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By Erica Sanchez and Dana Brandes-Simon
Henry Burrows/Flickr
Scientists Are Using In Vitro Fertilization to Save Coral Reefs
The tactic has become necessary in the face of a deadly coral disease.
Coral reefs are dying all around the world because of climate change, disease, and more. Without interventions, they could all vanish by 2050. The United Nations calls on countries to protect the environment, and you can join us in taking action on this issue here.
Once a year on a night with a full moon, corals in the Florida Keys release reproductive cells and begin the process of bringing new coral into life.
Recently, however, this process has been disrupted by a disease known as white plague that’s killing off the reefs, according to the Los Angeles Times.
White plague causes coral reefs to rapidly shed tissue and was first discovered in 1977 in the Florida Keys. In 2014, it started to become a major threat for unknown reasons, but scientists knew that action had to be taken, the Times reports. In the Caribbean, for example, large swaths of coral have been destroyed by the disease.
To prevent further decline in the Florida Keys, a team of scientists from the Florida Aquarium recruited a team of divers and traveled to the keys on Aug. 9 for an important two-week trip. They collected 150,000 coral eggs and sperm, and used in vitro fertilization —through which the scientists fertilize the egg in a dish — to help the coral reproduce.
Once the eggs were fertilized, some were released immediately back into the ocean and other were placed in different labs to grow before being released back into the ocean.
The goal is to repopulate reefs more effectively and efficiently. When coral release their gametes, fish often eat them. By capturing them and fertilizing them, eggs may produce more coral in the long term and hopefully keep the reefs healthy.
Corals are uniquely susceptible to disease because they grow so slowly, at a rate of 0.3 to 2 centimeters per year, so a disease can wipe out hundreds of years of progress in a season, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Research has shown that white plague is most prevalent in corals that have already experienced bleaching. Coral bleaching is “when corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white,” according to the National Ocean Service.
Read More: Plastic Is Causing Coral Reefs to Get Sick and Die
The primary driver of coral bleaching is climate change and the warming of ocean temperatures.
In recent years, over 25% of the globe’s coral reefs have been eradicated and if things stay on track, the majority of remaining reefs could be dead in 20 years, scientists told ABC News.
TopicsClimate changecambio climaticoFloridaGlobal warmingCoralScientistCoral Reefarrecifes de coralIn Vitro FertilizationBleechingWhite Plagueblanqueamiento de arrecifes de coral
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Coaldale Woman Beats Breast Cancer with Help from SLUHN Doctors; Returns to School to Become a Nurse
Judy Veron will turn 60-years-old on May 9, a milestone she says she might have missed without the skills and caring of SLUHN doctors near her home.
The Coaldale mother, wife and former “Mail Lady” for Carbon County, received a grim diagnosis of stage 3 invasive breast cancer in her left breast in 2008. She was just 49.
She credits her now-retired radiologist, David Bohri, MD, at St. Luke’s Miners with finding and diagnosing the disease during a routine mammogram. She says a breast expert in the Lehigh Valley had misdiagnosed her lump.
Though Veron had no family history of breast cancer, her mother had died of a type of gastric cancer known to be linked to her breast cancer, which is known to spread to both breasts.
Veron did her homework when choosing her treatment and treatment team. She wanted to remain local, believing that it wasn’t necessary to travel for the best care. She was referred by her gynecologist to SLUHN general surgeon Michael Martinez, MD, whom she describes as “concerned and compassionate” throughout her care, which was extensive.
During an 11-hour surgery at St. Luke’s Gnaden Huetten, Dr. Martinez removed both of Veron’s breasts. Next SLUHN chief of plastic surgery Michael Morrissey Jr., MD, reconstructed them using her abdominal muscle and fat.
Following chemo and radiation therapy, provided by Nimisha Deb, MD Veron joined a national clinical research trial to help science test the effectiveness metabolic Tamoxifen in premenopausal women.
Then she did something she had desired for years: she went to Penn State-Hazleton and earned a nursing degree. It’s in her blood: her mother was a nurse and her daughter is a nurse. Veron has worked with mental health patients at the Coatesville VA since 2014.
“Judy is an inspirational individual both as a champion for breast cancer survivors and as a nurse,” says Dr. Martinez.
Now, more than a decade after her diagnosis and surgery, Veron hesitates to say she’s cured. Instead, she declares she is “totally optimistic” about her health and is looking forward to retirement just two years away.
To celebrate her health and the decade ahead, Veron will take a road trip to West Virginia to visit her best friend, who convinced her to have her first mammogram. Undoubtedly, it will be a much more joyful birthday than 10 years ago, thanks in a large part to her SLUHN doctors.
“Having local care was important to me,” she says. “I thank God every day for my doctors at St. Luke’s.”
Kathy's Story
Kathy and Jim Smith believe people have a path and purpose in life, even when there’s suffering involved.
Kathy, 55, nearly died in 1997 after 17 hours of abdominal surgery at a Philadelphia hospital where a large cancerous tumor was removed. She lay in a coma for seven days after the operation before her body began to heal.
Jim, her husband, never left her side. Family and close friends were summoned to say their good-byes. Miraculously, Kathy pulled through to the astonishment and joy of her doctors, her and her husband, who live in Mt. Bethel.
But complications from the operation and radiation treatments plagued her. For two years, Kathy suffered 28 bouts with intestinal blockages and the wrenching pain, frequent trips to the ER and major weight loss they caused.
Buoyed by their faith, Kathy and Jim never lost hope, though several doctors refused to operate on her to correct these problems. The couple found their answer in 2017 in general surgeon Richard Sharpe, MD, at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital, who brought 30 years of complex surgical expertise into the OR. During five hours of surgery, Dr. Sharpe removed the intestinal adhesions and gave Kathy back her life, providing her hope for a future without pain.
“I feel fantastic,” she says, beaming. “Dr. Sharpe saved my life.”
Jim, a surgical technician at St. Luke’s Warren, calls the outcome “nothing short of a miracle.” He says he was put in the OR to meet Dr Sharpe and witness his immense skills.
Kathy has returned to her hobbies of cooking, creating crafts and reading, which she had to give up when she was suffering with her post-surgical conditions. With help from Jim who manages her ongoing health needs, an enduring faith in God and undying gratitude for Dr. Sharpe, the former nurse pictures a bright future ahead on a healthier path.
“I’m back to my abnormally normal self,” she jokes, adding that she’d happy to live with her new normal.
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855-GERSHOW
About Gershow
Products We Buy – Long Island Scrap Metal Buyers
Products We Sell – Long Island Scrap Metal Sellers
Industries We Serve – Sell Your Scrap Metal
What We Scrap
Scrap Metal Pricing
Get the iScrap App
Annual Holiday Letters
Community and Charitable Support
Employment Opportunities at Gershow Recycling
New Gershow Facility Hours
Mon–Fri: Sat:
Medford: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Riverhead: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bay Shore: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lindenhurst: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
New Hyde Park: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Huntington: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Freeport: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Valley Stream: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brooklyn: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Welcome to Gershow Recycling, Buyers and Sellers of Scrap Metal
About Gershow Recycling
Gershow Recycling was founded in 1964 by Sam Gershowitz and is one of Long Island’s oldest and most successful environmental companies whose mission is: Conserving the Future by Recycling the Past. Gershow recognized early on that Long Island had a growing solid waste problem and they could do something about it. As a result, they went to the region’s landfills to literally mine thousands of tons of cars that had been entombed there because they felt they could be recycled.
Gershow Recycling Products and Services
Buyers of Scrap Metal
Gershow Recycling is a processor of ferrous, and non-ferrous metals, and paper products. The company operates nine facilities throughout Suffolk County, Nassau County and Brooklyn with a group of highly trained and skilled associates. The Long Island company purchases scrap metal and paper products from the public, including homeowners and businesses, and then manufactures them into high-quality scrap products for recycling.
Click here for current market prices and a list of the types of metal we purchase
Gershow recycles metal products and then manufactures them into finished products in customer specified forms including baled, sheared, and shredded for sale domestically and for export overseas to steel mills, copper and aluminum foundries, paper mills and other metal manufacturing facilities. It owns a fleet of more than 250 rail cars and maintains a rail yard adjacent to its shredding facility, allowing it to ship products using just about any form of transportation to any destination.
Click here for information on products we sell
Click here for information on industries we serve
What’s Happening at Gershow Recycling
Gershow in the News
In recent years, the company has been featured several times on Fox News, Fox Business News and the Science Channel. In 2010, Gershow was regularly shown on Spike Television’s Scrappers program. In 2011, the company was the subject of an hour-long National Geographic program called Break it Down.
View E-Newsletters
View Holiday Letters
Recent News at Gershow
Gershow Recycling Donates Use of Wrecked Vehicle to Town of Huntington for Anti-Drunk and Distracted Driving Campaign
Gershow Recycling Purchases 50 Turkeys That Were Distributed to Local Families in Need
Gershow Launches Clunkers Into Cash Website
Sam Gershowitz Receives ISRI Lifetime Achievement Award
Gershow Grants Environmental Conservation Scholarships to Local Graduating High School Seniors
Gershow Recycling Donates Aluminum Scrap to Local High School Robotics Teams
Gershow Recycling Donates Wrecked Vehicle to Town of Huntington for Anti-Drunk and Distracted Driving Campaign
Gershow Recycling Purchases 50 Turkeys That Were Distributed to Families in Need
Gershow Recycling Hosts International Visitors for a Tour of the Medford Facility
Gershow Recycling Grants Environmental Conservation Scholarship to Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School Graduating Senior Tiandra Browne
Gershow believes how they act reflects directly on their customers, and therefore it plays an active role in the community. The company helps fund grassroots environmental programs that promote recycling and environmental conservation and also supports several community and youth programs. The company provides a scholarship award to several graduating students each year pursuing engineering or environmental studies. It makes regular donations of vehicles and provides the use of its facilities to local fire and ambulance companies for training exercises.
Contact Gershow Recycling
Nearest LocationBrooklynFreeportHuntingtonBay ShoreMedfordValley StreamNew Hyde ParkLindenhurstRiverhead
© 2021 Gershow Recycling
Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, United States Scrap Yard Metal Recycling Facility
We Buy Junk Cars, Trucks & Buses, Scrap Iron, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Tin Cans, Copper Bearing Scrap, Electric Motors, Waste Paper & All Other Scrap Metal Products
This website is designed and maintained by the Public Relations and Marketing Group.
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Genesis 2021 UK & Ireland Tour – EXTRA DATES
Genesis are reforming for their first tour in 13 years as Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford get ready to hit the road across the UK & Ireland with The Last Domino? Tour – rescheduled dates.
Genesis 2021 Rescheduled Tour Dates:
Glasgow The SSE Hydro, 01 April
Glasgow The SSE Hydro, 02
Birmingham Utilita Arena, 07 ***EXTRA DATE***
Newcastle Utilita Arena 09
Belfast The SSE Arena, 18
Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, 24
London The O2, 30 ***EXTRA DATE***
Tickets on sale now from AXS Ticketmaster The Ticket Factory (Original tickets remain valid)
The tour will be the trios first live outing together since their sell-out Turn It On Again: The Tour in 2007. They will be joined on stage by Nic Collins on drums as well as the band’s long-time guitar and bass player Daryl Stuermer.
Genesis are one of the biggest selling and most successful bands of all time and have sold an estimated 100 million albums. The band has appeared with various line-up alterations over the years and played to sold-out stadiums and arenas all over the world.
In 1978 ‘And Then There Were Three’ was the first album the band released as a three-piece. The record featured hit song ‘Follow You Follow Me’, earning them their first UK Top 10 and US Top 30 single. The track’s huge success also proved to be the start of huge commercial global success. Follow-up albums included ‘Duke’ in 1980, ‘Abacab’ in 1981, ‘Genesis’ in 1983, ‘Invisible Touch’ in 1986 and ‘We Can’t Dance’ in 1991.
Don’t miss out on the chance to see Genesis live on tour in 2020 – tickets are sure to be in high demand!
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EPL results
Gallas explains the differences in style between Mourinho and Wenger
The Frenchman worked with both coaches during spells at Chelsea and Arsenal, with the now Manchester United boss considered to be the more demanding
William Gallas says he enjoyed working under Jose Mourinho more than he did Arsene Wenger, with the Portuguese more demanding of his players.
The former France international spent time with two of the finest coaching brains in the business during a playing career which took in spells at Chelsea and Arsenal.
Mou: I'm not looking for revenge
He first linked up with the Blues in 2001, allowing him to form part of a successful era under Mourinho – following his arrival in 2004.
Gallas would win two Premier League titles under the Portuguese before crossing London to link up with Arsenal as part of the deal which took Ashley Cole in the opposite direction.
Four seasons at the Emirates delivered no tangible reward, with the Gunners in the midst of a nine-year trophy drought at that time.
Gallas, though, considers both Mourinho and Wenger to be born winners, with the former taking a more hands-on approach in pursuit of success and the latter prepared to offer his squad greater freedom.
Karanka: Mou best, not Pep
He told Soccer AM: "Both managers want to win trophies but with Jose he will show you every day at training [what needs to be done].
"If you are not 100 per cent he will stop the training and say to you 'what's wrong with you? Why don't you train? If you don't want to train just go outside and run, because what I want and what I expect from you is to give me everything'.
"And with Arsene it's a little bit different.
"You have to be more responsible to manage yourself so he won't be behind you all the time and that makes a difference.
"So for me it was very good to be with one manager who was always behind me."
'Arsenal should ring Luis Enrique'
Mourinho’s methods have seen him lift the Community Shield and EFL Cup with Manchester United this season, while progressing positively in the FA Cup, Europa League and the Premier League top-four tussle.
Wenger, meanwhile, is facing further questions regarding his future at Arsenal, with his philosophies drawing criticism on the back of a disappointing run domestically and in the Champions League.
Copyright © 2021 Goal (Philippines) All rights reserved. The information contained in Goal (Philippines) may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal (Philippines)
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Investing / Stocks
Why FAANG Stocks Are Thriving Right Now
FAANG ETFs
Vasin Lee / Shutterstock.com
FAANG stocks are a group of stocks that include Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google. CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer and analyst Bob Lang coined the acronym FANG in 2013. The original list did not include Apple.
FAANG stocks are so named because of the influence of these four big companies over the market. Cramer mentioned these stocks could “take a bite out of the bears,” CNBC reported.
How Are FAANG Stocks Performing?
FAANG stocks’ average returns have been steady, and some of the companies in the group have thrived during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a closer look at these tech stocks and FAANG stocks’ performance:
1. Facebook (FB)
Facebook is a social networking giant with 2.5 billion active users per month during the fourth quarter of 2019. The company also owns Instagram, Whatsapp and Messenger.
Here’s the breakdown of users across Facebook’s offerings:
Facebook: 2.5 billion monthly users
Instagram: 1 billion monthly users
Whatsapp: 1.5 billion monthly users
Facebook derives 99% of its revenue from advertising. The company reported more than $21 billion in total revenue and more than $7 billion in net income in 2019.
Facebook stock closed at $266.63 on Oct. 1, up from $175.81 on Oct. 1, 2019. Its market capitalization is $807.04 billion.
2. Amazon (AMZN)
The world’s largest e-commerce retailer, Amazon’s revenue streams include its e-commerce site, consumer electronics and consumer services like Amazon Prime and Amazon Fresh delivery. Amazon Prime has more than 150 million members worldwide, and the company has sold hundreds of millions of Alexa-enabled devices.
Net sales in 2019 totaled more than $280 billion. Product sales made up over half of the total sales. Net income for the same period was $11.6 billion.
Amazon stock closed at $3,221.26 on Oct. 1, an impressive increase over its closing price of $1,735.65 on that date a year before. Its market capitalization is $1.65 trillion.
Here are the company’s sales by segments in 2019:
AWS: $35.03 billion
Online stores: $141.25 billion
Physical stores: $17.19 billion
Subscription services: $19.21 billion
Third-party seller services: $53.76 billion
Other: $14.09 billion
3. Apple (AAPL)
The newest FAANG member, Apple is also the first non-internet company to join the group. Apple’s product line includes smartphones, laptops and smartwatches along with cloud storage and an online payment platform. The company introduced its Apple TV streaming device in 2007.
Apple’s net sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled $91.82 billion. Net income for the period was $22.24 billion. The Americas accounted for nearly half of the sales. The company’s market capitalization is $2.02 trillion.
Here’s the breakdown of sales by category for FAANG stock analysis:
iPhone: $55.96 billion
Mac: $7.17 billion
iPad: $5.98 billion
Wearables, home and accessories: $10.01 billion
Services: $12.72 billion
4. Netflix (NFLX)
Netflix is the smallest of the FAANG stocks, with a market capitalization hovering around $216 billion. The company offers the largest entertainment streaming service in the world. Netflix has more than 167 million subscribers worldwide, with over 67 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
The company reported revenues of more than $20 billion and net income of $1.87 billion in 2019.
Another important factor in this FAANG stock analysis is the amount of money Netflix spends to produce original content. That cost has reached as high as $15 billion. However, competition from other streaming services, such as Disney+, may force Netflix to reduce its subscription fee.
5. Alphabet (GOOG) (formerly known as Google)
aradaphotography / Shutterstock.com
In October 2015, Alphabet became the parent holding company of Google. Google is the company’s largest subsidiary, and it has almost 87% of the search engine market share.
Alphabet’s core business model is simple: draw customers with a top-notch product and earn money through ad revenue. A FAANG stock analysis shows that the model has worked so far.
Google Search had $98 billion in revenue in 2019. YouTube reached $15 billion in ad revenue during the same time period. Google Cloud had an earnings projection of $10 billion. Alphabet reported a net income of $6.96 billion in the second quarter of 2020.
YouTube has more than 2 billion active users worldwide. G Suite currently has 4 million paying customers, CNBC reported. Those who are interested in investing in FAANG stocks — but are concerned that FAANG stocks are overvalued — should take note that Alphabet has a market capitalization of $1.09 trillion.
Here’s a breakdown of revenue by some of Alphabet’s major assets:
Google Cloud Platform: $8.92 billion
Google Search: $98.12 billion
YouTube ads: $15.15 billion
Alphabet trades under two different classes. GOOGL stockholders have voting rights. GOOG stockholders do not. GOOG closed at $1,490.09 on Oct. 1, up from $1,205.10 the previous year. GOOGL closed at $1,487.90 on Oct. 1, up from $1,206 the previous year.
What Are the Next FAANG Stocks?
FAANG stocks have performed well over time, but they’re not the only stocks to consider. Alternatives to the top FAANG stocks to buy or sell include the following stock groups:
FAAMG: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Google
FAAANG: Facebook, Amazon, Broadcom (AVGO), Adobe, Netflix and Google
FAAM: Facebook, Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft
WASP: Wayfair, Amazon, Shopify and PayPal
VAPIN: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Autodesk, PayPal, Intuitive Surgical and ServiceNow
Can You Buy a FAANG ETF?
An exchange-traded fund is a group of stocks that track a particular benchmark. Although there is no FAANG stock ETF, it is possible to buy an ETF heavily weighted in these stocks. The following ETFs have at least 1% exposure to each of the FAANG stocks:
Vanguard Growth ETF
First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index Fund
Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index Track
NYSE Technology ETF
Should You Buy FAANG Stocks?
FAANG stocks have generally performed well compared to the overall stock market during the pandemic and quarantine period. But that doesn’t guarantee they will continue to perform well in the future. Here are some considerations to make:
Before purchasing stock, research the company.
Pay attention to the company’s sales record and growth.
Make your decisions based on the information you find.
Avoid following feelings and intuition.
If you think FAANG stocks are a good addition to your portfolio, speak with a financial advisor about the best way to purchase them.
Corporate Finance Institute. "FAANG Stocks."
Facebook Investor Relations. 2020. "Facebook Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results."
Nasdaq. 2020. "Facebook, Inc. Class A Common Stock (FB)."
Nasdaq. "Amazon.com, Inc. Common Stock (AMZN)."
Nasdaq. "Apple Inc. Common Stock (AAPL)."
Nasdaq. "Netflix, Inc. Common Stock (NFLX) Stock Quotes"
Nasdaq. "Alphabet Inc. Class A Common Stock (GOOGL)."
Investors.com. 2020. "What Are Fang Stocks And Should You Invest In Them?"
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Why Wall Street Had a Good Day Wednesday Despite Chaos at the Capitol
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Snowflake Stock Prices: Is it a Buy Right Now?
Snowflake provides cloud-based data storage and processing, and many analysts have given it a "buy rating." Learn more about investing in Snowflake stock.
Marijuana Investing: How To Navigate the Opportunities and Pitfalls in This Budding Industry
Recreational marijuana use is illegal in most states, but investment opportunities have abounded. Here's what you need to know about cannabis investments.
The U.S. stock market had a good year in 2019, but not all stocks enjoyed success. However, these stocks that struggled could come back stronger in 2020.
Democratic Wins in Georgia Expected to Slam the S&P 500
As the U.S. awaits the results of today's runoff elections in Georgia, the stock market could be in for a shake-up, some analysts say. Oppenheimer strategist John Stoltzfus wrote in a note Monday,...
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RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Chris Tidland reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 17th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Chris Tidland reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 17th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: James Driscoll hits his third shot on the 17th hole from a bunker during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: James Driscoll hits his third shot on the 17th hole from a bunker during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson hits his third shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Mi
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson hits his third shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Thompson lines up a putt on the first green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Mi
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Thompson lines up a putt on the first green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson (R) and his caddie Patrick Sherry line up a putt on the fifth green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Gran
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson (R) and his caddie Patrick Sherry line up a putt on the fifth green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson prepares to hit his second shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson prepares to hit his second shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson lines up his putt on the 11th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Mich
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson lines up his putt on the 11th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Hunter Haas hits his drive on the 12th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Co
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Hunter Haas hits his drive on the 12th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Bradley hits his drive on the 10th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michae
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Bradley hits his drive on the 10th hole during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Thompson hits a pitch shot at the practice during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Mic
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Michael Thompson hits a pitch shot at the practice during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson reacts after saving par on the 18th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo b
RIO GRANDE, PR - MARCH 12: Troy Matteson reacts after saving par on the 18th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com at Trump International Golf Club on March 12, 2011 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
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BBC names Molinari World Sport Star of the Year
After a season that included a major breakthrough and a piece of Ryder Cup history, Francesco Molinari was named World Sport Star of the Year as part of the annual awards ceremony hosted by the BBC.
Molinari played the best golf of his career at age 35, winning three times around the world: first at the BMW PGA Championship in May, then the Quicken Loans National the following month and The Open in July. He added to his illustrious campaign with a stellar week at the Ryder Cup, teaming with Tommy Fleetwood while becoming the first European to go 5-0 in the biennial matches.
Molinari earned the honors in a public fan vote ahead of American gymnast Simone Biles, Czech skier Ester Ledecka and Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
"It's unreal, to be honest," Molinari said. "I'm super proud to be here tonight. There are so many inspirational sporting stories. It gives us more motivation for next season."
Molinari is the first Italian to ever earn the title of World Sport Star of the Year, which is annually awarded to an athlete from outside the U.K., and he's the first golfer to take the title since Tiger Woods in 2000.
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Researchers May have Found an Alzheimer's Vaccine
This experimental vaccine could stop the disease from progressing.
Alzheimer's Disease, Vaccine, Science, Medical Science
(http://Photographee.eu/ Shutterstock.com)
People are living longer today than at any other time in human history. Average lifespans in developed countries have more than doubled in the last 50 years due to significant improvements in nutrition, hygiene, and medical advances.
Since Alzheimer's disease appears exclusively in older people, as the number of people living longer grows, the number of cases will also increase. That is why so many scientists have been looking for a way to cure or prevent Alzheimer's for decades.
This degenerative neurological disease manifests itself with memory issues and then steadily progresses. Now, a research team at the University of Texas believes it may have found a vaccine that can stop the progression of the disease in its tracks.
The exact causes of Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is not known but scientists believe that the disease involves a build-up of specific proteins in the brain (called beta-amyloid and tau) that are commonly referred to by doctors as plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Targeting these build-ups is the way researchers have hoped to stop the disease progression according to Medical News Today.
Dr. Roger Rosenberg, founding director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, was the head of the research team that looked for a new approach to prevent the protein buildup.
The team decided to focus on finding a way to prompt the body to produce antibodies that inhibit the protein buildup. They ran trials injecting DNA coding for amyloid into the test subjects, and it worked.
In his latest paper on the research that was published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, Rosenberg wrote, "This study is the culmination of a decade of research that has repeatedly demonstrated that this vaccine can effectively and safely target in animal models what we think may cause Alzheimer's disease." He added, "I believe we're getting close to testing this therapy in people."
The current study, according to Medical News Today, found that the vaccine sparked an immune response that reduced the brain protein buildups and could halt the disease progression.
The researchers hope that in the future, tests will be able to detect the brain protein build-up before symptoms occur and then the vaccine would prevent further build-up, but the first step in this process is the human trials on the new vaccine.
If the vaccine works for people, it could cut the number of new cases by half according to Rosenberg, and that would save countless lives. There are more than 400 clinical trials currently looking at new treatments for Alzheimer's. Most of them target the same brain proteins. Some seek to stop the production of beta-amyloid, and others want to suppress the immune response, and still others like the Texas study, want to ramp it up. One school of researchers is focusing on the Tau protein. Other researchers are looking at taming inflammation and dietary supplements.
With the current level of research from some of the leading universities and medical research centers worldwide, there's reason to believe that a cure for Alzheimer's will be found soon.
Could a Simple Eye Exam Soon Detect Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s?
How Baby Dolls Are Helping Alzheimer's Patients to Enjoy Life
Blocking One Enzyme Dramatically Reverses Alzheimer's in Mice
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Possible GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh Chances to Unseat Cuomo
November 20, 2017 | by Rachel Silberstein
L-R: Harry Wilson, John DeFrancisco, Marc Molinaro, Brian Kolb
The Republican pool of candidates exploring an attempt to unseat Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2018 gubernatorial race appears to be shrinking. Now just four Republicans say they are exploring a run -- down from at least seven prior to this past Election Day -- with the potential candidates vowing to announce their decisions by Christmas.
Targeting the well-funded Democratic governor seeking his third term would typically be a bold but calculated bet. On one hand, Cuomo has significant vulnerabilities going into 2018, but the outcome of Election Day 2017, which many are interpreting as a “blue wave” of Democratic wins in reaction to the presidency of Donald Trump, may give some Republicans more pause.
A GOP gubernatorial win in New York, which has not happened since George Pataki won a third term in 2002, would require sizeable success in the New York City suburbs, but after voters handed GOP county executive seats in Westchester and Nassau to Democrats earlier this month, potential 2018 candidates must consider how the anti-Trump sentiment will play out next year.
"What looked to be a very deep pool suddenly got ankle-deep shallow, with the water still going down. That's what a mini-tsunami election will do to anyone rationally thinking of running against a political tide,” said William O’Reilly, a Republican strategist who runs the November Team. That wave seems to have both unseated and knocked from 2018 contention Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, an O’Reilly client who lost to Cuomo in the 2014 gubernatorial race.
Harry Wilson, a hedge fund manager from Westchester, is seen as a clear front-runner to become the GOP nominee next year, as he may be capable of coming closest to Cuomo’s immense fundraising capabilities and he performed well in his 2010 bid for state comptroller. The other three most-discussed potential GOP gubernatorial candidates are all current officeholders -- Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, and state Senator John DeFrancisco -- who would begin a race with a solid local base of support and some name recognition.
“I would hope that Senator DeFrancisco or County Executive Molinaro will make the leap,” said O’Reilly, “but in the end the 2018 Republican candidate for governor may have to come down to a recruitment effort.”
For his part, Cuomo is heading toward his reelection year facing criticism from the right and the left for New York City’s subway crisis. Among other issues, he is also maligned for high property taxes around the state, not to mention corruption trials about to begin involving his economic development initiatives, which involve some of his closest associates. Cuomo is not especially popular outside of New York City, where his favorability remains fairly high, and the second-term Democrat may very well face a tough primary of his own, as he did in 2014, given that many in the left flank of his party see him as too centrist.
The New York State Republican Party has calculated that ideally it should avoid a primary to have a shot at victory -- assuming Cuomo is in the running -- so the four potential candidates are now courting GOP leadership for the nod. All four men say they are on good terms with each other and each is taking his own path to testing the waters. Molinaro and Kolb have discussed running on a ticket together for governor and lieutenant governor, but both say that no such decision has been made (and it is not clear which would run for what).
Publically, the party leadership is shrugging off the losses from Election Day, pointing to other victories like that of Republican Steve McLaughlin, an Assembly member elected county executive of Rensselaer. State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox, on Fred Dicker’s Focus on Albany radio show, chalked up Astorino’s loss to “third term-itis,” the same challenge now facing Cuomo, whereby it is notoriously difficult to win third terms in politics.
Regarding the election of Democrat Laura Curran to the historically-Republican Nassau county executive seat, Cox pointed to a Democratic voter base energized by opposition to the constitutional convention ballot question. Former County Executive Ed Mangano’s indictment last year on federal corruption charges also tainted the Republican Party and turned many independents, who make up a large segment of Nassau’s electorate, against GOP contender Jack Martins, he said.
Wilson, who did well in his 2010 run for state comptroller, losing to Democrat Tom DiNapoli 49.7 percent to 47.2 percent and has had private sector success, may be willing to put in $10 million or more of his own money. Molinaro, Kolb, and DeFrancisco would each be able to kick off fundraising from their local supporters.
With a governor that has $25 million and counting in the bank, and was recently in California courting major donors, Republican candidates might want to get an early start in fundraising, but that would require more commitment to exploring or declaring a run (on the Democratic side, for example, former state Senator Terry Gibson, considering a primary challenge to Cuomo, recently opened a campaign account so he could start raising money).
Prior to his run for comptroller, Wilson flexed his business acumen and negotiating chops when he helped President Barack Obama execute the auto industry bailout early in Obama’s first term. One “prominent Republican county chairman” told The Daily News that “If Harry Wilson says he wants to be the nominee, he’ll be the nominee.” Wilson’s bipartisanship could prove helpful in a general election against Cuomo, as could his New York City-focused criticisms of the governor.
On Dicker’s show, on November 15, Wilson suggested that his current priority is raising his four daughters, two of whom are teenagers, and said he would decide over the holidays whether the timing was right for his family.
“In four years from now two of our girls will be out of the house. In eight years from now, all our girls will be out of the house and I’ll still be a young man,” said Wilson, referring to the possibility of holding off this year and running in the future. “It’s a question of that tradeoff of where I can be most useful, most effective, and balancing my commitment to my family and helping others.”
Meanwhile, Molinaro, a suburban county executive who felt the Nassau and Westchester losses close to home, said in an interview with Gotham Gazette that those outcomes would likely factor into his own decision-making.
“What occurred certainly in the suburbs of New York City in 2017 should weigh on us,” said Molinaro. “I think what happened [on Election Day] is the result of an energized [Democratic] base, which is upset with the national politics -- no question -- and organized opposition to the constitutional convention question; those two things combined, with a few other local variables.”
Molinaro, who has been a vocal critic of Cuomo on social media and elsewhere, is especially critical of the administration’s failure to accompany the state’s property tax cap with adequate mandate relief, the heroin crisis, and failing schools, and has a good reputation as a county manager. Like Wilson, he has emphasized city metro area interests like fixing the subway system. He has also cited his young family, including a 6-month-old son, as one reservation about running.
On the more conservative end of the spectrum are the two upstate legislators, DeFrancisco and Kolb, both of whom have extensive legislative experience and have not been shy about criticizing the governor and his policies.
DeFrancisco, who has been representing the Syracuse area since 1992, says he recognizes Cuomo’s fundraising advantage and name recognition, but also sees many similarities between today and 1994, the year Pataki beat Cuomo’s father, former Governor Mario Cuomo, who was then seeking a third term amid buzz about presidential aspirations, like those that surround Andrew Cuomo now.
“Back then people were leaving the state, exactly like it it is now. There was a deficit back then -- I remember it vividly -- of $5 billion. The Democratic comptroller is estimating that the budget deficit going into January is going to be $4 to $6 billion. Almost an identical situation,” said DeFrancisco. “And there was a feeling out there -- the same thing I’m hearing now -- that it’s ‘anybody but Cuomo.’ An individual by the name of George Pataki that nobody knew, the former mayor of Peekskill, a first-term senator, ends up being the nominee and beats him.”
DeFrancisco regularly attacks Cuomo, and he hasn’t hid his frustration with the fact that much of his legislation, including a bill to restore procurement oversight powers to the state comptroller, has not reached the Senate floor, even as the chamber is controlled by Republicans. “I believe the best way to make change and the fastest way to make substantial change is by having a Republican governor,” he said.
Kolb, as leader of the minority conference in the Assembly, has had the liberty of taking principled stands, such as pushing for significant ethics reform and advocating for a “yes” vote on the constitutional convention. The Republican from Canandaigua has consistently voted against legislation that is controversial in upstate’s more conservative, rural areas, like Cuomo’s signature 2013 gun-control legislation, the SAFE Act.
Kolb, who prior to taking office in 2000 was an entrepreneur and ran two manufacturing companies, Refractron Technologies and North American Filter Corporation, said he believes he has “the best blend of private sector and public sector experience.”
“I’ve created jobs. I know the obstacles and how to fix them. I’m problem solver and I’ve done it in the public sector and the public sector and I’ve also shown I could work across the aisle,” he said.
The Republican contenders all say they would work to capture the disillusionment in Cuomo’s policies felt on both sides of the aisle. In 2014, Cuomo endured a bruising primary amid criticisms from progressives that he empowers the Senate GOP alliance with rouge Democrats, impeding the state from moving in a more progressive direction, a rallying cry that has since picked up steam. Zephyr Teachout, a professor at Fordham’s law school, won a surprising 34 percent of the Democratic vote in that primary after running a truncated campaign that began with no name recognition or money. Another tough primary in 2018, which Cuomo has done some work to avoid by passing more progressive legislation, could hurt the governor in a general election, largely depending on the opponent.
The potential GOP candidates said they plan to hold Cuomo accountable on issues like the subways, upstate’s crumbling infrastructure and outmigration, rising property taxes, his failure to tackle corruption in state government, and what they see as his failing economic development initiatives.
A key initial step for those exploring the race and possibly seeking the GOP nomination is to appeal to Republican county chairs, who make up the party committee and meetings have been taking place, with candidates touring the state. A deal may be cut in advance in order to avoid a primary, but there have been years when the committee votes are split between two or three candidates and an open contest for the GOP nomination is held. Candidates unhappy with or outside the party establishment process can always petition themselves onto the ballot whether an intra-party deal is struck or not.
Some watchers of state politics say that regardless of the GOP nominee, the math just doesn’t work for the Republican Party. “When you break it down arithmetically, they have to crack 35 percent in New York City to have a chance to win, and carry 57 percent of the vote of the Suburban downstate counties -- Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester and Rockland -- and then pass 60 percent upstate,” said Bruce Gyory, a former advisor to three Democratic governors and now a professor at Albany University. “That was the Pataki model for his three terms and particularly his third term, and boy-oh-boy the Republicans are nowhere close to meeting that challenge in any region.”
In 2014, the Republican Party made strides from 2010 with Astorino as their candidate, grabbing 41 percent of the vote compared to Cuomo’s 57 percent. Astorino took 42 of 50 upstate counties, compared to just 13 upstate counties won by 2010 GOP candidate Carl Paladino. In the suburbs, Astorino also gained ground, but ultimately did not crack 50 percent in the crucial Westchester, Nassau, and Rockland counties. He drew approximately 15 percent of the vote in the five boroughs.
Cuomo’s approval rating took a hit earlier this year, apparently due to New York City’s ongoing subway woes, but his popularity has appeared to be on the rebound, with a Quinnipiac University poll from October showing that 70 percent of city voters approved of the Democratic governor, including more than 50 percent of Republicans.
Another threat to party-affiliated GOP candidates may be coming from Paladino, the Buffalo-area businessman and Donald Trump supporter. Paladino was reported to be mulling another run, but went silent after his removal from the Buffalo school board for allegedly leaking confidential information from executive board meetings. He also drew negative attention last year for racist comments sent to a Buffalo publication about former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. A Paladino entrance into the race could drag a prefered Republican establishment candidate to the right or cause other problems for the GOP, including additional focus on Trump or requiring Paladino's opposition to raise and spend significant money to win the primary. Paladino did not return a request for comment about whether he will run.
“I could see him coming to the conclusion that the only way to regain public prestige is to run again for governor and he could complicate the primary field a great deal because he could change the regional balance of power if he continues to have that hold on western New York,” said Gyory. “He's a man who, if you study him, his public person, he has a thin skin and great pride.”
Correction: A previous version of this article mistated the totals for the 2010 New York Comptroller's race.
by Rachel Silberstein, State government reporter, Gotham Gazette
@RachelSilby @GothamGazette
Tags: Andrew Cuomo • Brian Kolb • Elections • John DeFrancisco • Carl Paladino • Rob Astorino • Harry Willson • Marc Molinaro • Bill O'Reilly
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Study Masters in ME in USA
Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA
Highlights of Studying MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA
274 reputed institutions offer the course in the USA.
A bright future in an employment perspective with 62,900 new job openings
Growth of 6% in the employment rate, which is faster than the average
An agreeable average salary of US $86,984 recorded in the USA
Evergreen disciplines of our times from an industrial perspective
STEM-based prominent subjects of our times based on the demand
Course completion possible in just 12 months
Diverse career opportunities through a 3-year post-study work permi
Part-time work on campus can go for a maximum of 20 hours per week
Notable education for a fee of just 20 lakhs
Teaching, Research, and Graduate Assistantship for financial support.
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA is one of the broadest study areas in the field of engineering. It covers thermodynamics, control, and dynamics, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, structures, manufacture, and design. The core of Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA is the potential of formulating problems, identifying solutions, modeling and analyzing solutions, and selecting the perfect solutions for the problems within constraints. The knowledge and skills gained from MS in Mechanical Engineering USA are applicable throughout an assortment of professions, thus making the students all prepared for the changing world.
MS in Mechanical Engineering USA is a study program that has its focus on the use of natural sciences for analyzing problems and finding solutions for different engineering issues. Advanced studies in chemistry, life sciences, physics, and mathematics are generally included within Mechanical Engineering MS in US that also incorporates engineering systems approaches for the analysis of varied problems. Students taking up the study program need to be completely dedicated to this field. This is because mechanical engineering is one of the most specialized fields of engineering.
Students need to have their focus on the curriculum while even putting in their endeavors in research studies and thesis. With proper understanding and interest, the students will be able to develop good skills in consulting, engineering design, quality control, financial planning, and working with engineers and clients. During the degree package, students get to work in close harmonization with each other for structuring links that might help in their future endeavors. Candidates applying for Mechanical Engineering Masters in USA need to select either online or on-campus degree programs. Mechanical Engineering MS in USA comes with asynchronous coursework that helps the students in completing their projects according to the time they have in hand.
Mechanical Engineering in USA
Mechanical Engineering in USA is for individuals looking to gain advanced training and knowledge in the different fields of mechanical engineering in the form of a prelude to future careers in industry or research. Candidates taking up the program can have their focus on several disciplines like controls, systems, dynamics, biomechanics, nanotechnology, MEMS, robotics, thermo fluids, acoustics, and solid mechanics or materials. The degree either requires the completion of an assignment-based practicum or research thesis. Students also get to work in the local industries during their internships. This offers students with both exposure and enrichment to different companies. It is completely for the student to decide on whether he or she would like to go for internship programs.
Mechanical Engineering in US will help students in mastering sustainable engineering, solid mechanics, biomedical tools, and more while combining top-quality research with the latest facilities and technologies in the industry. The program helps students in conducting superior quality studies in biomechanics, fluid, energy, thermal, controls, and sensors. They get to work at state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories while researching in the fields of assistive technologies, bioengineering, and energy. Mechanical engineers need to work with engines and machines starting from robotics to elevator technology. They have their focus on areas like fracture mechanics and heat transfer. Universities offering Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA are
Universities for Mechanical Engineering in USA
Mechanical Engineering course in USA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology SM in Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
California Institute of Technology MS in Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MS in Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Princeton University MS in Engineering - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Texas, Austin MS in Engineering-Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles MS in Mechanical Engineering
Johns Hopkins University MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, San Diego MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin, Madison Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin, Madison MS in Mechanical Engineering
Columbia University in the City of New York MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Santa Barbara MS in Mechanical Engineering
Duke University MS in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MS in Mechanical Engineering
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of Florida MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Florida Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of Southern California MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Southern California MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Yale University MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Irvine MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Davis MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Vanderbilt University Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Irvine Master of Engineering in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
University of Notre Dame MS in Mechanical Engineering
Vanderbilt University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University MS in Mechanical Engineering - Fire Science and Engineering
Northeastern University, Boston MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Virginia Master of Engineering in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Villanova University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Boston University Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Boston University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis MS in Mechanical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Tufts University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Dartmouth College MS in Mechanical & Systems Engineering
University of Rochester MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Georgia MS in Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Scope of Mechanical Engineering in USA
The scope of Mechanical Engineering in USA is tremendous because it is a study program that studies different aspects and factors of developing, designing, testing, and building with the use of computer technology. The program offers varied specializations aimed at teaching the students with useful and effective information regarding the subject. Mechanical Engineering scope in USA entails working in different professional organizations with good opportunities for experiences, growth, and salary packages as well. Career after MS in Mechanical Engineering involves working as automotive engineers, CAD technicians, nuclear engineers, maintenance engineers, and supply and demand experts.
Salary after MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA
The rate of employment in this field grows at about an average in comparison to the other industries. Salary after MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA is quite good for Mechanical and aerospace engineers. Mechanical engineers have the scope of earning a lot more and usually varies between US $70,000 - US $100,000 per annum. Engineers with prior experience make more money as MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA salary and even have the scope of advancing their careers by working in other fields.
The average salary in USA after MS in Mechanical Engineering is US $86,984. Professionals in this industry need to be highly skilled at identifying, analyzing, and solving issues. The majority of the positions require engineers to possess design knowledge. For the average salary of MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA, it is important to have a clear understanding of the standards of quality. They also need to dedicate themselves to standing out victorious in meeting the standards. Individuals looking to make good money in this field also need to have an understanding of how to operate complex equipment and computers.
Top Universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering
Top universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering offer study programs with a focus on designing, manufacturing, and planning almost everything that can be thought of, starting from individual pieces and parts to large systems, machines, or gadgets. Top Mechanical Engineering universities in USA are well aware of the importance of the services of mechanical engineers. Thus, they aim at producing professionals or mechanical engineers who are adept at taking ideas and transforming the same into products available across the market. The mechanical engineers produced by the top universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering take up the responsibility of designing safety features in automobiles, developing and designing medical tools, and maintaining aircraft, mobile devices, and power plants.
Students at the top universities for Mechanical Engineering in USA learn to apply the basic principles of engineering along with mechanical procedures for creating devices and machines that can be used regularly. They explore concepts interconnected with heat transfer, thermodynamics, product design, and quality control. Top US universities for MS in Mechanical Engineering also provide courses on the different materials used in varied manufacturing procedures. Students at these universities indulge in practical learning by way of team assignments and individual projects. This further motivates the students to use their theoretical knowledge. Students at the top universities for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA gain advanced skills and knowledge in physics, mathematics, and problem-solving along with the ability to prioritize work while being under pressure. Candidates completing their degree program successfully can take up promising careers in the industry for engineering. Apart from vehicles, they can even work as aerospace engineers, electrical engineers, energy engineers, and biomedical engineers. The top universities for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA includes:
Top Mechanical Engineering Programs in USA
Eligibility for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA
Universities in the United States are quite particular about the dedication, commitment, and quality of the students when it comes to granting them admission to the MS in Mechanical Engineering study program. It is lonely to judge the eligibility for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA for different students that the universities have set eligibility criteria. Only those students who can meet the MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA requirements are successful at securing seats at the competitive universities. The MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA eligibility for any students is determined by the university and not by any other authority. The universities use the criteria for eligibility for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA to check the verbal, analytical, and quantitative skills of the candidates. Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA requirements are:
CGPA - Students need to score 2.25 or above in their CGPA out of a scale of 4.0 while ensuring a minimal backlog history.
GRE (Graduate Record Exam) - The GRE score is also an important eligibility requirement for a student to satisfy. The GRE or Graduate Record Exam broadly assess the students on their verbal reasoning, critical thinking, quantitative, and analytical writing skills. US universities consider these skills to be an integral part of a student's personality, especially if he or she is seeking admission in an analytical course. Therefore, the GRE score is considered one of the most important eligibility requirements for taking admission in US universities. A minimum score of 290 is required. The higher the GRE score, the higher the candidate’s chances of getting into a top university.
Without GRE - Students also have the option of securing seats without showing their GRE scores. This is because many universities in the United States do not take the GRE score of a student into account when granting them admission.
Letter of Recommendation - Recommendation letters duly drafted by the academic heads, supervisors, and teachers of the students also need to be submitted at the time of application. These letters add extra merit to a student's application and improve his or her chances of admission. The letters offer complete details of the student, which is not possible to be accomplished by a resume. Majority of the US universities require students to submit at least three letters of recommendation.
Statement of Purpose - Students also need to submit another important document, which is called the statement of purpose. This document says a lot about the profile and personality of the student. It also lays down the same in front of the board of admission. Since the SOP has an important role to play in making or breaking a student's chances of enrolment, every detail of this document starting from content to template needs to be taken care of in the best way possible. Students with poor skills in drafting a statement of purpose can take the help of counselors at different universities.
English Language Requirement - English requirements for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA has English test requirements, minimum IELTS requirement for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA ranges between 6.0 to 6.5 (overall) and minimum TOEFL requirements for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA is 79 and this varies depending on the university planning to apply.
US University Ranking for MS in Mechanical Engineering
To choose the universities with the best MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA rankings, students must go through the Master of Mechanical Engineering ranking US for the different universities carefully. Students need to identify the advantages and the disadvantages of enrolling at a particular university while comparing the universities to their learning styles and schedules. It is also important for candidates to consider program costs. The cost of the study program will depend on varied factors like tuition, board, room, and fees. Many universities outline the course offerings and curriculum outlines. So, prospective students need to review the masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA rankings for those universities and then make the ultimate choice. The US University ranking for MS in Mechanical Engineering for different universities goes like this:
US Universities MS in Mechanical Engineering
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Ranking
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1
California Institute of Technology 5
Georgia Institute of Technology 6
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 7
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 8
Cornell University 10
Princeton University 12
Northwestern University 13
University of California, Los Angeles 15
University of California, San Diego 17
Columbia University in the City of New York 20
University of Pennsylvania 21
University of California, Santa Barbara 22
Duke University 23
Yale University 30
University of California, Irvine 31
University of California, Davis 32
University of Notre Dame 35
Villanova University 41
Washington University in St. Louis 44
Tufts University 46
New York University 49
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Fees
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA fees might differ from one university to another and from one location in the United States to another. Students need to carry out thorough research on the MS Mechanical Engineering in USA fees before deciding on the university they would like to go with for their higher studies. The Duration of MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA is between 1 - 2 years in general and also depends on the institute. The MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA cost ranges from US $10,000 - US $30,000 per year, excluding the expenses incurred on food, living, laboratory, library, educational supplies, and computers. Mechanical Engineering in USA cost will also be determined by the quality of faculty members offering their services at a university.
Best Universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering
Individuals looking to start their careers as mechanical engineers need to avail of a solid education, and this is possible only by getting oneself enrolled at the best universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering. The best Mechanical Engineering universities in USA make it a point to offer strong and sound education to their students, and this prepares them to serve as successful mechanical engineers at different public and private undertakings. When it comes to choosing the best universities for Mechanical Engineering in USA, it is wise enough to have a clear understanding of what you need to look for and where to get hold of them. Students get the flexibility of streamlining their search by having their focus on what some of the best Mechanical Engineering colleges in USA have on offer.
It is essential to understand that the quality of a mechanical engineering program can be boosted by going for the best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in USA. Colleges and universities in the United States that have been successful in obtaining accreditation for their study programs are the best sources of contact. This is because accreditation means the colleges and universities have gone through a strict review procedure of their study programs. This ensures that their degree programs have met the high-quality standards laid down by the accreditation authorities. Attending duly accredited mechanical engineering study programs means students can depend on quality education that will be preparing them to work in the form of professional mechanical engineers across the world.
The majority of the employment opportunities available in the USA and across the world require professionals to graduate from accredited programs. Students also need to consider their objectives when looking for the best universities for Mechanical Engineering in the USA. The colleges or the universities that the students choose should not just provide degree programs in Mechanical Engineering but even offer support services. Perhaps, some of the best mechanical engineering study programs provide additional solutions for helping the students in accomplishing their objectives. The best Universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering are listed below
Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in USA
Ohio State University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Syracuse University MS in Mechanical and Aerospace engineering
Santa Clara University MS in Mechanical Engineering
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Scholarships
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA scholarships are meant to help the deserving and distinguished candidates by bringing about a reduction in their tuition fees or by completely waiving off the tuition fee. It is the responsibility of the university to determine a student's eligibility for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA scholarships. The universities come up with their decisions only after carrying out a thorough background check of the student' academic credentials and profiles using their experience letters, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and academic results. MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA scholarships come as great help for the out-of-state students to get funds that can further help them in receiving higher education. But international students can get US scholarships only if they are recommended by their academic institutions back home. Students applying for these scholarships need to adhere to strict deadlines. There are different varieties of MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA scholarships available to individuals, and we will have a look at them below
Merit scholarships are awarded to students who perform very well during their bachelor's program.
Requirement-based scholarships are for students coming from the financially weaker sections of the society.
Discounts or complete waive off in tuition fees are offered to the deserving students, but only if the concerned universities find the candidates eligible for the same.
Students in the United States need to pay an in-state tuition fee, which is half the amount paid as tuition fees by international students.
Candidates also receive fee waivers or stipends for offering extra services like guiding undergraduates and teaching.
Assistants to professors at research work also get scholarships
A graduate assistantship is a salaried student employment opportunity for graduate students and is one of the benefits for who does MS in the United States. Graduate assistants work a set number of hours per week and in return to get monthly living stipend and sometimes tuition fee waiver also.
Mechanical Engineering Universities in USA offer the students to complete the different eligibility requirements before seeking admissions in the course. This would probably mean that the students could delay their accomplishment a bit, but that is well called for if you are looking out to undertake the program from one of the best mechanical engineering colleges in USA. List of universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering goes like this
Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA for International Students
The USA is one of the most well-known destinations for advanced studies. Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA for international students would be a great idea because the nation has some of the topmost ranking universities known for conducting universally acclaimed Mechanical Engineering and related study programs. MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA for Indian students comes as a study program taught by many reputed universities across the nation.
The USA would be the perfect place for pursuing a master's in Mechanical Engineering also because the tuition fee here is quite minimal for international students. There are good salary packages available to students who pass out of the US universities and decide to offer their services to the nation. Taking up a master's in Mechanical Engineering in the USA would be an experiential scope for international students. It can help in exploring and expanding their knowledge.
Mechanical Engineering course in USA is for students who want to take up high-paying and satisfying job roles as aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, and related fields. There they need to work on materials mechanics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, dynamics, and thermodynamics. Mechanical Engineering courses in USA help students in presenting themselves very well in the form of mechanical engineers possessing good skills and knowledge in dealing with different problems. Students have the option of requesting for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA courses at the varied universities to excel in their careers.
Best Mechanical Engineering courses in USA will not only help students in gaining a clear understanding of the field of mechanical engineering but even give them an edge over the other students looking for jobs in the same field. Best Mechanical Engineering programs in USA are intended towards helping students gain the skills and the knowledge to identify mechanical engineering problems and solve the same. Universities offering the best Mechanical Engineering programs in USA are listed below
Universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA without GRE
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA without GRE is a possibility, but only at those universities that do not take the MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA GRE score of a student into consideration when granting them admission. Admissions for Mechanical Engineering in USA without GRE is still possible and the Universities offering Masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA without GRE are as follows
Mechanical Engineering Universities in USA without GRE
University of Maryland College Park Professional Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Loyola Marymount University MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Central Florida MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan, Dearborn MS in Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
University of Dayton MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Rhode Island MS in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
University of St. Thomas MS in Mechanical Engineering
Cleveland State University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Rowan University MS in Mechanical Engineering
South Dakota State University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Southern University MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of New Orleans MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Minnesota Duluth MS in Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University, Northwest MS in Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University, Northwest MS in Technology - Mechanical Engineering Technology
Tennessee State University Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of Hartford Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
University of Hartford Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Engineering
Western New England University MS in Mechanical Engineering
Western New England University MS in Mechanical Engineering - Mechatronics
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On-screen inspired London terrace basement extension
Film executive Niels Swinkels and his wife Erica took inspiration from on-screen interiors to turn their London terrace into a bright, open home.
When film studio executive Niels Swinkels and his wife Erica, owner of a concierge company, set out to buy a home in west London, they knew exactly what they were looking for: somewhere light, airy and open, with space for their family to grow. Forty viewings later, however, they still hadn’t found the perfect spot. As fate would have it, they walked past this L-shaped, Victorian terraced house near leafy Ravenscourt Park just as its estate agent was leaving, and the couple requested an impromptu viewing. ‘Erica fell in love instantly,’ Niels remembers, ‘but I was more cautious to start with.’ He felt the property was too small for their growing family – a son, Dash, now three, and later a daughter, Margot, who was born in 2015 – and more gloomy than they had hoped. But when a quick investigation of a neighbouring home revealed a precedent for basement extension and renovation, the couple went ahead with the purchase on the basis that they would follow suit before moving in.
A friend put them in touch with architect Neil Dusheiko and they contacted him straight away, which meant that by the time the keys were exchanged he had already drawn up plans for an extensive refit. The partnership turned out to be the stuff of architects’ dreams – Niels and Dusheiko were on the same page when it came to almost every aspect of the design. ‘I’ve never had such an affinity with a client,’ says Dusheiko, who bonded instantly with Niels over a shared appreciation of sci-films. It was this passion that informed their creative process – Niels made up a moodboard of his favourite film sets to use as inspiration for the remodel. The one that stuck out was Ex Machina, which Niels was working on at the time, filmed at a modernist mansion fitted out with futuristic accessories in the heart of a Norwegian forest. ‘He was fascinated by the connection between the industrial and the natural,’ says Dusheiko, ‘and wanted to recreate that sense in his own house with plenty of raw finishes and large windows to the outdoors.’
Erica, on the other hand, has Swedish heritage and was keen to incorporate a pared-back, Scandinavian feel into their interiors. She was also determined to retain some of the property’s original fabric by recycling its materials back into the build. ‘Where Niels would ask for concrete, Erica requested bricks,’ says Dusheiko. ‘It was brilliant that they both had such clear ideas, but they weren’t always complementary.’ To keep both parties happy, Dusheiko decided to divide the property by its storeys into three themed zones. As the basement houses a cinema room for Niels, it makes the most of his sci-fi aesthetic with a polished concrete floor and a moving blackout screen. At the top, Erica brought her Scandi influence to the bedrooms and bathrooms and gave them a soft, neutral look, with natural fabrics and warm wood floorboards. For the ground level in the middle, Dusheiko married the two styles in a mixture of materials and textures, combining bricks they recycled from the original back wall with pale wood, a neutral grey kitchen, a touch of polished concrete and a large glazed floor panel.
In order to keep an eye on costs, Dusheiko split the project into two stages. The basement extension came first, with a budget of £120,000 and a 10 per cent contingency. Luckily, that part of the build went so well that it finished a month ahead of schedule, so once the excavation was complete the extra funds were reallocated to the second phase – the ground and top-floor refurbishment. Niels invested the money in removing the existing low ceilings in the bedrooms and bathrooms and installing skylights in the roof. ‘It’s amazing to lie back in the bath and see the stars,’ he says.
The couple agreed from the start that they wanted their home to consist of a series of bright, open living spaces that felt connected to each other, so that their family could interact as much as possible. Dusheiko came up with the idea of a glazed folding door to connect the kitchen and living areas, which has the added benefit of including the external patio into the ground-floor plan without actually extending that space. ‘We quickly realised that with a glass floor up against the sliding doors, we could bring light down into the basement without losing any floor space,’ says Dusheiko. The reinforced glazed panel has been a huge success, not least with threeyear- old Dash, who loves to lie on the floor with his parents waving up from below. ‘It’s one of our favourite design features,’ says Niels. ‘It’s lovely that we can be cooking in the kitchen and still keep an eye on the playroom beneath.’
As the house was originally built in 1879, it was draughty and inefficient when it came to its energy use. Niels and Erica were keen to update its eco-credentials, not just to cut down their heating bills but also to bring the house into the twentyfirst century. New insulation and piped underfloor heating were added throughout, which enabled a much larger area of glass at the back of the house. The skylights are all oriented towards the south and east to maximise solar gain, which means the family hardly need to use the new heating system at all. Plus, as the glass floods the basement with sunlight, it doesn’t rely on artificial lighting during the day. In fact, Dusheiko’s design has carefully positioned lightwells, windows and panels so that no matter where you’re standing in the building, you can always look up and see the sky. It’s a welcome change from the dark rooms that were there before. ‘Our favourite thing about the house now is how light it is,’ says Niels. ‘It has completely transformed the space.’
It’s a testament to the strength of Niels and Erica’s original ideas that if you compare Dusheiko’s original 3D drawings with the finished article, they match almost exactly. While the family lived off-site during the build, they visited every day so they could follow its progress in painstaking detail. ‘We loved showing our friends and family the finished house,’ says Erica. ‘It felt like the final stage in a very organic development.’
An exciting but unfortunately timed promotion for Niels meant that almost as soon as work was finished, the family moved to Los Angeles, so Niels and Erica have rented their home out while they are away. ‘When we move back I’d love to add some finishing touches to the interior design,’ says Erica. ‘But mostly we just can’t wait to live in it again.’
Words: Emily Seymour, Photography: Tim Crocker/Charles Hosea
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HORIZONTAL: JR’S FIRST SOLO SHOW IN NYC
JR is an artist who got his start on the streets of Paris and now can be seen all over the world. With an impressive Instagram following, gallery representation and connections including celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Robert De Niro, not to mention various prestigious awards and nominations for his documentary Places Faces, JR has a particular level of visibility that not many artists have. That said, perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of his work is that it lives in the public sphere, intended to endure the elements and often has a very unique way of reflecting the place where it’s been installed. Currently on view at Galerie Perrotin is Horizontal a multimedia exhibition providing a peek into, as well as documentation of, the artist’s practice.
Most of what JR does in the public sphere is made using wheat-paste, a medium that has been employed by street artists for decades. He often uses human subjects. People he’s met in each respective city, and then finds ways to divide facial features and reassemble them utilizing local architecture. In dialogue with street art, JR, through his relationship with the gallery, is able to work on a monumental scale, accessing buildings and places many others would never have the chance to occupy.
“I started taking photos of my friends doing graffiti when I was 17 years old,” says JR. “Around that time, riots started happening in France in the neighborhood where we’d hang out. A big media agency contacted me because I had a different level of access to the riots, and in that moment I decided to be an artist,” he recalls. “I told them they could use my footage only if portraits I took of the community and the wheat-pasting we did were featured [prominently] along with the film coverage. Six months later they came back, asking me if they could publish the portraits, and it was the first time my work was explained in a cohesive, visual context.”
In Horizontal, the artist unveils various projects he’s made over the years, documented through scale models, photography and film. Through cinematography, perhaps his strongest medium, he captures various site-specific projects he’s made over the course of a decade, also creating and nurturing a narrative. The story of each of his films, shown in a loop, reveals more about his wheat-pasting and photography in a way that feels extremely inclusive. JR’s work is truly geared towards the public and an open-air environment. The exhibition at Galerie Perrotin is curated for collectors and fans of the artist who perhaps are unable to visit his installations in-situ. Instead, they have the chance to live with a nuanced replica or blueprint in a cyclical process where the public becomes private, the collective experience, domestic.
What makes JR’s work so special is that he looks at people—truly looks. In turn, we as viewers are able to look as well, but not in a way that speaks to otherness, but rather as an invitation into the familiarity of humanness and what it means to be alive.
Photography Guillaume Ziccarelli/Courtesy of the artist & Perrotin ©
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Matt Bissonnette
Home » Matt Bissonnette
Matt Bissonnette is a former Navy SEAL who served his country for 14 years. During his career, he deployed over 13 times in support of combat operations and the GWOT. Matt received his bachelors degree in 1998 and upon graduating from college, enlisted in the Navy to pursue his dream of serving his country as a Navy SEAL. Matt graduated as BUDS class 226 “Honor-man” and went on to be stationed at SEAL Team 5. During his first deployment as a Navy SEAL, 9/11 happened, and Matt was among some of the first to be deployed in support of the GWOT. In 2004, Matt completed selection and training to enter the ranks of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Matt continued to volunteer and serve at the tip of the spear throughout his career finally leaving service in 2012. Matt’s military awards include the Silver Star, 5 Bronze Stars with “V”, Purple Heart, Joint Commendation with “V”, Navy Commendation with “V”, Presidential Unit Citation and numerous other awards.
Matt continues his service by serving on the Advisory Board for the GWOT Memorial Foundation as well as advocating for transitioning veterans and helping raise money and awareness for multiple veteran-related charities. Matt is outspoken about the difficulties he and other veterans have faced with the transition out of military service and into the civilian world.
Matt is the author of 2 New York Times Bestselling books titled; “No Easy Day” and “No Hero”. He is also the Executive Producer of the CBS hit show “SEAL Team” and shares the leadership principles he learned while serving with a multitude of corporate executives and professional athletic organizations.
Matt is a constant optimist that is committed to helping the entire veteran community and does so without taking any personal credit. In the past, he has used the pseudonym of Mark Owen and a disguise when doing any press to keep the message focused on the team and not the individual. Joining the GWOT Team is the first time he has stepped into the light but maintains his focus on the team and the mission.
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“Every hero has a war story.”
This refrain had particular meaning for Elliott Goff: He was an active duty member of the Air Force, having spent most of 2019 deployed in Kuwait. The phrase was a rallying cry, a reminder of his own strength and ability to overcome any obstacle he faced—after all, that’s the mark of a hero.
To tell Elliott’s “war story,” certain notes bubble up time and again: his charm, his willingness to share his love, his infectious smile and his sense of humor, even when he was at his sickest. The phrase especially hit home throughout the past year, first as he battled leukemia, then when he overcame COVID-19 and again when the aggressive leukemia returned, eventually taking his life, but never compromising his spirit and will to fight.
A Family Away from Home
For Cheryl, Elliott’s older sister by seven years, there are so many Elliott stories to tell. He was always quick with a joke: When he shot up more than 8 inches one summer, he grew out his red, curly hair because, to Elliott, one awkward turn deserved another and “what better excuse to have a ‘fro,’ as he called it,” Cheryl says.
Elliott loved playing video games and watching sports, especially his favorite professional hockey and football teams, and his staple cartoons. As Elliott got older, video games opened up doors for him, Cheryl says. Not only did it give him newfound confidence and an avenue into the world of sports, but also helped him stay connected to friends. “He had a best friend that he met in preschool, and even though David moved to South Carolina when the boys were 9, the online gaming world gave them a way to stay connected, even before social media was a real option,” Cheryl says.
Elliott was a devoted friend, brother and son. “He maintained his friendships and kept people that were close to him so close to the chest,” Cheryl says. “He had the same friend group for as long as I can remember.”
When Elliott was in technical school in Texas, his best friend since kindergarten, Derek, was having a birthday party and was really missing Elliott. But Derek understood that the military obligations had to take precedence. Elliott drove straight through the night from Friday into Saturday from Texas to New Jersey just to surprise Derek for his birthday. He had to turn around and leave again first thing Sunday morning to make it back in time to fly under the radar and not miss a day of training. But it didn’t stop Elliott from making sure he could be there for his friend. “There were no limits on what he would do for his friends and family, and without ever needing to be asked. It was the most special trait of his character and a memory I’ll always cherish,” Derek says.
As someone who struggled with anxiety and depression in his youth, he understood what it felt like to be easily intimidated, but “he always loved the water,” Cheryl says. “He may have been nervous or timid in so many other areas of his life, but he would do a 30-foot jump into the pool at Mountain Creek. He always loved helping people, and in high school, he became a lifeguard in order to teach kids to swim so they could share that confidence and be guided by someone as patient, kind and understanding as Elliott. Lifeguarding took his love of the water and allowed him to do something with it.”
Elliott’s personality, including this care he had for others, drew much attention during his time at Hackensack University Medical Center. On December 27, 2019, he was diagnosed with leukemia while he was stationed in North Carolina. After six weeks of in-patient treatment at a nearby hospital, Elliott was declared in remission, and the military allowed him to transfer to New Jersey in order to prepare for a bone marrow transplant at John Theurer Cancer Center.
In March, while receiving outpatient treatment to maintain his remission status, Elliott came down with a fever, which is common during chemotherapy treatments, and was admitted to the hospital. While he was negative upon arrival, he tested positive for COVID-19 about a week after being admitted. In an effort to combat some of the more serious symptoms, he was put into a medically induced coma in order to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. The day after Elliott was put into a coma, his father passed away from complications of a stroke he had on March 13.
Because Elliott was sedated while in the ICU, then moved to the PICU, his doctors and nurses did not get a chance to get to know him before needing to do everything they could to save his life. “We spent a lot of time and energy and emotion treating Elliott while he was sedated,” says Rachel Lewis, M.D., pediatric critical care medicine specialist at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital who treated Elliott. “After he woke up, it was so nice to talk to him. Talking to his mom and sister became a part of my normal day, to go over what was happening. They were just so lovely, understanding and grateful that we were invested in him.”
Adds Cheryl: “Even given these unprecedented and extreme circumstances, we are so unbelievably grateful to have had doctors and nurses that went above and beyond to care for Elliott, especially when facing such a new and overwhelming situation themselves. We knew Elliott was receiving love and care from people we learned to trust because we could not be with him ourselves and that trust was fully warranted.”
“Everyone wanted to give him a fighting chance, to give everything they could,” says Kim Mason, a child life specialist. She was no stranger to hearing “every hero has a war story,” she says. “It speaks so much to who Elliott was. His spirit was so incredibly strong.”
After almost seven weeks on a ventilator, doctors performed a tracheostomy (a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the front of the neck) so that Elliott could be extubated and made more comfortable. Although he still couldn’t speak, he would write jokes and ask questions on a dry-erase board, always making sure to ask how the team member’s day was going. “Anytime you went into his room, there was always a laugh to be had,” Kim says. “The nurses were amazing in bringing that out of him.”
Fighting to the End
Elliott recovered from COVID-19, but the virus took a significant toll on his lungs. While the leukemia—a form called acute myeloid leukemia—had not been an issue during his battle with COVID-19, it did have a resurgence after he recovered. It was so aggressive that Elliott was told it couldn’t be treated. His response? “This changes nothing. I beat it; it doesn’t beat me.”
His courage and strength were unwavering, Cheryl says. He had the phrase “one more step” tattooed on his chest. “He felt that no matter how difficult things were, you just have to fight for one more step,” Cheryl says.
Regardless of the news he was given, Elliott’s fighting spirit and desire to help and inspire others never wavered. He wanted to become a therapist and work with teens and veterans to help them overcome these types of obstacles. Even with everything he had been through, it reinforced his desire to help as many people as possible. He was looking to add helping those battling cancer or other chronic illness to his future goals.
“That’s our goal now,” Cheryl says “We’re going to find ways to continue his mission and his legacy, and help inspire people. He had so much fight in him, he certainly had enough that we can continue to share it with people and families that could use hope, especially in these times.”
Elliott passed on June 3, 2020, at the age of 27.
“When we were little, I thought he was my baby, and as we got older he became my best friend,” Cheryl says. “To lose a brother is a tremendous amount of loss, and for the world to lose someone so amazing, humble and kind only compounds that. If I can leave a message to anyone that’s going to read this, it’s to find everything you can to be happy about, find things each and every day to be grateful for. The horrors of this world and the struggles of life will always be there, but there are so many better, more wonderful things to focus on. No matter what you’re going through, keep looking for the good because it’s there in spades, and hope is a much more powerful thing than fear. Elliott impressed everyone around him with unbelievable strength and sheer will to fight and be victorious. If his story can help even one person in their struggle, then he certainly accomplished that goal.”
Learn how the COVID-19 Response Fund is supporting team members on the front lines of COVID-19
Meet our source: Rachel Lewis, M.D.
Tell us about a team member at Hackensack Meridian Health who made all the difference in your care
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Into the Haze: A new text adventure game for Chinese learners
I think games have huge potential for language learners. This is true of most games, even if the games themselves have nothing to do with language learning, but it’s even more true for games that are designed with that in mind.
Into the Haze is such a game. Like it’s predecessor, Escape, it’s a text adventure game for Chinese learners. In short, think of it as an interactive graded reader. You can read or listen to the text, make your choice about how to proceed and the game will develop differently depending on what you choose. If you make bad choices, perhaps because you didn’t fully understand the options, you might fail and will have to try again.
This short video explains it all:
You can try Into the Haze for free (requires signing up, which is free) here! For full access to the game you need a subscription at WordSwing. More information about how all this works can be found here.
I would have loved to have access to such a game ten years ago, so I’m very proud to announce Into the Haze. This game is much closer to what I originally wanted to create than Escape was. This time, the setting is also more interesting. In a post-apocalyptic world, you have to go into a fallen city covered in a poisonous haze to find your missing brother. Just look at the gorgeous artwork by Kerim Akyuz!
What it’s about and whom it’s good for
Into the Haze is an interactive graded reader where you need to both understand the text and/or audio, and make the right decisions to find your brother and get back home. Succeeding requires you to actively engage with the text and/or audio and understand what is best to do in a given situation. Don’t feel bad about making mistakes, though, failure is a necessary part of the learning process! Exploring the whole game should take many, many hours. Capturing the top position on the leader board should be really challenging.
Playing this game is a much more active form of reading and/or listening than just following along a normal text or audio clip where you can’t change the story and where your understanding is not tested at all. In this game, you need to actively engage the content and understanding it well is rewarded.
If the game is suitable for you or not depends on how much effort you’re willing to put into it. The game only has little more than 600 unique characters, so…
…if you know about 500 characters, you should be okay, even if you will need the built in dictionary when guessing from context is not enough.
…if you know 200 characters or less, this game will be very hard and is not recommended unless you really, really want to play.
…if you know 1500 characters, this will be a form of extensive reading for you, which is also good, but of course less challenging.
As mentioned above, the game consists of a series of choices that allow you to direct how your character responds to each situation. The game will show descriptions of the scenes, describe the results of the actions you take, as well as show dialogues that occur in the game.
Things you say or do are shown in green and appear towards the left, while things other characters say or do are shown in blue, and appear towards the right, kind of like a messaging app. There are random elements in the game, which are shown in orange. You also have resources you need to manage, which are shown at the bottom and any changes are shown in purple.
Messages are presented one at a time so you can have time to read and digest each one. You make a choice by tapping or clicking on one of the numbered buttons next to the choice. Click the play button to hear audio. There is also a built-in dictionary you can use if you come upon a word you don’t understand.
Here’s a brief explanation of the interface:
Try Into the Haze here
Read more about how the game works here
WordSwing
This game is available through WordSwing, a project I’ve worked on for some time now together with Kevin Bullaughey. The goal is to provide engaging and effective ways of consolidating, activating and expanding your Chinese vocabulary. This game is part of an effort to provide more interesting ways of exploring Chinese reading for intermediate learners. I will write more about WordSwing later, but regular readers might remember the tone course, which was also provided through WordSwing. Both these projects were jointly developed by Kevin and me; expect to see more such collaborations in the future!
You’ll never be on the leader board. The people on there play the game obsessively, every day. That’s the problem with these “game-ified” apps, they appeal to the wierdos out there and we mere mortals never have a chance. The only thing missing is microtransactions to buy clues to the next mystery, which I assume are coming soon.
Right now it’s definitely possible, because the game has been out for about a day. 🙂 There are no plans to introduce anything that costs anything, apart from full access, which is already implemented. If you have any suggestions for how we can continue working with this and develop more learning resources, please let us know! It takes hundreds of hours to develop something like this so it’s not something we can continue doing on our spare time.
That’s really nice artwork–who’s the artist? (Of course, the games themselves are good too!)
It says in the article! His name is Kerim Akyuz.
Thank you! Can’t believe I missed that sentence…
This looks SO exciting, and my family would be really motivated by a game like this, as we’re all four learning to read and write Chinese, and our two kids are very game obsessed. We’re currently at 100, 400, 600, and 900 characters, so the game looks perfect for our level. However, my husband is from Taiwan and we’re learning to read traditional characters. After you pay, is there any way to switch to traditional characters, or simplified the only option?
Hi! At the moment, there’s only simplified. The ambition is of course to provide traditional as well (both Kevin and I learnt mostly traditional actually), but we need to show that the game is actually something students want before we invest much more time and money. 🙂
Fearchar says:
Nice artwork; pity about the ugly script. Let us know when you have proper characters, 正體字. 😉
BTW, “whom” is not really appropriate for that register or word order (“it’s good” and a preposition at the end of the clause show the register).
This game is an awesome tool. Many thanks and much respect for allowing it to be free.
I would pay for access.
Actually, the full version of the game does require a paid account. 🙂
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EU-Singapore trade agreement: Port of Hamburg anticipates positive impact
After China, in 2018 the port and trading hub Singapore was the Port of Hamburg’s second strongest partner country for seaborne container handling. The number of containers transported between the two ports reached 380,000 TEU. A total of 4.3 million tons of seaborne cargo were transported between Hamburg and Singapore in 2018. In the first nine months of 2019, container transport between Hamburg and Singapore rose to 305,000 TEU, a 4.1 percent advance on the same period of 2018. Handling 36.6 million TEU in 2018, after Shanghai, Singapore is the world’s second largest port for seaborne container handling. Singapore’s port functions as a vital trading hub for further distribution of freight in the region. For instance, freight traded in direct container traffic between Hamburg and Singapore is transhipped there to neighbouring countries in the region. At present, 15 liner services connect the Port of Hamburg with Singapore, nine for containers and six for general cargo. Some of these also accept heavy and wheeled cargo.
“The Trade Agreement between the EU and Singapore will also produce additional upswing for seaborne foreign trade in the Port of Hamburg and benefit national economies in the EU and Singapore,” says Axel Mattern, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. Singapore is a hub for the countries of the rapidly growing SE Asian region.
Almost 10,000 German -based companies trade with Singapore. Whether chemical products, machinery and plant, special steels, or furniture and foodstuffs, German products are keenly sought in the region. With the Trade Agreement, Singapore abolishes all still existing Customs duties on EU products – and also a mass of bureaucracy. The Agreement gives EU service providers fresh opportunities to offer their expertise, and to submit tenders in public competitions, among other things for telecommunications, environmental and engineering services, IT and sea transport.
This is the first bilateral trade deal between the EU and a state in SE Asia.
Bilateral annual trade in goods already reaches 53 billion euro; and in services, 51 billion euros. This makes Singapore the EU’s largest trading partner in SE Asia by a wide margin.
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Home » News » Press Releases » January SportsTalk 757 Shows Kick off with Former MLB All-Star Michael Cuddyer
NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 29, 2020) – SportsTalk 757, the web series presented by the Hampton Roads Sports Commission, kicks off a new year with three shows in January featuring a former Major League Baseball all-star, two veteran Hampton Roads sports journalists and an ACC assistant football coach.
The busy month gets underway at noon on Thursday, Jan. 7, when former professional baseball player Michael Cuddyer joins HRSC Executive Director Claudell Clark. Cuddyer, a Chesapeake native, spent 15 seasons in the Major Leagues, 11 with the Minnesota Twins, and won the 2013 Silver Slugger Award after leading the National League in batting while playing for the Colorado Rockies. A former star locally at Great Bridge High School, the two-time MBL all-star will discuss his amateur and professional playing career and his community service initiatives with Hampton Roads youth since retiring in 2015.
Cuddyer’s episode of SportsTalk 757 can be viewed via Zoom at this link or on Facebook Live.
SportsTalk 757 continues at noon on Monday, Jan. 18, when respected local sports journalists Larry Rubama and Jami Frankenberry of The Virginian-Pilot and The Daily Press are featured. Rubama and Frankenberry have both covered the local sports scene for more than 20 years. Rubama primarily covers the local high school beat in addition to serving as a columnist, while Frankenberry now serves as the sports editor at both local papers. Among other topics, the episode will preview spring sports in the region, highlighting players, coaches and teams projected to fare well.
Click here to watch the episode featuring Rubama and Frankenberry on Zoom, or watch on Facebook Live.
The final episode in January features University of Pittsburgh assistant football coach Chris Beatty at noon on Thursday, Jan. 28. Beatty cut his teeth as a wildly successful high school coach in Virginia, including a three-year run at Landstown High in Virginia Beach where he posted a 40-2 record and won a state title in 2004. He parlayed that success into assistant college coaching stints at Hampton University, West Virginia, U.Va., Wisconsin and Maryland, among others, before joining the Panthers in 2019. Beatty will discuss his tenure as a high school coach, his distinguished collegiate coaching career, and recruiting in Hampton Roads.
Click here to watch Beatty on SportsTalk 757 on Zoom, or watch on Facebook Live.
Past episodes can be viewed on the HRSC YouTube page.
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Exclusive: Miranda Raison on joining the Children & the Arts 10th Anniversary Christmas Concert
December 13, 2016 - 11:22 GMT Julie Delahaye Actress Miranda Raison has joined the Children & the Arts 10th Anniversary Christmas Concert line-up alongside Aled Jones.
Spooks actress Miranda Raison has revealed she will be performing at the Children & the Arts 10th Anniversary Christmas Concert on Thursday evening. The 39-year-old will be joining a line-up of stars including Dame Penelope Wilson, soprano Danielle de Niese and jazz pianist Joe Stilgoe for the glitzy evening, hosted by Aled Jones at London's Cadogan Hall.
"It's such a lovely event I'm really excited about, it's such an amazing evening," she told HELLO! exclusively. "So perfect to get everybody into the Christmas spirit."
As an ambassador for Children & the Arts, it comes as no surprise that Miranda will be supporting them at the event. The My Week with Marilyn star is no stranger to the gala, having blown audiences away with her beautiful performance at last year's concert.
Miranda Raison will be performing at the Children & the Arts 10th Anniversary Christmas Concert
The gala will no doubt top off a particularly exciting season for Miranda, who revealed that her brother is set to tie the knot ahead of Christmas. "I do get very excited about Christmas, but this year my brother’s wedding is just before Christmas so I haven’t really been allowed to think about it – it’s the year of the wedding," she quipped. "They’re going to have a really Christmassy wedding, it’s very exciting. We've got so many family members coming up to Norfolk for the so it’s going to be lovely – an extended Christmas."
No doubt the British beauty will be making the most of some rare downtime – she is currently filming The Orient Express with Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp.
"The set is extraordinary! I don't think I'm allowed to say anything about it, but the sets are beautifully done. The attention to detail, the costumes, everything is just so stunningly brilliant. I really can't wait to see the finished product."
Miranda met Prince Charles at last year's event
Founded by the Prince of Wales, Children & the Arts, the only UK-wide charity of its kind, transforms the lives of disadvantaged children through participation in the arts. With special performances from adult and children's choirs, the concert is sure to make for a memorable night. To mark the milestone moment, the evening will also be recorded by Classic FM and broadcast on Christmas Eve.
For more information and tickets for the Children & the Arts 10th Anniversary Concert head to CadoganHall.com
More about miranda raison
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Find out where you and your little ones can spot Santa's sleigh in the sky this Christmas!
Find out how you can get your kids a personalised message from Santa!
Top tips for sticking to a healthy diet during the party season
The Flexi Foodie's recipe for yummy chocolate and coconut granola
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Norbert Müllemann (Editor)
Matan Entin (Editor)
Michael Schneidt (Fingering)
Study score (pocket score) 12.00 €
It is almost impossible to tell from listening to them that Bach’s extremely popular concerti for harpsichord were probably his own transcriptions of solo concerti which had originally been composed for violin or a woodwind instrument. The outer movements of the second concerto, in E major, probably written around 1738, sparkle with joy, while the expressive melodic lines of the middle movement, the Siciliano in C-sharp minor, transport the listener to the realm of his Passion music.
G. Henle Publishers presents this repertoire standard in an Urtext edition with an extensive commentary. The study edition (HN 7381) features the complete orchestral score; the piano reduction (HN 1381) contains the solo part as well as a very playable piano reduction of the score prepared by Johannes Umbreit for practical use.
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で検索する »Bach Harpsichord Concerto no. 2 E major BWV 1053«
For many musicians he is “the Alpha and Omega of all music” (Max Reger). Except for operas, Bach composed masterpieces for every ensemble and genre of his age. His catalogue of works contains almost 1,100 entries, including the great Passions of St. Matthew and St. Johan, the Goldberg Variations, the Brandenburg Concerti, or hundreds of singular cantatas. As organist in Mühlhausen and Weimar he creates primarily organ compositions, concerti, and works of chamber music. Later, as music director in Köthen and for the decades he serves as cantor in Leipzig, he composes chiefly sacred vocal compositions and keyboard works. His later, contrapuntally complex compositions exert an enormous influence on the compositional styles and practices of later generations.
1685 Born in Eisenach on March 21, the son of conductor and court musician Johann Ambrosius Bach.
1693–95 He attends the Latin school in Eisenach.
1695–1700 Enrolls at the lyceum in Ohrdruf, where he will live with his eldest brother, Johann Christoph, after the death of his parents; among other things, organist, and pupil of Pachelbel.
from 1700 Member of the Lüneburg matins choir. Travels to Hamburg to hear Reincken at the organ.
1703 Appointment in Weimar for two quarters of a year (at the home of Duke Johann Ernst the elder).
1703–07 Organist in Arnstadt. Composition of organ works, possibly early preludes and fugues BWV 531, 549a, 575; chorales from the Neumeister Collection BWV 1090–95, 1097–1120; chorale partitas BWV 766–68, 770.
1705 Journey to Buxtehude in Lübeck.
1707–08 Appointment as organist at St. Blasius in Mühlhausen. Composition of his first cantatas (BWV 71 and 131, likely also BWV 4, 106, 150, 196).
1708–17 Appointment in Weimar as organist to Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar; composition of the Little Organ Book, BWV 599–644; of preludes (toccatas, fantasias) and fugues (probably BWV 894, 903, 944, 910–916); the Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582; the Pièce d’Orgue in G major, BWV 572; organ transcriptions of instrumental concerti including Vivaldi’s “L’Estro Armonico.” From 1714 concertmaster, composer of cantatas.
1710 Birth of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
1714 Birth of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
around 1713 Premiere in Weissenfels of the cantata “Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!”, BWV 208.
1717–23 Appointed “Court Kapellmeister and Director of the royal chamber music” in Köthen to Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen. He mainly composes keyboard music (completes the English Suites, BWV 806–811; begins the French Suites, BWV 812–817 around 1722; the “Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach” from 1720; the “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1, in 1722; the first notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach from 1722; Inventions and Sinfonias for keyboard, BWV 772–801, in 1723), chamber music (Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, BWV 1001–1006, in 1720), concerti (Brandenburg Concerti, BWV 1046–1051, dedicated to the Margrave of Brandenburg, in 1721); a few secular cantatas (including BWV 134a, 173a).
1723–50 Cantor at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.
1723–29 First Leipzig period, primarily defined by liturgical compositions.
1723/24 First year’s cycle of cantatas: integration of existing cantatas from his time in Weimar and Köthen; parody techniques, that is, replacing the texts of the cantatas for new purposes.
1724 Performance of the St. John Passion, BWV 245, and the Magnificat, BWV 243a.
1724/25 Second year’s cycle of cantatas, with new compositions.
1726 Publication of the first Partita from the later Clavier-Übung (Keyboard Practice), BWV 825–830.
1727 Performance of the St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244.
1729–39 Second Leipzig period, informed by his direction of the Collegium Musicum, which Telemann had founded (1729–37 and 1739 until at least 1741), and thus by the composition of instrumental works as well as of large-scale vocal works.
around 1730 Six Trio Sonatas for Organ (BWV 525–530), important preludes and fugues (B minor, BWV 544; C major, BWV 547; E minor, BWV 548).
from/around 1730 Establishment of a new type of concerto with his concertos for 1–4 harpsichords (which are almost all transcriptions of concerti with solo melodic instruments). Further compositions for instrumental ensembles.
1731 Performance of the St. Mark Passion, BWV 247 (lost). Journey to Dresden for the performance of an opera by Hasse. Clavier-Übung I, BWV 825–830.
1733 Composition of a Lutheran mass (Kyrie and Gloria), whose movements are later included in the Mass in B minor, BWV 232; with it he requests a court position from Elector Frederick Augustus II in Dresden.
1734/35 Premiere of the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248.
1735 Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11. Birth of Johann Christian Bach. Clavier-Übung II, BWV 971, 831.
1736 Title of Electoral Saxon Court Composer from Frederick Augustus II.
around 1738/39 Four Lutheran masses, BWV 233–236.
1739–50 Third Leipzig period, characterized by compositions of his late phase featuring stile antico and complicated contrapuntal techniques. Climax of Bach’s keyboard output.
1739 Clavier-Übung III, BWV 802–805.
1741 Clavier-Übung IV, BWV 988 (Goldberg Variations).
1739/42 “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book Two, BWV 870–893.
1747 Journey to Potsdam, where he improvises a fugue on a theme by the king, from which emerges “The Musical Offering,” BWV 1079. Member of the Correspondence Society of Musical Sciences; submission of the Canonic Variations on “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her,” BWV 988, for membership. Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650.
1749 Completion of the Mass in B minor, which is largely based on earlier compositions that were revised and amended.
1750 “The Art of the Fugue,” which remains unfinished. Death in Leipzig on July 28.
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20 for 2020: US cities and places you must see
by Hertz - 16 January 2020
This year is a big one for America – across the nation, 2020 represents a landmark for many American societies and cultural movements. All of which means you can expect to see some historic celebrations happening up and down the country throughout the year.
Here’s our pick of the places you should add to your itinerary, along with a few of the special celebrations.
1. Mayflower in Massachusetts
In 2020 it’ll be 400 years since the Mayflower set sail from these fair isles of the UK, landing in what would become Provincetown in 1620.
History buffs will be commemorating the occasion with events throughout the year, including a visit from the magnificent Mayflower II to Provincetown Harbour in September. Come for the history, stay for scenic Cape Cod.
2. Maine Bicentennial
The state of Maine made its break for independence – from the state of Massachusetts – 200 years ago.
The state’s bicentennial celebrations will include a parade, a four-day weekend full of local historical events, and the Tall Ships Festival, which will bring Maine pride to ports along the coast.
3. Bison in the Badlands
An hour east of magnificent Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the Badlands National Park is bringing back one of the Great Plains' most famous inhabitants: the bison.
Come check out the serene surroundings of the Badlands and keep your fingers crossed to catch sight of the roaming herds.
4. Making the Met in NYC
One of New York’s best-loved institutions is also celebrating a huge milestone in 2020, as the Metropolitan Museum marks 150 years of existence.
The millennia-spanning collection sets ancient civilisations alongside modern masterpieces from around the world. The pieces that put the Met on the map will also be on display. Take some time out from the Big Apple’s hustle and bustle to discover a treasure trove of art and culture.
5. Kentucky Derby
Also rapidly approaching 150 years of its existence, the world-famous Kentucky Derby Festival attracts the very best racing talent to Louisville for two weeks of events. Even if you can’t get to the big race itself, Louisville has a lot going on in and around the iconic Churchill Downs during the festival. Enjoy fireworks displays, steamboats, balloons and more.
6. Fight nights in Florida
The world of pro wrestling takes over Tampa Bay in April, with the 36th instalment of WWE’s Wrestlemania from the Raymond James Stadium.
Aside from the annual extravaganza featuring the world’s biggest wrestling superstars, a whole host of other ring-shaking activities are planned. Catch the fan convention Axxess, and a Hall of Fame event to honour the biggest names of the past.
7. Llamas doing laps
When you think about legends of track and field, not many of them have four legs – but the humble llama has become an icon in Knoxville, Tennessee for this very reason.
The annual Great Llama Race, held this October, will see local llamas teaming up with schools and celebrities to race for charity. It’s a great day out for the whole family – and for a great cause.
8. Pride of Los Angeles
Los Angeles hosted the world’s first official Pride Parade in 1970, so for 2020, you can expect an extraordinary event to make the 50th anniversary.
Performances from Years & Years and Meghan Trainor headlined last year’s festivities. You can expect the same level of earworm-inviting tunes from big names in 2020 across a variety of music and entertainment stages.
9. A hike in the Rockies
The American Hiking Society celebrates National Trails Day each June with a series of events designed to get more people to explore the Great Outdoors.
By far the most popular trails according to the AHS is Emerald Lake, found in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Suitable for beginners while holding enough visual rewards for the most seasoned hikers, Emerald Lake is nestled in the spectacular Flattop Mountain, marking the end of a three-mile hike from the equally endearing Bear Lake.
10. Mission to Mars, 2020
An upcoming NASA mission promises to take science geeks for an out-of-this-world experience, as the hunt for life on Mars continues in 2020. A new rover is scheduled for launch in July and should to hit the red rock by February 2021.
For a taste of space adventure, visit Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Here, you’ll find out all about the planned mission and celebrate the achievements of the men and women who have slipped the surly bonds of Earth before.
11. Aloha, Honolulu
Two major US airlines have announced they’re starting more flights to Honolulu, which means it’ll soon be easier than ever to reach the hallowed Hawaii.
This sun-soaked paradise has only ever been a hop, skip and jump off the Pacific coast, but soon there’ll be even more chances to sample luxurious luaus and inspiring landmarks. Diamond Head, the dormant volcano which towers over the rest of the island is a must visit. Hop over to Hawaii for an experience like no other.
12. All-new in Orlando
As the theme park capital of the US, Orlando has always occupied a space on the kids’ must-see lists. Heading into 2020 there are even more reasons to visit the city’s biggest tourist attractions.
At Disney Hollywood Studios, prepare to take the fight to the First Order with the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride. Meanwhile, at Epcot, serious changes are afoot with the unveiling of a new Mary Poppins-themed attraction and a ride featuring favourites from Pixar’s Ratatouille.
13. Spring in the Smokey Mountains
US National Parks are a great place to stop and smell the flowers. And when spring comes the landscape is filled with beautiful blooms. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where 10,000 species of flora and fauna arise to greet the warmer weather.
Celebrate the arrival of springtime in the Smokies with the Wildflower Pilgrimage - a programme of walks and talks designed to get you in touch with your inner naturalist. The iconic Appalachian Trail passes through the park, too, allowing you to follow in the footsteps of pioneering travellers.
14. SXSW – Austin, Texas
SXSW (South by Southwest) is the annual conference and festival that brings together the brightest minds and burgeoning musical talent to Texas. Originally an independent music festival, through the 1990s SXSW added film luminaries, tech titans and creative talents to its expanding programme of events.
These days, SXSW showcases up-and-coming bands alongside cutting-edge tech displays and lectures from the biggest names in entertainment. Grab your tickets and meet like minds in the welcoming Texan arms of Austin.
15. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile
Get your shopping and sightseeing fixes at one of the States’ best-known shopping districts, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, where big department stores sit alongside some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
With a whole host of stores and over a million square feet of shops to explore, the Magnificent Mile is one of the Windy City’s must-see sights. Grab a bite to eat and sample the bustling atmosphere or discover historical places of interest like the old Wrigley Building and several of the world’s tallest structures.
16. Grand Canyon and Phoenix
Combine your trip to one of the States’ most legendary landmarks with a scenic drive south to Phoenix, Arizona.
The Grand Canyon National Park is, quite simply, an awe-inspiring place. Overlooking the Colorado River, the colourful cliffs on either side evoke powerful images of the planet’s changes throughout its long and storied history.
A warm welcome awaits in Phoenix, with its Desert Botanical Garden providing the backdrop for a quaint, quiet stroll. There’s also a wide variety of spa resorts to rest and recover from your adventures at the Grand Canyon.
17. Philly’s Love sculpture
What better way to celebrate the City of Brotherly Love than with a statue that declares it loud and proud? In Philadelphia’s Love Park, a sculpture based on pop art pioneer Robert Indiana’s original print sits on top of a plinth overlooking the plaza.
The park, dedicated originally to President John F Kennedy, became one of the region’s best-known skateboarding spots before being redeveloped in 2016. Now happy couples-to-be can pay a few bucks and book 30 minutes beneath the Love sculpture to tie the knot.
18. Doo Dah Parade, 4 July in Columbus
Add some surrealism to your Independence Day celebrations in Columbus, Ohio, with the long-running Doo Dah Parade – a celebration featuring bizarre costumes, quirky floats and more. An offshoot of the original Pasadena parade, the annual event marches through the Victorian Village and Short North districts of downtown Columbus, spreading absurdity along the way.
Take your place along the route for an unusual way to celebrate 4 July, or head to the block party featuring live music, great food and drinks, and much more.
19. NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte
One of Charlotte’s most fascinating attractions is the home of the world-famous NASCAR Hall of Fame. Here you’ll find displays and driving demos dedicated to the sport’s biggest names throughout history.
Days of Thunder celebrates 30 years since its release, so why not mark the occasion with a visit to the place where it all began?
Elsewhere in Charlotte, you can find two major-league sports teams plying their trade: The Panthers of the NFL and the NBA’s Hornets.
20. Coachella Festival
About 20 miles east of Palm Springs, the world’s biggest musical talent gathers in the Coachella Valley desert for a music festival so epic, it has to take place over two weekends.
With recent headliners including Lady Gaga, Radiohead and AC/DC, you can be sure of a diverse line-up to suit any music tastes. Coachella is also one of the country’s leading visual arts festivals, with installations and sculpture from the world’s visionary artists.
If you want to extend your road trip, San Diego is just three miles away. Why not drive into a city whose Mexican-infused vibe combines brilliantly with laidback Californian culture?
Want to start your USA trip now? Find about US car hire and get inspired with our USA road trip planner.
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On Saturday, November 7, The Associated Press named Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president of the United States. As a non-profit organization, The Hewitt School is prohibited from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. Yet as a girls’ school whose mission is to inspire girls and young women to become game changers and ethical leaders, The Hewitt School acknowledges and celebrates a truly historic moment in women’s history as Senator Kamala Harris becomes the first woman, the first Black woman, the first woman of Southeast Asian descent, and woman of color to be elected vice president.
On November 7, in her first address as vice president-elect, wearing a white pantsuit to symbolize the hard-fought path from the earliest women’s suffragists right through to this historic moment, Kamala Harris honored her mother and the many generations of women of all races who paved the way for this moment when she said: “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
One of my favorite quotations is by the actor and advocate Geena Davis: “If she can see it, she can be it.” Research clearly shows that girls and young women are better able to see themselves as leaders if they see other girls and women in leadership. I love thinking about all of the ways in which Kamala Harris will inspire millions of girls and young women to shatter glass ceilings of every kind. My heart grows full at the video of Senator Harris telling her niece’s daughter: “You could be president….but not right now. You have to be over the age of 35.” At Hewitt, we make sure that girls and young women see all of the opportunities for self-actualization, and that they can be whatever they want to be--even if others tell them “no.” Here, too, the future vice president is a powerful role model for girls and young women. In one interview, Vice President-elect Harris said: “You know, I have in my career been told many times, ‘It’s not your time. It’s not your turn'...And let me just tell you, I eat ‘no’ for breakfast, so I would recommend the same. It’s a hearty breakfast.”
As this election made evident, our country is truly divided, and we have a great deal of work to do if we are going to reach across our differences and work together. But at this historic moment, I hope you will join me to rejoice in the shattering of one of the most persistent glass ceilings in our country: The White House.
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Top Payer Priorities for 2020: Optimizing Operating Costs and Boosting Network Efficiency
Home > Payers > Top Payer Priorities for 2020: Optimizing Operating Costs and Boosting Network Efficiency
Abhinav Shashank
Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 1 year ago
The health plan market is undergoing a drastic transformation. In the past, the competition had been lean with just a small number of payers. However, the market dynamics are changing. Since 2017, the number of MA plan choices per county has increased by 49 percent. The competition is said to grow even more in the coming years as more health plans are set to enter the market, owing to the fact that nearly 26 million baby boomers will age into Medicare through 2030.
Rising cost burden on health plans
With additional members, the “paperwork” and administrative costs are also increasing. A recent report revealed that there was almost a 6 percent increase in administrative expenses for MCOs in 2017. The substantial rise in membership with soaring costs means many health plans might find themselves in a financially untenable situation.
Along with the growing administrative burden, the compliance requirements are also weighing on the workload and costs. The push towards improving accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the data is intensifying to “ensure that provider claims for actual health care spending matches the health plans reported financially,” said Seema Verma. To fulfill the reporting requirements and avoid financial penalties, health plans will have to improve their data submission process to align with the specific rules, formats, and regulations of a given state, which also ensures an increase in cost.
Payers don’t have much control or influence on the administrative and compliance costs. The member population will increase, and so will the requisites by regulatory authorities. The costs are likely to keep increasing on these fronts in the future.
The growing financial pressure has made it inevitable for payers to explore measures to contain costs from spiraling out of control. Since operations account for around 50 percent of an insurer’s base cost, reducing expenses on this segment can result in cost savings of significant proportions.
Resolution for cost pressures: Operational efficiency
There are certain operational activities such as claims adjudication, reprocessing, and post-call documentation which are highly repeatable and are executed manually. With the addition of more members each year, the burden of these tasks ought to grow even more. Automating these tasks can give a significant boost to operational efficiency; at the same time, it can help reduce overall costs. According to an article, automation technology can lead to additional operational cost savings of up to 30 percent within five years for many payers.
Outcomes of automating operational activities
Apart from cost savings and reduced utilization, automating operational tasks has multiple other advantages. Automating routine tasks can ensure that the tasks that previously took days to finish are completed in minutes. The accelerated service delivery can build more synergy between members, providers, and internal stakeholders.
Automation technology can operate 24/7 and can be scaled up or down with demand. It provides a lot of flexibility that wasn’t available before. By creating room for more capacity (with flexibility), automation provides the necessary capabilities for payers to remain competitive. Not to mention, the automation reduces the scope of manual errors, resulting in efficient documentation, network performance tracking, and reduced coding and care gaps.
The challenge in implementing automation
There are hardly any disadvantages to embracing automation; however, implementing technology is a challenge.
The core systems that most payers use cannot be easily modified. For effective deployment of automation, it is important to standardize and integrate the data and workflows that span across multiple disconnected systems. Quite often, payers don’t have the technological capabilities to support data standardization and require duplicative manual data entry to fulfill the task.
Fragmented data is the reason behind increasing IT costs and subsequently rising operating costs. Unstructured data prohibits health plans from leveraging new technologies and venturing into fresh business opportunities. The complicated legacy IT landscape prevents payers from building better collaboration in their network, which has considerable negative implications on their operational efficiency.
Standardizing patient data
Payers can streamline the data through a data platform and make it usable for other digital platforms. A data platform can clean and aggregate healthcare data from sources, including electronic health records, claims, pharmacies, hospitals, labs, and so on. This is a quick and inexpensive way to enjoy the benefits of automating operational activities without undertaking major core system transformations.
Apart from data aggregation, a data platform can also provide some relevant and useful information. By leveraging artificial intelligence and rich analytical capabilities, it can offer dashboard views, custom insights, and decision support that can reveal the existing coding and care gaps. Not only will this information help payer to improve care delivery and member experience, but it will also reduce unnecessary utilization of resources, and thereby the expenses.
The cost pressures are not likely to reduce anytime soon; if anything, they are only going to grow. Apart from compliance, competition, and administration, several other factors are going to add fuel to the growing expenses like price transparency, customer cost-consciousness, and regulatory changes, to name a few.
The new group of players populating the payer market must be equipped with the right technology infrastructure and operational capabilities to demonstrate efficient cost management for long-term survival. However, according to a report, a lot of payers still feel they don’t have the resources in place to become a “data-driven” organization.
Containing costs is emerging as a significant factor in gaining a competitive advantage. Payers who are quick to embrace technologies that deliver substantial cost savings will be able to achieve stellar performance.
6 Helpful Tips For Physically Challenged Travelers
Abhinav Shashank is the CEO and co-founder of Innovaccer, a leading San Francisco based healthcare technology company. He built the foundation for Innovaccer’s success as a leader in population health management and machine learning-oriented healthcare solutions recognized by Gartner, KLAS, Forbes, Black Book Market Research, and others. Abhinav’s continued efforts and ambition enabled the company to flourish in health information technology in the U.S. and acquire over 25 healthcare organizations as customers, with more than 25,000 providers using Innovaccer’s solutions daily. His continued work and focused approach have resulted in the latest round of Series C investment led by Dragoneer, Tiger, Steadview Capital and M12, Microsoft’s venture fund. With his vision for seamless care delivery using unified patient records, Abhinav is now leading the team towards $1 billion in savings for U.S. healthcare. Additionally, Abhinav Shashank is an influential thought leader and a renowned author. Abhinav has published over 300 articles for various international media outlets, was bestowed a coveted spot in Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia 2017: Enterprise Tech” and was recognized by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the ‘Top 60 rising leaders in U.S. healthcare under 40’ in 2019.
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Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm
The three main soil-transmitted helminth infections, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm, are common clinical disorders in man. The gastrointestinal tract of a child living in poverty in a less developed country is likely to be parasitised with at least one, and in many cases all three soil-transmitted helminths, with resultant impairments in physical, intellectual, and cognitive development. The benzimidazole anthelmintics, mebendazole and albendazole, are commonly used to remove these infections. The use of these drugs is not limited to treatment of symptomatic soil-transmitted helminth infections, but also for large-scale prevention of morbidity in children living in endemic areas. As a result of data showing improvements in child health and education after deworming, and the burden of disease attributed to soil-transmitted helminths, the worldwide community is awakening to the importance of these infections. Concerns about the sustainability of periodic deworming with benzimidazole anthelmintics and the emergence of resistance have prompted efforts to develop and test new control tools.
This document may be accessible through your organisation or institution. If not, you may have to purchase access. Alternatively, the British Library for Development Studies provide a document delivery service.
Child health, Early Childhood Development, Health
Author(s): Bethony J, Brooker S, Albonico M, Geiger SM, Loukas A, Diemert D, Hotez PJ.
Publisher: Elsevier (The Lancet)
Exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation: target groups and influential messages
This briefing outlines the findings from operations research on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and early initiation. The study supports refinement of the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) strategy implemented by the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) programme. Summary of key recommendations: Strengthen messages on the water content in breastmilk. Integrate the showcasing of healthy… Read more
Breastfeeding, Nigeria, WINNN
Paying private obstetricians to provide emergency obstetric care to poor women: The Chiranjeevi Yojana public private partnership programme in Gujurat, India
Ayesha de Costa is an associate professor of Global Health and Senior Lecturer at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. She begins this lecture by noting the increasing importance of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) which can only work if it is of a high quality. EmOC should be able to provide: injectable antibiotics, injectable anticonvulsants, injectable oxytocics,… Read more
emoc, India, Maternal Health, ppp
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How Native Americans Helped Pilgrims Arriving in the New World at Plymouth Massachusetts
Pilgrim and Native American interactions did not begin with the best start possible because Native Americans were in fear of enslavement and pilgrims, even if not concerned with enslavement, feared for their lives.
Squanto, the Native American who taught pilgrims to effectively utilize fishing and farming tactics, had been enslaved by Europeans prior to the pilgrims’ Plymouth arrival. His and other Native American captures in conjunction with the pilgrims stealing from the natives led natives to mistrust the pilgrims.
Arriving in foreign lands with a ship of sick and malnourished persons that included women and children made self-preservation concerns natural. Thus, it was perfectly natural that a handful of men would have concern over living about armies of natives they had never before encountered nor understood.
The first battle between pilgrims and Native Americans occurred while pilgrim explorers were still trying to decide where to set up the colony. Prior to the battle, the pilgrim explorers stole corn and beans from a Native American hut which may, of course, have instigated the brawl.
Perhaps it was understandable that the pilgrims—despite identifying themselves as “religious persons”—broke the “thou shalt not steal” commandment. Their food supply had become short and they needed to feed themselves and their families. No Native Americans were at the hut during the time of the theft. Therefore, the pilgrims could not have asked for the beans and corn even if they had wanted to. Fortuitous was it that all lives went unshed during this initial pilgrim-native battle.
Continuing to seek a place for settlement, the explorers eventually found a harbor that would accommodate the Mayflower and provide fresh water and farmland. The harbor, situated near a Native American cornfield, represented many opportunities for pilgrim-native interactions to occur since the pilgrims and natives would be residing in close proximity to one another.
Having spent weeks seeking a place to setup camp and build shelter, and even as more emigrants were becoming ill and dying from the “sickness”, the pilgrims decided to take their chances with the natives and began erecting their first building on December 25, 1620.
The pilgrims built the first structure with intentions that it would house the settlers and their belongings. Although the settlers would no longer need to live on the ship, they would still live together. Privacy provisions came about by dividing and curtaining areas of the “common house”. The house also included a church and a fort.
The pilgrims had an ongoing reluctance to assume they were safe living near the Native Americans, however. For this reason, they setup battle ready cannons atop the roof and on February 21 of the following year, they formed a military force to protect their “citizens”.
Shortly after the pilgrim camp was setup, Wampanoag chief Massasoit and twenty of his warriors spurred an interaction with the pilgrims by disarming themselves and entering the pilgrim camp. Governor Carver accompanied by military personnel met with Massasoit and his men. During this get together, the men ate and drank ale together; and they even formed a peace treaty.
Signing of a peace treaty did not mean all native-emigrant interactions would be splivy from treaty sign point on. Problems still occurred between the groups. One problem surfaced after a native stole goods from a pilgrim boat, sachem (chief) Aspinet disciplined the native, ordered female natives to bake bread for the pilgrims, and personally appeared at Plymouth the following day with bread and apologies aplenty.
Despite sachem Aspinet’s immediate apology that included bread and merrymaking, the pilgrims reinforced their camp by adding gateways and bastions to the fort. Bastions increased weapon-firing ranges using projections that extended beyond the walls of the fort.
Adding additional reinforcements to the fort did not prevent Winslow (a Plymouth governor in later years) from visiting or form helping Massasoit during the chief’s illness. Massasoit showed his gratitude by informing Winslow of an upcoming attack on Plymouth. An indigenous group who did not possess Massasoit’s peaceful intentions had planned to eliminate the pilgrims. If successful, this would not be the first wipe out of what these peoples considered “aliens”.
To ward off the attack, however, eight soldiers accompanied their pilgrim captain to the plotters camp where they fought by hand. Before it was over, seven natives had died in combat. The pilgrim soldiers hanged one of the warriors after his death and erected Wituwamut on a palisade—a type of fortifying stake.
The aforementioned would not be the only instances during which pilgrims would use brutal punishments toward Native Americans in attempt to prevent natives from committing crimes against them.
Despite discord that periodically interfered with pilgrim-native unity, the friendlier natives continued to help the pilgrims survive. They taught them how to fish which includes digging out sand during low tides in order to capture clams and other types of shellfish. Squanto taught pilgrims the ins and outs of home fertilizers – which yielded the pilgrims better corn crops. Native Americans also assisted pilgrims with a making maple sugar, utilizing tobacco, donning snowshoes, and the benefits of shell money called wampum, which were essentially beads made from seashells.
In taking this look at how the pilgrims interacted with Native Americans, it is clear that both groups imposed a degree of difficulty on the other causing friction to block their relationships. It is also clear to see the pilgrims needed the natives more than the natives needed the pilgrims; and that the natives proved much more beneficial and helpful to the pilgrims than what they may have received credit for being.
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Huguenot Church
Edict of St. Germain
Massacre of Vassy
French Wars of Religion
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Edict of Fontainebleau
Huguenot Diaspora
Huguenots in England
Huguenots in South Africa
Huguenots in America
Huguenots Today
Huguenots were French Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who followed the teachings of theologian John Calvin. Persecuted by the French Catholic government during a violent period, Huguenots fled the country in the 17th century, creating Huguenot settlements all over Europe, in the United States and Africa.
Following the Reformation, theologian John Calvin became a leading figure in Protestantism in the 16th century, famed for his intellectualism.
Calvin’s approach appealed to educated Frenchmen, and followers included some of the brightest and most elite members of Catholic-dominated France, as well as prominent tradesmen and military officers. Because of the influence wielded by followers of Calvinism, it was initially tolerated by the crown.
French Calvinists adopted the Huguenot name around 1560, but the first Huguenot church was created five years earlier in a private home in Paris.
The origin of the name Huguenot is unknown but believed to have been derived from combining phrases in German and Flemish that described their practice of home worship.
By 1562, there were two million Huguenots in France with more than 2,000 churches.
In January 1562, the Edict of St. Germain recognized the right of Huguenots to practice their religion, though with limits.
Huguenots were not permitted to practice within towns or at night, and in an effort to sate fears of rebellion, they were not allowed to be armed.
On March 1, 1562, 300 Huguenots holding religious services in a barn outside the town wall of Vassy, France, were attacked by troops under the command of Francis, Duke of Guise.
More than 60 Huguenots were killed and over 100 wounded during the Massacre of Vassy. Francis claimed he did not order an attack but was instead retaliating against stones being thrown at his troops.
The Massacre of Vassy sparked off decades of violence known as the French Wars of Religion.
In April 1562, Protestants took control of Orleans and massacred Huguenots in Sens and Tours. In Toulouse, a riot resulted in the deaths of up to 3,000 people, many of them Huguenots.
The battling continued into February of 1563 when Francis, Duke of Guise, was assassinated by a Huguenot during a siege on Orleans and a truce was agreed upon.
Religious violence escalated again soon enough. The worst of it came as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572, which saw murders of up to 70,000 Huguenots across France, under the direction of Catherine de Medici, the regent queen and mother of King Charles IX.
During the three days of violence that began on the night of August 23, 1572, and spread from town to town, officials recruited Catholic citizens into militia groups that hunted down Huguenot citizens, indulging not only in murder but gruesome torture, mutilation and desecration of the dead.
Violence and murder followed in 12 cities over a two-month period after the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, leading to the first wave of Huguenot departures from France to England, Germany and the Netherlands.
Violence such as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre became the norm, as civilian bloodshed and military battles dragged on until the Edict of Nantes in April 1598, ending the civil war and granting Huguenots their demanded civil rights.
Huguenots used their freedom to organize against the French crown, gaining political power, amassing loyal forces and forging separate diplomatic relationships with other countries.
When King Louis XIV ascended the French throne in 1643, persecution of the Huguenots began again, escalating to the point that he directed troops to seize Huguenot homes and force them to convert to Catholicism.
In 1685 Louis XIV enacted the Edict of Fontainebleau, which replaced the Edict of St. Germain and made Protestantism illegal. More bloodshed ensued, and over the next several years, more than 200,000 Huguenots fled France for other countries.
In 1686, Louis XIV decided he wanted to prevent Huguenots fleeing to the south to Protestant communities known as the Waldensians, or Valdois, who were settled in the Piedmont region of Italy, which was just across the French border.
Troops ravaged the Protestant villages, with 12,000 Protestants rounded up into camps, where most starved to death. The few that did survive were sent to Germany.
The departure of the Huguenots was a disaster for France, costing the nation much of its cultural and economic influence. In some French cities, the mass exodus meant losing half the working population.
Huguenots were particularly prolific in the textile industry and considered reliable workers in many fields. They were also an educated group, with the ability to read and write. Many countries welcomed them and are believed to have benefited from their arrival.
Some fleeing Huguenots made their way to Geneva first, but the city could not support so many people, and only some in the clock-making profession ended up staying there.
Parts of Germany that were still recovering from the Thirty Years War welcomed the Huguenots. The city of Brandenburg went so far as to advertise their eagerness for Huguenots to settle there. Some 4,000 Huguenots settled in Berlin and are considered to have been the spark that transformed it into a major city.
The most significant population ended up in the Netherlands, with Amsterdam received the most Huguenot transplants. Other cities were keen to attract Huguenots and competed to entice them, believing that the influx of skilled, literate workers could help revive their economies.
The British were not friendly with French King Louis XIV, and the Huguenots were welcomed there.
About one-fifth of the Huguenot population ended up in England, with a smaller portion moving to Ireland. The Huguenots are credited with bringing the word “refugee” into the English language upon their arrival in the British Islands when it was first used to describe them.
From 1688 to 1689, some Huguenots settled in the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa with the sponsorship of the Dutch East India Company. The offer was initially made in 1685, but only a handful of Huguenots showed interest.
After the Edict of Nantes, however, a couple hundred took advantage of the proposal, bringing their winemaking and other skills to South Africa.
The Dutch East India Company gave the Huguenot settlers farmland, but situated them between Dutch farming properties to separate the Huguenots and prevent them from organizing against the Dutch.
Some Huguenots had emigrated far earlier than the mass movement in the 17th century, but many met with misfortune. A group of Huguenots traveled to an island in Guanabara Bay in Brazil in 1555, but were later captured and murdered by Portuguese troops.
In 1564, Norman Huguenots settled in Florida in an area that is now Jacksonville, but were slaughtered by Spanish troops following an altercation with the French navy.
Beginning in 1624, Huguenots began to arrive en masse in the New York and New Jersey area. In 1628, some moved into what would become Bushwick, Brooklyn. Others moved to New Rochelle and New Paltz, New York, as well as Staten Island.
By the time of the exodus beginning in 1685, Huguenot communities sprang up in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina. Often, the Huguenot settlers would assimilate with existing Protestant groups.
The father of Paul Revere, Apollo Rivoire, was a Huguenot, and George Washington was descended from a Huguenot named Nicolas Martiau.
The U.S. Mint in 1924 commemorated the 300th anniversary of the arrival of Huguenots into the New World with a commemorative silver coin, the Huguenot-Walloon half dollar.
For the most part, Huguenots worldwide have successfully assimilated into the mainstream culture of whichever country they settled in, and many—if they follow any religion—practice a form of the Protestant religion for which the were originally persecuted.
Throughout England, France, Australia and the United States, remnants of Huguenot culture—including French Protestant churches, French names of towns and streets as well as textile and winemaking traditions—endure as reminders of the Huguenot’s global influence.
The Huguenots. Geoffrey Treasure.
The Huguenot Refuge. Virtual Museum of Protestantism.
Huguenot History. Huguenot Society of America.
Huguenot History. Huguenot Society of England and Ireland.
The arrival and establishment of the Huguenots at the Cape of Good Hope. Huguenot Society of South Africa.
https://www.history.com/topics/france/huguenots
FranceAfricaIreland
Napoleon's Final Exile
Coroner's Report: Guillotine
The Death of Napoleon
Bastille Day is a holiday celebrating the storming of the Bastille—a military fortress and prison—on July 14, 1789, in a violent uprising that helped usher in the French Revolution. Besides holding gunpowder and other supplies valuable to revolutionaries, the Bastille also ...read more
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The Celts were a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe that shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions and culture. It’s believed that the Celtic culture started to evolve as early as 1200 B.C. The Celts spread throughout western Europe—including ...read more
Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1755, Marie Antoinette married the future French king Louis XVI when she was just 15 years old. The young couple soon came to symbolize all of the excesses of the reviled French monarchy, and Marie Antoinette herself became the target of a great deal ...read more
In 1971, General Idi Amin overthrew the elected government of Milton Obote and declared himself president of Uganda, launching a ruthless eight-year regime in which an estimated 300,000 civilians were massacred. His expulsion of all Indian and Pakistani citizens in 1972—along ...read more
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1798 amid widespread fear that war with France was imminent. The four laws–which remain controversial to this day–restricted the activities of foreign residents in the country and limited ...read more
The French Revolution was a watershed event in modern European history that began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790s with the ascent of Napoleon Bonaparte. During this period, French citizens razed and redesigned their country’s political landscape, uprooting centuries-old ...read more
The leader of Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, Robert Mugabe (1924-2019) was one of the longest-serving and, in the latter years of his reign, most infamous African rulers. Trained as a teacher, he spent 11 years as a political prisoner under Ian Smith’s Rhodesian ...read more
Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. But for all of his prevalence in culture—namely the holiday held on the day of his death that bears his name—his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally ...read more
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December 03, 2019 11:32am PT by Rick Porter
HBO Max Snags Russell T Davies' 1980s Drama 'Boys'
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
The WarnerMedia streaming service will be the U.S. home for the limited series, set to air in 2020.
HBO Max has landed the U.S. rights to Boys, a 1980s-set limited series from Queer as Folk and former Doctor Who executive producer Russell T Davies.
The WarnerMedia streaming service, set to launch in May, will be the exclusive home for the five-part series in the United States, in partnership with Channel 4 in the U.K. Production began in October, and it's scheduled to air in Britain in 2020.
"It is our delight to be collaborating with the talented Russell T Davies," said Jeniffer Kim, senior vp international originals, HBO Max. "He has crafted a beautiful coming-of-age story, exploring the excitement of new friendships and self-discovery during a period when there were so many unknowns. Russell’s mastery is so evident throughout, and with Nicola [Shindler]’s producing expertise and Channel 4’s collaboration, we at HBO Max are thrilled to partner in sharing this moving story."
Boys will follow the emotional journey of five friends in the 1980s, a decade in which everything changed, most notably with the rise of AIDS. The cast includes Olly Alexander, Nathaniel Curtis, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Callum Scott Howells, Tracy Ann Oberman and Lydia West.
"This was an astonishing decade, when a sudden new virus meant life became more stark, vivid and precious than ever before," said Davies. "I’ve carried these stories with me for years, and it’s an honor to find them a home with HBO Max."
The series comes from Red Production Company, a StudioCanal company. Davies and Shindler (Years and Years) are executive producing, and Phil Collinson (Gentleman Jack) produces. Peter Hoar (The Umbrella Academy) is directing.
Boys joins a roster of more than 20 original series at HBO Max including a Gossip Girl update, Kaley Cuoco-led thriller The Flight Attendant, dark comedy Made for Love and Ridley Scott's sci-fi drama Raised by Wolves.
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Title: Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara #1)
Genre: Adult, Fantasy
More than a quarter of a century after "The Sword of Shannara" carved out its place in the pantheon of great epic fantasy, the magic of Terry Brooks's "New York Times" bestselling saga burns as brightly as ever. Three complete series have chronicled the ever-unfolding history of Shannara. But more stories are still to be told--and new adventures have yet to be undertaken. Book One of High Druid of Shannara invites both the faithful longtime reader and the curious newcomer to take the first step on the next extraordinary quest.
Twenty years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch--saved by the love of her brother, the magic of the Sword of Shannara, and the destruction of her evil mentor, the Morgawr. Now, fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council, and dedicated herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, and defense of the Four Lands. But the political intrigue, secret treachery, and sinister deeds that have haunted Druid history for generations continue to thrive. And despite her devotion to the greater good as Ard Rhys--the High Druid of Paranor, Grianne still has bitter enemies.
Among the highest ranks of the Council she leads lurk those who cannot forget her reign of terror as the Ilse Witch, who covet her seat of power, and who will stop at nothing to see her deposed . . . or destroyed. Even Grianne's few allies--chief among them her trusted servant Tagwen--know of the plots against her. But they could never anticipate the sudden, ominous disappearance of the Ard Rhys, in the dead of night and without a trace. Now, barely a step ahead of the dark forces bent on stopping him, Tagwen joins Grianne's brave young nephew, Pen Ohmsford, and the wise, powerful elf Ahren Elessedil on a desperate and dangerous mission of search and rescue--to deliver the High Druid of Shannara from an unspeakable fate.
Starting into the next series-set of the Shannara world, we get started with some familiar faces - which I love. Grainne was redeemed in the previous series, and she is now the High Druid. But not everyone has forgiven and moved on. Her past still haunts her, and it's about to lead to some really nasty magic. Her own druids are set against her, and when she disappears mysteriously, there are none that seem to really care.
There are a few people loyal to her though, and they instantly set off on the quest to find Grainne's family and friends from her previous story. There's a lot of building blocks in this story, and not a ton of action. It comes in bits and pieces as the druids try to stop Grainne's friends from finding her or finding out what was done to her. But the Ohmsford family has always been a resourceful one, and they slip through tight places by the skin of their teeth.
At the end of the story, we're left with a little knowledge, but not a lot was done. I loved some of the characters, especially the new seer Pen meets on the way. There are betrayals and new friends, wins and losses, everything you might expect in a high fantasy story. I'm liking the groundwork laid so far, and this may be one of my favorite sets of characters yet. I'm excited to see what happens to Grainne next.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
The Shannara Series
The Sword of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #1)
The Elfstones of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #2)
The Wishsong of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #3)
Indomitable (The Original Shannara Trilogy #3.25)
The Scions of Shannara (The Heritage of Shannara #1)
The Druid of Shannara (The Heritage of Shannara #2)
The Elf Queen of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara #3)
The Talisman of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara #4)
The First King of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #0)
Running With the Demon (Word & Void #1)
A Knight of the Word (Word & Void #2)
Angel Fire East (Word & Void #3)
The Ilse Witch (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara #1)
Antrax (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara #2)
The Morgawr (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara #3)
Labels: Adult, Fantasy, jasmyn, Review, Terry Brooks
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Sgt. Pepper & Three Other Bum Albums By Rock Icons
| Miles-tones |
Chris Gray | June 1, 2011 | 5:20pm
It was 40 (four) years ago today - in the UK, and tomorrow in the U.S. - that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, history stopped, the Summer of Love began, and critics freaked the fuck out. When the Beatles released their LSD-soaked counterpunch to the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in June 1967, Kenneth Tynan of London's The Times greeted it as a "decisive moment in the history of Western civilisation."
Whoa. Settle down there, Kenneth. Even today, because it's "rock's ultimate declaration of change" (huh?), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sits atop Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time list. It's one of four Beatles albums in the Top 10... and, without a doubt, Rocks Off's least favorite Beatles album Of All Time.
Rocks Off has no quarrel with the title track, which Jimi Hendrix was playing live within weeks of Sgt. Pepper's release, and we agree that "A Day In the Life" is an undisputed pop masterpiece. But we don't put a whole lot of stock in the studio wizardry that seems to be the main reason a lot of people worship Sgt. Pepper so much.
Yes, the album is quite a technical achievement - and certainly was for 1967 - but when it comes to the songs, we think too many of them are goofy ("When I'm Sixty-Four," "Good Morning Good Morning"), lightweight ("Fixing a Hole," "She's Leaving Home") and just plain forgettable ("Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite").
In other words, except for the first and last songs, Sgt. Pepper just doesn't rock hard enough. It's why every time "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" or "Lovely Rita" comes on the Warren's jukebox, we sigh and wish whoever it was had played Sinatra, Etta James or Delbert McClinton. Give us the White Album or Abbey Road any day.
This got Rocks Off to thinking about albums by some of our other rock heroes that, for one reason or another, just rub us the wrong way. Some, like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Ramones and Pink Floyd, we are not familiar enough with their entire canon to have discovered that one sore-thumb record. Others - Nirvana, The Clash, Uncle Tupelo - simply didn't make enough.
Still others like AC/DC seem to be content to make the same album over and over again with a killer single here and there... and that's OK. With or without the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty has never, ever, ever made a bad record in his life. We swear.
But we still managed to come up with a few. What are yours?
Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run (1975): Gasp! Blasphemy, we know. A little like Sgt. Pepper, we always found Springsteen's breakthrough unwieldy and unfocused, especially given the meticulous care that went into its creation. "Jungleland," for one, is just a mess. We're sure this is because we came to The Boss via Born In the USA and The River, well after he stopped trying to be the Allen Ginsberg of Asbury Park and just started saying exactly what he meant. (See also: Nebraska, Tunnel of Love)
This must have happened around Darkness on the Edge of Town, because we love that one too. But we bought Born to Run used at Austin's Waterloo Records many, many years ago, gave it a few spins and have barely touched it since. Oddly enough, though, we've come to prefer the stretched-out live version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" to the three-minute LP version. Go figure.
Rolling Stone Rank: 18
U2, October (1981): Picking on Bono and the Boys for their "Christ album" seems a little wrong, but even the band has all but disowned this one. (When's the last time they played anything from October in concert?) Confused and grappling with the idea of even continuing as a band while making October - which did not endear them to less-religious bassist Adam Clayton one bit - U2 made the most confusing album of their career, which starts strong with the brilliant "Gloria" but tails off rapidly.
For a hint of what might have been, pick up the Greatest Hits 1980-1990 and skip to the end for a stark, stately solo-piano rendition of "October." Luckily, all that praying paid off on their next album... a righteous little Molotov cocktail called War.
Rolling Stone Rank: Unranked
Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels (1989): You know, we were about to go with Dirty Work here, the album born of the great Mick & Keef solo wars of the mid-'80s. The general opinion is that Dirty Work's song titles ("Had It With You," "Winning Ugly") are more entertaining than the music, but Rocks Off always liked the "Harlem Shuffle" cover - it's the first Stones song we distinctly remember hearing on the radio - and then we went back today and rediscovered that the title track and "One Hit (To the Body)" are not bad at all.
Steel Wheels, on the other hand, may be the least interesting Stones album ever made. "Mixed Emotions" aside, it feels like the band made this record more because they realized they needed to kick-start the great Stones touring beast than because they had anything interesting to say musically. Ironically, here they could have used a lot more of that catty flashpoint chemistry that nearly tore the band asunder around Dirty Work.
The Rolling Stones should never, ever try to play nice, a lesson they had largely learned by 1994's Voodoo Lounge.
Miles-tones
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Written by Jo Crowley on 28. Nov 2020
In 1937 a dictatorship-style government was in power in Brazil, gaining strength and imposing rules that filtered into general culture and into sport. Vargas had been in power since 1930 but just prior to the Second World War was making fragile alliances with Germany and this spilled over into Brazil’s own political situation.
The fragility of that international relationship became visible though and during the war Brazil came down on the side of the allies. At home, however, the scene was already set and we can focus on one Brazilian law, in particular, that played a significant part in the history of judo.
We do not wish to bring politics to the front of our thinking; we are, after all, committed to improving this world through sport, in ways that transcend political or geographical hindrances. This bite at the political apple is necessary, though, as the link between sport and politics brought forward a shiai in Brazil that would forever change the face of the world of judo.
It was forbidden for women in Brazil to participate in any sport that was perceived as ‘activity outside of feminine nature.’ In real terms this exiled women from most sports at that time. Imagine living in a place and time where sport was illegal for one slice of the demographic. In our much freer world now, maybe we can’t understand easily what that really means or how it impacts culture and lifestyle.
By the 1960s, with a new political leader in place, the laws of the 1940s should have been a thing of the past but in 1964 those laws were promulgated, as so many women had been flouting them. Judo, as with most sport, was a solely male pastime, with very few women pushing to train and learn, even underground.
“I did start when it was forbidden. I had a friend who wanted to start training because she liked the look of the teacher. I began with her but after a while she stopped attending and I continued.”
Cristiana Pallavicino, an Italian raised in São Paulo, Brazil, witnessed and lived through the various guises of that law and its society. “Most people think I am Brazilian, but I’m Italian and that’s where I live again now.”
Not all of South America was in the same position as Brazil and judo was becoming more accessible. “A few years before the 1980 judo revolution, there were some championships across South America. Women from Brazil would travel with men’s names; I remember one in particular in Montevideo in 1979.
A few of us did train even with the laws against us. When the Montevideo event was organised the law was still in place but the government actually helped with arrangements for the women. They knew the 1980 world championship was coming. Military presence had relaxed and it seemed the Brazilian government knew they were falling behind their neighbours. They sent 7 women to NYC, but with strangely rigorous qualification in place.
The Brazilian women's team in NYC, 1980
Just weeks before NYC was the state champs and the São Paulo championships, needed to get to the nationals and subsequently to the worlds in New York. It was all linked; a very peculiar situation. No other country had this strange handicap or anomaly. The girls didn’t even have friendly competition before the inception of that qualification system. So, at the worlds there were no medals for Brazil. They just weren’t ready. How could they be?"
Cristiana’s Italian roots gave her a different view of freedom and opportunity from the one propagated in Brazil’s political climate.
“I was living in São Paulo state. I was not really involved much then. In the 1980s I began for real and now compete in the world veterans. I was a physical education teacher and then I moved to an airline and at that time went back to judo. There were other women practising and it was more open and welcoming. It was period of huge change.
I spoke a lot recently with the women from that first team. Most of them felt they had good relationships with their academies, even at the beginning, when it was not allowed. Soraia had a different experience, though and was separated from the men. She was really not welcome, but she was wilful, like me. My first sensei wanted to throw me out of the tatami, but as soon as I realised this I was determined to stay. I really liked judo. I also liked my freedom to choose.
The mentality for sport changed so much from then until now. I think what Rusty did was the first huge step for everything that happens now.”
The consequences of the Brazilian government feeling pressure to keep up with their contemporaries drove them to accept Rusty Kanokogi’s event, even if, at first, it was against their own laws to prepare for participation. Without that world championships, we have no way to know where Brazil would have been now, with regard to women and sport. Judo again pushed the boundaries and not only highlighted injustices, but forced change.
“You have to believe 100 percent in what you're doing... that something we do is going to change the world in some tiny, minute way.” ~ Lynsey Addario (American photographer)
Cristiana continues, “it is unlikely I would be competing in veteran events now, if it weren’t for Rusty’s tenacity in the face of immense opposition. She enabled all of us whom have enjoyed judo since to have a life in judo. We owe her much more than the recognition offered for simply running a big competition.”
“Life imitates art.” ~ Oscar Wilde
The first Brazilian women’s team, with all their inexperience, made up for by perseverance and hearts filled with equality, saw the world open up for them, to a way of life that was forbidden.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” ~ Barack Obama
Cristiana is enthusiastic about the futures the first Brazilian women’s team created for themselves, “They became allowed to stay as teachers and competitors. More women came. More and more in the middle 80s. There was a boom after that world champs.
Equality in Brazil progressed so much. Judo was seen as absolutely masculine before that time. The law had just changed and the publicity came. After competing, back in those days, I would put on make-up and rings etc. It gave an impression that it was not only for men. We were feminine and we did judo. Judo is an educational sport and that is what Jigoro Kano wanted. It’s what keeps people in the sport for life. Now in the veterans we are here because of the lifestyle. Most are there because they enjoy judo and it’s a big part of their life.
I am currently European veterans champ. I would not be, without Rusty and New York. Eventually this equality would have come but Rusty gave that process impetus and energy. She was the catalyst that gave us the power to continue. I am undoubtedly a beneficiary and I am grateful for that.”
Cristiana becoming veteran European champion
As a witness to that era of progress, Cristiana is insistent that the Brazilian team from 1980 be recognised. They battled and fought against their communities and the unacceptable laws which framed their society. Cristiana is right. It wasn’t ordinary and it wasn’t easy.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” ~ Pele
With an almost unreal backstory behind them, we record the sporting highlights of these women’s lives and thank and applaud them for their services to equality, to equity, to sport and to their country.
1980 Brazilian Women’s team
-48kg Gislaine A. Lamano
-52kg Iara Mari Martins da Cunha.
-56kg Solange Pessoa (Vincki)
-61kg Heliana R. Carmo
-66kg Angela Maria da Cruz
-72kg Helena Cristina Guimarães
+72kg Soraia André (Cesar)
Iara went through university and qualified as a physical education teacher, having begun judo in 1975. She was petite and most people were amazed she would dare to practise judo. Many ostracised her for it and so she soon stopped telling people about it. In 1980 She was 18 years old and following the publicity around that event she began to explore her own freedom more. Lara has spent all her life since in judo and sport in general.
Solange continued her competitive career after New York and became Pan-American champion in 1986, in Puerto Rico. She competed in subsequent world championships and medalled at the World University Championships. At the time of the NYC event it would have been unthinkable, but Solange spent some time later as the Brazilian women’s coach.
Heliana took up judo in 1975 and was 20 in 1980. She graduated from university in Social Work the year after the championship and stopped training due to work. Since her retirement, however, she has become involved with judo again, with a strong link to the values of judo, working with disadvantaged children, to help them improve their lives.
Soraia started Judo in 1976, aged 12, with a great deal of opposition, not being readily accepted into a very traditional Japanese-style judo club. She was 16 years old in 1980 and competing in the +72kg would have meant facing ‘monsters.’ With such a steep learning curve, she took hold of her opportunities and in 1987 became Pan-American champion, in Indianapolis. She was a member of the Brazilian team for 12 years and took part in 2 Olympic Games, placing 5th in Seoul in 1988, when women took part for the first time.
Soraia Andre, now
Soraia’s is a life full of firsts, from the first Women’s World Championships to the first inclusive Olympic Games and she has taken the time to document much of it in her book ‘Japonegra.’ Soraia became a physical educaction teacher and a psychologist and is now proud of her rokudan grade and her history.
She has no photos or medals at home, having given all her memorabilia to the museum of her city, such is the importance of recording these women’s lives and their important place in the history of women’s judo.
Forty years has past, but thanks to the contributions of the Brazilian women, Rusty Kanokogi, teams from 27 nations, the IJF president at the time and many whose names have yet to be re-written, the place for women in sport accelerated in a way no-one could have imagined.
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
Tags PALLAVICINO Cristiana ANDRE Soraia PESSOA Solange CARMO Heliana R First Women World Judo Championship New York 1980 Gender Equity
25. Nov. 2020 / As Australia is in the Antipodes, this time, we will ...
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Not all heroes wear capes and Professor Trent Munro (ILC Class of 1992) is a fine example. One of Queensland's leading scientists, he led the charge to find a cure for COVID-19.
Prof. Munro is a Senior Group Leader at The University of Queensland's (UQ) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology where he is Director of the National Biologics Facility and Program Director for the Vaccine Rapid Response pipeline. In this role, he was part of the UQ team that developed a clinical stage vaccine for COVID-19.
Professor Munro’s team developed a traditional protein only sub-unit vaccine similar to the flu vaccine.
Prior to his role at UQ, he was Executive Director of Process Development at Amgen Inc., based in California in the United States.
Trent has a PhD in Protein Biochemistry from UQ and completed postdoctoral studies in cell biology and developmental genetics at Harvard Medical School and the University of Cambridge.
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Beijing tells US to stop ‘flexing muscles’ in South China Sea as it sends new carrier
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un speaks as he stands with US President Donald Trump south of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea, in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) on June 30, 2019.
(CNN)China’s Defense Minister told his US counterpart that Washington must stop “flexing its muscles” in the South China Sea when the two met Monday, according to a spokesman for Beijing.
At the same time, China announced that its new domestically produced aircraft carrier was headed to the South China Sea for training and research purposes.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met Monday in Bangkok, where the two were attending a meeting of defense officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries.
Wei and Esper discussed a host of issues — including the political unrest in Hong Kong and the status of the South China Sea, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said.
Much of the international community views China’s maritime claims in the region as excessive and a violation of international law. The US also accuses China of militarizing islands in the sea, and regularly sails warships in the region as part of operations to challenge Beijing’s claims and ensure “freedom of navigation.”
Carrier getting ready for commissioning
China said the presence of its newest aircraft carrier, which has not yet been officially commissioned, in the South China Sea was not related to any current events.
“Training of the homemade aircraft carrier is a normal arrangement in the process of aircraft carrier construction, is not aimed at any specific target and has nothing to do with the current situation,” People’s Liberation Army Navy spokesman Cheng Dewei said in a posting on the PLA’s English language website.
A story in state-run Global Times said the testing “will allow the aircraft carrier crew to become familiar with the sea area where it will often sail in the future.”
The story went on to say that if the South China Sea training is successful, the carrier could soon be commissioned at a ceremony in Sanya, a port in southern Hainan province. It hinted that the carrier would eventually be stationed there, saying “the South China Sea will be right at its doorstep, and not far from the island of Taiwan.”
The carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, the PLA Navy said.
Spokesman Wu said that Wei told Esper China is determined to maintain “peace and stability in the South China Sea and demands the US stop flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and do not provoke and escalate tension in the South China Sea.”
Esper acknowledged in a tweet that the two sides met “to discuss how our two nations can continue a relationship focused on maintaining the international rules based system.”
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all claim parts of the South China Sea. The waters are home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes, with billions of dollars worth of commercial traffic passing through the waters each year.
Esper and Wei’s meeting comes at a tense time for Washington and Beijing. Contentious trade negotiations between the two countries hit yet another snag last week.
A commentary in the Global Times, warned of potential difficulties ahead in military ties if other issues between the two countries are not solved.
“The biggest stumbling block in promoting China-US military ties lies in whether Washington would be willing to respect Beijing’s core interests and major security concerns,” the piece read. It was authored by Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute.
“Such moves of the US are related to the growing tough attitude toward China within US administration,” Zhang wrote.
“On the one hand, defense officials have been claiming to seek stable development of military relations with China, including maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts in non-traditional security fields. Yet on the other, the US defense establishment is provoking China over the latter’s core interests and major security concerns.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/18/asia/south-china-sea-intl-hnk/index.html
← Filipinas Komiks Consolidated China says aircraft carrier on way to South China Sea after Taiwan passage →
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By Aoife O’Donnell, Lecturer, Public Relations Griffith College and Communications Consultant at Vital Communications.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), social stigma when related to health 'is the negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a specific disease.' The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to cause the stigmatisation of people for a variety of reasons such as race, health or a person’s propensity for travel or for wearing face coverings or not. In densely populated cities in Asia, mask-wearing is commonplace following repeated threats to public health in recent years. In Ireland, face coverings have been made mandatory in indoor locations where social distancing might not always be possible. A recent survey conducted for the Department of Health on almost 2,000 people revealed that approximately 55% are self-reporting to be wearing face coverings. This is not as high as it could be considering that there is mounting evidence from studies in Britain, Germany and the United States to indicate that face coverings are extremely effective in curbing the spread of Coronavirus. Such is the lack of enthusiasm for mask-wearing in Ireland that in a recent article in The Irish Times, journalist Bernice Harrison asked if ‘face masks could be this health emergency’s condoms?’ Harrison was referring to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s when condom use was low despite evidence of their effectiveness in AIDS prevention. Following a highly effective advertising campaign that addressed public fears around wearing condoms, however, sales increased by 40%.
The lack of uptake for face coverings in Ireland could be in part due to the lack of clarity on the messaging and also due to stigma associated with mask-wearing in the western world.
The good news, however, is that the WHO has identified ‘regular and proactive communications’ as a means of reducing stigma. How can this type of communications be used in Ireland to reduce the stigma associated with and increase the regular wearing of face coverings by the Irish public?
Language has the power to encourage and perpetuate stigma and from the outset, it has played a big part in the communications around the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, President Trump has repeatedly referred to the Coronavirus using racist expressions such as the ‘Chinese Virus’ and other terms. Civil liberties groups amongst many others in the US and elsewhere were outraged by this and have warned that such language may inspire racism and violence. On the other hand, examples of positive language used during the pandemic include ‘shielding’ or ‘cocooning’ to describe keeping older or more vulnerable people safe and ‘staycationing’ as a term to describe being responsible and choosing to holiday at home. Although useful in simplifying the message for different groups of people, these words do also risk causing stigma in themselves. For example ‘cocooners’ could be viewed as riskier to be associated with and as a result, others might avoid them thus increasing their sense of loneliness and isolation. Similarly, people with foreign accents could be deemed to be international tourists who are not ‘staycationing’ in their own countries and therefore discriminated against when out in public. In relation to face masks and language, at the outset of the pandemic when supplies of medical or surgical masks were limited, officials introduced the term ‘face coverings,’ presumably to ensure the public used other types of coverings rather than risk a worldwide shortage of surgical masks. This seems to have been an effective strategy with people now wearing all types of cloth masks and coverings as well as medical masks.
The WHO recommends what it calls a ‘people-first’ language across all communications channels to reduce stigma. It states that the language used should respect and empower people and it stresses the important role that the media plays in using this language to positively motivate and protect people from stigma.
Real Voices and Case Studies
The use of real voices or, as they are sometimes referred to in public relations, case studies, can help to reduce stigma. This tool has been widely used throughout communications and particularly in areas such as mental health. Through the sharing of experiences in the media, people who have had COVID and recovered or who have worked with people affected by COVID can help to remove some of the mystery and fear surrounding the disease. Since the onslaught of the pandemic, we have seen numerous stories in the media of people leaving the hospital after treatment or some of the first cases explaining what the experience had been like. We have also heard stories from the healthcare workers on the frontline. In Ireland, data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre revealed that Irish healthcare workers accounted for approximately 32% of all Ireland’s COVID-19 cases. The WHO states that “hero campaigns” should be implemented to ‘honour caretakers and healthcare workers who may be stigmatized.’ We have seen this response taking place in countries throughout the world, from the singing on balconies throughout Spain and Italy to #clapforcarers in the UK.
Celebrities can play a vital role in assisting in breaking or reducing a stigma. If you see your favourite film, music or sports star doing something, you may be more likely to engage in a similar behaviour or activity. For example, after TV star Jade Goody’s death in the UK in 2009 from cervical cancer, the NHS reported that half a million more women than usual booked smear tests. This became known as ‘The Jade Goody Effect.’ Similarly, the ‘Angelina Jolie Effect’ has been used to describe the increased internet searches in breast cancer genetics and testing in the US following her well documented double mastectomy. This is why celebrities are sometimes referred to as ‘role models’ and why ‘influencers’ have the power that they do. They have the ability to motivate people to change their attitudes and behaviours. In relation to face coverings, an example of the ‘celebrity factor’ can be seen in the highly publicised court appearances of Hollywood actors, Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard. Attending court in London, the pair were filmed and photographed wearing a variety of bandanas to cover their faces. Their appearance along with sightings of other similarly styled celebrities prompted the following headline in the Independent in the UK: ‘Celebrities have spoken: The bandana is officially the trendiest Coronavirus face mask.’
Communication of Facts
At one stage during the pandemic, the WHO reported that ‘an "infodemic" of misinformation and rumours is spreading more quickly than the current outbreak of the new coronavirus.’ The organisation stated that we need ‘clear information and collective solidarity to tackle misinformation that can contribute to stigma and discrimination.’ Tackling misinformation and clear communication is an area in which Ireland has performed extremely well during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the communication around face masks or coverings has been less clear. In the media some health experts support the widespread and in some cases mandatory wearing of face coverings while others have debated their efficacy. On social media, conspiracy theories abound with some commentators citing mask wearing as an attempt by governments to control people.
One of the most effective responses to the containment of a disease in modern times was seen in Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak. According to the WHO, in this outbreak, Nigeria succeeded in successfully curbing the spread of Ebola, in part through its targeted campaigns. In these campaigns, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged celebrities, bloggers and influencers to communicate facts and address misinformation, rumour and hoaxes on social media.
One of the core functions of public relations is persuasion and one of the most difficult responses to achieve in persuasion is a change in attitudes or behaviour. Often a commonly held belief or a value is required as an anchor for a communications campaign in order to try and achieve the desired response. A study conducted by researchers from Middlesex University in London and the Mathematical Science Research Institute in Berkeley, California on ‘the effect of messaging and gender on intentions to wear a face covering’ found the message of “your community” promoted intentions to wear a face covering. The study also found that men and women self-reported negative emotions when wearing a face covering such as shame, feeling uncool, feeling face coverings to be a sign of weakness and a stigma. Although only one study, further research into public attitudes to face coverings may indicate that ‘community values’ could be an effective anchor around which to build a communications campaign on face coverings that could reduce the stigmatisation of people wearing them. Using the appropriate language, addressing misinformation and engaging relevant members of the public and celebrities with such a campaign would be effective in reducing stigma and changing attitudes and behaviours towards face coverings.
Engaging Social Media for Health Communication in Africa: Approaches, Results and Lessons
Social Stigma associated with COVID-19
Many people identified as close contacts refusing to come forward for Covid-19 testing
Face masks highly effective against Covid-19, new evidence suggest
Where is the creative, effective advertising for face masks?
Donald Trump calls Covid-19 'kung flu' at Tulsa rally
FactCheck: Does Ireland have the highest Covid-19 infection rate for healthcare workers in the world?
Jade Goody 10 Years On: The Big Brother Star Who Changed the Way We Tackle Cervical Cancer
The effect of messaging and gender on intentions to wear a face covering to slow down COVID-19 transmission
Read: COVID-19 and Crisis Communications
Read: Design Communications students and lecturers take part in Creatives Against Covid-19 campaign
Read: Rethinking your commute post-COVID-19?
Read: Griffith’s Design graduates continue in their efforts to support those in need as a result of Covid-19.
Interested in Communications?
Griffith College offers a variety of courses in Communications & Media, including courses in Public Relations - learn more about the faculty, and get in touch with any questions you may have!
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A new review calls for the gut microbiome to be considered as part of standard nutritional rehabilitation for anorexia nervosa
The gut microbiome has been largely underexplored in the development of anorexia nervosa. Scientists call for standard nutritional rehabilitation in these patients to be reconciled with gut microbiota-targeted nutritional modulation.
Until now, the gut microbiome has been an underexplored factor in the development of anorexia nervosa (AN). However, scientists agree that the time has come to start considering our microbiota as a new player in the current treatment of AN patients, given the close interactions between intestinal bacteria and mood, behavior, appetite and gastrointestinal physiology.
A new narrative review, led by researchers from the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University in Geelong (Victoria, Australia), updates existing scientific evidence on the role of the gut microbiome in AN, calling for standard nutritional rehabilitation to be reconciled with gut microbiota-targeted nutritional modulation.
The review begins by highlighting that across the 10 human studies considered, the fecal microbiota composition of AN patients is different when compared with normal-weight/lean/overweight controls. Although discrepancies were found across the studies, a reduction in gut microbiota richness (alpha-diversity) is a common pattern in the majority. This decreased richness is further accentuated in AN patients who consume laxatives as compensatory behavior for improving constipation, secondary to the eating disorder.
Inter-individual variability, diet and AN subtypes (AN-restrictive and AN-binging-purging) might explain the observed disparity impact of AN on the gut microbiome structure. For instance, a diet high in fiber from vegetables, fruits and whole grains might counteract the reduced microbial richness in some AN patients.
Specific microbial profiles shared among AN patients include a depletion of Lactobacillus and butyrate-producing Roseburia. In contrast, the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Akkermansia muciniphila and archaeon Methanobrevibacter smithii increases. Interestingly, M. smithii can transform hydrogen into methane and has been hypothesized to optimize calorie extraction from a diet with very low-calorie content. The presence of new bacterial species in the fecal microbiota in people with AN also highlights that particular conditions arise in their gastrointestinal ecosystem that need to be further monitored and analyzed.
Furthermore, as previously reported in other populations, the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio does not seem to be a reliable defining attribute of AN patients’ gut microbiome.
As to whether the altered gut microbial composition may have implications for weight regulation and satiety in AN, a clear contribution of specific bacteria or their metabolites cannot yet be inferred. Indeed, some gut microbiota changes—for example, the elevated levels of mucin-degrader A. muciniphila when compared with healthy controls—might vary depending on diet and fasting periods, rather than being down to the AN phenotype itself. When exploring the close relationship between the gut microbiota and the regulation of mood and anxiety, the neuropeptide caseinolytic protease b (ClpB) produced by gram-negative bacteria seems to be involved in satiety and anxiety signaling pathways in AN.
AN patients tend to experience depression or anxiety symptoms and some associations have been found between disease psychopathology and body mass index, bacterial species and stool butyrate levels. Altogether, mood- and anxiety-related comorbidities and their drug treatment may also affect the gut microbiota, which means it is difficult to conclude which specific factors are mainly responsible for the changes in microbial composition in AN patients.
Due to the gut microbiome’s involvement as a new player in AN, some scientists have studied whether nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration—the current gold standard treatment for AN—might affect gut microbial composition. Until now, two studies (here; here) have investigated this issue but it cannot yet be concluded to what extent nutritional rehabilitation has an impact on the gut microbiome, given the heterogeneity of nutritional rehabilitation procedures and the fact that the gut microbiota is not always altered during the treatment course.
Likewise, it is worth noting that gut microbiota-targeted nutrition strategies may be considered as a means of achieving the optimal nutritional rehabilitation of individuals with AN.
Although more research is needed before systematically targeting the gut microbiota as a means of improving health outcomes in AN patients, the researchers note that a high-fiber diet should be recommended in these patients, combined with the standard recommended high-fat diet. This approach should be taken gradually and with small amounts of dietary fiber introduced on a step-by-step basis, in order to prevent AN patients from becoming satiated too quickly.
Although no evidence is available regarding the benefits of a systematic supplementation of prebiotics or probiotics in AN, the researchers highlight that their inclusion in current rehabilitation nutrition protocols might help provide benefits to the gut microbiota and prevent gastrointestinal symptoms typically associated with AN, such as constipation.
In conclusion, the scope of this review is a call to reconcile the standard nutritional rehabilitation approach for AN patients with dietary advice that targets the gut microbiota. Based on this, studying the gut microbiota could lead to more effective treatment strategies for AN in the future.
The principal author of the review, Anu Ruusunen, corresponded with GMFH editors via email. The following take-home messages summarize the significance of considering the gut microbiome for nutritional rehabilitation in AN:
Profound differences in the gut microbial composition between individuals with AN and normal-weight/overweight individuals have been reported; however, there is uncertainty about whether the observed differences are a cause or a consequence of AN.
The primary focus of nutritional rehabilitation in AN is to maintain weight restoration. However, an understanding of the effects of current nutritional rehabilitation procedures on the gut microbiome suggests the need to consider additional factors for optimal AN treatment.
Current evidence suggests that nutritional rehabilitation and successful weight gain in AN did not result in a reconciliation of patients’ gut microbial composition with that of non-AN comparison control groups.
Further examination regarding the effects of nutritional rehabilitation on the gut microbiome is needed to provide insights into the gut microbiome’s potential role in modulating the pathophysiology of AN and to inform future nutritional rehabilitation strategies.
Ruusunen A, Rocks T, Jacka F, et al. The gut microbiome in anorexia nervosa: relevance for nutritional rehabilitation. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2019. doi: 10.1007/s00213-018-5159-2.
Categories: Eating Disorders, Gut Brain Axis, Gut Microbiota, Gut Microbiota Composition, Nutrition, Research & Practice
Tagged: Anorexia nervosa, Gut microbiome, Gut microbiota
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Iain Banks came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, THE WASP FACTORY, in 1984. He gained enormous popular and critical acclaim for both his mainstream and his science fiction novels. Iain Banks died in June 2013.
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Home » News » Chamber News » AAU Junior Olympic Games Taking Place in Hampton Roads July 29 to August 7
AAU Junior Olympic Games Taking Place in Hampton Roads July 29 to August 7
by Lisa Jones
One of the largest amateur multi-sport youth events in the U.S. and includes nearly 900 Hampton Roads athletes
Magic Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Kerri Strugg --all are world-class athletes who also made their mark as young champions in the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games. The Games return to Hampton Roads this summer from July 29-August 7. Of the nearly 15,000 athletes competing for top honors, more than 1,400 are from Virginia. Eight hundred ninety-seven athletes are from the Hampton Roads cities of: Carrollton, Chesapeake, Gloucester, Hampton, Ivor, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Yorktown.
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are slated for venues in Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. The events, 18 in all, range from team sports including jump rope, beach volleyball, wrestling and field hockey to individual competitions such as gymnastics, weightlifting, swimming, table tennis and track and field events. A complete schedule of events is available online at www.aaujrogames.org or at www.hamptonroadssport.org.
In partnership with the Hampton Roads Sports Commission, an affiliate of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, five regional cities combine efforts to host the AAU Junior Olympic Games and its more than 45,000 participants, including 15,000 athletes and their families and coaches, venturing here from across the United States and several other countries. Billed as one of the largest amateur multi-sport youth events in the country, it's also expected to deliver an economic impact of almost $50 million to the region. Held annually throughout the Unites States, Hampton Roads last hosted the games in 2006 and is one of five cities in a rotation to host the games through 2016. Other sites include Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Houston, TX; and New Orleans, LA.
Virginia Beach resident, Dave Coulter, will assist in the track and field portion of the AAU Junior Olympic Games this year. Coulter is the 10th grade Health and PE teacher, as well as the cross country and girls track coach at Landstown High School. Coulter will serve as the Assistant to the Track and Field Meet Director. To get ready for the Games, he built a long jump runway, scoreboard, and award podiums. Coulter was also involved in the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Hampton Roads in 2001 and 2006. “Running is something I’ve been doing since I was 13 years old,” said Coulter. “I get personal satisfaction from watching kids compete in track and field.” Coulter has passed his love for running onto his 16-year-old son Brent Coulter, a 10th grader at Landstown High School. Brent will be competing in his first AAU Junior Olympic Games this year, running the 1,500m and 4x800m relay. Brent is on his school’s track team and is one of the top two-mile runners in his age group in Virginia.
Fourteen-year-old Emmanuel Fountain, of Norfolk, has been competing in Taekwondo since he was seven years old. Emmanuel has an impressive list of awards and is hoping to win at this summer’s AAU Junior Olympic Games. He is a 2010 USAT Junior National Team Member (Jr. Bantam), won Gold in the 2010 USAT Junior Olympics (Jr. Bantam), won Gold in the 2010 USAT York National Qualifier (Jr. Bantam), and placed second in the 2010 Junior World Team Trials (Jr. Fly). Emmanuel trains and helps teach children’s classes with Master Charles Park of Park's Taekwondo Academy in Norfolk. Park said, “We have a special bond. Emmanuel is a phenomenal athlete and our long-term goal is for him to be on the Olympic team in 2016.” Emmanuel likes being in shape and said, “Hopefully I can get a scholarship to college and eventually go to the Olympics and win gold.” His mother Monica says that Taekwondo has provided Emmanuel with discipline and he’s improved his grades.
Originally begun in 1967 with just 523 athletes and coaches, the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games have blossomed to support nearly 15,000 athletes who compete regularly around the country and have representatives from all 50 states in the union. Under the direction of the Hampton Roads Sports Commission, the region first hosted the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 1998 and steps into the national spotlight for the fourth time in 2010 following 2001 and 2006 hosting duties. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are just one component of the Amateur Athletic Union, which collectively boasts more than a half million participants, 50,000 volunteers and 30,000 events per year.
Tickets for spectator viewing of all AAU Junior Olympic Games events are available at each competition site and registration areas so don't miss this summer's premier youth athletic showcase at venues across the region. Individual day tickets are offered for $12 per day and include admission to all events scheduled on the designated day of purchase. A 10-day wristband/passport will be offered for $40 and includes admissions to all events through the games. Children ages 6 and younger are admitted for free to all events. Tickets and wristband/passports may be purchased at the registration centers or any competition venue.
For more information on the 2010 Hampton Roads AAU Junior Olympic Games, call the Hampton Roads Sports Commission at 757-664-2573 or visit www.aaujrogames.org or www.hamptonroadssports.org
In February of 1999, the Hampton Roads Sports Commission was formed as a public/private partnership among the seven cities of the Hampton Roads Region: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. The Commission’s primary function is to attract major amateur athletic events to the area and to emphasize regional collaboration. The Hampton Roads Sports Commission is an affiliate of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
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Youngblood Hawke (Paperback)
By Herman Wouk
MP3 CD (December 18th, 2018): $24.99
Hailed as "a tremendous novel, full of wisdom and pain" by the Los Angeles Times, Youngblood Hawke is Pulitzer Prize winner Herman Wouk's classic portrait of a rising literary star in New York and Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s.
Herman Wouk's galvanizing fictional portrait of an American novelist is itself a work of fiction that teems with energy, incident, and emotion. Tracing the journey of Arthur Youngblood Hawke from the small Kentucky mining town of his childhood to the pinnacle of literary celebrity and success in New York and Hollywood, the novel brings to life a whole galaxy of vivid characters as it offers one of the most sobering and enthralling portraits of the literary life ever written.
"A big, powerful, exciting novel...Wouk has a tremendous narrative gift." --San Francisco Chronicle
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Vander Caballero
Co-founder, CEO and creative director of Minority Media
Vander Caballero is the co-founder, CEO and creative director of Minority Media. www.weareminority.com Vander worked as Design Director at EA Montreal - a global game development leader - from 2004 until 2010. During his time there, he helped create successful game franchises Army of Two & Boogie. He co-founded his independent studio, Minority Media, to break with the world of first-person shooters and to explore new directions in game concept and design. This process led to the creation of Minority’s first game, "Papo & Yo," which pioneered a new movement in digital entertainment - empathy games. His studio's third title, "Spirits of Spring,” is the tale of a teenage boy on a quest to overcome bullying.
It's Time to Stop the Hate of Gamergate
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Popular Hull technician bids farewell after 54 fond years at University
celebrate achievements environmental
It was the year England lifted their last football World Cup when teenage botanist Victor Swetez started working at the University of Hull.
For long-suffering football fans, the year will be engrained in the memory. For those not so keen on the sport, it was 1966.
Over half a century later – 54 years to be exact – Victor will clock off for the final time, as he takes well-earned retirement at the end of December.
Vic Swetez bids farewell after 54 years at University
It is a career full of highlights and fond memories, including meeting his wife of over 40 years, and a trip to Buckingham Palace itself.
“When I was 17, I spoke to the careers officer at school, and they asked what I was interested in doing in the future,” Victor said.
“I told them I was interested in plants, so they suggested contacting the botany department at the University. I came across to have a chat, and they said I was exactly the sort of person they were looking for.
“Things were very different in those days – I remember the person who offered me the job ringing what must have been HR, there and then, and saying ‘I’ve got a new person starting next week, could you add him to the staff list please?’” Victor Swetez
In his early years at the University, Victor worked at the Botanic Gardens in Cottingham, assisting with teaching and research in the Botany department.
Later in his career, after the merging of three departments, Victor’s role diversified and he began working with and studying living creatures such as shore crabs, crayfish, marine worms, and lobsters.
Victor’s early days at the University also led to him meeting his wife Susan. The pair met in the early 1970s whilst working in the same department and married several years later. Today, they have been married for over 40 years.
Oak Planting with Vic Swetez and Robb Robinson
Much has changed at the University since Victor first stepped foot on its campus.
“When I first started out, we used an abacus, as computers hadn’t been invented,” he said.
“I’ve seen a lot of new buildings appear over the years, but campus has always remained an incredibly friendly and pleasant place to work.
“It is the people I will miss the most when I leave. I wouldn’t have worked at a place for over 50 years if it was not a good place to work, and it is the people who have made it so enjoyable.” Victor Swetez
Victor’s recent years at the University saw him join the aquarium team at Hull.
In the 1990s, Victor also had the privilege of visiting Buckingham Palace at the invitation of the then-Vice-Chancellor David Dilks.
“I don’t know if they are still doing it today, but universities were given a couple of visits to the Palace each for functions and other events. That was a fantastic experience, and something I will never forget,” he said.
Victor joked that, at the time of his visit around 25 years ago, the Palace gardens and grounds were “not quite as fancy” as he expected.
“As someone interested in plants and gardens, I expected the grounds to be a bit more formal – they were quite normal really,” he said.
Victor will take retirement from the University at the end of the year.
He said he hopes, once COVID-19 has settled, to spend his retirement years with Susan on cruises around the world, as well as more time outdoors walking and tending to the garden.
“What I would say, with everything we have seen in the last year, is that I have seen the University face a lot of challenges over 54 years,” Victor said.
“COVID has been difficult for everyone, but the University will come through it - as it always has done before, in challenging times.”
University of Hull in successful bid for over 50 new healthcare places
health, students
Prospective students to get taste of University life at Virtual Open Days
Teaching Excellence Academy Senior Fellows
celebrate, develop, promote, teaching academy
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China and Sri Lanka: A History that Stretches Back into the Mists of Time – Trade, Religion and Diplomacy - 1
Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona
The writer of this 2-part series is former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, former Foreign Secretary and former Head of the UN Treaty Section. The articles are based on a talk on 'China and Sri Lanka: A History that Stretches Back into the Mists of Time – Trade, Religion and Diplomacy' given in Sydney on August 26, 2018. – The Editor
COLOMBO (IDN) – Sitting in the middle of the Indian Ocean at the southern tip of India and the meeting point of the monsoon winds, and swirling ocean currents, Sri Lanka occupies an enviable strategic geographical position.
A blessing that, with judicious handling and long term vision, can be leveraged to contribute to its aspirations to achieve prosperity but, mismanaged, a curse that has and will attract the unwelcome attentions of global and regional powers seeking to use the island's incomparable location to their benefit, especially to dominate the Indian Ocean.
Throughout history, Sri Lanka has captivated the interest of a multitude of sailors, traders, holy men, adventurers, empire builders and invaders. The Chinese were well represented among them through the centuries and from the time of the Han Dynasty used Sri Lanka as a lucrative central link and emporium in their trading ventures along the southern Silk Route. At times, we elegantly parried and benefited hugely from the attention that our location gave us, especially in trade. At other times we faltered.
Responding to and prudently managing these advances and ensuring that the national interest is safeguarded, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, should remain a priority. While we protect our interests, our geographical location confers on us a solemn responsibility to ensure that the interests of the other users of the sea route to the south of Sri Lanka are also safeguarded.
Having overcome a terrible terrorist threat, nine years ago, Lanka is again confronting one of those seminal challenges in its history.
Today an additional factor must impact on Sri Lanka's deliberations. Sri Lanka possesses a 200 mile exclusive economic zone and, possibly, a vast area of sea bed to which it has lodged a claim with the United Nations since 2009. The wealth of this area, both in the water column and trapped in the sea bed, with careful management, could make Sri Lanka a highly prosperous nation. The biodiversity in the water column which is now the subject of a UN sponsored initiative could also become another attraction to Sri Lanka's suitors.
Challenges confronting Sri Lanka and the region
The Indian Ocean region is experiencing a much anticipated luxury. Almost every one of the economies of the region is expanding at a rate that generates hope in the future of the countries of Indian Ocean rim, and especially for its poor and marginalised.
The promise of prosperity so enthusiastically proclaimed at independence from colonial rule, many decades ago, may at last becoming a reality. India is powering ahead with a rapidly expanding economy and now leads China.
But the region continues to be confronted by an inexcusably massive burden of poverty, literacy and technology deficits, malnutrition, disease and deprivation. South Asia has the dubious distinction of being home to the largest concentration of the poor in the world. Inadequate policy frameworks, corruption, military rivalries and internal conflicts, among others, drain resources which could be devoted to economic advancement. Some internal conflicts are encouraged from the outside.
The countries of South Asia have been taking faltering steps to collaborate with each other on economic matters, but ever so tentatively and in fits and starts, having slowly recognised that there is much to be gained through cooperation than through rivalry. The initial warmth generated by the election of Imran Khan as Prime Minister of Pakistan augurs well for the future. There is still considerable progress that could be achieved through cooperative efforts. However, in the past, good intentions and idealistic talk have not been matched by adequate constructive action.
The South Asia region, is still to secure international acceptability, as a unity. Its leaders need to be more imaginative and ambitious in their desire to develop together. A common desire to advance with each other is still sadly lacking, despite a long history of shared cultures, religions and people movements.
Against this background, Chinese President Xi Jinping's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), unveiled in 2013, has provided the countries of the wider region with a new challenge as well as a unique opportunity to fast track their economies along the path to development. An investment bonanza is being made available under the BRI, especially for the countries along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Coupled with the investment-driven BRI, China has also subtly begun to underline its cultural and religious links in the wider region. A soft power caress of the region!
According to Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of China, President Xi Jinping has embraced religious faith as part of his "Chinese Dream" and the "Belt and Road Initiative". The nominally atheist Chinese Communist Party has now recognised that religion in Chinese history was a powerful tool in domestic governance and international diplomacy. For Xi's "rejuvenation" of the Chinese nation and national culture after the "Century of Humiliation", this mix of faith and politics constitutes a "re-imagining of the political-religious state that once ruled China".
When Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun, was head of the party's religious work beginning in 1980, China's Central Committee issued the famous Document 19 warning party members against banning religious pursuits because it would isolate the Chinese people. Ever since, China has been restoring places of worship destroyed in the Cultural Revolution.
Thus, the BRI and the softened global outreach of China provides an opportunity that can be exploited by those seeking mutual benefit. Judiciously managed and sensitively implemented, the BRI could revive the glory days of the ancient Silk Route. President Xi Jinping was quoted in the state news agency Xinhua saying, "The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic cooperation initiative, not a geopolitical or a military alliance. It is an open and inclusive process, and not about creating exclusive circles or a China club."
Sri Lanka, sitting at the hub of the ancient Silk Route, has embraced this concept at the highest levels. From the President and the Prime Minister downwards, and numerous ministers, the BRI has been enthusiastically welcomed by the Sri Lankan leadership. Hardly a week passes without a Sri Lankan delegation visiting China.
It has been said that China's BRI investment ambitions, focused on cooperative infrastructure and connectivity enhancement, has the potential to make a greater impact than the post-Second World War U.S. Marshall Plan.
The Marshall Plan provided financial assistance to the war-devastated economic giants of Europe and was a major factor in their quick recovery. But the funds available under the BRI make the Marshall Plan pale into insignificance. The Marshall Plan provided over 140 billion dollars at 2017 dollar values to help Western European economies recover. The BRI intends to make available a stunning 4-8 trillion dollars.
While the Marshall Plan achieved much, BRI funds are expected to achieve substantially much more by creating a vast region of shared prosperity stretching from Africa to East Asia, and the clear beneficiaries would be a large number of developing countries.
Adding strength to the BRI, the Chinese Yuan has now been recognised as a reserve currency by the IMF and China appears to be increasingly moving towards international payments in Yuan. The IMF elevated the Yuan, also known as the renminbi, or "people's money", on the same day that the Communist Party celebrated the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The Yuan joins the U.S. Dollar, the Euro, the Yen and British Pound in the IMF's special drawing rights (SDR) basket, which determines currencies that countries can receive as part of IMF loans.
It is not only the vast accumulation of foreign reserves in China that makes the Chinese outreach tempting. China is also gradually becoming a force to reckon with in Information Technology which, coupled with its massive financial clout, makes it a formidable proposition as the world moves further into the 21st century. IT is expected to form the foundation of the next industrial revolution. Live streaming which has caught on rapidly in China, now has an audience which is about the entire U.S. population. China has 700 million internet users and web development has become a cottage industry. It has become the biggest e-commerce market in the world. Over half of the most valuable companies in the world are now Chinese.
China started the electronic bike exchange and has rapidly progressed with electronic payments. Other countries are simply playing catch-up. (An entrepreneur has initiated an electronic car exchange in Sydney!). Baidu is the largest search engine and China's Alibaba is bigger than Amazon and Ebay combined. Tempted by the huge Chinese market, Google, which once left in a huff, is now hankering to return to China.
Much has been written about the massive progress made by China in the transport industry with over 18,000 miles of high speed trains already in use delivering over 1,7 billion passengers in 2017. China is the biggest global market for motor cars and its production reached 23.7 million units in 2017 which exceeds that of the United States and Japan combined. Tesla, with its cutting edge electric car technology, is expected to set up a plant in China. China's construction industry has also climbed dizzying peaks with some city skylines looking as if they were plucked out of science fiction films.
The outward looking Belt and Road initiative, with China's advances in IT, could have a massively transformative impact on the economies of the vast Asian and African regions encompassing 68 countries, home to over 65 percent of the world's population. The BRI, is backed by China's substantial economic clout and massive reserves, including through the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which claims 61 state members at present, and possesses the potential to create significant opportunities for the entire region. Australia is a member of the AIIB.
The BRI will be a closely related factor as Sri Lanka seeks to realise its own Vision 2025. Vision 2025 (or is it Vision 2030) provides the development blueprint for the country for the next seven years and infrastructure development and IT will play a central role in it.
It is against this background that the successful Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Conclave (SEIC) 2017 was organised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in November with the objective of highlighting Sri Lanka as a trading centre and investment destination. A significant number of the participants at SEIC 2017 came from overseas, especially from China. Others came from Wall Street, London, Geneva, Dubai, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Amsterdam. The follow-up conclave will be held in Beijing in September 2018.
Historical, religious and trading relations
A peek into history would be appropriate at this point. Historically, traders, holy men and casual visitors recognised Sri Lanka's potential, both as a desirable destination to visit, a spiritual magnet and a trading hub.
The country attracted waves of traders, businesses and holy monks seeking the sublime teachings of the Buddha over the centuries, from as far afield as ancient Rome on the one side and Khan Balik on the other, not to mention rapacious invaders.
Ibn Battuta, the Moor from Tangiers, who visited the island in the 14th century, was not wrong by much when he observed that this was the most beautiful island on earth and was only 40 leagues from paradise. That paradise, must be preserved despite the race to modernise and achieve a higher level of sustainable prosperity for the people of the country as they seek to climb up the development ladder.
Sri Lanka, like other countries of South Asia, had developed important relations, religious, trading and social, with the Middle Kingdom from early days, and the writings of scholars, soldiers, monks, travellers and traders suggest a strong Chinese interest in Lanka from times immemorial.
The earliest records indicate that the interchanges along the Silk Road, especially along the sea route, had begun to flourish from the time of the Han Dynasty, from 207 BC, and continued for centuries afterwards.
It was not only trade that boomed along the Silk Road, but also cultural and religious exchanges bringing lasting changes to countries and societies. Technologies, food habits, agricultural practices and even diseases, like the plague, crossed borders along the Road.
Dozens of wrecks of Chinese sailing vessels lie off the coast of Sri Lanka suggesting a thriving sea-borne trade. If dozens sank in bad weather, hundreds of Chinese vessels, if not thousands, are likely to have called at our ports. It was then the natural point for sailing vessels wafting before the North Eastern Monsoon winds to stop for rest, food, water and trade.
While foreign ships came to our shores by the hundreds, Lankan sailors also appear to have sailed to foreign ports and left an imprint. A Chinese mandarin, Li Chao, reported that among the many foreign ships that arrived at An-nan and Kuang-chou, the ships from the Lion Kingdom were the largest with stairways for loading and unloading which were several tens of feet in height.
A plaque in the Hong Kong Maritime Museum asserts that the Creole of Macao, a Chinese port frequented by foreign sailors for centuries, has Sinhala influences. The regular presence of Chinese in the Indian Ocean for trade is borne out by historical accounts left by many, including the Chinese monk Fa Xian (5th century), Marco Polo, (13th century) Ibn Battuta (14th century), ending with the adventures of Admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century.
Those visitors who came, especially from China, not only left detailed observations which have been used to corroborate Sri Lanka's own historical records in the Mahawansa and Chulawansa, but also bits and pieces of their own cultures, enriching that of Sri Lanka.
Chinese traders and Shaolin monks probably introduced Chinese martial arts. A term in Sinhala for the indigenous martial arts is Cheena-Adi. This is too much of a linguistic coincidence.
The main focus of the Chinese also appears to be the shared religion – Buddhism. In addition to the traditional Confucianism and Taoism, the Chinese had begun to consider Buddhism to be part of their national religious tradition and emperors, commoners and monks sought closer relations with countries to the West to enrich their spirituality.
Sri Lanka had the reputation, even then, for safeguarding the pristine doctrine, especially after Buddhism fell into decline in India. Lanka was the first country to commit the Buddhist canon to writing. It happened in Alu Viharaya, in Matale, in 29 BC. Previously, the canon had been preserved as an oral tradition.
Chinese writings of the period suggest considerable knowledge of the island, including its politics and the religion, among Chinese scholars. Four embassies were sent from Lanka to the Chinese imperial court in the fifth century. Chinese records indicate that these embassies were sent during the reigns of King Buddhadasa, the builder of public hospitals in the early 4th century, his son Upatissa 1 and Mahanama (412-434 AD).
The Lankan king, probably Mahanama, sent an embassy with a valuable Buddha statue and a replica of the Temple of the Tooth Relic to the court of Emperor Xiaowu. The Chinese account "The Biography of Bhikkunis" written in the sixth century details a visit by eight Sinhala nuns to Nanjing in 426 to inaugurate the order of nuns in China.
The copious writings of fifth century scholar monk Fa Xian from China who spent a number of years at the Abhayagiriya Monastery, in the ancient capital, Anuradhapura, after a long sojourn in northern India, tell a tale of bygone prosperity and complex international diplomatic and trading relations. Fa Xian details the splendid pageant in honour of the Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which takes place to this day, but now in our last royal capital, Kandy. Fa Xian carried a ship-load of religious texts from Lanka to China. This also suggests that Sri Lanka, at the time, possessed a significant literature. The ship was large enough to accommodate 200 passengers. Ships that big were not constructed in the West almost until the 20th century.
Chinese records indicate that in 456 AD, five eminent Sinhala monks called on the Emperor and one of them was an eminent sculptor. Undoubtedly, art and architectural exchanges followed interchanges involving the common religion. Two Buddhist texts, Karanamudra Sutta and Vimukthimagga were translated from Sinhala to Chinese in 489 AD and 505 AD. n the 8th century, another monk, Amogha Vajra, a pupil of Vajrabodhi, travelled to Lanka and translated Karanda Mudra Sutta to Chinese. King Aggabodhi sent him as an envoy to the court of the Emperor in 746 AD.
The Arab geographer Edrisi details the extent of Lanka's international trade during the time of Parakramabahu the Great who also sent a royal princess to the court of the Emperor. The trade between China and Lanka flourished during this period and Chinese vessels brought silk, porcelain, aloes, sandalwood, and so on to our ports. Traders from Western lands exchanged their products for the Chinese goods in Lankan ports which had become international emporia. Lankan exports included gems, spices, filigree gold, pearls, ivory, spices, textiles, etc. and are likely to have been carried in vessels built in the country.
The great Kublai Khan dispatched an envoy in 1282 AD to Lanka requesting the alms bowl of the Buddha venerated by the Sinhala people but the Lankan king refused this request. The lions at Yapauwa are very much Chinese influenced. There is no doubt that Chinese sculptors and architects plied their trade in Lanka. The troves of Chinese coins and porcelain being recovered from various parts of the country suggest a thriving trade.
Admiral Zheng He's repeated visits and his involvement in the replacement of the Lankan king with Parakramabahu VI, who was later ousted by Parakramabahu VII in the early part of the 15th century, are well recorded. Descendants of the Sinhala prince taken to China have been traced in Quanzhou. One Mrs Xushi claims to be a 19th generation descendent of the prince. Parakramabahu VII sent six missions to the Ming court. Cheng He left a pillar inscription in the port of Galle in 1409 AD, marking his second visit. Today it can be seen in the Galle museum.
Chinese writings do not agree on the purpose of Cheng He's interventions in Sri Lanka. He was a Muslim eunuch. Some writings suggest that he sought to ensure the adherence by the King to the correct teachings of the Buddha while other writings suggest that he sought to take back the Tooth Relic to China. Cheng He on a subsequent visit made an offering at the shrine of God Upulvan in Dondra. This magnificent shrine was later destroyed by the Portuguese. [IDN-InDepthNews – 05 September 2018]
Photo: The landmark Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is one of symbols of China-Sri Lanka Friendship. CC BY-SA 3.0
Dr. Palitha Kohona
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Learn how to write a resolution
As American Legion department conferences and the national Spring NEC Meetings get closer, now is the time to start thinking about how you can make your voice heard.
Any Legionnaire, or group of Legionnaires, can impact the priorities and positions of The American Legion at any level, because the organization’s focus is largely driven by resolutions – position-driven initiatives written by members and put to a vote. They can be passed at a local post meeting on a local matter, or at a National Executive Committee meeting on a topic that could end up shaping overall Legion policy. Although departments can originate their own resolutions, even post-level resolutions can lead to permanent policies and programs; Boys State began as a local initiative in Illinois. The optimal time to write resolutions meant for a national vote is in late winter and spring, ahead of department conventions in late spring and summer.
A dedicated page on the national website can help Legionnaires craft expert resolutions.
The page gives an overview of a resolution’s structure; provides a link to the Legion’s Digital Archive, where current resolutions dating back to 1969 are now stored; and houses the Resolutions and Reports booklet, which explains what resolutions do and how to write them in much greater detail. One tip: to allay ambiguity, when asking the Legion to "support" an organization, program or other endeavor, spell out as best as possible the limits to the Legion's obligation in this regard - whether to simply commend a good job, or to enter into a relationship.
Click here to contact National Library staff with any questions.
April 15 is the 2019 Legacy Scholarship application deadline
American Legion Legacy Scholarship recipient Elizabeth Brunke-Turner attends Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, on Monday, March 24. Photo by Gabe Dinsmoor/The American Legion
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship application for 2019 is online for new and returning applicants to fill out. The Legacy Scholarship is available for children whose parents lost their lives while honorably serving on active duty on or after 9/11, as well as for children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined 50 percent or higher VA disability rating.
The application deadline is April 15.
Apply online at www.legion.org/scholarships/legacy.
The renewable scholarship will award up to $20,000 for the expense of graduate or post-graduate tuition, books, room and board, meal plans, transportation and other supplies needed to achieve a higher education.
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship is a needs-based one. The grant amount each scholarship recipient will receive will be based on his or her financial need after all federal and state aid is exhausted. Recipients will have a year to use the grant and may reapply to the scholarship up to six times. And the number of scholarships awarded and the amount of financial aid granted to each awardee (this includes returning applicants) will be determined on donations to the scholarship fund and one's financial needs.
Scholarship recipients are selected by The American Legion’s Committee on Youth Education during the organization’s annual Spring Meetings in May; all applicants, whether recipients of the Legacy Scholarship or not, will be notified immediately thereafter.
'A gentleman personified'
By Steven B. Brooks
American Legion Past National Commander Jake Comer knew fellow Past National Commander William Detweiler for decades – “probably 40, 45 years,” Comer recalls.
It allowed Comer many interactions with his Louisiana counterpart, a practicing attorney in New Orleans. And to Comer, Detweiler was both a special person and incredible asset to The American Legion.
“He was a gentleman personified,” Comer said. “You could always stop and talk to Bill and get any legal question answered without a problem. He was on the (National) Commander’s Advisory Committee and always had the right things to say. We depended on his expertise. He was knowledgeable about just about everything, and was just a great guy. We’re going to miss him.”
A 53-year member of American Legion Post 307 in New Orleans and The American Legion national commander from 1994 to 1995, Detweiler passed away March 27 at age 79. Those who knew him are left with fond memories.
Past National Commander Dan Dellinger knew Detweiler for nearly 25 years and will attend his funeral. When the two first met, Dellinger said that Detweiler “through his accomplishments, was at a higher level than I was. The one thing that really stands out to me is that he was compassionate to all. One of the first times I had a chance to talk to him was at a reception during the Washington Conference. He came to me and wanted to talk to me when he could be talking to other past national commanders and higher-ups. And he spoke with me for 15 minutes. It meant something to me.”
Dellinger said that Detweiler was able to adapt to take on challenges as they came up, from those facing veterans 25 years ago to issues happening today. “It goes to his character,” he said. “He was a one-of-a-kind person. He took everything on straight forward. He saw a problem and he knew that we needed to deal with it because it affected the veterans of this country. No matter what someone asked him to do, he not only did it, but he did it with extraordinary finesse and courage. He would take that ball and run with it every time.”
Detweiler served as a captain in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, performing the role of Operations Officer at the U.S. Army Air Defense Center in Fort Bliss, Texas. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserve while returning to New Orleans for a career in law.
Despite a busy law practice, Detweiler found time to serve on various national, state and local veterans and military commissions and committees, including being appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve on the Veterans Administration National Rehabilitation and Education Advisory Committee, which he chaired two years later.
On The American Legion side, he served as Department of Louisiana judge advocate from 1970 to 1985 and took on leadership positions on national commissions and committees, including the Public Relations Commission and the Foreign Relations Commission chairman before being appointment as national vice commander from 1986 to 1987.
Seven years later Detweiler was elected American Legion national commander during the national convention in Minneapolis. As national commander, Detweiler called for research into what was causing Persian Gulf veterans do develop health issues after returning home. “How can we prevent the Persian Gulf illnesses from becoming another Agent Orange-type disaster?” he asked. “The government must treat Gulf War GIs who are sick. The government must find out why they are ill. The American Legion is keeping an eye on how the government deals with this problem. We don't want to see a delayed and flawed series of studies on these illnesses reminiscent of Agent Orange. We need serious unbiased studies and we need them now.”
American Legion honors K-9 for police, military service
WTHR Channel 13
K-9 Axel served two tours in Afghanistan before coming to Lawrence. (WTHR photo)
LAWRENCE, Ind. (WTHR) - A police K-9 was honored by the American Legion in Lawrence for his lifetime of service.
Lawrence Police K-9 Axel served two tours in Afghanistan and now spends his time sniffing out trouble around Lawrence Township schools, while lending a paw to the police department.
American Legion Post 510 welcomed Axel as an honorary lifetime member Tuesday. He was also presented the Legion Medal of Valor for his service.
Axel came to the district through a grant after being retired from military service.
"For him to come back and serve his local community here in Lawrence and to be able to work in the school system with the students every day, it just puts a lot of meaning in his life. That's what he lives for, really," said Lawrence Police Ofc. Matt Hickey.
When not in schools or helping out Lawrence Police, you can find Axel mingling with veterans at his American Legion post.
VA recommends dropping legal challenge over ‘blue water’ Navy veterans benefits
By: Leo Shane III
U.S. Marines are brought ashore to in a swarm of landing crafts near the Vietnam demilitarized zone on Sept. 15, 1966. (Henri Huet/AP)
Veterans Affairs leaders will not recommend appealing a federal court ruling to award disability benefits to thousands of Vietnam veterans who claim exposure to cancer-causing chemical defoliants during ship deployments off that country’s coastline, officials confirmed Tuesday.
During an appearance before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said he will not ask the Department of Justice to continue to fight the legal issue. Federal officials have until late April to appeal the decision, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in January.
Wilkie emphasized that other federal officials could still offer arguments in favor of filing an appeal. But his recommendation is likely to be an oversized factor in any decision, given the potential impact on his department.
Letting the decision stand would give advocates for so-called "blue water” Navy veterans the victory they have been pursuing for more than a decade, arguing that thousands of ailing and aging Vietnam veterans have been unfairly blocked from collecting disability benefits for their on-duty injuries.
Under current department rules, the blue water veterans — an estimated 90,000 individuals — can receive medical care for their illnesses through VA. But to receive disability benefits worth up to several thousand dollars a month, they must prove that their ailments are directly connected to toxic exposure while on duty.
That’s not the case for other Vietnam veterans, who are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and other defoliants known to cause serious and rare cancers.
So while a veteran who served on the shoreline can receive disability payouts after contracting Parkinson’s disease or prostate cancer, a veteran who served on a ship a few miles away would have to provide evidence of direct contact with hazardous chemicals.
The federal court ruling sided with advocates who said that proof is nearly impossible to obtain now, decades after the toxic exposures occurred.
VA officials had said that adopting new “non-scientific” standards for disability benefits could open a floodgate of new claims. But lawmakers for the past two years have worked on legislation narrowly tailored to the “blue water” Navy veterans issue, and are urging VA to drop it’s opposition.
Wilkie’s announcement received immediate praise from several members of the committee. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the recommendation not to appeal “a chance to bring fairness and justice to our veterans.”
If the court decision stands, VA will be faced with a sizable bill in coming years to cover the new disability benefits claims. Congressional Budget Office officials had estimated the new awards could total about $1.1 billion over 10 years, but VA officials said the figure could rise to more than $5 billion.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said lawmakers will have to work closely with VA officials in coming months to address those costs. John Wells, retired Navy commander and the executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy — which helped file the lawsuit prompting the January court ruling — echoed that plan.
“(Wilkie’s) decision is consistent with what he has told (our group) privately,” he said. “We thank him for bringing this tragic episode to a close, and look forward to working with him on issues dealing with implementation.”
Mike Little, executive director for the Sea Service Family Foundation and a longtime advocate on the issue, called the announcement a “great day” for Vietnam veterans.
“VA owes all these vets and apology for the years they spent denying them benefits,” he said. “Not appealing this court decision is the first step. I hope this decision brings peace of mind to those widows left behind.”
The full decision — Procopio vs. Wilkie — is available at the appeals court’s website.
Legionnaire tracks family’s 100-year history of service in the United States Army
Harold "Robbie" Robinson looks over records of his family's military history. Robbie has traced the continued service of his family in the United States Army all the way back to September 1918. (Photo by Tim Sproles)
Speaking with Legionnaires around the Department of Indiana’s 10th District, it seems like everyone knows Harold “Robbie” Robinson.
“Robbie is everywhere,” said Joe Brown, past commander of Post 65. “Everybody loves him. He really goes out of his way to help others and stay involved.”
In Robbie’s case, staying involved is almost an understatement. Robbie is a proud 30-year member of Legion Post 65 in Richmond, Indiana, holds duel status in the Sons of the American Legion and is an American Legion Rider.
Laurie Bowman, commander of the 10th District, said that Robbie’s positive impact is widely known outside of the district as well. “He will show up at different districts’ events just to volunteer. Everyone knows he’s one of those Legionnaires who is always ready to roll up the sleeves and work to assist our veterans whether they are a Legionnaire or not.”
As well known as Robbie is, a photo he often displays is just as popular.
It’s a simple family photo that features Robbie standing with his brothers Rodney and Ronald, his son Harold III, his daughter Tara and his grandson Chad, but the story behind this photo spans 100 years.
Pictured in photo from left to right: Harold "Robbie" Robinson Jr., Rodney Robinson, Ronald Robinson. Bottom row from left to right: Harold Robinson III, Tara Robinson, Chad Robinson.
Robbie shows paperwork on his grandfather, Monroe Robinson.
Robbie has traced the continued service of his family in the United States Army all the way back to September 1918. For any history buffs, this happens to be just under seven months before the creation of the American Legion. Robbie’s family has more than 100 years of service, and this photo represents 60 of them.
“My grandson Chad orchestrated it,” said Robbie. “I just thought we were taking a picture together, but after the fact, he told us that he had enlisted, and he wanted a picture together with all of the soldiers.”
Every story has a beginning, so Robbie and his family did a little research to find theirs.
“Once we made that connection, we wanted to see how far back it went,” Robbie said. “I knew that my father was in the army, but it all started with my grandfather, Monroe Robinson.”
Information on Monroe was limited, but Robbie located Veterans Affairs paperwork that stated he was a private in the 4th Development Battalion of the 158th Depot Brigade at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio.
During World War I, these development battalions acted as the equivalent of today’s Warrior Transition Units, designed for the rehabilitation of injured soldiers and the support of disabled soldiers.
Robbie said, “We know that he didn’t serve long, but he earned an honorable discharge with the army and is buried at the National Military Home in Montgomery County, Ohio.”
Robbie’s father Harold followed suit by enlisting in the army in 1942, where he took part in the creation of the Alaska Highway, arguably one of the top construction achievements of the 20th century.
“My father was one of close to 4,000 segregated black soldiers who worked on that project. He specifically worked on the Alcan Highway.”
These soldiers battled harsh conditions and winter weather to complete the 1,500-mile road during World War II. Robbie said his father always told him that he felt this project helped spark the discussion to end segregation in the military.
“It was dangerous work, and I think that danger created a bond in all of the men working on that highway. They depended on each other to make it through the day alive. It proved that black men and white men can do it together,” said Robbie.
Here is the Pentagon’s list of construction projects that could be cut to fund a border wall
By: Tara Copp - Military Times
Soldiers emplace strands of concertina wire along the border fence on March 8, 2019, near Campo, Calif. (Sgt. 1st Class Ben K. Navratil/Army)
The Pentagon has released its list of military construction projects that could be cut to fund President Donald Trump’s requested border wall. The bottom line: basically every state has a project that could be delayed in order to get construction underway, but only a very specific set could actually be cut.
To tally up $6.8 billion for wall construction, the Pentagon has proposed culling unobligated spending from approved construction projects. From the list, only funds from projects that had a projected award date after Oct. 1, 2019, are eligible to be used, and it can not include military barracks.
The list released by the Pentagon includes all unobligated projects — not all of which would be eligible to be used, based on their criteria.
For example, under the rules the Pentagon has established, $5.2 million for Anniston Army Depot in Alabama to build a weapons maintenance shop that was due to be awarded in March 2020 could be cut. On the other hand, $77 million for a vehicle maintenance shop at Fort Carson that was due to be awarded in June 2019 could not be cut.
Click Here to see the full list of projects here.
The list laid out to members what their constituents had to lose, which some Democrats suggested could fuel enough opposition to be able to override President Trump’s veto last week of the National Emergency Declaration. The president’s declaration of a national emergency was what had loosened up the potential to use this military construction funding in the first place; last week both chambers voted to recall that emergency — which Trump then vetoed.
It becomes a much clearer fight though, said Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., when members see the lost spending in their districts.
“A bipartisan majority of Congress went on record in voting to rebuke this ill-conceived idea. Now that members of Congress can see the potential impact this proposal could have on projects in their home states, I hope they will take that into consideration before the vote to override the president’s veto," Reed said.
Some of the projects on the list that are at risk:
$31 million for a mission training complex at East Camp Grafenwoehr, Germany
$50 million for a rotary wing apron at Wheeler Army Air Field in Hawaii
$16 million for a railcar holding area for Crane Army Ammunition Plant in Indiana
$53 million for a UAV hangar for Kunsan Air Base in Korea
$40 million for a information systems complex at White Sands, New Mexico
$95 million for an engineering center at the U.S. Military Academy
President Donald Trump signs the first veto of his presidency in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, March 15, 2019, in Washington. Trump issued the first veto, overruling Congress to protect his emergency declaration for border wall funding. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Scottsburg WWII Veteran celebrates 100th birthday with over 16,000 cards
Story by Joel Schipper - WDRB
SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (WDRB) -- A big celebration was held Sunday for a southern Indiana World War II veteran as he turned 100 years old.
There was a receiving line of hundreds of people for Bethel Killman as he celebrated his 100th birthday at Hardy’s Café in Scottsburg, Indiana.
Two weeks ago, his family posted a photo of him on Facebook asking for 100 birthday cards to mark the occasion.
The World War II veteran, who fought in Germany at Battle of the Bulge, got his wish after more than 16,000 cards came in from all over the world.
“It’s not every day that someone turns 100, so we get to honor that and we get to honor he’s a WWII vet,” Killman’s stepdaughter Lori Smith said.
One by one, other Vets lined up to say hello and thank Killman for his service.
“There is nothing better than recognizing these veterans, especially our World War II Veterans. They’re the greatest generation there was,” said Judy Brown, who served in Iraq.
At one point, those in the restaurant starting singing Lee Greenwood's song “God Bless the USA” and continued to stand for the National Anthem.
Hundreds of the 16,000 cards lined the walls of the restaurant for the party – a reflection of the love his family says has been overwhelming.
“We, from the bottom of our hearts, want to thank everyone that has sent cards, phone calls, came to visit and showed up here today. Truly amazing,” Smith said.
Killman’s family said he received cards from all 50 states and 15 countries.
Hoosier Legion prison post builds teamwork and renewed purpose with “Popsicle” sticks
Steve Wilson, of New Castle Post 830 stands in front of a few of the models he helped create while in the H-Unit Military Veterans, or HUMV program at the New Castle Correctional Facility. (Photo by Tim Sproles)
When you approached the Post 830 booth, temporarily displayed at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis, you could hear people rave about the attention to detail and craftsmanship of the model ships on display. The cell phones came out, pictures were taken and questions asked — and that is when the story of these detailed models becomes really interesting.
You can hear the visitors’ shock when they learn that each one of these models was made by hand using only craft sticks. The reactions vary when people find out that these models were created by incarcerated Legionnaires.
American Legion Post 830 in New Castle, Indiana, functions just like any other Legion post around the Hoosier State. They hold regular meetings, take part in community service projects and help their fellow veterans through various Legion programs. The only difference is that Post 830 operates out of a prison, the New Castle Correctional Facility.
In 2013, the correctional facility started offering a special program called H-Unit Military Veterans, or HUMV, to eligible incarcerated veterans.
The HUMV program offers assistance and rehabilitation opportunities specifically designed to not only help individual veterans but also support them in helping each other.
Steve Wilson, a graduate of the HUMV program and former resident of the New Castle Correctional Facility, said, “We had educational opportunities and specific training on how to deal with PTSD. All of it centered around re-entry into society.”
Wilson said that the project to construct these ships began in the HUMV program.
“There are multiple craft projects within the program, but members of our post wanted to do something to honor each of our military branches. We wanted to let fellow veterans outside of these walls know that we still think about them and want to honor their service.”
The first model the group created was of the USS Indianapolis, CA-35. Using only nail clippers, sandpaper, glue, paint, craft sticks and an extremely large amount of patience, they were able to build the ship. If the use of limited tools isn’t impressive enough, take into account that available documentation on the real vessel was very limited.
Wilson said, “We really had to take what we could get. We had a few black-and-white photos to go off, and a listing of the specs and design features for the Portland-Class Heavy Cruiser. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle.”
A “puzzle” that took over 950 craft sticks and over 1,000 hours to complete.
Ron Patterson, who acts as the Legion liaison to Post 830, says that he has enjoyed seeing the team come together.
He said, “I have been working with these guys for about a year now. A lot of them have nobody, but the bond that these Legionnaires have has enabled them to become a family.”
They are also a part of our Legion family.
“I think it is important to support our veterans everywhere, and that includes our prisons,” said Patterson. “Yes, these men went down the wrong path, and they are working to correct the course that they are on, but we can’t forget that they are still veterans and Legionnaires.”
Even though Steve Wilson has been released from the New Castle Correctional Facility, he is still a member of Post 830 and continues to assist with the HUMV program. He is currently working to promote the work of the post through exhibitions and events and by soliciting special donations.
If you would like to view the work of Legion Post 830 and the HUMV program, their model of the USS Indiana BB-1 has recently been accepted by the Indiana War Memorial as a permanent display at the museum.
If you would like to support Post 380, please contact your local post. They are accepting donations of both money and approved craft supplies.
Kathy Daudistel and Vickie Koutz hold National Auxiliary President Candidate Reception in D.C.
Photos by Tim Sproles
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Tag: India-Iran Trade
Iran’s Foreign Minister to target India opportunity
A month after Tehran struck a historic nuclear deal with the world’s major powers, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will be in New Delhi for a day-long visit that signals Iran’s intent to scale up economic and energy ties with one of its key partners in Asia.
The suave Zarif, Tehran’s key interlocutor in the P5+1 nuclear deal and a trusted aide of President Hassan Rouhani, will be in India on August 14 to explore new opportunities that will flow from the expected lifting of Western sanctions on Iran by the end of the year.
The India trip is part of Mr Zarif’s regional visit. He will visit Pakistan on August 13 and is scheduled to meet the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz. He has been visiting many countries after the nuclear deal, especially in West Asia.
Mr Zarif is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The main focus during his visit would be on discussing increasing Indian imports of Iranian oil and boosting trade. India is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil in Asia, which is expected to rise substantially after the lifting of sanctions. Prior to the imposition of Western sanctions, Iran was the second largest supplier of India’s crude.
The Iranian foreign minister is expected to update the Indian leadership on the nitty-gritty of the nuclear deal and map out a plan for re-energizing India-Iran relations in a host of areas, including trade and investment, energy partnership and strategic areas like the prospects of cooperation amid unfolding transition in Afghanistan. India’s ongoing assistance for building the Chabahar port that will open direct access to Central Asia is also expected to come up for review.
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Home » Indie Games » Here’s All You Need to Know About In Other Waters
Here’s All You Need to Know About In Other Waters
June 27, 2020 Indie Games
Feature Image Credits: Twitter
In Other Waters is a game where you play as an AI (Artificial Intelligence) that guides a xenobiologist in exploring an ocean. The ocean here is not one you find on Earth but is an alien ocean. The game involves science fiction with an exploration of underwater. As you explore the oceans in this game, you get to understand the ecology of the alien planet and its ocean. This is a game that not only gives you entertainment but also gives you insights on the ecology, as you understand to what extent the environment is being destroyed. This is a game set in the future that tells you what dangers lie ahead for mankind.
The game has been created by indie game development firm Jump Over The Age, based in East London. This is a one-man game studio founder by designer Gareth Martin. With experience in game journalism and graphic design, Martin brings you the first offering of his studio. The game has won praise from critics who appreciated the writing, audio, and the hypnotic graphic elements in it. The game was released in April 2020 and has been published by the Indie firm Fellow Traveller. The game is a single-player game available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and GOG.
In this game, the key character is Dr. Ellery Vas, who is a xenobiologist. The game is set in the future and features an alien planet Gliese 677Cc. Dr. Vas is summoned to the planet by her partner, but when she arrives there, she only finds an abandoned base with no sign of her partner. The base is located in an ocean, and Vas now needs to explore the ocean to look for her partner and try and understand what is happening. Helping her is an AI that guides her through her quest. As the game player, you are the AI who has to help Vas in her quest.
The game involves Vas using a malfunctioning diving suit to explore the alien ocean. She finds that there is a huge ecosystem underwater. The underwater sea journey helps Vas uncover many mysteries, including mysteries about the planet. Vas has to look for her partner Minae Nomura, and at the same time, try to find out what it was that Nomura was studying. The answers to these questions are found in this enthralling underwater sci-fi exploration game. It is a game that allows you to explore a new ecosystem and understand all about it.
The gameplay is all about underwater exploration. There is a computer interface. The interface has a circle in the center that gives you a short map of your surroundings. You need to scan the surroundings and then decide the path that Vas has to take to proceed ahead. Since she is a xenobiologist, all through the exploration, you need to make notes about the ecology, the landscape, and alien life. There are different forms of alien life, and everything is unknown. You don’t even know which alien life form is friendly and which one is dangerous. You need to be alert as you explore the underwater world.
Vas keeps on noting her findings of the world, which is a delight to read. This is an ecosystem created just for the game, but you can make out that a lot of effort has gone into it. The diving suit has to be operated to collect samples, move ahead, and clear obstacles. Interpreting the dots on the screen is one of the main elements of the gameplay. Observation is a key aspect of this game. You need to keep your eyes open and look around you to understand what is happening. The graphic design and the audio are key attractions of this game. This is a narrative-driven game that all fans of sci-fi games and underwater games will enjoy for sure.
The following features tell you all you need to know about In Other Waters:
· The game is an underwater science-fiction game set in an alien planet.
· You need to explore an alien ocean, unlock upgrades, and discover new things.
· You look at the alien world through an AI lens.
· You need to plan your dives to decide what to do next.
· Building a lasting relationship with the person whose suit you have is a key element of this game.
Also Read: A Look at the Upcoming Indie Game – Backbone
Tags: In Other WatersIndie gamesIndie Pc Games
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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turns on, with virus restrictions
The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 75-foot tall Norway spruce that was acquired in Oneonta, N.Y., is secured on a platform at Rockefeller Center, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2, will be a mask-mandated, time-limited, socially distanced locale due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Rockin’ around the Christmas tree is going to look different for visitors at Rockefeller Center this year, starting with Wednesday’s tree lighting ceremony.
What’s normally a chaotic, crowded tourist hotspot during the holiday season will instead be a mask-mandated, time-limited, socially distanced locale due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The tree, a 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce, is getting its holiday lights turned on in an event that will be broadcast on television but closed to the public. Among those scheduled for performances are Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Owl found perched in Rockefeller Center tree from Oneonta
In the days following the lighting until the early part of January, those wishing to take a look at the tree will have to follow a host of rules.
The plaza where the tree is physically located will be closed to the public; instead, there will be specific tree-viewing zones on the midtown Manhattan blocks on either side.
Visitors will join a virtual line, and can get text messages to let them know when it’s their turn. At that point, they will be directed to specific pods, each of which can hold four people, to look at the tree. There will be a five-minute limit to tree-viewing.
Of course, everyone will have to be wearing masks and maintain social distance. Entrance to the skating rink and retail will be separate.
The restricted approach is a necessary one, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said earlier this week. “It will be limited, the number of people that can get close. This is what we got to do to protect everyone.”
Workers at Rockefeller Center first put up a tree in 1931. It became an annual tradition starting in 1933. This year’s tree came from Oneonta, in central New York.
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Stars over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner
I’d like to welcome my very special guest, Susan Meissner, to the Inkwell. Susan is the multi-published author of eighteen books, including Secrets of a Charmed Life, a 2015 Goodreads Choice Award finalist, and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014. She is also a speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. She and her husband make their home in Southern California.
1. Susan, that's a gorgeous book cover. Tell us where the idea for Stars over Sunset Boulevard came from.
I’ve only read Gone with the Wind once, but I’ve probably seen the movie a dozen times. There’s something about those characters, the cinematography, the costumes and that sound track that have always wooed me. I’ve wanted to set a story on the 1939 movie set of this film for a long time; I knew it would provide a detail-rich environment. Gone with the Wind is not very often described as being a story about friendship, but the more I’ve watched the film version, the more I’ve seen how complex Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton’s relationship was. I long wanted to explore how these two characters seem to be polar opposites but are actually both fiercely loyal and unafraid of making hard choices to protect what they love. I knew I could use Scarlett and Melanie’s fictional friendship as a template for telling a story about two studio secretaries who, like Scarlett and Melanie, are not as different from each other as we might first think.
2. Oooh, this sounds great. I love GWTW and old Hollywood. What is the story about, in a nutshell?
Christine McAllister owns a vintage clothing store on West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. When the iconic curtain-dress hat worn by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind ends up in her boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner takes the reader on a journey to the past. It’s 1938 and Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Los Angeles after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart. She lands a job on the film-set of Gone with the Wind and meets the enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires start to collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.
3. Is this a book about friendship, then?
Most definitely. I think friendship is the most remarkable of human relationships because it is completely voluntary. We choose our friends. There is no civil or legal code that demands we stay friends; no vows are spoken and no contracts are signed to be or remain in relationship with each other. And yet most of us have friends whom we love as deeply as those people we are legally and morally bound to. I know I have friends like that. C.S. Lewis aptly describes friendship this way: “I have no duty to be anyone’s Friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” I love writing novels about relationships, and friendship is a relationship unlike any other.
4. What is the significance of Scarlett’s curtain dress hat?
Scarlett’s curtain-dress hat is emblematic of what dire circumstances can lead someone to do when what she loves most is in danger of being lost. If you’re familiar with that scene in the movie, you know that Scarlett is in a place of decision when she pulls down her dead mother’s curtains so that she can dress the part of being someone she is not. When we’re afraid of losing what we treasure most, we sometimes choose to do things that we would never do in an ordinary situation. I don’t think it’s any accident that that hat is part rich velvet and gold braid and part barnyard rooster feathers. It’s an amalgam of Scarlett’s strength and her weakness. She will do what no one else will do because of how afraid she is of losing everything.
5. What were you most surprised by most during the writing process for this book?
Hollywood was like a dream factory in the 1930s and ‘40s. It was a place that produced in fantasy what people imagined life could be like after the horrors of the First World War and the demoralizing years of the Depression. The Golden Age of Hollywood was a chance to indulge again in beauty and wonderment. This era also interests me because Hollywood’s Golden Years ended so suddenly and without any warning. After World War II, most in Hollywood thought they could just pick up where they left off before the war started. But the arrival of television just a few years later changed everything. The beginning of WWII was actually the beginning of the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age. No one saw it coming. I also didn’t fully appreciate how much easier it is to write a book in which the setting is hostile! I wrote SECRETS OF A CHARMED LIFE against the backdrop of World War II. A FALL OF MARIGOLDS employed the historical Triangle Shirtwaist Fire as well as 9/11 as settings. Hollywood in its heyday was a glamorous and benevolent location, so all of my tension had to come from within the characters. Yikes! I had forgotten how helpful it is to have a setting provide some of the angst.
6. What would you especially like readers to take away from Stars over Sunset Boulevard?
I hope the theme that will resonate most is that love and fear can sometimes feel the same, though they influence our choices differently. When I have a decision to make that involves another person, fear often motivates me to choose what’s best for me. But love motivates me to choose what is best for the other person. Fear urges me to hang on to what is mine, while love can actually lead me to let go. My hoped-for takeaway from the novel is the idea that when you hold something you love tightly to your chest for fear of losing it, you actually risk crushing it.
I am two-thirds through the book I am writing next, which is tentatively titled A BRIDGE ACROSS THE OCEAN. One of its key settings is the HMS Queen Mary during one of its many GI war brides crossings. The Queen is such a perfect place to set a story, because she has such a marvelous past. She started out as a luxury liner, was remade into a troop carrier during the war, and has been a floating hotel here in California since 1967. She is also fabled to be haunted by numerous ghosts, a detail I simply cannot ignore. So there will be a ghost or two in this next book! This story thematically, though, is about is about three female characters, two of whom are war brides who meet on the Queen Mary in 1946. The current-day character, Brette, has the family gift of being able to see ghosts though she very much wishes she couldn’t. She also doesn’t want to pass along that hereditary gift to a child but her husband is anxious to start their family. All three characters will face a bridge they need to cross where the other side is hidden from their view. The concept of a bridge across the ocean – which seems impossible -- speaks to how difficult it is to go from one place to another when you can’t see what awaits you. This book will release in 2017.
This sounds wonderful, Susan. Looking forward to both of these titles! Thanks so much for visiting the Inkwell.
Readers: Tell us about your favorite GWTW moment. Or, if you’d prefer, tell us what your favorite old movie is, 1950 or before, and why.
If you’d like to win a free autographed copy of Stars over Sunset Boulevard, just leave a comment below. (U. S. or Canadian addresses only, please.)
DeAnna Julie Dodson has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. She is the author of In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered, a trilogy of medieval romances, as well as Letters in the Attic, The Key in the Attic, The Diary in the Attic and The Legacy in the Attic, contemporary mysteries, and the contemporary-historical mystery, Decadent Deceit. Her new series of Drew Farthering Mysteries debuted in the Summer of 2013 with Rules of Murder, followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado in 2014 and Dressed for Death in 2016 from Bethany House. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats.
Posted by DeAnna Julie Dodson at March 02, 2016
Labels: DeAnna Julie Dodson, Hollywood, new release, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, Susan Meissner
C.J. Chase March 2, 2016 at 1:45 PM
Susan Meissner? THE Susan Meissner? At Inkwell?? Everyone, please cover your ears while I let out a (undignified) fangirl squeal.
I love the point that friends are the people we voluntarily keep in our lives. Social media seems to be redefining the meaning of the word "friend." It's watering down the word to mean anyone I have a passing acquaintance with.
I love all things Civil War. (Hey, I live in Virginia -- I'd be miserable if I didn't. We can't turn around without stepping on a battlefield.) Have to admit, though, that while I like the 1930's, I'm not the (rabid) fan our of it that our DeAnna is. (Yeah, DeAnna, I noticed what you did there, getting an interview with another author with a 1930's setting...)
DeAnna Julie Dodson March 2, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Who? Moi?
I think this book sounds fabulous. :D
Stella March 2, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Ohhhh Weeee!!! This books sounds fabulous. I really like GWTW but another old movie is my very favorite called The Sullivans. 5 brothers who died on the same ship in the Navy. A very sad real life movie.
DeAnna Julie Dodson March 2, 2016 at 10:57 PM
I remember the movie about the Sullivans. So sad.
Pam K. March 2, 2016 at 9:31 PM
I really enjoy Susan's books. Stars Over Sunset Boulevard sounds like another great book. My all time favorite movie is Arsenic and Old Lace. Cary Grant is at his best in this hilarious movie.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
DeAnna Julie Dodson March 3, 2016 at 12:48 AM
That's a great movie!
Have you seen "Bringing Up Baby"?
Cary Grant is fabulous in that, too.
GWTW has many iconic scenes, but one of the most powerful is when Scarlett crosses the tracks in Atlanta and the camera pulls back to reveal how very many soldiers were wounded and dying. I still have a visceral reaction to the tragedy even thinking about it just now. dsks88[at]gmail{dot}com
Such a tragic scene. Such a terrible waste of life.
Suzie Johnson March 2, 2016 at 9:46 PM
One of my very favorite authors. She can never write fast enough for me. Secrets of a Charmed Life, Lady in Waiting, Fall of Marigolds- all are in my all-time top ten favorite books. I can't wait to read this one.
Doesn't this sound like a great book, Suzie?
Debra E. Marvin March 3, 2016 at 8:26 AM
I better get on the ball and catch up. This story fascinates me. I've been 'in the 1930s' myself and a GWTW fan since I read it at 12. So glad Susan picked this era and story!
Susanne Dietze March 3, 2016 at 2:13 PM
Oooh, what an amazing interview! This book sounds fabulous. I love the creative premise! Thanks for coming to the Inkwell, Susan!
This would be a great win.
What a wonderful giveaway to win.
Thank You for the chance to win this wonderful giveaway.
justcommonly March 4, 2016 at 9:33 PM
Great interview! Love this era! O and you included Scarlett in her curtain dress! My favorite moment or moments is the opning scene and that kiss with Rhett. Anything with Mammie is good too. O...so many! Thanks for the chance to win this giveaway!
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Sotheby's International Realty names next CEO
COO and President Philip White Jr. to take the helm Feb. 1
Realogy Holdings Corp. subsidiary Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC announced today that current President and Chief Operating Officer Philip A. White Jr. will be the company’s next CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2013.
White will replace Michael R. Good, who has served as CEO of the international real estate franchisor since February 2004 when Realogy entered into a 100-year licensing agreement with Sotheby’s Auction House to create the Sotheby’s International Realty brand.
Philip A. White Jr.
A 32-year real estate industry veteran, White has also been with Sotheby’s International Realty since its inception. He’s served as chief operating officer since 2004, and in April 2010 became president of the brand as well.
"Philip has a vast level of experience in the real estate industry and with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, having served it in both management capacities and as a broker and owner," said Richard A. Smith, chairman and CEO of Realogy Corp., in a statement.
"I look forward to expanding our servicing platform internationally and continuing to grow this brand in the world’s finest markets," White said.
In August, Sotheby’s International Realty expanded to Australia, and in March opened its second office in Vietnam. In May, it signed its first Brookly, N.Y., affiliate.
"During Mike’s tenure, more than 200 quality real estate firms with more than 620 offices have joined this outstanding brand," said Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, the franchise wing of the real estate giant. "Thanks to his leadership, this brand is the global force in luxury real estate that it is today."
Sotheby’s International Realty claims more than 12,600 sales associates and approximately 650 offices in 45 countries.
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DC's 'The Flash' Film, Not the TV Show, Has a Director
The author of 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' takes on the fastest man alive.
Warner Bros. and DC Comics aren’t content to having just one Scarlet Speedster outside comic books. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is currently in negotiations with Seth Grahame-Smith to direct The Flash, a big screen adaptation of its superhero The Flash, scheduled for March 3, 2018.
Grahame-Smith is the author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and is taking on The Flash as his directorial debut. Phil Lord and Chris Miller of The Lego Movie were previously eyed to direct but are instead taking on a solo Han Solo Star Wars movie.
The Flash, which will have nothing to do with The Flash currently on The CW (which is really great BTW) will be a part of Warner Bros. larger Justice League movie franchise. Ezra Miller is signed on to star in The Flash as Barry Allen, but is also expected to have a small part in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which sets the stage for Justice League — Part 1 in summer 2017.
Based on the iconic DC Comics series, The Flash is about forensic scientist Barry Allen who is struck by lightning to become the fastest man alive. The CW’s The Flash, which is about the same character, premieres its second season this week on Oct. 6.
Did I mention how great it is?
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Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily: explore the town and the churches of Palazzolo Acreide
Search Palazzolo Acreide hotels
Visit Palazzolo Acreide
Palazzolo Acreide and the ancient site of Akrai are situated in south-east Sicily, inland and to the west of Syracuse.
While it is the nearby ruins at Akrai that attract the most attention from visitors, the town of Palazzolo-Acreide itself deserves exploring, above all for the churches it contains.
Explore Palazzolo Acreide
The town of Palazzolo-Acreide is a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. All these towns have some superb examples of late Baroque architecture. In Palazzolo-Acreide these include the San Sebastiano church , Saint Paul's church and the church of Saint Nicholas.
In the centre of the town is the Piazza del Popolo where you can see the Church of San Sebastiano. It has a Baroque façade on three levels above a high staircase and was built in the late 19th century.
Based on the late Renaissance style the church curves with three overlapping levels: the first has a portal flanked by four Corinthian columns, the second has four columns and a large electric clock while the third includes the bell tower with two bells. The interior of the church has three naves, where a painting of “Saint Margaret of Cortona”, by Vito d 'Anna (1718-1769) stands out.
Saint Paul's Church, built in the first half of the 18th century, has a Baroque style facade with a central arch supported by two Corinthian columns. The church has three naves, richly decorated with stucco and a wooden pulpit. The Altar is composed of four pairs of columns with Corinthian capitals. In the midst of the altar stands a wooden statue of St. Paul the Apostle, by Vincenzo Lorefice (16th century).
To the side of Saint Paul's Church is the Cathedral Church of Saint Nicholas. The interior has three naves, and the cornice decoration is of the Baroque style. The interior is rich in paintings by Olivio Sozzi (1690-1765) and Mario Minniti (1577-1640).
The Church of the Annunciation is the oldest church in Palazzolo Acreide and was probably built in the 13th century. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693 and rebuilt by Matteo Tranisi. The exterior of the church stands out for the wide portal, which has four spiral columns decorated with vine shoots and friezes in a naturalistic style.
The church has three naves decorated with paintings, among which the most notable is the 'Annunciation' by a local painter, Paolo Tanasi (19th century).
The town once had an impressive castle but this was destroyed along with much of the town in the 1693 earthquake. All that is left of the castle now are a few ruins. It is this earthquake that led to many towns in the area having to be rebuilt and the architectural style of the time was late Baroque.
There is an interesting museum in the town. The museum of Antonino Uccello houses a collection put together by Antonino Uccello, an ethnologist, and is housed in an attractive house in the town.
Attractions near Piazzolo Acreide
Tthe Anapo Valley around Piazzolo Acreide stands out for the beauty of its country landscape and traditions. These traditions are celebrated locally in honor of Saint Paul (June) and Saint Sebastian (January), times at which tourists can enjoy some of the local products and typical dishes. Its Carnival is also one of the oldest in Sicily and is a good time to visit the town.
Particular local specialities include the macaroni called "maccu", ravioli with ricotta, risotto with mushrooms, the "Cavatelli" and the noodles with special seasonings. Among the desserts we recommend the "Cannolicchi" and other specialties with ricotta and almonds.
See also Palazzolo Acreide history and etymology.
The nearby towns of Modica, Noto and Ragusa are also part of the UNESCO Val di Noto listing and lovers of Baroque architecture will want to visit these.
Hotels in and near Palazzolo Acreide
Map of Palazzolo Acreide and places to visit
Palazzolo Acreide places to visit
The archaeological ruins at Akrai include a Greek Theatre and the Temple of Aphrodite.
Akrai guide
Following an earthquake in the 17th century much of the town and churches were rebuilt in Baroque style.
Buscemi guide
Vizzini has a rich architectural heritage with churches, a Town Hall and tanneries.
Vizzini guide
Explore the pleasant medieval centre of Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi guide
A magnificent town, Ragusa is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Baroque architecture.
Ragusa guide
Duomo Saint George
The duomo in Ragusa is an imposing church, built in the baroque style in the heart of Ragusa Ibla (old town)
Duomo Saint George guide
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Executive Operations Operations
Build your own Windows 7 power PC from scratch without breaking the bank
Frank J. Ohlhorst
Microsoft is set to release its newest operating system, Windows 7, on October 22. “Oh no,” you might be groaning, “not another Windows upgrade!”
Those of us who have been through one or more previous upgrades, from, say, Windows 98 to Windows XP or from XP to Vista, have learned that upgrades can be a painful process, fraught with hardware and software compatibility issues that create ongoing operational problems — or worse, make a PC nonfunctional.
It’s unlikely that the upgrade process will improve with Windows 7. Upgraders — especially those making the leap to the 64-bit version of Windows 7 — will most likely suffer through a slew of hardware, software and driver incompatibilities.
The simplest and quickest way to deploy Windows 7 will be on new hardware, avoiding the whole upgrade process. But instead of buying an off-the-shelf PC, I recommend that you build your own system.
Building your own gives you the flexibility to get exactly what you want, and it creates a sense of accomplishment — not to mention that for many of us, it’s just plain fun.
One of the most time-consuming aspects of building your own, though, isn’t actually putting the system together — it’s the process of navigating through the plethora of processors, motherboards, storage devices and video cards available today.
Microsoft has provided some minimum specifications for Windows 7. But minimum specs, as they imply, offer minimum performance — something most users would not be happy with.
I set out to build a desktop system that will run Windows 7 efficiently, support future upgrades and keep a lid on costs. What follows is an explanation of my component picks that I hope will be helpful to anyone else who wants to build a Windows 7 PC.
The prices given throughout the story are common “street” prices as shown on shopping comparison sites Pricegrabber, Google Product Search and mySimon in early August 2009. Any good shopper should be able to get the components for these prices or less.
Note: This article assumes you already know how to build a PC from scratch. If you need help, Lifehacker offers a good basic tutorial.
The most important component of a PC is the CPU. Selecting the proper processor can mean the difference between an expensive failure and an economical success. The market is saturated with CPUs, coming in at different price points, performance levels and thermal envelopes (the power required and heat generated by the processor).
I took a look at what was available on the market today and combined that information with my experiences with the various CPUs I’ve tested in the past.
Windows 7 is designed to leverage multiple processors, so more processor cores are better. Choosing a quad-core over a dual- or single-core processor will deliver better performance while not increasing the price significantly.
Super high-end CPUs like the Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 965 and 975 cost $1,000 or more — far too expensive for the majority of users.
Intel also offers three lower-cost, lower-performance quad-core CPUs under the i7 brand — the 2.66GHz Core i7 920, the 2.93GHz Core i7 940, and the 3.06GHz Core i7 950 — but they’re still not cheap, ranging from $290 to $600. The Core i7 processors also require expensive support components, further increasing the total price of a Core i7-based PC.
With economy in mind, I chose to use AMD’s latest processor, the quad-core Phenom II x4 955 Black Edition. AMD’s CPU runs at 3.2GHz and has a street price of around $250.
While not as fast as Intel’s Core i7 in raw performance, AMD’s CPU is significantly cheaper and outperforms similarly priced Intel CPUs. The 955 also supports overclocking and DDR3 RAM when used with a socket AM3 motherboard.
To increase the Phenom II x4 955’s performance, I’ll overclock it (run it at a higher clock speed than it is rated for). There are some dangers when overclocking — you could void the warranty or even destroy the processor. That said, a little overclocking (a few MHz) can boost performance and maximize the value of the processor. (Tom’s Hardware offers an excellent guide to overclocking AMD processors if you need instructions.)
Although the 955 is an AM3 socket chip, it is still backward compatible with AM2+ motherboards, which means that you could buy a low-priced discontinued board as a way to save money. In that case, however, you wouldn’t be able to overclock the 955.
AMD offers several other processors under the Phenom name, which can save you a few extra dollars, but at the cost of performance. The other Phenom models widely available today range from the older 2.6GHz Phenom X4 9950, which goes for around $160, to the 3.0GHz Phenom II X4 945 at around $215.
Having selected the Phenom II x4 955 for the CPU, I wanted a motherboard with an AM3 socket and DDR3 RAM. Several manufacturers offer appropriate motherboards, ranging from an $85 Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P to a $200 Asus M4A79T Deluxe ATX.
The wide variation in price is due mostly to features and options. For example, the bargain-basement Gigabyte motherboard does not have onboard video and features only one PCI 2.0 slot.
Because I was looking to maximize value without sacrificing future upgrades or performance, I chose a motherboard that includes the latest chipset, offers plenty of expansion options, supports overclocking, and features onboard video as well as integrated sound.
My choice: the $150 Asus M4A78T-E system board.
The M4A78T-E offers a plethora of connectivity options and onboard ports that should please even the most fickle of system builders. The board sports HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet and a slew of other connectors.
In my experience, Asus has always offered high-quality products, with top-notch instructions and support. And system builders will appreciate Asus’s specialized features that help to speed assembly, such as the Q-Connector kit, which simplifies the process of plugging in the various case LEDs and switches.
When Windows Vista shipped, most experts advised PC buyers to get a discrete graphics card to handle its increased graphical demands.
Thanks to motherboard manufacturers using more powerful integrated graphics processing units (GPUs) and better chipsets, however, the performance of onboard graphics has improved a great deal in the last year.
Today’s onboard graphics paired with Windows 7 will offer a perfectly acceptable computing experience for most users, with enough oomph to watch HD videos and graphically intense presentations — and you can save several hundred dollars by not buying a separate graphics card. If you decide to dive into the world of high-end gaming or video production later on, you can always add a graphics card to boost video performance.
RAM is the easiest component to choose here. I opted for a kit from Kingston Technology (model P/N KHX12800D3K2/4G) that comprises a pair of 2GB, 1600MHz DDR3 modules for a total of 4GB of RAM. This should prove enough to run the 64-bit version of Windows 7, as well as Virtual PC’s XP compatibility mode, very efficiently. The Kingston kit goes for around $115.
It’s important to pick a CPU cooler that can control the heat generated by an overclocked processor. What’s more, the cooler needs to have some intelligence about it to inform users of heat-related problems.
That led me to a liquid cooling unit from CoolIT Systems. A liquid cooler is a good idea for those who want to experiment with overclocking; installation is pretty much the same as with a standard heatsink/fan.
Available for about $70, the CoolIT Domino A.L.C. is one of the lowest-priced prebuilt liquid coolers on the market. The cooler’s LCD display shows CPU temperature and fan speeds and can be adjusted to reduce noise and power consumption.
Computer storage tends to be a lot like closet space — you can never have enough. With that axiom in mind, it’s important to select a hard-disk drive (HDD) that is large enough to meet all of your storage needs, yet is still reliable, offers great performance, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Although solid-state drives (SSDs) are all the rage these days, they are prohibitively expensive for building an economical system, and their advantages, such as low power use and small size, are often wasted on desktop systems.
Hard drives come in all shapes, sizes and interfaces. For most users, a traditional 3.5-in. hard drive using a SATA interface is the way to go. Prices per gigabyte have come down significantly of late, and hard drives of 500GB or more have become the norm.
After looking at the various hard drives on the market, it became obvious that it was pretty hard to beat Western Digital’s WD Caviar Green series of hard drives. I chose model WD10EADS, which provides a terabyte of capacity for $120 or less.
The unit offers a 3.0GB/s SATA interface and 32MB of cache, making it speedy enough for high-demand applications. The WD drive is also very quiet, uses very little power and doesn’t generate a lot of heat — all factors that help to create a reliable and quiet PC.
For most users, a generic internal DVD/CD burner would probably be adequate, but the goal of this project is to build a PC that can leverage Windows 7 to its fullest extent.
That means it needs to be able to handle all of the common types of optical media — CD/CD RW, DVD/DVD RW — and take advantage of the CPU and motherboard’s ability to process high-definition (HD) content, which translates to supporting Blu-ray media.
I chose an LG Super-Multi Blu-ray Rewriter (model GGC-H20L), which costs around $125. While that may be steep for an optical drive, the GGC-H20L can read Blu-ray discs as well as HD DVD discs. The drive also reads and writes to all of the popular DVD and CD formats, uses a SATA interface and features LiteScribe technology, which allows users to burn labels directly onto CDs.
Choosing a power supply was a relatively straightforward task. Using common “green” guidelines to narrow down the field, I looked for a power supply unit that complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and features 80 PLUS certification for energy efficiency.
I also wanted a unit that would generate very little noise and could provide enough power for the addition of components down the road.
I decided on a 750-watt Corsair TX750W, which goes for about $120. The TX750W proved to be very quiet and has integrated cable management, which makes routing power cables simple — all of the cables are removable and system builders need only attach the required cables for a system.
With all of the components selected, it was time to consider a case. There are dozens of case manufacturers and hundreds of cases to choose from. To thin the herd, I looked for a full-size case that met a few specific needs: it had to be attractive, it had to be easy to assemble and access, it had to have good airflow to keep components cool, and finally it had to reduce noise.
I selected the Antec Nine Hundred Two, which costs about $130. While there are cases that cost less than half the price, it’s hard to beat the expansion options offered by the Antec case. The case has room for several hard drives and several optical drives, and it’s very easy to disassemble to add new components.
Assembling the system took about 35 minutes. After adding a keyboard, mouse and monitor, I installed the Release Candidate version of Windows 7, which took another 15 minutes or so.
(The Windows 7 RC is available to the general public, but you must download it before August 20. Subscribers to Microsoft’s TechNet and Microsoft Developer Network sites can get their hands on the final Windows 7 RTM code starting today.)
Windows 7 did an excellent job of identifying the components and installing the appropriate drivers from its installation DVD or over the Web via Microsoft Update. Some components, such as the motherboard audio and video, did require installation of the manufacturer’s specific drivers from the installation discs that came with the hardware. All told, getting all the drivers installed took about 10 minutes.
I tested the system using PerformanceTest 7.0 (64-bit) from PassMark Software. The system rated an overall PassMark score of 1151.3 and a CPUmark score of 4025.6 (CPUmark is a subset of the PassMark rating that focuses only on raw CPU performance). I was able to safely overclock the system to 3.8GHz, which increased the PassMark score to 1322.5 and our CPUmark score to 4951.4, a worthwhile increase.
For not much more than $1,000, I constructed a high-performance system with minimal compromises, while still using top-of-the-line components. The case also has room for additional components, such as a high-performance video card, more RAM and additional hard drives, and the power supply has enough oomph to support such extras if I want to add them later on.
As a comparison, I also tested a system built with an Intel Core i7 965 CPU, an Intel DX58So motherboard, an Asus EN9800GTX+ video card and other high-end components. That system offered an overall PassMark Rating of 1679, roughly a 22per cent performance increase over my AMD test system. That performance increase came with a high price tag, though: The Intel Core-i7 system cost about $3,000 to build.
Is a 22per cent performance increase worth an extra $2,000? For the majority of users, the answer is no.
For those wanting to keep costs down even further, choosing some lower-level components than I did could easily shave $300 or more off of the total price. The areas to target for savings without sacrificing performance include the case, power supply, optical drive, hard drive and CPU cooler.
Frank J. Ohlhorst is a technology professional specializing in products and services analysis. He writes for several technology publications.
Source: Computerworld.com
Yahoo and Microsoft deal includes escape clauses
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Executive Operations, Operations
AMD, CPU, Intel, Vista, windows 7, Windows XP
AMD acquires Xilinx, inventor of FPGA, for $35 billion
SK Hynix acquires Intel NAND flash memory division for $9 billion
The Arm deal: How Nvidia will remain vendor-neutral and address its partners
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© SCANDAL All rights reserved.
Rock band SCANDAL, who will celebrate their 15th anniversary in 2021, performed a special show in Tokyo on Christmas Eve. The unique performance, in collaboration with creative company NAKED, INC., saw all four seasons of the year regained and projection mapped across the stage. This intimate one-time event will now be available to stream globally from December 29th.
Held at Toyosu PIT following full coronavirus guidelines, the collaborative live show took the audience on a journey through the seasons that were lost this year due to lockdowns and self-restraint to tackle the spread of the pandemic. It will be available to stream from December 29th until 11:59pm (JST) on January 11th.
It can be streamed by international fans via Live From. Tickets cost $30.
Buy tickets for "SCANDAL SEASONS"
SCANDAL "SEASONS" collaborated with NAKED
Toyosu PIT
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Business Management Case Study: Satyam Computer Services Limited
In 1987,formed in Hyderabad in India by Mr.Ramalinga Raju , Satyam Computer Services Limited Satyam Computer Services Limited emerged as a “rising-star” in the Indian “outsourced” IT-services industry. The firm that began with only 20 employees , grew rapidly as a “global” business. It offered IT and business process outsourcing services spanning various sectors. Satyam was as an example of “India’s growing success”. Satyam won numerous awards for innovation, governance, and corporate accountability. In 2007, Ernst & Young awarded Mr. Raju with the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award. On April 14, 2008, Satyam won awards from MZ Consult’s for being a ‘leader in India in CG and accountability’. In September 2008, the World Council for Corporate…show more content…
Raju,on January 7, 2009 disclosed in a letter to Satyam Computers Limited Board of Directors that he had been manipulating the company’s accounting numbers for years. He claimed that he overstated assets on Satyam’s balance sheet by $1.47 billion. Nearly $1.04 billion in bank loans and cash that the company claimed to own was non-existent. Satyam also underreported liabilities on its balance sheet and overstated income nearly every quarter over the course of several years in order to meet analyst expectations. Mr. Raju and the company’s global head of internal audit used a number of different techniques to perpetrate the fraud. “Using his personal computer, Mr. Raju created numerous bank statements to advance the fraud. He falsified the bank accounts to inflate the balance sheet with balances that did not exist. He inflated the income statement by claiming interest income from the fake bank accounts. Mr. Raju also revealed that he created 6000 fake salary accounts over the past few years and appropriated the money after the company deposited it. The company’s global head of internal audit created fake customer identities and generated fake invoices against their names to inflate revenue. Satyam planned to acquire a 51% stake in Maytas In- frastructure Limited, a leading infrastructure development, construction and project management company, for $300 million. Here, the Rajus’s had a 37% stake. The total turnover was $350 million and a net profit of $20 million. Raju’s also had a 35% share in Maytas Proper- ties, another real-estate investment firm. Satyam revenues exceeded $1 billion in 2006. In April, 2008 Satyam became the first Indian company to publish IFRS audited financials. On December 16, 2008, the Satyam board, including its five independent directors had approved the founder’s proposal to buy the stake in Maytas Infrastruc- ture and all of Maytas Properties, which were owned by family members of Satyam’s Chairman, Ramalinga Raju, as fully owned
Refco Case Study
Timeline: Refco Inc. announced on October 10, 2005 that it’s CEO and chairman, Phillip R. Bennett had hidden information about $430 million in bad debts from the company's auditors and investors, and that now he had agreed to take a leave of absence. It was discovered through an internal review over the preceding weekend that a receivable was owed to the company by an unnamed entity that eventually turned out to be controlled by Mr Bennett, as much as approximately US$430 million. It was later known that, Bennett had been buying bad debts from Refco so that it would need to write them off, and he was paying for the bad loans with money borrowed by Refco itself. How he managed to pull this off is, at the end of every quarter he had arranged
Sky Capital Case Study
Although the company fraudulently induced investors and drew millions of dollars from them, the financial health and stability of the company between 2002 and 2006 became more and more unstable. By the 2004 fiscal year end Sky Holdings publicly reported that it had over $33 million in financial losses. The former CEO Ross Mandell used the investor funds instead to subsidize his own lifestyle and to richly compensate the other individual defendants by paying them hefty undisclosed commissions and perks for their participation in the stock manipulation scheme. Sky Capital did not have an operating history or
Economic Causes Of Macroeconomics
Home Construction Index during 2006. Not only were new homes being affected, but many subprime borrowers now could not withstand the higher interest rates and they started defaulting on their loans. This caused 2007 to start with bad news from multiple sources. Every month, one subprime lender or another was filing for bankruptcy. According to 2007 news reports, financial firms and hedge funds owned more than $1 trillion in securities backed by these now-failing subprime mortgages - enough to start a global financial tsunami if more subprime borrowers started defaulting.
Case Study Of Toshiba's Accounting Scandal
MGMT 512 Corporate Governance Exam 1 Toshiba’s Accounting Scandal Yuko Omori Student No 52997 1. What had happened In 2015, Toshiba’s improper accounting scandal news hit the world. CEO Hisao Tanaka and board directors including two previous CEOs, Norio Sasaki and Atsutoshi Nishida, resigned the company. The company had overstated about 1.2 billion dollars in operating profits and was designated as Securities Alert by the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). Independent investigation committee reported that the improper accounting was led by top managements, setting a higher target and creating an atmosphere where each company and subsidiary managers cannot resist.
Bigking Essay: The Causes Of Cigarette Smuggking
In, Serbia on June 11, 2007, a family with the last name of Milosevic who was involved in a cigarette smuggling ring. This family had believed to earn tens of millions of euros from 1996 to 2001 (Reuters 2007.) Proceeds from their sales were transferred to offshore firms. Another incident that relates to the case in Serbia is in January of 1941; a German refugee and 4 others were convicted in Federal court for smuggling cigarette lighter sparkle wheels in an alleged scheme to cost the government $150,000 in unpaid imported tax (NYT 1941.) These groups of men had reportedly smuggled around 70,000 sparkle wheels.
The Smartest Guys In The Room Analysis
The bankruptcy lead to criminal charges against Enron’s top executives. In 1987, two years after the company was established, Enron experienced its first crisis where they were on the brink of bankruptcy due to traders making bets on the oil markets. Also Louis Borget, one of the traders was also caught shuffling money into off shore accounts Kenneth Lay, the CEO, was informed by auditors about the wrong doings that was going on but he encouraged them to keep bringing in the money. The traders were fired after gambling away almost all of Enron’s money. Jeffrey Skilling was brought in by Lay under the conditions that Market
Intel Corporation Case Study
Also, CEO Brian M. Krzanich oversubscribed seventy two,173 shares of Intel Corporation stock in a very dealings that occurred on Mon, July 3rd. The shares were oversubscribed at a mean worth of $33.69, for a complete price of $2,431,508.37. Following the completion of the sale, the chief military officer currently owns 534,746 shares within the company, valued at $18,015,592.74. The revealing for this sale is found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders oversubscribed ninety one,921 shares of company stock price $3,130,162.
Infosys Limited Case Study
also, ?Best Corporate Governance Practices? ? at the 2011 IR Global Rankings in India. Infosys perceived in Institutional Investor magazine's 2011 All–Asia Executive Team Rankings. Infosys won ?Platinum Award?
MAS Case Study: Incentives And Pressures
3.1 INCENTIVE/PRESSURE Incentives/Pressures are incentives of management or other employees to commit fraud. For example, The company is under pressure to meet debt covenants or obtain additional financing. In the case of MAS, the company has cash reserves of RM600 million when Tajuddin took over responsibility as CEO. He was leaved with an overlarge fleet and diminishing profits. Although the sales rose to RM4.1 Billion in the year ending March 3, 1994, profits fell from RM145.4 Million to RM7.7 Million.
Yes Bank Scam Case Study
SCAM - YES BANK IPO Yes bank was founded by Rana Kapoor in 2004. It is the fifth largest private sector bank in India.Yes bank got listed at Bombay stock exchange and national stock exchange on July 12, 2005. Its first issue opened on July 15, 2005. The total issue amount was 31500 lakhs. The issue size was 700 lakh shares and 1.75 crore shares were reserved for small investors.
More about Business Management Case Study: Satyam Computer Services Limited
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The Masters 2015: Rory McIlroy has planned on winning a career Grand Slam since the age of SEVEN
Northern Ireland's World No.1 revealed dream of a clean sweep of golf's Majors in a TV interview in 1998 - now he's just 11 days and 4 rounds away
Oh boy! McIlroy is close to making his childhood dream come true (Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy set his sights on winning all four Majors when he was only seven years old.
And world No.1 McIlroy has now admitted it will be “unthinkable” if he never completes his career Grand Slam at the Masters , which begins its 2015 drama next Thursday.
It was revealed this week that as a nine-year-old McIlroy wrote to Tiger Woods in 1999, warning him: “I’m coming to get you.”
But even before then the Ulsterman, who started playing when he was two, said in a 1998 BBC interview that he aimed to “to turn pro and win all the Majors”.
McIlroy, 25, can achieve that feat at Augusta next week to follow in the footsteps of Woods and other golfing legends. Only five have ever won all four Majors in their careers.
Rory McIlroy's 2014 in pictures:
Rory McIlroy's 2014
And when shown the clip by BBC Northern Ireland, the Open champion said: “That gives me goosebumps to think that as a seven or eight-year-old, that’s what I was thinking about that.
“Now I have got the chance to do it, it is incredible. It just shows if you work hard and you have a dream and believe in yourself and have the right people around you to support you, you can go as far as you want.
“Hopefully it is a lesson for all those youngsters back home dreaming about the same thing. It is possible.”
McIlroy led by four shots going into the final round at Augusta in 2011 only to suffer a Masters meltdown which he now describes as “the most important day of my career”.
The Northern Irishman, who won the next Major at the US Open, explained: “For it all to come apart how it did, I learnt an awful lot. I learnt so much about myself and my game and what I needed to do differently the next time I was in that position. I needed it, I really did.
“If I had not had the whole unravelling, if I had just made a couple of bogeys down the home stretch and lost by one, I would not have learned as much.”
Glory McIlroy: Star lifted the Claret Jug and is looking to add his only missing Major (Image: Getty)
Now McIlroy cannot conceive that he will not one day win a Green Jacket.
“During my career? Yes it’s unthinkable,” he said. “Not winning this year could happen – it’s not the right time or it isn’t your time.
“But if I were to look back as a 60-year-old on my career and not have won a Green Jacket, I would obviously be very, very disappointed. And not just one. I feel like it’s a course I can do very well at and a golf course I can win multiple times on.
“Obviously getting that first one is extra important and from there we can go on and maybe think about getting some others.
“But looking back at what happened in 2011, it doesn’t seem as bad when you have four Majors on your mantelpiece.”
McIlroy is also attempting to win his third Major on the trot. Padraig Harrington, the last player to attempt that at the 2009 Masters, said: “There is pressure on Rory to go and win three in a row.
“But if he doesn’t win, it’s not the end for him. I’m pretty sure he realises, ‘Oh well, I can go and win the next one’. He’s got to feel bullet-proof.”
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Maria Sharapova returns to tennis court for first time since drugs ban... at Elton John charity event
Sharapova is currently serving a 15-month suspension after testing positive for banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January
Maria Sharapova returned to a tennis court for the first time since January - as she appeared at a charity event in Las Vegas.
The Russian's last competitive match on the WTA Tour came at the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, which she exited at the quarter-final stage following a straight-sets defeat to Serena Williams.
In March the five-time Major winner revealed that she had failed a drug test during the tournament in Melbourne, before she was handed a two-year suspension in June.
Sharapova will be able to return to the tour in April 2017 after her ban for taking prohibited substance meldonium was reduced to 15 months.
Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004 aged just 17, showed no signs of rustiness after such a long spell out as she tested herself against some of the game's greatest players at the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event in Vegas on Monday night.
Maria Sharapova returned to the court at a charity event in Las Vegas on Monday night (Image: Getty Images)
The Russian has been missing from the WTA Tour since January (Image: Getty Images)
She failed a drug test at the Australian Open in Melbourne (Image: Getty Images)
Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe were all in attendance as money was raised at Caesar's Palace to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Sharapova partnered American youngster Taylor Johnson as they lost against Navratilova and Liezel Huber in a women's doubles match.
"It was a big occasion for her (Johnson) and also for me," Sharapova said. "I haven't been on a court for a while, for both of us, it was to have some fun and a bit of laughs."
Later in the evening Sharapova and McEnroe faced off against Roddick and Navratilova in something of an all-star match on the multicoloured court in Sin City.
Sharapova partnered McEnroe in an exhibition match against Roddick and Navratilova (Image: Getty Images)
The 29-year-old keeps a close eye on the ball as she hits a forehand volley over the net (Image: Getty Images)
Sharapova hugs Elton John during the event in Las Vegas (Image: Getty Images)
Sharapova listens as Billie Jean King answers questions during a press conference (Image: Getty Images)
Players were auctioned off to play on either Team [Elton] John or Team [Billie Jean] King prior to the event (Image: Getty Images)
Sharapova was joined on Team King by McEnroe, Mark Philippoussis and Taylor Johnson (Image: Getty Images)
Sharapova will be free to return to the competitive tennis in April 2016 (Image: Getty Images)
She's won five Grand Slam singles titles during her career (Image: Getty Images)
Will Maria Sharapova ever win another Grand Slam?
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Mauricio Pochettino reveals Tottenham held clear-the-air talks after Gent defeat inspired emphatic FA Cup win
Harry Kane's hat-trick ensured Spurs bounced back after a 1-0 defeat in the Europa League
Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he held clear-the-air talks after defeat to Gent (Image: Clive Rose)
Harry Kane led Tottenham into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a stunning hat-trick to inflict his usual misery on Fulham.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino revealed he held clear-the-air talks after defeats to Gent and Liverpool last week.
And the Argentine sent out a strong side to sweep aside the Championship club with captain Kane taking his tally to 10 goals in his last 10 games – and 20 in his last 22 London derbies.
“It’s not only about scoring goals for Kane,” said Pochettino. “He’s not only a great player, but a great person. A very good professional with England, with the club, with the team. A good example for all. We’re very proud to have not only a player, but a man, with how he is.”
Harry Kane struck a hat-trick in a fine Spurs display (Image: REUTERS)
Tottenham won their first away game since January 1 to regain momentum for their return to Wembley in the Europa League this week.
“After Gent we had a few meetings (with the players) and the reaction was fantastic,” said Pochettino. “I am very pleased. It was a great opportunity today to show that we are alive, and end that bad feeling after two defeats. “We have another ‘final’ at Wembley on Thursday and we’ll need to feel fresh, and to bring some confidence back. That was important today. Now we’ll try to keep that feeling for Thursday.”
Kane, who declared himself fit after suffering a “clash of knees” against Gent, has now scored 19 goals this season. “I want to play every game and I was ready to start,” he said.
Spurs look dejected after going down against Gent (Image: REUTERS)
“We’ve not had a few great results recently so we wanted to come here and win. We played very well, we were comfortable and probably should have had a few more goals. It was a great game all round.”
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic admitted his side had been out-classed.
“After two defeats, they didn’t want to take too many risks,” said the Serb. “It’s very clear they came into the game with the highest level of concentration. They played as if they were playing against Chelsea and, in the end, all credit to them for that. They put us under their control for 85% of the game, so the result is fair.”
Will Tottenham go on to win the FA Cup this season?
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Underage no longer a barometer for future success
Other factors, especially the Sigerson Cup, need to be taken account when judging senior winning sequences
Thu, Sep 18, 2014, 01:00
Paul Geaney gained great experience in the Sigerson Cup before starring for the Kerry senior football team. Photograph: Inpho.
DonegalTom Markham Cup
Under-21 level has been more reflective but even here Kerry have taken home just one All-Ireland in 16 years. The point could be argued as being disingenuous, as the county’s three wins at the grade in 1995, ’96 and ’98 produced 19 senior medallists but the minor drought has been apparently without cost.
Even that 1994 minor final defeat of Galway produced just two starting All-Ireland medallists whereas their opponents found eight players who lined out in successful All-Ireland finals.
‘Not a barometer’
“Tyrone are probably the best example of a county that has achieved senior success after winning at minor level and Laois are probably the best example of the teams that haven’t fulfilled their potential at senior level.
“While Kerry haven’t been successful they have developed individual players who are capable of playing at a higher level and have obviously gone on to do that. For example Colm Cooper and Declan O’Sullivan are good examples of exceptionally good minors who didn’t play for successful teams.
“The process of development is about developing the whole player and obviously at 17 and 18 you’re really only in the middle of that process.”
One aspect of development that has been revolutionised over the past 20 years is the field of third-level education. O’Shea says that the development of young players at institutes and universities has had significant benefits for players and their counties.
“The James O’Donoghues and Paul Geaneys are considered young but they’ve got their third-level experience behind them and have played in and won Sigersons but they haven’t been successful at underage intercounty level.”
One of the reasons for the renewed prominence of further education is the scale of the numbers enrolled compared to the past when only universities were involved in Sigerson.
“The greater take-up at third level has had an influence. I think players have been catered for far better as well. With development programmes in the counties I think there’s an awareness that if a huge amount is being invested in players at underage there has to be a continuation of that and the whole availability of sports science at third-level is something young players have been able to avail of.”
Sligo ITCork IT
“It has proved to be a very good grounding for a lot of players. I think there’s 11 on the [weekend’s Kerry] panel who would have played Sigerson with UCC and there’s that kind of connection. Third-level colleges are as professional in their approach as a lot of the intercounty teams.”
After winning the Sigerson in 2011, UCC coach Billy Morgan made a prophetic comment about his team, which had featured, amongst others, Peter Crowley and Johnny Buckley.
“Last year when we got to the final there were three of our players brought onto the Cork panel and I’m sure you’ll hear of a lot of these players in the future for Cork, and unfortunately a good few of them for Kerry.”
Declan O Sullivan
James O Donoghues
Johnny Buckley
Pat O Shea
Paul Geaneys
Sligo IT
Tom Markham Cup
Gaelic Football Fixtures, Results & Tables
Allianz Football Leagues:
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In the afternoon of 28 January, the fourth and last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, when most CUHK staff were psyching themselves up to get back to work the next day, their phones pinged simultaneously with an incoming message: to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, now officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, all staff, except for those who provide essential services, are not required to return to the office but to continue to work from home. Though the hands may be running a little slow, the clock ticks on, thanks to staff across academic, administrative and professional strata who have been working hard behind the scenes to keep it going while holding the outbreak in check.
Round-the-clock Vigilance
Starting from early January, the University's Committee on Health Promotion and Protection has been closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 situation and taking into account the recommendations of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. The University Health Service (UHS) has also stepped up health surveillance on campus.
Prof. David Hui, Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, gave a range of tips to the CUHK community for preventing exposure to and infection with COVID-19 in two video clips released on 22 and 23 January. His advice include: establish a good personal hygiene and wash the hands frequently; wear a surgical mask in a crowded place; if one comes back to Hong Kong from the mainland and catch a fever or show symptoms of a respiratory illness, approach the nearest accident and emergency hospital department to seek immediate medical attention.
After announcing on 24 January the cancellation of exchange programmes and the suspension of short-term academic activities in mainland China, the University decided the next day that classes would not resume until 17 February. The Emergency Response Level—the second highest in the health alert ladder—was activated, in an attempt to rise to a situation where the risk of a novel virus causing new and serious impact to human health in Hong Kong is high and imminent. An Emergency Response Group led by Prof. Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President, was established to direct and coordinate the University's efforts to combat COVID-19.
Special measures implemented under the Emergency Response Level include health declaration and continuous self-monitoring for 14 days with the relevant forms for all students and staff. It is also advised that all staff should start filling out and submitting the relevant forms as soon as possible and in any case no later than the first day of returning to the office after the period of special work arrangement.
Teaching and Learning in the Time of COVID-19
The University has switched to online teaching for most of its programmes and courses starting from 17 February. On-campus teaching will be resumed when circumstances allow, with notifications made 14 days in advance. To allow room for completion of courses, a two-week extension is given to the second term, which now ends on 2 May.
During this time, teachers and students are advised to take part in classes, discussions and other teaching and learning activities via the Zoom online platform, which supports video and audio conferencing, simple and safe web meetings or seminars with sharing, co-annotation, polling and other collaborative features, complete with recording and archiving functions. The University has strengthened its network capacity and stability, and provided hardware support to needy students.
準備・在線 CUHK Online!
The University has organized 22 online workshops to assist teachers, students and supporting staff from all Faculties to get familiar with the online teaching facilities and to provide training. Classrooms in Yasumoto International Academic Park, Wu Ho Man Yuen and Lee Shau Kee Buildings have been reserved for teachers in need of conducting online teaching on the premises.
The CUHK Library has made resources available and introduced new services to support online teaching and learning, such as retrieving books, purchasing e-versions of academic materials, and a new print to e-copy—turning a print book into an e-copy—service.
Love All, Trust All, Do Wrong to None
CUHK is not just working hard to minimize disruption to its campus operation and academic activities, but also ensure it looks after the wider community with compassion and actual help. To mitigate the shortage of disinfectants in the market, Prof. Dennis Ng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of the Department of Chemistry, collaborated with his colleagues in the department and the University Safety Office to prepare over 200 litres of 75% alcohol-based handrub and distribute them to students staying in hostels, frontline staff, and charities that have partnered with the University.
As of 10 February, about 100 litres of the handrub has been distributed to 15 CUHK-partnered charities to answer the urgent needs of the elderly and other underprivileged groups. ‘If circumstances allow, we will continue to prepare more alcohol-based handrub for combating the novel coronavirus,’ Professor Ng said.
It has been an extremely challenging start to the year of 2020. But at this time when the threat of the new virus looms large, with a humble and grateful heart, we can still transform the deadliest strain into a cleansing flow that replenishes our body and soul. These are the days when we inquire if our friends and family get enough supplies of face masks; when we work from home to maintain a reasonable level of services; when we share hilarious memes to light up one another’s mood; and when we step up our game with new communication and teaching methods that testify to the eternal truth of the re-valuation of all values.
novel coronavirus COVID-19 Committee on Health Promotion and Protection University Health Service Rocky S. Tuan Vice-Chancellor and President Emergency Response Group Dennis Ng Pro-Vice-Chancellor Department of Chemistry University Safety Office David Hui Department of Medicine and Therapeutics e-learning online platform CUHK Library
When the Therapists Need Therapy
Harold Chui examines how the mood of a counsellor influences the effectiveness of psychotherapy
Meditations on (and for) Living Well
Love Speaks Volumes
Accidental Victims in the Pandemic
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Rick Leslie
Major Ed Pulido, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the Sr. VP of the Folds of Honor Foundation a Veteran’s charity which provides the spouses and children of the fallen and wounded educational scholarships. Additionally, he is a Founding member of Warriors for Freedom Foundation a leadership institute focused on the mental, physical and wellness support of our wounded Veterans and their families. He is the spokesperson for AROGA Health. Finally, Major Ed is the Founder of Warrior Nation, a movement focused on the rights of liberty, freedom and patriotism with an autobiography entitled Warrior for Freedom: Challenge, Triumph and Change, the Major Ed Pulido Story.
Major Pulido has a degree in Military Science, Marketing, and Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Logistics Management/Human Relations. He attained the Rank of Major in his 19-year military career and on May 16, 2005, he was medically retired from the United States Army.
On the 17th of August, 2004, Major Pulido hit an Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D) or roadside bomb while serving with the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team under the command of General David Petraeus. Due to the extensive injuries to his left knee, doctors had to amputate his left leg on October 1, 2004. For his heroism and valor on that August day, the President of the United States along with General David Petraeus awarded him the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals.
Major Pulido’s story of courage and sacrifice has been featured in Time Magazine, PGA Magazine, Fox News, CNN and many national and local Oklahoma City television stations and print media. Since, his amputation, Major Pulido has been a staunch advocate for veterans with disabilities, specifically focusing on advocacy efforts to promote prosthetic technologies, peer visiting with fellow amputees at Brooke and Walter Reed Medical Centers, and raising awareness on the needs of veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries (T.B.I) on behalf of the DOD and VA Real Warriors National Campaign.
He has received countless awards including the prestigious Disabled American Veteran of the Year Award, HeartLine Festival of Hope Award for Suicide Prevention, the Hero’s award from the American Red Cross, the Reaching our City Award, OKC Thunder/Devon Energy Community Hero Award, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Veteran Patient Award. Additionally, he has received the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Award for national and state level service and the Tuskahoma Brown Miller Award for outstanding leadership.
On a personal note, Major Pulido during his time in the hospital experienced the inner darkness of depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation that would cripple his positive spirit. This inner darkness he describes as a “deep wounding of a soldiers spirit”. It was at that time that he understood that as a Warrior he could not walk alone in this journey. In that moment, he asked for help from his God, Country, his family and the American people. The result of this intervention would put his life on the road to recovery. It would also be the building block for his understanding the inner wounds of war and making sure that mental health is a focus of the Department of Defense and the VA.
Major Pulido is a national and global spokesperson for Acadia HealthCare, Department of Defense and VA
Real Warriors National Campaign and he is on the State Board of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services with a mission to address the mental health needs of returning service members, Veterans and their families.
Ed Pulido has been married to Karen Pulido for 24 years. He has a daughter Kaitlin and a daughter Kinsley. He and his family reside in Edmond, Oklahoma.
MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT
Will you take on the Heart of a Lion challenge and help support our nations Children and American Veterans?
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Home Artist Programs Supported Artists Jenifer K Wofford
Jenifer K Wofford
Collapse III (Bohol, Philippines 2013)
MacArthur Nurses
<redacted title>
About Jenifer K Wofford
Jenifer K Wofford is a San Francisco artist and educator whose work plays with notions of hybridity, authenticity, and global culture, often with a humorous bent. She is also one-third of the Filipina-American artist trio Mail Order Brides/M.O.B.. Wofford’s projects have been presented locally at the Berkeley Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and Minnesota Street Project, and further afield at DePaul Museum in Chicago, Silverlens in Manila, and Osage in Hong Kong. Wofford received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and her MFA from UC Berkeley.
“ My creative logic is shaped by a lifetime of international and intercultural experiences, being raised in a mixed Filipino/American family in Hong Kong, the UAE, Malaysia, and the California Bay Area, as well as 20 years as an educator in a broad range of communities. This worldview is inextricable from my practice.”
The Joan Mitchell Foundation is pleased to announce the 2017 recipients of our a...
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Home/Green Collar Section/The Environmental Law Field
Green Collar Section
The Environmental Law Field
In 1970, the U.S. government signed into law the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This law, along with the Environmental Quality Improvement Act, was enacted to protect the environment from public or private actions that could cause serious, irreversible damage.
These laws established a national policy for the improvement of the environment and set standards for state and government projects (infrastructure, urban planning, and commercial building) to uphold these standards to protect the environment from industrial and commercial encroachment. Since this act was signed into law, state and local governments have adopted its policies to protect the environment form government projects.
There are a number of federal environmental statutes that make up environmental law. These are all aimed at the protection of various aspects of the environment, and include:
The Clean Air Act
The Clean Water Act
The Pollution Prevention Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act
The National Environmental Policy Act
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
The standard requirements to become a lawyer include a bachelor’s degree, completion of the Law School Acceptance test (LSAT), followed by admission into a university’s law school, and certification upon passing a state bar exam.
For a career in environmental law, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in english, the foreign languages, public speaking, political science, criminal justice, history, to name a few, are useful.
Environmental lawyers will usually have an undergraduate background in varying fields of environmental science including, among others:
Wildlife Studies
Top Environmental Law Programs
Vermont Law School, the Environmental Law Center
Lewis and Clark Law School, Portland, OR
New York University School of Law, Center on Environmental & Land Use Law
Pace University Law School, White Plains, NY
University of California-Berkeley (Boalt Law)
Stanford University Law School
George Washington Law School
Golden Gate University, School of Law, Environmental Law
Professional Outlook
Public concern over environmental issues has resulted in a complex and dynamic body of environmental law. With so many laws at the national, state, and local levels, and because laws are constructed with broad possibilities for interpretation, Environmental Law is a fast-growing field with important responsibilities for environmental conservation and protection.
Environmental Law Careers
There are many different career paths available to environmental lawyers. Environmental lawyers work for law firms (large and small, private and public), public interest or advocacy organizations (EPA), non-profit groups, as well as in the compliance departments of large corporations and industries that must follow environmental regulations. They also work for government agencies to develop and enforce regulations.
Environmental lawyers defend the environment against threats and damage.
They enforce the laws created to prevent, and punish, actions that compromise air and water quality, threaten ecosystems, or otherwise damage the environment. Environmental lawyers ensure that corporations and businesses are held liable for their ecological impact.
Corporate Regulatory Positions
As more and more Enrons, Halliburtons, and ExxonMobils surface and show their true colors, the need to hold corporations accountable for their actions is greater than ever. Environmental lawyers working with, or for, corporations and big businesses ensure that these entities are more responsive to environmental issues. Environmental lawyers who join corporations get the opportunity to work from the inside out, acting as watchdogs while advocating the adherence to environmental policies and standards for corporate America.
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide
Green Health and Medicine (NEXT PAGE)
Green Jobs Industry in the 21st Century
Renewable & Alternative Energy Degree Programs
Biofuel Information
Environmental Science Jobs
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Massage Therapy Jobs
Green Allied Organizations
Green Programs at Colleges and Universities
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Previous Post: Immigration, Drug Crimes Higher Priority than White Collar Crimes
Next Post: What Immigrants Can Do To Stay Safe – and Stay in the Country
U.S. Supreme Court Says Due Process Requires Refund of Monetary Penalties for Invalidated Convictions
Category: Appeals | Criminal Law
Fines and restitution may be imposed following a criminal conviction in conjunction with the sentence imposed.
Fines are commonly imposed in all criminal cases. The amount that may be imposed is generally determined by statute or at the discretion of the court. Fines are paid to a governmental entity.
Restitution, on the other hand, is paid to the victim of a crime for whatever losses, either physical or monetary, that they suffered as a result of the crime against them.
Fines and restitution are more often referred to as “monetary penalties.”
Refund of Monetary Penalties After Reversal of Conviction
Most states and the federal government have historically refunded monetary penalties to criminal defendants who have their convictions reversed on direct appeal or through post-conviction proceedings. That rule made sense. No one should reasonably expect a defendant to pay a fine or restitution for an invalid conviction.
In 2013, the State of Colorado opted out of this historical practice when its lawmakers enacted “Compensation For Certain Exonerated Persons” legislation. As we pointed out in an April 14, 2017 post, the purpose of this legislation is to provide compensation in a narrow range of cases in which a convicted individual establishes actual innocence of the crime for which he or she was convicted.
Colorado Requires Acquitted Individuals to Prove Actual Innocence
With this legislation, Colorado joined the federal government and 27 states that have laws on the books providing for compensation to wrongfully convicted persons.
Colorado lawmakers, however, wanted to make sure that only “actually innocent” individuals could be compensated. Individuals acquitted following a jury trial or who had their convictions reversed on appeal because of a procedural or constitutional error are not eligible for compensation under the exoneration act.
The legislation creates a difficult process for recovery of compensation by anyone wrongfully convicted in a Colorado court. If the innocent individual manages to overcome the hurdles weighing against compensation, he or she is then entitled to a graduated scale of compensation depending upon the nature of conviction.
With respect to any monetary penalties imposed with the sentence, the exoneration legislation provides that a wrongfully convicted individual is entitled to recover “the amount of any fine, penalty, court costs, or restitution imposed and paid by the exonerated person as a result of his or her conviction.”
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Case
The Supreme Court accepted a pair of cases this Term to address the issue of whether the exoneration legislation was intended to be independent from the traditional rule to refund money paid to a reversed judgment; that is, whether the legislation created new rights for exonerated individuals or whether lawmakers specifically intended for the legislation to abrogate the traditional refund rule.
Both the cases involve defendants in this case were convicted of sexual assault-related offenses: Louis Madden was convicted of attempt to patronize a child prostitute while Shannon Nelson was convicted of sexual assault offenses against her children. Both defendants were assessed significant penalties, fees, and restitution orders associated with their convictions. Nelson’s conviction was reversed on direct appeal and she was acquitted following a retrial. Madden’s convictions were also reversed on direct appeal and in post-conviction proceedings. The State elected not to retry him.
Both defendants sought a refund of the monetary penalties paid as a result of their wrongful convictions. The Colorado Supreme Court, however, rebuffed those refund efforts, finding that neither the exoneration act nor due process of law allowed the defendants to secure a refund from the State absent a showing of actual innocence.
Due Process Require Refund After Reversal
The essential issue the Supreme Court was asked to decide was whether due process accommodates a recovery system that places the burden on the individual to prove their actual innocence by clear and convincing evidence in order to recover from a reversed judgment. This burden also entails a responsibility of the individual to hire his or her own attorney to pursue recovery which, more often than not, will cost more than the actual monetary damages paid pursuant to their conviction.
On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court rendered its verdict. Justice Ginsburg spoke to that verdict:
“When a criminal conviction is invalidated by a reviewing court and no retrial will occur, is the State obliged to refund fees, court costs, and restitution exacted from the defendant upon, and a consequence of, the conviction? Our answer is yes. Absent conviction of a crime, one is presumed innocent. Under Colorado law before us in these cases, however, the State retains conviction-related assessments unless and until the prevailing defendant institutes a discrete civil proceeding and provers her innocence by clear and convincing evidence. This scheme, we hold, offends the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of due process …
“Colorado’s scheme fails due process measurement because defendants’ interests in regaining their funds is high, the risk of erroneous deprivation of those funds under the Exoneration Act is
Unacceptable, and the State has shown no countervailing interests in retaining the amounts in question. To comport with due process, a State may not impose anything more than minimal procedures on the refund of exactions dependent upon a conviction subsequently invalidated.”
We cannot fathom how the Colorado Supreme Court arrived at the opposite conclusion. We can only be thankful that the Supreme Court reversed them.
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Stable profit in challenging market environment
IFRS net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. grew by 4% to CHF 735 million and IFRS earnings per share (EPS) by 4% to CHF 3.37.
Adjusted1 net profit for the Group increased slightly to CHF 810 million (2017: CHF 806 million). Adjusted EPS attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. up 2% to CHF 3.72.
Net new money over CHF 17 billion, or 4.5%, inside 4–6% target range.
Assets under management (AuM) CHF 382 billion, a decrease of 2%, reflecting market performance.
Gross margin 86 basis points (bp), down 4 bp on lower contributions from client activity and Kairos.
Adjusted cost/income ratio2 at 70.6% and pre-tax margin at 25 bp – both impacted by weaker gross margin and additional legal and restructuring expense items.
BIS CET1 capital ratio 12.8% and BIS total capital ratio 18.7%, well above minimum regulatory requirements and Group’s own floors.
Proposed ordinary dividend of CHF 1.50 per share for financial year 2018, up 7% from CHF 1.40 and fifth consecutive increase.
Structural cost reduction programme initiated: Expenses to be lowered by CHF 100 million. Strategic growth investments not impacted and to be continued.
Updated medium-term targets: Cost/income ratio2 <68%, pre-tax margin 25–28 bp, return on CET1 capital >32%. Net new money target unchanged: 4–6%.
Bernhard Hodler, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer Group Ltd., said: “Julius Baer ended 2018 with stable profit and robust net new money growth − and we did so in an environment that was challenging for the entire industry. We continue to make strategic growth investments, and have initiated a structural cost reduction programme to absorb revenue fluctuations from potential market headwinds over the short to medium term.
Our updated financial targets underscore our long-term ambition to pursue sustainable and profitable growth, and to deliver attractive capital returns to our shareholders. We will follow a clear strategy centered on smarter market coverage, holistic and personalised advice, and technology transformation, aiming above all to enhance client experience, improve efficiency and increase revenues.”
Robust net inflows partly compensated for negative market performance
Assets under management decreased by 2%, or CHF 6 billion, to CHF 382 billion. AuM were supported by net new money of CHF 17 billion and a net acquisition impact of CHF 3 billion. However, these positive contributions were more than offset by negative market performance of CHF 22 billion, following the sharp decline in global stock markets in the second half of 2018, and a negative currency impact of CHF 5 billion, driven mainly by the decline in the euro.
The annualised net new money growth rate of 4.5% was inside the Group’s medium-term target range (4–6%). Net new money was well balanced throughout the year and across European and growth markets, with particularly strong contributions from clients domiciled in Europe (especially the UK, Monaco, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain), Asia (mainly Hong Kong, Singapore, India, China and Japan), the Middle East (in particular the UAE) and Brazil.
Including assets under custody of CHF 62 billion, total client assets decreased by 3% to CHF 444 billion.
Gross margin affected by lower client activity and Kairos contribution
Operating income rose to CHF 3,368 million. With an increase of 4%, it grew less than monthly average AuM (up 9% to CHF 394 billion), resulting in a decline of 4 bp in the gross margin to 86 bp.
Net commission and fee income declined by 1% to CHF 1,903 million. Brokerage commissions decreased by 6%, reflecting a sharp drop in client transaction volumes as the market environment deteriorated in the second half of the year. Asset-based fee income was flat due to the impact of considerably lower performance fees at Kairos compared to 2017. Excluding Kairos, asset-based fee income grew by 8%, in line with the increase in average AuM.
Net interest and dividend income decreased by 7% to CHF 919 million. It included CHF 178 million of dividend income on trading portfolios, down CHF 17 million. Excluding this item, underlying net interest and dividend income was down 6% to CHF 741 million, as the increase in interest income on loans was more than offset by a decline in interest income on the Group’s treasury portfolio and higher interest expense. Interest income on loans improved on the back of higher US interest rates and an increase in average credit volumes. Interest income on the Group’s treasury portfolio decreased following a year-on-year decline in the average size of the portfolio. Interest expense went up as the result of an increase in US dollar non-current accounts where payable rates rose throughout the year, as well as a rise in negative interest payable. The latter was the result of an increase in excess USD deposits being swapped into Swiss francs and then deposited with the Swiss National Bank (SNB).
Net trading income grew by 75% to CHF 530 million. Including the dividend income related to trading portfolios, underlying net trading income increased by 42% to CHF 708 million. This was partly driven by a rise in structured products-related trading income, benefitting from the further internalisation of structured products issuance, and to a large extent (CHF 91 million) related to growing treasury swap income following the increased placement of excess US dollar deposits into Swiss franc treasury swap positions, thereby capitalising on the rising spread between US and Swiss rates. The rise in treasury swap trading income significantly exceeded the combined impact of the aforementioned decline in treasury interest income and rise in negative interest payable to the SNB.
In analysing the result (excluding dividend on trading portfolios), the sum of total net interest income and treasury-swap trading income increased by 4%, representing an almost stable year-on-year contribution to the gross margin of 24 bp (2017: 25 bp).
Other ordinary results declined from CHF 30 million to CHF 19 million, driven mainly by a negative result on the disposal of investments from the treasury portfolio.
Gross margin decline and extraordinary expense items drive increase in cost/income ratio2
Operating expenses according to IFRS went up by 5% to CHF 2,474 million, driven by a 4% rise in personnel expenses to CHF 1,621 million, a 6% increase in general expenses to CHF 688 million, a 6% increase in amortisation to CHF 126 million and a 9% decrease in depreciation to CHF 38 million.
As in previous years, in the analysis and discussion of the results in the media release and the Business Review, adjusted operating expenses exclude acquisition-related integration and restructuring expenses (CHF 10 million, 2017: CHF 30 million) as well as the acquisition-related amortisation of intangible assets (CHF 74 million, 2017: CHF 72 million).
Adjusted operating expenses rose by 6% to CHF 2,391 million, less than the increase in average AuM, leading to a decline in the expense margin to 60 bp (2017: 62 bp). Expenses included CHF 34 million of costs (2017: CHF 13 million) related to the ongoing project to advance the client documentation to the highest industry standards, and CHF 20 million of additional legal and (non acquisition-related) restructuring costs. Excluding these latter items, adjusted operating expenses increased by 4% to CHF 2,337 million.
At 6,693 full-time equivalents (FTEs), personnel increased by 6%, or 401 FTEs. The monthly average number of employees went up by 6% to 6,576. The number of relationship managers (RMs) rose to 1,501, an increase of 105, or 8%, reflecting successful hiring and internal talent development as well as the inclusion of 13 RMs from Reliance Group. Adjusted personnel expenses grew by 5% to CHF 1,619 million.
Adjusted general expenses went up by 9% to CHF 681 million, driven mainly by higher regulatory and legal costs, a rise in general expenses resulting from increased staff levels, and, to a lesser extent, an increase in marketing spend (mainly in the first half of 2018). Provisions and losses fell by CHF 6 million to CHF 14 million.
Adjusted depreciation decreased by 8% to CHF 38 million and adjusted amortisation rose by 13% to CHF 52 million. The growth in amortisation mainly reflects the rise in IT-related investments in recent years.
Despite the realised positive operating leverage from a larger average client asset base, the adjusted cost/income ratio2 went up from 69.0% to 70.6%, above the 64–68% medium-term target range, driven by the second-half decline in the gross margin and extraordinary expenses.
Stable profitability despite challenging market environment in second half
IFRS profit before taxes rose by 1% to CHF 894 million. As income taxes fell by 7% to CHF 159 million, net profit for the Group grew by 3% to CHF 735 million. After considering non-controlling interests in 2017 of CHF 11 million (negligible in 2018), the increase in net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. was 4%, and EPS rose, also by 4%, to CHF 3.37.
Adjusted profit before taxes decreased by 1% to CHF 977 million and the adjusted pre-tax margin declined by 2bp to 25 bp, below the 30 bp medium-term target. The related income taxes fell by 8% to CHF 167 million, representing a tax rate of 17.1%, compared to 18.5% in 2017.
Adjusted net profit for the Group increased slightly to CHF 810 million (2017: CHF 806 million). After considering adjusted non-controlling interests in 2017 of CHF 13 million (negligible in 2018), the rise in adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. was 2%, and adjusted EPS grew, also by 2%, to CHF 3.72.
The return on CET1 capital (RoCET1), defined as adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. divided by average CET1 capital, was 30% (2017: 32%).
2019 cost reduction programme launched
While continuing its strategic growth investments, Julius Baer has put in place a structural cost reduction programme. The Group will lower expenses by CHF 100 million by further enhancing market focus and related prioritisation of resource allocation; leveraging automation and digitalisation; and applying stricter performance management. This will by the end of 2019 lead to a net reduction in the Group’s headcount of 2% compared to the end of 2018. The results from these structural cost reductions are expected to fully materialise in the 2020 financial results, with the aim to reduce the cost/income ratio2 below 68% in line with Julius Baer’s new medium-term target in that year, assuming no meaningful deterioration relative to the 2018 average market conditions.
Updated medium-term targets
In response to the changing operating environment, the Group has updated its medium-term targets. While the net new money target remains unchanged at 4–6%, the cost/income ratio2 target is modified to <68% and the pre-tax margin target adjusted to 25–28bp. In order to provide a clearer linkage between the Group’s profitability, capital efficiency and capital return ambitions, the Group will target RoCET1 of >32%.
Decrease in loan-to-deposit ratio
Total assets went up by 5%, to CHF 103 billion. The total loan book declined by CHF 1 billion to CHF 45 billion, a reduction of 3%, slightly more than the 2% decrease in AuM. The loan book comprised CHF 36 billion of Lombard loans (a decrease of 2%) and CHF 9 billion of mortgages (a decline of 5%). As deposits rose by CHF 4 billion, or 6%, to CHF 72 billion, the loan-to-deposit ratio came down to 63% (end of 2017: 69%). Total equity attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. increased by 4% to CHF 6 billion.
Solid capital position3
Despite the partial reinvestment in 2018 of the Group’s excess capital into accretive acquisitions − i.e. the residual 20% stake in Kairos (Italy) acquired in January 2018 and the acquisition of Reliance Group (Brazil) in June 2018 − and an increase in the dividend accrual, CET1 capital rose by 3% to CHF 2.7 billion (compared to fully-applied CET1 capital of CHF 2.6 billion at the end of 2017). Following the redemption (in March 2018) of CHF 250 million of perpetual Tier 1 bonds issued on 18 September 2012, BIS Tier 1 capital decreased by 4% to CHF 3.9 billion (compared to fully-applied Tier 1 capital of CHF 4.1 billion at the end of 2017) and BIS total capital by 4% to CHF 4.0 billion (compared to fully-applied total capital of CHF 4.2 billion at the end of 2017).
As risk-weighted assets increased by 9% to CHF 21.3 billion, the BIS CET1 capital ratio declined to 12.8% (compared to 13.5% fully-applied at the end of 2017) while the BIS total capital ratio decreased to 18.7% (compared to 21.2% fully-applied at the end of 2017). The redemption of the Tier 1 bonds and a 5% rise in the leverage exposure, to CHF 102 billion, were the main drivers of the reduction in the Tier 1 leverage ratio to 3.9% (compared to 4.2% fully-applied at the end of 2017).
At these levels, the Group’s capitalisation continued to be solid: the CET1 and total capital ratios remained well above the Group’s own floors of 11% and 15% and significantly in excess of the regulatory minimums of 8.1% and 12.3%, respectively, while the Tier 1 leverage ratio continued to be comfortably above the 3.0% regulatory minimum.
Proposed ordinary dividend of CHF 1.50 per share for 2018, up 7% from 2017
The Board of Directors of Julius Baer Group Ltd. will propose an ordinary dividend of CHF 1.50 per share for the financial year 2018, representing the fifth consecutive increase and a rise of 7% from 2017. Subject to shareholder approval at the AGM on 10 April 2019, the dividend will be paid out of the statutory capital reserve. The total proposed distribution amount is CHF 336 million, equivalent to 41% of adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. and to 46% of IFRS net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd.
Update Deferred Prosecution Agreement in U.S.
On 4 February 2016, Julius Baer concluded a three-year Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the U.S. Department of Justice to settle its liability in connection with its legacy U.S. cross-border private banking business. Since Julius Baer fulfilled its obligations under the DPA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York will file a motion to dismiss the charges against the Bank with the U.S. Federal Court for approval shortly.
1 The adjusted results as presented and commented in this media release and in the Business Review are derived by excluding from the audited IFRS financial statements the integration and restructuring expenses as well as the amortisation of intangible assets related to previous acquisitions or divestments and the taxes on those respective items.
2 Calculated using adjusted operating expenses, excluding provisions and losses.
3 The multi-year Basel III phase-in period ended at the beginning of 2018. As a consequence, the differentiation between the formerly used ‘phase-in’ and ‘fully-applied’ capital ratios is no longer relevant.
The results conference will be webcast at 9:30 a.m. (CET). All documents (presentation, Business Review 2018, Consolidated Financial Statements 2018, spreadsheets and this media release) are available at www.juliusbaer.com.
10 April 2019: Annual General Meeting 2019, Zurich
24 May 2019: Publication of four-month Interim Management Statement
Consolidated Financial Statements 2018 | PDF, 508 KB
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10 Years of Drone Strikes in Pakistan–but do you know whether it’s an “area of active hostilities”?
by Ryan Goodman and Thomas Earnest
Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the first reported US drone strike in Pakistan (punctuated by another one today). Yet there is still official silence about a crucial fact: does the administration consider parts of Pakistan an “area of active hostilities”? Many of us who follow this issue closely believe we know the answer, but this post suggests there are signs that point in opposite directions. (Indeed, what we discuss in Parts II and III may come as a surprise.)
The notion of “areas of active hostilities” essentially refers to geographic zones where belligerents engage in sustained fighting. It is a term of art, as far as we can tell, developed by the administration at an unknown date, and not found in international law. In congressional testimony, the administration has stated that it considers Afghanistan an area of active hostilities, and it considers Yemen (despite frequent drone operations in that country) and Somalia outside the area of active hostilities.
Unlike Yemen, US operations in Pakistan are formally covert—though widely discussed—which helps explain why the administration would refuse to acknowledge the status of the Pakistani territory.
I. What’s at stake?
What’s at stake is whether a specific set of safeguards apply to the recent resumption of drone attacks in Pakistan. Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) for the use of force, described in a White House Fact Sheet on May 23, 2013, sets forth heightened standards for lethal actions–such as a near certainty that civilians will not be killed or injured in a strike. As the title of the Fact Sheet states, the PPG standards apply only to operations “outside the United States and areas of active hostilities.” The idea is that US forces engaged in hot battlefields, such as areas of Afghanistan, cannot afford to apply all those restrictions especially if they are significantly higher than the law of armed conflict requires.
II. Is Pakistan, and in particular the FATA, in or out?
The administration has repeatedly referred to the “Afghan war theater” as within the area of active hostilities, and many journalists and legal experts consider this to include areas of Pakistan. In 2011, the NYT reported: “The State Department’s top lawyer, Harold H. Koh, has agreed that the armed conflict with Al Qaeda is not limited to the battlefield theater of Afghanistan and adjoining parts of Pakistan.” In February 2013, a piece in Pro Publica stated: “Last spring the U.S. reportedly expanded signature strikes to Yemen, though administration officials said there were stricter standards than in Pakistan and evidence of a threat to the U.S. or U.S. interests was required. … That tighter standard is reportedly also part of the Obama administration’s new guidelines for the targeted killing program.” [See also Jennifer Daskal’s excellent Penn Law Review article on hot battlefields.]
But some signs point in the opposite direction. On the eve of the NDU speech, Attorney General Eric Holder submitted a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy identifying four Americans who had been killed by US forces outside the area of active hostilities. The fourth American listed, 23-year-old Jude Kenan Mohammad, was killed in a drone strike in 2011 in a town in the tribal areas of Pakistan less than two miles from the Afghan border.
Just last month the Department of Defense’s General Counsel Stephen Preston made a statement consistent with the Holder letter. In prepared testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee concerning the May 23 PPG, Mr. Preston first mentioned the “Afghan theater,” but then stated:
“Thus, under the President`s policy, no one is targeted with lethal military force outside Afghanistan based solely on membership in al Qa`ida or an associated force. In addition, this Guidance requires near certainty that non-combatants will not be killed or injured before lethal action may be taken.” (emphasis ours)
These statements appear to imply that the area of active hostilities starts and stops at the Afghan border.
III. Half in, half out?
There are at least two ways to resolve this tension, if not apparent contradiction.
1. CIA temporary exemption?
At least in terms of the policy guidelines, perhaps the CIA drone operations have received a temporary exemption. The May 23, 2013 PPG is based on the “playbook” that the administration developed over several months. In January 2013, the Washington Post reported that the CIA received an exemption from those heightened standards. And, the White House’s Fact Sheet conspicuously provides the following caveat:
“This document provides information regarding counterterrorism policy standards and procedures that are either already in place or will be transitioned into place over time.” (emphasis ours)
The WaPo story suggested the following timeline: “The CIA exception is expected to be in effect for ‘less than two years but more than one,’ [a] former official said, although he noted that any decision to close the carve-out ‘will undoubtedly be predicated on facts on the ground.’” Notably, that timing roughly coincides with the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan.
This would be an exemption that swallows the rule, since the CIA has reportedly conducted almost every lethal action in Pakistan.
2. Force protection against militants preparing to direct attacks inside Afghanistan
Perhaps the answer is that Pakistan is generally not within the area of active hostilities, but operations launched from border areas to take place in Afghanistan are considered within such a zone. It does seem odd that Jude Mohammad would be protected by a different set of targeting rules than a hypothetical counterpart located in Afghanistan, simply because Mohammad was two miles over the Pakistani border.
In a law review article in 2013, Daskal recommended the following illustrative formula (admittedly for a different legal context and purpose):
“If, however, the Taliban and al Qaeda established a cross-border base camp to train and organize fighters and to coordinate further actions in the hot conflict zone, the region likely would qualify as an extension of the zone of active hostilities. This description arguably fits activity in parts of northwest Pakistan.”
That formulation might fit the existing policy guidelines. It would still be difficult to square with the Holder letter which stated that Jude Mohammad was killed in an operation outside an area of active hostilities. Mohammad was not specifically targeted. So perhaps the answer depends on the reason the CIA attacked the group of “about 12 other insurgents” in which Mr. Mohammad was killed that day. If the strike occurred because of a high value target in the group, and not due to a direct threat to US forces in Afghanistan, that might explain it.
Targeted Killing,
Thomas Earnest
Former Managing Editor of Just Security (2013-14) Follow him on Twitter (@thomasdearnest).
Struggles of American Democracy and Implications for Human Intelligence
January 15, 2021 by Gregory Sims
Needed: A Whistleblower Protection Paradigm Shift
December 15, 2020 by Patrick G. Eddington
December 11, 2020 by Katherine Hawkins
How to Revitalize the Intelligence Community: A Long, But Essential To-Do List
December 4, 2020 by George Croner
CIA Is Losing Its Best and Brightest and Not Just Because of Trump
December 2, 2020 by Matt Castelli
November 9, 2020 by Marc Polymeropoulos and John Sipher
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COVID-19 Has Given Us a Lesson in Humility
Quite probably, no danger has been downplayed more than the coronavirus. Since case 1, the virus has been described as a type of flu, a negligible threat to health, and basically, a non-issue. Yet, we can already see that this bug has a huge impact on human society.
Covertly, COVID-19 has smashed the foundations of human civilization. Within two months, humanity has capitulated to an enemy it cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or touch, and whose noxiousness is questionable.
Flu or no flu, one by one, governments revoked all public activities, religious and political congregations, professional conventions, sports and entertainment, shopping centers, factories, hi-tech companies, transportation, and recreation. Despite the unimaginable cost, heads of state succumbed in droves to the bug and stopped their nations in their tracks.
“By submitting our egos, COVID-19 has given us life.”
Even more extraordinary, now, as governments are trying to restart their countries, people aren’t excited to partake. It’s not only that they’ve had no income during the lockdown, though this is true as well. It is deeper than that: Humanity is losing interest in a civilization that hails people according to their wallets.
Though policy makers and tycoons are urging people to pick up where they left off two months ago, as they stand to gain the most from the recovery, at our expense(s), this will not happen, not this time. People have changed.
Not only tycoons and policy makers have been given a humbling lesson by the virus, we all have. We’ve all learned how vulnerable we are, how dependent we are on each other for our most basic needs, from health and food to human compassion. We have learned that what really makes us happy is warm families and good friendships, not hot trends and smirking colleagues.
We are learning to be equal. We are realizing that it is more rewarding to complete than to compete, that it is so rewarding to share, to care, and to be free at last from our egoistic selves. By submitting our egos, COVID-19 has given us life.
And as every toddler does, we are taking baby-steps. At times we will stumble, at times we will fall, but our goal must be clear all along: We are learning to unite. If we strive to live in unity, life itself will teach us what we must keep from the past, and what we must cast away. We need not make decisions in advance, just try to bond with one another and see what kind of society emerges, how it caters to its members, rewards its champions, and reproaches its foes.
As our values change, so will our causes for joy and for sorrow. Our aspirations will effortlessly adjust themselves to the new environment, and we will thrive when everyone around us thrives.
Since human bonding will be the ultimate goal of society, we will not be afraid for ourselves, for our children, or for others in our care. We will not need to worry about food, housing, health care, education, friends for our children or friends for ourselves. Simply, we will not need to worry. And the only demand of us will be to do the same good for others as they do for us.
We should fear the virus and tend to our health, but we should also be thankful that it came to our aid. It saved us from killing each other and destroying our planet; it gave us a chance to start over. So in all honesty, I am grateful for the lesson in humility that COVID-19 has given us all.
The Technology of Connection
COVID-19 Will Heal Our Hearts and Then Our Bodies
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Get to Know J. Rosenberg
Get to Know J. Rosenberg | KCET
Maxwell Strachan
Welcome back to 'Better Know a SoCal Blogger' on KCET.org, where we feature our city's plethora of fascinating and first-rate blogs. This week we are speaking with our very own Jeremy Rosenberg, a blogger obsessed with all things think tank, including "the tanks themselves, the people who work at them, and the big ideas so often born at tanks."
Blogger name: Jeremy Rosenberg
Official name of blog: Think Tank L.A.
When did your work first appear online? During the great dot-com boom of the late 20th Century.
That's right, didn't you used to work for the Los Angeles Times? Yes, for latimes.com - I was an early adapter when it came to layoffs. Among my other work there, I wrote a column called the Secret City.
And in addition to your media writing, you've also been involved with Farmlab and other non-profits, right? Yep, I spent the past four-plus years working for the Annenberg Foundation, on special projects such as Farmlab, Not A Cornfield, and Chora. Currently, I'm on the board of both the Outpost for Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation. I've also done some work with Next American City, out of Philadelphia.
What books are you currently reading?
The answer I'd like to give is Nothing The Sun Could Not Explain: 20 Contemporary Brazilian Poets. Closer to the truth would be Brown River, White Ocean: An Anthology of Twentieth-Century Philippine Literature in English. But the full truth is limited to The Taqwacores, The Public Storage Story: Behind the Orange Door, from Angel City, and Los Angeles, from Taschen.
What L.A.-based blogs are you reading? That changes all the time - you just have to follow the links. But a couple consistent favorites are Ben Sullivan's Scienceblog and Jesus Sanchez's The Eastsider L.A., plus everyone at KCET Local.
What is your blog about? Ideas, and the idea of Los Angeles as a center for ideas. It's the slow-boil chronicling of the goings-on at policy centers, research institutions, and the like in and around the Southland - and beyond. The blog covers the tanks themselves, the people who work at them, and the big ideas so often born at tanks.
But you sometimes stray from just talking think tanks. Hey, some days you gotta talk about space aliens. Or soccer. And almost any topic can easily enough be linked back to tanks. There's got to be some kind of Six Degrees of RAND Corporation parlor game.
How did you get involved with KCET Local? Juan Devis invited me. I'm a big fan of his visionary work - for KCET and elsewhere. His Web Stories and Departures are superb. So, I said yes. Then Juan started telling me that Don Waldie and Erin Aubry Kaplan and Holly Willis had already said yes, so I kept saying yes until Juan hung up the phone.
Did you know the other KCET bloggers? I'd met Adolfo Guzman-Lopez during the Not A Cornfield project. He and his Radio Sonideros colleagues produced an audio documentary called, "Roots of the Park." I'd also seen him perform his spoken word work. Holly Willis - I'd written a couple of real short pieces for RES, but never worked with her. I met Erin Aubry at a party years ago - she wouldn't remember, but hey, for me, that was a big night out - I got to say hello to the likes of Erin, Nina Wiener, Betty Rinehart, Ruben Mendoza, and Ron Athey.
What about Ophelia, Brian, and Don? I've only met Ophelia and Brian (who works for Reason) once in person, at KCET. I've neglected to mention Gary Dauphin so far, but his writing and his web vision is first-rate. Now, as for Mr. Waldie, my jaw dropped like the Times Square apple when I read his Better Know a SoCal Blogger piece.
What are you talking about? Mr. Waldie's KCET Q&A. In it, he references a piece he wrote a decade ago, about the future of the literature of Los Angeles. I don't save too many hard copies of newspapers and magazines, but I saved that one. It was published in 1999. I was the books editor at latimes.com. The print edition of the Times' Book Review was still a stand-alone Sunday tabloid. The cover illustration was by James Doolin, whose works grace the interior of the opulent MTA headquarters over near the Twin Towers jail, downtown. Waldie wrote:
The former literature of Los Angeles is nearly finished - the literature of Anglo unease with race and sunshine in our ruined utopia. The literature that runs from Nathaniel West to Joan Didion is passing away. The literature to come isn't here yet. When it is, it will finally be comfortable with the autumn heat and the pitiless light in a season of drought.
Its writers will be more familiar with the real streets of Teheran or the imaginary ones of Tenochtitlán than those of Greenwich Village. They will be disturbingly frank about the presence of God (or gods) in the suburbs. They won't be Emersonian. Because many of them will have gone in a day - not in a lifetime - from birthplaces in villages and barrios to East LA, Glendale, or Long Beach, their writing will be crowded with ancestors whose grievances cannot be dismissed by our longing for perpetual adolescence.
I had recently moved to L.A. from the East Coast. I read Waldie and thought, yeah, he's right. I gave up writing fiction - my responsibility, not his - and stuck to trying in part to chronicle stories told by people like he mentions.
The issue has come up in your blog of think tanks having to fill a conservative void left by liberal academia. Is there merit to this claim? I didn't say that. But back in April - TTLA featured a Q&A with Yaron Brook, head of the Ayn Rand Institute. Brook all but said that. His group is far from the political mainstream, but they offer provocative, often contrarian ideas and they make good copy. Also, to state the obvious - it's easier to start a think tank than a university. So if conservatives felt academically excluded and aggrieved, then throwing money at tanks is a smarter short-term investment.
People are hot on grass roots movements these days. Is expertise, provided by organizations like think tanks, an undervalued asset in the 21st century?
Not to go all "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" here, but that depends on what you consider "grass roots." Many prominent think tanks provide institutional homes for politicians and other former government employees - from military officers to state department pros to budget wonks. I don't suppose you'd consider John Podesta to be 'grass roots'. Not in the sense that here in L.A., Marqueece Harris-Dawson and the Community Coalition are grass root. Think tanks have a great deal to offer locally, nationally, and internationally. The job of a tank's staff is to do research, offer solutions, and make those ideas public. Then it's up to all of us to take, or to leave, those ideas.
How do you figure out which tank to trust, and which not to? Like anything else, every idea from every tank ought to be evaluated on its own merits. Sure, consider the source and its political leaning, if any. Ideas themselves, though, are non-partisan. Professor James McGann spoke to TTLA about who works at tanks and why - among many other topics he covered. McGann was last year to this blog what at least some think tank execs and staffers are to the media at large: an independent arbitrator.
Some critics have stated that the political might of private think tanks is inherently undemocratic. No one, after all, elects these men and women who propose important policy changes. Would you defend or refute this criticism?
There are two think tanks in North Korea. Those are most likely inherently undemocratic. Stateside, though, think tanks aren't star chambers or shadow governments. They aren't K-Street lobbyists. They are somewhere between consultancies, colleges, and publishers. And okay, maybe for a handful of folks, a political purgatory. By the way, here's a story you might like. A guy once said to me, "Think tanks? Those are the two worst words in the English language."
What happened next? He wound up doing a lot of the original illustrations for TTLA. But hey, fair enough - even the think tanks don't always like being labeled as such. Michael Rich, RAND's executive vice president, said during his TTLA Q&A that his organization is uncomfortable with the term. He uses, "research organization," "non-profit," or "objective research organization." This naming convention is more art than science. The L.A. Times identified one local joint recently as a "think tank," and a year ago one of the principles at this place scoffed to me at that same notion. Also, do a web search for "action tanks" and you'll get plenty of results. Many of them having to do with shoulder-baring apparel or combat vehicles, but some about more aggressive public policy advocacy.
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. My pleasure. And thanks to everyone at KCET Local. If you're reading this and able to make a pledge in support of this website, please do.
Thanks so much to Jeremy Rosenberg for his insightful comments in this installment of Better Know a Blogger. For even more insights into Los Angeles think tanks, check out Think Tank L.A. right here at KCET.org.
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Share this Story: Couple brings real-life 'chemistry' to Kingston stage
Couple brings real-life 'chemistry' to Kingston stage
Jesse MacMillan and Anna Sudac, pictured at home with daughter Etta, star in Theatre Kingston's "What a Young Wife Ought to Know," opening at the Baby Grand on Wednesday. (Peter Hendra/The Whig-Standard)
The first time Anna Sudac and Jesse MacMillan met, it was during the latter’s audition, an improv in which he was to try to win her over, for the Toronto production of Sir John Eh? The Musical.
He would get the part, and both would follow the production to Kingston’s Grand Theatre, after which it became the Sir John A. Macdonald walking tour.
Couple brings real-life 'chemistry' to Kingston stage Back to video
They clicked from the get-go, and would eventually start dating.
“It was kind of like, ‘Oh, if this person exists, how can I not be with them?’” MacMillan said.
Now, six years and a 10-month-old daughter later, the couple is returning to the Grand (albeit the Baby Grand upstairs) as they star in Theatre Kingston’s newest production, Hannah Moscovitch’s What a Young Wife Ought to Know.
The play, which opens Wednesday night, takes place in 1920s Ottawa and follows the life of young parents Sophie and Jonny (Sudac and MacMillan), who are trying not to have more children but struggle not to.
The play’s director, Theatre Kingston artistic producer Rosemary Doyle, had worked with fellow Kingston native Sudac before and was familiar wth MacMillan from his work with the Sir John Eh? production.
“As Hannah Moscovitch says, ‘If you’re gonna have a play with two abortions in it, the guy better be a nice guy.’ And Jesse really is the personification of a fantastic human,” Doyle said, while “for the character of Sophie, I wanted someone who was very personable and warm and caring, which Anna has in spades.”
The couple’s chemistry is “palpable,” Doyle explained, and that translates to the stage both emotionally and physically.
“I knew that the energy and the love in their relationship would really translate into being onstage in a really organic and beautiful way,” she continued, “so I could go deeper, stronger more believable because they do have that base already.”
MacMillan agreed, recalling a read-through of the play during which he was cradling the couple’s baby, Etta.
“In the play, she’s just a newborn, but I’m saying these lines to Anna that having a child has made me love her that much more, and that’s coming from a real place,” he said. “That’s where we can tap into that.”
While this isn’t the first time the couple has performed together — they were in the feature film Live in Kingston and are two-thirds of fictional radio show/music revue The Pritneers, among other things — this play offered a chance to challenge themselves.
“I really wanted to do it because it was out of my comfort zone, really immersing into a character who, although I have recently had a baby, is living a really different reality than mine,” Sudac said as the couple took turns keeping an eye on busy daughter Etta.
“She’s having multiple children, not wanting more, and also in a different time period.”
While the play’s subject matter is sombre, it’s not all doom and gloom, Sudac said.
“It is heavy material, but the relationship between the two people is a good one,” the 34-year-old Theatre Complete grad explained.
“It’s not a dysfunctional, heavy, difficult one for us to do. They are very much in love with each other, and then circumstance has an impact on that beautiful relationship, and there’s a lot of humour in the play, too.”
Sudac also likes that her character often speaks to the audience, something she loves to do, which gives her a “real sense of security” to explore her character.
While he and Sudac often play comedic roles, MacMillan said this play offered an opportunity to stretch himself theatrically.
“I find that the stakes in the play are so high, as an actor, it’s such great material to dig into,” explainedthe 35-year-old, who said the couple would sometimes practise their lines while at home.
“I get to have a scene where I’m absolutely elated, and then, two scenes later, we’re in a terrible fight.”
The couple admitted that they were at first unsure about whether they should take on the new roles — they were, after all, new parents among other things — but they’re glad they did.
“It’s been a wonderful experience because we get to know each other now in a different way, too,” MacMillan suggested.
“Working together, having more serious roles has brought our artistic relationship to a new level as well.”
What: Theatre Kingston presents Hannah Moscovitch’s What a Young Wife Ought to Know. It stars Anna Sudac, Jesse MacMillan and Alexandra Montagnese, and is directed by Rosemary Doyle.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 30, to Sunday, Feb. 17. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, with 2:30 p.m. matinees.
Where: Baby Grand Theatre, 218 Princess St.
Cost: $35 plus for adults, $18 plus for students and artists. Go to kingstongrand.ca to purchase online.
For more: Go online to theatrekingston.com.
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DLNR implements test parking plan at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor
The parking areas are outlined in red in this photo of Lahaina Small Boat Harbor.
LAHAINA – Under a new month-to-month revocable permit with Diamond Parking Services LLC, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources instituted a parking plan at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor that will assign the facility’s 35 parking stalls to harbor tenants by permit.
The new parking plan began Sept. 1. The contract with Diamond Parking as the managing onsite vendor is not to exceed one year and will terminate on Aug. 31, 2018.
According to DLNR, it’s hoped that this one-year arrangement will provide the department’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) with insight on the success and potential of a long-term parking concession at the harbor.
The parking plan will allow the boating division to monitor the available stalls daily and ensure users comply with all posted signage and requirements for day and evening use.
The test period will also allow the department to study the revenue generating potential of these available spaces after hours.
“Historically, the available parking at Lahaina Harbor has been managed only on weekdays during regular business hours while the harbor office is staffed,” said Edward Underwood, DOBOR administrator. “In the evening, on weekends and holidays, there has been little enforcement, and boat owners with vessels in the harbor have had a difficult time finding parking there.”
“With round-the-clock attendance provided by Diamond, parking availability for permit-holders will be much more reliable, and in the evening, on weekends and holidays, the unused parking stalls will still generate revenue,” said Underwood.
The parking plan is very similar in nature to the parking plans instituted at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on Oahu and Maalaea Small Boat Harbor on Maui.
Ala Wai’s parking concession generates, on average, $62,500 in fees per month. Maalaea’s parking plan is generating approximately $3,100 in fees per month.
Approval to implement a revocable permit for a parking vendor at Lahaina was approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in its meeting on May 13, 2016.
Proceeds from all parking concessions are deposited into the Boating Special Fund that supports operation of DLNR’s system of recreational small boat harbors across the state.
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Since the age of five, Mr. Leighton's dream has been to be an attorney. His love for the practice of law is unmistakable and his passion for helping his clients is contagious. Mr. Leighton met Mr. Abdo in grade school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale, Arizona. From there they formed a lasting bond and friendship that led them to Arizona State University, where they were roommates. Both Mr. Leighton and Mr. Abdo inspired each other to both graduate early and with honors. While Mr. Leighton decided to head to sunny Malibu, California to attend law school, he and Mr. Abdo remained close friends. Their friendship and competitive nature has allowed for Leighton & Abdo, PLLC to flourish in a relatively short period of time. Mr. Leighton is also incredibly proud of his close relationship with his older brother Joshua, a fellow partner at Leighton & Abdo, PLLC. The close relationship between all three partners allows for the firm to provide a unique and team-oriented approach to the practice of law.
B.A., Arizona State University, 2004, Cum Laude
J.D., Pepperdine University School of Law, 2011
AZ Bar Number: 029341
Admittance: 4/18/2012
Admitted to the Arizona Bar
Admitted to the United States District Court, District of Arizona
Member, Arizona Probate and Trust Law Section
Mr. Abdo is a founding member of Leighton & Abdo, PLLC, and an Arizona native. Mr.Abdo's practice areas include bankruptcy,plaintiff's civil litigation and civil litigation defense, collections, collections defense (credit card, promissory note, breach of contract, etc.), debtor and creditor rights, and estate planning (including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and real property deeds). Mr. Abdo has presented cases before the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Federal Eight Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Bankruptcy Panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr. Abdo enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children.
B.S., Arizona State University, 2004, Magna Cum Laude
J.D., Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, 2009
Bar Number: 027291
Admittance: 11/02/2009
Admitted to the United States Supreme Court
JOSHUA W. LEIGHTON, Esq.
Mr. Leighton is a partner at Leighton & Abdo PLLC, and an Arizona Native. He is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, as well as the United States District Court in the District of Arizona. Josh's practice focuses on Landlord-Tenant Law and Estate Planning.
B.A., Arizona State University, 2002. Magna Cum Laude
J.D., Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, 2006,
Pedrick Scholar
CHARLES L. FIRESTEIN, Esq.
Bankruptcy, Debtor/Creditor
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Pan Project
Fiore Gold
Eureka, Nevada
Ledcor is ramping-up operations as the mining contractor for Midway’s open-pit Pan Project at the northern end of the Pancake Mountain Range in western White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 22 miles southeast of Eureka, Nevada, and 50 miles west of Ely, Nevada.
The near-surface Pan gold deposit is ideally suited for open pit mining methods. The pit would have zero pre-strip and a low 1.8:1 life of mine strip ratio. Pan will be mined from two separate open pits, North and South, for a total mine life of nine years. Ore from both pits will be processed on a central leach pad.
Ledcor will provide all of the workforce and equipment necessary for drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling ore from two open pits to be processed on a central leach pad, including personnel staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once in full production, we will be moving approximately 1.8 million metric tons of ore and waste per month.
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Asia Pacific Handles Global Political Turbulence with Ease, Shows Healthy Real Estate Fundamentals
HONG KONG (July 13, 2017) — Asia Pacific continues to be viewed favourably by international investors for its economic and political stability. According to LaSalle’s mid-year Investment Strategy Annual (“ISA”) 2017, Asia Pacific experienced minimal impact from turbulent political events in the first half of 2017, with its two largest countries China and Japan meeting growth expectations year-to-date. Increasingly, China is the dominant trading partner in the region, and is expected to underpin steady positive economic growth in major countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea. Investors, however, should remain wary and watchful for any signs of capital market volatility.
Asia Pacific continues to be viewed favourably by international investors for its economic and political stability. According to LaSalle’s mid-year Investment Strategy Annual (“ISA”) 2017, Asia Pacific experienced minimal impact from turbulent political events in the first half of 2017, with its two largest countries China and Japan meeting growth expectations year-to-date.
Increasingly, China is the dominant trading partner in the region, and is expected to underpin steady positive economic growth in major countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea. Investors, however, should remain wary and watchful for any signs of capital market volatility.
Elysia Tse, Head of Research and Strategy – Asia Pacific at LaSalle, commented: “The expansion of credit in Asia Pacific and the gradual withdrawal of monetary stimulus in the West are two trends to watch carefully - both have the potential to disrupt the steady improvement of the global economy. That said, we expect slow and gradual improvement in economic indicators to stay on track at the macro level. We remain confident that a hard landing in China is unlikely over the near term, despite the headline news on the country’s debt challenge.”
The stability of the banking system is a vital constituent of a healthy economy. Asia Pacific banks have had strong support from their governments as well as central banks, with comparatively stronger balance sheets and currency reserves than those in the West. As a result, we do not see significant credit shortages looming in the region. The various agendas of central banks in Asia Pacific are expected to lead to a divergence in the monetary policies from the U.S. Even if central banks in the region start to raise rates, they are unlikely to raise rates too high or too fast. As a result, the likelihood of the U.S. rate hikes leading to a significant yield expansion in Asia Pacific over the near term is low.
Real estate fundamentals across the region are generally healthy, and demand drivers continue to respond to structural changes in demographics, technology, urbanization, and environmental factors (DTU+E) across the globe. Across the region, the ISA shows that investor appetite remains strong for core products, leading to strong exit opportunities for value-add investors, but also a lack of attractive opportunities for core investors in the near term.
Said Tse, “The near-term outlook for Asia Pacific real estate remains steady, with no significant changes relative to LaSalle’s view outlined at the beginning of the year. Occupier markets are largely balanced with the exception of a few pockets of oversupply, such as in Singapore, resource-based markets in Australia, and several emerging cities in China.”
“One of LaSalle’s key themes for 2017 is the fiscal stimulus of major Asia Pacific governments through infrastructure investments or household subsidies. Our strategy continues to emphasize non-discretionary retail in Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong due to the sector’s defensiveness and support from fiscal stimulus. We also continue to favor modern warehouses, particularly in China and South Korea, riding on the rise of e-commerce and the institutionalization of the sector,” Tse added.
Real Estate Opportunities and Investment Strategies in Asia Pacific
China: The stability of the country’s economy and the impact of its credit growth remains one of the region’s greatest opportunities, but also the single greatest risk. Further capital controls announced recently indicate that the government continues to focus on capital market stability while maintaining target growth. It is important to note that capital expatriation is not prohibited. Nonetheless, offshore structures are preferable for investors with shorter investment periods. For investors with a longer-term investment horizon, maintaining flexibility on exit timing remains the key.
Australia: Non-resource driven markets registered record-high transaction prices, bringing about the fastest commercial real estate price run-up in Australia among major developed countries of the world. The strong capital markets in Australia, however, dampen attractive opportunities in the near term.
Japan: Japan’s growth projection has led to a slightly more positive near-term outlook on the office sector than six months ago. However, LaSalle remains cautious due to over high levels of supply putting downward pressure on grade-A Tokyo office rents. Rents of Grade-B offices in strong locations are projected to hold up better, supporting asset repositioning strategies with well-defined investment horizon and exit options.
South Korea: The new direction of the Moon administration is expected to improve the nation’s relationship with China and potentially benefit selected retailers and the hotel sector.
Singapore: Counter-cyclical opportunities are emerging in Singapore office and retail, but offshore investors are advised to adjust their return expectations down, due to strong domestic investor appetite. The speed of improvement in the Singapore residential sector has been surprising on the upside. However, recent adjustments to residential cooling measures have led to limited opportunities for institutional investments.
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Financial Services Experts Share Experiences in Improving Productivity Using Laserfiche
Financial Services Experts Share Experiences…
Long Beach, CA – In one case, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm converted from paper to electronic documents in three months, operated in a “paperless” environment within one year and expects to completely eliminate its file room in two years. In another case, a large independent broker-dealer firm serving more than 100 registered representatives scattered all over the United States and in Hong Kong overcame initial skepticism and implemented an electronic document filing system that has greatly enhanced record-keeping and regulatory filings.
The studies were part of several sessions for financial services providers presented by users of Laserfiche, an electronic document management solutions (EDMS) company serving more than 25,000 organizations worldwide, at the 2008 Laserfiche Institute Conference, held Jan. 14-16 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Conference attendees were also introduced to Laserfiche 8™, an enterprise-server application that provides an open, scalable architecture allowing organizations to unify information coming from disparate sources in multiple formats. In 2007, Laserfiche introduced Intuition™, a powerful new desktop software application customized to address the specific needs of independent investment advisors and small advisory firms.
In the first case study, J.C. Abusaid, a partner at Southern California RIA firm Halbert Hargrove, with $1.5 billion under management, described how he and his partners decided their firm would benefit from electronic document management.
After a bad start with one of the large legacy document management companies, Abusaid discovered Long Beach-based Laserfiche in his own neighborhood. “Laserfiche was the only platform we found that was user-friendly, and easy to understand and operate,” he said. “We knew that we needed not only the document management aspects, but also the scalability and ability to custom integrate into how we did business.”
Abusaid said that once Halbert Hargrove engaged with Laserfiche, it converted all of its paper documents to electronic files within three months, moved to a paperless environment within one year and eliminated its filing room within two years.
“While we haven’t put an actual dollar figure on the value of this system, we know that it has to be in the range of tens of thousands of dollars,” Abusaid added.
During the keynote session on Tuesday, January 15, J.C. Abusaid and Halbert Hargrove Investment Council were presented with a Laserfiche Visionary Award. “Through their unique approach to leveraging technology as a competitive advantage, they have created a powerful, streamlined back-office that has allowed them to scale their business to accommodate their fast growth,” said Timothy Welsh, president of Nexus Strategy LLC. “J.C. and his team started out with a vision for what could be done, and their success has become an example for the industry.”
In the other presentation, Julius Baldueza of Transamerica Financial Advisors described how Laserfiche’s electronic document management solution is a key component of TFA Synergy, the firm’s new paperless platform. He talked about the rapid adoption of the technology by the contingent of more than 800 independent registered representatives and OSJs. “Now, we share virtual file cabinets, nearly eliminating lost or missing documents,” he explained. “This has significantly improved the level of service in the field.”
In addition to these case studies, the conference included presentations by:
Christina Bacon, manager of client records management at Fortis Group Services (Guernsey) Ltd, on the topic “Taming the Paper Monster: Solving Compliance and Business Continuity Requirements with Document Management.”
Tim Welsh, President of Nexus Strategy LLC, a consultant to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) industry, on the topic “Growing your Business in the RIA Marketplace.”
A resource for over 25,000 organizations since 1987, Laserfiche (www.laserfiche.com) creates simple and elegant document management solutions that help organizations run smarter.
Laserfiche recently released Intuition, a document management solution designed specifically for independent investment advisors. Intuition (www.intuitionpro.com) includes all the features an independent advisor needs—at a highly-competitive price. Easy to install, use and maintain, Intuition helps entrepreneurs eliminate laborious, paper-based processes and spend more time actively serving their clients.
Francine Marlenée – 562-988-1688 ext. 211, fmarlenee@laserfiche.com
In the News: Laserfiche Named Best Contract Management Solution for the Financial Services Industry
Laserfiche Honors Industry Leadership in Financial Services, Government and Education
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Does financial pressure make a CFO less likely to blow the whistle?
By Jerome Doraisamy|03 March 2020
A new study has found that corporate financial managers do a great job of detecting signs of potential fraud but are less likely to voice these concerns externally when their company is under pressure to meet financial targets.
In a paper titled “Reporting concerns about earnings quality: an examination of corporate managers” – published in the Journal of Business Ethics – researchers have identified evidence that financial pressures may make it less like that a chief financial officer will blow the whistle and approach external parties.
Lead author Joseph Brazel said: “One of the takeaway messages here is that auditors, investors, regulators and other stakeholders should be prepared to identify red flags on their own, rather than expecting management to raise the issue. That could be challenging.”
The study recruited 204 financial managers (mostly CFOs and controllers), all of whom were given a suite of financial and non-financial information, similar to the materials that CFOs are asked to review at the end of a fiscal year, and asked to respond to a series of questions as if they were acting in the role of CFO.
Split into four groups, the participants were presented with various scenarios: one group was told that the company was under significant pressure to meet a financial target and was also given data that included inconsistencies that could be viewed as indicators of potential fraud, the second group was under pressure but received no red flags, the third received the red flags but was not under pressure to meet the target, and the fourth group had no red flags and no pressure to meet a target.
According to Dr Bob Murray, the joint CEO at consulting firm Fortinberry Murray, the researchers found that financial managers were adept at identifying the red flags “and that the presence of red flags made it more likely that participants would report internally to their CEO about any potential departures from accepted accounting practices”.
“Participants who discovered red flags and were not under financial pressure were also more likely to take their concerns to external parties, like their auditor, if the company didn’t address the potential fraud. However, under pressure, financial managers became significantly less willing to approach external parties,” Dr Murray reflected.
“In other words, in really important scenarios – when the pressure is on – executives don’t blow the whistle. They shut down,” Mr Brazel added.
There were two other variables that played a significant role, Dr Murray continued: executives who had been with their company for a longer time were more likely to keep quiet about their concerns.
“And, CFOs who came from accounting backgrounds were much more likely to go public with their concerns than CFOs from a finance or banking background,” he said.
“Broadly speaking, when a company was under pressure to hit a financial target, managers felt that the short-term harm of blowing the whistle on red flags was too high to risk – even though it could lead to professional ruin if any fraud ever came to light,” said Mr Brazel.
“That’s likely because, in the scenarios we presented, there was the possibility that reporting red flags to the external parties could result in a failure to meet financial target – and that could lead to the company’s bankruptcy.
“In short, while financial managers are very good at identifying red flags, and can be relied on to report internally, they’re reluctant to report potential fraud publicly when the pressure is on.”
Reflecting on the findings, Dr Murray said the research was interesting in that prior studies have shown that the same dynamic occurs with bullying and harassment in the workplace.
“When a business is on the edge financially or when there is a danger that the targets set for the financial period are not going to be met then there is a great temptation to not report or punish bad behavior – especially when the person concerned is deemed to be important to the financial wellbeing of the business,” he posited.
Jerome Doraisamy
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Coronavirus - Who could be affected after government tells 1.5m people to isolate for three months?
'I don't underestimate what we're asking of people. It will be tough.'
Woman in isolation at home for virus outbreak
The government has ordered 1.5 million people not to leave home for three months as it tries to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.
More than a million people with complex health conditions including specific types of cancers and other diseases are set to be told to stay at home by the NHS.
Those who will be told to stay at home are set to receive letters from the NHS, as well as text messages and phone calls, in the coming week telling them what they should do.
Under the order people are being told to avoid face to face contact with others, although people living in the same household will not be forced to replicate this.
It comes after United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) suspended patient visiting with immediate effect at hospitals in the county, and after the number of deaths in the UK rose to 281.
Coronavirus in Lincolnshire
Latest Covid-19 advice
Following the announcement on Sunday, March 22, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said that now was the time to "go further" to shield clinically vulnerable people.
"In recent weeks heroic workers in the NHS, social care and public services in local government have been shouldering the country's burden," he said.
"I think we owe it to them and the most vulnerable in society to stay home, to protect the NHS and, by doing this, to save lives.
"And so today we have to go further to shield the most clinically vulnerable people to help save their lives."
Mr Jenrick said: "I don't underestimate what we're asking of people. It will be tough.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick made the announcement
"But if you are one of these people I want to assure these people on behalf of the Government that you are not alone."
Mr Jenrick said the Government was creating a network of local hubs to deliver medicines by pharmacists to the most vulnerable and lonely people.
Groceries would be delivered by councils working with supermarkets, with "parcels left on the doorstep".
"Nobody needs to worry about getting the food and essential items that they will need."
He said there would be opportunities for members of the public to volunteer.
Who could be affected by the announcement?
The government is asking people who are extremely vulnerable to catching the disease to stay at home for 12 weeks.
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According to the government, this includes people in the following groups:
People receiving treatment for cancers of the blood such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
People with rare disease and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections, such as SCIF or homozygous sickle cell.
People on immunosuppression therapies that significantly increase the risk of infection.
Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
In a statement on its website, the government said:
"Shielding is for your personal protection, it is your choice to decide whether to follow the measures we advise. Individuals who have been given a prognosis of less than 6 months to live, and some others in special circumstances, could decide not to undertake shielding. This will be a deeply personal decision. We advise calling your GP or specialist to discuss this.
Lincolnshire Co-op announces raft of changes to stores amid coronavirus outbreak
Desperate search to find missing Reggie hit by coronavirus outbreak
"The NHS in England is directly contacting people with these conditions to provide further advice.
"If you think you fall into one of the categories of extremely vulnerable people listed above and you have not received a letter by Sunday 29 March 2020 or been contacted by your GP, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.
"We understand this is an anxious time and people considered extremely vulnerable will understandably have questions and concerns. Plans are being readied to make sure you can rely on a wide range of help and support."
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
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5'5''...Started playing golf at the age of 6...Credits her father as the individual who influenced her career the most...Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt...Hobbies include tennis, biking, spending time with her friends and family, and her pet dogs.
Seven events played
Three events played
Recorded a season-best finish of T23 at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout
Recorded season-best finish of T9 at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic
Two events played in 2012
In 2011, best finish was a tie for 66th at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.
In 2010, won the City of Hammond Classic on the Symetra Tour.
In 2009, turned professional in August; finished 25th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, where she earned Priority List Category 16 for the 2010 LPGA season.
Hill attended Wake Forest University, and in 2009, was a Second Team All-American selection. In her career at WFU, she recorded one win and 13 overall top-10 finishes. She's a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player. As a junior golfer in 2005, Hill was an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rolex All-American and an EA Sports All-American. In 2004, she was named to the AJGA Rolex All-American Second Team, and was Honorable Mention in 2003. Hill won the New York State Junior Championship three times (2000-02).
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On the Side of Our Calaguas Vibe
The vibe was just overflowing when we left the sandy shores of Mahabang Buhangin and it was the same vibe that energized us on our way back to mainland. The excitement was just too much that we had to shake a bit off by exploring the side destinations of our Instaviaje 5.
Instaviaje is our own (IG travel hub: @viajerongpinoy) version of an Instagram meet and we gave it a twist. We go out of the city to discover travel destinations with our IG friends.
The great thing about this instaviaje was we had a van for the trip so getting around the sites in Paracale and Daet was at our disposal. We wanted to maximize the interesting sites that we can get our lenses into.
Paracale: Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church
Quietly situated at the center of town is a small church that happens to be one of the first three churches to be built in Camarines Norte. The Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church was established in 1611, long before the discovery of gold deposits in this town. The old stone church is a heritage site that would impress you as it silently watches over the town buzzing with tourists bound for Calaguas.
The Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church is one of the oldest churches in Camarines Norte
The simple façade of the church is one that is quite impressive. The squat and imposing structure, with the growth of bushes on its façade, really shows the age of the church. It is made from adobe blocks that made the structure withstand time. Two belfries on both sides of the church give it a sturdier look.
The magnificent retablos of the church. Intricately beautiful.
The simple exterior of the church is a complete contrast to the grand interiors of the church. As you enter the church, the grand altar will catch your attention with its retablos. Three retablos highlights the church’s altar. The image of the Our Lady of Purification is the central attraction of the church. The walls have been maintained and it gives you that sense of safety inside the sanctuary.
As we were preparing to leave for Daet, some locals approached us and asked if we had the chance to see a young local movie personality in Calaguas to which we politely said no. The locals seemed so eager to catch any bit of story of the young actor while I was left awe-struck with the piece of Philippine history in their town.
Daet, Camarines Norte
The municipality of Daet was a thriving community even before Spanish “discovered” the place. Its name is derived from the Bicol word “dai-daitan” that means “close to each other”. It was believed that when the Spaniards came, they found the community clustered together. Presently, Daet is a popular surfing spot and is considered to be the “Gateway to Bicolandia”. Surfers and enthusiasts flock to the city to learn surfing or to simply ride the waves. However, Daet is more than just a surfing spot because it also has pockets of interesting historical and religious spots.
Foodie Stop: Ksarap!
Our first stop in Daet was meant to satisfy the rumbling of our tummies. One of our viajeros suggested that we try out Ksarap! The restaurant is easy to find because it is located along Vinzons Avenue, a major road in the city. It is just right in front of SM Hypermart.
The customary group shot before meals. Photo courtesy of the Calaguas Viajeros.
The interior of Ksarap! is quite homey with it house-inspired interiors. And with the house packed with guests then it gave us an idea that the restaurant is somewhat famous so it was worth a try. Food was really good and fits the budget so if you happen to be in Daet, do check out Ksarap!
First Rizal Monument
It is a simple monument made from stone blocks that was put one on top of the other. Simple and yet this monument in the center of Daet holds the honor of being the first tribute to the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Unveiled in 1898, the monument was an initiative by Lt. Col. Sanz and Lt. Col. Alegre of the Philippine Revolutionary Army. The foundation of the monument is made of mortars and boulders from a Spanish jail in town.
The first monument in honor of Jose Rizal in the country was erected in Daet.
It was a humble experience for a person like me who loves history. Getting to visit this historical heritage site is my way of giving honor to our Filipino brothers and sisters who value our sovereignty.
A block away from the Rizal Monument is also one of the oldest churches in Camarines Norte – the Saint John the Baptist Church. The church was established in 1611 by Franciscan Missionaries.
The facade of St. John the Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in the province.
The simple façade of the church make it look like a local church or “kapilya” but do not be deceived by its looks as this church is mute witness to the country and Daet’s rich history. A single belfry juts out from the back of the church. A structure with a dome can be found on the right side of the church.
The interiors of the church give you an impression of huge space.
But do not be deceived by the church’s exteriors because the interior is quick to impress the visitors because of its huge expanse. The altar stands out with its gold-colored retablo with its intricate carvings. The white-washed interior gives visitors the wide space feeling and highlights the altar of the church.
Camarines Norte Provincial Capitol
Just across the street from the Cathedral of John the Baptist is the sprawling compound of the province’s capitol that serves as the home of local government offices.
The Provincial Capitol of Camarines Norte.
The capitol grounds have a sprawling open space park in front with monuments of local heroes. We had a great time walking and playing around the field and taking pictures of amazing jumpshots.
The esteemed directors with the stars as we shot the jump.
On one side, we saw a billboard of the amazing tourist spots of the province, a great way to promote their spots to visitors visiting Daet.
This is the spot that every surfer enthusiast would definitely head off when they go to Daet. Bagasbas Beach prides itself with a 2 kilometer stretch of beach that faces the Pacific. With great waves coming from the Pacific, one can either ride the waves or, at least, learn how to ride the waves.
Bagasbas Beach faces the great Pacific.
The breeze from the ocean was refreshing when we all stepped out of our van. I was amazed with the length of the beach. From our location, we could see people lined along the shores and in the water. What really impressed me was the presence of actual a lifeguard on his post. It was the local version of Baywatch.
Bagasbas Beach is a fave spot of surfers.
The lifeguard was accommodating to allow us to go up the tower that gave us an outstanding view of the beach. We took our time enjoying the breeze, scene, and watching people from our post.
The beachfront is also lined up with restaurants and inns that cater to visitors of the city who wants to enjoy the beach.
Our Calaguas trip and sidetrip was one weekend to remember. It gave us a back-to-the-basic experience where our mobile gadgets were merely instruments for capturing moments and not for communication. It forced us to sit down and talk to each other, face-to-face. It makes you value the old form of communication, rather than what we have now. On my point-of-view, the trip made me stop to enjoy the simple things in life that sometimes we get so entangled with how the world makes us run that we forget how to run our own world.
Calaguas is a back to the basics experience.
On a side note, Calaguas was a perfect destination for our Instaviaje and the people that we are with make the trip memorable. There is still a lot to explore in our short visit to Daet which prompted me to include it in my bucketlist for next year. Again, what really made this trip stand out was the viajeros who laughed with us and shared part of their lives with the other viajeros. I will always look forward to future Calaguas trips because it will bring back the images of the smiles of the viajeros that helped me discover my vibe on my first trip to Calaguas.
Instaviaje destinations are just the instruments that bring viajeros closer.
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← We think we know the big picture of our universe. Might a tiny measurement show us we are wrong?
A warrior landscape… →
IPPR looks at a university near you!
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Martin Ince
Overseas readers start here. The Institute for Public Policy Research has been a top UK think tank since the 1990s, when it was started by David Miliband, later foreign secretary, and brother of the leader of the Labour Party. Yes, you are right to think that we are eliding a lot of history here, but it is a little beyond the scope of this post. Anyway, the IPPR is, to lapse into cliché, a true thought leader of the UK left.
Overseas readers can now stop here.
Because the IPPR has just called for evidence for a new inquiry it is holding into higher education in England. You know, England. The country that houses Cambridge, top university in the QS World University Rankings, as well as Oxford, UCL and many other global hitters in planetary HE. That nation whose university finances are saved by foreign student fees, and which is the biggest swallower of European research money (in tandem with the rest of the UK).
So what has the IPPR done? It has asked seven worthy but not very original questions about the future of universities (research, funding, equity, employability, that sort of thing). While some of the questions look at the issues in terms
of the whole UK, none is about England or the UK as a participant in global higher education, despite the existence of about three million overseas student around the world. Those who come to the UK are important financially and academically to UK universities, and are a self-funding form of British soft power.
IPPR’s stated aim is to produce a successor document to the big pillars of UK higher education thought: Robbins in the 1960s, Dearing in the 1990s and Browne (a little less magisterially) in the 21st century. But without a proper view of the English and UK systems on the world stage, it risks being a footnote.
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Midterm Election Watch: The Highest Stakes of All
All to play for in Liberty Nation's special series on the 2018 midterms.
By: Graham J Noble January 13, 2018 Columns
Editor’s Note: With so much heat rather than light in the media world today, Liberty Nation plans the following series on the crucial midterm elections that will be taking place. These elections will likely determine the course of the Trump presidency and as such should be looked at with in-depth analysis. Thus, each week LN author Graham Noble will be giving our readers a state-by-state look at the upcoming elections. Today he begins his series with an overview that shows the stakes are indeed high.
Like him or not, it is hard to deny that President Donald Trump has made politics more interesting than it has been for many years. He has also, though unintentionally, made politics more polarizing than even his predecessor. The political right had nothing but disdain for the agenda pursued by former President Barack Obama. It is fair to say, however, that Obama the man was never loathed and despised the way the left loathes and despises Trump. For this reason, the 2018 midterm elections will not only have profound legislative repercussions but, quite possibly, constitutional implications not faced by the American political establishment since the 1970s.
Should the Democratic Party gain a meaningful majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in November, the Trump agenda will be all but stopped in its tracks. Articles of Impeachment may even be advanced, regardless of whether such a course of action is either justified or politically expedient.
The Fight to Control a Divided Senate
What, then, can be rationally predicted for the midterms and what potential scenarios come into play as a result? Much of the buzz surrounding this year’s congressional elections has concerned the Senate. Of the 100 seats, 34 will be contested this coming November. Currently, the Republican Party holds a precarious majority with 51 seats. The Democratic Party holds 47seats, but the two independent Senators invariably vote with the Democrats. Those two Senators are Angus S. King of Maine and Bernard Sanders of Vermont, who ran as a Democrat in the presidential primary.
Talk of a Democratic Party majority in the Senate after the midterms is purely speculative, however. While Democrats need only gain two seats to take control, they will be defending seats in 26 of the 34 contests.Larry Sabato, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, (who admittedly was historically wrong in 2016 with the rest of the polling class) rates only two of the eight Republican Senate seats up for election as being a ‘toss-up.’ Sabato grades the remaining six as ‘likely’ or ‘safe’ Republican seats. On the Democratic side, Sabato assesses three seats as ‘toss-up,’ six seats ‘lean’ Democrat and the rest ‘likely’ or ‘safe’ Democratic seats.
On the one hand, then, the Democratic Party needs only a minimal net gain to take control of the Senate. On the other hand, the party must fight to retain 14 seats that Sabato rates as less than ‘safe.’ Many of these seats are in states that Trump carried in 2016. The professor predicts the Republicans will lose two seats and the Democrats three, while five seats remain a ‘toss-up.’ Such predictions make for a nail-biting election day for both parties.
The Real Fight: The House of Representatives
The real questions surround the election for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. The House is where most legislation originates and where all spending bills are created. The Republicans currently control the House with a 239 – 193 majority (three seats are now vacant in this, the first session of the 115th Congress, due to resignations).
Determined to deny the president any legislative success – even at the cost of the economy or the safety and welfare of the American people –a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives will likely not vote for any legislation supported by the president. With a majority in the House, the Democrats may find themselves under pressure from the extreme left to introduce articles of impeachment of the president. Such a move may, in fact, alienate a section of the Democratic base that would, no doubt, prefer the party focus on legislating.
The Party Playbooks
Of all the issues in the public eye, it is the state of the economy that will most likely determine which party emerges from the midterms with a majority in the house. Republican success in passing historic tax reform could end up being the deciding factor, although Trump’s slashing of government regulation will also have a profound effect on the nation’s economic well-being. The Democratic Party has yet to formulate a comprehensive economic platform to run on in November.
The Republicans will have to put up or shut up, as it were, in terms of embracing the Trump agenda. In the absence of an economic message, the Democrats will likely run on healthcare, social issues and their resistance to President Trump. Should they focus exclusively on the latter, they will have to hope Trump the man and Trump the president is as unpopular as they believe.
Join us next week as our series focuses on House and Senate Races in Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona.
Tags: 2018CongressdemocratselectionsGOPMidtermSenatestakes
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Lectures from Hell XIX: Use Their Morality as a Weapon
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Apple Partners With The Conservation Fund to Protect Working Forests, Ensure Paper Supplies
Thursday April 16, 2015 7:53 AM PDT by Eric Slivka
The Conservation Fund today announced that it has partnered with Apple to acquire over 36,000 acres of working forest in Maine and North Carolina, a move that will ensure both the continued health of the forests and Apple's paper supplies.
“Apple is clearly leading by example—one that we hope others will follow,” said Larry Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund. “By all accounts, the loss of America’s working forests is one of our nation’s greatest environmental challenges. The initiative announced today is precedent-setting.”
The forests that Apple and The Conservation Fund are protecting are larger than the land area of the City of San Francisco. Through its commitment, Apple can ensure a steady supply of sustainably harvested timber to paper and pulp mills.
Apple vice president for environmental initiatives Lisa Jackson tells BuzzFeed that the move is the company's latest effort to ensure the sustainability of its supply chain.
“Imagine if every time you opened a package from a company you knew that it came from a working forest. And imagine if companies took seriously their paper chain and made sure that was renewable, just like energy. And imagine if they didn’t just buy renewable paper, but took the step of ensuring that they would stay working forests forever.”
Apple has worked very hard over the years to exert as much control as it can over its supply chain in order to create a competitive advantage and ensure consistent supplies and pricing. With more recent forays into renewable energy production and now even paper, Apple is proving able to both secure its supply chain and demonstrate its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Update 7:56 AM: Jackson and Selzer have written a blog post on Medium addressing the partnership.
This partnership is mutually beneficial. Apple is quantifying the virgin paper footprint from its packaging. Apple is committed to zeroing out that impact by using paper more efficiently, increasing recycled paper content, sourcing paper sustainably, and conserving acreage of working forests around the world equivalent to its virgin paper footprint. The Conservation Fund is committed to identifying and conserving those acres in the U.S. Through conservation easements, they will ensure these lands remain forests in the future. This helps preserve the supply of raw materials for paper while providing permanent environmental protection and fighting climate change.
Tags: The Conservation Fund, forest
How many acres of forest did they clearcut for their datacenter's solar panel installations?
There's always a cost/payoff ratio for conservation issues. Yes, for their North Carolina facility they cleared out some trees. But does the fact that their center is now powered by 100% renewable energy balance the loss of the trees?
There was a controversy at my workplace. At the beginning of the workday, cars were lined up a mile down the road in a bottleneck waiting to turn down the road to the workplace. So they created a new entrance. To do that, they had to cut through a forested area, and that's where the controversy was. Some people complained about destroying the forest. But by creating that road, it relieved the bottleneck. Cars were no longer sitting there idling for upwards of a half hour. So does the reduction in carbon emissions from creating the new road balance the removal of the trees?
It's funny that using more paper, rather than less, creates an incentive to plant more trees. Viewed this way, an office that goes through a lot of paper is greener than a paperless office.
Namjins
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Just no pleasing some people. IMO, at least they're doing something; It is more than most.
Tilpots
Drive by this forest all the time. Big news in these parts. Happy Apple will be stewards of these forests.
UnfetteredMind
How much paper does Apple use?
Good question. And with sales increasing, I'm assuming it's going up over time (although I believe they do try to make the packages as small as reasonably possible). From the article:
Apple declined to say how much paper it uses in its packaging, but the company does sell hundreds of millions of iOS devices a year, each of which comes in a paper package thats composed of about one-third nonrecycled fiber. According to Jackson, the paper produced by these two forests is equivalent to nearly half the virgin that is, nonrecycled fiber that went into Phone, iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple TV packaging last year. Where we want to get, of course, is 100 percent, said Jackson.
So this investment only currently covers "nearly half" their virgin paper fiber use. It's a start and I'm sure they'll expand it.
waterskier2007
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Chris Masters Addresses Triple H's Weight Loss Jab, Conquering Drug Addiction
In May 2006, Chris Masters’ booming career with WWE at the time would come to a screeching halt when he was sent to a drug rehabilitation center due to his addiction with painkillers. Speaking to Power Slam, the former WWE Superstar addresses the matter.
“It was a developing thing that kind of escalated in 2006 and became a problem. You know, I had to go away for a couple months to rehab after the company became aware of my problem. It took a while to get over that. I went into rehab, not even ready to deal with the mindset that I was an addict,” he says.
“It was so much responsibility and I don’t think I was mature enough to handle all that opportunity that was given to me. I didn’t really appreciate it, I made a lot of mistakes and it kind of derailed my career. It took a while for me to get myself back on track, but I did, and now I’m completely fine, clean and sober. But I’m a walking miracle. At one point, I was taking 75 painkillers a day.”
Masters lost a noticeable amount of muscle mass by the time he returned to WWE programming on the August 28, 2006 episode of Raw with color commentator Jerry Lawler acknowledging him as the “leaner and meaner Chris Masters.” Masters appeared in a backstage segment on the October 2, 2006 Raw with Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Eric Bischoff in which he said he was “thinking about writing a book on nutrition.” Triple H quipped in response, “Really? What are you going to call it: How To Lose Fifty Pounds In Four Weeks?” Interviewer Greg Lambert feels the remark was deliberately intended to ridicule his loss of muscle, which conflicted with what WWE was purportedly trying to achieve with its Wellness policy.
Masters responds, “First of all, let me say that Triple H is a big ball-buster. I don’t think he’s as devious as people make him out to be, but he’s a ball-buster, albeit an equal opportunity ball-buster: he takes shots at Shawn Michaels all the time. They were always taking jabs at each other. So, it might have been the wrong message, yes, at the time. But I don’t think it was meant as a malicious thing.”
A few weeks later, John “Bradshaw” Layfield made a similar crack at Masters’ expense in reference to MVP’s No Mercy opponent Marty Garner. He said, “The guy looked like he had escaped from a concentration camp: the guy was as skinny as Chris Masters.”
Masters responds, “I won’t take anything JBL says too seriously, because the guy’s an idiot [laughs]. Look at his body! Who is he to criticize anybody? But I didn’t realize it was such as a big deal. People wanted to point the finger and say [the weight loss] was because I was on steroids … But that wasn’t my problem. I didn’t go away because of that or come back leaner because of that: it was because I would wake up every morning in rehab and run two miles as my therapy. I wasn’t able to do as much weight training. So, I did gradually lose a lot of weight. I didn’t realize, coming back, it would be so dramatic and people would make such a big deal about it.”
Masters packed the muscle back as months later his physique had noticeably enlarged. Lambert asks, “Was that because you been stung by [the comments]?”
“Part of it was. Eventually, it wore on me, but not at first,” Masters says. “I was happy with myself: I didn’t mind being smaller. But after a certain point, it probably go to me, so I cut back on the aerobics and running, and went back on the heavy weights.”
Masters was suspended by WWE in August 2007 and November 2007 as a result of violations of their drug testing policy. This led to his first release from he company on November 8, 2007. He says of the events, “I hadn’t overcome my prescription pain pill problem. I had taken something that hadn’t been prescribed to me, and I got red-flagged for that.”
Masters eventually conquered his drug addiction and was rehired by WWE in June 2009. He explains what led him to change his ways.
“I’d got fired from the job I always wanted. I’d blown through six figures worth of money, and I knew I had to change my ways. We’ve seen a lot unfortunate tragedies in the business. I’ve seen Test and Umaga, who I knew well, pass away and it always affects me. There’s always a sense of relief that I was able to catch myself and not let it get to that point. It gets to a point where you either hit rock bottom or you’re going to die,” Masters says.
“I hit rock bottom, then a second rock bottom, and, by the third, it finally woke me up. The same thing has happened to Matt Hardy. But I hear now, it looks like he’s doing great. Hopefully, he’s reached enough rock bottoms that now, he’s back on track.”
Video and photos of Lord Tensai’s Raw debut
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by Steve Ellwanger , January 7, 2021
Cheetos’ Chester Cheetah has a new target on his back.
It comes via a campaign for Outstanding Foods promoting the recent launch of the 2016 startup’s plant-based TakeOut Meal-In-A-Bag Puffs.
A spot from the Early Morning Riot agency/production company opens with a young girl holding two bags that resemble Cheetos. She says she used to love to snack on them, but her parents won’t let her anymore “because their ingredients are sh..."
Her last word is drowned out by the sound of a toilet flushing after the youngster dumps the contents of the bags.“That’s where those ingredients belong,” she says.
Grabbing a bag of TakeOut puffs, she adds, “They taste even better than the ones with the Cheetah.”
According to Outstanding Foods co-founder and CMO Bill Glaser, the point is less about going head-to-head with other snack food brands than playing off their weaknesses -- and assuaging consumer guilt.
“What people love about some of those bigger brands is the great taste and experience,” Glaser tells Marketing Daily. “But consumers have become much more aware of what’s in some of the products they consume—whether it’s artificial ingredients, dairy, all types of fillers, salt and fat.”
As seen in this spot, TakeOut’s Meal-In-A-Bag is positioned as a snack “that can double as a meal,” owing to 21 grams of protein per bag, along with various vitamins and minerals.
While TakeOut launched in late October—at a time when snacking habits had been revamped by the pandemic—the brand’s marketing was a reflection of pre-pandemic consumer behavior, according to Glaser.
“Lots of people who eat snacks feel guilty after[ward], because they enjoy the taste and experience but don’t feel good about the ingredients or the lack of nutrition," he notes. “We didn’t develop the product for COVID, but it’s created a new use case of busy families that are being pulled in every possible by their kids and other responsibilities.”
Glaser and Outstanding Foods co-founder Dave Anderson—whose background includes leading the product development team for Beyond Burger—first approached the snacks aisle in 2019 with PigOuts, which were bacon chips made from mushrooms.
After encountering manufacturing and supply chain challenges, Outstanding Foods pulled the mushroom bacon chips and replaced them with plant-based pork rinds under the PigOut brand in February of 2020.
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16 Fun Facts About The Carol Burnett Show
After a short stint in the New York theater world, comedienne Carol Burnett landed a job as a regular on The Garry Moore Show in 1959. She caught the attention of CBS executives, who offered her her own series in 1967. With her husband Joe Hamilton at the helm, Burnett broke new ground as the first female host of a TV variety show. The Carol Burnett Show ran for 11 seasons and earned a handful of Emmy Awards in the process. To celebrate the legendary comedienne's 85th birthday, here are some fun facts about the show and the folks who made it so side-splittingly hilarious.
1. CAROL BURNETT’S MOTHER WANTED HER TO BE A WRITER.
As Carol Burnett painfully recalled later in life, whenever she’d expressed an interest in a career in the theater as a teen, her mother would always dissuade her and recommend that she would have better luck studying to become a writer. “You can always write, no matter what you look like,” she would add.
2. A TOTAL STRANGER HELPED TO LAUNCH BURNETT’S CAREER.
As she was nearing graduation from UCLA, Burnett and several fellow drama students were invited to a departing professor’s house to perform at his bon voyage party. She performed a scene from the musical Annie Get Your Gun and later that evening, while she was standing in the buffet line, a man she’d never seen before approached her and complimented her performance. He then inquired what she planned to do with her life. She confessed that she dreamed of going to New York one day for a career on the stage, but seeing that she barely had enough gas money to drive back to Los Angeles that evening, it would be a very long time before she’d make it to Broadway. The man told her he’d be happy to lend her $1000 to get her started, with three conditions: that she repay him without interest in five years, that she was never to reveal his identity, and that once she was successful she must pass a similar kindness along to another person in need. (After pondering the offer over the weekend and consulting her mother and grandmother—who advised her to steer clear of the strange man who was probably involved in human trafficking or something worse—she took a chance and accepted his check.)
3. VICKI LAWRENCE CAUGHT BURNETT’S ATTENTION BY WRITING HER A FAN LETTER.
CBS Television - eBay, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
When Vicki Lawrence cut her hair in a short “pixie” cut as a high school senior, many of her classmates commented on her resemblance to Carol Burnett. Lawrence’s somewhat overbearing stage mother encouraged her to write Burnett a letter, which she did, enclosing a photo and a newspaper article that mentioned her upcoming appearance in the Inglewood, California Miss Fireball Contest. To her surprise, a seven-months-pregnant Burnett showed up at the pageant to cheer her on. When Burnett had her baby, Lawrence took some flowers to the hospital, thinking she’d just drop them off. But when the nurse on duty saw her, she immediately mistook her for Burnett’s real-life half-sister Chrissie and exclaimed, “Wait until you see the baby!” and ushered her into Carol’s room.
4. LAWRENCE ENDED UP PLAYING BURNETT’S SISTER ON THE SHOW.
When they were casting The Carol Burnett Show, the star remembered the teen and hired her despite her lack of experience. At first her only role was in the recurring “Carol and Sis” sketch, in which Lawrence played “Chrissie,” Burnett’s younger sister. Lawrence recalled in her 1995 autobiography that Burnett was very nurturing to all her co-stars, making sure everyone got their share of the best jokes, but it was Harvey Korman who took her under his wing in the beginning and taught her about timing, dialects, and working with props.
5. THE Q&A AT THE BEGINNING WAS BURNETT’S HUSBAND’S IDEA.
By CBS Television - eBay, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Joe Hamilton was not only Carol Burnett’s husband, he was also the show’s executive producer. It was traditional at the time (and still is, in some cases) to have a stand-up comic step onstage before a show to tell some jokes and “warm up” the audience. Hamilton was wary of going that route, however; as Burnett later recalled, “He worried, ‘What if the guy is funnier than the rest of you?’” He thought it would be a good ice-breaker if Burnett herself went out front before the proceedings to welcome the audience and answer a couple of questions. Over the next 11 seasons, the question that she was asked the most was “Can you do your Tarzan yell?”
6. BURNETT ONCE USED HER TARZAN YELL AS A FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.
While shopping for nylon stockings at New York City’s Bergdorf Goodman one day, the saleswoman recognized Burnett and asked for her autograph for her grandchildren. When it came time to check out, Burnett realized that she didn’t have her credit card or driver’s license in her wallet. She inquired if she could write a check. “I’ll have to see some ID,” replied the woman who’d requested an autograph just moments before. The floor manager intervened and told Burnett that she’d accept her check if Burnett would do her Tarzan yell. Burnett complied, prompting a security guard to kick open a nearby door, burst in and point his gun at her.
7. LYLE WAGONNER WAS THE FIRST CENTERFOLD IN PLAYGIRL MAGAZINE.
Joe Hamilton was looking for a handsome, “Rock Hudson-type” when casting the announcer for his wife’s show. Former encyclopedia salesman Lyle Waggoner landed the job not only due to his devastating good looks, but also because he had a good sense of humor about how pretty he was. He was even good-natured about the teasing he got from his castmates after posing for the centerfold of Playgirl magazine’s premiere issue in 1973.
8. HARVEY KORMAN WAS THE FIRST CAST MEMBER HIRED.
The producers wanted a “Harvey Korman-type” for Burnett’s second banana, but didn’t bother to actually ask Korman if he was interested in the job because he was already a regular on The Danny Kaye Show, and most likely he wouldn’t leave a steady job for an unproven new show. Burnett herself spotted Korman in the CBS parking lot one day and “practically threw him over the hood of a car” begging him to join her show. Unbeknownst to her, Kaye’s show was about to get the axe after a four-year run, so Korman cheerfully accepted her offer shortly after that first meeting.
9. TIM CONWAY RARELY FOLLOWED HIS SCRIPT.
Conway had been a frequent guest star on the show, and when Lyle Waggoner decided to leave the show in 1974 (he felt that he was being “underused”), Conway was hired to replace him the following year. Conway was legendary for veering off-script and ad-libbing for lengthy stretches, to the amusement of some of his co-stars (Korman) and annoyance of others (Lawrence, who sometimes resented Conway’s disruptions and spotlight-hogging). Lawrence finally slipped her own ad-lib in on one memorable occasion, as Conway rambled on and on about an elephant during a “Family” sketch. Her NSFW remark brought the rest of the cast to their knees and was said to be Dick Clark’s favorite all-time outtake on his Bloopers and Practical Jokes TV show.
10. MRS. WIGGINS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS AN ELDERLY WOMAN.
Conway created the Mr. Tudball/Mrs. Wiggins characters and wrote (or ad-libbed) many of their sketches. His original concept had Mrs. Wiggins being ancient, slow, and forgetful. But costume designer Bob Mackie decided that Burnett had played too many “old lady” characters on the show and designed a very voluptuous look for her instead. He explained at the time that he had certain “ditzy” CBS secretaries in mind when he stitched the curvy costume together.
11. THE SHOW THAT BECAME MAMA’S FAMILY STARTED OUT AS A MUCH DARKER ONE-OFF SKETCH.
A sketch called “The Reunion,” which originally aired in March of 1974, featured the characters that eventually became known as “The Family.” In this initial installment, Roddy McDowall played Phillip Harper, the successful younger brother of Eunice, returning home for a visit after winning a Pulitzer Prize. The family members were far crankier and more argumentative (and perhaps more representative of actual family life as they talked over one another and changed topics as soon as a thought occurred to them) than the cartoonish characters they eventually came to be on the syndicated series Mama’s Family. The piece proved to be so popular that 30 more “Family” sketches appeared over the next four seasons, with such guest stars as Alan Alda and Betty White turning up as members of the extended Harper family.
12. IT WAS BURNETT’S IDEA TO MAKE EUNICE AND HER FAMILY SOUTHERN.
The creators of "The Family" sketch were The Carol Burnett Show staff writers Jenna McMahon and Dick Clair. McMahon hailed from Kansas City, Missouri, and envisioned the Harpers to be of typical Midwestern stock, but as Burnett read the initial script she heard her own Texan and Arkansan family members speaking. She started speaking the lines with a pronounced Southern drawl, and Vicki Lawrence soon followed suit.
13. DICK VAN DYKE WAS A REGULAR FOR A SHORT TIME.
Harvey Korman left The Carol Burnett Show at the end of season 10 to star in his own sitcom on ABC. (The Harvey Korman Show was cancelled after five episodes.) Dick Van Dyke was brought in as a replacement, but he was never a very good fit. As Burnett commented after the fact, “When Harvey put on a wig and a dress, he became a woman; when Dick Van Dyke did it, he was Dick Van Dyke in a wig and a dress.” Van Dyke wasn’t overjoyed with the job, either; he lived in Arizona at the time and the monthly 4000-mile commute was exhausting. He was released from his contract in November 1977.
14. BURNETT’S “WENT WITH THE WIND” CURTAIN ROD DRESS WAS BOB MACKIE’S BRAINSTORM.
Burnett’s Gone with the Wind parody has made many “funniest shows of all time” lists over the years, and one of the defining moments of the sketch was when Carol (as "Starlett O’Hara”) descends the stairs at Tara wearing the green velvet drapes with the curtain rod still in them and admits, “I saw it in a window and I couldn’t resist.” The original script called for Burnett to have the curtains tossed haphazardly over her shoulders, but Mackie decided that it would be funnier to create an actual dress and leave the hanger intact across her shoulders. He is slightly bitter all these years later that of all his magnificent creations, that “joke” dress has become his signature piece; of all the memorable glamorous gowns he’s created for celebrities over the decades, that curtain rod dress is the one that hangs in the Smithsonian.
15. CONWAY’S FAMOUS “DENTIST” SKIT WAS BASED ON AN ACTUAL INCIDENT.
When Conway was in the Army having some work done on his teeth, the dentist accidentally injected his own thumb with Novocain. Conway exaggerated the experience to hilarious effect in a classic skit that left Harvey Korman struggling to contain his laughter. During a 2013 interview, Conway told Conan O’Brien that Korman actually wet himself from laughing so hard.
16. THERE WAS ONLY ONE CELEBRITY GUEST THAT BURNETT WAS NEVER ABLE TO BOOK.
Over the 11 seasons the show ran, a veritable “Who’s Who” of the entertainment industry did a guest turn, from Steve Martin to Julie Andrews to then-governor Ronald Reagan to Robin Williams to Ethel Merman. The only guest who Burnett dearly wanted to have but never did get was Bette Davis. Davis was willing to appear but demanded more money that the show had budgeted. Joe Hamilton advised his wife that if they gave in to Davis’s demand, it would set an unpleasant precedent.
Vicki!: The True-Life Adventures of Miss Fireball, by Vicki Lawrence
This Time Together, by Carol Burnett
Let’s Bump Up the Lights (The Carol Burnett Show DVD extra)
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Bay Area cannabis researchers claim…
Bay Area cannabis researchers claim breakthrough against chronic diseases
Bill Heriot, founder of Liposome Formulations Inc., holds a model of a liposome, a microscopic structure used to administer medications, at his company headquarters in Novato, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Bill Heriot, founder of Liposome Formulations Inc., holds a jar of distilled THCV at his facilities in Novato, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Bill Heriot, founder of Liposome Formulations Inc., walks through his organic chemistry lab in Novato, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Bill Heriot, founder of Liposome Formulations Inc., left, and George Bianchini, founder of Medi-Cone, chat at Liposome Formulations Inc. in Novato, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
By Will Houston | whouston@marinij.com | Marin Independent Journal
A Marin County medical cannabis and pharmaceutical coalition says it has found a way to ramp up production of one of the rarest compounds produced by marijuana flowers that early studies have shown could be a way to treat diabetes, lower cholesterol and provide other health benefits.
This cannabinoid known as THCV, or tetrahydrocannabivarin, is considered one of the rarest cannabinoids and is only found in trace amounts in most strains of the plant.
Dr. Michael Moskowitz, of San Rafael, president of the Bay Area Pain Medical Associates and a local psychiatrist, is the founder of the Medical Cannabis Research Consortium of Marin, which has been studying THCV. He began recommending medical cannabis to patients in 2015 and found it had several subjective benefits, including individuals reducing psychiatric and opioid pain medication use.
Interested in more coverage of the California marijuana industry? Head to TheCannifornian.com or subscribe to The Cannifornian newsletter to get cannabis-related news, features and more.
He said he now plans to study THCV’s effects on one patient who has been severely affected by both youth and adult type II diabetes.
“The only thing that THCV does is it’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory, it’s neuroprotective, which means it protects the nervous system,” Moskowitz said. “It’s anti-nausea and vomiting. It helps with bone health and bone formation, it’s sleep-promoting, it’s anti-epileptic, it’s anti-anxiety. It’s a major anti-psychotic. And it helps with appetite suppression, it’s anti-diabetic and it’s anti-cholesterol.
“Other than that it didn’t do that much,” Moskowitz joked.
Moskowitz said that despite its rarity, THCV is not known to be a risky drug, has no lethal dose and has trivial side effects.
“The cure for the side effects is a nap,” he said.
The Bel Marin Keys-based bio-pharmaceutical company Liposome Formulations Inc., which is also a member of the local consortium, announced this week that it will be releasing several new medical cannabis products, one of which is a THCV pill.
Bill Heriot, the company’s production manager, said the liposome patents they hold allow for faster absorption of medications and dietary supplements also work for medical cannabis as well. The company is also undergoing clinical trials with the Food and Drug Administration for a drug that treats osteoarthritis.
The company is hosting an open house on Friday at 42 Digital Drive, Suite 6, in Novato for the Novato City Council, city staff and the public as the city begins work to develop cannabis industry regulations.
Heriot said the goal of the consortium is to create a vertically-integrated medical cannabis company — meaning controls from production through sale — that will be able to deliver medical grade cannabis products to patients.
“We plan to compete directly with GW Pharmaceuticals because we have the patents, the technology and the know-how to do just that, which is unheard of,” Heriot said. “We’re a small, privately-owned company and can move forward very rapidly and pivot on a dime to enter this marketplace, which is what our goal is in doing. It’s exciting times ahead.”
THCV research
Researchers like Heriot, Moskowitz and others in the consortium are hopeful that THCV can go the way of another cannabinoid known commonly as CBD, cannabidiol, in the medical world.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approved a cannabis-based epilepsy drug Epidiolex, which medical cannabis supporters are hoping is signaling a potential shift in tolerance for cannabis’ pharmaceutical uses.
GW Pharmaceuticals, the company that made Epidiolex, has also been researching THCV as potential treatment for a variety of diseases and health issues such type II diabetes, schizophrenia, epilepsy, cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, along with several others.
There has been some peer-reviewed research conducted on the effects of THCV, mostly outside of the U.S., which found it to be promising for diabetes treatment.
A 2013 study in Nature’s Nutrition & Diabetes journal tested THCV on mice and concluded that it could be a potential treatment for type II diabetes. The study was partly funded by GW Pharmaceuticals and some of the study coauthors were either employees or stockholders in the company.
More recently, a 2016 Diabetes Care journal also concluded THCV could represent a new therapeutic agent blood sugar control for patients with type II diabetes. A 2012 study in the American Journal of Pathology stated that THCV seems to be a “promising therapeutic compound” for treating diabetes by decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, which the study states “are key processes in the development of diabetes and diabetic complications.”
As to whether THCV is also psychoactive like THC, Moskowitz said it has been categorized as both, but said the research to support either conclusion is lacking.
Finding THCV
Longtime Marin County resident George Bianchini, founder of the medical cannabis company Medi-Cone, said he accidentally stumbled upon the strain of cannabis that produces high amounts of THCV.
He found the strain that later came to be known as “Black Beauty” several years ago when he and a research partner, Ed Rosenthal, were mutating the genotypes of the plant. They were trying to bolster the plant’s fragrance-producing terpenes so that it could be more marketable, but what they got was something far different.
Bianchini said he nearly tossed the strain after lab test results showed it had low THC and no CBD. Before doing so, he said he got a call from Steep Hill Labs in Oakland informing him that the strain was producing an unusually high percentage of THCV — about 3.5 percent.
“I said, ‘You know I wanted to ask you about that. What is it?’” Bianchini said. “I have been in this industry for a while and had never heard of it.”
These higher THCV levels are believed to have originated in strains from sub-Saharan Africa, according Bianchini and Moskowitz. But as cannabis became more lucrative in the 20th century, especially those with higher THC levels, Bianchini said growers were breeding their plants to produce more THC at the cost of other cannabinoids.
“What we’ve been doing is reversing that through breeding and that’s the first one that we’ve come up with,” Bianchini said. “Now we’ve gone from one and we’ve developed four distinct phenotypes.”
But even with the higher THC levels, the cost to produce enough cannabis to make THCV production marketable is still quite high, especially considering California’s regulations.
Bianchini said he’s now focusing his attention on hemp, and said they have nearly bred this high THCV-producing genetic information into a legal industrial hemp plant. This could significantly reduce the cost of production for THCV as Congress considers the 2018 Farm Bill, which would effectively legalize hemp, though there is still question about whether it would still be categorized as hemp.
The Marin-based medical cannabis consortium said the ultimate goal is to get a federally-approved pharmaceutical drug containing THCV. By having a licensed pharmaceutical company through Liposome Formulations on its side, Bianchini said they’ve got a leg up.
“No matter who is making a medical product, it’s going to have to be through a FDA-licensed pharmaceutical company,” Bianchini said.
Will Houston
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On this date, 2016: Kevin Durant stuns NBA,…
On this date, 2016: Kevin Durant stuns NBA, officially joins Warriors
Kevin Durant leaves Oklahoma City to sign with Warriors and create ‘Super team’
Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant appears at a press conference with head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers at the team’s practice facility in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Durant came to the Warriors from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and though the Warriors don’t release details because of team policy, it’s reported to be a two-year maximum contract worth $54.3 million that includes a player option after the first year that would allow Durant to boost his salary further. (Jane Tyska/ Bay Area News Group)
By Diamond Leung |
(This story was originally published in 2016)
OAKLAND — Kevin Durant playfully put up some shots at the Warriors’ practice facility after having won his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon.
Durant was seated between smiling coach Steve Kerr and G.M. Bob Myers, who expressed how he still couldn’t believe all this had happened.
The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champ, before holding up his Warriors jersey, explained what motivated him to leave Oklahoma City and come west.
“When I met these guys, I felt as comfortable as I’ve ever felt,” Durant said. “It was organic, it was authentic, it was real, and it was feelings I couldn’t ignore.”
He repeated those sentiments in describing the fit with his new teammates, saying, “It was natural, it was authentic, and it was real.”
Here are the other major themes that emerged:
A perfect pitch
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and the chemistry they showed made a huge difference in Durant’s decision. Durant felt that they genuinely enjoyed playing the game with each other.
“It felt like they weren’t in the NBA,” Durant said. “It felt like those guys just played pickup every single day … That’s the kind of feel that I wanted.”
Durant smiled and said it was as if the four players came into the meeting together holding hands. He described the conversation in the room as “effortless.” In the end, the togetherness of the Warriors’ top players provided a window into the organization’s family atmosphere.
“It felt like they just loved each other unconditionally,” Durant said.
Curry’s huge impact
Durant needed to know how a fellow superstar in Curry felt about all this, so he looked him the eye to find out. Curry in turn made Durant feel completely comfortable.
“He’s a guy that’s on top of the world right now,” Durant said. “He’s the face of the NBA in a lot of people’s eyes. I wanted to see if he really would embrace me as a player and as a person, and I had no doubts that he would. He showed that he was all in on this thing. He worked with his family to come to the meeting and be a part of the meeting, and then he showed me how much he cared and how much he wanted me to be a part of it.”
Curry texted Durant after the meeting and asked him to trust what the Warriors were saying in how they could all share the spotlight.
“It took me a couple hours to really think about that, and it’s hard for me to just trust somebody I just met and just talked to and making this huge change,” Durant said. “But I went with my gut and my instincts and I trusted the situation.”
Iguodala was ‘real’
Durant and Iguodala had bonded before as USA Basketball teammates, and Iguodala’s words hit home.
“He said that it would be the most fun you’ll have in your life, and the guys all love to play basketball, they love each other, they love the environment, and he was just real, man, and I believed him,” Durant said. “He was genuine.”
West downplays role
Jerry West doesn’t want credit for landing Durant, but did speak to him after the Warriors’ meeting.
“We just talked about the Warriors and how I would be a great fit and how I would love the guys and the whole organization,” Durant said. “Nothing more than that. I know it’s Jerry West and I know he’s the logo, and you’re expecting a sexier conversation, but it was more so about the team and how I could fit in and how great the coaching staff was.”
Westbrook strife?
Despite reports to the contrary, Durant said his relationship with Russell Westbrook was great and he called him a friend.
“It’s tough,” Durant said. “Obviously we were teammates for so long and I had a lot of great memories. I’m sure he wasn’t happy about the decision, but he respected it as my friend.”
Together, the two made a trip to the NBA Finals and three other trips to the Western Conference finals.
“You know, we had great years, something that you’ll never take away from us,” Durant said. “But like I said, I wanted a new chapter in my life. I felt like it was time for it, and I made the decision. I couldn’t consider totally everybody’s feelings at this point because it would be hard to, so I just tried to focus on me but also realize the relationships that I had I still wanted those to be — I’m sure they won’t be the same, but I still wanted to go out there and leave with some class and some dignity, but hopefully I did, hopefully he understands, and I’m sure we’ll talk again.”
Tears for OKC
Durant said tears were shed as he told the Thunder in a phone call that he wasn’t going back there, and he called it the hardest thing he’s ever had to do in his life.
“Those nine years you can’t erase. That love doesn’t fade. Those memories don’t erase.”
Of course, some Thunder fans set fire to their Durant jerseys.
“It’s the unpopular decision, but I can live with it,” Durant said.
Tuning out critics
Durant shot down the idea that he had changed or was easily influenced by others to leave Oklahoma City.
“I know I haven’t changed as a person,” Durant said.
“In this life you tend to base things on the outside crowd and opinions of everybody else, so I tried not to worry about that and sit down and focus on what I wanted as a player and as a person, and I figured this was the best place for me.”
By 7 a.m. on July 4, Durant came to a decision after sleeping on it and having wrestled with it. He wanted to go to the Warriors.
Super Warriors
Durant dismissed those who decried Durant leaving Oklahoma City to form a Super Team.
“It doesn’t feel forced,” Durant said. “The relationships between me and this team doesn’t feel forced. It just feels like a missing piece of the puzzle. Everybody on the outside of course, they view this as a super team, but we’ve still got to put the work in.”
Getting his shots
“They told me just to be myself,” Durant said. “I don’t want to go out there and try to be extra vocal or be too quiet or not shoot the shots that I normally shoot.”
Durant noted that Curry wants to pass and they would complement each other playing off the ball.
Don’t forget defense
Durant joked that the only reason he came to the Warriors was to reunite with assistant coach and defensive guru Ron Adams, who coached him in Oklahoma City. It’s on defense where Durant will make an impact as well.
“We had a pretty tough time in the playoffs with Kevin’s length and versatility defensively, and of course that’s kind of been our calling card as a defense the last couple years, the versatility, the ability to switch, and Kevin fits perfectly into that style,” Kerr said.
Olympic bonding
Durant will play on the Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro with Green and Thompson. He previously forged relationships with Curry, Thompson and Iguodala while on the national team and knows that can help them gain some chemistry.
“To have two teammates part of this experience with me, it’s going to be amazing, just getting to know them outside of basketball,” Durant said. “I know all about them on the basketball court, but as people I’m looking forward to getting to know them even more.”
‘I plan on being here’
Durant signed a two-year contract with a player option in the second year, but it’s expected to be a long-term commitment.
“I don’t want to go through that again, so I plan on being here,” Durant said. “I’m committed.”
Durant called it the toughest day of his life when he had to let Oklahoma City know the news.
For the Warriors, it was joy.
“I’m so honored that you’re here, and I’m so honored you chose us to play for,” Myers told Durant.
Diamond Leung
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Merdeka Award Grant Briefings Generate Keen Interest Among Young Malaysians
Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday, November 13, 2013:
The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment continues to generate keen interest among young Malaysians, judging from the turnout at a briefing held Wednesday at University of Malaya’s High Impact Research Centre (UM HIR).
This session follows a number of other similar events held at Universiti Putra Malaysia, the Malaysian Invention & Design Society (MINDS) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam over the course of the past six weeks, to brief young Malaysians on the opportunities the Merdeka Award Grant provided and the process of applying for the Merdeka Award Grant, which is currently open for application.
The Merdeka Award Secretariat has also reached out to 148 other institutions online, ranging from non-governmental organisations, government agencies and public research institutions, through to think-tanks, private universities and colleges as well as student and business councils. The application period for the 2013-2014 cycle will close on November 30, 2013.
The one-hour briefing at UM was conducted by Merdeka Award Secretariat Executive Director Mr Joseph Edwin, and attended by over 60 University of Malaya Masters and Doctorate (PhD) students as well as some lecturers and senior lecturers. They represented a myriad of faculties and fields such as medicine, dentistry, science, engineering, education and the social sciences.
The briefing session was made possible through the efforts of University of Malaya High Impact Research Consultant Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Lam Sai Kit, who is the 2013 Merdeka Award recipient in the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement category. Professor Lam was honoured with the Merdeka Award for his outstanding contribution to scholarly research and development in medical virology and emerging infectious diseases including dengue.
Also present at the briefing were 2010 Merdeka Award Joint Recipient in the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement category, Professor Emeritus Dr Yong Hoi Sen and Associate Professor Dr Koshy Philip, a senior Lecturer who is attached to the Faculty of Science, University of Malaya.
Mr Edwin briefed the students and lecturers on the application process, selection criteria, submission and details of the 2013-2014 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment. He emphasised the need for applications to be original and unique, innovative and sustainable. Above all, he said, applicants must demonstrate that the research they proposed to do would bring benefit to Malaysia and Malaysians.
He stressed that selection was not based on the academic achievements alone; shortlisted applicants would be interviewed and judged on factors such as ability to articulate their thoughts and views, ideas on how they can share their knowledge with other young Malaysians, and how they plan to use the Merdeka Award Grant opportunity to build on their body of work as well as their future plans. He said that the final selection would be done by a Selection Committee that would include senior human resource management representatives from the three founding partners of the Merdeka Award – PETRONAS, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Mr Edwin also touched on the unique opportunities that the Merdeka Award Grant provides to young Malaysians, and the benefit, the experience and exposure would bring to their research, by widening their network of contacts, and establishing connections with internationally renowned scholars in their particular fields.
The briefing was followed by an animated Q&A session with the students, with Mr Edwin fielding questions ranging from selection criteria, budget, timeline, the institutions where attachments would be done and contracts. Professor Lam also fielded some questions from the attendees with regard to the impact participating in a Merdeka Award Grant attachment would have on their work at University of Malaya, emphasising that obtaining leave to participate in the 3-month attachment could be easily arranged.
In his closing remarks, Professor Lam applauded the Merdeka Award for introducing the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment and for creating the opportunity for young Malaysians to gain international exposure, establish contacts, expand their network and participate in the sharing of knowledge.
He said: “They get to experience and utilise the best facilities and laboratories in the world, and upon their return from the international attachment, build further on their body of work and research, share knowledge and expertise, and inspire others, especially the younger generation and other students.”
University of Malaya’s Lecturer from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr Jegalakshimi Jewaratnam who attended the briefing and is involved in programming and simulation in the field of chemical engineering said: “The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment is a good opportunity for young Malaysians to explore and have hands-on experience abroad. It offers real-time experience, besides helping to establish contacts in their own field of study, and enhancing and promoting research collaborations.”
Professor Emeritus Yong was also enthusiastic about the opportunity, saying that beyond the benefit the Merdeka Award Grant would bring to the academic work of a recipient, it would also help them grow as individuals. “We need our students to be broad-minded, not just focussed on narrow pursuits. They will come back with a more global outlook. Having been a recipient of the Merdeka Award Grant, they will also learn how to do more to help others develop their careers, to do community service. They will learn to give back, not just receive. The Merdeka Award Grant will instill in them the spirit of helping people.”
The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment, a signature outreach programme of the Merdeka Award Trust, is a short-term grant designed to make it possible for qualified Malaysians, between the ages of 22-35 to engage in collaborative projects/programmes at selected, internationally-recognised host institutions.
It is designed to identify and recognise outstanding young Malaysians who personify the Spirit of Merdeka, and those who, in their own way, demonstrate a commitment to excellence. The Grant provides them the opportunity to expand their network and to enhance research collaborations.
Launched in April 2012, the Grant creates the opportunity for recipients to establish contact and working relationships with other experts in their fields, share knowledge and expertise, and upon their return, use these relationships and shared knowledge to further build on the body of work in his or her area of research.
Two Grants are offered annually to successful candidates in select disciplines – Education and Community, Environment as well as Health, Science and Technology, mirroring the categories in which the Merdeka Award itself is accorded. The broad categories include areas such as visual and performing arts, heritage and social work, sports, traditional disciplines like economics and finance, scientific disciplines and areas related to the environment such as climate change, biodiversity and the protection and conservation of the environment. These categories have been carefully selected because of the importance of these disciplines to the progress of the country.
In its first year, the Merdeka Award Grant was awarded to Dr Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, Assistant Professor as well as Director of Scientific Foundations of Medicine at the Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine and Dr Natrah Fatin Mohd Ikhsan, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Aquaculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Dr Abhimanyu holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Oncology) from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) from University Putra Malaysia. He is planning to strengthen his research on the identification of molecular markers for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of bladder cancer through greater molecular understanding of the disease.
Dr Natrah holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences (Aquaculture) from the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at the University of Ghent, Belgium. She plans to further her work on understanding molecular microbial ecology towards sustainable agriculture production.
The Attachment is made possible and facilitated through the global network and reach of the three Merdeka Award founding partners - PETRONAS, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Applications for the 2013-2014 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment opened on June 28, 2013 and will close on November 30, 2013. All applications must be made online at www.merdekaaward.my
For more information on the Merdeka Award and its signature outreach programmes, please visit www.merdekaaward.my
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Mascherato: The Musical
THE COMPOSER and ORCHESTRATOR
With a portfolio including music for concert, film, television, and musical theatre, Michael Elderkin is a versatile composer with a style firmly rooted in strong thematic content with lush orchestrations and vivid colors.
Recently, he has orchestrated for 'Black Widow' (2020), 'Gemini Man' (2019), 'His Dark Materials' (2019), and 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' (2018). He has written music for numerous films including Nightrounds and Pacalu. (click here to visit IMDb)
In April of 2017, he produced a semi-staged workshop of his musical, Mascherato, in partnership with the Barbican Centre. In March 2020, he recorded a full cast album in Abbey Road Studios with a 22-piece orchestra which is now available on all streaming platforms. The recording has been praised as "a score that is of the highest quality" and having "the colour, warmth and escapism of the best of what we love in musicals and the familiar-yet-new resonance of what Ashman and Menken did for the Disney renaissance."
Michael has worked extensively as a conductor and arranger for the Empire Film Music Ensemble. He has also worked as a copyist for numerous film and television projects.
THE BASSOONIST
American bassoonist Michael Elderkin is an accomplished player, performing internationally as an orchestral, chamber, and session musician. Having performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, London International Orchestra, Surrey Opera, among others, Michael is an active freelancer in London, where he resides.
Michael is a frequent session player in London and also works out of his home studio to record remotely, having recorded for Apple TV+, Audio Network, and various other projects - both on bassoon and contrabassoon. He has been featured as a soloist on the video game soundtrack to "Age of Fear 3: The Legend" and can be heard on numerous film/television scores, most recently 'Tiny Worlds' by Benjamin Wallfisch/Chris Egan on Apple TV+. (For remote recording inquiries: contact me.)
A strong proponent of chamber music, having played in various ensembles over the years, Michael is currently a member of the “9-5” Chamber Ensemble, the Gilbert Ensemble, and Two and a Half Reeds. Recently, he performed alongside the Van Kuijk Quartet in the Great Music In Irish Houses Festival.
Michael attended the Eastman School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with John Hunt and Daniel Jemison.
(Michael can be booked directly or through Morgensterns.)
Photo by Matthew Ferguson, FG Studios
Additional Music Preparation
Tiny World (2020)
Love Wedding Repeat (2020)
Assistant Orchestrator
Military Wives (2019)
Night Rounds (2018)
Pacalu (2017)
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April 12th, 2020 Timothy Adams
On Easter Sunday, April 12, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported an EF3 tornado that tore through neighborhoods and communities in West Monroe, LA. The NWS reports peak winds at 140 mph in the storm, which snapped hundreds of trees and destroyed several homes along its 8-mile path.
Meanwhile, the Minuteman Disaster Response (MDR) Operation Center was already assessing the storm damage and organizing the team’s deployment. Two days later, MDR arrived with a team of 24 well-trained volunteers to start clean-up. The crew hit the ground running and stayed for 6 days, working a total of 552 hours, clearing downed trees and power lines, cleaning damaged homes, downed trees, and other debris: making an impact on the local community.
Chris Tracy, a MDR volunteer of over a year, said the team was fortunate to be housed in a home used by a local church for missionary students, and they set up base camp only a few miles from where the damage was. Due to COVID-19, MDR was unable to house their crews in their Mobile Sleeping Unit (MSU), so having a bed to sleep in each night was a luxury.
“A few miles away from us was the residential area where the tornado went through,” Tracy said. “The area was mainly full of single-family houses with numerous trees in each yard, many 50-feet tall.”
When MDR arrived, the streets were not fully cleared, with downed trees still blocking residents’ homes and restricting access to local power companies. Most of the first day was spent clearing streets, making way in front of utility companies so power could be restored.
“Once the roads were fully cleared, efforts moved to clearing individual houses,” Tracy said.
Trees were still down everywhere — across doorways, driveways, cars, roofs, and residents still didn’t have power. According to MDR volunteer Noah Brown, the relief team had to cut up the trees with individual chainsaws.
“As we were clearing roads, we were also gaining knowledge of the needs for that area,” Brown, who has been a volunteer with Minuteman for two years, said. “We take this information down to help us create work orders so we can respond to those needs as time permits.”
There were a few locals they helped that stood out to Tracy. One was a lady who had such a positive attitude, despite what she had been through.
“She had three fifty-foot trees at the front corner of her house,” Tracy recalled. “One fell along the front of the house blocking her front door. Another fell along the side of the house all the way across her driveway, landing on the trunk of her car. She was out taking video as we were freeing her car, so she could get the insurance adjuster access to it. Rather than worry about the loss of her car, she was fully focused on the third tree that did not fall. Had it fallen between the other two, it would have hit the house at the bedroom where her baby granddaughter was sleeping. While she lost things, she felt truly fortunate.”
Both Tracy and Brown expressed the satisfaction this work gives them — serving people by showing up to help after disasters.
“There are a few transition points that you can see when you talk with the local people,” Tracy said. “When they start seeing people coming into the neighborhoods to help, there is a sense that they are not in this state alone. When the electricity comes back, it provides a level of comfort and normalcy. I saw this connected with a recognition in the comments from people, that this will come to an end and things will eventually return to normal.”
By the third day of deployment, the residential area had power restored to most of the homes.
After 6 days working in West Monroe, the team packed up and headed home. Although there’s always going to be more work to be done, they can leave knowing they made an impact on these people’s lives, Brown said.
Many Minuteman volunteers come and go at different times during deployments depending on their work flexibility, but all volunteers are prepared to put in the hard work from the time they arrive, to the time they depart. Brown said running toward disaster isn’t always easy, especially with family and work.
“Finding the time, or just deciding to go even when it’s not easy is a challenge.” Brown said. “But if we don’t step up and help others in need, who will? We all need to be there for our neighbor.
As the Bible says: The great commandment is to love God and love your neighbor.”
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Flooring America Supports Pets for Patriots
Giving Back, One Hero at a Time
We are proud to support Pets for Patriots as we work together to give back to our country's veterans, and, in so doing, save the lives of animals in need.
Pets for Patriots is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to make the joys of pet ownership achievable and affordable for service and veteran members of the U.S. military, to the benefit of both pet and person. Pets for Patriots connects veterans returning from deployment, active personnel looking to fill the void for their families while deployed, and long-term veterans in need of a constant companion, with adult and other at-risk shelter pets needing a loving home. To learn more about Pets For Patriots visit www.petsforpatriots.org
When you donate through our store, 100% will go to Pets for Patriots to make a real difference in the lives of U.S. military personnel and pets in need. You'll be playing a meaningful part in improving the lives of these patriots, and giving last-chance shelter animals a second chance at life.
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Migrant children who were separated from their mothers at the border experience significant psychological distress. In fact, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai report in Social Science & Medicine that the prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder in the study population was 17 percent, four times more than in the overall U.S. population.
“Our findings tells us in science what you know in your heart,” said Craig Katz, MD, Director for Advocacy of the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program.
Dr. Katz and co-author Priscilla Agyeman, MPH, a clinical research coordinator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, appear on the latest episode of Road to Resilience to discuss their findings and migrants’ need for comprehensive mental health care.
Priscilla Agyeman, MPH, clinical research coordinator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and co-author of the study.
You're listening to Road to Resilience. I'm Jon Earle. Last May, just as news was breaking that the government was separating migrant children from their parents, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai arrived at an immigration detention center near the border. Over the next two months, they interviewed more than 400 migrant mothers about their children’s mental health. Did their kids seem happy? Were they having behavioral problems? And so forth. The researchers’ findings were published last month in the journal Social Science and Medicine. It's the first large, empirical study to look at the mental health of children in U.S. immigration detention, and it raises important questions, including about the mental toll of the child separation policy.
Today on the podcast, I'm joined by two co-authors of the study, Dr. Craig Katz and Priscilla Agyeman. Dr. Katz is a psychiatrist at Mount Sinai, and a Co-director of the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program. Priscilla is a clinical research coordinator and a recent graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine, where she studied public health.
Now, this is a podcast about resilience. So why are we doing an episode about this study? Two reasons: first, no matter where you stand on immigration, I think we can agree that the current crisis contains within it a massive resilience challenge. We're talking about millions of people fleeing their homes. Thousands of children moving through federal custody, often alone. The sheer scale of it is hard to wrap your mind around. Which leads me to reason No. 2: If you're looking for resilience stories, examples of survival and sheer toughness, look no further. Migrants are some of the most resilient people you will ever meet. In the conversation that follows, Priscilla and Dr. Katz talk about what it was like to visit this particular detention center, what they found, and what it means for all of us. Thank you both for being here.
Priscilla Agyeman: 01:50
Dr. Craig Katz: 01:51
Thank you for having us.
Okay. So, Dr. Katz, can you start off by talking a little bit about the human rights program and what it does here at Mount Sinai?
Yeah Mount Sinai has had a long-standing involvement doing human rights work and the clinic goes back in different incarnations a number of years now and our main focus is on providing asylum evaluations for asylum seekers, and that mission is really driven by the understanding the evidence that if you have a medical professional who has written in an affidavit, that's that in support of the trauma that you describe having on undergone in your home country that having an affidavit like that greatly increases your chances of being granted asylum quite a bit actually like 90 percent Grant rates composed as opposed to maybe like 30 percent. So it makes a huge difference.
So is this the first type of study that the human rights program has worked on?
This is I believe our first detention-based study. Yeah, we've definitely done some other studies over the years and have a lot of other ones cooking right now. But this is definitely the first in detention.
So where does the story begin? How did the study come about?
So a resident and I—as part of our global health track, one of the residents opted to go to a family detention center with me and do some work and this was in January 2018. So we went to the family detention center in Texas and did quite a few on-site evaluations, the kinds we would do here. We just did a bunch, just banging them out one after the other. And one thing that struck us, of course, was that this was a family detention center. So this was mothers and kids. And it just struck us that that was something that we wanted to draw some attention to--the fact that, of course, the sheer fact that there are kids being detained, right, and what you know many would call being basically imprisoned, but also to explore what's going on with them mentally, because most of the evaluations we did were in their mothers. And so we also knew the literature, the scientific literature, there wasn't anything on this, and so we thought this would be an enormous contribution to medical literature and especially for advocacy purposes depending upon what we found.
Priscilla, what was the facility like?
So the facility is, for lack of a better word set up like kind of like a concentration camp. Like there are a lot of, it’s—there's a visitation trailer that we were you know able to go through every day and that was the only location that we were able to visit. We were prohibited from going anywhere else on the "campus" I guess you can say. But the way that it was set up was the women would come in to the visitation trailer to see their lawyers or, you know, the other volunteers that were working on their asylum cases, and so that's where we were on a daily basis, um—
So, so you're in this visitors trailer, right, you're working with the lawyers, you approach one of these women and you say, "Hi, I'm so-and-so and we're doing this study, would you like to participate?" And what were--I understand you had one of several questionnaires that you would use—
Right, so we use two different surveys. The first one was the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, which is a widely used tool to assess behavioral—
General mental health symptoms and behaviors and conduct in kids.
Right, so we used that. And both of the surveys were in Spanish. And then the other survey that we used was the PTSD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index for children, the UCLA version. So this was a specific survey that measured, you know, the levels of PTSD presentation, I guess you could say, that they had by way of if they had reoccurring nightmares or dissociation, certain psychiatric, I guess, symptoms that you would look for in children to assess PTSD.
The woman were overwhelmingly open to talking about their children and their mental health. I think it was, you know, probably a moment of reflection for them because if you're going through that much trauma and distress, it can be really easy to forget that or not notice that your child is quieter than usual or they're having nightmares, or maybe they're peeing in the bed a lot and they're not at the age where they should be doing that. So I think that them talking to us, or what they expressed, was that them talking to this to us was actually in some way therapeutic. So that was basically how we approached the study. And we did a total of 425 of these in eight weeks.
Wow. What was that like?
Hard. Difficult. Challenging. Stressful. It felt like such an enormous responsibility as—I'm a child of immigrants myself. My parents didn't go through what these women and children were going through, but I felt very responsible to try my best to show up. Even if I didn't feel like it, even if I was tired or burnt out or dealing with compassion fatigue, which I think both Sarah and I definitely felt. However, it felt like we were doing something important and we're doing something necessary.
Hmm. I'm wondering if you, any of the people that you met kind of stand out in your mind, and you could share a little bit about one person or one family that you encountered.
Right. There's actually several women that really stick out, and I will always remember their stories. The first woman that I spoke with was younger than me, actually, and she had a son. She was from Honduras, and she fled because of gang retaliation. Her brother did not want to join a gang—and this is a very common narrative—a lot of the women were fleeing because of gang violence or retaliation for not joining a gang. So her brother refused to join the gang. Her brother actually ran away, left the country, because the gang was trying to recruit him so much that they were threatening him, threatening members of his family. So he left the country, and she stayed. She had a husband and her child, and she stayed. But the gang members knew that that was her brother. And because they knew that they ended up actually gang raping her. And that was a very, very difficult--that was one of my first conversations with one of the woman, and she completely broke down because, you know, she felt like it was her fault and, you know, she didn't do anything to stop it. And you know, we had to let her know that that is not her fault. That was she didn't do anything to ask for that type of behavior or treatment. So she left the country with her son in order to seek asylum.
So stories like that hearing stories like that on a daily basis definitely--it drills into your mind how much these women are, they're not they're not criminals. They're not running out of fear of the police trying to arrest them or something like that. They're running for their lives, literally.
I mean it takes remarkable courage to pick up your life and, and take an often uncertain migration path, right, it wasn't like they were you know going onto Travelocity and booking a flight to the United States, right? They were hauling through often unsafe or unpredictable circumstances to get here—
With their children.
With their children, right. And so I mean, these are people you have to have a lot of respect for that now, that they made a really hard decision often, leaving family behind, sometimes leaving kids behind. Decisions about as to who to take or who not to take. You know, I think it's you know, I admire the people that I met in a very deep, in a deep way, actually, almost a spiritual way what they've been through. It's quite striking.
Let's talk a little bit about the results. What were some of your findings?
We found high rates of behavioral and emotional problems in the kids. That's how the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire kind of breaks out into broad clusters. And we also found high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder as well. Now, these are all according to surveys, right, so they're not definitive diagnosis, but these are very, very suggestive numbers. And our unanticipated finding is that when we were there was in the heart of the period of child separation, and Priscilla and Sarah and Josh were able to interview some mothers who had been separated from their kids and now were reunited with them to ask them, interview them, the same exact questionnaires, but now we have detained, previously separated, now reunited kids. And perhaps the most striking of our findings, again, not a surprise that kind of know it told us in science what you know in your heart, right, was that the separated, detained kids actually had higher rates of emotional problems and PTSD compared to the detained kids who, themselves, on the whole had higher rates compared to the general population in the US.
How much higher?
Actually, I confess l don't remember the exact numbers so I'd have to look up the numbers for you, if you like, I can do that, but—
Actually, I have them.
Yeah, OK. I can never—the numbers never stick in my mind.
You'll have to correct me if I'm interpreting them wrong. So I found compared to--this is the findings compared to the general U.S. population. I have five percent for the general population for emotional behavioral difficulties and 10 percent, so double. And then—this was really startling for me—PTSD for teens—
Right, was four times as much.
Four times as much. When you got those results, what was your reaction?
In some sense, my reaction was like, why did we need to do this study? Right? Didn't we all kind of know this already. Right, but now here the hard numbers, right? So, you know, someone's got to act on this.
What's been the response either from colleagues, media, government?
Well, it's complicated. Colleagues are quite interested, but colleagues-- we're preaching to the choir, right? So, you know, the psychiatric community has been quite up-in-arms about this and being, you know, putting all sorts of policy statements about how, how damaging child separation is in particular. We feel fortunate to have the data to back it up. The complicated reaction is actually been from our legal colleagues who were concerned, actually, about releasing this data. They thought the data would be misused, that, in other words, that people would say other countries are sending us their crazies.
That’s startling.
It is startling and it speaks to the nature of the political climate right now, I guess, that we would have to kind of feel guilty about publishing our findings. But we do. And I have to say I fear that one day soon I'm gonna hear from them that there were repercussions in some way. Right. Even for if the fact of our being there or that someone is holding up our paper and using it as justification for current hard-line immigration policy.
Yeah. There was one other piece of the findings that I think is important to highlight and that's that even though you found these higher levels of mental distress and children in these facilities, you say very explicitly that you couldn't, you couldn't pinpoint the source of that. You couldn't say, for example, that because that being in detention caused this distress. And you say that for all you know, it could have preceded it. It could have come from some things that happened in their home countries, and I just think that's important to say as well. Like what we know and what we don't know based on the study.
That's correct, I think part of maybe some of the disappointment on the part of our legal colleagues is that we couldn't show that the detention caused this. And it wasn't really necessarily designed to do that. We did actually ask about the conditions of detention. We did do a survey on that, and that was going to be our one attempt to, if we could at least correlate the assessment of the quality and conditions of the detention center and the mental health system symptoms in the kid, then we could show some connection between the two. But in fact our data didn't show that. In fact to be, you know open about this, the ratings of the quality of detention were actually, were pretty good.
For this particular facility.
For this particular facility, which is, I think, unique to this facility. It's hardly, I think, representative from what I've seen and certainly from what we know from other colleagues. So we couldn't show that. But what we do know is that we're looking at a population of kids who have, you know, are carrying with them a large mental health burden and who—if there are any concerns about what they are going to contribute or if they're going to stay in the United States and what they're going to contribute to society, that we have, I think, if not a moral obligation then maybe selfish obligation. If we want them to be good contributors to our society, to correct their trajectory now and not leave these problems untended. Because you leave them unattended, unaddressed, undiagnosed, they're going to get worse. Right, as a general rule in the world of mental health, the longer you've got something, the longer you're going to have it, even when you get help, and the more problems it's going to cause. So this is a chance to actually intervene and help them on a humane basis and really help our society.
What sorts of care are they receiving?
So they have a medical facility on site. They have physicians, I believe even a dentist, if I'm not mistaken. And there is a behavioral specialist or psychiatrist on site as well. However, we don't know anything about their range of training, their specialty, if they are, you know, trauma-informed, which, I think, is really important in this population. So that was something that still has a huge level of mystery. Because there really was no way to tell.
And it's I think it's maybe you found it otherwise, but it was not clear to me that there was even a psychiatrist back there.
There might be a psychologist which would be fine. But, you know, there's this sort of whole mysterious thing like who was behind this door. So what the services are. There's something back there, but we don't know what it is. And there's I mean there's such a shortage in this country of child mental health professionals. I would be really surprised if there's any child mental health professional back there.
When we talk about mental health services for a population like this? What are the sorts of things that you know in a perfect world you would begin to introduce is it is it sending psychologists in to do one-on-one therapy? Is it—
Well, you know, child and adolescent psychiatry is a different field than adult psychiatry. I'm an adult psychiatrist. So really what you would have is a child mental health professional who is trauma-trained or as Priscilla use this term “trauma-informed.” That would be the ideal to work with this population. And whether it would come down to individual therapy or group or play or medications is kind of hard to say depending upon the nature of the problem. And I'm sorry and I should add, one of the best predictors of how a child going to do under traumatic circumstances is how their parent is going to do. As the parent goes so goes the child, unless the child has other pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities. So, ideally you don't just treat the child, but you treat the parent as well.
So the picture I'm getting in my head is of a population that is distressed, and that would require, as you just said, significant intervention. Is that correct?
That is correct. And we and we've seen the other end of this. Like I just interviewed a woman from Central America did an asylum evaluation a few weeks ago here. She's in the community. I forget what state she's in but I did this remotely. She had been separated from her kids, now reunited, and she—I was interviewing her, not the kids, but the kids are just, for lack of a better word, just an awful mess psychologically, psychiatrically. They need care and they just can't find it. I mean they're just trying to get their life together, like where they're going to live, how they're going to make ends meet. And the kids, thankfully, are able to go to their local school. But they're not getting the mental health care because they can't afford it and they don't how to find, if they even exist, pro bono or discounted mental health services for the kids. So the problem extends out across their trajectory well beyond detention, but it starts at detention.
So what does the future look like for these women and children—that's question one—and two, what's next for you and your research in this area?
What's next for them? You know, I think there's so many different paths. I think so many of them if they are—I mean if they go, if they are deported, for many of them we believe it’s a virtual death sentence because they were already being threatened in their home country. And then the fact that they tried to flee, right, is even more problematic. So they are terrified literally for their lives even more than when they fled. For those who stay in our country. You know, it just seems to me there are so many obstacles working against them in terms of the environment that they find themselves in. So, but again, I think of these as really resilient people who know how to make things work eventually, so I'm hopeful for them. I'm actually very hopeful be in another respect—even if they don't get access to specialized mental health services, one of the best ways for people to recover from trauma is social support. And in communities that we've worked in—I've been down in San Antonio—there just so many wonderful people religious groups and otherwise who are banding together and providing volunteer services just to help make sure people have clothes and a backpack and a phone to call and know how to get a bus ticket to go to meet their family. And I'd like to think that that social support—that they're hopefully also finding in their destination communities around the United States—that that that support is going to make an enormous difference in their recovery trajectory, even if they don't get the high-powered mental health services that I'm referring to.
As for our next steps—and you asked the question about what are our next steps—I'm not sure. To be honest, I think right now rather than doing research, we're just trying to keep up with the flow of requests for asylum evaluations. We can't keep up. And in terms of those are referred to us or going out to the detention centers, there are just not enough of us. And so I think we're probably at the moment less focused on the academics and more on getting, like, with some trepidation, getting information out this out there like this, letting people know, on just keeping up with the with the steady flow of this asylum-seekers.
Well, I just want to wrap by thanking you both for doing the study and for your ongoing work. It's been really, really nice speaking with you. Thank you for being here.
If you're interested, I highly recommend reading the whole study. It's compact and readable, and it includes links to related studies that will give you a more complete sense of how immigration policy impacts migrants' health. We’ll include a link to the study in the show notes. Thank you again to Dr. Katz and Priscilla for making time to talk to us. Thank you also to the other co-authors of the study: Sarah MacLean, Joshua Walther, Dr. Kim Baranowski, and Dr. Elizabeth Singer.
On the next episode, we're going to hear from a man who fled anti-gay violence in his native Ghana, and sought asylum in the U.S. But when he got here, he quickly realized that some of his greatest challenges may still lay ahead. It's a resilience story you won't forget. Road to Resilience is a production of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It's produced by Katie Ullman, Nicci Hudson, and me, Jon Earle. Our executive producers are Dorie Klissas and Lucia Lee. From all of us, thanks for listening. See you next time.
Craig L Katz, MD
CLINICAL PROFESSOR | Psychiatry CLINICAL PROFESSOR | Global Health ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR | Medical Education
Mount Sinai Human Rights Program
Study - Social Science & Medicine: Mental Health of Children Held at a United States Immigration Detention Center
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Posted by Matthew | Apr 27, 2013 | Action | 0 |
I can see what the filmmakers were going for with Rambo: First Blood Part II. The first film introduced us to the character of John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone), a Vietnam War veteran and someone who was most definitely suffering the effects of participating in that war. In this film, he’s made to return to Vietnam, the place that scarred him so effectively and viciously. First Blood worked so well as both an action film and a psychological thriller, so ramping up the second aspect by having him confront the place on Earth that scarred him makes sense.
That’s not actually the movie we get, but at least the potential was there for it to happen. I’m not sure why that isn’t the route that the filmmakers took with this installment, but they didn’t. There’s no psychological aspect to First Blood Part II. None. We don’t know what Rambo is thinking at any given moment, and we don’t really care. He’s in the jungle, there are people to kill and other people to rescue, and nothing else matters. There’s a large part of me that’s really disappointed by this, but another part — a far more juvenile one — that thinks making a terribly uncharismatic action hero just kill the bad guys and nothing else isn’t a bad plan.
So, yes, Rambo goes to Vietnam, explicitly told by the task force leader (Charles Napier) that he is not to engage the enemy. In fact, we don’t even know what he’s going to find. There’s a chance that he’ll find Prisoners of War (POWs), but there’s also a chance that he’ll see nothing. If he finds anything important, he’s to take a picture and then be extracted; he can’t rescue them, much to his dismay.
Does anyone think that would fly with an audience? “Yes, we’re going to send our killing machine into enemy territory, but we’re not going to have him kill anybody.” I don’t think so. Suffice to say that it does, eventually, become an action film, and Rambo does, indeed, kill bad guys. There are POWs in an encampment, and they need rescuing. Lots of gunfire fights happen, let me tell you, and there’s even a twist midway through — of sorts, at least.
It’s hard to call it a real twist, because if you don’t see it coming, you need to pay more attention to the way people act. It allows the film to go on longer, as Rambo needs to get revenge on the person or people who betray him, as well as saving the day, killing all the bad guys, rescuing the POWs, and so on. He’s got a lot of things to do, really, and he’s only one man. He’s actually got a sidekick this time around in the form of a local named Co-Bao (Julia Nickson), who actually serves somewhat like a love interest.
Their relationship is also the only one that’s developed at all in the film. The first film showed us how Rambo was affected by his time in the Special Forces, and he was sympathetic as a result. He didn’t really grow as a character, but at least he was a believable character and had some depth to him. Here, he’s pretty much just a tool of destruction. As a result, First Blood Part II is a pure action film.
I’m almost okay with that. It means that all Stallone has to do is be in good shape, perform the action scenes well, and let the better dramatic actors deliver all of the key lines. If he grunts acknowledgment of barks orders every now and then, that’s fine. However, this makes First Blood Part II far shallower and less fulfilling than its predecessor. There was some meat on the bones of First Blood, but this one is far more simple-minded. There’s nothing to think about here, and even the one relationship it develops is ended rather abruptly.
I won’t say it isn’t entertaining. Many of the action scenes rival those of the first one, and if that’s all you’re looking for, you won’t have a bad time. Stallone is still in great shape, and he still manages to make you believe the impossible. The villain is more “evil,” so to speak, and you want him to lose, although the one in the first film was more fun. Putting Rambo with an almost equally competent partner is a good decision, too, although it means they occasionally have to speak, and that means Stallone has to deliver dialogue.
Everyone in the film has the potential to out-act Stallone in dramatic scenes. That’s not why he’s part of this project. He’s there to be the action guy. It’s the same thing that happened in the first film. This formula works well. Something I haven’t yet mentioned is that Richard Crenna returns as Colonel Trautman, who spends most of the film at the side of Napier’s character. Those two are juxtaposed with Rambo’s forest situation; they provide the drama and he provides the action.
Rambo: First Blood Part II is still a fun movie, and if you’re a fan of Stallone’s character, you’ll probably still enjoy him killing a bunch of bad guys. The film serves as a giant missed opportunity, but as it is, it’s a passable action movie that never stops being entertaining, even if there’s absolutely nothing below the surface. It’s not the classic that First Blood is, but it has a main character who is best suited to just go into enemy territory and engage in action scenes. That’s what happens, and I did, on the whole, have a good time with it.
PreviousPain & Gain (2013)
NextRambo III (1988)
Rolling Thunder (1977) The Best Movie You’ve Never Seen!
Endhiran aka Robot (2010)
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Trump campaign: We'll handle foreign info on a 'case by case basis'
GREAT FALLS, MT - JULY 05: U.S. president Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Four Seasons Arena on July 5, 2018 in Great Falls, Montana....
On Wednesday, Donald Trump told a national television audience that he'd welcome foreign intervention in his own county's 2020 elections. On Thursday, as CBS News reported, the president's campaign put his position in practical terms:
President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign will handle damaging information on political opponents provided by foreign governments and entities on a "case by case basis," according to the campaign's top spokesperson.Asked about Mr. Trump's assertion that he would be receptive to dirt on rivals offered by foreigners, Kayleigh McEnany, the national press secretary for the president's reelection bid, told CBSN's "Red & Blue" that campaign staff should take the president's comments as a "directive" to handle foreign dirt through a two-pronged approach.
McEnany literally said, "The president's directive, as he said, [it's] a case by case basis."
That's not a legitimate answer. To hear the national press secretary for the president's re-election campaign put it, Trump and his team may accept some illegal foreign assistance, and they may reject other illegal foreign assistance. In Trump World, there's apparently no need for a blanket policy.
Except, of course, there should be.
For his part, the president returned to Fox News again this morning, where he kinda sorta clarified what he said to ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.
In apparent reference to offers of campaign information from foreigners, Trump said in this morning's telephone interview, "Of course you have to look at it, because if you don't look at it, you're not going to know if it's bad."
He added, "But of course you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that.... If I thought anything was incorrect or badly stated I'd report it to attorney general, the FBI, I'd report it to law enforcement, absolutely."
Remember, it was just a couple of days ago when Trump, asked why he'd want foreign interference in American elections, said, "It's not an interference. They have information, I think I'd take it."
This morning's rhetoric seemed more responsible, at least on the surface, but some additional clarification would be helpful. The president now believes he'd evaluate campaign information from foreign sources, determine if it's "bad," and then report to the authorities as appropriate.
But "bad" for whom? By what standard? What, if anything, could cross the property line for Trump?
For that matter, what exactly would he intend to do with the foreign information he considers "good"?
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https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Upcoming-Services-March-2-2014-12644787.php
Upcoming Services (March 2, 2014)
Published 12:00 am CST, Saturday, March 1, 2014
• Campbell, Betty. Memorial services, 3 p.m. today at Worthington Funeral Home. Visitation 1 p.m. until the time of services today.
• Lonergan, Evelyn F. Funeral Mass, 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville. St. Bartholomew Cemetery near Murrayville. Visitation 2 p.m. Monday with the family greeting friends 4-6 p.m. at the Daws Family Funeral Home in South Jacksonville. A Rosary service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
• Milby, Merle Emery. 10 a.m. Tuesday at Worthington Funeral Home. Rushville City Cemetery with military rites. Visitation 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
• Looker, Timothy Ray. 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown with private burial at a later date. Family will meet friends 5-8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
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A New Exhibition by Josephine Sacabo in New Orleans
On view from Oct. 3 through Jan. 2, 2021
LA MUJER DEL SOL 1
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – A Gallery for Fine Photography is pleased to present THOSE WHO DANCE, a new collection of twenty-one 25 x 19″ hand-pulled photogravures printed on Japanese kozo by contemporary artist Josephine Sacabo. THOSE WHO DANCE tells the story of Nahui Olin, an incomparable woman born into and later expelled from Mexico’s high society in the early 20th century, who was both artist and muse to the likes of Diego Rivera and Edward Weston. Sacabo’s images embody the mystery and otherworldly quality of their subject, a woman who refused to capitulate to the boundaries of her societal milieu and was punished severely for it. Sacabo recasts this injustice as a moment of triumph – her photographs express the beautiful, joyful abandon in dancing to the music of one’s own soul.
THOSE WHO DANCE
“…those who dance were called insane by those who could not hear the music” – NIETZSCHE
This series is an homage to Nahui Olin (b. Carmen Mondragon), the muse, artist, poet, social rebel and great beauty of Mexico in the 1920s – a woman who mesmerized the artists of the period – Diego Rivera, Dr Atl, and Edward Weston, among others – with her extraordinary beauty, her intelligence, and her extravagant, uninhibited behavior.
a precocious free spirit who believed in the power and the beauty of herself as a woman.
a woman who considered her body the shape of her spirit and refused to hide it.
a woman who loved passionately and to extremes.
a woman whose tempestuous and tormented 5 year love affair in a ruined convent with Dr. Atl, famed painter and volcanologist , became the scandal of the day. He was to refer to her henceforth as ‘mon dragon’ (my dragon).
a woman who lived her sexuality freely and without prejudices.
a woman who bowed to no man or woman and courageously lived her life as she saw fit.
a woman who loved art, poetry, sex, cats, flowers, Paris, the sea and the sun.
a woman whose eyes spoke volumes.
a woman of poetic delusions.
a woman who took the sun in as her lover every morning, carried him through the streets of Mexico City and laid him to rest at the end of each day.
a woman who daily visited her young blind niece to read Cervantes, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas and Voltaire to her.
a woman who at the death of her last great love withdrew into sadness, poverty and solitude.
an old woman who with her small government pension fed all the stray cats in the Alameda park of Mexico City.
a woman who having been born into the wealthy conservative Mexican aristocracy was shunned by her family andosupported herself – beholden to no one – for the rest of her life.
a woman whom the social elite declared insane and thereby erased.
JOSEPHINE SACABO divides her time between New Orleans and Mexico. Both places inform her work, resulting in imagery that is as dreamlike, surreal, and romantic as the places that she calls home. Using alternative and traditional techniques, her photography has been featured in gallery and museum exhibitions in the U.S., Europe and Mexico. Sacabo has been the recipient of multiple awards and is included in the permanent collections of the George Eastman House, the International Center of Photography, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and la Bibliothéque Nationale.
Categories: Lagniappe, Theatre + Art
Create Your Own Mardi Gras Krewe with New Orleans Artists and Carnival Experts
Tuition-Free In-Person and Virtual Dance Classes Available for Local Youth Ages 3-18
Ogden Museum's After School Art Club Starts Tue., Jan 19
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10 Reasons We Decided to Move to Geneva, Switzerland
I have to be honest when I began my investigation to compare Rotterdam to Geneva. I was quite ignorant about Switzerland. To me, Switzerland is one of those countries that is a bit mysterious. However, during my research, the more I learned about the country, the more intrigued I became. When I finished, both sides of my paper for Geneva were full!
I want to share with you some of what I learned. Here are our top 10 reasons we are delighted to be moving to Geneva, Switzerland.
10 reasons we are moving
to Geneva, Switzerland
1. Switzerland is a great place to raise a family
Switzerland in the U.S. News', Best Country Rankings ranked number 1 for the overall best country in the world. 7th for the best place to raise kids for the third year in a row. Though the cost of living is high in Switzerland. The Swiss enjoy the highest quality of life found anywhere on the planet.
Switzerland is:
Economically and politically safe
Possesses a good job market
Is family friendly
Has a well developed health and public education system
For all Children ages, 4-18 in the canton of Geneva school is free and compulsory including foreign nationals. Swiss university costs are reasonable too. The education system is world-renowned, offering its students a diverse and enriching learning environment.
Switzerland also ranks 7th in the world for the quality of education and 3rd for the best university system. The overwhelming majority of children living in Switzerland attend public school, with only 5% attending private institutions.
2. Geneva is a Francophone canton
If you were wondering what language is spoken in Switzerland? Switzerland has 4 official languages French, German, Italian, and Romansh. The canton of Geneva is located on the international border with France. So, the local language spoken there is Swiss-French.
According to SwissInfo, 22.9% of the Swiss population speaks French. 40% of the people living and working in Geneva are foreign-born. Making "English, the international lingua franca widely and regularly spoken in Switzerland. By 43%, 38% and 30% of Swiss in the German-, French- and Italian speaking parts of the country respectively."
For our family, this removes the obstacle of a language barrier. Thus making a move to Switzerland less complicated for everyone. Growing up as an expat in Geneva. Charles will be exposed to other languages because of Switzerland's plurilingual society. Plus, he will also speak French and English fluently.
A cool side-note for us is that Romain's family lives in the Haute Savoie region. This means Charles will get to grow up with and be much closer to his Family.
3. Switzerland is one of the safest places to live
Safe is something people always say they feel when in Switzerland, and on our visit to Geneva, we were no exception. Switzerland ranked 7th out of 162 countries for the safest country in the world. It has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. Little gun-related street crime and no mass shootings since 2001.
According to the 2019 Global Peace Index produced by the international think-tank Institute for Economics and Peace. Switzerland ranked 4th in the world in the domain of safety and security. Plus, one cannot forget the fact that there are enough nuclear fallout shelters to accommodate 115% of its population!
4. Geneva's proximity to nature
When we think of Switzerland, we think of natural beauty, of the snowcapped mountains, of lakes and green landscapes. When I thought of Geneva. I immediately thought of the finance district, the headquarters of the United Nations, NGOs, and multinational corporations. I thought of buildings and businesses, not of its proximity to nature and its green spaces.
Geneva is one of Europe's least polluted cities and is known as one of the greenest cities in the world. Nicknamed the 'city of parks.' In Geneva, there are 50 public green spaces and over 310 hectares of parks throughout 25 locations. Which covers a total of 20% of its territory, with a new park finishing in 2021.
For us, this is an incredible opportunity, and we are looking forward to teaching Charles a love of nature and sports. Romain, and are avid outdoors people. We feel fortunate to have such ready access to parks, green spaces, lakes, and skiing. It will be a welcomed change for us. Day trips to Mont Salève and lake Geneva are definitely in our future!
5. Geneva is an international city & a cultural hub
A multicultural city with a long history. Geneva is Europe's most international city and one of the most cultured cities in the world. According to SwissInfo, Geneva is Switzerland's most cosmopolitan canton. With roughly 2 out of 3 residents holding a foreign passport from more than 190 different countries.
As stated on the official website for the city of Geneva. "A dynamic, international city like Geneva devotes a large part of its budget to cultural affairs. Supporting creativity in the arts and facilitating public access to culture in all its forms are the principal policy objectives of the Department of Culture and Sport."
Throughout the year, Geneva hosts a mosaic of cultural events including, film and music festivals. It's home to the 100-year-old Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and Le Grand Théâtre de Genève. The most significant artistic structure in French-speaking Switzerland. There you can experience the opera, theater, and ballet.
Geneva also has 40 museums, 4 of which are world-renowned. More than 60 art galleries were unique exhibitions, and rare collections are on display. The city encourages its smallest residents to enjoy its cultural splendors as well, by providing kid-friendly and family-focused activities!
6. It's bike and pedestrian friendly
In Geneva, there is an amazingly efficient public transportation system. However, if walking or biking is for you, there are cultural trails you can take throughout the city. That allows you to learn the history of a neighborhood. Discover the places where famous personalities have left their mark or see public pieces of art.
Throughout the city, there are accommodations for people with reduced mobility at sidewalks, buses, and trams stops. With guiding devices at stoplights for the blind and visually impaired. Additionally, most tourist sites and activities can be reached in less than 15 minutes by foot from the city center.
Geneva promotes the development of more sustainable mobility for its residents and protects the inhabitants from nuisances caused by traffic. By extending bike routes, increasing the safety of cyclists. Promoting cycling as a means of daily transportation and leisure activity. Geneva also supports active associations such as Genèveroule. Which makes bicycles available to the public, organizes bike driving courses, visits to the cycling network of routes. You can even organize a city tour!
7. Geneva is one of the cleanest cities in the world
Now I love this. In Geneva, there is an association called ZeroWaste Switzerland. They are an organization who "encourages and enables citizens, institutions, and economic parties to choose a manner of consumption and production without waste, by favouring a renewable and circular economy." They give you tips & tricks on how to go zero waste. They also organize a myriad of topic-based cafés, conferences, workshops, and interventions. Romain and I are all about getting involved when we get settled.
Geneva is the cleanest city we have ever visited. While we were there, we didn't come across a piece of trash! Though the Swiss are the largest waste producer in Europe, they are also one of its most prominent recyclers. Recycling and composting more than half of all waste and burning the remaining trash in special incinerators underground to produce energy.
According to SwissInfo, "The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment estimates that in total, littering costs the nation almost CHF200 million ($203.4 million) in clean-up expenses per year." 75% is paid by Swiss cities. Switzerland is also where you can find some of the world's cleanest tap water. It is the most controlled foodstuff in Switzerland, meeting the highest standards of hygiene and safety.
8. Geneva's food scene is lit
Did you know Switzerland is the country with the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita? 118 restaurants, to be exact. You can find 93 of them in Geneva alone, making it Switzerland's undisputed food capital.
Though it possesses a robust gastronomic identity of its own, Geneva also has a vibrant international food scene. In Geneva, there are more than 140 ethnic restaurants. Offering restaurateurs the opportunity to eat cuisines from around the world for every palate and budget. Plus, the cheese and sausage situation is to die for! And can we talk about all the Swiss chocolate your heart desires!
Their best-kept secret is that they produce wine. Swiss vineyards are exceptional, growing a unique variety of grapes that can be traced all the way back to the Romans. Geneva is the third largest wine producer in Switzerland and offers some breathtaking agricultural tourism. By way of bicycle tours through vineyards and is also the location of the longest vineyard walk in Switzerland.
9. Switzerland is a direct democracy
Personally, of all the new things I am learning about the Swiss. Their style of government, this direct democracy is something I find quite interesting. Beginning August 1, 1291, with the joining of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. In an alliance against the governors of the Counts of Habsburg. The Switzerland of today consists of 26 individual cantons, much like the states in America. Joined together to form the Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin (Helvetic Confederation in English).
The cantons share power with the federal government and 2,000+ communes in a 3-tier political system. Direct democracy involves the direct participation of citizens. In democratic decision making and is a unique feature of the Swiss political system. It enables voters to express their opinion on decisions made by the federal parliament. It also allows them to introduce amendments to the Federal Constitution.
The Swiss do this by starting a referendum or an initiative providing them with a maximum of political self-determination. Citizens also flex their civic-might by utilizing three mechanisms, which form the core of their direct democracy:
A popular initiative
Optional referendum
Mandatory referendum
All Swiss citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote. Voters are called on around four times a year to vote on an average of 15 federal proposals. For more information on how Switzerland's government works, check out this article by The Local CH.
10. Geneva is less populated than Marseille
Recently research has shown that the risk of:
Are generally higher for people living in cities compared to that of rural areas. Caused in part by problems associated with:
Higher rates of pollution (e.g., air, water)
Noise pollution (e.g., traffic)
Specific urban designs (e.g., tall buildings that may be perceived as oppressive)
Physical threats (e.g., accidents, violence)
The urban population of the world has risen from 751 million to 4.2 billion since 1950. Currently, 55% of the global population lives in cities with more than 300,000 inhabitants. According to the UN, that number is set to reach 68% by 2050. As of 2019, residing in its métropole Marseille has an estimated 1 603 000 inhabitants (that's a 25% increase from 2018). Geneva has an estimated 501 748 inhabitants as of 2018 (+ 07% increase from 2017).
Unfortunately, as it stands, Marseille's city government is incapable of meeting the challenges and needs of the growing urban population. Especially problems related to public safety, housing, transportation, employment, education, and other necessary infrastructure. So I am sure you can imagine running errands with a small child. It can be quite challenging and to put it mildly unpleasant at times.
It was essential for us to make this move while Charles was still young. So he could grow up feeling 'from' somewhere. We wanted this move to be one where our family could set down its roots. At the end of the day, we had to be honest with ourselves., as city dwellers and as parents.
Romain will always be a boy from the Alps. He's someone who has an admiration for nature and loves being active. I'm a Valley girl from Los Angeles, a total suburbanite through and through. So, of course, when thinking about Charles' future and trying to find the right balance for our family things like:
More diverse entertainment options
Outstanding schools
The ability to live a more active lifestyle
A civic-minded society
Being close to family
All definitely counted towards our final decision, and this is why we feel living in Geneva is perfect for us. We will be able to have all the points mentioned above. Plus Geneva is a little city that packs a big punch! It has all the entertainment options you would find in any larger international city. With none of the constraints of being in a big metropolis.
Not to mention you can cross from one end of Geneva to the other in about 30 minutes by car. You are 20 minutes from an international airport and 45 minutes' drive from the nearest ski slope! Whether you love food, are passionate about history, are nature admirers, or appreciate good music and theater, you will surely find what you are looking for in Geneva.
Christel LAUTEL
Let me know in the comments if you learned anything new about Switzerland? If you are Swiss, how did I do?
Christel, I am so impressed with your research! I love how you think about Charles' upbringing every step of the way- truly so much devotion witnessed here. I did not know Switzerland was a direct democracy and am relieved you will have that kind of empowered relation to the polity and cityscape. I wish you guys the best and am adding Geneva to my bucket list of places to visit so that we can have some delicious hot beverages and catch up on your journey. Sending you so much love!
Karletta
I visited Switzerland a few years back. Loved it! I believe it’s a dream country for many. Thanks for sharing.
judean link
You make me want to move to Switzerland. Probably not going to happen but now that will be on my bucket list to visit at least!
Geneva looks so beautiful and clean. I would love to move there. Thanks for sharing!
This is so informative and interesting! After reading this post I almost wanna move myself!
Switzerland looks amazing!!! I want to live there now lol. Gorgeous!!
Leigha link
Wow! I learned so much about Switzerland and a ton of things I didn't know! Sounds like a wonderful place to raise a family!
Meru Aray
I love this! I am so excited for you guys and cannot wait to hear more! Peace!
Dyrell Dones
I learned quite a bit.
This is a great post. I would love to live in Switzerland. It sounds like y’all are having a blast.
It sounds like Switzerland is a fantastic place to live. Thanks for this interesting insight into living there !
Mayuri Patel link
Hoping to visit Switzerland next year. Now I can understand why my cousin who initially moved from London to Geneva for a 2 year job contract has now been there for ten years. A free, clean, safe environment is the best for kids to grow up in. Wishing your family all the best.
Adriana link
Ive always heard many great things about Switzerland! So happy that you love living there now
Sonya Vajifdar link
WISH I had this option as well ! Would move there in a moment !
tweenselmom link
Seems like Switzerland is a nice place to live in. I wish we will have the opportunity to see it.
Julie Syl
I don't have plans to migrate but reading these facts about Geneva makes me want to spend my entire life here.
Erik the Hungry Traveller
Good on you and fambam that your moving to Switzerland. My friends recently went there and they absolutely love the place. Safe travels and looking forward to seeing more posts about your life on that amazing country.
It sounds like Geneva is a perfect city to live in. I would love to be so close to nature, and Switzerland has some of the most amazing mountains in the world.
Looks like an amazing place to live! I wish you well on your move.
I have never been to Switzerlandbut I always wanted to visit. Such a wonderful place.
It definitely seems worth it to me! What a beautiful place it is! I’d love to visit someday in the future.
Such beautiful photos! This is completely and utterly spectacular!
I would love to travel here so much. Thanks for sharing
Oh wow! I’m not sure I could ever leave that place. it is absolutely one of the most gorgeous place I’ve ever seen.
Switzerland is quiet beautiful and you mentioned some great information about Switzerland which I never heard. I will try to visit Switzerland soon
Artemis Fannin
Great job. So thoughtful and well written. It will be a joy to follow you on your journey.
Thanks for an informative post! Our family has also moved to (just outside) Geneva so it was both interesting and useful for me to read : ) Good luck on settling in to your new home X
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Withdrawal on the Agenda
What to make of the most recent proposals to pull the US out of Iraq — and the fierce Bush administration response to them.
Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones (famed for insisting that the Congressional cafeteria re-label French fries as “freedom fries” on its menu), a man who represents North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District, home to the Marine’s Camp LeJeune, voted enthusiastically for the Iraq War, but recently changed his mind. Last week, he became one of four congressional sponsors of a resolution calling for a timetable for withdrawal. “Do we want to be there 20 years, 30 years?” he said at a Capitol Hill news conference. “That’s why this resolution is so important: We need to take a fresh look at where we are and where we’re going.”
Various explanations for his unexpected change of mind (and heart) have been offered. In the last lines of a June 13 piece, Sunni-Shiite Quarrel Edges Closer to Political Stalemate (scroll down), New York Times reporter Sabrina Tavernise made the following connection:
“[Jones’s] remarks came two weeks after military commanders told a Congressional delegation visiting Iraq that it would take about two years before enough Iraqi security forces were sufficiently trained to allow the Pentagon to withdraw large numbers of American troops.”
About two years. I was struck by that phrase in part because I had just been rereading a piece I wrote less than seven months after our President announced from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln that “major combat operations in Iraq have ended.” I called it “The Time of Withdrawal” and posted it on October 31, 2003. At the time, I offered the following:
“Two years hence, according to [occupation head] L. Paul Bremer’s men in Baghdad, we Americans are still going to be ‘reconstructing’ the country. In the Pentagon, according to the latest reports, generals are discussing what our troop levels there will be in 2006.”
That was then, this is now — or do I mean, that was now, this is then? After all, as Tavernise and other reporters, quoting our military commanders in Iraq, make clear, we’re still that miraculously receding “two years” away from significantly drawing down U.S. forces and having a reconstructed Iraq (not that the reconstruction of Iraq is much mentioned any more). In other words in October 2003, we were talking about 2005-06. In June 2005, we’re talking about 2007-08. What’s wrong with this picture?
Sadly, if anything, the similarities may be deceptive. After all, at the end of October 2003, it was still possible for most Americans to imagine a pacified — or as the Bush people would now say, “democratic” — Iraq by 2005-06. Today, as poll figures indicating fast-sinking support for the war and the President tell us, as edgy monthly casualty figures tell us, as Walter Jones’s changed position tells us, as the latest nose-dive in military recruitment figures tells us, as the fact that 35% of Americans, according to a Pew poll, think we are now back in Vietnam tells us, things in Iraq are just getting worse and worse.
John Newton, a reader from Michigan, recently framed this in an interesting way when, after reading a Jonathan Schell piece on our failing attempt to create an Iraqi army, he sent the following into the Tomdispatch e-mail box:
“It occurred to me that we’ve reached the point where we’ve got to bribe everyone to fight this war. The Iraqi Army salaries aren’t much by our standards, but they are probably twice or three times what an ordinary Iraqi makes. And yet in a place with massive unemployment, they still desert. We have perhaps 20,000 or more “contractors” doing security work who make salaries in the 6 figures to be in Iraq. And now the military is offering signing bonuses of up to $40,000. For a high school kid, that is a down payment on a house and a car. That is not so easy to pass up, but the recruiters still can’t get them to sign.”
He’s right. In a sense, between 2003 and 2005, we’ve moved decisively to the devolving side of our first free-market war. Before the invasion of Iraq even began, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was eagerly privatizing the Pentagon, stripping its forces, beefing up its technology, and outsourcing many matters which were once distinctly military to the private economy. (In other words, Halliburton, of which our Vice President was previously the CEO, and its subsidiary, KBR, off constructing bases and doing KP.) Hence, even before the invasion of Iraq, when General Eric Shinseki was essentially laughed out of neocon Washington for telling Congress that we would need an army of “several hundred thousand” men to occupy a defeated Iraq, such an army already didn’t exist. (The statement was undoubtedly Shinseki’s way of saying: Don’t go in!)
Next, under the label of “reconstruction,” the Bushniacs attempted (catastrophically) to privatize Iraq, more or less turning it over to friendly “free market” corporations like Bechtel and Halliburton (which had the good fortune of getting Global War on Terror goodies coming and going — it was, after all, responsible for building much of that jewel-in-the-crown in the Bush administration’s Bermuda Triangle of Injustice, Guantánamo prison, and only recently got a $30 million contract to add further facilities there). Now, as Newton points out in his letter, the Bush administration is trying to privatize defeat by turning military recruitment in Iraq and at home into a bonus-plus bidding war. Under these circumstances, the draft-era phrase from the Vietnam years, “Hell no, we won’t go,” is morphing into the Volunteer Army phrase, “Hell, no, I won’t join.”
Back in 2003, when I wrote “The Time of Withdrawal,” I offered the following simple summary of our situation and why withdrawal should be on the American agenda:
“History, long term and more recent, is not on our side.
“We are a war-making and an occupying force, not a peacekeeping force.
“We never planned to leave Iraq.
“Time is against us.
“Or to boil all this down to a sentence: We are not and never have been the solution to the problem of Iraq, but a significant part of the problem.”
I wouldn’t change a word. In October of 2003, however, the “time of withdrawal” was distinctly not upon us. Now — finally — it is. We seem to have reached the actual moment when the idea of “withdrawal,” at least, is being placed on the American agenda — by the unlikely Walter Jones, among others. This is, of course, a far worse moment for withdrawal than in 2003, for Iraqis as well as Americans, just as 2007 will be worse than today.
But at least it’s here. How can we tell? Several signs (other than just the Congressional resolution) point to its arrival. First of all, there’s the return of Vietnam. It’s on everyone’s mind these days — and not just because our President is at the moment welcoming the Vietnamese prime minister to the White House and announcing that a visit to our former enemy’s land is in the offing. (Keep in mind that when Richard Nixon started feeling the combined pressure of Vietnam/Watergate, he used travel to strange lands — think: Communist China and the Soviet Union — as a way to try to distract public attention.)
Representative Jones, for instance, recently said: “When I think about what happened in Vietnam — we lost 58,000 — I wonder, Wouldn’t it have been nice if, two years into the war, some representatives would have said, ‘Mr. President, where [are] we going?'” At about the same time, Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, director of operations for the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, “alluded to the precedent of Vietnam, in which plummeting public support for the war was blamed for undercutting the U.S. effort.” You could pile up such examples endlessly.
Perhaps more important, the President is now working off what clearly seems to be the Vietnam playbook — Lyndon Johnson’s playbook circa 1967. Like Johnson, facing falling polling figures and calls for withdrawal, he is staging a series of major addresses to “reassure” the American people (and shore up those polls). Just last Saturday on the radio, in his radio address, he declared that there would be no cutting-and-running for him, no withdrawal option at all: “This mission isn’t easy,” he said, “and it will not be accomplished overnight. We’re fighting a ruthless enemy that relishes the killing of innocent men, women, and children. By making their stand in Iraq, the terrorists have made Iraq a vital test for the future security of our country and the free world. We will settle for nothing less than victory.”
Words to eat, of course.
As readers never hesitate to remind me, Iraq is not Vietnam — or as Daniel Ellsberg put it sardonically, “In Iraq, it’s a dry heat. And the language that none of our troops or diplomats speak is Arabic rather than Vietnamese.” But the Vietnam experience is fused into American consciousness in such a way that, the minute things start to go wrong, our leaders find themselves, almost helplessly, following that Vietnam playbook. So, as we enter the terrain of withdrawal, we should be thinking about Vietnam as well. The withdrawal resolution Jones and his co-sponsors put forward was, on the face of it, Vietnam-ish in the sense that it had relatively little to do with actual withdrawal. (In the Vietnam years, almost every “withdrawal” plan or strategy that came out of Washington had a great deal to do with keeping us in Vietnam, not getting us out.) This particular resolution evidently proposes that, by the fall of 2005, the administration create a “timetable” for a withdrawal to be begun the following fall of 2006 (with no designated end in sight, nor total withdrawal, it seems, even mentioned). This is, on the face of it, a non-withdrawal withdrawal proposal.
But the details may make little difference. The Bush administration, which could essentially have accepted the proposal and had endless “withdrawal” time to spare, attacked it strongly because what they can see — as well they should — is the first cracks appearing in Republican Party support. You know something’s happening when Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel says “Things aren’t getting better; they’re getting worse. The White House is completely disconnected from reality. It’s like they’re just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we’re losing in Iraq”; or Republican Senator from Florida Mel Martinez pronounces himself “discouraged” by the “lack of progress” in Iraq. This is no small thing. This is not a party that is eager to be pulled into a Vietnam-like hell and then swept out of Congress in 2006 or 2008. As University of North Carolina professor (and former U.S. Air Force historian) Richard Kohn puts it: “You’ve got Republican grandees in the Senate who probably aren’t willing to put up with this much longer.”
Paralyzing Fantasies
So here we are on Vietnam-like withdrawal turf, and one sure sign of that is the sudden foregrounding of a series of predictions about the horrors that would occur if the United States were to withdraw from Iraq. These are well summed up in a recent piece by Richard Whittle of the Dallas Morning News (Experts: Iraq withdrawal now would be bad idea). According to the “foreign policy experts” Whittle interviewed, these nightmare scenarios could “at worst” include:
“A civil war in Iraq resulting in far greater bloodshed than the current conflict, though presumably without further U.S. losses.
“The transformation of western Iraq, which is dominated by Sunni Muslims, into a haven for international terrorists from al-Qaida and other groups.
“A collapse of U.S. credibility among nations of the Middle East, whose leaders would probably distance themselves from Washington.
“A collapse of the Bush administration’s push for democracy in the region.
“Instability in the Persian Gulf that could lead to steep increases in oil prices, driving the cost of gasoline beyond current record levels.”
Now, here’s the fascinating thing when you look over a list like this: All these predicted nightmares-to-come constitute a collective warning not to act in a certain way; but each of the specific potential nightmares also represents a phenomenon intensifying at this very moment exactly because we are in Iraq. Each is in operation now largely because we have almost 140,000 troops on the ground in that country; a vast intelligence and diplomatic network, a shadow government, embedded in a kind of Forbidden City in Baghdad’s Green Zone; humungous military bases all over the land, some of which have the look of permanency; an Air Force that is periodically loosed to bomb heavily populated urban areas of Iraq — all of this, in a very foreign land which, under any circumstances, would be hostile to such an alien presence.
Between the moment in late 2003 when I wrote “The Time of Withdrawal” and today, Iraq has, in fact, crept ever closer to some kind of civil war — it may already have begun; Western Iraq has been transformed into a “haven” for terrorists and jihadis; American “credibility” has collapsed not just in the Middle East but globally; the Bush push for “democracy” does look embattled; and oil prices, which in 2003 were surely hovering around $30 a barrel, are now up at double that price, while Iraq is almost incapable of exporting significant amounts of oil and “instability” in the Gulf has risen significantly.
A similar situation played itself out in Vietnam back when nightmarish visions of what might happen if we withdrew (“the bloodbath”) became so much a part of public debate that the bloodbath actually taking place in Vietnam was sometimes overshadowed by it. Prediction is a risky business. Terrible things might indeed happen if we withdrew totally from Iraq, or they might not; or they might — but not turn out to be the ones we’ve been dreaming about; or perhaps if we committed to departure in a serious way, the situation would actually ease. We don’t know. That’s the nature of the future. All we know at the moment, based on the last two years, is what is likely to happen if we stay — which is more and worse of the very nightmares we fear if we leave.
The most essential problem in such thinking is the belief that, if we just hang in there long enough, the United States will be capable of solving the Iraqi crisis. That is inconceivable, since the U.S. presence is now planted firmly at the heart of the crisis to be solved.
One guarantee: the Bush administration won’t hesitate to deploy such fantasies of future disaster to paralyze present thinking and planning. Expect it. And it will be all too easy to take our eyes off this disastrous moment and enter their world of grim future dreams. After all, they already live in a kind of ruling fantasy world. They step to the podium regularly, their hands dipped in blood, call it wine or nectar, and insist that the rest of the world drink. They will be eager to trade in their best future nightmares so that the present nightmare can continue. (They argue, by the way, for the use of torture, under whatever name, in quite a similar fashion, proposing future nightmares — let’s say we held a terrorist who had knowledge of an impending nuclear explosion in a major American city and you only had two hours to get that information from him, what would you do? — in order to justify the ongoing horrors at Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram Air Base and other places.)
Returning to what I wrote in October 2003, on only one point was I wrong, I believe. I wrote then:
“What is bad now for us ? and for the Iraqis ? will only be worse later. The resistance will be greater, more organized, and more determined. Our allies, both within and without Iraq, ever more distant; American troops more isolated, angry, and embattled; money in shorter supply; military morale lower; and the antiwar movement here stronger.”
Generally on the money, except when it came to the antiwar movement. I was, of course, projecting from the huge antiwar marches of the prewar moment. But so far, at least, Iraq has not proved to be Vietnam when it comes to an antiwar movement; or rather, it’s as if we had arrived at the end of the Vietnam-era antiwar movement first. In 1972, when the non-military part of that movement more or less collapsed, the antiwar soldiers remained. Vietnam Veterans Against the War was the official name of the main organization they formed, but the military in Vietnam itself was in near-revolt — rising desertions and AWOLs, fraggings, “search and avoid” missions (where patrols just left perimeters and then sat out their assigned duties), escalating drug use, demonstrations by veterans in the U.S., and so on.
In the Iraq War, though in a far more modest way so far, the antiwar movement has been emerging in large part from the world of the military itself — from worried parents of soldiers and would-be soldiers, angry spouses of soldiers in danger or killed in Iraq, and (slowly and quietly) from within the military itself. This is what has moved Rep. Walter B. Jones. Along with growing cracks in the Republican Party, the alienation of the military (including many officers who clearly believe that Iraq=madness) is a real threat — perhaps the only real withdrawal threat at present. Predicting the future is a chancy thing to attempt. We humans are notoriously lousy at it. This I was incapable of fully imagining.
Otherwise, read my October 2003 piece. Withdrawal is now on the agenda, not just ours but the Iraqi one as well. Just the other day in a letter, “82 Shiite, Kurdish, Sunni Arab, Christian and communist legislators,” just under a third of the newly elected Iraqi parliament, called for the withdrawal of American occupation forces. Given this administration, withdrawal is likely to be on the agenda for a long time to come. But that shouldn’t stop us. Let the thoughts pour out. Let the plans pour in. (Note that Juan Cole at his always invaluable Informed Comment website has recently taken a first stab at offering a reasonable withdrawal plan, one involving the UN. Don’t hold your breath, of course, if John Bolton arrives at UN headquarters after being rejected by the Senate.
I hope to return to the issue of such plans next week. In the meantime, let me just end on another letter that came into the Tomdispatch email box recently. It’s a reminder — the sort that Rep. Jones evidently got in his district — that there is a complex constituency out there, people connected to soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women deployed in or around Iraq, who are also considering what we really should be doing and how our world actually works in fascinating and sometimes inspiring ways.
“My grandson’s father came home from Iraq two weeks ago. He is one of the lucky ones as the Air Force appears (I have no documentation either way) to not be in harms way over there, but time will tell.
“I am happy for my grandson and his father. My only concern now is the 1,700 men and women who have died needlessly in this unholy war — my version as a devout Catholic, but I believe all Christian people regardless of their religious beliefs, not the religious right, but the true Christians who believe in and pray for peace are against this war. Let us not forget that Muslims also pray to the same God we do, and believe we are doing them harm by occupying their country, so naturally, they feel God is on their side. There is too much labeling going on in the media right now and it is difficult to watch. We all have a birth-right to follow our conscience, without judgment or bias from the media.
“What concerns me is most Americans are just like me, trying to squeak out a living, pay their mortgage, pay their bills and take care of their children, and grandchildren. Example, I hit the ground running each day, fire up the laptop, answer the endless email requests I receive at work, spend long hours at work due to the volume and corporate greed which keeps our VPs from hiring enough staff, so all of us carry the jobs of two or more people. I grew up here and now that I’m 53, I think my state is going to hell in a hand-basket (pardon the expression).
“I have an interesting parallel going on in my life. My son has a Vietnamese girlfriend who is as cute as a button (she came here when she was a year old) and her dad has returned to Vietnam to live, and my son and his girlfriend are considering visiting there in the next year.
“When our boys were in Vietnam, it never for a moment crossed my mind that in my wildest dreams any of my descendents, let alone my only son, would even think of going to visit Vietnam. It was unthinkable because of the war, which we thought would never end.
“Next slide: can you picture your grandchildren visiting Iraq on vacation? No, I can’t imagine it either. But it brings me back to the fact that war is momentary, even if it lasts for 20 years, and then life changes, making things we never thought possible, possible.
“I hope and pray we can get out of Iraq sooner, not later, or another 20 years of conflict and another 58,000 of our men and women will have lost their lives for nothing. There was absolutely no reason to start this war and it’s brought pain and suffering to many parents in America and many citizens of Iraq.
“Don’t get me wrong, I pray every day for the men and women who are over there; I know they are following orders and went into the military with open and true hearts. As a country, we have let them down. I said when George W. became president in January 2001, I’d be lucky if my job was still there by the end of his presidency, never dreaming he would be in office for 8 years.
“Well, off to get ready for another Monday. Please keep our soldiers and their parents in your prayers. I came so close to losing my daughter in the hospital in ?99, and still can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child; I’m grateful I didn’t and pray for those who have.
“We can’t give up on ending this war, but we have to find a better way to mobilize America. We can’t give up. I pray every, every day for an end to this. Take care and Godspeed…”
It’s up to all of us to consider the timing and the time of withdrawal.
The Time of Withdrawal
[Yaroslav Trofimov of the Wall Street Journal visited the U.S. Army’s 21st Combat Support Hospital in Balad, Iraq. It handles American casualties from the Sunni Triangle. Few of the doctors and nurses, he writes, “expected to deal with such a steady stream of casualties more than six months after the fall of Baghdad.” At the hospital he interviewed Lt. Col. Kim Keslung, an orthopedic surgeon, who summed up the situation this way:]
“‘It was a mistake to discount the Iraqi resistance,’ Col. Keslung said, adding, ?If someone invaded Texas, we’d do the same thing.‘” (“In a Tent Hospital, A close-Up View Of Attacks in Iraq,” Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2003)
“The U.S.-run government in Iraq has vowed to seek no congressional funding in 2005 to reconstruct that nation if it receives the Bush administration’s full $20.3 billion request this fall, raising questions about how it will meet its total spending needs.” (Jonathan Weisman,
Iraq Aid Needs, Pledge At Odds, the Washington Post. )
Two passages from an ongoing travesty. Let’s start with the second of them, which looks to me for all the world like “Read my lips, no new aid.” In 2005, if we’re still in Iraq and George Bush is still in the White House, Congress will be asked to pony up more money as surely as the sun rises in the east. But the more striking part of that passage is simply the date: 2005. Two years hence, according to L. Paul Bremer’s men in Baghdad, we Americans are still going to be “reconstructing” the country. In the Pentagon, according to the latest reports, generals are discussing what our troop levels there will be in 2006.
Imagine such time-scapes and you know a great deal not about what’s going to happen, but about the Bush administration’s vision of our occupation of Iraq — which is never to depart.
Lt. Col. Kim Keslung, who won’t even leave the base where she works because she knows full well what kinds of things happen to Americans “out there,” is a far better historian than our president, our viceroy in Baghdad, our secretary or undersecretary of defense, or the various neocons in the administration and inhabiting the souks of Washington.
She’s right. Invade Texas, invade Iran, invade China, invade Albania, invade Lebanon, invade Iraq — name your place, in fact — and you better not assume there won’t be resistance. Someone always resists. That single sentence sums up the last two centuries of global history.
Empires invariably think that it’s they who are bringing civilization and progress in their train and that only the barbarians, the terrorists, the bitter-enders resist for fear of being thrown onto that dust heap of history. But history is, as it turns out, filled to the brim with barbarians, terrorists, and bitter-enders, not to speak of enraged ordinary people who have seen their friends and relatives die, who feel the discomfort — which has only grown more psychologically unbearable over the last century — of watching well-armed, well-paid foreigners walk with impunity across their lands. They do resist, exactly as Texans would. Afterwards perhaps they fall on each other’s throats. Such things are unpredictable.
But in recent centuries, if empire — the Great Powers, the Great Game, Global Domination, the Great Rivalry, the Great Arms Race -? has been the Great Theme of history, the less publicized but perhaps more powerful one has been resistance. Resistance everywhere to occupation of any sort. Resistance by forgotten millions (not all of them wonderful human beings). If you need to be convinced of this, just read Jonathan Schell’s new book The Unconquerable World.
Sooner or later, regimes of occupation withdraw or collapse. Or both. In our times, it seems, ever sooner. Even the Soviet Union didn’t make it past one long human lifetime. Of course, we’ve never been in a single hyperpower version of an imperial world before. But I think it might be possible to start into the subject of withdrawal from Iraq by saying one thing: There’s a great deal of “hype” in that “hyperpower.” American power has been distinctly over-hyped. The leaders of other countries have perhaps taken us too much at the Bush administration’s overheated estimate of ourselves. Yes, our military can destroy much, quickly and from afar. Yes, we have the economic power to punish in various ways. Yes, you wouldn’t want to find yourself in a dark alley or even a cul de sac with this administration in a bad mood. But being powerful and being all-powerful are two quite different things which the utopian dreamers of Bush’s Washington have confused utterly ? to their ultimate detriment I believe.
Yes, militarily, our power is awesome and no other country can come close to matching it in conventional war settings. But it is most powerful withheld. As Iraq shows, once we commit ourselves to action, we are likely to find ourselves strangely overmatched. The irony here is that what an Iraqi military of 400,000 couldn’t hope to do, relatively small groups of ill-armed men and women are doing.
Having taken Iraq, eager to nail down its resources, to establish an imperial “democracy” as well as a string of permanent military bases there, and then drive a policy dreamt up inside Washington’s Beltway directly through the Middle East, the sole Great Power on this planet, issuing documents on Global Domination till the end of time, without a Great Rival, playing a Great Game with no one, and in an Arms Race of one (but still developing plans for ever higher-tech weaponry for future decades), nonetheless finds itself driven by a modest if growing resistance movement in Iraq. The president of the greatest power on Earth is being forced by events in “5% of Iraq” to call in his advisers for endless meetings, shake up the structure of his administration, hold sudden news conferences, offer new and ever more farfetched explanations of American actions, and backtrack on claims — all because of Iraqi resistance.
I think one thing is predictable in a world where predicting anything accurately is a low-percentage bet: Sooner or later, the time of withdrawal will be upon us. Some of us would like it to be sooner, not later.
An antiwar movement shut down for months -? but still emotionally in place -? is now reconstituting itself and one of its demands is already for withdrawal, for an “end to the occupation,” for “bringing our troops home.” But this demand still has the feel of a slogan without particular resonance or content. Part of the reason for this is quite logical. Everyone knows to the point of despair that we -? the antiwar movement, the anti-imperialists — are not in control. They are and they don’t want to leave. “We” will not withdraw from Iraq. They will, or they will feint at it anyway, but only under the pressure of impending catastrophe, literal or electoral. Withdrawal will not be directed by us or according to any plans the experts among us might draw up. Yes, we want this over. Except among military families, however, “bring our troops home” or “end the occupation” are at the moment just feeble slogans, raised to put a little pressure on the administration.
Still, a demand is being made in the face of all those people who claim that we can’t “cut and run,” that we must “stay the course,” that, whatever our thoughts about the war once were, we are all now somehow committed to an Iraqi occupation lest American “credibility” suffer grievous harm — all statements that would have sounded no less credible, or incredible, nearly four decades ago when they were indeed part of the Vietnam playbook and the language of that era. Right now in the mainstream, with the exception of a few columnists like James Carroll of the Boston Globe and Bob Herbert of the New York Times, and the odd intellectual figure like the economist Jeffrey Sachs, withdrawal is not yet on anyone’s agenda. The Democratic candidates, Kucinich aside, are criticizing how we got into the war without suggesting ways to get out any time soon.
But, given ongoing events in Iraq, the idea of withdrawal is already on an inexorable course into the mainstream world. One sign: The administration has begun floating stories about withdrawing some troops next year. As withdrawal comes to seem like an actual alternative, we’re going to be challenged on it. And by then, it better be something more than a vague slogan for us. By then, we should have explored the subject as carefully, honestly, and fully as we can.
Just the other day, a friend challenged me to stop ducking the subject. He claimed that in my dispatches I was taking the easy way out. And I think maybe he was right. It’s time for us to do our best not just to put withdrawal on the American agenda as a slogan but to give it some thought and content.
Here, then, is my modest attempt to begin to think this out and get a discussion started.
Why we must leave Iraq
The Path of History: It’s not only that history -? in its last centuries -? speaks eloquently against the imperial occupation of any country; a far more circumscribed, recent, and specific history speaks against this occupation as well. So let me start with that:
The United States has long been involved with Iraq and the record doesn’t make for pleasant reading. The CIA had a hand in Saddam Hussein’s rise and the success of the Baath Party. The Reagan administration supported Saddam during the years of some of his worst crimes because he seemed a reasonable, if somewhat shaky bulwark against the evil Shi’ite regime in Iran. The first Bush administration, having decided not to march on Baghdad at the end of the Gulf War (during which we slaughtered possibly tens of thousands of Iraqis), despite full command of the skies over Iraq, proceeded to look the other way while Saddam crushed a Shi’ite uprising (itself filled with bloody revenge killings). We let him use his helicopters and other weaponry against the Shi’ite rebels for fear of an Islamic Republic in Baghdad. This resulted in the killing fields whose graves Paul Wolfowitz and others now visit regularly and use as the very explanation for our invasion of Iraq. The first Bush and Clinton administrations then enforced a fierce and unrelenting version of UN-sanctions supposedly against Saddam but crushing to ordinary Iraqis and, though it’s seldom mentioned, so destructive to the various Iraqi support systems (electricity, water purification, oil fields etc.) that, under the pressure of war, looting, occupation and resistance these more or less collapsed. The second Bush administration then launched a savage war against Saddam’s regime which only lasted a few weeks but again killed many thousands of soldiers and civilians. The killings of civilians have yet to end.
Though we arrived in Iraq speaking the language of liberation (in English only) and most Iraqis were relieved initially to have the sanctions regime and the war ended as well as a horrendously abusive regime gone, we did not arrive as liberators. Though almost all of the above had largely been forgotten by Americans and could barely be found in our media, it was certainly in the minds of many Iraqis, who had to assume, on the basis of the historical record, a distinct self-interestedness on our part. We arrived in Iraq thinking utterly beneficently about ourselves, but undoubtedly from the Iraqi point of view (dangerous as it is to assume that there is only one such) we had much to prove (or perhaps disprove) -? and fast. The proof in the last six months has been painfully in line with the previous historical record cited above.
No exit: When thinking of withdrawal, it’s important to remember that it was never a concept in the Bush administration’s vocabulary. Despite all those years of Vietnam “lessons” and Colin Powell’s “doctrine” which said that no military action should be undertaken without an “exit strategy” in place, Bush’s boys had no exit strategy in mind because they never imagined leaving. Of course, they expected to quickly draw down American forces in the face of a jubilant and grateful population. But there was no greater signal of our long-term intentions than our dismantling of the Iraqi military, and their planned recreation as a lightly armed border-patrolling force of perhaps 40,000 with no air force. Put that together with the four permanent bases we began building almost immediately and you know that we were expecting to be Iraq’s on-site military protector into the distant future.
Iraq itself was to be the lynchpin of an American empire of bases that was to extend from the former Yugoslavia to Uzbekistan, right across the “arc of instability” which just happened to coincide with the major oil lands of this Earth. Occupying Iraq would also ? of this the neocons were quite confident — tame Syria and Iran, settle the Palestinian question on grounds favorable to the Sharon government, and solve the awkward problem of basing our troops in Saudi Arabia about which Osama bin Laden had so long been bitter. This is what “liberation” truly meant.
So when considering withdrawal, you can’t think only of Iraq. When occupying it, the Bush administration had far larger fish to fry. They had a global no-exit strategy of domination they wanted to put fully in place.
It has often been said -? and on this score there has been much complaint in the military -? that our troops were never trained to be policemen or peacekeepers (and that we didn’t bother to bring into Iraq any significant number of military police) -? but that’s the narrowest way to look at a very large problem. We arrived in Baghdad as a victorious, or more bluntly, a conquering army, not as peacekeepers. And we have continued in that vein.
In the weeks before, during and after the war, the administration itself often compared the occupation of Iraq to the Japanese and German occupations at the end of World War II. But we did allow actual Japanese and Germans to rebuild their countries economically, more or less to Japanese and German specifications. Iraq has been another matter. At every level, the Iraqis themselves have been sidelined. Reconstruction has been a kind of economic pillage, booty offered to huge American corporations linked to the Bush administration -? and the future economy of Iraq has been declared a free-fire zone for international finance. This is not what the Americans did to Japan, but what the Huns did to Europe, even if dressed up in modern capitalist garb. When mobs of Iraqis began to loot museums, ministries, stores, homes, oil refineries, electric plants, anything in sight, we were all shocked. When the power occupying Iraq opens the country to foreign (read American) corporations for the wholesale looting of its wealth and economic well-being, no one so much as blinks.
Again, history tells us that the Iraqis -? and not just thugs, terrorists, and “bitter-enders” -? will not live long on the sidelines of such a situation. Soon, they will challenge us about withdrawal, something never previously part of the Bush agenda. It must be part of ours.
The time of withdrawal: When considering the issue of ending the occupation quickly and bringing our troops home, perhaps the most important matter to think about is time itself. As we hear endlessly, we must not “cut and run,” but instead “stay the course.” The implication in all such statements is that, if only the United States toughs it out, on the other side of this rough patch of resistance lies another far less chaotic world in which a new and more peaceful Iraq will play at least something like the role the Bush administration imagined for it. Perhaps it was once true, when news traveled slowly and the colonial world was in more or less another universe, that an imperial power indeed did have five or ten years in which to pacify, at least for a time, a conquered and occupied land. Time like that is no longer available to the United States or to the Bush administration.
It is far more reasonable -? given what we know of history and of the present situation -? to assume that time is not on our side. What is bad now for us -? and for the Iraqis -? will only be worse later. The resistance will be greater, more organized, and more determined. Our allies, both within and without Iraq, ever more distant; American troops more isolated, angry, and embattled; money in shorter supply; military morale lower; and the antiwar movement here stronger. This is a prediction, of course, but a far more reasonable one, I think, than those that we hear every day. And if “staying the course,” toughing it out, only makes a bad situation worse, then withdrawal when it comes, as it will, will only be that much harder and the results only that much more catastrophic for all parties concerned.
Let me sum up in four sentences:
If this is true, then that’s what we’ll remain as long as our troops are there, all of which speaks to the need for a quick withdrawal from Iraq. I don’t claim to have a plan for doing so. Withdrawal plans must come, but probably not from the likes of me. A look at history (by those more expert than I) might be of use. There are endless imperial withdrawals from various occupied lands to consider — some more embattled and horrific, some more peaceful, some braver, some more cowardly, some showing foresight, some barely ahead of collapse itself. And sometimes, of course, there was no withdrawal at all. The occupying forces were simply driven out. Examples obviously range from the French in Algeria and the Portuguese in Africa to the Israelis in Lebanon and the Russians in Eastern Europe. How this might be done and whom Iraq would be handed off to must be considered as well. Would the UN take some responsibility for Iraq or, for that matter, the Arab League? I don’t know. All I know is that if the will to withdraw, and withdraw quickly, is there, withdrawal is what will happen.
I’m no expert on Iraq. I can hardly keep the Shi’ite groups straight even with the help of the writings of Juan Cole. I do think it would be a mistake for any of us to claim that we know what would happen during a genuine withdrawal. It could indeed be a terrible mess or simply a true horror. Iraq could split in three ? an embattled Kurdish semi-democracy in the north (under the ominous shadow of Turkey), a Sunni dictatorship in the center, and a harsh Islamic Republic in the South. There could be bloodshed or civil war. Or not. The future has a way of surprising ? and since the American occupiers have chosen not to trust Iraqis with either responsibility or power, we have no idea what they might have done with it, or might someday do with it.
All of that is speculation. But what we can see is what a long-term horror an American occupation and reconstruction of Iraq is likely to turn out to be. We can see the rising death toll; we can read about the civilians slain; we can note the mini-gulag set up there. We can mull over the greed and corruption in what passes for “reconstruction.” All this we know. The rest is possibility. This we should not want to continue in our names. This “course” we should not want to “stay.” Alternatives should not be considered “cutting and running.”
For me at least, the imperial occupation of the lands of this earth -? whatever the empire -? is unacceptable. Any armed occupation will always be part of the problem not the solution on this planet. In our present world, such acts can only lead to hell. We need to pressure this administration hard to step outside the box it has created for us, our troops, and the Iraqi people who truly did deserve a liberation and not the occupation and looting that they are living through. They are not the spoils of war.
Let us offer Iraq genuine help, reconstruction aid, and support of all sorts afterwards, possibly indirectly through groups whose interests can’t be mistaken for ours. But our troops are an occupying army. They can’t keep the peace. They are the war.
Tom Engelhardt, who runs the Nation Institute’s Tomdispatch.com (“a regular antidote to the mainstream media”), is the co-founder of the American Empire Project and the author of The End of Victory Culture, a history of American triumphalism in the Cold War.
This piece first appeared at Tomdispatch.com.
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Author Topic: Fresh Poll shows President Buhari’s Approval Rating Drops To 39% (Read 708 times)
newspostng
Renowned survey agency, NOIPolls, yesterday, indicated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s job approval rating has suffered a decline. According to the result of the survey, President Buhari’s approval rating for the month of June 2016 stood at 39 percent as against a very high rating of 80 per cent in October 2015.
This latest score, according to NOIPOlls, equally represented a nine-point decline when compared to the rating in May 2016, which stood at 48 percent.
The survey also revealed a general decline in the approval rating of the president across five geopolitical zones, when compared to the month of May. The result showed that while the North West zone at 61 percent recorded the highest approval rating, closely followed by the North East zone with 59 percent, the South East and South South zones had the least approval rating of eight percent and 24 percent, respectively. The agency also asked Nigerians to rate the president on key indicators.
The results of this revealed a high level of dissatisfaction of Nigerians on his performance in the areas of conflict resolution (28 percent), agriculture and food security (21 percent), health care (20 percent), education (18 percent), economy (15 percent), job creation (13 percent), infrastructure (13 percent), and poverty alleviation (11 percent) as he was rated poorly in these areas.
However, Nigerians scored Buhari’s performance high in the areas of national security (48 percent) and corruption (45 percent), where he received the highest ratings compared to other indicators measured in the poll. Though the president received an average rating in the area of national security, the agency maintained that more needed to be done in conflict resolution, especially in controlling inter-communal and/or intra-communal conflicts evidenced by the increased herdsmen-farmers conflicts in some zones in recent times.
This result is the thirteenth approval rating for Buhari’s job performance and the sixth in the monthly series of governance polls for the year 2016 and represents the opinions and perceptions of Nigerians regarding the job performance of the president. Findings from the poll, according to the agency, revealed that Buhari’s approval rating stood at 39 percent in June 2016. Monthly trend analysis on the president’s performance rating revealed a 9-point decrease in his approval rating when compared to May 2016. This represents the lowest approval rating of President Buhari since NOIPolls started its approval ratings of the president 13 months ago; with the highest recorded in October 2015 at 80 percent.
More findings from the poll revealed that almost four in 10 adult Nigerians (39 percent: 19 percent + 20 percent) approved the president’s job performance.
On the contrary, 41 percent (23 percent + 18 percent) of the respondents disapproved of the president’s job performance whereas 20 percent were indifferent. However, there were high expectations by Nigerians that the growing Fulani herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in the North Central, South East, North East and South West zones, and the lingering bombing of pipelines by militant groups would be given adequate attention. The survey, in conclusion, stated that almost four in 10 Nigerians (39 percent) approved the president’s job performance in June 2016 and this represented the lowest approval rating since the president assumed office in May 2015.
It stated that Buhari’s ratings on some key indicators reflects dissatisfaction of the president’s performance in job creation, health care, infrastructure, conflict resolution, agriculture and food security, education, economy, and poverty alleviation, while Nigerians showed some level of satisfaction with his performance in the area of national security and corruption.
The agency disclosed that the opinion poll was conducted in the week of June 27, 2016 and that it involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. It said that 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed.
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Started by Naijaloaded
by Naijaloaded
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Tonight: Sweethead
"Sultry rock" reigns at Spaceland.
By Alysia Gray Painter • Published May 9, 2010 • Updated on May 10, 2010 at 6:35 am
SWEETHEAD AT SPACELAND: Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age is on the stage. The sound is "sultry," says the club. There's an album release afoot, and a trio of other bands on the bill. And it is all free. Night starts at 8:30 p.m.
"BRIDE FLIGHT": The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival continues with a film that details three women on an historic air journey. It plays at 7:30 p.m. at the Laemmle Music Hall.
MuVChat NIGHT: You watch "Batman & Robin." You have some sort of phone device. You text your thoughts and quips and reactions and you see them appear on the screen. Others do the same. At the Downtown Independent at 9:30 p.m.
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Summer Fun by Design
Behind the Scenes at The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium
FunIndustry InsightsTeam
You may recall from past posts or seeing our adventures on social media that every year the entire team at NeigerDesign meets up for a strategic planning event we call Summer Fun Day. We know what you're thinking, "Strategic planning...fun?" With the way we strategize at NeigerDesign, fun is only the beginning. This year there were themed t-shirts, donut holes en plein air, virtual reality headsets, a planetarium show, a guided tour of a new exhibit, and a jazzin' happy hour—and those aren't even the best parts.
This year the NeigerDesign team expanded our horizons and dove deep into archives, ventured far into the remote areas of our solar system, and got aquatic alongside Lake Michigan, which is to say that we met with the design and marketing teams of the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium and got to see a bit of what happens behind the scenes while learning about their unique processes. First of all, if you are a Chicagoan and have not visited all of these places, go out and get to them ASAP—they are truly great cultural attractions to visit to learn and explore for the day and are among the nation’s best for very good reason.
Our first behind-the-scenes adventure started at the Field Museum of Natural History where we met with Alvaro Amat, Design Director at the Field Museum. Although we didn’t get to lose ourselves in the massive research collection of 30 million species, we did see a whole lot of really fascinating things—from dropping in on the mount shop to happening upon a young researcher preparing a presentation on bird and egg specimens and even seeing inside the studio of the museum’s talented artist-in-residence Peggy MacNamara.
Several of Alvaro’s staff courteously shared some time out of their busy day with us to discuss a few of the unique challenges faced by a historic institution that serves not only a huge number of visitors each year but also science itself. The primary mission of the Field Museum is scientific discovery, creating exciting exhibits is secondary. Yet the museum still needs to delight and inspire visitors, and with all of the design elements necessary in the museum, from wayfinding signage to the oversized banners hung between the building’s Greco-Roman marble columns and the exhibit layout and appearance itself, the Field Museum team has to find the perfect balance between aesthetics, clarity, and accuracy while complementing the science and history of the specimens and artifacts. Theirs is no small task, and our team was inspired by the scope and scale of their work.
From the airy half-acre hall of the history museum we ventured to the dark corridors of the cosmos and a decidedly digital future at Adler Planetarium. We met with Sarah Cole, Vice President of Visitor Experience, and Elizabeth Gordon, Director of Special Events and Initiatives at the Adler Planetarium and discovered that their unique needs as a planetarium are just as complex but still distinct from those of the museum. For their design projects, the Adler team must also find the balance between aesthetics, clarity, and accuracy, but as a planetarium their exhibits strive to be highly interactive and need to be able to change—and quickly—when new information and discoveries become available. This blend of entertainment and real-time factuality is especially apparent with their sky shows. We met with visualization engineer Patrick McPike and saw the mini-dome where new shows are created and tested using the latest in both technology and scientific information.
The newest sky show at Adler epitomized much of the challenges and goals of their team; “Planet Nine” is about the Kuiper Belt, the celestial objects that unseated Pluto as a planet, and why all signs are pointing to an as-of-yet undiscovered ninth planet in the outer solar system. Because the show uses real data, the New Horizons flyby of Pluto supplied invaluable scientific insights, but also required speedy revisions as new images were released. Additionally, the planetarium needed the show to be available while it was still timely following the flyby. NeigerDesign joined the audience for a screening and we were able to see firsthand how their hard work paid off, but with scientists actively searching for more evidence of the ninth planet, the possibility of real-time updating remains. Challenging though it may be, it all adds to the excitement of the planetarium experience and we’re excited to see how sky shows continue to evolve.
For our final stop of the day we first had to overcome some office envy—part of the office area in Shedd Aquarium overlooks the Abbott Oceanarium, which we imagine makes for great coffee breaks—and then we met with Elizabeth Nelson, Senior Director of Communication Design, and her design team. Seeing as the work day was winding down, we were able to sit down with most of the designers and have a roundtable discussion of sorts comparing our own design processes and experiences with theirs. It was both interesting and insightful, and even has us wanting to find out more about agile management.
We also learned a bit of what goes into launching a special exhibit, as Shedd had just opened “Amphibians” in late spring. One of the unique challenges that their team faces is that their exhibits, in contrast to the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium, are also homes to living organisms. From the living coral to the giant Japanese salamander to the beluga whales, the needs and wellbeing of the Shedd residents are an understandably primary concern for all projects. Those residents may not also be the most photogenic, which adds another interesting challenge. Although we thought the giant Japanese salamander had a lot of winning personality, it’s easy to see how it might not be the poster model for the new exhibit when there are also plenty of colorful frogs. Consider the popular “Jellies” exhibit, which had a memorably vibrant and colorful visual campaign that was so effective that some visitors were surprised to see that many of the jellyfish were not technicolored themselves.
To complete our amazing day on Museum Campus we relaxed in the sun with the incredible view of Lake Michigan and a live jazz performance for entertainment at Shedd’s weekly summertime event, Jazzin’ at the Shedd.
Overall we had a truly fantastic Summer Fun Day and cannot thank everyone at the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium enough for making it possible. It was a pleasure and an honor to get a view into a whole other world of design.
Newly Inspired and On Trend
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Clean sweep of NJ Transit's top brass continues
By Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger
weinstein-simpson-oconnor.jpg
Jim Weinstein, left, and Kevin O'Connor, right, are out as NJ Transit's executive director and vice president and general manager of rail operations, respectively. State Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson, center, now has an ally in Ronnie Hakim in the NJ Transit executive director chair.
The shakeup of NJ Transit’s upper management is becoming a clean sweep.
In the same week that Jim Weinstein’s four-year tenure as NJ Transit’s executive director officially ended, his directors of rail and bus operations, Kevin O’Connor and Joyce Gallagher, are being forced out, said sources close to the agency.
Just like that, the top boss at NJ Transit and the top officials in the rail and bus divisions of the statewide transportation agency are gone or going.
Ronnie Hakim, the former New Jersey Turnpike Authority executive director and an ally of state Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson, took over Saturday as NJ Transit executive director.
NJ Transit officials declined comment, and Simpson said O'Connor and Gallagher were still working at the agency.
But several sources said it was a matter of semantics, and the pair of high-ranking officials close to Weinstein have been told to resign because NJ Transit was "going in a different direction."
O'Connor, vice president and general manager of rail operations for the past three years, oversaw the best year for on-time performance in NJ Transit history in 2012, with 96.4 percent of trains arriving within the standard industry measure of 5 minutes and 59 seconds of the scheduled time. But that year also ended with hundreds of trains and locomotives being damaged after an ill-fated decision to leave them in rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken that flooded during Hurricane Sandy.
About three months after Sandy, O'Connor got into a testy exchange with Joe Clift, a former Long Island Rail Road director of planning, about NJ Transit's preparations for Sandy. Clift during a breakfast business meeting distributed copies of questions asking whether O'Connor would "accept responsibility for the decisions that led to $100M in damage."
“No, I am not going to resign,” O’Connor said at the time.
Last week, Simpson told reporters the rail cars "should have been moved to higher ground, and they weren't."
"What I've been told is basically what you've been told: there was a decision made to leave the rail cars, because their SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) maps or their forecasts only showed a 20-percent likelihood of the yard flooding," he said. "To me, if that's the case, 10 to 20 percent, that's a risk that I wouldn't take. But obviously we didn't find out about that until afterwards, so Monday morning quarterbacking is not a good thing."
O’Connor, 54, who made $185,000 annually, joined NJ Transit 12 years ago and previously served as deputy general manager of transportation and general superintendent of New York Penn Station, North America’s busiest transit hub. Before that, he spent more than 20 years at Amtrak, working his way up from train attendant to general manager of the national railroad’s Philadelphia line.
What was supposed to be a summer job in June 1977 — one week after his high school graduation — launched a career. O'Connor was hired as a coach and sleeping car attendant with Amtrak. He worked primarily on sleeping cars and coaches on long-distance trains out of New York, traveling to such cities as Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City and New Orleans. On the "sleepers," he made up rooms for customers, dropped beds out of the wall, assisted with luggage, provided information, brought customers food and drink from the dining car and made sure they were awake and ready to get off at their destination.
Gallagher, vice president and general manager of bus operations for the past two years, was praised for getting buses back on the road within 48 hours of Hurricane Sandy – even before traffic lights were restored in some towns – and providing a much-needed symbol of normalcy after the most damaging storm in New Jersey history.
Joyce Gallagher
She also was the top official in the bus division at the time that MyBus Now arrived, allowing bus riders – who outnumber NJ Transit train riders by a 2-to-1 margin – to check their smartphones or computers to find out in real time when the next bus will arrive.
Gallagher, 61, who made $175,000 per year, oversaw the second-largest fleet of buses in the nation. Previously, she directed the Americans with Disabilities Act Services division of NJ Transit, and also held leadership positions with the agency’s bus and light rail divisions.
She joined NJ Transit in 1980 and was project manager on a task force responsible for restructuring interstate bus service in Passaic County. She became deputy general manager of Southern Division bus operations, responsible for five garage locations and three major terminals in South Jersey.
For every model bus operator like Gerald Cameron, NJ Transit's safest bus driver, Gallagher seemingly had to put aside her daily duties to address bizarre incidents involving other bus operators (Gallagher never called them "drivers" because she didn't think that word did them justice for piloting an 18-ton vehicle).
One bus operator took passengers on a hell ride, making them two hours late for work, and another was shown on camera allegedly pleasuring himself as he drove in the Lincoln Tunnel. Then, a homeless man with an affinity for vodka wore an NJ Transit jacket while directing buses into a parking lot in Manhattan.
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All posts tagged "marriage"
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Anti-terror Body invites CMs’ ire
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESHWAR: It came like a bolt from the blue, rather from the States to the Centre. Four Chief Ministers, no less — J Jayalalithaa, Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar and even UPA ally
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESHWAR: It came like a bolt from the blue, rather from the States to the Centre. Four Chief Ministers, no less — J Jayalalithaa, Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar and even UPA ally Mamata Banerjee — revolted against the Centre’s move to set up a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on the ground that it would chip away the states’ powers.
Just as the NCTC order delineating its organisation, power, duties, issued by the Union Home Ministry, came to light, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, protesting against the move which he said would infringe on the “powers of state governments in matters of investigation and maintenance of order’’.
When Patnaik’s February 14 innuendo failed to extract any response from the Centre, his counterpart in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, followed up the act and wrote to the PM on February 14. In her letter, Mamata expressed her deep concern over the extensive power that has been given to the NCTC, to be located in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Opposing the move, Mamata gave reasons for her reservations: “Officers of the Operations Division of the NCTC shall have the power to search under Section 43 A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Also, all authorities including the functionaries of the State Governments are required to provide information/document to the NCTC.’’ She too reiterated Patnaik’s “infringement on the powers of the state’’ point.
This topped with TN CM J Jayalalithaa’s strong statement on Friday that “some ministers in the Centre are acting in a high-handed manner without consulting the state governments’’, had the Centre scurrying for cover.
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