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M-A grad Adrienne McDonnell is author of novel, The Doctor and the Diva
by Linda Hubbard Gulker on April 24, 2015
After one of her family’s frequent moves, Adrienne McDonnell, whose novel The Doctor and the Diva was published in 2011, arrived at Menlo-Atherton High School as a freshman. She already knew one thing: She wanted to be a writer, an aspiration she’d had since first putting pencil to paper in early grade school.
“My father worked for Time Life,” she explained, “and we moved around a lot. I was one of eight children, and my parents would pack us on a plane and off we’d go. We landed on Selby Lane in Atherton just before I was to start high school.”
She recalls driving down the tree-lined street for the first time, thinking that there were stories behind the hedges and long driveways [fewer gates in those days]. “And there were,” she said. “One neighbor was one of the founders of American Motors, another one of the partners of Shipstads and Johnson Ice Follies.”
“There’s a novel inside me that’s definitely going to be set in Atherton!” she added with a smile.
Her first novel, The Doctor and the Diva, took a long time to “marinate,” as she explained. “I wrote the first draft and it stayed in the drawer for 20 years. But I finally took it out and recast the characters, beginning the book through the doctor’s eyes rather than the opera singer’s.”
The book is inspired by real life people, which Adrienne recounts on her website. The married couple in the novel, Erika von Kessler and her husband Peter, were inspired by her son’s paternal ancestors — his great-great grandparents. The novel also casts its eye on fertility treatments available long before most people realize.
In Menlo Park to visit for the day, the Berkeley-based author talked about some of the key takeaways from her four years at M-A. “I had a wonderful English teacher, Mr. Dempsey, who taught us more like we were college students. We read a new novel every week written by authors from all over the globe.
“And Frau Parker [who taught language arts for two decades] was the greatest teacher I ever had in my life. Her standards were high; she believed in learning and learning it well. That kind of discipline really stuck with me.
“Plus, she had a great sense of theatrics. When you came into her room, it was like she was on stage!
“And here’s a confession. I used to make lists of her clothes. I don’t think she repeated an outfit over a three month period. It was my way of learning to impersonate the gender of the person I was learning to be.”
Photo by Irene Searles
Tagged as: historical novels, Menlo Atherton High School
Jakob October 16, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Wow, all this time and no comments. Congrats on your career, but even more so I applaud you for keeping track of Frau Parkers attire. She always dressed well. She was amazing, tough as nails and sweet at the same time.
Previous post: Spotted: Rainbow of colors on Oak Knoll School fence
Next post: 10th annual Big Bear 5K run scheduled for May 3 – save on early registration by April 26
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Elena Babatsouli Institute of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech
Martin J. Ball Bangor University
Keywords: Editorial
Elena Babatsouli, Institute of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech
Elena Babatsouli is the Director of the Institute of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech in Chania, Greece, whose purpose is the advancement and dissemination of scientific knowledge in various aspects of language acquisition, typical and atypical. She received a BA in English from Royal Holloway, University of London, a MA in Languages and Business from London South Bank University and her PhD in Linguistics from the University of Crete. Her research interests are in the acquisition, use and loss of language in all its forms (first, second, bilingual, dialectal), and in clinical implications. She has edited/co-edited five books with Equinox and Multilingual Matters. She chairs the biennial International Symposium of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech (ISMBS) and edits its Proceedings. She is also the co-editor of the Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech.
Martin J. Ball, Bangor University
Dr Martin J. Ball is Honorary Professor in the School of Lianguistics and English Language at Bangor University, Wales. Until recently he was Professor of Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics at Linköping University, Sweden, having formerly held the position of Hawthorne-BoRSF Endowed Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He received his bachelor’s degree with honours in Linguistics and English from the University of Wales (Bangor); his Master’s degree in phonetics and linguistics from the University of Essex; his Ph.D. from the University of Wales (Cardiff), and a DLitt degree from Bangor University. Dr Ball has authored and edited over 35 books, 50 contributions to collections and 100 refereed articles in academic journals. He has also presented at conferences around the world. He is co-editor of the journal Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics (Taylor & Francis); and of the book series Studies in Phonetics and Phonology (Equinox), Communication Disorders across Languages (Multilingual Matters), and Language and Speech Disorders (Psychology Press). His main research interests include sociolinguistics, clinical phonetics and phonology, and the linguistics of Welsh.
Babatsouli, E., & Ball, M. J. (2019). Editorial. Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech, 1(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1558/jmbs.10972
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Burn in Flames Post-Patriarchal Archive in Circulation
Keywords: patriarchy, capitalism, state, female body, regulation, resistance
This is the transcript of a presentation made by artists Sarah Browne and Jesse Jones at the Mixing Feminism, Legality and Knowledge seminar, held in June 2016 at the School of Law, Queen Mary Universtiy of London. The archive in circulation consists of objects involved in the regulation of the female body under the nation state and capitalism, which are labelled hazardous for future generations. It is one of a number of critical feminist tactics of resistance and defence, and exists for a future moment after the fall of patriarchy. The project forms part of a larger collaborative project by the artists called In the Shadow of the State.
Artist based in Ireland.
Browne, S., & Jones, J. (2016). Burn in Flames Post-Patriarchal Archive in Circulation. feminists@law, 6(1). Retrieved from https://journals.kent.ac.uk/index.php/feministsatlaw/article/view/265
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work for any purposs with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
CfP: Feminism, Law and Citizenship, 24-26 June 2020, University Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Paris
This international conference is organized by University Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne and University of Reading, together with the Gender, Law and Society Working Group of the Research Committee for the Sociology of Law (RCSL).
Exploring feminist academics' experiences of teaching gendered and intersectional socio-legal issues (UK)
Dr Marian Duggan (Kent) and Dr Charlotte Bishop (Exeter) invite UK University-based feminist academics who teach Criminal Law, Criminology and/or Criminal Justice to participate in a research project funded by the Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) .
Carole Pateman, 'The Sexual Contract:30 Years On' from Donatella Alessandrini on Vimeo.
feminists@law
An open access journal of feminist legal scholarship
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Follow Judge Osman Online
About Matt Osman
Matt Osman is a District Court Judge for the 26th Judicial District, which covers Mecklenburg County, N.C. He was first elected to the Court in 2010 and re-elected without opposition in 2014.
Copyright © Committee to Re-Elect Judge Matt Osman | All Rights Reserved.
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Judge Matt Osman
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New Year's Day and the Roman calendar
Happy New Year! In early Rome, anyway. Well, maybe ... actually maybe not. Can’t be sure.
‘Date’ and ‘calendar’ are ambiguous words. They can refer to how we label years, but also to how we label days within a year.
But historically, these two things -- year labels and day labels -- haven’t had all that much to do with each other. The date of Julius Caesar’s assassination is the 15th of March, 44 BCE. The Romans called it the 15th of March too (or the equivalent, in Latin) -- but they didn’t call it 44 BCE.
We label years with a number, using the CE/BCE or AD/BC system. This system came into use with 7th-8th century English historians like Bede and Alcuin. It was based on chronological work done by Christian calendrical-liturgical scholars who put a lot of effort into reconciling several different calendar traditions, such as Dionysius Exiguus (‘Dionysius the Puny’) in 525, and going back at least to the 100s.
But we label days within a year using a slightly modified form of the Julian calendar, a system that was introduced under Julius Caesar’s dictatorship in 46 BCE. So these are two independent things.
Just to make things worse: even after both of these systems were in widespread use, from the 700s onwards, 1 January wasn’t necessarily the start of the year. New Year’s Day could be a variety of different days depending on when, where, and whom we’re talking about.
In England before the Norman invasion, the New Year began on 25 March or 25 December -- so the day after 24 March 1050 was 25 March 1051 in the calendar of the time. After 1066 the New Year shifted to 1 January, but was put back on 25 March on the accession of Henry II. It stayed there until switching to 1 January again in 1751. France and Italy also used 25 March or 25 December up until the late 1500s, when they too moved to 1 January. Russia used 1 September up until 1700; that’s still the New Year in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar. In the Catholic church the calendar starts on 1 January for some purposes, but for others (like in lectionaries) it begins on the first Sunday of Advent, at some point in the period 27 November to 3 December. The tax year is out of synch with the calendar year in plenty of countries too. But all of these systems use, or used, the Julian/Gregorian calendar for telling which day it is.
And then we have the Romans. In the past we’ve looked at the myth that the Romans used an ‘AUC’ system for specifying the year (only after the time of Varro, and only rarely). Now let’s talk about the other calendar -- the one for telling which day it is.
The last four months of the year are based on Latin number words. One of the most common complaints about the month-names that we’ve inherited from the Romans is that they’re the wrong numbers:
Month number
Meaning of name
September 9 septem = 7
October 10 octo = 8
November 11 novem = 9
December 12 decem = 10
A fair number of people have heard a story that these months were originally the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months of the year. That’s what the Romans themselves believed. It may even be true. But there’s quite a lot of misinformation floating around as to how and when it changed (if it did change).
Inscription dating to ‘the 17th day before the Kalends of Germanicus’ (CIL XI 5745 = ILS 6644)
Myth #1: July and August
One myth I’ve seen around is that the Roman calendar had 10 months up until the invention of the Julian calendar, and on that occasion Iulius (July) and Augustus (August) were added, named after Julius Caesar and Augustus respectively, to make a total of 12.
That is where the names July and August come from, but it’s false that they were added. They were just re-named: the republican calendar had 12 months too. July had been called Quintilis or Quinctilis, but was renamed after Caesar’s death, partly to honour Caesar himself (whose birthday was in July) and partly because of the new solar calendar that he had instituted in 46; Augustus himself did the renaming of Sextilis, probably in conjunction with another small calendar reform to correct how the Julian calendar was implemented.
If you know your Latin, you’ll spot that these follow a similar pattern to the other ‘number’ months, just with ordinal numbers instead of cardinals:
Quintilis 7 quintus = 5th
Sextilis 8 sextus = 6th
Some later rulers in the principate tried to rename months after themselves too. Thankfully, they never stuck. Gaius (Caligula) renamed September Germanicus, after one of his surnames; Nero renamed April, May, and June all after himself, as Neroneus, Claudius, and Germanicus; Domitian renamed September and October as Germanicus and Domitianus; Commodus renamed all twelve months after his various adopted names. Shudder. (Still, if any of these had stuck, there’d be a bright side: imagine celebrating Nero Fool’s Day on the 1st of Neroneus.)
A passage from one of Cicero’s letters to his brother Quintus, written in 56 BCE, mentioning a few dates: highlighted is K. Quintilis (1 July).
Myth #2: January and February
January and February were put at the start of the year at some point. But we don’t have any real idea how, why, or when, except that it was pretty early.
Roman tradition held that the mythical king Numa, the second of Rome’s legendary seven kings, added them onto a pre-existing 10-month calendar. But even if Numa was ever a real person, which is vanishingly unlikely, the Romans certainly didn’t have any records of any kind from that period.
They didn’t have records from anywhere near that period. There’s no authentic Roman history at all before the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king. Even after that point, it’s more myth than history up until the 300s BCE. (As for Priscus, the only reason we suspect he’s real is because of the criterion of embarrassment: we assume that people don’t like inventing embarrassing stories about themselves, and Priscus was a potential embarrassment because he was Etruscan, not Roman.)
Livy, one of Rome’s best known historians, tells us himself that no written records survived from before the 300s. He guessed that the records were all destroyed in the Gaulish sack of Rome, traditionally dated to 390 BCE. More likely, no records ever existed. If Numa had existed, he’d have been in the 700s BCE: four hundred years before any actual written records. For stories set in that period our default assumption has to be that they’re all completely false.
That includes the stories about Numa reforming the Roman calendar. And it also includes the idea that there were originally 10 months in the calendar.
Now, the story that January and February got added to the start of the year looks intrinsically reasonable. First, there ought to be an explanation for the number-names of Quintilis to December; the January-February story explains it nicely. Second, the idea that they were originally intercalary winter months -- adjusted each year to make the dates come out in synch with the seasons -- fits well with the fact that intercalation in historical times was done in February (and still is today). So it looks very plausible that they have a separate origin.
When we see Roman writers coming up with the same story, it’s not because they had access to some kind of secret knowledge from the 700s BCE: it’s because it’s a good theory and they thought of it too. It doesn’t follow that anything else they say about the early calendar is true.
So while it’s completely plausible that January and February were added on, we know nothing at all about how they were added, and nothing about how the early Romans compensated for their absence beforehand. Roman writers tell us stories of extra intercalary months in winter; stories that January and February were originally at the end of the year, after December; stories that the early Romans just lived with having only 304 days in the calendar and as a result it was sometimes summer in December. We can’t draw any conclusions from those, because they’re all just guesses.
Myth #3: the names of the other months
So months 5 to 10 had names based on Latin numbers: ‘fifth-ilis’, ‘sixth-ilis’, ‘seven-ber’, ‘eight-ber’, and so on. What about the other months?
Ianuarius (January) ‘month of the door’ (ianua ‘door’)
Februarius (February) ‘month of the februa’ (related to Lupercalia)
Martius (March) ‘month of Mars’
Aprilis (April) probably Etruscan: ‘month of Fortune’ (from Etruscan afr, apru(n))
Maius (May) ‘month of the elder’ (mai- ‘older, greater’)
Iunius (June) ‘month of the younger’ (iuni- ‘younger’)
January. Popularly thought to be named for the god Janus, but there’s no real basis for that. There was a very minor festival called Agonalia on the 9th of January that some sources claim was in honour of the god Janus -- but Agonalia also took place on the 20th of May and the 10th of December. It looks pretty obvious that the link to Janus was invented in hindsight.
February. Not ‘month of fevers’ (febres), as I vaguely remember being told when I was younger, but month of the februa. These were purification offerings for the festival of Lupercalia, on the 15th of February. For the same reason we also occasionally see Lupercalia referred to as ‘the februated day’ (dies februatus).
March. Mars was always absolutely central to Roman state religion. He was one of the Big Three along with Jupiter and Ceres, and intimately tied to Roman foundation myths. His place here doesn’t need much explanation.
April. Ancient writers liked to think that Aprilis came from the Greek goddess Aphrodite (originally pronounced Ap‘roditē), and this story is still in circulation. But it’s obviously guesswork, and a late idea: Romans in the time of the principate may have liked to think of Latin as a Greek dialect (wrongly), but the early Romans certainly didn’t use Greek like that. Another possibility (De Vaan 2008: 48) is suggested by the fact that Aprilis shares a suffix with two number-named-months, Quintilis and Sextilis. Aprilis could in principle be another one: it would come from an early compound of Latin ab/ap- ‘away from, off’, as in the verb aperio ‘to open’: *ap(e)rus could be then be an ordinal, ‘the following, second in sequence’, with Aprilis as a month-name based on that. But most probably the name is a borrowing from Etruscan. We have the names of some of the months in the Etruscan calendar, and April happens to correspond to Etruscan apru, aprun, or apira. The Etruscan name is based on the word afr or apher ‘fortune’, indicating the meaning ‘month of Fortune’, where ‘Fortune’ was an Etruscan divinity.
May. Maius is sometimes linked to the Roman goddess Maia (not to be confused with the Greek Maia, who was one of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes -- though the Romans eventually came to identify them with each other). That’s the reason we sometimes see Maia equated with the bona dea (‘good goddess’), whose festival was on the 1st of May. But more probably May and June are a pair: May ‘elder’, and June ‘junior’. This too is an ancient theory -- it’s Varro’s idea -- but unlike many ancient attempts at etymology, this one looks pretty likely.
June. This one is often linked to the goddess Juno, but as we just saw it’s pretty likely to mean ‘younger’, paired with May ‘elder’. If the name had come from Juno it would have to be Iunonius, not Iunius. Some sources (like the Oxford Classical Dictionary) suggest that the name is Etruscan -- Juno’s Etruscan name was Uni, and it’s a lot easier to see Iunius coming from that -- but that theory doesn’t hold water. First, Juno is an Indo-European name: the Etruscans borrowed Uni from Iuno, not the other way round. Second, we know what the Etruscans called the month of June, and it ain’t related to Uni: they called it acale or acle.
May and June are still connected to Maia and Juno, just indirectly. The names are linguistic cousins, not linguistic parent and child. That is to say: Maia doesn’t come from Maius, but they do both come from the same origin, mai-, meaning ‘elder’ or ‘greater’. And it’s the same story with Iunius and Iuno. Presumably Maia would originally have meant ‘elder (goddess)’ or ‘greater (goddess)’, and Juno would have been ‘goddess of youth’ at some point.
Just to finish off, here’s Ovid, with a nice mixture of myths and accurate etymologies:
These were the things that Quirinus [= Romulus] paid attention to
when he gave his laws for the year to the rustic people.
The first month belonged to Mars, the second to Venus [= Aphrodite];
she was the author of the race, he its father.
The third got its name from old people, the fourth from the young,
and the crowd that followed were known by number.
-- Ovid, Fasti 1.37-42
Ovid knew his Varro. So he’s got March, May, and June right; but he’s wrong about April, and we just don’t know if he’s right or wrong about March being the first month.
De Vaan, Michel 2008. Etymological dictionary of Latin and the other Italic languages. Leiden/Boston: Brill.
Labels: Caesar, calendar, Christianity, Roman
Hans 12 March 2018 at 04:11
I remember reading that Mars was originally an agricultural god, so having a month named after him in spring would make a certain sense.
Peter Gainsford 12 March 2018 at 10:38
That could certainly fit. I'd also love to hear an etruscologist's view on the history of April!
Easter and paganism. Part 2
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AnimationAnimation /
Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie: Conqueror Of Shamballa (2005)
Munich, Germany, 1923. Two years have passed since Edward Elric was dragged from his own world to ours, leaving behind his country, his friends and his younger brother, Alphonse. Stripped of his alchemical powers, he has been all this time researching rocketry together with Alphonse Heiderich, a young man who resembles his own brother, hoping to one day find a way back home. His efforts so far had proven fruitless, but after lending a hand to a troubled gipsy girl, Edward is thrown in a series of events that can wreak havoc in both worlds. Meanwhile, at his own world, Alphonse Elric ventures deeper into the mysteries of alchemy in search for a way to reunite with his older brother.
Actors: Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke, Jason Liebrecht
Director: Seiji Mizushima
tornado based on manga alchemy weimar germany alchemist anime
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Jim Johnston, M.D.
Jim was born and raised in Jackson. After graduating from Princeton University and Tulane Medical School, he completed his internal medicine residency at Mayo Clinic and gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA. Jim then returned to Jackson to begin a 34-year gastroenterology practice. Since retiring in 2012, Jim has worked to help clean up blight in Jackson and mobilize neighborhood revitalization around the city.
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Ms. Willa R. Womack is a lifelong resident of Jackson, Mississippi. Ms. Womack has owned and operated for the last 24 years Classic Printing, a successful union print shop located in the historic Farish Street District of Jackson, MS.
Ms. Womack says the most important work of her life has been helping and empowering her neighbors in the Battlefield Park Area to improve their lives and community. Since she began that work, calls for police service have been dramatically reduced, home ownership in the historically impoverished area is up by more than 35% and quality of life in the area is greatly improved. Ms. Womack is demonstrating the principle of allowing the community to tell you what it needs and then helping them to implement the plans they devise.
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Mr. Vernon W. Hartley, Sr. is a community and environmental activist in Jackson, MS. Mr. Hartley spent the last 30 years in the US Air Force and Reserves while also working for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Solid Waste division for the City of Jackson. Vernon served as the Commissioner of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, its Executive Committee and the Environmental Board for the Airports Council International-North America. Mr. Hartley graduated with a degree in Community Health Sciences and a Master's of Public Health from the University of Southern Mississippi. Along with Revitalize Mississippi, Vernon is currently an active board member with Keep Jackson Beautiful, the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods and the Pecan Park Neighborhood Association.
Deborah Perkins
Deborah Perkins was appointed in September 2015 as Co-President of John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation, Justice and Christian Community Development headquartered in West Jackson, MS. Deborah directs the finance department, HUD housing renovations for working families, the Wellness Nature Park, internships and community service opportunities. Deborah also works with local community organizations, colleges, churches and businesses to eliminate blight and clean up debris. Deborah believes that “joy is living beyond-self.”
Deborah was born in Los Angeles, CA in January 1960. Her parents Drs. John M. and Vera Mae Perkins – after being called by God to serve and teach the poor in their home state of MS – relocated back home to Mississippi, later that same year. Reconciliation and Community Development have impacted Deborah her whole life: she is committed to restoring, renovating and reviving West Jackson, one block at a time.
Max Arinder, Ph.D.
Max is a Mississippi native and longtime Jackson resident. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. degree in general psychology and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees experimental psychology. Max retired in June 2015 after thirty-four years of service to the Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), having served fifteen years as Chief Analyst for Planning and Support, and nineteen years as Executive Director. His experience and knowledge are great assets for Revitalize Mississippi.
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Todd, a longtime Jackson area resident, graduated from Mississippi College and received his medical and ophthalmology training from the University of Mississippi. Todd spent most of his career as Section Chief in the Division of Ophthalmology at the Jackson VA Medical Center. His passion for helping clean up abandoned properties and his chain saw skills have been essential.
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Andy, a graduate of Mississippi College School of Law, has been a resident of Jackson since 2009. Andy began working with Jim Johnston and the Wider Net program in 2013 on a pro bono basis, while working for the Adams and Reese law firm. Andy helped Jim navigate through the legal issues related to cleaning up blight and assisted in the formation of Revitalize Mississippi in 2016. Since coming on board full-time in April 2017, Andy has been working daily with Jim to find sustainable, community-based solutions for local neighborhoods suffering from blight.
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Black History Month: Week Three
February 20, 2010 February 21, 2010 / Jeff Winbush
To leave at twenty-nine years old, MVP, having won the championship in ’64 and played for it in ’65. To go into the movies and break the color barrier and be in a sex scene with Raquel Welch. To get to be in The Dirty Dozen with some great actors. To make more money in one year than you damn near made in nine years of football. Everything about it was ingenious.
~ Jim Brown
February 15 – today in 1848, Sarah Roberts barred from white school in Boston. Her father, Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school integration suit on her behalf. Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for heavyweight boxing championship. Ali regained the title on September 15 and became the person to win the title three times in 1978.
February 16 – Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis in the second round of their New York fight and became the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1970.
February 17 – James Nathaniel Brown, 74, Pro Football Hall of Fame Fullback, Born February 17, 1936 in St. Simons Island, GA, Michael Jeffrey Jordon, Basketball player, former minor league baseball player, Born New York, New York, February 17, 1963.
Once there were giants...
February 18 – today in 1913, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was incorporated at Howard University.
February 19 – Vonetta Flowers became the first black gold medalist in the history of the Winter Olympic Games. She and partner Jull Brakken won the inagural women’s two-person bobsled event in 2002 at Salt Lake City, Utah.
February 20 – Death of Frederick Douglass (78), Douglass was the leading Black spokesman for almost fifty years. He was a major abolitionist and a lecturer and editor. Charles Wade Barkley, basketball player, born Leeds, AL, February 20, 1963.
February 21 – today in 1987, African Americans in Tampa, Florida rebelled after an African American man was killed by a white police officer while in custody.
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz a.k.a. Malcolm X is assassinated while speaking at The Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. He is 39 years old.
Source: http://www.floridablackhistory.com/facts.cfm
In 2002 Vonetta Flowers and Jill Bakken won the gold medal in the women's 2-woman bobsled.
Black History Month, Jim Brown, Malcolm X, Vonetta Flowers
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You are here: Home // Travel News // Israel Travel News - November 2012
Israel Travel News - November 2012
ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM LAUNCHES NEW "INVITE A FRIEND" TOURISM CAMPAIGN
The Israel Ministry of Tourism recently launched its new "Invite a Friend" tourism campaign. Led by Israeli actress Noa Tishby, the new campaign urges Israelis to use video clips and digital postcards to invite friends and colleagues to travel to Israel for a chance to win one of 200 free vacations in Israel.
ISRAELI OPERA TO HOST PERFORMANCES OF RENOWNED RUSSIAN OPERA "YEVGENY ONEGIN" IN 2013
For the first-time ever, the Israeli Opera will host several performances of Pushkin's renowned Russian opera, "Yevgeny Onegin," at the HaBima National Theater in Tel Aviv, June 24 - July 6, 2013. The performance will feature the orchestra, choir and soloists from the Bolshoi Opera (Moscow), and include English and Hebrew subtitles.
NEW 5-STAR AND BOUTIQUE HOTELS OPEN IN ISRAEL
A new wave of boutique hotels have opened in Israel this year, including The Rothschild, Townhouse TLV and Berdichevsky Hotel in the heart of Tel Aviv, as well as the Eden House Premier in the city's picturesque Kerem HaTemaneim neighborhood. Also, several five-star properties will open in Israel in 2013, including the Ritz Carlton Herzliya, Waldorf=Astoria Jerusalem and Royal Beach Tel Aviv.
PECHA KUCHA CREATIVE CONFERENCE ARRIVES
IN TEL AVIV, DECEMBER 2
Pecha Kucha, the world's largest non-profit art movement which takes place in 570 cities around the globe, will arrive in Tel Aviv and showcase works and presentations by artists in a wide array of disciplines at the city's Hangar 11 venue, December 2. Pecha Kucha will showcase short-length presentations with the goal of allowing artists to describe their creative processes and works in six and a half minute intervals.
LONELY PLANET LISTS ISRAEL'S NEGEV DESERT AMONG TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS OF 2013
Israel's Negev Desert has been named as one of the "Top Travel Destinations of 2013" in a recent list released by Lonely Planet. The list describes the Negev Desert as "a giant greenhouse of development" with "eco-villages, spa resorts and even wineries."
TEL AVIV WINS INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES
Tel Aviv has been the recipient of two recent accolades, including being nominated as one of the world's most innovative cities in a recent 'City of the Year' contest sponsored by WSJ, the Wall Street Journal magazine; and being ranked as one of the 2012 "World's 10 Best Cities for Architecture Lovers" by leading travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. In addition, Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport was presented with the "Roll of Excellence" award this month by the Airports Council International (ACI).
NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, "LOCAL TESTIMONY," TO OPEN AT ERETZ ISRAEL MUSEUM, DECEMBER 6
A new photography exhibition showcasing the works of Israeli and international artists, entitled "Local Testimony," will open at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, December 6. The exhibition will boast photographs taken this year and based upon the themes of politics, society, culture, art, nature and sports.
ISRAELI AND INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON PILOTS LAUNCH "FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD" IN ISRAEL
A group of Israeli and international hot air balloon pilots began a journey around the world last month beginning in Mount Gilboa, Israel. The group of 15 pilots will fly over Australia, US, Europe, Asia and Africa during the year-long trip.
OCTOBER 2012 SETS NEW ALL-TIME HIGH FOR TOURISM TO ISRAEL
A total of 391,000 travelers arrived in Israel in October 2012, a 13% increase compared to October 2012 and a new all-time high in tourism to Israel. Also, more than 3,000,000 travelers arrived in Israel between January and October 2012, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC STARS TO PERFORM IN ISRAEL
Israel will host performances by international music stars this year and in 2013, including a concert by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette at Tel Aviv's Nokia Arena, December 3, 2012; and a performance by British new-wave trio Depeche Mode at Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, May 7, 2013.
NEW BOEING 787 DREAMLINER LANDS IN TEL AVIV'S BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A new Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, landed in Israel at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport this month, marking the first time an airplane of this kind has arrived in Israel.
JERUSALEM TO HOST INTERNATIONAL SPACE CONFERENCE IN 2015
Jerusalem has been selected to host the prestigious International Space Conference, the world's largest gathering on space, in October 2015. The conference will feature 30 symposiums and include 70 lectures on space study, as well as a massive space exhibition.
ISRAELI DANCE TROUPES TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE DANCE FESTIVAL, DECEMBER 5-9
Israeli dance troupes will take part in the International Exposure 2012 festival, taking place in various venues in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem,December 5-9. Designed to integrate international dancers, journalists, and directors with the Israeli dance community, the festival will boast jazz and contemporary dance performances by local troupes, including Maria Kong Dance Company, the Batsheva Dance Company and Fresco Dance Company.
Kobi,
We all returned to the states safely, but we returned changed. Our time in Israel was educational, inspirational, and rewarding. I attribute most of that to you. Thank you so much for your expertise and for your approachable manner. I feel that I have made a new lifelong friend.
I have contacted Sara at Jerusalem Tours and tentatively booked a spot for late October 2013. I requested you as our guide if you are available at that time. Maybe we will see you here in the states before that trip.
Have a wonderful holiday season. I wish the best to you, your fiancee, and your family.
Dr. Stephen C. Rice
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HomeNew Priorities of Uzbekistan
New Priorities of Uzbekistan
Mirzokhid Rakhimov
/ Apr 17, 2017
Understanding and explaining the differences among politics of countries are the core concern of comparative politics. After the disintegration of the USSR, the change of political system became one of the most prominent aspects of reform for the newly independent Central Asian republics. Uzbekistan and other Central Asian republics have inaugurated new structural changes, and their search for establishment of new system of citizens’ engagement was based on certain principles of democracy, as well as unique national values and identity. In some cases, it was not in the same way that the international community wanted.
During the last few years, there were numerous changes and amendments to the constitutions of the republics in an effort to bring further democratization and to ensure a more balanced distribution of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government. But there is still a lot needs to be done. The separation of powers requires every unit to be “put itself in a position to be able to take care of itself since no one else can be counted on to do so” as American political scientist Kenneth Waltz once pointed out. In Uzbekistan, the future of democratization and liberalization is inseparably linked with processes of democratic renovation of the whole society. But these processes would probably come in much gradual pace than we would like it to be.
On September 2, 2016, Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, passed away and the Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev became the acting president. In his speech on September 8, 2016 at a joint meeting of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev called his main task as the continuation of the democratic reforms and transformations in the political, economic, and social spheres, and ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens. He also determined one of his most important priorities to be strengthening cooperation with foreign countries.
On December 4, 2016, presidential election was held, and according to the Central Election Commission, Shavkat Mironovich Mirziyoyev, the acting president and a candidate from the Liberal Democratic Party, received 88.61 percent of the votes and won the election. In February 2017, President Mirziyoyev initiated the Strategy for the Further Development of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021. The strategy covers five main priorities: improvement of state construction, judicial and legal system, economic liberalization, development of the social sphere, and implementation of active foreign policy.
The first four priorities were connected mostly with internal politics. Within the framework of these priorities, a number of innovations were already introduced. One of them is "virtual reception" where the President, Prime Minister, ministers and other officials digitally receive the feedback to citizens, and monitor the implementation of laws. So far the President has received more than half a million appeals from its citizens and most of them were resolved. Practically, now any citizen could freely send petition to the president or any government agency. These efforts can also be considered as part of a gradual move toward improving the current rights and freedom of the people of Uzbekistan.
Moreover, the position of the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate was introduced in order to create a system of effective parliamentary control over foreign affairs, and to institute a system of accountability over the khokims (governors) of all levels. At the same time, due to unforeseen issues and challenges several of the new President’s plans were either corrected or postponed. For example, the implementation of Uzbekistan’s visa free status for visitors from 15 countries was postponed until 2021 most probably due to security concerns. Also the issue of full convertibility of Uzbek currency—Sum—still lingers. Convertibility is one of the key priorities in Uzbekistan’s attempt to increase foreign investment to usher economic and structural reforms.
In the coming years, for Uzbekistan, it is essential to continue political reforms and civic institution development. There are important tasks pending, including further diversification of its economy, the expansion of the private sector, attraction of foreign investment, and widespread adoption of renewable energy. There is a need to deepen reforms in the sphere of education—especially in higher education—and to strengthen university autonomy that would help Uzbek scientist to collaborate with their international peers.
It is also extremely important for the international community to support Uzbekistan and Central Asian republics at this critical juncture to enact political, social, and economic reforms. But perhaps it is prudent to point out that only evolutionary approaches are suitable in the region. In the more than two decades of transformation within the region that is advancing at different paces, a continuous and gradual process of trial and error is appearing to be the only option that would ensure a sustainable long-term solution.
The fifth priority for 2017-2021 concerned the security and foreign policy of Uzbekistan. In particular, implementing a balanced and constructive foreign policy, creating a security belt around Uzbekistan, achieving stability, and maintaining a friendly relations with its neighboring countries have been identified as the main particularities of this priority. In September 2016, when serving as the acting president, Shavkat Mirziyaev intensified Uzbek-Kyrgyz and Uzbek-Tajik dialogues, including on boundary commissions, which signaled to the region the importance of the fifth priority.
In December 2016, as a newly elected President, Mirziyoyev mentioned Central Asia as the priority of his foreign policy. His first two international visits were in March 2017 to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. During the visit to Turkmenistan from March 5-6, 2017, Presidents Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and Mirziyoyev adopted a Joint Statement and signed an Agreement on Strategic Partnership. Also both countries signed several documents on the consistent development of cooperation in many vital sectors, including developing transport communications, which will substantially contribute to the development of the Central Asia region.
From March 22-23, 2017, President of Uzbekistan paid a state visit to Kazakhstan. President Mirziyoyev and President Nazarbayev signed the Joint Declaration on Further Deepening of the Strategic Partnership and Strengthening of Good-neighborliness. During the visit, 13 documents related to the cooperation in the field of parliamentary, taxation, transport, defense, trade, and industry were signed. Within the framework of the visit, the National Industrial Fair of Uzbekistan and a business forum were held in Astana. More than 500 entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan took part in this forum. As a result of these two events, trade contracts and investment agreements for a total of about USD 1 billion were signed.
Today, Central Asians are still confronted by complex threats including international terrorism, religious extremism, illegal drug trafficking, ecological degradation, and water shortage. The still evident water-sharing problem will require the countries in the region to find common grounds and acceptance of legal framework for the main regional or transnational rivers. This effort will be greatly complemented by the use of international best practices in solving water-sharing problems.
The border delimitations process has been completed between China and Central Asian republics, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. But still a more complicated situation exists in the cases of arranging the Uzbek-Kyrgyz, Tajik-Uzbek, and Kyrgyz-Tajik boundaries due to a large number of contentious plots of land located in the border regions. In coming years, the inter-state delimitation and demarcation should be accomplished on the basis of mutual compromise and balanced approach. Security threats in Central Asia are transnational, which makes the national and regional security as interdependent and interconnected.
Stability of Afghanistan is also important for the region, and Uzbekistan’s new administration expressed willingness to extend cooperation with Afghanistan. In January 2017, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov, made his first official visit to Kabul and met with his Afghan counterpart Salahiddin Rabbani. Stabilization and positive changes in Afghanistan would open up new opportunities for Central and South Asian cooperation.
For the new President of Uzbekistan, one of the main tasks in his foreign policy would be the maintenance of a geopolitical balance, especially between Russia, China, the U.S., and the EU, as well as the creation of a multilevel system of partnerships with different countries and international organizations. Moreover, it is important to point out that there are number multilateral initiatives and institutions with different interest at play in Central Asia: US (NATO, C5+1), Russian and Chinese (CIS, CSTO, EEU, SCO, Silk Road Economic Belt), EU (the strategy toward Central Asia), Japan and South Korea (Central Asia plus Japan, Central Asia – Republic of Korea).
President Mirziyoyev continues Uzbekistan`s approach on prioritizing bilateral relations, but made several corrections. In particular, for number of years, Uzbekistan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) had extremely low level relations. On March 16, 2017, EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti visited Uzbekistan and held negotiations at the Senate, the Cabinet of Ministers, and other agencies. Discussions focused on priorities of the economic development of Uzbekistan and potential areas of partnership. The Memorandum of Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EBRD was signed and it sets out the areas for cooperation, including financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border trade and cooperation, and measures to improve the competitiveness of the Uzbek economy.
In April 4-5, 2017 President Mirziyoyev paid official visit to Moscow and during the visit he signed more 50 bilateral agreements on the economy, transport, agriculture, industry, military, migration health, cultural and other fields, which are worth more $ 15 billion. It was the biggest by scale in Uzbek-Russian relations, but at the same time, Uzbekistan is making sure to keep away from Russia’s main initiative—Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). It is very likely that President Mirziyoyev`s next official visits will be to China and India.
The stability in Uzbekistan and whole Central Asia is affected not only by the degree of success of institutional and economic reforms, but also by patterns of regional and global challenges. From a Central Asian perspective, it would be the best to have a strong dialogue and cooperation based on bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries and international institutions, where interests are different, but coordination and cooperation are active.
Dr. Prof. Mirzokhid Rakhimov is the Head of the Department of Contemporary History and International Relations of Uzbekistan’s Institute of History of the Academy of Science.
Vol. 72, No. 1 - Fall/Winter
Are sanctions stopping us from achieving global climate goals?
Alexander Rustler
/ Jul 11, 2019
From the Archives: To A British Friend, Are You In Europe?
René Albrecht-Carrié
Brexit Matters for the United States
Desmond Lachman
Frozen Conflicts and Federalization: Russian Policy in Transnistria and Donbass
Diana Dascalu
The U.S. Government and Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: From Pre-Heartbleed to Shadow Brokers
Jason Healey
The Empowerment of Women in South Korea
Archie Resos
A Few Good (Wo)men: Gender Inclusion in the United States Military
Jennifer L. Barry
The Revolution That Global Health Security Needs
Dr. John Meara and Brian Till
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The JMac Method
An Engineer’s Perspective on Environmental Challenges & How our Technologies will Evolve to Meet Them
by jMac | Apr 18, 2019 | Season 1 | 0 comments
https://jmacconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Conflict_Rising-20190425.mp3
Jennifer McKenna
Rebecca Turk
Bradley Layton
Founder of Integration Energy
Guest: Bradley Layton
Bradley Layton is the founder of Integration Energy, sole proprietor of Human Powered Future, and a partner in BioCarbon Technologies. Dr. Layton also enjoys serving as an engineer for renewable energy companies such as Satic USA in Missoula Montana. Dr. Layton’s companies focus on all forms of renewable energy as well as carbon management through biochar production. Dr. Layton previously served as the Director of the Sustainable Energy Technology Program at the University of Montana in Missoula Montana as well as the engineering faculty at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Layton is the author of two books. The first, Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics has enjoyed success in the academic sector, and his second book, Zero Waste in the Last Best Place, a Personal Account and How-To Guide on Landfill-Living, which is now available through Amazon and iUniverse was selected as “Editor’s Choice.” Prior to his academic career, Layton was a member of the United States Sculling team, a position he maintained while working for the Department of Energy, as well as several Department of Defense contractors. Layton earned his doctorate in Biomedical Engineering in the Sastry laboratories at the University of Michigan, and his bachelor’s of science in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under David Gordon Wilson. Layton continues to enjoy conquering engineering challenges in multiple disciplines including robotics, and even has a vision for a zero-waste clean-energy future that involves building a “pneumatic grid.”
We all know the debate between American politicians and environmental scientists: Is there really climate change? Global warming? We’ve also learned that our strained relationship with China has compromised our recycling efforts. Those of us who care deeply about our land, water and air would like to know what we can do to improve the state of our environment. Join Jennifer as she talks about important environmental challenges with Bradley Layton, PhD, PE who is leading multiple solutions-based initiatives.
©2019 JMac Consulting
A Universal Abundance Experience
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Kyle Orton's Blog
Tag Archives: Greta Ramelli
Qatar and the Gulf Crisis
By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on 30 November 2017
I released a report today, published by the Henry Jackson Society, Qatar and the Gulf Crisis. The intent was to examine the charges made against the Qatari government by its Gulf neighbours with regard to the funding of terrorism, the hosting of extremists, the dissemination of hate speech and incitement, among other things. Having separated fact from fiction with regards to he accusations against Qatar, the report proposes how Britain might proceed in such a way as to press Doha on issues of concern, while avoiding being drawn into the middle of the Gulf dispute, and trying to foster reconciliation between allies, especially at a time when a united front is necessary to oppose the far larger challenge of the Iranian theocracy. Continue reading →
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The Trial: The St. Petersburg Metro Attack Reaches Court in Russia
The Memoir of a British Spy in Al-Qaeda
America’s Policy in Eastern Syria Falters
The West and its Foreign Terrorist Fighters
America Isn’t Going To War With Iran
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Speeches
Abu Hamza al-Muhajir Speeches
Abu Hassan al-Muhajir Speeches
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Speeches
Abu Umar al-Baghdadi Speeches
African Jihadism
Al-Qaeda Speeches
Al-Qaeda Terrorism
Assad and Crimes Against Humanity
Assad and Terrorism
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British Domestic Terrorism
Hamza bin Ladin Speeches
Iran and Sunni jihadis
Iran Deal
IS Relations With Al-Qaeda
Islamic Militancy
Islamic State Defectors
Islamic State Strategy
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Jihadi Biographies
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Mohammed Emwazi (Jihadi John)
PYD/PKK
Russian Provocation
Saddam and Islamism
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Home » Everything Else » Musings » The tender mercy of 2 tornadoes
The tender mercy of 2 tornadoes
Although the main characters in this story weren’t Mormon, we thought our LDS readers would enjoy it. The incredible timing of events sounds like a perfect example of a tender mercy of the Lord.
I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. —Elder David A. Bednar
While two tornadoes striking the same air force base in just 6 days seems like the worst kind of coincidence, the 2 tornadoes that hit Tinker Air Force Base in 1948 ended up being a tender mercy.
On March 20, 1948, a tornado ripped through Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. It missed most of the buildings, but tore through the airfield causing 10 million dollars of damage to military aircraft, and injuries to personal. The base command was upset that they had very little warning that a storm was coming, and no warning at all that it might be severe enough to produce a tornado. They were told that “due to the nature of the storm it was not forecastable given the present state of the art.”
Not liking this answer, and recognizing that the base and the public at large really needed a little warning when tornadoes were likely, the base command asked base personal to investigate whether this could have been predicted. The base’s meteorologists were Major Ernest J. Fawbush and Captain Robert C. Miller. Using all of their training, they immediately poured over the data with a sense of urgency.
Elder David A. Bednar has explained that tender mercies aren’t random, but that we invite them into our lives with “faithfulness, obedience, and humility.” The leaders and the meteorologists at Tinker Air Force Base showed these qualities by making assignments after they were prompted to take action, and diving into them right away. If they had put it off for even a few days, they would not have been in the position to receive a tender mercy.
After obsessing over the weather data from March 20th, Fawbush and Miller noticed some distinct and unusual weather patterns that they believed might indicate the possibility of a tornado. They presented their findings 4 days after the first tornado. The very next day, on March 25th, they noticed the exact same weather pattern developing. Although tornadoes do hit the same area occasionally, it is practically unheard of for a tornado to hit an exact area as small as an air force base twice in 6 days.
Because it seemed so unlikely to have a second twister again so soon, Fawbush and Miller felt some hesitation about announcing the danger. According to the data and their theory however, the threat was real. They felt a moral obligation to risk looking foolish, and issued the first ever tornado forecast, warning of the possibility of severe weather between 5 and 6 pm. The base command had also been diligent in immediately developing a set of protocols they would enact if they ever had an advanced tornado forecast. They took the precautions; they secured their most expensive equipment, tied down what they could, and moved personal to safe places.
When the second tornado in 6 days hit the base at 6 pm on March 25th, they were much more prepared. There were no injuries, and the 6 million dollars of damage was considerably less than the 10 million dollars of damage caused on May 20th. Perhaps most importantly, the theory about what weather conditions indicated tornado risk was immediately and strongly verified. Fawbush and Miller continued to use their new system during 1949, and correctly forecast 18 times when a tornado was likely within a 100 mile radius.
The personal at Tinker Air Force Base were doing their part to qualify for a tender mercy of the Lord; they acted immediately on the prompting to research weather patterns after the first tornado hit, and had a plan in place if their research bore fruit. The meteorologists had diligently acquired the education and training that allowed them to be in a position to interpret the data. Then they received an immediate and clear confirmation that they were on the right path. Such timing is indicative of a tender mercy of the Lord. Who knows, if the second tornado hadn’t hit and proved their theory so quickly, maybe their work would have been buried under piles of bureaucratic paperwork. Instead, it was released to the world, and it set the stage for more advanced weather forecasting that would save countless lives.
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CS405: Artificial Intelligence
This course and its exam closed on August 18, 2018. It is no longer possible to enroll in or obtain a certificate for this course.
CS405 introduces the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Materials on AI programming, logic, search, game playing, machine learning, natural language understanding, and robotics introduce the student to AI methods, tools, and techniques, their application to computational problems, and their contribution to understanding intelligence. Because each of these topics could be a course unto itself, the material is introductory and not complete. Each unit presents the problem a topic addresses, current progress, and approaches to the problem. The readings include and cite more materials that are referenced in this course, and students are encouraged to use these resources to pursue topics of interest after this course.
Unit 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI Programming
While AI applications can be developed in any number of different languages, certain language features make programming AI applications straightforward. Prolog is structured in such a way that AI program development is supported by Prolog language features. Other languages, such as Java, support AI programming through code libraries. At this point in your career as a computer science major, you have already taken introductory programming courses; these should assist you in learning Prolog and using code libraries in other languages for AI program development.
This unit will provide you with an introduction to AI via programming features that support basic AI applications. By satisfying the goals of this unit, you will have a familiarity with AI programming and be able to use it in future models to implement various AI applications.
Unit 2: Search
Previous coursework has familiarized you with searching algorithms. In this unit, you will learn how to implement standard searching algorithms. We will first discuss the motivation behind exploring search from an AI perspective, learning new terminology as we go that will be used in this unit and beyond. We will then learn about basic search methods, as well as time and memory requirements, concluding with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of searching algorithms. By the end of this unit, you will be able to apply AI techniques when developing searching algorithms.
Unit 3: Constraint Satisfaction
AI applications are built upon the idea of a problem statement with constraints. In AI, we must work within those constraints in order to develop an optimal solution. In this unit, we will define "problem" in specific AI terms and discuss different approaches to constraint satisfaction. Constraint satisfaction is an important subject area within AI. The famous Map Coloring Problem has simple variables and simple constraints and is thus useful in illustrating the basics of constraint satisfaction. By the end of this unit, you will be able to solve basic problems.
Unit 4: Game Playing
Some of the earliest and most recognizable AI applications are games like chess and tic-tac-toe, the most famous being the chess match between Garry Kasparov and Deep Blue. In this unit, we will discuss the development of game-playing applications, as well as the relationship between game-playing and searching algorithms. The unit will also provide you with some best practices for building game programs.
This unit has been designed to teach you how to design algorithms for game-playing applications. For our purposes, you will find tic-tac-toe, which uses features of search and constraint satisfaction, the simplest. We suggest that as an informal exercise, you create a tic-tac-toe application and then play against it, noting the algorithm's success rates and determining which modifications will need to be implemented in order to improve its performance.
Unit 5: Logic
We have already briefly discussed logic, but this unit will provide you with a more formal definition. We will learn about two main types of logic--propositional and first-order. Prolog was designed for expressing logic. This unit gives you a strong foundation in logic so that you will be able to use or learn Prolog more easily to program logic applications. Similarly, you will be able to use or learn class libraries that support AI techniques in other languages, like C++ and Java.
Unit 6: Machine Learning
Machine Learning refers to computer programs that are able to categorize data in order to maximize understanding of that information. Machine Learning is closely related to statistics and modeling and has a wide range of applications, from natural language processing, searching, robotics, and indexing, to other pattern recognition applications. This unit will begin by defining Machine Learning, its applications, and a number of other important terms that will be used in this unit. We will then go over the three main classes of Machine Learning: Supervised Learning, Semi-Supervised Learning, and Unsupervised Learning. You will also end up with an introductory foundation in Machine Learning that will be useful for further academic study in the field.
Unit 7: Natural Language Understanding
This unit will provide you with a basic introduction to Natural Language Understanding (NLU) in AI. Syntax, semantics, and ambiguity of natural language are discussed. Simple examples are presented. Some of what we have seen, in search and in learning, is applied in NLU. Natural language processing and understanding is a large field of research and has entire courses devoted to it. So, in this introduction, our objective is simply to introduce the problems and approaches.
Unit 8: Robotics
Robotics draws upon and integrates previous topics, as well as information and techniques from other disciplines, including many engineering fields, physics, controls, probability and statistics, differential equations, linguistics, and many applications, e.g., manufacturing, sensors, medical applications, etc. Some of the contributions of AI to robotics are search algorithms, representation and models for the robot world, inference, learning, and AI programming features and their integration.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 9 hours.
CS405: Final Exam Quiz
CS405: Proctored Final Exam Quiz
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Tag Archives: Heracleum montanum
Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants 138 – 139 Licorice/Cow Parsnip
American Licorice poultice, Canadian Licorice Root, Cow Cabbage, edible Cow Parsnip, field craft, field medicine, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Heracleum lanatum, Heracleum montanum, Heracleum sphondylium, Indian Rhubarb, Ligusticum canadense, Masterwort, militia supply, Native American culture, Native American foods, native american medicine, prepper plant, treat a hiatal hernia, treat a sore tooth, treat Addison's disease, treat arthritis, treat asthma, treat bronchitis, treat coughs, treat dry constipation, treat frequent urination, treat herpes, treat high blood pressure, treat indigestion, treat inflammatory upper respiratory conditions, treat kidney disease, treat paralysis, treat peptic ulcer, treat persistant nausea, treat psoriasis, treat stomach aches, treat stomach disorders, treat tic douloureux, treat trigeminal neuralgia, treat urinary tract infections, treat VD scabs, treatment for Addison's disease, treatment for AIDS, treatment for dry constipation, treatment for epilepsy, treatment of catarrhal infections, treatment of herpes, treatment to end warts
Common Name: American Licorice, Amolillo
Latin Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. lepidota
Family: Leguminaceae
Range: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GLGL California, Nevada and Utah (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GLLE3 All states west of the Mississippi R. except Louisiana, plus Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine; In Canada; British Columbia through Ontario. (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)
Common Name: Cultivated Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra )
Appearance and Habitat: Dry open spaces, especially in sandy places near the sea in Europe – Mediteranean. A perennial growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is hardy to zone 8. It is in flower from Jun to July.
Warnings: A gross overdose of the root can cause oedema, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Do not use during prementrual syndrome as water retention and bloating occur If pregnant or have a liver cirrhosis use with caution. Avoid using for more than 6 weeks. Excessive quantities may cause headache, sluggishness and potassium depletion.
Edible Uses: Root – raw or used as a flavouring. The source of liquorice powder that is extracted and used in sweets, baked goods, ice cream, soft drinks etc, it is also used medicinally. A sweet and delicious flavour, but the root is very fibrous. The root contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sucrose. The dried root is often used for chewing, it is excellent for teething children and also as a tooth cleaner. A tea made from the roots is an excellent thirst quencher. The powdered root is also used as a sweetener in other herb teas. The leaves are used as a tea substitute in Mongolia.
Medicinal Uses : Liquorice his one of the most commonly used herbs in Western herbal medicine and has a very long history of use, both as a medicine and also as a flavouring to disguise the unpleasant flavour of other medications. It is a very sweet, moist, soothing herb that detoxifies and protects the liver and is also powerfully anti-inflammatory, being used in conditions as varied as arthritis and mouth ulcers. The root is alterative, antispasmodic, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, moderately pectoral and tonic. The root has also been shown to have a hormonal effect similar to the ovarian hormone. Liquorice root is much used in cough medicines and also in the treatment of catarrhal infections of the urinary tract. It is taken internally in the treatment of Addison’s disease, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, peptic ulcer, arthritis, allergic complaints and following steroidal therapy. It should be used in moderation and should not be prescribed for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure, kidney disease or taking digoxin-based medication. Prolonged usage raises the blood pressure and causes water retention. See also the notes above on toxicity. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of herpes, eczema and shingles. The root is harvested in the autumn when 3 – 4 years old and is dried for later use. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Glycyrrhiza glabra for coughs/bronchitis, gastritis.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Glycyrrhiza+glabra
Common Name: American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota )
Native American Name: Quitchemboo (Bannock)(1)
Appearance and Habitat: Erect perennial up to 3ft. The stem is covered with minute sticky hairs. Cream flowers, which resemble those of alfalfa, are crowded on a terminal spike. Leaves are pinnately compound. The brown fruit is covered with hooked spines and resembes a cocklebur. The root has a distinct licorice flavor, but commercial licorice is obtained from another plant of this genus that is not a North American native.(2)Cultivated ground, waste places, roadsides, prairies, gravely river bottoms and moist mountain draws to 2,100 meters. Usually grows in patches, frequently in heavy clay and saline soils. N. America – saskatchewan to British Columbia, south to California and Mexico. It is in flower from Jul to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September.(3)This plant resembles sweet peas and forms large colonies through it root. The leaves are pinnate with a single leave at the end of the stem making an odd number leaflets. The leaflets can range from 11 to 17 in number. Th foliage is sticky and waxy when touched. The average height is 2 feet. Along the stock flower clusters emerge at the axis of the leaves. The flowers vary in color, from cream, white, light yellow green and once in a while some are tinged with purple. The blooms mature into a cluster of barbed seeds that are usually a 1/2 long. The barbed seeds are a distinguishing characteristic of Licorice that is found in the west.(4)
Warnings: Very young growth can be poisonous to animals.(5)
Edible Uses: Root – raw or cooked. Long, sweet and fleshy, when slow roasted they are said to taste like sweet potatoes. They can be used as a flavouring in other foods and can also be chewed raw as a masticatory, making an excellent tooth cleaner and also very good for teething children. The root contains 6% glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. The tender young shoots can be eaten raw in the spring.(6)
Medicinal Uses :American liquorice was widely employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it in the treatment of a range of diseases. All parts of the body are medicinal, but the roots are the most active part. This species has properties similar to other liquorices which are widely used medicinally, though this species is rather neglected in modern literature. An infusion of the root is used to speed the delivery of the placenta after childbirth, it is also used to treat coughs, diarrhoea, chest pains, fevers in children, stomach aches etc. It is also used as a wash or poultice on swellings. The chewed root is retained in the mouth as a treatment for toothache and sore throats. The mashed leaves are used as a poultice on sores. The leaves have been placed in the shoes to absorb moisture. (7)The root was chewed for a strong throat for singing. The root was boiled into a tonic for a sore throat. ( 8 )Collect the roots in the fall. Try your best to not harm too many of the lateral roots from which new plants will grow in the spring. The tap root can go down 3 or 4 feet in the ground. Dry the roots after spliting them in a cheesecloth pocket suspended in the shade in a spot that is airy. It may take up to two weeks for the roots to dry. Licorice is excellent to treat inflammatory upper respiratory conditions. It is rather unque in that it strengthens the effects of other herbs you are taking. It works well with Mullein and Horehound. The roots are high in steriod content and can raise levels of estrogen and andreocortico- steroids if you are deficient. Two cups of Licorice tea per day for a week will help treat painful menstrual cramps and continued use may lessen the problem in the future. The tea will also treat stomach ulcers, especially so if the pain is predictable at certain time of the day. For this use, use a rounded teaspoon of the chopper root, boiled in water and drunk when it reaches body temperature. It will also treat frequent urination and dry constipation. It does this by diminishing urination while it allows more fluids to retained ending the dry constipation. It is also helpful for treating bronchitis or other respiratory ills accompanied by a fever. It is not advised to use during pregnancy or with steriod therapy. To make the tea use 1 part dried chopped root to 32 parts water, boil them together for 10 minutes allow it to cool until warm, then strain the root and return the volume to 32 parts. (9)
Foot Notes: (1, 8) Indian Uses of Native Plants
by Edith Murphey, page 38; Publisher: Meyerbooks Copy right 1990; ISBN 0-916638-15-4
Foot Notes: (2)http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GLLE3
Foot Notes: (3, 5, 6, 7 )http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Glycyrrhiza+lepidota
Foot Notes: (4, 9) Medical Plants of the Moutain West ,2nd Edition, by Michael Moore, pages 148 -150; Publisher: Museum of New Mexico Press, Copyright 2003, ISBN: 978-0-89013-454-2
I am going to include one more plant under this heading as it is called Licorice Root, though the family changes.
Common Name: Canadian Licorice Root
Latin Name: Ligusticum canadense
Range: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=lica16 Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, all States south of the Ohio R., except Florida, plus Missouri and Arkansas.
Photos: Ligusticum canadense
Appearance and Habitat: Habitat is unknown, range N. America.
Edible Uses: Leaves and young stems – cooked. The young leaves have been boiled and used as greens. They are often cooked with leaves of Ramps (Allium tricoccum). The leaves can be dried for later use.
Medicinal Uses :The root has been chewed in the treatment of any stomach disorders.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ligusticum+canadense
Common Name: Cow Parsnip, Cow Cabbage, American Masterwort, Wolly Parsnip, Indian Rhubarb
Latin Name: Heracleum sphondylium L. var. lanatum , Heracleum sphondylium L. ssp. montanum, Heracleum sphondylium
Family: Umbellaiferae
Range: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HEMA80 All States except Hawaii, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and S. Carolina; In Canada; all Provinces exept Nunavut. (Note: this covers Heracleum sphondylium lanatum and Heracleum sphondylium montanum)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HESP6 Washington, Oregon, New Jersey and New York northwards to Maine, but not in Vermont; In Canada; Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Labrador and Newbrunswick. (Heracleum sphondylium)
Photos: ( Heracleum lanatum) ( Heracleum montanum) (Heracleum sphondylium)
Common Name: Common Cow Parsnip, Indian Rhubarb (H. lanatum and H. montanum)
Native American Name: Po-kint-somo (Blackfoot) .(1)
Appearance and Habitat: This very tall plant has huge leaves and flat umbels of numerous tiny white flowers; stem is grooved, woolly, hollow, and stout. This is the largest species of the carrot family in North America. The genus is named for Hercules, who is reputed to have used these plants for medicine. Early in each year, Native Americans peeled and ate the young sweet, aromatic leaf and flower stalks. (2) Rich damp soils of prairies and mountains, especially along streams ad in open woods in Western N. America. N. America to W. Asia. Heracleum montanum is a perennial growing to 2.4 m (7ft 10in). It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in August. (3)Heracleum lanatum is a big hairy coarse member of the parsley family. They can grow up to 7 feet. They form large umbels of white flowers, sometimes a foot across. The flowers mature into large flat seeds. It’s stems are hollow. The root is both large and strong scented with a celery smell. The inner pith of the root is light colored and a bit soapy. The taste of the seeds and root are almost unbearable, leaving a numbing senation afterwards. It has large lime-colored leaves. The leaves are either palmate or three leaved. Its stems can be 2 inches around. Watch for it in the middle forests of California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Montana. It is quite common in the coastal ranges of California. It prefers to be near water. In the southwest it is usually found aboe 8,500 feet and further north in Montana, above 5,000 feet.(4)
Warnings: Many members of this genus, including many sub-species in this species, conatain furaocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties. The fresh foliage can cause dermatitis. If the juice and hairs of the outer skin are left on the face or mouth, they can cause blister. This effect is especially revaent for people with fair complexions. (5)
Edible Uses:Root – cooked. Tastes like a swede. Used like potatoes, though it is considered to be poisonous by some writers. The peeled stem can be eaten raw but is best cooked. The unpeeled stem can be used when young, or just the inner tissue of older stems can be used, before the plants flower. For people not used to the flavour, they are best cooked in two changes of water when they make a tasty celery-like vegetable. Another report says that, despite the strong odour of the leaves and outer skin, the peeled young stems are mild and sweet, resembling celery in flavour. The stems cannot be eaten raw in large quantities because they give a burning sensation in the mouth. The stems are highly nutritious, containing up to 18% protein. Leaves and young shoots – raw or cooked. Cooked as greens or added to salads. Young flowers. No further details. The dried seeds are used as a flavouring for soups, stews and potato salads. The dried base of the plant and ashes from the burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute. (6) After a long hard winter with highly starchy foods and meat, Native Americans welcomed the coming of Spring, and the appearance of green shoots of Cow Parsnip, fern, wild celery and the first leaves of sunflower. They were carefully cooked as asparagus would be. (7)
Medicinal Uses :Cow parsnip was widely employed medicinally by a large number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a wide variety of complaints, but especially as a poultice on bruises, sores etc. It is little used in modern herbalism, though perhaps it merits further investigation. All parts of the plant are antirheumatic, antispasmodic, carminative, febrifuge, odontalgic and stimulant. The leaves are tonic. They have been used in the treatment of colds. A soothing drink made from the leaves is used to treat sore throats. A poultice of the heated leaves has been applied to minor cuts, sore muscles etc. An infusion of the fresh young stems has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea. It has also been used as a wash to remove warts. The plant has been used in the treatment of epilepsy. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of indigestion, colds, stomach cramps, rheumatism, sore throats, TB etc. Externally, the root is used as a poultice on sores, bruises, swellings, boils, rheumatic joints, VD scabs etc, whilst a bit of root has been held on an aching tooth to reduce the pain. The root can be crushed, mixed with water and used as an antidandruff hair wash. The root contains psoralen, which is being investigated for its use in the treatment of psoriasis, leukaemia and AIDS. The seed has been used to treat severe headaches. ( 8 )Collect the roots of the plants in late August or September and collect the seeds when they are ripe. The seeds are ripe when they are ribbed with dark stripes and this is usually in Julyor August. For the roots, split them and dry them in a cheesecloth pocket in the shade. The seed is easier, take them in clusters and when dry, rub them off the stem. This plant is basically a remedy for the stomach and nervous systems. The seed tincture can be applied topically to teeth and gums as an anesthetic and anti-microbial. It can also be used on a sore tooth, similar to oil of cloves. To make the seed tincture use 1 part dried seed to 2 parts 60% vodka, by weight, allow it to sit for a week before use and shake it daily. After the root has dried it loses its acridity. Never take the root internally before it is thoroughly dried, but you can make a tincture of it using 1 part fresh root to 2 parts 60% vodka and follow the above procedure. For the dried root use 1 part dried root to 5 parts 60% vodka, allow it to sit for a week and shake daily. It can be taken at 20 to 30 drops up to 3 times a day. The seed tincture can be used to treat stomach problems, it only takes a couple of drops on the tongue. The dry root tincture will treat a hiatal hernia, just use a small amount in a glass of water. The fresh root applied to bath water has been used to treat paralysis. It should be repeated daily until nerve function returns or it doesn’t seem to help. The fresh root can also be used to treat tic douloureux or trigeminal neuralgia to do this either use a poultice or a very strong tea and apply it to the face. This works well if there is some motor paralysis invloved. The dried ground root can also be taken in tea; a teaspoon to a cup, for persistant nausea. (9)
Other Uses: A stalk of this plant was placed on the alter of the Sun Dance ceremony. (10)
Foot Notes: (1, 7, 10) Indian Uses of Native Plants
by Edith Murphey, page 23, 50; Publisher: Meyerbooks Copy right 1990; ISBN 0-916638-15-4
Foot Notes: (2)
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEMA80
Foot Notes: (3, 5, 6, 8)
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Heracleum+sphondylium+montanum
Foot Notes: (4, 9) Medical Plants of the Moutain West2nd Edition, by Michael Moore, pages 99 -102; Publisher: Museum of New Mexico Press, Copyright 2003, ISBN: 978-0-89013-454-2
Common Name: Cow Parsnip (H. sphondylium)
Appearance and Habitat: Moist grassland and ditches, bu hedges and woods in Europe, including Britain, south to latitude 61 to western N. Africa, west and north to Asia. A biennial / perennial growing to 1.8 m (6ft).
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to September, and the seeds ripen from Jul to October.
Warnings: Many members of this genus, including many sub-species in this species, conatain furaocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties.
Edible Uses:Stem and young shoots – raw or cooked. Used as a green vegetable, when harvested just as they are sprouting from the ground they are somewhat like asparagus in flavour. The rind is somewhat acrid. The leaf stems are tied in bundles and dried in the sun until they turn yellow. A sweet substance resembling sugar forms on the dried stems and is considered to be a great delicacy. The peduncles, before flowering, can be eaten as a vegetable or added to soups. Root – cooked. It is usually boiled
Medicinal Uses : The roots and the leaves are aphrodisiac, digestive, mildly expectorant and sedative. The plant is little used in modern herbalism but has been employed in the treatment of laryngitis and bronchitis. A tincture made from the aerial parts of the plant has also been used to relieve general debility, though it is uncertain how it works. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Heracleum+sphondylium
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FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, file photo, the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of Innovation takes off for a flight over Super Bowl fan sites from the airport in Livermore, Calif. As a nod to its influence and legacy to the game, the iconic airship is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as an honorary member — the first non-player or coach to be inducted. The blimp's flight to fame began during the telecast for the 1955 Rose Bowl Game and has led to it being an eye in the sky at over 2,000 games, hovering above stadiums from coast to coast. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Rare air: Goodyear Blimp flying high and into Hall of Fame
CLEVELAND (AP) — One of the new college football Hall of Famers has an inflated ego — and more. The Goodyear Blimp, which has become a staple at major sports events for more than 60 years, is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as an honorary member — the first nonplayer or coach...
FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2016, file photo, North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman reacts during the FCS championship NCAA college football game against Jacksonville State in Frisco, Texas. Klieman (68-6), who will be Kansas State’s new coach, is going for his fourth FCS title as a head coach to match the record four won by Jim Tressel at Youngstown State before he went on to win a national title at Ohio State. (AP Photo/Mike Stone, File)
NDSU goes for 7th FCS title in Eastern Washington's return
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Before North Dakota State made Fargo to Frisco an annual trip, Eastern Washington won the first FCS championship game played in North Texas. That was eight years ago. The Big Sky Conference champion Eagles (12-2) are finally back in the title game and aren't surprised that on...
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Ted "The Sports Head"
National title game for coach Klieman, then on to K-State
#1-ranked North Dakota State (14-0) and third-ranked Eastern Washington (12-2) meet in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Toyota Stadium (20,500) in Frisco, Texas. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. This will be Chris Klieman’s final game as...
Week 19 football picks
The prognosticators make their picks for week 19 as Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder laughs from somewhere in the here after.
In this Nov. 2, 2013, photo, Johns Hopkins NCAA college football head coach Jim Margraff watches from the sidelines during a game against Ursinus College, in Baltimore, Md. Margraff, the winningest football coach in Johns Hopkins University's history, has died at 58. Citing a release from the Baltimore university, news outlets report the former Hopkins quarterback who led his alma mater's football program for 29 years died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, at home.(Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP)
Johns Hopkins football coach Jim Margraff dies at 58
BALTIMORE (AP) — Jim Margraff, the winningest football coach in Johns Hopkins University history, has died at 58. The Baltimore university said the former Hopkins quarterback, who led his alma mater's football program for 29 years, died suddenly Wednesday at home. University officials didn't...
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen calls out to his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, in Austin, Texas. Houston has hired West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen as its coach, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, ending his eight-year run with the Mountaineers. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas, File)
Houston hires coach Dana Holgorsen away from West Virginia
Houston hired West Virginia's Dana Holgorsen as its coach Wednesday, ending his eight-year run with the Mountaineers. Holgorsen was 61-41 and 33-30 in the Big 12 as he helped guide West Virginia through the transition from the Big East. Houston competes in the American Athletic Conference, which...
In this Sept. 23, 2017, photo, freshmen Josh Seals, left, and Tyler Trent, wearing glasses at right, get set for Purdue's NCAA college football game against Michigan at Ross-Ade Stadium, in West Lafayette, Ind. Trent, a former Purdue University student and college football super fan who inspired many with his battle against cancer, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. He was 20. (John Terhune/Journal & Courier via AP)
Purdue super fan who inspired with fight against cancer dies
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyler Trent, a former Purdue University student and college football super fan who inspired many with his battle against cancer, died Tuesday. He was 20 years old. His family confirmed the death to The Indianapolis Star . Trent wanted to be a sportswriter and was determined to...
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) celebrates his second touchdown carry in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Ehlinger's 3 TDs lead Texas past Georgia 28-21 in Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bevo's pregame strategy was to run right at the Bulldogs. Once the football started, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger took the same approach with outstanding results. Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns, the Texas defense largely held Georgia's offense in check, and the Longhorns...
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, center, congratulates wide receiver Charleston Rambo (14) after Rambo scored a touchdowns, during the second half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Oklahoma, coach Lincoln Riley agree to contract extension
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley have agreed to a contract extension, which should quell speculation about the second-year coach being lured away by an NFL team. Oklahoma announced Tuesday that contract terms were being finalized and would be subject to approval by the board of...
Penn State safety Nick Scott (4) stops Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. (26) after a short gain during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Snell runs wild, No. 16 Kentucky holds off No. 13 Penn State
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Winning 10 games, beating Penn State on New Year's Day, and finishing in the Top 20 is no small deal for the Kentucky Wildcats. So when Mark Stoops took a seat on the podium flanked by linebacker Josh Allen and running back Benny Snell Jr. after Tuesday's 27-24 victory in the...
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Category Archives: Deficit Panel
Deficit panel plan defeated…and this is a surprise?
I just want to know who the 7 assholes were that voted for it. The title of the damn plan was enough to make me gag: Moment of Truth. From The Hill:
In an 11-7 vote, President Obama’s fiscal commission on Friday failed to adopt a sweeping plan for reining in the federal budget deficit.
The panel had been working since February on a plan that would cut nearly $4 trillion in deficit spending over the next nine years and reduce the federal debt to 40 percent of gross domestic product by 2035.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had agreed to bring the deficit recommendations up for a floor vote in Congress, but only if the proposal had the support of 14 members. The commission came up three votes short.
Voting in favor of the plan were the commission’s co-chairmen Sen. Alan Simpson, former Republican senator from Wyoming, and Erskine Bowles, who served as chief of staff to President Clinton.
Among the Senate members of the panel, Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) voted “yes,” while Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) voted “no.”
From the House, Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), David Camp (R-Mich.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) all voted against the plan. Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.), the chairman of the House Budget Committee who lost his reelection bid in November, was the only House vote in favor.
Of the non-congressional members, David Cote, the CEO of Honeywell International, Ann Fudge, the former CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands and Alice Rivlin, the former director of the Office of Management & Budget, voted “yes.” Former Service Employees International Union president Andy Stern voted “no.”
Ah yes, the thugs that voted for the heavily flawed plan were either Blue Dogs like Conrad, Corporation heads and of course the hardcore/neocon R’s on the panel. Hopefully this ends that worthless panel of backwards thinkers who were willing to fuck American’s at every turn without even looking hard and long at the bloated Defense Budget…or gawd forbid…raising taxes! I like this explanation of what went wrong:
Why? Because three decades of neoliberal market ideology have persuaded Republicans and Democrats alike that government is our enemy and that the public purposes it pursues are illegitimate; and that, Q.E.D, collecting taxes to pay for such purposes is a form of theft. Americans don’t just oppose high taxes (high taxes were when the rich paid 85 percent or more back in the Eisenhower era), they oppose taxation per se. In principle. Which principle? The principle that government is illegitimate, politicians are outlaws so taxes are (literally) highway robbery.
We thus frame the “hard choices” as choices between which expenditures to cut rather than between which taxes to raise. But the really hard choice is surely about whether or not we want to pay for the society we want to live in.
If you want a lifestyle that includes taking care of Veterans, the elderly, educate the masses and care for the disabled, it’s going to cost money. If you want a country where the infrastructure isn’t falling down around us, it costs money. And if you want to fund two friggin endless wars…yes, it costs money.
DeficitPanelReport_120110 http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=44466774&access_key=key-2723r0300q7hevy6tmxx&page=1&viewMode=list
Posted in Deficit Panel, infrastructure, Medicare, Social Security, The Deficit
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Lists & Insights
liammgaughan
~ Movie Reviews
Tag Archives: Michael Pena
The Mule- Movie Review
Posted by liammgaughan in Drama
Andy Garcia, Bradley Cooper, Clint Eastwood, Drama, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Pena, The Mule
It goes without saying that Clint Eastwood is one of the great film legends of our time; the 88-year-old filmmaker has made a career out of nearly every aspect of the industry, delivering classic performances and directing great films. I love seeing lifelong filmmakers who continue to make inspired films, and Eastwood’s latest The Mule is a self aware and emotionally layered piece of work. Perhaps it doesn’t quite rank among Unforgiven and Mystic River as one of Eastwood’s best work, but it’s about as perfect a film as it could be for what Eastwood is trying to accomplish at this point in his career.
Based on a true story, the film follows kindly flower gardener Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood), a man who’s spent his life skipping out on his family. Stone soon gets a new opportunity when he become a drug runner for a Mexican drug cartel, and attempts to rectify his mistakes through his newfound funds. This is a terrific character, and Eastwood reaps all the drama and comedy out of it; Stone is witty, charming, and self deprecating, with Eastwood injecting some great one-liners, but the emotional core of a man who was afraid to face his own family really hits home.
As a director, Eastwood sets a rhythm that hooks the audience into the story early on, and while the setup is slightly rushed and the transition from gardener to mule is quick, its effective in showing why Stone makes the choices he does. The ending is also truly terrific; the last act, in which Stone is confronted with all of his choices, both recent and in the past, features some truly phenomenal acting that relies heavily on the central performance.
The ensemble is all there to support Eastwood, and while the familial elements are where the film’s heart lies, Bradley Cooper’s DEA agent offers a terrific antagonist for the story as he follows the clues and ultimately faces Eastwood in a confrontation. There scenes are among the best of the film, as two men with very little in common are able to talk about the importance of work and family priorities in a stressful work environment.
So much of The Mule is self reflective, and one of the reasons it ranks among Eastwood’s most recent triumphs is how personal it is; in the same way Unforgiven was a deconstruction of the American western, this is a deconstruction of the American worker that has a lot to say about sacrifices made and whether the ends justify the means. It’s a touching, quirky, and often thrilling slice of life from one of the great filmmakers of all-time, and a thoroughly fascinating sample of Eastwood’s career. Grade: B+
Ant-Man and the Wasp- Movie Review
Posted by liammgaughan in Action, Comedy
Action, Action Movies, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Bobby Cannavale, Comedy, Evangeline Lily, Judy Greer, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Peyton Reed, Randall Park, Superhero movies
Marvel had commonly prided itself on delivering films that are fun and lack self-serious, and of all the characters in their mythology, Ant-Man demands that attention more than any. 2015’s Ant-Man may not rank as one of the best of the genre, but its approach to the genre as a relatively low-key story about a father trying to atone for his mistakes and pull off a heist was perfect. Ant-Man and the Wasp delivers on many of the same factor, but also gives us more of what was demanded from the first film, namely more creative action, more humor, and more Evangeline Lily.
After aiding Captain America in battle, Scott Lang/ Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is under house arrest and has avoided contact with his former associates. After receiving a mysterious message from the long lost Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Scott teams up again with Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily) and her father Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to find her, while a threat looms in the form of an enigmatic figure known as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).
Rudd is a naturally charismatic screen presence, and his hapless, goofy persona is a welcome contrast to the superheroes we usually see. There’s a definite development to the character, as we see his desire to save people as a superhero contrasted with his desire to protect his daughter. Similar to how the first film’s heart was centered on the relationship between Lang and his daughter, Ant-Man and the Wasp draws its motional core from the search for Janet and the excellent relationship between Lily and Douglas. Lily is perfect as Scott’s more competent partner, yet the familial tragedy gives her the needed vulnerability.
Rudd, Lily, and Douglas work extremely well together and have developed a great onscreen repertoire with some terrific banter, and their charismatic relationship leads much of the film. This is definitely a comedy first, with many side plots and elements feeling somewhat unimportant to the overall story other than to add comedy, and for the tone of the film, they fit in well. Randall Park is uproarious as a quirky FBI agent looking for his big break, and I also enjoyed Walton Goggins’s sweet-talking southern arms dealer and the charming duo of Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale. That being said, the film is once again stolen by Michael Pena, who’s quirky anecdotes, memorable one-liners, and perspective on the events of the film make him the standout of the cast.
While the character of Ghost may lack the screen presence held by Infinity War’s Thanos or Black Panther‘s Killmonger, the character’s backstory is set up reasonably well, specifically involving the incorporation of Laurence Fishburne as a character genuinely caught in the crossfire. The character’s backstory is definitely tragic, but for the most part Ant-Man and the Wasp keeps things light and fluffy, and despite many diversions, none of the gags overstay their welcome. The action is also genuinely jaw dropping at some points; director Peyton Reed has found a way to use scale and the characters’ powers creatively, and the third act is genuinely relentless in delivering an exciting chase spectacle with the perfect sprinklings of spectacle.
Ant-Man and the Wasp delivers everything I wanted in a sequel, and while it may not have as strong of an emotional character arc as the first film, it definitely expands the world and characters in a creative manner while also keeping the stakes personal and the comedy consistent. As a comedy alone there’s the appeal of many charismatic people delivering solid jokes, and as a comic book film it’s well rounded, while not leaning too hard on it’s connections to the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a blast. Grade: B+
A look at how I’d fit Ant-Man and the Wasp into my rankings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films:
20. Iron Man 2
19. Thor: The Dark World
18. Thor
17. The Incredible Hulk
16. Ant-Man
15. Captain America: The First Avenger
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron
12. Ant-Man and the Wasp
11. Doctor Strange
10. Avengers: Infinity War
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
8. Black Panther
7. Iron Man
6. Guardians of the Galaxy
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
3. Thor: Ragnorak
2. The Avengers
1.Captain America: Civil War
The Martian- Movie Review
Posted by liammgaughan in Action, Comedy, Drama
Action, Action Movies, Chiwetel Ejiofer, Comedy, Donald Glover, Drama, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Kristin Wiig, Matt Damon, Michael Pena, Ridley Scott, Sci-Fi, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, The Martian
The Martian is a gripping story of human survival, and a fascinating mix of intensity and humor, packed within an unconventional sci-fi adventure. Not only is the film a resurgence for veteran filmmaker Ridley Scott, and a great showcase for Matt Damon’s ability as an actor, but a unique and emotional journey into the story of human will and spirit. Special effects, cinematography, and visual ingenuity aside, it’s the writing and directing that makes The Martian one of the best films of the year.
In the not too distant future, space travel has been advanced to the point that travel to Mars is feasible and regular. A group of astronauts, led by Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) goes on a routine trip to research the planet, but when a massive storm hits, the team is divided and astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left behind and presumed dead. While NASA’s director Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) and scientists Mitch Henderson (Sean Bean) and Venkat Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofer) desperately search for a solution, Watney is left alone to die, and must find a way to survive in the bleakest of situations and beat the odds.
Ridley Scott is clearly a master filmmaker, and The Martian gives him an opportunity to do something different that he’s ever done before. There’s a raw intensity to the entire experience, and while it’s obviously a sci-fi film, it feels very grounded and scientifically grounded. Additionally, the humor of the film not only sustains the realism of the film, but also makes it much more enjoyable than just a grim survival story. The sarcastic, witty comic banter adds so much to the film’s identity, and when the gripping final moments of the film close in, it becomes more apparent that the humor was necessary.
Just as any survival story is, the strength of the lead actor makes all the difference. Matt Damon is perfectly cast as Mark Watney, and combines the humor, intelligence, and dedication of the character to create a compelling lead, giving some huge laughs and heart pounding emotional moments. Watney’s crew, consisting of Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, and Kate Mara, have particularly good chemistry, and while there screen time is relatively limited, they have great chemistry and leave an impact.
The remaining cast is equally strong. Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofer, Sean Bean, Kristin Wiig, and Donald Glover very much play into the politics and science behind getting Watney home alive. It’s impressive that this storyline is maintained without being distracting from the story of survival. The actors are all excellent in their respective roles, and there’s a believability to the delivery of their dialogue, as well as a genuine interest in what goes on behind the scenes.
The Martian is one of the best films of the year, a brilliant sci-fi adventure packed with heart, intensity, wit, and some of the best 3D ever committed to film. Not only is it a return to form for Ridley Scott’s career, but a classic story put within the depths of space. Grade: A
Ant-Man- Movie Review
Action, Action Movies, Ant-Man, Comedy, Corey Stoll, Evangeline Lily, Michael Pena, Paul Rudd, Peyton Reed, Summer movies, Superhero movies
Ant-Man is an extremely fun film, with great performances, action, and comedy that works as a heist film and a superhero adventure. The collaboration between Peyton Reed and Paul Rudd is a successful one, creating a unique film amongst the growing weariness of the action movie genre. Grade B
For my full review, check out About.com: http://kidstvmovies.about.com/od/Ant-Man-Movie/fl/Ant-Man-Teen-Review.htm
Frontera- Movie Review
Drama, Ed Harris, Independent movies, Michael Pena
Frontera is an interesting film because it is often deceptive. The film has many great scenes and performances that will deceive the average audience member into misinterpreting the film as a masterpiece. To be fair, the film has many strong points including Michael Berry’s strong direction and the terrific performance by Ed Harris. The film is undoubtedly good and impressive, but as the credits roll there are still things that aren’t resolved and questions that still feel unanswered, which is due to the weakness in the editing.
The strength of the film relies on the power of Ed Harris’s performance. Harris brings a dark, subtle, and performance that helps sell the drama of the situation and brings a dramatic sense to the film. This character is fleshed out and given character development. Unfortunately, few other characters are given their due time and development. Seth Adkins, Michael Pena, and Eva Longoria all give good performances, but aren’t given enough character development to be great or feel important. This is particularly true in the case of Seth Adkins, who is given very little screen time despite playing a major role in the film and disappointing because his limited time on screen revealed a heartfelt and moving performance. The lack of screen time for supporting characters is credited to the shift of ideas found in the middle of the film.
The film starts off as a character study that examines the moralities of all of the film’s central characters and the grey morality of different actions. This set up makes the film’s beginning very interesting, but as the film progresses it’s revealed that the intentions of the film seem to be more focused on being a “message film” concerning illegal immigration. It’s clear that a lot of research was done regarding the matter and the intentions were valued, but the tonal shift makes the film very uneven as it attempts to tell both of these stories at once, especially at the ending where both stories are attempted to be resolved.
Director Michael Berry does a good job at constructing individual scenes, which are all well shot and edited. This is part of the film’s deception; each seem feels very important at the time, but in the long run it is clear that some sections, especially a subplot featuring Eva Longoria’s character, feel very unnecessary. Regardless, every scene is shot with beautifully shot and accompanied by a melodic and wonderful score. There are several great moments, including a great confrontation between Steven Knight and Seth Adkins, but it just doesn’t add up to a strong end product.
Frontera is a strong first film from the clearly talented Michael Berry and features a great performance by Ed Harris. While there are certainly problems, it is a worthwhile picture with notable performances and moments. It’s a good film that got dangerously close to great. Grade: C
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charandtheweb on The Light Between Oceans- Movi…
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The ‘coup’ against Red Ice TV and independent media…
Publié le 3 septembre 2017 par Lys d'Or
We are passing through extremely dark times. The recent solar eclipse is a mind-blowing expression of that. Decent and honest people are being attacked and destroyed while crooks and killers get away with almost anything. Why is that? It is difficult to give a definitive answer as this problem is multifaceted. The hacking of Red Ice TV website is a good example of what we are going through. The website is owned and run by a young couple, Henrik Palmgren and Lana Lokteff. They belong to a fringe movement of the political right, called the Alt-Right. You probably heard of that movement. Their website was taken down during the events of the Charlottesville rally called Unite the Right in which one person died and several people were injured after clashes between participants and protesters. I can say that although there are things that I would phrase differently, I do support the work that they do. They do an important service to the community by providing a platform to political dissidents and free thinkers in the United States and worldwide. Their resource is absolutely indispensable in these terrible times we are getting through. Yet their website was hacked, supposedly by the ‘antifa’, but it remains to be seen who did it. Here are some of my reflections on the subject.
First, anybody that took a look at their material could see that more than often they provide opportunities to people who are extremely critical of not only Muslims but also of Jews and⁄or Israel, and of non-white ethnic groups in particular. I believe that nobody is above critical thinking. If somebody has something to say about a certain group or a certain category of individuals, if it is sound and rational, we should celebrate that as a great contribution to society. But clearly, there are people who don’t think this way.
Second, and this is a crucial point, their website provide what we could call ‘free TV’. In effect, they often livestream political gatherings on their website, events that they participate in or that represent important milestones in the political sphere. As such, they may be seen as an unjust competition. There is absolutely no publicity on their website. Their activities are funded by their listeners and viewers through voluntary contributions. It goes without saying that big TV networks are probably frustrated and angry about Red Ice TV and other websites of the same type such as The Rebel, etc. Put yourself in the shoes of the big TV networks for a moment. They pump up millions and millions of dollars into their channels. But the more money they put in, the crappier the content gets. When I was a kid, there was only four channels on TV and for today’s standards, it was rather good. Now you have 500 channels and the content is terrible most of the time. Marshall McLuhan has written extensively on the nature of the media. ‘The medium in the message’, he was saying. Well, that’s the point. TV is like a bottle of sauce. The amount of sauce in it is finite. If you take that sauce and try to put into more bottles, it only dilutes the sauce more and more. At one point, there is no sauce anymore but water that’s what is happening with TV. Playing directly in this phenomenon is the obsession of specialization. When zapping, you can fall on a channel dedicated to the preparation of omelettes on July sunday mornings every Year of the Dragon. Well…I am joking but does it need to be that specialized? Probably not. As I have said, TV was much better when there was only a handful of channels and that was before specialization occurred.
So again, put yourself in the shoes of big TV network producers. You have a bunch of kids or young adults creating excellent TV, almost for free, and offering it for free to the world! Big TV is certainly not happy about that. The shows that independent media offer on the web are far better than the ones that you get from the ‘official’ TV. I am not saying that they are the ones who hacked Red Ice TV but let’s say that they wouldn’t mind, really. Independent media content creators make their own TV, film themselves with regular cameras and cellphones, and livestream or upload their shows on the web at a fraction of the cost…It is often said that big newspapers are losing readership, that it is falling year after year and that certain ones are on the path to bankruptcy. But it is also true for TV. It is very expensive to put on the air and the viewers are dropping it in favor of the internet that offers content that is interactive, new, bold and edgy. Personally, I don’t see any solution for big TV networks. They will continue to fall apart. TV, in its present form, is a medium that belongs to the past.
Another part of the problem is censorship and control. Just take a look at the number of hosts that have lost their jobs recently at Fox News for example. Fox News is good TV network, of right-wing orientation, that provides a platform for people that you don’t hear on the other networks. Guests come from the right-wing in general, they are Republicans, libertarians, conservatives, etc. But the content is made for a general public, not a smaller fringe like the Alt-Right or some other orientation. You have to be blind not to see that a certain ‘purge’ is going on at Fox that seems to follow the purge that is happening also at the same time in the Trump Administration. Those who were supporting Trump the most enthusiastically, such as Andrea Tantaros and Bill O’Reilly are no longer there. I am not getting into the specific reasons about why these hosts were fired or have resigned, I don’t work at Fox News so I don’t know what is going on there, all I am just saying is that a lot of them were supporting Trump and that is not a coincidence.
To come back at the hacking of Red Ice TV website, the hacking happened on the very day of the Unite the Right rally when they were en route to the event or just on arrival. I already talked about the rally itself so you can read my analysis in this previous article. We know that the State of Emergency was declared rather early as the event was starting. And that’s rather relevant here because in any standard State of Emergency law, or martial law, you may have provisions that allow the government to take control of communications. You don’t need a big IQ to figure out that somebody used the State of Emergency as a pretext to take down the site, or that somebody just waited for them to leave their apartment as the two hosts were departing for Charlottesville. I am joining two Youtube videos in which they themselves talk about the incident as they went through it and the possible leads of investigations that they have.
Why am I writing about that subject? Because although you may think that ‘it doesn’t concern me’ or ‘it is good for them if they did something wrong’ or ‘I am not getting involved’ or ‘it is not my concern’ you are next. If our elites can do that to a young couple, with a young baby, destroy their business and their livelihood and you don’t come to their defense, who is gonna take your defense when it is your turn? What happened to Red Ice TV and at the Charlottesville rally is unacceptable. What happened to the Jews during World War Two was a test-run. It is obvious that our globalist elites are preparing that same fate for all of us. Master crooks and thieves, of a caliber never seen, are at work. Regardless of the color of our skin, regardless of our religion, our values, our ethnic background, we will be subjected to the most brutal totalitarian regime that the Earth has ever known, unless we make a serious course correction. In effect, you have to understand that Hitler and Stalin didn’t have the technology that we have today. That technology gives the power to take total control. We have embraced technologies that allow our elites to know everything about every single individual anywhere on the planet. Our civilizational ship is a Titanic on a collision course and when the impact occurs, you are going to feel it, believe me. A few days ago, North Korea was able to launch a missile that flew over Japan and it was not taken down. But yet, we find the time and the energy to take down some websites and Youtube channels that express hate and racism…Don’t you think that our priorities are not the good ones? I will write a follow up on that article, focussing on tips and advice. For the moment, I will leave you with Henrik and Lana. Listen to what they have to say. Again, I repeat that the fact that you agree or disagree with them and their political ideas is not the issue. The issue is freedom of speech and our future as free men and women. If we don’t fight back against these very dangerous people who are trying to take control of the planet, our children and grandchildren will only have a life of misery and pain in slave labor camps. That’s what is looming on the horizon, folks.
Ce contenu a été publié dans Censure, Dictature, Internet par Lys d'Or, et marqué avec Advertisement, Big TV networks, Cable TV, Communications, Events of Charlottesville, Fox News, Freedom of Speech, Hacking, Henrik Palmgren, Independent media, Lana Lokteff, Livestreaming, Marshall McLuhan, Political purges, Red Ice TV, Specialization of TV, State of Emergency, Unite the Right rally. Mettez-le en favori avec son permalien.
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December 6, 2017 February 12, 2018
Teen Vogue: Madame Gandhi Talks About Bringing Awareness to the Global Rape Crisis With NorBlack NorWhite
By Brianna West for Teen Vogue
“A lot of people think they have to wait until much later in life to give back, but what I’ve learned from my Indian upbringing is that it’s about your sphere of influence.” Kiran Gandhi, known to fans as Madame Gandhi, certainly heeds her own advice. “Maybe you encourage your coworkers to volunteer on skid row, or you go vegan and show your friends that eating ethically isn’t so hard after all. If we could all do this, the world we be such a better place.”
This holistic, on-the-ground approach is how Kiran conducts her own work. The former drummer for M.I.A., musician, actress and Harvard graduate is preparing for a six-city tour in India next month, and she’s enlisted the help of local talent and brands she believes in. Kiran is partnering with the female-lead Indian clothing brand NorBlack NorWhite, and they are altogether collaborating for a campaign which aims to bring awareness to sexual assault, particularly for women in India.
“Often there are no safe spaces for women to report these crimes to, thus perpetuating the problem. I like this aspect of the campaign because it identifies the multi-faceted nature of the rape crisis in India, and also serves to educate governments about the crisis globally, as this issue is usually not only the case in India,” Kiran explains. “A Woman Was Harassed Here” began as a street art project pioneered by Aqui Thami, who runs the Dharavi Art Room in Mumbai. She started marking city walls with the titular phrase to integrate discourse on harassment by emphasizing how commonplace it really is. The Art Room is located in one of Asia’s largest slums, and attempts to create a safe space for women and children to express themselves and have their voices heard. The merchandise being sold with the phrase “A Woman Was Harassed Here” printed on it will benefit the Dharavi Art Room.
As these issues are so deeply entwined with our cultural and social perception of female sexuality, Kiran argues that the way we speak about women and sex needs to change first. “India has a severe rape crisis right now. I want to make it more sex positive,” she said, clarifying that despite the severity of one country’s problem, the issue is global. “When we talk about sex and female sexuality it’s always about tragedy. It’s always catcalling and sexual harassment it’s never about learning how to orgasm or seek pleasure no matter what partner your gender is. That’s what I want to see more of.”
Back in 2015, Kiran garnered some media attention for running in the London Marathon while free-bleeding during menstruation. She reflects on that now and says the criticisms shed light on more deeply complex ways of thinking. “Other women said things to me like, what is this woman of privilege trying to prove? She’s not suffering. You actually can’t help where you’re born, but you can help what you do what you do with any privilege you are dealt. It is a privilege to be on stage, but I am directing that traffic and that attention to something that matters. I took my joy, playing drums and wearing dope local fashion and chose to [channel it for good],” she explained.
Though she’s clear that you don’t have to have a lot of money to create social change, she does advocate for being mindful of how we all “vote with our dollars,” and that holding people accountable is absolutely pertinent. “If perpetrators saw that there were consequences, real consequences, things would change,” she says, referencing current events in the media.
Kiran returns to India with a sense of purpose, one that she wants to share. There’s a warmth in her voice when she describes how proud she is that her grandparents will get to see her perform. “It’s special,” she concludes. “Really special.”
ImagePosted in MusicBy Madame Gandhi
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VOGUE: Madame Gandhi readies for a five-city India tourVB →
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Is Tim Cook, the CEO of APPLE, ignorant or a fraud?
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, was recently asked why his company moved its production to China. “It’s skill”, said Cook in response to Charlie Rose on 60 Minutes. “The U.S., over time, began to stop having as many vocational kind of skills” he said. “I mean, you can take every tool and die maker in the United States and probably put them in a room that we’re currently sitting in. In China, you would have to have multiple football fields.”
A football field is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide for a total of 57,600 square feet.
Apple’s CEO was wrong. The reason the US public schools probably stopped funding vocational programs that trained, for instance, these tool and die makers Cook mentions, is because U.S. corporations left the U.S. for cheaper labor. And when those U.S. manufacturers left, the need for more tool and die jobs dropped, and the jobs that replaced them shifted to the service sector and paid less. For instance, fast food and Walmart, a company that imports many of the products that it sells.
But what Apple’s CEO doesn’t mention is the fact that automation has also cut back on the need for many jobs—like tool and die makers—because computer programmers do that work now. They program a robot to make a part without the need of a tool or die maker.
Yes, the world has changed, but the U.S. still has a large manufacturing sector. In fact, it is the 3rd largest in the world behind China and Germany, and it wasn’t that long ago, about three years, in fact, that the U.S. was still number one.
The manufacturing institute.org reports that “in 2012, (U.S.) manufacturers generated $2.03 trillion worth of value-added. In the 20 years ending in 2012, manufacturing output increased more than 83 percent. The U.S. manufacturing sector is so huge that if it were its own country, it would rank as the eighth-largest world economy. The United States produces the most goods and services overall as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), and is far ahead of second-place China. Other countries, such as Japan and Germany, showed less growth buoyancy over the past decade compared with the United States.”
According to the IMF and CIA World Factbook, in 2015, the U.S. had dropped to third place behind Germany and China. The industrial output in U.S. dollars for the top five countries in 2015 was: 1st place China at $4.92 trillion, 2nd place Germany at $4.16 trillion, 3rd place United States at $3.75 trillion, 4th place Japan at $1.16 trillion, and fifth place U.K. at $588 billion.
My question is this: how does the U.S. support such a large home-based industrial output with only a small roomful of tool and die makers? It doesn’t, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 75,950 tool and die makers working in the U.S.
How large? Well, according to Rental Max, it takes 8 square feet per person for what they call partial seating. That means a room to hold almost 76-thousand tool and die makers must be at least 607,600 square feet in size. Now if the tool and die makers are standing, then the room only has to be about 456,000 square feet.
How many multiple football fields would it take to hold that many tool and die makers?
8 to 11 football fields depending on if they were standing or sitting.
Anyone who is interested in discovering the big fat lie that the Apple CEO said on 60 Minutes only has to check the following page at bls.gov. It’s very detailed and it clearly reveals how misleading the CEO of Apple really is.
During the 60 Minutes interview Tim Cook said the notion of Apple avoiding U.S. taxes was ‘political crap’. What do you think—is Apple’s CEO Tim Cook a fraud and liar, just ignorant, and/or full of the crap he’s talking about? After all, isn’t there some truth in that old saying that it takes one to know one?
Lloyd Lofthouse is a former U.S. Marine and Vietnam Veteran,
who taught in the public schools for thirty years (1975 – 2005).
Lofthouse’s first novel was the award winning historical fiction My Splendid Concubine [3rd edition]. His second novel was the award winning thriller Running with the Enemy followed by his award winning memoir Crazy is Normal.
To follow this Blog via E-mail see upper left-hand column and click on “FOLLOW!”
December 29, 2015 by Lloyd Lofthouse Categories: jobs, Lloyd Lofthouse, media news, politics, propaganda, The United States of America | Tags: Apple Inc., CEO Tim Cook, how many tool and die makers work in the United States, Is Tim Cook the CEO of Apple a fraud and liar, Tim Cook, Tim Cook the CEO of Apple | 25 Comments
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25 thoughts on “Is Tim Cook, the CEO of APPLE, ignorant or a fraud?”
Michael Clayton says: December 30, 2015 at 13:19
I WILL BUY NOTHING FROM APPLE…
Lloyd Lofthouse says: December 30, 2015 at 13:24
I won’t shop at Walmart or by Dell, but the danger is that if we look to close at all the giant corporations we still shop at we will find they are all probably doing the same thing Walmart and Dell do. My desktop is a computer from a company called ZT. The only Apple product I have is a iPhone 4 and I use that maybe 5 minutes or less a month, but it came with the Verizon package when I left AT&T after they lied to us that they could increase our Internet speed if we paid them more. Now I won’t do business with AT&T.
Maybe we’d be better off if we dropped out of the internet society, disconnected from phone service, and only shopped at farmers’ markets.
stiegem says: December 30, 2015 at 10:41
Your question, Lloyd, is “… a fraud or just stupid”. I ask, is the CEO of Apple greedy or choosing to be ignorant??? Word play, I guess. They just might go hand in hand.
michaellangford2012 says: December 29, 2015 at 16:25
CNC machines now do a lot of the work that tool and die makers once did, here and in China. The millions of workers who assemble products for Apple are Chinese because they work much cheaper than even US minimum wage, very profitable for Apple, and for Apple shareholders. Cook isn’t stupid at all.
How much does the average US household spend per year on cell phones, data plans and related services?
Susan Lee Schwartz says: December 29, 2015 at 12:19
Cross posted at this link
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Is-Tim-Cook-the-CEO-of-AP-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Corporations_Funding_Manufacturing_Schools-151229-373.html#comment577357
wIth this comment which has many interesting EMBEDDED LINKS AT OPED:
I was listening to an educator yesterday, discussing the poor performance of the current crop of high school graduates,. 40% are unable to think critically enough to do the jobs our society always needs… to electrify a home, or create plumbing or build a structure. Vocational skills went out the window when the plutocrats, through Gates, invented a new “curricula” with no evidence required as to its benefit… a magic elixir — a subject that I wrote about, here, years ago.
Passing “tests” of memory was foisted on us by Pearson, with thanks to Bush and his NCLB, which left ALL our future citizens whom we call kids, without the skills they need to survive, to thrive in the 21st century. Testing Schools became the national narrative, so testing kids came next, and finally tying the teacher’s rating to these memory tests, ended the profession of pedagogy.
Rick Ayers, a professor of teacher education at the University of San Francisco, reviews the controversy over EdTPA, the Pearson-owned assessment tool for future teachers. In the past, educational professionals decided whether teachers were prepared for their job. Now, in 35 states, teachers must take the Pearson EdTPA to win certification. See what he writes summarized by Ravitch
Then, if you want to know why Cook is fluff crap… take a look at the billionaire crowd of the EIC (EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX). I saw them REVEALED, after seeing the diagram at the Diane Ravich Blog*
*I read and comment daily, here, about education and the enormous war on Public Schools.
These people–the EIC Crowd : Broad, Pearson, Walton Gates etc., planned the end of LOCAL CONTROL of schools, so they were places where LEARNING ACTUALY could occur. Our workers are expensive… better to ship the jobs to China!!
These folks, in order to create a more stupid population, gave us the COMMON CORE CRAP, and then they purchased the media, and sold it through their shill Duncan to the people as CHOICE.
Now the graduates of the destruction, have no choices, deprived of the ONLY ROAD that leads to INCOME EQUALITY… the path that begins in public schools where patents and PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS, determine WHAT LEARNING REALLY LOOKS LIKE!
WHAT LEARNING REALLY LOOKS LIKE is the subject, FYI of the REAL…National Standards Research (Pew funded;Harvard & the LDC at the Univ. of Pittsburgh).
Never heard of this research on ‘effort-based’ education… you know…where learning skill are the objective, and practice and hard work, not memorization creates REAL LEARNING!
Well, Tim Cook knows that real skills come from a society where citizens attend schools that prepare the TO WORK. Schools where ALL KIDS LEARN–> how to plan and organize, to hypothesize and to synthesize to pass real tests… of PERFORMANCE.
BUT, WHAT DO I, the NYS Educator of Excellence, KNOW?
Well, see my resume here at Oped, and the work I did for Pew on the standards, as a COHORT!
Submitted on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2015 at 1:05:25 PM
Thank you. I think you are missing a couple of links.
A lot more is changing from the top down than just the destruction of community based, non-profit, transparent, democratic public schools. I read recently that what made America great was also the amount of money that went into R&D and that has also dropped dramatically as Wall Street changed the way it measures success to short term profits that always must be higher than the previous quarter—if profits drop, even if a company is still profitable, the media reports that they are losers and that often causes them to lose more revenue as customers swallow the BS and stop buying their products or shopping at their stores.
I also saw a film this week, The Big Short, that is based on a real story about what caused the 2007 global financial crises. I think this film offers proof of the change that is destroying the United States, democracy, republics, freedom, labor unions, etc.
The cause of it all is rampant arrogance and greed from the top of the economic pyramid. up there among the 1%, and it started seriously with President Reagan and his worship of trickle down the garbage while trampling the working class. We are are now living in an era that reveals what happens when every great civilization dies.
Exactly….. the need to steadily INCREASE profits, is the measure of success. There is never ‘enough’ money, so that there can be alive-back to the people. Ironically, the Pilgrims’ culture was one in which people were expected to give -back at least third of profits to the society. Today, our 1/10th of 1%, give back as little as possible,
These narcissists do not enable the ‘common welfare’ of the nation in which they live. They care not a whit for the people who make their life possible. The rob the national pocketbook, and squander it on personal jets, yachts and homes, when the people lose everything.
I hate to say this, Lloyd, but this culture is extracting everything from and the only outcome that I see is the end of everything!
Links are at the Oped site. Word press does not copy the links my comment. Go to OPED…the links I embed are worthwhile!
I see a lot of movies and I also follow how much these films are earning, and I’ve noticed that if a film doesn’t make a huge amount of money its first weekend, the box office reports in the media often bash them as losers, as box office duds.
For instance, John Carter, a film that had a production budget of $250 million US dollars. It’s opening weekend it only earned $30 million and the media bashed it as a box office loser and dud, and if the media mentions it even now, more than three years later, it is still labeled as a loser, but its worldwide box office take reached $284,139,100 before its run in theaters was over, and it is a good film. I saw it.
As I see it, a film that makes that much money is not a loser but Wall Street measures things entirely differently. If the studio had produced the film for half of what they spent to make it, then the media would be calling it a winner.
The CEO, oligrach, corporate mindset today is that a company has to always grow larger with a bigger market share and earn larger profits or you are a loser.
What happened to companies that made enough money to pay the bills, stay out of debt, pay the workers a living wage and earn the owner a good living by just keeping a steady, loyal customer base that might or might not grow?
OH, Lloyd… you know the answer to that. Mankind has a gene for survival of the guy with the most stuff… in fact, I read a piece on this very survival ploy! Wasn’t it Adam Smith who made it clear that the wealthy critters at the top want it “all for themselves and nothing for everyone else.” They never have enough.
But what ‘gets’ me, is when really comfortable upper middle class folks that I know — people who make at least 250k a year, think that the policies that are bankrupting our states and destroying the national prosperity and the American dream (as they remove the schools and health care, and let infrastructure decay) benefit them.
Look at what France just did… a social democracy does this… we are not a democracy and our leaders do nothing for our society bu mil it for the 1/10th.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/29/1464446/-This-news-from-France-will-help-you-understand-just-what-a-raw-deal-Americans-get-with-health-care?detail=email
Ordinary well-to-do folks, like my doctor son and his doctor wife, pay through the nose to maintain roads, schools, infrastructure and everything, while the real ziilionaires send their money out of the country. My son complains about the ‘entitlements’ and busy the entire WSJ propaganda, and lectures me about those ‘lazy’ people.
He is a brilliant man, was a brilliant boy, and I never expected that he too could be bamboozled.
Look, at OPED, where I and Robert Reich and Chris Hedges write; we who comment there all know there is a NEW World Order. It is a given. We know the oligarchy is in place, and that they have purchased our legislature and our Supreme Court and are on their way to ensuring they capture the executive office… they own BOTH parties, and the White House will be theirs IF Hillary wins…. (you have seen her at Bilderberg?)
Only Bernie can deter them…. for a while.
And Rob, the publisher at Oped News, promotes the idea that we CAN make a difference, and that we cannot give up on creating the intellectual revolution that will prevail if we keep telling the truth!
Rob Kall is so bright. I love his radio interviews (like the recent with John Gatto –author of “Dumbing US Down,” and I find fascinating his series on ‘sociopaths.’
http://www.opednews.com/author/author1.html
You should become a member here, and quicklink your posts here, to OPED. In this week’s newsletter. ( I had seven pieces that I posted Make the Newletter headlines this week. ( I guess Xmas week is a slow week, usual I only have 2 or 3) http://www.opednews.com/flyer/newslarge_20151229_1.html
Also, I think you will find this New Yorker piece interesting…on the subject…
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/04/what-money-can-buy-profiles-larissa-macfarquhar?mbid=nl_151228_Daily&CNDID=36080825&spMailingID=8385200&spUserID=OTYzODM3NDkwNDkS1&spJobID=823010332&spReportId=ODIzMDEwMzMyS0
When I saw the film “The Hobbit,” there is a scene where Smaug is sleeping on this huge mountain of gold. There is no difference between Smaug and Bill Gates, Eli Broad, the Walton family, the Koch brothers and all the other power hungry, never is enough billionaire oligarchs. They are all Smaug from Hedge Funds, to Wall Street and Apple and Microsoft, etc.
Smaug and what happens in the Hobbit films because of that mountain of gold is a metaphor for what is happening in the world today. Wealth and the power that comes with it corrupts those who have it.
I had a similar thought about the Koch Brothers who run this nation… and mine coal, the black gold !
Bill Gates house is valued at $120 million. The garage alone can hold 23 cars.
m4potw says: December 29, 2015 at 12:09
Dear Mr. Lofthouse
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
I would recommend that people with investment mind should go to see a movie “the BIG SHORT”.
AMERICAN Business leaders are FRAUD. They only care for their own profit, NOT for their loyal workers or their country economy.
These HANDFUL business tycoons are able to loot TAX MONEY in billion dollars from their few millions to lobby American Congressmen so that business leaders can manipulate legal and justice system to work in their favor through their own media control.
It is very sad to acknowledge that those RETIRED experts in academy are truly slave and puppet for those fraud business tycoons. The smartest way to fight back is to be healthy, to constantly believe in humanity and to live with human conscience because the absolute and universal law of KARMA will take care of all injustice in life. Back2basic
I’ve seen The Big Short, and yes, everyone should see it, especially if they are regular voters. If you don’t vote, why waste your time because those who are eligible to vote and don’t are part of the problem.
As I see it, the only people to vote for is Bernie Sanders or the candidate for president from the Green Party.
Love you sister spirit!
Thank you Susan. I love you too. I am grateful to have Dr. Ravitch’s website so that I am able to connect with you and learn lots of wisdom from many wonderful educators like you , Mr. Lofthouse, and many others. Happy New Year with Best wishes to you and your loved ones. May XOXOXO
Ditto..So lucky to have you and to know Diane and Lloyd, and Robert Rendo and all the bright minds that assure me that I am not alone in watching humanity create chaos in the 21st century.
I want to replace “Watching humanity create chaos” to “the power hungry, greedy psychopaths among us that are creating chaos in the 21st century” for everyone else but them.
Ah. YOU have a way with words…but a savior is among us.
Who could make this up : “Bernie is the voice of Justice crying out in the desert.” Evangelicals are convicted by his message. This one says: “When I heard Bernie speaking in that way, when I saw that guy on stage at Liberty University, I saw John the Baptist…crying out to the religious leaders, the Pharisees of his day, calling them corrupt and complicit with those who have all the power and all the money and all the wealth, and abandoning the people that God loves, that God cares about”
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/16/1421659/-An-Evangelical-responds-to-Sanders-speech-at-Liberty-U?detail=emailclassic
Let’s not forget what Herod did to John The Baptist, and there are many greedy, power hungry Herods in the current age of privatization of everything public so the few become even wealthier with more corrupted power.
Many of us are worried about his safety.
Lloyd Lofthouse says: January 1, 2016 at 08:20
I think most people worry about their safety too. At least Bernie has armed bodyguards.
Have you ever seen the crime and danger ratings from Neighborhood Scout? For instance, San Francisco. If you click the link, scroll down a bit to the Crime Index in green where 100 is safest and 1 is the most unsafe city in the U.S. Guess what rating San Francisco earned from its crime?
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-francisco/crime/
Then there is a site that provides even more details from City-Data.com
http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-San-Francisco-California.html
The best way to find these pages from these two sites is to Google crime rate for (name of city)
liberalteacher says: December 29, 2015 at 11:37
One of your best. There is no friggin reason why their smart phones cannot be made right here except for his greed and unwillingness to pay a living wage and not use child labor. He is unwilling to take a smaller profit to give Americans good jobs. He has no care or love for this country at all. He is a scoundrel who wraps himself in the American flag. He has loyalty to no nation, no country. His loyalty rests on a bag of gold.
Thank you. What you say is true, and I agree.
But what’s interesting is that in China, the Chinese, who work in those factories, are earning a lot less than American workers in the same industry, but those Chinese are earning a lot more than they did before they left the rural village and migrated to the industrial centers—they were and still are the primer that is living hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty and into the middle class.
For instance, in the last 30 years, China is responsible for 90% of the global reduction of those who live in poverty, and China doesn’t just trade with the United States. It trades with the world and almost breaks even with its exports and imports. However, the U.S., because of its unfriendly policies to its own workers and unions, runs a deficit. Other countries, like Brazil for instance, have actually have gained from trade with China as has Australia and several countries in Africa where countries have products the Chinese need like food to feed it’s huge population.
Have you read or heard of “Country Driving” by Peter Hessler. Hessler lived in China for several years, and he wrote several books about his time there and what he learned about China.
http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Hessler/e/B001ILMA1C
Reblogged this on Crazy Normal – the Classroom Exposé and commented:
Is the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, a fraud or just stupid?
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Preserving historic buildings in Loddon for the benefit of the community
A Brief History of the Trust
In 1996 Loddon Parish Council investigated the purchase of the Old Town Hall.
It soon became apparent to the Council that in order to maximise funds for the significant cost of restoration and management of the Old Town Hall, it was necessary to set up a Preservation Trust which would have Charitable status and be completely separate from the Council.
The Loddon Buildings Preservation Trust was duly set up as a charitable company, limited by guarantee, with membership invited from the general public.
The membership is on two levels – annual or life.
The Board consists of 5 Directors and a Company Secretary.
The Directors are elected by the Life members of the Trust and carry out their duties purely on a voluntarily basis.
They normally meet every 6 weeks.
The management of the buildings is time consuming and involves lots of voluntary input by the Directors – ‘hands on’ work is often required.
To contact the LBPT, call 01508 521173 or email loddonbpt@gmail.com.
During 1997 Norfolk County Council decided that their Youth and Community Service would change direction.
This caused much concern throughout the County with each centre vying to become the area base and thereby retain the buildings for Community use. Most of their Community Centres were destined to be closed, including The Hollies.
The area around Loddon was fortunate that the Parish Council had set up the Buildings Preservation Trust. Together they were able to negotiate leases of all the buildings forming The Hollies.
The Parish Council delegated their part in the day-to-day management of the buildings to the Trust, so that no cost fell on the rate-payers.
The Hollies Buildings
The Hollies – comprises of two halls and is available for hire locally. It is currently the home of Loddon Country Market on Tuesday mornings from 0915 to 1030 and Funky Feet Dance School on several weekday afternoons and evenings.
The Hollies Classroom – is a timber building behind the main Hollies building.and is currently the permanent home of Loddon Nursery School.
The Library Annexe
Comprises two halls adjacent to the Library and is entered via the Library entrance on the right of the building.
The first hall is currently occupied by Loddon Parish Council.
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Search Manuscripts People
Welcome to Manos
We hope you’ll find the site and database attractive and easy to use. Please let us know any difficulties you have in using it Margaret Greer.
We are still building the site, adding more functions, as well as cleaning up data imported from the old site.
We invite your help in the process. For the benefit of all lovers of Spanish classical theater, please let us know of any problems you see in the data, or send along additions.
In the meantime, meet the Manos team…
Manos is built and maintained by three key people:
Margaret R. Greer
Margaret, the director of Manos and professor emerita of Spanish at Duke University http://people.duke.edu/~mgreer/ started this database in the late 1980s, with a Fulbright Fellowship and the support of Manuel Sánchez Mariana, then head of the Manuscript section of the Sala Cervantes in the Biblioteca Nacional Española. (Plenty more about the history of the project in another post…)
Over the years, Margaret, with the help of many graduate students and other scholars, analyzed manuscripts and added information to an ever-growing database. (You’ll see the names of all those hard-working assistants in the manuscript detail pages.)
Margaret retired from teaching in July 2014, and her first mission was to upgrade the Manos Teatrales site and to expand our use of ManosID, the new method of computer-assisted handwriting identification that the Manos tech team is now perfecting for full implementation.
Alejandro García-Reidy
Alejandro, Manos’ associate director since 2010, is an assistant professor of Spanish at Syracuse University http://asfaculty.syr.edu/pages/lang/garcia.reidy-alejandro.html.
Alejandro received his PhD from the Universitat de Valencia (Spain) in 2009. At the same time he collaborated with Teresa Ferrer Valls and others in the development of the database Diccionario Biográfico de actores del teatro clásico español (DICAT), published in 2008. This database, which offers the biographies of early modern Spanish professional actors and actresses, is a resource that complements the Manos database by facilitating the identification of the companies that possessed the theatrical manuscripts. Due to his involvement in DICAT, Alejandro started to work closely with Manos, including a period as a postdoc associate at Duke from 2009 to 2011. He has continued work on this fascinating project ever since.
Jim Greer
Jim has been advising his mother on the Manos project since his years as a computer science student at Princeton in the early 1990s, when he first suggested to her that the process of identifying handwriting was something that a computer could be programmed to do.
This year, Jim—who’s the co-founder and CTO of the casual game site Kongregate http://www.kongregate.com, as well as the founder of the campaign-finance-reform organization CounterPAC http://www.counterpac.org--established the Manos Foundation, to give the project the necessary industry support. He is overseeing the technical renovation of Manos, with expert developers from Pivotal Labs.
More Patrons »
About Manos
mgreerduke@gmail.com
Copyright 2014 Manos. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
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Marvin Hamlisch
▶ SONG: “You Picked Me!” (The Mirror Has Two Faces, Film, 1996) The Music of Marvin Hamlisch
Song: “You Picked Me!“ (0:31”)) — Music from THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES (Film, 1996) — The Music of Marvin Hamlisch. The Mirror Has Two Faces is a 1996 American romantic comedy‐drama film produced and directed by Barbra Streisand. Music for the film composed / arranged by Marvin Hamlisch.
Song: “You Picked Me!“ (0:31”) — The Music from the 1996 film “The Mirror Has Two Faces” — The Music of Marvin Hamlisch
Film: The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996). Directed by Barbra Streisand. Screenplay by Richard LaGravenese. Based on the 1958 french film “Le Miroir à deux faces” written by André Cayatte / Gérard Oury.
Starring: Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Lauren Bacall, George Segal, Mimi Rogers, Pierce Brosnan, Brenda Vaccaro.
LISTEN. Music from The Mirror Has Two Faces. “You Picked Me!”
Read more, Rent Movie, Buy Music soundtrack: The Mirror Has Two Faces (Film, 1996)
Movie & Soundtrack:
Watch / Get This Movie!
Buy Music: Amazon — The Mirror Has Two Faces
Buy Music: iTunes: — The Mirror Has Two Faces
RELATED CONTENT — The Music of Marvin Hamlisch:
MUSICALS:
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Musical: A Chorus Line (1975) — Get License for your next musical production!
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — They’re Playing Our Song (Musical, 1978) Get License for this Musical
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch: SMILE (Musical, 1986) — Obtain License!
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Musical: The Goodbye Girl (1993) — Get License!
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Musical: Sweet Smell of Success (2002) — Get License for This Musical!
MUSIC FOR FILM:
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: The Swimmer (1968)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: Bananas (1971)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: The Way We Were (1973)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Scott Joplin and The Sting (1973)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: Sophie’s Choice (1982)
The Music of Marvin Hamlisch — Film: The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
Source: Team Marvin Hamlisch / The Music of Marvin Hamlisch
The Official Site of Marvin Hamlisch
Design by Hardly Square
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« Back Issue: September 2012
Links #273 »
In the News (#574)
September 26, 2015 by Maggie McNeill
Raising the minimum age perpetuates the notion that sex workers are naive individuals with little to no agency or understanding of their own situation. – Laura Marks
Lack of Evidence
A fine example of barking up the wrong tree:
During a recent trip to Miami, San Francisco residents Heather Cox and Gigi Otálvaro-Hormillosa visited Dean’s Gold strip club in North Miami Beach…they were denied entry…[because] they’re women and weren’t “accompanied by a man”…”The message that women must be accompanied by men is totally infantilizing,” says Otálvaro…”it’s a direct statement of exclusion targeted at bisexual women and lesbians”…
Nope and nope. It’s not “infantilizing” and it isn’t “targeted at lesbians”; the Florida policy is an anti-whore measure intended to keep us from “poaching” clients from the clubs. Don’t like it, lesbians? Fucking lobby for decriminalization, then, because as long as we have no rights yours will continue to be infringed. And guys, don’t think these laws don’t affect you, too:
…The YouTube video’s original caption to the video…“Bought a burger and pulled over to have a few bites. I suppose that constitutes probable cause?” Fortunately, the citizen…pulled out his phone and started recording when the Austin cop approached the vehicle…Rick asked, “Why am I getting pulled out of my car?” “Because you’re being detained.” answered the unknown Austin PD officer…Rick immediately asked, “Why am I being detained?” “Let’s see. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning and you’re in a parked here by yourself in a high prostitution, high drug area”…
They Still Don’t Get It
This “editorial” cannot have possibly been written by an actual editor, unless this paper hires its editors from the local eighth-grade class. It is also virtually fact-free and if its nose were any higher up the arse of authority it would suffocate:
…Prostitution has always been a money-making endeavor. It generates an income for the women and the men who often control them. But, the profession has become more dangerous because many of the prostitutes are desperate for money to support drug addiction. That, of course, means crimes related to prostitution have increased dramatically…Most of the women are not street-walkers, but advertise themselves on a website called The Back Page…police respond to ads to snare women, and place fake ads on the site to entice the male customers…Fewer women are now advertising on the site, but the demand from male customers was still too high…prostitutes were more numerous 40 years ago and they frequented the heart of the downtown. Development in the center city that has attracted families chased the prostitutes away. We appreciate the police for continuing to work on the prostitution problem and…the developers who continue to make the downtown a better place…
End Demand
Ever wonder what kind of sick propaganda men are subjected to in “john school” for the “crime” of sexual desire?
Imagine your mother or the person you think of like a mother. Now picture her on the street, offering sexual services for $10 at least a half-dozen times a day…The goal of the day was to outline not only the “what ifs,” such as being assaulted and robbed, but to impart that many prostituting are forced there by circumstances, whether that’s another person, addiction, or mental illness…the men also hear about possible health impacts, from HIV to pubic lice, sexual addiction, and the impacts of prostitution on communities…
All anti-sex laws are repeatedly supported by courts until the day they aren’t:
A…judge has refused to find the laws that outlaw prostitution in Ohio unconstitutional in the case against two women who were operating a massage parlor…“Ohio prostitution statue compromises the protected right to sexual privacy by denying consenting adults the right to make decisions about sexuality in the commercial market place,” [defense attorney] Blake Somers wrote in his motion. “Such an instruction is not justified or mitigated by societal moral concerns…making the sale of sex illegal violates the right of sexual privacy derived from the due process clause and the defendant herein seeks nothing more that to invoke the principals of liberty that already exists”…
Still a Child
Twenty-five years ago, Jim Kelly argued before the New Orleans City Council that women ages 18 to 20 shouldn’t be allowed to work as exotic dancers…The proposed ordinance was approved…but after a recent murder case involving 19-year-old dancer Jasilas Wright, Kelly realized it was not being enforced. In July, he returned to City Hall to put teeth into the existing ordinance…Local dancers say the ordinance shouldn’t exist at all…”Don’t tell women they can’t work a f—king job when they’re adults,” says Lilith, a 27-year-old dancer at Babe’s Cabaret who started when she was 20. “To assume we’re all victims and have no other options or are forced to be there is simply disrespectful.” Kelly says he is trying to protect young women…
Buttons, Bags & Banknotes
…Bauer Media announced that Zoo Weekly would be closing “due to tough retail conditions”. It has been declared that its October edition will be its last…it is a victory that Collective Shout, Australia’s most vocal anti-porn campaigners, is claiming as its own. In August…Zoo Weekly was removed from Coles’ shelves after a “successful online campaign” was waged by Collective Shout…history has shown that Collective Shout’s real problem lies with the idea of women displaying their bodies in men’s magazines…The women who appear in these magazines, often dressed in string bikinis, have done so consensually and have been paid for their work…there have been no instances where Zoo Weekly has placed a woman on their cover without that woman’s approval…
A Tale That Grew in the Telling (#419)
Americans disapprove of teaching kids about sex, but they’re all for filling their heads with stupid anti-sex propaganda:
…North Carolina Senate Bill 279 would amend state sex-education standards to require all schools teach age-appropriate info on “the threats” of sex trafficking…The bill also says school administrators must collaborate with law enforcement agents when developing or presenting this material…Training cops on sex trafficking issues is often a collaborative effort by religious nonprofits and the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) who preach the new gospel of prostitution: that almost all women…were…forced into it and should be treated as victims; that the Internet fuels a thriving child sex-slavery trade; that “ending demand” for adult prostitution by targeting johns and using other tough-on-prostitution measures are necessary to stop children from being sold into sexual slavery; and that there’s a rampant and escalating problem with sex trafficking in the United States. But there is no solid evidence that any of these things are true. A DOJ-orchestrated, law-enforcement-centered sex trafficking “awareness” program for public school kids seems likely to spew the kind of fact-lite, panic-heavy propaganda that fueled school anti-drug programs like DARE…
The Course of a Disease (#423)
The Israeli journalist who wrote this article on brothels in Tel Aviv presents a much more nuanced view of sex work than one would see in the American media:
…Reports on prostitution tend to focus on exceptional cases, such as…an underage sex ring…[or] human trafficking, a phenomenon of the 1990s…They concentrate on…“notorious drug and prostitution den[s]”…[such as] the Hasan Arfa area…a warren of tin shacks and garages supposedly overrun by drug users and sex workers…[prohibitionist] Rebecca Hughes…writes, “Most women do not choose to be prostitutes.” The actual face of prostitution is more nuanced. There are hundreds of brothels in Tel Aviv. Many of them operate openly, advertising their services on the street with business-sized cards scattered on sidewalks throughout the city by young men…
Innocence Never Had (#428)
Yet another attempt to cast young people as passive vegetables without agency:
On Tuesday night Sean ’Diddy’ Combs tweeted a petition asking the Associated Press to stop using the phrases “child prostitute” and “child prostitution” in their style guides and news stories. “They are victims [and] survivors of rape,” he wrote, sharing a link to the Change.org campaign…Because the terms deal with the issue of people who are too young to consent to sex, let alone sex work, the group argues that saying “child prostitute” or “child sex worker” is both insensitive and factually inaccurate. Instead, the group suggests that outlets refer to these children as “victims and survivors of child rape”…
No. The number of underage sex workers who are “children” in any meaningful sense is virtually nil; the vast majority are above the age of consent, albeit below 18. To call them “victims of child rape” is both insulting and factually inaccurate.
Imaginary Crises (#445)
The people who profit from rape panic just won’t stop creating new bogus “studies” designed to uphold their cherished “1 in 5” myth:
More than 20 percent of female undergraduates at an array of prominent universities said this year that they were victims of sexual assault and misconduct, echoing findings elsewhere…The survey from the Association of American Universities drew responses from 150,000 students at 27 schools…Researchers acknowledged the possibility of an overstated victimization rate because there was evidence that hundreds of thousands of students who ignored the electronic questionnaire were less likely to have suffered an assault…
Here’s another hint: counting everything under “sexual assault and misconduct” as assault is the same as counting everything under “murder and assault” as murder.
The Leading Players in the Field, Not (#449)
This Indian critique of anti-whore “feminists” has especially strong words for Gloria Steinem:
…[Steinem’s] opposition to the AI proposal is based upon a rather parochial view of what sex work means to impoverished women, especially in developing countries…Since 2010 I have been engaged in ethnographic research with Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC)…Steinem visited Sonagachhi in April 2012 on a six-day “learning tour”, under the guidance of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, an anti-[sex work] organisation…She called this tour a “life changing experience” because she met several women who were…victims of unspeakable abuse. However…In the last five years I have only met a handful of women in Sonagachhi who were trafficked. In the initial phase of this research I gathered stories of how the women arrived in Sonagachhi and a pattern soon emerged consisting of abject poverty, abandonment, hunger, motherhood, familial responsibilities, and finally survival. Most women told me that they arrived in Sonagachhi through a friend, a relative, or a neighbour who was either working in and/or had contacts in Sonagachhi…The women also do not necessarily see their work as “making a choice” in the classic dyad of forced into, or chose to engage in, prostitution or sex work. Rather, it is the absence of choice and the structural barriers of poverty that lead them to sex work…
Seizing Power (#567)
…Backpage wants a federal appellate court to prohibit Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart from pressing credit card companies to de-fund the site…The company set the appellate process in motion…when it filed…paperwork to appeal U.S. District Court Judge John Tharp, Jr.’s refusal to grant a preliminary injunction against Dart…
Now They Notice
In another example of how the Rentboy raid is being treated differently from the many raids on female escort sites which preceeded it, here’s an interview with a gay Rentboy client; how often have you seen interviews with the clients of female sex workers, despite their far greater numbers?
…I now enjoy my sexuality in a way in which I don’t think would have happened unless I hired escorts. It’s specifically because the cash makes it professional. It’s bad customer service for him to judge me for my interests…I’m not saying he has to put up with everything I want. In fact, there’s some things that I’ve asked for that he says not to…If he says no, then it’s no…That professionalism and that distance is profoundly helpful. It takes me to a place where I can just enjoy sexuality. It’s nice and clean…I see laws against prostitution as intolerant…We know from Romer v. Evans, that mere moral prohibition against something is not sufficient grounds for making a practice illegal. In Lawrence v. Texas, for the life of me, I cannot see how Kennedy’s reasoning about an ordered liberty about private choices between consenting adults doesn’t cover prostitution. He has that weird declaration at the end of his opinion that this case has nothing to do with prostitution. It comes out of nowhere, he just stuck it in there to cover his ass…It strikes me as profoundly cruel for people who have more barriers to an enjoyable sex life, to just criminalize a method that works for both parties…
Posted in Current Events, Miscellaneous, News, Perception, Tyranny | Tagged A Tale That Grew in the Telling, adolescence, agency denial, Australia, bisexuality, bogus studies, brothels, Buttons Bags & Banknotes, Challenge, end demand, End Demand (updates), escort review sites, Florida, hysteria, Illinois, Imaginary Crises, India, Innocence Never Had, Israel, Lack of Evidence, law, neofeminism, North Carolina, Not the Leading Players, Now They Notice, Ohio, politicians, red-light districts, Seizing Power, Still a Child, stripping, Texas, The Course of a Disease, They Still Don't Get It, underage | 7 Comments
on September 26, 2015 at 6:30 am | Reply eddiejc1
I wonder if the “tough retail conditions” that forced Zoo magazine to close have less to do with the protests by Collective Shout and more to do with the prevalence of free soft-core porn on the internet.
on September 26, 2015 at 7:09 am | Reply cabrogal
Imagine your mother or the person you think of like a mother. Now picture her on the street, offering sexual services for $10
Sounds like a “Yo mama so ugly …” joke.
A DOJ-orchestrated, law-enforcement-centered sex trafficking “awareness” program for public school kids seems likely to spew the kind of fact-lite, panic-heavy propaganda that fueled school anti-drug programs like DARE…
Funny thing about DARE is that a large meta-analysis carried out by Larry Sherman for the NIJ in the 1990s found no evidence it works and some evidence it increases the likelihood school children will use illegal drugs. Yet nearly two decades on it still receives millions in government funding and is held up as an exemplar in the media.
Australian governments rejected DARE type programs after reviewing the evidence but still adopted young offender ‘boot camps’ from the US, despite strong evidence they increase violence and criminality. I think the one recently shut down in Queensland was the last hold out after a generation of spiraling costs and appalling outcomes. It seems Australian authorities can’t afford to be as stupid as US ones, though they try hard to be.
here’s an interview with a gay Rentboy client
He seems disgusting, perverse and subhuman to me. I suspect he’s a lawyer. Yecch.
on September 26, 2015 at 9:06 am | Reply thequietman
Re: Course of a Disease
So, what is the criminalization status in Israel? I honestly never thought about it before. I wouldn’t think the country has full decriminalization, because otherwise it would be held up as a positive example as much as New Zealand is.
on September 26, 2015 at 1:31 pm | Reply gumdeo
Israel has a mess of inconsistent and restrictive laws; a typical semi-criminalized regime. Attempts by fundamentalists and neo-feminists to fully criminalize sex work have not had success.
on September 26, 2015 at 1:27 pm | Reply Shane Skekel
Jim Kelly: another person who deserves a merciless ass-kicking. (Preferably, something out of Fist of the North Star.)
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the case for “The Basket Case”
Or, why we should care about saving old boats
By Ellery R. Brown
The 89-year-old C.C. Hanley catboat Molly B. looked brand new on sea trials following her thorough restoration. Photo courtesy D.N. Hylan & Associates
Recently I was invited to have a look at a boat that had been discovered in the back corner of an old barn in Sargentville, Maine. The barn was about to be torn down, and the boat nearly went with it. She was a hard case: hogged, modified, poorly repaired, and neglected, but clearly of some pedigree. I have since identified the boat as a Dark Harbor 12½, designed by B.B Crowninshield. A photo of the poor old thing—with an ominous Caterpillar excavator looming in the background—garnered an enormous response when I posted it on social media.
What is it about an old boat on the verge of oblivion that tugs so hard at the heartstrings? Perhaps it’s the feats of engineering and craftsmanship that these old boats represent. While they might be rotten heaps, they are also icons of some of our most important national ideals: the wealth and success of their owners, the artistry and ingenuity of their designers, and the skill and hard work of their builders. It’s no wonder that the prospect of their destruction is upsetting.
The sight of a neglected old boat with identifiable pedigree is exciting because of the potential it holds. We can’t help but picture that sad boat in all its original glory. Unfortunately, the notions that an old boat is beyond help and that it is cheaper and easier just to build a new one usually seem to win out over that first thrilling notion of resurrection. Well, I think a case can be made that restoration often is worth the effort. Indulging that first instinct to bring a boat back to life—and then chasing that goal all the way to its conclusion—might be the best decision you ever make. There are several reasons why this makes sense.
First, the experience of restoring a classic boat can be deeply rewarding for everyone involved. It provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich history that surrounds these boats, the genius of their designers, the techniques of their builders, and the stories of their owners. Many owners of classic boats consider themselves to be stewards of significant pieces of history—a chapter in a story that began long before them, and, due to their efforts, will long survive them. Those with the means and wisdom to commission restorations of classic yachts provide a service to the greater community by preserving these icons of American artistry, ingenuity, and craftsmanship.
Okay, it’s not exactly philanthropy, but a culture that cherishes its history is (usually) better for it. Some European countries are way ahead of us on this front. The popularity of restoring and actively racing classic yachts in Europe has resulted in the emigration of some of our most significant classic yachts to the Mediterranean and elsewhere. This leads me to my next point.
Second, it’s true that the number of unrestored classic yachts available is relatively small; for example, most of the surviving N.G. Herreshoff boats have been re-discovered and restored. But some great designs from the teens, twenties, and thirties still remain available. Smaller knockabout one-designs that came from the same drawing boards as the J’s, P’s, Q’s, R’s, meter boats, and custom masterpieces represent some of the most beautiful, best-sailing, and practical craft for the purposes of today’s sailors. Some of these classes were built by the dozen, and while many are no more, others are “missing” according to the class associations. That could mean they are truly gone, or just under cover in the back of an old barn... waiting.
Finally, I am not such a romantic to believe that every old boat is worthy of a restoration. Still, even a sad-looking old boat can represent value when compared with a new replica. It might be rotten, but if it has kept its shape it can be used as a mold to steam-bend new frames and fit new bulkheads. Maybe it’s been left out to weather, but it turns out the spars were squirreled away in a barn 25 years ago and are still okay; you’ve just saved thousands of dollars. Maybe the spars are gone, the boat’s been heavily modified, rotten, hogged; well, that lead-
ballast keel might be worth thousands compared with a new custom casting, and the deck hardware can be priceless.
Many remarkably beautiful old boats wait in old barns or half covered in fields throughout the country—on the East Coast, throughout the Great Lakes, and in the Northwest, and beyond—for someone who can see their potential. Embrace the excitement, scold the skeptics, and go forth and find them.
Molly B.’s colorful history includes surviving the 1968 fire at the Essex Boat Works in which nearly every boat was lost. Photo by Paul Birdsall
Just such a boat was recently at our shop. Built in 1927, a bespoke 28' cat-rigged yawl named the Molly B. was the last design of C.C Hanley. A Mainer by birth, Hanley found himself on Cape Cod in the 1890s as the catboat was just beginning a remarkable evolution from vernacular fishing craft to racing yacht. You could say that he single-high-handedly introduced the larger yachting world to the advantages of the catboat when his large racing cats Mucilage and Harbinger won handicapped races against the latest designs from N.G Herreshoff, B.B Crowninshield, E. Burgess, and W. Gardner. He even attempted a catboat contender for the 1901 America’s Cup at 90' LOA and 36' beam.
Herreshoff described Hanley as “the hardest nut I had to crack.” Slightly condescending, perhaps, but still a remarkable complement. Molly B. was Hanley’s last design. In much the same way that Herreshoff broke free of rating rules and class development to produce his timeless Alerion family late in his career, the Molly B. shows remarkable conservatism and subtlety for a man who made his living designing extreme racing machines with scary spreads of canvas. Her reverse raking stem, hollow entry, and inboard rudder are emblematic of his work; the cat-yawl rig, more-manageable sail area, and comfortable accommodations are features in keeping with the wisdom gained over a lifetime of building, designing, and sailing catboats. The testament to the success of his final effort is her presence in our shop nearly 90 years after being designed and built. The boat has been loved by many, and her latest owner is now writing the next chapter.
Re-launch day is a moment of great pride for boatbuilders and boat owners alike. Photo by Jenny Mayher
When all was said and done, we replaced approximately 80 percent of the Molly B.’s original material. The work took place in stages over more than six years. For the owner, I think the project represented a vision of his future, in which there will be time to enjoy this wonderful boat with his large and growing family.
Every customer contributes to the project in some way (beyond paying the bills). For some it’s simply a passion for the history of the boat, which contributes to the accuracy and authenticity of the builder’s work. Others contribute their boating experience, incorporating features that improve performance or make life better under way. The owner of the Molly B. has a tangible talent. His Utah-based business, Historical Arts & Casting, produces first-class hardware and castings for custom homes and architectural restorations large and small around the world. Accordingly, the Molly B. features a remarkable suit of hardware that includes a beautifully restored original steering gear, a cast bronze centerboard trunk, and a custom bronze skylight.
Molly B. was a basket case with a fantastic history. Lucky for her, one person couldn’t shake the excitement he felt for her potential. At the age of 89, she set sail last summer from Benjamin River—across the bar with her board up just because she could—and then down the reach toward Swans Island, headed off for adventures that haven’t been written... yet.
Ellery Brown is a boatbuilder and partner at D.N. Hylan & Associates in Brooklin, Maine.
All about daylillies
Letters - Issue 103
Tradition Puts Maine Boatbuilders Ahead of the Curve
Charting the Coast
Letters to the Editor — Issue 151
Just Launched: West Pointer 19
Standing Up in the Waves
Gunkholing with Gizmo: Fort Point, Stockton Springs
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PortlandPOR
Portland Timbers 1, DC United 0 | MLS Match Recap
Dan Itel
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers got their captain back and returned to the win column in the process with a 1-0 victory over league leaders D.C. United at Providence Park Wednesday night.
Led by midfielder Will Johnson, in the starting lineup for his first appearance back from a broken leg suffered in late September last year, the Timbers made a fifth-minute Maximiliano Urruti goal stand up against a shorthanded D.C. side.
The win for the Timbers, who came into the match with the league’s second-lowest points-per-game average and at the bottom of the Western Conference, was most welcome, ending their first two-game losing streak of the season and bumping them over the Colorado Rapids and into a tie with the Houston Dynamo for eighth place in the table with 16 points from 13 games.
Front-running United, meanwhile, find themselves in a bit of a swoon, now winless in their last three with two losses in that stretch. They still lead the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with 22 points from 13 games.
READ: Timbers promise to be "ruthless" to overcome slow start, stagnant attack
Portland started the match like a side with something to prove, rotating reserve forwards Gaston Fernandez, Dairon Asprilla, Urruti and center back Norberto Paparatto into the lineup, with the game falling in the middle of a three-matches-in-a-week span – and it didn’t take long for it to pay off.
In the fifth minute, Fernandez ran onto a loose ball on the right flank and played a perfect low cross into the run of an onrushing Urruti for an easy finish at the far post.
And the Timbers probably counted themselves unlucky not to have found the net again with a number of good chances in the first half, the best when midfielder Diego Chara unlocked Urruti with a perfect through ball in the 10th minute. D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid, however, charged way off his line to break up the one-on-one chance just in time.
D.C. made the cross-country trip for their third game in 10 days, with Wednesday’s game sandwiched by East Coast matches at New England and at home to Philadelphia. Without a number of their first-choice players and just a 16-man gameday roster, they employed a sit-and-counter strategy in the first half.
Their best chance came on a corner kick in the 31st minute when Steve Birnbaum was left unmarked at the far post, but his header was directed into the side netting.
It was Portland’s first halftime lead since Week 2 against the LA Galaxy, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
D.C. applied more pressure to start the half, resulting in a Birnbaum shot that flew straight to Timbers ‘keeper Adam Kwarasey in the 47th minute and a Conor Doyle shot that was pushed just wide three minutes later.
Check out the PORvDC matchcenter
But Portland tightened the screws soon thereafter, and nearly got a second on a number of chances.
In the 68th minute, Darlington Nagbe played Asprilla in on the right wing, but Hamid was there again. Two minutes later, Nagbe played in second-half substitute Rodney Wallace on the left, but his shot attempt was deflected just wide and out for a corner.
Asprilla found another shot in the 71st minute in the middle of the box, but Hamid cleaned it up with a diving save.
In the end, Portland’s defense was forced to grind out the victory, holding D.C. to 12 shots for the game.
The Timbers hit the road for their next match, Saturday against the Colorado Rapids. D.C. return home to play host to the Philadelphia Union on the same day.
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
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Maryland for Responsible Enforcement
Ban Speed Cameras Now!
Speed Camera Poll
Maryland for Responsible Enforcement – Anti-Speed Camera Advocacy
Welcome to Maryland for Responsible Enforcement, the oldest anti-speed camera community supported advocacy organization in the State of Maryland. We are 100% community supported and do not receive contributions or spend money supporting candidates. We provide community oriented advocacy and support of organizations and candidates for public office and elected officials who have worked to reduce/eliminate and advocate for speed camera reform in the State of Maryland.
In 2009, the Maryland State Senate passed legislation allowing the installation of speed cameras on major highways, interstates, and roads. As part of this law (signed by Martin O’Malley) those charged with speeding by these automated ‘big-brother’ machines had no recourse in court to fight their tickets. The law did not require a police officer or camera operator to appear in court.
This year, we can hold those people responsible for this law accountable. We can vote them out of office for imposing this law which strips those who travel through Maryland of their basic due process rights and enforces a backdoor ‘big-brother’ style tax.
Maryland for Responsible Enforcement, the Speed Camera Opposition group in Maryland, would like to endorse the following candidates for Maryland State Senate. They include both Democrats and Republicans who have been strong opponents to Speed Cameras.
We were established in 2009 after the Maryland General Assembly approved the use of speed cameras statewide. In response, we organized and spearheaded a state-wide referendum effort to eliminate speed cameras in the State of Maryland. We remain the largest anti-speed camera advocacy group in the State of Maryland with dozens of elected officials supporting our efforts. This includes former governors, current and former state senators, state delegates, and municipality executives and leaders. We are bi-partisan and have received support from all parties.
We also endorse candidates and incumbents during elections who have been advocates for our cause.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Election 2014, Maryland, Speed Cameras on May 29, 2014 by mdscamera.
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Decolonise the curriculum for global relevance
Marcus Ramogale 26 Jun 2019 00:00
The decolonisation discourse has been accompanied by fierce debates about what this concept means. (David Harrison/M&G)
The link between education and human prosperity is universally acknowledged. It is for this reason that, in his State of the Nation address last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted “better educational outcomes” as one of the key goals for the government in the next 10 years.
Although there is consensus on the vital role played by education in social and economic development, there isn’t, unfortunately, agreement on how it can be used to achieve this. In South Africa, there is, however, sufficient consensus on the need to decolonise our education as part of a broad plan to strengthen our educational system and, indirectly, our society and economy.
The need to decolonise our education comes out of a recognition that much of what is taught is a legacy from our colonial past, a past which was designed to entrench unequal power relations and privileges for a minority.
The decolonisation discourse has been accompanied by fierce debates about what this concept means. There has also been contention on how to go about decolonising knowledge, and the curriculum in particular. I will attempt to explain how perspectives from didactics can help us decolonise the curriculum effectively.
Didactics, also known as the science of teaching, recognises that if teaching and learning is to be successful, certain universal conditions must be met. These universal requirements are known as “didactic principles”. Of the several principles recognised in didactic theory, there are three which are of special relevance to the decolonisation of the curriculum.
In the colonial era, the relationship between the coloniser and the colonised was hierarchical, with the colonising culture having positioned itself as superior and “civilised” as opposed to the marginal and “barbaric” culture of the colonised. In this unequal relationship, the coloniser viewed anything indigenous as backward and valueless and the colonised were indoctrinated into believing that this was true. For example, in his book Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela says the following about Healdtown, the school he attended for his secondary education in the late 1930s. “Healdtown was a mission school of the Methodist Church, and provided a Christian and liberal arts education based on an English model. The principal of Healdtown was Dr Arthur Wellington, a stout and stuffy Englishman who boasted of his connection to the Duke of Wellington. At the outset of assemblies, Dr Wellington would walk on stage and say, in his deep bass voice, ‘I am the descendant of the great Duke of Wellington, aristocrat, statesman, and general, who crushed the Frenchman Napoleon at Waterloo and thereby saved civilisation for Europe — and for you, the natives.’
“At this, we would all enthusiastically applaud, each of us profoundly grateful that a descendant of the great Duke of Wellington would take the trouble to educate natives such as ourselves. The educated Englishman was our model; what we aspired to be were ‘black Englishmen’, as we were sometimes derisively called. We were taught — and believed — that the best ideas were English ideas, the best government was English government, and the best men were Englishmen.”
By sanctifying the values and beliefs of the colonial master as the golden standard to strive for, colonial education alienated the colonised from their own culture, and turned them into foreigners in their own land. Through its prioritisation of things European at the expense of things African, colonial education undermined, from an educational point of view, the didactic principle that urges that all teaching must proceed from the known to the unknown. By violating this principle, colonial education ultimately rendered its own teaching ineffectual while also weakening the learning potential of the colonised.
What do I mean by this?
In didactic theory, it is universally accepted that for a learner to acquire new knowledge, the new knowledge must form a link with the knowledge and experiences the learner already possesses. If the new knowledge relates to the learner’s experiences, then the learner will find the new knowledge meaningful and will therefore acquire it with ease and enjoyment. If new facts are not connected to the learner’s existing knowledge, the result is likely to be boredom, alienation and poor motivation.
This probably explains why in the campaign to decolonise our education, young people have routinely complained about how alienating and foreign some institutional cultures in South Africa are. The need to retain the learner’s interest and teach in a meaningful way is the reason teacher-trainees are urged to start with the familiar and then gradually proceed to the unfamiliar.
Colonial education violated this principle of proceeding from the known to the unknown in its foregrounding and veneration of European culture (the unknown) at the expense of the learner’s African culture (the known). Universities inherited this legacy and this explains why, even 25 years after the birth of a democratic South Africa, young people complain of cultural imperialism. So the challenge for universities is to make sure that students are taught first in relation to the experiences they already have and then gradually introduced to new facts and perspectives.
Having started with the familiar, an effective teacher is expected to proceed to the unfamiliar, for staying with the familiar will deprive the learner of new developmental experiences and modes of thought. As we decolonise the curriculum, it is important to remember the continuity imperative, for there is always a temptation in a decolonisation project to stay with the known for reasons that have no bearing on effective teaching and learning but are more connected with chauvinism and cultural pride. In the campaign to decolonise the curriculum, some young people have argued for a “decolonised, Afrocentric” curriculum, with Afrocentrism as a new standard and Africa as the beginning and end of what is worth knowing. But, to do this would not be truly developmental because in progressive thought Afrocentrism is never the end; it is rather a means, a stepping stone to a global platform where scholars engage in intellectual and cultural exchange as equals.
Starting with the known and proceeding to the unknown is inherently progressive because it recognises that while what is familiar is meaningful, a true end of empowering education is mastery of the unfamiliar. By being inward-looking and self-reflexive, Eurocentrism debilitated itself by cutting off links with the infinite riches of global human knowledge — something which may, in part, explain the slow but inevitable decline of the West. The narcissism and self-laudatory expostulations of Eurocentrism are shortcomings that an Afrocentric approach to knowledge and decolonisation must avoid.
In this epoch, where life in the global village has become an inescapable reality, thanks to rapid technological changes, the need to proceed from the known to the unknown, from the local to the global, has become a priority. We must, if we hope to teach for global relevance, decolonise knowledge to enable students to progress from the known to the unknown.
Related to the foregoing principle is another didactic requirement that has the potential to make the decolonisation of the curriculum effective. This principle refers to the need, when teaching, to proceed from the simple to the complex. Teaching that commences with the known does not only make learning interesting and memorable, but also makes it easy and manageable, for what is familiar is usually simple to grasp. But, when a teacher proceeds to the unknown, an element of complexity is introduced, and mastery of complexity is a key objective of worthwhile teaching and learning. Such mastery is made possible by the foundation that the teacher will have created by having started with the known and simple.
Finally, when decolonising the curriculum, we must remember the unity of human knowledge, for didactic theory also recognises the principle of totality, which is also known as the global principle or the principle of integration. Although each person is a member of a family, a clan and nation, on a higher plane each one of us is a member of a single human race — integrated into the whole by virtue of one’s humanness, confronted with similar human problems on account of being an organic member of the human species, and faced with peculiarities of the same human condition. Decolonised knowledge must therefore be integrated with the totality of human knowledge.
This should be easy to achieve if there is acceptance of the need to progress from the known to the unknown, from the simple to complex, and from the local to the global.
Didactic theory can be applied profitably in the decolonisation project. What it teaches us is that we must not decolonise the curriculum with the intention of basking in the glory of African culture and historical achievements, but with the purpose of employing the known, the simple and the local as a springboard for engagement with the unknown, the complex and the global on a higher international plane, for world citizenship is now unavoidable.
Since that time when early humans left the African savannah (the known, the simple and the local) to explore and inhabit the world beyond (the unknown, the complex and the global), the universalisation of human knowledge has been accelerating apace and the shrinking of the globe into a small village has continued relentlessly. Countries that recognise this fact as an inescapable reality of the future, and educate the young for meaningful participation therein, have a better chance of strengthening themselves and their economies.
Professor Marcus Ramogale is the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning at the Mangosuthu University of Technology.
Marcus Ramogale
Professor Marcus Ramogale is the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning at the Mangosuthu University of Technology. Read more from Marcus Ramogale
South Africa (country)EurocentrismDidacticsDecolonisationCyril Ramaphosa
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Mind Blow Me
A Book Review “1984”, George Orwell
In 1984 Orwell creates a Dystopia; a fictional technologically advanced world, where life is so unbearable and extremely bad because of oppression, fear and terror. Oceania, a formal political union of USA and the countries of the British Commonwealth, is where the story happens, where people have no control whatsoever over their lives, thoughts and beliefs. They live under a cruel dictatorship ruled by “The Party”, where even their thoughts are detected by the thought police and they get punished for their political unorthodoxy.
“INGSOC” is the English Socialist Party, which is the political ideology of the totalitarian government of Oceania.
His aim was to draw an image of a world he didn’t want people to go after, being aware of the consequences of what the world could turn into after WWII. He actually in a way or another was right when he imagined a miserable world like that and assumed it would be around the 80s.
Winston Smith is a citizen in Oceania, he works in the Records Department in The Ministry Of Truth, where all the information, documents, news, entertainment, education, and fine arts are being issued and controlled. His job was to rewrite, change and destroy history.
He is unhappy with the whole system of “The Party”, and unable to express his disappointment and anger to others, because there is no body to trust and no real friends to lean on, therefore he starts writing what he thinks in his diary, while knowing the penalty of doing this can be death. People in Oceania are being observed by Telescreens that are installed everywhere possible, so that people don’t get any privacy.
Oceania is always at war either with Eastasia or Eurasia, the party controls facts and changes history, which is called “Reality Control”,none of the citizens remembers the past.
During the “Two Minutes Of Hate” Winston notices an inner party member, named O’Brien, and assumes he is an alley, while at the same time he notices a girl with dark hair, Julia, and assumes she is a foe from the “Thought Police” and assumes that she is there to observe him. This time the “Two Minutes Of Hate” is focusing on the treachery of Goldstein, a previous “Brotherhood” member who was as important as “Big Brother” himself, but tried to revolt against “The Brotherhood”.
A few days later Julia hands him a paper confessing her love to him, they manage to later meet alone, and later they both fall in love with one another, and believe that their loyalty to one another can never be changed or destroyed. Julia also is unorthodox, and doesn’t believe in the system. Winston manages to find a room to rent for both of them to spend romantic time alone as often as they can. The room belonged to Mr. Charrington, who didn’t mind to let it for some money.
Winston and Julia meet O’Brien and confess to him their hatred towards the party, believing O’Brien is a member of “The Brotherhood”, an underground organization that’s aimed to bring the party down. O’Brien welcomes them to “The Brotherhood” and promises to deliver “The Book” to them to read, the underground’s treasonous book written by Goldstein.
Winston starts reading “The Book” in their rented room, while Julia is napping next to him, and they suddenly hear some noise coming from the wall, and find out that behind the painting on the wall there is a Telescreen. They get caught and separated. Winston notices that Mr. Charrington suddenly looked younger and realizes that he belongs to the “Thought Police”.
Winston finds himself locked for days in “The Ministry Of Love”, which is responsible for law and order, in a room without windows and no one to trust and talked to. Finally O’Brien comes in and Winston thinks he also got caught, but he realizes that O’Brien is there to torture him, make him confess and break his spirit. O’Brien has been watching Winston for the last 7 years and the Party is made aware of all his crimes.
O’Brien continues to torture Winston for months, trying to change his ways of thinking, and forcing “Doublethink” into his brain, which is the ability of holding two opposing ideas in one’s mind and believing in them both, it was impossible to achieve until O’Brien takes Winston to “Room 101”, the room where people are made to face their worst fears, and Winston’s is rats, O’Brien threatens Winston to open the cage of rats and let them attack his face. Winston loses control over himself and screams “do it to Julia” which shows a complete loss of dignity and principles.
At the end Winston is changed, he is not the man he used to be, he spends time at the “Chestnut Tree Cafe”, watching news on daily basis there through the Telescreen. He meets Julia by accident, they talk briefly, she has also changed, she is not as charming as before, she confesses to him that she betrayed him during the torture. Winston has changed so much that he finally comes to love “Big Brother”.
The idea of the books is awesome, it’s a great fantasy and a very well put dystopia. It’s very alive and real that the reader can feel the characters, they seem real and natural. The way things end is kind of predictable, but the amount of sorrow and the feel of sorry is unpredictable.
I didn’t like the fact that Orwell put a lot of unnecessary details into the book, it made the book a little too long and just a little boring sometimes; there are lots of details that could be unmentioned and the story would still feel and look great.
I wouldn’t say that it’s an easy read, sometimes the reader would need to read things twice to understand and connect things together. I would recommend people who read this for the first time to read different summaries and reviews to see the idea and the point of the book clearly!
Enjoy reading 1984,
Book Review, Book Summary
1984, 40s, Book, classic, Dystopia, fiction, George Orwell, Novel
A Book Summary: The Other Thing “Who Killed Layla Al Hayek”, Ghassan Kanafani
Main Characters:
Saleh: a famous laweyer, who’s accused for killing Layla
Layla: a rich woman who’s married to a man called Sa’eed, and Dima’s friend
Dima: Saleh’s wife
Sa’eed: Layla’s Husband
The Other Thing “Who Killed Layla Al Hayek”
Saleh,the narrator and the main character in the story, writes a letter to his wife, Dima, emphasizing to her that he didn’t kill Layla, after being arrested, explaining why did he not defend himself in front of the law, although he is a lawyer himself, and tells her why he decided to keep quiet, accepting to be considered the murderer, after discovering and realizing “the other thing” that actually killed Layla.
In his letter to his wife, he writes every single detail about the story of the murder of Layla, from the moment they met along with Dima and Sa’eed, to the moment of her murder, relieving to his wife his actual intentions of accepting to take Layla’s father legacy to his daughter, wanting to win Layla as a lover.
Saleh happens to be in the murder place and, but not in the scene of murder, as he was supposed to meet Layla for their usual affair, when Sa’eed was traveling and away from home, but Layla didn’t show up nor opened the door for him. All the evidences and witnesses happen to be against him as the detector starts detecting the case of her murder, and the circumstances happen to point their fingers at him, while Layla is already dead and can’t defend him as the only person to prove his innocence
Saleh decides to remain totally quiet and refuses to defend himself in the court, and that pisses his lawyer and the judge off, but still he remains quiet, knowing for sure, nothing can prove him innocent no matter what he does, because “The Other Thing” that killed Layla is nothing but “The Accidental Circumstances” that put him from the beginning in that position, place and time. Explaining in his letter that the only things that can get him out of this scary matter and push his neck away from the hang rope is another “Accidental Circumstance”, which somehow deep inside him he knew isn’t going to happen but at the same time somehow wished for it to.
At the end Saleh’s innocence is not to be proved and he is sentenced to death by hanging.
Blogging 101, Book Summary
Detevtice, fiction, Ghassan Kanafani, Layla Al Hayek, Police, Reading, Summary
The Kingdom Of All Kingdoms, You & My Coins “Episode 16″
The Kingdom of All Kingdoms
Queen Zoya visits her Kingdoms frequently, and doesn’t like half of what she sees down there! This time she noticed how the “Citizens” disrespect each others money and properties all the time.
She noticed how “Citizens” borrow money from each other, and when it comes to paying back they feel like giving something precious they own away, which shouldn’t be the case, because it isn’t theirs in the first place. So they start delaying, and finding excuses in order not to pay back, or the find ways to pay in installments, while they received the money at once.
Or when they borrow things from each other, they misuse, misplace and abuse them, unlike if they were theirs. They rarely care for what they don’t own, and they don’t put themselves in each other’s shoes.
They don’t have to borrow things to misuse them, they might misuse things they see and encounter in public areas, even things like trees and plantations.
Queen Zoya didn’t like that at all, she even got pissed off, and punished everyone she met, who misbehaved that way, by damaging their own belongings and turning their golden coins into bronze coins in front of their eyes, for them to know the reason behind her action, thinking they don’t deserve to own things and be in charge for things!
Sarcastic Fantasy
borrowing, fantasy, fiction, Money, properties, sarcasm
The Kingdom of All Kingdoms, The Royal Educational Missions! “Episode 1”
The King and the Queen are on a mission to increase the level of education in all the “Remote Kingdoms” after noticing a huge drop down in education and “citizens’ IQ” there.
Communicating with some “citizens” did actually show that education in the underworld is fruitless. there is one communication happened between the Queen and one “citizen”:
Dear citizen of the remote Kingdoms,
Provide my royalty with your exact address, our Royal Educational Missions need to reach out to you and all the locals in your surrounding to figure the reasons for low IQ. We believe there is a serious problem in education in your region.
We look forwards to your civil proper support.
The Queen of The Kingdom of All Kingdoms,
The “citizen” did cooperate:
Remote Kingdom Jordan,
15, South Eastern St. Block 1505
Come so I can screw your face!
The Queen’s response:
Dear Citizen,
My royalty did stress on the importance of a civil and proper help…
Anyway, the missions will be there soon.
The “citizen” was still mad for no obvious reason for the queen, and kept insulting and cursing the King, the Queen and the Kingdom of all Kingdoms. The Queen did still want to help her citizens, nevertheless they are in her remote kingdoms. And so the Queen ordered a new house for the “citizen” keeping in mind the “citizen’s” emotional status and materialistic needs to settle down and find a shelter, her order came like this “What is wrong with this citizen… Give her a new house, maybe she needs a place to stay in…” but still the “citizen” was acting weird.
The Royal Educational Missions already have a plan and have their standards to detect the error in education and the low IQ. Their mission now is just to find the reasons and measure the size of the problem then afterwards take action. In case the problem was not sever and can still be handled the Royal Educational Missions will change the whole system of education in the “Remote Kingdoms”, keeping in mind the culture, the needs and the diversity in the societies. But if the problem was very complicated and there was no chance to fix educational problems in some “Remote Kingdoms”, the Royal Educational Mission will have to report these regions as “Educationally Useless”, the “citizens” in these regions will be used differently to serve “citizens” who are more educated and help them develop their kingdoms.
The King and the Queen both understand and realize the importance of keeping the progress everywhere. If one kingdom refuses to be educated it should be as a helping tool for others. The uneducated kingdoms can be easily turned into complete industrial camps, where “citizens” have to work 8 hours daily to manufacture and provide what educated and more progressed “citizens” need for their further progress. Their lands will soon change, and there will be no culture, or history, or pleasure at all, it all will be removed from their lives. The landscape will be changed in order to benefit from it and use all the elements earth has in certain regions. Big factories will be installed, and basic housing systems will be built. no colors, no beauty, only what is needed for a basic life of a worker. Uneducated “citizens” might be moved away to lands that can be of a much use, to another “Remote Kingdom” they have never seen or heard of.
For you down there, in the underworld, this may sound harsh, may sound cruel. But for The Kingdom above there is no other way to do things, since every “remote kingdom” has given hundreds of human years to develop, to improve itself and prove to The Kingdom above that they are worth huge progress and deserve a royal support.
I will tell you more next time!
For those who missed the introduction here it is:
https://mindblowme.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/the-kingdom-of-all-kingdoms/
citizen, development, education, fantasy, fiction, industrial, industry, IQ, king, manufacture, narration, progress, queen, remote, royal, sarcasm, story, underworld, upperworld
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On This Date!
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Melanie E.S. Kohnen
Melanie E.S. Kohnen is a media scholar whose research focuses on how digital media challenge us to rethink diversity in relationship to cultural identities, technological infrastructures, and the media industry. Her book Queer Representation, Visibility, and Race in American Film and Television: Screening the Closet was published by Routledge (November 17, 2015), and her work has also appeared in several anthologies and journals, including Media Industries, Creative Industries, and Journal of Popular Television.
Her current research project maps cultural and technological diversity in the convergence era through an examination of industry discourses, production practices, consumption habits, user-generated content, social media platforms, digital infrastructures, and public policies. She is particularly interested in how the media industry and millennial audiences understand diversity in/and digital entertainment platforms.
View @_mesk’s profile on Twitter
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View mesk’s profile on Vimeo
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Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer
Vermont is a relatively small state with small population. Therefore, it makes sense that the death toll from asbestos-related illnesses would not be as high as other states. However, several hundred Vermonters have died from mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer in recent years. Because Vermont’s economy is more rural than industrial, residents have been spared excessive asbestos exposure that people in other states have experienced.
For residents exposed to asbestos who got sick as a result, Vermont mesothelioma lawyers are ready and waiting to help. These law experts can guide victims of asbestos exposure through the legal process of filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation through trust funds and settlements.
Asbestos Mining in Vermont
The mountainous state of Vermont is rich in natural resources. This includes a variety of minerals, one of which is asbestos. Asbestos is actually a group of minerals, all comprised of tiny fibers. Some types are more harmful than others. Asbestos fibers can easily become airborne or get mixed into soil or water, causing people to accidentally inhale or ingest them. Mining is an activity that stirs up asbestos fibers and puts both workers and nearby residents at risk of exposure.
Vermont has seven former asbestos prospects. Although the state has also had three operating asbestos mines, those mines are now closed. In addition to those operating mines, there are 12 other known asbestos deposits in the state. Construction in these areas could potentially disturb these natural deposits and contaminate air and soil in the area.
A few of the now-shuttered asbestos mines continue to put people in the state at risk of asbestos exposure. These sites were abandoned, leaving behind a toxic dump that includes significant amounts of asbestos. One of these was the mine at Belvidere Mountain in Eden and Lowell, owned by the Vermont Asbestos Group. The mine shut down in 1993, later than others in the state. Unfortunately, the owners left the mine in an unusable state, claiming insufficient funds for a cleanup.
As a result, the state of Vermont sued the company. In 2013, the two parties finally reached an agreement. The Vermont Asbestos Group was given ten years to come up with $50,000 to clean up the former mine site. The site includes 650 acres of quarries, piles of hazardous materials, and significant amounts of asbestos. In the meantime, the company is responsible for maintaining the site and preventing hazardous materials from contaminating the nearby environment.
Libby Vermiculite in Vermont
Vermont’s asbestos problems have not been limited to material mined in the state. Facilities in Vermont were recipients of vermiculite mined in Libby, Montana at the W.R. Grace mine. This mine produced hundreds of thousands of tons of vermiculite which was largely used to manufacture insulation. Decades later, it was determined that the vermiculite from that source was contaminated with asbestos. While this meant thousands of people in Libby were contaminated, it also meant people around the country working in or living near the vermiculite processing facilities were also exposed.
Power Plants and Other Industrial Exposure
In Vermont, as in other states, nearly every industrial workplace once used asbestos, putting workers and others at risk of exposure. Vermont has never had a hugely industrial economy, but there are several facilities in the state that have caused workers to be exposed. Power plants account for much of the exposure because they used asbestos to insulate their facilities. Textile and paper mills also used asbestos in buildings, machinery, equipment, and even safety gear workers. Some workers, may have handled asbestos directly during the manufacturing process.
Other Sites in Vermont with Asbestos
Although asbestos exposure has not been as high in Vermont as other states, many people were exposed during asbestos’s heyday. These are just a few known sites with asbestos in the state:
Albans Electric Light and Power Company, St. Albans
Consolidated Light and Power Company, Montpelier
Black Cat Textiles, Bennington
Green Mountain Paper, Bellows Falls
International Paper Company, Bellows Falls
White Mountain Paper Company, Bellows Falls
Green Mountain College, Rutland
Central Vermont Railways, St. Albans
Vermont Marble, Rutland
Vermont’s Asbestos Laws
Vermont’s Department of Health keeps Vermont residents safe from asbestos my administering laws and regulations set by the federal and state governments. For example, the Department oversees the certification of asbestos abatement professionals and inspectors for all projects in the state. An inspector must be on site before any project begins that could involve asbestos. Professionals who remove asbestos from old buildings are required to notify the Department of projects at least ten days in advance.
Victims of asbestos exposure, who develop illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer, have a right in Vermont to sue those parties they believe to be negligent. However, there is a statute of limitations in Vermont. A lawsuit must be filed within three years of the diagnosis of a related illness when a diagnosis should reasonably have been made. This means if you get sick, you have no time to lose in getting a diagnosis and taking legal action. If you lose a loved one to one of these illnesses, you have two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Finding and Working with a Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer
Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is devastating. This is a serious illness that is difficult to treat. Most people were exposed to asbestos unknowingly or without realizing the risks. Those responsible are now being forced to pay. Although you can fight for the justice you deserve, having an experienced professional on your side is essential. Let us help you find a Vermont mesothelioma lawyer so you get the best possible chance of winning your case. While you focus on treatment, your lawyer will be your advocate, taking action on your behalf.
Page Written by Rod De Llano, Esquire
Rod De Llano was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. He graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Economics, and earned a law degree from the University of Texas. After working for an international law firm for several years, Rod formed a law firm dedicated to representing persons injured by exposure to asbestos products. For over 20 years, Rod has fought for persons diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. His clients have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars over the years.
Email Rod De Llano
http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/vt/
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1189/pdf/Plate.pdf
https://vtdigger.org/2013/10/21/asbestos-mine-deal-official-future-eden-site-less-clear/
http://healthvermont.gov/health-environment/asbestos-lead-buildings/asbestos
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Nationals and $1 million in store for Cal Poly’s Rodeo Team
Naba Ahmed
At this year’s 76th Poly Royal Rodeo, Mark and Jessie Milano announced they are donating $1 million to the Cal Poly Rodeo Team.
While the Milanos are not Cal Poly alumni, they have formed connections with the team, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ (CAFES) Communications Specialist AnnMarie Cornejo said.
“As cattle ranchers, the Milanos have an interest in the rodeo,” Cornejo said. “They also knew one of the students enrolled in the program and from there they got to know (rodeo team) coach Ben Londo.”
As the largest donation in the program’s history, the Milano Family Rodeo Scholarship will be awarded to students for both athletic and academic purposes.
Londo said the scholarship is designed to reward and entice students to become better in the rodeo arena, and award them for their academic goals and progress.
“They are also making contributions to their team outside the arena by participating in charity events and fundraisers,” Londo said. “They deserve to be rewarded for their efforts.”
The gift will increase the program’s scholarship offerings from $16,000 in 2015-16 to $80,000 in 2016-17. Scholarships will be awarded beginning Fall 2016.
“It’s going to help in a lot of different levels. Number one, it’s going to make Cal Poly feasible for students that might not have been able to afford to come here,” Londo said. “Number two, students are trying to balance 40 hours of work outside of school, so hopefully these scholarships will help take the pressure off of them and continually help students grow.”
However, the donation was not the only good news for the team. The team continued its winning streak at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) West Coast Regional Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Now, the Cal Poly Rodeo Team will be competing once again in the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) from June 10-18 in Casper, Wyo.
Cal Poly validates its title as the “Notre Dame of rodeo” by being one of the top teams in the NIRA as well as in the CNFR, where it has won 45 titles since 1956.
The CNFR, or “the Rose Bowl of national rodeo,” is where NIRA individual event champions compete in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. There will be more than 400 students competing and more than 100 universities and colleges from across the nation.
“Rodeo is unlike any other college sports program,” Londo said. “It all comes down to just one rodeo for the national champions.”
Four women and six men will represent Cal Poly at Nationals. Rodeo events begin at the end of September and continue through May. With approximately 10 rodeos, individuals must end up in the top three for their respective event to qualify for CNFR.
For the first time, Cal Poly’s team is advancing to Nationals with all spots team, according to agricultural communication sophomore Katie Rice.
This means four Cal Poly girls, including Rice, qualified at the regional finals with top individual scores.
“Normally, we have empty spots that we have to pick up because the top scores were not all Cal Poly students,” Rice said. “But this year four girls who qualified at regional finals will represent Cal Poly.”
Tags $1 million Ann Marie Cornejo bareback riding barrel racing ben londo breakaway roping bull riding Cal Poly Rodeo Team College National Finals Rodeo donation endowment fund goat tying Katie Rice Mark and Jessie Milano National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Notre Dame Rose Bowl saddle bronc riding steer wrestling team roping tie-down roping
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Category Archives: Ice hockey
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
No, I am not finished. Look, I’m gettin’ old, you hear? Ageing low-level Boston gunrunner Eddie ‘Fingers’ Coyle (Robert Mitchum) is looking at several years of jail for a hold-up if he doesn’t funnel information to treasury agent Dave Foley (Richard Jordan) so he has to decide whether to turn stoolie. He buys guns from another gunrunner, Jackie Brown (Steven Keats), then gives him up to Foley, but it’s not enough. Conflicted, Eddie decides to also give up the gang of bank robbers he’s been supplying, only to find Foley already knows about them, and the mob believes Eddie snitched. The real permanent cop fink, barkeep Dillon (Peter Boyle) is called upon to render a service .. I wished I had a nickel for every name I got that was all right. It could only be Robert Mitchum, couldn’t it, in this great gangster flick, one of the best films of the Seventies. Adapted from George V. Higgins’ classic novel, a gripping iteration of the Irish-American underworld given a stately interpretation by producer Paul Monash who knows just how to put the boot into that old saw about honour among thieves and how you really shouldn’t trust cops cos they’re just another gang. There is nothing wrong with this film. It’s a snapshot of an anti-romantic world which we believe to be utterly true, and no higher compliment can you give a film. Mitchum is so good and gives such a committed performance as this determinedly anti-heroic loser that you cannot think of anyone else in the role. You believe a guy would shut a drawer on this bozo’s hand. The tone is just right, the danger palpable, the parameters real, the tension total. We’re looking at the world of Whitey Bulger and his gang in reality (Peter Boyle is Dillon, the avatar for Bulger, although Higgins denied the connection). Mitchum wanted to meet some of the real crims but was cautiously directed elsewhere although cast member Alex Rocco (he plays bank robber Jimmy Scalise) who had been associated with the Winter Hill gang and served a prison term during the Boston Irish Gang Wars in the Sixties prior to his name change and a Hollywood career may have made some introductions to the man who actually killed the prototype for Coyle. Let’s talk about screenwriter Monash who was a producer and TV scriptwriter (Peyton Place, among others) but really wanted to write a great novel. He was so good that Orson Welles tapped him to do rewrite work on Touch of Evil but for those of us who grew up in the Eighties he’s the guy who brought Salem’s Lot to the screen putting me at least behind a cushion and a couch to bridge the distance from the screen in order to somehow stop the fear (it didn’t); as well as a fantastic TVM remake of All Quiet on the Western Front, the series V and a very memorable film about Huey Long, Kingfish. Let’s not forget the wonderful British director Peter Yates who brings all his considerable weight and lightness of touch to this incredibly atmospheric production. He’s made some of my favourite movies including Bullitt and Breaking Away, The Hot Rock, Eyewitness and this. He directed my friend Shane Connaughton’s quasi-autobiographical Irish production The Run of the Country and was responsible for a fantastic mini-series of Don Quixote starring John Lithgow. Not only that, he managed the legendary racer Stirling Moss in his heyday. Good grief I love the man! This is great, resonant filmmaking, desperate, downbeat and convincing with an incredible cast, including my beloved Joe Santos, Margaret Ladd and Helena Carroll. Listen to that dialogue: it’s rare, raw and relentless. With friends like these, well, you know. I shoulda known better than to trust a cop. My own goddamn mother coulda told me that
filed under 1970s, Adaptation, Ageing, Architecture & Interiors, Atmospheric, Bank robbery, Bars, Betrayal, Boston, Bus, Car parks, Cars, Cinematography, Colour, Community, Crime, Cult, Daughter, Death, Drama, Editing, Family, Father, Favourites, Finance, Gangster, Guns, Ice hockey, Irish-American, Legal, Marital, Masculinity, Masks, Massachusetts, Morality tale, Murder, Phone booth, Police, Production design, Psychological, Railway station, Realism, Restaurant, Robert Mitchum, Screenwriters, Sons, Soundtrack, Suburbs
The Snowman (2017)
You could save them you know… gave you all the clues and everything. Norwegian detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) is back from a week on a bender and he is looking for a woman who has disappeared after her scarf is found on a snowman. He is accompanied by newly drafted detective Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson) who unbeknownst to him has a mission to find out who her father is. Meanwhile, as a serial killer dismembers women who have an abortion and fertility clinic in common, Harry has to deal with his responsibilities to his ex-girlfriend Rakel (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her teenage son Oleg while her boyfriend Mathias (Jonas Karlsson) appears to broker a peace between them … Jø Nesbo’s beloved Harry Hole novel (the first of a projected series – nope, I don’t think so!) was adapted by Hossein Amini, Peter Straughan and Søren Sveistrup and directed by Tomas Alfredson and boy is it an unholy mess – apparently they just cobbled it together as they went, production schedules being unstoppable once the money starts to flow. Fassbender is passable as the drunken cop but gifted he ain’t and things are just daft in the improbable office with Ferguson on her own bizarre mission. The story is illogical which doesn’t work when you’re doing a police procedural. Some of the shot choices and edits are laugh-out-loud bad due to the lateral implications. In fact it starts with a flashback that in terms of the story construction is clearly supposed to suggest that Harry is the killer. Without that intro the text is even more nonsensical. A film that is not just stupid and wretched it is totally dense and tasteless – frankly this is a narrative about fatherless bastards and their supposedly whoring mothers and the dismemberment the women have coming to them for their sins. Somebody should remind filmmakers to actually think about their subject matter before they lose the run of themselves and it all goes to hell in a handcart. I started to giggle every time I saw a snowman no matter what the killer did – I didn’t care. This is quite literally misconceived. Mad, bad and dreadful. Oh joy!
filed under 2010s, Abortion, Action, Adaptation, Addiction, Adultery, Alcoholism, Architecture & Interiors, Cars, Children, Colour, Crime, Dance, Death, Deception, Detective, Disappearance, Drama, Father, Flashback, Guns, Hotels, Ice hockey, Identity, Illegitimacy, Lake, Letters, Masculinity, Medical, Misogyny, Music, Norway, Obsession, Office politics, Parenting, Police, Property, Restaurant, Revenge, Rural, Screenwriters, Serial Killer, Sex, Sisters, Snow!, Sons, Soundtrack, Telephone, Thriller, Twins, Violent, Woman in jeopardy
Where do I begin? There are seven basic plots and Love Story is one of them. Boy meets girl, boy loves girl, boy loses girl. It began as a screenplay sold to Paramount Pictures and the writer, literature professor Erich Segal, was persuaded to novelise it. The novel became a bestseller before the film’s release. The stars were already very elderly to be playing undergrads – Ryan O’Neal was 29, Ali MacGraw 31. Some smart and arch dialogue, the decision to use classical music (“What could be better than Bach – or Mozart – or you?”), an audacious opening, well chosen fashion, characters who do things (play keyboards, hockey) all contribute to a film that feels unerringly modern. O’Neal had been a Hollywood kid who nonetheless paid his dues in TV including a long stint on Peyton Place, MacGraw had made an impact the previous year as Jewish American Princess Brenda Patimkin in the Roth adaptation, Goodbye, Columbus (Peerce) and both performers were affecting and ridiculously beautiful (and remain so to this day.) What can you say about a twenty-five year old girl who died? A classic.
filed under 1970s, Adaptation, Ali MacGraw, Campus, Cinematography, Colour, Costume, Daughters, Death, Drama, Editing, Family, Fashion, Father, Father-in-law, Favourites, Financial, Ice hockey, Illness, Marital, Medical, Musicians, Narration, New England, Parenting, Romance, Ryan O'Neal, Screenwriters, Sons, Soundtrack, Sport, University
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General Motors unveils two new plug-in cars at auto show
Posted 12:51 pm, January 12, 2015, by CNN Wire
General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept on Jan. 12, 2015. The Bolt EV Concept is an affordable, long-range all-electric vehicle designed to offer more than 200 miles of range starting at $30,000. (CNN)
DETROIT — General Motors unveiled two new plug-in cars at the Detroit Auto Show, taking aim at Tesla Motors.
GM unveiled a new, improved version of the Chevrolet Volt, which has both an electric motor and a traditional gas engine. It also debuted a small all-electric car called the Chevrolet Bolt.
The Bolt, which at this point is a concept vehicle, offers a preview of a car that GM expects to begin selling in all 50 U.S. states in 2017. It will have a 200-mile driving range on a full charge and a sticker price of around $30,000 after electric car tax incentives.
“This is a real game changer,” GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said at the Bolt’s unveiling.
The Bolt will probably compete with Tesla’s mass market electric car the Model S, which has yet to be unveiled but is expected to sell for about $35,000 when it becomes available in the next couple of years.
Tesla has already had success with its all-electric Model S luxury sedan, which starts at nearly $70,000 and can travel at least 208 miles between charges.
Shares of Tesla fell 3% on GM’s announcement Monday, while GM shares were trading slightly higher.
To maximize the Bolt’s range, it’s made of lightweight materials including aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber, GM said.
Its price will be in line with the average amount consumers spend on cars today, said Akshay Anand, an analyst with the auto Web site KBB.com.
“So long as the product is done properly, GM should see some serious benefits,” he said.
GM also unveiled the second generation Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. The new Volt had appeared briefly in front of journalists at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but no details about the car were revealed at that time.
Besides a softer and more conventional look, the new Volt has an improved battery pack and a more efficient gasoline engine.
Today’s Chevrolet Volt can go about 35 miles on a full charge, according to EPA estimates, but GM says the new Volt will go roughly 50 miles. Once that all-electric driving range runs out, the new Volt will get about 41 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, GM claims.
The current Volt gets 37 mpg on gasoline. Volt drivers should be able to go 1,000 miles between trips to the gas pump.
With a total of 149 horsepower, the new Volt also goes from zero to 60 miles per hour faster, according to GM, reaching highway speeds in 8.4 seconds.
The new Volt can fit three passengers in the backseat thanks to a more compact battery. Today’s Volt can only two can sit in the back.
The Volt is expected to go on sale in the second half of this year.
Ford recalling 58,000 Focus cars because of possible fuel tank issues
A 2-year-old couldn’t walk on his own. So a high school robotics team built him a customized toy car
Charlotte ranked as 5th fastest growing big city in the US, tariffs could raise clothing prices and more
Hollywood film composer to create sounds for electric BMW, Grubhub accused of overcharging restaurants and more
4-year-old calls 911 after being left in a hot car with 6 other children, police say
‘Our mother has been taken from our family,’ says son of woman killed in High Point head-on crash
Surveillance video shows hit-and-run crash in Asheboro
No. 2 Dolly Parton Chevrolet set to debut at Alsco 300
Friends, family call for driver’s arrest after musician killed walking on a Burlington sidewalk
RIP iTunes as we know it. Apple breaks up iconic music platform
Man hit, killed by car in Burlington; police searching for suspect
Disney announces dates for three new ‘Star Wars’ films and four ‘Avatar’ sequels
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Alien Abductions: Military Manipulation?
Nick Redfern September 13, 2011
Pretty much everyone, I’m sure, who is acquainted with conspiracy theories will also be aware of at least some of the controversies pertaining to accounts of so-called alien abduction. And, for the most part at least, it all began on the night of September 19, 1961. On that night, Betty and Barney Hill, a married couple from New Hampshire, were driving home from Canada when they were subjected to a terrifying experience. Until their arrival home, there was little to indicate that anything untoward had happened during the course of the journey, however.
After some months of unexplained emotional distress, the couple could take no more, and they sought assistance from Benjamin Simon, a Boston-based psychiatrist and neurologist. Subjected to rigorous time-regression hypnosis, both Betty and Barney recalled what had taken place during that missing two hours. Astonishingly, they provided very close account of encounters with seemingly alien beings who had taken the pair on-board some form of craft, and who had subjected them to a variety of distressing physical examinations.
Since that day, hundreds – perhaps even thousands – of similar accounts have surfaced throughout the world. A turning point came in 1981 with the publication of the late Budd Hopkins’ book Missing Time. Detailing a number of such accounts, Hopkins put forward a theory suggesting that at least one extraterrestrial species was involved in the routine abduction of human beings. Hopkins’ later work revealed a potentially far more sinister link to the abductions: namely, that the aliens were kidnapping people as part of some genetic operation, the goal of which was the production of a half-alien, half-human hybrid race.
There is, however, another aspect to the alien abduction mystery – one that is, in some ways, even more controversial than the extraterrestrial hypothesis. There are those researchers and eye-witnesses (or perhaps “victims” would be a much better term) who believe that alien abductions have nothing to do with the activities of real-life extraterrestrials, but are, in reality, the result of clandestine work undertaken by the U.S. military.
So the theory goes, the military uses the alien abduction motif as a carefully-camouflaged cover to allow for the continued testing of new technologies, such as mind-altering and mind-controlling drugs, and sophisticated hypnotic techniques on unwitting and innocent citizens.
An example of a case of alleged alien abduction that appears to have been part of a sophisticated mind-control operation is described by Alison, a now-forty-year-old woman from Arizona, who lives on a ranch not too far from the town of Sedona. From the age of twenty-seven to thirty-one, Alison was subjected to at least five kidnappings that bore all the hallmarks of the classic alien abduction scenario.
On each occasion, she was in her living-room, either reading or watching TV, when her two pet dogs – Lucy and Summer – began to act in a distressed fashion – pacing around the room and whimpering. At that point, things always became a blur, and Alison would later find herself in a different part of the house with several hours of time having passed. She would always awake feel groggy, and with a pounding headache and dry mouth.
For days after the weird experiences, she would dream of the moment when things would begin to go awry – which always resulted in a complete loss of electricity inside the house, a deep humming noise emanating from outside the large living-room window, and powerful and intensely bright lights enveloping the room.
In her semi-conscious state, Alison would see small shadowy figures scuttling around the room. They would then carry her outside onto a small craft where she was subjected to a gynecological examination and some form of nasal probing. She would then be returned to another part of the house and the aliens would leave. It was only after the aliens had departed that the intense humming noise would cease.
On what Alison believes to have been the fifth abduction, however, the mysterious humming sound abruptly came to a sudden halt, only a few seconds after her cosmic visitors had entered the room. At that point, Alison recalled – significantly, not in a later dream on this occasion but in real time – she began to slowly regain her senses. And, very surprisingly, so did the aliens. In their place was not a group of frail-looking bald-headed, black-eyed “Grays,” but a number of large and burly men wearing what looked like suspiciously like black military fatigues.
According to Alison, one of the men screamed into a small microphone something like: “What’s happened?” The men then suddenly started to back away slowly. And, as Alison began to regain her senses, one of them held his hand up “as if to say ‘stay where you are.'” Alison did as she was told, that is until the man was out of sight and out of the house.
Alison then made her still-slightly-groggy way to the living-room window – just in time to see the group men jump climb aboard not a state-of-the-art extra-terrestrial spacecraft, but instead a very terrestrial-looking black helicopter. At a height of several hundred feet, a powerful lamp was suddenly turned on by someone aboard the helicopter that lit up the dark sky around her property.
Today, Alison has cast aside her ufological beliefs, and firmly believes that as a result of a combination of subliminal hypnosis, mind-altering technologies, and perhaps even non-lethal weaponry designed to temporary disable her nervous system and bodily movement, she was ingeniously made to think she was an alien abductee. But that in reality, she was merely the guinea-pig for the testing of sophisticated weaponry designed to affect and manipulate both mind and body.
There’s no doubt that an alien abduction phenomenon exists. But, the big question is: does it originate up there, down here, or – incredibly – is it a combination of both…?
Tags alien abduction Black Helicopter Missing Time
Aliens: “Believe In Us, But Not Too Much.”
Alien Encounters And Odd Animals
Nick Redfern August 24, 2015
Phantom Helicopters of the UK
Nick Redfern April 25, 2013
Phantom/Black Helicopters: Not Just In The U.S.
Nick Redfern November 4, 2018
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UFOs and the Robertson Panel
Nick Redfern June 2, 2015
This past weekend I spoke at the annual “Contact in the Desert” gig at Joshua Tree, California. The subject of my lecture: how and why the Contactees of the 1950s – such as George Adamski, Frank Stranges, George Hunt Williamson, and George Van Tassel – became the subjects of extensive, official government agency files, all of which have now been declassified under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.
In passing, I made a mention of the CIA’s Robertson Panel which – also in the 1950s – recommended that Ufologists should be watched closely. I was intrigued to note, however, that many people at the conference were unaware of the origins and intricacies of the Robertson Panel. So, with that in mind, I thought now would be a good time to spell out the history of this particular group and how it came to exist.
On December 2, 1952 the CIA’s Assistant Director H. Marshall Chadwell noted, in a classified report on UFO activity in American airspace: “Sightings of unexplained objects at great altitudes and traveling at high speeds in the vicinity of major U.S. defense installations are of such nature that they are not attributable to natural phenomena or known types of aerial vehicles.”
Believing that something really might be afoot in the skies of America, Chadwell prepared a list of saucer-themed recommendations for the National Security Council (QUOTE BEGINS):
1. The Director of Central Intelligence shall formulate and carry out a program of intelligence and research activities as required to solve the problem of instant positive identification of unidentified flying objects.
2. Upon call of the Director of Central Intelligence, Government departments and agencies shall provide assistance in this program of intelligence and research to the extent of their capacity provided, however, that the DCI shall avoid duplication of activities presently directed toward the solution of this problem.
3. This effort shall be coordinated with the military services and the Research and Development Board of the Department of Defense, with the Psychological Board and other Governmental agencies as appropriate.
4. The Director of Central Intelligence shall disseminate information concerning the program of intelligence and research activities in this field to the various departments and agencies which have authorized interest therein.” (END OF QUOTE)
Howard Percy Robertson
Forty-eight-hours later, the Intelligence Advisory Committee concurred with Chadwell and recommended that “the services of selected scientists to review and appraise the available evidence in the light of pertinent scientific theories” should be the order of the day. Thus was born the Robertson Panel, so named after the man chosen to head the inquiry: Howard Percy Robertson, a consultant to the Agency, a renowned physicist, and the director of the Defense Department Weapons Evaluation Group.
Chadwell was tasked with putting together an expert team of people in various science, technical, intelligence and military disciplines and have them carefully study the data on flying saucers currently held by not just the CIA, but the Air Force too – who obligingly agreed to hand over their UFO files for the CIA’s scrutiny.
So, the team – which included Luis Alvarez, physicist, radar expert (and later, a Nobel Prize recipient); Frederick C. Durant, CIA officer, secretary to the panel and missile expert; Samuel Abraham Goudsmit, Brookhaven National Laboratories nuclear physicist; and Thornton Page, astrophysicist, radar expert, and deputy director of Johns Hopkins Operations Research Office – quickly got to work.
The overall conclusion of the Robertson Panel was that while UFOs did not appear to have a bearing on national security or on the defense of the United States, the way in which the subject could be used by unfriendly forces to manipulate the public mindset and disrupt the U.S. military infrastructure did have a bearing – and a major one, too – on matters of a security nature. According to the panel’s members:
“Although evidence of any direct threat from these sightings was wholly lacking, related dangers might well exist resulting from: A. Misidentification of actual enemy artifacts by defense personnel. B. Overloading of emergency reporting channels with ‘false’ information. C. Subjectivity of public to mass hysteria and greater vulnerability to possible enemy psychological warfare.”
There was also a recommendation that a number of the public UFO investigative groups that existed in the United States at the time, such as the Civilian Flying Saucer Investigators (CFSI) and the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), should be “watched” carefully due to “the apparent irresponsibility and the possible use of such groups for subversive purposes.”
The panel also concluded that “a public education campaign should be undertaken” on matters relative to UFOs. Specifically, agreed the members, such a program would “result in reduction in public interest in ‘flying saucers’ which today evokes a strong psychological reaction.”
They added: “This education could be accomplished by mass media such as television, motion pictures, and popular articles. Basis of such education would be actual case histories which had been puzzling at first but later explained. As in the case of conjuring tricks, there is much less stimulation if the ‘secret’ is known. Such a program should tend to reduce the current gullibility of the public and consequently their susceptibility to clever hostile propaganda.”
The available documents continue:
“In this connection, Dr. Hadley Cantril (Princeton University) was suggested. Cantril authored ‘Invasion from Mars,’ (a study in the psychology of panic, written about the famous Orson Welles radio broadcast in 1938) and has since performed advanced laboratory studies in the field of perception. The names of Don Marquis (University of Michigan) and Leo Roston were mentioned as possibly suitable as consultant psychologists.
“Also, someone familiar with mass communications techniques, perhaps an advertising expert, would be helpful. Arthur Godfrey was mentioned as possibly a valuable channel of communication reaching a mass audience of certain levels. Dr. Berkner suggested the U. S. Navy (ONR) Special Devices Center, Sands Point, L. I., as a potentially valuable organization to assist in such an educational program. The teaching techniques used by this agency for aircraft identification during the past war [were] cited as an example of a similar educational task. The Jam Handy Co. which made World War II training films (motion picture and slide strips) was also suggested, as well as Walt Disney, Inc. animated cartoons.”
So, what we have with the Robertson Panel is a prestigious group of people who were far less focused upon what UFOs were or weren’t, but who were far more intrigued and concerned by the psychological reactions that might be provoked by reported UFO encounters.
That meant the way in which the subject could be manipulated – by potentially hostile forces – for propaganda-based reasons, to clutter the nation’s emergency channels, and to provoke widespread hysteria. In other words, the Robertson Panel was a definitively unique body that recognized the UFO controversy had the potential to impact upon society in a number of decidedly unusual, and possibly even dangerous, ways.
Tags APRO CIA Robertson Panel UFOs
Black Eyed Children: The UFO/Alien Theory
Strange Humanoid Encounters in Asia
Brent Swancer February 28, 2017
Cube Satellite to Hunt for UFOs and Take Clear Pictures
Aaron Wright March 24, 2015
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← On This Day – Thatcher In, Doors Out
On This Day – Horror of the Moors and the Independence Day →
On This Day – SAS and the Duck’s Nest
Rebellion of the Barons
1215 Rebel barons renounced their allegiance to King John; part of a chain of events that led to the signing of the Magna Carta.
A Better Kind of Hanging
1760 The first public hanging took place at Tyburn in London. Earl Ferrers was executed after being convicted of murdering his valet. He was the first to be hanged by the new ‘drop’ which had just been introduced in the place of the barbarous cart, ladder and medieval three-cornered gibbet.
Gipsy Moth
1930 British aviator Amy Johnson took off from Croydon Airport in her Gypsy Moth plane ‘Jason’. She became the first woman to fly solo to Australia, arriving on 24th May.
Dutch V-Day
1945 World War II: Canadian and UK troops liberated the Netherlands and Denmark from Nazi occupation.
Polio Vaccine
1955 World famous American virologist Dr Jonas Salk witnessed a ceremonial polio vaccination in London when Margaret Jenkins from Kent became the 500,000th person in London to receive the vaccine to prevent the crippling disease poliomyelitis.
Norah’s and Mary’s War
1964 The first meeting of a ‘Clean Up TV’ campaign led by Norah Buckland and her friend Mary Whitehouse. The organization was later given the name of The National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association.
The Europe Day
1964 The Council of Europe declared 5th May as Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe.
Ariel 3
1967 The first ever all-British satellite, Ariel 3, was successfully launched into orbit from the United States.
No, Actually
1980 The SAS stormed the terrorist-occupied Iranian Embassy at Knightsbridge in London. Four gunmen were killed in the attack and all 19 hostages were rescued.
Only, all that happened on Sunday, 04. 05. 1980. No idea why it’s been moved to today. On that same day
President Tito of Yugoslavia died
– SAS saved a duck’s nest from the balcony of the Iranian Embassy
– Kate Adie sprung to fame
– My daughter was christened
Irish Riots
1981 Riots in Northern Ireland followed the death of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in the Maze prison.
The Last of Many
2011 The death (in Perth, Western Australia) of Claude Stanley Choules, the last World War I combat veteran and the last military witness to the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. He was born in Pershore, Worcestershire and was the last veteran to have served in both world wars, and also the last seaman from the First World War.
Tags: christening, Gipsy Moth, Irish Union, Kate Adie, polio, Riots, V-Day, vaccine
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Linking a weapon to the death
By Dr Sylvester Onzivua
Part III. It is important to link a weapon to the death in question. In the case we have been following, the panga suspected to have caused the death blow had been overlooked.
READ:Linking a weapon to the death- Part I
ALSO READ: Linking a weapon to a death 2
On June 2, 1994, the Supreme Court of Uganda, at Mengo, upheld the conviction and sentence of the High Court in Masaka in respect of Charles Rwamunda, who had been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to concurrent terms of 12 years, after he was found guilty of having unlawfully caused the deaths of two persons, his aunt, Matilda, and her husband.
Matilda died one month after she had been cut with a panga on her head. Matilda’s death was attributed to an abscess that had formed in the brain. Her husband died on the night they were attacked and the cause of his death was recorded as blood loss from the wounds he sustained.
One of the grounds of appeal that Charles Rwamunda’s lawyers raised was that the panga, which is alleged to have been used during the attack and exhibited in court had not been identified beyond reasonable doubt and that the panga had not been subjected to a forensic examination to establish if, indeed, it had the blood of Matilda and her husband on it.
Supreme court ruling
The Supreme Court’s ruling on this matter was that: It must be invariable practice for the prosecution and court to show the alleged murder weapon to the doctor, for his opinion to be recorded whether it is or is not consistent with the wounds on the deceased, if the weapon is accepted as such by Court
Also, that prosecutors and judges alike, should not resort to loose statements such as the panga “appeared to be blood stained”, unless there is evidence that that fact has been proved by the government chemist, or an eye witness who actually saw the blood on it to be the result of the blow.
Lapse in time
Another ground of appeal was that there was also the lapse of time from the incident of the attack to the death, and there was no evidence to explain what happened during this interval.
On this, the Supreme Court ruled that when a doctor has been treating a patient while alive, that doctor should not carry out the postmortem examination.
A fresh opinion is necessary as to the cause of death. It is also necessary to ascertain whether there had been any intervention exonerating the accused person.
A related case
In an earlier and related case, on September 4, 1992, Fred Kamanzi led a gang of attackers into a house and cut the occupant of the house with a panga on the head. Kamanzi was arrested at the scene of crime and the injured man was taken to hospital, admitted and treated. He was discharged, but about one month later, he died at his home.
According to the postmortem report, the body of the deceased had a cut wound on the scalp and also pus discharge from the nose and mouth. The cause of death was stated as an infection of the brain that was a complication of internal brain hemorrhage.
The trial judge convicted Kamanzi for murder and the Court of Appeal upheld the trial’s court’s decision.
Kamanzi appealed to the Supreme Court and one of the grounds of the appeal was that the prosecution did not discharge the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt that the injury sustained by the deceased was the direct cause of his death.
The Supreme Court in this case held that: It was not clearly established by the postmortem examination that the external wound on the scalp of the deceased was the direct and immediate cause of the internal hemorrhage that later became infected.
That there was a lacuna in the evidence of the prosecution as to whether the internal brain hemorrhage resulted from the cut wound or another cause wholly unconnected with the injury. The onus was on the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the infection seen by the doctor had resulted from the cut wound.
That the doctor who performed the postmortem should have been summoned to testify and clarify on the relationship between the infection, the internal hemorrhage and the wound on the scalp or if the infection was the result of other causes.
That the onus was on the prosecution to rule out any possibility of the death having come about by some other circumstances wholly unconnected with the injury inflicted by the appellant.
The Court of Appeal erred to say that they were unable to say that some other causes intervened when the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the cause of death followed directly from the wound inflicted by the appellant.
The legal principle is therefore that it is not enough to establish that an accused person caused an injury but prosecution must also prove that that very injury and not any other cause led to the death of the deceased.
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/ ESPN: Waffle House, Morpheus, and the awakening of Georgia Tech
ESPN: Waffle House, Morpheus, and the awakening of Georgia Tech
georgia_tech_swagger
Res publica non dominetur
I Root For: GT, USCU, FU
Quote: ATLANTA -- Twenty years ago, the idea began to take root in Geoff Collins' mind.
He'd look around at the city of Atlanta, the campus of Georgia Tech and the recruiting territory within its grasp, and imagine the possibilities. Unfazed by the reality of being a 28-year-old former Division I-AA linebacker-turned-grad assistant, he would work under coach George O'Leary by day, study for a secondary degree in psychology at night and dream of what he would do if eventually he were the one in charge.
He grew up a determined sort in nearby Conyers, unafraid to think outside the box. He even had the gall to tell others his plans. Brent Key, an offensive lineman at the time, remembers those conversations well. He was struck by the fact that even though Collins didn't go to Tech as a student or play for the football team, he felt like one of them.
There was no if about it when Collins spoke. He didn't want just any program. He had his sights on this exact one.
Others might have seen a middling ACC program with cumbersome academic standards, or a Frankenstein roster built entirely for the purposes of running the antiquated triple-option, or how powerhouses like Clemson, Georgia and Alabama were a bit too close for comfort. But Collins only saw the possibilities. Located in what is essentially the capital of college football, surrounded by a talent base that rivals any in the country, why couldn't it become the Georgia Tech of his dreams?
"I've always had a clear vision of what this place can be and should be," he said.
And what is that?
Hold onto your seats, folks.
"To be the elite of college football."
In early April, Antonneous Clayton, the former No. 10 overall recruit in the Class of 2016, raised eyebrows when he committed to transferring to Tech from Florida. The most recent ESPN class rankings have the Yellow Jackets at No. 19 -- a far cry from 61st, 53rd and 42nd finishes of the past three classes.
It's a start. Recruiting victories have to turn into actual victories for this to get off the ground.
The good news is that while there's a lot of work to do, there's a coach who has had a lot of time to think about how he'd like to do it.
"When I was here before, we were on College GameDay, we were a top-10 program, Bobby Dodd was filled, every game had implications in the league, every game had implications nationally," he said. "That's how I know this place, and that's how I want this place to be. And I know it can be because I've lived it and I've breathed it.
"We're going to go forward under those parameters."
http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...orgia-tech
XLance
I Root For: Carolina
RE: ESPN: Waffle House, Morpheus, and the awakening of Georgia Tech
The ACC needs Georgia Tech to have a strong athletic program.
There is a lot to be excited about with Collins and the football program in Atlanta.
Stansbury now needs to do something about the long term disaster on the hardwood.
(05-12-2019 08:49 AM)XLance Wrote: The ACC needs Georgia Tech to have a strong athletic program.
(05-12-2019 03:13 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:
By moving the 3-point line back the NCAA is certainly raising the stakes this season on whether or not Pastner can fix the worst-in-the-P5 3-pt shooting figures. Hard to get close looks if nobody respects you from deep.
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NFL Rumors: Texans Request To Interview Top Patriots Exec Nick Caserio
by Zack Cox on Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 4:21PM
The Houston Texans are making another run at Nick Caserio.
After firing general manager Brian Gaine last Friday, the Texans on Monday formally requested to interview the Patriots’ top executive, according to a report from John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Caserio has been a fixture in New England for nearly the entirety of the Bill Belichick era. The 43-year-old been with the Patriots since 2001 and has served as the team’s director of player personnel since 2008, working closely with Belichick on roster construction and other matters.
The Texans, who are coached by former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, sought to interview Caserio last offseason, but the Patriots denied their request. Per McClain, Caserio is their top choice to replace Gaine, who lasted just one season in Houston.
It’s unclear whether the Patriots will grant this latest request.
In addition to O’Brien, the Texans also added another longtime Patriots staffer this offseason, hiring former New England character coach Jack Easterby as their executive vice president of team development.
Houston is coming off its best season of O’Brien’s tenure. Led by second-year quarterback Deshaun Watson and one of the NFL’s top defenses, the Texans posted an 11-5 record to win the AFC South before losing at home to the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.
Thumbnail photo via Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports Images
NFL Analyst Projects N’Keal Harry’s Stats For Rookie Season With Patriots
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Designer Elie Tahari fires nearly all top executives at his label
By James Covert
April 5, 2012 | 4:00am
Luxury fashion designer Elie Tahari has gone on the offensive, firing most of his senior execs and hiring a former Israeli army officer to carry out his orders. The casualties include the company’s creative director, operating chief, chief financial officer and general counsel. (Getty Images)
There’s a war raging in fashion, and Elie Tahari isn’t taking any prisoners.
The New York designer — whose togs are a staple at upscale stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Bergdorf Goodman — has recently fired nearly all of the top executives at his label, sources told The Post.
Reached yesterday, Tahari officials confirmed the bloodbath, admitting the 59-year-old designer lately hasn’t been happy with the direction of the brand, which has annual revenue of more than $500 million.
“He wanted to build the company into a global powerhouse, and he thought he needed to make a few changes,” Scott Currie, vice president of communications, marketing and advertising, told The Post.
Tahari began swinging the ax late last year, when a tiff over the company’s fall 2012 collection spurred the ouster of creative director Kobi Halperin, sources said.
Since then, casualties have included the chief operating officer, chief financial officer, general counsel, president of wholesale, head of human resources and Halperin’s wife, who held a position in operations, according to sources.
In what some insiders saw as a theatrical display of ruthlessness, the Israeli-born designer hired an ex-Israeli army officer to do the firings, sources said. “There was this tough guy going around doing the dirty work, telling people they were leaving,” said one source.
Indeed, some former execs said Tahari has been susceptible to bouts of paranoid behavior, looking at employees’ e-mail in addition to purging their ranks. “He goes through these periods where he thinks everybody’s out to get him,” said one former exec.
Tahari began chopping heads after returning from a retreat where he practiced Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, according to one source. “His perspective on things seemed to have changed after he got back from that trip,” the source said.
Tahari fired a design team over a flopped denim project, and consulted with retail partners, concluding stores were being flooded with undistinguished goods, sources said.
“I was concerned about markdowns on the floor,” said Ron Frasch, president of Saks Fifth Avenue. “They needed to tighten up the amount of inventory.”
Asked about Tahari’s recent housecleaning, Frasch admitted the designer “probably did it a little more aggressively than I would have expected, but in terms of defining the brand, I think he did the right thing.”
Some insiders said the company remains mired in chaos as Tahari still has yet to replace most of the fired execs. Still, retailers insist they’re not concerned.
“Elie’s a survivor,” said Frank Doroff, vice chairman at Bloomingdale’s. “I’ve seen him when his business is good, I’ve seen him when his business is bad, and he always comes through.
Stocks close down as Dow, S&P 500 each drop one percent
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Pope Francis Refuses to Answer the Dubia – What Happens Next?
OnePeterFive October 25, 2017 57 Comments
Written by John F. Salza, Esq.
Part One of a Two-Part Series
Part I – Part II
Now that it has been published (on November 14, 2016) that Pope Francis has refused to answer the dubia of the four Cardinals (Brandmüller, Burke, Caffarra and Meisner) issued to him on September 16, 2016 concerning his erroneous and even heretical teachings in Amoris Laetitia, many Catholics are wondering what happens next. Some may be tempted to jump the gun and declare, on their own authority, that Francis’ refusal to answer proves he is a formal heretic and thus has lost his office. Is that true? Does Francis’ refusal to answer the dubia mean he has “judged himself” a formal heretic? Does his refusal prove the element of pertinacity which is required for the crime of heresy and loss of office? No. Not yet. We have a way to go. But the canonical process that could eventually lead to a charge and conviction of the crime of heresy has indeed begun, and thus, we are no doubt entering into a very tumultuous time for the Church, as we approach the centenary of the Fatima apparitions.
A dubium is an official request for an authoritative and final response from the Holy See on a doctrinal, liturgical or canonical question. Dubia are customarily submitted by bishops to seek a definitive answer on a matter that pertains to the faithful in their diocese and the exercise of their apostolic ministry. It is not an accusation of heresy, and thus a Pope’s refusal to respond to a dubia, as extraordinary as that may be, does not establish the element of pertinacity necessary for the crime of heresy. Even in the secular legal process, one must be charged with a crime before he can be found guilty of it. That goes without saying.
We might recall that John Paul II did not directly respond to Archbishop Lefebvre’s dubia, submitted in October 1985 concerning Vatican II’s erroneous teaching on religious liberty in Dignitatis Humanae, and it took the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith a year and a half to issue a response (and which did little more than affirm the council’s teaching). For those who argue that Francis’ three month absence of a response proves his pertinacity and convicts him of heresy (even though the canonical norm for replying actually grants six months), does that mean John Paul II also lost his office after his three months of silence? What about his six months of silence? What about his year of silence? Or what about after the Congregation’s tardy response failed to reconcile Dignitatis Humanae’s novel teachings with Quanta Cura and the Syllabus of Errors? [1] These rhetorical questions underscore that a Pope’s failure to respond to a dubia does not prove him guilty of the canonical crime of heresy. That is because the Church has another means by which the crime of heresy is established: They are ecclesiastical warnings.
The Pope Must Be Formally Warned by Church Authorities
Ecclesiastical warnings are issued by the Cardinals (who are the next highest authorities in the Church), which accuse the suspect of heresy and require him to respond with a correction of his errors within six months.[2]This is what Cardinal Burke was referring to in his interview with the National Catholic Register when he said: “There is, in the Tradition of the Church, the practice of correction of the Roman Pontiff. It is something that is clearly quite rare. But if there is no response to these questions, then I would say that it would be a question of taking a formal act of correction of a serious error.” If the Pope would fail to respond to these warnings, the Church would presume that the Pope is incorrigible and hardened in his heresy.
As we explain in detail in our book True or False Pope?, the Church’s ability to warn and ultimately judge a Pope for heresy by establishing his pertinacity was taught by Pope Innocent III, Pope Adrian, St. Bellarmine,[3] Francisco Suarez, John of St. Thomas, the famous Decretal Si Papa,[4] and others, and remains the common teaching of the Church’s Doctors and theologians. Establishing a Pope’s pertinacity is more difficult than judging the matter of heresy (e.g., the teachings), because it involves something that exists within the internal forum (the realm of conscience). If a person does not openly leave the Church, or publicly admit that he knowingly rejects what the Church definitively teaches on faith or morals (neither of which Francis has done), pertinacity would need to be established another way. The other way, according to Divine law and canon law, is by issuing an ecclesiastical warning to the suspect or, as Cardinal Burke described it, a “formal act of correction.”
An ecclesiastical warning serves as an effective means for establishing pertinacity, since the response will determine, with a sufficient degree of certitude, whether or not the person who has professed heresy (not a lesser error) is truly pertinacious (he is consciously departing from a dogma of Faith), rather than merely mistaken – which still might be a sin, but not necessarily the sin of heresy. Because pertinacity is itself a necessary element of heresy, it does not suffice that its presence be presumed, especially by Catholics with no ecclesiastical authority; it must beproven, and by the Church’s authorities. The ecclesiastical warnings accomplish this by removing any chance of innocent ignorance.
This is why St. Robert Bellarmine said that a cleric “shows himself to be manifestly obstinate” in his heresy by virtueof the two warnings. Wrote Bellarmine:
“For, in the first place, it is proven with arguments from authority and from reason that the manifest heretic is ipso facto deposed. The argument from authority is based on Saint Paul (Titus, 3:10), who orders that the heretic be avoided after two warnings, that is, after showing himself to be manifestly obstinate…”[5]
In his Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to Titus, St. Thomas Aquinas confirms that the admonitions spoken of in Titus 3:10 come from official, ecclesiastical authority, and not from any Catholic in the pew. Speaking of a person who has deviated from the Faith, St. Thomas wrote: “Such a person should be warned, and if he does not desist, he should be avoided. And he [the Apostle] says, after the first and second admonition, for that is the way the Church proceeds in excommunicating.”
In the Summa, St. Thomas confirms the same point when he notes that “the Church” condemns, not at once, but after the first and second warning, according to the teaching of St. Paul. He wrote:
“On the part of the Church, however, there is mercy which looks to the conversion of the wanderer, wherefore she condemns not at once, but ‘after the first and second admonition,’ as the Apostle directs: after that, if he is yet stubborn, the Church no longer hoping for his conversion, looks to the salvation of others, by excommunicating him and separating him from the Church, and furthermore delivers him to the secular tribunal to be exterminated thereby from the world by death.”[6]
In a 1909 article published in The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Fr. Maurice Hassett also confirmed that the admonitions spoken of by St. Paul must come from the proper ecclesiastical authorities:
“From the earliest Christian times heresy was universally regarded as the most heinous of sins. The heretic, St. Paul instructs Titus, shall be admonished a first and a second time of the grave character of his offense; if he will not heed, he must be avoided by Christians as a man in evident bad faith, who stands self-condemned – Titus 3:10. (…) Heretics were consequently cut off from all association with the faithful, who must hold no relations with them so long as they obstinately refuse to heed the official remonstrances of the Church authorities.”[7]
Thus, in order to establish pertinacity (that the heretic is “manifestly obstinate”), canon law requires that the Churchissue warnings to a prelate before he is deposed for the crime of heresy.[8] As Bellarmine indicates, this aspect of canon law is founded upon Divine law, as revealed in Scripture (cf. Tit. 3:10), and is considered so necessary that even in the extreme case in which a cleric publicly joins a false religion (which Francis has also not done), he must be duly warned by the Church before being degraded.[9] Because the Church has no authority over the Pope, these warnings do not constitute an act of jurisdiction (as they would for other Catholics), but only an act of charity, as St. Thomas teaches in regard to fraternal correction.[10] Although the Pope is not subject to the positive law of the Church, because these warnings are rooted in Divine Law, and are afforded to lesser clerics in the hope of their amendment, they most certainly are afforded to the Vicar of Christ, both as a matter of justice as well as under the philosophical principle omne majus continet in se minus – “the greater includes the lesser.”
In fact, Cajetan says that it is because a Pope is not subject to canon law that ecclesiastical warnings are absolutely necessary for him before being declared a heretic. He explains that because other heretics may automatically incurlatae sententiae excommunication (the censure) by operation of canon law[11] (to which the Pope is not subject), it is not absolutely necessary for the Church to issue warnings to these before declaring them excommunicated.[12]However, because the Pope is not subject to the ecclesiastical censure, the teaching of St. Paul to Titus should logically be followed to the letter. In Cajetan’s own words:
“The second consequence is that a heretic pope should not be deposed before the admonitions: for he is not excommunicated on account of heresy, but should be excommunicated by being deposed. Therefore, the apostle’s command concerning the double admonition, which need not be observed [to the letter] in the case of others, who are inferiors, on account of the addition of excommunication latae sententiae, which the Church imposes on heretics, should be observed to the letter with him.”[13]
The renowned eighteenth century theologian, Fr. Pietro Ballerini, who subscribed to Bellarmine’s famous Fifth Opinion on a heretical Pope,[14] explains how the warnings would serve to demonstrate pertinacity for a reigning Pope who publicly professed heresy, as well as who exactly in the Church would be responsible for issuing them, and the effect that they would produce:
“Is it not true that, confronted with such a danger to the faith [a Pope teaching heresy], any subject can, by fraternal correction, warn their superior, resist him to his face, refute him and, if necessary, summon him and press him to repent? The Cardinals, who are his counselors, can do this; or the Roman Clergy, or the Roman Synod, if, being met, they judge this opportune. For any person, even a private person, the words of Saint Paul to Titus hold: ‘Avoid the heretic, after a first and second correction, knowing that such a man is perverted and sins, since he is condemned by his own judgment’ (Tit. 3, 10-11). For the person, who, admonished once or twice, does not repent, but continues pertinacious in an opinion contrary to a manifest or defined dogma – not being able, on account of this public pertinacityto be excused, by any means, of heresy properly so called, which requires pertinacity – this persondeclares himself openly a heretic. He reveals that by his own will he has turned away from the Catholic Faith and the Church, in such a way that now no declaration or sentence of anyone whatsoever is necessary to cut him from the body of the Church. Therefore the Pontiff who after such a solemn and public warning by the Cardinals, by the Roman Clergy or even by the Synod, would remain himself hardened in heresy and openly turn himself away from the Church, would have to be avoided, according to the precept of Saint Paul. So that he might not cause damage to the rest, he would have to have his heresy and contumacy publicly proclaimed, so that all might be able to be equally on guard in relation to him. Thus, the sentence which he had pronounced against himself would be made known to all the Church, making clear that by his own will he had turned away and separated himself from the body of the Church, and that in a certain way he had abdicated the Pontificate…”[15]
Thus, before Pope Francis could be considered a public heretic, he would have to be issued “a first and second correction” (warnings) by “the Cardinals” (or other official Church authority, such as a “Roman Synod”), and would then have to “continue pertinacious in an opinion contrary to a manifest or defined dogma” after at least six months (such as his material heresies that no one is condemned forever or that intrinsically evil acts admit of exceptions). Because these warnings are public and issued by the proper authorities, a refusal to heed them would establish “public pertinacity” which is necessary to convict someone of public (that is, the crime of) heresy. That means we have a way to go with Pope Francis, because the authorities have not even issued the first warning. Not yet.
In the next installment, we will address what happens if the Cardinals issue the requisite warnings to Pope Francis and he still refuses to respond or fails to correct his errors.
Originally published at The Remnant. Reprinted with permission.
[1] I have a copy of the CDF’s March 9, 1987 reply which conspicuously fails to reconcile Dignitatis Humanae’s teaching with the perennial teaching of the Church. Furthermore, the Congregation admits the possibility of further study of the problem (“…demeure la possibilité d’une étude ultérieure de ce problème…”). If such matters were left to private judgment, one could have “convicted” of John Paul II for his failure to respond to Archbishop Lefebvre’s dubia.
[2]As we read from Fr. Augustine’s commentary on canon law: “If, after the lapse of six months, to be reckoned from the moment the penalty has been contracted, the person suspected of heresy has not amended, he must be regarded as a heretic, amenable to the penalties set forth in canon 2314. Whilst the penalties enumerated under (b) are ferendae sententiae, to be inflicted according to can. 2223, 3, the penalties stated under (c) are a iure and latae sententiae.” Augustine, A Commentary on the New Code of Canon Law, vol. VIII, bk. 5, pp. 288-289. Fr. Henry Ayrinhac also notes: “A cleric should receive a second warning, and if this too remained fruitless he should be suspended a divinis. After inflicting these punishments, six months more may be allowed, and if at the end of this time the party suspected of heresy has shown no signs of amendment, he is to be considered as a heretic and punished accordingly.”
[3] Bellarmine wrote: “Firstly, that a heretical Pope can be judged is expressly held in Can. Si Papa dist. 40, and by Innocent III (Serm. II de Consec. Pontif.) Furthermore, in the 8th Council, (act. 7) the acts of the Roman Council under Pope Hadrian are recited, in which one finds that Pope Honorius appears to be justly anathematized, because he had been convicted of heresy…” (De Romano Pontifice, bk. 2, ch. 30).
[4] “Let no mortal man presume to accuse the Pope of fault, for, it being incumbent upon him to judge all, he should be judged by no one, unless he is suddenly caught deviating from the faith”(Si Papa Dist 40). Latin found in Brian Tierney, The Crisis of Church and State (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1964), p. 124.
[5] De Romano Pontifice, bk. 2, ch. 30.
[6] ST, II-II, q. 11, a. 3, sed contra. As we can see, contrary to the teachings of Pope Francis, St. Thomas also affirms the justice of capital punishment to the extent it is in proportion to the severity of the crime (and the death penalty is proportionate to the crime of harming “the salvation of others”). See, for example, ST, II-II, q. 11, a. 3; q. 64, a. 3; Gen. 9:6; Lk 19:27; Rom 13:4.
[7] Hassett, “Church and State in the Fourth Century,” published in The American Catholic Quarterly Review, vol. 34, January – October, 1909, pp. 301-302.
[8] Canon 2314.1-2 says: “All apostates from the Christian faith and each and every heretic or schismatic: Unless they respect warnings, they are deprived of benefice, dignity, pension, office, or other duty that they have in the Church, they are declared infamous, and [if] clerics, with the warning being repeated, [they are] deposed.”
[9] “A cleric must, besides, be degraded if, after having been duly warned, he persists in being a member of such a society (non-Catholic sect). All the offices he may hold become vacant, ipso facto, without any further declaration. This is tacit resignation recognized by law (Canon 188.4) and therefore the vacancy is one de facto et iure (by fact and by law).” Augustine, A Commentary on the New Code of Canon Law, vol. 8, bk. 5, p. 280 (emphasis added).
[10] On whether a man is bound to correct his prelate, St. Thomas teaches: “A subject is not competent to administer to his prelate the correction which is an act of justice through the coercive nature of punishment: but the fraternal correction which is an act of charity is within the competency of everyone in respect of any person towards whom he is bound by charity, provided there be something in that person which requires correction.” ST, II-II, q. 33, a. 4.
[11] Here we can think of certain Catholic politicians who openly acknowledge and defy Catholic teaching (e.g., abortion) to the world, thereby establishing their pertinacity as notorious by notoriety of fact. As non-clerics, their excommunication may be recognized by the Church without the need for ecclesiastical warning or censure.
[12] “Neither is it always demanded in the external forum that there be a warning and a reprimand as described above for somebody to be punished as heretical and pertinacious, and such a requirement is by no means always admitted in practice by the Holy Office” (De Lugo, disp. XX, sect. IV, n. l57-158, cited in “Essay on Heresy,” by Arnaldo da Silveira).
[13] De Comparatione Auctoritatis Papae et Concilii, p. 103.
[14] See Silveira, “La Nouvelle Messe de Paul VI: Qu’en penser,” p. 168.
[15] De Potestate Ecclesiastica, (Monasterii Westphalorum, Deiters, 1847) ch. 6, sec. 2, pp. 124-125 (emphasis added).
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CategoriesAmoris Laetitia, The Church, The Papacy
Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Receive Award in Winnipeg Next May
The Center Cannot Hold
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Exclusive: Congress probing U.S. spy agencies’ possible lapses on Russia
CIA, Central Intelligence Agency, inlichtingen(operatie(s)), Russia, Syria, United States of America USA, war on terror
Senior U.S. lawmakers have begun probing possible intelligence lapses over Moscow’s intervention in Syria, concerned that American spy agencies were slow to grasp the scope and intention of Russia’s dramatic military offensive there, U.S. congressional sources and other officials told Reuters.
A week after Russia plunged directly into Syria’s civil war by launching a campaign of air strikes, the intelligence committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives want to examine the extent to which the spy community overlooked or misjudged critical warning signs, the sources said.
Findings of major blind spots would mark the latest of several U.S. intelligence misses in recent years, including Moscow’s surprise takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year and China’s rapid expansion of island-building activities in the South China Sea.
Though spy agencies have sought to ramp up intelligence gathering on Russia since the crisis over Ukraine, they continue to struggle with inadequate resources because of the emphasis on counter-terrorism in the Middle East and the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, according to current and former U.S. officials.
A senior administration official, who also asked not to be identified, insisted that there were “no surprises” and that policymakers were “comfortable” with the intelligence they received in the lead-up to the Russian offensive.
Spy agencies had carefully tracked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s build-up of military assets and personnel in Syria in recent weeks, prompting White House criticism and demands for Moscow to explain itself.
But intelligence officers – and the U.S. administration they serve – were caught mostly off-guard by the speed and aggressiveness of Putin’s use of air power as well as a Russian target list that included U.S.-backed rebels, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They saw some of this going on but didn’t appreciate the magnitude,” one of the sources told Reuters.
Russia’s sudden move to ramp up its military involvement in the Syria crisis has thrown Obama’s Middle East strategy into doubt and laid bare an erosion of U.S. influence in the region.
A shortage of reliable information and analysis could further hamper President Barack Obama’s efforts to craft a response on Syria to regain the initiative from Washington’s former Cold War foe.
BEHIND THE CURVE?
It is unclear how his administration could have reacted differently with better intelligence, though advance word of Putin’s attack plans might have allowed U.S. officials to warn the moderate Syrian opposition that they could end up in Russia’s line of fire.
Obama, who is reluctant to see America drawn deeper into another Middle East conflict, has shown no desire to directly confront Russia over its Syria offensive – something Moscow may have taken as a green light to escalate its operations.
Syrian troops and militia backed by Russian warplanes mounted what appeared to be their first major coordinated assault on Syrian insurgents on Wednesday and Moscow said its warships fired a barrage of missiles at them from the Caspian Sea, a sign of its new military reach.
Russia’s military build-up now includes a growing naval presence, long-range rockets and a battalion of troops backed by Moscow’s most modern tanks, the U.S. ambassador to NATO said.
The U.S. administration believes it now has a better understanding at least of Putin’s main motive – to do whatever it takes to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But Washington remains uncertain exactly how much further Putin is willing to go in terms of deployment of advanced military assets, the U.S. officials said.
The lack of clarity stems in part from the limited ability of U.S. intelligence agencies to discern what Putin and a tightly knit circle of advisers are thinking and planning.
In a tense meeting with Putin at the United Nations early last week, Obama was not given any advance notice of Russia’s attack plans, aides said. Russian air strikes began two days later, including the targeting of CIA-trained “moderate” anti-Assad rebels, though Moscow insisted it only hit Islamic State insurgents.
“They did not expect the speed with which Putin ramped things up,” said Michael McFaul, Obama’s former ambassador to Moscow. “He likes the element of surprise.”
U.S. intelligence agencies did closely follow and report to policymakers Russian moves to sharply expand infrastructure at its key air base in Latakia as well as the deployment of heavy equipment, including combat aircraft, to Syria, officials said.
“We’re not mind readers,” the senior administration official said. “We didn’t know when Russia would fly the first sortie, but our analysis of the capabilities that were there was that they were there for a reason.”
However, several other officials said U.S. agencies were behind the curve in assessing how far the Russians intended to go and how quickly they intended to launch operations.
In fact, right up until a White House briefing given shortly after the bombing began, Obama press secretary Josh Earnest declined to draw “firm conclusions” on Russia’s strategy.
CONFUSION OVER RUSSIAN INTENT
One source suggested that U.S. experts initially thought the Russian build-up might have been more for a military “snap exercise” or a temporary show of force than preparations for sustained, large-scale attacks on Assad’s enemies.
Another official said that after initial review, congressional oversight investigators believe that “information on this was not moving quickly enough through channels” to policymakers.
And another source said there had been a “lag of a week” before agencies began voicing full-throated alarm about imminent Russian military operations.
The senior administration official said, however, that “I don’t think anybody here perceived a gap” in intelligence.
In their reviews of how U.S. intelligence handled the Syria build-up, officials said congressional intelligence committees would examine reports issued by the agencies and question officers involved in the process, according to congressional and national security sources. At the moment, no public hearings are planned, the officials said.
Though the senior administration official denied the intelligence community was paying any less attention to Syria, John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said that not enough intelligence assets had been devoted to analyzing Putin’s “aggressive policies”.
McFaul, who took the view that the Obama administration had been largely on top of the situation as Putin prepared his offensive, said that a faster or more precise intelligence assessment would probably have done little to change the outcome.
“What difference would it make if we had known 48 hours ahead of time?” asked McFaul, who now teaches at Stanford University in California. “There still wouldn’t have been any better options for deterring Putin in Syria.”
(Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Roberta Rampton, Writing by Matt Spetalnick; editing by Stuart Grudgings)
Politics | Thu Oct 8, 2015 8:03am EDT Related:
BY MARK HOSENBALL, PHIL STEWART AND MATT SPETALNICK
Find this story at 8 October 2015
Copyright Thomson Reuters
Despite bombing, Islamic State is no weaker than a year ago Erdogans SchattenkriegerSo ungeniert spioniert Erdogan seine Gegner aus – mitten in Deutschland
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Nothing brings out the sparkle in people, whether they are 9 or 90, like singing old favorite songs. At the New Dominion Chorale, we have decided to spread our joy in singing by performing at senior residences and nursing homes in Northern Virginia, and we're always overwhelmed by the warmth of our reception. As Lorraine Redman, Resident Services Coordinator, The Lewinsville, put it, "Everyone enjoys the reminiscing through songs of the past - they just don't write good songs like that any more."
The idea came to us while Christmas caroling at a nursing home - a time when the elderly get almost a surfeit of volunteers. One resident remarked that she wished that singers would come back the rest of the year. And why not, we thought. So, we organized a program called "Just a Song at Twilight", a reference to the songs families used to sing many years ago around the piano at the end of the day.
We bring along a pianist, a gaggle of singers, and printouts of the words to the first verse of each song. The goal is to get the residents to join in the singing, which is not hard to do when we launch into favorites like "Annie Laurie" or "Bye, Bye Blackbird". Then we perform the next verse a cappella because of the beauty of four-part harmony. Lately we've added medleys of popular music organized around a theme: Love Songs, Fifties Music, Autumn, Italian Favorites, and Irish Tunes, etc., which are always very well received.
Another popular feature is chorus member Sam Corl and his banjo: he always sings a solo or two from his own extensive repertoire. It's all very informal, with the singers and the residents chatting and joking with each other. The idea is to make the evening seem more like a visit with the guest singers rather than attending a set performance. Bob Fielden, Vinson Hall resident, tells us, "We look forward each year to the return of the New Dominion Chorale; they are always such fine entertainment and so many residents appreciate their music. It's obvious that you enjoy what you're doing, and when you enjoy something, you do it well."
It's hard to say who gets more enjoyment from these evenings, the singers or the audience. Several NDC regulars who seldom miss a sing-along dash in from their 60-hour-a-week jobs in DC. Iris Knell, Outreach Coordinator, says, "My favorite audience comment is: 'You all seem to like each other so much!'"
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Saudi Arabia now says Khashoggi’s killing might have been “premeditated.”
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s state media carried a message from the public prosecutor saying that new evidence suggests that the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was an act of “premeditated” murder. This new finding was a result, the public prosecutor asserts, of new information received from a joint Saudi-Turkish investigation.
This represents yet another dramatic shift in the Saudi story. When Khashoggi went missing on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Saudi government initially claimed he had left the consulate. But they were unable to provide information to verify this claim. Then the Saudi government floated the idea that Khashoggi was killed by rogue agents. Later, after international pressure, the Saudi government acknowledged that Khashoggi had died in the consulate but said it was the accidental result of a fistfight.
The new line comes closest to confirming Saudi government responsibility for the killing but it still leaves unanswered the question of who ordered the alleged assassination. It’s likely that the Saudi government will continue to maintain that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the effective leader of the nation, bears no personal responsibility.
The changing Saudi story comes as a result of the Turkish government repeatedly leaking information pointing towards Saudi government culpability.
As The New York Times reports, “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Wednesday called Mr. Khashoggi’s killing ‘premeditated murder’ and asked a series of leading questions about who in Riyadh had ordered the operation. Turkish officials have leaked several details that point to premeditation, including the fact that a member of the Saudi team that flew to Istanbul resembled Mr. Khashoggi, dressed in his clothes and walked around Istanbul to create a false trail of security camera images that appeared to show the journalist alive.”
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Donald Trump, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Gun Violence Prevention
NY, NJ, CT, RI Governors Form ‘States for Gun Safety’ Coalition to Combat Gun Violence Epidemic
February 22, 2018 krubin Leave a comment
New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island Enter into Agreement to Create Multi-State Database That Will Share Information on Firearms, Law Enforcement Efforts and Supplement Federal NICS Database
New Multi-State Coalition Will Trace and Intercept Firearms to Stop Flow of Out-of-State Guns
Nation’s First Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium Will Conduct Studies to Better Inform Policy Makers
During the 2016 Presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton and Congressman Steve Israel met with mothers who lost children to gun violence. Clinton proposed a specific agenda for sensible gun control. With Trump in the White House, Republicans in control of Congress, and the NRA stepping up its attacks making the prospect for federal help dim (Trump is cutting funding for background checks), New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey governors have formed a coalition to address gun violence at the regional level. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo today announced the formation of the new “States for Gun Safety” coalition to combat gun violence. In the face of repeated federal inaction, the coalition will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to better share information and tackle this devastating epidemic through a comprehensive, regional approach. The coalition will advance a multi-pronged effort that will create a multi-state database to supplement the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System, trace and intercept guns that are used in crimes as well as guns transported across state borders and launch the nation’s first Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium that will study the issue across multiple disciplines to better inform policy makers nationwide.
“Here in New York, we’re proud to be home to the nation’s strongest gun safety law. However, the federal government’s continued inaction on this issue has not only allowed the epidemic of gun violence to spread, but it has actually prevented the laws like the SAFE Act from being fully effective,” Governor Cuomo said. “Rather than wait for the federal government to come to its senses and pass responsible gun safety legislation, New York is joining with New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island to take matters into our own hands. Not only will this groundbreaking partnership take new steps to prevent illegal guns from crossing state lines, but by forming the nation’s first Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, we will be able to better inform policymakers nationwide on how to keep their communities safe.”
“We refuse to allow federal inaction to enact commonsense, gun safety laws endanger the lives of our residents,” Governor Malloy said. “Despite the best efforts of powerful lobbyists from special interest groups, we will work together as a coalition of states to keep our communities safe. We cannot sit back and let guns get into the hands of those who shouldn’t have them, and we cannot simply watch almost daily tragedy occur. One thing remains clear: we would be better off if every state and the federal government enacted sensible gun safety rules. We will not wait for Washington to act – the time for action is now.”
“Gun violence is not a New Jersey problem, or a New York problem, or a problem for any particular state or region – it is a national problem,” Governor Murphy said.”However, we cannot wait for Congress to act. As states, we must work together to take the steps and enact the measures to protect our residents and our communities. But, even more importantly, a collective of states can take these steps together broaden the reach and impact of commonsense gun safety laws.”
“Rhode Island has some of the nation’s strongest gun laws, but our nation has some of the world’s weakest. Kids in Florida and across the nation are taking action, and it’s not a surprise: We’ve forced them to lead because for years elected officials in Washington have refused to,” Governor Raimondo said. “We will stand up with our students and with parents to strengthen our gun laws and combat gun violence.”
As part of the coalition, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island will share information about individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm within each state. By sharing this information, states can more effectively prevent certain individuals from purchasing a gun, obtaining a weapon and/or getting a gun permit. The agreement, in accordance with federal and state privacy protections, will provide state law enforcement agencies with details on the firearm purchase or permit denials for those who are disqualified. People may be disqualified from owning a firearm for several reasons, including an arrest warrant, order of protection, debilitating mental health condition, or criminal history.
Despite the passage of gun safety laws restricting the purchase and carry of firearms across the four states, the lack of federal regulations preventing individuals from purchasing guns in other states and transporting them across borders has undermined state legislation. To combat this practice, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island will direct their law enforcement intelligence centers to work cooperatively to trace the use of out-of-state guns in crimes and share information in order to intercept criminals transporting illegal guns across state borders. The four state fusion centers that will jointly share information under this agreement are the New York State Intelligence Center, the Connecticut Intelligence Center, New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center, and the Rhode Island State Fusion Center.
The four states will also designate institutions of higher education to partner and create the nation’s first Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium. The consortium will be comprised of dedicated public health, social welfare, public policy, and criminal justice experts who will share and examine data to better inform policymakers nationwide. This groundbreaking consortium will fill the void left by the federal government’s 1996 ban on the use of federal funds to study gun violence which has obstructed research efforts across the nation, including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.
“We have to remember that the federal government has had a provision in place now for over 20 years that effective bars the Center for Disease Control and Prevention from studying gun violence. So it has devolved to the states, now for over 20 years and our thought is perhaps if we can do it in a coordinated way, the more of us at it, hopefully the better result and meaningfully propelling things like smart gun technology,” Governor Murphy of New Jersey said during a telephone press availability with al four governors.
“We can’t wait for the federal government to act. We have states with good intentions, with good laws, let’s take it to the next level. Let’s work across our borders. Let’s not just advocate for better laws in our own state, but advocate for better laws in our region. Let’s not just try to make our own borders as safe as possible. Let’s try to make our region as safe as possible.” We’ll reach out to other governors,” Governor Malloy of Connecticut said.
Building on these efforts, the states will also work to push the federal government to adopt common-sense gun safety measures. In order to protect families and communities across the region, the group will call on the federal government to swiftly enact universal background checks, an assault weapons ban and a federal waiting period between the purchase and delivery of guns.
The multi-state coalition builds on years of progress spearheaded by Governor Cuomo to combat gun violence in New York. Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Democrats and Republicans came together in New York to pass the nation’s strongest gun safety law in 2013. The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013, more commonly known as the NY SAFE Act, banned the sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines and helps keep guns out of the hands of the dangerously mentally ill, all the while safeguarding the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners.
In addition to the SAFE Act, New York has continued to invest in the SNUG and GIVE initiatives which engage with community members to help get guns off the street. Under SNUG, specially trained individuals are employed to reduce violence from occurring when tensions arise within their community, while also connecting high-risk individuals with essential social and support services. The GIVE initiative provides funding to support technical assistance, training, equipment, and personnel – such as prosecutors and crime analysts – to help communities reduce gun violence and save lives. The funding for both initiatives is administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Most recently, Governor Cuomo proposed new legislation as part of the 2018 State of the State which will remove all firearms from those who commit domestic violence crimes. Given the inextricable link between domestic violence and lethal gun violence, this legislation will require all firearms be removed from those convicted of domestic violence crimes, including misdemeanors. It will also add measures to keep firearms out of the hands of those who commit domestic violence with the goal of preventing additional tragedies.
“We’re not waiting for federal action,” said Governor Cuomo of New York, a former Attorney General who laid out an indictment against the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled Congress over its measures that not only don’t mitigate against gun violence, but go backwards. “All of our states are already ahead of the federal government when it comes to laws on this issue. The Florida Parkland massacre, one would hope that it would spur responsible federal action but we’re not going to hold our breath and were not going to risk our children’s lives. Sandy hook happened, I remember speaking with Governor Malloy at the time, and since then 1600 people have died. After Sandy Hook was when New York passed the SAFE Act because people were so outraged and change comes when people demand change. After Sandy Hook, especially in this region of the country, people demanded change. Columbine 1999, since then there have been 200 school shootings, 25 mass school shootings, so no I’m not especially optimistic that the federal government will be a response.
“Let’s be honest, this a federal government has gone backward on the issue. President Trump has pledged allegiance to the NRA and he’s delivered for them. He defunded, in part, the NICS background check system, he stopped last February the Social Security Administration from providing information that the Obama administration put into place that would have given more information on mental health for the NICS system and the solution here is not rocket science. In many ways it’s harder because it takes political courage and this is not just about the NRA, this is a politically charged issue and I think we understate the opposition when we say it’s just the NRA. To be responsible on this issue you have to pay a political cost.
“Governors on the phone all understand that. I have the political scars from what we did and that’s why it really is a test of leadership and I think right now you have the high school students showing more leadership than the leaders in Washington. What they said on TV was it shouldn’t be a democratic or republican issue, it’s an issue in life and death and they’re right.
“Your Florida elected officials showed up at the town hall like Senator Marco Rubio, who I think should be ashamed of themselves because he had nothing responsible to say and rather than proposing baby steps, which is the worst type of political pandering, he should have at least been honest and say we have nothing meaningful to propose on this issue. At least that would have been honest.
“To say this is a mental health issue is a sham and a fraud because if you really believed it was a mental health issue, then you have to say, the way to combat mental health is we will have s universal background check system to make sure a person who is mentally ill cannot buy a gun. We’re going to have a NICS system that has a comprehensive mental health database that is in the federal NICS system. You will then have to have a federal reporting system where people could actually report people to police, people who they believe has a mental health problem. Teachers would have to be able to call police, family members would have to be able to call the police and say investigate this person because I think they are mentally ill and they shouldn’t have a gun and they still have to answer why you wouldn’t support an assault ban. 1934, this nation outlawed machine guns because the nation said the risk outweighs the reward. The damage that can be done with a machine gun outweighs the individual’s right to own it. That is an assault rifle today. It’s doable, it’s feasible, we did it in this country. It’s just that we’ve gone backwards,” Cuomo said during the press call.
“The answer is not to make the schools armed camps. That’s where they’re going to go in Washington. Why? Because that’s where the NRA wants them to go. Because it means selling more guns. And the NRA is in the business of selling guns. Arm every teacher. Oh that makes sense. The only thing it would do is bring more guns into a school, more money for gun manufacturers, which is what the NRA is really trying to say…
“Today, we take the next step in the evolution of state action. We are limited by our borders so we can put in laws but then our borders are porous. Governor Malloy spoke about the I-95 corridor. That guns literally come up the I-95 corridor. Share your databases and your information so if a person can’t buy a gun in New York, they don’t drive to Connecticut or New Jersey or Rhode Island and buy the gun. Come up with a coalition of state actions. And then share that information. And that’s what we’re going to be doing. We have a mental health database in New York that now exists that didn’t exist before the SAFE Act that has 77,000 people who are on the database who are mentally ill who could have bought a gun in this state the day before the SAFE Act. Share that information.
“On Governor Murphy’s point about research, I was HUD Secretary in the Clinton Administration. At that time, the manufacturers said they could manufacture a smart gun. They could manufacturer a gun where the trigger read a finger print. We’ve done absolutely nothing on the research and the technology because they haven’t been forced to do it.
“So do what you can and that’s what we’re doing. This is not a substitute for federal action. And we hope and we will push for federal action. I would like to see the national democrats put a real sensible gun control bill on the table so that people have a real choice and we have a real debate because this is not about baby steps, this is not about bump stocks and moving the age from 18-21. Those are just political crumbs to throw forward to end the political discomfort for some of the elected officials. Let’s do something real and let’s make a difference. This has been handled by countries across the globe. We can handle it if we want to. If we have the political courage and the political will to do it. It’s that simple. But it’s that difficult.”
After Parkland School Shooting, New Youth Movement Calls for Sensible Gun Control; Will They be Played by False Flags from Trump?
Andrew Cuomobackground checkscoalition to combat gun violenceDan MolloyGina Raimondogun controlgun reformgun violencegun violence preventionPhil Murphysensible gun controlsensible gun lawssmart gunsStates for Gun Safetyuniversal background checks
Previous PostAfter Parkland School Shooting, New Youth Movement Calls for Sensible Gun Control; Will They be Played by False Flags from Trump?Next PostIf You Value a Free, Open Internet, Push Congress to Act Now to Preserve Net Neutrality
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Adblock Plus has been playing the long game, is now selling ads
(Image: Adblock Plus)
In a sudden pivot that seems ominously reminiscent of a classic Onion article, Adblock Plus has revealed what could be its very own “sinister phase two.” As reported by The Verge, the bane of ad revenue-dependent websites has now declared that not all ads are bad, and—as a matter of fact—some ads are actually perfectly “acceptable.” But how does one tell the difference between a good ad and a bad ad? It’s simple, really: Adblock Plus itself is selling the good ads.
The basic idea is that Adblock Plus is launching an “ad marketplace” that will allow website owners to choose “acceptable” ads that are theoretically less obtrusive than pop-ups and auto-play video. Then, when an Adblock Plus user visits this page, they’ll only see the “acceptable” ads and not the website’s normal ads. This is really an expansion of an existing program within Adblock Plus, but that system required everyone involved to agree to “whitelist” an ad for it to get through the Adblock filter. Now, sites will be able to select pre-whitelisted ads, saving them a step and getting them at least some ad revenue in the process.
However, The Verge believes that some people still won’t be happy with this, especially since the acceptable ads will probably be less valuable to websites than normal ads are. Plus, it argues that this move just makes Adblock Plus into a “gatekeeper charging a toll to get through a gate of its own making”—which is a polite metaphor for this situation. Whether people like it or not, the new ad marketplace went into beta today, and the full version is set to launch later this year.
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DoD Security Clearance Program Off the GAO Hot Seat
Chandler Harris / Feb 25, 2011
While security clearance with the Department of Defense (DoD) was a process that took 128 days two years ago, now the process has been shortened substantially enough to be removed from the list of troubled government programs.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) removed the “high risk” designation from the DoD Personnel Security Clearance Program after it processed most of its clearances in about 49 days in 2010. The high risk tag is given to programs believed to be subject to mismanagement, waste, fraud or abuse.
“High-level attention by DOD, OMB, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, along with consistent congressional oversight, has led to significant improvements in processing security clearances,” the GOA report stated.
Each year the government processes about 90,000 security clearances—primarily for defense-related positions.
A team consisting of the Defense Department, OMB, Office of Personnel Management and Intelligence officials had identified several causes for the backlog including the fact security forms had to be filled in by hand, duplicate questions and a lack of questions for important information.
“Many people were in a holding pattern because we couldn’t bring them on board,” said Beth McGrath, deputy chief management officer for the Defense Department. “Or we would hire them but we couldn’t have them do what we hired them to do.”
The questionnaire was revised and most of the system was put online, which helped the Office of Personnel Management’s role in processing applications. Also, employees with clearance seeking another job in the federal system can use their prior clearance.
The OPM intends to continue to monitor security clearances to “ensure timeliness improvements continue and quality is built into every step of the process using quantifiable and independently verifiable metrics,” according to the report.
Security Clearance Trends 2016
Lapsed Security Clearance
Chandler Harris is a freelance business and technology writer located in Silicon Valley. He has written for numerous publications including Entrepreneur, InformationWeek, San Jose Magazine, Government Technology, Public CIO, AllBusiness.com, U.S. Banker, Digital Communities Magazine, Converge Magazine, Surfer's Journal, Adventure Sports Magazine, ClearanceJobs.com, and the San Jose Business Journal. Chandler is also engaged in helping companies further their content marketing needs through content strategy, optimization and creation, as well as blogging and social media platforms. When he's not writing, Chandler enjoys his beach haunt of Santa Cruz where he rides roller coasters with his son, surfs and bikes across mountain ranges.
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When the orangutan and the slow loris met – and no one was eaten
by Jeremy Hance on 5 May 2014
In 2004 and 2012, scientists recorded rare encounters between two very different primates: southern Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) and Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis). But in neither case did the Bornean orangutan appear to attempt to kill the slow loris for consumption, which Sumatran orangutans are known to do, albeit very rarely.
“It is important to document these kinds of observations, as it demonstrates culture behavioral differences between populations of orangutans, and how they interact with other animals they share the forest with,” Helen Morrogh-Bernard with the University of Exeter told mongabay.com. Morrogh-Bernard, who is also the project director at the Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project, co-authored a paper on the observations for the journal Primates.
In the first encounter a young female orangutan ran into a slow loris while playing with a male. The slow loris quickly ran away, and the female orangutan did not pursue. The second encounter, observed eight years later, proved more dynamic. While its mother cared for an infant, a juvenile female orangutan encountered a slow loris and attempted to engage it.
“The orangutan was energetically shaking the branch though the loris successfully held on,” the scientists write in the paper. “The orangutan tried to move out onto the branch, reaching out to grab the loris, but the loris backed away traveling further out on the limb, facing the orangutan and attempting to bite or scratch the orang-utan during its retreat. The orang-utan then began to shake the branch again. This pattern continued, with the loris moving from branch to branch within the small tree as the orangutan tried to approach.”
A young orangutan runs into a Philippine slow loris. Photo by: Helen Morrogh-Bernard.
After ten minutes, the orangutan lost interest and the slow loris escaped. Both of these observations were made in Kalimantan, or Indonesian Borneo, in the Sabangau Forest, which is home to the largest unbroken population of Bornean orangutans.
The scientists write that the behavior shown by the orangutans in both these accounts did not look like an attempt to catch and eat the slow loris, but were “more similar to play and intrigue.”
“The lorises…appeared to the orangutans as novel and interesting, more of a play object than a form of food to be eaten,” add the scientists. The observations possibly show a distinct difference between Bornean and Sumatran orangutan behavior.
“Observations of nocturnal and diurnal primates coming together are relatively rare. Sadly it seems the ones that make the news is one the smaller primate becomes the dinner for the larger one,” Anna Nekaris, with Oxford Brookes University and head of the slow loris-NGO, Little Fireface Project, told mongabay.com.
“In many cases, too, however, these primates are just curious and seem to like seeing one another! For example, I have seen macaques groom slender lorises, who looked a little irritated…but no malice was intended,” Nekaris added. “We still have so much to learn and that just like humans, other primates can be curious, playful and peaceful with their primate neighbors.”
But playing with a slow loris, or eating one for that matter, may be hazardous. Slow lorises produce a venomous substance from a gland on their upper arm, which they mix with their saliva making their bite potentially toxic. Yet in both observations, scientists did not notice any wariness on the parts of the orangutans toward the potentially dangerous slow loris.
“The fact that the mother did not stop her daughter from playing with a poisonous animal is interesting, suggesting that maybe Sabangau orangutans do not come in to contact with many lorises and thus do not know the dangers,” the researchers write.
In general, both species of orangutans are not active carnivorous hunters, unlike say some groups of chimpanzees or humans. The Asian great apes mostly eat fruit, but also bark, honey, insects, and eggs. While researchers have recorded Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) killing and eating Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), such reports are incredibly rare and thought to be “opportunistic,” according to the researchers. In fact, this behavior has only been seen nine times by six different orangutans in Sumatra.
“The infrequency of encounters between lorises and orangutans despite thousands of hours of focal-animal follows in Sumatra shows that this is not a common occurrence,” the researchers write. “The reason for this may be explained by the nocturnality of the slow loris or the ability of a slow loris to fend off potential orang-utan predators with venom defenses.”
The Bornean orangutan is listed as Endangered, while the Sumatran is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Both species are hugely imperiled by deforestation, largely for palm oil or paper plantations. Both Malaysia and Indonesia have some of the world’s highest rates of forest loss over the last decade. Meanwhile the Philippine slow loris and the Sunda slow loris are considered Vulnerable. While these species are also imperiled by forest loss, the main threats is the illegal pet trade. Poachers steal slow lorises from the wild, yank out their teeth, and then sell them to exotic pet keepers. Experts believe many slow lorises die from poor treatment and improper diet before they are even sold, let alone short lifespans as pets.
Morrogh-Bernard, H. C., Stitt, J. M., Yeen, Z., Nekaris, K. A. I., & Cheyne, S. M. (2014). Interactions between a wild Bornean orang-utan and a Philippine slow loris in a peat-swamp forest. Primates, 1-4.
The Harry Potter wasp: public votes to name new species after soul-sucking ghouls
(05/05/2014) Whether a die-hard Harry Potter fan or not, you probably know what dementors are. They were the guards of Azkaban —dark hooded evil beings that sucked the soul out of their victims, leaving them alive but ’empty-shelled.’ These fictional creatures now share their name with a new species of cockroach wasp, insects that turn cockroaches into zombies.
Bambi in the 21st Century: roe deer not adapting to climate change
(05/01/2014) Once almost extinct in parts of Europe in the late 17th century, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) eventually bounced back, and how: today, it is one of the most widespread deer in Europe. But will its luck dry out in the future? A new study published in PLoSBiology suggests that while roe deer populations are still increasing, it may not be adapting to climate change.
Wonderful Creatures: life is a gamble (inside a caterpillar) for the trigonalid wasp
(03/27/2014) Among the huge diversity of insects there are some bewilderingly complex life cycles, but few can compete with the trigonalid wasps for the seemingly haphazard way they ensure their genes are passed to the next generation. In most cases, a female parasitoid wasp deposits her eggs on or in the host, but this is far too pedestrian and safe for the trigonalids. These mavericks of the wasp world, which are also parasitoids, like to make things more difficult for themselves.
Scientist discovers a plethora of new praying mantises (pictures)
(03/19/2014) Despite their pacific name, praying mantises are ferocious top predators with powerful, grasping forelimbs; spiked legs; and mechanistic jaws. In fact, imagine a tiger that can rotate its head 180 degrees or a great white that blends into the waves and you’ll have a sense of why praying mantises have developed a reputation. Yet, many praying mantis species remain little known to scientists, according to a new paper in ZooKeys that identifies an astounding 19 new species from the tropical forests of Central and South America.
A Turtle’s Tale: researchers discover baby turtles’ kindergarten (photos)
(03/14/2014) Kate Mansfield, at her lab in the University of Central Florida, is holding a baby loggerhead turtle, smaller than her palm, painting manicure acrylic on its shell. When the base coat dries out, she glues on top a neoprene patch from an old wetsuit with hair extensions adhesive. Finally, she attaches a satellite tracker on top, the size of a two “party cheese” cubes, with flexible aquarium silicone, powered by a tiny solar battery. Now the little turtle is ready to be released back into the ocean.
Animal Behavior, Animals, Apes, Archive, Environment, Great Apes, Green, Jeremy Hance, Mammals, Orangutans, Primates, Rainforest Animals, Slow Loris, Strange
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Alle-Kiski Alumni Society awards $3,200 in scholarships
The Alle-Kiski Society of the Penn State Alumni Association awarded $3,200 in scholarships recently to two Penn State New Kensington students, Lauren Richards, of Pittsburgh, and Brandi Ritenour, of Murrysville, Pa.
The society's scholarship is funded through the proceeds of the annual alumni golf tournament. In August, the tournament raised a record $9,400 as 83 alumni and friends participated in the 13th annual scramble at The Links at Spring Church.
Richards, a senior information science and technology major, carries a 3.35 grade-point average. She is active in numerous extra-curricular activities, including serving as chairwoman of the campus THON committee that in February raised $50,467 for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) that benefits the Four Diamonds Fund and the fight against pediatric cancer. The total is the second-best in campus history, topped only by $52,392 collected in 2011.
Richards also served as president of the Lion Ambassadors, a student organization found on every campus of Penn State with the mission of serving the University, the student body and alumni by acting as representatives of the University. She was named Lion Ambassador of the Year and received the Community Service Award at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony in April.
After final exams in May, she participated in a campus- and Rotary-sponsored trip to South Dakota where 14 New Kensington students, faculty and staff installed computers at a women’s shelter and a children’s home, spent time with children at a Native American school and learned about the history and culture of the area.
Ritenour is a sophomore electro-mechanical engineering technology major in the Honors program. Last semester, she was honored with a President’s Freshman Award that is reserved for first-year students who earn a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of two student organizations:Engineering Club and Society of Women Engineers.
In addition to her studies, she serves as a mentor in the Females Interested in Reaching for Science, Technology and Engineering (FIRSTE) program and math assistant in the Summer Preparation for Academics in the College of Engineering (SPACE) program.
FIRSTE is a two-day summer program that targets ninth through 11th-grade girls considering careers in science, technology or engineering. Designed to provide young women with information on their options in what are considered to be traditionally male-oriented fields, the program annually welcomes about a dozen students to the New Kensington campus where they learn about topics such as robotics and microbiology.
SPACE, a two-week preparatory program for incoming freshmen, is tailored to engineering students. The program includes classes in pre-calculus, chemistry, physics and English as well as workshops on study skills and course scheduling strategies. The class sessions are designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge and experience of those seeking to major in engineering. Peer mentoring and networking with current students helps ease the transition from high school to college.
The two students were chosen for the scholarships based on their academic status (sophomore, junior, senior), cumulative GPAs (3.0 minimum), county of residency (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler or Westmoreland) and an essay question ("Why do you feel alumni are willing to give back to the New Kensington campus, and how do you feel you will give back after graduation?"). In their essays, both highlighted the intimate setting of a small campus as a positive learning experience that would encourage them to stay connected to the campus after graduation.
“After a year at Penn State Erie, I enrolled at Penn State New Kensington because it was close to home,” said Richards, who is also an orientation leader. “It was one of the best decisions I could have made. I came to realize that this campus had the passion of the students and staff, their dedication and devotion to learning, school pride, and each other, and the close, family-like atmosphere.”
“At the New Kensington campus, students are given great educations, as well as extracurricular opportunities,” said Ritenour, a student assistant in the Academic Affairs office. “I know that my experiences on campus have been positive, encouraging and life-changing. I’ve met some of the best friends, and my learning experience has been very promising, as I feel extremely prepared for my future career. As a small campus, New Kensington is very close-knit, and students are able to get to know almost all of their fellow students and faculty. I know that all of my professors know my name and always are willing to make time to meet with me. This is an advantage that you can’t always get with other colleges.”
Since 1998, the society has awarded $36,000 to 45 campus students. The amount awarded is expected to rise dramatically in the next few years as the alumni group increases its endowment level by 50 percent from $51,000 to $76,000 by 2014. The philanthropic action was a response to a request by Roger Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association, for local alumni chapters and campus societies to accelerate the growth of their individual endowments during the University's fundraising effort, "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students." Endowed gifts are held by the University in perpetuity. The initial gift is invested and only a portion of the average annual investment return is spent. The remaining income is added to the principal as protection against inflation.
The society's scholarship was established in 1992 with an initial principal of $15,000. Six years later, it was fully endowed at $25,000. In addition to scholarships, the society sponsors a variety of campus activities, including an alumni tent at the Fall Festival.
Penn State alumni and friends are encouraged to re-connect with the University and campus by attending the Alle-Kiski Society meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The next meeting is Oct. 15 in the campus Conference Center.
For more about the Alle-Kiski Society, contact Bill Woodard at uxw1@psu.edu.
For a list off previous scholarship recipients, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/44944.htm.
Bill Woodard
uxw1@psu.edu
http://www.nk.psu.edu
Alle-Kiski Society co-hosts reception for student award winners
Health and Human Development Philanthropy Council members establish scholarships
Researcher receives grant to examine student impact of immersive experiences
AKS, New Kensington, scholarship, students
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Men's lacrosse's Forster named CAA Player of the Week
RICHMOND, Va. - After totaling seven points in the No. 16 Penn State men's lacrosse team's 10-9 come-from-behind victory against Drexel, senior attackman Jack Forster (Jenkintown) has been named CAA Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday (April 9).
The Jenkintown, Pa., native, who extended his goal-scoring streak to seven games, recorded his second straight four-goal game and helped the Nittany Lions improve to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Forster also added three assists as he garnered his first-ever CAA weekly honor.
Trailing 7-3 in the third quarter, Forster sparked the Penn State comeback bid when he notched his third goal of the game midway through the frame. After the Nittany Lions brought the score to within one, Forster struck again to knot the game at 7-7 with seven seconds left in the third.
After Drexel took a 9-8 lead with 9:34 remaining in the game, Forster registered assists on Penn State's final two goals. He set up sophomore Shane Sturgis' (Downingtown) game-tying goal with 5:43 left before recording the helper on sophomore Gavin Ahern's (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) game-winner with 2:45 on the clock.
In 2012, Forster paces the squad in goals (23), assists (11) and points (34). The attackman ranks third in the conference in goals per game (2.09) and is tied for fifth in points per game (3.09).
Forster and the rest of the Nittany Lions will return to action on Saturday (April 14) when they visit Towson. Opening faceoff is slated at 7:30 p.m.
Jeff Nelson
jtn4@psu.edu
https://gopsusports.com
Forster claims CAA Player of the Week honor
Forster, Sanders earn CAA weekly laurels
Forster earns second ECAC Lacrosse Rookie of the Week nod
athlete of the week, Jack Forster, lacrosse
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Home / Entertainment / Adele got drunk with the Spice Girls and shared Instagram Proof
Adele got drunk with the Spice Girls and shared Instagram Proof
June 16, 2019 Entertainment 3 Views
CBS Photo Library Getty Images
Adele was never shy about her love for the Spice Girls, and last night she was perhaps the spice of her life. The Gammy Award-winning singer participated in the Spice Girls concert at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night and documented the defining moment on Instagram.
"I saw the Spice Girls for the last time in Wembley 21 years ago! Tonight I cried, laughed, screamed, danced, remembered and fell in love with my neighbor and sweetheart again, "she wrote on Instagram. "It's no secret how much I love them, how much they've inspired me to run my life and never look back, I finally met Ginger, got drunk with the girls, and honestly I can not believe how far I am Thank you so much for the madness that I have, I could not have been here without you … 5 BRITISH legends! I love you! "
In view of Adele's love for the girl group, it is hardly surprising that she strove to see her during her first tour for over a decade. When the singer appeared on the cover of Vogue in 2016, she confessed her long-standing love for the Spice Girls and their impact on her own career as an artist.
"People always think I joke about it, but the Spice Girls exploded when I was seven," she said. "And they come from a modest background to see – there was hope in it. It really was a huge part of my life when the whole thing with the woman power happened. "
Now we know who we really have to thank for having Adele in our lives.
Erika Harwood
Erika Harwood is a New York-based freelance writer dedicated to fashion, beauty, pop culture, and politics.
Tags Adele drunk Girls Instagram proof shared Spice
Johnny Clegg, A Uniting Voice Against Apartheid, Dies At 66: NPR
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USWNT's Ashlyn Harris Says Former Teammate What Excludes For Homophobia, Not Christianity
Lotus' all-electric hyper-car will be fully charged in nine minutes
Home / US / The Supreme Court rules in the case of South Dakota
The Supreme Court rules in the case of South Dakota
June 24, 2019 US 7 Views
Argus Leader will be tried on April 22 before the US Supreme Court.
Mason Callejas, Wochit
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday restricted public and media access to government documents by extending the definition of a federal law regarding what may be considered confidential section of the Freedom of Information Act everything that should be kept secret or only information that can cause damage on publication.
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the 6-3 decision with judges Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor Dissent.
A retail group, the Food Marketing Institute and the federal government argue for a broad definition that leaves enough room to protect data from the public eye. Media organizations and public interest groups endorsed a narrower definition that causes damage, which would mean confidentiality for fewer FOIA requests.
In 2011, the case began with a request from the Argus Leader newspaper for the Freedom of Information Act. The newsroom in Sioux Falls, SD, is part of the USA TODAY Network.
More: Conservative gains at the Supreme Court lead to anger, frustration, and "behind the scenes" 19659005] The Argus leader called for the Department of Agriculture, which is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program managed to release the annual taxpayments paid to more than 320,000 retailers participating in the program deserts for access to food and fraud in the food stamp program.
More: F-Word wins trademark protection for "immoral, scandalous" material in the case of the Supreme Court's freedom of speech [19659005] "At least where commercial or financial information is usually and actually from are treated as private by their owners and made available to the government under privacy, the information is "confidential" in the sense of (FOIA). " Gorsuch decided.
Breyer noted that "the entire purpose of the FOIA is to provide the public with access to information that they otherwise can not obtain."
secret all information that need not be disclosed, I'm afraid the reading of the majority will deprive the public of information for reasons no better than convenience, atrocity, or bureaucratic inertia, "said Breyer.
Gannett Co., which owns the South Dakota newspaper, expressed disappointment at the ruling, warning that it could lead to greater state secrecy and less accountability to taxpayers, and urged Congress to re-establish the 40-year-old interpretation
"The court's decision gives companies relying on taxpayers the opportunity to decide for themselves what data the public will receive about the use of this money," said Maribel Perez Wadsworth, president of the USA TODAY Network and publisher of USA TODAY: "This is a step backwards for openness and a misinterpretation of the very purpose of the Freedom of Information Act. "
" We are disappointed with today's result. Obviously, "said Cory Myers, the news director of Argus Leader." This is a major blow to the public's right to know how their tax dollars are spent and who benefits from them. Nonetheless, we will continue to fight for openness and transparency of the government, as always. "
Jonathan Ellis, Reporter, and Cory Myers, News Director of The Argus Leader newspaper, based in Sioux Falls, SD, brought in April a challenge to the Freedom of Information Act to the Supreme Court. [19659017] (Photo: Hannah Gaber, USAT)
After the Department of Agriculture refused to publish the data, the Argus leader sued The case went to the US Circuit Court for the eighth circuit and back to the South Dakota Federal District Court, where a judge ruled that the information should be published.
The government did not appeal against this verdict, son The Food Marketing Institute intervened and appealed again to the Eighth circuit. The appeals court ruled against the institute in 2018 and asked the Supreme Court to investigate the case.
More: Ginsburg traveled, wrote Gorsuch, Kavanaugh trained: The Supreme Court judges had a lucrative 2018
A key issue in the case on April 22 was discussed, was whether a judgment of the US Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit of 1974, the FOIA had twisted beyond the original intent of the Congress.
FOIA was adopted eight years earlier in 1966 and contained a waiver that allowed the government to withhold information it received from companies that contained trade secrets or financial information that was classified as confidential. However, the 1974 decision limited the confidential document to documents the publication of which would result in significant competition damage.
More: The Supreme Court rejects the examination of the protection of silencers by the second amendment.
The Food Marketing Institute argued that the ruling exceeded the Congress's intent and called on the Supreme Court to allow companies to make a decision on the need for confidentiality. The group was supported by other industry groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce.
The Argus leader argued that government spending records, including tax payments to food-merchants, were the reason for Congress's creation of FOIA. It was also argued that Congress had approved the standard of the 1974 decision by not changing it during numerous reviews of the FOIA since 1974. Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics / 2019/06/24 / freedom-information-act-supreme-court-rules-south-dakota-case / 1475089001 /
Tags case Court Dakota rules South Supreme
Opinion: AOC and the Democrats gave Trump the fight he sought
Roger Stone was banned from social media after breaking the guidelines of the judges
Roger Stone excluded from Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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WCWS: Florida Forces If-Game, Defeats Texas A&M 6-1
By Lance Swan
OKLAHOMA CITY – Three unearned runs in the fourth inning paired with two Gator home runs as Florida forced the “if necessary” semifinal game against Texas A&M with a 6-1 Gator victory on Sunday afternoon at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. The teams will play again tonight at 6 pm CDT for a spot in Monday’s Championship Series.
The Gators (70-4) opened the scoring with a second-inning solo line-drive home run to left field by Francesca Enea.
Texas A&M (56-8) answered in the bottom half of the frame. The rally started with one-out walks to Erin Glasco and Jami Lobpries. A Macie Morrow single loaded the bases and the Aggies pushed a run in with an RBI walk to Rhiannon Kliesing, tying the score at 1-1.
That score held until the top of the fourth inning. A one-out double by Ali Gardiner started the rally. Gardiner was replaced by pinch runner Danyell Hines, who advanced to thrd on a passed ball. A dropped pop fly in the at-bat of Enea scored Hines and advanced Enea to second base. She would come around to score on a Mary Ratliff double before Ratliff scored on a double by Corrie Brooks, making the score 4-1 in the Gators favor.
Florida added another pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning as Gardiner singled and Enea clubbed her second home run of the game to make the score 6-1.
Megan Gibson took the loss for the Aggies, falling to 40-2 on the season. She pitched three and two thirds innings, striking out two and walking one, allowing one earned and three unearned runs on five hits. She was relieved by Rhiannon Kliesing, who struck out one and walked three, allowing tow runs on four hits in three and a third innings.
For the Gators, Stacey Nelson started and pitched three innings, striking out six and walking four, allowing one run on three hits. Nelson got a no-decision in the contest as she did not pitch the required number of innings for the win. Stephanie Brombache notched the win for Florida, improving to 20-0 on the season as she pitched four hitless innings.
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Should Bruins break up top line next season?
The Boston Bruins and their fans are likely still smarting from falling one win short of a Stanley Cup victory against the St. Louis Blues, but the bottom line is that this was an impressive run. Really, it cemented the notion that Bruins management has done a lot right in finding ways to extend this group’s window of contention, where other teams would age out of elite play.
Still, there was one thing that bothered me about the Bruins: their lack of experimentation toward the end of the regular season.
Most teams don’t get the chance to tinker without big consequences
For a long time, it was clear that the Bruins would meet the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There was also plenty of advance notice that the Bruins were unlikely to slip from the second seed.
While other NHL teams can be dinged for a lack of experimentation as well, the Bruins (and Maple Leafs) were in a rare position in this age of parity: they basically knew where they were going to land in the playoff branches, and didn’t really face much of a threat of dropping out of their position for some time.
In other words, if the Bruins wanted to try a bunch of different things – treating the rest of the regular season as a virtual hockey science lab – they wouldn’t have faced severe consequences, even if those experimentations blew up in their faces in the form of losses.
Instead, the Bruins more or less played things out.
If there was one question I would’ve wanted answered if I were in Bruce Cassidy’s shoes,* it would be: “What if we broke up the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak?”
* – And, make no mistake about it, this would be a bad deal for the Bruins, because Cassidy is overall a very bright coach, and I’d struggle to keep a team under one Too Many Men on the Ice penalties per period.
[More: How will the Bruins look next season?]
Hitting a wall at the worst possible time
Overall, it’s fine that the Bruins leaned toward not messing with a good thing. For the most part, that trio absolutely caves in opponents with their mix of smart defensive play, blistering passing, and dangerous sniping.
Unfortunately, that group hit some serious roadblocks during the postseason, particularly as the St. Louis Blues’ defense found ways to short circuit that top line, and the Blues’ own best players feasted to a surprisingly lopsided degree. This tweet really captures how one-sided things often were during the 2019 Stanley Cup Final:
Bergeron/Marchand/Pastrnak 5v5 this series:
2 goals for
19 goals against
97 scoring chances for
103 scoring chances against
28 high danger scoring chances for
32 high danger scoring chances against
0 high dangers goals for
8 high dangers goals against
— Days of Y'Orr (@DaysofYOrr) June 13, 2019
Yikes. Yikes.
While wear and tear cannot be ignored during the grind of a deep playoff run, it’s fair to ask if the Bruins didn’t have enough of a Plan B for if the top line sputtered. To some extent, you can understand why: because they basically never ran into that problem during the regular season.
Yet, lacking alternate options might have made the Bruins easier to “solve.” Consider this striking excerpt from the latest edition of Elliotte Friedman’s “31 Thoughts.”
When it came to the Patrice Bergeron/Brad Marchand/David Pastrnak line, one Blue said they were determined “not to be fooled by their deception.” Those three are excellent at creating havoc through the neutral zone via the different routes they take. The Blues focused on where they wanted to get to (especially Marchand’s and Pastrnak’s preferred one-timer locations) instead of how they got there.
The Bruins certainly provided the Blues and other opponents with a lot of “tape” on the top line, so to speak, as they kept them glued together during the regular season.
Via Natural Stat Trick, Patrice Bergeron played more than 729 minutes with Brad Marchand at even-strength during the regular season, while Bergeron was only away from Marchand for less than 46 minutes. David Pastrnak saw a little bit more time away from that duo, but still spent far more time with them.
It’s striking, actually, that Pastrnak spent almost as much time away from Bergeron and Marchand during the smaller sample of the playoffs (123:12 without Marchand, 134:07 without Bergeron, in 24 games) as Pastrnak spent away from them during the regular season (202 away from Marchand, 182:27 away from Bergeron), and injuries exaggerated those regular season numbers.
You could argue that Pastrnak was moved around because of desperation, rather than inspiration, during the postseason, as things weren’t clicking. So it wasn’t exactly as if those swaps were happening in ideal circumstances.
But what if the Bruins had more combinations in their back pocket?
Roads less taken
Cassidy had the luxury of finding out a little bit more about how other duos or trios might click, but he chose not to do so. Could Marchand and Bergeron really propel their own lines, and how much does Pastrnak need at least one of those guys to thrive? Might Marchand find chemistry with David Krejci, and could Bergeron really click with Jake DeBrusk? If the drop-off from spreading the wealth vs. going top-heavy was small, then the Bruins might have been able to throw different looks against the Blues, rather than playing into their hands.
So, with all of that in mind, how much should the Bruins consider breaking up the top line for 2019-20, or at least portions of 2019-20?
Interestingly, there might be a political element to consider, too: would they grumble at being broken up? In particular, it could be a tough sell to pitch that idea to Bergeron and Marchand, specifically.
Expanding Marchand’s even-strength minutes from 2015-16 to 2018-19 with Natural Stat Trick, the results are pretty comical. Marchand spent 2,461 minutes and 40 seconds with Bergeron during that time period, and just 368:46 without Bergeron. That’s the hockey equivalent of a common law marriage.
If there’s no argument for breaking up the veterans, then maybe continued experimentation with Pastrnak is in order. Theoretically, Bergeron and Marchand could carry a lesser linemate, as that’s the general pattern around the NHL, as teams just don’t often enjoy the option to load up with their three best forwards and still have some talent left over not to get bombarded when their other three lines are on the ice.
Consistency vs. versatility
Again, the Bruins have done an impressive job finding other players, and this post is mainly asking the question regarding whether they can get even better, or at least more versatile.
This interesting piece by Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald discusses David Krejci wanting a more stable partner on the right wing to go with Jake DeBrusk on the Bruins’ mostly effective, but occasionally hot-and-cold second line.
To be fair, Krejci wants stability, where I would argue that the Bruins should try a number of different looks:
“We did touch on that a little bit, but that’s not really something I can control,” Krejci said. “We have lots of good players here who can play on that side, so I’m not worried about that. We have lots of players. But what I would like to have is consistency of the lines so you create some chemistry. You always go through some ups and downs. Everyone does. But if you stay together as a line, in your difficult time of the year, the two other guys can lift you up, or the other way around.”
Conroy brings up some options as right-handed shooters, from Pastrnak to interesting young forward Karson Kuhlman. I’d also throw Charlie Coyle‘s name in the hat, as while he’s mostly served as third-line center for the Bruins, Coyle also played at RW at times during his Wild years.
The thing is, coaches do what Krejci doesn’t like, and get the line blender going for reasons. During an 82-game season, you’re going to experience streaks, but also injuries. You also must battle stagnancy and predictability.
But, really, finding different looks comes down to the playoff contests after the 82-game season.
Would the Bruins have won it all if they could have kept the Blues a bit more off balance? Maybe, maybe not. You could also argue that staying the course helped the Bruins get as far as they did, in the first place.
Either way, these are the questions the Bruins should grapple with, and experiments they should undergo more often than they did in 2018-19. Chances are, their cap situation won’t allow them to add much and will probably force them to lose a nice asset like Marcus Johansson, so it’s about getting the most out of what they already have.
Cassidy & Co. deserve credit for getting a whole lot out of this group, already, yet maybe there are a few more answers that simply haven’t been explored, or explored enough to truly know?
LOOKING BACK, AND AHEAD, FOR BRUINS
Contract challenges heading into offseason.
The lowdown on Zdeno Chara’s nasty jaw injuries.
Marchand calls Game 7 loss the worst of his career.
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, Bruce Cassidy, Charlie Coyle, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, Karson Kuhlman, Marcus Johansson, Patrice Bergeron, St. Louis Blues, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, Karson Kuhlman, Marcus Johansson, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara
Bruins’ Marchand calls Game 7 loss ‘by far’ worst of career
By Scott BilleckJun 13, 2019, 12:45 AM EDT
Brad Marchand was a member of the Boston Bruins in 2013 when a 17-second stretch late in the third period of Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final left the 2011 champs devastated.
Leading the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on a third-period goal by Milan Lucic, and down 3-2 in the series, the Bruins entered the final 90 seconds with a Cup-deciding Game 7 in their grasp.
And then it slipped away.
Bryan Bickell scored with 1:16 left to tie the game and Dave Bolland followed Bickell’s lead, scoring with 59 ticks remaining to end the series, crushing Boston’s dreams of two Cups in three years.
Six years later, and prior to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final where Marchand’s Bruins would take on the St. Louis Blues, Marchand was still wrestling with those demons.
“It still hurts to this day,” Marchand said. “Probably look back more on the loss and what I’d do differently than the win. You lose something like this, you’re that close, you worked that hard — it never leaves you. Hopefully, we don’t feel that again.”
The Bruins were that close and they worked that hard in 2019. But like 2013, the same result –a loss — emerged, this time in Game 7, ushering in a fresh set of heart-wrenching memories that aren’t likely to vacate any time soon.
“By far,” said Marchand, his eyes leaking, when asked if this one hurt the most after dropping a 4-1 decision to the Blues on Wednesday. “It’s a heart-breaker. It’s tough to describe. They just took our dream, our lifetime dream from us and everything we’ve worked for our entire lives. Sixty minutes away from that. You can’t describe it.”
While the Bruins never tasted last place, they had their own struggles in the infancy of the season.
Tuukka Rask got off to a poor start and things didn’t look so great around Christmas in New England.
The New Year would bring new hope, however.
It began on Jan. 1 when Bruins went into Notre Dame Stadium and ground out a 4-2 win at the 2019 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks. That day would act as an unofficial turning point for the Bruins. The Bruins went 6-3-3 in January before an incredible 11-0-2 run in February and then passed the regular-season finish line with an 11-7-0 run as they marched into the postseason.
The second-half rally cry would prove useful experience in Round 1, where the Bruins would rebound form a 3-2 series deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs to take that series in seven games. Round 2 required another come-from-behind, this time down 2-1 against the giant-killing Columbus Blue Jackets. Some reprieve would come in the form of a sweep in the Eastern Conference Final and then they forced a Game 7 in the Cup final after a gutsy win on the road last Sunday in St. Louis.
“I love these guys,” Marchand said. “We had a hell of a year. We came very close. I love every guy on this team. I’m very proud of everyone that worked their ass off all year to get to this point. We’re a hell of a group. We came together. We’re like a family. It hurts.”
It’s the reality of hockey’s grandest stage. One team has to lose.
And it was Boston’s turn once again.
“You never know when you’ll get that chance again,” Marchand said. “It could be the last one.”
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, St. Louis Blues, Brad Marchand, Dave Bolland, Milan Lucic, Tuukka Rask
PHT Power Rankings: Win or lose the Conn Smythe should belong to Rask
By Adam GretzJun 10, 2019, 1:42 PM EDT
This much should be obvious: If the Boston Bruins win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night (8 p.m. ET; NBC; live stream) starting goalie Tuukka Rask is going to be the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
If that situation plays out, it is simply going to be his award.
Brad Marchand has been great. Patrice Bergeron has been outstanding. Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy have carried the defense. Charlie Coyle has turned out to be a huge trade deadline pickup. All of them would be a worthy contender (or winner) in any other season. But for as good as they have all been none of them have played a bigger role in the Bruins’ postseason success than Rask, and he has done it from the very beginning of the playoffs with a consistency and level of dominance that should have erased any doubts his harshest critics may have ever had about him as a big-game goalie.
He is the biggest reason the Bruins have reached this point and the single biggest reason the St. Louis Blues have not already won their first Stanley Cup.
His performance this postseason is as good as we have ever seen from a goalie, highlighted by a .939 save percentage that ranks among the NHL’s all-time best.
He is just the fifth different goalie in NHL history to play in at least 20 playoff games and have a save percentage higher than .935, and he is the only goalie that has done it twice.
In his 23 appearances this season he has recorded a save percentage below .912 just five times. He has had zero games with a save percentage below .900. Just for context on that, every other goalie this postseason has had at least one such, while 15 different goalies had at least two.
His Stanley Cup Final counterpart, St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington, has had eight such games.
His save percentages by series have been .928, .948, .956, and .924.
No matter the metric, whether it is in any one individual game or the postseason as a whole, he has been sensational.
So sensational that the Conn Smythe Trophy should probably be his whether the Bruins win Game 7 or not.
It is not completely unheard of for a member of the losing team to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as it has happened five times in NHL history with Detroit’s Roger Crozier (1966), St. Louis’ Glenn Hall (1968), Philadelphia’s Reggie Leach (1976) and Ron Hextall (1987), and Anaheim’s Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003) all doing it. It is obviously extremely difficult to do, but it can happen when all of the right circumstances are in place.
It usually involves a goalie (as four of the previous ones were) putting together an incredible postseason where they help carry their team for the entire postseason and then loses to a team that does not really have a clear favorite of their own. That would pretty much describe the Blues if they win Game 7. Their success is not related to any one great individual performance that has stood out above the pack. At any given time it has been one of Ryan O'Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Jaden Schwartz carrying the offense, but none of them have done it consistently throughout the playoffs. Their goalie, Binnington, has really only been okay with moments of brilliance surrounded by obvious flaws and some downright bad games.
If the Blues win history and all modern precedent suggests one of their players will end up winning the Conn Smythe, but if we are being objective about this the true MVP of the playoffs has been standing in Boston’s net all postseason. The outcome of Game 7 is not going to change that. Without him playing at the level he has played at the Bruins have not already been eliminated in this series, they may have very easily been eliminated in Round 1 (against the Toronto Maple Leafs) or in Round 2 (against the Columbus Blue Jackets).
In this week’s PHT Power Rankings we take one more look at the 2019 Conn Smythe race where Rask is rightfully at the top of the pack on a tier all his own. Everyone else is (or should be) fighting for second place.
To the rankings!
The favorite
1. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins. He has simply been the best and most impactful player on the ice in the playoffs and is probably the single biggest reason this series is still going on. His numbers are among the best we have ever seen from a goalie in a single playoff run and he has been so much better than everyone else that even if the Blues win Game 7 it should probably be his to take home. The chances of that actually happening are slim (there is plenty of precedent that says the series winner will get the MVP) but that doesn’t mean we can’t disagree.
[Related: Rask the rock steps up for Bruins in Game 6]
If the Blues win
2. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues. He has probably done enough in this series to get the award if the Blues take Game 7. He may not have consistently been the team’s most productive player or top scorer in the playoffs, but he is still probably their best all-around player and for much of the Stanley Cup Final has beaten Boston’s Patrice Bergeron at his own game as a top-tier two-way center. It is supposed to be an award for the entire postseason, but recency bias takes over in the Stanley Cup Final and O’Reilly has been a monster for the Blues in the series with four goals and three assists. He goes into Game 7 on a three-game goal scoring streak.
3. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues. He played better than his numbers illustrated earlier in the playoffs, then he went on a white-hot run at the absolute best time for the Blues starting with Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. As mentioned above the Blues do not have a clear-cut favorite at this point but the way Tarasenko put the offense on his back over the past month (six goals, five assists over the past 12 games) would make him a worthy candidate.
The long shots but still worth a mention
4. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins. We have had Marchand at the top of the rankings for much of the playoffs, mostly because he has been awesome and probably their best overall player not named Rask. But we are dropping him down a few spots here for two reasons. First, he has had a quiet series against the Blues and that will no doubt impact voters when it comes time to cast their ballots (whether it should or not). Second, and most importantly, if the Bruins win Game 7 it just seems impossible to believe that anyone other than Rask will be taking home the MVP. That does not take away from the postseason Marchand has had, just that he has probably become a distant second on his team in the playoff MVP race.
5. Torey Krug, Boston Bruins. The Bruins’ defense was shorthanded for much of the regular season due to injury and that trend has continued at times in the playoffs. Zdeno Chara missed a game earlier this postseason and has played the past two games with a (reported) broken jaw. Matt Grzlecyk has been sidelined since Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Charlie McAvoy missed a game earlier in the playoffs due to suspension. While all of that has been happening Krug has been the one constant on the team’s blue line in the playoffs, appearing in every single game and putting up huge numbers offensively. He is the team’s third-leading scorer entering Game 7 with 18 points, including six in the Stanley Cup Final against the Blues.
6. Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues. If the Blues win he would be a nice sleeper choice because of what he did prior to the series. He has gone quiet against the Bruins, but his hot streak in previous played a huge role in helping the Blues to reach this point.
7. Charlie Coyle, Boston Bruins. After a slow start to his Bruins tenure after the trade from the Minnesota Wild Coyle ended up being everything the Bruins hoped he would be in the playoffs, adding a necessary secondary scoring boost to the lineup. Like Marchand and Krug (and anyone else on the Bruins) he has almost zero chance of taking the award away from Rask if the Bruins win, but he has still proven to be a huge addition that has helped drive the Bruins’ run.
MORE BLUES-BRUINS:
• Bruins push Stanley Cup Final to Game 7 by beating Blues
• Special teams an issue once again for Blues in Game 6 loss
• St. Louis newspaper gets roasted for ‘jinxing’ Blues before Game 6
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Charlie McAvoy, Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Binnington, Matt Grzelcyk, Patrice Bergeron, PHT Power Rankings, Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues, Torey Krug, Tuukka Rask, Vladimir Tarasenko, Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Charlie McAvoy, Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Binnington, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O'Reilly, Torey Krug, Tuukka Rask, Vladimir Tarasenko, Zdeno Chara
Stanley Cup Buzzer: Bruins, Blues are going to Game 7
By James O'BrienJun 10, 2019, 1:49 AM EDT
Don’t blame it on the jinx. Superstitions didn’t stump St. Louis; instead, it was superlative play from Tuukka Rask. He shut down the Blues while they really carried the play through the first 40 minutes of Game 6, and then the Bruins blew open what had been just a 1-0 game heading into the third period. Prepare for the agony and ecstasy of a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, hockey fans.
Boston Bruins 5, St. Louis Blues 1 (Series tied 3-3; Game 7 airs at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday [NBC; stream here])
This one was a lot closer than it indicated, and not just because Zdeno Chara scored an empty-netter for Boston. While Jordan Binnington was the star of Game 5 for St. Louis, Rask stole one (or at least two-thirds of this one) for Boston, and the Bruins ran away with the final frame to sap any drama from the latter stages of Sunday’s contest. Really, if you step back and look at the series, it only seems fitting that this one is going the distance.
1. Tuukka Rask
Even the one goal Rask allowed tells part of the story of his Game 6, as it initially looked like he made the save, by Ryan O'Reilly‘s attempt barely went over the red line.
Really, the Blues didn’t deserve to be shut out, not that goose eggs only happen by merit. They put forth a ferocious effort, although their special teams let them down at key times. Rask made 28 out of 29 saves in this one, although there was one close call that will really leave you scratching your head.
It’s tough to make a definitive argument for a specific Blues player to win the Conn Smythe, if they get it, as it’s been a team effort. The Bruins have enjoyed some nice performances from plenty of other cast members, but if a Boston player gets it, it’s going to Rask. He’s been dynamite.
[More on Rask’s big Game 6 performance.]
2. Brad Marchand
Consider this a collective award for “The Perfection Line.” Even with Patrice Bergeron failing to generate a point in Game 6, his effort was considerable, including six shots on goal.
It’s really a jump ball between Marchand and David Pastrnak, though, as both forwards ended Game 6 with a goal and an assist. For my money, Marchand’s goal was the most crucial of the contest. The Blues were really pouring it on, and the Bruins couldn’t squander a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. They didn’t, thanks to some great puck movement, and a nice finish by Marchand. That 1-0 goal wouldn’t serve as the game-winner, but Boston really needed it.
Marchand assisted on Pastrnak’s pretty 4-1 goal, which was a nice display of skill and poise, while throwing a bucket of ice water on any semblance of resistance after ROR shrunk Boston’s lead to a more tenable 3-1.
3. Charlie McAvoy
The second star basically went to two forwards, while the third goes to the overall Bruins’ defensive effort, personified most boldly by McAvoy.
Now, you could make an argument for Jake DeBrusk and the Bruins’ second line, as they made a difference in Game 6, with DeBrusk shining when things were tight. Other Bruins defensemen could jockey for the third billing; Chara scored that empty-netter and showed courage once again, while Brandon Carlo‘s bouncer was the GWG.
And, yes, a very cursory glance at McAvoy’s stats (zero points, what could have been a problematic penalty against Vladimir Tarasenko) wouldn’t impress.
If you dig deeper, you’ll realize how crucial McAvoy was. McAvoy really tilted the ice in his favor during his 25:22 TOI, including almost 21 minutes of tough five-on-five play. He was on the right end of the possession battle to an impressive extent; according to Natural Stat Trick, McAvoy was on the ice for 15 shots for and only six against at even-strength. McAvoy stands far above his other Bruins teammates in other, fancier measures, as well.
Oh yeah, and he also helped Rask keep that puck out – somehow – on that memorably batty play.
Hot take: the Bruins better make sure they sign McAvoy, who’s a pending RFA.
Being that the Blues had been swept in all of their previous Stanley Cup Final appearances, it’s redundant to say that this is new for them, and the Bruins have played in a Game 7 in a Stanley Cup Final. This is, however, new for Boston, as this is the first time the Bruins will host a Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final. Every other “Original Six” team has already hosted at least one Game 7 of a SCF.
Karson Kuhlman is the 21st different Bruins player to score at least one goal during this run. The Bruins have tied the 1987 Philadelphia Flyers for the record for most unique scorers during a single postseason. Clearly, Tuukka Rask needs to break the tie. (Sportsnet points out John Moore as a more realistic, less entertaining option.)
Speaking of Rask, Sportsnet notes that he has an absurd .966 save percentage on the road during his last seven road playoff games.
Torey Krug has six points during this Round 4 series. Only one other Bruins defenseman has generated more points during a Stanley Cup Final series: Bobby Orr scored eight in 1972 and seven in 1974.
The Bruins are now 25-1 in playoff games when Brad Marchand scores a goal. His seven goals in Stanley Cup Final games (19 games played) ties Marchand for second all-time among Bruins, with Orr (eight goals in 16 GP) and Johnny Bucyk (eight goals in 24 GP) tied for first. Marchand is currently tied with Wayne Cashman, who generated seven goals in 26 games.
How to watch Game 7
Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final airs on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday (stream here).
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, St. Louis Blues, The Buzzer, Torey Krug, Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, John Moore, Jordan Binnington, Karson Kuhlman, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O'Reilly, Torey Krug, Tuukka Rask, Vladimir Tarasenko, Zdeno Chara
Special teams an issue once again for Blues in Game 6 loss
By Adam GretzJun 10, 2019, 12:22 AM EDT
There are a lot of reasons the Stanley Cup Final is headed to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night.
The play of Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is definitely at the top of that list as he continues to put together a postseason effort for the ages.
Right behind him has been the constant special teams struggles of the St. Louis Blues.
That issue showed up again in their Game 6 loss on Sunday night, and it happened right from the start.
With a frenzied crowd behind them and a chance to clinch their first ever championship, the Blues were given a fantastic opportunity to strike first just two minutes into the game when Sean Kurarly was whistled for a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass from the defensive zone. The ensuing Blues power play disappeared without a goal (or even the threat of a goal), something that would happen three more times throughout the night.
The 0-for-4 performance on Sunday dropped the Blues’ power play to just 1-for-18 in the series and leaves them with only a 15.4 success rate for the entire playoffs. Just how bad of a percentage is that? Consider that a 15.4 power play percentage in the regular season would have finished 28th out of 31 teams in the entire league. So it’s been bad. Very bad.
Sunday’s struggles certainly weren’t for a lack of chances as 12 of the Blues’ 29 total shots in the game came on the power play, only to have every single one of them shut down by Rask. On one particular play in the second period it was a team effort between Rask and Charlie McAvoy that only had to add to the Blues’ frustrations.
Still, the end result was the same. A lot of opportunities. Some decent chances. And no goals.
“Well, we had 12 shots,” said Blues coach Craig Berube when asked about his team’s struggles on the power play.
“We did have momentum, we had some good looks. We didn’t score. Rask made some good saves. Can it be better? Yeah, it has to be better. It could have won us the game tonight, but I don’t think it was … we had good looks. We had 12 shots on the power play tonight, but we’ve definitely got to bury a couple.”
Making matters worse is that shortly after the Blues failed to score on their early power play attempt, and when they were still dictating the early pace of the game, another early series issue resurfaced for the Blues — their at times stunning lack of discipline.
It was then that Brayden Schenn was sent off for a careless hit from behind to put the Blues shorthanded, which was followed just a minute later by Ryan O'Reilly shooting the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty to give the Bruins an extended two-man advantage.
They did not waste it.
After a failed Blues’ clearing attempt, thanks in part to a great defensive play from Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand scored his second goal of the series when he wired a one-timer behind Jordan Binnington to give the Bruins a lead they would never really come close to surrendering the rest of the night.
Just like that all of the early momentum the Blues had built for themselves with a fast start was completely gone because the power play could not score, they could not stay out of the penalty box, and they could not keep the Bruins off the scoreboard when they did take a penalty.
“We did have some good looks and some good chances, but you need the result,” said Ryan O’Reilly regarding the power play. “There were a few times there where it could have given us the spark we needed, to grab the momentum. Unfortunately we didn’t. But we’ve gotta let this one go and bounce back quick and get it done there.”
The overall numbers for the series are quite stunning when it comes to special teams play. Through the first six games there have been nine special teams goal scored between the two teams. Eight of those goals (seven power play and one shorthanded) have been scored by the Bruins.
The Blues’ discipline and penalty kill struggles really hurt them in Games 1 and 3, and their power play has held them back the entire series. Even though the special teams may not have been the biggest contributing factor in Game 6, they certainly played a role in turning it into a rout on the scoreboard and robbing the Blues of a chance to clinch the series.
If Game 7 turns into another special teams game, or if the Blues are unable to flip the script in that area from what we have seen in the first six games, it could result in the franchise’s first ever championship slipping through their fingers.
Related: Bruins push Stanley Cup Final to Game 7
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Jordan Binnington, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues, Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand, Brayden Schenn, Charlie McAvoy, Jordan Binnington, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O'Reilly, Tuukka Rask
Should Bruins break up top line next season? June 16, 2019 1:39 pm EDT Bruins’ Marchand calls Game 7 loss ‘by far’ worst of career June 13, 2019 12:45 am EDT PHT Power Rankings: Win or lose the Conn Smythe should belong to Rask June 10, 2019 1:42 pm EDT Stanley Cup Buzzer: Bruins, Blues are going to Game 7 June 10, 2019 1:49 am EDT Special teams an issue once again for Blues in Game 6 loss June 10, 2019 12:22 am EDT Bruins’ ‘Perfection Line’ far from perfect lately June 9, 2019 12:12 pm EDT Why Blues’ discipline has disappeared in Stanley Cup Final June 3, 2019 4:34 pm EDT Stanley Cup photos inside Bruins’ dressing room serve as inspiration June 2, 2019 12:14 pm EDT Stanley Cup Final: Kuraly breaking through for Bruins June 2, 2019 10:30 am EDT Power play wakes up Bruins’ top line in Game 3 rout June 2, 2019 1:07 am EDT Stanley Cup Final: Blues’ top line has early edge on Bruins’ top line May 30, 2019 4:20 pm EDT Top line struggles, Grzelcyk injury stifle Bruins in Game 2 May 29, 2019 11:50 pm EDT Stanley Cup Final: Blues, Bruins built without luxury of top pick May 29, 2019 4:59 pm EDT PHT Morning Skate: Love him or hate him, Marchand gets results; Refs to have review say May 28, 2019 8:00 am EDT Looking at David Krejci’s postseason brilliance May 27, 2019 2:46 pm EDT Marchand says left hand is ‘good’ heading into Cup Final May 26, 2019 3:22 pm EDT Marchand appears to avert injury scare in Bruins Cup tuneup May 23, 2019 9:45 pm EDT PHT Power Rankings: Conn Smythe favorites entering Stanley Cup Final May 23, 2019 1:40 pm EDT Five reasons why Bruins are in Stanley Cup Final May 17, 2019 11:09 am EDT Bruins have evolved into one of NHL’s best under Cassidy May 16, 2019 5:41 pm EDT PHT Morning Skate: Rask an early Conn Smythe favorite; Should all goals be reviewable? May 16, 2019 9:08 am EDT Bruins gadfly Marchand staying out of trouble (sometimes) May 12, 2019 7:45 am EDT PHT Power Rankings: Conn Smythe favorites through Round 2 May 10, 2019 1:51 pm EDT Penalties crush Hurricanes as Bruins storm back in Game 1 May 9, 2019 10:56 pm EDT Can Bruins’ top line break cold streak in Game 4? May 2, 2019 5:15 pm EDT No punishment for Bruins’ Marchand, who doesn’t ‘regret’ cheap shot May 1, 2019 4:19 pm EDT Bruins’ Marchand punches Blue Jackets’ Harrington in back of head April 30, 2019 10:32 pm EDT Marchand ramps up Bruins – Blue Jackets trash talk April 26, 2019 3:54 pm EDT Bruins vs. Blue Jackets: PHT 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview April 25, 2019 11:36 am EDT Maple Leafs take Game 1 against Bruins on the road April 11, 2019 9:55 pm EDT Marner’s shorthanded penalty shot goal puts Leafs ahead vs. Bruins in Game 1 April 11, 2019 8:42 pm EDT Marchand’s all-around impact driving Bruins’ success April 3, 2019 4:40 pm EDT ‘A master troll job’: Leafs GM enjoyed Marchand’s Tweet on Marner’s next contract March 6, 2019 2:33 pm EDT Johansson, Marchand attempt to move on from elbowing incident February 26, 2019 4:18 pm EDT Off the Ice: Brad Marchand makes cannoli, explains licking opponents January 17, 2019 9:58 am EDT Bruins, Capitals meet for first time since blowout, Marchand-Eller January 10, 2019 4:52 pm EDT Marchand imitates Sissons’ reaction after high-sticking penalty (Video) November 3, 2018 9:39 pm EDT Lightning bounce Bruins from playoffs in five games May 6, 2018 6:24 pm EDT Girardi, Lightning push Bruins to brink of elimination May 4, 2018 10:33 pm EDT Brad Marchand enrages Lightning with lick, low bridge (Video) May 4, 2018 9:25 pm EDT
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Metal transport by gas...
Metal transport by gas sloshing in M87
A. Simionescu, N. Werner, W. R. Forman, E. D. Miller, Y. Takei, H. Böhringer, E. Churazov and P. E. J. Nulsen
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society
Volume 405, issue 1, pages 91-99
Published in print June 2010 | ISSN: 0035-8711
Published online June 2010 | e-ISSN: 1365-2966 | DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16450.x
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras
Oxford Journals » full text
Show all results sharing this subject:
We present the results of an XMM–Newton mosaic covering the central ∼200 kpc of the nearby Virgo cluster. We focus on a strong surface brightness discontinuity in the outskirts of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG), M87. Using both XMM–Newton and Suzaku, we derive accurate temperature and metallicity profiles across this feature and show that it is a cold front probably due to sloshing of the Virgo intracluster medium (ICM). It is also associated with a discontinuity in the chemical composition. The gas in the inner, bright region of the front is ∼40 per cent more abundant in Fe than the gas...
We present the results of an XMM–Newton mosaic covering the central ∼200 kpc of the nearby Virgo cluster. We focus on a strong surface brightness discontinuity in the outskirts of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG), M87. Using both XMM–Newton and Suzaku, we derive accurate temperature and metallicity profiles across this feature and show that it is a cold front probably due to sloshing of the Virgo intracluster medium (ICM). It is also associated with a discontinuity in the chemical composition. The gas in the inner, bright region of the front is ∼40 per cent more abundant in Fe than the gas outside the front, suggesting the important role of sloshing in transporting metals through the ICM. For the first time, we provide a quantitative estimate of the mass of Fe transported by a cold front. This amounts to ∼6 per cent of the total Fe mass within the radial range affected by sloshing, significantly more than the amount of metals transported by the active galactic nucleus in the same cluster core. The very low Fe abundance of only ∼0.2 solar immediately outside the cold front at a radius of 90 kpc suggests we are witnessing first-hand the transport of higher metallicity gas into a pristine region, whose abundance is typical of the cluster outskirts. The Mg/Fe and O/Fe abundance ratios remain approximately constant over the entire radial range between the centre of M87 and the faint side of the cold front, which requires the presence of a centrally peaked distribution not only for Fe but also for core-collapse type supernova products. This peak may stem from the star formation triggered as the BCG assembled during the protocluster phase.
Keywords: ISM: abundances; cooling flows; galaxies: individual: M87; X-rays: galaxies: clusters
Journal Article. 7783 words. Illustrated.
Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Go to Oxford Journals » full text » abstract
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Senate Resolution No. 767 – Media Killings
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEES ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND ON PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MASS MEDIA TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY ON THE INCREASING INCIDENTS OF MEDIA KILLINGS
Scope: National
Legislative status: Pending in the Committee (7/30/2014)
http://senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=16&q=SRN-767
SRN-767 (as filed)
Bills Archive
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Senate Bill No. 2421- Corporation engaged in National Wealth Development, direct remittance of 40% Share to LGUS
Senate Bill No. 2420- 15% Iincrease on basic salary of National Government Personnel
Senate Bill No. 2486- Provincial Water Utilities
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Senate Bill No. 2483- Metallurgical Engineering Act of 2008
P.S. Resolution No. 55 - Importation of Rice
Senate Bill No. 2126 -Children's Health Insurance Program
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Senate Bill No. 2125 - Benefits and Incentives of Barangay Security Development Officers(BSDO's)
Senate Bill No. 1406 - PAGASA Modernization Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 1334 - Philippine Fisheries Code
Senate Bill No. 1337 - Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 1339 - Drunk Driving Prevention and Punishment Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 1336 - Magna Carta for Barangays
Senate Bill No. 1338 - Child Support
Senate Bill No. 1335 - Anti-theft and Robbery of Portable Telecommunication Devices Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 7 - Household helpers additional benefits
Senate Bill No. 6 - Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 8 - Migrant Workers Hospital Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 5 - Universally Accessible cheaper and Quality Medicines Act
Senate Bill No. 4 - Mandatory Universal Healthcare Coverage Act of 2010
Senate Bill No. 10 - Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
Senate Bill No. 9 - Barangay Nutrition Worker
P.S. Resolution No. 158 - Reducing Emmissions from Deforestation and Forest Degredation (REDD) Programmes
P.S. Resolution No. 174 -Plight of Victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng
P.S. Resolution No. 175 - Robust adaptation strategies to enhance food security and, alleviate rural poverty
P.S. Resolution No. 100 - Human Trafficking
P.S. Resolution No. 71 - Coal spill incident in Brgy. Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas
Senate Bill No. 2355 - Combat duty pay of all enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
P.S. Resolution No. 198 - MDG (Millennium Development Goals)
P.S. Resolution No. 230 - Strategic areas of the Philippin Foreign Relations
Senate Bill No. 2561 - Child Nutrition Law OF 2010
P.S. Resolution No. 218 - Indigenous and Tribal People's Convention
P.S. Resolution No. 380 - Honor of the Late Quintin B. Paredes, Statesman
P.S. Resolution No. 427 - Profound Sympathy to the People of Japan
P.S. Resolution No. 417 - Security and Well-Being of Overseas Filipinos in Times of Crisis
P.S. Resolution No. 440 - Ifugao Rice Terraces
Senate Bill No. 2759 - Total Plastic Bag Ban
Senate Resolution No. 416 - Filipinos in Iraq
P.S. Resolution No. 403 - Philippine Posts Abroad
Senate Bill No. 2858 - Ethnic Origin Act of 2011
P.S. Resolution No. 498 - Massive Fishkill in Taal Lake
P.S. Resolution No. 491 - Poaching (Moro Gulf and Sulu Sea)
P.S. Resolution No. 472 - Honor the Life of Forest Guard Elpidio 'JOJO' Malinao
P.S. Resolution No. 470 - MTPDP AND Climate Change
P.S. Resolution. No. 457 - Commending Congressman Manny Pacquiao
P.S. Resolution No. 458 - Green Brigade in the Sangguniang Kabataan
P.S. Resolution No. 443 - RP-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Joint Commission Meeting on Technical Cooperation
P.S. Resolution No. 564 - Honoring and Commending the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers of 2011
P.S. Resolution 554 - Commending the Philippine Dragon Boat Team
P.S. Resolution No. 544 - Commending the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI)
P.S. Resolution 541 - Profound sympathy to the People of Norway
Senate Bill No. 2985 - Amended Charter of the People's Television Network, Incorporated
Senate Resolution No. 666 - Commending the Grand Winners of the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools
Senate Bill No. 2986 - Restoring Jurisdiction Over Final Decisions from Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court
P.S. Resolution 615 - Domestic Workers Convention (Philippines' Entry as a State Party to the ILO Convention NO. 189)
Senate Resolution No. 661 - Meat Products
Senate Bill No. 3105 - Philippine River Basin System Administration Act of 2012
Senate Resolution No. 682 - Mandatory Environmental Insurance Coverage
Senate Bill No. 3097 Lake Lanao Development Authority of 2012
Senate Resolution No. 675 Accountability of Financiers of Small-Scale Mining Operations (Compostela Valley)
Senate Resolution No. 672 Royal Government of Bhutan
Senate Resolution No. 673 2011 and 2012 Calamity Fund
Senate Resolution No. 746 - Small-Scale Mining Operations in The Ifugao Rice Terraces
Senate Resolution No. 771 - Honoring Felipe Padilla de Leon
Senate Resolution No. 831 - Sustainable protection of the Puerto Princesa Subterrannean National Park
Senate Resolution No. 871 - Congratulating Brillante Mendoza
Senate Bill No. 3276 - World Interfaith Harmony Week 2
Senate Resolution No. 134 - Year 2013 as the Year of the Overseas Filipino Workers
Senate Bill No. 695 - Human Resources for Health Network Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 674 - Southern Palawan Special Economic Zone and Free Port Act of 2013
Senate Resolution No. 11 – Sexual Exploitation of OFWs by Selected Embassy Officials
Senate Bill No. 388 - Child Support
Senate Resolution No. 11 - Sexual Exploitation of OFW's by Selected Embassy Officials/Staff
Senate Bill No. 7 - National Land Use Act (NALUPA) of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1391 - Department of Culture Act of 2013
Senate Resolution No. 216 - Environmental Audit of the Performance of Relevant National Agencies and Local Government Units
Senate Bill No. 1357 - Anti-Religious and Racial Profiling Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1267 - Combat Duty Pay and Subsistence Allowance of All Personnel of the AFP
Senate Bill No. 1899 - Baybayin Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1901 - Protected Areas Declaration Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1902 - The National Bureau of Investigation Reorganization and Modernization Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1898 - Verde Island Passage Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1900 - Forest Limits Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1902 - National Bureau of Investigation Reorganization and Modernization Act of 2013
Senate Resolution No. 456 - Commending Brillante Mendoza
Senate Resolution No. 427 - Members of the International Community for their Humanitarian Response
Senate Resolution No. 426 - Media Killings
Senate Resolution No. 333 - Earthquake Risk Audit
Senate Resolution No. 332 - Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
Senate Resolution No. 312 - Commending Filipino Filmmakers, Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz, The Late Lino Brocka And Gym Lumbera
Senate Resolution No. 311 - Commending the National Bureau of Investigation
Senate Resolution No. 233 - State of Rice Supply in the Country
Senate Resolution No. 231 - Commending the 2013 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers
Senate Resolution No. 203 - Philippine Tropical Fabrics (Implementation of Republic Act 9242)
Senate Resolution No. 174 - Holistic Development
Senate Resolution No. 107 - Commending the Quai Branly Museum (Musee Du Quai Branly) in Paris, France
Senate Resolution No. 22 - Year 2013 as the Year of Overseas Filipino Workers
Senate Bill No. 2170 - Philippine National Performing Arts Companies Act
Senate Bill No. 2147 - Recognizing the British School Manila as an Educational Institution of International Character
Senate Bill No. 2048 - Consolidated Investments and Incentives Code of the Philippines Act
Senate Bill No. 2046 - Go Negosyo Act
Senate Bill No. 2043 - Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
Senate Bill No. 1902 - National Bureau of Investigation Reorganization and Modernization Act
Senate Bill No. 1901 - Protected Areas Declaration Act
Senate Bill No. 1900 - Forest Limits Act
Senate Bill No. 1898 - Verde Island Passage Act
Senate Bill No. 1357 - Anti-Religious and Racial Profiling Act
Senate Bill No. 1190 - Health Facilities Regulation Act
Senate Bill No. 1106 - Chinese New Year
Senate Bill No. 1105 - Foreign Language Education Act
Senate Bill No. 1104 - Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
Senate Bill No. 695 - Human Resources for Health Network Act
Senate Bill No. 694 - Board of Claims Under the Doj for Victims of Unjust Imprisonment
Senate Bill No. 693 - Productivity Incentives Act
Senate Bill No. 692 - Philippine Seaweed Development Authority Act
Senate Bill No. 691 - Environmental Component of Loan Applications
Senate Bill No. 690 - Teaching of Human Rights in Public and Private Schools
Senate Bill No. 689 - Hazard Pay to Barangay Security Development Officers
Senate Bill No. 688 - Granting Civil Service Eligibility to Government Employees Rendered 7 Years in Service
Senate Bill No. 687 - Philippine Information Agency
Senate Bill No. 686 - Professionalization of Prison Management Act
Senate Bill No. 685 - Street Children Crisis Center Act
Senate Bill No. 684 - Environmental Impact Assessment Act
Senate Bill No. 683 - Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act
Senate Bill No. 682 - Inventors and Invention Incentives Act
Senate Bill No. 681 - Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act
Senate Bill No. 680 - Lake Lanao Development Act
Senate Bill No. 679 - OWWA Act
Senate Bill No. 678 - LPG Industry Safety Act
Senate Bill No. 677 - Laguna Lake Development Authority Act
Senate Bill No. 676 - Philippine Construction Industry Competitiveness Act
Senate Bill No. 675 - Billion Trees Act
Senate Bill No. 674 - Southern Palawan Special Economic Zone and Free Port Act
Senate Bill No. 673 - Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers
Senate Bill No. 672/ Senate Bill No. 2103 - Metallurgical Engineering Act
Senate Bill No. 671 - Breastfeeding Promotion Act
Senate Bill No. 670 - Health Maintenance Organization Act
Senate Bill No. 669 - Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Senate Bill No. 668 - National Railway Act
Senate Bill No. 667 - Charter of the Aklan Airport Authority
Senate Bill No. 666 - Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplant Act
Senate Bill No. 538 - Value-Added Tax on Importation of Donated Goods
Senate Bill No. 537 - Solo Parents' Welfare Act
Senate Bill No. 536 - Banning the Catching, Sale, Purchase, Importation and Exportation of All Sharks and Rays
Senate Bill No. 535 - Requiring Employers to Provide Daycare Facilities for their Employees
Senate Bill No. 534 - Ethnic Origin Act
Senate Bill No. 533 - Mount Isarog Natural Park as a Special Ecological Tourism Zone
Senate Bill No. 532 - Anti-Computer Pornography Act
Senate Bill No. 531 - Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act
Senate Bill No. 530 - Elderly Representation in Every Sanggunian and Local Special Bodies in LGUs
Senate Bill No. 529 - Fiscal Incentives to Media Entities
Senate Bill No. 528 - Women Empowerment Act
Senate Bill No. 527 - Crime of Sexual Harassment
Senate Bill No. 526 - Philippine Sunset Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 525 - Palawan As The Ecological Tourism Capital
Senate Bill No. 524 - Women and Children Crisis Survivors Assistance and Protection
Senate Bill No. 523 - Barangay Nutrition Worker
Senate Bill No. 522 - Ozone Layer Protection Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 521 - Greening Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 520 - Forest Sanctuaries Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 519 - Botika sa Barangay Act
Senate Bill No. 518 - Shari'a District Court System
Senate Bill No. 517 - Low Carbon Economy Act
Senate Bill No. 516 - Banning Logging Operations
Senate Bill No. 515 - Indigenous Cultural Communities
Senate Bill No. 514 - Freedom of Information Act
Senate Bill No. 513 - Philippine Ports Authority
Senate Bill No. 358 - Department of Information and Communications Technology Act
Senate Bill No. 357 - Preparedness in Buildings during Fire, Earthquake and other Hazardous Phenomena Act
Senate Bill No. 356 – Literacy for Parenting Act
Senate Bill No. 355 – Amending R.A.No. 7743, that Libraries be Based on Latest Computer and Electronic Library Technology
Senate Bill No. 354 – Breast Cancer Detection Act
Senate Bill No. 353 – Philippine Tropical Fabrics for Uniforms
Senate Bill No. 352 – Government Performance Act
Senate Bill No. 351 - National Missing Children Recovery Program Act
Senate Bill 350 – National Seafarers Commission Act
Senate Bill No. 349 – Franchise Holders or Operators of Television Stations
Senate Bill No. 348 - Stores Proactive in Plastic Bag Recycling
Senate Bill No. 347 - Philippine Economic Environmental and Natural Resources Accounting Act
Senate Bill No. 346 – Local Government Code
Senate Bill No. 345 – Magna Carta for Barangays
Senate Bill No. 344 – Breast Care Centers
Senate Bill No. 343 – Judiciary Reorganization Act
Senate Bill No. 342 – Sectoral Representatives
Senate Bill No. 341 – Amending NIRC, to Include the sale or importation of Human Organ Implants by Charitable Institutions
Senate Bill No. 340 – Milk Feeding Act
Senate Bill No. 339 – Medical Residency Act
Senate Bill No. 338 – Child Support
Senate Bill No. 337 – Soil and Water Conservation Act
Senate Bill No. 336 – Increasing Penalty for the Crime of Incriminatory Machination
Senate Bill No. 335 – 20% Withholding Tax Exemption on Bank Deposits of Senior Citizens
Senate Bill No. 107 – National Food Authority Reorganization Act
Senate Bill No. 106 – Micro-Enterprise Development Institution Act
Senate Bill No. 105 – National Museum Act
Senate Bill No. 104 – Malunggay Development Act
Senate Bill No. 103 – Students' Rights and Welfare Act
Senate Bill No. 102 – Barangay Health Workers
Senate Bill No. 101 – Child Nutrition Law
Senate Bill No. 100 – Integrated Coastal Management Act
Senate Bill No. 99 – Land Administration Reform Act
Senate Bill No. 98 – Water Sector Reform Act
Senate Bill No. 10 – PAGASA Modernization Act
Senate Bill No. 9 – Philippine River Basin Administration Act
Senate Bill No. 8 – Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
Senate Bill No. 7 – National Land Use Act
Senate Bill No. 6 - Government Scholarship to Students for University and Technical Vocational Education Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 2170 - Philippine National Performing Arts Companies Act of 2013
Senate Resolution No. 668 - Congratulating and Commending Victoria Lucia Tauli-Corpuz
Senate Resolution No. 669 - Guardian of the Rights of the People
Senate Bill No. 2225 - Amending Title I, Chapter 3, Family Code (Void and Voidable Marriages)
Senate Bill No. 2233 - Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2014
Senate Bill No. 2222 - Magna Carta for Workers in the Energy Sector of the Philippines
Senate Resolution No. 644 - Honoring and Commending the Broadcast Journalists Angelo Castro, Jr.
Senate Bill No. 2209 - Resource Centers for Indigenous Peoples Act of 2014
Senate Bill No. 2221 - Iglesia Ni Cristo Founding Anniversary (JULY 27)
Senate Resolution No. 630 - Mitigation Strategies for Climate Change
Senate Resolution No. 637 - Renewable Energy
Senate Resolution No. 627 - Congratulating and Commending Congressman Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao
Senate Resolution No. 628 - Commending the 2014 Recipients of the Soroptimist Unsung Women Heroes
Senate Resolution No. 735 - Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
Senate Bill No. 1188 - Botica sa Barangay
Senate Bill No. 1189 - Board of Claims
Senate Bill No. 1190 - The Health Facilities and Regulation Act of 2013
Senate Resolution No. 800 - Heritage School-Building Restoration Program
Senate Resolution No. 801 - Congratulating the Iglesia Ni Cristo
Senate Bill No. 1104 - Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 2013
Senate Bill No. 1105 - Foreign Language Education Act 2013
Senate Resolution No. 107 - Commending the Quai Branly Museum (Musee Du Quai Branly) in Paries, France
Senate Bill No. 2308 - Talaingod Eco-Cultural Tourism Zone (Davao Del Norte)
Senate Resolution No. 765 - Cultural Heritage
Senate Resolution No. 766 - Commending the Local Government and Community of the Municipality of Pandan in Antique
Senate Bill No. 2351 - Increasing the Monthly Minimum Wage of Public School Teachers
Senate Resolution No. 825 - Congratulating and Commending the Contribution of the Graduates of Escuela Taller De Intramuros
Senate Bill No. 2421 - Philippine Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Industry Competitiveness Act of 2014
Senate Resolution No. 923 - Congratulating and Expressing the Full Support to Patrick D. Flores
Senate Bill No. 2415 - Plastic Bags Regulation Act of 2014
Senate Bill No. 2440 - National Writing System Act of 2014
Senate Resolution No. 984 - Heritage Structures and Trees
Senate Resolution No. 1030 - International Law (Climate Crisis)
Senate Bill No. 2450 - Philippine Mental Health Act of 2014
Senate Bill No. 2515 - Magna Carta of the Poor
Senate Bill No. 2516 - Election Service Reform At of 2014
Senate Bill No. 2501 - National Cultural Heritage Act
Senate Bill No. 2502 - Children's Emergency Relief and Protection Act of 2014
Senate Resolution No. 407 - National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
Senate Resolution No. 1043 - Sta. Ana District, City of Manila (Heritage Zone)
Senate Resolution No. 1044 - Geopolitical Landscape and Risks faced by UN International Missions
Senate Resolution No. 1045 - Commending Francisco Sionil Jose
Senate Resolution No. 1130 - Heritage City (City of Vigan)
Senate Bill No. 2580 - Indigenous Community Conserved Areas Act of 2014
Senate Resolution No. 1181 - World Radio Day
Senate Resolution No. 1155 - Filipino Attire Month
Senate Bill No. 2629 - Philippine Academic Regalia Act of 2015
Senate Bill No. 2630 - National Hero's Day
Senate Resolution No. 1154 - Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Increases in Fares
Senate Resolution No. 1146 - Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF)
Senate Bill No. 2685 - Moro History, Culture and Identity Studies Act of 2015
Senate Bill No. 2742 - International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance Act
Senate Bill No. 2743 - Satellite Paging Systems Philippines, Inc.
Senate Resolution No. 1294 - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Senate Resolution No. 1385 - Philippine National Police Maritime Group and Bureau of Customs Environmental Protection Unit
Senate Resolution No. 1376 - Humanitarian Assistance to the Rohingya Refugees
Senate Resolution No. 1377 - Congratulating and Commending Film Director Brillante Mendoza
Senate Resolution No. 1378 - Profound Sympathy and Sincere Condolences on the Death of Lang Dulay
Senate Resolution No. 1379 - Honoring Former President Elpidio Quirino
Senate Resolution No. 1311 - Commending the 2014 Bar Examinations Topnotcher Irene Mae Berano Alcobilla
Senate Resolution No. 1396 - Honoring Former Senate President Pro-Tempore Leticia Ramos Shahani
Senate Resolution No. 1463 - Small-scale and Large-scale Mining Sites
Senate Bill No. 2862 - Official Filipino Version of the Philippine Constitution
Senate Resolution No. 1447 - Commending the Work of Lorenzo Lucero Mata
Senate Resolution No. 1446 - Entry and Eventual Dumping of Waste Illegally Shipped from Canada
Senate Resolution No. 1445 - Honoring and Commending the Outstanding Philippines Soldiers (TOPS) of 2015
Senate Resolution No. 1444 - Rice Which Contains Plasticizers
Senate Bill No. 2861 - Legacy Fund Act of 2015
Senate Bill No. 2911 - Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act
Senate Bill No. 2912 - Anti-Hazing Act
Senate Resolution No. 1525 - Honoring and Commending for the Country's Outstanding Police Officers in Service (C.O.P.S)
Senate Resolution No. 1526 - Honoring and Commending for the Awardees of the 2015 Search for Outstanding Teachers (S.O.T)
Senate Resolution No. 1527 - Commending Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa
Senate Bill No. 30 - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act
Senate Bill No. 39 - Anti-Ethnic, Racial, Religious and Sexual Discrimination and Profiling Act
Senate Bill No. 38 - The Philippine Innovation Act
Senate Bill No. 37 - Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
Senate Bill No. 35 - Final Forest Limits Act
Senate Bill No. 34 - National Land Use Act of the Philippines
Senate Bill No. 33 - Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps)
Senate Bill No. 32 - Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of [1992] 2015
Senate Bill No. 31 - Department of Culture and the Arts Act
Senate Bill No. 384 - The Barangay Reform Act
Senate Bill No. 383 - Strengthening the Barangay Nutrition Program
Senate Bill No. 382 - Total Logging Ban
Senate Bill No. 381 - Equal Powers of Administration of Conjugnal Partnership
Senate Bill No. 380 - International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance Act
Senate Bill No. 379 - Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Senate Bill No. 242 - Department of Fisheries Act
Senate Bill No. 250 - Magna Carta of the Poor
Senate Bill No. 249 - Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All PWDs Act
Senate Bill No. 247 - Withholding Tax Exemption, Bank Deposits of Senior Citizens
Senate Bill No. 246 - Increasing the Monthly Pension of War Vetyerans and their Dependents
Senate Bill No. 245 - Water Sector Reform Act
Senate Bill No. 243 - The Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2010
Senate Resolution No. 107 - Commending Hidilyn Diaz
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Lightbridge
Nuclear Energy for the 21st Century
Company & Leadership
Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board
Fuel Product Families
Metallic Fuel Technology
Thorium-Based Seed & Blanket Technology
Clients and Services
Financials & Filings
Home » Company & Leadership » Management Team » Seth Grae
Seth Grae
Seth has led the strategic direction and financing efforts of Lightbridge since its founding, including taking the company public. During his tenure, Lightbridge has evolved into a leader in developing advanced nuclear fuel technologies and in providing advisory services to developing and existing nuclear energy programs seeking to meet the highest international standards of safety, non-proliferation, and transparency.
He leads Lightbridge’s efforts to develop and deploy advanced nuclear reactor fuel that will result in more electricity being provided from existing and new reactors, as well as enhanced safety and proliferation resistance, to allow nuclear power to compete and grow internationally as a non-emitting source of base load electricity.
Lightbridge also advises governments of countries seeking to start nuclear power programs from feasibility studies through procurement and operations. Lightbridge’s first major international engagement was to develop the strategic plan—the Roadmap for Success—for commercial nuclear energy for the United Arab Emirates, and Seth and his family lived in Abu Dhabi during the procurement process for the initial four reactors. Lightbridge is engaged by domestic and overseas governmental entities on critically important civil nuclear advisory matters.
Prior to Lightbridge, he worked as a corporate attorney in New York. Seth is invited to guest lecture at universities and to speak at conferences on energy, nuclear power, and the environment.
Seth is a member of the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC) to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and is a member of the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Board of Directors and Suppliers Advisory Committee. He is member of the Nuclear Security Working Group. He is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Washington College of Law at American University. He has served as Vice Chair of the Governing Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Alliance for World Security, and as Co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Arms Control & Disarmament.
Mr. Grae earned a B.A. (cum laude) from Brandeis University; an M.B.A. and an L.L.M. in international law (with honors) from Georgetown University; and a J.D. from American University.
Education/Affiliations
MBA, Georgetown University
L.L.M., International Law, with Honors, Georgetown University
J.D., American University
B.A., Cum Laude, Brandeis University
Member, Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Member, Nuclear Energy Institute’s Board of Directors
Member, Nuclear Energy Institute’s Suppliers Advisory Committee
Member, Dean’s Advisory Council, Washington College of Law, American University
Andrey Mushakov
James P. Malone
Aaron Totemeier
James Fornof
Larry Goldman
René A. Delaney
A proud member of: World Nuclear Association, Nuclear Energy Institute, United States Nuclear Industry Council and Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium.
© 2018 Lightbridge.
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Tick expert shares Lyme disease views
The blood tests used are problematic because they detect antibodies produced by a body’s immune system, not the bacteria that causes the disease, Grier said. Within the first four to six weeks of infection, patients won’t test positive for the disease because not enough antibodies are produced, he said.
Excerpted from the Winona Daily News ( Posted: 02/27/2011 )
Current methods used to diagnose and treat Lyme disease prevent some patients from receiving necessary treatment, said one tick-borne disease researcher.
Tom Grier, from Duluth, Minn., a biology and chemistry graduate from the University of Minnesota, spoke Saturday morning at the Winona Public Library about methods used to test for the disease and treatment guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Infectious Disease Society of America.
“Everything is in place to create a disease that’s hard to treat,” Grier said.
Lyme patients should be diagnosed and receive treatment based on symptoms, not on blood-work results, Grier said.
“We’d be better off if there had never been a test,” he said.
As the disease progresses, Grier said, bacteria moves out of the bloodstream and into a person’s tissues. Antibodies can no longer be detected at that point, rendering the tests useless, he said.
Patients would be better served if physicians focused on Lyme symptoms and did away with blood work, Grier said.
For the complete article: http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_47ef8b60-422c-11e0-8a6d-001cc4c03286.html
~ by Rob on February 27, 2011.
Tags: Lyme, Lyme Disease, Minnesota, ticks
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Art on this Day
On this day, German expressionist painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner died at the age of 58 in Switzerland. He is mostly known for being one of the founders of the artists group Die Brücke (also called “The Bridge”), which was started in 1905 in Dresden.
Kirchner was born in Germany in 1880 and he began his education by studying architecture in Dresden. It was there where he met Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Erich Heckel, with who he started the group Die Brücke. The name of this movement – “The Bridge” – was inspired by their intentions of forming a connection between the past and the present. The academic and traditional style was therefore combined with new forms of artistic expressions, inspired by the contemporary international avant-garde movements. The group was influenced both by the power and lack of artificiality of African art and by the German Gothic woodcuts, as well as by the prints of the Norwegian artist Edward Munch. In this early stage Kirchner’s works are mainly landscapes and portraits and they are characterised by strong bold lines and contrasted colours. Only after 1911, it will be possible to spot in the artist’s paintings more deformed figures and political themes.
From 1911, Kirchner moved in Berlin and Monaco. It was in Monaco where the artist experimented with new subjects, like street or Cabaret scenes, and where his style became even more dramatic and violent: it is easy to spot here the contamination with new artistic movements like the Cubism and the Art Nuveau. In 1913, the Die Brücke movement dissolved due to strong internal conflicts. Kirchner joined the army with the beginning of the first world war, but in 1915 a nervous breakdown hit him so aggressively to have consequences on his mental health until the rest of his life. With the end of the war, the artist moved to Davos, in Switzerland, where he kept suffering from depression despite the increasing success of his exhibitions. In those years, his style became smoother and more abstract, probably influenced by the solemnity of the Alp’s landscape.
During the Nazi regime in Germany, hundreds of works made by the artist have been confiscated and removed from museums; most of them also included in the Degenerate Art exhibition in 1937 and then destroyed. This events, alongside with Kirchner’s aggravate physical conditions, led him to suicide on 15 June 1538 in Davos.
More in Art on this day
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Wangechi Mutu
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Art on this Day May 4, 2017
Art on This Day April 20, 2017
Italian Museum Burns Artworks in Protest at Cuts
Gustav Vigeland
Art on this Day April 7, 2017
Jean-Honoré Fragonard
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Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
Union Member Benefits
June 27th Janus Anniversary Social Media Blast
Join Us for Union Night with Philadelphia Union Soccer!
On Saturday, July 6th, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and Labor 411 will be hosting Union Night at Talen Energy Stadium! Come watch Philadelphia Union face off against Orlando City!
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Black Women in the Labor Movement Have Long Defended American Workers
Kim Kelly on Tuesday, March 12 - 11:02am
Black leaders, activists, and organizers formed the backbone of the U.S. labor movement. Even when the forces of structural racism and segregation sought to stifle their contributions, their resolve to fight for workers’ rights alongside the cause of civil rights remained unshakable. Black women, in particular, have played an enormous role in the movement’s legacy and development.
The Washerwomen of Jackson formed Mississippi’s first labor union in 1866. Lucy Parsons, the anarchist firebrand, cofounded three influential radical unions in 20th-century Chicago. More recently, United Auto Workers (UAW) organizer Sanchioni Butler battled Nissan in a years-long campaign to organize Southern auto-plant workers. Along with so many others, these Black women have long been the bedrock of a workers’ rights movement that has often tried to shut them out.
Prior to desegregation, many white-led unions refused to admit Black members of any gender, and Black women faced the intersectional double bind of gender bias and racial discrimination. When faced with a locked union hall door, however, many Black women labor leaders decided to take matters into their own hands and formed their own organizations within the industries in which they had the highest numbers and therefore held the most power.
Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO
22 S. 22nd St., Second Floor
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PIA19706: Dark and Bright Terrains of Pluto
Target Name: Pluto
Mission: New Horizons
Spacecraft: New Horizons
Instrument: LORRI
Produced By: Johns Hopkins University/APL
Gray-Scale Annotated Version
Click on the image for larger annotated version
These circular maps shows the distribution of Pluto's dark and bright terrains as revealed by NASA's New Horizons mission prior to July 4, 2015. Each map is an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on the north pole, with latitude and longitude indicated. Both a gray-scale and color version are shown. The gray-scale version is based on 7 days of panchromatic imaging from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), whereas the color version uses the gray-scale base and incorporates lower-resolution color information from the Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), part of the Ralph instrument. The color version is also shown in a simple cylindrical projection in PIA19700.
In these maps, the polar bright terrain is surrounded by a somewhat darker polar fringe, one whose latitudinal position varies strongly with longitude. Especially striking are the much darker regions along the equator. A broad dark swath ("the whale") stretches along the equator from approximately 20 to 160 degrees of longitude. Several dark patches appear in a regular sequence centered near 345 degrees of longitude. A spectacular bright region occupies Pluto's mid-latitudes near 180 degrees of longitude, and stretches southward over the equator. New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto will occur near this longitude, which will permit high-resolution visible imaging and compositional mapping of these various regions.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, designed, built, and operates the New Horizons spacecraft, and manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. The Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio, leads the science team, payload operations and encounter science planning. New Horizons is part of the New Frontiers Program managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
For more information about the New Horizons mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons and http://pluto.jhuapl.edu.
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute
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Tag: Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
I always thought of this as a perfect pop song. The lyrics won’t challenge Dylan but they fit the melody perfectly. Todd only had 8 songs in the top 100 and one top ten hit which surprises me because I thought it would have been more. He was an excellent producer. He produced Badfinger, The New York Dolls, Grand Funk, and many more. This song peaked at #16 in the Billboard 100 in 1972.
Rundgren talked about this song: “I wrote this song in 15 minutes from start to finish. It was one of the reasons that caused me to change my style of writing. It doesn’t matter how clever a song is – if it’s written in 15 minutes, it is such a string of clichés that it just doesn’t have a lasting impact for me. And for me, the greatest disappointment in the world is not being able to listen to my own music and enjoy it.”
From Songfacts
This song is about a mixed-up young man, perhaps a teenage boy, who stumbles into his first affair and doesn’t know if he loves the girl. It was a solid hit for Todd Rundgren, but far from his favorite. He explained: “‘I Saw The Light’ is just a string of clichés. It’s absolutely nothing that I ever thought, or thought about before I sat down to write the song.”
This was the first song on the album. According to the liner notes of Something/Anything?, Rundgren thought it would be a hit, so he placed it first just like Motown used to do with their records.
The 45 RPM single was pressed on blue vinyl.
Rundgren learned piano on his own, which gave him a nontraditional approach to the instrument. When he wrote this song, he was doing what came naturally, moving his hands up and down the keyboard. As he did it, he came up with very simple lyrics, letting one line flow into another without thinking about it at all:
It was late last night
I was feeling something wasn’t right
Rundgren knew the song had hit potential, which he later learned can often come by keeping things simple. “Sometimes when these things just come spilling out, I’ve found, sometimes they have a more broad appeal to the average listener than if you’re trying to do something impressive,” he told Red Bull Music Academy during a 2013 talk. “I thought, ‘This is a real simple, straight-ahead, easy-to-understand song. I’ll pretend it’s a single and I’ll put it first on the record.”
This was used in the TV shows Six Feet Under, Beavis and Butthead and That ’70s Show. The song was also used in the movies Kingpin and My Girl.
Rundgren wrote this song, produced it, sang it and played all the instruments on it.
Todd states that after the release of Something/Anything he evolved as an artist and reached beyond writing about love and relationships. He states that he’d been using a brief relationship from high school as song fodder, throwing around the word “love” cheaply, and he began to feel strange about it. It inspired him to dig deeper for new material.
Rundgren re-recorded this with The New Cars after joining the band. It appears on their 2006 album It’s Alive!
There is barely any chorus on this song – it’s almost entirely verses and bridge. The chorus is just either “In your eyes” or “In my head” repeated twice.
The following year, another song using lots of “ite” rhymes hit the charts: “Dancing In The Moonlight” by King Harvest. In that one, the end of ever line ends in a rhyme for “light.”
There was not another soul in sight
Only you, only you
So we walked along,
though I knew there was something wrong
And the feeling hot me oh so strong about you
Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see
‘Cause I saw the light in your eyes
Though we had our fling
I just never would suspect a thing
‘Til that little bell began to ring in my head
But I tried to run,
though I knew it wouldn’t help me none
‘Cause I couldn’t ever love no one, or so I said
But my feelings for you
were just something I never knew
‘Til I saw the light in your eyes
But I love you best
It’s not something that I say in jest
‘Cause you’re different, girl, from all the rest
And I ran out before but I won’t do it anymore
Can’t you see the light in my eyes
Author badfinger20Posted on February 4, 2019 February 3, 2019 Categories 1970s, Music, SinglesTags I Saw the Light, Todd Rundgren20 Comments on Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
Grand Funk – The Loco-Motion
This is one band the critics roasted during the seventies but they were extremely popular. Led Zeppelin was also a critic’s target but their music has aged very well…Grand Funk not as much but with some exceptions… They did come out with some catchy hits …and this remake is one of them. I remember this song as a kid and I was captivated by it…I’ve always liked the overall sound of this recording that Todd Rundgren captured. He produced this album Shinin’ On (1974) and We’re an American Band the year before. He made a big difference with their sound.
Little Eva first took this song to #1 in 1962 and Grand Funk took it to Number 1 in 1974. The Locomotion was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
From Songfacts.
In our interview with Grand Funk drummer and vocalist Don Brewer, he explained: “The idea of Locomotion came when we were working on the Shinin’ On album in the studio with Todd (Rundgren). We had basically finished the album – ‘Shinin’ On’ was going to be the first single, and we were thinking about what we were going to do for another song. Mark (Farner) came in one day and off the top of his head was singing, ‘Everybody’s doing a brand new dance now,’ just for fun, and we all went, ‘Yeah, Grand Funk doing the Locomotion.’ It was a tongue-in-cheek kind of thing, and we said, ‘Let’s try it, let’s do it,’ so we sent off to New York, got the lyrics, and Todd had the idea of doing the song kind of like The Beach Boys’ ‘Barbara Ann’ where it sounded like a big party was going on, except Todd could really crank up everything with the hand claps and all of that stuff. It just had this huge sound to it – it sounded like a big party.”
The husband and wife team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote this. It was originally Recorded by Little Eva in 1962 – her version was also a US #1 hit.
This was Grand Funk’s biggest hit. Their other #1 was “We’re An American Band.”
Todd Rundgren started working with the band on their previous album, We’re An American Band. He helped Grand Funk move from long songs like “I’m Your Captain” to shorter songs that were huge hits and got lots of airplay.
Grand Funk had lots of success with cover songs. They also recorded popular versions of “Gimme Shelter,” “Inside Looking Out,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful.” Says Brewer: “It was always a matter of taking a song and making it be ours. To do that, we as a band had to feel it. So when somebody came up with the idea of doing a cover song, it was like the whole band could feel, ‘Oh yeah, this feels great.’ We were really kind of a jam band in the studio, we would endlessly jam on stuff.”
Everybody’s doing a brand-new dance, now
(Come on baby, do the loco-motion)
I know you’ll get to like it if you give it a chance now
My little baby sister can do it with me
It’s easier than learning your A-B-C
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me
You gotta swing your hips, now
Jump back
Well, now, I think you’ve got the knack
Wow, wow
Now that you can do it, let’s make a chain, now
A chug-a chug-a motion like a railroad train, now
Do it nice and easy, now, don’t lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul
Come on, come on
And do the Loco-motion with me
Move around the floor in a Loco-motion
Do it holding hands if you get the notion
There’s never been a dance that’s so easy to do
It even makes you happy when you’re feeling blue
So come on, come on and do the Loco-motion with me
Author badfinger20Posted on January 14, 2019 January 13, 2019 Categories 1970s, Music, SinglesTags Grand Funk, Locomotion, Todd Rundgren3 Comments on Grand Funk – The Loco-Motion
Good Vibrations by Todd Rundgren
Some songs you don’t expect to hear a cover of…this is one of them.
I bought this single in 1976 in a local record store we had in our small town called Sounds and Scenes (long gone but I love the name). I liked the song Good Vibrations and didn’t know at the time who did the original version.
He did an album called Faithful, full of covers and he performed them to the letter. I’ve listened to them and they are close but this one is really on it. He did Rain, Strawberry Fields, If Six Was Nine, and Bob Dylan’s Most Likely You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine.
Todd Rundgren is very talented and I’m a fan of him and he did a great duplicate version of this song. My question now is why? He got so close…you have to wonder why he did it in the first place. But…who am I to question Todd Rundgren?
I usually don’t like when an artist covers a song and they change it so much you cannot tell what the song is… not a problem with this one…but I do like for an artist to put something of him or herself in it…Todd does exactly what he says in the album name… he was very faithful to these songs.
Author badfinger20Posted on July 24, 2018 July 23, 2018 Categories 1970s, MusicTags Good Vibrations, Todd Rundgren19 Comments on Good Vibrations by Todd Rundgren
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A tribute to a commitment to the Pacific region
In more ways than one, the political events in Fiji since that fateful day have had a profound effect on political journalism in the Pacific. Many contemporaries, who worked as journalists in Fiji at the time, paid dearly for defending the Fourth...
Two decades of critical inquiry
Pacific Journalism Review is far more than a research journal. As an independent publication, it has given strong support to investigative journalism, socio-political journalism, political economy of the media, photojournalism and political...
Pacific Journalism Review: Twenty years on the front line of regional identity and freedom
Pacific Journalism Review has consistently, at a good standard, honoured its 1994 founding goal: to be a credible peer-reviewed journal in the Asia-Pacific region, probing developments in journalism and media, and supporting journalism education....
Editorial: Introducing PJR
Journalism and related information and mass communication issues have a dearth of outlets in the South Pacific. While the region's news media has developed technically in leaps in bounds in the last decade and journalistic standards have risen,...
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Akila Radhakrishnan on Women & Human Rights
International Women's Health and Human Rights
Universidade de Stanford
This course focuses on women’s health and human rights issues from infancy through old age, including information about positive interventions relating to those issues. Learners are encouraged to interact with each other through interactive discussions. It is important to us that this course be available to all learners. We encourage you to apply for Coursera's financial aid (see link to left) if the cost of the course certificate is difficult for you to afford. Please note that you may view all materials in this course, and participate in it, without purchasing a certificate. The course was co-created by Consulting Professor Anne Firth Murray and Kevin Hsu. Anne Firth Murray is the Content Director of the course; Kevin Hsu is the Design Director of the course.
Health Education, Reproductive Health, Community Health, Sexually Transmitted Infections
Excellent course! Would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the challenges women face and what local communities around the world are doing to change their situation for the better.
It was very informative and interesting. The layout was clear and easy to use. the interviews in particular were useful and interesting. I would definitely recommend this course.
Women's Rights = Human Rights
Learning the basics of women's rights and human rights. Why do we use the lens of human rights to examine women's issues?
Akila Radhakrishnan on Women & Human Rights18:40
Anne Firth Murray
For your viewing we have an interview with Akila Radhakrishnan
who works at the Global Justice Center.
An organization that uses legal interventions
to ensure that the rights of women are protected.
There is also a video of Helen Stacy who teaches at the law school at Stanford,
commenting upon human rights and
the structure of human rights at the United Nations.
I'm very happy to welcome Akila Radhakrishnan to our course today.
Akila is with the Global Justice Center, which is based in New York,
an organization that works on human rights issues.
It may seem a little strange to start a course on International Women's Health
with a discussion of human rights.
But in this course, we want to introduce a lens of human rights at the very
beginning of the course.
Many people who are interested in empowering women,
supporting women's education, and health, and
that sort of thing are interested in it because such efforts increase and
improve society's economies, and obviously, benefit women.
But our approach in this class has much more to do with justice and
human rights for women.
Women being human beings having a right to health.
And so we begin the class talking a little bit about this human rights lens.
So Akila, I'm delighted to have you here.
We'd love to hear your thoughts about the general question of using human rights as
a lens, particularly in connection with women's health, and then a little bit
about the work of the Global Justice Center and your work in particular.
>> I think what's really important is that the development of the human rights
framework has really helped to propel women's rights to a different level.
I think oftentimes, when you talk about women's rights,
people don't take it seriously.
They don't understand it as something that's entitled to a human being And
I think that framing it as the right to health, the right to bodily integrity,
the right to be free from torture, are things that people can understand.
Giving it a gender lens and saying that this is what it means for
women, helps people to raise the profile of the issue and to take serious action.
I think your book very carefully documents how not, I think,
adequately responding to women's needs and
understanding what they are, how it seriously harms society.
I think we can see it with things like maternal mortality, which,
the cause of maternal mortality can almost entirely be preventable.
And it's really about understanding it within this broader framework that helps
to bring people to appreciate what that means.
>> Some people say that the human rights movement,
which is really very popular now, and many people are talking about human rights.
Some people say that the human rights movement is the mainstreaming of feminism.
Think I agree with that.
I think that people concerned with women's rights, or
women's empowerment, women's education, and so
on, always came back to the importance of the way people treated each other.
Which is what I think human rights is all about.
And so I've sort of liked that at that
phrase that human rights is mainstreaming feminism.
Does that explain why the Global Justice Center, which is essentially
a human rights organization, really does its work through women's or a gender lens?
>> Absolutely, and I think a part of it is that we believe that without gender
equality, you can't have a true rule of law.
You can't have a fully equal world.
And so, that's why we focus in particular on issues that impact women,
on gaining women's access to political participation,
to having women have equal rights to healthcare and
to be free from discrimination in all aspects of their life.
And we think that that's really what builds a truer,
fuller society and to the ends in which it helps women realize themselves as well.
>> What are some of the issues that you're focusing on specifically, and
in which countries?
>> We have several different projects at the moment.
Our two major projects focus on sexual violence and
conflict, which I think has really risen to a level.
And it's actually one of the more,
it's an interesting case because 20 years ago, you wouldn't have
the UN Security Council debating issues of sexual violence against women.
And now, it is a full thematic.
They have yearly discussions on the topic.
They consider it a Peace and Security issue.
They consider it integral to maintaining world order and to their mandate.
And I think sexual violence, taking it seriously has really been
enormous in recognizing that this is not just something that happens in private,
but this is something that impacts stability and community cohesion.
And our two big projects in the moment on sexual, one is on looking at
women's right and access to abortion after being raped in conflict.
We know that in places like Rwanda and in Bosnia, they are purposely impregnating
women with the intention of affecting the ethnic communities.
And there's kind of a general phenomenon of the denial of abortion because
people don't realize that it's actually something that's important for
these women to move forward.
When they become pregnant,
it's often one of the worst consequences because it's proof of them being raped.
It perpetuates the cycle.
So when they're ostracized out of their communities, so are their children.
And that also creates continuing risks.
Often, these young women who can be as young as 14 turn to sex work
because they don't have any opportunities to support themselves.
And so that's one of our big projects.
That's kind of a global project.
We're looking primarily at the African conflicts, but we do know it's happened in
Bangladesh, it's happened in Bosnia, it's happened in Burma.
So it is a phenomenon that's happening over on the world.
And our other projects on sexual violence is trying to, again,
how do we use this human rights framework that exists to bring this issue
outside of just the realm of something that happens in the home.
And so we're looking at it under the illegal means and
methods of warfare framework which has been developed to regulate warfare.
And so looking at where sexual violence is being used for a particular political or
military targets and saying, that is illegal use of a weapon or
method of warfare.
>> Is this, are you referring to the Geneva Conventions?
>> Under the Geneva Conventions >> And when you say an illegal weapon of
war, has rape been, do people agree that rape is, in fact, a weapon of war?
>> The rhetoric of rape is a weapon of war is often used.
But I think that people don't necessarily consider what that means.
Even the Security Council, they have said several times, rape is a tactic of war.
Rape is a method of warfare and there is a framework that regulates it.
Sometimes, when we look at conflicts, Syria is very popular right now and
you have the red line on Syria was use of chemical weapons against the population,
which is use of an illegal weapon.
And I think that one of the things we've also seen in Syria over the last two years
has been a rampant use of sexual violence against the civilian population.
One of the major reasons for civilian displacement in Syria has
actually been threat or fear of sexual violence.
And I think that that, looking at it within this context brings it to decision
makers who are making decisions on how do you respond to these crises.
Sexual violence happens to men, but it's predominately against women.
I think it's you know, at least 80 percent of it, is definitely targeting women.
And so it's bringing an issue that Traditionally would be women's
rights to an area that helps understand it within a global context.
>> When you say women's rights there, because if we were worried for example,
about sexual violence in a place like Syria or anywhere where there's war,
we know that rates of sexual violence are very high anywhere where there is war.
If we're framing it as a health issue, which we could do.
>> Absolutely.
>> Obviously a major health issue.
That's one thing, and international donors will provide funding to
help people if they're ill or they're injured.
>> Right.
>> What is the special advantage of framing it as a human rights issue
as opposed to a health or might even say a development issue?
Well I think it's the human right to health.
There's definitely obviously a public health impact of sexual violence.
But I think understanding that you as a human being who have the right to bodily
integrity, I think framing that helps people understand it.
It's not about particular treatments.
It's not about It's not if you have a fistula and you need fistula repair.
It's that you, as a person, are entitled to all of the care that you need.
>> Mm-hm. >> And
I think that's an important concept for people to understand because, again, going
back to abortion, it's often a polarizing >> You now its a polarizing subject.
But if you frame it within the right to health where women can die from it and
its something that you may need as a woman.
It's just one of the medical treatments.
You know you could just need, you know you could need a scale birth attendant.
You can need all of these different things and I think that's what's important.
Is trying to understand it where it's more about what you as a human being require.
>> On that issue, a great deal of humanitarian aid whose gone into the Congo
but that most of that aid cannot be used for
totally appropriate medical care, which would include abortion.
What's happening around that and
is the Global Justice Center concerned about this and working on this?
>> Mm-hm, that's one of the issues that the Global Justice Center has done.
It's actually a problem that's caused.
Primarily by the US government.
The US government.
[LAUGH] Does not allow their funding to be used for providing abortion services,
including in conflict zones, and including in countries where it's legal like Sudan.
In Sudan, you have evidence of soldiers raping women and saying things like
you will have the child of a Janjaweed, you will You will have an Arab child.
They're trying to, this is their end goal, and abortion is legal there.
And because the majority of humanitarian providers receive funds
from the US in some form or the other.
There is Is a complete lack of abortion services available on the ground.
>> Other governments will allow their [CROSSTALK]
>> Other governments will allow their
aid to be used.
But one, the US is so pervasive, and the other thing is, you know,
a lot of these on the ground situations, you can technically segregate your funds.
But it's not particularly easy to do.
And so the Global Justice Center's been working with countries like the Uk and
Norway and Sweden who are committed
funders of sexual reproductive health to say that their money can be used.
So we're working to kind of parse out this issue, but
really what you need is movement from the US government To change this policy.
>> Let's move to some other issues, domestic violence, for example.
Can you comment on that?
I'm not sure if the Global Justice Center work specifically on it but
comment on domestic violence.
A very common, common issue.
One out of three women will experience it worldwide in their lifetimes.
Coming on the human rights aspect on that issue if you could.
>> So, I mean I think domestic violence is one of the things where
there is such a pervasive silence around it that
you don't, >> People are encouraged not to hear about
it and I think a lot of it has to do with its shame that is put on the woman and
how the blame is taking up by the woman herself or what's happening to her.
And I think understanding it from a human rights perspective that you as a person
have a right to be free from violence can really help break some of that stigma.
It doesn't matter, some countries have great laws against domestic violence,
and other countries have terrible laws against domestic violence.
And at the same time what you have are the statistics are often the same,
the reporting rates are often the same, and
that really has to do more with the stigma and the inability to talk about it.
And the inability to not understand it is something that.
You've brought upon yourself or that you know you deserve.
>> And do you feel that the language that we're using now is improving
I mean are we finding language to turn those arguments around,
this is a good example I think, where yes the woman has often been blamed or
she has felt shame >> Now we understand in a human rights
context that she has a right to health,
and she has a right to report this or find care.
Are there other examples of language actually changing
in the international >> Field or in academia or wherever?
>> I think sexual balance again, has really been, it's not easier
to talk about than domestic violence, but the cases in conflict has been so
severe, that there have been some >> Incredible movements over the last
20 years with sexual violence being deemed a war crime,
being deemed a crime against humanity.
It's, again, it's not about something that happens that's shameful to a woman.
But it is something that's illegal, and that raises to the same level as murder,
or as torture, or it can be a form of torture, it can be a form of genocide.
And I think That kind of terminology is slowly helping to
create norm change even on the ground.
And that's one of the other things we've been looking at with this means and
methods of warfare project because the reason it's so
effective is that they consider it to be a blight against a woman's honor
which then dishonors the community and breaks it apart.
So really looking at it like it's murder, like it's a crime.
Helps to take some of that same and stigma and shift it towards what it really is.
>> Mm-hm.
>> And in a more general sense, I know that for years rape and
pillage was collateral damage.
>> Yes.
>> It was called collateral damage.
And now to be able to move it from that sort of invisible
Kind of term to to something that that refers to human rights allows.
>> And it's not inevitable anymore.
>> Yeah. >> You know we don't just it's going to be
a part of conflict.
Now it's a part of conflict that will need to address.
>> Are there other programs that the global justice center or
other issues that you'd like to comment on?
>> We are doing a lot of work in Burma, which as a country, that's transitioning
out of 60 years of dictatorship and trying to transition towards democracy.
It shows a really interesting movement for
how do you integrate women Into democracy and programs going forward.
The important of having women participate fully
in everything from peace processes to the legislature.
I think that where there's opportunities.
You know, Burma's looking at Rewriting their constitution,
which is hugely problematic document.
Over the next, they set up a commission, who knows how open it's going to be,
on changing their constitution.
But that's a place where you can embed woman's rights straight in.
You can define.
Discrimination against women very clearly, and
I think that those sorts of nasa-political processes are important.
And in Rwanda, when they did their constitution, they put in 40%.
They put in a quote for women's participation The legislature.
And now Rwanda has the highest number of women in Parliament,
it's something around 60%.
The US is still about 17%.
So I think that those kind of movements and that's why
our work environment is really interesting because over the next couple of years,
we're going to be able to work with women's groups and
see how we can really embed women's rights into the structures.
So at least, the laws and the structures aren't the barriers.
I think, you know, there's opportunity in transition times.
I remember reading about Japanese women, who at the time at the end of the second
world war, the regulations and constitution were being rewritten.
And, they were able to embed language at that time, and
no one took it very seriously, a long time ago.
>> Right. >> No one took it very seriously,
but by embedding >> These
women's rights language into the new constitution.
It stayed.
And it had an effect.
So you have an opportunity in these times of transition in Iraq and
Burma- >> Sudan.
>> Sudan. >> Sudan has been working on
their constitution, yeah.
>> Well, thank you.
What you've done, I think, has highlighted some of the sort of outrages
that happen to women, but at the same time >> Talked about some of the positive
things that have happened.
And as you know,
there are many students out here who'll be listening to your comments.
And I wonder if you have any messages you'd like to
deliver to students who might hear our conversation.
>> Well I think that >> You know the human rights framework
is something that, it seems confusing and complicated but
I think once you understand the mechanisms and how it can be used,
it's a really powerful tool for women.
And it's a powerful tool for changing some of these
things from outreaches to really positive examples and movements forward.
>> Thanks, Ann.
Hi, I'm Akila Radhakrishnan.
I'm the Senior Counsel at the Global Justice Center,
a human rights organization that believes that gender equality
is essential to building a stable rule of law.
And I encourage you to look at women's health from a human rights perspective,
and how the human rights framework can really be used to Empower women and
help them achieve their goals.
I hope you enjoyed the conversation.
If you have any questions, I encourage you to visit the Global Justice Center's
website, www.globaljusticecenter.net or
you could follow-up directly with me with specific questions.
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James Pulham and Son only worked on a small number of sites outside mainland Britain, and only four of these were in Eire – St Anne’s, Clonart; Mount Coote, Limerick; Glenart Castle, Co Wicklow, and St Stephen’s Green, in Dublin, which is the best preserved, and the subject of this article. Sadly, it is one of the places I have so far been unable to visit, so the following notes are based mainly on a Centenary Booklet published in 1980.[i]
The history of St Stephen’s Green can be traced back to mediaeval times. Its name comes from the Church of St Stephen, which was the chapel of a leper hospital in those days, and ‘The Green’ was an unenclosed piece of marshy common land. In 1663, it extended to about 60 acres, and the City Assembly decided to develop it in such a way that it would provide some income for the city, while still providing an amenity for the local people as an open space.
Fig 1 – Map of St Stephen’s Greeen, Dublin c1880. (Reproduced by kind permission of the Commissioners for Public Works, Dublin)
They marked out the central area of some 27 acres ‘to be preserved,’ and divided the remainder into ninety building plots, each with a frontage of some sixty feet – the rent for these:
‘. . to be disposed of for walling in the whole Greene, and for paving the rodes or streetes.’
They then levelled the central Green; enclosed it by a stone wall, with a main entrance on the West side, and laid a gravel walk around the inside. They lined the inside of the walk with elms and limes; a drainage ditch inside that, and then another walk bordered with hawthorn hedges.
The Green stayed like this for the next 150 years, and became a fashionable place to walk during the 18th century, with the central area being used for cattle pasturage, a parade ground for the yeomanry, and occasionally a place for public assembly and entertainment. An equestrian statue of George II, cast by Van Nost, was erected in the centre of the Green in 1758, and remained there until 1937.
Fig 2 – Aerial view of St Stephen’s Green during the 1970s. (Reproduced by kind permission of the Commissioners for Public Works, Dublin)
Fig 3 – The waterfall in full flow c1905
The condition of the Green had begun to deteriorate by the 19th century, however – the perimeter wall was broken in several places; many of the trees were old or decaying, and the drainage ditch became full of stagnant water and rubbish. An Act of Parliament was therefore passed in 1814 to hand the responsibility for its maintenance over to Commissioners representing the local householders.
They tackled the task of restoration conscientiously by putting in new drains, filling the ditch, felling the old trees, and replacing them with new ones. They then replaced the old formal perimeter walks with new ones to suit the tastes of the time; replaced the old high brick wall with iron railings, and set out a broad walk between that and the road, bounded by chain-linked bollards.
This was fine – except that the residents then declared it to be a private park, accessible only by those who held a key. This obviously did not go down well with the general public, but things remained unchanged until Sir Arthur Guinness – of the famous brewing family, and later to become Lord Ardilaun – started to take an interest in the matter, claiming that:
Fig 4 – A view from the rocks in St Stephen’s Green, Dublin in 2005 (Photo by Margaret Gormley)
‘. . it was a dream of my early youth. I remember when a lad walking in Saint Stephen’s Green with a relative, long since dead. I told her of my determination that, should it ever be in my power, I would do my best to effect the opening of that enclosure to the public.’
He paid off debts, and secured the passage of an Act of Parliament in 1877 that transferred responsibility for the maintenance of the Green to the Commissioners of Public Works. He took a great personal interest in the new design and layout of the Green – by J F Fuller and William Sheppard – in which his engineering assistant was Mr A L Cousins. Work was carried out under the supervision of William Sheppard, and the major features included an artificial lake, waterfall and rockwork – designed to break up the original flat terrain – by James Pulham and Son, of Broxbourne.
The transformed St Stephen’s Green was opened to the public on 27th July 1880 – hence the centenary celebration in 1980 – and, according to the Daily Express, it was obviously received with much enthusiasm:
‘The public streamed into it, and enjoyed to their hearts’ content the rural charm with which it has been invested . . . .The picture is a truly delightful one, and cannot fail to impress every visitor to the Green with the incalculable benefits which such an oasis must bestow on the city and its people.’
One of these visitors was the Irish poet and playwright, William Butler Yeats, who said he walked around the Green ‘almost every day’ while he lived in nearby Merrion Square.
Fig 5 – The bridge over the lake in St Stephen’s Green in 2005 (Photo by Margaret Gormley)
Fig 1 is a map of the Green, copied from the Centenary Booklet, although I didn’t get a copy of the page with the key to the symbols. However, the ‘Landscape’ section of the booklet explains how the map shows a formal area in the centre of the Green, surrounded by:
‘. . a symmetrical pattern of paths and lawns, providing the setting for two fountains and numerous formal flowerbeds, filled throughout the growing season with colourful displays of bedding plants, including tulips, geraniums, wallflowers, petunias and many others.
‘The most impressive part of the park landscape is the ornamental lake with its associated cliffs, waterfall, island and other features. With the passage of time, and the growth of trees on and around them, these picturesque features have matured and mellowed, and there is little to indicate now that they are entirely man-made. The lake comprises two shallow basins, with a sizeable wooded island in the western one. The water supply for the lake is brought in a special pipe from the Grand Canal at Portobello Harbour to the top of the rock cliff, down which it cascades into the western end of the lake. Having flowed through the lake, it is piped back to the Grand Canal near Mount Street Bridge.’
This provides a very evocative picture of the Green, whilst Fig 2 is an aerial view of the Green, probably taken sometime during the 1970s. Fig 3 is a photo from the Lawrence Collection, showing the waterfall in full flow in its heyday c1900, while Fig 4 is a nice view of some of the rockwork lining the banks of the lake c2005. The bridge over the lake is shown in Fig 5, with some more rocks lining the banks and around the base of the bridge itself. This is a typical Pulham bridge – similar to several that are pictured in my book, including the two in the grounds of Buckingham Palace – and is of normal brick construction, but faced with cement sculpted to simulate the old-style ashlar finish.
Fig 6 – Following the Clean-up and restoration in 2010 (Photo by Gerry Donoghue)
The rockwork was painstakingly cleared by the gardening staff at St Stephen’s Green in 2010. The Plane tree branches were raised on the trees surrounding the cascade, and new planting was introduced to the rockwork area close to the bridge, and the rocks, as they are today, can be seen in Fig 6. This work was carried out under the supervision of Margaret Gormley, Chief Park Superintendent, OPW, to whom I am most grateful for all her help in providing photographs and news updates over the past few years.
[i] Historical notes on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, taken from Centenary Booklet on ‘St Stephen’s Green, 1880 – 1980,’ written by Alan Craig, and published by the Commissioners of Public Works in 1980.
Posted on October 2, 2013 June 19, 2016 by Claude HitchingPosted in Sites Month 2Tagged . . James Pulham and Son, Dublin, Lord Ardilaun, Margaret Gormley, Pulham bridge, Sir Arthur Guinness, St Stephen's Green, waterfall.
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CABI scientists showcase their expertise in microbiology at European Parliament
7 March 2019 - Three CABI scientists have this week been sharing their expertise in microbiology at the European Parliament and follow up workshop at Scotland House in Brussels to highlight the value of marine resources in research and development.
Dr David Smith, Director of Biological Resources, chaired a breakfast meeting hosted by Clare Moody MEP – which was organised by the European Marine Biological Research Infrastructure Cluster (EMBRIC) project – before attending a workshop entitled ‘Treasures from the Deep’.
Joining Dr Smith were Dr Giovanni Cafà, Molecular Biologist, and Dr Alan Buddie, Senior Molecular Microbiologist and Biochemist, who both presented posters and participated in the discussions.
Dr Smith, who also led a question and answer session at the meeting, was one of three organisers that also included Dr Rebecca Goss from the University of St Andrews and Dr Mariella Ferrante of The Marine Station in Naples. The meeting was an opportunity for networking and participation in future European Commission projects.
Meanwhile, the Treasures from the Deep workshop was an opportunity for EMBRIC to showcase European research in ‘Mining for Valuable Bioactive and Enzymes from Marine Algae and Bacteria’ with experts from academia and industry who discussed steps to unlock the vast potential for this research to positively impact health, society and the economy.
Dr Smith said, “EMBRIC is an EU-funded collaborative project that aims to facilitate translational marine science and remove existing bottlenecks that are currently impeding blue innovation.”
“With the project concluding in June, I’m pleased to say CABI’s input has contributed well towards the aims, objectives and deliverables which include accessing the potential of marine organisms, specifically on the 99% of bacteria yet to be grown in culture, the microalgae, finfish, and shellfish.”
Dr Smith reported that EMBRIC, whose case studies have focused on two specific sectors of marine biotechnology – the discovery and exploitation of marine natural products and the marker-assisted selection of desirable traits in aquaculture – have demonstrated that new species of bacteria can still be found in the oceans with interesting and useful properties.”
About EMBRIC
EMBRIC brings together the expertise of six European Research Infrastructures on accessing the potential of marine organisms, specifically on the 99% of bacteria yet to be grown in culture, the microalgae, finfish, and shellfish. It improves the throughput and efficiency of workflows for discovery of novel marine products and facilitates projects that require an interdisciplinary approach.
The objective is to develop coherent chains of high-quality services for access to biological, analytical, and data resources by deploying common underpinning technologies and practices. The connection of academic science with industry is being strengthened by engaging companies, as well as geographically separated public and private-sector communities in the domain of marine biotechnology, and by federating technology transfer services amongst the players involved.
Photo: The European Parliament in Brussels (courtesy of Pixabay)
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Cezar Williams
VETS AND NETS: Section 310, Row D, Seats 5 & 6 by Warren Leight, live at BRIC
Cezar Williams is a graduate of NYU. He is an actor, director, dramaturge, and producer. He is the co-founder of Robinson Williams Productions, a theater production company based in Yonkers, NY. Theater credits include James and Annie, written by Tony Award winner Warren Leight, at the Actor’s Studio, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (dir: D. Lynn Meyers) and the Williamstown Theatre Festival (dir: Jack Hofsiss), Section 310, as part of the 2014 Summer Shorts NYC Theatre Festival (dir: Fred Berner), Thunder as part of the 2007 New York International Theatre Festival (dir: Greg Allen), Ascensionat The National Black Theatre Festival (dir: Petronia Paley) and Yanagai! Yanagai! at LA Mama (co-dir: Harold Dean James and Karen Oughtred). Television appearances include Law and Order, NYC 22, Blue Bloods and What Would You Do? He can be seen in the soon to be released motion picture Bad Hurt. Directing credits include Free Will at The Arthur Seelen Theatre, Ghost Town and Tailypo at the Detroit NY Festival, Nightfall and Slow Gin Fits both at The Fire This Time Festival. Learn more at: http://www.cezarwilliams.com/
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Joint (NA + NCOP)
Constitutional Review Committee
Section 25 review of Constitution: public hearings day 2
Chairperson: Mr P Nzimande (ANC, KwaZulu-Natal)
VIDEO: Constitutional Review Committee: Oral Presentations 5 September 2018
The meeting was the second phase of facilitating public consultation on the proposed amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to clearly provide for expropriation without compensation. The first phase had already been conducted by the Committee in the various South African provinces. 12 organisations made oral submissions. Several of the Members’ responses to the submissions were critical of the organisations’ attitudes towards redressing the injustices of the past, prompting the Chairperson to intervene and rule their comments out of order.
Agri SA
Agri SA opposed amending the Constitution. It said the slow pace of land reform was due to conflicting policy between different spheres of government and lack of political will and accountability. Security of tenure was vital for commercial agriculture which plays a central role in the economy. Land reform should be expanded to be of benefit to all South Africans, not just a privileged few. Policy uncertainty on this issue had already harmed the economy. The right to private property was internationally recognised in African Union Conventions and the UN Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights. Expropriation without compensation would mean South Africa would not respect a fundamental principle of internationally recognised human rights. It would also impact on the affordability of food, which was a core aspect of food security. The banks had indicated concerns around expropriation without compensation.
Members asked what Agri SA had done to engage with government to facilitate land reform. They said the willing buyer-willing seller favoured land owners who inflated the price of land. What other mechanisms besides expropriation could be used to facilitate land reform? Would it be fair to compensate people for land which they had unjustly acquired? Did Agri SA agree that Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation?
National Farmworkers Union (NAFU)
NAFU supported amending the Constitution. All land should be nationalised, including communal land such as the Ingonyama Trust. The definition of property in Section 25 was unclear and should be amended. More than 60% of people lacked access to land in South Africa. An agricultural CODESA should be established.
Members asked what ownership according African principles would be like. What practical solutions could be implemented to ensure black farmers participated in the agricultural sector? If communal land was nationalised, would that not take away the powers of traditional leaders as custodians to administer communal land? How would security of tenure for poor black farmers be secured if the Constitution were to be amended?
In Transformation Initiative (ITI)
ITI said most farmers and communities were not opposed to expropriation without compensation. There was a difference between restitution and redress, and the current processes focused too much on restitution. Not all stakeholders believed Section 25 needed to be amended. There was a collective frustration that the government had not done enough to facilitate reform and support emerging black farmers. Many farmers had assisted emerging black farmers to enter the agricultural industry.
Members said the ITI did not appreciate the practical difficulty of expropriating without compensation. People ran to the judiciary, which was headed by white people. The judiciary was not transformed. They asked if the ITI believed the issue of empowering black people had to be left in the hands of white farmers. Would it not be better for the Constitutional Court to first decide whether Section 25 already provided for expropriation without compensation? Communal land was barren, and it would be better to focus on the 87% of land not located in communal areas.
South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR)
The IRR opposed amending the Constitution. Private property rights were internationally recognised as fundamental human rights. Nationalisation of land was also not a good idea. Section 25 was based on the principle of fairness. To expropriate land from someone without compensation would violate the fairness principle, would harm the economy, and the poor majority would be hurt worst. Section 25 should be fully utilised to facilitate land reform. To expropriate land from people on the basis of their race would not be accepted as lawful by the Constitutional Court.
Members said the IRR focused too much on human rights, and not enough on peoples’ rights. Would it be unfair to expropriate in the context of inter-generational dispossession? Was “property” limited to land, or would it include movables such as cars, or intellectual property? How would expropriation without compensation harm black people, because expropriation would restore the dignity of black people. Black people should not have to apologise for taking back their land.
South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP)
The SAIBPP opposed amending Section 25, saying the Constitution already provided sufficient powers for government to facilitate land reform. The Constitution should be amended to expressly require municipalities to take into account redress when allocating land rights to address historical injustices and to facilitate spatial justice. Expropriation without compensation would not necessarily ensure access to land. A central government authority needed to be created to facilitate land reform.
Members said the SAIBPP had not clearly answered the question of whether they supported expropriating without compensation. The Expropriation Act was outdated and illegitimate because it had been passed by the apartheid government. Did the SAIBPP believe different forms of title to land should be recognised? Did it think the government should be the custodian of all land?
Black Lawyers Association (BLA)
The BLA supported amending the Constitution to provide for expropriation without compensation. People had been dispossessed of land and the legacy of that dispossession persisted today. Black women suffered the most from that dispossession.
Members asked if expropriation without compensation should be limited to land. Should the State should be the custodian of all land? What was the BLA’s legal opinion as to whether Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation or not? Would expropriation would be limited to land, or would it include all forms of property, such as banks?
National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL)
NADEL supported amending the Constitution to provide for expropriation without compensation. It was a myth black people did not want to work the land or lacked the intelligence to work the land. Different forms of tenure should be recognised on different types of land. NADEL did not believe Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation.
Members asked if a distinction should be drawn between land and improvements to land. Was the slow pace of land reform due to the Constitution or a lack of follow through and political will? Should expropriation without compensation always be subject to the right of an aggrieved party to judicially review that decision?
The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM)
AFM supported amending the Constitution, but said compensation should be paid for expropriation in some cases. White farmers had benefited from apartheid era subsidies. People who had unjustly acquired land should have no legal redress. Communal land should also be expropriated.
Members asked if it would be fair to expropriate communal land, which was largely barren and located in former homelands. The State should be placed under an obligation to use State-owned land to facilitate land reform. How far back should the cut off date for dispossession of land go? What role could the Church play in facilitating land reform and restorative justice?
Black First Land First (BLF)
The BLF said they supported removing Section 25 in its entirety. The current process was a farce. The Constitution must clearly say white people were thieves who had stolen land. The Committee had no power. It demanded that the ANC amend the Constitution before the 2019 national elections. All property in white hands was stolen. Section 25 did not allow for expropriation without compensation and people who said otherwise were lying. Communal land, including the Ingonyama Trust, must be left alone. Land owned by black people must not be expropriated under any circumstances. The Constitution was bad for black people. He was a proud constitutional delinquent.
Members asked why it was necessary to mention the Ingonyama Trust, given that the land under the Trust was already owned by the State. Did the BLF draw a distinction between land and buildings on the land?
The Orania Movement
The Orania Movement opposed amending the Constitution. South Africa was a complex nation consisting of a society of societies. People had to live together in a space of mutual co-existence. Every community must have living space. The Afrikaner identity was being expropriated on a daily basis. The Constitution was part of a historical agreement between different people in South Africa. Land could not be treated as a mere commodity, but was part of one’s societal and spiritual identity.
Members said it was not clear whether Orania supported expropriation without compensation or not. It was unpalatable that Orania had equated the expropriation of property with the expropriation of culture. Orania wanted to protect the status quo, where the black majority lived in conditions of poverty and landlessness. Was inclusivity a value that Orania promoted and adhered to?
The Afrikanerbond said they opposed expropriation without compensation. The interests of Afrikaners were inseparable from all South Africans. Expropriation without compensation suggestions had already hurt the economy, which was in recession. Section 25 of the Constitution was a solemn pact which should not be broken. It was good the government was pursuing policies to uplift the poor, but expropriation without compensation was not the correct avenue to uplift people. The land should belong to those who work it, which included owners and workers.
Members said the Afrikanerbond focused only on individual rights to property, and not on other rights such as equality and dignity. It wanted to protect the status quo, where the majority of black South Africans were landless. It promoted white supremacy and did not believe black people were intelligent enough to work the land. Section 25 of the Constitution was part of an illegimate political compromise which had hurt black people who were still landless almost 30 years after apartheid had ended.
Human Economy Programme, University of Pretoria
The Human Economy Programme said Section 25 needed to be amended to expressly provide for expropriation without compensation in certain circumstances. Social responsibilities surrounding land must also be added the Constitution. People must be protected against arbitrary State interference. If people who owned land did not adhere to their social responsibilities, that land should be expropriated. The Brazilian model on land, which incorporated many principles of the social dimension of land, was worth examining.
Members asked if the Programme supported private property rights. Did it support the notion that the State should nationalise all the land and become the custodian of it? Was the issue of market value the biggest barrier to land reform under Section 25? They asked that information on the Brazilian model be forwarded to the Committee.
The Chairperson said the oral submissions constitute the second phase of the public hearings on the proposed amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. The first phase of public hearings had already been conducted by the Committee in the various provinces.
The Committee was obliged to facilitate public involvement on this matter. Section 59 and Section 72 of the Constitution were the key provisions requiring the public to be given an opportunity to present their views on the issue of the potential amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. The Committee was also obliged to operate in accordance with the joint rules of Parliament. Written submissions had already been received from the presenters. Once the oral hearings had been fully completed the Committee would debate further. The Committee’s views would be captured in the final report, which would be presented to Parliament.
Agri South Africa (Agri SA)
Dr Annelize Crosby, Legal and Policy Advisor, and Mr Christo van der Rheede, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), gave oral submissions on behalf of Agri SA.
Mr Van der Rheede said Agri SA acknowledged the pain, suffering and violation of inherent human dignity characterising South Africa’s past. South Africans had had to endure during decades of forced removals and the dispossession of land which had caused untold suffering and violated their human dignity. Agri SA was committed to land reform as contained in Section 25 of the Constitution. Since the Constitution’s enactment, government had embarked on a number of land reform initiatives. These government initiatives had had very little impact on changing the lives of South Africans for the better. Agri SA had actively participated in a number of processes related to farm and agricultural development. It had also participated in the process which had led to the development of the National Development Plan (NDP). However, a fragmented State machinery meant very little had happened to facilitate land reform and development.
There was a misalignment between national, provincial and local government which had hampered progress in facilitating land reform. There was little cooperation between the three spheres of government. Polices at different spheres of government were often in conflict with one another. There was little cooperation between State departments, including institutions such as the Land Bank, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and State agricultural colleges. It was stressed there was a lack of proper alignment and strategy between the different spheres of government and State institutions.
The misalignment in policy and coordination was a damming indictment on the government and politicians who had failed to ensure there was the proper coordination which was necessary to properly implement and successfully achieve land reform. Political leadership had also failed to hold State institutions accountable for their failure to facilitate land reform. Amending Section 25 of the Constitution would achieve the outcomes sought in overcoming the legacy of South Africa’s past. Section 25 in its current form already provided the State with sufficient legal powers to ensure an orderly process of land reform according to pre-determined legal prescripts.
A fresh perspective was needed on how to facilitate land reform. Commercial farming played a crucial role in the economy and also ensured South Africa’s food security. Agri SA pleaded with the government to examine the work Agri SA had already done to empower previously disadvantaged farmers throughout the country. More than 100 000 farmers currently benefited from the measures Agri SA had put in place. These farmers also already exported to international markets.
South Africa’s economy was currently suffering due to the uncertainty around land reform. Commercial farming was also suffering as a result of this uncertainty. Security of tenure and access to land should be expanded to benefit all South Africans, not just a privileged few. Land ownership empowered people and also restored their dignity. The slow pace of land reform was not because of the Constitution. The lack of government coordination and poor beaurcratic processes – which were also highly fragmented and unaccountable – were the main barriers to facilitating land reform.
Dr Crosby continued the submission, and said Agri SA’s position was that Section 25 of the Constitution served two purposes. Firstly, it guaranteed and protected private property rights and ownership. Secondly, it clearly instructs the State to rectify unequal access to land and to address injustices of the past. The government currently had no coherent policy to give effect to the second mandate of Section 25 of the Constitution.
Dr Crosby stressed Mr Van der Rheede had been correct in saying the problem did not lie with the Constitution. Rather, the lack of political will and the proper implementation of land reform policies were the fundamental barriers to facilitating land reform. There was no constitutional or legislative impediment to implementing land reform. The private sector could also play a role - in conjunction with government - to facilitate land reform.
Ownership of property was regarded as a fundamental human right. It was protected in all fundamental human rights conventions, such as the United Nations Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights and the Africa Union Convention on Human Rights. It was a serious matter to change or limit a fundamental human right.
The international law approach to compensation – following an expropriation – was based on the principle of equality in furthering the public interest. This meant that where an individual had to bear a sacrifice, such as the loss of property for the common good, then those individuals should be compensated for bearing that sacrifice. To remove that principle would be out of step with most European and African countries.
Almost all countries across the world adhered to this international principle, and pay compensation following an expropriation. The amount of compensation, however, differed from country to country. In some countries expropriation required full compensation. Other countries require only “adequate compensation,” or “fair compensation”.
Expropriation without compensation would also have negative economic consequences. President Ramaphosa had said expropriation without compensation would take place in a way which did not harm the economy and food security. However, the economy had already suffered as a result of the uncertainty which the debate around expropriation without compensation had created. Evidence had already started to indicate that the debate had also had an impact on the sale of farms. Potential consequences for the banks would also arise. The banks had indicated they were very concerned about the potential impact of expropriation without compensation on their own loan books.
Economic uncertainty also impacted on food security. This was because food security consisted of four different elements: affordability, availability, quality and safety. Affordability was a key component. A shortage of food due to decreased production, or a higher cost of food imports due to the weak rand, had a corresponding negative impact on affordability. This negative impact on affordability then threatens food security. This impact on affordability was felt most strongly by the poor.
Mr S Swart (ACDP) said a number of speakers had referred to the High Level Panel report on the Assessment of Key Legislation and the Acceleration of Fundamental Change. It may be worthwhile for the Committee to receive further submissions on that report later. Agri SA’s presentation had been quite critical of government’s role in not facilitating land reform. To what extent did Agri SA engage with government through colloquiums in an attempt to address issues of agriculture and land reform? The previous day, South Africa had entered into a technical recession. A key factor leading to the technical recession was the reduction of agricultural output. To what extent was the reduction in output caused by policy uncertainty? Could the reduction be attributed to other factors, such as international markets and the drought?
The Chairperson asked Mr Swart how his questions would assist the Committee in dealing with the current matter of expropriation.
Mr Swart said his questions referred to points raised in the presentation. They touched directly on matters such as the effect of policy uncertainty on agricultural output, and whether Agri SA had actively engaged with government on these issues.
The Chairperson said those questions were not directly relevant to the issue of expropriation without compensation. Committee Members should limit their questions to clarity-seeking matters. He could not allow the questions that had been raised, because they were not of a clarity-seeking nature and were not relevant to the question of expropriation.
Mr Swart said the conduct of the Chairperson was unfair and inconsistent. The previous day he had allowed Members to ask questions which were not of a clarity-seeking nature.
The Chairperson appeared to allow the questions raised by Mr Swart. He pleaded with the Committee to keep their questions to the point and limit questions to those of a clarity-seeking nature. He requested the Members to refrain from engaging in politicking
Mr Swart took offence. Was the Chairperson suggesting he was engaging in politicking? Was the Chairperson saying his questions were not questions of a clarity-seeking nature?
Ms T Mokwele (EFF, North West) raised a point of order. The Chairperson had made a ruling on this matter. There was no need to engage in a debate. The ruling of the Chairperson was final.
Mr Mpumlwana said only a small percentage of the land was owned by black Africans. The presentation had said a large percentage of the land was owned by the state, and had also appeared to say that expropriation should not be used to facilitate land reform and that other methods should be used. The willing seller-willing buyer programme allowed land owners to increase the amount of compensation which should be paid to them following an expropriation. The State may not have enough money to pay for the amounts demanded from land owners as compensation for expropriation of their land. What alternative did Agri SA propose – instead of changing the Constitution – to facilitate land reform?
Dr Crosby responded that their written submissions provided comprehensive details regarding the patterns of current land ownership pursuant to the land audit. It was stressed Agri SA was not opposed to expropriation to facilitate land reform. Agri SA was, however, opposed to expropriation without compensation. It recognised the constitutional power of the State to expropriate for purposes of land reform. The Constitution had never imposed an obligation on the State to pay the price demanded by a property owner for an expropriation of their property. Willing buyer-willing seller was a government policy which had been chosen, but was not a requirement of law. A problem was that the courts had not had an opportunity to determine what constituted ‘just and equitable’ compensation. Financing mechanisms could be used which guaranteed bank loans to make land reform more affordable. An effective way of facilitating land reform was through facilitating and developing mutually beneficial partnerships.
Mr Van der Rheede added that the last part of Section 25 of the Constitution made it clear that nothing in Section 25 stood in the way of the state’s duty to facilitate land reform. The State had not made sufficient use of that Section to facilitate land reform. Section 25 also expressly provided that the State must also secure security of tenure. There had been no real attempt by the State to properly implement Section 25 for those purposes.
Dr M Motshekga (ANC) asked whether the presenters were aware of the fact that many land owners had acquired property for next to nothing. Agri SA had made it clear they were opposed to expropriation if it was without compensation. Were they suggesting that people who received land for nothing should be compensated, given the fact they had acquired the land for nothing?
Dr Crosby responded that Section 25 of the Constitution already catered for the situation referred to by Dr Motshekga. It allowed for less than market value compensation in those situations. In extreme situations, where the land had originally been stolen, then the courts may conclude that zero compensation would be justified.
Mr M Filtane (UDM) said security of tenure in South Africa was guaranteed in Section 25(1) of the Constitution. The problem was that protection of security of tenure protected individuals who had unjustly acquired property. That was the problem which the Committee had to resolve. Section 25(8) allowed for legislation to be enacted to protect security of tenure. Agri SA was opposed to expropriation without compensation. However, no compensation had been given to people who had their land taken in the first place. The only solution was to amend Section 25 to allow for that injustice to be corrected. What about the human rights of people who now lacked land and could not produce food? The only instrument to rectify land ownership was to expropriate without compensation. The government could not be expected to go to court in every instance where it wanted to expropriate land without compensation to facilitate land reform.
Mr Van der Rheede responded it was critical to understand that South Africa had committed itself to a constitutional State in 1994. The Constitution protected the fundamental rights of all people. However, South Africa did have a terrible past which had severely impacted peoples’ lives. Apartheid had provided for forced removals and discrimination. There was very little one could do about what had happened in the past. What one could do was to create a better future to rectify the injustices of the past. The constitutional dispensation laid the basis for the manner in which those injustices could be rectified. If one tried to amend the past through amending the constitution, then one threatened the very basis on which the constitution rested. Under no circumstances could South African society allow a situation where the injustices of the past were rectified through violating the dignity of other people. In 1994, South Africa had decided to create a non-racial state. To punish people on the basis of their race was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. Section 25 allowed for redress of the legacy of the past, but such redress must take place within constitutional means.
Dr Crosby added the Constitution was underpinned by reconciliation, and not punishment. There was no fairness in punishing a current owner who had obtained the land many years ago. The High Level Report made it clear that simply because Section 25 required compensation did not, in itself, constitute a barrier of access to land. The High Level Report also made it clear that less than 1% of the national budget had been allocated to land reform in recent years. How then could it be said there was money to facilitate land reform within the current constitutional framework?
Ms Mokwele said the presentation and response of Agri SA clearly showed the white minority would do anything within their power to ensure the black majority did not get access to land. The manner in which Agri SA had behaved clearly illustrated they were only interested in profit making and that they would not survive without the economic benefits the patterns of land ownership provided them.
Mr Swart raised a point of order. The comments of Ms Mokwele were out of order.
The Chairperson agreed.
Ms Mokwele proceeded to put her question to Agri SA to explain what her actual question was, which the Chairperson allowed.
Ms Mokwele said her question was whether Agri SA was willing to protect its own industry and economic interests. How did it explain or view the injustices of the past? Land had been taken from the South African people without compensation. People had been forcibly removed from their homes. The only thing that current land owners did with their land was to reap profits. If Agri SA was opposed to expropriation without compensation, how could they justify that position given the fact the majority of the country had their land taken from them without compensation? In her view, Agri SA’s position in opposing expropriation without compensation showed they were not in favour of ensuring true equality for all South African people.
Mr N Koornhof (ANC) said Section 25(3) of the Constitution identified five considerations which should be considered to determine ‘just and equitable compensation,’ which was not an exhaustive list. Did Agri SA agree with the factors listed in Section 25(3)? The Constitutional Court had considered those factors only once. Agri SA had stated they supported the Constitution. Did they agree that compensation could be zero in certain circumstances under the current formulation of the Constitution?
Dr Crosby said Agri SA fully agrees the injustices of the past needed to be addressed. She agreed with Mr Koornhof that the factors in Section 25(3) of the Constitution did not constitute an exhaustive list. Agri SA, however, opposed a constitutional amendment to Section 25. There was an opportunity to expand the list. If a case came before the courts, then the courts could expand upon the other factors listed in Section 25. It was not possible to list all the relevant factors which should be taken into account in determining what ‘just and equitable’ compensation would be in the Constitution itself. Agri SA’s view was that zero compensation was possible in principle. However, it would have to be a very exceptional case for zero compensation to be paid following an expropriation.
Ms D Carter (COPE) said a process of land claims had been registered against farms. People often referred to “stolen land,” which referred to the 1913 Land Act. Was land still owned by farmers who had been involved in the removal of people from their land?
Mr Van der Rheede said restitution claims for people dispossessed of their land was a process which was still currently unfolding. Agri SA had no influence over that process. The restitution process did, however, provide for a process of investigation to determine how property – subject to a land claim – had been acquired by the current owner of the land. He stressed that Agri SA had no capacity or mandate to determine how land claims were processed.
Dr Crosby reiterated what was said by Mr Van der Rheede. Agri SA did not have the capacity – or mandate – to determine inter-generational ownership of farms or land.
Ms M Mathapo (ANC) said she was pleased Agri SA had acknowledged the land dispossession and suffering of the South African people. Why then did Agri SA not support the motion to expropriate land without expropriation to rectify the injustices of the past? The presentation dealt strongly with food security. Food security, however, was enjoyed by only a minority of South Africans. The majority of South African people did not have food security. The majority must have food security.
Mr Van der Rheede said Agri SA wanted to extend a hand to society and the government as a whole to assist where they could. Household surveys showed, however, that in most former homeland areas there were very high levels of food insecurity. People were migrating on a large scale to areas where there was commercial activity. Society was wasting a lot of time trying to rectify the injustices of the past. A hands-on approach should be adopted. The commercial sector should be invited to go into rural areas to capacitate rural farmers to equip them to ensure food security and provide adequate levels of food production. South Africa could not afford to lose its competitive edge in terms of food production, which threatened the stability of the entire economy.
Ms Mokwele interjected, and said it was not acceptable for Mr Van der Rheede to say that Parliament was wasting its time. It was also not acceptable for him to say Parliament was wasting its time by addressing the injustices of the past. South Africa was currently facing a crisis on land reform precisely because of what had happened in the past. It was necessary to fully determine what had happened in the past and to find ways to address those historical injustices.
The Chairperson said Mr Mokwele was attempting to engage in a debate which had nothing to do with the current proceedings. The points she had raised were therefore not points of order. Agri SA was entitled to form their own view on these issues, and to express those views.
National African Farmers Union (NAFU)
.Before NAFU gave its presentation, Ms Carter said the Committee Members must refrain for using racial slurs, insults and stereotypes during the meeting. All Members of Parliament had taken an oath of office swearing to uphold and respect the Constitution, which was based on non-racialism. In her view, the EFF persistently and continuously used racial slurs and insults whenever a white presenter or Committee Member made a comment with which the EFF disagreed. This was unacceptable behaviour, and the Chairperson should intervene.
Ms Mokwele asked what was wrong about referring to the fact that people were white? White people had disposed the majority of black South Africans of their land.
The Chairperson said the debate between Ms Mokwele and Ms Carter had nothing to do with the current matters before the Committee. He requested Mr Motlala to give his presentation.
Mr Motsepe Motlala, President, NAFU, said all South Africans, black and white, should appreciate and understand the issues around land reform and the need to redress the legacy of the past. Painful truths need to be acknowledged by all involved. All citizens of the country could make a meaningful contribution within the boundaries of the Constitution. More than 60% of the South African population did not have land.
The definition of “property” in Section 25 of the Constitution was problematic, as it was unclear. It meant people would have to approach the courts before the proper meaning of Section 25 could be determined. The law had played a central role in land dispossession in South Africa, such as the 1913 Land Act. The 1913 Land Act had been used to dispossess the majority of people in South Africa. The question was how to address that legacy of dispossession.
When the homelands were created, black South African people were not compensated for the dispossession of their land. This was an issue which no person seemed to be talking about. The manner in which compensation was determined under Section 25(3) was also problematic and needed to be amended. The Committee also had to seriously consider the expropriation of property under the 1995 Expropriation Act.
White commercial agricultural had received heavy State subsidies in establishing their commercial farming enterprises. Black farmers had received none of that same support. NAFU believed the government needed to take a stronger role in regulating the South African agricultural industry. It was working with Agri SA and other unions to solve painful issues. In the end fairness must prevail. Black farmers had to be assisted so that they could meaningfully participate in the economy.
White farmers received an agricultural credit bond. Such bonds were given to white farms on very favourable terms. There must be a change. The Land Bank was created in 1996. Black people, however, were considered to be risky in respect of loans, which was brutally unfair. Parliament should look into this issue. The Development Corporation had also failed, and had completely collapsed. The Constitution should be amended to explicitly provide for the nationalisation of land.
No section of society could wish white people away. White people were citizens of the country and their rights must also be respected. An agricultural CODESA should be established to determine the way forward and to ensure inclusivity in the agricultural sector. Land was priceless and should be not be sold. Water was also priceless, and the Water Act should also be amended to provide for the nationalisation of water.
Dr C Mulder (FF+) said it was clear that Mr Motlala was proposing that Section 25 of the Constitution should be amended, all land should be nationalised, and private ownership of property should be abolished. The oral presentation had made no mention of communal land or the Ingonyama Trust in Kwa-Zulu Natal. However, in NAFU’s original written submissions, they had proposed that government introduce reforms to address the dispossession of land by traditional leaders, and to ensure greater security of tenure in communal areas. Did NAFU propose nationalising all land, which would then include the Ingonyama Trust?
Mr Motlala responded that NAFU does propose nationalising all land, including communal land and the Ingonyama trust.
Ms Mathapo said NAFU had emphasised that South Africa’s land belonged to all who lived in it, and emphasised that land ownership followed models of land ownership based on African principles. Could NAFU expand upon what that meant according to the realities on the ground in rural areas? NAFU had also said all people were children of God. Would people who were dispossessed during wars in the past be regarded as children of a lesser God? How did NAFU propose the nationalisation of communal land would occur in practice?
Mr Motlala said nationalisation would solve many problems around land reform and insecurity of tenure. It would not solve all the problems around land reform, but it would ensure that everyone had an equal stake in land ownership, which would ensure cooperation. African principles of land ownership meant that land should not be sold to the citizens of any country, because land was priceless. Land should be treated differently from buildings. Section 25 should be amended so that land and buildings could be treated separately. Nationalisation should not be used as a punishment for different racial groups. All South Africans needed to have their rights protected and to cooperate.
Ms T Mampuru (ANC, Limpopo) said, if she understood the position of NAFU correctly, they had derived their arguments on their position on nationalisation and land reform from the Freedom Charter. NAFU appeared to be saying there was a contradiction between the Freedom Charter and Section 25 of the Constitution. She requested NAFU to elaborate further on what their understanding of the land question was, and how best to facilitate land reform. The arguments of NAFU, in her view, were not very clear.
Mr Motlala said his presentation was based on the Freedom Charter. The Constitution sets the record straight. Land reform and redress must be facilitated.
Mr D Stock (ANC, Northern Cape) said NAFU had made it clear that the issue around expropriation without compensation was about facilitating redress. It was not about punishment. NAFU had, however, also made it clear that black farmers needed to be capacitated so that they could properly contribute to the agricultural sector and economy. What could be done to ensure that black farmers were given an opportunity to meaningfully contribute towards the agricultural sector and the economy?
Mr Motlala said it could not be the case that white South African citizens could dictate to the majority of black South Africans what was in the best interests of black people. White and black people needed to come together to form a common vision on the way forward. The deregulation of agriculture at the beginning of 1994 had been, in his view, a crime against black farmers. It meant that black farmers had to compete with white farmers who had had decades and decades of experience. Regulation of farming should be re-examined. Nationalisation could create a common vision and commitment for all South Africans. There would be no black or white farmers, only South African farmers. This was the goal which NAFU wanted to achieve.
Mr S Mncwabe (NFP) asked for clarity on how communal land would be nationalised. The current position was that traditional leaders were the custodians of communal land. The traditional leaders did not own the land, they only administered it on behalf of the people as custodians. If communal land was nationalised, would that not take away a number of powers and responsibilities from traditional leaders?
Mr Motlala said NAFU had the highest respect for traditional leaders. Traditional leaders had made a valuable contribution in establishing the ANC. NAFU had proposed communal land also be nationalised in the interests of fairness. It would be tragic to disrespect traditional leaders. A CODESA should be established to determine how traditional leaders would administer nationalised land in communal areas. Every person should be treated with dignity and fairness.
Mr Swart asked whether NAFU believed there was anything contained within Section 25 of the Constitution in its current form which could prevent expropriation without compensation.
Mr Motlala said Section 25 was currently unclear on a number of issues, which led to confusion and conflict. Section 25 should be examined and reviewed to allow for greater clarity. It should also be amended to clearly provide for expropriation without compensation. Amending Section 25 could help establish a future which would benefit all South African people.
Ms Carter said if land was nationalised, how could security of tenure be secured? How could security of tenure of the members of NAFU be secured, if at all? NAFU had proposed that following a process of nationalisation, everyone should lease land from the state. Did NAFU have a proposal as to how that lease process would work in practice? Did it support the proposal that the amount of land an individual or group could own should be restricted?
Mr Motlala said it would be premature for him to express a final view on those matters. Those issues should be dealt following greater consultation in a process like an agricultural CODESA.
Ms Mokwele asked if NAFU agreed the State should have the responsibility to capacitate people in control of communal and trust land, to ensure that land was properly managed and administered?
Mr Motlala said there a number of contradictions in South African society which threatened the future stability of South African society. An agricultural CODESA should be established to properly engage on matters of land reform and inequality. He had attended six of the hearings on land expropriation in the provinces. Many people had attended those hearings without any shoes. NAFU unambiguously identified itself with poor South African people.
Mr E Buthelezi (IFP) asked if the agricultural CODESA suggested by Mr Motlala should take place before or after any proposed nationalisation of land?
Mr Motlala said expropriation without compensation was a process which was being driven by the South African Parliament. Parliament must first complete its work and then a proper decision on how to proceed could be made at that point.
Mr Mpumlwana said NAFU had pushed strongly for the nationalisation of land. Under the law as it currently stood, title deeds made it clear that all minerals and water beneath the surface of the land did not belong to the landowner, but instead belonged to the government. Did NAFU propose that nationalisation of land should also include what was beneath of the land? Was a new law of general application required to determine that what was beneath the land should also be subject to expropriation?
Mr Motlala said the definition of “property” in the Constitution should distinguish between land and buildings. Land could not be built. Land should be nationalised to start afresh, which could be used to avoid conflict. Some NAFU members had been killed. White and black farmers were being killed, which NAFU condemned, and which a resolution of the land issue could help resolve. In Mozambique, land was not sold and in most African countries, arable land was not sold. In both Europe and America, arable land was also not sold. All people, black and white, were South Africans and deserved to have their dignity and their rights protected.
Dr Motshekga said NAFU should place a greater emphasis on the consequences and effects of the 1913 Land Act. After the 1913 Land Act, African people owned only 7% of the total surface area of South Africa. In 1936, African people only owned 13% of the total land in South Africa. NAFU had not placed much relevance on the 1913 Land Act. Was African land which had been dispossessed from the 1850s up to 1913 not relevant for current purposes? Was the current Parliamentary process not sufficiently participatory for all people, and therefore would an agricultural CODESA also be required?
Mr Motlala said NAFU considered land to be a national demand. It was aware of property ownership trends. The proposed agricultural CODESA would help open up the debate on the way forward and how to address the legacy of South African history. It would allow for white and black people to live in harmony with one another, as envisaged by former President Nelson Mandela.
Dr Mohammed Bhabha, Director, In Transformation Initiative (ITI) said ITI was an NGO that had been established by himself, Mr Roelf Meyer, Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim and Mr Ivor Jenkins. It worked to promote social cohesion and democracy, and resolve social issues in South Africa and abroad.
ITI had engaged with farmers, members of the ruling party and government Ministers over the last few years. Those consultations had attempted to find common ground between those different groups in order to formulate a mutually agreed upon vision on how best to promote land reform in South Africa.
Four observations had emerged from the consultations:
Firstly, the majority of farmers were not opposed to expropriation and were also not, by and large, opposed to expropriation without compensation. Most farmers recognised the importance of facilitating land reform, even through the mechanism of expropriation without compensation.
Secondly, most parties agreed that changing the current regulatory environment through an amendment to the Constitution may not be best approach to facilitate land reform. Many black farmers did not receive proper financial and other support from the government. There was a collective disappointment that the current government machinery was not receptive to the needs of black and white farmers.
Thirdly, there was sufficient goodwill within the country to facilitate land reform. A number of established farmers had reached out to emerging farmers and had found innovative and creative solutions to facilitate access to the agricultural industry. In the Western Cape, 50 farmers had given a large amount of farmland -- to the total value of R1.2 billion -- free of charge to previously disadvantaged black farmers. Those farmers had also been assisted in a mutually cooperative way. Other farmers had given 51% of their land to their employees, which had also resulted in an increase in productivity.
Fourthly, it was important not to conflate the concepts of restitution and redistribution. Restitution may harm the very people the government was attempting to assist. Restitution required a person to prove they had a right to a particular piece of land. It may prejudice people to require them to prove they had a legal right or entitlement to a particular piece of land or property. The focus on restitution may also clog the system which aimed to facilitate land reform. It was necessary to find solutions which did not focus on restitution alone.
Mr Malcolm Ferguson, ITI, said Section 25 of the Constitution contained a clear mandate for the transformation of property rights. The mandate of Section 25 required property relations to be transformed to achieve the imperatives of equity, fairness and justice in ensuring access to land. Section 25 provided for circumstances where it would be just and equitable to expropriate property without compensation. There was a broad consensus that Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation. The state, however, had not tested Section 25 as it currently stands, to expropriate property without compensation. This begged the question as to whether a constitutional amendment to Section 25 was required at all. It was the view of the In Transformation Initiative that it was not necessary to amend the Constitution.
A number of resolutions had been taken at the ANC conference in 2017 to expropriate property without compensation. This had led to intense and emotional debate on this issue. Those debates had shown that skewed patterns of land ownership in South Africa were the most enduring symbol of the second class status assigned to black South Africans as a result of colonialism and apartheid. The fact that skewed property ownership persisted almost a generation after the advent of democracy in South Africa, was widely assigned to government failures. The blame, however, did not rest with government alone and all stakeholders must bear a share of the blame for the fact that land ownership had not been transformed.
Practical solutions had to be created to facilitate redress which was just and equitable for all South Africans. If the Constitution was to be changed, then any amendment must clearly State under what circumstances expropriation without compensation would be permissible. Any amendment must also facilitate public involvement, and must be subject to judicial scrutiny. A suite of legislation must be enacted which defines a comprehensive national policy, which clearly stipulates when land could be expropriated without compensation, to facilitate land and agrarian reform. A national land and agrarian trust must be established to deal with the 3 294 farms that were current underutilised, and which were owned by the state. The State was currently the largest land owner in the country. Those farms had been purchased by the State at great expense. There were people who had legitimate claims to the property which had been purchased by the state. The fact that that land had not been redistributed to the claimants was a crying shame. Up to 11% of the total land in South Africa formed part of those state-owned farms. Communal land constituted around 11-13% of the total land in South Africa.
Mr Ferguson said Mr Motlala was correct in saying that a number of black farmers had been disadvantaged by the changes in the current constitutional dispensation which began in the early 1990s. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) must be created between government and the agricultural sector. An agricultural development agency should be established to develop the skills and capacity of black farmers. Such an agency could help formulate a coherent policy, setting out how best to facilitate land transformation and agrarian reform in the country. Such an organisation could overcome the limitations of the commercial banking sector in facilitating transformation. A secondary funding model could be established which accepts crops and other goods as a form of security, where farmers lack security of tenure.
Mr Filtane said ITI had made it clear they believed expropriation without compensation was already permitted under Section 25 of the Constitution. Did it appreciate how complex the process of expropriation under Section 25 of the Constitution already was? This was the reason, in his view, why no cases of expropriation without compensation had occurred in the past 24 years. The process begins with a valuation of the property in question, and continues with an asking price offered by the person who owns the land. If there was no agreement on the amount of compensation, then the matter would end up in court. Currently, the whole judicial system in South Africa was not transformed. If a white person owned property, then they would end in a court which was headed by a white person. The lack of transformation in the judiciary was part of the problem. A second problem was that the banking sector was also not transformed, which also posed an obstacle to land reform.
Mr Koornhof said Mr Filtane was out of order. Members were only permitted to ask a single question.
Mr Filtane asked how the government could be expected to meaningfully implement land reform given the two fundamental problems he had alluded to -- a lack of judicial transformation and a lack of transformation in the commercial banking sector?
Dr Bhabha responded that Section 25 of the Constitution allowed for legislation to be enacted which could be used to facilitate land reform. The legislative framework was only part of the problem. Another fundamental problem was the lack of access to markets. The current State machinery did not create an environment which could properly and meaningfully assist farmers to gain access to markets. Changing the Constitution would not address the poor State machinery which did not properly facilitate access to markets. This was a multi-faceted problem, and an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution would not deal with those other problems which were currently stifling land reform.
Mr Filtane asked a follow up question. If Section 25 allowed for legislation to be enacted which could facilitate expropriation without compensation, then what would that legislation look like? Practically, would that legislation itself not require the Constitution to be amended?
Dr Bhabha responded that ITI holds the view that Section 25 of the Constitution already allowed for legislation to be enacted which would address the concerns raised by Mr Skosana.
Ms Mampuru asked how many of the children of employees who had received land from farmers were agricultural scientists? How many of the children of those emerging farmers had received bursaries to qualify as agricultural scientists?
The Chairperson disallowed the question of Ms Mampuru on the basis it was not related to the subject matter.
Ms Mokwele said ITI had said white farmers had assisted their employees to enter the agricultural industry. Did this mean land transformation must be left in the hands of white farmers? Did this also mean the current process should be concerned with ensuring black people were the owners of farms and land?
Dr Bhabha said the ITI’s position was not that land reform and transformation should be left in the hands of private farm owners alone. Rather, their point was simply that many farmers had, on their own initiative, engaged in a process to facilitate land reform and capacitate black farmers. There was a surprising degree of common goodwill which already existed in the farming and agricultural sector on these issues.
Ms Mokwele asked what the membership demographics of ITI were. Were the majority of their members white or black?
The Chairperson disallowed Ms Mowkele’s question. The question was irrelevant and was not related to the subject matter of the meeting.
Mr N Paulsen (EFF) challenged the Chairperson’s ruling. Ms Mowkele’s question was highly relevant. The colour of one’s skin was directly relevant to the way one felt about land expropriation. In Transformation Initiative should answer the question about their racial demographics. The Chairperson himself was out of order by disallowing that question.
The Chairperson responded that Mr Paulsen must not interrupt the smooth functioning of the Committee’s proceedings. The Committee was debating a potential amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution. The racial demographics of organisations were not relevant to that issue. The question had to be disallowed on the basis that it was irrelevant.
Dr Motshekga asked whether ITI’s reference to communal land referred to land which previously fell within the former homeland areas? That land was barren and was already held in trust. That land was administered by traditional leaders on behalf of their constituents. Would it not be better to focus on the 87% of land which was not currently part of native reserves?
Mr Ferguson said ITI’s focus on this issue was on land which fell outside of the former native reserves as established by the 1913 and 1936 Land Acts. However, there were successful farming enterprises which had been established in the former homelands, such as a recent initiative in the Transkei. 2 100 women had been empowered under that initiative and there was a 60:40 ownership structure of the farming enterprise which farmed 10 000 hectares of land. This showedthere were good models of empowerment and farming which existed between local communities and corporate enterprises, even within barren areas located in the former homelands.
Mr Swart asked what ITI made of the fact the Constitutional Court, which was transformed, had not ruled on the parameters of Section 25(3) as balanced against Section 25(8)? The Constitutional Court should first give guidance on what the parameters of Section 25 of the Constitution were before a potential constitutional amendment was considered.
Mr Ferguson replied the Constitutional Court could rule only on matters which had been brought before it. The fact that the State had properly exercised its powers to facilitate land reform, meant no litigation had reached the Constitutional Court which would allow it to rule on the precise parameters of Section 25 of the Constitution. This begged the question of what the Constitutional Court would actually decide, if such a matter were to come before it.
Dr Bhabha added that he personally – and the ITI – agreed with Mr Swart’s position. The Constitutional Court should make a ruling on the parameters of Section 25 of the Constitution, before an amendment to Section 25 should be considered necessary.
Ms Mathapo said it was a pity Mr Roelf Meyer could not be present to give his views on the potential amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. ITI did not appear to be opposed to expropriation per se, or expropriation without compensation.
Dr Bhabha clarified that ITI was not opposed to expropriation, or expropriation without compensation. In his view, the issue was rather whether Section 25 of the Constitution as it currently stands allows for expropriation without compensation. ITI believes Section 25 already creates sufficient room for property to be expropriated without compensation.
Mr Maila said ITI had said 11% of South Africa’s land was owned by the State. 13% was communal land. In total that amounted to 24% of South Africa’s total land. Was ITI proposing that agrarian reforms should begin with that 24%? Would expropriation without compensation then target the remaining 76%?
Dr Bhabha responded that the reference to that 24% figure had been made to demonstrate the lack of emphasis and action in the State administration to facilitate land reform of land which the State already owned. That land was clogged up in the system and was currently unproductive. It was essential to be cost effective and to also make use of that land to facilitate land reform.
Mr Paulsen said Dr Bhabha had stated one problem in facilitating land reform was that emerging farmers lacked access to markets. What was ITI’s view on how expropriation without compensation would affect access to markets for emerging farmers? ITI should engage with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestries (DAFF), as many of the issues raised by ITI should also be considered by the DAFF. Had ITI taken up the issue of access to markets with other government Departments? Expropriation without compensation would impact not only on agricultural land. It would impact on all property. The decision to expropriate land without compensation had not been taken at Gallagher Estate. The decision to expropriate land without compensation had been taken on 26 July 2013 in Soweto, at the first national assembly of the EFF.
Dr Bhabha said a fundamental issue which prevented black farmers from gaining access to markets arose from the fact that they lacked access to capital, were under-resourced and also did not receive sufficient support from the State. If black farmers were to gain access to markets, legislative reform must be enacted. To redistribute property without corresponding legislative support would mean the entire process would be a futile exercise. It would be a paper tiger. Without access to capital and proper support, existing farmers were doomed to fail. No support structures for emerging farmers existed at present. A proper policy needed to be formulated which would provide emerging farmers with support to gain access to markets.
Mr Paulsen reiterated that he did not understand ITI’s position. How did land expropriation without compensation affect access to markets for black farmers? Would ITI’s concerns in that respect not be better addressed by engaging with departments or stakeholders?
Mr Ferguson replied that there was a fundamental linkage between ensuring access to markets and expropriation without compensation. If people were awarded property as part of a process of restitution or redistribution, but did not also receive support to properly capacitate them to ensure they could access agricultural markets, then those farmers would be doomed to fail. Redistribution of land could not be seen in isolation from those other issues. Farmers would also require access to capital and training to ensure they could also access markets.
Ms Carter said if the ITI believed that Section 25 of the Constitution was not a barrier to ensuring a just and equitable distribution of land ownership, what then was the barrier to ensuring just and equitable patterns of land ownership?
Mr Ferguson replied the problem was that land restitution had not enjoyed the national priority it should have since the final Constitution had been enacted 22 years ago. Dispossession of land, together with unequal access to land, was a trauma which had been inflicted upon South African society. Land redress was a matter which needed to be dealt as a matter of urgency. Both government and the agricultural sector must equally bear the responsibility to address patterns of unequal land ownership and access to land. Parliament should be congratulated on taking steps to address this issue, which was a matter that was vital to ensuring true reconciliation in South Africa.
Adv Martin Brassey, Senior Counsel:Johannesburg Bar, said Dr Anthea Jeffrey, Head of Policy: IRR, had prepared the Institute’s submissions. However, she was ill and thus unable to attend, and he had agreed to take her place in making IRR’s oral submissions.
The IRR’s submissions sought to achieve two objectives. The first was to deal with the facts of expropriation and land ownership on the ground. This required examining how current patterns of property ownership occurred, what conflict the current distribution had given rise to, and to examine what the current concerns of people were regarding land distribution and restitution. A failure to properly locate the land expropriation debate within its correct context, meant the true issues could not be focused upon in determining the way forward.
The second was to outline the consequences for South Africa if protections afforded to private property rights were eroded. The IRR had the view that if private property rights were eroded, the economy would suffer severe adverse consequences. The majority of South Africans would suffer as a result. In particular, the poor black majority would be affected the most by any economic downturn caused by the erosion of private property rights. Any constitutional amendment must therefore be very carefully considered with all of this in mind.
There were two views on expropriation without compensation. The first view was that Section 25 of the Constitution already allowed for expropriation without compensation and therefore no amendment was necessary. The second view was that Section 25 required amending to properly clarify when it would be just and equitable to expropriate property without compensation. The foundational principle of Section 25 of the Constitution was fairness. Fairness meant an individual should not bear the consequences of societal improvement in circumstances where it would not be fair for that individual to bear those consequences. The notion that one could selectively expropriate an individual’s farm and not pay them compensation, would undermine the notion of fairness. A central principle of fairness and property rights was that a person should not be deprived of their property without receiving compensation for that sacrifice.
To give a person less compensation for property expropriated from them – or to give them no compensation – would significantly erode and undermine property rights. This would seriously damage the South African economy and human rights as a whole. To target white people on the basis of their race would not be accepted by the Constitutional Court as a constitutionally legitimate mechanism to facilitate land redistribution.
Another possibility that had been raised was the complete nationalisation of land. Complete nationalisation could take various forms, such as custodianship or State ownership. If the State was made the owner of all nationalised land, that would be an enabling factor for corruption. In any event, both of these possibilities would completely undermine property rights. It would also undermine the societal compact which was embodied in the Constitution.
Property ownership was internationally recognised as a central feature of human rights. Section 25 allowed for redistribution and redress. The ANC government should make use of the powers Section 25 already provided to develop a proper and effective framework to allow redress to take place. The IRR believes government should use Section 25 in its current form, and explore all the mechanisms the Section provides to transform unequal patterns of property ownership in South Africa. Section 25 therefore does not require amending to enable property redress, restitution and redistribution.
In Agri SA v Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Constitutional Court had provided guidance on how Section 25 could be implemented. The Agri SA judgment had been about mineral rights. The majority of the Court had accepted there could be State custodianship of property. The Court had said this could be done through legislation which Section 25 in its current form already permitteds. The Court did, however, say the interests and rights of all parties must be equally considered in implementing property redress. This was part of the social compact contained in the Constitution. If the State used the principle of custodianship, then the State also needed to consider questions such as who would use and exploit the property of which the State was the custodian.
It was stressed IRR opposed any amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. Rather, the State should fully exploit the redress mechanisms which Section 25 of the Constitution already provided to facilitate redress and redistribution of property. The current policies which regulated land redistribution must be re-examined and reformed to properly facilitate land reform. The Land Bank had failed to meet its mandate. It was necessary to properly use Section 25 to ensure South Africa was a more cohesive and prosperous society for all who live in it. Amending Section 25 would not achieve a prosperous society and economy. The rand and the economy had already suffered a downturn as a result of the uncertainty around the future of property rights in South Africa.
Dr Motshekga said the IRR focused too much on human rights and not on people’s rights. South Africa’s colonial and apartheid past meant there was a need to focus on the rights of people as a community, and not only the human rights of individuals alone. Fairness also required that people’s rights were considered to redress the unfairness of the past. The IRR’s suggestion that the expropriation process would target white people was misleading. The current process did not seek to target white people. It sought to redress the fundamental unfairness which the majority of people had suffered. The process did not seek to punish or unfairly target any section of the population. The architects of the Constitution had provided for a process where the Constitution could be reviewed and amended. The current process was being undertaken in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the Constitution itself. It therefore should not, and could not, be said the current process sought to target and punish any section of the population.
Adv Brassy replied that he appreciated Dr Mokshekga’s comments.
Ms Mathapo said one of the IRR’s criticisms of the current process was that it had been conducted in too short a time period. The Committee had originally given all presenters 30 days to make their submissions. A request for an extension had been sought and that request had been granted. All presenters were then given an additional 15 days. The IRR had also complained that the decision to amend the Constitution had already been taken, and that the Committee was not open to persuasion. That complaint was without merit, as the Committee had taken no firm decision to amend the Constitution. Each Committee Member had his/her own view on the potential amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. She expressed annoyance with the suggestion that the Committee had already taken a firm decision on this issue, and the IRR should amend their position to reflect that fact. The ANC President, in the same way as the leader of any other political party, had a right to express the views of his political party.
The Chairperson said Ms Mathapo was out of order. He appeared to disallow the questions and views Ms Mathapo had expressed.
Mr Maila said the presentation was like a scarecrow. The IRR had told the Committee they should never do anything to facilitate land reform because that would make people poor. People were already poor. Had the IRR done anything to assist the government in faciliting land reform?
The Chairperson said Mr Maila was also out of order. He appeared to disallow the comments and questions Mr Maila had asked.
Mr Swart said most of the discussion had focused on expropriation without compensation of land. How would expropriation without compensation affect other forms of property? What about movable property such as vehicles or intellectual property rights, given the provisions of Section 25(3)(b) of the Constitution?
Adv Brassey said Mr Swart was correct in saying the concept of property under Section 25 was not confined to land alone. The IRR had the view that logically speaking, if expropriation of land without compensation was allowed, then there was no reason why other forms of property such as intellectual property or movable property could not then equally be expropriated without compensation. From a human rights perspective, this would undermine the rights of people who had spent time and effort in acquiring movable property or developing intellectual property. This was because those forms of property would, by definition, also be subject to a potential expropriation of property without compensation.
Ms Mokwele asked Adv Brassey to explain how he viewed the issue of fairness within the context of inter-generational land dispossession? Adv Brassey had said expropriation without compensation or nationalisation would mean the black majority of South Africa would suffer. Black people were already the people who suffered the most and who also owned the least land. Black people were also the majority in the country. How could the black majority suffer if they were given access to property that would restore their dignity?
Adv Brassey replied that the IRR was unambiguously in favour of land redistribution, redress and economic empowerment. Current policies had been poorly handled and had reproduced the patterns of inequality and poverty which persisted today. The IRR believed redistribution and economic empowerment should be done according to principles of fairness. Fairness had been defined extensively in the labour law context. The highest courts of South Africa had said fairness required a proper balancing of the rights and interests of both parties, which must be equally considered. The selective targeting of people to benefit others did not meet that definition of fairness. The IRR was not opposed to expropriation to facilitate redistribution, but was opposed to expropriation without compensation because the expropriation of property without compensation was unfair on the basis it did not balance the rights and interests of both parties equally. The factors specified in Section 25 of the Constitution already gave guidance on how the balance of both parties was to be met to ensure that an expropriation was fair. Section 25 had not been tested, and unless the State tested those factors, then expropriation without compensation would open up a pandora’s box which would cause the economy to suffer.
Adv Brassey took exception to the suggestion of Ms Mokwele that he did not understand the suffering of black people. If she had any understanding of his own experiences and life work, she would not ask him that question. Since 1929, the IRR had been struggling to achieve a non-racial and democratic society in South Africa. Expropriation without compensation would severely impact the economy, which would have disastrous consequences for all South Africans, including both black and white people.
Mr Paulsen said the Chairperson should caution Adv Brassey against addressing Members of Parliament in a condescending manner.
Ms Mokwele said that in her original question, she had clearly stated the majority of South Africans were blacks. The majority of blacks were also poor. It was a fact that they had been disposed of their land. Fairness of redistribution must measured against the possession of land. How could it not be fair to allow people who were dispossessed of their land to have their land returned to them? How could it be fair to compensate someone who owned land which they had acquired because that land had been dispossessed from black people?
Adv Brassey said he had no intention of coming across as condescending in his replies. The answer to Ms Mowkele’s question was that redress could be facilitated according to a progressive system of taxation, which imposed higher taxes on the wealthy which could be used to facilitate redress and economic empowerment. Fairness would still require that expropriated property be subject to compensation. Expropriation without compensation was a red herring, because it would not necessarily ensure black people had an equitable distribution of property ownership in South Africa. Expropriation without compensation was also fundamentally contrary to the principle of fairness and could not be justified. The best approach was to redress economic exclusion through a progressive system of taxation on the wealthy.
Mr Filtane said the IRR had essentially said they were not blind to the suffering of South African people. South African land had been taken at the barrel of a gun. Where did the IRR get the idea that people should be compensated for land which was originally acquired through the barrel of a gun? The IRR claimed it was not blind to the past. How then could they hold the position that people should be compensated for the expropriation of land which was acquired through force? People did not own land today because of that past history of dispossession through force.
Adv Brassey said Mr Filtane’s opinion did a disservice to the history of the country and the IRR. The IRR”s written submissions clearly showed how South Africa’s history of violence and warfare had created the injustice of land distribution in South Africa. It was a natural consequence in any society that land was usually acquired through one of two ways -- either through occupying the land or through acquiring the land through force. How one dealt with the consequences of that acquisition of land later was a different question. It required careful consideration and debate between all people who were engaged in the process of governance. Human rights and the rule of law required that property of rights were protected. A failure to protect property rights – and by extension human rights – meant a country would become an international pariah. The South African population would also suffer as a result. The IRR had cited the consequences of such a policy with reference to the current situation in Venezuela. The Venezuelan situation showed what could happen to a society which engaged in a process of redistribution which was not underpinned by fairness, human rights and the rule of law.
Mr Filtane replied that black people did not owe any person an explanation for reclaiming their land. Parliament was following a constitutional process to facilitate the reclamation of land which black people had been dispossessed of. No government would ever have enough money to buy back their own land. People who owned land kept pushing up the price for compensation. Ultimately, if the compensation route were followed, then the government would have to spend all its money to buy back the land which had originally been stolen through the barrel of a gun.
Adv Brassey said the IRR had carefully examined all of those issues in its written submissions. Government had spent a very small amount of money on facilitating land reform.
Mr Filtane attempted to disrupt Adv Brassey. The Chairperson intervened. The Chairperson said the follow up question of Mr Skosana was out of order and disallowed. Adv Brassey was requested not to respond to the subsequent questions.
Mr Paulsen said the EFF’s position was that the State should become the custodian of the land once all land had been nationalised. How would expropriation without compensation further impoverish landless people? Was the IRR financed by AfriForum, which the Institute had recently removed from their website?
The Chairperson said the second question about Afriforum was out of order and could not be allowed. He requested Adv Brassey to respond only to the first question.
Adv Brassey said he was grateful to Mr Paulsen for stating the EFF’s policy. The consequences of that policy appeared in the IRR’s written submissions. Ordinary people would be made poorer as a result.
Ms Carter asked what the consequences would be for all South Africans if property rights were eroded? If property rights were eroded, would that not also violate the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Chairperson said Ms Carter was asking for a legal opinion, which could not be allowed. Her question was therefore out of order.
Mr Mpumlwana said he disappointed in the IRR’s presentation. The IRR had not provided any solutions or suggestions on the way forward. All the IRR had done was criticise the ANC government. People were already suffering, especially on farms. These were also people which the government could not presently assist to alleviate their suffering. How would the millions of people on farms suffer more than they were already suffering if expropriation without compensation were to take place?
The Chairperson said Mr Mpumlwana’s question was out of order and the time to engage with IRR had expired.
The SAIBPP said it operated in the formal and informal property market. Property redistribution must be underpinned by economic growth and improved household welfare and food production. This was the central premise on which it based its presentation. Land expropriation must be viewed within the context of reciprocal rights which land expropriation attracted. Failing to acknowledge that reciprocity would not achieve the economic empowerment land expropriation aimed to achieve.
Redress in South Africa also dealt with race. Redress deals with the dispossession of land from black people. The presentation aimed to advance two fundamental points. First, to state the SAIBPP’s position regarding the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution as it relates to expropriation without compensation to facilitate land reform and redress. Second, to advance the idea that expropriation of land without recognising the reciprocal rights such expropriation attracts would not advance the redress of property ownership which needed to be achieved.
SAIBPP believed Section 25 of the Constitution gave the government enough powers to create a legislative framework to expropriate land to facilitate land redistribution. Section 25 required government to facilitate restitution and the redistribution of land. To facilitate redress and redistribution, government had to put in place legislation which aimed to achieve those objectives. That legislation would also require compensation to be paid for expropriation. Section 25 did not need amending in so far as it dealt with land reform. Issues around the process and manner of expropriation required further scrutiny. Both of these issues, however, could be dealt with in more detail through the enactment of legislation which governed expropriation.
The current legislation was inadequate. In particular, it did not adequately address the manner in which redress and the transformation of land, which Section 25 required, would be regulated. Section 25 did not deal only with assets in the form of land, but covered all assets in general. Section 25 could, for instance, allow for the expropriation of a company or intellectual property, both of which were assets contemplated by Section 25. If the State enacted legislation governing the process under which those assets could be expropriated within a proper legal process, such legislation would be permissible under Section 25 of the Constitution in its current form.
The willing buyer-willing seller model was not required by the Constitution. That model was a government policy which had been given effect through legislation. Expropriation without compensation could also lawfully be given effect through legislation. Legislation should clearly set out the circumstances when expropriation without compensation would be permissible. Willing buyer-willing seller was therefore not required by Section 25. Section 25 also allowed for legislation to be enacted which could clearly set out when expropriation without compensation would be permitted. While the current Expropriation Act dealt with compensation, it did not adequately deal with the instances when expropriation without compensation would be permitted, as seen within the transformative ethos of Section 25 of the Constitution.
Even if legislation provided for expropriation without compensation, such legislation would not necessarily ensure that people enjoyed the benefits of the land. This was because property was currently governed by different pieces of legislation which may conflict with one another. Policies and legislation enacted by different spheres of government may also be in conflict. Four problems therefore needed to be addressed.
Firstly, a coherent spatial policy needed to be developed. Spatial exclusion was part of the policy of the apartheid regime. Apartheid legislation had dispossessed people of property and also prevented black people from enjoying the benefits of land ownership. Even if land was returned, the reciprocal benefits of land ownership might not follow if this issue was not also addressed.
Secondly, the process of acquiring and accessing land was too costly, cumbersome and complicated for a lay person to understand. The process needed to be simplified to address this issue.
Thirdly, the single tenure system did not properly address how to ensure black people enjoyed the benefits of land ownership. South Africa currently had a single deeds registry system. Unless land was registered in a person’s name in the deeds office, they were not considered the legal owner of that land. A system of registration needed to be established which recognised the informal right of people to property. A central administration of land – not necessarily ownership – also had to be established. Land must be centrally administered by government, which would also be the body which adjudicated all land claims, including the registration and allocation of land.
Fourthly, customary land must be also be administered according to that central government authority. This would require a classification of land tenure according to a classification of three different types of land ownership: the communal tenure system, individual title and a system which recognised current native inhabitants which was more acceptable for the majority of South Africans.
Section 156 and Section 153 of the Constitution required further examination to facilitate spatial transformation. Both sections dealt with the constitutional powers and functions assigned to municipalities. Both sections failed to mention issues of redress. When municipalities allocate land rights, they could do so without properly considering and giving effect to issues of historical redress and dispossession because neither provision expressly required dispossession and redress to be taken into account. Black people therefore often lived outside urban centres because municipalities were not constitutionally compelled to consider redress when land rights were allocated. Spatial planning was a function allocated to municipalities under the Constitution. Those two constitutional provisions therefore should be amended to expressly require municipalities to consider redress when determining spatial planning during the process of allocating land rights.
Mr Koornhof said the SAIBPP had referred to the willing buyer-willing seller principle and had also referred to a “buying back” clause. What did the reference to a buying back clause refer to? In some cases, the State hands out title deeds to property which the recipients could use as a commodity. What was the opinion of SAIBPP on that issue? Should the recipient of a title deed in that case be able to treat that property in the same way as any other commodity which they owned? What would happen if the State were to transfer that title deed, subject to the condition that if the owner wanted to sell the property within a certain time period of receiving the title deed, they had to sell the property back to the State?
Mr Shivambu said the SAIBPP had been called to Parliament to give their views on a simple question. What did it make of the proposal to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation? SAIBPP had not responded directly to the issue of amending Section 25 of the Constitution. It had also used the phrases “asset” and “property” interchangeably, which was incorrect because assets and property were not the same thing. Section 25 referred to property and not assets. SAIBPP had also referred to the fact that expropriation legislation already existed. That legislation was outdated and illegitimate as it had been enacted by the apartheid government in 1975. He stressed that the SAIBPP must clearly state what their view was on the proposed amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to clearly provide for expropriation without compensation.
Mr Swart asked the SAIBPP if it supported private individual title deeds as opposed to the wholesale nationalisation of land administered by the State. Did the property clause in Section 25 of the Constitution not already include other forms of property besides land? Section 25(3)(b) clearly stated property was not limited to land.
Mr Filtane said he expected a clear statement of principle from the SAIBPP on whether they supported or opposed the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. SAIBPP had completely avoiding answering that issue directly. Their presentation had only rehashed the provisions of Section 25 of the Constitution. The presentation had been disappointing overall. It should have presented those ideas a long time ago at the Portfolio Committee on land reform. He had no questions to ask.
Mr Buthelezi said it was out of order for Mr Filtane to tell a presenter that he was disappointed with their presentation.
Mr Filtane took exception to Mr Buthelezi’s point, which he found insulting and disrespectful. Mr Filtane angrily responded that Mr Buthelezi had no right to dictate to him what he could or could not say in Parliament. Mr Buthelezi could not proceed in this manner.
Mr Buthelezi continued, and said Mr Filtane’s criticisms of the SAIBPP were unfair. The SAIBPP had clearly said restitution in its current form was not adequately achieving the objectives of redress and land reform. It was of utmost importance for the Committee to be impartial, both in fact and in perception. Committee Members could not attack presenters on the basis that their views did not align with what Members of the Committee personally wanted to hear. Presenters could not be personally attacked.
The Chairperson said Mr Buthelezi had raised valid points, but he should not usurp the role of the Chairperson. If Mr Filtane was out of order, then the Chairperson would call him to account.
Mr Buthelezi responded angrily, saying the Chairperson had in some cases acted in an inconsistent manner with respect to different Members. The Chairperson must act impartially towards all Members, who must all be equally treated. All Members must be subject to the same treatment if any of them acted in a fashion which was out of order.
The Chairperson said both Mr Buthelezi and Mr Filtane were out of order. He requested the SAIBPP to answer the questions raised.
The SAIBPP said it had dealt with the issue of Section 25 of the Constitution in extensive detail in its written submissions. Section 25 and the current legislative framework provided the State with sufficient powers to expropriate land. Section 25 and the current legislation already in force also governed compensation. Section 25 contemplated that the factors used to determine the amount and manner of compensation should be fleshed out in greater detai,l according to legislation. Section 25 and expropriation legislation already allowed the government to expropriate property without compensation in certain circumstances. The circumstances when it would be justifiable to expropriate land or property without compensation should be determined according to legislation.
The SAIBPP agreed with Mr Shivambu that the 1975 Expropriation Act was outdated. It had also submitted documentation to the Land Reform Committee, as suggested by Mr Filtane. Different pieces of legislation dealt with the integration and redistribution of land. The current legislation was not properly integrated, and in some cases even in direct conflict. Current legislation needed to be put in abeyance until the current review of Section 25 of the Constitution had been completed. The 1975 Expropriation Act was one such piece of legislation which should be placed in abeyance until the current process had been finalised. The legislative framework should be influenced and informed by the current process, and not the other way around. Once the current process had been completed, the legislation could be amended accordingly and as needed.
In response to Mr Swart, the Institute said there were many different forms of title to property. Individual title was one type. The current framework was quite costly and prohibitive. This could prejudice many black people who could not transfer property. The current process should examine this issue as well.
Responding to Mr Koornhof, it said a buy back clause essentially stated that parties should first engage in a negotiation and reach an agreement before a decision to expropriate was taken. There was no requirement in law that parties must first agree or negotiate before an expropriation could lawfully take place. It was possible to expropriate first and then to negotiate the terms of the expropriation – such as compensation – after the property in question had already been expropriated. There were cases studies which the SAIBPP included in their written submissions, to illustrate this principle.
Mr Shivambu said the SAIBPP had indicated they agreed with the current legislative framework governing expropriation. The primary Act governing expropriation was the Expropriation Act of 1975. No presentation thus far appeared to adopt the same position. Did the SAIBPP agree with the Expropriation Act of 1975?
The SAIBPP replied that expropriation consisted of two parts. First, there was the taking of property. Second, there was a compensation element. The current legislation already clearly permitted the State to expropriate property. Section 25 also clearly allowed for expropriation. What was in issue was the second element of compensation. Current legislation did not adequately address the question of compensation. Archaic legislation needed to be amended to clearly provide for how compensation was to be calculated and paid, including the circumstances when it may be permissible for the State to pay no compensation.
Mr Paulsen asked whether the SAIBPP believed government should be the custodian of all land.
The SAIBPP replied there should be a central government authority that determined the administration and ownership of land. Multiple forms of land tenure, including individual title, should be recognised. The government authority should, however, play an administrative role and not be the owner. The government authority could own public land, but individual title should also be recognised.
Mr Bayethe Maswazi, Head: Policy and Legislation, BLA, said when black people were dispossessed of their land they had received no compensation. Land dispossession began long before 1913. Section 25(7) of the Constitution also limited redress for dispossession which occurred during and after 1913. That sub-section should also be examined. This dispossession had resulted in 72% of the land being owned by the white minority, and only 5% being owned by the black majority. Black women suffered the most from this unequal distribution of land.
The Constitution should be amended to allow for expropriation of land without compensation. Specific attention should be directed to Section 25(2)(b) and (c). Both of those sections require compensation for expropriation. If expropriation without compensation was undertaken, the land could be returned to the people from whom that land was dispossessed. BLA supported the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation.
Mr Swart asked whether the BLA believed expropriation without compensation should be limited to land. Should expropriation without compensation also be undertaken in respect of other forms of property? Section 25 makes it clear that property was not limited to land alone.
Mr Koornhof said the Committee had received a number of legal opinions that expropriation without compensation was already permitted by Section 25 of the Constitution in its current form. Other opinions had said that Section 25 should be amended to provide clarity as to when expropriation without compensation would be permissible. As a legal organisation, what does the BLA make of those two different opinions of Section 25 in its current form? Would the Constitutional Court accept that Section 25 already allows for expropriation without compensation?
Mr Shivambu asked what the BLA thinks of the argument that the State should be the custodian of all the land in South Africa for the purposes of redistribution.
Mr Filtane asked what the BLA’s proposal was to the amended the wording of Section 25(2) and (3) of the Constitution.
Ms Carter said the BLA agreed that land should be expropriated without compensation. Did this refer to all land? Did it refer to nationalisation? Would it also include property such as banks? Would it also include farms which had been privately purchased by black farmers?
Mr Mncwabe reiterated what had been said by Mr Koornhof. The Committee had received a number of a legal opinions to the effect that Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation. What informed BLA’s legal opinion on that matter?
BLA’s response
Mr Maswazi replied that Section 25(2) and (3) of the Constitution act as barriers to land redistribution. Willing buyer-willing seller was not required by the Constitution. It was expensive for the State to pay compensation for expropriation. To remove those subsections would help speed up land reform. People had acquired land unjustly. It was not just to compensate people for land which they had acquired in an unjust manner.
The BLA did not believe that all land should be expropriated. It believes that only Section 25(2)(b) and (3) should be amended. Section 25(2)(a) – which refers to public purpose or public interest – should be retained. Where expropriation of private land would fulfil a public purpose or interest it should not be expropriated. The State should also be allowed to own public land.
The suggested wording of Section 25 was that Section 25(3) and Section 25(2)(b) should be deleted. The public purpose and public interest requirements should however be retained.
Adv Gcina Malindi, Senior Counsel: Johannesburg Bar, appeared on behalf of NADEL. She said the Preamble to the Constitution declares that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. Section 25 of the Bill of Rights entrenches ownership of property rights to those who already own property. Section 25 also provides for the mechanisms under which land reform could take place to achieve the objects of the Constitution.
Section 25 requires that any expropriation or redistribution of land take place in terms of a law of general application. For a law of general application to allow for expropriation without compensation, the Constitution itself would require amendment. NADEL believes Section 25 does not currently permit expropriation without compensation. Section 25(2)(b) poses a barrier to the power of the State to expropriate for the purposes of land reform and redistribution.
Section 25(2)(b) was peremptory and requires compensation must be paid for those affected by expropriation. The amount of compensation could be mutually agreed on or decided by a court. The amount of compensation must be just and equitable. NADEL therefore believes Section 25 does not – in its current form – permit expropriation without compensation.
There was a myth that black people were not interested in acquiring land. This was a myth which must be destroyed. The land should belong to those work it. As documented by Charles van Onselen, apartheid laws systemically deprived black people of opportunities and made it impossible for them to meaningfully acquire, own and economically exploit land. Sol Plaatjie had also documented the suffering of black people as a result of the dispossession of their land. Both sources made it clear black people wanted to acquire and exploit the benefits which land ownership provided.
The current legal structure favoured private land owners. The State was hampered in its ability to facilitate land reform and restitution. The State could not afford to buy back property to facilitate land reform. The Constitutional compromise in 1994 had resulted in the abandonment of the ideological underpinnings of the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. The return of the land and all of South Africa’s natural resources to the people was a central objective of the struggle. Instead, the rights of those who became owners through conquest and apartheid laws had been entrenched.
To foster the transformative ethos of the Constitution and create access to land for all, different systems of land tenure should be adopted. The system of tenure adopted would be different, depending on the purpose for which that land was used. Where black people privately own property, then their ownership should be converted to an appropriate form of tenure. Such forms of tenure would include private rental, customary rental, national title and aboriginal or indigenous title. National legislation should provide for the State to become the custodian and also establish an independent land commission, which would have the mandate of facilitating land redistribution.
Mr Ashraf Mohamed, Attorney, NADEL, said the Legislature must protect, promote, respect and fulfil the core individual aspects of property ownership which was required by Section 7(2) of the Constitution. The recognition of individual ownership must also be balanced with the social dimensions of property ownership. Section 25 of the Constitution contained an imbalance. It focused too much on the individual aspects and functions of property ownership and paid too little attention to the social functions and dimensions of property ownership. NADEL’s amendments would rectify the imbalance in Section 25 by recognising both the individual and social dimensions of property ownership.
The right to compensation should be constrained by community norms and values and the overall betterment of society according to principles of ethics and social welfare. Emphasising that social dimension would also give greater content to the meaning of what constituted a public purpose or a public interest. The requirement that an expropriation was permissible only when it took place under a law of general application, should be retained. That legislation should contain some level of flexibility. The legislation should provide that land which was unjustly acquired as a result of the apartheid policy and legislation should not receive compensation if such land were to be expropriated. The legislation should be broader, and should include property which does not fall within the current restitutionary framework.
Dr Motshekga said NADEL had rightly raised the issue of the 1913 cut off date. Should there be a distinction between the land itself and the compensation for improvements done to the land?
Mr Swart said legal experts differed on whether Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation or not. Would it not be advisable to approach the Constitutional Court on that issue, as it could definitely decide whether Section 25 allowed for expropriation without compensation in its current form? If Section 25 should be amended, then should the founding provisions of the Constitution also be amended to facilitate redistribution?
Mr Filtane said NADEL had given one of the best presentations on this issue, as it was free from bias. Did NADEL propose the reclassification of property be divided along three lines -- for social purposes, for economic needs and for public purposes?
Ms Carter asked whether the failure to facilitate land reform was because of Section 25 of the Constitution, or had it been rather a failure of implementation by the State? What about the 4.2 million hectares of land that had been lawfully purchased and was currently owned by black people? Much of that property was subject to bonds. How could the issue of bonded property be dealt with if such property were to be expropriated without compensation? Should a distinction be drawn between property and land?
Mr Koornhof asked whether NADEL would agree that a judicial review should always be provided for when property was expropriated. Was NADEL’s position that a judicial review should always be provided for when a party was aggrieved by an expropriation of their property? What did NADEL specifically mean when they referred to property that was acquired under the apartheid order? Would that include property that had been acquired in 1993?
NADEL’s response
Adv Malindi responded to Mr Swart’s question about approaching the Constitutional Court. It was not desirable that the legislative function of Parliament should be passed on to the courts for the purposes of obtaining guidance. Parliament had sufficient resources and guidance to determine how to amend the constitution in a lawful manner. Parliament could pass legislation which passed constitutional muster. Parliament had passed the buck to the Courts when the issue of the death penalty was debated. Parliament should not also pass the buck on the issue of expropriation without compensation as well. The role of the Court was rather limited to scrutinising the constitutionality of any constitutional amendment to Section 25, as well as any accompanying legislation which may be passed.
Mr Mohamed replied to Dr Motshekga, and said a legislative framework already existed governing compensation for improvements to land. That legislative framework dealt with unjustified enrichment of improvement to land. The current issue was a different one. The current issue dealt with land redistribution. This was an important distinction to keep in mind. NADEL embraced the notion of aboriginal title. Before 1913, colonial dispossession occurred, which should also be taken into account by the legislature.
He agreed with the replies of Adv Malindi to the question raised by Mr Swart. The legislature was the more appropriate body to determine the issue of expropriation without compensation. The legislature could examine the social, political and economic issues which this matter attracts. Courts were limited to dealing with cases which came before them on a case by case basis, with reference only to the facts of those cases. The founding constitutional legislation could and should remain in place, inclusive of principles such as access to courts and access to justice. The core component of Section 25, which recognises individual property rights, should be left in place. NADEL rather proposes that Section 25 be amended to elevate the social function of property ownership and redress, which would also allow the State to fulfil the socio-economic needs of South African people.
Responding to Ms Carter, he said it was well known that implementation of land reform and redress had faced a number of issues. The land reform programme had not achieved the objectives which the programme had set out to achieve. Other mechanisms needed to be unlocked to facilitate land reform in a more proactive way.
Responding to Mr Koornhof, he agreed that judicial view must be retained. Judicial review was a necessary check and balance which must be retained and respected. The legacy of apartheid, however, remained. As a result, many people had been excluded from participating in the benefits provided by the new constitutional dispensation. This must be addressed. If a person acquired property as a result of the legacy of apartheid, they should not be expected to receive compensation for an expropriation.
Mr Shivambu said NADEL’s position was clear. NADEL had proposed that Section 25 be amended to unambiguously provide for expropriation without compensation. It had also noted that other forms of property, such as minerals, were also subject to such an amendment. In what circumstances did NADEL contemplate that some form of compensation should be paid following an expropriation?
A delegate from NADEL responded to Mr Shivambu’s questions, and said no person should be afraid of expropriation. The rights, benefits and use of land could be given to people under different forms of tenure and title, such as freehold title, lease or national heritage. For example, 44% of Australian land was leased to farmers. The land was owned by the State. In the United Kingdom, 33% of agricultural land was leased, with the Crown owning the leased land. In 1997 in Mozambique, land was nationalised. No one acquired ownership of the land, but people could lease the land, and in some cases those leases could last for up to 50 years. The Mozambican currency had since been stabilised and direct foreign investment had been attracted. The Mozambique example was a relevant example, and an African example which Parliament should seriously look at and examine.
Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM)
Pastor George Mahlobo, President, and Dr Jappie La Poorta, Deputy President, gave AFM’s oral submissions. Dr Henry Weideman, General Secretary, was also in attendance on behalf of AFM.
Pastor Mahlobo said AFM was one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in South Africa, and was based on multi-culturalism and multi-racialism. It had over 1.4 million members and 1 532 congregations.. Members came from across the socio-economic spectrum and all political affiliations.
AFM believed Section 25 of the Constitution should be reviewed. Expropriation should be allowed. However, in some instances, reasonable compensation be given. A body should also be established to ensure expropriation and redistribution happened in a proper manner. 105 congregations of the AFM did not have access to land. Its members were also property owners and prospective property owners.
Section 25(4)(b) made it clear that property was not limited to land. That subsection was ambiguous. The review should make clear what constituted property within the meaning of Section 25. Section 25 of the Constitution and the Expropriation Act referred to the public interest. The definition of public interest in Section 25 was also ambiguous, and should be examined. Section 25 also mentioned 1913. AFM believed the review should examine that clause and maybe explore facilitating redress for people who were dispossessed of land before 1913.
Expropriation without compensation presented the AFM with numerous difficulties. If property was legitimately owned, then expropriating that property without compensation seemed to be inherently unfair. It would deprive a person of property which they had a right to use in various ways. South Africa had a background of conquest and dispossession. Some church property had been dispossessed in the past and not been returned to the rightful owners of that property. However, there were instances were no compensation would be permissible.
The land must be redistributed. Many AFM members did not own property or have access to land. If land was not redistributed in an equitable and fair manner, then church communities would continue to face problems. Some form of land redistribution had already happened. An audit should be conducted to determine what progress had been made thus far. It was important to consider the most neglected in South Africa society, such as farm workers. Expropriation must also be done in terms of a law of general application. It should include urban, rural and tribal land. It would not be fair to exempt tribal land from expropriation.
Dr La Poorta said that before 1994, much State land was arbitrarily removed from State control and provided to white farmers in accordance with long term leases. This was particularly so in the Western Cape. Those leases should be cancelled, and those people should have no legal redress. The willing buyer-willing seller principle had never worked. Sellers inflated the price of their land, which meant that the government did not have enough money to purchase that land. Government had made a mistake in buying land from people who had never worked the land. The land should be given to individuals who were willing and able to contribute to the economy of the country.
During the apartheid era, the government had assisted white farmers to establish farms and develop productive enterprises. The current government had failed in this respect. The current government had only given land to people, but had not empowered them with skills or money to develop land into productive enterprises.
Mr Buthelezi said AFM had stated some cases would require expropriation and other cases would not require expropriation. When would expropriation be required, and when would expropriation not be required?
Dr Motshekga said some missionary societies had collaborated with colonial authorities in forcibly dispossessing people of their land. Were these missionary societies legitimate owners of land which had been acquired as a result of forcibly dispossessing people of that land? The AFM had said tribal land – which refers to communal land – should also be expropriated. Should people who formed the majority of the South African population be dispossessed of their communal land? Communal land was located in the former homelands and native reserves. That land was largely barren.
Mr Maila asked how far back the AFM believed the process of redress should go. Should it go as far back as 1650? How far should the process go back? Which properties were legitimately owned if the government went that far back? What did “legitimately owned” mean? That phrase must be demystified.
Mr Swart asked if the AFM supported the amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution. It had stated that generally speaking, it would be inherently unfair to take someone’s property without compensating them for it. What role could the church play in ensuring restorative justice and reconciliation in the land reform process and current debate?
Mr K Robertson (DA) said the AFM had mentioned the issue of a land audit. The previous land audit had been deemed inconclusive. It was no secret the current government had inherited unequal patterns of land ownership from the previous regime. Would it be a good idea for the State to release State-owned property to speed up land reform? Should an audit be conducted of State-owned land to determine how much of that land was underutilised, and what could be used to facilitate land reform and increase land ownership across all sectors of the population?
Mr Shivambu said the AFM had not addressed the central question. Should Section 25 of the Constitution be amended to allow for expropriation of land without compensation? The AFM’s submissions had a number of grey areas. Those submissions were not that helpful for the current debate, but could be more helpful on a different platform.
AFM’s response
Dr La Poorta responded to Mr Buthelezi’s question on when it would be permissible to expropriate without compensation. It was important to firstly determine how land was acquired. If land was acquired through force, then that land must be expropriated without compensation. Long term leases entered into by the apartheid government should be cancelled and the holders of those leases should not be afforded any compensation.
Responding to Mr Robertson, he said State-owned land should be made available to facilitate land redress.
Pastor Mahlobo said the history of the acquisition of the property must be examined. The history of the acquisition was a fundamentally important question. Redistribution must be done to the benefit of all people, including those people who lived on communal land. People who lived on communal land had also suffered forms of exploitation in some cases. There was ambiguity in Section 25. A consensual position must be reached to determine how far back the process of restitution should go. Some church members felt that 1913 was an unfair cut off point. However, the AFM did not have a firm view on how far back that process should go.
Responding to Mr Swart, he said the church could play a critical role in facilitating restorative justice and redress. The church itself could take the initiative and even audit its own land. Municipalities, however, did not always fully cooperate when churches wanted to redistribute their own land. AFM members should set the example in facilitating redress.
Amending Section 25 of the Constitution was fraught with a number of difficulties. Due diligence must be conducted. People who facilitate land redistribution must be representative of a broad spectrum of South African society.
Mr Andile Mngxitama, President: BLF, said he had difficulty in referring to the Members of the Committee as “honourable”, as there was nothing honourable about being landless. It was not honourable to sit next people who had stolen the land. The current process being undertaken by the Committee was the biggest political fraud since the CODESA negotiations in the 1990’s.
The BLF supported the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution. Land in the hands of white people must be returned to the hands of black people. This included land in Orania and Stellenbosch. The land was not a commodity which was expressed in a title deed, nor should it be managed by the State. The land belonged to the people. The role of the State was limited to ensuring that the land belonged to the people. Land was not a commodity which could be traded. People must be given secure tenure, but land could not be treated as an asset which could be disposed of or traded like any other commodity.
Section 25 did not allow for expropriation without compensation. People who said Section 25 allowed for expropriation without compensation endorsed a fallacy. People who opposed land expropriation without compensation argued that Section 25 already allowed for expropriation without compensation. Four instances had arisen where this matter had already been resolved by the courts. People like Adv Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and former President Kgalema Motlanthe were lying when they said Section 25 allowed for expropriation without compensation. When Adv Ngcukaitobi sat as an acting judge in the Land Claims court, he had tried to use the logic that Section 25 already alloweds for expropriation without compensation. He had always been overturned on appeal by other courts.
White people had stolen the land of black people. There was a national consensus that the land must be returned. In 1994, the ANC had failed to resolve the land question. 35 000 white people owned about 80% of the land, and the ANC had bought only 8% of the land since 1994. The ANC policy thus far had perpetuated land theft by whites.
The BLF proposed that Section 25 of the Constitution must be completely removed, and that the following provisions should replace it:
All land held by whites in South Africa was stolen property. The new Section 25 must expressly make it clear that white people have stolen the land.
All black people have a right to own land.
The eviction of farmworkers and poor people from land must be declared illegal.
Land occupation by landless black people was lawful.
The BLF rejects the notion that there was unproductive or unused land. All land – whether it was productive or not – belonged to black people. White people in Orania had no right to the land. The BLF demands that the ANC enact these amendments before the 2019 national elections.
Expropriation without compensation means taking land from whites – who were the beneficiaries of theft – and returning the land to black people who were the victims of that left. Land in the hands of black people must be excluded from expropriation. The Ingonyama Trust must therefore be left alone. Land must be taken from only white people. Land in the hands of white people was stolen property. Parliament must also declare any activities which aimed to subvert the land reform process as an act of treason. White people had caused South Africa’s recession. White people were using economic terrorism to undermine land reform.
Mr Mngxitama reiterated his view that the current proceedings were a political fraud. Everyone knew Section 25 would not be amended until the 2019 national elections had taken place. The Committee must tell the nation the truth. The Committee was delaying the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution.
The current process was just about getting votes for the 2019 elections. Julius Malema and Cyril Ramaphosa took instructions from Johan Rupert. The ANC and the EFF had a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. Why were both parties then engaging in this process? If someone stole your car and you met them in the street, why should you justify why you wanted your car back? This was exactly what the current process was similar to. The current process was a farce. Once the hearings were complete the Committee would make a recommendation to Parliament. Parliament would refer the matter to another Committee. Everyone knew the current proceedings were a waste time and the Committee had no power. The current process was illegitimate. The Committee had no meaning and had no powers to actually make any law. The Constitutional Review Committee only made recommendations and had no powers. The Committee was lying to the people. The Committee must be honest. The BLF would take back the land by force, because the land belonged to them.
Ms Mathapo said she appreciated Mr Mngxitama’s passion. Why had he singled out the Ingonyama Trust? There was communal land in all the former homelands.
Mr Filtane said Mr Mngxitama and BLF knew the land falling under the Ingonyama Trust actually belonged to the government. What was the point of including that land in the presentation?
Mr Carter said Mr Mngxitama was a former Member of Parliament and had sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution before. Did the BLF propose amending only Section 25 of the Constitution? What about Section 9 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality? What about the preamble which states South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united by our diversity? The BLF wanted the Constitution to be burnt.
Mr Mpumlwana said it was nice to be young. The Committee was discussing the potential amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation. Did the BLF draw a distinction between the land and the buildings which were on the land? If so, then did the definition of property in Section 25 of the Constitution need to be changed? How could that be done?
BLF’s response
Mr Mngxitama said the Ingonyama Trust had been specifically attacked. Kgalema Motlanthe’s High Level Report had specifically mentioned the Ingonyama Trust. Right wing white people had also attacked the Ingonyama Trust. If there were tenure problems existing, then tenure could be upgraded. African systems of land tenure were more protective of peoples’ rights than title deeds and other Western processes of land ownership. If there were issues with the Ingonyama Trust, then the King and Zulu people could address them. The King must be respected.
Responding to Ms Carter, Mr Mngxitama said the Constitution was, as a whole, bad for black people. Much of the suffering of black people was also because of Section 25 of the Constitution. If the issue of Section 25 was changed, then other provisions of the Constitution could change later. The Constitution was illegitimate because it was written by Roelf Meyer and Cyril Ramaphosa. The Constitution did not reflect the interests of black people. He was a proud constitutional delinquent.
Responding to Mr Mpumlwana, Mr Mngxitama said white people were scared about losing their houses. If a white person had a house which they were not using, then that house should be taken. If three white people lived in an eight-bedroom house, then that house should be sub-divided and taken. One could not have over-housing on one hand, and landlessness on the other. Houses in white suburbs should be taken. How could people have no houses in Alexandra, but people in Sandton have eight-room houses? That was unacceptable. Black people must not apologise for taking back the land. White people had not paid reparations for colonialism and apartheid. We would live in peace in terms of an agenda set by the black majority. White people who arrived in 1652 must live under the conditions set by the black majority.
Orania Movement
Mr Carel Boshoff, President, Orania Movement, said South Africa had a complex history. The question of whether land should be expropriated or not was part of that complicated history. Orania was opposed to amending Section 25 of the Constitution. That was not a static opposition, which would become clear in due course.
From an economic perspective, people were opposed to amending Section 25 of the Constitution. Orania wanted to talk to the population perspective. Section 25 formed part of a historic agreement which had been reached in 1996. The capacity to mediate historic differences was part of Section 25. However, there was an opportunity to review the nature and scope of Section 25 and to reconsider or renegotiate aspects of Section 25 of the Constitution. Reviewing Section 25 went to the foundation of the historical compromise which was embodied in Section 25.
To an extent, the Orania Movement agreed with BLF to the extent that land could not be treated as a mere commodity. When Afrikaners hear about land expropriation, it reminds them of what they have experienced – and were experiencing – in terms of cultural expropriation. Public places were being expropriated, which undermined the Afrikaner culture and identity -- places such as schools and language. The historical agreement in the Constitution could be disappointed by current developments. This would be based on expectations on what both sides of that compromise gave up in meeting an agreement with one another. It may be necessary to enter into a new historical discussion to determine the basis on which South African society should function. This could be a positive starting point to address that.
The starting point of the Orania movement was that the Afrikaner wanted to play a positive role in South African development. The Afrikaner people believe they have an inalienable right to free living space. It was not fair that Afrikaner interests must be overridden, or that new forms of injustice could now be justified. Orania had had success in developing local economic industries through adopting principles of self-determination which was provided for in the Constitution. In 1998, Mr Valli Moosa had recognised the struggle of Afrikaners for self-determination – within the framework of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights – as a legitimate pursuit. A new historical agreement could help determine the way forward on how land could be utilised and exploited for the benefit of all South African people and groups.
Mr Mpumlwana said he was unclear as to Orania’s position. Were they saying the government should expropriate land, with the exception of Orania? Orania’s concern appeared to be a more specific one: promoting the genuine interests and concerns of the Afrikaner people. Orania should provide more specific assistance to the Committee. What would be consequences of expropriation without compensation? What would be the consequences of not expropriating without compensation to facilitate land reform? These were the types of questions and concerns Orania should speak directly to.
Mr Robertson said it was not clear what Orania’s exact position on expropriation without compensation was. Orania promoted Afrikanerism and Afrikaner self-determination. Did they also promote inclusivity in the ideal South Africa which Orania foresees?
Mr Shivambu said Orania had placed much emphasis on the historical agreement which had resulted in the 1996 Constitution. Orania had not talked at all about the historical agreement between the Afrikaners and the British in 1902 after the Anglo Boer, where the Afrikaners were defeated. Afrikaners and the British – in that 1902 agreement – had agreed to share the land of South Africa to the exclusion of black people. That agreement saw Africans and indigenous people as non-humans, who were banished to Native reserves and Bantustans. Mr Boshoff wanted to focus only on the 1996 Constitution, which solidified the dispossession of African’s land as a result of colonialism and apartheid. He did not want to talk about the effects of the 1902 agreement between the Afrikaners and the British. Was Orania advocating a retention of that 1902 agreement? Was he advocating that the majority of the people who were dispossessed of land should remain landless? Was Orania saying that Parliament must protect the current patterns of unequal land ownership? People were living like pilchards in a tin in informal settlements. People lived in these conditions because of the history of colonial dispossession and violence. Was Mr Boshoff saying Parliament must ensure this current situation remained intact and the interests of the minority were protected at the expense of ending the suffering of the majority?
Mr Filtane said some submissions made by Orania were unpalatable. Orania had said expropriation without compensation was equivalent to the expropriation of cultural space. Was Orania comfortable with the status quo, where millions of people were excluded from land ownership? Millions could not practice their culture in any meaningful way because of the limited spaces in which they lived.
Mr Buthelezi asked if Orania’s views were consistent with the way the majority of South Africans felt about this issue. How would a balance be struck to ensure the rights and interests of all South Africans were protected and respected? A willingness for reconciliation and mutual recognition would require that the land be restored. Did Orania have such a willingness?
Orania’s response
Mr Boshoff replied to Mr Buthelezi, and said Orania was categorically in favour of a settlement which mutually recognised the rights of everyone, including the recognition of living space for all South African people.
In response to Mr Shivambu, he said the historical agreements in 1902 and 1908 which resulted in the Union of South Africa had been a colonial construct of which all South Africans formed a part. There were points of agreement upon which a post-colonial discourse could be built which did not reject Afrikaner rights and interests. There was a need to find a reasonable and mutual balance of the rights of all people. It was a complex issue which expropriation without compensation in itself could not resolve. Orania did not believe that all white people were thieves. Stakeholders should not bicker about land as if it was a commodity. Land should rather be viewed as a living space where people were grounded. A relationship of mutual recognition must be cultivated. People should not be at each other’s throats, and should not use violence to obtain land. The dignity of all people, whether black or white, must be respected and protected.
Ms Mokwele said it was painful to listen to Orania’s submissions. Mr Boshoff had land, as part of the Orania community. Blacks lived nearby Orania in unbearable conditions. Mr Boshoff said he was committed to redistribution and a fair share of South Africa’s resources. Why then did the people in Orania not practice what they preached and seek to ensure that black people also enjoyed the benefits of land ownership? Did he agree that the Orania land could be equally distributed according to the black people who also lived around it?
Mr Shivambu said whites constituted around 5% of the South African population. 80% of the land was owned by whites. What was a progressive land ownership demographic for South Africa?
Mr Boshoff said he could not reduce the issue down to a simple question of mathematics and demographics. South Africa was a community of communities, of which recognition was a key part. Undermining Section 25 of the Constitution would undermine that recognition. For this reason, Orania was not in favour of an isolated change to Section 25. One could not disregard the identity of people and who they were. This was what had happened during apartheid and should not happen again today.
Mr Jaco Schoeman, Chairperson: Afrikanerbond, said the Afrikanerbond believed the interests of all Afrikaners were inseparable from the interests of all South Africans. He stated categorically that he was not a thief and that he had not stolen land. He was also not a colonialist of a special type, and his grandfather had fought in the Anglo-Boer War, which was the biggest anti-colonial war in Africa.
All Afrikanerbond members were loyal members of the new South Africa. However, he had also benefited from apartheid because he was white. For past 15 years, the Afrikanerbond had attempted to make restitution for the legacy of apartheid. It was true that the first interaction between the ANC and the Afrikanerbond had been in 986. In the 1990s, negotiations had been held and a solemn pact had been made, now embodied in the Constitution, according to 24 Constitutional principles.
Principle 2 of the Constitution stated that everyone shall enjoy all internationally recognised human rights. This year was the 50th year of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Expropriation without compensation was contrary to established international principles of the UN Declaration, to which South Africa was a co-signatory. Article 17 of the UN Declaration stated that everyone had the right to own property either alone, or in association with another person or persons, and that no one shall be arbitrary deprived of property.
It was good that the government was actively pursuing policies to improve the lives of poor South Africans. However, expropriation without compensation would not achieve that intended result. The Constitution was part of an agreement to improve the lives of all South Africans. The Constitution should be amended only when all other alternatives had been exhausted. It should not be amended in the interests of expediency. While the intentions of government might be pure, it would not improve the lives of the majority of the people in the country. To adopt such a volatile position was ill advised, and we would do so at our own peril.
A workable solution must be found to the land question. If people wanted to work the land, they had to take risks. They had to work the land, not according to colour or race, but according to merit. A farmer must obtain finance and depend on banks for loans. Title deeds were necessary to secure loans, which was the unfortunate reality. Property rights were the only workable recipe for growth and development and food security in South Africa. Food security was the responsibility of all farmers, both white and black. A free market with a social conscience was the Christian vision which the Afrikanerbond proposes. A change in the Constitution was futile when political parties adhered to outdated ideologies, had hidden agendas and enact racist-based laws.
Poor governance had resulted in a number of embarrassing failures insofar as land reform was concerned. President Ramaphosa had pleaded with all South African to work together for the future of our country. Many reports in this regard were just gathering dust. Government had closed its doors and its ears. Markets and the financial climate were changing as a result, and the country was now in an economic recession. The Committee must do the right thing. Expropriation without compensation and undermining property rights could not be used as an electioneering tool. Land reform must happen. Land reform must, however, happen within the ambit and confines of the Constitution and done through an honest process. A land audit should be taken of both rural and urban land. Land owners should be treated fairly. If land was to be expropriated, then it should be expropriated subject to fair and equitable compensation.
Mr Maila said he came from Limpopo. There was farm nearby where he lives. Black families had lived on that farm since time immemorial. Those families were found there. Mr Schoeman had said the land belonged to those who live on it. Did the farmworker work the land, or the farm owner? Who then owned the land?
Mr Filtane said he was aware of the various principles on which the Constitution had been based. Constitutional Principle 5 said the legal system shall ensure equality of all before the law. Section 25 was that law. Section 25 did not at this point in time give people equal rights of access to land. Mr Schoeman had decided to focus instead on entrenched rights. That principle did not address the needs of landless black people. Was the Afrikanerbond advocating a permanent denial of property rights for the landless because the current government was not doing justice to the land reform programme? Did this mean the landless majority of black people must never own property? Was Mr Schoeman really comfortable advocating that position, given that Section 25(8) clearly required property redress?
Mr Shivambu said the Afrikanerbond defined itself as a civil society organisation. It had said it was also willing to work with government to find solutions to these problems. What solutions could it offer? Should we retain the Constitution in its current form? Almost 30 years had passed, and the majority of black people were in the same conditions which pertained during apartheid. The white minority still owned the land and sold land to other white people. They also sold the workers as well. Black people on farms were suffering and were exploited. Was the Afrikanerbond saying we must retain this status quo? Was this the South Africa which the Afrikanerbond wanted to build which was built on the exploitation of black people and massive inequality?
Mr Swart said the Director General of Agriculture had pleaded with the agricultural sector two weeks previously in Bela Bela, to assist the State in taking the nation forward. How could this be taken to heart, considering a potential amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution?
Mr Pieter Vorster, Deputy Chairperson: Afrikanerbond, said they have a slightly different take on the Constitution than that held by Mr Shivambu. The Constitution did not enshrine inequality. The Afrikanerbond stands by the Constitution and the principles underpinning it. Section 25 was comprehensive in providing powers to the State to facilitate land reform. There was nothing in Section 25 which prohibited the current process from being undertaken. There was a lot of land in South Africa. The land must be audited. There was a large demand for land in urban areas. There was lots of land in the possession of the government which could be used to facilitate land reform. There was also a demand for agricultural land -- this much was clear from the land claims which had been lodged, processed and finalised. Nothing stood in the way of that process.
It was, however, important not to destroy and disturb the value that privately-owned agricultural land provided for the country. The State should not interfere with natural market forces. It was open to any person to buy houses in urban areas. For people who could not buy houses, they should be subsidised by means of interest free loans and other forms of assistance from the government. The State should add value to the economy and not destroy the economy. There was no need to amend the Constitution. Section 25 was clear, and the economic value of land should not be destroyed in the process.
Mr Schoeman said he was excited about what had happened recently in Bela Bela. Those engagements had represented a change in attitude. However, that engagement was only the beginning of the process. Everyone had to link hands together on the journey, when the end destination was still far away. It was difficulty to walk the line if one did not know where the end was. Overall however, the Afrikanerbond was excited that the Bela Bela engagement signified the beginning of a process which could result in the end destination being identified.
Responding to Mr Mailia, Mr Schoeman said the question of who worked the land was a simple one. Working the land was not simply a matter of getting on a tractor and ploughing the land. Working the land required investment and risks, such as getting a bond. If people did not take those risks, then the land could not become workable. People who worked on the land as farm workers also worked the land. Both parties worked the land. Working the land had a much deeper meaning than simply physically working on and farming the land itself. The Freedom Charter said that the land belongs to all those who live in it and who work the land. The Freedom Charter was drafted 50 years ago, and new dimensions had since come forth. The concept of who worked the land had also changed and therefore one must also consider those people who had taken financial and other risks to develop the land, and who also in their own way, work the land.
Mr Maila indicated his dissatisfaction with Mr Schoeman’s response. Mr Schoeman had said he was a beneficiary of apartheid as a white man. What responsibility was Mr Schoeman talking about when he said that he had a duty to redress the atrocities of the past?
The Chairperson said Mr Schoeman had clarified his response, that the owner of the land also worked the land.
Mr Mpumlwana said Mr Schoeman appeared to be saying the status quo must be protected. The Committee was attempting to resolve historical problems. These problems were not necessarily caused by Mr Schoeman personally, but those problems existed and needed to be addressed. The government could not assist the large amount of poor people who lived on farms. They were permanent slaves. People lived in shacks and in poverty. The status quo was unjust, and needed to be addressed in some way. It was not helpful to say the economy would suffer and market forces must prevail.
The Chairperson said Mr Mpumlwana was making pleas and attempting to persuade the Afrikanerbond to alter their positions. Those pleas were out of order and did not belong in the current forum.
Ms Carter said Afrikanerbond had stated property rights must be extended to black owners and access to property must also be expanded. Could it expand on what that meant? If the problem lay in the policy framework, not the Constitution, then would it be fair to say that the willing buyer-willing seller policy was one of the policy failures?
Mr Robertson said the State kept changing the rules of the game. The Afrikanerbond had made an effort to appear before the Committee to give their views on this matter. What could enhance both access to property and protect property ownership under the current Constitutional framework? What needed to happen to achieve both of those objectives?
Ms Mokwele said the presentation was concerning. Mr Schoeman had said Parliament should not tamper with the space of Afrikaners on the basis that the economy would suffer. This was because the Afrikanerbond were only the people who benefited from the economy. In the mind of Mr Schoeman, the person who drove the tractor was not intelligent enough to think for himself. He believed that only white people were intelligent enough to work the land. Black people did not have land, houses or the food which they produced with their own hands.
The Chairperson said Ms Mokwele was completely out of order and had asked no clarity seeking questions.
Mr Schoeman said while Ms Mowkele’s question had been ruled out of order, it should be responded to. Driving a tractor was a very technical and advanced activity. One must be extremely intelligent to drive even a basic tractor.
Mr Vorster said it was completely untrue that the Afrikanerbond was proposing that only the property interests of white people should be protected at the expense of the black majority and land reform. The Afrikanerbond promoted the protection of property rights for all people in South Africa. The Bela Bela conference had focused specifically on agriculture, which they fully supported. The Afrikanerbond also supported other initiatives. They wanted more African entrepreneurs to become involved in agriculture. This could help South Africa to prosper economically and create jobs. Private property and title deeds should, however, be protected. Title deeds should be considered being granted on communal land. All land should be used to the benefit of all South Africans. There were various levels of participation in agriculture. It was not true that farm labourers lived in poverty and were suffering. Farm labourers lived in very good housing and were well looked after.
Mr Shivambu interjected, saying the Afrikanerbond must not lie to the Committee and say farm workers were well looked after and lived good lives.
The Chairperson disallowed Mr Shivambu’s interjections. That was the view of the Afrikanerbond, which they were free to express. Mr Shivambu was out of order.
Mr Vorster continued that it was important not to become carried away with one’s own argument. One must be open to hearing divergent views. He personally was a farmer and had invested in purchasing land after 1994. Thousands of farmers, both black and white, had equally taken a risk in purchasing farms. Property rights should not be watered down. This would have a ripple effect throughout the economy. Radical views which had been expressed in the last few months on this issue had had a negative effect on investor confidence. The Afrikanerbond respected all people and would actively engage with any person or organisation. All people were South Africans who had South Africa’s best interests at heart.
Human Economy Programme: University of Pretoria
Dr Marc Wegerif, Human Economy Programme, University of Pretoria, said he had worked on land rights and related issues for the past 24 years. The decision to review Section 25 of the Constitution represented an exciting opportunity to achieve the ideals of the Constitution and give effect to the Constitution’s preamble, which recognised the injustices of South Africa’s past. This could provide an opportunity to ensure South Africa did indeed belong to all who live in it. The Constitution was the supreme law. The Constitution also sent a clear message about the values of the nation to all citizens, civil servants and politicians.
Dr Wegerif said he would focus on five suggestions:
The creation of a constitutionally protected and defined social and ecological function for all land in South Africa.
Creating a legal space where the State and landless South Africans could acquire land without paying compensation under certain circumstances.
Creating social responsibilities which could advance the land rights of vulnerable groups, especially women.
Creating strong rights to property which all people, especially poor people, could defend against arbitrary State action.
The need for a wider transformation of the food and agricultural sector to create an enabling environment, especially small-scale farmers, to succeed on the land.
Land, and the related natural resources linked to it, were assets for the South African nation. This should be clearly articulated. One should clearly set out the duties and responsibilities which were owed to South Africa’s natural resources. One could draw guidance in this respect from the constitutions of countries such as Brazil. This would set a different tone and legal framing to the current understanding of property. Article 186 of Chapter 3 of the Brazilian constitution declares a social function for rural land. That article requires rural land be adequately used in a manner that respects the environment, respects labour laws and benefits both owners and labourers. South Africa needs to discuss the social function of land -- all land, whether it is rural, urban or State-owned. Issues of production and labour need to be discussed, as well as the need to address historical injustices. The cultural and spiritual importance of land also needs to be mentioned. A uniquely South African definition of the social and ecological function of land needs to be formulated.
The failure to use land for its social function would be a justifiable reason to expropriate the land. The social function of land would also help determine who that land should go to – and for what purpose - once expropriated. Certain Articles in the Brazilian Constitution give the State the power to expropriate land where it was not be used for its social function. It also allowed for that land to be transferred to landless people, who were defined as people who did not own any other property. The land was then transferred to those people for a five-year period, who could make productive use of up to 50 hectares of rural land. This created a legal space for people to lawfully occupy and use land. This was vital, as the State could not be solely relied upon to use its powers to act in the interests of landless people. Such occupations had been vital to the success of movements such as the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in the Brazilian context. MST had settled thousands of families on close to a million hectares of rural land in Brazil which was previously unused or underutilised.
Similar provisions should be placed in the South African Constitution. Such provisions would affirm that land was a national resource which fulfilled a vital social function for the people who work it. Such provisions should also require that the people involved must be landless to benefit from those redistribution programmes, and the amount of land which could be transferred should also be limited. This would prevent the risk of abuse and elite capture. There must a requirement that people who owned the land must use land for a social function if they wished to retain it. This would encourage land utilisation.
In certain circumstances, it would make no sense to pay for expropriated land. However, there were other circumstances were it would be totally unreasonable to refuse any compensation. A formula needed to be created to determine when compensation should or should not be paid. Where compensation must be paid, it should be fair compensation. Section 25(3) of the Constitution provides a good starting to point to determine what would constitute fair compensation. One could add the additional factor to Section 25(3) which required a consideration of whether the current owner of the land was using the land in such a manner that the land fulfilled its social function.
Section 25 should be amended to provide explicitly for expropriation without compensation. Similar provisions in the Brazilian Constitution had not led to global anarchy, nor had such provisions prevented Brazil from becoming a global agricultural powerhouse.
A grave concern in many countries, including South Africa, was the abuse of the process of land reform to benefit elites. This undermined the potential of land reform to bring about greater equity and to create an opportunity for the majority and the neediest in society. Provisions in the Brazilian Constitution favour small scale land owners over large scale land owners. For example, Clause XXVI prevents the attachment of a small rural property for the recovery debts which were incurred for productive purposes. The Constitution could and should be used to favour vulnerable groups to ensure a more equitable society and more productive patterns of agriculture.
Women around the world face discrimination and prejudice in securing access to land. Section 25 in its current form was gender blind. Other provisions of the Constitution, however, do contain a clear prohibition on discrimination against women. Section 25, however, contained no clear constitutional obligation to overcome deeply rooted gender inequalities which exist in property relations. At a minimum, Section 25 should expressly require the enactment of legislation which aimed to enhance women’s access to land, to advance equitable gender-based land ownership. Such a provision could read similarly to Section 25(6), which deals with security of tenure. Gender data also needs to be gathered so that current patterns of land ownership along gender lines could be properly determined.
To give black South Africans land without any security of tenure would defeat the purpose of reforming land rights in South Africa. This could also lead to any gains made becoming unravelled. It was necessary to keep a long-term view in mind when considering the amendment of the Constitution. The Constitution should not be amended frequently. One had no idea who could be ruling the country in 10-15 years’ time. It was necessary to ensure that any successive governments could not use any additional powers to attack the land rights of poor people or black South Africans.
Around the world, it was not rich white people who were losing land. Poor and indigenous people were the one’s who suffered the most from land dispossession. This dispossession often occurred without compensation. Massive and sustained corporate demand for natural resources was the context in which black and indigenous poor people were being dispossessed of their land globally. South Africa was not exempt from these global trends. This had occurred in the Xolobeni community, which was trying to protect to protect its land from global mining companies and the government allies of those companies. The creation of a social and ecological function for land which clearly sets out the purposes for which land could, and could not, be used would help to prevent people from been dispossessed of land in this manner.
Land seizure and compensation decisions must remain subject to judicial review by the courts. It must also be ensured that the poor and dispossessed could also obtain a fair hearing and legal representation in such proceedings. Long term security should be protected. At the same time, it was necessary to balance long term security with ensuring a far-reaching reform programme of both land and property rights.
The South African food and agricultural sector remained highly concentrated within the hands of a few – mostly white – hands. Ownership of food and processing capacity was concentrated amongst a few large corporations. This made it extremely hard for new and small-scale farmers to break into the market and succeed. These difficulties arose, regardless of the skill and commitment levels of those small-scale farmers. If these barriers of access to markets were not addressed, the land and the agricultural reform programme would be doomed to fail. President Ramaphosa had often put the issue of enhancing food and agricultural security at the centre of the debate around land reform. Section 25 should have an additional Section inserted which creates a positive obligation on the State to create an enabling environment for land reform beneficiaries to succeed in the areas of food and agricultural production. Brazil had a similar provision in its own Constitution. This could be formulated in a similar way to Section 25(5) of the Constitution, which provides for the enactment of legislation which had the purpose of enabling citizens to gain access to land. The need to enhance food and agricultural production could not be used as a means to block wide reaching reforms of land property relations. Rather, a wide ranging and holistic commitment was needed to address the domination of the market by a few large corporate entities.
Mr Koornhof asked if Dr Wegerif had more information on other Constitutions to which he had referred, and if he could email that information to the Committee.
Mr Shivambu said he was unsure as to whether Dr Wegerif supported the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to provide expropriation without compensation. Much of what he had suggested could be fleshed out in policy and legislation. Did he support the EFF’s position that the State should become the custodian of all the land in South Africa?
Mr Robertson asked if Dr Wegerif believed individual property rights should be maintained or not? Would policies around protecting emerging farmers not fall under industrial policy in terms of policies such as protectionism, for example? Was it really necessary to amend the Constitution to provide for such policies?
Mr Filtane asked if he was correct in saying Dr Wegerif was in favour of the amendment of Section 25(3) of the Constitution in particular. Did he agree that the largest problem with Section 25(3) was the reference to the market value of the land? This was in the sense that the market value was determined by internal factors, such as the type of commodity produced on that land, and by external factors, such as the need for those commodities in the outside world. Did he agree that the external factors strongly inhibited the ability of the State to acquire such land through expropriation?
Mr Swart said the Brazilian model had taken place in conjunction with extensive programmes of social upliftment to address high levels of poverty. The central issues appeared to be ones of poverty and inequality. Did Dr Wegerif agree that the central issue in respect of this whole process was really about high levels of poverty?
Human Economy Programme’s response
Dr Wegerif said he would be happy to share more information. In his original written submissions, he had annexed the relevant provisions of the Brazilian Constitution.
The concept of a social function of land had been first developed and articulated in 1911. The social function of land had been incorporated in a number of constitutions in a range of different countries. Academic and other work had examined the social function of land, which he would be happy to share with the Committee.
In response to Mr Shivambu, Dr Wegerif said he did support an amendment to the Constitution. He also supported the notion that the State should be able to expropriate without compensation. This should be made clear and explicit in the Constitution. However, he aimed to go beyond the narrow question of expropriation without compensation alone. There were a number of things one should be mindful of. Why not also expressly amend the Constitution to also ensure gender equitable outcomes in property relations? A failure to do so could actually entrench gender divisions. Why not also the address the issue of access to markets, and the need to support new and emerging black farmers? Many emerging black farmers had been set up to fail. It was also necessary to ensure that black farmers had their rights to property protected. It would not be fair for an emerging farmer to have their land expropriated without any criteria which could be relied upon to determine the lawfulness and fairness of such an expropriation.The notion of the social function of land could help in giving more meaning and content to that debate.
In principle, he was not opposed to nationalisation or State custodianship. However, nationalisation did not necessarily equate to greater equity. Many countries had nationalised land, which had not resulted a fairer distribution of property. In many countries where the State had nationalised land, corporate entities had taken control of the land which had been given to them by the State. This had actually resulted in people having land taken away from them. Even if land was nationalised, then incorporating a principle of the social function of land was essential. The social function of land principle would also constrain the State in terms of ensuring equity and ensuring that land was used to facilitate redistribution and upliftment.
In response to Mr Robertson, Dr Wegerif said the core philosophy of the social function of land recognised that it was necessary to balance individual rights with wider societal rights and interests. There should be a number of principles which guided the debate. Individual autonomy and rights must be combined with notions of solidarity and equity. This could grapple with the tension between individual and societal rights. The problem was that the current system viewed property rights purely from an individual perspective. Society did not consist of individuals. It consisted of a collection of individuals who had to live together. It was necessary to balance societal and individual rights together.
In response to Mr Filtane, Dr Wegerif said the amount of compensation should not be reduced to a question of market value alone. The Constitution was already clear that market value was the determining factor. The incorporation of the social function of land would also help determine how market value and other factors should be considered to determine what amount of compensation should be paid.
Section 25 review of Constitution: public hearings 1
Agri SA submission
National Association of Democratic Lawyers submission
In Transformation Initiative (ITI) submission
The Orania Movement submission
South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) submission
Human Economy Programme, University of Pretoria submission
Afrikanerbond submission
Black First Land First (BLF) submission
South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) submission
National African Farmers Union of South Africa submission
Nzimande, Mr LP Chairperson
Breytenbach, Adv G
Buthelezi, Mr EM
Carter, Ms D
Filtane, Mr ML
James, Ms LV
Koornhof, Mr NC
Maila, Mr MS
Mbabama, Ms TM
Mncwabe, Mr SC
Mothapo, Ms MR
Motshekga, Dr MS
Mpumlwana, Mr LKB
Mulder, Dr CP
FF+
Paulsen, Mr N M
Robertson, Mr K
Shivambu, Mr F
Stock, Mr D
Swart, Mr SN
ACDP
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Thornberry Releases FY20 Reform Proposals
Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released his proposals to reform how the Department of Defense (DOD) does business. This is the fifth year that Congressman Thornberry has offered reform proposals for inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In each case, Thornberry has released a discussion draft of the legislation several weeks ahead of the Committee’s consideration of the NDAA.
The House Armed Services Committee has led Congress in enacting significant defense reforms with strong bipartisan support. Among these reforms are over sixty of Rep. Thornberry’s proposals that have been enacted by Congress. As a result of these and other efforts, anyone entering military service today will reap the benefits of these reforms over the course of their career. Specifically, these reforms will improve agility, cut bureaucracy, promote justice, provide better benefits, and save the taxpayer billions. You can find more information about Rep. Thornberry’s FY20 reform proposals, and his past proposals, here.
This year, Ranking Member Thornberry is releasing two proposals. The first, the Continuing Acquisition Reform Act, enforces those reforms already enacted by Congress, continues reform momentum by acting on the recommendations of congressionally chartered panels, and lays the foundations for an enduring culture of reform and excellence in acquisitions. You can find a fact sheet on the Continuing Acquisition Reform Act here, a summary of reforms where Rep. Thornberry would like to see more progress, and legislative text.
The second proposal, the Accelerating Defense Innovation Act, is intended to enhance pathways for small entrepreneurial companies to innovate and commercialize their innovations in DOD markets. The proposal institutes a pilot program within the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to improve access for small business innovators while ensuring that additional mechanisms, like the Rapid Innovation Fund, are calibrated to take advantage of these innovations. The proposal will increase DOD level of engagement with commercial technology companies, create opportunities for new technologies to grow out of universities and DOD laboratories, and introduce small businesses to cybersecurity best practices early in their journey. Click here for a fact sheet on the Accelerating Defense Innovation Act as well as legislative text.
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Home » Top Consultants » Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The number 1 business strategy to secure your future
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The number 1 business strategy to secure your future
September 12, 2017 Katy Roberts
Urs is not just another independent consultant. When one’s expertise lies in transforming struggling organisations into profitable powerhouses, most people sit up and take notice. For someone who has spent the last 15 years in both the multinational and start-up e-commerce and online spaces, one would be hard-pressed to find a consultant more aware of the pressures of change and the demands for profitability, than Urs.
We speak to him about workforce trends, the true value of entrepreneurship and innovation and why disruptive technology is forcing organisations to become forward-focussed.
Strong beginnings – EUR 73 million of them.
“Like many, part of my career journey lies in the corporate world, where I started out in telecommunications and eventually moved into the consumer goods industry,” Urs tells me. But it was when an offer to lead a new start-up opportunity in Spain, when Urs’ true talent rang true. “I was offered the opportunity to lead the launch of a new German start-up called jobpilot, in Spain. Within 3 years of launch, we were profitable, eventually selling the whole business to Adecco for EUR73 million,” he tells me. Following this success, Urs was called in to transform a struggling Movendus Global and, again, within 3 years, turned a loss of EUR1.5 million, into profit. And it was in 2011 that Urs started to look at ways to apply the knowledge he had built up within the corporate world, as an independent consultant where he has also been instrumental in setting up the Barcelona chapter of the Founder Institute – the world’s premier startup launch program for talented entrepreneurs.
Changing trends of today’s workforce
Urs talks to me about new workforce trends that he has been seeing throughout his career. “I’ve always been a part-time entrepreneur,” he tells me. And looking at things from a new and different perspective is what makes Urs so good at what he does. “One position that I strongly advocate is the need for a Chief Entrepreneur Officer – perhaps no coincidence that the abbreviation also refers to CEO”, he laughs. “This is especially necessary in profitable, strong organisations. So often, one sees a Chief Executive Officer leading a business, having grown within the company and having become successful through internal business growth strategies and execution of an existing business model. But what they lack is an innovative approach or thinking about the opportunities the new, different, future business models may add to the survival, and success of the business,” he says. And with the exception of Jeff Bezos, Urs tells me that so often, many of the clients he has worked with and for, have a leadership team who do what they know, based on an existing business, but do not, and are not capable, of developing thoughts about what the existing business looks like in 10 – 20 years’ time. This is where Urs steps in and helps.
The development of entrepreneurial talent in-house
“One of the things we’re trying to do is to find entrepreneurs within large organisations who have the opportunity to develop into leaders themselves, and take a much more active role in the management of the organisation,” says Urs. Urs, together with a network of other consultants, run a series of programs for organisations that demonstrate a highly-talented workforce that is able to provide feedback, and opinion based on a truly entrepreneurial mindset. Whether they’re setting up an innovations program for an automotive client throughout their 100 dealerships, or whether he’s delivering smaller, more intimate, workshops with organisations helping them identify innovation opportunities within their business, Urs strongly believes that every large company must face the reality of continuous innovation and disruption, or risk of becoming obsolete in the 21st century. The organisational structures that characterise established companies nowadays are unlikely to produce that necessary new growth. “You may be number 1 right now, but it doesn’t mean that in 10 years time you will still be going. Companies are fighting to disrupt the market – we will continue to see more examples like Airbnb or Uber disrupting the way we do things. Businesses like Kodak and Blockbuster, who we never thought would disappear, closed down almost overnight with the development of on demand video and mobile and digital technology.
Digital transformation — the use of technology to radically improve the performance or reach of enterprises — is a hot topic for companies across the globe. Digital strategy and transformation must therefore be a top priority of the CEO and the senior-management team. They must look at what’s ahead and be open to change, and focussing on innovation and entrepreneurship is becoming the number 1 strategy for organisations who want to grow their business, cut their costs and secure their future,” he says.
Ready to get your business focussed on change? Get in touch with us today, to have the opportunity to work with someone like Urs.
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National Reading Group Day 2019 - logo
This year, National Reading Group Day will take place on Saturday 15 June, the start of Independent Book Week. We have a downloadable logo that you can use on your materials. Just click on the link below to download.
National Reading Group Day 2019 - poster
This year, National Reading Group Day will take place on Saturday 15 June, the start of Independent Book Week. We have a downloadable poster that you can use in your library. Just click on the link below to download.
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Linwood Barclay’s Secret Mission digital resources
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Public Library & Other Stories by Ali Smith - Competition Image for Twitter
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Home News Real Estate Daily News Buzz Aug. 29, 2017
Real Estate Daily News Buzz Aug. 29, 2017
Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz of the day will be.
Monday, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index picked up 1.19 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,444.24. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 5.27 points to 21,808.40. The Nasdaq composite rose 17.37 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,283.02.
Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.30, or 2.7 percent, to $46.57 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 52 cents, or 1 percent, to $51.89 a barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline futures rose 5 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $1.71 a gallon. Heating oil rose 1 cent to $1.64 a gallon. Natural gas added 3 cents to $2.93 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Harvey slams region’s economy, with damages in the billions — Flood damage from Hurricane Harvey is likely to reach into the tens of billions and the storm is expected to cause the region’s economy to shrink, at least in the near term. The storm has forced Gulf Coast refineries to shut down, leading to higher gasoline prices. Houston’s two airports will remain shuttered for days. Harvey will also affect other industries from banking to insurance.
Voting Options for Election Day Tuesday – If you missed last week’s deadline to mail back your ballot in time for it to be counted in the City of Tucson’s primary election tomorrow, you still have some options available. Four sites will be used as voting locations or drop-off sites on Election Day. They will be open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. The sites are: Tucson City Clerk Elections Center, 800 E. 12th St.; El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Road; Parks and Recreation Administration, 900 S. Randolph Way; and the Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave. If you don’t want to wait until tomorrow, you can return your ballot today until 5 p.m. at the 12th Street location. The contested races are in Wards 3, 5, and 6. For more information, call (520) 884-VOTE (8683).
Tucson City Clerk’s election page: https://1.usa.gov/1Jw2Box
Tucson City Golf Community Workshop this week – The City of Tucson is hosting its third of four community workshops to discuss the future of Tucson City Golf courses. The workshops include a presentation on the financial history of Tucson City Golf and the various options that will be considered at each course. Each golf course has a unique set of circumstances that impact options. The next community workshop will focus on the Randolph golf courses, and attendees will have an opportunity to comment on the options. The workshop will start this Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Randolph Golf Complex (Copper Room), 600 S. Alvernon Way. For additional information, please contact Greg Jackson at (520) 837-8011 or Greg.Jackson@tucsonaz.gov. Tucson City Golf: https://bit.ly/1wmSGx3
Tickets on Sale Now for Tucson Roadrunners Games – Single-game tickets for the Tucson Roadrunners 2017-18 hockey home games went on sale today at the Tucson Convention Center (TCC) Ticket Office. With tickets starting at just $15, fans can enjoy family fun in Downtown Tucson. The Roadrunners kick off the season on Saturday, Oct. 7, against the San Diego Gulls at 7:05 p.m. in the Tucson Arena. For more information, call 1-866-774-6253. You can also visit the website linked below to buy tickets, see the schedule, learn about promotions, follow game statistics, and more. The Sun Link streetcar has stops just west of the TCC (on Granada Avenue) for easy access to the games.
Tucson Roadrunners (and link to purchase tickets): https://bit.ly/2dCjdqn
Walk dogs on Labor Day – Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is recruiting volunteers to walk dogs on Labor Day next Monday. PACC wants up to 200 volunteer dog walkers for the event. Anyone 15 years of age and older can register by following the link below. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m. at 4000 N. Silverbell Road, and the dog walk will begin by 7 o’clock and run for about two hours. Walkers are encouraged to bring water, wear closed-toe shoes, and dress in clothing they don’t mind getting dirty.
Register for PACC community dog walk: https://bit.ly/2xrDg1Q
PACC news: https://bit.ly/2wiYgru
Download App to Track Streetcar – If you’d like to track the Sun Link streetcar and you have a smartphone, you’re in luck. The Tucson Streetcar Tracker, developed by Dallan Porter at the University of Arizona, is useful if you want to figure out how long it will take for the streetcar to show up at the stop where you’re waiting. The app was developed using open data provided by Sun Link. The free tracker is available for iOS and Android.
Tucson Streetcar Tracker (iOS): https://apple.co/1CVgsYR
Tucson Streetcar Tracker (Android): https://bit.ly/1Ila0wD
Sun Link: https://bit.ly/1YLz2IN
Office Spaces Focusing More on Communal Areas “Businesses are beginning to design offices spaces that are increasing the amount of square footage per employee when shared work settings are taken into account. That is one of the conclusions of a new report by architecture and design firm Ted Moudis Associates, which analyzed 2.4 million square feet of Ted Moudis’ office projects. Many companies are expanding the selection of alternative places to get work done.” (Wall Street Journal, subscription required)
What Happens After the Real Estate Wave Crests? “Boston was flying high. New towers were transforming the downtown skyline, while growing companies couldn’t hire fast enough to fill open jobs. Home prices had been surging for half a decade, and condo builders were racing to keep up with the demand. The year was 1988. And what happened next was a real estate bust just as epic as the boom that preceded it. Jobs vanished. Banks failed. Unsold condos littered the market. It took most of a decade for Boston to dig out.” (Boston Globe)
Thousands of Homes in Houston Inundated by Tropical Storm Harvey “Heavy rains are continuing to fall on Houston as tens of thousands of homes in the city are being inundated by Harvey, a former category 4 hurricane that has been downgraded to a major tropical storm. Harris County sheriff’s spokesman Jason Spencer says flooding throughout the county that includes Houston and the region is so widespread that it’s ‘difficult to pinpoint the worst area.’ In all, more than 230,000 homes on the Texas coast are at risk of damage from storm surge, according to analytics company CoreLogic. The combined reconstruction value of is about $39.6 billion, Corelogic estimates. But many of the homes at risk are not in a designated flood zones.” (Forbes)
Here’s What Will Make Real Estate Investing Great Again “Profitable enterprises can be poor investments if you pay too much for them. That’s exactly what is happening now with publicly traded REITs. This development was forecasted in an article I wrote last February. With assistance from investment firm Research Affiliates, the article concluded that REITs would produce returns between 0% and 2% annualized on an inflation-adjusted basis over the next decade.” (MarketWatch)
How Stephen M. Ross’ Gift to the University of Michigan Ended Up in Tax Court “On his way to becoming the University of Michigan’s largest donor, Stephen M. Ross and a group of business partners donated a collective gift to his alma mater. In return, the partnership claimed a giant charitable tax deduction: $33 million. The Internal Revenue Service didn’t buy it. IRS lawyers flagged Ross and his partners as engaging in a ‘tax avoidance scheme lacking in economic substance … to the benefit of Mr. Ross and his associates at Related Companies.’” (Detroit Free Press)
Google Effect Unleashes Downtown San Jose Property Boom “Google’s effort to acquire a broad swath of downtown San Jose properties for a massive new tech campus is triggering a sharp jump in selling prices for commercial real estate in the area. The internet search giant’s plan to expand into San Jose with a new campus employing up to 20,000 Googlers near the Diridon train station and SAP Center could take years to become a reality, if the company moves ahead with plans to build.” (Mercury News)
Flooding After Harvey Too Much for Retailers, Grocers: Many Close Sunday Afternoon “Major grocers and retailers in the Houston area were forced to close most or all stores Sunday after Harvey slammed the city overnight. H-E-B operated some Houston-area stores until 3 p.m. Its store at Braeswood and Chimney Rock, however, remained closed as Brays Bayou overflowed, forcing residents to escape in boats and helicopters. It also closed its Central Market store on Westheimer.” (Chron)
The Closing: Joanne Podell “Joanne Podell, a veteran retail broker and executive vice chairman at Cushman & Wakefield, was named the company’s top producer nationwide in 2016. She is the second woman in the history of the company to receive that designation. Podell, who has brokered more than 100,000 square feet in the past year, spearheaded the largest retail transaction in New York City in 2016 when she represented sports giant Nike in a 70,000-square-foot lease for its flagship store at 650 Fifth Avenue.” (The Real Deal)
Northwestern Mutual’s New HQ Opens in Milwaukee “The 1.1 million-square-foot Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons project along the Lake Michigan lakefront in downtown Milwaukee has celebrated its grand opening. Gilbane Building Co., of Providence, R.I., was the project’s construction manager, along with joint venture partner CG Schmidt, a Milwaukee-based construction management and general contracting firm. The 32-story tower adjoins a three-story, two-block-long space known as the Commons.” (Commercial Property Executive)
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NextInterview with Joan as Police Woman.
New Music Friday | Check out the best new albums released April 19.
Robert Horvat on April 19, 2019
Lizzo’s long-awaited new album for Cuz I Love You just might be what the good doctor ordered this week. It’s a celebration of Lizzo’s eclectic strengths in everything from R&B and soul to pop and hip hop (trap). I must admit I’m new to Lizzo but I am already taken by her unapologetic aurora. If you want to get a feel for Cuz I Love You, maybe start with Tempo, which incidentally features Missy Elliot, then circle back to the title track and be ready for your mind to be blown by her amazing soulful voice.
I am a big fan of anything Portland-based singer songwriter Anna Tivel does. In fact I’m hoping to speak with her in the next few weeks about her amazing new release called The Question. We last caught up back in 2017, so I can imagine there will be a lot to chat about. I’m thrilled to see she still finds inspiration in the things around her. The title track on this her fourth studio album stands as my favourite song so far. It questions our preconceptions about religion and identity. Check out her live performance of it here.
Honk has been promoted as a compilation of the Rolling Stones music from 1971 and onwards. It’s got thirty-six solid tracks, which includes classic like Start Me Up, Angie and Miss You. The back-end of the album includes live performances of the band from around the world. Thrilled to see Wild Horses featuring the amazing Florence Welch makes an appearance. If I’m correct it is from the Rolling Stones concert in London Stadium in 2018. While I still prefer Forty Licks and Grrr! as two of the best Rolling Stones compilations to own, Honk is still worthy of adding to any fan’s collection
Tim Baker, the former frontman of the indie rock band Hey Rosetta, has released his solo debut album this week arguably to no one’s surprise. I don’t say that at all to be contemptuous in tone, it’s just that almost everybody sensed Baker wasn’t finished musically with the demise (on-hiatus) of Hey Rosetta. His wonderful debut Forever Overhead is a blend of piano ballads and folk-rock tracks that capture Baker at his creative best. Standouts include Dance, All Hands and Spirit.
When I found out Bananarama were releasing a new album I wondered whether it would be a nostalgic blast from the past. Maybe wishful thinking on my part? Honestly, I still rate Venus or Cruel Summer as two of the best 80s pop songs ever released. On In Stereo, Bananarama duo, Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, are not going to set the world on fire, but it’s solid enough if you are a fan of club tracks and electropop. Definitely worth a spin.
Sometimes musicians procrastinate about releasing a debut album. They want to be sure they have created something that is worthwhile. Fair enough, right? I get that impression from Jade Bird who first found fame with her folk-tinged single Lottery, which I must confess is still a really cool song. Anyway, after releasing four or five new singles since 2018, Bird it seems finally found the right formula or set of songs that she hoped would win over critics and fans for her self-titled album. What I really like about Bird’s debut is how she combines her confessional-style songwriting with elements of folk, rock and pop. Already I am mesmerised by her anthemic I Get No Joy and Side Effects with its catchy hook and chorus. For someone still so young, she is already a very accomplished songwriter and musician. This is definitely, my pick for album of the week.
Other notable new album releases this week:
Beyonce ‘Homecoming: The Live Album’ (Parkwood/Columbia)
The Vamps ‘Missing You’ (Virgin EMI)
Cage the Elephant ‘Social Cues’ (RCA Records)
Loyle Carner ‘Not Waving, But Drowning’ (AMF Records)
Posted in: Music, Music reviews
Tagged in: Music, New album releases, New music
Interview with Joan as Police Woman.
Christ’s victory over death.
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Maria Prosviryakova's Blog
Six Criteria for Military Intervention: Right Authority
In this entry I explore the last one out of six criteria for military intervention, which defines who has the right to authorize military intervention.
Criterion 6: Right authority
It is rather important to ensure that a military intervention is legitimate and has broad support from the international community. The United Nations Security Council is the only international body that should represent the world’s voice and make decisions with binding force. But the politicization of the Security Council sometimes prevents it from making just decisions that could save lives. Members of the Security Council are guided in their vote by their national interests; and permanent members tend to exercise the veto right when the use of military force runs counter to their strategic interest in the afflicted country, even if non-intervention leads to continued mass atrocities.
Russia and China, for example, do in theory support the norm of the responsibility to protect, but in practice have historically advocated a non-interference policy in the internal affairs of other countries. This is partly because they are worried that the repeated invocation of military interventions could create a precedent for the international community’s interference in domestic affairs of nations; and this may one day lead to interference in their own conflicts with their sometimes restive minority populations. Such positions of non-interference contradict with the spirit of the norm of the responsibility to protect – stating that the international community should step up if endangered civilians are not protected by their own government.
Russia and China’s veto on Syria places the UN Security Council in a deadlock, paralyzing any legitimate actions to that end, at a time when the world community should help cease the massive violence in Syria. The combined population of Russia and China constitute only 21% of the world population, and though significant in number, is still a “minority” in supporting non-interference in the world debate on military intervention in Syria. These rough estimates don’t take into account any divisions on Syrian intervention within societies and considers only national positions presented at the UN Security Council meeting.
There is an initiative proposed by the Small Five Group (consisting of Switzerland, Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein and Singapore) that “permanent members should refrain from using the veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ‘grave breaches’ of international humanitarian law”.[1] If this initiative were adopted it could mean that UN Security Council decisions on military interventions in cases of mass atrocities would be far more objective and fair. But this is highly unlikely now as the permanent members of the Security Council are quite reluctant to give up their veto right that gives them unprecedented influence over world security decisions.
The fact that the UN Security Council cannot always arrive at an agreement spurs the idea that military intervention can be authorized by regional organizations. Yet according to international law (Article 103 of the UN Charter), regional organizations are not authorized to use any force other than in self-defense. Thus, a regional organization’s backing of military intervention is not sufficient, but the support of regional organizations can still be crucial in executing the mandate of UN-authorized military interventions, such as in the African Union / UN Hybrid operation in Darfur.[2]
Although the United Nations has its shortcomings, it still remains a powerful organization in the world arena and the only one that can provide the necessary legitimacy and authorization for military interventions. Though there are still cases where regional organizations such as NATO undertake their own independent military interventions, having United Nations authorization represents broad support and eliminates cases where the “responsibility to protect” rhetoric is used to cover up military intervention that does not serve humanitarian purposes.
The norm of the responsibility to protect was unanimously adopted by all UN Member States (Libya and Syria were among those who endorsed this norm, but have failed to uphold it). Any military intervention outside of a UN Security Council mandate is subject to severe criticism and censure, and should be considered as a forceful infringement on the sovereignty of a nation state.
Military intervention is a very challenging decision to make and one that is even harder to implement. But such difficulties and challenges shouldn’t stand in the way of saving the lives of our fellow human beings. While it might take quite some time before the clear mechanisms behind the responsibility to protect are developed, but every life lost in conflict and every mistake made by the international community can at best be taken as a lesson on our road to improve our response to intra-state conflicts.
[1] The UN elections Campaign. Small Five Group Draft Proposal on Security Council Reform. http://www.unelections.org/?q=node/2385 (Accessed 22 October 2012).
[2] U.N. Peacekeeping Operations. UNAMID. http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unamid/ (Accessed 22 October 2012).
Maria Prosviryakova
Блог: Maria Prosviryakova's Blog
Статистика турецких протестов
Как сделать первые прогнозы по модели Буэно де Мескиты?
Как предсказать будущее с помощью компьютерной модели?
humanitarian interventions, публичная дипломатия, Syria, United Nations, international cooperation, ООН, ответственность по защите, responsibility to protect, Security Council
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Ruth - statement on EU Withdrawal Bill
21 Nov, 2017 By admin 0 Comments
I have had a large amount of constituents contacting me recently about the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill, previously known as the "Repeal Bill". I will address my concerns and the amendments I support in this post.
As you know, the Bill repeals the European Communities Act 1972 and converts EU law into UK law with the intention that there is certainty from the moment we leave the EU. This will then allow Parliament to repeal, amend or replace any EU-derived laws as necessary in the future. I do not underestimate this task and if Brexit is going to go ahead it is important that the Government get this vital legislation right, otherwise not only will our economy and our rights be put at risk, but so will the credibility of our democratic institutions.
As there was not significant changes in these areas, I was unable to vote for the Bill at its Second Reading in the House of Commons on Monday 11th September. I continue to have serious reservations now the Bill is with us for detailed scrutiny and amendment at Committee Stage, where we have just completed the first two days, and six more are to follow in the coming weeks.
I have concerns about the extent of powers that have been outlined in the Bill that allow Ministers to make changes to other laws without proper parliamentary consent. I believe these are sweeping powers that require effective oversight or accountability and such safeguards and clear enforcement mechanisms are currently lacking in the Bill. I feel so strongly about this, that I voted against Clause 1 of the Bill setting out the repeal of the 1972 Act on exit day, because we have no knowledge of what law will replace the corpus of EU law, including membership of the Single Market, the Customs Union etc that are enshrined in the Act. I believe there is no legal basis for transition after exit day.
Furthermore, whilst I acknowledge that the majority of UK voters voted Leave, the electorate did not vote to take back control to see our domestic constitution, parliamentary sovereignty and liberties stolen by government ministers. It is right that we scrutinise details of the bill and I felt that I cannot support it in its current form.
Brexit should not result in any detrimental change to workers' rights, equality law, consumer rights or environmental protections, and so I am opposing any attempts to diminish, qualify or limit these throughout the consideration of this Bill. These should be protected without qualifications, limitations or sunset clauses and I believe we must also make sure UK rights keep pace with EU rights after Brexit. As the Bill does not currently provide for this, it will be something that I will be pressing for with the relevant.
I would like to see all relevant and substantial rights in the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights converted into domestic law. Amendment 8 ensures that this single, clear document can continue to protect people's rights which the Government has so far refused to include in the Bill.
It is vital to avoid a cliff-edge for our economy when we leave the EU in 2019. I believe this will require a transitional deal based on the same basic terms that we currently enjoy - staying within the single market and inside a customs union with the EU, acting as a bridge towards a lasting new partnership with the EU.
On the environment, the Bill fails to properly capture and convert all EU environmental law into domestic law, and it fails to secure environmental law from future modification without full Parliamentary scrutiny. This is both undemocratic and risks weakening our environmental protections. I will push the government to make the necessary changes to ensure that our environment and air quality, which is particularly important in West London, is protected and provided for in this Bill.
The Withdrawal Bill currently fails to include EU principles properly meaning that a vital part of existing environmental and animal protection will simply disappear when we leave the EU, such as article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU protecting the legal status of animals as sentient beings.
Our laws are only effective when they have strong institutions and mechanisms to support and implement them in practice. The Bill does not adequately set out a pathway for replacing the vital governance functions currently undertaken by EU institutions, including regulation, monitoring, oversight, accountability and enforcement. Nor does it include the power to bring infraction proceedings if environmental rules, such as air quality standards, are not respected.
During the Bill's debate on Wednesday, I spoke in parliament on my commitment to greater environmental standards, on air quality we cannot trust a Government that refuse even to consider introducing a scrappage scheme to address nitrogen oxide and particulates. Furthermore, I also reinforced my support of ClientEarth and the action they brought against the Government over air quality, and the need for environmental law to hold the Government to account.
So far, a number of votes on amendments have taken place. I supported amendments to protect environmental law, animal rights, employment rights and the parliamentary scrutiny of. However, these were not successful because the Government voted against them.
Hundreds of amendments have been submitted to this, the committee stage of the Bill. Eight days is not nearly long enough to scrutinise and debate such an important piece of legislation and I regret that so few can be debated and even fewer voted on. I was saddened that in the first two days, all the amendments I support were defeated.
I regret that in the months following the election that lost them their majority, the Government are not listening to MP's from across the House, nor representatives of key sectors of the economy, charities and trade organisations. I hope the Government will listen carefully to the points that have been raised about its Bill, and will be willing to work, as I have, across parties to make the improvements that are necessary.
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The practice of Sahaja meditation was created and founded by one of the greatest all-time masters of the Kundalini energy, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. While the world knew her as a famous spiritual guru, a compassionate personality, and a champion of world peace, fewer, so far, understand and appreciate the intricate and powerful creation of the Sahaja technique she developed.
Since ancient times, the Kundalini energy and subtle energy system have been discussed in cryptic terms, thus were widely misunderstood by many. There were several failed attempts to awaken this inner energy, and once awakened, get it to move along the correct channel (the central channel) and ultimately penetrate the 7th energy center in order to achieve a connection with the all-pervading energy of the cosmos. Further complicating matters, beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, gurus seemed to spring up everywhere, most of whom were interested in monetizing meditation and/or attaining fame or power. Few of them could deliver the goods when it came to the ultimate breakthrough of spirituality — the opening of the Sahasrara chakra in the macrocosm and the microcosm (each individual’s subtle energy system). To have any hope of getting your inner Kundalini energy awakened properly, you’d have to search for years to find a highly evolved yogi hiding somewhere in the Himalayas.
And even when such yogis were found, they tended to repel seekers as they were likely harsh disciplinarians who demanded high levels of maturity and purity before they would grant Self-Realization, or the awakening of the Kundalini energy in others. And then there was the propagation of downright false fears about the Kundalini energy being dangerous or other outrageous bits of misinformation, such as the notion that the Kundalini resided in the stomach, or that the Kundalini could only be awakened through sex. Shri Mataji changed all that.
In 1970, Shri Mataji decided that the time was ripe for masses of people to have easy access to Self-Realization. She was born with a special gift, which was the awareness of the Kundalini and being able to work with it both at the level of an individual and in the macrocosm. On May 5, 1970, she was able to achieve the piercing of the 7th center of the macrocosm, or the collective Sahasrara as it is called. This paved the way for the masses to enable their Kundalini energy to pass through the 7th energy center, ultimately achieving Self-Realization. Yet, after this profound spiritual breakthrough, her job was only beginning. She still had to test how her techniques worked on individuals and their effects on human nature.
Shri Mataji started small in India with only a few people receiving their Self-Realization. She studied the effects of Self-Realization on these individuals, how it transformed them. Then, later, she accompanied her husband, whose job with the United Nations took him to England. There are stories of how she gave Self-Realization to beggars and derelicts on the streets, ultimately turning them into fine, respectable personalities over time. For the next 33 years, she traveled extensively across many countries, giving Self-Realization to thousands in as many cities as possible.
More importantly, the system she created had to be scalable, so she devised it in such a way that any person who practiced Sahaja after Self- Realization could also pass it on to others. The en masse granting of Self-Realization came to fruition. She was able to offer a stadium full of people in Russia, for example, their Self- Realization. Soon, established Sahaja practitioners were able to conduct similar programs to pass Sahaja along to other people. Today, Sahaja is practiced in over 90 countries across the world.
As the years passed, the number of people practicing Sahaja increased, but there was one common thread in all their lives — they seemed to transform into well-behaved, peaceful, highly self-aware people through the practice of Sahaja. No, they didn’t become saints overnight. And many are still figuring out what else they need to improve about themselves. But the innate transformation has been unmistakable.
Over the years, Shri Mataji gave many lectures to Sahaja practitioners, powerful doses of medicine on how to orient themselves to become spiritual personalities and how to rise above forces in the world that were dragging them down. And she always spoke about the balance in one’s life between Sahaja, family, career and social living. The inner transformation had to happen while one was simply living a normal life, day-to-day, and participating in society like everyone else.
At the root of the practice of Sahaja was a powerful, long term theme: make each individual peaceful, one at a time, and the world automatically becomes peaceful. She believed that no amount of resolutions, peacekeeping missions or discussions could establish world peace, and that the only path to world peace would be the innate transformation within each person that dissolves the desire to rebel, revolt, fight or agitate and to inspire each person to give more to others and to society than what they took.
Realization for the masses
Sahaja is the only scalable and easily distributable method for large groups of people to receive Self-Realization at the same time. Prior to 1970, people could still receive it, but only on a one-on- one basis through expert and nearly inaccessible spiritual masters. After 1970, not only was it possible for many people to receive their Self-Realization but there were also no preconditions or pre-requisites. Anyone who desired to get it could get it. The improvement, transformation and spiritual maturity had to be achieved after Self-Realization rather than as a precursor to it. As Shri Mataji would say, “I’ve cooked the food… if you’re hungry, you should eat and not worry about what the recipe is or how it was cooked.” Another of her favorite analogies was: “You get your degree on your first day of college and then you have to start working towards justifying what was conferred on you on Day 1.”
Verifiable proof and experience of Self-Realization
The creation of Sahaja was a unique achievement in bridging the gap between hope or faith and verifiable proof of spirituality. The experience of vibratory awareness on the central nervous system meant that human beings could confirm that the divine, all pervading energy is real – a significant leap to reality as compared to just having just hope and faith that such a power exists. In fact, this aspect is the most underestimated achievement of the Sahaja practice and of Shri Mataji’s work.
Even today, many practitioners continue to take this experience for granted with some degree of nonchalance. It’s no longer “Spirituality exists, trust me!” Rather, it’s: “Feel the energy yourself and decide!”
Treasure trove of precise knowledge on the Kundalini
Up until the creation of Sahaja, no one ever really nailed it when it came to understanding precisely how the ancient Kundalini energy worked or having an intricate understanding of the subtle energy system. Shri Mataji not only provided a vast amount of knowledge on this, but through a method by which every bit of it can be verified through experience.
A viable path to access the ultimate depths of spirituality
Even today, most people feel that accumulation of knowledge on spirituality is the way to become more spiritual. Shri Mataji went the other way. Her contention was that you can never become spiritual unless you actualize it within you — through your Self-Realization. In fact, in the initial stages of a person’s spiritual journey, she deemphasized seeking knowledge and asked people to focus on the experience of higher awareness and feeling their own Kundalini energy. Thus, she was unique in creating a viable path of discovery of oneself through the experience and diagnosis of one’s own subtle energy. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and in Sahaja, spiritual exploration is about exploring and understanding real, tangible experiences, rather than just the accumulation of knowledge about spirituality.
A practice for everyone: simplification and inclusiveness
Shri Mataji welcomed people of all backgrounds, ages and faiths to try Sahaja, with no pre- requisites, pre-conditions or discrimination. She also condensed the essence of the practice in a manner so that anyone can pass it along to others without seeking permission from anyone. She encouraged as many people in the world as possible to receive their Self-Realization with no limits whatsoever.
The life of Shri Mataji
An intricate system
Shri Mataji was able to devise the precise environment and set of steps that could make the Kundalini rise through specific energy centers, then fill the brain and connect with the all- pervading power. The path of the flow of the energy and the energy channels were revealed, along with precise information about how each chakra functions — what causes it to become energized and be in balance versus being unbalanced.
She was able to correlate qualitative behaviors and aspects of personality and character to specific elements of the energy system and demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between an individual’s actions and the resulting impact on their chakras, as well as vice versa: the state of the chakras and their impact on human behavior. In her lectures, she surprised many medical professionals with her accurate, precise knowledge of how the energy system correlates with the human nervous system, without ever having a formal medical degree.
Strong connection to personality and character improvement
Shri Mataji’s message to human beings was that unless your personality and character reflects your Self-Realization or enlightenment, there cannot be any real spiritual achievement. This was regardless of how charismatic, articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable or successful people were or could be. In the end, all that mattered was how an individual absorbed and demonstrated subtler qualities of the Inner Self or the Spirit. She was less impressed by great monetary wealth and power than she was with simple, innocent people who showed potential for great spiritual growth.
The bridge to science — nervous systems, correlation to disorders
During the years when she was actively taking Sahaja to the public, Shri Mataji was part of many medical conferences with doctors and research where she shared the spiritual constructs and concepts that correlated to scientific components in an attempt to demonstrate that there was never a conflict between science and spirituality, and in fact, that they worked in perfect harmony with each other, provided human beings develop the right perspective. A hospital dedicated to analysis and therapy for various disorders was set up in Mumbai, India. In many of her lectures, she provided the origin and root cause of many disorders, urging doctors who were also Sahaja practitioners to conduct further research in this area.
Appreciation of the subtle – Arts and Music
Shri Mataji was a strong proponent of the arts and music. She maintained that artists were unique creations of the divine and that their art and creations must be preserved as much as possible. She did not approve of arts critics, holding them responsible for the destruction of artistic inspiration and creation. She set up music and arts schools and camps all over the world and would spend endless hours listening to artists performing or displaying their art.
Emphasis on family values
Sahaja is truly a family practice and Shri Mataji emphasized the importance of family values in the spiritual growth of an individual. Throughout her life, she tried to help couples practicing Sahaja creative more effective, fulfilling existences that complemented each other when leading a spiritual life. She saw children as the embodiment of innocence and placed great emphasis on nurturing and caring for them, while enabling them to grow up as successful, strong personalities.
A push to empower women… and men (masters of themselves) and independence
Shri Mataji placed special emphasis on protecting women’s rights wherever they were oppressed. She also inspired many women to become highly educated, competent and powerful so they could serve the needs of their families and their communities. At the same time, she encouraged also to be accommodating, as well as have a strong sense of independence of their own. She clearly laid out how men and women could complement each other perfectly, along with explaining the impact of positive behaviors on the subtle energy system and spiritual development. For instance, she spoke about how, by achieving a balance of qualities in their energy centers, women could achieve so much by taking care of their households and being hospitable wives while at the same time effecting change in their communities and workplaces.
Importance of Dharma
Sahaja was designed to have a strong foundation in dharma and righteousness.
Shri Mataji strongly encouraged all practitioners to stay within limits and protocols of Dharma and never to compromise it for achieving more worldly or material goals in their lives.
Dynamism and modern, staying relevant
Shri Mataji was hardly a spiritual guru stereotype. She enjoyed watching movies, but told Sahaja practitioners that they should use the messages in movies to introspect and improve their own personal attributes. She always emphasized being dynamic according to the needs of the situation and finding relevant solutions to problems in line with the times. At the core, she was completely against dogmas or mental conditionings that held people back. She urged creativity in every aspect of people’s lives. She spoke about how science and technology had evolved primarily for human beings to free themselves from the shackles in their lives and elevate their awareness to greater heights. She encouraged people to continuously evolve to higher stages of maturity. She researched political systems and read a number of books to understand the psyche of human beings, how they think and react. Ultimately she was able to factor all of this knowledge into the qualitative paradigms of self-improvement using the Sahaja practice.
Selfless giving to the world
Sahaja meditation was created so it could be entirely free to the world and be passed freely by any individual to others without any money changing hands. Nor was anyone to try to preserve the “secret” techniques of how it works. In fact, Shri Mataji spent her own money, even in very difficult periods of her life, to travel to as many countries of the world as possible to offer Sahaja to as many people as possible. She had to sell her jewelry to come to America for the first time in 1973. Over the years, she donated many of her properties to allow them to become Sahaja meeting venues or retreats. All the gifts she received from thousands of people over the years were given back to Sahaja organizations. And any donations people made were directed back to organizations that could utilize them for spreading the practice of Sahaja.
Complete freedom and no “membership”
Shri Mataji’s primary tenet for someone to receive Self-Realization was that the person should desire it out of his or her own freedom. In all her public Sahaja programs, she explicitly stated that she could never grant Self-Realization by crossing anyone’s freedom. After Self-Realization, she made it a point never to rebuke any practitioner in order to get them to improve, or force them to get rid of any “bad habits.” She believed in people being strong and mature enough to realize what’s wrong with them and work towards their own improvement. She explicitly made the affirmation “I am my own master” an important part of the Self-Realization process. There never is any kind of membership or record of Sahaja practitioners. She was against forming clubs or groups of any kind. Sahaja was meant to be free-flowing, easily available to anyone.
Creation of inspired practitioners who carry her message forward today
Shri Mataji served as a great source of inspiration to many across the world to reform themselves and transform the world using her creation. Many of her followers continue to be highly motivated and dynamic to further the cause of peace and spiritual advancement in the world.
Creation of rock solid personalities through a frame of reference — a mix of compassion and discipline
Sahaja was created with a specific framework of ideal qualities to be developed by every practitioner and Shri Mataji’s sole focus was to ensure that people used their lifetimes to strive to absorb thse qualities.
Shri Mataji never believed in being popular at all times. No message or viewpoint had to please everyone. She believed in stating the truth, both to Sahaja practitioners about their inadequacies from a spiritual standpoint, as well as about problems in the world she lived in. She did not approve of critics of any kind. She warned people about gurus who mislead people with a maze of spiritual talk, but did not or could not ultimately give them their inner energy awakening or Self-Realization. She had her share of people who were asked to leave the Sahaja practice because of bad or unacceptable behavior, or because they tried to misrepresent what Sahaja was. She always maintained that it was important for people to know the bare truth and that, at some point, everyone had to face themselves. She warned the public of gurus and their systems that were essentially power- or money-oriented. This philosophy was reflected in her creation of the Sahaja organization that is completely non-commercial and decentralized in terms of authority.
Global integration
Shri Mataji’s goal was always to make people limitless in their existence and to get them to rise above limits of their nationality, backgrounds, faiths or communities. Sahaja represents a global community of practitioners perfectly united with each other, despite their diverse backgrounds and beliefs. She believed that spirituality was above all limitations and that true spirituality only manifests in the infinite realm of the collective unconscious, the storehouse of the universal subtle spiritual energy.
Attracting a wide variety of personalities from all walks of life
Shri Mataji held Sahaja programs all across the world, met with many people in all walks of life, and spoke to many leaders on how to usher in lasting peace in this world through personal and individual transformation of human beings, rather than conferences on world peace. She also held several medical conferences with medical professionals where she explained the connection between medical research and knowledge and the inner subtle energy system.
Integration of all faiths and essence into one
The practice of Sahaja was built by integrating and actualizing the concepts of spirituality from ancient scriptures and the teachings of great saints across all civilizations. And it was created to grant direct access to any individual to his/her inner spiritual self, eliminating any conflict with any religion. The essences of philosophies and teachings from all religions form the backbone of spirituality and the Sahaja practice.
Master of scriptures — yoga, meditation
Shri Mataji discovered the method to grant true yoga to human beings, the union of the inner Self with the all-pervading power. She explained that true meditation and yoga were inseparable and that meditation results through yoga. She was an expert on ancient yoga scriptures, and because of this, was able to actualize the practice of true yoga through the creation of the Sahaja practice.
Master of Kundalini
Shri Mataji was the first-ever spiritual guru to be able to awaken the Kundalini energy of thousands of people at the same time and grant them Self-Realization. Not only that, she was able to establish the practice in such a manner that those who received their Kundalini awakening could grant it to others. She was able to get the Kundalini energy to rise through the central channel, through the 6th center (Agnya chakra), and up into the 7th (Sahasrara chakra), a critical obstacle for most other gurus who were only be able to take the Kundalini energy up to the 6th chakra, possibly because they used either the left or right channels to do this rather than the central channel. Shri Mataji’s teachings and the body of knowledge imparted to Sahaja practitioners explain the intricacies of the movement of the Kundalini through the chakras, and the relationship to personality development, something that has not been done before in such tangible terms that practitioners can actually verify it through their own experience.
Evolution of human civilization to higher levels of awareness
At the root of it all was the desire that human beings ascend continuously to higher levels of maturity and subtler awareness. She mentioned that the only purpose of human beings being born was to grow and go higher in their awareness, and during this process, problems in the world would automatically be solved over time.
Respect for freedom of individuals
Despite all the profound experiences and benefits that the Sahaja practice had to offer, Shri Mataji made it clear that Self-Realization is a choice for every individual, something that cannot be forced on anyone. She said that individuals had to seek on their own and evolve through this process. She was all about making all spiritual resources and knowledge available to everyone so they could then make their own choice.
Simplicity in organization, decentralization and lack of membership
Shri Mataji was clear in that the practice of Sahaja is purely spiritual and should never resemble an overt religious practice, religion, group or organization. She saw religion as something purely personal and individualistic and sometimes referred to Sahaja as the “True, inner and universal religion of the spirit.” She also believed in empowering each practitioner and making them strong masters of themselves. She was against having any kind of membership records for practitioners — Sahaja was to be free and easily available to everyone in a fluid collective setting. And she strongly advised against trying to force Sahaja onto anyone in order to have larger collectives. Sahaja had to be sought after in every individual’s own desire for evolution and higher awareness, and through their own freedom.
Denunciation of elitism, dogmas and puritanism
In all her advice and teachings to Sahaja practitioners, Shri Mataji strongly denounced looking like or sounding elitist. She suggested that every individual had lot of work to do on their individual ascent. The fact that they had managed to receive enlightenment, or an entry to it, did not make them special. How they justified it through their own improvement was what mattered. She also strongly emphasized balance. But while she advocated self-discipline, she was averse to making any aspect of the practice too rigid or putting strict rules being in place. She said that subtlety and the practice of Sahaja can only be learned by being flexible and patient with oneself as necessary. She also warned against the dangers of trying to be excessively puritan. She recognized that no one can be perfect and that the process of evolution was all about gradually evolving to higher states over an entire lifetime.
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HomeNEWSIsrael To Attend U.S. – Led Palestinian Conference
Israel To Attend U.S. – Led Palestinian Conference
June 17, 2019 saynigeria NEWS, POLITICS, SECURITY 0
Israel will attend a U.S-led conference in Bahrain next week on proposals for the Palestinian economy as part of a coming peace plan, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.
The United States has billed the gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A source briefed on the event told Reuters Israel would send a business delegation but no government officials to the June 25-26 workshop, which is being boycotted by the Palestinian leadership.
“Israel will be at the Bahrain conference and all the coordinations will be made,” Katz told Israeli Channel 13 News in New York.
On Twitter, Katz later added that Israel’s representation had yet to be decided and that the country’s high-tech and innovation capabilities could greatly benefit development in the region.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what level of representation Israel was expected to have at the conference.
U.S. officials have said they are inviting economy and finance ministers, as well as business leaders, to Bahrain to discuss investment in the Palestinian territories.
Palestinian leaders have spurned the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias from Washington.
The Palestinians say the still unpublished U.S. peace plan falls short of their goal of statehood. They blame a halt in U.S. aid and Israeli restrictions for an economic crisis in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A White House official said on Tuesday that Egypt, Jordan and Morocco planned to attend the conference.
Egypt and Jordan’s participation is considered particularly important because they have historically been major players in Middle East peace efforts and are the only Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel.
One of the sources briefed on the event told Reuters that U.S. and Bahrain had deliberated over whether a non-official Israeli presence was preferable to a government-level delegation, given that Israel currently has a caretaker government in place, pending a September election.
A second source said Israel would be sending a private business delegation.
Trump’s plan faces delays due to political upheaval in Israel, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government last month and must fight a second election this year, set for Sept. 17.
oreign Minister Israel Katz
Palestinian Conference
Israel to Pay African Migrants to Leave
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Great British Locomotives
Posted on February 28, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in books, locomotives, steam locomotives Tagged books, first steam locomotive, severn valley railway, steam locomotives, trains Leave a comment
Being fascinated by Steam Engines and living near the Severn Valley Railway, I have developed a taste for Steam Locomtives. so I have decided I would like to get Great British Locomotives which builds into an encyclopaedia detailing the histories, development and specifications of many well known British Locomotives. Starting from the the development of early locomotive from pioneers like Trevithick and Stephenson, to the heyday of British Steam, the Big Four, Nationalisation and up to the dawn of the Diesel Electric Locomotives and beyond.
Over the years I have seen many of these locomotives in the metal at various Steam Galas, but sadly I haven’t been able to get down there lately, so I think I must be getting withdrawal symptoms, lol. Anyway Each issue comes out fortnightly and features precision built 00-gauge models of a famous locomotive plus a Free set of DVD’s if you subscribe. Having looked at the prices It May get expensive and the money you spend could be used to visit Dai Woodham’s and buy a full size locomotive and restore that instead, lol. AnywayLocomotives featured in the series include.
LNER 4492 4-6-2 A4 Pacific class “Mallard”
LNER Gresley 4472 4-6-2 A3 pacific Class “Flying Scotsman”
LMS Stanier 4-6-2 Duchess Pacific Coronation class
Southern Railways “Schools Class” “Stowe”
Churchward GWR 2-8-0 2800 goods class
LMS Stanier 4-6-2 Stanier 5mt “Black Five” class
midland Railway Compound locomotive no1000
GWR no 3442/3717 4-4-0 City of Truro
Gresley 2-6-0 k3 Mogul class “the Great Marquess”
West Country 4-6-2 Pacific class
LMS Fowler 0-6-0t 3mt “Jinty”
Posted on February 28, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in Events, Health, Science-tech Tagged Events, Health, science-tech Leave a comment
Rare Disease Day is held on the last day of February to raise awareness for rare diseases and improve access to treatment and medical representation for individuals with rare diseases and their families. It was established in 2008 because, according to the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), treatment for many rare diseases is insufficient, as are the social networks to support individuals with rare diseases and their families; furthermore, while there were already numerous days dedicated to sufferers of individual diseases (such as AIDS, cancer, etc.), there had previously not been a day for representing sufferers of rare diseases. In 2009 Rare Disease Day went global as NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) mobilized 200 rare disease patient advocacy organizations in the United States while organizations in China, Australia, Taiwan, and Latin America also lead efforts in their respective countries to coordinate activities and promote the day. In addition, leading rare disease patient advocacy organizations including the Global Genes Project have joined forces to promote Rare Disease Day.
The first Rare Disease Day was held on 29 February 2008 in numerous European nations and in Canada through the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, organized by EURORDIS. The date was chosen because February 29 is a “rare day,” and 2008 was the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Orphan Drug Act in the United States. Individuals observing Rare Disease Day took part in walks and press conferences to raise public awareness of rare diseases, organized fundraisers, and wrote en masse to government representatives; health-related non-profit organizations across numerous countries also held events, gatherings, and campaigns. The day also included an open session of the European Parliament specifically dedicated to discussing policy issues relating to rare diseases The days leading up to Rare Disease Day included other policy-related events in numerous locations, such as a reception in the British Parliament where policymakers met with individuals with rare diseases to discuss issues such as “equal access and availability of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
In 2009 Rare Disease Day was observed for the first time in Panama, Colombia, Argentina, Australia, the People’s Republic of China, and the United States, when NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) signed on to coordinate Rare Disease Day on February 28 and collaborated with media partner The Discovery Channel and program partner Mystery Diagnosis as well about 180 other partners, to organize activities across the country for the observance of Rare Disease Day. Several United States state governments issued proclamations regarding Rare Disease Day. In Europe, over 600 patient advocacy and support organizations, again coordinated by EURORDIS, also planned events. Rare Disease Day 2012 is the fifth to be observed and since 2012 is a leap year, this is the second time the day falls on the originally intended date (February 29, a Wednesday). Each year, the global planning committee, under the leadership of EURORDIS and with NORD as the US representative, selects a theme to be used around the world. For 2012, the theme is “Solidarity” and the slogan is “Rare But Strong Together”. Other members of the global planning committee include representatives from the national rare disease alliances in several European countries. Thousands of patient advocacy organizations have become involved, including more than 600 partners working with NORD in the US to promote Rare Disease Day.
Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
Posted on February 28, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in music Tagged music 1 Comment
The late, great Brian Jones, former member of the rock group The Rolling Stones was born 28th February 1942. The Rolling Stone were formed in London in 1962 When Keith Richards and Mick Jagger who were childhood friends and classmates, discovered that they shared a common intereest in the music of Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. leading to the formation of a band with Dick Taylor (later of Pretty Things). Richards, Taylor, and Jagger found Brian Jones as he sat in playing slide guitar with Alexis Korner’s R&B band, Blues Incorporated,which also had two other future members of the Rolling Stones: Ian Stewart and Charlie Watts On 12 July 1962 the band played their first gig at the Marquee Club billed as “The Rollin’ Stones”.
the line-up was Jagger, Richards and Jones, along with Stewart on piano, and Mick Taylor on bass. Bassist Bill Wyman joined in December 1962 and drummer Charlie Watts the following January 1963 to form the band’s long-standing rhythm section. Their first single, was a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Come On” and their second single, was “I Wanna Be Your Man”, Their third single, Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away”. The band’s second UK LP – The Rolling Stones No. 2, yielded the singles “The Last Time”, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Get Off of My Cloud”. The third album “Aftermath” was released in 1966, contained the singles “Paint It Black”, the ballad “Lady Jane” “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?” “Goin’ Home” and “Under My Thumb”. 1967 saw the release of “Between the Buttons”, which included the double A-side single “Let’s Spend the Night Together” and “Ruby Tuesday”, and the release of the Satanic Majesties Request LP. the next album, Beggars Banquet was an eclectic mix of country and blues-inspired tunes,featuring the singles “Street Fighting Man” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Sympathy for the Devil. The Stones next album Let It Bleed featured the song “Gimmie Shelter”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” “Midnight Rambler” and “Love in Vain”. The next album Sticky Finger was released in 1971.and featured an elaborate cover design by Andy Warhol, and contains the hits, “Brown Sugar”, and “Wild Horses”.
The Stones classic double album, Exile on Main St. was released in May 1972. their follow-up album Goats Head Soup, featured the hit “Angie”. Their next album was 1974′s It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll. Some Girls, which included the hit single “Miss You”, the country ballad “Far Away Eyes”, “Beast of Burden”, and “Shattered”. The band released their next albums Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You in 1980 which featured the single “Start Me Up”. in 1982 the Rolling Stones toured Europe to commemorate their 20th anniversary and released their next album Undercover in late 1983. In 1986′s the album Dirty Work was released,which contained the song “Harlem Shuffle”.The next album “Steel Wheels” included the singles “Mixed Emotions”, “Rock and a Hard Place”, “Almost Hear You Sigh” and “Continental Drift”. their next studio album 1994′s Voodoo Lounge,went double platinum in the US. and went on to win the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.The Rolling Stones ended the 1990s with the album Bridges to Babylon which was released in 1997. In 2002, the band released Forty Licks, a greatest hits double album, to mark their forty years as a band. On 12th November 2012 The Rolling Stones released the album Grrrr to celebrate their 50th anniversary and have also made a documentary called Crossfire Hurricane. The Rolling Stones are one of the of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music and In early 1989, the Rolling Stones, including Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Ian Stewart (posthumously), were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Q magazine also named them one of the “50 Bands To See Before You Die”, and popular consensus has accorded them the title of the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Rolling Stone magazine ranked them 4th on their “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list.
Posted on February 27, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in films & DVD Tagged Film & DVD Leave a comment
I would like to watch Gravity again which is hotly tipped to win anOscar or two at this years Academy Awards and it is also released on DVD ON Monday 3 March 2014. It stars Sandra Bullock, as Bio-medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone, a Mission Specialist on her first space shuttle mission, STS-157, who is accompanied by veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), who is commanding his final expedition, to service the Hubble Telescope. However during the final spacewalk to service the Hubble Space Telescope,Mission Control in Houston warns Stone and Kowalski that debris from a Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite has caused a chain reaction of destruction and there is a field of debris hurtling rapidly towards the Space Shuttle at high speed and they must abort the mission.
Shortly afterward, communications from Mission Control are lost, though Stone and Kowalski continue to transmit in hopes that the ground crew can hear them. Then when High-speed debris damages the space shuttle Explorer Stone tumbles out of control away from it. Kowalski rescues Stone and Tethered together, the two make their way back to Explorer, which they discover has been damaged far beyond usability, and the rest of the crew are dead. So They decide to try and make their way to the International Space Station (ISS), which is in orbit only about 100 km (60 mi) away. But this is fraught with danger and Kowalski estimates they only have 90 minutes before the debris field completes an orbit and threatens them again and they face both a race against time to find safety nearly 400 miles above the Earth, with no one to help…
The film was directed by Alphonso Cuarón, cinematography was by Emmanuel Lubezki and visual-effects were by effects wizard Tim Webber . The script, is by Cuarón and his son Jonás.This movie offers thrills, humor, dazzle, disaster, poetic vision and mythic reach. Whereas Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey set the bar for philosophical exploration of an unknowable universe by gazing outward. With deceptive simplicity, Gravity looks inward at something closer at hand but just as profound: the intricacies of the human heart. Cuarón’s artistry is also evident in films as diverse as Y Tu Mamá También, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the third and best of the Potter series) and the indisputably brilliant Children of Men.
Neal Schon (Journey, Bad English and Santana)
Posted on February 27, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in music Tagged music Leave a comment
American guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Neal George Joseph Schon (born February 27, 1954. He is best known for his work with the bands Journey and Bad English. He is Journey’s only constant member, having participated in every album and tour to date. He was also a member of the rock band Santana before forming Journey.Schon was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame on August 23, 2013.vSchon was born at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma Schon first picked up the guitar at “around the age of five.”A quick learner, he joined Santana as a teenager at 15.Schon has said he was asked by Eric Clapton to join Derek and the Dominos,but that he joined Santana instead, and performed on the album Santana III. Schon also played in Azteca before moving on in 1973 to form Journey, a group he continues to lead as of late 2013.Schon’s guitar style has been describedas soulful, taking inspiration from 1960s-era soul singers such as Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, and blending it with blues runs similar to B. B. King. He was influenced by guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Wes Montgomery.
JOURNEY GREATEST HITS http://youtu.be/QzGrAoMA4s4
SANTANA III http://youtu.be/FMCMdjVhcL8
In addition to his five solo albums and 14 studio albums with Journey, his work also includes: a pair of albums with keyboardist Jan Hammer, short-term collaborations withSammy Hagar (HSAS and Planet Us) and Paul Rodgers, stints with Bad English (a supergroup that featured Journey’s Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo and Jonathan Cain’s former Babys bandmates John Waite and Ricky Phillips) and Hardline (which also featured Deen Castronovo). Even as Journey’s latest lineup plays to a still-faithful body of fans, Schon has immersed himself in side projects such as Piranha Blues (1999) and “Black Soup Cracker” a funk outfit that features former Prince associates Rosie Gaines and Michael Bland, and more recently Soul SirkUS withJeff Scott Soto.
Schon can be heard on other albums including three tracks on Michael Bolton’s The Hunger, with the Schon sound most recognizable on “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”. He also joined Larry Graham to play in an all-star band for cult funk artist and ex-wife of Miles Davis,Betty Davis. In addition, Schon (along with then Journey manager Herbie Herbert) also contributed to Lenny White’s 1977 album “Big City”, specifically the instrumental jam “And we meet again”
Oscar nominations 2014 (Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences)
Posted on February 27, 2014 by rich1698 Posted in Events, films & DVD Tagged Events, Film & DVD Leave a comment
The Academy of Motion Picture, arts and Sciences Awards (The Oscars) takes place on Sunday 2 March 2014. The full list of Oscar nominations for 2014 is as follows.
BEST PICTURE: 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Barnebys Gravity, Philomena The Wolf of Wall Street Nebraska, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club.
BEST DIRECTOR: David O Russell – American Hustle Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity Alexander Payne – Nebraska Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Christian Bale – American Hustle Bruce Dern – Nebraska Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
bEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine Amy Adams – American Hustle Sandra Bullock – Gravity Judi Dench – Philomena Meryl Streep – August Osage County
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Bradley Cooper – American Hustle Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine Julia Roberts – August Osage County June Squibb – Nebraska
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Despicable Me 2 Frozen The Croods Ernest & Celestine The Wind Rises
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke – Before Midnight Billy Ray – Captain Phillips Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope – Philomena John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave Terence Winter – The Wolf of Wall Street
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Eric Warren Singer and David O Russell – American Hustle Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack – Dallas Buyers Club Spike Jonze – Her Bob Nelson – Nebraska
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Great Beauty (Italy) The Hunt (Denmark) The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium) The Missing Picture (Cambodia) Omar (Palestine)
Let It Go – Frozen
Ordinary Love – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Alone Yet Not Alone – Alone Yet Not Alone
Happy – Despicable Me 2
The Moon Song – Her
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: The Book Thief Gravity Her Philomena Saving Mr Banks
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Act of Killing Cutie and the Boxer Dirty Wars The Square 20 Feet from Stardom
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: SaveDigger Facing Fear Karama Has No Walls The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall
BEST FILM EDITING: American Hustle Captain Phillips Dallas Buyers Club Gravity 12 Years a Slave
BEST MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING: Dallas Buyers Club Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa The Lone Ranger
BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): Feral Get a Horse! Mr Hublot Possessions Room on the Broom
BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) Avant Que De Tour Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) Helium Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) The Voorman Problem
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: American Hustle Gravity The Great Gatsby Her 12 Years a Slave
BEST SOUND EDITING: All Is Lost Captain Phillips Gravity The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Lone Survivor
BEST SOUND MIXING: Captain Phillips Gravity The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Inside Llewyn Davis Lone Survivor
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Gravity The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Iron Man 3 The Lone Ranger Star Trek Into Darkness
BEST COSTUME DESIGN American Hustle The Grandmaster The Great Gatsby The Invisible Woman 12 Years a Slave
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY The Grandmaster Gravity Inside Llewyn Davis Nebraska Prisoners
Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Ronnie van Zant, the lead singer with Lynyrd Skynyrd was born 15 January 1959. Best known for popularizing the Southern hard rock genre during the 1970s Lynyrd Skynyrd were Originally formed In the summer of 1964, when teenage friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington formed the band “The Noble Five” in Jacksonville, Florida. The band changed in 1965 to “My Backyard”, when Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns joined. In 1968, the group won a local Battle of the Bands contest and the opening slot on several Southeast shows for the California-based psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. the group eventually settled on the name “Leonard Skinner”, a mocking tribute to a physical-education teacher at Robert E. Lee High School, Leonard Skinner, who was notorious for strictly enforcing the school’s policy against boys having long hair.
During the 1970′s the band experienced many line-up changes and in 1972 the band was discovered at one of their shows at a club in Atlanta, GA. They soon changed the spelling of their name to “Lynyrd Skynyrd”and their fan base continued to grow rapidly throughout 1973, largely due to their opening slot on The Who’s Quadrophenia tour in the United States. Their 1974 follow-up, Second Helping, was the band’s breakthrough hit, and featured their most popular single, “Sweet Home Alabama” helping them rise to worldwide recognition. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s third album, Nuthin’ Fancy, was released in 1975 and the fourth album Gimme Back My Bullets was released in January 1976, but did not achieve the same success as the previous two albums. Steve Gaines joined the band in June 1976 and the newly-reconstituted band recorded the double-live album One More From the Road at the Fox Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia) in Atlanta, and performed at the Knebworth festival, which also featured The Rolling Stones. The next album 1977′s Street Survivors turned out to be a showcase for guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines and included the iconic rock anthem “Free Bird”.
Sadly though, On October 20, 1977, just three days after the release of Street Survivors, and at the peak of their success, three members (Including Gaines) all died in an airplane crash, Following the crash and the ensuing press, Street Survivors became the band’s second platinum album and reached No. 5 on the U.S. album chart. The single “What’s Your Name” reached No. 13 on the single airplay charts in January 1978. Surviving members re-formed in 1987 for a reunion tour with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny as frontman. A version of the band continues to tour and record, with only Gary Rossington of its original members remaining as of 2012. Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006
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Los Angeles County Honors a Korean American Living Legend by declaring Susan Ahn Cuddy Day
March 10, 2015 /in Top Stories, Uncategorized /by admin
Acting on a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Board of Supervisors unanimously declared Tuesday, March 10, 2015, as Susan Ahn Cuddy Day throughout Los Angeles County, in honor of a 100-year-old Korean American pioneer and patriot.
Susan Ahn Cuddy was the first Asian American woman to join the US Armed Forces. During World War II, she trained pilots in air combat tactics as the Navy’s first female gunnery officer. She eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Navy’s elite code breaking team.
During the Cold War, Ms. Cuddy served with the National Security Agency, supervising more than 300 scholars and experts on the U.S.S.R.
“These were all firsts as an Asian American woman in a man’s world,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said during a ceremony at the Hall of Administration. “Anti-Asian sentiment was brazenly prevalent but that didn’t deter Susan Ahn Cuddy – she just knew what her mission was.”
Ms. Cuddy said, “When the war came up, I took the opportunity (to join the military). It didn’t matter whether I was Asian or not – I was fighting for freedom.”
Breaking through the barriers of race and gender were a struggle sometimes, according to Ms. Cuddy’s children, Philip and Christine.
Philip Cuddy said his mother endured segregation despite being a patriot. “When my mom was in the Navy, she would wear her military uniform on the bus – but she had to sit in the back of the bus because of segregation in Atlanta,” he said.
Christine Cuddy said even her mother’s marriage to fellow code breaker Frank Cuddy, an Irish American, was an act of courage.
“Interracial marriages were not common in the 1940’s – in fact, she couldn’t get a marriage license in Virginia because it was against the law,” Christine Cuddy said. The couple decided to wed at naval base chapel instead.
Born in Los Angeles in 1915, Ms. Cuddy was the daughter of the first married couple to immigrate from Korea to the United States. They taught her to embrace being American without forgetting her Korean heritage.
Ms. Cuddy’s father, Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, is a national hero in South Korea for being a leader of the independence movement against imperial Japan. He is also believed to have co-written the lyrics to South Korea’s national anthem.
While in Los Angeles, he created a hub for the fledgling Korean American community, including founding the Young Korean Academy. Upon his death, Ms. Cuddy carried on his legacy. She devoted her own life to civic engagement, and helped manage the family-owned Phil Ahn’s Moongate restaurant, which became a community landmark in Panorama City.
Ms. Cuddy’s brother, Phil Ahn, also raised the profile of Los Angeles’ Korean American community, becoming the first actor of Asian heritage to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declares Susan Ahn Cuddy Day on March 10, 2015. From left, Philip Cuddy; Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; Susan Ahn Cuddy; Supervisors Don Knabe, Sheila Kuehl, Michael Antonovich and Hilda Solis; and Christine Cuddy.
Tags: feature features featured, Featured
https://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1MZ_0021.jpg 784 1280 admin https://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MRT-Banner_nonChairman.png admin2015-03-10 16:59:392015-06-26 10:11:14Los Angeles County Honors a Korean American Living Legend by declaring Susan Ahn Cuddy Day
Gina Prince-Bythewood Selected Woman of the Year New Metro CEO Phillip Washington Welcomed to LA
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New Earth and 52
Infinite Crisis ended with the recreated pre-Crisis Multiverse once again merging into a single universe (allegedly), but not the same universe that had existed prior to Infinite Crisis. This was New Earth.
Following Infinite Crisis, all DC titles jumped a year ahead in time, and then also launched a series called 52, which was a weekly year long title (thus 52 weeks, 52 issues), that told the story of what was happening during that missing year.
Let’s first talk 52.
At the end of Infinite Crisis, Superman had lost his powers, Batman was taking a sabbatical,Wonder Woman was an outlaw, and the Justice League of America had disbanded.
So what goes on in the DCU when the big three are gone and the greatest team of iconic heroes is inactive?
52 directly spun-off of Infinite Crisis and featured several second string heroes, putting them in the spotlight. It was co-written by several authors and it was a superb series in my opinion.
I’m not going to go into all the sub-plots. This is a series of blog posts about DC multiverses and continuity, after all, and that is relevant here.
One of the storylines involved Skeets, the robot assistant of Booster Gold using Booster Gold’s ancestor (as Booster was from the future) while the real Booster was secretly operating as Metropolis hero SuperNova. This storyline leads to the revelation that there is a multiverse!
In the wake of Infinite Crisis, 52 duplicate Earths were created, not just New Earth. And New Earth was Earth-0.
All the Earths were exactly the same, until a mega-powered worm named Mister Mind started eating the realities (really!) which altered them so that now Earth-2 was a world where Superman existed in the 1940s and Earth-10 was a world where the Nazis ruled.
So now the DC Multiverse had 52 Earths, and only 52 Earths. Some were set up as alternate versions of previous pre-Crisis Earths, and some were set-up to be the homes of Elseworlds, or different alternate futures.
Some titles had fun with this new multiverse during it’s brief five year existence.
In Justice Society of America, the Superman of Earth-22 (Kingdom Come) joined the Earth-0 JSA. It was also revealed that the Starman seen in Kingdom Come was actually Starboy of the Earth-0 Legion of Super-Heroes.
Power Girl visited Earth-2 and thought this was her Earth-2, but she discovered that this Earth-2 had its own Power Girl. She was from the pre-Crisis Earth-2, but this was not the pre-Crisis Earth-2. (I’ll speak more on the complications of Power Girl through the reboots in a later post.)
They also did some weird stuff where Degaton revealed that the old multiverse still existed sort of and somehow following Infinite Crisis, the JSA now had memories from their pre-Crisis Earth-2 adventures and their New Earth history. It was all somehow related to Hypertime still, even though we no longer were allowed to speak of Hypertime.
And speaking of Hypertime, it was also revealed during this fiver year period that Booster and Rip Hunter were tasked to destroy the Hypertimelines that still existed, and that they had successfully wiped out Hypertime.
One of the coolest and weirdest bits were when the Legion of Super-Heroes of New Earth teamed with the Legion of the last short lived reboot just before Infinite Crisis, which turned out to be Earth-Prime (!) or Earth-33 in the new numbering system, and the Legion from the post-Zero Hour period, which was found to be Earth-247 in the pre-Crisis multiverse (!). (I’ll also speak more on the complications of the Legion through the reboots in a later post.)
The culmination of the use of this new multiverse came with Final Crisis, which included a few spin-off and prequel series, including one that led several heroes to hop around the multiverse, and another that had heroes from different universes doing battle for reasons.
This multiverse which included New Earth as Earth-0 began in 2006 and ended in 2011 with another universe altering event called Flashpoint, which led to the NEW 52. And more on that next time.
← Infinite Crisis
New Earth and 52 →
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Tag Archives: The Figure 5 in Gold
Today we present Part II of our discussion on the proposed changes offered by the SEC to the Rules of Practice governing its administrative proceedings. Those proposals can be reviewed here. They purported to be an effort to modernize rules adopted many years ago, long before significant changes to both the nature of litigated proceedings (based primarily on the enormous increase in evidentiary material available in the digital era), and the nature of the specific proceedings before the SEC’s administrative courts (based on jurisdictional changes over time, most recently the addition of new authority under the Dodd-Frank Act).
The proposals are patently inadequate to address the current problems in the administrative court, virtually all of which have the effect of tilting those proceedings against respondents and in favor of the prosecutor, which is the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. The reasons why the current procedural rules are unfair have been discussed at length over the past two years, including on several occasions in this blog. (See Ceresney Presents Unconvincing Defense of Increased SEC Administrative Prosecutions, and Opposition Growing to SEC’s New “Star Chamber” Administrative Prosecutions.) The reasons why these proposed changes fail to come close to solving those fairness problems are the subject of the multi-part discussions here.
In Part I, we described one of the more blatant flaws in the proposal, by which the SEC actually seeks to increase the advantage the Division of Enforcement has in the administrative court versus federal court proceedings – the proposed new requirement that in their Answers, respondents must disclose certain defense theories even though they are not “affirmative defenses,” including defenses based on “reliance.” See Why the SEC’s Proposed Changes to Its Rules of Practice Are Woefully Inadequate — Part I.
Today we address another one of the major shortcomings of the new proposal – the proposed limits on depositions of witnesses or potential witnesses. The proposal is described by the SEC as follows:
Rule 233 currently permits parties to take depositions by oral examination only if a witness will be unable to attend or testify at a hearing. The proposed amendment would allow respondents and the Division to file notices to take depositions. If a proceeding involves a single respondent, the proposed amendment would allow the respondent and the Division to each file notices to depose three persons (i.e., a maximum of three depositions per side) in proceedings designated in the proposal as 120-day cases (known as 300-day cases under current Rule 360). If a proceeding involves multiple respondents, the proposed amendment would allow respondents to collectively file notices to depose five persons and the Division to file notices to depose five persons in proceedings designated in the proposal as 120-day cases (i.e., a maximum of five depositions per side). Under the amendment, parties also could request that the hearing officer issue a subpoena for documents in conjunction with the deposition.
This proposal lacks any reasoned support — and really any attempt to provide reasoned support. It ignores historic practices in federal courts, which have had to address this issue for many years. Instead of adopting a flexible set of principles or guidelines that can be applied in different ways under varying facts and circumstances, it picks a magic number of depositions that applies to all cases without regard to variations in cases. But alas, the magic of the number is never described. And it makes assumptions about how the magic number is to be applied that (a) fly in the face of reality, and (b) act as a potential severe hardship on the defense when there are multiple defending respondents, without any discussion whatsoever of those issues. The only apparent guiding principle is to assure that the SEC staff’s well-known — and now documented (see Fairness Concerns About Proliferation of SEC Administrative Prosecutions Documented by Wall Street Journal) — advantage in the administrative court will continue. The proposal is successful in only one respect: it provides a textbook case of arbitrary and capricious rulemaking.
Where the Parties Start Matters
To evaluate this proposal, we need to consider some context. We need to understand that when an enforcement proceeding of any type – judicial or administrative – begins, the parties are not even close to equally prepared to litigate the case. That is because one party – the Division of Enforcement – has already been gathering and examining evidence for years, while those accused of violating the law have had very limited access to information, and have been focused on avoiding an enforcement action, not litigating one. Any set of litigation rules that ignores this basic fact is destined to be biased in favor of the party given a multi-year head start.
An SEC enforcement proceeding, whether brought in federal court or the SEC’s administrative court, occurs only after an extensive investigation by the Division of Enforcement. That investigation may last years, and usually does. In that investigation, the SEC staff has virtually unlimited subpoena power, both to seek documents to obtain sworn investigative testimony from anyone the staff chooses. It is not unusual for serious investigations involving contested issues to go on for more than three years. Lots of documents may be produced – in corporate cases, often millions of pages of materials are produced to the SEC by various parties. Many persons may be required to testify – 15 to 30 would not be unusual – and several of them will be required to testify on multiple occasions. In addition to this, the SEC staff will interview other witnesses or potential witnesses without recording their testimony.
The “investigative testimony” is controlled by the SEC staff. It often is not clear whether individuals are being targeted for possible action, and if so, which ones. As a result, witnesses are vulnerable to manipulation because their objective is to avoid being accused of violations, and they are concerned that appearing combative and “pushing back” on questions will undercut that goal. And manipulation does occur. Witnesses may be (and are) bombarded by questions from several examiners at once; questions may be (and are) leading; questions may be (and are) deceptive, in an effort to induce responses the staff may be looking for; witnesses are not given advance access to materials to allow them refresh their memory or think about (or look for) other relevant materials that could place documents in their proper context; the examiners pick and choose the exhibits they use, and often do so as a means of influencing the testimony (e.g., they will use an email out of context when the broader context shows the content in a very different light); the examiners may (and do) suggest answers and pressure witnesses to change their testimony when the answers they receive do not match their perceptions or contentions; and the examiners do not typically pursue lines of examination designed gather information about defenses to possible violations. Defense counsel is given an opportunity to ask questions, but without access to the evidence is limited in doing so. The end result of these examinations is often a transcript of testimony that is designed to support the staff’s “going in” theory of violations of law that they are considering to pursue with the Commission.
[To those who may be skeptical that these questionable practices really occur, I can only say that I witnessed each of them on many occasions as a practicing securities defense counsel. Not all SEC enforcement staff lawyers do these things, but many do, and they are not subject to meaningful controls by their supervisors.]
The only outside person who may be given a copy of testimony by the staff is the person testifying. Even that occurs under rules set by the SEC, and a transcript can be denied to a witness if the staff objects, although that is rare. Only to the extent that witnesses agree to share transcripts might they be able to get an understanding of the testimony of other witnesses. That often occurs among witnesses with parallel interests, but it is rare that those being investigated have anything approaching a complete record of what people said before a case is brought.
When a case is brought, the SEC staff turns over to the accused what they consider to be non-privileged portions of the formal investigative file. That normally includes all transcripts of investigative testimony, and all documents obtained by subpoena or other staff solicitations, but not records of witness interviews or compilations of relevant materials gleaned from all of the produced documents, which the staff almost always treats as privileged. The investigative file is also narrowly defined as the materials specifically developed for the case against the accused. It does not include other relevant documents that may be in the SEC’s possession that were obtained in other ways – perhaps, for example, in the course of other investigations on the same general subject matter. For example, if the SEC staff is investigating a particular accounting practice and decides to bring an enforcement action alleging the practice was wrong, or even fraudulent, the “investigative file” produced would exclude all materials the SEC gathered about the use of that same accounting practice by other persons, whether or not they might provide valuable evidence in the specific proceeding brought. But the SEC staff always has access to that additional data to the extent they choose to use it.
As noted, the SEC staff is typically involved in an investigation for years. But the persons sued learn that they are targets only when they are asked for a “Wells Submission” (or sometimes a “pre-Wells Submission”). (A pre-Wells Submission is a relatively recent practice in which the staff advises a target of a potential action and gives an opportunity to respond, but does not label it a so-called “Wells Call.” That happens because many companies now treat the formal request for a Wells Submission as an event that should be disclosed publicly, and even the SEC staff understands that it might be irresponsible to take steps requiring the public disclosure of possible violations identified in the midst of an investigative process.) The Wells Submission process is one in which the staff informs targets of its conclusion that violations of law occurred and intent to seek approval from the Commission to prosecute, describes the alleged violations, and gives the accused persons a chance to prepare a submission that would accompany that memorandum to the Commission. In practice, the Wells (or pre-Wells) Submission also serves as the first chance for a target to try to convince the staff that he or she did not violate the law as alleged by the staff. The Wells Submission process is mandatory – the staff cannot avoid it. But when the Wells Submission is drafted, the accused only has access to whatever materials he or she has been able to gather without any subpoena authority – either from those that may have submitted them to the SEC, if they choose to share them, or those the SEC staff agrees to allow them to see.
(As an aside, historically, Wells Submissions “back in the day” were often helpful in convincing the staff not to move forward with the charges, or least to mitigate them. But in more recent years, Wells Submissions are much less likely to succeed at avoiding a proceeding along the lines originally proposed by the staff. In fact, many experienced members of the securities defense bar now advise that no submission be made because it mostly provides the staff with a roadmap of a future defense of the accused.)
The end result is that when an enforcement proceeding is commenced, the SEC staff has already, usually for several years, been: (1) reviewing a large amount of relevant evidence; (2) developing an “investigative record” molded to support their charges; (3) producing witness testimony that often is slanted in favor of the staff’s theories because of the way those examinations are conducted; (4) gathering information about likely testimony of potential additional witnesses in secret interviews that are not transcribed; and (5) obtaining information about the likely defenses of the accused violators through the Wells Submission process. In contrast, the accused violators have limited information. Indeed, in many cases, their defense counsel was often not even involved in the investigation because it was not until a late stage (a Wells Call) that the actual targets were identified, and often only at that time do they obtain separate counsel to defend the threatened case against them.
The SEC’s New Proposed Discovery Rules Are Plainly Unfair
This context makes it painfully clear that the current discovery provisions for administrative proceedings in the SEC’s Rules of Practice are designed to handcuff defense counsel and prevent a fair opportunity to develop a reasonable defense. We won’t here belabor the shortcomings of those existing rules. The facts speak for themselves. Defense counsel are given an extremely limited period to learn the record and develop a defense, even in cases in which millions of pages of documents were produced, and the SEC staff has had years to sift through and analyze them. Defense counsel has no right to depose any witness except in very limited circumstances. Investigative transcripts are typically admitted into evidence with no right to cross examination on the fiction that they provide a reliable picture of the facts. The SEC staff is rarely required to provide access to its non-transcribed interviews, and often is not even required even to identify the people that were interviewed. Relevant evidence in the SEC’s possession is rarely required to be produced if it lies outside the narrow confines of the so-called “investigative record,” even when the SEC staff has access to plainly relevant materials located elsewhere. None of these limitations applies if the case is brought in federal court.
The new proposed rules do almost nothing to remedy this. They allow an arbitrary number of depositions that is divorced from any analysis of what cases really require, and from any recognition that these are far from “one size fits all” cases. They allow only modest and plainly insufficient increases in time to prepare the case for trial. The periods chosen fail to take account of the fact that the SEC staff has years to prepare a case and the defense merely months. They also reflect no effort to analyze the trial preparation needs of these cases in federal courts, at least as a baseline for figuring out what might be reasonable in the administrative forum. Amazingly, no effort is made to analyze whether the demonstrable advantage the SEC staff has in access to evidence and witnesses, and in preparation time, may impact the fairness of the proceedings. These failures are quintessential examples of arbitrary and capricious decision-making under the Administrative Procedure Act.
This post is focused on the inadequacy of the proposed revisions to Rule of Practice 233 with regard to the provision for depositions. The proposed new Rule 233 would allow depositions as follows:
(1) “If the proceeding involves a single respondent . . . , the respondent may file written notices to depose no more than three persons, and the Division of Enforcement may file written notices to depose no more than three persons”; and
(2) “If the proceeding involves multiple respondents, the respondents collectively may file joint written notices to depose no more than five persons, and the Division of Enforcement may file written notices to depose no more than five persons. The depositions . . . shall not exceed a total of five depositions for the Division of Enforcement, and five depositions for all respondents collectively.”
This proposed provision is arbitrary, capricious, and blatantly unfair in several respects.
First, without any consideration or analysis of the imbalance between the SEC staff and the respondents in case preparation and access to evidence and potential witnesses, it assumes that the SEC staff and the respondents (as a group) should be entitled to an equal number of depositions. By ignoring the fact that the SEC staff previously had access to many witnesses, perhaps on multiple occasions, and the defense had no such access, the proposal’s determination that an equal number of depositions for the prosecution and defense is appropriate is purely arbitrary, lacking any supporting analysis or explanation. Indeed, it is not clear, nor discussed, why the SEC staff needs to take any depositions after having had unrestricted access to subpoenaed, sworn witness testimony during the entire investigative process.
Second, apart from that fundamental shortcoming, the determination that in cases with multiple respondents, the SEC staff should be entitled to five depositions while the respondents as a group must split five depositions (i) lacks any basis or analysis; (ii) places respondents in a position of having to compete for limited depositions without any discussion of why this is appropriate; (iii) assumes – without support in either theory or common practice – that the respondents as a group will be able to agree on how to divide the five depositions, and fails to discuss the impact of potential conflicts among the respondents; and (iv) ignores a wealth of experience about fair ways to divide limited numbers of depositions among a plaintiff and multiple defendants. It also chooses an approach that differs greatly from what typically is adopted in the courts in similar situations, without any indication that the Commission has even considered those precedents, or why, if that consideration occurred, the judicial precedents were ignored. The notion that in a proceeding brought by the SEC against five respondents, the SEC staff is entitled to five depositions while each respondent is entitled to only one defies logic or common sense, and the Commission attempts to provide no reasoned explanation for this arbitrary decision.
Third, even apart from the division of depositions among the parties, no rationale or reasoned explanation is given for the number of depositions permitted. One would expect that a reasoned process would develop data about the historic need for deposition discovery in comparable cases in federal court, along with analysis of whether reductions in those numbers could be justified in the name of efficiency without sacrificing fairness. There is no indication by the Commission that it undertook any such analysis or made any such considerations. In fact, in factually challenging cases, it would not be unusual to have ten to thirty fact depositions in a federal court case, followed by at least two expert depositions per side. Perhaps some of these could be avoided, but there is no analysis of either the common practice in federal court, or how that could be improved upon in the administrative court.
Out of curiosity, I did a little research to see how many depositions are permitted by the courts — usually based on a stipulation between the SEC and defendants — in SEC enforcement actions in federal court. As noted above, this certainly is an analysis the Commission should have done before picking its own number. My research was limited to a few of the enforcement cases reported to have been litigated by the SEC in recent years. I did not find any case that did not permit at least 10 fact depositions for each side (expert depositions would be additional). The number could be much larger. In SEC v. Cuban (N.D. Tex.), each side was permitted 10 fact depositions, by mutual agreement; in SEC v. Steffes (N.D. Ill.), each side was permitted to depose “more than ten witnesses”; in SEC v. Kovzan (D. Kan.), each side was permitted 15 fact depositions; in SEC v. Anselm Exploration (D. Col.), each side was permitted 20 depositions, by mutual agreement; in SEC v. Collins & Aikman Corp. (S.D.N.Y.), the parties proposed that the SEC could notice 25 depositions and multiple defendants could notice 50, and the court allowed 15 fact depositions by the SEC and 20 fact depositions by defendants; in SEC v. Jensen (C.D. Cal.), each side was permitted 30 fact depositions, by joint agreement; in SEC v. Moshayedi (C.D. Cal., each side was allowed 25 fact depositions, by joint agreement; and in SEC v. Mudd (S.D.N.Y.), each side was permitted 75 fact depositions by joint agreement, plus as many expert depositions as there were experts designated.
Another possible approach, would be to look at the number of investigative witnesses examined by the SEC staff in these cases, plus the number of witnesses subject to informal SEC interviews, as a starting point for figuring out how many examinations the defense should be permitted. There is no indication that the Commission did any such analysis, or even took that factor into account.
So where, exactly, is origin for the notion that five depositions (including expert depositions) is fair and sufficient? We don’t know, because no effort is made to explain, or justify, the choice. There is simply a number (the number 5) plucked out of the air. Perhaps a commissioner was a fan of the famous William Carlos Williams poem “The Great Figure”:
Among the rain
and lights
I saw the figure 5
in gold
on a red
firetruck
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city.
Or perhaps a commissioner was fond of the painting by Charles Demuth in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “The Figure 5 in Gold,” made in homage to the Williams poem (see Where Paint and Poetry Meet). I could understand that, because that was my favorite artwork as a kid.
Charles Demuth – The Figure 5 in Gold
Whatever may have occurred to yield the number 5, nothing we have been told suggests anything other than purely arbitrary decision-making.
Fourth, choosing a number as small as five for the number of depositions permitted (and even fewer per respondent for multiple respondents) obviously advantages the party with more access to information and witnesses outside of the deposition process, which is the SEC staff. If a larger, and more reasonable, number were chosen, at least the defense might have an opportunity to catch up to the SEC in access to possible witnesses, learning the facts and evidence, and preparing for trial, by taking full advantage of its allocation. But with at most five depositions permitted, this will almost never occur because most of these cases have many more potential fact witnesses (not to mention experts).
Fifth, even within the limited number of depositions, the proposed new rules also hamstring the defense of cases by limiting the witnesses the defense may subpoena. Remember, the SEC staff has free-ranging access to witnesses during its investigation using its subpoena power, without having to sustain the burden of showing why those witnesses should be examined. But the Commission’s proposed limit on who can be deposed places a burden and limitation on the defense, even beyond the meager numbers, because it requires that motions to quash deposition subpoenas be granted unless the party can show that the proposed deponent (i) “was a witness of or participant in any event, transaction, occurrence, act, or omission that forms the basis for any claim asserted by the Division of Enforcement, or any defense asserted by any respondent in the proceeding”; (ii) “is a designated as an ‘expert witness’” [sic]; or (iii) “has custody of documents or electronic data relevant to the claims or defenses of any party.” The rationale given for this limitation is that: “This provision should encourage parties to focus any requested depositions on those persons who are most likely to yield relevant information and thereby make efficient use of time during the prehearing stage of the proceeding.” But the limited number of depositions already creates ample pressure to make the best use of them, and if the defense values a deposition sufficiently to use a precious slot on a deponent even if he or she is not “a witness or participant” in the matters at issue, or a designated expert, the Commission provides no rational reason why that should not be permitted.
For example, in cases involving allegations of scienter based on a theory that the respondent’s conduct was “reckless,” the critical issue in the case may be determining the appropriate industry standard against which the judge could compare the conduct proved to determine whether it departs from that standard so egregiously that it was “reckless.” A key witness on that issue may be one who has knowledge of the industry standard or practice — not necessarily as an expert, but as an industry participant giving fact testimony. In fact, the fact testimony of several such witnesses could be highly relevant, until they became unduly cumulative, by which time the key factual point would be made. Under the SEC’s limitation, such a person, who was not “a witness or participant” in an act that forms the basis for the claim, could not be deposed. But it is hard to imagine any rational reason why that deposition testimony should be barred. Indeed, it would seem likely that providing such evidence to the ALJ by means of a deposition transcript would be much more efficient and economic than hearing the testimony live.
Finally, there is no discussion at all about why it is appropriate to choose a single number for depositions without regard to the nature of the case, the complexity of the facts, the number of experts to be used, the length and complexity of the investigation, or any of the myriad of factors that differentiate cases from one another. In other words, the very decision of choosing a single maximum number of permitted depositions for all cases lacks any discussion or support. It also flies in the face of reason, reality, and years of litigation experience. There is a reason why the number of depositions in federal court civil cases is a discovery issue to be discussed by the parties and ultimately decided by the presiding judge. As the precedents discussed above show, cases differ, and discovery needs differ with them. The decision to choose a single maximum number for all cases regardless of their nature and needs is by all appearances a capricious choice, even without regard to the fact that the number chosen is unconscionably low.
There no doubt are more reasons why the arbitrary choice of five depositions, to be divided among all of the respondents, lacks any reasonable basis. But the point is sufficiently made already. The Commission’s proposal on depositions reflects more whim than anything else. The level of analysis of the issue and reasoned consideration of the options is pathetic. The retention of an inherently unfair process that favors the SEC staff and undermines the defense is so clear that one can only assume it was intended. If adopted by the Commission in a final rule, it should be challenged, and should be overturned by the court of appeals.
In Part III of our analysis of the SEC proposal, we will examine some of the other respects in which the Commission’s proposed rule changes assure that the SEC staff will continue to have a distinct advantage over respondents in the SEC’s administrative proceedings.
This entry was posted in Administrative Proceedings, Enforcement Overreaching, SEC Enforcement, Securities Law and tagged administrative courts, administrative law judge, Administrative Procedure Act, administrative proceeding, ALJ, arbitrary, arbitrary and capricious, capricious, Charles Demuth, depositions, depositions in SEC proceedings, discovery in administrative proceedings, discovery in SEC proceeding, due process, Enforcement Division, equal protection, fairness, fairness in SEC proceedings, lawyer, legal analysis, Rules of Practice, SEC, SEC Amendments to Rules of Practice, SEC enforcement, SEC fairness, SEC Proposed Rules of Practice, SEC Rules of Practice, securities, securities fraud, securities law, securities litigation, The Figure 5 in Gold, The Great Figure, Wall Street Journal, William Carlos Williams on November 5, 2015 by Straight Arrow.
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National Hockey League Approves Expansion Team In Seattle
Posted by SGB Media | Dec 4, 2018 | SGB Updates, Sports/Fitness, Update
The National Hockey League’s board of governors on Tuesday voted to approve Seattle as the 32nd NHL Franchise for the 2021-22 season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the decision by the league’s board of governors, which voted unanimously in favor of Seattle’s expansion application.
“Today is an exciting and historic day for our League as we expand to one of North America’s most innovative, beautiful and fastest-growing cities,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “We are delighted to add David Bonderman, Tod Leiweke and the entire NHL Seattle group to the National Hockey League family. And we are thrilled that Seattle, a city with a proud hockey history that includes being the home for the first American team ever to win the Stanley Cup, is finally joining the NHL.”
“We are pleased the NHL’s board of governors unanimously approved Seattle’s application for a franchise,” said David Bonderman, NHL Seattle’s majority owner. “I want to thank Commissioner Bettman and the Board for their endorsement.”
Seattle’s bid to become the NHL’s 32nd franchise is fueled by a region’s fan base that met the NHL’s 10,000 season ticket deposit goal in just 12 minutes. The franchise currently has 32,000 depositors for season tickets.
NHL Seattle will begin its inaugural season in the fall of 2021 at the new Seattle Center Arena. Construction work on the arena project will begin immediately.
“Today is a historic moment in Seattle sports history,” said Tod Leiweke, CEO of NHL Seattle. “Our fans are at the core of this movement to bring an NHL team to Seattle and today we celebrate in honor of them.”
“We appreciate the City of Seattle’s ongoing leadership in helping us reach this milestone,” said Leiweke. “Mayor Durkan has been a champion in the campaign to bring the NHL to Seattle and leading the charge on the arena project. Seattle Center and city staff have been great partners in making this dream a reality.”
“This is an awesome day for Seattle and Seattle sports fans. We are all anxious for the NHL to arrive and for the return of professional hockey to Seattle. Seattle is one of North America’s great sports towns, and we’re about to become one of its great hockey towns. We are thrilled to be taking this huge step for professional sports in Seattle,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “I am grateful to Commissioner Bettman, the NHL Board of Governors, the team at NHL Seattle, and above all, the thousands of hockey fans across Seattle and the Puget Sound who made their voices heard. I hope the Canucks are ready for us.”
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Shakespeare Uncovered Returns January 30, 2015 on PBS
by Shakespeare in LA in Television Tags: PBS, Shakespeare Uncovered
Christopher Plummer with Shakespeare expert Tanya Pollard
Photo credit: Mark Molesworth
Shakespeare Uncovered returns with its second season on PBS, beginning Friday, January 30 at 9:00 pm (check local listings) and continues the following two successive Fridays. Like the first series, the second installment combines history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis, and the personal passions of its celebrated hosts – Hugh Bonneville, Kim Cattrall, Joseph Fiennes, Morgan Freeman, David Harewood, and Christopher Plummer – to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.
The first season explored Macbeth, the comedies Twelfth Night and As You Like It, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V, Hamlet and The Tempest, and was met with wide acclaim in both the U.K. and U.S. The new season investigates A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and The Taming of the Shrew.
Each episode reveals the extraordinary world and works of William Shakespeare and the still-potent impact his plays have today. The films combine interviews with actors, directors and scholars, along with visits to key locations, clips from some of the most-celebrated film and television adaptations, and illustrative excerpts from the plays staged specially for the series at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
Each of our six hosts has a personal connection with the play they present. Christopher Plummer is one of the great Lears of our time; Kim Cattrall has played Cleopatra twice on the English stage, and Morgan Freeman has taken on The Taming of the Shrew’s Petruchio at New York’s Shakespeare in the Park; Joseph Fiennes portrayed Shakespeare playing Romeo in Shakespeare in Love; and Hugh Bonneville began his career as an understudy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. David Harewood was an acclaimed Othello at London’s National Theatre– the first black actor to play the role there.
Behind every Shakespeare play there is a story. Shakespeare Uncovered reveals not just the elements in the play, but the history of the play itself. What sparked the creation of each of these works? Where did Shakespeare get his plots, and what new forms of theater did he forge? What cultural, political and religious factors influenced his writing? How have the plays been staged and interpreted from Shakespeare’s time to now? Why at different times has each play been so popular – or ignored? And finally, why has this body of work endured so thoroughly? What, in the end, makes Shakespeare so great?
Richard Denton and Nicola Stockley are series producers for Shakespeare Uncovered, with Fiona Stourton as executive producer for Blakeway Productions; for THIRTEEN, Bill O’Donnell is series producer, with Stephen Segaller and David Horn as executive producers.
The six episodes will air as follows:
9:00 pm: A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Hugh Bonneville
10:00 pm: King Lear with Christopher Plummer
9:00 pm: The Taming of the Shrew with Morgan Freeman
10:00 pm: Othello with David Harewood
9:00 pm: Antony & Cleopatra with Kim Cattrall
10:00 pm: Romeo and Juliet with Joseph Fiennes
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Trackback: Shakespeare Uncovered Returns January 30, 2015 on PBS | The Shakespeare Standard
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by Shakespeare in LA in Interviews, Los Angeles Tags: Folger Shakespeare Library, Library Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Public Library
First Folio on display in America’s Shakespeare: The Bard Goes West. Photo courtesy of the Folger Shakespeare Library
Something may be rotten in the state of Denmark but, in Los Angeles, Shakespeare lovers will find all the joy that they can wish when the Library Foundation of Los Angeles opens its newest exhibit: America’s Shakespeare: The Bard Goes West on November 17 at the Central Library. The show is a partnership between the Library Foundation, the Los Angeles Public Library, and Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC and will not only offer a look at his incredible legacy worldwide but show how Shakespeare’s impact has been felt here in California.
The highlight of the exhibit is a First Folio (1623) from the Folger’s collection, which will be shown alongside an incredible array of rare documents and artifacts from the Folger and other local organizations. Some may even surprise you.
I was curious what it takes to bring such a monumental exhibition to Los Angeles so I spoke to Foundation Program Manager, Todd Lerew, for a little insight into what goes on behind the scenes.
Todd Lerew
“Initially it was the Folger who approached the library a couple of years ago about bringing their America’s Shakespeare exhibit out to Los Angeles,” says Lerew. “We really wanted to put more of a California perspective on it because we like to approach all of our projects through a Southern California lens and what it means to the people who live here. We also wanted to make the exhibit accessible to everyone. That’s why these programs are free to the public.”
Lerew says one of the biggest overarching goals of the show is to demonstrate that Shakespeare is for everyone. “You may not think you know anything about him but you use phrases he created all the time, like ‘dead as a doornail,’ ‘forever and a day,’ and ‘wild-goose chase.’ He’s everywhere. We wanted people to see that Shakespeare is a bigger part of their life than they may have realized.”
One of the ways the library intends to show how Shakespeare has influenced California is by the interactive digital map they have created. “It not only contains theatres and venues and places where you’d see Shakespeare and groups that are putting it on,” says Lerew, “but also references to Shakespeare found throughout the city. For example, the area around Hermosa Beach was originally called Shakespeare Beach and you can see that on the map.”
Shakespeare Society of America
“I first learned about Shakespeare Beach through the Shakespeare Society of America, which was founded by Thad Taylor in the early ’70s,” says Lerew. “He used to have a little hidden theater in West L.A. called the Globe Playhouse designed as a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.”
Little known fact: SSA’s Globe Theatre was the first to stage all 38 of Shakespeare’s plays in succession from 1976 – 1979, in 48 months. They repeated the complete canon again from 1981 – 1984, in 38 months. Thad passed away in 2006 and, the following year, Thad’s nephew, Terry, relocated the society to Moss Landing in Monterey, CA where it still exists today.
“Thad was a really interesting character. We found a lot of fascinating information about Shakespeare in LA through his organization and we were able to borrow some great artifacts from them as well. They have a massive collection of rare items that includes museum and visual art pieces, theatre archives, photographs, props, posters, reviews, and many other unique pieces.
Lerew says, in the eighties, Thad tried to get the city to change the name back to Shakespeare Beach but was ultimately unsuccessful. Still, proof exists of the developers’ early intent.
“We have a plat map, which is a kind of blueprint map, from the original plans when the Red Cars opened to the beach. [Run by Pacific Electric, the Red Cars were part of a transit system consisting of electric trolleys, cars, and buses that made up the largest electric railway system in the world at the time.] The developers called it Shakespeare Beach because they wanted to create a writers’ colony in the area. So, all of the streets were named after writers – Hawthorne, Tennyson, Ruskin. By the 1920s, the name Shakespeare, and almost all of the other authors, had disappeared and the streets were renamed with numbers. But, thanks to the Shakespeare Society of America and Hermosa Beach Historical Society, we have the plans from the early days, as well as an incredible photograph of the beach that shows a red car and a couple of men in suits by a sign that says, Shakespeare Beach: Plots Now for Sale. It’s a beautiful piece.”
“We’ve been able to make some fascinating connections like these through Shakespeare Society of America. Thad created another unique Shakespeare installation in 1984 when the Olympics came to town. He built a gigantic metal sculpture of Shakespeare holding the torch that hung outside his theater, and he designed a beautiful poster with a quote from Romeo and Juliet that said, This is the Place where the Torch Doth Burn.”
According to Lerew, the Folger’s artifacts represent about half of the show but ten additional California-based institutions have contributed materials as well, including the State Library, the Hollywood Bowl Museum, the archives of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Warner Bros. collection at USC, the San Francisco Public Library, and others.
One of his favorite items is “an incredible gigantic poster from the California-Panama Pacific Exposition that took place in Balboa Park in San Diego a hundred years ago. It’s hard to describe but it is a huge poster with giant orange letters talking about five hundred children in costumes for the Shakespearean Pageant. It’s a really wonderful piece and an interesting bit of California history.”
Shakespeare Goes Hollywood
Because Shakespeare was a big part of California history, the exhibit also focuses heavily on Shakespeare in Hollywood and how he came out west. Costumes from several classic films will be on display. Among them: Alan Bates and Glenn Close’s royal finery from Franco Zeffirelli’s 1990 Hamlet and an arm cuff that Marlon Brando wore in Julius Caesar.
“The costumes are great because they are so visual. We have a staged set as part of the exhibit where people can do a character activity and read a couple of lines on stage, if they want to. We’ve also built huge stage sets behind several of the display cases to illuminate some of the themes of the show. For example, there is a large section about Abraham Lincoln and the Booth family. Of course, John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin, is there but his brother, Edwin, and his whole family were also Shakespearean actors. They came out to California to perform Shakespeare’s plays in the mining camps during the gold rush. Edwin’s granddaughter, Edwina, lived up in Northridge so CSUN has some of the family archives. Through them, we were able to get the recording of Edwin Booth reading a speech from Othello. You can hear that in the Lincoln section where we have a big backdrop of Ford’s Theatre. We also have a Pioneer Theater in another section, and Arden, which was the home of Helena Modjeska, the great Polish actress who settled in Orange County. I could go on and on.”
Lisa Wolpe
ALOUD Authors Series
Two literary programs have been announced on the library’s ALOUD Authors series that takes place in conjunction with the exhibit. The first will feature distinguished theatre director, Peter Sellars, in conversation with Ayanna Thompson, Professor of English at George Washington University, on Shakespeare Now: Race, Justice, and the American Dream on January 19, 2017. The second is a discussion between world-renowned Shakespeare scholar, James Shapiro, and Lisa Wolpe, Producing Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company titled Shakespeare in America on February 16, 2017. Reservations for both can be made in December.
While the main exhibit will take place at the Central Library downtown, Lerew says 23 of the neighborhood library branches will also be presenting their own programs as part of the Shakespeare event. Approximately a hundred such programs will take place across the city presented by groups like the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, and Swordplay LA. A Microsite highlighting the Central Library exhibit currently links to all the branch calendars where you’ll find these companion programs listed as they are confirmed. Click Here to go to the site.
“I’m really happy that we are able to display some of the Public Library’s own Shakespeare collections in the exhibit so people can look through a small sample of the resources we have here,” says Lerew. “Shakespeare is the only writer who has his own Dewey Decimal number. I think that’s so fascinating. You walk through the stacks here and you see why because it goes on for rows and rows. We’ll have books in the show that people can take downstairs to check out to really stress the connection between these fabulous display items you can’t touch and the incredible resources that you can.”
Lerew acknowledges that some serious scholarship has gone into curating the collection for the show. “It’s a pretty serious survey of the different ways that Shakespeare has come to this country, including some of the very earliest objects or records of Shakespeare appearing in the new world, and the different ways Shakespeare has been used to lend voice to people talking about war. It’s absolutely something that scholars of Shakespeare will not want to miss.”
The exhibition will also include a Lost & Found at the Movies series with titles to be announced. The Library Foundation is partnering with CAP UCLA for their performances of Forced Entertainment’s Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare which runs December 6-11, 2016 at Royce Hall. For more information about these fascinating performances go to cap.ucla.edu.
AMERICA’S SHAKESPEARE: THE BARD GOES WEST
November 17, 2016 – February 26, 2017
Library Foundation of Los Angeles
Central Library, Getty Gallery
630 West Fifth Street,
Admission to the exhibit is free to the public
Programs are free unless otherwise noted
In addition to the many programs and special events that will be part of America’s Shakespeare: The Bard Goes West, the Library Store will have a number of fun and quirky wares with a Shakespearean twist for sale.
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/ Booker T. & The M.G.'s
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Big Brother’s Howard Overby To Guest Star On B&B
Spinning tunes.
Howard Overby, who was evicted from the current season of CBS’ “Big Brother,” is being welcomed in at “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Overby, who is a youth counselor, will play a DJ at the Bikini Bar in episodes airing October 24 and 25, according to TV Guide. His character will interact with Wyatt (Darin Brooks) and Hope (Kim Matula), as well as other “Big Brother” alums who have previously appeared on “B&B,” Rachel Reilly, Brendon Villegas and Jeff Schroeder, and Malcolm Freberg from “Survivor.”
Vote in Soaps.com’s B&B Poll: Do You Know? to see if you recall who once filled in for Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke. Find out who portrays Emmerdale’s Paddy.
Follow Soaps.com on Twitter @soapoperafan and ‘like’ Soaps.com on Facebook to dish with us about “The Bold And The Beautiful,” all the other soap operas, “Dallas,” “Glee,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Revenge,” “Vampire Diaries,” and “Venice The Series.”
Header photo: CBS
The Bold And The Beautiful Spoiler...
Throwback Thursday B&B Poll:...
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Spotlight On The Special Branch
20 November 2013 Filed under Latest News, Police Posted by Anne Miller
Former Police Inspector Barry Krosch ... discussing the Special Branch in Brisbane
Kingaroy resident – and former Special Branch detective – Barry Krosch will be presenting his university research into the secretive former Queensland police unit at a special function at the Police Museum in Brisbane on Sunday.
Barry worked in the Special Branch from 1978-1987 until he was seconded to the Fitzgerald Inquiry, and then to the Criminal Justice Commission.
He has recently been completing a Masters in Philosophy at Griffith University.
The Special Branch was established in April 1948 and was often surrounded by controversy.
A veil of secrecy surrounded its operations which ensured it remained protected from media – and government – scrutiny.
It all came to an end in December 1989, but just prior to this most Special Branch files were shredded on November 24, 1989 .
Many Queenslanders were appalled at the destruction of the records and most believed they would never get to know the undisclosed details, or learn about the history of the unit.
Barry has been working to rectify this.
For the past four years, he has been writing about the Special Branch as a researcher at Griffith University’s Centre for Excellence in Policing and Security (CEPS).
The day after this presentation, he will submit his thesis: “The Queensland Police Special Branch 1948 to 1989: History, Function and Impact”.
Barry’s research combines information dug out of State and National archives, complemented with his “insider” knowledge and interviews with former Branch members, targets and agents.
He will present some of his research findings, which will include the reasons for the shredding, the background to the disbandment of the unit, and explain why some Branch files are now available from national archives.
Also talking at the museum on Sunday will be former Special Branch agent Dan Van Blarcom, civil liberties spokesman Terry O’Gorman, history professor Mark Finnane, political commentator Dr Paul Reynolds and PhD student Kate O’Donnell.
The presentation will start at 10:00am at the museum, which is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Related article: Release ‘Put Police St Risk’
2 Responses to Spotlight On The Special Branch
21 November 2013 - 7:21 pm
I hope he gets a crowd there
23 November 2013 - 6:26 am
Dust off the safari suit, the way the Qld LNP is going you may be needed for another inquiry
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Born in 1182 the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, Francis was a restless and searching young adult in the year 1205. He had tried his father’s business but found the shop too confining and the profits too closed to the poor. He was the leader of Assisi’s youth and their most attractive suitor, but he yearned for a different love. He sought the glories of war, but a dream in the night told him to return home and await what God would reveal to him.
For several years Francis searched the Scriptures, talked with friends and spiritual advisors, and prayed long hours in churches, woods and caves listening to God’s call and purpose for his life. Then one day in the church of San Damiano, a chapel right outside of Assisi, he heard the invitation of Jesus: “Francis, go rebuild my Church, which you see is falling into ruins.” “Yes!” said Francis. “This is what I want, this is what I long for with all my heart.”
With that he gathered a group of brothers, gave them a few Gospel texts for their rule of life, and sent them out like the disciples of Jesus to live and announce the Good News of God’s love.
In the year 1209, after several years of preaching, Francis and eleven companions went to Rome to obtain permission for their new way of life in the Church. While Pope Innocent III worried that their poverty was too radical, the brothers prevailed upon the Holy Father simply to allow them to live the Gospel, taking “nothing for their journey” and trusting in God’s love and care for them. Thus Francis and the new community began to “poor follow the poor Christ.”
Francis named the new community the Order of Friars Minor, because he wanted them to be “lesser brothers” in their relationship to God, to one another, to the Church. They were not to be as the “majores,” the wealthy and influential ones in society, but “minores,” the servants of the rest. Thus brotherhood and minority became unique and key elements of Franciscan religious life throughout history.
From the beginning, the membership of the Order included both brothers and priests, and the works of the community were multiple and varied. Friars preached and taught, begged and did manual labor, cared for the sick brothers as well as lepers. Francis said that the brothers should do whatever work God gave them the grace to do, as long as they maintained a spirit of prayer and humility in all their activities.
The Rule of St. Francis went through several editions between 1209 and 1223, when the present Rule of the Friars Minor was approved. This document still remains the rule of life for three separate Franciscan Orders in the church: the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (O.F.M.Conv.), the Order of Friars Minor Observants (O.F.M.), and the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M.Cap.). The Capuchins, as well as the Observants and Conventuals, have their own “Constitutions” or spiritual guidelines to apply the Rule to its own life, spirituality and mission.
During his life Francis also assisted St. Clare of Assisi in establishing the Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano, or Poor Clares. These followers of St. Clare are cloistered sisters who live in community, poverty and contemplative prayer, fulfilling their mission of seeking prayerful union with God and interceding for the needs of the church and world. In addition, Francis began in the year 1213 a community of Secular Franciscans, formerly called the “Third Order of St. Francis.” The Secular Franciscan Order is an order of lay people, married and single, who follow the Gospel spirituality of St. Francis and support one another in faith and prayer for their everyday work and family lives in the world.
Between 1223 and his death on October 3, 1226, Francis’ body was sick and frail but his spirit soared to the heights of mystical love and union with Christ. At Christmas 1223 he celebrated the birth of Jesus in an outdoor pageant and Mass in the village of Greccio, thus giving to the Christian world ever since the Christmas crib or crêche. The following year, in September 1224, Francis while absorbed in contemplation on Mt. LaVerna received the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ in his hands and feet and side. It is from these years of deep union with God and the Crucified Christ that come Francis’ most beautiful prayers, including the Praises of God and the Canticle of Brother Sun and his Testament.
Source: www.capuchins.org
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HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC. (HP) News
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Announces Appointment of New Officer
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP) today announced the hiring and appointment of Mark W. Smith as Chief Financial Officer Designate effective May 1, 2018, and that Mr. Smith shall be appointed to succeed Juan Pablo Tardio as Chief Financial Officer upon Mr. Tardio’s retirement from that position, which, as previously announced, shall occur on June 30, 2018.
Mr. Smith, age 48, previously served in various leadership roles at Atwood Oceanics, Inc., an offshore drilling contractor, including as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2015 to 2017, Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller from 2014 to 2015, Vice President–Corporate Services from 2011 to 2014, and Director–Internal Audit from 2009 to 2011. Prior to joining Atwood Oceanics, Mr. Smith served as Partner at Calvetti Ferguson P.C. from 2006 to 2009, Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 2003 to 2006, and Consultant at Gunn Partners from 2000 to 2003. Prior to joining Gunn Partners, Mr. Smith served in various roles at Arthur Anderson LLP. Mr. Smith holds an M.B.A. and a B.B.A. in Accounting, both from Baylor University.
“H&P’s long-term financial discipline is a cornerstone of our ability to fulfill our commitments to customers, shareholders and employees,” said John Lindsay, President and CEO, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. “Mr. Smith is a seasoned public company CFO with strong financial and operational experience in multiple industries. He is an excellent addition to our executive leadership team and his collaborative approach will help us continue to build on our strong culture.”
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is primarily a contract drilling company. As of April 5, 2018, the Company’s existing fleet includes 350 land rigs in the U.S., 38 international land rigs, and eight offshore platform rigs. The Company’s global fleet has a total of 388 land rigs, including 373 AC drive FlexRigs®.
*FlexRig® is a registered trademark of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
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Predator | Table of Contents | Walkthrough
Predator/Table of Contents
Source the Software House
Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
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This is the first game in the Predator series. For other games in the series see the Predator category.
For the NES game, see Predator: Soon the Hunt Will Begin. For the MSX game, see Predator (MSX).
Predator is an action game developed for several popular home computer systems in 1987, and published by Activision, primarily in Europe, but also in the United States. On May 31, 1988, Predator was put on the "Index" (German: Indiziert) by the Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (BPjM). This made it illegal to sell or make the game available to minors in Germany, as well as making it illegal to advertise the game in any form.
It is a side-scrolling platform game based on the film of the same name. Predator is a side-scrolling platformer which uses the imagery and characters from the classic Arnie movie of the same name. The game is not a faithfully conversion of the movie however - your unit has already been killed off when the game starts and you will battle scorpions, enemy soldiers and dodge obstacles etc, before facing the Predator itself a number of times. The game is a fairly standard run-jump-shoot platformer, except that you start with no weapons at all and must collect them as the game goes on.
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editPredator series
Predator · Soon the Hunt Will Begin · Predator (MSX) · 2 · 2 (Perfect 10) · Predator (mobile) · Concrete Jungle
Sub-series: Alien vs. Predator
Retrieved from "https://strategywiki.org/w/index.php?title=Predator&oldid=620139"
Commodore 64/128
Sinclair ZX Spectrum
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Putin, Xi Jinping sign agreements on Russian-Chinese partnership
Around 30 intergovernmental and commercial agreements have been signed during Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia
MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signed two mutual statements on the outcomes of the talks held in Kremlin on Wednesday.
The talks have lasted for about three hours. The first statement signed concerns the development of strategic cooperation and comprehensive partnership in the bilateral relations between Russia and China.
The second document on strengthening strategic stability includes international issues of mutual interest, as well as issues of global strategic stability.
Moscow, Beijing see eye to eye on virtually all key global issues, says Putin
The sides have reaffirmed their commitment to maintain close contacts between the Russian and Chinese leaders, as well as to implement the mechanism of regular meetings between heads of government of both states. They also plan "to maintain the unique channel of bilateral contacts between the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, to strengthen its role in establishing contacts between the heads of state and implementing the agreements reached by them."
The leaders also agreed to expand strategic contacts between the countries’ defense ministries and armed forces, as well as to support the efforts aimed at fighting international terrorism and extremism.
In addition, around 30 intergovernmental and commercial agreements have been signed during Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia.
ChinaXi Jinping
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SUU to Olympic Doctoring
By Cami Mathews on August 12, 2016 in
College of Education and Human Development, Alumni
Jason Blackham, a Southern Utah University alumni who graduated in 1999, is in Rio with the U.S. Olympic team working as one of their team physicians.
As a kid, Jason Blackham always dreamed of going to the Olympics as a professional athlete. He never would’ve guessed a career in medicine would get him there.
Jason started at Southern Utah University as a runner for the school’s track and field team, but found a passion for biochemistry and sports medicine. He started participating in pre-med advisory committees, and graduated with a major in biology and a minor in both chemistry and mathematics.
After his time at SUU, Jason attended medical school and was surprised by how prepared he was. “That first year of med school wasn’t as hard as expected because SUU’s pre-med classes were so rigorous,” said Jason.
After medical school, Jason worked in various parts of the county in both internal and sports medicine. He volunteered at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado which introduced him to the athletes and trainers. It was through this experience that he had the opportunity to travel with the U.S. team to Brazil for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“I was amazed by the foundation that I received,” said Jason. “I was very prepared because of SUU, and the experiences I had at SUU can’t be found anywhere else.”
Jason studied biology at SUU. Learn more about the program.
Check out more alumni stories here.
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Daily Tedium
A Tale of Two Samoas
How quick thinking by a U.S. official saved thousands of lives from disease in an American territory—despite its non-American counterpart being decimated.
Written by Ernie Smith on Oct 16, 2017
american history, american samoa, disease, history, pacific ocean, samoa, spanish flu
For understandable reasons, Puerto Rico is perhaps the main U.S. territory on the minds of the American public at the moment. The island of 3.5 million has been utterly devastated by Hurricane Maria and it will likely be years before it’s back to a semblance of its normal self—a situation not being helped, to say the least, by the current president.
Tedium, of course, isn’t a news blog, but sometimes it helps to take news and highlight it through the frame of history.
With that in mind, I’d like to spend a moment discussing a time that quick thinking and coordination saved a lot of lives on a U.S. territory. The territory? American Samoa, one of just two territories south of the equator. (The other, Jarvis Island, is a guano acquisition.)
Almost exactly 100 years ago, the Pacific Ocean-based territory had been informed of the Spanish flu pandemic that was then circling the globe, leaving no stone unturned. Responsible for the deaths of more than 20 million people worldwide, it killed more people than World War I, a conflict that at that point was unprecedented in scope.
John Martin Poyer, the U.S. Navy-appointed governor of American Samoa, heard the news of the risk from this disease and immediately took steps to coordinate ships from the U.S. mainland to assist with what was expected to be a dramatic outbreak.
His strategy, effectively, was to quarantine anyone with the disease on the Navy ships, with the goal of isolating the problem. He was successful—not a single person in American Samoa died of the Spanish flu, one of just a few areas in the world where that could be said.
It certainly wasn’t the case in nearby Samoa. Robert Logan, Poyer’s counterpart, had similarly been appointed to his role by New Zealand, and he was in charge throughout World War I. Logan held wide latitude over the territory’s operation, and was the person who could have prevented the fast-spreading Spanish flu from taking hold of the Pacific lands. But unlike Poyer, he failed to control for the flu, allowing ships to dock unencumbered, leading the disease to quickly overtake Samoa. Within the span of just a few weeks, a fifth’s of the territory’s population had died.
Poyer took a hard-line approach to quarantining American Samoa, barring ships from Samoa, where the disease had taken hold, from visiting American Samoa—which upset Logan, after Poyer had refused a ship with mail from Samoa. Logan ended radio contact with the neighboring territory. Additionally, Poyer at one point offered access to the U.S. Navy’s medical care, including the quarantine ships. Logan, apparently misunderstanding the offer, refused, likely exacerbating the problem.
Poyer’s work was so impressive, especially in comparison to what Logan had done, that people living on Samoa had decided that they’d rather have the U.S. controlling their territory, rather than New Zealand. From a 1919 San Francisco Chronicle article on the subject:
The inhabitants of what was German Samoa say theirs Is a land devastated by Influenza and the rhinoceros beetle. They look upon prosperous American Samoa, forty miles away, and threaten to rebel against the domination of New Zealand, according to private advices received by John Rothschild from Tutuila, American Samoa.
According to Rothschild's information, the natives under New Zealand's rule can't see why Influenza should have taken one-fourth of their number and overlooked entirely the population of the American islands. And they can't see, It Is reported, why the rhinoceros beetle threatens to return the New Zealand group to the land of brush It was, while that same insect has been exterminated In American Samoa.
The situation was such that, per the article, Samoans had taken to singing a rewritten version of "The Star Spangled Banner," pointing out the disparity between the two territories.
Poyer, who retired soon after the above article was published, died a hero in 1922. Logan, on the other hand, was blamed for souring relations between New Zealand and Samoa.
As an official New Zealand government website puts it: “Ironically, the most important years of Logan’s life were the least successful.”
(Above: An early map of both Samoa and American Samoa, created by George F. Cram at the turn of the 20th century. At the time, Samoa was controlled by Germany, but eventually fell into the control of New Zealand before going independent. via Wikimedia Commons)
Picking Up The Slack
The Scrolling Orb
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Totally Tubular
The surprising modern status of the vacuum tube, a vintage technology that continues to maintain its value and use case in a world full of transistors.
Written by Andrew Egan on Nov 13, 2018
retro, transistors, tubes, vacuum tubes, vintage technology
Hey all, Ernie here with a fresh piece from Andrew Egan, who seems ready to fill in the gaps I haven’t managed to fill in this dang newsletter.
Today in Tedium: Among obscure pop culture tidbits and stories about wacky inventions, Tedium has often documented the continued survival of technology long thought of as obsolete. From calculagraphs to COBOL, we love hearing that ancient tech survives in the 21st century and revel in the uses that keep them around. So it was surprising to dig through the Tedium archives looking for something I expected to find, but didn’t. Today, we’re righting that wrong and diving into the robust and thriving world of a technology that was foundational to the progress humanity made during the 20th century. Today’s Tedium is talking vacuum tubes. — Andrew @ Tedium
Tonight’s GIF comes from a YouTube video of a vacuum tube blowing out, which literally looks like lightning in a bottle.
The amount of money that Emerald City Guitars was asking for a custom-made tube amplifier handcrafted by the Stradivarius of guitar amps, Alexander Dumble. Reportedly made in 1978 for Merle Haggard, the amp is considered to be the most expensive available for purchase in the world. Perhaps just as shocking as the price tag for one piece of music equipment, the amp requires four 6550 vacuum tubes to reach decibel levels only exceeded by military aircraft and cataclysmic natural disasters. Just a single set of 6550 vacuum tubes from the 1960s can cost as much as $500. It’s a good thing they have a legendary reputation for longevity.
(bg_dn/Flickr)
Vacuum tubes are multipurpose tools that perform important niche functions
Finding a brief explanation for how vacuum tubes function can be surprisingly difficult. The only people that tend to be interested in them are technically minded and relish the details in how electronic components function at a basic level. The results are articles and YouTube videos that heavily rely on schematics and a pre-existing understanding of what a cathode and anode are.
But to avoid a heavily jargoned article that I will screw up, let’s just say that vacuum tubes most commonly perform two functions: amplifying an electronic signal and converting AC power to DC. In the guitar amp, we see both functions performed. In tube amps, it’s a vacuum tube that boosts the electric output from the guitar to be amplified by the speaker. All the while, the amp is using both AC and DC power, which is being converted by another tube.
In the 1940s and 50s, researchers began to notice that vacuum tubes served as incredibly effective on/off switches, i.e. a 1 and 0, that helped form the basis of modern computing. But vacuum tubes are clunky and you can only fit so many into one computer before it takes up the entire floor of a university building. Silicon transistors solved the space problem and quickly became cheaper to mass produce than vacuum tubes. Once a useful and vital component of electronics, the vacuum tube helped transition modern societies from the Industrial Age to the Digital. It seemed doomed to be discarded as a stepping stone to greater development.
But the story of the vacuum tube would ultimately be about resilience and eventual reinvention.
The weight in pounds (136 kg for our non-American audience) of the 40 inch Sony Trinitron CRT TV made in 2002. A Verge article noted that a modern 40-inch Sony TV weighs about 20 pounds (or 9 kg). A cathode ray tube is unquestionably a vacuum tube in that it’s a tube evacuated of air and contains electronic components. CRT technology also developed alongside vacuum tubes in computing and audio in the 1940s but the technology stuck around well into the 21st century. Audio has dominated the commercial vacuum tube market since the switch to flat screen TVs. However, vacuum tubes have some surprising uses in the modern world. They might even have a brighter future.
A magnetron, a type of vacuum tube that is likely sitting on your kitchen counter as you read this. (HCRS Home Labor Page/Wikimedia Commons)
Most of you still have vacuum tubes in your homes
It turns out that vacuum tubes weren’t quite done being useful. Some 90 percent of American households have a microwave, most of which use something called a magnetron to generate the intense (but still non-radioactive) energy needed to produce microwaves. Silicon transistors or other solid-state devices aren’t quite up to the job of generating the power necessary for a magnetron. That is slowly changing, but for now, vacuum tubes will be a feature in American households for years to come.
Though vacuum tubes still have their uses with medical and military applications, the most prolific consumers in modern times have to be audiophiles. Their dedication to vacuum tubes borders on stubborn. For x-rays or maintaining antiquated military systems, vacuum tubes are a necessity. For guitar players using vintage equipment, they use because they say it sounds better.
This has lead to a crazy market for vintage vacuum tubes and specialized knock-off manufacturers in China, Russia, and the Czech Republic. The quality of the products is noticeably different.
A guitar player living in New York for the past 60 years gave me these vacuum tubes, along with an explanation of their value. The one on the left was manufactured by RCA sometime in the 1960s. It was consistently used until it finally blew in October 2018. The tube on the right is Czech made in 2016. It also blew in October 2018.
Blowing a tube on an amp can be kind of cool—well, unless it’s your tube. Still-functioning 50 year old RCA tubes can go for as much as $300 a piece. The one on the right usually goes for anywhere from $30 to $40.
Vacuum tubes are notoriously reliable. One in use at the BBC logged over 200,000 hours of use between the 1930s and 60s before finally being retired, according to an old manual for Mazda vacuum tubes. This resiliency combines with a long list of advantages vacuum tubes have over solid-state transistors.
Thanks to nanotechnology, scientists might have solved the size problem that long plagued vacuum tube technology.
“The computer you and I buy is what NASA buys, but they won’t want it exactly the same way. It takes them a few years to radiation-proof it. Otherwise, the computer you put in the space shuttle or the space station basically will get zapped and stop working.”
— An explanation on the strange computing problems NASA faces when putting computers in the radiation-rich environment of space, told to Science by Meyya Meyyappan, an engineer at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in California. Meyya is helping research a new solution using some rather old technology.
An array of vacuum tube boxes. (David Mellis/Flickr)
Vacuum tubes might never be the hero, but they’ll probably be a workhorse
Every tool for every job. While silicon and solid-state transistors work just fine on Earth, space is a different story. Vacuum tubes aren’t susceptible to cosmic radiation in the same way that most modern transistors are.
This has led researchers at NASA to recreate vacuum tubes on a nanoscale. Calling these vacuum tubes is a little bit of cheating as there is no actual vacuum effect. These tubes are so small there is actually very little chance that flowing electrons will actually collide with air particles. The premise is the same and works very similarly to their full-scale counterparts. Research is still in its early phases but the applications could be quite significant, including detecting illicit drugs at airports without intrusion and lower cost shielding of military and government operations involving radiation.
Vacuum tubes seem like a relic of the past, but they’re not going anywhere soon. In fact, they might actually make a comeback in a major way.
Remembering old technology is a thankless, but important, job. The technology of the past is often as creative as anything we create today. Forgetting that leads some modern audiences to assume that remarkable achievements of human ingenuity were actually the result of aliens. Or time travelers. Magic is always a good go to.
Remembering the tools and technology, even the outdated ones, that got civilization to this point is like documenting a new branch of evolution. New tech replaces old, yet somehow what’s old and outdated adapts to find new life. Even if it is just in niche industries.
Or maybe tube amps really do sound that much better.
Your time was just wasted by Andrew Egan
Andrew Egan is yet another writer living in New York City. He’s previously written for Forbes Magazine and ABC News. You can find his terrible website at CrimesInProgress.com.
Find me on: Website
Hands-Free Horrible
Counting All Cars
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Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 266 › Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton, Ltd. v. State Tax Comm'n
Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton, Ltd. v. State Tax Comm'n, 266 U.S. 271 (1924)
Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton, Ltd. v. State Tax Commission
Argued April 21, 1924
Decided November 17, 1924
1. The tax imposed on foreign corporations by Art. 9-A of the Tax Law of New York, as amended, is not a direct tax on allocated income, but a tax for the privilege of doing business in the state measured by allocated income of the previous year. P. 266 U. S. 280.
2. When the business of a foreign corporation consists in a series of transactions beginning with the manufacture of goods in its home country and ending in their sale there and in other places, the profits accruing only with the sales, a this country in which part of the business is transacted is justified in attributing to that part a just proportion of the net profits earned by the corporation from its business as a whole during the preceding year, as a basis for a tax upon its privilege of doing local business during the year to follow. Underwood Typewriter Co. v. Chamberlain, 254 U. S. 113; Wallace v. Hines, 253 U. S. 66, 253 U. S. 69. P. 266 U. S. 280.
3. A tax on a British corporation for the privilege of doing business in New York during the ensuing year computed under Art. 9-A of the state Tax Law on a portion of the total net income of the year last preceding, the portion being determined by the ratio between the value of such assets of the corporation of certain classes -- real and tangible personal property, bills and accounts receivable, and shares in other corporations -- as were located in New York, and the value of all its assets of those classes, held not arbitrary or unreasonable, and not a violation of due process of law or an unconstitutional burden on foreign commerce. P. 266 U. S. 282.
4. A tax thus computed on allocated net income of the past year for the privilege of continuing local business during the year ensuing should not be deemed invalid merely because the local business of the preceding year yielded no net income, especially where the state law relieves the corporation from any personal property tax. P. 266 U. S. 284.
5. An objection to a state tax not raised before the state taxing authorities or in the state courts cannot be assigned for error and reviewed in this Court. P. 266 U. S. 285.
198 App.Div. 963, 232 N.Y. 42, affirmed.
Error to a judgment of the Supreme Court of New York, entered on remittitur from the Court of Appeals, confirming a tax assessment.
OF THE STATES OF NEW YORK
MR. JUSTICE SANFORD delivered the opinion of the Court.
This cases involves the constitutional validity of Article 9-A of the Tax Law of New York under consideration in Gorham Manufacturing Co. v. Tax Commission, ante, 266 U. S. 265.
This Article [Footnote 1] provides that, for the privilege of doing business in the state, a foreign manufacturing and mercantile corporation shall pay, in advance, an annual franchise tax, to be computed by the State Tax Commission at the rate of three percentum, upon the net income of the corporation for the preceding year. §§ 209, [Footnote 2] 215. This net income is "presumably the same" as that upon which the corporation is required to pay a tax to the United States, § 209, but the amount thereof as returned to the United States is subject to any correction for fraud, evasion, or errors ascertained by the Commission, § 214. If the entire business of the corporation is not transacted
within the state, the tax is to be based upon the portion of such ascertained net income determined by the proportion which the aggregate value of specified classes of the assets of the corporation within the state bears to the aggregate value of all such classes of assets, wherever located. The classes of assets which are to enter into this ratio -- hereinafter termed the segregated assets -- are: real property and tangible personal property, bills and accounts receivable resulting from the manufacture and sale of merchandise and services performed, and shares of stock owned in other corporations, not exceeding ten percentum of the real and tangible personal property, which are to be allocated according to the location of the physical property representing such stock. § 214. [Footnote 3] The corporation is to be exempt from any personal property tax. § 219-j.
Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton, Limited, is a British corporation engaged in brewing and selling Bass' ale. All its brewing is done and a large part of its sales are made in England, but it formerly imported a portion of its product into the United States which it sold through branch offices
located in New York City and in Chicago. On its report to the New York Tax Commission, amended under protest, the Commission computed and assessed its franchise tax for the year commencing November 1, 1918. At a hearing granted on an application for revision, the Commission adhered to the original assessment. The company then paid the tax under protest. The determination of the Commission was subsequently confirmed, upon a writ of certiorari, by the Appellate Division of the certiorari, by the Appellate Division 189 N.Y.S. 952, and the order of that court was affirmed, upon appeal, by the Court of Appeals, 232 N.Y. 42. The record was remitted to the Supreme Court, to which this writ of error was directed. Hodges v. Snyder, 261 U. S. 600.
It is undisputed that, for the year preceding that for which this franchise tax was assessed, the company, as reported to the United States, had no net income upon which it was subject to a federal income tax. Its total net income, however, from all its business wherever carried on, was $2,185,600. [Footnote 4] The value of its segregated assets, wherever located, was: real property, $785,675; tangible personal property, $2,105,105; bills and accounts, $321,625, and shares of stock of other corporations, $845,195. Limiting the value of the shares of stock to ten percentum of the aggregate real and tangible personal property -- that is, to $289,078 -- made the aggregate value of its segregated property, wherever located, $3,501,483. The value of its segregated assets in New York was as follows: bills and accounts, $20,449, and tangible personal property, $23,668. This made the aggregate value of its segregated property in New York, $44,177. Taking the entire net income, $2,185,600, as the basis for the assessment of the tax, the Commission allocated to New York
the proportion thereof which the segregated assets in New York bore to the segregated assets wherever located, amounting to $27,537.68, and upon this sum computed the franchise tax at the rate of three percentum -- that is, $826.14.
The company contends that this tax is not based upon any net income derived from the business which it carried on in New York, but upon a portion of its net income derived from business carried on outside of the United States which, under the provisions of the statute, has been arbitrarily allocated to its New York business, and that such imposition of the tax deprives it of its property in violation of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and imposes a direct burden upon its foreign commerce in violation of the commerce clause of the Constitution.
1. We see no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statement made by the Court of Appeals in the present case that the franchise tax imposed by the statute is "primarily a tax levied for the privilege of doing business in the state." It is not a direct tax upon the allocated income of the corporation in a given year, but a tax for the privilege of doing business in one year measured by the allocated income accruing from the business in the preceding year. See New York v. Jersawit, 263 U. S. 493, 263 U. S. 496.
2. The question of the constitutionality of this tax as applied in the present case is controlled, in its essential aspects, by the decision in Underwood Typewriter Co. v. Chamberlain, 254 U. S. 113, 254 U. S. 120. There, the Connecticut statute imposed upon foreign corporations doing business partly within and partly without the state an annual tax of two percent upon the net income earned during the preceding year on business carried on within the state, ascertained by taking such proportion of the whole net income on which the corporation was required to pay a
tax to the United States as the value of its real and tangible personal property within the state bore to the value of all of its real and tangible personal property. The Underwood Typewriter Co., a Delaware corporation, was engaged in manufacturing and selling typewriters and supplies. All its manufacturing was done in Connecticut, but the greater part of its sales was made from branch offices in other states. It contended that the tax was an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce, and that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment in that it imposed, directly or indirectly, a tax on income arising from business conducted outside of the state. In support of the latter objection, it showed that, while 47 percent of its real estate and tangible personal property was located in Connecticut, resulting, under the method of apportionment of the net income required by the statute, in attributing 47 percent of its total net income to the operations in Connecticut, in fact, about $1,300,000 of its net profits were received in other states, and only about $43,000 in Connecticut. The Court, in sustaining the validity of the tax, said:
"But this showing wholly fails to sustain the objection. The profits of the corporation were largely earned by a series of transactions beginning with manufacture in Connecticut and ending with sale in other states. In this, it was typical of a large part of the manufacturing business conducted in the state. The legislature, in attempting to put upon this business its fair share of the burden of taxation, was faced with the impossibility of allocating specifically the profits earned by the processes conducted within its borders. It therefore adopted a method of apportionment which, for all that appears in the record, reached, and was meant to reach, only the profits earned within the state. 'The plaintiff's argument on this branch of the case,' as stated by the Supreme Court of Errors,"
"carries the burden of showing that 47 percent of its net income is not reasonably
attributable, for purposes of taxation, to the manufacture of products from the sale of which 80 percent of its gross earnings was derived after paying manufacturing costs."
The corporation has not even attempted to show this, and for aught that appears, the percentage of net profits earned in Connecticut may have been much larger than 47 percent. There is consequently nothing in this record to show that the method of apportionment adopted by the state was inherently arbitrary, or that its application to this corporation produced an unreasonable result.
So, in the present case, we are of opinion that, as the company carried on the unitary business of manufacturing and selling ale, in which its profits were earned by a series of transactions beginning with the manufacture in England and ending in sales in New York and other places -- the process of manufacturing resulting in no profits until it ends in sales -- the state was justified in attributing to New York a just proportion of the profits earned by the company from such unitary business. In Wallace v. Hines, 253 U. S. 66, 253 U. S. 69, it was recognized that a state, in imposing an excise tax upon foreign corporations in respect to doing business within the state, may look to the property of such corporations beyond its borders to "get the true value of the things within it, when they are part of an organic system of wide extent," giving the local property a value above that which it would otherwise possess, and may therefore take into account property situated elsewhere when it "can be seen in some plain and fairly intelligible way that it adds to the value of the [property] and the rights exercised in the state." This is directly applicable to the carrying on of a unitary business of manufacture and sale partly within and partly without the state.
Nor do we find that the method of apportioning the net income on the basis of the ratio of the segregated
assets located in New York and elsewhere was inherently arbitrary, or a mere effort to reach profits earned elsewhere under the guise of legitimate taxation. The principal factors entering into this allocation are, as in the Underwood case, the real and tangible personal property of the corporation. We see nothing arbitrary in also including bills and accounts receivable resulting from the manufacture and sale of merchandise and services performed, or in taking average monthly values as the measure of all the segregated assets except shares of stock. And, in the present case, the inclusion of a portion of the shares of stock in other corporations -- none of which were allocated to New York -- resulted in the company's favor, and reduced the income allocated to New York to less than it otherwise would have been.
It is not shown in the present case, any more than in the Underwood case, that this application of the statutory method of apportionment has produced an unreasonable result. The fact that the company may not have had any net income upon which it was subject to payment of income tax to the federal government obviously does not show that it received no net income from the business which it carried on in New York. There is no evidence in the record as to whether the company received any net income from its New York business, or the amount of the profit and loss on that business, if any, either considered separately or in connection with the manufacturing business carried on in Great Britain. [Footnote 5]
3. Furthermore, the statutory method of apportionment not being shown to be arbitrary or unreasonable, we think that the Court of Appeals rightly held that the tax imposed for the carrying on of the business in New York is not invalid merely because, in the preceding year, the business conducted in New York may have yielded no net income. There is no sufficient reason why a foreign corporation desiring to continue the carrying on of business in the state for another year, from which it expects to derive a benefit, should be relieved of a privilege tax because it did not happen to have made any profit during the preceding year. This is especially true where, as in the present case, the corporation is entirely relieved of any personal property tax. See U.S. Express Co. v. Minnesota, 223 U. S. 335, 223 U. S. 346.
4. The company furthermore urges that, in any event, it should have been permitted to include in the statutory ratio the entire value of the stocks which it owned in other corporations. This contention is based upon the fact that, in the previous case of People v. Knapp, 230 N.Y. 48, it had been held that insofar as the statute provided that in the allocation of income the value of stocks of other corporations should not be taken into consideration beyond ten percent of the real and tangible personal property, although the entire dividend from such stocks was included in the net income which was the basis of the allocation, the statute was unconstitutional, and that the taxpayer in such case should be permitted to include in the statutory allocation the entire value of the stocks which it owned in other corporations. As to this matter, it is sufficient to say that it does not appear from the record in the present case that the shares of stock which the company owned in other corporations had yielded any dividends which were included in its total net income, and further, that this question, so far
as appears from the record, was not raised by the company either before the Commission or the state courts, in each of which its objections to the validity of the tax were phrased in terms having no reference to this specific question. And, not having been raised in the Court of Appeals or passed on by that court, it is not a question which can now be reviewed by this Court under an assignment of errors raising it here for the first time.
The judgment of the Court of Appeals is accordingly
MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS dissents.
Consol.Laws of 1909, c. 60, as amended by the Laws of 1917, c. 726, and the Laws of 1918, cc. 271, 276, 417. See the opinion in the Gorham Mfg. Co. case, note 2, ante, 266 U. S. 266.
This section is entitled "Franchise tax on corporations based on net income."
The average value of the shares of stock is taken, the average monthly value of the other assets. The entire provision as to the allocation of net income, which is here broadly summarized, is set forth in the margin of the opinion in People v. Knapp, 230 N.Y. 48, 53.
This Article also provides that the corporation shall make a report to the Commission showing its net income as returned to the United States and the matters which are to enter into the allocation of the net income; that the Commission shall state the account and compute the tax, and that, if an application for revision is made, the Commission shall grant a hearing, upon evidence, and adjust the tax, "according to law and the facts." And it further provides for a review of the determination of the Commission, upon certiorari by the Supreme Court, both upon the law and the facts, and for an appeal from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeals. These various provisions are set forth in the opinion in the Gorham Mfg. Co. case.
If the corporation is organized under the laws of another country, it is required to state its entire net income. § 211.
The statement in the opinion of the Court of Appeals that the company's "net income from the New York business was nothing" was apparently made inadvertently. There is no showing except as to the gross sales, and the "expenses," which were about one-fourth of the gross sales; nothing appearing as to manufacturing costs or other charges, and nothing from which the question of ultimate net profit or loss that entered either into the separate business in New York or into the total net income of the company accruing from the manufacture and sale of the ale, can be ascertained.
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Fuck Seth Price
Reviewed by Benjamin Lord
The Careerist without Qualities
Seth Price’s new book, Fuck Seth Price is a searingly pungent, often comic rumination on art world economies, myths, and power structures, presented in the form of an early 20th century novel of ideas. The artist-protagonist, an unnamed third person “he,” drifts through a mid-career haze in which every ladder has been successfully climbed, and all moral and aesthetic compass has been lost. Deep in an interiorized world of cultural-theory speculation, his will and his actions become dissociated. Decision-making becomes impossible, and there’s nothing left to do but disappear.
image http://www.artpluspaper.com
Disappearance, not coincidentally, was the subject of Price’s last book, How to Disappear in America, a lightly-doctored collage of writings, mostly from the seventies, describing techniques for identity erasure and going off the grid. It sketches the edges of a simpler world, one that has since been made obsolete by facial recognition software, license plate scanners, DNA profiling, and internet tracking techniques. How to Disappear was ultimately an elegiac work, a grave marker for a countercultural conception of freedom that Americans have since collectively abandoned, perhaps unwittingly.
In the new book, the narrator speculates that the only way left for an artist to disappear is to be subsumed by one’s career, to a point where one’s public persona floats free of one’s self. This is ultimately a failed notion, he implicitly senses, not least because of the obligations and encumbrances that genuine Koons-level celebrity imposes.
In his earlier days, the protagonist’s chosen medium was abstract painting, an essentially outmoded medium that could nevertheless be “upcycled” into a position of status through the judicious and canny application of backstory. A materials list for one of his imagined artwork reads: “Foxconn worker’s accidental Coke spills on Nigerian mud cloth, scanned and randomly manipulated in Photoshop, printed on Belgian linen stretched over a vacuum-formed frame.” Who has the time and energy to unpack such a smokescreen of vague yet contemporary-sounding references? Content here exists as a kind of flavor enhancer, a semblance of complexity or depth for a collector audience either too clueless or distracted to know the difference. But after all, in a cynical world, isn’t unyielding cynicism an accurate portrayal of the times?
Bored with the art world, and intrigued by the new forms of writing spawned on and around the internet, he turns to writing. The narrator’s thought process is a once a brutal skewering of bad art writing and a hilarious auto-critique:
The problem with the art world was that you were expected to write uneven, eccentric, unresolved texts; it was like being a grad student in an “Experimental Writing” workshop. While many in the art world were wonderfully omnivorous, broad minded readers, few were any good at writing, including most of the critics and curators, so it was easy to stand out. Most people didn’t bother with critiques of art-world writing, and for good reason: if people criticized you for being lazy or obscurantist, you could assert that you were being “artistic,” that what you intended was less lucid rhetoric, more Delphic poesy. Writing these texts was like making films where everything was a dream sequence, and therefore immune to challenges of illogic and sloppiness.
Shorn of any specific creative conviction, “he” programs and optimizes his career as if it were a kind of digital algorithm. In this encoding, various hypotheses and notions do-si-do lazily with their opposites in a kind of intellectual danse macabre that predictably confuses obscurantism with critical depth: “This was thought capable of folding inward on itself yet somehow also playing outward, toward the world, seeking every possible angle, locating opposed positions only to swap them, as if any one thing must serve as its own inverse.” As in popular dialectical thought, each theory of the contemporary moment is confronted by its antithesis. But instead of this encounter producing a clarification and refinement of the superior idea, there results only a kind of dazzled paralysis, a cheap terminological fireworks with no real aesthetic or ethical import. This result, of course, is entirely deliberate, allowing the various producers involved to evade the accountability involved in actually taking a position. This is the familiar zone of art world Theory Lite, which typically pays great respect to Germanic philosophical notions of Negation, while married to a social universe that is pathologically affirmative, one in which clicking the “like” button (and its various social counterparts) is the preferred mode of exchange.
It’s enough to drive somebody crazy. And that’s where Price’s protagonist goes. In between reflections on representation, technology, rhetoric, and art history, both incisive and amusingly off-the wall, he commits random acts of murder and mayhem. Without warning, he slips into the rear door of an apartment building and strangles a porter. In another episode, he murders a boy by the side of road after his car inexplicably slows down. These whiplash, collaged-in spasms of shocking violence are short, matter-of-fact, and don’t otherwise interrupt the flow of philosophizing. It’s unclear if these micro-episodes are intended as a satires of artistic criminality, or simple provocations.
In both his themes and prose style, FSP broadly evokes Robert Musil’s unfinished masterwork, The Man without Qualities (1930-43). Like the character of Ulrich, Musil’s protagonist, Price’s subject hovers in a state of analytical passivity. Ulrich is fascinated by the figure Moosbrugger, a drifter who is convicted for rape and murder, while Price’s “he” commits such crimes himself, apparently completely untroubled and undiscovered. Where Ulrich is troubled by the world’s drift toward quantification and mathematics, it is the unbounded spectre of “the digital” that preoccupies Price’s man. Finally, the odd laundry list of obscure short fragments and ghastly word-images rendered in italics in the final pages of FSP run vaguely parallel to the CD-ROM worth of thousands of pages of false starts, false endings, drafts, alternative versions that lie at the end of The Man Without Qualities’ German edition. The real commonality however is one of mood, a feeling of helpless inertia in the face of a slow drift towards disaster. In both books, the slippery exchange between the perspective of the narrator and the perspective of the protagonist creates a dark atmosphere of complicity. Price has a real, studied gift for writing the process of a thought’s unfolding, and not simply stating its conclusion. The blind alleys and cul-de-sacs are, in these forms, always more interesting than the boulevards.
It’s worth noting that there are some broad parallels between Price’s real life art career and that of his unnamed character. I will leave it to future critics, with a greater personal knowledge of the writer, to decide whether this is simply a thinly embroidered roman à clef. (Much of The Man Without Qualities, it has been pointed out, is also transparently autobiographical.)
In the meantime, FSP seems like an instant classic, guaranteed to divide its audiences. Ambitious art students will likely misread this book as a how-to account of life at the top. Humanists will dutifully wince at its crassness. And those who have given up entirely on altering any of the world’s power structures may simply smile faintly, nod knowingly, and raise a toast.
Seth Price. Fuck Seth Price. The Leopard Press, 2015.
04.01.2016 – the Art Book Review
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13 Pakistani Films You Need To Watch at Least Once in Your Lifetime
A cinema in Lahore, Pakistan, attracts a daytime crowd | © Maciej Dakowicz / Alamy Stock Photo
Mominah Zahid
Updated: 22 February 2019
Pakistani cinema has had its ups and downs. The Golden Era of the late 1950s through ’70s gave way to stark decline and it wasn’t until the new millennium that the country found its filmmaking feet again. These must-see classics and modern films present Pakistan on film.
‘Anarkali’ (1958)
This movie is a timeless classic, and arguably the most famous film ever produced in Pakistan. It tells the story of a slave girl, Anarkali, falling hopelessly in love with Prince Salim, who ascends to the throne of the Mughal Empire with the regal moniker Jahangir. Theirs is a love story that has been retold countless times in countless mediums.
‘Umrao Jaan’ (1972)
Umrao Jaan is a real heartbreaker. It follows the life of a young girl with the soul of a poet who is forced into the cruel world of prostitution. The movie exposes the harsh reality of sexual exploitation, an exploration made all the more painful by its contrast with Umrao Jaan’s fragile soul and her ardent desire for true love.
‘Maula Jut’ (1979)
The success and significance of Maula Jutt is comparable with that of The Godfather (1972). The story revolves around a Punjabi community, exposing its flaws, eccentricities and glorious traits all at the same time. The central character, known as Maula Jutt, has captivated the hearts and minds of audiences for the past 40 years.
‘Jinnah’ (1998)
A dense biopic of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the so-called Father of the Nation, Jinnah recounts the events leading up to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. With inspiring cinematography and intense dialogue, the film does an excellent job of conveying the reality of the turmoil during the Partition of India and Pakistan.
‘Khuda Kay Liye’ (2007)
A huge blockbuster hit, Khuda Kay Liye tackles the subject of terrorism and its effects on Pakistanis around the world. An intriguing plot and multi-dimensional characters take the viewer inside fundamentalism and the lives of those who oppose it. It is a holistic and unique representation of how terrorism has divided society and infiltrated all aspects of life.
‘Bol’ (2011)
Bol shines a light on the figure of the quintessential religious preacher and the problems faced by the families of these men. To do this, it focusses on the life of one family. Three daughters struggle against their father’s radical nature, his distorted religious beliefs and the unreasonable restrictions he puts on them. It also explores themes pertinent to present-day Pakistan: economic inequality, social injustice and fundamentalism.
‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’ (2013)
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi is a must-watch for anyone who has any interest in cricket. It magnificently portrays the dream of thousands of young boys in Pakistan, of all classes, who aspire to pursue a career in cricket, in the process managing to explain the complex emotions Pakistanis associate with cricket and why cricket legends such as Shahid Afridi are the nation’s go-to role models.
‘Waar’ (2013)
Waar is a fast-paced thriller that emulates a Hollywood blockbuster full of guns, action sequences and a central theme of terrorism. If you are interested in experiencing a thriller from the perspective of a Pakistani filmmaker, and exploring terrorist and counter-terrorist units through a Pakistani lens, this movie should not be missed.
‘Shah’ (2015)
Shah is a biopic that follows the legendary boxer Syed Hussain Shah, who received a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The film portrays the reality of Pakistani slums such as Liyari, and the momentous struggle required to break out of poverty, even if you possess immense talent. It feature interviews with Shah, and adds in thrilling boxing sequences to bring his story to life.
‘Moor’ (2015)
Moor is an aesthetic masterpiece. There are so many unexplored regions and subcultures in Pakistan, and the focus of this film is the Pakistani desert. It is about the country’s railways and the people who work on them, and touches on subjects such as exploitation and corruption.
‘Manto’ (2015)
Manto, a biopic about Saadat Hasan Manto, one of Pakistan’s most prolific writers, is a good example of why Pakistani films were once highly regarded around the world. With a script filled with the philosophical truths of life, this movie uses Manto’s often controversial short stories to expose the hidden and dark realities at play in the newly emerging state of Pakistan.
‘Jawani Phir Nahi Ani’ (2016)
This blockbuster comedy entertains and engages with its lighthearted portrayal of Pakistani society and the stereotypes that run rampant in it. It’s about four friends who decide to take the trip of a lifetime to Bangkok. All the paradoxes and ironies of Pakistan’s supposed conservative culture are challenged by the progressive, rebellious youths.
‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ (2017)
Punjabi Nahi Jaungi plays on the culture clash between Pakistan’s rural and urban communities. Although it’s a comedy, the central character of which is an archetypical feudal lord besotted with a city girl, it is also an important commentary on the inequalities that exist between social classes, and on how difficult it can be for people on either side of this divide to understand one another.
Watch the entire series of Beyond Hollywood and explore other film industries around the world.
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