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Create Sharp Videos and VR Works With the Best 360-Degree Cameras
Morning Links: Empty Apologia Edition
May 16, 2018 9:00am
Still from Lars von Trier’s The House That Jack Built (2018).
COURTESY ZENTROPA
At a $415.8 million Christie’s Impressionist and modern art sale last night in New York, new records were achieved for Kazimir Malevich and Constantin Brancusi. The sale was a success, even without Steve Wynn’s Picassos, which were withdrawn earlier this week. [ARTnews]
Halima Cassell has won the $30,000 Sovereign Asian Art Prize. Muhammad Onaiz Taji won the Sovereign Art Foundation’s $1,000 Schoeni Prize. [Artforum]
Guards at Beijing’s 798 Art District reportedly beat two women who were wearing pins in support of LGBTQI rights. An Art District staff member defended the guards’ choice, noting that the district’s management has “the right to stop illegal activity.” [The Art Newspaper]
The first reviews are coming out for Lars von Trier’s latest provocation, The House That Jack Built, a graphically violent film about a serial killer that reportedly caused 100 people to walk out when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In his review for the Village Voice, Bilge Ebiri calls the film an “empty apologia” for some of von Trier’s more controversial antics. [The Village Voice]
The Royal Academy of Art in London has unveiled a new design that connects its two buildings. Though it seems minimal, it wasn’t an easy overhaul, the architect David Chipperfield, who oversaw the addition, said, because “it depended on territorial negotiations and the reorganizations of emotional things.” [Artnet News]
For the New Yorker, Louis Menand muses on the writings of Tom Wolfe, the author of such acclaimed books as The Painted Word, who died earlier this week at age 88. “A great magazine writer is a writer who sells magazines,” Menand writes. “Tom Wolfe sold magazines.” [The New Yorker]
The Dallas Museum of Art is planning an exhibition devoted to the work of Ida Ten Eyck O’Keeffe, the younger sister of the more famous Georgia O’Keeffe. Aptly, the show is subtitled “Escaping Georgia’s Shadow.” [Dallas News]
Today’s Google Doodle pays homage to the artist Tamara de Lempicka, whose Art Deco paintings often feature female figures rendered in industrial tones. [Google]
The Dutch dealer Jan Six has discovered the first “new” Rembrandt painting in years. It will now go on view at the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam for a month. [Reuters]
Update, 11 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that a newly discovered Rembrandt is now on view at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. It is, instead, on view at the museum’s Amsterdam branch.
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Your Roadmap
The Hutong School Chinese Language Program Review
Mandarin Language Programs
The Hutong School is a popular private Chinese language school with two campuses in China and this review will walk you through the pro’s and con’s from a student’s perspective.
The school was founded by a group of Chinese and Europeans who came together to fill a growing demand for private language schools in China. The school was founded amongst the hutongs of Beijing in 2005. The Beijing campus has now moved to Sanlitun but the name has stuck as the school has grown. The school has also now gone global with campuses in Shanghai, Moscow and Sydney.
The Hutong School offers language programs in Beijing and Shanghai comparable to other private language schools, with a range of small size class options all the way up from beginner to advanced. The school is also certified by the Hanban Institute to host HSK tests and holds HSK examinations once a month. Most students study at the program for 3-5 months and young professionals tend to take classes in the evening and on weekends.
The school offers four programs:
Intensive Chinese Program, which consists of 20 hours of class per week, equal to 4 hours/day.
Flexible Chinese Classes, offers a more personalized approach and flexible class hours.
Corporate Classes, where you can study at the office or wherever and whenever you want one-on-one.
Internship Program, complete an internship with a company in China while still studying 4 hours of Chinese class per week and enjoying weekly cultural activities.
Volunteer program, offers the combination of a volunteering assignment in a China-based NGO, cultural and NGO-focused activities and Chinese classes.
Summer camp, a summer language and culture immersion program for 15-18 year olds
The school offers accommodation options which is recommended for students new to China. This is because coordinating your own short-term accommodation can be difficult due to language barriers and the challenge of negotiating with Chinese real estate agents.
Tuition fees at the school are naturally more expensive than university language programs due to smaller class sizes and student services provided. The tuition fees class are considered upper midrange for the market, but much more affordable than other specialised programs including IUP in Beijing. Tuition fees at the school are the same both in Beijing and Shanghai, but accommodation is slightly more expensive in Shanghai. See the links for full information regarding intensive language study fees and internship program fees.
The Beijing branch has an excellent location, located in the heart of the bustling Sanlitun area. The school can be accessed by subway (10 minutes walk from Tuanjiehu on Line 10). Sanlitun is a popular hangout for shopping, bars and is in close proximity to a number of multinational companies. The financial district of Guomao is also two stops away on Line 10 and Chaoyangmen is five minutes away on a tuk-tuk vehicle. Sanlitun is therefore a well suited location for those working or interning in the area. The school offers a student card so you can access discounts nearby. Accommodation around Sanlitun is cheaper than Guomao and Chaoyangmen and so it might be worthwhile living nearby if you do choose to find your own accommodation. A room in a share house around Sanlitun ranges from 2,800-4,500 RMB per month depending on exact location and quality of housing.
The Hutong School is located down a cool side road in Shanghai, complete with an awesome rooftop which is perfect for speaking Chinese to yourself during the day or for Friday night drinks! The campus is conveniently located near Changshu Road Metro Station (Line 1 or Line 7). There is a full range of bars and restaurants nearby to check out after class or on weekends. The school also offers a student card so you can access discounts nearby. Accommodation for a room in a share house within the area should be about 3,000-4,500 RMB per month if you opt to organise your own accommodation.
The Hutong School has been around for a while – over ten years now- and has a solid reputation as a quality language program. The Hutong School was the first Chinese language school under foreign management officially licensed by the Chinese Ministry of Education. The school is also accredited by WYSETC and works in cooperation with embassies, Chambers of Commerce and international MBA programs. In 2008 during the Olympic games, the wife of Jacques Rogge – President of the IOC – came to the Hutong School for a crash course in Chinese. The program is also well known in regards to teacher quality and experience, as each teacher is qualified in teaching Chinese as a second language.
With class sizes limited to a maximum of 8 students and average class sizes being usually 3-5 students, the school offers an intimate learning environment and good access to teachers.
The student demographic is predominately European and American, as well as having a good spread of other nationalities, including from Latin America, South African and the Middle East. Younger students tend to have a very active life exploring the local area, socializing and exploring the night scene. At the same time there’s plenty of students focused more exclusively on their studies. At the Beijing campus students are often more into Chinese culture, and tend to have previous Chinese language study experience. Shanghai is a more popular option for those new to China and who want to ease themselves into China, or eat French food at nighttime!
The school offers 2-3 cultural activities a week. These include cooking classes, exhibitions, night walks through temples, weekend trips Great Wall and more.
An add-on opportunity of studying at the Hutong School is the Internship Program which can run for 1-12 months. Placements are available with several hundred local companies through a matching process via the assistance of the school. The internship option is available in numerous sectors, with the most popular being those in Business Development, Marketing & Sales, and Finance & Consulting. Internship company partners include the likes of Siemens all the way to small Chinese companies. Internships are also on offer in Chengdu in west China. Internships usually offer a small stipend from companies. Keep in mind though that the internship placement is not free and is part of the package the school charges for this option. While there are cheaper ways of lining up an internship in China, the visa support, accommodation and one-on-one support that the school offers does make life a lot easier. If you’re new to China then it is recommended you take this easier option and let the school organise everything for you!
Accommodation is available for students completing the internship program through the school but is optional. Again, if you’re new to China then we’d definitely suggest you to consider taking the safe route through the school. If you are looking at completing an internship for 6-12 months then you might want to look at organising your own accomodation. Asia Options has more information about housing in China that you can check out.
The Hutong School is a good option for students who have the budget and are looking for a relatively stress-free, fun and rich cultural experience in China. Location, student service, external activities and outside the classroom opportunities that the school offers all stack up to pretty good value. A lot of people new to Beijing and Shanghai also underestimate how many things can go wrong in China, including finding accommodation, securing an internship or even having Chinese teachers who are qualified! So this program is definitely a very safe option in that regard. The Hutong School is also a good choice if you’re looking at combining an internship with your studies as not all language programs offer this combined option. However, if you have already spent an extended period of time living in China and are confident with organising accommodation and have some existing contacts with industry, then it would be much cheaper to line up an internship by yourself.
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About Asia Options
Asia Options is an online platform that connect future leaders with opportunities to engage with Asia. Our mission is to build a generation of Asia-literate young people, both through comprehensive coverage of the study, work and leadership opportunities available, and through our dynamic online community.
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MKT01906 International Tourism Systems Sample Assignment
MKT01906 International Tourism Systems
Located on the north-western coast of European continent United Kingdom popularly known as UK comprises of four countries namely Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Sharp mountain ranges, valleys and high grounds formed during the last ice age, is what one can see in the north and west regions of UK. Southern England is covered with rolling hills while northwest England and Scotland have many lakes formed from melting glaciers. These lakes locally known as lochs are related to the legend of Loch Ness monster. Summers is the best time to visit UK with fabulous weather, bustling cities and streets swarming with people, making the bright and lovely. The country boasts of many attractions dating back to pre-historic, ancient, medieval and modern times such as the mysterious Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace, Key gardens, Madame Tussauds, Trafalgar square, Cambridge, Snowdonia, Edinburgh, and London etc. to name a few. Whether taking a stroll down the iconic landmarks or enjoying its led lit fountains and intricate artwork and sculpture or having a romantic dinner on the Thames with your loved one, UK is a desirable and popular tourist destination in the world.
Key tourists’ attractions and tourism activities
The Library of Birmingham, Somerset House, Tower of London, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, National Gallery, Edinburgh Castle, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, Chester Zoo, Westminster Abbey, Royal Botanic Gardens, St Paul's Cathedral, British Library, The Royal Academy of Arts, National Football Museum, Blenheim Palace, National Railway Museum, Eden Project (AOL, 2018).
According to official statistics released on January 2018, 30.1 million international tourists visited UK in the first nine months of 2017, that 7% higher compared 2016. A relative increase of 33% of Chinese tourists was recorded making the total to 268,000 whereas their spending rose by 48% to a record £557 million. International visitors from Spain witnessed a hike of 11% to 1.9 million, with their spending increasing by 14% to £861 million. A 2% hike in German visitors to a total of 2.6 million was also recorded with a 5% increase in spending, paying £1.3 billion while in UK compared to 2016 figures. England with 12.7 million international visitors saw a rise of 4% whereas Scotland and Wales also saw an increase of visitor numbers by 14 and 6% respectively. With 7% more visits London too saw an increase in international tourists (Coffey, 2018)
Types of tourism in UK
Beach tourism: when UK faces the brunt of scorching sun making the weather hot, which occurs rarely, the beach resorts kick into action right offering tourists with a rapid dash of the seaside. Right from Woolacombe Beach, Weymouth, Luskentrye to Rhossili Bay, Brighton Beach, Three Cliff’s Bay etc. are a perfect getaway.
Mountain and hill tourism: fantastic mountain scenery from UK’s glacial past such as Llyn Idwa and Tryfan Snowdonia, Llynnau Cregennen, Black Mountains etc. is what north of England, North Wales and Scotland are best mountain views (McKercher, 2016)
Activity tourism: a wide range of adventurous activities such as GoApe, white water rafting, rock climbing and pot holing, mountain biking, horse riding and water sports are included.
Cultural Tourism it includes architectural delights, museums, history and world renowned sites like Stone Henge, British Museum, National Gallery, Dover castle, Richmond etc.
Ecological tourism: includes sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Parks, which are popular amidst nature lovers.
City Breaks: Newcastle and London attract tourists for its wide range of sightseeing options such as Theatre Royal and City Hall, Tyne Bridges, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Gateshead, London Eye, Big Ben, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace to name a few (McKercher, 2016)
For international tourists UK has a variety of accommodation options on offer which includes hotels, holiday cottages, Bed and Breakfast, Hostels and Caravanning and Camping. Facilities like private water closet/bath, complimentary breakfast, internet, in-house restaurants and bars etc. are offered by hotels offering accommodation in individual rooms. Holiday cottages include budgeted flats, houses, cottages and serviced apartments providing cooking and sleeping facilities. B&B accommodation usually offers lodging in the locals’ private property and includes breakfast. Hostel accommodations have multiple beds fitted into a room and are best for people travelling in large groups or limited budget. Youth hostels, camping barns and bunkhouses are different kinds of hostel accommodations in UK. Caravanning and Camping accommodation is for tourists intending to make tents or caravans during their stay. The facilities available in this type of accommodation are monitored by British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme (British Express, 2018)
According to World Travel and Tourism Council, direct contribution of tourism in GDP was GBP66.3bn (USD89.8bn) that is 3.4% of total GDP in 2016, which was expected to see a hike of 2.9% in 2017 and by 2.2% per annum amid 2017-2027 to GBP84.6bn (USD114.6bn), 3.6% of total GDP in 2027. The total contribution of tourism to GDP was GBP209.0bn (USD283.2bn) i.e.10.8% of GDP in 2016, and is predicted to witness a hike of 2.2% in 2017 while by 2027, it is rise by 2.3% per annum to GBP268.4bn (USD363.7bn) i.e. 11.4% of GDP (Page, et al., 2017).
Figure: Total Contribution of Travel & Tourism to UK’s GDP
(Source: Author-made)
Be it Cornwall’s fascinating beaches or Edinburgh’s imperial castles, UK is an appealing tourist destination. However, the country has hidden numerous gems in its heartland that tourists fail to notice as they are secretly guarded by the locals. Many villages in the countryside have kept their old traditions like Pagan festivals or provincial languages, farming or secret customs alive even today. Situated in Back Forest at the southwest fringe of Peak District National Park, Lud's church is hidden destination in Staffordshire. The Shell Grotto in Margate on the East Coast of England is another interesting and mysterious that needs to be showcased apart from Exbury Gardens and a beautiful Scottish Castle. Overlooking the stunning River Tees, in the North- East of Britain, 12th century’s Barnard Castle is yet another wonderful destination to be showcased. Gaping Gill caves is most remarkable feature to be found in Yorkshire Dales, usually known for its stone walls, water pockets and castles, abbeys and villages (Haven-Tang and Sedgley, 2014).
AOL. 2018. The UK’s top 20 tourist attractions. (Online). Available at: https://www.aol.co.uk/travel/photos/the-uk-s-top-20-tourist-attractions/ (Accessed on 22/03/2018)
British Express. 2018. UK Accommodation Guide. (Online). Available at: http://www.britainexpress.com/accommodation.htm (Accessed on 22/03/2018)
Coffey, H. 2018. UK Visited by Record Number of International Tourists in 2017. (Online). Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/uk-international-tourists-record-number-visitors-2017-london-england-brexit-a8166161.html (Accessed on 22/03/2018)
Haven-Tang, C. and Sedgley, D., 2014. Partnership working in enhancing the destination brand of rural areas: A case study of Made in Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 3(1), pp.59-67.
McKercher, B., 2016. Towards a taxonomy of tourism products. Tourism Management, 54, pp.196-208.
Page, S.J., Hartwell, H., Johns, N., Fyall, A., Ladkin, A. and Hemingway, A., 2017. Case study: Wellness, tourism and small business development in a UK coastal resort: Public engagement in practice. Tourism Management, 60, pp.466-477.
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The first recruiting letter Blaise Ferro ever got came from Northern Arizona University. He didn’t know much about the place, but the letter was handwritten — a nice personal touch — and his teammates at Christian Brothers Academy encouraged him to follow up.
“I was flattered,” Ferro recalled. “I gave them a call.”
Good thing he did. Ferro wound up in Flagstaff, and two weeks ago he helped the Lumberjacks’ men’s cross country team win a third straight NCAA title. The redshirt sophomore placed 26th in the 10-kilometer championship race, clocking 29 minutes, 50 seconds on a freezing, sloppy course in Wisconsin. He was the fourth Northern Arizona runner to cross the finish line and earned All-America status for placing in the top 40 of the 255-man race.
The Lumberjacks tallied 83 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up BYU, to earn the sport’s first three-peat since the Arkansas dynasty of 1988-90.
“Unreal — such an honor to be part of it,” Ferro said. “A lot of guys have held the same trophy we did, but to realize that you’ve done it, that’s a special feeling.”
RELATED:CBA wins 23rd Meet of Champions title
Ferro watched from the sidelines the previous two years. He redshirted as a freshman in 2016 and missed most of last season with a stress reaction in his leg. He had struggled with injuries at CBA, too. So to stay healthy this fall, he trained a modest 40 miles per week with one hard workout on average.
It’s a great lesson for high school runners who think they have to log crazy distances to succeed. You don't.
“I’m still one of those people who doesn’t believe that’s possible,” he said of his mileage. “It feels like a dream that it worked out this way this season. I was finally accepting that I can’t run as much as I would like to.”
His restraint paid off at the NCAAs. Competing in just his second 10K ever (he had run a blazing 23:06 for five miles on the trails and 13:50 for 5K on the track), Ferro hung in a tight pack with his teammates most of the way. It’s a strategy that delivered numerous Meet of Champions titles for CBA through the years.
“The pride comes from the relationships we all have as teammates,” Ferro said. “You step into race like that and you’re very confident out there with your brothers and best friends, and you’re able to do what you spend four of five years at your school trying to do, which is race your hardest for everyone else as opposed to yourself. That was the most exciting part.”
Although he goes to school across the country, Ferro remains a Jersey guy at heart. He spends summers working at Monmouth Beach and in a Long Branch bike shop. After Northern Arizona won, the congratulations poured in from home.
“It was unbelievable for sure,” he said. “I think I got 100 text messages from teammates at CBA. That was really an emotional part of it for me. They celebrated it just the way I was.”
Around the hardwood
Columbia women’s basketball freshman Mikayla Markham (St. Rose) was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after averaging 7.0 points, 8.5 assists and 3.0 steals over two games. She became the program’s first player in 10 years to hand out 10 assists in a game, doing so against Houston. On the season Markham averages 7.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds for the 2-5 Lions.
Georgetown men’s basketball junior Jagan Mosely, a Marlboro native who attended St. Anthony, dished eight assists while committing no turnovers in a 90-82 win over Richmond last week. On the season the point guard has 17 assists compared to just four turnovers for the 6-1 Hoyas.
Carnegie Mellon men’s basketball junior Zach Howarth (St. John Vianney) tallied 24 points, six boards and three assists in an 82-78 loss to Alleghany. On the season Howarth is averaging 17.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
College Corner appears regularly in the Asbury Park Press. Send tips to Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.
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Airport information and maps for RAF Lyneham:
LYE Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: LYE / EGDL
Airport Name: RAF Lyneham
Location: Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
GPS Coordinates: 51°30'19"N by 1°59'35"W
Operator/Owner: Ministry of Defence
Airport Type: Military
Elevation: 512 feet (156 meters)
# of Runways: 2
View all routes: Routes from LYE
Facts about LYE
Map of Nearest Airports to LYE
List of Nearest Airports to LYE
Map of Furthest Airports from LYE
List of Furthest Airports from LYE
Facts about RAF Lyneham (LYE):
Because of RAF Lyneham's relatively low elevation of 512 feet, planes can take off or land at RAF Lyneham at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
From 1958 Lyneham became one of the 18 Stations designated as dispersal airfields for the RAF's nuclear deterrent V bomber Force.
The closest airport to RAF Lyneham (LYE) is RAF Fairford (FFD), which is located only 15 miles (24 kilometers) NE of LYE.
The decision to close RAF Lyneham was made in 2002, and it was scheduled for closure by 2012 with all functions and aircraft relocated to RAF Brize Norton.
RAF Lyneham (LYE) has 2 runways.
RAF Lyneham received the first of 25 brand-new Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules on 23 November 1999, to be operated by Nos.
The Ministry of Defence announced plans in December 2012 to re-develop Lyneham as a Defence Technical Training establishment by the end of 2015 and, on 14 December 2012, it invited interest from industry into developing the infrastructure at the former RAF site at Lyneham.
The station was also home to No.
The furthest airport from RAF Lyneham (LYE) is Dunedin International Airport (DUD), which is located 11,913 miles (19,172 kilometers) away in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Lyneham's first runways were constructed during 1940 and 1941, the longest being 4,375 ft, the other 3,542 ft.
Map of Nearest Airports from RAF Lyneham:
List of Nearest Airports from RAF Lyneham:
1 15.02 miles (24.17 km) NE RAF Fairford (FFD) Fairford, England, United Kingdom
2 24.39 miles (39.25 km) NE RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
3 25.83 miles (41.57 km) W Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom
4 32.38 miles (52.12 km) WSW Bristol Airport (BRS) Bristol, England, United Kingdom
5 36.84 miles (59.30 km) NE Oxford Airport (OXF) Oxford, England, United Kingdom
6 39.31 miles (63.26 km) ENE RAF Benson (BEX) Benson, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
7 46.89 miles (75.46 km) ESE Lasham Airfield (QLA) Lasham, England, United Kingdom
8 47.22 miles (75.99 km) SE Southampton Airport (SOU) Eastleigh (near Southampton), England, United Kingdom
9 49.03 miles (78.91 km) ESE RAF Odiham (ODH) Odiham, United Kingdom
10 50.54 miles (81.33 km) S Bournemouth Airport (BOH) Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
11 50.94 miles (81.98 km) ESE Blackbushe Airport (BBS) Yateley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
12 52.57 miles (84.60 km) ENE RAF High Wycombe (HYC) High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
13 54.78 miles (88.15 km) ESE Farnborough Airport (FAB) Farnborough, United Kingdom
14 58.61 miles (94.32 km) W Cardiff Airport (CWL) Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
15 62.49 miles (100.57 km) W MoD St Athan (DGX) St Athan, Wales, United Kingdom
Map of Furthest Airports from RAF Lyneham:
List of Furthest Airports from RAF Lyneham:
1 11,912.78 miles (19,171.71 km) SE Dunedin International Airport (DUD) Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
2 11,888.73 miles (19,133.00 km) ESE Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) Stewart Island, New Zealand
3 11,884.66 miles (19,126.46 km) SE Oamaru Airport (OAM) Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand
4 11,874.35 miles (19,109.87 km) SE Invercargill Airport (IVC) Invercargill, New Zealand
5 11,849.20 miles (19,069.40 km) SE Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) Alexandra, New Zealand
6 11,848.89 miles (19,068.89 km) SE Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) Timaru, New Zealand
7 11,846.39 miles (19,064.86 km) SSW Chatham Islands (CHT) Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand
8 11,837.93 miles (19,051.25 km) SSE Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) Ashburton, New Zealand
9 11,827.26 miles (19,034.09 km) SSE Christchurch International Airport (CHC) Christchurch, New Zealand
10 11,819.32 miles (19,021.31 km) SE Queenstown Airport (ZQN) Queenstown, New Zealand
11 11,818.84 miles (19,020.52 km) SE Wanaka Airport (WKA) Wanaka, New Zealand
12 11,797.43 miles (18,986.07 km) SE Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) Mount Cook, New Zealand
13 11,789.42 miles (18,973.18 km) SE Mount Cook Airport (MON) Mount Cook, New Zealand
14 11,776.24 miles (18,951.98 km) SSE Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) Kaikoura, New Zealand
15 11,775.08 miles (18,950.11 km) SE Milford Sound Airport (MFN) Milford Sound, New Zealand
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T Dog
I wouldn't put too much stock in what Fassbender says. He tends to just be the professional and just find the good in things and not mention anything remotely negative. I remember in the run up to Prometheus he was just like "yeah......the sets are good......"
Well, he mentioned the sets and sets were great (In Prometheus), now he spoke about the story and the horror element, saying: “There’s a lot going on (so there is some thriller/horror/mystery/adventure story), I think it is going to be super scary.” Following that logic, it's easy to assume that they understood the vital importance of story and narrative. F**k the sets when you don't have a good story, even a good actor can't patch that huge oversight. So huge-mega great story + fine sets and good actors = terrific movie that could become a true successor of original Alien.
KiramidHead
Well, last time around Riddles said the movie was going to be scary... and it wasn't overly so.
Wasnt scary at all and the movie didn't try to be scary or dreadful. I don't know why Ridley kept saying that. That and the trailer prepared me for a whole different movie that's for sure.
Really hope this one is different in that regard.
Well its difficult to make Xeno scary again. I hope they found a modus to do it. In my opinion, the only way to do it is to give Xeno a much larger context and purpose. We need something sinister and some new and original scary scenes.
« Last Edit: May 17, 2016, 01:17:59 AM by Enoch »
Stompy was quite scary in isolation, its all about presentation.
Aside from that it doesn't have to try to be outright scary, just give it some thick dreadful atmosphere. Prometheus was more adventurous and even wonderous in tone for much of its runtime, unlike the trailers which were scarier than the film itself.
NickisSmart
Quote from: Enoch on May 17, 2016, 01:04:12 AM
Is it? I thought it was scary as hell in Alien: Isolation.
Quote from: NickisSmart on May 17, 2016, 09:52:59 AM
Alien: Isolation proved it could be scary again. One of the things that led to my fascination with the series was just how much Aliens affected me. I had horrible nightmares for 5 years. Alien: Isolation was a return to that kind of terror. The physical reactions I had playing that game - I was on literal adrenaline comedowns after playing it. It was one of the best Alien experiences I had ever had.
It certainly proved Ridley wrong when he said the Alien couldn't be scary again. It made Blomkamp sit up and take notice too. I certainly hope Ridley took notice.
Keep in mind that a game is a different medium/media than a film. Since it's more personal and interactive than a film it's easier to build tension.
While Alien: Isolation was incredibly tense, I'm not sure I'd call it scary. You knew what was hunting you, you knew what it looked like and you knew what got it's attention. Real fear is best generated by the unknown and what your imagination does with it.
« Last Edit: May 17, 2016, 02:34:12 PM by The Eighth Passenger »
BringbackJonesy!
Facehugger
I reckon a BIG part of creating a 'scary' vibe to the 'ALIEN: COVENANT proceedings will be the music accompanying the images. While there were some nicely moody cues in PROMETHEUS at certain times, the raw, snarly ALIEN score remains a huge part of the reason why certain scenes ramped up the tension. Hopefully, some of ALIEN's dread-laden atmosphere can be reached once again by Ridley and his composer.
(By the way, going back to that 'space pirates'/'rathtar' scene from THE FORCE AWAKENS - I dislike it too in it's full existing form, but since I'm re-editing the movie for myself, I quite like the scene now in a far shortened, edited version - the corridor sets certainly wouldn't look out of place in an 'ALIEN' movie I thought)
I agree with the unknown, but an Alien in a vent is scary.
It's in the dark, you can't see it, but you know it's there, and it's coming straight for you.
Quote from: NickisSmart on May 17, 2016, 07:42:22 PM
This 'In the vents" made me think of the way the scares in alien and aliens were very much about the use of the sets in the story. In Alien, you're constantly on edge, because you don't know what it looks like, or where it is, and the Alien has tricks up its sleeve.
In Aliens the same goes. First you're in this Hive and the audience is on edge thinking what's this place...? Then they cant use their weapons, the whole colony is cocooned there, then they come out of the walls, then they are trying to escape. It keeps throwing new information at you in an unnerving way AND making use of the space/sets. Then AND MOST IMPORTANTLY when they hold up in the Med labs/compound, the audience is told: We are sealing these access tunnels, then we are using sentry guns and etc... You are always aware, in the audience, of the surroundings and what steps are being taken, and wondering where they will come from etc.
The motion-trackers help too.
Even the part in the med lab where the facehuggers attack. Its a great use of the set. They can't break the glass, BUrke shuts off the monitors, the gun is outside on the table - its such a great detail because it's not just missing, its right there to be seen - they set off the sprinklers... All about the set.
Overall, the use of the space is important. You need great set-pieces. Think about the first time you heard Ripley say "That can't be that's inside the room!" - All of that works because of the information we are given about the compound. In Alien 3 and A:R there is no real use of space. The only part that worked in that scene was the underwater scene because the set and events combined to surprise us. Especially when the exit was covered in that secreted resin. A nice set-piece. In Alien 3 the only decent set-piece was the Bait and chase at the end.
The problem with A3 and AR is the set pieces weren't so great. Prometheus had a few, but they seemed disconnected from each other.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2016, 12:56:46 AM by CainsSon »
szkoki
"Running causes accidents."
Well see how it goes...
I thought it was absolutely terrifying. I think there's more to it than just the medium though - there's the presentation which stretches across medium. The visuals, the music, the use of audio. It all worked together to create an immense atmosphere. I really don't think Isolations success is based just on being a game - it helped, definitely, but I don't think that precludes it not being able to be scary again on screen.
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Place Matters in Determining Rural Population and Individual Health
October 10, 2016|12:14 p.m.| Anna Bartels
Health Equity, Public Health and Healthcare Integration, Social Determinants of Health, Rural Populations
Geography affects health outcomes due to the mal-distribution of health and healthcare resources across different geographies; however, social determinants of health vary regionally, too. Barriers to access and social determinants of health specific to rural areas can contribute to rural disparities in health and highlight a need for place-based interventions.
“Place Matters” Highlighted at NOSORH Annual Conference
In early September, Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO, and Lillian Shirley, director of the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division, each gave a presentation on why “place matters” to the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) during its 2016 annual meeting.
Over the past several decades, there has been a widening gap between the life expectancies of urban and rural populations: the variance in life expectancies measured 0.4 years in 1969-1971, and today the life expectancy difference has increased to 2.0 years. Currently, there are 2,157 rural Health Professional Shortage Areas, compared to 910 urban. Local health departments in micropolitan and rural areas provide higher rates of some clinical services than urban local health departments, including childhood immunizations and family planning services; however, the most rural local health departments may still be limited in their ability to respond due to few resources and capacity. Rural health departments rely more heavily on federal resources and clinical revenues relative to overall funds than urban health departments, which also contributes to more limited flexibility in spending.
In light of these disparities, Fraser pointed to the need for collaboration between public health departments and offices of rural health. For instance, the majority of state health agencies report that they engage in activities to promote access to healthcare: 94 percent report that they are engaged in health disparities and minority health initiatives, and 72 percent they are engaged with rural health initiatives. Public health must also explore how it can better support rural service delivery and rationalize the scale of health resources. Further, services must be scaled in a way that is regionally specific and culturally sensitive, in order to go beyond clinical services alone and improve population health. Fraser also noted that state innovations in telehealth and global budgets for rural hospitals also may contribute to improved access to health services and healthy places.
Shirley discussed how the concept of place-based interventions are important to rural Oregonians, since the disparities between urban and rural communities are stark. In 2016, state and local public health authorities conducted an assessment of varying foundational public health capabilities across the state. This assessment found that over one-third of Oregon communities, many of which are rural communities, have only limited or minimal foundational public health programs. These services include communicable disease control, prevention and health promotion, environmental public health, and linkages to clinical preventive services.
Shirley identified a key component to addressing these limitations as improved partnerships between public health and primary care systems. “Collaboration can prevent or lessen the incidence and severity of disease and injury, improve the health of our communities, and reduce the demand on our healthcare system. Knowing and understanding the strengths of our particular roles in the health system creates healthier places,” Shirley explained. This collaboration will require cross-organizational strategic planning with a common agenda and measurements, mutually reinforcing activities, and continuous communication and evaluation, she added.
In Oregon, for example, public health and primary care stakeholders have identified several shared outcomes and their own role. Public health and primary care are working together to advance health promotion policies and practices, such as access to healthy foods and tobacco-free living spaces, where public health can monitor the health needs and risk factors of geographic populations and primary care can monitor and address risk factors for individuals. Further, both can collaborate to provide health consultation and resources for the entire community. Public health activities in support of this common goal may draw primarily on epidemiological, demographic, and economic data, whereas primary care activities would draw from medical science and individual patient history.
Addressing Rural Health Disparities through Public Health and Primary Care Integration
The Integration Forum has explored mechanisms to improve primary care and public health collaboration with the aim of improving population health and lowering healthcare costs. On Sept. 30, the Integration Forum Workforce Committee was joined by Michael Meit, co-director of the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, to also discuss rural health disparities through the lens of social determinants of health.
The majority of persistent poverty counties, which are defined by having a poverty rate of at least 20 percent in each of the U.S. censuses, are rural counties. Further, the median 2013 household income for rural counties was $42,628, compared to $52,204 in urban counties, and the average percentage of rural children living in poverty is 26 percent versus 21 percent urban. Poverty is one of the greatest determinants of health status, along with factors such as education, social and community stability, access to healthcare services, and environmental factors. The resulting health outcomes are illustrated in detail in the Walsh Center’s 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook, which suggests that rural disparities have remained, and in some cases grown, in terms of health status (e.g. smoking, obesity, and suicide) and access (e.g. physician supply) over the past decade, even as the nation’s health has generally improved as a whole.
Meit also highlighted a collection of Evidence-Based Toolkits for Rural Community Health, which provide step-by-step guides to addressing care coordination, community health workers, health promotion and disease prevention, mental health and substance use, obesity prevention, oral health, and services integration. Each toolkit’s resources can be adapted to fit local communities and specific populations served.
Place matters, and place matters for rural health, because geography has become a reliable predictor of health and because context shapes ideas about and access to healthy lifestyles. Health inequities in rural communities contribute to a lifetime of health and economic challenges that affect both the individual and the community as a whole. Efforts to improve the distribution of health resources are growing and will continue to be bolstered by public health-primary care partnerships. However, nontraditional and place-based collaborations to address the broader socioeconomic disparities will also be needed in order to truly improve rural health. A concluding remark in a presentation by Place Matters Oregon sums it up well: “When we make better places, we build better lives.”
Anna Bartels is an analyst for health systems transformation at ASTHO, where she supports the Integration Forum’s activities and projects related to payment and delivery reform.
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Justice Department Investigations Likely Moving Ahead Despite Resignations
Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week requested the resignations of 46 U.S. attorneys to ensure complete turnover of federal prosecutors, but lawyers said the departures will not necessarily trigger drastic change.
While lawyers said the new U.S. attorneys will favor a new agenda set by President Donald Trump’s administration, outstanding investigations are not going away. Recent areas of focus for the Justice Department, such as money-laundering and drug pricing, seem destined to remain near the top of prosecutors’ agenda. At the same time, Trump’s Justice Department could focus more resources on drug-related crime and immigration, resulting in less prosecutorial attention on other types of white-collar crime, lawyers said.
“It’s highly unusual for a pending investigation to suddenly be terminated because of a change in leadership within a U.S. attorney’s office. There would be a real issue with that,” said Henry Hockeimer Jr., a partner with Ballard Spahr and former assistant U.S. attorney.
Henry E. Hockeimer, Jr.
White Collar Defense/Internal Investigations
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What is a cookie and what is it for?
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The Challenges of Balancing Short and Long-Term Factors for Nonprofit Boards
The annual meetings of nonprofit organizations generally include some attention to both the short- and long-term goals of the organization. In the normal course of events, short-term goals tend to be on the minds of staff, volunteers and board members throughout the year. However, when it comes to long-term planning, many boards take the approach at the annual meeting of “set it and forget it.”
How do we define short- and long-term goals? The rule of thumb is that short-term goals relate to goals that will take a year or less to achieve. Mid-range goals span one to five years. Boards set their long-term goals with the hopes of achieving them within five years or longer.
Finding the balance between short- and long-term goals setting takes a close working relationship with board directors and managers, which means having the right people in both positions. In most cases, it also means both parties may need a healthy dose of boldness and courage.
Fiduciary Duties Play a Role in Strategic Planning and Goal-Setting
All board members, including nonprofit board members, have fiduciary duties. These duties include the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. These duties directly coincide with monitoring the health of the organization so that it will be sustainable. Long-term goals relate directly to sustainability, so that makes them part of every board member’s fiduciary duties.
As part of those fiduciary duties, board members are responsible for monitoring the organization’s performance against its strategic plans, continually steering activities toward the long-term goals. Board members can’t accomplish this alone. They must work with management, staff members and volunteers to keep the long-term goals in the forefront of their minds as well.
Nonprofits Follow Corporate Trend of Focusing on Short-Term Goals
The stock market has experienced more volatility in the last few decades than we’ve seen in a long time. Investors want to see results fast. While, in the back of their minds, investors are aware that corporations should be focusing on long-term goals while also keeping a sharp eye on short-term goals, they continue to place pressure on corporations to produce strong results every quarter.
Nonprofits function differently than corporations, but they still tend to follow many of the trends that corporations set. This is why we are seeing short-term thinking starting to infiltrate nonprofit boardrooms.
Intentionally, or unintentionally, nonprofit board directors are placing pressure on managers to produce impressive results over the short term. Dramatic results make the board, the managers and the organization look good.
However, long-term goals take time to bear fruit. Continual successes over the short term may set up situations in which the long-term goals are not being addressed. In this way, the organization may start to veer away from its true mission. In the long run, goals that will take several years to accomplish create greater value.
Finding the Happy Medium in Goal-Setting
The reality is that boards need to find a healthy balance between focusing on short- and long-term goals, just as corporations do.
There’s also a large focus among corporations right now about culture and how it needs to start at the top. The same is true for nonprofit boards and managers, who need to embed thoughts about the long-term vision into the organization’s culture.
The caliber of board directors can be instrumental in spreading a long-term philosophy of goal-setting strategies. To be successful in this, nonprofit board directors need to have practicality, strong values, leadership skills and discipline. Boards with directors who give long-term goals a high priority, and who can communicate that importance to a wider community of stakeholders, are moving in the right direction toward finding needed balance in goal-setting.
There’s a lot of talk about diversity and independence when appointing board directors. Something that doesn’t come up very much in discussions around director elections is choosing directors who are naturally long-term visionaries. Leaders from family-controlled businesses tend to make good board directors. Why? Because they typically believe in organizational longevity and in preserving businesses for future generations.
One way for board members to test their commitment to a longer-term strategy is to ask themselves if a new change will satisfy only the short-term goals when the pressure is on to make changes. A “yes” answer suggests that the matter should be added back onto the board’s agenda.
Board directors will also need to find a way to partner with managers in placing more focus on the long-term goals. Directors should measure the managers’ progress against short- and long-term goals. Managers’ performances should also be measured in nonfinancial ways, such as whether they are actively communicating the organization’s culture and values clearly and consistently. Additionally, board members should oversee managers in sharing the organization’s long-term strategies internally and externally. Managers, along with board members, should continually be asking whether activities fit the long-term strategic goals.
Board members will also need to assure managers that long-term goals aren’t set in stone. They can and should evolve and change as things move along.
The Board Chair’s Contribution to Balancing Short- and Long-Term Goals
The board chair plays a significant role in driving the focus of goal-setting. Finding the balance in goal-setting requires a strong leader who sets appropriate expectations. Qualities in a board chair that nonprofits should look for are board directors who have experience in running large organizations and who have had exposure in managing crises. Working through failures at other organizations isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The lessons they learn can be very valuable.
These are the types of skills that form strong leaders who can see the big picture and give an organization the scope that it demands.
Changes in Strategy Are Challenging
It’s never easy to change course, especially with something that is long-term and complex. Don’t expect to change it overnight. Embracing a new philosophy and communicating it to others in a way that they can also believe in will take time. It’s more difficult to measure the impact of changing ideas than it is to measure financial things. When boards are successful, balancing short-term goals with long-term goals creates sustainability for all stakeholders, hopefully in ways that impact the organization beyond the five-year mark.
Ethics vs. Compliance: Is There a Notable Difference?
In the business world, it’s common to hear the word ethics accompanied by the word…
How Nonprofits Are Providing Support During COVID-19
Nonprofit organizations are in the unique position of having to provide support for the community…
Nonprofit Voting Procedures
The history of voting rules dates back to the late 1800s when the first publication…
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Seniors’ Facilities
Residential Consultation
Annual Wellness Ride Gets Support From Celebrity Guest Riders
16 May Annual Wellness Ride Gets Support From Celebrity Guest Riders
Posted at 17:16h in Latest, News by Incite Admin
Still time to register for Red Deer event which takes place next weekend
Cyclists will take to the streets this weekend, riding their bikes for a good cause.
The Berry Architecture Community Wellness Ride kicks off Aug. 19th for its ninth year, with funds raised going towards the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Central Alberta Region and the Central Alberta Brain Injury Society.
“The event raises funds for both organizations. This year we have four distances that people can choose from,” said Melissa Brilz, executive assistant of CMHA and co-chair of the Wellness Ride committee.
Berry Architecture is the title sponsor of the event, and Owner George Berry is looking forward to another year.
“It was just a ride that began as they were looking for some help in title sponsor capacity and as being an avid cyclist I jumped at the opportunity to do it,” he said.
Participants will be able to choose from a 100km or 50km ride which takes place between Red Deer and Delburne. There is also a 25km and a 10km ride that’s done within the City.
“Usually they’ve always been done on the highway,” said Brilz.
She said minimum donation requirements are fairly low.
“For the 50 and 100 kilometre rides it’s $200 and for the 25 and 10 kilometre it’s $100.”
To date, around $175,000 has been raised.
Berry said the cyclists do the ride with the attitude that if they can do it for one day and put themselves through something that they wouldn’t normally be accustomed to.
Berry said they are trying to work to break down the negative stigma that comes with mental health issues, and expect to have around 40 riders out this year.
Among those riders will be celebrity guest riders Tyler Hamilton and Alex Stieda.
Hamilton, a retired professional American cyclist who raced professionally for 14 years and competed in 11 grand tours including the Tour de France eight times, will be coming out from Montana. He was also a team member of Lance Armstrong’s and was instrumental in bringing out the reality of the drugs and professional cycling.
“Tyler’s been through some mental health issues and has written a very good book called The Secret Race about it and the struggles associated with being a professional athlete in today’s world,” said Berry.
Stieda, who is a long term supporter of the Wellness Ride, enjoys sharing his 40 years of cycling experience with the participants. He also has a number of career accomplishments, including being the first North American to win the Tour de France yellow leader’s jersey in 1986, attending the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and winning a bronze medal for individual pursuit at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. He currently resides in Edmonton.
“He’s a great guy to ride with and is very involved with the community, and helping out both locally in Red Deer as well as back home in his Edmonton community in cycling events and bringing out the issues of mental health and brain injuries and physical fitness to the community as much as possible.”
Riders will meet at Berry Architecture, the 100km riders leaving from there and travelling to Delburne and then back to the starting location. The 50km riders will be shuttled out to Delburne to return to Berry Architecture, while the 25km route starts at Berry Architecture and loops around the McKenzie Trails coming back to the starting location, going through Bower Ponds and Heritage Ranch. The 10km riders will start at Berry Architecture and travel to McKenzie Trails and back.
All rides will finish at Berry Architecture between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Registration is $25 and starts at 8 a.m., and riders must raise $100 or $200 depending on the ride they choose to do.
There will also be full rider support on all the distances, so staff and volunteers from Wipe Out Ski and Bike will be providing that to all riders, and will be set up to do bike inspections. They will also have a truck that follows the riders on the highway in case of any mechanical or medical issues.
Brilz said the community feedback over the years has been very positive.
“We have a number of riders that participate year in and year out and a lot of them are really excited for next year because it will be their 10th year participating,” she said.
There will be a barbecue afterwards at Berry Architecture to wrap things up.
People can still register online at wellnessride.ca.
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Red Deer Office
Suite 200, 5218 – 50th Avenue,
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 4B5
131 7 Avenue South,
Cranbrook, BC V1C 2J3
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Copyright © 2018 Berry Architecture + Associates Ltd. All rights reserved.
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7 Unexpected Things That Happen After A Breakup If They Were Your Soulmate
Ashley Batz/Bustle
By Kristine Fellizar
Finding a deeply intense connection with someone isn't easy. So when you do find that, it's hard to let them go. That's why breaking up with a soulmate can sometimes feel like the end of the world. But according to experts, letting go may be just the thing you need to do. When you break up with a soulmate, there are some pretty unexpected things that can happen in your life.
"The rumor is that everyone has just one soulmate," relationship expert and spiritual counselor, Davida Rappaport, tells Bustle. "But we don’t have just one soulmate. We have many soulmates."
According to her, a soulmate is someone that you're connected to on a "very deep, spiritual level." Every single one of them has a purpose in our lives. In some way, they're meant to help us to grow as individuals on a mental, physical, emotional and soul level. Although you may feel a special connection to someone that's unexplainable, you do have the choice to be a part of each other's lives or not.
With that said, it's important to note that breaking up with a soulmate is possible. As romantic as it may seem, finding your soulmate isn't a guarantee that you're going to be together forever. But that doesn't mean your love life is doomed if things don't work out. If someone is your soulmate, experts say, here are some unexpected things that can happen if you break up.
You May Gain A Greater Sense Of Self-Awareness
"Most people get the best lessons in life after going through difficult experiences, and breaking up with a soulmate is no exception," author and counselor, Connie Omari, LPC, tells Bustle. Breakups are "powerful." Most if not all, will teach you something about yourself and what you actually want. The best part is, you can benefit from the breakup by taking those lessons and implementing change, she says. In doing so, you'll be more prepared when you enter into relationship with someone else.
You May Find A Way To Reconcile
Cutting a soulmate off completely will be a huge challenge and you may find yourself in an on-again and off-again situation because of that. "You may not be able to detach from them completely because you connected to them so deeply on a spiritual and/or soul level," Rappaport says. If you're someone who believes that you only have one soulmate, you'll do your best to keep trying to make things work until things really run its course. Keep in mind however, that finding ways to get back together over and over again won't guarantee that you'll actually end up together forever.
Some People You Try To Date After May Feel "Wrong"
After you end things with a soulmate, you're going to keep chasing that deep kind of connection until you find it again. Unfortunately, that may not be the easiest thing to do. According to Rappaport, you may try to put yourself out there but some of the people you try to date after will feel "wrong." You may even write off great matches just because they don't give you that soulmate feeling. "In this case, you should probably take a time out until you are able to realize you don’t need to have a 'soulmate,' just a good partner the next time around," she says.
You May Become Best Friends
Andrew Zaeh for Bustle
Breaking up with a soulmate isn't all bad. In fact, one surprising thing that can happen when you break up with a soulmate is you may find that you both no longer belong together as partners, Rappaport says. Once you've both had time to heal, your soulmate could end up being one of your closest friends. "You may always have a special connection," she says. "If you both are willing to stay connected rather than terminate or hurt each other, you both may continue to grow with each other as a support team."
You May Find That Change Is A Lot Less Scary
Ending things with someone you felt an intense connection with can be one of the hardest things you may have to deal with in your life. "But once we go through the emotional mangle, and lose the hardest thing, change becomes less scary," Amica Graber, relationship expert with TruthFinder, tells Bustle. You may be tempted to move, travel by yourself, or quit your job to find something more fulfilling. "These 'big' changes will feel far less consequential after going through the biggest change of all," she says.
You May Feel Lighter And More Energized Than Ever Before
"After you break up with a soulmate, you may actually feel a bit lighter and more energized," Rappaport says. "Sometimes the karma that connected you to your soulmate was the only thing that bound you both together." This may not happen right away. You may even get back together and break up a few times before you allow yourself to fully move on. But when you do, you may find that your soulmate has actually been weighing you down this entire time.
Your Life Resets Itself
Breakups give you an amazing opportunity to hit the reset button on your life, matchmaker Tammy Shaklee, tells Bustle. When you have the courage to let go of a connection you thought was going to be forever, you have the opportunity to start all over again. According to Shaklee, breaking up with a soulmate will give you a chance to "re-engage your spirit and your soul." Doing things that you once loved or trying new things that you've always been curious about will make you a happier and healthier version of the person you once were.
Breaking up with your soulmate won't be easy. But that doesn't mean that you won't ever find a connection so deep and intense again. Maybe you were just meant to be with this person in order to learn a few lessons so you can find the love you deserve. On the other hand, maybe you will find a way back to each other and it'll end up working out. Whatever happens, just remember that breaking up with a soulmate is never the end. You will find love again.
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5 contenders vie to lead UK Labour back from election defeat
by: JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press
Labour Party lawmaker Keir Starmer speaks to the media following the launch of his campaign to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as party leader, in Stevenage, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2020. Starmer criticised the party’s recent general election campaign.(Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s opposition Labour Party said Monday that five lawmakers will contend to lead the party as it tries to rebuild support and regain power after last month’s electoral drubbing.
Labour is choosing a new leader to replace Jeremy Corbyn, who is stepping down after the left-of-center party suffered its worst election result in almost a century.
The party said Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry had all met the threshold of securing nominations from at least 22 Labour lawmakers and would advance to the next stage of the contest. A sixth contender, Clive Lewis, dropped out after failing to get enough backers.
Labour is one of Britain’s two dominant political parties, but hasn’t won a national election since Tony Blair’s third consecutive victory in 2005. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives won 365 of the 650 House of Commons seats in the Dec. 12 election, while Labour took 203, its worst total since 1935.
The party is enmeshed in a blame game for the defeat, with some members accusing the socialist Corbyn of veering too far to the left and making lavish spending promises that voters regarded as unrealistic.
Labour is also agonizing over its Brexit stance — which tried unsuccessfully to satisfy voters who wanted to leave the European Union and those who wished to remain — and continuing claims of anti-Semitism in party ranks.
All five contenders are calculating how far to distance themselves from Corbyn, whose left-wing approach retains strong support among rank-and-file Labour members, many of whom have joined the party since he was elected leader.
Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman, received by far the most backing among Labour lawmakers, with 89 nominating him. The next-highest total was 33 for Long-Bailey, a Corbyn protégé and the party’s business spokeswoman.
But Starmer, a relative centrist, may struggle to win over party members wary of a return to the middle-of-the-road “new Labour” of the Blair era.
Some of the five candidates could be eliminated if they can’t win the required backing from local Labour associations and trade unions. Those who make the cut will be put to a postal vote of the party’s half-million members and registered supporters between Feb. 21 and April 2. The party’s new leader will be announced on April 4.
Follow AP’s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/sports/article/Ferris-hockey-looking-for-more-goals-from-Transit-15501327.php
Ferris hockey looking for more goals from Transit
Published 8:01 pm EDT, Thursday, August 20, 2020
BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State hockey coach Bob Daniels is hopeful of a 2020-21 season, but isn't quite sure what model it will follow.
It could start on Oct. 3, or be delayed to November or delayed to January.
But regardess of the length of the season, Daniels is happy he'll have Jake Transit on his side.
The junior forward from Royal Oak is expected to be a key player for FSU. He played in 34 games last season and had six goals and five assists.
"He's a really good hockey player," Daniels said. "He's a great skater and a very competitive player. He has the ability to put up offensive numbers. But he also has the ability to play well in the defensive zone, too."
Transit played in 34 games for the Bulldogs in 2018-19 as a freshman and registered 12 points on five goals and seven assists. He finished second amongst freshmen in shots on goal with 60.
"He was pretty good as a freshman," Daniels said. "This last year, he emerged as a top line forward for us and one of our better scorers with six goals. I can see him getting up to 10 to 15 goals this year. I can see the steady progress.
"In a lot of ways, he reminds me in terms of his development of Garrett Thompson, who played on the team that went to the national championship game (2012). What I also like about him is he can play both center and wing. He can play on a variety of lines. He's the guy who can bring energy for another player who is slumping. We can put him out with Jake. He can help other players with him as well."
Transit played for Coach Karlis Zirnis of the Shreveport Mudbugs in the North American Hockey League and was a teammate of Frankie Melton in 2016-17 with Shreveport, and saw action with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He had 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 45 NAHL games in 2017-18. He played primarily for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies prior to his time in Shreveport.
Mecosta County restaurants, bars could reopen next month
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A warning for democracy, not a eulogy
Thierry Baudet founder and leader of the right wing political party Forum for Democracy voting at a polling station in Amsterdam, March 20, 2019.
‘A blow of the hammer.’ That is how Dutch writer and essayist Bas Heijne captured the sentiment prevailing among many Dutch after the recent elections.
Forum for Democracy (FvD) came out of the Provincial States elections as the country’s biggest party. FvD is a text-book, right-wing populist party. Many fear we are witnessing the end of democracy, or at least the beginning of the end. All across the globe populists are on the rise, most visibly on the right, attempting to undermine the pillars of democracy: freedom, solidarity, toleration, non-discrimination, respect. Now even the Netherlands – renowned for their love of liberty and their talent for tolerance – are haunted by the spectre of populism.
One must however be cautious not to draw too preliminary and one-sided conclusions about the state of Dutch democracy. The political landscape is quite fragmented, and it has definitely not been a landslide victory. The party of current prime minister Mark Rutte managed to minimize the loss, and will lose one seat in the First Chamber. The heaviest blows have been delivered to the Christian-Democrats, the left-wing liberals, and also to Geert Wilder’s PVV. Hence, the rise of FvD coincides with the decline of Wilder’s extreme-right, anti-Islam party. The Dutch are definitely not on the populist path to illiberal democracy. Holland will not soon become a Hungary by the North Sea, or a Poland in the polders. The opposition to FvD is much stronger than its support. Therefore, we must not panic, but we must be deeply concerned. Here are a few reasons why.
Savior of civilization
We are beginning to get familiar with the populist strategy. FvD has meticulously and diligently followed the text-book. There is the use of a false dichotomy between the elite and the people. ‘The elite’ is being blamed for betraying their own country, while the party leaders of FvD themselves of course happily belong to the elite they pretend to despise. There is the praise for Putin and authoritarian figures. There is climate-change denial, fact-free politics and a whole bunch of alternative truths and complete lies. There is the overly one-sided anti-immigration perspective, with immigrants and the EU getting blame for problems they hardly have anything to do with.
And then there is the one sin I find unforgivable: the exploitation of nostalgia. Where once nostalgia was a sweet sentiment of sadness, synonymous with the music of Chopin and the poems of Alan Tate, it is now a political instrument. Nostalgo-nationalist rhetoric is a key component of the populist strategy. Thierry Baudet, founder of FvD, sees himself as a savior, ‘standing on the ruins of what was once the best of civilizations.’
Sexism too is a recurrent leitmotiv in the right-wing populist’s strategy. And it is also present in FvD. Baudet is the author of a novel that is bad in so many ways, not least because of the misogyny that sprouts from every page. Evidently, a writer is not responsible for the horrible things his characters do or say. But in interviews Baudet does little to sharpen the line between fiction and reality. He has shown a remarkable willingness to claim on camera, without a slightest hint of hesitation, that women are, by their very own nature, less competent in most jobs, obedient and not really capable of thinking for themselves either. While the world is full of advocates of gender equality, we must not turn a blind eye to a group that is getting increasingly louder: those who openly challenge rights and capabilities of women. It isn’t hard to see that the effect on society in general and the labour market in particular of having political leaders voicing such views and mainstreaming them is likely to be quite damaging.
A lost civic virtue
In short: FvD’s rhetoric involves a great deal of talk that one would nowadays not even get away with being drunk in a bar, but which for some reason has become acceptable in the political arena. Respect was once a moral and civic virtue. Now it is disrespectfulness with which many votes are won. Baudet masters the art of blatantly insulting people like few others. He has, to give just one example, celebrated his election victory by describing prime minister Rutte as a worthless piece of stupidity. As is so often the case with populists: the problem is not only what is being said, but also how it is being said. Baudet does not seem interested in reasoned arguments. He addresses gut-feelings and seeks to exploit them.
While many reacted to FvD’s success with shock and astonishment, their success doesn’t come as a surprise. We have all been able to witness the growing popularity of the party that was founded in 2015, first as a think tank and alternative political movement. We have also been able to witness what the party stands for. Baudet is completely open about his views, as expressed in an endless chain of tweets and interviews. The success of FvD is founded on its use of social media. It is not a surge to power consolidated in the backrooms and corridors of politics. It all happens out in the open. ‘Democracy dies in darkness’, is the The Washington Post’s famous catchphrase. Yet there is reason to believe that in our era, democracy dies in broad day light too. On Twitter. On Facebook. On the streets. Many people no longer feel the need to hide their anti-democratic feelings and convictions.
Prophets of doom
I have never felt comfortable in the company of prophets of doom. We have heard it all too often over the past few years. The West is collapsing. Democracy is a thing of the past. A new world war is imminent. I don’t think we are witnessing an Untergang des Abendlandes. My faith in most people is stronger than my fear of some people. Liberal democracy can perish, but it won’t go down without a fight. We must not bury democracy before she has died. But we must begin to cure her, before she is dead.
A remedy
There is not a single remedy for our political system and society. But we must combat lies and alternative truths with reason. We must restore respect where there is now disdain. We must advocate a politics of compassion to counter the politics of resentment. We must listen to what people are saying, understand their worries and grievances, and offer a better and more humane solution than the one offered by those who want to recruit feelings without subjecting them to examination. Surely that is what democracy implies. Simply to dismiss popular feeling is to betray the democratic mission. But most of all: we must be clear about what is at stake. The most important struggle in politics today is not a struggle between left and right, rich and poor, so-called elites and the common people. It is a struggle between defenders of liberal democracy and its enemies.
Given the historical relevance of the forthcoming European elections in May, it is important to bear this in mind. The future of Europe is not doomed, but it is at stake.
By Alicja Gescinska
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Jerome - The Largest Ghost Town in America
Jerome was a copper mining camp that grew from a settlement of tents to a roaring mining community. But after four disastrous fires,the Depression and the end of World War II, the thriving population of 15,000 decreased to only 100. The hardy souls that remained, promoted Jerome as a historic ghost town and in 1967 Jerome was designated a National Historic District by the federal government. Today the mines are silent and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in America.
Jerome is actually an enchanting town and photographer's paradise with a thriving artist community, quirky shops and small cafes.
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J.V. Jones Books In Order
Publication Order of The Book of Words Books
The Baker's Boy (1995) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Man Betrayed (1996) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Master and Fool (1996) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Publication Order of Sword of Shadows Books
A Cavern of Black Ice (1999) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Fortress of Grey Ice (2003) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Sword from Red Ice (2007) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Watcher of the Dead (2010) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Barbed Coil (1997) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Book of Words (2000) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
J.V. Jones is a fiction novelist. She is originally from England.
Born in 1963, J.V. Jones was not always an author. She originally hailed from Liverpool. Even though she has relocated from Liverpool, it will always be her first home. She also worked at a record label before she moved to America.
On the West coast, Jones would work in a slightly different area. She moved to the United States to California and took up residence in the city of San Diego. There she ran a business that specialized in exports before she decided that she would like to do something else. She worked for a company that specialized in producing software that was interactive as their marketing director.
A popular author, J.V. Jones first made it as a published novelist with the release of her debut work of fiction. This was the first novel in her Book of Words series in 1995. The debut fiction release would be followed by several more in the series. Jones would also pen a novel that stands alone, The Barbed Coil. It was released in 1997.
Jones created the fictional series of novels, Book of Words. The engaging series first was published in 1995 and The Baker’s Boy would start this unique literary journey. Jones would follow that up with a sequel a year later. The second story in this series is titled A Man Betrayed. The author would write a third novel in the series, titled Master and Fool. The book was released in 2006.
If you have been looking for a great fantasy series of novels to check out, then this is it! Check out the debut novel in the Book of Words series by picking up a copy of The Baker’s Boy and seeing what this author has to say! A new fantasy world awaits you from the second that this debut gets started. If you like what you read then be sure to check out the entire trilogy.
The Baker’s Boy is the first novel in the Book of Words series. This fantasy series gets into it right away and does not stop right from the start! Readers will be very interested to meet the inspiring main character, a talented young woman that goes by the name of Melliandra.
Melliandra may be just a young woman, but she knows enough to know her own mind. When it comes to the situations that she is forced to navigate, however, she may be in way over her head. She does have an idea of what she’s getting into, which is of course the reason why she is so desperate to get out.
There are a lot of things that could be going right, but everything just seems to be going wrong. The king that lives in Castle Harvell is in serious bad health. It looks like he is not going to make it out of this thing and in fact he is dying. Unless something turns it around then it looks like he is going to die.
She’s trying to find a way to get out of getting married. She was been forced into betrothal to none other than Prince Kylock. He may be a prince, but he is known more for his sinister nature than he is for his for having a truly generous side.
It is for these reasons that she is doing whatever she can to try and make it so that this does not happen. She does not want to marry Prince Kylock and so she has to do whatever it takes to try and keep this from ever moving forward.
The only thing is that she doesn’t quite know what to do. She thinks that she will be able to find some type of friend in a young man that she meets. Jack works as an apprentice. Even though he has a job, he has no idea that he actually has the ability to truly work some amazing magic and even produce some miracles.
Mel does not yet know whether he is going to be able to help her or not. All that she knows is that she could really use some help. She may have to wait or it may end up showing up on her front door when she least expects it.
All she knows is that for now, it’s really going to have to be decided in the present. Will the future be changed, or is Mel’s fate one that she really doesn’t like? Can she avoid getting married, or have things really gone so far that she has no more power over what happens?
Jack would love to help her out, but he’s only just starting on his own journey. Can he find his magical talent and hone his powers, or is he too green to the game to be effective the way he wishes he could be? Read the awesome first book in this intriguing fictional series and be the one to see what happens!
A Man Betrayed is the second story in the Book of Words series. J.V. Jones is an English author that has a flair and a penchant for fantasy fiction.
This is an exciting sequel that you will not want to miss! The Baker’s Boy sold a lot of copies and now the author is back to capitalize on the thrills and totally unique world that she introduced the first time around.
Prince Kylock is trying to make it in this world the only way that he knows how. Unfortunately, he’s kind of crazy, so he causes a lot of damage in his demented state. He has also managed to get something for himself and has gained control of the Four Kingdoms empire.
Melli has also been quite busy. She reunited with Jack and now the two of them are getting out of here. They successfully made their escape from their home in Four Kingdoms, but now have been split up. To make things even worse, Jack’s been distracted!
When a woman comes in between them and Melli is in danger, can they find a solution together? Or are they on their own? Read A Man Betrayed to find out!
Book Series In Order » Authors » J.V. Jones
Joseph Finder has quite the pedigree studying at both Yale and Harvard. He can speak many languages including Farsi, and initially worked for the CIA before deciding to go the route of an author.
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The Next Phase of Criminal Justice Reform: Considering Reductions in Sentence Length
Anise Vance
This past April, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a landmark criminal justice reform law that was designed, in large part, to help reduce our state’s incarceration levels. Among many other provisions, it includes reducing some mandatory minimum sentences (although it did add one for opioid-related offenses), decriminalizing minor offenses and improving supports for former prisoners transitioning back to society. These reforms should help reduce incarceration rates, but as we think about the next phase of criminal justice reform, there is an additional key strategy that deserves our consideration: reducing time served.
WHY IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE SERVE IN PRISON IMPORTANT?
Over the last four decades, the prison population in the United States has risen dramatically. Increased sentence lengths, especially for violent offenses, contribute heavily to this rise. (The Urban Institute’s A Matter of Time: The Causes and Consequences of Rising Time Served in America’s Prisons presents some good detail on these dynamics.) In 1984, for instance, there were fewer than 40,000 people serving life sentences in the United States. By 2016, that number had quadrupled to more than 160,000 people.
Large prison populations are, of course, a problem for state and federal budgets. They are also an ineffective tool in fighting crime: There is little evidence to suggest that transitioning prisoners back into society, or incarcerating fewer people, leads to higher crime rates. In fact, research indicates that serving more prison time can actually increase the chances of a former prisoner re-offending.
Sentence lengths are also deeply intertwined with issues of race. A recent study found that black males were given sentences 19.1 percent longer than white males with similar criminal histories, age and education. The war on drugs stands out as a particularly powerful example of racialized treatment in the criminal justice system: Black people are far more likely to be arrested for drug use than white people and face longer average prison sentences.
MASSACHUSETTS HAS AMONG THE LOWEST IMPRISONMENT RATES FOR THOSE SERVING LESS THAN 20 YEARS—BUT IS ONLY AVERAGE FOR THOSE SERVING 20 OR MORE YEARS
To understand where Massachusetts stands relative to other states in the length of time served by its prisoners, we used data from the Urban Institute and the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) to divide state prison populations into groups based on how long prisoners have served.1 Then, we calculated the imprisonment rate for each separate group. (The NCRP is a voluntary data collection program, so data is only available for the 35 states that participated.)
In comparison to other states, Massachusetts’ imprisonment rates across most groups is very low. The Commonwealth’s imprisonment rates for various lengths of stay between 0 and 15 years rank among the five lowest in the country, and the rate for people who have spent 15 to 20 years in prison is the 8th lowest. This suggests that, relative to the nation, Massachusetts has done a good job implementing policies and practices that keep people in jail for a minimal period of time. Those policies and practices likely include issuing shorter initial sentences, providing more effective diversionary programs and making parole a more frequent option.
Massachusetts’ imprisonment rates are low across groups, with the notable exception of those serving 20 or more years.
TIME SERVED (years) RANK (out of 35 states) RATE (per 100,000)
All 33 176
0 to 2 34 92
5 to 10 32 21
10 to 15 32 8
25-plus 21 7
Source: Urban Institute. National Corrections Reporting Program.
However, Massachusetts is only average, as opposed to low, in imprisonment rates for people who have been in prison for 20 to 25 years and 25 or more years. Out of the 35 states analyzed, Massachusetts ranks 25th in imprisonment rate for people who have served 20 to 25 years in prison and 21st for those who have served 25 or more years.
As we implement the many important changes included in the recent reform law, advocates and policymakers would be wise to give thought to sentence length in the next round of reforms. Conversations on reducing the time people serve in prison are difficult given that those serving the longest sentences have often been convicted of violent crimes. But if we are going to significantly reduce our incarceration levels, examining the impact of how much time people spend in prison, particularly for those serving 20 or more years, is a key part of the conversation.
1 Please note that we made adjustments to the Massachusetts data because, unlike other states, Massachusetts’ local jails can house people serving sentences of 1 to 2.5 years. In most states, local jails can only house people serving sentences up to 1 year.
Article | Criminal Justice
Recent reforms will help reduce incarceration levels in Massachusetts, but one key strategy was left of the table: reducing the amount of time people spend in prison.
Why Our Current Criminal Justice System is not the Answer to the Opioid Crisis
Only 44% of people in Massachusetts' prisons completed the rehabilitative programming recommended for them while incarcerated.
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On The New York Times' Boba Article
The New York Times caused quite a stir on the Internet last week. It ran an article highlighting some boba shops in New York City with the headline, "Those Blobs In Your Tea? They're Supposed To Be There." The article was written as if boba had JUST reached popularity in the United States. A lot of people begged to differ, so much so that the Times ran through several revisions of the headline and edited the article to make it seem like it was less about the popularity and more about the shops experiencing immediate success in New York. They also issued an apology.
I'm glad that the Times apologized. I'm not, however, entirely thrilled that the mistake happened in the first place. I asked a former copy editor whom I met through AAJA what he thought, and he pretty much agreed what many other people were saying across social media: The New York Times was wrong, and it's good that they understood their mistake and acted accordingly. He asked me for my opinion, and this is what I wrote:
The headline struck me a tiny bit flashy for the New York Times and caught me off guard; it was the kind of headline that I would expect to see from Buzzfeed or some other outlet popular with people in my age group.
What disappointed me about the article itself is that it did not go deep into how boba has become deeply part of Asian AMERICAN culture rather than something that came straight from Taiwan a few years ago to just market to first generation Asian immigrants.
Like you said, there are many people who can speak about this more eloquently. But I definitely felt like the headlines and the piece would have been done better if there were more people who know about the role of boba in APIA communities. And also looked through The New York Times' archives.
I wish Annenberg Journalism students had classes on theory like I was able to do in Dr. Winston's honors class. I would actually love to chat with you sometime about stuff like framing, but one really key thing is that journalism has influence on how people perceive an event or culture. For this reason, it's important to get people with different backgrounds into newsrooms.
I felt this strongly at Annenberg just by the numbers. I believe the amount of Asian American students in my graduating class was about 8. I was the only Filipino American. I believe that in my entire time at USC I met four other Filipino journalism majors.
I was full of Asian American-centric pitches during my underclassmen years and I used to write a lot of those stories for the media center. A professor, however, discouraged me from pursuing more than one of my ideas for class because he didn't want me to limit myself. He meant well and I saw where he was coming from. But I mean, you've seen Anh Do's work. She tells stories that others might not have otherwise told, and she tells them extremely well because she knows the community.
It was hard to walk away from journalism because I know there's a few number of Asian American journalists and an even fewer number of Filipino journalists, especially now that Alex Tizon has unfortunately passed. But I'm always going to love the field and I'm hoping to figure out a way for it to work for me. Until then, I'll still keep up with what's going on and participate in discussion, like this.
I didn't realize how strongly I felt about the headline until I started writing, and honestly it got a little bit off topic. But if there was anything important I learned from my senior year at USC, it's that things that seem as simple as headlines or even using words such as "fake news" or "extremist" seriously shape how we view the world. It's not an easy job making those calls, but that's just part of being a responsible journalist whose job is to inform the public.
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CASA of the Pikes Peak Region is an inclusive and accepting organization that is committed to serve fully all children and families in need.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Pikes Peak Region is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization serving El Paso County and Teller County that trains and supervises volunteers to represent the best interests of our most vulnerable citizens – victims of child abuse, neglect, and severe domestic conflict. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children in court and in the community. The desired result is that children are placed into safe, loving homes where they can thrive.
We offers four programs designed to meet the special needs of vulnerable children. Among them are the: Dependency and Neglect Program; Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time Program (SEPT), Milton Foster Children’s Fund Program, and Children and Families in Transition (CFIT) Program.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region serves approximately 1,700 children per year in all our programs, but hundreds are still waiting for volunteer advocacy.
CASA helps ensure that abused children get out of the child welfare and legal systems and into safe and permanent homes more quickly than they would otherwise.
CASA promotes early intervention to stop the cycle of generational abuse.
CASA intervention…
offers abused and neglected children the opportunity to thrive in safe and permanent homes;
interrupts possible delinquent and criminal behaviors, which often take root in abusive and unstable homes;
adds to true “quality of life.” CASA advocacy gives abused and neglected children the opportunity to become contributors – assets to the community rather than deficits.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provides a volunteer’s voice in court for children who are victims of abuse, neglect or domestic conflict and promotes community awareness of these issues to ensure safe and permanent homes.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region ensures safe environments and lasting homes where children in need can thrive.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region was founded to train volunteers as advocates for victimized children and to educate the community about abuse and neglect.
Through comprehensive training programs, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region educates a carefully screened and selected group of volunteers about child abuse, neglect, and domestic relations conflicts. They learn about the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, child development, advocating within the court system, the roles of the Department of Human Services, the judicial system, and many of the community resources available to children and families involved in these cases. The volunteers continue their training through regular in-services that provide additional information and support.
The volunteers, or CASAs, appointed by the Court, generally work on one case at a time. They provide the families and victims of child abuse, neglect, and domestic conflict with information on court procedures, community resources, and support. CASAs monitor the court-ordered treatment plan to assure positive progress is being made and to assess if the children can be returned home. They write reports to the court, speak up in court and make recommendations as to the child’s best interest. They provide factual, unbiased information to the Court about the child’s and family’s situation and progress, enabling the Court to make more informed decisions in the best interest of the child.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region educates the community about factors contributing to child abuse, neglect, and domestic conflicts, and how involved individuals can positively impact efforts to end this cycle.
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US comedy star’s bizarre magic mushrooms incident
Sports-mad comedy star Jason Sudeikis reveals how psychedelic drugs and American politics influenced his hilarious new comedy character.
by James Wigney
11th Aug 2020 6:51 PM
Jason Sudeikis had a couple of offbeat inspirations in shaping the title character of his new comedy Ted Lasso - psychedelic drugs and American politics.
The US actor, who shot to fame as a writer and performer on comedy institution Saturday Night Live, had first played Lasso - an American football coach put in charge of an English Premier League soccer team - as part of a 2013 promotional campaign for US network NBC, which had just gained the rights there.
The fish-out-of-water premise was a hit in raising the awareness of the sport and the elite competition in the US, and was repeated again the following year, but Sudeikis and his comedy partners knew it would be a big ask to turn essentially a one-joke concept into the 10-part comedy series that drops on Apple TV+ this Friday.
The main concern when he and comedy partners Brendan Hunt, Bill Lawrence and Joe Kelly first started kicking the idea around in 2015 was whether the far-fetched scenario was even remotely believable. But by the time the show was greenlit and they got around to writing it in 2018, a man with next to zero political experience had the highest job in the land - and suddenly it didn't seem entirely out of the realms of possibility.
Jason Sudeikis says that Ted Lasso is “one hundred per cent” the best version of himself.
"The whole question was is it believable that someone who has no idea what they are doing could be in charge of something as important as a professional soccer team," recalls Sudeikis via Zoom from his Los Angeles home. "Then it was like 'oh, someone not knowing what they are doing in charge of something important is kind of happening a lot these days' and it's no longer a high concept. It's an actual living, breathing thing, so the show almost becomes a parable and a metaphor and no one is asking that question any more about the believability - for better or worse."
But whereas the politics in the US is about as toxic and divisive as it's ever been, Sudeikis didn't want to add to the roster of dark, tormented antiheroes he had admired in shows such as Mad Men and the British version of The Office.
His Lasso - parachuted into the fictional Premier League AFC Richmond club by a vindictive, wronged owner who wants to see it burn - is unfailingly optimistic and envisages a road to success by bringing out the best in his players and those around him, despite barely even knowing the rules of the game. With his ridiculous moustache and endless supply of hilarious homilies, Sudeikis says Lasso is his ideal self, embracing curiosity instead of cynicism and kindness in the face of the abuse-chanting legions who want to see him fail.
Jason Sudeikis says his friend and Ted Lasso co-star Brendan Hunt helped convert him to the joys of soccer.
"He's 100 per cent the best version of me," he says. "I wish I could bottle him up and spritz him on me whenever I am in one of my low points, as any of us feel daily. Especially now." Lasso's egoless equanimity was also inspired by food writer Michael Pollan's book How To Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics, as well as Sudeikis' experiences experimenting with mind-altering substances when he lived in Amsterdam - where his friend Hunt converted him to the round ball game - while performing with the improvisational comedy troupe Boom Chicago.
"I ingested that book and those interviews and having had some experience with mushrooms during my time in Amsterdam and I found it profound, especially the way he wrote about it and the egolessness people feel," he says. "I was like 'oh that is Ted - Ted is mushrooms'. "But not everybody has done that and understandably so, different strokes for different folks - but the best way I can describe it is Ted is like the way I feel after a couple of pints on an empty stomach during a bright sunny day."
Sudeikis, who is engaged to actor-director Olivia Wilde, with whom he has two children, has been fascinated by sports since childhood. He played soccer until 10, before basketball became his passion, which he says has given him lifelong friendships, earned him a college scholarship and helped broaden his mind as he travelled around the US to play. But team sport also made for an easy transition into professional comedy, especially the improvisational variety that eventually led to his break on SNL.
"Doing sketch comedy and improv comedy it's all ensemble," he says. "It's all follow the follower, we're all in this together, we're in the boat and the only way to get in the right direction is to grab the oar and paddle in the same direction. So that's just where my mind is and while the show is called Ted Lasso and I play Ted Lasso it's a lot bigger than me. There are a ton of people on camera - it is an ensemble show and we try to give everyone moments to shine."
Sudeikis got to return the sporting favour for his friend Hunt - who also plays his assistant coach on Ted Lasso - when he dragged him along for a visit to Australia in 2011 to promote his hit comedy Horrible Bosses.
"I was single at the time so Brendan was my date and he came down with me and we went to go see an Australian rules match, we got to hold a koala bear - we got to do it all," Sudeikis says. "I would have eaten eucalyptus knowing the high that it would have given me - it was a blast. That's the last time I have been down there unfortunately. It was a week and we were bounced around from city to city but I did get to go and check that out. I don't remember what the stadium was or who was playing, but get a pint into me and the sun shining on my face and I'm a good time anywhere."
Ted Lasso releases on Apple TV+ on Friday.
Originally published as US comedy star's bizarre magic mushrooms incident
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Home » Research » All About Glass
Library Collection Search
Enameled Glass Vessels, 1425 B.C.E.–1800: The Decorating Process
2016 eCommerce Summit
The earliest glass vessel decorated with enameling dates from about 1425 B.C.E.1 It successfully combines one of humankind’s oldest creative urges (the desire to draw on things) with one of the most advanced technologies of the ancient world (glassmaking). Today, essentially the same process continues to be widely used for the creation of permanent decoration on the surface of objects ranging from bottles produced by machines to original works of art fashioned by celebrated studio glass artists.
The purpose of this study is to reveal the surprising degree of complexity in a process that, when first considered, deceptively seems so straightforward, and to correct widely held misconceptions of how that process was carried out until relatively recently.2 A more accurate understanding of the process should benefit both specialists and connoisseurs, and it will probably have an impact on such important issues as the dating and authenticating of objects.
Enamel decoration consists of colored glass (or a mixture of colorless glass and a coloring agent) that is pulverized and painted, in the form of fine granules suspended in a liquid, onto a cooled glass vessel, then permanently fused to its surface by intense heating. Enameling stands in sharp contrast to cold painting, which, when executed on a smooth, unprotected glass surface, is famously impermanent.
These two basic types of enamel preparations can be in the form of high-fire or low-fire enamels. High-fire processes can soften and possibly damage an object, while low-fire processes never soften an object to the point of imperiling it. High-fire processes can be carried out in a glass furnace or, after the 18th century, in a kiln, while low-fire processes always take place in a kiln.3
The Enamels
Enamel Types
The following classifications are based on how and when the enamels get their color. Chemical analyses of enamels (and the glasses to which they have been applied) from a broad range of historical objects have been widely published, along with useful interpretations of the data.4 For the purposes of this study, which will focus on the processes by which the objects were decorated rather than on how the enamels were made, only one distinction will be observed concerning the physical structure of enamels. The identification of these two distinct types of enamel, in conjunction with the traditional categorizations based strictly on chemical composition (e.g., soda-lime glasses versus lead-silicate glasses), may afford a more complete picture of these materials.5
Graph A
A schematic temperature/time profile for firing low-fire enamels in a kiln, using the low-fire process.
Premelted (or Prefritted) Enamel. This type of enamel consists of finely pulverized colored glass mixed with a liquid medium. The glass must be carefully formulated so as to provide an adequate intensity of color while being physically compatible with the vessel glass. Compatibility means that, when the vessel is cooled after the enamel is fired, the enamel must decrease in volume at about the same rate and to about the same degree as the glass to which it has been fused, or they will crack apart. Almost all modern commercial enamels are of this type.
Cold-Mixed (or Unfritted) Enamel. Here, an essentially colorless glass (often, it is the same glass as that from which the vessel itself was made) is pulverized and mixed with a coloring agent such as a metallic oxide (e.g., cobalt oxide for blue) or a colored mineral (e.g., hematite for red), in addition to a liquid medium. During the firing process, when a metallic oxide has been added, chemical reactions take place between the glass (flux) and the coloring agent (pigment) that cause the glass to become colored. When particles of a colored mineral have been added to a colorless glass and fired, they give the enamel the appearance of having been colored throughout. In both enamel types, during the firing process, the particles of glass fuse with one another and to the surface of the vessel, thus ensuring permanence.
The manner in which the enamel attains its color is distinctly different between the two types. The cold-mixed type acquires its color during the firing process, while the color of the premelted type was achieved by chemical reactions that took place long before the firing process, when the ingredients were melted in a crucible within a glassmaking furnace. When viewed in cross section under powerful magnification, these two types of enamel look quite different.6 The premelted enamel appears essentially homogeneous, since its ingredients were well mixed by convection in the crucible when they were “cooked.” By contrast, the cold-mixed enamel appears as a sea of colorless glass that is somewhat sparsely populated with colorant particles, each of which is surrounded by a veil of colored glass. The coloration of the glass is strictly limited to the immediate vicinity of the interface of the colorless glass and the colorant.
Enamel Categories
The following classifications are based on the firing temperature of the enamel in comparison with the temperature at which the vessel might begin to become distorted under its own weight.
High-Fire Enamels. For firing, these enamels require exposure to such a high temperature for such an extended period that without some intervention on the part of the glassworker, the vessel would begin to collapse under its own weight. High-fire enamels require either a furnace-firing procedure or the kiln-firing procedure known as flash firing (see below). These were the only enamels available for decorating glass until the 19th century.
Low-Fire Enamels. Low-fire enamels can be fired at a temperature that is well below the softening point of the vessel glass. Even if that temperature is held for an extended period, the form of the vessel is not in danger of changing because of the softening.
The making of low-fire enamels requires a markedly greater sophistication in glassmaking ability. For success, three criteria must be met, compared with two for high-fire enamels. The color and the compatibility must be managed correctly, and the temperature/viscosity characteristics of the enamel must be precisely adjusted and controlled. Apparently, this considerable technological feat was not accomplished for a wide range of colors until sometime in the 19th century.
Firing Processes
The following classifications are based on the type of appliance used and the temperature attained during the firing process.
Kiln Firing. The firing of enamels on a glass vessel within a kiln has apparently been possible only since the 19th century. Although both low-fire and high-fire enamels can be fired in a kiln, it is low-fire enamels that make kiln firing an easy procedure that continues to be used almost universally today. Two very different strategies are employed when firing objects in a kiln: the low-fire method and the flash-firing method.
The low-fire method (graph A) is by far the easier of the two kiln-firing methods. A blank decorated with low-fire enamels is placed in a kiln and slowly heated to a temperature that is sufficient to fire the enamels. Because the firing temperature is well below the point at which the vessel glass might begin to become distorted, the form of the object is not endangered. The completed object is then annealed (slowly cooled to room temperature).
Graph B
A schematic temperature/time profile for firing high-fire enamels in a kiln, using the flash-firing process.
The flash-firing method (graph B) has long been employed in top-fired kilns for the firing of flat glass decorated with high-fire enamels, but its use in the firing of vessels is comparatively recent. This is because a kiln suitable for holding vessels must be capable of great, sudden, and highly controlled temperature changes. These are best accomplished in a modern gas or electrically heated appliance. In addition, the operator must be both highly knowledgeable and extremely vigilant during the process.
In flash firing, the decorated object is gradually heated to a temperature just below the annealing point of the glass (about 850°F or 455°C for common soda-lime glass). The temperature is then suddenly “spiked” to a level that is sufficient to fire the enamels quickly (perhaps 1,200°F or 649°C). After a short interval, perhaps one minute, the operator opens the kiln door to confirm that the firing has succeeded (by observing that the enamels are glowing orange and shining) and to begin a precipitous reduction of the temperature inside the kiln. A moment later, the door is closed and the temperature is stabilized at the annealing point (about 900°F or 482°C for common soda-lime glass). The temperature is then gradually reduced to anneal the object.
Flash firing is possible because of the exceptionally poor thermal conductivity of glass compared with, say, almost any common metal.7 When the temperature in the kiln suddenly spikes well above the softening point of the glass, the vessel is not deformed because only its surface initially becomes soft; within the vessel wall, the glass is still stiff. By the time the firing is completed and the inside of the wall is beginning to soften, the kiln door has been opened and the surface of the vessel begins to stiffen with the sudden drop in temperature, thus ensuring its integrity. Because of the great thermal agility of modern kilns and the precision of the computers that control them, this flash-firing method is used in mass production today nearly as often as the low-fire method with low-fire enamels. This is because high-fire enamels invariably have markedly higher durability than low-fire enamels, which is an important asset in such industries as the manufacture of returnable bottles.
Furnace Firing (graph C). Until the 19th century, a glassworker’s only option for firing enamels on a glass vessel involved holding the decorated blank on the end of a long tool and reintroducing it into the intensely hot glassworking furnace. The decorated blank was very gradually reheated to a temperature slightly above the annealing point of the glass (about 950°F or 510°C for modern soda-lime glasses). When the blank was hot (but not sufficiently hot to fire the enamels), it was attached to a tool and removed from the kiln in which it had been preheated. From the Middle Ages onward, the pontil was used to hold the blank. Earlier, the blank had been held by the metal rod used in the coreforming process or the blowpipe that had been employed to blow the blank.
Graph C
A schematic temperature/time profile for firing high-fire enamels, using the furnace-firing process.
Next, the decorated blank was immediately thrust into the glass furnace (or into another similarly high-temperature—about 2,000°F or 1,093°C—furnace) and held there until the enamels began to glow orange and shine. To the glassworker, this visual cue indicated that the enamels had fully fused, or fired. In Renaissance Venice, the very hot blank would periodically have been removed from the furnace in order to allow the shaping process to be resumed. When the firing process had been completed, the finished object was broken free of the pontil and placed in an annealing oven.
A Chronological Survey of Historical Objects
The following survey of about 60 enameled objects is intended to describe and illustrate all variations of the enameling process as it was carried out between the 15th century B.C.E. and the 18th century. The reconstructed processes are based on a close hands-on examination of historical objects, extensive practical experiments, and a variety of period descriptions of decorating processes. The most useful and detailed of these accounts is a 15th-century manuscript in the Library of San Salvatore in Bologna. It was brought to my attention by Hugh Tait in 1982, and it became the seed from which this study sprouted. That text says:
To paint glass, that is to say, cups or any other works in glass with smalti or any colour you please, take the smalti you wish to use, and let them be soft and fusible, and pound them upon marble or porphyry in the same way that the goldsmiths do. Then wash the powder and apply it upon your glass as you please and let the colour dry thoroughly; then put the glass upon the rim of the chamber in which glasses are cooled, on the side from which the glasses are taken out cold, and gradually introduce it into the chamber towards the fire which comes out of the furnace and take care you do not push too fast lest the heat should split it, and when you see that it is thoroughly heated, take it up with the pontello and fix it to the pontello and put it in the mouth of the furnace, heating it and introducing it gradually. When you see the smalti shine and that they have flowed well, take the glass out and put it in the chamber to cool, and it is done. . . .8
Egypt (15th Century B.C.E.)
The practice of creating enameled decoration on glass vessels began very soon after such vessels were initially made. A small turquoise-colored jug in The British Museum (Fig. 1.1) was probably found in the tomb of Thutmose III at Thebes, and it is thought to have contained sacred oils used in the burial ritual. The presence of the pharaoh’s cartouche on this vessel indicates an 18th-Dynasty date of about 1425 B.C.E. Like other glass vessels associated with Thutmose III, the jug was made by core forming. Before this technique was displaced by glassblowing in the first years of the Common Era, it was the most efficient way to produce small, usually closed vessel forms. Core forming was the dominant method of making glass vessels for some 1,500 years.9
Throughout this period, the technique was virtually unchanged. A mixture of materials—most likely dung, clay, and water—was kneaded together, then formed to take the shape of what was to become the vessel’s interior. A long metal rod was inserted partway down its length to be used as a handle. The core was then thoroughly dried and gradually heated to a temperature sufficient to both fire the clay and burn away all of the organic matter. The heated core, now sturdy, was covered with glass and decorated, typically by trailing contrasting colors of glass around the body, then combing or feathering them. Next, the object was annealed to avoid cracking. Finally, the rod was pulled out, and the core, now crushable and brittle, was picked and scraped out, leaving a cavity in the vessel.
Recent investigations of this ancient process have focused on the exact method by which the core was covered with glass.10 The compositions of ancient cores are less uncertain: surviving fragments have been analyzed, and contemporary experiments have demonstrated that combining the above-mentioned materials in a fairly wide range of percentages usually works successfully.
In the Thutmose III jug, the turquoise glasses of the vessel body and the handle are equally dense and homogeneous, without the granular, seemingly aerated quality that is often observed in core-formed vessels, particularly the later examples. While a convincing argument can be made that the walls of some of these objects were built up by fusing finely crushed glass to the core, in this instance the core seems to have been covered by dipping it in a crucible of molten turquoise glass.
The process of enameling and firing this jug was surprisingly complicated, and it bespeaks a highly inventive craftsman. Because it was closely associated with Egyptian royal funerary practices, we can be sure that both the workers who produced such burial accouterments and their customers were acutely concerned with permanence. It is remarkable that, at a moment so early in the history of glass technology, it was accurately understood that cold painting on smooth glass would not last indefinitely. Because the workers were apparently already convinced of the stone-like durability of the glass, it was entirely logical for them to invent a way of decorating it with a paint that was itself glass, and then to fuse the two together, fixing the decoration by firing.
The maker (or makers) of the Thutmose III jug used a three-stage process for creating permanent enameled decoration on this glass vessel. In principle, as we will see, this process remained unchanged until the end of the 18th century, some 3,200 years later.
First, a blank was made by the core-forming process. The bottom was left rounded, and neither the decorative yellow wraps nor the handle that we see in the finished object was attached. The core and the rod were left in place after the completed blank had been annealed (see Figure 2.1, in which the undecorated blank is shown at the right on the table).
In the second stage of the process, the enamel was painted on the cooled blank. The enamel consisted of a mixture of finely ground yellow glass (this glass was undoubtedly the same as that employed for the yellow wraps) in a liquid medium that was perhaps made of gum arabic and water or a light oil (Fig. 2.1–2.3). We can be certain that the decoration was applied in liquid form because there is vestigial evidence of “flow” in the longer lines and of the migration of finer particles to the edge of some droplets. This is particularly visible at the rounded tips of some of the leaves and the ends of the stems (Fig. 1.1 and 1.2).
In the third stage, the object was fired in a series of critical steps, almost all of which imperiled it. The decorated blank was reheated very slowly to a point at which the glass would soon have become distorted under its own weight if left unattended (about 950°F or 510°C for common modern soda-lime glass).
Reheating glass, especially vessels, invites cracking. Three factors that are now well understood are involved here. First, as glass is heated from room temperature to the vicinity of its annealing temperature, it expands considerably. Second, as we have seen, glass is an exceptionally poor conductor of heat. Third, because of its varying shape and wall thickness, a glass vessel is much more difficult to heat evenly than, say, a piece of plate glass. When a glass vessel is reheated, different parts inevitably heat and thus expand unevenly, and some areas are exposed to thermal stress. If these localized forces are sufficiently concentrated in a small enough area to overcome the strength of the glass, a crack will form and the object will break. Even today, reheating a glass vessel in a computer-controlled electric kiln remains a tense undertaking. In the time of Thutmose III, it must have been positively nerve-racking.
In any case, after the object had been heated well above its annealing temperature, it was held by its temporary handle in the glassworking furnace, probably until the enameled decoration glowed and shone. The shine would clearly have signaled the worker that the particles of yellow glass had softened and fused, both to each other and to the vessel (Fig. 2.4). At this point, work resumed on finishing the vessel (Fig. 2.5–2.8). Part of the handle sits atop the upper yellow band, so we can be sure that the handle was the last addition. Less certain is the order in which the yellow bands were added. It is interesting to note that, as the flat bottom was created, the lower third or so of the vessel was soft. This is indicated by the subtle spiraling of the lowest part of the stems of the palm leaves and by the linear breakup of the larger, less well fused enamel particles (Fig. 1.1 and 1.3). This twisting and stretching resulted from the combination of torque from rotating the object and friction from pressing a flat tool against the tip of the soft glass.
Incredibly, the jug for Thutmose III appears to be the only surviving example of an enameled glass vessel that predates the Common Era. Before it was discovered, and then acquired by The British Museum in the 19th century, it had been entombed in the Valley of the Kings for considerably longer than two millenniums. Therefore, during that vast span of time, all subsequent reinventions and losses of the process that the jug so vividly reveals took place without its influence as creative inspiration or technical example. While we can debate, for example, whether the Renaissance Venetian enameling process was based more on Islamic or Byzantine practice, it is certain that in our current view of the history of enameled glass vessels, the remarkable Thutmose III jug represents both a beginning and an end.
The Roman Period
By the time the technique of enameling glass vessels was finally reinvented after 18th-Dynasty Egypt, the revolutionary process of glassblowing had been discovered. The lacuna in the history of enameling—some 14 centuries—is suspiciously immense. Because its first appearance coincided so closely with the start of glass vessel making, it is difficult to believe that this process did not reappear at least once before the Romans arrived on the scene. However, without any recognized surviving artifacts or documentary descriptions, we must—for the moment, at least—assume that both the concept of this type of decoration and the means to realize it were simply lost and long awaited rediscovery.
The absence of enameling on Greek and Hellenistic glass is very surprising, particularly during the last centuries B.C.E., when decorative enameling was used on gold. Because these glassworkers commonly employed hot-forming processes such as slumping (kiln forming), in which nascent objects sat stationary on molds while soft, it would have been easy for them to fire enamels on the surface of bowls, for example.11 Their only technical challenge would have been to produce (or acquire from elsewhere) enamels compatible with the glass from which the objects were made. Apparently, this was a missed opportunity.
Roman vessels with enameled decoration were made over a period of about 300 years, beginning in the early decades of the empire. In this survey, each of those centuries will be represented.
First Century
The extensively decorated transparent green cup that is now in the Museo Civico e Archeologico in Locarno, Switzerland (Fig. 3), was found in the Muralto (Locarno) cemetery in 1936. It is the best-preserved example of a large group of similarly made and decorated objects whose find-places are widely distributed throughout Europe and the Middle East.12 Datable to about 20–70 C.E., these cups fall into various categories according to the decoration of their bases. They may have originated in a Syrian or northern Italian workshop. Most of the examples are fragmentary.
The blank for the Locarno cup was made by a straightforward glassblowing process that left a tapered section of glass above the present rim, ending with a hole (see Figure 4.1, which shows a replica of the blank in my hand, as well as a drawing of the blank on the table). The various colors of enamel were painted on the cooled blank and allowed to dry thoroughly (see Figure 4.2; for a full description and illustration of the processes of making and applying enamels to a piece of glass, see Figures 2.1–2.3).
The decorated blank was very gradually reheated in a kiln to a point at which the glass would soon become distorted under its own weight if left unattended. The hot end of a blowpipe was coated with soft glass, but so as to leave open the hole in its end. The blank was then reattached to the blowpipe; the soft glass easily adhered to the edge of the hole.
Next, the blank was returned to the glassworking furnace (Fig. 4.2). Only a few seconds later, the “softer” (usually darker) colors undoubtedly began to shine, indicating that they had started to fuse. The “harder” (usually lighter) colors, such as yellow but often red too, were initially unaffected by the heat because of their more refractory nature. To prevent a sudden collapse, the partly fired blank was withdrawn from the furnace momentarily to allow the hottest enamels—and the glass on which they had been painted—to cool somewhat.
This procedure of alternately reheating the decorated blank in the furnace and cooling it outside the furnace was repeated several times. Eventually the hardest colors succumbed to the heat and fused. However, the softest colors unavoidably accumulated excess heat, and this caused the vessel wall to soften significantly. As these hottest areas began to collapse, the worker periodically blew gently into the blowpipe to slightly pressurize and thereby stabilize the vessel, thus retaining the desired form. When the firing process was judged to be complete, the decorated blank was broken free of the blowpipe and placed in the annealing oven to cool slowly.
Close inspection of numerous fragments from this group, together with extensive experimentation, supports this reconstructed process. The most refractory colors of historic enameled glass vessels often have a markedly granular quality, indicating minimal firing. Conversely, the softest colors frequently seem to be very thin, with an almost runny appearance. This indicates a great lack of uniformity in the intensity of the heat required to fully fire the different colors. Beneath the softest enamels, the inner surface of these vessels often feels slightly sunken in or slightly bulging. Together, these “symptoms” indicate that the firing process was executed by a highly skilled worker who successfully overcame formidable technical challenges.
Finally, the unwanted upper, tapered portion of the blank had to be removed in order to create the rim. This was accomplished by cracking it off, an extremely quick and easy technique that was invented shortly before the cup’s manufacture.13 In this process, a well-annealed blank is scratched with a sharp tool (a diamond or quartz chip works well) partway around its circumference at the desired location of the rim. The glass is then rapidly heated all around in a very narrow band. Today, a tiny flame is held in place as the object is rotated rapidly. In antiquity, workers may have used a tiny gather of soft glass that was stretched out and then quickly wrapped around the outside of the blank.
Cracking off is a well-understood and widely used technique in modern glass factories. Because glass has poor thermal conductivity, the exterior surface heats only superficially, placing great tension on the circumference in that narrow region. The scratch propagates a crack whose path is strictly limited to the zone of tension. The excess glass above the rim pops off with a pinging sound. The edges left on the vessel are razor-sharp, and they must be smoothed by rubbing them lightly with a soft stone.
Sometimes, the process of cracking off does not proceed entirely smoothly. When the wall thickness of a vessel is reasonably even all around, it is relatively free of such defects as cords or stones, and it has been adequately annealed to remove stresses in the glass, the worker has a good chance of creating a perfect rim. Frequently, however, the crack travels around the circumference in such a way that it misses its starting point and leaves an obvious flaw in the line. At worst, the crack can travel south, so to speak, and invade the vessel itself.
In the case of finishing an undecorated tumbler, this would waste perhaps three minutes of a glassblower’s time. But with an object such as the Locarno cup, an errant crack would ruin the piece at the very last moment of the entire manufacturing and decorating process. Perhaps as much to avoid such a mishap as to create a decorative feature, a cold-worked groove was cut just below the rim of the Locarno cup and many similar contemporaneous undecorated cups before the cracking-off process commenced. Such a groove can interrupt and halt a wayward crack and thus prevent the destruction of an otherwise excellent, nearly complete object. Whether or not the groove had a practical as well as aesthetic purpose, we can be certain that it was cut after the enamel was fired because numerous examples show it passing through fired decoration that, at its edge, is sometimes very slightly chipped (see Figure 3, far left side of the groove).
A second example of first-century Roman enameling is the blown glass amphoriskos from Kerch (Crimea, Ukraine) that is now in The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg (Fig. 5). Its only close parallel is a considerably smaller jar in the form of an amphora that was found in Cyprus and is now in The Corning Museum of Glass. Since I have not handled the Hermitage object, it is impossible for me to reconstruct its manufacturing and decorating methods with great confidence. However, from the photograph, it is evident that the lower attachment points of the two handles sit atop the enameled decoration. Therefore, we can be confident that the glassworker made a blank without the handles, painted on the decoration, reheated the decorated blank, and added the handles after the enamels had been thoroughly fired. In general, this approach is identical to that employed in the creation of the Thutmose III jug (Figs. 2.1–2.8).
A close examination of the jar in The Corning Museum of Glass allows us to suggest a more detailed series of procedures. Unfortunately, this object is so badly weathered that it is difficult to gather much information about its manufacture. It appears—and feels—to have a pontil mark at its tip, and the handles seem to sit atop decoration at their attachment points (although this is very hard to confirm).
Because the rim of the Hermitage vessel clearly has a folded edge, it must have been held at the base at the conclusion of the glassblowing process. This would have been accomplished with a pontil or a clamplike holder that is sometimes called a snap.14 The vessel would have been held again during the firing of the enamel. This time, however, only a pontil could have been used, since gripping the lowest part of the vessel with a clamplike device would have badly damaged the decoration. Thus, it is likely that the Hermitage amphoriskos has two pontil marks that sit either near or atop each other. The first was produced by the manufacture of the blank, while the second was left from the firing of the enamel and the attachment of the handles. As we will see, this use of the pontil a second time for the firing of enamels on glass vessels became standard procedure beginning in the Middle Ages, and it continued through the 18th century (see Figures 11.1, 11.3, 15.1, and 15.3).
It seems likely that the Hermitage amphoriskos has at least one pontil mark on its base. However, if this is not the case, the manufacture and decoration of this object were probably similar to the process employed for the Locarno cup. A blank was made, leaving a small hole beyond the tapered shoulder that was similar to the formation seen in Figure 4.1. After the enamels were applied, the blank was reheated and reattached to a blowpipe, as shown in Figure 4.2. When the firing had been completed, the very hot but hardened vessel was broken free of the blowpipe, it was transferred to a clamplike holder, and the folded rim was created. At this point, with the enamels fired and the vessel cooled until it was stiff, a clamp could have been used without damaging either the vessel or its decoration. Finally, with the vessel still in the holder, the handles were added, completing the process.
Second and Third Centuries
The Daphne Ewer (Fig. 6.1 [55.1.86]), which was also found at Kerch, is now in the collection of The Corning Museum of Glass. This opaque white vessel, which is said to date from the late second to early third centuries, was blown. The surface is decorated with red and gray enamels, and it is gilded. In order to recognize that the decoration is not cold-painted, as it has often been described, but instead enameled, it is essential to confirm that the handle sits atop the decoration.
Upon close inspection with magnification and bright light, it is evident that the decoration disappears uninterrupted beneath the outer edges of the handle. There is also the unintended appearance of the end of one of the red bands on the vessel shoulder in a spot that was clearly meant to be undecorated (Fig. 6.2). In addition, it seems unlikely that the rosette on the vessel shoulder, which is now blocked by the handle, could have been so finely painted if the handle had been in place at the time of the painting (Fig. 6.3). These three features indicate that a blank was made without the handle. The decorator responsible for painting and gilding the blank carefully left bare a small area of the shoulder, anticipating the placement of the handle at the conclusion of the firing process. As is usual with handled vessels of this period, the lower attachment point was the first point of contact with the flattened, tooled gather of glass. Directing the molten glass toward the narrow gap in the decoration with the required speed would not have been easy, and we can now see that the glassworker, only slightly but tellingly, missed the mark. The handle was then attached to the rim and shaped, and the vessel was annealed.
The Daphne Ewer has enameled decoration on its somewhat concave base. There is no pontil mark. During the firing and the addition of the handle, the vessel would have been held by a clamplike device. From the start, it was probably intended that this object be held with a clamp, not a pontil. Where the sides of the object meet the base, it can be seen that the worker who made the blank carefully created a groove that could be tightly gripped with the holder. The decorator carefully placed the lowest bands high enough to allow them to avoid being marred by the clamp. Thus, the Daphne Ewer evinces careful planning and cooperation (assuming that the glass was worked and decorated by different craftsmen) in all stages of its creation, as well as meticulous execution.
A tall cobalt blue glass flute that is heavily decorated with painting and gold foil (Fig. 7) was found in Sedeinga (Sudan), and it is believed to have been made in the third century. This flute is one of two similar objects that were excavated at Sedeinga, and it is now in the Collezioni Egittologiche in Pisa. Its place of manufacture is a matter of conjecture. It may have been produced in Sudan or Alexandria. I have not examined this object, but careful observation by Dr. Robert H. Brill, research scientist at The Corning Museum of Glass, indicates that the gold was added as foil, and that some of the painted decoration is fired enamel while the rest is cold-painted.15
Photographs of the two flutes reveal a difference between the gold-foil decoration nearest the rim and that farther down the vessel body. They clearly show how both the gold and the enamels were fired. Near the rim, some of the gold appears to have been slightly broken up by vertically aligned “fissures.” Well below that area, most of the gold appears to be dense and unbroken. As we will see later, in the section of this article that discusses Renaissance Venetian glass, when a piece of glass with adhering gold is stretched, the decoration does not stretch, but instead it breaks up (see Figures 17.1–17.4). For this reason, we can be sure that the firing of these flutes involved returning the vessels to the furnace, after which the opening at the end of each vessel was slightly expanded or widened. This resulted in a slight breakup of the gold foil. Neither of these objects bears a pontil mark. The use of a clamplike device during the firing process is confirmed by the presence of a furnace-opened rim: the blanks could not have been made without one, and therefore the firing was undoubtedly accomplished using this tool.
Substantial heat is required both to soften the vessel for the thorough firing of the enamels and to ensure the permanence of the gold. My extensive experiments in replicating historic glassworking processes have demonstrated that gold fired onto glass at a temperature below the vessel’s softening point can, without much effort, be scraped off after the object has cooled. Thus, the high-temperature firing in the furnace accommodated both the gilded and enameled decoration on the Sedeinga flutes.16
Third and Fourth Centuries
The bottle with Apollo and Marsyas (Fig. 8.1 [78.1.1]), which is now in The Corning Museum of Glass, can be dated to the third or fourth century. It is painted in polychrome enamels, and it may have been made in Syria. This object exhibits two flaws that demonstrate technical challenges confronting any glassworker—then or now—engaged in enameling.
The first flaw, the shrinking and cracking of the decoration, also reveals one of the most easily detectable “symptoms” indicative of fired enamels in comparison with cold-painted ornament (Fig. 8.2). As we have noted, in creating a paintable substance, the particles of colored glass must be mixed with a liquid medium (Fig. 2.1–2.3). When gum arabic mixed with water is employed as that medium and the mixture contains an excess of gum arabic, the decoration (especially when it is thickly painted) has a tendency to shrink when it dries, leaving cracks or fissures in the enamel. Moreover, at the start of the firing process, as the gum arabic begins to burn away and the particles of enamel start to fuse, the decoration begins to shrink even further, resulting in additional widening of the fissures. Like the Locarno cup, this bottle was probably fired after it had been reattached to the blowpipe (Fig. 4.2). It has no pontil mark, and its rim was cold-worked. During the firing, it was probably somewhat inflated, widening the fissures still more. Because the edges of the fissures were more exposed to the intense heat than were the flat planes of the decoration, they softened sooner. These edges were quickly firepolished, and in the continuing heat that was required to complete the firing, they began to thicken and to form a bead. (These observations are supported by my experiments, in which trials that went wrong were as informative as those that did not.)
This thickening of the edges of cracks is symptomatic of fired decoration. Cracks that appear in cold-painted decoration will, of course, show no sign of smoothing by fire polishing or rounding at their edges. Similarly, any portion of the decoration that is raised well above the plane of the background will receive excess heat during firing, and points will tend to round and become bumps. On historic objects, it is especially helpful to examine these areas in order to determine whether the decoration was enameled or cold-painted.
The other flaw in the Apollo and Marsyas bottle is a pair of scratches that run horizontally between the two figures on the side of the bottle that is shown in Figure 8.1. The figure on the right also has a bad patch of scratches in the chest area. These were caused accidentally by rubbing the bottle on a rough surface after the enamels had been applied but before they had been fired. Unfired enamels are easily damaged, particularly when they are still wet, but also after they have dried. The damage seen here probably occurred after the bottle had been reheated and while it was lying on its side in the kiln as it was being reattached to the blowpipe. Had the damage occurred before the object was reheated, we might expect to see some evidence of retouching.
Flaws of this nature are common in enameled glass vessels. The damage often appears as a smudge. A typical example can be seen in the forward wing area of the bird at the top of the beaker shown in Figure 11.2. Because these objects had to be reattached to a pontil or blowpipe for firing (the Thutmose III jug still had its metal-rod handle attached at this point), they were probably placed on their side in the kiln to provide the glassworker with easy access to the base. However, this would have placed the decoration in a particularly vulnerable position. Today, kilns can be made with a door on the top, allowing the glassworker to access the base while the vessel sits on its rim. This arrangement would probably have been too difficult to construct before modern times.17
Byzantine Glass (10th and 11th Centuries)
The practice of painting enameled decoration onto glass vessels apparently lapsed again after the later Roman examples were made, this time for about 600 years, or until about the 10th to 11th centuries. During this time, however, the principle of fusing crushed colored glass to create decoration survived in at least one form. In early medieval Europe, enameling was used in the making of Celtic jewelry.18 Seventh-century examples found in Ireland have bronze cells atop copper-alloy structures that were filled with colored glass powder and then fired, creating a cloisonné effect. Transferring this technology to glass would not have been inordinately difficult.
The much-published bowl housed in the Treasury of San Marco, Venice, is the finest surviving example of Byzantine luxury glass (Fig. 9).19 It heralds the re-emergence of glass vessels with painted and fired decoration. This bowl was probably made in the 10th or 11th century and brought back to Venice by Crusaders following the sack of Constantinople in 1204. In addition to enameling, there is extensive gold-painted decoration and, as has only recently been noticed, silver staining. I have not been able to examine this object, but I have inspected a closely related vessel fragment and bracelet in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.20 Both of these recently republished and reattributed pieces have silver stain. Thanks to their close association with the San Marco bowl, they shed considerable light on its probable method of decoration.
The fragment in the Metropolitan Museum consists of the lower wall and floor of a bowl or dish. Its style of decoration identifies it as a Byzantine object of about the 10th century. Like the San Marco bowl, this fragment has a very neatly made foot-ring and a pontil mark. Significantly, the mark on the fragment clearly appears to be a double pontil mark. Atop the first pontil mark, in the form of a small divot removed from the bottom of the vessel in the process of making the blank, there is a small amount of glass that was left behind after the pontil was attached a second time when the object was fired.
The bracelet, which is also thought to be Byzantine, is of a type that often includes gilding and enameling in addition to the silver stain that is seen on this example. From the visible presence of decoration that is trapped under an area of overlap where a join was made, as well as the presence of a small pontil mark, the sequence of events in the manufacture and decoration of the bracelet seems clear. A strip of blue glass was made and cooled. Next, silver stain was painted on. After the object had been gradually reheated, the decorated strip was picked up, at the middle of its decorated side, with a pontil whose tip had been coated with colorless glass. This is confirmed by a small pontil mark opposite the seam, which left traces of colorless glass and chipped away a little of the decoration. The strip was then reheated in a glassworking furnace and thoroughly softened. It was given its circular shape, perhaps by wrapping it around a mandrel, and its two ends were joined by overlapping them. Distortion in the decoration trapped between the two layers of blue glass indicates that manipulation (probably by squeezing with a tool) was employed to make a smooth join. During the intense heating that was required to soften the decorated strip, the silver stain fired.
From the double pontil mark on the vessel fragment and the trapped decoration in the overlap seam of the bracelet, it is clear that, in order to fire the silver stain, it was necessary to heat the decorated blanks until they softened. If a lower temperature had been adequate, the workers would surely have fired these pieces while they were in a kiln—and, in this case, the bracelet surely would already have been in its finished form. Compared with kiln firing, these firing procedures were more perilous for the objects and more difficult for the workers. They required great skill, and they consumed more fuel.
Because we now know that the decoration of the San Marco bowl includes silver stain as well as enamel, and because it is so closely related in origin to the Metropolitan Museum objects, we may conclude that this vessel, too, was probably fired in the glassworking furnace while it was reattached to a pontil. Although a published photograph of the bottom of the bowl appears to show a simple and tidy pontil mark, careful inspection with the eyes—and the fingers—would most likely reveal a double pontil mark.
Thus we can safely assume that the firing process for the San Marco bowl is consistent with that which we have seen for all earlier enameled glass vessels in this study namely, a high-fire process.
Islamic Glass
What might be termed “painterly” enameling on glass vessels (almost always combined with gilding) began in the Islamic world in the late 12th century, perhaps in Raqqa (Syria). The origin of enameling in Islamic workshops is unknown.21 There may have been a transfer of information from Byzantine workshops, or perhaps the technique was reinvented once again.
Before this time, in the 10th and 11th centuries, there had been a limited production of gold sandwich glass. Some surviving examples include a scattering of blue dots that may refer to some Koran manuscripts in which colored dots represent vowels or diacritical marks. The style of enameling on these objects is markedly more “primitive” than that which would flourish, with great virtuosity, a century or so later.
The 13th and 14th centuries are often referred to as the golden age of Islamic glass, when the making of enameled and gilded glass reached its peak. While mosque lamps are by no means the only form of this glass, they are certainly the best known. A wide variety of objects—including beakers, bowls, flasks, bottles, vases, and candlesticks—was made. Both enameling and gilding continued to reappear frequently in Islamic glass during the succeeding centuries, but there were no discernible technical advances beyond the brilliant medieval achievements until after the 18th century.
Ninth and 10th Centuries
The British Museum’s bottle of gold sandwich glass with blue enamel dots (Fig. 10) is important in the history of enameling primarily because it is the precursor of something that would be considerably more developed and grand. On close inspection, the dots appear to show vestiges of a somewhat granular stage, which strongly indicates enameling as opposed to, say, the addition of small pieces of colored canes or tiny bits of colored glass.
The glassworker began with a blown glass blank made in the form of a bottle.22 After the blank was cooled, it was decorated with gold leaf, and then the enamel dots were added (see Figures 2.1–2.3). The decorated blank was reheated, reattached to a blowpipe, and resoftened in the glassworking furnace. By this time, the enamel dots had been fired. Next, the glassworker carefully lowered the bulbous part of the soft blank into a previously made but still very hot glass cup. The lower part of the blank was further inflated, fusing the two parts together. Judging from the slight degree to which the gold decoration broke up, with radial (vertical) fissures in this and similar objects, we can see that the decorated inner part must have fit rather closely inside the cup. After the vessel was reheated, it was marvered and tooled into its final shape. Because the rim was to be finished by cold working, there was no need to transfer the vessel to a pontil. The completed vessel was then broken free from the blowpipe and annealed.
13th and 14th Centuries
The three objects that will be discussed in this section provide a clear body of evidence for the process by which beakers were decorated in certain Islamic glass workshops in the second half of the 13th century. They are a monumental beaker in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon (Fig. 11.1), a beaker in the Hessisches Landesmuseum in Kassel (Fig. 12), and fragments of a beaker in the al-Sabah Collection, Dār al-Āthār al-Islāmiyyah, Kuwait National Museum (Fig. 13).
The upper portions of all three beakers were slightly flared during the firing process, thereby slightly stretching the decoration horizontally. On the Gulbenkian beaker (Fig. 11.2), the small red enamel dots that are seen on the birds near the middle of the vessel are round. Closer to the rim, however, the dots are slightly elongated and oval because the diameter of this part of the object was increased. This is also true of the Kassel beaker. Here, however, the “distortion” during firing contributed positively to the decoration: the wings and bodies of the birds were thus given a heightened and dynamic wind-swept quality.
The degree to which the diameter of one of these beakers was increased can be estimated fairly closely. It can be argued, of course, that the dots on the Gulbenkian beaker were painted rather casually, and that not all of them were precisely round before the object was fired. This would call into question their usefulness as a reliable measurement standard. However, the eyes of the birds on the Kuwait fragments (Fig. 13) are impressive in the precision of their initial round shape. As we would now expect, eyes near the rim are markedly oval compared with those farther down the side of the beaker. What is particularly helpful about the Kuwait fragments is the evidence they offer of the way in which the eyes were created.
The lower center fragment shows that the eyes were made, not by leaving a small area bare during the painting, but by clearing away wet enamel immediately after the painting, using a round and perhaps somewhat pointed tool. This tool was probably turned as it rested firmly against the wall of the vessel, pressing into the enamel. This resulted in the displacement of a small amount of enamel around the bare spot. It also helped to produce a perfectly round eye. This perhaps inadvertent precision leaves us with a fine standard by which to measure the distortion created during the firing process.
A double pontil mark was required on the base of objects that exhibit these features. The occasional Roman practice of employing a Clamplike device (snap) to hold an object during reheating was apparently unknown. One scar was left in the making of the blank, while the second one, positioned atop the other, was produced when the vessel was reattached during the firing process. The double pontil mark of the Gulbenkian beaker is fairly easy to distinguish in a photograph (Fig. 11.3).
From a close inspection of several medieval Islamic beakers, it seems safe to generalize that a slight further flaring of the vessels was an integral part of their firing. Because the glass softened and began to flex under its own weight while it was rotated on the pontil inside the glass furnace, the glassworker found it much easier to maintain the form of the object by gently expanding the upper portion with a tool when the glass as periodically removed from the furnace.
The mosque lamp in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (Fig. 14.1) is representative of many such 13th- and 14th-century lamps that have been closely examined. The evidence of this lamp’s decorating process, including its double pontil mark (Fig. 14.2), is identical to that seen on the beakers, with the exception of one important feature: there is no sign of distortion in the decoration near the rim. We can therefore be sure that when the glass was at its softest during its firing, the glassworker did not widen the opening at the upper end of the vessel. Although the Gulbenkian lamp is fairly straight, many mosque lamps are noticeably crooked.
Broadly speaking, this crookedness and asymmetry can also be observed in other non-beaker forms of medieval enameled and gilded Islamic glass. At the “Glass of the Sultans” exhibition, which was held at The Corning Museum of Glass, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Benaki Museum in Athens in 2001 and 2002, it was possible to see, in one room, arguably the most comprehensive display of such objects ever assembled. Well after the shock of beholding their beauty had subsided, viewers would have been able to note the marked crookedness of nearly every one of these objects. Had beakers been represented in this show (only the exceptional and immense Gulbenkian beaker was included), they would have stood in stark contrast because of their relative straightness and symmetry. It is difficult to imagine that a glassworker who had fired decoration on beakers would have failed to employ the same strategy for keeping mosque lamps, vases, and other items straight when they were fired if he had been aware of that decidedly superior procedure.
This subtle yet, practically speaking, enormous difference invites speculation. The evidence of two similar yet distinctly different methods of firing gilded and enameled objects of two separate types suggests two different working traditions by two distinct groups of workers. At some point, one of these parallel activities ceased in favor of the other, or perhaps they were merged. As we will see, in the 13th century, the Venetian firing practice was identical to that used by the makers of Islamic beakers. Later, in the 15th century, Venetian workers would pursue that same strategy to a rather extreme degree (see Figures 19–24). By contrast, the process by which Islamic workers fired objects other than beakers seems, justifiably, to have been eventually abandoned because it resulted in a markedly inferior degree of control and invited asymmetry.
European Glass (13th–19th Centuries)
Finally, after centuries of isolated beginnings and endings, rediscoveries and losses, Venetian workers in the mid-15th century commenced a tradition of enameling on glass vessels that would become widely disseminated in other European glassworking cultures—and continue to be practiced, without interruption, to the present day.
The precise manner in which enameling arrived in Venice is open to speculation.23 Sophisticated enameling had been rendered on perilously thin vessels there during the late 13th and early 14th centuries, but without surviving examples datable between that period and the 15th-century production, we must assume that enameling in Venice somehow ceased. While it has long been assumed that the Venetian enameling practice of the 15th century was based on late medieval Islamic techniques, it is perhaps equally plausible that the technical foundation was Byzantine in origin. Indeed, as was mentioned earlier, an argument can be made that the forerunner of the Islamic enameling process was the Byzantine practice of the 10th and 11th centuries.
In any case, probably through the pan-European dispersal of Venetian glass objects and workers, the processes of enameling on glass vessels spread to the Low Countries, Spain, France, Germany (the Holy Roman Empire), England, and beyond during the 16th century. For about three centuries, as we will see, this technology was unchanged in that enameling required that objects be reattached to the pontil for firing. However, this would change in the 19th century, when a revolutionary development in the making of the enamels themselves would allow methods to be established that continue to be employed today namely, low-fire enamels capable of being fired in a kiln.
Venice (13th and 14th Centuries)
The Aldrevandin Beaker (Fig. 15.1), which has been in The British Museum since 1876, has been the iconic head of a group of more or less similar objects since the early 20th century.24 Characterized in part by enamel painting on both the outer and inner surfaces, this beaker gets its name from the inscription in its frieze, which reads, “magister aldrevandin me feci(t).” The name is thought to be that of the decorator. This beaker may be the most widely known and published medieval European glass vessel. Art-historical considerations aside, the object’s importance is entirely justifiable strictly on technological grounds for the clarity with which it demonstrates the complete constellation of “symptoms” of the enameling process as practiced in Venice during the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
The Aldrevandin Beaker (H. 13 cm) is imposing. It is not a small object, and because of the sheer density of its decoration, it has considerable visual “gravity.” When it is held, however, it is shockingly lightweight. The accomplishment of the glassblower who made the blank is, by itself, noteworthy.25 In most areas, the wall is scarcely more than a millimeter thick. The process of glassblowing becomes exponentially more difficult as the wall thickness of a vessel diminishes.
During the firing process, as the decorated blank reattached to the pontil was held in the glass furnace, the vessel became soft. This is evident from the easily felt localized distortion of the glass on the side of the wall behind the enameled decoration. For example, the letters of the frieze can easily be felt in reverse by gently rubbing a finger on the inside of the beaker. This is because, as the blank was heated, the white enamel protected the glass from direct infrared exposure, causing the glass around the letters to heat more rapidly and thicken slightly in comparison with the glass that was directly beneath the white enamel. The result is a slight but detectable variation in the wall thickness of the beaker. Conversely, the black enamel used in one of the armorial shields and the glass on which it sat thickened more than adjacent areas because they heated more quickly and remained soft longer.
A slip of the hand by the decorator, although it did not in any way compromise the excellent result achieved, fortuitously provides a means of measuring the degree to which the shape of the vessel was changed during the firing. A small amount of yellow paint, accidentally spattered in a patch on the blank, is now visible with only slight magnification (Fig. 15.2). Judging from the considerable number of dots, as well as their thinness and the fairly large area they cover, we can see that the paint was fairly “runny” (or low in viscosity), and it seems safe to assume that, at the moment the spatter occurred, the dots were perfectly round. Therefore, we can interpret their distortion as an accurate indicator of where and how much the glass beneath them moved as the object was being fired (see Figure 17).
Dots well below the frieze are still round, while dots nearer the rim appear to be progressively more oval. Thus, during the firing, the beaker was flared a bit and the vessel’s diameter in the vicinity of the frieze was slightly increased. This expanding of the soft vessel allowed the glassworker to keep the object completely under his control, thereby avoiding a crooked appearance and even a collapse. That the reheating and reshaping took place with the beaker reattached to the pontil is confirmed by the vessel’s exceptionally clear double pontil mark (Fig. 15.3).
Beakers of the Aldrevandin group are often divided into two categories: relatively low and wide ones, such as the Aldrevandin Beaker, or narrower and more flared ones, such as the example in the Museum für Kunsthandwerk in Frankfurt am Main (Fig. 16). On the Frankfurt beaker, the two rows of dots (conveniently placed at the very top and bottom of the object) have been painted far too casually to make them useful as a precise reference, unlike the accidental yellow dots on the Aldrevandin Beaker. However, photographs show that some dots in the bottom row are round and all of the dots in the top row are oval, so it seems safe to assume that this beaker, like the Aldrevandin itself, was somewhat expanded during the firing process.
From close and extensive hands-on inspections of the Aldrevandin Beaker and its close parallels, the numerous Foster Lane fragments found in London in 1982, and close observation of the Frankfurt and Chur (Switzerland) beakers in museum displays, a consistent picture emerges. In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, enamels in Venice were fired in a furnace while the decorated blank was reattached to a pontil. During this process, the diameter of the upper third or so of the vessel was slightly increased. Based on my experiments aimed at re-creating the processes used to make the blank and to decorate the Aldrevandin Beaker, it seems safe to say that the same level of skill was required for both of these activities. Therefore, theories about the origin of these beakers that are based on the assumption that the blanks could have been decorated and fired “on location” for specific customers by workers who were skilled only in the painting process seem to be doubtful, given the technical evidence to the contrary.
Venice (15th–17th Centuries)
With the reappearance of enameling on glass vessels in Venice during the 15th century, a system of procedures was developed and standardized by which the makers of these objects apparently sought to control their shape during the firing process to an unprecedented degree. This was accomplished by leaving the blanks in an unfinished form (they often looked markedly different than when they were completed), decorating them, and then resuming and completing their shaping when they were fired. This approach must have required exceptionally close cooperation between the glassblowers and the decorators. Its effectiveness is attested by the fact that we fairly rarely encounter significant crookedness in 15th- and 16th-century Venetian enameled glass objects.
The shape of the unfired blank can be determined rather accurately by closely observing both where and how much the decoration appears to have stretched on an object when it was fired. This can be seen in the distortion of enameled decoration and alterations in the appearance of gold-leaf decoration (Fig. 17). The shapes of enamel dots range from approximately round when they were painted to oval or elongated after firing, depending on how much they were stretched. Stretching can sometimes be observed in repeated enameled motifs such as foliate patterns, and in representational painting. The faces of putti painted near the rim of a goblet, for example, may be broadly distorted because the vessel expanded during the firing process.
As was noted with the Sedeinga flute (Fig. 7), gold visibly breaks up when the glass on which it sits is stretched. The orientation of the fissures, which is always perpendicular to the stretching, indicates the exact direction of that movement. Other useful indicators are variations in the width of scratched decorative lines such as fishscale motifs and lettering in gold leaf, which were common during this period. These are particularly helpful in estimating the magnitude of the stretching. Scratches aligned with the direction of the stretching (such as the circumferentially oriented scratches near the rim of a vessel) become narrower, while those aligned perpendicularly to the stretching become wider.
Fifteenth- and 16th-century Venetian and Venetian-style enameled and gilded glass vessels can exhibit a considerable contrast between the shapes of the blanks and those of the finished, decorated objects. Some display a slight degree of transformation (Fig. 19), but at the other extreme, some blanks bear almost no resemblance to their completed forms (Fig. 23).
Experiments that attempt to reconstruct the historical processes help to explain the evidence provided by the original objects and help to direct future investigation. Figures 19–24 include three well-known 15th- and 16th-century Venetian glass types, followed by illustrations of my re-creation of their firing processes. Three degrees of transformation are shown: slight (Fig. 19), substantial (Fig. 21), and extreme (Fig. 23). The table of drawings contrasting shapes of blanks and of finished objects (Fig. 18) illustrates the various degrees of transformation, ranging from none (nos. 1 and 2) to extreme (nos. 6–8).
Some goblets required two attachments of a pontil at the time of firing (Fig. 18, no.7). The first pontil was attached to the floor of the inside of the bowl, which allowed the foot to be fired. When that step had been completed, a different pontil was attached to the object (atop the pontil mark that had been left from the making of the blank, thus creating a double pontil mark). Immediately thereafter, the pontil attached to the inside of the bowl was very carefully removed, thus allowing the upper portion of the goblet to be fired. This perilous procedure seems to have been employed only for particularly tall objects and/or those with exceptionally elaborate decoration on the foot.
Some types of objects, including pilgrim flasks (Fig. 18, no.1) and conical footed beakers (Figs. 18, no. 2, and 28), have decoration that shows no sign of stretching. However, as we will see just below, there are other pieces of evidence showing that these vessels were undoubtedly fired in the furnace while reattached to a pontil.
The best and most easily observed evidence of furnace firing is often the pontil mark itself. When the process of making the blank and the firing process were completed, the pontil was tapped firmly to free the object (Fig. 25), and each time, this left a scar. Many 15th- and 16thcentury Venetian and Venetian-style objects have an easily identifiable second pontil mark that sits atop the first. The first separation often leaves a divot in the bottom of the vessel, while the second produces an unshapely mass of glass that rests on top of the divot, visibly off-center. A nuptial goblet in The Corning Museum of Glass (Fig. 26.1 [79.3.170]) has a double pontil mark, revealing the positions in which the object was held during both “breakoffs.” The straight and parallel set of fracture lines from the first pontil mark, which occupies the upper quarter of the figure, is aligned between about the 11-o’clock and one-o’clock positions. The second mark (downward in the photograph) sits atop the first, slightly off-center. Its fracture lines occupy the left quarter or so of the illustration, and they are aligned between about the eight-o’clock and 10-o’clock positions. This shows that when the firing was finished, the worker was holding the vessel 90 degrees in rotation compared with its orientation when the completed blank was broken free of its pontil. Seldom do pontil marks reveal so much!
Two additional symptoms of a furnace-firing process can be observed in some glasses. The first is the previously described phenomenon of localized thickening of the glass under or around the enameled decoration. As was already mentioned, if this thickening is significant, it can easily be felt on the inner surface of a vessel that has enameled decoration on its outer surface. Sometimes, in carefully positioned raking light, the undulation of the surface can also be seen (Fig. 27 [54.3.244]).
The second and more rarely seen symptom also results from localized thickening of the vessel wall, but it manifests itself differently. Where large areas of soft, dark enamel (such as blue) are painted fairly close to the top of a vessel, the substantial thickening of the glass pulls the rim downward. A visibly uneven rim results (Fig. 28 [79.3.191]).
If there is still any doubt that 15th- and 16th-century Venetian glassworkers fired their enameled vessels in the furnace while they were reattached to a pontil, and that they sometimes made their blanks in a highly unfinished state, a sizable group of ewers whose handles and spouts are obviously attached atop the decoration should put it to rest. A lavishly enameled and gilded ewer in The J. Paul Getty Museum (Fig. 29) conveniently has a colorless glass handle that can clearly be seen to have been placed, at both the upper and lower attachment points, atop the fired decoration. This proves that the handle was not attached when the blank was decorated.
We can see that the spout, too, was a late addition. It was made by attaching a large gather of colorless glass to the side of the vessel. Next, the gathering iron, the metal rod with which the added glass had been collected from the furnace, was pushed through the now softened wall of the vessel. The rod was then immediately pulled outward and upward, giving the spout its present shape. Finally, the tip of the spout was broken free from the gathering iron, leaving a hole at its end. From the long colored striations in the spout, it can be seen that when the spout was formed, the enameled and gold decoration was also resoftened and drawn outward with the colorless mass of molten glass. No enamel dots in Venetian Renaissance glass were ever stretched longer than these!
This surprisingly complicated procedure was necessary because, had the handle and spout been in place during the firing of the enamels, the localized additional pull they would have exerted with centrifugal force would have badly distorted the form of the vessel’s body.
The Low Countries (16th Century)
A tazza in The British Museum (Fig. 30) and the closely related Margaret of Austria roundel in The Corning Museum of Glass (Fig. 31 [81.3.43]) are exceptional examples of Renaissance gold sandwich glass. Both of these objects were probably made in the Low Countries during the 16th century. They are so closely similar, in both technique and size, to fourth-century Roman roundels as to suggest that the former were made in imitation of the latter. The tazza is notable for the complexity of its construction and for the evidence it reveals of an accident that nearly ruined it during its manufacture. In addition, by fully understanding how the tazza was made, we can be more certain of the origin of the Margaret of Austria roundel.
The manufacture of the tazza began with the blowing of a disk that was about nine centimeters in diameter and a little more than two millimeters thick. The disk was decorated on the side opposite the pontil mark. Then, with the decorated side down, it was gradually reheated in a kiln to a temperature somewhat above the annealing point of the glass (about 950°F or 510°C for a modern soda-lime glass). By the time the decorated disk was hot enough to be reattached to the pontil at the location of the first pontil mark, another glassblower had made, on a blowpipe, an ovoid bubble of glass a little larger in diameter than the disk itself. Unfortunately, in the reheating of the disk, its reattachment to a pontil, or its return to the furnace in order to fire the enamels, it cracked near its center. Fortunately, the crack extended only a few centimeters. It could easily have split the disk into two pieces, rendering it unusable. The crack avoided the thicker—and stronger—center area, thus forming a line that curved slightly. When the disk was reheated to the point of softening in order to fire the decoration, the decision was apparently made to continue the work despite the flaw.
Next, while the disk and the end of the ovoid bubble were soft, they were carefully pressed together, thereby trapping the decoration between the two layers of glass. The pontil was then broken free, leaving the disk attached to and nearly covering the entire end of the bubble. Where the decoration stood highest above the disk, complete contact between the two surfaces was prevented and some pockets of air were caught between them (Fig. 31.2).
During the reheating, tooling, and slight inflation to fully smooth and shape the glasses, the crack opened slightly. Its edges, especially at the ends, rounded. When a bit of molten glass was added to the tip of the bubble and tooled to create a merese, air was trapped along a tiny crevice that was itself a vestige of the crack (Fig. 30.2).
When the highly unusual process for creating the trapped decoration in the upper part of the goblet had been completed, work proceeded in the customary manner to make the goblet.26 A merese was added to the center of the disk, and the stem and foot were added atop the merese. A pontil was attached to the foot, the vessel was broken off the blowpipe, and the top of the goblet was given its final shape. The finished object was then removed from the pontil (leaving a single pontil mark, of course) and annealed.
From a close inspection of the British Museum tazza and our knowledge of how it was probably made, it seems clear that the Margaret of Austria roundel was once the featured decorative element in a similar tazza that was subsequently damaged. The outer edge (visible in Figure 31.1), which is usually mounted in a turned-wood frame that hides it, is rough. This resulted when the outer, undecorated part of the bowl was removed by clipping it away with a pliers-like tool, a commonly used flat-glass technique known as grozing.
The back surface of the roundel has an “excavation” about two millimeters deep and the approximate diameter of the upper merese on the British Museum tazza, which was carefully created by cold working (Fig. 31.2). This cavity was left when the merese was removed.
It is curious that the sophisticated cold-working process used to remove the merese was not also employed to more safely and attractively cut away the unwanted glass from the edge of the roundel. Perhaps the grozed edge dates from the time of the accident and the cold-worked excavation (which was probably accomplished by a skilled copper-wheel engraver) took place at a later time, possibly in a different location. The merese could have been more carefully removed because, by this time, the disk had likely achieved the status of an heirloom and was being prepared for a suitable mount. In any case, the Margaret of Austria roundel is among the finest examples of enameled decoration on a glass vessel of any period.
Spain and France (16th Century)
The enameling procedures employed in Spanish and French workshops of the 16th century seem to have been essentially the same as those used in Venice. If any difference can be distinguished, it may be safe to say that objects made later than about 1525 seldom reveal evidence of substantial expansion during the firing process. Thus, during the 16th century, there seems to have been a general trend away from making blanks in shapes that were expected to be altered substantially when they were fired.
A late 15th-century goblet in The Corning Museum of Glass (Fig. 32 [63.3.37]), which was probably made in Catalonia, has a double pontil mark on the inside of the foot and bears evidence of limited stretching of the dots near the vessel’s rim. Although the foot is extensively decorated, there is no pontil mark in the floor, as we might perhaps expect (see Figure 18, no. 7). Therefore, no stretching of the decoration is present on the foot.
Two French drinking glasses in the Corning Museum (Fig. 33), dating from the mid-16th century, indicate that their decoration was very slightly stretched during firing, and both have double pontil marks. The later example (Fig. 33, right) is most interesting because of the way in which the blank was made.
Having blown a fairly thin bubble of glass, the worker made a narrow hourglass-like constriction at its center. The tip of the outer bulb was reheated. When its outer half was thoroughly resoftened, the glassblower sucked air out of the blowpipe, causing the soft glass to move upward to the point where it was halted by the constriction. This resulted in a double layer of glass beyond the constriction. After reheating, the doubly thick glass was tooled to form the knop and the tall, spreading foot. The vessel was broken free of the blowpipe and transferred to the pontil, and the bowl of the goblet was given its final shape.
It can be seen in the photograph that attaching the pontil to such a tall, hollow foot cannot have been easy. The second pontil, which was used for firing the enamels, was probably allowed to inadvertently touch—and adhere to— the foot in a place much lower than was intended, producing a bit of unwanted glass.
Germany (16th and 17th Centuries)
The longstanding and lucrative Venetian practice of making and selling glass in styles that were carefully tailored to suit foreign tastes is well known. It is not surprising, therefore, that enameled and gilded glass was ordered, custom-made, and exported to Germany and other parts of Europe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Some of these glasses were decorated with the arms of patrician families from Nuremberg, Augsburg, Liechtenstein, and Alsace. Enameled and gilded glass seems to have become so popular in Germany and Bohemia during the late 16th century that, even though it was no longer fashionable in Venice, Venetian glassmakers continued to make it for wealthy northern European customers. By the last quarter of that century, enameled glass was being produced in local workshops where the craft had been learned and mastered.
Undoubtedly, the best-known form of German enameled drinking glasses is the Humpen (Fig. 34.1 [57.3.81]). The earliest example, an object in The British Museum, is dated 1571. The inherently strong shape of a cylinder resting on a small foot might be expected to withstand a brief period of heating sufficient to soften it without deformation, but this does not seem to have been the way these objects were fired. Of some 25 closely studied Humpen, most offer clear evidence of having been fired on a pontil.27 Many of them have double pontil marks (Fig. 34.2), as well as distortion of the inside wall under or around the enameled decoration that can be felt or seen in raking light. On the illustrated example, from the Corning Museum collection, and on many other Humpen, the gold band near the top looks—and feels—constricted in comparison with the vessel wall just above and below it. This was caused because the gold insulated the glass during the firing process, allowing excessive heat to accumulate beneath it. Since the glass below the gold became hotter and remained hot for a longer time than the glass around it, the force of surface tension during this period of lowered viscosity caused the glass to thicken and shrink, thereby forming the constriction. With this amount of softening, the vessel would certainly have collapsed under its own weight well before this gold-band phenomenon occurred if the firing had taken place while the object was sitting in a kiln.
Similarly, on a much later (1662) beaker with filigrana (filigree) decoration in The Corning Museum of Glass (Fig. 35), the vessel wall sank inward beneath the thickest enamel and the gold leaf. This demonstrates that, during the firing, the entire object was significantly softened and thus the enamels and the gold must have been fired in the furnace after the object had been reattached to a pontil. The Corning Museum also has two dated beakers of the late 17th century that bear double pontil marks and a slightly detectable distortion of their inner surface, revealing that they were fired using the same process (Fig. 36 [Group image 79.3.311]).
Because of its thinness, it might be expected that Schwarzlot decoration (Fig. 37.1 [79.3.253])—lightly painted enamel that is usually black, gray, or rust red—could be fired while the object sat in a kiln. However, the late 17th- and early 18th-century objects ornamented in this manner were evidently furnace-fired. While the enameling is much too thin to have caused any detectable change in the wall thickness of the vessels, many examples have double pontil marks (Fig. 37.2). This evidence of high-temperature firing is consistent with what we see in contemporaneous glass panels decorated with grisaille, which is essentially identical to Schwarzlot. Their undecorated side is sometimes noticeably roughened by contact with the uneven surface on which it lay softened during firing.
A large group of wineglasses, usually called “peasant” glasses, often bear 18th-century dates and are decorated with brightly colored enamels. A representative selection from The Corning Museum of Glass (Fig. 38 [79.3.734]) is thought to have been made in Switzerland, Germany, or Bohemia. These objects show clear evidence, such as double pontil marks and distortion of the vessel wall, that even at this late date enamels were still routinely fired in the furnace while the vessel was reattached to a pontil.28
Venice and England (18th Century)
As noted in the discussion of 16th-century German enameled glass, the Venetian glass industry was ever ready to supply a niche market with custom-made wares. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a growing European demand for fine porcelain imported from China (which was both expensive and in short supply) was partly satisfied by credible imitations made of glass (Fig. 39 [51.3.316]). Although porcelain was made in the area of Venice as early as the 1720s, we know that the Miotti glass factory was making various imitations of it during the ensuing two decades. While it is not surprising to find clear evidence that 15th- and 16th-century Venetian opaque white enameled glass objects (which were also inspired by imported Chinese porcelain) were fired in the furnace while reattached to a pontil, we might expect that by the relatively late date of the Miotti examples, the technology of enameling would have progressed to the point that kiln firing was possible. But this was not the case; both tumblers shown in Figure 39 have double pontil marks that are easily identified.
Imitations of porcelain became an important part of production at many European glasshouses during the 18th century. In addition to Venice, factories in Bohemia, Germany, Spain, and France worked to satisfy what must have been a considerable demand. English factories in London and southern Staffordshire made highly credible imitations of porcelain in opaque white glass that was impressive in its chalklike opacity (Fig. 40.1 [86.2.16]). The decoration on these objects, like those made in Venice, shows no sign of having been stretched, but most of the glasses have an easily seen double pontil mark (Fig. 40.2), confirming a furnace-firing procedure.
Mid- to late 18th-century English stemware decorated with enamels (Fig. 41.1 [51.2.192, 50.2.24, 79.2.32, 51.2.205, 79.2.67, 50.2.9, and 50.2.69]) and, in some cases, gold (Fig. 41.1, third from left) usually displays all of the symptoms of furnace firing, with the exception of stretching. Perhaps because this glass has a significant lead content—unlike all of the other glass in this study—the sites of the pontil attachments often have a badly splintered appearance, shrouding any clear evidence of a double pontil mark. Still, we can be sure that the firing took place in a furnace with the goblet reattached to a pontil because distortions on the inner surface of the glass can be felt under some of the enameled and gold decoration, indicating that the vessel wall softened significantly during the firing. Despite the splintering phenomenon, some 18th-century English enameled wineglasses have a second pontil mark that is fairly easy to discern (Fig. 41.2).
Europe (19th Century)
During the 19th century, thanks to a growing sophistication in the formulation and manufacture of enamels, a great advance took place that made firing them on glass vessels an infinitely easier process than ever before. This advance was the development of low-fire enamels. They were carefully made to soften at a temperature below that at which the vessel would have started to become distorted from the force of gravity during the firing process. This meant that, for the first time in the then 3,400-year history of enameling glass vessels, firing could occur while the objects sat in a kiln.
In terms of their chemistry, low-fire enamels are a tall order for a glass technologist, as we would term such a specialist today. Three essential criteria must be perfectly met in order to ensure success. First, the color must be correct and of great intensity because enamels are often painted thinly. Second, the enamel must be completely compatible with the glass from which the vessel was made. That is, the two materials must gain and lose volume at about the same rate and to about the same degree as they cool from a temperature at which they are slightly soft down to room temperature. If they are incompatible, they will crack apart. Third, the enamel must be capable of being fired at a temperature well below the point at which the vessel might become distorted under its own weight during the firing process.
Practically speaking, the development of lowfire enamels meant that essentially no manual skill was needed for firing, only knowledge of how to operate the kiln. This was a vast change from the days of the Thutmose III jug, the Daphne Ewer, the Aldrevandin Beaker, and especially the 15th- and 16th-century Venetian objects, for which the skill required to fire the decoration was equal to that needed to produce the blank. In addition to making it easier to create complex one-of-a-kind objects, the new firing process facilitated the decoration of large numbers of identical objects. This was essential for the creation of matching sets and for the attainment of a mass-production capability.
Figure 42 shows a selection of 19th-century enameled objects made in various countries. Each of these vessels imitates, more or less closely, a well-known historical object or style. While the overall visual effect of the enameled (and gold) decoration is very similar to that seen in its precursors, the makers of these vessels used the new low-fire enamels and fired the objects while they sat in a kiln. Thus, upon close inspection, numerous details are different. There are no double pontil marks, there is no evidence of decoration altered by stretching during the firing process, and there is no sign—either visual or tactile—that the wall became soft when the enamels were fired. Where and when low-fire enamels began to be made, and how the new technology spread, will (as much as can be determined) be the subject of a separate study.
In applying the information in this article, it is essential to accurately collect the evidence that an object reveals about the processes that were used to decorate it. For ease of reference, two checklists follow.
Furnace firing of the enamels is indicated if one or more of the following symptoms is present:
1. A double pontil mark (Figs. 1.3, 14.2, 15.3, and 26.2).
2. Evidence that the decoration has been stretched (Figs. 8.2, 11.2, 12, 13, 15.2, and 23).
3. Distortion of the surface of the object below the decoration (Fig. 27).
4. An unevenness of the rim that corresponds to the presence of large areas of decoration nearby (Fig. 28).
5. Additions such as decorative wraps, handles, spouts, and prunts that sit atop the decoration (Figs. 5, 5, and 29).
Kiln firing of the enamels is indicated by the complete absence of the symptoms of furnace firing, as described above. That is:
1. A single pontil mark (or no pontil mark).
2. No evidence that the decoration has been stretched.
3. No distortion of the surface of the object below the decoration.
4. An even rim despite heavy areas of enamel (or gold) decoration nearby.
5. Decoration appearing on additions such as handles and spouts, indicating that they were in place at the time the decoration was applied.
The conclusions that can be drawn from a careful assessment of these symptoms are limited but useful. If the method of firing can be determined with certainty to have been the kilnfiring process, the object can safely be said to have been made in the 19th century or later. On the other hand, it is important to understand that a complete display of the symptoms of the furnace-firing process does not necessarily mean that the object was manufactured before the 19th century. This is because undeniable symptoms of furnace firing can clearly be seen on objects that are thought to have been made during and after the 19th century.29 This process was probably employed very rarely in that later period, and it may, on occasion, have been intended to mislead.
The ability to detect the distinct differences between these two categories of enamels (highfire and low-fire) and their respective methods of firing (in the furnace and in the kiln) is essential for the historian.30 When this information is used—together with that compiled from the traditional scientific, archeological, art-historical, typological, and archival disciplines––it may afford researchers a significantly deeper understanding of these objects and further illuminate their place in the history of glass.
This article was published in the Journal of Glass Studies, Vol. 48 (2006), 23–70. Due to copyright restrictions some Figure images have been removed. Please refer to the original printed article to see all Figure images.
*This article is respectfully dedicated to the late Hugh Tait, former deputy keeper of the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities in The British Museum, an eminent colleague and close friend. Between 1982 and 2003, he kindly helped with my studies of many of the objects mentioned herein.
Acknowledgments. I thank the following colleagues at The Corning Museum of Glass for their assistance in the preparation of this article: Dr. David Whitehouse, executive director; Amy Schwartz, deputy director for education programs and The Studio; Dr. Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk, curator of European glass; Richard Price, head of the Publications Department; Jill Thomas-Clark, rights and reproductions manager; Nicholas Williams and Andrew Fortune of the Photographic Department; and Jacolyn Saunders, publications specialist. I am also grateful to Prof. Ian Freestone of Cardiff University, formerly research scientist at The British Museum. Steven Barall, an independent photographer in New York City, patiently and expertly photographed all of the decorating and furnace-working procedures.
1. For a useful historical overview, with numerous quotations from various periods discussed, see R. J. Charleston, “Enameling and Gilding on Glass,” The Glass Circle, v. 1, 1972, pp. 18–32. Many technical details will be found to disagree with this article, however.
2. Generally, in publications that include technical aspects of glass history, pre–19th-century enamels are uniformly—and inaccurately—described as having been made to fire at temperatures low enough so as not to soften and thereby distort the object during the firing process. A partial list of publications containing this error will be found in note 30.
3. I n this article, the term “kiln” will be used to describe an oven whose heating chamber can attain a maximum temperature of about 1,200°F or 649°C. In practice, there is no difference between a kiln and an annealing oven. The term “glass furnace” denotes a specialized piece of equipment intended for making glass or for reheating an object during its manufacture. Typically, such a furnace operates at temperatures of about 2,100°F (1,149°C) for glassworking and about 2,250°F (1,232°C) for glassmaking.
4. Although it has been an active field for decades, the scientific investigation of historical glass has recently increased noticeably. For example, chemical analysis of Islamic objects has focused on the glass from which vessels were made as well as on the enamels used to decorate them. Robert H. Brill, Ian C. Freestone, Julian Henderson, and Mark T. Wypyski are among the scientists who are researching and publishing in this area.
5. I an C. Freestone and Mavis Bimson, “Early Venetian Enamelling on Glass: Technology and Origins,” Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IV, Pittsburgh: Materials Research Society, Proceedings, v. 352, 1995, pp. 422–425 (here, the two types are called “pre-melted” and “cold mixed”); Ian C. Freestone and Colleen P. Stapleton, “Composition and Technology of Islamic Enamelled Glass of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries,” in Gilded and Enamelled Glass from the Middle East, ed. Rachel Ward, London: British Museum, 1998, pp. 126–127 (here, the two types are called “pre-fritted” and “unfritted”). Although these articles discuss Islamic and early Venetian enamels (and vessel glasses), the distinction between the two types may be useful for studying and describing historical enameled objects in general.
6. Freestone and Bimson [note 5], figs. 4 and 5.
7. According to hyperphysics.phy, the thermal conductivity of some common materials [unit: (cal/sec)/(cm^2C/cm)] is as follows: silver, 1.01; aluminum, 0.50; lead, 0.083; “ordinary” glass, 0.0025; and asbestos, 0.0004.
8. Hugh Tait, The Golden Age of Venetian Glass, London: British Museum Publications, 1979, p. 29. This quotation, which was widely published during the 20th century, first appeared as early as 1849 in Mary Philadelphia Merrifield, Original Treatises on the Arts of Painting (New York: Dover Publications, 1967).
9. For an illustrated description of the core-forming process, see William Gudenrath, “Techniques of Glassmaking and Decoration,” in Five Thousand Years of Glass, ed. Hugh Tait, London: British Museum Press, 1999, pp. 214–215.
10. Dudley Giberson, A Glassblower’s Companion, Warner, New Hampshire: Joppa Press, 1998, pp. 17–18. See also Dudley Giberson’s Core Vessel Video 2004, produced by the Joppa Press.
11. Gudenrath [note 9], p. 221.
12. Beat Rütti, “Early Enamelled Glass,” in Roman Glass: Two Centuries of Art and Invention, ed. Martine Newby and Kenneth Painter, London: The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1991, pp. 122–136.
13. Gudenrath [note 9], pp. 226–227.
14. Ibid., p. 226.
15. R obert H. Brill, “Scientific Investigations of Some Glasses from Sedeinga,” Journal of Glass Studies, v. 33, 1991, pp. 11–28.
16. For enameled glass beakers from Begram, Afghanistan, dating from 50 to 125 C.E., see Joseph Hackin, Nouvelles recherches archéologiques à Begram, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1954, figs. 257–269; and David Whitehouse, “Begram Reconsidered,” Kölner Jahrbuch für Vor- und Frühgeschichte, v. 22, 1989, pp. 151–157. For enamel-decorated cups that may have originated in the Rhineland from 150 to 270 C.E., now in Copenhagen’s National Museum, see Hugh Tait, Five Thousand Years of Glass [note 9], p. 87, fig. 108.
17. Omitted from this study because of its minimal use of enamels is a group of much-published base-disks, formerly part of bowls, dating from the fourth century. See Tait [note 9], p. 97, fig. 123. These objects more properly belong in a study of gold decoration on glass.
18. Hugh Tait, ed., Seven Thousand Years of Jewelry, London: British Museum Press, 1986, pp. 101–114.
19. See also D. Whitehouse, “Two Medieval Drinking Glasses with Gilded and Enameled Ornament,” in Hyalos, Vitrum, Glass. First International Conference: History, Technology and Conservation of Glass and Vitreous Materials in the Hellenic World, Rhodes, 2001, ed. G. Kordas, Athens: Glasnet Publications, 2002, pp. 199–203.
20. David Whitehouse, Lisa Pilosi, and Mark T. Wypyski, “Byzantine Silver Stain,” Journal of Glass Studies, v. 42, 2000, pp. 85–96.
21. Hugh Tait, “Venice: Heir to the Glassmakers of Islam or of Byzantium?,” in Charles Burnett and Anna Contadini, Islam and the Italian Renaissance, Warburg Institute Colloqui 5, ed. Charles Burnett, Jill Kraye, and W. F. Ryan, London: The Warburg Institute, University of London, 1999, pp. 77–104.
22. For a full description with illustrations, see William Gudenrath, “A Survey of Islamic Glassworking and Glass-Decorating Techniques,” in Stefano Carboni and David Whitehouse, Glass of the Sultans, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001, pp. 66–67.
23. Tait [note 8], pp. 25–28; idem [note 21].
24. Ingeborg Krueger, “A Second Aldrevandin Beaker and an Update on a Group of Enameled Glasses,” Journal of Glass Studies, v. 44, 2002, pp. 111–132.
25. For an illustrated description of the glassblowing process used to make the blank, see Gudenrath [note 9], pp. 223–225.
26. For an illustrated description of the process used to complete a goblet, see ibid., pp. 230–231.
27. Based on an ongoing study of German enameled glass with Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk.
28. As late as 1780, this process was described in association with German glassmaking by Georg Ludewig Hochgesang. See Axel von Saldern, German Enameled Glass: The Edwin J. Beinecke Collection and Related Pieces, Corning: The Corning Museum of Glass, 1965, Introduction, n. 1.
29. For example, since 1968, the “Hope Beaker” in The British Museum has been widely judged as having been made in the 19th century. Nevertheless, its decoration indisputably shows many signs of having been fired in the furnace while the object was reattached to a pontil. Whether this argues in favor of the previously held view that the beaker was of medieval origin or suggests an even greater cleverness on the part of a “faker” must be the subject of another study. See Hugh Tait in Fake? The Art of Deception, ed. Mark Jones, London: British Museum Press, 1990, pp. 182–183; and Krueger [note 24].
30. Among the recent publications including the error that pre–19th-century objects were decorated with low-fire enamels that were fired in a kiln are Linda Komaroff, “Color, Precious Metal, and Fire: Islamic Ceramics and Glass,” in The Arts of Fire, ed. Catherine Hess, Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2004, p. 36; Julian Henderson, “Technological Analysis of Mamluk Glass,” in Mamluk Enameled and Gilded Glass in the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar, ed. Stefano Carboni, Qatar, 2003, pp. 28–31; Erwin Baumgartner, Venise et façon de Venise: Verres Renaissance du Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris: Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs, 2003, p. 142; Stefano Carboni, Glass from Islamic Lands, New York: Thames & Hudson, 2001, p. 325; Robert H. Brill, “Some Thoughts on the Chemistry and Technology of Islamic Glass,” in Glass of the Sultans [note 22], p. 35; and Stefano Carboni, “Painted Glass,” in ibid., p. 203. Many other recent and earlier books and periodical articles also reflect this misunderstanding.
William Gudenrath
William Gudenrath is a glassblower, scholar, author, lecturer, and teacher. He is recognized internationally as one of the foremost authorities on glassmaking techniques of the ancient world through the 18th century. He has spent many decades...
Due to copyright restrictions some Figure images have been removed. Please refer to the original printed article to see all Figure images.
Journal of Glass Studies, Vol. 48
Historical Glassmaking Techniques
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Misinformation is ‘Its Own Pandemic’ Among Parents
Jessica Grose
In January 2019, Scott Weiner, a California State Senator, introduced what he thought was an L.G.B.T.Q. Civil Rights Bill. At the time, California law gave judges discretion on whether to put a 19-year-old man on a sex offender registry if he had vaginal sex with a 16-year-old girl, but if that 19-year-old man had anal or oral sex with a 16-year-old boy, he would automatically be registered as a sex offender. Weiner’s bill sought to fix that discrepancy by giving the same discretion to judges over oral or anal sex offenses. Sex with any minor would be a crime in the state of California if this bill passed.
According to Weiner’s communications director, Catie Stewart, the bill was moving through the legislature with little fanfare or opposition until this summer, when a mom with tens of thousands of followers on Instagram got wind of a politically motivated misrepresentation from earlier in the year — one with the headline “California lawmakers introduce bill to protect pedophiles who sexually abuse innocent kids.” She then posted about it, and encouraged her followers to contact Weiner’s office to complain.
This mom is anti-mask, against vaccines and promotes QAnon-based conspiracy theories about pedophilia — specifically that Democratic elites are running secret pedophile rings. When her anti-bill Instagram post went viral, it reached many parents who were not her direct followers and who were not affiliated with QAnon.
“They’d share it on their grids, and they’d share on their stories. They were fully unaware it was false information,” she said. “They weren’t really hard-core QAnon people — I don’t know if they’d know what QAnon was.” They just saw that there was a bill appearing to protect pedophiles and were understandably horrified. Weiner’s official Instagram was bombarded with thousands of comments and D.M.s, ranging from upset to violent. “#SaveTheChildren seemed to be the way in for many people,” Stewart said.
Since the bill passed on Sept. 2, the torrent of comments and D.M.s have become “a monsoon.”
As my colleague Kevin Roose pointed out in August, the SaveTheChildren hashtag began as “a legitimate fund-raising campaign for the Save the Children charity,” a 100-year old nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of children around the world. But since the pandemic began, that hashtag has been hijacked by QAnon followers spreading conspiracy theories about rampant pedophilia.
In the motherhood and wellness online space, #SaveTheChildren has been successfully distanced from the more extreme elements of QAnon, said Kathryn Jezer-Morton, a doctoral researcher in online motherhood at Concordia University in Montreal. Mom-fluencers pushing essential oils and nontoxic cleaning products aren’t, say, posting about how pedophiles are murdering children and harvesting their blood to stay forever young — they’re merely posting photos of themselves at rallies against child-trafficking.
“No one wants to take a public stance for child trafficking,” Jezer-Morton said, especially on Instagram, where “posi-vibes” are encouraged, so these posts go unchallenged, and can spread quickly. It matters because people can follow these hashtags down the rabbit hole of QAnon and become radicalized. And at this moment, parents may be particularly vulnerable. “It’s a really hard time in our country,” said Stewart. “People are suffering, there’s massive unemployment,” and becoming an activist against something as disgusting as child trafficking may be a way to make sense of the chaos.
“What most of us don’t realize is how entrenched people can get in these beliefs very quickly,” said Joan Donovan, the Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy who studies online extremism and disinformation campaigns. In the worst-case scenarios, these beliefs can lead adherents to potentially harm people, as Annie Kelly explained in an op-ed about moms for QAnon, and the F.B.I. labeled conspiracy theories including QAnon a new domestic terrorism threat in 2019.
Since July, at least three reality-TV-star moms with over four million Instagram followers collectively have posted about #SaveTheChildren, including incorrect information like the statistic that “300,000 American children a year will be lured into the sex trade,” a figure that has been thoroughly debunked.
If you’re active on social media, you may have seen a fellow parent share some of this information. So how do you go about pushing back against the falsehoods? I asked three experts to weigh in.
If it’s someone you know, talk to them privately. Start by asking broad questions about their posts, like, “What is this about? Can you explain it to me?” said Mike Rothschild, a conspiracy theory researcher and the author of “The World’s Worst Conspiracies.” You’re trying to gather knowledge about their beliefs in a non-adversarial way. “You don’t want to try to debate or debunk, it makes them think they’re right,” he said. Just ask questions and get them to explain it to you. “Get them to do the thinking,” said Rothschild. “You can’t reason someone out of a fringe belief,” but you may be able to get them to see their logic isn’t holding up.
Approach the subject with kindness and empathy. Paul Offit, M.D., the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who talks to parents who have encountered vaccine conspiracy theories, said that “I am sympathetic to the fact that it’s hard to see your kids injected with a biological fluid,” he said. “I can see when people would be worried about that.” So try to engage with what your friend is really afraid of if they are posting a lot about child trafficking. Are they scared of their child getting kidnapped? If so, why?
You have to be willing to meet them where they are without calling them “crazy” or dismissing them out of hand. “Even feigning interest in the conspiracy in order to find out what their real pain point or fear is that they’re trying to address in their lives, may give you info on how to reach them as they’re getting more and more involved in this,” Donovan explained.
Acknowledge when someone is not open to a discussion. If your friend is so deeply into the QAnon world that they cannot have a civil discussion about their beliefs, “Let them know you love them, that you’re here for them,” but then drop it, said Rothschild — you can’t “talk somebody out of a belief that they want to have.”
If it’s someone you don’t know personally, respond with facts. If someone is repeating misinformation, say, in a Facebook mom group, you can gently push back with a link to correct data, said Donovan. It’s appropriate to respond, “‘I don’t think this discussion has a place here,’ and potentially link to some of the reporting going on,” she said. If that misinformation is anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim, as many of QAnon-related conspiracies tend to be, you should report those posts to either the moderator or the social media company, Donovan said. “It’s important to use the tools available on the platform to get these posts removed.”
Catie Stewart ignored all the Instagram messages that were abusive or contained threats of violence toward her or Sen. Weiner, but she said she had a decent success rate responding to constituents who were just misinformed. “You helped pass a law in California for pedophiles, basically,” one parent initially wrote to Weiner’s account over Instagram D.M., which Stewart shared with me. “As a mother, I need a clear understanding of what the laws that are being passed actually mean.”
Stewart wrote back to this woman with a link to a USA Today story that fact-checked conspiracies about the bill, and made it clear California was not legalizing pedophilia. “OK, thank you for clearing that up. My heart literally dropped thinking that this would be something California would do,” the mom replied.
“It’s really important that if you see someone in your life spreading this, you explain to them the truth in a really kind way,” Stewart said. “Sometimes it’s not going to work, but whoever you can get to, it’s one more person who is not going to spread this.” Misinformation is “its own pandemic.”
Asking the Right Questions is the Answer: 10 Things We Forget About Our Own Ignorance
Manage Conflict: Accepting Influence
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Indi’s alternative holiday playlist – 2019 – #50–#41
Posted on December 16, 2019 by Indi
Here are songs #40 to #31 in the 2019 edition of Indi’s alternative holiday playlist.
Indi’s alternative holiday playlist 2019:
#100 to #91
#90 to #81
» #50 to #41 «
#10 to #1
Summary (and downloadable playlists)
🍁 = Canadian
★ = New this year
50. 🍁 “Tinseltown” – Jimmy Rankin
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/66264477″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true” iframe=”true”]
Jimmy Rankin is one of the younger members of The Rankin Family, and of all the Rankins, Jimmy has had the most successful solo career by far. He’s won a pile of CCMAs and East Coast Music Awards, and has been nominated for Junos twice – once for Best Country Artist (2002), once for Country Album of the Year (2012, for Forget About the World).
“Tinseltown” is the sorta-title-track off the 2012 Christmas album Tinsel Town, which was released in a special sleeve that allowed the album to be sent as a Christmas card. It’s a gentle song, with an insistent percussion track, perfect for easy listening. The title might seem to imply disdain at the gaudy trappings of the holiday, but the lyrics themselves don’t bear that out. Instead, the idea of a “tinsel town” is passed off as a good thing.
49. “Never Ending Winter” – The Daou
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTJ8odghKM]
The Daou released just a single album, but had some success with the #1 dance hit “Surrender Yourself”. This song comes from that album. The band fell apart after contract problems, and Vanessa Daou went on to further success as a solo dance artist, but the real story has to be then-husband Peter Daou.
After a stint as a producer, Peter Daou went into politics, and has become one of the most aggressively partisan voices of the US Democratic Party. He worked with the Kerry campaign in 2004, then joined the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2006. Most recently, he and new wife Leela created the website Verrit, which appears to be about shareable factoid images pushing Democrat talking points, each of which is attached to a short article giving more information and links to sources and supporting data. What Verrit is most known for, however, is going offline three hours after Hillary Clinton tweeted in support of it due to what Daou claimed was significant and sophisticated DDOS attack. But that’s just the tip of the Peter Daou iceberg. I could tell you about the man’s stint with a Christian militia fighting Hezbolla in Lebanon – something you’d more likely associate with a far right-winger… or about the concept album he produced about his aunt-in-law’s sex book where she described an incident where his father tried to coerce her into a blowjob… or about how he claimed to be responsible for creating The Huffington Post. I could go on and on, but really, the man’s story is far too expansive to be covered here.
48. “She Came Home For Christmas” – Mew
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYJCsMI183I]
Mew is a Danish indie band with a big sound: rich, layered harmonies over a driving, lush, wall-of-sound base. They were influential in the early Danish indie scene, racking up awards and critical acclaim. Commercial success came five years later, with Frengers in 2003. This song is actually the first and only (official) single from their first album, A Triumph for Man, but since that album only had a very limited release – purportedly only 2,000 copies were printed – it was included on Frengers as well.
Fans have been poring over the lyrics for years, struggling to find an interpretation. The most popular theory is that the song is about a woman who was abused – likely sexually – by a family member, and after staying away for the family for many years is now coming back for a Christmas get-together. The story is told by another family member – perhaps a younger sibling – who is torn between sympathy for what the woman has gone through, and a feeling of betrayal due to her running away.
47. “We Come Back” – Local Natives
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcCRV45GWo]
Local Natives is a band out of California formed mostly by a group of high school friends and some post-college buddies. They got significant buzz for their debut album, 2009’s Gorilla Manor. One of the interesting quirks of the band is that – at least at the time – everybody was involved in everything: all song and even art credits are shared by all members. In fact, the album’s name comes from the house they all shared while putting the album together… apparently it was a chaotic mess, with instruments all over the place and people randomly picking out tunes on whatever was in reach.
This tune came about a year after Gorilla Manor (but a couple years before their follow-up, 2013’s Hummingbird), following bassist Andy Hamm’s ejection from the band. The lyrics are about coming home for the holiday and reconnecting with friends and family. There’s no drama here, just warmth.
46. “Xmas Curtain” – My Morning Jacket
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL8olp-oNgA]
I’m surprised My Morning Jacket isn’t more widely known. This is a band that had a difficult time getting critical and commercial notice, but since it came, MMJ hasn’t looked back. They have racked up three Grammy nominations for best alternative album – the same as Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., The Smashing Pumpkins, and The White Stripes – one for each album since they first broke out. In 2008, they performed a legendary four-hour set in the pouring rain at the Bonnaroo Music Festival that featured guests Zach Galifianakis and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett – a set that has been called the greatest ever set played at the festival. And in 2009, they were featured in an episode of American Dad! called “My Morning Straightjacket”, in which Stan becomes a groupie of the band.
This track comes from 2001’s At Dawn. The band’s debut album, The Tennessee Fire, had made little or no impact States-side, but had attracted attention in Europe. At Dawn would be the album that got them a following this side of the pond. Front man Jim James’s vocals were recorded in an empty grain silo, giving the track the characteristic reverb-y sound of the period. Following At Dawn, and through the subsequent album It Still Moves, the band would make several lineup changes and eventually release Z, starting the band’s modern era, and finally earning them critical acclaim and success.
45. ★ “A Snowflake Fell (And it Felt Like a Kiss)” – Glasvegas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGfZo4gqSd8]
Glasvegas released their self-titled debut album in 2008 to critical acclaim, commercial success, and a pile of major awards. Mere weeks after that release, they released a second record: A Snowflake Fell (and It Felt Like a Kiss). To say it was rushed would be a massive understatement; it was intended to be a full album, but they could only manage to finish six tracks in the time allotted. But in the end, even though it got only a limited physical release – or perhaps because of that – thanks to digital downloads, every single song on the EP ended up charting in the UK (and Sweden!).
Though this is the first time this song has appeared on the list, it is not the first time for Glasvegas. Last year, the list featured “Please Come Back Home”.
44. “Festive Friends (Forever)” – Parenthetical Girls
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUPl6Jn-Eo]
Parenthetical Girls is an experimental band that is basically Zac Pennington and a revolving door of collaborators. It’s a project that seems intended to snub everything “standard” about pop music. For example, at the height of their popularity, rather than releasing another album, Pennington instead released a series of vinyl-only EPs, six months apart, over a period of almost three years. The best tracks from these were later collected in the band’s final album, Privilege (Abridged).
Given that biography, it may surprise to learn that Parenthetical Girls has numerous Christmas songs in their catalogue – upwards of two dozen by my estimate. In fact, their very first EP was 2002’s Christmas with Swastika Girls – they were called Swastika Girls at the time – and right after their first album, 2004’s (((GRRLS))), came another EP:Christmas with Parenthetical Girls. And another three or four Christmas EPs followed. Indeed, their very last EP – their last release other than the album that collected the five Privilege EPs – was 2012’s Good Christian Men Rejoice, It’s Parenthetical Girls.
43. “All I Want is Truth (For Christmas)” – The Mynabirds
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdEajqZkVbk]
The Mynabirds is a band that’s pretty much a single person: Laura Burhenn. The band is known for being openly political, with particularly feminist, progressive, left-leaning messages – the most recent album BE HERE NOW, for example, covers issues such as the Standing Rock protests, and Trump’s Muslim ban.
With a reputation like that, it probably won’t surprise that “All I Want Is Truth (For Christmas)” is a very political holiday tune. The opening lyrics start by suggesting that you have yourself a merry little Christmas while you still can, because global warming is going to end the hopes of seeing any snow; later there’s a clever section that talks about everyone preferring to ignore the crises and focus on their TVs – flat screen, of course – that comes with a warning: just don’t turn on the news. But it’s not all anti-capitalist rage; there’s a lot of heart buried in the lyrics, and the lovely tune is like icing over the depressing messages, making for an enjoyable listen.
42. ★ “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCdwKhTtNNw]
You could be excused for assuming The Neighbourhood is not an American band based on the spelling of their name. But the truth is they’re from California, and chose that spelling simply because another band named “The Neighborhood” already existed.
“Sweater Weather” has actually appeared on this list before, in the form of an incredible a capella cover by Pentatonix. It is unarguably The Neighbourhood’s best song. It was first released as a single in 2012, then placed on the band’s first EP (2012’s I’m Sorry…), and their first album (2013’s I Love You.), and as a single it went double platinum in the US. While it may be the peak of the band’s commercial success (so far), the band’s critical reputation appears to be on the rise. So keep an eye out for them – they may have a fourth album coming out soon.
41. ★ “Making Christmas” – Pentatonix
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th_j7RUu2vM]
It began as, of all things, an attempt by three high school friends to meet the cast of Glee. Kirstin Maldonado, Mitchell Grassi, and Scott Hoying entered a radio contest… and lost. But their signing captured the attention of their friends, and eventually even got some interest on YouTube. However, Maldonado and Hoying graduated and moved on to college. In college, Hoying learned about The Sing-Off, and got the old trio back together to audition. Along the way they picked up Avriel Kaplan – who was already a fairly well-known vocal bass – and Kevin Olusola, on the strength of a YouTube video where he beat-boxes while playing the cello. Maldonado and Hoying had to drop out of college for the audition, and Grassi missed his high school graduation… but they got on the show, and eventually won the third season (winning with – I shit you not – an a capella version of “Eye of the Tiger”)>). Success, right? Not quite. Although the group won a contract as part of their Sing-Off victory, Sony dropped them almost right away. The group then went back to their roots: YouTube. There they found massive success with a series of viral videos, mostly covers of popular songs. But superstar status came after an incredible rendition of the Imagine Dragons’s “Radioactive” in collaboration with violinist Lindsey Stirling won them the 2013 Response of the Year at the YouTube Music Awards. That same year, they released an absolutely astounding medley, “Daft Punk”, which would eventually win them the first Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella in 2015. They’d win the same award the next year, and yet another Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Dolly Parton for a cover of her 1973 classic “Jolene”. They’re currently one of the top channels on YouTube.
There is only a very small number of artists who have multiple songs that I’ve had a hard time deciding between for this list. Pentatonix has the distinction of being the most difficult choice of all – there are at least a half-dozen Pentatonix songs worth of this list, both covers and originals. Previously I chose a cover of The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather”, but other contenders include a cover of Imogen Heap’s “Just For Now” and a cover of Kanye West’s “Coldest Winter”. Pentatonix has made Christmas their business – they’ve released three Christmas albums, including 2018’s Christmas Is Here!, and now this year’s compilation The Best of Pentatonix Christmas, all of which have been massive successes. This year, I’ve chosen a song from Tim Burton’s classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (this list has also featured KoЯn’s insane cover of ”Kidnap the Sandy Claws” from the same film).
This entry was posted in Culture and media and tagged atheist music, Christmas, Hanukkah, holiday, Kwanzaa, music, solstice by Indi.Bookmark the permalink.
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Iran swine flu outbreak kills 33 in three weeks
Yunia Amunga
Health officials collecting infected birds/FILE
IRAN, Dec 8 – An outbreak of swine flu has left 33 people dead in two provinces of southeastern Iran in the past three weeks, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
IRNA quoted Deputy Health Minister Ali Akbar Sayyari as saying there had been 28 deaths in Kerman province and five in Sistan-Baluchistan and warning the H1N1 virus was likely to spread to other areas including the capital Tehran.
“The health ministry predicts that the virus will spread in the coming days to Tehran, West and East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah provinces more than to other places,” he said.
Nearly 600 people have been hospitalised in Kerman province over the outbreak, the head of the province’s medical university, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, told the ISNA news agency.
“Traces of the H1N1 virus were uncovered three weeks ago and we were the first province to report the epidemic,” Haghdoost said.
He called for limited travel during a three-day holiday weekend due to start on Thursday in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
Haghdoost suggested the outbreak was now under control.
“We have received 5,000 doses of vaccines today and a shipment of 15,000 will arrive tomorrow,” he said.
Health Minister Hassan Hashemi said on Sunday the number of deaths from flu was similar to previous years, but that it was evolving and becoming harder to treat.
“This flu comes from beyond our borders, especially from Sistan-Baluchistan” near Pakistan, Hashemi said, quoted by the Youth Journalist Club (YJC) state television website.
“But every year it becomes wilder and more resistant” to treatment, he added.
YJC only referred to the illness as the flu, and made no mention of swine flu.
Patients suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular, kidney, lung diseases and cancer, as well as the elderly, children under five and pregnant women are more sensitive to the virus and must be vaccinated, said Sayyari.
A senior official from the Health Ministry’s Infectious Disease Department on Monday reported the state of swine flu to parliament’s hygiene and treatment committee, IRNA reported.
A major H1N1 outbreak in 2009 sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after the virus emerged from Mexico and the United States.
The alert was lifted in August 2010 and the outbreak left some 18,500 people dead in 214 countries.
The first instance of swine flue in Iran was reported in June 2009 when a 16-year-old Iranian boy entered the country with his family on a flight from the United Sates.
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Corinthians throw in towel on Tevez
SAO PAULO, Brazil, July 20 – Brazilian side Corinthians said they had admitted defeat in their attempt to sign Argentinian star Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.
City manager Roberto Mancini had said on Monday that the English Premier League club had agreed to a deal but the Brazilians contradicted him and then said Tuesday that time had run out with the transfer window in Brazil for players coming in from abroad closing Wednesday night.
The Brazilian side’s initial offer for the 27-year-old striker was reportedly worth 40 million euros ($63.57m) but there has been much debate between the two clubs on how the fee would be structured.
In a statement on their website, Corinthians said the deal was off. “There is no more sufficient time for the transfer to go through,” the statement said on Tuesday. However, the club added that “we hope to be able to count on Tevez in the near future.”
Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said the clubs had not been able to agree all the financial loose ends nor on a length of contract for the player who left the club for West Ham in England in 20006 a year after helping Corinthians to the league title.
Amid the proposals and counter-proposals, Corinthians president Andres Sanchez had said Monday his board would assess Manchester City’s offer carefully but the board has clearly decided that there are too many sticking points to clinch a deal in the time available.
Striker Tevez wants to leave Manchester to be closer to his daughters, who live in Buenos Aires with their mother, his estranged partner.
The Argentina forward, who also starred for Manchester United for two seasons, led City to FA Cup glory and Champions League qualification last season.
City had hoped to sell Tevez to Corinthians to avoid him potentially leaving for a club with whom they are in direct competition, either domestically or in Europe, while also improving the player’s family arrangements.
Tevez missed the crucial penalty kick as Argentina went out of the Copa America quarter-final 5-4 on penalties against Uruguay on Saturday.
If he does ultimately leave the club, City are expected to bid for compatriot Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, who is currently keeping him on the Argentine bench.
Aguero, Diego Maradona’s son-in-law, has a release clause of 50 million euros at Atletico.
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Respect as All Blacks face Springboks
(From L) New Zealand All Blacks’ Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Franks and Kieran Read take part in a training session in Sunbury-on-Thames, on October 20, 2015, ahead of their Rugby World Cup semi-final match against S.Africa.PHOTO/AFP
GUILDFORD, October 21- Conrad Smith has seen most things Test rugby has to offer during a 92-cap career but for the New Zealand centre the thrill of facing South Africa never fades.
The two countries, for much of the last hundred years the game’s leading countries, will meet again in a World Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday.
But long before the advent of the World Cup, which they have both won twice, with South Africa defeating New Zealand on home soil in the 1995 final, the real measure of rugby success for the two sides was how they fared against each other.
And for Smith, a World Cup-winner in New Zealand four years ago, the fact they now meet annually in the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship has merely increased his respect for the Springboks.
“They’re a special opponent. I grew up in the apartheid era when Australia were our traditional foe but with South Africa coming back into it (from international exile), it was something I didn’t know as a child, but I was soon aware of how big the rivalry was,” explained Smith.
“They are our ultimate rival, not to say anything about all the other great nations that we play, but most guys would agree there’s something special about playing them so meeting them in a semi is going to be extra-special,” the 34-year-old midfielder added.
“They have a respect for the game and each other and the game’s treated a lot differently in the two countries.
“I think that’s why we are able to play each other, walk off the field and shake hands and five or 10 minutes after a game we’ll be chatting away to them.”
It was a point echoed by South Africa back-row forward Duane Vermeulen, who said: “There’s a massive rivalry.
“You play against each other week-on-week and you tend to get to know the guys a bit better. That’s where the respect grows.
“It’s nice to see the guys, but we’re going to bash each other for 80 minutes but afterwards definitely a good chat and maybe a beer like Skulla (Schalk Brits) always says,” he added.
– Consistent –
New Zealand stormed into the last four with a 62-13 thrashing of France in Cardiff last weekend while, by contrast, South Africa — who suffered a shock loss to Japan in their World Cup opener — were pushed hard before seeing off Wales 23-19 at Twickenham.
And Smith said his experience of the Springboks told him to forget about a second straight New Zealand rout at this tournament.
“With South Africa there is that consistent level of physicality but also performance. We never seem to catch the other team on an off-night, which sometimes happens with other teams and you get bigger margins.”
The All Blacks have had the upper hand, however, in recent meetings against the Springboks, winning seven of their last nine encounters.
But, significantly, several members of the South Africa side likely to take the field at Twickenham this weekend do know what it is like to beat New Zealand, having been involved in a 27-25 win at Ellis Park, Johannesburg just over a year ago.
South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira, who played in that match and is set feature again on Saturday, tried to put the results into context by saying: “Obviously as Springboks, we always pride ourselves on being the best.
“So it’s obviously quite disappointing we didn’t get to win more games over them over the last four years.
“But now is a new challenge and whatever happened in the past does not count.
“It’s a World Cup semi-final and whoever wants it the most is the one that will take it.”
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Poisoned lottery winner’s daughter reaches successful estate settlement
In this week’s settlement of the estate of Urooj Khan, the $1 million lottery winner who died from cyanide poisoning, principal David Feinberg of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., is pleased with the outcome for his client, the decedent’s 18-year-old daughter.
Jasmeen Khan receives $140,000—one third of the roughly $425,000 lump sum payout her father had claimed from the Illinois State Lottery—plus five condominiums he owned in Chicago. The other heir, Shabana Ansari, widow of the decedent and stepmother to Jasmeen, settled for approximately $35,000 and her husband’s half-share in the dry cleaning business he owned with a partner. She also gets the family home, which is hers through joint tenancy and is not part of the probate estate.
“This is a very good settlement for Jasmeen,” Feinberg said. “She’ll be a college student next year, and this not only gives her some financial security but also leaves open the possibility for her to pursue other legal action, if warranted and under certain circumstances, relating to her father’s passing.”
The case has drawn international attention since Khan died July 20, 2012, weeks after his lottery scratch-off ticket produced a million-dollar win and days before he would have received the check. At first, the death was attributed to natural causes and an autopsy was not required because the Cook County Medical Examiner found nothing suspicious. But further testing at the request of Khan's brother uncovered cyanide poisoning as the cause of death, and the case became a murder investigation. Khan’s death has been ruled a homicide by police and remains under investigation.
Khan had no will and in Illinois, when a person dies intestate, 50 percent of the estate goes to the surviving spouse, and the remainder is divided equally between the children. Without the negotiated settlement, Jasmeen would have received a weaker package since some properties were outside the estate and, as a 50 percent heir, she would have also been responsible for certain administrative costs.
As it now stands, those costs will be borne by Khan’s widow, and Jasmeen gets a fifth condominium that was outside the estate.
“My client is walking away with 80 to 90 percent of the remaining liquid assets, plus all of the real estate properties within the estate,” Feinberg said.
Jasmeen had no interest in operating the commercial dry cleaning business, he said. Besides the amounts going to the heirs, another $250,000 from the jackpot prize has already been distributed somewhat evenly between the parties and was used for other expenses, fees and taxes.
Under the circumstances, it was an emotionally challenging case for all involved, but Feinberg focused on protecting his client’s interests both legally and financially.
“Here you have a child who lost a parent under mysterious circumstances, killed by cyanide poisoning, and as her attorney I am responsible for looking after her well-being,” he said. “My client is very happy with the settlement, and the only thing she still hopes for is a just resolution to the criminal investigation that will allow her to get some closure.
“She’s a smart girl with a bright, successful future ahead of her.”
If the parties had not settled, the case had the potential to become quite drawn out, Feinberg said, and he was concerned there would be no assets left for Jasmeen to inherit.
“This definitely was a win,” he said. “We were able to secure a financial benefit and also left open the opportunity to pursue other legal action if the facts support it. That was something that was important to my client. I feel like we got the best of both worlds here.”
Intranet Outlook
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. | 30 South Wacker Drive | Suite 2600 | Chicago, Illinois 60606-7512
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Share this Story: Public gets peek at repurposed school
Public gets peek at repurposed school
Once an elementary school, the John N. Given Learning Centre now incorporates multiple programs and services for both young and adult students.
Jim Costello, director of education for the Lambton Kent District School Board, Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff and Jim Morton, system coordinator for alternative adult and continuing education, tour the halls of the John N. Given Learning Centre during an open house on Friday. The building used to be an elementary school and is now used as a community hub. (Tom Morrison/Postmedia Network)
The repurposed building opened in September, but officials at the Lambton Kent District school board invited the public to view the space Friday.
Public gets peek at repurposed school Back to video
The board’s adult and continuing education programs and alternative special education, as well as leases by community partners like Goodwill Industries, now occupy the classrooms.
“We had an opportunity through a school consolidation to create a community hub to bring different services together to make use of a building that we already own,” said director of education Jim Costello. “From an efficiency standpoint, it made sense, but it also, I think, is good for learners and for people in the community to see that the building is well-utilized, (and) we can provide supports for all kinds of learners.”
About 50 per cent of the building is used for adult programs, including the services offered by community partners, said Jim Morton, system co-ordinator for alternative adult and continuing education.
The John N. Given building has the capacity to provide adult education to between 500 and 600 students, he said.
“We don’t have the face-to-face programming, but we do have the tutoring support and lots of access to technology, e-learning courses and things like that,” he said. “We do have lots of flexible programming for our adult learners.”
Costello said offering these types of programs allows the board to “build the capacity of citizens” through public education.
“A number of our students who have chosen to leave school early and don’t have their high school diploma are always welcome to come back,” he said. “We believe education and a high school diploma is kind of a golden ticket to improving the chance of getting a job and being successful in life.”
Other programs provided at the building include the care and/or treatment, the custody and correctional educational program, Positive Alternative to Suspension from School and an intensive services classroom.
“This is a good example of a multi-purpose hub and we’re proud of our staff and our ability to make it work,” said Costello. “The building is beautiful and clean and we’re very proud of the outcome here.”
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Who is Barbara Bush’s New Husband, Craig Coyne?
Barbara Bush | Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Town & Country)
Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of George W. and Laura Bush, was married on October 7, 2018, to Craig Coyne. Who is the man who swept Barbara off her feet? Here’s what we know about her new husband, Craig Coyne.
What he does for a living
Craig Coyne is an actor and director. He is known for his work in movies such as Jarhead, Ask Play, Look at Me, and Lonelygirl15. After his work in Jarhead, he went on to graduate from Vanderbilt University. His current career focus is writing. Coyne sold a live-action show to Comedy Central called Doin’ Good, according to his talent agent’s website.
How Craig Coyne and Barbara Bush met
Mutual friends helped Craig and Barbara make a love connection. Their buddies set them up on a blind date in November 2017. Just one month after their date, the couple decided to date exclusively. Although they were in a committed relationship, distance kept them apart, so they decided to have a long-distance relationship. Bush told People magazine that Craig resided in Los Angeles while she lived in New York. “It’s just been a very sweet romance,” said Barbara in her interview with People. “And we’ve been long-distance for most of it — he’s been in LA and I’ve been in New York — but we’ve gotten to spend a lot of time together.”
Coyne wanted to make sure the proposal left a lasting impression on Bush. He accomplished this by choosing a very special location that his future wife would always hold dear and certainly never forget. Coyne decided to propose marriage in the same spot where Barbara’s grandparents (George H.W. and the late Barbara Bush) were engaged. The sweet proposal took place during a Bush family gathering in Maine.
Maine is a place that Barbara holds dear to her heart. Family always comes first for Barbara, so she wanted to reflect this in every wedding detail, down to the ceremony location. She and Craig not only got engaged in Maine but also got married there, too. Barbara’s twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager told Today they wanted to get married in Maine because this is where their grandfather resides. “It was a very secret wedding, a little bit like my elusive sister. But also, just family in a place that means family love, and it was just beautiful,” said Jenna in a phone call with Today.
Barbara’s dad likes Craig
It’s very important for a future husband to get a blessing from his bride-to-be’s father. In Craig’s case, he passed with flying colors. George W. Bush seems to be happy with his new son-in-law. A day after the wedding, the former president posted a photo and heartfelt message on Instagram: “Barbara is named for a unique and strong woman — and rightly so, because she is unique and strong. @laurawbush and I are so proud of our compassionate, daring, fierce, kind, intelligent, loving daughter. And we’re thrilled to welcome Craig Coyne to our family.”
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Porter reflects on winning Super Bowl
Seven years ago Tuesday the Saints were protecting a precarious 24-17 lead late in Super Bowl XLIV when cornerback Tracy Porter produced the signature play of his career.
With the Colts facing third-and-five at the New Orleans 31 with just over three minutes to play, Porter intercepted a Peyton Manning pass intended for Reggie Wayne and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown, clinching the first Super Bowl victory in Saints history.
Porter said Tuesday he knew that Wayne was going to run a short stick route on the play as soon as receiver Austin Collie motioned from outside to a stack alignment with Wayne. That knowledge enabled Porter to jump the route and beat Wayne to the ball.
Bears cornerback Tracy Porter recorded 48 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2016.
"They ran that play earlier in the game," Porter said. "When they came out we were in man-to-man coverage. Malcolm Jenkins was the nickel. He and I both knew what was coming, so when [Collie] motioned down, [Jenkins] and I switched guys.
"They never put [Collie] as the outside receiver from what we watched on film. So in seeing that we knew he was going to motion down to a stack position. Malcolm and I didn't even have to make hand signals. We just made eye contact, knowing that we were going to switch guys."
Confident he knew what play was coming, Porter decided he was going to jump the route, understanding that a double-move by Wayne would likely result in an easy game-tying touchdown for the Colts.
"Either I was going to make a play or he was going to double move me and make a play, so one of us was going to make a play," Porter said. "I just told myself that if he runs a double move, then they deserve to win the championship. But I knew what was coming, so I was going to play the play. I played the play, he threw it right to me and the rest is history."
As Porter dashed untouched into the end zone, he covered the final 30 yards while looking up and pointing at a throng of Saints fans in the crowd.
"My first thought was, 'don't drop the ball,'" Porter said. "When I was running, I was thinking that I was about to score in the biggest game of my career. People would give their right arm to play in the game let alone make a big play in the game.
"There were a ton of Saints fans in the crowd jumping and screaming. Everyone asked me what I was pointing at and I was pointing at those guys."
As you'd expect, Porter was a pretty popular guy by the time he reached the jubilant Saints locker room. "That was the first time I had ever seen a cell phone with 200 missed calls and 200 text messages," he said. "But the first person I called was my grandmother."
Velma Porter, who passed away last May at the age of 90, was Tracy's No. 1 fan.
"I knew she was at home watching the game," he said. "She was excited. She watched every one of my games. She was the one person I wanted to talk to at that point."
Seeking a return to the top
Porter spent his first four NFL seasons with the Saints from 2008-11 before playing for the Broncos (2012), Raiders (2013) and Redskins (2014). He signed with the Bears in 2015, reuniting with Fox, his coach in Denver, and Pace, who worked in the Saints personnel department when Porter was with New Orleans.
Although the Bears stumbled to a 3-13 record in 2016, Porter is confident in Pace's ability to build a championship team.
"I have the utmost faith in Ryan," Porter said. "Outside of Fox, he's one of the main reasons I decided to come here. I know what type of guy he is and I know the job he did in New Orleans finding talent to put together a Super Bowl-caliber team."
While Pace is focused on upgrading the Bears roster this offseason, Porter is concentrating on improving his own game and helping his young teammates reach their potential.
"Starting with myself and the secondary, I feel like we didn't do enough to help our team be successful," Porter said. "We can point in different directions, but that's not the type of person I am. For starters, I know I didn't make enough plays to help us win, and collectively as a secondary we didn't do enough. So that's the group I'm starting with.
"I'm on my younger [teammates]. From the time we left I told them I was going to be on them making sure they're taking care of their bodies and doing the things they need to do to come back and be in shape."
Porter, who recorded 48 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2016, is approaching his 10th NFL season with a sense of urgency.
"We have to start now," he said. "We can't wait until OTAs. We can't wait until training camp. It has to start now in getting that mindset and training and preparing ourselves for the upcoming season so we can hit the ground running."
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The Casual Art Fan's Guide to Expo Chicago
How to get the most out of the biggest fine art exhibition all year, which happens on Navy Pier this Friday through Sunday.
photograph: 5 Joel Sternfeld Arcadia Cohousing, Carrboro, North Carolina, April 2005
This weekend marks the second annual Expo Chicago, which, for the uninitiated, is the city’s single largest fine art exhibition of the year.
The fair’s pedestrian address on tourist-saturated Navy Pier might signal otherwise, but the Jeanne Gang-designed environs will draw a well-heeled crowd of Midwestern collectors, artists, and art students.
Then there's the art: some 125 or so gallerists representing dozens of countries. Here’s where to start, depending on what you're hunting.
Located in the massive exhibition hall on the eastern most tip of Navy Pier, the fair itself runs only three days: Friday through Sunday starting at 11 a.m. ($20 for one day; $30 for three) But a slew of ancillary parties, gallery tours, and VIP receptions are scheduled all over the city starting Wednesday. Some are open to the public, but many are for fair VIPs only. Public events are listed at expochicago.com. Tickets are on sale at the door.
I’m a first-time buyer. Where’s the affordable stuff?
The fair’s “Exposure” section will feature emerging (read: cheaper) artists; it is a good starting point for newish collectors. Look for the Benrimon Contemporary booth (from New York City); it will show bright, one-of-a-kind photograms made by Liz Nielsen, a Chicagoan who is now living in New York and who has something of an obsession with outer space phenomena.
I’m a seasoned art fair attendee from back in the days of Art Chicago. Who will everybody be talking about this year?
The Norwegian transplant Solveig Øvstebø is the first new executive director of the Renaissance Society in 40 years (the Ren, as it’s called, is the influential South Side gallery that’s under the umbrella of the University of Chicago). She will be on a panel on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. with the artist William Powhida and his gallerist Charlie James (Los Angeles)…. William J. O’Brien is a prominent emerging Chicago artist who makes ceramics and colored pencil drawings; his work will get a major local showcase early next year at the MCA. Hear him discuss his process and influences at a talk Friday at 11 a.m. at the expo; or stop by the booth of the Marianne Boesky Gallery (New York City), where his work will be on display.
What other Chicago artists should I not miss?
Kavi Gupta Gallery represents the unconventional Chicago-born-and-bred art star Theaster Gates; read about him here. Monique Meloche will be showing the work of the 3-D installation artist/painter Dan Gunn. Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson will be on display in the booth of Massimo de Carlol Gallery (Milan, London), and Oak Park artist/SAIC prof Michelle Grabner (a co-curator of the 2014 Whitney Biennial) will offer up a preview of her forthcoming survey exhibition Work From Home (opening November 1 at Cleveland MOCA) in a panel discussion with MOCA chief curator David Norr on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Which of the “blue-chip” international dealers are in the mix?
David Zwirner Gallery (New York) is back, with work by international art stars Luc Tuymans and Donald Judd, among others. Matthew Marks Gallery (New York, LA) will be displaying work by multimedia artist Paul Seitsema (whose work is currently on display across town at the MCA). Luhring Augustine (New York) will feature pieces by the Brazilian artist Tunga and the documentary photographer Joel Sternfeld.
Which of the satellite events are open to the public?
Chicago Artists Coalition is holding its own satellite fair of affordable art called Edition Chicago; it’s all weekend at 217 North Carpenter Street. Chicago artist Cody Hudson will be making a special print for the exhibition, and 14 galleries will have work on display. For more info, editionchicago.com….Gallery Weekend Chicago is a weekend-long series of events that kicks off with late hours, on Friday evening, September 20, for many of the participating West Loop galleries, including Andrew Rafacz (showing Wendy White), Carrie Secrest (showing Andrew Holmquist), and Western Exhibitions (showing Rachel Niffenegger). See the full list of events at galleryweekendchicago.com.
What if I want to skip the fair and just eat the hot nuts at Navy Pier?
By all means, we won't stop you.
Tags: Art, Arts & Culture
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Roberta Duchak on Coaching Russell Crowe
The musical director at Drury Lane Oakbrook trained Russell Crowe for his role as Javert in the film Les Misérables, out Dec. 14.
October 2, 2012, 9:22 am
Vocal exercises warm up the voice. You have to do them every day for 10 to 15 minutes, and you will see a difference. Russell did. He once sang “Stars” 23 times in one night. I don’t know a lot of musical theatre people who could do that.
Roberta Duchak, 46, musical director at Drury Lane Oakbrook, trained Russell Crowe for his role as Javert in the film Les Misérables, out Dec. 14.
Illustration: John Kenzie
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Searching for Ingmar Bergman
1 hr 40 min · 2018
Margarethe von Trotta directed and serves as onscreen host for this documentary about the Swedish master, interviewing other filmmakers and some of Bergman’s collaborators and reflecting on ways that Bergman inspired her. The film doesn’t provide any new information for those already familiar with Bergman’s life and work, though some of the interviewees are insightful. Olivier Assayas is particularly perceptive, commenting on how the French New Wave, with its emphasis on performances and psychology, might not have existed without Bergman’s influence. Von Trotta seems uncertain of what to do with the details of Bergman’s ugly personal life; she acknowledges that he was a bad father and controlling with women, but she takes pains not to let this information overshadow her laudatory portrait of his oeuvre. Felix Moeller and Bettina Böhler codirected. In English and subtitled French, German, Spanish, and Swedish.
By Ben Sachs
Cast information not available at this time.
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COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital data in your area
Obama: Daughter's asthma brings home climate change debate
By Tribune wire reports
President Barack Obama visited Howard University's medical center to discuss the impact of climate change on public health. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his memory of the fear over his daughter's preschool asthma attacks brings home the debate over climate change.
Obama says he knows firsthand how scary it can be to have a child who struggles to breathe. He is arguing that preventing climate change could improve public health by reducing illnesses such as asthma.
Obama tells ABC he felt "terrible" fright when a young Malia told him she couldn't breathe and had to be rushed to the emergency room. He says he thinks every parent would wish to reduce such incidents by improving the environment.
Obama has not had to carry an inhaler since before the family moved to the White House. But Obama tells CBS she still has allergies that need to be monitored.
The Obama administration on Tuesday unveiled a long list of actions ranging from corporate and academic partnerships to community programs to highlight the health impacts of climate change.
Tech giants such as Google and Microsoft will conduct disease research, universities will train the next generation of health experts and cities such as Durham, N.C., and Kansas City, Kan., will monitor local air quality.
All of these efforts and others are part of a multipronged approach to better educate people on the threat of climate change and how it could affect their quality of life.
The effort stretches across multiple government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and NASA.
President Barack Obama on Monday declared this week National Public Health Week, with activities focused on the public health dangers of climate change.
"We all need to do our part," Obama said at a Howard University School of Medicine roundtable discussion with experts on the health effects of climate change. "We've got a lot more work to do if we're going to deal with this problem in an effective way and make sure that our families and our kids are safe."
The administration hopes that the acceptance of climate change will rise and that the public will connect with the issue in a way that brings a change to daily life, White House senior adviser Brian Deese said in a phone call with reporters.
"The most salient arguments around climate change are associated with the health impacts and are ones that meet people where they are, and that requires making an argument around how climate is affecting local communities and individuals," he said.
A White House fact sheet noted that while the public generally thinks of climate change as a trigger for droughts, severe storms and wildfires, less talked about are the health problems that can result. It said these particularly occur in low-income communities where many people, for instance, don't have the advantage of air-conditioning and other amenities to cope with challenges resulting in heat-related deaths, Deese said.
Also, the percentage of Americans with asthma has more than doubled in the past three decades, according to a White House report.
Through the announced partnerships and research, Deese said, the government can "empower more Americans with the information and tools that they need to help take action to address this threat."
According to NASA, 97 percent of climate scientists, as well as groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Meteorological Society, agree that human activities have very likely contributed to the warming of the planet. But it remains a politically volatile issue, often dividing along partisan and ideological lines.
Just this week, however, the issue took a strange turn when a leading conservative policy group with a history of advocating legislation to undercut efforts to slow global warming threatened to sue climate change activists who refer to the policy group as climate change deniers.
Officials at the Heartland Institute, a free market think tank based in Chicago, issued a statement criticizing the White House effort.
"Climate change, if it poses any true threat of harm, is at best a distant threat — with fewer, less severe hurricanes and greater crop yields, rather than the opposite being the norm," said H. Sterling Burnett, an environment and energy policy research fellow at the institute. "Linking asthma and children's health problems to climate change is the worst form of hype."
A Gallup poll last month showed that 55 percent of Americans believe that increases in the Earth's temperature are because of pollution as a result of human activities and 77 percent say they understand global warming either very well or fairly well.
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In the latest administration climate change initiative, Microsoft will use technology to better understand the environment as part of a data collection effort, said Ethan Jackson, a researcher with Microsoft Research who was also on the White House call.
It is extremely difficult to compile information about pathogens, so most surveillance can only detect diseases after an outbreak begins. But Jackson said Microsoft is developing a system to capture mosquitoes and identify pathogens before people are infected.
"We're particularly interested in applying safer systems to better understand the state of the environment and its implications on human health and agriculture," Jackson said.
Tribune DC Bureau and The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Looking Back on the Life of Ueli Steck
“He had a certain earned wisdom that is rare in this world” —Steve House
Chris Van Leuven
Photo: Jonathan Griffith/Alpine Exposures
Last week, on May 4, world-renowned alpinist and speed climber Ueli Steck was cremated surrounded by monks in the Buddhist village of Tengboche, in the Khumbu region of Nepal. In attendance was Steck’s expedition partner Tenji Sherpa, Steck’s widow Nicole Steck, parents and friends.
For three hours prayers were chanted and a sermon was delivered in the Tengboche Monastery (also called Dawa Choling Gompa; the largest monastery in the area), at nearly 4,000 meters and in the shadow of Everest.
His ashes will be flown to his home country of Switzerland where there will be a funeral for “acquaintances and professional colleagues of Steck as well as for the general public,” a statement from the family read.
Steck died on April 30 when he fell 1,000 meters down Nuptse (7,849m), located two kilometers west south-west of Everest (8,848m), during a solo acclimatization outing in preparation for the Everest-Lhotse Traverse Project.
He successfully climbed Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen with partner Tenji Sherpa in 2012.
“Ueli wrote a great and profound story with his life and his climbs; he had become a person who knew something about his humanity, his humility, his pride and his ego; he had a certain earned wisdom that is rare in this world,” alpinist Steve House wrote. “Achieving an Ueli-Steck-level of mastery in climbing is a long-term commitment that requires a consistency that very few people are capable of. What made him that way is, in itself, worth studying, learning from.”
Steck was twice the recipient of alpine climbing’s most prestigious award, the Piolet d’Or (Golden Ice Axe), first in 2009 for he and Simon Anthamatten’s 2,000-meter route Checkmate on the north face of Tengkampoche (also called Teng Kang Poche; 6,500m) in Nepal, and in 2014 for his 28-hour roundtrip solo ascent of the 3,000-meter south face of Annapurna I (8,091m), also in Nepal. His climb of Annapurna completed a route first attempted in 1992 by the late Jean-Christophe Lafaille and the late Pierre Beghin (Beghin died on the climb).
During Steck’s first attempt to solo Annapurna, in 2007, he was hit on the helmet by rockfall and fell 300 meters but was able to descend the mountain with only minor injuries and did not require a rescue. He succeeded on the mountain on his third attempt (without using supplemental oxygen) in an ascent Outside Magazine called “one of the boldest Himalayan climbs in history.”
Steck’s climbing career wasn’t without controversy. Regarding his solo ascent of Annapurna I in October 2013, Kelly McMillan reported for the New York Times that, “Steck didn’t have a photo of the summit; his altimeter had broken during his ascent; and he hadn’t used a G.P.S. tracker, all of which are accepted means of documenting such a climb.”
Earlier that same year on Everest, while Steck and his team passed Sherpas fixing lines between Camp 2 and Camp 3, falling ice struck a member of the lower team. Soon a violent confrontation erupted over the ice fall, respect and mountain etiquette. The story—“Brawl on Everest”—made headlines all over the world.
A resident of Ringgenberg, Bern, Switzerland, Steck was a professional climber, trained carpenter, and author of three books: Solo: The Maverick Ueli Steck (2008, written with Gabriella Baumann-von Arx), Speed: The Three Great North Faces of the Alps in Record Time (2012) and The Next Step: After Each Mountain I Am a Different One (2016). He was also a paraglider pilot and competed in marathons.
He was nicknamed the “Swiss Machine” for his nationality, precision and speed.
Steck’s significant ascents span more than 20 years; at 17 he climbed his first alpine testpiece: the East Pillar of the Scheideggwetterhorn, and at 18 he climbed the Eiger Nordwand for his first time, a mountain that he would go on to climb obsessively, establish new routes on and speed climb. In 2001, he and longtime partner Stephen Siegrist authored the “extreme” route Young Spiders (5.11d, A2, WI6, M7), which Steck soloed in 2006 for the route’s second ascent over five days in alpine style.
In 2008, he and Siegrist established (with the use of the bolts) the most difficult route on the Eiger, the 23 pitch 5.13b Paciencia. On November 16, 2015, Steck set the record for the fastest ascent of the Eiger via 2 hours, 22 minutes up the Eiger’s Heckmair Route.
In a video from April 11, 2017, Steck said one of the things that intrigued him with the Lhotse-Everest Traverse Project—a first ascent—was that he didn’t know if it was even possible. “We don’t know,” he said with a childlike smile. “That’s exactly the challenge…the interesting thing.”
Affirming his dedication to seeking out the greatest challenges in the mountains, Steck wrote in his blog in 2013: “To walk through life in a comfortable way is still not my goal… I would like to implement my dreams and visions into reality."
AnnapurnaUeli SteckAlpine ClimbingThe EigerMt. EverestObituary
international_location:
Ueli Steck Found Dead on Nuptse
By Climbing Staff
Rapid Transit: Inside the World of Ueli Steck
By Martin Gutmann
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Chrysler sales up 14 percent on demand for pickups
September 4, 2012 / 8:17 AM / AP
(AP) DETROIT - Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 14 percent last month as the Ram pickup truck had its best August in five years.
The results are a sign that car and truck sales will remain strong despite consumers' worries about the economy.
Chrysler says it sold more than 148,000 vehicles in August. It sold more than 25,000 Ram pickups, an increase of 19 percent over August of last year.
Industry analysts are predicting U.S. sales of more than 1.2 million vehicles for August, up around 20 percent from a year earlier. The annual pace is expected to reach 14.2 million to 14.5 million vehicles, making August the second-best month of the year.
Chrysler was the first automaker to report sales on Tuesday.
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Annual Reports & Business Plans
Import Levy
Value of Check-Off
The Gatepost Archives
New strategic and business plans launch April 1
The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency officially began a new fiscal year on April 1, 2020, and officially launched the new 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and 2020/21 Business Plan online.
Click here to view the new strategic and business plans.
The strategic plan outlines the key objectives for the Agency in the next three years, following up on the last plan which was primarily focused on transparency and organizational governance.
“Our 2020-23 strategic plan really focuses on supporting our provincial partners and our national service providers, and strengthening of check-off knowledge in Canadian producers,” said Chad Ross, Agency Chair.
The strategic plan’s four objectives include Structured Reporting and Compliance, Engaged and Educated Stakeholders, Strategic Communications and Collaboration, and Sound Governance and Administration. Within those objectives, lives the tactics and programs found in the Agency’s 2020-21 Business Plan.
In 2020/21, the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off and import levy is estimated to bring in approximately $17,040,00 in gross revenue, which includes the addition of levies from Veal Farmers of Ontario. The Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off is $2.50 per head in all provinces with the exception of Ontario, and the import levy, currently at $1.00 per head or equivalent.
The Agency’s business plan works to deliver on the goals and objectives of the National Beef Strategy to foster growth and profitability for the beef and veal industry in Canada. That includes working closely with our service providers who deliver on some of the key goals in the Strategy.
“The Agency has come a long way since our first strategic plan in 2017/18,” said Melinda German, General Manager. “We remain committed to providing support to our provincial stakeholders in the collection and compliance of the check-off system and working with our national service providers to achieve the goals of the National Beef Strategy over the next three years.”
Also included in the Agency’s business plan are key goals and deliverables for the Agency’s service providers who invest check-off dollars into programs and activities on behalf of the industry. Service providers include Canada Beef delivering on market development and promotion, the Beef Cattle Research Council delivering on research, and both the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Canada Beef delivering on public and stakeholder engagement as a joint program initiative.
The Agency projects the total revenue, net administration, to be allocated as 56% to market development and promotion, 25% to research, 13% to provincial initiatives and 6% to public and stakeholder engagement (PSE).
These percentages are based on the allocations made for the 2020/21 year by the provincial cattle associations, plus the import levy allocation, both of which are available on the Agency’s website at cdnbeefcheckoff.ca/programs/allocations.
The Agency Members approved the 2020/21 business plan in February, with an administration budget equal to 5.0% of total check-off and import levy collected. The Agency continues to strive for lean and prudent management of check-off dollars on behalf of Canada’s beef industry.
Visit https://cdnbeefcheckoff.app1.nfweb.ca/about-us/annual-reports-business-plans/ to read the plans in detail.
By Tayla Fraser • April 1, 2020
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© 2020 Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency
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Lari White
Soul Urge (Heart Desire) Number 6
Soul Urge #6
Maturity #1
Lari White was an American country music, artist and actress, who has charted 12 times on the Billboard country music charts, and became known in 1988 as a winner on You Can Be a Star, a talent competition which aired on The Nashville Network.
She was born on Thursday May 13th 1965, in Dunedin, Florida, United States.
Lari's attention is directed to helping and caring for those she loves. Lari White is exceedingly domestic. She loves her home and family and works hard to make both comfortable and secure. White's love for family and friends is a major source of her happiness and sometimes unhappiness.
Her desire to help others is so strong that Lari White often finds herself sacrificing her own personal needs for someone else's. Lari can overdo it, becoming too deeply involved in other people's lives. She risks interfering in personal matters and or smothering those she loves in too much affection. This can be especially weakening to children, who never experience their own personal strength if an adult is too protective.
Lari White is extremely loyal and rarely lets anyone down. She needs to feel appreciation for her giving and caring. She wants to know that she is needed.
Lari is generous and very forgiving. She is somehow able to overlook the worst mistakes in another and find enough good in that person to continue the relationship. She is patient, warm, and sympathetic, sometimes to the point of sentimentality.
Lari White has a natural ability as a counselor and healer. She is an excellent listener, compassionate and understanding. White is able to both sympathize and empathize with a person's dilemma. Her challenge as a counselor is to be adequately educated so that she can do more than provide a sympathetic ear or shoulder.
She possesses a great deal of artistic talent, though she may not have a lot of confidence in her ability. Art gives Lari White a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. Lari is especially sensitive to her environment and has a knack for creating an artistic, healing, and harmonious atmosphere in her home or work space.
Lari White's deepest intention is to love those around her, and be loved in return. Six is the most loving of all numbers, especially in one-to-one relationships. Lari's instincts are toward her family and friends. She envisions a beautiful and harmonious life with love as the basis for all social interaction. White's love is returned manifold; people appreciate Lari White and the love she gives, and are willing to go to great lengths to keep her close at hand.
You and Lari
About Lari's Soul Urge (Heart's Desire) number
Lari White's Soul Urge number represents her inner self. The Soul Urge number, also called Heart's Desire, shows Lari's underlying urge - her true motivation.
It reveals the general intention behind many of White's actions. Consequently, it dramatically influences the choices Lari White makes in life.
Read more about our interpretation of Lari White's soul urge (heart's desire) number . . .
Other celebrities with Soul Urge number 6 as Lari White
Kylie Jenner (1997)
an American reality television personality, socialite, model and businesswoman who is one of the top 10 most followed celebs on Instagram, and is best known for appearing on the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Chris Brown (1989)
An American recording artist, dancer, and actor who taught himself to sing and dance at a young age, and became the first male artist as a lead since Diddy in 1997 to have his debut single top the chart
Katy Perry (1984)
An American singer, songwriter, and actress who has sold 11 million albums and 81 million singles worldwide, and has received many awards, four Guinness World Records, and is included in Forbes' list of "Top-Earning Women In Music"
Kate Upton (1992)
An American model and actress, known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue where she was named Rookie of the Year following her first appearance in 2011, and was the cover model for the 2012 and 2013 issues
Bill Cosby (1937)
An American stand-up comedian, actor, and author who started his stand-up comedy at the hungry i in San Francisco, followed by a starring role in the 1960s television show I Spy, and feature appearances on The Electric Company
Harry Styles (1994)
An English singer and songwriter who auditioned as a solo artist for the British television series The X Factor, and was met there with four other contestants, to form the group that would later become known as One Direction
Sally Ride (1951-2012)
An American astronaut and physicist and the first American woman in space, who worked at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Arms Control, then at the University of California as a professor of physics, researching nonlinear optics and Thomson scattering, and served on the committees that investigated the Challenger and Columbia Space Shuttle disasters
An American actor, writer, producer, director, and activist, who has received three Golden Globe Awards for his work as an actor and two Academy Awards, one for acting and the other for producing
Ida B. Wells (1862-1931)
An African-American investigative journalist, educator, and an early leader in the civil rights movement, who fought for equality for African Americans, especially women, was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and became the most famous black woman in America during that phase of combating prejudice and violence
Scott Disick (1983)
An American television personality and entrepreneur, best known as the boyfriend of Kourtney Kardashian and father to their three children, and for appearing in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and in Lord Disick: Lifestyles of a Lord
Lari White Numerology -- Soul Urge (Heart's Desire) Number 6 | © Copyright 2009-2021 Celebrities Galore and Master Numerologist Hans Decoz
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Alvin Martin Net Worth
How much is Alvin Martin Worth?
in Richest Athletes › Soccer Players
Alvin Martin Net Worth:
Alvin Martin net worth: Alvin Martin is an English former professional soccer player who has a net worth of $5 million. Alvin Martin was born in Walton, Liverpool, England in July 1958. He was a defender who spent his youth career with West Ham United. Martin made his professional debut for West Ham United in 1976 and played for the club until 1996. He appeared in 469 games and had 27 goals. Alvin Martin finished his career with Leyton Orient from 1996 to 1997 where he had 17 caps. He also represented England in international competition from 1981 to 1986. Martin went on to manage Southend United from 1997 to 1999. He has also been a commentator for radio and Sky Sports TV. His sons Dave and Joe Martin are also soccer players. Alvin Martin competed in the 1986 World Cup for England. He was dropped from the team just before the match against Argentina with the infamous "Hand of God" goal.
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Sports minister: Australian Open 'most likely' to be delayed
Australia's Destanee Aiava reaches to play a forehand to Germany's Mona Barthel during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
MELBOURNE, Australia - The sports minister for Victoria state says the 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne will “most likely” be delayed by a week or two from its scheduled start of Jan. 18.
Martin Pakula also said negotiations between various levels of governments and tennis officials were close to a conclusion and that the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year was expected to go ahead.
“There's a number of potential dates on the table. I've seen reports that suggest that it's likely to be delayed by a week or two. I think that's still most likely,” Pakula said Wednesday. “But it's not the only option. As you know, the French Open was delayed by many months and Wimbledon didn't occur at all.
“I still think it's much more likely that it will be a shorter rather than longer delay. I don't want to unduly repeat myself but these are very complex negotiations.”
Australian Open tournament director and Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley last weekend said the final dates should be confirmed within two weeks. The Australian Open is usually held in the last two weeks of January, which coincides with summer school holidays in Australia.
Victoria was hard-hit by a second wave of COVID-19, forcing the city of Melbourne into a lengthy lockdown, a night curfew and travel and other restrictions in the state. But it no longer has any active cases and its last deaths from the virus in the state were on Oct. 28.
Pakula, the sports minister, wouldn't comment on the players and their entourages' quarantine arrangements amid speculation the process may be shortened to only 10 days, other than to reaffirm that they would definitely be required to quarantine. All arrivals in Australia currently must undergo a 14-day hotel quarantine.
“The exact nature of that quarantine, whether or not it's their own bubble, or something more common, is still part of those conversations,” Pakula said. “The quarantine requirements will be those that are ultimately agreed with the public health (authorities) and then it will be a matter for the ATP and the WTA about whether or not they are acceptable.”
Officials conducted some 10,000 coronavirus tests before and during the successfully-staged U.S. Open in New York in September, with Frenchman Benoit Paire the only player to return a positive to COVID-19.
“An extremely rigorous testing regime will apply to the players both before they leave the port that they come in from and when they arrive,” Pakula said. “And then I imagine consistently through the time they're in their (biosecure) bubble.”
Last week, Tennis Australia announced that all the lead-up tournaments usually held in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide would be relocated to Victoria state to avoid any conflicts with the differing domestic border restrictions within Australia. But doubt was cast over the lead-up events when Victoria's state Premier Dan Andrews said negotiations on those tournaments and player quarantines were far from a done deal.
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Home » Books » The Endless King (Knights of the Borrowed Dark Book 3)
The Endless King (Knights of the Borrowed Dark Book 3)
+ ₹50 shipping fee* (Free shipping for orders above ₹500 within India)
CommonFolks
Author: Dave Rudden
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published on: 2018
Category: Children Story
Subject: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Horror
Age group: 9 - 12 Years
The final book in the award-winning Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, perfect for fans of Skulduggery Pleasant.
'You have no idea what real war is . . . but I'm afraid you're going to find out.'
There's nothing like an apocalypse to kick off the school year.
Denizen Hardwick has travelled to Daybreak, the ancestral home of the Order of the Borrowed Dark, to continue his training as a knight. But lessons have barely begun before an unexpected arrival appears with news that throws the fortress into uproar.
The Endless King has fallen, his dark realm rising in a brutal civil war. When the conflict strikes closer to home, Denizen and his friends face their greatest challenge yet. For if Daybreak falls, so does the world . . .
Children StoryScience FictionFantasyAction / Adventure9 - 12 YearsHorrorPuffin India DisneyDave Rudden
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Cable plan OK'd to link Asia, Africa, and Europe
One of the world's longest submarine cables - a $408 million link between Singapore and France - was given the go-ahead Tuesday when representatives from 21 companies signed an agreement for the project.
The cable will be the first to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe and will have eight segments linking Singapore to France via Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Italy. The 8,000-mile cable is scheduled to be operational early in 1986.
Singapore riots put spotlight on tensions with migrant workers
World reacts to Obama's new military focus on Asia
Why the Russian threat to undersea cables is overblown
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Images Offer Most Detailed Glimpse Yet Into How Skin Senses Temperature
Sobolevsky Lab, CUIMC
Columbia University researchers have captured new detailed images of a temperature-sensing molecule in its open, intermediate, and closed states. The findings will help us understand the mechanics of hot, warm, cool, and cold sensation and accelerate the development of drugs for a variety of conditions, including inflammatory skin disease, itch, and pain.
The findings were published online in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.
Researchers have known for more than a century that temperature and pain perception is controlled by specialized sensory neurons. In the late 1990s, scientists discovered a superfamily of molecules, called transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, inside these neurons. Of the 28 known TRP channels, 11 are highly sensitive to changes in temperature. These “thermoTRPs” open and close in response to temperature fluctuations, allowing ions to pass through and transmit signals to the central nervous system.
“ThermoTRPs act as biological thermometers, allowing organisms to sense temperatures in the entire physiological range, from noxious cold to noxious heat,” says study leader Alexander I. Sobolevsky, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry & molecular biophysics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. “How these channels sense temperature and then subsequently undergo changes at the molecular level has remained a puzzle.”
An important breakthrough in the field came in 2013 when a technique called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was first used to image representatives of the TRP channel family. Since then, almost every type of TRP channel has been imaged with this technique. But scientists were unable to capture cryo-EM images of thermoTRP channels at different temperatures—particularly high temperatures, when heat-sensitive channels are activated.
In the new study, Sobolevsky’s lab identified a mutation in one of these channels, TRPV3, that increases its sensitivity to temperature. By exploiting this mutation, his team was able to fix the channel in open, sensitized, and closed positions—an essential step in understanding a protein’s structure using cryo-EM imaging. The resultant images revealed the structural changes that happen in TRPV3 once it is activated by heat.
“These structural changes seem to originate from the ion-conducting membrane portion of TRPV3 that senses temperature through its interaction with the surrounding membrane lipids,” says Appu K. Singh, PhD, an associate research scientist in biochemistry & molecular biophysics at Columbia University and first author of the paper. “Further studies are needed to identify temperature sensors of these channels more precisely.”
TRPV3 is mainly expressed in skin cells. The channel plays a role in a variety of physiological functions, including temperature sensation, nociception (the nervous system’s response to certain harmful or potentially harmful stimuli), itch, maintenance of the skin barrier, wound healing, and hair growth. TRPV3 is also associated with numerous human skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea. Studies show that mice lacking TRPV3 are unable to sense warmer temperatures.
Alexander Sobolevsky, PhD (CUIMC)
“Our structures not only can serve as a springboard for studies of the biophysical principles of ion channel temperature activation, but also as templates for the design of drugs for a variety of conditions that affect the skin,” Sobolevsky says.
In a separate study published in Nature Communications, Dr. Sobolevsky’s team used cryo-EM to determine the structure of crTRP1, a thermoTRP found in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a type of algae. This is the first time the structure of a thermoTRP has been described in a micro-organism.
The paper is titled “Structural basis of temperature sensation by the TRP channel TRPV3.”
The other contributors are Luke L. McGoldrick (Columbia University Irving Medical Center), Lusine Demirkhanyan (University of Illinois College of Medicine), Merfilius Leslie (University of Illinois), and Eleonora Zakharian (University of Illinois).
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (F31 CA232391-01, R01 CA206573, R01 5 NS083660, R01 NS107253, and GM103310), the National Science Foundation, an Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award, the Simons Foundation, and NYSTAR (the Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation).
The authors declare no financial or other conflicts of interest.
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Home » Forums » Discussion Forum » SARS cov2 and Covid 19 » Page 8
SARS cov2 and Covid 19
Home › Forums › Discussion Forum › SARS cov2 and Covid 19
Viewing 40 posts - 281 through 320 (of 1,197 total)
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The accuracy of the test in clinical practice does not mean that the test itself is useless, it means that there are other factors such as the way swabs are taken, the number of samples, the timing of the swabs and where the swabs come from, nasal swabs, urine BAL etc… Also as stated a positive result is more significant than a negative result. This is not really a reflection on the test itself. In a fast moving situation, practice evolves and what this paper is saying is that the practice of swabbing and the interpretation of results is important.
So if you are well today and have a swab which is negative then you become ill two days later and the swab then is positive, it does not mean that any of these tests were unreliable, it just means that there was not enough virus two days ago to be picked up on testing on the first occasion.
I am not sure what the reference for the bit on the block quotes is, could you please provide one?
It is sometimes difficult to follow your arguments mainly because you seem to be against everything, the science, the medicine and the politics. Whereas science and medicine are more open to scrutiny, politics, especially under the current ‘regime’ is not and as we know is often deliberately twisted. The politics is also trying to recruit some of the ‘science’ both as a defense for their arbitrary action, but ultimately as a fall guy. It weakens your case if you attack everyone because what we should really attack is the government’s handling of this both in the general sense but specifically in the economic sleazy sense.
I messed up “sensitivity” and “specificity” because I am more into pure maths than applied maths and more used to the terms “true positives” and “true negatives” which are more self-explanatory. So I will redo the calculation below. My apologies for this.
“Sensitivity” and “specificity” are deliberately confusing terms meant to be memorised by medical students and then used mostly within the “profession” to exclude those who are outside the racket. (This happens in all “professions”, not just among charlatans such as NHS GPs who allow the plebs to think they have doctorates and local solicitors who “specialise” in conveyancing, “helping” senile elderly ladies manage their bequests whether in property or financial assets, and remortgaging.) “True positive rate” is a much clearer term that indicates how many % of people who test positive actually have what is supposed to be have been tested for. Nobody will confuse “true positive” with “true negative” as I unfortunately did “sensitivity” with “specificity”.
The aide memoire “I’m positive that I’m sensitive” seems a good way to remember which way round it is 🙂
The figures for 70% sensitivity (true positives) and 95% specificity (true negatives) (which I have checked) come from the “practice note” in the British Medical Journal that I linked to. The BMJ, owned by Elsevier, is a vehicle for Big Pharma propaganda – see the relevant pages of Edward Bernays’s great (absolutely must-read) book “Propaganda” on how “trade journals” create and manage “opinion” within a “trade”, and also Vance Packard’s “Hidden Persuaders” in which – going by memory – I seem to recall he talks about the marketing of librium which medics were told should be prescribed “whatever the diagnosis”. Things are done more subtly nowadays. Nowadays there is little leftwing critique of how say “flu jabs” were marketed until they became “normal”, although that would be extremely interesting knowledge to have at the present time. (Perhaps there are some loony-right articles about it, mixed up with assertions such as that the Sandy Hook massacre was fake. By such means is clear critique obstructed. This kind of method developed after Bernays wrote.) Similarly “everyone” talks of “Oxford” research, “Cambridge” research, and “Imperial College” research, rather than whichever drug companies are really calling the shots. At Oxford it’s Astra Zeneca. At Cambridge it’s Glaxo Smith Kline. I don’t know who it is at Imperial.
The BMJ article, entitled “Interpreting a covid-19 test result”, says the 70% and 95% figures are at the lower ends of reviews and that they are approximate. I am not trying to be an “expert” who produces a super-accurate estimate of how many people have had SARS-CoV2. I have no particular opinion on what the real figure is. I am just trying to pick at what a heap of flimsy rubbish the officially encouraged lines of thought are where testing is concerned.
The stuff in the block quote is just me applying Bayes’s Theorem. Feed in the rate of true positives and the rate of true negatives, and you get the “likelihood ratio” (“Bayes factor”) that tells you how to alter the whole-population incidence rate (i.e. the probability that a person chosen at random has the problem) to get the post-test probability (one figure for if it’s positive, another for if it’s negative) that the tested person has the infection. This is the principle of how you get from ANY medical test result to an estimate of the probability that the person has the infection or other problem. Of course you are right that other indicators should be accounted for, which is why I said let’s take the person at random from the population.
In the real world, testing is not done at random. Two cases in particular are interesting: first, when people who do have “the symptoms” are NOT tested, and second, when people who don’t have the symptoms (or who at least have only a high temperature or basically a cold) ARE tested. In Britain I reckon both groups include a lot of people.
“Covid-19” is a collection of flu-type symptoms. (Impairment of smell and taste also happens with the common cold which is usually a much less severe illness than flu.) Many who have had these symptoms have never been tested for SARS-CoV2. If I recall correctly, these include our host on this blog and his wife. If the ill people are in “care homes for the elderly” (mostly rented by wide boys from companies they are connected with that are registered offshore), they have usually been left without any hospital treatment. Ambulance teams have been told not to attend to them, but to spend hours cleaning and re-cleaning their ambulances instead, Nero-style. If they then die, many are recorded on their medical certificates of the cause of death (MCCDs) as having died with Covid-19 even if they were never actually tested for SARS-CoV2. (How many of the 40000+ deaths “with Covid-19” in Britain does this account for, I wonder?) I.e. they were recorded as having died with Covid-19 because they had flu symptoms, and then probably many of them died of pneumonia (another collection of symptoms that can have many causes) inside care homes, pneumonia that was brought to the care homes by patients who caught it in hospital and were then discharged back into the care homes. (If you want to murder loads of people in a care home, this is a way to do it.) The policy is one of “involuntary euthanasia”. In Germany the extermination policy did not start with Jews, gays, Jehovah’s witnesses, recidivist criminals, etc. – it started with the physically and mentally disabled. There haven’t been many press articles about how the homeless have been getting along in Britain since they were cleared off the streets in March either.
One of the most important provisions in the Coronavirus Act (sections 11-13) is the provision for indemnifying designated people from liability when patients die. Now that the petty-official manager stuck-up types who infest this country have been entrained into spouting “coronavirus”-themed bullsh*t by their higher-ups and the media, bullsh*t that directly contradicts what is going on often in front of their eyes, and what they could in any case work out if they were used to applying a teensy bit of logic in a sensible way undirtied with any poncy “I’m an expert” role-playing, they basically have the taste for blood. It’s a twist on the Stanford Prison Experiment or Stanley Milgram’s electroshock experiment.
It’s very scary indeed and the prognosis doesn’t look good. The economic background is one of very heavy over-employment, as anyone who has walked past an office building can attest. We are at the early stage of a cull which is likely to exceed greatly what has happened so far.
(See the “toilet paper” story. Exciting to Daily Mail readers because it’s about bums, and also about dirt, this was deliberate misdirection by the government in order to make shortages look amusing and to direct attention to this particular commodity, a shortage of which is certainly annoying but is nowhere near as problematic as shortages of food. In March, various food items were similarly put on private-sector ration and similarly ran short on the shelves, but it was “wiping your bum” that got most of the media attention. As a piece of psychological warfare it was a bit of a practice on a shooting range. One can also remark on the functioning of the NOTION of “panic” – not actual “panic” but the notion of it.)
Now to the calculation. I am taking 6% as the incidence rate because it was mentioned here.
So we have
prior probability = incidence rate = 0.06
convert to odds: prior odds = 0.06 / 0.94 = 0.063830
true positive rate = sensitivity = 0.70
true negative rate = specificity = 0.95
false negative rate = 1 – 0.95 = 0.05
likelihood ratio = Bayes factor = true positive rate / false negative rate = 0.70 / 0.05 = 14
posterior odds = prior odds * likehihood ratio = 0.063830 * 14 = 0.893617
convert to probability: posterior probability = 0.893617 / 1.893617 = 0.471910
a positive test result from “RT-PCR” test, carried out on person chosen randomly, indicates that
the probability they are infected with SARS-CoV2 is 47%
As I said, many may have had SARS-CoV2 but were never tested. But there are also many who have been tested, and who tested positive, and who probably did not have SARS-CoV2. If these were all people who were tested only because they had the whole collection of specified symptoms, then the above figure 47% doesn’t tell us much, because it rests on an incidence figure of 6% which is (supposedly) for the whole population. However, they were NOT all people who displayed the said symptoms. Many of them were probably as fit a fiddle or at least had no more than a minor cold for a day or two. They include many who work in the NHS. The official advice is get tested if you have any one of the three famous symptoms. NHS advice:
You can get a test:
(…) if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
Note the use of “or” rather than “and”. A minor sniffle will give you the third of these symptoms.
It’s relevant that tests have been given out like smarties to NHS staff, because I would imagine that now that most hospital wards have been shut down the managers don’t want loads of nurses and other employees running around all over the place with nothing to do other than “makework”.
Last, while I’m here, going by official figures and interpretations it seems that many have caught SARS-CoV2 and successfully fought it off, in some cases without even getting symptoms. Their immune systems have defeated it, sometimes even before their antibodies have been called out! That’s good news! In many individuals, it’s been a case of Evolved Human Biology 1, The Nasty Virus 0. And not all of these people are children. Reason suggests that on average they have had a smaller viral load than those who have died from the virus, but the point is that their immune systems have fought the virus and won.
This makes it a disgrace that there has been absolutely no “public health advice” telling people how to strengthen their immune systems. (Cryzine make this point well in their footnote 7 here.) I could make a list of foods and substances but will mention only iron, zinc, and vitamin C (e.g. in orange juice) for the time being. Many middle class and lower middle class bureaucratic types assume that whatever they are not ordered to say to “the public” is material that “the public” shouldn’t hear, and doubtless they could come up with a dozen reasons why advice about “how to strengthen your immune system” would be “inappropriate” to give to people, would be misinterpreted, would cause more harm than help, would cause the sky to fall in, and so on and so forth, ad nauseam – a string of bullsh*t “reasons”.
There is a lot here that you wrote and I do not presume to even try and answer you point by point. To start on a light note: “Why is there a shortage of loo paper?” “Because every time one person coughs, a hundred shit themselves”.
But let is analyse some of what I perceive to be known about SARS Cov2 and Covid 19.
SARS Cov2 is the recently described virus which has been associated with a set of clinical conditions from being completely asymptomatic, to having mild cold like or flu like symptoms, to being severely ill, to requiring ventilation support and at the extreme to dying of multiorgan failure.
Covid-19 on the other hand is the disease caused by the virus which constitutes only about 20% of all those who encounter the virus according to several studies. So not everyone who is infected with SARS Cov2 develops Covid 19, in fact 80% go around their business merrily and do not even notice. This is not unique to this virus because disease caused by many agent, whether microbiological, neoplastic, inflammatory or chemically induced, are manifested by the combination of the presence of the agent, the amount or dose of exposure, the timescale of the exposure, the state of the immune system at the time of exposure, genetic makeup of the individual, dietary factors and so on.
In the case of Covid 19 some observations so far have shown some of the factors associated with severe disease. There is a very strong correlation with age and certain comorbidities, including heart disease, diabetes, factors such as obesity, ethnic origin and sex. These all contribute to the variability of the disease in any one group of cases.
What has also been known from the outset is that the most extreme end of the spectrum, respiratory failure is associated with what is medically known as ARDS, whereby fluid accumulates in the lung and the patients literally drown in their own secretions. Ventilation in these cases has a limited effect because you can’t force oxygen through all the inflammatory fluid in the alveoli, but is used purely as a holding measure. It has been shown, in the case of Covid-19 and also other diseases associated with ARDS, as well as multiorgan failure, that this situation is caused by an overreaction of the immune system (known as a cytokine storm) to the virus that occurs in some cases. Why this is the case, is not known. One of the practical outcomes of this knowledge is that dexamethasone, an immunosuppressive agent, used in medicine to treat various conditions associated with dysregulated immunity, but also cancers of the immune system, has been shown to have some beneficial effects in patients at this severe end of disease increasing their chances of survival.
Also unlike some expectations, some patients with immunosuppression due to their cancers were found to be surprisingly less susceptible to severe disease.
To go back to some of your points and calculating the possibility of finding a positive or negative results. This is in the realms of experimental or theoretical mathematics and may be used for algorithms or other guidelines in public health planning. But in the glaring daylight of frontline medicine the positive PCR for SARS cov2 means with a 100% certainty that you have the virus in your secretions. The test has a very high degree of specificity because it is looking at unique sequences and amplifying them. False positive results arise nevertheless mainly because of the possibility of contamination because of the high sensitivity of the test and hence the 5% error rate. Nevertheless in a well controlled laboratory with rigorous procedures the a positive result should mean that the virus has been detected in that individual. Rigorous internal and external quality controls are used in order to validate and accredit laboratories.
So moving on to symptoms of covid-19. I think there is a subtlety that escapes the layman, say about certain symptoms. To take an example, loss of smell and taste. The mechanisms that operate in this symptom and in covid-19 are completely different. It has been added as a specific symptom, because it often predates any coryzal symptoms, such as sneezing or a bunged up nose, and even occurs in the absence of these. In the common cold, loss of smell and taste is relative, and is due to inflammatory secretions around the taste and smell organs, but in covid-19 it appears to be due to an effect on the nervous system that transmits the perceptions of taste and smell from these receptors to the brain. Also the cough in typical covid-19 is often dry and associated with breathlessness much before there are any other respiratory symptoms, unlike in flu for example, where the shortness of breath, due to secondary bacterial pneumonia happens later in the disease.
Just to take one or two other points you make: The care homes death from covid-19 was at the early stages markedly underreported and there was no testing of care homes or even of elderly patients in hospital with early discharges to care homes, which then led to this tragedy of care home deaths. To mix this up only gives leeway to Johnson and co who want to absolve themselves of any responsibility.
The other point about statistics and % positives I wish to make, which I am sure you know, is that the positive rate is a shifting one because of the variability of number and symptomatic groups of people tested, but also because of the shifting infection rates. This moving target makes it difficult to make too many assumptions at present.
N_, August 15, 11:29, #57654:
– “Only a small number of tests (say a few thousand) are needed to estimate incidence (“total infected so far” per population), assuming the test works reasonably well.”
(a) I would expect this to be true for an infection that is near equilibrium in a population, ie. it has been around long enough to be distributed throughout the population – a proportion having sufficient immunity, a proportion having insufficient immunity but not a recent chance to be infected, and a proportion with the infection; all three groups distributed among each other.
(b) I would expect it to be untrue for a novel infection (1) to which the population begins with no immunity and (2) which spreads very fast.
A “few thousand tests” is a sample of the population; hopefully a random sample. In case (a), a random sample should yield a result representative of the randomly distributed infection, but in case (b) infection will be very clustered around the initial seeding infections, and by definition, the locations of these are unknown.
The fast spread is also significant, as the timescale for performing the tests and collating the results is similar to or exceeds the doubling time of the infection; the results will be out of date by the time they are ready for publication.
– “With the new SARS strain this happened through the biowar defence network and was done covertly. All sorts of tests are done covertly all the time.”
N_, do you have insider knowledge of this or are you guessing? To me this seems an unlikely approach, since the type of pathogen to test for would be unknown. As a first guess, if I were designing such a biowar detection/monitoring system, I would suggest monitoring of health databases to detect any sudden surges in a broad variety of symptoms, and to produce distribution maps of them to indicate clusters.
N_, I think too much significance can be placed upon testing, just as too much can be placed upon modelling. As SA points out, it is the medical staff who have direct experience of the effects of covid-19 upon actual individuals. It is medical staff who learn what works under which circumstances to improve given sufferers’ conditions, or fails to.
Yes, there will be errors both ways, but different reporting systems in different regions and countries will also extenuate those errors one way or the other. The situation is changing fast, and people are learning fast. In a few years time much will be realised in retrospect…
…In the meantime, we should all exercise patience and tolerance. Please pardon me for saying so, but you seem highly critical and indeed angry with entire professional groups. Such groups of course consist of diverse individuals, some better some worse, but all conditioned and habituated to various extents under the corrosive and abusive system that we have all been suffering under increasingly during its ascendency over the course of decades.
Ultimately, we need unity and communality among people, whereas the toxic system both exploits and encourages division between us. In the current socio-political environment, forgiveness, tolerance and respect become revolutionary attitudes.
Love and Rage to you, N_.
Matt Hancock’s announcement that the governement is disbanding PHE. It is to be replaced with the new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP), which will take on some of PHE’s existing responsibilities along with the NHS Test and Trace programme and the work of the Joint Biosecurity Centre.. The announcement was made on Tuesday with little detail other than that the new organization was to be headed by Baroness Harding, a non medic whom Hancock described as “simply the best” person in the entire country to run his pandemic organization right now.
This is so blatantly a political move which is part of the government’s plan of using the covid-19 to run its own agenda on social and health changes in this country. If this proposal is to be taken seriously then it should have been made through a transparent process and by choosing a top scientist to head the organization which has a much bigger role in the health of the nation than just the prevention of epidemics or dealing with them.
The Tories have deliberately underfunded Public health England by cutting its funds by £850 million since it start in 2013.
Cynically this move, done hastily is probably meant not only to start the privatisation and politicisation of major parts of the NHS system, but also to scapegoat PHE for what is essentially a failure of government policy in dealing with the covid-19 pandemic. In some ways the scientists and medical advisers who have remained uncritical of the governement throughout this, have brought it on themselves. Time for those experts to speak out.
This letter in the BMJ sumarises the catastrophe that awaits us.
“Restructuring Public Health England: public health is about more than being prepared for future pandemics
Paul C Coleman, Joht Singh Chandan, and Fatai Ogunlayi consider the effect this restructure will have on the future health and wellbeing of England
We have serious concerns about the future of public health in England after the announcement earlier this week that Public Health England (PHE) will be disbanded. Few organisations can claim not to have made any mistakes in the management of the covid-19 pandemic. Yet media reports on the role of PHE have often been misinformed and one sided, with PHE receiving criticism for mistakes outside of its remit, including a lack of mass testing and problems with the supply of personal protective equipment. PHE has also received criticism for halting contact tracing on 12 March—a decision that was in fact part of the government’s move into the “delay” phase of its coronavirus strategy.
While there are lessons that must be learnt, it would be prudent for the government to delay any restructure until we can better understand the mistakes that have been made, especially since the prime minister announced in July that there would be “an independent inquiry into what happened.”
We are particularly concerned about the crippling effect this restructure will have on the future health and wellbeing of this nation, and the ability of our public health system to respond to the interrelated challenges posed by communicable and non-communicable diseases. While it is too early to ascertain why the UK experienced one of the highest levels of covid-19 mortality in Europe, there is evidence to suggest that this could be partly due to the UK’s high prevalence of morbidities, such as obesity and diabetes, which are recognised risk factors for severe covid-19 outcomes. Furthermore, the UK’s ethnic and regional variation in deaths from covid-19 shows that it is incredibly difficult to disentangle the effects of the virus from the wider impacts of health inequalities in our society.
Since its inception in 2013, in the wake of another disruptive top-down restructure, a core function of PHE has been to address the socioeconomic determinants of ill health. However, the spending review of 2015 saw PHE’s budget cut drastically and during this time we have seen widening inequalities between the richest and poorest parts of England, a stall in improvements to life expectancy, and rising levels of morbidity and mortality from a range of non-communicable diseases. These failings are due to a decade of austerity, cuts to local authority public health budgets, and the government continually prioritising cure over prevention—as demonstrated by the disparity in funding for the NHS and public health.
Unfortunately, it seems that yet again the socioeconomic causes of ill health are being ignored. The announcement of PHE’s disbanding by Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for health and social care, outlined no plans for the future of health improvement and PHE workstreams focusing on the non-communicable causes of disease.
While covid-19 may be the greatest public health challenge currently facing the country, mortality from the impacts of air pollution alone is predicted to outweigh covid-19 related deaths over the next decade. What we need from the government is a cohesive strategy that recognises the complexities of addressing the interconnected challenges posed by communicable and non-communicable causes of diseases—as highlighted by the inequalities in covid-19 morbidity and mortality.
We urge the government to consider the vital role of public health in reducing inequalities and improving the health of the whole nation. In particular, we need to see greater investment in local public health services, especially in areas with the highest levels of deprivation and worst health outcomes. Critically, we also demand immediate clarity on the government’s future plans for the vital health improvement work undertaken by PHE, and how as a country we will address both the communicable and non-communicable causes of disease.
Paul Coleman is a public health specialty registrar at the University of Warwick.
Joht Singh Chandan is an academic clinical fellow in public health at the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick. Twitter @JohtChandan”
I’m worried by this Joint Biosecurity Centre; the name alone sounds military, and:
– “It is modelled on the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, established in 2003, which advises the government on the appropriate terrorism threat level.”
– “Clare Gardiner, director of national resilience and strategy at the National Cyber Security Centre (part of GCHQ), has been seconded as director general to set it up.”
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2604
Is it true that many private hospitals in Britain have rented out most or all of their beds to “the NHS” because of the “virus crisis”, and that most of those beds have lain empty for several months, just like most beds in “NHS” hospitals?
If so, how much is the government paying the private hospitals for that?
That’s a step on from paying mafia-run construction companies to build a bridge that nobody wants.
Yes according to the daily mail, both stories seem to be correct. Covid-19 has been used to accelerate transference of NHS tax payer’s money to the private sector. The privatisation of the NHS will then be complete and seamless.
N_, I agree with you wholeheartedly that covid-19 has been and is being capitalised upon ruthlessly, but it’s a virus crisis, not a “virus crisis”. The right is very happy to encourage as much denial as possible; get as many working and shopping again so they can get back to creaming the profit. From my observation, the cherry-picking and conspiracy theories start at the entirely anonymous Swiss Propaganda Research, progress to Off-Guardian and UK Column, and end up repeated (slightly watered down) in the Telegraph, Express etc.
Critical care beds filled to capacity in March/April and ICU was severely overrun, but not for long; see eg. “Hospital resource use” section here. Covid-19 is fast – fast to spread, and fast to either kill or get better.
“Police in England will be able to fine organisers of illegal gatherings of more than 30 people such as raves up to £10,000 from Friday, ministers say.” (BBC.)
(This is relevant to this thread because the context is “restrictions” that have been or will be imposed ostensibly because of SARS-CoV2.)
When did police get the authority to impose fines?
Police have been able to issue penalty notices since the 1950s:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_penalty_notice
Heard today on a BBC Radio 4 phone-in programme about the problems of getting people to return to “work” in the office: a woman who described herself as a “buy-to-let landlady” (fingers on triggers, everyone!) who didn’t use “public transport” but whose husband had used it before SARS-Cov2 said that it would be dangerous for her husband to go back to work, because public transport is so disease-ridden, because many people are travelling on it who aren’t wearing masks – and “nobody is telling them off”.
In other words, proletarian scum are breathing the way they want, with impunity! What an insult that is to all right-thinking people!
She suggested that they should be given 3 days in prison, or 50 hours of “community service”. Perhaps they could clean the properties she has bought to let? And if she sees a nostril slip out when one of them was scrubbing the kitchen for her, perhaps she should be empowered to order the nostril’s owner to work for another 50 hours?
This piece of sh*t obviously thinks she has the right to rob people who don’t own houses and who are in the position that they have to pay her so that they can live in a house that she owns but doesn’t live in. There’s nothing new in that. That’s what almost all landlords think. She also hates most working class people who can’t afford cars. There’s nothing new in that either.
But look how the hatred is building. This moneygrabbing parasite wants the sharp end of the state to clean the smellies out of her ladyship and her husband’s way, for hygiene’s sake.
Meanwhile the government are saying grandparents won’t be able to hug their grandchildren at Christmas. Well why open the f*cking schools then? They are encouraging the kind of dulling of family relationships that is common in famine, even though there isn’t yet a famine.
Hug your grandchildren! F*ck the government!
The reopening of schools is another big propaganda topic at the moment. Practically the whole of the mainstream media are assuming as follows:
a) that parents can’t and won’t educate their children in anything, and that therefore children who don’t go to school receive no education whatsoever, even while their parents are off work and in the house all day;
b) that school is compulsory (they don’t say this but they strongly imply it – they certainly don’t mention that parents have a statutory right to have their children deregistered from any damned school with immediate effect);
c) regarding the reopening of schools (in which teachers will act even more like concentration camp guards than they did before SARS-Cov2), that parents are incapable of understanding that children can spread a virus that doesn’t harm them themselves or even cause them any noticeable symptoms. Never mind that this was supposedly precisely the reason that schools were shut in the first place. It is now largely forgotten about. The ultra-patronising and typically British discourse is mostly “Don’t worry about little Johnny. We’ve got a hygiene policy in place. He won’t get ill. We understand you’re worried, or at least you’re worried when you don’t have all those non-native men visiting you in your council flat. Nothing’s going to happen. Trust the authorities.”
Schools should NOT be reopened:
School Reopening Guidance for Families and Teachers
– When COVID-19 is no longer being transmitted within a community, schools can begin to reopen safely. It is not safe to reopen schools for in-person schooling while community transmission is still present. In-person schooling increases the risk of rapidly escalating case numbers throughout the community, placing health and lives at risk and possibly requiring further lockdowns to contain transmission. Before a community can safely begin to reopen schools (primary, secondary and higher education), they must bring new cases to zero and have safeguards in place to keep cases at zero. We can stop COVID-19 community transmission. All it takes is five weeks. We know how to get there, and we can all start now.
The article I linked above includes lots of links to scientific and statistical articles about covid-19 in schools and its effects on children.
All these discussions are a diversion. Any measure whatever it is, to reduce the spread of the pandemic, has not only been abandoned but also completely unmentioned by any one. The key to stopping an epidemic is – or should I say, was – to test, contact trace and proper quarantine, not voluntary self isolation. The offhand way by which this basic principle of containing highly contagious diseases have never been debated and has been outsourced for profit and not containment.
Like politics it seems that science and medicine have given up resistance to a cult of constant misinformation.
The key to all this is adaptability. Maybe the planet is seeking to heal itself? Human activity must change and COVID-19 is pointing the way. Strangely measures that became popular such as working from home, a brilliant idea where it can be done, is now being discouraged because the spinoffs of working in crowded inner cities are being threatened. But the spinoffs must adapt.
Take for example all the unnecessary journeys in overcrowded tubes leading to reduction in pollution just one example.
Regarding the £10000 “penalty” imposed on Piers Corbyn for his involvement in a “Stop the New Normal” demo in central London, Matthew Scott writes as follows:
“(T)he £10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice issued to Piers Corbyn as someone “involved in” the demonstration is disturbing. Mr Corbyn’s “FPN” requires him – strictly speaking one could argue it “invites him” but it is an invitation backed by a threat – to pay £10,000 for breaching Regulation 5B of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions on Holding of Gatherings and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.”
“Regulation 5B was hastily made law last Friday 28th August, the day before the demonstration was held. It was introduced under an emergency procedure and was neither debated nor given even the most cursory scrutiny by any Parliamentary process. It permits the most junior Community Support Officer in the country to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to the suspected organiser of a political event, demanding £10,000 to avoid prosecution and consequent financial ruin.” (Emphasis added)
(Note: the reference should be to section 2 of the cited regulations, which creates section 5B of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020.)
In the British NHS, the partners of pregnant women are now not even being allowed into hospitals to accompany the women when they “go to appointments” (excuse the Britspeak), for example when they learn they are having a miscarriage. “That’s because of the coronavirus, love”, you can imagine some senior nurse straight out of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” telling the couple in a patronising tone at the door, used to “explaining” to “members of the public” whatever her bosses have told her to believe that day – unvarying in her belief that “members of the public” are mainly stupid, not like her, and always mindful of the security procedure she should follow if a member of the public doesn’t knuckle down and lick boot.
That’s the NHS for you.
NHS = Nazional Heimland Service.
“Because of the coronavirus”, my left cr*phole!
What it really is is another example of the across-the-board attack on socialisation, as the state hierarchy gets ever stronger vis-a-vis the proletarian population.
Naive lefties should perhaps put their hands over their ears right now, but the truth is that the rich are not treated like this. Similarly rich women in Britain were able to get abortions prior to the 1967 Abortion Act, and their husbands were allowed to be present when they gave birth decades before that “privilege” was allowed to proletarian male procreators.
State schools of course have been like this for decades – teachers often treat proletarian parents as if they are potential or actual paedophiles who are not only sexually extremely promiscuous but probably eat their dinners while sitting on their living room armchairs.
Basically the proletariat are viewed as farm animals – the parent-child relationship in the proletariat is considered to be worth f*ck all compared to the anti-educational regimented culture of the army-like school system, and now what’s happening is the relationship between two expecting parents (young lefties please note: parents come in pairs and can only be a man and a woman) is similarly being cr*pped on as if it were not just worthless but a threat to public hygiene.
Of course there are some who don’t give a tinker’s cuss for obeying the regulations governing who they’re supposed to be allowed to meet and where, and at what distance. But we are few, very few.
Unfortunately many locked themselves in their houses for 3 months, only venturing out to the shops about once a week, too scared to go for a daily walk to get some exercise even though it has always been legal. Their wising up within the next few weeks or months or years to realise that they themselves were the authors of their own imprisonment seems unlikely, to say the least.
Would they put their heads in the gas oven if someone with a posh accent or an “expert” demeanour told them to?
Yes, many of them would.
I am totally fed up with engaging in any conversation about SARS-Cov2 where the other person has no interest in how the concept of “hygiene” functions in British class society and in Britain’s almost colonial administrative structure.
The British government has “lost” £3.5 billion to coronavirus “fraud” – and that’s only what they’re admitting.
Will any minister or official get jailed or the sack?
Will any City firm that advised “Her Majesty’s Government” on the “furlough scheme” cease to get government contracts?
Will they hell…
Time for a story on the front pages about “Prince” Harry’s house, or about some other “prince” attending nursery school. I mean what’s a three and a half billion quid heist (that will probably turn out to be much bigger, assuming sterling will last much longer as a currency that anybody takes seriously) compared to a “prince’s” haircut or a “duchess’s” dress?
Another small study suggests that improvement in clinical management of patients with covid 19 who require increased oxygenation by injections of a licensed drug, a Kinin B2 receptor antagonist, icatibant, to 10 patients and 20 controls, in a case controlled study of patients with covid-19 requiring oxygen therapy:
Pulmonary edema is a prominent feature in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters the cell via angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).1
ACE2 is involved in degrading the kinin des-Arg9-bradykinin, a potent vasoactive peptide that can cause vascular leakage. Loss of ACE2 might lead to plasma leakage and further activation of the plasma kallikrein-kinin system with more bradykinin formation that could
contribute to pulmonary angioedema via stimulation of bradykinin 2 receptors.2 We investigated
whether treatment with the bradykinin 2 receptor antagonist icatibant in patients with COVID-19
could be used as a treatment strategy.
Of course this will need confirmation through a large randomised study, but together with the study published on the use of dexamethasone, may help save some lives until more effective targeted therapy is found.
Interestingly it has also been observed that the rising number of cases in this second wave is associated with less severe disease including the number of deaths. Although this is at present anecdotal, the ratio of new cases to deaths seems to confirm this at present. A number of reasons may be at play but one of them is probably also due to better management of the severely ill patients due to increased understanding of the disease process.
Boris Johnson says he wants everybody to take “enabling tests” for “the virus” at the beginning of every day. (Click that link to hear him say it.)
Ways that can work:
1. <b>Everyone is microchip-implanted</b), and the testing technology shakes hands with an implant when it takes the blood sample, verifying somehow that the implant and the sample are in the same person’s body.
2. The technology checks the DNA fingerprint of the blood sample that it runs the viral antigen test on. (Be aware that cutting the strands of DNA into pieces as is required for a DNA test currently takes at least a few hours.)
3. Any other suggestions? (A system relying on voice recognition, an iris scan, or other non-intrusive biometrics such as face recognition, would be easy to beat. For example, just show another person’s face to the camera when you stick your finger in the finger-prick device.)
* everyone will be microchipped
* everyone will either be under house arrest or allowed out on daily-reviewed parole
Today some idiot said they weren’t a “conspiracy theorist” when I remarked that a) many have contracted the novel SARS strain and beaten it; b) most people can easily increase the health of their immunue systems (for example by drinking more orange juice and taking iron and zinc), and c) “health officials” could easily spread this information but haven’t.
But N_, you are a conspiracy theorist. All this pretence that the pandemic is just concocted and isn’t a problem, that the climate emergency is a hoax; it’s all classic conspiracy theory. Plus you support the “Jewish doctors murdered Stalin” thing. And also, you seem to hate almost everyone.
N_ is acting in a very un Marxist way echoing the empire’s attack on climate change Resistance and attacking the NHS workers as tools of the empire. Moreover N_ rarely answers when challenged just producing more conspiracy theories. I have seen this methodology before.
– “I have seen this methodology before.”
Yes. It comes to be easily recognisable. The ‘net is awash with it.
– “…but together with the study published on the use of dexamethasone, may help save some lives until more effective targeted therapy is found.”
The New York and Spanish studies, and the Diamond Princess figures give an Infection Fatality Rate of about 1.4%. However, these were with hospitalisation, treatment, breathing support etc. We must remember that left unchecked by social restrictions, covid-19 would still overwhelm hospitals by a factor of ten, in which case the IFR would more likely be around 2.8% – that would be around 1.9 million people in the UK.
Reported deaths with Covid-19 in the US:
5-8 Sep (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue): 707, 430, 286, 496
12-15 Sep (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue): 707, 392, 480, 1197
Figures from Worldometers.
So yesterday’s figure was an increase of 141% over the number for the previous Tuesday. This is looking like the beginning of a “third wave” in the US.
Statistical Note
Given the weekly reporting cycle, it is sensible to compare figures from the same day of the week, as above. The federal Labour Day holiday on Monday 7 September probably had an effect on the usual reporting pattern, but the figures for the three days prior to the two Tuesdays suggest that at least most of yesterday’s increase is NOT the result of reports stacking up because of the holiday. If such a stack-up happened, it might explain the small decrease on Sunday and the small increase on Monday, but it doesn’t explain the rocketing growth yesterday.
It is just about possible that the holiday may have caused some reports to be filed early rather than late (I am not sure how this may have happened, but it may have occurred for some bureaucratic reason), so keep a watch on the figure for today. But this seems unlikely. Far more likely, big trouble is starting. This may turn out to be concentrated in states where the Trump campaign has held large rallies with lots of shouting by people not wearing masks.
“Cash from Covid: Who is Making a Quick Buck?” – piece in the Glasgow Keelie, voice of “the dissident, the downtrodden, the troublemaker, the enraged, the anarchist, and we welcome the participation of all true lovers of liberty”.
Covid-19 cross-infects far more readily indoors. The whole northern hemisphere has just passed equinox, night is now longer than day, the weather is getting less pleasant, people are now gathering indoors, and 90% of the global population is in the northern hemisphere.
UK infection numbers are rising; we should be locking down now. At first the increasing numbers could be accounted for by increased testing, but deaths have been rising for a week now, so true infection numbers must have been rising for nearly a month. The seven-day average deaths now are equivalent to March 20. On March 23, the day of the stay-at-home order, cumulative deaths stood at 331. There have been a similar number of deaths between September 3 and yesterday. This all looks sickeningly familiar, just like March; the government is unwilling to support the population to stay at home by giving us money, so instead they tinker at the edges of their restrictions. And they haven’t a clue what effective measures look like anyway because they’re scientifically illiterate.
The Russian government has been widely criticised in the West for deploying their vaccine before Phase III trials. However, most of Russia has an inland climate, far more harsh than the UK’s. Moscow for instance gets severe cold weather, and much housing is Soviet-legacy high density apartment blocks; very high cross-infection appears inescapable. I suspect that the Russian government has weighed the possibility of adverse vaccine effects against the near certainty of rapid mass infection, and the best-tested vaccine next spring will be the Russian one.
The Russian vaccine has not been approved for wide scale use, only for a select group. A large scale trial has started in Russia and other countries and the vaccine will only be released for general use after the results of the trial are published. The anti-Russia media attack on Russia is part of this misrepresentation. There is a good explanation of what is actually happening here.
I am not sure anymore that a second lockdown will work. The first one worked because it was observed by most; the experience was new. Now people are less observant. Social distancing and masks and so on work well in shops but can hardly be applied in eateries and pubs. You can’t eat or drink wearing a mask ?. But the mask drops even by people who should be wearing them as in public maintainable workers aggregating in places, admittedly mainly in open spaces but not really social distancing. Where I live, there is little sign of social distancing except in formalised settings.
The problem now is that this government does not like to be unpopular and therefore likes to throw the blame back on to the public, whilst being reluctant to effectively enforce the unpopular measures.
The opportunity has been missed. Lockdown with proper isolation and quarantine measures could have worked first time if proper elimination or near elimination of the virus was contemplated, given that we are an island, and if strict measures then taken to limit reimporting the virus. These last have never been in place and to this day air transport hubs have not been effectively monitored to limit incoming passengers reintroducing more waves of infection. NZ and Australia have had some successes on this line.
Report from Airstrip One
1. The idea that the rulers are whipping up in the population is “Pray for a vaccine to save us”.
Refusing the vaccine when Big Pharma decides “the time has come” will generally be viewed as a crime against humanity, God, common sense, sanity, Work, Property, the white race, and the universe. Wait and see.
2. Among middle class types (a minority of the population) there is also the idea of allowing proper people to “go about their business” as they carry microwave trackers (“smartphones” – yeah, right) with “Track and trace” software installed. “Track and trace” is a typically alliterative or otherwise schematically emphasised bit of advertising talk, basically denoting the electronic tagging of everyone who isn’t under arrest.
3. Grassing up your neighbours if they gather in groups of more than six is being officially encouraged including by government ministers.
4. Meanwhile there is talk of blocking off Kent, the county that British people will have to try travel through if they want to escape famine and death camps by running to the continent. (Clue: Ireland won’t be an option.) What would readers say if they heard that governments in Syria or Venezuela were sealing off their border regions? If they could put down their copies of the Daily Mail for a minute they might be able to apply the same “thought” to Britain that they apply to foreign countries. That’s if they weren’t terrified of foreigners so much, which is of course highly counter-factual. To spell it out: the authorities want you to have nowhere to run to.
5. How many of those recorded as having died “with” Covid-19 have NOT had pneumonia that they caught in an institution?
How many have even been tested for whether they had pneumonia or not?
I reckon practically all the elderly people who have died “with” Covid-19 have had pneumonia.
Dying “with” something doesn’t mean shee-yit. If I die “with” an ingrowing toenail, it doesn’t mean it killed me.
6. SARS-Cov2 is not a flu-type virus, but “Covid-19” is a collection of flu-like symptoms. There’s nothing “odd” about having an impaired sense of smell if you’ve got a cough (or indeed a cold). Yet the authorities are doing things like closing down schools because one child has a runny nose. Never mind that a runny nose is a symptom of a cold, is not a symptom of Covid-19, and does not indicate that someone is more likely to have SARS-Cov2 than if they don’t have a runny nose. All it means is that you’ve got a bit of a cold. Colds are mostly caused by rhinoviruses. Even when they are caused by coronaviruses (maybe 15% of the time), that’s not the same coronavirus as the SARS strain that’s going around. That SARS strain doesn’t give you a runny nose.
7. Sometimes I think people need advice on how to wipe their own bottoms. Talking of bottoms, expect more articles about toilet rolls to take people’s minds off the prospect of food shortages.
8. Trinity College, Cambridge, seems to be above the law banning evictions.
9. I wish people would stop talking about pubs. The majority never go to a pub.
10. Turning off the internet for a few days would cause the suicide rate to skyrocket.
I couldn’t find the stat I was looking for about going to pubs, but ISTR that the proportion of adults in Britain who go to the pub whether frequently or occasionally had fallen below 50% even before the start of fascism six months ago. If I get time I will look for whether this statistic comes from the ONS.
In 2018 the ONS reported that 27% of those aged 16-24 describe themselves as teetotal. (See the graph in section 2 of that article.) Meanwhile, the proportion of beer sold in the “off trade” has risen relative to the proportion sold in pubs or on other premises for consumption in-house. Many pubs have closed.
Booze companies of course market fanatically to students…universities being to a significant degree about alcohol as well as moneylending. So it’s good to see that so many youngsters don’t drink. How much attention does one have to pay to realise that booze companies have also been marketing fanatically to the population in general by force-feeding them with the message “Celebrate the end of lockdown – get p*issed out of your head down the pub”. Ever felt you were being treated like a cretin?
Of course there is also the consideration that it’s harder to pick your smartphone when you’ve got a glass in your hand, which might explain some of the decline in the number of people who go to pubs. Every location in the real world must seem pretty much the same to smartphone users. Walking the dog in the park? Pick your phone. Having a meal with your spouse? Pick your phone. Taking a crap? Pick your phone? Having a shag? W-wait…someone’s liked something on Facebook – excuse me for a moment while I stop thrusting – it’ll give you a chance to check your Twitter feed too, or look at some porn.
There is very little consequential criticism of addiction…
SA, some people are less observant. Most that I know remain vigilant. The fortnight I was in London, mask use on public transport was high; over 80% I’d say.
Some people have become less observant, presumably swayed by the propaganda primarily from the right-wing corporate “news” media, but with summer’s low death rate covid-19 has been easy to dismiss. But with the death rate now rising rapidly, that is likely to change.
Thanks for the MoA link. So it was just yet more Russuphobic FUD about the Russian vaccine. Typical.
N_:
– ‘Dying “with” something doesn’t mean shee-yit.’
http://www.cebm.net/covid-19/death-certificate-data-covid-19-as-the-underlying-cause-of-death
There are now hundreds of regional examples of overall death rates increasing to way above long-term averages, and only returning to normal after social restrictions were imposed. Likewise, there are hundreds of examples of death rates increasing to way above long-term averages after social restrictions have been relaxed. This makes it beyond reasonable doubt that some new airborne-transmitted virus is the cause.
– ‘“Covid-19” is a collection of flu-like symptoms.’
Seven months later, what we know about Covid-19 — and the pressing questions that remain
See also the articles linked from the one above; “Covid-19 brain complications include strokes and psychosis” and “Long after a Covid-19 infection, mental and neurological effects smolder”.
It mystifies me that you continue to endorse the Right-wing and corporate propaganda and conspiracy theories about covid-19. Their agenda barely requires thinking about – for the sake of profit, they want to convince as many people as they can to go out and work and spend as much as possible, public health be damned. That should be obvious to anyone who knows Marx’s work. They also don’t want any new vaccines paid for by governments, who have vastly greater bargaining and litigating power than the fragmented and alienated public.
– “Ever felt you were being treated like a cretin?”
Eschew the corporate media.
This reply was modified 3 months, 3 weeks ago by modbot.
– “…the authorities are doing things like closing down schools because one child has a runny nose.”
The schools shouldn’t even be open:
http://www.endcoronavirus.org/schools
– “It is not safe to reopen schools for in-person schooling while community transmission is still present. In-person schooling increases the risk of rapidly escalating case numbers throughout the community, placing health and lives at risk and possibly requiring further lockdowns to contain transmission. Before a community can safely begin to reopen schools (primary, secondary and higher education), they must bring new cases to zero and have safeguards in place to keep cases at zero.”
Multiple examples provided of schools driving community infection, plus a spreadsheet with links to over 400 articles. UK death rate now rising as fast as it did in March, less than a month after reopening schools.
Fir fook’s sake, close the fookin schools!
It is frustrating that somebody as intelligent as you keeps ignoring what has been discussed and proven to be nonesensical , move on man.
Covid 19 causes a different loss of smell and taste through a different mechanism than a bunged up nose does. I have described how this is different before and you will have to research this for yourself and come back and discuss, preferably by the Monday morning. Thank you.
Reply To: Reply #58596 in SARS cov2 and Covid 19
The FBI Has Been Lying About Seth Rich
Request for clarification of rules.
Study from Wuhan finds no evidence Asymptomatic Cases are infectious.
Trouble in Washington DC and the last days of the Trump presidency
Dave on SARS cov2 and Covid 19 33 minutes ago
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Fixation on fixed annuities brings benefits for banks
Income builds as consumers snap up low-risk products
Heike Wipperfurth
Joseph Ficalora is pleased, but he also admits to being more than a bit surprised. In the past five months, fixed annuities, once laggards, have turned into top-selling products.
So great is their momentum that the chief executive of New York Community Bank is planning to hire 100 brokers to help handle the demand.
"Obviously, it's a group of products that people want," says Mr. Ficalora. "And it's a good source of income for the bank."
After years of watching deposits leach away into mutual funds and other equity investments pushed by large brokerage houses, New York commercial banks and thrifts-ranging from J.P. Morgan Chase and HSBC to Astoria Financial-are seeing cash begin to flow back. Most of it is going into fixed annuities: investment contracts put together by insurance companies that allow money to grow tax-deferred for terms averaging five years, at highly competitive interest rates.
"This product is hotter now than it has ever been," says Paul Petrylak, CEO of Chase Life & Annuity Co. of New York.
To capitalize on fixed annuities' popularity, banks are beefing up sales forces, arming them with special licenses to sell insurance products. Some are going further. Rather than simply selling other companies' annuities and pocketing the 5% commission, big banks have asked their insurance arms to put together their own annuities.
Flight to quality
"There has been a flight to quality and a flight to safety (by consumers)," says David Kotheimer, regional president of retail banking for HSBC USA in the New York metro area. "It's creating an interest in annuities."
Demand is being fueled by the fact that fixed annuities are safe-the principal will not vary in value due to market conditions-and have rates of return that far outstrip those for most alternatives these days.
Interest rates on five-year fixed annuities now average between 5% and 6%. That stacks up pretty well against returns for the Nasdaq index, which lost 23.5% over the past year, and the Standard & Poor's 500, down 13.4%. Passbook savings rates are hovering at around 1.5%.
Bank sales soar 79%
Last year, commercial banks sold $27.4 billion worth of fixed annuities. That's up 79% from the $15.3 billion sold in 2000, according to Princeton, N.J.-based Kenneth Kehrer Associates, which tracks annuities data.
"In this environment, it's a great plan to shelter money," says Frank Berkowitz, an executive at Astoria Financial Corp.
However, there are some significant drawbacks. For one thing, investors must commit their money for a number of years. Those who withdraw early face hefty surrender charges, which can come to 8% in the first year. Also, investors who take out money before they are 591/2 pay a 10% tax penalty.
For banks, though, fixed annuities are great, increasingly appealing products. They create a powerful draw for the fast-growing senior population, and provide an opportunity to sell other financial products to that market down the road.
"When studies are done, what is the biggest financial concern that Americans have?" says Chris Grady, head of distribution and business development at Merrill Lynch Insurance. "It's their retirement income. Annuities are one part of the solution."
One bank that's been particularly successful in tapping the market is J.P. Morgan Chase. With more than 1,000 retail salespeople and a network of 275 licensed brokers, it sold $1.4 billion worth of annuities last year, up from $800 million a year earlier.
Just two months ago, Chase began to sell a product underwritten by its own insurance arm, in addition to the annuities it has been offering from the likes of American International Group and Aegon. So far, the five-year fixed annuity-which offers a rate of 5.85% for the first year before going to market rates that can't drop below 3%-has sold 1,300 policies for $65 million. Mr. Petrylak expects some of those funds to stay with the bank after the contracts expire.
"The customer is no longer sending his or her money to a third party like Allstate or Aegon," he says. "It is staying within J.P. Morgan Chase."
Smaller players have also done well with annuities. Last year, these products made up more than 75% of Astoria Financial's $300 million in brokerage sales, up from 50% a year earlier. To expand the business, the bank has decided to hire only bankers who are licensed to sell insurance products or who agree to get a license within their first year.
At New York Community Bank, Mr. Ficalora believes that sales of fixed annuities this year will easily double 2001's levels.
"It is the most rapidly selling third-party product we have," he says. "All the banks I am aware of that sell third-party products are selling large numbers."
Investors accuse partners of backdoor Netflix deal that deprived them of $106M
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It's Clear Why Sean Lee Is Back For 10th Season
DallasCowboys.com Senior Writer
FRISCO, Texas – Safe to say Sean Lee is rejuvenated.
Returning for his 10th season in Dallas, the veteran linebacker has jumped back into voluntary offseason workouts with one team goal in mind.
"You almost get chills coming back being able to have this opportunity," he said at 105.3 The Fan's "Mud Bug Bash" in late April. "I think about how fast times move, and not having a championship, there's frustration that sits in you. You'd like to get rid of that before your career's over, too."
Flash back four months ago immediately following the Cowboys' divisional-round playoff loss: Lee, who missed nine games due to hamstring injuries, said he needed to contemplate his football future.
Lee missed five games (and most of another at Atlanta) in 2017, too. He'd spent all offseason working to correct his hamstring issues. To call his setbacks in 2018 discouraging is an understatement.
"I think at that point, the frustration of dealing with injuries – particularly how the last two years have gone – that was tough for me," he said. "And that was something that I really had to battle.
"Luckily I was able to be around great teammates, great guys on defense and great guys in my room. And seeing our team grow from where we were in the middle of the season until the end, it was something that I said, 'I have to find a way to be a part of it because I love this group.' And then a couple weeks out you're like, 'Man I like football too much to give it up right now.' So all that together kind of brought me back."
In March, Lee and the Cowboys agreed to a restructured contract for 2019, the final year of his current deal. The 32-year-old was a valuable mentor for Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch last season as both linebackers stepped into leadership roles while he was injured.
Together, the work begins to take a step forward this season.
"For us, we know that we did a good job last year," Lee said, "but we have to find a way to take that next step and hopefully break through to get a championship. To me, that's been what I've wanted to be part of in the worst way throughout my career. And I'm trying to do whatever it takes to get to that. That's what we're trying to figure out now."
Jaylon Smith didn't miss a game during the 2020 season, but the Cowboys' veteran linebacker underwent surgery on a wrist injury on Thursday.
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Anjunadeep North American Tour Lands In The Northwest
Heath Harshman
Anjunadeep has selected Seattle as one of seven cities on the British label’s 2015 North American tour. The tour will feature several artists, with varying lineups at each of the shows. Founded in 2005 by legendary trio Above & Beyond, Anjunadeep has been one of the most successful labels in recent years, and a showcase of those talents is warmly welcomed by the Northwest dance music community.
The Seattle show will take place at Q Nightclub on January 29th, tickets to which can be purchased online here ($15 + fees). Of the roster of artists embarking on the tour, Anjunadeep will be represented by 16 Bit Lolitas, Jody Wisternoff, and Lancelot at their Seattle stop. Artists who won’t be making the Northwest visit, but will feature at other shows, include Beckwith, Lane 8, Martin Roth, Vincenzo, and a yet to be announced special guest. We’re excited to see what the versatile label has in store for the tour, which will also stop in Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and Chicago.
Let us know what you think of Anjunadeep coming to the Northwest and if you’ll be attending at Q Nightclub next month! Comment below, on Facebook, or reply on Twitter!
In this article:16 Bit Lolitas, Anjunadeep, Jody Wisternoff, Lancelot, Q Nightclub
BassGorilla Offering $50 Coupon For You To Learn How To Produce
Daft Punk Legos. Lego Lovers Rejoice!
Written By Heath Harshman
Born and raised in the Northwest, professionalized in Pullman. Enjoying the ride that dance music provides in our lovely corner of the country.
DMNW Selects: Must-see shows in Seattle (March edition)
Stream the new Anjunadeep compilation album now
Keys N Krates brought the party to Q Nightclub
DMNW selects: Must-see shows in Seattle (February edition)
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“Mark devolution anniversary with cross party strategy”, says Welsh Conservative AM
A Welsh Conservative Assembly Member has called for an anniversary inspired cross party strategy to help fix Wales’ housing crisis.
David Melding AM – the Shadow Minister for Housing – called on the Welsh Government to lead the cross party discussions, and said that the 20th Anniversary of Welsh Devolution was the “perfect opportunity” to start them.
Mr Melding made the call during spokespersons questions in the National Assembly for Wales. Earlier this year, the Welsh Conservative AM led a debate that called on the Welsh Government to do more to alleviate Wales’ housing crisis. That debate followed the release of the Welsh Conservative’s Housing Strategy, Housing a Nation, which set a target of building 12,000 each year during the next assembly term, and 100,000 homes over a decade.
The first-ever Assembly Election was held on May 6, 1999, with the Assembly officially opened by the Queen later the same month. This summer a series of events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the landmark will be held.
Speaking outside the Assembly Chamber, the South Wales Central AM said:
"For the sake of the generations of aspiring homeowners and tenants who can’t get on the housing ladder, we as politicians need to set aside our political differences to develop a strategy that ends this housing crisis.
“I’ve formally made the first move, and the Minister’s response was extremely welcoming so there’s not much left to do other than to get on with the job. What better time would there be to make this extraordinary and unprecedented step than in the year that marks 20 years of Welsh devolution.
“The scale and depth of the housing crisis warrants such a change; the call is for Welsh politicians to get together and make this happen”.
Building More Family Homes / Adeiladau Mwy o Gartrefi Teuluol
For years David has been campaigning for a significant increase in house-building in Wales. There is a particular need for more family homes that are affordable to people in their 30's and 40's.
Wales’ arts and culture sectors needs to urgently know how and when it can receive funding
Commenting on the latest announcement that the arts and culture sectors will receive £53 million, the Shadow Minister for Culture, David Melding MS, said:
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Terrorists Destroy Homes And Schools In Yemen—-Saudi Arabia’s US Supplied Bombers, That Is
By Michelle Nichols at Reuters
A Houthi militant screams to people to go away while standing on the rubble of a house damaged by a Saudi-led air strike in the neighbourhood of Al-Garda at Shomila area in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, November 29, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that a Saudi-led coalition’s military campaign in Yemen appeared to be responsible for a “disproportionate amount” of attacks on civilian areas.
Speaking at the council’s first public meeting on Yemen since the Saudi-led bombing campaign began nine months ago, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said he had “observed with extreme concern” heavy shelling from the ground and air in civilian areas of Yemen including the destruction of hospitals and schools.
He said all parties to the conflict were responsible, “although a disproportionate amount appeared to be the result of air strikes carried out by coalition forces.”
A Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in Yemen’s civil war in March to try to restore the government after it was toppled by Iran-allied Houthi forces, but a mounting civilian death toll and dire humanitarian situation has alarmed human rights groups.
Western nations have been quietly increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia to seek a political deal to end the conflict, U.N. diplomats have said. Diplomats said Tuesday’s session was convened to shine a spotlight on the conflict and pressure all sides to seek a negotiated end to the bloodshed.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, president of the council for December, said all parties must abide by humanitarian law. She said the Houthis must stop indiscriminate shelling of civilians and cross-border attacks.
“We will also continue to urge the Saudi-led coalition to ensure lawful and discriminate targeting and to thoroughly investigate all credible allegations of civilian casualties and make adjustments as needed to avoid such incidents,” Power said.
Warring parties in Yemen agreed to a renewable seven-day ceasefire under U.N. auspices that started Dec. 15, but it has been repeatedly violated.
“I further call on the council to do everything within its power to help restrain the use of force by all parties and to urge all sides to abide by the basic principles of international humanitarian law,” Zeid said.
The United Nations says the conflict has killed nearly 6,000 people, almost half of them civilians. Zeid said more than 600 children had been killed and some 900 injured – a five-fold increase compared to 2014.
A first round of peace talks adjourned on Sunday and the U.N.’s envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said the two sides would meet again on Jan. 14. [L8N1490PH]
Ahmed told the council there were still deep divisions and “trust between the parties remains weak.”
The United Nations has designated Yemen as one of its highest-level humanitarian crises, alongside emergencies in South Sudan, Syria and Iraq. It says more than 21 million people in Yemen need help, or about 80 percent of the population.
“The potential ramifications of a failed state in Yemen would almost inevitably create safe havens for radical and confessional groups such as the so-called (Islamic State),” Zeid told the 15-member council.
Rights groups have criticized the United States, Britain and other Western countries for supplying arms to the Saudis that have been used in the war, and they have also accused the Arab forces of using cluster bombs, which are banned by most states.
“Hostilities in and around civilian areas, including the use of heavy weapons and cluster munitions, as well as air strikes and anti-aircraft fire, have inflicted an unacceptably high toll on the civilian population,” New Zealand U.N. Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told the council.
The Saudi U.N. mission was not immediately available for comment on Zeid’s remarks and accusations about the use of cluster bombs.
Source: U.N. Blames Saudi-led Coalition for Most Attacks on Yemeni Civilians – Reuters
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How Is Wall Street Affected By the 2020 Elections?
Friday was halted by Wall Street! This rare incident took place after the rally that went on for four days. This was the highest weekly gain that Wall street got since April. Stocks are uneven following the rally and investors of Wall Street are hoping that the policies encouraging the business will stay the same. This hope comes from the thin difference in the majority votes that will most likely result in a narrow deadlock.
Current Wall Street Scenario
According to a report, the treasury yields of 10 years had risen from 0.78% to 0.81%. Much to the amusement of the economists, this was because 638,000 more workers were hired in the US by employers as compared to last month, according to the US government. This also reflects the fact that the national economy may be on the uprise, but, on the other hand, the monthly job growth witnessed a slowdown.
The Standard and Poor 500 remained at 7.4% higher, weekly. It was virtually the same in afternoon trading. Earlier it increased to at least 1.2% every day for four days. This happened as gains got accelerated with the chance of no clear winner with a majority in the Congress according to the election predictions. This assured the investors of stable business-friendly policies.
The Industrial Average of Dow Jones at 2:23 p.m was 0.2% at 28,335. This came out after the earlier loss of 200 points got erased.
The Upside and Downside of Joe Biden’s Victory on Wall Street
With the expectations of the Democratic victory in the 2020 Presidential elections, the Treasury yield remained above 0.90%. The reason for this was because Democratic victory meant increased stimulus efforts to boost the economy. But as against this hope, the yet to be declared, electoral results have shown that Joe Biden will only be winning with a small margin meaning that the Republicans will have a considerable amount of seats, the number that is enough to allow the smooth passage of Bidens’s policies.
Now even this has an advantage over Wall Street. With the Republicans in strong numbers, a few harmful measures that could adversely affect the investors can be kept at bay. Things like increased tax rates, or stringent antitrust policies, etc that Democrats were likely to pass which could have a direct impact on the Wall Street investors. Analysts have named this as the ‘Goldilocks’ scenario and the worldwide stocks have surged on it.
However, there is a major downside to this “Goldilocks” scenario as well. The Congress approved support package could be much lower than expected with a divided Washington. This would not have occurred if the Democrats had a clear majority.
Amidst all these theories it is also to be noted that there is no certainty that the Republicans will have any control over the Senate. Even if they win the elections, things will still depend on the runoff elections of January in Georgia which will give rise to a bunch of other theories concerning Wall Street.
Wall Street stock analysis
wall street stocks
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The Ministry and its Network
Discover the Ministry (history, virtual tour,...
The Quai d’Orsay
At number 37 Quai d’Orsay in Paris, stands the façade of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Started in 1844 and completed around 1855, it forms a homogeneous and representative example of the decorative arts of the Second Empire.
Select an icon to start the tour!
The North Façade
The West Hall
The Ushers’ Antechamber
The Congress Room
The Ambassadors’ Room
The Clock Room
The Main Dining
The Peace Gallery
Rotunda Drawing Room : the Minister’s office
At the request of the Foreign Minister, François Guizot, the building’s design was entrusted to the architect Lacornée, who had designed the Palais d’Orsay, today demolished.
The first stone was laid in November 1845 in the presence of Guizot, Lacornée and Dumon, Minister of Public Works.
The external decoration was entrusted to sculptors, most of whom had already been involved in building or restoring churches (Notre-Dame de Paris, Saint-Vincent de Paul, etc.) and châteaux (Blois, Saint-Cloud, etc.). Briefly held up by the 1848 revolution, building works resumed at the request of Emperor Napoleon III. Once the structural works had been completed in 1853, some of the most renowned artists of the time – including Séchan, Nolau and Rubé, Molknecht, Lavigne, Liénard, Hippolyte Adam and the Huber brothers – were enlisted for the interior design. Since the building would receive foreign sovereigns and diplomats, it was essential that they would be welcomed with all the splendour befitting their rank.
Ever since the mid-19th century, these premises have housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this hasn’t changed for almost a century and a half – which explains why “Quai d’Orsay” is the name often used to refer to France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Diplomatic Archives at La Courneuve
Diplomatic Archives in Nantes
Chateau de la Celle Saint Cloud
La Convention site
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Sanctioning Iran: Foreign Policy 101
Skeptical about Skeptics? Check this out …
All Coming Together To All Fall Apart: Climate Crisis
(Notice: This will not be a pleasant essay to read, and please click the links)
Global Warming, Climate Crisis, Climaticide, whatever you want to call it, is not some future calamity waiting to happen. It is happening even as we speak. It is happening now. Its devastating effects may some day be dramatic enough to be worthy of a Hollywood movie….which is how we are conditioned to think of disaster these days, if it doesn’t have explosions or tidal waves, it is not REALLY a disaster….. But that is not how it works.
That is not the form that this disaster takes. It takes the form of a slow, rolling, building crisis, unnoticed at first, then easily explained away, then easily dismissed as someone else’s problem. Until it is too late. Starting with the worlds poorest people and gradually working it’s way up “the food chain.” The food chain of all of human society, every nation, every state, every city every village, every human. Until the ‘elite’ are finally affected and alarmed…which will be too late.
Oh, there will be explosions…in fact there are explosions right now, as the first of the resource wars rages in Iraq, (please read LithiumCola’s essay) resource wars will be the dramatic face of Climate Crisis. Resource wars started by the very ‘people’ who are denying that there is a crisis now. Denying it in order to ‘steal a march’ on the rest of the world that they are purposefully attempting to keep in ignorance of the future they are creating. All for their advantage. For their profit. In the mistaken belief that somehow this will save them. They know what is happening, and have known for years, their response has been to try to profit off of this knowledge, instead of working to stop the damage. Resource wars will be the dramatic face.
But the face of a starving child will be the real face of Climate Crisis.
Ban Ki-Moon announced today that the UN must combat food shortages across the globe or risk “widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale.”
and water wars, have already started and will continue. And will get much, much worse.
This is not, as Mr Ban says…
“There is an urgent necessity to address structural and policy issues that have contributed to this crisis as well as the challenge posed by climate change,” he said. “Further research must be undertaken on the impact of diversion of food crops to bio-fuel production and all subsidies to bio-fuels should be reviewed.”
An “as well as” situation, these are the effects of Climate Crisis. And no matter how many light bulbs we change (though we each must do all we can) or how much we recycle….Climate Crisis is not going away. (please read)
In many, many ways…if not in all ways, this is the only ‘story’ that matters.
The web of life…food…water…fuel…that sustains us all on this, our only planet is relatively delicate, and dynamically interconnected. All based on systems that take much longer than a human life-span to adapt, all incredibly vulnerable to “rapid” (in planetary time spans) and “slight” changes. The changes that, even though we are aware of them, even though we have been warned for decades, we not only are not stopping ….thought the consequences are quite clear…we are actually still increasing carbon production at an astounding rate.
Our planet, at the behest of the worlds political and corporate leaders, and in the name of economic expediency, is committing Climaticide….killing the Climate that sustains us all. In other words, suicide.
What can we do about it?
As Patriot Daily eloquently put it in her essay Gore: Crisis of Citizenship Impedes Addressing Environmental Crises:
What we can do to move toward establishing that sense of urgency needed to trigger active citizenship which then triggers solving environmental issues is to understand the facts and analyze the issues. Once we agree upon the facts and analysis, then we must take action to change our political culture. This happened in Australia, which faced such a devastating drought that the people unified in a campaign to “lift the sense of urgency for the people about global warming and drought.” The campaign included participation by newspaper, TV, radio and the internet, and it created the sense of urgency that led to a changed government with a new prime minister whose first action was to change position on global warming by ratifying Kyoto. Gore warned that we can not wait until we face water shortages like the drought in Australia.
Gore’s road map to resolve an environmental crisis makes sense. We must be informed, understand and agree on the facts of the particular environmental crisis. Acknowledging the environmental crisis has been sufficient to trigger some personal involvement in conservation, but not sufficient to trigger substantial conservation efforts and not sufficient to trigger sufficient political citizen action to change the political culture in DC so that laws are changed. So, we need agreement on the facts of the environmental crisis + some extreme in-your-face event (like a severe drought) to trigger the sense of urgency that leads to campaigns or movements to change the political culture.
That really is, unfortunately, and aside from the changes we can make in our own behaviors, about the best we can do. And there is literally nothing more important to do. Nothing.
It is, to me, a distressing and depressing reality, to watch the planet being destroyed for short sighted gain and the lust for power. But it is our reality.
As individuals, and here on Docudharma, we can at least take some comfort in the fact that we are working (as hard as you can on a blog) to change the political culture…and the social culture that drives it. Speaking for myself, it is behind everything I do, everything I write, the reason I started blogging in the first place. The reason I have, lol, no patience for the pettiness of the candidate wars. I hate the role of Cassandra, not to mention that it is not an effective tactic to achieve change. But every once in a while there is a convergence that forces me into that role, as happened today, triggered by, as LC put it “NYT Lets the Truth About Oil Slip, for a Second” the truth slipping out. We are in deep, deep trouble…and it is not in some far future, it is now. Everything we do here, big and small…including laughing and flirting with each other, lol….is a part of what Cheney called the “long war.”
Building this community and connecting (at least “in Spirit”) with the growing number of other like minded communities across the planet….to both fight the “old world” which is based on greed and competition and is destroying democracy and freedom and the planet all at once…while we at the same time work towards building a new world, based on equality and cooperation, is to be immodest, noble…and necessary. We are in our small, human way….fighting to save the planet. It may not ‘work,’ it may even be too late, but it is all I can think of to do. Thanks for helping!
I leave you with this oft repeated, hopeful thought:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
And a less repeated one, that for some reason, I am quite fond of!
Yell Louder!
buhdydharma on April 29, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Nightprowlkitty on April 29, 2008 at 8:36 pm
The chaos is revealed by the fact that our world leaders (and by that I mean those who presently hold power, not that they are real “leaders”) are ineffectual at best and criminal at worst, and the insanity that is issuing forth as a result.
The order coming out of this chaos is as you said, the groups gathering around the world to put forth a new paradigm, the strength of being able to turn away from the forces of distraction, which are immensely powerful and which I do not underestimate, and hold to what is actually happening in this world.
Here in America too many of us, including myself, do not face, daily, the results of this chaos and destruction, making it terribly difficult to feel the real urgency that hundreds of milions of people live with every day.
I wish you would post again that video NL put up a while back showing all the many many organizations who are working for change around the world. I’d like to go to several of them and try to find someone to post here at DD and start some kind of a conversation.
I think it’s time we branched out a bit, lol.
Edger on April 29, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I wake up sicker than a dog with the chest cold from hell and what feels like a hatchet buried in my forehead and looking like this…
..and you have to go and write about reality of all things. Jeeze… (hack, cough, moan…)
Come to think of it, if we don’t fix the problems that are wrecking the climate we’ll all end up looking like that sooner or later.
And if someone has a few billion dollars in the bank that he made profiting from poisoning the earth, it won’t do him much good when he looks in the mirror and sees that, will it?
NLinStPaul on April 29, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Everything we do here, big and small…including laughing and flirting with each other, lol….is a part of what Cheney called the “long war.”
You mean we can do this and have some fun?
Goddess above, I hope that’s true!!
On The Bus on April 29, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Load up the Pantry (WSJ)
Reality: Food prices are already rising here much faster than the returns you are likely to get from keeping your money in a bank or money-market fund. And there are very good reasons to believe prices on the shelves are about to start rising a lot faster.
“Load up the pantry,” says Manu Daftary, one of Wall Street’s top investors and the manager of the Quaker Strategic Growth mutual fund. “I think prices are going higher. People are too complacent. They think it isn’t going to happen here. But I don’t know how the food companies can absorb higher costs.”
And from the NY Times: Duck and Cover: It’s the New Survivalism
Faced with a confluence of diverse threats – a tanking economy, a housing crisis, looming environmental disasters, and a sharp spike in oil prices – people who do not consider themselves extremists are starting to discuss doomsday measures once associated with the social fringes.
Barton M. Biggs, the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley… says people should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.”
“Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”
From the NYT article I found a few interesting links…
I think I will add a new Climate Crisis section to the blogroll – will include the links that NL posted. (Haven’t watched the video yet so I don’t know what the other sites are. Feel free to reply here with links.)
Agree with NPK – we need to start making more ripples!
Lasthorseman on April 30, 2008 at 12:54 am
Real calls to fix the enviornment should not focus on the establishment of a global Wall Street trading bunch of scamming sleazeball motherfucker elite assholes but that is, has been and will be the future enduring scam of Big Al’s bogus crusade on your former modern lifestyle.
I will get on the global CO2 bandwagon the very instant every brain cell cancer causing cell phone repeater tower WORLDWIDE has been disconnected from the power grid perminantly. We lived just fine without it before and we could do so again.
The other wattsucking vacuous wasteland we could all do without and be far more intelligent is 300 channels of mind numbing engineered to be socially destructive digital TV crap. Let’s put those outsourced electronics industry assholes on the unemployment line.
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K-12 Education Strategists
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Dell EMC K-12 Education Strategists
Find expert guidance for transforming education.
Adam Garry, Director of Education Strategy
With 15 years of consulting experience, Adam helps schools pursue digital and student-led learning transformation. He has presented at conferences such as ISTE, published articles on technology integration and has co-authored 2 books, “Teaching the iGeneration” and “Personalized Learning Through Voice and Choice”. Adam was a Florida elementary teacher and holds a BA in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Teaching and Learning (Technology emphasis), and a Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University.
Matt Dascoli, Education Strategist
Matt’s passion is helping customers make learning a more interactive, hands-on experience. As a former K-12 science teacher, he helped redefine a Virginia based school district’s approach to professional learning and re-envision teaching and learning practices. Additionally, he was the lead architect behind the district’s student laptop deployment. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jeremiah Okal-Frink, PhD, Education Strategist
Jeremiah is a veteran educator, leader, professional developer and technology integrator. He has led change in teaching and learning through the catalyst of technology in rural, suburban and urban districts. At Dell EMC, he is an Education Strategist at the forefront of embedding and researching learning initiatives regarding learning spaces, emerging technologies such as VR and AR, social media, online and blended learning, and increasing equitable access for students.
Thomas Osmun, Education Strategist
Thomas is committed to helping students succeed in an increasingly digital world. He has worked as a K-12 teacher, RTI coach, middle school assistant principal, professional learning supervisor and an instructional programs administrator. He has facilitated professional learning around problem-based learning, blended learning, and Professional Learning Community (PLC) implementation. Tom has led a Learning Management System (LMS) implementation along with overseeing blended learning courses and curriculum. He has a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in Physical Education/Sports Management and a Master’s degree from Saint Leo University in Educational Leadership.
Snow White, Education Strategist
Snow is an educational thought leader and social media influencer with expertise around Professional Learning and Next Generation Digital Classrooms. She began her education career with a degree from University of Texas at Austin in Applied Learning & Development and a K-8 Teaching Certificate with a specialization in Speech Communications. Just prior to joining Dell EMC, Snow was President/Owner of Futurekids School Technology Solutions in Texas. From teaching in numerous districts, to writing curriculum, to consulting with schools across the globe, Snow has accelerated momentum toward student-led and personalized learning for the last 20 years.
Katina Papulkas, Education Strategist
Katina is an experienced educator with a background in teaching, online learning, educational leadership, assessment and educational technology. Katina was an elementary teacher, a central instructional leader who designed and implemented initiatives around the effective integration of technology into curriculum, and a middle school administrator at the Toronto District School Board. Most recently, she was the Director of Educational Partnerships at Television Ontario (TVO) where she focused on the design and development of digital learning resources. Katina holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Kelsy Quinn, Education Strategist
Kelsy is committed to supporting the growth of student centered learning and improving the impact of instructional technology. As a former teacher, Kelsy played a key role in helping teachers use technology and redesign instruction to support inquiry based learning. She played an important role in assessment and curriculum planning, integrating tools and implementing programs that measure results more effectively to improve outcomes. Kelsy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Central Arkansas and a teaching certification in general K-8 and 9-12 history.
JD Stumpf, Education Strategist
JD is focused on creatively using technology to ignite a passion for lifelong learning across all disciplines. JD taught middle school science, high school Biology and AP Environmental Science in Texas for 13 years. He was committed to empowering student learning through authentic projects that allowed multiple ways to show mastery. After teaching, JD led a team in developing an online, 21st-century science assessment for a statewide education agency and, most recently, worked as a public account manager at Dell supporting K-12 districts with their technology plans. JD holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Michigan State University.
Kendall Latham, PhD, Education Strategist
Kendall is a life-long learner and committed educator focused on partnering with districts to optimize learning and growth for all. Her academic training and 15 years working in public education have provided a broad perspective of the demands challenging communities today. She is passionate about collaborating with district and state leaders to design equity-oriented structures that leverage digital resources to meet the needs of all stakeholders- students, educators, and the community. Kendall has a Ph.D. in Urban Education with a Literacy concentration from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from East Carolina University.
Tara Nattrass, EdD, Education Strategist
Tara is an experienced educator focused on eliminating opportunity gaps and ensuring every student is engaged in meaningful learning experiences in healthy, safe, and supportive environments. As a district-level administrator, including most recently as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Arlington Public Schools (VA), Tara collaborated with teams to implement systems and structures that lead to success for all students including strategic planning, curriculum development, social emotional resources, and professional learning frameworks. Throughout her career, Tara has served in multiple roles, including as a classroom teacher in St. Louis and Cobham, England; literacy facilitator; school level administrator; Director of Elementary Education; and part-time lecturer for undergraduate and graduate students. She has experience implementing programs such as STEM, Language Immersion, Montessori, and International Baccalaureate. Tara earned a Doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University and holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership as well as an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from St. Louis University.
Cari Warnock, Education Strategist
Cari makes it her mission to find equity wall to wall for all. As a former National Alliance Manager for an Ed Tech company, Director of Magnet Schools in Metro Nashville and in Viera, Florida she holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Cari served 24 years in public education and previously held positions as Race to the Top Project Director, Assistant Principal, and MSAP Coordinating Teacher. She has written and managed 40 million dollars’ worth of grants and worked with a diverse set of stakeholders.
Dell EMC K-12 Education Strategists are committed to helping educators transform to student-centered learning.
Explore new possibilities for learning and teaching in the digital era.
Explore K-12 institutions working with Dell EMC Education Strategists
Customer Story: Carteret School District
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Visioning Day: Empowering Student Voice
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Pulling conversations together in a meaningful way.
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You are here: Home / Latest news / Devon’s first Admiral Nurse
Devon’s first Admiral Nurse
Last week saw Devon’s first Admiral Nurse begin work in the Sid Valley. Heidi Crook said she is excited and privileged to begin her new job as the area’s dementia specialist, providing practical and emotional support to families affected by dementia. Her arrival was brought about through an enthusiastic campaign in the community, led by local newspaper the Sidmouth Herald and the Sid Valley Memory Café, with support from the Big Lottery Fund.
Heidi’s first role as a dementia specialist came at the acute trust in Brighton, followed by a period in dementia & Parkinson’s research at Imperial College, before returning to Devon to work in Whipton. She said, “It’s exciting, quite daunting and it’s a privilege. The local community are so behind it and it’s amazing to see.”
Heidi’s announcement has been welcomed by East Devon’s MP Sir Hugo Swire:
“Given that a quarter of the population in Sidmouth is aged over 75 and people are living longer, dealing with dementia effectively and innovatively is an enormous task. I wish Heidi the very best of luck – I am sure she will make a real difference.”
A person carers can go to
Heidi, who is a keen amateur photographer and traveller, said it was important to have a holistic approach and to understand the person in need of support. She added the role of the Admiral Nurse was also important in looking after carers who dedicate themselves to caring for their loved one.
“They need someone to advocate for them and for the carers,” said Heidi. “I’m so happy to see we are now going to have an Admiral Nurse in Devon. Even if it wasn’t me, I would have thought it was amazing. The people that use it always find it so valuable. It’s that person for carers to go to.”
Adrian Ford, on behalf of the Admiral Nurse committee, said: “We are sure that our nurse will make a huge difference to so many families here in the Sid Valley, who are living with dementia, and that, with the continuing support of the community, she will become a permanent fixture.”
Working together with families
Rachel Johnstone, our Business Development Officer, said it was a delight to see the first Admiral Nurse in Devon become a reality, adding: “Living with dementia can sometimes be a hard and lonely experience. Admiral Nurses work together with families and other health and social care professionals to provide the one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions they need to live more positively with dementia each and every day.”
Heidi will be employed by the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and work as part of Sidmouth’s community nursing team.
We are currently recruiting for Admiral Nurses in multiple locations across the UK.
Supporter stories
Time for a Cuppa
Admiral Nurse
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“Used to This” Lyrics: Future’s Latest Single from His New Mixtape “Beast Mode 16”
By: Naveen Rao - Published: November 4, 2016 at 10:49 am
Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Stringer/GettyImages
Future has been busy in 2016, already releasing an album and two mixtapes. Now he has dropped his new single “Used to This” ft. Drake. The song has a cool vibe and is easy to listen to. This will only make Future’s fans hungrier for his upcoming album Beast Mode 16.
Everybody wants to know what the future holds. More specifically, everybody wants to know what music rapper Future holds, and when it wil lbe released. Future has been active in the music industry since 2010 when he caught his big break. Since then, he has released a string of studio albums and mixtapes which have been very successful, giving him an enviable reputation. The list of of his studio albums are Pluto, Honest, DS2 and EVOL, and his released mixtapes include: Monster, Beast Mode, 56 Night, What a Time to Be Alive and Purple Reign. Future has just dropped his new single “Used to This,” taken from his new album Beast Mode 16. So if you are one of the countless people searching terms like “Used to this lyrics,” “Used to this streaming,” “Used to this download,” and “Used to this mp3,” look no further! We will tell you where, and how, you can listen to Future’s new song “Used to This.”
[etn-inline-post id=”38999″]
The Addictive Good Life
“Used to This” starts with Future rapping about how tempting the good life is and how easy it is to get addicted to it. The song features none other than Canadian-born rap superstar Drake. Drake raps in the background for the first half of the song, then Drake steps in for the song’s second verse. The song has a good pace with some uptempo background music.
Photo: Bennett Raglin/Stringer/GettyImages
Busy Bee Future
Future has been working very hard this year. He has already released his studio album EVOL and two mixtapes Purple Reign and Project E.T this year. Now he looks all set to release another brand new mixtape Beast Mode 16, which is a follow up to his 2015 Beast Mode. From the way his single “Used to This” has shaped up, it looks like he has another killer record on his hands. So don’t hesitate to go out and buy his new mixtape when it comes out. Until then, you can get a taste of the Future by listening to his single “Used to This.”
If you want to listen to Future’s new single “Used to This,” just click below –
https://goo.gl/a4ZcTB
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Trans boxer emotional as he is named ambassador
Transgender Canvey boxer emotional as he is named ambassador of charity
By Danny Rust @Danny_Rust10 Community Content Editor
Up for the fight - Danny Baker has been named as an ambassador
A TRANSGENDER man was overcome with emotion after being named an ambassador of an up-and-coming charity.
Having gone through his own transgender journey five years ago, Danny Baker has been playing a vital role in the community and helping those struggling with their gender or sexuality by volunteering as a support worker.
Danny, who is from Canvey, has now been confirmed as an ambassador of the World Gay Boxing Championships.
The charity was organised by Martin Stark and the World Gay Boxing Championships will take place in Sydney, Australia in 2023.
Danny, who will compete in the competition and secured a public apology after hitting out at Perth’s new Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas following transphobic remarks, was overwhelmed after being asked to help the charity.
He said: “I was quite emotional after being asked to be an ambassador.
“I never expected to be asked to do something like this and I am incredibly proud.
“It has been a difficult year for everyone because of the coronavirus pandemic and I want to lift everyone.
Trans man's Pride Boxing fight to help the homeless LGBT community
IN PICTURES: When Rayleigh Speedway Stadium attracted thousands of supporters
“The World Gay Boxing Championships is a massive charity being built in Australia and I am happy to be playing my part.
“My job is to encourage people all over the world to engage in sport and feel comfortable while doing so.
“An app has been set up to make sure I can communicate with fighters in different countries.
“The charity and competition in 2023 is open to everyone.”
Danny, 33, first started boxing three years ago and has been inspired by close friend Jamie Johnson.
Jamie is a former Women’s International Boxing Federation British Lightweight champion and has trained with Laila Ali, the daughter of sporting icon Muhammad Ali.
Kellie Maloney, who has undertaken gender reassignment and managed Lennox Lewis to the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, will train the British team ahead of the World Gay Boxing Championships in 2023.
Danny added: “It’s massive having Kellie involved. In all honesty, it’s a bit surreal.
“Kellie was the number one boxing promoter in the world and has managed big names, including my idol Lennox Lewis, so it’s fantastic.”
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Europe's latest would-be media mogul
Mathias Döpfner wants to turn Axel Springer into an international media conglomerate
BusinessApr 30th 2005 edition
EVER since the fall from grace in July 2002 of Jean-Marie Messier, the hubristic former boss of French media conglomerate Vivendi, and Thomas Middelhoff, ousted soon after from Germany's Bertelsmann, European media executives have kept a low profile—unpicking their predecessors' visions and selling assets. But now there is a new contender for the role of Europe's leading media tycoon: Mathias Döpfner, chief executive of Axel Springer, a big German publishing firm. He is poised to buy ProSiebenSat.1, a big television company, and wants to expand elsewhere in Europe. At a dinner in New York for Mr Döpfner last winter, he came across as “a man of extraordinary ambition who wants to rule the world,” says one of the guests, who muses that he might even match Mr Messier in the scale of his aims.
Axel Springer already owns 11.8% of ProSiebenSat.1, and Mr Döpfner has had talks with some of the private-equity investors who have controlled the company since August 2003 about lifting the stake to over 50%. Last week the likelihood of a deal in the near future increased as a clause that penalised the private-equity investors if they sold before August was lifted.
Buying Germany's ProSiebenSat.1 would be Mr Döpfner's boldest move yet in a rapid rise to the top. In 1998 he joined Axel Springer, which publishes Bild, by far Germany's biggest newspaper, to edit Die Welt, a smaller title. He became chief executive in 2002 aged 39, with the backing of Friede Springer, widow of Axel Springer, the founder of the eponymous firm. She controls 60% of its shares. Ms Springer, aged 62, has become extremely fond of Mr Döpfner, German media executives say, especially as his charisma and intellectual vigour remind her of her husband, an intensely political man who, until his death in 1985, campaigned for West and East Germany to be reunified.
Such is the bond between the chief executive and owner, that Mr Döpfner may feel the need to prove that he is a talented businessman in his own right. So far he has done a good job of steering Axel Springer through a few years of plummeting advertising revenues. Thanks to shedding one-fifth of the workforce—an unusual move for a German firm, he notes—Axel Springer's operating-profit margin (earnings before interest, tax and amortisation) has risen from 9.3% in 2003 to 14% in 2004. Its operating profit of €336m ($418m) last year was its highest ever, and its debt is low. In the past two years, despite tough market conditions, it has launched 24 newspapers and magazines in Germany and beyond. “I believe in anti-cyclical behaviour,” says Mr Döpfner of his aggressive strategy.
Now he has a strong platform from which to expand. One option, says Mr Döpfner, is to continue to expand abroad in print. Last year, Axel Springer tried to buy Britain's Daily Telegraph. In 2003 it launched a paper in Poland called Fakt, which is now the country's biggest, and it is researching markets in western Europe outside Germany with a view to future launches of other mass tabloids. Buying ProSiebenSat.1 would create a smaller version of Bertelsmann, a media conglomerate that owns TV channels as well as magazines and a music label. Moving into television makes sense as TV stations would benefit from promotion in Bild, and vice versa. If the venture goes well, and does not cost too much, it could also safeguard Axel Springer's future, since growth is increasingly hard to squeeze from print.
Some in the media industry prefer to compare Mr Döpfner to Mr Middelhoff, not to Mr Messier, whose debt-laden acquisition spree would after all be hard for anyone to match these days. Mr Döpfner is a rising star, but he is only an employee. If his vision for Axel Springer reaches beyond Ms Springer's horizon, she may get rid of him, as the controlling Mohn family at Bertelsmann dumped Mr Middelhoff when he sought to float the company. So far, however, it appears that Mr Döpfner has Ms Springer's backing for a purchase of ProSiebenSat.1—as long as her control of Axel Springer is not diluted.
It's the politics, stupid
In another important way, Mr Döpfner is very different from all of his generation of young western media managers. Like an old-school mogul such as Rupert Murdoch or Ted Turner, he has strong political convictions and uses the company he runs to promote them. In this he continues the tradition of the late Mr Springer, who in 1967 incorporated his own political beliefs into the company's articles of association, such as upholding Israel's right to exist.
The firm's political energy dimmed somewhat after Mr Springer's death, but Mr Döpfner has revived it. On September 12th 2001, he added the principle that the firm must show “solidarity with the United States of America in the common values of free nations.” For his support of America's recent foreign policy, one rival German media executive dubs him “Mr Neo-con”. Mr Döpfner is close to Helmut Kohl, Germany's once-dominant Christian Democrat chancellor, and he dislikes the politics of the “1968 generation” of German politicians, which includes the current chancellor, Gerhard Schröder. Mr Döpfner's allegiances make some journalists uneasy. “It is always difficult for a big newspaper business to have close relationships with politicians,” says Claus Larass, a former vice-chair of Axel Springer's management board. Mr Döpfner says the newspapers have editorial independence, and points out that Bild backed George Bush in the American election, but its Sunday edition did not.
Mr Döpfner is puzzled by the fact that American media firms are so much bigger and stronger than European ones. As for the German print industry, he says, it has enjoyed comfortable times for many years and is still complacent compared with American firms. If Mr Döpfner keeps getting his way at Axel Springer, there will be at least one European media company that plays according to the precepts of American capitalism.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "Europe's latest would-be media mogul"
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American Literature Despite Their Different Backgrounds Essay
Pages: 4 (1537 words) · Bibliography Sources: 0 · File: .docx · Topic: Literature
Despite their different backgrounds and experiences, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau shared a number of ideas. Compare their views on nature, the individual, and conformity.
Ralph Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were both great writers that had very vivid ideas on nature, the individual, and conformity. They were both outstanding leaders in the transcendentalist movement and had an unforgettable impact on its development and sustainment. Emerson was an idol for Thoreau, as it was Emerson that inspired him to write in his own style. Emerson's view of the individual was to be able to have the freedom to express themselves, was to have everything that anyone ever needed. They should not be afraid of any restrictions placed by anyone, as freedom of speech is a given right and it should be exercised.
Thoreau was more radical than Emerson. Emerson did believe that individuals should be themselves and should not conform to a societal expectation, but it was Thoreau that encouraged people to actually disobey those preset notions. He was more revolutionary in his perspectives and encouraged all to revolt against their government in order to prove a point to those who they wanted to get a message across to; he believed in the power of the individual.
for only $8.97. Emerson believed that nature and humans were one. He did not see any difference between what was considered the nature outside, and what one would consider to be the person. They exist as one, and it is this "one" existence that allowed everything to work the way it did. Thoreau however, believed that nature and humans worked together in a dual existence. In order for nature to work, humans had to work alongside with it, and vice versa. Both believed that it was nature that allowed humans to be educated in various ways. Nature encouraged curiosity and drove innate human behavior.
Essay on American Literature Despite Their Different Backgrounds and Assignment
2) Emily Dickinson used slant rhyme and exact rhymes in her poetry. Write three examples of slant rhyme and three examples of exact rhyme from her poems, Heart! We will forget him!, If you were coming in the Fall, and The Soul selects her own Society.
Slant rhymes are used when words that do not exactly rhyme perfectly, but are close enough in sound, to make a rhyming poem. An exact rhyme is one that is perfect in its rhyme-sounding, and is also spelled relatively the same. The first example of an exact rhyme comes from Emily Dickinson's Heart! We will forget him! And it goes, "You and I -- tonight!... I will forget the night" (lines 2 & 4). The terms that are italicized, tonight and night, rhyme perfectly with each other and are also spelled relatively alike. A second example of an exact rhyme comes from Emily Dickinson's poem, If you were coming in the Fall, and it goes, "I'd count them on my hand...Into Van Deiman's Land" (lines 10 & 12). Again, the italicized words, hand and land, have a perfect rhyme, as well as similar spelling. The third and last example of an exact rhyme comes from the poem by Emily Dickinson titled, "The Soul selects her own Society" in the lines, "Then - shuts the door -... Present no more-" (lines 2 & 4). The words door and more are exact rhymes in this particular poem.
Examples of slant rhymes can also be found in Emily Dickinson's poems. The first example is from The Soul selects her own Society in the lines, "At her low Gate -...Upon her Mat" (lines 6 & 8). Although the italicized words Gate and Mat are not spelled similarly, nor are they sounding the exact same way, the way that one pronounces is as one is reading the poem makes them rhyme. The following two examples can be found in If you were coming in the Fall. The first of the two is in the lines, "I'd wind the month in balls-...For fear the numbers fuse" (lines 6 & 8) and the second in the lines, "Of this that is between-...That will not state -- its sting" (lines 18 & 20). The italicized words balls and fuse and between and sting, do not rhyme perfectly, nor are they spelled similarly, but when they are read in context of the poem, they flow perfectly as they pertain to those exact lines of poetry. It gives them a different emphasis and a sign of importance to the writing.
3) Write a paragraph explaining why you think stories and poems about the realms of darkness are popular with many readers. Support your explanation with at least three examples from The Fall of the House of Usher.
Dark stories always seem to intrigue a greater crowd of readers. The mysteries behind them, the unforeseen endings, and the unreachable realms, make it all too difficult to give up. The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) by Edgar Allan Poe, depicts this notion all too well. From the beginning, this story describes a dark mansion, one that from the outside is described as looking broken down, old and mysterious, but gloomy and frightening (Poe 264). Knowing that the story started in this specific manner, as a reader, one feels compelled to keep reading as one finds it intriguing that the narrator himself, does not know why it is that his friend Roderick has summoned him there with his letter, and as a reader, one wants to also find out why. The vagueness that Poe describes in this short story makes it a mystery that attracts the readers even more, and it is this that gives stories enraveled in darkness their unique appeal.
The way in which the story is narrated, makes all the difference in encapsulating and capturing a reader's attention, especially in stories that are focused on the realms of darkness. This makes them even more popular among readers because it is this feature that makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story, as is the case in Poe's short story. Knowing as much as the narrator knows, makes the reader that much more invested in what the potential outcomes could be. Feeling the adventurous and daring spirit of the narrator, as is the case with many dark stories, make the reader even more intrigued in its content. In this case of The Fall of the House of Usher, even the narrator cannot stay away despite his realization of what was occurring (Poe 268). Again, as one is also made to feel as if one is part of the story, one can feel the intrigue that the narrator feels, and understands why it is that he does not want to completely run out the door, even as he is feeling the sensation of the house closing in on him (Poe 277). It is this feeling of wanting to know more, of wanting to know everything that keeps a reader entrapped in the lines of this short story, and the same can be applied to all stories that have a dark nature to it.
4) Some literary critics consider Rip Van Winkle a model example of the Romantic hero and the prototype of the mythic American. Write a paragraph explaining how Rip Van Winkle might be seen as a model American romantic hero. Use at least three qualities of the character to support your explanation.
Rip Van Winkle is described as being a character that everyone would want to be like. This notion of being the represented romantic hero, and the ideal mythic American can be seen throughout the entire story. Although it might be seen as being insensitive for falling asleep for twenty years and allowing everyone's life to go on without him, when he awoke, he awoke with a sense of peacefulness. One of the best attributes… [END OF PREVIEW] . . . READ MORE
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Home Opinion How psychedelic medicine is being used in the fight to end opioid addiction
How psychedelic medicine is being used in the fight to end opioid addiction
by Florian Brand
CEO and co-founder of ATAI Life Sciences, Florian Brand explains why one psychedelic medicine might provide the key to fighting opioid addiction.
No one wakes up one day and decides to become opioid dependent. You might have been warned against the risks - aware that there’s a chance of developing a tolerance or dependence on the drugs. At the start they block the pain and release that feel-good rush of dopamine in your brain, helping you function and go about daily life. But, after a while, that impulse - for a rush, for relief, for a shift in consciousness - can become all-consuming. What starts as a way to relieve stress and pain can become a full-blown dependency, or opioid use disorder (OUD).
Treatment options are limited. In 2018 alone, 2.1 million Americans met the diagnostic criteria for OUD. 47,600 people died from opioid overdoses.
Some may argue that this crisis is a result of big pharma’s overzealous marketing, but, whatever your view, there is little doubt that the industry has faltered in finding a solution. Until now, therapeutic approaches have focused on substituting opioid use for treatments that replace the drugs with milder substances. There’s a significant risk for adverse health effects, including long-term dependency, cognitive issues and drug interactions.
Results of treatments with currently available substitution therapies are variable, with relapse rates across substance use disorders estimated to be between 40 and 60%.
ATAI Life Sciences was formed to take a different approach. My fellow founders and I were inspired by our personal experiences of living with mental health disorders to create a company that leaves no stone unturned in our search for answers. We employ a decentralised, technology and data-driven platform model which includes eight companies working to responsibly accelerate the development of impactful and evidence-based therapies. Many of these companies use innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and computational biophysics to discover compounds that could hold therapeutic potential for people living with OUD as well as other disorders like treatment resistant depression and anxiety. ATAI’s focus is on patients who have already tried – and failed – to find relief with other therapeutics.
We aren’t alone in this thinking: Deborah Mash, CEO of one of ATAI’s close partners, DemeRx, has spent years investigating the therapeutic properties of the iboga plant in OUD. Together, we are now taking the next step for research by submitting Clinical Trial Applications for a Phase II study in opioid-dependent patients.
Ibogaine has been used in traditional ceremonies in West Africa as part of Bwiti religious practices since the late 1800s. It is known for its oneirophrenic and hallucinogenic properties and works by affecting a variety of neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, opioid, and NMDA receptors. The exact mechanisms behind ibogaine’s dissociative psychedelic effects are unclear, but it has been speculated that the dream-like state induced in patients leads to a kind of “brain reset”. We want to see whether this reset might provide patients with a clean slate, empowering them to reframe their understanding of their behavioural patterns and play a more active role in reducing opioid use.
Uncontrolled data from hundreds of patients supports this theory. The largest study of ibogaine to date, found that a single low, oral dose significantly reduced opioid withdrawal scores, the severity of cravings and concurrent depression. Importantly, these effects persisted at a one-month follow up.
Research into ibogaine is difficult to carry out. Ibogaine is a Schedule I drug. According to the US government, Schedule I substances have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Consequently, clinical investigation of ibogaine remains limited, outside of a few highly regulated centres around the world. Dr Mash found a way to continue her research at a patient-funded treatment centre called Healing Visions that operates on the West Indies island of St. Kitts. There she was able to treat over 300 people from 1996-2003 in a holistically person-centred setting while collecting and publishing data about ibogaine addiction treatment.
Dr. Mash stated: “If ibogaine stays in the underground, backdoors, and back alleys outside of mainstream medical use, it’s never going to get out of Schedule 1 or be approved as a therapeutic drug, and we’ll never be able to get it to the millions of people who are desperate.”
We are working with Deborah to start a revolutionary shift in the way mental illness and addiction is studied, diagnosed and treated.
Our partnership with Deborah and her team doesn’t mean that we are a “psychedelics” company; it just means that existing treatments just aren’t working and opioid users and their families are still suffering from this devastating disorder due to a shortfall in mental health innovation. And, perhaps, that a pharmaceutical industry - used to being at the cutting edge of science - might yet have a thing or two to learn from ancient medicines like ibogaine when it comes to taking on OUD.
opioid addiction Latest issue ATAI Life Sciences Perspective on Pharma Issue 20.2
© 2020 Rapid Life Sciences Ltd, a Rapid News Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
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27 survivors of Mediterranean shipwreck reach Italy, death toll 800
Twenty-seven survivors of Sunday’s (April 19) Mediterranean shipwreck arrived on a coast guard vessel at the Italian port of Catania on Monday night (April 20).
According to the UN’s latest figures, the disaster killed 800 migrants who had embarked on the perilous crossing from Libya, desperate for a better life in Europe.
Italy’s infrastructure and transport minister Graziano Delrio said two of the survivors – the captain and his deputy – had been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.
Meanwhile, off the Greek island of Rhodes, 93 migrants were rescued from a wooden boat that sank after crashing onto rocks. Three died: a man, a woman and a child.
The European Union has proposed doubling the size of its search and rescue effort in the Mediterranean.
Two more rescue operations are still underway to save an estimated 400 migrants in danger off the coast of Libya.
Data raises questions over EU's attitude towards asylum seekers
Migrant crisis: What options does Europe have?
Migrants accept death risk, enrich Mediterranean traffickers
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Northampton Town boss Chris Wilder says his players have a great opportunity against Newcastle United
John Verrall
Chris Wilder believes that Northampton Town’s trip to Newcastle United is the biggest game that his team could have hoped for in Round 2 of the Capital One Cup.
The Cobblers will travel north to St. James’ Park, with the odds against them on getting a result. However, there were 13 upsets in the First Round of the competition, and the boss Wilder is hoping that his team can cause another shock.
Read more: Capital One Cup Round 1 review
“At this stage of the competition I don’t think it really gets any bigger than this,” Wilder told Northampton Town’s official site.
“It’s a great opportunity for the players and they need to embrace the challenge, knowing that we want to go up there and do ourselves justice.
“It’s a big step up for us but we don’t want to go there just to make up the numbers, we want to make sure that we are tough, hard to beat and that we give them a competitive game.
“The game starts at 0-0 and there is always a chance that we can get a result but we know that things will have to fall in our lap a little bit and my players will have to play unbelievably well.
“Everything is stacked against us, we will need to have a lot of luck and my players will need to have the night of their life but it can happen.
“These things happen in football, not very often but we have to believe that it can be our night.”
Northampton’s have a history of upsetting the odds in the Capital One Cup, having disposed of Liverpool at Anfield in 2010.
They also beat Sky Bet League 1 side Blackpool 3-0 to reach this stage of the competition.
A debut for Ivan Toney?
Striker Toney moved to Newcastle from Northampton earlier this summer, but so far his appearances for the Magpies have come in under-21 matches.
He could make his competitive debut against his former side on Tuesday though, and the Cobblers will know all about his talents.
Great draw. ⚽️
— Ivan Toney (@ivantoney24) August 13, 2015
Toney scored 13 goals for Northampton after breaking through into their first-team, and he could be one to watch if he takes to the field.
We’ll be covering Northampton’s tie against Newcastle, and all the other matches in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night on social media. Follow @CapitalOne_Cup and the official League Cup Facebook page for regular updates.
OLD - Carabao Cup
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Course: Texas History MS
Unit: Great Depression and World War II
Political and Economic Impact of World War II on Texas
Students learn about the political and economic impact of World War II on Texas. Then, they analyze a chart showing the urban shift in the Texas population. Finally, they examine how Mexican American veterans fought for civil rights when they returned from the war, focusing on the Longoria Affair.
Here are the teacher pack items for Political and Economic Impact of World War II on Texas:
In this experience, students learn about the political and economic impact of World War II on Texas. Then, they analyze a chart showing the urban shift in the Texas population. Finally, they examine how Mexican American veterans fought for civil rights when they returned from the war, focusing on the Longoria Affair.
Understand the political and economic impact of World War II on Texas.
Identify how Mexican American veterans fought for civil rights after the war.
World War II ended in 1945 with an Allied victory. In this lesson you will learn about the political and economic impact of the war on Texas.
Many Mexican Americans and African Americans had fought bravely for their country in the war. Macario Garcia of Sugarland received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the war. In September 1945, one month after receiving the Medal of Honor from President Truman, Garcia went to a restaurant near Houston. The restaurant refused to serve him because he was Mexican American. Garcia was so angry that a fight broke out between him and the owner of the restaurant, and Garcia was arrested.
President Truman Presenting the Medal of Honor to Macario Garcia
Even though discrimination against Mexican Americans and African Americans was still common in Texas in the early 1900s, this incident soon made national headlines.
Why do you think the treatment of Macario Garcia at the restaurant became a major national story?
The discrimination against veterans seems particularly unfair since these people had just risked their lives to fight for their country, but they were treated as second-class citizens when they returned home.
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Great Depression and World War II Unit.
The New Deal and Texas
The Great Depression and Its Impact on Texas
Texas During World War II
The Dust Bowl in Texas
The Great Depression and World War II: Unit Review
Would you like to preview the rest of this learning experience, and get access to the entire functioning Texas History MS course for your classroom? Sign up using your school email address below.
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An Early Step Toward a Future of Implanted Biomedical Factories
Much of the future of medicine will involve altering the mix of protein machinery and signals that drive our metabolism, instructing cells to take specific actions, and delivering new protein machines that can perform tasks that our existing biology cannot, such as clearing out otherwise resistant metabolic waste products. The current model in medicine is for the work of mixing up the necessary new materials to take place outside the body, which are then delivered in the form of infusions, injections, pills, and so on. In the future, we will probably see the creation of therapeutics move inside the body, in the form of increasingly sophisticated, reactive, and programmable implanted medical factories.
The work noted here is an early step in this direction: a single-function implant that alters the behavior of immune cells on an ongoing basis, an alternative to periodically drawing cells from a patient, altering them in culture, and then returning them to the body.
A cross-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and clinicians announced today that they have begun a Phase I clinical trial of an implantable vaccine to treat melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer. Most therapeutic cancer vaccines available today require doctors to first remove the patient's immune cells from the body, then reprogram them and reintroduce them back into the body. The new approach, which was first reported to eliminate tumors in mice [in 2009], instead uses a small disk-like sponge about the size of a fingernail that is made from FDA-approved polymers. The sponge is implanted under the skin, and is designed to recruit and reprogram a patient's own immune cells "on site," instructing them to travel through the body, home in on cancer cells, then kill them.
The technology was initially designed to target cancerous melanoma in skin, but might have application to other cancers. In the preclinical [study], 50 percent of mice treated with two doses of the vaccine - mice that would have otherwise died from melanoma within about 25 days - showed complete tumor regression.
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130906141833.htm
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St. John's College | Fastweb
St. John's College
University Website: www.sjc.edu
Apply Online: https://admissions.sjc.edu/apply/?_ga=1.116226438.1270557416.1458678535
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six prime ministers of various countries, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints.
The full formal name of the college is "The Master, Fellows and Scholars of the College of St John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge". The college was founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort. In constitutional terms, the college is an eleemosynary corporation established by Charter dated 9 April 1511. The aims of the College, as specified by its Statutes, are the promotion of education, religion, learning and research. The college is a charity under English law, being an exempt charity under the terms of Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.
St John's College is well known for its choir, for its members' participation in a wide variety of inter-collegiate sporting competitions, and for its yearly May Ball.
In 2011 the College celebrated its quincentenary, an event marked by a visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
St. John's College College Scholarships
Intel PhD Fellowship Program
Intel Foundation
Arkansas Health Education Grant Program
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Schools Near St. John's College
The Temple Annapolis-A Paul Mitchell Partner School
Empire Beauty School-Glen Burnie
ITT Technical Institute-Hanover
Baltimore School of Massage-Linthicum
Prince George's Community College
Aspen Beauty Academy of Laurel
University of Maryland-University College
All-State Career-Baltimore
Capitol Technology University
Washington Bible College-Capital Bible Seminary
Sanford-Brown Institute-Landover
Western Shores Institute Inc
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University of Utah | Fastweb
University Website: www.utah.edu
Apply Online: admissions.utah.edu/apply/
The University of Utah (also referred to as the U, the U of U, or Utah) is a public coeducational space-grant research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
As the state's flagship university, the university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and more than 90 graduate degree programs. Graduate studies include the S.J. Quinney College of Law and the School of Medicine, Utah's only medical school. As of Autumn 2012, there are 24,840 undergraduate students and 7,548 graduate students, for an enrollment total of 32,388; with 83% coming from Utah and 9% coming from foreign countries. Just over 10% of students live on campus.
The university's athletic teams, the Utes, participate in NCAA Division I athletics (FBS for football) as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Its football team has received national attention in recent years for winning the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest institution of higher education. It received its current name in 1892, four years before Utah attained statehood, and moved to its current location in 1900.
University of Utah College Scholarships
Tim Wengard Endowed Scholarship
University of Utah - Fine Arts College
Eskridge Endowed Scholarship
Summer/Special Project Support Award - University of Utah
Elizabeth Fuhriman Gardner Prize
University of Utah - College of Health
Walter D. and Grace G. Bonner Memorial Award
University of Utah - College of Science
$100 Varies See Details
Lloyd E. Malm Memorial Award
Wesley G. Harline M.D. Scholarship
University of Utah - School of Medicine
University of Utah - College of Social and Behavioral Science
Vernal and Anora Mortensen Scholarship
University of Utah School of Medicine Student Aid Fund
Schools Near University of Utah
Healing Mountain Massage School
Skin Science Institute
Utah College of Massage Therapy-Salt Lake City
Neumont College of Computer Science
Nightingale College
LDS Business College
Sherman Kendall Academy-Salt Lake City
Skinworks School of Advanced Skincare
Midwives College of Utah
Broadview Entertainment Arts University
Myotherapy College of Utah
Fortis College-Salt Lake City
Paul Mitchell the School-Salt Lake City
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Local police banned from buying military-style weapons, vehicles from feds
Nine months after police in riot gear dispelled racially charged protests, President Barack Obama is prohibiting the federal government from providing some military-style equipment to local departments and putting stricter controls on other weapons and gear distributed to law enforcement.
The surprise announcement comes after the White House suggested last year that Obama would maintain programs that provide the type of military-style equipment used to respond to demonstrators last summer in Ferguson, Missouri, because of their broader contribution to public safety. But an interagency group found "substantial risk of misusing or overusing" items like tracked armored vehicles, high-powered firearms and camouflage could undermine trust in police.
With scrutiny on police only increasing in the ensuing months after a series of highly publicized deaths of black suspects nationwide, Obama also is unveiling the final report of a task force he created to help build confidence between police and minority communities in particular. The announcements come as Obama is visiting Camden, New Jersey, one of the country's most violent and poorest cities.
Obama plans to visit Camden police headquarters before heading to a community center to meet with youth and law enforcement and give a speech. "I'll highlight steps all cities can take to maintain trust between the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line, and the communities they're sworn to serve and protect," Obama said in his weekly address out Saturday.
In previewing the president's trip, the White House said that effective immediately, the federal government will no longer fund or provide armored vehicles that run on a tracked system instead of wheels, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, firearms or ammunition of .50-caliber or higher, grenade launchers, bayonets or camouflage uniforms. The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.
In addition, a longer list of equipment the federal government provides will come under tighter control, including wheeled armored vehicles like Humvees, manned aircraft, drones, specialized firearms, explosives, battering rams and riot batons, helmets and shields. Starting in October, police will have to get approval from their city council, mayor or some other local governing body to obtain it, provide a persuasive explanation of why it is needed and have more training and data collection on the use of the equipment.
The issue of police militarization rose to prominence last year after a white police officer in Ferguson fatally shot unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown, sparking protests. Critics questioned why police in full body armor with armored trucks responded to dispel demonstrators, and Obama seemed to sympathize when ordering a review of the programs that provide the equipment. "There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement and we don't want those lines blurred," Obama last in August.
But he did not announce a ban in December with the publication of the review, which showed five federal agencies spent $18 billion on programs that provided equipment including 92,442 small arms, 44,275 night-vision devices, 5,235 Humvees, 617 mine-resistant vehicles and 616 aircraft. At the time, the White House defended the programs as proving to be useful in many cases, such as the response to the Boston Marathon bombing. Instead of repealing the programs, Obama issued an executive order that required federal agencies that run the programs to consult with law enforcement and civil rights and civil liberties organizations to recommend changes that make sure they are accountable and transparent.
That working group said in a report out Monday that it developed the list of newly banned equipment because "the substantial risk of misusing or overusing these items, which are seen as militaristic in nature, could significantly undermine community trust and may encourage tactics and behaviors that are inconsistent with the premise of civilian law enforcement." The Justice Department did not respond to an inquiry about how many pieces of equipment that are now banned had been previously distributed through federal programs.
The separate report from the 21st Century Policing task force has a long list of recommendations to improve trust in police, including encouraging more transparency about interactions with the public. The White House said 21 police agencies nationwide, including Camden and nearby Philadelphia, have agreed to start putting out never-before released data on citizen interactions like use of force, stops, citations and officer-involved shootings. The administration also is launching an online toolkit to encourage the use of body cameras to record police interactions. And the Justice Department is giving $163 million in grants to incentivize police departments to adopt the report's recommendations.
Ron Davis, director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the Justice Department, told reporters he hoped the report could be a "key transformational document" in rebuilding trust that has been destroyed in recent years between police and minority communities.
"We are without a doubt sitting at a defining moment for American policing," said Davis, a 30-year police veteran and former chief of the East Palo Alto (California) Police Department. "We have a unique opportunity to redefine policing in our democracy, to ensure that public safety becomes more than the absence of crime, that it must also include the presence of justice."
Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nedrapickler
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George Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump joins attorney for family of Joel Acevedo
By Ashley Sears
Michael Mattioli
MILWAUKEE -- On the heels of George Floyd’s death, Attorney Benjamin Crump has joined Attorney B’Ivory LaMarr in representing Joel Acevedo’s family in Milwaukee, "to seek justice in yet another police strangulation case," according to a news release Tuesday, June 23.
A charge of first-degree reckless homicide was filed May 13 against off-duty Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Mattioli. He is charged in connection with the death of Joel Acevedo following a fight inside Mattioli's home near 45th Street and W. Cleveland Avenue on April 19. Prosecutors said Mattioli indicated he "held (Acevedo) on the ground" after Acevedo tried stealing from him and punched another man in the home. It happened the morning after the off-duty officer hosted a get-together at his home.
Mattioli, 32, is a 13-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department and has been placed on full suspension, according to police.
Acevedo, 25, died from his injuries at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center on April 25.
The news release Tuesday noted in the wake of Acevedo's death, "social justice leaders and community supporters who have rallied and marched on behalf of Joel Acevedo" and "continue to demand the public release of body CAM footage and 911 tapes from April 19, 2020, in order to shed light on Acevedo’s death." They also want two others connected to the incident to be charged, and for Mattioli to be fired.
"We believe that Joel was strangled for over 10 minutes," said LaMarr. "That's significant."
Protest for Joel Acevedo
“The world saw that the police officer had a knee on George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds,” said Crump in the release. “Based on the 911 call and the police body camera video, Joel Acevedo’s family believe that he was choked by the police for over 10 minutes. He was unconscious when the police officer finally took his hands off of his neck, and he remained that way until he was pronounced dead six days later. I am representing this family with Attorney LaMarr because the police continue to literally choke the life out of Black and Brown people.”
The release noted Mattioli is to make his first court appearance Wednesday. The Acevedo family will be allowed to provide a statement during this appearance, and attorneys for the family will be standing with their clients.
"We expect it to be a tough day for them," said LaMarr. "We also expect it to be a day that will be on par for the first day of justice."
A rally will be held outside of the Milwaukee County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Wednesday ahead of Mattioli’s initial court appearance.
"Tomorrow's about justice," said LaMarr. "Tomorrow's about law enforcement being treated equally to any other civilian."
LaMarr said Crump joining the case bolsters it.
"He's been very diligent understanding the facts of this case, looking at the similarities that Joel's case has with George Floyd's," said LaMarr. "The first thing we want is justice for this family. This is a social justice issue. This is about right or wrong."
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Judge drops armed robbery charge against Sean Harvey, headed to trial on three other charges
By Ben Handelman
MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee County court commissioner dropped one of four felony charges against 23-year-old Sean Harvey during Harvey's preliminary hearing on Friday, August 21st.
Sean Harvey
Harvey faced multiple charges, including armed robbery, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to deliver cocaine. It was the armed robbery charge that got dropped.
Commissioner Barry Phillips dismissed the robbery charge because he felt there wasn't enough evidence presented in court Friday to find probable cause. It's not clear if prosecutors will try to resubmit the charge at Harvey's arraignment.
According to the criminal complaint, Harvey approached a car in the area of 51st and Vliet St. of Milwaukee around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 16th.
“He knocked on the window, and I rolled it down a bit,” the victim in this case said.
The victim was parking the car after dropping her husband off for a senior softball game at Wick Field.
Officials say Harvey apparently asked the woman if she had any change. She said she did not — and didn’t even have her purse. At that point, the complaint indicates Harvey “opened the passenger door and entered (the woman’s) vehicle.”
“He kept asking me for money. All of a sudden he just slammed that door open and came in light lightning — pulled a gun out and said ‘give me those keys or I will kill you.’ I gave him the keys and continued to get out of the car. He took off like a bat — squealed the tires and took off,” the victim said.
The victim’s purse and keys were in the vehicle. Authorities believe the suspect had an accomplice nearby.
Within a half hour, the complaint indicates someone attempted to access the victim’s checking account via telephone. The bank officials reported a “male was pretending to be a woman and stated that he had a sore throat, which is why his voice sounded manly. The male also stated that he had Alzheimer’s which is why he could not answer (the victim’s) security questions.” The bank did not allow any transaction to take place.
The criminal complaint says the car that was stolen also contained the keys to a second vehicle owned by the victim. Around 11:30 a.m., police showed up at the victim’s home — and she indicated her second car was missing.
“Within 45 minutes or so that they’d taken the first car, they had the second car. That’s how fast they worked,” the victim said.
That second car was later located — but Harvey fled from police and was able to get away.
The cars were used in what's believed to be a troubling trend in Milwaukee -- rolling drug houses.
"They know there are garages in the neighborhood that these guys take these cars to, redo them, tint the windows -- put on temporary plates," said the victim.
It was a rough pill to swallow, until a break in the case. Two weeks later, Harvey was arrested. He was found at his mother's home with drugs and a weapon.
Authorities say they were able to pinpoint his phone to the scene of the crime.
Friday morning, August 21st, Commissioner Barry Phillips dismissed the robbery charge because he felt there wasn't enough evidence presented in court to find probable cause. It's not clear if prosecutors will try to resubmit the charge at Harvey's arraignment.
"He's involved in so much stuff, I can't believe it got dropped. Especially what I'm told he's done it before," said the victim.
The victim is shocked, but it's not all bad news. The victim says a second man, 22-year-old Broderick Moore is also now charged with the crime -- his armed robbery charge still stands.
Harvey is not off the hook yet, he still faces felony charges. Harvey will be back in court to enter a plea to the remaining three charges on August 25th.
The victim did recover both of her stolen cars -- she says they are trashed.
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Mealey's Furniture and Mattress Surprises Marine Major With Free Furniture
Furniture World News on 7/5/2005
When U.S. Marine Corps Major Sean Clements recently came home to Fairless Hills (Bucks County, PA) after a tour of duty in Iraq, including the fight in Falujah, he found that the company for which he worked had gone out of business and he was without a job! To honor his service to our country, Major Clements, his wife Dolores, and four children (Sean, age 10; Julia, age 8; Kevin, age 7, and Kyle, age 5) are celebrating a late Independence Day with a free houseful of furniture from Mealey's Furniture and Mattress, a Pennsylvania-based family-owned business. "Major Clements was involuntarily reactivated last summer and sent to Iraq where he was stationed at Alizad Air Base, just south of Baghdad," said Kevin Mealey, co-president of the family-owned business. "With dad still working part-time for the Marines and looking for a full-time job, money is tight for this family, yet they have been supportive and strong through it all, while living with mostly hand-me-down furniture. This is just a small way to honor this special family and those who serve our country." Mealey's invited families and friends of active duty deserving military personnel to enter a contest to win a free houseful of furniture. The Clements family was nominated by Major Clements' sister-in-law, Patty Cichetti. Major Clements' family was selected out of more than 800 entries received at Mealey's retail stores in Oxford Valley and Bensalem PA, Moorestown NJ, and the Distribution Center in Morrisville PA, as well as through the internet.
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Home > Legal insights > Queensland Supreme Court considers “unconventional” forms of security for costs and whether expert reports are privileged and not required to be disclosed
Queensland Supreme Court considers “unconventional” forms of security for costs and whether expert reports are privileged and not required to be disclosed
Guy Edgecombe, Partner, Brisbane
The case of Murphy v Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd [2019] QSC 12 (Murphy v Gladstone Ports) examines whether:
A deed of indemnity issued by a foreign company, coupled with the payment of money into Court for the purposes of enforcing the deed of indemnity in the foreign jurisdiction, is sufficient security for the purposes of a security for costs application; and
Whether a party to a proceeding can seek disclosure of expert reports under rule 212 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) (the Court Rules).
The Plaintiffs brought a representative class action (pursuant to Part 13A of the Civil Proceedings Act 2011 (Qld) (CPA)) against the Defendant for alleged negligence in the design and construction of a bund wall in Gladstone Harbour. They alleged that, due to the Defendant’s negligence, the wall failed and allowed contaminants into the water, causing economic loss.
The Plaintiffs entered into the representative proceeding funding agreements with Sydney-based litigation finance company LCM Operations Pty Ltd (LCM).
Security for Costs
Pursuant to rule 670 of the Court Rules, a defendant to a proceeding may apply to the Court requiring that the plaintiff pay money into Court to cover the defendant’s costs in defending the proceedings.
Here, the parties agreed that security of costs should be provided, however, disagreed on the form of the security to be provided. The Defendant argued that security in the amount of $400,000 should be provided in the “conventional way”, that is, either by way of bank guarantee or by payment into Court. The Plaintiffs proposed an arrangement whereby AmTrust Europe Limited (AmTrust), a foreign corporation having no assets in Australia, provide a deed of indemnity and that $30,000 be paid into Court as security for the costs of enforcing the deed in the foreign jurisdiction. The deed would also provide for an unconventional and irrevocable undertaking on behalf of AmTrust to pay the Defendant any sum (or sums) up to $400,000, which the Plaintiffs would be legally required to pay in the event that the Plaintiffs were unsuccessful in its litigation.
The Defendant argued that the deed of indemnity was not an adequate form of security on the basis that it had “concerns that the deed may not be enforceable if AmTrust receives, as consideration providing it a share of the proceeds of any successful settlement of judgment. In that event, the deed may form part of a champertous funding arrangement in circumstances where maintenance and champerty are torts in Queensland”.[1] Furthermore, the Defendant raised additional concerns that if the funding agreement is unenforceable, the agreement between AmTrust and LCM may also be void and unenforceable, and if void and unenforceable, the natural consequence would be that the deed of indemnity would also be void and unenforceable.[2]
The Court examined whether the funding agreement was champertous and whether there was a risk that the deed of indemnity would be unenforceable. The Court found that AmTrust was a financially robust corporation and that the effect of the deed was to give the Defendant direct recourse against a substantial fund in a cost efficient and expeditious manner. Justice Crow considered that the risk of the deed of indemnity being unenforceable was negligible. Furthermore, Justice Crow held that the deed of indemnity, together with the additional payment into Court for the enforcement of the deed of indemnity, was adequate security for the Defendant’s costs and did not impose an unacceptable disadvantage on the Defendant.
The statement of claim produced by the Plaintiffs contained a considerable amount of technical detail and it was evident that it had been produced with the assistance of an expert. The Defendant sought disclosure of the expert evidence used throughout the statement of claim pursuant to rule 212 of the Court Rules. Relevantly, rule 212 provides that the duty of disclosure does not apply to a document to which there is a valid claim to privilege from disclosure, however, a document consisting of a statement or report of an expert is not privileged from disclosure.
The Defendant sought discovery of the documents on the basis that it was entitled to the discovery of “any expert reports, including drafts, directly relevant to the issue of dispute on the pleadings”.[3] The Plaintiffs sought to resist the Defendant’s application of discovery on the basis that it was privileged information and that rule 212 does not apply to expert advice that is obtained in a consulting capacity, but rather only to expert evidence that is “deployed” by a party. Furthermore, common law litigation privilege is a “substantive right [and] those substantive rights cannot be affected other than by clear legislative intent, which [was] absent”[4] from rule 212. The Defendant argued that rule 212 is unambiguous and it ought to be given its full effect.
His Honour held that rule 212 ordered that the expert evidence be disclosed on the basis that rule 212 broadens the scope of what documents are required to be disclosed. Further, His Honour rejected the Plaintiffs’ argument and held that under r 212(2), whether a party is “intending to rely on a report” or “intending to deploy a report” are irrelevant when assessing whether an expert report needs to be disclosed. Further, disclosure is required when a statement or report “reflects the expert’s state of mind at the time it was written”.[5]
Developments after the Court’s decision
Subsequent to the Court’s decision, LCM sought a declaration from the Court that the class action funding agreement was enforceable and that the torts of champerty and maintenance do not apply to class action funding arrangements in Queensland.[6] The Court upheld the funding agreement and concluded that Part 13 of the CPA permits class action proceedings to be funded by a commercial litigation funder. The Court did not go so far as to decide that the torts of champerty and maintenance no longer exist in Queensland. The Court found that it was unnecessary to do so, as no declaratory relief was sought in this regard.
The Court’s decision in Murphy v Gladstone Ports shows that Courts are willing to utilise “unconventional” forms of security in a security for costs application in circumstances where litigation funders are involved. Further, parties ought to be cautious in preparing their pleadings, when seeking to rely on expert reports, in light of the wording contained in rule 212(2).
[1] Murphy v Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd [2019] QSC 12 at [20].
[2] Ibid at [23].
[5] Ibid at [101]
[6] Murphy Operator & Ors v Gladstone Ports Corporation & Anor (No 4) [2019] QSC 228.
Guy Edgecombe, Partner
Issac Day, Solicitor
Guy Edgecombe
guy.edgecombe@gadens.com
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The GB Boxing squad competes in the forms of boxing sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) which is the international governing body for the sport.
Traditionally known as amateur boxing, AIBA stopped using the term ‘amateur’ in 2007 and in 2012 called on all National Federations – including those in England, Scotland and Wales – to drop the word after the AIBA Statutes were amended at an Extraordinary Congress in September of that year.
The decision to drop the term ‘amateur’ coincided with the development of new variants of the sport and since 2013, AIBA has operated three codes of boxing: AIBA Open Boxing (AOB), World Series Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Professional Boxing (APB).
The male and female members of the GB Boxing squad participate in AOB. Some of the men also take part in WSB, which is not currently available to women. To-date no-one from the GB Boxing squad has competed in APB.
AIBA Open Boxing (AOB):
Formerly known as amateur or Olympic boxing, this is the most common form of boxing within AIBA and is the one used at the Olympic Games and World and European Championships. It is also the one practiced in the 1000+ boxing clubs in Great Britain that are affiliated to the national governing bodies (NGBs) in England (England Boxing), Scotland (Boxing Scotland) and Wales (Welsh Boxing).
AOB bouts take place over 3×3 minutes rounds for men and 4×2 minutes for women. Competitors wear vests; women wear headguards, but since 2013 these have been removed for men for senior and elite competitions.
Three judges are used and bouts are scored using the ‘10 point must’ system. The judges will score each round, and at the end of the bout the boxer who is deemed the winner by the majority of judges will win the bout. Bouts can also be stopped by the referee in the event of injury or a serious imbalance between the boxers.
There are 10 weight classes for men and women in AOB. The 10 male weight classes are also used in WSB and APB. The weight classes are:
Male weight classes Female weight classes
Light-flyweight 49kg Light-flyweight 48kg
Flyweight 52kg Flyweight 51kg
Bantamweight 56kg Bantamweight 54kg
Lightweight 60kg Featherweight 57kg
Light-welterweight 64kg Lightweight 60kg
Welterweight 69kg Light-welterweight 64kg
Middleweight 75kg Welterweight 69kg
Light-heavyweight 81kg Middleweight 75kg
Heavyweight 91kg Light-heavyweight 81kg
Super-heavyweight 91kg+ Heavyweight 81kg+
National championships in England, Scotland and Wales and European and World Championships are held at all 10 weights for men and women. At the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the men’s competition is held at all 10 weight classes; the women’s competition is held at three weight classes, flyweight, lightweight and middleweight.
World Series Boxing (WSB)
Established in 2010, the World Series of Boxing (WSB) is a global team boxing competition for men, developed by AIBA. It is made-up of national franchises which compete in a league format and culminates in a series of play-offs and a grand final. The national teams are mainly made-up of home nation boxers and a small number of international selections.
Boxers compete without vests and headguards over 5×3 minute rounds using the ’10 point must’ scoring system. A WSB match between two international franchises consists of bouts in five weight categories and the team that wins the most bouts wins the match.
The UK-based franchise in WSB is the British Lionhearts, which is primarily made-up of boxers from the GB Boxing squad and competed in the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons of WSB.
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Milwaukee Police Sgt. on duty disability files lawsuit against city
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6 News has learned Jason Mucha -- a police sergeant currently off the job after he filed for duty disability has now filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee and others.
Mucha's lawsuit is filed against the city of Milwaukee, the city of Milwaukee Employees' Retirement System, the city of Milwaukee Employees' Retirement System's executive director, and two Milwaukee police officials (a lieutenant and a captain).
Mucha was the Milwaukee Police Sergeant in charge of a Milwaukee Police District 5 unit that has had four officers convicted in a case involving illegal strip searches.
Mucha has never been charged in connection with the illegal strip searches.
Mucha is on duty disability, after doctors determined he suffers from "major mental trauma" from the stress of media reports from cases he has been involved with. Doctors say Mucha is mentally unstable, and unable to work.
Mucha is bringing this lawsuit for two reasons. One, because he feels he was unjustly detained for mental treatment -- something he says was done in an attempt to "deny his duty disability benefit application process." Two, because he believes his medical records were shared with the Milwaukee Police Department without his consent.
The lawsuit says an evaluation of Mucha by a doctor, completed in October of 2012 was submitted by Mucha's doctor to the Milwaukee Employees' Retirement System, which administers health insurance, retirement, disability and pension benefits for city employees.
Eventually, reports from Mucha's evaluation were forwarded by the Employees' Retirement System to the Milwaukee Police Department, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says these reports contained statements provided by Mucha during his doctor evaluation that he had "thoughts of suicide by cop" and had thoughts of "attending a command staff meeting with a rifle and shooting them until they shot him." Mucha further indicated he did not intend to do that.
The lawsuit says that at no time did Mucha's doctor contact any law enforcement agency believing Mucha was a danger to himself or any third person -- much less initiating an involuntary commitment for mental observation.
In November of 2012, the lawsuit says two uniformed officers -- an MPD captain and an MPD lieutenant (named as defendants in the lawsuit) showed up to Mucha's home and displayed their badges for the purpose of seeking Mucha's detention for an involuntary mental observation.
Members of the Tactical Unit were also dispatched. The lawsuit states this was done because during his evaluation, Mucha made several statements of suicidal thoughts -- as well as a statement of shooting members of the police department -- specifically stating he had thoughts of "suicide by cop."
The lawsuit says during the evaluation, Mucha had said he "could not go back to work," and said he "could not take a chance of them trying to get him as that could have a real bad ending." Mucha also referred to the "many guns at his home."
A Milwaukee Police official at Mucha's home that day (and named as a defendant in the lawsuit) said Mucha's doctor had passed information on Mucha to MPD -- but that is apparently not the case, according to Mucha's lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Mucha's doctor submitted reports from his evaluation to the Milwaukee Employees' Retirement system -- and says the evaluation reports were not forwarded to MPD under the direction of Mucha's doctor.
The lawsuit says Mucha believes the only reason for the Employees' Retirement System to have contacted the Milwaukee Police Department to initiate the involuntary commitment against Mucha was "for the purpose of punishing Mucha for initiating a duty disability application" and "to discredit Mucha's application so as to attempt to establish a reason to deny it."
The MPD official said upon speaking with Mucha at his home in November of 2012, Mucha said "the thoughts of suicide and hurting other people were only dreams" -- saying he had no intention of hurting himself or anyone else.
Nonetheless, Mucha was involuntarily seized, handcuffed and conveyed in an MPD vehicle to the Milwaukee County Mental Health Facility -- where he stayed for three days.
The lawsuit says a doctor there determined there was no basis to detain Mucha for an involuntary mental observation.
FOX6 News has previously reported Mucha had nine of his personal weapons confiscated, because officials feared his mental state. They were eventually returned to him.
The lawsuit says Mucha has suffered "emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of reputation, embarrassment, and humiliation.
Mucha is demanding compensatory and punitive damages, and a trial by jury.
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Racine Zoo mourns loss of 19-year-old Amur tiger; “Niki lived a long, healthful life"
RACINE (WITI) -- The Racine Zoological Society is saddened to announce the loss of Niki, the Zoo’s 19-year old Amur tiger, one of the country’s oldest tigers under human care.
Niki was considered geriatric and was under veterinary care while Racine Zoo staff worked to ensure her comfort throughout the last years of her life. Earlier this month, staff noticed Niki was demonstrating atypical behavior and loss of appetite. The primary veterinary team was called in Saturday to monitor the situation which worsened by Sunday morning.
The Zoo’s animal health team is currently conducting a full necropsy, an animal autopsy, and findings will be released in the coming weeks.
“This is a very difficult time for our zoo family as we mourn the loss of Niki, a beloved animal and dear friend to our staff, members, and community,” said Beth Heidorn, Racine Zoo’s Executive Director. “Niki lived a long, healthful life here at the Zoo under the care of dedicated keepers and staff. We will all miss her greatly.”
Niki was born on July 14, 1995 at the Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City Kansas and later moved to the Toledo Zoo in 1997. In 2001, Niki was loaned to the Racine Zoo where she stayed the remainder of her life.
Mainly found in Russia, Amur tigers are considered critically endangered with only an estimated 350 to 400 animals left in the wild. Main threats to Amur tigers are poaching and habitat loss which amount to 85 percent of all wild Amur tiger deaths. The Racine Zoo will host International Tiger Day, Saturday, July 18 to raise awareness of conservation initiatives designed to help save the Amur tiger.
Nestled along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, the Racine Zoo is open year round. Current hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission rates are: Members and children under the age of three: FREE, children two years to 15 years: $6, seniors: $7, and adults: $8. Racine County residents take $1 off with valid photo I.D. For more information on the Racine Zoo, its programs and events, visit racinezoo.org, call 262-636-9189.
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The Latest: Wright thinking Villanova-Temple
The Latest on the second full day of the men's NCAA Tournament, including games being played in St. Louis; Spokane, Washington; New York; and Oklahoma City (All times EDT):
Temple and Villanova are part of Philadelphia's storied Big Five in basketball, with La Salle, St. Joseph's and Penn.
The prospects of a Big Five matchup between Temple and Villanova in Sunday's second round had Wildcats coach Jay Wright feeling some mixed emotions.
''Growing up in Philly, every time I coach in one of those games, I've got to pinch myself that I'm in it,'' he said after the first-round win against UINC Asheville. ''In Philadelphia, that's like an Auburn-Alabama -- it's like living in Alabama and playing an Auburn-Alabama football game. That's what those games are like. But on the other side, the coaches are really good friends, and I hate coaching against my friends.''
Fran Dunphy and Temple were down 38-37 at halftime to Iowa.
- Ralph Russo reporting from New York
You'd think Michigan State's Denzel Valentine would get a little respect these days.
Not from the public address announcer at the Scottrade Center.
He made a habit of calling the Big Ten player of the year ''Darnell Valentine'' in the first half of the second-seeded Spartans' game against No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee State on Friday.
Either the man behind the mike was making an honest mistake or he was showing his age: Darnell Valentine was an All-American guard for Kansas in the 1970s and `80s who went on to spend several years with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Cavaliers before retiring from basketball.
Chances are Denzel Valentine will have an NBA future, too.
- Dave Skretta reporting from St. Louis.
California's Jabari Bird is back on the Golden Bears' bench for the second half after the school said he had back spasms during pregame warmups.
Bird was evaluated and received treatment in the locker room during the first half and rejoined his teammates after halftime.
California was already without starting point guard and leading scorer Tyrone Wallace after he broke his right hand in practice this week.
-- Tim Booth reporting from Spokane, Washington
Cal State Bakersfield's Rod Barnes has no choice but to revisit one of his worst coaching memories.
He was an assistant coach at Mississippi in 1998, when Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit the famous 3-pointer to help the 13th-seeded Crusaders upset the 4th-seeded Rebels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Mississippi led 69-67 with 2.5 seconds left before Drew's buzzer-beater.
That game was played at the Myriad, which is now the Cox Convention Center. Eighteen years later, Barnes' 15th-seeded Roadrunners play across the street at Chesapeake Energy Arena against No. 2 seed Oklahoma.
Drew's shot gets replayed whenever March Madness rolls around, and the location of this year's game makes the memory even clearer for Barnes.
''Every year, you try to live it down,'' Barnes said. ''It's kind of like pulling the scab off an injury -- it keeps coming right back. So hopefully, we can get here this year and have better memories, as far as the tournament goes.''
Barnes became head coach at Mississippi later that year and held that position until 2006. He was an assistant at Oklahoma for a year and led the Georgia State program from 2007 to 2011 before taking the job at Bakersfield.
Still, the memory of Drew's shot has remained vivid.
''Man, my heart still hurts,'' he said.
- Cliff Brunt, reporting from Oklahoma City.
California standout Jabari Bird is not on the Golden Bears bench and is apparently sick.
Bird was listed as a starter for the Bears, but was replaced in the lineup against Hawaii by Jordan Mathews. The television broadcast reported that Bird was in the locker room not feeling well. Bird averaged 10.4 points per game.
It's another blow in an already tumultuous week for California that's seen the Bears dismiss an assistant coach amid sexual harassment allegations and lose top scorer Tyrone Wallace for the season to a broken hand.
-Tim Booth reporting from Spokane, Washington.
This goes beyond brunch-time basketball.
Hawaii is used to playing at odd times during the season, but Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against No. 4 seed California is early for even the most ardent hoops fan on the islands, with a scheduled tip of 8 a.m. in Honolulu. That's 11 a.m. Pacific time.
While that is an adjustment for the Warriors fans back home, the team itself had no problem getting ready for the early tip. Hawaii's been on the mainland since March 1 when it left for the final two games of the Big West regular season before winning the conference tournament in Anaheim, California, and then making the trip north to Spokane, Washington.
Villanova found its range from 3-point range late in the first half to build a comfortable lead at the break against 15th-seeded UNC Asheville.
It was a 4-point lead for the Wildcats with 3 minutes left in the half, but they hit 3s on their last four trips. The last one by Ryan Arcidiacono was a pull-up that barely beat the buzzer and made it 40-26 for the second-seed.
Villanova had been 3 for 11 from 3 against the Asheville zone before hitting their last four.
-Ralph Russo reporting from New York.
UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma says the burden of living each year for the three weeks of the NCAA Tournament wears on him, but he's not yet ready to hang up his whistle.
Auriemma, who will turn 62 on March 23, begins his 28th straight NCAA tournament on Saturday against 16th-seed Robert Morris, hoping to lead the Huskies to an 11th national championship and a fourth straight. Robert Morris coach Sal Buscaglia has announced that he will retire at the end of the season, ending a 38-year coaching career.
Auriemma, who is in his 31st year at UConn, said that got him thinking about how long he will continue to coach.
''I kind of got up this morning to come here today and I can't say it was exactly like it was 28 years ago, but it's not that much different,'' he said. ''So, as long as that is the case, I'm good for a while.''
-Pat Eaton-Robb reporting from Storrs, Connecticut.
Bettors at a chain of Las Vegas sports books seem particularly enamored with Dayton on the second day of the NCAA Tournament.
The game between Dayton and Syracuse was the most heavily bet game of the day early Friday at the William Hill sports books. The game was drawing 17 percent of all money, topping the Hawaii-California game (10 percent) as the biggest draw of the day.
Dayton was favored by 54 percent of bettors as a one-point underdog. But 77 percent of the total money bet on the game was on the Flyers, meaning the bigger bettors liked Dayton most of all.
Bettors also believed Oklahoma would open its bid for a national title with a big game. The Sooners were 15-point favorites over Cal State Bakersfield, but 83 percent of the tickets written were on Oklahoma, and 93 percent of the money favored the Sooners to cover the big spread.
-Tim Dahlberg reporting from Las Vegas
Some small-school nets are getting a chance to shine on college basketball's biggest stage.
The ones sent to St. Louis for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament were found to be longer than regulation Friday, setting off a frantic search across the city for replacements.
Missouri Valley associate commissioner Jack Watkins, tournament director for the site, told The Associated Press that regulation nets were found at Fontbonne University.
The Division III school is located about 15 minutes west of the Scottrade Center.
The nets were strung up after Wisconsin completed an early walk-through, only 15 minutes before the Badgers and Syracuse began warming up.
-Dave Skretta reporting from St. Louis.
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UFC denied Rafael dos Anjos' bid for Lawler or Diaz at UFC 200
Report: Blake Griffin will be out until April
VanVleet: Shockers are 'ready to play'
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- No rest for the weary. Wichita State wouldn't want it any other way.
Less than three hours after a convincing 70-50 victory over Vanderbilt in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio, the Shockers (25-8) landed in New England around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, grabbed about six hours of sleep, then turned their attention to their next foe in the NCAA Tournament, sixth-seeded Arizona (25-8) in a first-round South Regional game on Thursday night.
"I mean, this time of year I could stay up all day. It doesn't matter," senior guard Fred VanVleet said Wednesday. "I mean, we could have walked to Providence, for all I care. We're ready to play. We could have played this morning. Not that we would have been very good, but I think our energy would have been up."
Entering tournament play, Wichita State had the nation's top adjusted efficiency defense, and it showed against Vandy, whose trio of 7-footers sputtered against the Shockers. VanVleet and backcourt mate Ron Baker combined for a triple double -- 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists -- as Wichita State pulled away in the second half and held Vandy to its lowest point total of the season.
The Wildcats watched it unfold on television, then held a meeting.
"When you have two senior guards who embody those types of qualities as defenders, it makes life tough for their opponent," Arizona coach Sean Miller said. "We're in for one heck of a battle. I don't really care the seed, what we are, what they are. You come to this tournament expecting to play against some terrific teams, and we know Wichita State is that. And Fred, I think, is the heart and soul of their team because of how he has the ability to make the game easier for his teammates."
Call this matchup a contrast in style. The Shockers thrive on defense and the Wildcats are averaging 81.2 points a game. The last team to score more than 70 in regulation against Wichita State was Iowa (84) in late November.
"It's going to be a tough challenge for us, I think," said Ryan Anderson, Arizona's leading scorer (15.5). "When guards are that good, you can't guard them just with one player. We have to play good team defense tomorrow, and they're a good rebounding team, as well. We've got to keep them off the glass. I think those are the two keys."
During its dominance of the Pac-12 that brought three regular-season championships, the Wildcats under Miller have fallen short of the Final Four. This is the last go-round for senior starters Anderson, Gabe York, and Kaleb Tarczewski.
"It's a game of experience for sure, and hopefully our seniors are ready to play and lead," Miller said. "Because like I said, I think we expect an incredibly tough game."
Other things to know when 11th-seeded Wichita State plays No. 6 Arizona in a first-round game in the South Regional:
DEFENSE RULES: Last year's Sweet 16 team was the first Wichita State squad in 65 years to allow fewer than 60 points per game (57.4, eighth nationally). Despite NCAA rules changes that have increased offense this year, the Shockers are allowing just 59 points to lead the nation and rank fifth in field goal percentage defense (38.2) and second in turnover margin (plus-5.5).
FAMILIAR FOES: Arizona's Tarczewski knows all about Wichita State's dynamic duo. He played with both Baker and VanVleet at the Pan-American games and roomed with VanVleet.
"Those two individuals are the ultimate competitors. They love to win," Tarczewski said. "Obviously, they've proven that with their time at Wichita. Seeing the game last night, we know they're a great team, really, really good on defense. Fred and Ron really run their team, so it's going to be a huge game tomorrow. They're a great team, and we really respect what they do."
EVEN STEPHEN: Wichita State and Arizona have played twice before and each team won on its home court. The Wildcats won 73-61 in December 1951 and the Shockers 87-64 in December 1954.
GRIZZLED VETERANS: Arizona's Tarczewski (11) and Gabe York (nine) have combined to play in 20 NCAA Tournament games. The Wildcats' twosome entered this year's tournament tied with Wichita State's Baker and VanVleet (10 games each) as the most experienced duos in the postseason.
LONG ROAD 2: Arizona's 2,600-mile journey to Rhode Island ranks No. 1 in distance traveled by the school for an NCAA Tournament game.
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Mosquito Joe:
Mosquito Joe Uses Strategic Development Initiatives to Push Triple Digit Revenue Increases in Q2
By: Mosquito Joe | 0 Shares 43 Reads
Leading Mosquito Treatment Company on Pace for Record Breaking 2016; Lands Spot on Inc. 5000 List in Top Three Percent
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (PRWEB) August 18, 2016 - Mosquito Joe, one of the nation’s leading mosquito control treatment companies serving residential and commercial customers nationwide, ended its second quarter by shattering all of its previous revenue records. The brand is celebrating a 144 percent increase in system-wide revenue from the same period in 2015, and now boasts an impressive 169 open territories across the country. That strong national presence is up from 113 open territories the year before.
“The growth Mosquito Joe has experienced so far in 2016 proves that our innovative business model and superior services are resonating, not just with consumers, but with driven entrepreneurs who see just how much this service is needed,” said Kevin Wilson, Mosquito Joe chief executive officer and “Head Joe.” “That momentum is only growing. We plan to leverage our position as an industry leader to keep fueling our strategic expansion efforts in the months and years to come; and by 2018, be the largest outdoor pest control company in the country.”
The demand for Mosquito Joe’s expert services is at an all-time high. Concerns surrounding the Zika virus, which is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites, have prompted a growing number of consumers to turn to brand’s services for help. But Mosquito Joe isn’t just expanding into new territories to keep up with that demand. The company is also increasing its education initiatives on both national and local levels.
In the second quarter of the year alone, the brand helped raise awareness about mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika and the West Nile Virus by joining forces with local blood donation centers across the country. Mosquito Joe’s fourth annual “Beat the Bloodsuckers” campaign organized blood drives and gave back to local communities as part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week. The brand partnered with 27 blood centers in 22 states and helped raise more that $10,000 in one week alone.
“Educating consumers on mosquito control is our number one priority all year long,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, we want to give people the tools and resources that they need to make outside fun again. To make that mission a reality, we’re continuing to expand our mosquito treatment services to new communities across the country.”
The brand’s rapid and strategic growth has also earned it a coveted spot on this year’s Inc. 5000 list, ranking No. 128 of the fastest-growing businesses in the United States. That recognition, combined with the brand’s growing national presence, has positioned Mosquito Joe to enter 2017 positioned for even larger scale growth.
"The Inc. 5000 list stands out where it really counts,” says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “It honors real achievement by a founder or a team of them. No one makes the Inc. 5000 without building something great – usually from scratch. That’s one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails.”
The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $200 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 640,000 jobs over the past three years, or about 8% of all jobs created in the entire economy during that period. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
“There’s no doubt that this is going to be another strong year for us, from both a development and educational perspective. We’re excited to grow into new territories this year, and ultimately take the Mosquito Joe brand to the next level,” said Wilson.
About Mosquito Joe
Virginia Beach, VA-based Mosquito Joe provides mosquito control treatment to residential and commercial customers nationwide. Technicians are trained mosquito control experts dedicated to getting rid of mosquitos so people can enjoy being outside again. While each Mosquito Joe is an independently owned franchise that offers customers reliable and effective service from a trusted community member, it is also backed by a national network of technical expertise. For more information or franchising opportunities, visithttp://www.mosquitojoefranchise.com.
SOURCE Mosquito Joe
Lauren Boukas
No Limit Agency
Dedicated to making outside fun again by eliminating mosquitoes, ticks and fleas from customer's yards, Mosquito Joe®, a Neighborly company, is a leader in the outdoor pest control industry.
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Magnification of incoming and outgoing messages in the user interface of instant messaging and other digital communication services
The invention relates to instant messaging communications. More particularly, the invention relates to the magnification, or set in evidence, of incoming and/or outgoing messages. Typically only the at least one latest exchanged messages is magnified. A messages ends being displayed in a magnified fashion at the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as, a new message is exchanged, the user start or continue to compose an outgoing message, or the user selects to dismiss the magnification. Typically, once a message ends being displayed in a magnified fashion it begins being displayed in a normal fashion, e.g. in the transcript area of the session window in its sender selected, or recipient enforced, font, size, and style.
Lira, Luigi (Costa Mesa, CA, US)
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SHIN, KYUNG H
GLENN PATENT GROUP (Seattle, WA, US)
1. A computer implemented method, comprising the steps of: providing an instant messaging client application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least one instant message recipient and an instant message sender; said at least one instant message recipient receiving a communication that comprises a message to be displayed to said at least one instant message recipient; and said message being selected by said instant message sender; wherein said message is presented magnified to said at least one instant message recipient until an event triggers the dismissal of said magnified display.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: said instant message recipient selecting to have messages being presented magnified;
3. The method of claim 1, said event is any of the following: a preset timer; a timer set by said instant message recipient; an explicit request of termination from said instant message recipient; an implicit request of termination from said instant message recipient; and an incoming message.
4. The method of claim 1, said message is presented magnified is any of the following: presented within a translucent user interface element transiently overlaying said instant messaging client application user interface; presented within an opaque user interface element transiently overlaying said instant messaging client application user interface; presented within an area of said instant messaging client application user interface; presented overlaying said instant messaging client application user interface; and presented within the transcript area of said instant messaging client application user interface.
5. The method of claim 1, said message is presented magnified overlaying said instant messaging client application user interface with an artistic elaboration applied to it.
6. The method of claim 5, said artistic elaboration is any of the following: each letter having a white core surrounded by a red border; each letter having a 3D appearance; the text having a metallic appearance; the text having water-like colors; the text having an embossed appearance; a dark shadow is displayed near the text; at least part of the text is surrounded by an embossed blue border; each letter having a green core surrounded by a yellow border; each letter having a green core surrounded by a yellow border and at least part of the text is further surrounded by a black border; and each letter having a green core surrounded by a yellow border, at least part of the text is further surrounded by a black border, and a dark shadow is displayed near at least part of the text.
7. The method of claim 1, said message being presented in altered shape.
8. The method of claim 7, said shape alteration is any of the following: at least part of the message being warped; at least part of the message being convoluted; at least part of the message being stretched; at least part of the message being rotated; at least part of the message following a wave-like path; at least part of the message having a reflex-like display along with its primary display; and at least part of the message being slanted and enlarged toward the right to create a protruded 3D appearance.
9. The method of claim 1, said presentation comprises a transient graphic alteration of pre-existing user interface.
10. The method of claim 9, said transient graphic alteration of pre-existing user interface is any of the following: a water-drop-like ripple effect; a lens-like effect; a burn-like effect; a hole-like effect; and a shake-like effect.
11. The method of claim 1, said presentation comprises any of the following: an identification of the sender; the sender username; an image representing the sender; an animated image representing the sender; an artwork; an animated artwork; and a sound.
12. The method of claim 1, said presentation comprises an animation.
13. The method of claim 12, said animation is any of the following: a twirl of each letter of said message; a twirl of each word of said message; a twirl at least part of said message; a pop of each letter of said message; a pop of each word of said message; a pop at least part of said message; a flip at least part of said message; a color change at least part of said message; and a transparency change at least part of said message.
14. The method of claim 12, said animation is selected by any of the following: said recipient; and said sender.
15. The method of claim 12, said animation is in relation to any of the following: the length of said message; and the content of said message.
16. The method of claim 1, the size of said presentation is in relation to any of the following: the length of said message; and the content of said message.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein an indication is provided to said recipient that a presentation of an incoming message is being delayed until a current presentation ends.
18. The method of claim 1, said transient message presentation being delayed until an action of said instant message recipient is performed.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the client system that display said user interface for said instant messaging communications session is any of the following: a desktop computer; a portable computer; a set-top box; a game console; a PDA; and a cellular phone.
20. A computer implemented method, comprising the steps of: providing an instant messaging client application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least one instant message recipient and an instant message sender; said at least one instant message recipient receiving a communication that comprises a message to be displayed to said at least one instant message recipient; and said message being selected by said instant message sender; wherein said message is presented magnified to said instant message sender while said instant message sender is selecting said message.
21. The method of claim 20, said selection is any of the following: creation of said message; and editing of said message.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/603,714, filed 23 Aug. 2004, 60/609,079, filed 10 Sep. 2004, and 60/674,621, filed 25 Apr. 2005, which applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference thereto.
This application also incorporates herein in its entirety by this reference thereto disclosure document no. 556,080, which was received at the U.S. Patent Office on 30 Jun. 2004.
This application share common provisionals (U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/603,714, filed 23 Aug. 2004, and 60/609,079, filed 10 Sep. 2004) and common disclosure document (no. 556,080, which was received at the U.S. Patent Office on 30 Jun. 2004) with U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/137,174, filed May 24, 2005.
The invention relates to instant messaging communications. More particularly, the invention relates to the magnification, or set in evidence, of incoming and/or outgoing messages. Typically only the at least one latest exchanged messages is magnified. A messages ends being displayed in a magnified fashion at the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as, a new message is exchanged, the recipient start or continue to compose an outgoing message, or the recipient selects to dismiss the magnification. Typically, once a message ends being displayed in a magnified fashion it begins being displayed in a normal fashion, e.g. in the transcript area of the session window in its sender selected, or recipient enforced, font, size, and style.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An instant message (IM) is a form of electronic communication between users of a computer network in which a message is delivered instantly and without the recipient having to access an e-mail program or otherwise check for messages. An instant message appears essentially as soon as the message sender clicks the send button, subject to any time or propagation delays the message may have encountered on the network. In comparison to most e-mail applications, instant messaging enables users to communicate with each other in a more dynamic, interactive, and entertaining manner.
FIG. 4A shows a simplified session window 100 that contains the user interface basic elements. These basic elements are featured in the user interface of the major IM services, such as those from America Online, Inc., Yahoo, Inc., and Microsoft, Inc. The basic elements of the user interface are a transcript area 101 where the messages from all the users involved in the communication are displayed in their chronological order as they are sent; a message composition area 102 where the user inputs the message to send to the other parties involved in the communication; and a send button 103 that the user selects when ready to send the message. Typically, the user interface also contains many other elements, for example, a control to select the font of the message, a control to select the font size of the message, and a control to select the color of the message text, among others. Those extra elements are not relevant for the herein description.
For the purpose of illustrating an IM communication, FIG. 4B shows a session window 100 where two users have exchanged a few messages. The message address field 111 shows which user sent the message. The currently available IM services are able to send text content 112 formatted with font, size, color, and other attributes chosen by the sender. They are also able to send emoticon graphic content 113. So-called emoticons are small to medium sized images or graphics, typically depicting cartoon-like smiling, winking, or sad faces. Emoticons are generally provided by the IM service itself, and are accessible to the sender by means of a user interface element, for example, a pop-up or a sub window. The currently available IM services are also able to send image content 114. The image is usually not provided by the service. The sender typically supplies it. In addition, currently available IM services are able to send data files that, being raw data, can contain any media and information.
FIG. 4C shows a more sophisticated session window 100 that contains two types of recently introduced user interface elements. The user interface elements are referred to as wallpapers 116a and 116b and avatars 117a and 117b. Both are described as user personalization items meant to enhance the user projected presence and personality. Both wallpapers and avatars are typically chosen by the sender on a per session or default basis and are typically displayed symmetrically, i.e. showing the same content at, or almost at, the same time, on both the sender's and recipient's client user interfaces for the whole length of the session. The avatar typically resembles a cartoon-like head of a fictional character, and it may be animated upon sender's input or autonomously upon input from the communication itself. In addition, during the animation they may rest, or they may move within the session window. Both wallpapers and avatars are persistent and are meant to enhance the entertainment of the communication by means of a persistent fictional projection, also called a proxy representation, of the sender on the recipient's client user interface.
FIG. 4D shows an example of a greeting card 119 displayed within a browser window 210 separated from the recipient's instant message window 100. Essentially, the instant message client issues a request to an Internet browser, e.g. Internet Explorer, to load and display a web page containing the greeting card. This prior art has several disadvantages. To name a few:
The greetings card is displayed within a separate window of an Internet browser, e.g. Internet Explorer. Such window is typically either placed centered on the screen or placed near the session window 100; only accidentally, i.e. unintentionally, such window may overlay the session window 100.
Greeting cards do not support artistic rendering of sender supplied text, e.g. an “electric” effect, a “glowing” effect, a “3D” effect. Even though some greetings card may comprise some graphically integrated text, such text is part of the greetings card and it is unmodifiable. Greetings card technology allows for the sender to supply text, but greetings card technology currently on the market display such text small, static, monochromatic, having peripheral placement in relation to the greetings card, and without animation; being such user supplied text mostly in the role of caption to such greeting card
FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C depict the same prior art embodiment in three progressive time instances.
In FIG. 6A the recipient's client just received an incoming message 710, “Hello”. The message 710, “Hello”, is the latest message received by the recipient's client, and so far is also the only message exchanged. The message 710, “Hello”, is displayed in the transcript area 101 contained in the session window 100. In typical circumstances, the message 710, “Hello”, has not yet been read by the recipient.
Subsequently, in FIG. 6B the recipient's client just received a new incoming message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”. The message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, is now the latest message received by the recipient's client.
The message 710, “Hello”, is now no more the latest exchanged message. In typical circumstances, the message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, has not yet been read by the recipient, while the message 710, “Hello”, already has.
Subsequently again, in FIG. 6C the recipient's client just received a new incoming message 730, “Should we meet for lunch?”. The message 730, “Should we meet for lunch?”, is now the latest message received by the recipient's client.
Both the message 710, “Hello”, and the message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, are no more the latest exchanged messages. In typical circumstances, the message 730, “Should we meet for lunch?”, has not yet been read by the recipient, while both the message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and the message 710, “Hello”, already have.
As evident in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C the latest exchanged message, that in typical circumstances has not yet been read, is displayed in the same fashion as the priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages, that in typical circumstances already have been read.
The disadvantages of such an approach are several. To name a few:
In order to maintain visible in the transcript area of a medium-sized session window a reasonably long queue of messages, the messages have to be displayed in medium to small size. This is not optimal for people with lesser eye vision that have to strain their eyes to read medium to small-sized text.
To display all messages in a large text size reduces the length of the queue of messages visible in the transcript area of a medium-sized session window. Consequently, when the user's attention goes back to the IM session from other tasks, the reduced length of the queue of messages visible in the transcript area prevents the user from quickly glimpsing through the last few messages of the session, thus preventing the user from instantly recalling the point of communication.
To display all messages in a large text size requires the recipient to maintain a large-sized session window for the sole purpose of viewing the large text size messages, using screen space that is otherwise used for other session windows or windows from other applications.
The herein described invention recognizes the prior art instant messaging embodiment limitations and introduces a solution to those limitations. It does so by displaying the latest at least one message in an alternative fashion than priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages. While priorly exchanged messages are displayed in a regular fashion, i.e. as prior arts do, the latest at least one message is displayed magnified and/or set in evidence.
In the preferred embodiment, only the at least one latest exchanged messages is magnified. A messages ends being displayed in a magnified fashion at the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as, a new message is exchanged, the recipient start or continue to compose an outgoing message, or the recipient selects to dismiss the magnification. Typically, once a message ends being displayed in a magnified fashion it begins being displayed in a normal fashion, e.g. in the transcript area of the session window in its sender selected, or recipient enforced, font, size, and style. In alternate embodiments, the at least one latest exchanged messages is concurrently displayed magnified and displayed in a normal fashion.
FIG. 1 provides an example of a message displayed in a magnified fashion within a translucent window overlaying a session window;
FIG. 2 provides a general overview of a computer communication network;
FIG. 3A provides an example of a client user interface for a desktop computer;
FIG. 3B provides an example of a client user interface for a PDA;
FIG. 3C provides an example of a client user interface for an advanced cellular phone;
FIG. 4A through 4E provide examples of prior arts;
FIG. 5 provides a flow-chart of message displayed in a magnified fashion sequence;
FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C provide an example of a prior art embodiment in progressive time instances;
FIGS. 7A through 11C provide an example of an embodiment in progressive time instances;
FIGS. 12A through 14C provide an example of an embodiment displaying messages of different length;
FIGS. 15A through 17C provide an example of an embodiment in progressive time instances animating the presentation of a message;
FIGS. 18A and 18B provide examples of magnification bordered by a graphic processing alteration; and
FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C provide an example of an embodiment displaying the generation of a message at different levels of magnification.
In the preferred embodiment, at least one latest exchanged message is displayed in a magnified fashion. A messages ends being displayed in a magnified fashion at the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as, a new message is exchanged, the recipient start or continue to compose an outgoing message, or the recipient selects to dismiss the magnification. Typically, once a message ends being displayed in a magnified fashion it begins being displayed in a normal fashion, e.g. in the transcript area of the session window in its sender selected, or recipient enforced, font, size, and style. In alternate embodiments, the at least one latest exchanged messages is concurrently displayed magnified and displayed in a normal fashion.
For an embodiment, FIG. 1 depicts a message 701, “Are you coming with me to the concert tomorrow?”, displayed in a magnified fashion, i.e. a “magnification”, within a translucent window 301 that overlays the recipient's session window 100.
The following description defines a typical instant message environment.
Typically, instant message (IM) communications involve an instantaneous or nearly instantaneous communication between two or more users, where each user is able to transmit, receive, and display communicated information. Additionally, although IM communications may occur in the absence of online presence information, IM communication generally involves the display and perception of online presence information regarding other selected users (“buddies”.) After a communication session is established or authentication is performed, the IM communications may be machine-to-machine communications that occur without intervention by, or communication through, an instant messaging server. Examples of IM communications exist over AIM (America Online Instant Messenger), AOL (America Online) buddy list and Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and ICQ, among others.
FIG. 2 illustrates a general overview of a computer communication network 60 including a host system 70, i.e. an IM server. In computer network 60, client systems 801 to 80N, i.e. IM client systems, are coupled through the Internet 90, or other communication network, to the host system 70. Only one host system 70 is shown, but it is understood that more than one host system can be used and that other servers providing additional functionality may also be interconnected in network 60 directly, over a LAN or a WAN, or over the Internet. Several elements in the system shown in FIG. 2 are conventional, well-known elements that need not be explained in detail here.
The herein described invention is suitable for use with the Internet, which for purposes of the discussion herein refers to a specific global inter-network of networks. However, it should be understood that other networks can be used instead of the Internet, such as an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a wireless network, e.g. GPRS, an ATM network, non-TCP/IP based network, or the like.
According to one embodiment, the host system 70 and all of its components are operator-configurable using computer code run using a central processing unit. Computer code for operating and configuring the host system 70 is preferably stored on a hard disk, but the entire program code, or portions thereof, may also be stored in any other memory device, such as a ROM or RAM, or provided program code, such as a compact disk medium, a floppy disk, or the like.
Each client system 80, for example, could be a desktop personal computer, workstation, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), music or video player, laptop, or any other computing device capable of interfacing directly or indirectly to the Internet. Each client system 80 also typically includes one or more user interface devices 82, such as a keyboard, a mouse, touch-screen, pen or the like, for interacting with a client 81, i.e. an IM client application, by means of a client user interface, i.e. a graphical user interface provided by client itself, and for interacting with any other application, program, and software or similar entity by means of their respective user interfaces.
An example of a client 81 is a software application loaded on the client system 80 for commanding and directing communications enabled by the client system 80. Other examples include a program, a piece of code, an instruction, a firmware, an embedded capability, a device, a computer, a computer system, or a combination of these for independently or collectively instructing the client system 80 to interact with the host system 70 and operate as described. The client 81 may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual equipment, storage medium, or propagated signal capable of providing instructions to the client system 80.
A client 81 could also be software which primary use is not for instant messaging, but nevertheless, has full or partial instant messaging capabilities, for example, a multipurpose communication software, e.g. America Online Inc., AOL 9.0, IRC software, word processing and spreadsheet applications having networking capabilities, web browsers, e.g. Mozilla or Netscape Communicator, web browsers in conjunction with instruction received from a web site, e.g. AIM Express, and video, audio, or multimedia communication software.
To access the host system 70 to begin an IM session in the implementation of FIG. 2, the client system 801 establishes a connection to the host system 70. Once the connection to the host system 70 has been established, the client system 801 may directly or indirectly transmit data to, and access content from, the host system 70. By accessing the host system 70, a user can use the client 81 to view whether particular users (“buddies”) are online, exchange IMs with particular buddies, participate in group chat rooms, trade files such as pictures, invitations or documents, and find other buddies with similar interests. The client system 802 may be similarly manipulated to establish contemporaneous connection with the host system 70. In certain system embodiments, the client system 80 may act as a substitutive equivalent of the host system 70 to other client systems 80, e.g. a Gnutella-like or Limewire-like decentralized P2P communication network.
Once connectivity is established, a user who is using the client system 801 may view whether a second user operating, for example, the client system 802 is online, and typically may view whether the second user is able to receive IMs. If the second user is online, the user operating the client system 801 may exchange IMs with the second user. In one implementation, the IMs sent between the client system 801 and the client system 802 are routed through the host system 70. In another implementation, the IMs sent between the client system 801 and the client system 802 are routed through a third party server (not shown), and, in some cases, are also routed through the host system 70. In yet another implementation, the IMs are sent directly between the client system 801 and the client system 802.
The client user interface is the graphic user interface generated by the client 81 to display to the user information related, for the most part, to the IM communication.
Referring to FIG. 3A, in one embodiment where the client system 80 is, for example, a desktop computer, the client user interface is usually constituted by one or more session windows 100, a buddy list window 200, and often, other miscellaneous windows, e.g. window 220 all displayed on a screen 400. The client user interface also usually comprises one, or more, of the icon 231 and window locator 232 related to the client 81 of FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 3B, in one embodiment where the client system 80 is, for example, a PDA, the visible portion of the client user interface usually alternates, due to the small size of the screen 400, between a session windows 100, a buddy list window, and other miscellaneous windows.
Referring to FIG. 3C, in one embodiment where the client system 80 is, for example, an advanced cellular phone, the visible portion of the client user interface usually alternates, due to the small size of the screen 400, between a session windows 100, a buddy list window, and other miscellaneous windows. On some advanced cellular phones the transcript area 101 is the only visible element of the user interface for the session windows 100 and such transcript area 101 covers the entire screen 400. On other advanced cellular phones, the user interface may resemble and be more similar to the user interface of a PDA or of a portable computer.
Referring to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C the session window 100 typically contains, among other user interface items, the transcript area 101. The transcript area contains the visible portion of the transcript of the IMs that have been exchanged between the user of the client system 80 and the other users participating in the IM session. Hence, the terms transcript and transcript area are herein used.
To clarify, the client system is usually a hardware entity. The client is usually a software entity having a client user interface comprising the session window and often other windows, e.g. a buddy list window and frequently other session windows. The session window typically comprises the transcript area, where the user can see the IMs exchanged during the session. The sender and the recipient are usually human beings, although sometimes they can be hardware or software automated processes. A user is alternately sender or recipient depending whether he is sending an IM or receiving one. Typically, a user swaps between the roles of sender and recipient every few seconds.
FIG. 5 shows, for the preferred embodiment, the flow-chart of a sequence of message displayed in a magnified fashion.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances.
In FIG. 7A the recipient's client just received an incoming message 711, “Hello”. The message 711, “Hello”, is the latest message received by the recipient's client, and so far is also the only message exchanged. The message 711, “Hello”, is displayed in a magnified fashion within a translucent window 301 that overlays the recipient's session window 100. In typical circumstances, the message 711, “Hello”, has not yet been read by the recipient.
Subsequently, in FIG. 7B the recipient's client just received a new incoming message 721, “How did it go at the meeting?”. The message 721, “How did it go at the meeting?”, is now the latest message received by the recipient's client. The message 710, “Hello”, is now no more the latest exchanged message. The reception of the message 721, “How did it go at the meeting?”, is an event that triggers the dismissal of the magnification of the prior message. The message 721, “How did it go at the meeting?”, is displayed in a magnified fashion within a translucent window 301 that overlays the recipient's session window 100. In typical circumstances, the message 721, “How did it go at the meeting?”, has not yet been read by the recipient, while the message 710, “Hello”, already has.
Subsequently again, in FIG. 7C the recipient's client just received a new incoming message 731, “Should we meet for lunch?”. The message 731, “Should we meet for lunch?”, is now the latest message received by the recipient's client. Both the message 710, “Hello”, and the message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, are no more the latest exchanged messages. The reception of the message 731, “Should we meet for lunch?”, is an event that triggers the dismissal of the magnification of the prior message. The message 731, “Should we meet for lunch?”, is displayed in a magnified fashion within a translucent window 301 that overlays the recipient's session window 100. In typical circumstances, the message 731, “Should we meet for lunch?”, has not yet been read by the recipient, while both the message 720, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and the message 710, “Hello”, already have.
As evident in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C the latest exchanged message, that in typical circumstances has not yet been read, is magnified, while the priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages, that in typical circumstances already have been read, are displayed in a normal fashion, e.g. in the transcript area of the session window in its sender selected, or recipient enforced, font, size, and style.
The translucent window 301 may be fixed in size or expand or shrink to accommodate messages of different sizes. The size of the text of the message may be fixed and be the same regardless of the length of the message or may increase or decrease inversely proportionally to the length of the message, i.e. short messages are displayed in a larger text size than the text size of long messages. The translucent window 301 may disappear from sight when no messages are magnified.
A magnified display may, for example, comprise the message along with an identifier of the sender, time stamp, incoming or outgoing indication, or indication of sender's activity.
In an embodiment, the recipient's client may enable the recipient to select a priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages for magnification display or re-display.
In an embodiment, the recipient's client may concurrently display the same message both in a magnified fashion and a regular fashion.
In an embodiment, the dismissal of the magnification of a message, e.g. the message is no more displayed magnified, may be triggered by an event, such as, a new message is exchanged, the recipient start or continue to compose an outgoing message, or the recipient selects to dismiss the magnification.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, the list of events that trigger a dismissal, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
In an embodiment, for example, only the incoming messages are displayed in a magnified fashion, only the outgoing messages are displayed in a magnified fashion, or both.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, the magnification of incoming and/or outgoing messages, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
In an embodiment, only certain types of messages are displayed in a magnified fashion. For example, a message matching a preset classification, a message shorter, equal, or longer of a preset length, and/or a message comprising preset keywords, e.g. “yes”, “no”, or an interjection.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, the rules for the selection of messages to be magnified, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
In an embodiment, the type of magnification, artwork display, and/or animation may be selected upon, for example, the content of a message. For example, a message content matching a preset classification, a message shorter, equal, or longer of a preset length, and/or a message comprising preset keywords, e.g. “yes”, “no”, or an interjection.
In an embodiment, the type of magnification, artwork display, and/or animation may be selected by the sender of the message. For example, a sender may select to have his messages be presented with a particular type of magnification, artwork display, and/or animation by recipient clients that are set or preset to magnify incoming messages.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, rules for the magnification, artwork display, and/or animation, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. The only difference in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C is that the messages 712, “Hello”, 722, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and 732, “Should we meet for lunch?”, are displayed within an opaque window 302 that overlays the recipient's session window 100. The messages 710 and 720 are priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages and are displayed in a normal fashion.
The opaque window 302 may be fixed in size or expand or shrink to accommodate messages of different sizes. The opaque window 302 may disappear from sight when no messages are magnified.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. The only difference in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C is that the messages 713, “Hello”, 723, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and 733, “Should we meet for lunch?”, are displayed within an area 303 located in the recipient's session window 100. The messages 710 and 720 are priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages and are displayed in a normal fashion.
The area 303 may be fixed in size or expand or shrink to accommodate messages of different sizes. The area 303 may collapse when no messages are magnified.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. The only difference in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C is that the messages 714, “Hello”, 724, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and 734, “Should we meet for lunch?”, are displayed unbound to any window and overlaid on the recipient's session window 100. The messages 710 and 720 are priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages and are displayed in a normal fashion.
FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. The only difference in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C is that the messages 715, “Hello”, 725, “How did it go at the meeting?”, and 735, “Should we meet for lunch?”, are displayed within the transcript area 101 of the recipient's session window 100. The magnified messages may be displayed following the rules and constrains of an-magnified messages displayed within the transcript area 101 at exclusion of, for example, the size of the text being larger for magnified messages. The messages 710 and 720 are priorly, i.e. non-latest, exchanged messages and are displayed in a normal fashion.
An embodiment may, for example, scroll upward, or otherwise reposition, the display of the exchanged messages to prevent the exchanged messages from being obscured, i.e. to be no more visible to the recipient, by the display of a magnified message.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, the display of a magnified message, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
In the preferred embodiment, the size of the text of a magnified message may be fixed and be the same regardless of the length of the message or may increase or decrease inversely proportionally to the length of the message, i.e. short messages are displayed in a larger text size than the text size of long messages. Artworks comprised in a magnified message may also be scaled, e.g. enlarged to match the increase in size of the text.
FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C provide an example of an embodiment displaying messages of different length. In FIG. 12A a short length message 751, “YES”, is magnified. In FIG. 12B a medium length message 761. “Are you coming with me to the concert tomorrow?” is magnified. In FIG. 12C a long length message 771. “The Interpreter doesn't always make sense, but its stars speak volumes, Joe Morgenstern write” is magnified. As it is noticeable, in this embodiment, both the size of the translucent window 311 and the text size used to display the messages 751, 761, and 771 remains constant regardless of the length of the message being magnified.
FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C provide an example of an embodiment displaying messages of different length. In FIG. 13A a short length message 751, “YES”, is magnified. In FIG. 13B a medium length message 761. “Are you coming with me to the concert tomorrow?” is magnified. In FIG. 13C a long length message 771. “The Interpreter doesn't always make sense, but its stars speak volumes, Joe Morgenstern write” is magnified. As it is noticeable, in this embodiment, the size of the translucent window 311 remains constant regardless of the length of the message being magnified, but the text size used to display the messages 751, 761, and 771 varies in function of the length of the message being magnified. Short length messages are magnified using a larger text size than the text size in which longer messages are magnified.
FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C provide an example of an embodiment displaying messages of different length. In FIG. 14A a short length message 751, “YES”, is magnified. In FIG. 14B a medium length message 761. “Are you coming with me to the concert tomorrow?” is magnified. In FIG. 14C a long length message 771. “The Interpreter doesn't always make sense, but its stars speak volumes, Joe Morgenstern write” is magnified. As it is noticeable, in this embodiment, the size of the translucent windows 321a, 321b, and 321c varies in function of the length of the message being magnified, but the text size used to display the messages 751, 761, and 771 remains constant regardless of the length of the message being magnified.
An embodiment may also provide a magnification strategy that is a mix between the magnification strategies exemplified in the FIGS. 12A through 14C.
The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, the strategy used to display a magnified message, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
In an embodiment, the display of a magnified message may be an exact enlarged copy, e.g. a 150%, a 200%, or a 400% enlargement, of the same message display in a normal fashion. Also, a magnification may display, for example, enlarged, the same artworks and/or animations comprised in the same message displayed in a regular fashion.
In another embodiment, the display of a magnified message may be something different from exact enlarged copy, e.g. a 150%, a 200%, or a 400% enlargement, of the same message display in a normal fashion. For example, a magnified message may be displayed in a particular font or style used only for magnification display.
In an embodiment, a magnification may display artworks and/or animation not comprised in the same message displayed in a regular fashion. The artworks and/or animations may be set and/or altered by the recipient's client. The recipient's client may enable the recipient to customize, e.g. set or reset, some or all of the artworks and/or animations displayed in a magnified message, for example, per message, per message classification, per IM session, per sender, or always.
FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances during an animation of a magnified message. In FIG. 15A the message 781a, “How you doin'”, just started its magnified display and is zooming out from the middle of the translucent window 331. In FIG. 15B the message 781b, “How you doin'”, is few tenth of a second from the start of its magnified display and is still zooming out from the middle of the translucent window 331. In FIG. 15C the message 781c, “How you doin'”, has finished to zoom out from the middle of the translucent window 331 and it is now in full view.
FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances during an animation of a magnified message. In FIG. 16A the message 794a, “See you later”, just started its magnified display and is both fading in and shrinking in. In FIG. 16B the message 794b, “See you later”, is few tenth of a second from the start of its magnified display and is still both fading in and shrinking in. In FIG. 16C the message 794c, “See you later”, has finished both to fade in and shrink in and it is now in full view.
FIGS. 17A, 17B, and 17C depict an embodiment in three progressive time instances during an animation of a magnified message. In FIG. 17A the message 805a, “Big Kiss”, just started its magnified display and is both progressively fading in and shearing in. In FIG. 17B the message 805b, “Big Kiss”, is few tenth of a second from the start of its magnified display and is still both progressively fading in and shearing in. In FIG. 17C the message 805c, “Big Kiss”, has finished both to fade in and shear in and it is now in full view.
Other examples of animation displayed for a magnified message may be a typewriter effect, a letter, word, or whole message flip, twirl, drop, turn, etc.
In an embodiment, a sender may specify the preferred, for example, font, style, artworks, and animation to be used in a normal fashion message display and/or the preferred, for example, font, style, artworks, and animation to be used in a magnified fashion message display, which may differ from each others.
To enhance the magnification impact, a graphic processing alteration may be applied to any user interface entity of the recipient's client and/or of any other entity displayed on the recipient client system screen, e.g. a ripple effect that looks like a drop splashing on a liquefied screen.
FIG. 18A depicts, for an embodiment, a message 814, “BIG KISS”, displayed in a magnified fashion that is surrounded by a ripple effect graphic processing alteration 817a. FIG. 18B depicts, for the preferred embodiment, a message 814, “BIG KISS”, displayed in a magnified fashion that is surrounded by a lens effect graphic processing alteration 817b.
In an embodiment, a recipient's client may enable the recipient to select to magnify the generation of outgoing messages. For example, the recipient's client may enlarge, e.g. a 150%, a 200%, or a 400% enlargement, the content of the composition area of a session window.
FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C provide an example of an embodiment displaying the content of the composition area 102 of a session window 100 magnified at different level of enlargement. In FIG. 19A, the message 826a, “miss you”, that is under generation, e.g. is being typed by the recipient, is displayed without magnification. In FIG. 19B, the message 826b, “miss you”, that is under generation, is displayed with an enlargement of 150%. In FIG. 19C, the message 826c, “miss you”, that is under generation, is displayed with an enlargement of 200%.
Although the invention has been described herein with reference to instant message clients having textual capabilities, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other types of clients may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, clients that may be substituted for instant message clients comprise streaming or non-streaming video clients, audio clients, and multimedia clients exchanging data between users, e.g. Apple Computer Inc., iChat AV or Yahoo Inc., Messenger Webcam, or receiving data from a broadcaster, e.g. RealNetworks, Inc., RealPlayer 10 or Microsoft Inc., Windows Media Player 9; IM clients having a user interface lacking the transcript area, which, for example, display IM messages on popup windows; applications that, de facto, act in part, or in totality, as an IM client; applications which primary purpose is not to enable a user-to-user, or multi-user, communication yet enable a partial or complete form of communication, e.g. a word processor having collaborative capabilities; clients which sole, or primary, purpose is to transmit and/or present overlaid messages; e-mail clients, e.g. Microsoft Inc., Outlook Express or Apple Computer Inc., Mail 1.3.9; e-mail and/or IM clients integrated in a software package, e.g. America Online Inc., AOL 9.0, International Business Machines Corp., Lotus Notes 6.5, or Microsoft Inc., Entourage 2004; WEB browsers, e.g. Microsoft Inc., Explorer 6, Netscape Inc., Navigator 7; and communication clients for cellular phones or PDAs.
The overlaid message artworks and texts depicted and commented in this description are merely examples. Any other artwork or text may be substituted for those set forth herein without altering the substance of this invention.
Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the claims included below.
Previous Patent: Electronic routing slips for inter-organizational electronic mail
Next Patent: Gateway having an input/output scanner
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cc/2021-04/en_head_0000.json.gz/line2032507
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__label__cc
| 0.690683
| 0.309317
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PERSONALIZED FRAMED ART SYSTEM
A framed art system in which a user may personalize framed art.
D'amica, Angela (Bridgeport, CT, US)
G06Q30/00; A47G1/06
20080103934 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ILLUSTRATING WHERE A TICKET IS LOCATED IN AN EVENT VENUE May, 2008 Gibson et al.
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LEVINE, ADAM L
VENABLE LLP (WASHINGTON, DC, US)
1. A personalizable framed art system, comprising: a frame; a cover for protecting the art; a border; an insert card with content; and a base card having means within which the insert card is adapted to be placed; wherein the content is adapted to be personalized by a user of the personalizable framed art system.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cover is translucent.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cover is substantially transparent.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cover is transparent.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises text.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises graphics.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means within which the insert card is adapted to be placed in the base card comprises an indentation.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means within which the insert card is adapted to be placed in the base card comprises a plurality of scores adapted to show where the insert card should lay.
9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a removable pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive adapted to attach the insert card to the indentation.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a permanent adhesive adapted to attach the insert card to the indentation.
11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a decorative design on the front surface of the border.
12. A personalizable framed art system, comprising: an online frame store, which is coupled by suitable means through a network to a plurality of users U1, U2, U3, each of whom may be using a computer or other digital device to construct a personalized frame comprising: a frame; a cover for protecting the art; a border; an insert card with content; and a base card having means within which the insert card is adapted to be placed; wherein the content is adapted to be personalized by a user of the personalizable framed art system.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the network comprises a number of computers and associated devices that may be connected by communication facilities.
14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the network comprises: hard-wired connections selected from the group consisting of coaxial cable, twisted pair, optical fiber, and waveguides; and wireless connections selected from the group consisting of radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, and acoustic waveforms.
This application claims the benefit of the following related application: application Ser. No. 61/044,954 filed on Apr. 15, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
This invention relates generally to the field of picture frames used for the display of photographs, paintings, and the like, and more particularly to an improved system for providing an individualized, personalized message-containing piece of art as a decorative border.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
In the picture frame art, it is usual to provide a rectangular or other shaped frame having a self-supporting means, a transparent cover sheet of glass or synthetic resinous material, and a planar insert or template which provides the artwork, such as a photograph, drawing, painting or other piece of art.
However, there is a need in the picture frame art for a means to personalize framed art. There is also a need to make available to those who may wish to use such means to order and obtain such personalizable framed art online.
Embodiments will now be described in connection with the associated drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the personalizable framed art system;
FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the frame;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the personalizable framed art system;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the personalizable framed art system, after it has been personalized;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of one embodiment of the personalizable framed art system; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another, website embodiment of the personalizable framed art system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Exemplary embodiments are discussed in detail below. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. In describing and illustrating the exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The exemplary embodiments so disclosed, however, are not intended to be limited to the specific terminology selected. Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant and related art wills recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the true spirit and scope of the embodiments. It is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Therefore, the examples and embodiments described herein are non-limiting examples.
Referring first to FIG. 1 an exploded view of a first embodiment of the personalizable framed art system 10 is shown. The personalizable framed art system 10 comprises a frame 14, a translucent or transparent cover 18 (e.g., glass or plastic), a border 22, and an insert card 26 with content (e.g., text or graphics in the form of a “saying”) 30, and a base card 34. The insert card 26 is configured to sit in an indentation 38 located in base card 34. Note that the indentation is not a hole in the base card 34, but rather is simply an indentation 38 in the base card 34 to show a user where to install the insert card 26. In other embodiments, instead of an indentation, the base card 34 may be scored to show where the insert card should lay. The insert card 26 may be attached to the indentation 38 via a non-permanent adhesive. The non-permanent adhesive may be comprised of a removable pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. The adhesive may be similar to the adhesive commonly utilized with POST-IT notes. One such suitable adhesive is commercially available from FLEXcon Company, Inc., 1 FLEXcon Industrial Park, Spencer, Mass. USA 01562-2642, under the product designation of FLEXmark V-314 Adhesive. The specifications for this particular non-permanent adhesive and other suitable alternative adhesives may be found in the “Adhesive Selection Guide” published by FLEXcon, which is incorporated by reference herein. In other embodiments, a permanent adhesive may be used to attach the insert card 26 to the indentation 38. If the insert card 26 is removed from the indentation 38, after being attached with a permanent adhesive, slight damage may be done to the indentation 38 portion of the base card 34 and to the inert card 26, but will not be noticeable when a replacement insert card 26 is applied to the indentation 38 with a permanent or non-permanent adhesive. A border 22 goes between the base card 34 (with the insert card 26 attached to the indentation 38 of the base card 34) and cover 18. The border 22 may have a decorative design on the front surface 23. A hole 24 is located in the border to allow viewers to see the insert card 26 and saying 30. The base card 34, insert card 26, border 22, and cover 18 all fit in the frame 14 and are held in place by a lip 46 on the frame 14 (shown in FIG. 2) and a plurality of bendable tabs 42 located on the inner surface 15 of the frame 14. Alternative means for holding the base card 34, insert card 26, border 22, and cover 18 may comprise glazing or glazier points (not shown) which may be pushed into place on the inner surface 15 of the frame 14.
It should be noted that the cover 18 may be made out of glass, plastic, or any other suitable translucent, transparent or nearly transparent material. Additionally, while the textual or graphical content 30 as shown in FIG. 3, for example, is “Home is Where the Heart is”, any other saying (such as, but not limited to: “Home Sweet Home”, “Welcome”, “Gone Fishin'”, “Let it snow, let it snow”, etc.) or graphical content may be used in this disclosed system 10.
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the frame 14. The frame 14 has four inner surfaces 15 (only two inner surfaces 15 are visible in this view), with at least one bendable tab 42 located on each of the inner surfaces 15. A lip 46 extends generally orthogonally from the inner surfaces 15. The lip 46, along with the plurality of bendable tabs 42, is configured to hold the base card 34, insert card 26, border 22, and cover 18 with the frame 14.
FIG. 3 shows a front view of the personalizable framed art system 10 in an embodiment as might be sold in a retail location or online. FIG. 4 shows a front view of the personalizable framed art system 10 after the insert card 26 has been personalized with a word or words 50. In this example, the word is a last name: Robertson. Of course in other embodiments, the word 50 may comprise a plurality of words, such as a first name and a last name, or other words, such as the name of a city, state, country, favorite sports team or athlete.
FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the disclosed personalizable framed art system 10. In this view the rear of the frame 14 is shown. Attached to the rear of the frame may be a sticker 54 with information such as a website address and instructions to go to the website so that a consumer can personalize his or her insert card (e.g., “Go to www.websitename.com to personalize your artwork.”). In other embodiments, instead of a sticker, a sheet of instructions may be included in the packaging of the personalizable framed art system 10, that directs a consumer to a website so that the consumer can personalize his or her insert card. One website name that may be used is: www.namegameframe.com.
For a fee, the consumer can order a new insert card that has his/her name (or any other information that the consumer may desire) printed as a background behind the saying “Home is where the Heart Is” 30. In this case, the name “Robertson” 50 appears in a faint color or shaded font behind the saying “Home is where the Heart Is” (see, e.g., FIG. 4). The consumer can “preview” what the insert card will look like on the website, with his/her name (or any other desired information) behind the saying. Of course the consumer can order any name or word to be put behind the saying. In addition, the consumer can order different sayings for the insert card, e.g., “Home Sweet Home”, “Welcome”, etc. Also, the consumer can order different borders of art, in one embodiment, the consumer can order four (4) different borders to correspond to each of the seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall), or in another embodiment, the consumer can order borders corresponding to various holidays (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, July 4th, etc.). Or the consumer can buy packages of changeable borders to reflect a theme, golf, skiing or baseball/football for winter/spring sport. A series of “Though the Years” borders 22 may be sold though the website. The “Though the Years” series of borders can have a series of age appropriate borders for the toddler, pre-teen, teen, high school, or college-age child. These “Though the Years” borders may be gender specific as well as age specific. One disclosed personalizable framed art system 10 can be changed and updated with a child though 18 years (or more) of a child's life.
One suitable personalizable framed art system 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. Such system 100 generally comprises an online frame store 102, which is coupled by suitable means 104 through a network 106 to a plurality of users U1, U2, U3, each of whom may be using a computer or other digital device 108, in a standalone environment or on the network 106.
Moreover, network 106 may comprise a number of computers and associated devices that may be connected by communication facilities. It may also involve permanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such as those made through telephone or other communication links. Thus, network 106 may further include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twisted pair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections (e.g., radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, acoustic waveforms, etc.). Examples of a network according to embodiments of the present invention may include: the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and an intranet. Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, such as Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/or synchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE 802.x, etc.
As shown in FIG. 6, online frame store 102 may comprise a plurality of servers (not shown) coupled or connected to an Ethernet-based LAN. It may run, for example, on a simple server, or on a database server. More complex embodiments of the personalizable framed art system 100 may further comprise a certificate server, web server, and public/private key server.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the network may comprise a wireless network (e.g., comprising a plurality of wireless access points or WAP), which allows wireless communication devices to connect to the wireless network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards. Each WAP usually connects to a wired network, and can relay data between the wireless devices (such as computers or printers) and wired devices on the network.
The wireless network may also comprise a wireless mesh network or WMN, which is a communications network made up of radio nodes organized in a mesh topology. Wireless mesh networks often consist of mesh clients, mesh routers, and gateways (not shown). The mesh clients are often laptops, cell phones and other wireless devices, while the mesh routers forward traffic to and from the gateways which connect to the Internet. The coverage area of the radio nodes working as a single network is sometimes called a mesh cloud. Access to this mesh cloud is dependent on the radio nodes working in harmony with each other to create a radio network. A mesh network is reliable and offers redundancy. When one node can no longer operate, the rest of the nodes can still communicate with each other, directly or through one or more intermediate nodes. Wireless mesh networks can be implemented with various wireless technology including 802.11, 802.16, cellular technologies or combinations of more than one type.
A wireless mesh network can be seen as a special type of wireless ad hoc network. It is often assumed that all nodes in a wireless mesh network are static and do not experience mobility however this is not always the case. The mesh routers themselves may be static or have limited mobility. Often the mesh routers are not limited in terms of resources compared to other nodes in the network and thus can be exploited to perform more resource intensive functions. In this way, the wireless mesh network differs from an ad hoc network since all of these nodes are often constrained by resources.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for caring out this disclosure.
Previous Patent: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS
Next Patent: TRADING SYSTEM
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cc/2021-04/en_head_0000.json.gz/line2032508
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__label__cc
| 0.62397
| 0.37603
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LAMINATED BODY FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME
A laminated body for a vehicle includes a surface material, a cushion material, and a backing cloth that are stacked. The backing cloth is formed by stacking a plurality of short fibers so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and then, three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers with each other.
Nagai, Yasuyuki (Toyota-shi, JP)
Mori, Takahiro (Inuyama-shi, JP)
Murakami, Kazuhiro (Shikokuchuo-shi, JP)
Mizuno, Hitoshi (Nagoya-shi, JP)
TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA (Aichi-ken, JP)
SHINWA CORPORATION (Ehime, JP)
ASADA U CO., LTD. (Aichi, JP)
112/475.08, 156/148, 442/327, 112/475.06
D04H11/04; D04H1/00; D05B1/00; D05B11/00; D06C11/00
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Foreign References:
JP2001341220A 2001-12-11
IMANI, ELIZABETH MARY COLE
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C. (RESTON, VA, US)
1. A laminated body for a vehicle, comprising: a surface material; a cushion material; and a backing cloth formed by stacking a plurality of short fibers so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers with each other, wherein the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth are stacked.
2. The laminated body according to claim 1, wherein: the backing cloth includes a first belt-shaped web that includes the short fibers that are carded; the first belt-shaped web is folded in a zigzag manner on a belt conveyer so that the short fibers are oriented in the different directions that cross each other and that cross a conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web; and the short fibers of the folded first belt-shaped web are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other physically or mechanically.
3. The laminated body according to claim 2, wherein: the backing cloth includes the first belt-shaped web and a second belt-shaped web that includes the short fibers that are carded; the second belt-shaped web is folded in the zigzag manner on the folded first belt-shaped web so that the short fibers are oriented in the different directions that cross each other and that cross the conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web and the second belt-shaped web; and the short fibers of the first belt-shaped web and the second belt-shaped web are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other physically or mechanically.
4. The laminated body according to claim 2, wherein: the first belt-shaped web is folded so that four layers are formed; and a vertex, which is formed by an edge of one layer of the four layers and an edge of an upper layer located on the one layer, is positioned at a substantially center of a length of a lower layer located immediately under the one layer, in the conveyance direction, the edge of the one layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the one layer are oriented, and the edge of the upper layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the upper layer are oriented.
5. The laminated body according to claim 1, wherein: the backing cloth is made of cellulosic short fibers and synthetic fibers; and a ratio of the synthetic fibers to all the short fibers is 20% to 50% by weight.
6. A method of producing a laminated body for a vehicle, in which a surface material, a cushion material, and a backing cloth are stacked, the method comprising: folding a first belt-shaped web, which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded, in a zigzag manner on a belt conveyer so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross a conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web; folding a second belt-shaped web, which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded, in a zigzag manner on the belt conveyer so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction, thereby forming a laminated web in which the first belt-shaped web and the second belt-shaped web are stacked; three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers of the laminated web with each other physically or mechanically, thereby forming the backing cloth; and arranging the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth in a stated order, and then, joining the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth, thereby forming the laminated body.
7. A method of producing a laminated body for a vehicle, in which a surface material, a cushion material, and a backing cloth are stacked, the method comprising: folding a first belt-shaped web, which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded, in a zigzag manner on a belt conveyer so that an even number of layers are formed, and the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross a conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web; three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers in all the layers of the first belt-shaped web with each other physically or mechanically, thereby forming the backing cloth; and arranging the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth in a stated order, and then, joining the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth, thereby forming the laminated body.
8. The method of producing the laminated body for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the first belt-shaped web is folded so that four layers are formed.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-199596 filed on Aug. 1, 2008 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a laminated body for a vehicle, in which a surface material, a cushion material, and a backing cloth are stacked, and a method of producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
This kind of laminated body is used exclusively as a vehicle interior material. Therefore, the laminated body needs to meet various flame-retardant regulations. For example, in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302 that is a typical flame-retardant regulation, when flame of a burner is applied to the laminated body under a certain condition, a burning rate (i.e., a length burned per unit time) needs to be equal to or lower than 100 mm/min.
Japanese Patent No. 3419611 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-341220 (JP-A-2001-341220) describe technologies in which the burning rate, at which the laminated body is burned, is controlled while attention is focused on one of burning behaviors of the laminated body (a burning behavior in which only the backing cloth is burned). In the technologies, the burning rate, at which the laminated body is burned, is made equal to or lower than the reference value, by employing a specific material (a specific material of the backing cloth) so that only the backing cloth is stably burned, and the burning rate, at which the backing cloth is burned, is lower than the reference value. For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3419611, the burning rate, at which the laminated body is burned, is made equal to 50 to 60 mm/min, by employing the backing cloth made of cellulosic fibers (mass per square meter of the backing cloth is equal to or larger than 60 g/m2).
In the publication No. 2001-341220, the burning rate, at which the laminated body is burned, is made equal to 70 to 80 mm/min by employing the backing cloth formed by physically interlacing cellulosic short fibers (whose length is equal to or shorter than 100 mm) with each other. In the technology, a plurality of the short fibers are randomly accumulated on a belt conveyer, and then, the short fibers are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other using a water punch (a jet flow of high-pressure water). Thus, it is possible to produce the backing cloth with a relatively high elongation characteristic.
However, in the laminated body in the above-described technology, the burning rate may vary (that is, the burning behavior may be unbalanced) although a definite cause is unknown. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, samples were extracted from the laminated body in the publication No. 2001-341220. One of the samples was long in a conveyance direction in which a belt conveyer conveyed the short fibers, and the other sample was long in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The burning rate at which each sample was burned was measured in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. As a result, the burning rate, at which the one sample was burned, was evidently higher than the burning rate at which the other sample was burned (refer to a comparative example in Table 2). More specifically, in the technology described in the publication No. 2001-341220, the burning behavior of the backing cloth in the lengthwise direction is not balanced with the burning behavior of the backing cloth in the width direction, that is, the burning rate in the lengthwise direction (i.e., the conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the short fibers) tends to be high. This result shows that even when the backing cloth made of the cellulosic fibers is employed, the laminated body in the technology may not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, depending on the combination of the backing cloth and the other portions (i.e., the surface material and the cushion material).
It is considered that the burning behavior is unbalanced because the short fibers of the backing cloth are oriented in parallel with the conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the short fibers, and therefore, burning in the conveyance direction is promoted. A definite factor that causes the short fibers to be orientated in parallel with the conveyance direction is unknown. However, it is considered that the short fibers are naturally orientated in the conveyance direction, for example, due to an impact of the water punch.
The invention provides a laminated body for a vehicle, which includes a backing cloth that is burned in a lengthwise direction and a width direction in a well-balanced manner so that the laminated body more reliably meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a laminated body for a vehicle, which includes a surface material, a cushion material, and a reverse material that are stacked. This kind of laminated body is used exclusively as a vehicle interior material. Therefore, the laminated body is required to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302. In the first aspect, the backing cloth is formed by stacking a plurality of short fibers (typically, cellulosic short fibers) so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and then, three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers with each other. Thus, the short fibers are prevented from being oriented in a lengthwise direction or a width direction, or the possibility that the short fibers are oriented in the lengthwise direction or the width direction is reduced by stacking the short fibers so that the short fibers are (actively) oriented in the different directions that cross each other. Accordingly, the backing cloth is burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in a well-balance manner.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of producing the laminated body for a vehicle. The method includes four processes (i.e., a fiber orientation process, a stacking process, an interlacing process, and a joining process). That is, in the fiber orientation process, a first belt-shaped web which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded (i.e., the first belt-shaped web in which the short fibers are oriented in substantially parallel with the lengthwise direction of the web) is folded in a zigzag manner on the belt conveyer As a result, the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross a conveyance direction in which a belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web. Then, in the stacking process, a second belt-shaped web, which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded, is folded in the zigzag manner on the belt conveyer so that the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction, thereby forming a laminated web in which the first belt-shaped web and the second belt-shaped web are stacked. Thus, it is possible to relatively easily form the laminated web in which the short fibers of the first and second belt-shaped webs are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction. Then, in the interlacing process, the short fibers of the laminated web are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other physically or mechanically (in a manner such that deterioration of the elongation characteristic of the laminated web is minimized), thereby forming the backing cloth. In the joining process, the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth are arranged in the stated order, and then, the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth are joined.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of producing a laminated body for a vehicle. The method includes three processes (i.e., a fiber orientation process, an interlacing process, and a joining process). In the fiber orientation process, a first belt-shaped web, which includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded, is folded in a zigzag manner on a belt conveyer so that an even number of layers are formed, and the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross a conveyance direction in which the belt conveyer conveys the first belt-shaped web. In the interlacing process, the short fibers in all the layers of the first belt-shaped web are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other physically or mechanically, thereby forming the backing cloth (without performing the above-described stacking process). Then, in the joining process, the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth are arranged in the stated order, and the surface material, the cushion material, and the backing cloth are joined, thereby forming the laminated body.
In the laminated body according to the first aspect of the invention, the backing cloth is burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in a well-balanced manner, to reliably meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302. According to the second aspect of the invention, the laminated body is relatively easily produced. According to the third aspect of the invention, the laminated body is further easily produced.
The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be described in the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a laminated body for a vehicle;
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show processes for producing the laminated body for a vehicle;
FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are top views sequentially showing processes for producing a laminated web (a backing cloth);
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the laminated body for a vehicle according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a laminated body for a vehicle according to related art;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the laminated body, which shows a method of measuring a rate at which the laminated body is burned; and
FIG. 7A is a top view showing a first belt-shaped web, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line VII B-VII B in FIG. 7A.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown in FIG. 1, in a laminated body 2 for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention, a surface material 4, a cushion material 6, and a backing cloth 8 are stacked.
A method of producing the laminated body 2 according to the first embodiment includes four processes (i.e., a fiber orientation process, a stacking process, an interlacing process, and a joining process) (refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3A to 3C). The backing cloth 8 is produced by performing the fiber orientation process, the stacking process, and the interlacing process. Then, in the joining process, the laminated body 2 is formed by arranging the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 in the stated order. Hereinafter, each production process, and the configuration of each portion of the laminated body 2 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A to 3C, in the fiber orientation process, a first belt-shaped web 10 including a plurality of short fibers (described in detail later) is folded in a zigzag manner on a first belt conveyer 38 so that the short fibers of the first belt-shaped web 10 are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross a conveyance direction F in which the first belt conveyer 38 conveys the first belt-shaped web 10. The first belt conveyer 38 is configured by placing a first belt conveyer 38a and a first belt conveyer 38b (a mesh belt conveyer) in a straight line. The first belt conveyer 38a is used to convey the web, and the first belt conveyer 38b is used to interlace the fibers of the web. As shown in FIG. 2A, raw fibers, which are the short fibers, are placed into a fiber-spreading device 30 to spread the fibers, and the spread fibers are supplied onto a second belt conveyer 32 disposed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first belt conveyer 38a extends. Then, the first belt-shaped web 10 (with a width W1), which is a thin sheet, is formed by carding the short fibers stacked on the second belt conveyer 32 using a card roller 34 (i.e., by performing carding). By performing the carding, it is possible to produce the first belt-shaped web 10 in which the short fibers are oriented in substantially parallel with a lengthwise direction of the first belt-shaped web 10. Then, the first belt-shaped web 10 is introduced into a cross lapper 36 by the second belt conveyer 32. The cross lapper 36 is disposed above the first belt conveyer 38a.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first belt-shaped web 10 is supplied onto the first belt conveyer 38a, while the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded in the zigzag manner on the first belt conveyer 38a by successively reciprocating the cross lapper 36 in a width direction of the first belt conveyer 38a (i.e., a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction F). At this time, while the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded on the first belt conveyer 38a at a folding angle θ1 by adjusting a speed at which the cross lapper 36 is reciprocated with respect to a speed at which the first belt conveyer 38a conveys the first belt-shaped web 10, the fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction F (that is, the first belt-shaped web 10 is changed into a cross-layered web). The folding angle θ1 is an angle between an edge of one layer of the folded first belt-shaped web 10 and an edge of a lower layer located immediately under the one layer. The edge of the one layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the one layer are oriented. The edge of the lower layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the lower layer are oriented. The state of the folded first belt-shaped web 10 will be described in detail in a second embodiment described later (refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B).
A typical short fiber is a fiber (a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber) with a length of 100 mm or shorter, preferably a length of 30 mm to 70 mm, and more preferably a length of 38 mm to 64 mm. In the embodiment, cellulosic short fibers (for example, viscose rayon fibers, cupra rayon fibers, or plant fibers such as cotton fibers) are used. The cellulosic short fibers are generally burned stably. Also, the cellulosic short fibers are burned while being carbonized. Therefore, the cellulosic short fibers suppress the burning of the surface material 4 and the cushion material 6 as described later (that is, the cellulosic short fibers have an effect of suppressing the burning (hereinafter, referred to as “a burning suppression effect”)). In the embodiment, short fibers consisting of synthetic fibers (for example, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, acrylic fibers, polyamide fibers, or acetate fibers) may be blended with the cellulosic short fibers. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers are durable and flame-retardant, as compared to the other synthetic fibers. Therefore, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers may be appropriately used. The typical blending ratio by weight between the cellulosic short fibers and the synthetic fibers is 50:50 to 80:20, and preferably 55:45 to 75:25, when the entire weight is 100. When the blending ratio is set to a value in the above-described range, it is possible to appropriately obtain the burning suppression effect of the backing cloth 8, which is derived from the cellulosic short fibers.
In the stacking process, a second belt-shaped web 12 is folded in the zigzag manner on the first belt conveyer 38a so that fibers of the second belt-shaped web 12 are oriented in different directions that cross each other. Thus, a laminated web 14 (described later) is formed. The second belt-shaped web 12 (with a width W1) includes a plurality of short fibers that are carded. The short fibers are oriented in substantially parallel with the lengthwise direction of the second belt-shaped web 12. As shown in FIG. 3B, the second belt-shaped web 12 is introduced into the cross lapper 36 by a third belt conveyer 33 disposed in parallel with the second belt conveyer 32.
While the second belt-shaped web 12 is folded at a folding angle θ2 (that is equal to the folding angle θ1 in the embodiment) in the zigzag manner on the first belt conveyer 38a by reciprocating the cross lapper 36 (in synchronization with the supply of the first belt-shaped web 10), the fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction F. Thus, the laminated web 14, in which the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 are stacked, is formed (refer to FIG. 3C). Accordingly, in the laminated web 14, the short fibers of the first belt-shaped web 10 and the short fibers of the second belt-shaped web 12 are stacked.
In the interlacing process, as shown in FIG. 2B, the short fibers of the laminated web 14 are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other. Thus, the backing cloth 8 is formed. More specifically, the laminated web 14 is conveyed from the first belt conveyer 38a (i.e., the conveyer used to convey the web) onto the first belt conveyer 38b (i.e., the conveyer used to interlace the fibers of the web). Then, the short fibers of the laminated web 14 are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other by a physical interlacing method using, for example, a water punch 40, or by mechanical interlacing method using, for example, a needle punch. Thus, the backing cloth 8 is formed. As a result, the short fibers are closely entangled with each other. Thus, it is possible to produce the stable backing cloth 8 (non-woven cloth) only by entangling the fibers with each other, without using an adhesive agent or thermal fusion bonding. Particularly by three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers of the laminated web 14 with each other using the water punch 40 (i.e., a jet flow of high-pressure water) as in the embodiment, it is possible to minimize the possibility that an impurity (an impurity that promotes burning), such as machine oil, is mixed into the laminated web 14. The backing cloth 8 is conveyed between heating rollers (42a, 42b, and 42c) to remove excess moisture, and then, the backing cloth 8 is rewound by a rewinding roller 44.
Then, in the joining process, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 are arranged in the stated order. Then, the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 are joined, for example, by sewing, adhesive bonding, or welding (lamination). The surface material 4 is a member that constitutes a designed surface of the laminated body 2. For example, the surface material 4 consists of a jersey sheet, a fabric sheet, a moquette sheet, a tricot sheet, a natural leather sheet, an artificial leather sheet, or a synthetic resin sheet. The quality of the surface material 4 and the mass per square meter of the surface material 4 are not particularly limited. However, for example, when the typical surface material 4 made of PET is employed, the mass per square meter of the surface material 4 is 250 g/m2 to 650 g/m2. Flame-retardant treatment may be separately performed on the surface material 4. However, for example, in terms of cost, it is preferable not to perform the flame-retardant treatment on the surface material 4.
The cushion material 6 needs to have a cushion property to ensure that an occupant is seated comfortably. For example, the cushion material 6 consists of a polyurethane foam, a polyethylene foam, or a polyester foam. It is preferable to employ the polyurethane foam (density: 10 kg/m3 to 30 kg/m3) with high sag resistance, as the cushion material 6. Flame-retardant treatment may be separately performed on the polyurethane foam. However, for example, in terms of cost, it is preferable not to perform the flame-retardant treatment on the polyurethane foam.
As described above, the backing cloth 8 is formed by stacking a plurality of cellulosic short fibers so that the fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and three-dimensionally interlacing the short fibers with each other. Thus, in the backing cloth 8, the short fibers are actively oriented in different directions that cross each other. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation where the short fibers are oriented in the lengthwise direction or the width direction, or to reduce the possibility the short fibers are oriented in the lengthwise direction or the width direction. As a result, the backing cloth 8 is burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in a well-balanced manner, that is, the backing cloth 8 is burned in the lengthwise direction at the substantially same burning rate as the burning rate at which the backing cloth 8 is burned in the width direction. Also, although the short fibers are interlaced with each other in the backing cloth 8 in the embodiment, movement of the short fibers is not restrained. Therefore, the backing cloth 8 is flexible and lightweight, and has an appropriate elongation characteristic. Also, the backing cloth 8 in the embodiment has a flame-retardant effect, because the cellulosic short fibers are oriented in the above-described manner. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately add a flame-retardant agent to the backing cloth 8. An ordinary flame-retardant agent (for example, a chlorinated organic phosphorous compound) induces a phenomenon in which windows of a vehicle are fogged up (i.e., a so-called fogging phenomenon). Therefore, it is preferable not to use the flame-retardant agent for the backing cloth 8.
The mass per square meter of the backing cloth 8 is 20 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, and preferably 30 g/m2 to 60 g/m2. If the mass per square meter of the backing cloth 8 is less than 20 g/m2, the backing cloth 8 is unlikely to produce the effect of suppressing the burning of the other materials (the surface material 4 and the cushion material 6). The mass per square meter of the backing cloth 8 may be larger than 60 g/m2. However, if the mass per square meter of the backing cloth 8 is larger than 60 g/m2, the cost is increased, and the weight of the laminated body 2 is excessively increased. Also, when the mass per square meter of the backing cloth 8 is set to a value in a range of 40 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, the backing cloth 8 is stably burned.
The laminated body 2 for a vehicle, which is produced by the above-described production method, includes the backing cloth 8 in which the plurality of short fibers are actively oriented in the different directions that cross each other (i.e., the cross-layered backing cloth 8). Because the backing cloth 8 is burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in a well-balanced manner, the laminated body 2 reliably meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (refer to Table 2). Also, in the embodiment, because the short fibers of the backing cloth 8 are physically interlaced with each other, the laminated body 2 has an appropriate elongation characteristic, and is appropriately used as the vehicle interior material. Particularly because the short fibers of the backing cloth 8 are stacked so that the short fibers are oriented in the different directions that cross each other, the elongation characteristic of the laminated body 2 in the lengthwise direction is balanced with the elongation characteristic of the laminated body 2 in the width direction, that is, the elongation characteristic of the laminated body 2 in the lengthwise direction is substantially the same as the elongation characteristic of the laminated body 2 in the width direction. Thus, the laminated body 2 is appropriately used as a cover material that covers a three-dimensional structural body such as a vehicle seat (refer to Table 2).
Hereinafter, a method of producing a laminated body according to a second embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of the laminated body in the second embodiment is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, for example, the same structures as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The method of producing the laminated body according to the second embodiment includes the following three processes (a fiber orientation process, an interlacing process, and a joining process). In the fiber orientation process in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded in the zigzag manner on the first belt conveyer 38a so that four layers are formed, and the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, and cross the conveyance direction F in which the belt conveyer F conveys the first belt-shaped web 10. At this time, the folding angle θ1, at which the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded, is set to a value in a range of 16 degrees to 22 degrees, taking into account the width W1 of the first belt-shaped web 10, and the width W2 of the folded first belt-shaped web 10 (i.e., a distance that the cross lapper 36 moves). By setting the folding angle θ1 to a value in the range of 16 degrees to 22 degrees, it is possible to fold the first belt-shaped web 10 to form the four layers. In other words, the cross lapper 36 is operated so that a vertex, which is formed by an edge of one layer of the first belt-shaped web 10 and an edge of an upper layer located on the one layer, is positioned at a substantially center of a length of a lower layer located immediately under the one layer, in the conveyance direction F. The edge of the one layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the one layer are oriented. The edge of the upper layer extends in parallel with the direction in which the short fibers in the upper layers are oriented. As a result, the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded so that four layers are formed. In the second embodiment as well, in the first belt-shaped web 10, the short fibers are stacked so that the short fibers in adjacent layers are oriented in different directions that cross each other.
Then, in the interlacing process, the short fibers in all the layers of the first belt-shaped web 10 are three-dimensionally interlaced with each other physically or mechanically. In the joining process, the outer surface member 4, the cushion member 6, and the backing cloth 8 are arranged in the stated order, and then, the outer surface member 4, the cushion member 6, and the backing cloth 8 are joined. Thus, the laminated body is formed. According to the second embodiment, it is possible to produce the laminated body by a relatively simple method in which the above-described stacking process is omitted, using a relatively simple configuration (in which the second belt-shaped web 12 and the third belt conveyer 33 are omitted).
EXAMPLES OF EXPERIMENTS
Hereinafter, the advantageous effects obtained in the embodiments of the invention will be described based on examples of experiments. In the experiments, the backing cloth 8 in a first example and a backing cloth 9 in a first comparative example were used (refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). The backing cloth 8 in the first example had a configuration described in Table 1, and was produced using a method described in Table 1. The backing cloth 9 in the first comparative example had a configuration described in Table 1, and was produced using a method described in Table 1.
First example First comparative example
Material (A) Rayon: 1.5 d, 40 mm; (A) Rayon: 1.5 d, 40 mm;
(fibers) (B) PET: 1.4 d, 51 mm (B) PET: 1.7 d, 40 mm
Material (A):(B) = 65:35 (A):(B) = 60:40
blending ratio
Texture Water jet method Water jet method (fibers are
(Cross-layered web) orientated in one direction)
Mass per 50 50
Laminated Body in the First Example
The laminated body 2 in the first example was produced by arranging the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 in the stated order, and joining the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 (refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6). In the first example, jersey made of PET (mass per square mater: 400 g/m2) was used as the surface material 4. Polyurethane foam (density: 20 kg/m3; thickness: 1.3 mm) was used as the cushion material 6. Each of the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 did not contain a flame-retardant agent.
Laminated Body in the First Comparative Example
A laminated body 20 in the first comparative example was produced by arranging the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 9 in the stated order (refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), and joining the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 9. The detailed configurations of the surface material 4 and the cushion material 6 were the same as those in the first example.
Methods of Experiments
A sample Sh1 (length 350 mm×width 100 mm), and a sample Sw1 (length: 100 mm×width: 350 mm) were extracted from the laminated body 2 in the first example (refer to FIG. 4). The sample Sh1 was long in the conveyance direction F. The sample Sw1 was long in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. The highest burning rate of each of the sample Sh1 and the sample Sw1 was measured in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302 (refer to FIG. 6). Facture elongation and tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sh1, and facture elongation and tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sw1 were measured in accordance with “the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) L1018 8.13 Tensile strength and rate of elongation”.
Similarly, a sample Sh2 and a sample Sw2 were extracted from the laminated body 20 in the first comparative example (refer to FIG. 5). The highest burning rate of each of the sample Sh2 and the sample Sw2 was measured in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302. Facture elongation and tensile strength of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2, and facture elongation and tensile strength of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sw2 were measured in accordance with “the Japanese Industrial Standards L1018 8.13, Tensile strength and rate of elongation”.
Table 2 shows results of measurements in each experiment.
First comparative
example example
Highest burning rate Sh (lengthwise direction) 40 100
[mm/min] Sw (width direction) 32 59
Fracture elongation Sh (lengthwise direction) 54.0 35.1
Sw (width direction) 69.6 >133.3
Tensile strength Sh (lengthwise direction) 39.5 65.9
[N/25 mm] Sw (width direction) 43.5 <3
Result of the Experiment on the Highest Burning Rate
In the laminated body 2 in the first example, a difference between the highest burning rate of the sample Sh1 and the highest burning rate of the sample Sw1 was extremely small. Thus, the burning rate of each sample (30 mm/min to 40 mm/min) met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 302. The result of the experiment shows that the backing cloth 8 of the laminated body 2 in the first example is burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in a well-balance manner, that is, the backing cloth 8 is burned in the lengthwise direction at the substantially same burning rate as the burning rate at which the backing cloth 8 is burned in the width direction. Thus, the result of the experiment shows that the laminated body 2 in the first example more reliably meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
In contrast, in the laminated body 20 in the first comparative example, a difference between the highest burning rate of the sample Sh2 and the highest burning rate of the sample Sw2 was extremely large (that is, the laminated body 20 was burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction in an unbalanced manner). Particularly, the highest burning rate of the sample Sh2 was equal to an upper limit value (100 mm/min) in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It is considered that the laminated body 20 in the first comparative example was burned in the lengthwise direction and the width direction at different burning rates because the short fibers of the backing cloth 9 were orientated in the conveyance direction F, and therefore, burning in the conveyance direction F was promoted. This result strongly suggests that the laminated body 20 (the backing cloth 9) in the first comparative example may not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, depending on the combination of the backing cloth 9 and the other portions (i.e., the surface material 4 and the cushion material 6).
Results of the Experiments on the Fracture Elongation and the Tensile Strength
In the laminated body 2 in the first example, a difference between the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sh1 and the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sw1 was small. The fracture elongation of the backing cloth 8 of each of the sample Sh1 and the sample Sw1 was an appropriate value (50% to 70%). Similarly, a difference between the tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sh1 and the tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 of the sample Sw1 was small. The tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 of each of the sample Sh1 and Sw1 is an appropriate value (approximately 40 N/25 mm). The results show that in the laminated body 2 (the backing cloth 8) in the first example, the elongation characteristic in the lengthwise direction is substantially the same as the elongation characteristic in the width direction. Thus, the results show that the laminated body 2 in the first example has an appropriate elongation characteristic, and therefore, the laminated body 2 can be appropriately used as the vehicle interior material.
That is, in the laminated body 2 in the first example, the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 8 is relatively high, and thus, the backing cloth 8 is easy to elongate. Therefore, for example, when the laminated body 2 is used as a cover material that covers a vehicle seat, it is possible to appropriately elongate the laminated body 2 in accordance with the outer shape of the seat while preventing as much as possible creases in the laminated body 2 or twisting of the laminated body 2 (that is, the finished vehicle seat has good appearance, and an occupant is comfortably seated on the finished vehicle seat). In addition, in the laminated body 2, the tensile strength of the backing cloth 8 is moderately low, and therefore, the backing cloth 8 can be stably stretched. For example, if the cover material (the laminated body 2) can be stably stretched when a sewing operation is performed in a process of producing the cover material, the sewing operation is easily performed, and a good sewing line is formed (that is, the finished cover material has good appearance). Thus, it has been found that the laminated body 2 (the backing cloth 8) can be appropriately used, for example, as the cover material that covers the three-dimensional structural body such as the vehicle seat.
In contrast, in the laminated body 20 in the first comparative example, a difference between the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 and the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sw2 was extremely large. Similarly, a difference between the tensile strength of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 and the tensile strength of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sw2 was extremely large. Particularly, the fracture elongation of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 was 35.01% that was an extremely low value (that is, the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 was difficult to elongate). Further, the tensile strength of the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 was 65.9 N/25 mm that was an extremely high value (that is, the backing cloth 9 of the sample Sh2 was difficult to stretch). Accordingly, it has been found that the laminated body 20 (the backing cloth 9) is slightly inappropriate for use as the vehicle interior material. Thus, if the laminated body 20 (the backing cloth 9) in the first comparative example is used as the vehicle interior material (particularly as the cover material), properties of the finished vehicle interior material may be adversely affected.
The laminated body for a vehicle and the method of producing the same according to the invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments. The invention may be realized in other embodiments. (1) In the fiber orientation process in the embodiments, the raw fibers (the short fibers) are disentangled using the fiber-spreading device 30, and the spread short fibers are supplied onto the belt conveyer. That is, a dry method (that makes it possible to more reliably orient the short fibers) is employed. However, a wet method, in which the raw fibers (the short fibers) are dispersed in a solution, and then, a sheet of the fibers is formed using a paper machine, may be employed as long as the wet method makes it possible to orient the short fibers.
(2) In the stacking process in the first embodiment, the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 are placed in the same cross lapper 36 (i.e., the rationally-designed configuration, in which the both webs are supplied in synchronization with each other, is employed). However, the arrangement of the both webs is not limited. For example, the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 may be placed in respective separate cross lappers. In this case, the first belt-shaped web 10 may be placed on one side of the first belt conveyer 38 and the second belt-shaped web 12 may be placed on the other side of the first belt conveyer so that the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 face each other. Also, in the first embodiment, the first belt conveyer 38 includes the two conveyers, that is, the first belt conveyer 38a used to convey the web, and the first belt conveyer 38b (the mesh belt conveyer) used to interlace the fibers of the web. However, the entire first belt conveyer 38 may be one mesh belt conveyer.
(3) In the first embodiment, the folding angle θ1 at which the first belt-shaped web 10 is folded and the folding angle θ2 at which the second belt-shaped web 12 is folded may be set separately from each other, and may be set to values larger than 0 degree and smaller than 45 degrees, as long as the short fibers in each belt-shaped web are oriented in different directions that cross each other. The folding angle θ1 and the folding angle θ2 may be the same, or may be different from each other. In the first embodiment, the size (W1 and W2) of the first belt-shaped web 10 is the same as the size (W1 and W2) of the second belt-shaped web 12. However, the size of the first belt-shaped web 10 may be different from the size of the second belt-shaped web 12.
(4) In the interlacing process in the embodiments, the fibers of the laminated web 14 are interlaced with each other physically or mechanically (i.e., the configuration, which produces the backing cloth 8 with an appropriate elongation characteristic, is employed). However, the use of an adhesive agent or binder fibers need not necessarily be prohibited. That is, a certain amount of the adhesive agent or the like may be added to the backing cloth 8, as long as the certain amount of the adhesive agent or the like does not adversely affect the flame retardancy or the elongation characteristic of the backing cloth 8. (5) In the embodiments, the laminated body 2 includes only the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8. However, because the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8 are main portions of the laminated body 2, the laminated body 2 may further include one or more elements (for example, a resin plate and/or a coating layer), in addition to the surface material 4, the cushion material 6, and the backing cloth 8.
(6) In the embodiments, the backing cloth 8 includes solely the cellulosic fibers. The backing cloth 8 in the embodiments has the flame-retardant effect, because the short fibers are oriented in different directions that cross each other as described above. Therefore, in addition to, or instead of the cellulosic short fibers, short fibers other than the cellulosic short fibers may be used. Examples of the short fibers other than the cellulosic short fibers include polyester short fibers, polyamide short fibers, polyacrylonitrile short fibers, polyolefin short fibers, protein short fibers such as polylactate short fibers, and polyfluoroethylene short fibers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) short fibers. It is preferable that the short fibers be stacked so that the short fibers in adjacent layers are oriented in different directions that cross each other in the entire backing cloth. However, the backing cloth may include a portion in which the short fibers in adjacent layers are not oriented in different directions that cross each other, as long as the elongation characteristic of the backing cloth is not adversely affected.
(7) In each of the embodiments, the laminated web 14 is formed using only the first belt-shaped web 10, or the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12. However, another belt-shaped web, which is long in the conveyance direction F in which the first belt conveyer 38 conveys the web, may be disposed on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the laminated web 14 (an example of a crisscross method). The other web is formed so that the short fibers are oriented in substantially parallel with the lengthwise direction thereof (i.e., the conveyance direction F). In this case, it is possible to more reliably stack the short fibers of the backing cloth 8 so that the short fibers in adjacent layers are oriented in different directions that cross each other. Also, the other belt-shaped web may be inserted between the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12. (8) In the second embodiment, the other belt-shaped web may be disposed on at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the first belt-shaped web 10 (another example of the crisscross method). In this case, it is possible to stack the short fibers of the belt-shaped webs so that the short fibers in adjacent layers are oriented in different directions that cross each other, while the second belt-shaped web 12 (the third belt conveyer 33) is omitted. An operation for disposing the other belt-shaped web on the first belt-shaped web 10, or an operation for inserting the other belt-shaped web between the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 may be performed in the fiber orientation process or the stacking process before the interlacing process, or before or after the fiber orientation process or the stacking process.
(9) In the embodiments, each of the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 is folded so that a predetermined number of layers are formed. Each of the first belt-shaped web 10 and the second belt-shaped web 12 may be folded so that 2n layers (n is a positive integer) are formed, for example, by adjusting the speed at which the cross lapper 36 is reciprocated, with respect to the speed at which the first belt conveyer 38a conveys the web. Typically, the first belt-shaped web 10 (the second belt-shaped web 12) is folded so that two to approximately twelve layers are formed, and the mass per square meter is equal to a desired value. The number of the layers of the first belt-shaped web 10 and the number of the layers of the second belt-shaped web 12 may be the same or different from each other.
Previous Patent: OPTICAL DISC RECORDING MEDIUM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OPTICAL DISC
Next Patent: Folded Slatwall Inserts
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REVIEW: Dee Snider – For The Love Of Metal Live!
Posted on July 27, 2020 by Gary Alcock
If you were listening to metal in the 1980s, it’s pretty much a given that you will have heard of Dee Snider. Already widely known as the flamboyant frontman of Twisted Sister, Snider was thrust further into the spotlight in 1985 when he famously spoke before Congress against censorship in music and the infamous PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center).
After Twisted Sister disbanded in 1988, Snider went on to release albums with the relatively short-lived Widowmaker, and the even more short-lived Desperado, as well as four records under his own name. DJ, producer, actor, reality TV star, Broadway performer, autobiographer, scriptwriter, family man, charity supporter, and general all-round good guy, Snider took to the road last year to promote his latest album, and For the Love of Metal – Live (Napalm Records) is the result.
Intercut with interviews and behind the scenes footage, the live material is lifted from several shows across the world, his show-stopping performance at Bloodstock Open Air featuring heavily. Edited to match a single audio source, the live footage is cleverly cut, and the performances themselves are nothing short of sensational.
New tracks like ‘Lies Are a Business’, ‘Tomorrow’s No Concern’, ‘American Made’, ‘Become the Storm’, ‘I Am the Hurricane’ and the title track sit proudly alongside old standards such as ‘You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Under the Blade’, ‘The Kids Are Back’, ‘Burn in Hell’, a rare outing for ‘The Beast’, and of course crowd favourites ‘I Wanna Rock’ and ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’. Bonus material features live versions of ‘Roll Over You’, and ‘The Fire Still Burns’, plus a fantastic cover of AC/DC classic ‘Highway to Hell’, and new song ‘Prove Me Wrong’.
An absolute workhorse on stage, it’s not only tremendous fun but simply staggering to watch the (then) sixty-four-year-old running and jumping around the stage with such attitude, wit, and total authority, putting singers more than half his age to shame in terms of energy, without missing a single cue.
Presented as a three-disc box set, the performance section of the DVD/Blu ray runs for around an hour with a further twenty minutes or so crammed with entertaining interview footage. The bonus material consists of a snappily edited tour video, and more interview footage rounded off by one of Dee’s favourite stories about the late, great Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead.
Pre-order “For The Love of Metal Live” now: https://smarturl.it/FTLOM-Live-NPR
GARY ALCOCK
This entry was posted in Album Reviews, Reviews and tagged AC/DC, album reviews, Bloodstock Open Air, concert DVD reviews, Dee Snider, Desperado, Gary Alcock, Ghost Cult Magazine, Heavy Metal, heavy metal reviews, Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead, music reviews, Napalm Records, Parents Music Resource Center, PMRC, Twisted Sister, Widowmaker by Gary Alcock. Bookmark the permalink.
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Police search for missing Balfron teenager Lisa Ferguson who may have travelled to Glasgow
Concern is growing for the 16-year-old who hasn't been seen since late last night.
Gary ArmstrongJournalist
Missing Lisa Ferguson (Image: Police Scotland)
Police are searching for a missing teenager from Balfron who may have travelled to Glasgow.
16-year-old Lisa Ferguson was last seen in the Stirlingshire village late on Sunday night and was reported missing shortly before noon today (Monday).
Police say their concern for Lisa is growing and describe her as white, around 5 ft. 8 inches in height, with long, dark hair and a slim build.
A statement released this afternoon reads: "Police Scotland is seeking the assistance of the public and the media in trying to locate a 16-year-old girl missing from Balfron since Monday, 7 September, 2020.
Female victim left with facial abrasions after assault by three teenage girls on train
"Lisa Ferguson was last seen in the Balfron area last night around 10:30pm. She was reported missing to the police around 11:50am today, Monday 7 September, 2020.
"Lisa is white, around 5 ft. 8 inches in height, with long, dark hair and a slim build. It’s not known what she is wearing.
"Extensive enquiries are under way to locate Lisa and it’s believed she may have travelled to the Glasgow area. Lisa often socialises in the city and has many friends there.
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"Officers are liaising with travel operators and checking any relevant CCTV footage for any additional information."
Inspector Colin Sutherland said: “Our concern for Lisa is growing and everyone just wants to know she is safe and well. Our attempts to locate her have so far proved unsuccessful and I am appealing to anyone who may have seen Lisa or who has any information or knowledge as to her whereabouts to contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number, 1268 of 17 September, 2020.
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Fostering Progress, Collaboration and Exchange
Funglode
Follow Us On: @GFDDorg
GFDD and FUNGLODE Participate in Inter-Governmental Preparatory Meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development
Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) participated in the Inter-Governmental Preparatory Meeting for the Seventeenth Session of the United
Nations’ Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which took place February 23-27, 2009 at UN Headquarters in New York City.
Established in 1992, the CSD has served as high-level forum for discussion and negotiation concerning sustainable development policies and strategies. The Commission evaluates progress regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 and the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992 Earth Summit). It also closely follows and provides policy recommendations related to the application of the Barbados Plan of Action for Small Island Developing States (1994), the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (1997), the 2002 Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the 2005 Mauritius Strategy for Small Island Developing States. In addition
to inter-governmental participation, CSD also takes into consideration recommendations from nine major civil society groups: Non-Governmental Organizations, Women, Children and Youth, Indigenous People, Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, Scientific and Technological Community, and Farmers. The program of work for 2008 and 2009 pertains to the thematic issues of agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. The sustainable
development of Small Island Developing States forms an important component of the CSD’s multi-year program of work.
The purpose of the Preparatory Meeting was to identify obstacles to the complete implementation of the agreed upon development goals for each of the thematic issues. The Policy Session for the Seventeenth Session, which will convene May 4-15, 2009, will be devoted to determining strategies for combating identified barriers and accelerating
implementation of development targets.
All thematic sessions of the Preparatory Meeting highlighted the need for greater emphasis in the following areas: increased national and international targeted investment; poverty eradication; greater access to quality education and vocational training, especially for women and in rural areas; strengthened international cooperation in knowledge and technology transfer and extension services; immediate adoption of climate change
adaptation and mitigation strategies; multi-stakeholder participation in policy creation; recognition of women’s roles in issues related to rural development, food security, sustainable land and resource use and poverty reduction and promotion of their involvement in decision making at local, national and international levels; scaling-up best practices; localization of global knowledge and globalization of local knowledge; mainstreaming all thematic issues as well as the
cross-cutting issue of climate change within development policy; and strengthening North-South and South-South cooperation.
Key themes discussed during this session included the environmental, social and economic threats of cli
Caribbean Is Running out of Time: 20 Years after the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve
GFDD and OPD/Funglode Launch the Portal Dominican Community in the US Facing Covid19
“The dilemma of reopening”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
“CORONAVIRUS: a pandemic without borders”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
InteRDom Participated at The International Student Day at CUNY Bronx Community College
There are many ways you can choose to support GFDD’s initiatives and activities. The Foundation is able to continue its valuable work, thanks to the support and generosity of its donors. We welcome all levels of contribution; whether it's a one time gift, monthly donation, or in kind.
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T: 202.296.1840 - F: 202.315.3368
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The Foundation conducts research, enhances public understanding, designs public policies, devises strategies, and offers capacity building in areas crucial to social, economic, democratic and cultural sustainable development.
Select an option... Civil Society Culture Democracy Dominican Studies and Diaspora Economic and Social Development Education Environment Globalization and Regional Integration Professional Development
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Mozambique-Zimbabwe: Border Town gets Cut of Diamond Action
Picture credit: Diamond Ocean.com
A steady influx of unlawful diamonds, from Zimbabwe to Mozambique, is providing fresh wealth to border towns previously plagued by poverty and malnutrition. The stones come from the often controversial mines in Zimbabwe where the military force villagers to dig for stones.
By IRIN News
Without a four-wheel drive, Manica's potholed dirt roads are a challenge, but thanks to a steady stream of illicit diamonds from neighbouring Zimbabwe, more and more people in the impoverished town in western Mozambique can afford one.
Manica is bustling with business and the newfound wealth - manifest in the latest Hummer or a high-end Toyota, always with tinted windows - is flaunted along Eduardo Mondlane Avenue, the dusty border town’s only significant road.
It is a new frontier energized by diamonds: new restaurants and shops have opened and offer a wide assortment of practically anything – all imported from South Africa.
The region used to be better known for its high levels of poverty and malnutrition. Now diamond dealers, many of them foreign, watch the luxury vehicles parade from freshly whitewashed terraces and hurriedly revamped hotels.
"The diamonds enter Mozambique in an obscure and clandestine way. Nobody in Manica is permitted to [buy or sell] them because we do not have this mineral," Jose Tefula, administrator of Manica district, told IRIN.
The diamonds are believed to come from the vast Chiadzwa diamond fields in the eastern province of Manicaland, about 90km southwest of Zimbabwe's eastern city of Mutare, not far from the border. Traders use “mules”, who often ingest the stones, to smuggle the diamonds into Mozambique, Tefula said.
According to Alberto Limeme, head of the border patrol at Machipanda, the main border post between Mozambique and Zimbabwe: "The diamonds cannot cross the border without proper certification but we don’t have enough personnel for adequate control."
Stones worth hundreds of thousands of dollars are allegedly being smuggled in every month. In December 2009 authorities seized more than 500g of diamonds from a single smuggler.
A recent joint operation by the Mozambican Migration Services and Border Patrol to stem the flow had not managed to contain the illegal traffic of the precious stones, Limeme admitted.
Political involvement
Limeme said the Zimbabwean authorities had long been aware of the illegal diamond pipeline but "as long as the Zimbabweans do not clamp down on the illegal trafficking, it will be very difficult for us to restrain the entrance of the diamonds".
Hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners had swarmed into the Chiadzwa region and in late 2008, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sent troops to flush them out after repeated attempts by the police to establish control failed.
A June 2009 report by the international watchdog, Human Rights Watch, accused Zimbabwean security forces of killing more than 200 miners in 2008 - an allegation denied by Mugabe's government - and recommended that Zimbabwe be suspended from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which polices the diamond trade.
The fields are now controlled by the military and villagers are allegedly forced by soldiers to dig for stones for the benefit of senior government officials or military commanders.
A 2009 report, Zimbabwe, Diamonds and the Wrong Side of History, by Partnership Africa Canada, one of the architects of the certification scheme, states: "Zimbabwean diamonds are produced from mines that benefit political and military gangsters, and they are smuggled out of the country by the bucket-load."
Risk and reward
One Zimbabwean diamond trader in Manica, who wished to remain anonymous, told IRIN that "people are very willing to risk their lives to carry diamonds across the border".
But there were risks involved: "In Zimbabwe it is necessary to bribe the soldiers guarding the mines and then you still have to make the journey across the mountains to get to the border. But this is creating a lot of wealth in Manica."
Diamonds were sold to foreign buyers by the gram at about 1,350 Meticais (US$46.50), far below average global prices, he said. Dealers from Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, the Great Lakes, Israel and Lebanon then take them out of the country to be processed and sold on the global market.
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Inmate / Visits Info
Treatment / Programming
205 Rocky Hill Road
Visit Approval
Length and Number of Visits
Entrance Procedures
Visitor Dress Code
Property/Money Drop Off
Termination of Visits
Collaborative Relationships
Education Curriculum
Available Treatment Groups
Amherst College Inside Out Program
Monthly Reentry Roundtable
Western Massachusetts Recovery & Wellness Center
Lifeskills Program
Legal Time Limit for Service
Summary Process
Community Corrections Directions
Correctional Officer Positions
About Sheriff Cahillane
Click the link below for an important update from Sheriff Cahillane
COVID-19 Update 4/1/2020
Due to concerns over the coronavirus, all visits to the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction will be suspended until further notice. This suspension does not apply to attorneys and religious advisers.
We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution and are working to ensure that our inmates have increased access to telephone services so that they may maintain their connection to loved ones. This is a fluid situation and will be assessed on a daily basis. Thank you.
Click here for COVID-19 precautions from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Our primary mission at the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office Jail and House of Correction is providing care and custody for inmates. In doing so, we uphold the HJHC philosophy, which is to promote reintegration while protecting society and holding the offender at the lowest level of security consistent with public safety. We strive to operate a clean, safe, and humane facility, manageable in size with an appropriate range of services, which recognizes the individual needs of each offender.
Spotlight on Treatments
In 2005, the HJHC established a relationship with Amherst College and began offering a four credit class in the House of Correction each semester with twelve student participants from Amherst College and twelve participants from the HJHC. This program offers a unique opportunity for offenders to engage in an educational experience that may otherwise be unavailable to them.
Read More Treatment News
What are the visiting hours & procedures?
Where can I find directions to the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction?
Where can I find directions to the Community Corrections office?
What Is the dress code for visitors?
Who can I contact with questions about the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction?
Where can I learn more about inmate treatment options?
Pre-Trial (Unsentenced)
Friday 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
General Housing & Modular Unit (Sentenced)
Saturday (inmates with last initial A-L) 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday (inmates with last initial M-Z) 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Minimum Security
There will be no visits when a holiday falls on either a Wednesday or Thursday.
Read More About Visiting Procedures
Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was ten years old, and his family settled in Northampton where Patrick attended local schools. He graduated from the former St. Michael’s High School in Northampton, and then attended Westfield State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree, followed by his Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England University. Patrick served with the National Guard for six years, and then started his career at the Union Street Jail as a correctional officer under the late Sheriff John Boyle and subsequently for retired Sheriff Robert J. Garvey at the Hampshire Sheriff's Office in 1977. He became the only person in western Massachusetts to hold a certification from the American Jail Association as a Certified Jail Manager in 1999. During his tenure, Patrick has held the positions of correctional officer, captain, major in charge of security, deputy superintendent, special sheriff of Hampshire County, and in November of 2016, he was elected sheriff of Hampshire County.
Outside of the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office, Patrick has been an adjunct faculty member of Westfield State University in the Criminal Justice Program since 2006. He and his wife Barbara live in Leeds, Massachusetts, where they raised their three daughters, Heather, Erin, and Shannon. In his free time, Patrick enjoys spending time with his family and two rescue dogs, Charlie and Nina, as well as doing home repairs and educating people in criminal justice topics.
All information copyright 2021 Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office
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Home » News » Renewable fuels make ‘good business sense,’ but RFS changes needed — Shell
Renewable fuels make ‘good business sense,’ but RFS changes needed — Shell
Source: Amanda Peterka, E&E reporter • Posted: Monday, April 22, 2013
Executives for Royal Dutch Shell PLC this week said they are pushing ahead with plans to research and develop advanced biofuels despite recently scaling back investments in the field and calling for changes in federal biofuels policies.
The oil and gas company is focused on developing drop-in biofuels that can be used in existing fuel infrastructure and is working to commission a pilot facility in Houston, said Shell Vice President for Alternative Energy Matthew Tipper. As that happens, Shell is conducting in-house research at laboratories in Houston, Amsterdam and the United Kingdom.
“We believe it continues to make good business sense to develop and deploy cellulosic biofuels because we believe the world will need them,” Tipper said Monday at an annual biofuels industry conference in Maryland just outside Washington, D.C.
Shell, the world’s largest distributor of biofuels, announced last year that it had built the pilot facility at its Westhollow Technology Center in Houston. Using technology from partner Virent Inc., the plant will use a thermo-catalytic process to produce test quantities of advanced biofuels made from plant-based materials that have the same properties of petroleum-based fuels.
Tipper said the facility is part of Shell’s goal to find a biofuel that can be cost-competitive and easily used in today’s fuel networks. Such a biofuel would overcome issues with the “blend wall” — the term given for the technically feasible saturation in the marketplace — that have dogged the conventional corn ethanol industry.
Acknowledging the existence of climate change, Tipper said that such fuels made from biomass will play a “linchpin role” in future energy systems.
“Liquid fuels will remain essential, and we need solutions to reduce their carbon intensity,” Tipper said.
Like most oil majors, Shell’s track toward advanced biofuels has not been smooth, and its support for policies supporting biofuels production has been nuanced.
The move to expand drop-in biofuels comes after a series of announcements from the company over the past year that it had scaled back its investments in cellulosic ethanol, an advanced biofuel made from plant-based materials like agricultural residues, switchgrass and municipal solid waste. Unlike drop-in biofuels, cellulosic and conventional ethanol must be blended with regular gasoline and cannot be transported using petroleum-based fuel infrastructure.
Last April, Shell and partner Iogen Corp. canceled their plans to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in California, saying they would continue to explore “multiple” other pathways toward advanced biofuels. Later in 2012, Shell and Codexis Inc., a company that produces enzymes needed for biofuel production, severed their agreement.
Other oil majors have also scaled back their involvement in cellulosic biofuels in North America. BP PLC’s biofuels unit last year shelved plans to build a 36-million-gallon cellulosic ethanol plant in Florida and said it would instead focus its biofuels efforts on research and development and licensing its technology (E&ENews PM, Oct. 25, 2012). BP also appears to be focusing on a drop-in solution and is a partner with DuPont Co. in a joint venture to produce isobutanol.
Both BP and Shell are eyeing Brazil as a future for advanced biofuels. Shell has invested billions of dollars in Raizon, a sugar cane ethanol joint venture with Brazilian company Cosan Ltd., while BP announced last December that it would invest $350 million to expand one of its sugar cane processing ventures in Brazil. U.S. EPA guidelines define sugar cane ethanol as an advanced biofuel.
Although refiner Tesoro Corp. last month announced that it would purchase algae-derived fuels made by Sapphire Energy Inc., the excitement among oil majors over algae has dimmed. Shell exited the algae business in early 2011 when it ended its participation in Cellana, a joint venture between Shell and HR BioPetroleum Inc. that had been working to scale up algae fuels and that had a 6-acre demonstration facility in Hawaii.
Executives for Exxon Mobil Corp., which has invested $600 million in algae technologies, earlier this year cast a gloomy picture for algae-derived fuels, saying it would likely be at least 25 years before they would make a dent in the marketplace.
Andrew Soare, a renewable fuels analyst at Lux Research, said in a recent interview that oil companies view biofuels as both a competitive threat and an opportunity to help with the concerns of decreasing oil supply globally. As a result, they have invested in companies but have also looked to block legislation to promote biofuels.
“What fundamentally drives these decisions of these companies is economics,” Soare said. “If biofuels prove they can be cheaper than conventional fuels, the oil industry will look at it as an opportunity.”
Tipper acknowledged the difficulties in scaling up advanced biofuels to take the place of conventional corn ethanol. The advanced biofuels industry, he said, has overall “not been able to live up to expectations, some of which it set itself, and has struggled with significant challenges to scaling up technology.”
Interest in RFS reform
Part of the challenge comes from how EPA has handled the cellulosic portion of the renewable fuel standard, the U.S. policy that mandates yearly levels of biofuels consumption, said John Reese, Shell’s downstream policy and advocacy manager.
Reese, who helped craft the original renewable fuel standard in the early 2000s, said that EPA’s consistent overaggressive targets for cellulosic biofuels have opened the industry up to criticism for not meeting deadlines. Refining groups have accused EPA of using the targets to penalize refiners for not using a fuel that does not yet exist in the market.
Earlier this year, a federal appeals court struck down EPA’s 2012 cellulosic target, finding that the 8.65-million-gallon level was not accurate enough. According to EPA, 20,000 gallons of cellulosic biofuels were produced last year in the nation.
“The way EPA was looking at that provision by not just looking at what could be produced but then adding more on top of it was giving the opponents of the cellulosic provision a softball pitch that they could knock out of the park,” Reese said. “And they started referring to it as ‘phantom fuels’ and that was something that the media could understand pretty rapidly and it made a lot of press.”
Reese said that Shell was “generally supportive” of the renewable fuel standard but that the company believes there needs to be some changes to address the fact that the RFS this year requires refiners to blend ethanol at levels above the blend wall. He urged EPA to reduce the cellulosic and advanced biofuels requirements to be more “realistic” and to issue an overall reduction in the requirements beginning in 2016.
Shell’s trade group, the American Petroleum Institute, is strongly advocating for full repeal of the renewable fuel standard. Tipper, though, said it was important that the government remain committed to advanced biofuels and held the RFS up as an example of a system that can help provide dependable pricing and support mechanisms.
But he also said that the RFS was “not perfect.”
“If we are to achieve significant growth in cellulosic biofuels, we must continue to work together to ensure that policies like the RFS remain fit for the purpose,” Tipper said. “This will require discussion about how the RFS can be amended to secure the growth in cellulosic biofuels.”
Advanced biofuels trade groups argue that EPA has helped spur the industry with its cellulosic requirements and are urging the agency to keep issuing aggressive targets.
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A growing business
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At Grifols, we think and act with a long-term, sustainable and responsible perspective at every stage of the value chain. We place donors and patients at the heart of our activities to improve people's well-being."
Víctor Grifols Deu, CEO
We trace our roots back to 1909 when Dr. Josep Antoni Grifols i Roig founded the first analysis laboratory in Barcelona: Instituto Central de Análisis Clínicos, Bacteriológicos y Químicos.
We have four business divisions united by a shared commitment to quality, safety and on-going innovation: Bioscience, Diagnostic, Hospital and Bio Supplies.
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Supplying high-quality biological materials for life-science research, clinical trials, and for manufacturing pharmaceutical and diagnostic products.
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Madison Park in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
J. Howard Payne (1887-1960) House
— Historic Marble Hill —
By Allen C. Browne, October 11, 2015
1. J. Howard Payne (1887-1960) House Marker
J. Howard Payne (1887-1960) House. . A prominent and distinguished Baltimore African-American attorney, real estate broker, and politician. He was educated in Baltimore City public schools and graduated from Howard University Law School. . . As a friend of James Cardinal Gibbons, he provided advice to the Cardinal on matters pertaining to African-American Catholics in the Archdicese. . . Member, St.Pius' Roman Catholic Church; . Pride of the Baltimore Lodge of Elks; . Monumental Elks Lodge No. 3 . “Improved Benevolent Portective Order of Elks of the World . (IBPOEW) . Monumental Bar Association of Baltimore City. . Pennsylvania Avenue . Heritage Trail. . This historical marker is in Madison Park in Baltimore Maryland
A prominent and distinguished Baltimore African-American attorney, real estate broker, and politician. He was educated in Baltimore City public schools and graduated from Howard University Law School.
As a friend of James Cardinal Gibbons, he provided advice to the Cardinal on matters pertaining to African-American Catholics in the Archdicese.
Member, St.Pius' Roman Catholic Church;
Pride of the Baltimore Lodge of Elks;
Monumental Elks Lodge No. 3
“Improved Benevolent Portective Order of Elks of the World
(IBPOEW)
Monumental Bar Association of Baltimore City.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities 🎓 series list.
Location. 39° 18.284′ N, 76° 37.839′ W. Marker is in Madison Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Marker is on McCulloh Street (Maryland Route 129), on the right when
traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1536 McCulloh Street, Baltimore MD 21217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Building Community Organizations (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Suffrage Leaders (about 300 feet away); The Elks Lodge (about 300 feet away); American Legion Federal Post No. 19 (about 400 feet away); Community Growth and Faith (about 700 feet away); Creating an African American Neighborhood (about 800 feet away); Henry Highland Garnet Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thurgood Marshall House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison Park.
Also see . . . J. Howard Payne. (1887-1960) MSA SC 3520-14466 African-American Attorney - Maryland State Archives. (Submitted on October 12, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
3. J. Howard Payne House
Maryland State Archives
4. J. Howard Payne
A Promising Young Lawyer
Photo from a clipping taken from the Afro-American Friday, December 6th, 1918.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 466 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 12, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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Kenny Omega Explains Why It Would Be A "Missed Opportunity" If He Never Signs With WWE
As noted, Kenny Omega recently appeared as a guest on The Ross Report podcast with WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross. Featured below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On possibly joining the ranks in WWE at some point in the future: “I’ve been keeping up to date on kind of the goings on and I always at the very least look at the highlights of every show, both brands, 205 Live, and even the NXT stuff. I’m really happy for everyone that’s doing well there.
“I was able to work in a fantastic program with The New Day [at E3] and they really brought something special to that sort of feud because all three of those guys are very special athletes, they’re very special performers. They have a special kind of charisma. They know how to work the people, work for cameras, work for the TV. When I think about the possibilities of what it would be like if I could ever mix it up with some of those guys it gets me excited. Becuase they are a lot of great performers.”
On how he would consider it a missed opportunity if he never ends up in WWE: “A lot of the guys that even though they came up through the indies you know we were in different stages of our lives and we never mixed it up together. I could say you know if I could work with Seth Rollins at some point in time that would be a lot of fun. So when I think about the possibilities of stuff like that it does get me excited. Now every promotion has so many good guys. There’s really no way I would have a bad time going almost anywhere because the depth of the talent is just so deep. WWE right now has a very great collection of talent with guys and I would feel like it’s a missed opportunity if I couldn’t work with them at some point. Of course the huge name among them is AJ [Styles]. You know I’d love to work with AJ and I’d like to be able to do it while I can still move, you know what I mean?”
Check out the complete episode of The Ross Report podcast featuring the Kenny Omega interview at Omny.fm. H/T to WrestlingInc.com for transcribing the above quotes.
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The life and times of Quicksilver Messenger Service's John Cipollina
By Alan di Perna 14 January 2021
A bold, original and unheralded stylist, Cipollina's playing anticipated the future of rock
(Image credit: Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns/Getty Images)
Cippolina embodied everything embedded in the term “rock guitar god.” Tall and slender – with long, dark, side-parted hair framing a pair of model-quality cheekbones – he stood out even among the colorful cast of wildly talented characters who made up the San Francisco psychedelic music scene of the mid to late '60s.
His amp rig was like something out of Tom Wolfe’s Kandy-Kolored Tangerine Stream-Flake Streamline Baby – a hybrid tube/transistor stereo tower of tone, crowned with gleaming metal horns and flashing automotive lights. You half expected the thing to sprout massive tires and go roaring off down the highway.
Armed with this primordial super-stack and his beloved 1961 Gibson SG, Cipollina did things that bordered on the occult. A bold, original stylist, his guitar work with Quicksilver Messenger Service played a key role in defining the San Francisco psychedelic sound, also anticipating much of what was to come in rock guitar playing.
But outside of a small, if devoted, cult following, he is not as well or widely remembered today as, say, Jerry Garcia, Jorma Kaukonen, Carlos Santana and other guitarists who came out of San Francisco during the psychedelic era. Which is a shame, as Cipollina was every bit their equal.
By the time of his relatively early death – in 1989, at age 45 – he’d been reduced to playing small Northern California clubs, his health seriously compromised by emphysema and often in need of a wheelchair to get around.
Cipollina was a true son of the Bay Area, born in Berkeley on August 24, 1943, and growing up mostly in Mill Valley. He started out on piano, but like many of his generation, he switched to electric guitar once the mid-Fifties rock and roll explosion had ignited.
His first band, the Penetrators, covered Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and other prominent first-wave rockers. Cipollina’s adoption of the thumb pick may have grown out of emulating Presley guitarist Scotty Moore, who also employed this style of plectrum.
This would become one of the defining features of Cipollina’s technique and style, which combined a thumbpick and first-finger fingerpick. Cipollina had been relatively unfazed by the mid-Sixties folk boom that had captured the imagination of guitarists like Garcia, Kaukonen or Roger McGuinn.
He’d stuck with his rock and roll roots. So there’s something a bit more primordial in Cipollina’s deployment of his dual plectra. He used them in tandem with vigorous vibrato arm action to create haunted, howling, face-melting leads. In this, he anticipated the dexterous fingers-and-vibrato-arm technique that Jeff Beck would develop to stunning effect later in his career.
But Cipollina was doing it in ’65, long before Beck. And by combining his distinctive picking with a highly original approach to amplification, Cipollina was able to forge a style that blended tremulous lyricism with bursts of snaky, anarchistic phrasing. In an era when rock guitarists were debating whether they should stick with tubes or move on to then-brand-new transistor amplification, Cipollina simply said, “I’ll have both.”
I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top
John Cippolina
He devised an elaborate amp rig combining two solid-state Standel bass amps with two Fender tube amps: a Twin Reverb and a Dual Showman driving six Wurlitzer horns. “I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top,” he said.
His setup, which today is on exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, also incorporated a Maestro Echoplex and Standel Modulux, complete with a system of automotive lights to indicate which effect had been activated by footswitch. Even in an era noted for its imaginative experimentation with gear, Cipollina’s rig stood out just as much as he did.
In 1965, Cipollina became a founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service, the band that would bring him to fame. They were an integral part of the hippie scene that grew up around LSD, free love and free thinking in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury neighborhood. And their history intersected with that of several other Bay Area bands.
On any given night sharing a bill with the Grateful Dead, the Quicksilver guys could hand Garcia and company their asses
Joel Selvin
At various points, the Quicksilver lineup included Skip Spence, best known for his work with Moby Grape, and bassist David Freiberg, who would go on to play with the Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.
“On any given night sharing a bill with the Grateful Dead, the Quicksilver guys could hand Garcia and company their asses,” the Bay Area music critic Joel Selvin wrote.
So why aren’t Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service more well remembered today? Much of it is down to the typically sad rock and roll story of bad timing and worse luck. For one, Quicksilver’s lineup was notoriously unstable.
One of the group’s founders, singer/guitarist Dino Valenti, was jailed for marijuana possession before the band could even have its first rehearsal in ’65 at the Matrix, the club owned by the Airplane’s Marty Balin.
But then it was Balin who recommended guitarist Gary Duncan for the newly forming group. Balin felt a little guilty for luring Skip Spence away from his slot as Quicksilver’s guitarist so that Spence could play drums for an early incarnation of the Airplane.
We got into double leads right from the start, partly at my insistence
John Cipollina
Duncan and Cipollina would soon become a formidable two-guitar team, trading licks and interweaving lead lines during trippy, marathon improvisations over material like Bo Diddley’s classic Mona. Cipollina and Duncan’s freewheeling, modal, raga-flavored excursions took Mona far from the Afro-Cuban roots of the original Bo Diddley recording.
This kind of mind-meld interplay was a precursor to the dual-guitar style that Duane Allman and Dickie Betts would later develop in the Allman Brothers’ music, which also makes Cipollina and Duncan key forefathers of the jam band scene.
“We got into double leads right from the start, partly at my insistence,” Cipollina recalled. “I’ve always liked double leads, and just because no one was doing double leads at the time, it didn’t stop us.”
But, again, if Cipollina and Quicksilver were so good, why aren’t they more well remembered today? Their tardiness in signing with a major record label is something else that worked against them. Not that the labels weren’t interested. They were. It was the band who weren’t interested in a record deal, which would prove detrimental to their career.
The San Francisco scene at the time was notoriously insular and flush with anti-commercial, anti-capitalist hippie idealism. The bands and scenemakers wanted to keep their thing “pure.” There was a considerable mistrust of outsiders – particularly those from L.A., which was regarded as the capital of glitzy, crass, commercial “plasticity.”
This feeling ran so high that many of the San Francisco bands initially refused to participate in the historic Monterey Pop festival in 1967 because it was being organized by Los Angeles record producer Lou Adler.
Many of them eventually relented, of course, including Quicksilver, whose set was a festival highlight. But Quicksilver steadfastly resisted signing a record contract, despite the fact that their friends the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane had done so – the Airplane striking a deal with RCA in 1966 and the Dead signing with Warners in ’67.
We had no use for record labels and we were unsigned. We would make double the money of the guys who had a record contract
As a result, those bands had albums on the market just as media interest in the San Francisco’s hippie scene and ’67’s Summer of Love was peaking. Quicksilver basically shot themselves in the foot by refusing to deal with “the man.” They thought they could go it alone, basing a career solely on live work.
“We didn’t want to sign,” Cipollina insisted. “We had no use for [the record labels], and we were unsigned. And we were making more money. We would make double the money of the guys who had a record contract.”
So by the time Quicksilver finally signed with Capitol Records, releasing their self-titled debut album in ’68, other bands had already established themselves as the kingpins of acid rock. And just as the Capitol deal went down, Quicksilver lost their lead singer, Jim Murray. Some accounts say he was scared off by the discipline required to make a studio recording.
The debut disc, Quicksilver Messenger Service, is nonetheless a solid album. Embellished by Cipollina’s tastefully tremulous lead guitar work, the disc’s apocalyptic lead track Pride of Man garnered significant airplay on FM underground rock radio stations. But it never achieved anything like the crossover success of songs such as the Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” or “Somebody to Love.”
“I don’t think the group ever reached its potential,” Cipollina said. “We were pretty lame in the studio, but we were a kick-ass live group.” So it was fortuitous that Quicksilver’s second album, 1969’s Happy Trails, was mostly recorded live at the Fillmore.
It captured Cipollina and Duncan’s trademark dual lead work on the band’s tour de force live interpretation of Mona, as well as another Bo Diddley song, Who Do You Love. Cipollina’s stinging, frenzied, acid rock leads ignite his own instrumental composition How You Love; also taking pride of place on Gary Duncan’s opus, Maiden of Cancer Moon.
Like its predecessor, Happy Trails caught the ear of the counterculture. Jerry Garcia even hailed it as “the most psychedelic album ever recorded.” But it was hardly a mainstream commercial success. And then Gary Duncan left the band.
In a surprising move, Cipollina drafted British session piano ace Nicky Hopkins (the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Kinks) to replace Duncan. It was the end of Quicksilver’s days as a two-guitar juggernaut, but the start of an interesting new chapter for Quicksilver and Cipollina.
I don’t think the group ever reached its potential. We were pretty lame in the studio, but we were a kick-ass live group
“Quicksilver was the first band I’d played in without a piano,” the guitarist noted. “I always missed the keyboard, so when Gary left, instead of trying to replace a guitarist, I looked for a piano player. Nicky was the best. It seemed natural to me. Besides, we became good friends right from the start.”
Hopkins’ superb piano work is predominant on Quicksilver’s next release, Shady Grove, from 1969. His presence pushed the group toward bluesy abandon, on the one hand, and quasi-classical elegance on the other — both directions bringing Quicksilver further afield from their more psychedelicized earlier work. Still there’s plenty of fascinating interplay between Hopkins and Cipollina — two outstanding musicians at the top of their respective games.
But Cipollina started to become disenchanted with Quicksilver once Dino Valenti signed on as the group’s lead singer in 1969. As we’ve seen, Valenti helped launch Quicksilver back in ’65, but was prevented by a pot bust from performing with the group.
When he finally got around to assuming frontman duties, he brought a strong and coherent songwriting voice to the band. He wrote what is perhaps Quicksilver’s best-known song, 1970’s Fresh Air, which became a pothead anthem thanks to the song’s “Oooh, have another hit” chorus refrain.
Valenti’s focus on songcraft, however, left less room for wide-open guitar experimentation; and Cipollina had left Quicksilver by 1971. “I wanted to try some new stuff,” he said, “and a lot of the new [Quicksilver] material didn’t give me much to do. Besides, I wanted to branch out. Quicksilver Messenger Service’s format seemed old.”
His next project was Copperhead, a solid early Seventies hard rock band that might have had a shot at major success had bad luck not derailed them. Record biz maven Clive Davis signed Copperhead to CBS in ’73 but was fired from the label shortly thereafter. So Copperhead’s only recording, a self-titled debut album, languished in the absence of label support. Cipollina went so far as to say that anti-Davis forces at the label openly sabotaged the release. By 1974, Copperhead was finished.
For the next 15 years, Cipollina drifted through numerous bands, many including old cronies of his from the San Francisco scene. But he’d never again achieve the level of success he’d attained with Quicksilver. He was still slogging it out in Bay Area clubs when ill health caught up with him. A combination of emphysema and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency claimed his life on May 29, 1989.
Like many gifted '60s rockers who didn’t get enshrined in the “classic rock” pantheon, Cipollina and Quicksilver might sound a little alien to listeners raised on the homogenous AOR rock radio format of the Seventies and beyond. But Cipollina’s pioneering work is nonetheless one of the foundation stones on which the classic rock edifice was erected.
Sandberg California TM Nighthawk Plus and VS Lionel review
Viral Metallica-shredding TikTok star Zaria signs with Sully Guitars
Australian Guitar's Fresh Frets: Vol. 6
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Israel's Weather Radar Crashed – but Here's How Jordan and Turkey Might Help
The radar stopped working just in the peak of rain season. But weather enthusiasts can use neighboring countries' radars until a new one comes to Israel
Zafrir Rinat
Nir Hasson
The rain radar as displayed on the Meteorological Service's website.
Ardent followers of Israel's weather forecast are used to turning to the Israel Meteorological Service's rain radar for short and precise predictions on the status of rain clouds hovering above Israeli skies. In recent days, however, the radar stopped working just as the wet season in the country reached its peak.
The radar, which is situated in southwest Jerusalem, ran out of service several days ago due to a severe malfunction.
According to Nir Stav, the manager of the Meteorological Service, the radar is not functioning because of a technical issue with the power supply system. "The problem is that it is 25 years old and it's hard to find the right parts," Stav explains. "Israel doesn't have a lab that can fix the specific part that's broken, so we have to get it from abroad."
Stav says that it will take several months until the service will receive the necessary parts to fix the radar. In order to hasten the process, the service will try to get an expert from abroad to help out or find a suitable lab in Israel. But Stav explains that the laboratories and technology in this field are underdeveloped in Israel.
Flooding in central Israel, December 2018.Credit: Ilan Assayag
Until recently, experts at the Meteorological Service thought the radar could be maintained and that they could hold off the investment necessary for purchasing a new one. But now Stav says it was a wrong assessment.
Three days of rain rock Israel's center and north, cause deadly accidents
50 Israeli children rescued by boat in winter's heaviest rainstorm
In Jordan’s ancient Petra, sirens warn of flash floods
The service has started a process of calling for a bid to buy a new radar, but it could take up to a year and a half until it finally arrives in Israel.
In the meantime, the current radar will function partially, and the service will be using Israel Air Force equipment as backup.
The radar was manufactured in the United States and purchased 25 years ago, after the Meteorological Service was unable to provide accurate information about a serious storm that hit Israel.
The Jordanian radar. It includes the Golan Heights as part of Israel's territory
It is essential for identifying storm clouds, the precipitation levels in rain clouds and unusual phenomena such as strong winds and thunderstorms.
"The public receives on our website only some of the information that we get," Stav notes. "People can get information from the Water Authority and the Mekorot company's radar as well, but it, too, has been dysfunctional lately."
The aforementioned radar stopped operating due to a strike by employees of Mekorot, Israel's national water company.
Israel has another radar, which is operated by the Israeli military's air force. The radar is not available to the public, but serves the Meteorological Service.
Israelis who want to keep up to date about the chances of rain can use the Jordanian rain radar, which provides accurate information about the region and actually includes the Golan Heights in Israeli territory (as opposed to the West Bank and Gaza).
Israeli weatherman Boaz Nehemia says that since the rain radar broke down, the Jordanian website is suffering from an influx of Israeli visitors who threaten to crash it.
Residents of northern Israel can also use the Turkish radar, which is only relevant to the northernmost part of the Upper Galilee.
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‘Righteous’ Poles at Risk from Coronavirus Receive Help
By Cnaan Liphshiz | JTA March 2020
Jonny Daniels delivers groceries to a rescuer of Jews in Warsaw. Courtesy of From the Depths.
(JTA) — As a teenager in Warsaw during the Holocaust, Krystyna Kowalska helped save a Jewish family of four who hid at her family’s bakery.
She does not remember being afraid, even though if they had been discovered her whole family would have almost certainly been shot dead on the spot along with the Jews they hid.
But now, at the age of 88, Kowalska is fearing for her life because of the coronavirus, the fatality rate of which is especially high in individuals older than 70.
“It’s a scary time for me to be outside as I see the impact of this virus on my age group,” said Kowalska, a widow whose son has died and who lives alone in a third-story apartment without an elevator.
Across the world, people from her generation have minimized their interaction with the outside world to avoid contracting COVID-19.
For rescuers of Jews in Warsaw, that task became considerably easier this week.
The From the Depths commemoration group, which last year began offering free taxi rides to these rescuers, converted its small fleet of four cars into a delivery service that is designed to fulfill the recipients’ basic needs at their homes while taking care to expose them to as little risk as possible.
Since Sunday, the foundation has delivered groceries to about 20 people recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, Israel’s title for non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from the genocide. The cabs are disinfected after each delivery and the group’s founder, Jonny Daniels, said he delivers the groceries personally to the recipients wearing a mask and gloves.
“After the pandemic broke out, we started seeing more demand, not less, for the taxi,” he said.
The Righteous became more reliant on the taxis to get around because it was less risky than public transportation, Daniels said.
“But they still need to buy food, often at several supermarkets because of hoarding,” which has created shortages in basic products, he added.
So From the Depths made a list of 40 addresses and plans to make home deliveries to all of them by Saturday.
To keep the cabs virus free, From the Depths paid for overpriced disinfectants, which its staffers – the association has several drivers, an administrator and dozens of volunteers — apply between rides.
By Tuesday, Poland had more than 200 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and five fatalities from it.
“We consulted medical staff and the technique we use is basically the same as what they do in ambulances,” Daniels said.
Daniels said some recipients of his deliveries have become his friends over the years, inviting him in for tea. Some are lonely.
“I politely refuse the invitations,” he said. “These are people I usually hug and kiss on the cheek at events, but these days I just carry the bags into their apartments and I’m out of there.”
Kowalska, who is one of just a few dozen living rescuers in Poland, said she understands the situation.
“It’s a kind service. It means that I don’t have to go outside and risk my health. The fact that I can trust them means the world to me,” she said
From the Depths staff has started to set aside time for phone chats with the Righteous to help combat their sense of isolation, said Oliver Wangart, the chief driver and head of logistics for a service the association calls Silent Hero.
The delivery and taxi service is only available in Warsaw, which is already straining the From the Depths budget, Daniels said.
“But these are people who stood up for the Jews in our people’s hour of need,” he said. “Well, now this is their hour of need and we need to stand up for them.”
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Where Irish settled in Australia
Since 1791, Irish people have emigrated to Australia. Emigration initiatives such as the Earl Grey scheme for orphan girls in the 1840s, and events such as the Irish Famine in 1847, saw different waves of people arrive on Australian shores in the 1800s. Whether by choice or by situation, these pioneers went on to create a new life for themselves and their families, contributing to the Australia of today. . . .
The Irish settler in Australia, both voluntary and forced was crucial to the survival and prosperity of the early colonies both demographically and economically. 300,000 Irish Free Settlers arrived between 1840 and 1914 and by 1871 the Irish were a quarter of all overseas-born. . . .
A strong Irish network of Bounty Immigrants existed in Melbourne before the 1850s. Then the Irish migrated in vast numbers, being the largest immigrant group after the English from 1854 to World War 1. And by 1871 when the community numbered 10,468 more than one in four Victorians was born in Ireland. The Irish famine of the 1840s caused large numbers of people to migrate due to poverty and difficult living conditions. They worked in Victoria as whalers, fishermen and farm hands and in townships as labourers and factory workers. The Irish settled most densely in the inner city and for a time some of the poorer lanes of the central city sustained conspicuous Irish population. Such as Bourke, Gipps and Lonsdale wards.
The 1850s remain the most significant decade for Irish Immigration to Victoria. In Melbourne for most of the 19th century, Hotham – northwest of Melbourne was the most Irish locality because of its position near unskilled labour markets in the railway yards, warehouses and wharves. Between 1850 and 1890 most Irish arrivals to Victoria came as assisted immigrants escaping cultural repression in Ireland and in contrast to many other groups they came as equal numbers of men and women. Major waves of Irish migration commenced during the reconstruction of Irish Agriculture after the 1840 famine and during the gold rushes of the 1850s after the discovery of gold in Victoria. Many sought their fortunes on the goldfields around the Ballarat, Bendigo and the Blackwood area. My husband’s great grandmother, Jane Roach from Kings County, (Offaly) daughter of Michaelis Roach & Jonnane Malone married Vincenzo Cocciardi (who jumped ship) Italian in Victoria on 27/12/1866 and they settled on the goldfields in Blackwood, raised 8 children and they are buried in the Blackwood Cemetery. All around the Victoria Goldfields in places such as Bendigo, Ballarat one will find many graves of Irish Immigrants.
Extract from a paper researched and presented by Sylvia Quinnell for the Botany Bay Family History Society Irish Interest Group in New South Wales. First published in the Ireland XO News, 3/4/2019. Republished with the author’s permission. https://irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/news/where-irish-settled-australia Image IAN12/03/81/61c, Illustrated Newspaper file, State Library of Victoria.
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Releases / Ulver – Riverhead
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Ulver – Riverhead
The North Shore is a particular coastline on the island of Newfoundland that has been in various stages of settlement since the 1500s – it is said to be one of the oldest North American settlements. As Irish and English settlers formed communities, centuries of secular feuding in Europe were inevitably rediscovered in this new land and lead to many years of fighting, rioting, and murder. As a Newfoundlander with deep roots on the island, my family has experienced this conflict first-hand and often tell stories of their rival outports, even warning me to stay away from certain communities as a child. This is the backdrop for RIVERHEAD – an area with a fragile coexistence between communities, where inherited feuds can resurface at any moment.
Late last fall I sent Kristoffer Rygg my latest short film, FLANKERS, and we began chatting about the soundtrack, eventually going back and forth about a potential collaboration. At this point, I went out on a limb and asked if ULVER would be interested in composing the music for my upcoming feature, RIVERHEAD. They kindly accepted and here is the result. As a long-time fan, this was an incredible collaboration for me – and further, it allowed us to find aesthetic and cultural similarities between our lands. With this in mind, the soundtrack certainly touches on Nordic and Celtic folk music from within an ambient/atmospheric frame.
There was a mutual understanding that the soundtrack should be hushed, airy and ominous, almost elemental in its minimalism, with only a few key moments that rupture into larger, more augmented pieces. As far as the method, ULVER started by recording and sending over some sketches and atmospheres before we shot a single scene of the film. This allowed me to go into the filming with an understanding of the soundtrack, and how the scenes could (and would) be paced – truly an invaluable asset, especially with a fragmented film like this. Afterwards, they continued to record and we fine-tuned said sketches as well as some new pieces together. Ultimately, I am as proud of this collaboration as a standalone project as I am with the film itself.
– Justin Oakey, L'Anse aux Meadows, September 2016
Studious Decrepitude Est. 2015
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info@houseofmythology.com
© House of Mythology 2021
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Hychyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Hychyn comes from the baptismal name Richard. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.
Early Origins of the Hychyn family
The surname Hychyn was first found in Hertfordshire at Hitchin, a market town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Hitchin and Pirton. [1] The place name pre-dates the Norman Conquest as the first record the place was found c. 945 as Hiccam. By the time of the Domesday Book, the town was known as Hiz, and literally meant "place in the territory of the tribe called Hicce. " [2] The river Hiz is nearby and no doubt the river's name was derived from the same. As far as the surname is concerned, the first record of the name was John Hichum who was listed in the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1279 in Oxfordshire. A few years later, the name Hichoun was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1286. [3]
Early History of the Hychyn family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hychyn research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1321, 1279, 1332, 1665, 1675 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Hychyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hychyn Spelling Variations
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hychyn has appeared include Hitchins, Hitchen, Hitchens, Hitchin, Hitchings, Hitchins, Hitching and many more.
Early Notables of the Hychyn family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Hychyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Hychyn family
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hychyn arrived in North America very early: John Hitchens settled in Virginia in 1654; Arthur Hitchens settled in Maine in 1616 four years before the "Mayflower"; Margaret and Anne Hitchens settled in Barbados in 1663.
Rotuli Hundredorum
Assize Rolls
^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
^ Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Hychyn (English)
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10/24/2014 10:56 EDT | Updated 12/24/2014 05:59 EST
Why Your Business Should Spend The Extra Time Personalizing Digital Content
When creating your digital media strategy, be sure that you're looking to make your content count. Get personal; find ways to deliver a personalized experience. We can no longer wait for consumers to come to us -- we must give them what they're looking for before they know to ask or think to seek it elsewhere.
Carlos de Torres Vice President, Advertising and Online, Microsoft Canada
For many of us, it feels as if there just aren't enough hours in the day to not only balance work and life, but to keep up with the latest news, hot topics, viral videos and trends.
Whether people are receiving their news via email, social media, or through tablets or smartphones, the digital media landscape is crowded - wall to wall - with content, as there are dozens of websites and social media feeds that the average consumer might be compelled to keep up with on a daily basis. With such a wealth of content available at our fingertips at all times, it can be overwhelming to sift through the clutter to find the content that is most relatable, relevant and sought-after. Microsoft's recent research examining the Modern Canadian Man revealed that men can often feel quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and just thinking about adding another decision to their busy days can cause anxiety.
This poses a challenge not only for the consumer who might be seeking the most effective way to access their desired content, but also for marketers as it makes the path to reaching a desired audience all the more fraught with obstacles.
The sustained value of curated content
Offering thoughtful curated content is a strategic way to generate interest from consumers, along with engagement and most importantly, multiple visits to a given app or website.
Just look around at the content offered here on the Huffington Post. You have everything from the biggest news of the day, to travel tips, business commentary and reviews from last night's TV shows. All in one place. An interesting headline on Twitter might bring a consumer here, but it's the varied and interesting content that keeps them looking around and keeps them coming back.
As marketers, we need to keep consumers coming back to explore the wealth of content available to them across our web pages. That being said, we also need to recognize when there is a desire to consume content in different ways and at varying times of the day -- from the morning commute, to the coffee break and after the kids have been put to bed. We see this with advertising, as we can now release sequential ads that speak to consumers at different points throughout the day, targeting their activities and thoughts at that point in time. All of this is in hope of getting consumers to remain engaged and explore more.
The added value of sponsored content
Above and beyond content that is created and shared digitally, there remains a wide range of opportunities for sponsored content across many channels. This allows marketers to integrate into existing streams and capture the attention of consumers in the places they are searching for news and information.
If the past few years are any indication, sponsored content continues to grow in popularity - when done well and in a timely fashion, with a number of marketers having seen success when following these guidelines. Take Purina, for instance, whose native advertisement Dear Kitten, released in June 2014, has netted more than 15 million views. It also led to a spike in conversation around the value of sponsored content going viral, along with a host of media articles confirming resonance with its audience. Pet-related videos have proven to have sustained popularity among consumers, but for Purina, infusing humour into a pithy and engaging video amplified its shareability. Most of all, it was highly relatable for cat owners , providing some 'insider humour' about what it's like to be a pet parent that can easily be shared with friends and family.
People are looking for authenticity. Creating sponsored content that is not relatable runs the risk of low engagement and ultimately, a missed opportunity. Consumers want impactful content that is sharable, easily digestible and that which stands out from the crowd. An example is the following contribution from Chipotle that appeared here on the Huffington Post: '9 Disgusting Things You Didn't Know You've Been Eating Your Whole Life'. As reported to AdExchanger, the day this piece was published, it was the top shared content piece across the whole platform, registering 221,000 social actions. Again, a predominant reason for the success of this piece was finding relevance with the reader -- a commonality between consumers they can relate to. Readers are looking for content that resonates and this piece provided not only that but also news. Plus, it really is a true conversation piece, and that led to an overwhelming amount of sharing and amplification - the marketers' goal.
If consumers aren't able to find what they want, they'll simply look elsewhere. We need to find ways to give consumers the content that they want -- and we need to work in partnership with publishers to provide (easy) access to the strongest content possible.
A fresh perspective on content
With the digital media landscape continuing to evolve rapidly, at Microsoft we have been thinking about how to simplify the curation process while creating a personalized user experience.
We've already unveiled a sneak peek, but soon we'll be launching the new MSN - bringing comprehensive content from more than 800 of the world's leading media outlets, and powerful tools that help you do more. Users will be met with a consistent stream of information on multiple screens - we're talking your tablet, your smartphone, your laptop or desktop -- whenever and wherever you might be.
The key to this experience is personalization. Users tailor their own experience from topics and information that they care about most, all drawn from some of the world's leading and trusted sources. Plus, users will experience integrated access to sites such as Twitter and Facebook, helping to bring social media and traditional media streams into one place concurrently - in real time, simplifying and streamlining content and communication in one place.
Navigating the road ahead
The digital media landscape is poised to become increasingly crowded as time goes on. It will be important not to lose the interest of one's audience by looking to reach them from disparate places.
When creating your digital media strategy, be sure that you're looking to make your content count. Evaluate what you hope to achieve with your content and consider your audience's needs. Get personal; find ways to deliver a personalized experience. We can no longer wait for consumers to come to us -- we must give them what they're looking for before they know to ask or think to seek it elsewhere. We have to help them simplify their digital lives.
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Michael Berkowitz, Contributor
Former Senior Manager of San Francisco's Planning Department, Planning Commissioner for the City of Berkeley, Land Use Consultant to the government of China, longtime film critic.
'A Most Violent Year': Year of the Wolf
01/26/2015 04:25 pm ET Updated Mar 28, 2015
It's an All-American story -- poor but honest immigrant works hard, builds successful business and then sees it threatened by violence, corruption and power. Will he maintain his principles and take the high road or will he succumb and sell his soul to protect his business and family?
JC Chandor has written and directed what appears on the surface to be a uniquely American story of struggle, success, temptation and survival. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) has built his business from the ground up. He buys bulk heating oil and distributes it to residential customers in and around New York City.
As we meet him, Morales (perhaps named for his vaunted morality?) has built a fleet of oil tanker trucks. He is on the verge of completing the purchase of his new receiving, shipping and storage facility which would dramatically expand his business. It is a cutthroat business, but supposedly he succeeds because of his work ethic and high standards. Morales has long been pursuing the deal for this property. He has three days to complete the terms or lose his huge down payment, his life's savings.
But on the verge of his triumphs, a series of misfortunes befalls him. Thugs beat his drivers and salesmen, steal his trucks and drain his company's oil. His home is broken into and his family is threatened. The local District Attorney, building his own reputation, investigates Morales' business practices to indict him and "clean up the industry."
Throughout Morales maintains that he has always met industry and regulators' standards, that he loves his family, that he is an honorable man. But is he? He refuses to accede to union demands that drivers are allowed to arm themselves for protection. He resists the temptation to call in the Mafia family of his wife (Jessica Chastain) to protect either his business or his family. Meanwhile, Chastain works feverishly on the company's second set of books to make them measure up to the law.
To even get to the point where we greet him, Mr. Successful Businessman, has already required a compromise of these insufferably touted values. A Most Violent Year suggests not only the dangers of such a business, but that there is no principled practice, no honorable way to grow such a business. Success in capitalism is rooted in crimes of law or against society. It does Morales no good to protest his virtue as he stands knee deep in the morass. He has long since sold his soul for the large new modern house he has moved his family into and the huge new facility for his business. He refuses to deal with his wife's organized crime family. But he is painfully dependent on bankers who are above the law in ignoring his good credit record. He knowingly subjects his workers to violence in order to expand his business. And as his wife complains, he hardly sees his family outside of business. Morales is only distinguished by the smaller size of his offenses.
JC Chandor has already illustrated how indistinguishable these boundaries become in Margin Call (2011) easily the best dramatic film on the 2008 financial collapse. Chandor's sharp writing and crisp direction similarly shed light on the dark transition to Reagonomics. As the film begins, the background soundtrack is a running account of criminal activity, perhaps a news account. But by the film's conclusion, we realize not just that the year is awash in such, but that perhaps Chandor is suggesting this violence is the new order. The real violence is the sea change of corporate consolidation in business, politics and culture... with the threat of more to come by the picture's end.
Seth Meyers Loses It After Joke About Trump Moving Out Gets A Real-World Spin Shaquille O'Neal Goes Scorched-Earth On James Harden After Trade To Nets Stephen Colbert Has A Way To Trick Mitch McConnell Into Removing Donald Trump Jimmy Kimmel Thinks He Knows How Donald Trump Gets His Fix After Twitter Ban
Oscar Isaac Jessica Chastain Entertainment
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Jan Kregel, Contributor
Navigating the Jobs Crisis: Households Need a Bailout, Too
As part of the Roosevelt Institute's 10-part series on the Jobs Crisis, running on the New Deal 2.0 blog from Nov. 12-25, I was asked to reflect on what can be done to get Americans working again. Here's my take.
Support of financial institutions is justified because they are too big and interconnected to resolve. Yet, households -- in aggregate bigger and more interconnected -- are being allowed to fail. The main assets of an average household are a job and a house. The mirror image of the banks' toxic assets is in households' negative equity. More important is the collapse in value of households' main asset: human capital. With nearly 16 million workers unemployed and a further 12 million with impaired earning potential, there is an urgent need for equal protection of households facing insolvency. The income loss is in the range of a half-trillion dollars, or 3 percent of GDP.
But there has been no bailout of households. Since households' personal consumption expenditures are a large part of our national income, small changes in household expenditures have a significant impact on the earnings of private sector employers, on their profits, and on their desire to offer employment. If banks are too interconnected to fail, then the interconnection between households' income with the earnings of the private sector makes support of households' assets as important as that of banks.
How can government give equal protection to households? House prices could be supported by purchase of housing -- house buyer of last resort. Alternatively, a write-down of the value of outstanding mortgages or adjustment of the tenor or interest rates could reduce negative equity positions. But proposals along these lines have not been fully implemented. They have been too small relative to the problem and are ineffective if the household loses employment, which makes it impossible to meet the reduced burden. Thus, these measures can only be effective if there is also support for households' major earning asset -- labor.
Action to support household employment earnings has taken the form of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But this is an indirect, temporary remedy that cannot guarantee an increase in jobs. Direct support equivalent to that offered to banks is required.
Direct transfers, such as unlimited unemployment benefits, would provide direct support. But they are wasteful and inefficient. Indeed, any direct transfer is inefficient as long as there is productive potential not employed in the private sector. Such transfers are the equivalent of destroying value to solve the problem. Thus, the indirect incentive provided by the government stimulus plan to offer more employment should be replaced by a more direct method of direct government employment of labor. Just as the Fed acts as lender of last resort to prevent bank insolvency, the government should act as employer of last resort to provide anyone willing and able to work at just below the going minimum wage. This would be more efficient than other means of supporting households' balance sheet, because it would provide an increase in public goods. It would also provide a modicum of equal treatment for all citizens, and meet the commitment in Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing the right to work.
This post originally appeared on New Deal 2.0.
Business Careers Unemployment
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Converting to Islam in the secular republic
Karina Piser
PARIS, France — Emilie meets me in front of her old high school in the suburb south of Paris where she grew up. I spot her from down the block and wave. When we meet, we pause, do the “bises”—the standard French greeting of a kiss on each cheek—and head toward Le Stadium, a café around the corner that has become our habitual meeting spot.
Emilie—who is 18 and whose name I changed to protect her privacy, as well as withholding the details of her hometown and school—hasn’t stepped foot in her high school since 2016, when she dropped out. She was an excellent student, her teachers tell me, and she loved school.
“I didn’t want to quit,” she says, a defensive edge sharpening her typically sweet tone. “I liked school. I was good at school. And I tried to make some concessions, but after a while it was too difficult for me, given my religious beliefs. So I chose to leave.”
Those “concessions” came in response to requests from the school administration that she remove her jilbab—the long, black fabric she wears to cover her whole body, exposing only her eyes, nose and mouth—in compliance with the 2004 law banning ostensible religious symbols in public schools. It billows down to her feet, somewhat bizarrely contrasting with the pink canvas sneakers she’s wearing. Her chin is covered but the fabric sometimes shifts; she sporadically readjusts it as we chat. She has a young face—even more than her age would suggest, with full cheeks and round eyes.
The 2004 law was partly fueled by the assumption—highly contested—that Muslim girls wearing the headscarf were succumbing to pressure in their private lives—from their fathers, brothers and men in their communities. Its supporters considered the new rule “liberating,” an opportunity for young women to free themselves from the presumed religious pressures undermining their development as citizens in a secular French republic.
That wasn’t the case for Emilie, who converted to Sunni Islam in 2014, when she was 14 years old. That decision, and her insistence on the jilbab—at the expense of her studies—is a thorn in her home life. Her mother insists she remove the garment before stepping foot in their apartment, and, Emilie tells me, “doesn’t want to hear anything about Islam.” But Emilie remains determined, her case a test for the reasoning behind a ban that can overlook the nuances of particular circumstances.
A girl wearing a jilbab in the 11th arrondissement of Paris
‘Islam made a lot more sense’
Emilie’s mother, a devout Christian, left her native Democratic Republic of Congo for France in the mid-1990s, fleeing the bloody conflict known as the First Congo War. She settled in the Paris region and found a job at a factory. She often works nights, and money has always been tight.
Emilie and her two brothers grew up religious, attending church on Sundays. While the boys rolled their eyes at preachers’ sermons, Emilie loved them, and asked to be enrolled in catechism classes at nine years old. “My mother was delighted,” she laughs, taking a sip of orange juice.
Her 24-year-old brother Benjamin, whose name I also changed, converted first, in 2013. Emilie was skeptical, but quickly became interested. “Islam made a lot more sense to me than Christianity. I questioned everything I thought was true, and I was worried I was going to make the wrong choice,” she tells me. “But I saw how much better he was becoming, how much he was changing.”
“Before, he did lots of stupid things—he’d hang around the projects smoking cigarettes. He was kicked out of school. We fought almost every day—he was nervous, he had a big personality,” she laughs. “I don’t miss how he was before.”
Impressed by Benjamin’s transformation, Emilie started reading about Islam. She borrowed his books, enrolled in a religious school to study the Quran and began going to the local mosque, where she made friends and met other converts, new ones, like her, and seasoned veterans. She learned a lot online, she tells me, but when I ask, she says she can’t recall the names of specific websites. “The violent extremists are mostly on social media, though,” she adds as a caveat, as if to reassure me. She says she’s recognized since 2015 that people associate Islam with terrorism and think that her jilbab means she’s aligned with the likes of the Islamic State. She’s heard through the grapevine about locals who left for Syria with that purpose, although never directly knew anyone who did. “Those aren’t Muslims, they’re just bad people claiming Islam. The vast majority of Muslims condemns terrorism.”
Indeed, French officials estimate that 1,700 nationals have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside the Islamic State since 2013. Juliette Galonnier, an expert on conversions to Islam in France and the United States, described an “overrepresentation of converts among the ranks of the Islamic State.” Although estimates indicate that fewer than 3 percent of Muslims in France are converts, they make up nearly a quarter of French jihadis, she told me during a phone interview. Of course, that doesn’t mean all converts who embrace a hard-line interpretation, like Emilie, slide into radical circles—but the risk isn’t insignificant, either.
Alarm bells in the principal’s office
The prospect of radicalization was on the administration’s mind at Emilie’s high school when she showed up in her jilbab seemingly overnight. She refused to take it off, and, per official protocol, was sent to the principal’s office. “I tried to open a dialogue with her, like I do with other girls who are reluctant to take off their headscarves,” the school principal, whose name I’ve also withheld, told me in her office in December, noting that the 2004 law asks teachers and administrators to pursue dialogues about religious garb with students before taking any form of disciplinary action. But Emilie wouldn’t budge. “I admit that in this case, the law wasn’t particularly helpful,” said the principal, who otherwise spoke favorably about the legislation.
The circumstances of Emilie’s conversion worried her. “She converted under the authority of her older brother,” the principal said with wide eyes. “She completely isolated herself. We called her mother, who was beside herself and didn’t know what to do either. We realized that Emilie was isolating herself.”
‘They were worried that I had radicalized, when that wasn’t the case at all,’ Emilie says. ‘I just wanted to practice my religion in the way that made sense to me.’
Emilie found herself in the principal’s office on a near-daily basis, when she was “lectured on laïcité, over and over,” she tells me, referring to the French secularism that inspired the 2004 law. But she wouldn’t budge. Her obstinacy over the jilbab worried the administration, which feared she might be sliding into jihadi circles. As directed by the government in such situations, the school referred Emilie’s case to the Protection Judiciaire de la Jeunesse (PJJ)—an agency within the Justice Ministry that handles difficult cases involving minors, from delinquency to radicalization.
“They were worried that I had radicalized, when that wasn’t the case at all,” Emilie recalls, frustrated. “I just wanted to practice my religion in the way that made sense to me.” She lists some of the questions PJJ officials asked her—whether she still saw her old friends, if she had made new ones. Some surprised me, like, for example, about her “opinion of the Islamic State”—as if a teenager in the process of radicalizing would say while in the hands of the Justice Ministry, “I think they’re great.”
Emilie recognized the school administration’s alarm, but found the response misplaced and “overly simplistic.” “I had to go to the PJJ—I didn’t have the choice,” she says. “Once I was there, I realized how strange it was to be surrounded by kids who weren’t at all part of my world—delinquents, kids who had failed out of school. I was a great student, and all because of my veil, I was suddenly among failures.”
A Paris boutique selling Islamic clothes
The PJJ ultimately determined that she wasn’t at risk of radicalizing, but kept her case open nevertheless, offering psychological services to help temper her relationship with her mother, and, most important, to ensure that she would finish high school one way or another. Now that she’s no longer a minor, her case is officially closed. She’s currently enrolled in the Education Ministry’s distance learning program, known by its French acronym, CNED. She plans to take the Baccalaureate exam, known commonly as the “bac,” and go to college, where the law on religious signs doesn’t apply.
Ostentatious Islam
The rigid vision of Islam Emilie embraced isn’t necessarily systematic among converts, but it’s not fringe, either. Galonnier explained a tendency to embrace “an ostentatious Islam, to mark a demarcation between a new religious identity and family or social environments, in which their entry into religion becomes a rupture with their past.” That schism is prominent among official criteria for determining signs of radicalization, and, since 2015, the government has instructed teachers to respond swiftly.
However, many converts are simply drawn to an Islam that presents itself clearly and unambiguously. “There’s a desire to separate black and white, halal and haram,” Galonnier noted, referring to the Arabic terms for “licit” and “illicit.” That can draw new converts to fundamentalist Salafi movements, she explained, which promote a puritanism that “emphasizes an Islam in the way that it was practiced during the era of the prophet—a textual Islam that is extremely clear and lacking nuance, that offers a clear path to being a good Muslim.” But Salafism isn’t monolithic, and broadly covers two appellations—“quietist” and “political.” Both are staunchly conservative, the latter calling for political activism often propelled by violence, which the former rejects.
Emilie’s strict adherence to a clear-cut, rigid Islam could have helped her navigate the uncertainty that inevitably accompanied her conversion. “There’s an understandable need to resolve those costly social choices, which can manifest itself in a decision to focus on what’s visible,” such as Emilie’s choice to wear the jilbab, Galonnier said. The consequences of her conversion—sharp tensions at home and dropping out of school—could have magnified that need. “When we make costly decisions, we feel the need to stick to them, to remain anchored.”
The kid stuff is over
Emilie is sweet and open, and answers my questions patiently. As we walk around her neighborhood, she tentatively asks me a little bit about myself: Where I’m from, if I have a boyfriend, where I’ve traveled. She’s never left France and listens intently as I describe trips to Serbia, Tunisia and Ecuador. She’d like to live somewhere else one day—a Muslim country, preferably, where life is simple. “Mauritania is supposed to be nice,” she says wistfully. She doesn’t like big cities and can’t remember the last time she went to Paris, about 30 minutes away. “Too much speed,” she tells me, smiling.
As we talk, a picture of her past starts to take shape. She was an avid basketball player and admits that she misses it—a little. “I had a lot of energy and I was good,” she tells me. But she had to stop because “it became too complicated with the jilbab.” She no longer plays any sports, and, while talking, seems to realize she gets very little exercise. “I should try to do more—for my figure.” She blushes.
But those appear to be minor considerations. “Everything about me is different since I converted,” she says confidently. “My whole worldview has changed, and I’m much more mature. Before, I was a bit crazy, I laughed all the time with friends. We’d yell in the streets.” She’s smiling, just barely, and I sense a muted nostalgia. But when I ask if she misses her old life, she emphatically shakes her head no and clears her throat. “That was childhood stuff,” she says. “And I don’t want to say the religion is strict because that’s not how I see it. But it’s given me a new, calmer way of life, and I’m older,” she adds firmly, proudly mentioning that she’ll be 19 this year. “The kid stuff is over.” She insists that her newfound maturity is directly linked to her conversion, and not, as I suggest, to the standard sea change that sets apart 14 and 18-year-olds.
The younger Emilie liked manga—the Japanese cartoons with somewhat of a cult following—and science fiction. Neither interests her anymore. She would sometimes iron her hair straight or put it in braids, which she had become quite good at doing herself. Sometimes she still does, when she’s at home, just for fun. She was never particularly interested in boys, she tells me, and wasn’t especially inspired by her friends’ “momentary heartthrobs that fell apart after a month or two.” But down the line, she’d like to get married and settle down; when she’s ready, she’ll ask her brother if he knows anyone suitable. “Definitely someone religious,” she adds.
And while she was a serious student to whom success at school came easily, she liked to goof off and would sleep in on weekends, waking up around lunchtime. Now, things are busier: She gets up at 6 every morning—sometimes with an alarm, but most of the time on her own—to pray. Religious study follows, and then it’s noon. After lunch, it’s time for the CNED, her remote-education course. In her spare time, she babysits to help her mom make ends meet, but less frequently than she used to.
A Muslim butcher selling halal meats in Paris’s 20th arrondissement
She plans to go to college in France and wants to become a teacher of Arabic or the Quran. I ask what she wanted to be before she converted: “A lawyer,” she says without hesitating, and somewhat incredulously, as if it’s an absurd idea. An older cousin—more of a sister to her—was studying law, and Emilie “wanted to do whatever she did.” They were joined at the hip growing up but have hardly spoken since her conversion. “It makes me a little sad that people I’m close to don’t understand,” she says softly. “But when you have a strong belief in a religion, it becomes an integral part of your identity, and you become uncomfortable around people who don’t accept it.”
Emilie knows how much her conversion, and her older brother’s, hurt her mother. “She took mine worse than his, though,” she says, because for Benjamin, Islam meant an end to what she recalled as his bad behavior. “He stopped misbehaving, but I stopped school, and I wear the jilbab, so it seems like converting affected me differently.” I ask whether that bothers her—that, despite following her brother’s footsteps in embracing Islam, the religion imposes itself differently on each of them, based on gender. Does she find it unfair? “Both men and women have a requirement of purity in Islam, and it makes sense that women, with their different attributes, need to be more covered than men.” If she were a man, she adds, she would have different obligations before God—growing a long beard or wearing pants that hover above the ankles, for example—so she doesn’t see the demands as unequal.
What she does consider unfair, however, is French law. “Just because I converted doesn’t mean I was at school to proselytize,” she says. “Who cares about that? I was there to learn.” Although she’s generally calm and collected, she becomes agitated when describing the events that led to her decision to drop out of school. “I thought laïcité protected religious freedom, but if I’m not allowed to wear my jilbab at school, then I’m not allowed to express myself.” She pauses for a minute, casting her eyes down. “A lot of doors have closed for me—I realize that. But that also means there’s no equal opportunity in France.”
It will all work out
Emilie compares her conversion to a “coming out,” and likens the hardened response she’s faced—from her mother, cousin and the school administration—to a heartless rejection of her identity. “I hope people will learn to accept Islam, just like people have slowly become more open about homosexuality,” she says. “It’s about changing people’s mentalities so that they can accept even what shocks them.” I mention that while she’s right that certain societies have become more tolerant of homosexuality over time, her conversion wasn’t exactly a “coming out.” She had told me herself that she had known nothing about Islam before Benjamin converted in 2013. It was a choice—now part of her identity, certainly, but also something she chose to add as a teenager. “The fact that it’s new and that I chose to adopt it doesn’t mean it’s not an integral part of who I am now,” she replies defensively.
Was it worth leaving school, abandoning her everyday, and hardening her relationship with her mother? Emilie continues to insist it was, and now that she’s enrolled in the CNED and will take the bac anyway, she says she doesn’t see a significant difference. She’ll go to college, and her visits to the principal’s office and meetings with the PJJ psychologist will become distant memories.
I think back to my interview with the school principal, who listed numerous cases of students who had “no problem” taking off religious garb after a bit of dialogue. Not long ago, she had told me, three girls came to her office to ask if they would be required to remove their headscarves on a school trip. “I told them that as far as they represent the high school, yes, they’ll have to take them off”—a demand that, in fact, has no legal basis in the 2004 law, which applies only to what takes place on school grounds.
Emilie’s story tests and complicates the logic of the ban. She insists she’ll never leave Islam and that she’s proud of her decision. But she’s a teenager. “Conversions can be seen as lifelong undertakings that evolve with time,” Galonnier told me, adding that, in some cases, converts who start out embracing strict interpretations soften their views over time. What if Emilie’s conversion was the whim—albeit a provocative one—of a 14-year-old negotiating her place in society, and reckoning with the uncomfortable psychological and physical strains of teenage life? Would she have renounced her previous life as categorically had she not been put in a position where she had had to choose?
‘I really have a strong belief in this religion,’ Emilie says. ‘I hope my mom will come around. I’m still her daughter, after all, even if she disagrees with me.’
The school principal had also recalled another student who made her pause—a boy who was increasingly absent on Fridays, when Muslims go to the mosque to pray. A teacher noticed that he was watching a video during lunchtime of a decapitation posted online by the Islamic State. She immediately called him aside and eventually approached his parents. “It turns out,” she sighed, “that he was just having a rough time at home—his parents had divorced. It faded after a while, and he’s one of the strongest students in his class.”
His case clearly differs from that of Emilie, whose rapid transformation understandably sounded alarm bells among the school administration—especially in 2015, as France was struggling to grapple with homegrown radicalization and terrorist attacks perpetrated by its own nationals. But if the concern was that, left unchecked, Emilie might eventually break with society and adopt a violent ideology, she would have perhaps been better off at school than at home, retreating to her room to avoid confrontation with her mother.
That is all hypothetical, of course. After all, Emilie didn’t go to Syria, and the PJJ itself concluded she wasn’t at risk of radicalization. But was Emilie’s choice to adopt a conservative vision of Islam a threat to the classroom in itself? Would the majority of students have been tempted to follow in her footsteps, or would they have alienated her, perhaps prompting her to question her decision, and weigh the cost of self-exclusion?
I ask Emilie if her soured relationship with her mother saddens her. “I really have a strong belief in this religion,” she responds quietly. “I hope that my mom will come around. I’m still her daughter, after all, even if she disagrees with me.”
“But I don’t need to change to please anyone else,” she adds. She remembers how much she cried when her mom told her she needed to stop—stop practicing, stop going to the mosque, stop studying the Quran.
“My mom tells me that I made a mistake, and that I’ll realize when I’m older. She says I created walls, but I don’t see it like that—the law created the walls,” she insists, adding that if she lived in another country, none of this would have been such a big deal. “I don’t regret any of it. I tell myself I have to be patient, and that it will all work out.”
Posted in Current Fellows, Newsletters
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हिन्दी अनुभाग
Social Identity
Poverty & Inequality
Productivity & Innovation
Contributor : Profile
Antonella Bancalari
@antonellabanca
antonella.bancalari@st-andrews.ac.uk
Antonella Bancalari is an Assistant Professor at the School of Economics and Finance, University of St Andrews. She is also a Research Associate at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). She has completed her Ph.D. at the Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She has also served as Consultant for the Government of Peru. Her research lies at the intersection of development, health, and public economics. She investigates the principles underlying effective public goods delivery and its impact on early-life mortality and health. More details about her research can be found on her personal website.
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