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Frozen Desserts Other frozen desserts like soft serve, frozen yogurt, gelato, sherbet and sorbet, are different from ice cream. These frozen treats differ from ice cream due to the fact that they contain less than 8% of butterfat. Sorbet has no dairy at all and is comprised of water, juice, fruit and sugar. Gelato, an Italian cream dessert, has a minimum of 3%, but no more than, 8% butterfat. Soft serve and frozen yogurt, contain different amounts of milk fats. Soft serve contains 4% to 5% milkfat while frozen yogurt contains .5% to 3%milkfat. Sherbet, not to be confused with Sorbet, is a fruity combination of fruit juice and 1% to 2% milkfat.
Custard, a rich and creamier variation of ice cream must meet the regulated criteria of its ice cream counterpart, but contains less air. Unlike soft serve which can have an overrun of 100%, custard has 15% to 30% overrun. The egg yolk and high butterfat is what gives custard its signature thick and luscious consistency. The temperatures at which these desserts are served and stored vary depending on the water content. The recrystallization of water within these frozen desserts each time they are softened and frozen again causes larger crystals and a grainy texture. To combat this the best storage practice is to keep freezer temperatures at -25⁰C.
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Thank you Mr. Facilitator,
With regard to Article 35 We agree with the G 77 and China, EU, Seychelles, African Group, Senegal, US, Indonesia, Australia, Canada and others that the elements of paragraph 2 should be mandatory and therefore support the use of “shall” not “may” in para 2. We further support the removal of all of the brackets in subparagraphs (a)-(d), (f), and (i)-(p). In subparagraph (e), the evaluation of reasonable alternatives and an assessment of their impacts is a basic requirement of modern EIA practice and should not be subject to the modifier “where appropriate” as suggested by Indonesia and others.
Similarly we support the PSIDS recommendation to drop the words “where necessary and possible” in subparagraph (g), and we suggest removing the qualifier “any” in the three places it appears in subparagraph (h), and the words “where scientifically justified” from that subparagraph.
As a possible streamlining step, paragraph 3 could become a separate Article that simply States, and I quote, “Further guidance regarding the required content of an environmental impact assessment report, as well as on assessment of cumulative impacts and the conduct of SEAs or any other topic, MAY be developed and periodically reviewed by the Scientific Body established under Part xxx”
Regardless, we support the proposal of the G77, CLAM, CARICOM, PSIDS and EU with respect to the use of the term MAY, not shall, in Paragraph 3.
Finally we believe it must be made clear that the obligation to conduct EIA consistent with the provisions of the Agreement or its annex must apply when the agreement enters into force, and must not be delayed to some future process.
On Article 36, we recommend including the text in brackets regarding publication through clearing house mechanism, and adding to the end of the sentence “and ensure that full reports are communicated to all States Parties and stakeholders.” “Publication” is not sufficient, as it would require all States and other stakeholders to continuously monitor the federal registers of 197 countries.
This is an essential paragraph in our view, and we strongly support CARICOM, Phillipines, and PSIDS in their view that EIAs prepared pursuant to this agreement be considered and reviewed by the Scientific and Technical body of the COP.
If review of all EIAs prepared under this agreement by the STB is not deemed possible, then it essential to provide some kind of backstop to prevent substandard, inadequate or flag of convenience EIAs. Under such a backstop, a State or group of States should be able to request the Scientific Body to review:
a). A decision by a State not to conduct and EIA:
b). Whether and EIA was conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, or,
c). The decision to proceed with a proposed activity and the conditions attached to that decision.
Based on the Scientific Body’s review, the COP could then take appropriate action.
Thank you Mr. Facilitator
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Feb 23, 2018 - With 220K Registered Users, Curofy Is Creating A Robust Healthcare Support System In India
The data that transformed AI research and possibly the world
In 2006, Fei-Fei Li started ruminating on an idea. Li, a newly-minted computer science professor at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, saw her colleagues across academia and the AI industry hammering away at the same concept: a better algorithm would make better decisions, regardless of the data. But she realized a limitation to this approach- the best algorithm wouldn't work well if the data it learned from didn't reflect the real world. Her solution: build a better dataset. "We decided we wanted to do something that was completely historically unprecedented," Li said, referring to a small team who would initially work with her. "We're going to map out the entire world of objects." The resulting dataset was called ImageNet. Originally published in 2009 as a research poster stuck in the corner of a Miami Beach conference center, the dataset quickly evolved into an annual competition to see which algorithms could identify objects in the dataset's images with the lowest error rate. Many see it as the catalyst for the AI boom the world is experiencing today. More here
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Living of sports betting
January 6, 2017 September 14, 2020 AnyIPTV
Believe it or not, some people really do bet on sports for a living, they especially bet on sports with Fanduel. The folks in the world of “wagering” and “sports betting” are mostly made up of a very small group of people.
Not all bettors are gamblers and not all gamblers are bettors.
According to www.pointspromo.codes, most of the money being bet is on games such as horse races, basketball, and baseball. In other words, betting on sports is not as big a part of the gambling industry as it once was.
But there’s a lot of money at stake and there’s a lot of people willing to bet on these games. That’s why gambling is now a multi-billion dollar business in the United States.
Betting on sports has always been big business. In fact, sports betting is still one of the biggest industries in the world.
It all started in the late 1800s and it’s still a big industry today.
Betting on sports is big business because there is a lot of money to be made. In fact, according to some estimates, the sports betting industry alone was worth $83 billion in 2014. So, sports betting is big business, and gambling is big business. And sports betting is now bigger than ever, and some people believe that the American Dream can’t be saved, it’s already gone. Some people, if they feel like gambling, they will do anything.
So, we’ve come to the point where there are still some places in the world where gambling is illegal. I don’t mean that gambling is illegal, but the government says that gambling is illegal. Where does that leave those who wish to engage in gambling? Where do they turn? Most people choose to take their chances by gambling, so how do we stop this behavior?
How do we make gambling a social norm?
A few years ago, when the world’s first legal gambling facility opened in Las Vegas, I remember I was there when the first patrons walked in. One man sat down at a table and said, “Why do I have to sit here? This is the best table in the place.” And the guy behind me said, “No, that’s not the best table in the place.” And the guy behind me said, “You don’t think it’s the best table in the place because it’s illegal?” And it was. What we have is a social norm where some people have a habit and others don’t have a habit, so they’re going to keep going back to the place that has the better tables in the place. And that’s where we have come up with the table and the game.
What is the history of how the table and game came to be?
I think we are really at the beginning of our relationship with gambling. And the table and the game is just a product of the fact that there’s a need to address a social problem. I think at the end of the day, the table and the game is a really good way to find out who your friends are. And that’s kind of how we feel that gambling is. People find themselves out in the wild. They’ve got some money. They’ve got a bunch of their friends. They’ve got their own little island or something like that. And a group of people is out there playing a game, and they are having some fun together. And it helps you to connect with your friends. It helps you to go away
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The New Year begins where it left off for Anjunabeats in celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new edition of their compilation series looking back at their records. Next in line to pick his favourites is UK DJ & Producer Genix…
Hailing from the Midlands, Genix has been in our orbit since 2010. He's a chap who appreciates an Ibiza sunset (perhaps with a cocktail in hand) as much as we do, and, like many of the artists featured in this series, has been a student of trance music for many, many years.
Damo released music on several other U.K. labels before joining our family with a remix of 7 SKIES ‘Caffeine’. He got our attention with his flair for layered bass arrangements, which he showcased on a 2011 collaboration release with Mike Koglin (‘Helion’ and ‘Dyno’).
His take on ‘Home’ cemented his place as a label regular, and he has since delivered a continuous stream of wonderful, melodic club instrumentals like ‘Durban’, ‘Lima’ and ‘Run’ - the latter brings back fond memories of one particular Above & Beyond show at Ultra Miami.
Damo pushes himself. Whether he's in the studio, breaking world records or DJing at Everest Base Camp, this is an artist who always puts the work in. Of late, he's been channelling Randy Katana and Gat Decor, producing bass-heavy hitters like ‘Death Valley’ and ‘Kill Switch’. Where will Genix go next? We can't wait to find out.
:: Available to purchase right now
http://genixmusic.com/
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Even More Ironies
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | • Eldon Alexander, 36, and Ms. Korin Vanhouten, 47, had two different encounters with Ogden, Utah, police on Dec. 15.
First, they were issued misdemeanor citations after being accused of shoplifting at a WinCo Foods store. They were released and walked out to their car in the parking lot, but summoned the police when they discovered that while they were busy shoplifting, someone had broken into their car and stolen a stereo.
(The shoplifted items were worth about $25, the stereo about $60.) [Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 12-16-2011]
• Sheriff's deputies arrested novelist Nancy Mancuso Gelber, 53, in December in Bryan, Texas, after she had allegedly arranged a hit on her husband. (The "hit man," of course, was an undercover officer.)
Gelber said she had walked in on the husband romancing with one of her friends, and the couple were in the process of divorcing (complicated by his having removed her from his health insurance just as she was scheduled for expensive surgery).
Gelber is the author of the 2010 "crime thriller," "Temporary Amnesia," and told the "hit man" that she was quite familiar with investigative procedures (though obviously poor at spotting undercover officers). [Huffington Post, 12-16-2011]
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Home › T19 Categories › * Anglican - Episcopal › The Bishop of Dallas Writes His Clergy about General Convention 2009
The Bishop of Dallas Writes His Clergy about General Convention 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Diocese of Dallas,
I write to you in response to the actions of the recent General Convention of The Episcopal Church meeting in Anaheim, California. Some in the diocese will be pleased with much that happened, while others will view with alarm some of the resolutions passed.
I feel compelled to speak a word to the Diocese of Dallas concerning three actions in particular. The first two gathered the most press attention and later comment. Members of our Diocese as well as Anglicans throughout the Communion are particularly concerned about these actions, which took the form of resolutions.
The Communion at large has been looking for a clear word from The Episcopal Church as to whether we will continue to honor the moratoria on developing rites for the blessing of same sex unions and consenting to the election to the episcopate of a person living in a same sex relationship. These moratoria were first suggested in the Windsor Report of October 2004 and were occasioned by the consecration of a bishop in The Episcopal Church living in a non-celibate same-sex relationship. A pledge, known as B033, to “exercise restraint” in giving further consents to such persons was adopted by the Convention of 2006. And while the 2006 Convention did not declare a moratorium on blessing rites for same-sex unions, it nevertheless turned away several resolutions calling for development of such rites. The Primates of the Anglican Communion took note of these actions with gratitude at their meeting in 2007 (Dar es Salaam), but requested greater clarity. That clarity would come in 2009.
It is clear from the resolutions passed, as well as from the floor debate in both Houses, that it is the intention of the leadership of The Episcopal Church that the moratoria requested by the Communion are no longer binding. Although a number of commentators, among them bishops, have maintained that the moratoria themselves were not specifically addressed, it is clear that both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops view their previous pledge as cancelled.
It was the stated desire of both Bishops and Deputies that this General Convention speak clearly to the Communion concerning “the reality of where this church is.”
Resolution D025 reads (in part): “That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call [gay and lesbian persons in lifelong committed relationships], to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church” and further declares that it is competent to deal with these calls in its own “discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.”
Resolution C056 reads (in part): “That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, collect and develop theological and liturgical resources, and report to the 77th General Convention”.
While it is true that neither of these resolutions deal explicitly with repudiations of either previous actions of the Convention or of specific requests made of our Church, it is also quite true that their intent is plain. The 2006 resolution had called for restraint on giving consent to the consecration of any bishop “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.” That concern is now completely absent in D025, and the only criteria in making such decisions are entirely internal. As for C056, the operative word is “develop.” The plain sense here is to “create,” “produce,” or “promote.”
C056 also resolves that bishops “may provide generous pastoral response” to meet the needs of same-sex couples, and this, before providing any theological support for the rites themselves. This appears to give a “green light” to local, unilateral action, and is already being so interpreted by a number of bishops.
Taken together, this is de facto a repudiation of the repeated requests directed to us by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates of the Communion, and the Anglican Consultative Council. It is also, I would argue, a repudiation of a previous actions of our own General Convention, in 1991, which mandated a “pan-Anglican” and ecumenical consultation on these matters, because “these potentially divisive issues which should not be resolved by the Episcopal Church on its own.” (1991-B020)
Although these resolutions deal specifically with matters concerning same-sex relationships and persons living within them, I want to remind you of the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury in his paper following our 2006 General Convention (“The Challenge and Hope of Being an Anglican Today”):
“And, to make clear something that can get very much obscured in the rhetoric about ‘inclusion’, this is not and should never be a question about the contribution of gay and lesbian people as such to the Church of God and its ministry, about the dignity and value of gay and lesbian people. Instead it is a question, agonisingly difficult for many, as to what kinds of behaviour a Church that seeks to be loyal to the Bible can bless, and what kinds of behaviour it must warn against – and so it is a question about how we make decisions corporately with other Christians, looking together for the mind of Christ as we share the study of the Scriptures.”
There are many gay and lesbian members of our congregations. Some long for the day when the Church will recognize and bless their relationships. Others among them do not. Add to these a number of people who are considering whether they can even remain in The Episcopal Church any longer. Ministry in these circumstances can be agonizing indeed. The churches of the Diocese of Dallas will, I trust, continue to be a place where all are welcome. We all kneel on level ground before the cross of Christ.
But the larger question is what it means for “the Church” to make these decisions: is it right or good, or even possible, for a congregation, a diocese, or even a province of the Universal Church to make its own way and claim to give “the Church’s blessing” ”“ or God’s? Discerning the mind of Christ surely must mean doing this together. The Christian faith is something we receive, not legislate. Our own Book of Common Prayer recognizes that “the bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. And Holy Scripture commends
it to be honored by all people.” (BCP, p. 423)
In the meantime, we need to be clear about where “we are” as a Diocese:
The Diocese of Dallas will continue to hold up and proclaim the apostles’ teaching that is the ground of Christian fellowship, and the foundational promise of our Baptismal vows.
We will continue to stand with the larger Church in affirming the primacy of Scripture, the sanctity of marriage and the call to holiness of life.
We will not consent to the election of a bishop living in a same-sex relationship, and we will not allow the blessings of same-sex relationships in this diocese.
We will continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, engage in mission at home and abroad, plant new congregations and make disciples of our Lord.
These commitments are in keeping with the historic teaching of the Holy Scriptures as held by the vast majority of the Anglican Communion, and, for that matter, the Church throughout the centuries.
I mentioned earlier a third significant resolution passed by the General Convention. Resolution D020 “invites” the dioceses and congregations of the Episcopal Church to study the proposed Anglican Covenant and “to consider the Anglican Covenant proposed draft as a document to inform their understanding of and commitment to our common life in the Anglican Communion.” I commend this study to our churches and I intend to give a prominent place at our Diocesan Convention in October to such a consideration.
Bishop Lambert and I will be conferring with the Standing Committee and the Clergy of this Diocese on these matters. In the meantime, please know that we will continue to stand with the larger Communion and the historic Church in upholding the apostolic faith and fellowship.
It is imperative that we as a Diocese commit ourselves to one another and work together for the building up of God’s kingdom. At no time in the life of this Church has it been so critical for the community to stand together to carry the message of the Good News of Christ to a broken world. We cannot live in isolation from one another but must find ways to work with and support one another in our common mission and ministry. Now is not the time to “run for cover” but to step out in the name of Jesus Christ and continue to worship, work and witness for the glory of God.
–(The Rt. Rev.) James M. Stanton is Bishop of Dallas
‹ Canon Neal Michell (Dallas): Reflections on GC 2009
Jordan Hylden on General Convention 2009: Brave New Church ›
12 comments on “The Bishop of Dallas Writes His Clergy about General Convention 2009”
Does the saying, “Too little, too late” mean anything Bishop? You have been warned and warned and warned over the years by folks friendly to and supportive of you, and you didn’t listen. It’s now lost!
seitz says:
And why would the Bishop of Dallas be remotely surprised by this outcome, as you appear to suggest? In many ways, the candor of the Yes vote is helpful in clarifying before the larger communion where this church is. +Stanton merely indicates that D025 and C056 are not as they are being spun: they signal a wish to be autonomous, in spite of their rhetoric. We shall soon see if the Communion Partners (and for that matter ACNA) are in consequence viewed as in clearer association with the Communion than those who voted Yes.
Dallas Priest says:
Henry, you are right on.
Also, did you notice something strange about this? Bishop Stanton identifies this communication as, “To His Clergy”…then later in the communication he is quoted as saying “Bishop Lambert and I will be conferring with the Standing Committee and the Clergy of this Diocese on these matters.” Why wouldn’t he say “and you, the clergy…” Is this to lay folks in the pews or the clergy?
DAAR says:
Bishop Stanton speaks with clarity, and faithfulness. If only there were more leaders like him in TEC. I am glad I live in Dallas – We Are Resurrection People!
Brian from T19 says:
The reasserting side should compare letter like this to the sub-par letters from the Communion Partner Rectors and the newly-minted ACI PAC. This is a clear articulation of the state of things and what is necessary to continue. In the end, history will show that people like +Stanton were leaders and the others simply bumps in the road.
The_Elves says:
Excellent words. The problem is, of course, structural, and it has been from the beginning. What happens when Bishop Stanton retires? As currently configured, the diocese would have to elect a bishop who could receive majority consents from the other ECUSA dioceses. If the Covenant process leads to a de facto decoupling from those consents, then well and good, but it’s not clear how that would work.
Larry Morse says:
Phew! I can finally get at the web site again. Yes! Good going, whoever it is, that got the web site up and running. Larry
Already left says:
Totally off topic.
Why have we heard nothing about what’s-his-name Forrester who was up for Bishop?
#7, Frank Lockwood (at Bible Belt Blogger) is still tracking some late responses to the Forrester Consent process. But even though the 120 day deadline has now passed there has been no official statement from 815 or the Diocese of N. Michigan.
You can follow the news here:
http://biblebeltblogger.com/?s=Forrester
Here’s the news on the silence from 815 and Marquette, Mich:
http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/time-expires-thew-forrester-vote-still-closely-guarded-secret
Bonnie Blue says:
[i] Ad hominem comment deleted by elf. [/i]
If Elf thought my comments were an Ad Hominem “attack”, they might as well censure more than half the messages I read on this site today. Total Balderdash!
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Art from Marathon On View
Visual Arts pat rogers | October 8, 2010
Sometimes a little help from your friends is exactly what’s needed. Take artist Kara Raphael, for example. She’s part of a women’s art group that meets regularly at Art (that matters) in Oyster Bay. Ms. Raphael was looking to shift her art making into a higher gear after the birth of her daughter.
Ms. Raphael was also open to in a new direction. So she switched the hand she draws with and Walla! A new artistic sensibility emerged.
Still not content, Ms. Raphael took on a challenge: make 24 new paintings in 24 hours. The event was open to the public and was held at Art (that matters) in August.
The results of the summer marathon are currently on view at Art (that matters) in Ms. Raphael’s first solo exhibition. The artwork from 24-hour challenge is only part of the visual fun. The exhibition features 200 artworks that demonstrate Ms. Raphael’s range as an artist.
The left-handed artworks are mostly drawings of a girl and her adventures. Childlike by design, the female “character” was a pleasant surprise that arose while Ms. Raphael was drawing with her non-dominant hand. Other artworks on view channel childhood in composition or style. Her work can be seen at www.karacolors.blogspot.com.
Remarking on the show, Ms. Raphael offered, “I would say it is magical, fun and childlike with a dash of sophistication. The world needs more art!”
Kara Raphael’s solo exhibition remains on view through October 17. The gallery is located at 55 West Main Street, Oyster Bay. For information, visit http://artthatmatters.com or call 917-769-9921. Art (that matters) will have a booth at Oyster Bay’s Oysterfest on Audrey Avenue. Oysterfest is being held October 16 and 17.
Pat Rogers is a freelance writer specializing in arts and culture on Long Island. When not going to art openings or interviewing actors or musicians, she’s looking for the next interesting story.
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“The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” by Edward Kelsey Moore
Books terri schlichenmeyer | March 18, 2013
All for one, and one for all.
That could’ve been the motto for you and your two best friends. Growing up, you were the Three Musketeers, sharing gossip, secrets, crushes, families, and truths. Everybody knew that you three were close as paint on a wall and where there was one, the other two weren’t far away.
You were lucky to have those friends when you were young and if you’re lucky now, you’ve still got them around. As you’ll see in the new novel “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” by Edward Kelsey Moore, those longtime friends may be life’s best souvenir.
If it was Sunday after church, then everybody in Leaning Tree knew where they’d find Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean: at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat. They’d been gathering there for forty-odd years but food wasn’t all they got.
The diner’s owner, Big Earl, had been like a father to just about everybody in town. He practically raised Odette’s husband, James, and he’d taken in Barbara Jean when her mother died. Big Earl was generous with advice and compliments and everybody loved him.
But now he was dead. Odette learned it from her mother, who came visiting in the middle of the night, along with a well-dressed white woman who seemed a little tipsy. Odette wasn’t surprised to see her Mama at that time of day. Ever since they’d buried Mama six years before, she’d been visiting Odette real often.
But Odette didn’t talk about that. No sense in worrying James, the love of her life for more than thirty years. No reason to make Clarice fret, since she had enough problems with a philandering husband. And since Barbara Jean carried loss heavy in her chest, there was no sense in stirring up bad memories.
Yes, Big Earl was dead but life went on in Leaning Tree, Indiana. Life went on, Clarice kept turning a blind eye on her husband’s affairs; Little Earl kept the All-You-Can-Eat running; Barbara Jean drank herself stupid every day, like she had for years; and Odette passed the time with those who’d passed on.
Until one day, Mama had something to say that Odette didn’t want to hear…
Have you ever read a book that made you feel so at home that you never wanted it to end? Yep, that’s what reading “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” is like: comfortable from the first page, delightful to the last.
Author Edward Kelsey Moore made me laugh out loud in parts of this book with characters that are snide and sarcastic, strong yet delicate. Then he turned around and made me feel bad for what was coming. I loved his turns of phrase and his sense of humor, and I loved the fact that he made me forget that his characters weren’t flesh-and-blood. Overall, I just plain loved this book.
If you’ve ever had a friend (or two) that you knew better than you know yourself, then you need to share this book. “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” is great for one, but better for all.
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St Hilda’s College Oxford, Cowley Place, Oxford, OX4 1DY, England, UK
(Clik here for map)
Webmaster: webmaster@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk
Website: http://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk
Oxford’s close proximity to several international airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) offers an easy access from Europe, Americas and the rest of the world. St Hilda’s College - an affiliate college of the University of Oxford - is conveniently located in Cowley Place, only at a few minutes taxi drive from Oxford train and main bus stations and within a walking distance of the centre of the town.
St Hilda’s College has good disabled access and facilities.
Opinions expressed below are for information only. Delegates are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and may find provided links helpful in planning their journey.
By taxi in Oxford: There are a number of licensed taxi operators in Oxford: Radiotaxis (+1865 242424), ABC Taxis (+1865 770077, +1865 775577), 001 Taxis (+1865 240000) Royal Cars (+1865 777333). There is a taxi rank near Gloucester Green Bus Station and outside Oxford Train Station.
By air: The most convenient airport for Oxford is London Heathrow. There is frequent bus service from Heathrow to Oxford (recommended) . St. Hilda’s College is only a few minutes’ walk from St Clement’s Bus Stop. There is also a good train connection between Heathrow and Oxford. London Gatwick Airport also has a direct bus connection with Oxford. Stansted Airport route is serviced relatively less frequently.
UK travel: There is a frequent bus service (every 8-10 minutes at peak hours) between Oxford and London operated by Oxford Bus Company andStagecoach/The Oxford Tube. There are also bus connections with many other UK cities. There are frequent direct trains between Oxford and London and regular links with the rest of the UK. Please visit the National Rail Inquiries website below for more information about train schedules (or telephone 08457 484950).
By car: We strongly suggest that you do not travel by car unless unavoidable. A limited number of parking spaces are available at St Hilda’s College and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. If you intend to travel by car you must contact us early. You may also park your car in a number of Park & Ride car parks outside Oxford that are linked by public transport. More information about Park & Ride car parks is available on the City of Oxford website. Oxford is accessible via A40 at junction 8/8A on M40 from London. Please use a Route Planner (e.g., RAC Route Planner or AA Route Planner) for other UK cities.
For further information about airports, train and bus travel to Oxford, planning your route, and for general information about the City of Oxford, please click on a related links below:
Route planners
http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp
http://rp.rac.co.uk/routeplanner
Please follow the desired airport link on the following website:
UK BAA Airports: http://www.baa.com
Airport car hire
http://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk/car-hire.html
http://www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk/transport.html
Train and bus travel
National Rail Inquiries: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Network Rail: http://www.railtrack.co.uk
Oxford Bus Company: http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk
The Oxford Bus/The Airline: http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/main.php?page_id=24
National Express: http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm
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-Early registration: 31 May 2019
-Oral abstracts: 14 Jun 2019
-Standard registration: 26 Jul 2019
-Poster abstracts: 20 Aug 2019
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Home Dale Oscar Pierce
Dale Oscar Pierce
[email protected] May 31, 2013 Armed Forces, Army
Spouse: Jean Ludwig Pierce
Children: Dennis Dale Pierce
Parents: Jesse Pierce, Lois Parke Pierce
BURLEY • Dale Oscar Pierce (age 91) died at home in Burley, Idaho, on Friday, May 31, 2013.
He was a U.S. postmaster, cattle rancher, public official and community volunteer throughout his long life. He was dedicated to his family and community and was always available to help a neighbor or to share the joys of ranching life with younger family members.
Dale was the son of Jesse and Lois (Parke) Pierce of Malta, Idaho. Born Sept. 11, 1921, in Malta, Idaho, he was the second of six children. In 1939 prior to graduating from high school, Dale went to California to work for Lockheed Aircraft and was soon promoted to company representative, being sent to P-38 crash sites to supervise repair work. He was drafted by the United States Army during World War II, joining his two older brothers and his sister who were already serving. He trained at Fort Fannen, Texas, then served in Germany, Belgium and France, seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge.
After VE day in May 1945, he returned to California, working at Lockheed and in a pharmacy. While living in California, he met Jean Ludwig and brought her back to Malta, Idaho, where she became his wife. They were married on Christmas Day 1947 at the Willis Sears house in Albion, Idaho, and made Malta their home for the next 60 years. Dale worked at the Malta Cheese Factory, drove the school bus and helped his father on the ranch. Their son, Dennis Dale Pierce, was born in 1951. He continued his work as a rancher, building both his knowledge and his herd. In 1962, Dale was appointed postmaster of Malta by President John F. Kennedy. He was one of the last postmasters appointed by a president.
Dale had good ideas and an understanding of both ranchers and ranching. This led him to participate in a variety of organizations that were important to the Raft River Valley area. In addition to serving as the postmaster for 38 years, he was a Mason, a Century Farmer, active in the Lions Club (30 years) and a 28-year member of the Raft River Fire District Board. He was on the Bureau of Land Management Grazing Advisory Council for 14 years and district director of the Idaho Cattleman’s Association for four years. He also served on the Public Lands Commission for eight years and was the Idaho State delegate to the national convention. The BLM honored him with an allotment dedicated in his name for successfully fighting to keep the large Point Springs parcel available for all grazers for emergency use, rather than allowing it to be divided and parceled out. Mr. Pierce was inducted into the Southern Idaho Cattleman’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2000, Mr. Pierce retired from the post office and moved to Burley with his wife, Jean. He continued his dedication and service to his community volunteering at Parke View Rehabilitation and Care Center and at the Cassia Regional Medical Center for several years. He was a familiar figure to his friends and neighbors as he took his daily walk of at least two miles each morning. Dale will be remembered and missed for his calm approach to life and its tribulations, his dry humor, his good nature and long service to family, friends and community. He was a favorite uncle and great-uncle to many nieces and nephews and could always be counted on to saddle a horse, let you tag along to check cattle or look the other way when you wanted to climb the haystack.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Jessie Marguerite Pierce; his brothers, William Monroe Pierce and Charles Henry Pierce; his son, Dennis Dale Pierce; and wife, Jean L. Pierce, who died on May 20, 2012. He is survived by one brother, James Martin Pierce (living in Virginia); a sister, Mary Lou Pierce Peak (living in Boise); one brother-in-law, Junior “J.R.” Ludwig (living in Arizona); a sister-in-law, Elisabeth Puddephatt (living in Oregon); and many nieces and nephews who dearly loved their uncle.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Malta LDS Church. Burial will follow at the Valley Vu Cemetery with military rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization. A viewing for family and friends will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St. in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, The Idaho Youth Ranch or the Malta Cemetery Fund.
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Home » News » Inside Story: Is this the real reason why Rajini chose to stay out of Politics?
Raghu Ramakrishna Raju asks if Jagan is not ashamed of himself
Naga Chaitanya Turns Hockey Player For ‘Thank You’
Inside Story: Is this the real reason why Rajini chose to stay out of Politics?
Posted : December 30, 2020 at 6:50 pm IST by ManaTeluguMovies
Superstar Rajinikanth shocked everyone when he announced yesterday that he would be stepping down from politics due to his ill-health.
According to the previous plan, Rajini was supposed to make an official announcement about his political entry on the 31st of December, 2020, and he was supposed to have launched his political party in January.
With the news of him quitting politics coming just a few days prior to his original plan quite literally got everyone confused and bemused.
While Rajini stated that he took this decision due to his ill-health, and family pressures, the political circles in Tamil Nadu are telling a completely different story.
Recently, Rajini got a survey done in the state of Tamil Nadu, privately, about the chances of him winning the Tamil Nadu general elections next year.
In the survey, it was reportedly declared that the chances of Rajini himself winning are also very slim, and that the probability of winning 102 seats out of the 234 seats is also very slim.
This survey is said to have majorly influenced Rajini’s decision of taking a backstep from politics.
Back when PV Narasimha Rao was alive, he had tried to rope both Chiranjeevi and Rajinikanth into politics from the Congress party, from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively.
However, as the Congress was in a low phase back then, both the stars had declined the offer and stayed away from politics for a long time, until Chiranjeevi entered politics with Praja Rajyam a few years ago.
Despite a lot of hopes, Chiranjeevi managed to get only 18% votes and 17 seats. Now, Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena’s situation is even worse, considering that the times have changed, and people are not very much inclined towards celebrities as politicians, as they once were.
Tamil actors Kamal Haasan and Vijaykanth also saw dismal results, with not many voting for them, which is stated to be another reason for Rajini to take a backstep.
On the other hand, Rajini’s reputation went for a toss when he supported the members of Sterlite Industries, instead of the people, when there were troubles for the company with the people.
A lot of people also did not like the fact that Rajini was supporting the BJP and the Modi government, which led to a widespread disfavour towards Rajini as a politician.
It is also being said that there’s also a strong feeling in the people of Tamil Nadu against Rajini as a politician, as he is choosing to enter politics when he is constantly in and out of hospitals due to ill-health, instead of entering politics when he was hale and healthy.
Keeping all of these facts in mind, Rajini is said to have chosen to stay away from politics.
This is not to say that Rajini is not suffering from ill-health, it just means that he fell sick at the exact right time of his political entry, which gave him a safe exit method from politics.
Categories : News, Political News, Top News
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Home/Doctors
Doctorsadmin2021-01-11T22:27:29+00:00
Dr. Jerome Muir Wilson
Growing up in North West Tasmania, Jerome relocated to Queensland to study medicine. He returned to Tasmania completing his General Practice training at the Launceston General Hospital, Longford, Smithton and George Town. After spending over 2 years working in a variety of general practices, country hospitals and Emergency Departments across rural and remote Australia he now calls Launceston home.
His special interests include acute and emergency medicine and this is a key reason for establishing the Launceston Medical centre next to the Launceston General Hospital. This was in order to give patients an option for their acute health care needs.
His other interest areas include work cover and sporting injuries for which he assists Tasmanian institute of sport athletes and a number of football teams in the north.
In his spare time, Jerome enjoys playing AFL for Evandale football club and spending time with his young family.
Session Times:
Appointments with Jerome are available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Dr Muir Wilson regrets that he is unable to take new patients at this time (excluding sporting injuries – please call the practice to arrange).
Dr. Jaclyn O’Keefe
Having grown up in Launceston and training in Tasmania, Jackie has experienced a variety of locations across Australia with Jerome. Despite experiencing the beauty of Far north QLD and outback Australia she can see no better place to call home than Launceston.
She felt the best way to put the range of skills into practice was to start a fresh and innovative practice.
Jackie has a passion for womens health, loving to share the journey through a woman’s life including antenatal care, post pregnancy care, and following this through with issues that arise for women later in life. She also enjoys and caring for children and all their health requirements.
Jackie has a keen eye for design and wanted to create a relaxing, modern and efficient practice that didn’t have a ‘hospital feel’ and was a pleasure to work in.
Jackie is currently on maternity leave and is expected to return in February 2020.
Dr. Clare Cerchez
Dr. Clare Cerchez grew up in Launceston, moving to Newcastle to complete her MBBS. Since graduation, she has spent time working throughout New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Her most challenging time was working in Zambia where she spent two years, working in paediatric and adult medicine treating HIV, TB, Malaria and other infectious diseases.
Dr Cerchez regrets to advise that she is unable to take new patients at this time.
Clare works Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays.
Dr. Carlin White
**Dr Carlin White is currently on leave until January 2021**
Whilst Dr. Carlin White is a practicing General Practioner, he also has special interests in sports injuries and child health. Pursuing his interests, he has also obtained a Diploma in Child Health. In addition, he has also undertaken Winter Survival Medicine Training to gain more experience within Wilderness/Survival Medicine.
In his spare time, he enjoys running, orienteering and playing Aussie Rules Football. He is very excited to welcome new & existing patients to his care at the Launceston Medical Centre.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.
Dr. Glenn Richardson
Dr. Glenn Richardson looks after the breadth of patients throughout their lives including those in nursing homes.
Dr. Richardson assists in an orthopaedic theatre each week which complements his interest of sports medicine where he is one of two doctors in the practice that look after Tasmanian Institute of Sport Athletes. He also enjoys undertaking minor surgical procedures including skin cancer surgery and operating on ingrown toe nails.
In his spare time, Dr. Richardson represents Australia in his age group for cricket and is looking forward to an ‘Ashes’ tour playing in England in 2017 whilst also opening the batting for Trevallyn.
Dr. Lily Pavlov
Dr. Lily Pavlov originally completed her undergraduate degree in Russia before moving to Australia with her family over 10 years. It was in Australia that Dr. Pavlov undertook her fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Dr. Pavlov enjoys the breadth of general practice looking after families with young children, womens health and those in nursing homes.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Dr. Jane Strong
Dr. Jane Strong is an experienced GP who has trained and worked in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. She consults in all aspects of general practice, including antenatal care, children’s health, adult preventative medicine and care of the elderly. She is also interested in sexual health, nutrition, skin conditions and performing minor procedures.
Dr. Katrina Tellesson
Dr. Katrina Tellesson graduated from the University of Melbourne before specialising in general practice on the North West Coast of Tasmania. Her interests areas are preventative health, family planning and sexual health.
Dr. Tellesson now calls Launceston home, balancing her working week between family planning and Launceston Medical Centre.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Dr. Arsalan Mahmud
Dr Arsalan Mahmud (or “Dr Sam” as he is affectionately known), joined Launceston Medical Centre early in 2018.
Dr Sam has worked extensively in general medicine, cardiology and nephrology and has a particular interest in emergency medicine.
Since moving to Tasmania in 2013, Dr Sam has worked regularly at the Emergency Departments at both Mersey Community Hospital and North West Regional Hospital.
Dr. Lovejoy Mudyara
Dr Lovejoy trained in Newcastle then relocated to Sydney for sub-specialty training in orthopaedics. He has since seen the light and moved to Tasmania to complete his General Practice training!
A keen soccer and tennis player himself, Dr Lovejoy enjoys a wide range of fitness activities.
His professional interests include Sports Medicine, Travel Medicine and Dermatology.
Dr. Hoki Smoak
Hoki had a circuitous route to medicine, studying art and beekeeping before working as an engineer and then sign language interpreter and finally discovering the joys of medicine. He completed his medical studies at Sydney University, then trained at Lismore Base Hospital and in GP clinics in Northern NSW.
Dr. Denys Volkovets
Dr Denys Volkovets is a General practitioner experienced in all aspects of general practice with particular interest in Mental Health, Sexual Health, Dermatology and Skin Cancer.
Prior to joining Launceston Medial Centre he worked in rural Tasmania for a few years after relocating from Melbourne in 2017.
Denys practises the holistic approach and focuses on patients’ complete physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing.
Dr. Sai Tip
Dr Sai Tip
Sai is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and has over 10 years of experience in medical fields including hospital and General Practice settings, in both Australia and overseas .
Sai is interested in the full breadth of general practice and deeply passionate about promoting the health of the remote communities as a GP and has practised in the Central Queensland, the South Coast of New South Wales and Northern Territory where he finished his fellowship training.
He is committed to providing comprehensive quality health care to his patients in Launceston.
He loves to travel and try new foods in his spare time. He also enjoys playing tennis, cooking and spending time with family.
Sai has a keen interest in respiratory medicine, skin cancer, men’s health, treatment and management of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Languages spoken: English, Burmese and Thai
Dr. Dan Kirk
Dan is originally from WA where he trained at the University of Western Australia to gain his MBBS.
He moved to Launceston in 2018 after spending a year working in the intensive care of Port Macquarie Base Hospital in NSW.
Dan has experience working with a broad range of medical conditions through his time working as a General Medicine Registrar in the hospital system.
His professional interests include oncology, chronic disease, paediatrics and lifestyle medicine.
In his spare time, Dan enjoys playing cricket, bush walking, traveling, exploring and spending time with his family and dog.
Dr. Sana Mahmud
Sana has extensive experience in women’s health having worked at the Launceston General hospital, North West Regional Hospital as well as Mersey Community Hospital for over 7 years now.
In addition to women’s health, she also has particular interests in reproductive health, contraception, family medicine.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family.
Dr. Dan Tucker
Dan is a GP with advanced training in Primary Care Dermatology & Skin Cancer Medicine and in 2020 he will complete a Fellowship at the Australian Institute of Dermatology.
Dr Tucker first worked in general practice in 1990 and has practiced in regional, rural & remote areas of Australia. He did his internship in Burnie and has spent most of his medical career in Hobart. In addition to Skin Disease, he has special interests in Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Dan is also an internationally recognized Health Economist and has published scientific research in the field of Health Policy in international journals and presented Decision Making analyses at international scientific congresses. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health since 2007 and in 2018 was fortunate to join the review team for Diabetic Medicine, the journal of Diabetes UK.
A/Prof. Gary Kilov
A/Prof. Gary Kilov’s keen interest in chronic disease management incorporates the spectrum of obesity related conditions, diabetes and their impact on mental health. His interest in chronic disease management stems from his own personal experience with both type 1 diabetes and lifelong coeliac disease. Understanding the breadth of these conditions he has developed a team based approach over the last 5 years and will soon be leading the Launceston Diabetes Clinic where he will focus on diabetes and obesity related conditions only.
A/Prof. Kilov shares his time between Launceston treating the full spectrum of patients with diabetes, obesity related conditions and travelling interstate where he is sought after for peer to peer and medical undergraduate education on
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Dr. Aye Aye Thwe
Dr Aye Aye Thwe became a fellow of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) in 2013 after 3 years of general practice training in Tasmania. In the mean time Dr Aye also obtained Diploma of Child Health from Westmead Children’s Hospital, Sydney and Diploma in Women’s Health from King Edward memorial Hospital from Perth, Western Australia.
Dr Aye is especially interested in Child Health, Women’s Health and chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, bronchial asthma, etc. She also enjoys doing minor surgical procedures.
She is very excited to welcome new patients to her care in Launceston Medical Centre.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Dr. Kyan Ahdieh
Dr Kyan Ahdieh
Dr Kyan Ahdieh completed his Medical School and General Practice training in Western Australia. He worked for a number of years in rural WA, the South Pacific and Canberra before settling down in Launceston in 2016.
Dr Ahdieh provides comprehensive general practice care encompassing most aspects of medicine including general health checks. Special interests include skin disorders and children’s health. He is also willing to provide a second opinion for complex issues if required.
Session times: Monday to Friday
Special interests : child health, skin disorders.
Dr. Sarah Shepherd
Dr Sarah Shepherd
MBBS, FRACGP, MPsychiatry, GP FPS provider
Please be advised, Dr Shepherd works limited sessions at the Launceston Health Hub. She therefore does not provide general practice services, but offers dedicated mental health consultations in collaboration with patients regular doctor.
Dr Sarah Shepherd is a General Practitioner who takes a wholistic approach to mental health.
She completed a Master of Psychiatry (University of Melbourne) in July 2020 and has been a Medicare provider of Focused Psychological Strategies since 2016. Sarah has worked as a GP at Headspace in Launceston for more than 5 years, and has a special interest in working with adolescents and young people to improve their mental wellbeing.
She is happy to see anyone to discuss mental health concerns and to establish a collaborative approach to management, including reviewing medication and diagnosis, writing and reviewing Mental Health Care Plans, discussing adjunctive self-care strategies to improve mental health and mental health care coordination.
As a certified Medicare GP provider for Focused Psychological Strategies Dr Shepherd is also able to deliver Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions, mindfulness, relaxation techniques and Motivational Interviewing sessions – please discuss your individual situation with Dr Shepherd to establish the right tailored approach that fits you.
No referral is required and a Medicare rebate will apply for most patients.
Initial appointments are booked for 40 minutes and will require a $100 gap payment ($25 discount will be applied for pension & healthcare card holders).
Dr. Andrey Yuvchenko
Dr Andrey Yuvchenko has called Tasmania home since 2012, after relocating from Russia.
He spent 2 years working at Sheffield Medical Centre and now works predominately at Lilydale surgery.
He enjoys a regular Saturday session here at Launceston Medical Centre, providing a welcome addition to our after hours clinics.
In his spare time, Dr Andrey enjoys hiking and exploring the beauty that Tasmania has to offer.
Dr. Eugenia Ellingworth
Dr Eugenia Ellingworth
Dr Ellingworth and her family moved to Tasmania in early 2020, from Western Australia.
Eugenia’s professional interests are in geriatric medicine, chronic disease and women’s health.
She has undertaken training to be able to conduct intrauterine device (IUD) insertion and removal.
When not working, she enjoys time with her husband & three children, travelling, and has has a personal interest in skin care
Session times: Initially Dr Ellingworth will work Mondays and Saturday afternoons.
Dr. Suresh Sharma
Dr. Suresh Sharma has been working in Devonport for the last 7 years. He especially enjoys the variety that comes with more acute general practice presentations and enjoys travelling to Launceston to help out with weekend work where he can use his full breadth of skills.
Weekends once to twice a month
Dr. Stuart Buchanan
Hailing from Ireland, Dr. Stuart Buchanan (AKA “The Leprechaun”) is currently working in Western Australia but loves Tasmania so much, he returns regularly to locum at Launceston Medical Centre.
A regular locum!
Ms Megan Smoak
For more information about Meg, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Susan Crave
Susan Crave – Psychologist
For more information about Susan, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Leonie Coskun
Leonie Coskun – Psychologist
For more information about Leonie, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Wendy Gall
Wendy Gall – Psychologist
For more information about Wendy, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Kelly Lockett
Kelly Lockett – Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
For more information about Kelly, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Corrina Tay
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker & Rehab Counsellor
Corrina Tay – Accredited Mental Health Social Worker & Rehabilitation Counsellor
For more information about Corrina, please visit https://wellingtonstclinic.com.au/our-team/
Amelia White
Amelia White – Dietitian
Amelia graduated from LaTrobe University in Victoria, and has enjoyed returning home to work in various towns throughout the north of the state. Amelia is interested in a wide variety of nutrition-related conditions, however her special interests include heart health, diabetes, weight management and bariatric surgery.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, running and basketball.
For more detailed information, please visit Pathway Nutrition
Patients with chronic injuries or ailments may be referred by their GP as part of an Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC).
In this instance, a Medicare rebate will apply and the out of pocket cost will be $10.
Private fees would otherwise apply. Please click here for more information
e info@launcestonhh.com.au
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No Branding Selected
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy, and Our Health...
by Sinan Aral
What it's about: the unintended effects (both positive and negative) of widespread social media use on our selves and our societies, and a look at how things got to this point.
Read it for: the thorough research, which includes a look at the underpinnings of the social media ecosystem; the level-headed handling of polarizing topics like mental health and children's social media usage.
The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias: How to Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection...
by Pamela Fuller and Mark Murphy with Anne Chow
What it is: a straightforward guide for managers to assess the existence and effects of unconscious bias on themselves and their organizations, with advice and tools to help them address it.
Why you should read it: The recommendations are practical and based on the experiences of real people, and will be useful both inside and outside of the workplace.
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
What's inside: timeless life advice based on the ancient observations of Stoic philosophers from Seneca to Cicero to Marcus Aurelius, presented in a well-organized, accessible format.
Topics include: the power of character to determine fate; preparing yourself for failure as much as you prepare for success; and the value of self-rule, which is "the greatest empire."
How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World's Most Inspiring...
by Guy Raz
What it is: an inspiring and candid examination of the journeys of successful business founders and the lessons to take away from their stories.
Don't miss: a look at the importance of partnership in a business environment that tends to lionize individuals instead of appreciating teams.
About the author: Long-time NPR contributor Guy Raz has worked on shows like All Things Considered and TED Radio Hour, in addition to the podcast How I Built This, which he began in 2016.
Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change
What it is: a thoughtful and moving collection of short essays on loss, longing, and using creativity to help with bouncing back after difficult life experiences.
Why you might like it: Although the essays address serious topics like miscarriage and postpartum depression, the book maintains an inspiring tone throughout.
Reviewers say: "Simple yet profound insights and advice to return to in times of confusion or loss" (Kirkus Reviews).
Nodding Off: The Science of Sleep from Cradle to Grave
by Alice Gregory
What it's about: This comprehensive explanation of the ins and outs of sleep covers a wide array of topics, from sleep disorders to genetics to simple advice on how improve your own relationship with bedtime.
What sets it apart: Nodding Off is arranged by age group, including a large section focusing on the sleep patterns of young adults (whereas most books on the topic tend to cover either children or adults over 25).
The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep
by Guy Leschziner
What it is: a science-based yet still accessible review of the neuroscience of sleep, with a focus on sleep disorder case studies from the author's medical career.
Read it for: the outline of each patient's plan of care, which gives readers a look at the full road to recovery and not just an open-ended list of suggestions.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
by Matthew Walker, PhD
What it is: an engaging and conversational attempt to answer the most scientifically elusive question about sleep.
Topics include: how relatively recent our understanding of the mechanics of sleep truly is; what sleep deprivation can do to the mind and body; how modern society's relationship with time makes everyone get less sleep than they need.
The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It
by W. Chris Winter, MD
What it's about: the most common sleep problems and what can be done to manage them by changing your habits around food, exercise, lighting, and time management.
Don't miss: the tips for how people (like shift workers) who might not be able to make radical changes to their sleep habits can modify small things that will still have an impact.
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A Fresh Batch of American Gladiators Episodes? I’ll Take Two Scoops
American Gladiators returns to NBC tonight at 9 p.m., and I’ll be watching. The show was one of my favorites during its original run from 1989-1997. I don’t know if the revamped 2008 edition will provide enough entertainment to compare with the nostalgia of ESPN Classic reruns of the original episodes, but NBC did make things interesting by adding one of my childhood heroes to the mix. Hulk Hogan (along with Laila Ali) will serve as a commentator for the show.
Before the launch of a new generation of gladiators, I have to talk about the greatest competitor in the history of American Gladiators. Of course I’m talking about Wesley “Two Scoops” Berry.
The legend of Two Scoops is part Bo Jackson and part Paul Bunyan. In a day and age when you can Google map your way to much any place on the planet, tracking down information about Two Scoops is about as easy as finding the Fountain of Youth. The few YouTube clips of Two Scoops that I could find only hint at his speed, agility and overall athletic ability.
If Two Scoops didn’t invent the phrase “giving 110 percent,” he certainly was the only athlete who actually did it. He passed through the gauntlet like a pinball, whizzing past some gladiators, bouncing around others, and completed the event in record time. He could leap tall buildings in a single bound. No? OK, but how about a car?
The most amazing moment among Two Scoops’ championship run, which according to IMDB.com came during season 6 (1993-94), was his come-from-behind win in the Eliminator. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find footage of this event online. If anyone has it, I’m begging you to share it online.
I don’t remember the specifics, but somehow Two Scoops entered the final event trailing by a significant margin. But it did not matter. When he got to the infamous cargo net – an area where every competitor seemed to get caught up – Two Scoops scaled the web as if he had spun it himself. He left his competitor in the dust and won the event, and the season’s championship.
While I have no confirmed proof, several Internet message boards suggest that Two Scoops is currently incarcerated for armed robbery. If true, it’s a tragic twist in the story of a man who inspired kids to dig down deep to succeed. But like the rest of the Two Scoops story, it’s hard to access any details about his current whereabouts.
Perhaps NBC will give insight into the current status of the best performer in the history of American Gladiators during its broadcast later tonight. Or, perhaps the legend of Two Scoops will continue to live on in infamy in the minds and memories of a generation that was awestruck by his performances. As time passes by, the stories and personal accounts of Two Scoops’ heroic ascent to American Gladiators greatness will mean more than any YouTube clip ever could.
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Message by H.E. Ambassador Jiang Jiang on the Occasion of the 71st Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China
Today, the People's Republic of China celebrates the 71st anniversary of its founding.
Over the past 71 years, the Chinese people have united and forged ahead under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and embarked on a successful path of development that suits China's national conditions.
Once an impoverished country, China has grown into the world's second largest economy.
Once a shortage economy, China has developed into a manufacturing giant equipped with a complete range of industries.
Once a semi-colonial country subjected to foreign humiliation and aggression, China has emerged as a major country with a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
The past decades have seen steady improvement of Chinese People's lives: more than 850 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty; average life expectancy has more than doubled from 35 to 77 years; the illiteracy rate in China was once over 80 percent, but now the population in the country has full access to nine-year compulsory education.
China is thriving and flourishing. The Chinese people are leading a happier and more fulfilling life. I am proud of what my country has achieved.
China's development is made possible thanks to the hard work and wisdom of its people. It is facilitated by a peaceful and amicable international environment and by China's win-win cooperation with its international partners.
China's development benefits not just itself, but also the rest of the world.
China is committed to global peace, the international order and the development of the world. It is the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget and is involved in the settlement of all major international and regional hotspot issues.
China actively participates in the reform and development of the global governance system. It firmly upholds the international system centered around the United Nations, the international order underpinned by international law, and the multilateral trading regime with the WTO as its cornerstone.
For more than a decade, China has contributed over 30% to global growth, injecting strong impetus into the world economy.
This year, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, China responded by adopting a people-first approach and taking decisive and science-based measures to bring the virus under control and reopen the economy. China is the first major economy to achieve positive growth in the wake of the coronavirus.
Throughout this crisis, China has stood together with Malta and the rest of the world. We have supported each other to fight the virus and build a global community of health for all.
This is the fifth time that I celebrate China's National Day in Malta. Over the past few years, I have experienced and have been deeply touched by the profound friendship of the Maltese people toward the Chinese people.
Indeed, China-Malta friendship was forged by leaders of the elder generation of our two countries. It has withstood the test of time and the ever-changing international landscape and kept going from strength to strength.
Looking ahead, China is ready to deepen cooperation with Malta under the Belt and Road initiative to deliver more benefit to our two peoples. Together, we will usher in an even brighter future for China and Malta.
This message was published in the Times of Malta on 1st October 2020.
Celebrating China's National Day (2020-10-01)
Ambassador Jiang Jiang Meets with "Little Cultural Ambassador" (2020-09-30)
Ambassador Jiang Jiang Attends SEAM Project Launch (2020-09-18)
History is a Guide (2020-09-15)
Chinese Embassy donates face masks to Malta China Friendship Society (2020-05-03)
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caribbean weather april
Hurricanes are unpredictable though, and peak season can vary according to geography. For more casual evenings, pack a light sweater and long pants or comfortable maxi dress.��You will also want dressier clothes if you plan on visiting a nice restaurant or exploring the nightlife, as many have dress codes. You���ll not only save money this time of year, but you will avoid the loud and sometimes raucous��. average. As spring weather is finally starting to appear in your hometown, the Caribbean is just as warm and beautiful as it is all year long. In my experience, April has the best weather in the Caribbean for any month of the year. Are the seas still fairly rough? But neither heat nor rainfall get extreme enough to spoil a vacation of relaxing and playing on the beach. April temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the Caribbean, with pleasantly hot days and warm nights. Playa del Carmen. Though any month you choose will feel like a celebration in the Caribbean, in April you will find��Easter celebrations in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, festive��Carnival��parties and parades in Trinidad and Tobago and��Martinique, boat races (regattas) in St. Barth and the��British Virgin Islands,��sporting events, and much more. Caribbean Weather and Climate in April. With such high temperatures, youâll be grateful for air conditioning in your room. It gets a little bit cooler in the evenings, and the average low temperature is 66 ⦠Get the monthly weather forecast for Caribbean Key, FL, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Barbados. No Hurricanes are reported in the Caribbean Region at this time. April brings wonderful weather to most Caribbean Islands. The climate in Puerto Rico in april is good across the board. Like the rest of the Caribbean, Grenada experiences a surge in tourism from January through April, when the weather in the U.S. and the U.K. is at its gloomiest. I realize that we cant predict the weather, but generally, what is the weather like this time of year? World Ocean Atlas 2009. April is a great month to visit the Caribbean, particularly the latter part of the month after the North American Spring Break. Caribbean Weather: March/April vs November/December. Not all destinations in the Caribbean are perfectly warm all year round, especially some of the more northern destinations during the winter. 32. For nights you plan on going out, you will need more formal footwear such as nice, heeled sandals or pumps for ladies, and closed-toe dress shoes for men. ... For visitors looking to avoid hurricane season, crowds, and wet weather, April is a popular month during the shoulder season. 12 mm. For weather stations on many southern islands, such as Bonaire, Curaçao and Tobago, April is the year's driest time. Ocean temperatures are quite warm during April too, making it the perfect time for a swim. Consider visiting Aruba in the months of February, March, April, August, for the best beach weather.Also consider one of our other suggestions for April. NOAA's outlook is in agreement with that released in April by The Weather Company, an IBM Business, which calls for 18 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Information on the weather in April for cities and beach towns throughout the Caribbean has been pulled together here. Temperatures in Curaçao during April generally vary between an average high during the day of 87.0 degrees and an average low at night of 78.0 degrees The April temperatures and rainfall given in the table below allow you to compare the climate for places on two dozen islands. Puerto Rico is among the wettest Caribbean locals in April, receiving almost five inches of rain, whereas Bonaire and Aruba are two of the driest, getting just half an inch of precipitation. Rainfall and temperature data come from each island's meteorological organization. April is a hot and extremely dry time for sunbathing in Aruba.April is an excellent month for swimming in Aruba with very warm sea temperatures. Copyright © 2020 Current Results Publishing Ltd. Your Guide to the Weather in the US Virgin Islands, Tips to Travel Safely to the Caribbean During Hurricane Season, What You Can Expect Traveling to the Caribbean in October, Everything you Need to Know about the West Indian Parade, Discover November in the Caribbean: Lower Prices and Balmy Weather, September in the Caribbean: Weather and Event Guide, Escape the Caribbean in January: Weather and What to See, May in the Caribbean: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See. Weather ; Things To Do; Travel Advice; What's The Weather Like in Search. April temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the Caribbean, with pleasantly hot days ⦠Caribbean in april 2021: Weather and Where to travel? The Caribbeanâs littlest islands follow a typically Caribbean weather pattern, with December to April the peak months (drier, cooler, less humid) â and September to October the most prolific for hurricanes, with rains starting in June. 1. If you want to see several Caribbean destinations at once, consider a cruise. Home | Privacy & Cookies | Contact | About. April Great weather arrives in the Caribbean. Across the Caribbean, though weather patterns vary, the climate falls under the category of "tropical marine," where there are distinct wet and dry seasons and minimal variation in temperature. 30. You can also view the temperatures in degrees Celsius. Tourism booms from mid-December through mid-April. You can expect on average 8 hours of sunshine a day in Caribbean during April. The average maximum daytime temperature in Caribbean in April is a warm 29°C (84°F), while the average minimum night-time temperature is a warm 23°C (73°F). March/April vs November/April 3 members have voted. Rain. Disclaimer: External data. During these months, the ⦠April marks the end of the peak tourist season between Christmas and Easter, so flight and hotel prices begin falling at this time of year while the weather remains ideal for visitors. WeatherCarib was born in 1998, with an emphasis on tropical weather links for the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic all the way to Africa. If you are visiting��early in the month, you can expect islands to be a little crowded at popular destinations, but there will far fewer crowds than in the busiest months of December, January, February, and March. The weather during these months in the Caribbean features little rainfall and has average lows in ⦠The island is jointly governed by the Dutch and the French and both sides of the island reflect the culture of the respective government controlling them. Below are average maximum temperatures at popular destinations in the Caribbean in April. We will be sailing the Western Caribbean during the last week of March/1st week of April. Travelers are often pleasantly surprised, however, to learn that weather conditions in the Caribbean can be exceptionally pleasant, even during the warmest months. Rip Current Statement in effect until 8:00 PM EDT. Where to travel in april. Select a destination to see more weather parameters. It's near the end ⦠Good news: Although it is not perfect the weather in Puerto Rico in april is pretty good in Arecibo, Bayamón and San Juan. NOAA. The season is typically busiest between mid-August and mid-September. Although primarily Spanish speaking, this Caribbean island is actually owned by the United States, providing a mix of a traditional European and modern American feel. When's the Best Time to Visit Manchester? I ⦠February in the Caribbean: Weather and Event Guide, March in the Caribbean: Weather and Event Guide, April in the Caribbean: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See. This icon serves as a link to download the eSSENTIAL Accessibility assistive technology app for individuals with physical disabilities. The coldest months of winter are without a doubt the high season in the Caribbean, as people flock to the unceasing warmth of the islands in order to escape the frigid cold blanketing most parts of the world. St. Martin is one of the most famous islands in the Caribbean and is as rich in heritage and history as it is in nightlife and fun. Best Beaches in Caribbean in April These are the best beaches in Caribbean in April, based on average sunshine, sea temperature, rainfall and temperature. Average daily temperatures. Further north on the island of Cuba, the average temperature is slightly cooler at 26°C with highs reaching 31°C at this time of year. At night time, temperatures tend to drop by around 6°C, but youâll still be grateful for air conditioning. Not only do you miss out on the high season by visiting in April, but it's also just before hurricane season begins in the Caribbean, so you can prepare for your trip and enjoy island life without worrying about the possibility of an impending storm. April is still a reasonably dry month in the Caribbean, although the rain starts to pick up for most places as the dry season draws to a close. The weather is best through April and the late peak season means that prices will be lower than your typical winter cruise. On average, April temperatures reach into the mid 80s Fahrenheit during the day for most destinations with a few such as Aruba and Cayman Islands reaching the upper 80s. At their coolest, visitors will find water temperatures around 77 degrees Fahrenheit in the Bahamas. Weather in Barbados in April View all deals. chance. Caribbean weather links and tropical weather information on tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, covered in depth, and updated frequently. Weather in the Caribbean. 33 %. In April, the Caribbean enjoys lovely warm temperatures, with highs of 28°C in the more northerly Bahamas, and peaks of 33°C on the island of Trinidad. Humidity. Sun. The average high temperature in the Bahamas in April is 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the island, April temperatures in the Caribbean vary from daytime highs above 80 degrees F to evening lows down to 70 degrees F. If you want to beat the heat, the coolest temperatures can usually be found in the Bahamas, while heat seekers should head to Trinidad and Tobago for the best chance of a scorcher. No matter which island or country you visit, it rains on average seven days of the month with total rainfall of about 2.7 inches, a very promising forecast for travelers hoping for sunny skies. That also makes winter the most expensive time to visit the Caribbean, so if you can withstand a few months of winter, you can save a lot of money by waiting until April to plan your trip. Robert Curley is a freelance writer and guidebook author specializing in Caribbean Island and Rhode Island travel. Weather â â
Caribbean â â
April â â
Information on temperature, sunshine hours, water temperature & rainfall in April for the Caribbean. Days are usually hot with balmy evenings, so visitors should pack light and cool clothing. These temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. In Barbadosâ capital, Bridgetown, 60mm of rain is expected this month. 28° C. average. It is an in-between month, both for temperature and rainfall. April does much better. C a r i b a t i o n assumes no liability. Ocean Climate Laboratory. St Martin April Weather Averages. Hurricane warnings for the Caribbean Islands: C a r i b a t i o n service for travelers to Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico. The Caribbean weather is quite nice from January to March or April, and for this reason, this is probably the best time to travel to the Caribbean. Keep up to date with the 45 days weather forecast Caribbean and the 16 days weather forecast Caribbean warning in april the weather is different depending on the city and regions of the country. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, so it's unlikely that your trip in April will be affected by inclement weather. Cancun. With warm weather not yet peaking for the year, and some of the driest weather to be found throughout the Caribbean, Curaçao offers sunny skies all month long. On average 57 mm (2.2 inches) of rain normally falls in Caribbean during April with rain falling on 11 days of the month. April might not be a warm month in continental Europe, but it is in the Canary Islands. Report date: Mon, 30 Nov 2020 11:41:26 GMT Source: NHC Atlantic More info and current maps. The monthly averages are based on historical weather records. Though many factors can come into play when choosing your beach destination, the beach weather will often be a deciding factor. The weather in the Caribbean can differ quite a bit depending on which ⦠When packing for your Caribbean trip, you will want to bring a bathing suit, of course, as well as loose-fitting cotton or linen layers to keep you cool during the day. Temperatures in Caribbean in April Because of its location, many people think that temperatures in the Caribbean are uncomfortably warm during the month of April. The coolest days are in the Bahamas in the north, while the warmest weather is in Trinidad. Find on this page the recommended destinations to go travelling in Caribbean in april in the sun from their climate. Typical Weather in April. Weather data Caribbean and forecast weather Caribbean updated weather warnings Caribbean. On average around 9 tropical storms form each year, with 5 reaching hurricane strength, Are you looking for a place to go on holiday in the month of april in Caribbean? Temperatures have warmed to the point where swimming is usually comfortable even in northern destinations. With warm weather all year round, old towns and stunning scenery, Puerto Rico is often referred to as the 'island of enchantment'. Information about the weather for the Caribbean in April: >> Current temperature and weather forecast for the Caribbean >> Climate table and weather in April for the Caribbean >> Current water temperature for the Caribbean >> Current temperature and weather forecast for the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles >> Current temperature and weather forecast for Get the monthly weather forecast for Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. By JamesOceanVillage, January 3, 2010 in Royal Caribbean International. Temp. March/April vs November/April. 30. per month. Flip-flops are also a must, and in case you want to do adventure activities, you will need sneakers, socks, and athletic clothing. Depending on the island, April temperatures in the Caribbean vary from daytime highs above 80 degrees F to evening lows down to 70 degrees F. If you want to beat the heat, the��coolest��temperatures can usually be found in the Bahamas, while heat seekers should head to Trinidad��and Tobago for the best chance of a scorcher.��. Just like during the rest of the year, the weather in the Canary Islands in April is usually sunny and warm, ideal for outdoor activities like sunbathing, walking or hiking. 75 %. If you can wait until the end of April, known as the "shoulder season," you should. Above all, do not forget to bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, as these items are marked up significantly��in hotels and local shops. Ocean temperatures range from 77 degrees Fahrenheit in the Bahamas to 81 °F at Curaçao in the south. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. 32.
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caribbean weather april 2020
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Southern Africa CWP Rebrand
THE 1:1 DIET BY CAMBRIDGE WEIGHT PLAN TO HELP WITH THE OBESITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT CHALLENGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The impact of Covid-19 has left us with personal, societal and economic scars, which, in order to get back to some sort of normality, we will all have to work on. One area that needs to be addressed rather urgently is the level of obesity in Southern Africa – some 70% of our population is over-weight or obese. It has become a chronic lifestyle condition and since the start of Covid-19 has taken more lives. Data is showing that people who are very over-weight or obese with one or more comorbidities are at a much higher risk of developing severe symptoms of Covid-19 no matter the age, which could ultimately lead to their hospitalisation.
Unfortunately, the stress of lockdown has forced us into unhealthy lifestyles. For example, people have stopped exercising and started binge-eating while watching television late into the night. This means we are being inactive and getting less sleep while eating badly and stressing out. Our immune system doesn’t stand a chance against a virus which relies on a weakened immunity response to attack our bodies. Now more than ever we need to get healthy because wellness is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves against Covid-19.
Not only did the lockdown impact us physically and mentally, it has also brought the global economy to its knees with many South Africans suffering for it – job loss and unemployment is at an all-time high. Many of us have had to start looking at new ways to live our lives and make an income.
This being said, it’s not all gloom and doom as companies, like Cambridge Weight Plan, are beginning to step up and assist with these societal challenges.
The Southern African contingent of the international slimming brand has been working hard on rebranding itself during lockdown to follow in its sister companies’ global footsteps and launch The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan. Its core objective is to provide stronger, more accessible and consistent one-to-one support to people who need to lose weight and get healthy during times when it is needed most.
“We couldn’t be more excited and thrilled about the new direction we are taking,” says Renny Letswalo, Managing Director of Cambridge Weight Plan Southern Africa.
The new branding, coupled with some strategic business direction, puts the slimming company in a relevant space to urgently help reduce the obesity problem in Southern Africa obesity and ensure that people begin to live healthier lives. At the same time, it will be creating employment via its network of Independent Consultants.
The unique one-to-one support that the company’s Independent Consultants provide to slimmers is at the heart of everything it does. It is something the company prides itself on as a reputable brand to be reckoned with for well over 35 years.
In fact, Chris McDermott, Managing Director of Cambridge Weight Plan Ltd, alluded to this when the new brand was launched in the UK. “These same words echo what we do here in Southern Africa. Our new brand encapsulates everything we do and turns it into something everyone will understand,” says Renny.
In the shortest words possible, we have zeroed in on what makes us so unique – the one-to-one support offered by our Consultants. In a world of self-help books and online chat bots we offer something special – a real person whose goal is to help others lose their weight and keep it off. And the new brand gives us the opportunity to shout about this fact from the rooftops.
The ‘1s’ in the new brand logo represent the Consultants and the slimmers, and the remarkable relationship they have as they take the weight-loss journey to ultimate health together – the slimmers are encouraged every step of the way by their Consultants.
The 1:1 Diet (pronounced one-to-one) is a unique combination of the 3P’s: People – the independent Consultants, the nutritionally-balanced Products and the Plan, which can adapt to any weight loss, life stage and lifestyle.
The new brand will also take on a new visual identity which recognises there aren’t simply one type of slimmer but many, whose circumstances and weight-loss goals differ.
And just as there are diverse slimmers joining the diet program from all around the world, there isn’t one type of Consultant either. It takes all types of people to help support slimmers on their weight-loss journeys. Men, women, couples, people working full-time or part-time, running small and big businesses, are responsible for the millions of slimmer success stories across the globe. South Africans who have a passion to help fellow citizens on their path to health and wellness, while making a living for themselves, are welcome to apply.
What makes these Consultants so special is the one thing they all have in common and that is the drive and passion to help transform people’s lives in the same way their own lives have been changed. “It’s this unique empathy that gives them an understanding of what the slimmers are going through and what it takes to help them achieve their goals,” says Renny.
“In Southern Africa, we are not only thrilled by this fresh and exciting rebrand but also with the prospect that this gives us the opportunity to address both the obesity challenges in our society amidst Covid-19 and the unemployment, which many people find themselves during one of the toughest times in our economy,” she concludes.
About 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan
The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan’s roots can be traced back to the 1960s, when biochemist Dr Alan Howard started to research the perfect diet. Since 1984, when The Cambridge Diet became commercial in the UK, more than 30 million people from all over the world have used its help, support and products.
In 2009 the Cambridge Diet was rebranded to Cambridge Weight Plan. In 2014, Cambridge Weight Plan became an employee-owned company. Today, it is a passionate and profitable group of people who provide support, flexible weight loss plans, products and business opportunities that help other people achieve their goals. Whatever those goals may be.
In the UK and Southern Africa, the company sells and markets The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan brand through independent Cambridge Weight Plan Consultants, who offer one-to-one support to guide slimmers through their weight loss and into weight maintenance.
In Southern Africa, we brought back Cambridge Weight Plan, in October 2017 to specifically focus on Obesity reduction and Employment creation.
The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan’s meal replacement programme (MRP) uses formula food soups, shakes, bars and other foods to replace conventional foods, thus giving a lower dietary energy intake than on a conventional reducing diet. Cambridge Weight Plan MRPs are nutritionally complete, providing all protein, essential fat, vitamins and minerals needed.
Interested parties can go to http://www.www.one2onediet.co.za
For media queries, please contact Que Lebatha| que@qlconsulting.co | +27 82 357 3852
ISSUED BY: QL Consulting
ON BEHALF OF: Cambridge Weight Plan Southern Africa
Picture caption: New 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan products
Renny Letswalo, Managing Director of Cambridge Weight Plan Southern Africa
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Pitney Bowes to pay USPS $9.4 million for claiming discounts it wasn’t entitled to
October 13, 2015 Pitney Bowes, postal, postalcrime.com 1 Comment
The Department of Justice announced today that Pitney Bowes Presort Services Inc. (Pitney Bowes) has agreed to pay the United States $9.4 million to resolve allegations that it underpaid postage for mail processed at its Reading, Pennsylvania, facility by claiming discounts to which it was not entitled. Pitney Bowes, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, helps prepare mailings for large mailers by, among other things, gathering, sorting and presenting the mail to the U.S. Postal Service.
“Those who obtain government benefits are expected to comply with the terms of those benefits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates that there will be consequences for those who do not live up to their obligations.”
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Pitney Bowes claimed discounted postage rates for mail that failed to comply with the Move Update standard, which requires that mail be updated with change-of-address information provided by the Postal Service. Pitney Bowes was obligated to ensure that mail it submitted on behalf of its customers at discounted postage rates complied with Move Update, by either updating addresses on the mail directly or having its customers perform the updates. The Postal Service offered lower postage rates to Pitney Bowes for complying with Move Update and other requirements.
“When mailers don’t adhere to Move Update standards it negatively affects the entire mailing community,” said Inspector in Charge David W. Bosch of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Philadelphia Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to investigate mailers who fail to comply with postal regulations.”
This matter was jointly investigated by USPIS and the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch. The claims settled in this case are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
← Kentucky rural carrier rescues disabled man who fell out of wheelchair
UPS Expands Worldwide Express Service →
Susan Walker
Great! It isn’t fair for anyone to try and cheat the USPS out of money. No matter what the dollar amount.
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DAILY OFFICE ROUTINE
works. When a person is new in an assignment, many things that are done may appear strange and some may even seem to be pointless. However, a wise manager will not react to first impressions but will study the situation before making sweep- ing changes. The reasons for performing a task in a particular fashion maybe seen as sound once the total system has been studied and is understood. Planning must be flexible because sometimes the best of plans have to be revised. If a devised system fails to work as efficiently as it should, a change may be in order. The alert supervisor monitors the system to see whether the plan is working, and makes adjustments if necessary. An efficient supervisor also watches for changes in function, personnel, or working conditions and modifies the system to meet the changing situa- tion. A practice should not be continued just because “it has always been done that way.” If it is clear that there is a better way to complete a project, then the necessary changes should be made. If plans are realistic and carefully prepared in detail, it will be easier to implement them. Chaplains will find such plans easier to under- stand and will be more likely to approve them. Office personnel will also find them easier to carry out. While the supervision of others is clearly a managerial function, all supervision involves the wise use of time. The RPC or RP1 cannot “look over the shoulder” of all assigned personnel all the time. The wise supervisor will ensure that assigned personnel are time conscious and that the work load is planned to ensure the most time-efficient operation of the office of the chaplain. PRIORITIZING.— Establishing priorities for the tasks to be performed will help ensure that staff members fulfill their primary responsibilities. It will further enable the leading RP and assigned personnel to meet deadlines and will make it easier for everyone to complete all tasks in a timely manner. The work to be done in the office of the chaplain should be divided into categories, and priorities should be established. The office work might be divided into the following categories. Priority I. This is work that should be completed daily. For some of these tasks there is little or no opportunity to calculate in advance the amount of time or work that will be required to complete them; therefore, advance preparation is not possible. Priority I tasks may include typing correspondence, posting office receipts, processing incoming and outgoing mail, routing messages, and super- vising working parties. Priority II. This is work in which advance preparation is possible. Most of these tasks have established deadlines. Priority II tasks may include procuring and stowing office supplies, scheduling training, and preparing reports. Priority III. This is work of a routine nature that can be accomplished as time permits. Priority III tasks may include filing correspondence and reports and entering changes to publications. The examples given above may not necessarily be the priorities every leading RP will establish. The priorities of a particular office will be deter- mined in large measure by local operations. When establishing priorities, the leading RP will have to bear in mind the requirements that the command chaplain will place on the office. Money Each fiscal year (FY), Congress allocates a certain amount of money for command opera- tions. The command will designate a specified amount for functions of the Command Religious Program (CRP). The RPC or RP1 will assist the chaplain in the formulation of the budget and the management of the CRP allocation. Financial management of the CRP will be covered in depth in chapter 4 of this manual. Materiel Appropriated funds will be available each FY with which to buy materiel necessary for the operation of the CRP. Some supplies, such as chaplains’ vestments, may last many years; con- sequently, control of these items should be relatively simple. Other materiel, such as office supplies, are consumables that may need to be restocked often and, therefore, require rigid control by the RPC or RP1. RP 3 & 2, module 3-4
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Christmas Movie Cliche thread
Author Topic: Christmas Movie Cliche thread (Read 186 times)
Okay, with the season upon us, I thought it only appropriate for a thread devoted to X-mas and holiday movies.
For one thing, if the story is magical in any way, the existence of Christmas ITSELF will be in jeopardy. As if we couldn't continue well enough on our own. Hogfather actually gave this some meaning which I quite liked, but you can really only get away with that one ONCE.
Usually in a Christmas movie, there's usually no consideration for other holidays, and unless its' strictly Christian, no mention of Christ as being the accepted origin of the holiday (instead of the Fonzie of it, having co-opted the celebration from the Pagans, but that's another issue). it's like Christmas is a holiday severed from the religious institution, which it kind of is, to permit more people to spend money at that time of year.
I think the non-holiday movies they release on Christmas deserve some mention too, usually big four-quadrant unrisky pictures that whole families can be dragged out to see (like the upcoming "Parental Guidance") just so they can drag grandma and the cousins to see something so they get two hours of silence and a subject of conversation instead of how sick of each other they all are.
Re: Christmas Movie Cliche thread
Okay then, I say lets break down some of the bigger Christmas Themed movies out there, along with some of your favorites. No discussion of this 'Genre' is complete unless these movies are included:
And the Granddaddy of them all....
I also think that movies that actually blend the other genre's with the Xmas theme should be included, because it is after all thinking outside of the box:
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Yes, this is a Thanksgiving themed movie, but it fits in nicely with Xmas and family)
You know, for the longest time (ever since I first heard about it), I wanted to see the three-hour cut of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I love that flick. Then I read the script and I realized how much bad stuff they had to cut out. A lot of John Candy's dialogue got dropped at some point, and it really made all the difference in the world between him coming off as the lovable doof he does in the flick or being the guy Neil felt he was for the longest time. He's really not endearing on the page.
Home Alone, holy cow, I always dug those first two films (though, like Star Trek, I took a couple years off to re-build my affection for them), and those are flicks I think could probably stand a re-make today. And not those crummy Disney channel spin-off straight-to-TV whatevers, I'm talking about going back to the roots of this kind of jerk kid who feels totally left out and alone because of this giant family, a dependent who becomes totally independent and learns to fend for himself... there's a lot of emotional stuff at the core that's still good that you could rebuild off of... and it's all capped with zany looney tunes-style pranks and physical violence at the end (I do feel that maybe we should have been brought up to that a little bit). I did dislike all the bird lady stuff in the sequel, though.
Home Alone did something I quite liked which was make Christmas feel grand and royal. In the commentary track they mentioned flicks like "Great Expectations" and Dickens and gave this sort of old England regency, taste, and pomp to all the pure Christmas stuff. It's like a Serif font. A bit of Victorian Christmas ideal in the modern age, and I think because I saw that at such an early age (when I looked just LIKE the kid in the movie), that's what I thought Christmas should look like.
Can I be honest and say "A Christmas Story" isn't really a fave of mine. I've seen it a zillion times but, like Elf, I feel like I'm slightly left out of the joke that everyone else is in on. I will say that the newly-made cash-grab sequel looks terrible, and I'm in the same pain every other fan is about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHJNBZ2rrMM
I have no desire to see it, but it's got to be better than Randy Quaid and family stuck on a desert island in Christmas Vacation 2, right?
Well, for me A Christmas Story actually means more to me than the rest of society. Why? Because I saw the movie in the theater the first week it came out. I got it immediately. This is way before it became "fashionable" to like it because they started running it 24 hours straight on TBS. Now everyone loves it? Why? Where were all these people when it came out? If anyone has a right to hate the movie now because it's in 'vogue', it's me. I hate being part of a pack mentality. Usually when something is loved....I hate it. When something is ignored and hated, it's my cup of tea. Having said that, I still can't find fault with the movie at all, even if I have issues with everyone that claims to have been a fan of the movie since it came out.
The above rant is my version of a Christmas scrooge.
Some cliche scenes that seems to appear in most Xmas Flicks in one way or another....
The Big Turkey Dinner - Duh! Of course you have to have the family dinner. It's what the entire movie is usually buidling toward or centered around, which leads to....
The Wacky Relative - Be it a distant cousin or a bullying brother, whoever the family member it turns out to be, he or she is usually the source of the comedic moments that always gets the main character into trouble, one way or another.
Well, Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life have that in common, they were both big bombs at the box office... or at least not very popular. The only reason Wonderful Life became the mainstay is because some desk clerk forgot to renew the copyright (which he only had to do once every 28 years) and so it lapsed into the public domain, and since it took place at Christmas (at the end at least), all the TV stations treated it like a Christmas movie. It got played all the time so naturally everyone thought that was because it was so good, and there you go. I do like the movie though.
Funny enough, a couple years ago I met this duo who were writing a sequel to Wonderful Life, they had gotten the necessary rights and even met the surviving crew and cast members. The first thing I asked them was if George ever left the town because he kept going on about that the entire movie. They said I was the first person who asked that question. We swapped cards and I asked if I could take a look at the script and they said sure and I never heard from them again. Take from that what you will.
My family isn't big on Turkey so we don't have Turkey dinner. We also don't do the big family meeting, so I can't say how real or unreal that cliche is. My dad and stepmom have a HUGE family, 41 people, which I'm curious about but not enough to GO there for it. Too small and too few bathrooms. But that's too much for any piece of literature. But that seems more realistic than what we see in the flicks. And I'm sure I'm the wacky relative of the group. Or at least the unpredictable one.
It's funny how we perceive those things that meant something to us and how that developed. A guess a majority of them would be as a kid watching something for first time. Not to be contrary, but Christmas Story did nothing for me. The Home Alone movies just made me roll my eyes. I never bought into MaCaulay Culkin's acting, looks or the story. Not trying to be cynical. Those movies just never did anything for me. I know... Un-American.
For years, my first wife made a tradition of watching It's a Wonderful Life while putting up the tree and decorating the house. After many years of that I've grown to ignore it.
I do like The Santa Claus, well, because I'm a huge Tim Allen fan and I thought it told a pretty cool story. Miracle on 34th Street will always be cool to me.
I think one of the biggest cliche's is the protagonist not believing... in the story, the mythology, the soul. The movie is the journey to discovery
My favorite move to watch during the holidays is Scrooged with Bill Murray. Obviously it based on the Charle's Dicken's story, but with a whole bunch of twists. But at the core is The Story Dicken's wrote about.
I LOVE Scrooged! They tried to scare the DICKENS out of people! It does make me wonder what other brilliance we were robbed of by Mr Mike's passing... have you ever seen his dark fairy tales on the old Saturday Night Live show in the 70s? (to me, the 70s show is a completely different beast than anything that happened anywhere else).
I will say that I never really dug Mac Culkin either, despite digging the flicks. I knew even as a kid the acting was kind of forced, but having said that, he was wonderfully creepy on Kings. I never knew what was going on in his head.
Totally agree on the Protag not believing, but it's not just that, he's usually the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD who doesn't believe in whatever. "Everyone believes in the magic of Christmas, Frank." I suppose the inversion would be the character being the only one who believes in a cynical world, or if you want to go the Christmas Atheist route, finds a logical reason to celebrate or something along that line.
I never dug The Santa Clause, didn't like any of them, never understood the appeal, and while I'm a fan of Tim Allen, the idea of him as Santa seemed forced and unrealistic.
Did anyone else here remember the Santa Clause: The Movie flick that the Superman producers made in the 80s, with Dudley Moore as a disgruntled elf? That is HARD to watch now, but something about the old-school effects and the murky, dark film quality that you're squinting through... that got into my mind. And it was the first thing I'd ever seen John Lithgow in and he creeped me out for a long time since. Maybe even until Third Rock From The Sun. But now, he's GORGEOUS!
That movie did have the VERY heavy appearance of the street orphan, urchin, or poor kid who won't have anything this Christmas.
Uh, no, missed the Dudley Moore flick... apparently for the better.
I don't know why I JUST now made the connection of Duldey Moore as Patch (who got his own flying Christmas car... which had a pretty funky Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade look to it) and Russell Brand as the Easter Bunny.
There's some interesting shots in the Santa Claus flick, I think those will do.
The Super Hero Movie Cliche thread
Started by Mac Creative Writing
The Buddy Cop / Criminal Genre Cliche Thread
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Californication (Season 4 - 2011)
Buy, Rent or Skip Californication (Season 4)?
Author Topic: Californication (Season 4 - 2011) (Read 122 times)
Californication (Season 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJTYn3qz8d8
« Last Edit: May 12, 2012, 09:02:07 pm by Chiprocks1 »
Re: Californication (Season 4 - 2011)
So glad to finally get to watch Season 4, especially after the cliffhanger from Season 3 with Hank coming clean to Karen about sleeping with Mia and then getting arrested for assaulting a police officer. I was curious to see how this one would pick up. Well, it basically picks up at the point of Hank making bail and being release from Jail. Now Charlie and Hank have a meeting with the biggest Hollywood starlet Sasha Bingham (Addison Timlin) that wants to make F u c k i n g and Punching into a movie. Of course this can only mean one thing.....bang the starlet. Good Gawd Addison Timlin is incredibly hot!! I like the new addition of Carla Gugino who will be Hank's lawyer. I can only imagine what's gonna happen between these two.
Also, I hope that Kathleen Turner pops up in Season 4. She was a riot in the previous season.
Suicide Solution
Great episode and I particularly liked the Letter that Hank wrote to Becca, admitting to her about his failings as a father and as a person towards her. I think the Letters/Narration segments in most of the episodes are some of the most kick ass writings on any series. Whoever writes those segments really go out of their way to craft some great words, which is inspiring for me to write as well. It's almost poetry without it actually being such. More like poetic writing.
Really cool and very trippy to see Zakk Wylde turn up as the Guitar Guy in the Guitar store where Hank is looking to buy Becca a Gibson. Also, it was awesome to see Rob Lowe joining the cast as the Hollywood Superstar Actor looking to play the role of 'Hank Moody' in the film version of F u c k i n g and Punching.
I knew that Hank letting Karen believe he tried to commit suicide so that he could reatin her affection would come to bite him in the ass. Even if he did try to do that, I still thought it was a bit too much that she would just jump back into whatever kind of relationship they were about to embark on. Now that she knows, Hank is definitely up s h i t creek now. Not that he wasn't already there.
I like that they are having Becca pursue guitar and liked the scenes of her playing on the boardwalk at Venice Beach. I don't know much about the behind the scenes stuff for Californication because I'm trying to remain spoiler free until I watch all the episodes of the series, but I think Madeleine Martin who plays Becca is actually playing guitar in those scenes. That would have to be some incredible sync job to get those fingerings to match what is coming out of the amp. Either way, I am very impressed in her abilities.
Monkey Business is exactly what you think it is. I haven't laughed this hard in a while and boy, my side was hurting from it all. When the Monkey started flinging it's poo at Charlie, I just lost it. But the weirdest sight was seeing Fisher Stevens hanging behind the bathroom door, dead from autoerotic asphyxiation. He has two incredible looking women on his both his arms, but he chooses to go down that road? Weird doesn't even begin to describe some people.
This episode had me a bit on edge. First you have Charlie giving himself a botched man-scaping job, bleeding all over the place. Yuck. Then I thought Hank was going to throw down with Ben, the guy that Karen may or may not be seeing. Then I thought Mia was going to jump off the ledge of the balcony. To top it all off, Hank gets caught with his pants down as Sasha and Mia are looking for Mr. Goodbar. Of course there is someone to take a pic and upload it to the world for all to see. This is gonna get messy now............
Rob Lowe as Eddie Nero OWNED this episode! He stole every damn scene he was in and scenes that he wasn't in. This character is the complete opposite of what we get from Rob in Parks And Recreation. He is a very talented actor in both drama and comedy. Not many are good in one genre, even less in both. Rob is the rare exception to pull it off with conviction in both.
As for the rest of the episode, there doesn't seem to be much blowback from the photo of Hank in a comprising position from the last episode. To say that Hank is bulletproof is putting it mildly.
The Recused
Very funny episode surrounding golf. Well, in what appeared to be golf. Some people in life just take the game way to serious and watching Lloyd Alan Philips Jr. (Alan Dale) berate Hank for "disrespecting" the game had some laugh out moments. Karen is really stuck between a Rock and a Hard Place now that she's falling for Ben, but can't quite let go of Hank. This is gonna get messy.
I loved the acoustic version of Skid Row's I Remember You by Queens Of Dogtown to close out the episode. I'd buy that for sure if it were an actual single.
Queens of Dogtown - I Remember You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep5hiEk6Y9Y
Lights, Camera, A$$hole
Really cool to see Callie Thorne pop up as Sasha's mom. I've been a big fan of hers from Rescue Me, and she's so adorable and hot at the same time. More please. You can probably figure out that Hank sleeps with her and then Sasha's walks in on them. Insanity ensues. They all made up rather quicly though.
A very funny scene with Stu Beggs when Marcy tries to tell him that she is pregnant by Charlie. But Stu in his excitement thinks it's his baby and starts to weep like a little girl. You have to see it to get why is so damn funny.
The ending tripped me up a bit when Home Sweet Home started playing. I was like why can't Showtime pay for the original song by Motley Crue only to have the camera pan from Hank over to Tommy Lee sitting at the bar's piano, playing the greatest ballad of all time. Cool way to close out the episode as everyone sings along.
A good episode what has to 2 incidents. The first one being Becca, having just learned how to drive, sneaking out late at night, taking the car for a joy ride and then crashing it. The other incident has to do with Charlie's new "girl friend" Peggy (Melissa Stephens), the Real Estate Agent that he is banging. She has got some seriously twisted role playing fetishes. It's funny stuff, but man she sure is a character.
We finally get to the Trial that has been building towards the entire season thus far. Hank must now answer for having sex with Mia, who was underage at the time. The testimony of witnesses was interesting because we got to see scenes via flashback of moments mentioned previously only in passing back in Season 1. Now, we finally get a "face" to the scene if you will.
But the biggest bombshell that had even me going "whoa" was when it was revealed that Hank met Mia before the night in question. That's one big bomb for sure. No idea how this is gonna play itself out, but it's one of the better court room dramas I've seen so far on a TV Series.
It was nice to see Hank, Karen, Becca, Charlie and Marcy all sharing the same scene together. All season long they have been separated from each other as a whole due to circumstances like divorce, dating, trials, etc....So to get them in one room was kind of a return to what Season 1 was all about. Now that Hank has been found guilty, it's kinda bittersweet. No idea if he is going away for a long time or if he will get probation.
Outside of the aforementioned scene, the best and funniest had to be Hank's fantasy dream where he has the ideal life...in the 50's. Think of Leave It To Beaver and you will get the hilarity of the scene itself. The fact that it was shot in Black and White, and the music in the background was spot on, made this an instant classic.
Awesome episode which had the best scene all season long and one of the best dinner scenes ever. So much s h i t went down and a lot of truths were unleashed. Charlie confesses that he still loves Marcy. Marcy confesses she is carrying his baby. Peggy stabs Charlie in the hand. Marcy and Peggy cat fight. Nero (Rob Lowe) hooks up with Peggy at the end. That's just a tiny sampling of the chaos.
So, Hank gets 3 years....probation. So, he is more or less a free man to wreck havoc....or not. It remains to be seen if he will change and become the father that Becca wants. I really liked the ending, driving off into the sunset. But I liked how earlier Hank walks onto the movie set of F u c k i n g and Punching.....and how they inter-cut the films actors with the people the characters are based on. Just a couple of days ago, Bones had a behind the scenes episode on a Hollywood set.
Season 4 is practically a perfect season in every way and I'm looking forward to Season 5 to see where they go with the characters. There is going to have to be some sort of change in Hank, or its just going to make Season 4 kind of a wash. He has to grow up sometime. I highly recommend this season as a Buy. Just a great season all around and they did a great job with the guest stars that had big parts as well as the cameos too. Fun times.
Californication (Season 7 - The Final Season - 2014)
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A Self-Contained Handie-Talkie
June 1944 QST Article
June 1944 QST
"Handie-Talkie" was the name given to early walkie-talkies used in the field by military communications troops. Having been written during World War II, the author of this QST article just assumed that any reader would be familiar with the WERS acronym - it stands for War Emergency Radio Service. Per the Wikipedia entry: "At the start of the Second World War the United States Congress had suspended all amateur radio activity throughout the country. WERS was established by the Federal Communications Commission in June 1942 at the insistence of the American Radio Relay League. WERS would remain in operation in through the end of the Second World War in 1945. WERS was to provide communications in connection with air raid protection, and communications during times of natural disaster. WERS licenses were given to communities and not individuals. One of the requirements for individuals to participate in the WERS was to hold an Amateur radio license."
See The Walkie-Talkie in the March 1955 Popular Electronics, A Self-Contained Handie-Talkie in the June 1944 QST, and The New Handy-Talkie in the December 1942 Radio-Craft, and Walkie-Talkies: Something for Everyone in the April 1974 Popular Electronics.
A Compact Light-Weight WERS Unit Operating from Dry Batteries
By Charles T. Haist. Jr., W6TWL. EX-W9EQL
The application of units of the handie-talkie type to WERS work is very practical in that they may be operated right at the scenes of incidents or disaster, leaving the operator free to walk or move around and still have one hand available to assist in other duties. Such low-power units are intended primarily to be used in conjunction with a higher-powered mobile unit which may be located several blocks away, parked in a favorable spot which permits satisfactory communication with the control center for the purpose of relaying messages.
When necessary, however, surprising distances can be covered with handie-talkie units when they are operated in the clear. Communications with control center KMFY-1, with a signal report of R4/S4 at distances up to ten miles, have been accomplished with the hand-portable shown in the photographs. R5/S5 reports have been logged at distances of up to three or four miles.
This unit is built along the lines of some of those used by the armed forces. The complete transceiver and its battery power supply, enclosed in an aluminum case as shown, weighs but 3 7/8 pounds. The outside dimensions of the case are only 2 5/8 X 2 3/4 X 11 inches.
The transceiver circuit, shown in Fig. 1, is more or less conventional in most respects. It was drawn up around the type 1S4 tube, which is the secret of the set's compactness.
Two tubes of this type are used in the unit. One, with its screen tied to the plate, is used as a triode oscillator and detector. The other 1S4 is used as an audio amplifier and modulator.
Many have encountered trouble in getting the 1S4 to super-regenerate on frequencies as high as 112 Mc. In this circuit this difficulty was solved by placing a 0.005-μfd. condenser, C3, across the receiving grid leak, R3.
* 750 Warfield Ave., Oakland 10, Calif.
The microphone is insulated from the aluminum case so that it may be connected in series with the single headphone, P, for side-tone transmitting. The headphone, which has an impedance of about 100 ohms, was provided with an output transformer, T1, for proper impedance matching to the output of the 1S4. When transmitting, the secondary is opened and the primary is used as a Heising modulation choke.
Bias for the audio amplifier or modulator is provided by operating the "B" - below ground potential and using the voltage drop across R1. Regeneration is controlled by a simple variable series resistance, R4, in the "B" + lead to the detector so that an additional switch is not necessary to eliminate battery drain when the set is turned off.
The change-over switch, S1, is a four-pole triple-throw rotary switch. In addition to the two usual positions, a third position, labeled 0 in Fig. 1, is provided where all battery circuits are open. The filament circuit is completed when the switch is placed in either the receiving or the transmitting position.
The filament battery consists of two No. 3 flashlight cells connected in parallel for longer life. They are held in the case by spring clips. The plate battery is a 67 1/2-volt Minimax or two 45-volt hearing-aid batteries in series. These batteries are not too difficult to buy now, since stores are selling them on the open market after the nominal installation date has passed. One penlite cell provides adequate voltage for the microphone.
The case for the unit is made of pieces of sheet aluminum fastened together with self-tapping screws. The metal was given a "swirl" finish by applying a spinning cork, held in the chuck of a drill press, after the aluminum sheet had been smeared with a thin coating of a mixture of valve-grinding compound and oil.
The microphone, mounted in the lower end of the panel, and the single headphone at the top are from a Western Electric handset in which the brass threads moulded in the handle were cut off with a hacksaw to provide mountings. The regeneration control is on the right side and the change-over switch on the left side in a position convenient for one-hand operation.
These two views of W6TWL's hand-portable transceiver show the arrangement of controls. The left-side view shows the headphone. microphone, and, on the side. the change-over switch. The right-side view shows the regeneration control on the side and the tuning knob and scale on the rear.
The batteries occupy the lower section of the case, the "A" battery cells being mounted in clips at the bottom and the "B" battery immediately above. The penlite microphone battery is mounted in a clip on top of the headphone transformer.
The transceiver components consume the remaining space at the top. The r.f. tube is mounted in an inverted position in a polystyrene socket, while the audio tube socket is fastened to a shelf at the left in the inside view of the unit. The tank coil, L2, is soldered directly to the terminals of the tuning condenser, C5, which is mounted immediately below the antenna terminal.
The antenna is a quarter-wave rod, 24 inches long, which plugs into a receptacle on top of the case. It is coupled to the tank coil by a single turn of wire, L1, one end of which is grounded to the case. With this arrangement transmission and reception seem to be good even with the antenna at an angle or in a horizontal position.
This transceiver has seen considerable successful service during the past few months. The life of the batteries is very good despite their small size, since the current drain on the filament battery is only 200 ma. and the total "B" battery current is only 10 ma. when receiving and 15 ma. when transmitting.
The handie-talkie unit with the front cover removed. The miniature plate and filament batteries occupy the lower portion of the case, while the r.f. and audio components are fitted into the top section.
A Self-Contained Handie-Talkie Schematic Diagram
Fig. 1 - Circuit diagram of W6TWL's hand-portable WERS station.
C1 - 0.001-μfd. midget mica.
C4 - 50-μfd. midget mica.
C5 - 2-plate midget variable.
R1 - 750 ohms, 1/2-watt carbon.
R2 - 25,000 ohms, 1/2-watt carbon.
R3 - 10 megohms, 1/2-watt carbon.
R4 - 100,000-ohm potentiometer (regeneration control).
L1 - 1 turn No. 12, 1/2-inch inside diameter.
L2 - 4 turns No. 12, 1/2-inch inside diameter.
RFC1 - V.h.f. r.f. choke (Ohmite Z-0 or homemade equivalent).
M - Single-button carbon microphone (see text).
P - Single headphone, 100 ohms (see text).
S1 - Four-pole three-position rotary switch.
T1 -8000- to 100-ohm output transformer.
T2 - Transceiver transformer.
Posted October 19, 2020(original 1/9/2013)
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The Clairvoyant Dr. Fox
Mystery stories were broadcast on radio stations in the days before television - and for quite a while after TV was available for that matter. Families gathered around the living room radio set in excited anticipation of the next adventure of shows like "The Shadow," "Amos 'n' Andy," "Tales of the Texas Rangers," "Dragnet," and "The Green Hornet." During that era, it was common also for electronics magazines, which focused largely on radio communications, to experiment with printed dramas that had a radio-centric theme. Here is the first of a series tried by Radio-Craft in the late 1930s. A couple decades later the Carl & Jerry adventures were run in Popular Electronics, but other than that I don't recall seeing a lot of these things. If you're a mystery fan, then here you go.
A great collection of old time radio broadcasts can be heard on the Old Radio World and Old Radio Programs websites.
Clairvoyant Dr. Fox
Do you like radio fiction stories? If so, write and tell us how you like this one, and maybe we'll print more!
Ralph Urban
My school friend Jessner is back again. He has bushels of money, and spends his time traveling from one resort to another, and appears to have nothing else to do than to enjoy the thirty or forty years that still remain to him before old age settles on him.
Little by little I got his story cross-examining him. "You must have worked very hard in America, to be able to retire at so early an age," I said to him casually one day.
"Don't talk nonsense," answered Jessner. "I washed a hundred thousand dishes, heaved sacks of coal on my shoulders, and did all kinds of hard work, without ever managing to save even a hundred dollars. Over there in America you can only get hold of money if you are a bigger thief than all the others. But as for me, I am engaged in business. I am a partner in a large commercial undertaking."
"Wouldn't it be more partner-like for you to stay there and take care of the business?"
"No - in fact my presence here and my absence from the business is the principal condition of my silent partnership. I am the very model of a very silent partner."
Then he made a complete confession to me.
"One day, I was again on the hunt for a job. With my last dollar in my pocket, I was strolling through 74th Street in New York. A wet snow was falling, and the streets were slippery, so that one slid at every step. I was just going to cross the street and stood at the curb when an automobile turned the corner going at a good speed. The car skidded, and I watched with interest the traffic jam and accident. The car skidded broadside, continued sliding backwards, hit a nail, and blew out a tire. I jumped to one side, but not far enough, and I was bounced in the air and then rolled like a frog in a muddy pool of snow and water. I was ready to get up and start a fight with somebody, but instead I lay still and began to groan loudly. My artistic sense told me that the car that had skidded up on the curb was worth at least $10,000.
The driver of the runaway car lifted me, with the help of a few bystanders, into his car. 'A thousand dollars,' said the man, taking his place next to me at the wheel, 'a thousand dollars if you agree not to make any further demands.'"
"Two thousand," I groaned.
"You are a robber, my dear friend," observed my neighbor, stepping on the gas. "Fifteen hundred, and not another penny."
He stuck under my nose a piece of paper which I was to sign as a receipt. It was a prescription blank, by which I could see that I was dealing with Dr. Sanford, president of the Medical Association. I signed, got his check for $1,000 and $500 in cash, and that's how I got rich and happy. A sudden impulse struck me - and I gave the cash back to the doctor, saying, "The check is enough to pay me for my fright. There isn't anything the matter with me."
"Hmmm," grunted Dr. Sanford, and put the bills back in his pocket. "You either have concussion of the brain, or else you are no American. I take back a third of the robber I called you."
"I am a European," I answered modestly.
The doctor took me under his care, to treat my scratches. Then I cashed the check at the bank, and turned into a gentleman. I had to do something with my $1,000. I talked it over with Dr. Sanford the next time he treated my scratches.
"I jumped to one side, but not far enough, and I was bounced in the air .... "
"Hmmm," said the doctor thoughtfully, "you might be just the right man for the job I have on hand. You could earn some money, and enjoy a good rest at a first-class sanitorium, at the same time. You aren't nervous, are you?"
I denied it vehemently, whereupon the doctor explained the position to me. It concerned the sanitorium of Dr. Fox - sanitorium for melancholia and other nervous ailments. His patients were all of the upper ten thousand. Within two years Dr. Fox had killed all medical competition as far as rich patients were concerned. People told such remarkable things about the powers of this doctor, that medical circles became suspicious.
"I'm going to send you to Dr. Fox as a patient," said Dr. Sanford. "As soon as there is room in his sanitorium, you are to go there and act like a rich patient. Our Medical Association will of course bear all the expenses. All you have to do is to keep your eyes and ears open, and give me a report when you come home."
I promised my help in the conspiracy.
A few days later everything was arranged. I had the necessary instructions, and started out on the trip, and on the evening of January 23rd, I arrived at the sanatorium. It was a large estate, in a lonely neighborhood.
Dr. Fox was a man of medium height, and his eyes were far apart, like those of a hippopotamus. He spoke to me briefly when I entered. Then a nurse came into my room, and made me swallow a few drops of some liquid, before her eyes. To quiet my nerves, she said. I slept like a log. When I awoke, it was late in the morning, and I was starving. I ate three breakfasts. Then I was called to Dr. Fox, and told him the terrible story of how I was supposed to have become melancholy: unhappy love, two unsuccessful attempts at suicide. At the end of my story, the doctor gazed at me and then he spoke:
"You will be healed spiritually, Mr. Jessner, if you believe in me. And you will believe!" But my soul was as strong as an ox's, and I didn't believe a thing.
Later I met my fellow-patients, all terribly nice people, but they thought Dr. Fox was more than an earthly being. One man explained to me, when I expressed doubt about this opinion: "From him comes all salvation, for he alone knows the future. You will soon be convinced of it yourself."
No communication was permitted with the outside world. But we could read all the newspapers we wanted to, and the radio was turned on for one hour each day. at noon.
We all ate our meals at one large table. When Dr. Fox entered, I noticed at once the deep respect that his patients felt for him. After the meal, a deathly silence fell, everyone looked at the doctor, who appeared to stare into the distance, with wide-opened eyes. The strained silence began to become intolerable. Finally the doctor passed his hands across his eyes and got up.
"How are things today, Doctor?" asked the thin, frightened voice of an elderly lady.
"Ah, my friends," said Dr. Fox, seriously, "tonight there will be a railroad accident in Canada. Seven persons will be killed and twenty-three injured. Tonight the French cabinet will be overthrown. In Boston, the eleven-year-old son of the banker Smith is being kidnaped, and in New York, a drunken man will kill a policeman at midnight." With lowered head, Dr. Fox left the dining room.
"Tonight there will be a railroad accident in Canada. Seven persons will be killed ... "
"What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?," I said, breaking the intense silence.
"Good heavens, man, don't talk that way - it's a sin !" answered my neighbor, and angrily walked away from me. All this happened the day after my arrival: - that is, the 24th of January. It was the next afternoon. The doctor had treated me psychically and had wasted his powers of suggestion on me. I was terribly bored. The morning papers did not arrive from New York until afternoon, so I went into the library and dozed over a learned book. A gong sounded to notify the patients that the hour of radio broadcasting was about to begin. When I entered the room. in which the radio was, the other patients had already assembled there. The familiar voice of a New York announcer identified itself, and began the noon news report.
"Last night, there occurred a serious railroad accident. The Montreal Express collided with a freight train at Winnipeg. Seven dead and twenty-three injured were, found in the wreckage."
"Last night the Montreal Express collided with a freight train. Seven dead ... "
I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. "The French cabinet resigned last evening," continued, "the voice of the announcer, and then one after the other, all the prophecies were fulfilled:
"Doctor," I said later, meeting the doctor in the hallway, perhaps you could tell me who will win today's baseball game in New York?"
"You should not ask that kind of question," answered the doctor. "These things are too serious for you to apply to such frivolous subjects. You must believe in me, Mr. Jessner! But this time, I will make an exception and tell you: The Philadelphia team will win, with a score of eleven to one."
The, next day, I heard it over the radio, and read it in the papers. Philadelphia had actually won, eleven to one!
And so, quite often, the doctor would utter his prophecies while we all sat at the table, and always the prophecies were fulfilled. Once I asked him: "Why don't you warn people if you foresee their catastrophes with your unbelievable powers?"
"God does not will it so," sighed the doctor. It does not lie in any man's power to interfere with destiny."
One day I wanted to telephone to New York, but I was not permitted to. They reminded me of the rule of the establishment, which I had committed myself in writing to obey.
"You have made good progress;" Dr. "Fox said to me one evening. "Now we come to the end of your cure. I shall give you another injection. You will sleep long and soundly, and when you awake, go back to New York, and you will find yourself cured of your psychic suffering."
I went to the laboratory, where the injections were made, just as the doctor was filling a hypodermic syringe with a clear fluid. At that moment, the doctor was called to the telephone and left the room. He came back a minute later, but I had time enough to put water in place of the liquid in the syringe.
"Go right to bed," said" Dr. Fox, after injecting the water. "You will sleep very soundly."
I went to my room, put my watch on the table, and sat up all night, without sleeping a single minute. I did not lie down in the bed until 8 o'clock in the morning, and when the doctor came into the room, I pretended to be very sleepy. I let him shake me a long time to wake me, and made the stupid face of a person just waking up, rubbed my eyes at the same time. The doctor spoke to me, and I let him have his say and acted astonished. Then I jumped out of bed and said, "That's enough, you old thief. Either you give me half of the profits, or that's the end of your swindle. I've been in need of a secure income."
Jessner interrupted his story at this point and emptied his glass.
"A swindle, I suppose," I said, "but still, how was it possible, and how did you find out about it?"
"Very simple," explained Jessner. "When the doctor came to wake me up that morning, he said to me, 'Do you know how long you slept?' "
"I have no idea," was my answer.
"Almost 36 hours," said Dr. Fox, "the sleeping potion worked well."
"Naturally this made the whole thing clear.
When I came into the place I had been given a sleeping potion, and I had really slept 36 hours then, without knowing it. That's why I was so terribly hungry when I woke up. That's how all the patients were handled, and even the servants, except the old housekeeper and one nurse, who know the scheme. The servants were well paid, but they could not leave the premises or get visitors while they were employed there. By means of this sleep of 36 hours, a whole day was stolen from us, and we knew nothing of it. That's how the doctor had a 24 hour advantage over us and when we got the newspapers they were a day old."
"And what about the radio?" I interrupted Jessner.
"Very simple. Each day, Dr. Fox would record an hour's broadcast on a phonograph record, and we got the canned news dished up to us 24 hours later. The loudspeaker was connected with the suitable apparatus in the next room, by means of wiring. And when the cure was at an end, the patients would be given a light dose of sleeping potion, so that they would be slightly drugged when they awoke, and willingly believed that they had slept 36 hours. That adjusted them to the correct date; and the patient was then brought directly to the station, without giving him the opportunity to see or speak to any of the other patients, who were remaining. Since then the clairvoyance of Dr. Fox has been giving me an income of $500 a month," concluded Jessner, and looked quite pleased about it.
Posted September 29, 2020(original 9/14/2015)
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Legal Challenge To SF’s Yellow Pages Opt-In Law Says It “harms the neediest city residents”
by Bay City News | June 9, 2011 1:06 pm | in News | 0
A constitutional challenge to San Francisco’s so-called Yellow Pages law claims the ordinance “harms the neediest city residents most of all.”
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco late Tuesday, alleges the law will hurt San Francisco’s “poorest, oldest and least English-proficient” residents.
It was filed by the New Jersey-based Local Search Association, formerly known as the Yellow Pages Association, a trade group of publishers of print and electronic commercial search directories. The suit is slated for a case management hearing before U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Laporte on Sept. 20.
The law, passed by the Board of Supervisors and signed by Mayor Ed Lee last month, will restrict the distribution of Yellow Pages phone books in the city.
Under a three-year pilot program scheduled to go into effect next year, distributors of printed commercial telephone directories will be prohibited from leaving the books on doorsteps unless residents agree in advance or in person to accept them.
The lawsuit charges that the measure will hurt vulnerable low-income and elderly people who may not have access to the Internet and who depend on the Yellow Pages when they urgently need services such as medical aid, emergency repairs, a lawyer or a funeral home.
The suit also claims the ordinance violates two federal and state constitutional rights of the publishers: the First Amendment right of free speech and the 14th Amendment right of equal treatment under the law.
It charges that Yellow Pages publishers are unfairly singled out for the ban while publishers of advertising circulars are not prohibited from distributing their materials.
The law, proposed by Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, is intended to cut down on blight and the costs of recycling unwanted phone books.
Chiu said, “I am confident San Francisco’s new law will stand up to court scrutiny.”
“We carefully crafted the legislation to address the significant environmental harm and blight caused by mass over-distribution of yellow pages while still allowing for them to get into the hands of all who want them,” the supervisor said.
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21.07.2017 — Communicating with Controlling Authorities via Mobile App May Replace On-site Inspections
In accordance with the planned introduction of IT technologies in the state control system, the Russian authorities will arrange interaction between companies and supervisory authorities via the Internet. The respective mobile application is expected to be launched by the end of 2017. This application shall reduce the administrative workload on business and facilitate communication with supervisory authorities. In a number of cases this application will even replace on-site inspections by the authorities.
Supervisory authorities are introducing IT technologies in their work. As a part of this effort, a mobile application will be launched. This application will act as the new intermediary between the supervisory authorities and companies. In some cases companies will be able to submit the required information through the application and avoid an on-site inspection by the authorities.
Apart from this, the application will facilitate the inspectors’ work by allowing them to interact with companies through electronic personal accounts. Companies will also be able to ask questions to the inspectors online.
Finally, the application will contain information on the upcoming inspections carried by supervisory authorities in the calendar of events. It will be possible to challenge the inspection’s results if the passport of an on-site inspection is absent from the unified register of inspections. Apart from this, companies will be able to track notifications on fines and the results of their challenging.
20.07.2017 — Transparent Business: Federal Tax Service Launches New Service to Facilitate Counterparty Due Diligence
The new service “Transparent Business” launched by the Federal Fax Service provides on-line access to the important information on any company, in particular, information on its revenue and expenses, liabilities due to the budget, the amount of tax payable, and the quantity of the company’s employees. The service enhances the transparency of business and allows assessing the reliability of the counterparties in advance.
Experts appreciate a new mechanism, which not only ensure greater transparency with respect to entrepreneurship, but also gives an opportunity to assess the risks in concluding contracts in advance and to conduct due diligence when selecting the counterparties in accordance with the requirements of tax legislation. Taking advantage of this service, the following information can be found:
registration address and the amount of other organizations at that address;
tax profile applied to a company;
information on imposition of tax liability;
liability of taxes, penalties and fines;
amount of taxes paid (VAT and corporate profits tax);
revenues and expenses of the company;
average number of employees.
The amendments to the Tax Code aimed at establishing this service were adopted in 2016, but the service has recently become available and at this moment it works only in test mode (see link: https://pb.nalog.ru/). Moreover, not all the information has been included in “Transparent business” service. According to the Federal Tax Service, the information will be further updated and added to the system.
19.07.2017 — Ministry of Economy Has Prepared Draft Bill for Reform of Governmental Permits System
The Ministry of Economy has developed a draft bill “On the principles of governmental permits system”. The bill is intended to establish an exhaustive list of 438 types of activities that require permits or licenses. It also aims to unify the procedure of obtaining licenses, particularly by envisaging an exhaustive list of grounds for the refusal to issue a license and the procedure for challenging such refusals.
The primary aim of the bill is to implement transparent rules for activities that require special permits. This bill does not only deal with economic activities, but also governs political, migration and public activities. Apart from establishing an exhaustive list of activities that require licenses, this bill will list those types of activities that are guaranteed not to require any permits, and for which the company merely has to comply with the notification procedure. If the bill is adopted, it will enter into force in 2020, whereas the separate list of activities not requiring a permit is planned to be implemented in 2019.
The bill also provides for a number of safeguards to protect the applicants and companies that received permits or licenses. For instance, some permits will only be revocable through judicial action, and all irremediable doubts in the legality of their issuance will be interpreted in favor of the applicant. Another important safeguard is the introduction of sanctions to public authorities for missing deadlines for taking decisions on the documents submitted by applicants in the framework of the permits procedure: in this case the permit will be deemed issued in accordance with the application despite the lack of governmental action.
18.07.2017 — Amendments to Tax Code on Prohibition of Tax Evasion Have Been Adopted
On 19 August 2017 amendments to the Tax Code will enter into force. Under these amendments, a formal prohibition of tax evasion schemes will be introduced. The amendments will also provide for a list of taxpayers’ unlawful actions, which may form ground for the tax authorities’ refusal to acknowledge the taxpayer’s expenses or deductions from the tax base. After the amendments enter into force, formal criteria will no longer be used as the primary criteria for determining a tax payer’s bad faith conduct. Instead, the authorities will verify whether the underlying transaction was actually performed.
On 19 July, the President of Russia has signed into law the legislative amendments to the Tax Code, which are aimed at preventing unfair practices of taxpayers related to reducing the taxable base. We announced these amendments earlier. These amendments have been developed for quite a long time: starting from 2000s the court practice coined the concept of “unsubstantiated tax benefit” and “tax abuse”.
On the one hand, the amendments are aimed at protecting the taxpayers from the Federal Tax Service’s allegations related to assessment of the reality of economic transactions and the reasonability of the declared expenses. In accordance with the amendments, the tax authorities are not entitled to reject deductions or refuse to take into account a taxpayer’s expenses if the following conditions are met simultaneously:
transaction is not aimed, as its primary purpose, at non-payment of taxes in full and/or at the crediting (reimbursement) of already paid taxes;
transaction has been actually performed by the parties.
Consequently, the Federal Tax Service will no longer be able to refuse providing a deduction on formal grounds, such as improper formalization of accounting documents, violation of the legislation by the counterparty to the transaction, contract conclusion by an unknown person. Instead of the formal principle of due diligence, the principle of actual performance of the transaction by the counterparty is introduced.
Therefore, the amendments will make it impossible to lower the tax base by using “fly-by-night” companies created only to evade tax payments, which do not actually perform the concluded transactions. Such transactions with the said companies will not lead to the desired tax consequences and will not permit to count the related expenses towards the reduction of tax base.
17.07.2017 — Illegal Refusal To Issue Construction Permit Releases Developer from Obligation to Pay Rent
In July 2017 the Supreme Court published the third Case-Law Digest. Among other explanations the Supreme Court stated that the lessee which leased the land plot from the public authorities for the purposes of construction is entitled not to pay the rent for the period when he was unable to use the land plot because of the circumstances beyond his control, in particular, if the public authorities illegally refused to issue the construction permit. Otherwise, the reciprocal nature of obligations under the lease contract would be violated.
In the case No. 89-КГ16-7, resolved by the Supreme Court, which became a part of the Case-Law Digest No. 3, the local authorities initiated the lawsuit against the lessee on the recovery of the rental payments under the lease contract of the land plot for the private housing construction. Still, the respondent argued that he stopped paying after he received the refusal to issue the construction permit from the local authorities, which was declared illegal afterwards.
The courts of the first and of the appellate instance ruled for the lessor with reference to the fact that the obligation to make rental payments was provided by the contract, the terms and the amount of the payment were established by the contract, therefore the local authorities’ refusal to issue the construction permit was irrelevant.
Still, when the Supreme Court adjudicated the case in cassation procedure disagreed with the decision of the lower instances. The Supreme Court noted that the lease contract is of reciprocal nature, therefore the fact that the lessee was unable to use the rented property due to the lessor’s illegal conduct releases the lessor from the obligation to make rental payments. The courts determined that in accordance with the terms of the contract the leased land plot was designated for the private housing construction. Still, after the local administration illegally refused to issue the construction permit, the lessee was deprived of the opportunity to use the leased land plot in accordance with the designated purpose, what releases the lessee from the obligation to make rental payments.
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A People's History of Sports in the United States
Kris Stewart
Dave Zirin, The New Press, £14.99
Dave Zirin is a US columnist known for his writing on the politics of sport. He identifies himself as a socialist - his contribution to a recent forum in The Nation on the future of the left included: "Let's boldly say that ordinary people have the capacity for extraordinary deeds and can run society far more effectively than those who have been looting their pensions and destroying their jobs."
In this book Zirin traces the history of US sport through the stories of ordinary people, all the time pointing to how people and events are shaped by the society around them.
The book begins with the Choctaw Indians playing lacrosse and ends with a new generation of athletes becoming politicised over police and state racism in Louisiana. Along the way we see how independence and the civil war helped the growth of sports such as baseball - itself given an entirely fictitious origin story in pursuit of marketing.
Zirin then takes us through the 1920s and 30s, through some stories we already know and some which will be new to many. The rise of the reborn Ku Klux Klan, the Negro National League, the Black Literary Renaissance, the Communist Party's Chicago Counter-Olympics of 1932, Jesse Owens at Munich - even the familiar tales are given a new slant.
The 1950s saw battles against McCarthyism. The chapter on the 1960s covers the civil rights and anti-war movements, and the black power salutes in Mexico City. The advances of the 1970s are followed by the defeats of the 1980s. The 1990s see the continuing commercialisation and de-politicisation of sport.
Importantly, Zirin doesn't stop there. The final chapter - in some ways the most important - shows that resistance is still possible and is still happening. The campaigns against bigotry, against the corporate welfarism of stadium construction, and against the war and the co-option of sport in its support should all be an inspiration to us.
This is not a detached, scholarly history book. What Zirin does is to reinforce how artificial the separation of sport and politics is, and how such a separation is always of benefit to the rich and powerful in society.
Of course, there are criticisms which can be made. Zirin's tendency to quote at length from his sources produces a confused style in places. And for A People's History there is an over-reliance at times on stars. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining book which serves as an excellent introduction to US sport, as well as to the writing of what the Washington Post calls "the conscience lacking in the mainstream sports media".
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CPONH
CPO Noord-Holland NGO started in 2008 with the mission to support civilian initiatives in the Northwest of the Netherlands; to stimulate new sustainable housing, and other sustainable initiatives. CPONH has supported many municipalities and civilian initiatives in the past years; from which most of the initiatives are realized on the island Texel. - CPONH is very motivated participating in the ‘SOS Climate Waterfront’ program, because of the urgency of climate change and its effect of seawater-level rise, the intrinsic danger for cities that have location near she shore in special in delta areas; because CPONH as a non-academic network umbrella organisation that supports sustainable civilian initiatives, wants to contribute to the resilience of these cities with special focus on the contribution of the citizens and their relation to government and its related allies.
Biography: Dr. Fred C. Sanders. MSc MBA ‘Senior-Fellow Business Research’ The resilience of citizens has always the concern of Fred Sanders. It was his motivation to become a Civil Engineer in coastal engineering at Delft University of Technology in 1983; and to add his MBA at Erasmus University Rotterdam to his academic track-record for making more impact in working life. After twenty years being an professional in Real-Estate City development; he started-up his PhD at the age of fifty to do research on citizen bottom-up participation in making cities sustainable and resilient; by which he became a Dr. In Urbanism in 2014. Recent years he visited several countries as an ambassador of the Urbanism Delft department; to Crete productive connections for new research to share his contribution to a greener Earth with other. His contribution is part-time because of his responsibilities in the councils of his local Water-authority and municipality; and being in supervisory boards of sustainable oriented organisations and firms. Fred Sanders is a self-made professional and researcher; thanks to the support and stimuli of others. fred.cponh@soswaterfront.eu +31 (0) 654773140
MDAT (Dissemination)
Marie curie Horizon 2020
TOBB University of Economics and Technology
The City of Gdansk
The City of Gdańsk with the population 461 935 (30.06.2014) belongs to the group of largest cities in...
Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias is the largest non-public University in Portugal. The University...
River//Cities
Rivers are often regarded as means of transport, or – at best – a space for water sports....
Intercult is an independent production and resource organisation based in Stockholm, Sweden. We have worked in...
CPO Noord-Holland NGO started in 2008 with the mission to support civilian initiatives in the Northwest of...
Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Founded in 1834 the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a private intersectorial organisation that promotes...
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, founded in 1926, is the largest public university in Greeceand southeastern Europe...
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Urban Reef: Meet the winning team of the 2014 Robson Redux
April 25, 2014 | By Liz Vossen
Kaz Bremner and Jeremiah Deutscher are two young intern architects, and the design duo of a four-person team, that have won the inaugural Robson Redux design-build competition. Their design concept, Urban Reef, was selected from nearly 80 submissions, and will grace Vancouver’s Robson Square for two months during the summer. In this interview with Spacing Vancouver’s Liz Vossen, the pair talks about their process, inspiration, and hope for how Urban Reef will enrich one of Vancouver’s most prominent public spaces.
Spacing: What was the inspiration for the design and how did you arrive there?
K & J: The design brief called for celebrating urbanity. The major criterion was connectivity, which can be interpreted a number of ways. We observed Robson Square and the one thing that struck us was that the area was already an interesting urban hub: It has street performers, vendors, food trucks, and people gathering informally.
Our approach was to take what already happens at Robson Square and enable it to happen more functionally. The crux of our design was creating an armature that would both allow people to interact on a personal scale but also on the larger scale of the city block. For example, we were intentional about framing out spaces for performance to happen better, creating spaces to catch an audience.
Spacing: How does this design compare with projects you’ve designed in the past?
K & J: For the most part we design on a larger scale with projects such as academic buildings and institutional buildings. There are sometimes portions of those buildings that have a similar intent to this, like a four story academic building with a public plaza that calls for an interesting seating configuration, but that’s not the primary focus. We’re really excited about focusing all of our effort to designing something on a smaller scale.
Spacing: The theme of the design brief was connection. How did that impact the design approach?
K & J: The 800 block of Robson Street already has an identity, so it’s interesting to interject something into that. In terms of connection, we were trying to create something that was new, but that would also reframe the space and have people reconnect with that space differently.
We really thought about connection between people, connection between space, and connection between different uses of space. Some portions of the structure overlap so you have that forced connection between people who, may be there for different reasons, or using the space differently, but who are sitting adjacent to one another.
Spacing: What does an urban intervention like this do for a city?
K & J: Its great for the city to interject that little bit of delight into the streetscape over the summer by taking a space that people are familiar with and reintroducing it as something new. This design is temporal, it’s only going to be at Robson Square for two months and then we’re going to repurpose it. Change is important because if things are stagnant people get bored.
Spacing: What does winning this competition mean to the two of you personally?
K & J: We’re both architects at a large firm and in our profession, we’re often negotiating so many people’s desires and requirements that, what’s produced in the end is yours in a way, but is also the product of many minds and decisions.
This design is purely ours. It was effectively the two of us in a room, with input from the other half of our team, deciding what we wanted to do, and then we made it happen. It’s really nice to have a jury of people say: “We like this, this is good”. It allows us to say: “We did this, its ours”. It’s nice to have that affirmation.
Spacing: What do you hope the outcome of Urban Reef will be?
K & J: We hope that it brings delight to people. If we walk down Robson Street one day and see groups of people sitting on it, a performer curating a crowd, and better yet, people using it in ways that we didn’t even envision, that would be really satisfying.
Liz Vossen is a native Vancouverite, who loves her city and discovering others. Liz has travelled the world seeking adventure, beauty, and an audience with the unknown. Curiosity is her constant companion and an unrelenting desire to learn tags along too. Her interests span community engagement, urbanism, social enterprise, bike culture, beer culture and more. You can see snippets of her life here: http://instagram.com/lizzvoss.
More posts by Liz Vossen
It’s “Bremner” not Bemner.
Erick Villagomez
Thanks for the correction, Cam.
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Expert Explanation how to play Updated NES ROMs using your PC (Updated)
Posted in ROMs Games by admin
I have 2 original game boys with 2 sets of matching games F1 Racer and RC PRO-Am. He adores video games and is passionate about sharing his knowledge, thoughts, and opinions on nostalgic retro titles. Local game stores, flea markets, and pawnshops are all great places to buy and sell used games and consoles. Garage sales and even Goodwill can be great places to get some great deals if you are looking to buy.
Why The Game Boy Camera Remains Nintendo’S Most Whimsical Gadget
Even though a https://romsdownload.net/roms/nintendo-ds/pokemon-black-white-2-friends-rom-389828 lot of the games on this handheld console are platforming games, this horror franchise definitely made an appearance on the console.Resident Evil Gaiden was released on the Game Boy Color in 2001. I have written for several gaming publications and have bylines across the web, but I am – first and foremost – a lifelong fan of video games.
Even though Mega Man is a popular video game character,Mega Man V is still one of the rarest Game Boy games out there. This game is pretty rare and the fact that it’s a localized version of a Japanese game means there’s a pretty interesting story attached to it, making it appealing to video game collectors. Getting just the cartridge for this game is pricey enough as it is, but picking up the full game will set you backabout $658. Because the Game Boy has become such an important part of console history and a really nostalgic handheld console for gamers that grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the games for this console have become pretty collectible.
His staff, called Research and Development team #1, had designed the successful NES games Metroid and Kid Icarus. What Yokoi’s team did was create a hybrid of the NES and the Game & Watch systems. In a 1997 year-end review, a team of four Electronic Gaming Monthly editors gave the Game Boy scores of 7.5, 7.0, 8.0, and 2.0. Though it was less technically advanced than the Lynx and other competitors, notably by not supporting color, the Game Boy’s lower price along with longer battery life made it much more successful.
This rare limited edition bundle is seriously expensive these days. If they’re able to even find one, a seriousZelda fan can expect to pay up to$3,791.
The basic idea was being able to catch all of the Pokemon in one version of the game.
Had I received a C&D from Nintendo I would have followed it with no complaints as I know I was editing something they own.
Way back when I created a Rom hack called Pokemon 151, not the one used for Twitch plays Pokemon, and it was a lot of fun.
The ROM hacks that wouldn’t work are the ones that used emulator specific hacks.
But, since the console came out 30 years ago, a lot of the games have become pretty rare. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. A team headed by Gumpei Yokoi designed the Game Boy. Yokoi had previously designed hand held games for Nintendo with the cartridge based Game & Watch system, introduced in 1980.
Sonic 35!! (Im Kidding) Check Out This Somario Hack!
With a replacement CR2032 in place of the CR2024, I find that these will still only last about 10 years. This game is so rare that just getting your hands on a cartridge can cost around $270. But, if you’re a serious Game Boy collector, you probably want complete games with the box, any manuals,and the cartridge. Mega Man is a franchise that has been around since 1987 when the first game in the series was released. This character has become an iconic one in the world of video games, particularly for Nintendo fans, so it’s no surprise that this game is so sought after.
I’m unable to find the expected life of cartridges with a RTC, but as a matter of fact; some of them died as little as only 7 years after manufacture. Because of this, I find that they must drain more than 2uA which is more than 5 times as much as the regular cartridges.
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National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales
National Great Wales
Add: lalepi31 - Date: 2020-11-22 15:11:00 - Views: 2850 - Clicks: 922
The Department of Health (DH) is the Ministerial Department of the United Kingdom Government responsible National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales for government policy on health and adult social care matters in England, along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Executive. • UK Export Finance • Wales Office. the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Language Board, Sports Council for Wales, National Library of Wales and (WA) Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, have been funded by, and accountable to, the Assembly following the transfer National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales of responsibility from the former Welsh Office. 1-100 * Education (Recognised Bodies) Order 1997 S.
National Health Service (Scotland),—National Health Service (Fund-Holding Practices) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1999 (S. Members of the public who raised these were encouraged to contact their Assembly Members to discuss further and look at the work the National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care committee have done recently. The mental health of young 2014 people looked after by local authorities in Wales : the report of a survey carried out in / by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Gov. I know that not all local authorities are happy with the council tax reduction, or damping, scheme. National Health Service Trusts (Wales) Velindre NHS Trust Welsh audiobook Ambulance Services NHS Trust. Gaming Board for Great Britain Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.
Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services. 1 establishes a committee for Stage 2 proceedings of the Proposed Learner Travel (Wales) Measure. On 11th May, the Velindre National Health Service Trust Shared Services Committee book review (Wales) Regulations No. In September 1997 referenda were held in National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales Scotland and Wales and a majority of voters chose to establish a Scottish Parliament and a National Assembly for Wales. free pdf The Prime Minister and the other most senior Ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as ebook the Cabinet. .
The SLC is responsible Télécharger for Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales, and is a delivery partner of Student Finance NI and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. News, sport, television shows, radio programmes and digital content for Wales and beyond, from BBC Wales. Acts of the National Assembly for Wales anaw 1 - Higher Education (Wales) Act / Deddf Addysg Uwch (Cymru). The limitation of council tax and precepts (notional amounts) report (Wales) 1997 to 1998. The strong intent to improve health and wellbeing is apparent, as is the desire for a high-quality NHS and read social care system.
In this Month’s panel debate we ask some of our nations brightest minds to share their views on what Wales should be doing to attract more inward investment. On Wednesday 21 June, the Assembly will debate the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee’s report into refugees and asylum seekers in Wales, and the Welsh Government’s response to its recommendations. (NNDM3941) Cynigiaf fod. The pdf committee shall cease to exist if the proposed Measure is passed, falls or is withdrawn. For most departments, the government minister in question is known as a secretary of state.
It is the court of last resort and the highest download appellate court in the United Kingdom, although the High review Court of Justiciary remains the court of last resort for criminal law in Scotland. Although Wales closely shares its political and social history with the rest of Great Britain, and the vast majority of the population speaks English, the country has retained a distinct cultural. Despite this, of course, the budget for the Welsh NHS is the biggest that it has ever been, which is a clear demonstration of this Government’s commitment to a sustainable health service for Wales and, importantly, a sustainable health service for Wales which, in Wales, is free at the point of need.
Established through Care Standards Act. pdf download Wales' gross value added (GVA) was £45. Today, I am pleased to make a statement on that Bill for Members’ consideration. Fina lly, the National Health Service in Wales was twice reorganised following the setting up of the Assembly in 1999 and, as in the rest of the UK, large injections of public finance have been.
. And my business team at Westminster will take a keen interest in the launch National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales of the Development Bank for Wales and the work it does to generate growth and jobs. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is a nation state in Northern Europe. · Wales has the potential to overcome all of the challenges we have identified. Her Majesty's Government (HMG), [1] commonly referred to as the British Government, is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. All political decisions are taken by the.
Minister, Britain: I welcome the funding boost for the health service, but, with councils increasingly having to find savings in areas like adult social care because of protections in place elsewhere, I am really worried that cuts forced on us by Westminster will, in turn, lead to increased pressure. 1996/430; National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) (Wales) Continuation and Transitional Provisions Order 1996 S. The Committee made 19 recommendations, of which eight were accepted, 10. 365), dated 15th February 1999 [Mr. 5% in combined turnover, well. Types of departments.
The National Assembly for Wales. There is a separate Welsh Environment Agency which, on 1 April, was merged into a new environmental body for Wales alongside the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales. Cardiff, United epub Kingdom.
This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes. Local Government Finance (Wales): Report by the Secretary of State for Wales Under Section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act, 1998 No.
National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales PDF
Translation Sophie Williamson The SLC is responsible for Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales, and is a delivery partner of Student Finance NI and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Télécharger Download PDF National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales 2021 Government Territories Organized Congress States United Legislation Farrand
The Road to Oz - L. Frank Baum
Histories of the Hidden God - April D. DeConick.
Paul, the Community, and Progressive Sanctification - James M. Howard.
Coach-Makers' Illustrated Hand-Book, 1875 - I. D. Ware.
Secrets of Closing the Sale - Zig Ziglar.
Quantum Coaching - La Chiave Per Lo Sviluppo Della Persona E Dei Potenziali - Linguistica, Comunicazione Non Verbale, PNL 3 E Quantum in Rapporto Al Coaching - Marco Paret.
Fairytale - Anita Pointer.
The Changing Role of Law Firm Librarianship - Aspatore Books.
Antisocial Behaviour and Conduct Disorders in Children and Young People - National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH).
Chaos Clock - Gill Arbuthnott.
Ladders Social Studies 4: The Great Plains (on-level) -.
Lina Love, Appellant, V. Lester Maynard. U.S. Supreme Court Transcript of Record with Supporting Pleadings - Gregory S Lashutka.
The Reluctant Film Art of Woody Allen - Peter J. Bailey.
Cognitive Virtual Assistants Using Google Dialogflow - Navin Sabharwal.
Through Their Eyes 2020 - Another View - Machaela Gavaghan.
Surrealism and the Spanish Civil War - Robin Adele Greeley.
Prayers for the Living - Alan Cheuse.
Macmillan Topics: All Levels - Susan Holden.
Moving Viewers - Carl Plantinga.
Obstetrics and Gynecology - Michele Wylen.
Open Post - J D Pines.
Embracing Love (2-in-1), Vol. 3 - Youka Nitta.
Psychology in the Trenches - John Corson.
The Complete Sea Kayakers Handbook, Second Edition - Shelley Johnson.
The Second Part of the Continued Cry of the Oppressed for Justice Being an Additional Account of the Present and Late Cruelty, Oppression & Spoil Infl - William Penn.
Fan Fiction and Copyright - Aaron Schwabach.
Reform or Revolution - Rosa Luxemburg.
Crumlin to Pontymister - Brian Collins.
Methods, Sex and Madness - Derek Layder.
Penny Wise Finds Out About Borrowing - Andy Flatt.
Politics and Religion in the United States - Michael Corbett.
Myla by Moonlight - Inez Kelley.
100 History Lessons: Years 3-4 - Christina You.
A Digital Photographer's Guide to Model Releases - Dan Heller.
The Archaeology of Seeing - Liliana Janik.
One-Minute Lessons For Life - Shana Alexander Ed M.
Reflection on Swedish Interiors - Rhonda Eleish.
Infrared, Mid-IR, and Terahertz Technologies for Health and the Environment II -.
The Impact of New Fish Markets on Fish Prices - Scottish Office.
Being Home - Thomas H Beyer.
A Study Guide for M. T. Anderson's "Feed" - Cengage Learning Gale.
Recuerdos De Viaje - Eduarda
Love in the Shadows - Lauri Kubuiysile - David Edinburgh
-> Revise AQA GCSE (9-1) History Elizabethan England, c1568-1603 Revision Guide and Workbook - Brian Dowse
-> I Am Tina - Tina Journey
National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 - Great Britain: National Assembly for Wales PDF - Dumas Tome Alexandre
Liberalizing Financial Services and Foreign Direct Investment - Laura Paez - Bergren Three Much Gave
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NHL Playoff Preview/Predictions
April 13, 2010 by Big Tony · 2 Comments
East preview:
1. Washington vs. 8. Montreal
Jaroslav Halak is the key to this series. All Halak has to do is keep Washington at bay, if he can manage to do that the Canadiens will get plenty of scoring chances against Washington’s swiss cheese defense. Two things we know for sure: Montreal cannot stop Washington from scoring and Washington cannot stop Montreal from scoring. Number one key as I mentioned is Halak but also it is vitally important for Montreal to play extremely well disciplined hockey every minute of every game. Technical mistakes will be made that’s just the nature of the game but making bad decisions (bad passes, lazy puck pursuit, etc.) and taking bad penalties will be the end of Montreal’s playoff life. Washington has enough talent to overcome the mistakes it will make and the lack of adequate defense and spotty goaltending but Montreal does not. Many people think Washington is ripe for the picking—and that may be true—but if Montreal does not keep their mistake ratio compared to Washington’s very low the Capitals will blow them away. Even when Montreal does say take a bad penalty they have to rely on the playoff experience of the guys on their roster to take someone with them to the box, every little bit matters. If Montreal can do those things they’ll win; but that said I’m taking the Capitals in five.
2. New Jersey vs. 7. Philadelphia
Philadelphia will win this series. It has little to do with the Flyers’ abilities and more to do with New Jersey’s inadequacies. The Devils rely too heavily on scoring first then using the neutral-zone trap and Marty Brodeur to stifle the other team. New Jersey will not always score first and have a lead to protect, nor do they have the capacity to come back from being down 2 or more goals should Philly get that far ahead. It is not 1995 anymore and the new NHL is not conducive to New Jersey’s system yielding a great amount of post-season success. They have also put a proverbial wall in front of their biggest scoring threat in Ilya Kovalchuk. Every game will most likely be close because of how the Devils play but it’s Philly’s series to win.
3. Buffalo vs. 6. Boston
Ryan Miller is the best goaltender in the world today and the Boston Bruins cannot CANNOT score. Enough said, Sabres take the series.
4. Pittsburgh vs. 5. Ottawa
Crosby has been hot of late but that includes two games against the New York Islanders who have a really small defense and that results in a ton of scoring chances and many goals. The Penguins have had a hard time stopping team’s from scoring while also not having the greatest scoring prowess themselves (granted Gonchar and Malkin have been hurt so that should sure itself up). It has been said that the Penguins simply needed to get to the playoffs and now that the time has come they will be more motivated to get their act together, build on the experience of the last few years, and go on to get back to at least the conference finals. However, I think the Ottawa Senators may have something to say about that. The Senators have been one of the best teams in the conference over the last month of the season and are playing incredibly well as a unit. Losing Alex Kovalev will be a setback for Ottawa but they still have Daniel Alredsson, Jason Spezza, and Mike Fisher so they will not be longing for scoring presents on the ice. Their defensemen are all pretty big so that will match-up relatively well with the Penguins’ lines from top to bottom. Scoring chances will require much more work for the Penguins against Ottawa than it was versus the Islanders. Perhaps the biggest flaw for Ottawa is Brian Elliot’s lack of playoff experience. While experience matters at all positions it is most important for goaltenders unless you’re Ken Dryden or Patrick Roy. Nevertheless, with how the Penguins have been playing (inconsistent) they are ripe for an upset and I think the Ottawa Senators will do just that.
West Preview:
1. San Jose vs. 8. Colorado
Being technical in analyzing how I think this match-up will go is perhaps a waste of time. San Jose has been here time and time again and Colorado is a team that has overachieved all season long. I think in time Colorado will be very good but it just is not in the cards for them this year. San Jose has more experience, are an overall better team, and will simply not lose to Colorado. San Jose takes this series.
2. Chicago vs. 7. Nashville
Having Nashville in the playoffs is always nice because whatever helps hockey grow in non-traditional markets is a good thing for the game and the league. Nashville has been here before but has not managed to get past the first round (no shame in that since they’ve played Detroit in every playoff appearance in their short history). What gives Nashville the best chance at success in this series is that they don’t rely on any one person to provide all of their offense. Steve Sullivan, Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat, Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont, and Shea Weber all had 40+ point seasons which is a very positive sign since Chicago cannot simply focus on one guy in hopes of keeping the Preds at bay. The problem for Nashville is that on the season they gave up as many goals as they scored which does not bode well when playing the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, and co. in a best four-of-seven series. While I root for hockey success in Nashville for the good of the game I think Chicago will be too much for the Preds and will move past Nashville on their way to the Cup Finals as I predicted at season’s opening.
3. Vancouver vs. 6. L.A. Kings
It is great to see the L.A. Kings back in the playoffs. I have been saying since the offseason that this team was for real and they certainly did not disappoint all season and here they are in the post-season. Anze Kopitar has been phenomenal all year and Jonathan Quick has been solid in net wire-to-wire. I said before the year started that not only would the Kings make the playoffs but they would also win their first round series and I will not back down from that. Unfortunately for the Kings (and for me) they have to go up against arguably the best line in hockey all year—i.e. the Sedin twins with Alex Burrows and sometimes Ryan Kesler. Oh and that Roberto Luongo guy isn’t half bad either. A lot of people think this is the year for Vancouver to overcome what they’ve faced in the past and finally come out of the West. I will go against my head in picking this one and say that the Kings will take the series, but they better rely heavily on Rob Scuderi’s cup winning experience from a year ago because they will need it.
4. Phoenix vs. 5. Detroit
Poor Phoenix. Ownership issues stemming back to the offseason, not knowing where they were going to play this year before the season started and even where they will be next year has not been finalized. Despite all of that the players banded together and not only got themselves into the playoffs but home ice in the first round, great right!? Wrong. All of that hard work yields them the reward of playing the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, what a reward for a great season eh? We could break down match-ups until the cows come home but it would be silly for me to pick against Detroit. I hope Phoenix gives Detroit a great fight and even manages to beat them, but that is unlikely and that is why I am giving this series to the Red Wings.
Enjoy the start of the most wonderful time of the year!
Tagged: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, L.A. Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Stanley Cup Finals, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
Seasons Greetings (Hockey Season That Is)
September 22, 2009 by Big Tony · 2 Comments
Well it has been a long time coming for but finally the NHL season is upon us and as such so is the return of the NHL section of sportsroids.com. I am just as excited as anyone for the season to rev up again so let’s get right to it.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back to defend their title and with the exception of the loss of Rob Scuderi the team is about the same now as they were on the day they won the cup. Despite that, repeating is going to be a daunting task because not only are they the defending champs but in order to repeat they will have to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for a third year in a row. At the same time they still have two of the best players in the world on their team so it will be interesting to see how the story develops in Pittsburgh.
As for the rest of the league there are a lot of intriguing stories to keep an eye on including some old faces in new places (for example Dany Heatley to San Jose, Marian Hossa to Chicago) as well as the return of a few from their disappearing acts (Ray Emery in Philadelphia, Theo Fleury in Calgary). There are also plenty of questions to be asked about both up and coming teams as well as those who have been on the cusp but have not quite made that next big step:
In the East, can Washington play just enough defense this year to get them into the Conference Finals and possibly make their first finals appearance in the Ovechkin Era? Will Philadelphia finally get the consistent play in net they have lacked the last two years that will likely get them over the hump? Does the Southeast Division continue to be a two horse race or can Tampa Bay finally put their talent together well enough to become serious playoff contenders? And what is actually going on in Montreal and Ottawa, have they finally got their respective acts together?
Out west, will Chicago seize this opportunity to dethrone the Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division? Is Dany Heatley the answer to San Jose finally translating their regular season triumphs into post-season glory? Are the L.A. Kings poised to translate their young talent into a playoff appearance? Is Calgary ready to kick their first round exit habit of the last few years? What is the deal with the Coyotes, are they moving or what?
Of course along with all of the aforementioned questions there are to two major events on the horizon this year in both the Winter Classic (January 1 at Fenway Park) and the Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver this February. There is so much to talk about and look forward to this season. Over the next few days I will go through a preview of each conference, give you not only who will win each but what other stories to watch out for like what teams will overachieve and those that will disappoint.
So much to do and talk about, it’s great to be talking puck again. We here at sportsroids.com are very excited to start year two of hockey blogging, it’s great to have you with us!
Tagged: Alexander Ovechkin, Calgary Flames, Central Division, Chicago Blackhawks, Dany Heatley, Detroit Red Wings, Fenway Park, L.A. Kings, Marian Hossa, Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Olympic Hockey, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Emery, San Jose Sharks, Southeast Division, Stanley Cup Finals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Theo Fleury, Washington Capitals, Winter Classic
Dany Heatley Saga Contiues
July 23, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
The offseason doesn’t carry too many exciting stories after the start of the free-agency period and before the season gets rolling. But for whatever reason one story that has dragged along for quite some time now is the Dany Heatley saga in Ottawa. We first heard that he wanted to be traded and then he promptly nixed a trade that would have sent him to Edmonton; ok fine many people have issues with playing in Edmonton so surely they will simply work out a deal to send him somewhere else right? Well so far the answer has been no, and it seems as though GM Bryan Murray is trying to lure Heatley back to Ottawa by picking up Alex Kovalev from the rival Canadiens. Ottawa has not been a serious contender since making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2005-06 season in which they breezed through the East before hitting a brick wall in the Anaheim Ducks. The Senators need some stability behind the bench (they have had three coaches in as many years) and in net where they haven’t been the same since the Ray Emery debacle. Perhaps they have their coaching situation figured out but they still don’t have a proven netminder on staff. So if I’m Dany Heatley the signing of Kovalev does nothing for me and I continue to force the issue of getting a trade. The problem Heatley has is that a lot of teams have spent a lot of money already and are running out or have already run out of the cap space necessary to support his contract unless they give up a number of players making a lot of money in order to make room for him which is unlikely as well. As a result this saga will probably continue to the start of training camp and perhaps beyond. So what do you think Heatley should do? What do you think he will do? Comments are very much welcome on this manner.
Tagged: Alex Kovalev, Anaheim Ducks, Bryan Murray, Dany Heatley, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Ray Emery, Stanley Cup Finals
Red Wings/Penguins Game 7 Showdown
June 12, 2009 by Big Tony · 2 Comments
The time is almost upon us and no one is more excited than I as the hockey world prepares for the 15th game seven in Stanley Cup Finals history. All of the hype over the past few days will culminate it what we hope will be one of the best nights of hockey in recent memory and perhaps one of the best games in all of sports history. That remains to be seen of course but one thing we know for sure is that the Stanley Cup WILL be hoisted tonight and if that isn’t enough to get you charged up then you simply don’t like hockey. The fans, players, coaches, and media are all ready to go so the electricity inside Joe Louis Arena at the drop of the puck should be extraordinary.
So who will be victorious tonight and raise the Stanley Cup? Many think Detroit is the easy pick having home-ice advantage and experience on their side from having been here time and time again including last year over these very Pittsburgh Penguins. Detroit will also get last change so they expect to continue to hassle Crosby and Malkin at every turn frustrating them from the start of play until the final whistle. However, tonight’s X-factor is the third line of the Penguins with Staal, Kennedy, and Cooke. They have played very well at home providing great energy and both goals for Pittsburgh in game six. The biggest advantage for them is that Detroit likes to match-up against every line man-for-man and as a result of that the Penguins third line disrupts that order. For the most part this series the Penguins third line has got the best of Detroit even managing to frustrate them a few times. The top players are going to play well no matter what but when it comes down to it Pittsburgh’s third line has an edge over Detroit’s third line. So will all the emotion flowing through the Joe tonight it is the third line of the Penguins that will be the difference in them WINNING THE STANLEY CUP. I picked Pittsburgh to win at the outset of this series and I will not back away from that now. Detroit has a lot going for them tonight but it won’t be enough as the Pittsburgh Penguins will hoist the Stanley Cup for the third time in team history and first time since 1992.
Whether you’re a fan of Pittsburgh, Detroit, or just a fan of hockey generally tonight should be an exciting and memorable night; for no matter what happens it should be a great not for hockey. Enjoy the game everyone!
Tagged: Detroit Red Wings, Evgei Malkin, Henrik Zetterberg, Pittsburgh Penguins, sidney crosby, Stanley Cup Finals
Sutter Leaves Devils for Family Reasons
June 11, 2009 by Big Tony · 1 Comment
We are in the middle of the Stanley Cup Finals and that has captured the attention of the hockey world (including sportsroids.com) and rightfully so. But for the moment, with an extra day off before game seven, let’s focus our attention elsewhere to look at some other off-ice news.
Brent Sutter has resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils after only two seasons. The reasons he gave for stepping down revolve around the fact that his family is located 3,000 miles away in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. A number of people have criticized him for leaving “too early” but I am not one of them. A lot of times people will leave a job citing family reasons just to take another job somewhere else and it turns out they were basically hiding from the fact that they simply wanted to leave their job. Sutter has not done that, he is going home to his family and while he may find himself work once he gets there he is doing it to be with them. There is a lot of money floating around that distracts plenty of people from the folks important to them no matter how much money they may already have in the bank—not to mention the fact that the Devils will put a very good team on the ice next season. So I applaud Sutter for this decision because so many times people throw away their families in the pursuit of the next big challenge in whatever sport or business the person is involved in. Good for him and the example he is setting for everyone associated with him. And once he does get back into the game I’ll certainly be pulling for him no matter where he ends up.
p.s. game seven predictions coming soon…
Tagged: Brent Sutter, New Jersey Devils, Reed Deer, Stanley Cup Finals
Tide Turning in Pittsburgh?
June 4, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
The funniest thing about this series so far is that arguably the team to play best in each game has lost. In the first two games the Red Wings looked tired and broken down, were outshot by an enormous margin and yet they took a 2-0 series lead to Pittsburgh. On Tuesday night (despite scoring first) the Penguins looked outmatched and yet they were victorious. The difference so far has been timeliness goaltending and goal scoring but also in being first to the loose puck at the right time. Special teams have also played a major role as Detroit’s penalty killing woes continue yielding two goals (including the game-winner) to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. So what will be the difference in the series as it rolls on? Pittsburgh simply needs to get timely goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleuryp; but furthermore they simply need Malkin and Crosby to each have decent games at the same time! The great news for Pittsburgh is that Detroit has played Crosby extremely tough and yet he still has a point, if that is as bad as it gets for Crosby then Pittsburgh has a great chance of not only getting back into the series but of winning it. Detroit on the other hand needs to use the time they have on Wednesday to rest. They seemed more upbeat on Tuesday and should be in much better shape come Thursday and perhaps that will help their penalty killing. Detroit also cannot continue to allow Pittsburgh to get on the board first because if they do then the Penguins will eventually get a two goal lead and build from there which can get to Osgood as has happened many times this season. In the end however it all comes down to who can one less mistake than the other team because that will likely be the difference between winning a game and therefore the series; and at the moment momentum seems to be in Pittsburgh’s favor. The fans are pumped, the players seem relaxed and the hockey world in genearlly is strapping up for a great game four… See you on the other side!
Tagged: Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings, evgeni malkin, game four, penalty killing, Pittsburgh Penguins, sidney crosby, Stanley Cup Finals
Red Wings-Penguins Steamroll Toward Rematch
May 25, 2009 by Big Tony · 3 Comments
After there game three and game five respective blow out wins the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings are each one win away from a repeat of last year’s finals. Both teams looked very impressive as both their stars and role players shined in fairly one-sided victories. The Penguins had to flex a little more muscle because of the solid performance by Cam Ward that was aided by basically nothing from the rest of the team. Sure one might say the game was closer than the 6-2 score indicated but Ward still needed to get a lot more out of the guys in front of him to win and he didn’t. In Chicago on the other hand, Huet getting his first start of this post-season proved to be a disaster as the Wings soared to an early 3-1 lead and never looked back. So for the moment both teams look to be in control and although neither series is over, a finals rematch is looming. As such, what could we expect to see differently this time around? The Penguins would certainly like to get off to a better start than last time and their year’s worth of experience will certainly aid in that. It isn’t just having lost in the finals last year but also having been pushed to the brink in the regular season (almost not qualifying for the playoffs) and in the playoffs when they were down 2-0 to Washington. Detroit simply needs to do what they’ve been doing and they will be fine. Of course the storyline to watch would be Marian Hossa taking on his old team as he left them for a chance to win the Stanley Cup in Detroit. Could the Penguins prove he made a mistake by leaving or will the Red Wings again prove their league supremacy? Perhaps we will find out soon enough!
Tagged: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Cristobal Huet, Detroit Red Wings, Marion Hossa, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup Finals
Western Conference Finals Preview
May 17, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
The Conference Finals start Sunday afternoon so before they get rolling let’s take a lot at both series to see what we should expect from both and most importantly who will win!
Western Conference:
The Western Conference features the regulars versus the new kids on the block as the Detroit Red Wings take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Detroit won the Stanley Cup last year and are in position to be the first team to repeat as champions since they did it in 1997-98. This process is nothing new to the Red Wings and they’ll be all business come Sunday afternoon whereas the Blackhawks have not been here in quite some time. Chicago is looking to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 where they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. With those facts in mind which team has the edge? The easy answer is the Detroit Red Wings and rightfully so but there are other factors that play into this series that will make it a lot closer than it might first appear on paper. The following are what I think each team needs to do to win:
Detroit simply needs to remained focused on their goal. One of the things they pride themselves in is not retaliating to any post-whistle scrums, cheap shots, or “jaw-jacking” the other team might do which they have to continue to do. The Red Wings must allow their superior level of skill to shine through no matter the circumstances and stay out of the penalty box. This series is different from the previous two in that way because it is a natural rivalry that goes back to the 1920s and the early days of the NHL. But the most important factor for Detroit is going to be the play of Chris Osgood. There is no denying all that Osgood has accomplished but none of that is counted toward his record in this series. Osgood has played well thus far in the playoffs but if it returns to his regular season form at all the Hawks will eat him alive which would push Mike Babcock to insert Ty Conklin who was not much better over the course of the season and hasn’t played in these playoffs at all so far.
Chicago has to keep playing with reckless abandon giving no credence to any of the factors going against them. Sure this is the first time most of them have been in this spot and yes the Red Wings greatly outmatch them at almost every position and yes Detroit is very methodical about their play from the opening face-off to the end of the game. Chicago cannot look to the other side of the ice and be blinded by the glare of Hart, Conn Smythe, and Norris Trophies and Stanley Cup rings. The young Hawks simply need to play hockey they way they have all along in these playoffs. They don’t care who they are up against they are just a bunch of young guys who love to play hockey and are going out there to beat up on whoever they’re playing. Most importantly, they will have to rely heavily on Nikolai Khabibulin’s experience in goal to possibly propel them to the next level. If the Hawks can do that they give themselves a very good chance of winning this series. In the long run however I think the Red Wings will be too much and will send the Hawks packing in a very competitive five game series.
Tune in tomorrow for the Eastern Conference Finals preview.
Tagged: Chicago Blackhawks, Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings, eastern conference finals, Mike Babcock, Nikolai Khabibulin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup Finals, Ty Conklin, Western Conference Finals
Rivalries, Passion, Parody All Define East Playoffs
April 9, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
Ladies and Gentlemen the teams who will participate in the Eastern Conference Playoffs have been decided. Boston, Washington, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Carolina, Pittsburgh, NY Rangers, and Montreal are in and unfortunately for some the Florida Panthers are out. The exciting thing about this year’s playoff picture in the east is that every team who made it is in a city with incredibly dedicated fans. Some places are better than others of course but all are extremely supportive and very passionate. Carolina may be the best southern based team to make the playoffs because of their fans. Hurricane fans may not be large in numbers but the ones who follow the team make for an incredible atmosphere for Carolina home games; many believe their arena gets as loud as any in the league. New Jersey probably has the worst fan support of all the teams but at the same time they provide some of the most talented players in the league (Brodeur, Parise, etc.) which can make for some very entertaining hockey. Above all else it’s the passion that makes the playoffs so exciting and nothing gets a fire going like a good rivalry and the possible match-ups have set up some very good rivalries in the first round and beyond. There are the team rivalries: Boston/Montreal, NYR/NJ, Washington/Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh/Philadelphia, and the intra-divisional rivalry between Washington and Carolina which became very heated toward the end of last season. Then there are the great individual rivalries including Crosby/Ovechkin, Malkin/Ovechkin, and the always entertaining Avery/Brodeur confrontation. No matter how you look at it, the Eastern Conference playoffs should be some of the most exciting we’ve seen in a long time. The teams are separated by very little talent wise (despite any point differentials) and any team as the ability to beat any of the others and represent the east in the Stanley Cup Finals. So sit back, relax, and get your popcorn ready ladies and gentlemen because we’re in for one great Spring of hockey.
Tagged: Avery, Boston, Brodeur, Carolina, Crosby, Eastern Conference Playoffs, Florida Panthers, Malkin, Montreal, New Jersey, NY Rangers, Ovechkin, Parise, philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Stanley Cup Finals, Washing
Flames Win Big; Penguins, Rangers Improve; Canadiens Do Nothing
March 5, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
Now that the NHL trade deadline has come and gone the general consensus is that the Calgary Flames made the biggest splash acquiring Ollie Jokinen. Many in the hockey world think this acquisition puts them over the top and makes Calgary the new Stanley Cup front runners. Calgary did indeed improve their status greatly but not because of Jokinen but rather because of Jordan Leopold. In recent years the Flames have struggled in the playoffs in large part because of their inability to limit the amount of shots Mikka Kiprusoff. Adding Leopold may be just what the doctor ordered to take some pressure off of Kiprusoff and Dion Phaneuf. With this acquisition and Detroit’s goaltending issues the Calgary Flames have now put themselves up there with the San Jose Sharks as the front runners to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Looking to the bottom part of the West perhaps the most notable move was made by Columbus who acquired Antoine Vermette. For the first time Columbus is on the cusp of making the playoffs and now management has shown that they are both serious about making the playoffs and also about winning once they get there.
Turning to the Eastern Conference now it’s probably fair to say that no major splashes were made by any of the teams on deadline day. The biggest impact of any trade to this point in the season is probably how Chris Kunitz has played in Pittsburgh netting three goals and five total points in only three games. Pittsburgh added Bill Guerin in the meantime and have won four in a row all without Crosby, so adding Guerin and Crosby to the lineup probably makes Pittsburgh somewhat of a wildcard down the stretch/into the playoffs. Perhaps the “splash” of the day in the east was made by the Rangers who acquired Nick Antropov which may just be the answer to all of their offensive woes and may provide the spark the Rangers need to break out of their recent funk. Erik Cole going back to Carolina means they are sure to score a lot of goals the final month and a half of the season. The bigger question for the Canes is can Cam Ward continue to carry them defensively; they rely on Ward a ton and he will probably get burned out pretty soon.
There were also some “non-moves” that will greatly impact the Eastern Conference race. Most notable was Florida not moving Jay Bouwmeester. If the Panthers were going to make the playoffs or at least make any noise once they got there they were going to need Bouwmeester and now they’ve got him so Eastern Conference teams beware. Also of great significance is the fact that the Montreal Canadiens did not make a single move. After addressing none of their on ice issues the Canadiens promptly lost to Buffalo 5-1 in a game they were thoroughly outplayed by Buffalo in the final 40 minutes. Many (including myself) believed the Canadiens were the favorites to win the East and they still can do just that, but by not making a single move at the deadline coupled with Price’s continues woes their chances are in jeopardy. Mathieu Schneider has done a lot to improve their power play and it’s possible that Wednesday night was the exception but considering how poorly they played it’s hard to imagine. In the end, no matter how the season turns out these final 19 or 20 games will be an awful lot of fun to watch.
By the way, I know Sean Avery is back in New York… I don’t care.
Tagged: Antoine Vermette, Bill Guerin, Buffalo, Calgary Flames, Cam Ward, Canes, Carolina, Chris Kunitz, Columbus, Crosby, Eastern Conference, Erik Cole, Florida, goaltending, Jay Bouwmeester, Jordan Leopold, Mathieu Schneider, Mikka Kiprusoff, Montreal Canadiens, Nick Antropov, Ollie Jokinen, Pittsburgh, Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Sean Avery, Stanley Cup, Stanley Cup Finals, Trade Deadline, western conference
A Bruins-Sharks Finals? Don’t Count On It
January 14, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
Monday night the Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 to improve their East leading point total to 68. Later Monday night the Sharks improved their league leading total to 69 which might lead some to believe that San Jose and Boston are on a Stanley Cup Finals collision course. While clearly possible it is not going to happen, or at least I don’t think it will. San Jose still has to get by the Detroit Red Wings which will not be an easy task for a number of reasons namely their experience and goal-scoring ability. Chris Osgood has struggle a bit so far despite his good record and seems to be a weakness for Detroit at the moment but if last season is any indication come playoff time that weakness will morph into a strength. The Bruins seemed to lack a weakness; they play great defense, are scoring like crazy, have great size and will probably have fresh legs come playoff time because the trap they run helps to keep players from exerting too much energy by allowing them to simply stand in the neutral zone to clog it up as the other team comes to them. But two important pieces are missing for the Bruins: one is that their coach Claude Julien has experienced very little playoff success in the NHL. Secondly, Tim Thomas has one year of playoff experience and that was last year against Montreal in a series that he did not play particularly well, enough so that the Bruins brought in Manny Frenandez because they felt Thomas could not be trusted. Not having experience in other positions hurts but when the coach and goaltender both had very little success in the playoffs it is very detrimental to a team and in this case will keep Boston from even reaching the finals. So despite the looks of things now don’t count on a Bruins/Sharks finals, but Boston will make a lot of noise nevertheless in the playoffs.
Tagged: Boston Bruins, Chris Osgood, Claude Julien, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Stanley Cup Finals, Tim Thomas
NHL All-Star Game Insignificant
January 9, 2009 by Big Tony · Leave a Comment
Both NHL All-Star teams have been announced but you know what, who cares? The naming of the guys on the team is fun but it’s something that should be saved for the end of the season because it should be something to honor players for a full-season’s worth of work not half. They say the game is for the fans and it really should be but for the most parts fans could not care less! The game used to be fun, in the age before the internet, expansive cable/satellite TV, NHL Network, and NHL Center Ice packages the game meant something. It used to be a chance for those not in a particular sports market to see the league’s best perform on a big stage. If you lived more than 150 miles away from the Canadian border there were some players and even some teams you may see only once or twice a year when they played against your team if you saw them at all. That also held true for the different regions of the U.S. not seeing players/teams from other regions or even before the U.S. had a worthwhile national broadcast of the Stanley Cup Finals. Now things have changed a ton and anytime any fan would like to see a superstar perform from anywhere around the league/North America the outlets named above give fans that opportunity. The skills competition is enjoyable because it’s different and players do activities they would not normally do but is that enough to keep the weekend going? In closing, the game is not what it used to be, name an All-Star team at season’s end and do nothing more with it.
Tagged: All-Star, NHL, NHL Center Ice, NHL Network, skills competition, Stanley Cup Finals
Staal Explodes VS Red Wings
November 11, 2008 by Big Tony · 1 Comment
Tonight’s (11/11) game between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins was billed as a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. And the Penguins 7-6 come-from-behind win in overtime certainly made a statement that the Penguins aren’t still ailing from last year’s Cup Finals loss. But the big story took a backseat to an incredible side-story that developed for one Jordan Staal. Entering the evening the promising young forward had been struggling to score goals and although his penalty killing continued to be top-notch many fans were growing restless of his goal-scoring woes; that is, until late in the third period. With the Penguins down 5-3 Staal gave them hope by scoring a brilliant goal in front of Osgood to cut the lead to one at 5-4. Detroit later answered to re-establish their two goal lead but Staal was just warming up. Staal scored the next two goals for the Penguins to force overtime and also drew a penalty toward the end of regulation setting up a golden opportunity for Pittsburgh heading into overtime. The ensuing power play was killed by the Wings, perhaps all that did was irritate Staal for as the game approached a shootout he pick-pocketed Pavel Datsyuk setting up Ruslan Fedetanko who buried the game-winning goal. Staal had 5 points before tonight, and left the ice with 4 in this game alone. So for all those who were worried, it won’t be like this every night, but it looks like he’s coming along just fine.
Tagged: Detroit Red Wings, Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ruslan Fedetanko, Stanley Cup Finals
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Visit of Vietnam President boosts India-Vietnam strategic partnership
March 15, 2018 By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Photo(s): By PIB
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on March 3, 2018.
The three day visit (March 2-4) this year by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s was testament to the growing closeness in the bilateral security ties between India and Vietnam. His visit came just few weeks after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India as chief guest at India’s Republic Day Parade 2016 along with heads of states of all other ASEAN countries. Vietnam is an important pillar in India’s ‘Act East Policy’. India’s engagement with Vietnam was elevated to ‘comprehensive strategic’ level during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. There is also an institutional mechanism of Foreign Office consultation and strategic dialogue between the two countries.
The Indo-Vietnamese relationship holds special significance in face of China’s growing assertiveness. It may be recalled that China had invaded Vietnam in 1979 to “teach Vietnam a lesson” and presently Chinese activity along the Line of Control (LoC) with India is increasing while China has built up a brigade-sized force in Doklam Plateau of Bhutan. Both India and Vietnam have unresolved disputes with China and have been subjected to aggressive Chinese tactics. Vietnam is one of the handful of countries in Southeast Asia that has stood up to Chinese pressure to some extent. It may be recalled that in response to China’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea (SCS), Vietnam has called on India to play a more proactive role in Southeast Asia. President Quang first landed at Bodh Gaya in Bihar for pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple, enroute to New Delhi. Quang’s visit marked 45 years of India-Vietnam diplomatic relations and was centered on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. During the visit, President Quabg hel talks with President Ram Nath Kovind, delegation-level talks with Prme Minister Narendra Modi, besides meeting EAM Sushma Swaraj and other leaders. He also addressed the Vietnam-India Business Forum and held discussions with several prominent leaders of industry and business.
Three MoUs / Work Plans were signed between the two countries:
One, MoU on Economic and Trade Cooperation - to establish framework for enhancing economic and trade promotion;
Two, Work Plan (2019-2022) to promote cooperation in technology transfer and exchange visits by technical experts in agriculture and allied;
Three, MoU, for strengthening technical cooperation in atomic energy for peaceful use.
The President Ram Nath Kovind and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 3, 2018.
Both sides agreed to hold the next Joint Committee Meeting during 2018 to review cooperation and implementation of the Action Plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for period 2017-2020. The welcomed ongoing exchanges in defence and security, reaffirming commitment to open, free, seure, stable peaceful and accessible cyber space under aegis of UN and initiating dialogue for enhancing cooperation in traditional and non-traditional security matters. Both unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and reiterated importance of and adherence to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in settling the South China Sea issue. Both sides agreed to expedite US$100 million Line of Credit for building high speed patrol boats for Vietnam Border Guards and early signing of framework agreement for US$500 million Line of Credit for defence industry. India-Vietnam trade stood at $6.24 billion in fiscal 2016-17 and the two sides have agreed to raise this to $15 billion by 2020.
Though Vietnam-China bilateral trade is around $70 billion, India’s market size and Vietnam’s rapidly rising economic has the potential to boost India-Vietnam Strategic Partnership. India has been training the Vietnamese military in operating its Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets. Ship visits and supply of military spares, maintenance of hardware are also important facets of defence cooperation. In recent past, Indian and Vietnamese engaged in joint patrols, and both navies participated in a joint exercise. India has also repaired and upgraded over 100 MiG fighter aircraft of the Vietnam Air Force and supplied them with enhanced avionics and radar systems. Both sides also have an MoU on collaboration between Coast Guards of both countries. There have been reports in the past about India exporting BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam, but some other reports indicate Russia being joint production partner is hindering the sale because of the China-Russia relationship. In addition to India extending Lines of Credit to Vietnam, Vietnam is also among the larger recipients of scholarships offered under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Vietnam is an important partner in southeast Asia and is currently the country coordinator for India with the ASEAN regional bloc. Apart from ASEAN, India and Vietnam closely cooperate in other regional forums such as the East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM), in addition to cooperating at the UN and WTO. Defence has emerged as an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, which will continue to deepen given the fact that by all indications China’s aggression will keep growing with the ambition of becoming a ‘Great Power’ in the shortest possible timeframe.
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The Nether The Play
Following a sold-out run at the Royal Court Theatre, Jennifer Haley’s critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning play transfers to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited 12-week run.
VIEW TRAILERmore info
A Sci-Fi Crime Drama
Best New Plays
Book your tickets with the best seats for the upcoming plays and special guest performances.
Find the fan pages of the cast and follow your favorite creative directors and team. Explore the list of our cast and creative team members to know more about them.
A lifetime achiever, actor, and theatre artist.
AMANDA HALE
The British actress is known for her best role in Star Wars.
IVANNO JEREMIAH
Known for his role in Humans. He is an actor and a dancer.
Watch the teasers from the theatre and exclusive scenes that will grow your curiosity.
Adult Roles
Choose to explore the adult roles once again on our online platform to get the essence of passion.
A Brilliant Production
“The story travels in a single dimension without disturbing its path, which is mesmerizing to watch.“
Ethan Adams
Expertly Crafted Script
“This is one of the best scriptwriting that I have witnessed in a long time. I was engaged with the play throughout the time.“
Gemma Westmacott
A Gripping Thriller
“It is an achievement to create such a gripping thriller with a climax that leaves you on awe for the next hour.”
Maya Wyatt
If you are a fan of theatrical Broadway shows this might not seem like your year. But, towards the end of the year, you will be bombarded with some of the best Broadway shows. We can help you cover each and every Broadway event that you would love to visit.
A Christmas Carol is a music which is a holiday tale of Charles Dickens classic of the same name. This is a classic which comes on Broadway eight weeks of December. Christmas Carol is two hours shoe which you can catch at Lyceum Theatre at your convenience this holiday season.
Ain’t too proud: The life and times of temptations
Another Musical where you can learn about the legends, rhythms and blues quintet is Ain’t too proud a popular musical. The chronicles allow you to reflect your life in the eyes of the character and his journey to stardom. You can catch the same at Imperial Theatre this August the two hours that you spend here.
If you are a Disney fan, this iconic rags to riches story is a reimagined story on the Broadway stage. The story revolves around the same characters, which allows you to relive the love and magic that was created onscreen. You can visit the New Amsterdam Theatre and enjoy this two and a half hour treat.
This is an investigative Broadway show which is intertwined with business, crimes and the American Dream. This is a Broadway show which attracts a lot of audience due to the tense environment that it creates. Get to the venue circle in the square theatre and catch American Buffalo.
A soldier’s play is a thrilling drama which follows a detective’s time a sensitive investigation into the murder of the black sergeant that is set in 1944 Lousiana Army Base. You can book your tickets on the website of American Airlines theatre which is sure to get you the best play.
Beetlejuice is a quicky, dark and thrilling and is a musical which deals with the story of Lydia Deetz and tells a story of an adolescent who moved into a house and where he figures out charming yet bizarre characters. This is a Broadway at Winter Garden Theatre which can help you keep better.
This is a classic Harold Pinter drama which can tell the right tale of love, loss and heartbreak which can allow you to enjoy the feel-good aspect of the movie. This is a 90-minute long drama which you can catch at Bernards B.Jacobs Theatre after September 5th to help bring a change in your movie watching adventure.
Book tickets early to get the best seats at the theatre for a perfect seating arrangement and best audibility.
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Thinking Outside the Box Office
What does Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and the Avengers have in common… besides Samuel L. Jackson? Each franchise has had one movie score over $200,000 in box office sales during their opening weekends. In Hollywood circles that is a big deal and a big indicator of a movie’s success, but is it? Is it really? You see box office numbers can be deceiving and it should go without saying that some of Hollywood’s biggest “successes” are also some of audiences’ worst movie-going experiences.
Spider-Man that’s a Lot of Money
Captain America: Civil War, debuted this past weekend with 181.8 million in opening weekend sales. That’s a pretty big deal, but those figures are not exactly a surprise to anyone. Superhero moves are hot these days, sequels usually tend to do better than their predecessors, and of course Marvel and Disney have perfected the art of the “hype.” Spider-Man, the original Sam Rami franchise -pre-emo Peter Parker- was the first movie to break the $100 million ceiling in opening box office weekend sales. This was back in 2002. Ten years later, another Marvel product, The Avengers, broke the vaunted $200 million ceiling setting the bar even higher, and studios have no intention to slow down. Everything from trailers to posters to viral internet videos are meant solely to put butts in seats. In fact, you non-nerds out there -we call you normies- may not even know it but this past Saturday was Free Comic Book Day. Guess, what comics Marvel gave out as part of their promotions? If you guessed Captain America and Civil War comics, you would be correct, and they’re not alone. DC was not far behind with a Suicide Squad comic featuring Harley Quinn, because that’s how you get big box office sales, but why do we care so much about box office sales?
The answer is actually two-fold. First, as Americans we always tend to have a winner mentality. Hollywood knows this better than most -they exploit it with every sports’ movie they have ever made. So, by declaring a movie as having the “biggest” opening weekend, or being the “first” in sales for the weekend, they are driving more people to the theaters for the second and third weekends. We all want to be part of “winning” and we don’t want to be left out of something other people are enjoying. Hollywood is very proactive in promoting their numbers, because they understand that we subconsciously take box office sales as an indicator of quality, or at least acceptability.
Secondly, the world is changing, and it has been changing since Toby McGuire swung after Willem Dafoe through the streets of New York. Think about how the entertainment industry has mutated in the past decade and a half -like a teenage boy bitten by a radioactive executive producer- and how this has affected the movie industry. In the bygone days of DVD and VHS, homes sales used to make up half of a movie’s revenue stream. Between 2012 and 2014 DVD sales saw an almost 10% drop and that number has been steadily declining ever since, while streaming service revenues increased by 32% during the same time frame. Now studios are left to rely solely on box office sales as their home release profits rapidly decline. Unfortunately, what that also means is that movies no longer has to withstand the test of time. All the major money is increasingly being made on the front end. Movies are becoming more and more about spectacle and hype than about quality and sustainability, and that means Hollywood is starting to care less and less about plot and more about using every trick in the book to get your butt in that seat on a Friday or Saturday night, especially if you happen to live in China.
Transformers: Age of External Market Growth
What does Battleship, Transformers, and Johnny Depp have in common… besides Samuel L. Jackson? In the United States each of those things has become box office poison, but scored big overseas. The shift in the entertainment industry has lead to a greater emphasis on foreign markets, especially in Asia and China where more and more Chinese people are finding themselves with disposable income and a taste for Michael Bay explosions. Johnny “Screw you Australia” Depp is the perfect example of this phenomenon. Have you wondered why in the name of the Carousal of Progress Disney is making another Pirates of the Caribbean movie? It’s because A-List celebrities still mean a lot with foreign markets. 2014’s Transcendence, the Depp helmed sci-fi flop only made $24 million in the States, but garnered over $80 million at global box offices. That still didn’t make it a hit, but it proved that Jack Sparrow could turn a profit. Disney is well aware of the power of the foreign markets, considering 54% of Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ $2 billion total box office came from foreign markets.
Take a look at Transformers: Age of Extinction, the movie no one was asking for. If you watched the latest Transformers abomination you would have noticed that the last half of the movie takes place in China… for no real reason whatsoever. This was done to appeal to Chinese audience. You may also have noticed a trend where movies seem to go out of their way to not offend and even pay tribute to the efficiency and honor of the Chinese government, because any movie that does criticize the Chinese Communist party stands no chance of making it past their censors. In fact, if you saw Iron Man 3 in a theater in Hong Kong, you would have been treated to an additional subplot starring two loyal Chinese scientists that never made it to American screens. The terrible remake of the movie Red Dawn, originally had Chinese villains, but when word reached the studio that the movie would not be shown in China the studio digitally altered the film in post production to make the enemies North Korean.
Why does Hollywood do this? Simply put, money. According to a recent study by the Motion Picture Association of America, almost 70% of a movie’s revenue now comes form overseas ticket sales. America may be still setting the trend for movies, be we are no longer the target audience. What’s even worse is that things like storytelling and nuanced humor go out the window with foreign targeted films. American humor doesn’t translate well into other languages, because concepts of humor are different across cultures, the same with many elements of emotional and subtle storytelling. However, what does translate well is explosions, and if you wonder why we are seeing more movies with CGI and big things blowing-up its because a fiery ball of death is truly our world’s universal language. This new emphasis is also one of the reasons why Marvel has begun releasing their movies one week earlier in overseas theaters. America is slowly becoming the second market to a lot of these big budget movies, because thanks to box office sales, Hollywood is now more eager to get into theaters in Beijing than New York.
Avatar Exemplar
This is all leading to a lopsided system. You see, the problem is that box office earnings -and especially opening weekend earnings- is that they are a bad indicator of a movie’s quality. Batman v Superman made $166.1 million in its opening weekend, despite sitting at a lousy 27% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s true that the movie had a significant drop-off in sales after the first weekend, but not before the studio raked in the cash both domestically and globally, enough to keep the DC train of pain going for a few more movies. Look at Avatar. When it opened it made over $77 million in its first weekend and ultimately grossed more than $2.8 billion. Unfortunately, that means we are now getting three more Avatar squeals coming up in the next few years, despite that fact that no one seems willing to tell James Cameron that people saw the movie for the 3D effects, and not the hackneyed soft-core blue alien Pocahontas story. In Hollywood, box office determines everything from what movies get made to the skin color of the actors that are cast, but is it even a reliable indicator of success?
Actually, there may not be a worse indicator of success, because the numbers can be deceptive. In fact, most opening weekend box office sales tend to be estimates, as the numbers are usually calculated on Saturday night with Sunday ticket sales extrapolated from past data. Also, these raw figures do not take into account things like budget or marketing expenses. So Avatar may have broken records with a $2.8 billion gross income in ticket sales, but if you take into account a $300 million budget, the movie only made a 933% return on investment. That’s really good, but if you look at a move like 1980’s Mad Max, which made $99.7 million on a $200,000 budget, it got a return of 24,837%. Yet, how many “Top Ten Box Office” lists is Mad Max on? In fact, you can break it down further and determine how much money was spent by studios per ticket sold. In 2011, the top three biggest movies were Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II, ($381 million), Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($352.4 million), and the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 ($280.5 million)… Geez, that was a banner year for movies… Yet, if you break down sales by how much each studio spent per ticket sold you find out that Hangover 2 -yes, it truly was a banner year for movies- only cost the studios $2.50 per ticket sold to produce, whereas Transformers cost the studio $4.40 per ticket. Harry Potter and Twilight were able to keep the costs down at $2.61 and $3.12, respectively, because they shot two movies back to back and spread the cost out, but they were still not as profitable as a story about four drunk idiots making the same jokes they did two years earlier in a better movie.
Ultimately, this kind of ranking system says more about us than it does about the movies themselves. We put too much emphasis on which movie made more money, or who had a better opening weekend. Hollywood knows we are influenced by this sort of thing. They know that we all want to jump on the “bandwagon” and see what all the “hype” is about, and maybe the saddest part is that we no longer matter. Sp, even when America “votes with its wallets” against movies like Battleship and Transformers: Age of Extinction, all we do is prove how irrelevant we really are when compared with Asia and other places. These trends show no signs of slowing, so you had best get ready for more Avatars, more Pirates of the Caribbean, more Transformers, and more and more contests between studios to see who has the biggest box office in the boys’ locker room…
But if we can make one suggestion: Someone should really pull James Cameron aside and just tell him the truth already.
blockbustersDCMarvelmoviesTransformers
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I Ain’t Afraid of No Women
By Adam J. Brunner June 1, 2016 August 16, 2016
Lights, Cameras, Dinosaurs
By Adam J. Brunner July 12, 2015 October 20, 2015
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Aug 24, 2020 | Newspaper Articles | 0 comments
When John Millar’s novel “The Wars Among the Paines” goes on sale at the end of September, it will mark the end of a 50-year journey.
Millar, who graduated from Danville Area High School in 1962 and now lives in Virginia, said he started writing the book when he returned from Vietnam in 1969. The decorated veteran admitted he had his doubts the book would ever be finished, but the 616-page novel is due for release on Sept. 30.
“The Wars Among the Paines,” is, Millar said, an anti-war novel. According to the website promoting the book, it is “a coming of age novel in the turbulent decade of the 1960s for Robert Treat Paine II. It documents his family’s saga as citizen soldiers through America’s wars. … The war within the Paine Family is created by the consequences of their experiences in their wars, as well as Treat’s sister, Joan, leading the national anti-Vietnam War protest movement.”
While the book is fiction, Millar admits it is partly autobiographical. Parts of the novel that focus on Paine’s younger years are based on Millar’s growing up in Danville in the 1950s and 1960s.
“I loved growing in Riverside and Danville,” Millar, whose father was a plant manager at Merck, said. “It was the greatest place to grow up.”
The part about meeting his wife, going on a first date, getting engaged the next day and married 2 1/2 months later is all true, he said. The Millars celebrate their 50th anniversary this January.
After graduation from Cornell in 1966, Millar served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69. After graduating from Officer Candidate school in 1967, he served as First Lieutenant in the infantry in 1968 and 1969. During his time in Vietnam, he received two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal and a Commendation Medal.
He returned home in1969 and graduated with a Master’s from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate Business School in 1972. For the next four and a half decades he worked in the development industry on department stores, malls and mixed-use town centers.
The entire time, he kept writing and writing.
“When I got back from Vietnam, I started writing primarily focused on my time there and my senior year at Cornell,” Millar said. “I had some very big jobs and traveled a lot. I would sit in my room at night and write sections when I could.”
Along with his busy work and family life, Millar said another reason it took so long to finish it — and it ran longer than expected — was that he kept accumulating information about the wars he was writing about, from World War I to Vietnam.
“I got to reading novels I had accumulated — I read a whole library full of Vietnam books,” he said. “I invented this family and had an outline. I just started writing and integrating the family and the history. It just kept moving on.”
Finding a publisher can be a challenge, but Millar said he lucked into a quick turnaround. While eating lunch with his wife, two of her friends approached. “My wife said, ‘you know Meg, he is almost finished writing a book,'” Millar recalled. “Her son was the editor for a publisher locally. The day I finished the manuscript I sent it off. We met on Labor Day (2019) and the next day we signed.”
Millar said the novel is historical fiction. According to the book’s website, it is designed to “educate or re-educate all generations to the nature, costs in blood and treasure, and tragic consequences of war. ‘The Wars Among the Paines’ not only deals with America’s external wars, but also with its internal wars between the generations, the races, families, the government and the people and even the anti-war movements.”
“At the end of each war, we wind down with one of the Paines and document the number of people killed,” Millar said of the book. “When you look at the numbers, you begin to realize that war really sucks.”
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March 2018 In Gaming (News & More)
Adiantku May 2, 2020 8 min read
Flash is a runtime client software and its eighth version is in use today. To...
Flash is a runtime client software and its eighth version is in use today. To unlock cards you will have the option to play a story mode, “explore each plane when they are unlocked”, and multiplayer matches. I would suggest going through the story mode and at least unlock all of the planes first. After that is complete you can grind the “explore” mode in each plane to unlock each card for each plane. Then once you only have the Battle Boosters left, go online and play against real people (you will have a more competitive deck if you wait until all the offline cards are unlocked first). I’m not much of a game player, but I can imagine that people can get hooked to them. Looks good. Mutant Nightmare ushers in an end of an era for TMNT games for two reasons: it would be the very last console title to feature the 2003 TMNT series as an influence, and it would be the very last TMNT game to be developed by Konami. Mutant Nightmare follows the third season of the animated series, and gameplay lines up accordingly with the other two sixth-gen TMNT console entries. There really aren’t any surprises with this one, and those who loved Battle Nexus and 2003’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will likely love this one, and those who hated the previous entries are bound to despise this one. Critics were, predictably, harsh towards Mutant Nightmare, and most attested disdain towards the fact that it brought absolutely nothing new to the table. The main reason people sometimes feel aggrieved when playing Golf Clash is the tournament results. If you shoot your best ever round but you’re still five shots behind the leader this does make you feel as if they may be cheating. Well the news is that there is a form of cheating that is commonly used in Golf Clash. This is known as sandbagging. Maybe you are a soccer fan but do not like to watch Basketball. Or maybe you follow every NBA game but have never seen a sport played on ice. There are lots of different sports that fans can follow and it is the same when it comes to esports. If you are into fighting games you can watch Street Fighter in tournaments like Evo. Evo happens in Vegas every year and is the biggest event for fighting games. For fans of first person shooters like is Call Of Duty or Cs:GO. Of course you have Fortnite for people who like to watch battle royale type games. And for the MOBA fans you don’t get more popular than DOTA 2. Some games are more watched than others but there is something for every fan. Lucent Singularity is your main damage source so it is maxed first, second you should consider Light Binding for the increased damage. If you are playing support Lux you can consider maxing Prismatic Barrier second instead for the increased damage absorbing it offers.
Many people are turning fifty and over and will always remember the eighties. It was a phenomenal time that entertainment was getting more entertaining. There are many celebrities at the time that people still love. Today, a lot has changed but the past seems to live on in many artists I see today. For example, changes in racquet size and frame technology have resulted in players adjusting their grip(s) to capitalise on the larger sweet spots and increased power available. “I’ve developed a survey to distribute to elite clubs, professional players, and youth players, which will ask them (anonymously) if they’ve engaged in the injury simulation behavior and why,” Rosenbaum said. Configure your OBS to look exactly like the screenshot here for most games. Again you get to all the settings by selecting Advanced at the top. Note the keyframe interval is set to 2 here. Though loved by a minority of classic gamers, the first TMNT console title was revered by most, so it’s no surprise that developers Konami took a different approach for the sequel. It wasn’t straight to the drawing board, though, and instead of whipping up a second console title from scratch the developers instead ported an existing TMNT arcade title for the NES, and thus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game was made available. It’s a very different game from its 8-bit predecessor, in both gameplay style and control. The Arcade Game was a traditional beat-em-up, which meant several enemies would take on the player at once, most most required several hits before submitting defeat. This gameplay would set the standard for following TMNT games, and was a lot more fun than the odd Contra-esque style of its predecessor. Instead of restricting character movement from left to right, players controlled their favorite Turtle in eight different directions-not unlike most arcade beat-em-ups present at this time-providing an interesting dynamic within the basic side-scrolling landscape. More than 120 participants have so far played chess under observation in the study and pilot study. Of these, a third were chess experts, and the other two-thirds novices. “The current study and the pilot study already show that chess experts show significant differences in their eye movements,” says Kai Essig. “Chess experts concentrate for most of the time on the main chess pieces that can make or break the game in respective situations. The experts control their attention more efficiently than novices.” According to Essig, amateurs jump very frequently from one figure to the next with their gaze, and look at nearly all the pieces on the board, regardless of whether they play an important role in the particular game situation.
I must admit I do play the game Angry Birds a little too much lol. It has a lot more levels and features in Google Chrome where the game is also free to use. Some applications require certain downloaded programs to play. If they update to a newer version of the program your game may not work. Below are the most common programs required to play facebook games. To play together online, members email the club’s volunteers who co-ordinate the teams of partners and assign them to tables of four in the virtual space. During bridge sessions, which typically last 2-3 hours, bridge partners move from table to table to play different opponents, so it isn’t feasible to use virtual meeting technology like Zoom. The action game players were up to 25 percent faster at coming to a conclusion and answered just as many questions correctly as their strategy game playing peers. Another nice touch is the fact that the PS4 comes with a 500GB drive. This extra space helps when downloading movies and games from the PlayStation market. If you ever feel pressed for space, don’t worry, because the hard drive can also be upgraded by do-it-yourselfers without voiding the warranty. Elites in charge of mass news venues must know this very well, which is why I think they tend to deliberately emphasize global warming and climate change over the urgency of immediate pollution issues, which if they are addressed effectively, also tend to address the broader natural systems that cause them. Media elites in my view mainly want climate and environment issues as wedge issues to divide the public, as part of a divide and conquer strategy, and really don’t want any mass drives by publics to rock the boats of continued processes of the industrial pollution and destruction of our natural resources that many corporations depend on being able to continue doing in order to sustain their profits. It’s probably the most lesser-known TMNT game title, but Manhattan Missions is actually a pretty decent game, given its age and platform. It has its problems-even though the soundtrack is full of early Soundblaster-goodness, it’s pretty boring when compared to the exciting, upbeat tunes present in other TMNT games. It’s early 90s PC style gameplay isn’t going to win over console enthusiasts, but there are still plenty of people around who love these retro DOS games. The best thing about Manhattan Missions, though, is it’s age: since it’s old, unsupported and no longer sold in any form, the game is considered abandon-ware and can legally be downloaded for curious gamers everywhere who wish to experience the Turtles lone PC exclusive. Modern gamers will probably need a DOS emulator (like DOXbox) to play it, but those are also readily available.
The nature of single-elimination tournaments in tennis creates a double-edged sword for the best in the game. Winning more requires playing more, yet playing more appears to increase the risk of a major injury. A typical fall semester would have both full-time commuting and non-commuting students students experiencing a dense point of transition related to their social roles and friendships. Students attending university face changes related to geography, living arrangements and lifestyle, coupled with a decrease in parental monitoring and supervision. One pair of Japanese honeymooners stranded in Cape Verde by the pandemic have been named unlikely ambassadors for the tropical paradise’s Olympic team at next year’s Tokyo Games. Meet the 84-year-old gamer with over 9,00,000 ‘grandkids’ Shirley Curry posted her first Skyrim gameplay video in 2015 and has never looked back. As of today, she has 9,11,000 YouTube subscribers, 76,026 Twitter followers (as ShirleyScurry) and 7,525 on Instagram. There are a wide variety of games catering to an impossible number of tastes. The different genres of game downloads include war games, racing games, strategy games, card games, to name a few. There are some web sites, which provide games only of a single type, but as the gaming industry is growing, many web sites understand the potential of providing unlimited game downloads. These downloads include games of a wide range of genres. Most of these web sites charge a one-time fee at the time of registration and allow unlimited game downloads after that. This helps bring in more and more visitors to their sites. This doesn’t result in their making a lot of revenue but the amount of earnings for the site owners increases as more and more advertisers are attracted to their sites. It’s an all-win situation. The player gets a lot of downloads for a very nominal fee, the site owners get their revenue from the advertisers and the advertisers get to promote their products for a large traffic. I am an adult male that plays video games. There are many games in which I gain knowledge such as sim games. Woozworld is one of the most popular virtual gaming communities on the market. Founded in 2009, the game has garnered thousands of visitors, mostly comprising of tweens and teens. Daily rewards and other incentives keep players hooked with the game. Earning virtual cash also helps young players understand the concept of saving. Woozworld also functions as a social network service, allowing players to post messages and chat with each other.
Tags: gaming march
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Former Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Guitarist Hiroki Tanaka Announces Debut Album 'Kaigo Kioku Kyoku'
Toronto-based musician and composer Hiroki Tanaka may have been known for his heavy riffage from his time as Yamantaka // Sonic Titan's lead...
You're Invited to POP Montreal's Le Funhouse Virtual Festival
While they remain hard at work locking in a lineup for POP Montreal's 2020 edition, festival organizers have now shared a special surprise i...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Phillips Backyard Weekender, Victoria BC, July 28
The last time I saw Yamantaka // Sonic Titan perform was under very different circumstances. It was at the Vancouver Jazz Fest in 2014, whil...
Acid Mothers Temple Team Up with Yamantaka // Sonic Titan for North American Tour
Japanese psych-rock titans Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. have announced they are returning to North America for a tour ne...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Festival de Musique Emergente, Rouyn-Noranda QC, September 1
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan have always been like a tornado to their influences, sucking up a disparate series of inspirations — ranging from m...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Hubert Lenoir, Milk & Bone to Play Quebec's FME
The Festival de Musique Émergente (FME) returns to Rouyn-Noranda in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region this Labour Day weekend. From Augu...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Map Out "North American Tour II: The Dirtening"
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan released their latest album Dirt earlier this year, and now the "noh-wave" group have announced another round of sh...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Dirt
Though much was made of the departure of vocalist Ruby Kato Attwood and guitarist John Ancheta in 2015, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan's Dirt find...
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Brace for Impact on 'Dirt'
Alaska B, percussionist, songwriter and sole original member of Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, can't help but see their second album, 2013's UZU,...
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Oxford Sixth Form College
Established in 1988, Oxford Sixth Form College is one of the UK’s leading independent sixth form colleges for students aged 15-19. Formerly named Oxford Tutorial College, they sustain the tutorial tradition through an average class size of four students and through having no more than eight students in an A-Level class. They offer over 20 subjects across A-Level, GCSE and BTEC.
They are committed to not only providing you with expert tuition but also providing you with the support you need to reach your potential from the moment you make your application.
A one year program designed to provide the academic qualifications and English skills needed to progress to a UK university
Equal to 3 A-Levels
Specialized focus on UK learning and preparation for degree-level study
Combination of coursework and exams
Guaranteed entry to university with access to over 3,000 degree programs
One Year A-Level
Oxford Sixth Form College offers more than 20 different subjects for study at A-Level of which many are available as one year A-levels. Their intensive and focused teaching enables them to prepare students for the A-Level examinations in one year.
5 Term A-Level
Their 5 Term A-Level course begins each January and is aimed at students seeking a fresh start to their A-Levels and to students where their home country curriculum finishes in November or December. With Oxford Sixth Form College such students do not need to wait until September to begin A-Levels or make a fresh start, they can do so in January. The first two terms of the 5 Term A-Level programme encompass additional hours for each subject each week such that by the end of June, the January start students have completed the same material as their fellow students who started one term ahead of them.
Two Year A-Level
Their Two–year A-Level program begins each September and offers wide subject choice and a maximum class size of eight students. From the moment you attend your admissions interview you will be given expert guidance and advice on the combination of subjects most appropriate to your academic background and university and career intentions.
The Course is designed for students from the U.K. and overseas, aged from 15 to 16, who wish to benefit from a greater level of support in smaller classes and from the high levels of personal attention and care for which Oxford Sixth Form College is renowned. Students aged 16 to 17 who wish to retake their GCSEs may also join this program.
International students may study English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or IGCSE English (Second Language) instead of IGCSE English and IGCSE English Literature and this will be discussed during a student’s admissions interview.
They’re offering scholarships of up to 40% off tuition fees, to students interested in pursuing specific career paths.
To be considered for a Scholarship award a student must be able to demonstrate:
Outstanding prior and predicted academic achievement
A genuine enthusiasm for and commitment to their chosen future career
A reference from the student’s current school or college
Provision of information concerning achieved and/or predicted academic performance
A scholarship examination, where the subject will be determined by the student’s target career
An admissions interview
All Scholarship applicants for whom English is not a first language will be required to sit an English examination or submit an IELTS (Academic) certificate detailing an overall score of at least 6.5 in all four assessed areas.
What can we do for you, so that you can start studying at Oxford Sixth Form College in England?
Dean Close School is a co-educational day and boarding private school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school is divided into pre-prep, preparatory and senior schools located on separate...
Leeds Beckett University (LBU), formerly known as Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU) and before that as Leeds Polytechnic, is a public university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history.
Culford School is a coeducational independent day and boarding school for pupils age 1-18 in the village of Culford, 4 miles north of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England.
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It's official: Vera Zvonareva has hired Karen Krotov to be her coach, at least for the U.S. hard court season; sources differ as to whether Krotov will work with Zvonareva in that capacity during clay season. Krotov did coach Zvonareva during the Fed Cup semifinals. The world number 2 parted with coach Sergei Demekhin because, she said, he didn't want to work with a team. Says Demekhin: "I have experience and I know girls' psychology, so let's wait for offers."
You can get to know Nadia Lalami.
"Neither as muscular nor as deep-voiced as she appears on television, she was strikingly normal, if that makes any sense." Yeah, Malcolm, we get it.
Rebecca Marino has begun taking Pilates classes.
James LaRosa has a fantasy about the WTA and on-court coaching.
Labels: Nadia Lalami, Rebecca Marino, Samantha Stosur, sexism in sports, Vera Zvonareva, WTA
"There was more variety, players with different games, stronger minds, more character. I played with three generations and they evolved. I had to adapt."
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, on playing in the 90s
Labels: Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
Medina Garrigues and Vinci win titles
Anabel Medina Garrigues won her tenth WTA title today in Estoril. Medina Garrigues defeated Kristina Barrois 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Nine of the Spaniard's titles have come on clay. Medina Garrigues recently overcame a losing streak comprised of ten consecutive first round losses.
Alisa Kleybanova and Galina Voskoboeva won the Estoril doubles championship. They defeated Elena Daniilidou and Michaela Krajicek 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
Roberta Vinci won her fourth title today when she defeated Lucie Hradecka 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Vinci was the champion in 2009, and the runner-up in 2010.
The doubles title went to the top seeds, Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. They defeated Natalie Grandin and Vladirimira Uhlirova 5-7, 6-4, 11-9. Benesova and Zahlavova Strycova have won eleven titles together.
Labels: Alisa Kleybanova, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Barcelona Ladies Open, doubles, Estoril Open, Galina Voskoboeva, Iveta Benesova, Roberta Vinci
Vinci and Hradecka to meet in Barcelona final
Roberta Vinci and Lucie Hradecka have made it to the final of the Barcelona Open. Vinci, the 6th seed, defeated Laura Pous-Tio 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the semifinals. Hradecka defeated 5th seed Sara Errani 6-1, 7-5.
Top seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova will meet Natalie Grandin and Vladamira Uhlirova in the doubles final.
At the Estoril Open, Kristina Barroi and Anabel Medina Garrigues will compete in the final. In the doubles final, Alisa Kleybanova and Galina Voskoboeva will compete against Eleni Daniilidou and Michaela Krajicek.
Labels: Barcelona Ladies Open, Estoril Open
Friday cat blogging--friendship edition
Kleybanova out of Estoril in quarterfinals
Top seed Alisa Kleybanova was upset today in Estroril by Kristina Barrois, who defeated Kleybanova 6-4, 6-2. 2nd seed Jarmila Gajdosova was defeated by 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 by Monica Niculescu, and 3rd seed Klara Zakopalova was defeated 6-3, 7-5 by Anabel Medina Garrigues. Also advancing to the semifinals was Johanna Larsson, who defeated Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2, 7-5.
In the meantime, Kleybanova and her doubles partner, Galina Voskoboeva, have reached the final of the doubles competition.They defeated the 2nd seeds, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears.
In Barcelona, Roberta Vinci, Sara Errani and Lucie Hradecka all made it to the semifinals today.
Labels: Alisa Kleybanova, Barcelona Ladies Open, doubles, Estoril Open
Bartoli upset in 1st round in Barcelona
Marion Bartoli, who took a wild card into the Barcelona Ladies Open and became the top seed, was upset today in the opening round of the tournament. Memphis champion Magdalena Rybarikova defeated Bartoli 6-4, 6-1.
Labels: Barcelona Ladies Open, Magdalena Rybarikova, Marion Bartoli
Andrea Petkovic has hired Heinz Gunhardt on a part-time basis. Petar Popovic will continue to be her regular coach.
According to Matt Cronin, Caroline Wozniacki plans to hire Martina Navratilova as a consultant.
Hannah Wilks writes about Heather Watson.
Marion Bartoli has accepted a wild card into the Barcelona tournament, and is the top seed.
Victoria Azarenka, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury since before Fed Cup, reports that she hopes to be back on the court in Madrid.
Labels: Andrea Petkovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Heather Watson, Marion Bartoli, Martina Navratilova, Victoria Azarenka
Brianti wins Fes title
Alberta Brianti won the championship in Fes today. Unseeded, Brianti defeated 7th seed Simona Halep 6-4, 6-3 in a fnal that was interrupted by rain. Halep was also the runner-up last year.
The doubles title went to top seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Renata Voracova, who defeated Nina Bratchikova and Sandra Klemenschits 6-3, 6-4.
Brianti received a walkover in the semifinals when her opponent, Dinara Safina, had to withdraw because of illness. The Italian player is currently ranked number 94 in the world. This is her first WTA title.
Labels: Alberta Brianti, Andrea Hlavackova, doubles, Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Renata Voracova, Simona Halep
Goerges wins Stuttgart championship
The German fans in Stuttgart got to see two of their countrywomen pick up trophies and bouquets today at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. German wild card Sabine Lisicki and her partner, Sam Stosur, won the doubles championsip when they defeated the all-German team of Kristina Barrois and Jasmin Woehr 6-1, 7-6.
Julia Goerges got more than a trophy and flowers. She not only won her first premier WTA event, but she did it by defeating the world number 1. She was given a shiny silveer Porsche, too, which she drove across the court after her 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Goerges has played great tennis all week. She took out Lisicki in the quarterfinals, and 5th seed Stosur in the semifinals. (She was also the recipient of a second round retirement from the ever-fragile Victoria Azarenka.) The match against Stosur was an especially good one, and Goerges had to push herself both mentally and physically to overcome the 5th seed. Today, playing in the biggest match of her career, she kept a cool head, served extremely well, and forced errors from Caroline Wozniacki by repeatedly throwing the Dane off of her rhythm and targeting the Wozniacki forehand.
The unseeded German won 72% of her first serve points, and 65% of her second serve points (she also won 72% of her first serve points against Stosur, and 68% against Lisicki); she hit 38 winners to 29 unforced errors. Strong on both sides, Goerges was aggressive throughout both sets, and wasn't afraid to go to the net to finish points.
The Stuttgart tournament is played indoors, so we will all be watching Goerges to see if she can maintain her progress outdoors on red clay. In Charleston, the clay surface is faster than it is in Europe, and Goerges ran hot and cold on it. Her forehand was in top form at the Family Circle Cup, but she also experienced what appeared to be mental lapses during some of her games. On the other hand, Charleston is the first tournament of the clay season, and it isn't unusual to see players struggle to make the adjustment from hard courts.
Goerges won the Bad Gastein title in 2009, and she is now 2-1 in finals. Wozniacki has yet to win a title on red clay. The world number 1, however, owns 16 titles, including the 2011 green clay event in Charleston. Goerges is the the second German to win in Stuttgart. Anke Huber won the tournament on an indoor hard court in 1991 and 1994.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, doubles, Julia Goerges, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Sabine Lisicki, Samantha Stosur
Goerges and Wozniacki to meet in Stuttgart final
The home crowd in Stuttgart has something big to cheer for this year: Julia Goerges, who is unseeded, upset 5th seed Sam Stosur today in the semifinals. Goerges defeated Stosur 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a very well-played contest between two forehand-favoring players. The Goerges forehand, with its elaborate preparation, works well on clay, and Goerges moved expertly throughout the match.
Goerges will have plenty to do in the final. Her opponent is world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated her friend Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals. Radwanska's serve was the best I have ever seen it, and I thought the match was going to three sets. Radwanska saved six match points, which added some excitement to the latter part of the match.
Stosur, by the way, is still in the doubles competition. She and Sabine Lisicki won their semifinal match against Vitalia Diatchenka and Mariya Koryttseva. In the final, they will play Kristina Barrois and Jasmin Woehr, who defeated Kathrin Woerle and Katalin Marosi. Lisicki and Stosur are wild cards; Barrois and Woehr are unseeded.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, doubles, Julia Goerges
Dinara Safina is ill, and had to withdraw from the semifinals in Fes. Alberta Brianti received a walkover, and will play last year's runner-up, Simona Halep, in the final. Safina had not reached a semifinal since August of 2009.
Irina Falconi has won the USTA French Open wild card playoffs. Falconi defeated Julia Boserup 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the final, which was held in Boca Raton, Florida. The other competing players were Beatrice Capra, Lauren Davis, Madison Keys, and Grace Min.
Vikings player Bryant McKinnie, who is trying to drop 20 pounds before returning to the football field, has opted to take tennis lessons from Venus Williams. "She tires you out," the offensive tackle said of his teacher.
Chris Evert expects Caroline Woznaicki to win the 2011 French Open.
Kim Clijsters has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People for 2011. Time's staff apparently discovered that Clijsters had a baby and returned to work. She "juggles" a career and a family. (Roger Federer is not known to "juggle" his career and family, which makes him, I suppose, a not very extraordinary woman.)
Steve Tignor has begun a series on books about tennis.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, Chris Evert, Dinara Safina, French Open, Irina Falconi, Kim Clijsters, sexism in sports, Venus Williams
Flipkens ends Lalami's run in Fes
Nadia Lalami, who upset top seed Aravane Rezai in Fes, went out today in the quarterfinals. She was defeated 6-0, 6-1 by Kirsten Flipkens.
4th seed Greta Arn went out in straight sets to 7th seed Simona Halep, and Alberta Brianti defeated Melanie Oudin 7-5, 5-7, 6-0. Dinara Safina and Anastasia Pivovarvova had to endure rain delays in Fes. Safina emerged the winner when she defeated Pivovarova 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Labels: Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Kirsten Flipkens, Nadia Lalami
Birthday in the Bahamas
Maria Sharapova turned 24 a few days ago. She celebrated her birthday in the Bahamas with a triple-tiered pink cake, and, on April 16, she also played an exhibition match with Gisela Dulko. The All-Star Tennis Weekend, hosted by Atlantis, took place on Paradise Island, and included a clinic for kids.
You can see a lot of Paul Hage-Chahine's photos of Maria at the kids' clinic at tenniswiz-art.com, and you can also see his photos of Maria on the court during the exhibition match, which she won, 6-3, 6-1. While you're there, check out the other galleries and enjoy!
Labels: Gisela Dulko, Maria Sharapova
Friday cat blogging--totebag/briefcase takeover edition
"...you should dance, but when you do, dance carefully."
Martina Navratilova, referring to Kim Clijsters
Labels: Martina Navratilova
Stosur goes to first semifinal of the season in Stuttgart
The phrases "Vera Zvonareva" and "broken racquet" go together in the lexicon of women's professional tennis, but today in Stuttgart, it was a case of Vera Zvonareva and broken strings. The 2nd seed's strings broke repeatedly, sometimes more than once during a game. At one point, she had to use her coach's racquet. And for the sixth time in a row, Stosur beat her. The 5th seed--who is again showing signs that clay is the surface on which she is most comfortable--won 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, and will play Julia Goerges in the semifinals.
Goerges, who is the last German standing, broke countrywoman Sabine Lisicki at 4-all in both the first and second set, and walked away with a 6-4, 6-4 win. She and Andrea Petkovic lost in the doubles quarterfinals, however. They were defeated in straight sets by wild cards Stosur and Licsicki.
A lot of people probably expected Andrea Petkovic to be the last German standing. On paper, she should be. The "old Petkovic" used to choke away leads, and--just when we thought she had been banished--she showed up today in Stuttgart. Petkovic was up 4-1, 40-0 in the first set, and somehow managed to lose it 4-6. After that, top seed Caroline Wozniacki simply took over; Petkovic won one game in the second set.
Wozniacki's opponent in the semifinals will be Agnieszka Radwanska. I really wanted to watch Radwanska's match against Kristina Barrois because I so enjoy both of their games. In the middle of the first set, though, I had to leave. Radwanska won, 7-5, 6-3.
Labels: Agnieszka Radwanska, Andrea Petkovic, Caroline Wozniacki, doubles, Julia Goerges, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Samantha Stosur
Top seed Rezai upset in Fes
The home players have dazzled in Germany, but today in Morocco, there was also a big triumph for a countrywoman. Wild card Nadia Lalami, ranked number 497 number in the world, defeated top seed (and wild card) Aravane Rezai 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Fes event. The 20-year-old Lalami is from Morocco.
Lalami's next opponent will be Kirsten Flipkens.
Labels: Aravane Rezai, Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Nadia Lalami
4 German players in Stuttgart quarterfinals
Four players from Germany have reached the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Today, in second round play, wild card Kristina Barrois upset 8th seed Marion Bartoli, defeating her 6-4, 6-2. Another wild card, Sabine Lisicki, upset 6th seed Li Na, and Andrea Petkovic defeated 7th seed (and former Stuttgart champion) Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Petkovic needed five match points to make it to the quarterfinals, but she hung in and prevailed.
Also today, 4th seed Victoria Azarenka retired against Julia Goerges. Azarenka won the first set 6-4, then had to stop playing because of a right shoulder injury.
Kristina Barrois was not content to advance just in singles She and partner Jasmin Woehr took out top seeds Liezel Huber and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in straight sets in the doubles quarterfinals.
Barrois's next opponent will be Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated 3rd seed Francesca Schiavone. Lisicki and Goerges will play one another, and Petkovic will face top seed Caroline Wozniacki. The other quarterfinal will be played between 5th seed Sam Stosur and 2nd seed Vera Zvonareva.
Labels: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, T doubles
Players talk about Stuttgart
The WTA site has a feature story on Patty Schnyder's emotional farewell in Charleston.
Francesca Schiavone has withdrawn from Stuttgart because of exhaustion. Yanina Wickmayer has also withdrawn, in order to give her knee some rest.
"I’m a younger player with not as much experience and I played some stupid things," Bojana Jovanovski said of her Fed Cup loss to Dominika Cibulkova.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands reports that competitive shooting is her latest interest.
You know about her skills with a soccer ball, but here, you can learn even more about Sara Errani.
Labels: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Bojana Jovanovski, Francesca Schiavone, Patty Schnyder, Sara Errani, Yanina Wickmayer
Russia and Czech Republic go to Fed Cup final
The Russian Fed Cup team cruised into another final today, defeating defending champion Italy 5-0. The Italian team has been dismantled, with both Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta not playing, and championship doubles players Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci taking over in singles. (Errani lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two tie-break sets; Vinci and Pavlyuchenkova will meet in the first round in Stuttgart next week.)
It wasn't such an easy task for Russia's upcoming opponent in the final, however. The Czech Republic had to go to a deciding doubles rubber before defeating Belgium 3-2.
The two teams went into today's competition tied at 1-1. Petra Kvitova defeated Yanina Wickmayer 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, but Czech team member Barbora Zahlavova Strycova lost to Kirsten Flipkens. Flipkens (rocking some colorful Belgian flag sunglasses) played quite well, but she got some help from her opponent, who generally looked uncomfortable throughout the match.
With her 6-2, 6-3 victory over Zahlavova Strycova, Flipkens teamed with Wickmayer to play Zahlavova Strycova and Benesova. The highly-ranked Czech team had the advantage, since Wickmayer and Flipkens had never before played together. Also, Wickmayer looked lost at the net most of the time. The Czech team took the first set 6-4, then, in the second set, there were a series of breaks which left the Czech team serving for the match at 5-4. Holding at love, Benesova and Zahlavova Strycova took their team to the 2011 Fed Cup final.
The World Group play-off between the Slovak Republic and Serbia took a strange turn when Ana Ivanovic had to retire against Dominika Cibulkova because of an abdominal injury (she had this injury earlier in the season). Cibulkova won the first set 6-4, and Ivanovic retired at 3-3 in the second set. Jelena Jankovic then defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, and the tie went to a deciding doubles rubber. Once again, there was a twist. The team of Hantuchova and Magdalena Rybarikova won the first set 6-2, and appeared to be on their way to a relatively easy straight-set win. However, Jelena Jankovic and Aleksandra Krunic staged a comeback, taking the second set 7-5. The Serbian team went on to win the third set 9-7, and Serbia now returns to the World Group.
In the World Group play-offs, Ukraine (without the Bondarenko sisters) defeatd Australia. Sam Stosur did not play for Australia, but Jarmila Groth did. Groth won both of her singles rubbers, Anastasia Rodionova lost both of her singles rubbers, and--in yet another surprise ending--Groth and Rodionova lost the doubles rubber to Olga Savchuk and Lesia Tsurenko.
Complete results for Fed Cup semifinals, World Group and World Group II play-offs:
Russia def. Italy, 5-0
Czech Republic def. Belgium, 3-2
World Group play-offs
Germany def. USA, 5-0
Spain def. France, 4-1
Serbia def. Slovak Republic, 3-2
Ukraine def. Australia, 3-2
World Group II play-offs
Belarus def. Estonia, 5-0
Slovenia def. Canada, 3-2
Switzerland def. Sweden, 4-1
Japan vs. Argentina postponed until July
Fed Cup miscellany
In order to determine the order of play against Ukraine in the Fed Cup World Cup play-offs, the Australian and Ukrainian teams enlisted the help of the Banks Rowing Club. Boats bearing the names of Ukrainian team members on their bows raced on the Yarra River in Melbourne. Olga Savchuk's boat won the race; hence, she played Jarmila Groth in the first rubber.
Erasmus Pelli, the vice-mayor of Lugano, hit some balls with Patty Schnyder during a "kidstennis" event held last week in observance of the Fed Cup play-offs.
Maria Sharapova has expressed interest in joining the Basketballers' Wives Club. The club was founded by Australian Fed Cup coach Nicole Bradtke, who actually said: "We're reasonably tall girls, so we need men with extra height. We can wear our high heels." Sorry, all you men who are under six feet tall--you're out of luck.
And, while we're on the subject of sexism, the Slovak Republic's Fed Cup team members were told by the master of ceremonies at the official dinner that they appeared to be part of a beauty contest as much as a tennis contest. The team members were then invited to parade in cat-walk fashion in front of all the guests. They declined.
As promised, Andrea Petkovic did not dance after she won her rubber against Christina McHale. The Petko Dance is really done.
Team USA has won the most Fed Cup titles--17--in history. However, if Melanie Oudin loses the first rubber on Sunday, the USA will be relegated to World Group II.
Labels: Andrea Petkovic, Maria Sharapova, Nicole Bradtke, Olga Savchuk, Patty Schnyder, sexism in sports
Belgium and Czech Republic tied 1-1 in Fed Cup play
When Barbora Zahlavova Strycova served at 4-5 in the second set in her semifinal Fed Cup rubber against Yanina Wickmayer, what emerged what arguably one of the best games of the season. It was a very long game, in which the Czech player held numerous game points, but was not able to convert them. To keep herself (and her country) in the match, she pulled out every shot imaginable. The highlights included a successful serve-and-volley play, a slide-forward down the line volley, and a drop shot. It took Wickmayer a long time to get a break point, and she won the game, thereby winning the match 6-4, 6-4.
These two had never played each other before, and I was really looking forward to seeing them in their first-ever match. They didn't disappoint me. The second semifinal rubber of the day was a high quality, sometimes thrilling, affair. Earlier in the day, the Czech Republic won the first rubber when Petra Kvitova defeated Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 7-6. Tomorrow's highlight will be the rubber featuring Wickmayer and Kvitova.
In the other semifinal, Russia leads 2-0. Vera Zvonareva defeated Sara Errani 6-0, 6-2, and Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-7, 6-1. And while it can no longer be said that Vinci has never lost a Fed Cup match--this is an unusual situation, in which Vinci has been called on to play singles instead of doubles. Indeed, the Italian has never lost a Fed Cup doubles match.
Here are other day 1 results:
Germany--2, USA--0
Spain--1, France--1
Slovak Republic--1, Serbia--1
Australia--1, Ukraine--1
Belarus--2, Estonia--0
Slovenia--1, Canada--1
Switzerland--2, Sweden--0
Japan vs. Argentina--postponed until July
The contest between France and Spain is also of interest. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez defeated Virginie Razzano 6-2, 6-4. The next rubber was a lively one, with Anabel Madina Garrigues playing Aravane Rezai. Medina Garrigues is in the midst of a comeback, of sorts, and Rezai needs to be in the midst of one. The Frenchwoman certainly made a good start, with a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 win.
Labels: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Fed Cup, Roberta Vinci, Yanina Wickmayer
Mattek-Sands withdraws from Fed Cup
Bethanie Mattek-Sands has withdrawn from the USA team that play in this weekend's Fed Cup World Group Play-Offs. Mattek-Sands has a hip and back injury. Vania King has been named by captain Mary Joe Fernandez as the new team member. She will be joined by Melanie Oudin, Christina McHale and Liezel Huber.
The USA plays German in Stuttgart on an indoor red clay court. The German team consists of Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges, Sabine Lisicki, and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
Labels: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Fed Cup
Friday cat blogging--tabby in a box edition
Fed Cup semifinals to be played this weekend
Lucie Safarova has withdrawn from the Fed Cup semifinals because of a thigh injury. Replacing her on the Czech Republic team is Lucie Hradecka, who will join teammates Petra Kvitova, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Iveta Benesova. The Czech Republic plays Belgium, represented by Yanina Wickmayer, Kirsten Flipkens, An-Sophie Mestach, and Alison Van Uytvanck. The semifinal will be played on an indoor hard court in Charteroi, Belgium.
Russia plays Italy on an indoor hard court in Moscow in the other semifinal. The withdrawal of both Flavia Pennetta (aka Queen of Fed Cup) and Francesca Schiavone makes Russia a clear favorite. Italy's championship doubles teamm Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, will have to rely on Alberta Brianti and Maria-Elena Camerin to help subdue a strong Russian team comprised of Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Ekaterina Makarova.
Jelena Jankovic says it's a nice feeling to play on a team, and to play for her country. The Serbian team will play the Slovak Republic this weekend in the Fed Cup World Group play-offs. Joining Jankovic will be Ana Ivanovic, Bojana Jovanovski, and Aleksandra Krunic. The opposing team will be comprised of Dominika Cibulkova, Daniela Hantuchova, Magdelena Rybarikova, and Jana Cepelova. The matches will take place on an indoor clay court in Bratislava.
Other World Group play-offs include:
Germany vs. USA
Spain vs. France
Australia vs. Ukraine
World Group II play-offs:
Belarus vs. Estonia
Japan vs. Argentina
Slovenia vs. Canada
Switzerland vs. Sweden
Fed Cup play takes place April 16-18. Italy is the defending champion.
Labels: Fed Cup, Jelena Jankovic
Kim Clijsters, already off of the tour for a month because of shoulder and wrist injuries, now has an ankle injury, too. Clijsters hurt her ankle while attending her cousin's wedding. She is walking on crutches, and her French Open participation is now in question. Clijsters had already withdrawn from the Belgian Fed Cup team.
Withdrawing from the Australian Fed Cup team is Jelena Dokic, who cites exhaustion as the reason. Sam Stosur, Australia's lead player, had already announced that she would not play in the upcoming Fed Cup tie.
Irina-Camelia Begu was the runner-up in Marbella this past week, so you may want to know more about her.
"I dream of being as consistent as Caroline Wozniacki for the whole season, not just clay courts or whatever," Svetlana Kuznetsova told Guy McCrae in Marbella.
Some good news: Dinara Safina's back problem in Marbella was strictly nerve-related, and not serious. Her stress fracture continues to heal nicely.
Francesca Schiavone won an exhibition set 6-4 against Caroline Wozniacki in Monte Carlo.
Venus and Serena Williams are opening a clothing store called "Courture" in Miami.
Labels: Dinara Safina, Fed Cup, Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Dokic, Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams
Charleston miscellany
A journalist for the Charleston newspaper wrote that--now that Patty Schnyder has played her final Charleston tournament--Caroline Wozniacki is the new Charleston "favorite." I've been attending this tournament for a long time, and I have doubts about whether anyone will ever be embraced the way Schnyder was. Also, unless I'm having auditory hallucinations, a major portion of the crowd was going crazy for JJ during her semifinal match against Wozniacki.
Wozniacki, by the way, has taken confidence to a new level. After the final, she dashed in to a press conference, and then almost immediately dashed right out. The champion had to catch a flight to the ATP tournament in Monaco, where she's playing tomorrow in an exhibition match against Francesca Schiavone. So I'm left with a couple of questions: What if the second set in Charleston had gone to a tiebreak? What if it had gone to three sets? Considering the level at which Elena Vesnina played this week, either of those things could easily have happened. For that matter, either of those things could have happened against anyone.
Virginia Wade was interviewed on the Grand Lawn this morning, but, unfortunately, I missed the occasion.
Charleston fans are quirky in a good way. They absolutely cherish Patty Schnyder, they cheered wildly during Vera Zonareva's 2010 epic racquet destruction, and they come out in big numbers for doubles matches.
For the past seven years, a Russian has appeared in every final in Charleston except for the 2009 championship match in which Sabine Lisicki defeated Caroline Wozniacki. The only Russian to win the tournament, however, was Nadia Petrova, who defeated Patty Schnyder in the 2006 final.
The only retirement (no one retired against Wozniacki!) in Charleston this year occurred when Vania King had to stop playing doubles because of a foot blister.
Elena Vesnina has never won a WTA singles title. She's played in five finals, two of which she lost to Caroline Wozniacki. She has, however, now won five doubles titles, and she was a runner-up in doubles at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Vesnina had a really great week in Charleston this year, and probably gained some new fans. Singles and doubles combined, the unseeded Russian played a total of ten matches. After today's doubles final, Vesnina said that she isn't going to touch a tennis racquet for a week.
I've said it before, but it bears saying again: The Family Circle Cup staff is wonderful, and the facility is beautifully maintained. The players really enjoy the tournament, too. They get a lot of personal assistance and attention (including the delivery of homemade cookies), and they enjoy the atmosphere in and around Charleston.
Labels: Family Circle Cup
Mirza & Vesnina win Charleston doubles title
"Hello again," Elena Vesnina said to the crowd when she made a speech at the Family Circle Cup for the second time in one day. This speech, however, represented an even nicer occasion for the unseeded singles runner-up. She and partner Sania Mirza defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy 6-4, 6-4 to win the doubles championship. Mirza and Vesnina, also unseeded, broke the 4th seeds five times.
The winning team served for the first set at 5-3, but were broken. Shaughnessy then served two consecutive aces, and she and Mattek-Sands held at love, but they were unable to break Mirza and Vesnina when they served a second time for the set.
Mirza and Vesnina went up 2-0 in the second set, and a big forehand from Mirza set the team up to get a second break. They went up 3-0 when, suddenly, a ballboy collapsed. Play was suspended while a trainer came out to treat the ballboy, who was then carried off of the court (he recovered quite nicely, and returned to the match). Mattek-Sands and Shaughnessy held for 1-4, then broke Mirza and Vesnina on their second break point. They then held for 3-4.
The next game went to deuce, and Mirza and Vesnina were broken when Mirza double-faulted on the deciding point. Mattek-Sands and Shaughnessy were broken in the next game, however, and Vesnina--serving for the match--hit a forehand down the line for match point.
After the match, Mirza said that she and Vesnina get along so well off the court that it helps them stay calm on the court. Vesnina added that she thought Mirza had the best forehand on the tour. It's a really formidable forehand, and I should add that Vesnina is now very strong on both sides.
Both Mirza and Vesnina were models of fitness during the tournament. Mirza had to qualify for singles, and made it all the way to the quarterfinals, and Vesnina played in both finals. Both players have had issues in the past with wrist injuries, and Vesnina has had problems with her left thigh. This week, Mirza played with a slight groin/thigh injury, but persevered. She and Vesnina, having won Indian Wells, now have another impressive doubles title.
Sania Mirza's smoking forehand had a devastating effect
Labels: doubles, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup, Sania Mirza
Wozniacki wins Family Circle Cup
All this week in Charleston, Elena Vesnina used her big serve to get out of trouble in matches. Today, however, the unseeded Russian's game-saving serve just wasn't there, and she was defeated 6-2, 6-3 by world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki. "My serve didn't help me today like it was helping me in the previous matches," Vesnina said after the final. "I was trying to go for the big serves, but it didn't go. It didn't fly that fast like it was flying before."
Wozniacki, on the other hand, won 75% of the time on her first serves, and hit six aces. She also broke Vesnina three times, but was never broken, though Vesnina saw four break opportunities.
At the start of the match, each player held serve, then Wozniacki had to go through five deuces--with no break points--to win her next service game. The top seed then broke Vesnina. The seventh game was very close, and Vesnina appeared to be entering a zone for creating break opportunities, but she committed unforced errors at crucial times, and Wozniacki held for 5-2. Wozniacki then broke Vesnina and won the first set.
Vesnina became more aggressive in the second set, and continued her tournament-long pattern of using a lot of touch to win points. Her drop shots and lobs were well-placed, and when she served at 2-3 and went down a break point, she used a forehand slice to get back into the game and even the score. At this point, the fans broke into huge applause.
Wozniacki then went down 0-30, but Vesnina missed a forehand that would have given her break point. She did get a break opportunity on the next point when she hit a forehand deep into the deuce court, but Wozniacki was able to save not only that break point, but also the next one. She used a relatively slow, high, serve to get to game point, then held. At 3-4, Vesnina saved one break point, but was broken on the next one. Wozniacki then had an easy hold to win the championship.
Vesnina said of her opponent: "...sometimes you feel that she's everywhere on the court, you know. Like she's covering the court, and she's changing a little bit of pace, and she's making you think and play, and that's why, I mean, she's tough."
Wozniacki now has a total of 15 titles. Today's victory was her third of the season.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup
Azarenka wins Marbella championship
Miami champion Victoria Azarenka, seeded number 1 at the Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, won the championship today by defeating surprise finalist Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-2. Begu was a qualifier who upset the 6th and 2nd seeds on her way to the final.
Azarenka will enter the top 5 next week.
The doubles title was won by 3rd seeds Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja. They defeated top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 3-6, 6-4, 10-5.
Labels: Andalucia Tennis Experience, Arantxa Parra Santonja, doubles, Irina-Camelia Begu, Nuria Llagostera Vives, Victoria Azarenka
Wozniacki and Vesnina--paths to the final
Tomorrow, top seed Caroline Wozniacki, the number 1 player in the world, will play Elena Vesnina in the final of the Family Circle Cup. Here is how each woman made it to the final:
round 1--bye
round 2--def. Irina Falconi, 6-1, 6-1
round 3--def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (15), 7-6, 7-6
quarterfinals--def. Yanina Wickmayer (6), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
semifinals--def. Jelena Jankovic (3), 6-4, 6-4
round 1--def. Rebecca Marino, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
round 2--def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (14), 6-4, 7-6
round 3--def. Sam Stosur (2, def. champ.), 6-4, 6-1
quarterfinals--def. Julia Goerges (12), 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
semifinals--def. Peng Shuai (11), 7-6, 6-3
Caroline Wozniacki has played four matches, whereas Elena Vesnina has played eight. Vesnina, who is unseeded, did not have a bye in the first round, and she has also played three doubles matches. The Russian player, who is ranked number 56 in the world, had not planned to play in Charleston this year because of a wrist injury. However, two-time Charleston runner-up Vera Zvonareva--who injured her wrist in Charleston a few years ago--advised Vesnina on getting treatment, which Vesnina said helped her a lot.
Also, Vesnina's coach (who is also her father) noticed that she had changed her technique, and that the change brought on the injury. "...if I'm going with the wrong movement again," Vesnina said, "mechanical, you know, shot, it starts hurting again. So I feel it only if I'm doing the wrong shot."
"...I'm just enjoying my time on the court," Vesnina said, "so I don't feel that I'm tired, or I'm trying to think that I'm not tired, and that's why everything is going my way."
Vesnina's highest singles ranking was number 22 in the world, which she held in 2009. She has a 1-4 record against Wozniacki. The last time they played was in 2010 on the green clay of Ponte Vedra Beach, in the semifinals, and Wozniacki won 1-6, 7-6, 6-4.
This is Vesnina's sixth year to enter the Family Circle Cup, and Wozniacki's third. In 2009, Wozniacki lost in the final to Sabine Lisicki, and in 2010, she injured her ankle and had to retire in the semifinals.
Vesnina beats Peng twice in one day and advances to both Charleston finals
Elena Vesnina won both of her matches again
Elena Vesnina has been a very busy woman in Charleston this week. Yesterday, she won both her singles and doubles matches, and today, in the semifinals, she repeated that accomplishment. In doing so, however, she had to defeat Peng Shuai twice.
In her singles semifinal, Vesnina defeated 11th seed Peng 7-6, 6-3. Unlike the earlier semifinal between Wozniacki and Jankovic, this match featured no break opportunities until Peng had a break point when Vesnina served at 4-5 in the first set. Vesnina held, then the players exchanged breaks. After Peng was broken, however, she began to walk with a slight limp. Her knee, which was taped, was bothering her, and she was tired, she would later reveal. After breaking her opponent, Peng held a set point, but did not convert it. The set went to a tiebreak, which Vesinina won.
Peng looked as though she might fade, but she immediately broke Vesnina in the second set, and then opened her own service game with an ace. Despite getting to 40-15, however, Peng was broken back. She remained competitive in the second set, but the momentum was with Vesnina, who used her serve--as she has all week--to get herself out of trouble. The Russian saved two break points at 3-all, then converted a second break point when Peng served at 3-4. Vesnina held to win the match.
Both Vesnina and Peng handled the wind well, and both displayed primarily error-free net play. This match had a bit of everything, including sharp volleys and well-executed drop shots. It was, in every way, the better ssemifinal match of the day, and quite entertaining.
After getting some rest, Vesnina and partner Sania Mirza played a semifinal doubles match against Peng and her partner, Zheng Jie. Mirza and Vesnina took the first set 6-2, and then endured a more competitive second set, which they won 7-5.
"...today is a Chinese day for me," Vesnina told the press.
Shaughnessy and Mattek-Sands consult
Earlier in the day, 4th seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy defeated top seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik 6-2, 6-4.
Labels: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, doubles, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup, Meghann Shaughnessy, Peng Shuai
Top seed Wozniacki advances to Charleston final
The buzz around the tournament was that 3rd seed Jelena Jankovic was all set to win her second Family Circle Cup championship, but today, top seed Caroline Wozniacki had another take on the issue. Wozniacki defeated Jankovic 6-4, 6-4 in a semifinal match that should have had everything, but that was really not very satisfying.
Wozniacki was broken at the start of the match. Jankovic began coming forward, as she has been practicing, and went up an early break, though it took her a while. Wozniacki then held, and when the wind picked up, both players were broken at love. At 4-all, Wozniacki held at love. Serving at 4-5, 30-40, Jankovic kicked in a big serve which set her up for a winning volley, but she hit the ball into the net and was broken on the next point.
Jankovic, who used to be known for her expert movement and her ability to find wicked angles--especially with her backhand down the line--has not been herself since she suffered an ankle injury. She is serving much better (though not so much in today's match), but she doesn't have the transition game she used to have. Today, she made so many errors, it was hard to believe that this was the same player who handled the wind (a lot more wind, in fact) so expertly in the 2007 final. The 3rd seed did try to mix things up, but the strategy didn't work too well for her; her drop shots, for example, only drew passing shots from Wozniacki.
There were eight breaks of serve in the match, which lasted close to an hour and 48 minutes. Jankovic said later that "...sometimes I come to the net and I construct the points and I do all the things and then I'm just about to finish it and then I either make a mistake or she does a great passing shot." That about sums it up.
Jankovic said of Wozniacki: "She makes very few errors. She doesn't go for winners. She doesn't even make mistakes, so you really have to beat her if you're going to win the match against her."
That sums it up pretty well, too.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, Family Circle Cup, Jelena Jankovic
Kuznetsova upset in Marbella
Today in Marbella, qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu upset 2nd seed (and wild card) Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the semifinals. Begu upset 6th seed Klara Zakopalova in straight sets in the quarterfinals. The Romanian 20-year-old is currently ranked number 138 in the world.
Also winning today was top seed Victoria Azarenka, who defeated 8th seed Sara Errani 6-2, 6-1.
Labels: Andalucia Tennis Experience, Irina-Camelia Begu, Svetlana Kuznetsova
View of the grounds
Sania Mirza talked with Bobby Chintapalli about cricket, marriage, Twitter, and her comeback from a wrist injury.
"Family Circle Cup presented by Dove" became a reality yesterday when a dove landed on Jelena Jankovic's side of the court. A few moments later, a dove perched on top of the net. The seagulls were calling loudly during this match, too.
The women sitting in front of me yesterday looked and acted like the cast of The Real Housewives of Charleston (I hope I'm not starting something here).
Elena Vesnina reports that she received a (probably much needed) ice massage for her legs at 1 a.m.
Four women have won both the singles and doubles final in the same year--Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, and Martina Hingis. Navratilova made this accomplishment an amazing four times.
Caroline Wozniacki, who wears Stella McCartney-designed court outfits, says that she has yet to meet Sir Paul McCartney, but is looking forward to an introduction.
Sculpture in Mount Pleasant
Peng and Vesnina each win--then win again--in Charleston
Peng Shuai and Elena Vesnina have confounded any attempt to create an orderly schedule at the Family Circle Cup because they both keep winning singles and doubles. Today, Peng defeated qualifier Sania Mirza 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the singles quarterfinals. She and partner Zheng Jie then defeated Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears in straight sets in doubles. Peng, who is seeded 11th, has now won more singles matches this season than anyone else on the tour.
"Honestly, I don't want to think now because just off the singles, doubles, and I'm really tired and I want to get some treatment, dinner and rest, and then this is tomorrow, so I think tomorrow," Peng said when she was asked to talk about her upcoming singles semifinal. Peng credited her coach for her 2011 breakthrough, which came after a year in which the Chinese player had a lengthy illness and was injured.
Elena Vesnina backed up her upset of defending champion Sam Stosur by upsetting 12th seed Julia Goerges in the quarterfinals. It took Vesnina a set to steady herself, but then she began serving with real conviction, and hitting winners off of both sides. Vesnina defeated Goerges 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, then--about an hour later--she and partner Sania Mirza defeated the team of Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova 3-6, 6-2, 10-8. Mirza and Vesnina were down 4-7 in the super-tiebreak, but made a comeback and won on their first match point. By the time the match was over, it was no longer Friday in Charleston.
What all this means is that both Peng and Vesnina will each play twice tomorrow, and both times, they will play against each other. Peng will play Vesnina in the singles semifinals, and she and Zheng will play Mirza and Vesnina in the doubles semifinals. This is an unusual situation, it probably goes without saying. The winner of the singles match will play either 1st seed Caroline Wozniacki or 3rd seed Jelena Jankovic in the final. Neither of those players is entered in doubles competition. Peng, by the way, has a 4-1 record against Vesnina; that record includes a defeat of the Russian last year in Charleston.
The winner of the doubles match will play either top seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik or 4th seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy.
Labels: doubles, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup, Peng Shuai
"Sunshine mixed with clouds"
That was the weather forecast I heard on the radio on the way to the Family Circle Cup today. The "clouds," it turned out, came in the form of 6th seed Yanina Wickmayer, who pushed world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki to three tough quarterfinal sets in Charleston. Taking the ball quickly and hitting forehand winners up the line and crosscourt, Wickmayer won the first set 6-4.
The Belgian player then went up a break in the second set, but lost her serve at 3-2 when she made an ill-timed decision to hit a drop volley. Wickmayer remained very competitive, but she missed a number of volleys after setting them up as potential winners. At 4-5, Wickmayer was broken at love. She went up a break in the third set, and hit a crowd-thrilling stab volley when she attempted to take a second break over Wozniacki.
That break of serve did not happen. Wickmayer's net game improved somewhat in the third set, but Wozniacki became more aggressive. Wickmayer served at 4-5, and then--just like that--she appeared lost. Her service game declined, and she attempted one last drop shot with little commitment, giving Wozniacki a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Throughout the match, Wickmayer hit solidly when she was being instinctual, but when she had a moment to think, things didn't go as well. She said, afterwards, that she had made a decision to add more dimensions to her game, and that she feels good about adding them. Clearly, she isn't comfortable with her new game yet, but she sounded positive about continuing to do more than "hitting, hitting." Wickmayer is working on a trial basis with Vladimir Platenik, who is helping her expand her game. A former top 20 player, the Belgian would have had to reach the final in Charleston to return to the top 20.
I spoke with Wickmayer a few days ago about her physical health (a wall fell on her last year). She said that her leg is better, but that she is still having problems with the nerve, and she has been told by her doctors that it could take up to a year for the nerve damage to heal. (She also said that she enjoys skiing, but she can no longer ski because it's too risky: "I want to go too fast.")
Wozniacki has now been seriously challenged in two consecutive matches, but has prevailed in the usual Wozniacki way--by getting almost every ball back, waiting for her opponent to make errors, and turning to aggression when she believes it's necessary. Her next opponent is Jelena Jankovic, who ended the exciting run of Christina McHale with a 6-2, 6-0 win. Wozniacki is 1-4 against Jankovic. The two have never before faced each other on clay.
The match between Wozniacki and Wickmayer was a really noisy affair. Near me, there was action going on with some type of tournament equipment, a walkie-talkie-type communication somehow got amplified, and there was loud talking and laughing from some fans (something you usually hear at night matches). And of course, there was the repeated "Om-pah," "Whoopee!" exchange from the players.
Labels: Caroline Wozniacki, Family Circle Cup, Yanina Wickmayer
Friday cat blogging--sister comfort edition
Charleston--what they said
It's like you have a bionic wrist now. What did they put in that?
Nothing. I just took five and a half months off. I think that really did it.
...I had first set, set point, and second, set point, and if you don't make these set points, though, it's tough to win these matches. And I played pretty good and I didn't make it, so it hurts a lot.
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, on her close loss to the top seed
I really like beating USTA girls because the USTA doesn't help me at all.
...I've been going and going and going and sliding and sliding and sliding up to those drop shots in practice just to remind myself and my feet and my brain that nothing will happen. And plus, I have both of my legs taped so nothing can happen. Or nothing should happen.
Caroline Wozniacki (injured last year in Charleston)
Do you think you're playing the best tennis of your career?
You know, part of the reason why I had that wrist problem is because I have such a hyper-mobile wrist, but because of that I get the power and I get the precision and stuff, but it's also a disadvantage because I get injured in my joint. But the fact is that I feel like I've made myself stronger and I've made other parts of my body stronger to kind of compensate a little bit, and not depend completely on my wrist.
...my game was hitting, hitting until I made a mistake or a winner, and I think today was different. I could do different things, I could mix it up. I could make her run. I could do different stuff, and that's why it was such a good match today because I didn't do only one thing, and yeah, I think that's going to help me a lot in the future and going to make me win a lot of matches more than I used to lose before.
Caroline played two hours and 33 minutes yesterday, and had another match today two hours and 22 minutes. That's a lot of tennis.
She's getting fit.
Back injury forces Safina to retire in Marbella
The lower back problem that kept Dinara Safina off the tour for a long time returned today in Marbella. The former world number 1 had to retire against Victoria Azarenka in the first set of their quarterfinal match. Safina's back injury was originally suspected to be career-threatening, and she had to leave the tour twice because of it. She has since struggled to make a comeback, and was given a wild card to play in Marbella.
Labels: Andalucia Tennis Experience, Dinara Safina
Charleston quarterfinals to be played today
Here is the quarterfinal draw for the Family Circle Cup:
Caroline Wozniacki (1) vs. Yanina Wickmayer (6)
Peng Shuai vs. Sania Mirza
Jelena Jankovic (3) vs. Christina McHale
Julia Goerges vs. Elena Vesnina
Jankovic, who was the champion in Charleston in 2007, is the only previous winner still standing. Nadia Petrova (2006), Sabine Lisicki (2009) and Sam Stosur (2010) were all defeated in the third round.
Today's quarterfinal doubles matches:
Raquel Kops-Jones/Abigail Spears vs. Peng Shuai/Zheng Jie
Alla Kudryavtseva/Anastasia Rodionova vs. Sania Mirza/Elena Vesnina
Last night, 4th seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy defeated Daniela Hantuchova and Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 7-6. Mattek-Sands and Shaughnessy will play top seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik in the semifinals. The match lasted two hours and included nine breaks of serve.
Labels: doubles, Family Circle Cup
Nadia Petrova was very busy during her match on Thursday. The gnats were swarming, so Petrova took her towel and set about vigorously swatting, for which she received a round of applause. Then she took it upon herself to supervise the chair umpire's repair of the net, which had become unstable. The 2006 champion is now out of both singles and doubles, so someone else will have to take over. Petrova, by the way, is still dealing, to some extent, with the dizziness and fatigue that caused her to retire in Miami.
The Ketel One Racquet Club is a new feature at the Family Circle Cup tournament. The facility allows fans to enjoy indoor seating and a bar, as well as musical entertainment. It is located not far from the Great Lawn stage, where Open Access interviews are held during Happy Hour.
Jelena Jankovic is ritualistic about her clay court shoe-tapping--right, then left, then right, every time.
I missed this, but Bobby Chintapalli caught it: When Caroline Wozniacki called for her coach, the song "Independent Woman" blared through the speakers. I did hear "Sweet Caroline" start after Jankovic won a game and sat down early in her set last night.
Overheard from a sports writer: That it would be nice if all the "pretty" players won.
Among fans and members of the tennis media, there is an ongoing discussion about whether Caroline Wozniacki is boring. Some have strong feelings about the subject:
Elena Vesnina upsets the defending champion
The 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 10th seeds were upset in the 3rd round of the Family Circle Cup on Thursday, and 1st seed Caroline Wozniacki barely escaped when she had to win two long tiebreaks against a clever, net-rushing Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Defending champion Sam Stosur, seeded 2nd, was dominated by Elena Vesnina, who defeated her 6-4, 6-1. Stosur's backhand was unreliable, and Vesnina did not appear to be especially bothered by the Australian's forehand. After the match, Stosur said that her opponent's flat, low strokes rushed her during points. Vesnina said that winning the doubles championship (with Sania Mirza) in Indian Wells gave her increased confidence.
Jelena Jankovic goes to the quarterfinals
5th seed Shahar Peer was defeated 6-2, 6-3 by 12th seed Julia Goerges, who stunned her with forehand winners. 11th seed Peng Shuai defeated 7th seed Nadia Petrova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, and Christina McHale upset 10th seed and 2010 semifinalist Daniela Hantuchova. McHale's 7-6, 6-1 victory puts her into the quarterfinals against 3rd seed Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Chanelle Scheepers in straight sets. 2009 champion Sabine Lisicki, who upset 4th seed Marion Bartoli in the second round, was defeated in the third round by Sania Mirza.
Wozniacki's 7-6(6), 7-6(9) victory over 15th seed Zahlavova Strycova came after the top seed was seriously tested. Zahlavova Strycova took away Wozniacki's rhythm by continually changing the pace of the rallies. Zahlavova Strycova also took over the net for much of the match, and hit a number of decisive forehand winners. Unfortunately, the Czech player's strength was also her weakness: Her forehand produced multiple errors, too.
Down 2-5 in the first set tiebreak, the 15th seed made five straight points, but then made an unforced error on set point. She also held a set point in the second set tiebreak, and she went on to save three match points. Zahlavova Strycova played with a lot of touch and savvy, and she came in with a solid game plan, but she couldn't win the big points when she needed to.
Qualifier Anna Tatishvili's run ended yesterday--respectably. 6th seed Yanina Wickmayer defeated the gutsy Tatishviili 6-4, 7-5.
Labels: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup, Samantha Stosur
"That has nothing to do with me"
A Change of Ends had the nerve to go where no one else would during All Access Hour Monday in Charleston. Here is the transcript of an interview with Nadia Petrova about her recent tennis outfits. (Only the actual quotations do it justice.)
Petrova appeared on the court in simple, attractive clothing for her chilly morning match yesterday, but arrived in an Ellesse outfit for her doubles match in the afternoon.
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Nadia Petrova
Pennetta out of Fed Cup
Flavia Pennetta, better known as the Queen of Fed Cup, will not be ruling over the upcoming proceedings in Moscow. Pennetta has a shoulder injury that is preventing her from playing in the 2011 semifinals. Also out is Francesca Schiavone, who has decided to use her time to prepare for the French Open. Doubles stars Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will be on the team, but the strong likelihood of Itay's winning three consecutive Fed Cup championships is now gone. Joining Errani and Vinci will be Alberta Brianti and Maria Elena Camerin.
Italy plays Russia in the semifinals. The Russian team will be composed of Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Ekaterina Makarova. The event will take place April 16 and 17 on a hard court at Megasport Arena.
Labels: Fed Cup, Flavia Pennetta
Tatishvili goes to 3rd round in Charleston
It took her almost three hours, but qualifier Anna Tatishvili managed to take out the 9th seed at the Family Circle Cup Wednesday. Tatishvili advanced to the third round when she defeated Maria Kirilenko 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.
Defending champion Stosur serves to her opponent
Elena Vesnina pulled off upsets in both singles and doubles. She defeated 14th seed Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 7-6, and she and partner Sania Mirza took out 2nd seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, 6-3, 6-4.
Julia Goerges and Nadia Petrova defeated Alisa Kleybanova and Yan Zi 2-6, 6-4, 10-3 in the first round of doubles play. Petrova won the doubles championship in both 2009 and 2010, but until yesterday, she had never played doubles with Goerges. In fact, as of Monday, Petrova and Goerges had never even practiced together, and Petrova was understandably concerned about the defense of her title. The Russian, who is also the 7th seed in singles, was troubled by an episode of vertigo in Miami, and is still undergoing treatment. She won her second round singles match easily yesterday morning.
Top seeds Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Stosur and Jelena Jankovic all won in straight sets on Wednesday, and 10th seed Daniela Hantuchova dropped only one game in her second round match.
Labels: Anna Tatishvili, doubles, Elena Vesnina, Family Circle Cup, Nadia Petrova
Lisicki upsets 4th seed Bartoli in Charleston
Wild card Sabine Lisicki, who won the championship in Charleston in 2009 when she was seeded 15th, pulled another unexpected stunt tonight when she defeated 4th seed Marion Bartoli 6-2, 6-3. Lisicki has been plagued by illness, injury and an apparent lack of confidence for so long, fans wondered if the once-heralded German would just fade away. Tonight, though, she often looked like the player who cruised through the tournament without dropping a set two years ago.
Lisicki's serve, forehand and drop shot were all there. Bartoli tried to stay away from the forehand, but Lisicki was able to defend well enough with her backhand to stay in rallies, and then strike with forehand passing shots and forehands up the line. She took control of the match right away, and never gave it up for very long.
In 2009, Bartoli lost to Lisicki in the semifinals. Currently ranked number 182 in the world, Lisicki--who could not play at the Family Circle Cup last year because of injury--has now won eight consecutive matches in Charleston.
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Sabine Lisicki
Charleston says goodbye to Patty Schnyder
Tonight, after the featured doubles match was played at the Family Circle Cup, there was a brief ceremony to honor Patty Schnyder, a huge Charleston favorite who has played in the tournament for fifteen consecutive years. This is Schnyder's final year in Charleston, where she was twice a singles finalist and was also a doubles finalist. Schnyder is so popular in Charleston, it's hard to imagine the tournament without her. The crowds always go wild with enthusiasm for her, and her rock star status at the Family Circle Cup is one of those things that makes the tournament unique. It's certainly hard for me to accept the reality that Patty won't be here anymore, and the ceremony was quite sad for me. Schnyder received roses and a piece of customized tournament art, and she gave a touching farewell speech.
Schnyder and Daniel Island native Shelby Rogers played in the preceding doubles match, which was highly entertaining and very close. Schnyder and Rogers were defeated 6-4, 7-6, 10-6 by Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova.
Labels: doubles, Family Circle Cup, Patty Schnyder
...it was kind of almost like picking up from last year, which was a nice feeling.
Sam Stosur, after her second round match on stadium court
Do you still get asked a lot of questions, I guess about once being number 1 and didn't win...
You still want to ask that?
I'm asking, yeah.
Wozniacki, are you?
Why not Wozniacki do you ask that?
You know, sometimes as tennis players we go four seasons in one day in some tournaments....
Can they be quiet, or is this social hour? Are you going to tell them, or will I?
Anastasia Rodionova, talking to the chair umpire
...I think it's pretty cool. It's a nice color for spring, and I have these flowers, so it's kind of like the spring blossom. I'm blossoming.
Jelena Jankovic, talking about her dress
What are her weaknesses, do you think, now that you've played her?
You know, I don't what her weaknesses are, so when you find out, let me know.
Irina Falconi, referring to Caroline Wozniacki
"My game is more like Kim's--it's pretty hard to match up with Justine."
Yanina Wickmayer, discussing Belgian tennis
Maybe the windier it is the better I play. Maybe we need another tornado to come.
Jelena Jankovic (referencing to her 2007 championship match)
The weather was much calmer today. It was sunny and cool, and--for the most part--slightly breezy without the constant wind we had yesterday at the Family Circle Cup.
Althea Gibson Club Court has been changed a bit to provide stadium-type seating (without sacrificing any of the club court intimacy), and a new stage has been constructed on the Grand Lawn.
The tournament sells a lot of gear, of course, and this year's stand-out item is a T-shirt whose retro design celebrates the rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Both players will be here Saturday night for the Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified. event.
Yanina Wickmayer had an autograph session today, but not many people showed up for it. The Aussie cheering section did show up for defending champion Sam Stosur, but where were they when Jelena Dokic really needed them?
A couple of days ago, we saw Nadia Petrova practicing her serve by knocking down bottles; today, Shahar Peer thrashed a number of tennis ball cans.
Melanie Oudin and Anna Tatishvili don't look so much like kids anymore. Also, Tatishvili is free of her ankle brace. Today, she upset 9th seed Maria Kirilenko.
Family Circle Cup trivia: The oldest player to ever win a singles match in Charleston was Renee Richards, who was 46years and 8 months old when she won.
Irises growing on tournament grounds
Stretching time
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Peng Shuai, Zheng Jie
McHale upsets Kleybanova in Charleston
It was a big day for Christina McHale. Not only was she selected as a member of the USA Fed Cup team, but she also pulled off the first big upset of the 2011 Family Circle Cup. McHale, a qualifier, defeated 8th seed Alisa Kleybanova 6-1, 6-0 in the second round. This was Kleybanova's first match on the green clay of Charleston, and it wasn't a comfortable experience. McHale, for her part, gave her opponent only one break opportunity, and Kleybanova could not convert it. The 8th seed won only 43% of her first serves, and a dismal 9% of her second.
In the first round, qualifier Eva Birnerova won the first set against 12th seed Julia Goerges 6-1, and held five match points in the second, but was overtaken 7-5 by the German player. Unfortunately, at 0-2 in the third, Birnerova had to retire because of an ankle injury.
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova really had to work to get her victory. She defeated Andrea Hvlavackova 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(8). Zahlavova Strycova is the tournament's 15th seed.
6th seed Yanina Wickmayer looked very sharp today in her second round match against Zheng Jie, which she won 6-4, 6-0. Also getting a decisive win was 9th seed Maria Kirilenko, who defeated Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 6-0.
Sabine Lisicki and Irina Falconi made appearances on the new stage on the Great Lawn this evening. Falconi defeated Memphis champion Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round. In the second round, she plays world number 1 and top seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Conditions were windy today after a big storm passed through the Charleston area. Good, mostly sunny, weather is predicted for the rest of the week. Only one match--a doubles event--had to be postponed.
Labels: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Christina McHale, Family Circle Cup, Julia Goerges, Maria Kirilenko
2009 champion Lisicki advances to 2nd round in Charleston
Sabine Lisicki serves in her 1st round match
There was a time, just a few years ago, when the names "Tamira Paszek" and "Sabine Lisicki" were synonymous with "future WTA star," then things turned kind of sour for both of them. Lisicki, the 2009 Family Circle Cup champion, needed three sets today to defeat Renata Voracova, but her 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory took her into the second round. Lisicki's opening round match was postponed for two hours because--and don't say I didn't warn you--a big storm came in, following a tornado watch. Because this is Charleston in April.
Paszek also advanced to the second round when she defeated Melanie Oudin 6-1, 7-5. I saw the second set, which was pretty high quality, with both players painting the lines, and with Oudin actually winning more points with her backhand.
While the names Lisicki and Paszek stir memories of unkept promises, another name--Jelena Dokic--stirs memories of everything from world-class hitting to heart-breaking personal crisis. Today, Dokic lost her first round to qualifier Anna Tastishvili. The former world number 4 double-faulted ten times, and appeared preoccupied with too many matters that were not really urgent. Dokic yelled in frustration, and struggled to keep from breaking her racquet. There were 17 breaks of serve in the match, which Tatishvili won, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Jelena Dokic, Sabine Lisicki, Tamira Paszek
Kim Clijsters is out for four weeks because of continuing problems with her shoulder and wrist. She will return to the tour in Rome.
Aravane Rezai went out to wild card Estrella Cabeza Candela in the first round in Marbella today. The score was 6-3, 6-0.
Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Ekaterina Makarova have been named to the Russian Fed Cup for the semifinal event to be held later this month in Moscow. The Italian team has not been announced. It is expected that Francesca Schiavone will not play because she is preparing her title defense at the French Open. Rumor has it that Flavia Pennetta may not play, which is a bigger issue for Italy.
Women's Tennis Blog gives us a peek at Maria Sharapova's French Open dress. Women's Tennis Blog, by the way, just celebrated its fourth birthday--cheers to Marija!
A marching band will perform in the Family Circle Cup stadium today as part of Charleston's "Best Tennis Town in America" designation. Each of the first 1,000 individuals through the gate will receive a "Best Tennis Town" memento.
Labels: Aravane Rezai, Fed Cup, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova
King wins first round match in Charleston
Stadium court play in Charleston began today with the upset of 16th seed Vera Dushevina by Vania King. King won the first set 6-4, and the second went to a tiebreak. Dushevina went up a mini-break immediately, and was up 5-3 when King started her comeback. King made an error on her first match point, but at 8-7, she hit an ace, and advanced to the second round.
Qualifier Heather Watson was up 3-0, then 4-2 in the third set of her match against Christina McHale; she had a point to go up 5-2, but McHale broke her. That match also went to a tiebreak, and McHale's aggressive tiebreak play gave her a victory.
It took Zheng Jie over three hours to defeat qualifier Monica Puig 3-6, 7-6(10), 7-5.
Three qualifiers--Irina Falconi, Sania Mirza and Eva Birnerova--won their first-round matches.
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Vania King
Family Circle Cup, Subaru of Charleston & Red Cross team to raise money for Japan
The Family Circle Cup and its parent company, Meredith Corporation, have formed a partnership with Subaru of Charleston (the event's official vehicle provider) and the American Red Cross to raise money for the Red Cross Japan relief program. Throughout the duration of the tournament, fans can pay a $5 entry fee, which entitles them to guess the number of tennis balls that are inside an on-site Subaru Forrester. The person who makes the closest guess will have use of a Forrester for 90 days.
A Family Circle Cup box holder reception was held this evening, and attendees were given the opportunity to bid on a number of items, including autographed racquets. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki donated a two player box seats for one match, as well as an opportunity for the holders of those seats to spend some after-lunch time with her. Defending champion Sam Stosur donated a half-hour tennis lesson to be provided by her and her coach, David Taylor.
Meredith Corporation holds an annual charity auction with VIP guests, and this year, half of the proceeds will go to the Japan relief effort. Also, for every person who attends the finals on April 10, the tournament will donate $2 to the fund.
Through these combined events, the goal is to raise $50,000 for the relief fund.
Top seeds ready for Charleston play, but the weather may not cooperate
Daniel Island, where the Family Circle Cup is played, has unpredictable weather in April. The days can be hot, and the nights quite cold. A tornado can hit. But--most of the time--there isn't much rain during the event. A big storm is supposed to come through in the morning, however, so there is no telling how many matches can be played on the second day of the tournament.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki
The player party was held in Charleston last night, and the top seeds were on the tournament site today. Most of them talked about the adjustments they have to make when they begin the clay court season, or, as 7th seed Alisa Kleybanova put it: "Sometimes you just have that hard court game in your head." Marion Bartoli, the tournament's 4th seed, said that she has to put more spin on the ball and change the angles she uses on the court.
Defending champion Samantha Stosur
I asked defending champion Sam Stosur (who said she looks at the draw "a little bit") whether she would be coming forward more, since that appears to be an element often missing from her game. "It's one of those things I want to keep working on," she said, and added "It's not part of my comfort zone."
I think we'll definitely see Jelena Jankovic coming forward more. "I have to gradually get comfortable," she said about her decision to work on coming to the net. Jankovic, the 3rd seed and the 2007 champion, said that she is giving herself time to work on some new techniques. The world number 8 seemed really relaxed, and was in her usual very good humor. Jankovic said that her new coach, Andri Pavel, is like her in that they are both perfectionists.
Shahar Peer is playing her first tournament with coach Harold Solomon, whom she hired on a trial basis after her loss in Miami. Peer, who said she needs to work on being more intense on the court, just missed getting into the top 10 when she went out in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open.
Labels: Alisa Kleybanova, Family Circle Cup, Jelena Jankovic, Marion Bartoli, Samantha Stosur, Shahar Peer
Shnyder out of Charleston in 1st round
Patty Schnyder played in her 15th consecutive Family Circle Cup today, and--to the disappointment of a very partisan crowd (Charleston loves Patty)--she went out. Chanelle Scheepers, who lost to Schnyder in the first round last year, defeated the 13th seed 6-4, 6-4. Schnyder looked a bit flat, and when she went down 1-4 in the second round, it looked like Scheepers might run away with the match. But some switch got turned on in Schnyder, who then proceeded to delight fans with her signature drop shots, lobs and spins. Her serve got better, too. I thought we were going to a third set, but Scheepers was able to close it in the second.
If you've never been to the Family Circle Cup, then it may be hard to appreciate how wild the crowd goes for Schnyder. Last year, there was quick, polite applause for Caroline Wozniacki when she beat Schnyder, then the crowd broke out in yells when Schnyder made her exit. Today was sad. Schynder is still around for doubles, but this was, she said, her last ever Charleston singles match. For Charleston, it is definitely the end of an era, and the Family Circle Cup just won't be the same without her.
Patty Schnyder was a finalist in Charleston in 2002, but lost in the final to Iva Majoli; both were unseeded. Before she reached the final, Schnyder had a remarkable run in which she defeated Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce, Serena Williams, and Jennifer Capriati. In 2006, after upsetting Justine Henin in the semifinals, Schnyder lost the championship match to Nadia Petrova.
Labels: Family Circle Cup, Patty Schnyder
Can she hit the bottles?
Main draw play starts Monday in Charleston
First round play begins in Charleston tomorrow. Two Monday matches that look especially interesting to me are Heather Watson vs. Christina McHale, and Elena Vesnina vs. Rebecca Marino. In the past, Vesnina has done well in this tournament, though she has also been bothered by problems with her thigh.
Charleston favorite Patty Schnyder will play tomorrow, as will Peng Shuai, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Zheng Jie, and Sania Mirza. Possible second round matches to watch include Maria Kirilenko vs. Jelena Dokic, and Sabine Lisicki vs. Marion Bartoli.
Defending champion and 2nd seed Sam Stosur has a bye in the first round. Waiting for her in her quarter of the draw is 5th seed Shahar Peer. Also lurking in that quarter are Rebecca Marino and Julia Goerges. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki has 6th seed Yanina Wickmayer in her quarter, and she also has Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Maria Kirilenko and Jelena Dokic. Peng Shuai could get in the way of a Nadia Petrova--Marion Bartoli showdown, though clay is hardly Peng's favorite surface.
We've had some bad luck since we've been here. The network adapter on our speedy notebook computer burned out. I generally employ that computer (it has the best keyboard I've ever used) in the hotel and a netbook at the tournament, so for now--and most likely, for the rest of the tournament--I'm using a notebook/flash drive/netbook scheme that is somewhat awkward and a little silly, but it works.
That's not all: We had to pack everything we had carefully put away in our hotel room because we were in such an isolated part of the building that we couldn't get a wireless connection and were therefore forced to move. We packed in a haphazard way before we went to Daniel Island this morning, and we moved when we got back from the tournament. The original room was given to us because it was quiet, but we've opted for a little noise and some wireless.
I always think of qualifying weekend as a really relaxing time, but this weekend has been far too stressful, what with computer problems and hotel problems. Blogging comes with its own set of issues, I suppose. However, if you have to have problems, you could do worse than having them in the Charleston area--palmetto trees, views of the harbor, good restaurants, and a really beautiful tournament site with a great staff--not much to complain about.
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Friday cat blogging--inside out backpaw edition
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Music Monday: Gotye “Making Mirrors”
martymankins | January 21, 2013 | Music | 10 Comments
The Creative Oddball
This is one fucking weird and odd album. It’s catchy and none of the songs sound like any of the others. Which made me really try hard not to like it. But songs like “Easy Way Out” and “I Feel Better” had some hooks that got me listening to this sleeper hit of from 2011. I even wound up putting up with the hit song “Somebody That I Used To Know” every time it came on shuffle. Of course it helps that Kimbra, another pop sensation, adds backing vocals to this song.
After many plays, I had to admit that in the end, the album itself is a nice work, has great production and has garnered a nice large following of fans. No one can say this is a boring album, that’s for sure. It’s diverse lyrics and ever changing beats make up the 12 tracks have made Gotye, aka Wouter De Backer, a household name, who defines himself as a musician that mixes creative with hit song.
“Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra)
“Don’t Worry, We’ll Be Watching You”
“Giving Me a Chance”
What are your thoughts on Gotye and this album? Any fans? Not a fan?
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Lisa January 21, 2013 Reply
I’m a huge fan of his music and of him. I’ve never been fascinated by music until I heard this album. Like you said, every song is different. Almost all genres are covered on the album. His live show has breathtaking visuals for each song. He is an incredibly talented musician that is all over the stage playing a variety of odd instruments, but drums are his forte. He is a beast on the drum kit!!! His second album, Like Drawing Blood is the same way…amazing! And the best part is Wally is the nicest person you will ever meet!
I would expect his live shows and personality would be enjoyable. I agree his talent is evident in his music.
B.E. Earl (@VerdantDude) January 21, 2013 Reply
I’ve only hear a few songs from the album, including Somebody that I Used to Know many, many, many times (it’s a staple on SirusXMU and AltNation). But what I’ve heard I’ve enjoyed…not overwhelmingly so, but I’ve enjoyed it.
Yes, I hear it a lot still on AltNation and SiriusXMU as well.
I consider myself a fan of it although not enough of one for it to have made my top 10 list. Still good overall though. “Eyes Wide Open” is a good one.
Yeah, it wasn’t enough to make my top 10 list either. And since it came out in 2011, but was still very much popular in 2012, it didn’t meet the criteria for my end of year best of. “Eyes Wide Open” is great, albeit short.
Sarah Park January 23, 2013 Reply
I love the song “Somebody that I used to know”. Very meaningful to me. Actually reminds me of someone. And I love the rhythm so much.
Even though it’s overplayed, I do like that song as well.
Diese Website April 16, 2013 Reply
I love gotye!! Specially the song: Hearts a mess
martymankins July 6, 2013 Reply
He is quite a musician.
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Washington hosts historic tasting of British and Irish classics
If you were there, what did you think?
It was an historic tasting. Has there even been a better-attended tutored sampling of beers from the British Isles? Or a more enthusiastic one? I don't think so. Last week, almost 400 people paid $25-30 a head to taste an extraordinary selection of brews from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland at the imposing headquarters of the National Geographic Society, in Washington, D.C.
Yet more significantly, has the United States ever seen such a colorful selection of beers from the British Isles? Several of the beers had never been tasted in the U.S. before. These ranged from low-gravity "session" beers like Brain's Dark (from Wales) and Chiswick Bitter (England) to specialities like the seaweedy Kelpie Ale (Scotland) and the herb-tinged Red Biddy (Republic of Ireland). One of the beers had never been offered outside the brewery where it is made: Greene King's 5x, aged in wood, is used only in a blended beer and is not sold "straight". The remaining beers were almost as rare. Bass Museum Barley Wine took its bow in the nation's capital after an "out of town" show in Indianapolis. There was a return visit for Porterhouse Oyster Stout (Republic of Ireland), and A Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout played a starring role after an appearance at the Russian Tea Room in New York.
Guests were provided with tasting-sheets. If you were there, and kept your notes, I would love to hear your verdicts on the beers. If you are willing to share your opinions, please forward them to beerhunter@beerhunter.com.
Nearly 400 beer enthusiasts enjoy an extraordinary tasting at National Geographic headquarters.
When I was asked to present the tasting, I was determined to show as lively a selection from my own country (and its closest cousin, Ireland) as I had from Belgium and the United States in previous years at the National Geographic. This series of tastings and lectures is part of an annual season called "Live from the National Geographic", featuring anthropologists, naturalists, explorers and the like.
The beers America does not see
One problem in planning this event was that many of the best British beers (though fewer from Ireland) are already familiar to American audiences. Would British brewers be willing to send products that they did not normally export?
The brewers would, of course, benefit in a more general way from the attention attracted by the tasting, but this was a rather vague inducement. Not every British brewery appreciates the value of publicity. Nor do many appreciate how many tastings, speeches, articles, broadcasts and books I have devoted to fostering the appreciation of classic beer-styles in the U.S over the last 20 years. Nonetheless, I was able to call in a few favors. More important, my assistant Owen Barstow applied to the task the stubborn tenacity that is a speciality of Yorkshiremen. While Owen pushed for the best of British, Dave Alexander, of The Brickskeller saloon, in Washington, pulled. He was helped by Matthias Neidhart, an importer who has built a range around the beers that I have deemed classics in my Pocket Guide to Beer.
Why would a brewery be reluctant to export its beer? Some feel, reasonably enough, that the strengthening of their home market is more important or less difficult to achieve. Others did export for a time, and spent money on promotion to little effect; perhaps they did not understand the market. Others were not paid by their importers. Often the importer was a genuine enthusiast. who was mistakenly sure that his zeal would be shared from High Krausen, Minn., to Coronita, N.M. Some brewers feel they cannot afford the investment, or believe that their beers are unsuitable for the market.
For example, Mild Ale suffers in the United Kingdom for its blue-collar image. Being low in an gravity and alcohol, and therefore price, it was traditionally favored in areas of heavy industry, like the coal-and-steel communities of South Wales. It could be consumed in quantity by thirsty men who had sweated in a foundry all day, or breathed coal-dust down a mine. With its slight malty sweetness, it seemed a restorative, too. Not a fashionable beer in the post-industrial society, I agree, but style-consciousness is different among American beer-lovers. They want to sample every style of beer, and it is hard to find a good Mild in the U.S. Brain's Dark is a fine example, and it greatly impressed the audience. How could a beer of such low gravity and alcohol have so much flavour?
Ales that are low in alcohol are rarely exported to the U.S., due to a quirk of labelling laws in some states. Most present legislation had its origins in the repeal of Prohibition. Law-makers at that time seemed to think that ale was meant to be stronger than lager. In some states, ales must have more than 4.0 per cent alcohol by weight (5.0 by volume), and most British "session beers" do not qualify.
That would inhibit Fuller's from exporting their Chiswick Bitter, should they wish to do so. In fact, it is widely available only in Fuller's local market, a handful of neighborhoods and inner suburbs on the western side of London. The brewery is in one of these neighborhoods, Chiswick (the "w" is not pronounced). Because Chiswick Bitter is low in alcohol, it is a delicate beer, and the brewery is anxious that it be served fresh. A wider distribution is given the stronger London Pride and Extra Special Bitter.
Cask-conditioned at the National Geographic
I was very grateful to both Brain's and Fuller's for making available these local specialities. They, for their part, were concerned as to whether such vulnerable beers would survive the journey, and whether they would be presented properly. The same issues arose with Kelpie and even with the much stronger 5x. Cask-conditioning requires experience and judgment. The Brickskeller, where the casks would initially held, is practised in the art - but how would the beer be cellared and served at the National Geographic? This was also a worry for Rock Wheeler, of National Geographic, who was in charge of the tasting.
Emails, phone calls, discussions and meetings to solve these problems spread over several months. The final approach was to borrow one of the walk-in coolers normally used for staff and visitor catering at the National Geographic. Its contents were moved to another cooler. Engineers raised the temperature in the borrowed cooler to about 45 degrees. It was felt that, as the door would be opened from time to time, the actual temperature would be closer the 50�F required. Racks and wedges were assembled inside the cooler, so that the casks could be set on their side. This work was done by Dave Alexander and his team. The casks were then vented with a porous wooden peg (known as a "soft spile") and the taps hammered into the bungs, as they would be in a pub cellar. The casks then spent more than 48 hours undisturbed, so that a natural level of carbonation could develop and the yeast sediment precipitate. On the night, the beer was tapped by gravity into pitchers.
As one set of pitchers was being poured into glasses, another set was being filled from casks. This procedure was progressed with military precision by 18 volunteers from the Washington club BURP ("Brewers United for Real Potables"). Five members of National Geographic's catering staff were involved, together with buildings services contractors, six of the lecture staff, a further half-dozen volunteer ushers, and audio-visual technicians.
The beers:
Brain's Dark (Cask)
From a brewing company founded in 1713 and acquired by Samuel and Joseph Brain in 1882. In Cardiff, capital city of Wales. The slogan "It's Brains You Want" is famous locally. The brewery has a range of ales. Its Brain's Dark is a Mild Ale, with an original gravity of1035 and alcohol by volume of 3.5 per cent by volume (2.3 by weight). The principal ingredient is Pale Ale malt. Other malts are a British version of Munich, caramel and chocolate. The hops are Challenger, Fuggles and Goldings. The beer is centrifuged and has a dosage of priming sugar and yeast in the cask. It typically emerges with a surprisingly smooth malt background and flavor, finishing with a toasty dryness, and was on excellent form for its D.C. debut.
Fuller's Chiswick Bitter (Cask)
The beer I most often drink in my local pub. The brewery, about a mile from my home, is on the road from Heathrow airport into central London. There has been a brewery on the site for 350 years. The Fuller family have been involved since 1845. Chiswick Bitter has a gravity of 1034 and an alcohol by volume of 3.5v (2.3w). Malts: Pale Ale and crystal. Hops: Northdown, Challenger, First Gold. Dry-hopped with Goldings. A light-bodied, refreshing, beer, with a very flowery hop character. I found it slightly flat in D.C., but it won a very warm reception indeed from the audience.
Red Biddy (Keg)
The name is slang for a lethal blend of cheap red wine and methylated spirits. In this case, it refers to a perfectly safe and respectable Irish Red Ale with a twist. The beer is brewed from a gravity of 1050, and has an alcohol content of 5.0 by volume (4.0 weight). The malts are Pale Ale, crystal, chocolate and roast barley. It is hopped with Challengers. The difference is the use of the traditional wild herb bog myrtle. The traditional "Irish moss", carragheen, is used in fining. The beer is big in body and flavor, malty, treacly, toasty and smoky, with suggestions of bitter orange marmalade and a leafy, herbal finish. A stout (Black Biddy) and a lager (Blonde Biddy) are also produced by the brewery, at Inagh, near Ennis, County Clare. The brewery was founded in 1995, in an existent pub. Biddy Early was a legendary figure who carried a bottle that could cure all ills during the time of the potato famine.
Kelpie Ale (Cask)
A seaweed beer, though it is not made with kelp. The name of the ale is a reference to a sea devil in Scottish legend. The beer is not intended to have the pronounced, medicinal, iodine-like, seaweed character of an Islay whisky. The notion is to replicate the flavors that might have arisen when island crofters used seaweed to reinforce the soil in which they grew barley. In the production of the ale, the seaweed is used in the mash tun. Kelpie Ale has a mahogany color; a slightly smoky aroma; and a subtle note of seaweed over the fruitiness and nutty maltiness of a Scotch Ale. After being disappointed with a test brew, I found the sample in D.C. much rounder. It was a hit with the audience, who were also delighted (as I was) when brewer Bruce Williams made a surprise appearance. Kelpie has an original gravity 1044 and an alcohol content of 5.5v (4.4w). Malts: Pale Ale (Maris Otter), caramel, crystal, chocolate, roast barley. Hops: First Gold. This new product is the latest in the Heather Ale range, which began in 1992. Heather ale has its own brewery, making draft beers, at Strathaven, south of Glasgow. It also has a share in a brewery and bottling line at Alloa.
Porterhouse Oyster Stout (Keg)
Another maritime flavor. Porter was the everyday beer of London in Dickens' time, and oysters so common at the mouth of the river Thames that they were offered as free bar snacks. It is not certain when the two were combined in the glass. Firm evidence of this is much more recent: in the period after World War II. Although I first wrote about this style 25 years ago, even keen beer-lovers are often surprised to learn of its existence. Ever since the Porterhouse brewpub opened its doors in Dublin in 1996, it has been making an Oyster Stout, The brew has an original gravity of 1048, and 4.8v (3.8w). It is brewed from both Pale Ale and roasted malts. The grist also contains unmalted barley in two forms: roasted and flaked. The hops are Nugget and Chinook for bittering and Kent Goldings for aroma. A small quantity of shucked oysters is added toward the end of the boil. Porterhouse Oyster Stout was first seen in the U.S. in 2000, at my tenth annual tasting at the University of Pennsylvania. Would a drinker spot the influence of oysters if he did not know they were an ingredient? I like to think so, though I might be kidding myself. As an oyster lover, I find my taste-buds aroused by even a suggestion of their presence. I find this beer both salty and sweet, and to have a very distinctive tang. The audience in D.C. seemed to agree.
Harvey's "Le Coq" Imperial Stout (Bottle)
Why Le Coq? This was the family name of a Belgian who exported strong Porter from breweries in Britain (notably the long-gone Barclay's, which was near Tower Bridge, in London) to other Northern European countries in the mid and late 1800s. A ship containing a consignment of his beer bound for St Petersburg sank in the Baltic Sea in 1869, and the wreck was visited by divers in 1974. Bottles retrieved from the vessel prompted the information officer at the Brewers' Society, in London, to research the history of Le Coq. He passed his findings on to me, and I wrote the first story on the subject, in my 1977 World Guide to Beer. Much more recently, I stumbled upon information new to me about a family called Le Coq who owned a brewery in Belgium, and I hope to have more to report soon. My interest in this story led some years ago to my visiting a brewery in Tartu, Estonia that had been bought by Le Coq to brew Porter inside the Tsarist Empire. (The style eventually became known as Russian Imperial Stout). At the time of my pilgrimage, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union, and the brewery state-owned. It was making only lagers. I suggested that it restart production of Porter or Stout, and it subsequently did. The Le Coq Porter produced in Estonia is a little too obviously lager-like. An agreement has since been reached with the Estonians for a version of the beer to be once again made in Britain. This arrangement embodies a further a Belgian connection, albeit remote. There were once many Flemish immigrant brewers in the London riverside neighborhood of Southwark. A family that made beer in that area until World War II, the Jenners, later became involved in the Harvey's brewery, about 50 miles south at Lewes, on the river Ouse. Harvey's is making the British version of Le Coq Imperial Stout. It is a huge beer, with the classically woody, resinous, tar-like flavors of the style, and made an enormous impact in D.C. It has an original gravity of 1106, and an alcohol content of at least 9.5 per cent by volume (7.6w). The malts are Pale Ale (Maris Otter) and an unusual blend of older, darker styles: amber, brown and black. The hops are Sussex Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. The beer is conditioned for at least 12 months, in closed stainless-steel vessels. During this period, a wild yeast fermentation develops. The yeast is of a strain called Debaromyces hansenii, catalogued in 1924. It is similar to Brettanomyces. Brewer Miles Jenner believes the strain is airborne. The other possibility is that it is an element of the house yeast but, in the manner of Brettanomyces, emerges only in the course of a long maturation.
Greene King 5x (Cask)
"Never before tasted in America. Never sold in its native Britain. Never before offered outside the brewery..." Three rhetorical strikes from me and the beer was out of the cask and into the tasting, to a round of applause. People loved its complexity: winey, sherryish, fruitcake flavors, with suggestions of straw and iron. The 5x has a gravity of 1110, finishing at 1012, producing an alcohol content of around 9.6 by weight; 12.0 by volume. The grist is primarily Pale Ale (Halcyon), with a little crystal malt and some invert sugar. The brew is aged in ceiling-high tuns, typically for between one and three years (see "Having a smashing time"). It is then blended with another beer, called BPA ("Best Pale Ale" or possibly "Brewer's Pale Ale"), at 1052 and 5.0v (4.0w). The blend emerges at 4.5w; 6.0v. The modest strengths of everyday British beers permits this to be called Strong Suffolk. On its first appearance in the U.S. (for the Real Beer Tour), it was labelled Olde Suffolk.
Bass No 1 Barley Wine
This may have been the first Barley Wine to have been widely marketed, around the turn of the century, though that is not the reason for the name. In the heyday of Bass, the company's several brewhouses in Burton, England, each had their own products. The Number One brewhouse originally produced This Barley Wine. It has a gravity of 1103, producing an alcohol content of 10.5v (8.4w). The grist is 96 per cent Pale Ale and four per cent crystal malt. The hops are 40 per cent Fuggles and 60 per cent Goldings, at 5 lbs per barrel. The boil lasts for no fewer than 12 hours, during which caramelisation begins to develop the brew's unusually tawny color. The rate of evaporation is an astonishing 40 per cent. This reduction further concentrates the color as well as the flavors. The beer develops a smooth oiliness; and a powerfully oaky-tasting bitterness. It is produced by Steve Wellington, who was as a "pupil" at Bass in the 1960s. He made beer there for 25 years before being side-tracked into management and consultancy. He was then invited back to set up a working brewery in the company's award-winning museum. The kettle, once used as a pilot plant at one of the Bass breweries, is now been fired daily, often twice. Despite its location in the museum, it is in full production, making a range of classic styles, including Worthington White Shield.
Guests also received a take-home sampler. This featured the above-mentioned Worthington White Shield and Greene King Olde Suffolk. There was also a third beer: Harvey's Thomas Paine Ale, named for the writer whose philosophies helped inspire the American Revolution. Between 1768 and 1774, Paine lived in Lewes, now the home of the Harvey's brewery. It was from Lewes that he left for America. In the 1790s, Harvey's was established, initially as a wine-and-spirit merchant. It started to brew in the early 1800s. The ale named for Paine has a malty start, plenty of hop flavor, and a soft bitterness in the finish. It has a gravity of 1055 and alcohol content of 5.5v (4.4w). The malts are Pale Ale (Maris Otter) and crystal, with some flaked maize and sugar. The hops are Bramling Cross, Fuggles, Goldings and Progress.
The last would seem to suit the philosophies of Paine, whose often-quoted aphorisms included: "We have it in our power to build the world anew."
Beer Event Reviews - - Beer Review
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(Text, Manuscript)
Philadelphia, United States, 15 October 1773
John Bartram writes to Linnaeus and expresses his gratitude at having been nominated a member of the the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences [Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademien] in Stockholm. He adds a number of private conjectures (!) on phenomena that he has discussed with other scholars, and some observations in botany and mineralogy. He does not pretend to have the final solutions, but he is eager to describe them as queries to the Academy.
The first issue concerns Edmund Halley’s calculations of the evaporation from the oceans into the atmosphere, especially in comparison to the amount of water brought into the oceans by the rivers. In particular, the Red Sea must receive a considerable influx from the south, since the river ending in it brings very little. No overall conclusion is given, though.
The second issue concerns the role of the moon in causing the tidal variations of the level of the sea. He believes that the moon can not be the only or the main cause, and that the effect of Earth on the moon must be greater than the other way round.
The second half of the letter starts with a very long list of trees and shrubs, which Bartram had seen when travelling in the eastern parts of North America from Lake Ontario down to Florida. Observations of climate and its influence on the flora lead Bartram to a discussion on the role of ridges of mountains as moderators of climate, namely that they may prevent cold winds, snow etc. from spreading too far. That leads to the usefulness of mountains in general and as sources of mineral, mainly limestone and similar, in particular. The differences between kinds of limestone found at different places are noted, as the use made of it by the inhabitants.
[The letter was delivered to Linnaeus by the Swedish clergyman John Wicksell who left North America on 30 October 1773].
Letter from or to Linnaeus
Additional physical form : Bartram, John ; Berkeley, Edmund ; Berkeley, Dorothy Smith: The Correspondence of John Bartram 1734-1777, eds. Edmund Berkeley & Dorothy Smith Berkeley (Gainesville, 1992). P. 719-723
Venue: Undated, but presumably written in 1773, although time of the year is uncertain.
Original location: a. original holograph (Linnean Society, London, I, 360-361).
Subject, persons
Bartram, John, 1701-1777
Halley, Edmund
Subject, organisations
Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien
L5278 (Linnébrev)
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9 Famous Foodies Reveal Their Go-To Recipes—and the Stories Behind Them
Isabella Rossellini, Alain Ducasse, Nancy Silverton, Wylie Dufresne, Lidia Bastianich, Marcus Samuelsson and more share the secret ingredients to the meals that matter most—those deeply personal dishes that nourish the soul and taste like home
One of only two chefs in the world with 21 Michelin stars, the French master pays tribute to his grandmother’s farm-raised chicken
I grew up on a farm in the Southwest of France where my grandmother cooked for the whole family, and we invariably had roast chicken for lunch every Sunday. She prepared it with parsley, chervil, tarragon, garlic, black pepper, thyme, rosemary and four ounces of strained fromage blanc. My bedroom was just above the kitchen, and I can still remember the rich smell of the chicken being roasted coming through the oak floorboards. We were poultry farmers, my family, and now that I’ve incorporated this dish on my menus—at Ducasse in Paris and Benoit in New York—it’s important to me to choose a good-quality free-range chicken, so you can be sure it has seen the sun and ended its life in semi-freedom. This meal is also a reminder for me that cooking is all about loving and sharing. When I think back to those Sunday lunches, I remember that eating chicken was always a feast.
Alain Ducasse is the chef and owner of 26 restaurants worldwide,
including Benoit, a Parisian-style bistro in New York, and Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester in London. He is the only chef with restaurants in three different cities with three Michelin stars, the guide’s highest rating.
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
The beloved chef and PBS cooking show host forages for wild asparagus in the old country to make her grandmother's frittata
After World War II, Pula, where my family lived in Italy, became a part of Yugoslavia, and we lived under communism for a few years before my parents decided they had to move to America. We moved quickly, and it was startling: Suddenly, I couldn’t see my grandparents anymore. As a child, I loved being my grandmother’s helper. She lived down a little street with a garden in her backyard, and almost everything we ate came from there. During the olive harvest, I would go collect olives with my grandmother, sometimes climbing the trees to shake them into a blanket she held to catch them below. We collected eggs from the chickens. We kids were runners for her.
We foraged, too, which was satisfying, because so much of the food required a lot of hard work, and this was food you just found on your land. We looked for mushrooms and dandelion leaves, but my favorite was wild asparagus. It’s very thin and flavorful: I’ve never found asparagus in the United States that tastes anything like it. So I go back every year in the early spring to what’s now Croatia and forage for wild asparagus.
We own my grandmother’s old house still, and the memories when I’m there, eating like I did so many years ago, are overwhelming. As a girl, I remember listening to an owl hoot outside the house, and being scared; today, I still hear an owl there—I like to imagine that he is the grandson of my childhood owl. Not much has changed in her town. For me, food is so important, a way to feel connected to my grandmother, especially after I suddenly didn’t get to see her when we moved. It feels like destiny that I became a chef. I taste this simple frittata with asparagus, and instantly I feel a connection to her. —As told to Mary Jane Weedman
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is the Emmy-winning host of Lidia’s Italy on PBS, and a New York Times best-selling cookbook author and James Beard Award-winning chef. Her memoir, My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food, is out in April from Knopf.
The James Beard Award–winning chef behind La Brea Bakery shares the secret to unwinding after a late shift: Italian red wine and Turkish pistachios
I’m 63, and I still put in a lot of hours at my restaurants in Los Angeles: Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza and Chi Spacca. Most nights, an hour or so before service ends, I have what the bartenders and somms know as a “10 o’clock Nancy,” a glass of Italian red. Might be a Barbaresco, or a Barolo, or a Sagrantino di Montefalco. Some of us gather around our high-top enoteca tables, have our shift drink and discuss the evening’s service. There are usually still customers nearby, and they often come over to chat and take selfies with us. I don’t have a plate of food then, though I often taste something new one of our cooks is working on.
But when I get home, usually around midnight, I’m famished. Lately, I’ve been smitten by a favorite treat my boyfriend picks up at a tiny market in Little Armenia: pistachios from Antep, Turkey. I grab only about five or six of these delectable nuts from a foot-tall glass jar on the kitchen counter. Then, almost in a trance, I start cracking—or, I guess, prying—them open, savoring each one as I drop the shells into the trash can. I get a little sad when I come across one my fingers are unable to pry open. In the world of food, an unpryable Antep pistachio is almost as sad as a well-done bistecca alla Fiorentina. Like I said, I only take about five or six from the jar. Then I’ll take another five or six. Then another. You get the idea. After a big night, these little nuts keep me sane.
Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza and Chi Spacca and the founder of the renowned La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles. In 2014 she was named the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef.
The co-founder of NPR’s Dinner Party Download explains the unexpectedly crucial role of a Croatian stuffed artichoke to his very existence
When my mother first took my father to meet her family, my grandmother ushered them to the kitchen table and presented them with one empty plate and a pot containing two steaming artichokes. My father, a poor Irish Catholic kid, looked upon the prehistoric orbs in horror. When he was growing up in Northeast Philadelphia, the most exotic thing he’d eaten was mustard on a soft pretzel. For my mother’s family, immigrants from Coastal Croatia who had settled in Trenton, New Jersey, artichokes were a tasty reminder of their Mediterranean roots.
My father was steeling himself, waiting for the silverware to arrive, when my mother’s brother’s hand shot out, plucked a leaf from the artichoke’s interior and placed it in his mouth. His hand was followed by my mother’s and then her parents’. One after another they pulled away spoon-heads of leaf, slipped them in their mouths and dragged them through closed teeth. Just as the empty plate was about to disappear under a pile of discarded green husks, my father reached out his hand and removed a leaf. He saw it was laden with a stuffing: breadcrumbs, herbs and Parmesan. He brought the artichoke piece to his mouth, raked it with his teeth, swallowed and, much to his surprise, his timid Gaelic stomach rejoiced. When the leaves were gone my grandfather carefully removed the artichoke hearts and divided them between the four of them. A year later my parents were married.
Throughout my childhood, when artichokes were in season, my father would bring them home from the farmstand on his way home from work. My mother would stuff them, place them in a cast iron pot with an inch of water and steam them. They arrived at the table still in the cooking pot, and my sister and I would dive in, eating with our hands. As we savored the rich flavor, my mother would inevitably tell the story: how my father once encountered something foreign and strange that he tried, out of love for her, and discovered it had a delicious heart.
Brendan Francis Newnam is the co-founder of the NPR-syndicated podcast The Dinner Party Download, the executive producer of The Paris Review Podcast, and the author of Brunch Is Hell: How to Save the World by Throwing a Dinner Party, out now from Little, Brown.
James Syhabout
The chef behind Oakland’s only Michelin-starred restaurant preserves his Laotian heritage with a simple rice porridge
My father is from Laos, and my mother is from the northeastern part of Thailand that is culturally Laotian. They migrated to Oakland when I was 2, but my mother still always made congee—a kind of rice porridge. When I was young and guests came over, the first thing my parents would ask is “Have you eaten yet?” And sure enough, my mother would have a bowl of congee ready in case they were hungry.
It’s simple and delicious, and it was one of the very first things I learned to cook. You don’t need fancy ingredients or to put in a lot of work to make something great. All you need is stock or water and rice, and maybe throw in some meat. My favorite things to add are ground pork or sausage, soy sauce and scallions, but you can make it with whatever you like.
It’s a good way to use leftovers, so the day after Thanksgiving was always the best day for congee. Now I’m passing the tradition on to my kids, who are 4 and 6. Congee is the one food they won’t reject. They haven’t started making it on their own yet—my wife’s a doctor, so she worries about them getting close to the fire—but my daughter, she wants to help with tasks like pouring the rice in the pot.
These days, I find myself eating it all the time: When I’m sick and lose my appetite, I make a bowl of rice congee and it cures all. There’s an innocence to it that grounds me. You don’t overthink it, nothing’s measured; you just throw it in the pot and cook. I’ve never made a single bad batch. No one ever judges congee, anyway. It really gets to the core of comfort. —As told to MJW
The owner and chef of two Laotian-inspired restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area, Hawker Fair and Commis, James Syhabout is the author of Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes from a Refugee Chef’s Isan Thai & Lao Roots, out from Ecco in January.
Inspired by Einstein and her Italian roots, the actor starts her day with fried eggs and honey fresh from her organic farm
I have about 100 chickens on my Long Island farm, and their eggs are delicious, with a different flavor and color than those from industrial chickens. The yolk is very orange. Once, in the winter, I bought some from a store and I was surprised—I’d forgotten how pale they are in comparison to fresh farm eggs.
In America it’s normal to eat eggs in the morning, but I’m still Italian: I like to start the day with something sweet. Someone sent me a story about how Albert Einstein’s breakfast had been fried eggs in butter with honey. I’m a beekeeper, too—I have eight hives. In any given year, we probably produce about 300 pounds of honey.
So now I have eggs and honey all the time, and it’s all made right here. I fry the eggs, and at the end I put a little bit of honey on top instead of salt and let it sizzle. It’s very simple: I’m not a chef, and I live alone. When I had my family and my children, I cooked more, but when you live alone, quantities are so little. If I’m staying in a hotel because I’m filming, I’ll ask for it, too. Sometimes they’ll say, “What? You want honey in your eggs?” But I love it. It makes me think of my farm, and it comforts me. —As told to MJW
Isabella Rossellini is an acclaimed actor, filmmaker and former Lancôme model. My Chickens and I—an illustrated book about the 10 breeds of chickens that live on her farm—is out in March from Abrams Image.
With doro wat, the festive Ethiopian chicken stew, Harlem’s foremost culinary impresario pays homage to his roots
The diversity of food in Harlem is so vast, and it always makes me think about the cuisine of immigrants like myself. I grew up in Sweden, but I’m originally from Ethiopia. And when I think about Ethiopian, I think about tribal food, like doro wat, from the Amhara tribe. It’s a traditional chicken stew. You start with berbere, a spice blend, and onions, and you simmer it with tomatoes and chicken, and then it’s eaten with injera bread. Most of the cuisine in Ethiopia is vegetarian-based, so serving doro wat is something special—eating meat is for weddings, funerals and big celebrations. We had it at my own wedding in Ethiopia, and we have it when friends come over. When you eat what your family ate, you think about them, and you think about the time when you were growing up. To be able to serve these dishes and have other families enjoy them brings me a lot of joy. —As told to MJW
Marcus Samuelsson is the head chef of Red Rooster, the founder
of the Harlem EatUp! Festival and the author of the memoir Yes, Chef. Named Best Chef: New York City by the James Beard Foundation, he was the youngest chef to ever receive a three-star restaurant review from the New York Times.
The pioneering molecular gastronomist doesn’t trust anyone who doesn’t like doughnuts. They’ve obviously never tried his great-grandfather’s apple cinnamon recipe
There are certain foods that make me feel warm and fuzzy. I’m not a shrink, so I can’t say for sure, but they’re dishes that feel linked to early positive memories. One of the reasons we make doughnuts is they fall into that comfort category. I find you suspect if you don’t like doughnuts. You could say “I don’t want to eat them because they don’t work in my diet this week,” but to say “Doughnuts are disgusting”? You seem untrustworthy. People are constantly pressing their nose up against the windows of the kitchen, ogling them.
My great-grandfather was a doughnut maker, and I have fond memories of being at his diner, watching him and his wife work. At Du’s, we make cake doughnuts based on his recipes, including his famous apple cinnamon. They have that friendly, give-you-a-hug feeling. Maybe sometimes we’re trying to ramp it up a little bit: We sell a simple sugared apple donut, but we also have a poppy-cranberry-seed one, which wouldn’t land in the middle on the comfort-food meter, but that’s how I’ve always operated. I try to take the unfamiliar and serve it in a familiar way, to get people to walk with us down our path. —As told to MJW
Named one of America’s Ten Best Chefs by Food & Wine, Wylie Dufresne is the chef and owner of Du’s Donuts & Coffee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the author of Wd~50: The Cookbook, out from Ecco. In 2013, after being nominated 10 times, he won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: New York City.
The Pulitzer Prize–winning memoirist remembers the real American cheese— distributed by the government and, to his working-class Alabama family, as precious as gold
I came into the world as a five-pound block of government cheese. Well, the whole truth is that a block of cheese was mistaken for me, across a busy town square. My mother was, it should be said, making a run for it at the time.
“Don’t matter the circumstance,” I told her. “It ain’t nothin’ to be proud of, to be mistaken for cheese.”
“But it was real good cheese,” she said.
My mother was involved in theft only twice in her long life, though it is doubtful you will see her name on the post office wall. She stole only one thing on purpose, which is not a bad record for 80 years; in the other robbery, the thievery was foisted upon her by fate.
“I did steal an onion,” she said, coming clean. “I did it. I did. But you be sure,” she warned me, “not to make it seem worse than it was.” (She was only a child.)
The second time, the one involving cheese, was mostly beyond her control. I was there when it was perpetrated—well, kind of. It was not my fault, either, but I suppose you could argue I was complicit, in accordance with the laws of the state of Alabama. If a bank is robbed, for instance, everyone inside the getaway vehicle is guilty. And since she was the getaway vehicle, since I had not yet actually been born into this world, I was still in on it, and essential to the caper.
It was one of the times when my daddy had gone on the lam—this time it would turn out to be for two whole years—and my pregnant mother and big brother had gone to live with my grandmother again. She took in laundry, and worked as a cook and a maid in other people’s houses, but still qualified for a smidgen of government assistance. She got a little card in the mail, testifying that we were indeed poor by a reasonable standard, and once a month she and my big brother, Sam, traveled to town, to the recreation center in Jacksonville, to pick up our dole of government food.
My people called it “our commodities,” from the wording on the little yellow card. It was always a grim day when she and my daddy reconciled, because she had to give up the commodities if she took him back. It was not, my kinfolks believed, a fair swap. All in all, they’d rather have the cheese.
For my people, commodity day was the single most satisfying aspect of being poor. It was not a check, or food stamps, but the actual bounty of the republic. The foods and the portions would shift over time, but in those days you got five pounds of yellow cornmeal, five pounds of plain flour, a two-pound can of good peanut butter, five pounds of rice, two two-pound cans of a processed mystery meat that tasted suspiciously like Spam, powdered eggs, powdered milk, a whole cooked chicken in a can (still one of the most amazing things my big brother says he has ever witnessed), a big can labeled “cooked pork chunks” and, per household, one five-pound block of blessed pale-yellow cheese.
It was not like that stuff you buy in grocery stores, that fluorescent-orange, gummy, petroleum-based cheeselike film wrapped in its individual plastic envelopes, which always remind me of the cellophane on cigarette packs. The government cheese was firm and dense and had taste, a mild, clean, but still, well…cheesy taste. It was so good that the old people still recall its flavor to this day; when they take a bite of the store-bought stuff, they make a face like a bug flew in their mouth.
It was not rich folks’ cheese, not an earthy goat cheese or a pungent Stilton or a rich Parmesan or such, not even the sharp, hard cheddar that my grandfather loved to eat on the riverbank with his saltines. But then, the government cheese wasn’t supposed to be exotic. It was, as purveyed by the government, an excellent source of protein and calories and vitamin D for the great unwashed; the fact that it tasted good, that it made other things taste good, was unintended: a happy mistake.
Other people, people who had the misfortune not to be poor, coveted our cheese. My brother’s friends always asked my mother for a toasted cheese sandwich, which was three times as thick, buttery and cheesy as a pedestrian grilled cheese. Sometimes, getting fancy, she spread on some fig preserves, or a little grape jelly. She doctored hot biscuits with a triangle of the cheese. It melted beautifully, creamily. She used it to make the best macaroni and cheese, which we consider a vegetable here. She mixed the cheese into creamy grits, and delicious scrambled eggs, and excellent molten, bubbling scalloped potatoes, which might be one of the most decadent dishes I have ever tasted. She laid it on hamburgers, a quarter-inch thick, and cut it into cubes to mix into the batter for Mexican cornbread and hush puppies.
She loved good black- and red-rind cheddar, which we called “hoop cheese,” loved its sharp taste, “but cheddar don’t melt good, and ever’body knows it.” In some dishes, she added a little sharp cheddar to the mild American cheese for contrast.
But the best thing she made, my big brother believes, was a kind of cheese-and-sausage pie, a simple and admittedly greasy thing she made for her children every time she picked up the commodities, to celebrate their largesse. Sometimes our other, close-in kinfolks gathered on the days the commodities were distributed like it was Labor Day or Independence Day, and my mother and aunts made a half-dozen pies, sometimes more. There are worse things to rally around, I guess, than a loaf of good mild cheese.
It may seem an odd thing, but word would spread, and people would even bring their own pie shells and pork sausage; my mother was the arbiter of the cheese, and so a very valuable member of the clan. They would bring a hand-cranked ice-cream maker, and would flavor the ice cream, sometimes with a can of peaches in heavy syrup, or fruit cocktail. They brought guitars, and played the music they had grown up on—gospel, mostly, like Hank Williams’s “I Saw the Light.”
The pies came out of the oven four at a time.
I suppose, strictly speaking, we broke the law just by spreading the bounty of that cheese to our kin, which the government guidelines specifically forbade, as if that block of cheese were a piece of road equipment. She never sold an ounce of it, but she cut off one-pound blocks and gave it to her sisters, closest friends, or anyone unlucky enough not to be poor, so often and so regular that they, too, began to count down the days of the month to cheese day. In time, she spread our allotment so thin that the cheese ran out long before the month did, and a great sadness descended on our little corner of the earth.
It never occurred to her, she told me, to ask for more. For a people who made illegal whiskey in the pines, and sometimes went a whole lifetime without paying any federal taxes on anything, we were oddly honest about dealing with the government as to cheese. We waited patiently in line, took our allotment—no more, no less—and moved on, being sure to say “thank you.”
Besides, the holders of the cheese kept close, close track of it: one box per household.
When the lawbreaking happened, it happened, if not by accident, at least under extenuating circumstances. It was July 1959, just a few days before I was born. My mother was taking in ironing then, to pay the light bill and buy groceries, and the little frame house held in the heat like a chicken house. I’ve asked her if, considering I was about to come into the world, she might have tried to get some rest, maybe even gone to sit in the shade sometimes, for her sake and mine. She only shrugged; everyone worked then, till their time. I guess I should just be proud that she was not sipping on a Budweiser and smoking a Marlboro; I have friends whose mommas did, and, come to think of it, none of them became astronauts.
The trip to town was always a respite, I am told—the cool air rushing through the car window heaven-sent. The city of Jacksonville administered the distribution of the commodities then in the red-brick city recreation center across from the police station and jail; some days, we could get commodities and go see my daddy or one of my uncles or any one of several kin, all at the same time.
That day, the man in charge was Ernest Jones, who had given up farmwork and gone to work for the city. Ernest knew my people, knew my brother, Sam, the fat-legged little boy with the six-guns and the cowboy hat dressed like Billy the Kid, and knew their situation. It was clear, too, that the young woman was expecting.
Every recipient got an empty box at the start of the line—or brought a box from home—and it was filled at the table as the person slid it along. Ernest and my mother chatted for a minute, and as she moved on down the table he eased a second loaf of cheese into the cardboard box.
“I can’t…” my mother said.
“Sssssshhhhhhh,” Ernest said. “We had some extry.”
She still protested, afraid of what people might say, so he tried, halfheartedly, to hide it under the sacks of rice and meal. He did a poor job of it, though, and she just stood, horrified.
“You’ll get me in trouble, you don’t go on now,” he said kindly, and, feeling like everyone was staring at her, she finally moved on.
“Momma always said if she was ever gonna steal anything she would steal a hoop of good cheese,” my mother said, thinking back to that day. “She said that to ever’body.” So no one would believe this was not premeditated, since the whole world knew our family was a cheese robbery waiting to happen.
To make things worse, three-year-old Sam insisted on dragging the commodities in his wagon. It was too heavy for him to pull, what with a ten-pound allotment of cheese in it, so she took out the illegal, second block of cheese, cradled it in her arms like the precious bundle it was, and hurried to the car. With her free hand, she helped Sam pull the wagon, hoping the cheese wardens would not inspect it. It may seem silly now, but it was not silly then.
As they lurched away, she heard an ancient, quavering voice call her name. It was one of the old women who frequented the recreation center, which had a piano for psalm singing, a few card tables for Rook and bridge, and good chairs in which to visit and gossip about the heathen, the inebriate, and the unfortunate. My mother just kept moving, cradling her illicit cheese like a newborn, and tried to keep her back to the old woman. The old woman called for her to stop. “I want to see the baby,” she said.
Apparently, her vision was not superb. My mother just walked on, faster. We jumped into the car and fled, all of us—my mother, my brother and I. I already had a criminal record, and I do not believe my skull was yet fully formed. I think that might be some kind of gold standard, even for us.
I finally came into the world on the 26th of July. I weighed, oddly enough, just slightly more than a block of cheese.
There was no celebration, no gathering of the clan, when I came home from the hospital. There was not one damn pie to mark my arrival. Not only had I been confused with cheese, I was regarded, universally, as being of lesser value. I guess I should be grateful I had yet to be born the day of the cheese larceny. If my mother had been forced to choose which one of us to leave behind, I am not confident it would have been the second block of cheese.
“It was real good cheese,” she said.
Rick Bragg is the author of 10 books, including The Best Cook in
the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table, out from Knopf in April.
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David Samuel Henry
David Samuel Henry, the son of RW and Kattie Eastwood Henry, went to be with his Heavenly family on Jan. 6, 2021, of natural causes. He was born on April 26, 1933, on the family farm in White Hill. He married the love of his life, Dorothy Ann Dunkin on June 26, 1970. He was the 10th of 14 children...
Charles E. Houston
Charles E. Houston, 82, of Jonesboro, died at 3:10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, at his home. He was born on Jan. 10, 1938, in Anna, the son of Claude and Alma Casper Houston. He married Linda Odum on Aug. 24, 1983. She preceded him in death on Oct. 1, 2016. Mr. Houston retired from Bunny Bread...
Mary Lucille Tucker
Mary Lucille Tucker, 90, of Wolf Lake, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born on July 25, 1930, in Anna, the daughter of Francis Lester and Clydie Lingle Kelley. She married Billy W. Tucker on April 2, 1960. She is survived by her husband, Billy W. Tucker...
Naomi Davis, 99, of Anna, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at Wabash Christian Village in Carmi. She was born on Dec. 9, 1921, in Buncombe, the daughter of Tull E. and Dovie Thomas Perry. She married Homer Mangrum. He preceded her in death in 1975. She later married Lester Davis. He preceded her in...
Rodney Patrick Pearman
Rodney Patrick Pearman, 37, of Jonesboro, and formerly of Cairo, died at 2:19 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at his home. He was born on Aug. 19, 1983, in Cairo, the son of Rodney Gene and Donna Farris Pearman. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He worked as a landscaper and...
William W. Riston Jr.
William W. Riston, Jr., 65, of Tamms, formerly of Cairo, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at 5:06 a.m. Bill was born on Feb. 16, 1955, in Cape Girardeau, a son of William Warren and Lodean (Vines) Riston, Sr. He married Susan Flanary of Tamms on Dec. 2, 1978, and she survives. Bill worked as...
Bill Newton, 70, of Goreville, and formerly of Cobden, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Mr. Newton was born on Feb. 24, 1950, in Anna, the son of Byford and Verla Billingsley Newton. He graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1968. He...
Kay McRaven
Kay McRaven, 76, of Anna, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, at her home. She was born on Feb. 4, 1944, in Anna, the daughter of George Franklin and Magdalene Elizabeth Holshouser Whiteside. She married Allen McRaven on March 9, 1973, in Johnson County. She is survived by her husband, Allen McRaven;...
Edgar ‘Ed’ R. Johnson
Edgar “Ed” R. Johnson, 85, of Wickliffe, Ky., and formerly of Anna, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at the Lifecare Center of La Center, Ky. He was born on Oct. 28, 1935, in Miller City, the son of Marshall and Mabel Dover Johnson. He married June Brown on April 28, 1956, in Apopka, Fla. She preceded...
Wanda Marie Hase
Wanda Marie Hase, 89, of Anna, went to her eternal home on Dec. 29, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born on Feb. 17, 1931, in Crainville, the daughter of Herman and Effie Greenrod Dunaway. She married Harold “Junior” Hase on June 5, 1949, in Ullin. He preceded her in death on...
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The Legend of Jim Brown
The legend of Jim Brown is one that cannot ever be forgotten. He played just 9 seasons in the NFL. He retired at just 29 years old. Yet his accomplishments are remarkable. He went to the Pro Bowl every year that he played. He was voted the Pro Bowl MVP 3 times. He scored 3 touchdowns in his last Pro Bowl - talk about retiring in style. He was voted the league MVP 3 times. He averaged more than 5 yards per carry - nowadays any running back who averages 3 yards per carry is a star. He rushed for almost 2000 yards in 1963 - a record. Nowadays rushing for 1000 yards in a season is considered noteworthy. He rushed for more than 12 thousand yards in his career - a record. He scored 126 touchdowns - a record. In fact Brown is the record holder for all purpose yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. No wonder in 2002 the Sporting News named Jim Brown as the greatest professional football player ever to play the game - it's not even close.
Brown's father was a pro boxer which impacted the way that Brown played football. He was tough and almost impossible to tackle. He rarely ran out of bounds to save his own skin. Brown has been critical of that style of play. Franco Harris of the Steelers played that way while Bettis played more like Brown.
But perhaps more important than all the stats and records are the intangibles. Brown was to football what Jackie Robinson was to baseball. Brown paved the way for Ernie Davis. Brown was instrumental in the decision to retire Davis' jersey even though Davis never played a single game for the Browns before his untimely death. Brown was the star of every game. He controlled the game. He dominated the opposition. And Brown did things his way. In fact he retired in part because he was upset with owner Art Modell for demanding that he report to camp and cut his work on The Dirty Dozen movie with Lee Marvin early. Lee Marvin was just one hollywood legend that was awestruck with Brown. Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday felt the same way.
Brown remains a pivotal part of the team. He is a close confidant and advisor to owner Randy Lerner. He attends almost every game, home and away. He is an ambassador of the game.
And remember that Brown never played more than 14 games in a season. In fact half of his career was played when the season was just 12 games. That makes his records even more impressive. He is the only pro football player ever to rush for over 100 yards per game.
Jim is also a man of charity and community involvement. He is generous to the Cleveland youth and the disadvantaged.
I'm proud to be a Browns fan because of people like Jim Brown. A true legend.
Labels: brown, browns, cleveland, jim
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A drawing of the Pylos Combat Agate. Courtesy of Ben Gardner/the University of Cincinnati.
The tiny carving has been dubbed the Pylos Combat Agate.
By Sarah Cascone, November 8, 2017
It’s the tomb that keeps on giving. More than two years since its discovery, a treasure-filled Greek tomb has offered up perhaps its most significant find to date: a Minoan stone carving so sophisticated and detailed that it has forced art historians to reaccess their understanding of ancient artwork.
Dubbed the Pylos Combat Agate, the sealstone carving is just an inch and a half wide, but its impact on the study of prehistoric art may well be enormous.
“This seal should be included in all forthcoming art history texts, and will change the way that prehistoric art is viewed,” said Sharon Stocker, a senior research associate in the University of Cincinnati classics department, in a statement. She believes the stone, made by the ancient Minoans, is the finest-known example of prehistoric glyptic art produced in the Aegean Bronze Age.
The intricately carved gemstone “shows that the [Minoan’s] ability and interest in representational art, particularly movement and human anatomy, is beyond what it was imagined to be,” added her husband, department head Jack Davis, a professor of Greek archaeology. “The representation of the human body is at a level of detail and musculature that one doesn’t find again until the Classical period of Greek art 1,000 years later.”
“Looking at the image for the first time was a very moving experience, and it still is,” Stocker noted. “It’s brought some people to tears.”
The Pylos Combat Agate. Photo courtesy of Jeff Vanderpool/the University of Cincinnati.
The landmark find shows a warrior battling against two adversaries, killing one enemy, the other already dead at his feet.
It’s the latest archaeological treasure to come out of the Griffin Warrior Tomb, discovered by the Davis- and Stocker-led team from the University of Cincinnati at Pylos in 2015, which was touted as the most significant Greek archaeological discovery in half a century.
The tomb is believed to have been the final resting place of a remarkably wealthy Mycenaean warrior or priest. (A team of specialists has since recreated his probable appearance based on the dead man’s skull.)
The Griffin warrior was buried around 1500 BC, about the time that the Mycenaeans, from mainland Greece, defeated the Minoans, a more advanced civilization from the island of Crete that had a massive influence on the Greek world. The presence of many Minoan artifacts in the tomb suggests a previously unknown degree of exchange between the two cultures.
To date, archaeologists have catalogued some 3,000 burial objects from the Griffin Warrior Tomb, including a bronze sword with a gold-embellished ivory hilt; four solid gold rings; silver cups; over 1,000 carnelian, amethyst, jasper, and agate beads; fine-toothed ivory combs; and a golden dagger.
“The whole tomb contains such a wealth of riches that it’s really very stunning,” Stocker told artnet News. “It’s extremely rare to find a tomb that wasn’t looted during antiquity or in modern times.” Amid the treasures, the seal, heavily encrusted with limestone that took over a year to clean, was almost overlooked, a tiny, apparently insignificant object.
The Pylos Combat Agate before it was cleaned. Photo courtesy of Alexandros Zokos/the University of Cincinnati.
“It was after cleaning, during the process of drawing and photography, that our excitement slowly rose as we gradually came to realize that we had unearthed a masterpiece,” wrote Stocker and Davis in the journal Hesperia, according to the New York Times.
“The Pylos Combat Agate is one of the finest objects that we have found in the Griffin Warrior tomb,” Stocker added. “The craftsmanship is something that you rarely see in the Minoan and Mycenean world. It’s virtually unparalleled.”
The fine details on the stone carving, made all the more difficult to decipher by banding in the agate stone, are so minute that some of them, as small as a half a millimeter in length, can only be seen with the assistance of magnification. Davis described the artwork as “incomprehensibly small.”
In Crete, such sealstones would be used to make impressions that would mark ownership. Placed on a bottle of wine, for instance, it would indicate that the seal was unbroken. In contrast, the Myceneans treated such sealstones as decorative objects, wearing them as jewelry. The Griffin Warrior was found sporting another sealstone pendant as a bracelet.
Less is known about how such an object might have been made, as there is no evidence of magnification at existing archaeological sites for sealstone workshops in Crete. Theories include the use of rock crystal, or artisans with exceptional close-up vision, perhaps due to nearsightedness. Agate is also quite hard, making it difficult to carve.
“It is indeed a mystery how they did it,” said Stocker. “It’s amazing to hold and look at it.”
Source : Researchers Discover an Ancient Stone Carving So Detailed It Could Alter the Course of Art History | artnet News
Auteur Caroline B.-LaurensPublié le 9 novembre 2017 9 novembre 2017 Catégories 100- Préhistoire / Prehistory, 1000- Europe
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Virginia Gambling
$239 Mega Millions Jackpot Still Unclaimed
VIRGINIA – (Press Release) -- The identity of the person or persons who have the most talked-about slip of paper in America is still unknown. As of the close of business on Tuesday, February 24, 2004, the Virginia Lottery was still waiting to hear from the winner of the largest jackpot ever in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the second largest jackpot ever won in America by a single ticket.
"The suspense is definitely building," said Virginia Lottery Executive Director Penelope W. Kyle. "We have no way of knowing who has that ticket until he or she hands it to us for validation."
That ticket, wherever it is, was the only one to match all six numbers in the Friday, February 20, 2004 drawing to win the $239 million jackpot. It was purchased at Red Apple in Stephens City, Virginia. Those winning numbers were: 01-13-20-21-30 and the Mega Ball number was 24.
"Since that drawing, there has been a great deal of speculation about who bought the ticket," said Kyle. "When that person comes forward, he or she will have an important decision to make: whether to accept the $239 million in 26 annual payments of $9.19 million per year before taxes -- or the one-time cash option of approximately $141.5 million before taxes."
Mega Millions is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
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Everything We Know About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Battle With the Tabloids
Just as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were wrapping up their very successful royal tour in southern Africa—which featured speeches about women’s empowerment, conservation, and baby Archie’s first official royal engagement—it was announced that Markle was suing the British tabloid Mail on Sunday for publishing a private letter she sent to her father, Thomas Markle, after the royal wedding in 2018.
“We have initiated legal proceedings against the Mail on Sunday, and its parent company Associated Newspapers, over the intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex, which is part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband,” a legal spokesperson for the couple said in a statement. “Given the refusal of Associated Newspapers to resolve this issue satisfactorily, we have issued proceedings to redress this breach of privacy, infringement of copyright and the aforementioned media agenda.”
Later in the week, it was confirmed by Buckingham Palace that Harry filed a lawsuit of his own over an alleged phone and voicemail hacking in the early 2000s.
Let’s break down what’s going on here.
What exactly are these two lawsuits?
As you probably remember, there was a lot of drama surrounding Markle’s father in the weeks leading up to the wedding. It was revealed that he had staged photos to sell to the tabloids, reportedly suffered a heart attack, and eventually pulled out of attending the wedding and walking his daughter down the aisle. Since then, he has continued to give numerous interviews to tabloids and talk shows, including one about the letter Meghan wrote to him asking him to stop going to the press, per the Guardian.
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP/Getty Images
“The contents of a private letter were published unlawfully in an intentionally destructive manner to manipulate you, the reader, and further the divisive agenda of the media group in question,” Harry said in a statement. “In addition to their unlawful publication of this private document, they purposely misled you by strategically omitting select paragraphs, specific sentences, and even singular words to mask the lies they had perpetuated for over a year.”
We don’t know a lot of details about Harry’s case as of yet, but it dates back to a major phone-hacking scandal in Britain by the Sun and now-defunct News of the World that involved a number of members of the royal family, as well as other celebrities. “We confirm that a claim has been issued by the Duke of Sussex,” a spokesperson for News Group Newspapers told the BBC in a statement. “We have no further comment to make at the current time.”
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Report: N.J. Hospitals See Slight Decrease in Operational Performance Due to Declining Inpatient Volume
PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 18, 2013
PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Jersey hospitals saw a slight decrease in their statewide operating margins for year-end 2012, due to a declining trend of inpatient volumes, high-deductible health plans, the expectation of Medicare sequestration cuts and lower reimbursement rate increases from governmental and private insurers. All told, 14 of New Jersey's hospitals finished the year with a loss from operations.
The statewide average operating margin decreased to 2.9 percent in 2012, compared to 3.1 percent in year-end 2011. However, the statewide total margin – which includes non-operating activity such as investment income and contributions to employee pensions – increased from 0.3 percent in 2011 to 4.4 percent last year. The increase in total margin is related to non-operating gains such as improved investment income and smaller pension adjustments than in previous years.
The data is contained in the 2013 Financial Status of New Jersey Hospitals report, produced annually and released today by the New Jersey Hospital Association. The report is based on final audited financial data for 2012.
"New Jersey hospitals continue to do more with less by streamlining their operations and increasing efficiencies across the board," said NJHA President and CEO Betsy Ryan. "In this era of healthcare reform, their goal is to improve the value of healthcare services – delivering high-quality care while holding the line on healthcare costs. This latest financial data shows that New Jersey hospitals have had some success in that delicate balancing act, but their fiscal challenges remain."
Hospitals continue to face reduced payments for services, especially those from governmental payers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Hospitals have engaged in aggressive cost reduction programs and have also embraced opportunities to work more collaboratively with other providers such as physicians and post-acute providers. But even with the implementation of these cost-containment programs, New Jersey's average operating margin still lags behind the national average of 5.5 percent, as reported by the American Hospital Association.
Other financial indicators from this year's report include:
The average days cash on hand (the level of cash reserves available to meet the hospital's expenses) increased from 51.1 days in 2011 to 54.1 days in 2012.
The average payment period (the average length of time it takes the hospital to pay a creditor) dropped from 81.5 days to 77.5 days from 2011 to 2012.
This year's report offered a significant improvement by adding a new margin. Developed to be more inclusive than the traditional operating margin, yet not as inclusive as the total margin, the new "excess margin" is the operating margin plus the traditional components of non-operating income. The excess margin was designed to address the distortions in the total margin resulting from recent changes in accounting principles regarding "Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans."
"Our hospitals will have to remain focused and creative in their efforts to continue to deliver high-quality care in a cost-effective manner," said Sean Hopkins, senior vice president of health economics for NJHA. "With further cuts to come from sequestration, the use of hospital funds to pay for the one-year physician reimbursement increase and the uncertainty associated with more Medicare cuts on the horizon, 2014 could be another challenging year for hospitals financially."
SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA)
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Visual harmony by Iwo Zaniewski
Iwo Zaniewski
Visual harmony is a very real thing for Polish artist Iwo Zaniewski. It is not a hallucination, or a mystical concept. It is an assertive, experienced appreciation of beauty. It relates to the visual equilibrium reached by the juxtaposition of visual elements in relation to each other (ex: shapes and colors), that eventually make a beautiful painting. Per Iwo, "each change causes a deterioration of the visual assessment of the whole".
Mess in the studio, by Iwo Zaniewski
Architect's night, by Iwo Zaniewski
Iwo has a highly trained, brilliant and curious visual mind who has tried to figure out how to share his perceived notion of harmony, by reaching out to other disciplines. He came up with a mathematical formula, that intended to capture the complexity of harmony in one single expression.
He consulted the theoretical physicist Krzysztof Meissner (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics), specialized in elemental particules and gravity, to review the coherence of his theory on visual "equal dispersion" of elements.
He collaborated with Piotr Francuz, Head of the Department of Experimental Psychology and Director of the Institute of Psychology (Faculty of Social Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin). Using an eye-tracking technique, they compared how other like-minded brains recognized harmony in painting they picked in the world repertoire, versus the same paintings Iwo altered using photoshop.
Iwo was also asked by American computer scientists for help in creating a software that would capture his way of determining harmony in a painting- the task appeared too daunting in the end.
Recently, he reached out to Stepan Ivanyk, Polish philosopher specialized in esthetics (Warsaw University). They are now writing an article about harmony in the context of the history of esthetics.
Finally, Iwo tried to establish parallels between harmony as observed in paintings versus in real world. Last, he reached out to me, to determine how neuroesthetics overlaps with his theory of visual harmony.
What I find most interesting when talking with Iwo, is his conviction, based on personal experience, that harmony does exist as an entity bigger than himself, and his obsessive quest to figure out what it is. His question is based on his experience as an artist. But he expands his search beyond the world of art, to science and the humanities.
I am also fascinated by how hard he tries to figure out how to reach the state of visual harmony during the creative process. He explained to me how, when he starts a project, his creative brain comes up with visual ideas, as a succession of dazzling, flashing images that end up, with time, coming together and forming a cohesive and effective object of art. He is always puzzled by where these images come from and how the final project takes shape. This applies to his painting, but also to his work as writer and director of over 2000 commercials he has produced over the past 26 years.
To me, these questions are grounded in neuroesthetics, even though Iwo sees them as a personal quest. Creativity, as harmony, or beauty, indeed exists as an entity bigger than ourselves. But, as Agnes Martin said it, "the beauty is in the mind, not in the flower." Harmony must be engraved somewhere in our brain, as one of the ultimate results of complex visual brain processes. It must be stored in some flexible, both personal and universal manner. It must be linked to a subtle and hard to describe equilibrium in our brain, somewhere at the interface between perception, cognition, memory and emotion processing. Only visible by ourselves. Hidden from analysis. Extremely hard to model. Harmony is not encoded in magics. It is, indeed, a real thing. One engraved in Iwo's brain, in mine, and in many other artists' or art lovers'.
I can't wait to collaborate with Iwo. His approach really represents what I miss from my home continent: raising more questions than giving answers, persisting, using both our perception and our brain, crossing discipline boundaries, and incorporating the history of knowledge in the history of painting.
I can't wait to join Iwo in his Search for the real, as Hans Hofmann called it.
In the meantime, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on why composition matters in the process of creating harmony, to understand what Iwo means with his "universal mathematical formula", and to experience harmony yourself in Iwo's videos. If you take the time, you will see that the artist Iwo has a lot to share about visual art... and about neuroesthetics.
(Hans Hofman was a German-born American painter and considered to have both preceded and influenced Abstract Expressionism; I highly recommend his essays)
Click here to experience harmony changes according to Iwo
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Regal Zonophone, 1969
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Rex_(band)
This album is what happens when you throw one too many eyes of newt into your cauldron, causing your fairytale brew to bubble over spilling mystical fog all across the floor. If you thought their first two albums were weird, you ain't seen nothing yet. In my many years of music listening, I've never come across another album that sounds quite like this one. Even among Tyrannosaurus Rex's discography, Unicorn stands alone. It's an enormous leap beyond their previous albums artistically and after it the band's sound began to transform in fundamental ways.
Their arrangements have become more developed and elaborate, which expands the available color palate by a huge amount. This is still acoustic guitar driven music first and foremost. But they make terrific use of piano, harmonium, recorder, a more diverse selection of percussion including full-on drums (played briefly and unconventionally of course, but it's a drum-kit nonetheless), and is that an electric bass I hear briefly on “Like A White Star?” It all contributes to a thick, otherworldly mood, which the album is absolutely drenched in.
Bolan and Took twist and manipulate their voices in what would be pretty silly ways if it didn't seem like they were taking this stuff seriously. At times, they sound like birds chirping or little gremlins crawling around. Through all the vocal oddities, Bolan's harmonies – sometimes with Took but more often layered with his own voice – are more addictive than ever.
While they do play off all of this eerie weirdness as if they really mean it, this album isn't afraid to have fun either. After all, fairies and pixies spend most of their time fluttering about and getting into mischief. So it's fitting that the majority of the record is spent on wild flights of fancy, and the songs aim for blissful moods as often as they aim for brooding ones. The greatest example is one of the biggest highlights “Cat Black (The Wizard's Hat)”. Not only is it stunningly gorgeous, bolstered by its elaborate arrangement, but it's also got one of the most delightful melodies on the album.
Another thing I love about this record is the linear way that the songs are structured. Even though these tracks are all pretty short, you usually haven't heard everything a song has to offer unless you listen to the entire thing. Most tracks feature unique intros and outros, moving between various little sections that prevent the record from growing stale, even for a moment. The endings are especially notable. “Like A White Star” builds to a gloriously ecstatic coda, as does “The Sea Beasts.” “Iscariot” is the most harrowing song Bolan ever came up, highlighted by a tremendously well-written melody. It would stand as one of his best songs if that were all it was, but it's the climactic harmonium solo that really puts it over the edge.
The melodies are essential component of why this album works so well. Anybody can plop a bunch of weirdness down on a record. But it's a lot more difficult to do so while crafting exquisitely memorable tunes at the same time. Even extremely brief tracks like “The Seal Of Seasons” and “Stones For Avalon” lodge themselves firmly in my head. Undoubtedly this is a stronger bunch of tunes than featured on the first two Tyrannosaurus Rex albums. In fact, I hesitate to say that Bolan ever did better. The catchy tunes of his glam rock years were much more conventional in their construction. These tunes feel wholly unique.
The lyrics are impressionistic word salad, full of fantasy names and tall tales. It’s exactly the kind of poetry you would expect a bunch of Tolkien-obsessed hippies to pen. But it's hard to put much emphasis on the lyrics because if you're able to understand a word Bolan is singing then you're much more attentive than I. It doesn't really matter, though. I may not know what the heck a “Nijinsky Hind” is supposed to be, but I do know that the song transports me to another place every time I hear it. And that counts for far more.
“Romany Soup” is a slightly frustrating album closer and the source of my only significant complaint. The song itself is a brooding apocalyptic chant that makes for a great climax to the record. The annoying thing is that, as they did on their debut, it's preceded by a completely useless John Peel-narrated skit. But this time, it rambles on and on for three entire minutes. The dialogue may fit the mood of the album, but due to its length, it takes me out of the listening experience and makes the album end on a more underwhelming note than it could have considering the musical segment of the track is just as stellar as everything else.
Steve Peregrin Took left the band soon after the release of Unicorn, so the majority of the bonus tracks here represent his final work with Marc Bolan. “King Of The Rumbling Spires” and “Do You Remember (Cult)” show them dabbling with a full-band sound for the first time to great effect. The other tracks, including “Demon Queen” and “Pewter Soldier” among others, are just more examples of Tyrannosaurus Rex at their absolute peak. All of these are fantastic and essential for fans of the band. In addition, there's a recreation of the main album using alternate takes which makes for an interesting listen. However, seeing as the album is nearly perfect as it is, I doubt anyone will prefer these takes to the official ones.
Not only is Unicorn the best Tyrannosaurus Rex album, but it's one of the best and most unique albums of its era. A lot of music claims to take the listener on crazy psychedelic journeys, but Unicorn doesn't make any promises. It doesn't need to. It simply quietly exists in its own mysterious little world waiting for listeners to come and explore.
© 2015 Ken DiTomaso and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Regal Zonophone, and is used for informational purposes only.
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Rocky Horror Picture Show San Antonio
Woodlawn Theatre is presenting the stage version, "The Rocky Horror Show, " through Nov. 7.
"When I first saw it, I was awestruck that this thing even existed, where you could go in and immediately be welcomed in; any misfit you want to be is welcome, " said Thomas, who grew up to work at various theaters around town, including a couple of stints producing and starring in productions of the similarly themed "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."
"What drew me in was that it was a place to belong, where there were freaks like me who like the same things I do."
The film and the stage musical that preceded it spoofed sci-fi and horror movies, as well as musicals.
In both versions, Brad and Janet, two square souls seeking shelter on a rainy night, find themselves stranded in a castle ruled by Dr. Frank N. Furter, a mad scientist and self-described "sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania" who has just built his very own very buff companion. From there, things get really weird.
Thomas revisits the film at least once a month as cast coordinator for the "Rocky" shadowcast performances - so called because live actors pantomime and respond to the action while the film plays behind them - at the Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Concert San Francisco Part 4
San Diego Gay Pride 2009 Rocky Horror Picture Show
Riff Raff Rocky Horror Show
Movies like the Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rocky Horror Time Warp costume
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The new year is officially here. There's still time, however, for a bit more reflection on the greatness of 2019. Here are 10 more popular articles.
It's 2020! A new year. A new decade. And, given that today is Friday, that would usually mean a new column from the Sage of Certification, Ed Tittel. As detailed in his final column of 2019, however, Ed is taking a well-deserved break this week for a solemn journey to Washington, D.C.
To make up for this week's lack of Ed, we decided to lengthen the list of Most Popular Articles that appeared on the site in 2019. Everybody loves a good recap, right? And sometimes articles come and go so quickly that even faithful readers miss seeing them the first time around.
So let's offer another tip of the cap to the talented writers who busily create content for us year in and year out. Today we'll go from GoCertify's 11th-most popular article of 2019, all the way down to its 20th-most popular article of 2019.
As previously described in this space, there are about 100 new articles addressing all facets of IT certification and employment that appear on GoCertify every year. So even if you read everything listed both here and in the previous installment in what is now a two-part series, you'll only have digested about one-fifth of everything posted here in 2019.
(We like to stay busy sharing awesome original content around here.)
To (once again) clarify, all of these are articles that first appeared on the site in 2019. That is to say that we aren't taking into account articles from past year that were (still) popular in 2019. There's a vast library of older articles available, and many of those are still regularly read, but they get enough attention already.
Without further ado, the second 10 most popular IT certification articles (11 through 20) to appear on the site in 2019 are as follows:
11) Six Hot Big Data Certifications for 2019 (Nathan Kimpel) — The Six Hot series strikes again. You may have noticed, incidentally, that there's a 2020 series already in motion. We've covered Linux certs and networking certs aleady and more lists are on the way!
12) Microsoft Streamlines Path to Azure Administrator Cert (Ed Tittel) — Microsoft loves to tinker with its IT certification program. After establishing a two-exam path to Azure Administrator certification in 2018, Microsoft reinvented the wheel after less than a year.
13) A Rock Solid Cybersecurity Certifications Best List (Ed Tittel) — As has been established already, GoCertify readers love a good list of "hot," "top," "best," etc., certifications.
14) Working in IT with No Computer Science (or Other Technical) Degree (Ed Tittel) — Do one have to go to college and get a computer science degree to find gainful IT employment? It's a perennially vexing question.
15) Six Niche Networking Certifications (Reena Ghosh) — We introduced a new series of lists of certifications last year by daring to venture off the beaten path a bit.
16) Six Tips to Help You Nail Your Next IT Job Interview (Nathan Kimpel) — An IT job interview isn't quite the same as any old employment interview. Here's some relevant advice (cleverly disguised as another list of six important things).
17) Crack the Code: Getting Started in Computer Programming, Part 2 (Aaron Axline) — Like The Empire Strikes Back, this is the rare sequel that, so it would seem, outshone the original (which we may or may not run into before the end of today's list).
18) Six Niche Security Certifications (Mike Chapple) — Everyone knows about CISSP, Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and so forth. There are, however, dozens of other notable (and highly employable) security certifications.
19) CompTIA Eyes New Certs: Big Data, Python, 'Expert' Tier (GoCertify Staff) — We like to rely on the experts, of course, but every now and then the core team gets a byline on this or that item of breaking news that attracts a high degree of interest.
20) Historic Hacks of the 1990s, Part 1 (Calvin Harper) — There was a lot of interest in this multi-part series on hackery and crackery from GoCertify's resident IT historian.
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Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
Berman (Tehran Rising), vice president for policy at the American Foreign Policy Council, offers a comprehensive strategy for reclaiming "the offensive" in the "global war on terror." He expresses optimism cautiously, but warns that the gains—especially in Afghanistan—are tenuous and that the U.S. risks losing the initiative to the terrorists. He proposes a broad approach that emphasizes the political, economic and legal fronts in this long war, cautioning—as has Defense Secretary Robert Gates—that "the military should not... be the tip of the spear." As concerned with Iran as with al-Qaeda, the author recommends an array of tactics—some more hopeful than helpful—including political outreach, an Iranian embargo, educational assistance, updated laws of war and disrupting terrorist fund-raising. There is much of interest, although the main thrust of Berman's argument—the need for a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy—is the new conventional wisdom. Nevertheless, Berman's careful analysis and thoughtful conclusions are a welcome addition to the ongoing debate about the way forward . (Aug.)
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In the face of two additional emails surfacing since the last Helena-West Helena City Council meeting, Alderman Joe St. Columbia remains defiant about the racist emails he has forwarded to numerous people in the community.
Without the sufficient 2/3 of the vote to override Mayor Willis's veto of a censure of St. Columbia for the first email that said Helena-West Helena officials were "monkeys" running the zoo, Alderman Marvin Jarrett passed out to the largely elderly, white crown out in support of St. Columbia the two emails that had surfaced since the last meeting.
One has been dubbed "the black welfare queen" email. It has a picture of a single black mother and her children with a caption that says, "They sure know how to game the system." The other says, "In Honor of Black History Month" and depicts two thuggish looking black males with no shirt, unkept hair, sagging pants, and gestures resembling gang signs while saying, "It's not our fault we can't get jobs, it's the white man holding us back."
St. Columbia defiantly told the City Council that "he is not a racist. I have black friends." He went on to say to Jarrett, "I am not going to discuss this every meeting. I have said all I am going to say about this." St. Columbia made it clear that he intends to remain in office and refuses to apologize. Mayor Willis has said he shouldn't apologize and has called St. Columbia, "one of the most respected leaders in this community."
Mr. St. Columbia's Friends?
Ward 2 resident Leslie Galloway has been trumpeting St. Columbia's virtues online and urged people to come to the meeting and support him. She has called those opposing St. Columbia "idiots" in some of her online postings. After the meeting, a contingent of white supporters of St. Columbia, led by former West Helena Alderman Walter Morris, Sr. (the founder of H and M Lumber Company) surrounded St. Columbia with smiles and pats on the back as they left the meeting. It appeared that even in the face of the two additional emails, St. Columbia's support from white voters remained strong.
Leslie Galloway April 21, 2011 at 1:27 PM
To correct your points, I called James Valley and Andrew Bagley the idiots... Not people who oppose Alderman St. Columbia. Why don't you report on real news and quit wasting people's time with gossip...
James F. Valley, Esq. April 21, 2011 at 2:56 PM
Leslie, in America, people have the right to speak their minds. You have your thoughts and opinions. I have mine. Included in the right to free speech is the right to be wrong when the speech is made. You are wrong and someday you will realize it. I am overjoyed that you have reduced yourself to name calling. I knew, all along, the kind of person you were and are.
James, I have been a social work in Helena for the past 16 years. Most people who know me well, know I am here to do good. My mother has taught school for 37 years, my father practiced law here for 40 (may he rest in peace) and served as public defender for many years. My sister has been a pharmacist here for the past 15 as well. My family, the GALLOWAYS, have always served this community. Even my grandfather, Captain Dwight Galloway, served on city council as well. You can write or say whatever you want but it would be nice if you would print factual and truthful information. All you are doing is hurting this community by printing gossip. You are trying to divide people instead of bring them together. Some of the people you gossip about are good citizens of this community who spend a lot of time and money to make it better.
Leslie, I have not printed one bit of gossip here. I don't need to hear about your mother, father or sister. My comment was not to them or about them. They are who they are PERIOD. I don't bring others into a dialogue unnecessarily. I have said nothing about the GALLOWAYS. Plus, what you have printed adds nothing to the discussion anyway. YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AND WHO I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU WERE. You can brag on yourself until you turn blue in the face, your bragging will not add to or take away from the truth. Just be real and recognize the facts. You are who you ARE. PERIOD. If you call that GOSSIP, then so be it. I call it the unadulterated truth; more like the GOSPEL!!!
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Niedziela, 23 Marca 2008, 0:00
Born at Cartagena, Spain, about 560; died 4 April, 636.
Isidore was the son of Severianus and Theodora. His elder brother Leander was his immediate predecessor in the Metropolitan See of Seville; whilst a younger brother St. Fulgentius presided over the Bishopric of Astigi. His sister Florentina was a nun, and is said to have ruled over forty convents and one thousand religious.
Isidore received his elementary education in the Cathedral school of Seville. In this institution, which was the first of its kind in Spain, the trivium and quadrivium were taught by a body of learned men, among whom was the archbishop, Leander. With such diligence did he apply himself to study that in a remarkably short time mastered Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Whether Isidore ever embraced monastic life or not is still an open question, but though he himself may never have been affiliated with any of the religious orders, he esteemed them highly. On his elevation to the episcopate he immediately constituted himself protector of the monks. In 619 he pronounced anathema against any ecclesiastic who should in any way molest the monasteries.
On the death of Leander, Isidore succeeded to the See of Seville. His long incumbency to this office was spent in a period of disintegration and transition. The ancient institutions and classic learning of the Roman Empire were fast disappearing. In Spain a new civilization was beginning to evolve itself from the blending racial elements that made up its population. For almost two centuries the Goths had been in full control of Spain, and their barbarous manners and contempt of learning threatened greatly to put back her progress in civilization. Realizing that the spiritual as well as the material well-being of the nation depended on the full assimilation of the foreign elements, St. Isidore set himself to the task of welding into a homogeneous nation the various peoples who made up the Hispano-Gothic kingdom. To this end he availed himself of all the resources ofreligion and education. His efforts were attended with complete success. Arianism, which had taken deep root among the Visigoths, was eradicated, and the new heresy of Acephales was completely stifled at the very outset; religious discipline was everywhere strengthened. Like Leander, he took a most prominent part in the Councils of Toledo and Seville. In all justice it may be said that it was in a great measure due to the enlightened statecraft of these two illustrious brothers the Visigothic legislation, which emanated from these councils, is regarded by modern historians as exercising a most important influence on the beginnings of representative government. Isidore presided over the Second Council ofSeville, begun 13 November, 619, in the reign of Sisebut. But it was the Fourth National Council of Toledo that afforded him the opportunity of being of the greatest service to his county. At this council, begun 5 December, 633, all the bishops of Spain were in attendance. St. Isidore, though far advanced in years, presided over its deliberations, and was the originator of most of its enactments. It was at this council and through his influence that a decree was promulgated commanding all bishops to establish seminaries in their Cathedral Cities, along the lines of the school already existing at Seville. Within his own jurisdiction he had availed himself of the resources of education to counteract the growing influence of Gothic barbarism. His was the quickening spirit that animated the educational movement of which Seville was the centre. The study of Greek and Hebrew as well as the liberal arts, was prescribed. Interest in law and medicine was also encouraged. Through the authority of the fourth council this policy of education was made obligatory upon all the bishops of the kingdom. Long before the Arabs had awakened to an appreciation of Greek Philosophy, he had introduced Aristotle to his countrymen. He was the first Christian writer to essay the task of compiling for his co-religionists a summa of universal knowledge. This encyclopedia epitomized all learning, ancient as well as modern. In it many fragments of classical learning are preserved which otherwise had been hopelessly lost. The fame of this work imparted a new impetus to encyclopedic writing, which bore abundant fruit in the subsequent centuries of the Middle Ages. His style, though simple and lucid, cannot be said to be classical. It discloses most of the imperfections peculiar to all ages of transition. It particularly reveals a growing Visigothic influence. Arévalo counts in all Isidore's writing 1640 Spanish words.
Isidore was the last of the ancient Christian Philosophers, as he was the last of the great Latin Fathers. He was undoubtedly the most learned man of his age and exercised a far-reaching and immeasurable influence on the educational life of the Middle Ages. His contemporary and friend, Braulio, Bishop of Saragossa, regarded him as a man raised up by God to save the Spanish people from the tidal wave of barbarism that threatened to inundate the ancient civilization of Spain, The Eighth Council of Toledo (653) recorded its admiration of his character in these glowing terms: "The extraordinary doctor, the latest ornament of the Catholic Church, the most learned man of the latter ages, always to be named with reverence, Isidore". This tribute was endorsed by the Fifteenth Council of Toledo, held in 688.
source: The Catholic Encyclopedia
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© 2002-2015 Christian portal of St. Isidore - the saint patron of Internet, ISSN 1803-1285 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1803-1285 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Publisher: Consociatio S. Isidori Hispalensis, o.s. Editor-in-chief: Tomasz Adam Kaniewski; English editor: Weronika Dmochowska
Address: Portal of St. Isidore, Kostelecka 1825, CZ-54701 Nachod
Bank account: Fortis Bank Polska, PL73 1600 1156 0004 0601 7389 6080 BIC/SWIFT: PPAB PLPK
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Home » Public Hearings » 2020 » Notice Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review and Virtual Public Hearing – State Loop (SL) 288 from Interstate Highway (IH) 35W to IH 35 in Denton County, Texas
Notice Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review and Virtual Public Hearing – State Loop (SL) 288 from Interstate Highway (IH) 35W to IH 35 in Denton County, Texas
CSJs: 2250-02-013 & 2250-02-014
Virtual Public Hearing now available.
This will be an online public hearing via a pre-recorded presentation. An in-person option is available by appointment only.
The pre-recorded presentation video will be available for comment by 6:00 p.m.
Members of the public may call (940) 441-5260 and verbally provide testimony from 6 p.m. on July 9, 2020 until 5 p.m. on July 28, 2020. Formal written comments may also be provided by mail or email as explained below. An online comment form option will also be made available during the virtual public hearing. All verbally provided testimony and timely written comments submitted by mail or email will be included as part of the official record for this hearing and project and considered by TxDOT.
The purpose of the virtual public hearing is to present the proposed improvements and solicit public comments to SL 288 from IH 35W to IH 35. The virtual public hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Materials will consist of a video presentation explaining the proposed project, which includes both audio and video components, along with other exhibits and materials for review. Formal comments may be provided by mail, email, or voicemail as described in the notice and on the virtual public hearing website. Comments must be received on or before Tuesday, July 28, 2020, to be a part of the official meeting record.
The proposed SL 288 project includes the construction of a four-lane new location frontage road system from IH 35W south of Denton to IH 35 north of Denton, in Denton County, Texas, and is approximately 9.0 miles in length. The proposed project right of way (ROW) would include a median that would accommodate future construction of an ultimate mainlane roadway. Construction of the ultimate mainlane roadway would be based on projected traffic and funding and would require additional environmental analysis prior to construction. At this time, only the construction of the frontage road system is planned.
The new location SL 288 frontage road system would include a northbound and southbound frontage road facility. For rural areas, the roadway would consist of two travel lanes (one 12-foot-wide lane and one 14-foot-wide lane for bicycle accommodation) and 8-foot-wide inside and outside shoulders in each direction, with open ditch drainage. For urbanized areas, the roadway would consist of two travel lanes (one 12-foot-wide lane and one 14-foot-wide lane for bicycle accommodation) in each direction, with curb and gutter drainage. The roadway would also include 6-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of the road throughout the project limits. The proposed project ROW would include a median (variable width) that would accommodate the future construction of an ultimate mainlane roadway.
The project area includes approximately 26.6 acres of existing roadway ROW, 401.5 acres of proposed ROW, 1.2 acres of proposed permanent drainage easements, and 13.2 acres of proposed ROW by others. The proposed project would, subject to final design considerations, displace five single-family residences and one commercial property.
How to Provide Comments:
Verbal Testimony:
Members of the public may leave verbally testimony starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2020 until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
Written Comments:
Members of the public may submit written comments by email or mail starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2020 until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
Email: Nelson.Underwood@txdot.gov
Mail: TxDOT Dallas District Office
Attention SL 288 – Nelson Underwood, P.E.
4777 East US Highway 80
Mesquite, TX 75150-6643
Comment Form (English)
Comment Form (Spanish)
In-person Option:
The in-person option will be held on July 13, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendance at the in-person option will be by appointment only. Individuals wishing to attend the in-person option may call between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday to make an appointment and receive further instructions regarding the in-person option. In recognition of COVID-19, enhanced safety measures will be applied at the in-person option, including a requirement to wear a face mask and follow social distancing.
Survey Monkey:
Members of the public may submit online written comments starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2020 until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
TxDOT makes every reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of the public. The public hearing will be in English. If you have a special communication accommodation or need for an interpreter, a request can be made. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can also be made to accommodate most needs. Please call the TxDOT Dallas District Public Information Office at (214) 320-4480. Requests should be made at least two working days prior to the meeting. Please be aware that advance notice is requested as some accommodations may require time for TxDOT to arrange.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 9, 2019, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and TxDOT.
Public Hearing Notice (English)
Public Hearing Notice (Spanish)
Public Hearing Notice Supplemental (English)
Public Hearing Notice Supplemental (Spanish)
Public Hearing Notice Supplemental Version 2 (English)
Public Hearing Notice Supplemental Version 2 (Spanish)
Memorandum of Understanding Exhibit Board
Project Location Map Exhibit Board
Environmental Constraints Map Exhibit Board
Typical Sections Exhibit Board
Timeline Exhibit Board
Fact Sheet Exhibit Board
Presentation Script
Roll 1 to 6 – IH 35W to Tom Cole Road
Roll 7 to 10 – Tom Cole Road to Masch Branch Road
Roll 11 to 15 – Masch Branch Road to IH 35
Environmental Document & Technical Reports:
Public Meeting Summary Report
Water Technical Report
Community Impacts Assessment Technical Report
Cumulative Impacts Technical Report
Indirect Impacts Technical Report
Hazardous Materials Initial Site Assessment (ISA)
Historical Resources Survey
Noise Technical Report
Tier I Site Assessment Form
Biological Coordination Complete Documentation
Air Quality Technical Report
Transportation Conformity Report
Right of Way Documents:
Relocation Assistance (Spanish)
State Purchase of Right of Way
State Purchase of Right of Way (Spanish)
TxDOT Dallas District
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Maine’s COVID-19 vaccination rate among highest per population in US
Jan 12, 2021 | Covid-19, Featured
By Rose Lundy — The Maine Monitor
State CDC director warns it’s a “matter of time” before the variant strain of COVID-19 is detected in Maine.
More people in Maine now have been vaccinated for COVID-19 than have had the virus.
About 46,600 Mainers were vaccinated as of Friday, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents nearly 3.5 percent of the state’s population. At least 3,271 of those vaccinated have received their second dose.
In comparison, 28,400 Mainers have had confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, as of Friday. More than 1,100 have been hospitalized and 426 have died.
Thursday was the country’s deadliest day yet with more than 4,000 deaths and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, predicted it will get worse before it gets better. On Friday, 41 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Maine — the state’s highest daily death toll. However, they didn’t all occur in one day. Six of the 41 people died in the previous 48 hours. The remaining 35 died between Dec. 2-28 and were found to be associated with COVID-19 after the Maine CDC reviewed death certificates.
More than 6.2 million doses of vaccine have been distributed nationwide, which is enough to vaccinate 1.9 percent of the U.S. population, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker. About 29 percent of the doses distributed to states have been administered. Worldwide, 17.5 million doses have been administered in 38 countries.
According to Bloomberg’s data, which had Maine at about 42,000 vaccinations, only three states had a higher percentage of the population vaccinated. Maine had a slightly different ranking according to the U.S. CDC, which found it had the eighth highest vaccination rate Friday.
Maine still is in Phase 1a of its vaccine rollout, which focuses on health care workers. Dr. Nirav Shah, the Maine CDC director, said it’s likely this phase will last through the month. By February, the goal is to vaccinate all health care personnel and long-term care residents. The next phases include frontline essential workers, people with high-risk medical conditions and older people.
Kevin Miller with the Portland Press Herald reported on Dec. 28 that physicians and health care providers who aren’t connected to large hospital systems felt left out of the initial vaccination rollout despite working in high-risk settings. Shah has said during recent press briefings that the Maine CDC is starting to expand the circle of who can receive vaccines, but efforts have been hindered by smaller than anticipated vaccine allocations two weeks in a row.
As of its most recent allocation, Maine has distributed 81,850 COVID-19 vaccine doses among 84 different hospitals, facilities and programs. (See below for a list of locations where vaccines have been distributed.
For the week of Jan. 11, the Maine CDC expects to receive 17,175 doses, which is only 100 doses more than it received last week. Of those doses, 8,775 are expected to be doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 8,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Maine is working on a pre-registration program for vaccines that could include an online tool to sign up for shots as a way to speed up the process and eliminate long lines. The agency has not yet announced when the system will launch.
Public health officials say those who have been vaccinated should continue to wear masks, social distance and avoid gatherings. The vaccine has been found to reduce the symptoms of COVID-19, but it’s unclear whether it prevents the spread of the virus. Also, experts recommend the vaccine for those who have had COVID-19. Answers to additional frequently asked questions can be found here.
On Jan. 4, Shah said he was concerned about a new variant strain of COVID-19 that has been detected in multiple countries and at least seven states. All viruses mutate, he said. “That’s just what viruses do.” But this new strain is notable because it seems more contagious, spreading faster than the current strain. That means the risk of being infected after getting exposed to someone with the virus is higher with this new strain. And those who are infected are more likely to infect others.
But those infected with the new strain don’t seem to become more ill than those with the current strain and it’s likely that the current vaccines still will be “highly effective against this new strain, although that needs to be monitored,” Shah said.
Experts are searching for the variant in Maine but it hasn’t been detected, Shah said, although it’s likely only a matter of time.
“This new strain spreads the same way as other current COVID-19 strains. It’s just better at spreading,” Shah said. “But the tools that we have used thus far — face masks and physical distancing — are just as effective at preventing infection by this new strain and given how much more quickly it seems to spread, those tools are more important now than they’ve ever been. No virus can make you sick if it can’t get to you in the first place.”
Ultimately, a vaccine will be the best defense, Shah said, but it can’t be the only defense. There are at least three additional vaccines that are under development or review, Shah said during a later press briefing. They include one from a partnership between AstraZeneca and Oxford University, one from biotech company Novavax and a third from Johnson & Johnson in partnership with Janssen, which only requires one dose. Janssen is a pharmaceutical company that Johnson & Johnson owns.
Also during his first press briefing of 2021, Shah looked back at numbers that represent what the Maine CDC accomplished during the pandemic:
5,500 unique PPE orders filled by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Team.
4.5 million individual PPE items delivered to health care providers.
226,000 COVID-19 tests performed by the Maine CDC laboratory in Augusta.
1.1 million COVID-19 tests conducted by labs statewide — nearly one test per person in the state.
20,217 requests for consultation answered by the epidemiology team.
50,000 phone calls from Mainers with questions about COVID-19 answered by 2-1-1, Maine’s 24/7 information and resource hotline.
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Alexandra David-Neel – Tibetan Pilgrim, Scholar, and Rebel
If you wanted Alexandra David-Neel to do something, all you had to do was tell her she couldn’t do it. At 5 years old, she ran away from home, scratched a policeman who tried to catch her, and showed no remorse when collected by her father. She was traveling alone in Europe at 17 and she lived independently from that time.
Alexandra’s biggest adventure was traveling incognito to the Forbidden City of Lhasa, Tibet at a time when no outsiders were allowed. When she was stopped at the border a few years before her trip, she said,
“It was then that the idea of visiting Lhasa really became implanted in my mind…I took an oath that in spite of all obstacles I would reach Lhasa and show what the will of a woman could achieve.”
Alexandra’s story and her journey through Tibet captured my attention. There’s something of a rebel in all of us, and we are attracted to people who dare to do what seems to be impossible.
Before Her Journey
Alexandra David was born in 1868 in Paris, an only child – a spoiled brat, which she admits. Her parents were conventional and, as noted above, she was rebellious from an early age. She became interested in Buddhism, an interest that turned into a life-long study. Her interest also focused on Asia, and she spent many hours as a young woman finding teachers and visiting an Asian art museum in Paris.
She didn’t want a traditional career or marriage because she didn’t want to be limited by anything (luckily she inherited some money and she financed trips with her writing). She began traveling to Asia when she toured as a singer and she fell in love with India.
In 1904, she married Philip Neel, who was about 10 years older than she and who let her do pretty much what she wanted. When she was 43, in 1911 she set out on a trip to India and Asia; she wouldn’t return for 14 years! She kept writing to her husband, asking him to send money and putting off her return (World War I was a good excuse to stay in Asia). She had done some writing for magazines and she wanted to travel and write about her experiences.
As she traveled through India she came to the attention of the British, who thought she was a French agent. She met the Dalai Lama (the 13th, not the current one), who encouraged her to “learn the Tibetan language,” and she studied Buddhism.
While in Sikkim (near Tibet, now a part of India) she traveled in the Himalayas and studied with a hermit, sleeping in tents, cooking over a yak dung fire. She said she found that living a life reduced to the essentials pleased her. But she also had a servant with her on her trips, and she took a zinc bathtub everywhere, insisting on a hot bath every night. Oh, well, I guess we are all full of contradictions.
When she wasn’t traveling, she became depressed and fatigued and she complained of feeling old.
Alexandra’s Journey to Tibet
Tibet had held her attention for many years, as the center of Buddhist thought and worship, and, as I noted above, because it was forbidden. In 1917, with a young lama (Buddhist holy man) named Aphur Yongden, whom she adopted, she headed for China on what would be a multi-year circuitous journey to Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.
She stayed for several years at a Buddhist monastery called Kumbum, which may have been the place that inspired James Hilton to write Lost Horizon.
Finally, in late 1923, she was at the border of Tibet. Alexandra and Yongden had “disappeared,” telling no one what they were doing and where they were going. They took nothing, not even a blanket, and she didn’t dare take a camera, but she did hide a compass, a pistol, and some money in her Tibetan peasant dress. She had left her zinc tub behind a long time ago. She died her hair black and wore a wig of yak hair (it must have smelled awful) to look more like a Tibetan beggar traveling with a lama (Yongden).
They begged for food and Yongden told fortunes and gave blessings for money. At the beginning of their journey, they stayed outside of towns, traveling at night and sleeping under bushes during the day. During the crossing of one pass in the Himalayas, they spent a night on a ledge in the snow.
Nearing Lhasa they decided to move faster so they began taking the risk of entering villages. She says they had many adventures and “humorous” stories of almost being recognized and captured.
Finally, on the first day of the Tibetan New Year, in 1924, they entered Lhasa. Alexandra was 56. They spent several months in Lhasa seeing the sights and avoiding being captured. Then they headed back to India and eventually back home to France.
My Journey to Lhasa: The Story of the Adventure
If you enjoy travel and adventure, you won’t find much better than My Journey to Tibet. With typical self-promotion, she subtitled it The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden City.
She keeps her cool in all situations, even when they are in danger. One typical dangerous event is about a time when they were hiding under the snow. Some men passed by and one asked, “Is that snow or men?” “It’s snow,” the others answered. “It is snow,” Yongden said, crawling out. The men laughed and they talked, recognizing him as a lama, and they left. She knew he wasn’t in too much danger, but she might have been, so she was glad to avoid being discovered.
She says of the dangers, with her dry humor,
“People whose hearts are not strong and who cannot sufficiently master their nerves are wiser to avoid journeys of this kind. Such things might easily bring on heart failure or madness.”
In the midst of her perils, she finds moments of joy and beauty. For example,
“In this country autumn has the youthful charm of spring….It was one of those mornings when Nature bewitches us with her deceitful magic, then one sinks deep into the bliss of sensation and the joy of living.”
After Her Trip to Tibet
Alexandra finally went home, meeting her husband again after all those years. It was a big let-down for both of them, and they separated, staying married and “just friends.” She was in big demand as a speaker and she wrote books about her Tibet journey and other journeys and traveled around doing public speaking. She found luxurious hotel rooms uncomfortable and she usually ended up sleeping on the floor in her room (or in a tent in the hotel lobby!).
The incognito trip to Tibet caused quite a stir among Tibetan and British circles. There was some skepticism about whether she had actually made the trip. One author claimed she had invented the whole thing. A photo taken of her in front of the Potala (the Dalai Lama’s palace) in Lhasa was supposed to be a fake. But the truth of her trip has since been verified.
She went back to China in 1937 when she was 69. When the Japanese threatened to invade, she escaped. Her husband Philippe died during this time; she had to wait until after the war to return.
Alexandra bought a home in Digne-Les- Bains in southeast France, called Samten Dzong, “house of meditation.” The house is still open as a museum; you might want to visit if you are in the area.
At 100, ever the optimist, she renewed her passport. She died at 101, in 1969.
Why Alexandra David-Neel is Important
What a dame! She knew what she wanted from the beginning of her life, and she lived it – all of it – full out. You might not agree with her religious beliefs, and I’m sure she had her quirks, but she went where she wanted to go, she wrote about it, she did what she loved, and she didn’t have to die to be recognized. (After her death they named a street in a Paris suburb after her).
As I mentioned, she was not perfect. She loved Yongden, but she still treated him like a servant. She enjoyed meeting people, but she was mostly attracted to intellectuals and men of high rank and power.
Sure, she was frightened. She came very close to death multiple times on her trek to Lhasa, from starvation, cold, or being executed for being in Lhasa. She suffered from depression and had many illnesses while she traveled. I read about many other times on her journeys when she could have given up and gone home, but her almost-obsessive need to keep moving, to travel, to live free, kept her going.
Filed Under: Women Adventurers Tagged With: Alexandra David-Neel, Buddhism, Dalai Lama, Lhasa, Tibet
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Review the Last Movie You Saw
Post by RJ » Thu May 23, 2013 7:51 pm
Use this thread to review the most recent movie(s) you've seen, be it on the big screen, on television or online.
I am a huge Star Trek fan but truthfully was not terribly excited about this. I went to great lengths to avoid spoilers and only saw a full trailer the weekend before the movie came out. I think that dampened any enthusiasm I otherwise would have had. It was a fun movie but the story was pretty dull and really predictable.
Re: Review the Last Movie You Saw
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Tue May 28, 2013 2:17 pm
I rewatched the 1987 remake of DRAGNET on DVD recently.
To be fair, I never had the opportuniy to see the original series, but the movie was recommended to me years ago as something different and amusing to watch, so why not? I mean, it's got Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, AND Harry Morgan. Plus Christopher Plummer and Dabney Coleman. What an interesting and diverse cast.
Interestingly enough, this was back during a time where remakes actually DIDN'T insult the original series they were based on... that didn't seem to happen until the mid 2000s or so, but again, I haven't seen the original DRAGNET series, so I don't know how true it was, but I do know it had to have been somewhat respectful, as Aykroyd was a huge fan of Jack Webb, and I have to say, I HAVE heard some of Webb's monologuing as Joe Friday, so Aykroyd had Webb's mannerisms and ways of speaking down pat, all the way (though Aykroyd was playing the original Joe Friday's nephew, who also had his namesake). Harry Morgan apparently had reprised his original role from the series, but by this time, had risen in ranks to being the District Captain over the entire Robbery and Homicide Division. Tom Hanks was also a laugh as Friday's carefree and fun-loving rooky partner Pep Streebek, but you know what's a little eerie? After ALL these years, Hanks's voice has NEVER changed, even the slightest! He still sounds EXACTLY the same now as he did back in the 80s. Plummer was also good as the villain, but in a more comedic role (hey, Canadians kick-ass!)
One last thing I WILL say about this movie was tha the first time I saw it was when I was coming down from suffering from a second bout of depressions (I went through two of them, one in 2004, the other from 2006-2007), and this movie really lifted and cheered me up watching it; I know the original series wasn't a comedy, but the humor of this movie was really smart and witty, and I really enjoyed it. "Look out! Muppets!"
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:34 pm
Let me start off by saying, I completely disagree with most people when it comes to this movie, saying that it was Will Ferrell's worst movie... I say this is actually his BEST movie... in fact, I say this is the ONLY movie of his worth watching.
To be fair, yes, I'll agree with some others who say this movie is a little on the cheesy factor, but aside from that, this movie offered Will Ferrell the chance to play a character that actually has depth to him: for once, he isn't playing a flat, bland, unlikable, one-dimensional, sketch show-esque character, instead, he plays a sympathetic, fish-out-of-water character, who endears himself to the audience with his innocence and ignorance of the real world (hey, he spent the first 30 years of his life living at the North Pole with Santa and his elves). Plus, you have to admire his intentions of just wanting to be accepted by his birth father (James Caan), and spread Christmas cheer, since apparently, people in the real world just don't have that spirit in them anymore.
Not only that, but this movie also contains nods to classic Christmas specials of yesteryears, including primitively animated stop-motion creatures. The production also made use of clever camera angles and set construction to make the likes of Buddy and Santa (Ed Asner) co-exist with the elves in the same scenes, yet still make them appear much larger than the elves. Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from A CHRISTMAS STORY) also has a bit part in this movie as an elf.
That's one more thing I have to mention to, this movie has a really interesting cast: in addition to Ferrell, Asner, and Caan, we've got the ever-adorable and sexy Zooey Deschanel, the usual warm and endearing quality of Bob Newhart, as well as familiar comedic faces such as Mary Steenbergen, Amy Sedaris, Andy Ricter, Faizon Love, and others.
5'O'clockcharlie
Post by 5'O'clockcharlie » Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:58 pm
I thought Elf was one of his better movies. And Into Darkness... OMFG I want to see it again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The characters remind me of the same playful banter that Star Wars had. I'm more of a TNG fan when it comes to Star Trek but it was very well written and casted well.
Let me think of what movie I just watch recently.. Maybe I will wait and come back and post about Cloud Atlas which I got from redbox last night..Oh I know...
I watched Sky Captain and the World Of Tomorrow. (2004)
I would say this movie is not for everyone because of all the computerized look it has to it. The backgrounds are really uh painted on looking.It has the old cinema style mixed with comic book.Its set in the 1930s yet featuring technology most of us associate with a time in the 2040s Sky Captain ( Joe) does a good job of blending the old generation with the new. I think the whole "Cheese factor" makes the movie but hey you either hate it or like it when you talk to people who have seen it. The main characters had great chemistry which I think keeps me watching it . ( Jude Law And Gwyneth Paltro. ) I think whole ever made this film has a great passion and love for 1930s cinema and the art of the time..
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:42 pm
Now, I'm not really one for disaster flicks myself, but if it involves extreme weather (I would totally be a storm chaser if I wasn't already a puppeteer), I'll check it out.
Now, writer/director Roland Emmerich (who knows a lot about destroying the world, lol) admits that this movie isn't meant to be 100% scientifically or meteorologically accurate, however, it does drive some important points across that we really need to be careful about how we handle our environment and use our natural resources, otherwise, we'll be paying the price in the long term, and it could happen sooner than we may think (and the fact that extreme weather in the last few years has gotten more and more violent across the globe should really open people's eyes, but it isn't).
One subtlty about this movie I personally like it how the fictional Bush/Cheney administration (the President and Vice President in this movie WEREN'T Bush and Cheney, respectively, but the characters were meant to represent them) was portrayed, because let's face it, the Bush/Cheney administration did more harm than good.
The movie also made some really interesting casting choices as well, you've got a blend of serious actors, comic actors, and character actors. Dennis Quaid, Sela Ward, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Jay O'Sanders, Ian Holm, and Glenn Plummer are just a few of the faces you see in this movie.
Post by RJ » Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:00 pm
The trailer made this look like it might be funny but it was really just depressing. It had no real story to speak of and a bunch of unlikeable characters.
chriswb504
Post by chriswb504 » Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:48 am
Great movie! What more could you ask for? Great big name actors and actresses! A cameo by Robert De Niro, playing a mob boss! An awesome seventies soundtrack by Steely Dan, Chicago, Elton John, The Bee Gees, Electric Light Orchestra, Jefferson Starship, David Bowie, America, & Led Zeppelin! Lots of espionage, action, and sex! You can't go wrong!
1471749_783783614981503_58063876_a.jpg
A vey moving and thought provoking movie! Idris Elba was awesome as Mandela, especially the young Mandela! Although, I must confess that I think Morgan Freeman did the best job portraying the elder Mandela in "Invictus" from 2009. "Long Walk To Freedom" is still an excellent movie though!
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Thu Jan 09, 2014 3:51 pm
I forgot about this thread... my bad... well, I'll continue to roll the ball some more by reviewing the last movie I watched on DVD (as I haven't been the movies in a while, it's getting too expensive, and good movies aren't seeing as much theater exposure as the more star-power action/adventure movies are, which apparently the movie industry is doing intentionally, or so I hear).
I remember as a little kid when TOY STORY came out, that was a pretty huge deal, as it was the first feature-length CGI movie ever made, and back then, that was pretty impressive (though admittedly, with advances in computer animation technology over the years, TOY STORY today actually looks incredibly primitive and cheap-looking), and it was an all-around fun movie... then years later, TOY STORY 2 came out, and back in those days, that was exciting because sequels hadn't become a shoe-horned and tiring gimmick like today where almost every movie now gets 2 or even 3 sequels. After years of trying and having battles with Disney, Pixar was finally able to come out with TOY STORY 3, several years after the first two, and surprisingly, in spite of the long passage of time, TOY STORY 3 really held up well - it was great that they were able to get all of the original voice actors again (with the sad exception of Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, since Jim Varney had passed away just shortly after TOY STORY 2 was released), and I think they executed the entire plot of the movie in a very smart and good-hearted way: the movie was light-hearted when it needed to be, and also heavy and emotional when it needed to be... I hate to admit it, but yes, this movie made me cry when I first watched it... in case anyone still hasn't seen it, I'm leaving my review a little vague so as not to spoil any details.
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:36 pm
Finally got to see SAVING MR. BANKS the other night, it was pretty darn good if I do say so myself; I wasn't sure if I would be able to buy Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, somehow half the time I see Tom Hanks in a movie, I just can't get invested in the character he's playing, and it always comes off to me as Tom Hanks pretending to be someone else (if that makes sense), but I guess I'd have to say that Hanks was a lot more convincing that I had thought, because after a while, I wasn't even thinking about it, I was invested too much into the actual story to concern myself with it. Number of familiar faces in it too, like Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman. Makes me feel bad for never actually seeing all of MARY POPPINS in its entirety.
One thing that really interested me was the first-name basis at Disney, and that Walt himself hated being refered to as Mr. Disney... there's a documentary that pops up on cable from time to time, and I remember when talking about THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, he wanted the Mousekateers to call him, "Uncle Walt", but those kids had so much respect and admiration for him that they couldn't help but refer to him as Mr. Disney.
Post by chriswb504 » Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:24 pm
I just saw the Delivery Man. It was cute.
Post by chriswb504 » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:47 am
Picture 1616.jpg
Getting ready to watch the original movie of M*A*S*H, which predated the television show by about three years. I have been been a big fan of the TV show for years, and I have seasons 1, 2, & 8 on DVD, but this will be the first time that I have seen the movie! I was lucky enough to find the VHS tape for a quarter in excellent condition! I can't wait to see Donald Sutherland playing Hawkeye(Alan Alda's character in the television series), and Robert Duvall playing Frankl Burns(Larry Lynville's character in the TV show)!
Post by Big Daddy O'Reilly » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:52 pm
GREASER'S PALACE (1972)
As I posted in another thread, someone I know shared this with me.
So anyway, this a B-movie from 1972, directed by the insane Robert Downey, Sr. The basic plot of the movie is supposed to be like an alternate interpretation of the Bible, specifically the New Testament. The movie stars Allan Arbus (yep, our favorite shrink, Sidney Freedman), as Jessy (pronounced J.C.), the symbolic Jesus, who parachutes to earth, and makes a journey to Jerusalem to become an actor/singer, and along the way, exhibits some incredible feats that causes people to follow him almost everywhere he goes... this includes continually bringing back to life a man who keeps getting killed by his father, who thinks his son is gay. Oh yeah, the father owns a bar... or saloon... of some kind, called GREASER'S PALACE... which supposedly symbolizes the Catholic Church, I'm not entirely sure. But other of Jessy's spectacles include, of course, walking on water, and making a lame man... crawl again... Anyway, Jessy makes it to GREASER'S PALACE where the father Greaser's daughter (who I think is supposed to symbolize Satan) performs, but tanks... then Jessy does his little show-stopping number, to a sea of blank faces, until he removes his gloves and reveals the holes in his hands... suddenly, everybody loves him, which makes the daughter jealous, and has him crucified.
Something like that... I don't entirely understand this movie.
Oh yeah, and this is supposed to be a comedy. I think.
It's honestly one of the weirdest, strangest, most bizarre, and at times, frankly disturbing movies I've ever seen... it kind of gives me a better idea of why Allan Arbus made for such a convincing shrink on M*A*S*H... between stuff like this, and his deranged photographer wife, Diane, Allan seemed to live a pretty messed up life.
Post by chriswb504 » Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:19 am
Despite the negative reviews from critics, I actually enjoyed the re-make of "Endless Love". I thought that three main stars, Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde & Bruce Greenwood were great in it. I would give it a B+.
I saw Birds of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn yesterday. It was batshit crazy and pretty much felt like what I imagine a trip through an excessively violent funhouse high on LSD would look like. But I had fun watching it and despite some issues with certain parts of the film, it was well worth seeing. I gave it a 7 (call it 7 1/2 really) out of 10 on IMDB.
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A Letter from Noel Gunther
Tenth Anniversary Message
A letter from Noel Gunther, LD OnLine's executive director, on the relaunch of LD OnLine.
Hi, again. It's been 10 years since we launched LD OnLine – and 10 years since I wrote this piece letting the world know that we exist. At first, the world didn't much care. The Internet was just starting to take hold and at times only 30 or 40 people would visit our site all day. But LD OnLine now embraces an enormous community of users around the world. Each month, we serve more than 250,000 people in more than 100 countries… and we hear from many of you every day.
One thing hasn't changed in ten years. We still feel an enormous sense of responsibility: to find good information; to present it well; to respond when you contact us; and above all, to get things right.
LD OnLine is produced by WETA, the PBS station in Washington, D.C. We are, emphatically, a nonprofit. And like the best shows on public TV, we take complicated topics and do our best to present them in a thoughtful, appealing way. Since launching LD OnLine back in 1996, we've introduced two sister sites: ReadingRockets.org (teaching young children to read) and ColorinColorado.org (a bilingual site for the parents and teachers of English language learners). Elizabeth Campbell, the founder of WETA, used to say that there are three great educational institutions in America: the public schools, the public libraries, and public broadcasting. We try to live up to that.
How we keep the site going
Like most nonprofits, we piece together funding from multiple sources. We've had a lot of foundation support. We've had generous corporate donors like Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. We also rely increasingly on our online store and advertisements in our Yellow Pages. So when you buy a DVD from us, or place a Yellow Pages ad, you're making a major contribution to supporting LD OnLine.
We're completely independent editorially. We don't lobby or get involved in politics: we report on what's happening, but we don't try to influence the outcome. That's up to you.
We seek to serve everyone who is interested in learning disabilities and ADHD. That means parents and teachers of children with LD plus teens and adults with learning disabilities, principals, tutors, school psychologists, speech pathologists, researchers, university students, and many others.
We try to be:
This is our primary goal. The questions we take on are critical in people's lives: How to teach a student who's struggling. How to help a child who feels isolated or rejected. How to obtain the services that a child or adolescent badly needs. And how to make a successful transition to the world of college or work. We aim to be accurate, up-to-date, and research-based.
We have a lot of long-time users: veteran teachers, knowledgeable principals, parents who have been with us for years. But this is not a private club. We try to make our site inviting to everyone – including the parent or first year teacher visiting the site for the first time who may not even know what a learning disability is.
Children with learning disabilities often struggle at school. And because learning disabilities can affect your social skills, kids with LD sometimes have difficulties making friends and keeping them. We try to be mindful of the social side of LD, as well as the academic side.
Louisa Moats once said: "Teaching reading IS rocket science." Like her, I'm in awe of great teachers. You have to know a subject inside out, explain it well, connect with all kinds of children, and show up for work at 8:00 every morning ready to perform in front of a crowd. That's a tough job.
Learning disabilities touch every corner of our society. Our site seeks to serve women and men; whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians; rich, middle class, and poor; people with disabilities – everyone.
Many users come to us frustrated or upset. Their children are struggling, or they are. We don't have a magic pill. But we do our best to present proven, sensible ideas for making things better.
We aim to have simple navigation, appealing graphics, and to be especially open to text readers and other assistive technology. We're committed to the idea of universal design, so that our site can serve the needs of people with visual impairments, hearing problems, and other disabilities as well. We value clear, jargon-free writing and video content that's well-produced. Some nonprofit sites are worthy but dull. We try to be lively.
Many sites serve only parents, or only teachers, or only principals. We try to serve everyone, and to pull back the curtain that often separates home and school. We'd like parents to see what teachers are doing, and teachers to understand what parents experience. We offer bulletin boards where a worried parent can post a question at midnight and find a helpful response fifteen minutes later. We offer a lot of first person material, too, from adults and children. Much of that content is very personal, and deeply moving. We've tried to create an environment where people can support each other.
Who's helped out
From the beginning, LD OnLine has lived with soaring dreams and a modest budget. We're deeply indebted to the many people who have contributed their ideas, energy, and expertise.
Candace Cortiella (1996-2000), Kathleen Ross-Kidder (2000-2003), and Karen Lange (2004-present) have managed the site with intelligence, passion and skill.
Rick Lavoie, Matt Cohen, Larry Silver, and Louise Spear-Swerling have generously contributed content and guidance over a long period of time.
Sally Bowles, Shirley Cramer, Laura Rogers, and Neil Sturomski are among the many people who have offered thoughtful suggestions and advice.
Pam McKeta adeptly managed our recent overhaul, with stellar contributions from Caron Baker, Kelly Deckert, Todd Holden Sun Kim, Karen Lange, Joanne Meier, Lia Salza, Stacey Schwartz, Jess Snyder, Anne Chesnut, and HZDG.
And we've had hundreds of people who have made a difference by writing articles for the site, including us in their newsletters, inviting us to their conferences, distributing flyers, and gently deflecting our weaker ideas and correcting our mistakes.
Finally, we are enormously grateful to Rayna Aylward, Nanci and Alison Bell, Laurie Bouchard, Sally Bowles, Suzanne and Jeffrey Citron, Sylvia Clark, Alexa Culwell, Laura Hobart, Stewart Hudson, Lois Mitchell, Peggy O'Brien, William Pease, Ian Portnoy, Steve Rossi, Jodell Seagrave, and Burton Tremaine, John Tremaine, and their extraordinary family for believing in us enough to underwrite our work. They, and their organizations, have made it possible for us to serve you.
Noel Gunther
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Lagos State Govt to recover 250 acres of land in Ikorodu from land grabbers
The Lagos State Government has ordered the state Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit to recover 250 acres of land in Gberigbe, Ikorodu, allegedly taken over by a land grabber.
It was gathered that the land was given to a family for farming in the 80s by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
The acres of land were, however, taken over by the land grabber, who the government also accused of selling them and pulling down over 12,000 palm trees in the farm.
It was gathered that employees of the farm were sent away from the farm by the land grabber.
The Chairman of the task force, Mr. Akeem Adedeji, said the state government would not condone illegal eviction of rightful landlords from their property by miscreants, adding that the era of land grabbing in Lagos was over.
Adedeji said in line with the governor’s directive, the unit would move into the Ikorodu area and serve notices to quit on present occupants of the land, who he said, must have bought their property from the land grabbers.
He said, “Sequel to his passion to make life easy for every citizen, Governor Ambode told us to follow due process in our enforcement.
“So, we will go to the land to serve notices to quit to whoever is occupying the land. The occupant will be served papers, the structures found on the land will be marked, after which we will recover the land. The essence is to enable them to present their documents if indeed they have any.
“They will be notified, but the land will be recovered to the government in accordance with the governor’s directive.”
Credit: Sesan Olufowobi/Punch
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Home Local News Rosemère to report on its flood-preparedness in February
Rosemère to report on its flood-preparedness in February
Report expected on network of dikes along Rivière des Mille Îles
Rosemère mayor Eric Westram is seen here during the Oct. 15 meeting of town council.
After commissioning a consultant’s report last June on the state of Rosemère’s three anti-flood dikes along the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Rosemère town council reported during the Oct. 15 council meeting that a final report will be tabled in February.
Three flood dikes
The dikes are located along Belleville St. in eastern Rosemère, around the centre of the town on Skelton St. and in the west near the Exo commuter railway line.
“The mandate was granted with the goal of evaluating the security of the dikes and to furnish us with recommendations and possibly with stabilization work to be done if necessary,” said Councillor René Villeneuve who is responsible for the dossier.
While suggesting that council has been receiving initial information from the consultant in bits and pieces, Villeneuve said they would be providing residents with more conclusive information as soon as it becomes available.
Flood protections sought
On the other hand, regarding another mandate that was granted to analyze sectors of the town not protected against spring flooding from the Rivière des Mille Îles, Villeneuve said experts will be guiding town officials as they seek ways to protect built-up and natural areas vulnerable to flooding.
“This analysis will allow the town to put into place an intervention and management scenario,” he said. “As well, protective measures will be suggested taking into account legal considerations and environmental impacts.” He said the above actions should take around four months to complete and the town should have a final report at the end of February 2020.
Rosemère town councillor René Villeneuve delivered a report on the state of the town’s network of anti-flood dikes during the Oct. 15 public meeting of Rosemère town council.
Permits needed from Ministry
“Once we have received the first orientation of that mandate, we will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to obtain the authorizations necessary in order to revise the protection measures because we must ask permission from the Ministry of the Environment.”
In closing, Villeneuve said he wanted to point out that the Town of Rosemère was able to obtain a subsidy from the federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund covering 80 per cent of the future work likely to be recommended for the town’s current dike network.
Report on public security
Reporting on the state of public security in Rosemère, Councillor Philip Panet-Raymond said a public security plan has been updated to take into account natural disasters which could happen in the future. The plan was modeled on an example provided by the Quebec Public Security Ministry, he added.
“This plan allows us to respect regulations for procedures to follow for security alerts and mobilization and the means to take to protect security of people and property in case of disasters, while encouraging reflection on the risks of disaster on the territory of our municipality in order to take into account concerns in the context of preparation for disasters,” he said.
High mark from Ministry
Panet-Raymond said the town’s civil security plan aims for continuing improvement, as well as the development of a civil security framework centred on the well-being of the municipality. He noted that following the plan’s update by town personnel, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security gave the new plan a 92 per cent grading.
“This should be reassuring to us all,” he said. “The town is giving to itself the mission of maintaining up to date its plan to keep abreast with new regulations regarding civil security, to work in concert with its front-line operational partners, that is the firefighters and the police, and to maintain a constant contact with the Ministry of Public Security.”
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Various DC Anthologies – Bizarro Comics Volume 1
Bizarro Comics
Well, the book I’ve been holding my breath for since I heard about it in the planning stages is finally here. All the best small press people, all in one book! All Bizarro stories, all the time! Little seen talents finally getting a chance to shine on the big stage! And the end result is… mixed.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, there are moments in here that make it worthwhile, enough so that I can recommend getting it. You could probably wait for the softcover to come out and save $10 or so, because there’s nothing in here that couldn’t wait a few months. If you don’t know the concept, DC apparently decided to give all these “no name” people a chance. If anybody knows the complete story behind this book, let me know. I’m curious as hell to see how this got organized. And whose decision was it to put pairings on all of the stories instead of just letting one person shine? Granted, some of the pairings boggle the mind: Dylan Horrocks and Jessica Abel, James Kochalka (writing and not drawing!) and Dylan Horrocks, Jef Czekaj and Brian Ralph, Eddie Campbell and Hunt Emerson, Ivan Brunetti and Evan Dorkin, Evan Dorkin and Steven Weissman… it’s a hell of a list, don’t get me wrong. But most of these guys spend their time doing their own thing and I think it would have flowed a lot better if they had been allowed to do that here. Granted, you would have to bring in a color guy for most of these people that have never used it, but they do everything else themselves.
The story (such as it is) is this: a creature called A comes to Mxyzptlk’s world to try and take over. He challenges M to a best-of-seven of games, but M is disqualified and has to choose a champion. Remembering his past problems, he chooses Superman but can’t find an appropriate alternate universe substitute after the original one doesn’t believe him, and accidentally chooses Bizarro. Make sense? It doesn’t matter. Bizarro decides to win the contest by drawing a bunch of stories, and these stories are all the ones by the small press folks. When it goes back to the “story”, these comics are promptly forgotten about and the challenges begin, but not before they get an insult or two off about the quality of the comics. Which, I’m sure, is just an insult in the story directed at Bizarro and not the creators, but it’s pretty easy to take it the wrong way. The main story takes up about 60 pages of a 236 page book, which wouldn’t be that bad if it didn’t mostly suck. It has a few moments, but the thought that this story was expanded upon at the expense of some of these extremely talented guys doesn’t make sense at all to me.
Flipping through this again to write this, I see that I enjoyed almost all of the shorts in this. I didn’t really like Wonder Girl vs. Wonder Tot, Help! Superman!!, Batman, and The Most Bizarre Bizarro of All! Compare that to the 23 other stories that I liked a lot, and it looks like they have a winner here. The Bat-man (by Chip Kidd and Tony Millionaire and strangely, the only black and white story in the book) is brilliant. Old school classic Batman here, and he’s ugly as hell. Hawkman (James K. and Dylan Horrocks), while not drawn by James, has the same feel that I’ve come to know and love from all his work. Kamandi (Nick Bertozzi and Tom Hart) takes the cake for me as the best story in the book, but I’m hopelessly biased because Tom Hart drew it. That’s Really Super, Superman (Ivan Brunetti and Evan Dorkin) is a close second, and First Contact (Mark Crilley and Andi Watson), about the Atom, is up there too.
I was expecting a hell of a lot from this book, and I’m not sure that I got it. What I did get, however, is a thoroughly entertaining look at a lot of DC universe told through the eyes of some of the most talented people working in comics today. If I cared at all about the characters this probably would have been a great book, or maybe if they had allowed them to work by themselves, or maybe if DC had given them a little more room (and a lot more people. The names excluded here are too numerous to mention, although I am surprised and gratified by some of the selections) to the creators. All in all, if you like even half the people in this book, get it. If you like Evan Dorkin, Sam Henderson or Dylan Horrocks, they’re all in here a few times writing and drawing but not, as I’ve made pretty clear by now, doing both things at once. The Matt Groening cover makes the book, too. And yes, I did see the Dan Clowes cover in The Comics Journal and I thought it was great, but I think this is a better cover for the tone of the book.
Comments Off on Various DC Anthologies – Bizarro Comics Volume 1
Tags: Andi Watson, Bizarro Comics, Brian Ralph, Chip Kidd, Dylan Horrocks, Eddie Campbell, Evan Dorkin, Hunt Emerson, Ivan Brunetti, James Kochalka, Jef Czekaj, Jessica Abel, Mark Crilley, Nick Bertozzi, Steven Weissman, Tom Hart, Tony Millionarie
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New Music Review: Kid Cudi – “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager”
★★1/2
Don’t be scared off by the rating, since the rating applies to the album as a whole and not the outstanding work put in by Kid Cudi on a couple of tracks. Furthermore, when is the last time you saw me review a hip hop (if that’s how you classify this guy) album?
Cudi is mostly known for his hit “Day ‘n Nite”, which featured some catchy electronics and saw mainstream success. He’s also got a little bit of a rep in the indie circles, playing to festivals full of fans who normally would never touch the genre and teaming up on tracks with likes of MGMT and Ratatat. For the most part Cudi falls into the patterns that makes me dislike hip hop, and I’ll admit most of this is because I don’t relate at all to barely anything most hip artists sing about. But underneath it all is an artist who pulls off creativity as well as any of his counterparts, on full display when he teams up with Cee Lo Green for the fantastic “Scott Mescudi vs. the World” or on the album’s best track, “Revofev”. The sounds on songs like “Ghost!”, the atmospheric vibe on “Mr Rager” and the positive 90’s rock vibe on “Erase Me” showcase an artist who transcends genres. Sure, Kid Cudi is hip hop, but barely.
Like many hip hop album, the track list is bloated, checking in at 17 tracks. This is a shame because it waters the good stuff down. A 10 or 11 track album where the bottom feeders are cut could have let to a great album, but as it is there is plenty here to enjoy.
Gerald L January 28, 2011 at 8:31 AM
I have gone out out with two women in their late 30's-early 40's, white, that love hip-hop. Why is that? I am not into for the same reason you aren't, just can't relate.
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Home News MONE & PCBS: issue a joint press release on the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on economic/business establishments during (5/3/2020 – 31/
Ministry of National Economy (MONE) and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) issue a joint press release on the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on economic/business establishments during (5/3/2020 – 31/5/2020)
Ministry of National Economy (MONE) and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), with a financial support by the World Bank, conducted a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on business establishments. The preliminary results of the sample (2600 establishments) indicated that the Coronavirus pandemic made business establishments suffer from demand and supply shocks and financial shocks which, in return, made establishments turn to take financial and administrative measures as well as digital solutions to face the impacts of the pandemic.
The results of the survey are one of the MONE initiatives to empower the private sector in Palestine, through adopting different policies in this sector. Thus, the ministry took the initiative to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the private sector through a project for supporting the innovations of the private sector. This project is funded by the World Bank for the benefit of MONE, and is being conducted by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) in cooperation with PCBS.
The importance of this survey lies in identifying the needs of business establishments that emerged due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also aims to help MONE, in cooperation with partners, to design programs that are responsive to the needs of the effected business establishments to ensure their recovery and return to market or to continue their businesses, according to results and outcomes of the surveys.
Ministry of National Economy (MONE) also presented the previous and the mutual efforts made with cooperation with Ministry of Finance for supporting more than 70 establishments negatively affected by the pandemic, within the COVID-19 Rapid Response Programme funded by the World Bank and implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) at a value of USD 800 thousand.
More than two thirds of the establishments were closed for about one month and a half during lockdown period (5/3/2020 – 31/5/2020), where closure centered in the sector of services in Bethlehem Governorate; thus, 63% of establishments suffered from stoppage in supplies related to production inputs such as raw materials and production requirements. In addition, there was a decline of about the half in the production level or the size of sales, where 14% of Palestinian establishments had to let part of their employees go, in order to face this crisis.
71% of the establishments were closed for various periods
Final results indicated that 71% of establishments (92% in the West Bank and 27% in Gaza Strip) were closed for many days due to the restriction measures taken by the government enforcing the necessity of closure as a preventative measure for fighting the Coronavirus outbreak.
The percentage of the closure days during the lockdown period (5/3/2020 – 31/5/2020) was (51%) concentrated in services activity, where the percentage of closure days for this activity reached (68%) and it reached (54%) for the industry activity. While the percentage of closure days for the activities of transport and trade reached (56%) and (42%), respectively. Also, the biggest percentage of closure was centered in Bethlehem Governorate for a period of more than two months.
Demand Shocks: (An average sales/production decline by 50% compared with normal situation)
Most of the establishments reported that sales/production size has decreased during the three months of the lockdown by (93%), with a decline in the average sales/production by 50% compared with normal situation, where establishments operating in construction sector recorded the highest decline of the average sales/production by (56%), followed by establishments operating in the services sector with a decline of (56%).
Ministry of National Economy explained that the main reason behind such decline in the production and sales size at the establishments is linked to the decline of consumption in general, where consumption recorded a decline of more than 5% during the lockdown period. Also, the decline in the production of the construction sector is due to the fact that sectors with high priority needed to secure health and food security for citizens to face the health pandemic during the times of lockdown were operated only.
Moreover, food and pharmaceutical industries, including preventative and medical requirements were operated as well as supply chain industries such as plastic and paper industries, in addition to ensuring the flow of food subsidies/goods movement and facilitating domestic and export trade movement.
Furthermore, the pandemic negatively impacted several industries, causing them to stop working, especially tourism and crafts, which were stopped completely, while shoe, leather, clothing/garment businesses were stopped partially.
Supply Shocks: (63% of establishments reported having difficulties in the supply of inputs and raw materials)
63% of the establishments reported having difficulties in the supply of inputs, raw materials or finished goods and purchased materials (69% in the West Bank and 49% in Gaza Strip). Hence, economic activities suffering the most from this difficulty were construction sector with a percentage of (73%), trade sector at (71%) and industry sector at (69%).
MONE indicated that the closure of world markets and the confusion and slowdown resulted from such global closure in the supply chain at the world level was one of the main reasons that led to the difficulty of providing production inputs of raw materials. In addition to the countries inability to export basic material because they were suffering from the same pandemic and the economies of countries were also impacted.
Nonetheless, the great efforts made by MONE to provide the necessary raw materials in an exceptional manner, especially those raw materials that are essential for the industry/production of sanitizers and masks, are worth mentioning. In addition to its efforts in facilitating operating and turning some vital industries, such as garment and cosmetics industries to producing necessary medical supplies and requirements, most importantly, sanitizers and masks. It is also worth mentioning that, during the times of the pandemic, about 53 industrial establishments were established and operated that work on the production line of preventative and medical requirements.
Financial shocks: (89% of the establishments are facing a decline in the availability of cash flow)
89% of the establishments are facing a decline in the availability of cash flow, which affected the percentage of returned checks that increased to reach 36% (48% in the West Bank and 10% in Gaza Strip). Also, 59% of the establishments reported having a difficulty in the provision of financial services that are usually available in the normal situation.
Accordingly, the government, with guidance from the Palestinian leadership, took several steps and measures to face the unavailability of cash flow during the lockdown period, in terms of shifting the financial support provided from projects funded by donors to face the health pandemic and to provide cash flow for establishments and individuals to ensure the continuity of their businesses. Additionally, some facilitations were made for companies to hold the meetings of the general bodies in accordance to the health measures requirements, in order to distribute profits on stakeholders, where the total of distributed profits reached USD 130 million, and the number of beneficiaries reached 46 thousand, as well as accelerating the authentication/accreditation of funding non-profit organizations in order to pump cash into the Palestinian market at a value of USD 25 million, as most of it was concentrated in the southern governorates.
Financial Adjustment Mechanism: (37% of the establishments had to have delay payments to suppliers and employees to face shortage in cash flow)
37% of establishments had to have delay payments to suppliers and employees, whereas 36% of them had to get loans from friends, family, relatives to cover the shortage in cash flow.
Impact on employment: (14% of establishments had to let their employees go in order to face the financial crisis)
As a response to COVID-19 pandemic, 14% of the establishments had to dismiss and let go their employees to face the financial crisis resulted from the Coronavirus pandemic.
Whereas 9% of the establishments reduced the salaries and wages of their employees, and 11% of them gave their employees unpaid leave while 9% of them gave their employees a paid leave.
Use of Digital Solutions: (12% of the establishments started using or have increased the use of digital solutions as a response to COVID-19 outbreak)
12% of the establishments started using or have increased the use of internet, online social media networks, specialized apps or digital platforms in response to COVID-19 outbreak; whereas the main use of such digital solutions was for marketing with a percentage of 67%, 54% for business administration and 44% for sale. According to the results of the survey, there is a direction by the government to turn into digital economy, where MONE managed to make its services available online to ensure the fulfillment of transactions, especially import and export operations. Moreover, there are relentless efforts made by MONE to provide technical support for establishments for training them on the requirements of shifting to online services and qualify staffs to face the emerging needs.
During the last three months (88 days) starting from March 5th until May 31st, 2020), establishments reported that the percentage of employees who are currently working remotely from home was 5% of the total number of employees; mainly in the telecommunication sector (17% of the total number of employees) and construction sector (12% of the total number of employees). The main results also showed that the highest percentage of employees who were working remotely from home was among large establishments with a percentage of (14%).
Needed policies: (72% of establishments chose utility subsidies as the most needed policies to support their businesses)
72% of the establishments chose utility subsidies such as electricity, water, wastewater, internet services, and others, as the most needed policies to support their businesses over COVID-19 crisis. While 53% of the establishments chose exemptions or tax deductions, followed by salary subsidies with 53% and 51% for rental deferral.
Furthermore, (MONE) considered that those priorities might identify the interventions that are to be designed with donor partners in order to face the effects of the health pandemic. The ministry confirmed the readiness and willingness of the World Bank to increase its support of USD 9 million, including programs for supporting establishments negatively impacted by the health pandemic of COVID 19.
Future vision: (47% of the establishments expect a decline in production for the next 3 months compared to the same period last year)
The expected percentage change in production for the next three months* that establishments anticipated to be was a decline by 47% compared to the same period last year. As for the number of employees, they expected that it will decline by 24%.
* The next three months are the months following the lockdown period after 31/5/2020.
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US biopharma drug approvals nearly double, study finds
US regulatory approvals for new biopharmaceuticals nearly doubled in the last decade compared to the 1990s, but developers face substantial challenges if they are to maintain that pace, according to a new report.
65 biopharmaceutical products received marketing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during 2000-2009, compared to 39 in the previous decade and just 13 in the 1980, says the study, which is published by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD).
"While the strong growth in approvals is positive news for biotech companies and patients alike, biopharmaceutical development remains complex and developers face substantial challenges if they are to continue winning approvals at the pace of the last decade," cautions study author Janice Reichert, a research assistant professor at Tufts University.
For example, she points out that average combined clinical and approval phase times for biopharmaceuticals rose to 95 months during the 2000s, up from 77 months in the 1990s.
"Moving forward, developers will be under pressure to further streamline the development process to assure greater consistency across compounds and within disease areas," Prof Reichert forecasts.
Her study also reports that: - as a percentage of all new biopharmaceuticals approved by the FDA, recombinant protein products increased slightly, from 54% in the 1980s to 57% during the 2000s; - new biopharmaceutical product approvals were more evenly distributed in six therapeutic categories during the 2000s compared to 1980-1989 and 1990-1999; and - for new biopharmaceuticals approved during 2000-2009, neither orphan or fast-track designation had a substantial impact on the average time from initiation of clinical study to FDA marketing approval.
Meantime, Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) has said she expects the agency to approve more new drugs this year than the 21 for which it granted marketing authorisations last year.
The annual total remains far below the record 53 new products approved in 1996, but Dr Woodcock says the agency is seeing more successful products coming out of investments made a decade or more ago and that she is expecting a "gradual" increase in new medicines.
"What we think we are seeing is the nadir has been reached and we're coming up the other side," she said, speaking at the Reuters Health Summit in New York.
More incentives needed for orphan development, US hearing told
US orphan drug numbers have soared, says new study
US study finds slowdown in biomedical research funding
US FDA drug approvals up slightly; official tells industry: “do your part”
http://www.csdd.tufts.edu
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Get Library of Celsus essential facts below. View Videos or join the Library of Celsus discussion. Add Library of Celsus to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media.
Facade of the Library of Celsus
Facade of the Library of Celsus at sunset.
The Library of Celsus is an ancient Roman building in Ephesus, Anatolia, now part of Selçuk, Turkey. The building was commissioned in the 110s A.D. by a consul, Gaius Julius Aquila, as a funerary monument for his father, former proconsul of Asia Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus,[1][2] and completed during the reign of Hadrian, sometime after Aquila's death.[3][4] The library is considered an architectural marvel, and is one of the only remaining examples of a library from the Roman Empire. The Library of Celsus was the third-largest library in the Roman world behind only Alexandria and Pergamum, believed to have held around twelve thousand scrolls.[5] Celsus is buried in a crypt beneath the library in a decorated marble sarcophagus.[6][7] The interior measured roughly 180 square metres (2,000 square feet).[8]
The interior of the library and its contents were destroyed in a fire that resulted either from an earthquake or a Gothic invasion in 262 C.E.,[9][7] and the façade by an earthquake in the tenth or eleventh century.[10] It lay in ruins for centuries until the façade was re-erected by archaeologists between 1970 and 1978.[11]
Celsus enjoyed a successful military and political career, having served as a commander in the Roman army before being elected to serve as a consul in Rome in 92 C.E.[3] Celsus, a native of Sardis, was one of the first men from the Greek-speaking eastern provinces to serve as a consul, the highest elected office in imperial Rome.[12] He was later appointed as proconsul, or governor, of Asia, the Roman province that covered roughly the same area as modern-day Turkey.[3] Celsus's son Aquila commissioned the library in his honor, though it was not completed until after Aquila's death. An inscription records that Celsus left a large legacy of 25,000 denarii to pay for the library's reading material.[4]
Library of Celsus, side view
The library operated as a public space for the city from its completion around 117-135 C.E. until 262. The main floor functioned as a reading room, lit by abundant natural light from the eastern windows. Shelves or armaria set into niches along the walls held papyrus book rolls that visitors could read, though borrowing would not have been permitted because copies of books were rare and labor-intensive to produce. Additional scrolls may have been held in free-standing book boxes placed around the room, in which case the library would have had a holding capacity of up to sixteen thousand scrolls.[13]
Plan of the Library of Celsus
The interior and contents of the library were destroyed by fire in 262 C.E., though it remains unknown whether this fire was the result of natural disaster or a Gothic invasion, as it seems the city was struck by one of each that year.[7][9] Only the façade survived, until an earthquake in eleventh or tenth century left it in ruins as well.[10]
Arete (personification of virtue) in the Celsus Library
Between 1970 and 1978, a reconstruction campaign was led by the German archaeologist Volker Michael Strocka. Strocka analysed the fragments that had been excavated by Austrian archaeologists between 1903 and 1904.[14] In the meantime, some of the architectural elements had been acquired by museums in Vienna and Istanbul. The absent fragments had to be replaced by copies or left missing.[11] Only the façade was rebuilt, while the rest of the building remains in ruin.
A marble statue of Celsus, which stood in the central niche of the upper storey of the Celsus Library. It is now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum[6]
The east-facing marble façade of the library is intricately decorated with botanical carvings and portrait statuary. Design features include acanthus leaves, scrolls, and fasces emblems, the latter being a symbol of magisterial power that alludes to Celsus's tenure as a consul.[15] The library is built on a platform, with nine steps the width of the building leading up to three front entrances. These are surmounted by large windows, which may have been fitted with glass or latticework.[16] Flanking the entrances are four pairs of Composite columns elevated on pedestals. A set of Corinthian columns stands directly above. The columns on the lower level frame four aediculae containing statues of female personifications of virtues: Sophia (wisdom), Episteme (knowledge), Ennoia (intelligence) and Arete (excellence).[17][18] These virtues allude to the dual purpose of the structure, built to function as both a library and a mausoleum; their presence both implies that the man for whom it was built exemplified these four virtues, and that the visitor may cultivate these virtues in him or herself by taking advantage of the library's holdings. This type of façade with inset frames and niches for statues is similar to that of the skene found in ancient Greek theatres and is thus characterised as "scenographic". The columns on the second level flank four podia, paralleling the aediculae below, which held statues of Celsus and his son.[3] A third register of columns may have been present in antiquity, though today only two remain.
The interior of the building, which has yet to be restored, consisted of a single rectangular room measuring 17x11 m, with a central apse framed by a large arch at the far wall. The apse contained a podium for a statue, now lost, that likely depicted Celsus, although some scholars have suggested it was Minerva, goddess of wisdom.[19] A crypt containing Celsus's sarcophagus was located beneath the floor of the apse.[20][16] It was unusual in Roman culture for someone to be buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a special honour for Celsus, reflecting his prominent role as a public official.
The three remaining walls were lined with either two or three levels of niches measuring 2.55x1.1x0.58 m on average, which would have held the armaria to house the scrolls.[21] These niches, which were backed with double walls, may have also had a function to control the humidity and protect the scrolls from the extreme temperature.[22] The upper level was a gallery with a balcony overlooking the main floor, creating a lofty spatial effect inside.[23] It could be reached via a set of stairs built into the walls, which added structural support. The ceiling was flat and may have had a central round oculus to provide more light.[24]
The design of the library, with its ornate, balanced façade, reflects the influence of Greek style on Roman architecture, which reached its height in the second century.
Portraiture of Celsus
The cuirassed statue of Celsus now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum was one of three statues of the building's patron located on the second level of the façade.[3] He is depicted with a strong jaw, curly hair, and a neat beard, Hellenizing portrait features that echo the stylistic choices of the building's façade.[15] The style imitates traits of Hadrianic imperial portraiture, suggesting that it was sculpted after the lifetime of not only Celsus, but of his son Aquila as well. The choice to depict him in full armor suggests that Celsus's descendants considered his military career memorable and a source of pride.
The building's façade was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 20 million lira banknote of 2001-2005[25] and of the 20 new lira banknote of 2005-2009.[26]
List of libraries in the ancient world
List of destroyed libraries
^ Swain, Simon (2002). Dio Chrysostom: Politics, Letters, and Philosophy. Oxford University Press. p. 57. ISBN 9780199255214. Nevertheless, in 92 the same office went to a Greek, Ti. Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, who belonged to a family of priests of Rome hailing from Sardis; entering the Senate under Vespasian, he was subsequently to be appointed proconsul of Asia under Trajan, possibly in 105/6. Celsus' son, Aquila, was also to be made suffectus in 110, although he is certainly remembered more as the builder of the famous library his father envisioned for Ephesus.
^ Nicols, John (1978). Vespasian and the partes Flavianae, Issues 28-31. Steiner. p. 109. ISBN 9783515023931. Ti. Julius Celsus Polemaeanus (PIR2 J 260) was a romanised Greek of Ephesus or Sardes who became the first eastern consul.
^ a b c d e Smith, R. R. R. (1998). "Cultural Choice and Political Identity in Honorific Portrait Statues in the Greek East in the Second Century A.D.". The Journal of Roman Studies. 88: 56-93. doi:10.2307/300805. ISSN 0075-4358. JSTOR 300805.
^ a b Casson, Lionel (2001). Libraries in the Ancient World. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 115.
^ Planet, Lonely. "Library of Celsus - Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved .
^ a b Hanfmann, George Maxim Anossov (1975). From Croesus to Constantine: the cities of western Asia Minor and their arts in Greek and Roman times. University of Michigan Press. p. 65. ISBN 9780472084203. ...statues (lost except for their bases) were probably of Celsus, consul in A.D. 92, and his son Aquila, consul in A.D. 110. A cuirass statue stood in the central niche of the upper storey. Its identification oscillates between Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, who is buried in a sarcophagus under the library, and Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus, who completed the building for his father
^ a b c "Celsus Library, Ephesos". Retrieved .
^ "Library of Celsus". Ancient History Encyclopedia. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 2020.
^ a b Clyde E. Fant, Mitchell GReddish, A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 194.
^ a b Clive Foss, Ephesus After Antiquity: A Late Antique, Byzantine, and Turkish City, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979, p. 134.
^ a b Hartwig Schmidt, 'Reconstruction of Ancient Buildings', in Marta de la Torre (ed.), The Conservation of Archaeological Sites in the Mediterranean Region (Conference, 6-12 May 1995, Getty Conservation Institute), Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, 1997, pp. 46-7.
^ Richard Wallace, Wynne Williams (1998). The three worlds of Paul of Tarsus. Routledge. p. 106. ISBN 9780415135917. Apart from the public buildings for which such benefactors paid - the library at Ephesos, for example, recently reconstructed, built by Tiberius Iulius Aquila Polmaeanus in 110-20 in honour of his father Tiberius Iulius Celsus Polemaeanus, one of the earliest men of purely Greek origin to become a Roman consul
^ Houston, George W. (2001). Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 193.
^ F. Hueber, V.M. Strocka, "Die Bibliothek des Celsus. Eine Prachtfassade in Ephesos und das Problem ihrer Wiederaufrichtung", Antike Welt 6 (1975), pp. 3 ss.
^ a b Smith, R. R. R. (1998). "Cultural Choice and Political Identity in Honorific Portrait Statues in the Greek East in the Second Century A.D.". The Journal of Roman Studies. 88: 56-93. doi:10.2307/300805. ISSN 0075-4358. JSTOR 300805.
^ a b Houston, George W. (2014). Inside Roman Libraries : Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. p. 189.
^ "Ephesus Library". www.kusadasi.biz. Retrieved .
^ Casson, Lionel (2001). Libraries in the Ancient World. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 116.
^ Houston, George W. (2014). Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. p. 191.
^ Makowiecka, El?bieta (1978). The origin and evolution of architectural form of Roman library. Wydaw-a UW. p. 65. OCLC 5099783. After all, the library was simultaneously the sepulchral monument of Celsus and the crypt contained his sarcophagus. The very idea of honouring his memory by erecting a public library above his grave need not have been the original conception of Tiberius Iulius Aquila the founder of the library.
^ Houston, George W. (2014). Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. pp. 189, 191.
^ Ephesus.us. "Celsus Library, Ephesus Turkey". www.ephesus.us. Retrieved .
^ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Archived 2009-06-03 at WebCite. Banknote Museum: 7. Emission Group - Twenty Million Turkish Lira - I. Series Archived 2008-11-22 at the Wayback Machine. - Retrieved on 20 April 2009.
^ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Archived 2009-06-03 at WebCite. Banknote Museum: 8. Emission Group - Twenty New Turkish Lira - I. Series Archived 2009-02-24 at the Wayback Machine.
Announcement on the Withdrawal of E8 New Turkish Lira Banknotes from Circulation Archived 2009-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, 8 May 2007. - Retrieved on 20 April 2009.
Boethius, Axel; J.B. Ward-Perkins (1970). Etruscan and Roman Architecture: The Pelican History of Art. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 397. ISBN 978-0-300-05290-9.
Casson, Lionel (2001). Libraries in the Ancient World. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09721-4.
Grant, Michael (1995). Art in the Roman Empire. London: Routledge. pp. 48-50. ISBN 978-0-415-12031-9.
Houston, George W. 2014. Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and their Management in Antiquity. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. IBSN 978-1-469-63920-8.
Robertson, D.S. (1964). Greek and Roman Architecture. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 289-290. ISBN 978-0-521-09452-8.
Scarre, Christopher (1995). The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-14-051329-5.
Smith, R. R. R. "Cultural Choice and Political Identity in Honorific Portrait Statues in the Greek East in the Second Century A.D." The Journal of Roman Studies 88 (1998): 56-93. doi:10.2307/300805.
"Greece and Asia Minor". The Cambridge Ancient History - XI. Cambridge University Press. pp. 618-619, 631. ISBN 978-0-521-26335-1.
"Library, Rome". The Brill's New Pauly Encyclopedia of the Ancient World, volume 7. Brill Leiden. 2005. p. 502. ISBN 978-90-04-12259-8.
classics.uc.edu, Architecture, classical studies, bibliography (Archived)
Virtual reconstruction of the Celsus library in Ephesus, Turkey
Coordinates: 37°56?20.9?N 27°20?26.7?E / 37.939139°N 27.340750°E / 37.939139; 27.340750
what was the library of celsus used for
Top Tourist Attractions Places To Visit In Turkey | Library of Celsus Destination Spot - Tourism in Turkey
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Cendrine Marrouat Photography: Ephesus, Turkey
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May 30, 2012 by Sandra Zellmer
Protecting Our Greatest Asset: Ratifying the Convention on Biological Diversity
Today’s post, co-authored by CPR Member Scholar Sandra Zellmer and Policy Analyst Yee Huang, is the fourth in a series on a recent CPR white paper, Reclaiming Global Environmental Leadership: Why the United States Should Ratify Ten Pending Environmental Treaties. Each month, this series will discuss one of these ten treaties. Previous posts are here.
Adopted and Opened for Signature on June 5, 1992
Entered into Force on December 29, 1993
Number of Parties: 193
Signed by the United States on June 4, 1993
Sent to the Senate on November 20, 1993
Reported favorably by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 29, 1994
Biodiversity is the range of variations in all forms of life, from the genetic level to the species level to the ecosystem level. This diversity of life sustains all processes on the planet, built up over the several billion years of the planet's existence. It has intrinsic as well as aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual values, and an economic value too. The diversity of plants and animals has contributed to more nutritious diets, an increased human lifespan, and treating treatable illnesses. Economists estimate that humans derive trillions of …
Spurred on by Industry, OIRA Weakens Rule to Prevent Fatigue-Related Aviation Catastrophes
May 30, 2012 by James Goodwin
Last December, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finalized a new aviation safety rule designed to prevent excessive pilot fatigue, a problem that had contributed to at least one high-profile airline disaster—the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash near Buffalo, New York, in February of 2009, which killed 50 and injured four—as well as to a disturbing series of mishaps and “near misses.”
It turns out that the rule took a mid-flight detour on its journey from proposal to final form, and that the way in which it was weakened along the way is a textbook example of how the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs manages, at the behest of industry, to override the plain meaning of statutes requiring regulation. The proposal, issued for public comment in September 2010, covered cargo-only pilots as well as passenger pilots. That made a certain sense, because while …
A Warning about Water Quality Trading in the Chesapeake
May 25, 2012 by Matthew Freeman
This Memorial Day weekend, boaters, swimmers, fishers and others will flock to the Chesapeake Bay to mark the traditional, if not quite calendrically accurate, beginning of summer. They'll bring their wallets with them, of course, thus supporting businesses and and jobs up and down the Bay. After a day in, on or near the water, many of them will tuck into a meal of crabcakes, made from blue crabs harvested in the Bay.
Recreation and commerce are two of the most important uses of the Bay, and certainly the best known. But another use, less advertised and far less understood, is as a dumping ground for pollution. Some of that pollution comes from rainwater runoff from roads and other hard surfaces, carrying motor oil and other substances into the Bay. Some comes from overfertilized lawns. And a significant chunk, including 44 percent of the Bay's …
Why We Need Administrative Agencies Like EPA
Following is the first of two Dan Farber blog entries reposted today from LegalPlanet.
Bureaucrats aren’t very popular. But consider the alternatives when it comes to dealing with environmental problems. Basically, bureaucrats are part of the executive branch of government. For instance, the head of EPA is appointed by the President and can be removed by the President at any time. (A few agencies such as the SEC enjoy some protection from presidential removal power, but that’s not true for any of the environmental agencies.) I explained in my last post why the free market won’t generally solve environmental problems. So that leaves the three branches of government: the courts, the executive branch, and Congress.
Most people who don’t like regulations also don’t like the idea of using courts to solve social problems. In the case of environmental problems, the reluctance is …
Why the Environment Requires Government Protection: Some Simple Economics
The The following is the second of two Dan Farber blog entries reposted today from LegalPlanet.
The key to understanding the economics of environmental protection is the concept of externalities. An externality is simply a cost that one person or firm imposes on another. In general, an externality means that an activity is causing more harm than it should.
Of course, a company or individual could decide to voluntarily correct the problem to eliminate the externality. But if the cost is significant, many people will not be altruistic enough to bear a heavy cost in order to help someone else. And corporations, which have a fiduciary duty to protect their own shareholders, are not in the business of being altruistic toward outsider.
If only a few people are on the receiving side of the externality, they might be able to enter a contract with the creator of …
Test Questions I Wish I'd Asked
May 21, 2012 by Robert Verchick
The end of the school year always leaves me wishing that I could have lectured more clearly or somehow covered more in my classes on environmental law and policy. There was really just too much to discuss. How does one do justice to all those doubtful arguments in support of the Keystone XL pipeline? It’s a job creator! A gasoline price cap! A floor wax! Or the continuing saga of how the Obama administration should reorganize the offshore drilling responsibilities assigned to the MMS, I mean BOEMRE, I mean BOEM/BSEE. And there is never enough time to test it all.
This year I’ve assembled a few questions that have been on my mind this semester but that didn’t make it onto the exam. (Answers are posted at the bottom of this page). By the way, if you’re a regular reader of CPRBlog …
EPA's Proposed Chemicals of Concern List Under OIRA Review for Two Years: That Goose is Cooked
May 11, 2012 by Matt Shudtz
Two years ago tomorrow, Saturday, EPA sent a seemingly modest idea over to the White House for a quick review. The agency wanted to establish a simple list of “chemicals of concern.” These weren’t chemicals that were necessarily going to be subject to bans or other restrictions, but they present significant enough hazards and are distributed widely enough in the environment to raise some eyebrows among EPA’s toxics staff. Among the chemicals that were being proposed for inclusion on the list: phthalates, PBDEs, and BPA. The rule wasn’t expected to cost much, but EPA sent it to the White House anyway, probably because this was the first time the agency would use a particular statutory authority Congress first granted in 1972. But two years after EPA sent the proposal to the White House, it is still sitting on a desk somewhere at OIRA, and …
New Executive Order Skewed Toward Placating Regulated Industries: Obama Administration Continues Retreat from Protection of Public Health, Worker and Consumer Safety, and the Environment
May 10, 2012 by Rena Steinzor
President Obama issued the latest salvo in the Administration's efforts to placate the business community this morning, in the form of a new Executive Order called “Identifying and Reducing Regulatory Burdens.” The Order would expand and enhance the unfunded mandate that would require agencies to scour through the rule books, finding “excessive” rules that would save regulated companies big money. As I have written elsewhere in this space, the latest example of such an effort would jeopardize food safety by allowing huge poultry processors to self-inspect for salmonella, not incidentally making the lot of the workers who are already overburdened by workplace safety hazards close to intolerable.
The new order sugarcoats its regressive mandate by instructing agencies to seek “public comment” on regulatory “look-backs,” which in practice does not mean comments from mom and pop, who are unlikely to spend their spare time on regulations.gov …
Administration's Decision to Throw Young Agricultural Workers Under the Bus Fails To Sway Some Critics
May 9, 2012 by Ben Somberg
When the Administration withdrew a rule last month prohibiting young agricultural workers from performing some particularly dangerous tasks, the Department of Labor’s statement didnt't just say it was tabling the proposal, or reconsidering it, or even starting over from scratch. It went an extra step, adding: “To be clear, this regulation will not be pursued for the duration of the Obama administration.”
Given that farm accidents are a very real concern, it's hard to read such an unusually vocal commitment to inaction as anything other than a political gesture. Indeed, the Administration won plaudits from big ag and its supporters. But if the White House actually thought that throwing young agricultural workers under the bus would truly satisfy the appetite of the opposition – and change the politics of the issue – it was wrong.
Here was Janet Fisher, West Virginia’s Deputy Agriculture Commissioner, speaking …
The Pander Games: Big Ag, Hispanic Workers, and the Rush to Deregulate
May 8, 2012 by Rena Steinzor
Electoral politics or public policy? Policy or politics? One ripe example of how the White House rides herd on health and safety agencies, thinking about politics, not policy to determine what they should do, is provided by the latest poster child for curbing allegedly “excessive rules”: a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to take federal inspectors off the lines at poultry processing plants and substitute inspections by workers who would simultaneously cope with a speed-up on the line from 90 to 175 birds/minute.
According to White House regulatory czar Cass Sunstein, regulatory decisions made in the name of the President are based on an objective consideration of the merits of health and safety rules, and he has the paperwork to prove it. Executive Order 12,866, Executive Order 13563, Circular A-4, and a wad of memoranda intone just what kinds of detailed analyses agencies are …
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All posts tagged design
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AEG Facilities launches Global Solutions Division
Tags: AEG, AEG Facilities, AEG Facilities Global Solutions, construction, design, Facility management, master planning, operation, planning, venue
AEG Facilities has launched a new division to provide comprehensive management and planning services to sports and entertainment facilities worldwide. Read more
HOK comes off the bench as it acquires 360 Architecture
Tags: design, sport architecture
Comments Off on HOK comes off the bench as it acquires 360 Architecture
Architecture giant HOK has agreed to acquire the award-winning design firm 360 Architecture, re-establishing HOK in the sports and entertainment facility design sector and giving the firm a significant new presence in Kansas City, USA.
Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, HOK chairman and CEO said:
As a global design leader, it’s important for HOK to offer clients design excellence in sports architecture. 360 Architecture has created several of the world’s most innovative professional and collegiate sports facilities and their design-focused culture and values align with ours. Together, we will design the next generation of sports and entertainment facilities.
After starting HOK Sport in 1983, HOK became a pioneer in redefining sports facilities and the fan experience. HOK spun off its sports practice in 2008 and now expects to move back into the sector, finalising the acquisition of 360 Architecture by October.
Brad Schrock, AIA, senior principal at 360 Architecture, said:
Joining HOK enables us to take advantage of an exceptionally strong global platform and to expand our sports facility design practice while offering our clients additional expertise in other markets. We expect continued long-term growth.
John Rhodes, HOK’s director of sports and entertainment architecture in London, explained:
The next generation of sports and entertainment venues will benefit from a deeper understanding of the complexities of the sports business and the importance of brand celebration, loyalty and place. Future sports facilities will need to be integrated with other community facilities including parks, colleges, offices and hotels. With the addition of the 360 team, HOK will be one of the few firms in the world that can bring highly specialised design leaders in all these areas to a project.
Tom Waggoner, AIA, senior principal at 360 Architecture, added:
Our shared vision of collaborating across specialties and markets will strengthen the approach that has been so important to our clients’ success. Joining HOK also gives our dedicated, talented employees even more opportunities for growth, education and diversity in their careers. HOK is a great fit for our clients, our people and the Kansas City area.
Along with Schrock and Waggoner, 360 Architecture senior principals who will join HOK include George Heinlein, AIA, William Johnson, AIA, Tracy Stearns and Chris Trainer. In January 2014, John Rhodes, who collaborated on the design of the Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Master Plan with HOK, joined HOK as a director of sports and entertainment architecture in London. In December 2013, architecture and interior design firm BBG-BBGM’s New York and Shanghai employees joined HOK to elevate the firm’s hospitality practice.
360 Architecture’s wide-ranging work includes designing soccer stadiums in Iraq (pictured). The firm is participating on design teams for a retractable-roof, multipurpose stadium in Atlanta, which will be home to the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and a Major League Soccer expansion team; the renovation of Sun Life Stadium for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins; the Rogers Place arena for the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton, Alberta; the AT&T Center renovation for the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Texas; the design of Cisco Field, a proposed new ballpark for Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics in San Jose, California; and a new stadium for the MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes.
In the higher education sector, 360 Architecture is playing a major role in the design of Notre Dame University’s Campus Crossroads project in South Bend, Indiana, and the Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center at the University of Portland. The firm recently completed the design of recreation and wellness centers at Auburn University’s main campus in Auburn and at its campus in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition, 360 Architecture is involved in creating athletic facility master plans for the University of Missouri and the University of North Carolina.
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Toward a Rational Redistribution of Seats in Canada’s Senate
The current division of seats in the Senate of Canada provides neither representation-by-population nor provincial equality, nor any compromise between the two. It is based on no consistent formula or principle. It is an incoherent hodge-podge of obsolete nineteenth-century regionalism and later exceptions and adjustments. This paper proposes three fundamental principles that might assist future leaders in rethinking seat distribution. First, the obsolete regionalism that formed the basis of the current distribution of Senate seats ought to be abandoned and seats distributed on a strictly provincial basis; second, the distribution of seats ought to give some weight to the equal franchise of each province as a member of the Canadian federation; and third, to the extent that the number of seats held by each province is based on a variable (such as population), the constitution should entrench a formula responsive to that variable instead of a fixed allocation, to reduce the necessity of future constitutional amendments.
At present, there are 105 regular seats in the Senate. One province has four seats, five provinces have six each, two have ten each, two have 24 each, and the territories have one each. These various levels of representation are purely arbitrary, and not connected to population, geographic size, cultural distinctiveness or any other factor. The Prime Minister may appoint either four or eight extra Senators to pass contentious legislation. None of those extra Senators may come from Newfoundland and Labrador or any of the territories. Many Senators represent entire provinces, but many others choose a specific area within the province as their ‘senatorial designation.’ Only Quebec has permanently delineated senatorial districts. None of those districts are in Quebec’s north, so that region is formally without any representation in the Senate.
No wonder Peter McCormick, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge, told a Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform, “When I teach first-year students about the distribution of seats in the Canadian Senate, they laugh.”1
Another political scientist, David E. Smith, has called the distribution of Senate seats, “a maze of compromises, deals and agreements.”2
Tension between rep-by-pop and federalism
Whenever the prospect of rationalizing the distribution of seats in Canada’s Senate is raised, politicians naturally argue for whatever formula will bring their own provinces more seats. Those in more populous provinces are inclined to favour a system approximating representation-by-population, while critics in less populous provinces are more favourably disposed toward equal representation of all provinces. As populations have shifted, so too have provincial perspectives on the distribution of Senate seats.
The case for representation-by-population is simple. In a perfect democracy, it is argued, each citizen should have equal influence over the decisions of the nation. However, in the context of a federation this argument is not only simple, but simplistic. It fails utterly to comprehend the essence of a federation.
In a democracy, each citizen surrenders some measure of personal freedom in consenting to be bound by the decisions of an elected legislature. In return, each citizen is guaranteed an equal franchise – equal rights and freedoms before and under the law, including an equal vote.
This democratic social contract among citizens is paralleled by a federal union of states or provinces. Each member of a federation surrenders an equal measure of self-determination, and remains equally sovereign within a jurisdiction identical to those of the other members. Therefore, just as true democracy entitles each citizen to an equal franchise, so too it can be argued that a true federation entitles every member province to an equal franchise.
At the very least, a truly federal parliament must be so designed as to prevent it from being commandeered into the service of one or two populous provinces. It would be entirely illegitimate to allow all federal matters, including issues like equalization and inter-provincial trade, to be decided by a parliament in which two adjacent provinces can combine to control a majority of the seats in both houses, which would be the case were representation-by-population introduced in the Senate. Such a parliament would not be a federal parliament at all.
The fact that Ontario has 90 times as many people as Prince Edward Island does not derogate from this fundamental federal principle. Indeed, nearly every federal parliament has an upper house that gives equal representation to member states or provinces regardless of their populations. In the U.S.A., California has 30 times the population of Rhode Island. In Australia, New South Wales has 40 times the population of the Northern Territory. In Brazil, Sao Paulo has 115 times the population of Roraima. Yet these federations, plus Switzerland, South Africa and others, give equal representation to member provinces or states in the upper houses of their federal parliaments.
In Canada, representation-by-population is appropriate for the House of Commons. Each voter should be equally represented in the legislative body from which the government is drawn and to which the government is responsible. However, the federal principle demands that representation-by-population in the Lower House be balanced by giving less populous provinces greater weight in the Upper House. Preventing the subjugation of the smallest provinces to the largest is the raison d’être of the Senate. In the words of David E. Smith, “representation by population in the upper house as well as the lower… would strike at the very roots of the Confederation compromise.”3
However, despite the strong arguments for strict provincial equality in Canada’s Senate, it will almost certainly never be agreed upon. Therefore, some compromise is required. As Senator Donald Oliver has stated,
An effective Senate must distribute a sufficient number of seats to the under-populated regions to inspire confidence that their representatives could ensure the protection of their interests, while at the same time providing the populous regions with a plausible share – sufficient, at least, to be accepted at the intergovernmental bargaining table.4
The Compromise of Regional Equality
The Fathers of Confederation struck this balance through the principle of regional equality. George Étienne Cartier explained the initial distribution of Senate seats this way:
It might be thought that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick got more than their share in the originally adopted distribution, but it must be recollected that they had been independent provinces, and the count of heads must not always be permitted to out-weigh every other consideration.5
The Maritime Provinces invoked the same rationale in 1913, in a joint memorandum laying out their concerns about the potential impact of Canada’s westward territorial expansion on the balance of representation in the federal parliament:
Representation by population, while accepted as a guiding principle in fixing the representation of each province in the Dominion parliament, was intended to be made subservient to the right of each colony to adequate representation in view of its surrender of a large measure of self-government. A self-governing colony was something more than the number of its inhabitants.6
The Fathers of Confederation chose equal representation of regions as a way to bridge the gap between equal representation of citizens and that of provinces – between democratic principles and federal principles, the same polar forces that divide perspectives on the allocation of Senate seats today. Regional equality gave Lower Canada (Quebec) as well as the Maritimes greater representation in the Senate than mere population would suggest, but stopped short of equality for every province. This compromise was vital in closing the Confederation deal. In the words of George Brown, “On no other condition could we have advanced a step.”7
The Need for a New Compromise
Some compromise between provincial equality and representation-by-population remains vital to the success of the Canadian federation. However, it is clear that regional equality is no longer a viable foundation for that crucial compromise. At the time of Confederation, it was easy to view Canada as comprised of distinct regions, each with its own distinct political culture, social mores, economic structure and geographic circumstances. However, a century and a half of national evolution has rendered the nineteenth-century regional conception of Canada obsolete.
Coastal British Columbia, with its abundant marine resources and trade and immigration links to the Pacific Rim, has little in common economically, culturally or geographically with Saskatchewan. Energy-rich Alberta, the least taxed and least indebted jurisdiction in Canada, with a predominantly individualist and libertarian political culture, has little in common with Manitoba. Yet, for the purpose of determining representation in the upper house of the federal parliament, these four provinces are treated as a cohesive entity – ‘the West’.
It has always been recognized that Newfoundland and Labrador does not fit into the original regional model of Canada. Its physical isolation, sparse population and primary-resource-driven economy set it apart even from the Maritimes, and its virtually undiluted Anglo-Irish roots make it culturally and linguistically unique. It was also the only province to have been an independent country before joining confederation. Yet, due to its small population, it was not deemed to merit a full regional allocation of twenty-four Senate seats, so it received a seemingly arbitrary six seats, and is not treated as a part of any of Canada’s four traditional regions.
Ontario and Quebec are already acknowledged as regions unto themselves, and little need be said about the reasons for that status.
Indeed, every province in Canada can argue that its own character and circumstances merit an independent share of the seats in the Senate, rather than a share that depends on some archaic regional grouping of provinces.
As Smith has written, “In the eyes of each province, their Senators – or better still, their number of Senators—belongs to them.”8
As a corollary to that statement, in the eyes of each province only their number of Senators belongs to them. It is no assurance to British Columbians that ‘the West’ has as many Senate seats as Ontario, Quebec or the Maritimes. It is only important that British Columbia has a mere quarter of Quebec’s seat count, and that this differential is purely arbitrary rather than being driven by any calculation or principle.
It is instructive that the many and diverse proposals advanced in recent decades for the reallocation of Senate seats unanimously focus on provincial allocations, with no regard whatsoever for regional balance. This implies a consensus that the allocation of seats by region ought to be abandoned – that the nineteenth-century conception of Canada as a federation of regions ought to give way to a more accurate and modern view of Canada as a federation of provinces. No one defends the principle of regional equality anymore because there is simply no rationale for it.
Toward an Adaptive Allocation of Seats
The many proposals for reallocating Senate seats among the provinces and territories also share another trait. They suffer from the same fatal flaw as the original dispensation of seats. By assigning fixed numbers of seats based on variable conditions like population, they contain the seeds of their own obsolescence and guarantee the necessity for further constitutional amendments in the future.
To cite the most recent example, Senators Murray and Austin have proposed an increase in the number of seats for British Columbia and Alberta, and the designation of the former as a fifth region. They argue that population growth in these two provinces has shifted the delicate balance upon which Confederation was founded too far away from representation-by-population. However, their proposal is based on a current snapshot of population distribution, and would not endure future population shifts (not to mention the extreme unlikelihood that such a constitutional amendment would meet the approval of any province not directly benefiting from it).
The best way to resolve the distribution of Senate seats once and for all is to entrench in the Constitution an adaptive formula, rather than a fixed number of seats for each province. To the extent that the number of Senate seats allocated to each province is based on a static condition, such as the equal franchise of every province as a member of the federation, it should contain a static element, in the form of a guaranteed minimum. However, to the extent that seat allocations are based on a variable condition, such as population distribution, the Constitution should enable seat allocations to vary as that condition varies.
Taken together, these principles suggest a formula that distributes the majority of seats through a guaranteed minimum per province, with the remainder allocated according to each province’s share of the national population.
Such a formula for allocating Senate seats would be most effective if the Senate were previously or simultaneously made elective, for several reasons.
Requiring Senators to face elections would create regular opportunities for the number of seats per province to be adjusted according to population shifts. Prior to each election, the number of Senators to be elected in each province could be adjusted according to the most recent census.
Under the right election method, such as the single transferable vote, all incumbents and an unlimited number of challengers could still run even if the number of seats were reduced, so no incumbent would be forced to step down in order to adjust the number of seats.9
Making the Senate elective would also eliminate the Prime Minister’s power to appoint up to eight extra Senators to break a deadlock. These eight seats could then be added permanently to the usual 105, bringing the total to 113 seats, making it possible for most provinces to add to their current seat totals under any new distribution formula.
Finally, making the Senate elective would make any proposed reallocation more attractive even to those provinces that stand to lose seats. For example, Nova Scotia currently has roughly three per cent of Canada’s population, and the same share of the seats in the House of Commons. Although it has almost ten per cent of the seats in the Senate, this does little to increase Nova Scotia’s real influence in the federal parliament because the unelected Senate lacks the legitimacy to seriously contend with the elected House of Commons and influence legislative outcomes. It would be far better for Nova Scotia to have eight or nine percent of the seats in an elected Senate than ten percent of seats in a Senate that is largely marginalized because it lacks democratic legitimacy.
A Possible Formula
A simple example illustrates how the principles described above might be incorporated into a practical formula for the distribution of Senate seats.
Distributing sixty of those 110 seats equally among the provinces would establish a guaranteed minimum of six seats per province. This is the same number of seats currently held by half the provinces – Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – and two more than Prince Edward Island’s present allotment.
Given a Senate with 113 seats, allowing each territory to retain one seat would leave 110 seats to be distributed among the provinces.
Distributing the remaining fifty seats according to each province’s share of the total federal population would mean each province’s seat total could be calculated as 6 + p% x 50, where p is the province’s percentage share of Canada’s population. For example, British Columbia would currently receive 6 + 13.2% x 50 = 13 seats. The results for all provinces are shown in Table 1.
Under this formula seven provinces containing seventy-two per cent of Canada’s population would gain seats. The threshold of support for such a constitutional amendment prescribed by Section 38(1) of the Constitution Act (1982) – seven provinces with half the country’s population – would therefore be comfortably surpassed with the support of only those provinces that would gain seats.
It is interesting to note that the constitutional amending formula that must be satisfied in order to change the distribution of Senate seats provides a precedent for the application of all the principles proposed here for the distribution of Senate seats itself: it recognizes the equality of provinces in a federation (by allowing any four provinces regardless of population to defeat an amendment); it recognizes the importance of population in democratic representation (by allowing any combination of provinces containing a majority of Canadians to defeat an amendment); and it accommodates shifts in the relative populations of the provinces.
Political challenges
As Prime Minister Harper has acknowledged, “The issue of the representation of each province is perhaps the most difficult issue in the debate about Senate reform.”10
It is not my intent to deny or over-simplify the political challenges inherent in reallocating Senate seats. Reducing the proportion or absolute number of Senate seats belonging to any province is likely to be contentious, and most Prime Ministers would be very reluctant to suggest it. This is especially true of reducing Quebec’s share of seats.
Nor is the specific formula described above the only conceivable compromise between provincial equality and representation-by-population. The total number of seats in the Senate may be increased in order to lessen the decline in the absolute seat count of any province. The guaranteed minimum number of seats per province and the proportion of seats allocated according to population may also be adjusted. However, whatever formula is used, it must balance in some systematic way the duelling principles of representation-by-population and provincial equality, as these are the only two principles that have any validity as determinants of representation in a democratic federal parliament.
Unfortunately, for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec any mathematical compromise between these two principles must result in a decline from their current seat totals. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick currently have as many seats as they would receive under a completely equal distribution, and roughly four times as many as they would receive under representation-by-population; Quebec has the exact number of seats it would receive under representation-by-population, and nearly two-and-a-half times as many as it would receive under an equal distribution.
Although provincial unanimity on any redistribution of Senate seats may be politically desirable, it is not constitutionally required and is probably not attainable. While complaints from those with vested interests in the status quo, and all options for satisfying them, must be considered rigourously and in good faith, such complaints must not be allowed to permanently block a rational and principled modernization of the Senate.
Province/Territory Current Seats Population Share (2009) Guaranteed Number of Seats Extra Seats Based on Population Total Seats Under Sample Formula Change
British Columbia 6 13.2% 6 7 13 +7
Alberta 6 10.9% 6 5 11 +5
Saskatchewan 6 3.1% 6 2 8 +2
Manitoba 6 3.6% 6 2 8 +2
Ontario 24 38.7% 6 19 25 +1
Québec 24 23.2% 6 12 18 -6
New Brunswick 10 2.2% 6 1 7 -3
Nova Scotia 10 2.8% 6 1 7 -3
Prince Edward Island 4 0.4% 6 0 6 +2
Newfoundland and Labrador 6 1.5% 6 1 7 +1
Nunavut 1 0.001% 1 0 1 –
Northwest Territories 1 0.001% 1 0 1 –
Yukon Territory 1 0.001% 1 0 1 –
Totals 105 100% 63 50 113 +8
Representation-by-population and provincial equality are the only two principles that can legitimately bear upon representation in a legislature that is both democratic and federal in nature. A new mechanism for balancing those principles has become necessary in order to restore coherence and fairness in the distribution of seats in Canada’s Senate; the 19th century conception of a Canada comprised of four distinct and equal regions is simply defunct, and cannot be salvaged by any amount of fiddling.
This new mechanism should give smaller provinces enough seats to defend their interests, give populous provinces enough seats to secure the requisite level of approval at the intergovernmental bargaining table, and automatically accommodate future population shifts without perpetually inflating the total number of seats. A simple formula incorporating a guaranteed minimum number of seats with the remainder distributed by population could meet all these criteria while also complementing other necessary reforms such as making the Senate elective.
1. Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform, Evidence, September 20, 2006.
2. David E. Smith, The Senate of Canada and the Conundrum of Reform, Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy, (a paper prepared for presentation at The Federal Idea, A Conference in Honour of Ronald L. Watts, October 18-20, 2007, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario), p. 19.
3. Ibid., p. 8.
4. Address to Bridgewater State College, Boston, February 27, 2007.
5. House of Commons Debates, April 3, 1868, p. 455.
6. Memorandum on Representation of the Maritime Provinces, 1913. Cited in Smith, p. 9.
7. Legislative Assembly debates, February 8th, 1865. Cited in Canada’s Founding Debates, Janet Ajzenstat, Paul Romney, Ian Gentles and William Gairdner (Eds.), Toronto, Stoddart Publishing, 1999, p. 286.
8. David Smith, op. cit., p. 20.
9. For more on the advantages of the single transferable vote as a means of electing Senators in Canada, see Aaron Hynes, “Electing Senators by the Single Transferable Vote”, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Vol. 33 no. 1, Spring 2010, pp 40 – 45.
10. Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform, Evidence, September 7, 2006.
Author revparlcPosted on July, 2010 December, 2020 Categories FeatureTags Aaron Hynes
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Russia’s Useful Idiots
Posted on December 5, 2019 December 4, 2019 by Robert H Miller
Origin of the Term Useful Idiots
Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a master of propaganda and manipulation. To spread communism worldwide, Lenin recognized the need to transparently support socialist movements in foreign countries, but clandestinely subvert their governments. He found he could exploit individuals who, wittingly or unwittingly provided propaganda for communism, though not fully understanding it. He regarded those individuals contemptuously and, though never confirmed, many believe he described them with the disparaging term “Useful Idiots.”
All Lenin’s successors, from Joseph Stalin in 1924 to Vladimir Putin in today’s Russia, have followed Lenin’s strategy. First, identify the country’s Useful Idiots and create a message that appeals to their interests. Repeat that message continuously, incorporating another principle Lenin used quite effectively: “A lie told often enough becomes the truth;” Then watch Russia’s Useful Idiots go at it, subverting their own country.
Russia and the 2016 U.S. Election
Every U.S. Intelligence Agency has concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 U.S. election with the goal of electing Donald Trump. A study conducted by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee reached the same conclusion. But Trump, the self-proclaimed “genius,” creates his own facts and spreads them as gospel to his followers. And if, as he’s trumpeted, he won by a landslide and had the largest crowd ever to attend an inauguration, he certainly wouldn’t need any help to become President.
One obvious reason that Trump disputes the conclusions of our intelligence gatherers is his narcissism. But that is merely his personal flaw and frailty. Ordinarily, that would not put our country, and perhaps all NATO countries, in danger. However, it has become apparent that Trump cannot and will not accept Russia’s guilt because he’s heavily indebted to, and afraid of, Vladimir Putin.
When it comes to making a choice, Trump overtly sides with Russia at the expense of the United States. Driven as he is by fear and self-interest, damage to U.S. national security isn’t part of his calculations or concerns. In addition, his lack of insight and patriotism make him an easy mark. Either he’s too stupid to understand the enormous damage he’s doing, or he doesn’t care. However, with few exceptions, Republicans do understand, but have been willing to take on their new role as Russia’s Useful Idiots.
Republican Partisan Hacks – Representative Devin Nunes
Leading off is Russia’s Useful Idiot First Class, Devin Nunes, ranking member of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. You may remember him from 2017 when he publicly revealed classified foreign surveillance reports he received from the White House. His objective then was to blame the 2016 Russian interference on President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan E. Rice. Of course, he had no evidence and that accusation disappeared. In the words of Republican presidential candidate, Joe Walsh, Nunes “is a stupid, partisan hack.”
However, that fiasco did not deter Nunes from replicating the same clownish behavior during the current Trump impeachment hearings. He denigrates the hearings as a “circus,” and does his part in word and action to ignore or belittle serious, dignified career diplomats. And despite evidence and testimony to the contrary, he seems to feel obligated to promote the fabricated conspiracy theory created by Russia that baselessly insists Ukraine intervened in the 2016 election. But it doesn’t end there.
We’ve just learned Nunes has been secretly involved with certain sleazy characters known to be part of Trump’s Ukraine plot. So, here’s the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee investigating a crime in which he is a participant. A more ethical individual would recuse himself from participating in this investigation, but Nunes is clearly lacking in this regard. He is beyond just a partisan hack.
Though he enjoys the highest ranking as Russia’s Useful Idiot First Class, he is not the only Useful Idiot. More and more Republicans have signed up and joined the ranks, hoping to move up to Nunes’ rarified level. They understand the playbook well, offering that Russian fabrication to protect their “Great Leader” from impeachment.
Other Partisan Hacks
Representative Jim Jordan, a Russia’s Useful Idiot Second Class, joins Nunes. Without anything of substance to offer, his tactic is to personally attack the government officials who provide evidence of Trump’s wrongdoing. Jordan shouts unsubstantiated accusations at witnesses with rapid-fire bursts, frequently not allowing them to respond. When the chairman gavels him down to allow a witness to respond, Jordan interrupts and must be told politely to “shut-up.” Many commentators noted he was performing for an audience of one. But I suspect Putin enjoyed the theatrics as much as Donald.
More recently, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy joined the conspiracy theorists. However, he backtracked after being derided for his foolish comments. Responding to a question from Fox News’ Chris Wallace, Kennedy stated emphatically that no one could be sure Russia was the culprit in the 2016 election—it might have been the Ukraine! One day later he told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that the way Wallace posed the question led to his misunderstanding. On reflection, it was Russia and not the Ukraine. However, subsequently he asserted that there’s “no question” in his mind that Ukraine attempted to meddle in the 2016 U.S. election. With that level of mendacity, he’ll quickly move up to Russia’s Useful Idiot Third Class.
There is a brigade of other Republican senators and representatives who have signed up to become Russia’s Useful Idiots. But these three deserve special recognition for their obvious fealty to propaganda contrary to the best interests of the United States.
Lindsay Graham and Joe Biden
And last among the most outspoken, but certainly not least, is Senator Lindsay Graham, Russian Useful Idiot First Class. As I said in my last post, Lindsay Graham’s backbone disintegrated after the death of his mentor, Senator John McCain. Now he’s gone further down the rabbit hole chasing a hologram of Joe Biden. Trump and his political allies have pushed the debunked allegation that Biden called for the firing of a top Ukrainian prosecutor to protect his son, who once sat on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.
Biden did call for the prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, to be fired, and he used aid to Ukraine as leverage to make it happen. But it wasn’t because Shokin was investigating Burisma; it was because he wasn’t investigating corruption by Ukrainian politicians. In this, Biden was supported by the Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the U.S.’ European allies who believed Shokin was himself corrupt. This is the exact opposite of the reasons now given by Republicans. But spreading misinformation and fomenting confusion is part of a Russian Useful Idiot ‘s job.
Trump, and perhaps Putin as well, must see Biden as a threat. Investigating Joe Biden is an attempt to help Trump’s reelection, and distraction from the Democratic effort to impeach him. In fact, despite all the evidence uncovered thus far, Graham acts as if none of it has substance or meaning. After describing Adam Schiff’s hearings as “un-American,” he added, “I’m not going to create a country where only Republicans get investigated . . . And we’re going to ask questions of Hunter Biden’s role, and getting the prosecutor fired.”
The Ukraine Did It
And that is the tragedy of this entire episode. The truth of what transpired is clear and unambiguous, and most responsible Republicans know it. Trump held up military aid to the Ukraine until its new president agreed to announce an investigation of Joe Biden and the 2016 U.S. election. That is pure and simple bribery, an impeachable offense. But given their fear of being “primaried” and losing their positions, Republicans instead choose to be Russia’s Useful Idiots. They defend Trump with an argument right out of the Russian playbook. They claim the Ukrainians did it. And they refuse to be confused by the facts.
Fiona Hill: It’s Not the Ukraine
Born in England, Fiona Hill is an American by choice, having become a citizen in 2002. She is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical national security professional focusing on Europe and Eurasia, with special expertise in the former Soviet Union. She has served three presidents: National Security Advisor under Donald Trump and National Intelligence Officer under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She is regarded as one of the foremost experts on Russia and its antecedent, the Soviet Union.
In her appearance at the impeachment hearings, she related the following:
“Based on questions and statements I have heard, some of you on this committee appear to believe that Russia and its security services did not conduct a campaign against our country—and that perhaps, somehow, for some reason, Ukraine did. This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.
The unfortunate truth is that Russia was the foreign power that systematically attacked our democratic institutions in 2016. This is the public conclusion of our intelligence agencies, confirmed in bipartisan Congressional reports.”
Attempting to pass blame to the Ukraine for interference in the 2016 elections, while knowing there is conclusive evidence that it was Russia is unconscionable. It is tantamount to providing aid and comfort to an enemy—Russia, a country actively hostile to the United States. It is time for Republicans to step out of their role as Russia’s Useful Idiots and exercise their constitutional duty as responsible elected U.S. senators and representatives. Or are they just too cowardly to do so?
Posted in House representatives, impeachment, Joe Biden, National Security, Partisan politics, Putin, Russian agression, Trump, Trump Russia, trump-resistance, Ukraine, Uncategorized, Useful idiotsTagged #houseofrepresentatives, #impeachment, #joebiden, #partisanpolitics, #Putin, #Russianagression, #treason, #trumpresistance, #ukraine, #usefulidiots
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Thu, 25 Dec 2008 | Published in The Book Report
THE BOOK REPORT: Descent into Chaos
by Ahmed Rashid
Descent into Chaos is a timely and critical book about the ongoing turmoil and degeneration in Afghanistan and Central Asia, written by acclaimed veteran Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid (Taliban and Jihad). He surveys this region to reveal to us the failure of U.S. policymakers’ (both past and present) at nation building because of their refusal to commit the forces and money needed to rebuild after the invasion of Afghanistan.
Rashid also shows us the powerful extremist forces at work in that region of the world and explains how U.S. policy makers made corrupt alliances with warlords to impose a superficial calm while continuing to ignore the Pakistani government’s support of the Taliban and other Islamic extremists, instead choosing to focus on Iraq. Afghanistan and Pakistan, he argues, are greater threats to the West than Iraq.
The material in the entire book is extremely detailed and significant, and it is revealed to us by such a qualified writer. Rashid walks us through the history of Afghanistan and explains the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, laying out past events clearly and chronologically. He explains how U.S. ally Pakistan has armed and financed the Taliban. He also outlines future scenarios of where we may be headed, so it’s a good wake-up call for our future policy-makers and the ill-informed public in the West.
Although this book is not an easy read, it begins to clear up a lot of the confusion, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
Christine Thelen
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Eugene Roberts (2007), Scholarpedia, 2(10):3356. doi:10.4249/scholarpedia.3356 revision #91298 [link to/cite this article]
(Redirected from GABA)
Curator: Eugene Roberts
Eric Barnard
Dr. Eugene Roberts, Neurobiochemistry, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, CA
Figure 1: A plaque created by Dr. C. van der Stelt, chemist and artist, in honor of Roberts’ discovery and subsequent work on GABA at a meeting honoring him in Amsterdam, 1965 (provided by Dr. Eugene Roberts).
The term GABA refers to the simple chemical substance \(\gamma\)-aminobutyric acid (NH2CH2CH2 CH2COOH). It is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its presence in the brain first was reported in 1950 (Roberts and Frankel, 1950a).
1 Discovery of GABA and early history
2 Basic neurophysiology of GABA
3 A brief synopsis of the neurochemistry of GABA
4 The inhibited nervous system: a global view of GABAergic function (Roberts, 1976, 1986b, 1991)
5 GABA and diseases of the CNS
6 GABA, The quintessential neurotransmitter: electroneutrality, fidelity, and specificity (Roberts, 1993)
Discovery of GABA and early history
The history of GABA in brain began with the discovery of the unique presence of this substance in tissue of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). In the course of the study of free amino acids of various normal and neoplastic tissues in several species of animals by paper chromatography, relatively large amounts of an unidentified ninhydrin-reactive material were found in extracts of fresh brains of mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea-pig, human, frog, salamander, turtle, alligator, and chick. At most, only traces of this material were found in a large number of extracts of many other normal and neoplastic tissues and in urine and blood. The unknown material was isolated from suitably prepared paper chromatograms. A study of the properties of the substance in mouse brain revealed it to be GABA. The initial identification, based on the co-migration of the unknown with GABA on paper chromatography in three different solvent systems, was followed by an absolute identification of the GABA in brain extracts by the isotope derivative method. An abstract was submitted to the Federation meetings in March of 1950 reporting the presence of GABA in brain (Roberts and Frankel, 1950a). Three papers dealing with the occurrence of GABA in brain appeared later that year in the same issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (Roberts and Frankel, 1950b; Udenfriend, 1950; Awapara et al., 1950). Detailed histories of the early chemical work outlined above have been published (e.g. see Roberts, 1986a).
Detailed account of the discovery of GABA here: /history.
The 3 methylene groups between the amino and carboxyl groups of GABA endow it with great structural flexibility, allowing it freedom to explore the surrounding chemical space with a continuum of structures ranging from full extension ( Figure 1, upper right) to the contiguity of the amino and carboxyl groups shown in the cyclic form ( Figure 1, lower left). Therefore, GABA has potential capacity to engage in innumerable energy-minimizing, mutually shaping interactions with molecular entities encountered in its immediate environment.
Basic neurophysiology of GABA
For several years the presence of GABA in brain remained a biochemical curiosity and a physiological enigma. It was remarked in the first review written on GABA that “Perhaps the most difficult question to answer would be whether the presence in the gray matter of the central nervous system of uniquely high concentrations of \(\gamma\)-aminobutyric acid and the enzyme which forms it from glutamic acid has a direct or indirect connection to conduction of the nerve impulse in this tissue” (Roberts, 1956). However, later that year, the first suggestion that GABA might have an inhibitory function in the vertebrate nervous system came from studies in which it was found that topically applied solutions of GABA exerted inhibitory effects on electrical activity in the brain (Hayashi and Nagai, 1956). In 1957, the suggestion was made that indigenously occurring GABA might have an inhibitory function in the central nervous system from studies with convulsant hydrazides (Killam, 1957; Killam and Bain, 1957). Also in 1957, suggestive evidence for an inhibitory function for GABA came from studies that established GABA as the major factor in brain extracts responsible for the inhibitory action of these extracts on the crayfish stretch receptor system (Bazemore et al., 1957). Within a brief period the activity in this field increased greatly, so that the research being carried out ranged all the way from the study of the effects of GABA on ionic movements in single neurons to clinical evaluation of the role of the GABA system in epilepsy, schizophrenia, mental retardation, etc. This surge of interest warranted the convocation in 1959 of the first truly interdisciplinary neuroscience conference ever held, at which were present most of the individuals who had played a role in opening up this exciting field (Roberts et al, 1960).
During the aforementioned period, GABA became established as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). It was found to fulfill the “classical” requirements for neurotransmitter: proof of identity of postsynaptic action with that of the natural transmitter, presence in inhibitory nerves, releasability from terminals of identified nerves, and the presence of a rapid inactivating mechanism at synapses. Information on the GABA system, as a whole, up to 1960 has been thoroughly reviewed and extensively documented (Roberts and Eidelberg, 1960, and Roberts, et al., 1960) and major updates have appeared at intervals (Roberts, et al., 1976; Bowery, 1984; Olsen and Venter, 1986; Martin and Olsen, 2000).
Figure 2: Some metabolic relationships in nervous tissue.
A brief synopsis of the neurochemistry of GABA
GABA is formed in the CNS of vertebrate organisms to a large extent, if not entirely, from L-glutamic acid ( Figure 2). The reaction (reaction 5) is catalyzed by L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), an enzyme found in mammalian organisms largely in neurons in the CNS, although there now are many reports of the occurrence of both GAD and GABA in neurons in the peripheral nervous system, as well as in some nonneural tissues (e.g., pancreas) and in body fluids. Brain GAD catalyzes the rapid \(\alpha\)-decarboxylation of L-glutamic acid and, of the rest of the naturally occurring amino acids, only L-aspartic acid to a very slight extent. Genes for two brain GAD isoforms have been cloned, as have families of other GABA-related proteins, such as 19 GABAA receptors and 2 to 3 GABAB receptors. It now is possible to visualize GABA, itself, and most of the proteins involved in GABA metabolism, release, and action on sections of the CNS at the light and electron microscopic levels, employing antisera to the purified components and peroxidase-labelling techniques. This has led to much more definitive data than were hitherto available through cell fractionation and lesion studies and has given detailed information of the interrelationships of GABA neurons in various nervous system regions (Roberts, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986a).
The reversible transamination of GABA with \(\alpha\)-ketoglutarate (reaction 9) is catalyzed by a mitochondrial aminotransferase, termed GABA-transaminase (GABA-T), which in the CNS is found chiefly in the gray matter but also occurs in other tissues. The products of the transaminase reaction are succinic semialdehyde and glutamic acid. There is present an excess of a dehydrogenase that catalyzes the oxidation of succinic semialdehyde to succinic acid, which in turn can be oxidized via the reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Because succinic semialdehyde is oxidized to succinate without the intermediate formation of succinyl-coenzyme A, one consequence of the operation of the GABA shunt in brain, through which 10% to 20% of glucose metabolism may flow, is a decreased rate of phosphorylation of guanosine diphosphate (GDP) to guanosine triphosphate (GTP). The latter may be involved in activation of G proteins, formation of deoxy GTP for mitochondrial DNA synthesis, and synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Although the exact functional significance of this GABA-dependent metabolic shunt still is not apparent, it seems certain that GABA plays a special metabolic role in brain mitochondria, which is abrogated when inhibition of GABA-T occurs. Of the keto acids normally present, only \(\alpha\)-ketoglutarate is an amino group acceptor. In addition to GABA, several other ω amino acids also are effective amino donors.
Steady-state concentrations of GABA in various brain areas normally are governed by the activity of GAD and not by GABA-T. In many inhibitory nerves, both GAD and GABA-T are present and are found throughout the neuron, GAD being more highly concentrated in the presynaptic terminals than elsewhere. The GABA-T is contained in mitochondria of all neuronal regions. GABA is a precursor of several substances found in nervous tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, among which are GABA histidine (homocarnosine), GABA-1-methylhistidine, \(\gamma\)-guanidinobutyric acid, GABA-1-cystathionine, \(\alpha\)-(GABA)-L-lysine, GABA-choline, and putreanine [(N-4-aminobutyrl)-3-aminopropionic acid]. Homocarnosine is present exclusively in brain and cerebrospinal fluid, and there are data suggesting important roles for it as an antioxidant, an optimizer of immune function, and a modifier of brain excitability.
Important controls in regulation of the GABA system might be exerted at points related to the availability of glutamic acid, the substrate for GABA synthesis in nerve endings by GAD (reaction 5). Glutamate carbon can originate from glucose through glycolysis and the Krebs cycle (upper right-hand corner of Figure 2), from glutamine subsequent to uptake (reaction 6), and from proline (reactions 3 and 4) and ornithine (reactions 2 and 4). Ornithine (reactions 2 and 3), but not glutamate, is an effective precursor of proline in nerve terminals, a putative inhibitory neurotransmitter. Arginine can be converted to ornithine (reaction 1), which in turn gives rise to glutamate (reactions 2 and 4), proline (reactions 2 and 3), and GABA (reactions 2, 4, and 5).
GAD requires pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), a form of vitamin B6, as a coenzyme (Roberts et al., 1964). Dietary forms of vitamin B6 are absorbed and converted efficiently in tissues to (PLP), which is synthesized in brain from ATP and pyridoxal. PLP can readily be removed from the enzyme protein of GAD causing loss of enzyme activity, and the lost enzymatic activity can be restored simply by the addition of the coenzyme. Pyridoxine-deficient animals show a decrease in the degree of saturation with the coenzyme of the enzyme protein of cerebral GAD, but no decrease is found in the content of enzyme protein in the deficient animals. Brain GAD activity is restored rapidly to normal on feeding of pyridoxine to deficient animals. Pyridoxine deficiency, however produced, results in a susceptibility to seizures in animals, including humans, probably because of decreased ability to make GABA. Seizures in an infant with a simple dietary deficiency of vitamin B6 were abolished completely almost immediately after intramuscular injection of pyridoxine. This indicates that in a normal individual there is an extremely rapid conversion of pyridoxine to pyridoxal phosphate, association of the coenzyme with the apoenzyme of GAD, and formation of GABA in nerve terminals. Hydrazides and other carbonyl-trapping agents react with the aldehyde group of PLP and decrease its availability as a coenzyme. The seizures that result when such agents are administered are partially attributable to the decreases in the amounts of releasable GABA in nerve terminals of inhibitory nerves.
The inhibited nervous system: a global view of GABAergic function (Roberts, 1976, 1986b, 1991)
Perhaps the subject of neural inhibition had lain dormant for so many years because there was no material basis for it. Inhibitory neurons had not been identified, an inhibitory neurotransmitter had not been isolated and characterized, and postsynaptic sites for neural inhibition had not been shown. It is well to remember that it was not until 1952 (Eccles, 1982), two years after the discovery of GABA in brain, that the controversy as to whether synaptic transmission in the CNS is largely electrical or chemical in nature was settled in favor of the latter. It also was 3 years before modern molecular biology was begun by Watson and Crick (Watson and Crick, 1953).
GABA increases the permeability of membranes to specific ions in such a way as to cause the membranes to resist depolarization. For example, by acting on a particular class of receptors (GABAA), GABA produces an increase in permeability to Cl- ions that is measured as an increase in membrane conductance. GABA also produces increases in K+ conductance by action on another distinct class of receptors (GABAB) that are not colocalized with GABAA receptors. In general, GABA accelerates the rate of return of the resting potential of all depolarized membrane segments that it contacts and stabilizes undepolarized membrane segments by decreasing their sensitivity to stimulation. Thus, at many sites in the nervous system, GABA exercises inhibitory command-control of membrane potential. In this way this naturally occurring inhibitory transmitter can counteract the depolarizing action of excitatory processes to maintain the polarization of a cell at an equilibrium level near that of its resting value, acting essentially as a chemical voltage clamp. In most instances studied, GABA has been shown to exert hyperpolarizing or inhibitory effects by this mechanism. However, if high intracellular Cl- concentrations should occur, GABA can produce a decrease in membrane potential or depolarization. Data now suggest that the benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium) and barbiturates exert their pharmacologic effects largely by reacting with components of the GABAA receptor complex, thereby enhancing the efficacy of neurally released GABA.
GABA is inactivated at synapses by a mechanism that involves attachment to unique membrane recognition sites, different from those for the receptor, and subsequent removal from the synaptic junction by a Na+- and Cl--dependent transport process that is similar in principle to that used for transport of many other substances. The removal of synaptically released GABA takes place by reuptake into terminals of neurons and into glial processes that invest the synapses.
Figure 3: (A) Control section (non-immunostained) of nucleus interpositus in rat cerebellum. Neuronal soma (s). (B) Neuropil of nucleus interpositus immunostained for GAD. Soma of neuron(s), dendrite (d), reaction product (long arrows), grazed neuron soma (encircled by short arrows) with bouton-like reaction product on cell surface (b). (C) Neuron shown in Fig. 2B, photographed with Nornarski optics. Soma (s), dendrite (d), bouton-like deposits of reaction product (b).
Figure 4: Electron micrographs of various types of synaptic terminals which contain GAD, the enzyme that synthesizes GABA. All specimens were obtained from the rat CNS. (a) axodentritic synapses in the substantia nigra (T1 and T2) with a dendritic shaft (D) in the pars reticulate; (b) axoaxonal synapse in cerebral cortex; (c) axosomatic synapse in dorsal horn of spinal cord; (d) axoaxonal synapse in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord; (e) dendrodentritic synapses in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb.
The ubiquity and extent of immunocytochemically visualized presynaptic endings of inhibitory GABAergic neurons on various structures in the vertebrate nervous system are striking. The impression is that of looking at a highly restrained nervous system ( Figure 3 and Figure 4). In coherent behavioral sequences, innate or learned, preprogrammed circuits are released to function at varying rates and in various combinations. This is accomplished largely by the disinhibition of pacemaker neurons whose activities are under the dual tonic inhibitory controls of local-circuit GABAergic neurons and of GABAergic projection neurons coming from neural command centers. According to this view, disinhibition is permissive, and excitatory input to pacemaker neurons serves mainly a modulatory role.
Disinhibition., acting in conjunction with intrinsic pacemaker activity and often with modulatory excitatory input, is one of the major organizing principles in nervous system function. For example, cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons are literally studded with terminals from inhibitory GABAergic neurons. Not only are the endings of the local-circuit GABAergic aspinous stellate neurons densely distributed around the somata and dendrites of the cortical pyramidal cells, but they are also located on initial axon segments, where they act as frequency filters. In addition, GABA neurons have terminals from other GABAergic neurons impinging on them. Pyramidal cells are tightly inhibited by local-circuit inhibitory neurons that may themselves be inhibited by the actions of other inhibitory neurons in such a way that disinhibition of the pyramidal neurons occurs. Local-circuit GABAergic neurons also participate in processes that result in feedforward, feedback, surround, and presynaptic inhibition and presynaptic facilitation.
Both inhibition and disinhibition play key roles in information processing in all neural regions. Normally, the principal cells in particular neural sectors may be held tightly in check by constant tonic action of inhibitory neurons. Through disinhibition, neurons in a neural sector may be released to fire at different rates and sequences and, in turn, serve to release circuits at other levels of the nervous system. Communication among neural stations and substations may take place largely by throwing of disinhibitory neural switches. This may be the way information flows from sense organ to cerebral sensory area, through associative areas to the motor cortex, and by way of the pyramidal paths to the final motor cells of the medulla and spinal cord.
GABA and diseases of the CNS
Defects in coordination between the GABA system and other neurotransmitter and modulator systems may involve a local brain region, several brain regions, or the entire CNS. Enhanced synchrony of neuronal firing (e.g., in seizures) may arise in several ways: increased rate of release of synaptic excitatory transmitters, blockade of inhibitory transmitter receptor mechanisms, desensitization of receptors to inhibitory transmitters, decreased availability of inhibitory transmitter, decreased activity of inhibitory neurons, and increased formation or activation of electrotonic (gap) junctions. Immunocytochemical studies of the sensorimotor cortex in experimental epilepsy in monkeys showed highly significant reductions in numbers of GABAergic terminals of electrographically proved epileptogenic sites of alumina gel application. Electronmicroscopic observations showed a marked loss of axosomatic synapses on the pyramidal cells and a replacement of synaptic appositions with astrocytic processes in the alumina cream-treated animals. However, the symmetric, presumably excitatory synapses on the dendrites of these pyramidal cells appeared to be largely intact. Comprehensive biochemical studies complementary to the morphologic ones showed a significant correlation with seizure frequency only with losses in GABAergic receptor-related binding and decreased GAD activity. Current data support the notion that actual destruction or inactivation of inhibitory interneurons is one of the major cerebral defects predisposing to seizures, at least in the case of focal epilepsy (Roberts, 1986b). Mutations in GABAA receptor now have been shown to predispose individuals to various types of seizures (Macdonald, et al., 2004). GABA neurons play important roles in control mechanisms in various hypothalamic and brain stem centers. If their activity within these structures is compromised, abnormally enhanced responses may be observed, for example, in emotional reactivity, cardiac and respiratory functions, blood pressure, food and water intake, sweating , insulin secretion, liberation of gastric acid, and motility of the colon.
The roles of GABA neurons in information processing in various regions of the nervous system are so varied and complex that it appears doubtful that many useful drug therapies will come from approaches that are aimed at affecting one or another aspect of GABAergic function at all GABA synapses. Currently there are no drugs that are process and site specific. In this regard, the detailed molecular characterization that is being carried out of the enzymes of GABA metabolism, GABA receptors and transporters, the components of GABA receptor-associated anion channels, and the relationships among these structures and the lipidic membrane components in which they are imbedded should give rise to many opportunities for devising specific therapeutic modalities (e.g., see Roberts, 2006).
GABA, The quintessential neurotransmitter: electroneutrality, fidelity, and specificity (Roberts, 1993)
Isoelectric Points (PI) of Major Naturally-Occurring Amino Acids and Peptides in Animal Tissues (From Greenstein, J.P., Winitz, M. Chemistry of the Amino Acids, Vol. 1. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1961, pp. 486-489).
Aspartic acid 2.77
Glutamic acid 3.22
Cystine 5.03
Asparagine 5.41
Phenylalanine 5.48
Homocystine 5.53
Threonine 5.64
Glutamine 5.65
Tyrosine 5.66
Serine 5.68
Methionine 5.74
Hydroxyproline 5.74
Tryptophan 5.89
Citrulline 5.92
Isoleucine 5.94
Valine 5.96
Glycine 5.97
Leucine 5.98
Alanine 6.00
Sarcosine 6.12
Proline 6.30
β-Alanine 6.90
Cysteine 6.94
Homocysteine 7.05
\(\gamma\)-Aminobutyric acid 7.30
Histidine 7.47
\(\delta\)-Amino-n-valeric acid 7.52
\(\epsilon\)-Amino-n-caproic acid 7.60
l-Methylhistidine 7.67
Carnosine 8.17
Anserine 8.27
Lysine 9.59
Ornithine 9.70
Arginine 11.15
Nature’s choice of GABA as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter is an example of evolutionary optimization. Alone of the known neurotransmitters, GABA is an electroneutral zwitterion (isoelectric point, 7.3) at physiologic pH, the ionization constants for both its amino and carboxyl groups being sufficiently far removed from neutrality so that shifts of pH in the physiologic range produce little change in net charge (Table 1). This endows GABA with a capacity for higher fidelity of information transmittal than that of other known major neurotransmitters, enabling it, in “stealth” fashion, to escape the charged minefields encountered in passage through the dense extracellular environment lying between presynaptic sites of release and postsynaptic sites of action. Coordinate enhancement with progressive acidification occurs in GABAergic inhibitory function because GABA formation and its anion channel-opening efficacy are increased while its metabolic destruction by transamination and removal by transport are decreased. Diminution of GABAergic inhibitory function occurs on alkalinization. Contrariwise, acidification decreases postsynaptic efficacy of glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter, and alkalinization increases it.
In this manner the delicate balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain is maintained within the adaptive range in response to local or global activity that acidifies the environment in which it occurs. Accelerated metabolism after nerve activity results in accelerated formation of carbon dioxide and lactic acid; the accompanying acidification applies physiologic “brakes,” so to speak, preventing structural and functional damage from taking place. When GABAergic-glutamatergic relations are unbalanced by glutamatergic overactivity, seizures may occur. For example, the excitement experienced at an athletic event with the attendant hyperventilation and consequent alkalinization not infrequently causes seizures in susceptible individuals. Overbalancing in favor of the GABA system can lead to maladaptive decrement in neural activity and even to coma.
The properties of the simple GABA molecule itself, and of the machinery built to support its function, make it eminently suitable to guide the brain in a “civilized” manner. The yin-yang relationship between the glutamatergic excitatory and GABAergic inhibitory systems is played out on the tightrope of a delicate balance, and imbalances between them lead to serious disorders.
No \(\alpha\)-, \(\beta\)-, or \(\omega\)- amino acid known to occur in any abundance in animal tissues approaches GABA in molar efficacy at the GABAA receptor. Therefore, the noise level created by nonspecific effects at the GABAA receptor are minimal, ensuring quantitative fidelity of the neural messages delivered by GABA.
The “charm” of GABA lies in nature’s choice of this simple molecule, made from the common metabolic soil of glutamic acid, for the all-important role as major controller of the infinitely complex machinery of the brain, allowing it to operate in the manner best described as freedom without license. Try as one might, one cannot come up with a better choice for the job (Roberts, 1991, 1993).
Awapara, J., Landua, A.J., Fuerst, R., and Seale, B. Free gamma-aminobutyric acid in brain. Journal of Biological Chemistry 187:35-9, 1950.
Bazemore, A.W., Elliott, K.A.C., Florey, E. Isolation of Factor I. Journal of Neurochemistry 1:334-339, 1957.
Bowery, N.G., ed. Actions and Interactions of GABA and Benzodiazepines. New York: Raven Press, 1984.
Eccles, J.C. The synapse: from electrical to chemical transmission. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 5:325-339, 1982.
Hayashi, T., Nagai, K. Action of ω-amino acids on the motor cortex of higher animals, especially γ-amino-β-oxybutyric acid as the real inhibitory principle in brain. In: Abstracts of reviews: Abstracts of communications. Brussels: Twentieth International Physiological Congress, p. 410, 1956.
Killam, K.F. Convulsant hydrazides. II. Comparison of electrical changes and enzyme inhibition induced by the administration of thiosemicarbazide. Journal of Pharmacological and Experimental Therapeutics. 119:263-271, 1957.
Killam, K.F., Bain J.A. Convulsant hydrazides. I. In vitro and in vivo inhibition of vitamin B6 enzymes by convulsant hydrazides. Journal of Pharmacological and Experimental Therapeutics. 119:255-262, 1957.
Macdonald, R.L., Gallagher, M.J., Feng, H.-J., Kang, J. GABAA receptor epilepsy mutations. Biochemical Pharmacology. 68:1497-1506, 2004.
Martin, D. L. & Olsen, R. W., eds. GABA in the Nervous System. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.
Olsen, R.W. and Venter J.C., editors Benzodiazepine/GABA Receptors and Chloride Channels: Structural and Functional Properties. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1986.
Roberts, E. Formation and utilization of γ-aminobutyric acid in brain. Progress in Neurobiology. I. Neurochemistry. Korey, S.R., and Burnberger, J.I. eds. New York: Hoeber-Harper, pp. 11-25, 1956.
Roberts, E. Disinhibition as an organizing principle in the nervous system: the role of the GABA system. Application to neurologic and psychiatric disorders. In: Roberts, E., Chase, T.N., and Tower, D.B., eds., GABA in Nervous System Function, New York, Raven Press, pp. 515-539, 1976.
Roberts, E. Roles of GABA neurons in information processing in the vertebrate CNS. In: Karlin, A., Tennyson, V.M., Vogel, H.J., eds. Neuronal Information Transfer. New York: Academic Press, pp. 213-239, 1978.
Roberts, E. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA): a major inhibitory transmitter in the vertebrate nervous system. In: Levi-Montalcini, R., ed. Nerve Cells, Transmitters and Behaviour. Rome: Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 163-213, 1980.
Roberts, E. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA): from discovery to visualization of GABAergic neurons in the vertebrate nervous system. In: Actions and Interactions of GABA and Benzodiazepines, Bowery, N.G., ed. New York: Raven Press, pp. 1-25, 1984.
Roberts, E. GABA: The road to neurotransmitter status. In: Benzodiazepine/GABA Receptors and Chloride Channels: Structural and Functional Properties, R.W. Olsen and J.C. Venter, editors, pp. 1-39. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1986a.
Roberts, E. Failure of GABAergic inhibition: a key to local and global seizures. Advances in Neurology,44:319-341, 1986b.
Roberts, E. Living systems are tonically inhibited, autonomous optimizers, and disinhibition coupled to variability generation is their major organizing principle: inhibitory command-control at levels of membrane, genome, metabolism, brain, and society. Neurochemical Research 16:409-421, 1991.
Roberts, E. Adventures with GABA: Fifty Years On. In: GABA in the Nervous System: The View at Fifty Years, D.L. Martin and Richard W. Olsen, editors, pp. 1-24, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2000.
Roberts, E. GABAergic malfunction in the limbic system resulting from an aboriginal genetic defect in voltage-gated Na+-channel SCN5A is proposed to give rise to susceptibility to schizophrenia. Advances in Pharmacology 54:119-145, 2006.
Roberts, E., Baxter, C.F., Van Harreveld, A., Wiersma, C.A.G., Adey, W.R., and Killam, K.F., eds. Inhibition in the Nervous System and Gamma-aminobutyric Acid. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1960.
Roberts, E., Chase, T.N., and Tower, D.B., eds., GABA in Nervous System Function, New York, Raven Press, 1976.
Roberts, E. and Eidelberg, E. Metabolic and neurophysiological roles of γ-Aminobutyric acid. International Review of Neurobiology 2:279-332, 1960.
Roberts, E. and Frankel, S. γ-Aminobutyric acid in brain. Federation Proceedings 9:219, 1950.
Roberts, E. and Frankel, S. γ-Aminobutyric acid in brain: Its formation from glutamic acid. Journal of Biological Chemistry 187:55-63, 1950.
Roberts, E. and Sherman, M.A. GABA—the quintessential neurotransmitter: electroneutrality, fidelity, specificity, and a model for the ligand binding site of GABAA receptors. Neurochemical Research 18:365-376, 1993.
Roberts, E., Wein, J., Simonsen, D.G. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), vitamin B6 and neuronal function: a speculative synthesis. Vitamins and Hormones 22:503-559, 1964.
Udenfriend, S. Identification of gamma-aminobutyric acid in brain by the isotope derivative method. Journal of Biological Chemistry 187:65-9, 1950.
Watson, J.D. and Crick, F.H.C. Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature 171:737-8, 1953.
Peter Jonas and Gyorgy Buzsaki (2007) Neural inhibition. Scholarpedia, 2(9):3286.
John W. Moore (2007) Voltage clamp. Scholarpedia, 2(9):3060.
GABA Receptors, Interneurons, Neural Inhibition, Synapse, Synaptic Transmission
Reviewed by: Dr. Eric Barnard, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, UK
Retrieved from "http://www.scholarpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gamma-Aminobutyric_Acid&oldid=91298"
"Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid" by Eugene Roberts is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are described in the Terms of Use
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Danzig III - How the Gods Kill (Def American Recordings/1992)
A solid follow-up to the awe-inspiring Danzig II - Lucifuge, Danzig hits the heavy metal scene again circa 1992, but hey, it's never too late to celebrate a 25 year anniversary of a well appreciated release. Glenn is back at it with his notorious vocal outputs and the rest of the band that was with them for the first three albums as well. So yeah, you'll hear the heavy blues influenced John Christ, the rubble ling of Eerie Von's bass, and sick drum outputs by Chuck Biscuits. The music is quite admirable, notably "Dirty Black Summer." There were more, but that one (to me) stood out the most out of the whole album. The tempos vary, some songs are slow, meaning tempo-wise. Some filled with vigor. All of them are very dark indeed though. But that's what the whole reason for this concept that they've chosen for the album.
I like Danzig's vocals the most. Not that the music wasn't that great, it's just that I've liked him ever since the Misfits. I think that he did the heavy metal community just founding this band and making a sick-ass influence on it. No the guitars aren't super-fast, the drums mild-tempo filled and Glenn's voice just suits this whole quartet.
But hey, the lyrics I'm not big on. In fact, I don't like them. As long as I can appreciate the music, that's good enough for me. But really, this is a band whose whole essence is dark music. You wouldn't want to buy it if it was otherwise in the heavy metal spectacle.
The sound? I mean the production quality, that was superb. Just everything mixed in well. Glenn's voice was overpowering, but you can still hear the riffs. The energy Glenn has is amazing. He fuels his band to the limit. And the fact that they're going to release a new album sometime soon this year (2017) shows what a 61-year old man can still hack it. This is an album that should've been reviewed long ago.
If you've never heard of it before and you're a newbie in the heavy metal scene, YouTube it and see if it strikes a note in you. Enough to want to order the physical CD. That way you can assess, and if you like it, purchase the album. That way you can play it whenever!!
Reviewed By: Death8699 (ryanfanucchi@gmail.com).
Dead Kennedys - Bedtime For Democracy (Alternative Tentacles/1986)
This is one of my favorite releases by this band, but then again, all of their albums with Jello Biafra are my favorite ones. Just thought I'd write about what's mostly been on my playlist recently. The songs here are pretty fast paced for a punk rock band. East Bay Ray on the guitar just goes ballistic and Jello is all over the place. As with most punk albums, the production quality was OK, but not the best. The album itself is still really good. It's original sounding, the lyrics are original too, as with what Jello writes about political topics (as the title for the album touts) being that he ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979. He didn't win, he placed third in the race. But yeah, this is one of the few punk rock bands that I still like. And another thing is that I can never get sick of DK.
There are many different time signature changes in the music with the vocals and guitar tanking out and going slowly. But not every song is like this. As a whole, it's a darn good release, all 21 songs on here. Their energy is effervescent.
This isn't the longest album the band has released, but close to it. A lot of metal bands have a punk rock influence. I stopped listening to DK after Jello left the band. I just like his energy. He fills the songs with his electric vocals. There's something about him that I really like. The sound of the vocals fit the music really well. The guitars are like I said, sort of all over the place. But they still hit home with me.
The band is full of energy based components. There were some odd parts to this album, but that's what makes DK, DK. The band has been around for a LONG TIME and if Jello was still with them, I'd buy more of their releases. There was a conspiracy about the band members stealing the rights and Jello was left out of luck with them. He still has the albums on his record label Alternative Tentacles.
Punk is dead, but of course, according to Jello "it's dead so it can be born again."
Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters (Alternative Tentacles/1982)
Another classic in punk rock history, this one I seem to favor as one of my favorites in the Dead Kennedys' entire discography. I like it because it's pretty raw sounding in production quality, Jello's funny vocals, and guitar which was superb by East Bay Ray. A lot of heavy metal musicians may have said to be influenced by punk rock. The Dead Kennedys happen to be my favorite punk band. You never really know what to expect in their song happenings. And their use of politics makes them quite historical. They cover various different topics besides politics though. I just like the music the most. The albums are now all on Jello's Alternative Tentacles record label. Rightfully so, especially since he's no longer with the band after the betrayal.
If I could single out a song that stood out the most, I'd have to say "all of them." That's because they're filled with energy. They're a funny punk rock band to idolize really. I've never gotten sick of them.
I own 5 of their CD's. I figured I'd support Jello since he really made the band larger than life. His high IQ and stage antics make me a lifelong fan. And the music is atypical yes, but it still kicks butt.
There really aren't any lead moments on here, just a few. What matters is the vocals matching the music. That they do and that's why like this one almost as much as Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables. Now that one had some classic songs. But really, as a follow-up from that one, they really came back around quite well.
I feel like I should favor what's been fancying the most lately. I just want this experience with the album to match mine. That's not enough to make a person want to listen to a band though. The music is just so darn awesome though. It's just so out there and original. I loved it from start to finish. I hope you do too!!
Rate: 100%.
Sodom - Decision Day (Steamhammer/2016)
This one is definitely a step-up from 'Epitome of Torture', it just has more energy to it and is catchier. I'll admit that I only have 2 Sodom albums in my collection. I've never been a huge fan until 'Agent Orange' came out some 20+ years ago...then my interest faded after succeeding albums with lineup changes left me in disinterest with the band. But I tried 'Epitome of Torture' and just ultimately didn't care for much. I feel that 'Decision Day' is filled with good lyrics, fresh riffs, good leads and cool vocals by Tom Angelripper. I think that this is one of their best albums that I've heard by them. Helped a little with technology, the production quality is superb and the music just says it all. It's simply original sounding and has a lot of balls to it.
Every song on here kicks butt. I've read through the lyrical concepts too to each song and think that Tom is onto something here. Just the fact that they're dark words, they do play a huge part in today's society.
I'm a big supporter of buying CD's, it could be because I'm 40 and I grew up with record stores all around me in California and now here in Chicago. There's always a need for record stores to exist. Some people still want to support this dying scene of everything gone digital. But yeah, Tom and the newest line-up is what's fueled the release. It didn't get good feedback for nothing. These guys worked their butts off.
The fact that the songs aren't just with distorted guitars makes it more diverse. I liked the album from start to finish. I think that they just really made something significant. It's really groove laden with the riffs, they match where the vocals should sound. Definitely worth purchasing if you want the full experience.
Finally, I would say that Sodom was sort of dead to me with 'Decision Day' they seemed to be born again.
Reviewed By Death8699 (ryanfanucchi@gmail.com.)
Lethal Shock - Evil Aggressor (Witches Brew/2016)
A very Metallica - Kill em All based release...with a better production of course. This is a debut album, it's only about 30 minutes in length, but it sure kicks butt. I can't relate to the lyrics, but the vocals were just OK, the music I'm more keyed into than anything else on here. The guitars just kick total ass. For a debut, this sure is one to appreciate. The music is speed sort of style of metal and it has a good mixing/production sound to it. It's one of 2016's better releases by a band. This album just simply rips from beginning to end.
The only reason why this isn't an "A" album to me are because of the vocals. The music is just phenomenal. But when I first heard it, it sounded like the introduction to Metallica's "Hit The Lights." But no, it delved into something more than just that. Throughout this album there are tempo changes and fresh guitars.
It's something to grow on in terms of quality-wise. It's not generic though. It's something to appreciate that can be found on YouTube to try out. That's actually what I've done since I ordered the CD of it.
This band has a bandcamp site and you should check it out. That way you can not only maybe hear a track, or just go on YouTube and listen to the whole album. The guitarist just simply rips.
Again, this is pure speed metal and it's got a lot of lead guitar bits to it. The riffs are 'Kill em All'-ish, but they have their own quality sound. I'd say though that they went a little overboard on the solos. My view only.
But yeah, support the band and the album by owning it!!
Kreator - Gods of Violence (Nuclear Blast/2017)
Now this far outweighs 'Phantom Antichrist', big time. This is another Kreator album that's melodic, filled with hateful lyrics, Mille's unique vocals and music that's just totally kick ass. These guys really did a number with this one. I think it was worth the wait. Mille said in an interview that metal can be "spiritual" which I totally agree with. And that he picks out music that's like no one else's except for Kreator. What he is implying is that it's all his own creation when writing songs, the whole process. A lot of bands are bankrupt of ideas and turn to other artists/composers just to make and sell an album. Kreator isn't like this. Sure they've gone through musical changes over the years but yeah now they're back to their roots in thrash metal and they have been.
This whole album kicks ass "Satan Is Real" is a video and as the title implies that yes, Satan is real. I think what he was driving at was that evil in the world exists and the music is just sick on that one.
Kreator has never really written about topics I like, but I like the melodic riffs and Mille's vocals. I always have. This is an album worth owning. It's one of the best releases in 2017 to me. It's just so darn awesome and original. The music is what's most moving and the guitars simply shred. Mille has also said though that he can be a little "sloppy" on rhythm guitar. But he also said he's always learning. Total honest musician about his own playing. Not arrogant or haughty, but humble. He's an admirable figure in metal.
I know this has been on YouTube for about a month and a half, but support music like buying the album. It's why we have CD's still. Everything isn't totally digital. At least not for me.
'Gods of Violence' is one of the best Kreator albums since I'd say either 'Enemy of God' or 'Violent Revolution'. It's hard to pick because these guys have 14 studio releases!!
Own it!!
Vektor - Terminal Redux (Earache/2016)
This album resembles 'Outer Isolation', but to me it's better. It's lengthy too, clocking in over an hour long. Progressive thrash which isn't my type of genre but the music is so awesome on this album. Way technical guitar work. The only thing that I don't like about the album or band are the vocals. They sort of shriek. The guitars make up for that. I suppose that THAT is the concept behind the music, is the vocals to try to match the guitar work. I would presume that's the case. Otherwise, I'd say get different vocals. The guitars are so technical here and really perfection to the tee. It's amazing the leads and music overall.
I can't single out one track on here that I disliked. The whole album is good. They've signed onto a major label now too, Earache. Appropriate. It's good that they've gotten such a huge response in the metal community.
These guys deserve praise. For what they do in making their music original and noteworthy, they're a sort of newer band that's still evolving. They just keep getting better and better with each succeeding release. They have ousted 'Outer Isolation' and entered a new realm. It's just better overall. Musically and production wise.
The vocals as much as I dislike them fit the music well though. That's going to be my only complaint. I want you metal heads to listen to this one and see if it is something you'd get into. I am, big time.
Support the band by buying the album, I'm sure they'd appreciate it!!
Megadeth - Dystopia (Tradecraft/2016)
For a while, I hated Megadeth. That is, until I bought their remastered 'Peace Sells...' CD that I had on tape 25 years ago. I think it was the vocals that killed my interest. Now that I have that CD, I appreciate it more and more. And with this new album, it's a great follow-up from from a flop album 'Super Collider'. This one rips in every respect. It just doesn't let up in originality, the vocals are tolerable and the music/leads are fantastic.
If I were to name some top albums of 2016, this one with fit in with it. The energy is just so overwhelmingly powerful. The title-track is my favorite song, hands down. The main guitar during the vocals!!
I've grown to respect Megadeth in the realm of the metal community. But really, 'Peace Sells..' will always be my favorite by them. Even though this one is strong and original, no album can replace my favorite. This one is a close second and 'Holy Wars...' is another one that hits home with me.
Dave's got a biography out I think. It's available in bookstores everywhere or should be. It's worth checking out like this new album. Buy the album, don't rely just on YouTube to play it for you. Keep the scene alive!!
Borknagar - Winter Thrice (Century Media/2016)
This album is a gem, it's deeply emotional. Not a fast paced release, only in some parts. There are mood changes to this one, it can go from melodic to quicker, screaming vocals to clean. It really is unpredictable when those swings come up. But that doesn't take away from the magic of the album. I'd say this is one of the best releases in 2016. It's hard to put this band in a category they're sort of viking/folk metal. The viking sort reflects that of Amon Amarth and the folk kind of like Falconer but not so much with the vocals. Just sort of like that, but not totally exact. They have their own sound and vibe to them. But yeah, mood-swings.
This is a long release but just amazing music. It's fresh too, doesn't sound like anything that I have except for what I've mentioned. They really have their own sound which is graceful. The guitars are simply amazing. There are the tempo changes but the music fluctuates and never gets boring. It's a strong release the whole way through. It may take some spins to get used to, but when you're into it, you'll appreciate it more.
Really it is admirable the whole way through. The aura is grim, but the clean vocals make it more serene. Totally one of the best of 2016. This band should be bigger than they really are. I am a recent fan, even though I've heard older releases but didn't get into them until I heard this one.
The music is just awe-inspiring. There needs to be more fans of this band!! The album is available via Amazon and if you want to listen first, it's on YouTube. But as I always say, buy the CD!!
This is a special album. Enjoy every moment of it!!
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (Alternative Tentacles/1987)
This one isn't as raw or loud, it's more collected. Still funny though, especially with Jello on vocals. The music is catchy especially tunes like "Holiday In Cambodia" and "Too Drunk To Fuck." But the whole album is good, even Jello's story about his Portland experience. This is a hardcore punk rock band that's got a huge history. The 5 albums that I own on CD are all good. This one has a better production sound, it's not really as extreme as previous releases. This is the last one that I have with Jello on vocals. And it's the last one I'll ever own.
The music is loud, but not as much say 'Plastic Surgery Disasters' or 'Bedtime For Democracy'. It's still really good though. Just not my favorite. Maybe it's because I've heard it too many times.
But yeah, it's still a classic in their discography. It's more collected. An awesome punk rock album that every fan should own. I know that punk is dead nowadays, but I'll say it again that it's influential.
Jello's vocals are still funny, just not as crazy really. He's not all over the place. He doesn't have as much energy on this one, but it's still good. I prefer their older material. But some prefer this. It's subjective.
Get this CD and support music!! You can check it out on YouTube first if you want. But owning the CD supports the music community. Don't let it die out, purchase it on Amazon or your record store!!
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"The Prawn Cocktail is now an Irony Free Zone" (1)
Western Australia celebrates the first million of its population
Since the 1890s Perth has been transformed by several resources booms. Very little of its 19th century built environment exists. The few original buildings that do remain from that period are physically small in comparison to those in the Eastern capitals. Perth was small. Both Melbourne and Adelaide were far larger in 1900, even though they were settled after Perth.
WA had ‘arrived’ statistically when it finally reached a million people in 1971, and this was a reason to celebrate. Its prosperity was worth noting. “It is expected that the population of the State will reach its first million in the first quarter of this year (1971). With a view to recording this significant event in the appropriate manner, the Government … propose holding two dinners in Government House Ballroom in March this year (1971).
The first is a State Dinner, with approximately 500 guests to be held on Thursday 4 March 1971 … the second function is a Youth Dinner for 300 guests”. 2
There are 10 files in SRO which deal with planning for the differing ways this milestone could be marked, which included ‘Youth Pageants’ and a commemorative medallion. The dinner was first discussed in 1969, but it wasn’t until well into 1970 that preparations commenced in full. Mr W.S. Lonnie was appointed Chairman of the First Million Celebration Committee and a quote from caterers was sought, with Hollywood Caterers of 434 William Street Perth winning the tender. Their contemporary menu featuring Turtle Consommé, King Prawn Cocktail, Deep Fried Fillets Jewfish (sic) Tartare, Beef Anglais, with ‘Bombe Vesuvius’ for sweets was an obvious choice.
The State Dinner was scheduled for 3 March 1971. However, a State Election was called for 20 February which saw a change of Government. After 12 years, Sir David Brand’s Liberal/Country Party government lost this closely fought election. The new Premier was the Labor Party’s Mr John Tonkin.
A file shows that apart from a very slight change in the guest list and speakers, this change of government did not alter the arrangements for the State Dinner. Many community leaders were invited along with business, Industry, religious leaders, MPs, representatives of municipal governments and top public servants.
The event was widely covered in the media including being recorded for broadcast by TVW Channel 7.
1.Knowles, Emma, Gourmet Traveller – Recipes : online at: http://gourmettraveller.com.au/prawn-cocktail.htm
2. SROWA, Premier’s Department, Cons 1707, Item 1971/0104, One Million Population Celebrations 1971 - State Dinner, undated draft letter 1971.
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Watch: Queens of the Stone Age on “Kimmel”
Perform "My God Is the Sun" and "I Sat By the Ocean"
Aug 01, 2013 By Mike Hilleary
Supporting their hard-hitting new record ...Like Clockwork, Queens of the Stone Age made a special appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night. Positioned on the show's larger outdoor stage by default, frontman Josh Homme led the band through a performance of "My God Is the Sun" and "I Sat By the Ocean." Click below to watch.
</p>
(http://www.qotsa.com)
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Home / Indictment of fundraising priest exposes lack of diocesan oversight / National Catholic Reporter
“Fr. Lenin Vargas’ request for money seemed more fitting for a spam email than from a Catholic priest.
“From 2014 until 2018, Vargas allegedly solicited funds from parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville, Mississippi, where he was the pastor, for what he claimed were expenses for his cancer treatment and for charities in his native country of Mexico. But according to a federal indictment, there was no cancer treatment. Vargas had HIV and his medical expenses were covered by his employer, the Diocese of Jackson. Still, Vargas was able to raise over $33,000.
“Furthermore, the Diocese of Jackson failed to divulge the fraud, allowing Vargas to pilfer money for years, according to a report from the Clarion Ledger in Jackson, which cites an affidavit filed in federal court by Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the U.S Department of Homeland Security.
“Last February, Vargas was indicted on 10 counts of wire fraud in the Northern District of Mississippi, according to court documents that were made available in July, the newspaper reported. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
“In July, the Diocese of Jackson, which was also being investigated for its alleged inaction, agreed to tighten its financial controls under a deal it reached with the feds, according to the Mississippi Catholic, the diocesan newspaper.
“As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, the diocese agreed to return the money to Vargas’ alleged victims, form a review board to focus on ethical conduct, establish a hotline for callers to anonymously report any concerns to the diocese, revise collection processes and start a penal process against Vargas.”
By Mark Nacinovich, National Catholic Reporter — Read more …
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WA to build stormwater harvesting plant
The Federal Government has announced $3 million in funding for the construction of a stormwater harvesting and reuse plant in Western Australia that will save up to 745 million litres of drinking water per year by 2014.
Matched with $3 million in funding from the City of Greater Geraldton, the plant will be constructed under the City of Greater Geraldton's Stormwater Harvesting and Efficiency Project.
The project will also implement water efficiency measures such as installing more efficient irrigation systems and developing a water conservation plan.
Royal opening of Brisbane stormwater centre
Rain Bank, Brisbane’s new stormwater harvesting and reuse centre, has been officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen.
$16 million for Victorian waterway repairs
The Victorian Government has committed $16 million for a range of flood recovery works and waterway repairs of damage caused by flood earlier in the year.
John Gunn appointed as CEO of AIMS
Marine scientist John Gunn has been announced as the new CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).
Agreement to protect the Hawkesbury-Nepean River
The University of Western Sydney, TAFE Western Sydney Institute and the Hawkesbury Environmental Network (HEN) have signed an agreement to contribute to protecting and maintaining the health and vitality of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.
Draft plan for Namoi water released
The New South Wales Government is calling for local farmers, industry groups and the wider community to comment on the draft Namoi water sharing plan for the area’s unregulated rivers and alluvial groundwater.
WA storm water research node launched
The Western Australian Node of the Monash University-led Cities as Water Supply Catchments Research Program has been launched in Perth as a co-operative initiative between the University of Western Australia and Monash University.
Victoria releases Anglesea River findings
The Victorian Government has released the findings of an independent review into water quality issues in the Anglesea River.
Official Barwon-Darling water trading to begin
The New South Wales Water Commisioner, David Harriss, has announced that the formal rules governing water entitlements and allocations for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River in the State’s far north-west are now in place.
NSW announces revision to Snowy water licences
The New South Wales Water Commissioner David Harriss has revealed adjustments to the Snow Hydro’s water licence arrangements with an aim to better benefit water users and the environment.
Commission urges investment in water science
The National Water Commission has called for the formation of a national water science strategy in its third National Water Initiative report.
NWC announces new chief executive
The National Water Commission (NWC) has appointed James Cameron as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Northern Victoria irrigation agreement signed
The Commonwealth and Victorian governments have announced a new agreement that will deliver the country’s largest irrigation infrastructure renewal project.
Adelaide Desalination Plant starts production
The Adelaide Desalination Plant has started preliminary operations as water produced by the plant enters the state’s network.
Productivity Commission issues final report on urban water sector
The Productivity Commission has released its final report on Australia’s urban water sector following a year-long investigative inquiry to consider the case for further reform in the sector.
Think tank addresses stressed water ecosystems
A team of sixty physical, natural and social scientists from around Australia have participated in the Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank aimed at assisting in policy generation for managing the country’s most stressed ecosystems.
WA completes first stage of smart water metering system
The Western Australian Government has announced the completion of the first stage of a trial to install and monitor new smart meters in 24 households in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Queensland legislation to grant councils direct water management
The Queensland Government has introduced legislation before parliament that will allow direct management of water and wastewater services to be returned to the Gold Coast, Logan and Redland Councils.
Construction of Hobart's Marine and Antarctic Studies research centre set to begin
Construction of the new $45 million Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) development on Hobart’s waterfront is set to proceed, with the demolition of the Princes Wharf No. 2 Shed (PW2) expected to be completed next month.
Queensland completes revision of North Pine Dam Manual
Seqwater and the Dam Safety unit within Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management have completed an interim review and approval of the North Pine flood mitigation manual in line with the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry interim report.
Victoria announces terms of reference for marine assessment council
The Victorian Government has tabled the final Terms-of-Reference for the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council investigation into the state’s existing marine parks and other marine protected areas.
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Crete has a fascinating culture and it’s people can boast an amazingly varied heritage of influence from advanced cultures and civilisations in the ancient world.
Crete has been the focus of attention for many civilisations over the centuries and the influence of conquering nations can be found in its culture, its buildings, its food, and even the look and appearance of its people.
Cretan history starts with the Minoan Civilisation, the first civilisation in Europe, which flourished from about 2700 to 1450 BC. The term Minoan was coined by Sir Arthur Evans, a British born archaeologist, who excavated the site at Knossos. He named the people after the mythic King Minos. The “Minoans” called themselves something different, but we don’t know what.
After the decline of the Minoans, Crete was invaded by a series of conquerors starting with the Myceneans. Soon, the Dorians and then later the Romans invaded. When the Roman Empire declined, the Byzantines took their turn and it was at this time that Christianity was established.
The Arabs conquered Crete in the 8th century. The Byzantines took over again before they sold the Island to the Venetians in the early 13th century, who bestowed their influence until their surrender to the Turks in 1669.
The Turks ruled until 1898 after which Crete was placed under international administration. In 1913, Crete became Greek.
All these various influences have played an important part in moulding the people and culture of Crete.
Crete often features in Greek Mythology and indeed was the birthplace of Zeus, the King of the Gods. The mythical King Minos was said to have been King of all Crete and kept the fearsome Minotaur in his palace labyrinth.
Daedalos and Icarus reputedly took flight from the south coast Crete village of Agia Galini with their wings made from wax and feathers to escape from King Minos. But flying too close to the sun the wax melted and Icarus fell into the sea.
The tiny island of Gavdos, of the south coast of Crete, is said to be where the nymph Calypso lived. She entranced Odysseus, the King of Ithaca as he made his way home after the Battle of Troy. Odysseus and his ship mates loved the island so much they stayed for a full seven years.
The Cretan Minoan goddess Diktynna, known as Britomartis is said to have been born at Kaino amid the Samaria Gorge and White Mountains in western Crete.
King Minos, fell in love with Dyktynna and pursued her for a full nine months chasing her along the length of Crete. But Dyktynna wanted to remain a virgin and would not give in to Minos’ attentions. He chased her to the edge of a cliff and being trapped, she threw herself off. The area of this desperate act is now known as Dyktynna.
Where the Island of Crete is in the world, geographically, has played an important part in creating the Cretan person and the place he and she inhabits.
Crete has the most southern European land mass and lies at the junction of 4 seas: the Ionian, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Libyan.
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is fifth largest in the Mediterranean. It has an area of about 8300 sq.km, which is made up of large mountainous areas. Its position has meant that it’s been at the centre of the development of world culture and civilisation.
Religion is an important influence too, as demonstrated by their strict adherence to religious holidays and festivals. 95% of the population of Crete are baptised into the Greek Orthodox faith. The Church plays a major role in the lives of most Cretans.
The usual births, marriages and deaths are marked by the Church in the form of baptisms, marriage ceremonies and funerals. But there are so many other important dates in the church calendar that are literally religiously followed.
Saints feast days are honoured and celebrated by the whole village. The many memorial services held after someone dies are as well, if not better attended, than the funeral. Baptisms and weddings are attended by the whole village. The Annunciation, the Assumption, Whit Sunday and the Epiphany all hold special religious significance for the Cretans and attendance at church is expected.
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Elderly Baha'i Man Brutally Murdered Amid Islamic Republic'
Labels: Iran, Murder, Stabbing
From Iran-News:
Sixty-three-year old Farhang Amiri, a Baha'i man that was well-known in his community, was stabbed to death outside his home in the city of Yazd, 312 miles southeast of Tehran, on September 26, 2016, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has learned.
"The suspects have confessed that they killed Amiri because he was an 'apostate,' and they wanted to go to heaven," a source close to the victim told the Campaign. "They said the Quran has sanctioned killing apostates, and that's what they did. Their written confessions are in the case file."
"He had a knife up to the handle in his side and another in his heart," said the source. "He also had stab wounds in other parts of his body."
The Baha'i community is one of the most severely persecuted religious minorities in Iran. The faith is not recognized in the Islamic Republic's Constitution and its members face harsh discrimination in all walks of life as well as prosecution for the public display of their faith.
Amiri's murder is part of a "systematic effort by the Iranian authorities to encourage hatred and bigotry against Baha'is," Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community (BIC), said in a statement on October 26, 2016.
"Just in the city of Yazd alone, there have been multiple acts of persecution over the past few years, including dozens of wrongful arrests and imprisonments as well as scores of raids on Baha'i residences and businesses," she added.
"The Amiri family wants this case to be investigated fairly and hopes it will take its legal course," the source told the Campaign. "The Baha'i faith does not believe in retribution, but [the family] demands the next maximum punishment."
Ongoing Discrimination
The source described the events surrounding the murder to the Campaign: "... Two days before the incident on September 24, two men came to the door at Mr. Amiri's house. His son lived upstairs with his family and his elderly mother lived downstairs. The two men rang the doorbell and asked if the car parked outside was for sale. Mr. Amiri's son said the car was not for sale. Two days later [the men] returned in the evening and rang the doorbell again. This time Mr. Amiri's mother opened the door. She's an elderly woman and has a habit of opening the door without asking who's there."
The source continued: "She opened the door and didn't see anyone. So she called her son to go outside and see who rang the bell. Mr. Amiri went outside and after a few minutes they heard him scream. His wife and daughter went outside. The wife held his bloody body in her arms and the daughter ran after two men who were running away in the alley and she screamed for help. One of the suspects was arrested by neighbors and shopkeepers and the other, who got away, was later arrested by police. Unfortunately, the ambulance arrived half an hour later and Mr. Amiri died before reaching the hospital."
The suspects are in custody while the case is being investigated by Branch 7 of Yazd's Criminal Court, according to the source.
Asked if Amiri promoted the Baha'i faith in his community, the source told the Campaign: "He never promoted the Baha'i faith, but he and his family were well-known in the neighborhood as Baha'is because they had lived there a long time."
Amiri had retired from his job in the private sector a year earlier in 2015 and had started working as a truck driver. After Iran's 1979 revolution, the government confiscated his family's property and he was left with no choice but to work in the private sector after Baha'is were banned from working for the government, said the source.
"In 1955, Farhang Amiri's father, Hedayatollah Amiri, was killed along with six other relatives-Roghieh Amiri, Fereydoun Amiri, Ali Akbar Amiri, Abdolrazagh Amiri, Amanollah Amiri and Gholamali Amiri-because of their Baha'i faith," added the source. "They were known as 'Yazd's Seven Martyrs'."
In its report published on October 30, 2016 titled "The Baha'i Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran," the BIC estimates that since 2005, "when the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began to re-intensify the persecution [of Baha'is]," there were more than 860 arrests of Baha'is in Iran and around 275 Baha'is were sent to prison.
"During that time, at least 240 Baha'is have been expelled from university and thousands more have been blocked from enrolling through various ruses," continued the report. "There have been more than 950 specific, documented incidents of economic discrimination, such as shop closings or dismissals."
In addition to being denied constitutional rights as citizens, Baha'is are referred to in Iran's state media as "unclean," "members of a deviant religious cult," "agents of foreign powers" or "supporters of the toppled Pahlavi regime." They are also consistently denied entry into universities and are prohibited from working in governmental offices.
In April 2016, 54 leading international business owners and economists wrote a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, calling for an end to the harassment and discrimination of Baha'i business owners.
"We view the recent spate of business closures by Iranian authorities not only as a violation of religious freedom and human rights, but also as an affront to the freedom to do business," said the letter, which was signed by prominent figures from Brazil, India, Australia, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
In his annual reports, Ahmad Shaheed, the United Nation's special rapporteur for human rights in Iran until October 30, 2016, repeatedly detailed the widespread abuse and discrimination against Baha'is in Iran, and has called on the Iranian government to end its religious intolerance.
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HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2019 Breathes Life into Business Ideas
Three teams comprising students, alumni and staff of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) stood out among over 100 competing teams and garnered the top three prizes in the HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2019 (competition). ?They will compete with the finalists from six different cities in the Grand Final to be held in Nansha in September.?
The competition – now in its ninth year - attracted as many as 117 participating teams, up by more than 15 per cent over the previous year. ?While the competition continues to gain popularity among HKUST and other community members, it has also fostered diversity by launching an Online Matching Platform since last year. ?Helping interested participants match themselves across and outside of Hong Kong, the feature encourages young entrepreneurs with different backgrounds to exchange ideas. ?This year, fifteen percent of the teams identified their members through the platform. ?
For the first time, the top 6 teams entering the Final Round will be invited to join the Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) organized by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). ?STEP is a one-year program designed to nurture tech-focused entrepreneurs to become successful startups and help turn their innovative ideas into reality.?
Horizon Biochip – a company consisting of students and graduates from HKUST and Xiamen University, took the President Award this year with the technology Cryochip. Cryochip automates and standardizes the process of embryos vitrification – a crucial step in the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure that freezes embryos for later use. ?The new technology reduces the dependence on the level of technician skills and the chance of human error, effectively boosting the success rate of vitrification. The innovation also won the GF Innovation Award and Focus Area Awards (Healthcare Prize). ? ?
Deltron Intelligence Technology Holdings Ltd. – which develops a multi spectrum sensor for agricultural purposes – won the Gold Award and Focus Area Award (Robotics & AI Prize). ?The sensor is a non-invasive technology that allows efficient selection of fruits according to their sweetness and ripeness level, thereby facilitating standardization and productivity of fruits in Mainland China. ?Meanwhile, Quommni Technologies L.L.C. received the Silver Award with its creation of a point-of-care assay that can detect up to 100 infectious disease pathogens, including tuberculosis, measles, influenza and African swine fever virus. ?The detection can be achieved in a nasal swab, saliva or blood sample within 30 minutes, it’s not only cheaper than the traditional systems, but also much faster than the current procedure which may take a few hours or even a couple of days.?
Mr. Andrew YOUNG, Associate Director (Innovation) of Sino Group, said, ‘Sino Group is committed to supporting innovation and technology as it is central to what we care. ?We take a holistic approach to support Hong Kong’s growth into an international innovation and technology hub. We are delighted to support this inspiring initiative, the second consecutive year of our participation, to provide students and alumni of HKUST with an integrated learning experience to prepare themselves in entrepreneurship. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to the three winning teams in the Grand Final, and we look forward to seeing the entrepreneurial ideas turn into real products and services.’
Prof. Gary CHAN, Director of HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Center, said: “We are proud to see the steady increase in student interest in entrepreneurship. This year, we are particularly excited to see so many innovative ideas with high quality business proposals and execution plans. ?With continual support from our industrial partners and government, our Center will continue to nurture our youths to create economic, social and cultural values for the society.”?
To learn more about the HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2019, please visit: http://onemilliondollar.ust.hk/
(From left)Prof. Gary CHAN, Director of HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Center, Mr. Rian CHENG from Deltron Intelligence Technology Holdings, and Mr. Domenick SUAREZ, Mr. Gianmarco SUAREZ and Dr. Peter CHEUNG from Quommni Technologies L.L.C.
A new method developed by Quommni Technologies L.L.C can detect up to 100 infectious disease pathogens in a nasal swab, saliva or blood sample within 30 minutes
A multi spectrum sensor developed by Deltron Intelligence Technology that categorizes fruits according to their sweetness and ripeness level
能买足彩的app能买足彩的app
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Working memories of Frome
MEMORIES of working in Frome, recorded by the Home in Frome group, can now be viewed online. The latest project of the community group, which records the changing life of the town, has been the mammoth task of turning the Working Memories book into a website, https://workingmemoriesfrome.co.uk/
The new website goes live on Tuesday, 27th October, exactly eight years on from the launch of the original boo, which sold out its original print run. .
“It has taken a bit longer than expected, but we are delighted with the result,” said Home in Frome secretary Gill Harry, who has co-ordinated the work alongside a small project group of editor, John Payne, film and video maker, Alan Campbell, and computer wizard, James Gardner
“We certainly would not have managed it without a starter grant from Frome Society for Local Study, encouragement and resources from Frome Museum, and the great support of our loyal wider membership,” said Gill. As well as all the people who were willing to share their memories, there were many others, such as Trevor Biggs and Sue Latham, who contributed photographs and documents.
“The next logical step after the book was a website,” said John Payne. “Not knowing much about computers, I thought that would be easy, but it has been very hard work getting everything exactly right. It means that people can now hear extracts from the large number of recordings we made in people’s own voices as well as the voices of family, friends and neighbours, the people they grew up with and worked alongside.”
Sue Bucklow, who chairs Home in Frome, thought the chief value of the project was in bringing together the people of Frome: “The experiences of the long-term residents of the town and more recent arrivals are often very different, but we hope that Working Memories has helped to create a bridge between these. The book and web-site explain Frome to incomers in a very personal way, through the voices of its inhabitants. Older Frome people can take real pride in the town they helped to build.”
One sadness for all the Home in Frome team is that not all the people recorded in Working Memories are still alive. Many of those interviewed are much missed, as is Jacqueline Peverley, who founded Home in Frome more than a decade ago.
“If I wanted to single out one person among the hundreds who have contributed to Working Memories, it would be Jacqueline,” said Helen Ottaway, a founder member of the Home in Frome team, “She would have been very proud that this new stage of the Working Memories project has been achieved.”
Sue Bucklow said. “We would love more people to come forward with tales of their lives in the past, which can be recorded and added to the site, to share with others now and in the future.” If you are interested in a story being recorded, please email: homeinfrome@nullgmail.com for further information.
To coincide with the launch of the website, Home in Frome has reprinted the Working Memories book with a new introduction. This will be launched at the same time as the website, on 27th October and will be available at Hunting Raven bookshop and other outlets in Frome.
Pictured: Home in Frome members (left to right) Helen Ottaway, John Payne, Gill Harry, Alan Campbell and Sue Bucklow, photograph © Home in Frome; In Black Swan Yard, photograph by Sue Latham
Posted in Miscellany, Words! Words! Words! on 17 October, 2020 .
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After a 29-year run, Wendy’s serves up its last meal
A work crew boards up Wendy’s on Monday morning after closing on Sunday. The company said it plans to sell the site.
Not anymore at Wendy’s restaurant on Jos. Campau, just south of Caniff.
The company-owned outlet closed on Sunday, said Kitty Munger, Director of Communications for the company.
“The restaurant had seen declining sales for the past few years,” Munger said in an email to The Review. “The cost would be too high to remodel. The crew and managers were placed in nearby restaurants.”
Munger said the site will be put up for sale.
The restaurant had operated in the city for 29 years. The site was once the home of the Martha Washington Theatre, one of the last movie theaters in operation before being torn down about a year before Wendy’s opened up.
According to a report by the Columbus Dispatch newspaper, the Ohio-based company is closing about 130 of its restaurants that aren’t performing well. The company plans a major redo of its restaurants, much like Taco Bell has been doing in recent months.
On her Facebook page, Mayor Karen Majewski was more concerned about the tearing down of the Martha Washington Theatre than the closing of Wendy’s.
“The Martha Washington Theatre they knocked down to build it can never be replaced,” Majewski said. “This is why a strong zoning ordinance that protects our urban character and historic buildings is so important.”
The last years of the theater were surrounded with controversy. That’s when the owner of the theater resorted to showing adult-rated films, which spurred residents to protest in front of it.
Majewski noted that protecting the city’s urban character and historic buildings takes more than a strong zoning ordinance.
“That ordinance has to be defended by a Zoning Board of Appeals that grants variances only under actual circumstances of hardship, not just inconvenience or for the benefit of one constituency or another,” she said. “And equally important is a Plan Commission that is willing to defend and protect the regulations spelled out in that ordinance with a vision for the good of the entire city over the long term.”
The Zoning Board has allowed four mosques, a church and a non-profit organization to open up in commercial buildings on Jos. Campau in recent years, despite an ordinance forbidding that.
Sandy Bakic, whose family owns Campau Tower Hamburgers and Martha Washington Bakery next to Wendy’s, said she doubts there will be an uptick in business in either locations.
“It means less people will be around,” she said. “No business closing is good.”
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pooooooop
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John Sponsler
Tag: John Sponsler
Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection
February 17, 2014 February 16, 2014 Earl
25 years ago, if someone had been asking for a go-to album for casual fans of the Doctor Who theme tune and its accompanying incidental music, I would have somewhat reluctantly pointed them toward the Doctor Who 25th Anniversary Album on BBC Records; reluctantly on the grounds that while it did indeed include the major iterations of the theme tune, its incidental music was drawn entirely from Sylvester McCoy’s first two seasons, largely scored by Keff McCulloch with very ’80s hand clap samples for percussion backing his very ’80s synths. It was a nice enough sound for its time, but not one that has dated very well. In 1993, for the show’s 30th anniversary, the default selection became the BBC’s 30 Years At The Radiophonic Workshop, which I’d recommend with a different set of reservations: most of its tracks were pure sound effects. Very evocative ones, to be sure, the pride of the BBC’s sonic skunkworks at Maida Vale, but little of the 30th anniversary album was actually music.
We had to reach the show’s 50th anniversary to strike the right balance at last. The four-disc Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection is an unapologetic romp through the tunes accompanying the TARDIS’ travels from 1963 through 2013. If a single show’s sound has evolved more radically over time (without it being a variety show with an ever-changing selection of musical guests), I’d love to hear about it. In five decades, Doctor Who has gone from experimental-going-on-avant-garde analog electronic music, to small orchestral ensembles, to tuneful (and sometimes showy) ’80s synthesizers, and then to full-on orchestral grandeur. That journey is sampled at various points across four CDs here. (A limited edition of 1,000 copies of a more expansive – and, undoubtedly, expensive – 11-CD set will be available in early 2014; Silva has already fessed up that this 4-CD set is a sampling of that larger collection, without giving any indication as to whether the material will be available separately on individual CDs, iTunes, or what have you.)
For those who faithfully bought Silva Screen’s ’90s CD releases of Mark Ayres’ late ’80s scores and the label’s reissues of classic BBC albums, as well as the BBC’s own attempt to fill out the Doctor Who soundtrack library in the early 21st century, there will be a lot of familiar material here, sometimes only in briefly excerpted form. Ayres’ scores, and familiar material such as “March Of The Cybermen” and music from Tom Baker’s last season, can be found here as edited highlights, as can already-released ’60s and ’70s gems such as excerpts from the now-hard-to-find-on-CD-without-getting-a-second-mortgage CD featuring Tristram Cary’s music from the second-ever Doctor Who story, The Daleks. Ayres was the archivist responsible for picking out the best bits from the classic series, and his choices line up almost exactly what what I would have picked. (Note: almost. Leaving the music accompanying the Brigadier’s flashback out of a Mawdryn Undead suite is an unexpected choice, to say the least.)
But there are many surprises as well. The sheer amount of pristine, not-smothered-in-sound-effects Dudley Simpson music to be heard is impressive. For decades, short of Silva Screen’s singular experimental attempt in the 1990s to do a Simpson “cover album” with the best synthesizers and samples available at the time, almost none of Simpson’s music has been available, despite the fact that he remains the reigning champion among Doctor Who composers (having scored episodes from 1964 through 1979). Copies of Simpson’s music simply were not retained, for who knew that it would ever be in demand as a standalone product? But thanks to Simpson’s occasional collaborations with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop – a group which did a better job of archiving, and occasionally had to add synthesizer overdubs to Simpson’s more otherworldly cues – some selections of Simpson’s unique small-ensemble sound now survive. A few other Simpson specimens are culled from scenes in which the music was virtually the only sound in the mix (such as the music from the Patrick Troughton story The Seeds Of Death). This brings us such wonderful lost treats as the suite from 1977’s The Invasion Of Time, a selection of music which reminds me of Blake’s 7 as much as it does Doctor Who, and concludes with a great “slimy” synth motif for the Sontarans, a piece of music that screams “short, squat and ugly”. Other unearthed Simpson gems include music from The Android Invasion, the aforementioned Seeds Of Death, and the Pertwee space opera Frontier In Space. There are surprises from the small stable of other composers who scored the Doctor’s travels in the ’70s, including Carey Blyton’s stuttering stacatto saxophones from Death To The Daleks and his more traditional “Simpsonesque” strains from Revenge Of The Cybermen.
Another surprise heard here is a handful of stock library music pieces used during the 1960s, from the first piece of music ever heard within an episode of Doctor Who (on Susan’s portable radio, no less) to the familiar and oft-reused action cues that accompanied Cybermen and Yeti in equal measure. Many of these pieces have surfaced over the years, in such forms as the fan-compiled Space Adventures CD and short-lived one-off CDs timed to coincide with the releases of such things as The Tenth Planet and Tomb Of The Cybermen. But this is the first time than an officially sanctioned BBC release has declared these to be the Doctor Who music that the fans have always known them to be. The inclusion of a piece by Les Structures Sonores (used in the Hartnell four-parter Galaxy Four) is historically significant: when trying to describe the sound she wanted for Doctor Who’s still-unwritten theme tune, producer Verity Lambert fell back on the work of Les Structures Sonores as a suggested listen. (What actually emerged was wonderfully different from that suggestion, but however your tastes run regarding the show’s stories main theme, every major iteration is included here for your listening pleasure.)
The ’80s, the final decade of original Doctor Who, present a different problem: nearly everything survives from that era, so it becames a question of judiciously picking what to leave out. The major pieces that everyone would wish for are present, however: Tom Baker’s swan song from Logopolis, the thematic bookend of Peter Davison’s first trip in the TARDIS in Castrovalva, Earthshock‘s “March Of The Cybermen”, The Five Doctors, the percussive Sontaran march and the flamenco-style acoustic guitar work of The Two Doctors, edited highlights from three of the four stories making up The Trial Of A Time Lord, and the final moments of music from the original series in 1989’s memorable (and perfectly scored) Survival, which demonstrated that the show’s decade of synths was on the cusp of giving way to a more interesting mix of synth, guitar and live violin if the story demanded it.
Things then transform dramatically. For the first time outside of a 1990s “composer promo” release of questionable legality, selections from the Hollywood-spawned score of 1996’s Paul McGann TV movie come in from the cold on an official Doctor Who soundtrack compilation. Not much more than a taster, to be sure, and yes, the entire score’s been available as the music-only audio track on the DVD of that movie for about a decade now, but it’s nice to see this release taking in the entirety of the franchise’s musical history (with one major omission – more on this in a moment). From here, we jump to an extended best-of from Murray Gold’s reign as the sole musical voice of modern Doctor Who, covering everything from Rose’s theme through The Rings Of Akhaten. As much as some fans have only ever grown up with Murray Gold’s bombastic orchestral music as the sound of Doctor Who, it’s impressive that Silva Screen managed to constrain the new series highlights to a single disc.
But considering that, before the track listing was announced, I fully expected much of this set to be tilted in favor of the new series, the 50th Anniversary Collection is a pleasant surprise from start to finish. Fans weaned on the David Tennant years may be shocked to discover how much the “house style” of Doctor Who has changed, but those of us who grew up with Tom Baker or his predecessors will find much to love here. Yes, the first disc has a lot of sound effects on it, but they’re almost music in their own unique way – the sound of the living, breathing alien worlds found in Lime Grove Studio “D” so many years ago. And I never thought we’d get, on CD, such music as Don Harper’s sinister spy-movie-inspired strains from The Invasion, or the Dudley Simpson tracks that we have here.
I’m a little surprised to see that the two 1960s movies starring the late Peter Cushing as quirky but perfectly human inventor Dr. Who are not represented here. Silva released all of the available score material from both of those movies in their entirety some time back, so they have access to (and rights to) the recordings. I suppose they get excluded for not being part
of the TV franchise, but if there was any concern that the ’60s-centric CD had too many sound effects, I wonder why these tracks weren’t considered for inclusion. With every passing year, Cushing’s brief tenure as the TARDIS traveler grows more obscure, so I suspect I’m alone in thinking there should have been some hint of the movies here.
The 50th Anniversary Collection is a dandy sampling of the Doctor’s ever-evolving musical accompaniment over the years.
Doctor Who (Original Theme) (2:20)
An Unearthly Child: Three Guitars Mood 2 (2:03)
An Unearthly Child – TARDIS Takeoff (0:49)
The Daleks (The Dead Planet): Forest Atmosphere (1:07)
The Daleks (The Dead Planet): Forest With Creature (0:54)
The Daleks (The Dead Planet): City Music 1 and 2 (0:56)
The Daleks (The Dead Planet): The Daleks (0:32)
The Daleks (The Survivors) – Dalek Control Room (0:34)
The Daleks (The Ambush): The Ambush (2:00)
The Daleks – Capsule Oscillation (Dalek Destructor Fuse / Bomb Countdown) (0:19)
The Edge of Destruction – Explosion, TARDIS Stops (1:10)
The Keys of Marinus – Sleeping Machine (0:52)
The Chase – Dalek Spaceship Lands (0:17)
The Chase – TARDIS Lands (0:11)
Galaxy Four – Chumbley (Constant Run) (0:27)
Galaxy Four – Chumbley at Rest (0:28)
Galaxy Four: Marche (Les Structures Sonores) (2:40)
The Daleks’ Master Plan (The Nightmare Begins): A Strange Sickness (0:44)
The Daleks’ Master Plan (Destruction of Time): Growing Menace (2:08)
The Gunfighters: Excerpts from ‘The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon’ (3:51)
The Tenth Planet: Space Adventure Part 2 (1:21)
The Macra Terror – Heartbeat Chase (1:57)
The Macra Terror – Chromophone Band (1:56)
The Macra Terror – Propaganda Sleep Machine (1:08)
The Tomb of the Cybermen – Sideral Universe (2:26)
The Tomb of the Cybermen – Space Time Music Part 1 (1:21)
The Web of Fear – Space Time Music Part 2 (1:19)
Fury from the Deep – Mr. Oak and Mr. Quill (Incidental Music) (0:39)
The Wheel in Space – Cyberman Stab & Music (1:32)
The Wheel in Space – Birth of Cybermats (0:44)
The Wheel in Space – Interior Rocket (Suspense Music) (1:55)
The Dominators – Galaxy Atmosphere (1:04)
The Mind Robber – Zoe’s Theme (1:20)
The Invasion: The Dark Side of the Moon (0:31)
The Invasion: The Company (1:31)
The Krotons – Machine and City Theme (1:49)
The Krotons – Kroton Theme (2:14)
The Seeds of Death: Titles (0:35)
The Seeds of Death: Ice Warriors Music (0:26)
The War Games – Time Lord Court (1:32)
Doctor Who (New Opening, 1967 – full version) (2:20)
The Mind of Evil: The Master’s Theme (0:43)
The Mind of Evil: Hypnosis Music (0:36)
The Mind of Evil: Dover Castle (0:29)
The Mind of Evil – Keller Machine Appears and Vanishes (0:22)
The Mind of Evil: Keller Machine Theme (0:43)
The Claws of Axos – Copy machine tickover (0:16)
The Claws of Axos: The Axons Approach (1:45)
Music from ‘The Sea Devils’ (5:24)
Music from ‘The Mutants’ (7:12)
Music from ‘Frontier in Space’ Episode 1 (1:46)
Music from ‘Death to the Daleks’ (3:50)
Planet of the Spiders – Metebelis III Atmosphere (1:53)
Doctor Who Opening Title Theme (0:44)
The Ark In Space – Nerva Beacon Infrastructure and TMat Couch (1:42)
Music from “Revenge of the Cybermen” (5:28)
Terror of the Zygons: The Destruction of Charlie Rig (0:42)
Terror of the Zygons: A Landing in Scotland (1:22)
Terror of the Zygons: The Zygons Attack (0:51)
Music from “The Android Invasion” Episodes 3 and 4 (6:32)
The Brain of Morbius – The Planet Karn (1:50)
The Seeds of Doom: Antarctica – The First Pod (2:17)
The Seeds of Doom: Get Dunbar! / Krynoid On The Loose (2:55)
The Masque of Mandragora – The Mandragora Helix (1:26)
Music from “The Invasion of Time” Episodes 3 and 4 (5:36)
Doctor Who Closing Titles (40? Version) (1:15)
Doctor Who 1980 (Opening Titles) (0:38)
The Leisure Hive: Into Argolis (1:44)
Full Circle: K9 on a Mission (0:35)
The Keeper of Traken: Nyssa’s Theme (0:41)
Logopolis: It’s The End… (3:18)
Doctor Who 1980 (Closing Titles) (1:16)
Castrovalva (3:18)
Four to Doomsday: Exploring the Lab (1:46)
Earthshock – March Of The Cybermen (5:13)
Mawdryn Undead (4:19)
The Five Doctors (5:29)
Warriors of the Deep (3:53)
Resurrection of the Daleks (5:01)
The Caves of Androzani (Alternative Suite) (6:07)
Doctor Who Theme (1980 – Full Version) (2:42)
The Twin Dilemma (4:04)
The Mark of the Rani (3:45)
The Two Doctors (3:15)
Timelash (5:51)
Revelation of the Daleks (3:53)
Doctor Who 1986 (2:53)
The Trial of a Time Lord: The Mysterious Planet (3:21)
The Trial of a Time Lord: Terror of the Vervoids (2:44)
The Trial of a Time Lord: The Ultimate Foe (3:16)
Doctor Who 1987 2:38()
Music from ‘Time and the Rani’ (1:38)
Delta and the Bannermen: “Here’s to the Future” (1:57)
Music from ‘Dragonfire’ (3:02)
Music from ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’ (5:32)
Music from ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’ (3:23)
Music from ‘Battlefield’ (4:41)
Music from ‘The Curse of Fenric’ (6:35)
Music from ‘Survival’ (5:28)
“…and somewhere else, the tea’s getting cold” (from ”Survival”) (0:24)
Prologue: Skaro / “Doctor Who” Theme (1:34)
The Chase (Original Version) (2:20)
“Open the Eye” (2:25)
Farewell (1:35)
End Credits / “Doctor Who” Theme (0:49)
Doctor Who Theme – TV Version (0:42)
Doctor Who: Series 1 – Rose’s Theme (2:15)
Doctor Who: Series 2 – Doomsday (5:08)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – All The Strange Strange Creatures (The Trailer Music) (4:07)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – Martha’s Theme (3:42)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – Boe (3:44)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – The Doctor Forever (4:19)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – This Is Gallifrey: Our Childhood, Our Home (3:18)
Doctor Who: Series 3 – Donna’s Theme (3:16)
Doctor Who: Series 4 – Song Of Freedom (2:51)
Doctor Who: Series 4-The Specials – The Master Suite (4:33)
Doctor Who: Series 4-The Specials – Four Knocks (3:58)
Doctor Who: Series 4-The Specials – Vale Decem (3:20)
Doctor Who: Series 5 – I Am The Doctor (4:03)
Doctor Who: Series 5 – The Mad Man With A Box (2:09)
Doctor Who: Series 5 – Amy’s Theme (2:08)
Doctor Who: Series 6 – Melody Pond (4:43)
Doctor Who: Series 6 – The Wedding Of River Song (2:36)
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol – Abigail’s Song (Silence Is All You Know) (5:33)
Doctor Who: Series 7 – Towards The Asylum (2:25)
Doctor Who: Series 7 – Together Or Not At All – The Song Of Amy And Rory (3:17)
Doctor Who: Series 7 – Up The Shard (3:02)
Doctor Who: Series 7 – The Long Song (3:39)
Released by: Silva Screen
Disc one total running time: 79:01
Disc two total running time: 78:40
Disc three total running time: 78:58
Disc four total running time: 78:48
2013, D, Doctor Who, Soundtracks, TelevisionBrian Hodgson, Carey Blyton, Delia Derbyshire, Dennis Farnon, Dominic Glynn, Douglas Gamley, Dudley Simpson, Elizabeth Parker, John Debney, John Sponsler, Louis Febre, Malcolm Clarke, Mark Ayres, Martin Slavin, Murray Gold, Paddy Kingsland, Peter Howell, Robert Farnon, Roger Roger, Ron Grainer, Tristram Cary, Walter Stott
Doctor Who – John Debney, John Sponsler, Louis Febre
May 12, 1997 July 18, 2010 Earl
This CD was a one-time-only promotional edition of the music score from the 1996 Doctor Who movie adaptation which aired on Fox. Promo CDs released by film composers are often almost bootlegs; the composers need to have copies of soundtracks they’ve done to solicit work from producers of future projects, and often the payoff of getting the CDs pressed is to let a few copies be sold to collectors at a premium. Normally I wouldn’t mess with these pricey items, but this one in particular completes my collection of Doctor Who soundtrack CDs to date, so I coughed up the money, and I’m glad I did.
If there’s anything I learned about this score, it is that it contains much hidden depth. The music wasn’t really emphasized in the sound mix enough to do it justice, and the mix overall seemed too muddy to let the music’s nuances shine through. One of the most brilliant things is a frequently recurring motif which is very reminiscent of the bells and chimes of a music box, which first appears in the “Time” cue (in which the Doctor looks up at the wall clock and says “Time… time… time”). It adds a little bit of enchantment, and its clockwork precision for some reason seems to enhance the idea that there’s some time traveling occurring here. The organ and harpsichord sounds reinforce that notion with a period feel that compliments the look of the TARDIS interior and so forth. Normally, I cannot stand harpsichord.
I also learned that there were some omitted sections; the cue for the opening scenes after the main titles have a much different musical twist for the scene where the Doctor goes to check on the Master’s remains and discovers that his charge has escaped. It’s a really interesting twist, and personally, I love it! Among my favorite pieces: the aforementioned first scene (an incredibly interesting thing to hear while watching the scene in question without the jazz record in the mix!); the music accompanying Chang Lee’s first visit to the TARDIS (especially the comical bit as he tries to figure out why it’s bigger inside!), the gorgeous cue played as the Doctor and Grade take their walk, and the long piece of music that goes with the climax of the movie.
But the ones that send chills up my spine are “To Hold Death Back” and “Farewell”. The former is divided into two sections: the first begins as the Doctor hugs Grace upon her resurrection, and the second is the piece played when the Doctor heartily thumps the TARDIS console. That second section is absolutely remarkable! So much we didn’t hear on TV! As for the “Farewell” cue, it always reached out and grabbed me even from a lousy, lowest-bidder-contracted TV speaker, and it’s lovely in headphones. Perhaps simply from the mental association with its accompanying visual – the Doctor stepping into the TARDIS and taking off for what may be the last time on television – it stops me dead in my tracks. The theme song is fascinating, and has a much more driving beat and bass line to it than I’d imagined before hearing it up close. And holy cow, I’ve even gotten to like “The Chase”. Yep, that piece played when TARDIS consoles go boom, when Doctors have seizures, and when ambulances chase motorcycles…again, enough hidden musical depth for me to begin appreciating the piece at last. My congratulations to the composers – they went above and beyond the call of providing a score worthy of 1990s Doctor Who. Even with the limitations of the average TV speaker, and competing with dialogue and effects for prominence in the sound mix, they managed to come up with music that added a huge amount of the sense of wonderment and playfulness and gothic, apocalyptic danger which simply oozed from the movie.
I can’t recommend this CD highly enough, nor can I adequately lament its lack of a general commercial release – it would have easily been the best-selling Doctor Who soundtrack ever, if for no other reason than the wide exposure and marketing of the Doctor Who movie, and could have easily paved the way for further releases of earlier material a la Silva Screen. Ah yes, BBC licensing wing, how we love your tremendous vision…not!
Special note: for those in the U.K., it’s worth noting that the DVD release of the Doctor Who movie contains an isolated score track featuring more music than was featured on this CD – including the much-sought-after song heard on the Doctor’s record player.
Wimps / Doctor #7 is Shot (1:44)
Aftermath (1:09)
X-Ray / Snake in the Bathroom (1:28)
"Who Am I?" (1:58)
City Scape (1:07)
Primitive Wiring / The UnBruce (1:40)
Two Hearts (1:15)
The TARDIS / True Identity (2:16)
Night Walk (1:49)
The Eye of Harmony / Half Human (4:39)
Until Midnight / Atomic Clock (2:03)
Green Eyes (0:48)
The Chase (2:23)
Beryllium Clock / Wagg’s Key (1:16)
Slimed (2:08)
Under the Influence (0:50)
Crown of Nails (1:16)
Lee’s Last Chance (2:11)
"Reroute Power!" / Temporal Orbit (6:20)
To Hold Death Back (1:48)
End Credits – Doctor Who theme (0:50)
Released by: SuperTracks
1997, D, Doctor Who, Soundtracks, TelevisionJohn Debney, John Sponsler, Louis Febre
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Kane Brown Talks Black Lives Matter, Unrest in 2020: ‘I’m Glad My Daughter Doesn’t Know What’s Going On’
At home for the summer due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Kane Brown is grateful to be around for his daughter Kingsley's big milestones — but he's also extremely glad she's still a baby and likely won't remember how tumultuous the first year of her life was.
In a new interview, Brown reflects on 2020's social unrest, and why he released his song "Worldwide Beautiful" in the midst of it all.
"2020’s been tough in general. I’m glad my daughter doesn’t know what’s going on, and she’s not going to remember," Brown tells Hits Daily Double. "Having a biracial daughter, I have a lot of people coming at me, asking, 'How are you going to explain to her when she’s pulled over?' and 'What are you going to tell her about the difference between her and her white friends?'"
As the son of a white mother and a Black father, Brown has learned the "rules" for if he gets stopped by law enforcement:
"I know if I get stopped, I need to put my hands out the window so they can see I don’t have a weapon. You have to be real careful about how you speak, because you don’t know who’s walking up to the car; you don’t know what they’re scared of or acting out of," the artist explains, echoing the conversations many people of color have had with their children through the years.
However, Brown has also had to deal with people, both Black and white, "bad-mouthing" him because he is biracial. "I’m both and I’m neither, depending how you see it," the singer says, but while others try to use his heritage to tear him down, Brown tries to use it "to understand and see each [side] without losing the other."
"If I’m coming from my Black side, I’m super-scared if a cop pulls me over. But the cop? They’re in the line of fire every day, and that’s part of it," he reflects. "So I try to love everybody: the cops who do their jobs, anyone who’s a good person in this society."
Indeed, Brown knows not all cops are bad — "The ones who get this power trip with a badge, they're out there ... but that's not all cops," he says — but he also knows that the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to recent deaths of unarmed Black men and women at the hands of police officers is incredibly important.
"It’s not that all lives don’t matter, it’s that all lives can’t matter until Black lives really matter. Until then, you’re not gonna get there," Brown says. "We will never find peace until everybody understands. You need to have understanding, not just people yelling at each other, wanting to be right. Then no one wins, and people just get angrier on both sides."
"If everybody was just trying to find common ground, to understand where the other was coming from, what their fears are," Brown continues, "that seems a much better way to find a solution."
As the country star explains, racial injustice isn't a political issue; it's a human rights issue. "It’s strange how they think it’s politics and not something that’s hurtful and wrong. They won’t see that," he says of those who oppose the Black Lives Matter movement.
Brown himself advocates for equality and love in "Worldwide Beautiful,' a song he released in early June and after which he named his now-rescheduled 2020 tour. The song, the singer explains, is "a story about where I've been."
"Having to grow up fast, I maybe saw some things in a different way than other kids. My world was different, and it made me guarded," reflects Brown, whose father wasn't around and whose family struggled with poverty, "But it also showed me how to see things from other places."
Brown began writing "Worldwide Beautiful" with Shy Carter, who is also Black and has been one of Brown's collaborators since Brown's early days in Nashville. "He encouraged me to open up and be real about things. He understood," the star says of Carter, with whom he also wrote his song "Learning."
After they came up with the idea for "Worldwide Beautiful" in conversation, Brown and Carter enlisted Ryan Hurd and Jordan Schmidt, who are both white, to help them co-write it. The move was an effort to create diversity among the song's creators.
"We figured if just Jordan and Ryan wrote it, or just Shy and I wrote it, it would’ve been one thing," Brown explains. "But together, this is what I’m talking about. There’s two sides to everything that’s going on, different ways of looking at all of this. The trouble is, everybody is right, right where they are, but it doesn’t move you any closer together. We need to come together."
Brown has been pleased with the response to the song.
"I left the comments open, let people say what they’re gonna say, then tried to educate with respect and kindness. I didn’t worry. I was happy, and that didn’t change," he says, and he's received love for his work across racial and other differentiating lines.
"To have people on both sides saying they felt it — that’s how we start moving forward and coming together in love," Brown says. "Some people have to change their hearts and minds, but we’ll get there."
Source: Kane Brown Talks Black Lives Matter, Unrest in 2020: ‘I’m Glad My Daughter Doesn’t Know What’s Going On’
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Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen/ Biblical Prophecy
Date Tuesday – February 7, 2017
Host George Noory
Guests Mark Shaw, Brother Michael Dimond, Brother Peter Dimond
Listen with Windows Player High Low
Mark Shaw is an investigative reporter and author, as well as a former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst. In the first half, he discussed his latest work on the mysterious death of reporter and TV star, Dorothy Kilgallen, who was found dead from an alleged overdose in November 1965 after researching the JFK assassination. She had attended the Jack Ruby trial, and was the only reporter ever to interview him. She was getting herself in danger, Shaw remarked, having written a number of columns against the Oswald-acted-alone theory. Shortly before she died, Kilgallen had informed her friends that “if the wrong people knew what I know about the JFK assassination, it would cost me my life,” and that she was buying a gun, and changing her will.
When she was discovered dead in her townhouse, the autopsy cited an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol but also mentioned “circumstances undetermined,” yet there was never any police investigation, Shaw continued. She had a thick investigation file on the JFK assassination and had a contract to write a book for Random House about it, he noted. Shaw, who believes that Kilgallen was poisoned by someone who slipped drugs into her cocktail, named a suspect that is still alive, a journalist she was involved with at the time, who later wrote a poem called “Vodka Roulette,” that seemingly refers to the incident.
Shaw contends that had Kilgallen lived she would have exposed Carlos Marcello as the mastermind behind the JFK assassination as well as provided solid evidence to link J. Edgar Hoover to a major cover-up in the operation. “I think Dorothy Kilgallen probably would have won the Pulitzer Prize for producing the truth about one of the greatest murder mysteries in history,” he added.
In the third hour, Traditional Catholic Benedictine Monk for over 20 years, Brother Michael Dimond and his brother, Brother Peter Dimond, talked about biblical prophecy as detailed in the Book of Revelation, and their views about what has become of the modern Catholic Church and the Vatican. They believe “we are deep into end times,” and named Pope John Paul II as the Antichrist, because he taught that every man is God. They further cited Pope Francis’ teachings that “it’s a grave sin to convert people to Catholicism” as evidence that the Vatican is now proffering a false or counter-religion, which is a sign of biblical end times. The Dimonds also pointed out that the prophetic third secret of Fatima deals with the destruction or infiltration of the Catholic faith.
The last hour featured Open Lines, with callers sharing their reactions and thoughts to biblical ‘End Times’ and the Stormberger prophecies, which George read on the air.
News segment guests: Catherine Austin Fitts, Dr. Peter Breggin
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April 28 - 29, 2018 Bellingham Technical College
LinuxFest Northwest, an annual Open Source event co-produced by Bellingham Linux Users Group and the Information Technology department at BTC. LFNW features presentations and exhibits on free and open source topics, as well as Linux distributions & applications, InfoSec, and privacy; something for everyone from the novice to the professional!
All LFNW events (including parties) are at BTC this year! Please PRINT YOUR BADGE and we'll see you at the Fest!
artmeetscode.org
ROSECODE
Why I forked my own project and my own company
Bryan Lunduke
Linux Sucks. Forever.
Carrie Maxwell
Crimson Vista
Lessons Learned from Civic Hacking
Zaheda Bhorat
OpenSource: Love what you do everyday!
Doug Klunder
ACLU-WA
State of Video Copyright & Free Culture
bkuhn
Seth David Schoen
Incompossibilities: Limitations and Trade-offs in Technology Design
Where to stay in Bellingham, WA
We recommend the following accommodations for your visit.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Bellingham Airport
We are proud to once again be partnering with Home2 suites Bellingham to offer a special rate of $114 a night!
Use the link to reserve your special room rate or call and ask for LinuxFest or group code “LF4”
805 Home Lane, Bellingham, WA 98226
Hotel Bellingham Airport
We are proud to once again be partnering with Hotel Bellingham Airport (formerly the Hampton Inn) to offer a special rate of $84 a night! With complimentary shuttle service to and from LinuxFest Northwest held at Bellingham Technical College.
Please call to receive the special LinuxFest rate!
3985 Bennett Dr, Bellingham, WA 98225
Saturday Night Party Sponsor
Friday Night Party Sponsor
Community & Support Sponsors
LinuxFest Northwest (LFNW) brings together an open technology community. While that informal community cooperates year round through various media and projects, LFNW itself is an organized opportunity to interact directly, personally, intensively, and freely. All types of people attend the Fest to learn, teach, share and contribute to each other. The LinuxFest Northwest organizers and volunteers are committed to having a low stress, fun environment that supports the best that open source technology can offer. Fundamentally, the Fest works best when people behave well with each other. With the number of people who attend the Fest, there may be occasions when things don’t go smoothly. To assist with resolving issues that may arise during the Fest, the LFNW organizers have developed some guiding principles. These are based on the best elements of the Fest culture, along with those from other successful open source projects.
Be courteous, respectful and considerate — a difference of opinion is not a valid reason for personal insults or impolite behavior. Cooperation works best when people feel personally safe and comfortable. Everyone is welcome at LinuxFest Northwest, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disabilities, physical appearance, or any other differences. Harassment for any reason is not acceptable. The Fest is a family event, including children. So sexual references and profanity are not appropriate. People’s actions should bring credit to themselves, LinuxFest Northwest and the larger open source community. Service animals should not be petted, distracted, or interacted with in any way; they function as a tool for the accommodation of an individual's disability, and as such should be allowed to perform their work without interference.
Be patient and generous — support others and ask for support. If someone asks for help, it is usually because they think they need it. In some cases, it can be helpful to suggest ways for the requester to help themselves. For example, learning how to ask good questions can sometimes be a big help. Intentionally vague or hostile responses (such as “Read The Manual”) are counterproductive.
Assume that people mean well — start with an assumption of good intentions. Often the best answer is somewhere between competing positions. Polite disagreement can go a long way towards resolving an issue. Clarifying possible misinterpretations builds mutual respect. Take responsibility for your actions.
Reach out for help — In some cases, talking directly with others involved can resolve a situation. If that isn’t possible or comfortable, our organizers are available to help. LFNW volunteers can be found wearing red volunteer shirts and can assist you with locating an organizer.
Privacy is important — LinuxFest Northwest has always taken pride in respecting the privacy of attendees. Registration is optional to attend the Fest itself, and we do not sell or give your information away, not even to our sponsors, without your explicit permission. We also expect attendees will keep with this commitment to privacy. Ask before taking photos of people. Do not publicly post information about other attendees (names, employer, etc) without their permission. If you witness or have reason to believe the code of conduct is being violated, please bring up the topic with staff.
The organizers of LinuxFest Northwest are honored to have the opportunity of being hosts. We encourage all attendees to share in making the Fest valuable and memorable for everyone. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
http://www.btc.edu
AWS is LFNW's Saturday Night Party Sponsor!
AWS Intelligence Initiative-AI²
The AWS Intelligence Initiative-AI² is hiring for a unique opportunity working with some of the best and brightest engineers and technical leaders, while breaking new ground in the U.S. Intelligence Community by delivering an agile software services and infrastructure. Amazon Web Services is a dynamic and rapidly growing business within Amazon.com. We are building some of the largest and most complex distributed systems in the world, and we need world class people to help us implement and operate them.
https://www.amazon.jobs/team/ai2
MySQL is the world's most popular OS database. With its proven performance, reliability and ease-of-use, MySQL has become the leading database choice for web-based applications, used by high profile web properties including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yahoo! and many more. Additionally, it is an extremely popular choice as embedded database, distributed by over 3,000 ISVs & OEMs. To organizations in need of an open source, ACID-compliant transactional database delivering real-time in-memory performance and 99.999 percent availability, Oracle offers MySQL Cluster.
https://www.mysql.com/
The makers' choice.
The openSUSE project is a worldwide effort that promotes the use of Linux everywhere. openSUSE creates one of the world's best Linux distributions, working together in an open, transparent and friendly manner as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source Software community.
The project is controlled by its community and relies on the contributions of individuals, working as testers, writers, translators, usability experts, artists and ambassadors or developers. The project embraces a wide variety of technology, people with different levels of expertise, speaking different languages and having different cultural backgrounds.
The openSUSE distribution is a stable, easy to use and complete multi-purpose distribution
It is aimed towards sysadmins, developers and desktop users. It is at home on laptops, desktops, and servers. The latest release, openSUSE Leap 42.2, features new and massively improved versions of all useful server and desktop applications. It comes with more than 1,000 open source applications. Our rolling release, openSUSE Tumbleweed, is updated nearly every day with the newest stable kernels, libraries, desktops, and applications.
openSUSE is also the base for SUSE's award-winning SUSE Linux Enterprise products.
https://www.opensuse.org/
Silicon Mechanics, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of rack mount server, storage, and high-performance computing solutions. Deploying the latest innovations in hardware and software technology, we work in collaboration with our customers to design and build the most efficient, cost-effective technology solution for their needs. Our guiding principle, "Expert included", is a promise that reflects our passion for complete customer satisfaction, from server and component selection to superior installation and ongoing technical support.
https://www.siliconmechanics.com/
System76 produces premium Linux Computers using the latest hardware. Their machines, along with the Pop!_OS distro, are developed to empower science, technology, and engineering professionals. They delivery worldwide to over 60 countries, providing industry leading support to all customers. System76 is powered by a close-working team of extremely talented creators passionate about helping people use Linux computers to unleash their potential.
https://system76.com
Candela Technologies
Candela Technologies is a small company dedicated to building quality network testing equipment that can emulate real world scenarios. The LANforge network testing platform can emulate delay, jitter and loss in WANs, high traffic LANs, and dense user-endpoint and high-traffic WiFi testing. We pride ourselves on our support and ability to customize our product to your needs.
http://www.candelatech.com/
Pogo Linux
Advocating for open-source since 1999, Pogo Linux is a systems integrator headquartered in Redmond, WA. With a multi-OS focus and in-house technical expertise, Pogo Linux offers a wide range of servers, workstations, and network storage solutions for the technology needs of IT departments in organizations of all sizes.
http://www.pogolinux.com/
Polyverse builds Polymorphic versions of popular Linux distributions, where the memory layout of code, and the instructions used are unpredictable and different for every instance. For an attacker, stack frames don't line up, return addresses are different, and instruction patterns don't reveal anything. This creates an unpredictable attack surface that is extraordinarily difficult for attackers to exploit.
Polymorphic Linux is installed through package repositories unique to every subscribed host. This scrambling defeats exploits for not-yet-known vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, return oriented programming, and speculative execution attacks. Subscription takes mere seconds, and there is no runtime performance impact.
https://polyverse.io/
Think Penguin
At ThinkPenguin we have one goal: Make the adoption of free software easy. Unfortunately in the past GNU/Linux has gotten a bad rap as being difficult to use and lacking support.
Fortunately thats the past and now there is a readily available catalog of free software friendly hardware and support available from one source: ThinkPenguin. We have wide range of hardware from laptops, desktops, and printers to fun accessories such as techy T-Shirts and crypto currency pins.
Our products are freedom-compatible: Meaning they will work with just about any free software operating system.
Free software is a set of principles that ensure end-users retain full control over their computer. Free software can be used, studied, and modified without restriction.
The chipsets we use encourage community development and user participation. Users can not be locked into a vendor or product, be forced into an expensive upgrade, or have other digital restrictions placed on them.
https://www.thinkpenguin.com/
http://whatcom.edu/
wolfSSL is an open source embedded SSL/TLS library. Dual licensed under GPLv2. wolfSSL's products are designed to offer optimal performance, rapid integration, the ability to leverage hardware crypto, and support for the most current standards. All products are backed by a dedicated and responsive support and development team.
https://www.wolfssl.com
Bellingham AI and Robotic Society
http://www.all-aces.org/bairs/
Bellingham Publicly Owned Fiber Optic Network
https://www.change.org/p/mayorsoffice-cob-org-bellingham-public-fiber-optic-network
Clonezilla is a partition and disk imaging/cloning program similar to True Image®. It saves and restores only used blocks in hard drive. Two types of Clonezilla are available, Clonezilla live and Clonezilla SE (Server Edition).
Even the most die-hard Linux users sometimes need to run Windows software once in a while. Some keep an old Windows PC around, some dual-boot, some use a virtual machine, while others have discovered the power of CrossOver Linux. CrossOver enables you to run the Windows programs you need on your favorite Linux distro like Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Debian, RHEL and more.
https://www.codeweavers.com/
College in the Clouds
We offer free courses in Linux, LibreOffice, Joomla, Community Builder, VirtueMart and Moodle. Learn how to build a more secure computer, publish your own book, create your own interactive website, organize your own online community and/or start your own online store using free open source tools!
https://collegeintheclouds.org/
Command Prompt, Inc.
Command Prompt, Inc. is the oldest and largest dedicated PostgreSQL support provider in North America. Since 1997, we have been developing, supporting, deploying and advocating the use of the World's Most Advanced Open Source Database.
https://www.commandprompt.com/
CSS Communications
CSS Communications was founded in 1988 by current Chief Technology Officer and President Ray Poorman. Since that time, the company has spearheaded groundbreaking private-public partnerships with several regional ports and municipalities to deploy highspeed fiber internet to local businesses. For over 20 years we’ve supported our local communities, with last-mile connectivity for both residential and business customers, utilizing the latest technology to reach underserved areas. Currently we are working with San Juan Cable, a small regional cable/internet provider, to increase connectivity for the Lummi Indian Tribe and Guemes Island. We are proud of our work bringing better internet speeds to these areas.
http://www.cssnw.com/
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. We work to ensure that rights and freedoms are enhanced and protected as our use of technology grows.
https://www.eff.org
Global Alliance for Local Voice
Global Alliance for Local Voice (GALV) is devoted to providing the international public with a libre encrypted communication platform for people to understand societal issues around the world via real time (face to face or text based) conversations with locals residing in the affected communities. Our goal is for local residents most adversely affected by societal issues in their communities to inform global discourse and inspire transformative grassroots relationships that reclaim globalized relationships dominated by top-down institutions.
https://galv.world
Hammerhead Coffee
Hammerhead Coffee has been organic-certified since early 2016. As such, we choose to only bring in beans with organic certification via importers we trust: primarily Atlas Coffee Importers. Whenever possible, we source Fair-Trade certified coffees, which allows us to work with cooperatives of small growers--Mom and Pop, if you will--as opposed to larger plantations.
https://hammerheadcoffee.com/
InformIT, a division of Pearson, is your one-stop technology learning resource. Our passion is delivering trusted and quality content and resources from the authors, creators, innovators, and leaders of technology and business from the best imprints in IT including Addison-Wesley, Sams, and Prentice Hall, among others.
http://www.informit.com/promotions/open-source-resource-center-138425
League of Professional System Administrators
LOPSA mission statement: "To advance the practice of system administration, to support, recognize, educate, and encourage its practitioners, and to serve the public through education and outreach on system administration issues."
https://lopsa.org/AboutLOPSA
FinTech non-profit leveraging the cloud, mobile, and open source community to transform the delivery of financial services to the world's 2 billion poor and unbanked.
Our unprecedented approach to technology-enabled financial inclusion unites financial institutions, local technology partners, and volunteer developers to collectively advance open source banking infrastructure so the sector can sustainably build impactful innovations in digital financial services.
More than 7 million clients are being reached by 300 financial institutions & fintech innovators who use the Mifos software to power their operations across 40+ countries.
http://mifos.org/
Nextcloud is the next generation open source, self-hosted, enterprise-ready file access and communication platform. Access & sync your files, contacts, calendars and communicate & collaborate across your devices. You decide what happens with your data, where it is and who can access it! Nextcloud puts you back in control.
https://nextcloud.com
Noodle Computer Inc.
Noodle Computer Inc. produces DIY computer kits designed to maximize user freedom and privacy. Its first product, Noodle Pi, is the world's smallest and lightest personal computer, and the first handheld computer that can be assembled by end users without any tools. Noodle Pi puts the power of a modern Debian-based Linux system into the palm of your hand. Its innovative docking system enables the use of a variety of keyboards and input devices, as appropriate in different contexts. Noodle Air, an air-gapped variant of Noodle Pi, enables a whole new class of high security applications, such as Noodle Pay (noodlepay.com) and Unsnoopable (unsnoopable.org).
http://www.noodlepi.com/
Northwest Indian College Space Center
http://www.nwic.edu/portfolio/space-center/
No Starch Press publishes the finest in geek entertainment — bestsellers like Python for Kids, How Linux Works, Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, Practical Packet Analysis, and The Manga Guides. We focus on open source/Linux, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, and science and math. Our titles have personality and attitude, our authors are passionate about their subjects, and we read and edit every book that bears our name. Our goal is to make computing accessible to technophile and novice alike
https://nostarch.com/
Rook & Rogue
The Rook & Rogue Board Game Pub's Dungeon Master is supplying games for the Friday Night Party!
https://www.rookandrogue.com/
SeaGL
SeaGL is a grassroots technical conference dedicated to spreading awareness and knowledge about the GNU/Linux community and free/libre/open-source software/hardware.
http://seagl.org/
Seamonster Robotics
The Seamonsters are FRC Team #2605 and are 25+ members strong. Our mission is to create an environment within the team that is as enriching as it is gratifying, where every student is presented with equal opportunities to pursue their interests in the applications of STEM.
The Seamonsters compete against schools of all sizes, including some of whom have many more resources at their disposal. Our mentors provide supervision and some high-level guidance, but 100% of the design, construction, and programming of the robot is performed at our school, by the students.
We also have FTC Teams as well as VEX Teams participating at our high schools and in within our district.
http://www.seamonsters2605.org/
Seattle Postgres User Group (SEAPUG)
https://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Postgres-User-Group-SEAPUG
Seattle Privacy Coalition
The fundamental right of privacy for all human beings underpins free society, yet today this right is challenged by technological advances that open vast new opportunities for the aggregation and analysis of personal data.
We believe that by starting at the municipal level, we as individuals can have an impact and help re-establish meaningful privacy expectations that can inform and inspire the work of others. Seattle Privacy formed in March 2013 and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the state of Washington in 2014.
Vision Worldwide legal protections of privacy for all people, where ever they live, whatever their citizenship, against increasingly totalitarian government surveillance programs and intrusive and cynical corporate data collection.
Mission To urge and empower the City of Seattle to take advantage of Seattle’s leadership in technology and progressive politics to lead the United States to restore and protect all people’s right to privacy.
https://seattleprivacy.org
Skylight is a smart profiler for Ruby on Rails applications.
It turns performance data into actionable insights, so you spend less time diagnosing and more time improving.
https://www.skylight.io/
Software Freedom Conservancy is a not-for-profit charity that helps promote, improve, develop, and defend Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects. Conservancy provides a non-profit home and infrastructure for FLOSS projects. This allows FLOSS developers to focus on what they do best — writing and improving FLOSS for the general public — while Conservancy takes care of the projects' needs that do not relate directly to software development and documentation.
https://sfconservancy.org/
We’re the Open Open Source Company.
Open Source is in our genes. Open to us means more than shared source code. It’s a philosophy and approach that informs everything we do. It’s how we develop software, how we work with partners and customers, and how we engage with communities. Most of all, it’s about keeping our minds open to new ideas.
SUSE graciously provided video capture hardware for LFNW2018.
TAPCUG
The TAPCUG Linux SIG mission is to get everyone switched over to Linux, a better computer operating system. Linux based Android phones and Chromebooks have been wildly successful but we don't yet have a good selection of affordable Linux desktop computers we can buy in stores and online. We are working to finally bring affordable Linux desktop computers to the market place. See http://Linux-Now.us/
http://Linux-Now.us/
The Fedora Project
The Fedora Project is a community of people working together to build a free and open source software platform and to collaborate on and share user-focused solutions built on that platform. Or, in plain English, we make an operating system and we make it easy for you do useful stuff with it.
https://getfedora.org/
The Foundry Bellingham Makerspace
The Bellingham Makerspace is a non profit creative workshop offering access to sophisticated tools, technology, education and community skill sharing. This creative space encourages collaboration, drives innovation, and supports entrepreneurs, students, and the Bellingham community.
http://bellinghamfoundry.com/
FreeBSD is an operating system used to power modern servers, desktops, and embedded platforms. A large community has continually developed it for more than thirty years. Its advanced networking, security, and storage features have made FreeBSD the platform of choice for many of the busiest web sites and most pervasive embedded networking and storage devices.
https://www.freebsdfoundation.org/
The Linux Professional Institute
Here is the link to our website where attendees can register for the cram session or exams. http://www.lpi.org/articles/join-lpi-linuxfest-northwest-2018
http://www.lpi.org/
The Open Source Initiative
As a global non-profit, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) protects and promotes open source software, development and communities, championing software freedom in society through education, collaboration, and infrastructure, stewarding the Open Source Definition (OSD), and preventing abuse of the ideals and ethos inherent to the open source movement.
https://opensource.org/
Tony's Coffee
For more than forty years, we have been roasting coffee in Bellingham. Nestled along the waters of the Puget Sound, in the shadow of the North Cascades, our work is inspired by the beauty of our surroundings.
https://www.tonyscoffee.com/
Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things
https://www.ubuntu.com/
Yard Sale Table
The Yard Sale Table is not only a good fund raiser for LFNW, it's a great way to reuse computer and electronic items.
Clean out your computer nerd cave and let go of that gadget you've been hanging onto but never use!
Bring your stuff, (USABLE, NO JUNK, NO CRT MONITORS PLEASE), computers, printers, network gear, patch cables, mice and other cool electronic components to LFNW's 2018 Yard Sale Table.
You get a clean workspace and you contribute to LFNW!
https://linuxfestnorthwest.org
http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/
https://www.linuxjournal.com
Linux New Media
Linux Pro Magazine (http://www.linuxpromagazine.com) is your guide to the world of Linux, with insightful articles on Linux tools and technologies, as well as news, reviews, and reports on important events within the open source community. Linux Pro Magazine puts the emphasis on real-world experience, with practical articles designed to help users expand and extend their Linux skills.
http://linuxnewmedia.com
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10 Ways ‘Back to the Future’ Could Have Been Different
When Back to the Future hit theaters on July 3, 1985, it brought to fruition a project that had been more than five years in the making.
The concept began with writer and producer Bob Gale, following a visit to his parents’ home in St. Louis. While looking at his father’s old high school yearbook, Gale began to imagine what it might have been like if they were classmates together. “Would I have been friends with him?” Gale pondered out loud in the Making of Back to the Future documentary featurette. “Or would I have hated his guts?”
Upon returning to his home in California, Gale described his idea to friend and frequent collaborator Robert Zemeckis, who loved the concept. So set in motion the process to bring Back to the Future to the big screen.
The story centered on Marty McFly, a teenager accidentally sent back in time when an experiment alongside his friend Emmett “Doc” Brown goes wrong. Once in 1955, Marty accidentally encounters his future parents, setting in course a series of events that threatens his own existence. Marty has to get the two to fall in love, while also avoiding terrorizing bully Biff Tannen and trying to find a way to get back to the future.
The film became a passion project for both Zemeckis and Gale, who continued pushing forward despite many obstacles. For years, the movie was turned down by studios that deemed it unlikely to be a hit. “We were getting the same exact message from everybody: ‘This is just not for us,’” Gale recalled, noting that most studios were looking for raunchy comedies like Porky’s at the time.
Watch the 'Back to the Future' Trailer
Steven Spielberg would eventually sign on as producer, giving the project some major clout. Still, the filmmakers initially had to settle for their second choice of actor in the role of Marty McFly, after Michael J. Fox was originally deemed unavailable.
Though the story would eventually go on to resonate with generations of fans, the script was a constant source of concern during the movie's production, as changes were continually being made right up to - and even during - filming. As noted by the website Hollywood and Spine, many scenes were changed or completely cut from the film. These included the opening introduction of Marty and Doc, Marty's lavish escape from high school detention and George McFly being locked in the bathroom during the Under the Sea dance.
Upon its release, Back to the Future became a blockbuster hit, making $389 million worldwide. The original film’s success launched a franchise that would go on to include three movies, an animated series, video games, comic books, theme-park rides and even a stage musical.
Still, the classic film would never have become an iconic hit were it not for several smart - and in some cases lucky - decisions. Here are 10 ways Back to the Future could have been very different.
Next: 'Back to the Future II' Doubles Down on Time Travel
Source: 10 Ways ‘Back to the Future’ Could Have Been Different
Filed Under: Back to the Future
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‘Fletch’ Is Getting a Modern-Day Update Starring Jon Hamm
Universal/Getty Images
Fletch lives again.
Deadline reports that the Fletch franchise is making a comeback, in a “modern day reboot” that will star Mad Men’s Jon Hamm as the title character. Fletch, who originated in a series of mystery novels by author Gregory Mcdonald, was played in two popular 1980s movies by Chevy Chase.
Here’s a description of this new Fletch, which will be directed by Superbad’s Greg Mottola:
The new film adaptation will specifically be based on the second book in the Mcdonald series, Confess, Fletch. In a mysterious chain of wild events, Fletch finds himself in the middle of multiple murders- one of which pins him as a prime suspect. While on a quest to prove his innocence, Fletch is tasked with finding his fiancée’s stolen art collection, the only inheritance she’s acquired after her father goes missing and is presumed dead. Zev Borow, consulting producer of the Lethal Weapon TV series, will be penning the feature adaptation.
Although the last Fletch film, Fletch Lives, came out 1989, there have been several attempts to revive the franchise before now. For many years, Kevin Smith wanted to make a third Fletch with Jason Lee in the lead, based on the Mcdonald novel Fletch Won.
Later, Jason Sudeikis was attached to a modern update of Fletch. That never happened either. Hamm seems like ideal casting for the role of Fletch, though, so hopefully this new iteration will be worth the long wait.
Gallery — The Best Comedy Movie Posters Ever:
Source: ‘Fletch’ Is Getting a Modern-Day Update Starring Jon Hamm
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Feast of Christ the King: CKC Old Boys Set To Launch New Book "Sons of a Priest"
History will make itself again on Sunday November 24 2019, as the Christ the King College Old Boys’ Association, Abuja branch sets to join the Catholic faithful across Nigeria in the annual celebration of the feast of Christ the King, with a Pubic Presentation of a CKC new book — "Sons of a Priest" by a CKC old boy and multiple award-winning author, Odili Ujubuoñu.
This was contained in a statement issued by the President of CKC Onitsha Old Boys’ Association Abuja Branch, Chief Emeka Eriobuna, in which he disclosed that the day is also the feast day celebration of the Christ the King College, Onitsha, which is one of the foremost secondary school schools in Nigeria.
He said this year’s event, which would involve old boys of the college with members of their families, will commence with a High Mass at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarinpa Abuja by 9:00 a.m.
According to him, the book is a collection of testimonials of past students of the longest serving and first black principal of the college, the late Very Reverend Fr. Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo OON.
These past students, he said, include: Governor Willie of Obiano of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Odili former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Peter Obi former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Mike Ajegbo, His Lordship Archbishop Valarian Okeke–Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Onitsha–Hon. Justice P.N.C Umeadi former Chief Judge of Anambra State, among others.
The statement reads in part: "The book project began in 2016 shortly before the death of the old priest, Fr. Tagbo at the age of 87 years.
"Sons of a Priest is a strong emotional statement by over a hundred past students, united in their voices in proudly telling the world how a simple and humble priest sacrificed his life so that tens of thousands of ordinary boys could become leaders, influencers of society and very remarkable successes in different walks of life and around the world. When our branch saw the great work the author, whom we are very proud of, was embarking on we decided to partner with him.
“Rev. Fr. Tagbo was a man of quality and everything that bears his name goes with quality that is why we are making this a very quality event.”
"The Public Presentation would be done by another distinguished old boy Mr. Cecil Osakwe an Abuja based Lawyer and Luxury Property Developer."
Speaking further, Chief Eriobuna, an Estate Surveyor, opines “This event would be attended not just by CKC greats but captains of industry, the diplomatic community, members of the media, political and party leaders and members of the clergy –who form the primary constituency of our late principal, priest, father, mentor and friend. The Book event would take place by 4.00pm at the Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, Abuja, FCT.”
He concludes “In order to make the fame of our college last forever, we must keep ensuring that Christ the King College stands head and shoulders above its contemporaries in academics, sports, discipline and morals. The book event, apart from celebrating our former principal, will enable us pay attention to the immediate and remote needs of our alma mater."
Christ the King College was founded in 1933 by Irish missionaries led by the then Archbishop of Onitsha, Archbishop Charles Heerey. Among the eminent products of the school are the late Rev. Fr. N.C. Tagbo himself, late Justice Chukwudifu Oputah, Justice Chuba Ikpeazu, Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, Prince Felix Esayande Akenzua, Chief Chike Ofodile, SAN, Dr. Ibe Nwoga, Justice Allagoa, Dr. Ene Henshaw, the great novelist John Munonye and a host of countless others.
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo OON was born in 1929 in present day Anambra State. He graduated from the college in 1949 and was first appointed the first black principal of the Christ the King College, Onitsha in 1963. Under his tutelage, Dr. Peter Odili served as a senior prefect and several other great men earned their early leadership formation. During the war, Rev. Fr. Tagbo preserved CKC’s rich archives and tradition and was able to return the school to its early glory immediately after the Nigerian Civil war.
This culminated in the school winning, for Nigeria, the nation’s first ever world football trophy by bringing home from Dublin-Ireland, the World Schools’ Soccer Cup in 1977. Tagbo died in July of 2016 after a protracted illness. He received a grand burial from Christ the King College Onitsha, Old Boys. It was reported that at his burial, thousands of his former students besieged the commercial city of Onitsha from every corner of the earth to pay their last respects to him. Among N.C. Tagbo’s exceptional past students was the world renowned Computer Scientist, Philip Emeagwali and Dr. John Agwunobi who was once the Secretary of Health, the State of California, U.SA.
Fitness and Exercise 770 views 10 Followers
Football 363 views 5 Followers
Law 331 views 4 Followers
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Japandroids’ Celebration Rock
Alyssa Battistoni
Courtesy Polyvinyl Records
Brian King and Dave Prowse, the longtime friends who make up the Vancouver duo Japandroids, have never been shy about declaring their intentions. With Celebration Rock, the new follow-up to 2009’s surprise hit Post-Nothing, they’re wearing their hearts on the album sleeve. If the title wasn’t enough to clue you in to their subject matter, you need only skim the track listings—”Adrenaline Nightshift,” “Continuous Thunder,” “Fire’s Highway”—to get the gist.
The beautiful-desperate-youth theme is a rock-and-roll tradition, albeit one that’s hard to pull off without seeming melodramatic or clichéd. And this album’s got plenty of drama in many of the standard forms—doomed love affairs, insomniac nights, youthful bodies, highways of fire, heaven and hell, dreams lost and found, all bookended by crackling fireworks. It sort of seems like it should be too much. But Japandroids make the bold imagery and persistent drum fills work, partly because they manage to simultaneously seem incredibly sincere and wryly self-aware without being self-conscious, and partly because they put so much heart into it that you can’t help but go along for the ride. But the band’s accomplishments are more than a trick of attitude—Celebration Rock is 35 minutes of intensely potent, no-holds-barred rock-and-roll glory, each song an expertly executed rush of endorphins and electricity.
After the introductory fireworks fade into the distance, “The Night of Wine and Roses” breaks into a riotously joyful ode to nights spent drinking till dreams come true. “Fire’s Highway” is a driving, melancholy song of love, lust, and life on the road that filters the band’s experiences touring through a mythical, lyrical lens, while “Adrenaline Nightshift” sees Japandroids firing up the guitars while “waiting for a generation’s bonfire to begin.” The album’s climax comes with penultimate song “The House that Heaven Built,” where King fights to hit the defiant notes of an epic packed with emphatic lyrics and a resounding chorus of oh-oh-ohs. And then “Continuous Thunder,” a slow burn of a song whose backing drums slowly become the rumble of fireworks, brings you down easy.
“Younger Us,” a single released in 2010 and included on Celebration Rock, is quintessential Japandroids, full of eminently quotable lines like “Remember saying things like we’ll sleep when we’re dead / And thinking this feeling was never gonna end / Remember that night you were already in bed / said fuck it got up and drank with me instead.” But of course, a younger Japandroids could never write the kinds of songs the older ones do, charged with the fear of age and loss and failure, and all the better for it—celebration rock, but with a perfectly sharpened edge.
King and Prowse have said the only reason they continued as a band after “having more or less imploded in 2008” was to live their dream of touring; guitarist King once told Pitchfork, “It’s not like I’m this super-creative person who needs to express myself musically—it’s more like we just need to record in order to play more shows.” The stage is clearly where he’s in his element: Just like the record, a Japandroids live show is full of elements of rock glory that could seem passé but instead feel fresh and exciting. And, as on the record, the duo’s willingness to put all of themselves into the music helps them pull it off: several times, King told the audience “I’m leaving everything I got up here, so you’d better leave everything you’ve got down there.” The crowd for the most part obliged, dancing and sweating and following “The Night of Wine and Roses” directive to “yell like hell for the heavens.” To close out the night, instead of an encore, the band played a raucous cover of The Gun Club’s “For the Love of Ivy,” which also appears on the album.
Japandroids are not a band to sit and nod your head to, but if you’re up for a high-energy, low-irony show, I can’t think of many bands more likely to deliver. They’re touring through August, which is as it should be—Japandroids is a band, and Celebration Rock an album, meant for summer nights.
Broken Water’s Catchy Tempest
Screaming Females Get Ugly
Jack White Goes It Alone (Kinda)
Review: “High,” by Screaming Females
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Unsimplifying Darfur
The recurring theme of Rob Crilly’s book, ironically entitled Saving Darfur, is that Darfur only looks simple from a distance. Close up, it’s much more like the other complicated wars that a foreign correspondent posted to Africa has to follow on a month-to-month basis.
A second theme is how a human interest story can be a vehicle for making serious points and reaching a wider audience. Crilly’s best example of this is not from Darfur, but is the infamous “teddy bear” story, when a British teacher at an international school in Khartoum was arrested and charged with insulting religion after she named the class teddy bear “Mohammed”, after a chubby boy in the class. A news story whose headline was an invitation to mock Sudan, and especially zealots who wanted to score political points at the expense of a naí¯ve schoolteacher, in fact yields insight into different layers of dynamics within the Sudanese establishment, and between it and a western government.
Saving Darfur has garnered most attention for its critique of the Save Darfur movement – especially Crilly’s charge that in over-simplifying the conflict and elevating the rebels into “the good guys” it has impeded finding a solution. Readers of this blog will be familiar with these arguments.
But Crilly’s starting point is not some abstract contrarianism: it is his personal discomfort with being framed as a saviour by Darfurian people. Visiting the SLA-controlled Jebel Marra, Crilly was asked to speak to the assembled community. He looks over their hopeful faces and the banners with messages such as “Go on International Criminal Court” and “Welcome UN”. He writes (pp 39-40):
“So I began to explain how I was not an aid worker or a UN official with the ability to order up trucks of food or helicopters for the wounded, but a journalist with no power other than the ability to take their stories to the outside world. Maybe then things will start to change, I suggested, looking out across the crowd of children, their eyes wide with hope as they held their handwritten signs calling for the UN and ICC to save the people of Darfur. It was one of the most depressing sights I had even seen. In some ways it is easier to deal with misery, with mothers holding skeletal children as they tell how their village was burned and their menfolk killed. It is a tale I have heard all across Sudan and all across Africa in slightly different forms. It is the bread and butter of being a foreign correspondent. After a while it goes down into the notebook without even triggering any emotion. What is infinitely more difficult to deal with is hope: the belief that the outside world can solve the problems of Darfur; that the soldiers of the UN will one day ride to the rescue; or that the ICC will end Sudan’s culture of impunity. In short, the faith that people in faraway lands give enough of a damn to really make a difference. That was the sentiment that lay in the simple banners displayed by the children. They had hope in institutions many in the West had given up on long ago. They believed that outside help could save their lives, rebuild their villages and send them home – yet for four years nothing had changed in Darfur, despite countless UN resolutions. I doubted my reports in British, Irish and American newspapers would help the people who stood before me.”
Crilly’s Darfur is not only politically complicated, but morally ambiguous too. His book is in part a plea that Darfur not be reduced to a black-and-white morality tale. He describes Arabs who have become rebels, and Arabs who are victims of atrocities by the rebels, the legacy of decades of war in southern Sudan””not least the LRA, and how aid and peacekeepers have brought an economic boom to Darfur’s main towns. But he does not shy away from making it clear that the main responsibility for what has happened falls on the government.
Darfur’s war is both a depressingly ordinary African conflict, and also an extraordinary political event. Rob Crilly’s book shows both facets.
What the Jebel Mara tells us about ...
Eric Reeves’ Mischaracterization of Facts about Darfur
K. Zimmerman 12 February, 2010 at 08:40
I’ll be taking a look at this one as soon as it’s released in the United States on Feb. 28.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful book reviews. I find them extraordinarily useful. Would like to see even more of them.
Oscar H. Blayton 12 February, 2010 at 12:41
This sounds like another important book to read on Darfur.
Lack of understanding of the realities in Darfur (and all of Sudan) by Western decision makers has aggravated the situation in Darfur; and it sounds like books like this book by Crilly can help to correct this.
Steve Fake 12 February, 2010 at 14:32
Sounds like a very astute book with exactly the right framing of the issue.
Thomas 16 May, 2010 at 00:21
Not just western decision makers…anyone who feels the need to “do something” but is satisfied with sound bytes to direct their actions
Chad Green 14 September, 2010 at 17:03
What’s going on in Darfur is absolutely horrifying. I was at the NY Independent film fest and the one film that stood out was Attack on Darfur. I’m really glad there are different mediums that are bringing the political aspect to a forefront and making people aware of the terrible things going on in today’s world. It won Best feature film so I guess they thought it was important too!
Urbanization and the Future of Sudan–New Perspectives
Tsvangirai must form a coalition to have any chance in upcoming elections – By Simukai Tinhu
New Book: “War in Darfur and the Search for Peace”
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The Under Dog is a short story by Agatha Christie which was first published in The Mystery Magazine in April 1926 in the U.S. and in The London Magazine in October 1926 in the U.K. The story was also published as one of two stories in the book Two New Crime Stories in 1929. In the U.S. the story was gathered and included in the anthology The Under Dog and Other Stories in 1951 and then in the U.K. in The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées in 1960.
Lady Astwell is convinced that it is the secretary and not her nephew who murdered her husband but she has no proof, only "intuition". She hires Poirot to investigate.
Sir Reuben Astwell was murdered ten days previously at his country house, Mon Repos, when he was violently hit on the back of the head with a club and his nephew Charles Leverson has been arrested. Sir Reuben's wife, Lady Astwell, is convinced that the true criminal is the late man's secretary, Owen Trefusis, although she doesn't have a shred of evidence to back up this claim, relying instead on "intuition". She sends her young companion, Lily Margrave, to Poirot to employ him on the case. Poirot accepts, partly because he senses that Lily does not want him to investigate the matter and that she has something to hide.
Arriving at Mon Repos Poirot speaks with the daunting and domineering Lady Astwell who tells him that Sir Reuben's brother and business partner, Victor, is also a guest in the house. Both brothers were equally as hot-tempered as the other and there were many rows and disagreements in the house, quite often involving Charles Leverson, with Sir Reuben often taking his temper out on the servants. Poirot interviews Parsons, the butler, who is one of the main witnesses in the case. His bedroom is on the ground floor and above him is the "Tower Room", Sir Reuben's sanctum. It is a lofty room with another room above reached by a spiral staircase and was originally an observatory built by a previous owner who was an astronomer. Sir Reuben was writing late at night and Parsons was asleep when he was awakened by the sound of Leverson returning home near midnight and letting himself in. He heard Leverson shouting at his uncle followed by a cry and a dull thud. About to go upstairs to see what was happening, Parsons then heard Leverson saying "No harm done, luckily" and then wishing his uncle goodnight. The next day, Sir Reuben was found dead. Speaking with Trefusis, the somewhat meek man admits that during his nine years employment, he was ruthlessly bullied by Sir Reuben. Trefusis shows Poirot the scene of the crime and the detective is puzzled as to why there is a bloodstain on the writing desk but Sir Reuben's body was found on the floor. Poirot tries an experiment with his valet, George, and realises that Sir Reuben was clubbed as he sat in his chair and remained in position afterwards as the chair is low-down in comparison to the desk.
Poirot is more suspicious than ever of Lily Margrave's nervous demeanour and investigates the two local hotels to see if anyone was staying that night who left the hotel near midnight. He finds such a man – Captain Humphrey Naylor – and convinced there is a link with Lily sets a trap by putting his own blood on a scrap of the dress that she was wearing that night and telling her he found it in the Tower Room. She confesses that she is Naylor's sister and that he was swindled out of an African gold mine by Sir Reuben. Determined to find proof she agreed with her brother to take employment as Lady Astwell's companion and on the night in question, as her brother waited outside, she went to the Tower Room and saw Leverson leaving it. She then went into the room herself and found the body on the floor (she also rifled the safe and found the proof of the swindle her brother was after) but she is innocent of the crime of murder. Poirot believes her and also realises that Leverson was drunk on the night in question and his strange manner is as a result of starting to shout at his uncle, pushing his shoulder and then realising he was dead as the body slid to the floor – hence the thud that Parsons heard. He is innocent as well as his uncle was killed earlier than when he was in the room.
Poirot persuades Lady Astwell to partake in hypnosis to recall events of the night of the murder. She confirms what she has already told the police – that she argued with her husband in the Tower Room some ten minutes prior to Leverson coming back home. She also manages to recall a subliminal memory of the normally-controlled Trefusis breaking a paper knife in anger earlier in the evening when again being shouted at by Sir Reuben (thus triggering her suspicions of the man) and a strange bulge in the curtain which covered the spiral staircase to the upper portion of the tower room. Poirot realises someone was already there when she and her husband were arguing.
Poirot begins a game of nerves with everyone in the house, extending his stay and searching everyone's bedrooms, much to their annoyance. He also claims to find something on the spiral staircase which will seal the murderer's fate and leaves it in a box in his room while he makes a quick trip to London. He returns and tells the gathered household that Trefusis is indeed the murderer but the crime was not premeditated. The secretary had left something in the upper portion of the Tower Room and was fetching it when he found himself to be an unwilling witness to the row between Sir Reuben and Lady Astwell. After she left the room, he tried to sneak out but was spotted and received another barrage of abuse from his employer. After nine years of such treatment, he was unable to take any more and struck Sir Reuben down. The item Poirot found on the stairs was false but George, hidden in the wardrobe of Poirot's room, saw Trefusis steal the box in which the item was hidden when Poirot was in London. Lady Astwell is delighted – her intuition has proven correct.
Lily Margrave
Sir Reuben Astwell
Lady Nancy Astwell
Charles Leverson
Inspector Miller
Owen Trefusis
Victor Astwell
Miss Langdon
Captain Swann
Mr Elkins
Major Blyunt
Miss Cole
Captain Humphrey Naylor
Mr Mayhew
Dr Cazalet
A television film with David Suchet as Poirot was produced as episode 2 in Series 5 of the ITV series Agatha Christie's Poirot, first broadcast on 24 January 1993.
1926 The Mystery Magazine, Vol. 8. No. 6, 1 April 1926
1926 The London Magazine, October 1926
1929 Two New Crime Stories Agatha Christie and Phillips Oppenheim, Reader's Library (London), 1929
1951 The Under Dog and Other Stories, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), 1951
1960 The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées, Collins Crime Club (London), 24 October 1960
Retrieved from "https://agathachristie.fandom.com/wiki/The_Under_Dog?oldid=38063"
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Sharp DR 90 Nemesis
Sharp DR 90 "Nemesis"
Sharp DR 90 "Nemesis" on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
The most successful aircraft in air racing history, Nemesis dominated its competition, winning 47 of its 50 contests from 1991 until its retirement in 1999. Flown by pilot and designer Jon Sharp, it won nine consecutive Reno Gold National Championships and 16 world speed records for its class.
Nemesis was the International Formula One points champion every year from 1994 to 1998. In 1991 it won the George Owl Trophy for design excellence. In 1993, '96, and '98, it won the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's Louis Blèriot Medal for the greatest achievement in speed. In 1993, '94, '95, and '99, Nemesis won the Pulitzer Trophy for air racing speed records. The airplane is built of pressure-molded graphite epoxy foam core sandwich.
The most successful aircraft in air racing history, Nemesis dominated its competition winning 47 of its 50 contests from 1991 until its retirement in 1999. Flown by pilot and designer Jon Sharp, it won nine consecutive Reno Gold National Championships and 16 world speed records for its class including the 3 km mark of 290.08 mph and the 15 km mark of 282.58 mph set in 1998. Nemesis was the International Formula One points champion for 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998, at an average speed 244.68 mph. In 1993, 1996, and 1998 it won the Louis Blèriot Medal of the FAI for the greatest achievement in speed. In 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1999, Nemesis won the Pulitzer Trophy for air racing speed records.
Nemesis is a small mid wing, single-seat tractor monoplane with fixed landing gear designed and built in 1991 by Jon Sharp, Cory Bird, Dan Bond, and Steve Ericson. The aircraft is built of pressure molded graphite epoxy foam core sandwich and is powered by a single Continental O-200, 100 horsepower air-cooled engine. Nemesis incorporated numerous firsts in the Formula 1 class. It was the first in history to be built entirely of tooled, pressure molded, carbon reinforced plastics; the first with a carbon fiber roll over structure; and the first to use a custom designed natural laminar flow wing. It is the first to be entirely computer lofted. Nemesis also pioneered the use of a side stick with a full ball bearing control system as well as an on board data acquisition system and a titanium firewall. It is the first racer with a center section containing the fuselage with an integral wing, landing gear, and wheel pants. These innovations earned the team the 1991 George Owl Trophy for design excellence.
With Jon Sharp at the controls, Nemesis won the first competition in which it was entered, the Gold Race at Reno, Nevada. It was the first aircraft since the inaugural 1947 Goodyear event to do so. Through 1996, Nemesis won an astonishing 30 consecutive races while setting two national qualifying records and Nemesis also set new world speed records for class C-la (Group 1) aircraft on a 3 kilometer course August 1993 at 277.26 mph and 283.75 mph three years later.
Formula One began as an idea in the late 1930s to find a relatively inexpensive but highly competitive form of air racing. Plans for such a race series began in earnest after the conclusion of World War II when the Professional Race Pilots Association drafted a proposal calling for a class of aircraft to be built around existing 190 cubic inch engines. With the approval of the National Aeronautic Association’s Contest Board the new racing series was born. In the summer of 1947, the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation agreed to sponsor three annual trophy competitions at the National Air Races. By the summer of 1947, 21 new diminutive pure racing aircraft were ready to compete. The racing was an immediate success as it proved highly competitive, inexpensive, and above all, safe. It has remained so to this day.
In 1968 the engine specification was increased to 200 cubic inches as the preferred Continental C-85 engine went out of production. The new powerplants were limited to 100 horsepower and thus Formula One was officially born. Little has changed in the rules since but improvements in design and materials have enabled these tiny aircraft – particularly Nemesis - to fly over 100 miles per hour faster than the first generation of midget racers.
Nemesis was retired in 1999 and donated to the National Air and Space Museum. It is on display at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Gift of Jon and Patricia Sharp
Nemesis Air Racing Team
Pressure Molded Graphite Expoxy Foam Core Sandwich
Weight, empty: 236 kg (520 lb)
Weight, gross: 350 kg (770 lb)
Engine: Continental O-200 air-cooled engine, 100 hp
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Justin and Anna Scribner Turn Vintage RVs Into Luxury Homes on Wheels
AP Photo/Terry Renna
It’s hard not to love Charlize Theron. She’s been in tons of awesome car-related movies, such as The Fate of the Furious, The Italian Job, and even Mad Max: Fury Road. She may be an actress, but she actually does like being around the car culture in real life.
On this episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from back in 2018, Theron talks about her recent visit to the Daytona 500, and her love for racing.
Theron’s NASCAR experience is actually pretty cool. She got invited to be the honorary starter for “The Great American Race,” and they even show a clip of her at the race waving the green flag. Her genuine reaction is caught on camera, and you can tell she’s loving every bit of it. She also jumps into a story about how tense the drivers meeting was, but with as much on the line as there is at the Daytona 500, it’s understandable that you’d see some fierce competition between drivers and teams.
As Kimmel continues to ask more questions, we learn more about how Theron grew up. Her dad was a mechanic, and he had tons of cars laying around the yard at all times. She got a go-kart from a very young age, and started learning the basics earlier than most. Ever since then, she’s always had that automotive passion inside her. It’s always intriguing to come across a woman that knows her way around a car. This may have been her first NASCAR race, but something tells me she’ll be back for more.
It’s cool to see a different side of Charlize Theron. Beauty, brains, and a passion for cars? She really is the whole package. Out of all the actresses out there, Theron just adds a unique flare when she pops up as a feature in your favorite car action movie. Hopefully, we’ll get to see even more films from her in the near future!
About the author: Mason Hartwig
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Nikki Slade
Nikki is a pioneering western kirtan leader in the UK with over 30yrs experience throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe and UK.
The Healing Power of Chanting
Felicity Warner
Felicity Warner, founder of the global Soul Midwives Movement, lectures both nationally and internationally and runs The Soul Midwives’ School, based in Dorset. Its unique training programme teaches holistic and spiritual care for the end of...
Neale Donald Walsch is the author of nine books in the Conversations with God series, which have sold over 10 million copies in 37 languages.He is one of the major authors in the new spirituality movement, having written 20 other books, with eight...
Mooji is a true light in this world, whose presence, wisdom and loving guidance point us to who we are beyond the limitations of our conditioning and identity. Universal in his appeal, Mooji’s clarity, compassion, openness and humour...
Deepak Chopra.
“My country has been enriched by the contributions of more than a million Indian Americans, which includes Dr. Deepak Chopra, the pioneer of alternative medicine.” – President William Clinton, March 21, 2000 – State...
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We have a long-term outlook. We actively seek commercially attractive investment opportunities in businesses with proven track records of growth and profitability and the potential for continued expansion. This was reflected in our partnerships throughout the year – we entered six investments with key market leaders in different sectors in addition to four co-investments alongside our partnership with RDIF.
Our investments in 2016 have been a true testament to our sound investment strategy which looks to diversify our portfolio in terms of sectors and regions in order to minimise risks and maintain long-term partnerships. Going forward, we are now confident that our investment model will enable us to meet our growth objectives and ultimately generate sustainable wealth for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
MUELLER MIDDLE EAST
As we offer an ideal partner for investors looking to access the market, our first partnership in 2016 was where we invested, alongside other partners, approximately US $40 million to build the first copper tube manufacturing facility in Bahrain. This was following the signing of an agreement with Mueller Industries (Mueller), a leading manufacturer and distributor of flow control and industrial products listed on the NYSE, and Cayan Ventures (Cayan), an industrial projects developer and investor based in the Arabian Gulf. The facility will hold the name of Mueller Middle East and will address the increasing demand for quality copper tubes in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Under the agreement, Mueller will be the technical and marketing lead in the venture with a 40% ownership of the joint venture. Mumtalakat will be responsible for providing on the ground support, including procuring regulatory approvals for establishing the business, and will hold a 30% stake in the joint venture. Cayan will invest, structure and mobilise the project and will also hold a 30% stake in the joint venture.
ENVIROGEN GROUP
Notably, we invested in a water treatment company for the first time since our inception, where we acquired a significant equity stake in a UK-based specialised water treatment company, Envirogen Group S.A. (Envirogen). The acquisition was completed alongside Gecos Invest S.A. and Hermes GPE Environmental Innovation Fund LP through a joint investment syndicate led by Promethean UK Opportunities Fund II, LP (PUOFII).
We acquired a minority equity stake in Gulf Cryo, a leading regional manufacturer, distributor and service provider of industrial gases.
Gulf Cryo produces and supplies industrial, medical and specialty gases to a wide range of industries in the MENA region. Gulf Cryo was the first gas manufacturer in Kuwait to provide industrial gases such as oxygen and nitrogen to the booming local petroleum industry.
ALEASTUR
Our second investment in 2016 was an acquisition of an equity stake in in Asturiana de Aleaciones S.A. (Aleasture), a Spanish-based manufacturer of aluminium grain refiners and master alloys.
REGENT PROPERTIES
We continued looking to partner with well-established international companies operating in related sectors to further diversify and grow our investment portfolio. In May 2016, we marked our 4th investment for the year in which we partnered with Regent Properties to acquire an interest in an existing portfolio of high-quality commercial real estate assets in the United States. The aggregate value of this US-based portfolio is approximately US $250 million and is comprised of substantially leased, income-generating Class-A office buildings in the Phoenix, Arizona and Dallas, Texas areas. With this transaction Mumtalakat joined existing Regent investors including affiliates of BlackRock, CAM Capital, and other well-known endowments and pension funds.
KOS Group
In 2016, we also witnessed our first investment in Italy in the healthcare sector. We invested in KOS group, a leading healthcare operator in the areas of social health, residential care for chronic illnesses, rehabilitation and mental health services, and management of medical equipment and diagnostic centres. It has over 76 dedicated facilities comprising 7,200 beds including nursing homes, rehabilitation centres, hospitals and mental health clinics. Additionally, the group has an international presence through its diagnostics and cancer care services unit in the UK and India.
Alongside our partnership with RDIF, we have closed four investments during the year. These include an investment in Hyperloop One, a US technology company established to develop a high-speed transportation system; Professional Logistics Company, a firm focused on investing and owning institutional quality logistics assets in Russia; Arc International, a French manufacturer and distributor of household goods and a global player in the glassware market; and ZapSib, a company designed to have the largest modern petrochemical facility in Russia aimed at the deep processing of hydrocarbon by-products in Western Siberia as well as import substitution of polymers in the Russian market.
PROFESSIONAL LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGIES
Professional Logistics Technologies is a newly founded company with a focus on investing and owning institutional quality logistics assets in Russia. The company is planning to grow its portfolio of modern logistics facilities to become the leading player in logistics facilities in Russia with a network of facilities throughout the country.
Investingfor Bahrain
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Struggling Kirsten Gillibrand Can’t Break One Percent In Average Of Polls For 2020 Dem Nomination
Kirsten Gillibrand’s 2020 campaign for the Democratic nomination is going nowhere fast.
The New York senator has tried everything, including a town hall event on FOX News, lashing out at Trump and promising free stuff. Even so, she can’t seem to crack one percent in the Real Clear Politics average of polls.
Politico has more on this:
Kirsten Gillibrand’s Failure to Launch
Kirsten Gillibrand is only asking for a dollar.
It’s not that she couldn’t use more money. In the first quarter of 2019, the junior senator from New York raised just $3 million for her presidential campaign, the weakest haul of the six senators running at that time and arguably one of the most disappointing totals of anyone in the sprawling Democratic field.
Given her anemic polling since entering the race, Gillibrand’s feeble fundraising performance fanned skepticism about her viability to earn a nomination that Democrats believe will require close to $100 million in hard money raised.
But at this point, Gillibrand isn’t focused on winning the primary. She’s worried about surviving the next few months.
Despite a soaring national profile in the U.S. Senate, Gillibrand has failed to achieve liftoff as a presidential prospect. She has not broken 2 percent in a single national poll since officially declaring her candidacy in mid-March, and her 0.4 percent average in the RealClearPolitics aggregate of surveys places her behind the likes of Julián Castro, Tulsi Gabbard and even geeky long shot Andrew Yang.
Democratic primary voters just aren’t buying what Gillibrand is selling.
The Washington Examiner has more:
Kirsten Gillibrand is what 0% in the 2020 polls looks like
The top five Democratic presidential contenders are followed by failed senatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, two sitting senators, a member of the House of Representatives, and then entrepreneur Andrew Yang and self-help author Marianne Williamson.
Considering that no one knows who Yang and Williamson are, that’s kind of amazing. More than 6 in 10 Americans have never heard of Williamson, and less than half the country has ever heard of Yang. In between Williamson and dead last in the RealClearPolitics average are eight candidates.
Then, there’s Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., polling at 0%.
It’s not a visibility problem. Seven in 10 Americans know who she is. They just don’t like her very much.
Will she be the first 2020 Democrat to drop out?
Will anyone notice?
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