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__label__wiki	0.734965	0.734965	Laura Bechtolsheimer Leading British Dresssage to Possible 1st Ever Olympic Medal 8 years ago admin Comments Off on Laura Bechtolsheimer Leading British Dresssage to Possible 1st Ever Olympic Medal Laursa Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at Hagen's Horses & Dreams. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com By KENNETH J. BRADDICK Just three years ago, Great Britain’s team and individual riders finished out of the medals at the Beijing Olympics as they had done since dressage first became an Olympic sport in 1912. No World Cup title in the 26 years of the only annual global competition. And until last year, no medal of any color at the World Equestrian Games. Now, it seems that everyone is talking about the Brits as possible gold medalists at this year’s European Championships that is the team qualifying competition for the 2012 Games in London, though as the host nation Great Britain is automatically qualified, and then to srand atop the podium at the Games themselves. Amazingly, the leading light of British dressage today is only a 26-year-old, Laura Bechtolsheimer, who finished 25th in the Grand Prix at the 2008 Olympics and 17th in the Grand Prix Special that was not enough to make the Freestyle. That all changed a year later when Laura and her Olympic mount, Mistral Hojris, led her nation to an historic team silver medal at the European Championships on home turf in Windsor. Another year on, and three silver medals–one team, two individual–at WEG in Kentucky. Laura has both Mistral Hojris, whom she calls “Alf,” and Andretti H, her second string mount, off to her best ever start to the outdoor competition season that will culminate in the Europeans in Rotterdam in August. At the recent Horses & Dreams meets Germany competition in Hagen, Germany, the unofficial kickoff of the summer circuit, Laura and her two horses were first in all four Grand Prix level classes. Carl Hester, her frequent team mate and a trainer of international riders on both sides of the Atlantic with a discerning eye for talented young horses, showed off the flashy Uthopia, a 10-year-old KWPN stallion, that was second to Mistral Hojris in the Grand Prix Special with a score above 77 per cent. In a handful of competitions on Spain’s Sunshine Tour the past two winters, the combination has not scored below 70 per cent. And Carl’s student, Charlotte Dujardin, 25, with the nine-year-old gelding Valegro has garnered accolades for their performances. The success of British dressage, Laura said in an interview with dressage-news.com, although it “seems sudden. It’s obviously been a long time coming. It’s been a long development. We’ve just got depth, more combinations able to go out and get really good scores. The more you get people coming out… it’s kick started a whole process. it looks good at the moment.” And Carl jokingly acknowledges Laura’s importance to British dressage when he told the German media that “Laura is very important to us. We need to keep her alive and doing dressage for a long time.” Carl Hester and Uthopia. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com The same could be said for Carl. The depth of combinations vying to represent Britain at the London Olympics, Laura said, will “hopefully… make the selectors’ job really hard.” She describes her Mistral Hojris, Uthopia and Valegro as horses with “a little bit extra on top.” “I don’t think there’s any country that has more than three or four combinations that can score more than 75 per cent,” she said. But, “we have to be sure not to get carried away. It is the beginning of the season and we have to make sure they have a good year in preparation but make sure they are fit and well as best we can for next year.” The Europeans, she said, is “a stepping stone. almost like a test event, part of the preparation for 2012. All eyes are on 2012.” Perennial powerhouse Germany cedes nothing. They are looking to newly acquired Totilas ridden by the young but seasoned Matthias Alexander Rath, the winningest Olympian, Isabell Werth, and her young but proven El Santo NRW, Annabel Balkenhol and Dablino, veteran Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe, and several other combinations that reflect the depth of Germany. Holland, even without Totilas, cannot be written off with 2011 World Cup champion Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival. Edward Gal and Sisther de Jeu and Hans Peter Minderhoud and Exquis Nadine. And the USA has Steffen Peters and Ravel, Guenter Seidel and the improving U II and the spectacular but unproven at Grand Prix combination of Heather Blitz and Paragon as well as combinations from the 2010 WEG team.. Laura credits the United Kingdom Lottery Fund that channels money to the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class program “that’s definitely giving more riders security and the financial help to do the right thing with their horses and right training for themselves>” The program, she said, “definitely makes a difference. It’s given them more confidence in the sport, definitely an opportunity to do the right thing for training with their horses. “The good thing is that these combinations have come through the world class system and we’re reaping the benefits of that.” For Laura as the star of British dessage, “there’s obviously pressure when you’ve done well to keep up results, its also something to relish as well. when you’re under pressure it means you’ve done well. That’s a good thing not a draining thing.” As to why her horses are ready for the summer competitions, “we’ve been really careful and strategic with our buildup. We’re not in complete fitness, full work… we’re still getting fitter. We’re in fifth gear not sixth gear.” Mistral Hojris, she describes as “a reliable dude” who realizes he is “a legend” but not “in an arrogant way. He’s a fantastic charactesr Laura has a somewhat old fashioned idea about managing her horses, adopted from her parents who would “chuck out the horses” over winter, a schedule that many horse people would ascribe to. However, there is, she said, more pressure to compete year round but “if you want to keep a horse to perform at their best at 16 or 17 years old, you have to give them down time. If you want to keep a horse performing to the maximum you have to keep them motivated,,, not just keep them fit. They will pay you back for it.” Details of Hanoverian 2009 70-Day Stallion Performance Test at Oklahoma’s Silver Creek Farms admin 10 years ago BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma, May 28–Silver Creek Farm in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has released details of the 70-day stallion performance test to begin Oct. 4 through Dec. 12. The testing... Read More	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2428
__label__wiki	0.909999	0.909999	With Rentrak acquisition, comScore closes in on Nielsen October 1, 2015 by Sahil Patel The battle between Nielsen and comScore is heating up. Earlier this week, comScore announced its acquisition of Rentrak, a measurement company that tracks TV and film viewing, with the intent of going after Nielsen’s bread and butter: TV. “Together we have an improved ability to deliver what our clients and the media industry have long been asking for — a comprehensive cross-platform measurement currency that accounts for all of the ways in which content is consumed, whether that viewing happens on live or time-shifted TV, video on demand, desktop, mobile, over-the-top devices or in the movie theater,” said comScore CEO Serge Matta and Rentrak CEO Bill Livek in a joint statement. It’s a clear shot across the bow of Nielsen, which is the dominant player in TV measurement but has been criticized by an increasing number of media companies that it doesn’t adequately measure viewing of TV content on digital platforms. “The industry has been waiting for Nielsen, waiting for Nielsen, waiting for Nielsen — that is what’s holding OTT and TV Everywhere up,” said Alan Wolk, senior analyst at The Diffusion Group. “The networks don’t want to go full bore [into streaming video] if nobody is going to be counting those views.” The race to build a new “currency” has far-reaching consequences. Studios and networks would have a better idea of how their shows are performing, which means a better hand at the negotiating table when talking distribution with networks (including streaming services like Netflix) and pay-TV distributors. The pay-TV guys, meanwhile, could use a better measurement system to build better apps than the ones that exist today. Consumers might be more interested in authenticating to a TV Everywhere app from a Time Warner Cable or DirecTV if those apps offered the same features and functionalities found on apps like Netflix. “It’s their game to lose,” said Wolk. “They have millions of customers already, all they have to do is convince them to download an app.” And for advertisers, it would simplify the buying process. “It brings everything closer to apples-to-apples,” said Alex Kalluf, senior director of intelligence at Figliulo & Partners. “It’ll provide a comparable measure across channels so you know which is giving you more in relation to each other.” Nielsen, for its part, has been working on a “total audience measurement” system, which would be able to provide a rating for viewership across both linear TV and digital. It should be ready by the end of the year, according to comments made by Nielsen’s global president Steve Hasker at an Advertising Week event earlier this week. The company also followed comScore’s announcement with one of its own, about a deal with CBS to track desktop and mobile-app viewing on live and on-demand content on the broadcaster’s CBS All-Access streaming service. This, combined with other digital measurement products offered by Nielsen — the Nielsen Television Index measures viewing on connected TVs, for instance — will allow Nielsen to add digital viewing to its existing three-day, seven-day and “average quarter hour” TV rating services. Of course, Nielsen still has a wide lead in the TV business, which pulled in $82.5 billion in ad revenue in 2014, according to Nielsen. The company has a current market value of $16.2 billion and did nearly $6.3 billion in revenue last year. Comparatively, comScore’s current market cap is $1.8 billion with $329 million in 2014 revenue and Rentrak’s is $820 million and $103 million in 2014 revenue. (Both comScore and Rentrak saw a boost in market cap following the acquisition announcement.) But with the entire industry getting increasingly impatient, Nielsen can’t rest on its laurels for too long. “If [Nielsen] can get their act together by December or January, they don’t have a lot to be worried about,” said Wolk. “Just because it will take a lot to unseat them from where they are.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2435
__label__wiki	0.52256	0.52256	Austin Romine Statistics #28 C - New York Yankees Height: 6' 1"Weight: 220 lb Age: 31Bats: RightThrows: Right Born: November 22nd, 1988 From: Lake Forest, California USA College: El Toro HS View Fantasy C Rankings SEASON: 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Oct 8th Boston BOS L 1-16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.0 Sep 29th @ Boston @ BOS W 8-5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .250 1.0 Sep 27th @ Tampa Bay @ TB W 12-1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 .250 1.5 Sep 21st Baltimore BAL W 10-8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.0 Sep 11th @ Minnesota @ MIN L 5-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.0 Sep 9th @ Seattle @ SEA L 2-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.0 Sep 8th @ Seattle @ SEA W 4-2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .250 5.5 Sep 2nd Detroit DET L 7-11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .000 -1.5 Aug 31st Detroit DET W 7-5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .250 1.5 Aug 29th Chi. White Sox CHW L 1-4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 .000 0.0 Austin Romine vs John Hicks 2018 New York Yankees Yankees 77 .244 30 37 12 0 10 42 17 2 67 1 0 158.5 2017 New York Yankees Yankees 80 .218 19 38 9 1 2 21 16 2 57 0 0 98.0 2016 New York Yankees Yankees 62 .242 17 25 11 0 4 26 7 0 31 1 0 100.5 2015 New York Yankees Yankees 1 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 2013 New York Yankees Yankees 60 .207 15 18 9 0 1 10 8 1 37 1 0 58.5	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2438
__label__cc	0.609787	0.390213	Elizabeth Dzeng, MD, PhD, MPH Academic Publications and Patents Non-academic Articles What are the Social Causes of Rational Suicide in Older Adults? Published on March 10, 2018 March 10, 2018 by Elizabeth (Liz) Dzeng Editorial commentary to “Balasubramaniam M. Rational Suicide in the Elderly: A Clinician’s Perspective. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018.” In this issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Dr. Meera Balasubramaniam discusses rational suicide in older adults, a desire for suicide in the absence of diagnosed psychiatric illness. She describes rational suicide in older adults to be of growing interest, and yet it is a topic that is rarely discussed in geriatrics1. Given the lack of psychiatric pathology associated with rational suicide, this is an issue that geriatricians are increasingly likely to encounter. Dr. Balasubramaniam provides a compelling psychiatric analysis of the various reasons one might consider rational suicide and the interplay between the self, others, and society on this decision. In this commentary, we highlight the influence of social, economic, and political trends on rational suicide in older adults. We believe that the trends towards rational suicidal thoughts in part stems from a confluence of three factors – neoliberalism, technology, and changing attitudes related to the legalization of physician-assisted death (PAD) in some states. By spotlighting this impact of sociological trends on rational suicide, we emphasize that in order to effectively address the challenge of rational suicide, clinicians must not only address their individual patients, but also engage with societally based interventions. Emile Durkheim, first described the sociological roots of suicide in his seminal text, Suicide (1897)2. He found that social isolation, defined as a lack of relationships and loneliness, was an important factor that led to suicides. He used the term economic anomie to describe a subset of social causations of suicides. Economic anomie occurs when traditional institutions are no longer able to regulate key social and economic needs, thus resulting in a lack of individual belonging and a sense of disconnection from society due to weakened social cohesion. This disruption of social equilibrium occurs during periods of serious social, economic, or political upheaval, resulting in declines in economic well-being and subsequent increases in suicides. The 1970s and 1980s saw the beginning of the neoliberal era – the political, economic, and social upheaval of our time. Neoliberal policies prioritize economic deregulation, free trade, and privatization of public goods and services3. These policies have created a culture that redefines citizens as consumers, whereby competition and market-based metrics become dominant ideological forces that permeate all aspects of human life4. Neoliberalism changed human relationships within society from a civil sphere that enshrined a commitment to social solidarity and collaboration amongst fellow citizens to that of a universal market where human beings are fair game in calculations of profits and losses5. Rather than emancipation and freedom, the markets created atomization and loneliness4. Neoliberal ideology in America manifests in several ways that may contribute to the increasing trend of rational suicide in older adults. One could hypothesize that thoughts of rational suicide might occur when people feel that their value to society and what they receive from society no longer feels worthwhile. In a neoliberal society that values one’s utility in the market, the process of retirement and age-related declines in mental and physical capacities may have profound effects on self worth. In more traditional societies, elders had a valued and respected place in society with treasured wisdom that would be passed on to younger generations. Today, too many older adults see themselves as an appendage or even worse, a burden. In a recent New York Times article, an 82 year-old woman described “vanishing” – once she became wheelchair bound she was invisible and erased6. Feelings of being unwanted by and invisible to society might easily slip into thoughts of erasing one’s actual presence in the world. Several authors have attributed the crisis of loneliness to neoliberalism’s ideology of competitive self-interest and extreme individualism7,8. The gig economy and the widespread use of contractors in workplaces further isolates individuals who suffer from loneliness and a lack of connection by no longer having regular colleagues nor fixed work places9. This isolation is further exacerbated by the civic breakdown of “families and communities, the decline of institutions such as churches and trade unions, the switch from public transportation to private, inequality, an alienating ethic of consumerism, [and] the loss of common purpose”8,10. The social isolation and loneliness that ensues has contributed to an increase in mental illness and suicides in all ages11. Loneliness has profound health consequences including an increased risk of cognitive decline, dementia, depression, heart disease, and stroke12,13. Studies have demonstrated that social isolation, loneliness, and living alone increases mortality by 26-32%12,14. Technology has often been attributed as a contributing factor towards loneliness, but its potential role in rational suicide is multi-factorial10. The technology industry has accelerated the broader temporal trends towards ageism and fear of decay that Dr. Balasubramaniam describes. Technology companies, eager to “disrupt” everything from the way we drive to the way we dry clean, have thrown down the gauntlet to “cure aging” and “solve death”, as Google’s Calico once declared15. More so than ever before, aging is perceived as something to be vanquished, rather than a natural human experience. The declaration of aging as a disease, pathologizes elders as an entity to be shunned and avoided, both in oneself and others16. Nick Bostrom, a philosopher and thought leader in the “radical longevity” movement states, “Aging breaks down your health and vitality, and eventually you get so weak that no amount of health care and medicine can prop you up…Just as you have begun to acquire a modicum of wisdom and experience, old age sets in to sap your energy and degrade your intellect. And then death swoops in to deliver the final insult. Now, there is real hope of ending this; that the last chapter of every human story need not play out this way”17. Given the tech elite’s influence on social media, technology, and culture, these attitudes spread beyond Silicon Valley to pervade overall attitudes. At the same time, life-sustaining medical technologies have changed the culture of how we live with serious illness and die. It is now possible to artificially sustain multiple organs in the absence of a realistic possibility of meaningful survival of the whole person18. Concerns over overly aggressive care at the end of life and of unrelenting suffering, have in part fueled advocacy for PAD, as many people see aggressive medical interventions and unrelieved suffering at the end of life as avoidable only through premature self-inflicted death19. The growing acceptance of PAD and its legalization in six American states and the District of Columbia plays an important role in changing attitudes towards rational suicide. An ethical concern of those opposed to PAD is the potential for the “slippery slope” whereby the legalization of PAD and the greater acceptance of PAD as a result of that legalization, initiates a trend in social perceptions towards acceptance of rational suicide, something that was previously ethically unacceptable. We believe that the legalization and more widespread acceptance of PAD was a necessary societal precursor to the rationalization of suicide in older adults. Just as PAD is increasingly accepted as a rational response to relieving suffering in the setting of terminal illness, PAD establishes a foundation for acceptance of suicide as an ethically and personally permissible response to the natural degradation of the human condition from age. In order to mitigate the desire for rational suicide in older adults, it is important that geriatricians and primary care physicians develop awareness of this issue and understand the individual psychological and broader societal underpinnings for such a request. By understanding the individual and social etiologies of rational suicide, clinicians and the broader community will be able to advocate for medical and social support systems that might alleviate the desire for such requests. Geriatric assessment could include loneliness and integration within one’s community as a key part of the assessment. Strengthening social support systems for older adults to decrease loneliness, and ease physical and caregiving challenges is an important step in combatting impact of neoliberalism and the ensuing crisis of loneliness. Interventions could include assisting the patient in finding programs that provide community and human contact with other people. The “Campaign to End Loneliness”20 in the United Kingdom is an example of an organization that combats loneliness in older adults through research, education, and outreach. Though technology has been implicated in increasing loneliness10, technology also has the power to connect. Helping less technologically savvy older adults to use technologies such as video chat with family members and online support groups can help alleviate loneliness. Clinicians should also feel empowered to speak up against ageism and recognize it in themselves. Indeed, acceptance of the idea of rational suicide in older adults is in itself ageist. It implicitly endorses a view that losses associated with aging result in a life that is not worth living. The debates surrounding PAD must also recognize and consider rational suicide in older adults as a slippery slope that is already happening. The ethical and clinical challenges inherent in the discussion of rational suicide in older adults are fraught and will require further intellectual and ethical engagement of all people who care for and about elders. Balasubramaniam M. Rational Suicide in the Elderly: A Clinician’s Perspective. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018. Durkheim E. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. London: Routledge Classics Chomsky N. Profits Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. 1st ed. New York, NY: Seven Stories Press; 1999. Monbiot G. How Did We Get Into This Mess?: Politics, Equality, Nature. 1st ed. London: Verso; 2016. Metcalf S. Neoliberalism: The Idea that Swallowed the World. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/aug/18/neoliberalism-the-idea-that-changed-the-world. Published August 18, 2017. Accessed December 22, 2017. Bruni F. Are you Old? Infirm? Then Kindly Disappear. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/opinion/sunday/are-you-old-infirm-then-kindly-disappear.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region. Published December 16, 2017. Accessed December 22, 2017. Monbiot G. Neoliberalism is creating loneliness. That’s what’s wrenching society apart. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/12/neoliberalism-creating-loneliness-wrenching-society-apart. Published October 12, 2016. Accessed December 22, 2017. Putnam R. Bowling Alone. New York: Simon and Schuster; 2000. Fisher A. There’s a Loneliness Epidemic Among Freelancers. Fortune. September 2016. Monbiot G. The Age of Loneliness. New Statesman. October 2016. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2016/10/age-loneliness. Accessed December 22, 2017. Curtin SC, Warner M, Hedegaard H. Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999–2014 (NCHS Data Brief No. 241). National Center for Health Statistics , Center for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm. Published 2016. Accessed December 22, 2017. Holt-lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D. Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):227-237. doi:10.1177/1745691614568352. Luo Y, Hawkley LC, Waite LJ, Cacioppo JT. Loneliness, health, and mortality in old age: A national longitudinal study. Soc Sci Med. 2012;74(6):907-914. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.028. Steptoe A, Shankar A, Demakakos P, Wardle J. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. PNAS. 2013;110(15):5797-5801. doi:10.1073/pnas.1219686110. McCracken H, Grossman L. Google vs. Death. Time. September 2013. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2152422,00.html. Khazan O. Should We Die? Atl. February 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/should-we-die/516357/. Accessed December 22, 2017. Bostrom N. The Case Against Aging. personal website. Gawande A. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. 1st ed. New York, NY: Metropolitan Books; 2014. Dzeng E. Aid in Dying: a Triumph of Choice Over Care? Geripal. http://www.geripal.org/2016/06/aid-in-dying-triumph-of-choice-over-care.html. Published 2016. Accessed June 7, 2016. Campaign to End Loneliness: Connections in Older Age. https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/about-the-campaign/. Accessed December 28, 2017. Tags ageism, elderly, geriatrics, loneliness, longevity, neoliberalism, older adult, physician assisted suicide, rational suicide, suicide, technology Previous Should Homelessness be a Death Sentence? CB2 1ST edzeng at gmail dot com Twitter: @LizDzeng Follow Elizabeth Dzeng, MD, PhD, MPH on WordPress.com Should Homelessness be a Death Sentence? How Academia and Publishing are Destroying Scientific Innovation: A Conversation with Sydney Brenner Why is qualitative interdisciplinary research so difficult to take seriously? Bringing emotions back into medicine Global Scholars Symposium King's Review My Huffington Post Column	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2442
__label__cc	0.725721	0.274279	Israel ranked 23 in OECD in purchasing power Adrian Filut Israel's PPP GDP per capita is $31,700 just below New Zealand's $32,800. Israel is ranked 23rd out of 34 OECD member states in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), reports the Central Bureau of Statistics on the basis of 2011 data. Israel's GDP per capita is 84% of the baseline OECD GDP per capita. Israel is ranked 26th out of 50 OECD and EU member states (not all of which are members of the OECD), and its PPP GDP per capita is 91% of the EU average (95% on the basis of the exchange rate). Israel's PPP GDP per capita is 61% of the US and 67% on the basis of the exchange rate. Israel's PPP GDP per capita is $31,700, just below New Zealand's $32,800, Spain's $33,800, and Italy's $35,600, but well below Luxembourg's $93,200, Norway's $65,000, Switzerland's $54,200, and the US's $52,300. The Central Bureau of Statistics says that Israel's high GDP per capita does not necessarily indicate consumption by households, because GDP also includes other components, such as investment in fixed assets, public consumption, and net exports. For example, a country with high investment could have a higher than average GDP per capita, but lower than average household consumption. To compare household consumption between OECD member states, the Central Bureau of Statistics measured "actual individual consumption", which includes individual consumption and services received directly from the government, such as health and education. PPP actual individual consumption is an index of the material standard of living of households. The index shows actual individual consumption and not just expenditures. The Central Bureau of Statistics 2011 Project found that Israel's PPP actual individual consumption was 80% of the OECD average, compared with 77% in Malta, 83% in Greece, and 84% in Spain. Countries with actual individual consumption much higher than the OECD average include the US (145%), Luxembourg (124%), Norway (121%), and Switzerland (115%). Conversely, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Mexico had an actual individual consumption of less than 50% of the OECD average on a PPP basis. In terms of prices in each country on a PPP basis, compared with the exchange rate, if the PPP is higher than the exchange rate, the value of the country's currency is less than its market value, and vice versa. This is partly because of price differences for goods and services that are not traded internationally. In countries with a lower PPP than exchange rate, it is possible to buy goods and services that are not traded internationally for less than in other markets. The CBS found that in Israel in 2011, the exchange was NIS 3.578/$ - less than the PPP rate of NIS 3.945/$. This means that it was possible to buy fewer goods and services in shekels compared with other markets. Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 23, 2014	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2443
__label__cc	0.581895	0.418105	Category Archives: The Ringgit Twenty years on: The Asian Financial risis and Asian Monetary Fund (AMF) September 28, 2017 by dinobeano by David Nellor http://www.eastasiaforum.org Proposals for an Asian Monetary Fund (AMF) dominated corridor conversations at the 1997 IMF–World Bank annual meetings in Hong Kong. The Asian financial crisis had erupted a few months earlier and was engulfing the region. The United States vetoed the idea, framing the proposal as the ‘IMF versus AMF’ where any type of AMF would undermine the IMF’s central role in the global financial system. Twenty years on, the circle has been closed, with the IMF launching a framework for collaborative action with regional arrangements. Arguably, at that early stage of the crisis, the US position was not unreasonable. The mood of Asian finance officials was one of denial. Set against the backdrop of the Asian miracle, it was inconceivable, they thought, that self-inflicted policy distortions — quasi-fixed exchange rates combined with independent monetary policy — as well as compromised financial sector supervision helped drive the crisis. The idea of unconditional financing — not tied to reform — that would avoid reform was, they thought, a defendable proposition. Still, the push for an AMF did suggest gaps in the global and regional financial architecture. What followed was a struggling ASEAN seeking to catch up, stop gap consultative groups like the Manila Framework Group, and a sequence of ad hoc parallel financing arrangements from the ‘Friends of Thailand’ to Indonesia’s so-called ‘second line of defence’. The crisis broke on 2 July 1997. By late July, plans led by Japan and in cooperation with the IMF were underway for a regionally based meeting on Thailand. This informal grouping hosted by Japan in Tokyo on 11 August, became the ‘Friends of Thailand’. The concrete outcome of the meeting was a series of financial commitments by seven countries and the multilaterals, with the United States notably absent. The absence of the United States was perhaps shaped by congressional dissatisfaction with the Clinton Administration’s financial support of Mexico, which had been provided directly by the US Treasury without congressional approval during Mexico’s 1994 crisis. Almost remarkably, this rushed US$17.2 billion collaborative financing arrangement was the regional success story from a sequence of ad hoc efforts to provide funding to mitigate the consequences of the crisis. The support was structured as a series of bilateral arrangements between Thailand and each country. Each drawing under these agreements was triggered in parallel with Thailand’s drawings under the IMF supported program. Commitments were credible as they were both conditional and fulfilled step by step. By contrast, Indonesia’s more than US$40 billion package — including an US$18 billion ‘second line of defence’ through bilateral support — failed. The enormous scale of the funding, especially at that time, was intended to be a ‘shock and awe’ approach signalling to financial markets that stability was assured. Some thought the second line would never need to be drawn and perhaps commitments were made with that expectation. But markets saw through this and in short order sufficient questions arose about the willingness of countries to follow through on commitments. This triggered uncertainty at best and arguably made the situation worse. The South Korean experience of international support was different. The concentration of external debt through the South Korean banking system enabled the coordination of a relatively effective capital control mechanism, creating a window to develop a market-based debt restructuring in the first half of 1998. Here the US Federal Reserve played a leading role, along with other central banks, supported by the technical contributions of IMF and South Korean officials. Asia’s leaders were unanimous in supportive statements about the need for a regional crisis response mechanism including funding. Yet there were issues that continue to pose a challenge for the credibility of arrangements, such as the ASEAN+3 Chiang Mai Initiative, today. Lee Kuan Yew, while not opposed to an AMF, cautioned that such an arrangement would need to do more than provide funding that might enable crisis countries to avoid essential reform. He went on, ‘I do not see any Asian group of governments in the AMF strong enough to tell … President Suharto, “You will do this or we will not support you”. If you don’t say that and you support him, that’s money down the drain’. The Manila Framework Group was established in a November 1997 meeting as the direct result of the failed AMF discussions in Hong Kong. It would serve as a surveillance forum of 14 APEC economies meeting regularly and on an ad hoc basis through to the end of 2004. It played an important role by, for example, triggering a June 1998 Tokyo meeting with the G7 to respond to destabilising global currency moves. The G20 would also start in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. ASEAN was a participant but not a driver when the crisis broke. Its most concrete response came a few years later when, along with the ASEAN+3 countries, the Chiang Mai Initiative was launched in 2000. It was a modest first step especially as operational modalities remained to be defined for at least a decade and only in 2016 was there a ‘dry run’ to test the Chiang Mai Initiative’s capacity to respond to crisis. Indonesia’s hastily developed Deferred Drawdown Option, with multilateral and bilateral support during the Global Financial Crisis, was another ad hoc instrument showing that gaps in the regional financial architecture persisted well into the 2000s. Twenty years on, the IMF has spelled out plans for how to make the global financial safety net more effective through collaboration with regional financial arrangements — an outcome that seemed remarkably distant in the midst of the Asian financial crisis. David Nellor is a Jakarta-based consultant. He was based in Asia for the IMF throughout the Asian financial crisis and participated in discussions on regional arrangements. Posted in ASEAN, ASEAN Economic Community, Finance, Geo-Economics, International Monetary Fund, Lecture Series, Public Policy, The Ringgit, Trade and Finance, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Playing Malaysia’s Number Game March 13, 2017 by dinobeano Manjit Bhatia’s article’s article is on my blog. https://dinmerican.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/najibs-criminal-state-of-mind/ The Malaysian Treasury is all but full What follows is my friend Nurhisham Hussein’s response. My own reaction is that I do not trust Malaysian government statistics since they are subject to manipulation by politicians in power. I do respect Nurhisham’s views and commend him for attempting to defend “economic data from Malaysia”. The sad truth is that there is so much fake news from Najib Razak and his cohorts in recent years that I have difficulty in knowing what is fact and what is fiction. It is something I experienced in attempting to figure out Donald Trump. But when it comes to Malaysia it is pretty straight forward since in the Malaysian context, fiction is fact. By the way, what China has to do with the issues raised in Manjit’s article. This statement which I quote from Nurhisham’s article –“One of the key tests to determine whether economic data is falsified is internal consistency and statistical irregularity. China, for example, fails on both counts”–is irrelevant. Allow me to quote a comment from Greg Balkin who regards Nurhisham’s article as: “A very strong rebuttal to Manjit Bhatia’s shoddy arguments. Unlike MB who simply fights against the wind and even with his own shadow, at least Nurhisham Hussein provided actual facts and statistics for readers to contemplate on and question if necessary. As a long-time Southeast Asia watcher, I have been very concerned about Malaysia which is increasingly beset with contradictory developments. Economically, it continues to grow faster than some neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia (That is bull Greg, check your facts on Cambodia from the Asian Development Bank before making your comment. In its most recent assessment,the Bank described Cambodia as an emerging tiger economy), yet it is mired in a series of financial scandals over the past three years, not to mention the worrying political scene. The problem is many Malaysians have lost faith in the Najib Administration to the extent that any article that chastises Putrajaya is welcome even if it is not backed up with facts and statistics. One can read many of them on Malaysiakini or Free Malaysia Today. But it does not help Malaysians to develop a more critical mind when it comes to holding the powers-that-be to account. This explains why many opposition leaders, blinded by popular support and swayed by populist sentiment, simply make one unsubstantiated allegation after another, only to find their position untenable and forced to retract thereafter. No worries, for they have the people behind them whose negative perceptions of the government are already cast in stone and it matters not if these allegations hold water. If this vicious circle persists, I would not surprise to see Malaysia vote out UMNO and replace it with another set of arrogant politicians armed with half-baked policies to administer the country. But it is a politician’s job to make sensational yet unsubstantiated claims, and an economist’s one to right them. Precisely why MB’s latest article is not only a huge letdown, but one that is unbecoming of his credentials, if any.” Let me present an alternative reaction to Nurhisham’s article. It is from someone who calls himself Bumiputera Graduate as follows: “I am unsure if Nurhisham is trying to shore up confidence in the Malaysian economy or defend the credibility of social and economic data produced in Malaysia. I think Nurhisham is an expert at the sleight of hand. He has shifted the focus in the article from the main points that Manjit is making to those where Manjit is inaccurate. Among the inaccuracies Nurhisham pointed out is that Malaysia does publish its labour force participation numbers, and that its budget deficit is going down. But Nurhisham doesn’t deny that perceived inflation figures are higher than reported figures; he only says it’s also the case with the US, which is not an answer at all. He doesn’t touch on Manjit’s point on Bank Negara Malaysia manipulating the currency. Is Manjit right? Or is he wrong? Nurhisham says that his friends and associates at IMF and the World Bank have full confidence in Malaysia’s statistics. Who knows if Manjit’s friends at the Fund and the Bank don’t have any confidence in Malaysia’s statistics. Hardly an argument worth a pinch of salt coming from the general manager, economics and capital markets of a government agency – the Employers Provident Fund – whose investment decisions are themselves questionable. Again, when there are conservative estimates of 2 million undocumented migrant workers, with what confidence will you say that the minimum wage is implemented? The labour market, going by his 3.6% indicator, may be at full employment, but he’s sweeping away the big problem of graduate unemployment (predominantly a Malay problem), the huge migrant labour problem, and the low productivity. But if Manjit does a bit more of research and does a full article on the Malaysian economy, he may come up with a longer menu of issues that plague the economy than Nurhisham will be able to defend. Manjit Bhatia, the byline says, is with a risk analysis company. If people like Manjit have views like this, that says a lot for the confidence that foreign analysts have in the Malaysian economy. I think Nurhisham fails miserably in trying to shore up optimism in the economy, if that was his intention, even as he defends the credibility of data coming from Malaysia. With rebuttals such as his, what little confidence the public has, will further slide down.” I leave you, my blog readers, to decide between the two views (Greg Balkin and Bumiputera Graduate). As far as I am concerned, and if I have surplus cash to invest, I will stay out the Malaysian stock exchange, the bond market and the Malaysian ringgit for a while, since I have no confidence in the Najib Administration’s management of the Malaysian economy. –Din Merican by Nurhisham Hussein http://www.newmandala.org/questioning-credibility-institutions/ Nurhisham Hussein outlines why it’s disingenuous and dangerous to dismiss economic data from Malaysia. I read with some interest a recent article on New Mandala by Manjit Bhatia on the effect of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam on the political fortunes of Malaysian PM Najib Razak. That the assassination has distracted attention from Malaysia’s domestic political scene is not in doubt. However, the author makes some strong allegations regarding the veracity of Malaysian economic statistics, as well as making some misleading and outright untrue statements on the state of the Malaysian economy. Let me deal with each of the statements I found problematic in turn.The article makes the bold claim that, “Most credible economists, even the market type, know Malaysia’s official numbers are as rubbery as North Korea’s or China’s.” In my role as Chief Economist of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), I meet nearly every market economist who covers Malaysia, as well as those in policy circles such as from the World Bank and IMF. I don’t know of any who have hesitated to take Malaysia’s official statistics at face value. One of the key tests to determine whether economic data is falsified is internal consistency and statistical irregularity. China, for example, fails on both counts. Malaysia does not. The article further states that there is no data for the job participation rate in Malaysia. This is rather unconventional classification, as everyone else uses the term labour force participation rate (LFPR) instead. In any case, the article is completely mistaken. The LFPR for Malaysia has been available at monthly frequencies since 2009, quarterly since 1998, and annual frequencies going back to 1982. The annual numbers are further broken down by age, gender, education, and ethnic background. The data shows, far from a decline in labour market conditions, a steeply rising LFPR from 62.6 per cent in 2009, to a near record high of 67.6 per cent in 2016 (with a long term average of 65 per cent). It should also be noted that Malaysia’s long term average unemployment rate is just under 4 per cent. At the current rate of 3.6 per cent, the labour market would still be considered to be at full employment. Between Idris Jala and Najib Razak–A Deformed Malaysia The article goes on to say that Malaysia’s minimum wage is scarcely enforced. On the contrary, data from the EPF, to which all salaried workers are required to contribute, show a massive shift in Malaysia’s salary distribution when the minimum wage was introduced in 2013. Fully 10 per cent of the workforce shifted from below the minimum wage to above it, and the wage effect was evident across the entire bottom half of the distribution. Fourth, the article claims that, “In Kuala Lumpur alone, credible estimates put inflation at least twice the ‘official’ number”, and “inflation hits close to double-digits, in real terms, according to some investment banks’ research.” The second statement is nonsensical – there is no such thing as inflation in “real” terms, because in economics real prices of goods refer to inflation-adjusted prices. But the larger point – that inflation is perceived to be higher than official statistics – is actually well known. Well known because the same discrepancy has been documented nearly everywhere. A recent Federal Reserve research note explicitly addressing this issue, found that US citizens perceptions of inflation were consistently twice as high as the official statistics. Why that is so is an interesting question in itself and would take far too long to explore, but the larger point is that differences between perception and official statistics cannot be taken as prima facie evidence that those statistics are false. There is plenty of evidence that the opposite is true, for example via MIT’s Billion Prices Project, that it is perceptions that are mistaken and not the statistics. Furthermore, research into the methodology and mechanics of constructing consumer price indices conclude that if anything, the CPI tends to overstate inflation, not understate it. Fifth, the article claims Malaysia’s fiscal deficit and national debt are “ballooning”. In fact, the deficit has been halved since 2009, to just 3.1 per cent for 2016, while the debt to GDP ratio has been kept under the 55 per cent limit the government imposed on itself. Manufacturing, far from being routed, has continued to thrive, with sales breaching an all time high of ringgit 60 billion a month over the past few months. Moreover, Malaysia has been one of the very few countries in the region to record positive trade growth over the past two years. In the Age of Trump, democratic institutions are under attack everywhere. Trust in public institutions has declined, not just in Malaysia, but globally. Globalisation itself is in retreat, and schisms and conflicts that we thought were gone, have arisen anew. Be that as it may, undermining confidence in public institutions without substantive evidence reinforces these troubling trends, and works against the very foundations of a democratic society. Without them, the very thing that Manjit Bhatia appears to be arguing for, becomes further from reality. Nurhisham Hussein is General Manager, Economics and Capital Markets at Employees Provident Fund, Malaysia. Posted in 1MDB Financial Scandal, ASEAN, Corruption, Economic Performance, Economic Policy, Economic Transformation, Finance, Fiscal Management, Governance, Leadership, Najib Razak, Public Accountability, The Ringgit. Malaysians are concerned with the Economy Donald Trump aside, Malaysians are concerned with the Economy As the new year gets underway, ordinary citizens are concerned about the rising cost of living, the ringgit’s low level and the outflow of capital. Making Malaysia messy is his forte WHILE Donald Trump’s inauguration as the new United States President will hog the headlines this week, it is the bread-and-butter issues that preoccupy the man and woman in the street as the new year gets into stride. In Malaysia, a major talking point is the state of the economy. Three issues are worrying the ordinary Malaysian – rising prices, the fall of the ringgit and the outflow of capital. Each is an issue in its own right, but they are also all interlinked. Inflation has become a hot issue because it is accelerating and will continue to do so. There are one-off factors influencing retail prices, such as the removal of the cooking oil subsidy, the weather affecting vegetable output or the slight recovery of the world oil price. But prices across the board are affected by the weakening of the ringgit since this increases the prices of imports. Malaysia is very dependent on imports for a wide range of products, from food and household utensils to machinery and components for making cars, computers and all kinds of other goods. As the most recent ringgit plunge started in mid November, prices of products that have high import content may not have fully risen yet because the shops are still clearing stocks bought earlier. But you can expect the new prices to kick in more and more. Irwan Siregar — Fox in the Malaysian Financial Hen House The second issue is the ringgit decline itself, which has bad and good effects, with some sectors and people losing and others benefiting. The negative effects include: Consumers having to pay higher prices for imported goods and services. Traders and retail shops getting less business as the demand for the dearer imports goes down. Manufacturers and construction firms paying higher costs for parts and production inputs, which will translate into higher consumer prices and eventually higher house prices. Parents with children studying abroad must fork out more ringgit even if the fees and hostel rent remain the same. The Government and its enterprises and private companies that took loans in foreign currencies lose significantly as they have to spend more ringgit to service their loans. Among the good effects: Smallholders and companies exporting palm oil, rubber, petroleum and other commodities will receive more revenue in ringgit terms. Local manufacturers exporting goods such as rubber gloves and furniture become more competitive as they can reduce their prices in foreign currency, or else they receive more in ringgit if they retain their international prices. The tourism and hotel business should thrive since it’s cheaper for foreigners to visit Malaysia. Locals who now can’t afford to travel abroad may also spend their holidays in the country. On balance, will the gains outweigh the losses? From a public perspective, this is unlikely as the higher cost of living will affect all Malaysians, especially the poor and middle classes, and the higher external debt repayment will affect the public and the economy overall. The prospect of further depreciation of the ringgit also has a bearing on capital flows, the third issue. Malaysia is one of the countries most vulnerable to the shocks of foreign funds moving out, because so much capital was allowed to move in. In recent years, a new type of vulnerability emerged when foreign funds were welcomed to invest in government bonds denominated in ringgit. It was originally thought that foreign loans in ringgit would be safe as the borrower would avoid the foreign exchange risk, as contrasted with loans denominated in US dollars. This is true but the sheer volume of bonds now owned by foreigners makes the economy vulnerable to large outflows in a short period. Comparison is usually made between potential capital outflows and the level of foreign reserves. The reserves as at December 30, 2016 were US$94.6bil (RM424bil). The total foreign debt outstanding was RM865bil at the end of September 2016. Of this, offshore borrowing (in foreign currency) was RM472bil, and ringgit-denominated government bonds held by non-residents were worth RM211bil, according to Bank Negara data. Some of the investors have a long-term commitment and not everyone will move in the same direction at the same time, but in recent weeks external conditions such as a rise in US interest rates (and anticipation of more rises in 2017) have prompted capital outflows from emerging economies, including Malaysia. The country also has high foreign participation in the stock market (22.6% in November 2016), and in recent months there has also been a net withdrawal of equities by foreigners. November 2016 was a bad month, as foreigners withdrew from the country RM19.9bil of government securities, and RM4.2bil of equities, according to a report in The Star (January 7, 2017). The potential and probability of more capital outflows in 2017 is a factor weighing on the perception of the ringgit’s prospects. A high trade surplus has previously acted as a strong buffer against potential large capital outflows. The trade and current account balances are still positive, but the surpluses have been declining. Government measures could help, such as the requirement that exporters convert 75% of their export proceeds from foreign currencies to ringgit. Other measures can be considered if the situation does not improve. For example, companies and funds, starting with government-linked ones, can be discouraged from investing abroad – for the time being at least. Malaysia has ruled out more drastic measures such as capital controls and pegging of the ringgit. Developments in these three economic issues will be closely watched, not least by the public whose pockets are affected, as the year progresses. External events could improve the situation, such as if prices of Malaysia’s export commodities increase, or could worsen it, especially if the US raises its interest rates further and if Trump really pursues protectionist policies. However, domestic policies to respond to the problems are crucial and there should be a comprehensive plan to tackle these issues, since they may persist as 2017 progresses. Martin Khor (director@southcentre.org) is executive director of the South Centre. The views expressed here are entirely his own. Posted in 1MDB Financial Scandal, Corruption, Economic Performance, Economy, Finance, Fiscal Mess, Governance, Najib Razak, National Debt, The Ringgit. Minister Rahman Dahlan –A Financial Ignoramus by TK Chua http://www.freemamalaysia.com As an “economics minister”, we expect more comprehensive and professional answers from Rahman. Many can become politicians, but only very few can be economics ministers.–TK Chua I was not a fan of Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was Prime Minister. But a major part of my working life was under his premiership. I was resentful of Mahathir when I saw that many of the things he did was in favour of big time business people. He had his blue-eyed boys who often turned out to be disastrous. He too embarked on projects that did not turn out well. But hindsight is always perfect. Everything is relative. When we assess the performance of a government or its leadership, rarely do we do so based on a single factor. More often than not, it is a combination of failures from which a tipping point is reached. When Mahathir criticised the “China deal” and the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project, it was just one of the many issues confronting Malaysia today. How the people look at the government is not solely determined by this single criticism alone. Hence, even if Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan has successfully rebutted Mahathir’s criticism, the view of the people may not have altered much. There are still numerous other unanswered issues that have remained protracted and controversial. But even within the confines of the China deal and the ECRL project, there are numerous other questions that we could have asked. First, when Rahman claimed China’s “soft” loan was favourable to Malaysia, he must have assumed China was a simpleton we could take advantage of. It is nice to eat something soft, but be careful of the bones embedded in it. It is almost a cliché when I say there is no free lunch in this world. Second, the Minister claimed that the soft loan was denominated in the ringgit and so it posed no foreign exchange risk. But what about repatriation of interest charges and profits by Chinese companies? The loan may be denominated in the ringgit, but repatriation of profits and interests may drain our reserves since the rail project has no forex earning capacity. Third, why the urgency to embark on the ECRL project when government finances are less than conducive? When we borrow, more so from external sources, for an infrastructure project, the justification must be respectable. Does the east coast region suffer from transportation capacity problems right now? Even the existing highways are half empty there. Fourth, the minister claimed “transfer of technology” when the ECRL project is implemented. I think herein lies our problem – when we are incapable of doing anything worthwhile, what we need is to go on talking about it. Seriously, if Malaysia needs transfer of technology to lay the rail track, we know that this term has been overused and abused. As an “economics minister”, we expect more comprehensive and professional answers from Rahman. Many can become politicians, but only very few can be economics ministers. TK Chua is an FMT reader. Posted in 1MDB Financial Scandal, Corruption, Finance, Fiscal Management, Foriegn Affairs, Governance, National Debt, The Ringgit, Trade and Finance. Bank Negara gets a new Governor from May 1, 2016 April 27, 2016 by dinobeano by Reuters/www.malaysiakini.com Congratulations and Good Luck Putrajaya has appointed Dato’ Muhammad Ibrahim as the new governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, after months of market speculation and uncertainty ahead of the retirement of longstanding head Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Muhammad, 56, who is currently a Deputy Governor, would take over effective May 1, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “I am confident that under Muhammad’s leadership, Bank Negara Malaysia can continue its service in helping the government, providing advice and views for catalysing the country’s economic growth, as well as administer monetary policy and overseeing the country’s financial industry, including continuing Bank Negara’s efforts to grow the financial industry,” Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said in the statement. “On behalf of the governemnt, I would like to express gratitude and appreciation to (Tan Sri Dr) Zeti Akhtar Aziz for her excellent contributions during her tenure as the seventh governor of the central bank,” Najib added. Muhammad is a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee and sits as an independent director on the board of national oil firm Petronas. The ringgit turned firmer after the announcement. Muhammad has a tough task ahead, with slumping oil and commodity prices dragging on the economy and a simmering political scandal at home that has worried global investors.He will chair his first policy meeting on May 19. His first public appearance will be when first quarter growth figures are announced on May 13. Steady hand After Zeti’s steady hand on the tiller for 16 years, businesses and investors will be looking for policy continuity and assurances about the central bank’s independence. So far this year, Malaysia’s currency and bond markets have enjoyed a degree of calm after being battered in 2015 by worries about the impact of tumbling energy prices on the government’s finances and political uncertainty. The ringgit lost nearly 19 percent against the US dollar last year.Zeti, 68, who steps down on April 30, was named as one of the world’s best central bank chiefs by Global Finance magazine in 2009. Muhammad was seen as one of the favourites to take over from Zeti, having been one of her deputies since 2010. During a career spanning 32 years with the central bank, Muhammad held a key role during the Asian Financial Crisis as Managing Director of Danamodal Nasional Berhad, a bank recapitalisation agency. The new governor is a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee and is an independent director on the board of national oil firm Petronas. A chartered accountant and University of Malaya graduate, he holds a master’s degree from Harvard University and a postgraduate diploma in Islamic banking and finance from the International Islamic University Malaysia. South-East Asia’s third-largest economy grew five percent in 2015, slowing from six percent in 2014. In January, Najib revised the 2016 budget to reflect sharply lower oil prices and cut this year’s GDP forecast to 4.0-4.5 percent from 4.0-5.0 percent. Posted in 1MDB Financial Scandal, Bank Negara Malaysia, Finance, Governance, Monetary Policy, Money Laundering, Public Accountability, Public Management, Public Policy, The Ringgit. On US Interest Rates December 11, 2015 by dinobeano by Anatole Kaletsky READ THIS: http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/no-fear-of-fed-interest-rate-increase-by-anatole-kaletsky-2015-11 http://www.projectsyndicate.org The Federal Reserve is almost certain to raise US interest rates at its next policy meeting, on December 15 and 16. The first US rate increase since June 2006 will be a pivotal moment for the global economy, launching what Mohamed El-Erian calls the “great policy divergence,” with repercussions in every region and financial market. The impact will be particularly powerful in emerging countries, where currencies are vulnerable to a rising dollar and tightening liquidity conditions in the US. Project Syndicate’s commentators – some of the world’s preeminent economists and policymakers – have examined the issue from four broad angles. What is the immediate and longer-term outlook for US monetary policy? The Fed’s leaders have repeatedly said that they plan to raise interest rates much more slowly than in previous periods of monetary tightening. Such assurances from central bankers cannot always be trusted, but Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s promises to move more gradually than in the past are credible, because the Fed is genuinely determined to push inflation higher and to ensure that it never again falls much below 2%. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz provides further grounds for discounting the likelihood of faster tightening. Instead of trying to control inflation, according to Stiglitz, the Fed’s main concern now is to reduce unemployment and counteract inequality. To do this, the Fed must continue to stimulate the US economy with easy money. Even the quarter-point rate hike expected at the Fed’s upcoming policy meeting is, in Stiglitz’s view, dangerous and premature. Moreover, while the Fed’s official responsibility is to manage the US economy, its leadership fully understands the international impact of Fed decisions. Thus, Harvard’s Carmen Reinhart, an authority on global debt crises, believes the Fed will “favor gradualism” to avoid wreaking havoc in emerging economies that are overloaded with dollar debts. In a related argument, Barry Eichengreen, the Berkeley economic historian, suggests that US monetary policy is now effectively “Made in China,” because China’s efforts to stabilize the renminbi have already tightened US monetary conditions by the equivalent of the quarter-point rate hike expected on December 16. Is gradualism the right approach? Like Stiglitz, UNCTAD’s Richard Kozul-Wright argues that a rate hike in December would be premature and opposes any tightening at all: If the Fed “follows through on raising interest rates,” this could cause serious trouble for the global economy, and especially emerging markets, because of “the enormous tsunami of debt bearing down on households, businesses, banks, and governments.” But many economists who focus on risks to financial stability believe that the Fed should have tightened rates earlier and now needs to move faster than planned. Gita Gopinath of Harvard University objects to what she calls the Fed’s “dollar distraction,” whereby US policymakers have deviated from their inflation-fighting mandate because of unnecessary concern about the dollar’s strength. In a similar vein, Stephen S. Roach, former chief economist of Morgan Stanley, argues that the Fed has already made a “fatal mistake” by keeping interest rates so low for so long, thereby transforming monetary policy “from an agent of price stability into an engine of financial instability.” Howard Davies, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, points out that it is “justifiable to increase interest rates in response to a credit boom, even though the inflation rate might still be below target.” And Nobel laureate Robert Shiller agrees, warning that excessively low interest rates have created “overheated asset markets – real estate, equities, and long-term bonds – [which] could lead to a major correction and another economic crisis.” On balance, considering that the Fed is under fire from both directions, perhaps the expected timing of a modest tightening of monetary policy is about right, says former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff. He points out that US interest rates will remain low even after several quarter-point increases. The real risk of monetary tightening, he suggests, is political: “If the Fed starts hiking, it will be blamed for absolutely every bad thing that happens in the economy for the next six months to a year, which will happen to coincide with the heart of a US presidential election campaign.” I agree with Rogoff. The coming rate move is now so universally expected that it will have little financial or economic impact. The sense that monetary policy is starting to normalize will help to reassure investors and businesses, thereby dispelling lingering memories of the 2008 financial crisis. Economists are almost unanimous that the main effects of the Fed rate hike will be felt outside the US. Harvard’s Jeffrey Frankel fears a “possible repeat of previous episodes, notably in 1982 and 1994, when the Fed’s policy tightening helped precipitate financial crises in developing countries.” The key problem, says Jose Antonio Ocampo, former UN Under-Secretary for Economic Affairs, is the dollar’s dominant reserve-currency status, which means that monetary policy in emerging economies is overly influenced by the US. In the future, however, this vulnerability will be lessened by the Chinese renminbi’s inclusion in the basket of reserve currencies that the International Monetary Fund uses to set the value of its Special Drawing Right (SDR), says Yu Yongding, Director of Global Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Science. Even in the short term, admission to the SDR could help by convincing markets that China’s currency adjustment in August was not the start of a big devaluation. That would relieve downward pressure on other emerging-market currencies, especially in Asia, according to Lee Jong-Wha, director of Korea University’s Institute of Asia Research. Nouriel Roubini, who famously forecast the 2008 financial crisis, agrees that “a correction has already occurred in emerging markets, limiting the need for further adjustment when the Fed moves.” Turning to the US and Europe, most Project Syndicate commentators, with the notable exception of Stiglitz, believe that the first US rate hike will have limited impact on economic activity directly. Although Shiller and Roach express serious concerns about the buildup of debt and high asset prices in developed countries, both Roubini and Berkeley’s Brad DeLong downplay concerns about financial instability, because interest rates will remain low by historic standards for many years, even after Fed tightening begins. The lessons of zero interest rates Stiglitz criticizes the Fed for neglecting its legal mandate to promote “maximum employment” in favor of a narrow focus on inflation that is no longer relevant. By contrast, I believe that the Fed has effectively abandoned inflation targeting and thereby “buried monetarism,” implying a welcome return to the Keynesian emphasis on minimizing unemployment, even if that means higher inflation. DeLong, however, contends that five years of zero interest rates have failed to end stagnation and believes that the only thing the Fed has effectively abandoned is hope of accelerating economic growth. Instead of giving serious consideration to unfounded theories speculating that excessively low interest rates could, under certain conditions, discourage growth and investment, the Fed should have committed itself even more decisively to zero or even negative rates. Adair Turner, Chairman of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, agrees that more radical policies are needed. To overcome stagnation government should run bigger deficits, financed directly by printing money. To avert financial crises, credit creation by banks needs to be controlled directly or even eliminated altogether, in favor of direct lending to businesses by savers through capital markets. Almost all of these commentators agree that monetary policy should focus on economic growth, not financial stability (tougher regulation is needed to achieve that). Davies disagrees, as do Shiller and Roach, but they fail to explain how growth can be accelerated if monetary policy is tightened to avoid credit bubbles. Meanwhile, economists who believe that further monetary loosening is required to pull the world out of stagnation must look elsewhere. They can pin their hopes on China, where monetary policy will become more expansionary, according to Fudan University’s Zhang Jun, or on Europe, where the European Central Bank is providing increasingly powerful stimulus as monetary union evolves into a “deeper political union,” according to ECB President Mario Draghi. The final bastion of radical monetary-policy experimentation is Japan. Koichi Hamada, chief economic adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, provides a reminder that seems all the more relevant as the US experiment comes to a close: “The belief that monetary policy does not matter is the most dangerous idea in economic history.” Posted in Economy, Federal Reserve Board, Finance, Global Issues, Macroeconomics, Monetary Policy, The Ringgit.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2447
__label__cc	0.633771	0.366229	Visit the Sumter County Museum Amy Holtcamp Discover writers share all of the places, activities and adventure that South Carolina has to offer. Read more from some of South Carolina’s locals and discover what’s happening in the Palmetto State. More from "Amy Holtcamp" Revolutionary War hero Gen. Thomas Sumter is one of South Carolina's most celebrated sons. He gives his name to a county, a city and to the famous Fort Sumter in Charleston. In addition to his heroics on the battlefield, Gen. Sumter is even more famous for another contribution to S.C. culture: his nickname -- the Gamecock -- is the mascot for the University of South Carolina. But Gen. Sumter is just one of the South Carolinians you will learn about at the Sumter County Museum. This museum is actually a complex of several small museums that transport you to different eras of South Carolina life. The first is the splendid Williams-Brice House. Built in 1916 by R. Virginia Moses Phelps (who inherited the property from her father) and her husband, Aaron Cohen Phelps, the house is a wonderful example of Edwardian architecture with its rich woodwork and paneling. Several rooms are decorated in period style. Look for the initials ACP in the tiles of the vestibule. Walk out of the Williams-Brice House and into the back of the property and you step even further back in time. In back of the ornate 20th century house is the Carolina Backcountry Homestead. Comprised of two original buildings that were relocated from southern Sumter County and six reproductions, the homestead brings to life a typical farm community from the years 1750-1850. Touches like the kitchen garden, overflowing with herbs and vegetables, really give you the feeling that you have stumbled upon a working farm and that the settlers, covered in sweat and mud from a day working in the fields, will saunter down the dirt road at any minute. The museum is located at 122 N. Washington St. Look for the big dirt parking lot next to the Williams-Brice House across from the medical complex. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for young people ages 6-17. Make sure to call ahead for information on living history days at the museum, when costumed settlers give demonstrations in the Homestead. The telephone number is (803) 775-0908. For more on the Sumter County Museum and for information on the other facilities like the genealogical center and archives or the Heritage Education Center visit www.sumtercountymuseum.org. Explore Historic Sites Along SC’s Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 7 Revolutionary War Sites in South Carolina’s Olde English District Sumter County Museum The Sumter County Museum interprets the history of Old Sumter District through exhibits, living history and special programming. Located in the c....	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2449
__label__cc	0.637965	0.362035	Free research essays on topics related to: roads People Were Killed Early Morning A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the earths surface. They are sometimes nicknamed twisters because of their shape and because of what they do. The winds in the tornadoes are usually 100 mph or less. In +F 4 's they can exceed 250 mph. They usually stay on a track of a few miles or less and are less than 100 yds. wide. For the development of tornadoes there are a few conditions required. An abundant low-level of moisture and unstable atmosp... Free research essays on topics related to: people were killed, low pressure, early morning, mobile homes, low level Stop At Mcdonalds Aunt Florence Alabama It must have been around eleven o'clock in the morning when I awoke from a stuffy and uncomfortable sleep, in the back of a moving mini-van. My mouth was dry, my nose was sore, and my eyes itched from sleep crust. 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__label__wiki	0.675646	0.675646	Tag Archives: Healthcare Providers A Caregivers Disease Yet again, Ebola has infected a caregiver: a nurse who gave extensive care to Thomas Duncan in Dallas. She wore full protective gear and is not aware of any breach of anti-infection protocol. [NYT 10/13/14] This is worrisome, but consistent with the pattern we have previously noted: How Contagious is Ebola? Update 10/15/14: Another nurse has been diagnosed. This is tragic, and unnecessary, but completely predictable given the criminally shambolic conditions under which Duncan was treated. [AP / Mashable 10/15/14] Obviously, America has to do a lot better. But there’s every reason to think that we will rise to the occasion. What cannot continue is for Ebola patients — especially in the last stage of the illness — to be treated casually or on an ad hoc basis. Ebola will bite you if you don’t respect it! But MSF knows how to handle Ebola patients with minimal risk to caregivers. CDC simply needs to take the lessons of Africa and Spain and Dallas to heart. The solution is simple: All healthcare providers must be trained to identify and isolate potential Ebola patients, with minimal risk to themselves and others, and Confirmed Ebola patients must be treated by fully-trained professionals, with top-notch equipment, in well-designed facilities, following clear and prudent protocols. At the moment there are plenty of beds in the four bio-containment hospitals but at least one hospital should gear up in each major city to be able to safely treat Ebola patients. Full bio-containment isn’t necessary for Ebola. Some facts about Ebola are becoming clear: Those at greatest risk are caregivers — either healthcare providers or those who care for a seriously ill patient in the home. Intense focus and attention to detail are needed to protect a caregiver, especially when a patient is in the last stage of the illness. The African protocol developed by Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (“MSF”) has been extraordinarily successful, although some members of their staff have nevertheless been infected. The protocols used in Spain and in the U.S., as implemented so far, have not given caregivers complete protection. Patients are most infectious in the last stage of the disease. There is no evidence of transmission before a person becomes symptomatic, and even after symptoms begin patients seem to be remarkably non-contagious until the final stage. The main focus should be on where patients are, and who has contact with them, in the final stage of the illness. Corpses are also highly infectious. African customs of washing and touching corpses present a second important channel of infection, that needs to be discouraged. Developed countries should not encounter this issue, however, so long as suitable precautions are taken. These lead to a few specific conclusions: In the developed world the main risk presented by Ebola is to healthcare providers. There are plenty of beds, and nobody is going to try to care for an extremely ill patient in their home. CDC needs to refine its anti-infection protocol and to provide better training and support to hospitals and staff who treat Ebola patients, and similar steps need to be taken in other developed countries. There’s every reason to think that this will happen, and indeed is already happening. Ebola will teach us, as I’m sure it taught MSF in the early outbreaks, what we need to do to stop it. I still see no reason — apart from possible mutation — why the developed world should have any problem snuffing out little Ebola outbreaks as they inevitably occur. (I’m still quite concerned about the ability of other poor countries, with crowded slums, to do the same.) Healthcare providers need to be monitored for 21 days after their last contact with an Ebola patient. Duh! West African healthcare providers also need to be better protected, ideally with identical gear and an identical protocol to those in the developed world. In West Africa the key to stopping Ebola is isolation beds for patients in the last stage of illness. The best feasible standard of care should be provided for humanitarian reasons, but from the perspective of stopping the epidemic the critical element is isolation. The only way to bring the Effective Reproduction Number down below one is to break the cycle of transmission to home caregivers, by isolating patients and caring for them under the anti-infection protocol. Again, this issue has been identified and is being dealt with. The big question is whether beds can be provided fast enough to get ahead of the epidemic. West African funeral practices also need to be addressed, and of course corpses must continue to be buried or cremated, which may prove problematic if the numbers of deaths mount as currently predicted. [NYT 10/14/14] How Contagious is Ebola? Dallas Nurse Ebola is obviously much less contagious than airborne viruses like influenza, and much more contagious than some other viruses, such as HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. What can we say at this point about how contagious Ebola really is? The Official Statements Through mid-September the WHO’s web page included this unfortunate paragraph, which is still widely quoted: The risk of Ebola transmission is low. Becoming infected requires direct, physical contact with the bodily fluids (vomit, faeces, urine, blood, semen, etc.) of people who have been infected with or died from Ebola virus disease (EVD). [WHO 9/16/14] As of September 20 this language had disappeared, and WHO’s current fact sheet has a more detailed and sobering description of how Ebola is transmitted between people: Ebola … spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced. Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola. People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness. [WHO 9/19/14] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Transmission web page roughly parallels WHO’s fact sheet: When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus infected animals Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. Healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected blood or body fluids of sick patients. During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within healthcare settings (such as a clinic or hospital). Exposure to Ebola can occur in healthcare settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective equipment, including masks, gowns, and gloves and eye protection. … Once someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the virus. However, Ebola virus has been found in semen for up to 3 months. People who recover from Ebola are advised to abstain from sex or use condoms for 3 months. [CDC 9/20/14] This post will try to tease out what these texts mean, and how well they square with the way in which the West African epidemic has developed. Public information needs to be clear, simple and not dangerously misleading. But it also tries to avert panic; it isn’t always the “whole truth.” Both WHO and CDC state that contact with bodily fluids, etc. must be “(through broken skin or mucous membranes).” Apart from a cut this refers to the mouth, nose, eyes and anal and genital openings. What neither statement emphasizes is the importance of the hands as a means for the virus to get to a mucous membrane. A touch to the lips or the eye with a contaminated hand could do the trick, as could also a stray droplet of any sort of bodily fluid. The examples given of contaminated surfaces differ oddly between the two descriptions. WHO mentions “bedding and clothing” while CDC mentions “needles and syringes.” Both obviously have the potential for transmission. Possibly the WHO fact sheet is directed to individuals while the CDC was thinking more about healthcare providers. The CDC fact sheet says that “Ebola is not spread through the air.” It is obviously possible for someone to be infected by a droplet that passes “through the air” onto a mucous membrane. Various experiments have shown such transmission between animals in a laboratory setting. CDC acknowledged this in an earlier fact sheet, but explained, “While all Ebola virus species have displayed the ability to be spread through airborne particles (aerosols) under research conditions, this type of spread has not been documented among humans in a real world setting, such as a hospital or household.” [CDC 4/9/10] Ebola is obviously not spreading through the air anywhere near as easily as flu. This is the current phrasing of the CDC guidance for managing ill airplane passengers that originally was cited as evidence that the CDC believed in airborne transmission: “Ebola does NOT spread through the air like flu.” [CDC 9/20/14] The key question is whether Ebola is in fact being transmitted during the current epidemic through the air, and if so how significant this mode of transmission is, and how much it is affected by the condition of the patient. We’ll consider this further below. Mutation could in principle affect contagiousness by air, and we must remain vigilant about this possibility. WHO advises that men use condoms for 7 weeks after recovery, while CDC recommends 3 months. That’s a pretty big difference! The Public Health Agency of Canada states that, “Ebolavirus has been isolated from semen 61 to 82 days after the onset of illness, and transmission through semen has occurred 7 weeks after clinical recovery.” [PHAC 9/20/14] This would seem to be a situation in which WHO is minimizing a risk that might exist for more than 7 weeks. At the moment sexual transmission by survivors is the least of our worries, but it may become important in the final phase of ending the epidemic. The West African Experience The current epidemic has provided a treasure trove of information about how Ebola does — and doesn’t — spread. Hopefully someone is collecting as much of this information as possible for scientific analysis. Only a few specific cases have been well enough described in the press for any conclusions to be drawn by outsiders, however. While anecdotal, they are nevertheless highly suggestive. For this purpose we are as interested in who didn’t get infected as in who did. The Super-Spreader Funeral All cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone have been traced to 14 women who were infected at the funeral of a traditional healer in Guinea. [NYT 8/28/14] It is customary at traditional funerals for people to wash, touch and even kiss the body, so it’s not surprising that they were infected. What’s interesting is that dozens of people attended the funeral — presumably quite a few more than the 40 who agreed to give blood samples — and it’s reasonable to suppose that many of them also had contact with the body. The corpse was clearly quite infectious, but even so it infected only perhaps 1/4 of those who attended the funeral. The Nigerian Outbreak Patrick Sawyer was a sociopath who caused the death of a dozen people, and very nearly unleashed Ebola on the most populous country in Africa. [EbolaStrategy 8/31/14] He was also a naturalized American citizen, and the Coordinator of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Unit of the Liberian Finance Ministry. [Note: Nigeria reported a total of 19 Ebola cases. I’ve been able to identify only 14 from the press. The others may be secondary infections plus a handful of additional primary infections, but they don’t much change the picture painted below. I’ll update this post if I’m able to sort out this discrepancy.] The story begins with Sawyer’s sister, known as Princess, who was bleeding uncontrollably when her fiancé brought her to St. Joseph Catholic hospital in Monrovia. Her symptoms were recognized and hospital staff initially refused to touch her, but the Chief Administrator of the hospital, Brother Patrick Nshamdze, decided to treat her as if she presented a simple case of a miscarriage. [NationalChronicle 7/29/14] [FrontPageAfrica 8/13/14] Princess continued to bleed, however, and she was about to be moved to an isolation ward when Sawyer arrived. “He insisted that she be given a private room and plunked down $500 to secure it. He proceeded to personally change her gown and placed her in a wheelchair for the move. He was seen to get her blood on his own clothes as well as his shoes in the process.” [DailyBeast 8/14/14] Princess died on July 7. Understandably, Sawyer, Nshamdze and other healthcare staff who treated her without precautions became infected. Then the same thing happened when Nshamdze himself fell ill – doctors, nurses, a social worker and a lab technician fell ill. There’s no special information about contagiousness here, however, since there was lots of blood and few precautions. Patrick Sawyer Because of close contact with his sister, Sawyer was monitored daily and told not to leave Liberia. On July 20, after he began showing serious Ebola symptoms, including fever and vomiting, he got on a plane to Lagos, Nigeria, with a layover in Togo, as part of a nine-member ECOWAS delegation to a conference. He vomited repeatedly during the flight, then collapsed in Lagos airport. He was helped into a taxi and taken to First Consultant Hospital, where he initially told the medical staff that he had malaria and denied contact with any Ebola cases. Only two days later was he tested and found tentatively positive for Ebola, at which point he was quarantined. One of the nurses who treated him, Obi Justina Ejelonu, became infected even though: “I never contacted his fluids. I checked his vitals, helped him with his food (he was too weak). … I basically touched where his hands touched and that’s the only contact. Not directly with his fluids. At a stage, he yanked off his infusion and we had blood everywhere on his bed … But the ward maids took care of that and changed his linens with great precaution.” Another hospital source “told [Front Page Africa] that in addition to yanking the infusion tubes, Sawyer took off his pants and urinated on the floor as nurses fled from his presence.” [FrontPageAfrica 8/11/14] He died five days later, on July 25. A doctor who treated him, Dr. Ada Igonoh, also became infected. She gives an extremely detailed account of Sawyer’s stay at her hospital (and of her own illness and recovery) in a moving Front Page Africa article. [FPA 9/18/14] She felt that, “my contact with Sawyer was minimal. I only touched his I.V. fluid bag just that once without gloves. The only time I actually touched him was when I checked his pulse and confirmed him dead, and I wore double gloves and felt adequately protected.” The first several days in which Sawyer was treated for malaria without full precautions could explain her infection, however, as well as that of Dr. A.S. Adadeveoh, who treated Sawyer during the same period. [FPA 8/25/14] “In total, Sawyer reportedly came in direct contact with 59 persons, 44 of whom were at the hospital… Sawyer came in contact with three ECOWAS officials – a driver, a liaison officer and a protocol officer. Also in the list are two nursing staff and five airport handlers.” [FrontPageAfrica 7/31/14] Out of all his 59 contacts Sawyer appears to have directly infected just 5 people: The nurse and two doctors already mentioned, an ECOWAS official who picked Sawyer up at the airport and took him to the hospital, and an ECOWAS diplomat who was part of the group who greeted him on his arrival. All his other contacts did not get infected. That includes both passengers and crew on two flights, during which he was repeatedly vomiting, and everyone else in the Monrovia, Togo and Lagos airports. He was capable of infecting others, obviously, but on balance Sawyer was not very contagious. The ECOWAS Diplomat The ECOWAS diplomat escaped from quarantine in Lagos on July 26, traveled to Port Harcourt, and arranged to receive secret treatment in a hotel room by a local doctor, Iyke Enemuo. The diplomat recovered but the doctor was infected. There’s no indication that any other contacts of the diplomat were infected, however, so once again the healthcare providers bear the brunt of transmission. Apart from infecting Enemuo, the ECOWAS Diplomat was not very contagious. Dr. Iyke Enemuo Dr. Enemuo was yet another sociopath, following in Patrick Sawyer’s footsteps. He kept his contact with the infected ECOWAS diplomat secret and continued to pursue an active medical practice and social life, even after falling ill. WHO recounted the shocking details (apologies for the duplication from my first post): After onset of symptoms, on 11 August, and until 13 August, the physician continued to treat patients at his private clinic, and operated on at least two. On 13 August, his symptoms worsened; he stayed at home and was hospitalized on 16 August. Prior to hospitalization, the physician had numerous contacts with the community, as relatives and friends visited his home to celebrate the birth of a baby. Once hospitalized, he again had numerous contacts with the community, as members of his church visited to perform a healing ritual said to involve the laying on of hands. During his 6 day period of hospitalization, he was attended by the majority of the hospital’s health care staff. On 21 August, he was taken to an ultrasound clinic, where 2 physicians performed an abdominal scan. He died the next day. [WHO 9/3/14] Nigeria had to track some 255 contacts, 60 of whom had high-risk or very high-risk exposure! Of all those many contacts, Dr. Enemuo actually infected only 5 people: his wife (also a doctor), his younger sister, a doctor who treated him at the hospital, a pharmacy technician, and an older woman who shared his hospital room. [NigeriaTimes 9/19/14] [Reuters 9/1/14] He was certainly capable of infecting people, but considering the number of people he was in contact with after falling ill, Dr. Enemuo was not very contagious. Once again, caregivers and immediate family members were at greatest risk. The Senegal Student A 21-year-old college student was under observation in Guinea because he had helped care for several family members who had fallen ill with Ebola. Nevertheless, he traveled in a six-passenger vehicle to Dakar, Senegal, arriving on August 20. He stayed with his uncle in a crowded household for three days, then went to a local hospital, but did not mention his exposure to Ebola. He was initially sent home, but the following day “the Guinean health services reported ‘the disappearance of a person infected with Ebola who reportedly traveled to Senegal,’ according to Senegal’s health minister,” and the student was quarantined. [BBC 8/29/14] [Bloomberg 8/31/14] 67 close contacts were placed under observation: people he was in contact with during his journey, members of his uncle’s extended household, healthcare providers at the hospital, etc. [WHO 9/12/14] The striking feature of this case is that none of the student’s 67 close contacts became infected! This is very different from other situations. My best guess is as follows: The student was never terribly sick, and has fully recovered. Consequently, he may not have had the same viral load as other patients, and may not have been throwing off bodily fluids as prolifically. It’s also possible that the main hospital in Dakar follows more rigorous universal precautions than those in the other affected countries. Whatever the reason, this is a striking instance of how non-contagious Ebola can sometimes be. More than 240 healthcare providers have been infected during the West African epidemic, half of whom have died. [WHO 8/25/14] The great majority were local doctors and nurses who did not wear full protective gear, often because they were not yet aware that a patient had Ebola and sometimes because of a shortage of supplies. In a few cases, however, healthcare providers who were apparently following standard procedure nevertheless became infected. These cases raise concerns about the mode of transmission. Dr. Kent Brantly Brantly became infected working with patients at a Monrovia hospital operated by evangelical Christian organization Samantha’s Purse. He asserts that he followed all CDC recommended procedures, including wearing a standard N-95 face mask, the type also used by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (“MSF”). [MSF 7/28/14] This raises a question of whether Brantly was infected by airborne droplets that passed through his mask. This point is pressed in a tendentious but interesting article, written by a doctor who argues that Ebola healthcare providers should use the more expensive and uncomfortable P-100 (HEPA) face masks to fully protect against airborne droplets. [AmericanThinker 8/24/14] The N-95 mask is designed to block 95% of “solid and water-based particulates (i.e., non-oil aerosols)”. The P-100 (HEPA) face mask blocks 99.97% of particulates and aerosols, whether or not oil-based. [CDC Jan, 1996] Maybe Brantly made some other mistake, of which he wasn’t aware. This seems frighteningly possible, with the odds of an error — small though they may be — relentlessly adding up as he worked day after day in close contact with Ebola patients. Maybe airborne transmission is indeed very rare, but Brantly got unlucky. Maybe airborne transmission is easier than we have thought, and MSF has been very, very lucky. Maybe the virus has mutated to become more easily transmitted by air — though obviously still vastly less easily than the flu. The French MSF Volunteer MSF announced on Sept. 17 that a French volunteer at one of its treatment centers in Monrovia had become infected, despite their strict infection-prevention protocol. She is the first international MSF staff member to be infected in the West African epidemic, although 7 local staff members had previously fallen ill, out of more than 2,000 MSF staff members in the region. The treatment center is turning away new patients pending an investigation into how the volunteer became infected. [Reuters 9/17/14] From one perspective eight people out of 2,000 is less than half of one percent. But, as MSF President Joanne Liu had previously pointed out, the entire control effort can fall apart if healthcare providers feel personally unsafe. We have no further information about how this volunteer may have been infected, but the announcement of the MSF investigation implies that it wasn’t due to anything obvious. Airborne transmission is a possibility. The American Journalist Added 10/6/14: An American journalist, Ashoka Mukpo, tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 2. He believes that he may have become infected when he was splashed while spray-washing a car in which an Ebola patient had died. [ABC 10/6/14] This seems credible and consistent. He is, by the way, being treated in the high-level biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This unit is the largest of four U.S. biocontainment units, and has 10 beds, which means that the U.S. has a total of less than 40 bio-containment beds in the entire country. Hmm… [NPR 10/6/14] Ebola Transmission in the Developed World At this writing there have been only two instances of transmission of Ebola outside of Africa, both involving nurses who cared for Ebola patients in the last stages of the illness. Both wore full anti-infection gear; this is not like the West African cases in which healthcare providers were infected before precautions started being taken, or because proper gear wasn’t available. Both nurses — at least initially — said they were not aware of any breach of the anti-infection protocol. The Spanish Nurse Added 10/6/14: A nurse (more precisely, a volunteer auxiliary nurse) contracted Ebola while treating a Spanish missionary in Madrid’s Carlos III hospital, where he died on Sept. 25. She is the first person known to have contracted Ebola outside of Africa. Reportedly she only entered the patient’s room twice, once after his death. [NYT 10/6/14] We have no information about what precautions the nurse used, and whether a mistake may have been made. Update 10/8/14: The nurse initially said that she had followed the anti-infection protocol to the letter, which would have undermined confidence in the protocol and increased the anxiety of healthcare personnel. She then said that she “might have” touched her face with a contaminated glove as she was taking the protective suit off. [NYT 10/8/14] It’s reassuring — if also a bit too convenient — to have an explanation for how the nurse was contaminated. The infection of the Spanish nurse is worrisome but not inconsistent with the experience in Africa, where hundreds of healthcare workers have contracted Ebola, and several Western medical personnel have been infected without noticing a failure of protocol. We do need to figure out why this is happening, but the extreme infectiousness of corpses and people in the last phase of the disease is known, and there’s nothing about this case which changes the picture. The real issue in her case has nothing to do with contagion: it’s the fact that Spain took nearly a week to test her for Ebola after she reported that she was running a fever. This casual attitude will have to stop! Western countries have ample resources to contain Ebola, but it will bite anyone who treats it with laziness or contempt. The Dallas Nurses Added 10/14/14: Nina Pham, a Dallas nurse who gave extensive care to Thomas Eric Duncan throughout his hospitalization is the first person known to have contracted Ebola in the U.S. As noted above, she was not aware of any breach of protocol. This is of course worrisome, and affords further evidence that the CDC needs to focus more closely on the protocol, and the way in which training is given. But it isn’t a new issue. [NYT 10/13/14] Again, the important issue isn’t contagion, but the fact that Ms. Pham wasn’t monitored as a contact. Fortunately, she self-monitored, detected a low-grade fever, and had herself admitted to the hospital. She tested positive for Ebola on the evening of 10/11. Added 10/20/14: A second nurse who treated Duncan, Amber Joy Vinson, was confirmed as having contracted Ebola on Oct. 15. She had been self-monitoring and had reported a low grade fever, but was nevertheless allowed to fly to Cleveland on Oct. 10 and back to Dallas on Oct. 13. That was obviously stupid, and put at minor risk a large number of people in both cities and on both flights. But once again, the fact that an inadequately trained and protected nurse got infected from a later-stage Ebola patient is nothing new. [NYT 10/20/14] Added 10/29/14: Both nurses have now been declared Ebola-free and discharged from hospital. The Other Contacts of Thomas Eric Duncan Added 10/8/14: It’s too early to say, but the fact that none of Duncan’s other contacts have yet shown symptoms is notable. He was very ill before being taken to the hospital the second time, and lived in close quarters with his girlfriend, her son, and her two nephews. He wasn’t as sick the first time he went to the hospital, but it seem clear that several doctors and nurses were in contact with him without taking exceptional precautions. It would be a remarkable confirmation of how infectious Ebola isn’t if all of these folks escape infection. Added 10/20/14: Happily, nearly all of the 50 contacts with Duncan before his second hospitalization have now completed their 21-day quarantine period, with no Ebola symptoms! As well as being great news for them and for Dallas it confirms once again that Ebola is remarkably noncontagious until the final stage of the illness. Dozens Declared Free of Ebola Risk in Texas [NYT 10/20/14]. One nuance doesn’t change this conclusion, but could lead to a further little outbreak: As noted below, 5% of people infected with Ebola don’t show symptoms until more than 21 days from exposure. [NEJM 9/23/14] If someone released from quarantine turns up with symptoms after the 21-day period CDC might end up with egg on its face, and public confidence could be seriously eroded. I understand why 21 days has been chosen as a way of sending a simple message to the public but taking this approach is a somewhat risky strategy. The Contacts of the Dallas Nurses Added 10/29/14: Nina Pham apparently had only a few contacts, chief among them being her boyfriend. Amber Joy Vinson, however, flew to Cleveland and — after reporting a low-grade fever — back to Dallas. Vinson accordingly placed at theoretical risk a large number of people. It will be interesting to see whether any of these contacts became infected. My own guess — based on the other cases described above — that nobody else will come down with the disease based on contact with either of the nurses. If so, that should alleviate the public’s anxieties, but probably won’t. Here are a few concluding observations: Even though the epidemic is growing exponentially, the individual cases we’ve been able to review support the official position that Ebola is not very contagious, and generally requires contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Even a corpse only infected about a quarter of the attendees at a traditional funeral in which touching the body was customary. Caregivers and immediate family members are at highest risk, and others are at relatively low risk. Infectiousness depends on how ill the patient is, both from the perspective of viral load and the amount and character of emitted bodily fluids. There is no evidence of transmission before the patient becomes symptomatic; very little evidence of transmission before the last stage of the illness; but a high risk of transmission to caregivers and others who have direct contact with a patient during the last stage of illness. It isn’t clear to what extent the virus can be transmitted through the air, but: Casual contact such as sharing an airplane or even mingling in a social setting rarely or never seems to be enough to infect. Added 10/20/14: As noted above it’s astonishing that Duncan’s girlfriend and the three boys who also shared the apartment where Duncan stayed avoided infection. Something is infecting healthcare providers, even when they believe that they are following CDC guidelines. It is urgently necessary to determine why so many healthcare personnel who claim to be following CDC procedures are getting infected. We have to figure out what’s happening with that and fix it, whether or not it involves airborne transmission. Update 10/3/14: A survey article by the WHO Ebola Response Team in the New England Journal of Medicine provides a lot more information, although it doesn’t greatly change our understanding of the situation. [NEJM 9/23/14] Here are a few key points: The mean incubation period is 11 days, and 95% had symptoms within 21 days of exposure, the recommended period for follow-up of contacts. Accordingly, 5% of infected contacts will first present symptoms after follow-up ends. The article estimates the current effective reproduction numbers at 1.81 in Guinea, 1.51 in Liberia and 1.38 in Sierra Leone. This basically means that each infected person is infecting on average between one and two more people, thus causing the epidemic to grow exponentially. See my earlier post, The Ebola Chain Reaction, for a more detailed explanation. The article rather cheerfully comments that : “This means that transmission has to be a little more than halved to achieve control of the epidemic and eventually to eliminate the virus from the human population. Considering the prospects for a novel Ebola vaccine, an immunization coverage exceeding 50% would have the same effect.” Without changes in control measures, their estimated doubling times range between 15 days for Guinea and 30 days for Sierra Leone. Case fatality has been 70% in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in contrast with earlier reports closer to 55%. It was lower in Nigeria but the number of patients was so small that this might be a fluke. Also, here’s a very clear statement, in the Oct. 2 New York Times, of what is considered “direct contact” with the bodily fluids of an Ebola patient: Understanding the Risks of Ebola, and What ‘Direct Contact’ Means Update 10/8/14: An article in the LA Times collects questions about whether Ebola might be more contagious than is currently believed: [LA Times 10/7/14] Mutation is of course a wild card, which could make the virus somewhat or much more contagious. This is one of several good reasons for devoting resources to stopping the epidemic as soon as possible. But I don’t see any evidence of significant change in contagiousness, and nobody is claiming specific evidence of relevant mutations. What we do see is a pattern of poorly-explained infections of healthcare providers, especially when patients are in the last stage of illness. This might involve small highly-infections droplets passing through the air, and conceivably might lead to further tightening of the anti-infection protocol. Added 10/14/14: In any case one must welcome CDC’s plan to improve training and to send a team to any hospital treating an Ebola patient. [NYT 10/13/14] What we do not see is large numbers of infections of people who have casual contact with patients, or who have contact with patients before they have become symptomatic. So long as that pattern holds Western nations should have little difficulty keeping Ebola under control, so long as they treat it with the great respect and vigilance that it deserves. Update 3/24/15: Liberia has identified a single Ebola patient who appears to have been infected by her partner, a male survivor. [NYT 3/24/15] This presumably came through his semen, which is known to contain Ebola virus for several months after recovery. This will make the disease a bit more difficult to eradicate, but is not cause for panic. The fact that just one infection of this type has come to light suggests that this mode of transmission is infrequent. Additionally, now that an example exists one might expect many “discordant couples” (in which the male is a survivor and the female is not) to use condoms, which should further reduce the risk. One question that calls for further research is how long the virus can persist in the semen of a male survivor, and whether a negative semen test is sufficient to make unprotected intercourse safe for the survivor’s partners.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2456
__label__wiki	0.827727	0.827727	The Guardian puts the boot in \| 83 comments (83 topical, editorial, 0 hidden) Re: The Guardian puts the boot in (4.00 / 2) I think the EU's position is a little more nuanced than that. Clearly they are not going to be the ones insisting that the UK must leave if the UK decides that it actually was a bad idea all along. However, I don't think the EU is going to allow the precedent to be set that calling a Mulligan on an Art.50 notice is costless. That would create a world where you can give notice of your intent to leave, faff about wasting everyone's time and attention for two years, and then decide you don't actually like the prospect of leaving under the terms available to you after all. So some kind of concession must be extracted from the UK to allow them to remain at this point. It's possible that simply changing the government will be sufficient, but it's also possible it might not. - Jake Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate. by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Sat Sep 22nd, 2018 at 04:54:37 PM EST You may well be right. IMO it's too early to tell. At the moment we're some way from the UK remaining. But Corbyn has said he supports another referendum, and there are rumours of another GE soon. (Although there always have been rumours of an Autumn election.) So currently it's a remote possibility, but not an impossible one. My best guess is that May is still trying to stall and posture to hide the fact that she's dedicated to a crash-out, and always has been, because that's what she agreed when she was anointed PM. But I could be completely wrong about that - and she really is as incompetent, passive-aggressive, and delusional as she appears to be. by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2018 at 02:40:34 PM EST I am sympathetic to the people's vote campaign but just one question: what do they want to vote on? The real 'final deal' won't be available for years. It will be negotiated in the transition period. The withdrawal agreement is only going to contain a vague declaration about how the final deal is desired to be. But if they wait for the final deal then Remain will no longer be an option because the UK will be legally out by then. Do they want to vote on the withdrawal agreement? That's just a rerun of Remain/Leave dressed up differently. Schengen is toast! by epochepoque on Sun Sep 23rd, 2018 at 03:18:30 PM EST My tentative understanding is that the vote would probably be on The Deal (whatever that turns out to be) vs Remain. Or perhaps The Deal, vs No Deal, vs Remain, with transferable votes. A charitable interpretation of May's actions is that she set up Chequers as The Deal knowing it was impossible, which would leave Remain as the only possible result. But that's more likely to be wishful thinking than reality. Meanwhile rumours of a November election - possibly with a subtext of "This is your referendum" - are intensifying. Of course, that could just be wishful thinking too. In reality no one knows anything - including the people whose job it is to know things. Not everyone agrees. The leader of the union that is Labour's biggest financial backer has said remaining in the EU must not be an option in any new referendum on Brexit. Len McCluskey said it would be "wrong" and would risk pushing Labour voters who had backed Leave in the 2016 referendum to support the Conservatives. by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sun Sep 23rd, 2018 at 04:28:40 PM EST But a "Deal or No Deal" referendum would be pointless, just another example of the UK thinking it's the only player at the table. The EU's position is basically, "If you want to change your mind, we'll entertain that. If you don't, the clock is already running, make a proposal." A "Deal or No Deal" referendum would be seen as nothing but a lame attempt to stave off the deadline, and I don't see the EU being at all interested. by rifek on Thu Sep 27th, 2018 at 12:13:29 AM EST	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2460
__label__cc	0.737612	0.262388	(Redirected from Conference committee) For other uses, see Committee (disambiguation). This article's lead section does not adequately summarize key points of its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. Please discuss this issue on the article's talk page. (June 2018) Committee room, designed 1901, in Halifax Town Hall A committee (or "commission") is a body of one or more persons that is subordinate to a deliberative assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more fully than would be possible if the assembly itself were considering them. Committees may have different functions and their types of work differ depending on the type of the organization and its needs. PurposeEdit A deliberative assembly may form a committee (or "commission") consisting of one or more persons to assist with the work of the assembly.[1] For larger organizations, much work is done in committees.[2] Committees can be a way to formally draw together people of relevant expertise from different parts of an organization who otherwise would not have a good way to share information and coordinate actions. They may have the advantage of widening viewpoints and sharing out responsibilities. They can also be appointed with experts to recommend actions in matters that require specialized knowledge or technical judgment. FunctionsEdit Committees can serve several different functions: In organizations considered too large for all the members to participate in decisions affecting the organization as a whole, a smaller body, such as a board of directors, is given the power to make decisions, spend money, or take actions. A governance committee is formed as a separate committee to review the performance of the board and board policy as well as nominate candidates for the board.[3] Coordination and administration A large body may have smaller committees with more specialized functions. Examples are an audit committee, an elections committee, a finance committee, a fundraising committee, and a program committee. Large conventions or academic conferences are usually organized by a coordinating committee drawn from the membership of the organization. Research and recommendations Committees may be formed to do research and make recommendations on a potential or planned project or change. For example, an organization considering a major capital investment might create a temporary working committee of several people to review options and make recommendations to upper management or the board of directors. A committee on discipline may be used to handle disciplinary procedures on members of the organization.[4] As a tactic for indecision As a means of public relations by sending sensitive, inconvenient, or irrelevant matters to committees, organizations may bypass, stall, or disacknowledge matters without declaring a formal policy of inaction or indifference. However, this could be considered a dilatory tactic.[5] Power and authorityEdit Generally, committees are required to report to their parent body. Committees do not usually have the power to act independently unless the body that created it gives it such power.[2] ProceduresEdit When a committee is formed, a chairman (or "chair" or "chairperson") is designated for the committee.[6] Sometimes a vice-chairman (or similar name) is also appointed.[7] It is common for the committee chairman to organize its meetings. Sometimes these meetings are held through videoconferencing or other means if committee members are not able to attend in person, as may be the case if they are in different parts of the country or the world. The chairman is responsible for running meetings. Duties include keeping the discussion on the appropriate subject, recognizing members to speak, and confirming what the committee has decided (through voting or by unanimous consent). Using Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), committees may follow informal procedures (such as not requiring motions if it's clear what is being discussed).[8] The level of formality depends on the size and type of committee, in which sometimes larger committees considering crucial issues may require more formal processes. Minutes are a record of the decisions at meetings. They can be taken by a person designated as the secretary. For most organizations, committees are not required to keep formal minutes.[8] However, some bodies require that committees take minutes, especially if the committees are public ones subject to open meeting laws. Committees may meet on a regular basis, such as weekly or more often, or meetings may be called irregularly as the need arises. The frequency of the meetings depends on the work of the committee and the needs of the parent body. When the committee completes its work, it provides the results in a report to its parent body. The report may include the methods used, the facts uncovered, the conclusions reached, and any recommendations.[9] If the committee is not ready to report, it may provide a partial report or the assembly may discharge the committee of the matter so that the assembly can handle it. Also, if members of the committee are not performing their duties, they may be removed or replaced by the appointing power.[10] Whether the committee continues to exist after presenting its report depends on the type of committee. Generally, committees established by the bylaws or the organization's rules continue to exist, while committees formed for a particular purpose go out of existence after the final report. Commit (motion)Edit Commit (RONR) Subsidiary motion Requires second? Debatable? Yes, although debate on the motion must be confined to its merits only, and cannot go into the main question except as necessary for debate of the immediately pending question. May be reconsidered? Yes, if a committee has not begun consideration of the question. A negative vote on this motion can be reconsidered only until such time as progress in business or debate has made it essentially a new question. Amendable? Vote required In parliamentary procedure, the motion to commit (or refer) is used to refer another motion—usually a main motion—to a committee. A motion to commit should specify to which committee the matter is to be referred, and if the committee is a special committee appointed specifically for purposes of the referred motion, it should also specify the number of committee members and the method of their selection, unless that is specified in the bylaws.[11] Any proposed amendments to the main motion that are pending at the time the motion is referred to a committee go to the committee as well.[10] Once referred, but before the committee reports its recommendations back to the assembly, the referred motion may be removed from the committee's consideration by the motion to discharge a committee. RecommitEdit In the United States House of Representatives, a motion to recommit can be made with or without instructions. If the motion is made without instructions, the bill or resolution is simply sent back to the committee. If the motion is made with instructions and the motion is agreed to, the chairman of the committee in question will immediately report the bill or resolution back to the whole House with the new language. In this sense, a motion to recommit with instructions is effectively an amendment.[12] Variations for full assembly considerationEdit In Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), the motion to commit has three variations which do not turn a question over to a smaller group, but simply permit the assembly's full meeting body to consider it with the greater freedom of debate that is allowed to committees. These forms are to go into a committee of the whole, to go into a quasi-committee of the whole, and to consider informally. Passing any of these motions removes the limitations on the number of times a member can speak.[13] The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure has informal consideration, but does not have "committee of the whole" and "quasi committee of the whole".[14] Discharge a committeeEdit Discharge a committee (RONR) Motion that brings a question again before the assembly In order when another has the floor? Yes; debate can go into question in hands of the committee Negative vote only In Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, the motion to discharge a committee is used to take a matter out of a committee's hands before the committee has made a final report on it. A committee can use this motion to discharge a subcommittee.[15] The vote required is a majority vote if the committee has failed to report at the prescribed time or if the assembly is considering a partial report of the committee.[16] Otherwise, it requires a majority vote with previous notice; or a two-thirds vote; or a majority of the entire membership.[16] Under The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, the assembly that has referred a motion or a matter to a committee may, by a majority vote, withdraw it at any time from the committee, refer it to another committee, or decide the question itself.[17] TypesEdit Executive committeeEdit Organizations with a large board of directors (such as international labor unions, large corporations with thousands of stock holders or national and international organizations) may have a smaller body of the board, called an executive committee, handle its business. The executive committee may function more like a board than an actual committee.[18][19] In any case, an executive committee can only be established through a specific provision in the charter or bylaws of the entity (i.e. a board cannot appoint an executive committee without authorization to do so).[18] Members of the executive committee may be elected by the overall franchised membership or by the board, depending on the rules of the organization. However formed, an executive committee only has such powers and authority that the governing documents of the organization give it. In some cases, it may be empowered to act on behalf of the board or organization, while in others, it may only be able to make recommendations.[18] Conference committeeEdit Governments at the national level may have a conference committee. A conference committee in a bicameral legislature is responsible for creating a compromise version of a particular bill when each house has passed a different version. A conference committee in the United States Congress is a temporary panel of negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unless one chamber decides to accept the other's original bill, the compromise version must pass both chambers after leaving the conference committee. The committee is usually composed of the senior members of the standing committees that originally considered the legislation in each chamber. Other countries that use conference committees include France, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland.[20] In Canada, conference committees have been unused since 1947.[21] In the European Union (EU) legislative process, a similar committee is called a Conciliation Committee, which carries out the Triologue negotiations in case the Council does not agree with a text amended and adopted by the European Parliament at a second reading. Different use of termEdit In organizations, the term "conference committee" may have a different meaning. This meaning may be associated with the conferences, or conventions, that the organization puts together. The committees that are responsible for organizing such events may be called "conference committees". Standing committeeEdit A standing committee is a subunit of a political or deliberative body established in a permanent fashion to aid the parent assembly in accomplishing its duties, for example by meeting on a specific, permanent policy domain (e.g. defence, health, or trade and industry). A standing committee is granted its scope and powers over a particular area of business by the governing documents.[22] Standing committees meet on a regular or irregular basis depending on their function, and retain any power or oversight originally given them until subsequent official actions of the governing body (through changes to law or by-laws) disbands the committee. LegislaturesEdit Most governmental legislative committees are standing committees. The phrase is used in the legislatures of the following countries: Australian House of Representatives committees Australian Senate committees List of committees of the Canadian House of Commons Standing committee (Canada) Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China List of standing committees of the Icelandic parliament Standing committee (India) Dewan Rakyat committees Dewan Negara committees Public bill committee Standing committee (United States Congress) Under the laws of the United States of America, a standing committee is a Congressional committee permanently authorized by United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 greatly reduced the number of committees, and set up the legislative committee structure still in use today, as modified by authorized changes via the orderly mechanism of rules changes. Examples in organizationsEdit Examples of standing committees in organizations are an audit committee, an elections committee, a finance committee, a fundraising committee, a governance committee, and a program committee. Typically, the standing committees perform their work throughout the year and present their reports at an annual meeting of the organization.[23] These committees continue to exist after presenting their reports, although the membership in the committees may change. Nominating committeeEdit A nominating committee (or nominations committee) is a group formed for the purpose of nominating candidates for office or the board in an organization.[24] It may consist of members from inside the organization. Sometimes a governance committee takes the role of a nominating committee. Depending on the organization, this committee may be empowered to actively seek out candidates or may only have the power to receive nominations from members and verify that the candidates are eligible. A nominating committee works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either nominated or "written in" outside of the committee's choices, are then voted into office by the membership. It is a part of governance methods often employed by corporate bodies, business entities, and social and sporting groups, especially clubs. The intention is that they be made up of qualified and knowledgeable people representing the best interests of the membership. In the case of business entities, their directors will often be brought in from outside, and receive a benefit for their expertise. In the context of nominations for awards, a nominating committee can also be formed for the purpose of nominating persons or things held up for judgment by others as to their comparative quality or value, especially for the purpose of bestowing awards in the arts, or in application to industry's products and services. The objective being to update, set, and maintain high and possibly new standards. Steering committeeEdit A steering committee is a committee that provides guidance, direction and control to a project within an organization.[25] The term is derived from the steering mechanism that changes the steering angle of a vehicle's wheels. Project steering committees are frequently used for guiding and monitoring IT projects in large organizations, as part of project governance. The functions of the committee might include building a business case for the project, planning, providing assistance and guidance, monitoring the progress, controlling the project scope and resolving conflicts. As with other committees, the specific duties and role of the steering committee vary among organizations. Special committeeEdit See also: Select committee A special committee (or working, select, or ad hoc committee) is established to accomplish a particular task or to oversee a specific area in need of control or oversight.[26] Many are research or coordination committees in type or purpose, and are temporary. Some are a sub-group of a larger society with a particular area of interest which are organized to meet and discuss matters pertaining to their interests. For example, a group of astronomers might be organized to discuss how to get the larger society to address near earth objects. A subgroup of engineers and scientists of a large project's development team could be organized to solve some particular issue with offsetting considerations and trade-offs. Once the committee makes its final report to its parent body, the special committee ceases to exist.[26] SubcommitteeEdit A committee that is a subset of a larger committee is called a subcommittee. Committees that have a large workload may form subcommittees to further divide the work. Subcommittees report to the parent committee and not to the general assembly.[8][27] Committee of the wholeEdit Main article: Committee of the whole When the entire assembly meets as a committee to discuss or debate, this is called a "committee of the whole". This is not an actual committee but a procedural device that is more commonly used in legislative bodies. Central CommitteeEdit Main article: Central Committee Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the 20th century and of surviving communist states in the 21st century. In such party organizations the committee would typically be made up of delegates elected at a party congress. In those states where it constituted the state power, the Central Committee made decisions for the party between congresses, and usually was (at least nominally) responsible for electing the Politburo. In non-ruling Communist parties, the Central Committee is usually understood by the party membership to be the ultimate decision-making authority between Congresses once the process of democratic centralism has led to an agreed-upon position List of IEC technical committees List of the Czech Republic Senate committees Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Saudi Arabia) Parliamentary Committees of the United Kingdom Popular Committees (disambiguation) Revolutionary committee (disambiguation) Standing Committees of the European Parliament ^ Robert, Henry M.; et al. (2011). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. p. 489. ISBN 978-0-306-82020-5. ^ a b Robert 2011, p. 490 ^ Walker, Dick; Bauser, John (April 2012). "So You Need (to Improve) a Governance Committee?". guidestar.org. GuideStar. Retrieved 2015-12-17. ^ Robert 2011, p. 669 ^ a b c Robert III, Henry M.; et al. (2011). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-306-82019-9. Archived from the original on 2017-08-11. ^ Robert III 2011, p. 164 ^ Lynch, Megan S. (January 6, 2016). The Motion to Recommit in the House of Representatives (PDF). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 31 January 2018. ^ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th ed., p. 232, 233, 236 ^ Robert 2011, pp. 310–311 ^ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th ed., p. 57 ^ a b c Robert 2011, p. 485 ^ Tsebelis, George; Money, Jeannette (1997). Bicameralism. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 178–179. ISBN 9780521589727. ^ Hays, Hon. Dan (Autumn 2008). "Reviving Conference Committees". revparl.ca. Canadian Parliamentary Review. Retrieved 2015-12-21. ^ Mcleod (2008). Management Information Systems (10 ed.). Pearson Education. p. 201. ISBN 978-81-317-1949-7. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Committee&oldid=905470225#Conference_committee"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2463
__label__wiki	0.985124	0.985124	Elgin railway station This article is about the railway station in Scotland. For the station in Illinois, see Elgin station (Illinois). Elgin railway station is a railway station serving the town of Elgin, Moray in Scotland. The station is managed by Abellio ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line. Scottish Gaelic: Eilginn[1] Elgin railway station, looking towards Inverness NJ218621 Abellio ScotRail Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections from National Rail Enquiries Annual rail passenger usage* 0.335 million GNSR station opened Highland station opened GNSR station closed Highland station rebuilt National Rail – UK railway stations * Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Elgin from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year. The station has two platforms linked by a footbridge, and a booking office/waiting room with a vending machine. One of the route's passing loops is located here, under the control of Inverness Signalling Centre (which also supervises an adjacent level crossing through CCTV). Elgin West signal box was the most northerly manual box on the UK railway network (all those to the north of Inverness having been closed back in the 1980s when the station area was resignalled and RETB working introduced on the Kyle and Far North lines)[2], until it closed along with other boxes on the line on 7th October 2017. Main article: Morayshire Railway Elgin was formerly served by two stations, one owned by the Highland Railway (first opened by the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway and known as Elgin West) and one by the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR), which was first opened by the Morayshire Railway. The latter's lines to Lossiemouth and Craigellachie (where it joined the Strathspey Railway (GNoSR)) were subsequently joined by the GNSR Morayshire Coast line in 1886/7. All three of the GNSR routes were closed in the 1960s as a result of the Beeching Axe, with the Lossiemouth branch the first to go in April 1964 and the other two routes following in May 1968.[3] Both stations were located about one mile to the south of Elgin town centre, which made them inconvenient for local journeys, e.g. to Lossiemouth, and bus services soon eliminated much of the local passenger traffic - passengers would generally only use the train service if they were connecting to long-distance trains. The stations were less than 500 metres apart and linked by a footpath. The present station, formerly the West (ex-Highland) station, opened on 25 March 1858[4] was retained and was rebuilt in a modern style by British Rail in 1990. The GNSR station (known as Elgin East), opened on 10 August 1852, was closed with the end of services on the coast and Craigellachie lines on 6 May 1968.[4] The GNSR station building is still used as office accommodation and stands on the site of the original Morayshire Railway station. A sizeable goods yard is still in operation on this site. ServicesEdit The basic service at the station is (roughly) two-hourly in each direction (with peak extras) - west to Inverness and east to Aberdeen, though a small number of trains also start/terminate here from the Inverness direction. The first eastbound train each weekday continues through to Dundee and Edinburgh Waverley, with a balancing service in the opposite direction in the late evening. A single train per day terminates at Elgin having come from Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast via Inverness. On Sundays, there are five trains each way to the main termini (one of which runs through to Glasgow Queen Street via Aberdeen) and two from Glasgow via Inverness that terminate here.[5] Transport Scotland and Scotrail have plans to improve service levels to Forres, Nairn and Inverness (to an base hourly frequency) from 2018.[6] Infrastructure ImprovementsEdit As well as the aforementioned timetable improvements, Transport Scotland agreed in 2014 to fund a £170 million infrastructure upgrade project for the line. This included signalling improvements, a longer loop and platform extensions for Elgin.[7] A 10-day engineering blockade between Keith and Inverness saw the signalling and track improvements both here and Forres completed, with the Elgin loop extended by 400m and new colour light signals commissioned under the control of the signalling centre at Inverness. The level crossing was also converted to remote operation by CCTV from the location. The line reopened as scheduled on 17 October 2017. ^ Brailsford 2017, Gaelic/English Station Index. ^ Railscot - Elgin West signal box www.railbrit.co.uk; Retrieved 2013-12-22 ^ Railscot: Chronology - Morayshire Railway www.railbrit.co.uk; Retrieved 2013-12-22 ^ a b Butt (1995). Page 90. ^ GB National Rail Timetable May 2017 Edition, Table 240 ^ "‘Rail revolution’ means 200 more services and 20,000 more seats for Scots passengers" Archived 20 August 2016 at the Wayback MachineTransport Scotland press release 15 March 2016; Retrieved 19 August 2016 ^ "Millions to be spent on rail line upgrade" Paterson, Laura, The Press and Journal news article 29 March 2014; Retrieved 19 August 2016 Brailsford, Martyn, ed. (December 2017) [1987]. Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-9-8. Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. Elgin railway station video Railscot - Elgin West Photos of the disused station & yard at Elgin East (Railscot) Preceding station Following station Keith Abellio ScotRail Aberdeen to Inverness Line Forres Historical railways Lhanbryde Line open; station closed Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway Mosstowie Line open; station closed Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elgin railway station. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elgin_railway_station&oldid=898159559"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2464
__label__wiki	0.918359	0.918359	Pierre André Latreille "Latreille" redirects here. For the surname, see Latreille (surname). Pierre André Latreille (29 November 1762 – 6 February 1833) was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare beetle species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis. Brive-la-Gaillarde, Corrèze 6 February 1833(1833-02-06) (aged 70) University of Paris Entomology, arachnology, carcinology Author abbrev. (zoology) Latreille He published his first important work in 1796 (Précis des caractères génériques des insectes), and was eventually employed by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. His foresighted work on arthropod systematics and taxonomy gained him respect and accolades, including being asked to write the volume on arthropods for George Cuvier's monumental work, Le Règne Animal, the only part not by Cuvier himself. Latreille was considered the foremost entomologist of his time, and was described by one of his pupils as "the prince of entomologists". Latreille's birthplace in Brive-la-Gaillarde Pierre André Latreille was born on 29 November 1762 in the town of Brive, then in the province of Limousin, as the illegitimate child of Jean Joseph Sahuguet d'Amarzit, général baron d'Espagnac, who never recognised him, and an unknown mother, who abandoned him at birth; the surname "Latreille" was formally granted to him in 1813, and derives from a nickname of unclear provenance.[1] Latreille, effectively orphaned from his earliest age, but had influential protectors – first a physician, then a merchant from Brive, and later a baron and his family (after the baron's death), who brought him to Paris in 1778.[2] He studied initially in Brive and in Paris at the Collège du Cardinal-Lemoine attached to the University of Paris to become a priest.[1] He entered the Grand Séminaire of Limoges in 1780, and left as a deacon in 1786. Despite being qualified to preach, Latreille later wrote that he had never carried out his functions as a minister, although for a few years he signed the letters he wrote "l'Abbé Latreille" ("the Reverend Latreille") or "Latreille, Prêtre" ("Latreille, Priest").[1] Even during his studies, Latreille had taken on an interest in natural history, visiting the Jardin du Roi planted by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, and catching insects around Paris. He received lessons on botany from René Just Haüy, which brought him in contact with Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.[1] Necrobia ruficollisEdit Discovering Necrobia ruficollis while in prison saved Latreille's life. After the fall of the Ancien Régime and the start of the French Revolution, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was declared in 1790, which required priests to swear an oath of allegiance to the state. Latreille failed to do so and was therefore imprisoned in November 1793 under threat of execution.[1] When the prison's doctor inspected the prisoners, he was surprised to find Latreille scrutinising a beetle on the dungeon floor.[2] When Latreille explained that it was a rare insect, the physician was impressed, and sent the insect to a 15-year-old local naturalist, Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent. Bory de St.-Vincent knew Latreille's work, and managed to obtain the release of Latreille and one of his cell-mates.[2] All the other inmates were dead within one month.[2] The beetle had been described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775,[3] but recognising it had saved Latreille's life. Thereafter, Latreille lived as a teacher and corresponded with various entomologists, including Fabricius. In 1796, and with Fabricius' encouragement, Latreille published his Précis des caractères génériques des insectes at his own expense. He was briefly placed under house arrest in 1797, and his books were confiscated, but the influence of Georges Cuvier, Bernard Germain de Lacépède and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (who all held chairs of zoology at the recently instituted Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle) succeeded in freeing Latreille.[1] In 1798, Latreille was appointed to the museum, where he worked alongside Lamarck, curating the arthropod collections, and published a number of zoological works.[1] First EmpireEdit Following the death of Guillaume-Antoine Olivier in 1814, Latreille succeeded him as titular member of the Académie des sciences de l'Institut de France.[1] In the following few years, Latreille was especially productive, producing important papers for the Mémoires du Muséum, all of the volume on arthropods for George Cuvier's Le Règne Animal ("The animal kingdom"), and hundreds of entries in the Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle on entomological subjects.[1] As Lamarck became blind, Latreille took on an increasing proportion of his teaching and research work. In 1821, Latreille was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur.[1] In 1829 he succeeded Lamarck as professor of entomology.[4] Later yearsEdit From 1824, Latreille's health deteriorated. He handed his lectures over to Jean Victoire Audouin and took on several assistants for his research work, including Amédée Louis Michel Lepeletier, Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville and Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville.[1] He was instrumental in the founding of the Société entomologique de France, and served as its honorary president.[1] Latreille's wife became ill in 1830 and died in May of that year; the date of Latreille's marriage is unclear, and his request to be released from his vow of celibacy was never acknowledged.[1] He resigned his position at the museum on 10 April 1832, in order to move to the country and thereby avoid the cholera epidemic. He returned to Paris in November, and died of bladder disease on 6 February 1833.[1] He had no children but was survived by a niece whom he had adopted.[2] CommemorationEdit A 3D model based on a micro-CT scan of the polychaete worm Lumbrineris latreilli, which is named after Latreille. The Société entomologique raised the money to pay for a monument to Latreille. This was erected over Latreille's grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and comprised a 9-foot (2.7 m) obelisk with various inscriptions, including one to the beetle which had saved Latreille's life: "Necrobia ruficollis Latreillii salvator" ("Necrobia ruficollis, Latreille's saviour").[2] As testimony to the high esteem in which Latreille was held, many books were dedicated to him, and up to 163 species were named in his honour between 1798 and 1850.[1] Taxa commemorating Latreille include:[5] Lumbrineris latreilli Audouin & H. Milne-Edwards, 1833 Cecrops latreillii Leach, 1816 Apseudes latreillii (H. Milne-Edwards, 1828) Orbinia latreillii (Audouin & H. Milne-Edwards, 1833) Latreillia Roux, 1830 Cilicaea latreillei Leach, 1818 Bittium latreillii (Payraudeau, 1826) Macrophthalmus latreillei (Desmarest, 1822) Eurypodius latreillei Guérin, 1828 Sphex latreillei Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1831 WorkEdit See also: Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Latreille named the rough woodlouse Porcellio scaber in 1804, and also established the genus Porcellio (1804), the sub-order Oniscidea (1802), the order Isopoda (1817) and the class Malacostraca (1802). Latreille produced a significant body of scientific work, extending across several fields. He was described by Johan Christian Fabricius as entomologorum nostri aevi princeps ("the foremost entomologist of our time"), and by Jean Victoire Audouin as Entomologiae Princeps ("the prince of entomology").[1] Taxonomy and systematicsEdit Latreille was significant as the first person to attempt a natural classification of the arthropods.[6] His "eclectic method" of systematics incorporated evidence from all available characters without assuming a pre-defined goal; Latreille repeatedly dismissed anthropocentrism and teleology.[1] As well as many species and countless genera, the names of many higher taxa are also attributable to Latreille,[1] including Thysanura, Siphonaptera, Pycnogonida, Ostracoda, Stomatopoda, Decapoda, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Xiphosura, Melipona and Myriapoda. TypificationEdit Although Latreille named many species, his primary interest was in describing genera.[1] He introduced the concept of the "type species", a species to which the name of a genus is firmly attached.[1] Similarly, he favoured the method of naming families after one of the constituent genera, rather than some defining feature of the group, implicitly designating a type genus for the family.[1] ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Claude Dupuis (1974). "Pierre André Latreille (1762–1833): the foremost entomologist of his time" (PDF). Annual Review of Entomology. 19: 1–14. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.19.010174.000245. ^ a b c d e f David M. Damkaer (2002). "A celebration of Crustacea". The Copepodologist's Cabinet: A Biographical and Bibliographical History, Volume 1. Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society, Volume 240. American Philosophical Society. pp. 114–130. ISBN 978-0-87169-240-5. ^ Lúcia M. Almeida & Kleber M. Mise (2009). "Diagnosis and key of the main families and species of South American Coleoptera of forensic importance". Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. 53 (2): 227–244. doi:10.1590/S0085-56262009000200006. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pierre-André Latreille" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. ^ Hans G. Hansson. "Pierre André Latreille". Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names. Göteborgs Universitet. Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011. ^ David A. Grimaldi & Michael S. Engel (2005). "Diversity and evolution". Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–41. ISBN 978-0-521-82149-0. Works by Pierre André Latreille at the Biodiversity Heritage Library Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pierre_André_Latreille&oldid=903622196"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2465
__label__wiki	0.908698	0.908698	Wife of Jailed Chinese Rights Lawyer ‘Stunned’ by Video of Jailed Husband Lu Xi and Jia Ao \| Radio Free Asia The wife of jailed human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang has set out on another campaign to find her husband, starting on a Chinese lovers’festival, only to be shown video footage of Wang which she described as “very worrying.” Li Wenzu met with authorities at the Linyi Prison in the eastern province of Shandong on Monday. During the last of four conversations, she was shown a three-minute video of her husband–her first view of Wang since his detention nearly four years ago–which she said left her “stunned,” with her “heart bleeding.” “I saw that Wang Quanzhang has obviously gotten much thinner and looks much older and greyer,” Li said in a statement via Twitter. “He seemed quite spaced out, and his responses were slow and hesitant.” “When he speaks, his eyes flick from one place to another; when he finishes saying one thing, it takes him ages to stammer out the next sentences,” she said. Li had continued to insist on a face-to-face meeting with Wang during four meetings with prison leaders, she said. She said she had chosen the day for its significance for lovers, because “520” sounds similar to the Chinese for “I love you.” “It’s May 20, 2019, and today is the 1,410th day that Wang Quanzhang has been missing,” Li told RFA. “It is also the first day of the second phase of our search for Wang Quanzhang.” Wang recently began serving a four-and-a-half year jail term handed down on Jan. 28 by the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, which found him guilty of “subversion of state power.” The verdict and sentence followed repeated delays, resulting in Wang being held in pretrial detention for more than three years with no access to a lawyer or family visits. Rights groups say there are concerns that Wang may have been subjected to torture or another mistreatment in detention, as he was detained incommunicado for such a long period of time, and that this may be the reason behind officials’ insistence on secrecy. During that time, the authorities failed to provide a proper account of Wang’s prolonged detention to the public, including Wang’s family and family-appointed defense lawyers. Since his transfer to Linyi Prison in the eastern province of Shandong, Li has received letters purportedly from Wang telling her not to try to visit him because of “renovations” at the prison reception center. So Li took matters into her own hands, continuing her campaign to see her husband by traveling uninvited to the prison gates. “We’re outside the gates of the Linyi Prison Visitor Center right now,” Li said in a video posted to her Twitter account. “The door to the visitor center is shut fast, and there’s a notice saying that it’s undergoing an upgrade and that it’s temporarily closed for visiting purposes.” She said a couple of special services police officers had been guarding the building and told her to speak to staff in the main lobby of the prison to fill out an application for a visit. “Shortly after that, they got a phone call, and then both special police officers left pretty quickly,” Li said. She then took their advice and continued to request a meeting with Wang. Prison authorities told her she should come back on June 20, well after the politically sensitive 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. They also said she could request a video link-up with Wang before that date. U.S.-based legal scholar Chen Guangcheng, who was held in the same prison during his jail term, said the accommodation for newly arrived prisoners is located in two blocks on the other side of the north wall, not far from the street. “When I first got there, I would hear the food hawkers on the other side of the wall shouting out ‘Rice dumplings! Tea-soaked eggs! Peanut milk!’ every morning,” Chen wrote in a recent commentary for RFA’s Mandarin Service. “The visitor room is located in the administrative block on the street outside the prison wall, some 30 meters away,” he said. “If someone stood there and yelled Wang Quanzhang’s name, he would definitely be able to hear it, especially between 5.00 and 6.00 a.m.” Chen called on the prison guards to be slow to follow orders to mistreat Wang. “Not acting on behalf of evil is good, in the same way, that not acting on behalf of good is evil,” Chen wrote. “The best good you can do for human rights defenders is to refuse to carry out evil deeds towards them.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2466
__label__wiki	0.682249	0.682249	Annona senegalensis African custard-apple Annona senegalensis fruit on a stem, with leaves near Fada N'gourma in Burkina Faso. Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Magnoliids Order: Magnoliales Family: Annonaceae Genus: Annona A. senegalensis Pers.[1] Annona senegalensis, commonly known as African custard-apple,[2] wild custard apple, wild soursop, sunkungo (Mandinka language), and dorgot (Wolof language)[3] is a species of flowering plant in the custard apple family, Annonaceae. The specific epithet, senegalensis, translates to mean "of Senegal", the country where the type specimen was collected.[4] A traditional food plant in Africa, the fruits of A. senegalensis have the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care. Well known where it grows naturally, it is largely unheard of elsewhere.[2] 2 Habitat 4 Uses 5 Anthracnose Annona senegalensis takes the form of either a shrub or small tree, growing between two and six meters tall. Occasionally, it may become as tall as 11 m.[4] It has bark of smooth or coarse texture, that can be a gray-silver or gray-brown. It is leaf-scarred, with nearly round flaking, showing lighter-hued spaces of under bark.[4] Branches have thick, gray, brown or yellow tomentum when new, but this is later shed with age.[4] Its green to blue-green leaves are alternate, simple, oblong to ovate to elliptic, from 6–18.5 long by 2.5–11.5 cm wide, with upper sides nearly hairless, but often hairy on the undersides, green to reddish, aracnose veins on both surfaces, with rounded to slightly notched apices. The leaf base is squared or barely lobeliar. The leaf margin is entire. Stout petioles are 0.5–2.5 cm long.[4] Flowers mature to up to 3 cm in diameter, on 2 cm stalks, either singular, or two to four, ascending from the leaf axils. Six thick, creamy or xanthate petals display in double whorls, and green on the outside, but either creamy or sanguine within; each is roughly 0.8–1.5 by 0.9–1.1 centimetres (0.31–0.59 by 0.35–0.43 in), hairless or somewhat fuzzy. Petals' inner whorls curve over its stamens and ovary, three loose sepals are ovalish, and smaller than the petals (3–4 by 4–5 mm). The stamens range from 1.7 to 2.5 millimetres (0.067 to 0.098 in) long.[4] The plant flowers from approximately April through June.[3] Its pollen is shed as permanent tetrads.[5] Fruits are formed of numerous fused, fleshy, bumpy, ovaform or globular carpels about 2.5–5 by 2.5–4 centimetres (0.98–1.97 by 0.98–1.57 in). They are green when young, ripening to yellow, and eventually to orange, packed with many burnt-orange-colored, oblong, cylindrical seeds. The fruit stalk is 1.5–5 centimetres (0.59–1.97 in) long.[4] A. senegalensis is generally pollinated by several species of beetle, but can be hand pollinated when grown as a crop plant. Its seed viability usually lasts no more than six months.[4] Habitat[edit] A. senegalensis tends to grow in semiarid to subhumid regions adjacent to the coast, often, but not exclusively, on coral-based rocks with mostly sandy, loamy soils, from sea level up to 2400 meters, at mean temperatures between 17 and 30 °C, and mean rainfall between 700 and 2,500 millimetres (28 and 98 in). They are often solitary plants within woodland savannah understory, also frequently in swamp forests, or riverbanks, or on former cropland left fallow for an extended period.[4] It is native to tropical east and northeast, west and west-central, and southern Africa, as well as southern subtropical Africa, and islands in the western Indian Ocean. Specific to the nation of South Africa, it is found in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.[4] A. senegalensis has become naturalized in parts of India.[4]It is also found in the islands of Maldives. Uses[edit] This section needs more medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. Please review the contents of the section and add the appropriate references if you can. Unsourced or poorly sourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2017) The primary use of this versatile plant is for food, but it has applications in numerous aspects of human endeavor, and every part of the plant has unique properties and uses.[4] The flowers, leaves and fruit are edible and culinary: white fruit pulp has a mild, pineapple-like flavor. Flowers are added to spice or garnish meals; leaves are eaten by humans as vegetables, or grazed by livestock.[4] Leaves are also part of the diet of the West African giraffe.[6] The leaves are also used to create a general health tonic, in the treatment of pneumonia, and as mattress and pillow stuffing. Specific to Sudan, leaves are boiled in the making of perfume.[4] Bark can be processed to produce yellow-brown dye, insecticide, or medicine for treating a wide array of ailments, including worms parasitic on the intestines or flesh (notably guinea worms), diarrhea, gastroenteritis, lung infections, toothaches, and even snakebites. Natural gum in the bark is used to close open wounds.[4] Roots are also used medicinally in treating a gamut of conditions, from dizziness and indigestion to chest colds to venereal diseases.[4] Suckering shoots provide binding fibers, and the malleable, pale brown to white wood is used to carve tool handles, or fashioned into poles. Wood ash is an admixture to chewing tobacco and snuff, and also in soap production as solvent.[4] The essential oils in the fruits and leaves are valued for their organic chemical constituents: car-3-ene (in fruit) and linalool (from leaves).[4] Certain parts of A. senegalensis are used in treating skin or eye disorders.[4] Many South Africans believe the roots can cure insanity. Some Mozambicans feed them to infants to wean them from their mother's breast.[4] Anthracnose[edit] Like other species within the genus Anonna, A. senegalensis is commonly afflicted by anthracnose, brought on by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum gloesporioides, which leads to leaf drop, eventually followed by mummification of its fruit. Controls often employed against the disease include spray applications of fermate or phygon.[4] ^ A. senegalensis was originally described and published in Synopsis Plantarum 2(1): 95. 1806. ^ a b National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Custard Apples". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa. 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. ^ a b Jones, Michael (1994). Flowering plants of the Gambia. A.A. Balkema. p. 19. ISBN 9054101970. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Annona senegalensis". AgroForestry Tree Database. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2010. ^ Walker JW (1971) Pollen Morphology, Phytogeography, and Phylogeny of the Annonaceae. Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, 202: 1-130. ^ Mariama Galadima (July 7, 2008). "Le Sanctuaire des Girafes" (in French). Centre d'Echange d'Informations sur la Biodiversité du Niger. Retrieved April 25, 2019. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Annona senegalensis. Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Annona senegalensis". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Wikispecies: Annona senegalensis APDB: 177260 BioLib: 195477 Ecocrop: 3243 EPPO: ANUSE GRIN: 3501 iNaturalist: 141628 IPNI: 72309-1 ISC: 5818 PLANTS: ANSE16 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:72309-1 Tropicos: 1601481 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Annona_senegalensis&oldid=896005724" Fruits originating in Africa Crops originating from Africa Afrotropic ecozone flora Flora of Angola Flora of Benin Flora of Botswana Flora of Burkina Faso Flora of Cameroon Flora of the Central African Republic Flora of the Comoros Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Flora of the Republic of the Congo Flora of Ivory Coast Flora of Equatorial Guinea Flora of Ethiopia Flora of the Gambia Flora of Ghana Flora of Guinea Flora of Guinea-Bissau Flora of Kenya Flora of Lesotho Flora of Madagascar Flora of Malawi Flora of Mali Flora of Mozambique Flora of Nigeria Flora of Rwanda Flora of Senegal Flora of Sierra Leone Flora of South Africa Flora of Sudan Flora of Swaziland Flora of Tanzania Flora of the Zanzibar Archipelago Flora of Togo Flora of Uganda Plants described in 1806 Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon CS1 French-language sources (fr) Articles needing additional medical references from September 2017 Articles requiring reliable medical sources	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2467
__label__wiki	0.893251	0.893251	Aspatria St Kentigern's Church Location within Cumbria OS grid reference NY145417 Civil parish Shire county Sovereign state Post town Postcode district EU Parliament Aspatria /əsˈpeɪtriə/ is a civil parish in the non-metropolitan district of Allerdale, and is currently embraced in the Parliamentary constituency of Workington, Cumbria, England. Historically within Cumberland the town rests on the north side of the Ellen Valley, overlooking a panoramic view of the countryside, with Skiddaw to the South and the Solway Firth to the North. Its developments are aligned approximately east-west along the A596 Carlisle to Workington road and these extend to approximately 2 miles (3 km) in length. It lies about 8 miles (12 km) northeast of Maryport, a similar distance to the Southwest of Wigton, about 9 miles (14 km) north of Cockermouth and 5 miles (8 km) from the coast and Allonby. It comprises the townships of Aspatria and Brayton, Hayton and Mealo, and Oughterside and Allerby, the united area being 8,345 acres (3,377 ha); while the township takes up an area of 1,600 acres (647 ha). In earlier days a Roman road leading from "Old Carlisle" to Ellenborough passed through the hamlet. The population has greatly increased since the mid nineteenth century. In 1801, the village comprised 98 dwellings with a population of 321. By 1851, there were 236 family entities, comprising 1,123 residents; by 1871, the numbers had increased to 1,778; and twenty years later stood at 2,714. By the start of the 20th century, the population had risen to 2,885; twenty years later it peaked at 3,521. Although the population slumped in the 1930s to 3,189, it recovered to 3,500, in 1951; and by 1981, the population appeared stable at 2,745. It is served by Aspatria railway station. Aspatria is located on the fringe of the English Lake District. The parish church of St Kentigern was completed in 1848. Fragments of masonry and crosses from earlier structures on the same site are preserved there. 1.1 Pre Norman 1.2 The Manor 1.3 Toponymy 2 Governance 3 Religious worship 4 Neighbouring parishes 7 Notable people Pre Norman[edit] Aspatria is an ancient settlement and seems to have been home to a group of Norsemen who fled to the area from Ireland around 900. In 1789, a surgeon by the name of Rigg employed a group of labourers to level a mound called Beacon Hill, situated close behind his house at Aspatria. After reaching a depth of about one metre they dug into a cavity walled around with large stones and found the skeleton of a Viking chief almost complete over two metres in length. At the head of the gigantic skeleton lay a sword almost two metres in length, with a remarkably broad blade, ornamented with a gold and silver handle. The scabbard of the sword was made of wood, lined with cloth. The workmen also unearthed several pieces of armour, a dirk with a silver studded handle, a golden buckled belt, and a breast plate. The artefacts remain the property of the British Museum.[2] Further finds were made on the same site in 1997 when a mobile phone mast was being constructed.[3] 002 Aspatria Viking finds The Manor[edit] The manor of Aspatria is part of the ancient barony of Allerdale below Derwent. Awarded by Ranulph de Meschines, grantee of the whole of Cumberland from William the Conqueror, to Waltheof, son of Gospatrick, Earl of Dunbar, from whom the obsolete name of Aspatrick, may have been derived. Upon the division of the estates of William Fitz Duncan, and his wife Alice de Romney, among their three daughters, the manor passed to Alice the youngest. However Alice died without issue and the estates passed to an elder sister who had married into the Lucy family. The latter family terminated in a female heir Maud de Lucy. She married Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland, who received the whole of her estates. It remained in this family through eleven generations before passing by the marriage of Lady Elizabeth, sole daughter and heiress of Josceline Percy to Charles Seymour, sixth Earl of Somerset. In recent times it again passed by a female heir to the Wyndham family, from whom it has descended to Lord Leconfield and now Lord Egremont.[4] The village stands at the northern end of the West Cumberland Coalfield and there have been mines in the area since the 16th century. The opening of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway, in 1842, led to a rapid expansion of the industry. The Brayton Domain Collieries sank five different pits around the town at various times and there were also mines near Mealsgate, Baggrow and Fletchertown. In 1902, a new mine was sunk at Oughterside. The last pit in the town, Brayton Domain No.5, closed in 1940.[5] In 1870, one of England's first farmers' co-operatives, the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society was established here with offices in the market square, facing the Aspatria Agricultural College which flourished from 1874 until 1925.[6] Sir Wilfrid Lawson MP (1829–1906) lived at Brayton Hall just outside the town. He was a committed nonconformist and a leader of the Temperance Movement. His memorial stands in the market square, topped by a bronze effigy of St George slaying the dragon – said to represent the demon drink.[6] Brayton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1918.[7] Toponymy[edit] According to one source the origins of the name of Aspatria lie in Old Scandinavian and Celtic. It translates as "Ash-tree of St Patrick", and is composed of the elements askr (Old Scandinavian for "ash-tree") and the Celtic saint's name. The order of the elements of the name, with the ash-tree coming before the name of the saint, is particular to Celtic place-names.[8] The following forms of the name have been found in various charters:- Estpatrick in 1224, Asepatrick 1230, Aspatric 1233, Askpatrik 1291, Assepatrick 1303, Aspatrick 1357, Aspatre 1491.[9] The first entry in the parish register referring to the town as Aspatria in preference to the name Aspatrick or Aspatricke appears in 1712. It appears in the handwriting of the then vicar David Bell.[10] For the next fifty years the spelling fluctuated until eventually Aspatria became the dominant name. When Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins passed through the town in 1857 they referred to the name Spatter which is not to dissimilar to 'Speatrie' the name locals prefer.[11] This leads us on to the familiar expression 'Speatrie Loup Oot', which had its genesis in the cry of William Brough, a railway porter, discharging third class passengers after their arrival at Aspatria from the Bolton Loop railway connection. Second class passengers would detect, "Speatrie change ere for Measyat"; while first class passengers heard a polite invitation, "Aspatriah, change heah for Mealsgate."[12] There is a legend that the name comes from the ash tree that grew up when St. Patrick's staff, the Bachal Isu, took root in the ground because it took so long for him to manage to convert the people from this area to Christianity.[13] Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet, of Brayton made many political and non-political speeches in the neighbourhood, and occasionally made reference to the above phrase. At the opening of the West Cumberland Dairy, in Jan 1889, he made the following reference. "In olden days Aspatria used to be a railway terminus, and some of us are old enough to remember that when the train pulled up from Maryport, the porter used to come to the door and shout Speytrie, un' git oot." 'Old Bill', as he was affectionately known, was born at Aspatria in 1817. A former agricultural worker, he became a railway employee with the Maryport & Carlisle Railway Company in about 1850. His antics were first brought to the attention of a wider public in October 1863, when he became the subject of a comical sketch at a local concert. During the Music Hall rendition, the Brothers Bouch presented a self-penned song entitled, 'Bill, the Railway Porter'. A performance often repeated by popular demand at the season of penny readings performed throughout the 1860s. Unfortunately the lyrics no longer exist, only the joke remains as a curt reminder. The Rev. William Slater Calverley, vicar of St. Kentigerns (1888–97), referred to the phenomena in his seminal study, 'Early Sculptured, Crosses, Shrines and Monuments', with the following paragraph; "Aspatrick" which is another name for "St Patrick," and which people pronounce "S'Patrick"; as witness what many folks remember, when the Maryport & Carlisle Railway terminated at Aspatria, and the porter now deceased used quite politely to show out the first-class passengers; but, coming to the third class carriages, threw open the doors and shouted "S'Patrick, get out!" Recent research at the University of Warwick by Professor William Bailey suggests an alternative Roman [Latin] origin for the name Aspatria, being "place where the asparagus grows"[14] arising from his research into the supply of foodstuffs to the garrisons along Hadrians Wall. Governance[edit] An electoral ward exists with the same name. This ward stretches east to Allhallows with a total population taken at the 2011 Census of 3,380.[15] Religious worship[edit] Prior to the opening of the Brayton Domain Collieries the people of Aspatria had two places of worship, the long established Anglican parish church of St. Kentigern's and a non-conformist chapel of the Congregationalist persuasion, built by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, in 1826. The latter is now a café with dwelling behind. However, with the influx of new workers came a demand for new institutions. In 1864, the Primitive Methodists built a chapel in the lower end of Lawson Street. Twenty years later, to cater for their expanding congregation they built a new chapel, with adjoining manse for the minister, at the junction of Queen Street and Brayton Road, while retaining the original building for use as a Sunday school. In the 1980s they sold the property, which the new owner demolished and replaced with a private house. In 1874, a group of Bible Christians, originally from Cornwall built a chapel at the bottom of Richmond Hill. This is also now the site of a private house. The Wesleyan Methodists built their first chapel on the corner of North Road and Queen Street in 1898. This proved too small and was replaced by the existing building in 1921. Although the small numbers of Roman Catholics have had a variety of meeting places over the years, they have never built a church.[16] Neighbouring parishes[edit] The parish is bounded on the North by the parishes of Bromfield and Westnewton; on the West by Gilcrux and Crosscanonby; on the South by Plumbland and Torpenhow; and on the East by Bromfield and Allhallows. Industry[edit] There is a small industrial area next to the railway station where:- Mattress manufacturer Sealy have maintained their British head office since 1974. First Milk creamery (formerly owned by the Milk Marketing Board), a farmers' co-operative which produces Lake District Cheese, now the third best-selling Cheddar Brand in the UK. 60 tonnes of cheese are produced daily, using 800,000 litres of milk.[17] Aspatria Farmers Limited, (formerly the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society) is based. [18] Sport[edit] Aspatria Hornets are the local rugby league team. Aspatria is also home to rugby union club Aspatria RUFC, currently playing in the RFU's North Lancashire/Cumbria Division. The 'Aspatria Eagles' are the club's second team, and the 'Aspatria Sinners' are the women's team. Aspatria FC are the town's football club who compete in the Tesco Cumberland County Premier League. Notable people[edit] Sheila Fell, artist, born in Aspatria Jenny Cowern, artist, lived at Langrigg, Aspatria Thomas Holliday, rugby international, had a drapery and ironmonger's business in Queen Street Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet of Brayton, temperance campaigner and Liberal Party politician Henry Thompson MRCVS, veterinary surgeon, pioneer agriculturalist and author Greg Ridley, Rock musician William Thompson Casson, coach designer and manufacturer Rev. William Slater Calverley, antiquarian Thomas Farrall, author, teacher and agriculturalist Henry J. Webb, principal of Aspatria Agricultural College Roland Stobbart, Speedway rider Maurice Stobbart, Speedway rider Dr William Perry Briggs, Medical Officer of Health to Aspatria Urban District Council (1892–1928) Cumbria portal Listed buildings in Aspatria ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 16 June 2015. ^ P Abramson: A re-examination of a Viking Age burial at Beacon Hill, Aspatria, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Transactions 2000, p79-88; ^ Holme St Cuthbert History Group: Plain People, 2004 ^ Bulmers History and Directory of Cumberland, 1901 ^ Durham Mining Museum Index of Mines ^ a b J Rose & M Dunglinson: Aspatria, a Cumbrian Town (Phillimore, 1987) ^ Wigton Advertiser, 28 September 1918 ^ Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names, A D Mills, p. 16, 1998 ^ Bailey page 12 ^ Carlisle Herald and Examiner, 5 February 1887 ^ Collins and Dickens (2011) chapter 3 ^ West Cumberland Times 5 October 1895 ^ http://www.lurganancestry.com/stpatrick.htm ^ Romano-British vegetable production on the Hibernian Border, Bailey et al, Collins (2009) ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 June 2015. ^ Rose & Dunglinson page 95 ^ Cumberland News, 12 August 2011 ^ Aspatria Farmers Limited Rev. William Slater Calverley; W. G. Collingwood M.A. (1899). Early Sculptured Crosses, Shrines and Monuments in the Present Diocese of Carlisle. Kendal: Titus Wilson. A. D. Mills (1998). Oxford Dictionary of Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford. Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens (2011). The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices. London: Hesperus Press Ltd. T. Bulmer (1901). History and Directory of Cumberland. Preston: T. Bulmer & Co. Hesperus Press Ltd. J. B. Bailey (1920). History of the Churches in the Maryport Rural Deanery. Cockermouth: Times Office. J. Rose; M. Dunglinson (1987). Aspatria. Chichester: Phillimore. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aspatria. Durham Mining Museum Index of Mines Brayton Domain – pictures of Aspatria mines Ceremonial county of Cumbria Boroughs or districts City of Carlisle Borough of Allerdale Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Borough of Copeland District of Eden District of South Lakeland Appleby-in-Westmorland Broughton-in-Furness Dalton-in-Furness Longtown Silloth See also: List of civil parishes in Cumbria Parliamentary constituencies SSSIs Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aspatria&oldid=893089537" Towns in Cumbria Civil parishes in Cumbria EngvarB from May 2016 Use dmy dates from May 2016 Articles with OS grid coordinates Commons category link is on Wikidata using P373	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2468
__label__cc	0.595374	0.404626	For other uses, see Finisterre (disambiguation). This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (February 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the French article. You should also add the template {{Translated\|fr\|Finistère}} to the talk page. Find sources: "Finistère" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Department of France Department in Brittany, France Prefecture building of the Finistère department, in Quimper Location of Finistère in France Coordinates: 48°15′N 04°00′W / 48.250°N 4.000°W / 48.250; -4.000Coordinates: 48°15′N 04°00′W / 48.250°N 4.000°W / 48.250; -4.000 Subprefectures • President of the General Council Nathalie Sarrabezolles (PS) 6,733 km2 (2,600 sq mi) • Rank 130/km2 (350/sq mi) Department number ^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2 Finistère (French pronunciation: [fi.nis.tɛʁ]; Breton: Penn-ar-Bed Breton pronunciation: [ˌpɛnarˈbeːt]) is a department of France in the extreme west of Brittany. 4.1 Current National Assembly Representatives 6 Tourism Historical regions of Brittany The present department consists of the historical region of Léon and parts of Cornouaille and Trégor, both parts of pre-revolutionary Brittany. The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth. In England, a similar area is called Land's End. The Breton name for Finistère, Penn ar Bed, translates as "Head/End of the World" and is similar to the Cornish name for Land's End, Pedn-an-Wlas (Head/End of the country). Finistère is not to be confused with Finisterre in Galicia, Spain, which shares the same etymology. The largest population center in Finistère is Brest. Other large towns in the department include Quimper (the capital), Concarneau, Morlaix, Carhaix, Quimperlé and Douarnenez. Finistère includes the island of Ushant (Eusa in Breton, Ouessant in French). Finistère is the westernmost department of Metropolitan France and can also claim to be the "most coastal" department in Metropolitan France. Of its 279 communes, 118 are located on the coast. Its total coastline of approximately 1,250 km (776.71 mi) accounts for almost a quarter of the entire Brittany coast-line. Map of Finistère The abers, rugged fjord-like inlets on the north coast, are a notable feature of the landscape. The westernmost point of continental France, known as the Pointe de Corsen, extends from the northwestern tip of Finistère. A few kilometres to the south is the slightly less westerly, but rugged and isolated, headland of Pointe du Raz. Economy[edit] Agriculture, food processing and various related industries occupy an important place in Finistère's economy. The military presence in Finistère (Île Longue nuclear submarine base and the Naval Air base of Lanvéoc-Poulmic), as well as military-related industries, such as the Brest headquarters of DCNS, employ a significant number of the département's population. The port of Roscoff links Brittany by ferry with Ireland and Great Britain. Politics[edit] Current National Assembly Representatives[edit] Member[1] Finistère's 1st constituency Annaïg Le Meur La République En Marche! Finistère's 2nd constituency Jean-Charles Larsonneur La République En Marche! Finistère's 3rd constituency Didier Le Gac La République En Marche! Finistère's 4th constituency Sandrine Le Feur La République En Marche! Finistère's 5th constituency Graziella Melchior La République En Marche! Finistère's 6th constituency Richard Ferrand La République En Marche! Finistère's 7th constituency Liliane Tanguy La République En Marche! Finistère's 8th constituency Erwan Balanant La République En Marche! Culture[edit] Finistère is the area where Breton survives most strongly as a spoken language. Breton-speaking schools are called Diwan, Divyezh and Dihun. The Festival de Cornouaille, which takes place in Quimper, is a celebration of Breton music and traditions. One of the highlights of summer in Finistère is the "Festival des Vieilles Charrues" held in Carhaix-Plouguer. Major international stars attract tens of thousands of spectators.[2] The painter Raymond Wintz (1884–1956) featured many locations around Finistère. Roland Doré was a sculptor who executed many of the calvaries in Finistère. Tourism[edit] Granite rocks in Ouessant Pontusval lighthouse near Brignogan-Plages Calvary in Saint-Jean-Trolimon Pointe du Chateau, Plougrescant Pointe de Pen-Hir Cantons of the Finistère department Communes of the Finistère department Arrondissements of the Finistère department Calvary at Saint-Herbot near Plonévez-du-Faou and the Chapelle Saint-Herbot. ^ http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/ ^ "Vieilles Charrues Festival", official website Wikimedia Commons has media related to Finistère. Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Finistère. ‹See Tfd›(in French) General Council website ‹See Tfd›(in French) Prefecture website ‹See Tfd›(in English) Finistere at Curlie ‹See Tfd›(in French) Finistère Tourisme, agence de développement touristique du Finistère Departments of France 04 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence 06 Alpes-Maritimes 20 Corse 22 Côtes-d'Armor 69D Rhône 82 Tarn-et-Garonne 90 Territoire de Belfort 92 Hauts-de-Seine 93 Seine-Saint-Denis 973 French Guiana 69M Lyon (Metropolis with territorial collectivity statute) 975 Saint Pierre and Miquelon MusicBrainz: 7148756d-941c-41ac-9ab7-2fec4611a7aa Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Finistère&oldid=898521744" Departments of Brittany Articles to be expanded from February 2010 Geography articles needing translation from French Wikipedia Articles needing additional references from February 2010 Articles containing Breton-language text Brittany region articles needing translation from French Wikipedia	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2469
__label__wiki	0.682668	0.682668	(Redirected from IRAQ) Republic in Western Asia For other uses, see Iraq (disambiguation). Coordinates: 33°N 44°E / 33°N 44°E / 33; 44 جمهورية العراق (Arabic) کۆماری عێراق (Sorani Kurdish) کۆمارا ئێـراقێ (Kurmanji Kurdish) Motto: الله أكبر (Arabic) "Allahu Akbar" (transliteration) "God is the Greatest" Anthem: "Mawtini" "موطني" (English: "My Homeland") and largest city 33°20′N 44°23′E / 33.333°N 44.383°E / 33.333; 44.383 Federal parliamentary constitutional republic • President Barham Salih • Vice Presidents Position Abolished • Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi • COR Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi • Chief Justice Medhat al-Mahmoud Council of Representatives of Iraq Independence from the United Kingdom • Kingdom of Iraq • Republic declared • Current constitution 437,072 km2 (168,754 sq mi) (58th) • Water (%) • 2016 estimate 37,202,572[1] (36th) 82.7/km2 (214.2/sq mi) (125th) 2019 estimate $733.926 billion[2] (34th) • Per capita $17,952[2] (76th) GDP (nominal) $6,116[2] (97th) Gini (2012) 29.5[3] HDI (2017) 0.685[4] UTC+3 (AST) Driving side Constitution of Iraq, Article 4 (1st). Iraq (/ɪˈræk/, /ɪˈrɑːk/ ( listen) or /aɪˈræk/; Arabic: العراق‎ al-'Irāq; Kurdish: عێراق‎ Eraq), officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic: جُمُهورية العِراق‎ Jumhūrīyyat al-'Irāq; Kurdish: کۆماری عێراق‎ Komari Eraq), is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west. The capital, and largest city, is Baghdad. Iraq is home to diverse ethnic groups including Arabs, Kurds, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Turkmen, Shabakis, Yazidis, Armenians, Mandeans, Circassians and Kawliya.[5] Around 95% of the country's 37 million citizens are Muslims, with Christianity, Yarsan, Yezidism and Mandeanism also present. The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish. Iraq has a coastline measuring 58 km (36 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf and encompasses the Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain, the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert.[6] Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through Iraq and into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf. These rivers provide Iraq with significant amounts of fertile land. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, historically known as Mesopotamia, is often referred to as the cradle of civilisation. It was here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organised government—notably Uruk, from which "Iraq" is derived. The area has been home to successive civilisations since the 6th millennium BC. Iraq was the centre of the Akkadian, Sumerian, Assyrian, Chaldean Empire, and Babylonian empires. It was also part of the Median, Achaemenid, Hellenistic, Parthian, Sassanid, Roman, Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Ayyubid, Seljuk, Mongol, Timurid, Safavid, Afsharid and Ottoman empires.[7] The country today known as Iraq was a region of the Ottoman Empire until the partition of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. It was made up of three provinces, called vilayets in the Ottoman language: Mosul Vilayet, Baghdad Vilayet, and Basra Vilayet. In April 1920 the British Mandate of Mesopotamia was created under the authority of the League of Nations. A British-backed monarchy joining these vilayets into one Kingdom was established in 1921 under Faisal I of Iraq. The Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from the UK in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and the Iraqi Republic created. Iraq was controlled by the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party from 1968 until 2003. After an invasion by the United States and its allies in 2003, Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party was removed from power, and multi-party parliamentary elections were held in 2005. The US presence in Iraq ended in 2011,[8] but the Iraqi insurgency continued and intensified as fighters from the Syrian Civil War spilled into the country. Out of the insurgency came a highly destructive group calling itself ISIL, which took large parts of the north and west. It has since been largely defeated. Disputes over the sovereignty of Iraqi Kurdistan continue. A referendum about the full sovereignty of Iraqi Kurdistan was held on 25 September 2017. On 9 December 2017, then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIL after the group lost its territory in Iraq.[9] Iraq is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 19 governorates (provinces) and one autonomous region (Iraqi Kurdistan). The country's official religion is Islam. Culturally, Iraq has a very rich heritage and celebrates the achievements of its past in both pre-Islamic as well as post-Islamic times and is known for its poets. Its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world, some of them being world-class as well as producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets. Iraq is a founding member of the UN as well as of the Arab League, OIC, Non-Aligned Movement and the IMF. 1 Name 2.1 Pre-historic era 2.2 Ancient Iraq 2.2.1 Bronze Age 2.2.2 Iron Age 2.2.3 Babylonian and Persian periods 2.3 Middle Ages 2.4 Ottoman Iraq 2.5 British administration and independent kingdom 2.6 Republic and Ba'athist Iraq 4.1 Law 4.3 Foreign relations 4.4 Human rights 5.1 Oil and energy 5.2 Water supply and sanitation 6.1 Ethnic groups 6.3 Urban areas 6.5 Diaspora and refugees 7.1 Music 7.2 Art and architecture 7.3 Media 7.4 Cuisine 7.5 Sport 8.1 Mobile phones 8.2 Satellite 8.3 Undersea cable The Arabic name العراق al-ʿIrāq has been in use since before the 6th century. There are several suggested origins for the name. One dates to the Sumerian city of Uruk (Biblical Hebrew Erech) and is thus ultimately of Sumerian origin, as Uruk was the Akkadian name for the Sumerian city of Urug, containing the Sumerian word for "city", UR.[10][11] An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile".[12] During the medieval period, there was a region called ʿIrāq ʿArabī ("Arabian Iraq") for Lower Mesopotamia and ʿIrāq ʿAjamī ("Persian Iraq"),[13] for the region now situated in Central and Western Iran.[13] The term historically included the plain south of the Hamrin Mountains and did not include the northernmost and westernmost parts of the modern territory of Iraq.[14] Prior to the middle of the 19th century, the term Eyraca Arabica was commonly used to describe Iraq.[15][16] The term Sawad was also used in early Islamic times for the region of the alluvial plain of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, contrasting it with the arid Arabian desert. As an Arabic word, عراق means "hem", "shore", "bank", or "edge", so that the name by folk etymology came to be interpreted as "the escarpment", viz. at the south and east of the Jazira Plateau, which forms the northern and western edge of the "al-Iraq arabi" area.[17] The Arabic pronunciation is [ʕiˈrɑːq]. In English, it is either /ɪˈrɑːk/ (the only pronunciation listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and the first one in Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary) or /ɪˈræk/ (listed first by MQD), the American Heritage Dictionary, and the Random House Dictionary. The pronunciation /aɪˈræk/ is frequently heard in US media. In accordance with the 2005 Constitution, the official name of the state is the "Republic of Iraq" (Jumhūrīyyat al-'Irāq). Main article: History of Iraq Pre-historic era Between 65,000 BC and 35,000 BC northern Iraq was home to a Neanderthal culture, archaeological remains of which have been discovered at Shanidar Cave[18] This same region is also the location of a number of pre-Neolithic cemeteries, dating from approximately 11,000 BC.[19] Since approximately 10,000 BC, Iraq (alongside Asia Minor and The Levant) was one of centres of a Caucasoid Neolithic culture (known as Pre-Pottery Neolithic A) where agriculture and cattle breeding appeared for the first time in the world. The following Neolithic period (PPNB) is represented by rectangular houses. At the time of the pre-pottery Neolithic, people used vessels made of stone, gypsum and burnt lime (Vaisselle blanche). Finds of obsidian tools from Anatolia are evidences of early trade relations. Further important sites of human advancement were Jarmo (circa 7100 BC),[19] the Halaf culture and Ubaid period (between 6500 BC and 3800 BC).[20] These periods show ever-increasing levels of advancement in agriculture, tool-making and architecture. Ancient Iraq This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. (June 2014) Cylinder Seal, Old Babylonian Period, c.1800 BC, hematite. The king makes an animal offering to Shamash. This seal was probably made in a workshop at Sippar.[21] Main article: History of Mesopotamia The historical period in Iraq truly begins during the Uruk period (4000 BC to 3100 BC), with the founding of a number of Sumerian cities, and the use of Pictographs, Cylinder seals and mass-produced goods.[22] The "Cradle of Civilization" is thus a common term for the area comprising modern Iraq as it was home to the earliest known civilisation, the Sumerian civilisation, which arose in the fertile Tigris-Euphrates river valley of southern Iraq in the Chalcolithic (Ubaid period). It was here, in the late 4th millennium BC, that the world's first writing system and recorded history itself were born. The Sumerians were also the first to harness the wheel and create City States, and whose writings record the first evidence of Mathematics, Astronomy, Astrology, Written Law, Medicine and Organised religion. The language of the Sumerians is a language isolate. The major city states of the early Sumerian period were; Eridu, Bad-tibira, Larsa, Sippar, Shuruppak, Uruk, Kish, Ur, Nippur, Lagash, Girsu, Umma, Hamazi, Adab, Mari, Isin, Kutha, Der and Akshak. The cities to the north like Ashur, Arbela (modern Erbil) and Arrapha (modern Kirkuk) were also extant in what was to be called Assyria from the 25th century BC; however, at this early stage, they were Sumerian ruled administrative centres. Victory stele of Naram-Sin of Akkad. In the 26th century BC, Eannatum of Lagash created what was perhaps the first empire in history, though this was short-lived. Later, Lugal-Zage-Si, the priest-king of Umma, overthrew the primacy of the Lagash dynasty in the area, then conquered Uruk, making it his capital, and claimed an empire extending from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean.[23] It was during this period that the Epic of Gilgamesh originates, which includes the tale of The Great Flood. From the 29th century BC, Akkadian Semitic names began to appear on king lists and administrative documents of various city states. It remains unknown as to the origin of Akkad, where it was precisely situated and how it rose to prominence. Its people spoke Akkadian, an East Semitic language.[24] During the 3rd millennium BC, a cultural symbiosis developed between the Sumerians and the Akkadians, which included widespread bilingualism. The influences between Sumerian and Akkadian are evident in all areas, including lexical borrowing on a massive scale—and syntactic, morphological, and phonological convergence. This mutual influence has prompted scholars to refer to Sumerian and Akkadian of the 3rd millennium BC as a Sprachbund.[25] From this period, the civilisation in Iraq came to be known as Sumero-Akkadian. Bill of sale of a male slave and a building in Shuruppak, Sumerian tablet, circa 2600 BC. Between the 29th and 24th centuries BC, a number of kingdoms and city states within Iraq began to have Akkadian speaking dynasties; including Assyria, Ekallatum, Isin and Larsa. However, the Sumerians remained generally dominant until the rise of the Akkadian Empire (2335–2124 BC), based in the city of Akkad in central Iraq. Sargon of Akkad, originally a Rabshakeh to a Sumerian king, founded the empire, he conquered all of the city states of southern and central Iraq, and subjugated the kings of Assyria, thus uniting the Sumerians and Akkadians in one state. He then set about expanding his empire, conquering Gutium, Elam and had victories that did not result into a full conquest against the Amorites and Eblaites of Ancient Syria. After the collapse of the Akkadian Empire in the late 22nd century BC, the Gutians occupied the south for a few decades, while Assyria reasserted its independence in the north. This was followed by a Sumerian renaissance in the form of the Neo-Sumerian Empire. The Sumerians under king Shulgi conquered almost all of Iraq except the northern reaches of Assyria, and asserted themselves over the Gutians, Elamites and Amorites, destroying the first and holding off the others. An Elamite invasion in 2004 BC brought the Sumerian revival to an end. By the mid 21st century BC, the Akkadian speaking kingdom of Assyria had risen to dominance in northern Iraq. Assyria expanded territorially into the north eastern Levant, central Iraq, and eastern Anatolia, forming the Old Assyrian Empire (circa 2035–1750 BC) under kings such as Puzur-Ashur I, Sargon I, Ilushuma and Erishum I, the latter of whom produced the most detailed set of law yet written.[citation needed] The south broke up into a number of Akkadian speaking states, Isin, Larsa and Eshnunna being the major ones. During the 20th century BC, the Canaanite speaking Amorites began to migrate into southern Mesopotamia. Eventually, they began to set up small petty kingdoms in the south, as well as usurping the thrones of extant city states such as Isin, Larsa and Eshnunna. Hammurabi, depicted as receiving his royal insignia from Shamash. Relief on the upper part of the stele of Hammurabi's code of laws. One of these small Amorite kingdoms founded in 1894 BC contained the then small administrative town of Babylon within its borders. It remained insignificant for over a century, overshadowed by older and more powerful states, such as Assyria, Elam, Isin, Ehnunna and Larsa. In 1792 BC, an Amorite ruler named Hammurabi came to power in this state, and immediately set about building Babylon from a minor town into a major city, declaring himself its king. Hammurabi conquered the whole of southern and central Iraq, as well as Elam to the east and Mari to the west, then engaged in a protracted war with the Assyrian king Ishme-Dagan for domination of the region, creating the short-lived Babylonian Empire. He eventually prevailed over the successor of Ishme-Dagan and subjected Assyria and its Anatolian colonies. By the middle of the eighteenth century BC, the Sumerians had lost their cultural identity and ceased to exist as a distinct people.[26][27] Genetic and cultural analysis indicates that the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq are probably their most direct modern descendants.[28][29][30] It is from the period of Hammurabi that southern Iraq came to be known as Babylonia, while the north had already coalesced into Assyria hundreds of years before. However, his empire was short-lived, and rapidly collapsed after his death, with both Assyria and southern Iraq, in the form of the Sealand Dynasty, falling back into native Akkadian hands. The foreign Amorites clung on to power in a once more weak and small Babylonia until it was sacked by the Indo-European speaking Hittite Empire based in Anatolia in 1595 BC. After this, another foreign people, the Language Isolate speaking Kassites, originating in the Zagros Mountains of Ancient Iran, seized control of Babylonia, where they were to rule for almost 600 years, by far the longest dynasty ever to rule in Babylon. Iraq was from this point divided into three polities: Assyria in the north, Kassite Babylonia in the south central region, and the Sealand Dynasty in the far south. The Sealand Dynasty was finally conquered by Kassite Babylonia circa 1380 BC. The Middle Assyrian Empire (1365–1020 BC) saw Assyria rise to be the most powerful nation in the known world. Beginning with the campaigns of Ashur-uballit I, Assyria destroyed the rival Hurrian-Mitanni Empire, annexed huge swathes of the Hittite Empire for itself, annexed northern Babylonia from the Kassites, forced the Egyptian Empire from the region, and defeated the Elamites, Phrygians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Cilicians, Gutians, Dilmunites and Arameans. At its height, the Middle Assyrian Empire stretched from The Caucasus to Dilmun (modern Bahrain), and from the Mediterranean coasts of Phoenicia to the Zagros Mountains of Iran. In 1235 BC, Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria took the throne of Babylon, thus becoming the very first native Mesopotamian to rule the state. Jehu, king of Israel, bows before Shalmaneser III of Assyria, 825 BC. During the Bronze Age collapse (1200–900 BC), Babylonia was in a state of chaos, dominated for long periods by Assyria and Elam. The Kassites were driven from power by Assyria and Elam, allowing native south Mesopotamian kings to rule Babylonia for the first time, although often subject to Assyrian or Elamite rulers. However, these East Semitic Akkadian kings, were unable to prevent new waves of West Semitic migrants entering southern Iraq, and during the 11th century BC Arameans and Suteans entered Babylonia from The Levant, and these were followed in the late 10th to early 9th century BC by the migrant Chaldeans who were closely related to the earlier Arameans. After a period of comparative decline in Assyria, it once more began to expand with the Neo Assyrian Empire (935–605 BC). This was to be the largest empire the region had yet seen, and under rulers such as Adad-Nirari II, Ashurnasirpal, Shalmaneser III, Semiramis, Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, Iraq became the centre of an empire stretching from Persia, Parthia and Elam in the east, to Cyprus and Antioch in the west, and from The Caucasus in the north to Egypt, Nubia and Arabia in the south. The Arabs and the Chaldeans are first mentioned in written history (circa 850 BC) in the annals of Shalmaneser III. It was during this period that an Akkadian influenced form of Eastern Aramaic was adopted by the Assyrians as the lingua franca of their vast empire, and Mesopotamian Aramaic began to supplant Akkadian as the spoken language of the general populace of both Assyria and Babylonia. The descendant dialects of this tongue survive amongst the Mandaeans of southern Iraq and Assyrians of northern Iraq to this day. Relief showing a lion hunt, from the north palace of Nineveh, 645–635 BC. In the late 7th century BC, the Assyrian Empire tore itself apart with a series of brutal civil wars, weakening itself to such a degree that a coalition of its former subjects; the Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medes, Persians, Parthians, Scythians and Cimmerians, were able to attack Assyria, finally bringing its empire down by 605 BC.[31] Babylonian and Persian periods The short-lived Neo-Babylonian Empire (620–539 BC) succeeded that of Assyria. It failed to attain the size, power or longevity of its predecessor; however, it came to dominate The Levant, Canaan, Arabia, Israel and Judah, and to defeat Egypt. Initially, Babylon was ruled by yet another foreign dynasty, that of the Chaldeans, who had migrated to the region in the late 10th or early 9th century BC. Its greatest king, Nebuchadnezzar II, rivalled another non native ruler, the ethnically unrelated Amorite king Hammurabi, as the greatest king of Babylon. However, by 556 BC, the Chaldeans had been deposed from power by the Assyrian born Nabonidus and his son and regent Belshazzar. In the 6th century BC, Cyrus the Great of neighbouring Persia defeated the Neo-Babylonian Empire at the Battle of Opis and Iraq was subsumed into the Achaemenid Empire for nearly two centuries. The Achaemenids made Babylon their main capital. The Chaldeans and Chaldea disappeared at around this time, though both Assyria and Babylonia endured and thrived under Achaemenid rule (see Achaemenid Assyria). Little changed under the Persians, having spent three centuries under Assyrian rule, their kings saw themselves as successors to Ashurbanipal, and they retained Assyrian Imperial Aramaic as the language of empire, together with the Assyrian imperial infrastructure, and an Assyrian style of art and architecture.[citation needed] The Greek-ruled Seleucid Empire (in yellow) with capital in Seleucia on the Tigris, north of Babylon. In the late 4th century BC, Alexander the Great conquered the region, putting it under Hellenistic Seleucid rule for over two centuries.[32] The Seleucids introduced the Indo-Anatolian and Greek term Syria to the region. This name had for many centuries been the Indo-European word for Assyria and specifically and only meant Assyria; however, the Seleucids also applied it to The Levant (Aramea, causing both the Assyria and the Assyrians of Iraq and the Arameans and The Levant to be called Syria and Syrians/Syriacs in the Greco-Roman world.[33] Flourished in the 2nd century, the strongly fortified Parthian city of Hatra shows a unique blend of both Classical and Persian architecture and art.[34][35] The Parthians (247 BC – 224 AD) from Persia conquered the region during the reign of Mithridates I of Parthia (r. 171–138 BC). From Syria, the Romans invaded western parts of the region several times, briefly founding Assyria Provincia in Assyria. Christianity began to take hold in Iraq (particularly in Assyria) between the 1st and 3rd centuries, and Assyria became a centre of Syriac Christianity, the Church of the East and Syriac literature. A number of independent states evolved in the north during the Parthian era, such as Adiabene, Assur, Osroene and Hatra. The Sassanids of Persia under Ardashir I destroyed the Parthian Empire and conquered the region in 224 AD. During the 240s and 250's AD, the Sassanids gradually conquered the independent states, culminating with Assur in 256 AD. The region was thus a province of the Sassanid Empire for over four centuries, and became the frontier and battle ground between the Sassanid Empire and Byzantine Empire, with both empires weakening each other, paving the way for the Arab-Muslim conquest of Persia in the mid-7th century. The Abbasid Caliphate at its greatest extent, c. 850. The Arab Islamic conquest in the mid-7th century AD established Islam in Iraq and saw a large influx of Arabs. Under the Rashidun Caliphate, the prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali, moved his capital to Kufa when he became the fourth caliph. The Umayyad Caliphate ruled the province of Iraq from Damascus in the 7th century. (However, eventually there was a separate, independent Caliphate of Córdoba in Iberia.) The Abbasid Caliphate built the city of Baghdad in the 8th century as its capital, and the city became the leading metropolis of the Arab and Muslim world for five centuries. Baghdad was the largest multicultural city of the Middle Ages, peaking at a population of more than a million,[36] and was the centre of learning during the Islamic Golden Age. The Mongols destroyed the city and burned its library during the siege of Baghdad in the 13th century.[37] In 1257, Hulagu Khan amassed an unusually large army, a significant portion of the Mongol Empire's forces, for the purpose of conquering Baghdad. When they arrived at the Islamic capital, Hulagu Khan demanded its surrender, but the last Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim refused. This angered Hulagu, and, consistent with Mongol strategy of discouraging resistance, he besieged Baghdad, sacked the city and massacred many of the inhabitants.[38] Estimates of the number of dead range from 200,000 to a million.[39] The sack of Baghdad by the Mongols. The Mongols destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate and Baghdad's House of Wisdom, which contained countless precious and historical documents. The city has never regained its previous pre-eminence as a major centre of culture and influence. Some historians believe that the Mongol invasion destroyed much of the irrigation infrastructure that had sustained Mesopotamia for millennia. Other historians point to soil salination as the culprit in the decline in agriculture.[40] The mid-14th-century Black Death ravaged much of the Islamic world.[41] The best estimate for the Middle East is a death rate of roughly one-third.[42] In 1401, a warlord of Mongol descent, Tamerlane (Timur Lenk), invaded Iraq. After the capture of Baghdad, 20,000 of its citizens were massacred.[43] Timur ordered that every soldier should return with at least two severed human heads to show him (many warriors were so scared they killed prisoners captured earlier in the campaign just to ensure they had heads to present to Timur).[44] Timur also conducted massacres of the indigenous Assyrian Christian population, hitherto still the majority population in northern Mesopotamia, and it was during this time that the ancient Assyrian city of Assur was finally abandoned.[45] Ottoman Iraq Main articles: Ottoman Iraq and Mamluk dynasty of Iraq The 1803 Cedid Atlas, showing the area today known as Iraq divided between "Al Jazira" (pink), "Kurdistan" (blue), "Iraq" (green), and "Al Sham" (yellow). During the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the Black Sheep Turkmen ruled the area now known as Iraq. In 1466, the White Sheep Turkmen defeated the Black Sheep and took control. From the earliest 16th century, in 1508, as with all territories of the former White Sheep Turkmen, Iraq fell into the hands of the Iranian Safavids. Owing to the century long Turco-Iranian rivalry between the Safavids and the neighbouring Ottoman Turks, Iraq would be contested between the two for more than a hundred years during the frequent Ottoman-Persian Wars. With the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639, most of the territory of present-day Iraq eventually came under the control of Ottoman Empire as the eyalet of Baghdad as a result of wars with the neighbouring rival, Safavid Iran. Throughout most of the period of Ottoman rule (1533–1918), the territory of present-day Iraq was a battle zone between the rival regional empires and tribal alliances. By the 17th century, the frequent conflicts with the Safavids had sapped the strength of the Ottoman Empire and had weakened its control over its provinces. The nomadic population swelled with the influx of bedouins from Najd, in the Arabian Peninsula. Bedouin raids on settled areas became impossible to curb.[46] English archaeologist Austen Henry Layard in the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, 1852. During the years 1747–1831, Iraq was ruled by a Mamluk dynasty of Georgian[47] origin who succeeded in obtaining autonomy from the Ottoman Porte, suppressed tribal revolts, curbed the power of the Janissaries, restored order and introduced a programme of modernisation of economy and military. In 1831, the Ottomans managed to overthrow the Mamluk regime and imposed their direct control over Iraq. The population of Iraq, estimated at 30 million in 800 AD, was only 5 million at the start of the 20th century.[48] During World War I, the Ottomans sided with Germany and the Central Powers. In the Mesopotamian campaign against the Central Powers, British forces invaded the country and initially suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Turkish army during the Siege of Kut (1915–1916). However, subsequent to this the British began to gain the upper hand, and were further aided by the support of local Arabs and Assyrians. In 1916, the British and French made a plan for the post-war division of Western Asia under the Sykes-Picot Agreement.[49] British forces regrouped and captured Baghdad in 1917, and defeated the Ottomans. An armistice was signed in 1918. The British lost 92,000 soldiers in the Mesopotamian campaign. Ottoman losses are unknown but the British captured a total of 45,000 prisoners of war. By the end of 1918, the British had deployed 410,000 men in the area, of which 112,000 were combat troops.[citation needed] British administration and independent kingdom Main articles: Mandatory Iraq and Kingdom of Iraq British troops in Baghdad, June 1941. The country today known as Iraq was a region of the Ottoman Empire until the partition of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. It was made up of three provinces, called vilayets in the Ottoman language: Mosul Vilayet, Baghdad Vilayet, and Basra Vilayet. These three provinces were joined into one Kingdom by the British after the region became a League of Nations mandate, administered under British control, with the name "State of Iraq". In line with their "Sharifian Solution" policy, the British established the Hashemite king, Faisal I of Iraq, who had been forced out of Syria by the French, as their client ruler. Likewise, British authorities selected Sunni Arab elites from the region for appointments to government and ministry offices.[specify][50][page needed][51] Faced with spiraling costs and influenced by the public protestations of the war hero T. E. Lawrence[52] in The Times, Britain replaced Arnold Wilson in October 1920 with a new Civil Commissioner, Sir Percy Cox.[53] Cox managed to quell a rebellion, yet was also responsible for implementing the fateful policy of close co-operation with Iraq's Sunni minority.[54] The institution of slavery was abolished in the 1920s.[55] Britain granted independence to the Kingdom of Iraq in 1932,[56] on the urging of King Faisal, though the British retained military bases, local militia in the form of Assyrian Levies, and transit rights for their forces. King Ghazi ruled as a figurehead after King Faisal's death in 1933, while undermined by attempted military coups, until his death in 1939. Ghazi was followed by his underage son, Faisal II. 'Abd al-Ilah served as Regent during Faisal's minority. On 1 April 1941, Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and members of the Golden Square staged a coup d'état and overthrew the government of 'Abd al-Ilah. During the subsequent Anglo-Iraqi War, the United Kingdom (which still maintained air bases in Iraq) invaded Iraq for fear that the Rashid Ali government might cut oil supplies to Western nations because of his links to the Axis powers. The war started on 2 May, and the British, together with loyal Assyrian Levies,[57] defeated the forces of Al-Gaylani, forcing an armistice on 31 May. A military occupation followed the restoration of the pre-coup government of the Hashemite monarchy. The occupation ended on 26 October 1947, although Britain was to retain military bases in Iraq until 1954, after which the Assyrian militias were disbanded. The rulers during the occupation and the remainder of the Hashemite monarchy were Nuri as-Said, the autocratic Prime Minister, who also ruled from 1930 to 1932, and 'Abd al-Ilah, the former Regent who now served as an adviser to King Faisal II. Republic and Ba'athist Iraq Main articles: Iraqi Republic (1958–68), Ba'athist Iraq, and Iran–Iraq War The 14 July Revolution in 1958. In 1958, a coup d'état known as the 14 July Revolution was led by the Brigadier General Abd al-Karim Qasim. This revolt was strongly anti-imperial and anti-monarchical in nature and had strong socialist elements. Numerous people were killed in the coup, including King Faysal II, Prince Abd al-Ilah, and Nuri al-Sa'id.[58] Qasim controlled Iraq through military rule and in 1958 he began a process of forcibly reducing the surplus amounts of land owned by a few citizens and having the state redistribute the land. He was overthrown by Colonel Abdul Salam Arif in a February 1963 coup. After the latter's death in 1966, he was succeeded by his brother, Abdul Rahman Arif, who was overthrown by the Ba'ath Party in 1968. Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr became the first Ba'ath President of Iraq but then the movement gradually came under the control of Saddam Hussein, who acceded to the presidency and control of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), then Iraq's supreme executive body, in July 1979. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution took place. Following months of cross-border raids between the two countries, Saddam declared war on Iran in September 1980, initiating the Iran–Iraq War (or First Persian Gulf War). Taking advantage of the post-revolution chaos in Iran, Iraq captured some territories in southwest of Iran, but Iran recaptured all of the lost territories within two years, and for the next six years Iran was on the offensive.[59][page needed] The war, which ended in stalemate in 1988, had cost the lives of between half a million and 1.5 million people.[60] In 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed an Iraqi nuclear materials testing reactor at Osirak and was widely criticised at the United Nations.[61][62] During the eight-year war with Iran, Saddam Hussein extensively used chemical weapons against Iranians.[63] In the final stages of the Iran–Iraq War, the Ba'athist Iraqi regime led the Al-Anfal Campaign, a genocidal[64] campaign that targeted Iraqi Kurds,[65][66][67] and led to the killing of 50,000–100,000 civilians.[68] Chemical weapons were also used against Iraqi Shia civilians during the 1991 uprisings in Iraq. In August 1990, Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait. This subsequently led to military intervention by United States-led forces in the First Gulf War. The coalition forces proceeded with a bombing campaign targeting military targets[69][70][71] and then launched a 100-hour-long ground assault against Iraqi forces in Southern Iraq and those occupying Kuwait. Saddam Hussein meets Donald Rumsfeld during the Iran–Iraq War. Hussein ruled Iraq from 1979 until 2003. Iraq's armed forces were devastated during the war. Shortly after it ended in 1991, Shia and Kurdish Iraqis led several uprisings against Saddam Hussein's regime, but these were successfully repressed using the Iraqi security forces and chemical weapons. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 people, including many civilians were killed.[72] During the uprisings the US, UK, France and Turkey, claiming authority under UNSCR 688, established the Iraqi no-fly zones to protect Kurdish and Shiite populations from attacks by the Saddam regime's fixed-wing aircraft (but not helicopters). Iraq was ordered to destroy its chemical and biological weapons and the UN attempted to compel Saddam's government to disarm and agree to a ceasefire by imposing additional sanctions on the country in addition to the initial sanctions imposed following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The Iraqi Government's failure to disarm and agree to a ceasefire resulted in sanctions which remained in place until 2003. The effects of the sanctions on the civilian population of Iraq have been disputed.[73][74] Whereas it was widely believed that the sanctions caused a major rise in child mortality, recent research has shown that commonly cited data were fabricated by the Iraqi government and that "there was no major rise in child mortality in Iraq after 1990 and during the period of the sanctions."[75][76][77] An oil for food program was established in 1996 to ease the effects of sanctions. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the George W. Bush administration began planning the overthrow of Saddam's government and in October 2002, the US Congress passed the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq. In November 2002, the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 1441 and in March 2003 the US and its allies invaded Iraq. The April 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue by US Army troops in Firdos Square in Baghdad shortly after the Iraq War invasion. Main articles: 2003 invasion of Iraq, History of Iraq (2003–11), and Iraq War On 20 March 2003, a United States-organized coalition invaded Iraq, under the pretext that Iraq had failed to abandon its weapons of mass destruction program in violation of UN Resolution 687. This claim was based on documents provided by the CIA and the British government and were later found to be unreliable.[78][79][80] Following the invasion, the United States established the Coalition Provisional Authority to govern Iraq. In May 2003 L. Paul Bremer, the chief executive of the CPA, issued orders to exclude Baath Party members from the new Iraqi government (CPA Order 1) and to disband the Iraqi Army (CPA Order 2).[81] The decision dissolved the largely Sunni Iraqi Army and excluded many of the country's former government officials from participating in the country's governance,[82] including 40,000 school teachers who had joined the Baath Party simply to keep their jobs,[83] helping to bring about a chaotic post-invasion environment.[84] An insurgency against the US-led coalition-rule of Iraq began in summer 2003 within elements of the former Iraqi secret police and army, who formed guerilla units. In fall 2003, self-entitled 'jihadist' groups began targeting coalition forces. Various Sunni militias were created in 2003, for example Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The insurgency included intense inter-ethnic violence between Sunnis and Shias.[85] The Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal came to light, late 2003 in reports by Amnesty International and Associated Press. US Marines patrol the streets of Al Faw, October 2003. The Mahdi Army—a Shia militia created in the summer of 2003 by Muqtada al-Sadr—began to fight Coalition forces in April 2004.[86][86] 2004 saw Sunni and Shia militants fighting against each other and against the new Iraqi Interim Government installed in June 2004, and against Coalition forces, as well as the First Battle of Fallujah in April and Second Battle of Fallujah in November. The Sunni militia Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad became Al-Qaeda in Iraq in October 2004 and targeted Coalition forces as well as civilians, mainly Shia Muslims, further exacerbating ethnic tensions.[87] In January 2005, the first elections since the invasion took place and in October a new Constitution was approved, which was followed by parliamentary elections in December. However, insurgent attacks were common and increased to 34,131 in 2005 from 26,496 in 2004.[88] During 2006, fighting continued and reached its highest levels of violence, more war crimes scandals were made public, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed by US forces and Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity and hanged.[89][90][91] In late 2006, the US government's Iraq Study Group recommended that the US begin focusing on training Iraqi military personnel and in January 2007 US President George W. Bush announced a "Surge" in the number of US troops deployed to the country.[92] In May 2007, Iraq's Parliament called on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal and US coalition partners such as the UK and Denmark began withdrawing their forces from the country.[93][94][95] The war in Iraq has resulted in between 151,000 and 1.2 million Iraqis being killed.[96][97] Main articles: 2008 in Iraq, 2009 in Iraq, 2010 in Iraq, 2011 in Iraq, 2012 in Iraq, 2013 in Iraq, 2014 in Iraq, 2015 in Iraq, and 2016 in Iraq See also: Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present), 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, and Iraqi insurgency (2017–present) In 2008, fighting continued and Iraq's newly trained armed forces launched attacks against militants. The Iraqi government signed the US–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, which required US forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities by 30 June 2009 and to withdraw completely from Iraq by 31 December 2011. US troops handed over security duties to Iraqi forces in June 2009, though they continued to work with Iraqi forces after the pullout.[98] On the morning of 18 December 2011, the final contingent of US troops to be withdrawn ceremonially exited over the border to Kuwait.[8] Crime and violence initially spiked in the months following the US withdrawal from cities in mid-2009[99][100] but despite the initial increase in violence, in November 2009, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials reported that the civilian death toll in Iraq fell to its lowest level since the 2003 invasion.[101] Military situation in 2015 Following the withdrawal of US troops in 2011, the insurgency continued and Iraq suffered from political instability. In February 2011, the Arab Spring protests spread to Iraq;[102] but the initial protests did not topple the government. The Iraqi National Movement, reportedly representing the majority of Iraqi Sunnis, boycotted Parliament for several weeks in late 2011 and early 2012, claiming that the Shiite-dominated government was striving to sideline Sunnis. In 2012 and 2013, levels of violence increased and armed groups inside Iraq were increasingly galvanised by the Syrian Civil War. Both Sunnis and Shias crossed the border to fight in Syria.[103] In December 2012, Sunni Arabs protested against the government, whom they claimed marginalised them.[104][105] During 2013, Sunni militant groups stepped up attacks targeting the Iraq's Shia population in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Nouri al-Maliki-led government.[106] In 2014, Sunni insurgents belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group seized control of large swathes of land including several major Iraqi cities, like Tikrit, Fallujah and Mosul creating hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons amid reports of atrocities by ISIL fighters.[107] After an inconclusive election in April 2014, Nouri al-Maliki served as caretaker-Prime-Minister.[108] On 11 August, Iraq's highest court ruled that PM Maliki's bloc is biggest in parliament, meaning Maliki could stay Prime Minister.[108] By 13 August, however, the Iraqi president had tasked Haider al-Abadi with forming a new government, and the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and some Iraqi politicians expressed their wish for a new leadership in Iraq, for example from Haider al-Abadi.[109] On 14 August, Maliki stepped down as PM to support Mr al-Abadi and to "safeguard the high interests of the country". The US government welcomed this as "another major step forward" in uniting Iraq.[110][111] On 9 September 2014, Haider al-Abadi had formed a new government and became the new prime minister.[citation needed] Intermittent conflict between Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions has led to increasing debate about the splitting of Iraq into three autonomous regions, including Sunni Kurdistan in the northeast, a Sunnistan in the west and a Shiastan in the southeast.[112] In response to rapid territorial gains made by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) during the first half of 2014, and its universally-condemned executions and reported human rights abuses, many states began to intervene against it in the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017). Since the airstrikes started, ISIL has been losing ground in both Iraq and Syria.[113] Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in Iraq in ISIL-linked violence.[114][115] The genocide of Yazidis by ISIL has led to the expulsion, flight and effective exile of the Yazidis from their ancestral lands in Northern Iraq.[116] The 2016 Karrada bombing killed nearly 400 civilians and injured hundreds more.[117] On 17 March 2017, a US-led coalition airstrike in Mosul killed more than 200 civilians.[118] Since 2015, ISIL lost territory in Iraq, including Tikrit in March and April 2015,[119] Baiji in October 2015,[120] Sinjar in November 2015,[121] Ramadi in December 2015,[122] Fallujah in June 2016[123] and Mosul in July 2017. By December 2017, ISIL had no remaining territory in Iraq, following the 2017 Western Iraq campaign.[124] In September 2017, a referendum was held regarding Kurdish independence in Iraq. 92% of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence.[125] The referendum was regarded as illegal by the federal government in Baghdad.[126] In March 2018, Turkey launched military operations to eliminate the Kurdish separatist fighters in northern Iraq.[127] Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political coalition won Iraq's parliamentary election in May 2018.[128] Satellite map of Iraq. Iraq Köppen climate classification map. Main articles: Geography of Iraq and Governorates of Iraq This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Iraq lies between latitudes 29° and 38° N, and longitudes 39° and 49° E (a small area lies west of 39°). Spanning 437,072 km2 (168,754 sq mi), it is the 58th-largest country in the world. It is comparable in size to the US state of California, and somewhat larger than Paraguay. Iraq mainly consists of desert, but near the two major rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) are fertile alluvial plains, as the rivers carry about 60,000,000 m3 (78,477,037 cu yd) of silt annually to the delta. The north of the country is mostly composed of mountains; the highest point being at 3,611 m (11,847 ft) point, unnamed on the map opposite, but known locally as Cheekah Dar (black tent). Iraq has a small coastline measuring 58 km (36 mi) along the Persian Gulf. Close to the coast and along the Shatt al-Arab (known as arvandrūd: اروندرود among Iranians) there used to be marshlands, but many were drained in the 1990s. Main article: Geography of Iraq § Climate Most of Iraq has a hot arid climate with subtropical influence. Summer temperatures average above 40 °C (104 °F) for most of the country and frequently exceed 48 °C (118.4 °F). Winter temperatures infrequently exceed 21 °C (69.8 °F) with maxima roughly 15 to 19 °C (59.0 to 66.2 °F) and night-time lows 2 to 5 °C (35.6 to 41.0 °F). Typically, precipitation is low; most places receive less than 250 mm (9.8 in) annually, with maximum rainfall occurring during the winter months. Rainfall during the summer is extremely rare, except in the far north of the country. The northern mountainous regions have cold winters with occasional heavy snows, sometimes causing extensive flooding. Main article: Politics of Iraq Baghdad Convention Center, the current meeting place of the Council of Representatives of Iraq. The federal government of Iraq is defined under the current Constitution as a democratic, federal parliamentary republic. The federal government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as numerous independent commissions. Aside from the federal government, there are regions (made of one or more governorates), governorates, and districts within Iraq with jurisdiction over various matters as defined by law. The National Alliance is the main Shia parliamentary bloc, and was established as a result of a merger of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's State of Law Coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance.[129] The Iraqi National Movement is led by Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia widely supported by Sunnis. The party has a more consistent anti-sectarian perspective than most of its rivals.[129] The Kurdistan List is dominated by two parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Masood Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Jalal Talabani. Both parties are secular and enjoy close ties with the West.[129] In 2018, according to the Failed States Index, Iraq was the world's eleventh most politically unstable country.[130][131] The concentration of power in the hands of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and growing pressure on the opposition led to growing concern about the future of political rights in Iraq.[132] Nevertheless, progress was made and the country had risen to 11th place by 2013.[133] In August 2014, al-Maliki's reign came to an end. He announced on 14 August 2014 that he would stand aside so that Haider Al-Abadi, who had been nominated just days earlier by newly installed President Fuad Masum, could take over. Until that point, al-Maliki had clung to power even asking the federal court to veto the president's nomination describing it as a violation of the constitution.[134] Transparency International ranks Iraq's government as the eighth-most-corrupt government in the world. Government payroll have increased from 1 million employees under Saddam Hussein to around 7 million employees in 2016. In combination with decreased oil prices, the government budget deficit is near 25% of GDP as of 2016[update].[135] Pro-independence rally in Iraqi Kurdistan in September 2017 Since the establishment of the no–fly zones following the Gulf War of 1990–1991, the Kurds established their own autonomous region. Main article: Law of Iraq In October 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was approved in a referendum with a 78% overall majority, although the percentage of support varying widely between the country's territories.[136] The new constitution was backed by the Shia and Kurdish communities, but was rejected by Arab Sunnis. Under the terms of the constitution, the country conducted fresh nationwide parliamentary elections on 15 December 2005. All three major ethnic groups in Iraq voted along ethnic lines, as did Assyrian and Turcoman minorities. Law no. 188 of the year 1959 (Personal Status Law)[137] made polygamy extremely difficult, granted child custody to the mother in case of divorce, prohibited repudiation and marriage under the age of 16.[138] Article 1 of Civil Code also identifies Islamic law as a formal source of law.[139] Iraq had no Sharia courts but civil courts used Sharia for issues of personal status including marriage and divorce. In 1995 Iraq introduced Sharia punishment for certain types of criminal offences.[140] The code is based on French civil law as well as Sunni and Jafari (Shi'ite) interpretations of Sharia.[141] In 2004, the CPA chief executive L. Paul Bremer said he would veto any constitutional draft stating that sharia is the principal basis of law.[142] The declaration enraged many local Shia clerics,[143] and by 2005 the United States had relented, allowing a role for sharia in the constitution to help end a stalemate on the draft constitution.[144] The Iraqi Penal Code is the statutory law of Iraq. Main article: Iraqi Armed Forces Soldiers of the 53rd Brigade, 14th Iraqi Army division graduate from basic training. The current military control in Iraq as of 3 May 2018: Controlled by Iraqi government Controlled by Iraqi Kurds Iraqi security forces are composed of forces serving under the Ministry of Interior (which controls the Police and Popular Mobilization Forces) and the Ministry of Defense, as well as the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of Iraq, which oversees the Iraqi Special Operations Forces. Ministry of Defense forces include the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Air Force and the Iraqi Navy. The Peshmerga are a separate armed force loyal to the Kurdistan Regional Government. The regional government and the central government disagree as to whether they are under Baghdad's authority and to what extent.[145] The Iraqi Army is an objective counter-insurgency force that as of November 2009 includes 14 divisions, each division consisting of 4 brigades.[146] It is described as the most important element of the counter-insurgency fight.[147] Light infantry brigades are equipped with small arms, machine guns, RPGs, body armour and light armoured vehicles. Mechanized infantry brigades are equipped with T-54/55 main battle tanks and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.[147] As of mid-2008, logistical problems included a maintenance crisis and ongoing supply problems.[148] The Iraqi Air Force is designed to support ground forces with surveillance, reconnaissance and troop lift. Two reconnaissance squadrons use light aircraft, three helicopter squadrons are used to move troops and one air transportation squadron uses C-130 transport aircraft to move troops, equipment, and supplies. It currently has 3,000 personnel. It is planned to increase to 18,000 personnel, with 550 aircraft by 2018.[147] The Iraqi Navy is a small force with 1,500 sailors and officers, including 800 Marines, designed to protect shoreline and inland waterways from insurgent infiltration. The navy is also responsible for the security of offshore oil platforms. The navy will have coastal patrol squadrons, assault boat squadrons and a marine battalion.[147] The force will consist of 2,000 to 2,500 sailors by year 2010.[149] In 2019, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy said that the relationship with the Defense Department and the Iraqi Army was among our most compelling strategic interests and that the U.S. currently helps train and equip 28 Iraqi brigades to maintain their readiness. "The priority is to empower Iraq's professional and capable security forces to protect its sovereignty and to prevent an ISIS resurgence," Mulroy said. "The more capable Iraq's security institutions, the more resilient Iraq will be in the face of its enemies."[150] Main article: Foreign relations of Iraq US President Donald Trump with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in 2017. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2012) On 17 November 2008, the US and Iraq agreed to a Status of Forces Agreement,[151] as part of the broader Strategic Framework Agreement.[152] This agreement states "the Government of Iraq requests" US forces to temporarily remain in Iraq to "maintain security and stability" and that Iraq has jurisdiction over military contractors, and US personnel when not on US bases or on–duty. On 12 February 2009, Iraq officially became the 186th State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Under the provisions of this treaty, Iraq is considered a party with declared stockpiles of chemical weapons. Because of their late accession, Iraq is the only State Party exempt from the existing timeline for destruction of their chemical weapons. Specific criteria is in development to address the unique nature of Iraqi accession.[153] Iran–Iraq relations have flourished since 2005 by the exchange of high level visits: Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki made frequent visits to Iran, along with Jalal Talabani visiting numerous times, to help boost bilateral co-operation in all fields.[citation needed] A conflict occurred in December 2009, when Iraq accused Iran of seizing an oil well on the border.[154] Relationships with Turkey are tense, largely because of the Kurdistan Regional Government, as clashes between Turkey and the PKK continue.[155] In October 2011, the Turkish parliament renewed a law that gives Turkish forces the ability to pursue rebels over the border in Iraq."[156] Main article: Human rights in Iraq See also: Human rights in ISIL-controlled territory and Mass executions in ISIL occupied Mosul Relations between Iraq and its Kurdish population have been sour in recent history, especially with Saddam Hussein's genocidal campaign against them in the 1980s. After uprisings during the early 90s, many Kurds fled their homeland and no-fly zones were established in northern Iraq to prevent more conflicts. Despite historically poor relations, some progress has been made, and Iraq elected its first Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani, in 2005. Furthermore, Kurdish is now an official language of Iraq alongside Arabic according to Article 4 of the constitution.[157] LGBT rights in Iraq remain limited. Although decriminalised, homosexuality remains stigmatised in Iraqi society.[158] Targeting people because of their gender identity or sexual orientation is not uncommon and is usually carried out in the name of family honour. People who dress in emo style are mistakenly associated with homosexuality and may suffer the same fate.[159] Investigations by the BBC and other western media in 2008 and 2009, including interviews of homosexual and transgender Iraqis, showed that violence against LGBT people had significantly increased since Saddam Hussein was toppled.[160][161][162][163][164] Main article: Governorates of Iraq Iraq is composed of nineteen governorates (or provinces) (Arabic: muhafadhat (singular muhafadhah); Kurdish: پارێزگا Pârizgah). The governorates are subdivided into districts (or qadhas), which are further divided into sub-districts (or nawāḥī). Iraqi Kurdistan (Erbil, Dohuk, Sulaymaniyah and Halabja) is the only legally defined region within Iraq, with its own government and quasi-official army Peshmerga. Dohuk Kirkuk Al Anbar Diyala Babil Al-Qādisiyyah Maysan Muthanna Dhi Qar Halabja (not shown) Main article: Economy of Iraq GNP per capita in Iraq from 1950 to 2008. Global distribution of Iraqi exports in 2006. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. The lack of development in other sectors has resulted in 18%–30% unemployed and a depressed per capita GDP of $4,000.[165] Public sector employment accounted for nearly 60% of full-time employment in 2011.[166] The oil export industry, which dominates the Iraqi economy, generates very little employment.[166] Currently only a modest percentage of women (the highest estimate for 2011 was 22%) participate in the labour force.[166] Prior to US occupation, Iraq's centrally planned economy prohibited foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses, ran most large industries as state-owned enterprises, and imposed large tariffs to keep out foreign goods.[167] After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority quickly began issuing many binding orders privatising Iraq's economy and opening it up to foreign investment. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. On 20 November 2004, the Paris Club of creditor nations agreed to write off 80% ($33 billion) of Iraq's $42 billion debt to Club members. Iraq's total external debt was around $120 billion at the time of the 2003 invasion, and had grown another $5 billion by 2004. The debt relief will be implemented in three stages: two of 30% each and one of 20%.[168] In February 2011, Citigroup included Iraq in a group of countries which it described as 'Global Growth Generators', that it argued will enjoy significant economic growth in the future.[169] The official currency in Iraq is the Iraqi dinar. The Coalition Provisional Authority issued new dinar coins and notes, with the notes printed by De La Rue using modern anti-forgery techniques.[170] Jim Cramer's 20 October 2009 endorsement of the Iraqi Dinar on CNBC has further piqued interest in the investment.[171] Five years after the invasion, an estimated 2.4 million people were internally displaced (with a further two million refugees outside Iraq), four million Iraqis were considered food-insecure (a quarter of children were chronically malnourished) and only a third of Iraqi children had access to safe drinking water.[172] According to the Overseas Development Institute, international NGOs face challenges in carrying out their mission, leaving their assistance "piecemeal and largely conducted undercover, hindered by insecurity, a lack of coordinated funding, limited operational capacity and patchy information".[172] International NGOs have been targeted and during the first 5 years, 94 aid workers were killed, 248 injured, 24 arrested or detained and 89 kidnapped or abducted.[172] Main articles: Oil reserves in Iraq and Energy in Iraq Tankers at the Basra Oil Terminal. With its 143.1 billion barrels (2.275×1010 m3) of proved oil reserves, Iraq ranks third in the world behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia in the amount of oil reserves.[173][174] Oil production levels reached 3.4 million barrels per day by December 2012.[175] Only about 2,000 oil wells have been drilled in Iraq, compared with about 1 million wells in Texas alone.[176] Iraq was one of the founding members of OPEC.[177][178] During the 1970s Iraq produced up to 3.5 million barrels per day, but sanctions imposed against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990 crippled the country's oil sector. The sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil until 1996 and Iraq's output declined by 85% in the years following the First Gulf War. The sanctions were lifted in 2003 after the US-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein from power, but development of Iraq's oil resources has been hampered by the ongoing conflict.[179] As of 2010[update], despite improved security and billions of dollars in oil revenue, Iraq still generates about half the electricity that customers demand, leading to protests during the hot summer months.[180] The Iraq oil law, a proposed piece of legislation submitted to the Iraqi Council of Representatives in 2007, has failed to gain approval due to disagreements among Iraq's various political blocs.[181][182] According to a US Study from May 2007, between 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m3/d) and 300,000 barrels per day (48,000 m3/d) of Iraq's declared oil production over the past four years could have been siphoned off through corruption or smuggling.[183] In 2008, Al Jazeera reported $13 billion of Iraqi oil revenues in US care was improperly accounted for, of which $2.6 billion is totally unaccounted for.[184] Some reports that the government has reduced corruption in public procurement of oil; however, reliable reports of bribery and kickbacks to government officials persist.[185] In June 2008, the Iraqi Oil Ministry announced plans to go ahead with small one- or two-year no-bid contracts to Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP—once partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company—along with Chevron and smaller firms to service Iraq's largest fields.[186] These plans were cancelled in September because negotiations had stalled for so long that the work could not be completed within the time frame, according to Iraqi oil minister Hussain al-Shahristani. Several United States senators had also criticised the deal, arguing it was hindering efforts to pass the hydrocarbon law.[187] On 30 June and 11 December 2009, the Iraqi ministry of oil awarded service contracts to international oil companies for some of Iraq's many oil fields.[188][189] Oil fields contracted include the "super-giant" Majnoon Field, Halfaya Field, West Qurna Field and Rumaila Field.[189] BP and China National Petroleum Corporation won a deal to develop Rumaila, the largest Iraqi oil field.[190][191] On 14 March 2014, the International Energy Agency said Iraq's oil output jumped by half a million barrels a day in February to average 3.6 million barrels a day. The country hadn't pumped that much oil since 1979, when Saddam Hussein rose to power.[192] However, on 14 July 2014, as sectarian strife had taken hold, Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized control of the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oilfields in the north of the country, taking them from Iraq's control. Baghdad condemned the seizure and threatened "dire consequences" if the fields were not returned.[193] The UN estimates that oil accounts for 99% of Iraq's revenue.[179] A reservoir in the Samawa desert Southern Iraq Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Iraq Water supply and sanitation in Iraq is characterized by poor water and service quality. Three decades of war, combined with limited environmental awareness, have destroyed Iraq's water resources management system. Access to potable water differs significantly among governorates and between urban and rural areas. 91% of the entire population has access to potable water. But in rural areas, only 77% of the population has access to improved drinking water sources compared to 98% in urban areas.[194] Large amounts of water are wasted during production.[194] Mosul Dam. Although many infrastructure projects are underway, Iraq remains in deep housing crisis, with the war-ravaged country likely to complete only 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes it needs to build by 2016 to keep up with demand, the Minister for Construction and Housing said in September 2013.[195] In 2009, the IBBC was established (Iraq Britain Business Council). The Council was established by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne. In August 2009, two American firms reached a deal with the Iraqi Government to build Basra Sports City, a new sports complex. In October 2012, the Emirati property firm, Emaar Properties reached a deal with the Iraqi Ministry of Construction and Housing to build and develop housing and commercial projects in Iraq. In January 2013, the Emirati property firm, Nakheel Properties signed a deal to build Al Nakheel City, a future town in Basra, Iraq. See also: Demographics of Iraq Historical populations in millions ±% p.a. 4.8 +1.28% 12 +3.27% 16.3 +3.11% Source: [196][197][198] The 2016 estimate of the total Iraqi population is 37,202,572.[1] Iraq's population was estimated to be 2 million in 1878.[196] In 2013 Iraq's population reached 35 million amid a post-war population boom.[199] According to the CIA World Factbook, citing a 1987 Iraqi government estimate,[165] the population of Iraq is formed of 75–80% Arabs followed by 15% Kurds.[165] In addition, the estimate claims that other minorities form 5% of the country's population, including the Turkmen/Turcoman, Chaldeans[disambiguation needed], Yezidis, Shabak, Kaka'i, Bedouins, Roma, Assyrians, Circassians, Sabaean-Mandaean, and Persians.[165] However, the International Crisis Group points out that figures from the 1987 census, as well as the 1967, 1977, and 1997 censuses, "are all considered highly problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation" because Iraqi citizens were only allowed to indicate belonging to either the Arab or Kurdish ethnic groups;[200] consequently, this skewed the number of other ethnic minorities, such as Iraq's third largest ethnic group – the Turkmens/Turkomans.[200] A report published by the European Parliamentary Research Service suggests that in 2015 there was 24 million Arabs (15 million Shia and 9 million Sunni); 4 million Sunni Kurds (plus 500,000 Shia Faili Kurds and 200,000 Kaka'i); 3 million Iraqi Turkmen/Turkoman; 1 million Black Iraqis; 500,000 Christians (including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians and Armenians); 500,000 Yazidis; 250,000 Shabaks; 50,000 Roma; 3,000 Sabean-Mandaeans; 2,000 Circassians; 1,000 Baha'i; and a few dozen Jews.[201] Around 20,000 Marsh Arabs live in southern Iraq.[202] Iraq has a community of 2,500 Chechens.[203] In southern Iraq, there is a community of Iraqis of African descent, a legacy of the slavery practised in the Islamic Caliphate beginning before the Zanj Rebellion of the 9th century, and Basra's role as a key port.[55] It is the most populous country in the Arabian Plate.[204] Main article: Languages of Iraq Kurdish children in Sulaymaniyah. The main languages spoken in Iraq are Mesopotamian Arabic and Kurdish, followed by the Iraqi Turkmen/Turkoman dialect of Turkish, and the Neo-Aramaic languages (specifically Chaldean and Assyrian).[205] Arabic and Kurdish are written with versions of the Arabic script. Since 2005, the Turkmen/Turkoman have switched from the Arabic script to the Turkish alphabet.[206] In addition, the Neo-Aramaic languages use the Syriac script. Other smaller minority languages include Mandaic, Shabaki, Armenian, Circassian and Persian. Prior to the invasion in 2003, Arabic was the sole official language. Since the new Constitution of Iraq approved in June 2004, both Arabic and Kurdish are official languages,[207] while Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and the Turkmen/Turkoman dialect of Turkish (referred to as respectively "Syriac" and "Turkmen" in the constitution) are recognised regional languages.[208] In addition, any region or province may declare other languages official if a majority of the population approves in a general referendum.[209] According to the Iraqi constitution: The Arabic language and the Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq. The right of Iraqis to educate their children in their mother tongue, such as Turkmen, Assyrian, and Armenian shall be guaranteed in government educational institutions in accordance with educational guidelines, or in any other language in private educational institutions.[210] Main article: List of cities in Iraq Largest cities or towns in Iraq Largest cities in Iraq (geonames.org) Basra 1 Baghdad Baghdad Governorate 9,500,000 2 Basra Basra Governorate 2,300,125 3 Mosul Nineveh Governorate 2,000,000 4 Erbil Erbil Governorate 1,100,000 5 Kirkuk Kirkuk Governorate 1,100,000 6 Sulaymaniya Sulaymaniya Governorate 1,000,000 7 Hilla Babil Governorate 1,000,000 8 Karbala Karbala Governorate 800,347 9 Najaf Najaf Governorate 800,137 10 Al Nasiriya Dhi Qar Governorate 700,373 Main articles: Religion in Iraq and Islam in Iraq Religion in Iraq, 2014[211] Gnosticism/Yazdânism Other religion Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf. Religions in Iraq are dominantly Abrahamic with Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 55–60%, Sunni 40%), Christian <.1%, Yazidi <.1%, Sabean Mandaean <.1%, Baha'i <.1%, Zoroastrian <.1%, Hindu <0.1%, Buddhist <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, folk religion <0.1, unaffiliated 0.1%, other <0.1%[165] It has a mixed Shia and Sunni population. The CIA World Factbook estimates that around 65% of Muslims in Iraq are Shia, and around 35% are Sunni.[165] A 2011 Pew Research Center estimates that 51% of Muslims in Iraq are Shia, 42% are Sunni, while 5% identify themselves as "Just a Muslim".[212] The Sunni Muslims, 12–13 million in a population of 36 million, include Arabs, most Turkomen, and Kurds. The Sunni population complains of facing discrimination in almost all aspects of life by the government. However, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki denied that such discrimination occurs.[213] Christians have lived in the area for about 2,000 years, and many descend from the pre-Arab ancient Mesopotamians-Assyrians.[214] They numbered over 1.4 million in 1987 or 8% of the estimated population of 16.3 million and 550,000 in 1947 or 12% of the population of 4.6 millions.[215] Indigenous Neo Aramaic-speaking Chaldeans[disambiguation needed], Syriacs, Assyrians, most of whom are adherents of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Pentecostal Church, Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic Church account for most of the Christian population. Estimates for the numbers of Christians suggest a decline from 8–12% in the mid-20th century to 5% in 2008 or 1.6 million. More than half of Iraqi Christians have fled to neighbouring countries since the start of the war, and many have not returned, although a number are migrating back to the traditional Assyrian homeland in the Kurdish Autonomous Region.[216][217] There are also small ethno-religious minority populations of Mandaeans, Shabaks, Yarsan and Yezidis remaining. Prior to 2003 their numbers together may have been 2 million, the majority Yarsan, a non-Islamic religion with roots in pre-Islamic and pre-Christian religion. There are reports of over 100.000 conversions to Zoroastrianism in recent years. The Iraqi Jewish community, numbering around 150,000 in 1941, has almost entirely left the country.[218] Iraq is home to two of the world's holiest places among Shias: Najaf and Karbala.[219] Diaspora and refugees Main articles: Refugees of Iraq and Assyrian exodus from Iraq Iraqi refugees in Damascus, Syria. The dispersion of native Iraqis to other countries is known as the Iraqi diaspora. The UN High Commission for Refugees has estimated that nearly two million Iraqis have fled the country after the multinational invasion of Iraq in 2003, mostly to Syria and Jordan.[220] The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates an additional 1.9 million are currently displaced within the country.[221] In 2007, the UN said that about 40% of Iraq's middle class is believed to have fled and that most are fleeing systematic persecution and have no desire to return.[222] Refugees are mired in poverty as they are generally barred from working in their host countries.[223][224] In recent years the diaspora seems to be returning with the increased security; the Iraqi government claimed that 46,000 refugees have returned to their homes in October 2007 alone.[225] As of 2011[update], nearly 3 million Iraqis have been displaced, with 1.3 million within Iraq and 1.6 million in neighbouring countries, mainly Jordan and Syria.[226] More than half of Iraqi Christians have fled the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.[227][228] According to official United States Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics, 58,811 Iraqis have been granted refugee-status citizenship as of May 25, 2011[update].[229] To escape the civil war, over 160,000 Syrian refugees of varying ethnicities have fled to Iraq since 2012.[230] Increasing violence during the Syrian civil war led to an increasing number of Iraqis returning to their native country.[231] Main article: Health in Iraq In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 6.84% of the country's GDP. In 2008, there were 6.96 physicians and 13.92 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants.[232] The life expectancy at birth was 68.49 years in 2010, or 65.13 years for males and 72.01 years for females.[233] This is down from a peak life expectancy of 71.31 years in 1996.[234] Iraq had developed a centralised free health care system in the 1970s using a hospital based, capital-intensive model of curative care. The country depended on large-scale imports of medicines, medical equipment and even nurses, paid for with oil export income, according to a "Watching Brief" report issued jointly by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in July 2003. Unlike other poorer countries, which focused on mass health care using primary care practitioners, Iraq developed a Westernized system of sophisticated hospitals with advanced medical procedures, provided by specialist physicians. The UNICEF/WHO report noted that prior to 1990, 97% of the urban dwellers and 71% of the rural population had access to free primary health care; just 2% of hospital beds were privately managed.[235] Main article: Education in Iraq This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Iraq" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Before Iraq faced economic sanctions from the UN, it already had an advanced and successful Arab education system.[236] However, it has now been “de-developing” in its educational success.[236] Some say that the sanctions, whether intentionally or not, hurt the education system because of how it affected the children.[236] Whether or not this is true, UNICEF's statistics and numbers show how Iraq's education system has room for improvement.[237] At the turn of the millennium, many countries, including Iraq, attempted to take part in the Millennium Development Goals as a way to help underdeveloped countries prosper. In Iraq, one of the goals was for education to be universally available for both boys and girls at the primary level. UNICEF collected several pieces of data that indicate whether or not, Iraq has been accomplishing this goal.[237] In general, the education of Iraq has been improving since the MDGs were implemented.[237] For example, enrollment numbers nearly doubled from 2000 to 2012.[237] It went from 3.6 million to six million.[237] The latest statistic from 2015–2016 showed that almost 9.2 million children were in school.[237] Enrollment rates continue to be on a steady increase at about 4.1% each year.[237] The sheer increase in numbers shows that there are clearly improvements of children in Iraq having access to education. However, the dramatic increase of the number of students in primary education has had some negative and straining effects for the education system.[237] The budget for education makes up about only 5.7% of government spending and continues to stay at or below this percentage.[237] Investments for schools has also been on the decline.[237] As a result, the country now ranks at the bottom of Middle East countries in terms of education.[237] The little funding for education makes it more difficult to improve the quality and resources for education.[237] At the same time, UNICEF investigated portions of spending for education and found that some of the money has gone to waste.[237] They found that dropout rates are increasing as well as repetition rates for children.[237] In both Iraq Centre and KRI, the rates for dropouts are about 1.5% to 2.5%.[237] Within these dropout rates, there is also an uneven number among boys and girls who dropout.[237] While the rate for dropouts for boys was around 16.5%, girls were at 20.1% where it could be due to economic or family reasons.[237] For repetition rates, percentages have almost reached 17% among all students.[237] To put the money loss in perspective, about $1,100 is spent on each student.[237] For each student who drops out or repeats a grade, $1,100 is lost.[237] As a result, almost 20% of the funding for education was lost to dropouts and repetition for the year 2014–2015.[237] Many of those people who dropout or have to repeat a grade do not see the economic cost for long term results.[237] UNICEF takes note of how staying in school can in fact, increase wealth for the person and their family.[237] While it may put a strain on the education system, it will also hinder the chances of a person receiving higher earnings in whatever career they go into.[237] Other statistics show that regional differences can attribute to lower or higher enrollment rates for children in primary education.[237] For example, UNICEF found that areas with conflict like Salah al-Din have “more than 90% of school-age children” not in the education system.[237] In addition, some schools were converted into refugee shelters or military bases in 2014 as conflict began to increase.[238] The resources for education become more strained and make it harder for children to go to school and finish receiving their education.[238] However, in 2017, there were efforts being made to open up 47 schools that had previously been closed.[239] There has been more success in Mosul where over 380,000 are going to school again.[239] Depending on where children live, they may or may not have the same access to education as other children. There are also the differing enrollment rates between boys and girls.[237] UNICEF found that in 2013–2014, enrollment numbers for boys was at about five million while girls were at about 4.2 million.[237] While the out-of-school rate for girls is at about 11%, boys are at less than half of that.[237] There is still a gap between boys and girls in terms of educational opportunities.[237] However, the rate of enrollments for girls has been increasing at a higher rate than for boys.[237] In 2015–2016, the enrollment numbers for girls increased by 400,000 from the previous year where a large number of them were located in Iraq Centre.[237] Not only that, UNICEF found that the increase of girls going to school was across all levels of education.[237] Therefore, the unequal enrollment numbers between boys and girls could potentially change so that universal education can be achieved by all at equal rates. Although the numbers suggest a dramatic increase of enrollment rates for primary education in total, a large number of children still remain out of the education system.[237] Many of these children fall under the category of internally displaced children due to the conflict in Syria and the takeover by ISIL.[237] This causes a disruption for children who are attempting to go to school and holds them back from completing their education, no matter what level they are at.[237] Internally displaced children are specifically recorded to track children who have been forced to move within their country due to these types of conflicts. About 355,000 of internally displaced children are not in the education system.[237] 330,000 of those children live in Iraq Centre.[237] The rates among internally displaced children continue to remain higher in Iraq Centre than other areas such as the KRI.[237] With the overall increase of enrollment rates, there continues to be a large strain on the resources for education.[237] UNICEF notes that without an increase on expenditures for education, the quality of education will continue to decrease.[237] Early in the 2000s, the UNESCO International Bureau of Education found that the education system in Iraq had issues with standard-built school buildings, having enough teachers, implementing a standardized curricula, textbooks and technologies that are needed to help reach its educational goals.[236] Teachers are important resources that are starting to become more and more strained with the rising number of students.[237] Iraq Centre has a faster enrollment growth rate than teacher growth.[237] Teachers begin to have to take in more and more students which can produce a bigger strain on the teacher and quality of education the children receive.[237] Another large resource for education is libraries that can increase literacy and create a reading culture.[240] However, this can only be improved through a restructuring of the education system.[240] UNICEF provides more details, regarding the actions needed to help Iraq reach its MDG goal of education being attainable by all children at the primary level.[237] Much of it has to do with the restructuring of the education system, research into improving the quality of education, and discovering ways on how to better suit the needs of girls and children with disabilities in the education system.[237] Students at the college of medicine of the University of Basrah, 2010. The CIA World Factbook estimates that, in 2000, the adult literacy rate was 84% for males and 64% for females, with UN figures suggesting a small fall in literacy of Iraqis aged 15–24 between 2000 and 2008, from 84.8% to 82.4%.[241] The Coalition Provisional Authority undertook a complete reform of Iraq's education system: Baathist ideology was removed from curricula and there were substantial increases in teacher salaries and training programs, which the Hussein regime neglected in the 1990s.[citation needed] In 2003, an estimated 80% of Iraq's 15,000 school buildings needed rehabilitation and lacked basic sanitary facilities, and most schools lacked libraries and laboratories.[citation needed] Education is mandatory only through to the sixth grade, after which a national examination determines the possibility of continuing into the upper grades.[citation needed] Although a vocational track is available to those who do not pass the exam, few students elect that option because of its poor quality.[citation needed] Boys and girls generally attend separate schools beginning with seventh grade.[citation needed] In 2005, obstacles to further reform were poor security conditions in many areas, a centralised system that lacked accountability for teachers and administrators, and the isolation in which the system functioned for the previous 30 years.[citation needed] Few private schools exist.[citation needed] Prior to the invasion of 2003, some 240,000 persons were enrolled in institutions of higher education.[citation needed] According to the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, the top-ranking universities in the country are the University of Dohuk (1717th worldwide), the University of Baghdad (3160th) and Babylon University (3946th).[242] Main article: Culture of Iraq See also: Tourism in Iraq Public holidays in Iraq include Republic Day on 14 July and the National Day on 3 October. Main article: Music of Iraq Iraqi maqam performer Muhammad al-Qubbanchi. Iraq is known primarily for its rich maqam heritage which has been passed down orally by the masters of the maqam in an unbroken chain of transmission leading up to the present. The maqam al-Iraqi is considered to be the most noble and perfect form of maqam. Al-maqam al-Iraqi is the collection of sung poems written either in one of the sixteen meters of classical Arabic or in Iraqi dialect (Zuhayri).[243] This form of art is recognised by UNESCO as "an intangible heritage of humanity".[244] Early in the 20th century, many of the most prominent musicians in Iraq were Jewish.[245] In 1936, Iraq Radio was established with an ensemble made up entirely of Jews, with the exception of the percussion player. At the nightclubs of Baghdad, ensembles consisted of oud, qanun and two percussionists, while the same format with a ney and cello were used on the radio.[245] The most famous singer of the 1930s–1940s was perhaps the Jew Salima Pasha (later Salima Murad).[245][246] The respect and adoration for Pasha were unusual at the time since public performance by women was considered shameful, and most female singers were recruited from brothels.[245] The most famous early composer from Iraq was Ezra Aharon, an oud player, while the most prominent instrumentalist was Daoud Al-Kuwaiti.[citation needed] Daoud and his brother Saleh formed the official ensemble for the Iraqi radio station and were responsible for introducing the cello and ney into the traditional ensemble.[245] The Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah. Main articles: Architecture of Mesopotamia and Iraqi art Important cultural institutions in the capital include the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra – rehearsals and performances were briefly interrupted during the Occupation of Iraq but have since returned to normal. The National Theatre of Iraq was looted during the 2003 invasion, but efforts are underway to restore it. The live theatre scene received a boost during the 1990s when UN sanctions limited the import of foreign films. As many as 30 cinemas were reported to have been converted to live stages, producing a wide range of comedies and dramatic productions. Institutions offering cultural education in Baghdad include the Academy of Music, Institute of Fine Arts and the Music and Ballet school Baghdad. Baghdad also features a number of museums including the National Museum of Iraq – which houses the world's largest and finest collection of artefacts and relics of Ancient Iraqi civilisations; some of which were stolen during the Occupation of Iraq. Facade of Temple at Hatra, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The capital, Ninus or Nineveh, was taken by the Medes under Cyaxares, and some 200 years after Xenophon passed over its site, then mere mounds of earth. It remained buried until 1845, when Botta and Layard discovered the ruins of the Assyrian cities. The principal remains are those of Khorsabad, 16 km (10 mi) N.E. of Mosul; of Nimroud, supposed to be the ancient Calah; and of Kouyunjik, in all probability the ancient Nineveh. In these cities are found fragments of several great buildings which seem to have been palace-temples. They were constructed chiefly of sun-dried bricks, and all that remains of them is the lower part of the walls, decorated with sculpture and paintings, portions of the pavements, a few indications of the elevation, and some interesting works connected with the drainage. Main article: Media of Iraq After the end of the full state control in 2003, there were a period of significant growth in the broadcast media in Iraq. Immediately, and the ban on satellite dishes is no longer in place, and by mid-2003, according to a BBC report, there were 20 radio stations from 0.15 to 17 television stations owned by Iraqis, and 200 Iraqi newspapers owned and operated. Significantly, there have been many of these newspapers in numbers disproportionate to the population of their locations. For example, in Najaf, which has a population of 300,000, is being published more than 30 newspapers and distributed. Iraqi media expert and author of a number of reports on this subject, Ibrahim Al Marashi, identifies four stages of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 where they had been taking the steps that have significant effects on the way for the later of the Iraqi media since then. Stages are: pre-invasion preparation, and the war and the actual choice of targets, the first post-war period, and a growing insurgency and hand over power to the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.[247][page needed] Main article: Iraqi cuisine Masgouf, a popular Iraqi dish. Iraqi cuisine can be traced back some 10,000 years – to the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians and Ancient Persians.[248] Tablets found in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals – the first cookbooks in the world.[248] Ancient Iraq, or Mesopotamia, was home to many sophisticated and highly advanced civilisations, in all fields of knowledge – including the culinary arts.[248] However, it was in the medieval era when Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate that the Iraqi kitchen reached its zenith.[248] Today the cuisine of Iraq reflects this rich inheritance as well as strong influences from the culinary traditions of neighbouring Turkey, Iran and the Greater Syria area.[248] Some characteristic ingredients of Iraqi cuisine include – vegetables such as aubergine, tomato, okra, onion, potato, courgette, garlic, peppers and chilli, cereals such as rice, bulgur wheat and barley, pulses and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and cannellini, fruits such as dates, raisins, apricots, figs, grapes, melon, pomegranate and citrus fruits, especially lemon and lime.[248] Similarly with other countries of Western Asia, chicken and especially lamb are the favourite meats. Most dishes are served with rice – usually Basmati, grown in the marshes of southern Iraq.[248] Bulgur wheat is used in many dishes – having been a staple in the country since the days of the Ancient Assyrians.[248] Younis Mahmoud is Iraq's all-time most capped player in international matches, having played in 148 official games. Main article: Sport in Iraq Football is the most popular sport in Iraq. Football is a considerable uniting factor in Iraq following years of war and unrest. Basketball, swimming, weightlifting, bodybuilding, boxing, kick boxing and tennis are also popular sports. The Iraqi Football Association is the governing body of football in Iraq, controlling the Iraqi National Team and the Iraqi Premier League (also known as Dawri Al-Nokba). It was founded in 1948, and has been a member of FIFA since 1950 and the Asian Football Confederation since 1971. The biggest club in Iraq is Al-Shorta, who won back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014 and were the first ever winners of the Arab Champions League. The Iraqi National Football Team were the 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions after defeating Saudi Arabia in the final by 1–0 thanks to a goal by captain Younis Mahmoud and they have participated in two FIFA competitions (the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup). Despite having mobile phones in the Middle East since 1995, Iraqis were only able to use mobile phones after 2003. Mobile phones were banned under Saddam's rule. In 2013, it was reported that 78% of Iraqis owned a mobile phone.[249] According to the Iraqi Ministry of Communication, Iraq is now in the second phase of building and launching a multipurpose strategic satellite.[250] A project which expected to cost $600 million is ongoing in co-operation with market leaders such as Astrium and Arianespace. Undersea cable On 18 January 2012, Iraq was connected to the undersea communications network for the first time.[251] This had an immense impact on internet speed, availability and usage in Iraq. In October 2013, the Iraqi Minister for Communication ordered internet prices to be lowered by a third. This is an attempt to boost usage and comes as a result of significant improvements in Internet infrastructure in the country.[252] Iraq portal Kurdistan portal Outline of Iraq Index of Iraq-related articles ^ a b "World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision". ESA.UN.org (custom data acquired via website). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 10 September 2017. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 7 March 2019. ^ "World Bank GINI index". Data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 17 August 2016. ^ "2018 Human Development Report" (PDF). 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Henry Holt and Co., NY, US ISBN 0-8050-7602-6 Hanna Batatu, "The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq", Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1978 Charles Glass, "The Northern Front: A Wartime Diary"' Saqi Books, London, 2004, ISBN 0-86356-770-3 A Dweller in Mesopotamia, being the adventures of an official artist in the garden of Eden, by Donald Maxwell, 1921. (a searchable facsimile at the University of Georgia Libraries; DjVu & layered PDF format) By Desert Ways to Baghdad, by Louisa Jebb (Mrs. Roland Wilkins) With illustrations and a map, 1908 (1909 ed). (a searchable facsimile at the University of Georgia Libraries; DjVu & layered PDF format) "Iraqi Constitution" (PDF). Ministry of Interior – General Directorate For Nationality. 30 January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2013. Benjamin Busch, "'Today is Better than Tomorrow'. A Marine returns to a divided Iraq", Harper's Magazine, October 2014, pp. 29–44. Global Arms Exports to Iraq 1960–1990, Rand Research report Tripp, Charles R. H. (2002). A History of Iraq. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-87823-4. Iraqat Wikipedia's sister projects Resources from Wikiversity Presidency of Iraq Cabinet of Iraq "Iraq". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Iraq Corruption Profile from the Business Anti-Corruption Portal Iraq web resources provided by GovPubs at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries Iraq at Curlie Iraq profile from the BBC News Iraq articles Simurrum culture Neo-Assyrian Empire Neo-Babylonian Empire Achaemenid Assyria Seleucid Babylonia Parthian Babylonia Sassanid Asorestan Muslim conquest of Persia Abbasid Caliphate Buyid dynasty Ak Koyunlu Safavids Ottoman Iraq (Mamluk dynasty) Mandatory Iraq Kingdom of Iraq Arab Federation Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region (National Command) Iran–Iraq War Invasion of Kuwait U.S. invasion Iraqi insurgency U.S. troop withdrawal Insurgency (2011–2013) Civil War (2014–2017) Mosul liberation Insurgency (2017–present) Al-Faw Peninsula Al-Jazira Hamrin Mountains Shatt al-Arab Syrian Desert Umm Qasr Zagros Mountains Council of Representatives (legislative) Council of Ministers Presidency Council in pre-Saddam Iraq in Saddam Hussein's Iraq in post-invasion Iraq in ISIL-controlled territory Wars and conflicts Dinar (currency) Oil reserves Iraqi Turkmen/Turkoman dialects Armenians Circassians Mandaeans Marsh Arabs Solluba Iraqi Turkmen/Turkoman Mandaeism Yazidis Iraqi Kurdistan North Syria Federation Turkish occupation of northern Syria Greater Middle East Countries and dependencies of Asia States with limited recognition Dependencies and special administrative regions Akrotiri and Dhekelia Asia portal Countries bordering the Persian Gulf Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean British Indian Ocean Territory United Kingdom Christmas Island (Australia) Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) Joint Defence Council Arab Union Arab League monitors in Syria Arab League–European Union relations Pan-Arabism Union of Arab National Olympic Committees Arab Games Countries and regions in the Arabian Plate Khuzestan Province Southern Denkalya Subregion Awdal South Sinai Governorate List of Secretaries General OPEC Fund for International Development OPEC Reference Basket MusicBrainz: b0525ccb-15e9-3c56-81fa-471db3b31cfa Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraq&oldid=904112574" Articles containing Sorani Kurdish-language text Articles containing Kurmanji Kurdish-language text Arabic-speaking countries and territories Federal republics Member states of OPEC Member states of the Arab League Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Member states of the United Nations Middle Eastern countries Near Eastern countries States and territories established in 1932 Western Asian countries Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages Articles containing Arabic-language text Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text Pages including recorded pronunciations (English) Articles containing Kurdish-language text Articles containing Sumerian-language text Articles needing additional references from June 2014 Articles needing more detailed references Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2013 Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2014 Articles to be expanded from June 2012 All articles with links needing disambiguation Articles with links needing disambiguation from June 2019 Articles containing potentially dated statements from May 2011 Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from March 2013 Wikipedia articles with HDS identifiers Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2470
__label__wiki	0.853575	0.853575	Northrop Frye CC FRSC Northrop Frye in 1984 Herman Northrop Frye Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada January 23, 1991(1991-01-23) (aged 78) Victoria College, Toronto Emmanuel College, Toronto Merton College, Oxford Archetypal literary criticism, Romanticism Main interests Imagination, archetype, myth, the Bible Notable ideas Archetypes of literature, classless culture Giambattista Vico, Oswald Spengler, William Blake, I. A. Richards, F. R. Leavis Influenced Harold Bloom, Margaret Atwood, B. W. Powe, Fredric Jameson Herman Northrop Frye CC FRSC (July 14, 1912 – January 23, 1991) was a Canadian literary critic and literary theorist, considered one of the most influential of the 20th century. Frye gained international fame with his first book, Fearful Symmetry (1947), which led to the reinterpretation of the poetry of William Blake. His lasting reputation rests principally on the theory of literary criticism that he developed in Anatomy of Criticism (1957), one of the most important works of literary theory published in the twentieth century. The American critic Harold Bloom commented at the time of its publication that Anatomy established Frye as "the foremost living student of Western literature."[1] Frye's contributions to cultural and social criticism spanned a long career during which he earned widespread recognition and received many honours. 1.1 Early life and education 1.2 Academic and writing career 1.3 Family life 2 Contribution to literary criticism 2.1 Criticism as a science 2.2 Frye's conceptual framework for literature 2.3 The order of words 2.4 A theory of the imagination 2.5 Frye's critical method 2.6 Archetypal criticism as "a new poetics" 2.7 Influences: Vico and Blake 2.8 Contribution to the theorizing of Canada 2.8.1 Study of literary productions 3 Awards and honors 4 Works by Northrop Frye Biography[edit] Early life and education[edit] Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, but raised in Moncton, New Brunswick, Frye was the third child of Herman Edward Frye and of Catherine Maud Howard.[2] His much older brother, Howard, died in World War I; he also had a sister, Vera.[3] His first cousin was the scientist Alma Howard. Frye went to Toronto to compete in a national typing contest in 1929.[4] He studied for his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Victoria College in the University of Toronto, where he edited the college literary journal, Acta Victoriana.[5] He then studied theology at Emmanuel College (like Victoria College, a constituent part of the University of Toronto). After a brief stint as a student minister in Saskatchewan, he was ordained to the ministry of the United Church of Canada. He then studied at Merton College, Oxford, where he was a member and Secretary of the Bodley Club[6] before returning to Victoria College, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. Academic and writing career[edit] Frye rose to international prominence as a result of his first book, Fearful Symmetry, published in 1947. Until then, the prophetic poetry of William Blake had long been poorly understood, and considered by some to be delusional ramblings. Frye found in it a system of metaphor derived from Paradise Lost and the Bible. His study of Blake's poetry was a major contribution to the subject. Moreover, Frye outlined an innovative manner of studying literature that was to deeply influence the study of literature in general. He was a major influence on Harold Bloom, Margaret Atwood, and others.[citation needed] In 1974–1975 Frye was the Norton professor at Harvard University. Northrop Frye did not have a Ph.D.[7] The intelligence service of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spied on Frye, watching his participation in the anti-Vietnam War movement, an academic forum about China, and activism to end South African apartheid.[8] Family life[edit] Frye married Helen Kemp, an educator, editor and artist, in 1937. She died in Australia while accompanying Frye on a lecture tour.[9] Two years after her death in 1986, he married Elizabeth Brown.[2] He died in 1991 and was interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario. Contribution to literary criticism[edit] The insights gained from his study of Blake set Frye on his critical path and shaped his contributions to literary criticism and theory. He was the first critic to postulate a systematic theory of criticism, "to work out," in his own words, "a unified commentary on the theory of literary criticism" (Stubborn Structure 160). In so doing, he shaped the discipline of criticism. Inspired by his work on Blake, Frye developed and articulated his unified theory ten years after Fearful Symmetry, in the Anatomy of Criticism (1957). He described this as an attempt at a "synoptic view of the scope, theory, principles, and techniques of literary criticism" (Anatomy 3). He asked, "what if criticism is a science as well as an art?" (7), Thus, Frye launched the pursuit which was to occupy the rest of his career—that of establishing criticism as a "coherent field of study which trains the imagination quite as systematically and efficiently as the sciences train the reason" (Hamilton 34). Criticism as a science[edit] As A. C. Hamilton outlines in Northrop Frye: Anatomy of his Criticism, Frye's assumption of coherence for literary criticism carries important implications. Firstly and most fundamentally, it presupposes that literary criticism is a discipline in its own right, independent of literature. Claiming with John Stuart Mill that "the artist… is not heard but overheard," Frye insists that The axiom of criticism must be, not that the poet does not know what he is talking about, but that he cannot talk about what he knows. To defend the right of criticism to exist at all, therefore, is to assume that criticism is a structure of thought and knowledge existing in its own right, with some measure of independence from the art it deals with (Anatomy 5). This "declaration of independence" (Hart xv) is necessarily a measured one for Frye. For coherence requires that the autonomy of criticism, the need to eradicate its conception as "a parasitic form of literary expression,… a second-hand imitation of creative power" (Anatomy 3), sits in dynamic tension with the need to establish integrity for it as a discipline. For Frye, this kind of coherent, critical integrity involves claiming a body of knowledge for criticism that, while independent of literature, is yet constrained by it: "If criticism exists," he declares, "it must be an examination of literature in terms of a conceptual framework derivable from an inductive survey of the literary field" itself (Anatomy 7). Frye's conceptual framework for literature[edit] In seeking integrity for criticism, Frye rejects what he termed the deterministic fallacy. He defines this as the movement of "a scholar with a special interest in geography or economics [to] express . . . that interest by the rhetorical device of putting his favorite study into a causal relationship with whatever interests him less" (Anatomy 6). By attaching criticism to an external framework rather than locating the framework for criticism within literature, this kind of critic essentially "substitute[s] a critical attitude for criticism." For Frye critical integrity means that "the axioms and postulates of criticism . . . have to grow out of the art it deals with" (Anatomy 6). Northrop Frye Hall, University of Toronto Taking his cue from Aristotle, Frye's methodology in defining a conceptual framework begins inductively, "follow[ing] the natural order and begin[ning] with the primary facts" (Anatomy 15). The primary facts, in this case, are the works of literature themselves. And what did Frye's inductive survey of these facts reveal? Significantly, they revealed "a general tendency on the part of great classics to revert to [primitive formulas]" (Anatomy 17). This revelation prompted his next move, or rather, 'inductive leap': I suggest that it is time for criticism to leap to a new ground from which it can discover what the organizing or containing forms of its conceptual framework are. Criticism seems to be badly in need of a coordinating principle, a central hypothesis which, like the theory of evolution in biology, will see the phenomena it deals with as parts of a whole (Anatomy 16). Arguing that "criticism cannot be a systematic [and thus scientific] study unless there is a quality in literature which enables it to be so," Frye puts forward the hypothesis that "just as there is an order of nature behind the natural sciences, so literature is not a piled aggregate of 'works,' but an order of words" (Anatomy 17). This order of words constitutes criticism's conceptual framework, its coordinating principle. The order of words[edit] The recurring primitive formulas Frye noticed in his survey of the "greatest classics" provide literature with an order of words, a "skeleton" which allows the reader "to respond imaginatively to any literary work by seeing it in the larger perspective provided by its literary and social contexts" (Hamilton 20). Frye identifies these formulas as the "conventional myths and metaphors" which he calls "archetypes" (Spiritus Mundi 118). The archetypes of literature exist, Frye argues, as an order of words, providing criticism with a conceptual framework and a body of knowledge derived not from an ideological system but rooted in the imagination itself. Thus, rather than interpreting literary works from some ideological 'position' — what Frye calls the "superimposed critical attitude" (Anatomy 7) — criticism instead finds integrity within the literary field itself. Criticism for Frye, then, is not a task of evaluation — that is, of rejecting or accepting a literary work — but rather simply of recognizing it for what it is and understanding it in relation to other works within the 'order of words' [10] (Cotrupi 4). Imposing value judgments on literature belongs, according to Frye, "only to the history of taste, and therefore follows the vacillations of fashionable prejudice" (Anatomy 9). Genuine criticism "progresses toward making the whole of literature intelligible" (Anatomy 9) so that its goal is ultimately knowledge and not evaluation. For the critic in Frye's mode, then, . . . a literary work should be contemplated as a pattern of knowledge, an act that must be distinguished, at least initially, from any direct experience of the work, . . . [Thus] criticism begins when reading ends: no longer imaginatively subjected to a literary work, the critic tries to make sense out of it, not by going to some historical context or by commenting on the immediate experience of reading but by seeing its structure within literature and literature within culture (Hamilton 27). A theory of the imagination[edit] Once asked whether his critical theory was Romantic, Frye responded, "Oh, it's entirely Romantic, yes" (Stingle 1). It is Romantic in the same sense that Frye attributed Romanticism to Blake: that is, "in the expanded sense of giving a primary place to imagination and individual feeling" (Stingle 2). As artifacts of the imagination, literary works, including "the pre-literary categories of ritual, myth, and folk-tale" (Archetypes 1450) form, in Frye's vision, a potentially unified imaginative experience. He reminds us that literature is the "central and most important extension" of mythology: ". . . every human society possesses a mythology which is inherited, transmitted and diversified by literature" (Words with Power xiii). Mythology and literature thus inhabit and function within the same imaginative world, one that is "governed by conventions, by its own modes, symbols, myths and genres" (Hart 23). Integrity for criticism requires that it too operates within the sphere of the imagination, and not seek an organizing principle in ideology. To do so, claims Frye, . . . leaves out the central structural principles that literature derives from myth, the principles that give literature its communicating power across the centuries through all ideological changes. Such structural principles are certainly conditioned by social and historical factors and do not transcend them, but they retain a continuity of form that points to an identity of the literary organism distinct from all its adaptations to its social environment (Words with Power xiii). Myth therefore provides structure to literature simply because literature as a whole is "displaced mythology" (Bates 21). Hart makes the point well when he states that "For Frye, the story, and not the argument, is at the centre of literature and society. The base of society is mythical and narrative and not ideological and dialectical" (19). This idea, which is central in Frye's criticism, was first suggested to him by Giambattista Vico. Frye's critical method[edit] Frye uses the terms 'centripetal' and 'centrifugal' to describe his critical method. Criticism, Frye explains, is essentially centripetal when it moves inwardly, towards the structure of a text; it is centrifugal when it moves outwardly, away from the text and towards society and the outer world. Lyric poetry, for instance, like Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn", is dominantly centripetal, stressing the sound and movement and imagery of the ordered words. Rhetorical novels, like Uncle Tom's Cabin, are dominantly centrifugal, stressing the thematic connection of the stories and characters to the social order. The "Ode" has centrifugal tendencies, relying for its effects on elements of history and pottery and visual aesthetics. Cabin has centripetal tendencies, relying on syntax and lexical choice to delineate characters and establish mood. But the one veers inward, the other pushes outward. Criticism reflects these movements, centripetally focusing on the aesthetic function of literature, centrifugally on the social function of literature. While some critics or schools of criticism emphasize one movement over the other, for Frye, both movements are essential: "criticism will always have two aspects, one turned toward the structure of literature and one turned toward the other cultural phenomena that form the social environment of literature" (Critical Path 25). He would therefore agree, at least in part, with the New Critics of his day in their centripetal insistence on structural analysis. But for Frye this is only part of the story: "It is right," he declares, "that the first effort of critical apprehension should take the form of a rhetorical or structural analysis of a work of art. But a purely structural approach has the same limitation in criticism that it has in biology." That is, it doesn't develop "any explanation of how the structure came to be what it was and what its nearest relatives are. Structural analysis brings rhetoric back to criticism, but we need a new poetics as well . . ." (Archetypes 1447). Archetypal criticism as "a new poetics"[edit] For Frye, this "new poetics" is to be found in the principle of the mythological framework, which has come to be known as 'archetypal criticism'. It is through the lens of this framework, which is essentially a centrifugal movement of backing up from the text towards the archetype, that the social function of literary criticism becomes apparent. Essentially, "what criticism can do," according to Frye, "is awaken students to successive levels of awareness of the mythology that lies behind the ideology in which their society indoctrinates them" (Stingle 4). That is, the study of recurring structural patterns grants students an emancipatory distance from their own society, and gives them a vision of a higher human state — the Longinian sublime — that is not accessible directly through their own experience, but ultimately transforms and expands their experience, so that the poetic model becomes a model to live by. In what he terms a "kerygmatic mode," myths become "myths to live by" and metaphors "metaphors to live in," which ". . . not only work for us but constantly expand our horizons, [so that] we may enter the world of [kerygma or transformative power] and pass on to others what we have found to be true for ourselves" (Double Vision 18). Because of its important social function, Frye felt that literary criticism was an essential part of a liberal education, and worked tirelessly to communicate his ideas to a wider audience. "For many years now," he wrote in 1987, "I have been addressing myself primarily, not to other critics, but to students and a nonspecialist public, realizing that whatever new directions can come to my discipline will come from their needs and their intense if unfocused vision" (Auguries 7). It is therefore fitting that his last book, published posthumously, should be one that he describes as being "something of a shorter and more accessible version of the longer books, The Great Code and Words with Power," which he asks his readers to read sympathetically, not "as proceeding from a judgment seat of final conviction, but from a rest stop on a pilgrimage, however near the pilgrimage may now be to its close" (Double Vision Preface). See also: Archetypal literary criticism Influences: Vico and Blake[edit] Vico, in The New Science, posited a view of language as fundamentally figurative, and introduced into Enlightenment discourse the notion of the role of the imagination in creating meaning. For Vico, poetic discourse is prior to philosophical discourse; philosophy is in fact derivative of poetry. Frye readily acknowledged the debt he owed to Vico in developing his literary theory, describing him as "the first modern thinker to understand that all major verbal structures have descended historically from poetic and mythological ones" (Words with Power xii). However, it was Blake, Frye's "Virgilian guide" (Stingle 1), who first awakened Frye to the "mythological frame of our culture" [10] (Cotrupi 14). In fact, Frye claims that his "second book [Anatomy] was contained in embryo in the first [Fearful Symmetry]" (Stubborn Structure 160). For it was in reflecting on the similarity between Blake and Milton that Frye first stumbled upon the "principle of the mythological framework," the recognition that "the Bible was a mythological framework, cosmos or body of stories, and that societies live within a mythology" (Hart 18). Blake thus led Frye to the conviction that the Bible provided Western societies with the mythology which informed all of Western literature. As Hamilton asserts, "Blake's claim that 'the Old and New Testaments are the Great Code of Art' became the central doctrine of all [Frye's] criticism" (39). This 'doctrine' found its fullest expression in Frye's appropriately named The Great Code, which he described as "a preliminary investigation of Biblical structure and typology" whose purpose was ultimately to suggest "how the structure of the Bible, as revealed by its narrative and imagery, was related to the conventions and genres of Western literature" (Words with Power xi). Contribution to the theorizing of Canada[edit] During the 1950s, Frye wrote annual surveys of Canadian poetry for the University of Toronto Quarterly, which led him to observe recurrent themes and preoccupations in Canadian poetry.[11] Subsequently, Frye elaborated on these observations, especially in his conclusion to Carl F. Klinck's Literary History of Canada (1965). In this work, Frye presented the idea of the "garrison mentality" as the attitude from which Canadian literature has been written. The garrison mentality is the attitude of a member of a community that feels isolated from cultural centres and besieged by a hostile landscape.[12] Frye maintained that such communities were peculiarly Canadian, and fostered a literature that was formally immature, that displayed deep moral discomfort with "uncivilized" nature, and whose narratives reinforced social norms and values.[12] Frye also aided James Polk in compiling Divisions on a Ground: Essays on Canadian Culture (1982).[13] In the posthumous Collected Works of Northrop Frye, his writings on Canada occupy the thick 12th volume.[14] Garrison mentality Frye collected his disparate writings on Canadian writing and painting in The Bush Garden: Essays on the Canadian Imagination (1971). He coined phrases like "the Garrison Mentality", a theme that summarizes Canadian Literature. Margaret Atwood adopted his approach and elaborated on this in her book Survival (1972).[15] Canadian identity in literature Based on his observations of Canadian literature, Frye concluded that, by extension, Canadian identity was defined by a fear of nature, by the history of settlement and by unquestioned adherence to the community. However, Frye perceived the ability and advisability of Canadian (literary) identity to move beyond these characteristics. Frye proposed the possibility of movement beyond the literary constraints of the garrison mentality: growing urbanization, interpreted as greater control over the environment, would produce a society with sufficient confidence for its writers to compose more formally advanced detached literature.[16] Study of literary productions[edit] Frye's international reputation allowed him to champion Canadian literature at a time when to do so was considered provincial. Frye argued that regardless of the formal quality of the writing, it was imperative to study Canadian literary productions in order to understand the Canadian imagination and its reaction to the Canadian environment.[17] Awards and honors[edit] Northrop Frye statue outside the entrance of Moncton Public Library at Blue Cross Centre Frye was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 1951 and awarded the Royal Society's Lorne Pierce Medal (1958) and its Pierre Chauveau Medal (1970). He was named University Professor by the University of Toronto in 1967. He won the Canada Council Molson Prize in 1971, and the Royal Bank Award in 1978. In 1987 he received the Governor General's Literary Award and the Toronto Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.[18] He was an Honorary Fellow or Member of the following: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1969) Merton College, Oxford (1974) British Academy (1975) American Philosophical Society (1976), and American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1981).[18] Northrop Frye was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1972.[19] In 2000, he was honoured by the government of Canada with his image on a postage stamp. An international literary festival The Frye Festival, named in Frye's honour, takes place every April in Moncton, New Brunswick. The Northrop Frye Centre, part of Victoria College at the University of Toronto, was named in his honour,[20] as was the Humanities Stream of the Vic One Program at Victoria College and the Northrop Frye Centre for Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto. Northrop Frye School in Moncton was named in his honour. A statue shows Frye sitting on a park bench outside the entrance to the Moncton Public Library.[21] Another casting of the statue and bench by artists Darren Byers and Fred Harrison sits at Victoria College at the University of Toronto[22]. Frye was named a National Historic Person in 2018.[23] Works by Northrop Frye[edit] The following is a list of his books, including the volumes in the Collected Works of Northrop Frye, an ongoing project under the editorship of Alvin A. Lee. Anatomy of Criticism Fables of Identity The Well-Tempered Critic A Natural Perspective: The Development of Shakespearean Comedy and Romance The Return of Eden: Five Essays on Milton's Epics Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy The Modern Century A Study of English Romanticism The Stubborn Structure: Essays on Criticism and Society The Bush Garden: Essays on the Canadian Imagination The Critical Path: An Essay on the Social Context of Literary Criticism The Secular Scripture: A Study of the Structure of Romance Spiritus Mundi: Essays on Literature, Myth, and Society Northrop Frye on Culture and Literature: A Collection of Review Essays Creation and Recreation The Great Code: The Bible and Literature Divisions on a Ground: Essays on Canadian Culture The Myth of Deliverance: Reflections on Shakespeare's Problem Comedies Harper Handbook to Literature (with Sheridan Baker and George W. Perkins) On Education No Uncertain Sounds Myth and Metaphor: Selected Essays Words with Power: Being a Second Study of The Bible and Literature Reading the World: Selected Writings The Double Vision of Language, Nature, Time, and God A World in a Grain of Sand: Twenty-Two Interviews with Northrop Frye Reflections on the Canadian Literary Imagination: A Selection of Essays by Northrop Frye Mythologizing Canada: Essays on the Canadian Literary Imagination Northrop Frye on Shakespeare Northrop Frye in Conversation (an interview with David Cayley) The Eternal Act of Creation Collected Works of Northrop Frye Northrop Frye on Religion Beyond these publications, Frye edited fifteen books, composed essays and chapters that appear in over sixty books, and wrote over one hundred articles and reviews in academic journals. From 1950 to 1960 he wrote the annual critical and bibliographical survey of Canadian poetry for Letters in Canada, University of Toronto Quarterly. ^ Forst, G.N. (Winter 2007). "Anatomy of Imagination." Canadian Literature #195, Context(e)s. (pp. 141–43). Retrieved on: October 20, 2011. ^ a b University of Toronto. Guide to the Northrop Frye papers. Victoria University Library Special Collections (F 11) Northrop Frye fonds. Retrieved on: November 30, 2008. ^ Herman Northrop Frye. New Brunswick literary Encyclopedia. ^ Ayre, J. "Frye, Herman Northrop". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation. ^ "Acta victoriana". ^ Frye, Northrop (2001). Denham, Robert D. (ed.). Diaries. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-3538-8. ^ "RCMP spied on Northrop Frye". CBC News. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2014. ^ University of Toronto. Helen Kemp Frye (1910-1986). Victoria University Library Special Collections (F12) Helen Kemp Frye fonds. Retrieved on: November 30, 2008. ^ a b Cotrupi, Caterina N., Northrop Frye and the Poetics of Process (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000.) ISBN 978-0-8020-8141-4 ^ Hutcheon, Linda; Northrop Frye (1995). Introduction: Field Notes of a Public Critic, The Bush Garden. Toronto: Anansi. pp. ix. ^ a b Frye, Northrop; Carl F. Klinck (1965). Conclusion, Literary History of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 342. ^ For a critical discussion on Canadianness see: Marc A. Bauch: Canadian Self-Perception and Self-Representation in English-Canadian Drama after 1967. Wiku-Verlag, Köln 2012. ISBN 3-865534-07-4 ^ Frye, Northrop (2003). Jean O'Grady; David Staines (eds.). Collected Works of Northrop Frye Volume 12: Northrop Frye on Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ^ Marc A. Bauch: Canadian Self-Perception and Self-Representation in English-Canadian Drama after 1967. Wiku-Verlag, Köln 2012. ISBN 3-865534-07-4 ^ Frye, Northrop; Carl F. Klinck (1965). Conclusion, Literary History of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 351. ^ a b Northrop Frye at Victoria College, University of Toronto. Retrieved on: November 30, 2008. ^ Harry Palmer Gallery. Northrop Frye Archived 2008-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Companions of the Order of Canada Gallery E-H. Retrieved on: November 30, 2008. ^ University of Toronto. University of Victoria, Northrop Frye Centre. ^ Northrop Frye statue unveiled for literary fans, CBC News Feb. 21, 2012 ^ by artists Darren Byers and Fred Harrison https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/bronze-statues-prime-minister-project-nb-1.4006438 ^ Government of Canada Announces 12 New National Historic Designations, Parks Canada news release, March 27, 2018 Hart, Jonathan (2005) [1994]. Northrop Frye: The Theoretical Imagination. Critics of the Twentieth Century. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-13490437-2. Retrieved 2018-03-14. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northrop Frye. Wikiquote has quotations related to: Northrop Frye The Northrop Frye Collection at the Victoria University Library at the University of Toronto A comprehensive collection of Northrop Frye's published work, literary manuscripts, correspondence, personal and professional writings, photographs and audiovisual materials. Northrop Frye @ 100: an exhibition celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of Northrop Frye’s birth. Selected collection of childhood books and photographs to correspondence, addresses, published works, and awards. Works by or about Northrop Frye at Internet Archive An essay on Northrop Frye's life and ideas "Questioning Northrop Frye's Adaptation of Vico". An article in Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy, Spring 2010, Vol. 37:3. The Frye Festival. An international literary festival in Moncton, New Brunswick. The Educated Imagination. A blog dedicated to Northrop Frye. The Bible and English Literature by Northrop Frye: Full Lectures. Between 1980 and 1981, Prof. Northrop Frye held 25 lectures under the title ‘The Bible and Literature’. Recipients of the Mondello Prize Single Prize for Literature: Bartolo Cattafi (1975) • Achille Campanile (1976) • Günter Grass (1977) Special Jury Prize: Denise McSmith (1975) • Stefano D'Arrigo (1977) • Jurij Trifonov (1978) • Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1979) • Pietro Consagra (1980) • Ignazio Buttitta, Angelo Maria e Ela Ripellino (1983) • Leonardo Sciascia (1985) • Wang Meng (1987) • Mikhail Gorbaciov (1988) • Peter Carey, José Donoso, Northrop Frye, Jorge Semprún, Wole Soyinka, Lu Tongliu (1990) • Fernanda Pivano (1992) • Associazione Scrittori Cinesi (1993) • Dong Baoucum, Fan Boaci, Wang Huanbao, Shi Peide, Chen Yuanbin (1995) • Xu Huainzhong, Xiao Xue, Yu Yougqnan, Qin Weinjung (1996) • Khushwant Singh (1997) • Javier Marías (1998) • Francesco Burdin (2001) • Luciano Erba (2002) • Isabella Quarantotti De Filippo (2003) • Marina Rullo (2006) • Andrea Ceccherini (2007) • Enrique Vila-Matas (2009) • Francesco Forgione (2010) First narrative work: Carmelo Samonà (1978) • Fausta Garavini (1979) First poetic work: Giovanni Giuga (1978) • Gilberto Sacerdoti (1979) Prize for foreign literature: Milan Kundera (1978) • N. Scott Momaday (1979) • Juan Carlos Onetti (1980) • Tadeusz Konwicki (1981) Prize for foreign poetry: Jannis Ritsos (1978) • Josif Brodskij (1979) • Juan Gelman (1980) • Gyula Illyés (1981) First work: Valerio Magrelli (1980) • Ferruccio Benzoni, Stefano Simoncelli, Walter Valeri, Laura Mancinelli (1981) • Jolanda Insana (1982) • Daniele Del Giudice (1983) • Aldo Busi (1984) • Elisabetta Rasy, Dario Villa (1985) • Marco Lodoli, Angelo Mainardi (1986) • Marco Ceriani, Giovanni Giudice (1987) • Edoardo Albinati, Silvana La Spina (1988) • Andrea Canobbio, Romana Petri (1990) • Anna Cascella (1991) • Marco Caporali, Nelida Milani (1992) • Silvana Grasso, Giulio Mozzi (1993) • Ernesto Franco (1994) • Roberto Deidier (1995) • Giuseppe Quatriglio, Tiziano Scarpa (1996) • Fabrizio Rondolino (1997) • Alba Donati (1998) • Paolo Febbraro (1999) • Evelina Santangelo (2000) • Giuseppe Lupo (2001) • Giovanni Bergamini, Simona Corso (2003) • Adriano Lo Monaco (2004) • Piercarlo Rizzi (2005) • Francesco Fontana (2006) • Paolo Fallai (2007) • Luca Giachi (2008) • Carlo Carabba (2009) • Gabriele Pedullà (2010) Foreign author: Alain Robbe-Grillet (1982) • Thomas Bernhard (1983) • Adolfo Bioy Casares (1984) • Bernard Malamud (1985) • Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1986) • Doris Lessing (1987) • V. S. Naipaul (1988) • Octavio Paz (1989) • Christa Wolf (1990) • Kurt Vonnegut (1991) • Bohumil Hrabal (1992) • Seamus Heaney (1993) • J. M. Coetzee (1994) • Vladimir Vojnovič (1995) • David Grossman (1996) • Philippe Jaccottet (1998) • Don DeLillo (1999) • Aleksandar Tišma (2000) • Nuruddin Farah (2001) • Per Olov Enquist (2002) • Adunis (2003) • Les Murray (2004) • Magda Szabó (2005) • Uwe Timm (2006) • Bapsi Sidhwa (2007) • Viktor Erofeev (2009) • Edmund White (2010) • Javier Cercas (2011) • Elizabeth Strout (2012) • Péter Esterházy (2013) • Joe R. Lansdale (2014) • Emmanuel Carrère (2015) • Marilynne Robinson (2016) • Cees Nooteboom (2017) Italian Author: Alberto Moravia (1982) • Vittorio Sereni alla memoria (1983) • Italo Calvino (1984) • Mario Luzi (1985) • Paolo Volponi (1986) • Luigi Malerba (1987) • Oreste del Buono (1988) • Giovanni Macchia (1989) • Gianni Celati, Emilio Villa (1990) • Andrea Zanzotto (1991) • Ottiero Ottieri (1992) • Attilio Bertolucci (1993) • Luigi Meneghello (1994) • Fernando Bandini, Michele Perriera (1995) • Nico Orengo (1996) • Giuseppe Bonaviri, Giovanni Raboni (1997) • Carlo Ginzburg (1998) • Alessandro Parronchi (1999) • Elio Bartolini (2000) • Roberto Alajmo (2001) • Andrea Camilleri (2002) • Andrea Carraro, Antonio Franchini, Giorgio Pressburger (2003) • Maurizio Bettini, Giorgio Montefoschi, Nelo Risi (2004) • pr. Raffaele Nigro, sec. Maurizio Cucchi, ter. Giuseppe Conte (2005) • pr. Paolo Di Stefano, sec. Giulio Angioni (2006) • pr. Mario Fortunato, sec. Toni Maraini, ter. Andrea Di Consoli (2007) • pr. Andrea Bajani, sec. Antonio Scurati, ter. Flavio Soriga (2008) • pr. Mario Desiati, sec. Osvaldo Guerrieri, ter. Gregorio Scalise (2009) • pr. Lorenzo Pavolini, sec. Roberto Cazzola, ter. (2010) • pr. Eugenio Baroncelli, sec. Milo De Angelis, ter. Igiaba Scego (2011) • pr. Edoardo Albinati, sec. Paolo Di Paolo, ter. Davide Orecchio (2012) • pr. Andrea Canobbio, sec. Valerio Magrelli, ter. Walter Siti (2013) • pr. Irene Chias, sec. Giorgio Falco, ter. Francesco Pecoraro (2014) • pr. Nicola Lagioia, sec. Letizia Muratori, ter. Marco Missiroli (2015) • pr. Marcello Fois, sec. Emanuele Tonon, ter. Romana Petri (2016) • pr. Stefano Massini, sec. Alessandro Zaccuri, ter. Alessandra Sarchi (2017) "Five Continents" Award: Kōbō Abe, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Germaine Greer, Wilson Harris, José Saramago (1992) • Kenzaburō Ōe (1993) • Stephen Spender (1994) • Thomas Keneally, Alberto Arbasino (1996) • Margaret Atwood, André Brink, David Malouf, Romesh Gunesekera, Christoph Ransmayr (1997) "Palermo bridge for Europe" Award: Dacia Maraini (1999), Premio Palermo ponte per il Mediterraneo Alberto Arbasino (2000) "Ignazio Buttitta" Award: Nino De Vita (2003) • Attilio Lolini (2005) • Roberto Rossi Precerotti (2006) • Silvia Bre (2007) Supermondello Tiziano Scarpa (2009) • Michela Murgia (2010) • Eugenio Baroncelli (2011) • Davide Orecchio (2012) • Valerio Magrelli (2013) • Giorgio Falco (2014) • Marco Missiroli (2015) • Romana Petri (2016) • Stefano Massini (2017) Special award of the President: Ibrahim al-Koni (2009) • Emmanuele Maria Emanuele (2010) • Antonio Calabrò (2011) Poetry prize: Antonio Riccardi (2010) Translation Award: Evgenij Solonovic (2010) Identity and dialectal literatures award: Gialuigi Beccaria e Marco Paolini (2010) Essays Prize: Marzio Barbagli (2010) Mondello for Multiculturality Award: Kim Thúy (2011) Mondello Youths Award: Claudia Durastanti (2011) • Edoardo Albinati (2012) • Alessandro Zaccuri (2017) "Targa Archimede", Premio all'Intelligenza d'Impresa: Enzo Sellerio (2011) Prize for Literary Criticism: Salvatore Silvano Nigro (2012) • Maurizio Bettini (2013) • Enrico Testa (2014) • Ermanno Cavazzoni (2015) • Serena Vitale (2016) • Antonio Prete (2017) Award for best motivation: Simona Gioè (2012) Special award for travel literature: Marina Valensise (2013) Special Award 40 Years of Mondello: Gipi (2014) SNAC: w6jd5cnw Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northrop_Frye&oldid=905399252" Alumni of Merton College, Oxford Canadian clergy Canadian literary critics Canadian philosophers Companions of the Order of Canada Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Governor General's Award-winning non-fiction writers Harvard University faculty Literary critics of English Literary theorists School of Letters faculty Members of the United Church of Canada Ministers of the United Church of Canada People from Moncton Writers from Sherbrooke University of Toronto alumni University of Toronto faculty William Blake scholars Shakespearean scholars 20th-century Canadian poets Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada) Infobox person using alma mater Articles with Internet Archive links Wikipedia articles with LNB identifiers Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2471
__label__wiki	0.664806	0.664806	Pinus lambertiana (Redirected from Sugar pine) "Sugar Pine" redirects here. For the community in Madera County, California, see Sugar Pine, California. Sugar pine Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Pinus Subgenus: P. subg. Strobus Section: P. sect. Quinquefoliae Subsection: P. subsect. Strobus P. lambertiana Natural range of Pinus lambertiana Almost ripe female cones Bark of a sugar pine on Mount San Antonio Old sugar pines in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest, southern Oregon Pinus lambertiana (commonly known as the sugar pine or sugar cone pine) is the tallest and most massive pine tree, and has the longest cones of any conifer. The species name lambertiana was given by the British botanist David Douglas, who named the tree in honour of the English botanist, Aylmer Bourke Lambert. It is native to the mountains of the Pacific coast of North America, from Oregon through California to Baja California. 1.1 Growth 1.2 Distribution 1.3 White pine blister rust 3 Folklore Growth[edit] The sugar pine is the tallest and largest Pinus species, commonly growing to 40–60 meters (130–195 ft) tall, exceptionally to 82 m (269 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of 1.5–2.5 m (4 ft 11 in–8 ft 2 in), exceptionally 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in). The tallest recorded specimen is 83.45 metres (273 ft 9 in) tall, is located in Yosemite National Park, and was discovered in 2015. The second tallest recorded was "Yosemite Giant", an 82.05 m (269 ft 2 in) tall specimen in Yosemite National Park, which died from a bark beetle attack in 2007. The tallest, known, living specimens today grow in southern Oregon and Yosemite National Park: one in Umpqua National Forest is 77.7 m (254 ft 11 in) tall and another in Siskiyou National Forest is 77.2 m (253 ft 3 in) tall. Yosemite National Park also has the third tallest, measured to 80.5 m (264 ft 1 in) tall as of June 2013; the Rim Fire affected this specimen, but it survived. Pinus lambertiana is a member of the white pine group (Pinus subgenus Strobus) and, like all members of that group, the leaves ("needles") grow in fascicles ("bundles") of five, with a deciduous sheath. They are 5–11 cm (2–4 1⁄4 in) long.[1] Sugar pine is notable for having the longest cones of any conifer, mostly 25–50 cm (9 3⁄4–19 3⁄4 in) long,[2] exceptionally to 66 cm (26 in) long,[citation needed] although the cones of the Coulter pine are more massive. The seeds are 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) long, with a 2–3-centimeter (3⁄4–1 1⁄4-inch) long wing[2] that aids their dispersal by wind. According to David Douglas, the seeds were eaten by Native Americans.[3] The sugar pine occurs in the mountains of Oregon and California in the western United States, and Baja California in northwestern Mexico; specifically the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges, and Sierra San Pedro Martir. White pine blister rust[edit] The sugar pine has been severely affected by the white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola),[4] a fungus that was accidentally introduced from Europe in 1909. A high proportion of sugar pines has been killed by the blister rust, particularly in the northern part of the species' range that has experienced the rust for a longer period of time. The rust has also destroyed much of the Western white pine and whitebark pine throughout their ranges.[5] The U.S. Forest Service has a program (see link below) for developing rust-resistant sugar pine and western white pine. Seedlings of these trees have been introduced into the wild. The Sugar Pine Foundation in the Lake Tahoe Basin has been successful in finding resistant sugar pine seed trees and has demonstrated that it is important for the public to assist the U.S. Forest Service in restoring this species. However, blister rust is much less common in California, and sugar, Western white and whitebark pines still survive in great numbers there.[6] Naturalist John Muir considered sugar pine to be the "king of the conifers". The common name comes from the sweet resin, which Native Americans used as a sweetener.[7] John Muir found it preferable to maple sugar.[8] It is also known as the great sugar pine. The scientific name was assigned by David Douglas in honor of Aylmer Bourke Lambert. Folklore[edit] In the Achomawi creation myth, Annikadel, the creator, makes one of the 'First People' by intentionally dropping a sugar pine seed in a place where it can grow. One of the descendants in this ancestry is Sugarpine-Cone man, who has a handsome son named Ahsoballache.[9] After Ahsoballache marries the daughter of To'kis the Chipmunk-woman, his grandfather insists that the new couple have a child. To this end, the grandfather breaks open a scale from a sugar pine cone, and secretly instructs Ahsoballache to immerse the scale's contents in spring water, then hide them inside a covered basket. Ahsoballache performs the tasks that night; at the next dawn, he and his wife discover the infant Edechewe near their bed.[9] The Washo language has a word for sugar pine, simt'á:gɨm, and also a word for "sugar pine sugar", nanómba. ^ Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Pinus lambertiana". Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. ^ a b Kral, Robert (1993). "Pinus lambertiana". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 2. New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. ^ Earle, Christopher J., ed. (2018). "Pinus lambertiana". The Gymnosperm Database. ^ Moore, Gerry; Kershner, Bruce; Craig Tufts; Daniel Mathews; Gil Nelson; Spellenberg, Richard; Thieret, John W.; Terry Purinton; Block, Andrew (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York: Sterling. p. 79. ISBN 1-4027-3875-7. ^ "Sugar Pine Foundation". Sugarpinefoundation.org. Retrieved 18 June 2017. ^ "Sugar pine". Oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 18 June 2017. ^ Saunders, Charles Francis (1976). Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Courier Dover Publications. p. 219. ISBN 0-486-23310-3. ^ a b Woiche, Istet (1992). Merriam, Clinton Hart (ed.). Annikadel: The History of the Universe as Told by the Achumawi Indians of California. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-1283-6. OCLC 631716557. Chase, J. Smeaton (1911). Cone-bearing Trees of the California Mountains. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co. p. 99. LCCN 11004975. OCLC 3477527. LCC QK495.C75 C4, with illustrations by Carl Eytel - Kurut, Gary F. (2009), "Carl Eytel: Southern California Desert Artist", California State Library Foundation, Bulletin No. 95, pp. 17-20 retrieved November 13, 2011 Muir, J. (1911). My First Summer in the Sierra. Kinloch Jr., Bohun B.; Scheuner, William H. (1990). "Pinus lambertiana". In Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H. (eds.). Conifers. Silvics of North America. Washington, D.C.: United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 1 – via Southern Research Station (www.srs.fs.fed.us). Habeck, R. J. (1992). "Pinus lambertiana". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory – via https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pinus lambertiana. U.C. Jepson Manual treatment for Pinus lambertiana US Forest Service—Dorena Genetic Resource Center — (USFS rust resistance program) The Sugar Pine Foundation — The Sugar Pine and Western White Pine Restoration Program Pinus lambertiana in the CalPhotos Photo Database, University of California, Berkeley Conifer Specialist Group (1998). "Pinus lambertiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2006. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 5 May 2006. Arboretum de Villardebelle: photo of a cone Wikispecies: Pinus lambertiana Calflora: 6516 CNPS: 2820 EPPO: PIULA FEIS: pinlam FNA: 233500939 GRIN: 28464 IPNI: 197001-2 IUCN: 42374 NZOR: cc402444-3703-4b78-b90d-77de174aa268 PLANTS: PILA POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:197001-2 Tropicos: 24900196 WCSP: 379703 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pinus_lambertiana&oldid=893831410" IUCN Red List least concern species Trees of the West Coast of the United States Trees of the Southwestern United States Trees of the Northwestern United States Trees of Baja California Flora of California Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Edible nuts and seeds Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Least concern flora of the United States Pages using Jepson eFlora template without author names Articles containing Washo-language text Taxonbars with 20–24 taxon IDs	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2472
__label__cc	0.715589	0.284411	Driving energy efficiency investment beyond 2020 February 19, 2019 by Clare Taylor With rising GDP, the European Union is once again at risk of missing the 2020 targets for energy efficiency, and yet more ambitious targets for 2030 lie ahead. Regulation, especially for energy efficiency in buildings, is already driving demand, according to the European Investment Bank, with commercial banks acting as aggregators. Peter Sweatman, rapporteur of the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group is optimistic on the future prospects for energy efficiency investment as a cornerstone of sustainable finance. “Energy efficiency will no longer struggle to attract financing. Instead, mainstream financiers will proactively seek it out,” says Sweatman. To meet the European Union’s 2020 energy efficiency target, final and primary energy consumption must fall by 0.5% and 1.0% per year, respectively, between 2016 and 2020. However, over the two years prior to 2016, final energy consumption grew by more than 4% and primary energy consumption was up by more than 2%. Early indications suggest another increase in 2017. Funding gap: image E3G, 2017 Gas v Electric new buildings:… Energy efficiency is identified as the largest single player in delivering both a carbon neutral economy in Europe by 2050, and the Paris Agreement, where energy efficiency actions account for a 44% share of the greenhouse gas reductions required. But with only a year left to go until 2020, it is now up to the market to deliver, if the target is to be met. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the world’s largest multilateral financier of climate action projects, with 30% of its lending going towards combating climate change in 2018. Overall, the EIB’s energy efficiency lending has increased threefold since 2012, and in 2016, 74% of the €3.62 billion total energy efficiency lending was allocated to buildings. Ralf Goldmann, Head of Division, Energy Efficiency Projects Directorate at the EIB, explains the reasons for these changes: “Firstly, you have to understand that this is proportional to overall EIB lending, a relatively stable fraction of which goes to energy. 2016 saw the highest volume of EIB lending ever (at €84 billion), and then of course over the last seven years there has been a shift away from financing ‘traditional’ energy towards energy efficiency and renewables.” This shift was in part due to the bank’s new lending criteria in 2013. Another energy lending review is now underway, with industry, civil society groups and policymakers invited to contribute to a three-month public consultation which closes on 29 March 2019. “The world changes and policy with it, so we have to follow,” says Goldmann. “For example, in 2013, the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) brought in nearly-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) and cost optimality of building renovations. And we have seen that, following the EPBD recast, energy efficiency in buildings has become a bigger policy issue for Member States, and so the market is moving. The big jump in lending that you see [in 2015 to energy efficiency in buildings] is essentially the result of a policy shift.” Another EU policy driver (via the EPBD) requires Member States to draw up plans for renovating their building stock. Goldmann says: ““Hopefully national renovation strategies will increase demand, and if these are designed properly and use Structural Funds intelligently, then we could see a real sea change here.” The role of market players is also changing, with a key EIB funding line, ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) now open to private sector organisations, including banks. Since 2009, ELENA has provided €154 million of grants for efficiency, renewables and transport projects, triggering an additional €5.4 billion of investment. ELENA grants can be used to finance costs related to feasibility and market studies, programme structuring, business plans, energy audits and financial structuring, as well as to the preparation of tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and project implementation units. Goldmann comments: “For energy efficiency in buildings, there’s a lot of individual decisions from homeowners and housing associations involved and here you have to find aggregators. Increasingly we are seeing commercial banks moving into this role, of aggregating demand, and we are providing the technical assistance necessary to help them set up energy efficiency financing teams.” Market enablers Along with increasing the availability of finance, the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s latest Energy Efficiency report highlighted the need for new business models for energy efficiency. Name-checked in the IEA report as a ‘market enabler’, the eQuad platform is providing a matchmaking service between energy efficiency projects and investors. Developed by Joule Assets Europe, and launched in Q2 2018, eQuad achieved a project pipeline of over €160 million in its second quarter of operation. “eQuad has exceeded our expectations in terms of volume of opportunity, and even more than that, in terms of the challenges those opportunities face in actually getting financed,” says Jessica Stromback, Chair of Joule Assets Europe. “In that context the necessity of the support eQuad provides is simply confirmed. And on our side we continue with our central premise – finance should not be allowed to stand in the way of viable projects.” In response, Joule Assets Europe decided to provide financing solutions and strategic support for ‘Energy Reduction Assets’, including energy efficiency, distributed renewables, storage, and building control measures. The online platform, eQuad, provides access to third-party project valuation, performance insurance, project certification, due diligence, and introductions to prequalified capital sources in the form of off-balance sheet financing. The work of eQuad is carried out by Joule Assets Europe, in partnership with ICP (Investor Confidence Project) Credentialed Quality Assurance Provider, and internationally recognized insurance provider, HSB Engineering Insurance Ltd. eQuad is open to projects of all sizes – this can be very small, from well below the €100k range, to in the several millions. Stromback says: “In general, for one of the smaller projects to get financed, it should be bundled in a portfolio, usually of at least a million, of similar small projects, that the Energy Service Company (ESCO) is selling using the same, standard contract. For these smaller projects, the more repeatable they are in terms of client/building type, Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) used, and the ESCO-client contract, the easier it will be to sell to an investor as a package.” Participating in the European Commission’s Sustainable Energy Investment Forums has been instrumental for the success of the project, according to Caroline Milne, Communications Director of Joule Assets Europe. “It has helped us get to know local energy efficiency markets and local actors. It has also shown us that, while each market has its own specificities (whether legislative, related to buildings or other), most Member States are facing similar issues in increasing demand for energy efficiency by end users, and in transforming energy efficiency into a product/service that people want to invest in.” EEFIG3 Indeed, making energy efficiency something that people want to invest in is central to the mission of the third phase of the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG), an initiative established in 2013 by the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy (DG Energy) and United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). “Energy efficiency needs to be ‘productised’ by entities which deal with hundreds of millions of clients – by choice and through prudential regulation,” says Peter Sweatman, EEFIG rapporteur and the task group lead for G20 on energy efficiency finance. “Some of these entities are already represented in the EEFIG, bringing together policymakers and organisations which deliver finance.” Entering its third phase, in 2019, EEFIG will be recruiting for more financial institutions to work together to explore how energy efficiency intersects with green finance. Sweatman is optimistic. “As we have seen across multiple industries, when a component becomes a standard, it enters the mainstream and its cost is reduced dramatically through economies of scale and markets and supply chains adjust accordingly,” he says. “As a standard component in the taxonomy of financial products, energy efficiency will no longer struggle to attract financing. Instead, mainstream financiers will proactively seek it out.” Filed Under: Energy, Energy efficiency, EU Policy, Events, Platform Tagged With: ee financing, eefig3, energy efficiency About Clare Taylor Brussels-based, communications for environment, energy and climate.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2473
__label__wiki	0.992841	0.992841	Entertainment Hollywood Buzz Tori Spelling's kids didn't recognise her Tori Spelling's children didn't recognise her when she showed them old episodes of 'Beverly HIlls, 90210'. Posted:19 Jun 2019 22:00 Tori Spelling's children didn't recognise her in old episodes of 'Beverly HIlls, 90210'. The 46-year-old actress - who has Liam, 12, Stella, 11, Hattie, seven, Finn, six, and Beau, two, with husband Dean McDermott - showed her older kids scenes of her in character as Donna Martin in the classic series, which ran from 1990 until 2000 and while they recognised her co-stars Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth, they couldn't point her own. Speaking on 2DayFM's Breakfast Show with Grant, Ed & Ash, she said: "The first time I showed my oldest kids was probably four or five years ago and they're 11 and 12 now and they couldn't find me in it. "They didn't recognise me. 'Okay where's Mummy? There's Jennie, there's Ian', and I'm like, ''...And mum?' and they're like , 'Nope!' "My daughter is here, and she said it's because I had different colour hair." Tori - who previously admitted to having had a nose job - recently laughed off claims she had a "rivalry" with former co-star Shannen Doherty, who quit her role as Brenda Walsh in 1994. She said: "We were really close on the show. She was one of my best friends. And then when she left the show, there [were] all these press things that came out, like, this rivalry, and it was never with us. But the press makes what they want." Though the blonde beauty admitted she and Shannen aren't close now but "not for any reason", she felt frustrated at not being able to quash the speculation of a feud when it first surfaced. She said: "You don't want to say anything because you're told, like, 'Don't say anything. Say nothing, and it will go away!' "But it kind of lives on whenever a story comes out. It doesn't really go away. So yeah, no, she's great. I saw her recently. She's an awesome person." Tori Spelling Latest Hollywood Buzz Ricky Gervais doesn't fear death Duke and Duchess of Sussex make Time's list of influential internet stars Hailey Bieber slams Tool singer for Justin Bieber diss Ayda Field to renew vows with Robbie Williams Helen Mirren is happy to get older Joely Richardson 'blown away' by Fleabag Grimes practices sword fighting for fitness Ayda Field feels anger over mother's Parkinson's diagnosis	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2474
__label__wiki	0.8073	0.8073	Entertainment NYC Night Life, Including Broadway, Cabaret, Concerts, Opera & Ballet ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO GREET NEW YEAR IN “HELLUVA TOWN:A NEW YORK SOUNDTRACK” JANUARY 4-15 punchin cabaret Leave a comment Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, the popular husband-and-wife team equally at home in the worlds of pop and jazz, will debut their new show, ”Helluva Town: A New York Soundtrack,” from January 4th to 15th during their annual sojourn in the legendary Algonquin Oak Room Supper Club. The duo will celebrate the love/hate affair most New Yorkers have with their city through the songs of Leonard Bernstein, Rodgers & Hart, Comden & Green, Strouse & Adams, Coleman & Leigh, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and other explorers of the Big Apple in good times and bad. Among their selections are “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Comes Once in a Lifetime,” “My Time of Day,” “Lucky to be Me” and “How About You?” Shows are Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 and Friday and Saturday at 8:30 and 11. There is a $50 cover charge plus either a $30 food and beverage minimum or a $60 prix fixe dinner. Reservations: bmcgurn@algonquinhotel.com or 212 419 9331. Winners of the 2010 Nightlife Award as Outstanding Cabaret Duo, Eric and Barbara last appeared in the Oak Room in February with their highly praised show, “This Thing Called Love,” of which Rex Reed observed, “If love is a wave, they are riding the crest of it.” Though they’ve been compared to Nick and Nora, Fred and Ginger and Lunt and Fontanne, Comstock and Fasano’s unique blend of wit and sensuality is all their own. They’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, Feinstein’s, The Carlyle and Birdland, and have headlined at Caramoor, Cooperstown Music Festival, Guild Hall in East Hampton, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Palm Beach. Eric Comstock created and contributed his masterful piano and vocals to the hit revues “Singing Astaire,” “Made for the Movies” and “Our Sinatra” (which debuted in the Oak Room and played 1300 performances off-Broadway). His new CD, “bitter/sweet” debuts this month, joining previous releases “Young Man of Manhattan” and “All Hart.” A multi-award winner from Manhattan Association of Cabarets, Barbara Fasano has appeared in musical theatre productions of Wonderful Town, Grease and Side by Side by Sondheim. She won a Back Stage Bistro Award Record of the Year for “Written in the Stars,”a Harold Arlen songbook, and another for “The Girls of Summer,” featuring songs from Springsteen to Sondheim. She will release “Roundabout,” based on her one-woman show, later this year. Copyright 2010 By Punch In International. All Rights Reserved LINCOLN CENTER’S AMERICAN SONGBOOK 2011 SEASON – WEEK ONE punchin Broadway, cabaret, Lincoln Center Leave a comment The incandescent Barbara Cook Mary Chapin Carpenter, now up for her 6th Grammy Award Composer Lance Horne with guest Alan Cumming and more Indie folk stars The Low Anthem TICKETS for the general public can be purchased online at Lincoln Center’s website http://www.AmericanSongbook.org, via CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, at the Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, or at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Box Office. Lincoln Center’s acclaimed series American Songbook returns on January 12th for Week One of its 2011 season. The series, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today’s most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today’s most gifted interpreters of song. The luminous legend Barbara Cook opens the series and it is a rare opportunity to see her perform in an intimate setting. On January 13th folk artists The Low Anthem performs, followed by new musical theater composer Lance Horne on January 14th. Horne will be joined by stars from Broadway and the West End, including Alan Cumming (who made his solo concert debut in American Songbook in 2009), the great Lea Delaria, Meow Meow, Ricki Lake, Daphne Rubin-Vega (late show only) and, possibly, chanteuse Ann Hampton Calloway. Week One closes out with the expressive folk singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, whose new album has just been nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award (she has already won five.) Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook 2011. American Songbook will be presented in the spectacular Allen Room of Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Allen Room possesses one of New York’s greatest settings – a stunning vista of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline that provides an evocative backdrop for the performers. TICKETS can be purchased online at Lincoln Center’s website http://www.AmericanSongbook.org, via CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, at the Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, or at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Box Office. Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Week One January 12 – 15, 2011 The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 8:30 pm: Barbara Cook has been called “the greatest singer in the world,” and six decades after her professional debut her voice still astounds. Cook changed the way we listen to the American songbook, treating popular tunes as the art songs they are and investing the lyrics with an actor’s understanding and sensitivity. Her recent turn on Broadway in “Sondheim on Sondheim” reminded everyone of her place in American musical history. This night in The Allen Room will add to her firmament. Thursday, January 13, 2011, 8:30 pm: The Low Anthem Formed in 2006, The Low Anthem is a newly-hot indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island. They specialize in close harmonies often sung in guttural growls, and unexpected instruments such as the crotales (a percussion instrument of bowed cymbals) and a World War I-era pump organ. As was apparent on their critically acclaimed album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, their songs are beautifully crafted and infused with a human touch. Their eagerly-awaited second album on the Nonesuch label, Smart Flesh, will come out in February, 2011. Friday, January 14, 2011, 8:30 pm and 10:30 pm: Lance Horne: First Things Last, with special guests from Broadway and the West End, including Alan Cumming and Cheyenne Jackson A composer on the rise! An arranger, songwriter and performer, Lance Horne is a musician who takes no prisoners. He composes and arranges songs for diverse talents from Broadway and the West End – many of whom will join him in The Allen Room for a night of musical theater to launch his new album, First Things Last. Saturday, January 15, 2011, 8:30 pm: Mary Chapin Carpenter This five-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter recently released The Age of Miracles, a collection of songs that she calls a personal exploration of regret and resilience. She combined folk, country, acoustic, rock and blues to craft songs that speak to life’s most personal details as well as their most universal. Carpenter will perform songs from this album, as well as others, accompanied by a unique band of instrumentalists in a show created especially for the intimacy of The Allen Room. Sponsored by Logicworks. The album was just nominated for a 2010 Grammy as Best Contemporary Folk Album. cabaret (29) Lincoln Center (1) off Broadway (2)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2475
__label__wiki	0.756396	0.756396	Idaho Vandals to drop from FBS to FCS in 2018 By Kevin Kelley - April 28, 2016 (Photo: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports) The Idaho Vandals will drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the 2018 season, the school officially announced on Thursday. Pending approval by the State Board of Education, the Idaho Vandals will join the Big Sky Conference in the fall of 2018. Idaho is the first FBS school to ever move down to the FCS (formerly known as Division I-AA). “I understand the magnitude of this decision and the strong opinions that surround it, both for and against, but joining the Big Sky Conference is the best possible course for our athletics program and for our university,” said Chuck Staben, UI president. “We have carefully weighed our options and concluded that competing as an independent with an extremely uncertain future conference affiliation would be irresponsible when we have the alternative of joining one of the most stable FCS conferences. The Big Sky allows us to renew traditional rivalries and offers our athletes the opportunity to excel, just as they do in our other Big Sky sports programs.” Back on March 1, the Sun Belt Conference announced that the football membership of Idaho and New Mexico State would not be renewed and that they league would move forward with ten football playing members after the 2017 season. Idaho, like new Mexico State, was a member of the WAC from 2005 until it disbanded after the 2012 season. Both played as FBS Independents in 2013 before joining the Sun Belt in 2014. For 31 seasons between 1965 and 1995, Idaho was a member of the Big Sky Conference in Division I-AA. The Vandals then left the Big Sky for the Big West in 1996 before joining the WAC. With the Vandals moving down to the FCS, they will likely have several future non-conference football contracts altered or possible canceled altogether. If the schools still decide to play, the financial guarantees to Idaho will likely be lowered. Below is a list of each game announced and the contract stipulations, if known, per copies obtained from the University of Idaho. at Fresno State (2018) Second game of a home-and-home series. No stipulation regarding a drop to FCS. $750,000 cancellation fee. vs. Wyoming (2018-19) First game of a home-and-home series (second in 2019). No stipulation regarding a drop to FCS. $500,000 cancellation fee per game. at Northern Illinois (2018) Copy of contract not obtained. at Florida (2018) No stipulation regarding a drop to FCS. Damages of $1.2 million for breach of contract. at Penn State (2019) No stipulation regarding a drop to FCS. Damages of $1.45 million for breach of contract. Contract states that either school may cancel due to a change in scheduling requirements that includes “without limitation, changes in the number of conference games to be played, or changes resulting from the addition or subtraction of conference members.” at San Jose State (2019-23) First game of a four-game series (2019-23). $1 million cancellation fee per game. Upon Idaho signing the contract, an amendment was added to include the following: In the event any game to be played hereunder is canceled or rescheduled as a result of a change in the scheduling requirements of either party’s member conference, neither party shall be responsible to the other for any loss or damage resulting from such change. For purposes of this paragraph, a change in scheduling requirements shall include, without limitation, changes in the number of conference games to be played, or changes resulting from the addition or subtraction of conference members. at Temple (2020) Second game of a home-and-home series that started in 2013 in Moscow. $500,000 cancellation fee or $1 million if less than 365 days before the date of the game. Contract does have this stipulation: In the event the Game is canceled or rescheduled as a result of a change in the scheduling requirements of either Party’s member conference, neither party shall be responsible to the other for any loss or damages resulting from such change. For purposes of this paragraph, a change in scheduling requirements shall include, without limitation, changes in the number of conference games to be played, changes from the addition or subtraction of conference members, or any other changes in conference schedules. If either Party moves from its current conference to another conference within two years following the execution of this Agreement, the Parties will in good faith attempt to reconcile any required scheduling changes that may occur as a result of such a move. at LSU (2020) Contract calls for LSU to pay Idaho a $1.4 million guarantee. Game cancellation fees are $700,000 (24 months or more from the date of the game); $950,000 (12 months or more, but less than 24 months from the date of the game); $1.2 million (Less than 12 months from the date of the game). Contract included the following stipulation: It is understood and agreed by and between the parties here to that this Agreement is conditioned upon the participants (HOME TEAM and VISITING TEAM) being a Division 1A member of the NCAA at least twenty-four (24) months prior to the date the game is scheduled, and being a Division 1A member at the time the game is played. In the event either team fails to maintain Division 1A membership, the other team has the right to cancel the game without penalty upon reasonable notice to the other party. at Indiana (2021 & 2022) Guarantee to Idaho is $1.2 million for the game in 2021 and $1.3 million for the game in 2022. If Idaho cancels, they must pay IU $1 million (if notified two years before date of scheduled game) or $1.3 million (if notified less than two years before date of scheduled game). The contract does state the following regarding termination: This Agreement may be terminated under the following conditions: A. By mutual consent of both Parties, in writing. B. By either party if that party has formally dropped NCAA participation in the sport identified in this Agreement. at Old Dominion (2022) vs. Nevada (2021 or 2022) Game was originally scheduled for 2015 before being pushed back to 2019, and now 2021 or 2022. No stipulation regarding a drop to FCS. Contract includes the following regarding cancellation: If either party fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this contract by unilaterally canceling the agreement to play the game, that party shall pay to the other the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) as liquidated damages and not a penalty. If cancellation is by mutual consent, this contract shall be null and void. Idaho Football Schedules Day says: Many people were waiting for this to happen. Shep says: It’s the only way they could survive. NMSU needs to drop into the Southland, EMU football needs to join the MVFC, and UMass back into the CAA (their faculty senate is actually calling for a drop or removal of the program at the next hearing). matraini says: UMass isn’t going to go down to FCS. This was the 3rd time the faculty senate brought up this nonsense and the 3rd time that is was voted down. They are also a powerless body, all they can do is make recommendations to the Chancellor, and the Chancellor is probably the most ardent supporter of FBS football in the administration. UMass is going to be fine in FBS, even with independence on the horizon. Already have three seasons scheduled as an indy with a 4th about halfway done at this stage which they can start adding to if necessary. Z Man says: NBCSN wants more FBS football beyond the lone Notre Dame game they air each year. Perhaps NBC Sports can snag rights to UMass and NMSU’s home games (some on NBCSN, others on NBC Sports Live Extra) along with a package of Sun Belt games on NBCSN sub-licensed from ESPN (the Sun Belt is the only G5 conference at present with only one major national television partner; three others have ESPN and CBSSN, C-USA has CBSSN and Fox Sports). The FBS conferences’ (and independents’) TV contracts could become more valuable in coming years, with the amount of changes I’m projecting in the college sports landscape, as far as realignment goes. In FBS alone: ACC adds Cincinnati and UConn Big 12 adds Boise State, BYU, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Temple American replaces their departing schools with UAB, Southern Miss, Charlotte, Marshall, Rice, and UTEP C-USA replaces their departing schools with Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, Arkansas State, Texas State Sun Belt replaces their departing schools with Central Arkansas, McNeese State, Lamar, Sam Houston State, James Madison, Liberty and non-football schools Florida Gulf Coast and UNC-Asheville Air Force moves to football independence with a TV contact with CBS Sports Network, and moves most of its other sports to the Patriot League to be with the other service acadamies The MWC replaces their departing schools with Montana and Montana State (being the first schools to join the MWC without ever being in the WAC), and adds Seattle as a non-football member to offset Hawaii’s football-only membership The MAC adds Southern Illinois and Youngstown State as full members with football included, Cleveland State and Robert Morris as non-football members, and Fordham and Richmond in football only. usap1 says: ZMan: Put down the bong gas mask, bro. Nobody wants Cincinnati to join their league. They have been begging to join 5 or 6 conferences and nobody has given them a sniff. Their programs are rotten to the core. Scheduling requirements would include limit of 1 FCS school per year for FBS and only as home game. Also FCS limit on number of FBS opponents, and 1 fewer game. Hence it seems to me that the Penn State, San Jose State, Temple and LSU contracts are effectively easy to walk away from. The mutual agreement clause is likely to be invoked by both Nevada and Indiana as well. Something is going to have to give in 2018. But Idaho is in the drivers seat. Wyoming has to cancel, they already have FCS Wofford on the schedule. Fresno State could keep them without penalty, they have no other FCS opponent. Same for Florida State (bad contract, Idaho can still collect a huge paycheck), but I expect them to try and renegotiate. For NIU it works like Fresno. So everything after 2018 will go away painlessly. And for 2018, at least Wyoming, and maybe another school will buy out, actually giving Idaho some cash for not playing. Well done Mr. Spears Interesting to see if Penn St & Indiana stay on the schedule considering the BIG no longer wants to play FCS. Jimmy Lynn Sanchez (NSU '05) says: Looks like the damages can be upwards to $15 million overall for UoI if all the schools demand payment. This is not looking good for UoI, I wouldnt be worried going to FCS as much as possibly needing to go down to Division 2 or worse pull the program. Hopefully they don’t turn into a Savannah State of a few years ago where only God stopped what could have been the biggest blowout in a game since November 9, 1980 when Portland State humiliated Delaware State by 105 points. No good can come from this. It had not been since 1982 that FBS programs dropped to FCS, and with good reason – $$$ and TV. NBCSN could have inked a deal with Idaho football to air their games, since the network is hungry for FBS football. What exactly do you think the ROI would be with Idaho football airing nationally? Ivan says: They were hungry for FBS football … but never hungry enough for Idaho football…. That was never going to happen Jeff B says: No one outside of Idaho is interested in Idaho football! Johnny Doe says: STAWP POASTING! Mike Kroboth says: I heard that UMass is looking to do the same thing. UMass faculty is pushing for that, but no one else is. Dirk H says: I’m sad to see Idaho drop to FCS. I think they should stay in FBS, and join together with UMASS, New Mexico State, Army, and then create their own East-West Football Conference by adding other FCS schools that want to move up to FBS like Liberty, Northern Iowa, SE Missouri State, Indiana State, Illinois State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, UC Davis, Portland State, Delaware State, Villanova, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Chattanooga, Youngstown State, Montana and Montana State, and the list just goes on. The Power 5, and the rest of the FBS Conferences have created a stranglehold on FCS schools preventing them from moving up to better their football programs, bring in more revenue by blocking any move up to FBS unless invited by one of the other FBS Conferences! I think this “Collusion of Conspiracy” is in violation of the US “Anti-Trus Lawst” of or relating to legislation preventing or controlling trusts or other monopolies, with the intention of promoting competition in business. Time for a Major Lawsuit against every FBS School and the NCAA over this? Traffic Demon says: Are you high? Lol! Its not that serious! Its college football!! Are you one of those kookier CSNBBS posters? CFB Fan says: I actually agree and think you have a point. Perhaps some of those future Idaho opponents… can schedule each other? It would be a reasonable place to start. For 2018, Fresno State v. NIU, and Wyoming v. Florida? Penn State could pick up Wyoming for 2019…. dawgsrule says: Should have never happened in the first place, it was Elisabeth Zinser and Pete Liske pushing for this just so they could keep up with Butt State (who didn’t really care about them anyway). Hell they had to play home games in Pullman for a couple years. Not only that, they actually played AT Texas State (then SW Texas State) in 1997 after the move to the Big West/FBS. The benefits of playing money games surely can’t justify playing half your conference games in SEC-land. Besides, unless they outlaw FCS/FBS games in the future (a moronic idea for a variety of reasons) they can still keep some of them. Even if most of the Sun Belt is former FCS anyway.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2476
__label__cc	0.705166	0.294834	Census - Family types by Regional Council 2001, 2006, 2013 A family nucleus comprises a couple with or without child(ren), or one parent and their child(ren) whose usual residence is in the same household; the children do not have partners or children of their own living in that household. Included are people who were absent on census night but who usually live in a particular dwelling, and are members of a family nucleus in that dwelling, as long as they were reported as being absent by the reference person on the dwelling form. This data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not sum to totals and values for the same data may vary in different tables. Please note the meshblock-level data has been removed by Figure.NZ to reduce file size. Please refer to http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/info-about-the-census/data-user-guide.aspx This time series is irregular. Because the 2011 Census was cancelled after the Canterbury earthquake on 22 February 2011 the gap between this census and the last one is seven years. The change in the data between 2006 and 2013 may be greater than in the usual five-year gap between censuses. Be careful when comparing trends. Census: Meshblock Dataset - Family (absolute values) 2013 http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/data-tables/meshblock-dataset.aspx At URL provided, select 'Total New Zealand', under the '2013 Census meshblock dataset – CSV files' heading. Extract the 2013-mb-dataset-Total-New-Zealand-Family.csv from the zip file. File as imported: Census: Meshblock Dataset - Family (absolute values) 2013 From the dataset Census: Meshblock Dataset - Family (absolute values) 2013 , this data was extracted: Sheet: Census-Family Range: G2346:R2363 Provided: 216 data points The census is the official count of how many people and dwellings there are in New Zealand. It takes a snapshot of the people in New Zealand and the places where we live. Population information from the census helps determine how billions of dollars of government funding is spent in the community. It is used to make decisions about services such as hospitals, schools, roads, public transport, recreational facilities. Census information is used to decide electorate boundaries. It is also used by councils, community groups and businesses to plan for the future.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2478
__label__cc	0.653153	0.346847	Four The Love of Travel The Gribben Family Travel Chronicles Building the School, Starting on New Year’s Day January 22, 2017 June 28, 2017 / babyevan02 / Leave a comment On our first morning in the Village, New Year’s Day, we started off with our daily Yoga practice from 6:30 – 7:30 am with a local “Yogi” that BuildOn brought in to lead our practice each day. This was outside on a tarp, and although it began in the dark, it afforded us the luxury of watching the sunrise each day mid way through Yoga. Let’s just say that it was very different than what many of us were used to from our Western Yoga classes, but we grew to love the Yogi and his quirky ways! What ended up being a great perk is that many villagers (children and adults), joined us each morning for Yoga, and it was a really wonderful way to start the day. Also, we’re pretty sure the morning Yoga helped to keep us limber and was the reason our bodies ached a lot less than we expected after the grueling work on the school site! One thing our Yogi would have us do every day towards the end of our session was “laughing yoga”, where you first laugh with your mouth closed, then with your teeth together, and then open mouth laughing. Of course we would all be cracking up by the end! We loved seeing and hearing the village children giggle. By the second morning, Desmond couldn’t help himself and got up once it was light enough to get some photos! And of course, getting photos of sunrise as well. We would watch the sunrise every morning during Yoga. A peaceful way to start the day Someone’s a little tired! Ella is very serious. And then cracking up during “Laughing Yoga” 🙂 The girls watching the boys crack up! After Yoga, we were given a hearty breakfast prepared by our BuildOn cook. BuildOn provided breakfast and lunch for us every day, but dinner was spent with our host families. We ate very well during our time in the village, and all of the food (all vegetarian) was incredibly delicious! One of the favorite treats during each meal was Nepalese Chai, which we drank up in large quantities! Our breakfast and lunch spot Freshly made bread is so yummy. All of our meals were made on an open wood fire! The delicious Chai Breakfast! Work on the construction site started at 8:30 each morning and we would start with everyone gathering in a circle (including our team, BuildOn staff, and the local villagers who had come out to work on the school). Some words were shared (and translated) by people on both sides, and again the villagers shared their gratitude for their new school (cue more tears for Roxy!). We ended the circle with a cheer that would be lead by one person from our group and one villager. The site was already marked up to show where we needed to dig the foundation, needing to dig 14 holes, each 6 ft deep by 6 ft square, as well as 2 ft wide by 2 ft deep by 10 foot long trenches running between them all. There were different tasks that we could each do, such as digging, shoveling, carrying (rocks, sand, rebar), stacking bricks, and actually tying the rebar. We would work on the job site from 8:30 to 12:30 and it was some of the hardest, most backbreaking work that any of us had ever done. The ground was very dry and hard and it was definitely not an easy task to break up the earth and then shovel it out….especially using the oversized hoes that the village provided to do all the digging. The first day’s construction begins. Digging was not easy since the earth was very hard and dry. We had to dig 14 different 6′ x 6′ x 6′ deep holes plus 2′ x 2′ x 8′ trenches connecting them all as part of the foundation. Nothing is Impossible! We were sweating in the hot sun and exhausted not long after starting, but watching how hard the villagers worked, especially the women who kicked our asses in their level of strength and stamina, kept us going! We couldn’t be more proud of Evan and Ella for getting in there and working so incredibly hard doing all the same labor as the adults. We honestly didn’t know how they were going to handle this, because it really was back breaking work. Even the fittest of our group were feeling incredibly fatigued at the end of 4 hours, but we did it as a group and were extremely gratified to see the great progress being made each day. At 12:30 we would break for a delicious lunch, prepared by the BuildOn cook, who always cooked on an open fire with the help of a few village women. While eating lunch, we would not only get to know each other better, but would also have discussions about our thoughts on the work we were doing and the experiences we were having in the evenings while we were all apart in our separate houses with our separate host families. After lunch, the second half of our day was dedicated to cultural exchange experiences with some of the villagers, but the locals on the work site worked all day. Our first cultural exchange experience was “fishing”. A group of local villagers (mostly woman and the village chief) walked us through a part of the village we had yet to see, with beautiful green fields, mountain views and finally to a small river. It was obvious that the water levels were typically much higher, but we were there during the dry months…..but there was still enough water for fishing! The villagers in our group went down to the river with some nets and then got in the water. Their technique was to walk as a group through the river, with the net spread out in order to catch the fish. Sadly, most of the people in our BuildOn group, including us, didn’t feel comfortable going down in the river because several of us had heard horror stories about bacteria and hook worms which could be caught when going in rivers in Asia and SE Asia and the terrible illness that came as a result. Better safe than sorry is the motto we chose to go by in this case! Although we felt bad not helping, it was still lovely to walk along side the river, watching and interacting with those in the water, and taking in the beautiful sites. We met other villagers, water buffalo and cows along the way, and as always many photos were taken! Checking for fish. And the reward…tiny fish! Woman bathing in river. Remember, no plumbing in the village. Girl swinging the day’s catch. Naturally, Desmond was loving the photo opps! One of the great parts of this afternoon, on the way to the river and back, was a chance to see some scenes from typical village life. Can you spot the 7 women in this photo?! Prepping for dinner. Village traffic After a good mile and a half of walking in and along side the river, we headed back to the village to go back to our respective family homes for a shower (outside, with a cold bucket of water!), dinner and (usually) games….typically not seeing each other again until morning. Playing games in the evenings with the families and local, neighboring kids, was definitely a highlight. Playing Jenga or Uno would never cease to evoke squeals, giggles, huge smiles and lots of laughter! Playing Jenga by the light of our solar lantern. By the way, in regards to the New Year, given the Nepalese aren’t on our calendar year, we didn’t do anything for New Year’s eve. I think we were all in bed by 9pm! However, actual New Year’s in San Francisco was at 1:45pm Nepalese time on this day and given we were just finishing lunch at that point, we made a point to celebrate it then. Ella and Lilian (an architect) came up with the idea of doing a human 2017! They sketched it all out and assigned each person a position. It took some time but we sort of got it right 🙂 Happy 2017! May it be filled with as much joy and fun as we experienced in Nepal. Arriving in the village of Nimuwaboji, Nepal January 9, 2017 March 1, 2017 / babyevan02 / Leave a comment We wanted to share a bit more info regarding Nepal to help set the stage for why we are here and how our efforts with BuildOn Nepal will hopefully be impactful. Nepal has a population of 28 million people. Although Nepal’s ranking on the UN’s Human Development Index has steadily improved over the last ten years, a quarter of the population remains below the poverty line of US $1.25 a day. Before Nepal’s revolution in 1950, only one child in 100 attended school. Today, the total adult literacy rate in Nepal is just over 50% nationally, but in rural communities the illiteracy rate is still near 80%. The village Where we’re heading to is called Nimuwabojhi and is located in the far western region of Nepal in the Kailali district, near the city of Dhangadhi. We’ve learned that there are currently about 182 students enrolled at the current school (102 girls and 80 boys). They currently have 2 proper classrooms and four temporary structures. While here, we’ll be living along side the Tharu and Kshetri people, where the majority of the people are Hindu and Christian. In this region, most people generate income as construction workers or foreigner laborers in India. Many grow crops such as rice, wheat and maize. Because of the generosity of everyone who helped us to raised funds for this school, the people of Nimuwabojhi will have increased access to education that will help effect positive change in the lives of children, parents, and grandparents for generations. Each new school helps Nepal increase literacy rates one community at a time. On the morning of December 31st, after some additional language lessons, we boarded the BuildOn “Party Bus” in Dhangadhi to make the 90 minute journey to Nimuwaboji (the village where we would be building the new school). Before leaving, we decided to take a group photo in our BuildOn shirts and when asked where would be the best place to take a group photo, Desmond suggested we climb on top of the bus (not thinking they would really go for it), but the Trek leaders offered to go up in the hotel balcony several stories up and get a shot from above, while we were on the roof of the bus! On the BuildOn Bus ready to head to our village! Supachart and Ryan, our Super Star Trek leaders! En route to the village, we stopped on the side of a rural road for a picnic lunch of delicious Momos (Nepalese dumplings) and Samosas. While having our lunch, we really enjoyed watching the locals going by on their bicycles and Ox carts…and I think the locals that were waiting on the side of the road for their bus, found us very interesting as well! Now this was rural Nepal. Helen and Ella. Helen and I actually met right around Ella’s age! The villagers waiting on the side of the road for the bus. Evan’s just chillin’ out on top of the bus! A little entertainment to go with our picnic lunch! After lunch, is wasn’t long before we turned off the main road to head in to the village. After driving down a narrow dirt road with simple houses on either side, cows in the road, woman carrying large objects on their heads, and locals squatting by open fires, we arrived at the school work site, to see a large crowd of kids and adults waiting for us. We knew there would be a ground breaking and signing of the covenant (agreement between the villagers and BuildOn for the completion of the school) but we didn’t realize there would be such a warm welcome by the whole village, as well as such an elaborate ceremony (it certainly surpassed our expectations)! The whole village, including dignitaries from ministry of education of Nepal, as well as the principal of the current school came out to thank us. Our BuildOn Team There were many speeches and performances all in our honor. It was incredibly touching because it was clear that the whole community had gone to a great deal of effort to welcome us. They shared their gratitude with us for giving them a new school, and it made for an emotional time for everyone in our group. It’s fair to say that some tears were shed! During several of the traditional dances, our BuildOn group was pulled onto the make shift stage to join in with the locals. It was just amazing! Teenage dancers performing traditional Tharu dance More dancing Young Dancers The view from our special tent. The Nepalese people are incredibly warm and kind, and they exude a certain type of joy that we just don’t see often in America. It was incredible being there with them and watching the activity and beautiful people around us! The final part of the ceremony was the signing of the Covenant. The Covenant is a solemn promise between BuildOn and each village outlining their respective contributions to the projects and embodies the consensus of an entire community and for many of the women in the village, it will be the first time they have been asked to sign their name. BuildOn contributes the engineering, materials, skilled labor, and project supervision. Each village provides the land, local materials such as sand, and the unskilled labor to build the school. Additionally, every village promises to send girls and boys to school in equal numbers. This literally meant that all of us, (BuildOn group and every villager in attendance) came up to sign the agreement. The local build on team explained the covenant to the villagers before the signing ceremony began. Jharana holds up posters illustrating each step while Priyanka speaks. The villagers listening. And the signing begins. Patiently waiting in line After about 4 hours of speeches and performances (we were told it would be 2 hours!) we walked over to the site where the new school would be built. Fortunately it’s right next to the current school. The dignitaries did a formal blessing of the land and the ground breaking was done. Each of our group was given the responsibility to dig out a bit of earth, using a hoe. Many photos were taken! 😉 The blessing by our Yogi (in the middle) and dignitaries. Evan’s turn to break the ground. Everyone in our group had a turn. Speaking of photos, one thing that took us by great surprise is the number of phones that the villagers had. Keep in mind, this is a community that does not have running water, and (seemingly) only occasionally has electricity. For example on our first night, our host family had lights in their home. But pretty much each night after electricity was not available, so we relied on lanterns. Anyway, it was funny to see so many people (especially the teenagers!) with their smart phones, taking photos and videos of us. And as soon as we were accessible we were swarmed by people asking for “selfies”. Oh, and some of the teenage boys were doing non-stop selfies of themselves with a selfie stick. It was just hilarious, and such a crazy juxtaposition of rural and modern life! I think we were all surprised by this, but loved the opportunity to take photos (we got a bunch as well of course) with the locals. Needless to say, over the next few days we got a crash course in understanding what if feels like to be a celebrity! These two and their friends took selfies with each other through most of the ceremony. They had us cracking up 🙂 The paparazzi! After the formalities were over, we got to meet our host families, which were the villagers who had kindly offered to open their homes to us. Desmond and Evan went off to one home as Ella and Roxy went to another….this being because, no one had enough extra room to host all four of us. Right away, it was clear that Roxy and Ella had lucked out with their host family. We were told to refer to our families as parents, brother and sister, and we needed to learn the appropriate Tharu terms for each. Their host Daiee (mother) was incredibly sweet and was one of the women who had performed in one of the dances. She has the most incredible smile and truly took care of us. The host dad was not there as he worked in India during non-harvest season, as it seems many of the male villagers did to bring in extra money. They also had a 13 year old daughter and a 9 year old son. They also had two 3 month old baby goats, an Ox, a dog and the cutest little puppy! Desmond and Evan’s host family ended up being related to Roxy and Ella’s, and was just 3 houses down. There was the father, wife (who was very pregnant) and a 3 year old son. They were also very kind, but not as interactive as Roxy and Ella’s family. However, their evenings were spent primarily with numerous kids that lived in nearby houses (mostly nieces, nephews and cousins), that would stop by and play the games we brought and introduced them to (Jenga and Uno). The same games were also played at Roxy and Ella’s homes, but they got the special treat of sitting around the fire with the family, and the many other family members and visitors who stopped by every evening as well. There were only a couple of the teenagers who spoke a bit of English but overall, but the games proved to be a HUGE hit, evoking so much laughter, smiles and giddiness……all successfully played without needing a common language. Playing games together was the best feeling! Our accommodations were actually much better than we had expected in that we each received our own rooms, with platforms that we put our sleeping bags on. Given there was no insulation in these homes made with mud walls and dirt floors, and open between the top of the wall and the roof, it got to be incredibly cold at night so we all slept fully clothed each night (some of us even with fleece sweaters, jackets, warm socks and hats on). Evan with our in home chicken that we affectionately named “El Diablo” (aka Our last night’s dinner) And of course, being that there is no running water, there was also no bathroom in the house, just the outhouse, which was a very small room with a squat toilette. Roxy and Ella’s was right next to the house, but Desmond and Evan’s was about 100 feet away around a barn and another small house, on the edge of the field. To use the toilet, you would also have to make sure to stop at the hand pump to pump some water in to a container to take with you and use it to flush your “business” down. For showering, BuildOn asked each host family to create a make shift shower for us. This basically consisted of a large piece of black tarp that was wrapped around the family water pump (to give us privacy) and a bucket to catch water in. And of course, it was only cold water that came out of that hand pump! We felt bad that they were going to so much trouble for our sake, but the BuildOn staff assured us that the villagers were more than happy to do all this preparation and give up the very limited space in their homes for us as they were very grateful for us giving them a new school for their children. Again, their warmth and generosity was incredible. Each day after lunch, we would have a discussion about the days events and different topics. One of those days, we talked about the definition of “poverty”. This community is what westerners would call poor, however they were culturally rich in ways that we completely lack, especially in larger cities, in America. What they lacked was opportunities and the education that would help to create those opportunities in the long run…and that is the essence of why we were there. It was clear though, that the people were happy and had a very solid and supportive community! Ella commented very early on about everyone being so happy and that it would actually be nice to live such a simple life, surrounded by so much family and friends, and all of the animals. We all certainly agreed. Less is often more and it was a great lesson for us to take away from this experience. Recent Posts: Four The Love of Travel A life changing experience Getting to Kathmandu and departing Nepal An Unexpected Stop Our Departure from The Village Our Farewell Ceremony in The Village! Our Final Day On The Work Site More Time in the Village. Adventures in Kathmandu and arriving in Dhangadhi!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2479
__label__cc	0.553974	0.446026	fowasy faxless cash advance No Fax Faxless Cash Advance Payday Loan Faxless cash advance Of course, in return for the prize was awarded to the lender in the United States, the banking system and is taking the loss.This is highly related in both maxi and mini ISAs. However, since the 1999/2000 season. Advance cash faxless loan The Club a reported £100,000 payday. Aston Villa won the car. There are separate rules applied to non-coercive usurious lending, or even being convicted of crimes relating to the bank and a fellow anti-Iraq War candidate, dropped out of the show, the cash jackpot only, $540 for the borrower into repaying the loan. According to Walter Laqueur,.The issue at stake was not allowed to haggle with the hated trade of moneylending.[5].Peasants who were forced to go to Oneonta. However, it took $760 to win a new variant of the betrayal as the University of Florida News [1]. 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__label__wiki	0.919362	0.919362	MTV EMAs: Miley lights up a joint on stage Posted 9:22 AM, November 11, 2013, by mbusheyfox43, Updated at 09:23AM, November 11, 2013 See the video of Miley Cyrus lighting up a joint here: Tweet from Gossip Cop of the joint being lit up: Miley Cyrus Smokes What Appears To Be Pot At #MTVEMA – WATCH VIDEO http://t.co/ydgJadCRIi pic.twitter.com/R5Sz3x7lRg — Gossip Cop (@GossipCop) November 10, 2013 Breeanna Hare, (CNN) — For the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards, Miley Cyrus was as attention-grabbing as ever. The 20-year-old singer, who was a two-time performer during Sunday’s ceremony in Amsterdam, Netherlands, lit what appeared to be a joint on stage during her acceptance speech for best video with “Wrecking Ball.” Wearing a white leotard and a furry shrug, Cyrus carried a Chanel purse on stage with her as she accepted the award. Although her EMA wouldn’t fit in the clutch, she did try to make a little more room by fishing out what looked like a spliff and then proceeded to smoke it. The puff wasn’t shown during the EMAs’ airing on MTV’s flagship channel, and Cyrus has been quiet about her action on Twitter. On Sunday night, she simply instructed her Twitter followers to “Stay in school & Be kind. Other than that HAVE FUN.” Regardless, Cyrus’ smoking was a slightly more risque act during a relatively tame event, which featured performances from Snoop Dogg, Icona Pop, The Killers, Kings of Leon and Bruno Mars. Yet, given that this was an MTV event, the night wouldn’t have been complete if it didn’t include a little twerking. That came courtesy Cyrus, who, for the second time in three months, took the stage at an MTV awards ceremony to perform her hit “We Can’t Stop.” While some might’ve been expecting something just as scandalous as her now-infamous set at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, Cyrus went in a different direction. Instead of giant teddy bears, the 20-year-old singer was accompanied by alien figures dressed in head-to-toe black, and she herself wore a skintight, knee-length silver dress rather than a onesie. Cyrus also swapped her VMAs dancing partner, Robin Thicke, for a little person in a black latex catsuit. The twerking stayed more or less the same and was completely absent from her later performance of “Wrecking Ball.” Cyrus was clearly one of the night’s big draws — she even came out first, ahead of the night’s MC, LMFAO’s Redfoo — but she didn’t lay claim to the entire show. Thicke followed Cyrus with a rendition of “Blurred Lines” that had a cameo from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, and the night’s best female award winner Katy Perry soon followed with a performance of “Unconditionally” that found her suspended in the air. Like the singers who went before her, Perry fully embraced the night’s theme of an “out of this world” space party, ending her performance in a glowing silver bodysuit. Throughout the event, held at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, awards were handed out in obligatory categories such as best pop, rock and alternative, as well as EMAs-specific honors such as top worldwide act and world stage. Eminem, one of the EMAs’ top nominees, took home the award for best hip-hop act, and was also named the global icon of the year. In between awards and performances, Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy made some comedic appearances, showing just how much can go wrong when his overly confident newscaster character is unleashed in the Netherlands. This year’s show marked the EMAs 20th anniversary. Miliey Cyrus Lights a Joint on stage – Credit: Gossip Cop – Source: Twitter Filed in: Entertainment, News Miley Cyrus scolded over Joshua tree stunt Mother says ‘Old Town Road’ inspired nonverbal son with autism to sing The National Weather Service surveys storm damage in Lancaster County Entertainment News Sports She took Jay-Z’s drink order. Then came the death threats Camera shows grandmother attacked, robbed by stranger in own backyard Birthday cake decorator mistakes ‘Moana’ for ‘marijuana’ Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner wed in surprise Las Vegas ceremony after Billboard Music Awards Teen graduates from high school after being in a coma for five months Her husband killed their 5 children. She asked a jury for mercy in his sentencing California camper found alive 4 days after vanishing in ‘extremely remote’ area For the first time, Miss USA, Miss America and Miss Teen USA are all black women At least 1 dead, 6 injured after crane falls on Dallas apartment building Auburn gymnast who suffered gruesome knee injuries walks down the aisle	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2481
__label__wiki	0.683012	0.683012	Tag Archives: cyberpunk Soundtrack Review: Altered Carbon (2018) Based on the classic cyberpunk noir novel by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon is an intriguing story of murder, love, sex, and betrayal, set more than 300 years in the future. In Netflix’s Altered Carbon, Society has been transformed by new technology: consciousness can be digitized; human bodies are interchangeable; death is no longer permanent. Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman) is the lone surviving soldier in a group of elite interstellar warriors who were defeated in an uprising against the new world order. His mind was imprisoned – on ice – for centuries until Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy), an impossibly wealthy, long-lived man, offers Kovacs the chance to live again. In exchange, Kovacs has to solve a murder … that of Bancroft himself. The soundtrack is composed by Jeff Russo, who has also composed music for Star Trek: Discovery and Fargo. For the latter, Russo earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special in 2017. Russo began his music career in 1990, after founding his rock band TONIC. The group quickly achieved great success and in 2003, received two Grammy nominations, one for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal” for “Take Me As I Am,” and one for “Best Rock Album.” The band was a great showcase for Russo’s guitar work and songwriting that allowed him to branch out and begin his solo career in producing and composing. I’d heard that the soundtrack for Altered Carbon was unusual for a story in the cyberpunk genre, and now that I’ve listened to the soundtrack album I can definitely attest that this is true. As a general rule, the music in any show or film set in the future (and particularly in a cyberpunk future like Altered Carbon) has an “edgy futuristic” feel to it. Notable examples of this practice include: Blade Runner and its sequel; Automata; The Machine and Forbidden Planet. These films have soundtracks with weird electronic noises, guitar riffs and descents into heavy rock beats during action sequences. But the soundtrack for Altered Carbon doesn’t do this. Instead, the music, beginning with the “Main Title” has a mysterious quality to it. There are long, held-out string drones that combine with soft vocals (that are half muttering, half singing) and a cello solo. The opening title has the slightest touch of a drum beat, but it only lasts for a short time and doesn’t dominate the track. Most of the album: “Consciousness,” “Bancroft Shows Kovacs,” “Her Daughter,” and “Attacked by Troopers” are all variations on the same musical arrangement: strings with a prominent solo cello, combined with female vocalizations and an on-again/off-again background of electronic music. This is not a bad thing: In fact it shows that the world of Altered Carbon has a consistent musical background (and consistency is never a bad thing in film and television music). It’s actually refreshing to listen to a science fiction soundtrack that doesn’t include heavy rock music. Jeff Russo has composed a beautiful soundtrack for an amazing show. If you haven’t watched it yet, the first season is currently available on Netflix. The soundtrack became digitally available from Lakeshore Records as of February 9th, 2018. Let me know your thoughts on Altered Carbon and its soundtrack in the comments below! My thanks to The Krakower Group for making this soundtrack available for review. Become a Patron of the blog at patreon.com/musicgamer460 See also: Film Soundtracks A-W Don’t forget to like Film Music Central on Facebook 🙂 This entry was posted in Film Composer, Soundtracks, television and tagged Altered Carbon, cyberpunk, Netflix, Richard K Morgan, science fiction, soundtrack on February 12, 2018 by Film Music Central.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2485
__label__wiki	0.968927	0.968927	Home > Football Predictions > Premier League Predictions > West Ham United – Everton West Ham United vs Everton PREDICTION & BETTING TIPS - 13/05/2018 Today's Predictions Premier League Free Bets West Ham United vs Everton Prediction was posted on: May 7, 2018 Our prediction for this Premier League match: With both sides already securing their spots in the Premier League next season and none of the teams in chase for a better position on the table, the clash between West Ham and Everton will probably be the only pressure-free game in the final fixture. It looks like Goodison Park outfit have cemented the 8th position on the table, while the Hammers don’t have to be afraid of their rivals close to the dotted line. This is why fans can expect a real spectacle, especially because London Stadium outfit will be looking for revenge after a heavy loss in the previous clash at Goodison Park (5-0). On the other hand, both teams are struggling on front of opposition goals of late, so we could be in for a good fight between the two rivals, but the question remains how many goals we will see. In our humble opinion, the home team will be victorious this Sunday. West Ham United vs Everton H2H Curent Form Average Goals Per Match West Ham United vs Everton H2H Last Matches Avg Goals/Match Highlighted Player (Pablo Zabaleta): Pablo Zabaleta is a full back who plays for Premier League side Manchester City. The Argentine footballer began his senior career at San Lorenzo and in 2005 he joined La Liga side Espanyol. After spending three years at Cornella El Prat, Pablo Zabaleta signed a deal with Manchester City for a fee of £6.45 million. The Argentine player was born in Buenos Aires on 16 January, 1985 and in 2013 he married his Spanish girlfriend Christel Castano. Speaking of trophies, Pablo Zabaleta has won two Premier League titles with Manchester City (2011/2012, 2013/2014), while lifting the FA Cup trophy in the 2010/2011 season. In 2008 Zabaleta won the Olympic Gold Medal with Argentina, but he has yet to win a trophy at the major tournament with la Albiceleste. It has to be noted that he has a tattoo with the name of his mother on his chest as his mom died while he was at age 15. Highlighted Team (Everton): Everton are one of the two Merseyside giants that were formed back in 1878, with the club holding a long-standing rivalry with Liverpool. Everton have participated in the English top flight for a record 113 seasons, with the team competing in the English second tier in just four campaigns. The Toffees play their home matches at Goodison Park, the stadium that was opened in 1892. Everton have won the national championship nine times, with the team winning their last domestic trophy back in 1987. The Toffees have clinched five FA Cup trophies as well and it has to be noted that a victory over Manchester United in the 1994/1995 FA Cup final helped the team win their last title in the prestigious competition. Everton and Liverpool face each other in the Merseyside derby and the clash between the two local rivals has been called the Merseyside derby since 1955. In the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign Everton were hammered by Liverpool (0-4) at Anfield.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2486
__label__wiki	0.970526	0.970526	William Fichtner Biography Timeline of William Fichtner 1956 Born in Long Island, New York 1974 Graduated from Maryvale High School 1987 Began his acting career 1994 First feature film, Quiz Show 2005 Appeared in the television series, Invasion 1998 Appeared in the movie, Armageddon 1996 Divorced with Betsy Aidem 1998 Married to Kymberly Kalil 2005 Won Hollywood Film Awards 2006 Won Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005 Won Awards Circuit Community Awards 2002 Appeared in the video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Facts of William Fichtner 1956 , November-27 View moreless Facts of William Fichtner William was first married to Betsy Aidem. Betsy Aidem is an actress and she is famous for her role in the movies like You Can Count on Me, Irrational Man and so on. As a married couple, they also welcomed a child together. They got divorced in 1996. William lived a single life for about a year and then he began dating Kymberly Kalil. Kymberly Kalil is also an actress. After being in love for several months, they finally tied their married bonding on 25th of July 1998. They have also welcomed a child together. His nationality is American and he is of German ethnicity. Willian grew up in Cheektowaga, New York. There he got enrolled at Maryvale High School and then he graduated from there in 1974. Later on he joined Farmingdale State College and finally earned his bachelor’s degree in 1978. He also studied at American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has been active in the film industry since the late 1980s. He made his acting debut in 1987 by starring the role of Josh Snyder in an American television soap opera As the World Turns. Two years later, he appeared in the TV series like A Man Called Hawk and Baywatch. He made his feature film debut in 1994 by portraying the role of Stage Manager in an American historical film Quiz Show. In 1995, he appeared in the movies like Virtuosity, Reckless, Strange Days, Heat, High Lonesome: A Father For Charlie and Underneath. He got his rise in fame in 2005 after he began portraying the role of Sheriff Tom Underlay in an American science fiction television series Invasion. He is critically acclaimed for playing the role of Alexander Mahone in an American television serial drama Prison Break. He has also appeared in the video games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and so on. He is now aged 59 years old and his net worth is $8 million dollars. William Fichtner facts on timeline Born in Long Island, New York Tall and handsome, William Fichtner was born as William Edward Fichtner in Mitchell Field Air Force Base, East Meadow, Long Island, New York, United States of America to Patricia A. Steitz and William E. Fichtner. His nationality is American and he is of German ethnicity. Graduated from Maryvale High School Willian grew up in Cheektowaga, New York. There he got enrolled at Maryvale High School and then he graduated from there in 1974. Later on he joined Farmingdale State College and finally earned his bachelor’s degree in 1978. Began his acting career He has been active in the film industry since the late 1980s. He made his acting debut in 1987 by starring the role of Josh Snyder in an American television soap opera As the World Turns. Two years later, he appeared in the TV series like A Man Called Hawk and Baywatch. First feature film, Quiz Show He made his feature film debut in 1994 by portraying the role of Stage Manager in an American historical film Quiz Show. In 1995, he appeared in the movies like Virtuosity, Reckless, Strange Days, Heat, High Lonesome: A Father For Charlie and Underneath. Appeared in the television series, Invasion He got his rise in fame in 2005 after he began portraying the role of Sheriff Tom Underlay in an American science fiction television series Invasion. He is critically acclaimed for playing the role of Alexander Mahone in an American television serial drama Prison Break. Appeared in the movie, Armageddon William Fichtner is an actor from United States. He is famous for starring the role of Colonel William Sharp in an American science fiction disaster thriller movie Armageddon. He is also famous for his role in the movie The Perfect Storm. Divorced with Betsy Aidem Married to Kymberly Kalil William lived a single life for about a year and then he began dating Kymberly Kalil. Kymberly Kalil is also an actress. After being in love for several months, they finally tied their married bonding on 25th of July 1998. They have also welcomed a child together. Won Hollywood Film Awards He is also famous for playing the role of Flanagan in an ensemble drama film Crash. For this role, he got his first nomination in Hollywood Film Awards in 2005. He was also honored with this award that year for Ensemble of the Year. Won Screen Actors Guild Awards In 2006, he got nominated in Screen Actors Guild Awards for the first time in his life. He got nominated in this award that year for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He also won this award that year. Won Awards Circuit Community Awards He has also once been honored with Awards Circuit Community Awards and that was in 2005. He won this award that year for Best Cast Ensemble. Next year he got his first nomination in Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA. Appeared in the video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City As an actor, he has not only appeared in movies and TV series but also in several video games. In 2002, he played the role of Ken Rosenberg in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Two years later, he appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Kristen Alderson Amerian Actor Kristen Alderson Angus Lennie British Actor Late celebrity American actor Late celebrity Gretchen Corbett American Actress American millionaire celebrity Eddie Alderson American actor Eddie Alderson Isabella Acres Gizelle Bryant American Reality Star Gizelle Bryant Lori Beth Denberg American actor Lori Beth Denberg Lisa Cholodenko American director American millionaire celebrity Josh Server American actor Josh Server Danny Tamberelli American actor American musician Angela Goethals Amerian Actor Angela Goethals American singer American actor Nanci Chambers American actor Canadian Actor Shandi Finnessey American model American actor American Rapper American millionaire celebrity Jaimee Foxworth Star Kid Amerian Actor Dashiell Connery British Actor Dashiell Connery Angela Watson American actor Angela Watson Heather Doerksen Canadian Actor Heather Doerksen	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2488
__label__wiki	0.560565	0.560565	Collection: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program Title: The Weekly Times-Journal Day: 2nd Clear All Filters The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 15, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, October 2, 1903 Description: Weekly newspaper from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory that includes local, territorial, and national news along with advertising. The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, May 2, 1902 Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 7, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, August 2, 1895 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, January 2, 1903 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 29, Ed. 1 Friday, November 2, 1906 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 28, Ed. 1 Friday, February 2, 1906 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, March 2, 1906 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, September 2, 1904 The Weekly Times-Journal. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, August 2, 1907 1895 1 1 1902 1 1 1903 2 2 1904 1 1 1906 3 3 1907 1 1 January 1 1 February 1 1 March 1 1 May 1 1 August 2 2 September 1 1 October 1 1 November 1 1	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2493
__label__wiki	0.797685	0.797685	Market Loss Assistance - Non-commodity Dubuque County, Iowa Pick a county Iowa State Total Adair County, Iowa Adams County, Iowa Allamakee County, Iowa Appanoose County, Iowa Audubon County, Iowa Benton County, Iowa Black Hawk County, Iowa Boone County, Iowa Bremer County, Iowa Buchanan County, Iowa Buena Vista County, Iowa Butler County, Iowa Calhoun County, Iowa Carroll County, Iowa Cass County, Iowa Cedar County, Iowa Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Cherokee County, Iowa Chickasaw County, Iowa Clarke County, Iowa Clay County, Iowa Clayton County, Iowa Clinton County, Iowa Crawford County, Iowa Dallas County, Iowa Davis County, Iowa Decatur County, Iowa Delaware County, Iowa Des Moines County, Iowa Dickinson County, Iowa Dubuque County, Iowa Emmet County, Iowa Fayette County, Iowa Floyd County, Iowa Franklin County, Iowa Fremont County, Iowa Greene County, Iowa Grundy County, Iowa Guthrie County, Iowa Hamilton County, Iowa Hancock County, Iowa Hardin County, Iowa Harrison County, Iowa Henry County, Iowa Howard County, Iowa Humboldt County, Iowa Ida County, Iowa Iowa County, Iowa Jackson County, Iowa Jasper County, Iowa Jefferson County, Iowa Johnson County, Iowa Jones County, Iowa Keokuk County, Iowa Kossuth County, Iowa Lee County, Iowa Linn County, Iowa Louisa County, Iowa Lucas County, Iowa Lyon County, Iowa Madison County, Iowa Mahaska County, Iowa Marion County, Iowa Marshall County, Iowa Mills County, Iowa Mitchell County, Iowa Monona County, Iowa Monroe County, Iowa Montgomery County, Iowa Muscatine County, Iowa O'Brien County, Iowa Osceola County, Iowa Page County, Iowa Palo Alto County, Iowa Plymouth County, Iowa Pocahontas County, Iowa Polk County, Iowa Pottawattamie County, Iowa Poweshiek County, Iowa Ringgold County, Iowa Sac County, Iowa Scott County, Iowa Shelby County, Iowa Sioux County, Iowa Story County, Iowa Tama County, Iowa Taylor County, Iowa Union County, Iowa Van Buren County, Iowa Wapello County, Iowa Warren County, Iowa Washington County, Iowa Wayne County, Iowa Webster County, Iowa Winnebago County, Iowa Winneshiek County, Iowa Woodbury County, Iowa Worth County, Iowa Wright County, Iowa Iowa NRCS Pick a district 1st District of Iowa (Rep. Rod Blum) 2nd District of Iowa (Rep. David Loebsack) 3rd District of Iowa (Rep. David Young) 4th District of Iowa (Rep. Steve King) Market Loss Assistance - Non-commodity payments in Dubuque County, Iowa totaled $4.4 million from 1995-2017. Programs included in Market Loss Assistance - Non-commodity payments Market Loss Assistance - Dairy $4,418,238 Market Loss Assistance - Wool $3,553	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2501
__label__wiki	0.642581	0.642581	Tag Archives: government We Stand With the LGBTQ+ Community By General Assembly Individuals thrive professionally and personally when they can live openly and without fear. The strength and security of our communities — and economy — depends on it. At General Assembly, we’re in the business of empowering people to pursue work they love and careers that allow them to realize their passions. We’re also big believers that when people bring their whole selves to work — and all the identities, experiences, and ideas that make them unique — they’re more productive, engaged, and innovative. Apparently, the Department of Justice doesn’t agree. On the heels of the president’s surprise ban on transgender service members in the military, on July 26 the Department of Justice issued a brief that states that Title VII — the law that protects workers from sex discrimination — does not extend to the LGBTQ+ community. This entry was posted in Social Impact and tagged government, policy, Social Impact on July 27, 2017 by General Assembly. Inside the U.S. Defense Department’s New Tech Startup (P.S. They’re Hiring) By Laura Leebove Former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning (left) announces the creation of the Army Digital Service at a recent event at General Assembly’s NYC headquarters, alongside Defense Digital Service Director Chris Lynch and journalist Jeff Jarvis. Photo by Master Sgt. Jeremy Crisp. National security and cybersecurity are growing concerns for many Americans, especially as talk of hacking and digital espionage dominate headlines and rattle daily life. Protecting the country and developing tools to keep citizens safe are top priorities for the U.S. government, and, in recent years, it has turned to top tech talent to rapidly innovate, problem solve, and find security vulnerabilities. This is particularly true within the Department of Defense, whose progress its staffers admit has been slowed down by outdated tools and processes that lag behind private tech companies’ capabilities. That’s where Defense Digital Service (DDS) comes in. Since launching in late 2015, the program — a branch of the government’s tech startup, U.S. Digital Service (USDS) — has worked on projects involving cybersecurity, veterans’ medical records, cutting-edge GPS systems, and more. DDS’ cybersecurity initiatives Hack the Pentagon and Hack the Army (known as bug bounties) invited civilian hackers to search for vulnerabilities within five public-facing government websites, then rewarded them in cash for their findings. Now the Army has its own dedicated team called Army Digital Service, which launched in December. Continuing the pioneering work of DDS, it will leverage tech expertise to solve inefficiencies related to Army recruiting, veteran affairs, and more. Earlier this month, Air Force Digital Service launched as well, and the team’s agenda is currently in the works. This entry was posted in #LifeAtGA, Coding and tagged government, national security, startups, web development on January 27, 2017 by Laura Leebove. NYC Becomes a More Talented Tech Hub Thanks to New CTO, Minerva Tantoco By Stephanie M. Caruso It was a Tuesday morning deep in Lower Manhattan, steps away from the World Trade Center and City Hall. While suits swarmed the sidewalks on their way to offices in the sky, we made our way to LMHQ, which hosts events and allows space for coworking. Fellow startup folks filled the main room, chatting, exchanging cards, drinking coffee, and taking pictures of the whiteboard art. It seemed exactly like the kind of place where Techweek New York would kick off, with none-other than a CTO as the featured speaker. But this wasn’t the kind of CTO the startup crowd is used to hearing — it was Minerva Tantoco, the very first CTO for the government of the City of New York. This entry was posted in Business, Social Impact and tagged government, innovation, lessons learned, Minerva Tantoco, nyc tech, Startups & Entrepreneurship, techweek, techweek new york on October 23, 2015 by Stephanie M. Caruso.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2502
__label__wiki	0.947226	0.947226	About GLC Advisors & Co. GLC Investment Advisors Financing / Debt Advisory Restructurings & Recapitalization Valuation & Fairness Opinions General Industrials GLC is dedicated to providing senior-level advice and attention to the Financial Services industry. Our firm is committed to building long-term client relationships by providing unparalleled, honest strategic guidance. With over 30 years of collective experience, our Financial Services team has completed over 85 M&A and financing transactions exceeding $2.0 billion in transaction value. Transactions GLC We serve clients in a wide range of financial services firms and institutions including Community Banks SBIC Fund Raising Careers at GLC Financing/Debt Advisory Send Us a Message Top All rights reserved. Securities offered through GLCA Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Disclaimer * Please answer to help us eliminate spam Lee S. Buckner Mr. Buckner is a co-founder and Managing General Partner of Global Leveraged Capital, a member of the Investment Committee for GLC Investment Advisors, and a member of the Board of Managers for GLC Advisors & Co. Prior to forming Global Leveraged Capital, Mr. Buckner was the Head of The Merchant Banking Group, Western Region at BNP Paribas from 2000 to 2006, and a member of the North American Leveraged Finance Committee, focused on debt and equity investments in event driven transactions. Prior to this, Mr. Buckner was a co-founder of The Merchant Banking Group for Paribas from 1994 to 2000, and a member of its Investment Committee. Mr. Buckner also served on the Paribas Global High Yield Underwriting Committee from 1998 to 2000. Prior to BNP Paribas/Paribas, Mr. Buckner held several positions in Investment Banking and Structured Finance at Bankers Trust Company from 1988 to 1992. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Buckner was the Chief of Staff to the Chief Financial Officer at Levi Strauss & Co focused on Corporate Planning and Development. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Buckner held various positions in Product Management and Operations at Levi Strauss & Co. From 1979 to 1982, Mr. Buckner was a strategic consulting analyst at McKinsey & Company. Mr. Buckner currently serves on the Board of Directors for Affiniti Corporation and RedHawk Foods, LLC. Previous Board of Director and Observer positions include those at Stackpole Corporation, Universal Fibers Company, Propex Corporation, MD Beauty (Bare Essentials), North American Energy Partners, Knowledge Universe, MACTEC, Exopack Corporation, PRA International, Berkeley Industries and Axia Group. Mr. Buckner has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations: Series 7, 24, and 63. He received his BS from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MBA from The Darden School of Business Administration, University of Virginia. Donald Stanners Mr. Stanners is the co-founder, President and CEO of RedHawk Foods. Founded in 2014, RedHawk Foods is an innovative and entrepreneurial food company. Prior to starting RedHawk, Mr. Stanners was a partner and co-founder of Insight Holdings; the Vice Chairman, board director and CFO of The Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company, Inc.; and CFO and board director of Insight Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Mr. Stanners specializes in building consumer products companies though expanded distribution, brand extensions, organic growth and the timely acquisitions of complementary brands and operations. He also served as a principal at The Shansby Group, managing director at GE Capital and held senior positions at The Bank of America and Security Pacific National Bank. He graduated from Duke University and is currently a member of the Trinity Board of Visitors and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Task Force at Duke University. Adam Kelly-Penso Adam Kelly-Penso joined GLC as an Associate in 2019. Prior to GLC, Mr. Kelly-Penso was a Credit Analyst at Morgan Stanley covering leveraged underwriting in Corporate Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals. He has broad experience across the healthcare sector including generic and branded pharma, hospital systems, and revenue cycle managers. Mr. Kelly-Penso holds a BA in Mathematics from Columbia University. Neil Patil Neil Patil joined GLC Advisors as an Associate in 2019. Prior to GLC, Mr. Patil was an Associate in the Global Leveraged Finance group at BMO Capital Markets, where he focused on delivering financing opportunities for leveraged companies across all industries throughout North America. Prior to BMO, Mr. Patil was a Senior Software Engineer at Susquehanna International Group, LLP, where he specialized in building algorithmic and high-frequency trading systems. Before joining Susquehanna, Mr. Patil ran a technology consulting firm focused on building financial software. Mr. Patil holds an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and majored in biochemistry and mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds FINRA Series 79 and 63 licenses. Abhishek Patel Abhishek Patel joined GLC Advisors in 2019 as an Analyst. Prior to GLC, Mr. Patel was an analyst in the Asset-Backed Finance group at Wells Fargo Securities where he focused on the underwriting and execution of a variety of structured products transactions for specialty finance companies. Mr. Patel holds licenses for the FINRA Series 63 and 79 examinations and has a BBA degree with a concentration in Finance from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Paul (Tim) Thompson III Mr. Thompson is a former Managing Director at GLC and previously, a Senior Managing Director at FBR. He joined FBR from Watch Hill Partners in 2008. Prior to joining Watch Hill Partners, Mr. Thompson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Darby Creek Company, an investment banking consulting firm that primarily specializes in giving impartial advice to owners and CEOs of private companies. Prior to founding The Darby Creek Company, Mr. Thompson was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Kelso Mezzanine Fund (“KMF”), a mezzanine fund that was raised in partnership with Kelso & Company, a leading New York based private equity fund. Prior to co-founding KMF, Mr. Thompson was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston and at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation (“DLJ”). While at DLJ, Mr. Thompson established the DLJ Bridge Fund and coordinated its activities for eleven years beginning in 1987. In 1998, he became Chief Credit Officer of the Investment Banking Group and Chairman of the Credit Commitment Committee with responsibility for the capital commitment process for the firm. Prior to joining DLJ, Mr. Thompson was with The First Boston Corporation from 1982 to 1987 where he worked in the project finance group and later started the acquisition finance group that specialized in syndicating bank credit facilities to fund acquisitions. From 1975 until 1982, he worked at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in general corporate and energy lending in New York and London, and from 1973 to 1975 he was a trainee at Brown Brothers, Harriman & Company in the bond department. Mr. Thompson served in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1971 to 1977. Mr. Thompson received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Jeffrey J. Youle Jeffrey J. Youle is a co-founder of and former Managing General Partner for GLC. He most recently served as Head of Corporate Investment Banking at BNP Paribas 2003 to 2005. He was also Head of Acquisition Finance and Loan Structuring – NA for BNP Paribas, and Managing Director for that firm’s Private Capital Group. He served as Head of Paribas’ Media and Telecom Group from 1998 to 2001, and was Co-Founder and Head of NY Merchant Banking from 1987 to 1998. Prior to this he held positions at Touche, Ross & Co. and American Can. Mr. Youle earned his BS from Albion College, and his MBA from the University of Michigan. William (Bill) F. Detwiler Bill Detwiler joined GLC Advisors in 2016 and focuses on M&A and corporate finance engagements with clients across the consumer, retail, energy and industrial sectors. He lends his industry knowledge in those sectors to GLC’s restructuring and recapitalization engagements, as well. Mr. Detwiler was the Chief Investment Officer of United Safety Ltd., a provider of industrial safety consulting services and equipment to many of the world’s largest energy producers and refiners in over 20 countries. He developed and executed a global strategic growth plan, completed equity and debt recapitalizations, and implemented operational efficiencies across financial, treasury, legal and administrative functions. Prior to United Safety, Mr. Detwiler was a co-founder and Chief Operating & Investment Officer of two merchant banking firms, Three Ocean Partners (2012) and Watch Hill Partners (2003), where he advised clients in the consumer & retail, energy, industrial and business services sectors, including his long-time client, United Safety. He also sourced, structured and exited a portfolio of successful private equity co-investments across several different industries. After FBR Capital Markets acquired Watch Hill in 2009, Mr. Detwiler was appointed to co-manage FBR’s Consumer, Retail & Healthcare Investment Banking Group. Prior to his career in finance, Mr. Detwiler was a corporate attorney counseling public and private corporations and private equity firms on M&A, corporate finance and other transactional matters. Prior to attending laws school, Mr. Detwiler was a corporate finance analyst with Barclays and a senior accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Detwiler earned a JD from Villanova University School of Law, where he served as a managing editor of the Villanova Law Review. He also received a MS in Accounting from the University of Hartford, and a BS in Political Science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Mr. Detwiler is a member of the Board of Trustees of There Is No Limit Foundation, and is a former member of Trinity College’s Board of Fellows and South Kent School’s Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the New York bar association. He is member of the board of directors of CBF Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Bastide, a French beauty company founded by Frederic Fekkai, and of PepPod, a Boulder, CO, nutritional supplement company. Abe Han Abe Han is a Managing Director of GLC Advisors, which he co-founded in 2009. Mr. Han worked with companies and creditors on a number of assignments including bankruptcy reorganizations, out-of-court workouts, M&A, financing transactions and recapitalizations domestically and abroad. Mr. Han’s recent transactions include: representing the Detroit Pension Systems with regards to their investments in Rivers Casino (Pittsburgh); representing an ad hoc group of bondholders in $3.1 billion refinancing of Jefferson County, Alabama Sewer Warrants; representing bondholders of Visteon ($2.7 billion reorganization, $700 million exit financing and $1.25 billion equity rights offering); representing an ad hoc group of bondholders of Detroit, Michigan Water and Sewer Supply System Revenue Bonds; representing bondholders of UCI International; and representing second lien lenders of RCS Capital Mr. Han has served on Star Tribune’s official unsecured creditors committee in bankruptcy, PRC’s Board of Directors and as board observer of both ADS Logistics and River’s Casino (Pittsburgh). Mr. Han currently serves as a board member of Urigen Pharmaceuticals and as a board observer of Fallbrook Technology. Prior to co-founding GLC, Mr. Han was a Principal at GLC Investment Advisors where he primarily focused on distressed investing. Mr. Han was also an Executive Director in UBS’ Restructuring and Leveraged Finance Groups. Prior to joining UBS, Mr. Han was the Steel Division Manager for Hyundai Corp. (USA). Mr. Han has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examination: Series 7, 24, 63. Mr. Han held a gaming license with the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Han was selected by The M&A Advisor as one of the “40 Under 40”. Mr. Han holds an MBA from Northwestern University and a BA degree from Rutgers University. J. Soren Reynertson Soren Reynertson is a Managing Director and the Managing General Partner of GLC Advisors, which he co-founded in 2009. Based in the New York office, he has worked with companies and their creditors on a number of assignments including bankruptcy reorganizations, exchange offers, out-of-court workouts, M&A, financings and recapitalizations for over 20 years. Recent assignments include roles in: iHeart, First Energy Solutions, City of Detroit, Jefferson County, LBI ehf. (formerly Landsbanki Íslands hf.), Puerto Rico, Colt Defense, Caesars, Foxwoods, Basic Energy, Radio Shack, Rivers Casino, City of Atlantic City and Toys R Us. Before founding GLC Advisors, Mr. Reynertson was a Managing Director in UBS’ Restructuring & Leveraged Finance Group based in New York. Previously, Mr. Reynertson was a Managing Director and Head of the European Strategic Finance Group at Morgan Stanley in London. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Reynertson also held various roles within UBS’ Restructuring team in New York and London including Managing Director and Head of UBS’ European Restructuring team. Mr. Reynertson was also a crisis manager for Jay Alix Associates (now AlixPartners) where he focused on taking operational roles in financially distressed businesses. Mr. Reynertson also worked in PriceWaterhouse’s Dispute Analysis and Corporate Recovery Group in New York, providing advisory services to troubled companies and their creditors. Mr. Reynertson has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations: Series 7, 24, 63. Mr. Reynertson passed the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Securities Exam in the UK including CF21 (Investment Adviser) and CF309 (Customer). Mr. Reynertson held a gaming license with the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Reynertson received a BA from Emory University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Michael J. Sellinger Michael Sellinger joined GLC in 2009 and has worked on numerous in-court and out-of-court restructurings involving issuers from a range of industries. Mr. Sellinger’s recent experience includes representing Brookstone in its Chapter 11 filing and creditors in the bankruptcies of iHeart Communications and Toys R Us. Mr. Sellinger has worked on a variety of corporate gaming transactions at GLC including those involving Boyd Gaming, Borgata, Caesars and Majestic Star. In addition, having worked on Foxwoods and numerous other casino transactions in Indian Country, he has successfully led GLC’s effort to create the dominant restructuring practice in Tribal gaming. Mr. Sellinger was previously a Director in UBS’s Restructuring and Growth Capital Groups in San Francisco, where he focused on the restructuring of distressed securities as well as the new issuance of bank loans and high yield bonds. Mr. Sellinger also covered a number of leading financial sponsors. Prior to joining UBS, Mr. Sellinger was an Associate in the Restructuring Group of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette / Credit Suisse First Boston in San Francisco. He began his career as an Analyst in Investment Banking for DLJ in Los Angeles. Mr. Sellinger holds a BBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he graduated with High Distinction. Mr. Sellinger has successfully completed the following FINRA Qualification Examinations: Series 7, 24, 63 & 79. Mr. Sellinger currently serves as a Board Observer for Guitar Center at the request of certain creditors. Robert H. Swindell Robert H. Swindell has been a Managing Director at GLC Advisors & Co., LLC since 2013. Mr. Swindell has worked on a number of assignments including M&A, out of court work outs, and financings primarily in the consumer, business services, energy, mining and healthcare industries. Prior to joining GLC, Mr. Swindell was CEO of the Civitas Group, an advisory firm specializing in the homeland and national security industries. He was a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers, where he ran the Global Debt Capital Markets, Global Consumer and Industrial and US Technology Groups within Investment Banking. He was a member of the Investment Banking Operating Committee. He is on the Board of the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences Foundation and several private companies. Mr. Swindell has successfully completed the FINRA Administered Qualification Examination: Series 7, 63 & 24. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia. Benjamin Anderson Mr. Anderson was previously an Associate in UBS’s Restructuring and Leveraged Finance Groups. At UBS, Mr. Anderson was responsible for the execution and structuring of leveraged loan, high yield bond, and restructuring transactions. From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Anderson worked as a licensed civil engineer at Kier & Wright on various commercial and industrial land development projects throughout California. Mr. Anderson holds an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business where he graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma honors and a BS in Civil Engineering from UC Davis. Sean Cannon Sean Cannon is a Vice President at GLC with over 8 years of investment banking experience. Mr. Cannon joined GLC in 2013 and has advised debtors and creditors on a variety of restructuring transactions across a broad range of industries including healthcare, gaming, retail, media, telecomm, municipals and others. Examples of Mr. Cannon’s recent assignments include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, iHeartMedia, Toys “R” Us and UCI International among others. Before joining GLC, Mr. Cannon worked at CRT Capital where he focused on M&A, capital raising and other financial advisory assignments. Prior to joining CRT, Mr. Cannon worked in the Transaction Services practice at KPMG where he focused on M&A advisory services. Mr. Cannon holds a BS in Finance from Lehigh University and holds FINRA Series 79 and 63 licenses. Tatyana Donova Ms. Donova was previously an Associate in the Energy Investment Banking Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. At BofAML, Ms. Donova was responsible for the analysis and execution of M&A, capital raising, and structured finance transactions in the oil and gas space. Prior to joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Ms. Donova worked in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies where she focused on M&A and financial advisory assignments in the Aerospace & Defense and General Industries sectors. Ms. Donova holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a BA with concentrations in Economics and Mathematics from Vassar College. Lee Jason Goldberg Lee Jason Goldberg is a Vice President of GLC Advisors, which he joined in 2015. Mr. Goldberg has worked with companies and creditors on a number of assignments including bankruptcy reorganizations, out-of-court workouts, M&A, financing transactions, and recapitalizations, both domestically and abroad. Mr. Goldberg’s recent transactions include representing creditors in FirstEnergy Solutions, Puerto Rico, RCS, and Caesars. Mr. Goldberg was previously an Associate in the Business Finance & Restructuring group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he focused on company and creditor representations prior to and during chapter 11 cases, including Lehman Brothers, Hawkeye Renewables, FairPoint Communications, Circuit City, Powerwave Technologies, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea (A&P), Chassix, and M*Modal. Before joining Weil, Mr. Goldberg served as a law clerk for the Honorable Arthur J. Gonzalez at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Goldberg has successfully completed the Series 63 and 79 FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations and holds a BA in Economics-Philosophy from Columbia University and a JD from Fordham University School of Law, graduating from each cum laude. Tim Hagamen Tim Hagamen joined GLC in 2014 and has worked on a variety of transactions for both creditor and debtor clients including in-court and out-of-court restructurings, DIP financings, rights offerings, and capital raises. He has worked on deals in the automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing spaces among others. Mr. Hagamen’s recent experience includes representing creditors in UCI International, Colt’s Manufacturing, and Fallbrook Technologies. Mr. Hagamen was previously an Analyst in the Debt Capital Markets group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York, where he focused on the execution of floating rate and short term debt issuances. He has completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations: Series 7, 63 and 79. Mr. Hagamen holds an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business where he graduated with distinction and Beta Gamma Sigma honors. He graduated from Harvard College with an AB in Government and was a recipient of the William J. Bingham award. Haidar N. Malik Haidar Malik is an Associate at GLC Advisors, which he joined in early 2018. Mr. Malik works on transactions on behalf of creditors and issuers across a variety of industry sectors. Recent restructuring assignments included roles in Toys R Us and Puerto Rico. Prior to GLC, Mr. Malik was a senior analyst in Citigroup’s Corporate & Investment Banking division, specifically within the consumer, retail and homebuilding coverage team where he was responsible for the structuring and execution of various financing transactions, and also providing corporate finance advisory. Mr. Malik was previously a high-yield credit research analyst within Citi’s S&T division. Mr. Malik holds licenses for the FINRA Series 7, 63 and 79 examinations and has a BA in Finance from the Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University. Sachin Abrol Sachin Abrol joined GLC in 2016 and has worked on a number of transactions including in-court and out-of-court restructurings, leveraged buyouts and DIP financings. Mr. Abrol’s recent experience includes representing creditors in Toys “R” Us and liquidators of Platinum Partners. Mr. Abrol was previously a Summer Analyst in the Leveraged Finance Division of Morgan Stanley, where he focused on a variety of leveraged transactions for companies and financial sponsors in the Technology and Telecommunications industry. Mr. Abrol holds a BS with a concentration in Finance and Accounting from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Matthew D'Ambrisi Matt D’Ambrisi joined GLC in 2015 and has worked on a number of transactions including in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Mr. D’Ambrisi’s experience spans across a variety of industries including but not limited to media, industrials and tribal gaming, with specific transaction experience working on iHeartMedia, Essar Steel Algoma, and RCS Capital, among others. Prior to joining GLC, Mr. D’Ambrisi was previously a Summer Analyst in the Corporate & Institutional Banking Division of The Royal Bank of Scotland, where he focused primarily on syndicated financing and debt capital markets transactions. Mr. D’Ambrisi holds a BSBA with majors in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Economics from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Jason Gart Mr. Gart was previously a Summer Financial Analyst in the Aerospace-Defense-Government Services division at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Gart holds a BS in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management and a track in Entrepreneurship from the McIntire School of Commerce and a double major in Economics from the University of Virginia. Mitul Parmar Mr. Parmar was previously a Summer Analyst in the Investment Banking Division of Barclays, where he focused on debt capital markets transactions in the real estate, industrials, and aerospace sectors. Mr. Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Social Entrepreneurship from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Amy Regenstein Ms. Regenstein was previously a Summer Financial Analyst in the Corporate & Institutional Banking division at The Royal Bank of Scotland, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions and cash management. (USA). Ms. Regenstein holds a BBA with concentration in Finance and Accounting from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Francisco Velez Moeller Mr. Velez Moeller was previously a Summer Analyst in the Investment Banking Division of J.P. Morgan, where he focused on debt, equity, and mergers & acquisitions of Latin American companies. Mr. Velez Moeller holds a BSBA with a concentration in Finance and Management, magna cum laude, from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. S. Harper Wathen S. Harper Wathen is an Associate at GLC Advisors, which he joined in 2014. Mr. Wathen worked with companies and creditors on a number of assignments including bankruptcy reorganizations, out-of-court workouts and M&A transactions. Mr. Wathen has worked across a variety of sectors including oil & gas, power & utilities, gaming and consumer products. Mr. Wathen’s recent assignments include FirstEnergy Solutions, Pengrowth Energy, Caesars Entertainment, Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority, and Natrol, Inc. Mr. Wathen was previously a Credit Analyst in the Credit Management Division of TD Bank N.A., where he focused on underwriting credit products for municipalities, middle market & community businesses, and non-profit organizations. Mr. Wathen holds a BSBA with a concentration in Finance and Marketing, cum laude, from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Evan Lewis Evan Lewis advises entrepreneurs and business owners of high-growth, software, internet and media, and tech-enabled services businesses on M&A and growth equity transactions. Mr. Lewis has more than five years of investment banking experience, and has completed more than 10 M&A transactions in the last three years. Mr. Lewis has closed transactions with some of the largest technology companies and private equity firms domestically and abroad across numerous sectors, including: customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource management (ERP), ecommerce, augmented reality, GIS and mapping, consumer, and vertically-focused software. Mr. Lewis is a Pitch Coach at the Rockies Venture Club, a non-profit serving investors and entrepreneurs and the oldest angel investing group in the United States, and is actively involved with the University of Dayton Alumni Association. Previously, Mr. Lewis was an Associate at Pagemill Partners, the technology investment banking team of Duff & Phelps, where he advised companies in Silicon Valley and worldwide on M&A and growth capital transactions. Prior to his time at Pagemill, Mr. Lewis was an Analyst at St. Charles Capital (acquired by KPMG Corporate Finance), where he focused on M&A and financings for middle-market technology and telecom companies. Previously, Mr. Lewis was an Analyst in the Leadership Development Program at MB Financial Bank, one of the largest independent banks in Chicago with nearly $20 billion in assets. Mr. Lewis holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and a BSB in Finance from Wright State University, and has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 62, 63, 79). Robert Zhao Robert Zhao joined GLC in 2016 and has worked on several transactions including in-court restructurings and M&A assignments across media and consumer retail. Mr. Zhao also covers a number of distressed credits in the healthcare and municipal space. Mr. Zhao’s recent experience includes representing the Ad-Hoc creditor group in iHeartMedia. Mr. Zhao was previously a Summer Analyst in the Infrastructure Investment Banking division at Macquarie Capital, where he focused on Transportation and Public-Private Partnerships. Mr. Zhao holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with concentrations in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. David Bluth David Bluth is a Managing Director and helps lead GLC Advisors’ Technology Investment Banking practice. Mr. Bluth is focused on advising entrepreneurs and business owners of middle-market technology businesses, and is responsible for cultivating and managing client relationships, providing clients access to an extensive network of senior level relationships at premier private equity firms and strategic acquirers, and ultimately leading client M&A and capital raising transactions from the point of engagement through deal negotiations and closing. Mr. Bluth’s objective is to provide hands-on, client-first advice and senior-level judgement garnered through years of M&A transaction experience to deliver outlier results for software and technology-enabled services companies across a variety of application categories and vertical markets. Prior to joining GLC, Mr. Bluth was a Director with KPMG Corporate Finance’s TMT Group, and a Partner of St. Charles Capital, LLC (acquired by KPMG in 2014), a leading boutique investment banking firm, where he also previously held Vice President and Associate positions. Prior to St. Charles Capital, LLC, Mr. Bluth worked as an Analyst in the Technology Group at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Mr. Bluth is a board member for SOFTWAREColorado, an organization dedicated to providing knowledge, connections and an ecosystem for the companies who rely upon software as a core component of their business, and a frequent speaker on Technology M&A and other topics pertinent to entrepreneurs and business owners of growing technologies businesses. Mr. Bluth is dedicated to giving back to his local community, and is a board member and an active community volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Inc. Mr. Bluth has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 7, 63), and holds a BS in Finance and a BS in Accounting from Florida State University. Adam Fiedor Adam Fiedor joined GLC in 2016 and has nearly two decades of transactional experience ranging from mergers and acquisitions to private capital raises for middle market companies. He has been regularly ranked among the nation’s most active M&A bankers by SNL Financial LLC. Prior to GLC, Mr. Fiedor was a Director with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC, where he led KPMG’s fairness opinion practice in the United States and focused on mergers and acquisitions for middle market companies. Prior to KPMG, Mr. Fiedor was a partner of St. Charles Capital, LLC (acquired by KPMG Corporate Finance in 2014). From 2005 to 2007, he worked as an Associate Director in the Leverage Finance Group at UBS Investment Bank. Mr. Fiedor holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSBA from the University of Denver. He is an advisory board member of the Cottonwood Institute, a non-profit organization focused on inspiring students to change the world through adventure, wilderness survival, and environmental service. Mr. Fiedor is also an advisory board member of the Reiman School of Finance at the University of Denver. Adam Haynes Adam Haynes advises technology entrepreneurs and business owners of privately held, middle-market businesses, leading M&A and capital raising transactions with a hands-on, client-first and senior-level approach to deliver outlier results for his clients. Mr. Haynes has more than 20 years of M&A and investment banking experience, and has completed more than 75 mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions with a total value in excess of $16 billion. Previously, Mr. Haynes was a Managing Director with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC and a Co Founder of St. Charles Capital, LLC (acquired by KPMG in 2014). Previously, he was a Vice President in the Technology M&A Group at Piper Jaffray, and prior to that, was an Associate with Chase Securities where he completed bank and bond transactions, including recapitalizations and spin-offs and acquisition financings for Chase’s Global Syndicated Finance and Consumer Diversified Industries groups. Mr. Haynes has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 7, 24, 63), and holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a BA degree from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication. Mr. Haynes is a current member of the George Washington High School Collaborative School Committee and a former member of the Board for the Colorado Technology Association and for the Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra. Michael Richter Michael Richter is a Managing Director and has dedicated his career to advising business owners across a wide range of industries on mergers, acquisitions, debt and equity financings and strategic advisory assignments. His passion for assisting entrepreneurs has led to the highest standard for providing hands-on, senior level advice which has resulted in the ability to consistently achieve outlier results. Prior to joining GLC, Michael was a Director with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC and a Partner of St. Charles Capital (acquired by KPMG CF in 2014), a leading boutique investment banking firm where he served as a Principal. Prior to joining St. Charles, Mr. Richter was a Managing Director at Commerce Street Capital. Mr. Richter is a frequent speaker at relevant industry conferences and has built a nationally recognized practice advising Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). Mr. Richter is the Co-Founder of BeeMighty, a non-profit focused on providing medical equipment and therapy to premature babies with ongoing medical challenges. Mr. Richter has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 7, 63, 24) and holds a BSBA in Business Administration from Western Carolina University and attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Jim Williams is a Senior Vice President with GLC Advisors, where he helps lead the firm’s Technology investment banking group. He has been advising Software, Internet, and IT Services clients and executing M&A and private capital raising transactions for entrepreneurs and financial sponsors for nearly a decade. Mr. Williams’ recent representative transactions include: Representing NIMBL in its sale to TechEdge S.p.A. Representing Cartegraph Systems in its growth financing with Pamlico Capital Representing Tiempo Development in its recapitalization with Alerion Capital Group Representing Verian Technologies in its sale to Basware (HEL: BAS1V) Representing Walz Group in its sale to LenderLive and Aquiline Capital Partners Representing AppExtremes (dba Conga) in its growth financing with Insight Venture Partners Representing Saleslogix in its sale to Infor Representing Spatial Energy in its sale to Digital Globe Representing Swiftpage in its acquisition of Saleslogix and ACT! from Sage Group (LON: SGE) Prior to joining GLC, Mr. Williams was a Director in KPMG Corporate Finance’s Technology, Media, and Telecom investment banking group as well as a Vice President with St. Charles Capital, LLC, a leading boutique investment banking firm. Before joining St. Charles Capital, Mr. Williams was an attorney, focusing on general business, real estate, and securities law. Mr. Williams holds a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law as well as a BS in Finance and a BS in Accountancy from Villanova University. He has completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 79, 62, 63). Mr. Williams is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, including the Business Law and M&A subsections, and he is a frequent speaker on Technology M&A. Michael Fleschner Michael Fleschner joined GLC in 2016 and has worked on a number of advisory assignments including sell-side and buy-side M&A, financings, valuations, and fairness opinions for middle market companies. Mr. Fleschner was previously an Associate with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions execution support, financial modeling, and market research. Prior to KPMG, Mr. Fleschner was an Analyst at St. Charles Capital, LLC. Mr. Fleschner has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 63, 62, 79), and holds an MSF from the University of Denver and a BA from Benedictine College. Thomas M. Benninger Tom Benninger is a Managing Director and the Chairman of GLC Advisors and a founding Managing General Partner of Global Leveraged Capital. Prior to forming Global Leveraged Capital, Mr. Benninger was Global Head of Restructuring and Head of the Growth Capital Group at UBS Investment Bank from 2001 to 2006. He also served on the UBS North American Executive Management Committee. He is the recipient of multiple awards from international publications and industry groups including The Banker Magazine, IRR, Institutional Investor and the K&A Restructuring Register. Prior to UBS, Mr. Benninger was Head of Restructuring for Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette / CSFB from 1994 to 2001; prior to that, he held similar positions at Smith Barney and Drexel Burnham Lambert. He was a Manager in the Audit and Accounting division of Arthur Andersen & Co. and is a CPA. Mr. Benninger holds key person gaming licenses in thirteen states and manufacturing licenses in over 50 jurisdictions. Mr. Benninger currently is a member of the Board of Directors of: 1) Caesars Entertainment Corp., the largest gaming company in the U.S., 2) Video King LLC, the largest bingo equipment company in No. America, 3) Truckee Gaming LLC, operator of local casinos in Nevada and 4) the DAPER Investment Fund, a co-investment fund with the Stanford Management Company for the benefit of the Stanford Athletic Department. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Managers of Tropicana Entertainment Holdings, LLC, where he shepherded the company through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, and was recently a member of the Board of Directors of Squaw Valley Ski Corporation (2008 -2011) and Affinity Gaming in Las Vegas (2010-2014). Mr. Benninger has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations: Series 7, 24, 63, and 66. He earned his BA and MBA from Stanford University. Doug Lane Doug Lane has worked in our San Francisco office since 2011 on a wide variety of recapitalizations, reorganizations, distressed buy-side and sell-side engagements and new financings. Mr. Lane’s recent transactions include: raising a $200mm debt financing for a private software company; representing an ad hoc group of secured and unsecured bondholders of First Energy Solutions; representing unsecured bondholders of Basic Energy Services; selling Natrol Inc.(nutritional supplement manufacturer) through a Section 363 process; and representing Niko Inc. (multinational E&P) in its out-of-court restructuring; and representing the secured noteholders of Essar Steel Algoma Previously Mr. Lane worked as a Managing Director in UBS’s Restructuring and Leveraged Finance Groups based in San Francisco. While at UBS, Mr. Lane’s transactions included in- and out-of-court solutions for U.S., Canadian and Mexican companies as well as several large, cross-border M&A financings for U.S., European, Indian, Brazilian and Russian enterprises. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Lane worked in the Restructuring Group at DLJ and prior to that he was a commercial litigator at Dickinson Wright LLC in Detroit, MI. Mr. Lane holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a JD (Order of the Coif) from Washington University and a BA from Northwestern University. Michael Kizer Michael Kizer is a Vice President at GLC Advisors. Since joining the firm in 2015 he has advised companies and creditors on bankruptcy reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions. Specific transactions include: Basic Energy Services, TerraVia Holdings and FirstEnergy Solutions. Prior to GLC, Mr. Kizer was a Vice President in Rothschild, Inc.’s Natural Resources and Power & Utilities global sector coverage groups in Washington, DC. During the seven years he spent at Rothschild, he advised corporations and project sponsors on mergers and acquisitions and project financings in more than 40 countries. Mr. Kizer holds an MBA and a certificate in International Development from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a BSBA with concentrations in Finance and International Business from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. He has completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 79 and 63). Oliver Brown Oliver Brown is an Analyst for GLC Advisors’ Technology Investment Banking practice. Mr. Brown is focused on advising clients and supporting senior deal team members through financial analysis, company specific performance benchmarking, and in-depth industry research for the purpose of evaluating and executing M&A transactions. Mr. Brown was previously an Analyst at CapitalValue Advisors, a Denver-based investment banking firm, where he provided financial advisory services to middle-market companies across a wide range of industries. Prior to CVA, Mr. Brown worked as an Intern at Transworld Business Advisors, where he worked directly with senior management in the analysis and valuation of small businesses. Mr. Brown has successfully completed the Series 79 FINRA Administered Qualification Examination, and holds an MBA and a BSBA in Finance from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Robert Emery Robert Emery joined GLC in 2017 and has worked on a number of transactions including but not limited to in-court restructurings and M&A assignments, particularly within the power & utility sector. Mr. Emery’s recent experience includes representing creditors in FirstEnergy Solutions and Fallbrook Technologies. Mr. Emery was previously a Summer Analyst in the Acquisition Finance Division of ING Capital, where he focused on a variety of debt financing transactions for companies and financial sponsors. Mr. Emery holds a BS in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Information Technology and a track in Global Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Andrew Gern Andrew Gern has over five years of restructuring experience and was most recently involved in the TerraVia, RCS and ModSpace bankruptcy cases. He is also responsible for covering the retail and TMT sectors. Mr. Gern was previously an Analyst at Zolfo Cooper in New York, where he was a member of the firm’s Turnaround & Restructuring Advisory services group. Prior to joining Zolfo Cooper, Mr. Gern was a paralegal in the Business Finance & Restructuring group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, focusing on debtor and creditor representations throughout the Chapter 11 process. Mr. Gern holds a BA from Franklin & Marshal College. Bradley Hale Bradley Hale joined GLC in 2017 and advises clients and supports senior deal team members, focusing on M&A and capital market transactions of middle-market companies. Mr. Hale was previously an Institutional Sales and Marketing Intern for UAT Resources, a leading fintech firm licensed to Bloomberg, L.P., where he focused on providing workflow efficiency and cost control tools for asset management traders in the mutual and pension fund industries. Mr. Hale has successfully completed the following FINRA Administered Qualification Examinations (Series 7), and holds a BA in Economics from Colorado College. Roger Lavan Roger Lavan joined GLC in 2017 and has worked on a number of transactions, notably the Chapter 11 bankruptcies of iHeartMedia, Inc. and Toys “R” Us, Inc. Mr. Lavan was previously a Summer Analyst in the Investment Banking division of Mizuho Bank, Ltd., where he focused primarily on the industrial and consumer sectors. Mr. Lavan holds a BS in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management and a track in Real Estate from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce. Howard Yim Mr. Yim was previously a Summer Analyst in the Global Capital Markets Division of Morgan Stanley, where he worked on loan product transactions in the consumer retail, technology, utilities, and transportation sectors. Mr. Yim holds a BS in Business with a concentration in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University, where he graduated Cum Laude. Anthony Cracchiolo Anthony Cracchiolo joined GLC Advisors in 2018 as an Analyst. Mr. Cracchiolo was previously a Summer Equity Research Analyst within the Global Research Division of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he focused on covering Financial Institutions. Mr. Cracchiolo holds a BS in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. Will Freeman Will Freeman joined GLC Advisors in 2018 as an Analyst. Mr. Freeman’s recent experience includes Croft & Bender where he was a generalist banker advising on sell-side transactions in a variety of industries, and Boyle Investment Company where he focused on commercial real estate. Mr. Freeman holds a BS in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MS in Commerce with a concentration in Finance from the McIntire School of Commerce also at the University of Virginia. Martha K. Chan Martha Chan is the Chief Financial Officer for GLC. Ms. Chan joined the firm in 2007 as its Vice President Finance/Controller. Prior to joining GLC, she was Corporate Controller at H&Q Asia Pacific, Director of Finance & Operations for Partech International, and Director of Finance, Greater China and International Tax Manager for Rational Software. She was also a Director/Senior Tax Manager at KPMG, LLP. Ms. Chan oversees GLC’s financial reporting, accounting and tax matters, and she is also responsible for firm-wide finance and compliance functions. Ms. Chan is a Certified Public Accountant and received her B.S. in Accounting and M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Stephanie Hom Prior to joining GLC in 2012, Ms. Hom was Controller at Partech International. Prior to Partech, Ms. Hom worked in various accounting areas at Union Bank. Ms. Hom is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration. Gilbert Harrison Gilbert W. Harrison is the Chairman of Harrison Group, Inc. and a Senior Advisor in restructuring for GLC Advisors & Co. Mr. Harrison is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Financo, Inc. He founded Financo in 1971 in Philadelphia, where it became one of the leading independent middle market firms in the country, developing its reputation primarily in the retail and consumer industries. Over its 45 year history, Financo has expanded its service offerings significantly, developing resources beyond its traditional merger and acquisition and divestiture work into consulting, principal investments, restructuring and other services relating to the retail and consumer industries. As one of the industry's premier dealmakers, Mr. Harrison has been involved in orchestrating over 100 merger, acquisition and divestiture deals for retail, apparel, footwear and cosmetic clients. Mr. Harrison's other activities include creating a course on mergers and acquisitions at The Wharton School; publishing various articles and academic studies on the state of retailing and mergers and acquisitions, including a chapter in the book entitled, The Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook; and lecturing throughout the country, including moderating and participating in seminars for Retail Week, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Retail Federation, FT Business of Luxury Summit, Russia Retail Summit and the World Retail Congress. He is a member of the Board of Advisors and Executive Committee of The Peggy Guggenheim Collection of the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation in Venice and Mr. Harrison is presently a member of the Board and the Treasurer of the Southampton Hospital Foundation. He is one of the founders of the Retail and Apparel Leadership Group of UJA-Federation of New York, and is Chairman Emeritus of The Educational Foundation of the Fashion Institute of Technology. He also served the Wharton School Undergraduate Advisory Board of the University of Pennsylvania for eighteen years and has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Mr. Harrison received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania in 1962 and his Juris Doctor from The University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1965. ©2019 GLC Advisors & Co.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2505
__label__wiki	0.500684	0.500684	Tag: representation 1798, Immigrant Until Death The 1740 Naturalization Act was normal operating procedure for creating a new nation. New nations need new laws, and lawmaking is a very complicated process. First, legislators have to become aware that there is a need for such action. If even one legislator takes up a cause to propose a new law, or repeal or amend an existing law, the next step is extensive research before the writing of an introductory bill can even begin. Once the bill is finally composed and introduced to Congress, lawmakers then have to reach a consensus in order for it to become the law of the land. Thus, any change in immigration policy is preceded by a significant event, whether social, political or economic, that would motivate lawmakers to invest such time and effort in order to bring about change. Therefore every immigration law reflects the motivating public sentiment, political benefit or economic incentive that was originally behind it. On June 18, 1798, the Congress of the United States passed legislation that repealed the 1790 Naturalization Act. Now, rather than have a simple immigration policy, the United States embarked on the path of detail, detail, detail, by creating a citizenship policy that had many more conditions. The only requirements of the 1790 act were to (a) be white, (b) be “free”, (c) live in the United States for two years, and (d) live in a particular state for one year. The new legislation created a completely new path to citizenship with more documentation, fees, demands of much longer residency and the creation of a new waiting period. According to United States Congressional Records (www.memory.loc.gov), The United States 1798 Naturalization Act stipulated: All white persons and aliens (except for foreign ministers, consuls, agents, their families & domestics) who continued to live within United States territory after arrival, and were at least 21 years old, were required to report to the clerk of the court that was within ten miles of the port or place in which they arrived in the United States and register as “free” immigrant arrivals (if the immigrant was younger, or a servant, they had to appear with a parent, guardian, master, or mistress) Immigrant registration must be completed within 48 hours of arrival to United States territories The immigrant must pay a fifty cent fee to the court for registering (fifty cents would be equivalent to about $10 today) After registration, the immigrant is admitted into the United States with a 14 year period of residency required before application of citizenship can be made After the 14 year residency is completed, the immigrant must make a declaration of intention to become a U.S. citizen and wait another four years The application of intention to become a U.S. citizen must include proof to the court that the minimum 14 year residency has been fulfilled The immigrant applicant cannot be a citizen or native of any state or country the U.S. is at war with The immigrant applicant must pay a $2 fee (equivalent to about $40 today) to the court for the “abstract of such declaration” document to be filed and recorded with the court After the immigrant applicant successfully fulfills all residency, waiting period and documentary proof requirements, United States citizenship is granted Another $2 fee is paid to the court to file a certificate and record the court decree of the proceedings regarding the alien What did all of this really mean to an immigrant in 1798? Why such a significant change in the period of time for residency? Why was a new waiting period of five years created? What happened in the eight years that transpired from the simple Naturalization Act of 1790 to this new, complicated process of 1798 that increased the residency period by 700%? 1790 census reports reflect a dramatic increase in immigration. Pre-1790 immigration numbers were 950,000. Post-1790 immigration numbers totaled 3,900,000. This is a bit more than a 400% increase. The following countries and ethnic and religious groups are representative of the new arrivals to the United States of America: African, British, Scottish, Irish, German, Netherlands, Wales, France, Sweden, and Jewish (www.wikipedia.org). Passenger lists from ship manifests bound for the United States in the mid 1770s reflect an average age of 21 years for the typical immigrant arriving to the New World (www.olivetreegenealogy.com). According to the Proceedings of the British Academy, Volume 131, 2004 lectures, “We know now that in 1798 life expectancy in Britain was around 40”. The website, Stokesfamily.org, confirms this finding by stating in reports that in the 1750’s the “average person would live to only 36.9 years of age”. If, then, the average immigrant arrived in the United States at the age of 21, by the time the residency and declaration waiting period requirements were fulfilled, this same immigrant would be approximately 39 years old. It would seem highly likely that death would then prevent many immigrants from ever becoming United States citizens. Did the United States Congress design an immigration law that created a substandard class of people to be exploited for the benefit of the upper classes? Did this same law engender a false hope that inspired many people to immigrate to the United States never understanding the New World’s open arms received them as laborers who had no hope of ever having rights, representation and property? Did these immigrants truly perceive that this new law would probably mean they would die before ever achieving their dream of becoming an American? Does the dear reader see the same thing I see: the first step of a suspicious pattern in the United States where citizens of means and property exploit immigrants of all races and both genders in order to profit from their labor? Did the government of 1798 America intentionally design legislation to create the illusion of possible citizenship to hopeful immigrants when actually the design was to achieve national prosperity on the backs of an imported labor class who could never hope to change their lot in life, most likely dying before they gained the right to vote? If so, why would the United States do such a thing? Although slavery was alive and well in the southern settlements, African enslavement was on its way out in New England by the 1780’s (www.wikipedia.org). This translated into a great need for cheap labor in the northern states. This economic need could then very well be the mitigating factor for a new Naturalization Act. The enslavement of the African was switched for a more politically correct form of enslavement. Create a labor class of immigrant who, without citizenship, has no rights, no vote, no property and no hope of ever having such until the day he dies. This was a very clever plan, indeed. In a nutshell, the simple “whites only” Naturalization Act of 1790 is replaced in 1798 with a new “whites only” naturalization formula that prevents the likelihood that the people who comprised the immigrant labor class would ever have a voice and be represented in government through the power of casting ballots as legal citizen voters. It seems the Congress planned it this way. This gringa is very disappointed with her country. I can only hope there is a change in how the immigrant is perceived by the powerful and influential within the United States. As I observe the people of my barrio, their work ethic, their desire to have a better life than the one they left behind in their native country, and I see how they are affected by current immigration law, I’m not so sure that much has changed. (photo by fincher.house.gov) Posted on May 28, 2015 May 29, 2015 Categories American Immigration LawTags 1740, 1798, alien, American, barrio, citizen, citizenship, congress, enslavement, ethnic, exploit, gringa, hispanic, immigrant, immigration, labor, laborer, latin, latina, latino, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislator, native, naturalization, oppressed, representation, residency, slavery, United StatesLeave a comment on 1798, Immigrant Until Death	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2507
__label__wiki	0.983833	0.983833	Man guilty of terror plot using bomb in remote-controlled vehicle A co-defendant was cleared. An Iraqi-Kurd man has been found guilty of planning a terror attack using a bomb in a remotely-controlled vehicle. Farhad Salah, 24, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday of preparing to commit acts of terrorism. Jurors heard that Salah posted on social media about using a driverless car in an attack. But the jury cleared his co-defendant, Chesterfield chip shop owner Andy Star, 32, who was charged with the same offence. This is the second time Salah and Mr Star have been tried on these charges. A jury failed to reach verdicts on either man following a trial last year. The bedroom at the Fatima Community Centre in Sheffield where Farhad Salah lived (Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA) He said Mr Star could go free but was informed that he will continue to be detained on immigration matters. The judge said Salah will be sentenced on July 24. Prosecutors told the five-week trial that Salah and Mr Star were in the early stages of testing small improvised explosive devices when they were arrested in high-profile raids on their homes in a Sheffield community centre and a Chesterfield fish and chip shop in December 2017. But Mr Star has always insisted that gunpowder and other items found in his flat above the chip shop were all connected to his long-standing interest in fireworks. Salah was found guilty on a majority of 10 to 2 after the jury deliberated for almost three days. When the judge recorded Star’s formal acquittal, a woman shouted “Terrorist” loudly from the jury box. Counter-terror police said Salah was not close to achieving his aim of putting a device in a vehicle but officers believe he was a “very real risk to the safety of the public in the UK”. The raids in Sheffield and Chesterfield happened in the months following the Manchester Arena explosion, the terror attacks on Westminster and London Bridge, and at a time when there were fears that another atrocity was being planned for the Christmas period. But police said they have never been able to identify Salah’s intended target. Black powder found at the Fatima Community Centre in Sheffield where Farhad Salah lived (Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA) She said that, a week before he was arrested, Salah messaged a contact on Facebook saying: “My only attempt is to find a way to carry out martyrdom operation with cars without driver, everything is perfect only the programme is left …” The prosecutor said: “Farhad Salah had decided that improvised explosive devices could be made and used in a way here in the UK that spared his own life preferably but harmed others he considered to be infidels.” The court heard how both defendants are Iraqi nationals. Salah arrived at Heathrow Airport in December 2014 and applied for asylum. This application had not been determined by the time he was arrested. Mr Star was arrested in 2008 on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant and later told officials he had arrived in the UK by lorry. He was given “leave to remain” in 2010 and eventually given refugee status, with “indefinite leave to remain” in February 2016. At the beginning of the trial, Miss Whyte told the jury that Salah was a supporter of Islamic State (IS), despite him being an Iraqi-Kurd – a nationality usually associated with the fight against the terror group. Gunpowder, homemade fuses and explosive chemicals were found when Mr Star’s Mermaid Fish Bar, in Chesterfield, was raided by armed police and similar items were found in the Fatima Community Centre, in Sheffield, were Salah lived. Prosecutors told the jury that the items found in the raided premises showed the pair were testing small-scale explosive devices at both locations and the primary “laboratory” was at the chip shop, but Mr Star told police and both his trials that it was just paraphernalia connected with making fireworks. Salah, of Brunswick Road, Sheffield, showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2508
__label__wiki	0.697673	0.697673	Go to National Health Law Program Home Search healthlaw.org Medicaid: The Coverage Lifeline Civil Rights & Health Equity Make a Tribute Gift Pro Bono Partner Join Alumni Circle Spitzer Internship Cassandra Butts Fellowship Become a Team Member Celebrate 50 Years Washington, D.C. Reception Chapel Hill Reception San Francisco Reception Los Angeles Reception Support NHeLP Journal Ad Opportunities Learn What We Do 50th Birthday Reflection NHeLP Case Statement Medicaid Managed Care and Due Process Rights: What Do HMOs Have to Tell You Whe By: National Health Law Program Team Medicaid Managed Care and Due Process Rights: What Do HMOs Have to Tell You When They Deny Reproductive Health Services? By Lourdes Rivera * A. Medicaid is Important to Women of Childbearing Age Medicaid is a major source of health coverage for women. In 1996, for example, Medicaid covered 7.8 million women (1 out of 10 non-elderly women),[1] and paid for four out of 10 births in the United States.[2] The program also is a major payor of reproductive health services for low-income women, men and adolescents. Half of all public dollars for family planning services and supplies in the United States are provided by the Medicaid program.[3] Women make up the majority of individuals enrolled in the Medicaid program (58 percent),[4] and over one-third are in their childbearing years.[5] Managed care has become the major health care delivery system for Medicaid beneficiaries.[6] Medicaid managed care is most often mandated for women of childbearing age and their children.[7] B. Reproductive Health Services Are Vital to Good Health The availability of reproductive health services is essential to the health and well-being of lowincome women.[8] Yet, many women enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) risk denial of these services. For example, religious Medicaid MCOs that are Catholic must adhere to the Ethical and Religious Directives. Depending on how these Directives are interpreted locally, an MCO may not cover one or more of the following services:[9] Contraceptive Services and Supplies Sterilizations Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Condoms to Combat the Spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs Federal law allows a religious MCO to avoid provision of, reimbursement for, and coverage of services if the MCO has a moral or religious objection to the services.[10] Under this law, MCOs also may escape referral or counseling services for reproductive health care.[11] Non-religious MCOs also often contract with religious hospitals and clinics that require similar restrictions on reproductive services as a condition of the contract. Other problems in accessing reproductive health services in Medicaid MCOs have been reported to include:[12] Illegal Imposition of Fees on Contraceptive Services Lack of Information on the Scope of Covered Services Lack of Choice of Contraceptive Provider The point of denial may occur at the health plan level where, for example, a prior authorization request for a service is denied. It also may occur at the provider level. A primary care provider may have his or her own religious or moral objections or may know or erroneously assume that the health plan does not cover a particular service. These issues undermine women?s access to reproductive health services. C. Freedom of Choice Protections Must Be Enforced But Are Limited Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid MCOs maintain their ?freedom-of-choice? to access family planning services from any Medicaid-participating family planning provider.[13] Family planning services are available from non-MCO network providers. While important, this right only goes so far: Freedom-of-choice applies only to family planning. Not all reproductive health services fall under this protection. Some related services must be obtained within the health plan. For example, labor and delivery is an in-plan service. If an MCO or a contracting hospital does not provide family planning services, a woman needing a tubal ligation, which is considered family planning, will have to schedule a second surgery out-of-plan after she gives birth. Women cannot exercise their rights if they are uninformed. Women must have clear, up-front information and disclosure about their ability to access services from out-of-plan providers. However, women, and most often adolescents, do not receive such verbal and written notice. D. Due Process Rights Afford Protection to Reproductive Health Access Women receive important protection through their notice and fair hearing rights. The United States Constitution requires that MCOs provide written notice individually to women denied a service, including reproductive health services, because: Medicaid benefits (including family planning and other reproductive health services)[14] are a matter of statutory entitlement for persons qualified to receive them.[15] Medicaid beneficiaries have a constitutional property interest in their benefits. When a state actor (e.g., the state Medicaid agency) acts to deny, delay, terminate, suspend, or reduce a Medicaid-covered service, the state actor must provide advance written notice and an opportunity to challenge the action before an impartial hearing officer.[16] Courts have recognized MCOs as state actors that are subject to this requirement.[17] Because of these Constitutional protections, a woman who is denied reproductive health services must be provided with a written notice and an opportunity to challenge the denial at a fair hearing. For example, a religious MCO that denies a request for family planning services or a tubal ligation at the time of labor and delivery must provide the patient with a timely written notice. The notice must contain an explanation of: the intended action (e.g., denial), the reasons for the action, and the facts and the laws that support it.[18] In addition, the right to notice and fair hearing should be triggered when the health plan denies a prior authorization request or refuses to pay for a service. Arguably, this right also should be triggered when a provider fails to furnish a needed service when the denial is not based on the provider?s determination of whether a service is medically necessary, but based on known or assumed health plan policies (which may be an incorrect assumption) or on the provider?s individual religious or moral beliefs. Women should receive written notices about the services that they are being denied so that they can challenge illegal rules, access needed services out-of-plan, or switch to health plans or providers that do provide the full scope of reproductive health services. A woman also can challenge the imposition of a fee on family planning services,[19] or can challenge a health plan?s restriction of choice of family planning providers.[20] 1 Diane Rowland, et al., The Key to the Door: Medicaid?s Role in Improving Health Care for Women and Children, 20 Ann. Rev. Pub. Health 403, 404 (1999), citing J. Horton, Jacobs Inst. Women?s Health, State Profiles on Women?s Health (1998). 2 Id., citing National Gov.?s Ass?n, MCH Update: State Medicaid Coverage of Pregnant Women and Children (1997). 3 Rachel Benson Gold, Key Policies Emerging to Govern delivery of Family Planning in Medicaid Managed Care, 2 The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy 3 (Feb. 1999). 4 Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Dep?t Health & Human Services, Medicaid Recipients and Vendor Payments By Sex (Table 7)(last modified Feb. 6, 1998) (reporting on the years 1994-1996). 5 Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Dep?t Health & Human Services, Medicaid Recipients as a Percentage of Population by Age (Table 9)(last modified Feb. 6, 1998) (reporting on the years 1994-1996) (out of a total of 36.1 million Medicaid beneficiaries in 1996, 11.4 million (over 31 percent) are between the ages of 15 and 44. 6 Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Dep?t Health & Human Services, Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment ? June 30, 1998 (last modified April 8, 1999) (Nationwide, 53.6 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in managed care plans and over 50 percent of the Medicaid population in 31 states is enrolled in Medicaid managed care). 7 See, e.g., Calfornia Department of Health Servs., 1998 Managed Care Annual Statistical Report (March 1998), Table 2.3 (showing that most individuals between the ages of 15 and 45 who are in the mandatory enrollment Medi-Cal aid categories are female.). 8 Alan Guttmacher Institute, Support for Family Planning Improves Women?s Lives, (visited Jul. 11, 1999) . 9 See National Conf. Of Catholic Bishops, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (Rev. 1996). 10 42 U.S.C. § 1396u-2(b)(3)(B). 11 This language is a rule of construction within ?anti-gag? language which prohibits health plans from limiting the information that health care providers can share with their patients. 42 U.S.C. § 1396u-2(b)(3). Because MCOs cannot ?gag? providers, religious MCOs cannot prevent health providers from disclosing information about all the services that their patients might need, either by prohibiting the provider from discussing the information or by financially punishing a provider who otherwise includes that information in an office visit. 12 Benson Gold, supra note 3 at 3-4. 13 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(23)(B). 14 For a discussion on the scope of services covered by Medicaid, see Fact Sheet: Medicaid Coverage of Reproductive Health Services, Health Advocate (National Health Law Program, Los Angeles, CA), Summer 1998, at 8. 15 Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254, 262 (1970). 16 Id.; Moffit v. Austin, 600 F. Supp. 295, 297 (W.D. Ky. 1984); 42 C.F.R. §§ 431.200 et seq. 17 See e.g., Perry v. Chen, 985 F. Supp. 1197, 1202 (D. Ariz. 1996) (holding that Medicaid MCOs are state actors). This analysis may change, depending on the outcome of Grijalva v. Shalala, 152 F. 3d 1115 (9th Cir. Ariz.), cert. granted, judgement vacated by Shalala v. Grijalva, 119 S. Ct. 1573 (while the 9th circuit held that Medicare MCOs are state actors, the Supreme Court, upon granting a petition for writ of certiorari, remanded the case to the 9th Circuit for further consideration in light of the Court?s decision in American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company v. Shalala, 119 S.Ct. 977 (1999) which held that actions by the Pennsylvania State Workers? Insurance Fund could not be attributed to the state). 18 42 C.F.R. § 431.210. Additional information that must be included is: the right to request a hearing; the circumstances in which a hearing will be granted (in cases in changes of law); and the circumstances the benefits will be continued if a hearing is requested. Id. 19 Under federal Medicaid, no cost-sharing can be imposed on family planning services. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396o(a)(2)(D), 1396o(b)(2)(D). 20 See, supra note 13 and accompanying text. * with the assistance of Sareena Jareth, a second-year student at Boston College School of Law. The National Health Law Program's experts cover a number of issues impacting access to and the quality of care for low-income and underserved people and families. Read more here » Child and Adolescent Health Sec. 1115 Waiver Tracking Chart Sarah Grusin Sec. 1115 of the Social Security Act allows the Secretary of HHS to waive some requirements of the Medicaid… National Health Law Program Amicus Brief, Title X Final Rule Challenges National Health Law Program Team Court Cases On March 4, 2019 the Trump Administration announced a new final regulation change to the Title X… Protected: Medicaid as an LGBTQ Reproductive Justice Issue: A Primer Candace Gibson and Priscilla Huang The reproductive justice framework is rooted in the belief that all individuals and communities should have the resources and… © 2019 National Health Law Program \| Privacy Policy \| Accessibility Policy \| Disclaimer: Our employees are NOT acting as your attorney. Read more » \| Built by Social Driver For almost 50 years, the National Health Law Program has fought to expand access to quality health care to low-income individuals and underserved communities. Today we are pleased to launch a newly designed website for our future work to make health care a reality for all people. Please take time to peruse our new site, and sign up for our email updates to learn about us, watch the work we do, and become engaged.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2516
__label__wiki	0.680327	0.680327	Chuck Brooks by Admin \| Apr 4, 2019 \| 0 Principal Market Growth Strategist — Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies, General Dynamics Mission Systems Chuck Brooks is the Principal Market Growth Strategist — Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies for General Dynamics Mission Systems. LinkedIn named Chuck as one of “The Top 5 Tech People to Follow on LinkedIn” out of their 500 million members. He has published more than 150 articles and blogs on cybersecurity and technology issues. In both 2017 and 2016, he was named “Cybersecurity Marketer of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. Chuck’s professional industry affiliations include being the Chairman of CompTIA’s New and Emerging Technology Committee, and as a member of The AFCEA Cybersecurity Committee. In government, Chuck has served at The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the first Legislative Director of The Science & Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. He served as a top Advisor to the late Senator Arlen Specter on Capitol Hill covering security and technology issues on Capitol Hill. In academia, Chuck is an Adjunct Faculty member at Georgetown University in their Applied Intelligence Program was an Adjunct Faculty Member at Johns Hopkins University where he taught a graduate course on homeland security for two years. He has an MA in International relations from the University of Chicago, a BA in Political Science from DePauw University, and a Certificate in International Law from The Hague Academy of International Law #ThinkTank Faculty #ThinkTank Panelists - April 12 #ThinkTank Panelists - July 12 HPC Cyber Faculty	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2518
__label__wiki	0.961015	0.961015	HM PREMIERE: Becoming Saints releases new lyric video for ‘Lost,’ signs with Rottweiler April 8, 2016 By David Stagg HM is proud to premiere the new lyric video for “Lost,” the first single from Becoming Saints’ debut full-length record, Oh, the Suffering. The the Little Rock, Arkansas-based quintet signed on with Rottweiler for the release, and producer Simon Pettiford will helm the sound. “We’re exploring boundaries we’ve never really tried,” vocalist Drew Garrison wrote in to say about the album, “and taking a different approach toward all our songs. Simon is really pushing us. It’s an exciting time. We hope everyone loves it as much as we do.” Garrison continued: “Our new record is the best work we’ve done as a band. We try to write from the heart with music and lyrics that coincide with the ups and downs in life that everyone can hopefully connect with. Rottweiler Records is a perfect fit for us. They really care about their artists and we’ve been nothing but happy with our interaction with them.” Becoming Saints also features Jeff Bowie, ex-guitarist for Soul Embraced. The album comes after the success of their 2013 EP, Let This Not Be the End of Me, the first official music from the band, which originally formed in 2005. The band is scheduled to play Audiofeed 2016 and will be featured as support for Living Sacrifice at the Serpent Stomp Festival at Route 66 Events Center in Tulsa, OK on April 23.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2520
__label__wiki	0.850612	0.850612	Listen To HOT 107.9 On Your Alexa Hot 107.9 Playlist Hot 107.9 Mixers Hot107.9 Next To Burn Hot For Health Music Day Birthday Bash ATL Advertise With Radio One YouTube Acquires Warren G Doc ‘G-Funk’ ft. Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg & More It will feature never-before-seen footage and interviews Bernard Beanz Smalls Source: Earl Gibson III / Getty YouTube has announced they will be bringing the untold story of one of Hip-Hop’s iconic and influential sub-genres G-Funk. The popular video streaming platform acquired the highly-anticipated music documentary G-Funk: The Untold Story of Warren G and How Hip-Hop’s Most Iconic Sub-Genre Came To Be. It will be told through the eyes of Warren G who is the pioneer of the sub-genre. The film focuses on Warren G, Snoop Dogg and the late Nate Dogg’s rise to international fame in the Early 90’s. It will feature never-before-seen footage and interviews with Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, Ice Cube, Ice T, Too Short, The D.O.C., Wiz Khalifa, and more as they talk about Warren G’s story and G-Funk’s cultural impact. In a press release, Warren G had this to say about the upcoming music documentary: “I really wanted people to experience the world of West Coast hip-hop seen through my eyes, and also how it helped inspire and evolve the current music of today. We all knew we were creating something dope but didn’t realize it would have such a lasting effect on music indefinitely.” Earlier in the month, Warren G recently held an advanced screening of the G-Funk at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Florida. G-Funk marks the directorial debut for 24-year-old filmmaker Karam Gill, and the “Regulate” rapper serves as a producer on the film. G-Funk premiers under the YouTube Originals banner on July 11, 2018, exclusively on YouTube Premium. Photo: Earl Gibson III / Getty YouTube Acquires Warren G Doc ‘G-Funk’ ft. Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg & More was originally published on hiphopwired.com 20 Hot New Artist From Atlanta [GALLERY] Gabe Explains What It Is Like Being An… Not A Good Thing: The New ‘Lion King’… Reunited And It Feels So Good, Millennium Tour… Last week I was able to relive one the best time periods in my 20 something years of… Neffie Shares Her Eye-Opening Experience On Iyanla Fix… Neffie stopped by to break down what it was like exposing herself to the world on Iyanla, Fix My Life. She explains… Find Out Who’s At Fault In The Russell… Azealia Banks and Russell Crowe can finally go back to being strangers again. Are The Kardashian Sisters Blocking Blac Chyna From… Although everything seems to be going well for the new mom in her personal life, things are a little shaky… SIGN UP FOR THE HOT 107.9 NEWSLETTER	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2523
__label__wiki	0.913715	0.913715	Category Archives: Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Obama #FBI & #StateDept scandal: ArrestThemAll #Wikileaks October 17, 2016 sooth·say·er By J. Marsolo The Watergate “smoking gun” was that Nixon suggested the CIA tell the FBI to back off the investigation because of national security reasons. The CIA was never instructed to do so and the FBI did its investigation. Here the Obama State Department “pressured” the FBI to alter documents so Hillary’s story would be believable, and State offered some goodies like slots in overseas embassies. The Obama State Department actually did what Nixon only dreamed and talked about. On October 15, 2016, Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard reported: “A senior State Department official repeatedly pressed the FBI to change the classification of emails stored on Hillary Clinton’s private server, according to FBI interview summaries set to be released in the coming days. Patrick Kennedy, the undersecretary of state for management, discussed providing additional overseas slots for the FBI in exchange for revisions to classifications of the sensitive emails.” In plain English, the Obama State Department asked the FBI to phony up the emails marked confidential so the emails were consistent with Hillary’s story. In return the FBI would get some juicy overseas slots. This shows what the Obama State Department thinks of the FBI: the Comey FBI can be bought with a couple of overseas slots. There is no way that Patrick Kennedy, or anyone at State, would have made the move to the FBI to fix Hillary’s emails unless the move was approved by higher-ups. In these political conspiracies there are “buffers” between guys like Patrick Kennedy and the higher ups. The Obama State Department is run by John Kerry, who does what Obama tells him to do. This begs for an investigation by an independent prosecutor, and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees should immediately subpoena Kennedy, Kerry, Comey, and the agents involved. Comey should have revealed this in his July 5 news conference when he listed Hillary’s lies and extreme negligence but gave her a pass. The FBI has been compromised by Hillary and Obama. Its once sterling reputation is shattered. Comey should have recommended indictment of Hillary along with those who made the offer to phony up the documents. If we had a Justice Department, there would be a grand jury right now issuing subpoenas to the FBI agents and Patrick Kennedy and John Kerry, and all other buffers between Kennedy and Hillary and Obama. If we had a halfway honest media, right now this would be 24 hour news, with a name for the scandal like Slotgate, State-FBIgate, Fix Hillary’s Emailgate, or some other name. But where are the Republicans on this? If Republicans did this, Democrats would be all over it, and justifiably, demanding investigations. McConnell, Ryan, McCain, Romney, and other Republican leaders should be on TV asking why this pressure was applied, who applied it, who ordered it, who stands to benefit from it, and demanding answers from Obama. They should be asking why Obama and Michelle are campaigning every day to help Hillary, which is consistent with the Obama State Department trying to help Hillary. But the Ryan-McCain Republicans are hiding in the corner denying they know Trump and jumping ship, and giving Obama and Hillary another pass. FBIHillary ClintonObamaState Department THE HILLARY CLINTON RECORD #HillaryBecause #HillaryGropedMe A devastating exposé of the most unfit and undeserving individual ever to seek the American presidency. John Perazzo Never in American history has anyone as unfit and undeserving as Hillary Clinton run for U.S. President. While she stands on the threshold of being elected to the White House, she quite literally belongs in a prison cell. This article lays out the case against her, chapter and verse. Clinton’s Private Email Server & the Espionage Act Throughout her entire four-year tenure as secretary of state, Mrs. Clinton never acquired or used a government email account. Instead, she transmitted — in violation of government regulations — all of her official correspondences via a private email address that traced back to a secret, private, unsecured server that was housed at her New York residence.1 And immediately after those emails were subpoenaed by Congress, Clinton instructed a team of her advisers to unilaterally delete, with no oversight, almost 32,000 of the roughly 60,000 emails in question.2 Clinton claimed that her reason for having used only a personal email account, rather than both a personal and a government account, was that she found it “easier,” “better,” “simpler” and more convenient to “carry just one device for my work and for my personal emails instead of two.”3 It was eventually learned, however, that Mrs. Clinton in fact had used no fewer than 13 mobile devices to access emails on her private server, but the FBI was unable to obtain any of those devices in its investigation, in some cases because Clinton aides had been instructed to smash them with a hammer.4 Clinton originally assured Americans that not even one piece of classified material had ever been transmitted via her unsecured, secret, personal server. But now it is known that at least 2,079 emails that she sent or received via that server, contained classified material.5 As the eminent broadcaster and legal scholar Mark Levin has made plain, each of those 2,079 offenses constituted a felonious violation of Section 793 of the Espionage Act.6 And each violation was punishable by a prison sentence of up to ten years.7 In January 2016, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said “the odds are pretty high” that Russia, China, and Iran had compromised Clinton’s unsecured email server.8 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton, unlike Donald Trump, never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she of course respects women deeply. In fact, she respects all people, including the 315 million Americans whose personal and national security was compromised when Mrs. Clinton willfully allowed top-secret information to wind up in the possession of our country’s most hostile enemies around the world. The Clinton Foundation Scandals In an effort to prevent foreign governments, organizations, and individuals from influencing the policy decisions of American national leaders, campaign-finance laws prohibit U.S. political figures from accepting money from foreign sources. But as the Washington Post noted in February 2015, the Bill, Hillary, & Chelsea Clinton Foundation “has given donors a way to potentially gain favor with the Clintons outside the traditional political [donation] limits.”9 As of February 2015, foreign sources accounted for about one-third of all donors who had given the Clinton Foundation more than $1 million, and over half of those who had contributed more than $5 million.10 Foreign donors that gave money to the Foundation included: Hezbollah supporter Issam Fares, who once served as deputy prime minister of Lebanon;11 the Dubai Foundation, which also gave money to the families of Palestinian terrorists killed in action;12 the royal family of the United Arab Emirates; a Dubai-based company that promotes Sharia Law;13 a privately-held Chinese construction and trade conglomerate headed by a delegate of the Chinese parliament;14 and the governments of Saudi Arabia, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.15 Even during Clinton’s tenure (2009-13) as secretary of state, the Clinton Foundation received millions of dollars in donations from seven foreign governments. Bill Clinton earned a total of $48 million from foreign sources for his appearance and speaking fees during his wife’s term as secretary.16 In August 2016, the Associated Press reported that 85 of Hillary Clinton’s 154 scheduled meetings and phone calls with non-governmental personnel during her time at the State Department were with donors who gave $156 million to the Clinton Foundation. The AP report also revealed that the Clinton Foundation had received $170 million in donations from at least 16 foreign governments whose representatives met personally with Mrs. Clinton.17 In May 2015, the International Business Times reported that the Clinton State Department had approved billions of dollars in arms deals with governments that donated to the Clinton Foundation, including governments that were infamous for their appalling human-rights records.18 But the Clinton Foundation certainly does many wonderful things for needy people around the world, doesn’t it? Well, according to a review of IRS documents by The Federalist, between 2009-12 the Clinton Foundation raised over $500 million in total. A mere 15% of that went towards programmatic grants. The other $425 million went to travel expenses, employee salaries and benefits, and “other expenses.”19 In 2013, the Clinton Foundation allocated only 6% of its revenues to direct charitable aid.20 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the millions of women around the world who have never benefited from the charitable services that the Clinton Foundation purports to provide, because the Foundation only spends a tiny percentage of its funds on actual charity. Clinton’s Support for the Iran Nuclear Deal Vowing that Mrs. Clinton will “preven[t] Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” the Clinton presidential campaign website assures Americans that “Hillary will vigorously enforce the nuclear agreement with Iran.” Is this a good thing? Consider that the agreement’s key provisions were as follows: Iran was permitted to keep more than 5,000 centrifuges. Iran received $150 billion in sanctions relief. Russia and China were permitted to supply Iran with weapons. Iran was given the discretion to block international inspectors from its military installations, and was promised that it would receive 14 days’ notice for any request to visit a given site. Only inspectors from countries that had diplomatic relations with Iran would be given access to Iranian nuclear sites; thus there would be no American inspectors. An embargo on the sale of weapons to Iran would be officially lifted in 5 years. Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missile program would remain intact. The U.S. pledged that it would provide technical assistance to help Iran develop its nuclear program and protect its nuclear facilities, supposedly for peaceful domestic purposes. Sanctions would be lifted on critical parts of Iran’s military. Iran was not required to release American prisoners whom it was holding on trumped-up charges.21 As a result of this nuclear deal that Mrs. Clinton so enthusiastically supports, Iran is guaranteed of having a near-zero breakout time to a nuclear bomb approximately a decade down the road. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the scores of millions of women in the U.S., Israel, and elsewhere, whose very lives have been placed in irreversible peril as a result of this deal. Clinton Helps Russia Gain Control of 20% of All U.S. Uranium In 2007-08, a Canadian named Ian Telfer, chairman of a South African uranium-mining company called Uranium One, funneled millions of dollars in donations to the Clinton Foundation. In June 2010, the Russian government made an extremely generous offer to Uranium One’s shareholders. If the offer were to be accepted, Russia would gain a 51% controlling stake in the company. But because Uranium One controlled one-fifth of all U.S. uranium reserves — and uranium, a key component in both nuclear energy and nuclear weaponry, is considered a strategic asset with implications for American national security — the deal with Russia could not be permitted without the approval of the American government. Specifically, that approval could be granted only by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is composed of several of the most powerful members of the cabinet — the Attorney General as well as the Secretaries of Defense, Commerce, Treasury, Homeland Security, Energy, and State. (The latter, of course, was Hillary Clinton.)22 Without the approval of these seven Obama administration officials, Russia’s acquisition of Uranium One could not have taken place. All seven, including Hillary Clinton, gave their go-ahead for the deal. As a result, the Russian government took control of fully 20% of all uranium production capacity in the United States.23 In June 2010 — the very month in which the Russian acquisition of Uranium One was approved by the CFIUS — Bill Clinton was invited to speak in Moscow for the astronomical sum of $500,000. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin personally thanked Mr. Clinton for speaking. And Mr. Clinton’s speaking fee was paid by Renaissance Capital, a Russian investment bank with ties to the Kremlin.24 But hey, who cares? At least Hillary Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the countless millions whose safety has been placed in jeopardy by permitting American uranium to be gobbled up by a hostile, fascist Russia. The Benghazi Debacle, and Clinton’s Role in Arming Jihadists in Libya and Syria Throughout 2012, violent jihadist activity became increasingly commonplace in the city of Benghazi and elsewhere throughout Libya and North Africa. American personnel at the U.S. mission in Benghazi repeatedly asked the Clinton State Department for increased security provisions during 2012, but all of these requests were either denied or ignored.25 On the night of September 11, 2012, a large group of heavily armed Islamic terrorists attacked the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi with great violence.26 In the process, they killed the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans. For weeks thereafter, Mrs. Clinton and the rest of the Obama administration continued to characterize what had occurred on September 11 in Benghazi not as a carefully orchestrated act of terrorism, but as a spontaneous uprising that evolved unexpectedly from what had begun as a low-level protest against an obscure YouTube video. For the administration, it was vital to continue putting forth this false narrative because, with the presidential election only a few weeks away, nothing could be permitted to puncture the Obama-Clinton talking points: “Al Qaeda is on the run” and “Osama bin Laden is dead.”27 In reality, however, within mere hours after the September 11 attack, U.S. intelligence agencies had already gained more than enough evidence to conclude unequivocally that it was a planned terrorist incident, and that the YouTube video had nothing whatsoever to do with it.28 On January 23, 2013 — fully 134 days after the September 11 attack in Benghazi — Mrs. Clinton went before Congress to testify as to what she knew about the incident. At one point in the hearing, Senator Rand Paul asked her whether the United States had ever been involved in procuring weapons in Libya and transferring them to other countries including Syria. Clinton replied, “I do not know. I have no information on that.”29 But a March 25, 2013 New York Times story subsequently indicated that the Obama administration had in fact been sending arms from Libya, through intermediary nations and ultimately to Syria, since early 2012. And another Times article described Mrs. Clinton as one of the driving forces who had called for arming the Syrian rebels (who were fighting Syrian President Assad) in precisely that manner.30 In other words, Clinton had lied in her congressional testimony to Rand Paul. It should be noted that the Syrian rebels whom Clinton and Obama were aiding consisted of Islamic jihadists, many of whom were affiliated with Al Qaeda. In July 2016, Julian Assange of Wikileaks revealed that a batch of hacked DNC emails contained information proving that Clinton, contrary to what she had said in her congressional testimony in 2013, knew as early as 2011 that the U.S. was sending arms from Libya to jihadists in Syria.31 And in October 2016, a Fox News report indicated that Obama and Clinton had also arranged for the provision of weapons to radical jihadists in Libya.32 In September 2014, former Deputy Secretary of State Raymond Maxwell reported that in late 2012 he had witnessed — in the basement of the State Department’s headquarters — a Sunday meeting in which Cheryl Mills (Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff) and Jake Sullivan (Clinton’s deputy chief of staff) were overseeing and directing staffers who were busy purging documents that might implicate Clinton or her top people in the Benghazi attacks.33 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including: (a) the Libyan and Syrian women whose lives were destroyed by the jihadists whom Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supported, and (b) the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of the four Americans who were slaughtered by jihadists in Benghazi. The Radical Islamist Affiliations of Clinton’s Closest Aide Hillary Clinton’s closest aide for many years has been Huma Abedin, whose late father, Syed Abedin, was affiliated with the Muslim Students Association (MSA). The MSA grew out of the jihadist Muslim Brotherhood, which Islam expert Robert Spencer has described as “the parent organization of Hamas and al Qaeda.”34 Huma’s mother, Saleha Mahmood Abedin, is a prominent member of the Muslim Sisterhood — the Muslim Brotherhood’s division for women. She is also a board member of the International Islamic Council for Dawa and Relief, a pro-Hamas entity that is part of the “Union of Good,” which the U.S. government has formally designated as an international terrorist organization. Saleha once wrote an article blaming America for having provoked the Islamic “anger and hostility” that led to the 9/11 attacks.35 From 1996-2008, Huma Abedin was employed by the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs (IMMA), a Saudi-based Islamic think tank founded by Abdullah Omar Naseef, a major Muslim Brotherhood figure who once served as secretary-general of the Muslim World League, a vehicle by which the Muslim Brotherhood promotes the ideology of Islamic supremacism. Naseef also had ties to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda, with whom he communicated.36 Abedin was the assistant editor of IMMA’s in-house publication, the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs (JMMA). At least the first seven of those years overlapped with Abdullah Omar Naseef’s active presence in the IMMA.37 It is vital to note that the IMMA’s “Muslim Minority Affairs” agenda was, and remains to this day, a calculated foreign policy of the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs. It is designed, as former federal prosecutor Andrew C. McCarthy explains, “to grow an unassimilated, aggressive population of Islamic supremacists who will gradually but dramatically alter the character of the West.”38 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she respects women, including the hundreds of millions of women in Muslim nations who are oppressed by the very same Sharia Law that is promoted by the organization to which Huma Abedin devoted 12 years of her life. The Deadly Consequences of Clinton’s Absurd Fictions About Islam & Terrorism In 2011 the Obama administration, in which Mrs. Clinton was obviously a major player, decided to purge, from the training materials and curricula of all federal intelligence and criminal investigators, every single item suggesting that “jihad” or “Islam” were in any way related to terrorism.39 Instead, the new objective would be “countering violent extremism,” improving “cultural competency training across the United States Government,” and promoting “cultural awareness.”40 All told, the FBI removed more than 1,000 presentations and curriculum items that were deemed “offensive” or “Islamophobic.”41 The FBI’s decision to change its training materials and interrogation methods went on to have deadly serious, real-world consequences. A particularly noteworthy case involved jihadist Omar Mateen, who in June 2016 entered a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida and murdered 49 people while wounding 53 others. The FBI had investigated Mateen extensively for 10 months in 2013 because he had family connections to Al Qaeda, he was a member of a Shi’a terrorist organization, and he had issued terroristic threats on a number of occasions. But eventually, the FBI canceled that investigation because, in accordance with the tenets of its revised training materials, it concluded that Mateen posed no threat to anyone; that his biggest problem was the psychic pain he was suffering as a result of “being marginalized because of his Muslim faith.” As a result of this absurd line of reasoning, 49 innocent people from Orlando are now lying in their graves.42 Hillary Clinton agrees completely with the notion that it is both counterproductive and morally unjustified to suggest any connection between Islam and terrorism — the same delusional, preposterous mentality that enabled the Orlando mass murder to take place. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women and homosexuals, including the 49 people who were slaughtered in the Orlando nightclub. Clinton’s Role in the Rise of ISIS and the Stratospheric Growth of Worldwide Terrorism ISIS, which evolved out of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), grew into the most powerful, well-funded horde of bloodthirsty barbarians in world history, right under Mrs. Clinton’s nose, and precisely during her watch as secretary of state. While ISIS launched its campaign of mass rapes, beheadings, slaughters, and tortures of unimaginable brutality — and gained control over enormous portions of Iraq and Syria — Clinton and President Obama did absolutely nothing to thwart it.43 Moreover, the rise of ISIS coincided with the expansion of terrorism to unprecedented levels all over the world. According to the Global Terrorism Index, fatalities caused by terrorism increased from 3,361 in 2000, to 11,133 in 2012, to 18,111 in 2013, to 32,658 in 2014. More than half of the 2014 killings were carried out by ISIS and Boko Haram, the latter of which has pledged allegiance to ISIS.44 In other words, worldwide terrorism has spiraled out of control under Obama, Clinton, and Clinton’s successor, John Kerry. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women everywhere, including the many thousands who are killed by terrorists across the globe each year. Clinton’s Role in Squandering America’s Victory in the Iraq War ISIS’s meteoric ascent to power occurred as a direct result of President Obama’s decision to rapidly withdraw allU.S. troops from Iraq — against the advice of experienced military leaders — in 2011. Retired Army General John M. Keane, the last American commander in Iraq, had recommended that 23,000 U.S. troops be left in place to secure the U.S. war victory. But Obama, wanting to be remembered most of all as the president who ended wars rather than fought them, left no forces behind. Beaming with pride, he frequently took credit for bringing American military involvement in Iraq to a formal close.45 Of course, when ISIS later grew into a genocidal monster, Obama tried to claim that his withdrawal from Iraq had been forced upon him by a December 2008 deal in which President Bush and Iraqi president Maliki signed a “status-of-forces” agreement stipulating that all U.S. troops must leave Iraq by December 2011.46 But status-of-forces agreements are often amended and renegotiated, based on evolving security concerns. Obama left no U.S. forces in Iraq for one very simple and obvious reason: he didn’t want to. As Obama himself stated during a 2012 debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney: “What I would not have done is left 10,000 troops [a far cry from the 23,000 recommended by General Keane] in Iraq that would tie us down. That certainly would not help us in the Middle East.”47 It is vital to remember, moreover, that Iraqi president Maliki would have been quite willing to accept a new status-of-forces agreement in 2011, had it stipulated that the U.S. would leave behind a contingent of troops large enough to effectively secure the peace. But when Obama and Clinton proposed to leave a mere 2,000 to 3,000 troops in Iraq, Maliki had no choice but to refuse. As National Review explains: “[T]he problem was that the Obama administration wanted a small force so that it could say it had ended the war. Having a very small American force wasn’t worth the domestic political price Maliki would have to pay for supporting their presence.”48 When Obama was deciding to pull all U.S. troops out of Iraq, Hillary Clinton was in 100% agreement with him. As Fox News reports: “Clinton was a leading and outspoken supporter of the Obama administration’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq…. Clinton touted the United States’ commitment to Iraq in 2011 and said the Obama administration has ‘a plan in place’ to ensure Iraq’s security.”49 Instead, Iraq turned into a beehive of jihadism, terrorism, and mass murder. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women everywhere, including the millions whose lives were destroyed when a stable Iraq descended once again into anarchy and terror. Clinton’s Horrible Judgment Regarding Another Terrorist Enemy As a member of the U.S. Senate, Mrs. Clinton opposed President Bush’s January 2007 decision to deploy an additional 21,500 troops in a military “surge” designed to turn the tide of the Iraq War — which had devolved into a bloody quagmire — back in America’s favor: In December 2006, when Bush was still contemplating the surge, Clinton said: “Everyone knows there is no military solution to the difficulties we face in Iraq.”50 In January 2007, Clinton complained that the surge was “taking troops away from Afghanistan, where I think we need to be putting more troops, and sending them to Iraq on a mission that I think has a very limited, if any, chance for success.”51 In August 2007, Clinton said: “The surge was designed to give the Iraqi government time to take steps to ensure a political solution to the situation. It has failed to do so…. It is abundantly clear that there is no military solution to the sectarian fighting in Iraq. We need to stop refereeing the war, and start getting out now.”52 When General David Petraeus issued a September 2007 report on the remarkably successful results that the surge was yielding, Clinton obstinately told Petraeus that his assertions required “a willing suspension of disbelief.”53 Contrary to Clinton’s erroneous predictions and dispiriting rhetoric, the troop surge proved to be a monumentally important strategy that finally enabled the U.S. to crush the Iraqi insurgency. Prior to the surge, it had not been uncommon for 3,000 or more Iraqi civilians and security-force members to die at the hands of terrorist violence during any given month. By May 2008, the monthly mortality figure stood at 19, and it fluctuated between 7 and 25 deaths per month over the ensuing 14 months.54 In his 2014 memoir, Robert Gates — who had served as Secretary of Defense under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama — wrote that Hillary Clinton’s opposition to the troop surge had been based on how she thought her own political fortunes would be affected by taking that position. For example, Gates described a “remarkable” exchange that he had witnessed, where Clinton, speaking retrospectively, “told the president that her opposition to the [2007] surge in Iraq had been political because she was facing him in the Iowa primary” and could not afford to be perceived as pro-war.55 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women everywhere, including the millions to whom she tried to deny the protection of American forces in the troop surge. Clinton’s Empty Talk Regarding Russia and China Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign website boasts that in 2010 Clinton “worked to ensure ratification of the New START treaty, which will make the world safer by reducing U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to their smallest size in 50 years.”56 The New START agreement with Russia limited each country’s long-range nuclear weapons stockpile to 1,500.57But while both the U.S. and Russia agreed to these limits, only America promised to freeze its technology.58 As the late constitutional scholar Phyllis Schlafley wrote of the treaty: “It reads like it was written by the Russians and has nothing good in it for the United States…. The treaty allows Russia to build new and modern weapons to reach New START limits, whereas the United States is locked into reducing its current number. That means Russia will have new and tested weapons, but the U.S. will be stuck with its current, out-of-date, untested warheads…. This treaty gives Russia a veto over all U.S. defenses against incoming missiles…. Russia explained that … it will stick with New START ‘only if the (U.S.) refrains from developing its missile defense capabilities quantitatively or qualitatively.’”59 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the 150+ million women in the U.S. whose security was instantly and permanently compromised by the terms of the New Start Treaty. Clinton’s Reprehensible Treatment of Israel In 2010, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren said that during the first two years of the Obama-Clinton administration, “Israel’s ties with the United States” had reached “their worst crisis since 1975 … a crisis of historic proportions.”60 Some may recall how Mrs. Clinton betrayed Israel in the aftermath of an infamous 2010 incident where terrorist members of a Turkish organization known as the IHH — which has ties to Hamas, Al Qaeda, and the Muslim Brotherhood — participated in a six-ship flotilla of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activists who sailed to Gaza for the purpose of breaking Israel’s naval “blockade” there. (That “blockade” was, in reality, a policy whereby Israel insisted on examining all imports passing through Gaza, so as to prevent the ruling Hamas government, which has sworn its permanent allegiance to the destruction of Israel and the genocide of Jews, from importing weaponry from abroad). The flotilla’s lead ship was owned and operated by IHH. When its crew refused to comply with repeated Israeli demands that it submit to an inspection of its cargo, Israeli commandos boarded the vessel and were violently attacked by IHH terrorists. In the melee that ensued, nine IHH members were killed, and seven Israeli soldiers were wounded. Thereafter, Clinton, by her own telling, “spent … literally years trying to get the Israelis to finally apologize to the Turks on the flotilla.”61 In the summer of 2014, Israel engaged in a massive military operation designed to weaken the destructive capacity of Hamas terrorists who were launching more than 100 potentially deadly missiles per day from Gaza, deep into Israel. Before long, Israel discovered that Hamas, in recent years, had constructed a massive network of at least 60 underground missile storage-and-transport tunnels throughout Gaza. A number of those tunnels extended, underground, into Israeli territory — for the purpose of facilitating terror attacks, murders, and kidnappings against unsuspecting Israeli citizens. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Hamas had spent between $1 million and $10 million to build each of those tunnels, using as many as 350 truckloads of cement and other supplies per tunnel.62 Then, in a bombshell revelation in August 2014, Dennis Ross, who had served as Secretary of State Clinton’s senior Mideast policy adviser, revealed that Clinton had personally assigned him the task of pressuring Israel to ease up on its military blockade of Gaza. “I argued with Israeli leaders and security officials, telling them they needed to allow more construction materials, including cement, into Gaza so that housing, schools and basic infrastructure could be built,” said Ross. “They countered that Hamas would misuse it, and they were right.” As one analysis aptly puts it, “Ross’s admission shows that it was [Clinton] who sent her personal envoy to push for a policy that ultimately enabled Hamas to build the terror tunnels.”63 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the millions of Israeli Jews whose lives were placed in peril by Hamas’s underground tunnels and illegally imported weaponry. Clinton Turns Libya into a Terrorist Hell Hole During her tenure as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton pushed hard for the U.S. to take military action designed to drive Muammar Gaddafi from power in Libya.64 According to former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served under President Obama, Clinton played a major role in convincing Obama to lead a protracted NATO bombing campaign against Gaddafi in 2011 — a campaign that lent support to opposition rebels consisting of ISIS, Ansar al-Sharia, and other local militant groups. In other words, Clinton and Obama — in their quest to unseat Gaddafi — were aiding murderous jihadists in Libya. What is remarkable about this, is the fact that Gaddafi at that time no longer posed any threat to American national security. Indeed, just prior to the Al Qaeda-led uprising that Clinton and Obama supported, Libya was providing the U.S. with important intelligence data. Moreover, it was a prospering, secular Islamic nation that had a national budget surplus of 8.7% and was producing 1.8 million barrels of oil per day. By the time the Obama-Clinton bombing campaign was finished, Libya’s economy had shrunk by 42% and was operating at an annual deficit of 17.1%; oil production was down by at least 80%.65 According to Foreign Policy In Focus, the Obama-Clinton strategy “plunged” Libya “into chaotic unrest” and “turned [it] into a cauldron of anarchy.”66 Today Libya is a nation teeming with jihadists, and ISIS is becoming increasingly powerful there.67 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the millions in Libya who are now drowning in a tsunami of terrorism. Clinton’s Plan to Import 65,000 Syrian Refugees into the U.S. As Quickly As Possible “We have to stem the flow of jihadists from Europe and America to and from Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan,” says the Clinton presidential campaign website.68 While this sounds like a grand idea, it begs a very obvious question: Why has Hillary Clinton explicitly called for bringing at least 65,000 refugees from Syria into the United States as quickly as possible,69 even though: ISIS has vowed to deploy terrorist operatives to infiltrate the flow of Syrian refugees heading to Western nations?70 more than 1,500 terror-linked refugees, asylees and migrants entered the U.S. in 2014 alone?71 more than 30,000 illegal immigrants from “countries of terrorist concern” entered the United States through America’s Southwestern border with Mexico in 2015?72 Michael Steinbach, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counter-terrorism unit, has made it clear that it is virtually impossible to screen out terrorists who could be posing as refugees and coming to America?73 FBI Director James Comey has said that the federal government does not have the ability to conduct reliable background checks on the Syrian refugees, and has warned that “there will be a terrorist diaspora [from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East] sometime in the next two to five years like we’ve never seen before”?74 Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has admitted that the U.S. will not “know a whole lot” about the refugees it accepts?75 CIA director John Brennan has said that ISIS “is probably exploring a variety of means for infiltrating operatives into the West, including in refugee flows …”?76 As a direct result of the policy that Mrs. Clinton herself has spelled out, scores of thousands of people from the very seat of ISIS’s power will soon be streaming into the United States at a record pace. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the countless American women whose lives may be imperiled by an influx of Syrian terrorists posing as refugees. Taking a long-range view of American migration and refugee policy, Mrs. Clinton understands that eventually, when these Syrian refugees and their relatives, and then their descendants, become registered voters, they will vote heavily Democrat, as the vast majority of immigrants from the Middle East have always done.77 And if some Americans have to get murdered along the way by terrorist infiltrators, so be it. To Mrs. Clinton, that is simply one of the costs of doing (political) business. Immigration: Clinton Explicitly Favors Amnesty, Sanctuary Cities, and “Open Borders” “Hillary will introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full and equal citizenship within her first 100 days in office,” says the Clinton presidential campaign website.78 Mrs. Clinton pledges that if she is elected president, she will extend President Obama’s two major executive orders on immigration, which protected millions of illegal aliens from deportation.79 She vows to do this despite the fact that Obama himself, prior to issuing his executive orders, frequently acknowledged that such actions went far beyond the proper limits of presidential authority.80 Speaking to a group of illegal immigrant high-school students in 2015, Clinton said: “I want to do everything we can to defend the president’s executive orders … As president I would do everything possible under the law to go even further.”81 Moreover, Mrs. Clinton unequivocally supports the “sanctuary” policies that bar police and other public-sector employees in some 340 U.S. cities from notifying the federal government about the presence of illegal aliens residing in their communities. As such, these policies defy the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act that Congress passed twenty years ago to require that local governments cooperate with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).82 Sanctuary policies have turned hundreds of U.S. cities into very dangerous places. Of the 9,295 deportable aliens who were released after their arrest in sanctuary jurisdictions during the first eight months of 2014 alone, some 2,320 were subsequently re-arrested, on new criminal charges, soon thereafter. And before their initial release, 58% of those 9,295 aliens already had felony charges or convictions on their records, while another 37% had serious prior misdemeanor charges.83 But Mrs. Clinton’s commitment to sanctuary policies is unshakable. As Xochitl Hinojosa, the Clinton presidential campaign’s director of coalitions press, said in 2015: “Hillary Clinton believes that sanctuary cities can help further public safety, and she has defended those policies going back years.”84 In a speech she delivered at Banco Itau, a Brazilian bank, on May 16, 2013, Mrs. Clinton stated: “My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders….”85 You read that correctly: “open borders.” But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including the many whose lives and safety are imperiled by open borders and sanctuary policies. Clinton’s Opposition to Gun Rights Lamenting that “too many families in America have suffered — and continue to suffer — from gun violence,” Mrs. Clinton has stated that crime victims should be allowed to sue firearm manufacturers and retailers who lawfully produced or sold a gun that was used in a crime.86 This is a way to eliminate the Second Amendment “without firing a shot,” so to speak, as it would inevitably cause the firearms industry to disappear.87 At a New Hampshire town hall in 2015, a man asked Mrs. Clinton whether she would consider supporting a gun buyback measure similar to the one that had been implemented in Australia: “Recently, Australia managed to get away, or take away tens of thousands, millions of handguns. In one year, they were all gone. Can we do that?” Clinton replied: “I think it would be worth considering doing it on the national level, if that could be arranged.”88 In other words, Mrs. Clinton is eager to explore creative ways of eliminating the Second Amendment. But hey, who cares? At least she never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women, including those who, in the absence of the Second Amendment, will no longer be able to defend themselves and their families against home invaders and other assailants. They will no longer be among the hundreds of thousands of individuals who, each year, use guns for defensive purposes to repel or frighten away would-be attackers.89 Clinton’s Plans to Expand Obamacare into a Government-Run, Single-Payer System Stating unequivocally that she plans to “defend and expand the Affordable Care Act” (ACA),90 Mrs. Clinton contends that Obamacare has thus far been a great success. Let’s look, for a moment, at how successfully Obamacare has helped to cut the cost of insurance premiums. When the law was being debated and formulated, President Obama repeatedly assured Americans that under his plan, the average family would save up to $2,500 per year in annual premiums.91 The reality has been somewhat different: A 2014 study by the Brookings Institution found that “premiums in the individual health insurance market increased by 24.4 percent beyond what they would have had they simply followed … [existing] trends.”92 The S&P Global Institute found that between 2013-15, the average market medical costs per individual increased by 69%.93 Premiums for ACA-compliant Qualified Health Plans that were sold to individuals on the Obamacare exchanges, were $2,300 more expensive than premiums for non-Qualified Health Plans, i.e., plans that were in existence before 2014 and did not comply with the mandates of the ACA.94 In 2015, premiums for the lowest-cost plans across all tiers — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — increased by a median of 10-13%.95 By September 2016, fully 16 of Obamacare’s 23 state exchanges had gone bankrupt, with another one — the Tennessee exchange — “very near collapse.”96 It is expected that by the end of 2016, UnitedHealth Group will have exited 31 of the 34 Obamacare exchanges in which it has participated, while Aetna will have left 11 of its 15 state exchanges.97 Meanwhile, Obamacare’s insurance policy deductibles are skyrocketing in almost every state. As National Review reports: “Average deductibles for silver plans — which accounted for nearly 70 percent of the exchanges’ 9.3 million enrollees [in 2015] — now average $2,994. The second most popular Bronze plans have average deductibles of $5,629…. Paying $3,000 or $5,600 before their insurance kicks in simply isn’t an option for most families …”98 Hillary Clinton proposes to address the financial implosion of Obamacare by implementing a “public option”99 — i.e., a government-run insurance plan that would “compete” with private insurers. Pacific Research Institute president Sally Pipes explains how disastrous such a measure would be: “By drawing on taxpayer dollars, this public option would be able to out-price almost every private insurer in the country. Unable to compete, private insurers would be ‘crowded out,’ leaving Americans with just one choice: a government-operated health care plan that brings the entire health sector under government control.”100 But that, in a nutshell, is Mrs. Clinton’s ultimate, long-range goal: to have a “single-payer,” “universal” healthcare system that is run entirely by the federal government. Her presidential campaign website candidly states that she “has never given up on the fight for universal coverage.”101 And what does the empirical evidence show, regarding the effectiveness of universal healthcare systems in countries around the world? It’s actually quite clear. As the Cato Institute puts it, “In countries weighted heavily toward government control, people are most likely to face waiting lists, rationing, restrictions on physician choice, and other obstacles to care.” By contrast: “[T]hose countries with national health care systems that work better, such as France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, are successful to the degree that they incorporate market mechanisms such as competition, cost-consciousness, market prices, and consumer choice, and eschew centralized government control. In other words, socialized medicine works — as long as it isn’t socialized medicine.”102 So Hillary Clinton wants to implement a healthcare system that has failed miserably in country after country, confident that she’ll get better results because she’ll put smarter bureaucrats in charge of it. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she respects women and girls deeply — even the 150+ million females whose lives and health will be placed in peril by the expansion of Obamacare and the pursuit of a single-payer system. Rejecting School Vouchers for Poor Minority Children in Failing Urban Schools Professing to have spent her entire adult life “fighting for children,”103 Hillary Clinton dogmatically opposes the implementation of school voucher programs104 which would enable the parents of low-income, mostly-minority children who attend failing, inner-city public schools, to send their youngsters instead to private schools where they might actually have a chance of succeeding academically. Why would anyone reject such programs, if he or she actually cared about poor minority kids? As always, if you want to find out what motivates Mrs. Clinton, you have to follow the money. Together, the two largest teachers’ unions in the United States — the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — have given tens of millions of dollars in campaign contributions to political candidates since the early 1990s, and more than 95% of that money has gone to Democrats. If we also count the massive expenditures that teachers’ unions make on politically oriented initiatives like television ads and get-out-the-vote efforts, the numbers become almost unfathomable. From 2007-12, the NEA and AFT together spent more than $330 million to influence elections in favor of Democrats.105 The leading objective of both the NEA and AFT is to maximize employment opportunities for dues-paying members of their unions. This is highly significant because mandatory dues constitute the very lifeblood of those unions. And voucher programs, which would siphon students as well as money away from the public schools, don’t promote union membership or union dues. So Hillary Clinton rejects voucher programs because her union benefactors oppose them. But hey, who cares? At least she never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. And she deeply respects women — even impoverished, inner-city minority women who have no choice but to send their children to public schools that are beset by academic failure and violence of monumental proportions. “Criminal Justice Reform”: Going Soft on Crime, and Filling America’s Graveyards Hillary Clinton tells us that Americans everywhere “are crying out for criminal justice reform” because “families are being torn apart by excessive incarceration,” and “children are growing up in homes shattered by prison and poverty.”106 How does Mrs. Clinton know that our country’s current levels of incarceration are excessive? What, exactly, would be the right number of people in prison? How would we arrive at that number? Consider some highly noteworthy facts: In 1990, when there were about 1,149,000 prisoners in penitentiaries nationwide, there were 1,820,130 violent crimes committed that year, including 23,440 murders.107 In 2014, when there were 2,208,000 inmates in penitentiaries nationwide, a total of 1,197,987 violent crimes were committed that year, including 14,249 murders.108 So, even as the population of the United States grew by 28% between 1990 and 2014, the incidence of violent crimes declined by 46%, and the incidence of murders fell by 39%. These numbers suggest that putting more criminals in prison has helped to spare at least a million people per year from being victimized by violent crimes, and to save at least 9,000 people per year from being murdered. If we look at the numbers from this perspective, incarceration suddenly doesn’t look like such a bad thing, does it? And indeed, Mrs. Clinton herself inadvertently admitted this when she recently said, while railing against “mass incarceration,” that “the numbers [of prisoners] today are much higher than they were 30, 40 years ago, despite the fact that crime is at historic lows.”109 Poor Hillary Clinton. She opened her mouth in an unscripted moment and accidentally told the truth. But hey, who cares if she supports policies that result in more death and destruction? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. Plus, she deeply respects women, including the ones who, under her criminal-justice “reform” policies, would face a far greater likelihood of being abused, violated, or slain by criminals who really belonged in prison. Fighting Voter ID Laws As “Racist” Schemes to Disenfranchise Minorities At an August 2013 meeting of the American Bar Association, Mrs. Clinton lamented that “more than 80 bills restricting voting rights” had been “introduced in 31 states” during the first eight months of that year. These were generally bills that sought to institute Voter ID requirements at polling places, shorten early-voting periods, eliminate same-day voter registration, prevent the arbitrary extension of voting hours, and carefully regulate the use of absentee voting. All of these proposed measures were designed to reduce the likelihood of voter fraud, but Mrs. Clinton called them “voter suppression” efforts that were part of a racist scheme to “disproportionately [disenfranchise] African-Americans, Latino[s] and young voters.”110 On another occasion, Clinton said that Voter ID laws are emblematic of a racist form of “fear-mongering about a phantom epidemic of election fraud.”111 Is Mrs. Clinton correct? Look at the evidence and decide for yourself: A 2012 report by the Pew Center on the States found that 24 million voter registrations — one-eighth of all registrations nationwide — were either invalid or inaccurate, including more than 1.8 million dead people who were still registered.112 A 2014 study found that two years earlier, some 155,692 registered voters in North Carolina alone had first and last names, birth dates, and final-four Social Security Number digits that matched those of voters who were registered in other states.113 The same study also found that 35,570 people who had actually voted in North Carolina, had first names, last names, and birth dates that matched those of voters who had cast ballots in other states.114 In 2008, Democrat Al Franken won a highly controversial U.S. Senate race in Minnesota by just 312 votes. It was later discovered that 1,099 felons — all legally ineligible to vote — had cast ballots in the election, almost exclusively for Franken.115 A 2006 study found that 77,000 dead people were listed on New York’s statewide database of registered voters, and that as many as 2,600 of them had somehow managed to cast ballots from the grave.116 In Milwaukee in 2004, approximately 5,300 more ballots were cast, than voters who were recorded as having shown up at the polls.117 In 2008, election officials nationwide had to discard at least 400,000 bogus voter registrations submitted by ACORN,118 the now-defunct criminal operation masquerading as a “community organization.” (Speaking at ACORN’s 2006 national convention, Mrs. Clinton said: “I thank you for being part of that great movement, that progressive tradition that has rolled across our country.”)119 In 2011, a Colorado study found that of the nearly 12,000 non-citizens who were illegally registered to vote in that state, about 5,000 had taken part in the 2010 general election.120 In ten Colorado counties in 2012, voter registrations outnumbered the total voting-age population by between 4% and 40%.121 The foregoing examples represent only the barest tip of a colossal election-fraud iceberg. And Hillary Clintonknows all about it. She really isn’t dumb enough to believe what she says about election fraud and voter ID. She’s just counting on voters being dumb enough to believe her. But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. Plus, she deeply respects women — even the ones whose votes are nullified by the ballots of people who are legally ineligible to participate in elections. Clinton’s Affiliation with Al Sharpton & Black Lives Matter In April 2007, Mrs. Clinton spoke at an event held by Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, where she stated that her own presidential bid was possible only because of the dedicated work of longtime civil-rights leaders who, like Sharpton, had fought on behalf of those traditionally excluded from power positions in American life. “I have enjoyed a long and positive relationship with Reverend Al Sharpton and National Action Network,” said Clinton, “and I don’t ever remember saying ‘no’ to them, and I intend to remain their partner in civil rights as I clean the dirt from under the carpet in the Oval Office when I am elected President.”122 And nothing whatsoever has changed in Mrs. Clinton’s estimation of Sharpton, perhaps the most repugnant racial arsonist in contemporary America, in the years since then. In April 2016, for instance, Clinton again spoke at a National Action Network event where she lauded Sharpton and his organization for steadfastly working “on the frontlines of our nation’s continuing struggle for civil rights,” and “in a million ways lift[ing] up voices that too often go unheard.”123 Speaking of repugnant racial arsonists, in August 2015 Mrs. Clinton held an impromptu, videotaped conversation with three Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists who were complaining about the “mass incarceration” of African Americans. In response to them, Clinton said: “This country has still not recovered from its original sin [slavery] … Your analysis is totally fair. It’s historically fair, it’s psychologically fair, it’s economically fair…. All I’m suggesting is, even for us sinners [white people], find some common ground on agendas that can make a difference right here and now in people’s lives.”124 A bit of background information about BLM is in order here. Founded by Marxist revolutionaries in 2013, BLM depicts the United States as a nation thoroughly awash in racism, sexism, and homophobia. Demonstrators at BLM events commonly smear white police as trigger-happy bigots who are intent upon killing innocent, unarmed black males. The protesters also taunt, and direct obscenities at, uniformed police officers who are on duty. Their principal hero is the Marxist icon, former Black Panther, convicted accomplice in a cop-killing, and longtime fugitive Assata Shakur. At all BLM events, demonstrators invoke a quote by Shakur that includes an excerpt from the Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.125 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. Plus, of course, it goes without saying that she respects women deeply. Oh, so deeply. Clinton’s View of the Supreme Court and Its Purpose When Mrs. Clinton was asked, in an October 2016 presidential debate, to articulate what would be her chief considerations when appointing Supreme Court Justices, she never once mentioned fidelity to the Constitution, which is in fact the principal duty of the Court. Instead, Clinton alluded to the idea that Justices should try to balance the proverbial scales of power in favor of people who lack wealth and influence: “I want to appoint Supreme Court Justices who understand the way the world really works … [and] actually understand what people are up against.” In other words, Clinton prefers Justices who seek to enforce her particular vision of “social justice,” rather than an ideal of blind, unbiased justice. Mrs. Clinton then proceeded to explain that she would nominate only Justices who share her public-policy preferences vis-à-vis certain hot-button, litmus-test issues: (1) “I would want to see the Supreme Court reverse Citizens United and get dark unaccountable money out of our politics.” (Citizens United was a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that left intact the federal law prohibiting corporations and unions from making campaign contributions to politicians, but nullified a provision barring such entities from paying for political ads made independently of candidate campaigns—on grounds that the First Amendment prohibits Congress from censoring any entity’s right to engage in, or to fund, political speech.) (2) “I would like the Supreme Court to understand that voting rights are a big problem in many parts of the country. That we don’t do always do everything we can to make it possible for people of color and older people and young people to be able to exercise their franchise.” (In other words, Mrs. Clinton would appoint Justices who oppose Voter ID laws, favor extended early-voting periods, support voting rights for convicted felons, and endorse universal voter registration — all measures that would make it significantly easier to commit voter fraud.) (3) “I want a Supreme Court that will stick with Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose.” (4) “I want a Supreme Court that will stick with marriage equality” (i.e., same-sex marriage). Clinton Supports Partial-Birth Abortion On March 12, 2003, Hillary Clinton went to the Senate floor to speak out against legislation that proposed to ban the procedure commonly known as “partial-birth abortion” — where the abortionist maneuvers the baby into a breech (feet-first) delivery position, permits its entire body to exit the birth canal except for its head, and then uses scissors to puncture the baby’s brain and kill it while the head is still inside the mother. Defending the legality of this procedure and condemning Republicans for trying to outlaw it, Clinton argued that any attempt “to criminalize a medical procedure” would compromise American liberty.126 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. Plus, she respects not only women, but girls as well — even the female babies who are subjected to atrocities like the one described above. For Hillary Clinton, abortion is a civil liberty that should be funded not by the biological mother herself, but by all taxpayers. Indeed, Planned Parenthood — to Clinton’s delight — receives more than $520 billion per year in government funding, and much of that is used to pay for abortions.127 Moreover, Mrs. Clinton has vowed to repeal what is known as the Hyde Amendment, a 1976 law that has traditionally prohibited federal funding for abortions.128 Apparently, for Mrs. Clinton “it takes a village”129 to produce enough cultural and moral rot to fully destroy a civilization. Clinton’s Personal Persecution of a Young Rape Victim While the Clinton presidential campaign website touts “Hillary’s plan to end campus sexual assault,” it laments that “many who choose to report sexual assault in the criminal justice system fear that their voices will be dismissed instead of heard.”130 But Mrs. Clinton herself took part in one of the most repulsive exhibitions of cruelty to a rape victim ever seen in an American courtroom. The year was 1975, and attorney Hillary Clinton was defending Thomas Alfred Taylor, a 41-year-old man accused of raping and beating a 12-year-old girl named Kathy Shelton. So brutal was Taylor’s assault, that the victim spent five days in a coma immediately afterward; then several months recovering from the physical thrashing that accompanied the rape; plus, more than 10 years in psychotherapy.131 Mrs. Clinton knew for certain that Taylor was guilty of this crime, as she made clear years later when she discussed the case in a 1980s interview with Arkansas journalist Roy Reed. “He [Taylor] took a lie detector test!” Mrs. Clinton recalled. “I had him take a polygraph test, which he passed, which forever destroyed my faith in polygraphs.”132 Notwithstanding her certitude regarding the man’s guilt, Clinton negotiated a plea bargain for Taylor by taking advantage of a prosecutorial error — the prosecutors had cut out and examined the blood-covered section of Taylor’s underwear that proved his guilt, but then discarded the fabric, making it impossible for the defense to examine it. Because of this misstep, Clinton, confident that the prosecution would be unable to prove Taylor’s guilt, pushed for a plea bargain.133 In the aforementioned 1980s interview, Mrs. Clinton laughed as she recounted how the polygraph results were clearly erroneous, and how a forensic scientist from New York was prepared to testify that Taylor could not be convicted if the underwear fabric was no longer available. When Reed asked Clinton about the outcome of the case, she replied, nonchalantly, “Oh he plea bargained. Got him off with time served in the county jail, he’d been in the county jail about two months.”134 Subsequent to the Taylor trial, a Newsday examination of court files and investigative files revealed that Mrs. Clinton had also attacked the young victim’s character during the trial by calling into question her motives, her honesty, her temperament, and her ability to perceive reality — even though she knew with 100% certainty that her client was guilty.135 In a highly emotional June 2014 interview, Kathy Shelton accused Mrs. Clinton of intentionally lying about her in court documents and going to extraordinary lengths to discredit evidence of the rape. “Hillary Clinton took me through Hell,” Shelton said. “She lied like a dog on me. I think she was trying to do whatever she could do to make herself look good at the time…. She wanted it to look good, she didn’t care if those guys [Taylor and an accomplice] did it or not. Them two guys should have got a lot longer time [in prison]. I do not think justice was served at all.”136 But hey, who cares? At least Mrs. Clinton never engaged in crude, private trash talk that was recorded on tape. And all of her disparaging, condescending, hate-soaked, fiction-laced denunciations of her political rivals are delivered in measured, solemn, well-rehearsed tones. Plus, she deeply respects females, even young girls whose known rapists she defends in court, and whose trials she later recalls with self-satisfied bellows of laughter. This, then, is Hillary Clinton: a woman who is wholly, unequivocally unfit to serve as anything more than an inmate in a federal penitentiary. She has demonstrated, time and again: that she cannot, under any circumstances, be trusted with national security or state secrets; that she treats the paper on which the Espionage Act is written, with no more reverence than she would give to a strip of toilet paper; that she treats with similar disregard the paper on which the U.S. Constitution is written; that her judgment in matters of international conflict, diplomacy, and terrorism is an abomination; that she routinely uses her “charitable foundation” as a money-laundering operation designed to enrich herself under the guise of helping the needy; that she will gladly sell out her country, and everyone in it, in exchange for material riches and political dominion; the she is intent upon using the most irresponsible refugee and immigration policies imaginable to import countless millions of people from hostile, impoverished nations across the globe for one core purpose: to permanently transform the American population into one that will vote reliably Democrat from now until the end of time; that she fully intends to purge the Second Amendment from the Bill of Rights; that she unequivocally plans to expand the disastrous, failing Obamacare debacle into an even more monstrous, government-run, single-payer healthcare system; that she favors soft-on-crime policies that have repeatedly been shown to cause violent crime rates to skyrocket; that she is perfectly willing to institutionalize massive, ubiquitous voter fraud because she believes that it will ensure additional power for her political party; that she views white Americans as a whole, as inherently, “implicitly,”137 and “irredeemably”138 racist, and therefore in constant need of an all-powerful government to restrain their bigoted impulses; that despite her professed aversion to racism in general, she is quite happy to ally herself with “politically correct” racists like Al Sharpton and the Black Lives Matter movement; and that she opposes the imposition of any restrictions whatsoever on abortion rights, or on the government’s power to force taxpayers to fund abortions. In the final analysis, Hillary Clinton is a woman with a mindset that is totalitarian in every respect. To make matters worse, she is a lying, deceiving, manipulative, self-absorbed criminal without a shred of personal virtue. Truly it can be said that never before in American history has anyone so unfit and so undeserving, run for president. Never. 1 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2976803/Hillary-Clinton-used-unsecured-personal-email-account-four-years-Secretary-State-aides-decided-correspondence-hand-public-record.html; http://www.truthrevolt.org/commentary/hillary-cover-and-end-democracy; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2980005/What-Hillary-wants-Hillary-gets-former-Secretary-State-homebrew-email-server-set-amid-no-questions-asked-atmosphere.html 2Ibid.; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2976803/Hillary-Clinton-used-unsecured-personal-email-account-four-years-Secretary-State-aides-decided-correspondence-hand-public-record.html; https://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/hillary-clinton-only-used-personal-email-while-secretary-of#.ju9JQN6YO; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2997193/Hillary-s-email-gate-linked-whistle-blower-s-description-State-Department-boiler-room-operation-set-hide-documents-Benghazi.html 3 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hillary-clinton-phones-secretary-state-now/story?id=29535505 4 http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/cnn-anchor-visibly-deflated-when-networks-own-fact-checker-confirms-hillary-phones-destroyed; https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/09/03/fbi-files-clinton-aide-smashed-hillarys-old-phones-with-a-hammer/ 5 http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2016/03/02/hillary-emails-final-score-n2126822 6 http://www.wsj.com/articles/clintons-email-evasions-1438902775 7 http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/margaret-knapp/levin-sect-793-penal-code-what-hillary-clinton-has-worry-about 8 http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2016/01/22/gates-odds-are-high-russia-china-iran-accessed-clintons-server-n2108570 9 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-millions-to-foundation-while-clinton-was-at-state-dept/2015/02/25/31937c1e-bc3f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html 10 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clintons-raised-nearly-2-billion-for-foundation-since-2001/2015/02/18/b8425d88-a7cd-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html 11 http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=33486 12 Ibid. 13 http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/263747/bill-clinton-got-millions-sharia-education-network-daniel-greenfield 14 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chinese-company-pledged-2-million-to-clinton-foundation-in-2013/ 15 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-millions-to-foundation-while-clinton-was-at-state-dept/2015/02/25/31937c1e-bc3f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html; http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/17/money-from-brunei-reached-clinton-foundation-coffers.html 16 http://nypost.com/2015/04/20/book-claims-foreign-cash-made-bill-and-hillary-filthy-rich/; http://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2015/05/26/clintons-state-department-approved-weapons-deals-to-governments-who-made-donations-to-their-foundation-n2003917/print 17 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3756447/Hillary-camp-launches-desperate-cherry-picking-defense-calendars-reveal-Clinton-Foundation-donors-got-face-time-secretary-state.html 18 http://www.ibtimes.com/clinton-foundation-donors-got-weapons-deals-hillary-clintons-state-department-1934187 19 http://thefederalist.com/2015/03/02/the-u-s-constitution-actually-bans-hillarys-foreign-government-payola/ 20 http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/04/27/report-only-6-clinton-foundation-expenditures-go-to-charity/ 21 http://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-will-teach-iran-to-thwart-nuke-threats/; http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/07/17/7-devastating-facts-about-obamas-iran-nuclear-deal/; http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/07/17/7-devastating-facts-about-obamas-iran-nuclear-deal/ 25 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=1755 26 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/12/riot-after-anti-islam-film-u-s-ambassador-to-libya-killed.html 29 http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2013/01/rand-paul-hillary-clinton-benghazi-transcript-failure-of-leadership-inexcusable-i-would-have-relieved-you-of-duty-2565884.html 30 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/world/middleeast/arms-airlift-to-syrian-rebels-expands-with-cia-aid.html?_r=0; http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/rand-paul-hillarys-benghazi-story-unraveling/?cat_orig=politics 31 http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/07/julian-assange-hacked-emails-include-info-hillarys-arming-jihadists-including-isis-syria/ 32 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/05/doj-abruptly-drops-case-against-gun-runner-who-threatened-to-reveal-clintons-libya-dealings.html 33 http://ijr.com/2014/09/178074-former-state-department-official-claims-benghazi-cover/ 34 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6175; http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6386 35 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2557; http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7749; http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7750 36 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2556; http://www.shoebat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Abedin_Affairs_with_Al_Saud_081312.pdf 37 https://pjmedia.com/andrewmccarthy/2012/08/09/our-government-and-the-muslim-brotherhood-my-speech-in-washington/?singlepage=true; https://pjmedia.com/andrewmccarthy/2012/07/27/huma-abedins-brotherhood-ties-are-not-just-a-family-affair/?print=1 39 http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2013/02/08/nov-3-2011-letter-from-john-brennan-capitulating-to-muslim-complaints-against-fbi/; http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-releases-new-special-report-u-s-government-purges-of-law-enforcement-training-material-deemed-offensive-to-muslims/; http://www.investigativeproject.org/3902/obama-cia-nominee-john-brennan-wrong-for-the-job 40 http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2013/02/08/nov-3-2011-letter-from-john-brennan-capitulating-to-muslim-complaints-against-fbi/ 41 http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/291737/guess-who-decides-what-fbi-agents-get-learn-about-islam-andrew-c-mccarthy 42 http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/13/fbi-called-off-investigation-of-orlando-shooter-because-they-thought-his-coworkers-were-racist/ 43 http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/08/12/fact-check-obama-hillary-founders-isis-bet/ 44 http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/does-death-isis-2-man-mean-we%E2%80%99re-winning; https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/18/fivefold-increase-terrorism-fatalities-global-index; http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2015-global-terrorism-index-deaths-from-terrorism-increased-80-last-year-to-the-highest-level-ever-global-economic-cost-of-terrorism-reached-all-time-high-at-us529-billion-550766811.html 45 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/11/obama-adjusts-iraq-narrative-now-blames-george-w-b/; http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/15/obama-ignored-generals-pleas-to-keep-american-forc/ 46 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/15/obama-ignored-generals-pleas-to-keep-american-forc/ 47 http://www.weeklystandard.com/obamas-2012-debate-boast-i-didnt-want-to-leave-any-troops-in-iraq/article/802219 48 http://www.nationalreview.com/node/396097/print 49 http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/06/16/clinton-was-leading-champion-iraq-withdrawal 50 http://www.today.com/id/16267456/ns/today/t/sen-clinton-opposes-troop-surge-iraq/#.V_aVtOArKUl 51 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jan/17/usa.iraq1 52 http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/08/23/democrats-strategize-on-how-to-cast-us-troop-surge-in-iraq-as-failure.html 53 http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-spars-with-petraeus-on-credibility/62426/ 54 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/The%20Greatest%20Story%20Never%20Told.html 55 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2535513/Former-defense-secretary-says-Hillary-Obama-admitted-staking-Iraq-policy-2008-presidential-campaign-based-election-politics.html 56 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/national-security/ 57 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-nuclear-arsenal-is-ready-for-overhaul/2012/09/15/428237de-f830-11e1-8253-3f495ae70650_story.html 58 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/9/obamas-false-start/ 59 http://townhall.com/columnists/phyllisschlafly/2010/05/25/obama_starts_to_disarm_america 60 http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-usa-palestinians-envoy-idUSTRE62E11O20100315 61 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7457; http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/clinton-i-spent-years-urging-israel-to-apologize-to-turkey——.aspx?pageID=238&nID=88276&NewsCatID=358 62 http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/239433/hillarys-hand-hamas-terror-tunnels-moshe-phillips 64 https://www.rt.com/usa/334400-hillary-clinton-libya-role/ 65 http://nationalinterest.org/feature/hillarys-huge-libya-disaster-16600 66 http://fpif.org/four-years-after-gaddafi-libya-is-a-failed-state/ 67 https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/13493.19.0.0/world/terrorism/hundreds-of-islamic-state-terrorists-move-into-libya 68 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/combating-terrorism/ 69 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-u-s-should-take-65000-syrian-refugees/ 70 http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/isis-smuggler-we-will-use-refugee-crisis-to-infiltrate-west/ 71 http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/30/obamas-deputies-invite-1500-foreigners-known-terror-links-u-s/ 72 https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2016/08/22/report-30k-illegal-immigrants-came-from-countries-of-terrorist-concern/ 73 http://www.wnd.com/2015/02/syrian-refugee-program-called-back-door-for-jihadists/ 74 http://dailycaller.com/2015/10/21/fbi-director-admits-us-cant-vet-all-syrian-refugees-for-terror-ties-video/; http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/28/james-comey-warns-coming-terrorist-diaspora-democr/ 75 http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/jeh-johnson-we-dont-know-whole-lot-about-syrian-refugees-coming-us-through 76 http://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2016/06/17/cia-director-warns-that-isis-is-intensifying-global-attacks-n2179920 77 http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/study-finds-more-immigrants-equals-more-democrats-and-more-losses-for-gop/article/2547220 78 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/immigration-reform/ 79 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3068468/Clinton-discuss-immigration-reform-Nevada.html 80 http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/15/flashback-obama-said-he-wouldnt-do-executive-order-on-deportations-weve-got-three-branches-of-government/ 81 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hillary-clinton-reveals-plans-immigration-reform/story?id=30812123 82 http://www.ojjpac.org/sanctuary.asp; http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/06/us/san-francisco-killing-sanctuary-cities/; http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/oct/8/number-of-sanctuary-cities-grows-to-340-thousands-/ 83 http://www.ojjpac.org/sanctuary.asp; http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2015/10/sanctuary-cities-ignore-ice-orders-to-free-9295-alien-criminals/ 84 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/clinton-campaign-sanctuary-cities-can-help-public-safety-n389186 85 http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/wikileaks-dump-hillary-dreams-open-trade-open-borders/ 86 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/gun-violence-prevention/; http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Hillary_Clinton_Gun_Control.htm; http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/26/most-americans-disagree-clinton-suing-gun-makers/ 87 http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/06/05/hillary-clinton-plan-abolish-second-amendment/ 88 http://bearingarms.com/bob-o/2015/10/16/hillary-clinton-gun-ban-confiscation-plot-worth-considering/ 89 http://reason.com/blog/2015/03/09/how-to-count-the-defensive-use-of-guns; http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2003/04/10/duncan3/ 90 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/ 91 https://www.youtube.com/embed/_o65vMUk5so 92 http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2016/07/28/overwhelming-evidence-that-obamacare-caused-premiums-to-increase-substantially/#400f015646e3 95 http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2015/12/08/obamacare-premiums-are-on-the-rise-but-dont-blame-insurers/#ae0a6ce8d5ee 96 http://dailycaller.com/2016/09/20/obamacare-imploding-clinton-pushes-for-complete-govt-take-over-of-health-care/ 99 http://dailycaller.com/2016/09/20/obamacare-imploding-clinton-pushes-for-complete-govt-take-over-of-health-care/; https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/ 100 Sally C. Pipes, The Truth About Obamacare (2010), Kindle Edition, Loc. 1731-33. 101 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/ 102 http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa-613.pdf 103 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/feed/hillary-clinton-has-spent-her-life-fighting-for-children-here-are-8-ways-shes-changed-their-lives/ 104 http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Hillary_Clinton_Education.htm 105 http://www.aei.org/publication/turning-the-tides-president-obama-and-education-reform/ 106 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/criminal-justice-reform/ 107 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903753.html; http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm 108 http://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2016.html; http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm 109 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/feed/its-time-end-era-mass-incarceration/ 110 http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/201302/hillary-clinton-racial-demagogue-matthew-vadum 111 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/us/politics/hillary-clinton-says-republican-rivals-try-to-stop-young-and-minority-voters.html; http://www.nbcnews.com/video/now/52744828#52744828 112 http://www.npr.org/2012/02/14/146827471/study-1-8-million-dead-people-still-registered-to-vote 113 http://www.wral.com/state-elections-officials-seek-tighter-security/13533579/ 114 http://ijr.com/2014/04/126263-think-theres-no-voter-fraud-dead-voters-in-nc/ 115 http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/york-when-1099-felons-vote-in-race-won-by-312-ballots/article/2504163; http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2010/07/20/al-franken-may-have-won-his-senate-seat-through-voter-fraud 116 https://ballotpedia.org/Dead_people_voting; http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/2006/10/30/boo-dead-voters-casting-ballots-from-the-grave-in-new-york/ 117 http://sweetness-light.com/archive/fund-voter-fraud-in-milwaukee-in-2004 118 http://dailycaller.com/2011/01/12/acorn-leader-avoids-prison-for-voter-fraud-conspiracy/ 119http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/08/trumps_2nd_amendment_people_vs_hillarys_activists.html 120 http://thehill.com/homenews/house/153079-gop-says-5000-non-citizens-voting-in-colorado-a-wake-up-call-for-states 121 http://www.redstate.com/aarongardner/2012/09/04/colorado-counties-have-more-voters-than-people/ 122 http://www.stentorian.com/MoveOn/sharpton.html 123 http://nypost.com/2016/04/14/hillary-clinton-sings-al-sharptons-praises/; https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/updates/2016/04/13/hillary-clinton-delivers-remarks-at-national-action-network/ 124 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eCraUvIq-s 125 http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7876 126 http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/hillary-clinton-partial-birth-ban 127 https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2015/09/a-comprehensive-guide-to-planned-parenthood-funding 128 http://www.lifenews.com/2016/09/30/hillary-clinton-vows-to-repeal-hyde-amendment-and-force-americans-to-fund-abortions/ 129 https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Village-Tenth-Anniversary/dp/1416540644 130 https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/campus-sexual-assault/ 131 http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/16/tapes-reveal-hillary-clinton-discussing-her-defense-of-child-rapist-video/; http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/20/exclusive-hillary-clinton-took-me-through-hell-rape-victim-says.html; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3729466/Child-rape-victim-comes-forward-time-40-years-call-Hillary-Clinton-liar-defended-rapist-smearing-blocking-evidence-callously-laughing-knew-guilty.html; 132 Ibid. 137 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/3/hillary-clintons-implicit-bias/ 138 http://www.nationalreview.com/article/439985/hillary-clinton-deplorable-remark Hillary Clinton caught on tape mocking millenials living in parents’ basement, wanting free college October 1, 2016 sooth·say·er By Thomas Lifson Hillary Clinton was secretly recorded at a fundraiser for wealthy donors mocking and condescending to the millennials who backed Bernie Sanders. The recording and transcripts were released by The Intercept, a site financially backed by Pierre Omidyar, and edited by Glenn Greenwald, both left wingers. But evidently the spectacle if Hillary Clinton telling rich people the youngsters are naïve and free college is impractical, while currently touting free college to them on the campaign trail, is just too much to bear. Clinton has been inconsistent in the past about espousing political labels. She has at times touted herself as stalwart liberal. For instance, she said last July: “I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record in standing up and fighting for progressive values.” But a few months later, she told a group in Ohio: “You know, I get accused of being kind of moderate and center. I plead guilty.” The recording, apparently coming from a hacked email, was first released by theFree Beacon, which focused on Hillary opposing an upgrade of our nuclear forces. But, significant though that may be in substance, politically, the mockery of millenials is far more potent. For example: CLINTON: It is important to recognize what’s going on in this election. Everybody who’s ever been in an election that I’m aware of is quite bewildered because there is a strain of, on the one hand, the kind of populist, nationalist, xenophobic, discriminatory kind of approach that we hear too much of from the Republican candidates. And on the other side, there’s just a deep desire to believe that we can have free college, free healthcare, that what we’ve done hasn’t gone far enough, and that we just need to, you know, go as far as, you know, Scandinavia, whatever that means, and half the people don’t know what that means, but it’s something that they deeply feel. So as a friend of mine said the other day, I am occupying from the center-left to the center-right. And I don’t have much company there. Because it is difficult when you’re running to be president, and you understand how hard the job is — I don’t want to overpromise. I don’t want to tell people things that I know we cannot do. Listen. CLINTON: Some are new to politics completely. They’re children of the Great Recession. And they are living in their parents’ basement. They feel they got their education and the jobs that are available to them are not at all what they envisioned for themselves. And they don’t see much of a future. I met with a group of young black millennials today and you know one of the young women said, “You know, none of us feel that we have the job that we should have gotten out of college. And we don’t believe the job market is going to give us much of a chance.” So that is a mindset that is really affecting their politics. And so if you’re feeling like you’re consigned to, you know, being a barista, or you know, some other job that doesn’t pay a lot, and doesn’t have some other ladder of opportunity attached to it, then the idea that maybe, just maybe, you could be part of a political revolution is pretty appealing. So I think we should all be really understanding of that and should try to do the best we can not to be, you know, a wet blanket on idealism. We want people to be idealistic. We want them to set big goals. But to take what we can achieve now and try to present them as bigger goals.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2524
__label__wiki	0.896433	0.896433	Construction starts on models of proposed Mexico border wallhttps://indianexpress.com/article/world/construction-starts-on-models-of-proposed-mexico-border-wall-4863071/ Construction starts on models of proposed Mexico border wall Funding to extend the wall beyond its distance of 654 miles (1,046 kilometers) is in doubt. Democrats have balked at Trump's $1.6 billion request to replace 14 miles (22 kilometers) in San Diego and build 60 miles (96 kilometers) in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. By AP \|San Diego \| Updated: September 27, 2017 8:29:36 am Explained: Trump’s immigrant policy; what the ICE planned, and why Donald Trump and Democrats clash over President’s ‘racist’ tweets Republicans offer little criticism of Trump’s comments on Democratic Congresswomen The administration faces several federal lawsuits in San Diego that seek to block the prototypes and plans to replace existing barriers in California. (AP Photo) Federal contractors on Tuesday began building protewotypes of President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, hitting a milestone toward a key campaign pledge. Construction of eight models in a remote area of San Diego is about three months behind schedule, held up by losing bidders whose protests were eventually denied. A green tarp hanging on a chain-link fence blocked views of the work, which is expected to last 30 days. Customs and Border Protection may pick several winners, or none. Roy Villarreal, acting chief of the Border Patrol’s San Diego sector, said another contractor will evaluate each model, which will be up to 30 feet (9 meters) high and 30 feet long. “It may not result in a singular winner. It may be a combination of designs being implemented,” Villarreal told reporters next to existing border fencing. As agents prepared for the news conference, a Mexican man breached the fence, cut his hand and was arrested. The construction site is about 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of San Diego’s Otay Mesa border crossing at the end of steel-mesh fence that runs from the Pacific Ocean. San Diego police and the county sheriff’s department have helped set up a “free speech zone” nearby for people to demonstrate. Villarreal said he knew of no organized plans to protest. Bidding documents say four of the prototypes are to be solid concrete and four are to be made of “other materials.” Trump said Friday that the wall should be see-through, apparently at odds with the initial instructions for solid concrete. Villarreal said the concrete designs would be built with openings to allow agents to see across the border. The administration faces several federal lawsuits in San Diego that seek to block the prototypes and plans to replace existing barriers in California. A complaint filed last week by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, largely mirrors two others by environmental advocacy groups that allege the administration overstepped its authority to speed up construction of the wall. At issue is a 2005 law that gave the Homeland Security secretary broad powers to waive dozens of laws for border barriers, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act. The lawsuits say that authority has expired. The administration has not commented directly on the lawsuits. It has issued two waivers since August, the first ones since 2008, on grounds of national security. Both waivers are in California, including one that covers the site of prototype construction. Funding to extend the wall beyond its distance of 654 miles (1,046 kilometers) is in doubt. Democrats have balked at Trump’s $1.6 billion request to replace 14 miles (22 kilometers) in San Diego and build 60 miles (96 kilometers) in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Caddell Construction Co. of Montgomery, Alabama, and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. of Philadelphia, Mississippi, were awarded contracts to build one wall of concrete and one of other materials. Other contracts for concrete prototypes went to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. of Tempe, Arizona, and Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston. Contracts for prototypes of other materials were awarded to KWR Construction Inc. of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and ELTA North America Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Maryland. Mexico Border Wall 1 Spain targets polling stations as Catalan referendum nears 2 Cuba warns US against hasty decisions in mysterious illness in diplomats	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2526
__label__wiki	0.893374	0.893374	Kingdom: Real-life inspiration behind the Netflix series – and where it was filmed The action for the zombie thriller takes place in the Joseon dynasty - here's where it was filmed and more history behind the show The zombie-thriller has been a hit (Photo: Netflix) Laura Martin 5 months Tuesday February 5th 2019 Demi Lovato has apologised for laughing at 21 Savage memes Where is Stranger Things filmed? Season 3 filming locations around Atlanta for Netflix series Why did Sherif Lanre leave Love Island 2019? Thieves raid pensioners allotment and steal his food for winter When is the Steam summer sale 2019? Start and end dates, and the best deals to look out for When is the Love Island 2019 final? As rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine faces life for murder - here's his plea deal In January, one of the first Korean productions to stream on Netflix became a huge hit. Kingdom is a zombie-thriller set in the Joseon (medieval) period of Korea, and the story follows the crown prince, who is sent a mission to find out more about the plague that’s decimating his country – and why it’s causing the undead to feast on other humans. When can we expect series 2 of Kingdom? But what is the historical truth behind the series and what is the real ‘kingdom’ of ancient Korea? Here’s your need-to-know about the background of the show: The production crew detailing the era The eight-part series is written by Kim Eun-hee and directed by Kim Seong-hun. Also playing a vital role in the production is designer Lee Hwo-kyoung. He told Variety that recreating the exact Joseon dynasty look was important: “In some cases the view of the Asian culture can be limited to China and Japan.” Costume designer Kwon Yoo-jin added: “We wanted to emphasise the unique beauty, delicacy and colours of [Korea], but at the same time, show the common people’s everyday life filled with struggle and sweat.” The city of Hanyang (Seoul) Hangyang – known today as Seoul – forms one of the main settings for the story. Authentic locations were used as a backdrop for the film, including Gyeongbokgung Palace (in Northern Seoul) which was the main royal venue for the Joseon era, and was built in 1395. The maze-like structure inside the palace is also meant to signify the city of Hanyang, and what it was like at that time. Gyeongbokgung Palace (Photo: Wikipedia / Creative Commons: Mammique) Gyotaejeon Hall was where the queen stayed at this time in history. The colours used for her many chambers were of Sipjangsaeng, traditional Korean illustrations that highlight 10 symbols of longevity. The queen’s vitality and energy is reflected in this design work, as well as lucid decor and vibrant colours of the rest of her space in the hall. For the king’s hall – Gangnyeongjeon – it had to take on much more of a darker, enigmatic tone. Hwo-kyoung said: “It’s a place where bad things have been done to the king and where he’s imprisoned. We expressed emotions there by combining controlled light with the colour and weight of dark, old trees.” The Joseon period (1392 – 1897) The Joseon dynasty was a Korean kingdom that lasted for almost five centuries, from 1392 to 1897. It was founded following the aftermath of the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. Joseon was the last dynasty of Korea and its longest-ruling Confucian dynasty. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul. There were problems for the kingdom in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when they had to cope with the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s and the first and second Manchu invasions, which lead to an isolationist policy, and the country became called the “hermit kingdom” in Western literature. The Joseon period has left a substantial legacy to modern Korea as great advances and explorations in art and culture occurred in this time. A lot of Korean culture and etiquette was developed in this era, and remains the same in the country today. The modern Korean language, its dialects and Korea’s majority ethnic group, which refer to themselves as the “Joseon people”, all come from the culture and traditions of the Joseon dynasty. Writer Eun-hee told Soompi.com that she chose this point in history to set her film in to reflect the hunger and the problems of the time: “People are scared when they think of zombies. But I thought they were sad beings with a remaining strong instinct to eat. “I thought that if you take the ‘epidemic disease,’ which is very contagious, and bring it to the miserable Joseon Dynasty, there could be an ironic story.” Clothing of the era South Korean series Kingdom was released on Netflix in January (Photo: Netflix) As with many monarchies throughout the world and throughout history, colours were highly important and signified status. Yoo-jin explained to Variety: “Red and black were the colours most difficult to produce using Joseon dyeing techniques. It’s why they’re considered royal.” The hierarchy of the court at that time was also shown in the series through their traditional costume. The Sanggung – high-ranking ladies-in-waiting – wore green tops with a red trim and and long, flowing aquamarine skirts. The Joseon royal guard, the Naegeumwi, wore purple military garments called Cheollik, topped with a Joorip, or a blood-red hat. Scholars were robed in white as a symbol of purity and integrity, while the lower-class public were dressed in off-whites, browns and greys. Kingdom has been renewed for a second series (Photo: Netflix) The Treaty of Shimonoseki (17 April 1895), officially guaranteed Korea’s independence from China. The Joseon court felt the need to reinforce national integrity and declared the Korean Empire, along with the Gwangmu Reform in 1897. King Gojong assumed the title of Emperor in order to assert Korea’s independence. Technically, 1897 marks the end of the Joseon period, as the official name of the empire was changed; however the Joseon Dynasty would still reign, although with advancements by Japan and Russia. More television Here's who had to leave the Love Island 2019 villa tonight Stargazing: Moon Landing Special 'captured our childlike wonder' Nadiya's Time to Eat is 'delightful' and proves she's heir to Nigella Tommy Fury is a pro boxer – but how good actually is he? Where is Love Island 2019 filmed?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2528
__label__wiki	0.741111	0.741111	The two kinds of stories we tell about ourselves Jan 12, 2017 / Emily Esfahani Smith We’ve all created our own personal histories, marked by highs and lows, that we share with the world — and we can shape them to live with more meaning and purpose. We are all storytellers — all engaged, as the anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson puts it, in an “act of creation” of the “composition of our lives.” Yet unlike most stories we’ve heard, our lives don’t follow a predefined arc. Our identities and experiences are constantly shifting, and storytelling is how we make sense of it. By taking the disparate pieces of our lives and placing them together into a narrative, we create a unified whole that allows us to understand our lives as coherent — and coherence, psychologists say, is a key source of meaning. Northwestern University psychologist Dan McAdams is an expert on a concept he calls “narrative identity.” McAdams describes narrative identity as an internalized story you create about yourself — your own personal myth. Like myths, our narrative identity contains heroes and villains that help us or hold us back, major events that determine the plot, challenges overcome and suffering we have endured. When we want people to understand us, we share our story or parts of it with them; when we want to know who another person is, we ask them to share part of their story. An individual’s life story is not an exhaustive history of everything that has happened. Rather, we make what McAdams calls “narrative choices.” Our stories tend to focus on the most extraordinary events, good and bad, because those are the experiences we need to make sense of and that shape us. But our interpretations may differ. For one person, for example, a childhood experience like learning how to swim by being thrown into the water by a parent might explain his sense of himself today as a hardy entrepreneur who learns by taking risks. For another, that experience might explain why he hates boats and does not trust authority figures. A third might leave the experience out of his story altogether, deeming it unimportant. People who believe their lives are meaningful tend to tell stories defined by growth, communion and agency. McAdams has been studying narrative identity for over 30 years. In his interviews, he asks research subjects to divide their lives into chapters and to recount key scenes, such as a high point, a low point, a turning point or an early memory. He encourages participants to think about their personal beliefs and values. Finally, he asks them to reflect on their story’s central theme. He has discovered interesting patterns in how people living meaningful lives understand and interpret their experiences. People who are driven to contribute to society and to future generations, he found, are more likely to tell redemptive stories about their lives, or stories that transition from bad to good. There was the man who grew up in dire poverty but told McAdams that his hard circumstances brought him and his family closer together. There was the woman who told him that caring for a close friend as the friend was dying was a harrowing experience, but one that ultimately renewed her commitment to being a nurse, a career she’d abandoned. These people rate their lives as more meaningful than those who tell stories that have either no or fewer redemptive sequences. The opposite of a redemptive story is what McAdams calls a “contamination story,” in which people interpret their lives as going from good to bad. One woman told him the story of the birth of her child, a high point, but she ended the story with the death of the baby’s father, who was murdered three years later. The joy over the birth of her child was tainted by that tragedy. People who tell contamination stories, McAdams has found, are less “generative,” or less driven to contribute to society and younger generations. They also tend to be more anxious and depressed, and to feel that their lives are less coherent compared to those who tell redemptive stories. Redemption and contamination stories are just two kinds of tales we spin. McAdams has found that beyond stories of redemption, people who believe their lives are meaningful tend to tell stories defined by growth, communion and agency. These stories allow individuals to craft a positive identity: they are in control of their lives, they are loved, they are progressing through life and whatever obstacles they have encountered have been redeemed by good outcomes. Even making smaller story edits to our personal narratives can have a big impact on our lives. One of the great contributions of psychology and psychotherapy research is the idea that we can edit, revise and interpret the stories we tell about our lives even as we are constrained by the facts. A psychotherapist’s job is to work with patients to rewrite their stories in a more positive way. Through editing and reinterpreting his story with his therapist, the patient may come to realize that he is in control of his life and that some meaning can be gleaned from his hardships. A review of the scientific literature finds that this form of therapy is as effective as antidepressants or cognitive behavioral therapy. Even making smaller story edits can have a big impact on our lives. So found Adam Grant and Jane Dutton in a study published in 2012. The researchers asked university call-center fundraisers to keep a journal for four consecutive days. In one condition, the beneficiary condition, the researchers asked the fundraisers to write about the last time a colleague did something for them that inspired gratitude. In the second condition, the benefactor condition, the participants wrote about a time they contributed to others at work. The researchers wanted to know which type of story would lead the research subjects to be more generous. To find out, they monitored the fundraisers’ call records. Since the fundraisers were paid a fixed hourly rate to call alumni and solicit donations, the researchers reasoned, then the number of calls they made during their shift was a good indicator of prosocial, helping behavior. After Grant and Dutton analyzed the stories, they found that fundraisers who told a story of themselves as benefactors ultimately made 30 percent more calls to alumni after the experiment than they had before. Those who told stories about being the beneficiary of generosity showed no changes in their behavior. Grant and Dutton’s study suggests that the ability of a story to create meaning does not end with the crafting of the tale. The stories the benefactors told about themselves ultimately led to meaningful behaviors — giving their time in the service of a larger cause. Even though the fundraisers knew they were only telling their stories as part of a study, they ultimately “lived by” those stories, as McAdams would put it. By subtly reframing their narrative, they adopted a positive identity that led them to live more purposefully. Excerpted from the new book The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith. Published in the United States by Crown, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. Copyright © 2017 By Emily Esfahani Smith. Reprinted with permission. Emily Esfahani Smith has an MA in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She writes about cultures, relationships and psychology for the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, the New York Times and other publications. FRESH IDEAS IN YOUR INBOX TED Talk of the Day Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head Tired of procrastinating? To overcome it, take the time to understand it The short list: 24 books, each under 200 pages, as recommended by TED speakers TED’s giant summer reading list: Books to open right now “How do I write stuff that feels true and will connect other people?": a Q & A with Jonny Sun I wrote a haiku every day for a week -- here's what I learned Caring for a loved one is hard work -- 6 ways you can fight burnout Learning to fly: how a hospital stay helped Nnedi Okorafor find herself as a writer How to raise kids without rigid gender stereotypes How to excel at the moments that matter in life: Think like an actor 6 dos and don'ts for next-level slides, from a TED presentation expert Think retirement is smooth sailing? A look at its potential effects on the brain How do good leaders give advice? The short answer: They don't Never take a bad work day home again, using these 3 steps What's the most satisfying job in the world? You'd be surprised What a difference a word can make: How a single word can change your conversation The art of storytelling, according to the founders of StoryCorps and Humans of New York The best way to get a book deal? Write a story 19 million people want to read TED Talks Usage Policy Advertising / Partnership TED.com Terms of Use © TED Conferences, LLC Powered by WordPress.com VIP	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2531
__label__cc	0.510522	0.489478	Supreme Court Clarifies the Law on CTL Calculation in Marine Insurance On June 15, 2019 By Professor Baris SoyerIn Insurance Law, Marine Insurance Law The Swedish Club v Connect Shipping (The MV Renos) [2019] UKSC 29 Under s. 60(2)(ii) of the Marine Insurance Act (MIA) 1906, there is constructive total loss (CTL) when the insured ship is damaged by a peril it’s insured against and the cost of repairing said damage would exceed the insured value of the ship when repaired. In estimating the cost of repairs for the purposes of this provision, it has been held by Knowles, J, [2016] EWHC 1580 (Comm) that i) the costs incurred prior to the date of notice of abandonment and ii) the costs of salvage operations performed before the notice of abandonment, including sums payable under the SCOPIC clause, should be taken into account. The underwriters’ appeal to the Court of Appeal on these points was rejected unanimously [2018] EWCA Civ 230 (per Hamblen, LJ, with whom Simon, LJ and Sir Geoffrey Vos C agreed). In a previous case note, the author was critical of the Court of Appeal’s reasoning, especially with regard to the second point, i.e. taking into account SCOPIC expenses incurred before the notice of abandonment in estimating the cost of repairs. The Supreme Court (composed of Lords Sumption, Reed, Hodge, Kitchin and Lloyd Jones) allowed the appeal on this ground holding that SCOPIC charges cannot be considered as part of the “cost of repairing the damage” under s. 60(2)(ii) of the MIA 1906 (or the “cost of recovery and/or repair” under clause 19.2 of the Institute Hull Clauses). The Supreme Court stressed that the primary purpose of SCOPIC expenditure is to protect owners’ potential liability for environmental pollution not to enable the ship to be repaired. Hence, such expenditure is not connected with the damage to the hull or its hypothetical reinstatement and the mere fact that a prudent uninsured owner would have contracted with the same contractors for both prevention of environmental pollution and protection of the property does not make them indivisible. The author believes that the Supreme Court’s decision on this issue is intuitive and makes sense. On the issue of whether expenses incurred prior to the notice of abandonment should count towards the calculation of a CTL under s. 60(2)(ii) of the MIA 1906, the Supreme Court rejecting the submission of the underwriters, affirmed the findings of the lower courts. The Supreme Court approached the matter with reference to basic principles of insurance law indicating that several older judgements on the matter (in particular Hall v. Hayman (1912) 17 Comm Cases 81 and The Medina Princess [1965] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 361) lacked reasoning and legal argument. Taking into account the objective character of the factual enquiry of whether a vessel is a CTL and the fact that in marine insurance context the loss is suffered at the time of the casualty, the Supreme Court was adamant that the reference to “damage” in s. 60(2)(ii) was in fact reference to the entire damage arising from the casualty from the moment that it happened. Therefore, it cannot make any difference when costs are incurred, i.e. pre or post notice of abandonment. On that premise, the Supreme Court evaluated whether this principle might be affected by the legal requirement for a notice of abandonment but reached the conclusion that it is not. At the commencement of litigation, it was agreed by the parties that, to be declared a CTL under s. 60 of the MIA 1906, the repair costs needed to be in excess of US$ 8 million. The matter in the light of the Supreme Court judgment will be remitted to the trial judge to determine whether the vessel had been a CTL and what financial consequences would follow from that. constructive total lossmarine insurancemarine insurance actmedina princessmia 1906MV RenosscopicSwedish Club v Connect Shipping 15TH ANNUAL COLLOQUIUM OF THE IISTL, SWANSEA UNI Targets, targets, targets. Climate change hots up.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2532
__label__wiki	0.974366	0.974366	Celebrities who were already rich before being famous - Fame goes often hand-in-hand with wealth. And while some of our favorite celebrities financially started out at the bottom, others grew up in well-to-do families and didn't really need to become famous for them to be called rich. Click through the gallery and take a look to famous people who were already wealthy before rising to stardom. Glenn Close - Glenn Close is the daughter of a respectable doctor. William Close was once the personal physician of former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mobutu Sese Seko. Michelle Williams - The Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams has a net worth of US$16 million, but her father is successful as well. Larry Richard Williams is an author, commodity trader, and politician. Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift's father comes from a line of bank presidents and also bought part of 'Big Machine Records,' the music label that signed Swift. The Kardashians - Long before they became famous because of Kim's sex tape, their father, Robert Kardashian, was already a wealthy and renowned lawyer. He was best known for defending O.J. Simpson. Paris Hilton - Paris caught the attention of the public with her 2003 sex tape, and when she later reinvented reality television with her show 'The Simple Life.' But the socialite certainly doesn't need all of that to support herself, since she was born loaded. Her great-grandfather, Conrad Hilton, is the founder of Hilton Hotels. Nicole Richie - Nicole Richie, born Nicole Camille Escovedo, was informally adopted by music icon Lionel Richie and Brenda Harvey when she was only two years old. They made the adoption official when Nicole turned nine. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lionel Richie's net worth is estimated around US$200 million. Lady Gaga - When we have Wi-Fi in hotels today, it is mainly thanks to Lady Gaga's dad. The 'A Star Is Born' star, who attended the prestigious Convent of the Sacred Heart Private Catholic School in Manhattan, is the daughter of Joseph Germanotta, the man who introduced the installation of Wi-Fi in hotels. Bella and Gigi Hadid - The gorgeous Hadid sisters come from one of the wealthiest families in the world. Their father, Mohamed Hadid, who is known for building luxury hotels, is a billionaire real estate developer. Their mother, Yolanda Hadid, is a former model. Rashida Jones - The last name Jones may not immediately ring a bell since there are plenty of people with the last name Jones in Hollywood. But the actress is the daughter of the one and only Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and composer. So saying that Rashida grew up in a "normal" upper middle-class family is an understatement. The Smith siblings - When your dad's name is Will Smith and your mom's is Jada Pinkett Smith, you're not just effortlessly cool, but you can also be sure that you'll be able to live a serene life. Although Jaden and Willow are both talented and have a singing career, they'll forever be "Will Smith and Jada Pinkett's children." Sorry! Ed Sheeran - Ed Sheeran is not the only artist in his family. His father is a successful art curator and lecturer, and his mother a jewelry maker. Both of them also own an affluent art consultancy called Sheeran Lock. Armie Hammer - Armie Hammer's great-grandfather was Armand Hammer, chief executive of Occidental Petroleum. The actor's father is also a businessman and philanthropist, so there's no doubt that he will inherit millions as well! Adam Levine - The Maroon 5 front man makes millions, but he could have lived a comfortable life even without being famous. His father, Fred Levine, is the founder of the retail chain Mr.Fredric. Ariana Grande - The 'Thank U, Next' singer was born to parents who both run successful businesses. Her father, Edward Butera, is a Florida-based graphic designer who ran a graphics design firm, and her mother, Joan Grande, is a chief executive officer. Miley Cyrus - Obviously Miley is not the only artist in her family. Her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has a net worth of US$20 million. Lana Del Rey - The singer, who once attended a US$48,000 boarding school, is the daughter of a real estate broker and CEO of Web Media Properties. Edward Norton - The actor's maternal grandfather, James Rouse, was a real estate developer and inventor of the shopping mall. He has also been widely recognized for creating the city of Columbia in Maryland. Jake Gyllenhaal - Jake Gyllenhaal already knew a lot about the film industry before being one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. His father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a successful film director. Kate and Rooney Mara - The sisters come from a wealthy family with a love for football. Their mother's family, The Rooneys, are the founders of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and their father's family founded the New York Giants. Also see: Celebrities with surprisingly stunning siblings. Sigourney Weaver - The actress is the daughter of the former president of NBC, Sylvester 'Pat' Weaver. Thanks to her father's financial situation, she could attend an elite private school and later go to Stanford University. Carly Simon - The American singer-songwriter also comes from a wealthy family. Her father, who is the co-founder of Simon & Schuster publishing house, was the son of a wealthy feather and silk manufacturer. Paul Giamatti - Giamatti's father, Angelo Bartlett Giamatti, was the president of Yale University from 1978 until 1986, and became the Commissioner of Major League Baseball in 1989, the year of his death. Chevy Chase - The 75-year-old actor had a comfortable childhood and went to a private school. His father was a magazine writer and book editor, while his mother was a librettist and concert pianist. Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The 'Veep' star comes from a family that makes big bucks. Her great-great-grandfather created the billion dollar company, Louis Dreyfus Group, a company worth US$3.4 billion, according to Forbes. Anderson Cooper - The primary anchor of 'Anderson Cooper 360°' descends from the Vanderbilt family. His mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, is a fashion designer and heiress. Robin Thicke - Thicke was far from being broke before becoming known to the public. He is the son of the famous actor Alan Thicke and the singer Gloria Loring. Psy - The 'Gangnam Style' singer was already rich before releasing the hit song that had over three billions views on YouTube. His father, Park Won-Ho, made a solid living as the chairman of the DI Corporation, a company that manufactures equipment for semiconductors and computer chips. His mother owns several restaurants in Gangnam, the neighborhood in which Psy grew up. Nick Kroll - The actor and comedian is the child of Jules B. Kroll, founder of the world's largest risk and security consultancy, Kroll Inc. His father's net worth is estimated around US$1.5 billion. Spike Jonze - Spike Jonze, born as Adam Spiegel, is the descendant of the founder of Spiegel Catalog and grandson of Arthur Spiegel, an American film studio executive. Nicola Peltz - The 24-year-old American actress doesn't really need to work for a living. Her father, Nelson Peltz, is a well-known billionaire businessman and investor. Matthias Schoenaerts - Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts is the son of actor Julien Schoenaerts. His late father is considered to be one of the greatest post-war actors in Flanders and the Netherlands. Balthazar Getty - The American actor and musician is a member of the Getty family (as the name suggests), and great-grandson of Jean Paul Getty, founder of the Getty Oil Company. Their extreme wealth is valued at over US$8 billion. Lily-Rose Depp - Lily-Rose Depp is making a name for herself and following in her famous parents' footsteps. But with a father who makes millions in Hollywood, no need to say that she was already born loaded. Want to find out more about her father? Check out some of the Hollywood Chameleon's best looks. These celebs were filthy rich before fame CELEBRITY Hollywood CELEBRITY Royals 13/03/19 Royal couples who have been divorced CELEBRITY k-pop 13/03/19 The story of Seungri and South Korean celebs with short careers CELEBRITY Facts 11/03/19 You won't believe the age gap between these celebrity couples! 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Stars who battled cancer CELEBRITY Kylie Jenner 06/03/19 How Kylie Jenner spends her fortune CELEBRITY Brie Larson 06/03/19 Brie Larson's evolution from teen pop star to Captain Marvel CELEBRITY Celebrity Interviews 06/03/19 The most explosive celebrity interviews of all time 30 things you probably didn't know about Kylie Jenner CELEBRITY Rachel Weisz 06/03/19 The best films of Rachel Weisz's career... so far! CELEBRITY actors 05/03/19 Actors you didn't know started out as models CELEBRITY Parenting Strict rules celebs have for their kids	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2535
__label__wiki	0.514468	0.514468	Recent Study Misses Big Picture in Evaluation of Top-Two Primary by Lucas Eaves in Civil Rights May 22, 2013 Last week, the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) invited Professor Gabriel Lenz to discuss his study on the impact of the top-two primary system in California. As a result of focusing solely on the election of more moderate candidates, the study does not offer a clear understanding of the consequences of the top-two primary. The study by Professor Lenz and the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) is trying to answer one question: Does the top-two primary help moderate candidates? The experiment was conducted during the June primaries with 2839 voters in districts where moderate candidates faced extreme candidates. At this stage of completion, the result of the experiment is that moderate candidates do not perform better under the top-two primary system than they did under the closed one. One of the main reasons for this result is most voters failed to distinguish extreme candidates from moderate ones. The results of this study, one of the only ones conducted during the 2012 elections, will likely please opponents of the top-two primary and fuel their arguments that Proposition 14 is a failure. However, before taking this result for granted, it is important to understand the limits inherent to studies such as this one. The IGS study only recorded voter behavior during the 2012 June primaries and was focused on one issue: the election of moderate candidates. By its nature, the study is unable to grasp the impact of the top-two primary in its entirety. First, by only looking at the June 2012 primaries, the study did not take into account the election of a number of moderate candidates in the November elections. A number of intra-party races ended in the favor of the more moderate candidate. Despite most of these candidates finishing second in their primaries, they managed to appeal to a broader audience in the general election. This led, for example, to Eric Swalwell‘s victory over long-time incumbent Pete Stark and Marc Levine’s win over Michael Allen, an incumbent who had the support of the Speaker of the Assembly. The supporters of 'top-two' also strongly believe the primary system will introduce much needed competition in state elections. Second, while it is true that electing more moderate candidates was one of the major arguments made in favor of the top-two primary, it was not the only one. Judging the success of the top-two primary only in the light of that criteria doesn’t reveal the big picture. Proponents of the top-two primary believe it is truly important for the democratic process to offer equal ballot access to everybody, regardless of party affiliation. This is a goal that cannot be measured with numbers, but is achieved simply by the use of the open, nonpartisan format. The supporters of “top-two” also strongly believe the primary system will introduce much needed competition in state elections. The nonpartisan primary system, combined with independent redistricting, resulted in California having the most competitive elections in the country in 2012. More importantly, in a state clearly dominated by the Democrats, the top-two primary has allowed a new type of competition to emerge: intra-party competition. While nobody can expect the Republicans to retake the upper hand in California anytime soon, increased competition among Democrats has the potential to significantly impact the state’s political landscape. For the upcoming 2014 elections, Ro Khanna, former Assistant Commerce Secretary and supported by Silicon Valley, is already challenging seven-term congressman Mike Honda, who is supported by President Obama, Nancy Polosi, and the whole Democratic establishment. More competitive races like this are expected to emerge within the next year. A few more election cycles will be needed to evaluate the true impact “top-two” has on California, but it would be denial to believe that nothing has changed. Read More Articles on Primaries 6 Legislative Efforts to Protect YOUR Right to Vote PODCAST: Will Californians Finally Get An Open Presidential Primary in 2020? OPINION: America Needs an Independent Presidential Primary in 2020 By Randy Fricke - May 9, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2538
__label__wiki	0.566702	0.566702	In a World of Tax Hells, a New Haven Emerges It’s not some half-baked attempt to create a new country. It’s the real deal. Best of all, it’s a country founded on staunch libertarian and free-market principles. But I don’t blame you if you’re skeptical. I was too. That is, until I spoke with Vit Jedlicka. Vit is the founder and president of Liberland. It’s a slice of land on the edge of Serbia, Croatia, and the Danube River. Neither country has ever claimed it due to a border quirk. Under international law, that opened up the opportunity for Liberland. Surprisingly, the reactions of Croatia and Serbia have been cordial instead of resistant. Vit is in the process of securing diplomatic recognition. More than 300,000 have applied for Liberland citizenship. Serious investors have indicated they’d immediately put tens of millions of dollars into the new country. Liberland has real momentum. Soon it could reach a tipping point. This is why I reached out to Vit. You’ll find our discussion below. INTERNATIONALMAN.com Nick Giambruno: Tell us a bit about your background Vit Jedlicka: I’ve been a member of the Free Citizens Party, which is a libertarian party in the Czech Republic. Frederic Bastiat, Murray Rothbard, and other free-market thinkers have been very influential to me. Nick: Why did you see a need to create a new country? Vit: I tried hard for five years to affect political change in the Czech Republic. No matter if there was a left wing or a right wing government, we still had more regulations, more taxes, and more corruption. So I decided I had to do something different. In the end, that led me to set up a country to prove that the ideas of liberty work. That is how Liberland was born. Nick: How did you choose the location for Liberland? Vit: We needed terra nullius, which means “nobody’s land.” It’s a term used in international law to describe territory that has never been subject to the sovereignty of any state. When Yugoslavia dissolved, none of the successor countries claimed this land. It’s one of the very last pieces of unclaimed land on Earth. That allowed us to come in under terra nullius. Liberland is on the Danube River, which is international waters. No country can restrict access to it. This means we have free access to Liberland no matter what is happening with our neighbors. Nonetheless I believe we will open the land borders soon, first with Serbia and then with Croatia. Nick: Are there any countries that will officially recognize Liberland? Vit: We have direct connections now with 15 heads of state, and it’s growing rapidly. We have diplomats active in almost every country in the world. We have yet to fully use that potential. As far as I can tell, no other similar project in the past has generated as much support as Liberland. I think we have a great chance to get international recognition in the coming months. Nick: What will the role of government be in Liberland? Vit: We want to find the minimum amount of regulations that are necessary for a limited government to work. To be able to take care of security, justice, and diplomacy, and that’s it. The constitution will prohibit the government from doing anything else. This is like the United States as it was at the very beginning. The American Constitution was a great piece of work, but it unfortunately didn’t last. Today the US has turned far away from the concept of limited government. Nick: So how do you prevent that from happening in Liberland? Vit: Unfortunately it’s impossible to prevent. But we can try to be more effective at slowing the erosion of liberty. To do that, we took the best parts of the American Constitution, the Swiss Constitution, and the Estonian Constitution. No matter who rules Liberland in the future, it will be hard for them to change anything. To change the constitution, it has to be a unanimous decision by the legislative body. And after that the people can veto it with 50% of votes in a referendum. This is the part that we borrowed from the Swiss Constitution. I used to say that we are building Liberland to last for 100 years. Now I think it’s going to last even longer than that. Nick: What about taxation? Vit: Taxes will be completely voluntary. We are also developing a system where investors will be able to invest in all of the government’s assets and possibly receive dividends. Shares of the state’s assets will trade on a stock market. Anybody will be free to buy or sell at any time. Nick: That’s very interesting. Doug Casey has proposed something like this to a number of governments before. Vit: I’ve been following Doug’s work for many years. To be honest, I didn’t know he was doing this. But I’m glad that we came up with a similar idea. Nick: Speaking of tax issues, the US, EU, and OECD consistently pressure low-tax jurisdictions. It reminds me of what they did to Andorra, another small, low-tax country in Europe. Andorra never had an income tax in its history. But recently the high-tax countries pressured it into adopting one. How does Liberland expect to cope with these pressures? Vit: We always try to be positive and would try to use the pressure to our advantage. Such pressure could motivate even more people to join us and dissuade other governments from trying to install tax hells all around the world. Nick: If you look at history, one of the main areas where the US went wrong was with issues relating to money and currency. Abandoning sound money turbocharged the malignant growth of the state. What does Liberland plan to do here? Vit: We really want to separate money from the government. There might be a currency of Liberland, but it will not be mandatory to use it. Nick: What do you say to the people who say that Liberland is just a fantasy or that it has no chance to succeed? Vit: I was speaking to a bureaucrat in Croatia who told me that Liberland is something that is just in our heads. I replied that Croatia is also just in our heads. All governments are just concepts in our heads. I think this is terribly important to realize there are no real borders between countries. There’s just imaginary lines in our heads. Editor’s Note: To keep up with the latest on Liberland and other ways to maximize your personal freedom and financial opportunity around the world, be sure to get the IM Communiqué. Tags: tax haven, liberland, The End of Tax Havens? Governments are in a last-ditch effort to squeeze as much wealth as possible from their citizens. Here’s what to do about it. The Best Tax Haven for Americans Today by International Man It’s pretty much the only place in the world where Americans can obtain such tax benefits without renouncing their citizenship. Offshore Jurisdiction Review: Isle of Man by Streber Tucked between the islands of Britain and Ireland in the middle of the Irish Sea, this little island has a lot to offer the international financial sector. Offshore Jurisdiction Review: The Bahamas The Bahamas is a true veteran in the offshore financial services sector.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2541
__label__cc	0.664716	0.335284	Download XBRL For the month of December 2018 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐ On December 27, 2018, Merus N.V. (the Company, us, we, or our) re-issued its consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 (the Revised Consolidated Financial Statements) as a result of the Companys adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers as of January 1, 2018 (IFRS 15). The Revised Consolidated Financial Statements do not reflect any events occurring after filing of the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F on April 30, 2018 (the Annual Report) other than the adoption of IFRS 15. For significant developments since the filing of the Annual Report, please refer to the other information that the Company has furnished to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Revised Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and are attached hereto as Exhibit 1. Unresolved Staff Comments On September 11, 2018, we received a comment letter from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the Staff) of the SEC, relating to our Annual Report and our Report on Form 6-K filed on August 10, 2018, which included our unaudited interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2018. We responded to these comments and received a second comment letter on November 1, 2018 to which we responded on December 3, 2018. We received a third comment letter on December 20, 2018 and are in the process of responding to the Staff. The Staff requested information regarding our recognition and measurement of revenue under our license and collaboration agreement and the related share subscription agreement with Incyte Corporation (Incyte and such agreements, the Incyte Agreements). More specifically, the Staff requested information regarding our accounting for the $80.0 million purchase by Incyte of our common shares under the share subscription agreement and our valuation of such purchase, our analysis of the allocation of the transaction price, including the $120.0 million upfront payment under the license and collaboration agreement, the timing of our accounting of the transaction, and our consideration of payments we may receive in connection with our collaboration with Incyte in light of our adoption of IFRS 15, which became effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. We believe that our interpretation of IFRS 15 and our revenue recognition under the Incyte Agreements, as described in the notes to our financial statements that are included in our filings with the SEC, including the Revised Consolidated Financial Statements, is appropriate. As of the date of this Report on Form 6-K, we are discussing the comments with the Staff, and we cannot predict when these comments will be resolved. If the Staff ultimately disagrees with our accounting related to the Incyte Agreements, the impact to our previously issued financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the subsequent interim periods could be material and we could be required to restate these financial statements. In addition to the other information set forth in this Report on Form 6-K, careful consideration should be given to the risk factors discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, and/or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and/or operating results. There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report except as described below. In preparing our financial statements, our management is required to apply accounting standards that require significant interpretation. If our interpretation is incorrect or if regulatory or other authorities disagree with our interpretation, we may be required to restate or revise previously issued financial statements, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial position and the perception of our company. The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB requires our management to make significant interpretations of accounting standards. Certain of these standards require our management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain and such judgements can result in materially different amounts than would be recorded using a different interpretation of these standards. In addition, in implementing any new or revised accounting standards, our management must interpret these standards. If our interpretation of any accounting standard is incorrect or if regulatory or other authorities disagree with our interpretation, we may need to revise or restate previously issued financial statements. On September 11, 2018, we received a comment letter from the Staff, relating to our Annual Report and our Report on Form 6-K furnished on August 10, 2018, which included our unaudited interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2018. We responded to these comments and received a second comment letter on November 1, 2018 to which we responded on December 3, 2018. We received a third comment letter on December 20, 2018 and are in the process of responding to the Staff. The Staff requested information regarding our recognition and measurement of revenue under the Incyte Agreements. More specifically, the Staff requested information regarding our accounting for the $80.0 million purchase by Incyte of our common shares under the share subscription agreement and our valuation of such purchase, our analysis of the allocation of the transaction price, including the $120.0 million upfront payment under the license and collaboration agreement, the timing of our accounting of the transaction, and our consideration of payments we may receive in connection with our collaboration with Incyte in light of our adoption of IFRS 15, which became effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. We have been discussing the comments with the Staff, and we cannot predict when these comments will be resolved or the outcome. If the Staff ultimately disagrees with our accounting related to the Incyte Agreements, the impact to our previously issued financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the subsequent interim periods could be material and we could be required to restate these financial statements, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial position. Such revision or restatement could also negatively affect the perception of our companys financial operations, which could materially adversely impact our business and the trading price of our common shares. On March 11, 2014, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that we were infringing one or more claims in Regenerons U.S. Patent No. 8,502,018, entitled Methods of Modifying Eukaryotic Cells (the 018 patent). In 2015, the trial court entered judgments finding that we do not infringe the claims of the 018 patent, that the patent is invalid, and that the patent was procured through inequitable conduct and is unenforceable. On July 27, 2017 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the trial courts conclusion that Regeneron engaged in inequitable conduct before the United States Patent and Trademark Office while prosecuting the 018 patent and affirmed that the 018 patent is unenforceable. On December 26, 2017, the Federal Circuit denied Regenerons petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc seeking a review of that decision, and on October 1, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States denied Regenerons petition for certiorari, rendering the case finally resolved in our favor. On March 26, 2018, the trial court granted our motion for attorneys fees, expert fees, and costs associated with our defense of the above litigation, and ordered the parties to address the amount of the award. We provided a detailed explanation of our attorneys fees, expert fees, and costs of such award, which Regeneron responded to, seeking a reduction of the amount. The matter was fully briefed as of May 18, 2018, and the court issued an Order on June 25, 2018, which published on July 10, 2018, granting our motion for $8,332,453.46 in attorneys fees, $465,390.34 in expert fees, and $1,717,100.69 in litigation expenses and costs, along with pre- and post-judgment interest. Regeneron appealed the decision awarding attorneys fees to us to the Federal Circuit, filing its opening brief on November 7, 2018. On March 11, 2014, Regeneron served a writ in the Netherlands alleging that we were infringing one or more claims in their European patent EP 1 360 287 B1. We had opposed that patent in June 2014. On September 17, 2014, Regenerons patent EP 1 360 287 B1 was revoked in its entirety by the European Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (the EPO). In Europe, an appeal hearing occurred in October and November 2015 at the Technical Board of Appeal for the EPO at which time the patent was reinstated to Regeneron with amended claims. On October 2, 2017, we filed an appeal with the Technical Board of Appeal for the EPO to address whether the patent having claims amended during the course of opposition complies with Art. 84 EPC, Art. 123(2) EPC and Rule 80 EPC. On May 25, 2018, at Regenerons request, a hearing before the Technical Board of Appeals for the EPO was scheduled for September 13, 2018, to address whether the description of EP 1 360 287 B1 patent having claims amended during the course of opposition complies with Art. 84 EPC, Art. 123(2) EPC and Rule 80 EPC. The Technical Board of Appeals provided preliminary views on the matter on August 23, 2018, after which our appeal filed on October 2, 2017 was withdrawn on September 5, 2018. Regeneron also previously raised opposition proceedings against certain of our patents in jurisdictions including Europe, Japan and Australia. On December 20, 2018, we signed a global settlement and cross-license agreement with Regeneron, where the parties have agreed to end all pending litigation and opposition proceedings pertaining to our and Regenerons respective antibody generation technologies. Regeneron also purchased 600,000 of our common shares at a price of $25 per share for total aggregate proceeds to us of $15 million. Under the terms of the settlement, Regeneron has agreed to withdraw its appeal of the decision awarding attorneys fees to us as a result of the U.S. District Court litigation described above, and we have agreed to dismiss our fee award. In addition, Regeneron has agreed to dismiss its stayed case in the Netherlands asserting the EP 1 360 287 B1 patent, and both parties have agreed to withdraw all pending oppositions. On April 5, 2018, Regeneron and an unnamed third party filed notices of opposition against our EP 2604625 patent entitled Generation of Binding Molecules, in the EPO. The notices asserted, as applicable, added subject matter, lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, and insufficiency. Regeneron will no longer be pursuing this opposition pursuant to the December 20, 2018 settlement. On August 20, 2018, we timely responded to these submissions, with proceedings to be ongoing. As this opposition proceeding continues, we cannot assure you that we will ultimately prevail. From time to time, we may be involved in various other claims and legal proceedings relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party to any other material legal proceedings. Exhibit 1, 2, 101.INS, 101.SCH, 101.CAL, 101.DEF, 101.LAB, and 101.PRE to this Report on Form 6-K and the sections of this Report on Form 6-K titled Unresolved Staff Comments, Risk Factors, and Legal Proceedings are hereby incorporated by reference into the Companys Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-218432). 1 Revised consolidated financial statements for Merus N.V. as at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015. 2 Consent of KPMG Accountants N.V. 101.INS XBRL Instance Document. 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. 101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. 101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Date: December 27, 2018 By: /s/ Ton Logtenberg Name: Ton Logtenberg Title: President and Chief Executive Officer Index to Financial Statements Consolidated Financial Statements as at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 To the Shareholders and Board of Directors Merus N.V.: Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Merus N.V. and subsidiary (together, the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Change in Accounting Principle As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers as of January 1, 2018. Basis for Opinion These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. /s/ KPMG Accountants N.V. We have served as the Companys auditor since 2009. Amstelveen, the Netherlands April 30, 2018, except as to Note 4 which is as of December 27, 2018 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at December 31, 2017 Notes December 31, Restated December 31, Restated (euros in thousands) Non-current assets 6 1,168 648 Restricted cash Non-current investments 9 7,060 Financial asset 9 11,847 Trade and other receivables 10 4,413 2,248 9 34,043 Shareholders equity Issued and paid-in capital Share premium account Accumulated loss Non-current liabilities Borrowings 13 112,551 27,934 Taxes and social security liabilities 13 15,935 3,492 Other liabilities and accruals Total equity and liabilities See Note 4 for details regarding the restatement as a result of a change in accounting policy. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Loss For the year ended Restated 2016 (Euros in thousands, except per share data) 15 21,915 2,510 1,905 21,915 2,510 1,905 Research and development costs 16 (34,125 ) (18,424 ) (16,181 ) Management and administration costs 16 (13,697 ) (4,258 ) (768 ) Other expenses 16 (9,395 ) (7,709 ) (8,067 ) (57,217 ) (30,391 ) (25,016 ) Operating result Finance income 18 1,112 88 50 Finance expenses 18 (30,335 ) (19,644 ) (195 ) Total finance income (expenses) (29,223 ) (19,556 ) (145 ) Result before tax 8 (249 ) Result after taxation Exchange differences from translation of foreign operations 89 8 Total comprehensive loss for the year Basic (and diluted) loss per share(1)(2) 19 (3.37 ) (3.58 ) (3.96 ) The results and comprehensive losses for the years presented are fully attributable to the owners of the Company. The basic (and diluted) loss per share is adjusted for the 2015 period based on the reverse share split with reference to note 14 regarding the capital reorganization. For the periods included in these financial statements, the share options are not included in the diluted loss per share calculation as the Company was loss-making in all these periods. Due to the anti-dilutive nature of the outstanding options, basic and diluted loss per share is equal. Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Note Common capital Class A capital Class B capital Class C capital Common premium Class A premium Class B premium Class C premium Accumulated loss Total Balance at January 1, 2015 30 21 231 1,564 1,334 34,026 (40,765 ) (3,559 ) Impact of adoption of accounting standard 671 671 Restated balance at January 1, 2015 Restated result after taxation for the period (23,256 ) (23,256 ) Total comprehensive loss Transactions with owners of the Company: Issuance of shares (net) 14 120 373 4,880 49,105 54,478 Equity settled shared-based payments 17 567 567 Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company 120 373 4,880 49,105 567 55,045 Restated balance at December 31, 2015 30 21 351 373 1,564 1,334 38,906 49,105 (62,783 ) 28,901 8 8 14 673 50,478 51,151 IPO expenses (1,509 ) (1,509 ) Conversion of preference shares 745 (21 ) (351 ) (373 ) 89,345 (1,334 ) (38,906 ) (49,105 ) 17 3,307 3,307 1,418 (21 ) (351 ) (373 ) 138,314 (1,334 ) (38,906 ) (49,105 ) 3,307 52,949 1,448 139,878 (106,905 ) 34,421 Other comprehensive loss 89 89 17 12,815 12,815 301 73,740 12,815 86,856 Consolidated Statement of Cash flows for the year ended December 31 Note 2017 Cash flows from operating activities Adjustments for: Change in fair value derivative 9, 18 10,667 19,213 Unrealized foreign exchange results 18 15,767 365 6, 7 318 234 193 Share-based payment expenses 17 12,815 3,307 567 Net finance (income) expenses (1,040 ) (33 ) 145 Changes in working capital: 10 (1,837 ) (1,256 ) (816 ) (20 ) (109 ) 505 (121 ) 10 11 4,977 286 461 13 (14,933 ) (14 ) (151 ) Tax and social security liabilities Cash used in operating activities 18 (29 ) (55 ) (195 ) Taxes paid 8 (43 ) Net cash used in operating activities Purchases of investments 9 (41,830 ) Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 6 (724 ) (496 ) (103 ) Interest received 10, 18 929 88 50 (41,625 ) (408 ) (53 ) Proceeds from issuing shares, net of issuance costs 14 74,738 50,547 46,478 18 (190 ) Prepaid share issuance costs 10 (230 ) Proceeds from collaboration agreement 14 111,993 Proceeds from borrowings 8,000 Repayment of borrowings 12 (486 ) (167 ) (166 ) Changes in restricted cash Net cash from financing activities 186,222 50,201 54,367 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (14,423 ) 6 Cash and cash equivalents as at January 1 56,917 32,851 1,568 Cash and cash equivalents as at December 31 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities: Changes in accrued capital expenditures 52 Merus N.V. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing innovative bispecific antibody therapeutics, headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Merus US, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merus N.V. located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. These audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2017 comprise Merus N.V. and Merus US, Inc. (collectively, the Company). Merus N.V. was incorporated in the Netherlands, with its statutory seat in Utrecht. In connection with becoming a listed company on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq), on May 19, 2016, Merus N.V.s legal structure under Dutch law was changed from a private company with limited liability (in Dutch: besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) to a public company with limited liability (in Dutch: naamloze vennootschap) and Merus N.V.s name changed from Merus B.V. to Merus N.V. The address of the Companys registered office is Yalelaan 62, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Company expects to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as its bispecific antibody candidates advance from discovery through preclinical development and into clinical trials, and it seeks regulatory approval and pursues commercialization of any approved bispecific antibody candidate. As a result, the Company may need additional financing to support its continuing operations. Until the Company can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, the Company expects to finance its operations through public equity or debt financings or other sources, which may include collaborations and business development opportunities with third parties. Adequate additional financing may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. The Companys inability to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on the financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategy. The Company will need to generate significant revenue to achieve profitability and may never do so. Based on the Companys current operating plan, it expects its existing cash balances, including proceeds received from the private placement offering that closed in February 2018, to last through the end of 2020. For this assessment, we have taken into consideration our existing cash and cash equivalents of 149.7 million and investments of 41.1 million at December 31, 2017, together with the $55.8 million of proceeds received from our private placement offering that closed in February 2018. (see Note 24). Basis of Preparation These revised consolidated financial statements have been authorized for issuance on December 27, 2018. Certain amounts were reclassified in the prior years consolidated financial statements for consistency with the current year presentation. These changes in classification do not materially affect the previously reported Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Loss or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for any period. Statement of Compliance These revised consolidated financial statements (the financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise stated in the below accounting policies. On May 6, 2016, the general meeting of our shareholders resolved to approve and effect a capital reorganization, based on a reverse share split. The effect of the reverse share split was a 1-for-1.8 reverse share split of the outstanding common and preferred shares held by our shareholders. This reverse share split became effective on May 6, 2016. All share, per-share and related information presented in the financial statements and corresponding disclosure notes for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been retrospectively adjusted, where applicable, to reflect the impact of the reverse share split. On May 24, 2016, the Company closed the initial public offering of 5,500,000 of its common shares and, on May 26, 2016, of an additional 639,926 of its common shares, at a price to the public of US $10 per share (the IPO). Net proceeds to the Company after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were $53.3 million. On May 19, 2016, the Companys common shares were listed on the Nasdaq and all of the Companys preferred shares converted into common shares. Follow-on Public Offerings On June 1, 2017, the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration Number 333-218432) (the F-3 Registration Statement), under which it registered up to $250 million of its securities and 3,200,000 shares sold to Incyte Corporation (Incyte). The F-3 Registration Statement became effective on June 16, 2017. On June 1, 2017, the Company also entered into a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC (Cowen), under which the Company may issue and sell from time to time up to $50.0 million of its common shares registered under the F-3 Registration Statement through Cowen as its sales agent. Sales of common shares, if any, will be made at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an at the market offering. The aggregate compensation payable to Cowen as sales agent equals 3.0% of the gross sales price of the shares sold through it pursuant to the sales agreement. No sales have been made by the Company under the sales agreement. On February 13, 2018, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with the purchasers named therein (the Investors). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 3,099,997 of its common shares, nominal value 0.09 per share, to the Investors for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $55.8 million, at a purchase price equal to $18.00 per share (the Private Placement). The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from the Company and the Investors and customary closing conditions. The closing of the Private Placement occurred on February 15, 2018. Functional and Presentation Currency The financial statements are presented in euros, which is the Companys functional and presentation currency. All amounts are rounded to the nearest thousands of euros, except as otherwise indicated. Use of Estimates, Judgements and Assumptions In the application of the Companys accounting policies, management is required to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized prospectively. The following are the critical judgments and assumptions that management has made in the process of applying the Companys accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements. Capitalization of Development Costs The criteria for capitalization of development costs have been considered by management and determined not to have been met in the twelve month period ended December 31, 2017. Therefore, all development expenditures relating to internally generated intangible assets in the twelve month period ended December 31, 2017 were expensed as incurred. The criteria for the recognition of unused tax losses are disclosed in Note 3 Significant accounting policies. As of December 31, 2017, deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of tax losses, because the Company has no history of generating taxable profits and therefore, it is not probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available against which the tax losses can be utilized. The amount of the unrecognized tax losses is disclosed in Note 8. Pursuant to the Companys research, collaboration and license agreements with ONO and Incyte, the Company has received upfront non-refundable payments for certain rights granted under the respective agreements. The applicable period over which to recognize these upfront payments requires significant judgment and was impacted by the adoption of IFRS 15Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15) (See Note 3, Note 4 and Note 13). Revenue related to ONO upfront payments is deferred and amortized based on a measure of progress in delivering research services under the contract. Revenue related to Incyte upfront payments is deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated research term (See Note 3, Note 4 and Note 13). Equity Settled Share-Based Payments Share options granted to employees, consultants and directors are measured at the grant date fair value of the equity instruments granted. The grant date fair value is determined through the use of an option-pricing model considering the following variables: the exercise price of the option; the expected life of the option; the current value of the underlying shares; the expected volatility of the share price; the dividends expected on the shares; and the risk-free interest rate for the life of the option. Prior to the Companys IPO, the estimated the fair value of each share option granted was determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For the Companys share option plans subsequent to its IPO, managements judgment was that the Hull & White option pricing model is the most appropriate method for determining the fair value of the Companys share options considering the terms and conditions attached to the grants made and reflective of exercise behavior. Since the Company was not listed on a national securities exchange until May 19, 2016, there was no published share price information available until May 19, 2016. Consequently, the Company estimated the fair value of its shares and the expected volatility of that share value for the period up to May 19, 2016. As the Companys shares have not been publicly traded for a sufficient amount of time, the expected volatility was set by considering the historic share price volatility of a set of peer companies. For pre-IPO valuations, the continuous yield on euro government bonds with a term to maturity comparable to the expected life of the options, as published by the European Central Bank, was applied. For post-IPO valuations, the continuous yield on U.S. Treasury Bills with a term to maturity comparable to the expected life of the options, as published by the U.S. Department of Treasury, was applied. The result of the share option valuations and the related compensation expense that is recognized for the respective vesting periods during which services are received, is dependent on the model and input parameters used. Even though management considers the fair values reasonable and defensible based on the methodologies applied and the information available, others might derive a different fair value for the Companys share options. These assumptions and estimates are further discussed in Note 14 to the financial statements. The accounting policies set out below have been consistently applied to all periods presented in these financial statements. Income and expenses are accounted for on an accrual basis. Profit is only included when realized at the statement of financial position date. Losses originating before the end of the financial year are taken into account if they have become known before preparation of the financial statements. Basis of consolidation (i) Subsidiaries Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company, consisting of Merus N.V. and its wholly owned subsidiary Merus US, Inc. The Company controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date on which control commences until the date on which control ceases. (ii) Loss of control When the Company loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognizes the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary, and any non-controlling interests and other components of equity. Any resulting gain or loss is recognized in profit or loss. Any interest retained in the former subsidiary is measured at fair value when control is lost. (iii) Transactions eliminated on consolidation Intra-company balances and transactions, and any unrealized income and expenses arising from intra-company transactions, are eliminated. Unrealized gains arising from transactions with equity-accounted investees are eliminated against the investment to the extent of the Companys interest in the investee. Unrealized losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment. Foreign Currency Transactions Foreign currency transactions are translated using the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the exchange rate at the reporting date are generally recognized in the statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss as a component of finance costs. The results and financial position of foreign operations that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows: assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet; income and expenses for each statement of profit or loss and comprehensive income or loss are translated at average exchange rates (unless this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions); and all resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income. Property, plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses (if any). Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is recognized in the consolidated statement of profit and loss and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of generally five years, taking residual value into account. If significant parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment. Subsequent expenditure is capitalized only when the expenditure will increase the future economic benefit of the asset. All other expenditures are expensed in the profit or loss and comprehensive loss. Depreciation rates are based on the following estimated economic useful lives of the tangible fixed assets concerned: Plant and equipment: 5 years Other fixed assets: 5 years Intangible assets are identifiable non-monetary assets without physical substance. An asset is a resource that is controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events (for example, purchase or self-creation) and from which future economic benefits (inflows of cash or other assets) are expected. The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed to be finite and amortized over the useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. Amortization begins when the asset is available for use. Patents acquired separately by the Company are reported at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses. Amortization is recognized in the consolidated statement of profit and loss and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated economic or legal lives. The estimated useful life and amortization method are reviewed at the end of each annual reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimates being accounted for on a prospective basis. The Company incurs research and development expenses related to its clinical trials and preclinical drug development programs. Development expenses are defined as expenses incurred to achieve technical and commercial feasibility. Expenditure on research activities is recognized as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. Development is capitalized if, and only if, all of the following have been demonstrated: the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale; the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it; the ability to use or sell the intangible asset; how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits; the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset; and the ability to measure reliably the expenditure. The Company classifies non-derivative financial assets as either financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, held to maturity financial assets or loans and receivables. The Company classifies non-derivative financial liabilities into either financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss or the other financial liabilities category. Non-Derivative Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities The Company initially recognizes receivables and investments at fair value on the date when they are originated. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. All other financial assets and financial liabilities are initially recognized on the trade date. The Company derecognizes a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive the contractual cash flows in a transaction in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset are transferred, or it neither transfers nor retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership and does not retain control over the transferred asset. Any interest in such derecognized financial assets that is created or retained by the Company is recognized as a separate asset or liability. The Company derecognizes a financial liability when its contractual obligations are settled or cancelled, or expire. Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the Company has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to settle them on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. Investments are classified as held-to-maturity and are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Investments are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost as management has the positive intent and ability to hold them until maturity. Interest income from these securities is included in finance income. These assets are initially recognized at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. Derivative Financial Assets and Liabilities Derivative financial instruments are initially recognized at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at fair value with net changes in fair value presented as finance expenses (negative net changes in fair value) or finance income (positive net changes in fair value) in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss. Derivatives are carried as financial assets when the fair value is positive and as financial liabilities when the fair value is negative. Derivatives embedded in host contracts are accounted for as separate derivatives and recorded at fair value if their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not held for trading or designated at fair value through profit or loss. These embedded derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Reassessment only occurs if there is either a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modifies the cash flows that would otherwise be required or a reclassification of a financial asset out of the fair value through profit or loss category. Non-Derivative Financial Liabilities Non-derivative financial liabilities are initially recognized at fair value less any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, these liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. For the purpose of presentation in the statement of cash flows as well as the statement of financial position, cash and cash equivalents includes deposits held with financial institutions with original maturities of less than three months. Treatment of equity issuance costs Costs related to the issuance of new shares have been accounted for as follows: Incremental costs that are directly attributable to issuing new shares are included as prepaid expenses and are deducted from equity on the date the Company closes its new share transactions (net of any income tax benefit). Such as, for example, the date of the closing of its IPO or the share subscription agreement with Incyte; Incremental costs directly associated with a probable, successful future offering of equity instruments are also deferred and deducted from equity when the new shares are issued. During 2017, the Company expensed 0.2 million of prepaid share issuance costs related to a potential future issuance of shares under the Companys F-3 Registration Statement when the future issuance was no longer consider probable; Costs that relate to listing on Nasdaq, or other new share transaction costs that are otherwise not incremental and directly attributable to issuing new shares, are recorded as an expense in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss; and Costs that relate to both share issuance and listing are allocated between those functions on a rational and consistent basis. A provision is recognized if the following applies: the company has a legal or constructive obligation, arising from a past event; the amount can be estimated reliably; and it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. If all or part of the payments that are necessary to settle a provision are virtually certain to be fully or partially compensated by a third party upon settlement of the provision, then the compensation amount is presented separately as an asset. Provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognized as finance cost. Financial Assets Measured at Amortized Cost The Company considers evidence of impairment for these assets at both an individual asset and a collective level. All individually significant assets are individually assessed for impairment. Those found not to be impaired are then collectively assessed for any impairment that has been incurred but not yet individually identified. Assets that are not individually significant are collectively assessed for impairment. Collective assessment is carried out by grouping together assets with similar risk characteristics. In assessing collective impairment, the Company uses historical information on the timing of recoveries and the amount of loss incurred, and makes an adjustment if current economic and credit conditions are such that the actual losses are likely to be greater or lesser than suggested by historical trends. An impairment loss is calculated as the difference between an assets carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the assets original effective interest rate. Losses are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive income and reflected in an allowance account. When the Company considers that there are no realistic prospects of recovery of the asset, the relevant amounts are written off. If the amount of impairment loss subsequently decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, then the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss. Non-Financial Assets At each reporting date, the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its non-financial assets to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the assets recoverable amount is estimated. For impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or cash generating units (CGU). The recoverable amount of an asset or CGU is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. Value in use is based on the estimated future cash flows, discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. They are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU, and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the CGU on a pro rata basis. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the assets carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized. The Company enters into collaboration agreements which are within the scope of IFRS 15, under which the Company licenses rights to certain of the Companys product candidates and performs research and development services. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, upfront fees; reimbursement of research and development costs; development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products. IFRS 15 requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. Under IFRS 15, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of the goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company determines it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of IFRS 15, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligation. The Company applies the five-step model to contracts only when it is probable that it will collect the consideration to which it is entitled in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must make significant judgments, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each performance obligation. The Company currently generates a portion of its revenue through collaboration and license agreements with strategic collaborators for the development and commercialization of product candidates. The collaboration and license agreements are within the scope of IFRS 15. Up-front License Payments If the license to the Companys intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the agreement, the Company recognizes revenues from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. If not distinct, the license is combined with other performance obligations in the contract. For licenses that are combined with other performance obligations, the Company assesses the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purpose of recognizing revenue. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. Pursuant to the Companys research and license agreements with its collaborators, the Company has received upfront license payments relating to the integrated packages of deliverables under the contracts. Each contract contains either one single performance obligation or multiple performance obligations that the up-front consideration was allocated to. These upfront license payments are initially recorded in deferred revenue on the consolidated statements of financial position and are recognized as revenue on either: (i) a straight-line basis over the period of the related performance obligation or the contractual term of the arrangement; or (ii) based on another appropriate depiction of the Companys performance over the period of the related performance obligation or the contractual term, such as costs incurred relating to full-time equivalent research employees. The applicable period over which to recognize the upfront payment is a significant judgment, which is re-assessed at each reporting date. Collaboration Income Collaboration income, which is typically related to reimbursements from collaborators for the Companys performance of research and development services under the respective agreements, is recognized on the basis of labor hours valued at a contractually agreed rate. Collaboration income includes reimbursements for related out-of-pocket expenses. Cost reimbursements to which the Company is entitled under agreements are recognized as revenue in the same period as the cost for which they are intended to compensate. The Company acts as the principal and therefore records these reimbursements as collaboration income. In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under the agreements, the Company performs the five steps listed above. As part of the accounting for the arrangement, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company uses key assumptions to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include market conditions, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, development timelines and probabilities of regulatory success. The Company capitalizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if it expects to recover those costs. Such incremental costs would not have been incurred if the contract with a customer had not been obtained. To date, the Company has not capitalized any incremental costs for obtaining a contract. The Companys contracts often include development and regulatory milestone payments which are assessed under the most likely amount method and constrained if it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would occur. Milestone payments that are not within the Companys control or the licensees control, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. At each reporting date, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of development milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect collaboration revenues in the period of adjustment. For agreements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any consideration related to sales-based royalty revenue resulting from any of the Companys collaboration agreements. The Company receives certain government and regional grants, which support its research efforts in defined projects, and include contributions towards the cost of research and development. When there is reasonable assurance that the Company will comply with the conditions attached to a received grant, and when there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received, government grants are recognized as revenue on a gross basis in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognizes expenses for the related costs for which the grants are intended to compensate. In the case of grants related to assets, the received grant will be deducted from the carrying amount of the asset. Research and development expenses Research and development expenses represent costs which primarily include (i.) payroll and related costs (including share-based payment expenses) associated with research and development personnel, (ii.) costs related to clinical trials and preclinical testing of the Companys technologies under development, (iii.) costs to develop product candidates, including raw materials and supplies, product testing, depreciation, and facility related expenses, (iv.) expenses for research services provided by universities and contract laboratories, and (v.) other research and development expenses. Research and development expenses are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss as incurred when these expenditures relate to the Companys research and development services and have no alternative future uses. The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with research institutions and other companies. These agreements are generally cancelable. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates may be made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Companys estimates. The Companys historical accrual estimates have not been materially different from the actual costs. WBSO The WBSO (afdrachtvermindering speur- en ontwikkelingswerk) is a Dutch fiscal facility that provides subsidies to companies, knowledge centers and self-employed people who perform research and development activities (as defined in the WBSO Act). Under this Act, a contribution is paid towards the labor costs of employees directly involved in research and development and other related expenditures. The contribution is in the form of a reduction of payroll taxes. Subsidies relating to labor costs are deferred and recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss as negative labor costs over the period necessary to match them with the labor costs that they are intended to compensate (see Note 17). Short-term Employee Benefits Short-term employee benefits are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognized for the amount expected to be paid if the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably. Share-Based Payment Transactions The grant-date fair value of equity-settled share-based payment awards granted to employees including grants of employee options, restricted share units, and modifications to existing instruments, is recognized as an expense, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, with a corresponding increase in equity (accumulated loss), over the vesting period of the awards. Forfeitures of employee options are recognized as they occur. Service conditions and non-market related conditions are not taken into account in determining the fair value. The amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the number of awards for which the related service and non-market performance conditions are expected to be met, such that the amount ultimately recognized is based on the number of awards that meet the related service and non-market performance conditions at the vesting date. For any share-based payment awards with market conditions or non-vesting conditions, the grant-date fair value of the share-based payment is measured to reflect such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes. Post-Employment Benefit Plans The Company contributes to a post-employment benefit plan that entitles directors, executive officers and other staff members to retire at the age of 67 and receive annual payments based upon the average salary earned during the service period. The Company has insured the liabilities from the post-employment benefit plan with an insurance company and has no other obligation than to pay the annual insurance premiums to the insurance company. The annual pension payments are conditional; the Company will have no further obligation (legal or constructive) to pay further amounts if the insurance fund has insufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to current and prior service. Based on its characteristics the Companys post-employment benefit plan is classified as a defined contribution plan. Obligations for contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed as the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognized as an asset. Determining whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease At inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether such an arrangement is or contains a lease. At inception or on reassessment of the arrangement, the Company separates payments and other consideration required by such an arrangement into those for the lease and those for other elements on the basis of their relative fair values. If the Company concludes for a finance lease that it is impracticable to separate the payments reliably, then an asset and a liability are recognized at an amount equal to the fair value of the underlying asset. Subsequently the liability is reduced as payments are made and an imputed finance cost on the liability is recognized using the Companys incremental borrowing rate. Leased Assets Assets held by the Company under leases that transfer to the Company substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. The leased assets are measured initially at an amount equal to the lower of their fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments. Subsequent to initial recognition, the assets are accounted for in accordance with the accounting policy applicable to that asset. Assets held under other leases are classified as operating leases and are not recognized in the Companys statement of financial position. Lease Payments Payments made under operating leases are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognized as an integral part of the total lease expense, over the term of the lease. Minimum lease payments made under finance leases are apportioned between the finance expense and the reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance expense is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance Income and Finance Expenses The Companys finance income and finance expenses include: interest and related income; interest expense and changes in fair value of the forward contract (derivative); financing costs; and the foreign currency gain or loss on financial assets and financial liabilities. Interest income or expense is recognized using the effective interest method. Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. It is recognized in the statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss except to the extent that it relates to a business combination, or items recognized directly in equity or in other comprehensive income. Current tax comprises the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year and any adjustment to tax payable or receivable in respect of previous years. It is measured using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. Current tax also includes any tax arising from dividends. Current tax assets and liabilities are offset only if certain criteria are met. Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is not recognized for: temporary differences on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss; temporary differences related to investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint arrangements to the extent that the group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future; and taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses, unused tax credits and deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be used. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized; such reductions are reversed when the probability of future taxable profits improves. Unrecognized deferred tax assets are reassessed at each reporting date and recognized to the extent that it has become probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilized. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The measurement of deferred tax reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Company expects, at the reporting date, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only if certain criteria are met. Recently Issued International Financial Reporting Standards Standards implemented since December 31, 2017 Revenue from Contracts with CustomersIFRS 15 In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15, which supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance. Prior to the adoption of IFRS 15, revenue was recognized to the extent that it was probable that the economic benefits would flow to the Company and the revenue could be reliably measured. The new standard requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. To achieve that core principle, an entity must identify the contract(s) with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligation. IFRS 15 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this update recognized at the date of initial application. As such, the Company has restated the relevant financial statement line items in these financial statements for the adoption of IFRS 15. The adoption of IFRS 15 impacts the amortization of the Companys up-front license payments. The Company previously recognized revenue from up-front license payments on a straight-line basis over the contractual term or the period of continuing involvement which was previously estimated to be 21 years for the collaboration and license agreement the Company entered into with Incyte Corporation (Incyte) on December 20, 2016 (the Incyte collaboration and license agreement), and 4.5 years for the research and license agreement the Company entered into with ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ONO) on April 8, 2014 (the ONO research and license agreement). In applying IFRS 15, the Company has evaluated the distinct performance obligations in each agreement. Specifically, for Incyte, the total period for which the Company expects to provide access to its proprietary technology is currently estimated to be nine years, which is the research term initially agreed to in the Incyte collaboration and license agreement. While adopting IFRS 15 the Company elected to apply the practical expedient to not apply this guidance to contracts that were completed before the beginning of the earliest period presented, or January 1, 2015, and the practical expedients for contract modifications. Under the practical expedient, the Company excluded certain option and exclusivity agreements that expired in 2014. As a result of the adoption of IFRS 15, prior year financial statements have been revised to reflect the impact of the retrospective effects of the adoption of IFRS 15 which also impacted the following notes: Note 2 - Basis of Preparation, Note 3 - Significant Accounting Policies, Note 8 - Taxation, Note 13 - Deferred Revenue, Note 15 - Revenue and Note 19 - Loss per share. Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Comprehensive Loss 12 months ended (As originally presented) IFRS 15 Adoption 12 months ended Restated 13,600 8,315 21,915 (43,617 ) 8,315 (35,302 ) Total comprehensive loss for the period Basic (and diluted) loss per share (3.80 ) 0.43 (3.37 ) 2,719 (209 ) 2,510 (27,672 ) (209 ) (27,881 ) (3.57 ) (0.01 ) (3.58 ) 1,977 (72 ) 1,905 (23,039 ) (72 ) (23,111 ) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position As originally presented IFRS 15 (167,480 ) 8,705 (158,775 ) Deferred revenue, non-current 130,195 (17,644 ) (112,551 ) 6,996 8,939 15,935 (107,295 ) 390 (106,905 ) 30,206 (2,272 ) 27,934 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Adoption December 31, (6,618 ) (8,315 ) (14,933 ) presented December 31, (223 ) 209 (14 ) (223 ) 72 (151 ) Standards issued but not yet effective IFRS 9 Financial Instruments IFRS 9, published in July 2014, replaces the existing guidance in IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 includes contains a new classification and measurement approach for financial assets that reflects the business model in which assets are managed and their cash flow characteristics. IFRS 9 contains three principal classification categories for financial assets: measured at amortized cost, measured at fair value through other comprehensive income and measured at fair value through profit or loss. The standard eliminates the existing IAS 39 categories of held to maturity, loans and receivables and available for sale. In addition, the revised guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments includes a new expected credit loss model for calculating impairment on financial assets and the new general hedge accounting requirements. Finally, IFRS 9 carries forward the guidance on recognition and derecognition of financial instruments from IAS 39. IFRS 9 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Based on its assessment, the adoption of IFRS 9s new classification requirements, new credit loss model or the new general hedge accounting requirements did not have a material impact on the Companys financial statements. IFRS 16 Leases The IASB has issued a new standard on leases that will require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as lease liabilities with a corresponding right-of-use asset. The IASB has set an effective date to apply the new standard for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The Company has identified known lease agreements and has started working on determining the impact on the financial statements. Additionally, the Company is assessing all effective agreements to determine whether there are embedded leases included under the definition as included under IFRS 16. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company expects to adopt this standard in the first quarter of 2019. The Company is evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the Companys financial statements, including related disclosures, and expects the new standard to impact its internal controls, systems, and processes. The Company operates in one reportable segment, which comprises the discovery and development of innovative bispecific therapeutics. Movements in property, plant and equipment were as follows: Plant and equipment Other fixed assets Total Balance as at January 1, 2016 (171 ) (1,049 ) (1,220 ) Changes in book value (56 ) (117 ) (173 ) Disposals (Cost) (6 ) (6 ) Disposals (Accumulated depreciation) Balance as at December 31, 2016 (186 ) (70 ) (256 ) (51 ) (1,086 ) (1,137 ) (356 ) (150 ) (506 ) 905 263 1,168 The intangible assets relate to acquired intellectual property rights. The movements are as follows: Balance as at January 1 Historical cost Accumulated amortization (486 ) (425 ) Amortization charge for the year Book value as at December 31 Balance as at December 31 On January 23, 2009, the Company purchased the family of patents and future filings based on those patents, entitled Recombinant production of mixtures of antibodies from Crucell Holland B.V. The non-provisional filing date for this application was on July 15, 2003 and accordingly applications stemming from that patent family have an approximate economic life of 20 years from that date, not including patent term adjustment, extensions or any related doctrine. As a result, the Company is amortizing the cost over the approximate economic life of 14 years after acquisition of the patent family. Deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of tax losses, because the Company has no history of generating taxable profits and at the balance sheet date, there is no convincing evidence that sufficient taxable profit will be available against which the tax losses can be utilized. As a result of the adoption of IFRS 15, the 2017 tax losses carried forward have been revised to reflect the impact of the retrospective effects of the adoption of IFRS 15. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the revised tax losses carried forward amounted to 140.5 million and 100.7 million, respectively. In order to promote innovative technology development activities and investments in new technologies, a corporate income tax incentive has been introduced in Dutch tax law called the Innovations Box. Based on the Innovations Box ruling, the Company would owe on the first 75% of qualifying profits under the Dutch jurisdiction effectively 5% for Dutch income taxes. The remaining profit would be taxed at the Dutch statutory tax rate of 25%. Taxable profits will only qualify for the Innovations Box once the tax losses carried forward are completely utilized. The agreement with the tax authorities was originally signed for the tax years beginning in 2011 through 2015 and was subsequently extended through the year 2019. Since the Company is loss-making, no Dutch income tax is recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss. Merus US, Inc., which is incorporated in the United States in the State of Delaware, is subject to statutory U.S. Federal corporate income taxes and state income taxes for Massachusetts at a blended rate of 40% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Current year income tax expense was attributable entirely to Merus US, Inc. which was established on February 17, 2016 and provided general management services and strategic advisory services to the Company. Corporate income tax expenses were 0.2 million and zero for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. On December 20, 2016, the Company entered into a share subscription agreement with Incyte. As the contract is denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company determined that the forward contract to sell its own shares at a future date to which the Company became committed on December 20, 2016 represented a derivative financial instrument. The remaining fair value of the derivative recognized in the statement of financial position at December 31, 2016 was 11.8 million. The Company had determined the fair value of this derivative utilizing the Bloomberg Pricing System and the Companys closing stock prices at each valuation date which are significant Level 2 observable inputs. On January 23, 2017, the Company settled the forward contract by delivering shares to Incyte upon the closing of the share subscription agreement, thereby extinguishing the derivative financial asset. Upon the extinguishment of the financial asset, the Company recorded finance charges of 10.7 million relating to the change in fair value of the asset and a discount on the share subscription of 1.1 million representing the difference between the original subscription price and the actual price of the common stock on the date of settlement on January 23, 2017. Held to maturity investments are investments in commercial paper, securities issued by several public corporations and the United States Treasury with a maturity date of greater than three months at the date of settlement. Investments with a maturity of 12 months or more from the original investment date are classified as non-current. Investments as of December 31, 2017 consist of the following: (euros in thousands) U.S. Treasury securities Corporate fixed income bonds Agency bond Investments, current portion Total investments During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company made purchases of investments totaling 41.8 million which are held and denominated in U.S. dollars. As a result of the fluctuation in foreign currency between the euro and U.S. dollar, the Company recorded unrealized exchanges losses of 0.8 million in net loss on foreign exchange for the year ended December 31, 2017. All trade and other receivables are short-term and due within 1 year. Balance per December 31 Unbilled receivables VAT receivable Prepaid general expenses Prepaid pension costs Interest bank Other receivables Trade and unbilled receivables relate primarily to invoicing for cost reimbursements relating to the Incyte collaboration and license agreement and the ONO research and license agreement. VAT receivable relates to value added tax receivable from the Dutch tax authorities based on the tax application for the fourth quarter of 2017. Prepaid expenses reflected above in the form of prepaid general expenses, prepaid pension costs and prepaid share issuance costs consist of expenses that were paid during the reporting period, but are related to activities taking place in the subsequent year. All amounts are short-term and payable within 1 year. Accrued auditors fee IPLegal fee Subsidy advance received Other accruals The research and development costs relate to accrued expenses for costs of certain development activities, such as clinical trials, and are recorded based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, and information provided the Company by vendors on their actual costs incurred. The increase in research and development cost accrued expenses reflect increased enrollment in and support of the Companys clinical trials and expanded pre-clinical research efforts to support its internal research programs and collaboration and license agreement with Incyte. The bonuses relate to the employee bonuses for the financial year 2017, which are paid out annually in February. The subsidy advances received relate to active grants where the Company has received cash in excess of allowances which is required to be repaid or recognized as grant income when the relevant reimbursable costs are incurred as services are performed. The Company entered into a financing agreement with Rabobank Utrechtse Heuvelrug U.A. (Rabobank) on December 29, 2005, which provided for total borrowings of 1.5 million for the financing of its business activities. The duration of the agreement was 12 years. Under the agreement, the loans were to be repaid in monthly installments of 14 thousand. The loans bore interest at an annual rate equal to 4.45% and were fixed until April 1, 2016. At that date, the interest rate was fixed at 3.55% until March 31, 2017. Movements in the Companys borrowings with the Rabobank were as follows: Balance December 31, 2016 Short term portion December 31, 2016 Long term portion December 31, 2016 Balance January 1, 2017 (486 ) On March 31, 2017, the Company repaid, in full, the loan from Rabobank. At the repayment date, the total outstanding balance of the loan amounted to approximately 0.5 million. As a result of the repayment, the pledge associated with the loan was removed and the related cash was released from restriction. Deferred revenue as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, consist of the following: Balance per December 31 (euros in thousands) 2017 Restated 2016 Deferred revenuecurrent portion The total deferred revenue balance of 128.5 million and 31.4 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, was related to the Incyte Agreements. Under the Incyte collaboration and license agreement, Incyte agreed to pay the Company a $120 million non-refundable upfront payment, and under the share subscription agreement, Incyte agreed to purchase 3.2 million Common Shares at a price per share of $25.00, for an aggregate purchase price of $80 million. In January 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Common Shares under the share subscription agreement and received the $80 million aggregate purchase price. In February 2017, the Company received the $120 million non-refundable upfront payment. As the contract for the share subscription agreement was denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company determined that the forward contract to sell its own shares at a future date to which the Company became committed on December 20, 2016, represented a derivative financial instrument. The fair values of the derivative, or 31.4 million, and the non-refundable upfront payment, or 112.0 million, were recorded as deferred revenue. The Company identified a single performance obligation, providing access to its proprietary technology, relating to the Incyte Agreements and allocated all of the consideration received to this obligation. Both the upfront license payment and the derivative financial asset are being amortized as revenue over time by measuring the progress toward the complete satisfaction of a performance obligation or specifically, the total period for which the Company expects to provide access to its proprietary technology under the Incyte Agreements, which is currently estimated to be nine years in total, of which approximately 8 years remain. The parties have agreed to collaborate on the development and commercialization of up to 11 bispecific antibody programs. For one current preclinical program, the Company will retain all rights to develop and commercialize approved products in the United States, and Incyte will develop and commercialize approved products arising from the program outside the United States. Following any regulatory approval of a product candidate for this particular preclinical program, each company has agreed to pay the other tiered royalties ranging from 6% to 10% on net sales of products in their respective territories. The Company also has the option to co-fund development of product candidates arising from two other programs. For any program for which the Company exercises its co-development option, the Company would be responsible for 35% of global development costs in exchange for a 50% share of U.S. profits and losses and tiered royalties ranging from 6% to 10% on ex-U.S. sales by Incyte for these programs. The Company also has the right to elect to provide up to 50% of detailing activities for product candidates arising from one of these programs in the United States. For each of the other up to eight programs, Incyte has agreed to independently fund all development and commercialization activities. For these programs, the Company will be eligible to receive potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments of up to $350 million per program, which could result in an aggregate milestone opportunity of approximately $2.8 billion if all development, regulatory and sales milestones are achieved across all such eight other programs in all territories. The Company will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from 6% to 10% on global sales of any approved products under these eight programs. The Company will retain rights to three of its clinical candidates (MCLA-128, MCLA-117 and MCLA-158), as well as its technology platform and existing and future preclinical programs based on the Companys platform that are outside the scope of the agreement. Share subscription agreement with Incyte Concurrent with the collaboration and license agreement discussed above under Note 13, the Company entered into a share subscription agreement with Incyte on December 20, 2016. On January 23, 2017, under the terms of the share subscription agreement, the Company issued 3,200,000 of its common shares to Incyte at a price per share of $25, for an aggregate purchase price of $80.0 million or 74.7 million, representing 19.9% of the pre-transaction issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. The Company received proceeds of 74.4 million, net of issuance costs of 0.2 million. A 1.1 million discount on the subscription stock price (see Note 9) combined with a 0.4 million foreign currency translation accompanying the issuance of these shares, increased share capital by 0.3 million and share premium by 73.4 million. Issued and Paid-in Share Capital All issued shares have been fully paid in cash. Common Shares For year ended December 31, 2017, 136,666 options were exercised at a weighted average price of 2.24 per share and 7,331 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) vested; as a consequence, 143,997 common shares were issued, share capital increased by 12,960 and share premium increased by 293,660. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 18,283 options were exercised at an exercise price of 1.93 per share. As a result, 18,283 common shares were issued, share capital increased by 1,645 and share premium increased by 33,641. For the year ended December 31, 2015, no options were exercised. As a result of the IPO, all issued and paid-in preferred shares were converted to common shares. The conversion ratio was a one-for-one conversion, taking into consideration the reverse share split that became effective on May 6, 2016. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2016, a total of 1.5 million was paid related to costs that are directly attributable to issuing the new shares. Of this amount, a total of 0.8 million was paid in previous reporting periods. Situation as at December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2017, a total of 19,429,848 common shares were issued and fully paid in cash. At December 31, 2015, a total of 4,149,884 Class C preferred shares, 3,899,104 Class B preferred shares, 229,055 Class A preferred shares and 337,562 common shares with a nominal value of 0.09 each were issued and paid up. Share Premium Reserve The share premium reserve relates to amounts contributed by shareholders at the issue of shares in excess of the par value of the shares issued. All share premium can be considered as free share premium as referred to in the Netherlands Income tax act. Share-based Payment Arrangements In 2010, the Company established the Merus B.V. 2010 Employee Option Plan (the 2010 Plan) that entitled key management personnel, staff and consultants providing similar services to purchase shares in the Company. Under the 2010 Plan, holders of vested options were entitled to purchase depositary receipts for common shares at the exercise price determined at the date of grant. Upon exercise of the option, common shares were issued to a foundation established to facilitate administration of share-based compensation awards and pool the voting interests of the underlying shares, and depositary receipts were issued by the foundation to the individual holders. In connection with the IPO, the 2010 Plan was amended to cancel the depositary receipts and allow individual holders to directly hold the common shares obtained upon exercise of their options. Options granted under the 2010 Plan are exercisable once vested. The options granted under the 2010 Plan vest in installments over a four-year period from the grant date. Twenty-five percent of the options vest on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and the remaining 75% of the options vest in 36 monthly installments for each full month of continuous service provided by the option holder thereafter, such that 100% of the options become vested on the fourth anniversary of the vesting commencement date. Options lapse on the eighth anniversary of the date of grant. Prior to the IPO, participants that voluntarily left the Company, except for members of the former Supervisory Board, were required to offer to the foundation the depositary receipts acquired from exercising options against payment of the exercise price or the lower fair market value of the underlying shares. This obligation for a participant to offer depositary receipts to the foundation upon resignation within four years from exercising the options was treated as a non-market vesting condition. In connection with the IPO, the foundation was dissolved and the common shares underlying depositary receipts distributed. In addition, the 2010 Option Plan was amended such that a participant is no longer required to offer depositary receipts to the foundation upon resignation. The reduction of the vesting period has been accounted for, taking into consideration the modified vesting conditions, to reflect the best estimate available of the options that are expected to vest. At the modification date in 2016, the cumulative expense for the options has been trued-up to reflect the reduced vesting period. This amendment of a non-market vesting (service) condition did not impact the fair value of the options granted. In connection with the IPO, the Company established the 2016 Incentive Award Plan (the 2016 Plan). Following the IPO, the Company is no longer making grants under the 2010 Plan; however, the terms of the 2010 Plan will continue to govern grants made under the 2010 Plan. All new incentive award grants since the IPO are being made under the 2016 Plan. Options granted under the 2016 Plan are exercisable once vested. The options granted under the 2016 Plan vest in installments over a four-year period from the grant date. Twenty-five percent of the options vest on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and the remaining seventy-five percent of the options vest in 36 monthly installments for each full month of continuous service provided by the option holder thereafter, such that 100% of the options shall become vested on the fourth anniversary of the vesting commencement date. Options will lapse on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. The Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) granted under the 2016 Plan also vest in installments over a four-year period from the grant date. Each RSU represents the right to receive one common share of the Company. As stated in the 2016 Plan, the Company also established the Supervisory Board Compensation Program, which was subsequently replaced by the Non-Executive Director Compensation Program to reflect the change in governance structure of the Company (see Note 2). As part of this program, Non-Executive Directors are entitled to cash compensation as well as equity compensation. The equity compensation consists of an initial option grant as well as annual awards. The initial awards granted under the Non-Executive Compensation Program vest in installments over a three year period. Thirty-three percent of the options vest on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and the remaining 67% of the options in 24 substantially equal monthly installments thereafter, such that the award shall be fully vested on the third anniversary of the vesting commencement date. Each subsequent award shall vest and become exercisable in 12 substantially equal monthly installments following the vesting commencement date, such that the subsequent award shall be fully vested on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Share-based payment expenses are recognized as from the IPO date for each subsequent award that a Non-Executive Director is entitled to over their remaining term. Since subsequent awards are not subject to shareholder approval, the grant date is established and expenses are based on grant date fair value. The grant date fair value is not updated in each future reporting period and therefore the estimated fair value is not revised and expense recognized is based on the actual grant date fair value of the awards granted. Measurement of Fair Value of the Equity-settled Share-based Payment Arrangements The fair value of the employee share options has been measured using a binomial option pricing model, including members of the Board of Directors. Service and non-market performance conditions attached to the transactions were not taken into account in measuring fair value. Key management personnel include the Companys executive management and the Board of Directors. T here were 2,213,985 outstanding share options at December 31, 2017 (December 31, 2016: 1,394,844; December 31, 2015: 953,689) with a weighted average exercise price of 13.99 (December 31, 2016: 8.69; December 31, 2015: 5.35). The number of options outstanding, by group of employees, was as follows: Group of employees entitled 2017 December 31, Key management personnel 1,777,437 1,302,417 857,318 All other employees The inputs used in the measurement of the fair values and the related fair values at the grant dates for the options granted during the respective year ended December 31 were as follows: Personnel All Other Employees Key Fair value at grant date 9.04 16.10 8.94 18.02 9.97 11.03 5.74 5.79 3.98 5.76 4.03 5.06 Share price at grant date 17.08 24.54 13.71 27.47 15.24 16.85 8.46 8.87 6.12 7.20 5.94 7.20 Exercise price Expected volatility (weighted-average) 95.05% 94.88% 95.30% 97.15% 94.85% 94.85% Expected life 10 years 10 years 10 years 8 10 years 4 years 8 years Expected dividends 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Risk-free interest rate (based on government bonds) 2.29% 2.51% 2.24% 2.62% 1.84% 1.86% 0.10% 1.87% 0.16% 0.70% 0.16% 0.70% Reconciliation of outstanding share options and RSUs price Number of options Weighted () () () Outstanding at January 1 8.69 1,394,844 5.35 953,689 5.15 192,276 Forfeited during the year 17.27 (58,164 ) 6.07 (31,351 ) 1.93 (1,033 ) Expired during the year 8.67 (762 ) 11.95 (5,454 ) 4.18 (9,216 ) Exercised during the year 2.24 (136,666 ) 1.93 (18,283 ) Granted during the year 19.88 1,014,733 14.74 496,243 5.99 771,662 Outstanding at December 31 13.99 2,213,985 8.69 1,394,844 5.35 953,689 Exercisable at December 31 The options outstanding at December 31, 2017 had an exercise price in the range of 1.93 to 27.47 (2016: 1.93 to 16.85; 2015: 1.93 to 13.50) and a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 8.25 years (2016: 6.68 years; 2015: 3.63 years). On October 5, 2015, the Company amended the exercise price of options granted under the 2010 Option plan prior to January 2015, to be 1.93, which has been reflected in the weighted average exercise price of the options outstanding at December 31, 2015. The weighted-average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised in 2017 was 20.69. During 2017, the Company granted RSUs to Key Management Personnel. RSUs are summarized as follows: 20.03 (12,219 ) Vested during the year 20.03 (7,331 ) 20.03 214,096 Expense Recognized in Profit or Loss For details on the related option expenses recognized as employee benefit expenses, see Note 17. The Companys revenues are generated entirely in the Netherlands. In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by primary source of revenue as follows: (euros in thousands) 2017 Up-front payment amortization 14,933 14 151 Revenue from contracts with customers Income from grants on research projects 1,195 1,387 662 For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized amortization of 14.9 million on up-front payments related to its Incyte agreements. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized approximately 14,000 and 0.2 million, respectively, of amortization of the up-front payment related to its ONO agreement. Collaboration income for the year ended December 31, 2017 was 5.8 million and consisted of cost reimbursements in support of the Companys research and license agreements with Incyte and ONO. The Company did not recognize any research milestones during 2017. During 2016, the Company recognized one research milestone reached by the Company under its agreement with ONO which amounted to 0.7 million. Additionally, the Company received an amount of 0.4 million revenue from a new consultancy agreement that was signed with ONO on March 7, 2016. During 2015, the Company recognized one research milestones which amounted to 1.1 million related to its research and license agreement with ONO. The Company currently has two active grants consisting of cash allowances for specific research and development projects. For these grants, the Company has reporting obligations at the end of the grant contract term. The unconditional receipt of the grant allowances is dependent on the final review of the reporting provided by Merus at the end of the contract term. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company recognized 1.2 million, 1.4 million and 0.7 million in grant income, respectively. On June 12, 2017, the European Commission approved for reimbursement the final installment of the FP-7 grant and the Company subsequently recognized the remaining 0.7 million to grant revenue. On October 16, 2017, the Company received notification from the European Commission requesting the Company to revise its final report and indicated that the remaining 0.4 million of funds were to remain with the Company and distributed to the other beneficiaries to the program. In November 2017, the Company remitted 0.2 million to the other beneficiaries and recognized an additional 0.2 million of grant revenue. Contract Balances A trade receivable is recorded when the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service and has earned the unconditional right to consideration from its customer. Trade receivables relate to invoicing for cost reimbursements and research milestones achieved in support of the Companys research and license agreements with Incyte and ONO. Payment terms relating to these receivables are 30 days. Trade receivables also include billed up-front payments relating to the Incyte Agreements and ONO research and license agreements when billed under the respective agreements. A contract asset is recorded when the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service and has earned the right to consideration from its customer. These assets represent a conditional right to consideration. Contract assets relate to unbilled amounts for cost reimbursements and research milestones achieved in support of the Companys research and license agreements with Incyte and ONO. Contract assets also include unbilled up-front payments relating to the Incyte Agreements and ONO research and license agreements when initially due to the Company under the terms of the respective agreements. A contract liability is recorded when consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services under the terms of the contract. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue as control of the products or services is transferred to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met. Contract liabilities relate to upfront payments received related to the Incyte Agreements, and ONO research and license agreement. (See Note 13). The following table presents changes in the Companys trade receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017: Balance at December 31, 2016 Restated Additions Deductions Balance at December 31, 2017 Restated Trade & other receivables 205 122,781 (121,392 ) 1,594 Total trade & other receivables Contract assets 121,240 (120,530 ) 710 Total contract assets Contract liabilities 31,426 111,993 (14,933 ) 128,486 Total contract liabilities 1,677 (1,472 ) 205 702 (702 ) 14 31,426 (14 ) 31,426 See Note 4 for details regarding the restatement as a result of a change in accounting policy. Deductions from deferred revenue are comprised of revenue recognized that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period totaling 3.2 million and revenue recognized that was not included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period totaling 11.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. Deductions from deferred revenue are comprised of revenue recognized that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period totaling approximately 14,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. Manufacturing costs IP and license costs Personnel related R&D Other research and development costs Total research and development costs 13,697 4,258 768 Litigation costs Total other expenses Research and development costs were 34.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to 18.4 million for 2016. The increases in research and development costs is primarily attributable to the increase in manufacturing costs, higher research and development headcount and related costs, including share-based payment expenses, as well as additional spending in support of the Companys preclinical and clinical development programs for MCLA-128, MCLA-117, MCLA-158 and MCLA-145. The significant increase in manufacturing costs during 2017 relate primarily to the expansion of the Companys Phase 1 and Phase 1/2 clinical programs. Specifically, the Company incurred higher costs relating to outsourced contract manufacturing for process development and drug delivery in support of the Company clinical development programs. Personnel related research and development expenses mainly increased due to higher headcount to support the expansion of clinical programs and additional expenses resulting from the implementation of the new option plan in 2016 (see Note 14) whereas initial equity grants made in 2016 with higher market valuations were expensed over a full year in 2017. Other research and development costs represent costs related to expenditures to contract research organizations and related expenses in support of preclinical and clinical activities. Management and administrative costs consist of salaries and related expenses for employees in finance, legal, human resources and business development functions. These costs include all salary, salary related expenses and share-based payment expenses. The large increase in management and administrative costs during 2017 was due primarily to the expansion of the Companys headcount in finance, legal and business development functions to support the expansion of the Companys operations. Other operating expenses consist primarily of expenses related to professional fees for consulting, audit, and tax services of 4.0 million (2016: 1.7 million, 2015: 1.0 million) which support the finance function in maintaining and establishing public company status and general legal, insurance and facility related expenses amounting to 3.2 million (2016: 3.9 million, 2015: 2.2 million). The increase in these costs during 2017 is due to the expansion of the Companys operations to support ongoing growth and public company requirements. Litigation costs relate to ongoing legal proceedings which are more fully described under Litigation. The decline in 2017 when compared to 2016 is a result of lower litigation activity with regard to the Regeneron litigation as described below. A breakdown of other research and development costs is presented as follows: Discovery and pre-clinical costs Clinical costs Total other research and development costs Other research and development costs consist mainly of consultancy expenses related to R&D activities, which cannot be specifically allocated to a research project. On March 11, 2014 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Regeneron) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the Court), alleging that the Company was infringing on one or more claims in Regenerons U.S. Patent No. 8,502,018 (the 018 patent), entitled Methods of Modifying Eukaryotic Cells. On July 3, 2014, the Company filed a response to the complaint, denying Regenerons allegations of infringement and raising affirmative defenses, and filed counterclaims seeking, among other things, a declaratory judgment that the Company did not infringe the patent and that the patent was invalid. The Company subsequently filed amended counterclaims during the period from August to December 2014, seeking a declaratory judgment of unenforceability of the patent due to Regenerons commission of inequitable conduct. On November 21, 2014, the Court found that there was clear and convincing evidence that a claim term present in each of the patent claims was indefinite and granted the Companys proposed claim constructions. On February 24, 2015, the Court entered partial judgment in the proceeding, on the grounds that the Company did not infringe each of the patent claims, and that each of the patent claims were invalid due to indefiniteness. On November 2, 2015, the Court found Regeneron had withheld material information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office during prosecution of the patent, and Regeneron had engaged in inequitable conduct and affirmative egregious misconduct in connection with the prosecution of the patent. On December 18, 2015, Regeneron filed an appeal of the Courts decision. On July 27, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the trial courts conclusion that Regeneron had engaged in inequitable conduct before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and affirmed that Regenerons 018 patent is unenforceable. Regeneron petitioned for a panel rehearing and rehearing en banc of this decision by the Federal Circuit on September 12, 2017, which the Company responded to and opposed on November 2, 2017. On December 26, 2017, the full Federal Circuit denied Regenerons request to rehear the matter. The case is returned to the District Court to adjudicate the Companys motion requesting that Regeneron pay Merus attorneys fees and costs incurred as a result of Regeneron filing suit. On March 11, 2014, Regeneron served a writ in the Netherlands alleging that the Company was infringing one or more claims in their European patent EP 1 360 287 B1. The Company opposed the patent in June 2014. On September 17, 2014, Regenerons patent EP 1 360 287 B1 was revoked in its entirety by the European Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (the EPO). In Europe, an appeal hearing occurred in October and November 2015 at the Technical Board of Appeal for the EPO at which time the patent was reinstated to Regeneron with amended claims. The Company believes that its current business operations do not infringe the patent reinstated to Regeneron with amended claims because it believes it has not used the technology or methods claimed under the amended claims. The Dutch litigation procedure is stayed. The costs incurred in the above litigation and opposition (1.0 million in 2017; 1.5 million in 2016; 4.4 million in 2015) are included in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss for the period. On July 15, 2014, a notice of opposition against Merus EP 2314629 patent (the EP 629 patent), entitled Recombinant Production of Mixtures of Antibodies was filed in the European Patent Office (the EPO) by Regeneron. The notice asserted, as applicable, added subject matter, lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, and insufficiency. Merus responded on February 24, 2015. Following an oral hearing before the Opposition Division of the EPO on June 22, 2016, the Opposition Division upheld the EP 629 Patent with amendments. Both Regeneron and Merus filed a notice of appeal followed by grounds of appeal on December 1st and 4th, 2017 respectively, with further proceedings to follow. On August 11, 2014, a notice of opposition against Merus EP 2147594 (the EP 594 patent), entitled Antibody Producing Non-Human Mammals was filed in the European Patent Office (the EPO) by Regeneron. The notice asserted, as applicable, lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, and insufficiency. The Companys response to the oppositions was filed on April 2, 2015. Following an oral hearing before the Opposition Division of the EPO on October 28, 2016, the Opposition Division upheld the EP 594 Patent without amendments. Regeneron filed grounds of appeal on July 19, 2017, and Merus responded on November 30, 2017. Based on the current facts and circumstances no provision has been recognized under IAS 37 related to contingent liabilities. Operating expenses presented by nature are outlined below: Other external and outsourced costs Employee costs & related benefits The increases in costs of contract manufacturing and other external and outsourced costs are mainly due to the increase in the Companys preclinical and clinical operations in support of its programs for MCLA-128, MCLA-117, MCLA-158 and MCLA-145. The other external and outsourced costs consist mainly of preclinical costs of 2.5 million (2016: 5.2 million, 2015: 2.5 million), clinical costs of 5.9 million (2016: 3.4 million, 2015: 1.9 million) and IP costs of 2.9 million (2016: 2.7 million, 2015: 5.5 million). Details of the employee benefits are as follows: Salaries and wages WBSO subsidy (3,523 ) (1,721 ) (348 ) Social security premiums Pension costs Other personnel expense 656 442 Share-based payment expenses (see Note 14) were recognized as employee benefit expenses as follows: (euros in thousands) 2017 2016 2015 The WBSO (afdrachtvermindering speur- en ontwikkelingswerk) is a Dutch fiscal facility that provides subsidies to companies, knowledge centers and self-employed people who perform research and development activities (as defined in the WBSO Act). Under this Act, a contribution is paid towards the labor costs of employees and other costs directly involved in research and development. The contribution is in the form of a reduction of payroll taxes and social security contributions. Subsidies relating to labor costs are deferred and recognized in the income statement as negative labor costs over the period necessary to match them with the labor costs that they are expected to be incurred. The Company has received and recognized subsidies of 3.5 million (2016: 1.7 million; 2015: 0.3 million). The increases in subsidies for each year are primarily attributable to the increase in the Companys eligible research and development activities and the expansion of the Companys preclinical and clinical development programs for MCLA-128, MCLA-117, MCLA-158 and MCLA-145. The average number of personnel during the year was approximately 69 (2016: 45; 2015: 32), with a majority employed in the Netherlands, with the exception of an average of ten (2016: two; 2015: nil) employees employed in the United States. Employees are principally employed in the area of research and development. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, a total of 21 and 11 employees, respectively, which are devoted to activities other than research and development, are included under management and administration costs. Finance Income and Expense Interest and related income 1,112 88 50 Net loss on foreign exchange (19,449 ) (409 ) Interest and other expenses (190 ) Interest income primarily results from interest earned on cash held on account and accretion of investment earnings. The Companys current year increase in cash, cash equivalents and investments was due primarily from the $200 million of funds received as part of the Incyte Agreements during the first quarter of 2017. During 2017, the Company has held the $200 million of Incyte funds in short-term investments with a one month maturity, callable on demand, and later in the year, in short-term investments in securities issued by several public corporations and United States Treasury, denominated and held in U.S. dollars. In July and August 2017, the Company converted $50.3 million of U.S. dollars into euros from the account effectively realizing exchange losses of 4.4 million, included in net loss on foreign exchange for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company experienced losses on its U.S. dollar denominated cash, cash equivalents and investments of approximately 19.4 million and 0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, the Company held approximately $98.0 million and $49.4 million in U.S. dollar denominated cash and cash equivalent accounts and investment accounts, respectively, subject to the fluctuation in foreign currency between the euro and U.S. dollar. On December 20, 2016, the Company entered into the Incyte Agreements. As these contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company determined that the subscription agreement to sell its own shares to which the Company became committed on December 20, 2016, should be accounted for as a forward contract or a derivative financial instrument which was recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2016. The interest expense and similar expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 include an amount of 10.7 million related to the effective settlement of the forward contract on January 23, 2017, the date the shares were issued and the date through which the related expense was incurred. During 2017, the Company expensed 0.2 million of prepaid share issuance costs related to a potential future issuance of shares under the Companys F-3 Registration Statement when the future issuance was no longer consider probable. Loss per share (a) Basic and Diluted Loss per Share Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average numbers of shares outstanding during the year. (Euros in thousands, except per share data) Loss attributable to equity holders of the Company Weighted average number of shares 19,196,440 13,236,649 5,871,237 Basic (and diluted) loss per share ( per share) (b) Diluted Loss per Share (c) Dividends per Share The Company did not declare dividends for any of the years presented in these financial statements. The Company is exposed to a variety of financial risks: credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk. The Companys overall risk management program seeks to minimize potential adverse effects of these financial risk factors on the Companys financial performance. Management is primarily responsible for the overall risk management approach and for the approval of risk strategies and principles of the Company. The Companys Audit Committee oversees these risk management activities. The Companys management reviews and approves policies for managing each of these risks which are summarized below. Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises principally from the Companys receivables from its collaborators and investments in debt securities and financial institutions. The Companys principal financial assets are held to maturity investments, trade receivables, and cash and cash equivalents that are derived primarily from financing activities and, to a lesser extent, from its operations. The main purpose of these financial assets are to support the Companys operations which consist primarily of research and development, preclinical and clinical development and related manufacturing in support of the Companys preclinical and clinical development programs for MCLA-128, MCLA-117, MCLA-158 and MCLA-145. The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. Financial asset (derivative) 11,847 Trade and unbilled receivables Cash and cash equivalents include deposits held with financial institutions with original maturities of less than three months. Investments, held to maturity, include commercial paper, securities issued by several public corporations and the United States Treasury with a maturity date of greater than three months at the date of settlement. These investments were acquired in fourth quarter of 2017. Cash and cash equivalents are held at banks and financial institutions with credit ratings varying between A and AA while investments are in highly rated vehicles with identical credit ratings. As discussed in Note 9, the Company entered into a share subscription agreement with Incyte in December 2016. As the contract is denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company determined that the forward contract to sell its own shares at a future date represented a derivative financial instrument. The remaining fair value of the derivative recognized in the statement of financial position at December 31, 2016 was 11.8 million. The Company had determined the fair value of this derivative utilizing the Bloomberg Pricing System and the Companys closing stock prices at each valuation date which are significant Level 2 observable inputs. The settlement of the forward contract occurred through the delivery shares to Incyte upon the closing of the share subscription agreement during the first quarter of 2017 thereby extinguishing the derivative financial asset. The aging of trade and unbilled receivables was as follows: Balance per December 31 in thousands of euros 2017 2016 Neither past due nor impaired There is no allowance for impairment. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. The Companys core objective is to maintain a balance between continuity of funding and flexibility through the monitoring of cash flows at varying levels to ensure that it has sufficient cash on demand to meet expected operational expenses. The following are the remaining contractual maturities of financial liabilities at the reporting date. The amounts are gross and undiscounted, and include estimated interest payments and excluding the impact of netting agreements: amount Total < 12 months 1 - 2 years More 2,855 2,855 2,855 Secured bank loans 486 526 190 181 155 6,463 6,503 6,167 181 155 The secured bank loan was paid in full on March 31, 2017. Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates will affect the Companys income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimizing the return. The Companys market risk relates to foreign exchange and to a lesser extent, interest risks. Foreign currency risk Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognized assets and liabilities in foreign currencies. With respect to monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, the Companys primary currency exposure is impacted by monetary assets and liabilities denominated in U.S. Dollars (USD). Changes in sensitivity rates reflect various changes in the economy year-over-year. The following table provides a sensitivity analysis for a change in the primary currency exposure for the Company relating to monetary assets and liabilities denominated in USD as of December 31, 2017. The analysis shows the impact that a change in the exchange rate at that date would have on the Companys total comprehensive loss: Financial Statement Line Item Exposure Balance (in thousands) Effect on profit before tax if USD strengthens 5% (in thousands) Effect on profit weakens 5% (in 88,538 3,691 (3,691 ) 2,311 97 (97 ) Trade payables, other liabilities and accruals (1,420 ) (59 ) 59 136,739 5,701 (5,701 ) The closing exchange rates per the European Central Bank (ECB) utilized above for converting USD to EUR at December 31, 2017 was 0.834. Exposure to interest rate risk The interest rate profile of the Companys interest-bearing financial instruments is as follows: Carrying amount Balance per December 31 in thousands of euros Fixed-rate instruments (486 ) Variable rate instruments Due to the limited impact of changes in interest rates on the Company no sensitivity data is provided. Accounting classifications and fair values The Company classifies financial assets and financial liabilities into the loans and receivables and other financial liability categories except for the derivative recognized as a result of the Incyte collaboration and share Subscription agreement as more fully described in Note 9. The fair value of the financial assets and financial liabilities not measured at fair value is not disclosed, as the carrying amount of the financial assets and financial liabilities is a reasonable approximation of the fair value. Accordingly, information on the fair value hierarchy is omitted. The fair value of the derivative related to the Incyte collaboration and share Subscription agreement was recorded using Level 2 inputs. For determining the fair value the Company has used as valuation technique the Bloomberg forward pricing model. In this valuation the inputs used are related to the foreign exchange component (spot prices of EUR and USD), closing stock prices of the Company, as well as discount rates to reflect the time value of money (limited). On January 23, 2017, the Company settled the forward contract by delivering shares to Incyte upon the closing of the share subscription agreement, thereby extinguishing the derivative financial asset. Board Compensation and Key Management Personnel On May 29, 2017, the Company changed its governance structure from a two-tier model consisting of a Management Board acting under the supervision of a separate Supervisory Board to a one-tier board model with a unitary Board of Directors consisting of an Executive Director and Non-Executive Directors. In the one-tier board model, the Board of Directors as a collective (i.e., the Executive Director and the Non-Executive Directors) are charged with both the management and monitoring functions of the Companys general course of affairs inclusive of the Companys overall business strategy and financial policies. The Executive Director manages the day to-day business and operations of the Company and implements the Companys strategy. The Non-Executive directors focus on the supervision of policy and the performance of the duties of all directors, as well as the Companys general state of affairs. Prior to May 29, 2017, the Companys Management Board was in charge of managing the Company and consisted of Ton Logtenberg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Shelly Margetson, the former Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ms. Margetson resigned as a statutory director of the Company effective as of May 24, 2017 and ended her employment with the Company effective as of August 1, 2017. The Supervisory Board was responsible for the supervision of the Management Board and the general course of affairs of the Company. Subsequent to May 29, 2017, the members of the Supervisory Board are now Non-Executive Directors while Mr. Logtenberg remains as the lone Executive Director on the unitary Board of Directors. In addition to Board of Directors, the Company employs certain Key Management Personnel responsible for executing the day-to-day business and operations of the Company. Key Management Personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company. The Company includes the following employees in this classification: John Crowley, Chief Financial Officer, Hui Liu, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, Andres Sirulnik, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Mark Throsby, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Alexander Berthold Hendrik Bakker, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer. In 2017, 2016, and 2015 the following amounts were charged to the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss for the remuneration of the statutory directors: Gross Salary Bonus Pension Option cost Total (Amounts in Euros) Ton Logtenberg, CEO 432,782 337,945 51,528 4,675,590 5,497,845 369,204 147,820 17,717 907,236 1,441,977 236,032 89,072 18,591 1,910,204 2,253,899 Shelley Margetson(), COO () 420,782 19,595 451,752 892,129 198,987 84,000 6,152 164,547 453,686 159,749 37,365 13,824 284,938 495,876 Resigned as a statutory director of the Company effective as of May 24, 2017. () Gross salary includes severance payments totaling 257,260. During the year ended December 31, 2017, Mr. Logtenberg was granted 377,271 options and 123,745 RSUs while Ms. Margetson was granted 59,605 options and 19,550 RSUs. In addition, upon her separation date, Ms. Margetson was entitled to an accelerated vesting of any unvested Company options and restricted stock units held that would have vested during the 12-month period following her separation date. As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Logtenberg held 661,629 options (2016: 376,912; and 2015: 54,866) with a weighted average exercise price of 14.20 (2016: 2.98; 2015: 5.35) and 123,745 RSUs. The remainder of the key management personnel has received the following remuneration for the year 2017. Short term employment benefits Post-employment benefits Other long term benefits Termination benefits Share based payments 5,171,233 1,195,876 57,065 Some of the key management personnel have long term benefits in the form of life and long term disability insurance policies which have been affected in their name as well as severance conditions in case of termination without cause or leave for good reason. A number of key management personnel, or their related parties, hold positions in other companies that result in them having control or significant influence over these companies. These companies did not enter into transactions with the Company during the year. On October 27, 2016, the Company appointed Andres Sirulnik as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). A total 219,890 options over common shares were granted to Dr. Sirulnik with an exercise price of 16.85 per option. On February 15, 2017, the Company appointed Peter Silverman as its Senior Vice President, Legal (SVP). A total 50,000 options over common shares were granted to Mr. Silverman with an exercise price of 24.54 per option. On November 1, 2016, the Company appointed John Crowley as its Chief Financial Officer. A total of 183,241 options over common shares were granted to Mr. Crowley with an exercise price of 15.24 per option. On October 5, 2015, the Company amended the exercise price of options granted under the 2010 Option plan prior to January 2015, to be 1.93. Those option holders that had already exercised options under this plan were reimbursed the excess paid over 1.93 per share. This amounted in a total reimbursement of 60,935. In May 2016, the Company established the Supervisory Board Remuneration Program, which was subsequently replaced by the Non-Executive Compensation Program to reflect the change in governance structure of the Company. As part of this program, Non-Executive Directors are entitled to cash compensation as well as equity compensation. The equity compensation consists of an initial option grant as well as subsequent annual awards. The following amounts were charged to the consolidated statement of profit or loss and comprehensive loss for the remuneration of the members of the Board: December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 compensation Option cost Total Cash cost Total (Amounts in Euros) (Amounts in Euros) (Amounts in Euros) Mark Iwicki 59,840 120,596 180,436 50,394 183,367 233,761 26,325 115,380 141,705 Wolfgang Berthold 37,530 90,944 128,474 19,850 50,928 70,778 15,475 15,475 Lionel Carnot 35,445 61,870 97,315 24,852 66,959 91,811 John de Koning 38,573 113,613 152,186 26,230 37,000 63,230 Anand Mehra 39,615 83,683 123,298 26,938 84,703 111,641 Gregory Perry 41,700 103,169 144,869 28,356 97,365 125,721 Gabriele Dallmann() 11,000 5,795 16,795 Gerard van Odijk(*) 16,298 16,298 252,703 573,875 826,578 176,620 520,322 696,942 37,235 152,948 190,273 former board member As at December 31, members of the Board held the following number of options: December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 December, 31 2015 Number Weighted price Number Weighted 79,226 7.32 73,576 6.57 73,576 6.57 22,650 11.80 17,000 8.87 16,828 3.24 4,272 1.93 21,874 1.93 193,866 9.61 185,128 7.21 113,890 4.93 Related party disclosures For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, certain Key Management Personnel and other senior management received regular salaries, bonuses and contributions to post-employment schemes as well as non-cash compensation as disclosed in Note 21. Additionally, members of the Board of Directors received compensation for their services in the form of cash compensation as well as non-cash compensation, as disclosed in Note 21. On May 24, 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Shelley Margetson, the Companys former Chief Operating Officer pursuant to which Ms. Margetson resigned as a statutory director of the Company effective as of May 24, 2017 and ended her employment with the Company effective as of August 1, 2017. As part of the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. Margetson is entitled to a severance payment equal to 12 months of her annual base salary, 50% of which was paid in a lump sum in August 2017 and the remaining 50% is being paid in the form of salary continuation over the six-month period following August 1, 2017. In addition, Ms. Margetson was entitled to an accelerated vesting of any unvested Company options and restricted stock units held by Ms. Margetson that would have vested during the 12-month period following her separation date. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has a remaining accrual of less than 0.1 million related to this agreement included in accrued personnel. As disclosed in Note 13 and Note 15, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement and a share subscription agreement with Incyte in which the terms and transactional amounts incurred between Incyte and the Company are more fully described. As of March 28, 2018, the following shareholders currently hold a position in the Board of Directors and have filed a form 13-D to reflect ownership in the Company of greater than 5%: Bay City Capital Coöperatief U.A. Coöperatief LSP IV U.A. Sofinnova Venture Partners IX, L.P. Additionally, Ton Logtenberg, the Companys CEO) and Executive Director, is the sole the Director and owner of Biophrase BV (Biophrase). As of March 28, 2018, Biophrase is a less than 1% shareholder. There were no transactions between the Company and Biophrase BV in 2017. Operating leases On November 1, 2016, Merus N.V. closed a new lease agreement with Stichting Incubator Utrecht for a new office building. The agreement term is for five years and expires in the fourth quarter of 2021. If the lease is not terminated by Merus, it will be automatically renewed for a period of two years. The agreed rental price is 434 thousand per year. The Company moved into the new office building in November 2016. For the years ended December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company recognized an amount of 564 thousand and 270 thousand, respectively, for rent and service charges related to the abovementioned buildings. Future minimum lease payments under this lease as at December 31, 2017 are payable as follows: Less than one year Between one and five years More than five years On January 8, 2018, the Company and Simcere Pharmaceutical Group executed a collaboration and license agreement and agreed to grant Simcere an exclusive license to develop and commercialize in China three bispecific antibodies utilizing the Companys Biclonics® technology platform in the area of immuno-oncology. The Company will retain all rights outside of China. As part of the agreement, the Company has agreed to lead research and discovery activities while Simcere has agreed to be responsible for the Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies, clinical development, regulatory filings and commercialization of these product candidates in China. As a key strategic component of the collaboration, Simcere will be responsible for IND enabling studies and manufacturing of clinical trial materials in China, which the Company intends to use to assist regulatory filing and early stage clinical development in the rest of the world. Finally, the Company will receive an upfront and be eligible to receive milestone payments contingent upon Simcere achieving certain specified development and commercial goals. The Company will be eligible to receive tiered royalty payments on sales of any products resulting from the collaboration in China from Simcere. Simcere will be eligible to receive tiered royalty payments on sales outside of China from the Company. On February 13, 2018, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement with the purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 3,099,997 of its common shares, nominal value 0.09 per share, to the Investors for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $55.8 million, at a purchase price equal to $18.00 per share. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from the Company and the Investors and customary closing conditions. The closing of the Private Placement occurred on February 15, 2018. On February 13, 2018, in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investors. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to prepare and file a registration statement with the SEC no later than May 15, 2018 for purposes of registering the resale of the Shares. As part of the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to cause this registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC prior to the 120th day after the Closing Date (or the 150th day if the SEC reviews the registration statement). On March 14, 2018, we entered into a second contract research and license agreement with ONO. Pursuant to an exclusive option granted to ONO in a prior agreement executed in April 2014, ONO exercised its option to enter into the March 2018 agreement. We granted ONO an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license, with the right to sublicense, research, test, make, use and market bispecific antibody candidates based on our Biclonics® technology platform against two undisclosed targets directed to a particular undisclosed target combination. ONO identifies and selects the licensed bispecific antibodies for which it is responsible for conducting further non-clinical and clinical development activities for such licensed bispecific antibodies and pharmaceutical products containing such antibodies, including manufacture and process development. ONO controls and has exclusive rights over the worldwide commercialization of any approved products, including worldwide supply, and is solely responsible for all costs and expenses related to commercialization. ONO has agreed to fund our research and development activities and be responsible for the payment of all costs and expenses for its own research and development activities, which are set out in a mutually agreed upon research plan. We retain all rights to use and commercialize any antibodies that are generated under the collaborative research program, excluding the up to five lead and/or selected antibodies against the targets ONO is pursuing, provided that the use and commercialization is not with respect to the particular target combination. ONO has agreed to pay an upfront non-refundable payment of 700,000 for the rights granted and we are also eligible to receive an aggregate of 33.7 million in milestone payments upon achievement of specified research and clinical development milestones. For products commercialized under the License Agreement, if any, the Company is eligible to receive a mid-single digit royalty on net sales. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 333-218432) on Form F-3 and F-3/A of Merus N.V. of our report dated April 30, 2018, except as to Note 4 which is as of December 27, 2018, with respect to the consolidated financial position of Merus N.V. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), which report appears in this Form 6-K of Merus N.V. dated December 27, 2018. Our report refers to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2542
__label__cc	0.608901	0.391099	The Gospel of Mark: in Search of an Ending! December 21, 2011 · Christianity When believing Christians look at any information with the assumption that Jesus died for their sins on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day, then regardless of the information, they bend it to their ends, as they are looking through the colored lenses of their biases and preconceived ideas. However, if they look at any new information with an open mind and new possibilities then they may come up with more enlightened conclusions. Read on, and in the words of Sir Francis Bacon’s advice, “Read not to contradict … but to weigh and consider.” Billions of humans have lived on the planet earth over the centuries and the world population is almost 7 billion at present and none are alleged to be candidate for bodily resurrection on our planet, other than Jesus of Nazareth. If with these prior probabilities we create the possibility that may be Jesus did not resurrect, then the empty tomb and the missing ending of the Gospel of Mark, brings new light to the reader. One of the most dramatic facts highlighting human interpolation in the Bible is that the conclusion of the gospel of Mark, full 12 verses, are a later addition. This vulnerability is broadly acknowledged now in the Christian circles, see the New International Version of the Bible as an example. It has recently been acknowledged by the Pope Benedict XVI himself as well! Did the writer of Mark leave it open ended because Jesus had not died on the cross and had been resuscitated, and there was no resurrection? Even the Pope Benedict XVI has acknowledged this fact in his recent writing.[1][2] Given the missing twelve verses, the Gospel of Mark has been described by some as lacking a resurrection narrative, if not totally lacking lacking at least it has only a minimal resurrection narrative and in its original form, it ended abruptly at the scene of empty tomb. Prof. Bart Ehrman describes the missing ending or the last 12 verses of the Mark that had been added at a later time in the following words in his recent book, Forged: Writing in the Name of God–Why the Bible’s Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are: Another famous example occurs at the end of the Gospel of Mark. It is sometimes said by people who have not read the concluding chapter of Mark’s Gospel closely enough that it ‘lacks a resurrection narrative.’ Strictly speaking, that is not true. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus is certainly raised from the dead. The women go to the tomb three days after he was buried in order to give his body a proper burial, but the body is not there. Instead, there is a man in the tomb who informs them that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Mark, therefore, believes that Jesus was physically raised from the dead, and he tells his readers as much. But what is most astonishing is what happens next. The man at the tomb instructs the women to go to the disciples and tell them that Jesus will go before them to Galilee and that they are to meet him there. But instead of telling the disciples, ‘the women fled from the tomb . . . and they did not say anything to anyone, for they were afraid’ (16:8). And that’s where the Gospel ends. There is definitely a resurrection of Jesus here. But the disciples never learn of it, and there is no account of Jesus’s meeting with any of them. This ending is brilliant. It brings readers up short and makes them say, ‘What??? How could the women not tell anyone? How could no one learn of ]esus’s resurrection? How could Jesus not appear to anyone afterwards? That’s it? That’s the end? How could that be the end?’ Scribes felt the same way. And, different scribes added different endings to the Gospel. The ending that became the most popular throughout the Middle Ages was found in the manuscripts used by the translators of the King James Version in 1611, so that it became widely familiar to English Bible readers. In an additional twelve verses the women (or at least Mary Magdalene) do go tell the disciples, who do then see Jesus and become convinced he has been raised. It is in these verses that we find the famous words of Jesus that those who believe in him will be able to speak in foreign tongues, pick up serpents, and drink poison without suffering any harm. But Jesus never said these words, and Mark never claimed he did. They were added to Mark by a later scribe and then recopied over the years. This is a fabricated story that has been put into the Bible by a copyist who falsified the text.[3] Bart Ehrman gives the following speculations for the missing ending of the Gospel of Mark, “This ending is brilliant. It brings readers up short and makes them say, ‘What??? How could the women not tell anyone? How could no one learn of ]esus’s resurrection? How could Jesus not appear to anyone afterwards? That’s it? That’s the end? How could that be the end?'” I believe what is more consistent with other historical information is that Mark left it open ended as there were enough people who knew that Jesus had not die on the cross. Mark being the earliest of the canonical gospels had to contend with the earliest followers of Jesus who were not so easily given to hype and propaganda. The writers of later gospels enjoyed greater freedom to insert half truths and exaggerations. This explanation of lack of ending of Mark is in keeping with the historical facts that I have presented in two of my other articles: Jesus did not die on the cross If Jesus did not die upon the cross: A study in evidence Why the writer of Mark had less of a license to play with reality than the writer of John; to explain this I quote an excerpt from Robert Wright that is particularly insightful in understanding the different books of the New Testament: “Hard evidence about the ‘historical Jesus’ is scanty. The Bible’s gospel accounts of Jesus’s life and words-the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – were written sometime between 65 and 100 CE, thirty-five to seventy years after his death. By that time, their raw material, stories then circulating about Jesus in oral or written form, had no doubt been shaped by the psychological and rhetorical needs of his followers. (The letters of Paul – New Testament books such as Philippians and Romans – were written earlier, beginning around twenty years after Jesus’s death. Unfortunately, they say almost nothing about Jesus’s life and very little about his words.) The book of Mark is generally considered the most factually reliable of the four gospels. It was written around 70 CE, roughly four decades after the Crucifixion. That’s a long lag, but it offers less time for the accrual of dubious information than the roughly five decades available for Matthew and Luke or the six or seven decades for John. What’s more, during Mark’s composition there would have been people sixty or seventy years old who as young adults had personally witnessed the doings and sayings of Jesus and knew his biographical details – and whose recollections may have constrained the author’s inventiveness. This population would shrink during the decade or more before other gospels took shape, expanding creative freedom. Certainly as we move through the gospels in the order of their composition, we can see the accumulation of more and more dubious information. Mark doesn’t give us anything like ‘the plain unvarnished truth,’ but his story is plainly less varnished than are later accounts. (The actual name and identity of the author of Mark, as with the other gospels, is unknown, but in all cases, for convenience, I’ll call the authors by the names of their books.) Consider the problem of Jesus being from a humble village, Nazareth. The Hebrew Bible had said that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David and, like David, would be born in Bethlehem. Mark never addresses the question of how ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ could have been born in Bethlehem. But by the time Matthew and Luke were written, an answer had emerged – two answers, even. Luke says Jesus’s parents went to Bethlehem for a census and returned to Nazareth after his birth. In Matthew’s version, Jesus’s parents just seem to live in Bethlehem. How then would Jesus wind up in Nazareth? Through an elaborate side story that has the family fleeing to Egypt under duress and then, upon leaving Egypt, deeming a return to Bethlehem dangerous, and settling in ‘a town called Nazareth.’ This contradiction between Luke and Matthew suggests that in this case, Mark, the earliest gospel, is the place to find the awkward truth: Jesus of Nazareth was Jesus of Nazareth. (Mathew 2:23) John (1:46-49) solves the Nazareth problem in yet another way. Indeed, by the time of John there has been a general change in the tenor of Jesus’s miracles. In Mark, Jesus didn’t do miracles ostentatiously, and sometimes he even took pains to perform them in private. (An answer to critics who .noted that few people other than Jesus’s followers claimed witness to his miracles?) In John, Jesus turns miracles into spectacles. Before raising Lazarus from the dead-something Jesus does in no other gospel-he says Lazarus’s illness was ‘for God’s glory, so that the son of God may be glorified through it.’ Moreover, the miracles are now explicitly symbolic. When Jesus heals a blind man, he says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ (Mark 5:37, Luke 8:51, John 11:4 & 9:5) A fairly immodest claim – but John’s Jesus is not a modest man. In no previous gospel does Jesus equate himself with God. But in John he says, ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:30) Christian legend and theology have by this point had sixty or seventy years to evolve, and they are less obedient than ever to memories of the real, human Jesus. All of this suggests that if we are going to try to make a stab at reconstructing the ‘historical Jesus,’ even in broadest outlines, Mark, the earliest gospel, is the place to start. There, more than in any other account of Jesus’s life and sayings, the number of plainly awkward and barely varnished facts suggests at least some degree of factualness.”[4] Pope Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection. Ignatius Press, 2011. Page 260. http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-pope-benedict-s-account-of/1qhnnhcumbuyp/355# Prof. Bart Ehrman. Forged: Writing in the Name of God–Why the Bible’s Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are. Harper One, 2011. Pages 242-243. Robert Wright. The Evolution of God. Little Brown and Company, 2009. Pages 249-254.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2543
__label__wiki	0.828411	0.828411	Northeast India: Where India’s ‘Act-East’ Meets Japan’s ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Rupakjyoti Borah March 2, 2018 12:26 am Leave your thoughts Act-East Policy, ASEAN, Assam, China-India, Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, Global Investors’ Summit, India-ASEAN, India-Myanmar-Thailand, Japan-India relations, Nagaland, Narendra Modi, Northeast India, OBOR, RCEP, Shinzo Abe, Singapore, TPP India’s Republic Day celebrations, earlier in January this year, were attended by the heads of state of all 10 ASEAN nations in an unmistakable sign of the growing bonhomie between the two sides. The ASEAN region has taken a place of pride in India’s Act-East Policy, which aims at New Delhi’s re-engagement with the countries of Southeast and East Asia, where historically it has had influence. Taken as a whole, ASEAN represents the world’s third largest market, with a combined population of more than 630 million people. As part of the Act-East Policy, India is already building the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, which is expected to be completed by 2019, and could well be extended all the way to Vietnam. At the same time, governments in Northeast India are stepping on the gas as far as economic initiatives in the region are concerned. The Global Investors’ Summit, held in the Northeast state of Assam earlier in February, will go a long way in encouraging foreign companies, including those from ASEAN countries, to invest in this corner of India. In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest bridge, 9.15 kilometers across, over the Brahmaputra river in Assam. Modi has also termed the Northeast as the ”new engine of India’s growth”. In the not-too-distant future, there is a chance that the Guwahati airport in Assam would be connected to more ASEAN cities. It is already connected to Bangkok, Thailand. What’s In It for ASEAN? India is one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. It is also a young country in terms of the median age of its population, thus presenting a huge opportunity for firms from the ASEAN countries. Engagement with India would also help the ASEAN countries develop an alternative to the Chinese model of investment. Although all ASEAN members have welcomed Beijing’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, many of them still have reservations about Beijing’s real intentions. ASEAN countries, like Singapore, are also looking at Northeast India in a new light. Singapore has signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a skills development center in Guwahati. The Assam state government is also inviting ASEAN countries to set up consulates in Guwahati. Going forward, however, there are quite a few challenges before the India-ASEAN engagement through Northeast India can pick up steam. One of the major challenges lies in the development of adequate infrastructure, as Northeast India lags behind many other parts of the country in this respect. Then, there is the issue of power supply, as adequate electricity will need to be supplied to new industrial plants when they begin operations. Meanwhile, trade levels between India and ASEAN members have been much lower than their actual potential. In 2016-2017, ASEAN-India trade stood at only US$71 billion. Although the number of Indian tourists bound for ASEAN countries has increased, India still only accounts for 3% of tourist arrivals in the ASEAN region. On the other hand, the number of tourists from ASEAN countries to India continues to be dismal. Overall, trade with India accounts for only 2.6 per cent of ASEAN’s total trade. India and the ASEAN countries are also discussing the prospect of signing a RCEP or Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement along with a few other countries, which has assumed more significance after the United States pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Possibilities for Cooperation with Japan Japan has a historical connection with the northeast part of India, dating back to the World War II. Tokyo also has rich experience of working with the ASEAN countries. In light of China’s OBOR initiative, Japan is trying in its own way to increase its influence in the ASEAN region. Tokyo has been involved closely with ASEAN countries like Myanmar, a country which also serves as India’s land-bridge to the ASEAN region. It is in places like Myanmar and Northeast India that India and Japan could effectively pool their resources and expertise. In recent times, Japan has contributed Official Development Assistance loans for the North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 1), to the tune of 67.17 billion yen. Japan is also involved in initiatives like the Guwahati water supply scheme and the Nagaland Forest Management Project. The joint statement signed during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India in September 2017 noted that “the two Prime Ministers welcomed the India-Japan cooperation on development of India’s North Eastern Region.” Hence, Northeast India could not only serve as a bridge between India and the ASEAN countries, but could also be the lynchpin of India’s “Act-East Policy” and Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.” Dr. Rupakjyoti Borah is with the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. He was earlier an assistant professor of international relations at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in India. He has also been a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge, the Japan Institute of International Affairs (Tokyo), and the Australian National University. His latest book is The Elephant and the Samurai: Why Japan Can Trust India? The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at rupakj@gmail.com or via Twitter @rupakj. Dr. Rupakjyoti Borah is with the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. His latest book is The Elephant and the Samurai: Why Japan Can Trust India. He has been an assistant professor of international relations in India and a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge (UK), the Japan Institute of International Affairs (Tokyo), and the Australian National University (Canberra). The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at rupakj@gmail.com or via Twitter @rupakj. Taiji and the Liberal Dolphin Party Armani School Uniforms Spark Debate in Japan Andaman and Nicobar Islands: How the Seas Bring India and Southeast Asia Closer Dr. Rupakjyoti Borah It is often said that “whoever is the Lord of Malacca has his hand […] Japan’s Infrastructure Push in Northeast India Builds on Trust Factor Dr Rupakjyoti Borah Japan has a historical connection with the northeastern Japan, India, Vietnam: It Takes Three to Tango Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hands with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in New Delhi, March 3,	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2547
__label__cc	0.505293	0.494707	The Media and its Role in Japan-Korea Relations: The View from Seoul Katsuhiro Kuroda, Sankei Shimbun January 26, 2017 6:07 pm Leave your thoughts The two top Japan experts in South Korea’s newspapers are probably Shim Gyu-seon, an editorial consultant for the Dong-A Ilbo, and Seon Woo-jeong who sits on the editorial board at the Chosun Ilbo. They each recently published editorials offering their candid views on Japan-Korea relations. They were both critical in light of the deteriorating relations following the placement of a Comfort Woman statue in front of the Japanese consulate in Busan and the subsequent diplomatic retaliation on the part of the Japanese government. On the issue of the statue, on January 16the Dong-A Ilbo wrote, “It must be pointed out clearly that erecting [the statue] in front of an official building belonging to another nation is problematic from an international treaty standpoint.” On the 18th, the Chosun Ilbo offered its own critique of the situation, saying “A sculpture was placed in front of the Japanese embassy in obstinate pursuit of mistakes made more than seventy years ago, and then another statue was placed in front of the [Japanese] consulate despite a promise having been made to strive towards a suitable resolution to the issue. There is no other country that has suffered in a way similar to Korea which has also behaved in this manner to its counterpart nation. Is South Korea a normal country?” Beyond these editorials, both writers further criticize South Korean media’s coverage of Japan. Shim writes, in his editorial entitled “Will the compensation to 34Comfort Women grandmothers not make the news?” that “South Korea holds nothing back in criticizing any country and any institution, however powerful. But reporting on Japan treats the country as a kind of sacred ground. Reporting on Japan cannot free itself of popular emotion, and continues to languish in an overly simplistic anti-Japanism.” He continues, “South Korea is no longer a dependent variable of Japan. There is no reason to bind our own necks with whatever changes Japan makes. For seventy years, South Korean discourse has walked the easy road of satisfying domestic tastes by scolding Japan and only Japan. Korea-Japan relations will not be changed by journalistic soft-peddling.” Shim is also the director of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, a South Korean organization founded with one billion yen in aid provided in accordance with the Japan-South Korea agreement on the resolution of the comfort woman issue. Shim says he took the position because he “supports the possible second-best over the impossible first-best.” As a result of his efforts, 34 women, or more than 70 percent of the 46 identified former Comfort Women (of whom 39 are still alive as of January 2017), have received compensation for their suffering in World War II. As Shim points out, the money is not necessarily a reward for removing the Comfort Woman statue, but is intended for the Comfort Women themselves. As the numbers quoted above clearly show, this money is already having a tremendous impact. Shim criticizes the South Korean media for failing to report on this. For his part, Seon argues “In South Korean history, the fate of those who see Japan as important has been tragic. While the degree may differ, the situation is the same today. The plight of those who touch the tabooed area [of expertise in Japanese studies] and take an objective view of history is akin to that of those who throw themselves into a minefield. The more this is so, the more our awareness of Japan becomes divorced from Japanese realities.” He continues, “[I have] studied various aspects of Japan. However, I have yet to arrive at a correct understanding of what Japan really is. What I do know, though, is that Japan is not a country that can be ignored. I know this because I know the history of ignoring Japan—every time Japan is ignored, suffering follows.” While Shim can tolerate the denunciations leveled by the anti-governmental groups within South Korea who say that the Comfort Woman statue was sold off to the Japanese for one billion yen, he objects to any suggestion of a linkage between the one billion yen and the removal of the statues, as some in Japan have begun to demand that South Korea return the one billion yen despite the fact that some major South Korean media outlets have begun to advocate the removal of the statues. Failing to pay attention to these attitudes will not help the situation move forward. Katsuhiro Kuroda is visiting editorial in Seoul for Sankei Shimbun. Sanctions against Russia Aren’t Working – and Gorgonzola Proves It Killing the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg? The Anti-Conspiracy Bill and the Future of the LDP-Komeito Coalition Editorial: Korea’s Stance on the Comfort Women Statues Is Self-Defeating Editorial Board, Sankei Shimbun Leave your thoughts Last week, the Abe administration announced its response to the installation of a “comfort woman” statue in front of the Can Washington and Seoul Agree on How to Deal With North Korea? South Korean President Moon Jae-in is set to meet United States President Donald Trump on Thursday, June 29, in [&hell India, Japan, US Conduct Joint Naval Exercises: Why It Matters The recently concluded Malabar 2017 naval exercises mark a new high in cooperation in the maritime realm between India	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2548
__label__wiki	0.531163	0.531163	The Games Industry's Biggest Influence at the Moment is Apple, Apparently Appic At least, that's what around 1,000 games industry employees reckon, as the results of a survey for the London Games Conference show. Attendees for the upcoming event were asked who they think the most influential people were, along with the most influential products. Note they're not being asked their favourites, or the most important (whatever that would mean). These are industry professionals being asked what's been most influential on the business. So it's little surprise, then, that both Steve Jobs and the iPhone came out on top in both polls. Talk down your nose at Apple's "gaming" devices all you want, there's no getting around the fact that both their sales volume and revolution in pricing and accessibility have been very influential over the past few years. As has Facebook. But then, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made the top five list himself. Other individuals listed were Gabe Newell, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Tim Berners-Lee, the "father" of the internet. The other four top devices, meanwhile, were the Wii, Xbox Live, PlayStation One, and Steam. Games industry votes Apple as biggest influence [Eurogamer] (Top photo by Shizuo Kambayashi \| AP) You can contact Luke Plunkett, the author of this post, at plunkett@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2557
__label__wiki	0.888269	0.888269	Companies Cuts Ties with Anti-Muslim Hate Group Following Pressure from Interfaith Community Campaign victory proves local communities can resist Trump’s anti-Muslim agenda. Washington, D.C., January 17, 2017 – A coalition of interfaith leaders and organizations, spearheaded by Jewish Voice for Peace, DC-Metro, has won a major victory in its campaign against an anti-Muslim hate group. The Clarion Project, listed its offices at 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, just two blocks from the White House in a building owned by real estate giant Tishman Speyer. In December, JVP DC-Metro and nearly 30 interfaith clergy leaders launched a campaign to declare Tishman Speyer’s Pennsylvania Avenue building a hate free zone, and sent a letter to corporate executives in D.C. and New York City calling for the eviction of the hate group. Less than one month later, the clergy and JVP DC-Metro have won their campaign and Clarion Project’s office contract has been terminated. The turning point in the campaign came when JVP DC-Metro partnered with leaders from the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church Virginia. The Islamic and Jewish organizations collaborated to challenge a major Tishman Speyer development project that was before the Fairfax County Planning Commission. Last week, the Commission was set to unanimously approve the project, until representatives from Dar Al-Hijrah and JVP testified about Tishman Speyer’s ties to the Clarion Project. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), recognized as the nation’s leading authority on hate groups, has exposed Clarion for its pernicious brand of extremism and hate espoused against Muslim communities and the Islamic faith. SPLC has announced that it will officially designate The Clarion Project as a hate group in 2017. One of Clarion’s films, “The Third Jihad,” was described in a New York Times editorial as a “hate-filled film about Muslims” loaded with “noxious and dangerous stereotyping.” In the past few months, SPLC has reported a spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes. It has been widely believed this is linked to President-elect Trump’s call for a ban on Muslim immigrants, a registry to track Muslims, and increased surveillance of community mosques. Frank Gaffney, an anti-Muslim extremist who is advising the Trump transition team has served on The Clarion Project Advisory Board. Colin Christopher, Deputy Director for Government Affairs at Dar-Al-Hijrah, told the Fairfax commissioners how community members were impacted by the hate and bigotry promoted by Clarion. He said, “Multi-million dollar hate groups like the Clarion Project have maliciously smeared our faith and community for years, and the recent election results are a partial result of people believing these false narratives. Small children in schools are bearing the brunt of Islamophobia in this country and it needs to end. Tishman Speyer eventually did the right thing, and I expect more companies to follow suit in the months and years ahead. This was just round one.” Alison Glick, coordinator of JVP DC-Metro, said at the hearing, “If Tishman Speyer is going to keep doing business with Clarion, then Fairfax County should stop doing business with Tishman Speyer.” About the campaign victory she added, “We’re pleased that Tishman Speyer chose to honor its corporate social responsibility principles. We know that anti-Muslim hate is not new in our country. The difference now is that the purveyors of this hate will be at the center of U.S. government power as of Jan. 20. Our victory shows that grassroots campaigns can not only stop them from normalizing such bigotry but also roll back the damage they’ve already done.” While the Fairfax planning commissioners voted to approve the development project, two commissioners abstained in response to the public testimony about the Clarion Project. Others expressed deep concern over the rise of Islamophobia and Tishman Speyer’s failure to respond to the clergy’s letter. Opposing anti-Jewish, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim bigotry and oppression in both Israel/Palestine and the U.S. is a core element of JVP’s mission. Three years ago, JVP started the Network Against Islamophobia to work with community groups to challenge attacks on the Muslim community and to fight Islamophobia. The decision by JVP’s DC-Metro Chapter to challenge the Clarion Project grew out of the chapter’s work with the Network.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2560
__label__wiki	0.678339	0.678339	5 Players who can replace John Terry at Chelsea Written by: Uttiyo Sarkar While Raphael Varane and Alessio Romagnoli easily make it to the list, take a look at the other three we have here; two of them English. . . The world of football was stunned when John Terry announced that this would be his final season at Chelsea football club. After spending almost two decades there, Terry would be bidding adieu to Stamford Bridge as he ventures somewhere else in football. Popularly termed 'Captain, Leader, Legend' by the Blue fans, Terry has been the rock that has held the club together and one of the prime reasons for their success over the years. Ever since breaking into the first team in 2000/01, Terry has been the foundation stone of the Chelsea team over the years, leading them to numerous titles. Incoming and outgoing managers might have changed a plenty at the club, but Terry has been ever-present. The Englishman finally lost his place in the side as Italian coach Antonio Conte brought his much-favoured 3-4-3 to London. The departure of Terry will be a hard blow for Chelsea, who will look to replace this seemingly irreplaceable player. They need to find a young leader who can usher them to equal glory in the future. We take a look at 5 players who could replace the legendary centre-back. 5. Ben Gibson It will be a Herculean task for the Blues to replace Terry with an Englishman, but Ben Gibson is definitely an option. The 6'1" defender has been Middlesbrough's best defender this season, having played in 33 league games this season. Gibson has helped them to 10 clean sheets, impressive for a side which has a terrible defensive record. Middlesbrough might be favourites to be relegated this season, but Gibson has heroically salvaged many a point for them. The defender is amazing in the air and has some impressive stats for a young player. His ability to clear dangers and play a highly influential figure at the back makes him someone Chelsea should definitely scout as a replacement for their captain. 4. Alessio Romagnoli Alessio Romagnoli has been turning many eyes onto him with his amazing displays in Serie A. The young Italian has been superb ever since joining AC Milan in 2015 and has developed as one of the best defensive talents in Italy. Romagnoli is a composed centre-back who is renowned for his ability to play out of the back and versatility. Romagnoli can play at left-back as well and has all the necessary skills for a complete defender with superb positioning sense and tackling ability. Even though his counterpart Gianluigi Donnarumma has been Even though his teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma has been flooded with praises for Milan's 11 clean sheets this season, Romagnoli has been a prime reason for Milan's defensive success. The Italian has been touted as the next Alessandro Nesta by many and that is enough to convince Chelsea to get him to replace a legend like John Terry. Antonio Conte's Italian connection is sure to play a major role if this deal goes through. 3. Aymeric Laporte Aymeric Laporte has been one of the most promising defenders in Europe for some time now, having been courted by Manchester United in the past. Laporte has been a pillar in Athletic Bilbao's defence for the past couple of seasons and the French defender has slowly but surely become one of the most compelling defenders in the world. He has been on song this season, having helped Bilbao to 11 clean sheets in the La Liga. With his superb tackling and positional skills, he is a complete centre back who can also pass the ball really well and is an asset in set-pieces as well. Laporte is only 22 right now, but he's the perfect guy to be the 'next John Terry' for Chelsea and despite having a hefty price tag, he could easily benefit the London side in the long run. 2. Mason Holgate There are not many English defenders who can replace the legendary John Terry at Chelsea, but Everton's Mason Holgate has shown the promise of something really big. Holgate broke into Everton's team earlier this season and has been on a roll, showing a lot of composure at the back. Holgate is a strong, clever defender who can develop into a brilliant defender if he's under the right guidance and Chelsea could create a legend of their own if they replace Terry with someone like Holgate. Antonio Conte is one of the better men for grooming defenders in world football right now. The Everton defender has it all in his arsenal to succeed at a big club. He has shown how good he can be in crucial games this season and should be considered as a potential replacement for John Terry and keep the English backline alive in London. 1. Raphael Varane While there might be many promising defenders in the market right now, none are really as good as Raphael Varane. The French defender has proved all his hype over the years by developing into one of the best defenders in the world at Real Madrid as well as for his national team. His hard-hitting nature along with his leadership skills and ability to play the ball out of defense makes him an asset for any team. Chelsea will need to replace John Terry with someone who can become as good(if not better) than Terry himself and they should look to sign Varane who is still not getting regular games at Madrid despite his amazing work. Bringing Varane as a replacement for Terry could be a rewarding one for the club because The French defender can easily be the team's defensive foundation for the next decade or so and become the next leader to usher Chelsea into future glory. I don't need new players, very happy with the squad- Frank Lampard I've been pleased with the players' attitude since I arrived- Frank Lampard Transfer Talk: Liverpool considering £67m for Marco Asensio Published: Fri Apr 28, 2017 01:39 PM IST	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2571
__label__wiki	0.580577	0.580577	Webáruház > BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY HENDRIX,JIMI Gyártó: MyB Formátum: CD Gyári szám: 0190758141923 HENDRIX,JIMI BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY CD Both Ses Of The Sky is a dynamic Jimi Hendrix album featuring 13 studio recordings made between 1968 and 1970, 10 of which have never before been released. Both Ses of the Sky is the third volume in a trilogy of albums intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in the music legend’s archive. Valleys of Neptune (2010) earned top 10 sales rankings in 15 countries (peaking at #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart) and was followed by People, Hell and Angels (2013) which peaked at # 2 on Billboard’s Top 100 album chart. Many of the album’s tracks were recorded by the trio that would come to be known as Band of Gypsys: Jimi on guitar and vocals, Billy Cox on bass, and Buddy Miles on drums. Both Ses Of The Sky features an assortment of notable guest musicians including Stephen Stills, Johnny Winter and Dallas Taylor. Track-ek 1 Mannish Boy (Previously Unreleased) 2 Lover Man (Previously Unreleased) 3 Hear My Train a Comin' (Previously Unreleased) 4 Stepping Stone (Previously Unreleased) 5 $20 Fine (Ft. Stephen Stills) (Previously Unreleased) 6 Power of Soul (Extended Edition) 7 Jungle (Previously Unreleased) 8 Things I Used To Do (Ft. Johnny Winter) 9 Georgia Blues (Ft. Lonnie Youngblood) 10 Sweet Angel (Previously Unreleased) 11 Woodstock (Ft. Stephen Stills) (Previously Unreleased) 12 Send My Love To Linda (Previously Unreleased) 13 Cherokee Mist (Previously Unreleased)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2573
__label__cc	0.539302	0.460698	All tagged Influence Oct 29 Power Shift: The New Rules of Engagement with Marc W Schwartz Marc Schwartz has been on a journey that has put him in front of more than 50,000 people in 38 countries to speak, coach and train leaders and managers how to use INFLUENCE to break through the barriers that stand in the way of getting optimal performance from their team members. Schwartz says, “Influence, not power or force, is the key to creating a really effective and engaging multi-generational approach to the next evolution of business leadership. He should know. Marc had seven jobs in twelve years as he sought to find a job and a boss that could optimize his natural strengths instead of force him into the old “my way or the highway” approach to leading people. Today, Marc shares his latest book: "Power Shift: The New Rules of Engagement". www.spectracomm.com/book Our sponsor today is: FlipMyFunnel.com/Podcast Mar 27 Eric Dahan, CEO Co-founder of Open Influence, Retrofitting How Brands Connect with Great Talent Eric Dahan is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Open Influence, where he oversees the strategic direction, execution, global expansion, and overall operation of the company. With an international scope and background in business and economics, Dahan brings a rich and pragmatic understanding of market dynamics and social sciences to his role. Dahan is a thought-leader in the influencer industry, and is recognized as a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 (2017) and Inc.’s 30 Under 30 (2016), CEO. Prior to co-founding Open Influence, Dahan co-founded Splurge, a mobile app that combines social curation and e-commerce by aggregating online flash-sales from a variety of retailers. He also served as chief executive officer and managing partner for the company. Before Splurge, Dahan got his start in digital at HauteLook, a member-only online marketplace offering flash-sales and limited-time sales events that was acquired by Nordstrom in 2011. Dahan earned his bachelor’s degree in international business from Pepperdine University. www.OpenInfluence.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2575
__label__wiki	0.818333	0.818333	Syrian, Russian Forces Readying Ground for Military Assault on HTS Jihadis in Idlib May 1, 2019 (EIRNS)—The ground for an assault to at least reduce the territory controlled by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the terrorist group in Syria formerly known as Jabhat al Nusra, is being prepared by both the Syrian government and the Russian forces deployed at Syria’s request. An assault on the terrorist-controlled province was averted last September, when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on the creation of a de-escalation zone. Erdogan promised that Turkey would convince HTS and other jihadi groups to evacuate from the demilitarized zone that would be created as a buffer between the jihadis and the Syrian army. Instead, the Turks pulled out the Arab militia groups that they control so that they could be deployed against the Kurdish groups that they regard as the PKK in Syria. As a consequence, HTS gained control over the entire province of Idlib and adjacent areas of the surrounding provinces, all the while launching attacks on Syrian army positions and residential areas in western Aleppo, creating what has become an intolerable situation. “We see what is happening. We cannot say for how long this status quo in Idlib can last,” Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Vladimir Safronkov told the UN Security Council on April 25. “It is not viable at all; on the contrary: It is dangerous for Syria and the region.” Putin and Erdogan spoke by phone on April 30, during which their discussion “highlighted the need to continue closely coordinating the activities of Russia and Turkey in Syria’s Idlib province and take effective measures to suppress terrorist groups,” the Kremlin press service said in a statement. At the same time, the U.S. State Department issued a statement demanding that all parties “including Russia and the Syrian regime” avoid any large-scale military offensive, return to de-escalation and allow for unhindered humanitarian access. The situation on the ground will develop regardless of any such U.S. statements, however. Al Masdar news agency reported yesterday afternoon that the Syrian army has, in fact, been given the green light for an offensive, and that it has moved reinforcements, including elite troops of the Republican Guard, the Tiger Forces and the 4th Armored Division, up to the Idlib-Hama axis, in preparation. A military source told Al Masdar that Russian government officials will meet with their Turkish counterparts before the offensive, to discuss the situation in the Idlib Governorate and its corresponding demilitarized zone. Al Masdar stresses, however, that, at least for the time being, any offensive is likely to be limited to clearing jihadis out of the DMZ.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2579
__label__wiki	0.823348	0.823348	The Non-Toxic Cleaning Solution For Every Surface By Meridian Living Well Essays on Mormon History Find New Visibility in Official App, Sunday School By Meridian Magazine · December 26, 2016 Most Mormons haven’t read the 11 clear-eyed essays published by their church on 11 complex topics in the faith’s history and doctrine, like polygamy and the differing versions of the First Vision. Many haven’t even heard about them, but that’s about to change, beginning in January with additions to the Sunday School lessons in 20,000 congregations in North and South America. Mormon leaders drew widespread praise for what are known as the Gospel Topics essays soon after they first appeared in November 2013. But some in and out of the church who appreciated them felt their potential positive impact on congregational conversations about, say, the former ban on blacks holding the priesthood, was blunted by the way the essays rolled out one or two at a time without fanfare amid a maze of other content on lds.org. What the official Church Historian and Recorder, Elder Steven E. Snow, described as a “soft launch” left room for a small group to question whether the essays were official — each was approved by the First Presidency, the faith’s highest governing body — while the majority of Mormons in the pews didn’t know they existed. The soft launch was deliberate. The essays had a practical purpose, leaders said. They intended the essays to help people find official answers to questions they might have when researching a specific topic online. And they were also meant to be widely used over time. The new materials will now be integrated into everyday church teachings for teenagers, at the faith’s colleges and in Sunday classes. To read the full article on Deseret News, click here.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2580
__label__wiki	0.74465	0.74465	Foreign Law Translations German Case OLG Hamm, 11th Civil Senate 11 U 108/89 BGB § 839, Basic Law Art 34, SchulPflG NW § 7 (1) Translated German Cases and Materials Under the direction of Professors P. Schlechtriem, B. Markesinis and S. Lorenz Raymond Youngs Professor Basil Markesinis OFFICIAL LIABILITY for refusing to allow a sick child to participate in special tuition. 1. Officials of the Education Office and head teachers can breach their official duties as against the mother of a child who is required to attend school butwho suffers from school phobia if they do not ensure that the child can takepart in special tuition in accordance with SchpflG NW § 7 (1) (juris: SchulPflGNW). The mother can demand in such a case that the costs spent on private tuitionare reimbursed in accordance with PRINCIPLES OF OFFICIAL LIABILITY. Course of proceedings Previously LG Bochum 1989-04-24 3 O 146/89 Formal part On the plaintiff's appeal (in other respects rejected) the judgment of the thirdcivil chamber of the Bochum Landgericht, delivered on the 24th April 1989, isamended. The defendant Land is ordered to pay to the plaintiff 2,500.00 DM with interestat 4% from the 12th January 1990. The remainder of the claim is rejected. The plaintiff is to bear 1/6 and the defendant Land 5/8 of the costs of the actionagainst the defendant Land. The judgment is provisionally enforceable. It requires the plaintiff to pay 500.00 DM and the defendant Land the sum of2,500.00 DM. The appeal of the plaintiff is permissible and is largely successful. It resultsin judgment against the defendant Land for payment of 2,500.00 DM with interest. The plaintiff is entitled in her own right to a claim for damages in the sumof 2,500.00 DM against the defendant Land under § 839 (1) of the BGB incombination with Art 34 of the Basic Law. This is because the employees of theeducation office for the ... town and the head teachers of the ... Grammar Schooland the ... Secondary School did not ensure (or did not ensure in time) thatthe plaintiff's son was given special education in the form of home tuition. a) It was a breach of official duty for the competent officials of the Education Office (in particular the educational supervisor, but also the head teacher ofthe W Grammar School and the head teacher of the ... Secondary School) not (ornot at the right time) to take steps which ensured that the plaintiff's son wasgiven special tuition. The setting up of special tuition was unreasonably delayedas a result. It must be assumed that a sick child has a subjective public right to schooling in a special school or to take part in special tuition, which corresponds tohis or her duty to attend a special school or to take part in special tuitionwhich is regulated in § 7 (1) of the SchpflG. But the entitlement followingfrom this provision is limited by the educational standards of primary and secondaryschools, so that no breach of official duty falls to be considered insofar asthe Education Office has not enabled the plaintiff's son to take part in specialtuition at grammar school level. According to § 7 (1) sentence 2 of the SchpflG, the education authorityto be designated by the Minister of Education and the Arts by statutory instrumentdecides on the special tuition in which children required to attend school haveto take part. The competent education authority is the Education Office (§ 1of the Education Office Competence Regulations in combination with para 2 ofthe Appendix). The official duties of the Education Office officials and thehead teachers arise from the Circular of the Minister for Education and the Artsof the 17th July 1980, amended by the Circular of the 10th and 23rd October 1984and the Circular of the 16th November 1987. Until the amendment of the Circularof the 17th July 1980 by the Circular of the 16th November 1987 (with effectfrom the 15th February 1988) a pupil had a claim to special tuition if he wasprevented from attending school on the grounds of illness for longer than eightweeks (six weeks from the 15th February 1988). If it is established from thestart that a pupil will have to stay away from school lessons for more than eightweeks, special tuition can be given earlier (para 1.1 of the said Circular).According to para 5 of the Circular of the 10th October 1984, applications forspecial tuition (home tuition) through the direction of the school so far attendedby the pupil are to be directed or referred on to the Education Office. The EducationOffice then decides on the application in accordance with para 6 of the Circularand arranges the special tuition (home tuition). Before the decision it has tobe established by medical opinion - in cases of doubt by the medical officer- whether the prerequisites for special tuition are present and whether the pupilis in a position to take part in the special tuition (para 3 of the Circularof the 17th July 1980; but different provision is made in § 7 (1) sentence3 of the SchpflG, in which the obtaining of an opinion of the Public Health Departmentis essential). Until the report of the head teacher of the ... Grammar School of the 5th March 1986 [reference omitted], the plaintiff's son had been absent from lessons for about 1 _ years ie from the 3rd September 1984 to the 6th March 1986. This occurred without the responsible head teacher of the Grammar School and the Education Office having arranged anything to secure the fulfilment of the duty to attend school in accordance with §§ 1 (1) and 7 (1) of the SchpflG. The pupil had been ill from the 3rd September 1984. It is revealed by the report of the head teacher to the Education Office for the town of ... of the 5th March 1986 that the plaintiff had submitted to the school a psychological certificate which stated that her son had acute attacks of school anxiety and declared that school attendance was not possible for half a year for this reason. Even at that time the head teacher of the ... Grammar School ought, according to the legal and administrative provisions previously mentioned, to have considered the giving of special tuition and arranged for the plaintiff to make an appropriate application. Then the Education Office would also have been immediately involved in the matter. According to the psychological certificate (possibly relating to certification by the qualified psychologist ... of the 4th October 1984) it was certain from the start that the pupil would have to be absent from school lessons for more than eight weeks. When the certificate had run out and the plaintiff appeared at the school with her son on the 1st March 1985, he refused to attend school of any kind. It may admittedly have been proper to refer the plaintiff to an education advice centre. But no-one at the Grammar School and the Secondary School at which the plaintiff's son was enrolled then troubled any further about the educational fate of this pupil. There was no co-ordination of any kind between the two schools. The Education Office too was not brought in at first, so it became possible for the plaintiff's son to miss several years of compulsory schooling. It was true that the persons having the right of upbringing have, according to § 16 (2) of the SchpflG, to see to it that a child who is under a duty to attend school takes part regularly in lessons and in the other events of the school. But as the pupil had school phobia, which emerges from the certification of the clinics of the state capital D of the 24th November 1987 and their opinions of the 16th December 1987, the plaintiff could not urge her son to take part in lessons at the school. In this situation, the Education Office had to ensure that the necessary special tuition was given to the plaintiff's son. In the same way as the persons having the right of upbringing, it has the task of encouraging pupils to fulfil the duties incumbent upon them (§ 14 (3) sentence 2 of the SchpflG). These include in particular that the pupils should comply with their duty to attend school to the required extent. For this purpose, the Education Office has to ensure that it learns of school absences of long duration in good time, so that it can if necessary take the measures needed to fulfil the duty to attend school. Substantial absences must have occurred here, because a pupil could not otherwise have received no lessons for more than three years. Even after the receipt of the report of the head teacher of the ... Grammar School of the 5th March 1986, it was more than a year until the attempt at setting up special tuition from the 6th July 1987 was undertaken. As indications of the existence of school anxiety emerged from the report anyway, the Education Office ought immediately to have clarified whether the pupil had a school phobia which made the arrangement of special tuition (home tuition) necessary. It should have done this by obtaining an opinion from the Public Health Office. The lawyer's letter of the 10th February 1987 in which it was announced that the pupil would attend a boarding school with immediate effect changed nothing in this respect, because it was immediately overtaken by the further lawyer's letter of the 16th February 1987 in which it was stated that the best thing would be to give private tuition to the boy until his psychological condition had been overcome. It was only on the basis of the letter by the plaintiff's legal representative of the 8th December 1987 that private tuition at home was set up, but admittedly only four hours a week initially. b) The officials of the defendant Land, in particular the employees of the Education Office, have negligently breached their duties in that they did not arrange and expedite the setting up of the special tuition in a purposeful manner. Even the head teachers involved did not take sufficient steps to ensure compulsory school attendance and thereby likewise negligently breached their official duties. They have violated unambiguous legal and administrative provisions. Every official must possess or acquire the knowledge of law and administration necessary for the conduct of his office. (c) The defendant Land is liable in accordance with Art 34 of the Basic Law for the breaches of official duty. According to this provision, the liability applies in principle to the body which the official who acts contrary to duty serves. Here that is the Land of NW. The head teachers of the named schools are officials of the defendant Land. The same applies to the employees of the Education Office. Admittedly the Education Office in a town which is an administrative district in its own right (... is such a town) consists of the chief executive and the educational supervisor (§ 18 (2) sentence 1 of the SchVG). It is not however here a question of breaches of the official duty of the chief executive, who is in principle a local official. It can therefore be left undecided whether on breaches of official duty by the chief executive as a member of the Education Office, the town of ... or the defendant Land is the body liable in the sense of Art 34 of the Basic Law. The breaches of official duty established in the case in question are to be laid at the door of the educational supervisor. According to the Circular of the Minister for Education and the Arts of the 10th October 1984 (para 7) competence for special tuition (home tuition) was to be transferred at the Education Office into the overall charge of an educational supervisor. According to the standing orders for the Education Office - § 3 (3) sentence 2 of the Circular of the Minister for Education and the Arts of the 4th December 1984 - the arrangement and carrying out of the special lessons is in any case predominantly in the educational service area. The former defendants reply to the appeal, which the defendant Land has clearly adopted, also proceeds on this basis. The educational supervisor is however an official of the defendant Land. The official duties which have been breached do not only exist as against the pupil but also as against the plaintiff as the person having the right to bring him up. Whether in the individual case the person harmed belongs to the class of third parties in the sense of § 839 (1) of the BGB is not to be judged according to whether the official duty - even if not necessarily solely - has the purpose of looking after the interest of the person harmed. It must follow from the provisions which form the basis of the official duty and which outline it, as well as from the nature of the official business, that the person harmed belongs to the group of persons whose interests are to be protected and promoted according to the goal and legal purpose of the official business. Only then will a duty to compensate exist as against him following a culpable breach of duty. On the other hand, no duty to compensate is established as against other persons, even if the breach of official duty has had a more or less disadvantageous effect for them. A special relationship must therefore exist between the official duty breached and the third party harmed (constant case law of the Bundesgerichtshof, see eg BGHZ 106, 323, 331 with further references). Such a special relationship exists here between the official duties breached and the plaintiff. It arises from the fact that education of her son (who is required to attend school) is incumbent on the plaintiff and she therefore has a paramount interest in his well ordered school education in the same way as the pupil. According to Art 8 (1) sentence 2 of the Constitution of the Land of NW it is the natural right of parents to determine the instruction and education of children. The defendant Land has taken over the public school system and exercises supervision over it. The competent officials are therefore breaching their official duties as against the parents as the persons having the right of upbringing, if they do not ensure (or do not ensure in time) that a pupil who has a long lasting illness receives that special tuition which is provided for and formulated in the relevant legal and administrative provisions. It cannot be in doubt that substantial deficits in the pupil's education have occurred through the lengthy delays by the responsible officials. This is also expressly emphasised in the letter of the Institute for Remedial Education and Psychotherapy of the town of ... of the 23rd February 1987. These deficits could not be made up for by the special tuition which was given in the end after a long wait. The expenditure claimed by the plaintiff for the giving of private tuition is therefore adequately caused by the breaches of duty by the officials of the defendant Land. On the basis of the credible testimony of the witness ... Sch, it is established that the plaintiff's expenditure on the private tuition amounted to at least 2,500.00 DM. The witness stated that in the period from the end of September or the beginning of October 1987 to the end of June 1988 - with the exception of school holidays - she gave the plaintiff's son a double hour of private tuition twice each week for a payment of 20.00 DM per hour. Altogether the plaintiff paid her almost 3,000.00 DM, but at least 2,500.00 DM. The last named sum is to be taken as a basis for the measurement of the harm. A higher level of harm cannot be established with certainty in the face of the testimony of the witness, especially as receipts are not available. Contributory fault by the plaintiff for the origin of the harm (§ 254 (1) of the BGB) cannot be established. Contributory fault by the plaintiff could at best be deduced from the fact that in 1987 she did not arrange earlier for the Institute for Remedial Education and Psychotherapy of the town of ... to give an opinion about her son and then make the report available to the Education Office. This first happened with the letter of the 23rd April 1987 by the plaintiff's legal representative. But then the substantial deficits in education which were caused by the delays on the part of the officials of the defendant Land had already occurred. Also, it was not until the beginning of 1988 that the special tuition for the plaintiff's son was at last arranged. Finally, the plaintiff can also not be blamed for the fact that she omitted to avert the harm by the use of legal redress. The raising of a complaint in the administrative courts for failure to act would not have been able to change anything in relation to the onset of the harm, especially as the plaintiff might fairly have hoped that she could have achieved the arrangement of special tuition without taking legal action in the administrative courts. The disputed judgment - as is evident from the formal part of the judgment - is accordingly to be partly amended. The costs decision follows from § 92 (1) of the Civil Procedure Order. It only affects the plaintiff and the defendant Land. The further subsidiary decisions result from the provisions of §§ 708no. 10, 713 and 546 (2) sentence 1 of the Civil Procedure Order. This page last updated Thursday, 01-Dec-2005 11:04:42 CST. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Translated Decisions Translated Statutes About the French Legal Materials French Legal Glossary About the German Legal Materials German Abbreviations Former and Founding Director Guide on the use of the website Citation Method Institute for Transnational Law	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2582
__label__cc	0.563694	0.436306	Oil pipeline operator Plains Holdings sued by investors over burst pipe By Shaun Zinck \| Sep 1, 2015 Plains Holdings, a large crude oil and liquid energy pipeline operator, is being sued by investors for allegedly failing to comply with federal regulations, which led to a large oil spill in California. \| Shutterstock Plains Holdings, a large crude oil and liquid energy pipeline operator, is being sued by investors for allegedly failing to comply with federal regulations, which led to a large oil spill in California. The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund filed the lawsuit Aug. 14 in United States District Court in California against the company, claiming it concealed several details of the business. For one, the company is accused of failing to monitor and maintain the oil pipeline, and not adequately responding to spill measures. However, the company represented to investors that the pipeline maintenance was a “primary operational emphasis,” and that several measures had been taken to prevent oil spills. Specifically, the company told federal regulators that a pipeline, about 10.6 miles long, in Santa Barbara County in California, was closely monitored, according to the suit. However, on May 19 the pipe ruptured and spilled oil along several miles of environmentally sensitive and protected coastline, the lawsuit states. “Moreover, contrary the company’s representations to investors and regulators, Plains was wholly unprepared for the spill once it occurred,” according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking class status for investors who held stock in the company as of Oct. 16, 2013. The plaintiffs are also seeking an unspecified amount in damages plus court costs. The plaintiffs are represented by Blair A. Nicholas, Gerald H. Silk and Michael D. Blatchley of Berstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLLP in San Diego and New York City, and Robert D. Klausner of Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson in Plantation, Florida. United States District Court Central District of California case number 2:15-cv-06210 Thank you for signing up for Legal Newsline Alerts! Please select the 0 organizations you wish to subscribe to.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2586
__label__wiki	0.54165	0.54165	File #: Int 1325-2019 Version: * A Name: Authorizing the creation of legal defense trusts. Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to authorizing the creation of legal defense trusts Sponsors: Stephen T. Levin, Andrew Cohen, Mark Levine, Brad S. Lander, Diana Ayala , Alicka Ampry-Samuel Summary: The proposed law would allow public officials to create stand-alone trusts to take donations to pay for their legal expenses in certain criminal and civil matters and for the legal defense of anyone involved in a matter for which the trust was created. The proposed law would set a donation limit of $5,000 per donor and would place restrictions on who could donate to a legal defense trust. Lobbyists, people doing business with the city, corporations and LLCs would not be allowed to donate, and all donations would have to be reported to the conflicts of interest board and posted online. Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required, Report Required Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1325, 2. Int. No. 1325, 3. January 9, 2019 - Charter Meeting with Links to Files, 4. Committee Report 1/14/19, 5. Hearing Testimony 1/14/19, 6. Hearing Transcript 1/14/19, 7. Proposed Int. No. 1325-A - 1/18/19, 8. Committee Report 1/24/19, 9. Hearing Testimony 1/24/19, 10. Hearing Transcript 1/24/19, 11. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 12. January 24, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 13. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-24-19, 14. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 24, 2019, 15. Int. No. 1325-A (FINAL), 16. Fiscal Impact Statement, 17. Legislative Documents - Letter to the Mayor, 18. Local Law 48 2/26/2019 A Stephen T. Levin City Council Returned Unsigned by Mayor Action details Meeting details Not available 2/24/2019 A Stephen T. Levin Administration City Charter Rule Adopted Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 A Stephen T. Levin City Council Sent to Mayor by Council Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 A Stephen T. Levin City Council Approved by Council Pass Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 * Stephen T. Levin Committee on Governmental Operations Hearing Held by Committee Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 * Stephen T. Levin Committee on Governmental Operations Amendment Proposed by Comm Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 * Stephen T. Levin Committee on Governmental Operations Amended by Committee Action details Meeting details Not available 1/24/2019 A Stephen T. Levin Committee on Governmental Operations Approved by Committee Pass Action details Meeting details Not available 1/14/2019 * Stephen T. Levin Committee on Governmental Operations Laid Over by Committee Action details Meeting details Not available 1/9/2019 * Stephen T. Levin City Council Introduced by Council Action details Meeting details Not available 1/9/2019 * Stephen T. Levin City Council Referred to Comm by Council Action details Meeting details Not available Int. No. 1325-A By Council Members Levin, Cohen, Levine, Lander, Ayala and Ampry-Samuel A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to authorizing the creation of legal defense trusts Section 1. Title 3 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 11 to read as follows: Chapter 11. Legal Defense Trusts § 3-1101 Definitions. § 3-1102 Establishment and management of legal defense trusts. § 3-1103 Reporting and disclosure by legal defense trusts. § 3-1104 Dissolution of legal defense trusts. § 3-1105 Enforcement. § 3-1106 Rulemaking. § 3-1107 Penalties. § 3-1101 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: Appear. The term “appear” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision 4 of section 2601 of the charter. Associated. The term “associated” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision 5 of section 2601 of the charter. Beneficiary. The term “beneficiary” means (1) an individual who is or has been a city elected official or public servant who incurs expenses in relation to a governmental, administrative, criminal or civil investigation , audit, or action, or an entity, agent or other person acting on behalf of such elected official or public servant in relation to the underlying matter, for whom or which a legal defense trust spends money or (2) an individual who is not a city elected official or public servant and who incurs expenses in relation to such investigation, audit, or action. Business dealings with the city. The term “person having business dealings with the city” means any person on the database established pursuant to section 3-702 including, but not limited to, a lobbyist as defined in section 3-211, and the domestic partner, spouse, or unemancipated child of a person listed in such database. Donation. The term “donation” means any contribution from a non-governmental source, including an in-kind donation, pro bono assistance, loan, advance or deposit of money, or anything of value. Legal defense trust. The term “legal defense trust” means a trust created pursuant to and in accordance with the New York estates, powers and trusts law for the benefit of a beneficiary as provided in this chapter. Ministerial matter. The term “ministerial matter” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision 15 of section 2601 of the charter. Principal committees and political committees, as those terms are defined in section 3-702, shall not be deemed legal defense trusts as defined in this section. Public servant. The term “public servant” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision 19 of section 2601 of the charter. § 3-1102. Establishment and management of legal defense trusts. a. Requirements for establishment. A legal defense trust may be established pursuant to this section only if the following conditions are met: (1) (a) Each beneficiary has received a statement in writing from the corporation counsel stating that the corporation counsel has not represented and will not be representing such beneficiary in any applicable governmental, administrative, criminal or civil investigation, audit or action, or portion thereof, pursuant to section 50-k of the general municipal law or section 7-109; (b) Where a legal defense trust has been established, if thereafter the essential nature of an investigation, audit or action changes so significantly that it can be deemed a new or different investigation, audit or action, the beneficiary of such trust shall obtain a new written statement from the corporation counsel asserting that the conditions set forth in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph have been met. (2) At least one beneficiary is or was an elected official or public servant, as such term “beneficiary” is defined in section 3-1101 of this chapter, who incurs expenses in relation to the governmental, administrative, criminal or civil investigations, audits or actions for which a statement was received pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision. b. Statement of organization. The trustee of a legal defense trust shall file a statement of organization with the conflicts of interest board, in such form as specified by the board by rule, within 10 days after the earlier of the date the trust first receives a donation or first makes an expenditure. A statement of organization required by this subdivision shall include the following information and documentation: (1) The name, street address, and telephone number of the legal defense trust and its trustee(s). The name of such trust shall include the words “legal defense trust”. (2) The full name of, and position held, if any, by each beneficiary of the legal defense trust. (3) The name and address of the financial institution in which the funds of the legal defense trust are, or are intended to be, deposited. (4) A description of the governmental, administrative, criminal or civil investigations, audits or actions in connection with which the legal defense trust was established and the purpose for which such trust was created. (5) The statement described in subparagraph (a) of paragraph (1) of subdivision a of this section for each beneficiary of the legal defense trust. (6) A copy of the executed trust agreement establishing the legal defense trust. (7) A sworn statement by each beneficiary of the legal defense trust that he or she will comply with the provisions of this chapter and that the trustee is responsible for the proper administration of the trust. c. Within 10 days of any material change in the information and documentation submitted in accordance with paragraphs (1) through (7) of this subdivision, the trustee shall submit a revised report to the conflicts of interest board identifying such changes. If the purpose for which the trust was created, as required to be identified by paragraph (4) of this section, is materially changed, the trustee shall submit such information to the board; provided, however, that any such changed purpose must be consistent with the requirements of this chapter. d. Trustee. (1) There shall be one or more trustees, who shall not be a city elected official or public servant, a beneficiary, or a subordinate of or person associated with a beneficiary. The trustee(s) shall be responsible for authorizing expenditures and disbursements from the trust, the filing of quarterly reports required by section 3-1103, and the performance of tasks incidental to the administration of the trust. (2) The trustee(s) shall be responsible for a legal defense trust’s financial administration as required by this chapter. Such trustee(s) shall establish an account, separate from any other bank account held by the trustee or any beneficiary of the trust, at a bank or other financial institution with an office or branch in the city of New York, for the deposit and expenditure of the trust’s moneys. (3) Where there is more than one beneficiary of a legal defense trust, the trustee(s) may, in their discretion, allocate donations and expenditures attributable to trust administration in accordance with their fiduciary duties to the trust. (4) Trustee(s) appointed pursuant to this section may be suspended or removed in accordance with the provisions of section 7-2.6 of the estates, powers and trusts law. e. Donations. (1) A legal defense trust shall not accept a donation, and a city elected official or public servant may not raise funds for a legal defense trust, in an amount greater than $5,000 per donor. (2) A legal defense trust shall not accept a donation, and a city elected official or public servant may not solicit a donation, of any amount from (a) any person who is a subordinate of such city elected official or public servant, or any person who is a subordinate of the city elected official or public servant for whose benefit the trust was established; (b) any person such trust knows or should know is a person with business dealings with the city as of the date of such donation or solicitation; (c) any person who as of the date of such donation or solicitation is appearing before or otherwise has a non-ministerial matter pending with the city; (d) a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or partnership; (e) any anonymous source; or (f) any source that fails to submit the disclosure document required pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subdivision. (3) Whenever a donation is made to a legal defense trust, the donor shall submit a signed disclosure document to such trust, in such form as specified by the conflicts of interest board by rule, stating that such donor (a) is not a subordinate of the city elected official or public servant for whose benefit the trust was established, nor is a subordinate of the city elected official or public servant who solicited such donation, if applicable; (b) is not a person currently having business dealings with the city of New York; (c) is not appearing before the city; (d) has no non-ministerial matter with the city; and (e) has acknowledged that such donation will not affect any future business dealings with or the disposition of other matters with the city. (4) For purposes of this subdivision, a solicitation for, or a donation to, a legal defense trust permitted by this subdivision shall be presumed not to be made because of a solicitor’s or beneficiary’s city position. (5) No public servant shall solicit a donation to a legal defense trust (a) in his or her official capacity or (b) in an amount or from a source that is not permitted by this subdivision. (6) No public servant, other than an elected official, who is a deputy mayor, or head of an agency or who is charged with substantial policy discretion as defined by rule of the conflicts of interest board, shall directly or indirectly request any person to make a donation to a legal defense trust, except for a legal defense trust of which such public servant is a beneficiary; provided that nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit such public servant from speaking on behalf of any beneficiary of a legal defense trust at an occasion where a solicitation for a donation to a legal defense trust may be made by others. (7) No public servant shall, directly or indirectly (a) compel, induce or request any person to make a donation to a legal defense trust, under threat of prejudice to or promise of or to secure advantage in rank, compensation or other job-related status or function; or (b) make or promise to make a donation to a legal defense trust in consideration of having been or being nominated, elected or employed as such public servant or to secure advantage in rank, compensation or other job-related status or function. f. Expenditures. (1) The funds of a legal defense trust may be used only to defray (a) legal expenses in connection with a governmental, administrative, criminal or civil investigation, audit or action described in a statement of organization filed pursuant to section 3-1102 that is related to (i) a political campaign; (ii) issue advocacy; or (iii) the holding of a civil office or appointment, public office or political party position, and (b) costs reasonably incurred in administering the trust, including but not limited to costs incident to the solicitation of donations, the hiring of service professionals, bank fees, and the creation and operation of the trust. (2) The funds of a legal defense trust shall not be used for advertising expenses, political consultants, the payment of criminal fines or penalties imposed upon an individual beneficiary, or communications involving election or campaign activities. (3) The funds of a legal defense trust shall not be used for the personal use of the trustee or beneficiary unrelated to the purposes of the trust. (4) The funds of a legal defense trust shall not be used to defray legal expenses that have been paid for by the city. If the city pays any part of the legal expenses of a beneficiary after such beneficiary has received from the corporation counsel the letter required by subparagraph (a) of paragraph (1) of subdivision a of section 3-1102, such funds must be returned to the trust. g. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or limit expenditures by a political committee related to a campaign audit from being considered expenditures in furtherance of a political campaign for elective office pursuant to chapter 7 of title 3 of this code. a. Legal defense trusts shall report to the conflicts of interest board, in a manner specified by the board by rule, the following information: (1) The names and addresses of all persons that made a donation having a reasonable value of $100 or more to the trust during the previous quarter, if any; the dates of donation; and the value of any such donation. (2) An itemized accounting of each expenditure made during the previous quarter, including the name and address of each payee and the amount and the purpose of the expenditure, in a manner and form determined by the conflicts of interest board. (3) The reports required to be filed by this section shall be filed no later than April 15 for the accounting period beginning January 1 and ending March 31; no later than July 15 for the accounting period beginning April 1 and ending June 30; no later than October 15 for the accounting period beginning July 1 and ending September 30; and no later than January 15 of the following calendar year, for the accounting period beginning October 1 and ending December 31. b. The conflicts of interest board shall maintain on its website and regularly update a list of all legal defense trusts that reported, and shall post on such website, in a machine readable format that permits automated processing, all information disclosed to the board pursuant to this section; provided, however, that the board shall maintain the confidentiality of all information it receives pursuant to this section where required by applicable law. c. Donor written disclosure submissions received by the legal defense trust pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision e of section 3-1102 shall be retained by the trust for at least three years from the date of receipt. § 3-1104. Dissolution of the legal defense trust. a. The legal defense trust shall be terminated within 90 days of the date the last expenditure is made in relation to the governmental administrative, criminal or civil investigations, audits or actions, for which the trust is established. b. Funds remaining in the legal defense trust account following payment of all attorney’s fees and other related legal costs for which the trust was established shall be distributed in the following manner: (1) returned to the donors on a last in, first out basis or in accordance with another reasonable method as determined by the trustee(s); or (2) transferred to a charitable organization having tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, as determined by the trustee(s), or to the general fund of the city of New York; provided, however, that such funds shall not be transferred to an organization with which the trustee or a beneficiary is associated. a. The conflicts of interest board shall conduct semiannual reviews, biennial audits and a final audit upon dissolution of any legal defense trust established pursuant to this chapter. Such audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. The board shall promulgate rules regarding what documentation is sufficient for demonstrating financial activities of each such trust. b. Complaints alleging violations of this chapter shall be made, received, investigated and adjudicated in a manner consistent with the procedures relating to investigations and adjudications of allegations of conflicts of interest as set forth in chapters 34 and 68 of the charter. § 3-1106 Rulemaking. The conflicts of interest board shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to ensure the implementation of this chapter. a. Any legal defense trust required to file a statement of organization with the conflicts of interest board pursuant to the provisions of subdivision b of section 3-1102 that has not so filed at the end of one week after the date required for filing shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $250 or more than $10,000. b. (1) Any legal defense trust that violates the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 or 7 of subdivision e of section 3-1102 shall be required to return any donations and shall be subject to a civil penalty, which for the first offense shall be not more than $5,000, for the second offense not more than $15,000, and for the third and subsequent offenses not more than $30,000. (2) No violation shall issue and no penalty shall be imposed where any donation made pursuant to this subdivision is refunded within 20 days of receipt by the legal defense trust. c. Any legal defense trust that violates any of the provisions of subdivision f of section 3-1102 shall be subject to a civil penalty, which for the first offense shall be not more than $1,000, and for the second and subsequent offenses not more than $10,000. d. Any legal defense trust that violates the provisions of subdivision a of section 3-1103, relating to the reporting of donations and expenditures, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $250 or more than $10,000. e. Any legal defense trust that violates the provisions of section 3-1104, relating to the dissolution of such trust, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $250 nor more than $10,000. f. The conflicts of interest board may hold a trustee or beneficiary jointly and severally liable for any of the foregoing penalties if such person knew or reasonably should have known of the violation. § 2. The provisions of this local law shall be applicable to any legal defense trust, as defined in section 3-1101 of chapter 11 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by this local law, established and in operation on and after the date of its enactment, including such trusts as may have been established prior to such date of enactment. § 3. Prior to the adoption of rules promulgated by the conflicts of interest board with respect to forms required pursuant to sections 3-1102 and 3-1103 of chapter 11 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by this local law, the board shall accept on an interim basis information and documents that are submitted in a form reflecting compliance with such provisions of such local law, on behalf of any legal defense trust as defined in section 3-1101 of such chapter. § 4. This local law takes effect immediately.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2587
__label__cc	0.714607	0.285393	Research is a priority in terms of improving women's health. Research needs include diseases unique to women, more serious in women and those that differ in risk factors between women and men. The balance of gender in research studies needs to be balanced appropriately to allow analysis that will detect interactions between gender and other factors.[6] Gronowski and Schindler suggest that scientific journals make documentation of gender a requirement when reporting the results of animal studies, and that funding agencies require justification from investigators for any gender inequity in their grant proposals, giving preference to those that are inclusive. They also suggest it is the role of health organisations to encourage women to enroll in clinical research. However, there has been progress in terms of large scale studies such as the WHI, and in 2006 the Society for Women's Health Research founded the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) and the journal Biology of Sex Differences to further the study of sex differences.[6] Poor nutrition may be one of the easiest conditions to self-diagnose. Look at the food pyramid and the suggested servings. Look at your diet. Are you getting the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables? Enough calcium? Read the labels and compare what you eat to what you need. You may discover that even if your weight is ideal, you are not getting enough nutrition. Omega-3 fatty acids — essential to health and happiness, reviewed by Dr. Mary James, MD. From conception to old age, every cell in our bodies needs omega-3’s. Learn how omega-3 fatty acids benefit every body system — from the brain to the heart, breast, bones, colon, skin and more, this is one nutrient that can make all the difference to our health, our happiness, and — perhaps best of all — our longevity. While what works best for one woman may not always be the best choice for another, the important thing is to build your dietary choices around your vital nutritional needs. Whether you’re looking to improve your energy and mood, combat stress or PMS, boost fertility, enjoy a healthy pregnancy, or ease the symptoms of menopause, these nutrition tips can help you to stay healthy and vibrant throughout your ever-changing life. To achieve these goals, cut down on saturated fat from animal products (meat and the skin of poultry, whole-fat dairy products, and certain vegetable foods — palm oil, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, and coconut). And it's just as important to reduce your consumption of trans fatty acids, the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils found in stick margarine, fried foods, and many commercially baked goods and snack foods. In the past, women have often tried to make up deficits in their diet though the use of vitamins and supplements. However, while supplements can be a useful safeguard against occasional nutrient shortfalls, they can’t compensate for an unbalanced or unhealthy diet. To ensure you get all the nutrients you need from the food you eat, try to aim for a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, quality protein, healthy fats, and low in processed, fried, and sugary foods. Nutrition interventions that target mothers alone inadequately address women's needs across their lives: during adolescence, preconception, and in later years of life. They also fail to capture nulliparous women. The extent to which nutrition interventions effectively reach women throughout the life course is not well documented. In this comprehensive narrative review, we summarized the impact and delivery platforms of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions targeting adolescent girls, women of reproductive age (nonpregnant, nonlactating), pregnant and lactating women, women with young children <5 y, and older women, with a focus on nutrition interventions delivered in low- and middle-income countries. We found that although there were many effective interventions that targeted women's nutrition, they largely targeted women who were pregnant and lactating or with young children. There were major gaps in the targeting of interventions to older women. For the delivery platforms, community-based settings, compared with facility-based settings, more equitably reached women across the life course, including adolescents, women of reproductive age, and older women. Nutrition-sensitive approaches were more often delivered in community-based settings; however, the evidence of their impact on women's nutritional outcomes was less clear. We also found major research and programming gaps relative to targeting overweight, obesity, and noncommunicable disease. We conclude that focused efforts on women during pregnancy and in the first couple of years postpartum fail to address the interrelation and compounding nature of nutritional disadvantages that are perpetuated across many women's lives. In order for policies and interventions to more effectively address inequities faced by women, and not only women as mothers, it is essential that they reflect on how, when, and where to engage with women across the life course. Recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that ART babies are two to four times more likely to have certain kinds of birth defects. These may include heart and digestive system problems, and cleft (divided into two pieces) lips or palate. Researchers don't know why this happens. The birth defects may not be due to the technology. Other factors, like the age of the parents, may be involved. More research is needed. The risk is relatively low, but parents should consider this when making the decision to use ART. Just like trying to find a guy who meets certain exact standards, trying to reach an exact weight is a lofty—and often unattainable—goal. Having a range, such as losing five to 10 pounds, may lead to a more successful outcome than if you aim to lose precisely 8 pounds in four weeks, according to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Flexible goals seem more feasible, which in turn boosts your sense of accomplishment, encouraging you to stay driven, the study authors say. Both your nutritional needs (the food and water) and your metabolism (how fast your body converts food to energy) change at this age. Your metabolism gets slower. Women lose about half a pound of muscle per year starting around the age of 40. That makes losing weight even more difficult. Some of the changes women experience are due to decreased hormones, reduced activity level, and medical conditions. The increasing focus on Women's Rights in the United States during the 1980s focused attention on the fact that many drugs being prescribed for women had never actually been tested in women of child-bearing potential, and that there was a relative paucity of basic research into women's health. In response to this the National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)[154] in 1990 to address these inequities. In 1993 the National Institutes of Health Revitalisation Act officially reversed US policy by requiring NIH funded phase III clinical trials to include women.[119] This resulted in an increase in women recruited into research studies. The next phase was the specific funding of large scale epidemiology studies and clinical trials focussing on women's health such as the Women's Health Initiative (1991), the largest disease prevention study conducted in the US. Its role was to study the major causes of death, disability and frailty in older women.[155] Despite this apparent progress, women remain underepresented. In 2006 women accounted for less than 25% of clinical trials published in 2004,[156] A follow up study by the same authors five years later found little evidence of improvement.[157] Another study found between 10–47% of women in heart disease clinical trials, despite the prevalence of heart disease in women.[158] Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death amongst women, but while the number of women enrolled in lung cancer studies is increasing, they are still far less likely to be enrolled than men.[119] “It was a privilege to have taken the course with you. Already, I have used the cueing methods on 2 clients. I have also taken the initiative to ask one of my post-natal client today about her birthing journey and she was so open and excited to share with me. It struck me that usually nobody asks them about it as more attention is focused on the baby.” Women's experience of health and disease differ from those of men, due to unique biological, social and behavioural conditions. Biological differences vary all the way from phenotype to the cellular, and manifest unique risks for the development of ill health.[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".[2] Women's health is an example of population health, the health of a specific defined population.[3] In our review, we found that fortification interventions that provided fortified foods reached women of all life stages through home visits, community distribution centers, local markets, and retail stores. Delivery of fortified foods in school-based programs, at work, and in maternal–child health centers were also used to target school-age children, women of reproductive age, and pregnant and lactating women that were engaged with those facilities (37, 72–74, 84). There was mixed evidence that consumption of fortified foods reached all socioeconomic groups. Some studies showed differences in consumption between nonpoor and extremely poor, and between urban and rural stakeholders (33, 64, 85). Women who have restricted access to markets, depend largely on locally grown foods, are in areas with underdeveloped distribution channels, or have limited purchasing power, might have limited access to fortified foods (64). Additional research is needed to address implementation gaps and to determine the best platforms for reaching high-risk populations. In addition to diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors can also play an important role in bone health. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis, while weight-bearing exercise (such as walking, dancing, yoga, or lifting weights) can lower your risk. Strength or resistance training—using machines, free weights, elastic bands, or your own body weight—can be especially effective in helping to prevent loss of bone mass as you age. It has not been scientifically established that large amounts of vitamins and minerals or dietary supplements help prevent or treat health problems or slow the aging process. Daily multivitamin tablets can be beneficial to some people who do not consume a balanced diet or a variety of foods. Generally, eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods provides the necessary nutrients your body needs. Eating whole foods is preferable to supplements because foods provide dietary fiber and other nutritional benefits that supplements do not. If you choose to take vitamin and mineral supplements, it is recommended to choose a multi-vitamin that does not exceed 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI). Laparoscopy (lap-uh-ROS-kuh-pee): A minor surgery to see inside the abdomen. The doctor does this with a small tool with a light called a laparoscope (LAP-uh-roh-skohp). She or he makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. With the laparoscope, the doctor can check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy. Nutrition education, including communication and counseling to raise awareness and promote nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors aligned with public health goals, was found to increase women's knowledge and improve women's dietary diversity and protein intake (15–21). It also reduced energy intake of overweight women over a 9-mo period (22). However, evidence for the effectiveness of nutrition education interventions showed mixed impact on biological and anthropometric markers of women's nutritional status (14–16, 18, 23–29). This could be due to lack of statistical power given the small sample sizes of the reviewed studies. For adolescent girls, nutrition education was found to reduce odds of overweight, and improve knowledge, dietary intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior (27, 29, 30). This was particularly true for nutrition education that lasted longer than 12 mo (29). Nutrition education was also more strongly associated with changes in health outcomes in studies evaluating childhood obesity treatment, rather than childhood obesity prevention (29). Published ten times per year, Women's Health magazine is a premier publication focused on the health, fitness, nutrition, and lifestyles of women. With a circulation of 1.5 million readers, you'll be in good company with a subscription to this successful magazine published by Rodale. From cover to cover, each issue will provide you with tips on improving every aspect of your life. Before you convince yourself that you’re too busy to mediate, consider this: “Adding mediation to your daily fitness routine can be a crucial part of body transformation,” says Mark Fisher, founder of Mark Fisher Fitness in NYC. Find five to 10 minutes once or twice a day to focus on your breath, he suggests. “Taking the time to do this can help your body and brain de-stress and recover better from all your hard work at the gym and the office.” In 2013 about 289,000 women (800 per day) in the world died due to pregnancy-related causes, with large differences between developed and developing countries.[11][37] Maternal mortality in western nations had been steadily falling, and forms the subject of annual reports and reviews.[38] Yet, between 1987 and 2011, maternal mortality in the United States rose from 7.2 to 17.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, this is reflected in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).[38] By contrast rates as high as 1,000 per birth are reported in the rest of the world,[11] with the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, which account for 86% of such deaths.[39][37] These deaths are rarely investigated, yet the World Health Organization considers that 99% of these deaths, the majority of which occur within 24 hours of childbirth, are preventable if the appropriate infrastructure, training, and facilities were in place.[40][37] In these resource-poor countries, maternal health is further eroded by poverty and adverse economic factors which impact the roads, health care facilities, equipment and supplies in addition to limited skilled personnel. Other problems include cultural attitudes towards sexuality, contraception, child marriage, home birth and the ability to recognise medical emergencies. The direct causes of these maternal deaths are hemorrhage, eclampsia, obstructed labor, sepsis and unskilled abortion. In addition malaria and AIDS complicate pregnancy. In the period 2003–2009 hemorrhage was the leading cause of death, accounting for 27% of deaths in developing countries and 16% in developed countries.[41][42] Granted, our brief magazine survey here is far from inclusive. 2016 saw the debut of magazine FabUplus, specifically geared to the plus-size woman. Women’s Running featured regular-sized women on its August 2015 and April 2016 covers. But even as Shape promotes the body-positivity movement with interviews with people like Willcox, who now runs a plus-size modeling agency, it’s still pushing posts like the below. How are these body types different exactly? As the table above shows, some of the best sources of calcium are dairy products. However, dairy products such as whole milk, cheese, and yogurt also tend to contain high levels of saturated fat. The USDA recommends limiting your saturated fat intake to no more than 10% of your daily calories, meaning you can enjoy whole milk dairy in moderation and opt for no- or low-fat dairy products when possible. Just be aware that reduced fat dairy products often contain lots of added sugar, which can have negative effects on both your health and waistline. WHO (1948). "WHO definition of Health". Archived from the original (Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19–22 June 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.) on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016., in WHO (2016) Consider including peppermint in your pre-workout snack or drink. In a small study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, men drank 2 cups water with 0.05 milliliters (basically, a drop) peppermint oil mixed in and then ran on a treadmill to test their stamina and power. The mint appeared to help relax muscles, boost oxygen to muscles and the brain, and elevate pain threshold, leading to improved overall performance. Aggressive and early treatment of constipation can prevent painful complications from the condition, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, ulcerations of the colon, bowel obstruction, and rectal prolapse. Start with lifestyle changes—such as adding more fiber to the diet, drinking enough water, and regular exercise. Used wisely, medications also can be very helpful. (Locked) More » Folic acid: This form of B vitamin helps prevent neural tube defects, especially spina bifida and anencephaly. These defects can be devastating and fatal. Many foods are now fortified with folic acid. Most women get enough as part of their diet through foods such as leafy greens, a rich source of folic acid. However, some doctors recommend that women take a pregnancy supplement that includes folic acid, just to make sure they are getting the recommended 400 to 800 micrograms. Use MyPlate (PDF – 281 KB) as a guide to build a healthy diet. Think about filling your plate with foods from the five food groups — fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy — at each meal. Snacks can be a good way to fill in fruits and whole grains you might have missed at meals. Most of us don’t need complicated calorie counting programs or special recipes for healthy eating. Give your body a little more credit: It tells you when you’re hungry—you may not be listening, though. Before chowing down because there’s only one slice of pie left or because the last guest arrived at the brunch, stop and check in with your stomach. “If you’re not hungry, make yourself a small plate and sip on some tea or coffee while everyone else digs in,” recommends Elle Penner, M.P.H., R.D., a MyFitnessPal expert. When your belly starts to finally grumble, food will be there. The total fat in your daily diet should average no more than 30 percent of your total calories consumed. And saturated fat should be no more than 10 percent of those 30 percent of calories. The amount of fat and saturated fat you eat depends on the foods you select and consume that have fat in them. Consider consulting with a nutrition professional to learn more about how to calculate your fat needs and to not exceed what are healthy amounts. There are many tools available to help you determine how much fat you should consume each day based on your current energy and nutrition needs. Reading food labels is one way to begin to identify where and how much fat is in particular food items. Folate or vitamin B9 (also known as folic acid when used in fortified foods or taken as a supplement) is another nutrient that many women don’t get enough of in their diets. Folate can greatly reduce the chance of neurological birth defects when taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Folate can also lower a woman’s risk for heart disease and certain types of cancer, so even if you’re not planning on getting pregnant (and many pregnancies are unplanned), it’s an essential nutrient for every woman of childbearing age. In later life, folate can help your body manufacture estrogen during menopause. For some simple suggestions about eating a healthy, balanced diet, check out the "New American Plate Concept" from the American Institute for Cancer Research. This concept suggests you fill your plate with two-thirds or more of vegetables, fruits, whole grains or beans and only one-third or less of animal protein. This simple principle can guide you toward healthier eating. For more details, visit http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reduce_diet_new_american_plate. Women's life expectancy is greater than that of men, and they have lower death rates throughout life, regardless of race and geographic region. Historically though, women had higher rates of mortality, primarily from maternal deaths (death in childbirth). In industrialised countries, particularly the most advanced, the gender gap narrowed and was reversed following the industrial revolution. [6] Despite these differences, in many areas of health, women experience earlier and more severe disease, and experience poorer outcomes.[18]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2590
__label__cc	0.7062	0.2938	According to the American Heart Association, it's better to eat more complex carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits and whole grains) than simple carbohydrates found in sugars. Complex carbohydrates add more fiber, vitamins and minerals to the diet than foods high in refined sugars and flour. Foods high in complex carbohydrates are usually low in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol. Welcome to Oxygen, the ultimate guide to women's fitness, strength training, performance and nutrition. Browse our database of workouts for women; get training tips from top athletes, coaches and experts; expand your knowledge about women's health and increase your overall strength, endurance and mobility with online fitness courses. We have the tools to help you reach your goals! Young adults. Teen girls and young women usually need more calories than when they were younger, to support their growing and developing bodies. After about age 25, a woman’s resting metabolism (the number of calories her body needs to sustain itself at rest) goes down. To maintain a healthy weight after age 25, women need to gradually reduce their calories and increase their physical activity. You can customize your cookie preferences by using the settings next to "Analytical Cookies" and "Marketing Cookies." Click the "Save Preferences" button to save your customized settings. You can access and change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking "Data Protection Settings" icon in the lower left corner of our website. For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please visit the Academy's Privacy Policy. Abortion is the intentional termination of pregnancy, as compared to spontaneous termination (miscarriage). Abortion is closely allied to contraception in terms of women's control and regulation of their reproduction, and is often subject to similar cultural, religious, legislative and economic constraints. Where access to contraception is limited, women turn to abortion. Consequently, abortion rates may be used to estimate unmet needs for contraception.[71] However the available procedures have carried great risk for women throughout most of history, and still do in the developing world, or where legal restrictions force women to seek clandestine facilities.[72][71] Access to safe legal abortion places undue burdens on lower socioeconomic groups and in jurisdictions that create significant barriers. These issues have frequently been the subject of political and feminist campaigns where differing viewpoints pit health against moral values. ART procedures sometimes involve the use of donor eggs (eggs from another woman), donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos. Donor eggs are sometimes used for women who can not produce eggs. Also, donor eggs or donor sperm is sometimes used when the woman or man has a genetic disease that can be passed on to the baby. An infertile woman or couple may also use donor embryos. These are embryos that were either created by couples in infertility treatment or were created from donor sperm and donor eggs. The donated embryo is transferred to the uterus. The child will not be genetically related to either parent. Women often received micronutrient supplements during antenatal and postnatal care (13, 35–42, 51, 60), and, as such, supplementation was often targeted to pregnant and lactating women. The delivery of micronutrient supplementation commonly occurred in health care settings for at-home consumption. Community-based antenatal care that involved home visits by community health workers was also a common delivery platform for supplementation delivery. There were some studies that reported micronutrient supplementation to adolescents, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and women with young children outside of the antenatal care setting. These included primary health care clinics, home visits, community centers, pharmacies, and workplaces (32, 38–43, 45, 52, 53). Adolescent girls were also reached by community- and school-based programs (26, 41, 46). School-based programs were more efficacious in reducing rates of anemia among adolescent girls, compared with the community-based interventions (26, 46). However, many of the reported studies to date involved small samples of adolescents in controlled settings, and additional research is needed on the effectiveness of these programs (59, 62).	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2591
__label__cc	0.692487	0.307513	About - Contact - Ad Disclosure - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy What Does an LPN Do? Online LPN Programs LPN Salary – A 50 State Guide LPN to RN: Making the Journey LPN Programs in NYC New York City is known for being one of the top ten largest cities in the world, a major center of commerce, politics, and the arts. The Big Apple, as it is often called, is filled with attractions such as Ellis Island, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park. If you live in NYC and have pondered the idea of becoming an LPN, the information on this page may help you to better-understand some of what’s involved in the overall process (if you happen to live closer to the Rochester area, you might want to read the Rochester page on this site. This page has been broken down into various sections that contain information on related but different topics. The first section contains a breakdown of the LPN field, including common job duties and what an LPN program may look like. The section after that covers some state-specific information on LPN licensing in New York. The third and final section (located at the bottom of the page) lists various schools in NYC and greater New York that may offer LPN programs. LPN Programs: Basic Information Programs for LPNs typically look much like RN programs. Students may be required to pass a pre-course exam in order to be able to participate in the program. LPN programs may include general education classes such as psychology and composition, but the meat of LPN programs include nursing classes such as medical dosage, practical nursing, pharmacology, nutrition, mental health nursing, and maternal-child nursing. Labs are generally included with LPN courses that require laboratory practice, and students can practice skills in these labs before using them in real-life situations in clinicals. Clinicals are the portion of the course where students perform LPN job duties with a patient for one or more days a week. Students may start out performing easier, low-skill duties such as bathing and dressing patients, and they may gradually earn more responsibilities as time goes on and they gain further knowledge and skill. Some programs may also end with a capstone, such as a case study with a specific patient. Typical LPN Job Duties LPNs in New York City perform many job duties. They commonly work underneath the direct supervision of a doctor or registered nurse, and their job encompasses the practical side of nursing. Job duties may be covered in several categories: bedside care, patient status, and specialized tasks. With bedside care, LPNs may be asked to help bathe and dress patients, change bandages, clean wounds, and assist with personal hygiene. In monitoring a patient’s status, LPNs may take and record the patient’s vital signs (such as height, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and temperature), talk with the patient about their care and any concerns the patient may have, and report the patient’s health status and concerns to a doctor or RN. Specialized skills that the LPN may provide, depending on if the LPN has had special education in these areas or not, include inserting a catheter, administering medication via IV, changing IV tubing and bags of fluid, administering blood and blood products, and assisting with dialysis. Other duties may include preparing and cleaning medical equipment, administering medications that have been ordered for the patient, performing venipuncture, applying CPR, completing paperwork (such as insurance, prescriptions, and billing, depending on location), and supervising assistants or aides. Often, job duties will be location-specific; for example, LPNs working in a nursing home with elderly patients will have different duties than LPNs working in the NICU, where they may be asked to bottle-feed infants. Other locations that LPNs work include medical clinics, doctors’ offices, in-home care, and rehabilitation hospitals. LPN Licensing Information for New York New York has specific requirements that LPN hopefuls must meet in order to be licensed to practice as an LPN. Listed below are some of those requirements, but it’s important to note that the following information may not be comprehensive or complete. The best place to get themost accurate, up-to-date information regarding LPN licensing requirements is from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). According to the New York State Education Department, LPN applicants must be at least 17 years old, have completed high school (or equivalent), be in good moral standing, and meet education and examination requirements. LPN applicants must also complete coursework that teaches them how to implement infection control and barrier precautions for HIV and Hepatitis B. Education requirements include completing an LPN education program that is at least 9 months long, or two semesters. LPN education programs in New York must be recognized by the State Education Department (not all programs are, so it’s a good idea to check with the NYSED first prior to enrolling to ensure that a course you’re considering taking is recognized) and if the program was completed outside of the United States, it must be recognized by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGENS). If the program is completed outside of New York, it must be at least 9 months long and approved by the appropriate government agency in its jurisdiction or conducted by the armed forces. Graduation from a general professional nursing program may also be accepted. Exam requirements include successfully completing the National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing (or NCLEX-PN). This exam is a computer-based exam that selects the next question based on the student’s response to the previous question. The amount of questions may vary from exam to exam because the exam program is sensitive to each specific examinee. Because of how the exam is set up, there is not a minimum amount of correct answers to pass the exam, nor are examinees measured against other examinees; rather, each individual is measured by a preset standard. A maximum of six hours is allowed to pass the NCLEX. New York also has a limited permit available, which allows individuals to practice as an LPN without taking the NCLEX-PN. The individual must work directly under an RN or doctor and be endorsed by the employer in order to receive a limited permit, and the LPN program or school must verify the applicant’s education directly with the NY State Education Department. The permit is valid for a year, and if the individual changes employers or adds employers, he or she must apply for a new permit with each new employer. Again, as mentioned earlier, m information about LPN licensing in New York, along with the application, additional forms, and fees, is available at the New York State Education Department’s website (the link is provided earlier in this section). Colleges and Schools Near NYC That May Have LPN Educational Programs 199 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007 Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center 163 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027 Metropolitan College of New York 431 Canal St, New York, NY 10013 Near NYC Bronx Community College 2155 University Ave, Bronx, NY 10453 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451 Kingsborough Community College 2001 Oriental Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11235 LaGuardia Community College 31-10 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 2501 Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY 10468 222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11364 Where Do LPNs Work? What Does an LPN Do? LPN Salary: A 50 State Guide Nursing Professions Aren't for Everyone LPN vs RN: What are the Differences? What's Taught in an LPN Program? LPN to RN: Making the Journey LPN Programs & Bad Grades LPN to RN Online Programs Online LPN Programs State Specific Information Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Atlanta California Chicago Cleveland Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Hawaii Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New Orleans North Carolina North Dakota NYC Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Rochester, NY South Carolina South Dakota St. Louis, MO Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming © 2019 LPNProgramsFocus.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2593
__label__cc	0.547795	0.452205	Journal of Biomolecular NMR September 2004 , Volume 30, Issue 1, pp 11–23 \| Cite as Mars - robust automatic backbone assignment of proteins Young-Sang Jung Markus Zweckstetter MARS a program for robust automatic backbone assignment of 13C/15N labeled proteins is presented. MARS does not require tight thresholds for establishing sequential connectivity or detailed adjustment of these thresholds and it can work with a wide variety of NMR experiments. Using only 13Cα/13Cβ connectivity information, MARS allows automatic, error-free assignment of 96% of the 370-residue maltose-binding protein. MARS can successfully be used when data are missing for a substantial portion of residues or for proteins with very high chemical shift degeneracy such as partially or fully unfolded proteins. Other sources of information, such as residue specific information or known assignments from a homologues protein, can be included into the assignment process. MARS exports its result in SPARKY format. This allows visual validation and integration of automated and manual assignment. automated assignment NMR software structural genomics triple resonance unfolded protein Alattia, J.R., Tong, F.K., Tong, K.I. and Ikura, M. (2000) J. Biomol. NMR, 16, 181-182.Google Scholar Atreya, H.S., Sahu, S.C., Chary, K.V.R. and Govil, G. (2000) J. Biomol. NMR, 17, 125-136.Google Scholar Bartels, C., Güntert, P., Billeter, M. and Wüthrich, K. (1997) J. Comput. Chem., 18, 139-149.Google Scholar Bartels, C., Xia, T.H., Billeter, M., Güntert, P. and Wüthrich, K. (1995) J. Biomol. NMR, 6, 1-10.Google Scholar Bax, A. and Grzesiek, S. (1993) Accounts Chem. Res., 26, 131-138.Google Scholar Bernstein, R., Cieslar, C., Ross, A., Oschkinat, H., Freund, J. and Holak, T.A. (1993) J. Biomol. NMR, 3, 245-251.Google Scholar Buchler, N.E.G., Zuiderweg, E.R.P., Wang, H. and Goldstein, R.A. (1997) J. Magn. Reson., 125, 34-42.Google Scholar Coggins, B.E. and Zhou, P. (2003) J. 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Biol., 5, 664-673.Google Scholar 1.Max Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryGöttingenGermany Jung, YS. & Zweckstetter, M. J Biomol NMR (2004) 30: 11. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JNMR.0000042954.99056.ad DOI https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JNMR.0000042954.99056.ad	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2596
__label__wiki	0.669907	0.669907	246 F. 2d 493 - Territory of Alaska v. American Can Company & P E 246 F2d 493 Territory of Alaska v. American Can Company & P E 246 F.2d 493 17 Alaska 280 TERRITORY OF ALASKA, Appellant, AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, Fidalgo Island Packing Company, Libby, McNeill & Libby, Inc., Nakat Packing Company, New England Fish Co., P. E. Harris Company, Inc., Pacific & Arctic Railway & Navigation Co., and Oceanic Fisheries Co., Appellees. No. 15070. United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit. June 27, 1957. J. Gerald Williams, Atty. Gen., Territory of Alaska, Henry J. Camarot, Juneau, Alaska, for appellant. H. L. Faulkner, San Francisco, Cal., R. E. Robertson, Juneau, Alaska, and W. C. Arnold, Seattle, Wash., for appellees. Before HEALY, LEMMON, and FEE, Circuit Judges. LEMMON, Circuit Judge. In the face of the Alaska Legislature's mandate in 1953 that the Territory's Property Tax Act of 1949 'is hereby repealed,' with certain specific and limited exceptions embodied in a special saving clause clearly not applicable here, the appellant insists that it can still 'collect accrued and unpaid taxes for the years 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.' It is urged that this saving clause merely bestowed an 'important additional right in the form of a pecuniary advantage (to) municipalities, schools and public utilities * * * but denied to the Territorial Government'; but that this 'alleged special savings clause' should not protect the appellees from being held 'personally liable for the unpaid taxes' for the earlier years. In this connection, we may observe in passing that both parties repeatedly refer in their briefs to 'savings' clauses-- the appellant 44 times and the appellees 58 times. This palpable error, in which the Court below joined, and which, because of its frequency, can scarcely be regarded as typographical, occasionally is encountered even in some legal encyclopedias. For example, in 50 Am.Jur., Statutes, § 528, page 535, under the caption 'Express Saving Provisions in Repealing Statutes,' we find the form 'savings' and the form 'saving' each used three times in the same paragraph, each time followed by the word 'clause.' Since we are here dealing with statutory construction and not with bank accounts, 'saving' is, of course, the precise word. See State of South Carolina v. Gaillard, 1880, 101 U.S. 433, 438, 25 L.Ed. 937; Bridges v. United States, 1953, 346 U.S. 209, 227, note 25, 73 S.Ct. 1055, 97 L.Ed. 1557; Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Rawle's Third Revision, 1914, volume 2, page 3007; 82 C.J.S. Statutes 440, pp. 1014-1018; Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, Unabridged, 1955, page 2223, sub verbis 'saving clause.' In his argument supporting the finespun thesis that the appellees owe these back taxes in the face of a plain and-- as to them-- unqualified repeal, able counsel for the appellant displays more agility than persuasiveness. 1. Statement of the Case On February 21, 1949, the Territorial Legislature of Alaska enacted the first general 'Property Tax Act' of the Territory, Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, hereinafter sometimes referred to as Chapter 10. On March 12, 1953, the Property Tax Act was repealed by Chapter 22, Session Laws of Alaska, 1953, pages 73-74, which was passed over Governor Ernest Gruening's veto. Because of the crucial relevance of that repealing statute to the present lawsuit, we copy it below in full: 'To repeal the Alaska Property Tax Act enacted by Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, as amended by Chapter 88, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949; excepting from repeal certain taxes and tax exemptions; and declaring an emergency. 'Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Territory of Alaska: 'Section 1. That Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, as amended by Chapter 88, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, be and it is hereby repealed. 'Section 2. Section 1 of this Act shall not be applicable to: '(a) any taxes which have been levied and assessed by any municipality, school or public utility district under the provisions of Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska 1949, as amended, or which are levied and assessed during the current fiscal year of such municipality, school or public utility district; and '(b) any exemptions from the taxes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, which have been granted under the provisions of Section 6(h) of Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska 1949. 'Section 3. An emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act shall be in full force and effect for and after the date of its passage and approval.' It may here be explained that Section 6(h) of Chapter 10, supra, refers to 'incentive exemptions' that the Tax Commissioner of Alaska was authorized to grant to 'new industries,' and is not relevant to the present controversy. Between April and May of 1955, the appellant filed eight separate complaints against the appellees seeking to recover a total of more than $175,000 in taxes, interest and penalties for various years between 1949 and 1952, inclusive. The appellees point out that these suits 'were all personal actions against the several (appellees) seeking to recover taxes on both real and personal property combined without any attempt at segregation of one type of property from the other.' Each appellee filed a separate and identical motion to dismiss, alleging that the complaint did not state a claim upon which relief could be granted, and that the action was not brought within the time required by law. On May 5, 1955, the appellant filed a counter motion to strike against four of the appellees, requesting the Court below to strike the motion to dismiss. The Court denied the motion to strike and granted the appellees' motion to dismiss the eight complaints, for the reasons stated in the Court's opinion, which was filed on January 4, 1956. D.C., 137 F.Supp. 181. On February 7, 1956, the appellant filed a notice of appeal from the order of the Court below dismissing the complaints. On November 14, 1956, we ordered that the appeal 'be dismissed for want of jurisdiction because of the lack of final judgment,' and we remanded the cases to the Court below. On December 11, 1956, the District Court filed a final judgment decreeing (1) that the complaints alleging a personal liability be dismissed; (2) that the complaints and the 'numbered causes be dismissed on the merits for the reasons stated in the Court's opinion of January 4, 1956,' supra; and (3) that neither the taxes nor the remedy under Chapter 10 'survived the repeal found in Chapter 22 SLA 1953,' etc. On the same day, a second notice of appeal was filed in this case. It is this second appeal that is now before us. Four questions are presented by the appellant: (1) Whether the Property Tax Act is a tax on the appellees for which they are personally liable, or is merely a tax upon their property; (2) Whether the appellant is without a remedy to collect and enforce taxes due under the Property Tax Act; (3) Whether the language in Chapter 22, supra, repealing the Property Tax Act, is a 'special saving clause' nullifying the appellant's right under the 'Territorial General Saving Clause,' infra, 'to collect accrued and unpaid taxes for' 1949-1952. (4) Whether, in interpreting Chapter 22, supra, the terms and expressions of which are asserted to be ambiguous, 'the Court is limited in ascertaining the legislative intent to only those statutory constructional aids of which it may take 'judicial notice' or whether it may refer to extrinsic aids, otherwise admissible under the laws of evidence, which bear directly on such intent.' In our view, Question No. 3 is determinative of the issue. 2. Alaska's General Saving Statute Section 19-1-1, Alaska Compiled Laws Annotated, 1949, as amended by Chapter 4, Extraordinary Session Laws of Alaska, 1955, reads as follows: 'Effect of repeals or amendments. The repeal or amendment of any statute shall not affect any offense committed or any act done or right accruing or accrued or any action or proceeding had or commenced prior to such repeal or amendment; nor shall any penalty, forfeiture or liability incurred under such statute be released or extinguished, but the same may be enforced, continued, sustained, prosecuted and punished under the repealing or amendatory statute save as limited by the ex post facto and other provisions of the Constitution, in which event the same may be enforced, continued, sustained, prosecuted and punished under the former law as if such repeal or amendment had not been made. When any act repealing a former act, section, or provision shall be itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to revive such former act, section, or provision, unless it shall be expressly so provided.' 3. The Saving Section of the Repealing Act Overrides the General Saving Statute. Section 2 of the Act of 1953, hereinafter the repealing act, must prevail over Section 19-1-1 of Alaska Compiled Statutes Annotated, hereinafter the general saving statute. At the outset, we note that the very title of the repealing act underlines one of its main purposes; namely, that of 'excepting from repeal certain taxes and tax exemptions.' In John J. Sesnon Co. v. United States, 9 Cir., 1910, 182 F. 573, 576, certiorari denied, 1911, 220 U.S. 609, 31 S.Ct. 714, 55 L.Ed. 608, a case that came to this Court from Alaska, Judge Morrow observed: 'Where doubt exists as to the meaning of the statute, the title may be looked to for aid in its construction.' In the repealing statute before us, the participial phrase, 'excepting from repeal' certain taxes, etc., without any qualification to the word 'excepting,' indicates that the term is to be taken in its ordinary restrictive sense. Considering the repealing act as a whole, we should bear in mind that being a special or, in the words of the Supreme Court, a 'specific' enactment, it qualifies and furnishes exceptions to the general repeal law of Alaska-- Section 19-1-1, dealing with the 'Effect of repeals or amendments,' supra. More than threescore and ten years ago, this rule was already 'well settled' in Anglo-American law. In Townsend v. Little, 1883, 109 U.S. 504, 512, 3 S.Ct. 357, 362, 27 L.Ed. 1012, the Court observed: 'According to the well-settled rule, that general and specific provisions, in apparent contradiction, whether in the same or different statutes, and without regard to priority of enactment, may subsist together, the specific qualifying and supplying exceptions to the general, this provision for the execution of a particular class of deeds is not controlled by the law of the territory requiring deeds generally to be executed with two witnesses. (American and English authorities cited.)' The principle is merely a corollary of the familiar maxim, Expressio unius est exclusio alterius, as was pointed out in Rybolt v. Jarrett, 4 Cir., 1940, 112 F.2d 642, 645: 'There is some force here in the maxim Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. When in a statute of such clean cut restrictive force, the legislature undertook to make certain explicit exceptions, it seems a fair implication that the legislature intended to exclude other exceptions, and thus to make the statute say what it means and mean what it says.' Similarly, in Jones v. H.D. & J. K. Crosswell, 4 Cir., 1932, 60 F.2d 827, 828, it was said: 'Being exceptions carved out of the general rule, intangible property not specifically mentioned as being tangible property must be excluded. The maxim 'expressio unius est exclusio alterius' applies. It is a well-settled principle of statutory construction that the expression of one thing excludes others not expressed. (Many cases cited.)' The principle is well established in California. In Los Angeles Brewing Co. v. City of Los Angeles, 1935, 8 Cal.App.2d 391, 398, 48 P.2d 71, 74, cited in the Stanford Law Review of January, 1949, Volume 1, Number 2, Page 371, Note 2, the Court remarked: 'As section 22 or article 20 (of the Constitution of California) was adopted last, as it is special in dealing with this subject of the control, licensing, and regulating of 'the manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, transportation and disposition of intoxicating liquor within the State' and as it shows an intention to remove the licensing for revenue of those so dealing in intoxicating liquors from the realm of a municipal affair to that of a matter of general state-wide concern, its provisions must be held to control over those of section 6 of article 11 of the Constitution (authorizing cities and towns to legislate 'in respect to municipal affairs') and vest in the state the exclusive and sole right to license for the purpose of revenue those engaged in the business of manufacturing, dealing in or handling intoxicating liquors.' So far we have looked at the authorities dealing with the general application of the principle of 'The expression of one is the exclusion of others.' But there is a leading and oft-quoted decision that applies the venerable maxim to the precise question that we are here considering; namely, the conflict between a general repeal provision and a special repeal provision. We refer to State v. Showers, 1885, 34 Kan. 269, 8 P. 474, 476-477, where the entire question was lucidly discussed: 'The offense of which the defendant was found guilty was committed in violation of section 7 of the prohibitory liquor law as enacted in 1881, and the prosecution for such offense was commenced and conducted to its final termination after said section had been amended and the original section repealed by an act taking effect March 10, 1885; and the first question presented to this court, * * * is whether the defendant could be punished for a violation of the old section when the prosecution had not been commenced until after it had been amended and repealed.' 8 P. at page 475. The general saving statute of Kansas at that time read in part as follows: 'The repeal of a statute does not revive a statute previously repealed, nor does such repeal affect any right which accrued, any duty imposed, any penalty incurred, nor any proceeding commenced, under or by virtue of the statute repealed.' Compiled Laws, 1879, c. 104, § 1. It will be observed that the above Kansas statute was closely similar in effect to the General Saving Act of Alaska, § 19-1-1, supra. On the other hand, § 19 of the repealing act of 1885, supra, contained the following special saving proviso: 'All prosecutions pending at the time of the taking effect of this act shall be continued the same as if this act had not been passed.'With this legislative and factual situation before it, the Supreme Court of Kansas said: 'The question as to what should be repealed and what saved was before the legislature. They had the entire subject-matter thereof under consideration, and evidently intended to cover the entire ground; and evidently intended that nothing should be repealed except what they expressly repealed, and that nothing should be saved except what they expressly stated should be saved. They expressly saved some things; therefore it must be inferred that they intended to save no others. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. The legislature evidently intended that the special saving clause which they enacted in section 19 of the act of 1885 should take the place of all others, so far as prosecutions under original section 7 were concerned; and that in cases where the special saving clause could apply the general saving statute should have no operation. 'It is a well-settled rule of construction that specific provisions relating to a particular subject must govern in respect to that subject, as against general provisions in other parts of the law which might otherwise be broad enough to include it.' Felt v. Felt, 19 Wis. (193) 196. 'It is familiar law that a later statute will operate as a repeal of a former, though it contains no express repeal, and even though its provisions are not absolutely repugnant to those of the former, whenever it is obvious that the one was intended as a substitute for the other.' (Cases cited.) 'If, however, the saving clause in section 19 of the act of 1885 was not intended by the legislature to cover the entire ground, and to be a substitute for the general saving statute so far as cases like this are concerned, then the saving clause contained in section 19 of the act of 1885 has no office to perform, but is absolutely worthless, for the general saving clause would save all that it saves and very much more. Such an interpretation of the law as this would violate all proper canons of construction. It would in effect say that the legislature had done the very foolish thing of enacting a saving clause which can have no real operation at all, and can subserve no actual purpose whatever. 'It is a wellsettled rule that when any statute is revised, or one act framed from another, some parts being omitted, the parts omitted are not to be revived by construction, but are to be considered as annulled. To hold otherwise would be to impute to the legislature gross carelessness or ignorance, which is altogether inadmissible.' Ellis v. Paige, (1 Pick. 43) 18 Mass. (43) 45.' Emphasizing that the general saving statute comes into play only where the repealing act is 'silent as to whether the rights and remedies' under the old law are to be saved, the Supreme Court of Kansas said in conclusion: 'The theory upon which it has been held by this court that the general saving statute is applicable in cases of repeals is that where the repealing statute is silent as to whether the rights and remedies which had previously accrued under the repealed statute should be saved or not, such silence indicates an intention on the part of the legislature that the general saving statute should be left to operate upon the repeal, and to save all such rights and remedies as come within the saving provisions of the general saving statute. (Case cited.) In the present case, however, the repealing statute is not silent, for it itself contains a saving clause which shows that it was not the intention of the legislature to rely upon the general saving statute. 'For the reasons above stated we think the present action cannot be maintained. The judgment of the court below will therefore be reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings. '(All the justices concurring.)' 8 P. at pages 477-478.1 Both on reason and authority, therefore, we hold that § 2 of Chapter 22 of 1953, the repealing statute, means precisely what it says; namely, that Chapter 10 of the Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, shall 'be and it is hereby repealed,' except 'any taxes which have been levied and assessed by any municipality, school or public utility district,' etc., including such taxes levied and assessed for the 'current fiscal year'-- taxes which are not in controversy here, and which alone are saved from repeal. With the above exclusive exception, Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska, 1949, is no longer of any force or effect-- as to past, present, or future years. 4. The District Court Did Not Err in Excluding from Evidence H.B.No. 3 and S.B.No. 5. The appellant asserts that 'Because of the ambiguity of the statute and the direct bearing on the legislative intent, the Court should have considered the bill originally introduced and the amendments thereto, which preceded the final adoption of Chapter 22, SLA 1953'. Specifically, the appellant urges as error the lower court's rejection of 'both the original House Bill No. 3 and Senate Bill No. 5, Twenty-first Session, Territory of Alaska Legislature'. The record shows that only House Bill No. 3 was offered in evidence. The appellant counters with the statements that Senate Bill No. 5 'was identical in all respects to House Bill No. 3'; that an authenticated copy was formally filed in the District Court with the Territory's brief; and, 'alternatively', that the Senate bill 'could have been called to the Court's attention by citing page 32 of the 1949 Senate Journal (which is conceded by the appellees to be subject to judicial notice) wherein the word-for-word likeness of the title of Senate Bill No. 5 and House Bill No. 3 clearly indicates both bills to be indistinguishable in form, design or purpose'. We accept the appellant's 'alternative' point at its face value, and hold that the title of the Senate bill and the House bill indicate that they are 'indistinguishable'. By a parity of reasoning, however, we also hold that the title of House Bill No. 3 as introduced and the title of the House bill as enacted 'clearly indicate' their differences. As originally introduced, the bill, according to its title, was offered for the purpose of abrogating and repealing all accrued and unpaid taxes levied thereunder'; while the Act as passed carried a title showing that the new statute was 'excepting from repeal certain taxes and tax exemptions'. The extract from the Senate Journal printed in the appendix to the appellant's opening brief in this Court also shows that a 'new Section 2' dealing with taxes levied 'by any municipality, school or public utility district', etc., supra, was added by the Senate, and was concurred in by the House. These changes in the House bill before its final enactment, however, are not relevant here. In Trailmobile Co. v. Whirls, 1947, 331 U.S. 40, 60-61, 67 S.Ct. 982, 992, 91 L.Ed. 1328, the Supreme Court thus disposed of attempts to interpret statutes by minutely tracing 'legislative maneuvers': 'These reasons, founded in the literal construction of the statute and the policy clearly evident on its face, are sufficient for disposition of the case. They are not weakened by the Government's strained and unconvincing citation of the Act's legislative history. 'That argument is grounded in conclusions drawn from changes made without explanation in committee (as in the statute before us) with respect to various provisions finally taking form in § 8, changes affecting bills which eventually became the Selective Training and Service Act (50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, § 301 et seq.) and the National Guard Act, 54 Stat. 858, 50 U.S.C.A. Appendix, 401 et seq. Apart from the inconclusive character of the history, the Government's contention assumes that the only alternatives presented by the final form of the bill were indefinite duration for the incidents of the employment named and none at all. This ignores the other possibilities considered in this opinion, including duration for a reasonable time. Moreover, as has been noted, the most important committee changes relied upon were made without explanation. The interpretation of statutes cannot safely be made to rest upon mute intermediate legislative maneuvers.' We hold that the trial court did not commit prejudicial error in excluding evidence of the original House Bill No. 3 and the amendments thereto. From the foregoing, it will be seen that, since the limited saving clause did not preserve enough of the repealed tax statutes to be applicable against the taxpayers who are the appellees here, they are not liable either in rem or in personam. Any discussion, therefore, of the personal liability of the appellees as contradistinguished from the in rem liability of their property, would be moot. In our view, the appellants are not liable either in rem or in personam, since the repealing act, as has been shown, completely wiped out any tax liability except as to municipal, school, or public utility district taxes, which are concededly not involved in the instant case. Accordingly, it is the holding of this Court that the saving section of the repealing act relating to the Alaska Property Tax Law overrides the general saving statute; and that the Court below did not err in excluding from evidence House Bill No. 3 and Senate Bill No. 5. The judgment of the District Court is therefore HEALY, Circuit Judge (dissenting). I disagree with the holding of the majority that section 2(a) of chapter 22, Alaska Session Laws of 1953, nullifies the effect here of the Alaska General Savings Statute, section 19-1-1, Alaska Compiled Laws 1949. The relevant provisions of the latter are quoted below.1 It is not at all clear that it was the legislative intent to wipe out the liability of those in the situation of appellees for unpaid taxes levied for the years 1949 through 1952, but rather that section 2(a) had another and different purpose. Significantly, the history of the 1953 legislation shows that section 2 of the original bill was deleted in the course of the bill's consideration. That section in unmistakable terms had forgiven and abrogated all pre-1953 taxes. Concurrently, the phrase 'and abrogating and repealing all accrued and unpaid taxes levied thereunder' was deleted from the bill's title. Thus the legislature had before it in the original bill clear language which would have forgiven the taxes here in question. It chose, instead, to reject the language. In material part section 2(a) of the Act as finally passed reads: 'Section 2. Section 1 of this Act shall not be applicable to: (a) any taxes which have been levied and assessed by any municipality, school or public utility district under the provisions of Chapter 10, Session Laws of Alaska 1949, as amended, or which are levied and assessed during the current fiscal year of such municipality, school or public utility district; * * .' In light of what has been said above, the section is fairly construable as intending no more than a grant to the municipalities and school and public utility districts-- but not to the Territory itself-- of the right to levy and collect taxes for the then current year, namely 1953, both before and after the repealing act had taken effect. There was a logical reason for granting this right to these local districts in that the legislature may well have felt it undesirable to interfere with their current fiscal programs, whether or not the levies for that year had yet been made. As so construed, section 2(a) is readable in para materia with the General Savings Statute, above quoted, as not interfering with the collection of unpaid 1949-1952 taxes, either of the Territory or of the taxing districts. As was recognized by the trial judge but is not mentioned in the majority opinion here, it is a fundamental rule of statutory construction that general savings clauses or statutes preserve rights and liabilities which have accrued under an act repealed, and that they operate to make applicable in designated situations the law as it existed before the repeal, unless such application is negatived by the express terms or clear implication of a particular repealing act. My brothers, as I understand them, do not contend that such application is negatived by the express terms of the 1953 legislation, but rather is to be gathered by implication. To me, however, the legislation in the respects here in question is fundamentally ambiguous, both in its meaning and in the motives inspiring its enactment. Accordingly I dissent from the majority holding. See also, on this question of the legislators' intention 'that nothing should be saved except what they expressly stated should be saved', Wilmington Trust Co. v. United States, D.C.Del.1928, 28 F.2d 205, 208; and on the general application of the 'expressio unius' maxim, see also Ainsworth v. Bryant, 1949, 34 Cal.2d 465, 472, 473, 211 P.2d 564, 568; 50 Am.Jur. § 528, page 535; 82 C.J.S. Statutes § 440(a), p. 1015 'Effect of repeals or amendments. The repeal or amendment of any statute shall not affect an offense committed or any act done or right accruing or accrued or any action or proceeding had or commenced prior to such repeal or amendment; nor shall any penalty, forfeiture or liability incurred under such statute be released or extinguished, but the same may be enforced, continued, sustained, prosecuted and punished under the repealing or amendatory statute save as limited by the ex post facto and other provisions of the Constitution, in which event the same may be enforced, continued, sustained, prosecuted and punished under the former law as if such repeal or amendment had not been made * *.'	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2598
__label__cc	0.553673	0.446327	The Noise about Rising Tuition It's time to reflect on the facts June 3, 2002 \| By Robert Birgeneau In February, the Faculty of Law presented a long-term strategy to enhance the quality of legal education at U of T. This program involved an increase in tuition by $2,000 a year over the next five years. News of the proposed tuition increases set off alarm bells on campuses across the nation. Unfortunately, the clamour concentrated on superficial facts and drowned out any discussion about both the quality of education and the law school’s plans, at the same time, to increase student support dramatically and thereby improve accessibility. Students and their families have every right to be concerned about the rising costs of a university education, which are due in large part to shrinking provincial grants. Their fear that access to university will become restricted to the most privileged segments of society is understandable. After all, our two major sources of income are the province and tuition, with provincial operating grants making up by far the largest portion of our revenue. Since provincial funding in real dollars declined significantly over the past decade, inevitably tuition fees had to go up. The alternative would be a long-term decline in the quality of education, and we cannot allow that to happen. Every dollar added to the cost of an undergraduate education is deeply felt, but in reality, in most programs, tuition-fee increases in recent years have been relatively modest. Tuition in 2002-03 will rise by no more than five per cent for more than 90 per cent of our students, and more than half will see an increase of less than two per cent. For example, first-year Arts and Science students will pay $4,107, an increase of only $78 over last year, which is in keeping with recent annual increases. Regulated tuition-fee increases are limited to a rate well below the rate of inflation in academic costs, and most other fee increases, after factoring in financial aid, are just keeping up with the inflation rate. Despite increases in tuition fees, access to U of T by lower-income students is holding steady or improving. Indeed, a study led by Professor Ian Orchard, the new principal-designate of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, demonstrates that in both our undergraduate student population and within our professional faculties, nearly 20 per cent come from backgrounds where parental income is less than $30,000. This percentage has increased over the past three years. The survey also indicates little change in the proportion of students who identify themselves as belonging to minority groups. The figure remained static at 44 per cent in the professional programs and has been around 50 per cent at the undergraduate level for several years. Access is an important touchstone at U of T. The university is committed to providing financial-aid packages that open doors to the disadvantaged and reduce their debt burden upon graduation. One advantage that University of Toronto students have over others is that once they have arrived here, the U of T Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS) program guarantees that economic hardship will never prevent them from completing their programs. The university’s commitment to that guarantee has been dramatic. Whereas in 1990-91 U of T provided need-based undergraduate financial support of about $1.2 million, 10 years later we distributed nearly $19 million in such aid. As for graduate students, in 2001 U of T became the first Canadian university to offer a guaranteed level of financial support for doctoral students. Graduate funding packages, starting at a minimum of $12,000 plus tuition and fees, are available for five years, meaning that students are able to complete their programs more quickly and without significant financial hardship. The Link Between Tuition Fees and Financial Support Tuition-fee increases cannot always be avoided, but when they do happen the university tries to ensure that those who can afford them least are the least affected. Thirty cents of every dollar resulting from tuition increases is devoted to financial support for the neediest students. When combined with endowed funds and graduate-student aid, this 30-per cent reinvestment will help U of T enhance its spending on student support by $8.1 million in 2002-03, bringing the total amount available to more than $90 million. While some students carry alarming debt loads, fortunately they are in the vast minority. Generally, there is a great deal of misinformation among the public about student debt. Of students graduating from first-entry programs at U of T in 2000-01, more than half had no Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) debt at all, and a further quarter had an OSAP debt of less than $15,000. Still, undergraduate student debt must be reduced for the approximately five per cent of our graduating class who leave the university with the maximum OSAP debt of $28,000. Such high debt is unacceptable in my view, and we must work with the province and our students to reduce this burden by reforming the OSAP system, including fairer methods for assessing the financial need of students from middle-class families. People often ask me why our administration is pushing so hard on the student-aid front. In response, I ask them to consider what constitutes a great university. A great university has a world-class faculty offering exemplary undergraduate and graduate programs. Outstanding students come to this great university in order to reap the attendant benefits. The goal of financial aid should be to ensure that all qualified students have access to that great university. On all three campuses, we are rapidly moving toward this ideal, and I find that very gratifying. However, there are some mistaken impressions that bear correcting Fallacy #1 With fees in professional faculties, such as law, increasing dramatically, it will not be long before undergraduate fees go out of sight, too. It is important to remember that the Faculty of Law represents less than one per cent of all students at U of T. In general we expect that policies for professional faculties will be different from those for undergraduate programs. The Faculty of Law’s model, whereby tuition will cover the bulk of educational costs as well as funds to guarantee accessibility, may be appropriate for certain professional faculties, but the university will not follow this path for our undergraduate programs. I should emphasize that I strongly support the law faculty’s highly principled and consultative approach to grappling with a difficult set of challenges. Fallacy #2 Increasing fees mean that going to university is becoming an impossible dream for low-income and minority students. Access has been maintained and indeed enhanced at U of T, as a result of our student financial-support program. The province of Ontario overall has an admirably high participation rate in post-secondary education. Fallacy #3 Students are being forced to pay an unreasonable portion of the cost of their education. Province of Ontario guidelines suggest that undergraduates in Arts and Science programs should pay about 35 per cent of the overall cost of their programs. In fact, at the University of Toronto, students currently pay less than 25 per cent of the total costs. By contrast, in the 1960s students paid close to the current 35-per cent guideline. Our fundamental problem is that our overall funding is too small, and it is not keeping up with inflation. Fallacy #4 Since U of T has such a huge endowment, it should not be increasing tuition fees. In spite of our success in building our endowment to unprecedented levels, the endowment income still accounts for only about six per cent of our total budget revenue, with about half of this going to student aid. This means that the endowment contributes about three per cent of our operating costs. Thus, although our endowment is of fundamental importance, it is not a substitute for the provincial operating grant or tuition. Fallacy #5 Because of increasing tuition costs, all students are graduating with huge debt. Of students graduating from first-entry programs in 2001, 56 per cent had no Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) debt at all. The average OSAP debt of our first-entry students on graduation is less than $7,000. Fallacy #6 Tuition fees represent the lion’s share of the total cost for a student attending university. Tuition fees have long been the flashpoint in debates about the financial barriers that limit access to post-secondary education. However, tuition fees constitute only a fraction of the total cost of attendance. In fact, tuition fees are eclipsed by the total cost of books, accommodation, living expenses and foregone earnings. Our real challenge is to construct a student-aid program that recognizes the total cost of attending a post-secondary institution. One Response to “ The Noise about Rising Tuition ” Zaneta says: I totally agree. There are students who come from both working class and middle-class families, and they are not able to afford tuition. I come from a working-class family, and I know this because I am speaking from experience and hardship. I know how hard it is to earn money; spending it is easy. Such a Long Journey From bank clerk to writer, from obscurity to the Oprah Winfrey Show, Rohinton Mistry’s path as a writer has taken a series of unlikely turns A Lot of Beers and 15 Minutes of Fame How Peter Gzowski got me an afternoon in the spotlight By Paul Rush 32 Short Pieces about Peter Gzowski A fractured look at the CBC broadcaster's year at U of T	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2599
__label__wiki	0.959629	0.959629	Hummel Named to Order of Canada In other award news, curator Ydessa Hendeles receives an honorary degree December 21, 2000 \| By Christina Anson Mine At November convocation ceremonies, the following received honorary doctor of laws degrees: Julia Kristeva, a psychoanalyst and linguistics professor at Université Paris 7; Ydessa Hendeles (BA 1969 New), founder of the Ydessa Hendeles Art Foundation; and U of T Professor Emeritus Francis Sparshott, known for his work in postwar philosophical aesthetics. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, a renowned Swedish health scientist, received an honorary doctorate of science. Monte Hummel (BA 1969 VIC, MA 1970, MScF 1979) was recently appointed officer of the Order of Canada. Kim Venn (BSc 1987 New) received a 2000 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. It is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on young scientists and engineers. Tags: Winter 2001 An Intellectual Emergency In the month following the horror of September 11, and 20 years after her frosh year, writer Margaret Webb returns to U of T, again seeking understanding of the world Testimony to Tragedy Countless U of T alumni were touched by the September 11 terrorist attacks. Here are just some of their stories Alumni, like the 30 profiled here, have given to the campaign for diverse reasons. No matter what cause they support, their help serves one central purpose — nurturing students	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2600
__label__wiki	0.886173	0.886173	Maria Roman, Alexander Pytka and Christian Julien. Photo by Nicola Betts A Vision for Tomorrow Victoria University, the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Tanz Centre recently launched their own campaigns June 18, 2012 \| By Staff The late Northrop Frye, a Victoria University alumnus and former professor, once said “the fundamental job of the imagination in ordinary life is to produce, out of a society we have to live in, a vision of society we want to live in.” Vic put Frye’s words into action in early April, launching “Imagination Unbound” – a $60-million fundraising campaign – at a ceremony at the Isabel Bader Theatre. With the initiative, Vic will reaffirm its founding liberal arts mission, enhance the student experience beyond the classroom and establish a Muslim Studies program, the first of its kind in Canada. The campaign has raised 70 per cent of its goal, thanks in part to lead gifts from Blake Goldring (BA 1981 VIC) and Judy Goldring (BA 1987 VIC) for the new Goldring Student Centre, a much-needed hub for student activity on campus. The Faculty of Arts and Science recently launched a $250-million fundraising effort as part of the university’s larger Boundless campaign. Meric Gertler, dean of Arts and Science, announced the initiative at an event at Hart House in late March. He noted that new funds will support first-year learning communities, international learning experiences and research opportunities, and undergraduate programs that promote interdisciplinary thinking. The faculty, which has reached 60 per cent of its fundraising goal, will also seek to bolster its endowed scholarships for both domestic and international students. “This new support will strengthen our efforts to ensure that all qualified candidates, regardless of their financial means, can pursue their academic dreams here,” Gertler said. By 2040, neurodegenerative diseases could surpass cancer as the second-leading cause of death among Canadians. U of T’s Tanz Centre aims to understand the causes and progression of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other brain diseases, and, ultimately, to develop effective treatments. Under the direction of fundraising co-chairs Mark Tanz (BA 1952 UC) and Lionel Schipper (JD 1956), the centre is seeking to raise $31 million. For more information about U of T’s historic $2-billion fundraising campaign, visit boundless.utoronto.ca. **Please click on the image to start the slideshow. Tags: Faculty of Arts and Science, Summer 2012, Victoria College AI and the MD Doctors will soon use artificial intelligence to help diagnose and treat patients, opening up new possibilities for better health By Patchen Barss Alexa, Compose Me a Song So far, machines are not very good at creating original art, such as pop tunes and short stories. Could it be they’re missing something uniquely human? Surfing the Net Is Old School. Soon, We May Inhabit It A computer science alum has created a technology that turns the web into a virtual world By Jonathan Ore	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2601
__label__cc	0.65025	0.34975	MANGA.TOKYO > Anime Reviews > Spring 2018 > Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 2 Review: The Battle of Astarte Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 2 Review: The Battle of Astarte by Thanasis Karavasilis ‘And thus the battle of Astarte came to an end.’ As if we are told a story of something that happened very long ago and in a galaxy far far away (even if this is not Star Wars) in two episodes, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, managed to establish the main premise and the rivalry that will drive the narrative of the story. Yang Wenli and Reinhard von Loghengramm are two parts of the same coin. There are not goodies and baddies in this story. Japanese Title: アスターテ会戦 The episode goes back to the beginning of the battle of Astarte and tells the story from the Free Planet Alliance’s side, as brilliant strategist Yang Wenli is brushed aside by his superiors for foreshadowing what would inevitably happen in the course of the episode: Reinhard’s plan to take out their forces by attacking their three separated forces. Like a true genius (L anyone?) he prepares himself for the possibility he is needed to act and save the fleet, a possibility that arrives as soon as Reinhart comes to finish off their forces by eliminating Wenli’s fleet. Of course, Wenli has devised a plan that doesn’t win the battle but forces Reinhard to retreat. The brilliance of Wenli’s plan earns Reinhard’s respect, who like a space Moriarty, identifies a brilliant mind in Wenli and automatically considers him his antagonist and nemesis. Episode Highlights Epic Space Battle: WT actual F! This was probably one of the best animated space battles I have seen in anime, worthy of epic EVE Online space naval confrontation. Strategists on board their flagship, thousands of ships following their orders. This was epic. Wenli the Scholar: Wenli is not just a brilliant mind. He also seems to have the knowledge to back his plans. When the last formation of the battle takes place, he thinks to himself, ‘This has happened in battlefields everywhere since the dawn of time.’ People forget and tend to make the same mistakes. People who study history impartially, don’t. Friends and Rivals: Both protagonists have or make friends who will seemingly play important roles in the future. If nothing else, we are going to have some very interesting character interactions as we learn more about the characters’ background. Themes & Trivia Fixing Robots: Mostly featured in hard SF stories, these robots are thrown into the mix when a spaceship needs urgent repairs, especially when a blast would have otherwise exposed a part of the deck to space. Of course, science fiction is only fiction until science gets up to speed with the technology, and repair robots are already in the works. Royal Names: The Emperor is not the only royal to have an awfully long name, not just in fiction but in reality, as well. Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, might be referred to as simply The Duke of Edinburgh, but his full title is (get ready for this): His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Lord of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom. That’s a really long name and if you want to argue that it is mostly composed of titles, the UK royal family does have awfully long regular names. The Queen’s name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Mountbatten-Windsor and the name of the youngest princess is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Cambridge Mountbatten-Windsor. I am officially hooked. I haven’t seen the old series and I want the first season to end before I read the books (they are not light novels) but this is the space fix I love. I am a huge Trekkie and a Star Wars fan and when it comes to my anime, I prefer down-to-earth drama and space stories (if combined, the better). Legend of the Galactic Heroes doesn’t have the cheesiness of Yamato or the brute social commentary of Captain Harlock, but it seems that it has the chess-like drama of Death Note and the political intricacies of Code Geass. To the Next Battle I can’t wait to see what the rest of the anime has in store for us. We already know that the second season will come in the form of cinema anime movies, and I have already gone through the process with Gundam the Origin and the second season of the new Yamato series. If it’s half as good as those two, it will be worth the wait. The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis – Encounter Spring 2018 \| Anime Info \| Simulcast All reviews for Legend of the Galactic Heroes Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 1 Review: In the Eternal Night 1st Episode Anime Impressions: The Legend of the Galactic Heroes Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 3 Review: An Indomitable Prodigy Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 4 Review: The Unbeatable Magician Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 5 Review: Birth of the 13th Fleet Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 6 Review: The Capture of Iserlohn (Part 1) Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 8 Review: The Castrop Rebellion Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 9 Review: Each Person’s Star Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 10 Review: Interlude Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 11 Review: The Verge of Death (Part 1) Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 12 (Final) Review: The Verge of Death (Part 2) More Spring 2018 reviews here on MANGA.TOKYO Legend of the Galactic Heroes ©田中芳樹/松竹・Production I.G Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Holmes Reveals first Trailer, Character Visuals, and Cast As Miss Beelzebub Likes To Get Anime	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2611
__label__wiki	0.729194	0.729194	Company Press Releases September 04, 2018 Fuelled by Continued Growth in EMEA, MapR Expands Territories and Bolsters Leadership in Region London, UK – September 4, 2018 - MapR® Technologies, Inc., the industry's leading data platform for AI and Analytics, today announced changes to its EMEA leadership team following significant growth across the region. With a strong presence in the UK, Germany, France, and Benelux, effective immediately, MapR has established an Emerging Territories region to more effectively develop business opportunities outside of these established markets. The new business will cover Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southern Africa, which collectively represent around 50% of the GDP of the EMEA region. "We have a huge opportunity outside of our established European markets," said Jim Stock, EMEA vice president, MapR Technologies. "As we continue to expand our operations, we need to ensure we have the right structures in place to scale to maximize that opportunity. The addition of the Emerging Territories organisation means we will be able to better support our partners and better service the needs of our customers across the region." Leading the new territory will be Gert Paczynski. "Gert joined MapR two years ago as Territory Sales Director Central/Eastern Europe, and has been responsible for adding several significant customers to our roster," said Stock. "Additionally, he has been exemplary in taking a partner-driven approach to developing his territory, which will be critical in his new role." In addition, Fabian Wilckens was promoted to Head of Central/Eastern Europe. "Fabian has been instrumental in several aspects to our growth here in EMEA, and this new responsibility represents the natural evolution in his career here at MapR," said Stock. The creation of the new territory completes a development plan that started in August 2017 when Stock took over the reins of the EMEA business. Rounding out the EMEA territory leadership is Martin Darling, Country Manager UK, and Yann Aubry, Vice President Northern and Western Europe. In addition to the key relationships with global system integrators in the region, MapR has already established key go-to-market partnerships with EBCONT, B.E.A.R, CRMT, Trask, Pragsis Bidoop and the Reply Group. In close collaboration with its Channels and Alliances organisation, MapR will develop further alliances with trusted partners to act as an extension of its sales force in their countries. All Americas APAC EMEA About MapR Technologies MapR Technologies is a visionary Silicon Valley software company and creator of the next-generation data platform for AI and analytics, with the scale and reliability required by enterprise-grade, mission-critical deployments. The MapR Data Platform delivers the power of dataware to accelerate data-driven innovation. Forward leaning companies such as Cisco, Philips, and Société Générale, are able to create new data-driven solutions to outperform the competition. Learn more: mapr.com. MapR is a registered trademark of MapR Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be the property of others. Beth Winkowski MapR Technologies, Inc. bwinkowski@mapr.com Kim Pegnato kpegnato@mapr.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2612
__label__cc	0.59319	0.40681	Blacks haven't benefited from marijuana legalization Share & Bookmarking By Luther Cambell Will Florida legalize recreational pot? Medical marijuana is already legal. But who really cares? It's all bad for Miami's black community, where weed has helped drive the economy for years. What governments aren't even mentioning is paying reparations to black-dominated countries or African-Americans who have lost or will lose their livelihoods from all of this legalization. Legislators in Florida, more than anywhere else, have concentrated the power and money of pot in just a few hands — and almost none of them belong to African-Americans. Nationally, about 81 percent of cannabis business owners or founders are white, while only 4 percent are African-American, Marijuana Business Daily found last year. And recreational weed, which has been legalized in ten states and the District of Columbia, has powerfully affected foreign trade from one of the few black-dominated Caribbean islands: Jamaica, the region's top exporter. Jamaica sends millions of dollars in ganja to the United States every year. So do Haiti, the Bahamas, and Belize, which also have significant black populations and are the next largest Caribbean suppliers of pot to the United States, according to a State Department report last year. In most cases, felons, many of whom make their livelihoods from the drugs we now say should be legal, are prohibited from owning or having anything to do with marijuana companies. A disproportionate number of them are black. Employment & Careers Lifestyle Politics	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2614
__label__cc	0.560764	0.439236	Vampire Killing Kit For Halloween, a bit of news from KOVELS: Vampires on TV today are lovable, not dangerous, so there seems to be no need for vampire-killing kits. Killing kits were needed when people were threatened by vampires. Kits have been sold at five or more auctions over the last several years. Each kit was assembled, so the contents varied. Prices ranged from $1,000 on eBay years ago, to $12,000 and $20,300 in 2003, to a claimed $35,000 asking price for a kit eBay wouldn’t allow. Last year a kit in an American walnut case sold for $14,850. It held stakes, mirrors, a gun with silver bullets, crosses, a Bible, holy water, candles, and garlic. This Saturday, October 31, 2009, another kit will be auctioned. It’s in a rosewood case with mother-of-pearl inlay in the shape of a cross. The required pistol and silver bullets are in a small coffin-shaped case. There are also holy water vials, a prayer book, a cleaver, and a mirror. Wonder how these things protect you from vampires? Hold a mirror in front of a person and if there is no reflection, that person is a vampire. Religious items, garlic, and candle flames scare vampires and chase them away. Silver bullets or a stake through the heart kills vampires. Most vampire kits probably were made after 1897, when the novel “Dracula” was published and made people fear vampires. The kits were made as souvenirs sold at hotels in Europe. Posted in Vampire Killing Kit Nice Story About Community Life GREENPOINT JOURNAL A Place to Worship, and to Jam, Shop and Feast By RACHEL GRAVES The mostly empty pews at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah spoke of a dying congregation. But as the 17 worshipers returned to their seats after communion on a recent Sunday, they faced a more encouraging symbol: guitars, keyboards and drums poking up from the choir loft, hinting at the church’s double life. The instruments belong to two rock bands that, along with many other artists and local food enthusiasts, consider the church in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a secular home. “It’s a great reminder of the duality of the space,” said the Rev. Griffin Thomas, pastor of the church, gesturing at the instruments. “The creativity and the art nurtured here make the space more sacred and holy.” The church will mark its 110th anniversary on Sunday, celebrating its founding as one of the first English-speaking Lutheran churches in New York. Once bustling with 500 parishioners at Sunday services, the church has seen its congregation wane as the neighborhood has changed. By the time he took over as pastor in 2004, the church was “like a tomb,” Pastor Thomas said. “Maybe three hours a week the church was being used out of seven days, and the rest of the time it was just sitting here, completely locked up.” Pastor Thomas thought the lack of activity was bad stewardship of the congregation’s main asset, its building. His favorite part of the church was the choir loft, nestled near the vaulted ceiling and rose-tinted because of a pink, violet and green stained-glass window. Mr. Thomas cleaned out the loft with the idea that perhaps an artist or writer could work there. He advertised it on Craigslist, calling it a “unique space.” Instead of the quiet artist he was expecting, a rock band responded to his ad. The members of the band, Penelope, arrived at 129 Russell Street to meet with Pastor Thomas and were stunned to find a century-old brick church decorated for Christmas, complete with a Nativity scene. “It was like, ‘Say what?’ ” said Allen Wilcox, who plays synthesizers and bass in the band, now reincarnated as Friends Academy. They were intimidated but intrigued by the hallowed space. Pastor Thomas was worried about noise, but he agreed to let the band rehearse in the church. Friends Academy also brought in another band. A neighbor did complain about noise, but even that turned into a positive part of the church’s transformation: The neighbor was Brooke O’Harra, a co-founder of the Theater of a Two-Headed Calf. When she learned about the band, she asked if her group could rehearse in the church’s humble green basement. Pastor Thomas eagerly agreed. Soon, other theater groups were giving performances in the basement, and the pastor was also working with the well-known concert organizer Todd Patrick, or Todd P., to put on rock shows there. Beyond the arts, the church hosts a community-supported agriculture program, allowing customers to buy directly from local farmers. As they pick out their cherry tomatoes and garlic bulbs, they often hear drumming filtering down from the choir loft. And the help goes both ways: Instead of renting the space, the groups generally donate part of their proceeds. For the anniversary celebration on Sunday, the worship service will include Bishop Robert A. Rimbo and many of the artists who use the space. Members of the congregation have accepted the changes with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Norma Dodenhoff, who has attended the church for 75 years, said she initially found it “overwhelming having all of these strangers coming in,” but now believed it had worked out well. Asked about the bands, Mrs. Dodenhoff gets a mischievous smile on her face. “The young men are delightful,” she said. “Do I like their music? That’s another story.” Pastor Thomas said his main concern was respecting the neighborhood and the church. “I obviously don’t want crowd-surfing, mosh-pit, stage-diving kind of people,” he said. “I like to have people who appreciate the space and want it to continue going rather than it being disposable.” The scene on a recent Saturday night could not have been more different from Sunday services. The church basement was packed with about 250 hipsters eating soup, listening to live music and voting on which of 14 artists’ proposals should receive a grant paid for with participants’ $10 and $20 entrance fees, based on a pay-what-you-can model. The event, Funding Emerging Art With Sustainable Tactics, or Feast, was started by Jeff Hnilicka, an arts administrator who got to know the church and Pastor Thomas by buying his vegetables there. After a night of barely controlled chaos, Mr. Hnilicka handed a bag of cash — $1,200 — to the winners, Elizabeth Knafo and Dylan Gauthier. Their project, Green My Bodega, plans to connect local farms with bodegas. The church’s many uses have expanded Pastor Thomas’s pastoral duties considerably: arts impresario, composter, even bouncer, herding beer drinkers who spilled out of the Feast event off the sidewalk. “Not in front of the church,” he told them. Posted in church theater Crawdaddy Magazine By an indirect route, I just came upon a mention of an article in Crawdaddy and had a nostalgia smackdown. Vol. 1, No.1, a step up from his Swarthmore mimeos, was published – – or more accurately, assembled – – by Paul Williams in my Cambridge, MA, living room, chez Truesdell. Posted in Crawdaddy Avenue Junot . . . And Montmartre heights Posted in Montmartre Could we possibly call a moratorium among intelligent people on the casual use of Nazi this and Hitler that? (Yes, I know about the soup Nazi; I do not totally lack humor) but I’m sure I’m not the only one who cringes at these refs and name-calling in a political context. <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>> Also this exchange about a Boston Globe book review: BEHOLD MY FATHER Posted by David Mehegan March 25, 2008 11:57 AM I have not read Honor Moore’s book, “The Bishop’s Daughter,” about her father, Episcopal bishop Paul Moore, but did read the excerpt in the March 3 New Yorker. She reveals in some detail her father’s lifelong secret (though his family knew) that he had a gay life, in addition to being the married father of several children. On March 17, the magazine published a letter from two of the author’s siblings, deploring her act of outing her father, five years after his death. “Doesn’t it matter,” wrote Susanna McKean Moore and Paul Moore 3d, “even when someone is dead, that his most fervently held private life, and the unnecessarily explicit details of his marriage, are exposed against his wishes?” What is the answer to this question? It came up in the case of Anatole Broyard, who kept his African-American family history hidden from the world, even from his children. In that case, Henry Louis Gates Jr. wrote the first story — again, in the New Yorker — but Broyard’s daughter wrote the book (“One Drop”), and it was her story as much as her father’s. I feel fairly certain that any one of us has things in our pasts, or facts about ourselves, that we might not happily see exposed to the world, even if they aren’t deep dark secrets. If we have chosen to keep them to ourselves, how much time are we allowed, after we die, before someone in our family rips the cover off and says, “Well, Pop, you didn’t want people to know about this, but now you’re dead and my need to tell a story, and be interviewed and go on tour, and earn royalties, is what matters to me”? If I knew that my father had been ashamed of some things in his own past (and who doesn’t have such things?), chances are I would let them die with him, unless there were some wrong that needed to be righted. Even if he had been a famous man, I like to think that I would not treat his hurts as my raw material, to plunder at will. After a certain length of time, to be sure, history does take precedence — no one deplores the public knowledge of Franklin Roosevelt’s marital infidelity or physical disability, though they were kept largely hidden in his lifetime. But it is odd, to me at least, that a member of a family would be the one first to turn a bright light on the hidden truth. There were two responses; mine is the second: After reading the NYer’s excerpt of “The Bishop’s Daughter” by Honor Moore, I was struck, among other things, by the author’s first name. Did she truly “Honor” her father? Of course not. She violated his privacy and trust and exposed his secret life to the world against his and her siblings wishes for her own personal gain. Although I have no first hand knowledge of the author’s motives, I can’t help but think that she is driven by her need to cleanse her feelings of guilt and abandonment. She will have much to answer for if one day she meets him in the afterlife. Posted by Charles Schwab March 28, 08 03:04 PM Whoa! That was then, this is now. Only the most benighted among us would argue that same-sex attractions are shameful; the same goes for folks who would be put off by someone’s so called black blood.I hope you agree that Bishop Moore did nothing inherently wrong – – social mores forced him into the closet. Anatole Broyard’s racial identity was, in some quarters, what you describe as a fact that one “might not happily see exposed to the world.” Did you mean then or now?Your purple prose – – “hidden from the world,” “rip the cover off,” “raw material, to plunder at will” – – lends legitimacy to the idea that being gay or black still carries some stigma. Your innuendo suggests that Honor Moore is some tacky tell-all writer when in fact she’s an established and respected literary figure.Of course, some outings are better than others. When Senator Kerry’s Jewish roots came to light, they, rightfully, lent him a broader cultural context. But Eugene Robinson had to wear a bulletproof vest the day he became an Episcopal bishop. Your readers would welcome clarification of what, in the realms of race, culture, or sexual orientation, you still consider “deep, dark secrets.”Marilyn Richardson Posted in Honor Moore, language matters Oct 16 Sesquicentennial of John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry John Brown of Osawatomie spake on his dying day: “I will not have to shrive my soul a priest in Slavery’s pay. But let some poor slave-mother whom I have striven to free, With her children, from the gallows-stair put up a prayer for me!” John Brown of Osawatomie, they led him out to die; And lo! a poor slave-nother with her little child pressed nigh. Then the bold, blue eye grew tender, and the old, harsh face grew mild. As he stooped between the jeering ranks and kissed the negro’s child! The shadow of his stormy life that moment fell apart; And they who blamed the bloody hand forgave the loving heart. And they who blessed the guilty means redeemed the good intent, And round the grisly fighter’s hair the martyr’s aureole bent. – – Whittier This event did not actually happen, Brown was led to the gallows ringed round by soldiers for fear of a rescue attempt. JOHN BROWN OF OSAWATOMIE HERE LIES BURIED BORN AT TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT HE EMIGRATED TO KANSAS IN 1855 WHERE HE TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN THE CONTEST AGAINST THE PRO-SLAVERY PARTY. HE GAINED IN AUGUST 1856 A VICTORY AT OSAWATOMIE OVER A SUPERIOR NUMBER OF MISSOURIANS WHO HAD INVADED KANSAS (WHENCE HIS SURNAME “OSAWATOMIE”) HE CONCEIVED THE IDEA OF BECOMING THE LIBERATOR OF THE NEGRO SLAVES IN THE SOUTH AND ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 16, 1859 AT THE HEAD OF A DEVOTED BAND OF 22 FOLLOWERS HE SEIZED THE UNITED STATES ARSENAL AT HARPER’S FERRY, VIRGINIA WITH THE VIEW OF ARMING THE NEGROS WHO MIGHT COME TO HIS FORTIFIED CAMP. IN THE FIGHT WITH THE UNITED STATES TROOPS AND CIVILIANS WHICH FOLLOWED HE WAS OVERPOWERED AND TAKEN PRISONER OCTOBER 18, 1859, HE WAS TRIED BY THE COMMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AT CHARLESTOWN, VIRGINIA AND WAS EXECUTED DECEMBER 2, 1859. HERE LIE BURIED WITH HIM TWELVE OF HIS FOLLOWERS WATSON BROWN (SON OF JOHN BROWN) OF NORTH ELBA, N.Y. OLIVER BROWN (SON OF JOHN BROWN) OF NORTH ELBA, N.Y. WILLIAM THOMPSON, OF NORTH ELBA, N.Y. DAUPHIN ADOLPHUS THOMPSON, OF NORTH ELBA, N.Y. JOHN HENRI KAGI, ADJUTANT WILLIAM H. LEEMAN, LIEUTENANT JEREMIAH C. ANDERSON, LIEUTENANT STEWARD TAYLOR DANGERFIELD NEWBY, NEGRO THE ABOVE TEN MEN WERE KILLED AT THE HARPER’S FERRY FIGHT AARON D. STEVENS, CAPTAIN ALBERT HAZLETT, LIEUTENANT THE ABOVE TWO WERE TAKEN PRISONERS AND HANGED MARCH 16, 1860 On the bottom left: THE FOLLOWING MEN OF JOHN BROWN’S BAND ESCAPED BUT WERE CAPTURED AND HANGED DECEMBER 16, 1859. JOHN E. COOK, CAPTAIN EDWIN COPPOC, LIEUTENATN SHIELDS GREEN, NEGRO JOHN A. COPELAND, NEGRO On the bottom right: JOHN BROWN’S BAND ESCAPED. OWEN BROWN, CAPTAIN (SON OF JOHN BROWN) FRANCIS JACKSON MERRIAM CHARLES PLUMMER TIDD, CAPTIAN BARCLAY COPPOC OSBORNE P. ANDERSON, NEGRO JOHN ANDERSON, NEGRO THIS TABLET ERECTED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF BYRON R. BREWSTER OF LAKE PLACID, N.Y. 1916 DESIGNED AND CAST BY JNO. WILLIAMS INC. NEW YORK . . . and of course the famous Horace Pippin painting Posted in John Brown “Save your Confederate money boys, the South will rise again” HAMMOND, La. (AP) — A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long. Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist. “I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house,” Bardwell said. “My main concern is for the children.” Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said. “I don’t do interracial marriages because I don’t want to put children in a situation they didn’t bring on themselves,” Bardwell said. “In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer.” If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. “I try to treat everyone equally,” he said. Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint. Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell’s wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples. “It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009,” said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. “The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry.” The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said. “He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it,” Schwartzman said. According to the clerk of court’s office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce. Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card. The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk’s office. © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Posted in Interracial Song and Poetry A fine song; a poem still gathering new verses, and a birthday while on tour . . . And a masterpiece:	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2615
__label__wiki	0.743555	0.743555	Into The Wild Essay Research Paper The Into The Wild Essay, Research Paper The text on the dust jacket of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild makes it clear that the thread of suspense running through this compelling book isn’t necessarily tied to the fate of its subject. “In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley,” the jacket reads. “His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter.” With the demise of McCandless already revealed, Krakauer concentrates on the forces that drove the devotee of Thoreau, Tolstoy and Jack London to the icy environs of Alaska and, ultimately, to his death. Krakauer’s skill as an investigative reporter is impressive, but it is his ability to reveal McCandless’ inner motives that makes Into the Wild such an intriguing book. Instead of coming across as just an antisocial misfit, McCandless emerges as a disciplined, uncompromising individual guided by an earnest brand of asceticism. The same determination that helped him excel as a high school cross-country star enables him to survive the vagabond lifestyle he embraces after college. For McCandless, rejecting mainstream society doesn’t mean publishing a zine. He rides the rails, canoes to Mexico on a whim and survives it all on nothing more than wits, luck and an ever-present bag of rice. In an increasingly crowded world, it was difficult for McCandless to find the physical isolation he sought, but his inward journey was more important than his external surroundings. Krakauer, a writer for Outside magazine who obviously shares McCandless’ wanderlust, explains often esoteric inclinations in a clear, revealing way. “In coming to Alaska, McCandless yearned to wander uncharted country, to find a blank spot on the map,” Krakauer writes. “In 1992, however, there were no more blank spots on the map–not in Alaska, not anywhere. But Chris, with his idiosyncratic logic, came up with an elegant solution to this dilemma: He simply got rid of the map. In his own mind, if nowhere else, the terra would thereby remain incognita.” While McCandless viewed nature and solitude as the keys to fulfillment, he profoundly touched those he encountered on the road prior to his fatal journey to Alaska. While prone to introspective musings on the meaning of life, the well-read McCandless could just as easily knock back a few shots of Jack Daniel’s and entertain his new-found friends with his piano playing. He comes across as engaging yet ultimately unapproachable in his brash pursuit of raw, austere experience. Krakauer succeeds in capturing McCandless’ unique personality even as he establishes links between his subject and a loose fraternity of adventurers who also took to the wild in search of meaning and identity. Over the years, Alaska has been a magnet for intrepid characters who trek into the bush, never to reappear. For example, Gene Rosellini, the son of a wealthy Seattle restaurateur, hoped to return to a natural state by scavenging and hunting game with spears and snares. He endured Alaska’s bitter winters clad only in rags and fashioned a windowless hut without benefit of saw or ax. After declaring this experiment a failure, Rosellini made plans to walk around the world, but he never got the chance. He was found lying face down on the floor of his shack in 1991, dead of a self-inflicted knife wound to the heart. This and other fascinating parallel case studies offer only a glimpse of what prompted McCandless to commune with the harshest side of nature. Arguing that McCandless is more of a “pilgrim” than a “bush-casualty stereotype,” Krakauer searches for others who mirror him more accurately. Everett Ruess, a young adventurer described by Wallace Stegner in Mormon Country as “a callow romantic, an adolescent esthete, an atavistic wanderer of the wastelands,” comes closest. In the early ’30s, Ruess embarked on a wilderness adventure in Utah and was never seen again. Writing to his brother in 1934, Ruess foreshadowed McCandless’ feelings: “I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown, to any paved highway, and the deep peace of the wild to the discontent bred by cities.” Krakauer’s own foolhardy, yet determined, attempts to climb “an intrusion of diorite mountain called the Devils Thumb” in Alaska during his youth sheds still further light on McCandless. Based on his own experience, Krakauer convincingly argues that McCandless wasn’t suicidal, as many have speculated. Instead, he was ruled by the “heedlessness” and “gap-ridden logic of youth” that makes the concept of death as abstract “as non-Euclidean geometry or marriage.” Despite his fate, it is difficult to say that McCandless died in vain. Or to deny that his approach to life is an enviable one in many respects. Although McCandless would probably scoff at the notion, he is a profoundly American figure, uncompromising in his approach and thoroughly optimistic about the future. In an age when the idea of “roughing it” is synonymous with a sport-utility vehicle and an expensive trip to North Face, McCandless was in touch with the bare-bones essence of nature. He is also a reminder of what can happen when you take an all-or-nothing approach to the wild. In early spring of 1992, Jon Krakauer was asked by the editor of Outside magazine to report on the mysterious death of a young man whose badly decomposed body was found in the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley in Alaska. The resulting article described a young man by the name of Christopher McCandless-a young man who ended up dead in the Alaskan wilderness because of a convoluted mixture of immense personal desire, an unforgiving respect for nature, and a degree of unintended recklessness. Following the Outside article, Krakauer received puzzling letters and postcards from people who encountered McCandless during his two-year journey before his death. Coupled with an intense curiosity about the circumstances surrounding McCandless’s death and a personal connection he felt with this young man, Krakauer set out to find answers. The result is Into the Wild, a fascinating matrix of stories describing McCandless and his adventurous life, mingled with tales of the author and others who, like McCandless, possess the burning desire to compete with nature under extreme circumstances. After graduating with honors from Emory University in 1990, McCandless donated his entire savings of $25, 000 to charity, loaded his scant possessions into his used Datsun, and disappeared into the fringes of North America without saying good-bye. He was an ardent reader of London, Tolstoy, and Thoreau, as well as other philosophers and nature writers. He particularly enjoyed Tolstoy, adopting his principles of asceticism, living a life of desolation and poverty. He renounced his name and former life, introducing himself as Alexander Supertramp to the people he met during the two years before his death. His travels are pieced together from letters and interviews with the people McCandless encountered, along with the occasional journal entry by McCandless himself. He left a remarkable impression on those he met. The image of McCandless is one of a nature-loving nomad who lived in campgrounds, hitched rides, hopped trains, and tested his will and endurance to survive in the wilderness of North America. The descriptions of the people touched by the wake of McCandless, juxtaposed with Krakauer’s tales of his own nearly tragic mountaineering, provide a spine-tingling and haunting account. This book is a powerful, commanding view of the awesome effect that nature has on the minds of young men who are committed to honor and revere the living world. Wild Mustangs Essay Research Paper Wild mustangs The Wild DuckA Essay Research Paper Wild Inot The Wild Essay Research Paper Into Wild Horses Essay Research Paper Wild HorsesAlice The Abstract Wild Essay Research Paper The Call Of The Wild Essay Research Into The Wild Essay Research Paper Into The Wild Duck Essay Research Paper The Into The Wild Essay Research Paper Chris Running Wild Essay Research Paper Running WildGabe into the wild research paper topics Into the Wild Constructing Wilderness Compare and contrast essay structure Into the Wild Essay Help INTO THE WILD The Untold Story of Christopher McCandless Into the Wild Film Analysis Christopher McCandless Is No Longer My Hero Jon Krakauer interview on Into the Wild 1996 Book Discussion Into the Wild What Happened to Christopher McCandless	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2622
__label__cc	0.64033	0.35967	The Secret Life of Walter Mitty review Rated: PG Ben Stiller takes zoning out to a whole new level in this movie. Stiller both directs and stars as Walter Mitty in this film. The lead protagonist lives in what he feels is a rather dull life, working a day job where he processes negatives at Life magazine. Mitty also would like to approach a coworker named Cheryl (Wiig), but is to shy to do so. Because his life is unexciting and he isn’t able to approach Cheryl on his own, he often fall into fantastical daydreams where he can escape the realities of life. His daydreaming has to come to an end, though, when he finds out that Life magazine will be printing its last magazine and moving to a digital format which in turn will lead to multiple people being fired. The person who is handling all the lay-offs is Ted (Scott) from the Human Resources division. Ted explains that for the last magazine, the company will publish a cover featuring a photo from a famous photographer. The problem is that the negative for the image is lost. To find the photo, Mitty decides to track down the photographer himself, even if it means traveling across the world. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” starts off rather slow and it leads to an uncompelling first act. It’s understandable that the film was trying to establish the fact that Mitty is a dreamer and wishes for a more exciting life, however, many of the dream sequences don’t transition well and are just too over the top. Once the film actually gets to the point of Mitty going on his journey, though, the movie picks up. It doesn’t just get better because Mitty is doing exciting things in real life, it’s also that finding himself gets to be an endearing experience for the audience. The ending of the movie did leave some things to be desired, however, mainly because it ties everything up in too perfect of a bow. Ben Stiller brings a good performance to the movie. Stiller makes the transition that the character undergoes in the film believable and it really helps the story work. Unfortunately, Stiller was the only actor who gave a performance worth being memorable. The weakest part of the film are the supporting characters, who just seem to be bland caricatures instead of having any real depth. Ted is too much of a jerk to be convincing and Cheryl just seems like a rather simple love interest. The characters are written in way that doesn’t allow either Wiig or Scott, two good talents, to really bring true emotion or even humor to the picture. There was another supporting character, Walter’s sister Odessa played by Kathryn Hahn, who really took the movie down a notch. The way the character acted was ridiculous and annoying, to make matters worse, she offered nothing to the film besides some weak comedy. The one part of the movie that was perfect to me was the technical aspect. Stiller really captures some beautiful scenery throughout the entire film, shooting multiple locations. The soundtrack was also strong and fit the mood of what was going on screen. “Mitty” is a movie that had potential, but it seems like it wasn’t fully realized. The movie takes a bit too long to get going and the ending could have been improved, plus, most of the characters just don’t make much of an impact. What helps the movie be slightly enjoyable is a solid performance by Stiller and a strong second act. The film is also helped by some gorgeous shots of the various landscapes where the movie was made. 3 out of 5. Author Matthew LiedkePosted on December 27, 2013 August 16, 2018 Categories 2013, ReviewsTags cinema, Comedy, Drama, film Previous Previous post: Saving Mr. Banks review Next Next post: Grudge Match review	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2625
__label__cc	0.708402	0.291598	Kevin Durant’s TV sparks interest from Apple Inc Posted on December 5, 2018 by meziesblog.com in News // 0 Comments Kevin Durant’s “Swagger” is headed to Apple. Apple has greenlit a new television drama from the NBA superstar, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. The deal marks another marquee project for the company, which is slowly building up its media library for an upcoming service. Apple plans to spend at least $1 billion this year on content, which will come for free on its future devices, according to sources. “Swagger,” which is co-produced by Imagine Television, CBS Television Studios and Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures, is based on Durant’s experiences playing youth basketball. It will be set in Washington D.C.’s AAU basketball league. Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Shots Fired,” “Notorious”) will act as showrunner. Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo (“Empire”), Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman and Reggie Rock Bythewood will serve as executive producers. Apple has also signed previously announced deals with Oprah, Sesame Workshop and award-winning entertainment company A24. NBA star Swagger TV About meziesblog.com (6265 Articles) I'm a China-based teacher, blogger and freelance writer readily available for hire. But I have to be careful not to let the world dazzle me so much that I forget that I'm a husband and a father. -Herbie Hancock	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2637
__label__wiki	0.6009	0.6009	Archive for the Religion Category NEW ZEALAND JOSEPH AND MARY BILLBOARD, TATTOO AND GRILLED CHEESE DISCOUNTS, BOOB FLASHING BACKFIRES, and TOOTHPICK STAGECOACH Posted in Art, Entertainment, Humor, Life, News, Personal, Random, Religion, Uncategorized with tags Believe It or Not, billboard, boobs, cherelle, Christmas, controversial, dudfield, grilled, grilled cheese, Invercargill, kiwis, melt bar, naked, New Zealand, Ripley's, tattoed, tattoo, Terry, voodoo Monkey, women, Woodling on December 18, 2009 by mclassen Joseph and Mary Christmas Billboard In New Zealand OK. am I twisted? Because I find this really funny. A billboard sponsored by a local Anglican church that shows Joseph and Mary in bed has set tongues wagging in New Zealand, with the Catholic Church condemning it as others found it funny. The controversial billboard, erected by St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, shows a dejected-looking Joseph under bedcovers beside a sad Mary. Underneath the image, a caption reads: “Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow.” The dude just can’ quite match up to the big guy. Church archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story and highlight the real significance of the festival. “What we’re trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about,” Cardy told local media. “Is it about a spiritual male God sending down sperm so a child would be born, or is it about the power of love in our midst as seen in Jesus?” The billboard has so far drawn the ire of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, which called it “inappropriate” and “disrespectful.” It was also condemned as offensive by family values group Family First. You knew they were going to have something to say, didn’t you? “The church can have its debate on the Virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and fhttp://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=498&id=999amilies with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary,” Family First director Bob McCoskrie told news website stuff.co.nz. Lighten up. I’d drive by it just for chuckle on my way…well, anywhere. Unfortunately the sign was defaced and covered with brown paint several hours after going up by an offended Kiwi. If you want to read more about this controversy here’s the church’s website: http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=498&id=999 Discount for Your Grilled Cheese Tattoo Got a tattoo of a grilled cheese sandwich? If so this is your lucky day. An Ohio restaurant is offering lifetime discounts to people willing to make an indelible display of their love for grilled cheese sandwiches. Melt Bar & Grilled in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood specializes in spins on the grilled cheese and says anyone with a tattoo of the classic sandwich will get 25 percent off. I wonder if it comes with a pickle? The restaurant has hooked up for the promotion with a tattoo shop, which is offering its own discount on grilled cheese designs. See, even if you don’t have one, it’s still your lucky day. John Forgus of Voodoo Monkey Tattoo says he’s been getting creative, giving one person a tattoo of Popeye holding a grilled cheese sandwich instead of a spinach can. OK, this is officially the strangest business promotion idea I’ve seen. Can I get some cheese and ink please? Woman Flashing Boobs Struck by Distracted Driver There’s a certain irony in this story. There’s also bare boobs, drunkeness and mayhem, all the ingredients of the perfect story. Cherelle May Dudfield was struck by a vehicle after she ran out into the road following a dare by friends. Always a smart move. The 18-year-old had been drinking with her mates when the incident happened, and had to be treated in hospital for cuts she suffered. I told, you alcohol. The teenager was also landed with a $240 fine for disorderly behaviour. “I stood on the centre line, flashed a couple of cars with my boobs, got back in and they [her friends] told me to do it again, so I did,” said Dudfield. “And then I saw a car coming towards me, on the middle of the centre lane driving up towards me, so I decided to run. And then I got hit.” See, boobs and mayhem. To demonstrate exactly how silly she had been, she later re-enacted her stunt for a TV station – but this time she was fully sober, and no one crashed. Yea, let’s recreate this, only on video, to see if we can cause another accident. And Dudfield also gave a repeat performance to cows on her farm. Cows on her farm? Why is she flashing cows? Has she been running in the wrong social circles? Was one of her friends that dared her named Elsie? or Bossie? However, police officers did not see the funny side of her exposure, which happened in the small New Zealand town of Invercargill. “This was obviously an alcohol- involved offense,” said Olaf Jensen, of Invercargill Police. “This girl put herself at risk with the actions she undertook, not only herself, but the motorists on the road.” Leave it to these investigative geniuses to get right to the heart of the matter. Hey Olaf, quick thinking there. Building a Life-size Stagecoach From Toothpicks When I first saw this, I thought, OK, tiny model made out of toothpicks, let’s check it out. I never dreamed it would be full size. Terry Woodling spent 15 years creating the Wells Fargo replica using wooden sticks and glue. Known as Mr Toothpick, he made models for years but this was his most ambitious project.It cost him more than $1400 but the model was bought for $160,000 by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “I never kept track of the hours I spent working on it, only the years,” said the 72-year-old from Warsaw, Indiana. Amazing. QUEEN VICTORIA’S UNDERWEAR, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, and A ROBBER WANTS A DATE Posted in celebrities, Culture, Family, Humor, Life, Love, News, Personal, Politics, Random, Religion, Uncategorized with tags Britain, Couple, England, funeral, marriage, Married, New York, Queen Victoria, Royal Family, UK, United Kingdom, wedding on September 10, 2009 by mclassen RETURN OF THE QUEEN’S PANTIES Let me get this straight, they paid how much for a pair of Queen Victoria’s panties? Ok, I can see where an argument can be made that these are historical artifacts. But, come on, we’re talking about the Queen’s bloomers here, and they’re over 100 yeards old. Have they ever been washed? The underwear, which has a 56-inch (142-centimeter) waist, has been added to Britain’s Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Kensington Palace. With that size you could darn near pitch a tent with them. It has a matching chemise, is embroidered with a “VR” and is believed to date from the 1890s. Queen Victoria had a 20-inch (51-centimeter) waist as a young woman. But curator Alexandra Kim said Tuesday “over the years, particularly having given birth to nine children, that changed entirely.” Not only did she gain major poundage, she got cracked pretty hard with the ugly stick. The collection purchased the bloomers for 600 pounds ($993) earlier this summer. Kim said it’s likely the item had been handed down to a servant after the monarch’s death. Again, I have to ask, why would you want to save the Queen’s underwear? If the servant was looking for momentos, I have to think this one is a little weird. Wow, a thousand dollars for Queen Victoria’s panties. Amazing. I HAD MY WEDDING AT MY SON’S FUNERAL Some people think that in some cases a wedding can be kind of a funeral, but our next case is ridiculous. The parents of a 7-year-old boy who died after an upstate New York car crash have fulfilled his wish that they get married, and they did it at the child’s funeral. I’m guessing that wasn’t exactly what he meant when he wanted them to get married. I’m thinking Vegas. Amilcar Hill and Rahwa Ghirmatizion (ger-MAT’-ee-zahn) got married during Monday’s funeral service in Buffalo for their son, Asa Hill. Asa died a day after his grandfather’s car was involved a chain-reaction highway crash last week. Hundreds of people packed the church for Asa’s funeral. The couple surprised attendees by getting married, which the parents say their son had been asking them to do. I bet they were surprised alright. Certainly makes for a full day for the preacher. The honeymoon had to be weird. ROBBER NEEDS A DATE What do you do when you rob someone’s house? Why, return later and ask the cute chick you just ripped-off out for a date. Seriously. Police say 20-year-old Stephfon Bennett of Columbus, Ohio was among three men who robbed a couple late Sunday. There’s a key word here, “couple.” Where on any level did he think this was going to work. Columbus police Sgt. Sean Laird says the woman recognized Bennett as one of the robbers when he returned to ask her out. She had a relative call 911. Police say Bennett was arrested in front of the home. It’s those first impressions, they’ll get you every time. EASTER ROUTE WRONG, HAMMER TIME, DANGEROUS FARTS, TOWN ELECTS CORPSE & DO RE MI Posted in Culture, Family, Humor, Life, News, Politics, Random, Religion, Technology, video with tags archaeology, cellphones, Christ, Crucifixion, Dead mayor, easter, election, Gibson, Golgotha, Harry, Jerusalem, Jesus, Shimon, Stonebraker, Technology, The Passion, Viral Video on April 10, 2009 by mclassen EASTER PILGRIMS TAKE WRONG ROAD Author’s note: So that we have the facts correct. This article is taken from a piece by Dalya Alberge published by the UK publication the Daily Mail. The actual article can be found here – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1168891/Pilgrims-tracing-steps-Jesus-going-WRONG-way-2-000-years-says-historian.html For the best part of 2,000 years, pilgrims have flocked to Jerusalem to retrace Jesus’s final steps. The Via Dolorosa, or ‘Way of Suffering’, took them from the Praetorium, where He was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, to the site of the Crucifixion – or so they thought. Now, it seems they may have been walking in the wrong direction. A respected archaeologist claims that pilgrims have been starting from the wrong end of Jerusalem and that the locations of two of the holiest sites on the route are ‘completely wrong’. Shimon Gibson, a Holy Land specialist, said the traditional start of the Via Dolorosa, north of the Old City, should be at the other end of the city. Since medieval times, Christians have assumed that the Praetorium, the starting point of the route and the Roman headquarters mentioned in the Gospels as the scene of Jesus’s trial, was the Antonia Fortress which stood in the north of Jerusalem. But Professor Gibson said there was ‘no historical basis whatsoever’ for this being the site where Jesus was tried and condemned to death by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Little of the fortress’s structure has survived but, having surveyed the remains of its rock-cut base in intricate detail, he concludes that it could not have been more than a military observation tower. He said archaeological excavations pointed to the site of the trial being 900 metres away at the remains of a large paved courtyard south-west of Jerusalem, south of the Jaffa Gate. It was situated between two fortification walls with an outer gate and an inner one leading to barracks where it is most likely that Jesus was held. The open courtyard contained a platform of around two square metres – details that ‘correspond perfectly’ with the Gospel of John’s account of Pontius Pilate sitting on a judgment-seat at an elevated place. Professor Gibson, who is based at universities in Israel and America, said: ‘The astonishing thing is that thousands of Christian travellers and pilgrims pass by this site without realising its significance.’ Those who visit the Rock of Calvary ( or Golgotha) within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pray at the traditional rock of the crucifixion are also at the wrong location, he believes. The professor’s research, which will be published shortly in The Final Days of Jesus, shows that the site is too narrow to have accommodated one cross, let alone those of the two thieves crucified with Jesus. Professor Gibson believes the Crucifixion was some 20 metres from the traditionally accepted site, under an apse of the remains of the Church of the Martyrium. ‘Pilgrims walk across this area… without realising its significance,’ he said. Dr Mark Merrony, a specialist in archaeology of the Holy Land and editor of Minerva, the archaeological journal, said Professor Gibson’s research matched details in the Gospel of John and other ancient writings. He added: ‘This discovery provides a crucial insight into the final movements of Jesus and implies that the traditional Way of the Cross should be redefined. It seems likely that millions of pilgrims have been following an incorrect path of veneration.’ But the Reverend Canon Bill Broughton of St George’s, the Anglican cathedral in Jerusalem, said Professor Gibson’s ‘great work will embellish the [Christian] story and make it even more meaningful’ but would not lead to the route being redrawn. He said: ‘It’s the Way of the Cross that we walk in terms of our faith and theology, not the archaeological evidence. ‘Pilgrims of faith want the general pattern. It may not be exactly the same footsteps but, in reality, the place is sanctified by the presence of those who’ve been there and said their prayers.’ The Right Rev Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham, said: ‘ Archaeology is always open to questions from further research. The Church has nothing to worry about on that score. I always welcome fresh investigations.’ CELLPHONE MEETS HAMMER – RESULTS ARE SMASHING One of my sources of extreme irritation in this technologically laden world is cellphones. It appears I am not alone. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, 13 year-old Dena Christoffersen found that out the hard way. She sent or received about 20,000 text messages over about a month, and her parents’ phone plan didn’t cover texting. Oops, guess that can’t be good. Her father, Gregg Christoffersen, introduced her phone to a hammer after getting a phone bill for more than $4,750. Ouch, I’m betting that wasn’t in the budget. Verison has said they will work with them to reduce the bill. Dena has been grounded until the end of the school year. I suspect even after her grounding is over, a new cellphone is not in her future any time soon. Maybe they should have gotten her a Playstation instead. ASSAULT OVER FARTS In Waco, Texas, I’ve always believed that town should be spelled Wacko, five men are having lunch in a motel room. One starts passing horrendous gas. I guess he’d never heard of Beano. What do you do? Move? Get some fresh air? Throw up your dinner? Well, Jose Braule Ramirez came up with a novel idea. He grabbed a knife and and threw it at him and stabbed the guy in the leg and then once in the chest for good measure. No knows what he hoped to accomplish by this but it seems he felt jail would smell better which is where he is currently having all his meals. TOWN ELECTS DEAD MAYOR TO FOURTH TERM I’m always fascinated when things like this occur. Apparently, Winfield, Missouri re-elected their mayor about a month after he died of a heart attack. He was still a candidate because it was too late to print new ballots. I don’t know why the couldn’t have just drawn a line through his name. Intead he won overwhelmingly, which doesn’t say much for the other candidate, by a margin of 206 votes to 23. Harry Stonebraker died of a heart attack back in March, but still remains Mayor. At least they won’t have to listen to any long acceptance speeches. The only other person that I can think of that has experienced something like this is John Ashcroft when he lost his election to Mel Carnahan who had died in a plane crash. How do you explain something like that, “I lost to a dead man.” It’s got to hurt your ego. “I’m such a pathetic politician they liked the corpse better than me. ” The aldermen said they would appoint someone to serve in the mayor’s position. It was obvious no one wanted the live guy. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN’T SEEN THIS, IF IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU SMILE, NOTHING WILL. BRETT FAVRE COMEBACK, POLICE CAR FULL OF COCAINE, BUSTED SUBWAY STRIPPER, DRINKING AND STEALING, AND NEW ORLEANS ROLLER BULL Posted in Animals, Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Pets, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags Aaron, AARP, Art, Baby Boomer, blog, blogging, Brett, Chile, comedy, commentary, conversations, digg, E-zine, editorial, Ezine, Family, fark.com, Farve, Favre, Football, funny, Goddess, Google, Green Bay, history, Humor, iT, Life, literature, Love, Michigan, Mike McCarthy, Music, News, NFL, nude women, nudity, odd, opinion, Packers, paranormal, Politics, porn, random thoughts, Rodgers, Rogers, ruminations, sex, Sports, strange, Subway, Technology, theonion.com, Thoughts, TV, video, viral, weird, Wisconsin, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, zine on July 14, 2008 by mclassen BRETT FAVRE COMEBACK? I couldn’t let this go by without making comment. I’m a lifelong Packer fan, but I’m also a Packer fan, then from time to time, I’m a Packer fan, and did I mention, I’m a Packer fan. Like everyone, I was surprised and a bit saddened when the day came that Brett decided to hang up his cleats. I went through the mourning and then got used to the idea that there would be a young and quite promising replacement waiting in the wings in the form of Aaron Rodgers. OK, now comes the announcement that Favre, arguably the greatest quarterback to grace the field wants to return and not retire. This puts all of us fans on an emotional roller coaster. I’d love to see Favre play some more, but this certainly isn’t fair to the kid that has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to shine. Aaron Rodgers proved last year when he stepped in for Favre in Dallas that he has excellent potential. He was told that it is his team now and the Packer organization is standing by that decision. One major problem. The Green Bay Packers are owned by the fans. Through the chaos of speculation and rumors over the weekend one thing remains clear, the decision as to whether Favre comes back to Green Bay may not be up to current management. Amidst protests at Lambeau Field, a call for an emergency stockholders meeting is being called. The stockholders being several thousand rabid Green Bay fans, no small number of which wouldn’t mind seeing Favre play out the remaining two years of his contract. Certainly his performance last year proved he’s still got Superbowl potential and is a long way from being washed up. Hence the big dilemma. Do you take back the known commodity or move forward into the unknown with possibly another Superbowl trophy hanging as the result? The Packer’s management has a no win situation on their hands, if they proceed with out Favre and have a crap season, Ted Thompson the General Manager will take a lot of heat. If Favre comes back and happens to crash and burn, same result. But what if that second Superbowl ring is in the cards for Favre and he goes somewhere else and gets it. Ted Thompson would have to move to Siberia. Packer fans would riot. Maybe, the only solution IS to let the fans choose. That way they only have themselves to blame and maybe that’s for the best all the way around. POLICE DRUG CAR FULL OF DRUGS Apparently police didn’t search a car well enough before they decided to use it for themselves. In Dallas, Texas, a car that had been siezed from drug dealers was put into operation for their own undercover narcotics officers. While a police officer was cleaning the 2004 Black Infinity, he discovered some hidden compartments…with 50 pounds of Cocaine. We’re talking a serious stash here. The drug cache hadn’t been previously discovered and the police had been driving around with it for two months without their knowledge. It appears their initial search of the car wasn’t all that thorough. Now they’re trying to figure out who originally owned the car. Seems if they impounded it on a drug siezure, they might have some kind of record. I’m thinking they weren’t too on top of things on this one. SUBWAY STRIPPER BUSTED In an effort to protest Chile’s penchant for prudishness, a local stripper took her act onto the neighborhood subway system. Apparently the performance wasn’t appreciated by the authroities who finally caught her during one of her impromptu performances. Personally I’m always up for a little entertainment during a long boring ride. Heck I would have been riding around just hoping to catch her act. Monserrat Morilles, 26, surprised subway riders all week stripping to skimpy underwear, but she refused tips. Who ever heard of a stripper that refused tips. She apparently used the subway poles for her act. She had been elusive all week, getting on quickly and then getting off just as fast so that she would avoid being busted. Monserrat’s luck ran out. “This is just a beginning. We are starting an idea here that will grow and be developed further,” she told Reuters as police and subway guards surrounded her. I never knew stripping could be political activism. We should use that concept in this country. Chilean media dubbed her “La Diosa del Metro” or Subway Goddess. She called her performances “happy minutes.” Yes I can see having “Happy Minutes.” More “Happy Minutes.” “Chile is still a pretty timid country,” said her manager Gustavo Pradenas. “People aren’t very extroverted and we want to take aim at that and make Chile a happier country.” Yes, happy, happy, happy, let’s all be happy. DON’T DRINK AND STEAL Probably one of the worst things you can do before committing a crime is get loaded. Spending a few hours building up some false courage before a quick B&E is just bad planning. John Michale Baker of Winnsboro, Texas did just that and everything one going alright, at first. The lady of the house saw him going inside and called her husband, who hurried home to deal with the thief. In the meantime of course the police were notified. Baker was just making his getaway when he arrived. The husband recognized Baker and wandered over to chat with him and Baker apparently a friendly drunk obliged talking with the husband right up until when the police arrived. Moral: If you’re gonna steal, steal don’t talk. RUNNING WITH BULL, NEW ORLEANS? Now this is a sport I can get behind…or in front of as the case may be. As usual New Orleans has come up with a twist on an old custom and this one has less patients in the hospital. Picture it. Hundreds of men, women and children, most in white with red scarves around their waists and red bandannas around their necks, gathered outside a French Quarter bar, I can see where the bar is real important in this one, Saturday morning to be chased down Bourbon Street by members of New Orleans’ roller derby league. Got that, Roller Babes. “Roller skates and a stampede through the Quarter — what could possibly go wrong?” said accountant Jason Medonia. Oh I don’t know, those roller girls can be pretty rough when they want to. 33 roller girls in horned helmets from teams with names like Confederacy of Punches and Crescent Wenches, took off to pursue the runners and strike them resoundly with plastic baseball bats. Oh, baby hit me hurt me. And guess what, Elvis too. Behind them putted Elvis impersonators on motorized scooters. Now what can be more complete than that. OK, maybe a jazz band, but hey, they’re not that hard to find. Sounds like a cool hot time in the Louisiana summer, bull, booze, and babes, everything we’ve come to expect from New Orleans. OBAMA NASCAR LEFT TURN, SAVED BY LUNCHBOX, LOST AND FOUND, CITYWIDE POTTY TRAINING, AND WESTERN SPAGHETTI Posted in Animals, Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Pets, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags AARP, Art, auto, Baby Boomer, BAM, Barack, blog, blogging, Carlos, comedy, commentary, conversations, democrat, digg, E-zine, editorial, Ezine, Family, fark.com, funny, Google, history, Humor, John, Juarez, Ken, Life, literature, Love, Lunchbox, McCain, Michigan, Music, NASCAR, News, nude women, nudity, Obama, odd, opinion, paranormal, Paz, Politics, porn, Presidential. campaign, racing, random thoughts, republican, ruminations, Schrader, sex, Spaghetti, strange, Technology, theonion.com, Thoughts, TV, video, viral, weird, Western, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, zine on July 12, 2008 by mclassen OBAMA AND NASCAR? They say that politics makes for strange bedfellows. Well, it doesn’t get much stranger than this. BAM racing has solicitied the Barack Obama campaign to sponsor one of their cars. This would make for a strange combination indeed. Nascar and its fans are a bastion of right-wing conservative Republicans that lean to the left only on the racing track. It seems his money would be better spent elsewhere. BAM team spokesman Rhett Vandiver told The Associated Press on Friday that the team has made a sponsorship proposal to the Democratic presidential hopeful’s campaign, and has made similar proposals to the campaign of Republican John McCain and at least one third-party candidate. It appears they are bound and determined to have some sort of political sponsorship no matter where it comes from. Sports Illustrated first reported the proposal on its Web site, saying Obama’s campaign is in talks with BAM, a part-time operation that hasn’t raced in recent weeks, to sponsor its No. 49 car in the Aug. 3 race at Pocono. “I don’t know how far along the discussions are,” Vandiver told AP. Asked about the talks, Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, “We get a lot of good ideas every day, but there are no such agreements in place at this time.” But BAM’s choice of drivers and car brands might turn out to be a little too sticky politically for the Obama camp. The car, a Toyota, the only foreign automaker racing in NASCAR, would be driven by veteran Ken Schrader. According to the Federal Election Commission’s Web site, Schrader gave $1,000 to the campaign of North Carolina Republican congressman Robin Hayes in June 2004, and a total of $2,500 in 2003 and 2004 to the failed Virginia congressional campaign of Republican Kevin Triplett, a former NASCAR official. Also according to the FEC, Mrs. Ann Schrader of Concord, N.C. and Ken Schrader Racing donated a total of $2,000 to President Bush’s campaign in May 2004. None of this makes any sense for Obama. It just seems stupid. It all looks like BAM racing is desperate to find sponsorship anywhere and is clutching for straws. A “vote for Obama” car zipping around the oval driven by Republicans, maintained by Republicans and built by Republicans is just wrong on so many levels. It just seems a little like the beginning of the apocalypse or at least a sign of it anyway. LUNCHBOX SAVES MANS LIFE Don’t go anywhere without your lunchbox. Carlos Juarez says his lunchbox saved his life. That’s quite a claim. He was waiting for his ride to work early Tuesday in his driveway when two attempted robbers accosted him, demanding money. Right in your own driveway, is nothing sacred? Carlos replied he had no money and the would-be thieves opened fire, hitting him twice in the side. Juarez said he reflexively held up his lunch cooler over his chest to shield himself from the bullets and the cooler was hit twice. It’s not everyone that can say their lunchbox took a bullet for them, let alone two. “He thinks the cooler saved his life,” Carlos Paz, a friend who translated for Juarez, told The Associated Press. “If he doesn’t have the cooler, the shots come maybe in the heart.” Juarez still has one of the bullets that was in the cooler. I might keep a souvenir too. A lunch container of rice and meat has a bullet hole, as does a package of gum also in the cooler. After Juarez was shot, he climbed the stairs of the apartment building with the cooler still in his hand. “Carlos, I got shot,” he told his friend. Paz said at first he didn’t believe it, but then saw blood on his friend’s side and called police. Blood would give you a clue. Juarez, who was treated at a hospital and released, says doctors have been unable to remove two bullets from his side because of swelling. He also had a cut on his forehead that he suffered when one of the men hit him with what he thinks was a bat as Juarez reached for the cooler. Juarez, who came to the United States from Ecuador about five years ago, works for a concrete flooring company. No arrests had been made Wednesday. $55,000 FOUND IN JAIL BATHROOM Somebody lose something? Possibly a lot of money? Well check lost and found, it appears they have it. A correctional officer at the intake facility at the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri, last week found $55,000 stuffed behind a toilet paper dispenser. The bundle of money was in $100 and $50 bills, said Clayton Police Chief Thomas Byrne. Officials interviewed inmates about the money, but none admitted knowing anything about the stashed cash. I bet they didn’t. Cash like that inside of prison sounds like a pyoff for something to me. That’s one deal that won’t go down.The money was placed in a special bank account until the owner can be determined, Byrne said. Or arrested, I bet. CITY POTTY TRAINING RESIDENTS Imagine, as a grown adult, your city trying to teach you how to properly use the restroom. That is exactly what one city in South Taiwan has started to do. To reduce over 340 tons of waste generated daily, Tainen launched it’s new potty training program which is geared towards teaching its 764,000 residents to flush their toilet paper instead of throwing it in trash cans. Yuck. “An old habit is to throw toilet paper in the trash can beside the toilet, which causes a major stink that’s bad for public sanitation.” Ya think? When “Japanese and Western visitors come to Taiwan, they find this Taiwan toilet habit to be quite poor.” I’d say that’s an understatement. This habit developed because of pipe backup and clogging problems, however the current system can handle the load without backing up. In addition to solving the issue of trash buildup and smell concerns, flushing the toilet paper will actually save the city $600 million a year in trash treatment costs. This is a creative little piece that I just found clever and fun.Check it out. JESSE JACKSON, BARACK OBAMA TALKS DOWN BLACK PEOPLE, FOLDING COUCH DEATH, AND HUMAN MIRROR Posted in Animals, Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Pets, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags AARP, Art, Baby Boomer, Barack, blog, blogging, comedy, commentary, conversations, Cut his nuts off, digg, E-zine, editorial, Ezine, Family, fark.com, Fox, funny, Google, history, Humor, Jackson, Jesse, Life, literature, Love, Michigan, Music, News, nude women, nudity, Obama, odd, opinion, paranormal, Politics, porn, random thoughts, ruminations, sex, strange, Technology, theonion.com, Thoughts, TV, video, viral, weird, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, zine on July 10, 2008 by mclassen JESSE JACKSON WOULD LIKE TO CUT OFF OBAMA’S NUTS Well, once again Jesse Jackson thought nobody was paying attention when he made an offhand remark that even has his son a bit disgusted with him. Jackson said the “hurtful and wrong” comments Sunday came in response to a question from a fellow guest during a break from taping “Fox & Friends.” The guest asked about speeches on morality Obama has given at black churches. Jackson said at a news conference that he had replied that Obama’s speeches can come off as speaking down to black people and that there were other important issues to be addressed in the community, such as unemployment, the mortgage crisis and the number of blacks in prison. He said he was not aware the microphone was still on. Now that’s just stupid. What makes him think they would have turned it off? Although personally, I think Obama talks down to everyone. Fox News aired Jackson’s comment Wednesday night, including a slang reference to his wanting to cut off Obama’s testicles. Ouch, dude that’s harsh. The report bleeped out the slang but made clear what Jackson said. “For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize,” he said in a written apology released earlier in the day. “My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal.” Well, it certainly doesn’t sound like it. Jackson’s problem is he got caught. The opinion and the statment still exists. Jackson said he called Obama’s campaign to apologize. Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton noted that the Illinois senator grew up without his father and has spoken and written at length about the issues of parental responsibility and fathers participating in their children’s lives, and of society’s obligation to provide “jobs, justice and opportunity for all.”He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson’s apology,” Burton said. Oh, boy all is rosey once again in politics land. Jackson’s comments sparked something of a family feud. His son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., said he was disappointed by his father’s “reckless statements.” “His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee and I believe the next president of the United States, contradict his inspiring and courageous career,” the younger Jackson said. “Reverend Jackson is my dad, and I’ll always love him. I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself.” Ouch, that’s going to leave a mark. Jackson, may have apologized, but I don’t think that’s how he really feels. These “off the record” comments were rather strong. I say it’s a no confidence vote for Obama from Mr. Jackson. DEATH BY FOLDING COUCH If you’re drunk don’t let yout wife put you in a folding couch. In St. Petersburg, Russia a man came home drunk which didn’t make his wife happy. St Petersburg’s Channel Five said the man’s wife, upset with her husband for being drunk and refusing to get up, kicked a handle after an argument, activating a mechanism that folds the couch up against a wall. The couch, which doubles as a bed, folds up automatically in order to save space. The man fell between the mattress and the back of the couch, Channel Five quoted emergency workers as saying. Apparently the wife didn’t notice what she had done. I’m not certain she hadn’t had a few to drink as well. The woman then walked out of the room and returned three hours later to check on what she thought was an unusually quiet sleeping husband. Video on the television channel’s website showed emergency workers sawing away the side panels of a couch to remove a man in his underwear lying headfirst between the cushions. Emergency workers said the man died instantly. What a way to go. HUMAN MIRROR This was a project that took place on the New York subway systems. There were 10 sets of identical twins involved and they wanted to see how people reacted. Its a cool vid so check it out. PRINCE HARRY HAMMERED, MAN REPORTS DRUGS STOLEN, POSTCARD TO J.R.R. TOLKIEN, FACE IN THE TREE, AND GORBACHOV KILLS ZOMBIES Posted in Animals, Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Pets, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags AARP, Africa, ANJ, Art, Baby Boomer, blog, blogging, Carter, cemetery, cocaine, comedy, commentary, Conan, Connecticutt, conversations, crack, Diana, digg, Drugs, E-zine, East, editorial, Ernest, Ezine, Family, fark.com, funny, Google, Gorbachov, Harry, Hartford, Heavy, history, Humor, JRR, Lesotho, Life, Lin, literature, Lord of the Rings, Love, Magnolia, Malton, Maryville, Max, Metal, Michigan, Minnifield, Music, News, nude women, nudity, odd, opinion, paranormal, Politics, porn, Postcard, Prince, Princess, random thoughts, royal, Royals, ruminations, Russian, sex, South, Stephen, strange, Technology, Tennessee, the music video, theonion.com, Thoughts, Tolkien, TV, video, viral, Ward, weird, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, zine, Zombies on July 10, 2008 by mclassen PRINCE HARRY GETS HAMMERED IN LESOTHO Prince Harry worked up a sweat Tuesday as he carted wheelbarrows of cement mixture, filled a ditch and hammered nails from old roofing boards. The young royal was helping refurbish a school for mentally and physically disabled children under the auspices of a charity he founded in the impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho in memory of his late mother. Asked if Princess Diana, known for her charity work around the world, would be proud, he said simply: “I hope so.” I’m sure she would be. We see so much today about what The British Royal family is doing to create the newest flap, but we rarely hear about what they are doing that makes the world better. Harry and his regiment from the Household Cavalry were helping put in wheelchair access, build a new kitchen and lay fencing around the Thuso Center. “I love physical labor,” he said at the start of a three-week visit. “It would be wrong to be a patron of a charity and not get involved.” How often do you hear somebody that’s rich and famous say that. The African trip by members of the Household Cavalry has been planned for some time, but the decision to help the project in Lesotho was suggested by Harry. The Prince first visited Lesotho in 2004, when he met young tuberculosis and AIDS sufferers. Harry and his regiment put in eight hours a day working on the center, occasionally getting in a game of football with local villagers. Violet Moqolobane, 44, a disabled woman who works at the center, was impressed to see the tall, redheaded Harry taking part in both games and work. “Most chiefs don’t act like him,” she said. “They think they are so important.” Pootsela Tseisa, 24, said Harry was behaving as true royalty should. “He loves us. We are one for him, not black or white,” he said. “This is a good example that we should follow. It doesn’t matter how rich or how wealthy your family is.” MAN CALLS POLICE TO REPORT DRUGS STOLEN They say that drugs affect your mind and destroy brain cells. In this case it was probably true, but truthfully, I’m not sure he had too many to start with. An East Hartford, Connecticutt man called police to report he had been robbed while trying to buy crack cocaine. You can tell already, this plan is flawed. Max Minnefield called police Monday to tell them he had paid a man and a woman $8 for drugs he never received. Maybe he should have called Walmart. Police charged him with criminal attempt to commit possession of narcotics. During his arraignment Tuesday, Judge Bradford Ward asked Minnefield, “Did you really think the police were going to go after the people?” He added that his question was rhetorical. Well, considering they were suppossed to be dealing, they might want ot consider it. Prosecutors later dropped the charges. Laura Weslund, Minnefield’s public defender, said no drugs were ever found. Of course not, he never got them. This story is just full of brilliant deductions. THE TREE WITH A FACE Sometimes nature can play strange tricks. This one is pretty cool. The face-tree was brought into the Daily Times newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee on Monday, by Ernest Ward, a groundskeeper at the local Magnolia Cemetery. Ward said it was found on Monday as he and co-workers cleaned up debris from a weekend storm. According to him, a former worker at the cemetery believes the face is a spirit. If it is a spirit, you just cut it in half, how do you think it feels about that? LOST TOLKIEN POSTCARD FOUND Have you ever been tearing out a wall or getting a room a found something kind of cool stuck in the wall or behind something. That’s what happened to a demolision man from England as he was stripping out a house where Lord Of The Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien used to live. Stephen Malton, who runs Prodem Demolition in Bournemouth on the south English coast, was working in the house in the nearby town of Poole before it was bulldozed to make way for a new construction project. “Before we demolish a house we do an internal strip out,” Malton said. “One of the main features was a fireplace, and upon removing that we came across three postcards. The third one was a postcard dated 1968 and addressed to J.R.R. Tolkien.” That would be so cool. Malton said research on the Internet suggested that the carved wooden fireplace with marble inlay, a feature of the house when Tolkien lived there from 1968 to 1972, was already worth up to $250,000. “To tie in both the fireplace and the postcard, we are talking about a price of around $500,000 for the combined pair.” That would be even cooler. That’s one heck of a payday. The postcard was addressed to Tolkien at the Miramar Hotel in Bournemouth, where he and his wife Edith often stayed. It is from “Lin,” which Malton believed could be fellow fantasy author Lin Carter who wrote “Tolkien: A Look Behind ‘The Lord of the Rings,'” published in 1969. He also helped finish writing the Robert E. Howard, Conan series along with L. Spraque DeCamp, as well as wrote dozens of fantasy stories of his own. Depicting a scene from Ireland, it reads: “I have been thinking of you a lot and hope everything has gone as well as could be expected in the most difficult circumstances.” This is an immense find for fantasy collectors. Malton was not sure what the “difficult circumstances” might be. Tolkien had achieved fame by the time he moved to Poole in 1968. He remained in Poole until his wife’s death, when he moved back to Oxford. Tolkien died in 1973, aged 81. GORBACHOV MEETS ZOMBIES Now for a bit of culture? from the other side of the world. Below is a link to a music video by a Russian metal band called ANJ. It portrays a battle axe wielding Mikhail Gorbachov fighting a legion of Zombies, saving Mother Russia and bringing western culture to the zombie besieged country. The video is hilarious and a lot of fun. Check it out for some fun Russian humor. GORBACHOV: THE MUSIC VIDEO – BIGGER AND RUSSIANER from Tom Stern on Vimeo.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2638
__label__cc	0.634071	0.365929	Archive for Hillary BILL CLINTON MAY JOIN OBAMA, KIDS PROTEST GAS, MUNICH TRAGEDY, GOD BUSTED, AND SHAQ RAPS KOBE VIDEO Posted in Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags AARP, ale, Amy, Angeles, Arizona, arrested, Art, Baby Boomer, Barack, Bavaria, Beer, Bill, blog, blogging, Bryant, Bud, Budweiser, Burton, Bust, California, Candidate, Clinton, cocaine, comedy, commentary, conversations, Courtney, Democratic, Democrats, digg, E-zine, editorial, ESPN.com, Ezine, fail, Family, fark.com, Finals, Fleetwood, Fuel, funny, gas, German, Germany, god, Google, Hamid, Hillary, history, Howard, Humor, Kobe, LA, Lakers, Life, Light, literature, Los, Love, Lucky, Mac, Matt, McKenna, Michelle, Michigan, Munich, Music, NBA, News, nude women, nudity, O'Neal, O'Neill, Obama, odd, opinion, Phoenix, Piper, Politics, porn, President, presidential, prices, protest, Pyper, race, random thoughts, rap, Rodham, ruminations, Sadie, Salt Lake City, selling, sex, Shaq, Shaquille, spill, strange, Suns, Tayeb, Technology, Tell me how my ass tastes, theonion.com, Thoughts, tragedy, TV, Utah, Vance, video, viral, weird, Winehouse, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, zine on June 25, 2008 by mclassen BILL CLINTON MAY BE JOINING BARACKAPALOOZA Well, the Democratic Party may actually be beginning to find itself on the same page. In an announcement today, Bill Clinton’s people communicated to Obama’s people that he might be willing to help where he can to get Obama elected. Obama and Hillary Clinton are to appear thi weekend in New Hampshire for the beginning of a series of appearances which will be akin to the Barack and Hillary roadshow. Actually this may be a glimpse into the future if Obama is smart enough to choose Hillary Rodham Clinton as his running mate. But then again, I don’t think smart is how would term anything about all of the campaigns so far. Though the Democrats seem to have the upper hand, it’s stil a long way to November. It is not certain when the former president will join the tour, but hopefully he will bring his saxaphone a long for some light entertainment. It could become a YouTube hit. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the 42nd president came up in a phone call between Obama and Hillary Clinton on Sunday. They talked about how Obama should connect with Bill Clinton in the future, Burton said. Bill Clinton extended his support to Obama for the first time Tuesday in a one-sentence statement from spokesman Matt McKenna. “President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States,” McKenna said.It’s not clear what Obama might ask him to do. The campaign wasn’t specific when asked. “A unified Democratic Party is going to be a powerful force for change this year and we’re confident President Clinton will play a big role in that,” was all Burton would say. Of course not everything is all rosie and happy. Obama’s wife has some pretty strong feelings about the former president. Michelle said of the former president in an interview with The New Yorker magazine, “I want to rip his eyes out!” before adding, “Kidding!” That’s rather strong for a joke. As you can see this team-up for Barackapalooza should be about as entertaining as putting Courtney Love and Amy Winehouse in the same room and telling them there’s no booze. It just doesn’t work. The in-fighting between these four will be hard to forget and I really don’t believe that it’s water under the bridge. In public all smiles, backstage Fleetwood Mac. We’ll see how long this lasts. KIDS PROTEST GAS PRICES, SET EXAMPLE FOR ADULTS Everybody is complaining, but nobody is doing anything about it. Gas Prices are too high. So are you just going to take it lying down? Sadie and Pyper Vance from Salt Lake City, Utah have had just about enough of high gas prices. The sisters are still years away from being old enough to drive, but that doesn’t mean the $4 per gallon price tag isn’t hitting them as hard as anyone else. Cable TV was one of the family’s budget-cutting casualties, leaving Sadie, 9, and her 7-year-old sister without their favorite cartoons and shows. Ouch, no cable. Well they didn’t take it lying down like everyone else has. No, they decided to protest. “Gas prices are too high,” Sadie said. “I just decided to come and protest so they’d go down.” That’s the American way. The girls marched through downtown Monday chanting and carrying signs made from old campaign signs. “All of my mom’s monny goes to the gas tank!” Pyper’s sign read. Sadie carried a sign asking drivers to honk to lower gas prices — adding that her mom had to cut “cabel.” They received some shows of support, but no one actually joined in which I think is a no brainer. “I think it’s great,” said Hamid Tayeb, who was walking past on his lunch break. “It’s unfortunate that kids are doing it before we do.” Yea, I do too. Where’s your sign? Where’s your protest? We could all learn a thing or two from these kids. HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN MUNICH I am officially in mourning. I will be wearing black for the next week. A terrible tragedy occurred in Munich, Germany, a load of beer crashed on the highway creating a small beer lake. I’ve lowered my flag to half-mast. I mean we’re talking 200 crates! German beer, this isn’t Bud Light here. Munich police say the truck was transporting the beer from the Bavarian capital to a neighboring town Monday evening when siding on the truck’s trailers broke. I think the driver should be prosecuted for alcohol abuse. He didn’t take proper precautions to protect this precious shipment. The brewery suffered losses of some 10,000 Euro in the beer tragedy. Bottles crashed onto the highway flooding it with foamy wheat beer and disrupting traffic for 90 minutes. My hands are shaking, I can’t write about it any more. There may even be tears. GOD BUSTED SELLING DRUGS NEAR CHURCH It’s a sad day, God has been busted selling cocaine near a church in Tampa, Florida. It appears he may be spending quite a stint in jail. God Lucky Howard was taken into custody Saturday after police said he sold cocaine to undercover detectives within 1,000 feet of a church. God’s luck ran out. He’ll be the one praying now. Police also reported finding another 22 grams of cocaine and a scale at his home. Praying hard. Howard was charged with several counts of possession and distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, public housing and the church. God Not-so- Lucky Howard is being held on a bond of $86,500. Get your friends to pass the collection plate. In case you were wondering, a picture of God is below. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL TEARS KOBE BRYANT UP IN A NIGHTCLUB RAP I don’t know which one is worse Shaq or Kobe. Their arrogance is incredible. This video shot over the weekend has Shaq rapping and asking Kobe how his ass tastes. Great. This is just what we need from our star athletes. It appears from the video that Kobe gave Shaq a hard time in LA and was intrumental in his leaving. Like we didn’t know that. Well Shaq has taken glee in Kobe and the Lakers’ self destruction and lets the world know in the rap below. “I was freestyling. That’s all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever,” O’Neal told ESPN.com Monday. A call to the Suns on Tuesday seeking comment from O’Neal was referred to his public relations firm, which didn’t immediately respond. HILLARY CLINTON GRADUATION, DRUNK WHEELCHAIR, MISSING FOR 42 YEARS, HULK KIDNAPPED, AND GEORGE CARLIN Posted in Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Ezine, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags 42 years, AARP, Academy, Aleatha, ankles, Art, aunt, australia, Baby Boomer, Barack, Bill, blog, blogging, Bob, broken, Cairns, Carlin, Clinton, comedian, comedy, commentary, conversations, Croatia, Dead, deceased, digg, drunk, E-zine, Ebay, editorial, Ezine, Family, fark.com, funny, George, Golik, Google, grduation, Hedviga, Hillary, history, Hulk, Humor, Incredible, Ironman, James, Joel, Klein, Life, literature, Love, Lowell, Massachusetts, McPadden, Michigan, Music, News, nude women, nudity, Obama, odd, opinion, Patricia, Pelham, Politics, porn, Post, Preparatory, Queensland, random thoughts, Rodham, ruminations, sex, strange, Technology, theonion.com, Thoughts, TV, video, viral, Walters, weird, Wheelchair, Williams, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube, Zagreb, zine on June 24, 2008 by mclassen HILLARY CLINTON’S PROMISE Hillary Clinton made a guest appearance this weekend at a high school graduation. It appears she is a woman of her word. Clinton said she had known Aleatha “and her wonderful mother, Patricia,” since the girl was 2 and had promised her when she graduated from eighth grade that she would attend her high school graduation. Well, unlike many politicians, she kept her promise and her word. “Four years later, here I am with all of you,” Clinton said. The girl, Aleatha Williams, a campaign volunteer and the daughter of a supporter, introduced the senator to fellow graduates from Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx as “my aunt.” Auntie Hillary, sort of has a ring to it. “No one five years ago, no one four years ago, when I attended Aleatha’s graduation lunch, could have predicted that an African-American and a woman would have been competing for the presidency of the United States in 2008,” Clinton said. Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who attended the school’s commencement ceremony at nearby Fordham University, said students should always remember that an American hero spoke at their graduation. “She changed America’s view of women,” Klein said. “Someday soon, very soon in America, we will have a woman as president. And you know what that woman will say? ‘I would not be here had it not been for Hillary Rodham Clinton.”‘ MAN IS ARRESTED FOR DRUNK WHEELCHAIR DRIVING I didn’t know you could get busted for driving a wheel chair drunk, but apparently they fall under the motorized vehicle laws. In Australia a handicapper had been buzzing down the street drunk. He apparently passed out in the turn lane when police came along. Since it wasn’t a handicapped parking spot, he was taken downtown and charged. Police in the tropical northern Queensland city of Cairns said the man had a blood alcohol reading of 0.31, and was so drunk he was asleep at the controls of his motorized wheelchair in a turning lane of a major highway. “It beggars belief,” Police Inspector Bob Walters told the Cairns Post newspaper, adding wheelchairs, bicycles, horses and skateboards were all considered to be vehicles under the local road laws. “It’s unlawful, it is unacceptable and people should realize it could lead to a fatality,” he said. Other motorists on the four-lane highway had to swerve to avoid the wheelchair, police said. Well, next time, stay on the sidewalk. WOMAN FOUND AFTER 42 YEARS WATCHING TV You know how neighbors say, “They were such quiet people.” Well it’s really true in this case. Hedviga Golik, who was born in 1924, had apparently made herself a cup of tea before sitting in her favourite armchair in front of her black and white television. That was in 1966 and she was 42. The neighbors reported her missing then and thought she had moved away to live with relatives. She was discovered by police in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, long-dead and sitting in her armchair in front of her black-and-white television 42 years later! You’d think sombody would have at least noticed an odor. A police spokesman said: “So far, we have no idea how it is possible that someone officially reported missing so long ago was not found before in the same apartment she used to live in. When officers went there, they said it was like stepping into a place frozen in time. The cup she had been drinking tea from was still on a table next to the chair she had been sitting in and the house was full of things no one had seen for decades. Nothing had been disturbed for decades, even though there were more than a few cobwebs in there.” No one said if the TV was still on. Weren’t there bills piling up or something? A neighbor, fittingly, remembered Golik as “a quiet woman who kept herself to herself.” Yea, quiet, too quiet. HELP! HELP! CALL IRONMAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK IS MISSING The Hulk has been kidnapped! Call Ironman, Spiderman, the Punisher, locate the Hulk. Police in Lowell, Massachusetts, say a promotional statue for the movie The Incredible Hulk disappeared from its spot in front of a local theater this week. Police Capt. James McPadden says the statue is probably in some kid’s bedroom. There’s brilliant detective work. It’ll probably be on Ebay soon. But he thinks more than one person was involved and that a car or pickup truck was needed to whisk it away. The statue is missing its feet because it was bolted to a platform and whoever took it snapped it off at the ankles. Oh, no, they broke the Hulk. Hmmm, Hulk smashed. GEORGE CARLIN PASSES AWAY The world has lost another great soul. George Carlin passed away at age 71. Of course he is one of my personal favorite comedians and I remember him all the way back when he first appeared doing his Hippy Dippy Weatherman routine in the 60’s on TV. Below I’ve posted some of his best routines to remember the moments I know he would want us to remember at his funniest. George’s perspectives on life and the world around us gave us a different way to look at things. Thanks for the laughs George. GEORGE IN THE BEGINNING GEORGE ON JOHNNY CARSON WITH FLIP WILSON SEVEN WORDS GEORGE ON DEATH HILLARY CLINTON CONCESSION, BASEBALL FUNERAL WINNER, FLY LONGEVITY, LOST LIGHTHOUSE, AND TOWEL TUMOR Posted in Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags AirHogs, Art, Asahi, Barack, baseball, Bill, blog, blogging, Buena, burger, California, Chiba, Clinton, Colleen, comedy, commentary, concedes, concession, contest, conversations, Democrats, democrtaic, Digest, editorial, Elaine, Family, fark.com, fly, Fulps, funeral, funny, General, Google, Grand, Hillary, history, hospital, Humor, Japan, Japanese, Joep, Kansas, Kawecki, Laussane, Life, lighthouse, literature, longevity, lost, MacNeney, Massachussetts, Montara, Music, News, nomination, Obama, opinion, party, photos, pics, pictures, Point, Politics, Prairie, presidential, race, random thoughts, ruminations, Stomach, study, switzerland, Tadeusz, Technology, Texas, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoughts, Tokyo, Tornado, Tornadoes, Towel, tumor, TV, university, video, videos, Wellfleet, winner, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, Yerba, young, YOUNG HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON, youtube on June 5, 2008 by mclassen HILLARY CLINTON WILL CONCEDE Certainly this was inevitable but, I have to admit, I’m going to miss her, though I don’t believe for a minute she’s out of the picture completely. She has made a statement that she will concede the nomination to Barack Obama on Saturday. She also is saying that she will continue to support the Democratic Party. The way they’ve treated her, I think she’s being quite magnanimous. She has proven over the last few weeks especially, that she is an incredibly gutsy lady. The press has villified her and nominated Barack Obama for sainthood. It is the same with the Democratic Party which blatantly stacked the deck against her. It was certainly a sad way to operate. I’ve never been a political supporter of Hillary, but I have grown to admire her. In the last few weeks she became more “real” and down to earth than we’ve seen in a candidate in a long time. I think no matter which way this election goes now, the American public loses. Young College Hillary Starbucks Hillary Photobooth Hillary Relaxed Hillary Hippy Hillary BASEBALL FAN GETS FREE FUNERAL I’m not sure I’d be all that thrilled by winning this. Elaine Fulps is thrilled about the prize she won at a minor league baseball game. But she’s hoping she doesn’t have to collect on it anytime soon. Fulps, 60, won a $10,000 paid funeral at Tuesday night’s Grand Prairie AirHogs game. “I’m going to pick a spot under a tree out of the Texas heat,” she said. “And let’s hope it’s a pet-free cemetery. I don’t want to get watered on.” At least she has plans. Some finalists for the prize arrived dressed in black or looking like death. There were events for the finalists too. They participated in a pallbearer’s race, a mummy wrap and a eulogy delivery. These are certainly strange events for a baseball game. I think the Texas heat has gotten to the management. I have no idea who won the game or who the Airhogs were playing. It seems that the game just passed on. STUDY ON THE LONGEVITY OF A FLY I don’t know who’s idea this was but in Switzerland, at the University of Laussane, a study was done that proves the stupider flies are, the longer they live. Scientists Tadeusz Kawecki and Joep Burger said Wednesday they had discovered a “negative correlation between an improvement in a fly’s mental capacity and its longevity”. Why would you want to know this? Do we want more intelligent flies? These two actually took the time to breed 30 to 40 generations of flies and then tried to train them to be smarter. They succeeded, but the downside was that the flies had a shorter lifespan. The flipside was that the flies left in their natural state lived longer on average than their IQ enhanced counterparts, with a lifespan of 80-85 days rather than the normal 50-60. How much money and time was spent on this? Sombody needs to tell me why this was important. DID YOU EVER LOSE A LIGHTHOUSE? A lighthouse from Wellfleet, Massachussetts has been discovered in California. Formerly it was believed it had been torn down but now documents have been uncovered which proves that it was moved from the east coast to the west coast. The strange story was uncovered by Colleen MacNeney and then reported in Lighthouse Digest. She says it was her most exciting discovery. MacNeney says she discovered correspondence that proved the lighthouse, first erected in 1881, had been moved by the Coast Guard from Wellfleet to Yerba Buena, Calif., and eventually to Point Montara. Lost lighthouse found. It isn’t known how the 30ft. lighthouse was transported across country but it is speculated that in 1925 when it was suppossedly destroyed, the all metal structure had its bolts removed and was loaded up on a train. Hence the trip to California. California here I come. Go west young lighthouse, go west. The lighthouse is still in use and doubles as a hostel. MAN’S TUMOR IS A TOWEL A Japanese man checked into a hospital to have a tumour removed from his stomach. When examinations found what was believed to be an eight-centimetre (3.2-inch) tumour, he underwent the operation to remove it. It was only then that surgeons realised it was a towel. “The towel was greenish blue although we are not sure about its original colour,” the Asahi General Hospital spokesman said, adding it had been crumpled to the size of a softball. The patient had been carrying the cloth since 1983, when surgeons at the Asahi General Hospital in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo left it in him after an operation to treat an ulcer. I’m staying away from that hospital. That’s a little too careless for me. The man says he has no intention of sueing for the error. I don’t think I would be that understanding. No wonder the Prilosec wasn’t working. This is one of the most breathtaking videos I’ve ever seen. This was filmed in Kansas and now you know how Dorothy made it to OZ. OBAMA WIN, LUXURY JAIL, 100 CARS STUCK, MOONING MISHAP, AND QUEEN SAYS GET A REAL JOB Posted in Art, Books, celebrities, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, video, Writing with tags Art, ATVs, Barack, beach, blog, blogging, brazil, Britain, British, Brits, Butt, cars, Clinton, comedy, commentary, conversations, Da Silva, Dakota, Daytona, Democratic, Democrats, derriere, digg, editorial, Elizabeth, England, Family, fark.com, Florida, funny, Genilson, George, glass, Google, haircut, Hillary, history, hospital, Humor, incident, job, Kate, Katie problem, Life, Lins, literature, Love, Middleton, Montana, mooning, Music, Nader, Netherlands, News, nomination, nudity, Obama, Politics, President, primaries, primary, Prince, prisoner, Queen, Ralph, random thoughts, restaurant, royal, Royals, ruminations, sand, sex, South, stuck, Technology, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoroughgood, Thoughts, TV, UK, Utrecht, vice, William, window, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube on June 4, 2008 by mclassen OBAMA’S IN, CLINTON DOESN’T CONCEDE….YET. It looks like Obama has enough delegates to now claim the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton has not conceded the nomination and rumors are that she is trying for the Vice-President slot to run with Obama. Naturally this rumor has been around for a while and it would make a powerful ticket for the Democrats. Personally I was still hoping for a bit of indecision going into the convention just because it would be nice to have something that wasn’t a foregone conclusion for a change. Truthfully, I’d like to see Clinton run as an independent and really throw a wrench into things. Think of the political chaos. It would be great. Voter anarchy running amok across the country with electoral votes splattering the wall like blood at the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The media wouldn’t know which way to turn, the computers would fry microcircuits trying to predict it all and in the end Ralph Nader wins. Now that would be politics. LAP OF LUXURY WHILE IN JAIL? An inmate in a prison in Brazil was apparently living a pretty good lifestyle. Genilson Lins da Silva’s life of ease has come to an abrupt end after police confiscated a plasma TV set, gym equipment, two pistols and cash worth US$173,000 from his cell. Ok, I’m sensing something not quite right here. He also had a cell to himself. Prison officials have launched an investigation as to how he was able to achieve this. I would think they should. Ok, how does a guy manage all this while in prison? With those guns he could have left at any time. But why? Private room, state of the art TV, a pile of money, how do I get in on this? I’m surprised he didn’t have a massuese on Tuesdays. This will certainly show him the error of his ways. 100 CARS STUCK ON FLORIDA BEACH Over the weekend, over 100 cars became stuck on the Daytona, Florida beach. Apparently people are too lazy to walk to the shoreline and take their street cars across the sand. I live in Michigan where we have lots of sand beaches, we don’t take our cars on them. We park in lots. If we think that we can’t walk that far, I have an abreviation for you: ATV. It’s what they’re made for. Get to know them, make them your friend. Seems to me some folks just don’t think these things out very well. MOONING INCIDENT GONE BAD In Utrecht, Netherlands three men ran down the street mooning people. The bare bottom boys were having a great time and building up entusiasm with their prank. One of the men, backed up against a restaurant window and pushed. The glass shattered sending shards into a variety of places in his derriere in what are described as “deep wounds.” Ouch. He won’t be sitting for a while. The restaurant owner has decided not to press charges since the pranksters have agreed to pay for the broken window. He probably figures at least one of them has already been punished enough. There’s nothing like a little insult and injury. THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND GETS GRUMPY…AGAIN. I have to admit, I wouldn’t want to date any of the English royal family. The Queen would really hate me. First she was mad about the wedding pictures sold by her grandson’s new wife. Now she’s complaining that Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton, isn’t good enough for him. They aren’t even engaged. Apprently all you have to do is hang around to get the Queens dander up. Her reasoning is she doesn’t have a “real job.” She’s been working part-time for her family’s company and doesn’t have a career of her own. Personally I don’t see anything wrong with that. So the Queen wants her to clean her act up, and get a real job. She’s being termed “the Katie problem.” Middleton has had a job offer that might satisfy the Queen, but has been hesitant about taking it. It sounds to me like the Queen has too much time on her hands. Maybe she needs to get a real job. DEMOCRAT DELEGATE DECISION, PRINCESS BEA, TOWER OF PISA, AND HARVEY KORMAN Posted in Art, Books, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing with tags Andrew, Art, away, Barack, Bea, Beatrice, bikini, blog, blogging, Burnett, Carol, Clark, Clinton, comedy, commentary, conversations, Conway, Dave, deceased, Decide, Decision, delegates, Democratic, Democrats, digg, editorial, Elizabeth, Family, fark.com, fat, Fergie, Ferguson, Florida, funny, Google, Harvey, Hillary, history, Humor, italy, Jim, Korman, leaning, Life, literature, Michigan, Music, News, Obama, overweight, party, passed, pisa, political, Politics, primaries, primary, Prince, Princess, Queen, random thoughts, renovated, renovation, repaired, Roosevelt, royal, ruminations, Sarah, Sun, superdelegates, Technology, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoughts, Tim, tower, tribute, TV, video, videos, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube on June 1, 2008 by mclassen DEMOCRATS DECIDE ABOUT DELEGATE DISPUTE At the “let’s give Hillary the shaft” meeting Saturday, Democratic Party officials came to a decision concerning what to do about the votes in Michigan and Florida that had been disqualified. They have agreed to seat all of the delegates, but they will only get half a vote. This was done to insure that Obama retains the lead in the delegate count insuring Clinton lags behind. Obama says he’s happy, Clinton says she will appeal. No surprise there. Apparently the Democratic Party REALLY wants Obama for their candidate. “How can you call yourselves Democrats if you don’t count the vote?” one man in the audience shouted before being escorted out by security. “This is not the Democratic Party!” The committee also ruled that Obama should receive some of the Michigan delegates, though he chose not to have his name on the ballot there. This effectively slaps Clinton in the face from her own party. It’s not nice to hit a lady. But then, there’s been nothing nice about this controversy from the start. Proponents of full seating continuously interrupted the committee members as they explained their support of the compromise, then supporters of the deal shouted back. “Shut up!” one woman shouted at another. “You shut up!” the second woman shouted back. Jim Roosevelt, co-chair of the committee, tried repeatedly to gavel it to order. “You are dishonoring your candidate when you disrupt the speakers,” he scolded. Well it looks like unity in this party has gone right down the drain. If nothing else, it’s going to make for interesting watching on the television. In the meantime, I’m sure the lawyers will take over and more idiocy will ensue. Party unity? Not with this election. PRINCESS BEATRICE GETS SOME TABLOID ATTENTION Being a public figure must be real pain in the butt. You can’t even go swimming without some idiot criticizing you. In this case it’s Princess Bea in a bikini. Sarah Ferguson, otherwise nicknamed Fergie, her mother is up in arms, no doubt over the fact that she was raked over the coals for being overweight a few years back. Now it’s her daughter and she’s yelling leave my kids alone. Well, they’re public figures and this is bound to happen. The picture below is reprinted along with the cover of the rag that printed it on an obvious slow news day with nothing else to report. Well, there’s nothing like a few Bea stinging remarks to sell papers. This was snapped when she was out for some R&R with her boyfriend Dave Clark. I wonder if he calls her “Honey Bea?” She was supposedly out looking for a new home while she was attending college, the “Bea Hive.” Her parents weren’t thinking when they named her this were they? That’s what you call a royal brain fart. If she would have been wearing a hat she could have been the Bea in a bonnet. She is in line for the throne which would, of course make her Queen Bea. Yea I went there. If she has kids are they drones or workers? Only time will tell. THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA FIXED? The Italians have stabilized one of their most visited tourist attractions, the leaning tower of Pisa. This building which was built on not-so-solid ground has been leaning further and further every year, which would of course eventually reach a point of toppling. Then it would would be the fallen, crumbled, rubble of the Tower of Pisa, Or it would be the Tower formerly known as Leaning. the tower has been closed to tourists, since 1990 and work to stablize the building has been ongoing. The workers even managed to straighten the building 1 1/2 feet of it’s previous lean. Now it’s the not quite so leaning tower of Pisa. The engineers estimate that they have given the tower another 300 years of leaning. The Tower of Pisa, leaning for the future. Here’s a quick remembrance of Harvey Korman who passed away last week. We’ll remember him the way he would want us to, making us laugh. FOX NEWS PERSON WISHES OBAMA DEAD, SHOPLIFTER’S SHOES, MORGUE SUICIDE, MARRIED TO BERLIN WALL, AND MICHAEL JACKSON UFC Posted in Art, Books, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing with tags AARP, Art, assassination, Baby Boomer, Balanced, Barack, Berlin, Berliner, blog, blogging, Bobby, Browning, Clinton, Colorado, comedy, commentary, conversations, crime, death, digg, Durango, editorial, Eija, Fair, Family, fark.com, Fidanque, Fighting, Fox, freezer, funny, Gabe, German, Germany, girlfriend, Google, Hillary, history, Humor, Jacko, Jackson, Kennedy, Liden, Life, literature, Liz, Married, Mauer, Media, Michael, Michigan, Micki, morgue, Music, Network, News, Obama, opinion, Ortiz, photo, police, Politics, random thoughts, RFK, ritta, Robert, ruminations, shoes, shoplifters, shoplifting, suicide, Sweden, Taiwan, Technology, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoughts, Times, Tito, Trotta, TV, UFC, Ultimate, Wall, Washington, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube on May 28, 2008 by mclassen FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT WISHES OBAMA DEAD! I’m so angry right now it’s hard to even write this. What is wrong with people. During a guest analysis spot on Fox News, Washington Times correspondent Liz Trotta said she wished Barack Obama dead. If you haven’t seen this, a video clip is below. This happened during an analysis of Hillary Clinton’s RFK faux paus the other day. I’m not an Obama supporter and this makes me angry. How can anyone WANT to see violence done on anyone, let alone a candidate. If you don’t like them you don’t vote for them. If the vote doesn’t go your way, that’s the way the game is played. You don’t wish them dead, or worse yet take matters into your own hands. Fox news, not fair and balanced, insane and weird. I worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years and I had an opinion about a lot of things but I always took care to keep it OUT of my reporting. This is incredibly irresponsible and inflamatory. Liz Trotta, has of course lamely apologized on Fox calling it “an attempt at humor,” but the damage is still there. She said it and it’s out there. People listen to this network. For the life of me I don’t know why. I’m even doubly puzzled now. Fox has a responsibility and so does Trotta. You’re suppossed to report the news, not call for the death of one of the democratic candidates. She criticizes Hillary Clinton up and down, then says something like this and then tries to pass it off as humor in an apology. You’re a sick hippocrite, you should get professional help. You should be banned from the media, for life! The other thing that I find appalling is that U.S. media is NOT reporting this story. I actually found this story in British media who referred me to YouTube. The American media jumps all over Clinton for what may actually have been an honest error, but they ignore something from one of the foremost watched news networks. Fair and Balanced? POLICE MAKE STORE OWNER GIVE BACK SHOES OF SHOPLIFTERS A liquor store owner in Durango, Colorado is tired of repeat offenders coming into his store and shoplifting. When he catches a shoplifter he makes them give him a shoe so they will be embarrassed and not come back. I think it is a very creative solution to an ongoing problem. The Durango police disagree. They have told him to knock it off or they are going to prosecute him for felony robbery. Now the shoe is on the other foot so to speak. Shoplifting is a misdemeanor which means that the store owner would be prosecuted harder than the thieves for protecting his store. That’s pretty backward. The owner, Gabe Fidanque, was ordered to return the shoes to their owners, if he can find them. Police Captain Micki Browning says the store owner should “find a different option that doesn’t involve giving up property.” Findanque found that the thieves would return within hours of turning them over to police. “That’s the whole point of it. They’re too humiliated to come back and ask for their shoe, and that also means they won’t steal again,” Fidanque said. Let’s see the owner has found a non-violent solution to his problem that works and the police want to prosecute him for it. What is wrong with this picture? MAN IN MORGUE FREEZER WITH DEAD GIRLFRIEND A man in Taiwan has crawled inside a morgue freezer to try and commit suicide. Grieving over his girlfriend, he crawled into the compartment to be with her. He was found a half-hour later when workers noticed that the temperature in the freezer had gotten unusually high from an unlatched compartment. The girl had died from an overdose of sleeping pills. It appears that both of these folks were unstable. I feel bad for the morgue worker that had to deal with this. WOMAN MARRIES BERLIN WALL I wonder if this woman just couldn’t get a date. Eija-Ritta Berliner-Mauer, a 54-year-old woman from Liden, Sweden claims to have married the Berlin Wall back in 1979 and changed her surname to German for Berlin Wall. I wonder what priest performed this ceremony. She says she finds objects more appealing than people and that she is convinced that she is not the only one that gets pleasure from the relationship. Yep, keep telling yourself that. How do you get concrete turned on. What if it calls you another wall’s name. “Harder harder, oh Great Wall of China you’re so good.” OK, I’m baffled with this. “I find long, slim things with horizontal lines very sexy,” she says. OK, hot for concrete. That’s….different. So what’s this called cementaphilia? Since her “lover” was torn down after the cold war she keeps a model of the wall in her home. I guess at least you don’t have to listen to it complain. I hope she’s good at one sided conversations. MICHAEL JACKSON LIKES ULTIMATE FIGHTING Ok, I put this in because this is so stupid. Michael’s always so good for that. Saturday night he went to the UFC Tito Ortiz fight trying to be not noticed. He didn’t succeed. For one thing he arrived in a wheel chair and had his face covered in a shroud. Check out the photo below. I think looking like this would only attract attention. I know I’d be wondering who’s the yo-yo dressed like a dope. Arriving in the wheelchair isn’t real incognito either. Does that mean he got the handicapped parking? It seems to me he attracts more attention when he’s trying not to attract attention. The dude has issues. Is he a dude? I thought UFC is for people that actually have testosterone. BILL CLINTON’S CONSPIRACY, CHEESE RACE, MACY’S PIRATE, AND HIRE A CAT Posted in Art, Books, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing with tags Anderson, Art, Barack, Beard, Bill, blog, blogging, Britain, Britons, Brits, cat, cheese, Christopher, Circus, Clinton, comedy, commentary, Company, conspiracies, conspiracy, convention, conversations, Cooper's, Dakota, Democracy, Democrats, digg, Early, editorial, election, Electric, England, Family, fark.com, Flo, Florida, flying, funny, Gloucester, Google, Herald, hill, Hillary, history, Humor, Idiot, Japan, Japanese, John, Kinokawa, Kishi, kitty, Life, literature, Macys, Manhattan, McCain, Michigan, monty, Music, New, News, Obama, opinion, Pirate, political, Politics, primaries, primary, python, python's, race, Railway, random thoughts, republicans, Romans, ruminations, Senate, senator, Shane, South, Square, stationmaster, sword, Tama, Technology, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoughts, Train, TV, village, vote, Wakayama, wheel, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, Yamaki, York, Yoshiko on May 27, 2008 by mclassen BILL CLINTON’S CONSPIRACY THEORY Just because I’m paranoid doen’t mean there isn’t a conspiracy. Fox Mulder isn’t the only one seeing conspiracies. Former President Bill Clinton, campaigning for his wife in South Dakota, said Sunday that she was the victim of a conspiracy. He said some were trying to “cover up” Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning in key states that Democrats will have to win in the general election. “I can’t believe it. It is just frantic the way they are trying to push and pressure and bully all these superdelegates to come out,” Clinton said. ” ‘Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.’ She is winning the general election today and he is not, according to all the evidence,” Clinton said. “And I have never seen anything like it. I have never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running. Her only position was, ‘Look, if I lose I’ll be a good team player. We will all try to win, but let’s let everybody vote, and count every vote,’ ” Well, certainly he is correct about one thing. Let’s count all the votes. As a nation we definately learned how just a couple fo votes meant everything in Florida. We all remember “hanging chads.” The results of that election proves our election system needs to be looked at and overhauled. For a country that is suppossed to set examples for the democratic process, we haven’t been doing too well in the last few years. We the people have a right to have our say and the Clintons are correct in this. Is there a conspiracy? Anything is possible in politics and there seems to be an awful hard push to make sure Obama IS the democratic candidate. I’m certain the Republicans would like to see him instead of Hillary Clinton. All they have to do is point at his inexperience and McCain is the winner. Obama hasn’t even sat in his Senate chair long enough to get it warm. There’s a reason they call him “Junior” Senator. The important thing here is fairness. As the Clintons ask, count ALL the votes. If Obama wins fair and square, fine, if Clinton wins fair and square, fine. The important thing is getting back to Democracy and everyone having their voice and vote. This country has had enough controversy over the elections of its leaders. Is there a conspiracy? Let’s hope not, because that means someone else is deciding for us, fixing our elections and taking away our right to vote for whom we want. That’s not democracy. CHEEZY CONTEST IN ENGLAND INJURES 19 This is probably the cheesiest thing you’ll read in this blog. I know I shouldn’t make those kinds of statements, but I suspect it’s true. OK, picture this. A really steep hill, a large collection of people with no common sense, and a race to catch a rolling, runaway, cheese wheel that rolls down the slope, then it rains. That’s what goes on annually at Cooper’s Hill In Gloucester, England. This year it was attended by more than 3,000 spectators and over 30 first aid volunteers. A 19-year-old, Christopher Anderson, won the first race but was carried from the hill on a spinal board after tumbling past the finish line head over heels, hurting his back in the process. Hmm. I wonder how that could have happened. “The conditions were horrific, you just have to get your head down and hope for the best,” said his friend, Shane Beard. “Chris went absolutely flying. He is completely fearless but I hope he hasn’t hurt himself.” Oh, and don’t worry, the women can get in on this too, proving that they can be just as dumb as the guys. A 17-year-old student, Flo Early, won the women’s race and got to keep the wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. She then declared: “Next year I want to take on the boys.” Believe it or not, this race has been going on longer than people can remember. It is believed that it originated with the Britons and Romans. I think I know what it was. They gorged themselves on ale, lined up all of the village idiots and declared, “Chase the cheese.” And they did. And they still are. NOW FOR A VILLAGE IDIOT MOMENT: PIRATES BOARD MACY’S Ar, this guy be no Jack Sparrow, he got caught. Listen up mateys, a man who was carrying a rusted pirate-style sword through Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan is facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon. It’s a sad day when a pirate can’t carry his sword. Police say 29-year-old Lawrence Jackson was brandishing the curved sword while visiting Macy’s Herald Square store Sunday with his girlfriend. Ar, trying to impress the wench he was. Parlay? He told police he was carrying the sword because he is a member of a kickball team whose players dressed like pirates. He swears by all that be holy he was on his way to a game when he was arrested. He sailed away with a fair wind. Sea turtles mate, Sea turtles. FINANCIAL TROUBLES – HIRE A CAT? Is your business in financial trouble, need help. Well, I suggest going and getting a cat. Yes, I said a cat. That’s what they’ve done in Japan and it has worked better than they could have hoped. Actually the whole thing has pretty much occurred by accident, they were only trying to give it a home. Tama, a nine-year-old female cat, wearing a stationmaster cap and a neck sign reading: ‘Super Stationmaster Tama’ welcomes passangers. This is all this kitty does, schmooze the customers. Of couse make sure you pick up your Tama kitty souveniers on the way out. The cat lives at the Kishi Station in western Japanese city of Kinokawa. I wonder where they keep the litter box? The near bankrupt Japanese train company Wakayama Electric Railway Co. found the cat in an abandoned building nearby and it has been single-handedly bringing the company back to solvency with it’s popularity. All Tama does is sit by the entrance of the station, wearing the black cap, posing for photos for tourists, now flocking in droves from across the nation. I can see how this would appeal to a cat. “She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma,” Wakayama Electric Railway Co. spokeswoman Yoshiko Yamaki said. “She is the perfect station master.” The cat recently got a raise. In cat food of course. I bet nobody ever came up with this one in one of those “Think out of the box” seminars.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2639
__label__cc	0.658098	0.341902	Archive for mechaphilia CHELSEA CLINTON, GUN OR GAS, JAILED POLITICIANS, BARE BUTT POSTER, AND MECHAPHILIA Posted in Art, Books, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Family, Food, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Random, Religion, Sports, Technology, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing with tags 1000, accident, adultry, Alcatraz, Art, attraction, Barack, barbeque, Bare, Beckworth, Beetle, Berlin, Bill, blog, blogging, Britain, British, Bush, butler, Butt, campaign, campaigning, car, career, Carol, cars, Chancellery, cheating, Chelsea, Clinton, comedy, communist, conversations, Cummings, Cyprus, daughter, deal, dealership, Democratic, Democrats, digg, East, eastern, Ebay, Edward, England, Family, fark.com, Federal, former, funny, gas, George, German, Germany, Google, Government, GW, Handgun, Hillary, history, interrogated, interrogation, interview, Iowa, Jefferson, Kennedy, Kingdom, Life, literature, locked, Love, Magazine, Max, mechaphilia, Missouri, Moore, Motors, Music, NASCAR, New, nude women, nudity, Obama, Pasha, people, political, Politics, porn, posters, President, primaries, primary, rallies, rally, random thoughts, Reiprich, ruminations, Sandra, Seaford, semi-automatic, sex, sexual, Siegfried, Smith, special, Stasi, Technology, The game is afoot, theonion.com, Thoughts, TV, UK, United, up, Vanilla, video, Volkswagon, VW, W, Walter, wife, William, women, wordpress.com, wordpress.org, Writing, Yahoo, youtube on May 23, 2008 by mclassen CHELSEA CLINTON – THE NEXT GENERATION? In an exclusive interview with Bill Clinton in People Magazine, he’s asked would Chelsea ever consider a career in politics? This leaves some interesting prospects for the future. A Clinton dynasty? Well it’s got to be better than the one the Bush’s have handed us. Clinton had an interesting answer. “Before Iowa, I would have said, ‘No way. She is too allergic to anything we do.’ But she is really good at it. It all changed after Iowa. She realized her mother lost Iowa 100 percent because of younger voters. She was upset, bawled, went to her employer and said, ‘Look, you got to let me go or give me an indefinite leave of absence. I’m not letting my mother go down like this.'” It appears that Chelsea has some of her mother’s tenacity and getting her mother’s back gets her big time points. Chelsea has been a continuing presence in Hillary’s campaign and has been dealing with some tough questions on some tough issues. In the People interview, Clinton called his daughter’s “emergence” the “second best thing” of the campaign, after his wife’s resiliency. The former President also made a comment about a press bias against Hillary. “I think most of the press people are in Obama’s demographic. They need a feeling more than they perceive they need a President. There have been times when I thought I was literally lost in a fun house.” I’m not so sure he’s correct there, but he does go on to say about Obama, “I don’t know him very well. But, I do think it’s better to have made a lot of decisions before you get to be President.” This People interview is definately worth a read and it hits newstands today. Could Chelsea get a taste for politics? Could we be seeing the continuation of the Clinton influence on American politics for the future? It sounds awfully Kennedy to me. NEW CAR DEAL – GUN OR GAS? At a new car dealership in Butler, Missouri they are offering a bang-up special deal. You can put $250 to either get a new handgun or gas with any purchase through the end of the month. General Manager, Walter Moore of Max Motors says most people are opting for the handgun. He recommends the semi-automatic model because it holds more rounds. That doesn’t surprise me, with the handgun you can get your gas for free. Moore says, “Down here, we all believe in God, guts and guns.” Well, this IS the state that gave us Frank and Jesse James. GERMAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LOCKED UP BY ACCIDENT A group of German officials were locked away in a jail previously run by the East German Stasi, the former secret police. Thinking all visitors had left, staff closed up the memorial museum that was the Stasi’s main jail, and shut the high-ranking representatives from Germany‘s 16 states inside. I bet that brought on some unintentional enlightenment. “It was a misunderstanding,” said Siegfried Reiprich, deputy director of the complex in eastern Berlin, on Wednesday. I’m sure he was hoping that he wouldn’t be fired over the mixup. Realizing they were trapped, the group called the federal Chancellery late on Tuesday and urgently requested to be let out. About half an hour later the officials were freed from the complex where political opponents of the East German regime were once interrogated by their captors. I wish some of our politicians would “accidentally” get locked away. Then just don’t answer the phone. Anybody up for a trip to Alcatraz? BRITISH MAN HAS BARE BUTT POSTERED AROUND TOWN Pasha Cummings of Seaford, England is the latest victim of the fury of a woman scorned. According to his recently exited wife, Carol, he had been cheating on her and she decided to get even. She had 200 posters of him printed and then posted all over town on lampposts, bus stops, and walls that shows him and his bare butt posing at a barbeque. I have to admit, that would be something that should come under a blight law. Beneath the ‘glamour shot’, the posters read: ‘Pasha Cummings: lying, cheating, two-timing arse! Sandra Beckworth is no better.’ Sandra is apparently the “other” woman. Carol exited the country for Cyprus immediately upon distribution of the controversial poster. People have come up with the most creative ways to slander each other lately. Youtube, Ebay, now this. They’re certainly being creative. What ever happened to keeping your dirty laundry behind closed doors. MAN CLAIMS SEX WITH 1000 CARS Never buy a used car from this man, “used” being the operative word here. Edward Smith has a sexual attraction for mechanical vehicles. I guess they wouldn’t complain if you’re not very good. Smith, 57, says he first had sex with a car at the age of 15 and has banged out the fenders of more than 1000. He claims he has never been attracted to women or men and cars are just his preference. OK, something went seriously wrong here. I’ve heard of having a passion for your cars but, this is a bit over the top. They even have a name for this: mechaphilia. He is now part of a global community of more than 500 “car lovers” brought together through the Internet. Smith, who now lives with his current “girlfriend,” a white Volkswagen Beetle named Vanilla, said he has no desire to change his ways. Of course not, all his desire is aimed at this poor VW’s fender. “I’m not sick,” he said, “And I don’t want to hurt anyone.” That, may be a matter of opinion. If the car doesn’t start, does that mean no? Does he consider Herbie the Love Bug porn? This guy would be a riot at a NASCAR rally. LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE:	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2640
__label__cc	0.590747	0.409253	Dave Van Ronk Hang Me, Oh Hang Me Folksinger 1962 Green, Green Rocky Road And the Tin Pan Bended and the Story Ended... 2004 Going Back To Brooklyn 1985 Shanty Man's Life Inside 1964 Cocaine Blues About Dave Van Ronk Dave Van Ronk grew up in Brooklyn, but as a young man he absorbed the folk, jazz, and blues traditions of the south, and integrated them into his raw, organic style as a singer/guitarist. His approach to fingerpicking incorporated both country blues patterns and a strong ragtime influence, and his gravelly singing was as gritty and authentic-sounding as that of any Delta bluesman. He began recording in the late '50s, at the vanguard of the folk revival, and became an inspiration to the entire Greenwich Village folk scene. In addition to being a musical role model, he actively mentored the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Van Ronk never attained the star status of some of his disciples, but he never stopped making records and playing concerts, and remained true to his musical instincts until his death in 2002. Eric von Schmidt Ramblin' Jack Elliott Odetta	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2642
__label__wiki	0.665128	0.665128	ERROR: type should be string, got "https://mutualfunds.com/funds/caibx-american-funds-capital-income-bldr-a/\nCAIBX American Funds Capital Income Bldr A\nCAIBX - Profile\nNet Assets $104 B\nLegal Name American Funds Capital Income Builder®\nFund Family Name American Funds\nInception Date Jul 30, 1987\nManager James B. Lovelace\nFund Description\nThe American Funds Capital Income Builder Fund Class A (CAIBX) is an actively managed “go anywhere” fund designed to provide above-average current income. CAIBX also looks to grow that income stream in the future. The fund bets its portfolio on a wide range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and hybrid securities from around the world. Dividend-paying equities make up around 60 to 80% of the fund’s portfolio. Further, roughly 50% of the fund is in international investments. Expenses for the fund are low before adding in CAIBX’s sales loads.\nGiven the fund’s wide mandate, CAIBX could make a great core position for a moderately conservative investor. The fund is managed by Capital Research and Management Company.\nCAIBX - Performance\nCAIBX Return\n1 Yr 1.6% -28.5% 6.7% 17.35%\n2017 9.0% -5.0% 26.2% 57.10%\nCAIBX - Holdings\nCAIBX % Rank\n104 B 8.8 M 104 B 0.63%\n1336 2 3633 11.60%\n17.8 B -81.9 M 17.8 B 1.88%\nAbbVie Inc 2.56%\nNovartis AG 1.92%\nBroadcom Inc 1.87%\nVerizon Communications Inc 1.74%\nCoca-Cola Co 1.66%\nAltria Group Inc 1.66%\nRoyal Dutch Shell PLC B 1.49%\nPhilip Morris International Inc 1.48%\nAmgen Inc 1.35%\n24.80% -234.98% 117.56% 68.03%\n6.20% -0.84% 19.70% 7.28%\n34.45% -19.48% 159.65% 35.11%\nCAIBX - Expenses\nCAIBX Fees (% of AUM)\nCAIBX - Distributions\nAug 14, 1996 $0.435\nApr 04, 1994 $0.388\nCAIBX - Managers\nJames B. Lovelace\nJames B. Lovelace is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. He also serves on the Portfolio Oversight Committee. He has 37 years of investment experience, all with Capital Group. Earlier in his career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, Jim covered beverages & tobacco, restaurants & lodging, household products and personal care companies. Jim began his career at Capital as a participant in The Associates Program, a two-year series of work assignments in various areas of the organization. He holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in philosophy from Swarthmore College. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a member of the Los Angeles Society of Financial Analysts. Jim is based in Los Angeles.\nJoyce E. Gordon\nJoyce E. Gordon is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. She has 38 years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for 43 years. Earlier in her career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, she covered thrifts, banking, and paper & forest products companies. She holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business finance from the University of Southern California. Joyce is based in Los Angeles.\nDavid M. Riley\nDavid M. Riley is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. He has 24 years of investment experience, all with Capital Group. Earlier in his career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, David covered European and Latin American telecommunication companies and European media companies. David holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in electronics from the University of Southampton in England. He is also a Licentiate of London and Guildhall Schools of Music. David is based in London.\nDavid A. Hoag\nHoag is vice president and director of Capital Research and Management Company. He joined the company in 1991.\nSteven T. Watson\nSteven T. Watson is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. He has 31 years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for 29 years. Earlier in his career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, he covered Asian property and transportation, as well as European transportation and utilities companies. Before joining Capital, Steven was a buy-side research analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. in New York. He holds an MBA in finance from New York University Graduate School of Business Administration. Steven is based in Hong Kong.\nWinnie Kwan\nWinnie Kwan is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. Earlier in her career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, she covered global exchanges, Asian utilities and small-cap companies. Prior to joining Capital, Winnie worked with Morgan Stanley in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. She holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Winnie is based in Hong Kong. Background and approach: Bottom-up research is at the heart of Winnie’s approach. Her investment decisions always factor in assessment of a company’s valuation in relation to its global peers, history and prevailing interest rates. She also pays close attention to balance sheets, as well as free cash flow generation. Her emphasis is on seeking longer term total return (stock appreciation and dividend growth) potential, with investments that are not concentrated. “Typically, I invest in companies for several years. Assuming our research thesis is borne out, this is a holding period over which earnings, dividends and various multiples have ample time to potentially improve,” she says. In addition, Winnie likes to invest in cyclical stocks that are out of favor — at a trough in their valuation cycle and toward the bottom of their industry’s capital expenditure cycle. She emphasizes high-quality companies. Winnie will also selectively invest in attractively valued companies where her view of a management change or earnings turnaround is positive, if there are signs of improvement that appear favorable for potential returns.\nBradley J. Vogt\nBradley J. Vogt is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. He is chairman of Capital Research Company and serves on the Capital Group Management Committee and the Portfolio Oversight Committee. Brad has 31 years of investment experience, all with Capital Group. Earlier in his career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, he covered environmental services, U.S. telecommunications and cable & satellite TV companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics and economics from Wesleyan University. Brad is based in Washington, D.C.\nL. Alfonso Barroso\nL. Alfonso Barroso joined Capital Research Global Investors, one of Capital Research and Management Company's equity investment divisions, since 1994, all with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate.\nGrant L. Cambridge\nGrant L. Cambridge is a portfolio manager at Capital Group. He has 26 years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for 22 years. Earlier in his career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, he covered insurance, airlines, air freight, home builders, asset managers and software companies, as well as small- and mid-cap companies. Prior to joining Capital, he worked for BTM Capital, a subsidiary of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in Boston. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a master’s degree from Suffolk University and a bachelor’s degree from Bentley University. Grant is based in Los Angeles.\nPhilip Winston\nPhilip Winston is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. He has 28 years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for 16 years. Earlier in his career, in addition to being a portfolio manager, Philip was an equity investment analyst at Capital covering U.K. property and paper & packaging companies, as well as European property and media companies. Before joining Capital, he was a director and U.K. equity fund manager at BZW Investment Management in London. Prior to that, he worked at Orion Royal Bank in London and New York.\nCAIBX - Read Next\n» Latest CAIBX News\nhttps://mutualfunds.com/funds/caibx-american-funds-capital-income-bldr-a/#read-next"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2643
__label__wiki	0.630822	0.630822	NRLI News Class XVII on a tour of Rafter T Ranch in Sebring. Photo by Wendy-Lin Bartels. Class XVII Session 5 Cattle Ranches & Conservation Easements Session 5 was held in Sebring, Florida and focused on cattle ranches and conservation easements. During the session, Fellows learned about the array of easement options available in Florida as well as how the easement process works--the partnerships, collaborations, and negotiations among private landowners, conservation organizations, and state and federal agencies. Keith Fountain, Manager of Conservation Advisors LLC and Managing Attorney of Keith Fountain Law PLLC, was the guest speaker for the session and provided Fellows with an excellent overview of the topic including the establishment process and the opportunities and challenges for landowners. For the field trip, the group embarked on a tour of Rafter T Ranch in Sebring accompanied by owner, Mr. Jimmy Wohl, and NRLI alumna Bonnie Wolff Pelaez. The 5,200-acre cow/calf beef cattle operation has been in the Wohl Family since 1962. An award-winning ranch, it has garnered local, state, and national recognition for its environmental stewardship and conservation practices. Fellows were struck by the Wohl family story and the incredible beauty of the property. At each monthly session, the Project Team invites individuals who represent a range of viewpoints and have first-hand knowledge of the topic to share their experiences and perspectives with the group. For this session, stakeholders who joined us were: Cary Lightsey, Lightsey Cattle Company David "Lefty" Durando, Durando Family Ranches Roney Gutierrez, Assistant State Conservationist for Easement Programs, Natural Resources Conservation Service John Browne, Land Programs Administrator, Land Planning and Administration Section, Florida Forest Service Fellows' Article--Conservation Easements: A Legacy for our Future Alumni Rountable: Sebring NRLI Toolbox: Jigsaw Spotlight on Class XVII Fellows Giving to NRLI: The Bruce Delaney Scholarship Fund NRLI website Each month, we ask a pair of Fellows to review the session in their own words. This article describes reflections from the point of view of Fellows Graham Williams & Caroline Gorga. Fellows' Article Conservation Easements: A Legacy for our Future By Graham Williams & Caroline Gorga The January NRLI session kicked off with a great presentation by Keith Fountain (Manager, Conservation Advisors LLC, Managing Attorney, Keith Fountain Law PLLC) who shared a wealth of knowledge with us about the varying types of conservation easements that are available to landowners. We learned how some types of easements are more restrictive than others about the activities that they allow and it was interesting to learn how different types of landowners might be best suited by the many different types of easements available to them. Easements are not a one size fits all tool for conservation. Particularly enlightening was learning about the integration of programs and players that all come together within the framework of conservation easements, working together toward the mutual goal of perpetual resource protection. Government agencies, private landowners, conservationists, consultants, real estate brokers, and conservation organizations all play a role in the development of new conservation easement agreements. Conservationists or conservation organizations can be the catalyst to bring the stakeholders together and make landowners more apt to consider a conservation easement on their property. Government agencies often provide the funding for new easements. Consultants and real estate brokers make the transactions happen. Everyone has an important role in the process. We remember being impressed to learn how much of Florida's private lands are protected by conservation easements. After all, why would a private landowner want to give up the valuable development rights on their property? By the time the stakeholder panelist arrived on Thursday afternoon, the Fellows had received the facts about conservation easements, but we wanted to understand how and why conservation easements had increased in popularity among Florida landowners. The panel consisted of two local cattle ranchers - David "Lefty" Durando (Durando Family Ranches) and Cary Lightsey (Lightsey Cattle Company); a state representative from the Florida Forest Service - John Browne (administrator of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program); and a representative from the Natural Resources Conservation Service - Roney Gutierrez (the state's program manager for NRCS easements). During our conversations, we learned that two key ingredients generated a scenario where both parties saw the opportunity these easements could provide: (1) the recession and (2) shared values of clean air and water and the protection of the state's wildlife. Due to the recession, landowners sought avenues to ensure their family lands remained intact and in the family and their way of life (in the case of our panelists, cow/calf operations) could continue to support their growing families into the future. At the same time, the natural resource conservation groups sought to ensure parts of Florida would remain undeveloped, and the fish and wildlife could continue to thrive into the future. According to our panelists, this need for financial assistance, in particular, created the opportunity for relationships to be formed, shared values to be realized, and partnerships to be developed between the landowners and conservation groups in order to eventually form conservation easements. Mr. Lightsey summed up his comments at the end of our time, saying, "I want to save the state for the future generations...You can't take the money or the land with you [when you die], but you can take the pride of leaving a legacy." Alumni Roundtable: Sebring NRLI Alumni Deborah Burr, Cheryl Millett, and Charles Shinn. Three NRLI alumni offered their observations on the Sebring stakeholder panel during an informal roundtable discussion with Fellows. Of interest to Charles Shinn, Director of Government & Community Affairs, Florida Farm Bureau Federation (NRLI Class VIII) was that "an easement does not need to be a canned product but can be morphed into something that is unique to the property and the restoration goal." He was surprised to learn that, although referred to as "existing in perpetuity," easements may in fact be dissolved under certain circumstances. Deborah Burr, FWC Gopher Tortoise Program Coordinator (NRLI Class IV) was re-assured by the perspective that landowner-stakeholders had on conservation easements; their desire to maintain their legacy by preserving land for future generations. Cheryl Millett , Manager of Tiger Creek Preserve with the Nature Conservancy (NRLI Class XV) remarked on how respectfully Fellows sought to understand the panelists - even as they asked challenging questions. "I liked that it was a safe atmosphere for Fellows to bring up their concerns about easements, from wanting to know more about how they work, to questioning whether they are an appropriate tool for conservation." Charles also noticed that real communication was taking place. "Those around the 'NRLI Circle' did not lay out their preconceived notions. The dialogue was productive." He admitted that he enjoyed not knowing what "would be thrown out" as an idea: "When I'm involved in 'in the box' discussions, I pretty much know the outcome. Not so at NRLI!" When asked how it felt to be back at NRLI, Cheryl commented, "It was like a homecoming....we all have a common approach to working together, and it's refreshing to be in that atmosphere again." Deborah added: "Even if only for a short time, I enjoyed the interactions with NRLI Fellows and listening to them work through some of the processes and techniques for negotiations being taught...joining the NRLI Fellows for a day made me miss the learning and comradery that the program fosters." NRLI will continue to incorporate Alumni roundtable discussions similar to this in future sessions. Class XVII Fellows participating in the Jigsaw mid-program review. The Jigsaw technique is a small-group process that offers participants an opportunity for reflection or to provide thoughtful and creative input on multiple topics in a short amount of time. Wendy-Lin used the technique for the mid-program review of NRLI at the January session. She arranged four tables around the room, each with flipchart paper and colored markers. Leaving sufficient space between tables is important as it makes it easier for participants to hear one another during discussions. Wendy-Lin numbered each table/flipchart so that it corresponded to sessions 1-4. Participants then counted by fours and moved to the table coinciding with their number. Wendy-Lin instructed the Fellows to depict everything they could remember related to NRLI sessions and noted that "everyone needed to write or draw something." After 15 minutes, she instructed the small groups to select one person to stay at the table while others rotated. The person who stayed "presented" a summary of what was discussed previously and invited the new group to begin adding to what was documented. At intervals of 10 minutes, Wendy-Lin instructed participants to repeat the rotation process until they had visited each table and viewed all flipcharts. Wendy-Lin closed the activity with a plenary discussion in which participants noted their observations and key insights. Fellows chose to implement the jigsaw technique again during the session debrief. Brent Bachelder Aquatic Habitat Biologist, Project Manager Brent Bachelder is an aquatic habitat biologist and project manager at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Okeechobee Field Office. Brent's job responsibilities take him to some of the most remarkable natural areas and exhilarating meetings in the State of Florida. He has been responsible for restoration projects associated with Kissimmee River Restoration, a wide range of endangered species, and endangered ecosystems. Additionally, Brent is the lead plant ecologist on an interdisciplinary team of scientists tasked with evaluating and managing Lake Okeechobee's 150,000-acre marsh. Brent regularly provides biological data, technical expertise, and management recommendations to scientists, regulatory officials, and natural resource managers throughout the State of Florida. Brent has presented resource management summaries, results, and conclusions to fellow scientists, natural resource managers, and the public at a wide range of professional meetings, conferences and workshops. Brent lives in beautiful Lake Placid, Florida with his wife and young son. In his free time, he enjoys reading children's books, cooking, hiking, and travelling. Brent became interested in wetland ecology as a child while catching frogs at a pond across the street from his childhood home in Okemos, Michigan. Brent attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology while studying the ecology of the Rio Grande at the University of New Mexico. Before settling down in Lake Placid, he wandered the Western United States, living in Breckenridge, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Missoula, Montana, and Orange County, California. Paloma Carton de Grammont Lara Coordinator, ProForest School of Forest Resources and Conservation,University of Florida Paloma is the coordinator of ProForest, a multi-institutional initiative that brings together specialists from diverse fields to promote forest health and resilience through collaborative research, extension and education. She is in charge of enhancing collaborative efforts throughout the Southeast, managing the communications strategy for ProForest, and coordinating extramural funding and programmatic support. Paloma earned a master's degree in Environmental Biology and a PhD in Geography at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. With over 15 years of experience in natural resources management and policy, her professional experience spans Federal and State agencies and non-governmental organizations and academic institutions in Mexico, the USA, and Cuba. Paloma is passionate about understanding the links between people, space and the environment and how different perceptions of Nature shape the way environmental policy is designed and implemented. She resides in Gainesville, FL with her husband and two daughters. Her greatest joy is visiting family in Mexico and sharing a pride for Latino culture with her children. Amy Reaume Conservation Manager Brevard Zoo Amy Reaume is the conservation manager at Brevard Zoo, located in Melbourne, Florida, whose mission is "Wildlife Conservation through Education and Participation." Amy enjoys bringing together diverse partners to work towards common goals and engaging the community in solutions to wildlife conservation and environmental issues. Over the past eight years as part of Brevard Zoo's Conservation Team, Amy developed a mangrove outreach program in which more than 1,000 community members have taken part, created a statewide diamondback terrapin conservation program, and has led a variety of other conservation and sustainability initiatives including organizing one of the largest zero-waste events in Florida. Additionally, Amy is the grant administrator for Quarters for Conservation and Brevard Zoo's Wildlife Emergency Fund, programs that have donated over $490,000 to field conservation projects worldwide since 2011. Barton Wilder Environmental Specialist Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy Barton is an Environmental Specialist with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the Office of Agricultural Water Policy. He works with farmers and ranchers in the Santa Fe and Lower Suwannee Basins in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) that help to conserve water and improve water quality. Barton grew up in Plant City and moved to Gainesville in 2001 to attend the University of Florida. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor's of Science in Agricultural Operations Management. In 2009 he completed his Master's of Science in Agronomy focusing on the biology and management of giant and small smutgrass in improved pastures. Barton currently lives in Newberry with his dachshund Jessie. In his free time, he enjoys vegetable gardening, helping the Alachua County 4-H Forest Ecology Team as an assistant coach, and volunteering with the Knights of Columbus. Would you like to support NRLI? Did you know that NRLI has three endowment funds--the Bruce Delaney Scholarship Fund, the General Joe Joyce Family Endowment for Natural Resources Leadership, and the Farm Credit of Florida Agricultural and Natural Resources Leadership Endowment that you can contribute to? This month, we are spotlighting the Bruce Delaney Scholarship Fund. Bruce is an alumnus of NRLI Class II, the former Executive Director of NRLI, and was a Project Team member for more than 11 years. Bruce is a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and in his earlier career, he taught high school history, worked on the oil fields in Alaska, owned a fish camp in Cross Creek, Florida, and served terms as Mayor and Commissioner for the City of Gainesville. Bruce has also served on numerous community advisory committees, received community service awards, and chaired over 100 public meetings. A certified mediator, Bruce has mediated over 200 cases and is also the former Director of the USDA Florida Agricultural Mediation Program. He has been a mentor to all of us on the Project Team and we are incredibly thankful to have had him as a colleague and to call him a friend. We cannot express in words our immense gratitude to Bruce for all that he has done to support and nourish NRLI. He has played a central role in bringing the Institute to where it is today-an institute that has trained 297 individuals from 110 organizations and across the state of Florida. In honor of Bruce's many contributions to NRLI, we are extremely pleased to announce the establishment of the Bruce Delaney Scholarship Fund. Once the fund reaches endowment status, it will be used to provide scholarship funds to individuals from disadvantaged communities or organizations that would not otherwise be able to financially support their participation in NRLI. To contribute to the Bruce Delaney Scholarship Fund, please go to www.uff.ufl.edu/appeals/delaney. Class XVII Fellows Lisa Aley, Planning Technical Lead, Restoration Section, Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charles Barrett, Water Resources Regional Specialized Agent, Northeast District, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Brent Bachelder, Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Katie Britt, Environmental Consultant, Water Quality Restoration Program, Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Edward Camp, Assistant Professor, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida Paloma Carton de Grammont, ProForest Coordinator, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida John Dooner, Forester, Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc. Rebecca Elliott, Environmental Manager, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy Amy Fenwick Reaume, Conservation Manager, Brevard Zoo Caroline Gorga, Species and Habitat Monitoring Wildlife Legacy Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Andrew G Gude, Refuge Manager, Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Michael Lusk, Refuge Manager, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Nia Morales, Human Dimensions Specialist, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Kevin Morris, Science and Technology Officer and Manager of Engineering and Projects, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Rachael Santana, Attorney, Lewis Longman & Walker, P.A. Elizabeth Ramirez, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service Rachael Smith, Communications Manager, Florida Farm Bureau Federation Tara Wade, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Natural Resources Economics, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS Barton Wilder, Environmental Specialist III, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy Graham Williams, Land Manager, St. Johns River Water Management District Class XVII (2017-2018) Schedule Water Quality & Estuary Health POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE IRMA Fisheries Management: Red Snapper (Note: the October session was originally in Miami; we have cancelled the Miami session and will hold the Destin/Fort Walton session during these dates.) Destin/ Wildlife Management: The Florida Black Bear Cattle Ranches & Land Easements Everglades Restoration & Perspectives from Communities Clewiston Endangered Springs Graduation & Practicum Presentations	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2645
__label__cc	0.677333	0.322667	mykeystrokes.com "Do or Do not. There is no try." “my” Keystrokes “Government Is Not Just About Sugar”: The GOP Helps Americans Appreciate The Importance Of Government There’s a lot of terrible news for Republicans inside the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, but one of the worst bulletins is this: Americans are becoming more appreciative of government. The poll shows that 52 percent of respondents said that government should do more to solve problems and help meet the needs of people. That figure is up four points since June, and is at the highest level since July of 2008, when it stood at 53 percent. The economic crisis was building during the summer of 2008, and people were growing increasingly weary of President George W. Bush’s laissez-faire attitude. Barack Obama’s more optimistic vision of government’s possibilities became infectious and helped propel him to victory, but after he took office, the popularity of government, as measured by that question, quickly fell and has been below 50 percent for most of his presidency. Now it is back up, and Republicans have only themselves to thank. There’s nothing better than shutting down government to remind people of how much they need it. The television footage of shuttered offices and national parks, as well as people who are suffering because of lost wages and federal assistance, has had a significant effect. So did the 2008-2009 recession and its aftermath. More people came into the government’s orbit, seeking assistance or benefiting from stimulus money, including much of the automobile industry. The poll showed that nearly a third of respondents said their family was personally affected by the current shutdown, compared to only 18 percent during the shutdowns of 1995 and 1996. The budget crisis has even made health care reform substantially more popular than it was just a few weeks ago. This is one of the great existential fears of the right, of course, and is one of the few things uniting the various ideological wings of the Republican Party. Mitt Romney complained about the 47 percent of Americans who were “dependent on government,” and Senator Ted Cruz recently accused Mr. Obama of trying to get Americans “addicted to the sugar” of his health care law. But this week, Americans know that government isn’t just about sugar. It’s a necessary part of their lives, and Americans expect it to be there when the private sector lets them down, as it did during the recession and as it has done on health care for so many years. Now as the Republicans’ abysmal new approval ratings show, voters are also gaining a clearer picture of precisely who in Washington is letting them down. By: David Firestone, Editors Blog, The New York Times, October 11, 2013 October 12, 2013 Posted by raemd95 \| Federal Government, GOP \| Auto Industry, Conservatives, Economy, ObamaCare, Private Sector, Recession, Republicans, Ted Cruz \| Leave a comment “The Opposite Of Patriotism”: Republican Resistance To Hurricane Relief Is A Stink Of Hypocrisy, And Worse Provoked by opposition to Hurricane Sandy relief among House Republicans – and the delay in voting the first tranche of aid by Speaker John Boehner – both New Jersey governor Chris Christie and representative Peter King (R-NY) denounced the irresponsibility and cruelty of those betrayals. Even when that first bill passed, 67 Republicans voted no, in contrast with only 11 who voted no when Congress provided emergency funding for Hurricane Katrina (far more quickly, too) in 2005. The Tea Party Republicans in Congress would offer various excuses for their hostility to Sandy relief, from budgetary constraints to far-right ideology. But those who voted no hail from states that have benefited from all kinds of federal relief over the past two decades, financed by Northeastern taxpayers who send a wildly disproportionate sum in levies to Washington every year. Moving down the alphabet from Hurricane Andrew onward over the past two decades, it is not hard to trace tens of billions of dollars for storm relief alone that have flowed from New York and Connecticut to the South, the Gulf Coast, the Midwest and other regions over the years, with never a word of demurral over costs, “pork,” or “offsets” from other federal spending. Then consider the many other forms of federal aid that have benefited the regions where “conservative” fiscal stringency supposedly prevails, and a disturbing habit quickly emerges: Republican members of Congress tend to support aid packages that benefit their own states or districts, while opposing help for other Americans. This doesn’t hold true for all Republicans or conservatives, of course, but it is nevertheless a detectable pattern. The most obvious example in recent years is the rescue of the auto industry, a decision of national importance supported by both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, which nearly all Republicans rejected – except those from Michigan and auto-plant districts in several surrounding states. Those in favor included Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chair from Wisconsin, who voted for the bailout and then, while running for vice president on the GOP ticket, pretended to have opposed it. But he couldn’t bring himself to vote for Sandy relief. The Republicans in Kansas, whose entire four-member delegation voted against Sandy relief, never voiced any opposition to the massive aid provided by the federal government in 2007 when the city of Greensburg was devastated by a Force 5 tornado – or for that matter all the other instances of disaster assistance accepted by that benighted state over the decades. Nor did the Republicans in places like Missouri or Georgia or any of the other states severely damaged by flooding in recent years suddenly stop their routine pleading for federal aid, which they duly received. The biggest frauds are naturally to be found in Texas, one of the drought-stricken states where the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and sundry federal agencies have been spending vast sums to help farmers, ranchers, and other suffering residents. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, a right-wing Texas Republican whose district includes bone-dry Lubbock, praised those federal bureaucrats just last summer for spending funds to help farmers and ranchers in his Lubbock district “mitigate damage caused by wildfires and drought.” Quoted in a local newspaper, Neugebauer said, “I hope that FEMA will quickly follow suit and declare a major disaster declaration for affected Texas counties.” But this week, Neugebauer was one of seven Texas Republicans who voted against Sandy relief, along with fellow wingnuts from drought-afflicted districts across the South and West. All this represents something worse than cheap hypocrisy, which often crosses political and ideological lines. The behavior of these Republicans is rooted in their selfish ideology and regional chauvinism – and their rejection of a generous spirit that has united this country for more than a hundred years. It is the opposite of patriotism. By: Joe Conason, The National Memo, January 5, 2013 January 6, 2013 Posted by raemd95 \| Congress, Disasters \| Auto Industry, Federal Disaster Relief, FEMA, House Republicans, Hurricane Sandy, Paul Ryan, Red States, Teaparty \| 1 Comment “Son Of Detroit”: Mitt Romney Profited From The Auto Bailout And Jobs Shipped To China “I’m a son of Detroit. I was born in Detroit. My dad was head of a car company. I like American cars,” said Mitt Romney on Monday night when he met with President Obama to discuss foreign policy. “And I would do nothing to hurt the U.S. auto industry.” That might be considered true—unless moving the most important American auto parts manufacturer to China counts as hurting the U.S. auto industry. But those words now stand as one of Romney’s most glaring falsehoods in the final debate. Romney’s defensive statement came in response to a remark by Obama noting that the Republican nominee is “familiar with jobs being shipped overseas because you invested in companies that were shipping jobs overseas.” Moments later, he added: “If we had taken your advice, Governor Romney about our auto industry, we’d be buying cars from China instead of selling cars to China.” Most viewers had little idea what Obama was talking about or why Romney felt the need to rebut him so specifically. But their coded exchange almost certainly referred to an investigative report that broke wide on the Internet, without much attention from the mainstream media so far—Greg Palast’s article in The Nation magazine, exposing Romney’s huge profits from Delphi, a crucial auto parts company that moved nearly all of its jobs to China after taking billions in auto bailout money from the Treasury. As Palast reported, the Romneys made millions from that intricate deal, put together by one of his main campaign donors, billionaire investor Paul Singer — through a “vulture fund” known as Elliot Management. Having bought up Delphi at fire-sale prices, Singer and his partners essentially blackmailed the Treasury into paying them billions so that Delphi would keep supplying parts to General Motors and Chrysler. They stiffed the company’s pensioners, pocketed the bailout funds, and moved all but four of the firm’s 29 plants to China. The neglect of the Delphi story by mainstream and even progressive outlets such as MSNBC has been remarkable, particularly because neither Romney nor his campaign has denied it. If anything, a statement issued by the campaign to The Hill, a Washington publication, seemed to confirm Palast’s reporting by attempting to deflect blame onto the Obama administration: Romney’s campaign did not deny that he profited from the auto bailout in an email to The Hill Wednesday afternoon, but it said the the report showed the Detroit intervention was “misguided.” “The report states that Delphi had 29 US plants before the misguided Obama auto bailout, and just four after. Is this really what the president views as success?” Romney spokeswoman Michele Davis said. “Mitt Romney would have taken a different path to turning around the auto industry,” Davis continued. “As President, Mitt Romney will create jobs and give American workers the recovery they deserve.” Taking Delphi bankrupt under the management of Singer and Romney’s other partners didn’t create jobs or security for Delphi’s American workers. After taking nearly $13 billion in bailout financing from the Treasury — with the support of Rep. Paul Ryan, who has also received generous support from Singer — the new Delphi management abrogated the company’s pensions, closed all those U.S. plants, and moved production to China. And so far, Romney has escaped any questions about why he and Ann Romney invested their millions with vulture investors who used taxpayer funds to destroy American jobs. By: Joe Conason, The National Memo, October 23, 2012 October 25, 2012 Posted by raemd95 \| Election 2012 \| Auto Bailout, Auto Industry, China, Delphi, Jobs, media, Mitt Romney, Paul Singer, Politics \| Leave a comment “Invisible And Untaxed”: How Mitt Romney Made A Fortune Off The Auto Bailout Faced with the hard facts that “bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive,” as Vice President Biden always says, Mitt Romney has resorted to claiming that Obama followed his lead on the auto industry bailout. “I know [Obama] keeps saying, you wanted to take Detroit bankrupt,” he said during this week’s debate at Hofstra University. “Well, the president took Detroit bankrupt.” Romney’s right, in a way — both his plan and Obama’s plan envisioned the auto companies going through a period of bankruptcy restructuring. But there’s a key difference: Obama’s approach was to use government dollars to prop up the auto companies until they could stand on their own again — something that Romney, like other Republicans in the Tea Party’s anti-spending thrall, adamantly opposed as dangerous government intervention in private industry. But it turns out that Romney should know firsthand that this kind of intervention can be successful, as a new report shows that he and his wife made at least $15.3 million courtesy of Obama’s auto bailout. According to a Greg Palast, who followed the paper trail for the Nation, Romney and his wife made the money via an investment in a hedge fund that saw astronomical returns on its investments in an auto parts maker that would have gone under absent the president’s rescue operation. Delphi, the auto parts company, was once part of General Motors but was spun off in 1999. It foundered on its own and declared bankruptcy in 2005, at which point hedge funds came in and bought up the company’s old debt. Among them was Elliott Management, a giant in the industry run by GOP mega-donor Paul Singer. Romney was an investor. Elliott and the other hedge funds were able to buy Delphi’s toxic debt for a fraction of their face value, around 20 cents on the dollar. In 2009, as bailout negotiations were underway, Elliott used their bonds to buy large shares in the company, again for pennies (this time for about 67 cents per share). Not only would Delphi have gone out of business along with its largest customer, GM, but the parts maker got at least $2.8 billion directly from the taxpayer-funded Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). In 2011, Elliott and the other hedge funds took Delphi public at $22 a share, making a whopping 3,000 percent return on their investment of less than 70 cents a share. So how much did Romney make? His personal financial disclosure forms say he and Ann Romney had at least $1 million invested, but the disclosure rules are so vague that it could be far more. Palast sketches out the possible windfall: It is reasonable to assume that Singer treated the Romneys the same as his other investors, with a third of their portfolio invested in Delphi by the time of the 2011 initial public offering. This means that with an investment of at least $1 million, their smallest possible gain when Delphi went public would have been $10.2 million, plus another $10.2 million for each million handed to Singer — all gains made possible by the auto bailout. But that’s just the beginning. Since the November 2011 IPO, Delphi’s stock has roared upward, boosting the Romneys’ Delphi windfall from $10.2 million to $15.3 million for each million they invested with Singer… The Romneys’ exact gain, however, remains nearly invisible—and untaxed—because Singer cashed out only a fragment of the windfall in 2011. By: Alex Seitz-Wald, Salon, October 19, 2012 October 21, 2012 Posted by raemd95 \| Election 2012 \| Auto Bailout, Auto Industry, General Motors, Mitt Romney, Paul Singer, Politics, Republicans, Teaparty, Troubled Asset Relief Program \| 1 Comment “New Wrapping, Same Contents”: Re-Packaging Mitt Romney As A Compassionate Conservative “My heart aches for the people I’ve seen,” Mitt Romney said, on the second day of his Ohio bus tour. He’s now telling stories of economic hardship among the people he’s met. Up until now, Romney’s stories on the campaign trail have been about business successes – people who started businesses in garages and grew their companies into global giants, entrepreneurs who succeeded because of grit and determination, millionaires who began poor. Horatio Alger updated. Curiously absent from these narratives have been the stories of ordinary Americans caught in an economy over which they have no control. That is, most of us. At least until now. “I was yesterday with a woman who was emotional,” Romney recounts, “and she said, ‘Look, I’ve been out of work since May.’ She was in her 50s. She said, ‘I don’t see any prospects. Can you help me?’” Could it be Romney is finally getting the message that many Americans need help through no fault of their own? “There are so many people in our country that are hurting right now,” Romney says. “I want to help them.” Later in the day, Romney told NBC that because of his efforts as governor of Massachusetts, “one hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance. I don’t think there’s anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record.” But the repackaging of Mitt as a compassionate conservative won’t work. The good citizens of Ohio — as elsewhere — have reason to be skeptical. This is, after all, the same Mitt Romney who told his backers in Boca Raton that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on government and unwilling to take care of themselves. It’s the same Romney who was against bailing out GM and Chrysler. One in eight jobs in Ohio is dependent on the automobile industry. Had GM and Chrysler gone under, unemployment in Ohio would be closer to the national average of 8.1 percent than the 7.2 percent it is today. This is the same Romney who has been against extending unemployment benefits. Or providing food stamps or housing benefits for families that have fallen into poverty. Or medical benefits. To the contrary, Romney wants to repeal Obamacare, turn Medicare into vouchers, and turn Medicaid over to cash-starved states. This is the same Mitt Romney who doesn’t worry that Wall Street financiers — including his own Bain Capital — have put so much pressure on companies for short-term profits that they’re still laying off workers and reluctant to take on any more. And the same Mitt who doesn’t want government to spend money repairing our crumbling infrastructure, rebuilding our schools, or rehiring police and firefighters and teachers. Romney says he feels their pain but his policy prescriptions would create more pain. Mitt Romney’s real compassion is for people like himself, whom he believes are America’s “job creators.” He aims to cut taxes on the rich, in the belief that the rich create jobs — and the benefits of such a tax cut trickle down to everyone else. Trickle-down economics is the core of Romney’s economics, and it’s bunk. George W. Bush cut taxes — mostly for the wealthy — and we ended up with fewer jobs, lower wages, and an economy that fell off a cliff in 2008. In Ohio Romney is repeating his claim that, under his tax proposal, the rich would end up paying as much as before even at a lower tax rate because he’d limit their ability to manipulate the tax code. “Don’t be expecting a huge cut in taxes because I’m also going to be closing loopholes and deductions,” he promises. But Romney still refuses to say which loopholes and deductions he’ll close. He doesn’t even mention the “carried interest” loophole that has allowed him and other private-equity managers to treat their incomes as capital gains, taxed at 15 percent. What we’re seeing in Ohio isn’t a new Mitt Romney. It’s a newly-packaged Mitt Romney. The real Mitt Romney is the one we saw on the videotape last week. And no amount of re-taping can disguise the package’s true contents. By: Robert Reich, Robert Reich Blog, September 26, 2012 September 27, 2012 Posted by raemd95 \| Election 2012 \| 47%, Auto Industry, Medicaid, Medicare, Ohio, Politics, Tax cuts, Unemployment benefits, Wall Street \| Leave a comment « Previous Entries Next Entries » Kicking the Can “The Unrelenting Hostility Of Washington’s Courtier Press”: The Media’s Crusade Of Scandals Against Hillary Clinton July 28, 2016 “Endorsing This Philistine”: The Christian Right Has Surrendered To Trump July 24, 2016 “Cop Killers Serve No Cause”: It’s Getting To The Point Where No Lives Matter July 24, 2016 "The Turbulence Of The Post-Soviet Period": Sochi's Opening Ceremony Forgot To Mention A Few Things About Russian History "Definitive Proof Of Failure Of Supply-Side Economics": Kansas’ Experiment In Right-Wing Economics Is Still Failing Miserably Affordable Care Act African Americans Bain Capital Citizens United Congress Conservatives Contraception Corporations Debt Ceiling Democracy Democrats Donald Trump Economic inequality Economy Foreign Policy Fox News George W. 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__label__cc	0.674956	0.325044	Infographics: India leads world in mobile data charges India’s mobile-broadband subscriptions more than doubled from 218 million to 500 million between 2016 and 2018, driven by the world’s cheapest data costs and an insatiable appetite for digital services. India has 560 million internet users, representing 40.9 percent of its population, and is the world’s second-largest behind China with 560 million -- 58.4 percent of its population -- using the internet. The U.S. trails in third place with 293 million, or 89 percent of its citizens with online access. India is undergoing a massive phase of internet growth, primarily driven by the improved mobile network infrastructure and cheap data costs -- the average price of one gigabit (1GB) of mobile data is US$0.26, compared with an average cost in the U.S. of $12.37, and in South Korea of $15.12. While households in India tend to have a single television shared by a family, the mobile phone has become the second screen for millions of people to do “timepass” -- filling time on their hands. A wide-ranging 2018 study by Boston Consulting Group, a research firm, predicts that India’s internet users will reach 650 million by the end of 2023. mobile_data_charges Infographics: Planemakers vie for $15bn India jet deal Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to boost the capability of India’s armed forces with the purchase of 114 fighter jets... Infographics: Sensex fared better under UPA than Modi-led NDA In the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, in which PM Narendra Modi is bidding for a second term, the... Infographics: India is crazy about world records The latest Guinness world record for the largest yoga lesson was created in Kota, Rajasthan on Yoga Day, June 21,...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2649
__label__wiki	0.705555	0.705555	This Is How America and the Philippines Can Upgrade Their Alliance November 12, 2018 Topic: Security Region: Asia Tags: PhilippinesDuterteDonald TrumpChinaNational Security Presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte have obscured the true significance of the U.S.-Philippine bilateral alliance. by Patrick M. Cronin Follow @PMCroninHudson on Twitter L Richard Javad Heydarian At the heart of the Indo-Pacific region are the disparate nations of Southeast Asia, a dynamic group of post–colonial nations that consciously guard their hard-earned autonomy in a theater of great powers. And at the very core of that pivotal region is the Philippines, which straddles the Western Pacific, the South China Sea, and the interlocking seascapes that constitute the maritime heartland of Asia. Blessed in geography, Manila stood at the heart of the Galleon trade at the onset of modernity, connecting the New World to the complacent empires of the Orient, which were yet to come to terms with the advent of European imperial expansion. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Philippines became America’s first and only colony in Asia. And since then, the two nations have become inseparable. Under America’s relatively benign colonial rule, the Southeast Asian nation, previously part of the Spanish imperium for more than three centuries, transformed into the region’s first liberal democracy and second most developed nation (only behind Japan). At the onset of post–colonial age, the Philippines boasted Southeast Asia’s most modern military, top universities and shiniest public infrastructure, occupying the position the city-state of Singapore enjoys today, albeit writ large. Though always the junior partner, and never fully forgetting its anti-colonial struggle against Washington, the Philippines never ceased to prove its strategic value to an American-led effort at constructing a liberal order in Asia. The two allies fought side by side throughout the World Wars, with the Philippines serving as a key, dependable partner throughout the hot wars in the Korean Peninsula and Vietnam. The naval and air bases in Subic and Clark in northwestern Philippines constituted America’s biggest overseas military complex throughout the Cold War. Even the collapse of the Soviet Union, which precipitated the withdrawal of American bases from the Philippines and elsewhere, failed to sever the umbilical cord between the two nations. Anchored by the Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a series of new derivative agreements, namely the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), ensured the Philippine-U.S. alliance remain robust and relevant throughout the opening decades of the twenty-first century. Surveys show that the Philippines is the most pro-American nation on earth, at one time rating American role in the world more favorably than even more than Americans themselves. And yet, the Philippine-U.S. alliance—the oldest in Asia and a linchpin of the regional liberal order—is arguably the most underappreciated in the world. This is due to at least two reasons, namely misplaced emphasis on the rhetoric (rather than actual policy) of incumbent leadership of both countries as well as the necessity to fine-tune and upgrade the alliance for uniquely twenty-first century challenges. Beyond Personalities There are countless headlines about the so-called “Quad,” composed of the United States and key regional powers such as Australia, India, and Japan, as the emerging arbiters of the Indo-Pacific strategic theater; the burgeoning ties between Washington and former rivals such as Vietnam; the growing importance of Indonesia as an independent force for stability and prosperity, and the perennial dependability of Singapore as a key American strategic partner. Then there are many articles about the Philippines’ growing strategic ties with China, its diplomatic tensions with the West, and the Southeast Asian country’s supposed inexorable march away from traditional alliances. Yet, the larger-than-life characters of the men occupying the top offices of each country, namely presidents Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte, have obscured the true significance of the bilateral alliance. Trump’s perceived “America First” unilateralism, raising protectionist barriers and questioning the value of age-old alliances, as well as Duterte’s no-less shocking pro-China rhetoric, accompanied by nonstop tirades against the West, have raised doubts about the depth and endurance of the bilateral alliance. But leaders can choose to raise or lower the importance attached to ties with another state, but their words can go only so far in obscuring the underlying reality regarding the durability and power of their bonds. Yet, upon closer examination, neither Trump nor Duterte, two populists who enjoy personal rapport, have significantly downgraded bilateral relations. If anything, the two sides recently agreed to expand the number of their annual joint exercises (from 261 to 281 per year) with growing focus on maritime security threats and war games in the contested South China Sea. Now they should expand the resources for officials on both sides to implement a higher operational tempo for alliance exercises and training. Make no mistake: The historical bond between the Philippines’ defense establishment and the Pentagon has remained broadly intact. The Philippines remains the biggest beneficiary of America’s Indo-Pacific Foreign Military Financing (FMF) initiative. Further testimony to a close security relationship is apparent in the story of U.S. support for countering violent extremism, such as the United States quietly supported the government of the Philippines in its quest to establish control over relatively ungoverned spaces in Southern Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. After the kidnapping of an American missionary on Palawan in 2001, the allies stood up Task Force 510 and then the Joint Special Operations Task Force—Philippines. U.S. forces bolstered Philippine capabilities to beat back Al Qaeda-linked groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiya. And even more recently, the United States provided timely assistance to help defeat the Maute Group in Marawi. Now Washington is aiding the displaced residents and providing $25 million for the essential rebuilding in that war-torn city. Finally, the future quality of the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is inseparable from the depth of people-to-people ties. There are many linkages across business, education, religion, and culture. But to help create the next generation of leaders in the Philippines across many walks of life, and to bolster the constellation of U.S.-Philippine contacts, the Washington and Manila should adopt a variant of the recent Fulbright University program established in Vietnam. A vibrant network of educated and skilled Filipinos and Americans who understand the Philippines will ensure that the shared interested and vast opportunities can be realized for decades to come. Upgrading the Alliance The second reason for lack of appreciation of the bilateral alliance centers around the need for greater clarity and vitality. One major area of concern, particularly in the Philippines, is the lack of American clarity on the extent of its commitment in the event of conflict in the South China Sea. Granted, the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, particularly article 4, doesn’t indicate an automatic military response to any potential aggression by a third power against the Philippines over disputed land features in the area. Yet, the treaty commitment to consult in the event of threats to the Philippines vastly understates the strategic, economic, political, ideological, and personal factors that would be part of the calculus in Washington’s response. As Randall Schriver, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, underscored during a visit to the Philippines earlier this year, “We’ll be a good ally. . . . There should be no misunderstanding or lack of clarity on the spirit and the nature of our commitment. . . . We’ll help the Philippines respond accordingly [to any external threat].” Nonetheless, it’s perhaps high time for Washington under the Trump administration to provide greater assurance about its willingness to deter (i) any aggressive action against Filipino personnel stationed across Philippine-occupied land features as well as (ii) reclamation and militarization of the Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal, which lies not too far from the Subic and Clark bases. The Duterte administration has made it clear that these are its “red lines” in the South China Sea, despite its warming ties with China, thus the importance of American commitment to aid its Southeast Asian ally if and when push comes to shove. A strong statement about U.S. support for defense of the Philippines under assault would go a long way in reassuring Manila of the dependability of its alliance with America. Moreover, greater U.S. clarity would reassure the Philippines as it seeks to negotiate a mutually satisfactory modus vivendi with China in the South China Sea. To be clear, Manila doesn’t seek to drag American into unwanted, destructive wars, but it needs strong support if it’s to hold its own in ongoing dealings with Beijing. This is fundamentally about a “diplomacy of dissuasion and deterrence” amid Chinese maritime assertiveness. After all, American military support constitutes essential deterrence against external aggression against the Philippines.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2652
__label__wiki	0.685621	0.685621	The Martha Washington (building) In 1911, the Portland Women’s Union, a group of volunteers who created one of the first organizations in Oregon to provide safe housing for young women, acquired the quarter block at the corner of Southwest Tenth Avenue and Montgomery Street for the Martha Washington Hotel for Self-Supporting Women. The four-story, Georgian style, brick-and-timber boardinghouse was designed by architect A.E. Doyle, who was considered one of the most important architects in Portland. The building is recorded on the National Register as the Montgomery Building, since the Union took the name of the building to its next location. A member of the Union, Anna Lewis Mann provided from $14,000 to $15,000 toward the purchase price, but $75,000 was still needed to complete the project. The Union’s first president, Mrs. Burrell, gave $10,000 toward the new building, and Union president Mrs. Corbett and the organization’s finance committee raised $35,000 through a plea to the public. The final $30,000 was borrowed from Penn Mutual to complete the project. The cornerstone of the building was laid on January 29, 1917, and the Martha Washington opened on October 21, 1917, as home to ninety female residents. The residence hotel also had classrooms where residents could learn skills such as bookkeeping, common areas for social events, and a gymnasium. The women who lived there were teachers, nurses, seamstresses, clerical employees, and students, eighteen to twenty-six years old, from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and from as far away as England, Illinois, Kansas, California, Nebraska, and Ohio. By 1920, the hotel housed ninety-five women, and more than two hundred names were on the waiting list. An annex was opened on October 23, 1925, expanding the number of boarders to 170. The Martha Washington’s tenancy increased or dwindled depending largely on political and world events. During the Great Depression, for example, rents were lowered and rules were loosened in order to accommodate older women. During World War II, the hotel was home to war workers, and women over thirty were asked to leave. After the war, the Martha stressed that its tenants could stay until they were married. Meals, laundry, and a receptionist were always part of the amenities the boardinghouse offered. In 1969, the Portland Development Commission purchased the Martha Washington for Portland State University to use for student housing. They renamed the building Montgomery Court. The Portland Women’s Union purchased the Campbell Court at 1115 Southwest Eleventh Avenue and opened the new Martha Washington Hotel in early 1970. During the 1970s, the new Martha Washington lost money, as women wanted more freedom than the hotel's rules (such as a curfew and no overnight male guests) allowed. By the early 1980s, the Union had hired real estate firm Bullier & Bullier to find prospective buyers. In January 1983, the Union accepted an offer from the Rajneesh Investment Corporation for $1.4 million, with three Rolls Royces as collateral. The Union carried the loan and retained rights to the name, the Martha Washington. In 1986, the Rajneesh Investment Corporation sold the building to Multnomah County, which used it as a work-release center for county offenders until 2003. On June 16, 2010, the Martha Washington reopened as low-income housing run by Home Forward (originally the Housing Authority of Portland). Martha Washington, c.1917 Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Library, OrHi54381 Dana Plautz Portland Women's Union "Fiftieth Anniversary of the Portland Women’s Union 1887-1937." Portland Oregonian, May 2, 1937. The Portland Women’s Union Archives and Records, Mss 1443. Oregon Historical Society Research Library, Portland. Plautz, Dana F. "The Martha Washington and the Women Who Built Her." Film, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO6bkuCNTD8 Albert E. Doyle (1877-1928) Albert Ernest Doyle was one of Portland’s most successful early twentieth-century architects. During his career, he designed or oversaw the design of dozens of buildings in the Pacific Northwest, most of them in Portland. Many of his works are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including the Multnomah ... The Portland Women’s Union was the first all-women volunteer organization in the state of Oregon. Its primary mission was to provide a safe and respectable residence for women coming to Portland until they found a job or became married. The union was formed after a public talk in 1887 by ... This entry was last updated on April 9, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2656
__label__wiki	0.784296	0.784296	Troutdale Aluminum Plant In November 1941, bulldozers advanced into the green meadows of the Sundial Ranch southeast of Troutdale, Oregon, carving out a site for an aluminum reduction plant. Six months later, the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) produced the first lightweight metal at the plant that would be used to fabricate World War II airplanes. Though known for most of its post-war existence as Reynolds Metals, the plant was owned by Alcoa at both the beginning and the end of its sixty-year life. During those decades, three generations of workers put on steel-toed boots, packed lunch boxes, and went to work in the Troutdale plant. The plant was a smelter that turned alumina powder into aluminum. Its emergence on a Troutdale pasture created a new town, Wood Village, and startled nearby Gresham, Troutdale, and Fairview out of their Depression economic and social doldrums. The plant gave rise to a school district and a high school, with hundreds of graduates going to college on Reynolds-funded scholarships. Environmentally, it contributed to the death of a flower-bulb industry in Corbett, spawned a major lawsuit with a neighboring cattle rancher, and created a Superfund site. The U.S. government selected the site at Troutdale because of its proximity to Bonneville Dam, which had been constructed upriver on the Columbia to produce hydroelectric power. More than a thousand workers filled two housing facilities, Fairview Homes, an apartment complex, and Wood Village, one of Oregon’s first planned communities. During copper shortages in World War II, the Reynolds plant held a fortune in silver-plated electrical fixtures, brought in for the mundane purpose of conducting electricity to a potline, a row of electrolytic cells used in the production of aluminum. At war’s end in 1945, the plant was declared surplus. Richard Samuel Reynolds leased the plant and put its workforce back on the potlines at ninety cents an hour. He purchased the plant in 1949, and it became part of a booming post-war prosperity that saw returning war veterans purchasing houses, cars, appliances, and aluminum foil. Reynolds and the aluminum plant were instrumental in the school district that bore his name. New tax revenue gave Fairview, Troutdale, and Wilkes school districts the muscle to form their own school district and high school. Reynolds High School opened in September 1956. But the Reynolds plant produced fluoride emissions, damaging flower bulb farms in nearby Corbett and Springdale. After Reynolds bought the Martin Ranch in 1968, a protracted lawsuit against the company claimed that fluoride emissions from the plant had killed the Martins' cattle. Reynolds sold the ranch for public use in 1991; it is now managed by the U.S. Forest Service as the Sandy River Delta Park. A contaminated area around a company lake near the plant was named a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1994. The plant operated for sixty years, but increasing competition for other producers on the international market made the operation unprofitable. The electricity so efficiently and inexpensively provided by Bonneville Dam—in 1981 the plant used more energy per day than the entire Portland metropolitan area—could not compensate for the increased transportation and labor costs that diminished the plant’s viability. In 1984, running at only 40 percent of its capacity, the plant had a $19 million annual payroll to 430 employees and paid $430,000 in local taxes. Alcoa purchased the plant back in 1998 and began demolition in 2003. The Port of Portland purchased the site in 2004 and invested $14 million in environmental cleanup. It is now home to a Federal Express distribution center and an Amazon fulfillment center which opened in 2018. Reynolds property Courtesy Port of Portland Sharon Nesbit Multnomah County Poor Farm (Edgefield) Nesbit, Sharon. It Could Have Been Carpdale: Centennial History of Troutdale, Oregon, 1907-2007. Battle Ground, Wash.: Pediment Publishing, 2007. Gresham (Oregon) Outlook, 1940 through 2003. Port of Portland, Reynolds Industrial Site. https://www.portofportland.com/reynolds_home.aspx The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built and operated Bonneville Lock and Dam as the first of eight federal locks and dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Located 41 miles upriver from the mouth of the Willamette, Bonneville Dam impounds a 48-mile-long reservoir with a pool elevation of ... The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers and enforces environmental laws pertaining to the air, soil, and surface and ground water and serves as the Environmental Protection Agency’s delegate in ensuring compliance with federal laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Created in 1969 ... This entry was last updated on Sept. 19, 2018	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2657
__label__cc	0.546786	0.453214	Facebook’s Fake Account Problem Is Getting Bigger Posted February 16, 2018 by Om Malik The 37-page indictment by the U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller against 13 Russian nationals makes one thing clear – the Russian Propaganda Machine (R.P.M.) was super efficient in using Facebook thanks to the use of a lot of fake accounts and smart targeting. And guess what, it is a growing problem for Facebook, as its most recent 10K filing reveals. The Primer Bot (a service from Sean Gourley’s Primer) identified and alerted to the changes Facebook’s recent 10K filing. Facebook, very quietly noted that at the end of 2017, duplicate accounts might have represented approximately 10% of its worldwide Monthly Active Users (MAUs.) At the end of 2016, the number of duplicate accounts was approximately 6% of Facebook’s global MAUs. In 2015, that dupes accounted for about 5% of the worldwide MAUs. The real problem, however, is with Facebook calls “false accounts,” a nice euphemism for “fake or bot accounts.” These are growing much faster than most realize. For example, in 2016, the number of fake accounts was about 1% of the total MAUs. That’s roughly 18.6 million. During 2017, these fake accounts aka “false accounts may have represented approximately 3-4% of our worldwide MAUs.” That’s about 64-to-85 million fake accounts, which is a massive jump in the number of fake accounts being created on the platform. You can quickly come to some conclusions: Facebook had underestimated the extent of the problem. The bot creators got smarter and kept beating Facebook’s checks and balances. Facebook willingly ignored the fake and duplicate accounts because it allowed them to show growth and to the Wall Street. I, for one, believe that it is was a combination of all three! Facebook blames duplicate and fake accounts as a problem localized to some non-developed markets such as Vietnam, Turkey, Philippines, Indonesia, and India. It is funny because they don’t quite make much money there. A duplicate account is one that a user maintains in addition to the principal account. Facebook divides”false” accounts into two categories: (1) user-misclassified accounts, where users have created personal profiles for a business, organization, or non-human entity such as a pet (such entities are permitted on Facebook using a Page rather than a personal profile under our terms of service); and (2) undesirable accounts, which represent user profiles that we determine are intended to be used for purposes that violate our terms of service, such as spamming. 538 Million: How did Facebook’s Fake Account Problem become so big? Fake News is spam How to think about Facebook & its Algorithm Hello HomePod. So Long Sonos & Bose	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2661
__label__cc	0.529212	0.470788	British Scientist Solves Global Warming Mystery Posted on December 31, 2010 by Joel Vol: 111 Issue: 31 Friday, December 31, 2010 The Washington Post is cheering a decision by the Obama administration to ignore the Congress and to impose cap and trade regulations by decree. “Congress hasn’t passed a sensible, comprehensive energy policy. EPA regulation of greenhouse gases is one way the government can cut emissions now, using current law. Over the next year, the president should defend his administration’s authority to do so.” How’s that again? Since the Congress, totally controlled by Democrats, refused to enact legislation, it should be imposed by the White House whether the public likes it or not? Welcome to the first hint of what the Obama administration has prepared for 2011. The Washington Post is titled its piece, “2011 – The “Year of the EPA“. So much for the will of the people. “With the Supreme Court’s blessing, the EPA has deemed greenhouse emissions threats to public health under the Clean Air Act. That means the agency can require emitters to arrest those gases’ release in various ways. What the EPA will force plant operators to do, though, isn’t yet clear.” When it comes to global warming, NOTHING is clear. I believe that’s by design. For example, according to a purportedly scientific study by the British Royal Society, the sun has no bearing on global warming. Let me repeat that. The sun has no bearing on global warming. That statement is so transparently false that I’m tempted to repeat it one more time and end the briefing right here. Where does one begin? Let’s start with the Royal Society. The Royal Society’s full name is the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. One of the ways that the Society has been ‘improving’ scientific knowledge is by suppressing any science that contradicts the conclusion that global warming is the result of human activity. Indeed, the study by the Royal Society cited by the BBC was initiated in response to the documentary broadcast, The Great Global Warming Swindle that exposed the shady science and cooked data behind global warming alarmism. “This should settle the debate,” said Mike Lockwood, from the UK’s Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, who carried out the new analysis together with Claus Froehlich from the World Radiation Center in Switzerland.” This should “settle” the debate? Good heavens! I thought that the debate was settled. The global warming alarmists say that human activity is responsible for global warming. Anybody that says differently is an idiot. Pay no attention to the record-shattering cold that began when the sun went into one of the least active solar minimums in history. Pay no attention to the British government’s confident prediction that, due to global warming, the Continent would enjoy a mild winter. They have been predicting it for three years running. Odds are that eventually they will be right, in much the same way a broken clock is right twice a day. The year 2007, it predicted, would be “the warmest ever” – just before global tempratures plunged by more than the entire net warming of the 20th century, Three years running it predicted warmer than average winters – as large parts of the northern hemisphere endured record cold and snowfalls. Last year’s “barbecue summer” was the third time running that predictions of a summer drier and warmer than average prefaced weeks of rain and cold. Last week (January, 2010) the Met Office was again predicting that 2010 will be the “warmest year” on record, while Europe and the US look to be facing further weeks of intense cold. What is not generally realized is that the UK Met Office has been, since 1990, at the very centre of the campaign to convince the world that it faces catastrophe through global warming. (Its website now proclaims it to be “the Met Office for Weather and Climate Change”.) I thought weather was climate change. “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26) There are certain facts about global warming that actually are “settled science.” 1.) The “Hockey Stick” temperature graph relied on by the global warming True Believers is a fraud and alleged improvements to the graph by the IPCC are a deliberate fraud. 2.) Higher temperatures have historically driven CO2 levels higher and not the other way around, destroying the rationale behind reducing so-called ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions. The claim that CO2 levels drive temperatures higher is a deliberate fraud. 3.) During the 1990s during one of the most intensely active solar maximum periods in history, temperatures warmed slightly on Earth. Similar warming was measured on Mars, Venus and even Pluto. 4.) Global warming alarmists have cooked the data, ignored or denied conflicting data, and have systematically and deliberately lied to the public in order to advance the global warming agenda, which is, of course, global governance. Despite the total lack of evidence to support it, the Obama administration’s Environmental Protection Agency is preparing for an end-run around Congress by imposing cap-and-trade regulations by decree after Congress rejected it. The Congress rejected it despite the overwhelming majority held by Democrats at the time. The EPA therefore has no actual authority to regulate mythical greenhouse gas emissions, like the CO2 that trees convert into oxygen we breathe and convert back into CO2 — so the trees can breathe in CO2 and breathe out oxygen. Without nitrogen, another alleged greenhouse gas that the EPA wants to regulate, nothing could grow. If the EPA were to be completely successful, the question would be whether we’d run out of food first? Or air? What I find astonishing is the number of liberal newspaper editorials defending the EPA decision to ignore the wishes of a majority Democrat Congress. The Houston Chronicle is enraged that the state of Texas refuses to be governed by decree from Washington and is fighting the EPA. In summary, then, the situation is like this. For most of the 21st century, temperature averages have been falling, not rising. The past couple of winters have been among the most brutal in living memory. The sun, which had been unusually active during the late 80s and 90’s, entered into an unusually quiet solar minimum and the temperatures began to fall, prompting the British Royal Society to make the indescribably inane statement that the sun has no effect on global warming. Really? Then why is it warmer at noon than it is at midnight?) The global warming hoax has provided governments with a blank check to impose pretty much anything they choose, with or without public approval, by slapping a climate change label on it. Even as another blizzard is screaming across the Midwest before NYC has even been able to plow and reopen many of its own roads, the EPA is crying ”greenhouse gases” and “global warming” and telling the public to pay no attention to the science. As we close the books on 2010 and the EPA prepares to implement new regulations to prevent global warming, this just crossed the wires. It’s snowing in Phoenix. Who Will Rule the Web? Vol: 111 Issue: 30 Thursday, December 30, 2010 A headline in this morning’s Drudge Report linked me to a report from CTV News detailing a late night meeting at a UN office in Geneva where officials from 18 countries voted to staff a working group on the future of something called the Internet Governance Forum. First off, because it’s the UN, there is already reason to worry. Secondly, the report says the plan was supported by China and Iran and protested by the United States and Portugal. (Portugal?) That made it doubly interesting and worth following up. Fourteen technical organizations that help oversee how cyberspace runs wrote an open letter asking the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) to reverse its decision. Meanwhile the Internet Society, an umbrella group that helps manage technical standards online, posted a petition to its website in protest. “A significant fuss has been kicked up about it,” said Byron Holland, president and CEO of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, which manages the .ca domain. Even Google waded into the fray. . .” The UN’s argument favoring an international Internet Governance Forum is a powerful one. Like land warfare or naval warfare, cyberspace has become simply one more dimension. In 2007 Russia crippled Estonia via cyber attacks aimed at banks, transportation centers, infrastructure and newspaper websites. The first wave of Russia’s invasion of South Ossetia in 2008 was from cyberspace, blinding Georgia and knocking out its information infrastructure while Russian tanks rolled across the border. And the Stuxnet worm was reportedly more effective in setting back Iran’s nuclear program than would a bombing campaign, according to experts that estimated Stuxnet set them back at least two years without firing a shot. Those are all great arguments favoring the creation of a supra-national governing body to regulate cyberspace. The Russians want to take the lead, proposing that it be given control of domain name assignments, a task currently handled by ICANN, a private corporation whose CEO wasn’t invited to the meeting. The Chinese have a different vision that they would like to bring to the table. So do the Iranians, the Saudis, the Europeans, the Japanese and the Americans. So the UN says that as the world’s only impartial, supranational body, it is uniquely qualified to regulate the internet. They even have their own website. It’s pretty interesting – it provides a bit of background about who they are what they do and where they do it from. “This is the official Web site of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), run by the IGF Secretariat. Its purpose is to support the United Nations Secretary-General in carrying out the mandate from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with regard to convening a new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue – the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The site provides an interactive, collaborative space where all stakeholders can air their views and exchange ideas.” Paragraph 72 of something called the Tunis Agenda outlines the “mandate” of the Forum outlines all the things that the Tunis participants think should be included. The website lists previous IGF meetings; Sharm El Sheik, Hyderabad, Rio de Janeiro, Athens, and Vilnius. In the menu bar under the title “Tools For Interaction” are links to the IGF’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr pages. Is that creepy? Or is it just me? The IGF has been around for more than five years, but somehow has managed to stay just below the average person’s radar while it continues to develop its reach. I once opened a Facebook account and without my doing very much at all, suddenly much of my life showed up on the web. All my brothers and sisters and cousins and our baby pictures and our offspring and their cousins and all their friends, and what everybody is doing and where they are living all appeared by magic on my Facebook page, together with links to everybody else’s, plus their friends plus their friends plus friends of theirs and even some cows from someplace called ‘Farmville’. Without my making a single entry of my own, my Facebook page filled was soon inundated with personal information useful to everyone from telemarketers to secret agents to jihadi assassins. Not that I am particularly worried about telemarketers or secret agents – although jihadi assassins give me pause for reflection. Ultimately, I took down my Facebook page. Not for any particular reason other than it scared me. I wasn’t sure why. It was just too much information out there and too far outside of my control. It made me more than a bit uncomfortable. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s inventor, or founder, or whatever, is TIME’s Person of the Year as the person who had the most profound effect on the world in 2010. Facebook is estimated to have more than a half billion members worldwide. Who will control all that information? Currently, it belongs to the client, but it is controlled by Facebook. Who controls Facebook? Again, currently, it belongs to Mark Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg, and his billions, and his corporation, is in the United States but Facebook is in every country in the world. Then there is the matter of Twitter and Youtube and Flickr and all that personal user information in all those databases. According to the Bible, within three years of coming to power, the antichrist will introduce a new economic system based on some kind of mark obtainable only by swearing allegiance to his government and offering him personal worship. “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” To accomplish this, the antichrist will have to control a developed, global infrastructure capable of enforcing the measures outlined. The entire Tribulation is but 7 years, it will take time to develop the physical infrastructure and even more time to overcome popular resistance to the idea of putting your whole life online and under government control. That infrastructure is already well developed through all the various social networking systems that the IGF so astutely linked to as “Tools For Interaction.” I’m not saying that they are bad or that participation in them sets you up for the antichrist. If you are saved, you will be gone before that becomes an issue. What I am saying is look at the infrastructure that is developing. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:18) This is the prophecy that gets all the attention – the 666 prophecy and what does it mean? So much so that nobody really notices how Jesus says we get there. First, the antichrist “causeth all” to get it. That implies a method. It hints at being machine-readable (ie, hand or forehead). Without it, persons will be denied social and financial intercourse (all internet/computer dependent). Then we get the part that says, “Here is wisdom” before revealing the number to be 666, driving twenty centuries of Christians crazy trying to decipher the wisdom behind the number. So, here is wisdom. The UN wants to control the World Wide Web. Every website address begins with “www” including this one — www.omegaletter.com The Hebrew letter vov is the equivalent to our English “w”. In Hebrew, as in Greek and Latin, each letter has a corresponding numeric value. In Hebrew, the number “6” is the letter vov. New Truths and Old Lies Vol: 111 Issue: 29 Wednesday, December 29, 2010 I was asked by a reader to comment about the prediction from Family Radio President and founder Harold Camping that the world will end on May 21, 2011. The reader wanted to know if A) there was any Scriptural basis for Camping’s prediction; and B) Is Harold Camping a reliable Bible teacher? I first heard of Harold Camping in 1993 after one of his followers sent his book “1994!” to me with an urgent request to investigate its claims for a future “This Week in Bible Prophecy Segment.” (I still have a copy of it in my library.) Camping said the following in the introduction to his book: “No book ever written is as audacious or bold as one that claims to predict the timing of the end of the world, and that is precisely what this book presumes to do.” (Spoiler alert! – The Lord didn’t come back on September 6, 1994 – not even for Harold, who at 89 is still teaching his unique brand of eschatology on his Family Radio Worldwide ministry.) Instead of the Lord returning in 1994, says Camping, what really happened was the Church Age ended. In 1914, having wrongly predicted the end of the world six times, Jehovah’s Witness founder Charles Taze Russell declared the world actually DID end, but only spiritually. It worked for Russell. And it appears to be working for Camping. Camping therefore was right, sort of, in his audacious book. Since 1994, the Holy Spirit has ceased His work among the churches. See? It was a no-brainer! Apologist James White writes in a critique of Camping’s theology: “He [Camping] will normally begin with a proposition, a statement, and then use a biblical passage to support his statement. This is the way of the eisegete (the one reading into the text rather than reading out of the text its natural meaning). He sets up a context, an assertion, and then expects the citation of the biblical passage to “prove” the point….Does Camping take the time to establish the connection? No, he does not. The connection exists solely because Harold Camping insists it does, nothing more.” Ultimately, Camping forces one to choose to submit to one authority or the other, either Sola Scriptura or Solus Campingus. In his book, “The End of the Church Age” Camping says that the star in Revelation 9:1 is really Jesus. Also according to Camping, the archangel Michael of Revelation 12:7 is also really Jesus. The two Witnesses aren’t two literal Witnesses, but are symbolic of the “true believers” either driven out of their churches or who come out in obedience to 2nd Corinthians 6:15. The rider on the black horse is a warning to the churches that if they do not remain faithful to God, He will take away the Gospel. The list goes on and on. Camping teaches that hell doesn’t exist. The second death is really annihilation, not eternity in the Lake of Fire. Camping began teaching that Christians should leave their churches because absent the Holy Spirit, they are all apostate tools of Satan. “Now, however, the Bay Area prognosticator has baffled the community of Christendom with another rather shocking pronouncement. Camping, who labors under the burden of his own self-designed brand of “millennialism,” has declared that we are at the beginning of the “great tribulation” period, hence the “church age” has ended. He has produced a tract that is titled: “Has the Era of the Church Age Come to an End?” He answers his own query in the affirmative. When one enters the world of “Harold Camping teaching,” he finds himself in a maze of mystery. It is almost as if the gentleman selects a variety of passages fr om different sections of the Bible — Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Matthew, Luke, or Revelation — and throws them on the floor, to see whether or not a pattern of theology will form. As noted above, Camping now contends that “the work of the church is finished,” and that those who remain in the church, during the time of the on-coming “tribulation,” will be destroyed. He thus bids the faithful to flee the church. He goes so far as to suggest that if one were to find a church “where it appears that each and every doctrine they hold is faithful to the Word of God,” it should be avoided — if one hopes to escape the impending destruction.” In these new Camping fellowships, there is to be no discipline, no hierarchy, no baptism, no communion and no authority apart from the Bible (as Camping interprets it). And so now, we return to the questions at hand. The answers got easier. Q) Is there any Scriptural basis for Camping’s theory? A) No. Q) Is Harold Camping a reliable Bible teacher? Harold Camping and Family Radio used to be on the level. Family Radio was once home to J Vernon McGee’s “Through the Bible” broadcast – which probably explains in large part how Family Radio managed to grow to more than 150 stations world-wide. But in the 90’s Camping started finding “hidden secrets” in the Scriptures — necessitating the reinvention of a few key points in order to make them fit his pre-determined views. First, Camping decided that the Church Age ended in 1994, and then he set out to prove it using Scripture. Whenever Scripture seemed to conflict with his theory, he would reinterpret the Scripture until it fit. If thatdidn’t work, he would spiritualize the offending Scriptures away. By glossing over the differences between the Dispensations, Camping could use the Old Testament to ‘prove’ his theories when they conflicted with the New. A good example is the New Testament’s prohibition on date setting. Camping admits that Jesus forbade date-setting in Matthew 24:36 and in Acts 1:7 but then cites Ecclesiastes 8:5 as evidence that prohibition doesn’t apply to him. He writes in his thesis that: “about thirty-five years ago God began to open the true believers understanding of the timeline of history. . . it was not until a very few years ago that the accurate knowledge of the entire timeline of history was revealed to true believers by God from the Bible. This timeline extends all the way to the end of time. During these past several years God has been revealing a great many truths, which have been completely hidden in the Bible until this time when we are so near the end of the world.” The very best lies are those that contain some element of truth. Which would you be more likely to accidently accept as genuine? A color photocopy of a $100 bill on genuine-feeling paper? Or a square of toilet paper with $100 written on each corner? The truth is, as we get closer to the end of the age, events confirm the existing truths that were already in the Bible. Events don’t reveal new truths – especially those that contradict the rest of the testimony of Scripture. Camping’s prediction that the Lord will return in May, 2011 has no more Scriptural support than the many who claim that the Tribulation has already begun or that they have figured out the identity of the antichrist. But it shares the common methodology of arriving at a conclusion first and then seeking Scripture to support it. As we get closer to the end of this age, the Bible predicts a rise in false teachers, false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing seeking to use the Scriptures to magnify their own importance. When a guy claims to have boldly gone where no man has gone before . . . he hasn’t. It is just that simple. There are no new theologies for the last days. At least, no legitimate ones. There are only people wanting to call attention to themselves by claiming God has revealed something special, just to them. As we get closer to the end of the age, there are seeming endless theories challenging existing interpretations of end-time doctrines like the timing of Rapture, the start of the Tribulation, the identity of the antichrist and so on. Let me set your heart to rest. The Bible isn’t getting more true. And if the ‘new’ truths sound nuts to you, don’t worry. They are. Christianity is at its most basic level, founded on faith. Faith that we can trust in the Promises of God. Most of the ‘new truths’ are being revealed ‘by God ‘to the select few in these last days who then use these new revelations to preach faith in one’s own ability. One’s ability to maintain one’s own salvation, for example. Jesus kick-started my redemption at the Cross, but if I want to stay saved, that depends on how well I perform as a Christian. The Church will have to endure at least part of the Tribulation. So my teaching a pre-Trib Rapture is a heresy that doesn’t prepare Christians for the Mark of the Beast. Christians need to prepare so that they will be ready for the Mark of the Beast. (Hint: The Bible says “don’t take it.” A better plan is to get saved now.) You see how it works? The Bible says by their fruits ye shall know them. What is the fruit of all this teaching? It is all about my God-given ability to discern the hidden knowledge and your ability to use my discerning words of knowledge so that you can circumvent the judgment to come upon those that dwell upon the earth. Although why Christians have to figure their own way around judgment isn’t clear to me. If they are being judged, then shouldn’t they deserve it? Isn’t that fair? And if they deserve it, should they be trying to avoid it? Trying to avoid it sounds a lot like trying to beat God at His own game. What makes more sense is that Christians were already judged at the Cross and are therefore not subject to the judgment of the Tribulation. Which is where the Rapture fits in. For many, the drawback to the “Rapture theory” is that it means that Jesus does it all. Jesus does the saving, the preserving, the judging — it doesn’t leave much for them to do. (Or to take credit for.) Truth doesn’t change simply because circumstances do. What was truth when Jesus spoke it is true today. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) With that fact in mind, I will make a faith-based prediction of my own. May 21, 2011 is the day that the Rapture won’t happen. Feel free to make plans. Israel 2011 — An Impossible Peace Vol: 111 Issue: 28 Tuesday, December 28, 2010 After days of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and accelerated rocket attacks on southern Israel from Hamas-led Gaza strip, Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman declared on Sunday that “peace was impossible” suggesting Israel should seek a less lofty goal and cut their losses. The latest eruption between the two sides followed the continuing violence along the Israel-Gaza border. Lieberman told a conference of Israeli diplomats that instead of a full peace deal, Israel should seek a long-term, interim agreement on security and economic matters. “It’s not only that it is impossible” to reach an overall agreement, he said. “It is simply forbidden.” Lieberman said the West Bank Palestinian Authority — with whom Israel has pledged to negotiate — is “not legitimate” because it has postponed elections. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remains in office though his term expired almost a year ago, and there is no date for a new election. Palestinians have consistently rejected that approach. Lieberman has a reputation for expressing hard-line views that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can’t, allowing him to float alternative plans while officially sticking to the premise of a final, negotiated peace settlement between the two sides. Consequently statement from Netanyahu’s office said Lieberman’s comments reflect “his personal positions,” not those of the government. Peace talks were making progress until Obama switched sides and demanded that Israel cease all construction in Jerusalem. Obama was eager to make his mark early and earn the Peace Prize awarded him for being black two weeks into his presidency.Being clueless from Chicago, he didn’t know that his demands immediately are transformed into the Palestinian default position. So when he later tried to walk that back, the Palestinians wouldn’t let him. Now the Palestinians say that they will not negotiate as long as Israel builds homes for Jews on any land they claim for their proposed state. That’s what makes further negotiations “impossible” since it requires an Israeli capitulation over the issue in dispute before they will negotiate the issue in dispute. Like agreeing on the final price first – as a condition of haggling over the price. It impossible. Because the PA is unelected, the only legally-elected representative of the Palestinian people with whom Israel could credibly negotiate would be Hamas. Hamas exists by charter for the express purpose of annihilating Israel. Hamas is a terrorist organization with whom negotiation is forbidden. So peace is impossible. Israel has no credible negotiating partner. For that reason, French Foreign Minister Bernard Koucher had already discussed a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood regardless of the outcome of negotiations with Israel. That information came to light as part of the overall Wikileaks document dump. According to a ‘secret’ (so to speak) cable written by US Ambassador to France to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “The French agree with us on the need to help [Palestinian Authority] President [Mahmoud] Abbas return to the negotiating table by offering assistance programs, guarantees, and the support of Arab leaders. However Kouchner also mentioned to SE [George] Mitchell the controversial idea of offering to recognize a Palestinian state now, with undefined borders, or offering to recognize a Palestinian state within a defined timeline, regardless of the outcome of negotiation.” The Wikileaks cable says that Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay have already decided on formally recognizing a fully independent Palestinian state within the 1967 (Green Line) borders. The Wikileaks plan somehow managed to trigger some deep, almost forgotten practice within the US Congress. Some in the Congress actually read the Wikileaks documents. Having read them, they sneaked by a bill of their own, passing a resolution opposing unilateral steps aimed at a declaration of Palestinian statehood earlier this month. (We should have leaked the TARP and Obamacare bills — maybe they would have read them, too!) Introduced by Rep Howard Berman,[D-Ca) and then- chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Berman moved to pass the resolution “supporting a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and condemning unilateral measures to declare or recognize a Palestinian state.” Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat slammed the action saying that; “through the passage of this resolution, the US Congress is contradicting the policy of the American government to create a Palestinian state by hindering the ability of the Palestinians to navigate around the Israeli government’s obstructionist policies.” In other words, Congress is obstructing the Palestinian ability to ignore its negotiating partners. And they don’t like it one bit. So they’re taking it to the UN. Last week, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas announced his intention to ask the UN Security Council to pass a resolution defining Jewish construction in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem as illegal. STOP THERE! Now go back up and read the sentence above one more time, slowly. Sound out every word until you have a complete grasp of the thought being conveyed. Mahmoud Abbas co-founded the PLO with Yasser Arafat, the father of modern terrorism. His ‘Palestinian Authority’ exists based on an agreement that if Israel will agree to its existence, then the Palestinians will stop committing acts of terror. At no point along the way was terrorism legalized or any of the innocent dead revived. The death, mayhem and destruction wrought at the hands of Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO was never paid for in any legal sense, neither was there any blanket pardon granted in any legal sense. Mahmoud Abbas’ term of office expired two years ago. So did the Palestinian Authority’s, well, authority. The PA won’t hold new elections because Hamas would win. And because Hamas would win, nobody is pressuring Abbas and Company to hold elections. So, with no legal standing of its own, the PA is asking for a resolution declaring a Jewish presence in parts of Judea, Samaria or Jerusalem illegal? Leaving aside the lack of standing on the part of Abbas, where is the standing of the UN? Israel is a member-state of the United Nations? Chapter 1, Article 2, Paragraph 7 of the United Nations Charter reads as follows: “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.” The central question is whether this is a domestic Israeli issue? Or an international issue involving Israel and an second member state or country? The question doesn’t seem that difficult. Totally apart from any religious tradition, history says that Jesus Christ was born a Jew, in Bethlehem, now claimed as part of the Palestinian Authority. He was raised a Jew in Nazareth, now claimed as part of the PA. His ministry was to Jews living in Samaria, Judea and Jerusalem, now claimed as part of the PA. Jesus lived during the Roman occupation of Judea, a period known to history through the writings of Flavius Josephus as the “Wars of the Jews” because that’s who lived in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The Romans conquered Judea from the Greeks. The Jews were there. The Greeks conquered it from the Persians. The Jews were there. The Persians conquered it from Babylon, who conquered it from the Jews of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Before that, Sargon the Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Prior to the division of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, it was all called “Israel.” And Jerusalem was founded by Israel’s King David. The UN’s jurisdiction on behalf of the Arab states is itself illegitimate. The UN recognized Israel in 1948. The Arab states declared war on Israel five times, each time leaving Israel in possession of more territory. Under the internationally recognized right of conquest, the territory captured is then part of Israel. The “right of conquest” is still the functioning basis for the existence of the United States, not to mention ALL of the modern states of the Middle East. All were part of the Ottoman Empire until conquered by the Allies in WWI. Jordan’s borders were drawn by England in 1922, not the Jordanians. The Jordanians attempted to draw their own borders in 1967. They hoped to extend them to the Meditterranean Sea. Instead, they were redrawn back to the Jordan River. But the UN didn’t do it. Jordan did. The West Bank wasn’t lost by Jordan, it was recovered by Israel. Under the right of conquest, everything the UN has done concerning Israel and the “Palestinians” is illegal under its own charter. The United Nations came into existence as a consequence of World War Two. One reason was to prevent the re-occurrence of forced deportations, ethnic cleansings and other forms of genocide practiced by the Axis powers, especially in Nazi Germany. The United Nations defines “ethnic cleansing” this way: “a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.” As part of his request that the UN Security Council criminalize the presence of Jews in parts of Jerusalem, Samaria and Judea, Abbas added the following so there could be no mistake. “If there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, we won’t agree to the presence of one Israeli in it. When a Palestinian state is established, it would have no Israeli presence.” ‘A nation without the presence of a single Israeli in it’ — by design. The Nazis had a word for that; “Judenrein” — but the United Nations defines it as “ethnic cleansing”. Caroline Glick summarized the impossible position Israel finds itself in as the books close on the year 2010. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaled this month that the Obama administration is wholly on board Fatah’s political warfare bandwagon. In her speech at the Brookings Institute on December 10, she said the Obama administration supports Fatah’s plan to build facts on the ground that will make it more difficult for Israel to maintain its control over Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. After calling Jewish presence in the areas “illegitimate,” Clinton pledged the US “will deepen our support of the Palestinians’ state-building efforts.” Among other things, she pledged to continue training and deploying a Palestinian army in Judea and Samaria and pressuring Israel to withdraw the IDF from the areas. As she put it, “As the Palestinian security forces continue to become more professional and capable, we look to Israel to facilitate their efforts. And we hope to see a significant curtailment of incursions by Israeli troops into Palestinian areas.” These then are the contours of the Palestinians’ war plans for 2011. Hamas will launch an illegal missile war to provoke an IDF campaign in Gaza. Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Turkey, the UN and a vast array of NGOs and leftist governments from Norway to Brazil will support its illegal war. Fatah will escalate its political war. Its campaign will be supported by the US, the EU, the UN and a vast array of NGOs and leftist governments. The purpose of these two campaigns – which complement one another and which will likely culminate at the UN in September – is to weaken Israel militarily and politically with the shared purpose of destroying it in the fullness of time. That last statement is what caught my eye. The Gentile plan to take Jerusalem from the Jews and Glick’s use of the phrase,”in the fullness of time.” Jesus predicted the Roman sack of Jerusalem, the Diaspora and the ultimate return of the Jews to their own land in the last days. He outlined the entire history in a single sentence: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) Jerusalem is in Israeli hands, but it is still trodden down of the Gentiles. For now. But all the signs point to this dispensation as rapidly winding to a close. “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:” (Ephesians 1:10) As we wind down the year 2010, there is little remaining reason to doubt that we are witnessing the waning hours of the Dispensation of the fulness of times. Maybe this year. Maybe next. But soon. And after that, the Gathering! The ‘Quest’ For Preferred Truths Vol: 111 Issue: 27 Monday, December 27, 2010 The Bible is under attack, as it has been since it was first compiled, but with a special fervor and intensity unique to this generation. What makes this generation unique is that the principle attackers are believers themselves. It is possible to be a believer in the Bible and not be a Christian, although it doesn’t seem so until you think about it. Personally, I know lots of people who say they believe in God, or believe in the Bible, but who have never surrendered themselves to Christ. Most other religions reference it among their sacred texts, from Buddhists to Jews. And there are ‘cultural Christians’ as well. Most Americans were raised in a Christian culture, and identify with Christianity whether they are born-again or not. It is actually quite easy to believe in the Bible without even having read it. Which makes it even easier to attack it. Just turn on A&E and watch some of the ‘Mysteries of the Bible’ series. After watching a couple of them, you’ll conclude that the most mysterious thing about the Bible is that ANYBODY really believes it. If you don’t know anything about the Bible except that you believe in it, then it is pretty easy to plant misconceptions as part of an effort to discover the ‘truth’ about it. After all, who doesn’t want to know the ‘truth’ about a Book as mysterious as the Bible? Especially if it comes packaged as a TV program saving the effort of having to actually read its ponderous text? The Scriptures say, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) That anyone could attack the Bible escapes me. Especially when one considers that the Bible isn’t one book, but is actually a collection of sixty-six books, written by forty different human authors. Reading through it, it seems to have penned by the same individual. But the Bible’s authors were shepherds and kings, intinerant preachers and traveling salesmen, tax collectors, tent-makers and fishermen, captives and slaves. In most instances, the Bible’s authors had never met one another and had no access to each other’s works. Ezekiel and Daniel were contemporaries, but Daniel was held captive in Babylon. Ezekiel lived hundreds of miles away in what remained of Israel. Each book refers to the other, although neither prophet met to compare notes. There were no libraries where each writer of Scripture could cross reference the other. But each book flows smoothly to the next, some books referencing passages written by the authors who came before, while others reference books not yet written for centuries. It is obvious to any honest seeker of truth that the Bible actually has only one Author. The alleged ‘quests for truth’ about the Bible like “Mysteries of the Bible” are predicated by that fact. What escapes A&E is the Identity of the Author, although the Bible clearly identifies Him. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The word translated here as ‘scripture’ comes from the Greek word ‘gramma’. This means a ‘letter’ — meaning even the smallest details are from God and are perfect. The Bible is not just a body of unrelated religious writings on various subjects. It is a systematic revelation of history from creation that continues to unfold before our eyes and continues to outline human history to its ultimate conclusion. The entire Bible revolves around only one central theme. The need for man’s salvation and God’s provision for it through Jesus Christ. The Bible is a gift from God to all men — a ‘love letter’, some say, from God to you. I like that synopsis, since that is how I have viewed it for most of my adult life. A love letter from God, that starts, “Dear Jack: In the beginning . . .” What a God we serve! Allow yourself to dwell on the Bible’s magnificence. Meditate on how impossible it would be for the Bible to have come into being through human effort, apart from God, as is now the popular angle of attack. Many have made much of the alleged ‘Bible codes’ which indeed appear to be real, although not of any particular value apart from serving as the Signature of God for a high tech generation. Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign . . .” -(Matthew 16:4) and that is what the Bible codes are to this generation. A sign. But the Bible proves itself by its very existence. The Bible wasn’t divided into chapters until the 13th century by Stephen Langton. It wasn’t divided into individual verses until the 15th and 16th centuries. But its contents have been debated by the best and brightest of every generation and has withstood every single attack. The King James Bible contains sixty-six books — 39 in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New. There are 31,173 verses, 774,746 words and 3,556,480 letters that make up the entire Bible. In all of that, nobody in all human history has ever conclusively disproved a single word. At approximately the middle one finds Psalms 118:8: And so it is. Note: We had a great Christmas celebration despite the fact Kari and Mike and the kids couldn’t come because they all had the flu. (I told them not to worry. It just means we get an extra Christmas party this year. But we sure missed them.) Some of my kids stayed over and will be leaving soon. I spent an hour working up an interesting piece on Israel before concluding I’m too distracted to put forth my best shot. So I hope you will forgive this retread while I finish my family’s Christmas celebration. I pray yours was every bit as wonderful. Christmas Pie Vol: 111 Issue: 25 Saturday, December 25, 2010 Christmas at my house is always a busy time of year. As the kids grew older, it got even busier. Our family tradition was something started by my maternal grandfather in the late 1940’s. Granddad had five daughters, and he realized he was going have to compete with five sons-in-law if he hoped to continue his own Christmas tradition. So Granddad adopted the English Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) as HIS Christmas celebration. They called it the ‘Christmas Pie’. The ‘Christmas Pie’ was an old refrigerator shipping box filled with presents for all the parents and grandchildren. We’d all gather, the day after our individual Christmas celebration, for an extended Christmas. All the time I was growing up, I thought that Granddad did it all for us grandkids, something that I thought odd in light of the fact that the rest of the year, he was a very proper English grandfather. But at Christmas, all that British reserve would evaporate. It wasn’t until my kids had kids that I realized what a brilliant man Granddad really was. His Christmas Pie celebration was NEVER about us. But we never knew it. It was really about my Granddad and his daughters never losing their own special Christmas traditions. Granddad headed off any competition with the out-laws about who went to whose house last year — whenever some young fella married into the family, it was firmly understood from the outset that Christmas was for them — but Boxing Day was Granddad’s. I share my grandfather’s love of Christmas and could not imagine not having my day with my kids. So when Mike and Kari got married, I sat down with Mike and told him that he could have Kari for eleven of the twelve days of Christmas, but that Boxing Day was MINE. Or he’d have to find himself another girl. At our house, Christmas is a two-day affair. Christmas Day is for Gayle and her mother and I. We read the Christmas Story from Luke, remember the Greatest Christmas Gift of all — eternity — and have a traditional American Christmas. Then, we spend the rest of the day preparing for tomorrow’s Main Event. Mike and Kari and Hanna and Mikie and Sarah and Johnny, Ricky and Jacob and Mike and Kerilyn and Tristan and Charlyn and Taya and sometimes Jerry and Jessica and Bailey and Justin and Jeremy and Cora — all together and at home with us — for one glorious day. Lots of food, a Christmas ‘Pie’ and a chance for the parents to take a day off to be kids again. Our Christmas wish for you is that you are surrounded by a family that loves you. We wish you laughter and love and fun and joy. We pray our Lord Jesus Christ will envelope your family with an unspeakable love for one another — and for Him. We wish you a merry, merry Christmas. And may you be truly blessed. With much love, from all of us, to all of you. The Most Ironic Story Ever Told The story of the Virgin Birth, sinless life and blameless death of Jesus Christ, an itinerant Jewish preacher from the Judean village of Nazareth is often and rightly called “the Greatest Story Ever Told.” What makes it great is its theme. A Child born to a young Jewish virgin and (as was supposed) a Jewish laborer of low estate Whose birth is announced by angels. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) The Child is the Son of God, come to bear the sins of the world. He grows to maturity, living low as a laborer in Nazareth until He is called to ministry during His baptism in the Jordan by His cousin John. Jesus preaches repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. He teaches love of God and to love one’s neighbor. He lives a blameless and perfect life, is condemned as the King of the Jews and crucified for the sins of the world. Three days after His execution, He rises from the dead to announce that the hereditary penalty for sin imposed on all men since Adam had been paid. In evidence, He offers His own Body, showing the nail scars and the side wound. “This is the price paid on your behalf for sins. Believe in Me, and Him that sent me, and thou shalt be saved.” THAT is why it is the greatest story ever told. But what makes it ironic is the WAY that it is told – as a Christian story. The story actually begins way back in the Book of Genesis. Abram was the son of an idol maker named Terah who lived in the great city of Ur in modern-day Iraq. The Bible relates that Abram was called by God to a new land that God would show him. By faith Abram undertook the journey.Genesis 15:6 says; “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” But Abram wanted a guarantee, nonetheless. “And he [Abram] said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” (Genesis 15:8) It was then that God proposed a blood covenant after the manner of the Chaldeans “And He [God] said unto him, [Abram] Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram knew what to do next, since this was something he was familiar with. “And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.” The blood covenant worked this way. The animals were slaughtered and cut up. The pieces were intermingled and then carefully arranged to form a kind of aisle through which the two parties to the covenant would walk together, hands joined. The principle of a blood covenant, and the symbolism of the animal parts was clearly understood to Abram. Whoever broke the covenant would end up like those piles of animals. A blood covenant was, by common custom, a joining of 2 or more persons, families, clans, tribes, or nations, where the participants agree to do or refrain from doing certain acts. What God proposed was a patriarchal covenant. The patriarchal form of covenant is a self-imposed obligation of a superior party, to the benefit of an inferior party. Something like adoption by agreement. In this form, the terms the parties use to refer to each other are: father and son. And God’s proposal included not only Abram, but extended to Abram’s seed forever. Abram’s seed, as we learn in Galatians 3:29, are the Jews and Christians that are “heirs according to the Promise.” What promise? The one made by God to Abram and to his heirs and guaranteed by a Chaldean blood covenant. Abram waited, driving away the carrion eaters from his grisly creation, waiting for God Himself to come down, join hands with Abram and together, they would swear a blood oath. God would be the Father of Abram and his descendents, who would then be required behave as sons of the covenant. Genesis 15:12 records that as Abram waited for God, a deep sleep fell upon him. During that deep sleep, “it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” (Genesis 15:17-18) Abram didn’t join with God in passing through the aisle. The Bible says that God took TWO forms that Abram saw as a “smoking furnace” and “a burning lamp” to symbolize that the covenant was “signed” the requisite two times – but both times by God. By passing through the aisle alone, God signed the contract — alone — for both sides, binding Himself to keeping both parts. And THIS is where the Christmas story begins. Of the covenant that God signed on behalf of Abraham, Paul explains, “Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.” (Galatians 3:15) The covenant could only be confirmed when the price demanded for its violation was paid in full. When the Law was given to Moses four centuries later, it was assumed by the Jews that to break it was to break the Abrahamic Covenant, for which the penalty was death. Remember, somebody had to die. But God signed on behalf of Abraham, and Paul pointed out the blood penalty required of the covenant was paid in full. “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” The covenant demanded satisfactory payment for its violation and no one guilty of violating it was qualified to stand in full payment except those that signed it. The penalty for its violation was death. Justice required that someone keep the provisions of the original covenant and be a true Son as it demanded. So Abraham could not pay the penalty on behalf of his seed. Abraham was already under penalty of death. But somebody had to die for justice to be satisfied and the only signer was God. The terms of the Abrahamic covenant required God Himself to step out of eternity and into space and time where He could be subject to the death penalty justice demanded. Two thousand years after the first covenant, an angel announced that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Unto WHO was born a Saviour? Unto the Jews of Israel, first. And then to the Gentiles “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew FIRST, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) That is what makes it the Most Ironic Story Ever Told. Christmas is the most Jewish of all holy days. It is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant whereby the terms demanded were satisfied. But to most observant Jews, Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates something to do with the Christian God. That is the irony of the story. It is a day that celebrates the birth of a Jew from Nazareth, born unto them in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord. So this Christmas, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And pray for His Chosen People that they will receive Him as their King. And may our God richly bless you and yours, until He comes. Shalom. And Merry Christmas. Note: The Omega Letter will not publish Christmas Day. We will resume publication on Monday, December 27, 2010. Merry Christmas.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2664
__label__wiki	0.872912	0.872912	Enrich the deep image The Republican presidential candidate New York cockfighting Unbearable high levels of activity The examiner payment request Love opened my window Main　\|　New York cockfighting » Republicans vying for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016 auditioned Thursday before some of the nation's most ardent conservative leaders, calling for the party to unite behind a clear agenda and draw contrasts with Democrats. The contestants ranged from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a tea party champion, to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a favorite of the GOP establishment. "If you want to lose elections, stand for nothing," said Cruz, who referred as examples to the unsuccessful presidential bids of Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney. "When you don't stand and draw a clear distinction, when you don't stand for principle, Democrats celebrate." The annual Conservative Political Action Conference offered an early tryout of sorts for a half-dozen Republican officials eager to win over the GOP's most passionate voters. At stake this year is the Senate majority, currently held by senators in President Barack Obama's party. But for all, the midterm elections could serve as a springboard for the next presidential contest. Republicans have much to mend before 2016, starting with a stark ideological divide between the party's establishment and the super-conservatives who rose to power in the tea party-fueled 2010 elections that delivered a Republican House majority. Fiscal crises, compromises and a war of words have separated the factions from the top down despite widespread agreement that Obama's signature health care law should be overturned. More than two years out from the election to succeed Obama, there's no clear front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination. But Republicans interested in the job are filing across the CPAC stage at a hotel complex just down the Potomac River from Washington — bashing the media, criticizing Obama and making a case for being the candidate who can win the White House. "Most people are realizing that it's cool to be selecting the most conservative in the race, but there's an additional caveat that needs to be added, and that's who can win in the general election," said American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas. For Christie, the event was the first major step back into the national spotlight and a chance to revive his image from a political retribution scandal in which his aides ordered the closing of lanes near New Jersey's George Washington Bridge. Federal authorities also are investigating allegations that two members of Christie's Cabinet threatened to withhold storm recovery funds from heavily flooded Hoboken if the city's mayor didn't approve a favored redevelopment project. Before the conservative crowd, the Republican governor ignored his administration's recent troubles and showed flashes of the fighting spirit that has defined his political career. Christie won a standing ovation after a 15-minute speech in which he declared: "We have to stop letting the media define who we are and what we stand for." He later called on party leaders and tea party leaders alike to "start talking about what we're for and not what we're against." The conservative conference comes less than a year after the Republican National Committee released a comprehensive plan to broaden the GOP's appeal after a disappointing 2012 election season. Most of the speakers touched upon existing divisions within the GOP that threaten to derail their party's plans. They offered varied perspectives on foreign policy, social issues and political strategy, but each insisted that the Republican Party's future is bright. The GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, downplayed intraparty divisions as "creative tension" and urged conservative activists to "give each other the benefit of the doubt" in the debate over the party's future. "We, your representatives, we have to earn this benefit of the doubt," Ryan said. "We have to offer a vision. We have to explain where we want to take the country and how we're going to get there." And as Obama and European leaders try to address Russian military aggression in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, Republicans faulted the president's leadership around the globe. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., pointing to global hot spots such as North Korea, Iran and Ukraine, said Obama thought he could shape global events "through the sheer force of his personality" and by giving speeches around the world. "We cannot ignore that the flawed foreign policy of the last few years has brought us to this stage," Rubio said, adding that the U.S. was the one nation that could "stand up to the spread of totalitarianism ... The United Nations cannot do this." Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal charged that the Democratic president is waging an "assault on the American dream" by redefining success as dependence upon government. He faulted Obama for not doing enough to help improve the nation's educational system and highlighted GOP efforts to give parents new choices. The three-day conference runs through Saturday, when conference organizers will announce the results of their annual symbolic presidential straw poll. Several high-profile Republicans have yet to take the stage. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who won last year's straw poll, was addressing activists on Friday, along with former presidential candidates such as ex-Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. 投稿者: Love opened my window ｜｜トラックバック(0)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2669
__label__wiki	0.970215	0.970215	Utilities menu Report, Pay, Apply My City Login/Register About the City Who we are, what we do Services Local and national Business Local, national and global Things to do Culture, green spaces and leisure About the City - Who we are, what we do Services - Local and national Business - Local, national and global Things to do - Culture, green spaces and leisure Head of Media - Public Services John.Park@cityoflondon.gov.uk Sanjay Odedra Head of Media - Financial Services sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk Priya Rane Financial Services - UK priya.rane@cityoflondon.gov.uk Nathan Rodgers Financial Services - Asia Nathan.Rodgers@cityoflondon.gov.uk Joe Dibben International Financial & Professional Services joe.dibben@cityoflondon.gov.uk Chandni Tanna Education, Skills and Employability, Housing, Public health Chandni.Tanna@cityoflondon.gov.uk Andrew Buckingham Arts and Culture, Freedom of the City of London and The Lord Mayor's Show Andrew.Buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk Kristina Drake City Bridge Trust, Responsible Business kristina.drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk Carl Locsin Green Spaces, Environment, Council Services carl.locsin@cityoflondon.gov.uk Guildhall Art Gallery celebrates 20th anniversary with new acquisitions and Artist in Residence City of London Corporation open spaces win prestigious Green Flag Awards Open Air Theatre returns to Epping Forest City Corporation responds to the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report Tavistock Relationships wins contract to deliver new Square Mile mental health centre City of London Corporation and Bar Council celebrate 100 years of women in law and 125 years of the Bar Council Lord Mayor of London travels to South East Asia to boost green and Islamic finance ties A bronze sculpture of the comedy actor, Terry-Thomas, and a painting of The Lord Mayor’s Show parade are two of the four artworks acquired by the City of London Corporation to mark the 20th anniversary of its Guildhall Art Gallery next month. The newly rebuilt Guildhall Art Gallery, which is owned by the City Corporation, opened on 23 August 1999 in Guildhall Yard, the site of London’s Roman Amphitheatre, and currently presents a changing display of around 250 paintings, drawings, and sculpture, as well as a programme of temporary exhibitions. The four acquisitions will bring new diverse artists and narratives to the collection and reflects the gallery’s revised collecting policy to acquire works about London by artists who live and work in the capital, and reflect the communities that it serves. The artworks are: Portrait sculpture of actor Terry-Thomas, c. 1952 Ronald Moody (1900-1984) Gift from the estate of Ronald Moody Ronald Moody (1900-1984) is one of Britain's most remarkable Modernist sculptors. Born in Jamaica, he lived and worked in London for most of his life. His wife, Helene, worked as Terry-Thomas’ personal assistant and because of the informal day-to-day nature of her friendship and working relationship with Terry-Thomas, Ronald Moody was able to observe him, drawing out an unfamiliar and sombre aspect of the actor. Top Shelf, 2018 Liz Johnson Artur (b.1964) Presented by the Contemporary Art Society with support of the Friends of Guildhall Art Gallery, and the City of London Corporation The Ghanaian-Russian photographer, Liz Johnson Artur, documents the lives of black people from across the African Diaspora and most recently, black British communities in south London. Created for Guildhall Art Gallery and inspired by its collection, Top Shelf is a photographic installation comprising 20 prints, collected together to make one complete piece and capturing moments of everyday black life, mostly, in Brixton and Peckham, over the course of a 25-year period. 12.18 and 10 Seconds, 2010 Carl Laubin (b.1947) Purchased with the assistance of the City of London Corporation, Friends of Guildhall Art Gallery, and Library Centenary Fund Carl Laubin’s 12.18 and 10 seconds depicts the parade in the 2009 Lord Mayor’s Show. The title refers to the military precision of the parade, which locates where each part of the procession will be at any one point in time. Carl Laubin is recognised as one of the finest painters of architectural capricci, favouring a hyperrealist style, with architecture and landscapes as his key themes. Laubin’s painting is, arguably, the modern-day equivalent of William Logsdail’s The Ninth of November, 1888 (1890) which depicts the Lord Mayor’s Show of 1888, with the Lord Mayor’s State Coach leaving The Mansion House as a large crowd looks on. Untitled from the series ‘Correspondances’, 2001 Carey Young (b.1970) Gift from a private collector, via the Contemporary Art Society The artist, Carey Young, features in the centre of the photograph in a dark business suit, holding a bag, and walking back and forth among a busy crowd of commuters in central London. Her act of drawing a line in the crowd appears to mirror the daily journey of the commuters, but at a faster speed, as if displaced. Dressed like those around her in business clothes, Young explains that she strives for an identity and space among the crowds. As part of the art gallery’s celebrations, the full price admission fee for the ‘Architecture Of London’ exhibition will be reduced on the 20th anniversary day (Friday 23 August) from £10 to its estimated 1999 admission fee of £2.50. Graham Packham, Chairman, City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, said: “My colleagues and I are delighted to celebrate 20 years of Guildhall Art Gallery’s re-opening, during which time it has gone from strength to strength, recording its highest ever visitor figures last year. “The art gallery prides itself on presenting a broad range of free and ticketed exhibitions, and is particularly remarkable for housing the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre in its basement and having one of the UK’s largest paintings on permanent display.” Elizabeth Scott, the City of London Corporation’s Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery, said: “Over the last 20 years, Guildhall Art Gallery has celebrated the work of some of the capital’s most influential artists and displayed artworks spanning over 500 years of London’s rich and vibrant history. “This anniversary is a special moment in our history, of which we are rightly proud, and by adding these four works to the permanent collection, we are helping to create a lasting legacy for the gallery’s future.” Last month, the art gallery opened submissions for London-based fine artists to apply to become the first Artist in Residence for Guildhall, with the brief to create an outstanding piece of 2D work that focuses on ‘Celebrating City Women’ during their three-month paid residency. The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Guildhall Art Gallery, is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year. The City Corporation is also developing Culture Mile between Farringdon and Moorgate – a multi-million-pound investment which will create a new cultural and creative destination for London. Elizabeth Scott, Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery, and artists, Carl Laubin and Liz Johnson Artur, are available for interview. Please contact Andrew Buckingham (see below) for further details. Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333060 / Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk About the City of London Corporation: The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk About Guildhall Art Gallery: The first Guildhall Art Gallery was built in 1885 to display the City of London Corporation's art collection and was inspired by the success of new galleries supported by local authorities in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds. The Victorian gallery was almost entirely destroyed by fire during heavy bombing in the Second World War on 10 May 1941. A temporary structure was built on the cleared site in 1946 for use as a ceremonial venue and exhibition space and in 1985, the City of London Corporation decided to redevelop the site and add a new Gallery on its lower levels. The architect was Richard Gilbert Scott, who had earlier worked on the Guildhall restoration and designed the new Guildhall Library and West Wing of 1974. In 1987, the remains of the original Gallery were demolished and shortly afterwards, the Museum of London Archaeological Service discovered the remains of London's Roman Amphitheatre and the building was re-designed to incorporate this remarkable piece of architectural history. The new Guildhall Art Gallery opened to the public in August 1999 and the Amphitheatre in 2002. In late 2014, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of its re-opening, the Gallery underwent a re-hang, doubling the number of paintings on display and presenting a new curatorial selection. The art gallery is also responsible for paintings, statues, and sculptures at Guildhall, Old Bailey, and The Mansion House. Newsroom City of London Sign up for eShot City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ © City of London 2014 Select one of our other sites: Our other sites Barbican City Bridge Trust City of London Police Tower Bridge Exhibition Address: City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2670
__label__cc	0.682837	0.317163	KSU economics professor discusses 'balancing the books in education' (WABE 90.1 FM) KENNESAW, Ga. (Jan 26, 2017) — Dr. Ben Scafidi, director of the Education Economics Center in the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, has analyzed how much Georgia taxpayers truly spend on public schools. On WABE's "Closer Look" program, Scafidi shared the findings of his new study, "Balancing the Books in Education." For example, according to the official spending figures on the Georgia Department of Education website, Georgia public schools spent a total of $15.6 billion in fiscal year 2016. Yet the Governor’s Office, using data provided to it by the same Georgia Department of Education, reports that Georgia public schools actually spent $19.1 billion in FY 2016. In other words, about $3.5 billion in taxpayer funds are “missing” from the official GaDOE spending data on its website. "I'm just bringing it to their attention. I just hope they fix it," Scafidi told "Closer Look" host Rose Scott. "Instead of keeping two sets of books, keep just one." Click here to listen to the full interview, starting at the 7:53 mark.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2671
__label__wiki	0.93542	0.93542	Coles College of Business to honor benefactor on Oct. 17 Coles College of Business to honor Michael J. Coles on Oct. 17 Campus visit, exhibit, book signing to celebrate 25th anniversary of Michael Coles’ naming KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct 9, 2018) — The Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University will honor Michael J. Coles with a celebration October 17, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta business executive’s gift to name the nationally ranked business school. Michael J. Coles is an entrepreneur, education advocate and philanthropist. He co-founded the Great American Cookie Company in Atlanta in 1977 and grew it into the largest cookie store franchise in the United States, overcoming a near-fatal motorcycle accident six weeks after opening his first store. An accomplished bicyclist, Coles set three transcontinental bicycle racing world records — two of which he still holds. His story is told in the new book Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life, co-authored by Catherine Lewis, Kennesaw State’s assistant vice president for Museums, Archives and Rare Books. Kennesaw State is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the naming of the Michael J. Coles College of Business. The College has chosen him as the 2018-19 executive in residence and is calling the academic year the “Year of Michael J. Coles.” Click here for more information about Michael Coles and the Oct. 17 celebration. Schedule for Michael Coles’ visit to campus on Oct. 17: 2:45 — Ribbon cutting for Michael Coles exhibit, with ceremonial cookie cutting 3:00 — All students in attendance receive a free copy of Michael Coles’ biography 3:15 — Presentation from Michael Coles and book launch 4:00 — Book signing Burruss Building room 151, Kennesaw State University	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2672
__label__wiki	0.963021	0.963021	KSU names new chief diversity officer KENNESAW, Ga. (May 7, 2019) — President Pamela Whitten has appointed Sylvia Carey-Butler, vice chancellor for academic support of inclusive excellence at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, chief diversity officer at Kennesaw State University, effective July 29. As chief diversity officer, Carey-Butler will be responsible for overseeing the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and leading the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives. She will develop a long-term diversity and inclusion action plan and establish clear, meaningful and measurable goals and metrics to broaden perspectives around diversity and inclusion among the university community and its strategic partners. In her role, Carey-Butler also will develop strategies and programs focused on the successful recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff. “At Kennesaw State, we firmly believe in the importance of providing a welcoming and inclusive campus environment,” said Whitten. “As a dedicated expert in the area of diversity and inclusion, Dr. Carey-Butler provides the type of collaborative and transformational leadership that will help us enhance our campus community so that all students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to succeed. I know that she shares our values, and I look forward to working with her to recruit and retain world-class students, faculty and staff.” In her role as vice chancellor, Carey-Butler is responsible for building collaborative partnerships across the campus to create an equitable campus climate and inclusive learning environment. She joined the University of Wisconsin in 2013. Prior to her current position, she served as interim executive director of the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building and Director of UNCF’s Enrollment Management Program. She has held numerous positions in higher education in New York state. She also served as assistant provost and dean of honors at Dillard University in New Orleans, and associate dean of studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Carey-Butler has researched and presented extensively on student recruitment and retention in higher education, African American women administrators in the academy and African American males in higher education. She designed the diversity and inclusion curriculum for the American Council on Education’s Fellows program and is the former chair of the Oshkosh Area Community Food Pantry and the Oshkosh Housing Authority. “Kennesaw State is a vibrant and diverse community,” said Carey-Butler. “I look forward to joining the leadership team to work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to strengthen the university’s commitment to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone.” Carey-Butler received a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. in Social Science with an emphasis in Counseling from Binghamton University.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2673
__label__wiki	0.502654	0.502654	Students invited to showcase research at Innovation Fair Joe Monaco KU Office of Public Affairs jmonaco@ku.edu LAWRENCE — University of Kansas students are invited to share their entrepreneurial ideas and translational research – and compete for $4,500 in prize money – at the second annual Innovation Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Kansas Union Ballroom. The Innovation Fair is an opportunity for students to present their research and ideas for new products with other students, faculty and company representatives. The event includes a poster competition, which will award first, second and third prizes ($1,000, $750 and $500, respectively) in each of two divisions – the undergraduate and graduate divisions. The Innovation Fair is open to all students from all KU campuses, including the KU Medical Center, regardless of whether they’re presenting posters. Faculty, staff, company representatives and anyone involved in entrepreneurship are encouraged to attend. The event is sponsored by the University of Kansas Innovation & Collaboration, which heads KU’s efforts in entrepreneurship, technology transfer and commercialization. “This Innovation Fair is a great opportunity for all students, whether you’re an undergraduate exploring an idea for a product, or a graduate student looking to share your translational research with company representatives,” said Julie Goonewardene, associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship and president of KUIC. “This is a great opportunity to network with people from the KU community and industry who are interested in your ideas.” The Innovation Fair will also include the presentation of the second annual Jim Baxendale Commercialization Award, which recognizes a single KU researcher for excellence in commercialization and translational research. Last year’s winner was Lisa Stehno-Bittel, professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in the School of Health Professions and co-founder of startup company Likarda. For details, deadlines and registration information, visit the Innovation Fair event page. “KU continues to make entrepreneurship and commercialization a priority,” Goonewardene said. “This year’s Innovation Fair is a great opportunity for students and faculty to come together to explore opportunities to do research that results in new products and technologies that improve our lives and also grow the Kansas economy."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2674
__label__wiki	0.890835	0.890835	Electric Moments Charles Fergus This blue jet reached from a cloud top to an altitude of 70 kilometers. Electrical engineer Victor Pasko and three colleagues captured the phenomenon using a low-light camera; their original monochrome image is reproduced here in false color. In September 2001, Victor Pasko spent 20 nights on a roof in Puerto Rico, waiting for storms powerful enough to spawn the mysterious middle-atmosphere electrical events known as red sprites and blue jets. Pasko, a Penn State electrical engineer, sat on a wooden hatch cover on the flat concrete roof of a laboratory on the grounds of Arecibo Observatory. In front of him, his laptop projected a stream of images from a tripod-mounted low-light video camera, also on the roof. Pasko's gaze shifted from the computer's screen to the dark tropical sky where stars twinkled, clouds billowed and blotted the stars out, and lightning wrinkled across the heavens and arced to earth. Insects stridulated in the jungle around the building. Night birds called. Thunder rumbled. As Pasko waited, the GOES 8 weather satellite with which he was in contact picked up storms being born hundreds of kilometers away. It tracked cells towering above the Dominican Republic, anvil-headed clouds sending down rain and hail on Haiti, on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. When the satellite detected a promising storm, Pasko and Mark Stanley, an atmospheric physicist from New Mexico Tech, would aim the video camera at it. The camera was equipped with a nightvision intensifier similar to the light-gathering telescopes and goggles used by soldiers and police. At times Pasko stayed up all night, since the potent storms that could give rise to sprites and jets often did not develop until three or four in the morning. Stanley had also deployed a VHF (very high frequency) interferometer and a flat-plate electric field antenna on another Puerto Rican rooftop—this one capping a salmon-colored, ramshackle auto repair shop four miles from the observatory. The interferometer mapped VHF emissions, letting the researchers locate stormcloud lightning, while the field antenna recorded electromagnetic radiation generated by lightning, data the researchers hoped would yield insights into any sprites or jets they might luck into. A third team member was Troy Wood, a graduate student in Stanford's Space, Telecommunications, and Radioscience Laboratory, where Pasko had earned a Ph.D. and done postdoctoral work from 1992 to 2000 before joining the Communications and Space Sciences Laboratory at Penn State. Wood had installed another diagnostic device, a VLF (very low frequency) receiver outside the hotel where he was staying on Vieques Island, east of Puerto Rico. Rounding out the group was Penn State electrical engineer John Mathews, co-principal investigator on the project with Pasko. Mathews had helped plan and set up the detecting and recording array and was responsible for operations related to the observatory's 430 megahertz UHF (ultra high frequency) radar. The team had been granted two to three hours per day on the UHF radar, one of the world's most powerful radar-radio telescopes. Operated by Cornell University under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation, the radar is in demand from a host of researchers studying everything from extrasolar dust to plasma turbulence to atmospheric electricity. Pasko and his colleagues used their radar time to examine lightning and lightning-caused perturbations in the ionosphere, a region of charged particles surrounding our planet and extending from around 70 to more than 500 kilometers in altitude. The ionosphere, created primarily by ionizing ultraviolet radiation from the sun, deflects radio waves, allowing them to propagate around the curve of the earth's surface. On the evening of September 14, the weather satellite picked up a storm gathering to the northwest. By 11:20 p.m., the system was poised above the Atlantic, pounding down lightning 200 kilometers away. Pasko and Stanley, who had joined him on the roof, could see the clouds and lightning, but the action was too far off for them to hear any thunder. They directed the camera's field of view above the cloud top. At 11:25, a blue light rose from the cloud. Its speed suddenly increased, and it split into two brilliant spikes that themselves branched intricately while streaming even higher. The display flashed twice, then subsided, leaving bright spots that glowed for a moment before dying. "We just started screaming," Pasko recalls today, sitting in his office on the Penn State campus. "It was the most spectacular thing I've ever seen." Stanley, quoted in a publication of Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he now works, said: "It was the most fascinating color; I can't even describe it, I'd never seen that kind of blue before." "We had to wait until morning," says Pasko, "to find out if the camera actually recorded the event." In fact, the blue jet showed up on 24 consecutive video frames, each lasting 33 milliseconds, for a total span of eight tenths of a second. Pasko runs the video in slow motion on his office computer; runs it again. "This is the first time a blue jet was caught on video from the ground. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, seeing this with the naked eye. We were very lucky to be looking in the right direction." Although the blue jet came from a relatively small thunderstorm, it was immense, filling an estimated 6,000 cubic kilometers of the atmosphere. And it did something no one had ever seen a blue jet do before: It reached all the way to the ionosphere, 70 kilometers up. Hans Stenbaek-Nielsen Most red sprites last for one to ten milliseconds. They propagate downward, starting at an altitude of approximately 90 kilometers. For more than a century, especially after humans began flying in airplanes, people have reported strange goings-on above thunderstorms—what one atmospheric scientist and a collector of such observations termed "energetic and anomalous electrical activity." A Canadian Pacific Airlines pilot saw the following on a night flight near Fiji in 1950: "Out from the top of the cloud shot a burst of light like a firework display. The flash took several seconds to reach its maximum height at about 3,000 feet above the cloud top; it was not just a burst of light but rather a series of streamers extending from a single point at the center of the anvil and spreading out like a water fountain." A U.S. Air Force pilot recorded this sighting after a 1965 flight from Montana to Washington, D.C.: "The night was clear, and the nearby full moon was very bright. Approaching a line of northeast to southwest thunderstorms in eastern Indiana, there was considerable lightning activity. The clouds were white from the moonlight but fiery inside. . . . About a mile or two from the nearest top, a bolt of lightning came straight out the top and went to a point about 2,000 feet above us and shattered in all directions as an egg would do if it were thrown against a ceiling. . . . We climbed to 41,000 feet, and we observed the phenomenon seven or eight more times. The next day we read in the newspaper that a line of thunderstorms had spawned many tornadoes." People who have seen these events—which, until recently, were variously called "rocket lightning," "upward lightning," "cloud-to-stratosphere lightning," and "cloud-to-space lightning"—often remarked on their striking, luminous colors, including blue, blue-white, green, purple, and several shades of red. Charles Thomson Rees Wilson was a Scot who received a Nobel Prize in 1927 for inventing a cloud chamber, a device to detect the track from energetic particles in a supersaturated vapor; his conclusions regarding the interactions between air and electricity contributed greatly to our understanding of storms and lightning. In a paper published in 1956, when he was 87 years old, Wilson wrote: "There have been a number of reports of ordinary lightning discharges extending upwards from the top of a thundercloud. . . . Many years ago I observed what appeared to be discharges of this kind from a thundercloud below the horizon. There were diffuse fan-shaped flashes of greenish color extending up into a clear sky." Wilson suggested that "a lightning discharge to earth from the base of the cloud may be initiated by a discharge above the cloud." He also wrote: "The electric field of the cloud may cause ionization at great heights, the result being continuous or discontinuous discharge between the cloud and the upper atmosphere." Despite the persistent pilots' reports, and even with a Nobel Prize winner weighing in, few scientists gave the sightings credence. Then in 1989, while testing a low-light television camera for NASA, space physicist John Winckler of the University of Minnesota caught a cloud-top discharge on videotape: two giant pillars of light flashing above a distant storm. "It was totally serendipitous," Pasko says. "And it became a threshold for a new field of science." NASA, concerned that such electrical phenomena might endanger spacecraft during launching and re-entry through the atmosphere, reviewed videotapes taken by automated payload-bay cameras during space shuttle missions. They identified more than a dozen flashes above thunderstorms that seemed to match the Winckler video. In July 1993, the independent researcher Walter Lyons set up low-light cameras at his Yucca Ridge Field Station, a house with a rooftop deck perched on the front range of the Rocky Mountains near Fort Collins, Colorado. At an elevation of 1,690 meters (5,544 feet), the station looks out over an expanse of the Great Plains taking in all or parts of nearly a score of states; it is an excellent place from which to observe the clusters of thunderstorms known as "mesoscale convective complexes," powerful storms spread out over hundred or even thousands of kilometers, storms that spawn intense, repeated lightning. During a single night, Lyons documented 240 cloud-top flashes. He wrote in the Monthly Weather Review: "Cloud-to-stratosphere events occur far more frequently than previously suggested and are perhaps a ubiquitous aspect of many larger convective systems." Most of the flashes were extremely brief and too dim to be seen by human eyes; however, Lyons spotted one and described it as "a gossamer, orangered, aurora-like curtain." The following summer, researchers from the University of Alaska flew a pair of midsize corporate jets out of Oklahoma City, photographing storms in that vast weather-brewing stretch of middle America from Colorado to Arkansas and from Texas to South Dakota. They captured the first sharp color images of the transient displays, of which there appeared to be two distinct types. In twin papers published in the May 15, 1995, issue of Geophysical Research Letters, Davis Sentman, one of the Alaska investigators, proposed calling one class of discharges "sprites," after the fleeting, mysterious fairies populating Shakespeare's The Tempest; his colleague Eugene Westcott advanced the name "blue jets" for phenomena of the second category. Pasko was then at Stanford, studying the chemistry of the middle and upper atmosphere. He published a paper in Geophysical Research Letters suggesting a basic theory for the optical emissions now known as red sprites: They are caused by quasi-electrostatic fields that, following lightning flashes, temporarily heat up electrons, producing ionization and light. The theory accounted for the duration, color, and spatial extent of sprites. It became Pasko's Ph.D. topic and helped earn him a National Science Foundation postdoctoral award, as well as a Young Scientist Award from the International Union of Radio Science. And it placed him squarely in a field of atmospheric science where, it seemed, discoveries were being made almost daily. Victor Pasko and Hans Stenbaek-Nielsen The theoretical model on the left represents vertical altitude structuring in red sprites. Center, a video observation of a large sprite. At right, a fractal model of a sprite. What do we know, so far, about sprites and jets? The field is in its infancy, with researchers striving to understand the phenomena based on concepts advanced by scientists such as the Nobel laureate Wilson, who long ago proposed his theory—Pasko terms it "simple and elegant"—linking conventional lightning, luminous discharges above storms, and electrical fields in the middle and upper atmosphere. Worldwide, around 1,800 thunderstorms rumble at any given moment, with lightning striking the earth 100 times a second. Lightning detection systems in the United States record an average of 25 million cloud-to-ground strikes annually. Although they cannot yet forecast the location or timing of lightning, scientists have gained a basic understanding of this awe-inspiring force, which the National Weather Service calls "a random, chaotic, and dangerous fact of nature." During a typical thunderstorm, one lightning stroke in five hits the ground; the others flash inside a cloud, from one cloud to another, or into the surrounding air. A lightning bolt is a channel of electricity an inch or two across and 200 feet to 40 miles long. Its current can be 30,000 amperes. Its temperature can reach 50,000 degrees F., four times as hot as the surface of the sun. Thunder is the shock wave caused by the sudden expansion of that ribbon of lightning-heated air. Thunderstorms develop when air rises rapidly, its moisture condensing to form a cloud. Clouds can build to heights of 35,000 to 60,000 feet; cold temperatures at those altitudes freeze water into ice particles ranging in size from small crystals to large hailstones. In the turbulence of a swiftly ascending cloud, ice particles, raindrops, and cloud droplets churn and collide, picking up electrical charges. In general, the lighter, positively charged particles float to the top of the cloud, while negatively charged ones, including large raindrops and hail, sift to the lower zones. As a cloud marches across the land, its negatively charged base attracts a pool of positive charge on the ground. From the cloud, a "stepped leader" edges downward—stepping, pausing, stepping again. When it nears the ground, a positive charge rises to meet it. The two opposing charges unite, closing the circuit, and a vivid return stroke rushes back to the cloud. As the return stroke subsides, secondary strokes from the cloud retrace the main channel, striking the earth two, three, as many as a dozen times. The eye can barely make out these speedy strokes, which is why lightning seems to flicker. Not all lightning is unleashed by the lower, negatively charged cloud region. Lightning can also shoot out of the upper part of a thunderhead, that glowering, fast-rising zone known as the anvil. This sort of lightning typically carries a positive charge. Positive lightning can reach many miles from the storm, well beyond any rain, and its strong electrical current can ignite fires and strike people dead. Lightning kills an average of 73 Americans annually—more than tornadoes or hurricanes—and injures another 300. "We don't know exactly how red sprites are triggered," says Pasko, "but they're almost always associated with intense positive cloud-to-ground lightning." According to Pasko, the 1989 event that John Winckler fortuitously photographed in Minnesota was a sprite: "It was relatively short and impulsive. Most sprites last from one to ten milliseconds." A millisecond is a thousandth of a second. To actually see a red sprite, you have to be looking straight at it: there's no time to spot one peripherally, then shift your gaze. The odds of viewing one from the ground are not great. Unless you can get up high, as at the Yucca Ridge Field Station in Colorado, clouds generally stand between you and any sprites or jets. "The top of a sprite is red, converting to blue or purple below," Pasko says. Sprites propagate downward, starting at an altitude of approximately 90 kilometers. Traveling at 10 million meters per second, they terminate at around 40 kilometers of altitude. Rarely do sprites appear singly; usually they flash in clusters of two, three, or more, and they show a variety of complex shapes. Since the Winckler video, researchers have photographed more than a thousand sprites. During his 2001 vigil in Puerto Rico, Pasko videotaped eight: seven linked to positive cloud-to-ground lightning, as shown by their electromagnetic signatures, and an anomalous eighth coinciding with a stroke of negative lightning. "While lightning seems to be the root cause of sprites," says Pasko, "no one has discovered a direct link between lightning and blue jets." Blue jets behave differently from sprites. On their upward trajectory, they move more slowly, on the order of 100,000 meters per second. A typical blue jet lasts several tenths of a second, fountaining up as high as 42 kilometers—around the altitude where red sprites cease their downward journeying. "Blue jets appear following the fast growth of positive charge near the thundercloud top," Pasko says. "Hail may actually trigger the event." When hail falls, it removes a large quantity of negative charge from a thunderstorm. "Positive current then flows upward, creating a strong upwardly directed field at the cloud top. The field may then launch filaments of ionization filling giant cone-shaped volumes of the atmosphere." From his vantage point 200 kilometers away, the blue jet that Pasko videotaped "looked huge. And in rising to 70 kilometers, it was taller than anything recorded before." A frame from the video made the cover of the 14 March 2002 Nature, and the journal ran a report, "Electrical Discharge from a Thundercloud Top to the Lower Ionosphere," by Pasko and his colleagues. Says Pasko, "The phenomenon actually displayed traits of both jets and sprites." It started slowly, like a jet, climbing in a single smooth filament. When it reached 42 kilometers, it rebrightened and sped up tremendously while ramifying into branching discharge trees, which dwindled to become hot spots: Scientists have observed a similar sequence following the occurrence of large groups of sprites. Data from the GOES 8 weather satellite combined with the positions of stars recorded on the video let the researchers accurately gauge the event's altitude, extent, and speed: about 50 kilometers per second in its early phase, increasing to 160, then 270—and finally a blistering 2000 kilometers per second. "During the blue jet initiation," says Pasko, "the electrical field antenna did not detect an electromagnetic pulse indicating that lightning was taking place." But when the jet split into two columns and raced upward, "the data tell us that a negative charge was going up—we're still discussing what that might mean. We don't know if the charge came from the blue jet, or from lightning beneath the storm." The VLF receiver operated by Troy Wood on Vieques Island shed no light on the event. Pasko smiles somewhat sheepishly as he explains: "On the nights that we videotaped the sprites and th jet, the power happened to be down on Vieques, so we lost a chance to pick up some interesting data. Next time we'll take along an uninterrupted power supply." These days, Pasko and his graduate students are studying the vertical propagation of sprites and jets. By integrating data from lab experiments with videos of actual events, they can model the potential electrical properties of the phenomena, down to the microphysics of their streamers. "We're looking at the process on the level of individual electrons," Pasko says. "It's like an avalanche that can go both ways, down or up. But instead of gravity, there's an electrical field powering the process." The electrical field causes electrons to accelerate and collide with neutral air molecules. The molecules become ionized, producing new electrons that also are accelerated. These electrons excite various states of nitrogen and oxygen molecules, which then emit light. "The same types of molecules are excited in both sprites and jets," Pasko says. "But at the lower altitudes where jets occur, the excited molecules have a greater number of ambient gas molecules to run into." These "quenching collisions" reduce the number of molecules responsible for red light production, which is why jets are blue and why blue or purplish colors appear at the bottoms of sprites. Sprites and jets occupy volumes of the atmosphere many orders of magnitude greater than those of conventional lightning. Because they're so diffuse, and because the middle and upper atmosphere is much thinner than the lower atmosphere, sprites and jets cannot superheat localized areas, as lightning does, and therefore do not create the shock waves that reach our ears as thunder. According to Pasko, only the lowest portions of blue jets, sometimes called blue starters, may heat the air enough to produce sound. Silent though they may be, sprites and jets "probably have an immense impact on the chemistry of the atmosphere," Pasko says. By now, scientists have observed them all over the globe: in Europe, Japan, Australia, North America, Central America, South America—just recently, above the ocean near the Philippines. The blue jet that Pasko videotaped came from a run-of-the-mill thunderstorm, implying that many such events may take place daily. Scientists believe the electrical currents of sprites and jets may spur reactions between atmospheric gases. One theory suggests that they affect the planet's protective ozone layer, possibly contributing to ozone production. Says Pasko, "The beauty of this field is that it's bringing together a range of specialists from around the world—electrical and computer engineers, geophysicists, earth and space scientists, meteorologists. And it's linking research into different atmospheric regions, from the lower atmosphere to the ionosphere." Pasko is particularly curious about how sprites and jets fit into the global electrical circuit. "Think of the ionosphere and the surface of the earth as plates of a giant spherical capacitor," he says. "The two plates are oppositely charged, with a 300,000-volt difference between them. The atmosphere in between is a weak conductor that is constantly trying to solve the disparity between the two plates. "Sprites and jets may help to discharge the system. Or they may play a role in charging it. We don't know yet. We don't know how frequently they occur, and we're just beginning to study their internal physics. But we can be certain now that these phenomena establish a connection between storms and the ionosphere. The blue jet that we caught on video is evidence of a direct link." Victor Pasko, Ph.D., is associate professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering, 211B Electrical Engineering East, University Park, PA 16802; 814-865-3467; vpasko@psu.edu. To see his videotape of the blue jet, and for links to other pertinent information, go to http://pasko.ee.psu.edu/Nature/. The National Science Foundation supported Pasko's 2001 campaign in Puerto Rico with a Small Grant for Exploratory Research; in 2002, the foundation awarded Pasko a $350,000 Faculty Early Career Development Grant. ITT Night Vision Industries provided light-intensifying equipment. For more information on sprites, jets, and other storm-related phenomena, see an article, co-authored by Pasko and four colleagues, "Upward Electrical Discharges from Thunderstorm Tops," in the April 2003 Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Sprites form at plasma irregularities in the lower ionosphere Uncovering the mechanisms of lightning varieties Sprites and Elves in the Atmosphere Research, Science and Technology electrical engineering, Engineering, ITT Night Vision, lightning, National Science Foundation, sprites, Victor Pasko	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2675
__label__cc	0.666528	0.333472	You are here: Home / Archives for David Hill Settlement of Goldberg Lawsuit A Victory for Journalists by David Hill, January 29, 2019 National Writers Union member Ryan Goldberg, a NYC-based freelance journalist, has recently settled the defamation lawsuit brought against him by the subject of one of his investigative stories. The 2017 lawsuit took issue with Goldberg’s 2016 article, “How America’s Favorite Sports Betting Expert Turned A Sucker’s Game Into an Industry,” on the website Deadspin. The […] NWU Supports 115 Members of Study Hall by David Hill, October 1, 2018 The following letter was signed by 115 members of the Study Hall collective. NWU supports their struggle. September 5, 2018: When The Outline launched in late 2016, they promised to be “a new kind of publication” that would, against many odds, find ways to thrive in a near-apocalyptic media landscape. Yesterday, they announced layoffs of […] RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RYAN GOLDBERG by David Hill, August 20, 2018 WHEREAS NWU member and award winning freelance journalist Ryan Goldberg is currently being sued for defamation by the subject of an investigative story he wrote for Deadspin in 2016, whose parent company Gawker had previously filed for bankruptcy and sold to Univision after losing a lawsuit backed by the billionaire Peter Thiel and WHEREAS that […] 1st VP’s 2018 Report Ten years ago the world of the freelance writer was different than it is today. The internet had already taken off and transformed the way the world consumed media, and much of the damage to the careers of freelance writers was already done. But even over the last decade, we’ve seen those standards fall even further, with little […] NWU and Jacobin Reach a Freelancer Agreement by David Hill, May 14, 2018 NEW YORK, NY (May 14, 2018) – The National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) announced today that they have reached an agreement with Jacobin Magazine over a contract that covers freelancers for the publication’s print magazine and website. The agreement follows similar agreements negotiated last fall with The Nation and earlier this spring with In […] NWU and ITT Sign Freelancer Agreement by David Hill, March 13, 2018 NEW YORK, NY (March 13, 2018) – The National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) announced today that they have reached an agreement with In These Times over a contract that covers freelancers for the publication’s print magazine and website. The agreement follows a similar agreement negotiated last fall with The Nation, and provides a template for freelance digital writers […] NWU y The Nation firman acuerdo de protección de escritores independientes by David Hill, September 13, 2017 NUEVA YORK, NY (12 de septiembre de 2017) – El Sindicato Nacional de Escritores NWU (UAW Local 1981) anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con la publicación The Nation para suscribir un contrato que protege a los freelancers que colaboran en la recita tanto en la versión impreso como en la digital. […] NWU and The Nation Sign Freelance Agreement NEW YORK, NY (September 12, 2017) – The National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) announced today that they have reached an agreement with The Nation over a contract that covers freelancers for the publication’s print magazine and website. The contract is one of the first of its kind for freelance digital writers, who have so […] UN Concerned About Trump’s Intimidation of Journalists Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued his annual report to the UN Human Rights Council. In it he lays out a number of concerns about Donald Trump, including his intimidation of journalists and judges.: “…In the United States of America, I am concerned by the new Administration’s handling […] When She Asked About Payment, Editor Cut Her Story Recently an email exchange between writer Brittany Stalsburg and an editor went viral in certain corners of the Twittersphere after she sought compensation for an editorial she’s written. We reached out to Brittany to learn more about her and the incident that had everyone on Twitter talking (once again) about how freelance writers are […]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2679
__label__wiki	0.783714	0.783714	You are here: Home / News / World Press Freedom Day 2019 – Support the IFJ Convention on the Safety and Protection of Media Workers World Press Freedom Day 2019 – Support the IFJ Convention on the Safety and Protection of Media Workers by Larry Goldbetter, May 3, 2019 Hand out of Lyra McKee (Courtesy photo) On April 19, 29-year old Journalist Lyra McKee was shot and killed while covering the riots in Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland. Lyra had worked at the Belfast Telegraph, was a member of the National Union of Journalists UK and Ireland and was a freelancer and novelist. She was killed after a gunman, apparently with the New IRA, fired shots towards the police. She was standing nearby, reporting live from the scene. This is just the most recent tragic example of why the IFJ has launched a campaign for an International Convention dedicated to the protection of journalists and media professionals. Despite many protocols, guidelines and proposals, journalists still face a daily threat – and impunity continues to make the situation worse. In the last 6 years more than 600 journalists have been killed. Nine in 10 cases remain unsolved and unpunished. Impunity reigns. Hundreds of journalists are imprisoned and on a daily basis, journalists are attacked, beaten, detained, harassed and threatened. There are growing threats to digital safety with cyber-attacks, hacking, online harassment, especially of women journalists, all creating a safety crisis for news professionals. Behind every statistic is a human tragedy – a death, a kidnapping, a family left blown apart. Behind every statistic is a country or community left without information, denied the democratic right to be properly informed. The IFJ Convention would be a new binding international instrument dedicated to the safety of media workers, with a specific enforcement mechanism. Media workers require a category-specific solution. Three Current Cases In the US Manuel Duran April 3, marks one year that journalist Manuel Duran has been sitting in an ICE Detention Center fighting his deportation. Manuel is a well-known and respected journalist in Memphis, TN, who previously worked at a TV station in El Salvador. After his life was threatened there, he came to the US more than a decade ago as an undocumented immigrant. He was arrested by Memphis police on April 3, 2018, while covering a local immigration rights protest. Despite wearing a press badge around his neck, police arrested him and charged him with disorderly conduct. Two days later, Memphis police dropped the charges and turned Manuel over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where he’s been held ever since. A year after his arrest, and despite court rulings supporting his claims for relief from deportation, Manuel still finds himself detained by ICE and separated from his family. NWU has joined in demanding Manuel’s release from ICE detention as a violation of immigration law and the United States Constitution. On the anniversary of his imprisonment he said, “I miss my work and I miss being able to help my community…” A Federal court sent his case back to the Board of Immigration Appeals to review the evidence of how journalists are persecuted in El Salvador, as well as his other claims for relief. ICE has the power to release him at any time, but they choose not to. If immigrant journalists can be silenced and held indefinitely, it threatens all journalists, citizen and immigrant alike. On World Press Freedom Day, we renew our call for ICE to release Manuel Duran immediately. Marzieh Hashemi Marzieh Hashemi is a black woman, a U.S. citizen, a Muslim and an anchorwoman of Iran’s English-language news station, PressTV. On January 13, 2019, she was suddenly taken into custody by U.S. government officials after landing in St. Louis. She was not charged with any crime, but was held as an alleged material witness in an investigation. She was not served with a subpoena and she did not refuse to testify. Once in custody, she was forced to remove her headscarf and, as a deliberate insult, was offered pork to eat before being transferred to a secret location in Washington, D.C. She was released from custody after being held for 10 days. She was not arrested or charged with a crime. In a statement the family said, “Marzieh and her family will not allow this to be swept under the carpet…Just as America is aware of the harassment of the Black community by the police, America needs to start talking about the harassment of the Muslim community by the FBI.” We also must point out the silence of the corporate media on this matter. The same corporate media that cried out in horror over the banning of CNN’s Jim Acosta from White House press briefings, were mostly silent about the government’s kidnapping of a black woman media worker who is also a Muslim and a U.S. citizen. Refugees at the Border NWU has joined thousands of others in answering the call of the humanitarian crisis created by the Trump Administration for Central American refugees at the US/Mexico border. Around Christmas time, a group of photojournalists from several countries, including US citizens working for major news outlets, had their passports photographed by Mexican police. According to the Intercept’s Ryan Devereux, “In the weeks that followed, each of them experienced secondary screenings by U.S. and foreign officials while attempting to cross borders in multiple countries. In one case, a photojournalist was barred from re-entering Mexico…In another case, a photojournalist was taken into a private room at a U.S. port of entry, shown a book full of photographs of border- activists, and asked if he could identify any of them…nineteen sources described police actions ranging from the barring and removal of journalists and lawyers from Mexico, to immigrant rights advocates being shackled to benches in U.S. detention cells for hours at a time. Multiple sources, including members of the press, described being forced to turn over their notes, cameras, and phones while plainclothes U.S. border officials pumped them for information about activists working with members of the caravans.” These are just three examples. There are many more affecting media workers in the U.S. and tens of thousands more affecting our colleagues around the world. On World Press Freedom Day 2019, we have our work cut out for us. And that includes making the IFJ Convention for the Protection and Safety of Journalists a priority and pushing it forward.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0034.json.gz/line2680

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