first to die, beheaded by the executioner’s sword. Conolly, like Stoddart before him, was offered the chance to live by converting to Islam. Conolly refused, and was also beheaded.
immaculate detail in the audience chamber of the Khan
Despite outrage in the British press, the two men’s deaths amounted to nothing. Russia eventually took over Central asia as Khan after Khan capitulated to Russian rule. The British lost the Great Game in Central Asia, and the territory of what would eventually become Uzbekistan remained under Russian, and then Soviet rule, until 1991.
Today the Ark remains an imposing presence in Registan Square. The battlements of the Ark Citadel have been extensively refurbished since bombardment by the Red Army in 1920. Today visitors enter the complex through the massive fortress gates flanked by two towers on either side. Tourists can visit a museum featuring the dungeons where Stoddart and Conolly were imprisoned (although no mention will be made of their plight), and walk the open air hall of the audience chamber where Stoddart failed to dismount his horse in the first of his many diplomatic gaffes.
The odyssey of Stoddart and Conolly may only be the most recent chapter in the two-plus thousand year history of the Ark, but it certainly won’t be it’s last. As evidenced by layer of upon layer of rebuilding, having been destroyed and refortified so many times, the fortress today rises above the ancient Registan Square as the primary citadel of many empires, until its final bombing into ultimate submission by Red Army aircraft. Predating even the Samanid Mausoleum by several centuries, the Ark, with its Zoroastrian pre Islamic-era origins, is steeped in layer upon layer of historical significance, and will no doubt outlast the current era and be witness to many more chapters of human history before finally succumbing to the harsh climate of Central Asia.
un-refurbished back-side of the Ark at sunset
registan square
Published by Intentionally International
Defining Global Citizenship View all posts by Intentionally International
Published 15 April 2018 14 April 2019
Previous Post Day 76: Istiqlol Palace
Next Post Day 74: Gastronom
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The Road Ahead for Japanese Exports
by Jeff Allan
The combination of Abenomics and the Bank of Japan’s monetary easing policies has significantly weakened the yen over the last several years. Compared with highs of 75 yen to the US dollar in 2011, as of this writing the yen is now trading at 120 to the US dollar.
One prospect of a weaker yen has always been that it holds the potential to make Japanese manufacturing more competitive in the global marketplace. Naturally, the question posed by economists and investors alike is when to expect the massive recovery within Japan’s export-reliant manufacturing industries.
So far, the recovery has been difficult to predict. Export-oriented industries have definitely seen notable growth over the last year, but the rate of growth has fluctuated. This is primarily due to other economic factors that have taken their toll on Japanese businesses, and put a damper on growth. Analysts, however, see broader export recovery on the horizon for Japan over the mid to long term.
The Role of a Weakened Yen
The yen’s decline has been central to the first two arrows of Abenomics. The government targeted these fiscal stimulus and monetary easing initiatives at stimulating the economy and promoting spending, while also combating deflation. As noted earlier, these initiatives have also had the added benefit of making Japanese manufacturing more competitive with neighboring rivals in China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
To that end, the weaker yen has been successful. As reported by the Nikkei Asian Review in February, the Bank of Japan’s Export Price Index indicated that electronic component and device prices had decreased by 3.4 percent in January when compared with the 2013 average on a contract currency basis. There is no doubt that the weakened yen is pushing down the price of Japanese exports.
Admittedly, the export recovery took some time to commence. Starting back in 2013 and continuing through 2014, the financial media was reporting on the lack of export recovery, even as the yen hit new lows against the dollar. A Bloomberg article from August 2014 quoted an economist at a leading investment bank, who said that the BOJ’s efforts to weaken the yen had done little to boost exports and expand the economy.
The problem, though, was not a flaw in the BOJ’s strategy to weaken the yen. In the face of two decades of economic stagnation and a yen that had strengthened to 75 to the dollar by 2011, Japanese companies had employed a host of optimization and cost-cutting measures. Formerly export-reliant companies had outsourced nearly a third of their production overseas by the time the yen started to weaken. This was in stark contrast with the bubble-era of the 1980s when only 10 percent of Japanese manufacturing was outsourced.
Those outsourcing numbers are beginning to see a reversal, however. Major players like Canon have announced plans to onshore much of their overseas production in the coming two years. Canon plans to have over half of its manufacturing back in Japan by 2017. Despite the initial delay, these moves are allowing Japanese companies to begin leveraging the cost-competitiveness of domestic manufacturing that the weakened yen has allowed.
Promising Results
Analysts were excited to see phenomenal double-digit export growth in December and January. There was some hope that this might actually be the start of the long-awaited export revival. January alone experienced 17 percent growth in exports, helped by recovering demand in the United States and other markets.
Some of that enthusiasm deflated in February, when exports only rose 2.4 percent in value. It was a sharp decline in growth, but still beat analysts’ estimates of 2.1 percent. Most analysts, though, believe that the February downturn was merely a result of the timing of the Chinese lunar new year holiday. Hidenobu Tokuda, a senior economist at Mizuho Research told the Fiscal Timesthat the slowed growth was “a temporary phenomenon related to the Lunar New Year, and I see no change to the overall trend that exports will continue to recover.” That seems to be the industry consensus, with others like BNP Paribas also stating their belief, as reported by theWall Street Journal, that exports would “remain on the mend.”
Sectors and Markets to Watch
According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), manufacturing machinery and automobile exports drove much of the December and January growth. Fuji Heavy Industries, which makes the Subaru brand of cars, has seen nearly 23 straight months of export volume growth. Nissan also saw a 41.3 percent increase in exports for January compared with a year earlier.
Likewise, parts and components for smartphones and similar consumer electronics are increasingly looking like a prospective area. TDK expects record sales this year, as it continues to move smartphone components to major players like Apple. Murata also plans on a 19 percent increase in sales due to a combination of the weakened yen and their strong domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The United States has provided the most demand for Japanese exports, while markets in Asia, including China, have slumped in recent months. As of February, exports to the United States have grown 14.3 percent for the year, while exports to Asia were down 1.1 percent.
Japanese exports have not yet reached the point of full revival, but there is every indication that they are heading in that direction. If current monetary and domestic manufacturing trends continue, there is a very good chance that we are on the verge of more stable growth that will deliver impressive results.
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Chanticleer Holdings Announces Opening of Little Big Burger Capitol Hill in Seattle
Download as PDF April 22, 2019
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BURG) (“Chanticleer” or the “Company”), owner, operator, and franchisor of multiple nationally recognized restaurant brands, today announced the opening of its newest Seattle Little Big Burger, located in the Capitol Hill area.
The soft opening was held this weekend, while the grand opening and free burger day are expected to be held in the near-term, both of which will be announced through social media.
The 2,500 sq. ft. restaurant will be positioned at the base of the Beryl Building on 12th Avenue and East Pike Street. Capitol Hill, Seattle's most densely populated neighborhood with over 30,000 residents, boasts a bustling restaurant scene and is one of the city's most prominent nightlife and entertainment districts.
Fred Glick, Chanticleer Holdings President stated, “We’re pleased to announce the opening of our newest Little Big Burger in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. The Little Big Burger brand born out of Oregon with just eight original locations has now reached 20 plus with a footprint also now in Charlotte, Seattle and Texas. We are excited about this location and anticipate it being one of our top performers.”
About Little Big Burger
Little Big Burger (“LBB”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. Founded in Portland, OR in 2010, LBB is a counter service, fast-casual restaurant concept offering fresh, high quality cooked-to-order burgers, truffle fries and root beer floats. LBB has developed a cult-like following in the Pacific Northwest by offering a simple menu focused on delicious quality, served in a hip atmosphere. Parties interested in franchise opportunities should send an email to mp@chanticleerholdings.com or visit www.littlebigburger.com.
Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “should,” “intends,” “estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions, the performance of management and our employees, our ability to obtain financing or required licenses, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our periodic reports and on documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the companies do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.
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July 10, 2019 / 1:22 PM / 6 days ago
Exclusive: New Kurdish PM says priority is stronger Baghdad ties, rather than independence
Raya Jalabi
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Two years after a failed independence bid plunged Iraq’s Kurdistan Region into months of instability, the new regional prime minister said his priority was strengthening ties with Baghdad, signalling dreams of self-rule should be put on hold.
Members of the new cabinet of the Kurdistan parliament headed by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani pose for a family photo, in Erbil, Iraq July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari
Masrour Barzani, sworn in as regional prime minister on Wednesday, told Reuters in an exclusive interview that under his leadership, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s focus would be to establish a “strong and constructive” relationship with Baghdad, leaving the question of independence aside for now.
“This (independence referendum) happened in the past and it’s a reflection of the enduring aspiration of a nation,” said Barzani, speaking at his palace in the hillside village of Salaheddine, near regional capital Erbil.
“However, the focus of my government will be how to build a stronger relationship and partnership with Baghdad,” he said, adding he would look to fix “those issues that were actually keeping us apart.”
The independence bid was led by Barzani’s father Masoud, who stepped down as Kurdish president in 2017 after the referendum backfired and prompted a military offensive from Baghdad.
At stake for the new premier are long-running disputes over independent oil exports, revenue sharing, security, and territory which have plagued ties between Erbil and Baghdad since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Barzani was instrumental in orchestrating the September 2017 referendum, which was held over the objections of Baghdad and regional powers. It was seen as the culmination of years of oppositional politics by the semi-autonomous region.
The backlash was swift and pushed the country to the brink of civil war, threatening to undo the years of unprecedented autonomy the region had enjoyed. Relations eventually improved, cemented by a change of government in both capitals.
‘A WIN-WIN SITUATION’
The region’s oil exports have long been a source of contention with Baghdad. The Kurds, who control Iraq’s only northern pipeline, had been exporting oil independently since 2013. Exports were restarted in 2018, after a year-long freeze amid post-referendum disputes.
As part of the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) agreed to send 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) to federal authorities in exchange for Baghdad paying civil servants’ salaries.
However, Iraqi officials, including the prime minister, complain that the KRG has not kept up its end of the bargain, having not sent a single barrel to Baghdad.
Barzani said negotiations on oil and gas were already underway and he sees room for “quick progress” on the file.
“There is great potential for a win-win situation,” he said. “Working together in cooperation with each other, we can increase the production of oil.”
Mutual benefits for both sides is a theme Barzani echoed regarding regional security.
Nearly two years since Iraq declared victory against Islamic State militants, the country has seen a deterioration in security in the areas bordering the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani, formerly the region’s security chief, said the threat from Islamic State isn’t yet over. The group exploited the rift between the Kurds and Baghdad, he said, who fought side by side to defeat the militant group in 2017.
He is looking to establish a joint security mechanism in the so-called disputed territories, areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, “to close that gap”.
Masrour is the latest Barzani to head the regional government. His father Masoud, himself the son of a veteran Kurdish leader, still holds considerable sway over its politics.
Masrour Barzani swears-in as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan region in front of the Members of the Parliament of the Kurdistan in Erbil, Iraq July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari
His cousin Nechirvan held the premiership until last month when he was sworn in as president, following a regional parliamentary election in September 2018.
The Barzanis are one of two families that have dominated regional politics for decades. Though they enjoy continued support among their respective bases through extensive patronage networks, their continued grip on power has opened them up to allegations of mismanagement and corruption from voters, many of whom are owed years of back pay from the government.
Barzani said winning back hearts and minds was therefore a leading priority, as was tackling graft. “I’d like to see reform,” he said. “To make sure that people have more trust in the government.”
Reporting by Raya Jalabi, Editing by William Maclean
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Women In Horror Month 2016! Your Top 3
Posted on March 1, 2016 by indiemacuser
Throughout the month of February here at Indie Mac User we have been celebrating the 7th annual Women in Horror Month. To help celebrate the great women of the horror genre we have been running a survey to find out who YOUR favourite Women in Horror is !!!!
Here are YOUR top 3 picks…..
3) Betsy Palmer AKA Mrs. Pamela Voorhees – Friday the 13th (1980)
Palmer also was known for her work as a regular panellist for about a decade on the CBS game show I’ve Got a Secret, starting in 1958 she was a wholesome Indiana native who appeared in films, on Broadway and in TV shows for years before she took the role of Mrs. Voorhees in the 1980 movie in which young camp counsellors suddenly begin meeting their grisly ends.
The back story was that she was the mother of Jason Voorhees, who had died at the camp years before. He would come to life in several sequels, and she is seen oh-so-briefly in the 1981 Friday the 13th Part II.
Palmer said that she only took the role in that first film because she wanted the money to buy a new car, a Volkswagen Scirocco that cost $9,999. Her old Mercedes had just broken down on the road days earlier.
“My agent called and said, ‘How would you like to be in a movie?'” she recalled. “I said, ‘Great, I haven’t done a movie since the 1960s.’ He said, ‘It’s 10 days’ work, they’ll pay you $1,000 a day.’ I said, ‘Great, I want to buy a car. It’ll just cover the car, perfect.’ He said, ‘There’s a drawback … it’s a horror film.’ I said, Oh, no.’”
But Palmer did want to pay for that car, so she asked to see the script. “‘What a piece of junk,'” she said. “Nobody is ever going to see this. This will come and go.”
Thankfully Palmer came around to the idea of being a ‘horror icon’ and embraced it before her death in 2015. Read our tribute to the wonder Betsy Palmer here.
2) Heather Langenkamp AKA Nancy Thompson – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Langenkamp rose to prominence when Wes Craven cast her as teen heroine Nancy Thompson in his hugely successful film A Nightmare on Elm Street, the first film in what became a series.
Craven wanted someone very ‘non-Hollywood’ to play Nancy, and he believed Langenkamp met this quality. She beat out more than 200 actresses auditioning for the part. This slasher film follows the story of a group of teenagers who are killed in their dreams by a supernatural serial killer (Freddy Krueger played by horror icon Robert Englund), one by one. This film is credited with launching her career.
In 1985, Langenkamp received the Best Actress Award at the Avoriaz Film Festival for this role and became one of the original scream queens. Many critics praised the role of Nancy due to the smart and independent nature of the character that made her different from most heroines in horror films released at the time. Langenkamp reprised her role as Nancy in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in 1987.
In 1994, Langenkamp returned to the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise when she starred as herself in the critically and commercially successful film Wes Craven’s New Nightmare alongside Robert Englund.
Langenkamp and her husband, David Leroy Anderson, own and operate AFX Studio, a Special F/X Make-Up firm that is credited with the special make-up for many successful films such as Dawn of the Dead, and The Cabin in the Woods.
She also starred in, executive produced, and narrated the 2010 documentary Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy, which was directed by Daniel Farrands and Andrew Kasch. In 2010, Langenkamp made her own documentary entitled I Am Nancy, which was a critical success. I Am Nancy focused on Langenkamp’s role as Nancy from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
In February 2016, it was announced that Langenkamp will be taking on another horror franchise and will be starring in Hellraiser: Judgement.
1) Jamie Leigh Curtis AKA Laurie Strode – Halloween (1978)
Curtis’s film debut occurred in the 1978 horror film Halloween, in which she played the role of Laurie Strode. The film was a major success and was considered the highest grossing independent film of its time, earning accolades as a classic horror film. Curtis was subsequently cast in several horror films, garnering her the title, “scream queen”.
Her next film was the horror film The Fog, which was helmed by Halloween director John Carpenter, further cementing Curtis as a horror film starlet.
Her next film, Prom Night, was a low-budget Canadian slasher film released in July 1980. The film, for which she earned a Genie Award nomination for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress. That year, Curtis also starred in Terror Train.
Curtis later appeared in Halloween II, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later and Halloween: Resurrection, as well as giving an uncredited voice role in Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
In 2015 Curtis starred in Fox’s TV serial Scream Queens as Dean Cathy Munsch. The first season takes place at the fictional Wallace University. One of the sororities, Kappa Kappa Tau, becomes plagued by a group of serial killers, who use the university’s Red Devil mascot as a disguise.
On January 15, 2016, Fox renewed the series for a second season with Curtis reprising her role.
Curtis is the daughter of Horror Icon Janet Leigh who starred in the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho (1960).
During promotion for Scream Queens Curtis recreated her mothers imfomous shower scene!
We look forward to Women In Horror Month 2017! Find out more about the campaign here.
Posted in Film, Horror, Lists Tagged A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, AFX Studio, Alfred Hitchcock, Andrew Kasch, Betsy Palmer, Daniel Farrands, David Leroy Anderson, dawn of the dead, freddy krueger, friday the 13th, Friday the 13th: Part II, halloween, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Halloween: Resurrection, Heather Langenkamp, Hellraiser, Hellraiser: Judgement, I AM NANCY, I’ve Got a Secret, Jamie Leigh Curtis, Janet Leigh, jason voorhees, John Carpenter, Laurie Strode, Mrs Pamela Voorhees, Mrs Voorhees, Nancy Thompson, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy, Prom Night, psycho, robert englund, Scream Queens, Terror Train, the cabin in the woods, The Fog, wes craven, Wes Craven's New Nightmare, WiHM, Women in Horror Month
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Energy Generation Capacity Expansion Planning (GEP)
Created by Transfer, last modified on 2018-09-20
One of the major and difficult problems in the energy area that the European Union (EU) is facing today consists of estimating the timing for clean power generation technologies and electricity transmission expansion network at a pan-European level in a long term (e.g., 30 years time horizon). EU has established aggressive pollutant emission reduction targets: a 20% (res. 27%) reduction in greenhouse gases with respect to 1990 levels by 2020 (res. 2030) and an objective of 80% reduction by 2050. See Eurostat.
Mathematical optimization models and algorithms for problem solving to address the above challenges in the electricity open market [14] are essential computerized tools for helping in the decision making for estimating the following key issues: feasible type and mix of power generation sources, ranging from less coal, nuclear and combined cycle gas turbine to more renewable energy sources (RES), namely hydroelectric, wind, solar, photovoltaic and biomass, among others; and timing for power generation plant / farm site locations and dimensions. The solution should maximize different types of utility criteria and quantifying the benefits of using cleaner, safer and efficient (cheaper) energy.
In the past (say, up to 25 years ago) practically all over the world the energy sector was a very centralized one where the Generation Companies (electricity generating companys) had a reduced decision-making on generation expansion capacity planning. The energy prices were centrally decided as well as the main geographical areas where to service the energy demand. So, the maximization of profit functions was out of question and, then, the main goal was to minimize the net present value (NPV) of the global cost for the planning of the site, location and capacity of new energy generation sources in, first, hydropower, second, variety of thermal plants, and also in the too-much controversial nuclear generation. In the latter energy source, not too-much room was left for the modeling tools to help in the decision making. On the other hand, the claims of other stakeholders (mainly, environmentalist ones) were not a strong issue given the strong regulation of the sector. The modeling could consider uncertainty on the main parameters that, by definition of the non-open market and, then, its strong regulation, was reduced to macro-economic and demographic factors that influence the energy demand to serve and the generation disruption. On the other side, the state-of-the-art on theory, modeling and algorithms for dealing with mathematical optimization under uncertainty (i.e., stochastic optimization) was not as advanced as it is today and, sure, will be in the future. Additionally, the HW/SW computer power was so low (until, say, 10-15 years ago) that the gigantic models that were needed to provide solutions to help the decision-making could not be considered.
Today the situation has drastically changed. The hardware/software computer power capability is very high, and it seems that its exponential growth will continue at least in the near future. On the other hand, some stochastic optimization tools could be considered today as a sort of commodities ready to be used. Additionally, the energy sector is very different from what it was in the past. It continues being a crucial sector for the European economy as for the rest of the world. However, its market, without being fully an open one (something that, by definition, probably it cannot be), it allows higher freedom to the GenCo for performing strategic energy generation capacity expansion planning in a long horizon. First, there is enough freedom on deciding the amount of power generation from the different plants / farms and, on the other hand, the energy price is not (fully, at least) decided by regulation. Second, the electricity generating company has very much freedom on deciding the location, capacity and timing on new generation sources. Third, the macro-economic and demographic factors are not the only main factor to influence the demand, but the competitors' strategies are a major source of uncertainty. Fourth, the power to be generated by some news RES, mainly wind and, in a lesser extent, solar and photovoltaic sources, is subject to a high uncertainty (that, on the other hand, it is difficult to formulate). Fifth, given the type of new energy sources, there is more variety on the location sites and generation capacity, which allows considering more opportunities for strategic planning. And, sixth, there are other stakeholders (environmentalists, among others) having different goals (whose directions are not the same sense as the electricity generating company) that, in some way, have to be considered in the decision making, plus some Government and EC directives, etc. All of that induce to consider multiobjective optimization.
So, the electricity generating company's aim has been moved from cost minimization to expected profit maximization along the time horizon. One of the interesting disciplines for problem solving is stochastic optimization, where the uncertainty of the main elements is represented (i.e., quantified) by a finite set of scenarios, ether in a two stage or a multistage scenario tree. Anyway, the problem modeling and algorithm development are big challenges, given the gigantic character of the problem. As an additional difficulty, big GenCos can influence some of the main uncertain parameters in the problem; say the energy price, among others. Then, the probability and value along the time horizon can be influenced by the decision-maker. In this case, the so-called decision-dependent probabilities [15,18,19] (also called endogenous uncertainty) should be considered. One of the potential tools consists of using stochastic mixed 0-1 quadratic mechanisms; see [10], to be added to the modeling schemes presented next.
Multistage stochastic mixed 0-1 optimization modeling for risk management should be considered. There are different approaches (some of them very recent ones) for energy generation planning, see [1,2,7,13,21,22,23], among others. The main parameters in the problem are uncertain and, so, a set of scenarios should be generated by considering the realization of the following parameters, at least: availability (and price, in case) of raw material for power generation: gas, fuel, water, wind, solar, etc.; electricity demand and prices at focal nodes in the energy network; operating hours per period of power generation technologies; CO2 emission permits; green Certificates prices for buying and selling in the market, and allowed bounds; power generation costs of different technologies; electricity loss of candidate power generation technologies; investment allocation bounding of the cost for the total power generation.
There is not a unique function-criterion to consider. Rather, it is a multicriteria problem, since the model considers the maximization of the NPV of the expected profit of the investment and consumer stakeholders’ goals over the scenarios along the time horizon, subject to risk reduction of the negative impact of the solution to be provided by the optimization system in non-wanted scenarios, plus utility objectives of other stakeholders. Those other objectives include the power share of cleaner, safer and efficient energy accessible to all consumption nodes, cost investment from private and public institutions, generation network reliability, EC directives and EU Governments on environmental issues and others.
One of the difficult problems to deal with is the generation of a set of scenarios to represent the realization of the uncertainty as structured in a multistage scenario tree. Hence, a node in the tree for a given stage is related (in a one-to-one correspondence) to a group of scenarios that up to the stage have the same values in the uncertain parameters. Then, the solution for those scenarios should be unique for all stages up to the stage where the node in the tree belongs to, i.e., the so-named nonanticipativity principle is satisfied.
In the so-called Risk Neutral approach (RN), the function to maximize consists of the NPV of the expected profit along the time horizon over the scenarios with the following elements related to a given GenCo the energy network: revenue from sale of electricity, revenue from sale (or, alternatively, cost from purchase) of Green Certificates, penalization of CO2 emissions, variable generation cost of thermal power plants, variable generation cost of renewable energy source power plants / farms (wind, solar, photovoltaic, biomass, etc.), periodic debt repayment of the investment on the new power plants / farms and new hydro power turbines, fixed power generation cost of available new plants / farms and new hydro power turbines, etc.
The gigantic character of the problem can be assessed by considering its dynamic setting (say, 30 years time horizon), the number and dimensions of replicated networks (i.e., hyper hydro valleys) in the time horizon for some big generator companies (e.g., EdF has 20+ valleys, some with 50+ elements, see [4]), multiple choices in time and space of location and capacity decisions for the energy generation system of the given GenCo (current and candidate power generation plants / farms), and the representative scenario tree to consider for the uncertain parameters.
The aim of the Risk Neutral type model performs the maximization of the NPV of the expected profit. The main drawback of this popular strategy is that it ignores the variability of the profit over the scenarios, in particular the “left” tail of the profits of the non-wanted scenarios. For the problems with so high variability, there are some risk averse approaches that, additionally, deal with risk management. Among them, the so-called time-inconsistent stochastic dominance (TSD) measure reduces the risk of the negative impact of the solution in non-wanted scenarios in a better way than others under some circumstances. See [3] for a computational comparison of some risk averse strategies, see also [5].
The TSD measure presented in [9] for stochastic problems as a mixture of first- and second-order stochastic dominance strategies. It is a multistage extension of the two-stage strategies introduced in [16,17], plus the consideration of hedging the solution against some types of negative impacts in non-wanted scenarios at selected stages along the given time horizon.
Then, the maximization of the NPV of the expected profit is subject to a scheme for risk management that consists of appending to the model a set of TSD constraints for given profiles at a stage subset for each function (including the objective one), such that a profile is given by the 4-tupla: threshold on the function value; maximum target shortfall on reaching the threshold that is allowed for each node in the scenario tree related to any of those stages; bound target on the probability of failure on reaching the threshold; and bound target on the expected shortfall.
As an alternative, the time consistent strategy proposed in [12] is so-called the expected stochastic dominance (ESD) measure. In ESD, however, the profiles are associated with the nodes of a modeler-driven stage subset for each function, where a profile consists of the 4-tupla: threshold of the function to be satisfied by any scenario in the group with one-to-one correspondence to the node; maximum shortfall of the value of the function that is allowed for any of those scenarios; upper bound target on the expected deficit (shortfall) on reaching the threshold that is allowed for that group of scenarios; and upper bound on the probability of failing to satisfy the threshold.
The rationale [20] behind a time-consistent risk averse measure is that the solution value to be obtained for the successor set of a give node in the scenario tree for the related time consistent submodel, see [12], 'solved' at the stage to whom the node belongs to, should have the same value as in the original model 'solved' at the beginning of the time horizon. See in [20] and references therein the time consistent version of CVaR (Conditional Value-at-Risk), a very popular risk averse measure.
It is worth to point out that, by construction, the time-consistent version of risk averse measure does not avoid the risk on non-desired shortfalls on reaching the thresholds for the given functions at intermediate stages of the (long) time horizon for the energy generation expansion planning problem. It is a challenge for problem solving, but both time-consistent and time-inconsistent versions of risk averse measures should be jointly considered in the same model.
The gigantic but well structured multicriteria multistage stochastic nonlinear mixed integer (SMINO) problem with risk management cannot be solved up to optimality, see [8], such that a realistic approach could consist of a combination of the following elements: sample scenario schemes, iterative algorithms for solving SMINO by sequential mixed 0- linear one; node-based decomposition algorithms; stochastic mixed 0-1 bilinear optimization solvers; and high performance computing. See in [11] a review of decomposition algorithms for multistage stochastic problem solving.
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[3] A. Alonso-Ayuso, F. Carvallo, L.F. Escudero, M. Guignard, J. Pi, and R. Puranmalka, A. Weintraub. On the optimization of copper extraction in mining under uncertainty in copper prices. European Journal of Operational Research, 233:711-726, 2014.
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In monopolistic environment for energy transmission network capacities were designed with a wide safety margin, so for a long time expansion planning in electrical energy systems was concentrated on generation expansion planning (GEP) with the goal to cover cumulative demand uncertainty based on averaged historic demand data. These were modeled as stochastic optimization problems with a one dimensional demand distribution represented by 2-stage or multi-stage scenario trees that were generated by Monte Carlo methods. The models went to the limit of computational possibilities at any point in time,
included binary decision variable, with a risk neutral approach and, then, only expected values in the objective function where considered in the time horizon over the scenarios. Very limited use was made of risk averse measures.
In order to solve the large scale problems, decomposition methods played a central role, in particular the following methodologies:
Two-stage Benders Decomposition (BD) for linear problems [11]. See [8,37,55], among many others.
Multistage Benders Decomposition (BD) methodology for linear problems. See [13] among others.
Two-stage Lagrangean Decomposition (LD) heuristic methodology. See [14,1718,29,28,33,41,42], among many others. See also [2, 56] for two surveys on the state-of-the-art of two-stage stochastic unit commitment, and using LD with bundle methods. See also [1,16,51] two-stage LD approaches with bundle methods applied to energy problems.
Multistage Clustering Lagrangean Decomposition (MCLD) heuristic methodology. See [21,22,23,38], among some others.
Regularization methods. See [9, 33, 39, 49, 50, 53], among others.
Progressive Hedging algorithm (PHA) for multistage primal decomposition. See [47,57], among others.
Multistage Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP). See [4,15,25,26,30,32,40,44,45,48,54], among others.
Multistage cluster primal decomposition. See [5,7,10,19,24,38,43,52,58], among others.
Parallelized decomposition algorithms. See [3,4,5,6,9,12,34,39,43,48,52,58], among others.
Today, new power production possibilities, technological developments and deregulation bring along several new sources of uncertainty with highly differing levels of variability. In addition to traditional demand these are foremost dependencies on wind, market prices, mobile electricity consumers like cars, power exchanges on international level, local energy producers on distribution network level and, to a lesser extent, solar radiation. This introduces complex and volatile load and demand structures that pose a severe challenge for strategic planning in production and transmission and, on a shorter time scale, in distribution. Networks may now be equipped with new infrastructure like Phase Measurement Units (PMUs) and other information technology in order to improve their cost efficiency. At the same time these upgraded networks should ensure high standards in reliability in their daily use and resilience against natural or human caused disasters. Companies now have teams devoted to the task of generating suitable planning data.
In optimization models, the emphasis has shifted to high dimensional stochastic data and to considering risk reduction measures instead of expected values. Computationally integrated models considering all relevant aspects are out of scope. Even for simplified models it is often difficult or not known how to provide stochastic data of sufficient quality [63]. Alternatives are then:
robust optimization, where distributions are replaced by "easier" uncertainty sets [59],
fuzzy methods, where uncertainties are replaced by a kind of interval arithmetic equipped with scenario dependent probabilities [60],
information gap decision theory that aims at hedging against information errors [61,62].
Methods for solving these stochastic optimization problems with binary decision variables employ the same decomposition approaches listed above, but much more care needs to be devoted to the properties of the decomposition. For risk averse measures in multistage models, methods are distinguished regarding their "time consistency" or "time inconsistency". So far, stochastic dynamic programming approaches are the most suitable ones for dealing with the time consistency property of risk measures, so that the original stochastic problem may be decomposed more easily via scenario clustering and cluster dependent risk levels.
In power generation optimization models for big companies the following are the issues of relevance, mainly addressed in the context of market competition:
when and where to install how much new production capacity, mainly considering wind generators and thermal plants (decisions on nuclear power are political)
how to extend or renew hydro plants and where to install what pumping capacities. Today, solar power is typically handled at the level of distribution networks.
In contrast, competition is not an issue for transmission and distribution network operators. Regulations on efficiency, reliability and resilience levels are the driving force in the following problems:
when and where to install how much network capacity and information equipment,
reducing transmission losses,
reducing distribution losses (technical and detecting non-technical ones).
Challenges today and for the future comprise:
The robust approach allows for safe optimization with uncertain data. What information can be extracted from these robust solutions e.g. on which additional data would be needed to improve the quality of the model?
Several risk averse measures have been proposed, each with its advantages and disadvantages. How to make use of them in the best way?
How to deal with endogenous uncertainty, i.e., with optimizing big player decisions that influence the probability distributions that are optimized over?
How to construct hierarchical decomposition approaches in a consistent way?
How to make use of high performance computing (HPC, multi-core or Distributed) in decomposition approaches?
How to integrate chance constraints (ICC), e.g. with respect to reliability or resilience?
General goals for future models include: increasing the level of integration; bringing models closer to reality by avoiding the excessive linearization of nonlinear aspects; reducing the gap between methods used in academia and those applied in practice; making use of new monitoring devices and communication systems; exploring the chances of cooperation between electric and other energy commodity systems.
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[56] M. Tahanan, W. van Ackooij, A. Frangioni and F. Lacalandra. Large-scale unit commitment under uncertainty. 4OR, 13:115-171, 2015.
[57] J.P.Watson and D.Woodruff. Progressive hedging innovations for a class of stochastic mixed-integer resource allocation problems. Computational Management Science, 8:355370, 201
[58] G.L. Zenarosa, O.A. Prokopyev, and A.J. Schaefer. Scenario-tree decomposition: Bounds for multistage stochastic mixed-integer programs. Technical report, Technical paper, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2014. URL http://dx.doli.org/10.21.39/ssrn.26666.
[59] Ben-Tal, Aharon, and Arkadi Nemirovski. "Robust optimization–methodology and applications." Mathematical Programming 92.3 (2002): 453-480.
[60] Zadeh, Lotfi Asker. "Fuzzy sets as a basis for a theory of possibility." Fuzzy sets and systems 1.1 (1978): 3-28.
[61] Ben-Haim, Yakov. Info-gap decision theory: decisions under severe uncertainty. Academic Press, 2006.
[62] A. Rabiee, A. Soroudi and A. Keane, "Information Gap Decision Theory Based OPF With HVDC Connected Wind Farms," in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 3396-3406, Nov. 2015.
[63] Soroudi, Alireza, and Turaj Amraee. "Decision making under uncertainty in energy systems: state of the art." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 28 (2013): 376-384
Optimization Methods
The GEP can be mathematically formulated as a high dimensional, nonlinear, nonconvex, mix-integer and highly constrained optimization problem with the least cost of the investment as the optimization criterion. The complexity of the problem rapidly increases if many practical constraints are taken into account.
Methods to solve the GEP can be generally categorized into two types: traditional mathematical programming methods and methods based on heuristic techniques. The traditional mathematical methods include dynamic programming (DP), mix-integer programming (MIP), branch and bound, Benders’ decomposition, network flow methods, and others. These methods are usually strict in mathematics, strong in numerical manipulations, weak in handling qualitative constraints, and slower in computational performance [1]. The heuristic techniques mainly include the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches, such as GAs, DE, EP, evolutionary strategy (ES), ACO, PSO, TS, SA, and a hybrid approach [2]. The main advantage of the heuristic techniques is their flexibility for handling numerous qualitative constraints that are common in the GEP in the deregulated power industry.
The application of PSO for solving GEP has been reported in the literature [2]–[4]. The application and comparison of metaheuristic techniques to solve the GEP has been presented in [2], where PSO is compared with eight other metaheuristic techniques in terms of the success rate and execution time. The performance of the metaheuristic techniques is improved by the application of a virtual mapping procedure, intelligent initial population generation, and penalty factor approach. Optimal and near-optimal solutions are reached within a reasonable amount of time. In addition, Kannan et al. [5] have presented the application of the PSO technique and its variants to the GEP. In this case, three different test cases are used for comparison with DP. The comparisons are based on computation time, success rate, and error limit. The virtual mapping procedure is also used here. For all test cases, the PSO technique and its variants produce better results in much less time compared with DP. Among the PSO variants, it was observed that the constriction factor approach performed comparatively better.
Additionally, Sensarna et al. [3] have presented the application of PSO to GEP with a parametric approach for planning and transmission expansion including topology optimization, capital expenses, power losses, network security, and revenue. Likewise, Slochanal et al. [4] have presented the application of PSO to the generation expansion planning problem in a competitive environment.
[1] F. Wu, Z. Yen, Y. Hou, and Y. Ni, “Applications of AI techniques to generation planning and investment,” in Proc. IEEE Power Eng. Soc. General Meeting, Jun. 2004, vol. 1, pp. 936–940.
[2] S. Kannan, S. Slochanal, and N. Padhy, “Application and comparison of metaheuristic techniques to generation expansion planning problem,” IEEE Trans. Power Syst., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 466–475, Feb. 2005.
[3] P. Sensarna, M. Rahmani, and A. Carvalho, “A comprehensive method for optimal expansion planning using particle swarm optimization,” in Proc. IEEE Power Eng. Soc. Winter Meeting 2002, Jan. 2002, vol. 2, pp. 1317–1322.
[4] S. Slochanal, S. Kannan, and R. Rengaraj, “Generation expansion planning in the competitive environment,” in Proc. 2004 Int. Conf. Power Syst. Technol., Nov. 2004, pp. 1546–1549.
[5] S. Kannan, S. Slochanal, and N. Padhy, “Application of particle swarm optimization technique and its variants to generation expansion problem,” ELSERVIER Electric Power Syst. Res., vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 203–210, Aug. 2004
Data and Software
On the software side, general purpose stochastic optimization software still seems far away. Planning models are highly problem oriented and off-the-shelf packages are not available. Companies use modeling languages like GAMS, AMPL, AIMMS, Python together with standard solvers to develop problem specific approaches.
Prof. Laureano Escudero, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Dr Alireza Soroudi, University College Dublin (UCD)
Prof. Christoph Helmberg, TU Chemnitz
Dr. Željko Kanović, University of Novi Sad
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The Peter Hain Case: Parliamentary Privilege and Article IX of the Bill of Rights – Robert Craig
Peter Hain’s decision to breach an interim injunction granted by the Court of Appeal in the case of ABC v Telegraph Media Group has caused serious concern. It is one of the cardinal rules in Parliament that members should not interfere in ongoing legal proceedings and Hain did not wait until the end of the proceedings before breaching this injunction, even though the case had been scheduled for an early full hearing. He does not appear even to have read the court judgment he saw fit to overrule, effectively.
The duty of comity means that both judges and parliament must respect the others’ boundaries. If Hain’s decision to intervene in live proceedings is treated leniently by parliament, there must be some concern about whether the judiciary will continue to treat Article IX with its current level of extreme deference. Nevertheless this affair shows the importance of the core principle that what happens in Parliament must remain outside the jurisdiction of the courts. It is in hard cases like this that the principle must be maintained.
If it had happened outside Parliament, Hain’s decision to launch a direct attack on the legal system would have rendered him liable for contempt of court. Within Parliament, there are procedures in place to censure those who breach its norms – and the rules concerning interference in live legal proceedings are taken seriously.
In a further twist, it has now transpired that Hain is a paid consultant to the law firm that is advising The Daily Telegraph in the relevant proceedings. Their involvement was clearly stated on the front page of the Court of Appeal judgment and they must be concerned about the potential damage to their reputation so casually inflicted by Hain’s action. This direct connection between Hain and the law firm arguably falls within the Porter v Magill test of whether a ‘fair-minded and informed observer would think there was real possibility of bias’. It might even fall within the ‘personal interest’ test set out in Pinochet. This arguable breach of natural justice is discussed further below.
Notwithstanding the inappropriateness of Hain’s action, there remains near universal acceptance that the doctrines of parliamentary privilege and exclusive cognisance will protect Hain from any judicial process. The legal context was usefully discussed by Jelena Gligorijevic on this blog recently. Persephone Bridgman Baker provides a useful analysis of the merits of ABC itself.
One academic commentator, Paul Wragg, takes a different view, on the Inforrm blog. He argues that Hain may not be immune from extra-parliamentary legal consequences for breaching the rights of citizens of the UK without recourse, including some counter-parties to the NDAs who also did not want their personal details to be revealed. It will be remembered that the NDAs in question expressly permit criminal allegations to be taken to the authorities. As none of the counter-parties appear to have gone to the police, they would not benefit from the anonymity that normally accrues to complainants in criminal sexual assault cases.
Wragg argues that Article IX does not in fact provide unlimited protection to Hain.
Article IX, Bill of Rights 1689
the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament
For a fuller analysis of Article IX, see the evidence given by Gavin Phillipson to the current Procedure Committee inquiry looking into s 13(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 which includes the blog he and I posted last week.
Wragg claims that Article IX merely says ‘ought not’ rather than imposing a blanket prohibition. He also claims that the courts have the power to determine the limits of Parliamentary privilege citing R v Chaytor for the proposition that the privilege only protects the ‘core or essential business of Parliament’ [48]. He goes on to say that the proper test from that case is whether any action would ‘offend against the rationale for Parliamentary privilege’ (from the Court of Appeal in R v Chaytor).
Wragg is to be commended for highlighting that the boundary of privilege is not fixed and it is incumbent on us to try to understand where the lines should be drawn. However, his claim is a normative one and it is perhaps useful to analyse why the current near consensus that Hain is immune is not just accurate but, more importantly, necessary. Lord Phillips said in Chaytor that the purpose of Article IX was to ensure the
freedom for Parliament to conduct its legislative and deliberative business without interference from the Crown or the Crown’s judges.
Wragg suggests two possible reasons to question Hain’s immunity.
The first is that this case is very different from protecting members from ‘being brought before the courts by the Crown and accused and convicted of seditious libel’ (R v Chaytor). On the contrary, this would be a situation where the courts would be vindicating individual rights against the serious abuse of power perpetrated by Hain, who has no democratic mandate or accountability.
The second is based on the rule of law. Wragg points out that Hain ‘put himself above the law’ and has ‘thwarted the administration of justice’. Wragg draws a sharp distinction between the NDA case in question and where a case has been fully concluded in the courts. He argues that the Bill of Rights should be construed so as to take account of these rule of law issues.
Wragg’s claim is bold and interesting but it is, most unfortunately, mistaken in my submission. Wragg is right that Hain should be ‘made an example of’, not least to secure a suitable deterrent effect. However, that sanctioning can only be done by and within Parliament by means of suspension or expulsion.
Jurisdictional limits of the courts
The issue of jurisdiction raises an interesting, and fairly fundamental, constitutional question about Article IX. On the traditional view, the courts have no jurisdiction over proceedings in Parliament whatsoever and this is merely confirmed by Article IX. On what might be termed the ‘common law’ view, the High Court has unlimited jurisdiction and Article IX must logically be considered as no more than a strong ouster clause which may even need to be interpreted narrowly in line with s 3 Human Rights Act 1998.
The latter part of this argument may be balanced by the claim in HS2 that some Acts, such as the Bill of Rights, may be so important constitutionally that later Acts such as the European Communities Act 1972 may not in fact have been intended to abrogate it [207]. This argument may also apply to the HRA. Furthermore, Lord Browne-Wilkinson in Pepper v Hart said that Article IX was ‘a provision of the highest constitutional importance’ which ‘should not be narrowly construed’.
Wragg’s approach appears to be underpinned by the common law view. This post aims to defend the traditional view which is underpinned by the sovereignty of Parliament.
In one sense, it is simply a category error to suggest that the courts could consider parliamentary proceedings at all. Parliament is a legislature, unlike the courts. The argument that what was said in Parliament could be litigated would appear to offend against an important constitutional principle, the separation of powers.
The High Court of Parliament
On the other hand, Parliament is also, technically, a court. It is of course a superior court to the High Court and the appeal courts. However, as Pinochet arguably showed, even the most senior courts can have their decisions reviewed if there is a wholesale breach of natural justice such as failure to hear both sides, a personal interest in the case or a real possibility of bias. The recent case of Lee v Ashers Baking Company also saw the review of a senior court decision for a procedural error.
Interestingly, Hain’s ineptitude qualifies precisely as the level of failure to observe the principles of natural justice, (without even mentioning his abuse of power and breach of the rights of citizens) that would arguably have satisfied even the ‘pre-Anisminic’ test for acting outside of jurisdiction qua court.
Indeed, if anything could be more serious than the previous claims, it would be the destruction of the efficacy of live legal proceedings in what would otherwise appear to be a contempt of court. In other words, if Hain’s decision does not fall outside the jurisdiction of the High Court of Parliament (both in the modern and in the classic, pre-Anisminic sense of the word ‘jurisdiction’), then it is difficult to see how there could ever be such a case.
It is a truism that Parliament must use crystal clear words to oust the jurisdiction of the courts. Article IX contains no such clear words. Indeed it even uses the words ‘ought not to be …questioned in any court’, variations of which have been treated as ineffective by the courts since Anisminic was decided.
All the auguries therefore would appear to line up in favour of Wragg’s argument that Hain may possibly have acted outside the jurisdiction of the High Court of Parliament on this occasion.
Nevertheless, Hain cannot be brought before the judiciary for contempt of court.
The reason is simple. The common law view is not the right approach. The jurisdiction of the courts has not been ousted by Article IX. On the contrary, the jurisdiction of the courts simply does not extend to parliamentary proceedings in the first place. Incidentally, this has the benevolent side effect of conclusively demonstrating that the common law claim that the High Court has ‘unlimited jurisdiction’ is mistaken. The High Court is a court of limited jurisdiction.
Those who would defend the sovereignty of Parliament against detractors can be reassured that the very egregiousness of Hain’s conduct shows that, in the final analysis, the jurisdictional sovereignty of the high court of Parliament remains outside the jurisdiction of the High Court in even the most extreme circumstances. This particular door remains firmly shut. It is to be hoped that the precedent set by whatever sanction is imposed on Hain is enough to keep it bolted.
The author would like to thank Gavin Phillipson, Alison Young, Tom Poole, Jo Murkens, Paul Wragg and Martin Loughlin for their helpful comments on previous drafts.
Robert Craig, PhD Candidate, Durham University
(Suggested citation: R. Craig, ‘The Peter Hain Case: The Effect of Article IX’, U.K. Const. L. Blog (31st Oct. 2018) (available at https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/))
This post originally appeared on the UK Constitutional Law Blog and is reproduced with permission and thanks.
« Guidance issued to court staff on supporting media access – Paul Magrath Attention economy: Facebook delivers traffic but no money for news media – Merja Myllylahti »
Date : November 2, 2018
Tags: Bill of Rights Act, Robert Craig, UK Constitutional Law Blog
Categories : Freedom of expression, Government and Policy, Legal
Law and Media Round Up – 5 November 2018 | Inforrm's Blog (02:11:16) :
[…] There have continued to be a wide range of comments on the case including, the Press Gazette and The Injunctions Blog. On INFORRM we have commentary on the case itself by Persephone Bridgman Baker, on Lord Hain’s reasoning for disclosure by Tom Double and on this use of parliamentary privilege. […]
Top 10 Privacy and Data Protection Cases of 2018: a selection | Inforrm's Blog (00:06:01) :
[…] Persephone Bridgman Baker. We also had comments criticising Lord Hain’s conduct from Paul Wragg, Robert Craig and Tom […]
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Explore Dead Space Narrative With No Known Survivors
Filed to: Dead SpaceFiled to: Dead Space
EA continues to display an amazing amount of dedication to the story aspects of their upcoming sci-fi horror shooter Dead Space with the launch of No Known Survivors, a website that will feature two tragic stories from the Dead Space universe, told through the use of 3D animations, voice talent, original video and interactive elements. The website launches with nine body parts floating through space, each of which will morph into the shape of a mutated necromorph body part before becoming clickable, with one a new chunk of content activated every Monday, starting this week. The first of the two stories, "Misplaced Affection", is the story of an organ replacement tech who falls for a female officer. The second, "13", features the story of a sleeper agent faced with tough decisions. It's all terrible atmospheric, doing an excellent job of heightening my excitement for the game. Head over to NoKnownSurvivors.com right now to check it out.
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HomeObituariesThomas Kerns – Edgewood
Thomas Kerns – Edgewood
November 20, 2018 Janelle Tucker Obituaries Comments Off on Thomas Kerns – Edgewood
Thomas Kerns, 82, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away after an extended illness, on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at his residence. Tom was born on June 17, 1936, in Fairbank, the son of Floyd and Iva (Greening) Kerns. Tom attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Fairbank. At the age of 17, Tom enlisted in the United States Army, serving from 1954-1957.
On June 21, 1958, Tom was united in marriage to Joan Yeager at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bellevue. Four children were born to this union. The couple farmed for five years west of Oelwein and then for three years near Edgewood. In 1966 they purchased the Edgewood Locker. During that time, Tom was able to see the locker grow from one full time and one part time employee to over 50 full time and dozens of part time and seasonal employees. He served four years as Regional Director for the Iowa Meat Processors. Tom was proud to watch the Edgewood Locker become a three-generation business.
Tom served as Scout Master for Troop 28 in Edgewood form 1970-1982. He helped many young men become Eagle Scouts. In 1975 he received the District Award of Merit, and in 1980 the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Tom was an active member of the community. In 1975 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Edgewood Jaycees. From 1975-1985 he was on the Edgewood City Council. Tom was also a 50-year member of the Edgewood American Legion. He was a longtime member of St. Mark Catholic Church.
Tom loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and ice fishing. He especially loved hunting mushrooms in the spring and ginseng in the fall. Tom loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Survivors include in wife of 60 years, Joan Kerns of Edgewood; his four children, Terry (Jody) Kerns of Edgewood, Jim (Jody) Kerns of Edgewood, Judy (Ray) Scott of Marion, and Rob (Janelle) Kerns of Iowa City; 14 grandchildren, Luke (Brooke), Katie (Drew) Anderson, Baili (Brad) Maurer, Payson, Maddy, Emma, Noelle, Ava, Amber Scott, Allison Scott, Mikinna, Cole, Teya, and Tommy; three great-grandchildren, Cora and Ada Kerns, and Ellie Anderson; four siblings, Sally (Dennis) Harkins of Phoenix, Arizona, Iva Mae Kerns of Oelwein, Jeanette Stanek of Hazleton, and Roger (Lucille) Kerns of Fairbank; and one sister-in-law, Diann Kerns of Oelwein.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gen Lubbs and Geraldine Day; one brother, Charles Kerns; and four brothers-in-law, Gene Stanek, Elmer Day, Larry Lubbs, and Jerry Meyer.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.
Mass of Resurrection: 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 24, 2018, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Edgewood, with Rev. John Haugen presiding.
Visitation: 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, November 23, 2018, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Edgewood, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. Scripture Service. Friends may also call one hour before the service at the church on Saturday.
Interment with Military Rites: St. Mark Cemetery – Edgewood, Iowa
Delaware County Extension Hosting “School’s Out” Day Camps
Auditor Says Iowa Livestock Farm Fund Mishandled
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Everything is everything else
Pranaya SJB Rana | June 8, 2016
Manjushree Thapa’s All of Us in Our Own Lives is something of a misnomer. No one is really ever in their ‘own’ lives, as the novel makes evident. There is no hermetically sealed cocoon within which an individual can exist, detached from everyone else. Lives overlap and there is no such thing as one’s ‘own’ life. Each life is but one thread in a tapestry, intertwined with all the others. This is a conclusion that Sapana, a young village girl and one of the novel’s four major characters, comes to early on in the novel. She muses:
“And anyway, maybe there’s no such thing as ‘my life’ or ‘your life’, she thought. Maybe everyone’s life is part of a whole. It felt so to her, because when she thought about it, she felt that the actions of one person shape the lives of others, and…don’t all of us in our own lives shape the lives of others?”
This, then, is the thread that binds the four characters that Thapa follows in their attempt to live their lives as wholly their own, only to realize, often belatedly, that such an endeavour is futile. Everything is connected, everything is everything else.
Young Sapana is sister to Gyanu, a chef in the Middle East who’s returned home for his stepfather’s funeral. Sapana is part of a community-based organisation (cee-bee-o) funded by WDS-Nepal, a national NGO run by Indira, a middle-class woman married into a conservative Brahmin family. Indira’s NGO, in turn, is financed by IDAF, a major INGO that Ava Berriden, a Nepali adopted by a wealthy Canadian couple, joins after becoming disillusioned with her job at a law firm. These disparate characters are bound initially by the imperceptible machinations of the development aid industry, with each successive layer exerting an invisible influence of the layer below it. Sapana’s CBO answers to Indira’s NGO and Indira’s NGO answers to Ava’s INGO. But as the novel unravels, the unseen becomes visible, most notably for Ava, by way of Gyanu.
In All of Us In Our Own Lives, Thapa hammers in the adage that the personal is political, especially in a country like Nepal where there is no circle around the individual. The ever-widening gyre of relationships takes in family, society and the nation but never allows any one person to become fully individualized. Responsibilities and expectations always intrude, as with Gyanu who only wishes to go back to the Gulf and begin a life with his Filipina love but is hamstrung by the responsibility he feels for his younger sister Sapana. Or Indira, who co-directs a women’s empowerment NGO but is constrained by the expectations of her middle-class family and her overbearing mother-in-law. Ava, brought up in the West, has seemingly more freedom but her demons are more personal, tied to questions of belonging and identity.
Thapa’s exploration of these varied personalities is deft and incisive, prodded along by her easy, unadorned prose. The woman in Nepal is her subject, along with the many ways in which she is disenfranchised, subjugated and stripped of identity. Characters like Durga, Indira’s maid, are overt as victims but even seemingly powerful women, like her employer Indira, suffer the vagaries of a patriarchal phallocentric society that refuses to yield. Thapa doesn’t reduce these women’s predicaments to the personal. She indicts the entire system, a j’accuse that rebounds throughout the pages of the novel with increasing force, culminating in Indira’s strident denouncement of ‘the penis’. Ava is the ‘modern’ woman, independent and free but plagued by an existential crisis. Sapana is the romantic, unaware of the parochial powers at work that will try to tear her down and thus, is suffused with a wide-eyed optimism in her own capabilities. Indira is the modern middle-class Nepali woman, outwardly free but inwardly oppressed, who has internalized the patriarchy and reproduces it in her own way, most explicitly in her getting Durga married off at a young age and her own subservience to the standards dictated by that witch, her mother-in-law.
This investigation of the place Nepal accords to women is really the heart of the novel, not the criticism of the aid industry. Though the three women characters correspond to the three rungs of development aid, the industry itself is not so much indicted as gently criticized. The NGO jargon that litters the beginning of the novel is a chore, as it is supposed to be. But the intricacies of this other parallel system that runs Nepal are not delved into too deeply. The practicalities of corruption, cronyism, leakage and opacity are impeached but the greater socio-political raison d’etre for the industry is not interrogated. The industry is assumed a priori.
There are other incongruities. References to Nepal’s new constitution, specifically its curtailing of the right of women to pass on citizenship to their children, feel shoehorned. Little time is spent on what this actually entails and the only sentiment expressed is a natural derision, that too only by Ava. It is similar with the April-May 2015 earthquakes, which have little bearing on the trajectory of the characters. It feels as if these two incidents, the constitution and the earthquake, came late in the writing of the novel and were included more as temporal markers, rather than paradigms that drive the story.
A few characters could have also used more dimension. Indira’s mother-in-law, for instance, is an easy caricature, referred never by name but often as a ‘witch’. She is only a looming malevolent presence in the household. The male characters too sometimes get short shrift, with Gyanu as a notable exception. Indira’s husband Uday Sharma is a drunken lout, Ava’s friend Tomas is a lovable hippie, Ava’s brother Luke is a somewhat insufferable hipster. Gyanu’s characterization, however, more than makes up for this. He is a beautifully written character, portrayed with much sensitivity and care, as much as Ava. Fittingly, the book begins with Ava and ends with Gyanu: they are both voyagers of sorts, migrants searching for a home that is an idea, not tied to space.
In All of Us in Our Own Lives, Thapa allows her characters breathing room to expand and grow. Sapana, Indira, Ava and Gyanu are warm, sympathetic characters, fully fleshed out and inhabiting their own lives. This novel is testament to Thapa’s ability to tell an important story about socio-political realities without succumbing to polemic, but also to do so with empathy and literary flair. In the deft connecting of the various trajectories of her characters, Thapa impresses on us the existential truth that her novel propounds: no one is an island.
All of Us in Our Own Lives, Manjushree Thapa, Aleph Book Company (2016), 246 pages
New approaches to old preoccupations
Giving and Taking
The fiction of climate change
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Archaeologists petition Obama for monument →
Arizona Rep. Grijalva targets extremism on public lands
Posted on June 17, 2016 by Land & Livestock Interntional, Inc.
Dozens of high-profile former federal employees sign a letter urging Congress to address Sagebrush Insurgency threats.
I just wish they would hurry up and get ‘er started before I get too old to do anything but load magazines for my grand kids. — jtl, 419
by Tay Wiles via the Communist influenced High Country News
Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, hosts a forum on countering extremism in public lands.
“There is a war simmering in this country, centered in the West,” said Richard Cohen, head of the liberal advocacy group Southern Poverty Law Center, in a House Democratic forum hosted by members of the House Natural Resources and Homeland Security Committees this week. Cohen was referring to the increase in incidents of violence and intimidation targeting federal land agencies. The 41-day armed occupation of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the Cliven Bundy standoff in Nevada in 2014 are just two of the most visible battles in this “war” that High Country News has chronicled in-depth.
The forum took place on June 15 and was put on by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi. To support the congressmen’s efforts to address extremism, 32 former federal employees — including former heads of the U.S. Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management, among others — also recently signed a letter urging Congress to act, marking what may be the first time so many high-profile former federal employees have spoken in concert against the threat to public lands and federal land employees, posed by the self-described Patriot movement.
Ann Morgan, former head of Colorado and Nevada BLM offices, penned the missive. She originally intended it to be just a personal letter, but quickly got a host of other folks on board. “It seemed to strike a chord for people who had worked in the field,” she says.
“I think it’s a much broader overall anti-government feeling that’s out there,” Morgan says. “A lot of it has nothing to do with natural resources.”Indeed, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has shown minimal interest in public land management, even commented to Fox News on the Cliven Bundy incident when it happened in 2014: “I like (Bundy), I like his spirit, his spunk and I like the people that — you know, they’re so loyal…”
Tay Wiles is the deputy editor – digital for High Country News and is based in Paonia, Colorado.
This entry was posted in Sagebrush Rebellion, Uncategorized and tagged Sagebrush Rebellion, War on the West. Bookmark the permalink.
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Constitution Watch: A Periodic Alert on Imminent Dangers to the Unique Reason We Are the United States
March 20, 2019 (EIRNS)—The Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren and others are proposing that we abolish the Electoral College. This longstanding bulwark of our Republic allows representation to areas of the country other than the elite-dominated coasts, where many have fled as the result of the post-industrial devastation imposed by these very elites. Instead, the Democrats propose that we revert to pure democracy, otherwise known as rule by mob, something soundly rejected by our forefathers. They are also proposing to lower the voting age to 16 and to allow undocumented immigrants to vote. This, they believe, will prevent Donald Trump from winning the 2020 election.
The Democrats, again, are floating the idea that additional seats should be added to the Supreme Court in order to ensure equal political representation on that body. The driving force is concern that a more conservative court might act against the infanticide presently advocated by most Democratic Party candidates in the form of support for late-term abortion and/or the right of a woman and a doctor to decide to kill a child at birth.
Meanwhile, the Murdoch family and Twitter are moving to shut down President Trump’s ability to speak to the population. Fox, which recently sold many of its entertainment properties to Disney, is maintaining its Fox News channels, but under the control of younger members of the Murdoch family, specifically Lachlan Murdoch. According to multiple reports, Lachlan Murdoch insisted on hiring Clinton fraudster Donna Brazile and put former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on the board. Last night, Brazile appeared for the first time on Sean Hannity’s broadcast. Judge Jeanine Pirro, a favorite of Trump, is currently off the network for politically incorrect comments questioning the loyalty of Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Both Hannity and Tucker Carlson are said to be under pressure from the Murdochs based on their loyalty to the President. Both shows repeatedly rate higher than any competitive cable shows.
In addition, President Trump, in a statement on the White House lawn today, said that he was being shadow-banned by Twitter, his main mode of communication with the population and that something needed to be done about it. Twitter and Facebook are collaborating with the British intelligence’s Integrity Initiative and the State Department’s Strategic Communications center to censor and ban speech they deem offensive. In a parallel development, involving a different aspect of the First Amendment, former Nightline host Ted Koppel is being widely quoted today asserting that the press has lost all objectivity and is simply an instrument for war against Donald Trump.
Appearing on “60 Minutes” on March 17th, former ACLU executive Ira Glasser said that the present American Civil Liberties Union organization had become overtly partisan and no longer could be counted upon to defend the Constitution. Glasser cited the ACLU’s unquestioning support of the accusers of Brett Kavanaugh in the Congressional hearings regarding his nomination. Glasser stated that in abandoning the presumption of innocence, the ACLU had essentially come out in support of abandoning the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment due process clauses to the Constitution, which the ACLU used to defend as its central mission. Glasser joins a growing chorus of people who disagree with Donald Trump but see the destruction of the Constitution as a far, far greater danger to the United States.
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Allbirds to open first UK store in London’s Covent Garden
Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds is to open its first UK store in London’s Covent Garden later this month.
The London store is the third bricks-and-mortar retail location for the brand, which already has stores in New York and San Francisco.
The 1,600 sq ft retail space at 121-123 Long Acre will showcase the brand’s collection of eco-friendly sneakers and shoes made from sustainable materials.
Allbirds was founded in 2016 by New Zealander Tim Brown, who teamed up with engineer Joey Zwillinger to create a specialist wool fabric suitable for footwear. The brand sold over a million pairs of wool shoes in its first two years in business.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Long Acre in Covent Garden is the perfect platform to launch our first European store and debut our product to the market. Because we develop products that are tactile in nature, it’s important to give customers a space to interact with our shoes. After witnessing the reaction to that first try-on moment, we understand the value in getting our products into the hands of curious shoppers so they can experience the comfort and design for themselves.”
Other brands with stores on Long Acre include Reiss, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, and Russell & Bromley.
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Posts Tagged'Lucy Felthouse'
Posts Tagged ‘Lucy Felthouse’
Lucy Felthouse and Lily Harlem Talk Co-Authoring
Lucy’s thoughts…
I’ve been published for a few years now, mainly in the short story arena, though I have novellas available and others contracted, as well as a novel coming later in the year. I always keep my eye on what’s out there, what’s coming soon, how people are working, their achievements, and so on. And one thing that’s caught my eye several times has been co-authoring. To me, it looked like a brilliant way to work on a project with someone, have fun and then end up with a piece of work at the end of it. But I admit I didn’t really understand how it worked, so it just bubbled away in the back of my mind, and I didn’t do anything about it.
However, towards the back end of 2012, my good friend and fellow writer Lily Harlem suggested co-authoring something together. I explained I had a few projects on, so I couldn’t start right away, but I would definitely be interested. She was busy too, so we said we’d start in the early part of 2013, when all the Christmas and New Year festivities were over and done with, and life was back to normal.
The writing bug bit Lily, however, and in December she sent me a chapter that had just come to her, so she’d written it down. I managed to read it quickly, but knew I still wouldn’t be able to do anything with it until January. I was eager to try out co-authoring, but other commitments had to take priority.
Then 2013 arrived. I’d cleared my commitments and was free to start something new – hurrah! I read the chapter again and then bombarded Lily with a million and one questions about the process of co-authoring, how she thought it would work, our intended publisher, and so on. I was very lucky in that a) Lily had co-authored many times before so knew how it worked b) she was very, very patient with me and answered all my questions c) that our writing styles are quite similar, so that although we wrote from separate character viewpoints, our respective sections would still fit together well and d) we know each other well enough to give constructive and honest feedback that will be truly helpful, rather than trying to sugar coat anything for the sake of being nice.
And so we began. The chapter Lily had written back in December was from the female perspective and I was happy to write from the male perspective. I’ve done it many times before and enjoy it very much. We’d already agreed that if things didn’t work out, we wouldn’t worry too much about it, so I opened the document and began to write without thinking too hard. We had no plan, no idea what on earth the book was going to be about, really, just that it would be an erotic romance. Despite this, the words came. Fast.
After writing a chapter of roughly the same length as Lily’s, I skim read it and sent it back to her. And thus the mad email exchange began. Prior to this project I’d only written one full-length novel by myself and found it a learning curve, albeit it a fun and very satisfying project, but often I had to force myself to carry on and not procrastinate. With this book, however, it was totally different. It was full of surprises – because we hadn’t planned it, the chapters we sent back to one another were a total surprise, and we both had to think on our feet to work out where the plot would go next. We’d agreed not to rush one another for chapters as we both had other things on, too, and although we didn’t pressure one another, we still produced the words at lightning speed (for me, anyway!). I grew eager to read Lily’s next chapter, to see where the characters – which I’d quickly grown very fond of – would go next, what they would do. There was very, very little procrastination! None, really. Just lots of use of Google Street View.
The only thing we’d really planned was that the book would be longer than 50,000 words – to make it novel length. We did discuss how it would end, but never made a set decision, we just decided to keep writing and hope it came to a natural conclusion. We agreed that because Lily had written the first chapter, that I would write the last. That was the only time throughout the project that I felt pressure – and it was from myself, not my co-author. I had to write the last chapter, therefore the ending, therefore it had to be good, and satisfying! I put my fingers to the keys of my laptop and hoped that what came out would be good. When I finished the final chapter I read it again and made tweaks, then decided that no benefit would come of me staring at it – so I sent it to Lily. And waited with baited breath for her reply.
She loved it!! She even said that it made her cry. Naturally, I was incredibly relieved that she liked it – and the fact it made her cry was a huge bonus. Poor Lily was suffering with a bad cold at the time so she wasn’t feeling her best, but I decided to take the compliment anyway. And voilà – our novel, which had been through what felt like a bazillion title changes throughout the writing process, was finished. We smashed our 50k minimum and ended up with 70,000 words, roughly. In five weeks (with me even doing two chapters in one day – one in the morning, then one in the late afternoon as Lily sent hers back in the early afternoon) we penned a novel that we were both absolutely delighted with, and characters we adored.
Next, we made ourselves leave it alone for a while. We both agreed that jumping in with edits and polishing too soon wouldn’t help. We’d made comments on each other’s chapters as we went along, asking for clarification of certain points or even just saying parts had made us “LOL” and that helped immensely. So much so that after our waiting period, we didn’t change very much at all.
Then came the discussion on submission. We’d had a publisher in mind all along – Ellora’s Cave – and we submitted to them. Thankfully, they said yes. Cue much happy dancing from Lily and I! As we waited for news, we had a bit of a debrief and agreed we’d both loved the process and were amazed at how quickly the book had come together – and even discussed making it into a series. Now that series is in progress, and even has its own website: http://rawtalentseries.co.uk. The first book, Grand Slam, just released – cue lots of nerves from the two of us –but thankfully, we’ve already had some excellent feedback. So our baby is out in the world and people are enjoying it – what could be better?
I totally adored the process of co-authoring with Lily. It was genuinely fun and we just seemed to work really well – and quickly – together.
So if you’ve been thinking about co-authoring, I would say go for it. If you know someone that you can work well with, and you will be honest with one another and complement one another, then it’s a great way to write a book. You’ll have to ask lots of questions to make sure you’re both on the right wavelength, but it’s worth it in the end.
Lily’s thoughts…
Well, I think Lucy summed our co-author experience beautifully, Grand Slam was borne from a ‘yeah, lets give it a go’ comment one evening on London’s South Bank over a glass of wine and a gourmet burger, and is now a fully fledged novel that we are both so proud of. Thank goodness we took the plunge!
As Lucy said, that first chapter did just come to me. I’d been watching tennis on Sky Sports, some hunky player whose name I don’t recall, all in white and darting around the court with skill and grace. And it had me wondering, as I often do about athletes, that if he was that focused, so utterly in control in his chosen sport during the day, what was he like at night, in the bedroom? Mmm, you see how my naughty mind works now, don’t you?
I also liked the contrast of his pristine whites and his tanned skin and brooding expression. This got me wondering what other layers he had? Were his desires dark? Did his passion also go to the physical extremes he clearly put his body through during a match? And was his determination to find satisfaction as unstoppable when he was with a woman as when he was facing an opponent?
That is how Travis Connolly was created, though because I wrote the first chapter I didn’t actually get very far into his head. As it turned out Lucy wrote Travis – and because of her A Taste of… Series, a male viewpoint is something she is exceptional at – and I wrote Marie. Oh, la, la, now I think I got seriously lucky there, because every time Lucy sent a chapter back my heart flipped. I just needed to read it. I was desperate to know what big, bad Travis had done next to me… I mean… Marie! LOL, you see that is the beauty of co-authoring, as long as you’re easy going, writing with someone with a similar style, then it is just a whole heap of fun. Marie and Travis were in our heads, bouncing off of each other, their voices loud and clear. The sex scenes were steaming up our laptops and having them from the both characters point of view made them very intimate.
The next book in the series is currently our work in progress, and readers of Grand Slam will already know the two main characters – cryptic, I know! Co-authoring is incredible, I guess it helps if one person has done it before and ‘gets it’. My first attempt was with Natalie Dae, and she was wonderfully patient with me, and encouraging, she certainly taught me a lot too. Sharing writing experiences, the highs and lows, makes it a less lonely profession for sure, and like many things in life, the more I learn about it, the more I realise I don’t know, which is where an easy going attitude is worth its weight in gold if you want to be a co-author. So give it a go, what’s the worst that can happen…?
We’re on tour right now with Grand Slam, so if you want to learn more about the book, feel free to follow: http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/lucy-felthouse-and-lily-harlem/
“Some people like pain,” he said, still not looking at me.
“Masochists you mean?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
Shit, was he trying to tell me that he enjoyed the pain the accident had left him with? If so, we really needed to discuss this. “That’s not the majority of people though.”
“No, but more than you think. And some people like administering pain.” He turned to me, cocked his head slightly and moved into the space I’d left between us.
I looked into his eyes. Swallowed and tasted his cologne as it traveled into my nostrils and then laced my tongue. “Would you consider them to be good people, Travis? These individuals that like to hurt others.”
“I’ve known a few people who like to give and receive higher sensations, and most of them I consider to be good friends as well as good people.”
I hesitated, felt his body heat radiating toward me, wrapping around me as I pondered his words. We were close, very close, and his consuming presence made logical thinking much harder than normal. “I’m not quite sure what you’re telling me.”
“You talk about pain like it’s a bad thing, Marie.”
He smiled but it wasn’t a sweet smile, more like one of a hunter who’d spotted prey.
“Pain is unpleasant for a reason,” I said. “Because it’s bad.”
“I disagree.” He raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes. It was a challenging, cocky gesture.
A tingle snaked its way up my spine and threatened to wreak havoc in my body by turning into a tremble. But I beat it down. I wouldn’t let a patient get to me this way. I was the one supposed to be holding the reins here.
“Maybe, Marie, you should open your mind to new ideas with a little more grace.”
“I fail to see how I haven’t been graceful in discussing your theory that pain is good.”
“Can we keep it that way?”
“In that case,” he flicked his attention from my eyes and looked at my hair, “would you like me to demonstrate?”
Damn, the guy made me feel tiny. Even though I was wearing heels, his broad chest and wide shoulders were looming over me. “Okay.”
He twitched the right side of his mouth into a half-smile. Now he looked like a hunter who’d captured his prey. A trickle of fight or flight seeped into my system. Which would be my best option?
“Now that’s the first rule.” He reached up and undid the clasp holding my hair on the top of my head. It tumbled around my shoulders as the clasp fell to the floor.
“Consent.”
“Doesn’t consent require knowing what you’re agreeing to?” Fuck, with him this close and stroking my hair, spreading it out, I’d pretty much agree to anything. Who was I kidding? Fight or flight was not an option, the only thing that shot through my mind was giving myself over to him. Allowing him to do whatever he wanted, control my body, feed it what it needed.
Damn, it had been too long since I’d been with a man. It was making me desperate.
He slotted his other hand over the left side of my head, the sound of him sliding his fingers over the shell of my ear noisy. My breath hitched and I locked my knees to stabilize my stance. I stared up at him, noting the small shafts of black hair sneaking out of his skin on his chin and the way his bottom lip was a little plumper than the top.
“You see, some pain,” he said, gathering my hair up at my crown and tugging to create tension on the roots, “can heighten the awareness of everything else going on in the body.”
He pulled harder, forcing my head to tip back.
I gasped as discomfort shot across my scalp.
He increased the pressure a little more.
I reached out and clutched at his shirt, felt his hard chest beneath. “Travis, I—”
“Shh, I’m just showing you.” He slipped his arm around my waist, dragged me close and yanked my hair, really hard.
“Ow, I—” A barrage of sensations blasted through my system. The feel of him pressing up against me, hot hard male, all wide pecs and solid thighs. The pain from having my hair tugged with force, and the awareness that my belly was shoved right up against his groin. A groin that held a wedge of thick flesh.
“Just feel,” he whispered, hovering his lips over mine. “Endorphins are rushing into your bloodstream, giving you a natural high as pain alerts your nerve endings that something exciting is happening.” He slid his free hand up my back, tracing the outline of my spine through my blouse.
I breathed in the air he was breathing out, warm and sweet. The scream of hurt in my scalp made me want to wriggle but being held so firmly and confidently kept me still. The heat of the discomfort slipped down my nape and neck and over my shoulders, then combined with the lovely sensation of him stroking my back.
“Can you feel it?” he whispered. “Pain mixing with pleasure, the lines between the two blurring.”
I could feel it with every fiber of my being. My skin was alive with awareness, my breasts were heavy and desperate for stimulation, and between my legs I was buzzing for action. Good, hard man action, preferably of the naked, sweaty variety. “Yes,” I gasped.
California had seduced me with promises of a new life working at Los Carlos Tennis Academy. What I didn’t expect was the dark, brooding number one seed, Travis Connolly, resisting my help. He wasn’t interested in my psychology skills. Instead his attention was drawn to the edgy, sharper corners of my desires, proving that they existed, setting me challenges and driving me crazy to the point of combustion.
I’m the best tennis player in the world—officially—so why would I need a damn woman full of psychobabble to get me on form? Despite my irritation, however, I can’t resist pushing Marie Sherratt’s buttons even though doing that shows her the darkest shades of my lust, the parts of me I buried deep. So I set her a challenge, one she rises to, one that has me rising too, and before long my game relies on her calling the shots, hitting the target and bending to my will. One thing was certain, being not just master of the court, but also of Marie is seriously good for my soul.
Buy links: http://rawtalentseries.co.uk/book-1-grand-slam/
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18212109-grand-slam
Author Bios:
Lily Harlem
Lily Harlem lives in the UK with Mr Harlem and a host of rescued animals. She is an award winning author of contemporary erotic romance and writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including Ellora’s Cave, HarperCollins, Total-E-Bound, Xcite and Sweetmeats Press as well as self-publishing. Her HOT ICE series regularly receives high praise and industry nominations and sportsmen who are talented both in and out of the bedroom often feature in her novels. But whichever book you choose of Lily’s one thing you can be sure of is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy. Enjoy!
Website http://www.lilyharlem.com/
Blog http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/lily_harlem
Facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Lily-Harlem/100003519563064
Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lily-Harlem-author-page/200182030094568
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/lilyharlem/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4070110.Lily_Harlem
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/106837751333678531161/posts
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012, 2013 and 2014 and Best Women’s Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9
September 6, 2013 Tags: BDSM, bdsm romance, co-authoring, Ellora's Cave, erotic romance, erotica, grand slam, guest blogger, Lily Harlem, Lucy Felthouse, raw talent, romance, sports romance, tennis
Category: Guest Blogger 2 Comments
A Taste of Paris by Lucy Felthouse
Book two of the A Taste Of… series
Ryan Stonebridge and his friend Kristian Hurst are traveling on their year off before going to University.
Unfortunately, Kristian has been called back home due to a family emergency. Ryan continues on to Paris alone, hoping his friend will join him again soon.
In the meantime, Ryan’s lucky streak with women continues, and by the time Kristian makes it to Paris, Ryan’s bumper box of condoms is depleting rapidly. However, there are more than enough women to go around, and Kristian intends to have some sexy fun of his own, and when the boys get a chance to play with two sexy ladies at once, they certainly aren’t going to turn it down.
Ellora’s Cave
Ryan could hardly believe his luck. After a sex-packed day and a bit in London, he was now being propositioned by a sexy older woman on the Eurostar. The Paris-bound train had just started moving and it seemed the woman wanted to spend at least some of the two-and-a quarter-hour journey to the French capital fucking him in the toilet.
He shook his head disbelievingly. Then, after making sure no one had witnessed their exchange—when she’d given him the come-on—he slipped from his seat and made his way as nonchalantly as possible in the direction the woman had gone. He quickly found her, standing in the area between carriages that also housed the public conveniences.
She looked around, ensuring no one could see through the glass doors at the ends of the carriages to either side of them, pulled open the toilet door and dragged him inside.
Ryan barely had time to catch a breath before she’d locked the door, slammed him against it and molded her lips to his. She tasted of expensive champagne—she’d probably been indulging in St. Pancras station’s champagne bar—and it suddenly made him very aware that, although she’d started their sexy rendezvous, he was most likely taking advantage of an inebriated woman. He twisted his head away.
“Hey,” he said, grasping her arms and pushing her gently away from him. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re gorgeous and very, very sexy, but you’ve been drinking. I don’t want you to do something you might regret later.”
The woman laughed, long and loud, and Ryan worried that someone might have heard her and wonder why on earth there was a woman laughing to herself in the train toilets. The last thing he wanted was to open the door and find a pissed-off member of staff waiting there. There was no excuse for two adults being in a locked cubicle together that anyone would believe.
Clapping her hand over her mouth, the woman suppressed her mirth, then finally spoke. “Yes, gorgeous blond one.” Her French accent surprised him—he’d thought she was a tourist heading to Paris. “I have been drinking champagne. But only a glass. I’m certainly not drunk.”
With that, she pounced on him once more, and Ryan decided not to resist any longer. They were both consenting adults and he had protection in his pocket—so where was the harm in indulging their baser instincts? His cock definitely didn’t see any further reason for delay as it filled with blood and pressed against the crotch of his jeans.
He pushed his fingers into her thick black hair and pulled her more tightly to him, deepening their kiss. She was eager and, judging by the way she was rocking her hips against him, incredibly horny. He held out for as long as he could, exploring her mouth with his tongue, nibbling at her plump lower lip and pulling her hair to expose her white throat. Before long, though, the pants and tiny mewls coming from the woman’s mouth pushed him to the point of no return. His cock was all but bursting from his jeans and he really needed to be inside this woman’s pussy.
August 14, 2013 Tags: a taste of paris, ec for men, Ellora's Cave, erotic fiction, erotica, guest blogger, Lucy Felthouse, Paris
Category: Guest Blogger Comments Off on A Taste of Paris by Lucy Felthouse
An Exclusive Excerpt from Testing Tom by Lucy Felthouse
My novella, Testing Tom, is a femdom erotic romance, which was released on the 30th July. I’ve been touring all week with it, discussing various elements of the story, so today I’d like to share an exclusive excerpt so you can really get a taste for what it’s all about. Enjoy…
She glanced into the mirror one last time before heading out of her bedroom. Grinning, she acknowledged that she looked good and that Tom would probably be drooling as soon as he stepped through the door. Her smile widened—he could perv on her all he liked, he wouldn’t be laying a single finger or any other body part on her tonight. In fact, now she’d come up with a few tasks she wanted him to complete in order to prove himself, she decided that he would have to pass at least two tests before she’d allow him to even touch her. She’d go for three if she could, but she doubted it would be possible. She was a woman with needs, after all. Dominating Tom turned her on like crazy and she loved fucking him, too, so she wouldn’t be able to hold out for too long before pouncing on him.
Just then, the doorbell sounded. Katrina looked at the nearest clock. He was exactly on time—a point in his favor already. He’d probably been standing outside for a few minutes, but he knew she didn’t like people to be early or late, and so had hung on for the precise minute they’d arranged before announcing his presence.
She took her time getting to the door, just to remind him of his place. Then she unlocked and opened it, then turned around and sauntered away without a word. She heard the closing and re-locking of the door, then nothing. Tom didn’t move, didn’t speak. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. He hadn’t forgotten his training, then.
Sitting in the middle of the sofa, her usual television-watching spot, she crossed her long legs and picked up the remote that was resting on the arm. Just before pressing the button to switch the set on, she spoke. “Turn around, Thomas. Face the corner next to the front door, sit down, be silent and don’t move until I tell you.”
“Y—yes Mistress.” He said nothing else, but she heard the rustle of clothing and muffled thumps as he shifted into the position she’d ordered. After giving him long enough to get himself sorted, only then did she turn her head and look at him.
“Very good,” she said, with a nod. “Now I’m going to watch some TV.”
He remained still and silent, so she twisted back around and did as she’d said. Pushed the red button and waited for the screen to flicker into life, before using the remote to find a channel she wanted to watch and selecting it.
For the entire hour of the first program she watched, the only sound came from the television. Had she muted it, she would probably have heard only two lots of breathing. Tom was doing as he was told, and doing it well. He had to be in some discomfort by now, sitting on the floor would be making his bottom ache, and not being able to move would be having the same effect on the rest of his body. Good, she decided, he deserved it. It was nothing compared to the pain she’d felt when he’d left her. These tests would be good for the both of them—he’d be reminded how to behave, and she’d get reassurance of his feelings, as well as no small amount of revenge. Tom Black ought to be damn grateful she was just a dominatrix, and not a murderer.
When the commercial break came on between programs, Katrina turned off the sound on the television, and turned to look at Tom once more. Sure enough, he was silent except for his breathing, and hadn’t moved a single muscle.
“Good boy,” she said, deliberately making her voice sound like she was talking to an obedient dog, “very well done.” She paused. “Right, I’m going to watch one more program, and then I’ll consider allowing you to get up. So don’t let yourself down now, will you?”
He didn’t respond, but then, she hadn’t really expected him to. He’d known it was a rhetorical question and that she’d been trying to catch him out. He was a lot of things, was Tom Black, but he was no idiot. Except for when he’d dumped her for a vanilla chick, of course. That had been completely and utterly stupid, loony even, but he was paying for it now.
She found it difficult to concentrate on the next program, as she was hyper-aware of the man sitting in the corner of her living room. She’d never stopped loving him, never stopped being attracted to him, and now he was here, in her house, she really wanted to go back to the fun, sexy games they’d always played, rather than something that was somewhat dull, and provided no physical pleasure for either of them. Mental and emotional pleasure was another matter altogether, of course. She was feeling plenty of that as she got her own back on him, that and a huge rush of power. Tom, a grown man with his own mind, was in the corner like some kind of dunce—albeit without the cap sporting a large ‘D’—and he was there because she’d told him to be, and because he wanted her back.
I hope you’ll check out the book. And if you do, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks so much for stopping by. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below.
When Katrina’s ex, Tom, turns up on her doorstep, he’s literally the last person she was expecting to see. After dumping her and running off with a vanilla chick, Tom broke the Domme’s heart and left her seriously hurting. So when he returns, begging for another chance, Katrina is understandably very confused and protective of her bruised feelings. She finds it very difficult to believe that he’s turned his back on a vanilla lifestyle for good and wants to be with her, a professional dominatrix. Rather than letting her head or her heart figure out what to do, whether to forgive him, she decides to put Tom through a series of challenges that will prove his devotion to her—or not. Testing Tom is not something she’d ever expected she’d have to do, but to her, it’s the only way she can be sure whether he’s back for good.
More info, excerpt and buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/testing-tom/
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18147133-testing-tom
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women’s Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9
August 2, 2013 Tags: BDSM, erotic, erotic romance, erotica, femdom. testing tom, guest blogger, Lucy Felthouse, romance, secret cravings publishing
New Release: A French Affair by Lucy Felthouse
Sydney Tyler is renting a barn conversion in Northern France, planning to spend the fortnight getting some words down on her novel. Unfortunately, construction work in the other half of the building puts an end to her peace and quiet. Genuinely upset that the builders are going to disturb her, the property’s handsome English owner, Harry Bay, offers to make it up to her. He’s a little flirtatious, and after spotting his wedding ring, Sydney keeps him at arm’s length. Sexy as he is, she has no intention of getting involved with a married man. But when Sydney learns the truth about Harry, will their mutual attraction spur them on to work through their emotional baggage and make this more than just a French affair?
Available from: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/a-french-affair/
Sydney Tyler jumped so hard that her fingers slammed down onto the laptop’s keyboard and she typed a bunch of gobbledegook.
Kashfkjsdhlfknsdlfvn sdlkch awoeduioh ahdwklc
Gasping, she clutched at her chest as her heart thumped rapidly and painfully. “What the fucking hell was that?” she said to the empty room.
Pushing her chair back from the desk, she stepped over to the window. Peering out into the brilliant sunshine, she saw something on the lawn that she had absolutely not been expecting. Workmen.
She groaned. So much for her peaceful writer’s retreat. She’d planned to get a good chunk of her novel down in the fortnight she was away, and now it looked as though her peace was going to be monumentally shattered by banging, drilling and God knows what else.
Sighing, she gave the windowsill a pathetic thump in her frustration. She might have been pissed off, but she was no vandal. And besides, she didn’t want those noisy buggers in her part of the building fixing things—having them next door was bad enough.
Sydney really could not believe her shitty luck. When she’d booked the cottage in the French village of Monthiers over the phone a couple of months ago, she’d dealt with a fellow Brit called Harry Bay, who she’d suspected was the owner. On arrival, though, a timid French woman had met her and let her into the luxurious barn conversion before handing over the keys and explaining a little bit about the local area. Apparently, in the mornings, someone came along the village streets, selling fresh bread and pastries.
There wasn’t much else to tell, it seemed, as the village had nothing except a church—almost opposite her accommodation—and a tavern. It was also lacking—she’d quickly discovered—a mobile signal. Not even a single bar illuminated her screen. Her phone was now no more than a watch, alarm clock and calendar. If there was an emergency, she was screwed. But on a much lighter note, it was one less distraction. She could just get on with what she was here to do, blissfully undisturbed.
The arrival of workmen was incredibly irritating. Her temporary landlord hadn’t mentioned there’d be anyone working next door. If he had, she wouldn’t have booked the place—the quiet and idyllic location were the whole reason for choosing this property, this area. Even though there was no way he could have known she was there to work, common courtesy would dictate that he told her. Perhaps he was just interested in taking her money and didn’t give a damn about whether she had a satisfactory stay or not. There was nothing to be done about it now, unfortunately. She’d paid for the fortnight, and she was buggered if she was going to cut and run, pissing that money down the drain. She’d just have to find a way around the disturbance, and console herself that she could leave a snarky write up on a review site when she got home.
Finding out the builders’ working hours would be a good start—she could attempt to write around them then. Or perhaps she could make use of the headphones she’d stuffed into her case, without ever thinking they’d get used. Some loud rock music would drown out the din from next door and hopefully allow her to work. It was worth a try. She hoped they were only doing a small job that would only take a couple of days, but deep down she knew they weren’t. They were renovating the whole place so it was as beautiful as the half she was in.
She was just about to go in search of the aforementioned headphones when one of the men pottering around on the lush back garden stepped away from the others. Standing in a shaft of sunlight, he pulled his arms high above his head and stretched, dragging up his t-shirt to reveal a lean stomach with a fine line of dark hair leading enticingly into the waistband of his jeans.
Oh yum, she thought, perhaps having builders next door wouldn’t be so bad after all. Especially if they all looked like him. She continued to watch as the man dropped his arms to his sides and watched the others. His dark hair was overlong and stuck out at crazy angles, as though he’d been running his fingers through it. She couldn’t see the colour of his eyes from this distance, but she could make out enough detail of his features to see that he was handsome. Gorgeous, actually. Close up he could be much less attractive, but from her upstairs window, the view was pretty fine.
Just then, he glanced across at her side of the long barn, which was divided into two holiday cottages. He caught sight of her standing there, and his face dropped. He looked back at the builders, then returned his gaze to her again. Pointing at the group of noisy men, he slapped his forehead with his other hand. Finally, he pointed at his chest, then up at her. He was indicating he wanted to come in. She paused, then nodded. Common sense told her she shouldn’t be letting a strange man into her temporary home, but then, there were several large, bulky men milling around, so if they were a dodgy sort, she and the locked door would have no chance against them, especially with no means of calling for assistance. She could scream, of course, but she doubted anyone would come. The walls of the building were extremely thick—though sadly, no match for banging and drilling—the nearest house was a little way down the road, and by day, the village was all but deserted. There was only one business that she knew of—the tavern—so the other inhabitants would have to go elsewhere to work. To nearby Chateau-Thierry, perhaps, or even further afield.
She’d just have to hope that the handsome man—probably the head honcho of their group—was also a decent one. Presumably they were a reputable company, as they’d been hired by the British owners, who were usually more wary of cowboy builders, and given the horror stories and dedicated TV programmes back home, it was understandable.
Before she got even halfway down the stairs, a knock came at the door. Okay, so he was polite enough to knock, that was good. She moved a little faster, careful not to trip in her flip flops and go hurtling downwards. Once she was safely on the ground floor, she twisted the key in the door and opened it.
June 6, 2013 Tags: a french affair, erotic fiction, erotic romance, erotica, france, Lucy Felthouse, new release, Paris, romance, romantic fiction, Xcite books
Coming Together: With Curves, edited by Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse
Curvy girls and the men (and women!) that love them is the theme of this charity anthology, edited by Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse.
From Zumba classes to Burlesque dancers, all kinds of big and beautiful women are portrayed between the pages of this book. Read about birthday surprises, smut at the gym, horse riders, lusty couples, naughty neighbours, skilled bakers, rope bondage and misunderstandings from some of erotica’s best authors.
Sales proceeds benefit Parkinson’s UK.
Contents: Six Lengths of Red Hemp (Tilly Hunter), Cross Trainer Number Four (Lily Harlem), Bella Buxom, Just Squeeze Me (JoAnne Kenrick), Captivated (Elizabeth Lapthorne), Red Rag to a Bull (Victoria Blisse), Girl Next Door (Bella Blake), Lush Buns (Sommer Marsden), The Big Reveal (Giselle Renarde), The Wrong End of the Stick (Lucy Felthouse), Riding School (Bella Blake), Flesh For Fantasy (Lexie Bay).
Available from: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/coming-together-with-curves/
Bonnie stifled a sigh. He was doing it again. Staring at her, as he had been every day that week. She was on a fortnight’s training course through work. She was the only one from her office who’d been sent. As a result, she knew no one and ended up sitting alone in the college’s cafeteria at lunchtimes. She’d had a couple of invites from kindly people also on her course, but she’d turned them down. It wasn’t that she was being rude or anti-social, she just hated people to see her eat. She was a big girl—that was putting it politely—and when people saw her eat, she could feel the judgment rolling off them in waves, the thoughts that she was fat because she ate so much.
It wasn’t true. About what she ate, that was. She was fat, and there was no denying it. But it certainly wasn’t her doing. She’d been born to large parents, and despite a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, she was still overweight. All she ever managed to shift was a pound or two here and there, and that was hardly noticeable, particularly on a woman her size. She kept at it, though, resigned to being a larger lady, but determined not to get any bigger.
Because she’d always been big, she was used to the snide comments, the dirty and derisive looks, the open stares. So it didn’t upset her any more, but she still got irritated when people simply gawped at her. Surely one glance was enough for them to ascertain that yes, she was a shapely girl, and then move on. In most cases it was, particularly if she glared at the person in question. But not with this guy. She was sure he was trying to be subtle, because he often averted his gaze as she trained hers on him. But even if he’d looked away, she could tell by the position of his head and body that he’d been peeking at her. Again.
Now, on day seven, she was almost at boiling point. What the hell was his problem? Had no one ever told him it was rude to stare? She was on the verge of doing just that.
Eating her lunch was an unpleasant task, knowing she was being observed. If she hadn’t been so damn hungry, she’d have left it. But she’d been running late that morning and had committed that mortal sin—missing breakfast. So her chicken salad—with no dressing—was absolutely necessary to avoid making herself feel ill, or passing out, so she devoured every last morsel. She ate faster than she normally would, not because she was being greedy, but because the sooner she finished eating, the sooner she’d stop feeling so damn self-conscious about the guy across the room watching her.
She decided to give him one last chance. When she’d finished her lunch, she’d drink her carton of apple juice, then sit for a few seconds, doing nothing. If he continued to look at her, she was going to stomp over there and give him what for. If he didn’t, then she’d carry on with life and do her best to forget about him and his rudeness.
Deep down, she knew she was going to have to go over and say something to him. After seven days, he wasn’t going to suddenly amend his habits. She was just being a bit of a wimp, really, hoping to find some way of getting out of confrontation, because she didn’t like it, not one bit, and it was absolutely a last resort. Unfortunately, she couldn’t think of a single other way of stopping him from doing it. Perhaps she could put up a sign in front of her saying “Please stop staring at me.” But if he couldn’t take the hint when she’d glared at him, he wouldn’t take any notice of a piece of paper.
Several minutes later, her salad was gone and she moved onto her drink. With a sinking feeling in her gut, she saw he was just as interested in her now as he had been when she’d been eating. Damn, confrontation it was then.
Draining the carton, she gathered her plate, cutlery and other rubbish onto her tray, stood up and slid it onto the rack nearest her. Then she returned to her table, grabbed her bag, pulled in a deep breath through her nostrils and marched over to the Peeping Tom. She slid out the chair opposite him and sat down on it.
Editor sites:
http://victoriablisse.co.uk
http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk
May 23, 2013 Tags: charity, coming together with curves, curvy, erotic anthology, erotic fiction, erotic romance, erotica, Lucy Felthouse, new release, parkinson's uk, rubenesque, Victoria Blisse
Category: Guest Blogger Comments Off on Coming Together: With Curves, edited by Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse
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Missouri Valley, IA 51555
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516 E Elm Street Missouri Valley, IA 51555 $163,000 | MLS# 21910730 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,120 SqFt Listing Courtesty of: United Country Loess Hills Rea
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Getting ready to downsize? Great 1/2 duplex with no steps to get in! There are 2 Bd, 2.25 Ba, full basement, attached garage, some new paint, newer tile, new water heater and new roof in 2011! Great location, corner lot, ready to move into! Call today for appointment.
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6th St north to Elm, turn left property is on corner
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This listing 516 E Elm Street Missouri Valley, IA 51555 is a residential listing with 2 baths, 2 bedrooms and approximately 1120 square feet. 516 E Elm Street was built in 1993. 516 E Elm Street is located in Missouri Valley and in ZIP Code 51555. It has been listed on our site since May 26, 2019.
6+ Listings (0.13 Mile Radius)
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$163,000 | MLS# 19-950 2 Beds | 2.25 Baths | 1,120 SqFt
Listed Courtesy of: United Country Loess Hills Realty & Auction
MLS Provider: SWIAR
Listing Agent: Fonda Story
715 N 5TH Street
$99,000 | MLS# 19-1355 3 Beds | 1.75 Baths | 1,732 SqFt
Listing Agent: Tim G Guinan
$65,000 | MLS# 19-1359 2 Beds | 1 Bath | 768 SqFt
612 E LINN Street
$135,000 | MLS# 21909793 4 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,708 SqFt
Listed Courtesy of: NP Dodge RE Mo Valley Team
Listing Agent: Charles Smallwood
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Missouri Valley is located a 20 minute drive north of Omaha on I-29. It is home to approximately 3,000 citizens, many of whom work in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Situated in the fertile valley between the Missouri River and loess hills it is also supported by a substantial agricultural economy and related businesses.
The city was platted and named Missouri Valley in 1865 but was not incorporated until 1871. The city’s rapid growth can be attributed to the construction of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in the early 1860’s and its merger with other northern and western railroad lines. As a railroad hub, the railroad once employed almost 500 people in its roundhouse and ancillary services. The town flourished because of this employment surge and the strength of its farm economy. However, changes in railroad transportation, labor strikes, Word War I, and the Great Depression all played a role in the gradual downturn of the economy and population of Missouri Valley.
Today, the city attracts people because of its friendliness, amenities and homes of all prices and ages. Good schools, a hospital, a public library, a golf course, swimming pool, numerous churches, and the charm of well maintained business and residential areas reflect the special small-town ambiance.
And the “cherries on the cake” are probably the DeSoto Bend Wildlife Refuge and other parks and attractions along the Missouri River and the loess hills. Fishing, hunting, boating, bird-watching, and hiking are all found just a short distance from the city, as are farm museums, berry farms, and the Harrison County Historical Village and Welcome Center.
For further information contact: directormissourivalleychamber.com
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This data was last updated on Jul 16, 2019. The data is subject to change or updating at any time without prior notice. All properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal. The information was provided by members of The Great Plains Regional Multiple Listing Service LLC Internet Data Exchange or members of the Broker Reciprocity program of the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors (SWIAR) and is copyrighted. Any printout of the information on this website must retain this copyright notice. The data is deemed to be reliable, but should be independently verified as no warranties of any kind, express or implied, are given. The information has been provided for the non-commercial, personal use of consumers for the sole purpose of identifying prospective properties the consumer may be interested in purchasing, and any other use is prohibited. The listing broker representing the seller is identified on each listing.
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Politics and American Higher Ed
Educating “good citizens”: Presidents from four Southern California institutions of higher education, including Caltech president Thomas Rosenbaum, came together on January 24, 2017, to discuss their evolving role in the current political landscape.
Caltech president Thomas Rosenbaum hosted presidents from Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, and ArtCenter College of Design in Ramo Auditorium on January 24, 2017, for “Politics and American Higher Education,” a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of colleges and universities in America’s new political landscape.
Academic institutions traditionally do not take political stands, “and yet in another way we are manifestly political,” Rosenbaum told the audience. “Unless you pay attention to educating your students in a way that they will become good citizens of the country, that they will embrace the value of looking at data, seeking truth, then we as universities will fail and we as a country will fail.”
Moderator Terry McCarthy, president and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, asked about the debate over safe spaces. Pomona president David Oxtoby said small groups wanting to meet in private are granted safe spaces on his campus. Publicly announced events, however, cannot be exclusionary. “That crosses a line, at least for Pomona, and we say no, you cannot discriminate for a public event.”
Instead of focusing on safe spaces, Oxtoby suggested academic institutions do more to encourage “daring spaces,” where groups from different backgrounds and opinions can come together to respectfully share their views and feel comfortable disagreeing with one another.
That diversity of thought, background, and experience is important in higher education, Rosenbaum said, and American universities are so successful because they have been able to attract talent from across the world.
The panel also agreed that selectivity in admissions is not a negative for any institution, provided that it offers opportunities and access for qualified students in every community.
ArtCenter president Lorne Buchman noted that his institution has a responsibility “to reach into communities where students would never even dream of what it might mean to have a career in art design and create some kind of bridge for them to get there.”
Harvey Mudd president Maria Klawe said it’s important colleges and universities never limit where they look for the next Nobel laureate. “We have the opportunity to be an existence proof that [regardless of whether] you are female or transgender or Muslim or a football player or a poet…there is absolutely nothing about any of those characteristics that has an implication about whether you can be a great physicist, biologist, engineer, computer scientist, or mathematician.”
In his concluding comments, Rosenbaum noted that teaching quantitative skills alongside the liberal arts equips students to surmount any challenge, political or otherwise, now and into the future.
“If we do our job right we will see, one student at a time, the effects of that,” he said. “One of the great things about being an academic is that each year you get another group of incredibly bright, wonderful students who are going to go out and change the world.”
Spring/Summer 2017, More StoriesJon Nalick March 21, 2017 In the Community
The Expanse Visits Caltech
SoCaltech, Spring/Summer 2017Jon Nalick March 23, 2017
End of the Oak
Spring/Summer 2017, More StoriesJon Nalick March 20, 2017 Origins
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I Am An Avenger (2010-2011)
What is it that makes one an Avenger? That’s what this series starring characters from all across the Avengers’ history will attempt to answer! Featuring tales of Iron Man, Captain America, the Thing, Iron Fist, Justice, Firestar, Squirrel Girl, Nova, the Young Avengers and more!
Avengers: We Are The Avengers
Origins of Marvel Comics
Discover the origins of Marvel's greatest heroes!
S.H.I.E.L.D. Origins
Collects Battle Scars #6, Secret Avengers (2013) #1, Avenging Spider-Man #20-21 and material from Strange Tales (1951) #135. MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. are coming to the ABC Network this fall! Get in on the espionage action with this collection of modern classics! Thrill to the formative appearances of Agent Phil Coulson and Nick Fury Jr., and learn how Fury followed in his famous father'
Avengers: The Origin
Collects Avengers: The Origin #1-5. The true story of the Avengers is revealed right here! See untold details of the historic first meeting of Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp! You only THINK you know the full story.
Spider-Woman: Origin
The intriguing secret history of Jessica Drew and her journey from child experiment to Hydra agent, to S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, to super hero, to private eye, to Avenger!
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Artists Kenneth Noland
Kenneth Noland
American Painter
Movements and Styles: Color Field Painting, Post-Painterly Abstraction
Born: April 10, 1924 - Asheville, North Carolina
Died: January 5, 2010 - Port Clyde, Maine
"I think of painting without subject matter as music without words."
Summary of Kenneth Noland
Kenneth Noland's Color Field painting, which was categorized by Clement Greenberg as belonging to the "Post-Painterly Abstraction" movement, was some of the most focused and consistent art produced in mid-20th-century America. After studying under such artists as Ilya Bolotowsky and Josef Albers and working alongside fellow second-generation Color Field abstractionists like Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis, Noland developed a signature style based on simplified abstract forms, including targets, chevrons, and stripes. Noland's paintings are characterized by strikingly minimalist compositions of shape and color. In this regard, Noland's art has influenced a wide range of contemporary abstractionists who continue to experiment with highly simplified forms and pure saturated color.
Key Ideas
Noland's concentric circles were not targets, the diagonals of his chevrons did not indicate receding space, and his broad horizontal stripes were decidedly not literal horizons. Each was solely a means of exploring pure color. This reductive approach also foreshadowed the emergence of Minimalism.
Noland applied Josef Albers's theory of "the interaction of colors" to his own compositions, which explore the relationships between contrasting or complementary colors; painted in thin yet opaque layers, each tone reveals its particular characteristic weight, density, and transparency.
As a member of the Color Field contingent that practiced hard-edge abstraction, Noland was interested in removing all texture, gesture, and emotional content from his paintings. He even executed some works on shaped canvases that were filled by their compositions from edge to edge, leaving no marginal space for suggestions of depth or background. In these shaped works, the viewer no longer looks "into" the picture; instead, the work of art coexists in the viewer's space as a complete object.
Kenneth Noland was born on April 10, 1924 in Asheville, North Carolina, one of five sons of Harry Caswell Noland and Bessie Noland. Noland's father was a physician; Noland later described him as a "Sunday painter," an amateur artist who painted in his spare time. Having access to his father's brushes, paints, and canvases, the young Noland played and experimented with these materials, which instilled in him a love of painting and the visual arts. Another early influence was an exhibition of Monet's paintings that he viewed at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Read Kenneth Noland's Biography
Read Kenneth Noland's Artistic Legacy
Tiger Lilies (1953)
This early oil painting dates close to Noland's first visit to Helen Frankenthaler's studio, when the artist was clearly still working under Abstract Expressionism's influence and trying to find his own painterly voice. Noland's early style is exemplified by visible brushwork, monochromatic palette, and calligraphic markings; the painting's title indicates that he had not yet ceased making references to the material world in his art.
Ex-Nihilo (1958)
The late 1950s marked an important turning point in Noland's career. In Ex Nihilo (a Latin phrase meaning "out of nothing"), Noland began painting simplified forms and balancing carefully selected colors in order to create, as the painting's title suggests, something out of nothing. However, Noland had yet to find his signature style. Unlike his later renditions of his circles and targets, where color itself is the subject, here he hinted at the representational or even the figurative. The gray-ringed, amoeba-like form resembles an egg being fertilized from its left side, while the innermost area (painted in gold, pink, and pale blue) could be some kind of zygote. We seem to be witnessing the conception of form, as order is manifested out of chaos.
Beginnings (1958)
This work, which places concentric circles on a perfectly square canvas, marks one of Noland's very first attempts at painting basic forms and archetypal patterns. Beginnings's circles are slightly irregular, an effect that may or may not have been intentional. Their varying colors complement or contrast with one another, creating a lively perceptual effect for the viewer. The final, jagged penumbra of black paint that frames these inner circles reinforces the improvisational feel of the whole work, pulling the viewer's attention beyond the nested circular forms and imbuing the whole with a burst of energy.
Birth (1961)
In this mature Circle canvas, Noland painted three concentric circles in complementary colors: yellow, magenta, and red. Although the viewer may attempt to see the circles as receding into space, they remain flat on the picture plane. Rather than attempting to create an illusion of depth, the artist focuses on the relational qualities of the three colors (how they make one another appear brighter or darker, softer or more intense) as well as the contrast between the vibrant, hard-edged rings and their neutral background. The title hints at the circle's universal symbolism of life and eternity, yet there is no specific subject matter in this totally abstract work: the only "birth" or creation that has occurred is that of the painting itself.
Shoot (1964)
In the early 1960s Noland began painting chevrons, or sharply defined V-shaped forms. This shift from circles to straight lines gave him the opportunity to start afresh in his exploration of color relationships, arranging contrasts of colors that interacted side-by-side rather than radially from a shared center. Shoot is an arrangement of four nested chevrons painted in alternating cool and warm colors. Rather than read this canvas from left to right, as we might do with a narrative scene or a landscape, we automatically concentrate on the center of this strictly symmetrical abstract arrangement on its square canvas. The point of the outermost chevron makes contact with the lower edge, thus creating a tension between Noland's composition and the boundaries of its picture plane.
Bend Sinister (1964)
In some Chevron paintings, such Bend Sinister, Noland placed his compositions off-center against neutral grounds. Although Noland's titles are often difficult to decipher, this one makes a clear allusion to the painting's structure: "sinister" is the Latin word for "left," the direction in which the chevron forms point. The asymmetry of this work and this use of fewer colors with more contrast adds to the piece's visual drama, and the placement of the chevrons pointing downwards from the top edge of the canvas reverses the viewer's expectations of where and how to look.
Graded Exposure (1967)
In the late 1960s, Noland ventured into new territory with his Striped paintings. With this work, which measures nearly 19 feet wide, Noland painted his stripes progressively thinner towards the top, as if the image were receding into the distance. Additionally, the rainbow-like effect of coloring suggests a horizon that extends beyond the canvas. This visual effect, however, should not be confused with any particular subject matter or context, since Noland repeatedly stated that the content of his art is pure color and form, and nothing more. As he said in an interview of 1977, "I wanted to have color be the origin of the painting, I was trying to neutralize the layout, the shape, the composition. I wanted to make color the generating force." By working on a monumental scale, he has also granted pure abstraction the same status as traditional history painting or landscape painting.
Noland said in a 1977 interview, "Paintings have their own boundaries, their own zones, their own limits." His innovation of shaped canvases allowed him to vary the boundaries of his works, creating new effects of weight and movement without resorting to traditional illusionism or perspective. Whereas Noland's Chevrons and Circles series created visual tension between color and blank background, Vault is animated from edge to edge with color. And, unlike the square canvases of other paintings, this shaped canvas allows its support to echo and reinforce the wedges of color that are the work's sole content. By unifying composition and support while eliminating representational imagery, pictorial space, and any evidence of his own brushwork, Noland succeeds in making the interplay of color and form his only subject.
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Category: Black Orpheus
The ‘Jazz Samba’ Project: What’s Old is New (Part Three, Conclusion) — A Penny for Your Thoughts
January 9, 2018 January 10, 2018 Leave a comment
Let’s Discuss It!
Drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt at the Jazz Samba Symposium, June 2014 (Strathmore Music Center)
After Ken Avis’s introduction, Leo Lucini started the discussion off with a few words about the roots of Brazilian music, especially the native indigenous sources, mixed in with those of the country’s Portuguese colonizers, and, of course, the African slave influence. He went into a bit of the history of how the descendants of former slaves came together at a street corner named Praça Onze (“Square Eleven”), in Rio, and began to play the rudiments of choro, maxixe, and street samba. From there, later generations of Brazilians, i.e., Jobim, Vinicius, and, in Lucini’s opinion, the “founder” and pioneer of bossa nova, João Gilberto, had also banded together along the beachfront sections known as Ipanema and Copacabana.
Leo paused in his talk to give an active demonstration, involving sections of the audience, of the sounds that comprised the basic samba rhythm. This portion of the program went on a trifle longer than necessary; however, the point was made that samba encompassed a variety of contrasting elements that, together, created the music and rhythm which, when slowed down, gave way to what we know as bossa nova.
The next speaker was David Adler, who wrote the 2004 cover story for JazzTimes on the making of the album Jazz Samba. Most of David’s discussion was centered on his article, but the part that opened most of the audience’s eyes was the sidebar involving the so-called “Phantom Sessions” that allegedly took place prior to Jazz Samba being recorded. Basically, it was an October 1961 session with guitarist Charlie Byrd and saxophonist Stan Getz with Getz’s working quartet at the time, including bassist John Neves and drummer Roy Haynes.
Jazz writer and musician David R. Adler
David actually talked to Haynes, who remembered being in the studio with Charlie Byrd before bossa nova became popular. David even sought out and spoke with knowledgeable individuals, several of whom were able to provide specific dates (October 24-26) for the sessions, although no tapes or supporting material was found. “So there is a Jazz Samba session that’s in the ether somewhere, and it is gone,” David concluded. “It doesn’t exist anymore.”
What David drew from this disclosure was the incontrovertible fact that bossa nova required artists who were exposed to the music, who knew it and were capable of playing it. This is where the drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt and bassist Keter Betts came in.
The talk transitioned over to Buddy and his experience with making the now-classic album. He admitted, quite candidly, that “it’s just my version of it, my interpretation of it. It is not pure bossa nova. It’s exactly what the [album] cover says it is. It’s Jazz Samba. It’s the first fusion album before they even started using the word ‘fusion.’ ”
Without realizing it, Buddy held the audience in the palm of his hand from the start. He remained calm and collected throughout the experience. And he showed a canny sense of humor and comic timing, too, when he regaled the crowd with this morsel: “We had no idea [the album] was going to be so successful. Keter Betts said months later, ‘You know that album we did?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ ‘Well, it got a Grammy.’ And what’s even funnier is, I was 24, and I said, ‘What’s a Grammy?’ I didn’t even know what a Grammy was!”
More controversially, Buddy equated the album’s popular success with, quite possibly, percussionist and second drummer Bill Reichenbach’s placing the emphasis on the rhythm of the songs (which Charlie Byrd selected) on beats two and four, something the “American public was used to hearing” and “could identify with.”
It was now multi-award-winning sound engineer Ed Greene’s turn to discuss his participation in the venture. Ed wasted no time in stressing the fact that a jazz combo, as much as a symphony orchestra, needs to be recorded in an acoustically agreeable environment, not in a “dead room.” It was the raison d’être for recording Jazz Samba at All Souls Unitarian Church in D.C.
Sound engineer Ed Greene
True to his profession, Ed emphasized the technical aspects of sound recording, including his use at the time of vacuum tube circuitry, Ampex tape recorders, condensers, and mixers. More important than these was his insistence the musicians be comfortable playing with one another.
It was at that point that Ed turned to Buddy, who he hadn’t seen in over fifty years, and asked, “Were you guys comfortable on stage, playing together?” Buddy replied with a simple “Absolutely,” which he prefaced with “You made my drums sound better than they ever sounded.” This pleased Mr. Greene to no end, who confided to audience members the reason he left the record business, mainly because he got tired of doing guitar overdubs on albums for weeks on end. Again, the musicians had no one to relate to, which in his opinion made the business much too complicated, what with earphones and monitors and such. “It’s a miracle anything comes through at all.” He did say that he enjoyed the immediacy of television, which is where Ed had been thriving for the past several decades, prior to his passing in August 2017.
Returning to the panel discussion at the Strathmore, D.C. native Tom Cole was asked to provide, in response to Ken Avis’ prompt, some context for, as well as the impact of, the album on pop music during and after the 1960s. Turning the tables on the moderator, Tom inquired of the participants that although both instrumental and vocal music were listened to with equal interest, did any of them recall hearing Jazz Samba on the radio; and, if they did, how did they react to it?
Words to the Wise
Ed Greene was the first to interject, in that he still “hears the album on the radio. It’s an unmistakable sound. There’s something about it. The music was not only well played, superbly played. It’s a very sensual music. That’s really what that album’s about. And that’s the essence of bossa nova.” Leo Lucini confirmed Ed’s appraisal, adding “among other things.”
Buddy offered his own thoughts in that he was “pleased that it sounded good. Everything about it was okay, it was correct. I didn’t hear anything that I disliked. And I’m always listening to mistakes that I made. The worst thing about making any recording is that you have to listen to your mistakes over and over and forever.”
What ultimately came out of this phase of the discussion was that the American record-buying public was readily taken with Jazz Samba over earlier recordings that were issued (in some cases, a decade or so earlier), among them Brazilian music featuring guitarist Laurindo Almeida and saxophonist Bud Shank.
Cover of the classic Jazz Samba album on vinyl (Verve Records)
A brief question-and-answer session followed, wherein yours truly, who was present in the audience and listening attentively to what was being divulged, was asked by Buddy (thank you, my friend!) to comment on the influence of the movie Black Orpheus in popularizing bossa nova. Here’s the answer I gave the panel:
“Vinicius de Moraes and Jobim wrote the music for the original play, Orfeu da Conceição, which later was turned into a film by Marcel Camus, made in Rio. It included none of the music from the play, but all new music by Jobim, as well as music by Luiz Bonfá. That “The Morning of Carnival” and “Samba de Orfeu” were Bonfá’s music. Black Orpheus is a totally other story. It’s a film that really captured, visually and sonically, the imagination of Americans and pretty much the whole world — except at the time the native Brazilians.”
Although nobody asked me, I volunteered a story that I had read in journalist and writer Ruy Castro’s book, Chega de Saudade (a.k.a. Bossa Nova): “My comment is about Stan Getz, they said he was a great player because of his sound and everything. During the recording sessions of Getz-Gilberto, João Gilberto made a comment to Jobim about it. As Getz was blowing away, Gilberto told Jobim [and I was paraphrasing here], ‘Tell that moron to shut up, he’s playing too loud.’ Jobim saw Stan’s expression and he said, ‘He says he likes the way you play.’ And Getz, in response, said, ‘Funny, I don’t think that’s what he said.’ ”
Stan Getz (l.), with Joe Byrd (c.) & brother Charlie Byrd (r.) recording Jazz Samba
I was pleased — no, thrilled — to hear that Brazil’s music, especially the soothing sounds of bossa nova, was still seducing audiences the way it had over half a century ago.
Looking back on the previous Friday night’s concert with Eliane Elias and Sergio Mendes, I was reminded of an elderly gentleman seated to my right. He had come into the Strathmore Music Center with the aid of a walker, so fragile and weak was his appearance. The man must have been in his eighties. He was accompanied by his wife, who looked about a decade younger.
As the music and vibes reached their peak, the man stood up and, to my astonishment, started jerking his arms around in time to the rhythm. He was hardly able to keep up with the music, but boy, was he having the time of his life! Fond memories of his younger and healthier self must have been on his mind.
Then it dawned on me. Bossa nova continues to charm the world. And based on what I witnessed that night, it never really gets old, does it?
Your Next Musical-Theater Project: Carmen Miranda — An Open Letter to Lin-Manuel Miranda
September 8, 2017 September 8, 2017 Leave a comment
The Brazilian Bombshell: Carmen Miranda
Dear Lin-Manuel,
Are you ready for your next musical-theater challenge? Are you willing to hear about the artistic and personal life of the Brazilian Bombshell, Carmen Miranda? I don’t know why this subject hasn’t occurred to you before, but it would be a natural fit for your background and musical-theater abilities. And considering your surname, the (ahem) obvious choice!
Speaking of which, my name is Josmar Lopes, but everyone calls me Joe. You see, I am a former immigrant myself. I came to the United States in 1959 from São Paulo, Brazil. I was five years old at the time. I grew up in the inner city, i.e. the South Bronx, near Fort Apache. You were born in Washington Heights and grew up in the Linwood area. My family and I lived for eight years at the Bronx River Houses — on the 14th floor to be exact — so we were intimately familiar with adversity and difficult times, much like the characters in your first hit play, In the Heights. In that, we share a commonality.
I recently watched a clip from the CBS Sunday Morning program in which both you and author Ron Chernow admitted that Alexander Hamilton’s life story was the ultimate immigrant take on the theme of making it in America.
In view of this, I can say with absolute authority that Carmen Miranda’s story is Hamilton’s twice over: she wasn’t born in Brazil, as many people mistakenly believe, but in Portugal. Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha was brought to Rio de Janeiro (the country’s capital at the time) in 1909 by her mother when she was less than a year old.
The young Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, ca. 1920s
Incredibly, Carmen never became a Brazilian citizen, for which she was severely criticized. And despite a successful ten-year stage and recording career in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Carmen longed for fame in the U.S., especially in Hollywood. Fate would eventually come to tap her on the shoulder.
In 1939, famed theater producer and impresario Lee Shubert was told of this sizzling new attraction by various individuals who had caught her act at the Urca Casino in Rio. He sent advance men to report back and keep an eye on the Brazilian’s progress. Upon his arrival there — and after watching Carmen perform live on stage — Shubert decided to invite Carmen to come to Boston and New York, and eventually make her Broadway debut in the musical revue, The Streets of Paris, in which she sang the number, “South American Way.” From there, it was a motion-picture contract with Darryl Zanuck’s Twentieth Century-Fox Studios.
Carmen stayed in America for a solid year, returning to Brazil in 1940, where she was “greeted” with a cold shoulder by the elite of Brazilian society for having made her fame away from her home country. One could add that her story from this point on was a “rags to riches to more riches” tale. Carmen decided to make America her home, which in return made her the highest paid woman entertainer in the business, only to end up in a miserable, loveless marriage to a minor American producer, an addiction to alcohol and barbiturates, electro-shock therapy, and a premature death at age 46. Whew!
How does all this connect to your personal style of writing and composition? Well, to put it plainly: Carmen was a uniquely gifted talent, in that she carved out her own individual performance style. She was more than just a singer and an entertainer: she was Brazil’s most famous international export. Her rapid-fire delivery and natural flair for language and self-expression came across not only on screen in those colorful Fox musicals of the 1940s, but in her many Brazilian recordings from the period 1929 to 1939, the decade before she immigrated (for the second time in her life) to America.
As evidence of her uniqueness, check out her classic appearance in Greenwich Village, a Fox musical from 1944, in particular two numbers: Nobel Sissle and Eubie Blake’s “I’m Just Wild about Harry”; and “Give Me a Band and a Bandana” by Leo Robin and Nacio Herb Brown. In both, Carmen interpolates some lines in her native Portuguese that, believe it not, could have been harbingers of rap and hip-hop (Brazilian style, of course!). It’s the kind of thing that Carmen did naturally.
Poster art for Greenwich Village (1944)
If all this intrigues you, Lin-Manuel, then please let me know. I have had wide-ranging experience with Broadway and theater people, for example, Stephen C. Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey of Front Row Productions. I worked closely with them in our efforts to bring the 1959 cult film Black Orpheus to the New York stage. They can vouch for my proficiency in the area of cultural consultant. Not only was I successful in helping to obtain the rights to the original Brazilian play Orfeu da Conceição, but I also introduced Stephen and Alia to the team of Charles Möeller and Claudio Botelho, the most successful producer-director duo in Brazilian musical theater today. In addition, I helped to translate (from the original Portuguese to American English) the team’s version of Black Orpheus, as well as Möeller-Botelho’s original theater piece, 7 – The Musical, a modern interpretation of the Sleeping Beauty-Cinderella fairy tales.
The most fascinating aspect of my association with Claudio Botelho was his challenge to me to write an original stage treatment based on Carmen Miranda’s life. I did so — willingly — and called it Bye-Bye, My Samba (or, in Portuguese, Adeus, batucada, after one of her hit songs). Much as you were inspired by Chernow’s biography to write Hamilton: An American Musical, I too have met the challenge head on of doing justice to my fellow Brazilian compatriot. It took a great deal of research and study, and long hours at home contemplating the best way to present this subject to audiences unfamiliar with Carmen’s history. I can tell you that I learned quite a lot about the real Carmen Miranda.
In spite of his poverty and illegitimacy and lowly station in life, Hamilton developed supreme self-confidence and a built-in reliance on his intelligence and work ethic. As for myself, I can only boast of my dedication and thoroughness to whatever project I work on. With that said, I am confident you will give this pitch of mine the dedication and thoroughness of thought it requires. As I stated at the outset, it’s a natural!
In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda (center)
P.S. We LOVED your play In the Heights, along with your Spanish translation of West Side Story. As a matter of fact, Stephen Byrd wanted to develop the Black Orpheus project along similar lines — that is, intersperse some Brazilian-Portuguese dialogue into the English translation. If that isn’t a compliment to the fine job you did with In the Heights, I don’t know what is!
Copyright (c) 2017 by Josmar F. Lopes
The Jazz Samba Project: What’s Old is New, and What’s New Gets Old Fast
Of Concerts and Symposiums
The Felix E. Grant “Wall of Fame” at the Strathmore, June 8, 2014
What’s old is new. And what’s new gets old fast.
This was the takeaway from my visit in June 2014 to the Strathmore Music and Arts Center in North Bethesda, Maryland. As part of their week-long celebration, “Bringing Bossa Nova to the United States,” and in honor of the 50th anniversary of the landmark Verve album Jazz Samba recorded by Stan Getz and the Charlie Byrd Trio, I was invited to take part in the Jazz Samba Legacy Symposium on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Among the featured events that week was the world premiere rough-cut screening of the documentary Bossa Nova — the Brazilian Music that Charmed the World, directed and produced by videographer Bret Primack and co-produced by music journalist, educator, guitarist, and bandleader Ken Avis, along with a Q & A session with Buddy Deppenschmidt, who played on the classic Jazz Samba. I had the immense pleasure of meeting and interviewing the famed jazz drummer, performer, and teacher on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at the Strathmore Music Center’s Education Room 309, which I have previously written about and posted (see the following link: https://josmarlopes.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/its-jazz-samba-time-celebrating-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-landmark-bossa-nova-album/)
Prior to our interview, my wife Regina and I took an extensive tour of the Jazz Samba Project Exhibit, co-curated by Georgina Javor, the Strathmore’s former Director of Programming, and the aforementioned Mr. Avis. The exhibit showed only a small fraction of the extensive Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, at the University of the District of Columbia, which was itself curated by Dr. Judith A. Korey, Professor of Music, whom I also met and spoke to.
Felix E. Grant was a local Washington, D.C. radio broadcaster who took a personal interest in bringing jazz and Brazil’s music and culture to American shores. It was a fabulous exhibit! We were extremely pleased with its breadth and scope, in particular the “walls of sound” (my term) wherein album covers of well known and obscure recordings from the late 1950s up through the mid-60s were displayed up-and-down and across the room’s walls. We had some truly memorable moments re-visiting and re-connecting with bossa nova greats (and not-so-greats) from years past. The entire display reflected a high degree of professionalism and respect for Brazilian music — a most satisfying experience for us.
One of the highlights was a prominently showcased, generously proportioned coffee-table tome (a copy of which I subsequently ordered online) entitled Bossa Nova and the Rise of Brazilian Music in the 1960s, and from which the above exhibition was drawn.
My wife Regina marveling at Elis Regina, from the book about Bossa Nova – June 2014
Published in 2010 by Soul Jazz Books, a division of Soul Jazz Records, this hardcover volume is a collection of bossa nova record album cover art work from the Odeon, Elenco, Philips, and other labels from the period in question. It was compiled by Gilles Peterson, a British-based DJ, record collector, and record label owner, and Stuart Baker, the founder and proprietor of the Soul Jazz label.
Between its covers were featured breathtakingly beautiful modernist and revolutionary designs (some hinting at the coming “psychedelic” era) that reflected “the radical and exciting idealism of Brazil at the start of the 1960s,” an idealism that was quickly squashed with the advent of the military dictatorship post-1964 and the subsequent crackdown of 1968.
The fading memory of those bitter times and my fellow Brazilians’ nearly two-decade long struggle to free themselves from the generals’ iron grip have left some young people — and a growing number of old-timers with faulty recollections — with an alarming nostalgia for “the way things were.” This self-deluded yearning for the purported “good old days,” where Ordem e Progresso (“Order and Progress”) — curiously, the country’s motto stamped on the Brazilian flag — remains an unrealized promise, will serve as an excellent example of our penchant for hankering after a non-existent past.
My observation above of things that are old being new and those that are new getting old stems as well from a Friday evening concert of June 6, 2014, by Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias and the Grammy Award-winning Niteroi-born singer-musician Sérgio Mendes and his band. Both Sérgio and Eliane have long pedigrees in the pop-music business going back many decades.
Photos & Bios of Eliane Elias & Sergio Mendes – Jazz Samba Exhibit, June 2014
In Eliane’s case, her piano playing craft on the night of the concert was anything but old. Quite the contrary, she displayed finger-snapping pep and vigor to burn on the old 88s. Her treatment of material by Jobim, Ary Barroso, and Ronaldo Bôscoli, in addition to some of her own compositions, was well-nigh perfect, with just the right amount of zing and pizzazz in all the right places. Eliane was helped by a crack band of first-rate players, consisting of husband Marc Johnson on upright bass and the carioca-born Rafael Barata on drums. Barata made a particularly spectacular impression with his lightning-fast solos and fancy stick-work — why, the man was a veritable human octopus!
The second half of the program, which starred Mendes on keyboards and vocals, and his wife Gracinha Leporace as soloist providing backup support, included toward the end a re-imagined “rap” version of Jorge Ben Jor’s signature “Mas Que Nada” tune — fine and dandy in execution, but hardly an audience favorite with the over-50 crowd that predominated — and a final encore of Mendes, John Powell, Carlinhos Brown, Mikael Mutti, and Siedah Garrett’s “Real in Rio” from their 2011 animated collaboration Rio (produced by Blue Sky Studios) that fell flat and virtually sucked the air out of the good vibes left over from “Mas Que Nada.”
Mixing the old with the new, then, turned out to not only to be a mixed bag but one that left a big, fat hole in an otherwise excellent program shared by two established Brazilian artists.
The Offer I Couldn’t Refuse
Before I get into the particulars of the Jazz Samba Legacy Symposium, let me recount what led up to my participation in that weekend invitational. It was Buddy Deppenschmidt himself who informed me about this event in Bethesda. He sent me the link back in mid-March 2014, which I swiftly checked out. As I did so, my wife called me to say that somebody from the Jazz Samba Fest had phoned my home asking for additional information. Now that was quick! My wife tried to get the name of the lady who called, but was unable to understand the semi-garbled message.
My initial thought, if indeed I’d ever get the rare opportunity to be up there with the Giants of Jazz Samba and Bossa Nova, was to discuss Black Orpheus (that is, the original play and musical), how it all came about, how the Vinicius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim partnership came together, and all that jazz. Might as well put my knowledge to good use, at least that was my impression, since I had been involved in trying to bring the project to Broadway for the last, what, six or more years!
Yours truly showing the Black Orpheus wall at the Strathmore, June 2014
Finally, I received an e-mail from Ms. Georgina Javor, the young lady who had called my home. She would love to have me attend some of the festivities and asked if I had ever moderated any discussions before? I told her that yes, I had moderated a few as well as interviewed several personalities in the recent past, and that I would love to moderate the Q & A session with Buddy.
Georgina spelled out the terms of my participation, to which I accepted. In addition, she kindly provided tickets to the Elias-Mendes Friday night concert, which for us turned out to be the spicy topping on this all-Brazilian pastry.
‘Once I Loved’ – In Memory and Celebration of Vinicius de Moraes on His 100th Birthday
October 9, 2013 August 12, 2014 Leave a comment
Born nearly a century ago, the man known as “The Little Poet” lived la vie de Bohème and wrote the play Orfeu da Conceição, while bringing the sumptuous sounds of bossa nova to the musical forefront
Poet and playwright Vinicius de Moraes (bhfazcultura.pbh.gov.br)
Saturday, October 19, 2013 marked the centenary of the birth of one of Brazil’s most recognizable and controversial personalities. A talented man of letters, as well as a poet, a composer, musician, performer, and lyricist, Marcus Vinitius [sic] Cruz de Moraes — more widely known as Vinicius de Moraes — was born in Gávea, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. He earned a law degree in his native city without having to give up his all-consuming interests in music, philosophy, dance, theater, and cinema (in particular, the silent cinema), along with his love for English literature and language, which he studied at Oxford University (1938-41).
Upon his return to Brazil, Vinicius began writing film criticism for a Rio daily, in addition to answering letters in an “advice to the lovelorn” column. In line with the above, he also worked as a civil servant, had close encounters with maverick filmmaker Orson Welles and social critic Waldo Frank (1942), both of whom made extended visits to Brazil and were instrumental in increasing his awareness of social causes; published several books of verse; spent quality time in Hollywood (1946-50); and participated in film festivals throughout Europe — all while serving in the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.
Vinicius had a weakness for the opposite sex, and was rumored to have married a total of nine times. While in Hollywood, he, along with his first wife Beatriz (nicknamed Tati) and their young daughter Susana, practically resided in Carmen Miranda’s Beverly Hills household. They were close friends until Carmen’s unforeseen demise.
Tom Jobim & Vinicius (imovelvip.com.br)
In 1954, on the advice of another poet, Vinicius entered a draft of his play in verse, Orfeu da Conceição, in a writing contest. It won one of the top prizes. On leave from his post with the Foreign Service, Vinicius united with a fledgling composer named Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim. Together, the Little Poet and the publicity shy Tom brought Orfeu to the stage of the Teatro Municipal, in Rio, on September 25, 1956. It was the beginning of a beautiful songwriting relationship that resulted in a flurry of classic tunes, among them “Chega de saudade” (“No More Blues”), “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Once I Loved,” “How Insensitive,” “One Note Samba,” “Se todos fossem iguais a você” (“Someone to Light Up My Life”), and many more.
In 1962, Vinicius, with the presence of Jobim and the young João Gilberto, made his singing debut at the Au Bon Gourmet nightclub in Rio. From there on, the Little Poet followed the performing path, later teaming up with a new partner, Toquinho, from the 1970s up until his death in July 1980.
The release and popularization of the film Black Orpheus (1959), produced by Sacha Gordine and directed by Marcel Camus, and the subsequent worldwide acclaim it garnered (including the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and the Oscar™ for Best Foreign Film) brought renewed focus on Brazil — especially on Vinicius’ subsequent work, which numbered some 400 songs, many of them with the top talents of the day: Jobim, Pixinguinha, Baden Powell, Carlos Lyra, Ary Barroso, Chico Buarque, and Toquinho.
Vinicius and Toquinho
Orpheus, the Myth and the Man
Notwithstanding these myriad activities, Vinicius’ serious side was reflected in Orfeu da Conceição, in which he expressed outright concern for the poor and disadvantaged. But why did he choose this particular subject to dramatize?
To put it simply, the Orpheus legend happened to be one of those recurring motifs that have managed, in both theory and practice, to adapt themselves rather easily to other media — most opportunely to the operatic, cinematic, and theatrical art forms.
For starters, such foreign-born dramatists as Oskar Kokoschka, Jean Anouilh, and Jean Cocteau, along with their American counterpart, playwright Tennessee Williams, all drew inspiration from his mythological fable, with varying degrees of success. Until Black Orpheus made its initial worldwide impact in 1959-60, French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau‘s pairing of Orphée (1949) with his later The Testament of Orpheus (1960) had previously blazed the cinematic trail, while Sidney Lumet‘s The Fugitive Kind (1959), starring Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani, in turn took up the slack from the American side; it was supposed to have been the film adaptation of Williams‘ talkie stage play Orpheus Descending (and a not very good one, at that). Next to Cocteau’s classics, it bombed badly.
As one might have guessed, there were scores of lyric versions lying about the opera house, too, beginning with those of early Baroque masters Jacopo Peri, Claudio Monteverdi, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Christoph Willibald von Gluck. In the mid-19th century, the wildly popular Jacques Offenbach, a German-Jewish émigré to Gay Paree, composed the comic operetta Orpheus in the Underworld. And in the early 1920s, Kokoschka‘s Expressionistic play Orpheus und Eurydice was transformed into a modern opera by the Austrian Ernst Krenek, creator of the Jazz-Age hit Jonny spielf auf (“Johnny Strikes Up”); while in our own time, an offbeat addition to the standard repertoire (by American minimalist Philip Glass) caught moviegoers by surprise with an ingenious musical rewrite of Cocteau‘s art film as an operatic tour de force.
There was even a modern dance version, titled simply Orpheus (1948), commissioned by the Ballet Society of New York, with music by the always-acerbic Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Russian ballet master George Balanchine. These tantalizing tidbits of the Orpheus legend were but the tips of the musical iceberg.
This was all well and good, but what attributes did the Little Poet find in the myth that would eventually lead him to produce such an influential hit? Vinicius expressed interest in the tale as far back as the early forties. His own words will suffice as to where and how his inspiration might have been derived:
“It was around 1942 that one night [at the home of my uncle, the architect Carlos Leão], after reading once again about the [Orpheus] myth in an old book on Greek mythology, I suddenly realized that it contained the framework for a tragedy set among the black population of Rio. The legend of the artist who, thanks to the fascination of his music, was able to descend into Hades to search for his beloved Eurydice… might very well take place in one of Rio’s shantytowns…
“I started to jot my vision down into a few verses, which then became a full act, finalizing it just as the sun rose over Guanabara, now visible through the window. It was another six years after that, while living in Los Angeles, that I was able to add the last two acts, and even later in 1953, after misplacing the third act and having to rewrite it, in Paris, before it was completed.”
On September 19, 1956, one week before the musical play’s official opening of September 25, at the imposing Teatro Municipal in downtown Rio de Janeiro — and three months after the commencement of stage rehearsals, which were constantly interrupted by his consular activities — playwright and poet Vinicius de Moraes dashed off this poignant dedication:
“This play is an homage to the Brazilian black man, to whom I owe so much; and not just for his organic contribution to the culture of this country — but more for his impassioned lifestyle that has allowed me, with little to no effort, by a simple spark of the imagination, to feel in the [inspiration] of the divine Thracian musician, that same inspiration [born of] the divine musicians from our own native carioca hills.”
Tom Jobim (left) and Vinicius (in dark glasses) in rehearsal for Orfeu
The all-black, all-Brazilian cast — by and large, a fairly radical undertaking for its time — starred Haroldo Costa as Orfeu, Daisy Paiva as Eurídice, Léa Garcia (who played Serafina in the French film version) as Mira, singer Ciro Monteiro as Apolo, and Zeny Pereira as Clio. Other members of the troupe included Adalberto Silva (Plutão), Pérola Negra (Proserpina), Waldir Maia (Corifeu), Francisca de Queiroz (Dama Negra), Clementino Luiz (Cérbero), Abdias do Nascimento, one of the founders of Brazil’s Experimental Black Theatre, as Aristeu the beekeeper, and Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump, Adhemar Ferreira da Silva, as one of the choristers as well as the skeletal Black Death figure in the movie.
Orfeu da Conceição packed them in at the Municipal for a solid week, up through September 30; after which it moved to the Teatro República (no longer in existence) for a month-long stay. A last-ditch effort to switch venues to São Paulo, however, collapsed due to a lack of available funding and space.
Truth be told, Vinicius saw himself as Orfeu. He certainly put much of his own tastes, passion, and outlook into this noble creation. Notwithstanding the fact that Orfeu was black (or what we might describe as Afro-Brazilian) and the playwright was white (of Portuguese descent, with traces of German, Italian, Hungarian, and Argentine blood in his veins), Vinicius commonly referred to himself as “O branco mais preto do Brasil” (“The blackest white man in Brazil”).
Always a heavy drinker, he rarely performed on stage without his trusty bottle of whiskey close at hand. A forerunner and follower of the liberated lifestyle of the swinging 1960s, as the decade began Vinicius had given himself over to the life of a sensualist. Consequently, some things had to go by the wayside. For neglecting his diplomatic duties, he was expelled from the Foreign Service in 1969. After a series of health crises (stroke, heart problems), brought on by his continuing alcoholism, Vinicius finally expired in his bath on July 9, 1980. It is said that he died in the arms of his last song partner, Toquinho.
Orfeu da Conceicao album cover
Despite the controversies that surrounded him in life, Vinicius de Moraes was officially reinstated into the Brazilian diplomatic corps in 2006, in recognition of his many contributions to the cultural and literary life of his beloved Brazil. Finally, in February 2011, with President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva present and the surviving members of the Moraes family in attendance, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies elevated him to the posthumous post of Ambassador, with all the requisite honors intact.
Vinicius lived, Vinicius loved — wildly, passionately, without restraints. He went through Hell, much like his forlorn Orfeu. And like Orfeu, he came back from purgatory — cleansed, triumphant, renewed, and absolved of his sins… while searching for his drink.
Sadness Has No End (Part Eleven): All the World’s A Stage… No, Really It Is
August 3, 2013 June 24, 2014 Leave a comment
“Playing” for Time
Black Orpheus (Breno Mello & Marpessa Dawn)
The most striking thing about the episodes in Orfeu da Conceição is how little they have in common with Marcel Camus’ rosy-eyed vistas of Rio: no streetcar-conducting lead; no enchanting ferryboat ride; no colorful costume pageant, as such; no return and parting of Orfeu’s lost love; and no voodoo mumbo-jumbo, either, although Dama Negra does get to perform a bit of macumba during portions of the play’s opening act. Oh, and Cerberus, the guardian canine of the realm, puts in a guest howl at the second act dance-club sequence.
Otherwise, in Camus’ grandiose treatment of Carnival, Orfeu is not torn to shreds by an angry mob of whores but instead falls off a steep cliff holding on to his expired love after being conked on the head with a rock. If Vinicius de Moraes hadn’t left the theater by that point, he most assuredly would have done so here, so dissimilar was his play from the movie — the undeniable irony of which never fails to impress, in that there would be no staged play at all without the insistence of the French for a screen treatment. Vinicius himself admitted as much: “And it was in Paris… that I met the producer Sacha Gordine, who was interested in the story and wanted to make a movie of it. So it was really the movie that made possible the staging of the play…”
On the face of it, though, Diegues’ 1999 re-filming does come closest to actually carrying out, to a limited extent, the poet’s intentions, more than adequately preserving the systemic violence of the hills that was markedly absent from Camus’ freshly scrubbed reading. He even threw in Orfeu’s parents as a good-will gesture to the original.*
Orfeu (Toni Garrido & Patricia Franca)
That said, neither picture even remotely approaches Orfeu da Conceição’s lyrical foundation, its soul-stirring poetic imagery, or its classical refinement and construct. That the piece intermittently betrays melodramatic overtones, seriously over-playing its hand when it comes to the emotional and physical state of the title character’s suffering and distress (think Milton’s Samson Agonistes) makes it a major liability.
Only Jobim’s perfectly-limned musical responses keep it from wallowing in its own excess. About the worst that could be said of his score was that it was too tasteful and refined for such violent displays of passion.
Factor in a whopping Fat Tuesday celebration and a healthy dollop of Afro-Brazilian dance sequences, choreographed by the debuting Lina de Luca, and voilá: you have the makings of a total work of art, a stunning stage realization (albeit in primitive form) encompassing a veritable periodic table of theatrical elements — drama, music, poetry, dance, setting, and scenic and lighting design — with all the pomp and majesty, as well as the flaws, inherent in that much-bandied-about term “opera,” or, in this case, “drama with music,” which is a more accurate description.
Does everything that has been written about Orfeu da Conceição make it the Brazilian musical to end all musicals? No, not necessarily. Should we continue to hold out hope, then, that Orfeu might one day be restored to his proper place on the world stage? Anything is possible, if the opportunity were ever to arise. (Broadway producers, take note.) But, as we have tirelessly strived to point out to readers, Vinicius de Moraes was incontrovertibly put in the awkward position of having to bear witness to the cinematic “decimation” of his most-prized work.
The record clearly shows that Vinicius walked out on the Brazilian premiere of Camus’ Black Orpheus, the first of two film adaptations. Doesn’t it seem odd, though, that the world-weary poet would have survived such a profound jolt to his system by the palantir-like glimpse he was afforded of the future misdirection of his country — where it was headed and how those in the public trust conspired to keep it off course — only to lash out in the one way an artist of his standing could lash out: by taking the “law” (or his feet) into his own hands, as the situation demanded?
That’s an awfully big “maybe,” when you come right down to it. In support of his own modern view of the ancient Greek fable, director Diegues took care not to disturb the playwright’s easily offended fans (get thee behind me, Dama Negra!). “In the original play,” he argued, “there’s a poem in which Vinicius says that everything in the world dies except for Orpheus’ art, which is forever — and I tried to visualize that.”
The actual lines, which are given to the members of the chorus and form the basis for the play’s ontological outlook and conclusion, vary somewhat from his recollection but are no less inspiring:
Para matar Orfeu não basta a Morte.
Tudo morre que nasce e que viveu
Só não morre no mundo a voz de Orfeu.
To kill Orfeu, Death is not enough.
Everything that is born and lives must die
In the world only Orfeu’s voice survives.
It is incumbent upon us to insist that, even if the country itself were to fall off a cliff — which, in as much as it pained The Little Poet to learn, it very nearly did at key moments in its recent past — Orfeu’s voice (and, by suggestion, Brazil’s music) would live on in the world as well.
One of Vinicius’ closest contemporaries, writer and poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, offered this discerning opinion of his friend: he was “the only Brazilian poet,” Drummond decreed, “who dared to live under the sign of passion. That is, of poetry in its natural state.” Orfeu da Conceição, Moraes’ most ambitious literary and musical creation, was the complete fulfillment of this sign of passion, his poetic and unvarnished imitation of slum life in its natural state. God help the person who came between him and that passion!
Author Lúcia Nagib’s Brazil on Screen: Cinema Novo, New Cinema, Utopia goes into excruciating detail on the “natural state” of writer-director Carlos Diegues’ passion for Orfeu. One scene, in particular, has a special poignancy for her:
“As the film draws to a close, the favela hill returns to its everyday violence after the ‘great illusion of carnival’ [sic] is over, as sung in ‘Felicidade,’ a song by Jobim and Vinicius, delivered with innocent simplicity by Jobim’s adolescent daughter, Maria Luiza Jobim, who plays a minor role in the film.”
The opening line of that number, which happens to fit in perfectly with this post’s main heading — and which is also the first one to be heard in the French-made Black Orpheus — is simplicity itself, yet speaks volumes of the illusory effect the annual ritual of Carnival has had on the lives of the poor:
Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim
A felicidade do pobre parece
A grande ilusão do carnaval
A gente trabalha o ano inteiro
Por um momento de sonho
Pra fazer a fantasia
De rei ou de pirata ou jardineira
Pra tudo se acabar na quarta-feira
Sadness has no end
But happiness does
A poor man’s happiness is like
The great illusion of Carnival
You work all year long
For a brief fulfillment of a dream
To play the part of
A gardener, a pirate or a king
Only to have it all end on Wednesday morn
What cannot be deemed a “great illusion” is Carnival’s restorative power; how its raw, incessant energy seems to electrify every one of the parade participants gathered, in spite of four solid days of nonstop action and fun. After a highly favored samba school falls to a lesser rival; after the drums go silent and the crowds begin to disperse, you’re awakened from “a brief fulfillment of a dream” to the reality at hand.
It’s the same instinctive feeling Vinicius must have sensed when he first realized what had been wrought upon his carioca tragedy. It is not a pretty sight, what with all those drained and disappointed faces. But hey, there’s always next year, which is another way of saying that “happiness” will return to them — in some way, shape or form — se Deus quiser, or “God willing,” an everyday Brazilian expression; along with the other assorted rituals of one’s existence: births, deaths, anniversaries, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and what have you.
Life has a continuous ebb and flow — a beginning and an ending — and “sadness,” as our title implies, is just an orderly part of that flow. In that respect, the melancholy air, “A Felicidade,” could never have been able to bookend Black Orpheus and the much-later Orfeu, much less come to the fore, had it not been for the sublime music of bossa nova. What is more, bossa nova could never have achieved the worldwide fame and recognition it doubtless deserved without the fortuitous teaming of Jobim with Moraes, the irrepressible partnership that started it all.
Barack Obama, “Dreams From My Father”
In Barack Obama’s autobiographical Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, he specifically mentions Black Orpheus by name as “the most beautiful thing” his mother had ever seen. “The film, a groundbreaker of sorts due to its mostly black, Brazilian cast, had been made in the fifties. The story line was simple: the myth of the ill-fated Orpheus and Eurydice set in the favelas of Rio during Carnival. In Technicolor splendor, set against scenic green hills, the black and brown Brazilians sang and danced and strummed guitars like carefree birds in colorful plumage.
“About halfway through the movie,” he continued, at almost the exact spot that Vinicius had gotten up and left the screening, Obama decided that he had “seen enough, and turned to my mother to see if she might be ready to go. But her face, lit by the blue glow of the screen, was set in a wistful gaze. At that moment, I felt as if I were being given a window into her heart, the unreflective heart of her youth. I suddenly realized that the depiction of childlike blacks I was now seeing on the screen, the reverse image of Conrad’s dark savages, was what my mother had carried with her to Hawaii all those years before, a reflection of the simple fantasies that had been forbidden to a white middle-class girl from Kansas, the promise of another life: warm, sensual, exotic, different.”
Here’s one simple fantasy we might consider setting by the wayside: if there is anyone out there who winds up in the same, awkward position a temperamental Brazilian poet — or a future U.S. president — once found himself in, let him declare, here and now, he will not slip out of the movie theater… no matter what happens inside. ☼
* The role of Orfeu’s mother — in this version, called simply Conceição — was played by veteran actress Zezé Motta, who in her earliest days as an ingénue played the lead in director Diegues’ first big international screen success, the feature Xica da Silva from 1976.
‘Sadness Has No End’ (Part Ten): Requiem for Some Brazilian Heavyweights
July 3, 2013 April 12, 2014 1 Comment
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim in Rio
Aware of the transitory nature of fame in the artistic universe, “The Master” Tom Jobim gave a shout in his later years to the damage being done to the environment. “They want to destroy the thing they can’t create,” he warned, in Carlos Lacerda’s wide-ranging magazine exposé. But it wasn’t all gloom and doom from his part, not by a long shot.
“When a tree is cut down here on Earth,” Jobim pondered wistfully, “it will grow again somewhere else. When I die, it is to this place that I want to go, where trees live in peace.” Tom was thinking and acting “green” long before it became fashionable for celebrities in the spotlight to do so.
He expressed some of those same concerns to writer-lyricist Gene Lees, the person credited with the English-language versions of “Corcovado” (“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”), “Desafinado” (“Out of Tune”), “Chovendo na roseira” (“Double Rainbow”), and other Jobim favorites. “We are building a desert, my friend,” Tom told him. Lees never forgot that ecological message, which he repeated verbatim in his liner notes to Jazz Masters 13: Antonio Carlos Jobim, a no-frills edition of excerpts compiled by Verve Records and released in 1994, the year of the composer’s passing.
In 1995, Sony International issued Antonio Brasileiro, Jobim’s commercial swan song. It presented a “killer” lineup of greats, among them Ron Carter and Tião Neto on bass, Marcio Montarroyos on trumpet and flugelhorn, living legend Dorival Caymmi on guest vocals, and Sting, the original Mr. Greenpeace, joining the bashful Brazilian in a breathy rendition of “How Insensitive.” Norman Gimbel, who re-worked “The Girl from Ipanema” for the North American market, provided the idiomatic English text for that one as well.
The track also turned up on Antilles/Verve’s Red, Hot & Rio anthology from 1996. Sinatra he wasn’t, but the front-line rock star-cum-Amnesty International advocate, the Stinger, gave Ol’ Blue Eyes a respectable run for his Vegas buck; it was light years ahead of Frank’s deadly dull reading with Jobim (whose portion was taped in Rio by producer Phil Ramone) of the Bart Howard standard, “Fly Me to the Moon,” on Duets II from Capitol.
Maria Luiza Jobim & Dad (Ana Lontra / uol.com.br)
Tom’s youngest daughter, Maria Luiza Jobim, contributed her own (at the time) slim vocal line to the languidly-paced “Forever Green,” the moving lyrics of which say all that needed to be said about dad’s desire to rescue the planet from man’s self-destructive impulses:
Let there be flowers
Let there be spring
We have few hours
To save our dream
Let the bird sing
Let the forest be forever green
Little blue planet
In great need of care
Crystal clear streams
Lots of clean air
Let’s save the Earth
What a wonderful thing
Let it be forever green
Her famously subdued parent even dedicated a fitting ode to his little girl. He dubbed it “Samba de Maria Luiza.” Likewise, Vinicius, who himself had concocted over 400 songs in toto, was not above tossing a few melodic treats to kit and kin. During the period that he was living in France, and before clinching the deal with his future working partner Tom, the poet composed a lilting waltz tune, “Valsa de Susana,” for his progeny to remember him by.
He later considered placing it into the proposed Orfeu da Conceição project, especially after playing the song for an enthusiastic Jobim. Naturally, the name was changed to protect the innocent. And so it went: from a ravishingly simple melody to a full-fledged orchestral passage with solo-guitar accompaniment, the rechristened “Valsa de Eurídice” (the title by which it is known to this day) can be heard, on an old Odeon recording, as part of the Overture to the poet’s stage hit.
Most of the numbers on the ten-inch long-play were given to a single vocalist — Roberto Paiva, in fact; not what one would expect from an original-cast album, but good enough for the play’s purposes. Because of Orfeu’s obvious musical and lyrical inclinations, the songs were deliberately designed to emanate from his poetic lips only. (For the most part, both movie versions respected and/or maintained the tradition.)
The lone exception was the magical “Monólogo de Orfeu,” beautifully intoned by the Brazilian bard himself, with Luiz Bonfá soloing on acoustic guitar and Tom Jobim leading the studio orchestra. It is the sole, surviving sonic record — an ancient relic from a long-forgotten musical past — of that legendary Rio stage production.
Tom & Banda Nova (nicinefilo.blogspot.com)
As the eighties and nineties wore on, Tom was anything but worn out. He took up touring again and, for good measure, brought along his Banda Nova (“New Band”), a crack ensemble of veteran players mixed with current Jobim-Caymmi-Morelenbaum family members (as well as the young Maúcha Adnet), to such estimable locales as Brazil, Europe, and the United States. These concerts were particularly well received by a newer generation of listeners, many of who had grown up without samba and bossa nova to kick around but were willing to give the composer’s “romantically tinged” output a second spin.
It was in the summer of 1992 that Jobim finally settled his accounts with his fellow countryman (or maybe it was the other way around) by serving as the “theme” of a parade staged, in his honor, by the Mangueira Samba School of Rio.
We don’t want to belabor the point that everything under the carioca sun ends in Carnival. Rather, let’s look at it as a delayed reaction to all that “the most beautiful man in Brazil” had done for the land that once tried to tune his music out; only two years more, and he was gone from their midst.
Author Ruy Castro accurately pegged the national mood of the time as conciliatory toward Tom: “Brazil, sick and tired of so many mediocrities, saw in his work (and in him, as a man) a reflection of how it needed to have seen itself.”
Jobim’s classic number, “Se todos fossem iguais a você,” translated word-for-word as “If Everyone Were Like You,” helped push this sentiment along, with celebrants singing and playing the tune over and over again in the streets of his hometown. Posthumously adding Tom Jobim’s name to Marvelous City’s Galeão International Airport was another, far less musical means of addressing the issue. It may have been too little, but it was never too late.
In the end a mighty oak had been cut down on Earth, only to grow again somewhere else: Antonio Carlos Jobim found his eternal peace among the trees of Cemitério São João Batista (Cemetery of St. John the Baptist) in Rio de Janeiro, not far from the Botanical Garden of his youth, and near to the tomb of his good friend, Vinicius de Moraes. They were born fourteen years apart.
At his death, Jobim followed the path that Vinicius had earlier laid out for him by the same fourteen-year spread. Let it never be said of either artist that he who had come before — or after — wasn’t fit to tie the other’s bootstraps. (We could be wrong about this, but it’s believed they preferred slippers and loafers to boots.)
For the poet, all was forgiven at last via his posthumous reinstatement, in September 2006, to his former post with the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Those relations were never cordial to begin with, but whatever animosity once existed between him and the Brazilian State Department was cast aside in lieu of services rendered, reinforced by the 2004 publication of the Vinicius de Moraes Songbook – Orfeu, followed in 2007 by part two of his Songbook – Biography and Selected Works.
(End of Part Ten)
‘Sadness Has No End’ (Part Nine): The Once & Future Song King
June 2, 2013 April 12, 2014 Leave a comment
The Hits Keep on Coming
Tom Jobim (veradasdopensamento)
There are no existing records (at least, none that we are aware of) of Carnival taking over the lives of two of the most naturally gifted songwriting talents Brazil has ever had the good fortune to produce: composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes. Both hit the ground running with their very first collaboration, and hardly paused to draw breath thereafter.
With the conclusion in November 1956 of their Orfeu da Conceição, both took on further challenges by throwing themselves into new work, the result of which led to an enviable (and nearly unbroken) string of song hits. “Between the years 1958 and 1965,” by writer Ruy Castro’s reckoning, “Vinicius produced close to 50 titles with Tom [alone], 40 with Baden Powell, and 30 with Ary Barroso, Moacyr Santos and others,” to include such promising newcomers as Carlos Lyra, Edu Lobo, Francis Hime, and Toquinho.
Researcher Sérgio Ximenes put the total for Tom at “over 250 works, with 29 albums recorded under his own name,” and as a guest artist or participant in approximately 37 more.
Even more impressive, musicologist Jairo Severiano, in his Uma História da Música Popular Brasileira, records that, “In the period 1963-1994, Jobim composed a hundred some-odd pieces of music that, taking into account those he had completed earlier, reached 230 recorded compositions. Besides sambas, sambas-canções, and other characteristic constructions…there were songs dedicated to ecological themes, expressed in his usual good-natured style and tinged with a degree of romanticism.”
Severiano cites such supreme examples of his art as “Águas de março” (“The Waters of March”), “Chovendo na roseira” (“Double Rainbow”), “Matita perê” (“Song of the Thrush”), “Passarim,” Borzeguim,” “Chansong” — a play on chanson, the French word for “song” — “Anos dourados” (“Looks Like December”), “Sabià,” “Retrato em branco e preto” (“Portrait in Black and White”), and those pretty little ditties with ladies in their titles (“Ana Luiza,” “Bebel,” “Lígia,” and “Luiza”).
The more songs the tunesmith turned out, it would seem, the more accomplished he became at it. The only thing that Jobim had failed at evolving was an appropriately thick skin to go with his compositional flair, something not even his most frequent working partner Vinicius had bothered to grow over a lifetime of living large in the public eye.
According to the composer’s self-analysis, timidity is the word that best described his reticent comportment around others. But be not deceived: Tom was no pushover when it came to defending his artistic turf; neither did he find it necessary to berate the opposition in the same demonstrative mien The Little Poet loved to exhibit. Audacity, intuition, curiosity, duality, obstinacy, unconventionality, and universality were the other key attributes of Jobim’s personal makeup, and they undoubtedly showed.
Still lionized as “the most beautiful man in Brazil” (which he was), he had grown increasingly discomfited over reports in the national press of his becoming too Americanized — journalistic shorthand for “going native” — for his introduction of jazz and bebop elements into the corpus of his work. (Actually, jazz owed more to bossa nova than bossa nova owed to jazz, but that made little difference to the naysayers of his day.)
These were the same baseless accusations that had dogged the footsteps of the late Carmen Miranda in her prime, the kind that forced the popular entertainer to pull up stakes in her home country and go seek her fortune elsewhere (in the United States, to be exact). Now they were winding their insidious way into Jobim’s world as well. He was even accused at one point of adopting the American form of “Tom,” a nickname younger sister Helena had tagged him with as a boy, as proof of his outside aspirations.
Vinicius trying to make a point to Jobim
For a man whose middle name also happened to be Brasileiro (Portuguese for “Brazilian”), this was a savage blow indeed to his integrity and self-worth. Overcoming his own well-documented reserve, Jobim seriously contemplated putting out some sort of riposte while maintaining his vaunted coolness under fire, even in the face of mounting critical concerns.
His much-publicized 1970 interview with left-wing journalist and ex-politician Carlos Lacerda, for the Brazilian magazine Manchete (“the only serious piece that explains who I am,” Jobim announced to all), is a fair indication of how he conducted himself in hand-to-hand combat with the press. In it, Tom simply took on the same E daí? (“What of it?”) attitude the equally good natured Heitor Villa-Lobos once opted for when confronted with a similar situation in his past:
“I am Brazilian, and I write Brazilian music not because of nationalism, but because I don’t know how to do any other kind. If I were to do jazz, I’d be an idiot, since any black musician from their Lapa [the poor bohemian district of Rio] could play better than I.”
That’s telling them, Tom! Lacerda gave the composer free rein to air his pent-up feelings and frustrations to a nationwide audience. Before the dust had time to settle, though, the wily reporter and would-be shrink made the following annotations about them:
“It seems to me that [Jobim’s] worries were not about criticism of his music. His songs get better over time. His critics only get worse. He’s accused of being Americanized? Nonsense! The Americans speak of French influences. The French know, after Black Orpheus, that he’s very much Brazilian. The most Brazilian there is, since Heitor Vila-Lôbos [sic]. What he’s incapable of hiding is his musical education.”
In the decades that passed since this piece first saw the light, many a “black musician from their Lapa” would unhesitatingly step up to the stage and pay tribute to Tom’s “musical education.” In Antonio Carlos Jobim: Um Homem Illuminado (“An Enlightened Man”), an unusually intimate portrait of her dearly departed older sibling, novelist and poet Helena Jobim remembers what one of them, the reclusive pianist Thelonius Monk, had to say about Brazil’s lasting contribution to his particular style of music making: “Bossa nova gave to New York’s intellectual jazz community what it lacked, that is, rhythm, balance, and a Latin heat.”
Tom was quite beside himself to hear how Americans had taken to the harmonically advanced chord progressions he and Vinicius hammered out for their chart-busting single, “The Girl from Ipanema” from 1963,* thanks ever so much to saxophone great Stan Getz and the sensuous come-hither sounds (speaking of Latin heat) of Astrud Gilberto. Their recording came in at Number Five on the Billboard Top Pop of 1964, while reaching Number One on the Adult Contemporary scene. It was kept under wraps for a solid year before being released into a market dominated by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, and other formidable folk.
And the World Goes ‘Round
For now, there was no jumping off the bossa-nova bandwagon. On the contrary, Jobim was more anxious than ever to hold on for dear life and keep the mutual admiration society going. “More and more,” his little sister acknowledged, “Tom respected the U.S. as a country that received, with open arms and without prejudices, artists from all over. He felt himself a citizen of the world there,” and with good reason.
From 1963 until his death, in December 1994, of heart failure following surgery for bladder cancer — another uncanny reference to his hero, Villa-Lobos — Jobim divided his time between the American East and West Coasts, and the southeastern tip of Brazil. While in the States, he recorded many of his most fondly remembered works (including two classic sessions with Sinatra) for Warner-Reprise, as well as for the strictly jazz label Verve and the R & B-based A&M Records. His two pet projects, the albums Matita perê (1973) and Urubu (“Vulture,” 1976), were roundly rejected in Rio but eventually picked up here by MCA and Warner, in that order.
Toquinho, Miucha, Vinicius & Jobim
Having gone their own way since the middle of the 1960s onward — the motive behind the amicable split being Moraes’ need to share his poetic insights with other, lesser-known adherents — the once inseparable duo reunited as a quartet in September 1977 for a now-historic series of concerts. Backed by Toquinho, Vinicius’ then-current touring partner, and Chico Buarque’s sister, Miúcha (recently wed to the equally hermetic João Gilberto), the group played Rio’s Canecão nightclub for seven straight months, then took their show on the road to such places as São Paulo, London, and Paris.
Ruy Castro recounts, in his fact-filled tome Ela é Carioca: Uma Enciclopédia de Ipanema (“She’s a Carioca: An Encyclopedia of Ipanema”), one of the high points of their encounter: the nostalgic “Carta ao Tom,” followed immediately by its parody, “Carta do Tom” (“Letter from Tom”), in which the composer and his lyricist Chico bemoaned the loss of innocence once associated with Ipanema’s tranquil, middle-class neighborhood.
“Their music,” Castro informs us, “woke audiences up” to the shocking realization that “a marvelous world was about to pass on,” to be replaced by “another, more somber and alarming one.” He concluded his musings with a painful reminder of what was to come: “At the end of 1978, when the show finally closed due to the members’ complete exhaustion, no one could imagine that Vinicius had less than two years to live.”
(End of Part Nine)
* From F-sharp major at the words “Oh, but I watch her so sadly” and on “How can I tell her I love her?” to G minor at “Yes, I would give my heart gladly,” back down to A major with “But each day when she walks to the sea,” ending on D major, then G major for “She looks straight ahead,” and finally returning to F-sharp major on “not at me,” in Norman Gimbel’s sultry English-language verses.
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Women’s Leadership Accelerator 2016
Yvonne Leow
President • Asian American Journalists Association • San Francisco, CA
Last edited June 8, 2017
@yvonneleow
As the senior Snapchat editor at Vox.com, Yvonne and her team has published dozens of stories, ranging from climate change, ISIS to Star Wars, on Snapchat’s Discover channel. Previously, she was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University where she researched how to deliver news through mobile messaging platforms. Before Yvonne returned to the west coast, she was the director of video at Digital First Media’s Project Thunderdome, and a senior associate at North Base Media, a venture capital firm that invests in digital media startups in emerging markets. She was also the west regional video producer the Associated Press and a video journalist at the Seattle Times.
She is currently the national vice president of the Asian American Journalists Association, and has led workshops at Knight-Mozilla’s SRCCON, NPPA’s Multimedia Immersion Workshop, Chicas Poderosas and the Association of Alternative News Media. She is a proud graduate of UCLA, and lives in San Francisco.
The Power of Money in American Politics
After experimenting with the multi-snap format, my colleagues and I produced a Snapchat explainer about money and American politics. I drafted the script and Matt Moore, our motion graphic designer, designed the edition. We worked with senior editors, like Allison Rockey, Ezra Klein and Melissa Bell, to develop an edition we were all proud of. Since then, we’ve produced more than 100 daily editions (and counting). And it’s been especially exciting to see other companies adopt the multi-snap format on Snapchat Discover.
Dhiya Kuriakose
Delaney Chambers
Carolina Guerrero
Amy Elliott Bragg
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Phil Simms: ‘I Wouldn’t Want To Play The Chargers In The Playoffs’
Filed Under:AFC West, Denver Broncos, DJ Sixsmith, Inside The NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Phil Simms, Showtime Sports
By DJ Sixsmith
Last year, the AFC West was one of the best divisions in all of football. This year, it’s a much different story. The Denver Broncos have lost six in a row, the Oakland Raiders are two games under .500 and Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs are 4-5 since their red-hot 5-0 start. Good news for the Chiefs is that they don’t play a team with a winning record the rest of the season. However, Kansas City does have to face a Chargers team in Week 15 that just put up 54 points against the Buffalo Bills. LA is heating up at the right time, with four wins in their last six games.
There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to the AFC West. CBS Local Sports caught up with Inside The NFL analyst and Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms to discuss who will win the division, why the Chargers are the most dangerous team in the division and how things got so bad in Denver.
Simms, along with Boomer Esiason, Ray Lewis and James Brown break down this and other NFL storylines all season long each Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime’s Inside The NFL.
CBS Local Sports: Who will win the AFC West?
Phil Simms: There is a two-game lead for Kansas City, so you have to think Kansas City has the best chance. They still have Andy Reid as there coach, and Alex Smith is a smart quarterback. He has 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. Those are incredible numbers, and I don’t care what you are doing as a quarterback. Nobody is good enough in the division to just go on a run or win out. I don’t think that can happen. I think it will be the Kansas City Chiefs.
CBS Local Sports: How much trust do you have in the Los Angeles Chargers going forward?
Phil Simms: I like the Chargers. First off, they’re fun to watch, they’re as dynamic as any team you will see in the NFL. Philip Rivers has only been sacked 12 times this year and knows how to get rid of the football. He has a very good receiving core, and they have Melvin Gordon. On the other side, they have two excellent safeties, Casey Hayward at cornerback. And the two most important guys are Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who are terrors. The Chargers are dangerous no matter who they play, and if they get in the playoffs, I wouldn’t want to play them.
CBS Local Sports: Who’s in bigger trouble right now, the Denver Broncos or the Oakland Raiders?
Phil Simms: That’s a good question. I kind of look at them almost the same. I probably would give Oakland an edge over the Denver Broncos in how they’re doing, just because of Derek Carr, the receiving core and the fact they past protect extremely well. The offensive line is a unit you can really count on. Denver had an outstanding defense, but its kind of fallen apart a little bit, and some of that has to do with the fact that their offense has not been performing well.
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Income-generation activities Home visits ↑ health knowledge, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty ↑ nutrition and knowledge, ↓ anemia, ↓/NC night blindness, ↑ intake of vitamin A–rich foods, ↑/NC intake of vegetables, ↑ intake of ASF, ↓ underweight, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty ↑ health knowledge, ↑ health care utilization, ↓ poverty
Actually, more people suffer from food intolerances, which don't involve the immune system. However, food intolerance symptoms—such as intestinal distress—may mimic those of a food allergy. If you have a food intolerance, talk to a nutritionist about diagnosis and treatment; if you have food allergies, you need to see an allergist. Whether you have food allergies or intolerance, you will need to develop a diet that fits your needs and avoids foods that trigger a reaction.
Amongst non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to end child marriage are Girls not Brides,[106] Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)[107] and Human Rights Watch (HRW).[108] Although not explicitly included in the original Millennium Development Goals, considerable pressure was applied to include ending child marriage in the successor Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015,[105] where ending this practice by 2030 is a target of SDG 5 Gender Equality (see above).[109] While some progress is being made in reducing child marriage, particularly for girls under fifteen, the prospects are daunting.[110] The indicator for this will be the percentage of women aged 20–24 who were married or in a union before the age of eighteen. Efforts to end child marriage include legislation and ensuring enforcement together with empowering women and girls.[92][93][95][94] To raise awareness, the inaugural UN International Day of the Girl Child[a] in 2012 was dedicated to ending child marriage.[112]
What's a man to do? Fortunately, he does not have to choose between his bones and his prostate. The solution is moderation. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, for example, found no link between a moderate consumption of calcium (about 800 mg a day, two-thirds of the RDA) and prostate cancer. In addition, a randomized clinical trial of calcium supplements of 1,200 mg a day found no effect on the prostate, but only 327 men were in the calcium group, and the supplementation lasted just four years. Finally, the Harvard scientists speculate that a high consumption of vitamin D may offset the possible risks of calcium, so a daily multivitamin may also help.
Shape’s mantra seems a far cry from the health and fitness publications of old. It also significantly strays a bit from the current Men’s Health magazine, which still happily screams at you to get off your ass, already. The Jan/Feb top headline: “Get Back In Shape!”, which sounds like an angry command more than a helpful title to a magazine article. The tagline to Men’s Health is “tons of useful stuff,” which all seem to incorporate words like “hot,” “beast,” and “crush.” Inside, the “useful stuff” ranges from the difference between beef stock and beef broth to how to dump someone before Valentine’s Day. And reps. Lots of reps. These guys love reps.
It's even more important for older people to stay hydrated. Age can bring a decreased sensitivity to thirst. Moreover, it's sometime harder for those who are feeble to get up and get something to drink. Or sometimes a problem with incontinence creates a hesitancy to drink enough. Those who are aging should make drinking water throughout the day a priority.
Our review found that protein-energy supplementation was largely targeted to pregnant and lactating women (19, 86–88, 90, 91); however, there were some studies that evaluated the delivery of protein-energy supplementation to households (92, 93) and adolescents (46). The only studies we found that evaluated the impact of protein-energy supplementation in older, healthy women were hospital-based studies in high-income countries (96). Delivery platforms varied depending on the target audience. The majority of studies targeted pregnant women through antenatal care or through antenatal care–associated community-based programs. National programs targeting low-income families had broader reach, although they targeted households and not women specifically (92). Additional research is needed for how women might best be reached (94). For programs that provided provisions for women to take home, there was also limited information about how much was shared with other members of the household. School-based programs targeting adolescents could be an important venue to target interventions to adolescents in the future. However, children and adolescents not in school would be missed. Despite limited evidence of impacts of energy and protein supplementation on the health of women, supplementation might be an important complement to other interventions (e.g., nutrition education and counseling) to ensure that women have the resources needed to implement other interventions successfully. Indeed, many large-scale programs for protein-energy supplementation are often complemented with nutrition education and counseling (33).
Home visits ↓ anemia, ↑ Hgb, ↑ food consumption, ↑ weight gain (underweight adolescents), NC mortality, ↓ fatigue ↓ anemia, ↑ serum folate, ↑ serum B-12, NC mortality, NC depression ↓ anemia, ↑ MN status (Hgb, ferritin, folate, B-12, zinc, riboflavin), ↑/NC serum retinol, ↓/NC night blindness, ↑ weight gain, NC maternal mortality, NC depression
Cervical cancer is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), which has also been implicated in cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and oropharynx. Almost 300 million women worldwide have been infected with HPV, one of the commoner sexually transmitted infections, and 5% of the 13 million new cases of cancer in the world have been attributed to HPV.[124][75] In developed countries, screening for cervical cancer using the Pap test has identified pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, at least in those women with access to health care. Also an HPV vaccine programme is available in 45 countries. Screening and prevention programmes have limited availability in developing countries although inexpensive low technology programmes are being developed,[125] but access to treatment is also limited.[123] If applied globally, HPV vaccination at 70% coverage could save the lives of 4 million women from cervical cancer, since most cases occur in developing countries.[6]
Iron: Essential for healthy blood cells, iron becomes especially important when girls begin to menstruate. With each period, a woman loses small amounts of iron. “About 10% of American women are iron deficient,” says Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, PhD, a professor of nutrition at the University of Maine and co-editor of Nutritional Concerns of Women (CRC Press, 2003). “About 5% have iron deficiency anemia.” Symptoms of low iron include fatigue, impaired immunity, and poor performance at school or work.
Women and men have approximately equal risk of dying from cancer, which accounts for about a quarter of all deaths, and is the second leading cause of death. However the relative incidence of different cancers varies between women and men. In the United States the three commonest types of cancer of women in 2012 were lung, breast and colorectal cancers. In addition other important cancers in women, in order of importance, are ovarian, uterine (including endometrial and cervical cancers (Gronowski and Schindler, Table III).[6][120] Similar figures were reported in 2016.[121] While cancer death rates rose rapidly during the twentieth century, the increase was less and later in women due to differences in smoking rates. More recently cancer death rates have started to decline as the use of tobacco becomes less common. Between 1991 and 2012, the death rate in women declined by 19% (less than in men). In the early twentieth century death from uterine (uterine body and cervix) cancers was the leading cause of cancer death in women, who had a higher cancer mortality than men. From the 1930s onwards, uterine cancer deaths declined, primarily due to lower death rates from cervical cancer following the availability of the Papanicolaou (Pap) screening test. This resulted in an overall reduction of cancer deaths in women between the 1940s and 1970s, when rising rates of lung cancer led to an overall increase. By the 1950s the decline in uterine cancer left breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death till it was overtaken by lung cancer in the 1980s. All three cancers (lung, breast, uterus) are now declining in cancer death rates (Siegel et al. Figure 8),[121] but more women die from lung cancer every year than from breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined. Overall about 20% of people found to have lung cancer are never smokers, yet amongst nonsmoking women the risk of developing lung cancer is three times greater than amongst men who never smoked.[119]
Women who are socially marginalized are more likely to die at younger ages than women who are not.[21] Women who have substance abuse disorders, who are homeless, who are sex workers, and/or who are imprisoned have significantly shorter lives than other women.[21] At any given age, women in these overlapping, stigmatized groups are approximately 10 to 13 times more likely to die than typical women of the same age.[21]
For girls and adult women, educational interventions are considered a powerful means of improving their health and nutritional status throughout their lives. Education level is often associated with maternal caregiving practices and the nutritional outcomes of their children (174, 175). Few studies, however, evaluated the impact of education as an intervention on women's nutrition outcomes. Instead, many studies used survey data and reported on associations between education and nutrition. For instance, in low- and middle-income countries, higher levels of education were associated with lower prevalence of underweight and higher prevalence of overweight among women (176, 177). However, this depended on the type of employment in which women participated (178, 179). In addition, in many high-income settings, the converse was true (177). Level of literacy was also associated with improved anthropometric measures. In southern Ethiopia, literate mothers were 25% less likely to be undernourished than were illiterate women (180). One econometric analysis suggested that doubling primary school attendance in settings with low school attendance was associated with a 20–25% decrease in food insecurity (181). Overall, though, these associations were limited in their ability to draw conclusions about causality and the effect of education interventions on nutrition outcomes.
Trying to balance the demands of family and work or school—and coping with media pressure to look and eat a certain way—can make it difficult for any woman to maintain a healthy diet. But the right food can not only support your mood, boost your energy, and help you maintain a healthy weight, it can also be a huge support through the different stages in a woman’s life. Healthy food can help reduce PMS, boost fertility, make pregnancy and nursing easier, ease symptoms of menopause, and keep your bones strong. Whatever your age or situation, committing to a healthy, nutritious diet will help you look and feel your best and get the most out of life.
Before you start a juice cleanse diet, know that drastically restricting your caloric intake to drop pounds may backfire: In a 2010 study, women placed on a 1,200-calorie diet for three weeks had elevated levels of cortisol, our primary stress hormone. [Tweet this fact!] Chronic stress has been associated with an increased risk of weight gain as well as coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and impaired immune functioning.
Child marriage (including union or cohabitation)[91] is defined as marriage under the age of eighteen and is an ancient custom. In 2010 it was estimated that 67 million women, then, in their twenties had been married before they turned eighteen, and that 150 million would be in the next decade, equivalent to 15 million per year. This number had increased to 70 million by 2012. In developing countries one third of girls are married under age, and 1:9 before 15.[92] The practice is commonest in South Asia (48% of women), Africa (42%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (29%). The highest prevalence is in Western and Sub-Saharan Africa. The percentage of girls married before the age of eighteen is as high as 75% in countries such as Niger (Nour, Table I).[11][92] Most child marriage involves girls. For instance in Mali the ratio of girls to boys is 72:1, while in countries such as the United States the ratio is 8:1. Marriage may occur as early as birth, with the girl being sent to her husbands home as early as age seven.[11]
Before and during pregnancy. You need more of certain nutrients than usual to support your health and your baby’s development. These nutrients include protein, calcium, iron, and folic acid. Many doctors recommend prenatal vitamins or a folic acid supplement during this time. Many health insurance plans also cover folic acid supplements prescribed by your doctor during pregnancy. You also need to avoid some foods, such as certain kinds of fish. Learn more about healthy eating during pregnancy in our Pregnancy section.
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Syria: Heaviest flooding in decade worsens humanitarian crisis in Al Hasakeh region
Photo: SARC
Damascus/Beirut/Geneva, 17 April 2019 – Heavy rains have caused the worst flooding in a decade across Syria’s Al Hasakeh region, where 118,000 people are facing near complete destruction of their homes and livelihoods.
The majority of the affected population are internally displaced people who have fled conflict in Northern Syria and are receiving humanitarian assistance from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the only organization that has access to this part of the country.
Several camps for internally displaced people have been heavily affected across the region, including some 40,000 people in Al Hol camp and approximately 86 million square metres of land have been submerged in flood waters, destroying crops and livestock.
Paula Fitzgerald, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Country office in Syria, said:
“The flooding is unlike anything this region has seen in years and is occurring on top of what is already a humanitarian crisis. The affected population has recently fled conflict and lost everything. These floods push people beyond their ability to cope.”
More than 120 Red Crescent volunteers are involved in providing emergency relief and health services to people in need.
The IFRC has launched an international emergency appeal seeking 3.5 million Swiss francs to expand Syrian Arab Red Crescent support to an additional 45,000 people (9,000 families) with the provision of basic household relief items, food parcels (ready to eat and food for cooking), water, sanitation and hygiene and health services over the next six months.
“The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is providing critical support to these very vulnerable communities whose needs have doubled as a result of this disaster,” said Ms Fitzgerald. “The IFRC and all International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners are working together to address these needs against a backdrop of incredible complexity. A swift response is essential to let these people know that they are not alone.”
In Beirut: Rana Sidani Cassou, + 961 71 802 779, +989396280477, rana.cassou@ifrc.org
In Geneva: Laura Ngô-Fontaine, +41 79 570 44 18, laura.ngofontaine@ifrc.org
IFRC, Middle East and North Africa, Syrian Arab Red Crescent
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Home Past Resurfaced Propaganda Film Shows Japanese-American Families Who Were Forced To Evacuate And...
Resurfaced Propaganda Film Shows Japanese-American Families Who Were Forced To Evacuate And Relocate During WW2
By Liana Jacob
A PROPAGANDA film showing the lifestyle of Japanese-Americans who forced to relocate during the Second World War shows both the smiling faces of evacuees and the hardships they had to endure.
The incredible footage reveals the moment a family-of-three walk into their humble temporary accommodation with just a bed and a window in sight, after being relocated from their homes.
The scenes show how the forced evacuees worked make their accommodation feel like home by sawing, putting up curtains, and building toys to entertain their children. Further shots include a mother reading her son a book.
Although they had their world turned upside down, many scenes taken by the US government documentary team, depict happy faces despite the challenges they were faced with.
The video was released in 1944 by the US War Relocation Authority. Over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were displaced during World War II from 1942 to 1946, seven months after the war with Japan had finished.
“More than a hundred-thousand men, women and children of all Japanese ancestries were removed from their homes in the pacific coast to wartime communities established in out-of-the-way-places,” the narrator said.
“Their evacuation does not imply individual disloyalty but was ordered to reduce a military hazard at a time when danger of invasions was great.”
Between 110,000 and 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of them lived on the Pacific coast, were relocated to camps in the western interior of the country.
The relocation lasted between February 1942 and March 1946. Many of them lost irreplaceable personal property because of restrictions that prevented them from taking more than they were allowed into the camps.
“Two-thirds of the evacuees are American citizens by right of birth, the rest are their Japanese-born parents and grandparents,” the narrator said.
“The people are not under suspicion; they are not prisoners, they are not internees, they are mainly dislocated people, the unwounded casualties of war.
“The time? Spring and summer of 1942. The place? Ten different relocation centres in unsettled parts of California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas.”
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Pimp My Bus! The American Couple who have Turned 24-Foot School...
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Tag: orgasm
haiku, history, humor, photography, science
Moving the Earth
Posted on 2015-09-29 2018-08-20 by Mellow Curmudgeon
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
Sometimes the Earth moves, quite apart from the constant motion in orbit around the Sun. No, I am not using hyperbole to describe a big, screaming orgasm. I am considering an even rarer event. Sometimes a really big idea challenges and ultimately transforms deeply held beliefs about the fundamental nature of human life. Centuries ago, the idea that the Earth does indeed move around the Sun was such an idea. Oh shit, we may not be at the center of the universe! Astronomical humble pie from Copernicus has been pretty well digested; some people still cannot swallow humble pie that was pulled from the oven in 1858.
Already know what happened in 1858? Please don’t leave. I will keep it brief, keep it light, and put my own eccentric spin on the story. (Honestly now, when was the last time U saw the phrase “big, screaming orgasm” in the 2nd sentence of a note on the history of science?) Sources are thanked at the end of this post.
Back in 1858, there were no search boxes. No Google. No Wikipedia. No e-mail! Anything called a “manuscript” really was a collection of sheets of paper on which letters and symbols had been written by hand. Want to show it to somebody U cannot visit? Put it in the mail and hope it eventually arrives intact. Want to have a backup copy in case it gets lost or damaged? Write it out all over again before mailing. No scanners. No soft copy. Yuck.
I am old enough to have lived and worked in a hard copy world, albeit with gadgets like electric typewriters that made it less painful than in 1858. Collaborating with somebody several time zones away was agony in my early days and impossible in 1858. In some important ways, doing science in my early days was more like it was in 1858 than it is now. So I can imagine how Charles Darwin felt when he read the mail on 1858-06-18.
Correctly anticipating that his concept of evolution by natural selection would ignite a firestorm of controversy when published, Darwin had spent some of his time over the previous 20 years thinking about possible objections or misunderstandings, devising ways to answer or avoid them, and organizing a mountain of evidence. Already an A-list biologist, Darwin was in no hurry and wanted to dot more i-s and cross more t-s before the firestorm. Naturally, he wanted to wait a while before publishing his big idea.
The letter and manuscript that Darwin received on 1858-06-18 came from Alfred Wallace, a younger colleague then roughing it somewhere in one of the places that would now be called Indonesia or Malaysia or New Guinea. Wallace sought advice about how to publish a new idea: evolution by natural selection. Tho Wallace did not have a mountain of evidence, his pile was plenty high enough to justify publication.
Wallace earned his living by collecting natural history specimens for sale and was being hassled for the amount of time he devoted to nerdy “theorizing” when he should be killing things. Naturally, he wanted to publish his big idea soon. Naturally, he sought the opinion of a senior colleague with whom he had already exchanged a few letters on smaller matters. He did not know (and could not know for months) that he had independently come up with the same big idea that Darwin had been quietly refining and supporting for years.
How could the differing priorities of Darwin and Wallace be reconciled? How could Darwin respond to Wallace in a way that was fair to both of them and feasible in 1858? No e-mail. No conference calls. Darwin consulted a few friends. More than a century before the exhortation to
Let it all hang out!
enjoyed a vogue, they decided to do exactly that. Those who attended the meeting of the Linnean Society of London on 1858-07-01 were treated to an explanation of the unusual situation, a reading of a summary of Darwin’s work, and a reading of Wallace’s paper. Wallace was still in the boondocks and did not even know that his work (presented for him in his absence by one of Darwin’s friends) was sharing the spotlight on equal terms with Darwin’s.
Wallace did eventually return to England, make further contributions to biology, and enjoy a long friendship with Darwin. Yes, they disagreed on some points. Yes, creationists took such disagreements at the frontiers as an excuse to claim that the whole enterprise was “just a theory” with no greater plausibility than an extremely literal reading of Genesis as translated from a translation of the original ancient Hebrew. But the Earth had begun to move again. Oh shit, we may not be descendants of a pair of idle nudists who took advice from a snake!
Archimedes in 1858
|Darwin and Wallace
|found a lever long enough
|and a place to stand.
Greater Bird of Paradise
The brief biography of Wallace by Andrew Berry in the September 2015 issue of Natural History is very readable and provides some details I had not known. No access to that issue of the magazine? Pasting a few phrases into search boxes will compensate nowadays. I have zoomed in on June/July of 1858 to elaborate on collaboration technologies (then and now), Darwin’s fairness predicament, and why I applaud the way he resolved it.
Tim Laman’s many bird of paradise photos are featured in the September 2015 issue of Natural History. The photos that appear here have been cropped to fit well on this page. The originals (and many other splendid photos) can be seen on Tim Laman’s website. Prints can be bought.
The concluding zinger about Adam and Eve is believed to be original; it is inspired by the edgy absurdist humor in Eric Wong’s blog.
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Scientists Built a LEGO 'Electrospinner' to Improve the Texture of Lab-Grown Meat
BY Emily Petsko
iStock.com/Ekaterina79
A group of food scientists who are working to create lab-grown meat have found inspiration in an unlikely source: LEGOs. According to Food & Wine, researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Alabama used LEGO components to create a device capable of improving the texture of the meat they were cultivating. Their findings were recently published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids.
Any protein that comes from “stem or stem-like animal cells” that are cultured in a lab can be considered lab-grown meat, according to Penn State. While lab-grown meat can be labeled a meat substitute because it requires far fewer animals for its production, it remains to be seen whether vegans and vegetarians will be willing to eat it.
Lab-grown meat is still very much in the development stages, and scientists are working on ways to improve the texture. Because cultured muscle cells don’t have any particular structure when they grow, the meat generally comes out resembling ground beef. That’s fine if you’re hoping to make more humane tacos, but it presents a challenge when trying to create, say, a lab-grown steak.
This is where the toy bricks came in. Researchers used LEGO Power Functions to create an electrospinning device that was capable of turning starch fibers into a structured meat “scaffold.” The plastic pieces were ideal because they weren’t conductive, which was crucial because the researchers were working with water and ethanol.
How Lego Helped Improve the Texture Lab-Grown Meat https://t.co/FVn1QMefbM researchers built an electro spinning device using lego to coax cells into growing into a scaffold for lab grown meat https://t.co/R5zlBhNfTo pic.twitter.com/CZcMeJ7rTc
— Stephanie (@stephaniekays) March 25, 2019
Unlike scaffolds that produce plastic fibers for biomedical purposes, the LEGO device was capable of spinning corn-derived fibers. In other words, what's going into the meat is entirely edible. “The idea is we could make a nice, edible, clean scaffold for our clean meat,” Gregory Ziegler, a Penn State professor and director of graduate studies at the university's Department of Food Science, told Food & Wine.
Scientists are now looking for ways to improve their equipment in order to churn out larger amounts of starch scaffolds.
[h/t Food & Wine]
environment Food food science LEGO News science
Pioneering Heart Surgeon René Favaloro Is Being Honored With a Google Doodle
Dr. René Favaloro (left) pictured with colleague Dr. Mason Sones.
The Cleveland Clinic Center for Medical Art & Photography, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 4.0
Argentinian heart surgeon René Favaloro is the subject of today’s Google Doodle, which features a sketched portrait of the doctor along with an anatomical heart and several medical tools, The Independent reports.
The renowned doctor was born on this day in 1923 in La Plata, the capital of Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, and pursued a degree in medicine at La Plata University. After 12 years as a doctor in La Pampa, where he established the area’s first mobile blood bank, trained nurses, and built his own operating room, Favaloro relocated to the U.S. to specialize in thoracic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
"We is more important than I" —Dr. René Favaloro
Today's #GoogleDoodle celebrates the humble Argentinian surgeon who introduced coronary artery bypass surgery into clinical practice, a procedure that has saved countless lives since. → https://t.co/GmDpaS91cZ pic.twitter.com/6PTR1Wr4nR
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) July 12, 2019
In 1967, Favaloro performed coronary bypass surgery on a 51-year-old woman whose right coronary artery was blocked, restricting blood flow to her heart. Coronary bypass surgery involves taking a healthy vein from elsewhere in the body (in this case, Favaloro borrowed from the patient’s leg, but you can also use a vein from the arm or chest), and using it to channel the blood from the artery to the heart, bypassing the blockage. According to the Mayo Clinic, it doesn’t cure whatever heart disease that caused the blocked artery, but it can relieve symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath, and it gives patients time to make other lifestyle changes to further manage their disease.
Favaloro wasn’t keen on being called the “father” of coronary bypass surgery, but his work brought the procedure to the forefront of the clinical field. He moved back to Argentina in 1971 and launched the Favaloro Foundation to train surgeons and treat a variety of patients from diverse economic backgrounds.
Favaloro died by suicide on July 29, 2000, at the age of 77, by a gunshot wound to the chest. His wife had died several years prior, and his foundation had fallen deeply into debt, which Argentinian hospitals and medical centers declined to help pay, The New York Times reported at the time.
“As a surgeon, Dr. Favaloro will be remembered for his ingenuity and imagination,” his colleague Dr. Denton A. Cooley wrote in a tribute shortly after Favaloro’s death. “But as a man ... he will be remembered for his compassion and selflessness.” Today would have been his 96th birthday.
[h/t The Independent]
Google Doodle Health Medicine News science
Forget Lab-Grown Meat—You Can Now Buy Lab-Grown Ice Cream
Deagreez/iStock via Getty Images
Even though “dairy-free” doesn’t necessarily mean “healthier,” it’s still a necessary disclaimer for dairy-free people who are screaming for ice cream. And between veganism, lactose intolerance, and other dietary dairy restrictions, the race is on to create an ice cream for the masses that doesn’t taste like chalk, chemicals, or sadness.
Bay Area startup Perfect Day may have just pulled ahead of the competition. Today, Fast Company reports, it released three flavors of dairy-free ice cream—Vanilla Salted Fudge, Milky Chocolate, and Vanilla Blackberry Toffee—that contain the same proteins found in cow dairy, but grown in a lab from engineered yeast and DNA. Since those proteins contribute greatly to the rich texture and taste of ice cream that we love so much, Perfect Day’s products are supposedly indistinguishable from the real thing.
A post shared by Perfect Day (@perfectdayfoods) on Jul 11, 2019 at 6:16am PDT
The co-founders, vegan bioengineers Ryan Pandya and Perumal Gandhi, got the idea from their experience in medicine, where fermentation is used to grow things in a lab all the time. “The two of us started scratching our heads and wondering, what if we just apply that same exact technology that’s been around for half a century to make the world’s most in-demand, highest-quality protein?” Pandya explained to Fast Company.
Their lactose-, dairy-, and gluten-free vegan ice cream, which they’ve been working on for five years, includes the dairy proteins casein and whey, as well as plant-based fats and sugar. If you're dairy-free because of a casein or whey allergy or sensitivity, you should treat this ice cream like you would any other foods containing dairy, and heed the "Contains milk protein" disclaimer on Perfect Day products.
Lab-grown dairy has environmental benefits too, considering that cows and other livestock are major culprits of greenhouse gas emissions. Pandya and Gandhi hope to sell their proteins to large-scale food manufacturers, and have teamed up with Archer Daniels Midland, an Illinois-based food processing company, to increase production.
Though it seems like a scoop or two of this ice cream might be the recipe for a perfect day, that wasn’t the inspiration behind the company’s name—the founders stumbled upon a study in which scientists discovered that cows produced more milk when listening to music, and one of the most successful songs was Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.” “As a company on a mission to make cows, people, and the planet happier, it seemed like a perfect fit,” the website says.
Can’t wait to taste the magic? You can purchase all three flavors in a three-pint bundle for $60 here.
[h/t Fast Company]
Food ice cream News science
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Remember That Night – Gilmour & Bowie, 29th May 2006
It was ten years go today…
I work for the Orion Publishing Group and had really enjoyed Guy Pratt’s My Bass And Other Animals one man show and after seeing one of his shows in London I plucked up the courage to ask him if he had ever considered getting his stories published as a book. In fact, he had written a draft of the book and was looking for a publisher, so I introduced him to one of our editors Ian Preece and the rest is publishing history.
To promote the book we invited staff from Ottakar’s (the now much-missed UK book store chain) to come to Guy’s show at the Salisbury festival, which just happened to be the night before one of the best David Gilmour gigs ever. Here’s an extract from my diary, featuring Guy, Ian, my nephew Chris (who was 14 at the time, and in a band), my dad and his friend Kevin… and a new friend from Brazil…
Took Chris down to Salisbury to see Guy Pratt’s ‘My Bass And Other Animals’ show. Couldn’t find the venue at first. We walked in circles along Endless Street (oh, the irony) in Salisbury looking for the Arts Centre only to find a very sorry-looking dilapidated building. We asked some guys playing basketball nearby if they knew where the Arts Centre was and they pointed us in the direction of the church, without pointing out that it actually was the church.
Chris and I were wandering about, looking very lost when, by random luck, a door opened and Guy stepped out.
‘It’s Guy!’ I said, and for a second he gave me one of those Christ-should-I-know-you? looks (I had only met him a couple of times at this point).
Indeed, the Arts Centre is a deconsecrated church and what a fantastic little venue it is. Guy led Chris and I through the backstage area as he told us about his gigs with David Gilmour in Manchester and Glasgow (which was just the night before).
We met with the Ottakar’s guests (including Duran Duran devotee Jon Howells) and the show started. We elected to stay seated at a raised area at the back, and behind us was a massive stained-glass window with an image of Christ on the cross, which Guy said was putting him off a bit.
Guy’s show was superb (this would be the third time I’ve seen it). He had new material from the recent tour — mostly about insane American fans — and, despite coming straight from the Glasgow gig, was full of energy. He also gave a lot of time to the Ottakar’s people after the show (even though Jon was clearly hurt by the Duran Duran only have one bass riff gag) and he dropped lots of hints about tomorrow’s gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Amazingly, he’s definitely got us two passes for backstage. I cheekily pushed for more and Guy very kindly explained that he would see what he could do, while pointing out that it’s not very exciting and you’re just shoved into a little bar with all the other liggers.
He saved the best till last, though… he let slip that Roger Waters and Nick Mason were at the same rehearsal studios as Gilmour’s band last week. He then added that something very special was lined-up for Monday night’s gig, he wouldn’t tell us what, but I can’t bloody wait!
Tuesday 30th May (my diary entry written the day after the gig).
I’m surprised Claire (my wife) didn’t thump me yesterday as I spent most of it in a distant daze. We had family and friends over for a barbecue (it pissed down, of course), but all I could think of was the Gilmour gig and I couldn’t wait to get out of the house.
Chris and I eventually ran off at about 5.30 and we picked up dad and his friend Kevin and set off the Royal Albert Hall. The doors opened late and the crowds were heaving. Luckily it had stopped raining and we found Ian Preece (the editor of Guy’s book) by the band’s blue catering bus by door nine. We found the guest list and got our passes. There were three of them: big red stickers that you had to slap onto your shirt. I broke the bad news to dad and Kevin that we didn’t have enough for them. Kevin was fine about it, though dad threatened to write me out go his will if I couldn’t get him a backstage pass.
Dad and Kevin were sitting in the next block, so we split up and Chris and I took our seats.
The gig… Well, bloody hell…
History will record that, despite all the rumours, Waters and Mason didn’t turn up. After a brilliant start with Breathe/Time/Breathe (reprise), Gilmour forgot some of the words to ‘On An Island’ and seemed initially hesitant with his playing and hit a few bum notes. But, once he warmed-up, the evening became something very special.
David Crosby and Graham Nash popped-up throughout providing backing vocals, Robert Wyatt played trumpet on ‘Then I Closed My Eyes’ and the main show concluded with a version of ‘Echoes’ that completely blew my mind… and all through this I was wondering what the big surprise could be.
Then, for the encore, David grabbed his Telecaster and said, ‘Now I’d like to invite onto the stage… Mr. David Bowie.’
The Albert Hall erupted as five thousand people jumped to their feet all crying ‘David-fucking-Bowie?!’ all at once.
Bowie then sang an absolutely stonking version of ‘Arnold Layne’ that had everyone in a frenzy and if that wasn’t enough he followed it by singing the verses to ‘Comfortably Numb’ followed by one of the best renditions of the solo I’ve ever heard Gilmour do…
… it was around this time that my head exploded.
Still stunned we came reeling out of the hall to find dad and Kevin. Dad took my car keys — they were gamely going to sit in the car while we checked out the post-show party — and we went to find Ian.
We found him by door one, a member of staff told us to go back to door nine, which we did, but when we couldn’t find anyone there we were directed to door twelve, then eleven. While hanging around we were approached by a very attractive young woman with what I thought was a Spanish accent. She pointed at our red backstage stickers and wondered where we got them, ‘We know Guy,’ I said.
‘You know a guy?’ she asked with a frown.
I showed her Guy’s picture in the program and she understood, and wondered if we had any more. I explained that I had already left my father and a friend shivering in a car because we could only get three, but she decided to tag along anyway and in an exceptional piece of blagging she shuffled through security flanked by us badge-wearers. We were so impressed we bought her a drink. Her name was Paula and she was from Brazil and she’d been travelling across Europe when she heard about Gilmour’s tour and managed to get a ticket just the day before. She was a huge fan and we talked about the best songs of the evening. Guy arrived to say hello and I congratulated him on the show. He was really happy with it and felt we had seen the best version of Comfortably Numb ever. Phil Manzanera and Steve DiStanislao drifted through too, and Guy explained that David had his own private party downstairs. Paula had been hoping to meet the great man, and knowing her impressive blagging skills I’m sure she eventually did.
After half an hour Chris and I headed back to the car to find dad and Kevin inside with the engine running and the heater on full playing Freebird at a head banging volume. A perfect end to the evening.
Arnold Layne…
Posted on May 29, 2016 May 29, 2016 Categories Books, Music, Name-dropping, Writing DiaryTags Arnold Layne, Comfortably Numb, David Bowie, David Gilmour, Guy Pratt, My Bass And Other Animals, Ottakars, Royal Albert Hall, Salisbury Arts Centre1 Comment on Remember That Night – Gilmour & Bowie, 29th May 2006
Getting Paid – My Writing Diary, Ten Years On, Thursday 25th May, 2006
If you’re an aspiring screenwriter and cursed/blessed with a vivid imagination, you might get a bit carried away when fantasising about that first ever professional payment. Would it be for a life-changing sum of money? A million dollar deal that meant you could finally say sayonara to the day job and pursue your dream full time? Or would it be for about £82.73 (less tax) and take forever to arrive? Guess which one happened to me!
My script Waiting For Eddie had been optioned by a producer back in November 2005. The producer paid promptly, but whenever I asked my agent about the money I only ever got vague replies. Things were complicated by the fact that I had two agents: one for film and a literary agent. The film agent did the deal, but all the money went through the lit agent. I found a handful of mentions of it in my 2006 diaries, and I’m clearly getting a bit fed-up at this point…
Script agent emailed me to day and told me that the Literary Agent has had my Waiting For Eddie option money since November… It’s only £85, but it doesn’t instil me with much confidence.
Then, over a month later…
Tuesday 23rd May, 2006
I got another rejection today… Oh, and they (Literary Agent) found my cheque. It was at the bottom of an in-tray… I should get it tomorrow.
The cheque arrived today. My first money earned from writing. I suppose I can call myself a writer now… £82.73. I don’t think I’ll be quitting the day job just yet.
Nearly six months from option to pay! Believe me, that would not happen now. I’d be on the phone with an earful of righteous indignation for someone in less than 48 hours. When you’re starting out, it’s not uncommon to be coy about getting paid, but never forget that what you do as a writer has a value. No one would be on that set if not for you and your ideas. Forget any bullshit about getting exposure, or publicity value, or an opportunity to “get on the ladder”. You have worked your butt off producing a work, and if they want to make it, they have to pay you, and pay you the going rate. If they can’t afford to pay you, then they shouldn’t be in business. No other industry puts up with this crap – try asking a baker to make you some bread for free – and yet it still goes on today: see the recent scandal over Sainsbury’s attempt to get an artist to work for free.
And just put yourself in the producer’s shoes for a minute. They have a slate of projects, including your script, which they optioned for free, and another script which they paid money for. Which one do you think will be their priority? They have to make a return on their investment, and producers hate losing money, so your little freebie won’t be getting to the top of their pile anytime soon. It’s all about being valued. Make sure you are.
I’ll leave the last word to the wonderful Harlan Ellison. This video has been doing the rounds for a few years now and it’s one of my favourites (and yes, I’m aware of the irony that, this being YouTube, Mr. Ellison probably doesn’t see a penny from this), but he sums it up better than I ever could…
By the way, I still have a day job, so clearly need to work harder at this payment malarkey myself.
Posted on May 22, 2016 Categories Agents, Ten Years On, Writing, Writing DiaryTags Diaries, Getting paid, Harlan Ellison, Options, Pay the writer, Screenwriting, WritingLeave a comment on Getting Paid – My Writing Diary, Ten Years On, Thursday 25th May, 2006
My First Agents – My Writing Diary, Ten Years On: Sunday 14th May & Monday 15th May, 2006
I had not one but two agents at this very early stage of my writing career (that word still makes me look over my shoulder to check that no one’s sniggering at me). I met my first literary agent at a networking event at Waterstone’s Piccadilly called ‘The Film World Meets The Book World’ (I think). I can’t remember how I heard about it, but I knew that I had to go as there would be agents and film producers and people who would surely see my colossal writing genius for what it was and insist on flying me out to Hollywood to introduce me to Mr. Spielberg that very weekend… I’m nothing if not optimistic.
Like many British people I can find it difficult just introducing myself to strangers for no reason other than personal gain (or “networking” as it’s known) and like many aspiring writers I found it borderline fraudulent to introduce myself as a writer at a time when I’d only written and staged a handful of plays. But one of the most important lessons I had learned from my failed career as an actor is that no one will knock on your front door and ask if you fancy a role in the Royal Shakespeare Company… You have to go to them and let them know that you’re good and what you do could be of value to them.
And so I walked into a crowded room where everyone seemed to know each other and I knew no one.
Eventually, and I have no real recollection how, I found myself talking to a very nice lady who ran a well-established literary agency, primarily for children’s books. I had no real desire to be a children’s author (at the time), but happily chatted with her and pitched my first play to her, which had a teen protagonist. She thought it would make an excellent children’s book and asked to read it. She was also intrigued that I worked in publishing and we discovered that we had a few mutual friends. I made it very clear that I wanted to be a screenwriter first and foremost and she said that was fine and that she would hook me up with a film agent, too.
Which is how I ended up with two agents. This all came together in the autumn of 2003, so I had been with them both for a couple of years at this point and had been trying, unsuccessfully, to pursue the children’s author career. I had written a couple of books that got some very nice rejections from publishers, and the pleasant lady who ran the agency had since passed me on to one of her junior associates. To be honest, the junior associate and I did not get on. She pulled strange faces when talking about my work, and seemed to treat me like a nuisance if I ever got in touch.
The film agent, however, was terrific. She was very encouraging and wanted to get me work and I was kicking myself for faffing about with the books for so long, and so in 2006 I made sure I would have a spec script for her to show around town. Few spec scripts sell, so I was determined not to worry about budget or anything that might seem small or too kitchen-sink-British. I wanted to write a commercial Hollywood movie that would get me noticed by commercial Hollywood people, and I came up with an idea called The Last Time Machine, which was epic stuff with time travel, dinosaurs, Roman Legions, the Luftwaffe and the end of the known universe (I write more about this project and how it was doomed here).
By May 2006 I had finished a polished draft (written in Microsoft Word, hence my note that it needed formatting!), my script agent had read it, and we were set to meet for lunch on the Monday, and here are my diary entries for that time:
Had a quick read-through of The Last Time Machine script in prep for tomorrow’s meeting. Made a few minor notations. I’m proud of it, just a shame it’ll never get made.
Monday 15th May, 2006
Had lunch with my agent today. She loved ‘The Last Time Machine’ and has a whole list of people she’s going to send it to. I just need to format it finally and she’ll send it off. She said a very nice thing: she’d wondered if she’d been having too good a day when she read LTM because she had so few notes. She really couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I explained that this was my first truly original script without the baggage of having previously been a play. We talked about other movies I could write – she’d love to see me write a horror movie – and my career. I asked about the teams that write for the likes of Spooks and Hustle. She’d rather establish me as a feature film writer first (her words – there’s something a little bit unreal about all this… at least until I earn some money from it or see my name on the big screen).
I wasn’t so aware of it back then, but she was doing the things that a good agent should aways do: she was encouraging, she was critical, but in a positive way, and she was talking about my future and the direction of my career. The horror movie thing is interesting, as horror features are often the best way for a commercial writer to get a film made: they can be produced for a low budget and can be very profitable, thus giving your career a great start. The very next thing I wrote was a horror film and it very nearly got made, introduced me to some very influential folk, and definitely took me up a notch.
The junior associate literary agent also had some ideas about my career, but they didn’t tally with the direction I wanted to go in and so it was an uncomfortable relationship. Like dating someone you know isn’t right for you, but you’re so desperate to cling on to a girlfriend/boyfriend that you’ll put up with the unhappiness, but we all know that can never end well. If you’re dreading an email or a phone call from your agent then something is seriously wrong.
I stayed with the literary agent until they eventually dropped me in 2010, but it became an increasingly distant relationship. I wanted to make films, and 2006 would be the year where this once-fantastic dream very nearly became a reality…
Posted on May 14, 2016 Categories Agents, Ten Years On, Writing, Writing DiaryTags Agents, books, films, getting an agent, how to get an agent, networking, Screenwriting, Scripts, spec scripts1 Comment on My First Agents – My Writing Diary, Ten Years On: Sunday 14th May & Monday 15th May, 2006
Paranoia and delusion – the writer’s friends and how to cope with them…
I saw Florence Foster Jenkins last night, a fine and enjoyable film based on the true story of a socialite who sang opera in New York in the ’40s, eventually playing Carnegie Hall, despite the fact that she had something of a tin ear…
It also reminded me of the incredibly twisted film Windy City Heat, which Jon Wright gleefully introduced me to while we were in pre-production on Robot Overlords. This faux-documentary is an elaborate prank whereby Bobcat Goldthwait and friends fool comedian and wannabe actor Perry Caravello into thinking that he has the lead role in a crime drama called Windy City Heat and they do everything they can to sabotage his dream…
Intriguingly, even after she had heard herself sing on a record, Jenkins still couldn’t discern that there was a problem with her singing, and Perry doesn’t think that he’s a bad actor. And what’s really fascinating is that both of them have just enough talent, the tiniest sliver of ability, to make them think that they can actually achieve their ambitious dreams.
Making Robot Overlords was a dream come true. A British science fiction family epic, with huge stars, a great cast, a decent budget, and a fantastic crew. But I have to confess that while watching Windy City Heat there came a point where I wondered if this was Jon’s way of breaking it to me that the whole project was an elaborate prank, that it really was too good to be true… Thankfully, it wasn’t, and I’m an idiot to think so, but that was just me entertaining the poisonous friend of artist’s everywhere: paranoia.
I’ve yet to meet an artist or creative type who hasn’t feel like a fraud at some point, usually when the rejections, failures and doubts feed the paranoia to a degree where they think they’re a talentless hack. I get it on a regular basis.
Paranoia’s evil twin is delusion. ‘I can do that!’ is my default answer to any challenge, but there comes a time when confidence becomes hubris and you fall flat on your face.
Both can be crippling if you surrender to them, but I encounter them so often now that I think I can cope with both their peaks and troughs, and I’ve found the best way to do this is to use them as creative fuel:
Hubris and delusion are great when I’m faced with a challenge. Can I write this pitch/script/book/comic? Hell, yeah! I can do anything! I hitch a ride on that boost of confidence and get it all on the page and screw the consequences.
Paranoia and self-doubt are useful when it comes to editing. That awesome piece of work I did yesterday? Dear God, it’s a piece of crap. You’re hopeless. Do better! Instead of wallowing in pity, I try and use the critical faculties of paranoia to improve what’s already on the page.
I try to step back and see my work as objectively as possible, but it’s simply impossible to be certain, and I’ve had strangers tell me that they love my work, and I’ve had two-star reviews where they found it dull. Who can ever really know?
But, like Florence and Perry, I enjoy what I do. I write every single day and I love it. Florence sums it up perfectly, ‘People may say I can’t sing,’ she said, ‘but no one can ever say I didn’t sing.’
Posted on May 11, 2016 Categories WritingTags advice for writers, delusion, Florence Foster Jenkins, paranoia, Reviews, Screenwriting, Windy City Heat, WritingLeave a comment on Paranoia and delusion – the writer’s friends and how to cope with them…
Lottie and Dottie Grow Pumpkins
Claire’s new Early Readers book is out this week!
Clairesallotment's Blog
Well, book number 3 in the Lottie and Dottie series is out this week on Thursday 5th May!! I’m so excited!! You can pre order it now from Amazon, or your local book sellers should have a copy. If they don’t ask them “Why?”. It’s perfect for all ages. Now is the time to sow your Pumpkins seeds and Lottie and Dottie will tell you everything you need to know.
Join Lottie and Dottie in the great Pumpkin grow!!
Posted on May 3, 2016 Categories UncategorizedLeave a comment on Lottie and Dottie Grow Pumpkins
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Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment and Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan. Follow him at @jricole. He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires.
In his presidential campaign, Donald Trump notoriously said, “I think Islam hates us.” As is usual with this erratic, fact-free president, the assertion is not true.
If we take Muslim-Americans, who at about 3.4 million persons constitute some 1.1 percent of Americans, over 90% say they are proud to be Americans. Does that sound like hatred to you?
The conviction that Muslims are intrinsically hostile to the US comes in part from a misconception of Islam as a religion. I have tried to put some of the myths to rest in my new book. Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires.
You can’t generalize the world’s Muslims, since there are 1.5 billion of them, and they don’t have an over-all view of the United States. Some like American freedoms and principles but dislike US foreign policy toward issues such as Palestine. People in the eastern part of the Middle East have a negative view of the US under Trump. But a Muslim country like Senegal has a majority that views the US favorably and in Indonesia, the biggest Muslim country population-wise, the favorables are 48% to 43% unfavorable. France, Sweden, Germany and Spain are all more negative toward the US under Trump than are these two Muslim countries.
The fact is that Islam is an American religion. It has been on North American soil for centuries. Some of the emigrants to the New World from Spain in the 1500s forward were secret Muslims who had pro forma converted to escape persecution by the Inquisition. (Southern Spain was mostly Muslim for 800 years, but by 1492 the Castilian Catholics, having conquered all of the south, announced that Muslims and Jews would be expelled. Some managed to stay by an outward show of Catholic piety while they secretly practiced their original religion, becoming known as Moriscos).
Moreover, many of those enslaved and brought to the Americas by slavers were Muslim, in places like Brazil as well as in the United States. To the extent that the US was built in part by slave labor, it was built in part by Muslim labor.
From the 1880s, a significant emigration to the United States began in what is now Lebanon and Syria. Tens of thousands of Arabic-speakers came until the racist immigration law of 1924 stemmed the flow. About 10% of these immigrants were Muslim, and some founded mosques in the Midwest, in places like Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Dearborn, Michigan.
It is since 1965 that the Muslim-American community has grown to several million. The last 50 years of American history has seen substantial economic and cultural contributions to the US by Muslim-Americans. Just for an example, Elias Zerhouni served as head of the National Institutes of Health and presidential envoy for US scientific and medical exchanges with other countries. It is often forgotten just how many Muslim-American physicians there are, contributing mightily to the health and well-being of the nation.
The founder of the Muslim religion, the Prophet Muhammad, is someone whom you would think Americans would admire.
Here are five reasons why:
Muhammad was a businessman, a long distance merchant who went up from western Arabia for trade in the Near Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, to Palestine, Transjordan and Syria. A quarter of Americans have thought about forming a business, and a majority view even big business favorably.
Muhammad encouraged people to practice spirituality. Here is what the Qur’an says about the subject: “Righteousness is not determined by facing East or West during prayer. Righteousness consists of the belief in God, the Day of Judgment, the angels, the Books of God, His Prophets; to give money for the love of God to relatives, orphans, the destitute, and those who are on a journey and in urgent need of money, beggars; to set free slaves and to be steadfast in prayer, to pay the religious tax (zakat) to fulfill one’s promises, and to exercise patience in poverty, in distress, and in times of war. Such people who do these are truly righteous and pious. (2:177 [Muhammad Sarwar) Some 75% of Americans say they are spiritual.
Muhammad praised people of other religions as well as of his own. The Qur’an (7:159) says of Jews, “And among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes justice.” It says of Christians (5:82) “you will find the nearest of them in love to the believers [Muslims] those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” It could be critical of both communities for their political positions or what it sees as doctrinal lapses, but it also contains high praise for them. Americans have increasingly warm feelingstoward members of other religions, and even their warmth toward Muslims has increased in recent years.
The Qur’an insists on freedom of belief and condemns coercion of conscience (which it terms ‘fitna‘). The chapter of Jonah 10:99 addresses a Prophet Muhammad who despaired of getting through with his monotheistic message to the pagans, saying “And had your Lord had willed, whoever is on earth would have believed, all of them, all together. Then, [O Muhammad], would you coerce the people such that they become believers?” Elsewhere, in the chapter of the Cow 2: 256, the Qur’an says, “There is no compulsion in religion. Certainly, right has become clearly distinct from wrong. Whoever rejects false idols and believes in God has taken hold of the unbreakable, firm handle. God is All-hearing and knowing.” Famously, the First Amendment of the US Constitution forbids Congress from making any religion the official religion of the state and then imposing it on Americans, ensuring their freedom of conscience.
The Qur’an urges turning the other cheek and wishing peace on persecutors who orally harass the believers.The chapter of the Gilded Ornaments 43:89 says of the militant pagans who rejected the Prophet’s message, “yet pardon them, and say, ‘Peace!’ Soon they will know.” (Arberry). When, however, militant pagans launched aggressive war on the early community of believers in Medina, the Qur’an permitted them to defend themselves by taking up arms. But it warned against engaging in aggressive, expansionist warfare, holding that only defensive war is legitimate. The chapter of the Cow 2:190 says, “And fight in the way of God with those; who fight with you, but do not commit aggression: God does not love aggressors.” A majority of Americans also feels that sometimes war is necessary but that it would be wrong to launch a war if the US were not first attacked by the other side (the Iraq War seems to have strengthened this sentiment).
1400 years of Christian polemics have demonized Muhammad, but a dispassionate consideration of his life and message makes it clear that there is much for contemporary Americans to admire in his life and teachings.
( Source: Informed Comment )
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Tag: sour days
#Review: Millencolin – SOS 🚀🆘
Millencolin are a punk rock band from Sweden, consisting of all four original members, Nikola Sarcevic (vocals & bass), Mathias Färm (lead guitar), Erik Ohlsson (rhythm guitar) and Fredrik Larzon (drums). To date, the band have had eight studio albums and played all around the world, including at America’s prestigious Warped Tour. Now, 2019 marks the release of SOS, the band’s ninth studio album since their 1992 inception, some 27 years later! Here’s what we have to say about the record…
SOS kicks straight in with the intense, apocalyptic-sounding title track, gripping you with its chugging guitars and haunting vocal chants, making it instantly clear that this is very much a punk rock album and not a commercialising into the pop punk realm.
That said, there is something very commercial about the album’s glistening production; vastly different from that of some of the band’s earlier records.
Additionally, there’s actually something very traditional about this album, like Millencolin have followed the recipe for the perfect skate rock record – ‘For Yesterday’ and ‘Nothing’ are perfect examples of this and particularly reminiscent of early Goldfinger or Alkaline Trio. However, in saying this, it also demonstrates that the band have not quite made any moves to vary their sound or try to push the boundaries of the genre, though there are bound to be countless fans that will appreciate this.
‘Sour Days’ and ‘Reach You’ particularly stand out, and although some of the most “radio friendly” tracks on the record due to their big choruses, they’re possibly the most vocally and instrumentally interesting with great harmonies and pristine changes in tempo across both.
It’s definitely a well-produced record with some strong choruses and impeccable instrumentation.
‘Yanny & Laurel’ is a good, story-telling song and interestingly named after the 2018 debate about whether a sound clip was saying the word ‘yanny’ or ‘laurel’ and is cleverly reflected with an auto-tuned chorus around the two words.
Sadly, there are some songs that just lack sincerity and would sit better on blink-182 or Green Day album (though don’t get me wrong I love both those bands), like ‘Do You Want War’ and ‘Caveman’s Land’. Both tracks have strong instrumentals but lyrically border on cringe-worthy.
‘Carry On’ really brings the album home with a strong, nostalgic-feeling chorus, which sounds almost like an audible farewell. The drums at the start, instantly draw you in and by the end of the track, it’s descended into just the right amount of chaos that you’re both satisfied and left wanting more.
Overall, SOS is a politically charged public service announcement, and takes a rather negative take on the current state of the world, even referencing the decline in society and impending end of the world as we know it. But then isn’t that what all punk rock is about?
It’s definitely a well-produced record with some strong choruses and impeccable instrumentation, however there are certainly the odd lyrical improvements and risk-taking elements that could be adopted by the band, going forward. I guess it could just be put down to, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
‘SOS’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sos/1441157359
SOS on Spotify
SOS (Official Video)
Nothing (Audio Video)
We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of Millencolin’s latest album, SOS? Are you a fan? What would you rate it out of 5? Please leave your thoughts in a comment or via our social media.
Posted in Album Review, ReviewTagged alkaline trio, blink-182, carry on, caveman's land, do you want war, dramatic planet, Erik Ohlsson, for yesterday, Fredrik Larzon, goldfinger, green day, let it be, Mathias Färm, millencolin, new music, new music 2019, new music friday, Nikola Sarcevic, nothing, now listening, now playing, out now, punk, punk rock, reach you, ska punk, skate punk, sos, sour days, sweden, swedish, trumpets & poutine, warped tour, yanny & laurel
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Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature
NPP > JOURNALS > STTCL > Vol. 38 > Iss. 1 (2014)
Falling into Salvation in Cioran
Joseph Acquisto, University of VermontFollow
Cioran, salvation, writing, suicide, lucidity
While, at first glance, there seems to be very little room in the thought of E.M. Cioran for the notion of salvation, a closer look reveals that Cioran returns constantly to the vocabulary and the concept of redemption. This article teases out Cioran’s complex use of the topos of salvation throughout his works, with special emphasis on his middle period. I begin by tracing Cioran’s notion of humanity’s fall into time and language, from which he claims there can be no salvation in the traditional Christian sense. Nonetheless, he retains the concept, claiming at various points that there is a kind of salvation to be found in suicide, music, silence, and skepticism. Ultimately, however, each of these provides only false salvation, since the only permanent solution to the problem of existence for Cioran would be either to cease to exist or to lose our human nature in exchange for a plant-like life. Since this is impossible, we are left with our human means of seeking deliverance. While Cioran generally condemns human attempts at creation or procreation, he takes a different approach to the act of writing. In his reflections on writing we see that salvation for Cioran is always temporary, provisional, and threatened by our next bout of lucidity, but at the same time, eternally renewable with each new act of writing.
Acquisto, Joseph (2014) "Falling into Salvation in Cioran," Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2334-4415.1027
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