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Denver’s public school instructors say benefit pay destroyed their salaries. Now, they’re battling back.
By Anne Rowe for DPS board, February 24, 2019
DENVER — Denver’s first instructor strike in 25 years extended into a 3rd day Wednesday, after a marathon bargaining session Tuesday that ended around 11 p.m. with some indications of development around the central problem of teacher pay structure.
This strike is just the most current in the long and growing list of public school teacher walkouts in the U.S., however it’s the first one focused on merit pay. The Colorado capital was one of the first cities in the nation to present, in 2005, a system of perks and incentives connected to student-test performance and other metrics. However teachers here state the system, understood as ProComp, soon became an excuse for the district to pay them less to start with, causing their wages to stagnate when compared with Denver’s fast-rising cost of living. Subscription in the union has took off in the past couple of years.
“It’s been a battle to lastly feel like I have my feet under me — and barely,” stated Rebecka Hendricks, a 33- year-old high school instructor and member of the union’s bargaining team. “I still have to have a roommate. I’ve had a number of extra jobs: I utilized to drive Lyft, I used to provide food for Postmates, I used to sell things on eBay. I did whatever I could to get extra cash to just be able to make it that month.”
Denver instructors complain that the bonus offers they get under ProComp are often arbitrary and unreliable, making their take-home wages vary wildly from year to year. That’s why they’re asking for a basic income structure with routine and foreseeable raises.
The school district has acceded to lots of of the union’s needs, concurring to streamline the system and to put an extra $20 million into instructor pay. However it has also insisted on putting even more loan into particular incentives, consisting of a bonus for instructors who work at high-poverty-area schools.
In the years after Denver implemented ProComp, comparable systems spread to several major cities, and the Obama administration made it a requirement for federal grants under its Race to the Top program. The strike in Denver is a indication that teachers around the nation are revolting against the core tenets of the school reform movement.
“It’s kind of a corporate idea, right? You pay individuals rewards to incentivize specific habits,” said Jeff Buck, a high school teacher and union member who helped design and implement ProComp but now repudiates the program. “But we’re not in a for-profit scenario. This is a human services company. And people are absolutely driven, and some are determined by cash, however I believe, for the most part, people understand that we’re not here to get rich.”
This section originally aired February 12, 2019, on VICE N ews Tonight on HBO.
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Filters: Author is T. G. Spain [Clear All Filters]
Derwent, R. G., A. J. Manning, P. G. Simmonds, G. T. Spain, and S. J. O’Doherty. "Analysis and interpretation of 25 years of ozone observations at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ireland from 1987 to 2012." Atmospheric Environment 80 (2013): 361-368.
Tripathi, O. P., S. G. Jennings, C. D. O'Dowd, B. O'Leary, K. Lambkin, E. Moran, S. J. O’Doherty, and G. T. Spain. "An assessment of the surface ozone trend in Ireland relevant to air pollution and environmental protection." Atmospheric Pollution Research (2012).
Slemr, F., C. A. M. Brenninkmeijer, A. Rauthe-Schöch, A. Weigelt, R. Ebinghaus, E.-G. Brunke, L. Martin, G. T. Spain, and S. J. O’Doherty. "El Niño-Southern Oscillation influence on tropospheric mercury concentrations: ENSO INFLUENCE ON TROPOSPHERIC HG." Geophysical Research Letters 43, no. 4 (2016): 1766-1771.
Simmonds, P. G., R. G. Derwent, A. J. Manning, A. Grant, S. J. O’Doherty, and G. T. Spain. "Estimation of hydrogen deposition velocities from 1995–2008 at Mace Head, Ireland using a simple box model and concurrent ozone depositions." Tellus B 63, no. 1 (2011).
Stanley, K. M., A. Grant, S. J. O’Doherty, D. Young, A. J. Manning, A. R. Stavert, G. T. Spain, P. K. Salameh, C. M. Harth, P. G. Simmonds et al. "Greenhouse gas measurements from a UK network of tall towers: technical description and first results." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 11 (2018): 1437-1458.
Derwent, R. G., P. G. Simmonds, A. J. Manning, S. J. O’Doherty, and G. T. Spain. "Methane emissions from peat bogs in the vicinity of the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station over a 12-year period." Atmospheric Environment 43, no. 14 (2009): 2328-2335.
Simmonds, P. G., R. G. Derwent, A. J. Manning, S. J. O’Doherty, and G. T. Spain. "Natural chloroform emissions from the blanket peat bogs in the vicinity of Mace Head, Ireland over a 14-year period." Atmospheric Environment 44, no. 10 (2010): 1284-1291.
Jones, C. E., S. J. Andrews, L. J. Carpenter, C. Hogan, F. E. Hopkins, J. C. Laube, A. D. Robinson, G. T. Spain, S. D. Archer, N. R. P. Harris et al. "Results from the first national UK inter-laboratory calibration for very short-lived halocarbons." Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss. 4, no. 1 (2011): 765-787.
Tripathi, O. P., S. G. Jennings, C. D. O'Dowd, L. Coleman, S. Leinert, B. O'Leary, E. Moran, S. J. O’Doherty, and G. T. Spain. "Statistical analysis of eight surface ozone measurement series for various sites in Ireland." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 115, no. D19 (2010): D19302.
Messager, C., M. Schmidt, M. Ramonet, P. Bousquet, P. G. Simmonds, A. J. Manning, V. Kazan, G. T. Spain, S. G. Jennings, and P. Ciais. "Ten years of CO₂, CH₄, CO and N₂O fluxes over Western Europe inferred from atmospheric measurements at Mace Head, Ireland." Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. 8, no. 1 (2008): 1191-1237.
Derwent, R. G., P. G. Simmonds, A. J. Manning, and G. T. Spain. "Trends over a 20-year period from 1987 to 2007 in surface ozone at the atmospheric research station, Mace Head, Ireland." Atmospheric Environment 41, no. 39 (2007): 9091-9098.
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https://apnews.com/article/public-health-health-iowa-coronavirus-pandemic-d803610792240ddc6792d654b58ac22f
Iowa sets daily record for virus deaths with 40
November 18, 2020 GMT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa set a record Wednesday for deaths blamed on the coronavirus as new confirmed cases and the number of people being treated in hospitals remained high.
The state Department of Public Health reported 40 deaths and 3,896 confirmed new cases in the past 24 hours. That brings the total number of deaths to 2,064 and the total cases to 194,479.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 also continued to increase, with a record 1,527 people being treated. There were 283 people in intensive care units.
In the last week, one in every 107 people in Iowa was diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. That’s the third-highest rate in the nation, behind North Dakota and South Dakota.
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Press release: Women’s organizations in the Arab States region join UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for ceasefire in the face of COVID-19
Date: Friday, May 29, 2020
Over a hundred women’s organizations from Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen issued a joint statement to call for a ceasefire in the face of COVID-19, joining a global appeal issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s at the outset of pandemic.
The COVID-19 global health crisis has posed devastating threats to women and girls in fragile and conflict-affected countries. While all those living in humanitarian situations face dire circumstances as conflicts are likely to have interrupted health services and destroyed health infrastructures, women and girls are at a heightened risk as they often take shelter in crowded places, with limited access to water and sanitation.
Despite the challenges in translating international calls for ceasefire into stable truces on the ground, women peacebuilders have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 response in their communities, working tirelessly to alleviate the hardships of the pandemic on their already exhausted populations.
The joint statement was an outcome from “Silencing the Guns in Times of COVID-19,” an interactive dialogue aimed at capitalizing on the efforts made by women’s organizations in conflict-affected countries across the Arab States region to help communities curb the spread of the virus and mitigate its social-economic impacts. The event was organized with support from UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States.
“We call on all conflict parties and their supporters to heed his call and to ensure access of humanitarian and medical assistance to our affected communities regardless of the interest of the conflict parties so we can form a united front against the pandemic and have a respite from suffering during these holy days and beyond.” Reads the statement.
“Our drained countries do not need yet another call to fall on deaf ears. We have already missed many opportunities to usher in peace and unity. If heeded, our call would not only allow our communities to finally have rest from senseless fighting, but would also show us that we can still put our differences aside and silence our guns in the interest of our collective safety and security. The pandemic has only made the need for us, both men AND women, to finally sit at one table and make peace as urgent as ever.”
Read the full statement here.
Small women-owned businesses in Lebanon fight to stay afloat amidst a crisis
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Home US Impeachment Briefing: Trump Is Impeached, Again
Welcome back to the Impeachment Briefing. In an unprecedented vote, President Trump was impeached for the second time.
What happened today
The House impeached President Trump for inciting a violent insurrection against the United States government, a week after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol.
The vote was 232-197, with 10 Republicans joining Democratic colleagues to impeach — the most ever from a president’s own party. Just over a year ago, Republicans voted unanimously against impeaching Mr. Trump. See how each representative voted.
A Senate trial is likely to begin after the inauguration. The departing majority leader, Mitch McConnell, signaled that he would not begin Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.Here’s a guide to how the process works.
What lawmakers said
The House reconvened on Wednesday afternoon for an hourslong round of speeches from lawmakers. Here’s how some argued for or against impeachment.
“Donald Trump is a living, breathing impeachable offense.” — Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York.
“I will not use process as an excuse. There is no excuse for President Trump’s actions.” — Representative Dan Newhouse, Republican of Washington and one of the 10 in his party who voted to impeach Mr. Trump.
“They may have been hunting for Pence and Pelosi to stage their coup, but every one of us in this room right now could have died.” — Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland.
“Some say the riots were caused by Antifa. There is absolutely no evidence of that. And conservatives should be the first to say so.” — Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California and House minority leader.
“He is capable of starting a civil war.” — Representative Maxine Waters, Democrat of California.
“If we impeached every politician who gave a fiery speech to a group of partisans, this Capitol would be empty.” — Representative Tom McClintock, Republican of California.
“Today we begin the long road to restoration. America has been through a civil war, world wars, a Great Depression, pandemics, McCarthyism, and now a Trumpist, white nationalist insurrection. And yet our democracy endures.” — Representative Adam Schiff, Democrat of California.
“Nearly half the country supports our current president. This takes their voice away.” — Representative Jeff Van Drew, Republican of New Jersey.
“Democrats can say, ‘You know, there needs to be unrest in the streets,’ while there is unrest in the streets. But they’re going to impeach the president for saying peacefully and patriotically, ‘Make your voices heard.’” — Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio.
“We said if we didn’t remove him, he would do it again. Simply put, we told you so. Richmond out.” — Representative Cedric Richmond, Democrat of Louisiana.
Jan. 13, 2021, 6:50 p.m. ET
What the second impeachment means
I asked my colleagues Julie Davis, who edits our congressional coverage, and Carl Hulse, a longtime congressional reporter, what stood out to them about this second presidential impeachment.
JULIE: It was really clear that there was a big divide among Republicans. A number of them got up and vigorously defended the president and savaged Democrats for doing this, but most did not actually try to excuse his behavior — they just argued that impeachment wasn’t the answer.
Even the party’s leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, essentially said the president had done wrong and deserved consequences for what happened. They sensed the political danger themselves for appearing to condone what Trump did. And yet most of them still did not feel that it was politically safe to vote to impeach him. Some of that might have to do with the fact that the president doesn’t have a Twitter feed anymore. It’s easier to speak out against him when you don’t expect a massive hail of presidential tweets coming at you.
What was also striking was that, by a factor of two, you had the largest margin of the president’s own party supporting his removal from office.
There was also so much symbolism today. You had all of this happening in a heavily fortified Capitol crawling with the National Guard, a week after the riot and a week before Biden is sworn in. The bunting was up and the brass had been polished for the inauguration. They’re spiffing up the building in all of the ways you do in anticipation of a new beginning. And yet here they were going about their business with these armed troops there to protect them against the loyal supporters of the departing president.
CARL: The two parties are just so far apart. It just seems like an unbridgeable divide. There was so little common ground even after an event like the riot. It makes me wonder what could possibly ever cause the parties to find common ground again.
One dynamic that really stood out to me today was Republicans being unwilling to abandon Donald Trump, even after he incited an attack on the Capitol. In the House, there’s a big reluctance to let go of Trump. Their voters are Trump voters. House districts are different than the whole states that senators represent. And I don’t think that these House Republicans are necessarily frightened of Trump; I just think they agree with him.
That House Democrats were able to impeach the president in two days also has me wondering if impeachment is going to be a standard thing when one political party is unhappy with the president. There was certainly cause for them to act against the president here. But the precedent has lawmakers I talk to very alarmed.
The scene inside the Capitol
My colleague Emily Cochrane, who was present during last week’s riot, encountered a shocking scene when she arrived at work this morning: the U.S. Capitol, filled with troops. She told me about what she saw.
Since last Wednesday, they have slowly been intensifying security. Fencing has gone up around the Capitol. This morning, the closer you got to the building, the more it seemed as if things had changed overnight. It seemed as if the National Guard presence had doubled.
As I went through security on the House side of the Capitol — a floor below where lawmakers themselves began crossing through magnetometers last night — the first sight I had was of members of the National Guard asleep on the marble floors, some curled around the statues, others tucked behind them. It was surreal.
Someone was saying, “All right, guys — time to get up, time to get up.” Their rifles were laid on the ground and against the wall, some of them rested on top of their bodies as they slept. There was a line of two dozen National Guard members waiting to get breakfast at a self-serve station. In the Capitol Visitor Center, they were sprawled everywhere. This was as close to a militarized Capitol as I could have ever imagined.
Last Wednesday, I was in the House chamber, and heard the rioters trying to get in. I saw guns drawn. I knew there was a breach. But it has only really been in the aftermath, when you step back and see the photos from across the building, that it really hits home how much worse it could have been. It underscored how dangerous last Wednesday was and how dangerous things could still become. They are preparing for the possibility that something might happen again.
The Impeachment Briefing is also available as a newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Previous articleAs His Predecessor Is Impeached, Biden Tries to Stay Above the Fray
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T-Shirts/Souvenirs
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Timeline - The 1830s
Impossible to conquer, yet with the intrepid spirit of the mountain men, miners, and pioneers, they would begin an earnest try as the nation moved, in its first real phase, from east to west.
To the 1800s
Photo above: Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail. First mentioned by Parker in 1835, and carries an inscription on the rock with the names of early trappers and explorers. Photo William H. Jackson, circa 1870. Right: Painting by Percy Moran, 1912, reflects the intensity of the battle of the Alamo. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.
U.S. Timeline - The 1830s
Conquering the West
1834 Detail
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1834 - Detail
March 28, 1834 - The United States Senate censured President Andrew Jackson for de-funding the Second Bank of the United States.
It had always been a tangle, a tug and pull, the relationship between the branches of government, so if you think today's arguments are particularly pointed or special, that's wrong. Or if you thought current Broadway hits like Hamilton were the first to dramatize the acts of a President, that's wrong, too. In 1834, President Andrew Jackson took action that the United States Senate really did not like, he defunded the Second Bank of the United States. How did they respond? Public censure, a condemnation of the President in harsh terms, which was not part of the Constitution, but Congress had added it to their procedures. And Jackson was not the first President to feel it's possible rebuke. The would be the subject of the popular musical on the Great White Way today, yes, Alexander Hamilton. But Hamilton's censure procedure did not win out; Jackson's would.
So how did this all begin? First, the politics. The United States Senate was under Whig control in 1834; President Andrew Jackson was a Democrat. And they wanted answers to the reason why Jackson would defund the bank, they wanted documents, mostly they just disagreed. Jackson had been President since 1829, defeating incumbant President John Quincy Adams for his first term, and then Henry Clay for his second. He was confident, arrogant, with a quick temper, and subject to the desire to duel. He also was against the Whig desire to use federal power to support the banking industry, including the Second Bank of the United States.
The Second Bank had been chartered in 1816 to handle the transactions of the Federal Government with a twenty year charter. They were twenty percent owned by them as well. There were four thousand private investors, including one thousand from Europe. It's main branch was in Philadelphia and the bank had twenty-five branches in all. Jackson was a hard money politician and did not support the renewing of the bank charter, which he made a central point in his re-election bid. Since he won, Jackson would pursue its defunding, despite the public support for it and the Supreme Court's ruling that it was constitutional in the 1829 case, "McCulloch vs. Maryland." Jackson thought the Second Bank was corrupt.
Jackson pulled federal deposits from the bank in an Executive Order and vetoed its recharter. His veto was upheld. The bank would go private, but only last until 1841. Today, the Second Bank's main branch building in Philadelphia is part of Independence National Historical Park.
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The Censure Itself
Jackson's actions created instability in the banking system, both dramatically increasing loans in the private banking world and speculation. It would lead to the Panic of 1837. The United States Senate knew none of that before it censured Jackson, however,, even though they would later be proven correct. Voting 28 to 20 on March 28, 1834, in the action brought forward by rival Henry Clay, Jackson was censured, the first President to be formally rebuked. It would be expunged on January 16, 1837 in a 24 to 19 vote when Jackson's supporters took control of the Senate in the 1836 election. On May 19, 1837, the Panic of 1837 began. Perhaps the initial censure had been right.
Jackson Timeline Prior to Presidency
March 15, 1767 - Born in the Waxhaws region of the Carolinas. Would serve in the American Revolution at the age of thirteen as a courier.
1796 - Elected a delegate to the Tennessee state constitutional convention and later U.S. Representative; one year later, he was a United States Senator, although he resigned within one year, returning to the chamber in 1823 after serving as a judge from 1801-1804. From 1804 forward, Jackson owned a large plantation known as the Hermitage, one thousand and twenty-four acres, which utilized one hundred and fifty slaves to maintain it.
May 1806 - Duel with Charles Dickinson, who had written unfavorably about Jackson's relationship with Rachel, his wife, results in Jackson being shot and Dickinson killed.
1814-1815 - Jackson participated in the Creek War and War of 1812, commanding United States forces at the Battle of New Orleans on January 15, 1815. Was given the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions at New Orleans, raising his public profile.
December 1817 - Instructed by President James Monroe to lead forces in the First Seminole War in Georgia against Creek and Seminole Indians, which would lead to attacks against Pensacola and Spanish forces, who supported the Indians, deposing the Spanish governor. Jackson would become the military governor of Florida in 1821 after the Adams-Onis Treaty ceded the territory from Spain to the United States.
Wife Rachel and Theatrical Productions
Rachel Jackson came from a prominant family, daughter of John Donelson, founder of Nashville. She would marry Captain Lewis Robards in 1787, a marriage that would not be happy or successful for its three years. She would remarry Andrew Jackson, thinking that her divorce had been granted, but it had not. Andrew and Rachel Jackson have been the subject of a variety of theatrical and motion picture productions. In the late 1930's, a play titled Rachel's Man was produced by the Works Progress Administration at the Savoy theater. It covered their life as well as the career of Andrew Jackson. There were two films, one in 1936 titled The Gorgeous Hussy, and in 1953, a film titled The President's Lady, made from the Irving Stone novel. Rachel never became First Lady of the United States, passing away before her husband took office.
Image above: Image of Andrew Jackson, painting by Alfred Newsam, 1834; the playbill for the production Rachel's Man about his life, U.S. Federal Theater Project, 1937-8; and Rachel Jackson, his wife, engraving by John Chester Buttre, 1883. Courtesy Library of Congress. Photo below: Lithograph of the Battle of New Orleans. E. Percy Moran, 1910. Courtesy Library of Congress. Info Source: Wikipedia Commons; Senate.gov; Library of Congress.
History Photo Bomb
The painting of the Alamo by Percy Moran, 1912, reflects the intensity of the battle in San Antonio. Courtesy Library of Congress.
ABH Travel Tip
Don't forget to look into many state historic sites when visiting the National Parks of the area. These sites, although smaller in scale than the National Historic Sites in many instances, carry a plethora of interesting tidbit about the nation's history that you don't want to miss.
Frederick Douglass. Courtesy National Archives.
Timeline Book
A reenactment of a wagon train on the Oregon Trail brings back the time of the great migration west at national historic sites such as Scotts Bluff National Historic Site.
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Really rapey-looking anti-HIV public service announcement pushing monogamy on the population at the border with Rwanda
View of Kampala from the balcony of my hotel. As of the 2014 census, Kampala had a population of about 1.5 million.
A local company called Walter’s Tours Ltd. offers what’s known as the Kampala Boda Boda City Tour. “Boda boda” is the most commonly used name for “motorcycle taxi” in several East African countries. Pictured here is Chris who was to be my boda boda driver for the day of my city tour.
Chris’s bike
Hittin’ the streets!
Baha’i House of Worship. According to Wikipedia, “The Bahá’í Faith (Persian: بهائی Bahā’i) is a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people. Established by Bahá’u’lláh in 1863, it initially grew in Iran (Persia) and other parts of the Middle East region, where it has faced ongoing persecution since its inception. Currently it has between 5 and 7 million adherents, known as Bahá’ís, spread out into most of the world’s countries and territories.”
The locations of all Baha’i Houses of Worship worldwide. I read that there’s also one in Cambodia but it’d only opened within the past year or two so they need to get off their ass n update this shit. There also used to be one in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan from 1908 until 1938 when the Soviets turned it into an art gallery.
Cruisin’ through a poorer part of the city
There were so many gambling institutions adjacent that slummy neighborhood
And the slogans for each one of these places was always something uplifting like here “Discover your potential” or “Feel at home” as I’d seen on another place. Imbuing the most destitute part of the population with false hope and taking them for all they’re worth. Tisk tisk
Statue commemorating, as Wikipedia tells it, “Major General Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II KBE (19 November 1924 – 21 November 1969), who was Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from 22 November 1939 until his death. He was the thirty-fifth Kabaka of Buganda and the first President of Uganda.”
Uganda gained independence from Britain on October 9, 1962
Lots of melons as well as the same guy in the red shirt from the photo previous
The helmet I wore
Ridin’ out to Lake Victoria
Another, larger, furniture store
Bae goin’ for that Marylin Monroe windy skirt action
Choppin’ ’em up
This guy came up to me, called me Jesus and then began dropping freestyle raps on my ass in Swahili or some other shit I didn’t understand and I asked my guide Chris what he was rapping about. He just said, “It’s not important. This guy is very high from smoking.”
His name was Star Moving Bar
Boda bodas with a meat shop in the background
Just lettin’ it all hang out
The sign on the bottom right of the photo is advertising goat meat which was pretty popular in the area. I thought I’d give it a whirl one night when I was out for dinner and ordered a slab of goat ribs. Sorry guys, not a fan.
En route to Mengo Palace
According to Lonely Planet, “Built in 1922, this small palace is the former home of the king of Buganda, though it has remained empty since 1966 when Prime Minister Milton Obote ordered a dramatic attack to oust Kabaka Mutesa II, then president of Uganda. Led by the forces of Idi Amin, soldiers stormed the palace and, after several days of fighting, Mutesa was forced into exile.”
Lonely Planet continues saying, “After the coup against Mutesa II, the palace building was converted to army barracks, while an adjacent site (pictured here) became a prison and torture-execution chamber built by Idi Amin in the 1970s.” Amin seized power from Obote in a 1971 coup d’état and that’s when shit got really ugly.
Inside the dark hole from the photo previous. Hundreds of prisoners were packed in the elevated rooms to the left and the ground here was flooded with water that had been connected to electricity to prevent escape and, according to my guide at the palace, to make prisoners stand in while subjecting them to varying voltages as they were interrogated. The walls inside the rooms were stained with bloody handprints and desperate messages scribbled by the prisoners.
Stain showing the depth of Amin’s electrified pool. According to Wikipedia, under the rule of Idi Amin, “An estimate compiled by exile organizations with the help of Amnesty International puts the number killed at 500,000…The victims included members of other ethnic groups, religious leaders, journalists, artists, senior bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, students and intellectuals, criminal suspects, and foreign nationals. In this atmosphere of violence, many other people were killed for criminal motives or simply at will. Bodies were often dumped into the River Nile.”
Mutesa’s Rolls Royce as destroyed by Amin during the 1966 coup
Inside a Hindu temple. My good friend Wikipedia wants y’all to know that, “Hinduism in Uganda arrived when the colonial British Empire brought Hindus along with other Indian workers to its East African colonies in late 19th and early 20th centuries to help construct the Kenya-Uganda railway…The largest departure of Hindus from Uganda occurred when General Idi Amin expelled them and seized their properties in 1972…Twenty years after the Idi Amin expulsion, Uganda reversed its laws selectively targeting Hindus and other Indian religions. This policy, offered in cooperation with the World Bank, included a return of properties seized by Idi Amin’s government, such as empty and unused factories, back to the families if they returned and recreated employment.”
Is that supposed to be fuckin’ Saddam Hussein?
Pictured here is a building known as Bulange which houses the Parliament of the Kingdom of Buganga. Both the prime minister and the king of Buganga (which, confusingly enough, is a subnational kingdom within Uganda) have offices here in Bulange.
Thanks again to Wikipedia for the assist here, “The Mengo Palace on Mengo Hill is connected to the Bulange Complex on Namirembe Hill by a straight road, about a mile long, called the “Kabaka Anjagala Road” (“The King Loves Me Road” in English). About halfway, the straight road is intersected by Lubaga Road. There is a roundabout for the use of ordinary travelers. However, there is a strait-way through the roundabout with a gate. That is for the exclusive use of the Kabaka (king) when moving between the palace and the parliament building. Tradition forbids the king from going round the roundabout. He must travel straight when moving between the two locations.”
In Uganda, a “rolex” is an omelette and vegetables wrapped inside chapati
Dude making my lunchtime rolex. The name has nothing to do with the watch and everything to do with how the omelette and the chapati are “rolled” together
Yess Boss…another rolex stand at the market where I grabbed my lunch
Chicken coup at the same market
Uganda National Mosque. According to the 2014 census, 13.7% of the Ugandan population is Muslim. 84.5% is Christian.
Commissioned by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi as a gift to Uganda and completed in 2006, this house of worship had been known as Gaddafi National Mosque until 2013 when the new Libyan administration refused to rehabilitate the structure under the name of the deposed leader who’d been stabbed in the ass and killed by the Misrata militia two years beforehand.
Uganda National Mosque can hold up to 15,000 worshipers
My guide standing in front of the “mihrab” which is the semicircular niche in the wall that indicates the “qibla” or direction of Kaaba in Mecca that Muslims must face while praying
Beginning my climb up the minaret
The top of a staircase that spirals out of sight
View of Kampala from the top of the minaret
Free circumcision…at a dental clinic? Hope they don’t use the same tools for both
On my way to Kampala Taxi Park to catch a ride to Jinja. The most popular form of intercity travel in Uganda is on a minibus like this.
And at Kampala Taxi Park, there are 1000s of vans constantly coming from and going to every part of the country. It’s a madhouse. Once you’re in a minibus and it’s ready to leave, it takes an hour to get out of the taxi park.
Took me a while to find the minibuses heading to Jinja in this massive maze of vans, but I found ’em. Don’t remember exactly the cost of the ride, but I don’t think it set me back more than a few bucks
Portable rack of goods being transported around by a vendor at the Jinja taxi park
“Aleader” better than Amin, at the very least
In East Africa, as far back as the 18th century, “mzungu” has been translated as “wanderer” or “someone who roams around.” Nowadays, it’s used – and used heavily – to describe or address anyone with white skin. And here are two “mzungu” shirts being sold in Jinja by some racist-ass motherfuckers. Man, fuck y’all
Cheap-ass bags of booze
Sitting with friends Kathleen and Hanna at a bar along the White Nile
The Nile as seen from the bar. I was supposed to go white water rafting the following day. This river don’t look so bad!
The owner of the guesthouse I stayed at turned out to be pretty religious. I stayed in a room named “DENNIS”
Just like Dennis Rodman!
“Dear Fred and Family,” – I could be mistaken, there could be someone named Fred to whom this message is directed towards, but I’m almost certain they meant to say “friends”
Gotta sleep under that mosquito net to keep them malaria skeeters at bay
Because of their propensity to hang out in big piles of garbage all day long picking through scraps, Kathleen and Hanna (who’d been living in Uganda doing Peace Corps for the last year and have had plenty of time to observe the behavior of these disgustabirds) referred to these creatures as “garbage birds” and spoke with utter repugnance of the “ballsacks” that hang from their necks
Gin…where’s the juice?
Sticker inside a minibus promoting safer driving
Rafting the White Nile
Receiving safety instructions. ***All photos from this section courtesy of Nalubale Rafting***
One of the lifeguards going down the first rapid ahead of us
First rapid…
SUCK IT!
Here we had to portage to get past this Class 6 rapid which is not part of the package
Portaging
Group pic
Back in the water. The following sequence of photos is from a class 5 rapid, which is the second most difficult level of rapid (behind 6). I’ll refrain from comments here and let the photos tell the story…
It was here that I just chucked my paddle and swam away. A couple people didn’t and ended up getting trapped under the raft…
Our fearless leader climbing on top of the raft to flip it over and liberate the two girls trapped underneath while I floated away to safety.
Serene part of the river just after that class 5 rapid
For the last rapid of the day we had the option of rafting or of floating. We all decided to jump off and float through
That was a lotta fun
Floating to the shore
Game over. One thing that should be noted is that anyone who swims in the White Nile could potentially have contracted a disease known as schistosomiasis and it’s recommended that you take a dose of an over-the-counter drug called praziquantel five weeks after possible exposure to kill any of the parasitic flatworms that may or may not be slithering around inside you.
Arirang Mass Games 2012 (North Korea)
Harbin Ice Festival 2014 (China)
Hong Kong/Macau (China)
Jordan Trail
Kham Tibet (China)
Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Nepal (Annapurna Circuit)
Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
Omani Road Trip
Pamir Road Trip
Shahbag Protests of 2013 (Bangladesh)
Socotra (Yemen)
Tanzanian Safari
The Rickshaw Run (India)
Tibetan Sky Burial (China)
Wakhan Corridor
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Newsletter Article December 11, 2020
Giving Support to Our Local Community Throughout 2020
While Ascendium’s philanthropic mission as a national funder focuses on the power of education and training beyond high school to transform the lives of learners from low-income backgrounds, we recognize the importance of flexibility and responsiveness in times of crisis and needs in the community in which the majority of our employees live and work. 2020 was an extraordinary year that brought big challenges for the Madison-area community across both racial justice issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, and we stepped up our local giving to help address these challenges.
In March, Ascendium donated $85,000 to the Dane County COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Fund, a collaborative community-led effort to provide financial relief for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June, Ascendium saw an opportunity to advance the work of local nonprofits addressing racial and social justice in Madison. We asked our employees to nominate organizations actively making a difference and awarded $50,000 each to four Madison-area nonprofits that provide an identifiable and meaningful response to address racial justice in our community.
In November, Ascendium tripled the impact of the funds pledged by employees during our United Way campaign by awarding a $3-to-$1 gift to the Vera Court Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit located near our office that our employees chose to “adopt.” Over the last three years, the Ascendium team has developed a deep partnership with our adopted organization, donating school supplies, installing computers, running a pro bono legal clinic and volunteering.
While much of our local giving has focused on meeting existing needs during a turbulent year, we’re excited to look to the future. To that end, we awarded $100,000 to the United Way of Dane County to support education initiatives for local learners during 2021.
In addition to providing financial support to local non-profits, Ascendium encourages our team to donate their time and talent to support them, both through eight hours of annual paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) and on their own through our Beyond VTO program. During 2020, the Ascendium team has donated more than 5,600 hours to support local nonprofits.
“The focus of our grantmaking is national, but most of our employees live and work in Madison,” said Vice President - Education Philanthropy Amy Kerwin. “We are deeply grateful to the nonprofit organizations who work every day to meet the needs of our local community and are pleased to support their efforts.”
Their Stories Helped Lift a 26-Year Ban on Pell Grants for Prisoners
In December 2020, Congress lifted a 26-year ban on federal Pell Grants for incarcerated learners. The benefits of postsecondary education in prison extend far beyond recidivism, with positive ripple effects on families and communities, as well as individual learners. These are some of the stories that helped lift the ban.
Colleges See Steep Decline In Student Transfers During Pandemic
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s second COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress Report reveals a steep decline in student transfer and mobility this fall.
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Will WOLFGANG VAN HALEN Perform VAN HALEN Songs With His Solo Band? 'Absolutely Not,' He Says
Wolfgang Van Halen has revealed the musicians that will join him on the road when he starts playing shows in support of his upcoming solo debut album under the band name MAMMOTH WVH. Performing alongside Wolfgang, who will handle lead vocals and guitar, will be guitarist Frank Sidoris (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS), drummer Garrett Whitlock (TREMONTI) and bassist Ronnie Ficarro.
Wolfgang discussed the MAMMOTH WVH band lineup during an appearance earlier today (Wednesday, November 18) on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said: "We've got Frank. My good brother Garrett Whitlock, who I played with in TREMONTI; we were the rhythm section for a good long while. And God, he hits hard, and that's really important to me. And an amazing guy too, which is even more important, 'cause they're family — you've gotta live with them moving forward. And Ronnie Ficarro, a bass player; he played with FALLING IN REVERSE and a band called I AM GHOST. He's a tremendous player and a great guy too. So I'm really stoked about it. The second we started playing in 2018, we just immediately jelled. Even dad [Eddie Van Halen] was, like, 'Fuck yeah! You guys got this.'"
Regarding how MAMMOTH WVH will handle the material from its upcoming album live, Wolfgang said: "I think down the line, 'cause, Gosh, on the album, there are so many layers that right now, Frank and I are kind of picking what parts to play rather than making sure we play every part. I mean, I'd never do tracks or anything; I think that's lame as shit… So I think at some point, it might be important to get a fifth guy, like an auxiliary dude, who could do the other guitar and the background vocals; there are a lot of layers on the vocals and the guitars. Which would allow me to maybe play some keyboards, 'cause there's a couple of keyboard parts on the album — nothing big at all, but I really wanna round the sound out. I think with the four of us right now, we can get it done really well, but at some point, it might be fun to get that extra guy to fill out the sound. And I think that's way better than getting tracks or something like that."
Wolfgang, who joined his father in VAN HALEN for the band's 2007 reunion tour with David Lee Roth, replacing Michael Anthony, was then asked if he will play any VAN HALEN songs during MAMMOTH WVH's live shows. "Absolutely not," he responded. "If I do, I'd want it to be, like, really fucking different. I wouldn't wanna just sit there and play 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love'. I'd wanna do a cool acoustic cover of 'Little Guitars' or some shit — something different. I refuse to tread the same ground as my dad. I need to forge my own path."
He then clarified: "VAN HALEN fans, please don't take that and run with it. I'm not gonna put out a VAN HALEN cover album or anything. If I do happen to, it would be under that context. It would be different."
According to Wolfgang, one album of original material should be enough to fill out a set during MAMMOTH WVH's first few tours. "I think early on, opening and stuff, you're only really doing half an hour, 45 minutes, and the album with bonus tracks, Gosh — I don't know how long it is, but I think it's close to an hour of music, which I think is enough for a show where I can play all the original stuff," he said.
Wolfgang played every instrument and sang each and every note on MAMMOTH WVH's debut album, which is scheduled for release in the spring of 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. The disc's first single, "Distance", was released this past Monday (November 16). Wolfgang wrote the song while his late father battled cancer, "imagining what my life would be without him, and how terribly I'd miss him," as Wolfgang explained in a statement.
URIAH HEEP's MICK BOX: 'As Long As I've Got My Health, I'll Continue To Play And Record'
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In wake of Torrey Green arrest, Utah State announces committees to address sexual violence on campus
Safety • Sex assault allegations against ex-football player prompt school to evaluate its handling of assault reports.
Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Old Main Building is at Utah State University. In the wake of sexual assault allegations lodge
Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Old Main Building is at Utah State University. In the wake of sexual assault allegations lodged against former USU linebacker Torrey Green, the school has announced the formation of committes to address sexual violence on campus.
By Alex Stuckey The Salt Lake Tribune
· October 15, 2016 11:28 am
When Mike Twohig heard this summer about the sexual assault allegations lodged against former Utah State University linebacker Torrey Green, he offered his services to the school.
Twohig, an associate psychology professor at USU, previously was the director of a sexual assault prevention program at the University of Nevada. He had experience in this tough topic, he said, and wanted to help.
Fast-forward to Friday, when Twohig was named chairman of USU's Prevention, Education and Training Working Group, tasked with developing and implementing ways to prevent sexual violence.
That group is one of several created as part of the school's response to concerns raised in July when The Salt Lake Tribune reported that four women — who did not know each other — separately reported to Logan police in 2015 that Green sexually assaulted them. Three of the women were USU students and say they also informed the school.
Prosecutors began re-examining the cases after The Tribune's story was published, and last week Green was charged with four counts of rape, one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of forcible sex abuse. He is in jail in California, awaiting extradition to Utah.
Under Title IX, a federal law that bars sex discrimination, schools that receive federal funding are required to swiftly investigate potential sexual violence and determine what occurred and whether there were more incidents.
The school has said an internal investigation revealed it "fell short" in handling the reports against Green but will not elaborate, saying the information is protected by federal law and could discourage victims from reporting sexual assault. In August, it released a list of eight recommendations for improving its approach to sexual assault.
The two other working groups announced Friday will examine and, potentially, revise sexual assault complaint and investigation processes, as well as develop a campus climate survey to gauge students' attitudes and understanding of sexual assault, among other things.
The groups will submit suggestions to a Sexual Violence Task Force, headed by Executive Vice President and Provost Noelle Cockett, said Tim Vitale, university spokesman. There is no time line for completion, he added.
The groups are looking "comprehensively at addressing the multiple issues of sexual violence and to suggest actions," Vitale said. "In some cases, that action will have an immediacy, and in other cases, it will become part of a number of proposals that will be prioritized."
The committee leaders were picked because of their subject matter expertise, with input from students, staff and administrators, Vitale said.
Other committee members have not yet been picked, and it is unclear when they will start meeting.
Also on Friday, a committee was formed that will be in charge of implementing Title IX policies, as well as education and prevention efforts.
Other ways USU is responding to concerns about sexual assault include a campus education campaign about consent, as well as changes to student housing personnel training materials on mandatory reporting.
School officials also are working on changes to the student code related to confidentiality, as well as clarifying mandatory reporting and anonymous reporting policies. All changes need approval of the university board of trustees.
Additionally, officials are developing an agreement with law enforcement and other community groups to spell out how and when information is shared, Vitale said.
Logan police, who received all four initial complaints against Green in 2015, previously told The Tribune no communication existed between its department and school officials about the former athlete.
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Home NEWS Science News 3D Printing
3-D printing of patterned membranes opens door to rapid advances in membrane technology
in 3D Printing
Credit: Hickner Group/Penn State
A new type of 3-D printing will make it possible for the first time to rapidly prototype and test polymer membranes that are patterned for improved performance, according to Penn State researchers.
Ion exchange membranes are used in many types of energy applications, such as fuel cells and certain batteries, as well as in water purification, desalination, removal of heavy metals and food processing. Most of these membranes are thin, flat sheets similar to the plastic wrap in your kitchen drawer. However, recent work has shown that by creating 3-D patterns on top of the 2-D membrane surface, interesting hydrodynamic properties emerge that can improve ion transport or mitigate fouling, a serious problem in many membrane applications.
Currently, making these patterned membranes, also called profiled membranes, involves a laborious process of etching a silicon mold with the desired pattern, pouring in the polymer and waiting until it hardens. The process is both time-consuming and expensive, and results in a single pattern type.
“We thought if we could use 3-D printing to fabricate our custom-synthesized ion exchange membranes, we could make any sort of pattern and we could make it quickly,” says Michael Hickner, associate professor of materials science and engineering, Penn State.
In a paper published online today in the American Chemical Society’s journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Hickner’s team describes the development of a custom 3-D photolithographic printing process similar in concept to a current 3-D process called stereolithography. The team developed a photocurable mixture of ionic polymers and exposed the mixture under a light projector to harden the base layer. They then added more polymer to the base layer and projected a pattern on the new material to selectively harden the surface. The surface pattern increases the conductivity of the membrane by as much as a factor of two or three.
“Membranes act like a resistor in a battery or fuel cell,” says Hickner, who is also a member of the Materials Research Institute. “If you can lower the resistance by a factor of two or three, you’ve really got something useful.”
The paper’s lead author, Jiho Seo, a Ph.D. candidate in materials science and engineering , added, “While surface-patterned membranes have been studied previously, this is the first 3-D printed example of these structures and the first model that really explains the resistance decrease in a quantitative way. A simple parallel resistance model describes the effect of the pattern on lowering the resistance of these new membranes. This insight gives us a design tool to continue to innovate and create new patterns for further improvements along with changing the intrinsic chemistry of the material.”
The team will continue to optimize the geometry and chemistry of the membranes they print, as well as learn to print new materials, both for membranes and beyond, that have never been printed heretofore.
“We want to bridge the fundamental chemistry and materials science that we do with the engineering and rapid design iterations that the 3-D printing industry is really good at,” Hickner concludes.
In addition to Seo and Hickner, Douglas Kushner, Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering, contributed to the paper, titled “3-D Printing of Micro-patterned Anion Exchange Membranes.”
Support for the photolithography system was provided by Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The Materials Research Institute and the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment provided infrastructure support.
A’ndrea Elyse Messer
@penn_state
http://live.psu.edu
The post 3-D printing of patterned membranes opens door to rapid advances in membrane technology appeared first on Scienmag.
3D-printed organ-on-a-chip with integrated sensors
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‘On-the-fly’ 3-D print system prints what you design, as you design it
Big data, 3-D printing and robots: Marine Corps Commandant touts ONR S&T
Dietary supplement may prevent and reverse severe damage to aging brain, research suggests
CNIO scientists have created mice with hyper-long telomeres without altering the genes
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John E. Grant, 1925-2020
This post is by Alexander S. (Sandy) Gourlay. It is adapted from his foreword to Prophetic Character: Essays on William Blake in Honor of John E. Grant (West Cornwall, CT: Locust Hill P, 2002).
Mary Lynn Johnson and Jack Grant
“Singular & Particular Detail is the Foundation of the Sublime”
I first encountered John E. Grant as a graduate student taking a team-taught course at the University of Iowa. I had chosen it because half of it was devoted to William Hogarth—Jack’s half, the other half, was about Blake. I planned to put up with Blake, who seemed by turns naive and utterly opaque, and concentrate on Hogarth. When my first efforts in the course came back to me covered front and back with Jack’s marginal commentary—acidic, oracularly terse, and plentiful—I became more determined than ever to steer clear of Blake and, especially, this impossible Grant person.
It didn’t work out that way. At some point I noticed that although Jack was copiously critical of my work, he was paying extraordinary (and probably undeserved) attention to what I had written—dissecting every argument, looking up every allusion, double-checking my notes—and that even when he was laying waste to my pretensions and sophistries he was doing so without hostility or sadism. I noticed as well that if I managed to get anything right he would find it and say so. I read some of his published work and was utterly taken by his passionate contrarianism and strange prose, glittering and graceful at times, but also rambling and digressive, with occasional baffling passages in which the enthymemes seem to be suppressing all premises as too obvious to be mentioned. Particularly winning were his wit, his occasional ferocity, but most of all the great care he took to get everything as right as he possibly could, even if the result was neither immediately impressive, admirably neat, nor notably conclusive. I took a couple more courses from Jack, eventually collaborated on some articles, and wrote a dissertation with him—even lived in a basement bedroom in his house while working as an editorial assistant on the Iowa Blake Videodisc Project.[1] I came to appreciate his great, peculiar gifts as a scholar, his honesty and doggedness as a thinker, and his extraordinary virtues as a friend and colleague—however terrifying he sometimes seemed to be in print, he was modest and courtly in person, warm and very funny in company, and a brilliant correspondent.
A chronological checklist of Jack’s scholarly writings on Blake and others follows. Even the Blake pieces are only in part about Blake, and Jack also wrote in characteristic fashion about other Romantics and artists and writers as diverse as Reynolds and Magritte, Austen and Beckett. Several of his best-known essays are jeremiads against various forms of critical sloth, cant, and carelessness, but these are more properly understood as a side effect of his critical project than as central to it, explosions of exasperated energy accumulated in the course of struggling carefully through arguments that didn’t prove to be worth the effort. Jack was also noted for combining a warlike spirit with exhaustive attention to detail, on the assumption that even the most passionate campaign against Error has to be conducted with due attention to Blake’s “minute particulars.” In struggling to avoid the kinds of mistakes he deplored, Jack regularly found himself—and sometimes lost himself—discovering the irreducible constituent atoms of the matter before him, and then dealing with them one by one. William Kupersmith, the longtime editor of Philological Quarterly, once remarked as he read one of Jack’s long, severely detailed reviews, “This man has an instinct for the capillaries.” But sweating the small stuff was not really the essence of his criticism either. The most notable theme for me, in that it accounts for so many other features of his work, is his insistence, above all, that understanding a work of art requires the interpreter to take it and its creator seriously, no matter how difficult (or impossible) it may be to prove anything definitive about the creator’s intentions, and no matter how many other interesting things might also be going on in the individual or collective unconscious, or in the broader culture, or in the mind of the critic. Jack was himself often very interested in such epiphenomena, especially when they cast light upon matters that concerned him more—he was not a garden-variety intentionalist or a mere critical reactionary, as he sometimes appeared to be at his most harrumphing. He assumed that both artists and their interpreters are engaged in profoundly serious projects, and that critics must attend with modesty and care to the complexity and subtlety with which texts and/or pictures can convey meaning, especially meaning to which the creators might reasonably be expected to assent. That principle often led to exasperation with criticism that didn’t reflect such care or that was disproportionately attentive to past criticism or to a novel theory rather than to the creator’s work.
For Jack a good critic was a prophet, never a priest invoking a sacred tradition or a methodological mystery. He was always looking for ideas that were both original and useful for thinking about art, literature, and the world: prophecy in application. He collaborated and/or kept company with several great scholar-activists, but for the most part Jack’s direct engagement in social causes was practical rather than theoretical—especially during the Vietnam War, when he spent a vast amount of energy on picket lines, vigils, and meetings. His more recent intellectual engagement tended to be isolated rather than collective or partisan, perhaps because telling one’s best account of truth as uncompromisingly as possible is almost always impolitic in the short run.
Not all authors or artists were equally susceptible to Jack’s characteristic approach. As a critic he generally focused on those who seemed to him to be most serious about their own work, then struggled to find an approach that did them justice. In the case of Blake this meant respectfully rethinking even the most basic interpretive assumptions of the first few generations of his critics and vigorously attacking subsequent interpreters when they compound the old errors. It also led Jack early to champion Blake criticism that treats his visual and verbal art together, recognizing both as equally sophisticated, inseparable products of the same unconventional, brilliant mind. Jack was not the first, loudest, or most prolific advocate of such criticism of Blake. But as a result of his efforts, along with those of several other scholars of the post-war generation, critics working today rarely assume, as they once did, that they can write about Blake’s visual art without knowing and thinking about its literary contexts, or write about his poetry or prose without thinking about his art and its contexts. Jack’s most characteristic critical move was to review the whole history of intellectual responses to a given artistic phenomenon or trope, both creative and critical, then show how the work at hand might represent a meta-response reflecting not only the most sophisticated of these responses but somehow transcending the level of understanding that they represent. These projects didn’t always pan out. The stage of historical review was often so expansively and digressively thorough that neither Jack nor the reader could ever quite get home again from the preliminary tour of the intellectual arena, and sometimes the transcendent dimension was so subtle that it was doubtful whether anyone but Jack could find it. But even when he didn’t wrap everything up in a neat bundle, his passionate carefulness and commitment to discovering some kind of enduring truth about the art that he was examining set an extraordinarily high standard for others to follow, and most of his pieces, long or short, are sown with enigmatic references to promising critical paths that he never fully explored. If Jack told you something was worth looking into he was almost always right, even when he himself had gone off in search of some other grail.
Many of the works in the checklist will be useful reading long after the controversies that gave rise to them have been forgotten.[2] I particularly recommend the little-known “Apocalypse in Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’” from 1964, the better-known “The Fate of Blake’s Sun-Flower” from 1973, and the more recent “On First Encountering Blake’s Good Samaritans” of 1999/2000, but there is great and enduring critical writing to be found throughout the list, much of it tucked into his book reviews. Anyone who undertakes to consider any topic that Jack covered would be well advised to read him carefully before setting out—at the very least, Jack’s point of view will clear the critical sinuses, and even if he makes only a little progress in solving them, his perspective will elucidate some of the most important problems.
A good deal of Jack’s work will vanish, however, not because of the quality of the thought that went into it but because it is written in the margins of papers and books, in letters, and, most famously, on museum postcards (my graduate school office-mate noticed while reading Gail Godwin’s 1974 novel The Odd Woman that she had merged selected characteristics of Jack, someone like Ruskin, and Mr. Casaubon to create Gabriel Weeks, the Rossetti scholar who communicates with postcards carefully chosen from a vast stock in his desk). Even if one were to preserve Jack’s private correspondence, most of it wouldn’t mean very much to anyone other than its recipient, and even the recipient might struggle to keep up with the densely allusive sentences packed into a Grant missive, typically a large manila envelope containing several pages of prose in Jack’s loopy, unambiguous handwriting, a copy (“FYI”) of a carefully sharpened letter to some editor, murky photocopies of several pictures with cryptic annotations, and one or more postcards bearing only a word or two to hint at their relevance. When these packets arrived I knew how I would be spending the rest of the day, and I never threw them away when I finished them, but when an old one turns up, carefully repacked into its envelope, I usually find that I have lost the context, and that what was once a glorious puzzle has become an impenetrable enigma.
What will endure, though it won’t necessarily bear his name, is the fruit of Jack’s work in private consultation and correspondence. As the checklist shows, much of his best-known published work is collaborative, including Blake’s Visionary Forms Dramatic (1970, with David V. Erdman), the great Night Thoughts edition (1980, with Erdman, Michael J. Tolley, and Edward J. Rose), and the Norton Critical Edition of Blake’s Poetry and Designs (1979, 2nd ed. 2007, with Mary Lynn Johnson). But Jack was a collaborator in another very important way. At one time or another (and sometimes without knowing it), many Blake scholars have run something past Jack for the kind of critical Rolfing that only he could do. His commentary on a manuscript, crawling up the margins and spilling onto the backs of the pages, often reflected as much scholarly energy as the text on which he was commenting, and no essay was ever the worse for having its capillaries worked over by Jack.
A CHRONOLOGICAL CHECKLIST OF PUBLICATIONS BY JOHN E. GRANT
1. (Co-author) “The Identity of Esther Summerson.” Modern Philology 55 (1958): 252-58 (with James H. Broderick).
2. (Co-author) “A Critical Dialogue on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 1 (1959): 214-32 (with Jack M. Davis).
3. “The Art and Argument of ‘The Tyger.’” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 2 (1960): 38-60. (See also item 4.)
4. (Editor) Discussions of William Blake. Boston: D. C. Heath, 1961. This anthology contains an expanded version of item 3 (64-82) as well as an introduction and a summary of criticism (vii-xi).
5. “Misreadings of [Blake’s] ‘The Fly.’” Essays in Criticism 14 (1961): 481-87. (See also item 9.)
6. “Dante’s Mirrors, and Apocalypse.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 4 (1962): 289-313.
7. “Animadversions upon Professor Brown’s ‘Apocalypse.’” Noble Savage 5 (1962): 12-18.
8. “Blake on Bloomsday.” Yale Review 52 (1963): 591-98. A review of Bloom, Blake’s Apocalypse.
9. “Interpreting Blake’s ‘The Fly.’” Bulletin of the New York Public Library 67 (1963): 593-613. Rept. in Blake: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Northrop Frye. Twentieth Century Views. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1966. Also rept. (trans.) in Interpretationen. Ed. Willi Erzgraber. Frankfurt: Fischer Bücherei, 1970.
10. “Apocalypse in Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence.’” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 5 (1964): 489-508. (A shorter version was read at the 1961 meeting of the Modem Language Association.)
11. “Blake: Original and New.” Modern Language Quarterly 25 (1964): 356-64. A review of Damon, Blake’s “Grave” ; Adams, William Blake; Bentley, ed., William Blake, “Vala” or “The Four Zoas.”
12. “The Colors of Prophecy.” Nation 200 (1965): 91-92. A review of Keynes, Blake: Poet. Printer. Prophet.
13. Review of Bostetter, The Romantic Ventriloquists. Keats-Shelley Journal 14 (1965): 93-96.
14. Review of Hagstrum, Blake: Poet & Painter. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 24 (1965): 126-28.
15. Review of Bentley and Nurmi, A Blake Bibliography. Modern Philology 63 (1966): 351-64.
16. Reviews of Erdman, ed., The Poetry and Prose of William Blake, with a commentary by Bloom; Damon, A Blake Dictionary ; Ostriker, Vision and Verse in William Blake. Philological Quarterly 45 (1966): 533, 533-35, 536-38.
17. “A Checklist of Writings by and about Northrop Frye.” Northrop Frye in Modern Criticism: English Institute Essays, 1965. Ed. Murray Krieger. New York: Columbia UP, 1966. 147-88.
18. (a and b) “Tense and the Sense of Blake’s ‘The Tyger.’” PMLA 81 (1966): 596-99, 600-02. A two-part response and rejoinder to F. C. Robinson, “Verb Tense in Blake’s ‘The Tyger,’” PMLA 79 (1964): 664-69, which criticized certain details of item 3 and its manifestation in item 4.
19. “The Revelation of the Grand Inquisitor.” Southern Review [Australia] 2 (1967): 240-60. A penetrating discussion of this section of The Brothers Karamazov.
20. Reviews of Damon, ed., Blake’s “Job”; Gillham, Blake’s Contrary States. Philological Quarterly 46 (1967): 328-30.
21. (a, b, and c) “Recognizing Fathers.” Blake 1.2 (1967): 7-9. A critique of an article by Connolly and Levine in PMLA 82 (1967): 257-264. “Mother of Invention, Father in Drag, or Observations on the Methodology That Brought About These Deplorable Conditions and What Then Is to Be Done.” Blake 2.2 (1968): 29-32. A surrejoinder to a rejoinder by Connolly and Levine in Blake 1.3 (1967). “Mothers and Methodology.” Blake 2.3 (1968): 50-54. A continuation of the above dispute, which is mostly about the adult accompanying the boy in Songs 14.
22. Review of Keynes, ed., Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and of Experience.” Philological Quarterly 47 (1968): 571-80.
23. “Two Flowers in the Garden of Experience.” William Blake: Essays for S. Foster Damon. Ed. Alvin H. Rosenfeld. Providence: Brown UP, 1969. 333-67.
24. “You Can’t Write about Blake’s Pictures Like That.” Blake Studies 1 (1969): 193-202. A critique of an article by Taylor in Blake Studies 1 (1968).
25. (a and b) “Discussing the Arlington Court Picture: Part I, A Report on the Warner-Simmons Theory.” Blake 3.4 (1970): 96-105. Part II, “Studying Blake’s Iconography for Guidance in Interpreting the Picture.” Blake 4.1 (1970): 12-25. (See also item 28.)
26. Review of Dorfman, Blake in the Nineteenth Century. Philological Quarterly 49 (1970): 328-29.
27. (a, b, and c) (Co-editor) Blake’s Visionary Forms Dramatic. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1970 (with David V. Erdman). It contains “From Fable to Human Vision: A Note on the First Illustration [‘The Haunted Stream’ from Blake’s illustrations to Milton’s L’Allegro]” (xi-xiv) and “Envisioning the First Night Thoughts” (304-35).
28. “Redemptive Action in Blake’s Arlington Court Picture.” Studies in Romanticism 10 (1971): 21-26. A critique of an interpretation presented by Warner and Simmons in the same issue and a proposal for a new theory. (See also item 25.) Rept. in The Visionary Hand: Essays for the Study of William Blake’s Art and Aesthetics. Ed. Robert N. Essick. Los Angeles: Hennessey and Ingalls, 1973.
29. “Addenda and Some Solutions to Tolley’s Blake Puzzles.” Blake Studies 3 (1971): 29-35. Comments on an article in the same issue and discussion of a previously unnoticed drawing.
30. Reviews of Erdman, Blake: Prophet against Empire, rev. ed.; Raine, William Blake. Philological Quarterly 50 (1971): 407-08, 409-10.
31. “Imagination Dead?” James Joyce Quarterly 8 (1971): 336-62. A contribution to a Samuel Beckett issue.
32. (a and b) “Blake’s Designs for L’Allegro and Il Penseroso: Part I, A Survey of the Designs.” Blake 4.4 (1971): 117-34, with a related article by Judith Rhodes, “Blake’s Designs for L’Allegro and Il Penseroso: Thematic Relationships in Diagram,” 135-36. Part II, “The Meaning of Mirth and Her Companions.” Blake 5.3 (1971–72): 190-202. Part I rept. in The Visionary Hand: Essays for the Study of William Blake’s Art and Aesthetics. Ed. Robert N. Essick. Los Angeles: Hennessey and Ingalls, 1973.
33. Review of Paley, Energy and Imagination. English Language Notes 9 (1972): 210-16.
34. “The Visionary Perspective of Ezekiel.” Blake Studies 4 (1972): 153-57.
35. Reviews of Bentley, ed., The Blake Collection of Mrs. Landon K. Thorne; Bindman, ed., The Blake Collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum; Bogen, ed., The Book of Thel; Butlin, ed., The Blake Collection of the Tate Gallery, rev. ed.; Todd, William Blake: The Artist; and four other books and articles. Philological Quarterly 51 (1972): 642-48.
36. “Visions in Vala: A Consideration of Some Pictures in the Manuscript.” Blake’s Sublime Allegory: Essays on “The Four Zoas,” “Milton,” and “Jerusalem.” Ed. Stuart Curran and Joseph Anthony Wittreich, Jr. Madison: U of Wisconsin P, 1973. 141-202.
37. “The Fate of Blake’s Sun-Flower: A Forecast and Some Conclusions.” Blake Studies 5 (1973): 7-58.
38. Review of Wright, Blake’s “Job”: A Commentary. Philological Quarterly 52 (1973): 467-68.
39. (Co-author) “Illuminated Books in the Cincinnati Art Museum.” Blake 7.2 (1973): 40-43 (with Mary Lynn Johnson). A description and commentary.
40. “Blake’s ‘Illustrations of the Book of Job.’” Times Literary Supplement (30 November 1973): 1484. A discussion of the newly rediscovered colored proofs.
41. Reviews of Wagenknecht, Blake’s Night ; Sabri-Tabrizi, The “Heaven” and “Hell” of William Blake; Frosch, The Awakening of Albion; Mellor, Blake’s Human Form Divine. Wordsworth Circle 5 (1974): 183-89 (with replies by Wagenknecht and Mellor).
42. Review of Lindberg, William Blake’s Illustrations to the Book of Job. Philological Quarterly 53 (1974): 651.
43. Review of Elkins and Forstner, eds., The Romantic Movement Bibliography: 1937–1970. Romantics Quarterly 13 (1974): 352.
44. Review of Phillips and Paley, eds., William Blake: Essays in Honour of Sir Geoffrey Keynes. Blake Studies 7 (1974): 85-96.
45. (Co-author) “Blake’s Vision of Spenser’s Faerie Queene: A Report and an Anatomy.” Blake 8.3 (1974–75): 56-85 (with Robert E. Brown). This important article includes an excellent large-scale reproduction of the picture and many other illustrations.
46. “The Female Awakening at the End of Blake’s Milton: A Picture Story with Questions.” Milton Reconsidered: Essays in Honor of Arthur E. Barker. Ed. John Karl Franson. Salzburg Studies in English Literature, Elizabethan and Renaissance Studies 49. Salzburg: Universität Salzburg, 1976. 78-101.
47. Review of Erdman and Moore, eds., The Notebook of William Blake. Modern Philology 75 (1977): 196-201.
48. (Co-editor) Blake’s Poetry and Designs: A Norton Critical Edition. New York: W. W. Norton, 1979; 2nd ed., 2007 (second editor, with Mary Lynn Johnson).
49. (Co-editor) William Blake’s Designs for Edward Young’s “Night Thoughts”: A Complete Edition. 2 vols. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980 (first editor, with Edward J. Rose, Michael J. Tolley, and David V. Erdman).
50. Review of S. Foster Damon, A Blake Dictionary, with a New Index by Morris Eaves. Blake 14.3 (1980–81): 131-35.
51. “Some Drawings Related to Blake’s Night Thoughts Designs.” Blake 16.1 (1982): 7-11.
52. “Who Shall Bind the Infinite and Arrange It in Libraries? On Bentley’s Blake Books and William Blake’s Writings.” Philological Quarterly 61 (1982): 277-304.
53. “Blake in the Future.” Studies in Romanticism 21 (1982): 436-43. A contribution to a festschrift issue in honor of David V. Erdman.
54. (Co-author) “The Norton Critical Edition of Blake: Addenda and Corrigenda.” Blake 16.2 (1982): 107-10 (second author, with Mary Lynn Johnson).
55. (Co-author) “The Melancholy Shepherdess in Prospect of Love and Death in Reynolds and Blake.” Bulletin of Research in the Humanities 84 (1982): 169-89 (second author, with Alexander S. Gourlay).
56. “Shows of Mourning in the Text of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.” Modern Philology 80 (1983): 283-86.
57. “A Re-View of Some Problems in Understanding Blake’s Night Thoughts.” Blake 18.3 (1984–85): 155-81 (with responses by W. J. T. Mitchell, Morton D. Paley, and D. W. Dörrbecker).
58. (Co-author) “Visual Resources for Teaching Songs.” Approaches to Teaching Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and of Experience.” Ed. R. F. Gleckner and M. L. Greenberg. New York: Modern Language Association, 1989. 28-33 (with Mary Lynn Johnson).
59. Reviews of Eaves and Fischer, eds., Romanticism and Contemporary Criticism; Reed, ed., Romanticism and Language. Blake 22.4 (1989): 124-33.
60. “This Is Not Blake’s ‘The Tyger’ (with Apologies to René Magritte).” Iowa Review 19 (1989): 112-55.
61. “The Apparition and Evanishment of Coleridgean Form in Recent Critical Discourse.” Coleridge’s Theory of the Imagination Today. Ed. Christine Gallant. New York: AMS P, 1989. 113-27.
62. “Jesus and the Powers That Be in Blake’s Designs for Young’s Night Thoughts.” Blake and His Bibles. Ed. David V. Erdman. West Cornwall, CT: Locust Hill P, 1990. 71-115.
63. (Co-author) Review of the Franklin Library edition of Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Blake 24.1 (1990): 260-61 (second author, with Alexander S. Gourlay).
64. “Discovering ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci.’” Approaches to Teaching Keats’s Poetry. Ed. Walter H. Evert and Jack W. Rhodes. New York: MLA, 1991. 45-50.
65. Review of Ferber, The Poetry of William Blake. Blake 28.2 (1994): 71-77.
66. “Original Sinners.” Harvard Magazine 97 (1994): 88.
67. “On First Encountering Blake’s Good Samaritans.” Blake 33.3 (1999–2000): 68-96.
68. “Krapp and Godot Play Iowa City.” Beckett Circle/Le Cercle de Beckett 23 (2000): 1-2.
69. “The Powers of ‘Death’ in Blake’s Night Thoughts Engravings.” 1650–1850: Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era 7 (2002): 257-80.
70. “Prospects of Divine Humanity: A Vision of Heaven, Earth, and Hell.” Re-envisioning Blake. Ed. Mark Crosby, Troy Patenaude, and Angus Whitehead. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. 130-43. An argument that Blake’s picture known as The Fall of Man should be called Prospects of Divine Humanity.
[1] The 1981–85 videodisc project, created by Jack, Mary Lynn Johnson, and Joan Sustik Huntley, proposed to link databases held in a computer to several thousand individually addressable video frames of Blake works on a videodisc; a pilot version focusing on the Night Thoughts designs worked very well but was not distributable for technical and copyright reasons. The full version of the project, eventually rejected for funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities, anticipated many of the features now incorporated in the William Blake Archive (http://www.blakearchive.org). The archive uses digital technologies barely dreamed of in 1985 (indeed, one NEH reviewer argued against funding the Iowa project on the grounds that a PC with a 20MB hard drive, which was needed to run it, would never be affordable). See Mary Lynn Johnson, “The Iowa Blake Videodisc Project: A Cautionary History,” Wordsworth Circle 30 (1999).
[2] I have not included most letters to editors. Some important unpublished work is not listed here—most notably the draft commentary on the Night Thoughts designs that Jack and David V. Erdman, Edward J. Rose, and Michael J. Tolley worked on for decades, and have occasionally circulated in manuscript. Also omitted are at least a dozen papers read at conferences but never prepared for print; once Jack solved a problem to his own satisfaction he often moved on to another rather than spending additional time to promulgate the results.
Video Tutorial: Enlargements
Publication: Blake’s Poetical Sketches
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Tag Archives: educational
DAFFY DUCK PAC RAISING FUNDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL RUN
Contributions support the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity
Orange County, CA, February 25, 2016: Renowned film legend Daffy Duck announced his intent to seek the office of President of the United States. Shouting at a crowd of three from the steps of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, candidate Duck hinted at his platform. “A vote for Daffy Duck is a vote for creativity and imagination, and I’m throwing my bill into the ring! Why not? It’s been thrown everywhere else!”
Tying the announcement in with an early victory party on June 5, 2016, before the California Primary (Tuesday, June 7, 2016), the Chuck Jones Center in Orange County will host a “Daffy Duck for President” bumper sticker/campaign poster drawing party, with prizes and celebrations. Supporters can cast their vote for Daffy at any time on the Center’s website, http://www.daffyforpresident.org. “I’m the only candidate for the party, and if anybody knows about a party, it’s this duck!” he told the largely silent trio of passersby.
Mr. Duck’s reasons for entering the grueling 2016 political fray were clarified in a press release. “As candidates of both parties fall away, one candidate rises! A champion of the people who’s not mainstream (but who knows his streams). He’s more stream-of-consciousness. He believes in mom, apple pie, and social insecurity. He’s got brains, bluster, and pluck! He’s a nihilistic socialist rogue insider with Tea Party Appeal.”
For every contribution of $100 to the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s “Daffy for President” PAC (Patently Angry Character), the contributor will receive a hardcover copy of Chuck Jones’s “Daffy Duck for President,” a “Daffy for President” campaign button, and a “Daffy for President 2016” bumper sticker. For contributions less than $100, a variety of other gifts are included. Visit http://www.daffyforpresident.org to donate today and for full details! All contributions benefit the educational and outreach programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, a 501(c)3 public charity located in Orange County, California. The Center brings creativity programs to underserved children and adults in Los Angeles, Orange Counties, and beyond.
“Daffy puts the ‘wag’ back in ‘bandwagon,’” the announcement said. “He puts the ‘otus’ back in POTUS. He puts the ‘ivity’ back in ‘creativity.’ He’s not only a problem solver, but he’s a problem creator! And if this world needs anything these days, it’s more problems! Ladies and Gentlemen—we ask your support for the next leader of the Free (if not reasonably priced) World–Daffy Duck for President, 2016!”
Chuck Jones’s “Daffy Duck for President” was a pet project of the four-time Academy Award-recipient and legendary animation pioneer, and was born of a desire to talk to kids about the process of passing a law as detailed in the U.S. Constitution. Using Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Jones’s unique brand of humor, the book was his last published work.
Endorsements have poured in:
“Eh, what’s one more lunatic?” – Bugs Bunny, international film star
“Petty. Greedy. Jealous. And transparent! Daffy fits the bill.” –Foghorn Leghorn (R-Alabama)
“Who?” – Porky Pig, actor
“Are you serious? Start-a-runnin’, varmint!” – Yosemite Sam, diplomat.
About Daffy Duck:
Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character created by the animation studio of Warner Bros. in the 1930s. Styled as an anthropomorphic black duck, the character has appeared in cartoon series such as Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies where he has usually been depicted as the screwball companion and occasional archrival of Bugs Bunny. Daffy starred in 133 shorts in animation’s Golden Age, making him the third most frequent character in the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, behind Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig.
Daffy was number 14 on TV Guide‘s list of top 50 best cartoon characters and was featured on one of the issue’s four covers as Duck Dodgers with Porky Pig.
About the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity:
The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is a 501(c)3 public charity located in Orange County, CA. Chuck Jones was a creative genius who gave life to Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote & Bugs Bunny along with over 300 animated films. The Center, which he founded in 1999, is an organization that fosters and teaches creative thinking—the thinking behind problem solving. It’s a proven fact that “creativity” is like a muscle in your brain that needs exercise in order to get and stay healthy. The stronger that muscle is, the better it works in engaging tasks and solving problems. The Center serves as a gymnasium for the brain. We work with disadvantaged youth, school systems without arts programs, people on the autism spectrum, the elderly (many of whom suffer from early onset dementia), and other groups, including corporate clients, who see the value of pumping up creativity in their ranks.
Support the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Exercise Your Genius!
Images are available upon request. Interviews available and are dependent upon the candidate’s prior engagements.
This entry was posted in Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, Donations, Events: Past, Present & Future, Press Releases/Media Coverage, The Art of Chuck Jones and tagged candidate for president, creativity, Daffy Duck, educational, fundraising, imagination, learning, PAC, POTUS, presidential race, super PAC, U.S. Constitution on March 3, 2016 by Robert Patrick.
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Home Let Me Be Frank With You
Let Me Be Frank With You
Richard Ford (Author)
Vendor: Harper Perennial
In this brilliant new work, Richard Ford returns to the celebrated fictional landscape that sealed his reputation as an American master: the world of Frank Bascombe
In his trio of critically acclaimed, bestselling novels—The Sportswriter, the Pulitzer Prize–winning Independence Day, and The Lay of the Land—Richard Ford illuminated the zeitgeist of an entire generation through the divinings and wit of his now-famous literary chronicler, Frank Bascombe. Here, in Let Me Be Frank With You, Ford returns with four deftly linked stories narrated by the iconic Bascombe, one of the most indelible, provocative and anticipated characters in modern American literature.
Now sixty-eight, and again ensconced in the well-defended New Jersey suburb of Haddam, Bascombe has thrived—seemingly if not utterly—in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation. As in all of the Bascombe books, Ford’s guiding spirit is the old comic’s maxim that promises if nothing’s funny, nothing’s truly serious. The desolation of Sandy, which rendered houses, shorelines and countless lives unmoored and flattened, could scarcely be more serious as the grist for fiction. Yet it is the perfect backdrop and touchstone for Ford—and Bascombe. Told with a flawless comedic sensibility and unblinking intelligence, these stories range over the full complement of contemporary subjects: aging, race, loss, faith, marriage, redemption, the real-estate crash—the tumult of the world we live in.
Whether you’ve been a Bascombe insider since The Sportswriter or are encountering Ford’s unforgettable inventions newly here, Let Me Be Frank With You is a moving, wondrous, extremely funny odyssey, showcasing the maturity and brilliance of a great writer working at the top of his talents.
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Hollywood Café: Coffee with the Stars
Put on a pot of your favorite coffee, perk up, and enjoy nostalgic black-and-white photos that celebrate screen icons from the Silent Era through the eighties, making and drinking their own cups of joe, java, pour-overs, and percolated brews. Hollywood Café bridges the vibrant coffee culture of right-now with the glamorous coffee culture of the star-studded past. A dream cast of nearly 200 stars--Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin, W. C. Fields, Robert Mitchum, Rita Hayworth, Bob Hope, Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Ava Gardner, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Jayne Mansfield, Sammy Davis Jr., William Holden, Lauren Bacall, John Wayne, and many more--is captured on the set, on the run, in costume and out, behind-the-scenes and at the kitchen table, refilling and refueling, sipping and savoring, drinking the good stuff, just like us.
Schiffer Publishing
Steven Rea writes about movies for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a member of the National Society of Film Critics, author of Hollywood Rides a Bike: Cycling With the Stars, and producer of the popular Tumblr blog Rides a Bike. He drinks coffee.
Rea has a keen and amused eye for the ubiquity of Hollywood's favorite stimulating beverage.... Did you really think the factory ran on dreams alone?--Dana Stevens, movie critic, Slate
As this charming collection of rare photos shows, the stars are just like you and me: THEY NEED THEIR COFFEE! A wonderful pick-me-up.--Shawn Levy, author of Paul Newman: A Life and Rat Pack Confidential
What a combo--Hollywood glamour, classic movies, and caffeine!--Murray Carpenter, author of Caffeinated
A remarkably curated, wittily arranged book to savor again and again, with appreciation...of stardom, studio photography and, of course, coffee. It's a delight!--Mick LaSalle, author of Complicated Women: Sex and Power in Pre-Code Hollywood
Hollywood's finest stars drinking coffee. A treasure trove of photographs and delicious insights.--Zachary Carlsen, co-founder, Sprudge
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Tag Archive: Visit
1 Corinthians 15:3-8, “On a Brief Overview of The ‘Historical Christ,’ Contradiction, and Biblical Omission”
Filed under: 1 Corinthians, 2 Kings, 2 Timothy, Art, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Numbers, Philosophy — Leave a comment
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” -1 Corinthians 15:3-8
This passage written by Paul, is a brief overview of the events contained in the gospels. He briefly recounts Christ’s death by crucifixion, for what cause, His eventual resurrection, and His appearances to the apostles, His brother, crowds, the early church, and finally, Christ appearing to Paul himself. This can be said to be more of a historical summary, for it quite simply contains events without any references to the teachings of Christ, or the preexisting Scriptures, in the form of the Old Testament. Paul obviously brings the Old Testament and New together, illuminating them within His other writings, indicating and revealing to us, that the Scripture does not exist in two parts, rather it is one large narrative, Christ being revealed, both implicitly and explicitly, since the beginning. Indeed, because of the Gospels, Paul, and independent sources such as Pliny the Elder, or Josephus, The vast majority of historians believe Christ to have been a real person, but the events surrounding the crucifixion, resurrection and who Christ was, are the topics that are truly questioned by the students of history.
Though Paul obviously believes Christ to be fact, that He was both man and God, and that He died and rose again, there are some details missing from Paul’s “historical” synopsis. One of these concerns the appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene and other women who visited the tomb on the third day. Why was it not included if it is indeed fact like the gospels tell us? It is this question, among others, I am going to endeavor to explore.
"Christ Appears to The Holy Women," by James Tissot. watercolor, c. 1886-1894
The first thing we need to understand, is that as Christ and Paul revealed the complete unity in both the New and Old Testaments, and we find that even in the case of the Gospels, they are not supposed to stand on their own, though they most certainly can. Rather, they mesh or interlace perfectly to form a concise narrative of the events that took place. Though perfect as a whole, it helps to recognize that each gospel was written to address a different purpose or group of people. This may account for that which was included or omitted in the particular gospels.
Matthew Levi wrote the Book of Matthew. Matthew prior to his discipleship was a tax collector and therefore, not exactly a revered individual in the eyes of the world. His gospel was directed at the Hebrews and contains many quotes from the Old Testament.
John Mark wrote the Book of Mark. This books scope of focus was directed at the Romans. It is believed that Peter had a large influence on the authorship of this Book, and indeed it is believed to contain more words of Peter than any of the other gospels.
Luke wrote the Book of Luke and was a close confidant of Paul. His book is said to take more of a “scientific” approach, and Luke, a physician and not being one of the original Twelve, acted as a historian, gathering the accounts about our Lord and Savior. This is the longest book of the New Testament and was directed at the Greeks.
John was responsible for the writing of the Gospel of John. This gospel is the most broad in terms of focus and audience. In addition, the book contains more words of Christ than any other.
Another thing to consider is that if something is omitted, this in no way, like some suppose, represents an inevitable contradiction. In fact, using more than one gospel can give us a much clearer understanding of the events which surrounded Jesus Christ, and what He went through for us, that we may be saved by faith upon Him. For example, let us look at the question concerning Mary Magdalene’s visit from the Lord and how it’s omission by Paul doesn’t necessarily lead to contradiction, or even suggest that it didn’t happen. By using the accounts from Scripture, we can begin to piece together what happened at the time of the resurrection without any contradiction being evident.
In Matthew, Chapter 28, several things happen which can be considered the first, or beginning of the resurrection narrative. After a violent earthquake an angel of the Lord descended, rolling back the stone and sitting upon it. In fact, it’s reasonable to say that the angel may have been the instrument of God, which brought about the quake. At any rate, there were several guards at the tomb who all suddenly became greatly frightened by the manifestation they were privy to. These guards were placed there by Pilate in Chapter 27, after the chief priests and Pharisees recounted to Pilate what the Lord had said about being raised after three days. They were afraid the disciples would come and try to steal the body, initiating a great deception. Pilate told them they could go make the tomb as secure as they wanted, until the third day. These guards were terrified by the earthquake and angel of the Lord. They were later bribed by the Jews, to say that His body was indeed stolen. Matthew, Chapter 28, Verse 15, tells us that this story was circulated among the Jews, “to this very day.” It certainly has, for it has surpassed the Jews and has become a frequently cited explanation for the resurrection of Christ.
"Roman Guards Watch Over Tomb," by James Tissot. watercolor, c. 1884-1896
In addition to the guards being witness to the event, so too, according to the Gospels, was Mary the Mother of James. Other Books even include more companions. The Book of John mentions Mary Magdalene alone, while the other books of the gospels include others in her party. According to the Book of Luke, 24:10, her companions were Salome, again, Mary the mother of James (which is held to be the Sister of Mary, mother of Jesus), and Joanna. Though some commentary considering the reconciliation of these accounts in Scripture believe Mary to be alone at some point, before running to tell Peter and John, I don’t think this is the case. I believe the Scriptures themselves refute this. The exact time this happens is similar in all the accounts, the day after the sabbath at day break. Furthermore, their purpose was not to just visit the tomb, but for anointing His body with spices and perfumes. I believe this purpose suggests a group rather than just a couple individuals. Lastly, the words of Mary Magdalene herself indicate it, when in the Book of John (the same Book that only mentions Mary Magdalene as a witness), Chapter 20, Verse 2, she says to Simon Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord out of the Tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him?” In her statement, she says, “we,” this obvious plurality indicating that it was not just her who witnessed the empty tomb, or even the first angel.
"Penitent Mary Magdalene," by Titian. oil on canvas, c. 1565
Why does the Scripture indicate only one person when more may be involved? Simply because it may not be relevant, or because Mary, and later Peter, are the real focus of attention, for it was their experiences which are recounted, though others may have been present. At this point we have Mary Magdalene and her companions walking up to the tomb of the Lord, again to anoint His body. As far as I can tell there are two possibilities when considering how the stone was placed before the tomb. First, we look to Matthew. In Chapter 27, Verse 60, Joseph of Arimathea rolls a large stone into place. Now, it doesn’t mention other people, but that doesnt mean there weren’t more involved in this process. Yet, if we assume he was alone, we find at this time the rock wasn’t as big as often depicted. But wait, before you start writing a e-mail, there is more. In Verse 66, the guards are said to make the tomb secure by posting a guard, which in this context would be made up of several guards. In addition, they put “a seal” on the stone. Most feel this refers to a “stamp” of sorts which would discourage anyone from breaking into the tomb, for with the breaking of that stamp, one would incur the wrath of the Roman Empire. However, some other translations offer another perspective. These refer to the guards as “sealing” the stone. The Romans at this time are believed to have concrete, also known as “Opus Caementicium.” In fact, by the mid-first century, underwater construction of edifices containing this concrete were underway, so the seal could have been an actual “sealant,” of the tomb.
"Christ with Joseph of Arimathea," by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo. oil on wood, c. 1525
Despite my pondering, the simplest explanation might be the best, for on their way to the tomb, they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?” It is possible that they didn’t know the actions of the Romans in securing the tomb, for this could have occurred on the sabbath, which they all observed. In spite of the fact I said Joseph may have moved the rock on his own, it doesn’t line up with Scripture, for Mark 16:4 tells us, indeed, that the stone was very large and Mary Magdalene was there to witness Joseph move the stone into place. So I do believe the latter to be the case, and feel it is easily explained by the fact that when people are in a state of grief or emotional anguish, they don’t always react or behave in a rational fashion.
Next we have a curious account of the appearance of angels and this is where many find contradiction in the Bible. Before tackling this issue, however, I think we should focus somewhat on the particular attributes of these heavenly beings, as is represented in Scripture. An angel is not only a messenger from the Lord, but can also be used to complete His commands. We even know from Revelation, Chapter 16, that they can also be used by God to pour out His wrath. Furthermore, an angel is not bound to physicality and can appear or speak to whom it wishes in accordance with God’s command.
"Angels With Jesus Inside The Tomb," by William Blake. c. 1805
The spiritual eyes of one needs to be first opened before one can perceive of an angel. For instance, contained in Numbers 22:21-40 is the account of Balaam and his donkey. In this case the donkey can perceive of the angel, but Balaam himself can’t. Thus, if one is granted to gift of seeing such beings, the angel that is perceived might not be the only angel in attendance. Also, if you are in company with another individual, it remains a possibility, that if you are privy to such a manifestation, the other party may not be able to perceive of it. This is exactly what happens in 2 Kings 6:15-17:
“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh, my Lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. 16‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ 17And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
This provides ample evidence that there may have been actually two angels in the tomb and the account of one, could have been given to Luke from a source who didn’t have eyes to see both of the heavenly beings. In fact, there could have been a multitude for we know. Yet, the Lord knows. There is even speculation that this “lone” man was actually Christ. However, I do not believe this to be the case, for not only is there scriptural evidence that shows angels can appear as man, but also, and more importantly, when Mary is weeping by herself two angels appear to her while she is in the presence of Christ. More on that later.
"The Morning of The Resurrection," by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. oil on canvas. c. 1882
According to Matthew 28, we find that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary travel to go view the tomb of our Lord. As mentioned before, they had already discussed how they were going to move the rock in front. An angel, given the assignment of perhaps causing a large earthquake had come down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. This left both Mary’s and their other companions, free to enter the tomb as they will without any hindrance at the hands of the guards, for all the guards cowered before the heavenly being upon the stone. The angel in Matthew 28:5-6 calms the women, saying to them to not be afraid, as angels frequently do. In addition, the angel tells them that Christ has risen, just as He said He would, and invites the women into the tomb to see where He had lain. The angel then instructs the women to run to the disciples once they leave.
I feel it is at this point the women enter the tomb, at the invitation of the angel outside. It was not only this angel’s duty to remove the stone, or cause an earthquake, but also protect the women from the guards, who were there from orders directly from Pilate. By entering the tomb they essentially broke Roman law, and the Romans were not known for their kind, humane punishments.
At the angels urging, the women, both Mary’s with Salome and Joanna, entered the tomb, where a “young man,” according to Mark 16:5, in white sat at their right side. Why is this angel the only one mentioned in Mark, when the Book of Luke says there are two? Concerning the nature of angels it could be that this is the only one that appeared to all, while the other may have been unseen by some of the group. It’s also important that we remember what, “angel” means. Angel, literally translated, means: “Messenger.” Perhaps there were two beings, but only one is mentioned in Mark due to the fact he may have been the lone communicator among the two. So though one isn’t mentioned in Luke, I don’t find any inevitable contradiction in the accounts, for it never says there is ONLY one. The angel restates what the angel outside said, and it makes sense. For the uniformity of their words, suggests obedience to God’s commandment concerning what they were allowed, or not allowed, to say. Although an angel of the Lord was posted outside to protect the tomb, the evidence was inside the tomb, which the woman were invited to see and report to the disciples.
Although the angel told the women that Christ had risen, Mark 16:8 gives us some insight into their state of mind. What they were just told is the phenomenal truth of Christ our Lord who had risen from the dead. It’s a little hard, knowing what we know, to conceptualize that these women couldn’t grasp the truth right away, but that’s only because we are quite distant from the actual occurrence of walking into Christ’s tomb, seeing our beloved missing, and a stranger telling us He has rose. The women were understandably confused and frightened by the encounter, not because they didn’t love Jesus, quite the contrary, but rather because it was so outside the realm of normal everyday occurrence. Such things produce fright and though they were afraid, Matthew tells us, at the same time they were filled with joy.
What I regard as the next account is what happened on the women’s way to tell the disciples of there encounter. This is recounted in Matthew 28:8-10:
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. (9)Suddenly, Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
As the women were on their way to tell the disciples and had their encounter with Jesus, the chief priests and elders bribed the guards to say that His body was stolen as they slept. In addition, the elders promised that no harm would come to them if they did so. They were bribed to lie and keep quiet about the amazing events they had indeed saw.
There are some who believe that Mary Magdalene was alone, when she ran and told the disciples, or that all the women were there, but in more than one group. However, I feel the Scriptures tell us different. Luke 24:10 says explicitly:
“It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.”
Another name, Salome, is mentioned in the Gospels, but Luke indicates that there was a group of women who experienced the risen Christ. If Christ indeed appeared to this women, which nobody at first believed, citing it as “nonsense,” Why did Mary Magdalene say that she didn’t know what happened to the body? John 20:9 tells us that they yet didn’t know that Jesus had to rise from the dead, so there was obviously some confusion about what was taking place. If we interject ourselves in the resurrection account, is it really that hard to believe that such confusion was evident? Mary and her companions didn’t see the body of Christ, but saw Him on their way to inform the disciples. It’s possible that Mary considered Christ as some kind of apparition, like the disciples themselves did, and He may have looked somewhat different. We know at a later time that Mary Magdalene is unable to recognize Christ, and Mary isn’t alone in this. Christ veils His identity from a number of the disciples after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene being witness to the crucifixion, which are quite obviously grisly and brutal forms of execution, may have not realized as of yet, the nature of His new body. Thus, though she disclosed to the disciples of their encounter, what happened to the body that was missing from the tomb still could have been a mystery to Her.
The Book of John tells us that Peter and John started running for the tomb once the women told of their encounters. This was dangerous undertaking especially after the charges that the elders and guards were making against them, and indeed their very lives could have been in danger. John reached the tomb first, but did not go in, while Simon Peter on the other hand did. Peter saw the strips of linen and burial shroud neatly folded up. I find it probable that at least Mary followed the two men. Then John went inside observing the same thing as Peter and believed, though John 20:9 suggests they didn’t have a full understanding of what had occurred. Also Luke 24:12 says that after Peter left the tomb, he wondered what had happened. One of the gospel accounts only tells the account of Peter running to the tomb and peering in, but this could have been a simplification, for adding John doesn’t necessarily add anything but an extra witness. There is no consequence for John being there and He may have been ommited due to it’s irreverence.
"Peter and John Running to the Tomb," by Eugene Burnand. oil on canvas, c. 1898
Continuing in the book of John, we find Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene. The disciples returned home as John 20:10 tells us, but she stood there outside the tomb weeping. Why? Hadn’t she seen the Lord? She indeed had, but the disciples’ time to have their eyes opened hadn’t yet come to pass. I am certain she wept, at least in part, due to frustration, for the collaborating evidence she wished would be there was not. There were no men or angels while Peter and John were there, but as she leaned into the tomb after they had gone, she saw two angels of white, seated where Christ’s body had been. One at the head and one at the foot which could be symbolic. They asked her why she was crying, to which she responded, “they have taken my Lord away.” Now she turned and saw Jesus, but here she too had her eyes blinded, until Christ spoke her name. She then recognized Him, and after being stopped from embracing Him, she returned to the disciples telling that she had seen the Lord.
"The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene," by Alexander Ivanov. oil on canvas, c. 1834-1836
I offer this viewpoint of the reconciliation of the resurrection accounts, not as Gospel, but as just one possibility of what could have happened. Indeed, it comes from my own study of these accounts, thus it may be full of error. I don’t encourage anyone to follow this explanation or consider it as infallible as the Bible, please don’t, my main goal was to point out that these resurrection accounts can have many different interpretations, and don’t necessarily reach a contradiction. Some say there are at least 18 contradictions in the resurrection accounts, but I don’t find any evidence for this, for I believe the differences can be explained, and that most the citied contradictions are just examples of biblical omission.
Often times, we Christians are asked questions that do not appear within the Gospels or even the rest of Scripture. To those non-believers, and even, at times, believers, for the Bible to be true, it needs to satisfy all our curiosity concerning events. I recall once being asked how Christ’s father, Joseph, died? There is no biblical answer, other than the Bible speaking to Joseph’s character, but how He died is not stated in the Bible. Why? Simply, I believe the Bible tells us what we need to know, and there are certain details that have no consequence concerning our relationship with the Lord.
Omission in the word of God is suggested by the Gospels themselves. The last verse in the Gospel of John, 21:25 states:
It should be evident by this verse that indeed certain events are not recorded in the Scriptures. Perhaps God, in his infinite wisdom, knew that the short attention span of man wouldn’t lend itself to a Bible that would dwarf the size of the full Encyclopedia Britannica. Thus, the Scriptures only reveal to us what we need to know, and the spreading of the word and of Christianity throughout the world testifies to its perfection. Yet, as I have brought up here and in a previous entry (see my note concerning 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “On The Chaos of Reason, The Firstfruit, and The Transfiguration”), let us be wary not to see omission as contradiction.
In addition, we need to be aware that the Bible may contradict, not by the word itself, but because of the beliefs we hold on to, which may be perpetuated by the traditions of the Church, Catholicism or any number of other schools of theology. I recall hearing at one time that the first person Christ appeared to was His mother Mary. This tradition, as far as I am aware, began in the Catholic Church. Yet, it isn’t mentioned in scripture. However, because we know things are omitted as confirmed by the word, it doesn’t mean He didn’t, just that we can’t say for sure in a biblical context. In reality, this belief is based on what man thinks Christ had ought to have done, which is extremely prideful. If this or such tradition is juxtaposed with the word, contradiction can easily arise from it, and perhaps cause confusion among the Body.
In the 14th-century, a Franciscan friar, Father William of Ockham’s namesake was applied to a popular philosophical theory, known as, “Ockham’s Razor,” or now more commonly spelled, “Occam’s Razor.” This theory suggests that from any competeing hypotheses, the one with the least amount of assumptions, or the hypothesis containing the simplest answer, is usually the correct one. Though I have reservations about this particular philosophical theory, when it comes to finding contradiction in the Bible it applies, though not absolutely. There are times when we think too much behind scriptural passages, when the true reconciliation is apt to be something much more simple.
A great example of this is the supposed contradiction between Christ’s first meeting of Simon Peter and Andrew. The two, “contradictions,” are found in Matthew 4:18-20 and John 1:35-42. The account in John describes their first meeting with Jesus. Andrew went to see where Christ was staying, and called on his brother Simon Peter exclaiming they had found the Messiah. In Matthew however, Christ calls to Andrew and Simon Peter as they were casting a net into the Sea of Galilee. He tells the men to follow Him and that He will make them fishers of men. Many make the assumption that both of these are representational of Simon Peter and Andrew’s first meeting of Christ, but this is false. Rather, the Book of John describes how they met, while Matthew describes how they were called into discipleship. “Occam’s Razor,” turns out to be appropriate in this case, for if one lets go of assumptions and looks at the verses in a more simplistic manner, the contradiction is negated, and these two accounts come together in complete unity.
"The Calling of Peter and Andrew," by Duccio di Buoninsegna. tempra on wood, c. 1308-1311
Within this entry I have attempted to identify some of the means by which people are tripped up by contradiction. I believe that most of it is based on assumption, tradition, and omission. Indeed, these are some of the very things that have led me astray in the past. We need to be aware of the stumbling blocks such things pose and that it is the Scriptures that should change our point of view, rather than our view distort the Scriptures. I pray that all those attempting to find answers would rely on the revelation and teaching of God and not that of man, who due in part to his faulty nature, can promote the use of assumption within the Word of God. May the Lord protect His word and keep us free from falsehood. Amen.
I would like to once again acknowledge Terie for her input concerning this entry. Her propensity for grammar is an amazing gift, that I tend to lack. Thank you Terie!
Tags: "Angels With Jesus Inside The Tomb", "Christ Appears to The Holy Women", "Christ with Joseph of Arimathea", "Do Not Be Afraid", "Messenger", "Occam's Razor", "Ockham's Razor", "Penitent Mary Magdalene", "Peter and John Running to the Tomb", "Resurrection of Christ", "Roman Guards Watch Over Tomb", "The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene", "The Calling of Peter and Andrew" by Duccio di Buoninsegna, "The Morning of The Resurrection", "We", 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 1308-1311, 14th Century, 1525, 1565, 18 Contradictions, 1805, 1834-1836, 1882, 1884-1896, 1886-1894, 1898, 2 Kings, 2 Kings 6, 2 Kings 6:15-17, 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Abnormally Born, Account, Account of One, Accounts, Actual Occurrence, Add, Afraid, Alexander Ivanov, Allowed, Alone, Amen, Ample, Andrew, Angel, Angel of The Lord, Angels, Angels of White, Anoint, Anointing, Apostles, Appear, Appearance of Angels, Appearances, Appeared, Appropriate, Apt, Arise, Army, Asked, Assumption, Assumptions, Astray, Attendance, Attention, Audience, Aware, Balaam, Behave, Beings, Beliefs, Believed, Believers, Beloved Missing, Best, Bible, Biblical Answer, Biblical Omission, Blinded, Body, Body of Christ, Both, Bribed, Broad, Brother, Brothers, Brutal, Burial Shroud, Buried, Casting, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Cause, Certain Events, Chariots, Chief Priests, Christ, Christ Our Lord, Christ's Body, Christ's Death, Christ's Identity, Christ's New Body, Christ's Reality, Christ's Resurrection. 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Bankhead Visiting Writers Series Archive: Charles Simic
Oct 13, 2014Archive, Feature
Charles Simic at the Bankhead Visiting Writer’s Series, University of Alabama, March 2004
All readings are made possible by an endowment from the Bankhead Foundation, the Program in Creative Writing, the Department of English, and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Bankhead Visiting Writers Series brings emerging as well as internationally renowned writers to the University of Alabama campus to read from their work. Past visiting writers include Charles Simic, Alice McDermott, Kevin Young, Andre Dubus, Robert Pinsky, Alice Walker, Bei Dao, Neil Gaiman, and George Saunders, among others.
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June 7, 2018 By Suzanne 1 Comment
Song of the Day: But Beautiful
The song of the day for Friday, June 8, 2018 is “But Beautiful.”
This song was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
I love this song and have featured it often and always feature the recording that Tony Bennett made with Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. Today I’m very pleased to feature the very lovely duet of “But Beautiful” that Mr. Bennett made with Lady Gaga in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek.
But Beautiful, a song by Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga on Spotify
“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.
I know it’s not Saturday, but this video of Tony and Lady Gaga is just too beautiful to pass up.
I so happy to hear Tony Bennett sing “But Beautiful” Wednesday night at his concert in Portland, with the brilliant guitar work of Gray Sargent. I had the great honor of getting to meet and have conversations with all four members of the quartet: Ton Ranier, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood and Harold Jones. I have so much admiration for the work of this quartet and meeting them was so special. I also got to meet the jazz singer Donna Byrne, who opened for Tony Bennett on Wednesday. She’s a hell of a singer and a warm and nice person. Do check out her website–from the Music link on the menu, you can hear her wonderful voice. I particularly like “He Was Too Good To Me.”
My sincere thanks to Gray, Harold, Tom, Marshall and Donna for their warmth and kindness towards this blogger.
Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Donna Bytne, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Lady Gaga, Marshall Wood, Tom Ranier, Tony Bennett
April 5, 2018 By Suzanne Leave a Comment
The Tony Bennett Quartet
I can’t say enough about what a fine group of musicians comprise this quartet. They are all supremely talented, both as individuals and as a close, tight-knit group.
They will be performing at a local jazz club in Methuen, Massachusetts on April 10, along with singer Donna Byrne. I wish I could be there. If you live in the greater Boston area, you might want to head to Methuen on the 10th.
Tony Bennett Quartet (sans Tony) bound for Jocko’s Jazz in Methuen
It’s a rare bird. A first. The Tony Bennett Quartet will play a show without Bennett. On April 10 in Methuen, they’ll take the cabaret stage at Jocko’s Jazz, a Tuesday night staple for more than a decade at The Sahara Club and Restaurant.
Filed Under: About His Collaborators Tagged With: Donna Byrne, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones, Marshall Wood, The Tony Bennett Quartet, Tom Ranier
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chinese wall
You are currently browsing articles tagged chinese wall.
Where did “Chinese Wall” come from?
September 16, 2010 in Books, Quote | 7 comments
The meaning of the term “Chinese wall” is clear. It’s a virtual partition meant to keep potentially conflicted interests apart. What’s not clear, at least to me, is where the term came from. This post at WhatIs.com quotes Wikipedia, this way:
Chinese wall is usually said to be a reference to the Great Wall of China, erected over 2000 years ago to protect inhabitants from invaders. However, other theories exist. In a Wikipedia entry, for example, the author argues that the term probably derives from a diplomatic contrivance of the Late Imperial period in China: “…if a junior mandarin saw a senior mandarin on the road he was expected to bow and present his compliments. In Beijing this tended to happen quite a lot and so traffic was frequently blocked. Instead mandarins came up with a method of pretending they did not see each other on the road by the clever placing of a retainer with an umbrella. Because they did not “see” each other, they were not obliged to stop.”
Meanwhile Wikipedia’s Chinese wall article now lacks that passage, so that’s a dead end. I recall “Chinese wall” meaning a thin one: You can hear what’s happening on the other side, but can pretend not to notice. Still, not good enough. So I’m hoping one of you can point me to a source I can cite in the book I’m writing.
And if you’re wondering why I’m posting less these days, it’s because my nose is on the book’s grindstone.
Tags: chinese wall, WhatIs.com, Wikipedia
On advertising and search
May 3, 2009 in Blogging, Business, infrastructure, problems | 13 comments
Dave asks, When Google has to cut its own revenue stream by enhancing search, will they do it?
Good question. Here is another: Has Google’s success at advertising slowed its innovations around search? And, How far will Google go with search engine improvements if there’s clearly no advertising money in it?
I’m not suggesting answers here. I’m just asking.
There are many things I would love to search for that Google doesn’t cover. But then, nobody does. For example, a date-range search just of blogs. Google Blogsearch does feature date-based search, with the most recent on top. But what if I want to search just in November and December of 2004? Near as I can tell, it can’t be done. (Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m glad to be.) [Later…] I am corrected by the first two comments.
I once had high hopes that Technorati would support that kind of search, but both Technorati and Google Blogsearch are playing the What’s Popular game. (For what it’s worth, I used to be on Technorati’s advisory board, but now David Sifry is gone and I’m not sure the company even has one any more.)
Anyway, it’s hard for me not to appreciate the many different ways Google lets me search for stuff. Their geographic services, for example, are amazing. So is stuff like this. But I can’t help but notice that the basic search offering has changed relatively little over the years. Is it because of the advertising? You tell me. I really don’t know.
Tags: chinese wall, conflict of interest, editorial, google, Google Blogsearch, money, publishing, Technorati, trust
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Comedy · Drama · Reviews
Vicky and Woody and François: On Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Tony Macklin
The return of Jules and Jim?
In 2008, cinema is mostly moribund, mired in CGI and slacker mentality, with an assembly line of remakes and sequels. One awaits Citizen Kane with Seth Rogen.
Today a resounding work of art seems improbable if not impossible, but despite all the trends against it, Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a work of art that dazzles while it intrigues. Vicky Cristina Barcelona doesn’t go back 46 days for its influence; it goes back 46 years for its inspiration.
A major key to unlock Vicky Cristina Barcelona comes from François Truffaut’s classic Jules and Jim (1962). Keeping Jules and Jim in mind while watching Woody’s film makes the viewer aware of sights and visions that might otherwise be passed over. In Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody does an exceptional thing — he uses Truffaut’s masterpiece as a springboard for his own vision, and it soars. This is not a remake of the Truffaut film, but like Bergman’s influence on Woody’s stark Interiors (1978), Jules and Jim is a potent source. Woody uses the spirit and style (even an iris) of Truffaut’s film to wondrous effect.
Like Jules and Jim, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is about commitment, fractured relationships, the confused search for identity, and the shifting, unsettling nature of love. Woody doesn’t exhibit the absurdity of Jules and Jim, but like Truffaut he is a fatalist. And he shows that we mortals try to avoid the opportunities that fate decrees and may suffer the consequences, which lets him explore the bleak side of romantic comedy.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the story of two young women from New York who travel to Barcelona for the summer to stay with the older relatives of one of them. Vicky (Rebecca Hall, right) is engaged to be married and goes to Barcelona pursuing research for her thesis on Catalan culture. She is the sensible, rational, careful one.
Her friend Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) is getting over her latest romantic fling. She’s a would-be free spirit. Like many of us, she doesn’t quite know what she wants, but she knows what she doesn’t want.
Cristina and Vicky observe painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) at an art gallery and are told that he recently had a divorce after many physical brawls with his fiery wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). Later that night, fate brings Vicky, Cristina, and Juan Antonio together when they are in the same restaurant. He approaches the two women and offers to take them to the provincial town of Oviedo for a weekend of sightseeing, great food, and sex. Vicky dismisses him, but Cristina is intrigued. The trio take the trip, although Vicky remains uninvolved.
Cristina goes to bed with Juan Antonio, but before anything can happen, she is struck by food poisoning. Oh, fickle fate! With Cristina ill and bedridden, Vicky and Juan Antonio become friends and — for one night — lovers. That one night changes Vicky’s life forever; she now has options that she never imagined. But she still goes through with her marriage, when her fiancé Doug (Chris Messina) insists that he come to Barcelona for a sudden ceremony. Meanwhile Cristina moves in with Juan Antonio, and when his ex-wife tries to commit suicide, he has her move in, too.
The relationships ebb and flow, crash and float. If all this sounds too antic and manipulated, it’s not; Woody creates a smooth, fateful fable.
Woody has also created a tricky character in Cristina, who is open to experimenting — she’s even delighted by her participation in a ménage a trois in Barcelona. But Cristina is also unsure of herself; she sadly admits that although she has tried many things, she isn’t an artist as Juan Antonio and Maria Elena are. She yearns to be an artist, but realizes she’s not gifted. Juan Antonio and Maria Elena recognize talent in Cristina’s photography and help her to be more creative. The relationship between the three of them — like the three in Jules and Jim — is positive for a while. Juan Antonio and Maria Elena realize that Cristina is the element that makes their own relationship work, but eventually Cristina decides she must go another way.
The character of Vicky embodies everyman or everywoman, since she is the one who faces the choice between taking a reckless chance or not. The audience members may not have experienced a ménage a trois, but most of us have faced a major — perhaps life-changing — choice in love. In that way, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is universal. Despite its exotic elements, the film relates to a basic human condition we all share.
The acting is first-rate. Rebecca Hall, the daughter of esteemed British theater and film director Peter Hall, is ideal as Vicky. Although British, she evinces American aplomb, slipping warily between confidence and doubt. Scarlett Johansson captures the intrepid, occasionally callow Cristina. It’s a difficult role.
Woody was lucky that it seems Penelope Cruz always falls in love with her leading man (Bardem and Cruz are reportedly engaged at this writing), because the sparks and banter between them add a reality to the hysteria. Patricia Clarkson shines as the incomplete woman who missed her chance and tries to live vicariously through Vicky.
Doug Messina’s fresh and confident Doug lives comfortably in a wired world. He’s always accompanied by his trusty cell phone. He’s genial but shallow — he smugly disparages the wedding gift of one of Juan Antonio’s paintings as “a Rorschach blot.” Will Vicky ultimately choose the cell phone or the painting?
Like Jules and Jim (right), Vicky Cristina Barcelona is technically marvelous. Like the settings in Truffaut’s film, those in Vicky Cristina Barcelona are diverse and evocative — the Gaudi architectural designs, the Miro Museum, and the twisting streets all create a feast of local color. Like Raoul Coutard’s cinematography, Javier Aguirresarobe’s is exquisite. Like Georges Delerue’s music, Guilia y Los Tellarini’s score is lilting and lyrical.
The correlation between Jules and Jim and Vicky Cristina Barcelona is profound.
What do Christopher Evan Welch and Michel Subor have in common? Each narrates his or her respective film. Many reviewers have balked at the narration in Vicky Cristina Barcelona — some hated it. Maybe since it’s not the oh-so-familiar, mellifluous tones of Morgan Freeman, they were jarred. But the narration is the first thing that alerts us to the connection with Jules and Jim. It’s detached and matter-of-fact — like the voice of Fate.
In Vicky Cristina Barcelona fate is constant: the meeting at the restaurant; the illness of Cristina; a foot touching the wrong foot under a table; the accidental meetings of Vicky and Juan Antonio; Vicky’s seeing Judy kissing her husband’s partner, which leads to intimate conversation between the two women; the wounding of Vicky, which leads her to further lies. Fate has a busy time here.
Woody also shares Truffaut’s sense of the folly of communication. In Jules and Jim it was correspondence by letter that was folly. In Vicky Cristina Barcelona cell phones are the objects that convey transitory and misleading communication. Vicky stops saying, “I love you” at the end of her calls to Doug. As love ebbs and flows, lies flow.
Is life a sigh of passion, of relief, or of resignation?
Vicky Cristina Barcelona restores our faith in movies. It blessedly avoids self-indulgence — sometimes a pitfall for Woody. For years his films have seemed uninspired, but Truffaut has inspired him once again. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is in no way a step-by-step reflection of Jules and Jim. It’s very different, but both movies share a similar auteur soul. Both shimmer with lasting, provocative life.
— Tony Macklin
Tony Macklin is a former film professor at the University of Dayton, the former editor of the much-missed filmcrit magazine Film Heritage, and a radio film critic in Las Vegas.
Previous story Synecdoche, Mon Amour
Next story “She’s Gone to the ends of the universe…. on STP.” – Late Tonight, on TCM, do tape it, flower-bama
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A Theory of Everything... Cinematic (It's a List) - Cinematic Excess says:
[…] Goodfellas, Jules and Jim, Vicky Cristina Barcelona More: GoodFellas: Five Films that Influenced Martin Scorsese’s Gangster Classic, Vicky and Woody and François: On Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona […]
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Bayesian frailty modeling of correlated survival data with application to under-five mortality
Refah M. Alotaibi1,
Hoda Ragab Rezk1,2 &
Chris Guure ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6595-95873
BMC Public Health volume 20, Article number: 1429 (2020) Cite this article
There is high rate of under-five mortality in West Africa with little effort made to study determinants that significantly increase or decrease its risk across the West African sub-region. This is important since it will help in the design of effective intervention programs for each country or the entire region. The overall objective of this research evaluates the determinants of under-five mortality prior to the end of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, to guide West African countries implement strategies that will aid them achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 by 2030.
This study used the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from twelve (12) out of the eighteen West African countries; Ghana, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Togo. Data were extracted from the children and women of reproductive age files as provided in the DHS report. The response or outcome variable of interest is under-five mortality rate. A Bayesian exponential, Weibull and Gompertz regression models via a gamma shared frailty model were used for the analysis. The deviance information criteria and Bayes factors were used to discriminate between models. These analyses were carried out using Stata version 15 software.
The study recorded 101 (95% CI: 98.6–103.5) deaths per 1000 live births occurring among the twelve countries. Burkina Faso (124.4), Cote D’lvoire (110.1), Guinea (116.4), Nigeria (120.6) and Niger (118.3) recorded the highest child under-5 mortality rate. Gambia (48.1), Ghana (60.1) and Benin (70.4) recorded the least unde-5 mortality rate per 1000 livebirths. Multiple birth children were about two times more likely to die compared to singleton birth, in all except Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. We observed significantly higher hazard rates for male compared to female children in the combined data analysis (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: [1.10–1.18]). The country specific analysis in Benin, Cote D’lvoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Nigeria showed higher under-5 mortality hazard rates among male children compared to female children whilst Niger was the only country to report significantly lower hazard rate of males compared to females.
There is still quite a substantial amount of work to be done in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3 in 2030 in West Africa. There exist variant differences among some of the countries with respect to mortality rates and determinants which require different interventions and policy decisions.
Under-five mortality is defined as the probability of a child dying before the fifth birthday or before reaching the age of five [1]. Approximately 9 million deaths occur per year worldwide that are attributable to under-five mortality [2]. This has brought about major concerns and efforts to reduce under-five mortality, as child health is a key indicator of economic development [3]. Thus, in 2000, world leaders from 189 countries came together and developed eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which were to be achieved by end of year 2015. The MDG 4 called for a reduction in under-five mortality by two thirds [4, 5]. Out of the eight MDGs, four of them were directly related to child mortality [3].
The twentieth century experienced a severe decline in under-five mortality in most countries, irrespective of their socio-economic and development status [6]. Yet the gap between developed and developing nations in child mortality is still high as children in developing countries are 10 times more likely to die before the age of five [2]. Studies reveal that the global under-five mortality has reduced from 91 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to about 43 deaths per 1000 live births in 2015 [7]. Despite this substantial progress, it is projected that about 68.8 million children will die before their fifth birthday between 2016 and 2030 if the mortality rate in 2015 remains constant [4, 5]. Thus, there is still a need for all countries to continue to work towards reducing under-five mortality.
Under-five mortality remains a great concern in many countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest under-five mortality rate in the world. Through efforts and collaborations, Ghana experienced a 58% reduction in under-five mortality from 127 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 62 deaths per 1000 live births in 2015. Others include Mali (115), Guinea (94), Sierra Leone (120), Liberia (70), Cote d’ Ivoire (93), Togo (78), Benin (100), Nigeria (109), Gambia (69) and Burkina Faso (89 per 1000 deaths live births of under-fives [4, 5]. Though this is a substantial progress, all these West African states failed to meet the 2015 MDG of 40 deaths per 1000 livebirths [8].
There are regional and socioeconomic inequalities in under-five mortality within countries. For under-five mortality to be reduced effectively, determinants of high mortality among disadvantaged people, communities and regions need to first of all be identified [9].
It is anticipated that, the high prevalence of under-five mortality could be due to unobserved differences that exist between communities. There are substantial regional disparities in under-five mortality, and evidence suggests that both individual and community level characteristics have an influence on health outcomes [7]. Studies have been conducted on under-five mortality worldwide, see for instance Kayode et al. 2012 [2], You et al 2015 [4, 5], Deribew et al. 2007 [6] and Rudan et al. 2008 [10].
It has been established that cluster levels (community effects) have significant effects on under-five mortality [7]. Unfortunately, community effects are usually not considered nor accounted for in studies that seek to find the determinants of under-five mortality [11]. However, child survival and under-five mortality have only recently been analyzed using frailty models [11]. The ability to assess and account for cluster level variations of under-five mortality using a time-to-event model, will help to re-evaluate current policies that target reduction of under -five mortality in the West African sub-region.
Cox proportional hazards model proposed by Cox, [12] is by far the most popular regression model in analyzing time-to-event data. This model has been implemented via the frequentist or the Bayesian frameworks, refer to, Austin, 2017 [13], Clayton et al., 1985 [14], Clayton 1991 [15], Duchateau et al., 2007 [16], Koissi et al., 2013 [17], Tsonaka et al. 2009 [18] and Van Oirbeek et al., 2010 [19] for further information. Though, highly used by both researchers and practitioners, the model requires that the survival times for subjects be independent and identically distributed [16, 19, 20]. An assumption that may not be practically attainable in all situations, since some subjects may be related either by virtue of their relation within a family [21], or by shared community or environment [22]. Factors of this nature represent the cumulative effect of unobserved or unmeasured covariates that may reflect impacts of environmental and socio-cultural factors [21]. There are a number of biostatistical methods used to quantify the size of the effect of unobserved factors which may act either multiplicatively or additively on the baseline hazards Duchateau et al., [16]; Spizzichino [23]. Breslow & Clayton [24], Hougaard [25], and Klein [26], modelled the dependence of the covariate structure via frailty terms of an assumed parametric distribution.
Most often than not, researchers unjustifiably assume that a particular distribution is appropriate for their data without any scientific or empirical evidence but on the bases of tractability of the frailty function and availability of software [27]. This does not permit appropriate inference to correctly inform appropriate interventions. The objectives of this study are three fold, 1) to test how well a proposed distribution fits the data at hand before any inference can be drawn, 2) to account or quantify the amount of heterogeneity that exists at community level that may bias posterior mean estimates and their corresponding posterior standard deviations and consequently the credible intervals, and 3) to determine consistent determinants of under-five mortality across all the twelve countries in the West African sub-region. The overall objective of this research is to evaluate the determinants of under-five mortality prior to the end of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, to guide West African countries implement strategies that will aid in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 by 2030.
This study obtained and analyzed data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) across all the participating twelve countries in West Africa these are; Ghana, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Togo. Countries that were included in this study had their DHS conducted between the years 2012 to 2014. Countries that collected their data before 2012 and after 2014 were excluded in this analysis. This study was considered only in West Africa due to its relatively high rates of under-five mortality in the African Continent and the World as a whole. The DHS conducted across some selected countries in the world are based on nationally representative samples from all the participating countries. The collection of this data across West African countries use a similar selection approach via stratified two-stage sampling techniques. The information gathering approach is via structured interviews administered by well-trained research assistants or field workers. Data used in this study were extracted from the child and women’s questionnaire which contains information from 5 years prior to the survey date and questions about maternal factors, birth history and community factors as well. Country specific samples were; Burkina Faso (15,162), Benin (12,290), Cote D’Ivoire (7149), Ghana (5675), Gambia (7798), Guinea (6977), Liberia (6432), Mali (9964), Nigeria (30,540), Niger (12,767), Sierra Leone (8359) and Togo (6581). The overall combined sample is 129,693.
Study outcome
The main outcome for this study was time-to-under-five mortality (death occurring to a child before he/she reaches the age of five) among twelve different countries in the West African sub-Region. Under-five mortality is defined as mortality occurring from the age of zero months to 59 months. Therefore, the dependent variable in this study was defined as “the risk of death occurring between 0 to 59 months period. The outcome variable was thus survival time in months for the children under the age of five. Children who died under the age of five were deemed to have had the event and assigned the number 1. Those who did not die within the period were censored and assigned the number 0. This study allowed us to determine whether factors that have either positive or negative effects in under-fives are similar or different across the region. Women were asked about the age of children, including (month and year) birth of a child born alive, sex of the child and whether the child was still alive or dead. With dead children, information from their mothers regarding age at death was also obtained. Stillbirth or miscarriages were not included in this study.
Study setting
Explanatory variables
The exposure variables that were of interest and considered in the analysis are; mother’s age group (15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49), type of residence (urban, rural), mother’s level of education (No education, Primary, Secondary and Higher), birth status (singleton birth, multiple births), sex of the child (male, female), wealth index (poorest, poorer, middle, rich, richer), birth order (1st - 3rd, 4th - 6th, 7th + children), religion (Christian, Muslim, No religion, other religion and Traditional), place of delivery (home vs health facility), mode of delivery (caesarean section or no caesarean section), weight of the child (small (less than 2.5 kg), average (2.5 kg < =weight < =4.5 kg) and large (> 4.5 kg)) these were birth weights recorded for children 5 years preceding the survey from written records or mother’s recall of the size of the child at birth and preceding birth interval (< 12 months, 11 to 23 months, 24 to 35 months, > 35 months).
Some of the included independent variables in the model were selected based on their significance at the bivariate level (hazard ratios of variables that did not have 1 included in their credible intervals) whilst others were based on recommendation from literature. We checked for a 2-way interaction effect using all possible combinations of the exposure variables via a two-model approach, that is a model with the interaction effect referred to as “full model” and another without the interaction effect called “half model”. After which, we run a likelihood ratio test (in that the half_model was nested within the full_model) and using the p-values with reference to an alpha level of 0.05, the model with interactions was rejected because it was not significant.
Analytical procedure
A Bayesian parametric proportional hazards modeling approach was adopted for this study. We looked at the effects of specifying different models with or without a frailty term on the distribution of under-five mortality rate estimates for each country and the combined data from all the countries. Frailties were modelled according to the number of regions (following DHS classification) of the country and further into whether the respondents were either residing in a rural or urban setting. For instance, Ghana had 10 regions at the time of the survey and so within a region, respondents were either residing in a rural community or urban. Therefore, Ghana had 20 strata. The rest are as follows; Burkina Faso 26, Benin 23, Cote D’ Ivoire 21, Gambia 14, Guinea 15, Liberia 10, Mali 11, Nigeria 12, Niger 15, Sierra Leone 8 and Togo 11 strata. The frailty was specified to control for the heterogeneity between residence and across regions [13]. We specified three different distributional (the exponential, Weibull and Gompertz) forms for the hazard function in two different dimensions. One dimension assumes that community level variations are constant or do not vary and therefore, there is no heterogeneity between groups. The second dimension assumes no heterogeneity within (clusters or community) groups but between (clusters or community) groups and so a shared (gamma) frailty model is specified. Therefore, in the first set of the models, it is assumed that community level effects are not of particular interest and therefore the data follows either the standard exponential, Weibull or Gompertz regression model. In the second stage, we assumed a variation between communities and therefore made use of a frailty term to account for the variations using the parametric proportional hazards model framework as specified above.
The Cox proportional hazards regression is one of the popular statistical models used in analyzing censored survival data. The Cox model does not assume any specific form of the baseline hazard function, as an alternative to the Cox model, one can make assumptions about the shape of the underlying hazard function by using a parametric model; parametric models directly estimate absolute effects in addition to relative effects [28]. The hazard function is often of fundamental interest since it represents an important aspect of the time course of the disease in question [29]. Due to our interest in estimating whether the hazards of death in under-fives among the twelve countries is either decreasing, increasing or constant, we made use of only parametric proportional regression models. One of the advantages of the parametric models is that, there are better fit models over Cox when the shape of the hazard is known.
There were six models specified for this work. The first three were Bayesian regression models (exponential, Weibull and Gompertz) specified and fitted with the assumption that community heterogeneity (frailty) was insignificant. The second three Bayesian regression models, same as above, include a gamma shared frailty term with the assumption of a significant unobserved effect (presence of heterogeneity). Analysis were carried out on each model via the Bayesian approach for all the data sets. Comparison of the models were carried out using the deviance information criteria (DIC) and the Bayes factors (BF). The DIC is the Bayesian version of the frequentist AIC and BIC. It has two components, the goodness of fit represented by \( \overline{D}\left(\theta \right) \) and the model complexity term pD. This in effect makes \( DIC=\overline{D}\left(\theta \right)+ pD \). Smaller values of the DIC are more preferable to larger values. The Bayes Factor relies on the expression that, the posterior odds are a product of the prior odds and the BF. If we assume that two models are equally probable, then the posterior odds will be equal to that of the Bayes Factor. Therefore, a model with a Bayes Factor > 1 compared to the other is more preferable. These analyses were carried out using Stata version 15 software.
Test of proportionality under survival analysis
Schoenfeld residual test and a graphical approach were used to test for the proportional hazard’s assumption conditions. The Schoenfeld test hypothesizes that some variables do not vary with time. This hypothesis implies that variables remain constant over the study period and therefore satisfy the proportionality assumption under the PH model.
Models with and without frailty terms
The proportional hazards model without a frailty term
The proportional hazards model specifies that the hazard at some time t for an individual with covariate x can be expressed as
$$ h\left(t|x\right)={h}_0(t)\exp \left(\overset{`}{X}\beta \right) $$
where h0(t) is the baseline hazard function, X’ represents the vector of covariates, β the regression coefficients and S0(ti) the survival function.
The likelihood function L(D| h0(t), β) that can be expressed in the form of a right censored data (for the under-five mortality) on n number of subjects is
$$ L\left(D|{h}_0(t),\beta \right)={\prod}_{i=1}^n{\left\{{h}_0\left({t}_i\right)\mathit{\exp}\left({\overset{`}{X}}_i\beta \right)\right\}}^{\delta_i}\left({S}_0{\left({t}_i\right)}^{\mathit{\exp}\left({\overset{`}{X}}_i\beta \right)}\right) $$
The proportional hazards model with a frailty term
In this analysis, we specify a shared frailty model which implies that similar observations within a group have similar characteristics or frailty but these frailties differ between groups. Frailty models in survival analysis account for unobserved heterogeneity that occurs because some observations are more failure-prone and therefore, more “frail” than other observations. We assume that the survival times for say the ith subject (i = 1 . . . n) in the jth group (j = 1 . . . m) is denoted by Tij with an unobserved frailty parameter given as ui (for the jth group). With this, the hazard function for the proportional hazards model is given as
$$ h\left({t}_{ij}|{X}_{ij},{u}_j\right)={h}_0\left({t}_{ij}\right)\exp \left({\overset{`}{X}}_{ij}\beta \right){u}_j $$
where u1, . . ., um represent the frailty and h0(t), Xij and β are the baseline hazards, vector of covariates and regression coefficients respectively. The uj’s are independently and identically distributed with mean 1 and variance θ. The frailty distribution for each of uj is assumed to be independent gamma following Clayton [12] and given as
$$ {u}_j\sim Gamma\left(\eta, \eta \right),j=1,\dots, m $$
where η is the unknown variance of uj. We specify the following distribution for the frailty, which is
$$ X\sim Gamma\left(a,b\right)\propto {x}^{a-1}\exp \left(- bx\right),\mathrm{for}\ x>0,a>0\ \mathrm{and}\ b>0 $$
Description of exponential, Weibull and Gompertz distributions
Exponential and Weibull distributions
The exponential distribution is a special case of the Weibull distribution, that is suitable for modeling data with constant hazard. In other words, the hazards of the exponential distribution of an event occurring is constant. The Weibull distribution is more suitable for modeling data with monotone hazard rates that are either increasing or decreasing exponentially with time.
The hazard and survival functions of the Weibull distribution are
$$ h(t)= p\alpha {t}^{p-1} $$
$$ S(t)=\exp \left(-\alpha {t}^p\right) $$
If p = 1, the hazard and survival function of the Weibull distribution as described in eq. (5) reduces to that of the exponential. The parameter α is known as the scale parameter of the Weibull distribution. This parameter is parametrized for both exponential and Weibull regression models as
$$ {\alpha}_j=\exp \left({X}_j\beta \right) $$
This expression, eq. (6) is similar to that given in eq. (1). In this case, there is no auxiliary variable for the exponential distribution but for the Weibull which is the shape parameter (p).
Therefore, the proportional hazards models as described in eq. (3) if specified for the exponential and Weibull distributions have their baseline hazards given respectively as
$$ {h}_0(t)=1 $$
$$ {h}_0(t)=p{t}^{p-1} $$
where p is the shape parameter estimated from the data.
Gompertz distribution
The Gompertz distribution has been extensively used in the medical field for modeling mortality data. Like the Weibull distribution, the Gompertz is also a two-parameter distribution. The hazard and survival functions of the Gompertz distribution are
$$ h(t)=\alpha\ \exp \left(\gamma t\right) $$
$$ S(t)=\mathit{\exp}\left\{-\alpha \gamma \left(\gamma t-1\right)\right\} $$
The baseline hazards for the Gompertz regression model is
$$ {h}_0(t)=\exp \left(\upgamma t\right) $$
where γ is an auxiliary parameter estimated from the data.
When the auxiliary parameter (γ) is positive, its hazard function increases with time but if negative, it decreases with time. It is worth mentioning that if γ is zero, the hazard function is reduced to the exponential.
Bayesian proportional hazards model with/without a frailty term
The posterior probability density function which summarizes our beliefs about a particular parameter is obtained via the Bayes’ rule as
$$ \pi\ \left(\theta |D\right)=\frac{\pi \left(\theta \right)L\left(D|\theta \right)}{\int_{\Theta}\pi \left(\theta \right)L\left(D|\theta \right) d\theta} $$
Which can be summarized as
$$ \pi \left(\theta |D\right)\propto \pi \left(\theta \right)L\left(D|\theta \right) $$
Therefore, the posterior distribution can be obtained from eq. (11) as
$$ \pi \left({h}_0(t),\beta |D\right)\propto {\prod}_{i=1}^n{\left\{{h}_0\left({t}_i\right)\mathit{\exp}\left({\overset{`}{X}}_i\beta \right){u}_i\right\}}^{\delta_i}\left({S}_0{\left({t}_i\right)}^{\mathit{\exp}\left({\overset{`}{X}}_i\beta \right)}\right)\pi \left(\beta \right) $$
where the baseline hazards function h0(ti) as provided in eq. (12) takes the form 1, ptp − 1 and exp(γt) for the exponential, Weibull and Gompertz distribution respectively. We specified normal distribution with mean μ0 = 0 and variance \( {\sigma}_0^2=100 \) as priors for the regression coefficients βs with a probability density function
$$ f\left(x|\ {\mu}_0,{\sigma}_0^2\right)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi {\sigma}_0^2}}{e}^{-\frac{{\left(x-{\mu}_0\right)}^2\ }{2{\sigma_0}^2}} $$
In analyzing the frailty parameter (u) via the Bayesian approach, we adopt a gamma distribution with mean = 1 and a variance = 1000 which is a conjugate prior for the hyperparameters η.
Descriptive characteristics of the study participants
The distribution of background characteristics of study respondents are presented in Table 1. A total of 129,693 children under-5 years were represented in the study. The mean age of the mothers interviewed was approximately 29.1 years and the mean age at first birth was approximately 19.1 years. Mothers within the age group of 20–24, 25–29 and 30–34 years recorded the highest number of respondents. Similar pattern of the mother’s age was observed for each of the twelve West African countries. This indicate that younger women were the most represented in the study.
Table 1 Background characteristics of study respondents (n = 129,693) presented in means and percentages for overall data and country specific for all variables
Majority of the mothers had no formal education. Niger (85.8%), Burkina Faso (84.3%) and Mali (83.1%) recorded the highest percentage whilst Nigeria (49.4%), Liberia (41.7%) and Ghana (27.4%) recorded the least percentage of women with no formal education. Less than a fifth of them obtained primary or secondary level of education and a very few of them had attained higher level of education, Nigeria (5.7%) and Ghana (4.4) compared to the other West African countries in the study.
More than half (68.9%) of the respondents in the West African countries resided in rural areas. Similar pattern prevailed within the individual countries. Majority (63.7%) of the women were currently employed with a little over a third (36.3%) of them not currently employed. The employment distribution was similar within the countries except for Gambia (52.1%), Mali (56.6%), and Niger (77.4%) where majority of the women were currently unemployed. Nine out of ten (93.0%) of the women were married or in a union. Similar situation existed within the countries except for Cote d’lvoire (84.9%), Ghana (85.6%), Liberia (75.6%) and Sierra Leone (84.3%) where less than nine out of ten of the mothers were currently married or in a union.
Muslims were the majority group in the study in all twelve countries followed by Christians. Within country distribution, Muslims were the majority group in Gambia (97.6%), Sierra Leone (92.7%), Mali (92.3%), Guinea (87.8%), Burkina (63.8%), and Nigeria (62.4%) whilst Christians were the majority in Liberia (84.4%), Ghana (75.6%), Benin (56.2%) and then Togo (52.1%).
In terms of the child characteristics, the sample was approximately equally distributed among the males and females in all the countries. Most of the children had an average birth weight (45.27%) with less than 20% of them having small birth weight. There was however disparity between the countries as Cote D’lvoire (49.7%), Ghana (51.1%), Gambia (50.8%), Guinea (48.3%), Liberia (46.2%), Mali (43.3%), Nigeria (43.7%), and Sierra Leone (44.6%) had most of the children born with large body weight. Majority of the children were first to third born of their mothers with less than a fifth of them being at least the 7th born of their mothers. Majority of the children were delivered by a skilled birth attendant. Niger (29.8%) was the only country which had minority of the children delivered by skilled birth attendants. Less than 5% of the children were birthed through caesarean section, which was a pattern throughout the West African countries except for Benin and Togo which had 5.6 and 6.6% of the children being born by caesarian section respectively, Table 1.
Under-five mortality rates per 1000 livebirths
Among the 129,693 whose samples were included in this study, 101 with a 95% CI of (98.6–103.5) deaths per 1000 live births occurred among the twelve countries in the last 5 years preceding the survey. Burkina Faso 124.4, Cote D’lvoire 110.1, Guinea 116.4, Nigeria 120.6 and Niger 118.3 recorded the highest child under-5 mortality rate all of which were above 100 death per 1000 livebirths in the 5 years preceding the survey. Gambia 48.1, Ghana 60.1 and Benin 70.4 recorded the least under-5 mortality rate per 1000 livebirths in the 5 years preceding the survey, Table 1. The overall country specific under-five mortality rate per 1000 livebirths has been provided in Fig. 1. Further to this is also the under-five mortality rates per 1000 livebirths for four most important variables used to predict child mortality, namely; sex of the child, mode of delivery of the child, delivery type and birth type, Fig. 2. Figure 3, presents the Kaplan-Meier survival functions of the combined dataset for under-five mortality according to sex, mode of delivery, delivery type and birth type while Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 are the country specific estimates. A statistically significant difference between all the variables were observed. The survival functions show that, caesarian section, unskilled delivery, males and multiple births are all significantly higher than normal, skilled delivery, females and singleton births.
Under-5 mortality in the West African countries
Under-five mortality rates by child sex, type of birth of child, delivery type of child and mode of delivery of the child for all the 12 West African countries with each of the country specific mortality rate
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for sex of the child, birth type, delivery type and mode of delivery for the combined data set across all the 12 West African countries with their p-values obtained from the loglank test
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for sex of the child across all the 12 West African countries with each of the country specific data
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for mode of delivery of the child across all the 12 West African countries with each of the country specific data
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for place of delivery of the child across all the 12 West African countries with each of the country specific data
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for birth type of the child across all the 12 West African countries with each of the country specific data
Model evaluation and cross validation checks
The best model was determined using deviance information criteria and Bayes factors as presented below
M1 58,449.67 –
M2 57,975.33 261.74
M4 58,440.43 29.02
Model M1 represents the exponential regression model without frailty, M2 is the Weibull regression model without frailty whilst M3 is the Gompertz regression model without frailty. The remaining M4, M5 and M6 represent the exponential, Weibull and Gompertz regression models with gamma shared frailty terms. Observing from the table above, model M1 is the worst performing model compared to all the others including the exponential model with gamma shared frailty. This is because it has the highest DIC value. Though Weibull performs well, Gompertz is the best performing model whether with or without the frailty term. We can therefore conclude that the strongest and decisive model is the Gompertz model with a gamma shared frailty. This model was further subjected to Bayesian goodness of fit test using posterior probabilities (PP). The PP value obtained was 1.00, which indicates strongly that the Gompertz model with a gamma shared frailty was a good fit to the data. Therefore, the final analysis and results interpretation were based on the Gompertz regression model with a frailty term.
Predictors of under-5 mortality in West Africa
Table 2, shows the hazard rates of under-5 mortality in the twelve West African countries considered in study with a Bayesian Gompertz’s regression modeling approach via a gamma shared frailty. In all the countries analyses, there were differentials in the under-5 mortality rates for all the socio-demographic characteristics of both mother and child observed in the study except for the delivery mode of the child. Togo (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: [0.79–1.03]) was the only country that did not have any significant difference in the hazard rate of the under-5 mortality when compared to Ghana after all the observed factors in the study were adjusted for. Compared to Ghana, the adjusted hazard rate of under-5 mortality was significantly lower in Benin (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: [0.64–0.70]), Cote D’lvoire (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: [0.70–0.79]), Gambia (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: [0.67–0.80]) and Guinea (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: [0.74–0.93]), whilst it was significantly higher in Burkina Faso (HR: 1.65, 95% CI: [1.56–1.74]), Liberia (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: [1.36–1.58]), Mali (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: [1.06–1.33]), Nigeria (HR: 1.65, 95% CI: [1.54–1.77]), Niger (HR: 1.51: 95% CI: [1.38–1.64]) and Sierra Leone (HR: 1.86, 95% CI: [1.69–2.03]).
Table 2 Predictors of under-5 mortality in West Africa, namely; Ghana, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Togo
The hazard rate of under-5 mortality was significantly higher in the younger women when compared to mothers within the age range of 45 to 49 years. After adjusting for all the observed variables in the study including country, the hazard rate for the current age group of the mothers were 15–19 years (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: [1,54-1,64]), 20–24 years (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: [1.37–1.49]), 25–29 years (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: [1.27–1.40]), 30–34 years (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: [1.09–1.15]), 35–39 years (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: [1.05–1.13]), 40–44 years (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: [1.02–1.18]) when compared to those in the age range of 45–49 years. When compared to mothers in the age range of 45–49 years, the adjusted hazard rate for those in the age range 15–19 years was significantly higher in Burkina Faso (HR: 1.8, 95% CI: [1.28–2.23]), Cote D’lvoire (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: [1.07–1.41]), Gambia (HR: 4.51, 95% CI: [3.28–6.03]), Guinea (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: [1.29–2.40]), Sierra Leone (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: [1.58–2.40]) and Togo (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: [1.29–2.74]) whilst it was significantly lower in Nigeria (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: [0.65–0.75]) and Niger (HR: 0.45, [0.37–0.54]).
In the combined data analysis, after adjusting for observed variables in the study, mothers with tertiary level of education had a lower significant adjusted hazard rate of 18% compared to those with no formal education. The risk of under-five mortality for mothers with primary level of education as well as secondary education compared to no education were both significantly lower at 9 and 27% respectively. Within country level analysis, the adjusted hazard rates were significantly higher in Sierra Leone and the Gambia, whilst it was significantly lower in Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Niger and Nigeria for mothers with primary, secondary and tertiary education as against mothers with no formal education.
The hazard rates were significantly lower (10%) for mothers who were currently unemployed compared to those who were currently employed. For country specific, Gambia recorded a lower percentage of 22%, whilst Guinea, Mali and Sierra Leone recorded a significantly lower hazard rate of 41, 26 and 41% respectively among those who were currently unemployed compared to those who were currently employed. However, in Benin and Liberia, the adjusted under-5 mortality rate was significantly higher, that is 21 and 11% respectively among those who were currently unemployed compared to those who were currently employed.
A significantly lower hazard rate for mothers who were currently married or in a union compared to those who were not currently married or in a union in the overall country analysis was observed to have lower hazard risk 0.79, (95% CI: 0.74–0.83). Similar rates were estimated within all the eleven of the twelve West African countries except for Cote D’lvoire for which marital status was not a significant factor of under-5 mortality rate.
Mothers residing in rural areas were 45% more likely to experience under-five mortality compared to those residing in urban areas in the overall country analysis (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: [1.37–1.55]). Similar higher significant hazard rate of under-5 mortality were estimated in Benin (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: [1.57–2.09]), Cote D’Ivoire (1.44, 95% CI: [1.21–1.68]), Mali (HR: 1.77, 95% CI: [1.41–2.14]), Nigeria (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: [1.23–1.46]) and Niger (HR: 5.00, 95% CI: [4.49–5.52]) for mothers in rural areas compared to those in urban areas. Gambia (HR: 0.16, 95% CI: [0.12–0.20]) and Guinea (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: [0.51–0.73]) were the only countries to have significantly lower hazard rates of under-5 mortality for mothers in rural areas compared to those in urban areas.
Multiple birth children were about 3 times significantly higher compared to singleton birth children, in the overall country analysis (HR: 2.81, 95% CI: [2.60–3.02]). With the exception of children from Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the hazard rates were significantly higher in the remaining nine West African countries.
We observed significantly higher hazard rates (14%) for the male compared to the female children in the overall country analysis (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: [1.10–1.18]). The country specific analysis in Benin (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: [1.20–1.54]), Cote D’lvoire (HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04–1.34]), Guinea (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: [1.07–1.39]), Liberia (HR: 1.16, 95% CI: [1.01–1.31]), Mali (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: [1.04–1.47]) and Nigeria (HR: 1.10, 95% CI: [1.05–1.16]) showed higher adjusted under-5 mortality hazard rates among male children compared to female children, whilst Niger (0.88, 95% CI: [0.81–0.94]) was the only country to report significantly lower hazard rate of males compared to females. Children who were delivered by unskilled birth attendants had significantly higher mortality (15%) compared to those who were delivered by skilled birth attendants in all the country analysis (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08–1.22]). These are shown in Table 2.
Explaining the gamma parameter and the unobserved effects
Estimation of the gamma parameter of the Gompertz distribution for each of the countries range from − 0.04 to − 0.07. This shows that over a period, there is a decreased risk of mortality among under-fives. Similar observation was made with the combined data set among all the twelve countries. The posterior mean and its credible interval were − 0.04 (− 0.4, − 0.03) indicating that the gamma parameter is statistically significantly different from zero. The variance explaining the unobserved effect is represented by the ln (theta) parameter. This parameter was estimated taking into consideration the variation between communities or clusters or enumeration areas for specific countries and the overall. The ln (theta) is the shared parameter of the under-fives indicating that those grouped into the same cluster may have similar characteristics or share the same frailty but differ between or from cluster to cluster. In other words, the probability of under-five mortality may be similar within a cluster but different between clusters due to some characteristics that were not or could not be measured. We observed a country specific and overall statistically significant difference of the unobserved effect, implying significant difference for probability among under-fives from cluster to cluster.
This study investigated country specific prevalence of under-five mortality across twelve out of the eighteen West African countries for which data were available. The study further looked at the determinants of under-five mortality rates per 1000 livebirths across all these countries and also with the combined data. Data for this current study were obtained from 2012 to 2015 country specific Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS).
To effectively reduce under-five mortality in the world and more specifically in the West African sub-region, it’s important to know the factors that either contribute positively or negatively to it. This will inform policy makers and implementers as well as Government and non-Governmental organizations as to what to target. These factors are mostly not unique across the sub-region and therefore calls for different interventions than a holistic one. This is important because, as at 2015, Alkema et al., [30] estimated that 16,000 children die every day which was equivalent to 11 deaths per every minute. This implies that if causes are not determined and measures taken to drastically reduce under-five mortalities about 68.8 million children are likely to die before their fifth birthday by 2030.
A number of studies have looked at factors associated with under-five mortalities in the literature using DHS data from some of the countries included in our analysis but without considering the importance that communities (clusters) play in accurately estimating these factors. In this study, we have only not determined socio-economic and demographic factors associated with under-five mortality but gone further to look at the importance of community variations in relation to under-five mortality. Therefore, all estimates were determined for under-five mortality jointly by the individual socio-demographic and socio-economic as well as the unobserved community level effects. At the preliminary analysis, family or household effect was insignificant and was therefore dropped.
The multivariate analysis was carried out using the Gompertz model with Gamma frailty approach. The Gompertz gamma frailty model was arrived at after a comparison was made with other parametric gamma frailty models as illustrated earlier in the methods section. Discrimination and final selection of the best model (Gompertz) for this dataset was made using Bayes factor and deviance information criteria. The results showed a statistically significant community level effect on the risk of children dying before the age of five and also demonstrated variations from community to community. This approach is similar to those carried out by other researchers, for example Griffiths et al. 2004 [31], Madise et al. 1999 [32], Sahu et al. 2000 [33] and Van de Poel et al. 2009 [34].
There has being a significant progress made over the last 25 years to improve the global survival rates of children under-five. It is estimated that, worldwide there has been a 53% decline in under-five mortality from 1990 to 2015 resulting in a drop of 12.7 million deaths to about 5.9 million. Though these figures suggest a significant decline in under-five mortalities, there exist variant decline rates among all the twelve West African countries that are included in this current work. Burkina Faso (124.4), Cote D’lvoire (110.1), Guinea (116.4), Nigeria (120.6) and Niger (118.3) recorded the highest under-five mortality rates per 1000 livebirths. The lowest mortality rates were recorded in Gambia followed by Ghana and then Benin at (48.1), (60.1) and (70.4) per 1000 live births respectively. None of these West African countries met the then Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4) of 2015. A study by Alkema et al., [30] stipulates that, despite these reductions in under-five mortalities in sub-Saharan Africa, the projected MDG 4 target which was supposed to be met in 2015 will be met in 2026 if trends from 2015 continue.
Further analysis and observations from this current work suggest that type of birth (multiple) recorded the highest under-five mortality rate in all the 12 countries. For instance, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso recorded 298 and 289 per 1000 livebirths respectively if the type of birth was multiple.
Our results suggest that quite a number of variables in determining under-five mortalities differ in some of the West Africa countries significantly. While in some countries certain variables increase the risk, in other countries those same variables lower the risk of under-five mortality. We observed that married mothers are less likely to experience under-five mortality compared to mothers who are not married. This could be as a result of support they receive from their husbands in taking care of their children. These findings are similar to that reported in Yaya et al. [35]. When country as variable was included in the analysis with Ghana as the reference category, it was observed that countries such as Benin, Cote D’ Ivoire, Gambia and Guinea had significantly lower risk of under-five mortalities. The rest of the remaining seven countries had higher risk ranging from 19 to 86% of experiencing under-five mortalities compared to Ghana.
Quite a number of variations across countries with respect to determinants were observed. While in Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Sierra Leone unemployed mothers had a lower risk of experiencing under-five mortalities, countries like Benin and Liberia had a higher risk instead. Also observed with variate risk was place of residence. Mothers who resided in rural areas had a statistically significant higher risk for all the twelve West African countries except Gambia and Guinea that the reverse was the case. Higher risk of under-five mortality for rural residence was also reported by Van de Poel et al. [34]. Though it is widely reported that residing in a rural community increases the risk of experiencing under-five mortality, this conclusion differs across some countries as stipulated above and is supported by the works of Fotso et al. 2007 [36]; Garenne [37]. This scenario may be as a result of unplanned urbanization and or an increasing rate of urban poverty or worsening economic situation for people living in the urban areas. Unplanned urbanization results in uncontrollable poor environmental problems in these countries that leads to high burden of diseases.
Mothers with multiple births were more than twice likely to suffer under-five mortality among all except Gambia and Guinea where lower risk was instead recorded. This finding is supported by a study Akinyemi et al. [38] conducted in Nigeria using the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys from 1990 to 2008. They observed an increased risk of under-five mortality among multiple births.
With sex of the child, only Niger recorded a higher risk of under-five mortality among females compared to males but the rest of countries recorded the opposite, which is higher risk for male children as against female.
Survival of children depends largely on the mother’s age at the child’s birth as was observed in this analysis. All the countries except Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Niger had a higher risk of mortality when the age of the mother at the time of the child birth was 15–19 compared to those of 34+ years. This could be attributable to factors such as social, economic and community support from their families. It could also be because these elderly mothers are likely to be married and will therefore receive support from their husbands. Also, the older mothers may be seen to be more experienced and matured enough to take care of the child than the younger ones. Similar findings were made by other researchers such as Ladusingh and Singh 2006 [39].
All these show that some countries may have similar or different socio-economic and demographic needs vis-à-vis intervention and implementation strategies. And so, a holistic approach across the West African sub-region in combating under-five mortalities will not inure to the benefit of all the countries.
Strengths and limitations
Demographic and Health Survey is one of the most relied upon data in the sub-Saharan Africa in estimating and projecting individual and community indicators. Data from all DHS participating countries are standardized and fellow a similar multi-stage sampling approach. This allows for ease of comparison of results across all of these countries. All estimates were made based on the available data for each country’s Demographic and Health Surveys collected 5 years prior to the survey which are dependent upon the ability of the respondent to recollect past events and experiences. As a result, some of the information gathered may not be accurate and have the potential to bias the study results. Though comparisons were made across countries, this comparison may not be accurate considering the times that these data were collected at the individual countries. It’s therefore important that interpretations and conclusions within and across countries are done cautiously.
This study made use of Demographic and Health Surveys data conducted prior to the end of the then Millennium Development Goals of 2015. It highlights the prevalence and determinants of under-five mortality across the twelve West African countries which was observed to differ significantly among the participating countries. It was also observed that quite a number of the determinants in some cases increase the rate of experiencing under-five mortality in some of the countries while in others those same variables decrease it. Though sub-Saharan Africa and more specifically West Africa have made a lot of progress with respect to reducing under-five mortality, there is still quite a substantial amount of work to be done in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3 in 2030. There are variant differences among the twelve West African countries with respect to mortality rates as well as determinants which require different interventions and policy decisions.
An application requesting for the use of the Demographic and Health Surveys data was sent to the DHS website. Data was then used after approval was obtained. The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study as well as study materials including questionnaires for the survey are available in the Demographic and Health Survey Repository, http://dhsprogram.com/data/available-datasets.cfm.
DHS:
Demographic and Health Survey
MDG:
Credible Interval
AIC:
Akaike Information Criteria
Bayesian Information Criteria
DIC:
Deviance Information Criteria
BF:
Bayes Factor
ML:
Marginal Likelihood
HR:
Hazard Rate
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Clayton DG. A Monte Carlo method for Bayesian inference in frailty models. Biometrics. 1991;47(2):467–85 https://doi.org/10.2307/2532139.
Duchateau L, Janssen P. The frailty model. Springer Science & Business Media; 2007.
Koissi M-C, Högnäs G. Using WinBUGS to study family frailty in child mortality, with an application to child survival in Ivory Coast. Afr Popul Stud. 2013;20(1).
Tsonaka R, Verbeke G, Lesaffre E. A semi-parametric shared parameter model to handle nonmonotone nonignorable missingness. Biometrics. 2009;65 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0420.2008.01021.x.
Van Oirbeek R, Lesaffre E. An application of Harrell’s C-index to PH frailty models. Stat Med. 2010;29(30):3160–71.
Lesaffre E, Lawson AB. Bayesian biostatistics. Wiley; 2012.
Kazembe L, Clarke A, Kandala N-B. Childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: insight of small-scale geographical inequalities from census data. BMJ Open. 2012;2 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001421.
Sinha D. Semiparametric Bayesian analysis of multiple event time data. J Am Stat Assoc. 1993;88(423):979–83 https://doi.org/10.2307/2290789.
Spizzichino F. In: Ibrahim JG, Chen M-H, Sinha D, editors. 2. Bayesian survival analysis. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer; 2004. 2001. No. of pages: xiv+ 479. Price: DM 171.09. ISBN: 0-387-95277-2. Statistics in Medicine, 23(20):3246–3247.
Breslow NE, Clayton DG. Approximate inference in generalized linear mixed models. J Am Stat Assoc. 1993;88(421):9–25.
Hougaard P. A class of multivanate failure time distributions. Biometrika. 1986;73(3):671–8 Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/73.3.671.
Klein JP. Semiparametric estimation of random effects using the Cox model based on the EM algorithm. Biometrics. 1992:795–806.
Geerdens C, Claeskens G, Janssen P. Goodness-of-fit tests for the frailty distribution in proportional hazards models with shared frailty. Biostatistics. 2013;14(3):433–46 Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/biostatistics/kxs053.
Bower H, Crowther MJ, Rutherford MJ, Andersson TML, Clements M, Liu XR, et al. Capturing simple and complex time-dependent effects using flexible parametric survival models: a simulation study. Commun Stat Simul Comput. 2019:1–17.
Royston P. Flexible parametric alternatives to the Cox model, and more. Stata J. 2001;1(1):1–28.
Alkema L, Chou D, Hogan D, Zhang S, Moller AB, Gemmill A, et al. Global, regional, and national levels and trends in maternal mortality between 1990 and 2015, with scenario-based projections to 2030: a systematic analysis by the UN maternal mortality estimation inter-agency group. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):462–74.
Griffiths P, Madise N, Whitworth A, Matthews Z. A tale of two continents: a multilevel comparison of the determinants of child nutritional status from selected African and Indian regions. Health Place. 2004;10:183–99.
Madise NJ, Matthews Z, Margetts B. Heterogeneity of child nutritional status between households: a comparison of six sub-Saharan African countries. Popul Stud. 1999;53:331–43.
Sahu SK. Dey DK. A comparison of frailty and other models for bivariate survival data. Lifetime Data Anal. 2000;6(3):207–28 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009633524403 PMID: 10949859.
Van de Poel E, O’Donnell O, Van Doorslaer E. What explains the rural-urban gap in infant mortality: household or community characteristics? Demography. 2009;46:827–50.
Yaya S, Bishwajit G, Okonofua F, Uthman OA. Under five mortality patterns and associated maternal risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country analysis. PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e0205977.
Fotso JC, Kuate-Defo B. Measuring socioeconomic status in Health Research in developing countries: should we be focusing on households, communities or both? Soc Indic Res. 2005;72:189–237.
Garenne M. Urbanisation and child health in resource poor settings with special reference to under-five mortality in Africa. Arch Dis Child. 2010;95:464–8.
Akinyemi JO, Bamgboye EA, Ayeni O. New trends in under-five mortality determinants and their effects on child survival in Nigeria: a review of childhood mortality data from 1990-2008. Afr Popul Stud. 2013;27(1).
Ladusingh L, Singh HC. Place, community education, gender and child mortality in north-East India. Popul Space Place. 2006;12:65–76.
This study was funded by Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (Grant No. FRP-1440-11).
This study was funded by Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (Grant No. FRP-1440-11). The content of this manuscript is the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The funders did not play a role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of results and the preparation of the manuscript.
Mathematical Sciences Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
Refah M. Alotaibi & Hoda Ragab Rezk
Department of statistics, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Hoda Ragab Rezk
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Chris Guure
Refah M. Alotaibi
CG conceptualized the study. CG led the data extraction, performed formal analysis, interpretation and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. RMA and HRR contributed in performing the formal analysis, interpretation and drafting of the manuscript. CG, RMA, HRR reviewed the draft manuscript and contributed to the final version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript before submission.
Correspondence to Chris Guure.
The DHS surveys have been reviewed and approved by ICF Institutional Review Board (IRB). The ICF IRB approved the study protocol, survey instruments and materials prior to the commencement. This ensures that the survey complies with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the protection of human subjects. National Health Research Ethic Committee, Nigeria. Ghana Health Service, Individual consent was also obtained during the data collection process. Verbal informed consent was sought from DHS respondents (those who could not sign nor thumbprint) to all the questionnaires as well as drawing of blood in surveys. Further to that was a verbal informed consent sought by the interviewer reading a prescribed statement to the respondent and recording in the questionnaire whether or not the respondent consented (or provided assent on behalf of minors). Interviewers then signed his or her name attesting to the fact that he/she read the consent statement to the respondent and they agreed to participate. All of which were approved by the IRB.
Alotaibi, R.M., Rezk, H.R. & Guure, C. Bayesian frailty modeling of correlated survival data with application to under-five mortality. BMC Public Health 20, 1429 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09328-7
Frailty models
Correlated data
Community frailty
Under-five mortality
Parametric regression models
Biostatistics and methods
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CDLA Versions
Sharing 1.0
Permissive 1.0
O-UDA-1.0
C-UDA-1.0
Reference Translations
Sharing 1.0 – Japanese
Permissive 1.0 – Japanese
What is the difference between the Sharing and the Permissive versions of the Agreement?
The primary difference relates to Your obligations if You decide to Publish Data that You Receive under the Agreement. The Sharing version of the Agreement requires You to Publish that Data, and any Enhanced Data, under the terms of the Sharing version of the Agreement – similar to a copyleft open source license. (See below for the distinction between Data / Enhanced Data, versus Results that are not subject to the Sharing requirements.)
The Permissive version of the Agreement, by contrast, allows Data and Enhanced Data to be Published under different terms, subject to notice and attribution requirements – similar to a permissive open source license.
The name of the document is Community Data License Agreement. Is it a License or an Agreement?
It is both. The Data Providers and the individuals or companies that receive Data are entering into an agreement. Part of that agreement is the grant of a license to Use or Publish the Data that is being made available. Given the variety of types of Data that could be licensed under the CDLA, there may also be legal protections accorded to some or all of that Data, but those protections may vary by type of Data and by country. For example, a convenient aggregation of common weather statistics made available in a standard format may not be protectable by copyright in some countries. The Agreement is intended to ensure that all parties give and receive uniform, predictable rights in Data, regardless of jursidictional differences in legal protections under applicable law.
Can you describe the kinds of data projects that you envision might be developed with the advent of this agreement?
The CDLA drafting group had in mind use cases for supporting large-scale datasets that are constantly changing, such as those that support machine learning, streaming data or artificial intelligence systems. Another may be streaming data from an IoT devices framework and bridging public and private organizations that have different requirements. We wanted to ensure that data providers and users had clarity about their ability to curate, use, and share data with the goal of enabling the creation of open, collaborative data communities.
The other aspect that’s important to understand is the CDLA was created to help communities curate and build data together in a similar way to how open source software is developed. We envision data experts reviewing and maintaining data repositories and entrust them with control over how they govern adding or removing data, what systems to use for storing data, additional representations contributors should make, what data is appropriate and how to handle more challenging issues to their industry or community such as personally identifiable information (PII) that may be in data. Different communities may wish to structure different arrangements in their governance model for dealing with these concerns, and the CDLA does not mandate particular approaches.
The context document provides an in-depth discussion of the role that we envision the CDLA playing to enable collaboration by a data community. As described there, the CDLA can serve as the inbound license and/or the outbound license for a data community.
What happens if You fail to comply with the license conditions in Section 3 of the Agreement?
Failure to comply with the license conditions triggers the termination provisions in a manner very similar to the way, for example, a short form permissive open source license works. If You comply with the license conditions, You are licensed. If You fail to comply, and fail to cure within a reasonable period after You become aware of the noncompliance, You are no longer licensed.
Is “Publish” the same as “distribution” under other copyleft licenses?
No. Although the concepts are analogous, to Publish Data under the CDLA includes any method of making the Data available or accessible to others that enables them to Use that Data, and is therefore somewhat broader than the concept of distribution in the context of many open source software licenses. In order to be Published, Data does not have to be physically distributed in order for others to make Use of it. Remote access permits Use of the Data, for example, and therefore its provision constitutes Publication – even if it might not be considered “distribution” under some open source software license agreements. Likewise, Data can be Published to a third party without giving that third party control over the Data. If the third party can study the Data, or undertake any other aspect of Use of the Data, the Data has been Published to that third party. However, if the third party does not have access to the Data itself, but only to Results from the Data, then the Data has not been Published to that third party.
Data is not Published, however, if all of the individuals who can make Use of the Data are employed by, or contractors of, the same Entity. The first Publication of the Data would be to someone outside of the affiliated companies included in the definition of Entity.
Section 3.2 of the Sharing version of the Agreement says that that I may not impose certain restrictions or restrict anyone who Receives the Data. What if there are laws or regulations that prohibit those activities?
You are not imposing those legal restrictions on others. Section 7.1 makes it clear that each individual and entity is responsible for compliance with whatever laws apply to them. If they cannot Publish the Data without violating a law that applies to them, You have not imposed any restriction on them.
Section 3.2 of the Sharing version of the Agreement mentions a “Ledger” that can be designated by a project. What is this referring to?
A key objective for the drafters of the Community Data License Agreements is that the Agreements should function within a broader ecosystem of organizations and projects that create, curate, maintain and provide many different types of Data. In furtherance of this objective, the Agreements contemplate that some projects may choose to establish official digital records to be used to record and store (1) the Data itself, and/or (2) grants, contributions and licenses to Data. This may include, for example, provenance metadata regarding the sources of the Data.
The Sharing version of the Agreement defines the term “Ledger” in Section 1.7 to mean these digital records. In Section 3.2(b), it states that if a project has designated a Ledger for these purposes, then an Entity who Receives Data cannot restrict or deter others (such as those to whom it Publishes Data) from recording in the project’s Ledger either the Data itself, or grants of rights in the Data.
You may note that the Permissive version of the Agreement does not include the definition of the term “Ledger,” since the Permissive version does not include the corresponding restrictions from Section 3.2(b) of the Sharing version – and since the term “Ledger” is not used elsewhere in the Agreement. This omission should not be taken to imply that Ledgers could not be similarly relevant or used for projects that elect to operate under a Permissive version of the Agreement.
What if the law prohibits Publication of the Data?
Section 7.1 makes it clear that each individual and entity is responsible for compliance with whatever laws apply to them. There is nothing in the Agreement which requires that You Publish any Data. If You decide to Publish, You have certain obligations under the Agreement, and You may have certain separate obligations under applicable law.
In the Sharing version of the Agreement, why are Results excluded from the sharing obligations that apply to Enhanced Data?
The Agreement creates an important category of works that are produced from analysis of the Data that is received under the Agreement. Analysis of Data is defined in the Agreement as “Computational Use of Data,” and “Results” are the outcomes or outputs that You obtain from Your Computational Use of Data.
Results are separate works from the Data licensed under the Agreement, and therefore are free of any obligation to Publish them under the Agreement – if you choose to publish them at all. You never have any obligation to share Results if You do not want to.
On the other hand, if You want to share Results from Data Received under the Sharing version of the Agreement, then You may include them with the Data You Publish and the Results will be considered Data, just like any other Data that is Published under the Agreement. Or, You may Publish them separately, under an agreement of Your choosing.
Results may include de minimis amounts of Data? What does that mean?
The assurance that no one will be obligated to share the Results of their analysis is an important feature of the Agreement and one that recipients and Data Providers will rely upon in choosing the Sharing version of the CDLA. In order to avoid concerns that a Result will lose its status as a Result if any part of the original Data might be included in the output of the analysis, the Agreement makes it clear that Results may include some Data, but not more than an insignificant amount. The goal of the de minimis exception is to preserve the ability of Results to include small snippets of the Data that was analyzed, while precluding the ability to create Results that embody so much of the Data that they effectively replace it.
De minimis has both a quantitative and qualitative aspect. What is quantitatively de minimis cannot be defined as a fixed amount applicable in all instances. It will vary based on the quantity of Data that has been Received under the Agreement and on which the Computational Use is based. A Computational Use which reproduces a significant subset of the Data that could be a substitute for the Data itself is not producing Results. To also meet the qualitative threshold as de minimis, the Data that is included will not have been selected based on its universal value, but only based on its value for this particular analysis. For example, a Computational Use which generates a subset of the Data based on how often that Data has been accessed in general for purposes not related to this inquiry is not producing Results.
Does the Agreement require each Data Provider to make a representation that the Data does not include any personal or confidential information?
No. Each Data Provider represents that Publication of the Data that it Publishes does not violate any privacy or confidentiality obligation undertaken by that Data Provider. If You choose to Publish Data that You have Received under the Agreement, You are not asked to make a representation that no other Data Provider has included Data that is subject to a privacy or confidentiality obligation that was undertaken by that Data Provider.
Does that mean that You can pass along Data when You know that someone else has inserted personal or confidential information into that Data? No. Each Data Provider represents that the Data Provider has exercised reasonable care to assure that the Data it Publishes was obtained from others with the right to Publish the Data under this Agreement. Furthermore, although the Agreement may contain no requirement to make representations on behalf of other Data Providers, You are still required to comply with all applicable laws in Publishing and Using Data Received under the Agreement.
Why doesn’t the CDLA have a choice of law provision?
The CDLA is intended to be an agreement that can be used throughout the world. Since Data may be licensed from Data Providers located in many countries, the Working Group opted not to specify a law or jurisdiction in favor of encouraging global adoption of the Agreement. A similar choice has been made in many open source software licenses to omit choice of law or choice of forum provisions.
Who is the Working Group?
The Working Group was formed by a group of Linux Foundation members and is comprised of internal legal counsel at a number of those companies plus external counsel invited to assist in the initial drafting process. The goal of the Working Group was and continues to be to create and act as the steward for a family of “open” data agreements that facilitate broad data sharing and open community development around a broad variety of data types, involving a wide variety of commercial, non-profit, academic and governmental entities. That family of agreements presently includes the Community Data License Agreement – Sharing and the Community Data License Agreement – Permissive. The Working Group will evolve over time.
There are other open data licenses. What is unique about the CDLA that warranted creating another license framework?
Other families of data licenses are also excellent, well-drafted agreements. We drafted the CDLA licenses in response to evolving use cases, taking into account what we’ve learned through experience with open source software licensing. Here were a few of the drafting group’s guiding principles in drafting the CDLA:
The CDLA licenses are intended to cover datasets as a whole as well as their individual contents in short, straightforward agreements that unambiguously cover the rights to use and to publish.
The CDLA explicitly distinguishes between the data provided under the CDLA (and additions or modifications to it), which are subject to the CDLA’s terms – and “Results” obtained by processing or analyzing that data. The CDLA does not impose obligations or restrictions on Results. This is particularly relevant for use cases for AI and machine learning systems where data is transformed through what we define as Computational Use.
The CDLA intentionally gives the data user a baseline level of confidence about their rights to use CDLA-licensed data. By publishing a CDLA dataset, the provider makes a representation that if they’ve added any data to it, they’ve used reasonable care regarding the source of that data and regarding not undertaking conflicting obligations. Users of CDLA-licensed data will have increased assurance about being able to use and publish that data themselves, while the CDLA also reflects that the data user of course remains subject to applicable laws.
What is wrong with using _____ license?
The CDLA was not created in response to any issues with other existing licenses and the creation of the CDLA was not to say there are clear issues with any other license. The CDLA was developed to focus on more evolving data sharing needs and to create a clear framework of rights communities can operate under. (see question above)
The CDLA is also not an attempt to fix issues with other licenses – in fact we didn’t start with any other license as the model or base but rather went through a requirements gathering process to understand the use cases under which people were struggling with sharing data. Each license has its own merits, target use cases and constituency of users, and that’s great. However, we did identify there were credible groups of data creators and users who were looking for a new, simplified framework that covers both sharing and permissive uses, and that’s what led to the CDLA being created.
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Home » St. Valentine, Peru
Directory: St. Valentine, Peru
Father John Baptist Uwigaba
St. Valentine, Peru, St. Mary, Peru, St. Joseph, Peru
Parochial Vicar, Priest
Parochial vicar St. Maria Goretti, Coal Valley; Mary, Our Lady of Peace, Orion (2017)
Parochial Vicar Corpus Christi, Galesburg; St. Patrick, Galesburg; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Galesburg; Sacred Heart, Abingdon (2018)
Parochial vicar, St. Joseph, St. Valentine, St. Mary, Peru (2019)
Monsignor Richard Soseman
Pastor, Priest
Born in Moline, Oct. 10, 1963. Ordained May 23, 1992. Parochial Vicar, St. Mary, Moline, 1992. Studies in Rome, 1993. Tibunal adjutant judicial vicar and judge, 1995, and chaplain, St. Joseph’s Home, Peoria, 1996. Judicial vicar, 1996. While remaining judicial vicar, Tribunal, to pastor, St. Mary, Princeville and adm., St. Joseph, Brimfield, and St. James, Williamsfield, 1998. Chaplain of Honor to His Holiness, 2000. While remaining pastor at St. Mary of the Woods Parish, Princeville, and Diocesan mission director, to Episcopal delegate for the Sheen Cause for Sainthood, 2004, and judicial vicar, 2007. Released for services to the Congregation for the Clergy, Vatican City, 2008.
Pastor St. Valentine and St. Mary in Peru, 2017 and pastor of St. Joseph in Peru 2019.
Father Jeffery A. Small
Priest, Assistant Chaplain
Born in Racine, Wis., Nov. 13, 1964. Ordained May 29, 1993. Parochial Vicar, St. Stephen, Streator, 1993. Pastor, Imm. Conception, Carthage, and St. Mary, West Point, 1997. Leave-of-absence, 2003. Parochial Vicar Holy Family, Oglesby; Sts. Peter and Paul, Leonore; Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eagle Township (2013). Assistant Chaplain at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria (2015).
Parochial vicar St. Joseph, St. Mary, and St. Valentine in Peru 2019.
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City Room | Democratic Candidates Recall Their Humbler Abodes
Democratic Candidates Recall Their Humbler Abodes
By Javier C. Hernández
Christine C. Quinn spoke at a mayoral forum on Thursday night at the Goddard Riverside Community Center in Manhattan.Credit Tina Fineberg for The New York Times
Related Coverage »
Viewers Guide »
The Democratic candidates for mayor have heard it all: tirades about rent control, inquiries about the ethics of closing schools, and gotcha questions about favorite boroughs.
But they seemed startled — nervous, even — when a political-science professor posed a question central to the lives of many New Yorkers: When did you last live in a rental apartment, and what was the rent?
For the five candidates gathered around a table at the Goddard Riverside Community Center on the Upper West Side on Thursday, the predicament was clear.
Many now live in some of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods, with homes worth over $1 million.
But each is seeking to one-up the others in a race to be seen as the candidate of the common New Yorker.
Sal F. Albanese, 63, a former city councilman from Brooklyn, seized the opportunity. While he now lives in a $1 million home in Bay Ridge, he said he had once lived in Park Slope — in 1969, “when it was a working-class neighborhood,” he said — for $60 a month.
Cheers and clapping broke out in the auditorium, where over 150 people gathered for a candidate forum sponsored by the center and Community Free Democrats, a Manhattan political club.
Bill de Blasio, 51, the city’s public advocate, said he last rented an apartment from 1992 to 1998 in Park Slope, for $1,800 a month. “That’s a lot,” several audience members murmured.
(On Friday, a spokesman for Mr. de Blasio called to say that the candidate had misremembered and that his rent had actually been $1,000.)
Mr. de Blasio grew to love the area so much that he bought a home there with his wife when their second child was born. The home is now valued at $1.1 million.
John C. Liu, 46, the city comptroller, said that in 1993 he paid $700 a month for a place in Queens, his longtime home. Later, he and his wife purchased a home in Flushing, now valued at $830,000.
“It was actually really cheap at the time,” Mr. Liu said.
Christine C. Quinn, 46, the Council speaker, who leads in polls, said she paid $900 a month when she moved into a rent-stabilized apartment in Chelsea in 1992. She was paying $2,000 a month when she left the apartment to move into a $1.3-million home she and her partner bought nearby in 2011.
William C. Thompson Jr., 59, a former city comptroller who ran for mayor in 2009, lives in the most expensive property of all the Democratic candidates, a $1.8-million town house in Harlem.
But he indicated on Thursday that he used to live far more humbly. In 1982, he rented a home on Carroll Street in Brooklyn for $600 a month.
“As a matter of fact, it was a great apartment,” Mr. Thompson said.
One commonality: so many candidates said they had once lived in Park Slope that Kenneth Sherrill, a former Hunter College professor who moderated the forum, joked that the neighborhood was a “cradle of candidates.”
Correction: April 21, 2013
Earlier versions of this post misstated Christine C. Quinn's description of the rental Chelsea apartment where she lived from 1992 to 2010. She said that it was rent-stabilized, not that it was rent-controlled.
A version of this article appears in print on 04/22/2013, on page A17 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Democratic Candidates Recall Their Humbler Abodes.
Intact Pipes From 1800s Once Carried Water, Though Not Very Well
A Decade Later, an Appreciation for the Daffodils
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Filmmaking, Media & Society
10 Most Significant Films in 2016
Sophisticated audiences and new filmmakers eventually learn that they need to know how to “read” a film. It’s a technique used by artists that understand the significance of cinema—not TV, video or streaming, but CINEMA.
Some say it’s a lost art form that faded once the marketing boys took over Hollywood and tried to capitalize on sequels over art. However, many who watch art house films or participate in the industry have held onto the techniques. In fact, I’d say that everyone who is truly serious about the art of cinema knows how to “read” a film or they’re trying to learn as fast as they can.
The top most significant films of 2016 that reveals and strengthens that art of cinema are listed below. I tried to put them in order of their significance to the industry, although my personal biases would want to tweak the list order ever so slightly.
1. Manchester by the Sea
3. Moonlight
4. Hell or High Water
5. Sully
6. Fences
7. The Jungle Book
8. Deadpool
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. Captain America: Civil War
If you’re a super fan, you’ve already seen these films. And, if you’re a filmmaker you’ve already chatted up other filmmakers on the significance of the films. But, if you call yourself a filmmaker and haven’t seen any of these films, I’ve got to question how you define filmmaker. Maybe you’re just a video guy that shoots up concepts and releases coolness, rather than being an advocate of the cinema.
I don’t mean to sound snooty about it, but there is a big difference between the person who understands that art of cinema and its significance in the molding of our societal norms verses the guy who’s just out to watch a flick after dinner.
super fan
← Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017
Star Trek vs. Faith-Based Canon →
6 thoughts on “10 Most Significant Films in 2016”
I have not seen Manchester by the Sea, but seems like half the people I’ve talked to thought it was amazing and the other half thought if was one of the most boring movies they’ve ever seen. I’m not sure what to make of that, but find it interesting. Probably belongs in the same category as The English Patient.
CJ Powers says:
These films hold the most significance to our society in 2016, they aren’t necessarily the most entertaining or fastest paced. 😜
Paul Munger says:
Are these films here based on your opinion, or a list that you’ve seen somewhere? Curious why Deadpool is on the list? Some would question why Captain America is on the list too. And if you were reordering them, as you indicated early in your article, how would you order them? Have you done a “Top 10 films of 2016” list anywhere?
“Deadpool” was culturally significant since it was the first anti-hero that was welcomed as a role model in the U. S. and worldwide. He was the first successful main character in cinema that was embraced because of his rudeness, sarcasm and bad mouthing. In fact, he was so well embraced that Deadpool 2 is in the works with 3 not too far behind.
Captain America is a patriotic conservative who always did what was right for the people based on the norms that Americans held dear. In “Captain America: Civil War” the film changes or distorts what Americans now hold dear and the Captain is positioned to battled against the new norm of what is “right.” In the next film the plans are to take it a step further and have Captain go against all conservatives because they are “wrong” in how they think. In other words, this film takes a highly conservative character and makes him liberal (The new conservative) based on today’s norms.
Each film on the list has made a significant impact culturally according to numerous sources and cultural lists that I whittled down to this culturally significant list. I’m quickly realizing that some readers are assuming that its a top ten list of movies to see, but it isn’t. It is a list of films that made significant inroads into changing our culture.
“Me Before You” was a film I’d put on the list and I’d put it near the top. This is a love story about a young vivacious woman and a hunky quadriplegic that draws the audience in to desire the couple getting married and living happily ever after. Their lives both get enriched as their dates increase in passion and “unconditional love.” The audience emotionally fights for what’s best for the couple, only to learn that what they thought was best was selfish. This demonstration of “love” was purposefully done to teach the audience a simple “truth”—If you love them, you’ll not be selfish, but instead you’ll help the couple to euthanize him as part of their life choices. The film made $207MM, significantly impacting viewers with an idea that encourages euthanasia.
“Sully” is about people, who by definition ten years ago would be considered heroes, that lose their lives as they know it because they did not do the politically correct thing in the moment, but instead did what I hope most feel was the right thing. Our PC culture today is laced with people being “punished” for having an opposing viewpoint. Brexit and our country’s recent election prove that many people are unable to voice their opinions without consequences until they are in the voting booth. While this is culturally significant, it wasn’t a new concept for 2016 so I felt it should’ve been lower on the list.
Any way, I could go on, but the important thing is that filmmakers need to understand where our culture is headed and more importantly be the ones driving our culture to a good place. Everyone in the industry agrees that film changes our culture and what we saw on the silver screen in 2016 will be what we culturally have to face in the next decade. These topics must be explored and answers found to help guide people to a healthy place. From this list, churches can quickly learn how the people are being taught to think and act. This gives them a head start on preparing godly answers that will bring healing and redemption to their communities, rather than changing their theological position to meet the new cultural “norm.”
Based on the patterns I’ve seen in the cinema over the past few years, I’ll suggest that over the next decade sexbots will be demonstrated in film and they’ll be physically introduced into our society within one generation later. The patterns are already there, which gives churches plenty of time to figure out how to share biblical messages that will either curtail those events from happening or help people understand why they should not participate when the social movement begins. Frankly, feminists should also dread this future and find ways to hinder it.
The movie “Future Shock” came out in 1972 and painted a cultural picture of homosexual marriages. Numerous films followed, making the idea “acceptable” to communities at large. One generation later, same sex marriage was legalized. On Christmas eve I sat behind a gay couple at a candle light service and watched the one man fondle the other’s hair as they ushered in the birth of Christ. The church bulletin made it clear that the church was open to all who come to worship. A couple years ago the church demonstrated this same openness by praying to “mother” god.
This spring “The Shack” will be released as a faith-based film with the hope of changing our culture. The film is far from being theologically sound and the filmmakers don’t care. Having a black woman play mother god is a part of the filmmakers taking “artistic license.” They have no clue how many people will hesitate to attend a faith-based film in the future since there is no clear definition for the genre.
Paul, you’re a filmmaker with two films under your belt. Have you ever looked at your stories to understand what significant role, if any, they will play in our cultural evolution? All too often faith-based filmmakers take their job too lightly and end up with a film that makes no inroads to our culture at all. My challenge to you—study the language of film and create something that will stir our cultural toward what you think is a life filled with love, hope and faith. Let go of creating idealistic presentations that outsiders can’t understand and make something that is so real it gives the unbeliever a road map to walk out of their misery and into the light.
This was wonderful! Precisely what I love about filmmaking, storytelling, and your blog. 🙂 Thanks for explaining your reasons for the two films and I can readily see that. Yes, it is so true that what we see on the screens directly relates to and reveals cultural direction. I do try to select films I make or work on in hopes they will have some impactful voice in the marketplace of ideas. With Unbridled with tackled the difficult and currently raging blight of sex trafficking, and with The Reliant we’re exploring the breakdown of society and God’s role in catastrophes and how both Christian and non-Christian should view those times (such as a 9/11). I’m currently working with a fellow producer to get a pro-life film funded and it has an approach in the storytelling that is unique within that subset of anti-abortion movies. I continue to study the language of film and am looking for the timely work that God would have me to pour my creative energies into. Thanks for all you’re doing to be a voice for truth in film and media.
I’ll look forward to seeing your new films.
5 Rules of Brainstorming
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2013 British & Irish Lions Home 'Climalite' Rugby Shirt (S)
Size: Adult's Small
Chest Measurement: 36-38 Inches / 92-97 CM
Colour: Red, white - navy - green trim
Patches: 2013 tour vs Australia
Official Adidas British & Irish Lions rugby shirt from the 2013 test series against Australia.
This is Adidas's standard, 'Climalite' version of the jersey. Designed with supporters in mind.
The 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia was a rugby union tour of Australia by the British and Irish Lions during June and July 2013. The Lions and Australia contested a three-test series, with the Lions winning 2–1. The first test was won by the Lions 23–21, the second by Australia 16–15, and the final test by the Lions 41–16. The victory was the Lions' first test series win since defeating South Africa in 1997.
The Lions also played against the five Australian Super Rugby sides, a Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country team, and against the Barbarians in Hong Kong. Aside from the second test, the Lions' only loss was 14–12 to the Brumbies in Canberra.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland was the Lions' head coach, and their tour captain was Sam Warburton.
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Local woman will open her concession trailer this
By Chris Breach
cbreach@daily-journal.com
Lauren Conway-Janssen, 26, has worked at a concession stand at fairs and festivals since she’s been able to walk.
Yet, after graduating from Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, she went to Eastern Illinois University in search of a new career path. It was short-lived.
“I went to college and I was in my first semester, and the old owners of this [concession] trailer called my parents and said we want one of your kids to buy it,” Conway-Janssen said. “I said, ‘Dad, I can’t drop out of college.’ And he said, ‘Yes, you can. You’ll never get this opportunity again.’ I was there for one semester, I was a straight-A student, I left, and I’m back in the carnival world. Here I am!”
With most of the fairs and festivals canceled for the summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Conway-Janssen will pull her trailer into the parking lot at Dralle Chevrolet Buick at 103 S. Harlem Ave. (Illinois Route 50), in Peotone on Friday and Saturday afternoon. She specializes in ice cream and desserts, and she’ll be selling soft serve and hand-dipped ice cream, strawberry shortcake, apple dumplings with cinnamon and ice cream, sundaes and floats. She will also have lemon shake-ups and corn dogs.
It’s in her blood. Lauren is the daughter of Pam and Dan Conway, of Bourbonnais, longtime concessionaires.
“I have been in the concession business my entire life,” said Conway-Janseen, whose family has owned a stand at the Will County Fair for years. “I was born and raised selling fried vegetables, and then we had corn dogs-elephant ears stand as well.
“This is my eighth year owning my ice cream stand. … I bought it from the old owners, and it has been at the Will County Fair for like 30 years.”
She also has regularly worked the Gladfest in Momence, Kendall County Fair in Yorkville, Grundy County Corn Festival in Morris, Oglesby Summer Funfest and has been at the Bourbonnais Friendship Fest and the Merchant Street MusicFest in the past among others.
“I normally start the second week in June and go all the way through October,” Conway-Janssen said. “My first festival right now is the Will County Fair, which is the last week of August. It’s unheard of that every single one of my fairs in June and July have been canceled. I go all over Illinois and Indiana.”
So she had to improvise. She got an OK from the Will County Health Department to be at Dralle’s on weekends in June. She’ll be there Friday and Saturday afternoons and maybe Sunday.
“We’re going to do the whole social distancing thing, and I’m just trying ...,” Conway-Janssen said. “I’m losing a lot of money, and it sucks, but honestly, all I know is going to fairs every single week. I’ve never had a whole summer off. I don’t even know what to do with myself, so I’m like, ‘I need to open up.’”
Although she does concessions full time, her husband, Brian, is a farmer, and they sell sweet corn at roadside stands, service some grocery stores and own some rental property.
“I’m very fortunate that I don’t have all my eggs in one basket,” she said. “A lot of my friends do only concessions, so they’re freaking out a lot more than I am.
“It’s fun,” she said of owning a concessions trailer. “I go from town to town and see all my friends. It’s all part of my carny family or whatever you want to call it, and I’m not going to see any of them. It’s sad, so we’ve all been meeting and going to lunch because we’re not going to see each other.”
They can meet up with her this weekend at Dralle’s.
“My trailer is 100 percent desserts,” Conway-Janssen said. “They all know me as Corndog Conway, like my whole life. Everyone wants me to sell corn dogs at Dralle’s, so I’m going to.”
Christopher Breach
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Paperless Travel Tested At Pearson
Airlines & Airports Jim Byers June 26, 2019
Female business traveler. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock
The world – and Canada – are a step closer to paperless travel.
Toronto Pearson on Wednesday participated alongside the World Economic Forum (WEF), the governments of Canada and The Netherlands, and aviation industry stakeholders from both countries to announce a pilot project that will allow for paperless travel between the two countries for the first time. The Known Traveller Digital Identity (KTDI) pilot will be the first initiative to use a traveller-managed digital identity to enable paperless travel internationally.
AC Outlines Route Cuts: Many Caribbean, Hawaii and... Airlines & Airports
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This pilot has been enabled through a collaborative effort between government and industry, including border authorities, airports, technology providers, and airlines, to create an interoperable system for more secure and seamless travel. Along with Toronto Pearson, Air Canada, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are participating in the trial.
"Toronto Pearson is the most connected international airport in North America and the fifth-most connected airport in the world," said Howard Eng, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson. "We will grow to serve some 85 million passengers by the mid-2030s, and to do this successfully, collaboration, innovation, and a focus on the passenger must be our priorities. This pilot program is emblematic of industry and government's shared commitment to move people safely, securely, and efficiently."
A WEF initiative, KTDI aims to provide a more convenient and frictionless travel experience for passengers while also allowing them to have greater control over their personal data. The identity data that is usually stored on a chip on a traveller's passport will instead be securely stored and encrypted on the traveller's mobile device. Travellers will be able to manage their identity data and consent to share it with border authorities, airlines, and other pilot partners ahead of the trip. Using biometrics, the traveller will then be verified through every step of the journey until arrival at the destination without the need to use a passport, thus ensuring a more seamless travel experience.
The KTDI platform will first be integrated with partner systems and tested internally throughout 2019. The first end-to-end paperless journey is expected to take place in early 2020.
More by Jim Byers
Holland America Opens Bookings for 2022 Europe Season
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Calgary choreographer beats out Beyonce’s music video at the 2020 UK Music Video Awards
Natalie Miller-Maleschuk CTVNewsCalgary.ca Digital Producer
@NMMaleschuk Contact
Published Monday, November 30, 2020 8:55PM MST Last Updated Monday, November 30, 2020 9:04PM MST
Brittney Canda, the Calgary dancer and co-director of an independent music video who defeated some true musical heavyweights, including Beyonce, to win the 2020 UK Music Video award for best choreography. (Supplied)
CALGARY -- A Calgary dancer and co-director of an independent music video defeated some true musical heavyweights, including Beyonce, to win the 2020 UK Music Video award for best choreography.
Brittney Canda, from Calgary, was the choreography, dancer and co-director of the short film that took home the prestigious prize on Nov.5.
"We wanted to make a video that we thought was cool, I didn't expect to win anything," said Canda. “The video was out for a year and it didn’t get much traction, so this was a surprise.”
The winning video was for the song Wrap Me Up, by Toronto artist Sheenah Ko.
Ko and Canda have been performing live together since 2016 and have formed a strong bond over the years.
It was a dynamic collaboration between the two, and the video was also co-directed with Vincent Rene-Lortie.
“It wasn't an easy feat,” said Ko. “Brittney was working with quite a diverse cast of dancers, different abilities and backgrounds. If you look at Beyonce's video, you can tell everyone had been so well selected. It's already a challenge what she ended up creating with very little budget and very little time."
“It's just beautiful."
The music video was two years in the making and was filmed in the basement of a church in Montreal.
“The actual shoot itself took two days, so when we say two years that’s the actual moment, we talked about it, to getting the funding, but the actual video itself was two days - just one weekend - in that church and we had three or four rehearsals with the dancers beforehand,” Ko explained.
“We came to the story idea that Wrap Me Up is where we are in some sort of self-help group situation and I am sort of a strange guru lady on stage, we like to leave it a little ambiguous so people can get their different take on the video.”
The independent music video made its way to the UK Music Video Awards, where it was up against some of the industry’s biggest stars in two categories, including best choreography.
Because of COVID-19, the award show was hosted virtually. When it was revealed that they won, Ko and Canda were surprised.
"I had a lot of anxiety that day, I have never been nominated for anything quite so big. I was quite surprised,” said Canda.
Canda accepted the award online from her parent's living room in Calgary.
“When they said that we won I just screamed,” said Ko. “That morning I remember saying were going to win. Trying to manifest it-but until it happens you don’t expect it.”
Canda has been dancing for 25 years and has recently taken on the role of directing.
"I didn't expect to be directing as much, but I like it," said Canda. "I always struggled with dance growing up, I really wasn't the strongest dancer, I was the weakest one in the dance schools, but I just kept on dancing."
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Andrew J. Milson
Andrew Milson is a professor of geography at the University of Texas at Arlington. His ancestors settled in southwestern Arkansas in the 1820s.More about the author
About the Virtual 2020 Six Bridges Book Festival
All events, unless otherwise noted, will take place live on the Zoom platform. When you register, you will receive a link to download a .pdf document with Zoom invitation information for your selected event(s). For security reasons,
Kraus & Miller
Daniel Kraus’s books have landed on Entertainment Weekly’s Top 10 Books (The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch) and won two Odyssey Awards (Rotters and Scowler). With Guillermo del Toro, he wrote the bestselling The Shape of Water and Trollhunters… More about the author
Linsey Miller is a wayward biologist from Arkansas who previously worked as a crime lab intern,
Cep & Muse
Casey Cep is a staff writer at The New Yorker. After graduating from Harvard with a degree in English, she earned an M. Phil in theology at the University of Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. Her work has appeared in the New York Times and the New Republic, among other publications. She lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Sponsored by WordsWorth Books. More about the author
Toby Muse is a British-American writer,
Jensen, McKindra, & Priest
Toni Jensen is the author of Carry, a memoir-in-essays about gun violence, and a short story collection, From the Hilltop. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for 2020. Her essays and stories have been published in journals such as Orion, Catapult… More about the author
Frederick McKindra, fiction writer and essayist,
Howorth & Zurenda
Lisa Howorth was born in Washington, DC, where her family lived for four generations. She is a former librarian and art historian and author of Flying Shoes. Howorth has written on art, travel, dogs, and music for the Oxford American and Garden & Gun, among other publications.… More about the author
Susan Beckham Zarenda has won numerous awards for her fiction,
Thomas & Volz
R. Eric Thomas is a playwright, the long-running host of The Moth StorySlam, and a senior staff writer for Elle.com where he writes “Eric Reads the News,” a daily current events and culture column. His work explores our current political moment and the ways that both news satire and memoir can help us reframe the way we think about the present. More about the author
Alia Volz’s writing appears in The Best American Essays,
October 17, 2020 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Patrick Oliver & Friends
Supporters from The Read, Lead, and Level Up project at Hall High School will discuss the fun, engaging writing activities used to produce a compelling collection of prose in the anthology Our Stories, Our Voices, Our Visions. Patrick M. Oliver, founder of Say It Loud! Readers and Writers, is joined by Edith Callaway-Frazier, Sarah Dixon, Randall Horton, Beatriz Varela, and Robin White, who will also read from the anthology.More about the author
October 17, 2020 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Jennifer A. O’Brien
Jennifer O’Brien is an artist and advocate for caregivers and end-of-life dialogue. For more than 30 years she has been a practice management consultant to physicians and has served as CEO for two large medical practices. More about the author
All events, unless otherwise noted, will take place live on the Zoom platform. When you register, you will receive a link to download a .pdf document with Zoom invitation information for your selected event(s).
Condran & Fawkes
Jeffrey Condran is the author of A Fingerprint Repeated and Prague Summer, which received an Independent Publisher Book Award’s Silver Medal. His fiction has appeared in journals such as the Kenyon Review, the Missouri Review, and Epoch, and has been awarded the Missouri Review’s William Peden Prize… More about the author
Jen Fawkes has published fiction in One Story,
Kat Robinson
Kat Robinson is the author of seven books on Arkansas food. Host of the Emmy-nominated documentary Make Room for Pie, Robinson specializes in documenting culinary history through her travel guides and cookbooks. The Arkansas fellow to the National Food and Beverage Museum has been cited as Arkansas’s food historian and expert by Food Network, Saveur, Eater, Atlas Obscura, Parade, and USA Today.
Foltz & Saviers
Tommy Foltz has spent 25 years in public relations, marketing, and management in the energy industry, working in-house and for clients as an external affairs executive and consultant. He was the state government affairs director for Petrohawk Energy and BHP Billiton after BHP acquired Petrohawk… More about the author
Mark Saviers has been married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki, for more than four decades. They have two grown sons,
Barr, Jaeger, & Jones
Mark Barr has been awarded fellowships from Blue Mountain Center, I-Park Artists Enclave, Jentel Arts, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, Millay Colony, and Yaddo. He lives in Arkansas with his wife and sons. More about the author
Tyrone Jaeger teaches courses on creative nonfiction, fiction, hybrid literature, and digital storytelling. He is the author of the recent novel Radio Eldorado (Braddock Avenue Books, 2020), the story collection So Many True Believers and the cross-genre novella The Runaway Note…
Virginia Walden Ford
Virginia Walden Ford and her twin sister, Harrietta, were among the first 130 students chosen to desegregate Little Rock’s high schools in the mid-1960s. Years later, while she was raising three children in Washington, DC, Ford was shocked that so many children were forced to attend failing, crumbling schools simply because they lived in the “wrong” ZIP codes… More about the author
Michael Ray Taylor is the author of Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves and also Cave Passages, Dark Life, and Caves, and he has been editor and co-author of additional books. He has written for Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, Outside, Reader’s Digest… More about the author
Vaughn Scribner
Vaughn Scribner is assistant professor of history at the University of Central Arkansas. He is the author of Inn Civility: Urban Taverns and Early American Civil Society and Merpeople: A Human History. More about the author
Game Hour
Enjoy a fun-filled hour for Fest related games.
All events, unless otherwise noted, will take place live on the Zoom platform. When you register, you will receive a link to download a .pdf document with Zoom invitation information for your selected event(s). For security reasons, you will be required to have a free Zoom account to enter the event. If you have any technical questions, please email webmaster@cals.org for information.
Shea Tuttle
Shea Tuttle is the author of Exactly as You Are: The Life and Faith of Mister Rogers and co-editor of Can I Get a Witness? Thirteen Peacemakers, Community Builders, and Agitators for Faith and Justice. Her essays have appeared at Greater Good Magazine, The Toast, The Other Journal, Role Reboot, and Jenny. She holds an M.Div.
David Treuer, The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee
UPDATE: This event is now virtual. We will be using the Zoom platform to host Mr. Treuer. Free registration for the event is required. All registrants will be sent a Zoom invitation link on the day of the event. You may sign up for Zoom and download the app at https://zoom.us/.
David Treuer is Ojibwe from the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. The author of four previous novels, most recently Prudence,
Writing War: A Conversation with Tim O’Brien
Novelist Tim O’Brien and Professor Alex Vernon (Hendrix College), both veterans, talk about their war and post-war experiences and transforming those experiences into meaningful writing.
This event is free, but requires registration using the Zoom platform. You may download the Zoom app at zoom.us. Please register using the button below.
Life of a Klansman
Six Bridges Book Festival presents: Edward Ball, author of Life of a Klansman
Moderated by Tom DeBlack.
Free registration is required. This event will take place on the Zoom platform. You will receive confirmation of registration when you register. You may sign up for Zoom and download the Zoom app at https://zoom.us/.
Life of a Klansman tells the story of a warrior in the Ku Klux Klan,
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Everything you need to know about George Michael
George Michael’s Full Name
George Michael’s Age
What was his age?
George Michael’s Family
Who is his family?
George Michael’s Education
Where did he go to school?
George Michael’s home
Where did he live?
George Michael’s height and weight
What is his height and weight?
George Michael’s fame
What is he famous for?
George Michael’s early career
How did his career start?
George Michael’s career breakthrough
What was his career breakthrough?
George Michael’s continued career success
What did he do after his career breakthrough?
George Michael’s net worth
What was his net worth?
George Michael’s personal life
Who has he dated?
Though he changed his stage name to the simpler ‘George Michael’ the singer’s name at birth was actually Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou.
The singer was born on the 5th of June 1963 in East Finchley, Middlesex. He died at the age of 53 on the 25th of December 2016 in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
George Michael was the son of Kyriacos Panayiotou, a Greek restauranteur who moved to England in the 1950s and Lesley Angold, an English dancer. His maternal grandmother was Jewish, but due to her fear during World War II she married a non-Jewish man and raised her children with no knowledge of their Jewish heritage. The singer has two sister, Yioda and Melanie who he grew up with in Kingsbury, London in the home his parents bought shortly after his birth.
George Michael attended Roe Green Junior School and Kingsbury High School. When he was in his early teen year his family moved to Radlett where he attended Bushey Meads School and made friends with his future ‘Wham!’ partner Andrew Ridgeley. The pair shared the career ambition of being musicians. Michael would sometimes busk at the London Underground before he later began to work as a DJ and started a ska band with Ridgeley and a few others.
The singer living in an English country house in the village of Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The home was built in the 16th century and was sold for $4.09 million after the singer’s death.
George Michael was approximately 183 cm’s tall and quite thin and fit for much of his career. However, in his later years, he’d put on weight and was incredibly self-conscious about his appearance, rarely leaving his home as he was embarrassed about his weight gain. The singer was also concerned about showing off scars that he has gotten from falling out of a car on the M1.
George Michael is famous for being an English singer, songwriter, producer, businessman, and philanthropist. The singer originally rose to fame as one part of the music duo Wham! but later embarked on a successful solo career. He is one of the best-selling artists in history, with more than 80 million records sold around the world. The singer has had seven number one songs in the UK in his career, and eight in the US. The singer came out in 1998, revealing that he was gay and became an active LGBT rights activist and charity fundraiser for HIV/AIDS. During his career, the singer won two Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, three American Music Awards and four MTV video Music Awards, amongst others.
The singer began his career by forming the duo ‘Wham!’ with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. The band’s breakthrough came with their debut album ‘Fantastic’ which reached number one on the UK charts in 1983 and produced a number of top ten singles. Their second album ‘Make It Big’ reached number one in the US and included the single ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ which went to number one in the US and the UK, ‘Everything she wants’ and ‘Careless Whisper’ which reached number one in 25 countries.
The band toured China in 1985, they were the first Western music act to do so, and it gained widespread media coverage. The band performed with dancers and strobing disco lights, the country had never seen anything like it. Wham! separated in 1986 following the release of the farewell single ‘The Edge of Heaven’ and a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium.
In 1987 the singer began his solo career with a duet with Aretha Franklin, the song ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’ went to number one in both the UK and the US. In 1998 he won a Grammy Award for Best R&B performance duo. The same year he released his debut solo album, ‘Faith’. The first single from the album was ‘I Want You Sex’ the song was banned from a number of radio stations for being too sexually suggestive. Some radio stations agreed to play a version of the song ‘I want your love’. When the song reached the US charts, Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say it’s the title and would only refer to it as a new single from George Michael. Despite the airplay issues, the song still made it to number two in the US and number three in the UK. The second single ‘Faith’ was released a few weeks later and became one of his most popular songs. It was the best-selling single of 1008 in the US and reached number one in Australia. The album ‘Faith’ reached number one in the US and was certified Diamond for sales of more than ten million copies in the United States.
In 1988 the singer began a world tour, earning $17.7 million. His album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
In 1990 he released his second album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’ which tried to establish him as a more serious artist. The first single on the album ‘Praying for Time’ reached number one in the US and number six in the UK.
The album reached number one in the UK and number two in the US, spending a total of 88 weeks on the UK album charts. The album sold approximately eight million copies and won the award for best British album at the 1991 Brit Awards. The singer embarked on a tour throughout Japan, England, the US and Brazil, singing his favorite cover songs.
His planned follow-up to the album was scrapped due to legal action against Sony. His next EP ‘Five Live was released in 1993. It went to number one in the UK but did not chart as well in the US. After a long period of isolation, the singer performed at the MTV Europe music awards. Later he released ‘Older’ his third album in his solo career.
In 1998 he released a greatest hit collection titled ‘Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael’, it peaked at number one in the UK and spent 200 weeks on the UK charts. The album has sold 15 million copies worldwide.
George Michael in concert, letting the audience sing.
In 2000 he worked with Whitney Houston on the song ‘If I Told You That’. In 2003 he signed with Sony and released the album ‘Patience’ which went to number one in the UK. He released the greatest hits album ‘Twenty Five’ in 2006 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his career.
He made his acting debut in Eli Stone in 2008 and also appeared on the finale of American Idol. In 2010 he performed his first concert in Australia since 1988 and appeared in front of an audience of 15,000 in Perth.
In 2014 the live album ‘Symphonica’ was released and became his seventh solo number one album in the UK.
The singer has an estimated net worth of $200 million at the time of his death.
In the 1980s Michael had a relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung. In 1992 he began a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer. Feleppa discovered he was HIV positive six months into their relationship, he died in 1993. In 1996 he began a relationship with Kenny Goss, they maintained their relationship until 2009. The star came out as gay in 1998. In 2012 he began a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, who found his body on Christmas morning in 2016.
Categories Artists Post navigation
Everything you need to know about Frank Zappa
Everything you need to know about Flo Rida
Nikki Lund’s Sexy Lyrics in Hot New Track “You and I” Hints Ex-Richie Sambora Was her True Love
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Christianity Meta
Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
What Christian denominations (if any) permit gay marriage? [closed]
Which churches have decided to permit gay marriage at a denominational level?
denomination-survey homosexuality
This probably isn't a very good question for this site, as the list is constantly changing. Any answer provided will be inaccurate within a short period of time. Further, many denominations don't take a stand on the issue, leaving it up to individual congregations to decide whether to permit it or not, making the list even more complex than at first blush. – Flimzy Jul 19 '13 at 23:01
Simply put, this is not definitively answerable. – fгedsbend Jul 20 '13 at 1:12
I don't want to discourage you, but I'd second @Flimzy's comment. The list would be changing and this question would be out-of-date in short order. I'd suggest trying Wikipeda. I know for a fact they have a list there, and it's likely to be kept updated. – David Stratton Jul 20 '13 at 4:26
The United Church of Christ:
Churches in the UCC can sanctify same-sex unions.[28] The resolution "In support of equal marriage rights for all", supported by an estimated 80% of the UCC's 2005 general synod delegates, made the United Church of Christ the first major Christian deliberative body in the U.S. to make a statement of support for "equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender," and is hitherto the largest Christian denominational entity in the U.S. supporting same-sex marriage.[29] This resolution (and the sanctification of same-sex marriages), however, is not supported by some congregations.[29] Of particular note, the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico, a long-standing conference within the UCC, voted by a 3–1 margin to withdraw its affiliation with the UCC over the same-sex marriage issue.[30] And the Biblical Witness Fellowship, a conservative evangelical organization that is a small but vocal voice within the denomination, accepts only heterosexual marriage.[31]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ#Same-sex_marriage
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Conversations Under The Wine Tree
Everything that happened today, should have happened. Because it did.
“On Sniping”
Lt. Col. Grossman
Meet the College Women Who Are Starting a Revolution Against Campus Sexual Assault
September 22, 2014 September 22, 2014 / Christian Swann / Leave a comment
Vanessa Grigoriadis
“Want to meet at my dorm? Less carrying for me.”
Emma Sulkowicz, a.k.a. the international sensation “mattress girl,” is emailing from her phone in her Columbia University dorm high up over Morningside Heights, where she lives in a single room within a six-person suite. “My friends and I got the first place in the housing lottery for seniors last year,” she says nonchalantly, leading the way through a concrete-block hallway, in purple flip-flops the same color as her painted toes, as well as a light-blue cropped tee featuring a moose with sunglasses over the words FEARLESS LEADER, commemorating a river-rafting trip for freshmen. As you may already know, given how viral Sulkowicz’s image has gone in the past few weeks, that’s the outdoor-orientation program that preceded Sulkowicz’s alleged rape by another orientation leader, which was followed by a Columbia-adjudicated hearing during which the university found her assailant not guilty—a verdict she began protesting, this September, by carrying a mattress around campus until Columbia expels her assailant.
A few years ago, an Ivy League student going public about her rape, telling the world her real name—let alone trying to attract attention by lugging around a mattress—would have been a rare bird. In America, after all, we still assume rape survivors want, and need, their identities protected by the press. But shattering silence, in 2014, means not just coming out with an atrocity tale about your assault but offering what Danielle Dirks, a sociologist at Occidental, calls “an atrocity tale about how poorly you were treated by the people you pay $62,500 a year to protect you.” By owning those accusations, and pointing a finger not only at assailants but also the American university, the ivory tower of privilege, these survivors have built the most effective, organized anti-rape movement since the late ’70s. Rape activists now don’t talk much about women’s self-care and protection like they did in the ’90s with Take Back the Night marches, self-defense classes, and cans of Mace. Today, the militant cry is aimed at the university: Kick the bastards out.
Taking a seat in a wood-and-wool chair of the blend shared by dorms and doctors’ waiting rooms, Sulkowicz starts to tell her tale. At 21, in barely detectable Invisalign braces, she’s the type of hipster-nerd who rules the world these days, with the mellow demeanor and direct way of speaking of an Apple genius-bar clerk, except she giggles nervously when worried she’s said the wrong thing. The Japanese-Chinese-Jewish daughter of Manhattan psychiatrists, she was a club fencer and an A student at Dalton on the Upper East Side. At Columbia, Sulkowicz thought she’d focus on mechanical physics—she liked the way you could draw a diagram to solve a problem, see the answer—but wound up drawn to visual arts instead. She also joined Alpha Delta Phi, Columbia’s co-ed “hipster frat.” As she puts it dryly, “Only the most hipster of the hipster kids can get in.” That’s where she met Paul, a film fanatic and rower. “He was a nice person,” she says matter-of-factly, “a cool person who was secretly really crazy.”
Toward the end of freshman year, the two students signed up to help lead the next year’s outdoor-orientation program, taking a training trip down the Delaware River. There were an odd number of students on the trip, so everyone sat two to a canoe except Paul, who was in a kayak. “He would paddle way out ahead of everyone so that he didn’t have to talk to anyone,” she says. They had sex twice. He went to Europe for the summer.
When he returned, at the beginning of sophomore year, Sulkowicz was a committee head for orientation. “Paul was really needy,” she says. “He asked me to help carry his bags, and I was like, ‘I’m organizing food for 400 freshmen.’ ” One night there was a party for the orientation leaders. In the ivy-covered courtyard outside Wien Hall, Paul kissed Sulkowicz, who says that she was sober except for a sip of gin-and-Sprite. He was buzzed and carrying a handle of vodka. While they were having consensual sex in her dorm room, she alleges that he suddenly pushed her legs against her chest, choked her, slapped her, and anally penetrated her as she struggled and clearly repeated “No.”
Sulkowicz didn’t report the incident at first. But when two classmates told her that Paul had been abusive to them too—one who had been in a long-term relationship with him, the other alleging he groped her—she pressed charges with the administration. Students tend to be uncomfortable going to the cops, who, despite what plots of Law & Order suggest, aren’t always great with rape. The preference suits the universities, too, which prefer to handle issues quietly in-house. Under Title IX, a gender-parity law from 1972, universities are required to adjudicate sexual-assault claims to ensure gender equality on campus as a civil right. The Obama White House, taking a strong position on combating campus assault, has reinforced a “preponderance of the evidence” standard in these cases, meaning campus courts need only find it’s 51 percent likely the assault occurred to punish the accused. To students like Sulkowicz—who are, after all, putting their good word on the line as well as risking stigma, humiliation, possible retribution from the guy’s friends, and diminishment of respect from their own friends—that lower standard can feel like a relief.
The Columbia Student Carrying a Mattress Everywhere Says Reporters Are Triggering Rape Memories
I Was Raped, and I Stayed Silent About My ‘Coveted Status’
Why, Exactly, Are Colleges So Bad at Dealing With Rape?
Sulkowicz, though, claims that Columbia administrators made errors and acted, frankly, idiotically during the hearing process. One took incomplete notes of her story, writing that she was tipsy that night. Adjudicators “kept asking me to explain the position I was in,” she says. “At one point, I was like, ‘Should I just draw you a picture?’ So I drew a stick drawing.” She says one of the three judges even asked whether Paul used lubricant, commenting, “I don’t know how it’s possible to have anal sex without lubrication first.”
Paul denied the charges. If Sulkowicz is a fencer, she alleges he told the panel, her legs are the strongest part of her body, and he was only a lightweight rower—how could he have pinned her legs down? The anal sex was consensual, he said. He went into detail about how he came on Sulkowicz, and then she grabbed a tissue, wiped the ejaculate off, and “ ‘threw the tissue away,’ ” she says. “None of which is true—he never came that night. He just stopped and ran away.”
Columbia didn’t hear Sulkowicz’s charges for six months, then found in favor of Paul. “There’s three women accusing the same guy here,” she says. “Like, we don’t have any other motivation other than he assaulted us.” When she appealed, a dean refused to overturn the verdict. By Columbia’s bylaws, his decision was final.
Today, Paul is still at Columbia, though he’s lying low, even keeping his email out of the campus Facebook. The mattress protest is a way for Sulkowicz to both refuse him that anonymity and turn the situation on its head. She’ll take the punishment, it says. This is a heavy mattress—an extra-long twin covered with shiny blue bedbug-proof material, bought from a clearinghouse called Tall Paul’s Tall Mall, which stocks the same mattresses Columbia orders for its dorms for growing boys. For now, she’s not using any hooks or belt loops to carry it—only her hands, or other students’ hands (her friends call those “collective carries”). It’s a weight Columbia can lift together. “For the record, the best arrangement is four people carrying the mattress, because they each take a corner,” says Sulkowicz, smiling. “Then it’s really light.”
Sulkowicz’s mattress project is powerful, indelible; as Hillary Clinton said last week, “That image should haunt all of us.” But it is also maybe a little youthful. This is the ethical purview of college students. Strict attention not only to learning and knowledge but also to morality, to right and wrong, when to stand up and when to stay silent, is a large part of why American colleges exist.
“One cannot help but feel terrible about this,” Columbia president Lee Bollinger says about Sulkowicz and her mattress in his first interview on the subject. “This is a person who is one of my students, and I care about all of my students. And when one of them feels that she has been a victim of mistreatment, I am affected by that. This is all very painful.” Bollinger says that he has spent “as much time on this issue”—meaning sexual assault on campus—“as any issue” over the past year, which includes Columbia’s largest expansion in nearly a century, a $6.3 billion, 17-acre satellite campus in West Harlem. In August, he created a new sexual-assault policy, taking a much harder line. Students are now required to have “unambiguous communication and mutual agreement”—that’s verbal consent—before sexual acts, or risk consequences. Though an improvement, this hasn’t been enough to quell unrest.
Activists of Sulkowicz’s generation have long retired the word victim, preferring survivor. But Sulkowicz calls carrying the mattress “performance art,” and we might as well take her at her word. Her daily thoughts, including how the hell she’s getting the mattress to class, are about the integrity of her art piece; when this magazine asked to photograph her in a studio in Chelsea, she worried about violating the “rules” for the performance by taking the mattress to a location off-campus.
That she has become the poster girl for the anti-rape movement is an accident of a viral world—she doesn’t have a background in activism, and she is not really at the center of this crusade. To find the godmothers, you have to travel to Los Angeles, where Annie Clark, 25, and Andrea Pino, 22, two political-science majors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, are hard at work in a one-bedroom in Silver Lake, rented off Craigslist, that has become an anti-assault Death Star. Both of them were violently raped as students, and in responding to both cases, UNC seemed to be lax verging on cruel—Clark claims an administrator even said to her, “Rape is like football. If you look back on the game, and you’re the quarterback … is there anything you would have done differently?” Working with a network of activists, they’ve helped survivors learn about their Title IX rights and file complaints about violations across the country. Today, 78 American colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Amherst, Swarthmore, Brandeis, Emerson, and a slew of West Coast schools from UC Berkeley to USC to UCLA, are under investigation by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
Though they’re at the heart of a national movement now, Pino and Clark were on the sidelines when things started to shake out a few years ago. Online—especially on powerful mainstream blogs like Jezebel—young writers were brewing a cauldron of pop-culture coverage and feminist theory, resuscitating feminism from its post–Monica Lewinksy, Girls Gone Wild–era doldrums by coaxing horror stories out of dark crannies and crucifying pop-culture villains. Between Woody Allen, Terry Richardson, Chris Brown, Elliot Rodger, the “legitimate rape” dude, Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” and Ray Rice knocking his fiancée out cold in the elevator, they haven’t needed to look far. Pop culture was “rape culture,” they said, borrowing a term from second-wave feminism as a catchall for America’s stew of degradation, objectification, and male entitlement. “Rape culture is an attitude toward women in particular, but not even just to women—to treating all people as sexual objects, nothing more than an opportunity for sex,” says Anna Bahr, a Columbia graduate and former editor of Blue and White, the school magazine.
Slowly, public discussion of rape among college women began to be normalized, and they started to share. Amherst student Angie Epifano published the first major, non-pseudonymous “atrocity tale” in 2012, writing about how her rape allegations were denied by her college’s sexual-assault counselor; how she became suicidal and was locked up in a psychiatric ward, after which, she alleged, Amherst tried to deny her readmittance; how, when the school agreed to take her back, her dean prevented her from studying abroad (“Africa is quite traumatizing, what with those horrible Third World conditions: disease … huts … lions!”); how they made her feel like a “broken, polluted piece of shit.” She wrote that she did not want to be ashamed anymore. It occurred to her that she had no reason to be ashamed. “Silence has the rusty taste of shame,” she repeated to herself. “I will not be quiet.”
Emma Sulkowicz, a senior, she says she’ll lug her mattress around campus all year in protest.
Pino studied policy-framing at school, and she thought about combining Epifano’s narrative with developments at Yale, where students had filed a complaint alleging that the school was mishandling rape accusations amid a female-unfriendly atmosphere where frat pledges felt okay yelling things like “No means yes, yes means anal” and “My name is Jack, I’m a necrophiliac, I fuck dead women and fill them with my semen.” A mix of the personal and the political, Pino thought, can make a movement. Pino and Clark also had a genius rhetorical idea—they’d take a lesson from the military anti-rape movement, which had beaten a drum about kicking serial, violent rapists out of the armed forces. No one should talk the way activists did in the ’90s—no more date rape. Focus on college men as serial predators, and cite a study that claimed that 6 percent commit three or more undetected rapes and attempted rapes each.
On a staggeringly sunny morning in Los Angeles, Pino and Clark are at their apartment, working away. Best friends, they even dress the same: Today, they’re in purple tops, black eyeliner, a surfeit of teeny-tiny diamond-stud earrings, each with a pendant around her neck, plus Clark has slung on her Phi Beta Kappa key—and small ankle tattoos reading ix. This crusade is exciting but not lucrative. Without money to pay rent, they slept in a tent for a little while. Pino became ill and thought she had mono, though Clark didn’t have mono and they spent all their time together. Maybe it was the old hummus she’d eaten? At the ER, with her laptop to keep plugging away on activist issues, the doctors gave her prednisone, a no-no because she has PTSD from her rape. “It gave me violent hallucinations, which made me suicidal,” she says.
In the end, Pino was diagnosed with a staph infection in her blood, though she looks fine today, doing what she does every day—talking to survivors, advising them on Title IX complaints, and polishing media sound bites about necrophiliacs and the taste of silence and every dirty, repulsive thing. “I got a good one today,” says Pino. “My Rapist Was Only Fined $25.” On a wall, a whiteboard is filled with the names of schools they’re about to target, and a map of the U.S. has tiny colored pins stuck in each state where a college has an investigation. Says Clark, “Like at Penn State, when things aren’t connected, it’s so easy to say, ‘Okay, here are four people doing things wrong. We’ll fire them, and the issue goes away.’ We reframed the debate as, ‘What’s happening at one school is a microcosm of what’s happening everywhere.’ ”
Taking a seat at a cardboard box, which functions as their desk, they whip out a laptop. “I wouldn’t say we control the media, but we have a good grasp of how the media works,” says Pino, shrugging her shoulders.
Drawing bright lines over gray areas is one of the things college students do best—you pay money to learn, among like-minded souls, the contours of the world and your place in it. Over the past couple of decades, the college campus has acquired some aspects of a utopia, too, namely, the free-floating myth of itself as a utopia. But different students have different ideas of what this constitutes. It might be a place to go wild, to do the things you won’t get to do as a full-fledged adult; it might be a place to search for a political point of view and dedicate yourself to a cause. It’s also seen, primarily by boys, as a sexual utopia, where all you have to do is open the door of a frat party to have mind-blowing sex that catapults you into the pantheon of manhood—as opposed to what college sex is often really like, which on its best nights (after emoji flirting, hits off a five-foot bong from a top bunk, and elegant overtures like “Um-want-to-watch-a-movie-in-my-room”) still resembles rutting pubescent chimpanzees.
Is there a rampant hook-up culture on campus today? Of course there is. Does the promiscuity that third-wave feminists heralded as empowerment look a little less attractive when practiced by teenagers with little experience and less maturity? You bet. And frustration with hook-up culture is undeniably a part of the anti-rape movement. In some activists’ ideal world, there might be no trial, on campus or elsewhere, but instead a simple presumption of guilt.
In all of the allegations, I’m sure there are a few women who are crying wolf, who are vengeful and looking to punish ex-boyfriends—just a few. A ercentage may be misunderstandings—confusing signals, something she wanted and then didn’t. Drunkenness doesn’t clarify these things, even when they should be clear. The way that college girls, for instance, taught from early life to be polite and well behaved, might say “No” during sex with someone they know isn’t the same as with a stranger. It’s “No, it’s not a good idea,” “No, please get off me,” and then, often, a numb acceptance.
Survivor-activists like Pino and Clark don’t accept this worldview—to them, efforts to understand the problem are nearly useless because, they insist, only a small number of college sex offenders can be rehabilitated. “There are people out there who want to say that survivors today are feminism gone wild, railroading men for power,” says Dirks, the Occidental sociologist. “And they can rely on talking about kids and alcohol, saying what happened was just drunk sex—and, you know, we’ve all had great drunk sex!” Research, she says, shows that only a small percentage of college guys truly don’t know where the line is—“and, for them, if you tell them to get verbal consent, they don’t push so hard.” She pauses. “But the rest of them—and I know it’s hard to think of our brothers, our sons, like this—are calculated predators. They seem like nice guys, but they’re not nice guys. In society, we don’t like sex offenders in any other area, but for some reason, if you’re in college, we love you and want to protect your rights.”
As compelling as this rallying cry about unrehabilitatable offenders is, it’s not an assessment of the problem that everyone shares. In the center of this philosophical, and administrative, debate are the universities, which need to protect students, including innocent boys who may not look innocent, as in the Duke lacrosse case. There are good people here who have dedicated their lives to helping young people, and one of the mysteries of this issue is how they created a system that devastates so many of the students who come to them desperate for help. At some universities, it’s administrative bloat, middle-management laziness, a habit of shoving assault cases under the rug so they don’t become nuisances. At others, too much attention has perhaps been paid to the letter of Title IX and not its spirit, with a sluggishness about giving rape survivors what they want—the accused student out of their dorms, classes, and their lives.
A progressive, politically aware school in Manhattan but also apart from it, Columbia, to my knowledge, isn’t accused of covering up sadistic gang rapes that have been exposed at other schools. Most of the cases that I learned about, though each horrid in its own way, involves a female student, perhaps engaged in a hook-up session, being forced into an act against her will. A freshman was raped by a junior who taught her Consent 101 class. A student’s rapist was moved back into her dorm by mistake. In one case, an assistant athletic coach whom a student confided in about her assault told the head coach, unbidden, and he berated her for three hours. Camila Quarta says she woke up in the middle of the night and the male platonic friend she had invited to sleep over was fingering her. He begged her not to report him, leaving a letter and David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water at her door. “He wanted me to have it because I’d shared so many of my political views on the world with him,” and he said Wallace’s speech was important to his Weltanschauung, says Quarta, a die-hard leftist. “I didn’t read it.” (Citing privacy laws, Bollinger won’t comment on the accuracy of these allegations—it would not only be illegal, he says, but immoral.
Columbia doesn’t have an overt Animal House atmosphere—though excessive drinking, often at city bars, has always been part of its social life. Here, the issue around assault built slowly. In 2013, as national headlines sprang up, the university’s College Democrats thought it was worth inquiring into Columbia’s sexual-assault statistics. They asked Bollinger for data beyond what was mandated by federal requirements—they wanted aggregated, anonymous data about punishments meted out when the accused were found guilty. Otherwise, how could they know if the system was working? As “Prezbo,” as Bollinger is called, seemed to ignore their requests, students became suspicious, circulating a petition that gathered over 1,500 names.
Still, this was a relatively quiet collegiate tussle—but Sulkowicz, whose father consulted with a high-profile attorney who knows how to work the press, began to grant interviews. And then Bahr, the magazine editor, published an 8,000-word, two-part article about the three women who had accused Paul of assault. The Columbia campus went nuts—was this what had been going on behind closed doors?
Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, a brunette with a fringe of bangs and a clipped way of speaking that resembles Tracy Flick’s, took up the question. The daughter of the two female co-founders of the Northern California Innocence Project— “My favorite baby picture is at my first pro-choice rally, wearing a hat with a pin on it that says ABORTION WITHOUT APOLOGY”—she was an Obama organizer in Nevada at 15, president of her class in San Jose, and then a congressional page with plans to run for public office one day.
But after her first year at Columbia, Ridolfi-Starr was at a fraternity party with two men, one of whom was a student and one who wasn’t, when they began assaulting her. “It was dirty and confusing and made me feel sick,” she said. Then, at the Democratic National Convention, with the “son of a very important person,” it happened again. “I was pretty violently assaulted,” says Ridolfi-Starr, audibly drawing in a breath. “I was stranded in North Carolina with no one I knew and no way to get home. The scene at the DNC struck me as extremely grimy, extremely exploitative, with people grabbing power sexually, personally, politically—everything. And then the guy lied about what happened and everybody was laughing about it.”
Ridolfi-Starr never brought her assaulters to justice. She studied abroad in Argentina, got away for a while. But now she was back at Columbia. And she was ready to channel her fury over her rapes, along with considerable political expertise, into helping students avoid the same fate. If Pino and Clark are national leaders, Ridolfi-Starr is a star organizer of the Columbia branch of the movement. “Columbia is my home, and I deserve to be safe in my home,” she says. “I moved across the country to come to my dream school, and then the institution betrays us. It’s hideous.”
In general, students were outraged by the unethical ways that the guys and Columbia’s administration had acted. But some of them thought survivor accounts were difficult to believe: “They’re pigeonholing these guys as autistic, predatory rapist dudes who only think about sex,” says a sophomore. And, problematically, no one seemed to understand or agree on what rape means or what qualifies. “I had a friend who was like, ‘I had sex with this guy and I was really uncomfortable—I wish I’d said something,’ ” says Trina Bills, a student who graduated last year. “But she didn’t, and so he didn’t know. When she finally told him, he said, ‘You should’ve told me. It would’ve been fine—we just wouldn’t have done anything.’ The communication aspect of this is real. And everyone communicates differently.”
Sulkowicz and Ridolfi-Starr shared a hall as freshmen, but the hipster fencer-artist and the earnest political organizer weren’t close back then. “I remember Zoe carried around lollipops in her purse, taking them out to suck on like they were accessories,” says Sulkowicz. Ridolfi-Starr laughs. “I always have my little thing,” she says. “This year, I’m really into headbands.”
Now they had a strong bond. At first, they tried to work with Bollinger and the administration. But, Ridolfi-Starr claims, the school refused to put out a place setting for them, choosing instead to work with student-government leaders. “They don’t like us. They don’t trust us. They don’t want to work with this. Their attitude isn’t ‘Let us address your needs as students.’ It’s ‘How do we mitigate this situation to protect our reputation?’ ” She sighs. “Going through the experience in your own life is not a qualification they take seriously.”
It was time for direct, nonhierarchical, gyno-friendly, partially anonymous, fuck-Prezbo-up action. Ridolfi-Starr and others founded a radical group called No Red Tape—the mantra is “Red tape won’t cover up rape”—and put tape over their mouths at a student-activity fair when they were told to stand 20 feet away. (“It’s our student center!” says Ridolfi-Starr.) She claims that a dean told another student she was “disruptive” and a “liar”—“Can you imagine, a 50-year-old saying that about a 21-year-old?”—and that on Valentine’s Day this year, the same dean kicked No Red Tape out of his office when the group asked about funding for the rape crisis center. “Emma said, ‘You mean to tell us that as the dean of our school you don’t know how anything is funded?’ ” says Ridolfi-Starr. “We were sharing some of the worst experiences of our lives with him, and he was in a suit, smirking at us. Then he said, “This meeting is over.” She shakes her head. “It was so unacceptable.”
The administration may not have wanted to listen—but Pino and Clark did. At the time, Clark was advising Hobart on a Title IX investigation, and the two of them were coaching a survivor on talking to the Times. It wasn’t a long way to New York. Ridolfi-Starr burned the midnight oil, and soon 28 students signed a federal Title IX complaint against Columbia that runs about 400 pages, they estimate. (Columbia has yet to hear whether it will be investigated, and added to that list of 78 schools.)
Now that the Title IX complaint had been filed, media and high-level politicians were ready to give the students a platform. Could Sulkowicz be on the front page of the Times? Done. And Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, stung by disappointment about her military-rape bill, was crafting a strong campus-rape bill, asking for more protection for students and higher penalties for colleges, slated to come to the floor in late 2014 or 2015. For certain violations, she wants fines of up to one percent of the universities’ operating budget, which can run into the billions.
After a press conference at Gillibrand’s office, Ridolfi-Starr talked to her parents. “Right before, I sent them an email like, ‘Heads up, you may see something,’ because they have, um, a Google Alert for my name. How embarrassing.” Her moms were very upset. “You know, they’re smart people, feminists, and yet one of the first things they said was, ‘This happened in Argentina, didn’t it? You’ve always been too adventurous.’ ” A “mom response,” granted, but “so victim-blaming,” she says. “Even if I was assaulted in Argentina, it’s not my fault for going to Argentina. And also, like, ‘No, I was here, doing the same thing I do every weekend—bar, party, apartment; bar, party, dorm.’ ” She laughs a little bitterly. “Mom, you probably walked by him when you moved me in.”
There was still more courage to summon. One day in May, several people crept into the bathrooms of student buildings and wrote the names of the alleged rapists on the wall—not only Paul but prominent guys like a big campus DJ, an athlete training for the Olympics, and a male student who worked at the Blue and White’s news blog. Columbia immediately dispatched janitors to wash the graffiti away. The anonymous offenders did it again, two times, and Columbia finally barricaded the third bathroom.
Other students started to ask questions—what was this? This was not taking the university to task in a responsible way—this was vigilantism. Ridolfi-Starr was upset by the blowback: Students were saying it was possible these guys weren’t even rapists. She couldn’t believe it—she, the daughter of Innocence Project moms, making false accusations? A new flyer appeared from an unknown source, this time explaining which students on the list were found guilty and calling Paul a “serial rapist.” The accused student was forced to resign from the blog.
Though some students thought social ostracism made sense, the survivor-activist group lost a little bit of support over Bathroomgate. You can’t just disappear a student. Some of these guys had been disciplined—who was to say the punishment was too lenient? To Quarta, whose assaulter was only given a semester off, it wasn’t enough. “His family sent him to Europe, and meanwhile I was here working my ass off,” she says.
Over the summer, accused male students around the country began to organize, too. They’re aware of the political brilliance of the anti-rape movement, the way activists have liberated themselves from litigating individual he-said-she-said cases and moved the burden to universities to foster a safe campus environment, to insist they live up to their own ideals as liberal utopias, where nobody ever has to debate semantics.
At Columbia, a suspended varsity rower from Florida is suing the school, and several others are considering suits as well, alleging their own civil rights are being violated: They wouldn’t be coming under fire if they weren’t men. (No accused students agreed to speak with New York, and a message left for Paul was not returned.) Andrew Miltenberg, an attorney for the rower, says there aren’t big settlements in the offing, but the kid’s academic record should be expunged of a sexual offense, so he can go to medical or law school, proceed with his life.
On the survivor side, activist lawyer Gloria Allred and others are settling civil cases with universities—at the University of Connecticut, awards ranged from $25,000 and $125,000, though one student received $900,000—but no one at Columbia has signed up with an attorney yet, says Ridolfi-Starr. If you take money from the university, you generally sign a confidentiality clause, and that isn’t great for the movement.
Erik Campano, a Columbia student and member of No Red Tape who identifies as a survivor of sexual assault.
On a recent afternoon, I went to see Suzanne Goldberg, Columbia’s new head liaison on sexual assault and a law professor best known as co-counsel on the Supreme Court case reversing Texas’s sodomy law. Her office, which is hung with a LAMBDA poster featuring Lady Liberty, faces Wien Hall, where Paul and Sulkowicz were kissing that night. Columbia’s new policy, says Goldberg, is a good one—“one of the best in the country, with more resources dedicated to supporting survivors and other students affected by gender-based misconduct than most.” She pauses. “It’s hard for most people to navigate sexual relationships and particularly challenging for young adults.” She clicks on a computer to show me a poster hanging in undergraduate dorms, with red, yellow, and green lights. Red means stop: You’re drunk, asleep, or passed out, or one person doesn’t want to have sex. Yellow is pause: mixed signals. Green: A mutual decision has been made about how far to go and “all partners are excited and enthusiastic!” She looks pleased. “A traffic light is useful. It gives people a vocabulary for having what can be an awkward conversation in a congenial way.”
Sitting here, with this distinguished woman in pearls and a black suit, it strikes me how hard it is to talk about sex, rape prevention, any of this, in a way that fixes what’s wrong—this is America, after all, where we’re supposed to think about sex constantly, but never talk about it. Shifting our standard of consent from “No means no” to “Yes means yes”—a change being considered on many campuses and recently passed for colleges in the California state legislature—could happen in ten years, like seat belts and laws around secondhand smoke. Or it may be much harder in practice than theory, especially if Pino, Clark, and Dirks are right, that the problem has less to do with communication than with serial predators. Memory is fungible, and especially without the guys’ perspective, I can’t say whether the survivors’ accounts are truthful on every point. A woman who doesn’t support other women’s rape accusations is an ugly thing. And I can definitely report that whatever happened to them was deeply traumatizing. When Sulkowicz ran into Paul earlier this fall, she says, “I turned around and went the other way. Then I started to cry.”
Columbia’s new policy still leaves appeals in the hands of undergraduate deans, which No Red Tape finds disagreeable. “My view is the deans are ultimately responsible for the protection and caring of our students, and they should be making the decisions,” says Bollinger. “But I’m open to talking about that, just like any other question.” In mid-September, at a rally on the steps of Low Memorial Library, where President Bollinger’s office is located, as they covered Alma Mater’s mouth with red tape and dragged dozens of mattresses onto the steps, this issue was front and center, with students holding signs reading FUCK THE DEANS—plus FUCK RAPE CULTURE, FUCK YOUR COMMITTEE, and FUCK YOUR FAKE CONCERN.
For nearly three hours, survivors—females and males, straight and LGBTQ—talked about their experiences, as observers and a scrum of media bore witness. It started with a Barnard student spitting a poem about howling at the moon, and then calling Columbia out as a place where “future leaders may rape and come back.” There was the student assaulted the first day of her freshman year 22 years ago, and a freshman with a red X over her bellybutton who said she had been assaulted six days ago. There was a beautiful blonde from Barnard who screamed, “Fuck the administration!” and a heavyset student with magenta hair who described campus response to stories of sexual assault as, “When a pretty girl is raped, it’s a tragedy, and when a fat woman is raped, she should be grateful.” She pleaded with the crowd not to forget about her.
There were students from Union Theological Seminary, who led the crowd in a civil-rights-era song and talked about Sulkowicz, praising the “courage of a young lady on this campus who cracked shame not only for herself but cracked shame in all of us.” There was the male former Amherst student-body president, in his salmon polo shirt, khaki shorts, and duck shoes, who talked about his best friend who was expelled for rape last year. When the speaker didn’t defend him, he was ostracized and had to move out of his dorm. “I literally lost all of my friends,” he says. “For something about which we’re right and they’re wrong. Rape culture is what’s wrong.”
It went on and on, and the sun was hot. Ridolfi-Starr tried to cut things short but then dialed her suggestion back when she realized that the crowd was still swelling. Some were thoughtful: Erik Campano, in gold horn-rims, called for a “compassionate campus,” where “my guy friends, who are otherwise men of conscience and intelligence, will not come up to me at a party and ask me who at the party might respond to their advances?” And some were out there: “I had a dream last night,” said a Barnard student in black leggings, “that President Bollinger and the deans were in a conference room with naked women on their laps, watching our protest on a screen and laughing at us.”
It was like an old-time teach-in, with the survivors teaching the people who hadn’t been touched in a nasty, formerly unmentionable way by anyone in their lives what it felt like, but at some point everyone realized something had happened to them that they didn’t like, in bed, on a mattress, at least once or twice, and their empathy lifted the survivors’ resolve even more. Soon, there wasn’t a dry eye. The speeches got angrier, and then they got softer, and the crowd pulled in close, as a third-year student at the engineering school began to speak. “I’m not going to give you the list of assaults, and I’m not going to give you the list of rapes, and I’m not going to give you the names. It’s a lot of years.” She scanned the group, looking as many people as she could in the eye. “I know what it feels like to be the person in these crowds who doesn’t know how to hold this bullhorn yet, and I want to say something for those who are not going to come up here. We believe you. I believe you. So stay.” She gripped the bullhorn, demanding their commitment. “Just stay.”
“This article was first published in the NY Magazine.”
*t
The Shooting Range: A Different Kind of Social Club 02/11 by The Shooting Channel | Blog Talk Radio
February 11, 2013 / Christian Swann / Leave a comment
The Shooting Range: A Different Kind of Social Club 02/11 by The Shooting Channel | Blog Talk Radio.
Stop Teaching Our Children To Kill! 12/10 by Christianswann | Blog Talk Radio
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Stop Teaching Our Children To Kill! 12/10 by Christianswann | Blog Talk Radio.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman LIVE: Let’s Protect our Children 12/19 by The Shooting Channel | Blog Talk Radio
December 20, 2012 / Christian Swann / Leave a comment
If you missed the live interview last night with Lt. Col. Grossman, you can hear it at the link below. The school shootings, violence in school, video media and more. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/christianswann
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You can also find us at http://www.TheShootingChannel.com for more great articles and stories.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman LIVE: Let’s Protect our Children 12/19 by The Shooting Channel | Blog Talk Radio.
December 17, 2012 December 17, 2012 / Christian Swann / 2 Comments
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Christopher Barzak
The Love We Share Without Knowing
Birds and Birthdays
Before and Afterlives
Wonders of the Invisible World
The Gone Away Place
The Oasis Video
Posted by Christopher Barzak in Art, Culture, Music, Recommendations, Video February 5, 2009
Okay, so this video is now officially making the rounds in the blogosphere. It’s a song by Amanda Palmer, of the Dresden Dolls, whom I love, and before I say anything else, I’ll say I love this song and the video. But I have a sort of critique of it, too. So far I’ve read a lot of posts online that are defending this video because over in Britain, where Amanda is launching her tour for her new album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?, the BBC was possibly going to censor this song/video, spoiling Amanda’s marketing team’s ambitions to have it be a radio/music channel release, which would totally have been depressing, I agree. But in fact, if you ask me, Amanda has nothing to complain about. If someone was going to censor one of my books, I would be totally down for it. Everyone knows that censored material actually gains more audience than art that does not spark a nerve with the culture.
Which brings me to my other aspect of this semi-critique. As much as I love this video, I don’t think it’s being contextualized correctly. Even Amanda has sort of talked about it as a sarcastic, ironic and sad critique of the sort of girl she’s portraying in this video, but really I think it’s less a critique of that sort of girl so much as it is the culture that’s produced her. And in my mind, she’s sort of a hero, adamantly denying not just the Fundamentalist Christians who tell her Jesus hates her, but all of the other ridiculous elements of American society that inspire a sort of blithe disregard for anything but self and now and fun in her. She seems more angry to me than stupid, acting like a caricatured version of the most normative roles we outline for kids to grow into at this juncture. Whatever. It doesn’t really matter in the end how it’s interpreted. In the end, it’s sad and funny, the sort of thing I like in any kind of art, whether it be story, song, painting, film or persona, which is an art form in and of itself. You can take Amanda Palmer as an example of that last form, really. She’s sort of interstitial that way, the music and the persona itself both being integral to what she’s doing, and what she’s doing is an angry, funny, sad, beautiful thing.
Haddayr
February 5, 2009 at 11:22 pm ∞
Yeah; I saw this one the same way you did, too and I thought it was really good. Sad and angry and a terrific cultural critique. I’m guessing others aren’t seeing it this way? I haven’t seen it anywhere on blogs.
I think there are probably people seeing it the way we do, but I’ve seen a lot that focus it on the critique of that particular girl, that “kind of” girl, rather than taking ownership of everything that’s gone into making her. I think that’s one of the weaknesses of the individualism of America; it makes you think like absolutely everything is unique and individual to a person rather than to large swathes of people, and for good reason. I don’t see it as a critique of “this kind of girl” so much as the culture that has created her.
andrea branco
February 6, 2009 at 8:06 am ∞
http://blackcabsessions.com/sessions.php?id=1225319732
amanda palmer in theblackcabsessions…
(-:
a Radiohead “creep” cover.
Paul Jessup
February 6, 2009 at 10:50 am ∞
Holy shit. That song is catchy and makes me depressed but the music is bouncy and happy. I just listened to it like three times in a row…and it hurts each time.
Barry Goldblatt Literary
Mariah Carey is working for the future of humanity at this moment. 2 weeks ago
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Thread for writers. twitter.com/NMamatas/statu… 1 month ago
RT @DrBiden: Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished. 1 month ago
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Tenure list: June 2018
Regents approve 73 awards, appointments
CU Boulder, UCCS, CU Denver, CU Anschutz Medical Campus, CU System, Faculty, Staff
At its June 21-22 meeting at the University of Colorado Boulder, the CU Board of Regents approved 73 awards and appointments of tenure.
Appointments with tenure (2)
Robert McDonald, University Libraries, effective Aug. 1, 2018
Claire Monteleoni, Computer Science, College of Engineering and Applied Science, effective Aug. 20, 2018
Awards of tenure (23)
Effective Aug. 20, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
Joanna Arch, Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences
Michela Ardizzoni, French and Italian, College of Arts and Sciences
Reece Auguiste, Critical Media Practices, College of Media, Communication and Information
Aaron Clauset, Computer Science, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Tony Cookson, Leeds School of Business
Tanja Cuk, Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
Shideh Dashti, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Nancy Emery, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Andrew Goodwin, Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Leila Heil, College of Music
Susan Hopewell, School of Education
Kristopher Karnauskas, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Sascha Kempf, Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
Jin-Hyuk Kim, Economics, College of Arts and Sciences
Christopher Link, Integrative Physiology, College of Arts and Sciences
Alexia Marks, School of Law
Austin Okigbo, College of Music
David Rickels, College of Music
Elias Sacks, Religious Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Leah Sprain, Communication, College of Media, Communication and Information
Katherine Stange, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
Gabrielle Wiersma, University Libraries, effective July 1, 2018
Xiaobo Yin, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Awards of tenure (8)
Effective June 23, 2018
Elizabeth A. Daniels, Psychology, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Brandon E. Gavett, Psychology, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Cerian Gibbes, Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Inhan Kim, Political Science, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Karen L. Livesey, Physics and Energy Science, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Jian Ma, College of Business and Administration
Eugenia C. Olesnicky Killian, Biology, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
M. Scott Trimboli, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
CU Denver l Anschutz Medical Campus
Jorge Chavez, School of Education and Human Development
Christopher Ford, Pharmacology, School of Medicine
Cinthya Ippoliti, Auraria Library
Mamuka Kvaratskhelia, Medicine, School of Medicine
Ethan Lange, Medicine, School of Medicine
Leslie Lange, Medicine, School of Medicine
Jody Beck, Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture and Planning
Cathy Bodine, Bioengineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Yosef Bonaparte, Business School
R. Dana Carpenter, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
David Chandler, Business School
Ryan Crewe, History, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Deserai Crow, School of Public Affairs
Amanda Dempsey, Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Gidon Felsen, Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine
Thomas Flaig, Medicine, School of Medicine
Joshua French, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Erin Hackel, Music and Entertainment Industry Studies, College of Arts and Media
Amy Hasinoff, Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Betcy Jose, Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Carol Kaufman, Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health
Sharon Lutz, Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health
Cara Mack, Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Carolyn McAndrews, Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning
Beth McManus, Health Systems, Management, and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health
Kristin Nadeau, Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Daewon Park, Bioengineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Christopher Phiel, Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Catherine Proenza, Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine
Rina Ray, Business School
Carol Sartorius, Pathology, School of Medicine
Kelly See, Business School
Jeanelle Sheeder, Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine
Jeungbo Shim, Business School
Dmitri Simberg, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Craig Sisneros, Business School
Robert Talbot, School of Education and Human Development
John Tinnell, English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sarah Tyson, Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dane Webster, Visual Arts, College of Arts and Media
Board of Regents, tenure
3 hours 49 sec ago
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You are here: Home / Government Contracting News / Move over, FAPIIS – POGO freshens up its contractor misconduct database
October 4, 2011 By AMK
Move over, FAPIIS – POGO freshens up its contractor misconduct database
The federal government’s largest contractors have paid $25.3 billion in fines and penalties for everything from A to Z: from improper accounting practices to selling the government defective Zylon body armor. These and more than 1,400 other misconduct instances can be found in the Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD), which has now been updated with fiscal year 2010’s top 100 ranking. [Note: The FCMD is published by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), a nonprofit watchdog group.]
The top 100 features 7 new contractors, including international accounting firm Deloitte LLP, package delivery company United Parcel Service (UPS), and linguistic services provider Mission Essential Personnel. The FCMD now includes misconduct information on 160 of the federal government’s largest suppliers of goods and services.
The top 100 contractors received $276 billion in contracts last fiscal year, accounting for slightly more than half of the $536 billion in contracts awarded that year. As of today, these 100 contractors have accumulated 821 misconduct instances. Thirty-eight of the top 100 have zero or one instance, a reminder that misconduct need not be accepted as a cost of doing business with the federal government.
As has occurred in the past, the USAspending.gov data on which the top 100 ranking is based contains errors. Therefore, you will see double listings for Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Among the instances you will find in the FCMD:
A Department of Defense Inspector General finding that Boeing overcharged the Army by about $13 million (131.5 percent) for spare helicopter parts.
A DoD Inspector General audit report issued 4 months later that found United Technologies’ Sikorsky Aircraft unit overcharged the U.S. Army by as much as $12 million for Blackhawk helicopter spare parts.
BP’s agreement to provide $1 billion to begin restoration efforts following last year’s massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The assault plea of a former DynCorp employee who stabbed a man in Afghanistan in November 2010.
FedEx’s agreement to pay the United States $8 million to resolve allegations of overcharging federal agencies for package deliveries.
The $4 million settlement of claims that Fluor employees defrauded the federal purchase card (“P-card”) program at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Nuclear Site.
Honeywell International’s payment of millions in fines to federal and state authorities for environmental and safety violations at its uranium hexafluoride (UF6) conversion facility in Illinois.
Humana’s $3.4 million fine for violating Florida’s Medicaid fraud reporting law.
IBM’s $10 million settlement of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act charges that its Korean and Chinese subsidiaries gave bribes to government officials.
Corruption charges brought against former SAIC employees alleged to have received kickbacks and overcharged New York City on the CityTime information technology project.
POGO’s FCMD complements the federal government’s contractor responsibility database, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, or FAPIIS. POGO was pleased to discover the recent addition of several new useful features to FAPIIS, which is on its way to becoming an indispensable resource that strengthens accountability over the more than $1 trillion in taxpayer money spent each year on federal contracts and grants.
— Neil Gordon is a POGO Investigator. Published Sept. 29, 2011 at http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2011/09/move-over-fapiis-pogo-freshens-up-its-contractor-misconduct-database.html.
Filed Under: Government Contracting News Tagged With: FAPIIS, fine, fraud, misconduct, overcharge, oversight, penalty, POGO, responsibility
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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2003/03/14/students-anticipate-spring-break-relaxation/)
Students Anticipate Spring Break, Relaxation
By wpengine | March 14, 2003
Looking around Cornell’s campus, no one would ever know that this school has 13,000 undergraduates. After 56 winter days crammed with classes, meetings and studying, students finally have a legitimate excuse not to attend classes because there are officially no lectures, sections, or labs after Saturday at 1:00pm.
“If we didn’t have spring break this campus would be a Mecca for neurotic overachievers” Chloe Akers ’05 said.
This momentary break in activities will not last long, however, as the University will return to regular schedule March 24.
Until the last possible second, most students intend to avoid the campus and the frigid Ithaca weather. Cornellians appear divided on what to do with this momentary episode of freedom from academic commitments. Some want to pamper themselves by laying on the couch or, better yet, the beach, while others are heading to typical spring break locations to party the week away.
“All I want to do [for spring break] is find a big Latin man with big muscles and wavy hair who doesn’t speak English,” said Lindsey Ingraham ’05. Along with a group of 24 girls from Cornell, Ingraham is off to Acapulco and plans to “get drunk, lay in the sun all day, and get a tan. And then go out and get more drunk.”
According to popular perception of spring break portrayed in the media, the annual recess has become a college-wide national festival that encourages student drinking and debauchery in such warm destinations as Florida and Mexico.
As many higher educational institutions fail to recognize national and bank holidays, college students have gone countless days without a break from taking notes or worrying about the next paper or prelim.
But these quick trips do not come free to the stressed-out student. Shannon Hughes, an STA Travel employee, said that students spend an average of $750 on a spring break trip that includes airfare, hotel and “party packages” that take care of the usual nightly expenses.
Hughes has not booked any students to any ski resorts but only warm weather climates or Europe.
Not everyone will be going somewhere exotic on their days off.
Carolyn Swerdloff ’05 is going home to Connecticut, where she plans to vegetate on the couch and watch television. She is glad to go home but that does not mean that she wouldn’t enjoy returning to Cornell with a tan.
“I hate everyone that is going to a warm climate,” Swerdloff said.
While Swerdloff remains at home with family and friends, others in the community are taking this opportunity to do service project trips.
Accompanied by forty other Cornell students, Peter Lynch ’05 is going to New York City to assist at the Covenant House in Manhattan. While he is in the Big Apple, Lynch will have certain commitments.
“My group is presenting a workshop on the college process,” Lynch said. “Such as applying, financial aid, why it’s worthwhile, and things to focus on in the essay.”
Lynch learned about this activity through the Public Service Center’s alternate breaks meeting. Other groups will be participating in activities such as beautifying the Convenant house through artwork and poetry.
The lack of classes does not mean that all students are free to go home. Many athletic teams have practice every day during the break, while others will be competing with other schools across the nation. The men’s lacrosse will be heading to Arizona while the men’s and women’s track teams have races in California.
Rachel Weiner ’05, a member of the women’s varsity crew team, will pass the week practicing twice a day with the other members of her team.
“I am excited to be spending the time with my team,” Weiner said. “And having a week to focus on training for the upcoming racing season without the stresses of school.”
Even though Cornell Dining’s meal plans stop on Saturday afternoon, certain facilities such as the Robert Purcell Market Eatery will have special times designated to serve athletic teams.
This break only comes once a year. In order to commemorate this event, students can even purchase t-shirts with the logo “Cornell Spring Break 2003” at the Cornell Store.
Archived article by Dana Rosenberg
About wpengine
Getting to Know Mayor Alan Cohen '81
By wpengine March 24, 2003
“Friday is dress down day at City Hall. I instituted that,” said Mayor Alan Cohen ’81 as he kicked up his work-boots, which were only laced halfway, last Friday morning. Cohen has been in office for seven years, but recently announced that he will not seek another term. “One of the main reasons I decided not to run again was that I wanted a more ‘normal’ life that would allow me the opportunity to pursue personal interests. I work 70 to 80 hours a week. On weekdays I come in at eight and leave between eight and ten, later,” he said. The mayor’s job is technically, however, part-time, and Cohen explained that when he came in to office he found that “the administrative responsibilities of the job had never been fully attended to, so we were a dysfunctional organization. I ran [for mayor] with a vision and a desire to work on a number of different areas, but I’ve spent the majority of my time working on internal issues.” Cohen’s boyish good looks and casual demeanor have made his personal life the subject of much talk in Ithaca. He said he feels he is ready to “settle down, get married and have kids,” but would not elaborate on the subject. Cohen grew up, like many Cornell students, in Hicksville, Long Island. He went to Syosset High School and came to Cornell not only because his father went there, but also because he took a trip to an Ithaca craft fair with his summer camp and stayed in Mary Donlon dorms and decided “This is where I want to be.” Despite rumors that Cohen graduated from the School of Hotel Administration, he actually started in the College of Arts and Sciences as a double major in government and economics and later transferred into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to major in what is now know as Applied Economics and Management and received a Bachelor of Science in business management in 1986. Cohen is an alumnus of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and has remained active in the Cornell Greek system. Before he earned his degree, Cohen took some time off and worked in a few Philadelphia restaurants, as a member of the University of Pennsylvania admissions team, and as a crew leader for the 1980 census. While he was still a student, Cohen bought Simeon’s Restaurant on the Ithaca Commons, which was at that point still a bar. “On Dec. 1, 1985, the drinking age went from 19 to 21. We closed on Jan. 1, 1986 and re-opened on March 1, 1986 as a restaurant,” he said. Over the years, Cohen found himself becoming bored with the restaurant business and becoming more involved with community work. As he became more involved, he became disillusioned with rising crime and a falling local economy. “I did not see the will in the current administration to solve the problem. I believe you’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem, and I decided to be part of the solution,” Cohen said. How successful Cohen’s years have been for the Ithaca economy is an issue that has been much debated, but seven years later Cohen said, “Frankly, I don’t think I could have expected more than we’ve been able to accomplish.”Archived article by Freda Ready
Collegetown Assault Injures C.U. Student
While members of the Cornell community headed to such destinations as beaches, Europe, and their respective homes over spring break, a student became the University’s first victim of violent assault this year. In the early hours of March 15, a 22-year-old male Cornell student was assaulted in Collegetown. According to the Cornell News Service (CNS), the victim was walking on Cascadilla Way to Eddy Gate Apartments when he was attacked by three young men, attempting to rob him. CNS reports that the attackers surrounded the victim and began striking his head and face until he fell to the ground. After failing to steal his wallet, they fled the crime scene and abandoned the student. According to the victim, all three assailants were white, in their early twenties, and around six feet tall. After canvassing the surrounding Collegetown area, members of the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) failed to locate the assailants, but are now working with the Cornell University Police Deptartment (CUPD) on a continued investigation of the crime. Following the attack, an e-mail was sent by CNS to all members of the Cornell community, providing information concerning incident and requesting additional information regarding the assault or assailants. According to Linda Grace-Kobas, director of CNS, there is no report that the assailants sought to do anything but rob the victim, and authorities have no reason to believe that the crime was racially or sexually motivated. However, she also reported that the IPD and the CUPD have, since the crime, increased the patrols occurring in Collegetown and surrounding areas. According to statistics posted on the CUPD website, off-campus locales (such as the Collegetown district) are the only areas in which aggravated assault encounters occurred between 1999 and 2001; no reported attacks occurred on campus or in any on-campus buildings during that time period. Grace-Kobas suggests taking precaution before venturing out late at night or early in the morning. “If you are out late at night, try not to be alone, [and] be aware of who is around you,” she advises. In addition, Grace-Kobas advises members of the Cornell and Collegetown community to avoid isolated spaces late at night and early in the morning and suggests calling the police should anything suspicious occur during a late-night walk home. The CUPD advocates taking advantage of the Blue Light Services that include campus telephones connecting directly to the CUPD, their night-time escort service, and the free bus service for Cornell students. The CUPD and IPD urge anyone with additional information regarding the March 15 assault to relay all information to the IPD as soon as possible. Archived article by Ellen Miller
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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2010/03/20/cornell-basketball-not-afraid-of-hatorade/)
Cornell Basketball Not Afraid of ‘Hatorade’
By The Cornell Daily Sun | March 20, 2010
After a convincing win over fifth-seeded Temple, the men’s basketball team continued to clown around. Following up a purposely-flubbed question in a press conference Wednesday and a “phantom ball” layup line right before tip-off Friday, the jokes kept rolling in during a second press conference held on Saturday.
Sprinkled in amongst more serious questions about Sunday’s match-up with fourth-seeded Wisconsin, one reporter asked, “Could you guys elaborate on the term ‘Hatorade’?” It was revealed afterwards, that the question had been planted by assistant coach Nat Graham after a pre-press conference chat in the locker room about Kentucky coach John Calipari’s usage of the made-up term.
Even funnier than the question, however, was senior tri-captain Jon Jaques’ attempt at a serious answer.
“I believe ‘Hatorade’ is something you might either drink or absorb, I guess, that people outside your program might be, I guess, exposed to,” Jaques told the media. “I’m trying to give a scientific way of explaining this. I don’t know, it’s just something people who don’t respect your program, I guess [people] don’t think you belong at this spot. I think we have proven, though, that we do belong here in the tournament, and hopefully no one is drinking any ‘Hatorade’ against us.”
Although the attempt at a scientific answer may be typical of an Ivy League team, the Big Red has proved that their playing is anything but.
Let’s just hope that Wisconsin’s coach Bo Ryan’s uncanny resemblance to the team’s Badger mascot doesn’t prove to be too much of a distraction.
Original Author: Jasmine Marcus
Sports Update 3-22-10: Wrestling Earns Highest NCAA Finish in School History
By The Cornell Daily Sun March 22, 2010
In a historic weekend for the wrestling program, Cornell’s wrestlers picked up an individual title, as well as second, third and fourth places en route to finishing second in the NCAA tournament, behind powerful Iowa. The Red, which entered the championships ranked third in the country, earned its highest NCAA finish in school history.
Women’s Hockey Falls to No. 2 University of Minnesota-Duluth in Final Minute of NCAA National Championship Triple Overtime
After 119 minutes and 26 seconds of playing time, the record for the longest NCAA national championship women’s hockey game was set as the Red fell to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, 3-2. Though a disappointing loss for the team, this signifies the longest run of any Cornell women’s team in history, as no other women’s team has ever advanced to the NCAA finals.
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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2010/08/24/university-cracks-down-on-drinking-in-greek-system/)
University Cracks Down on Drinking in Greek System
By The Cornell Daily Sun | August 24, 2010
Citing student safety and a need to change the culture of the Greek system, the University informed Greek student leaders Tuesday that they must implement — in no less than two years — some sweeping changes to how they run their fraternities and sororities. As a condition of receiving University recognition, Greek organizations will have to bar freshman from attending parties with alcohol and eliminate alcohol completely from their recruitment and pledging activities. Chapters will also face stiffer penalties for hazing under the new rules.
“Things like hazing or alcohol are not healthy experiences in becoming a fraternity man or sorority woman,” said Travis Apgar, associate dean of students for fraternity and sorority affairs, as he laid out the changes during a meeting on Tuesday of student leaders from across the Greek system. “We want to make sure the [Greek] experience remains relevant, and to do that we have to have a culture change.”
“We spend a very large amount of time … every year dealing with the problems in our system,” including judicial issues and the fallout from those issues, Apgar said. The changes are intended to create “a truly safer system,” he said.
Apgar emphasized that the planned changes and their 2012-2013 school year deadline are “not negotiable.”
However, the University is allowing Greek student leaders to decide on a timeline for the gradual implementation of the changes.
According to a proposed Interfraternity Council schedule, the first change will be the prohibition of “alcohol-centered Thanksgiving dinners” this fall. In January 2011, the first day of fraternity rush will be alcohol-free and the IFC will hold an event to “aid in values-based recruitment.” After rush week, there will be no mixers — parties between one fraternity and one sorority — that involve alcohol for three weeks. For the remaining five weeks of the new member education process, informally known as pledging, each sorority can have two mixers each week.
Starting in the fall of 2011, freshmen will not be allowed to attend any fraternity parties in the second half of the fall semester. Three days of rush week during January 2012 will be dry. Mixers will be prohibited for the first six weeks of the new member process, and each sorority can have two mixers a week for the remaining two weeks.
Finally, in fall 2012, freshmen will be prohibited from all fraternity parties that involve alcohol. In January 2013, the entire rush week will be alcohol free. Social events between fraternities and sororities that involved alcohol will be prohibited during all eight weeks before new members are initiated.
“Clearly, you’re going to have to recruit in a very different way,” Apgar told the Greek leaders at the meeting on Tuesday. “You’re going to have to reimagine the recruiting process.”
Dean of Students Kent Hubbell ’69, who was also involved in creating the new rules, said that trying to curb underage drinking and alcohol abuse is “a safety issue, not a moral issue.”
“We are trying to be preventative and proactive” in avoiding tragedy and promoting the health and safety of students, he said.
Hubbell emphasized that the more stringent regulations are part of a broader, University-wide initiative to deal with alcohol abuse. He said that the Universtiy’s previous efforts to combat this problem have been met with “mixed results.” Other efforts currently underway in addition to the Greek system changes include an enhanced parental notification policy and more collaboration between the Ithaca Police Department and Cornell University Police Department on enforcement of drinking laws.
Several of the Greek leaders at the meeting spoke out against the changes, noting that recruitment could suffer and that years of tradition and culture would be changed. The executive board members of the IFC emphasized that they were simply handed a mandate, and expected to create a timeline for the goals to take place.
“The changes that are going to happen were not our idea at all,” said Interfraternity Council President Allen Miller ’11. “We’ve spent so much time trying to argue with the administration … We’re at a point where we know things aren’t negotiable.”
Beyond the substance of the new changes, some Greek leaders said they were also displeased that the Univweristy had contradicted the Greek system’s tradition of self-governance.
Others, like Panhellenic Council President Nora Allen ’11 noted that the changes could be a valuable opportunity to put a positive face on a Greek system plagued by stereotypes of debauchery and illegality.
“People who join the Greek system are social and outgoing. They want that experience,” Allen said. “The people who are attracted to that are always attracted to that. With the dry process, we might attract the people who were originally deterred from the Greek system because of the way we are perceived on campus.”
Allen added that alternative opportunities to meet potential recruits in an alcohol-free environment are part of the planning process for the changes.
“What we’re doing is providing other opportunities for Greek women to meet freshmen girls,” Allen said of the future of recruitment in the sorority system.
University administrators said they had not yet decided how to logistically keep freshman from attending open parties and mixers. The IFC’s proposed implementation plan suggests providing “ID scanners or similar technology to chapters registering open parties” that check the student IDs of every attendee.
During the Tuesday meeting, Apgar said the changes were intended only to increase safety and promote values in the Greek system.
“We’re not trying to create a dry system. We’re not trying to close any fraternities or sororities. We’re not trying to shrink the system,” Apgar said.
Apgar said the changes could even lead to growth in the Greek system.
“This gives us an opportunity to sell ourselves” in a way that we’ve never done before, he said. He later added that he hoped to see new forms of recruitment other than alcohol-focused events.
“I’d love to see our chapters doing other creative recruitment opportunities,” Apgar said.
The changes come as amendments to the University’s recognition policy for Greek chapters. The policy is an agreement between the chapters and the University that allows chapters to operate at the University if they follow the policy’s restrictions. If the restrictions are not obeyed, the University can revoke a chapter’s recognition.
“To have recognition revoked is essentially what happens when we want to close a chapter,” Apgar said.
The IFC Executive Board had initially proposed an alternative plan to appease the worries of the administration while still maintaining what they saw as the Greek system’s traditional culture. According to Apgar, that plan was well thought-out, but administrators ultimately rejected it because it did not provide for a dry recruitment.
Also emphasized in the University’s three-tiered plan is a zero-tolerance policy for hazing, an issue which has previously been the subject of controversy on campus. Apgar said that hazing sanctions will be harsher, although he said the exact specifics of penalties will be determinded, along with the rest of the timeline for changes, in the coming months.
A forum will be held on Sept. 8 to allow students and administrators to discuss the changes. The forum will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Willard Straight Hall.
Michael Stratford contributed reporting to this story.
Original Author: Michael Linhorst
The Scientist: Joseph A. Burns
By The Cornell Daily Sun August 25, 2010
According to Prof. Joseph A. Burns, astronomy is the oldest science. So, when the distinguished scientific journal Nature asked him to chronicle the great history of astronomy in less than 4,000 words, he knowingly embarked upon a difficult task.
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Detroit Fashion Designer Ken Walker Branches Out Into Mental Health Advocacy
Filed Under:Advocacy, Community Connect, Fashion, Fashion Designer, K. Walker Collective, Ken Walker, Lisa Germani, mental health, new york fashion week
Southfield (CW50) – Ken Walker was born and raised in Detroit, attending Detroit School of Arts before securing a Bachelor Degree in advertising in 2014. After a few years in the advertising world, Walker began to feel that a change was needed in his life, in order for him to follow a dream of his. In 2017, Walker founded his own fashion company, K. Walker Collective, as a creative outlet to follow his passion, while still working in advertising.
In February 2019, Walker was invited to have his designs appear at New York Fashion Week, which he says is the biggest highlight of his career. Being from Detroit helped the K. Walker Collective find a unique identity which they describe as a line “for those who take liberty in disrupting the standards of business casual to elevate the conversations around style, success and standing in one’s rightful place as an unmatched doer.”
“Detroit is a fashion capital. It’s always been ingrained in our history. It’s always been something I’ve been inspired by since I was younger,” Walker said, when asked why he launched K. Walker Collective in Detroit.
Recently, Walker founded a nonprofit organization called Detroit Mental Health. His reasoning behind the nonprofit’s founding was his struggle with his own mental health and his drive to overcome it through his passion of fashion. He wants Detroit Mental Health to become Detroit’s hub for mental health and bring important resources into one centralized place for Detroiters.
“I felt like I had a passion for something but I was going to work every day and bottling up what was my passion and that caused a lot of anxiety,” Walker said about why he started his company, “I didn’t have the ability to feel myself.”
Community Connect Host Lisa Germani, with Founder and Head Designer of K. Walker Collective, Ken Walker
Ken Walker joins Lisa Germani on Community Connect to talk about his life from advertising to fashion, and why his path led him to serving as a mental health advocate.
Watch COMMUNITY CONNECT, Saturday at 7am on CW50
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You are here: Home / Videos / President Trump & Coronavirus Task Force Deliver Briefing on COVID-19 | TIME
President Trump & Coronavirus Task Force Deliver Briefing on COVID-19 | TIME
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President Trump & Coronavirus Task Force Deliver Briefing on COVID-19
https://www.youtube.com/user/TimeMagazine
Bob the Avenger says
I'm pretty sure I've got COVID-19, and I can't get tested because there's shortage of tests and I'm not sick enough to require hospitalization. I don't have fever or respiratory problems. I've been sick for about 10 days. I have a cough, sneezing, a feeling of general malaise, trouble concentrating, and occasional bouts of lycanthropy.Trump couldn't be truthful and accurate if his life depended on it. An ignorant, arrogant, emotionally twisted and stunted manchild.
Newkidintown says
The Big Orange Buffon indicates if we had more honest Media this country would be a better place. Just to remind him it’s called the White House Press briefing room not FOX NEWS STATE RUN PRESS/ MEDIA ROOM.
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In 1997, the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget conducted a study of the State’s Workers’ Compensation Program. In total, thirty-seven recommendations were made to reduce cost and strengthen the workers’ compensation program’s fiscal position, improve services to the injured worker, assist agency representatives with the reporting and management of claims, and return injured workers to gainful employment. The Program was outsourced in a competitive bid process and awarded to Managed Care Innovations, now known as MC Innovations (MCI), effective July 1, 1998.
The Commonwealth of Virginia provides management oversight of the State’s Workers’ Compensation Program through The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), Workers’ Compensation Services (WCS). The Program is also supported by The Office of The Governor through Executive Order 109 (2010) which addresses Workplace Safety and Employee Health. The Program is currently operating in its fifth contract with MC Innovations, which was effective July 1, 2018.
In coordination with Workers’ Compensation Services, MCI, a Virginia Certified Small Business and majority woman-owned business, serves as the General Contractor of the Program. The MCI model provides single contract administration, fiduciary accountability, and management of all services associated with the timely and accurate payment of claims with the goal of controlling total program costs. Under the banner of Total Program Management, MCI provides a Team of specialty service providers to meet the unique needs of the Commonwealth and the State Agencies. For the Commonwealth of Virginia Program, this approach assures contract compliance, a quality assurance process to make certain all performance standards are met, transparency in all transactions, and a vision for a continuous improvement process.
Claim Management Services
Medical Bill Adjudication
Telephonic Nurse Case Management
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network
Independent Medical Exam Services
Medical Vocational Services
Pharmacy Network
Home Health & Home Modifications
Field Investigations
Transportation/Translation
Medicare Services
Drug Testing Services
Payroll and Classification Audits
In addition to oversight of the claims functions, Workers’ Compensation Services provides assistance for all State Agencies with the development of Return To Work program initiatives, loss control support and training, distance learning through the Virginia Learning Center, Safety Day, and coordination of Return To Work information with the Virginia Retirement System for VSDP.
Richmond, VA 23218-1140
The Commonwealth of Virginia provides management oversight of the State’s Workers’ Compensation Program
Copyright 2010-2020 Commonwealth of Virginia. All rights reserved
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Journalist killed by gunmen on motorcycles
May 1, 2001 12:00 PM EDT
New York, May 1, 2001 — Four unidentified gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed Colombian journalist Flavio Bedoya as he stepped off a bus around midday April 27 in the southwestern port city of Tumaco, police and colleagues said.
Bedoya, 52, was a regional correspondent for the Bogotá-based Communist Party newspaper Voz. He had worked as Voz correspondent for about a year and a half, according to Álvaro Angarita, one of the weekly’s senior correspondents in Bogotá.
Angarita said he believed the murder was linked to a series of highly critical reports Bedoya had published in Voz since the start of April about collusion in southern Nariño Department between the security forces and outlaw right-wing paramilitary gangs. In the course of his reporting, Bedoya had interviewed a local commander of the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who claimed to have defended inhabitants of the village of Llorente against a paramilitary incursion.
“Those reports aggravated the number of threats against Flavio. The threats came from paramilitary groups,” Angarita told CPJ. It remains unclear which paramilitary group threatened Bedoya, but units of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) are believed to be active around Llorente. In addition to paramilitary gangs, both the FARC and the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) operate in Nariño.
Police confirmed the killing but gave no further details.
Bedoya was shot by four gunmen on two motorcycles just outside the municipal culture center (casa de cultura), which is a short distance from the local police station, according to Angarita. Southwest Colombia, especially Nariño and neighboring Cauca departments, have seen an upsurge of paramilitary attacks in the last two months.
Colombia’s small Communist Party is seen as being politically close to the FARC but has traditionally advocated social change through the ballot box and through grassroots mobilization, rather than armed revolution.
Bedoya is the first Colombian journalist killed in 2001. Last year, three Colombian journalists were killed in reprisal for their work.
Flavio Bedoya
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← NEWS FLASH: Students Will not Learn the Subject If Teachers Are not Allowed to Teach the Subject
Lloyd Lofthouse: A Brief History of Public Education and Corporate Assault on Them →
Measuring the Success or Failure of Public Education in the United States through Literacy: Part 3 of 3
In Conclusion, in case you are wondering why I included Mexico in this comparison, the PEW Research Hispanic Trends Project reports that “The number of Hispanic students in the U.S. public schools nearly doubled from 1990 to 2006, accounting for 60% of the total growth in public school enrollments over that period. There are now approximately 10-million Hispanic students in the nation’s public kindergartens and its elementary and high schools; they make up about one-in-five public school students in the United States. Most if not all of these students come from the poorest population in Mexico, and they bring with them the same attitudes toward education they held before they came to the United States.
Ranking functional literacy in English speaking countries and Mexico
1st Place: In the United Kingdom, 80% read at Level 3 or above.
What explains the UK having such a low functional illiteracy rate? The Guardian.com reports that the “UK publishes more books per capita than any other country.” Does this translate into the UK being a more literate society? If this is one reason, it might be a cultural difference between the other major English speaking countries with similar cultural heritages.
2nd Place: In the United States, 65% read Intermediate Level or above.
3rd Place: In New Zealand, 55% of adults read at level 3 or above
4th Place: In Australia, 53.6% of adults read at level 3 or above
5th Place: In Mexico, 64% of adults do not have a high school degree or its equivalent, and the The World Bank estimates that in 2012, 52.3-percent of Mexicans lived in poverty in their home country compared to 15% of the U.S. population, who live in poverty— and 25.6%, or about 12 million are Hispanic, and 35% or 6 million of the 16 million children who live in poverty in the U.S. were also Hispanic. In fact, in Mexico, over half of Mexican youth at age 15 are functionally illiterate and cannot solve simple equations or explain basic scientific phenomenon. WorldFund.org
In addition, the New York Times reports that many of these children who come from Latin America are boys between ages 15 and 17 when they arrive in the United States, and they come from some of the poorest regions in those countries. Do you think these children arrived in the U.S. functionally literate in their own language?
Return to Part 2 or Start with Part 1
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His third book is Crazy is Normal, a classroom exposé, a memoir. “Lofthouse presents us with grungy classrooms, kids who don’t want to be in school, and the consequences of growing up in a hardscrabble world. While some parents support his efforts, many sabotage them—and isolated administrators make the work of Lofthouse and his peers even more difficult.” – Bruce Reeves
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse on November 19, 2014 in American Public Schools, child poverty in the US, English, family values, literacy, Parenting
Tags: cultural impact on literacy, functional illiteracy in English language countries, importance of literacy, literacy, parents roll in education of child
4 responses to “Measuring the Success or Failure of Public Education in the United States through Literacy: Part 3 of 3”
disappearingwoman
This was an extremely interesting essay. I taught third grade in a small suburban district in the DC/Metro area. The school that I was assigned to had a larger Hispanic population than most in the district that I taught in. The majority of these students had non-English speaking parents who were socioeconomically and educationally challenged. How I loved these children and their parents! Their level of interest in education was phenomenal, as was their level of respect towards me as their teacher. They understood that receiving an education in their new country was the ticket to success and the majority of them truly flourished. They were so interested in reading and utilized my classroom library on a regular basis. They were thrilled on RIF days when they got their own books, or on days when my daughters would donate boxes of their books to be given to any child who wanted them. Most of them had never had books of their own at home.
The odd dichotomy of my classroom was that I had these poor Hispanic children mixed in with upper-middle class children whose parents had moved to my area to build $800K McMansions and enjoy lower property taxes. It was the upper-middle class children who were too busy with activities in the evening to complete their homework. They were the ones who drew pictures on their free RIF books, or tore the covers off, because what’s one more book when you have a bunch at home? Of course, not all of my upper-middle class students were this way, but they were often the ones who showed the least gratitude for their education.
I can’t say that my experience was the same but it was similar in some ways. For the thirty years I taught in the same district in an urban area of Southern California in Los Angeles County, 27 of those years was in schools that served a mostly Hispanic/Latino community that was dominated by a multigenerational street gang culture that came with drugs, violence, inter-rival gang warfare, killings, etc.
We didn’t have the $800k McMansions but in the 1980s, the hills east of the school district, that was mostly a cattle ranch at the time, was sold off and developed into middle class homes over a period of years. In addition, the school district was split by an industrial belt, a railroad and a freeway. West of this belt in Rowland Heights was the blue collar middle class communities and east of the belt in La Puente and West Covina was the barrio.
The schools where I taught for 27 of the 30 years had about a 70% Latino/Hispanic population with a matching childhood poverty rate as measured by free or reduced breakfast and/or lunch. A small percentage of that Latino/Hispanic population were immigrant children and what you described working with those children matches my experiences with that small population, but the children who grew up in the gang culture with parents who also grew up in the same gang culture were usually the most difficult to work with and offered daily challenges that I cover in my memoir, “Crazy is Normal, a classroom exposé.”
The high school where I finished the last 16 years of my career as a public school teacher had an 8% black student population, 8% white and 8% Asian. The rest were mostly Latino/Hispanic.
Most of the white, black and Asian children came from the new middle class homes in the hills east of the barrio. The Asian students were great to work with and some of the black and white too but some of the black and white middle class students offered different challenges from those that came from the children who grew up in the multi-generational Latino gang culture.
The odd three years out of the thirty that I was a teacher was spent in one of the district’s middle schools on the West side of the freeway and industrial belt. It was mostly white middle class with a growing Asian middle class, and what you described about your McMansion children matches almost perfectly with what I experienced—except for the few Asian children—and that explains why I transferred east back to the barrio to work with the gang and immigrant children the last 16 years at Nogales High School in La Puente, California. It was while I was teaching at Nogales that I witnessed with my own eyes drive by shootings after school in the street on the other side of the HS’s fence.
Three different towns converged on the HS campus, so all three police departments had jurisdiction when the HS called for help. Hardly a day didn’t go by that we wouldn’t see squad cars from West Covina, La Puente, Walnut or the county sheriffs department parked out front of the main office picking up students (boys or girls) wearing handcuffs. At lunch, the West Covina police sent a squad car to the HS to drive on campus and park in the grass area next to the library that overlooked the lunch area and the officers would sit there as another effort to keep the rival gangs from going to war with each other during lunch. The HS also had its own six-man police force (CPOs) that were considered the same as state marshals. The CPOs were linked by walkie talkies and used bikes to get around the campus faster to put out gang uprising and revolts in classrooms.
Wow! It certainly does sound like you had some real adventures in teaching. I’m going to have to read your book!
Fortunately, 99.999% the children that I taught had very little gang exposure at ages 8 or 9. (or if they did I wasn’t made aware–and little kids tell you nearly everything!) I did have one young boy whose father had been killed in a gang related shooting in DC. He moved to our area to live with his grandparents. Thank you for such an interesting and informative reply.:)
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- CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News - https://crownheights.info -
PEARLS: Statement on New Education Department’s Proposed Regulations
Posted By badel On July 3, 2019 @ 1:00 pm In Jewish News | Comments Disabled
As the New York Department of Education continues to attempt to establish and enforce guidelines for private schools, PEARLS, which advocates for Frum Schools in NY has released the following statement:
The regulations proposed by the State Education Department disregard the concerns expressed by more than 1,000 private schools from every segment of the nonpublic school community.
The proposed regulations disregard the long history of success demonstrated by private schools across New York State, they undermine the choices made by parents who choose private schools for their children, and they substitute the education bureaucracy in Albany for the private school leadership sought by parents and students.
The regulations proposed today are nothing more than a repackaging of the guidelines that were opposed by the entire private school community last Fall and declared null and void by the Albany Supreme Court this Spring. It is disappointing that the State Education Department failed to engage in dialogue with private school leaders prior to issuing these proposed regulations.
We remain willing to work collaboratively with the State Education Department. But we will continue to oppose SED’s attempt to impose top-down mandates on hundreds of thousands of private school children across the State. These proposed regulations will not be any more successful than the failed and rejected guidelines they replaced. We therefore urge SED to work with the private school community in a manner that respects the success, autonomy, history and purpose of private schools.
The recreation of Jewish life and learning in the United States after the destruction of the Holocaust was nothing short of miraculous. In 1944, there were two dozen Jewish schools in New York, with no more than 5000 students. Today, there are 165,000 students enrolled in more than 400 Jewish elementary and high schools in New York. State regulations cannot be allowed to hinder our mission or hamper our growth.
Article printed from CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News: https://crownheights.info
URL to article: https://crownheights.info/jewish-news/671297/pearls-statement-on-new-education-departments-proposed-regulations/
Copyright © 2018 CrownHeights.info. All rights reserved.
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Album Retrospectives
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Interview – Øystein Brun of Borknagar
October 7, 2019 Interview – Øystein Brun of Borknagar
Posted at 17:17h Nicholas Franco cryptic rock, CrypticRock, Interviews, News 1 Comment
Certain artists within the wide spectrum of Heavy Metal music endure because they refuse to change, while others endure because they refuse to stand still. Øystein Brun, the Founding Guitarist and creator of Bergen, Norway’s complex, massive, and magical Borknagar, most certainly resides amongst the latter group. From his origins in the mid-1990s, Brun’s lavish albums have transcended easy classification. Though replete with a Norwegian Black Metal underbelly, the vector of ten studio albums has followed a winding course through the mountains, connected at the seams with Prog and Folk elements, while lashed to lyrics that extol the mysteries of man’s place within nature.
At times achieving a level of epic grandeur reached for by many and attained by few, Brun and company are set to return with True North, their eleventh studio album, on September 27th via Century Media Records. Recently, the mastermind behind one of the foremost Extreme Metal institutions about the new album sat down to chat about the endless quest for inspiration, and many other interesting topics.
Cryptic Rock – Very soon Borknagar will celebrate its 25 year anniversary. When you began this journey, Black Metal had exploded and there were a lot of hardline genre definitions. Did you ever think that going against the grain, making art that’s difficult to categorize and didn’t fit into any boxes, would yield such successful results all this time later?
Øystein Brun – Good question, really good one. You know, I’ve always been kind of a lonely wolf, I would say, in terms of doing things. So, you know, for me it was … I’ve always swung myself to the old side of everything. I’m not the most social guy around: I don’t go to pubs to relax, and I’d rather go to the forest or to my studio nowadays. But you know, when starting out back in the day I’d been fiddling around with the ideas about this band since I think it was already back in 93 or something. I remember I got the logo in ’94. It has definitely been a long ride. But back then I was very determined to create my own musical universe in a sense. And you know, I was young, kind of naïve, but still very determined to basically just create music I loved, music I had not found up to that point.
My musical background was pretty much that my father was an old hippie and I remember he imported a lot of LPs from the UK. I was listening to them as a kid and so many mornings I woke up to like Pink Floyd “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” or whatever my father was playing loud on his big speakers. I kind of got this, I would say, atmospheric ’70s, a bit progressive influence from all of that. Of course, he also listened to the classics, but he also listened to a lot of bands that weren’t really common back then either. So, it was kind of off the trail kind of music.
So yeah, I had my dream of a band. I began a Death Metal band called Molested and that was really cool times. It was kind of being an apprentice, learning to play guitar, and we rehearsed and all that for four years, I think every second day. Really intense period. But at that point when it came to it, we ended the whole band because of natural circumstances – military service, astute study, all that stuff. I was heading to a place where I had to make something unique, something out of the box, something … Quite simply my own musical universe. I’ve always been very fascinated with bands that have done that. For me Pink Floyd is such a band. I mean, there is nothing like them in this world – even the songwriting, the guitar tone, the covers, the whole set up, it’s completely unique.
The same goes with Iron Maiden, for example. They had their own approach, the logo. If you put on a record from them, in an instant you will hear someone say, ‘Yeah, it’s Maiden.’ And that was kind of the idea I had. And if I succeeded, I’m not sure, but at least that was what we had to try to do. And being that I had the mentality that I always had a very strong . . . I had a little bit of a problem with being a part of a big – whether it’s a soccer team or a band or a group of people, I always get to the point where that bores me a lot.
I’ve always been a little bit resistant to what I’ve called the whole followers of the followers kind of syndrome that a lot of people seem to like; that kind of consort and safety in groups and people and hanging out with other people and stuff. I’ve always been a little bit more, I would say idealistic in a sense. I’m not saying that because I’m bragging about anything or being very special or something like that, not at all, but I’ve always found myself a little bit on the outside of everything. Now, for example, just these days, there are huge festivals going in Europe with Emperor playing and headlining. People ask me, “Aren’t you going to the festival?” I am not – I’m not interested. And I guess that’s reflected to the music in a way.
Century Black
Cryptic Rock – It certainly is and thank goodness for people like you in that sense, because there is plenty of artists doing exactly what you would expect them to do. Let’s talk about the new album, True North. The record contains some extremely moving music. Can you tell us what some of the creative process for the album was like, what are some thematic elements unique to these compositions, and what statements do you think this album sets out to make, if there are any concrete statements you can point out?
Øystein Brun – You know, I have always been a little bit all over the place in terms of our expression. There’s layers, there’s multiple layers, and especially, for example, on the previous albums. I guess we have been a little bit, lyrically speaking, a little bit cloudy, a little bit more philosophical and we haven’t had the big, what can I say, messages that you bring forth in a sense. But to be quite honest, with True North we kind of change a little bit of mindset.
My personal reason for it was that I lost my father back during the release of the Winter Thrice album in 2015, and for me that was a very, very tough period. On the one hand, I had the release of Winter Thrice in 2016, actually my father was buried the day before its release. I had all these things going with the band and the release and everything, and on the other hand I had probably the biggest dark time in my life ever. And I kind of escaped the whole thing a little bit. Just releasing the album, going on tour, festivals, having a good time with the boys; all felt good at that point. I remember one time I came back home after we did a couple of European tours, a lot of festivals, and South America, and things like that. I kind of had to deal with this thing: I hadn’t been with the sorrow and I had some tough days, tough months, call it whatever you want.
I think what shines through on the album, after losing someone as close as my father, one thing was having kids. Being a father, you get a different perspective on life. A lot of things change in life for the better very often, I would say, but losing a close member of the family who was still a young man, he was just 65-years-old; that kind of gave me a serious slap in the face. I felt a little bit like falling down from my euphoric sky or cloud I was on in life, and I think the whole musical, lyrical themes on True North is kind of influenced by this experience. I got a reality check: I went closer to reality and it was brutal. I didn‘t need to find out all of those things about winds or to portray this powerfulness or whatever in the lyrics, as they are usually themed.
This led to much more direct lyrics, and musically speaking to much more straight in-the-face composition in a sense. Still complicated music and lots of layers going on, and different colors and vibes and all that, but it’s a little bit more in-your-face I would say. Same with the lyrics: this time I actually had something I wanted to say. So, to start with the start, so to speak, when my father was sick I was bouncing back and forth to the hospital after he was in intensive care the last months. It was just brutal, almost like being a part of a Horror or a Thriller movie, fighting the time because we didn’t know what was happening to him. His body stopped producing red blood cells, but they didn’t find anything; they didn’t really find a reason for that, so it was a long fight.
Bouncing back and forth to the hospital, my way of steaming out was, quite frankly, to sit down in my studio, just lock the door with just me and my guitar. And doing that turned out to be the song “Wild Father’s Heart,” actually. It was the first I wrote for this album.
Cryptic Rock – Wow, that is a terrible tragedy about your father. To be able to channel the grief into your art must have felt good on a certain level.
Øystein Brun – Yeah, it became what it became, but I wanted to give him a little bit of a tribute; that was my way of dealing with it. I couldn’t do anything else, I couldn’t help him. I built my own house, I built my own studio, I have released quite a lot of albums, I’ve been traveling the world, but I couldn’t help my father. My way of reacting to that was doing this song. So, it’s very personal for me, and I think that maybe gave the whole album, the lyrical content, a little bit of guideline in a sense.
For example, “Mount Rapture” is a different topic. It’s my way of saying that “Guys, I’m done with bullshit, I’m done with superstition, I’m done with anti-vaxxers, I’m done with religion.” I’m 44 years old now. 10 years ago I was very active in the Norwegian Humanist organization, being kind of not political, but a little bit involved in the whole thing with religion and Norway and blah, blah. I was in newspapers and, of course, against Christianity and stuff like that.
In that position I had to be a little bit respectful, I had a lot of discussions with mostly Christian people with their own views. Nice people and all that, but at some point I kind of said I’m so done with this shit. Of course, I respect you as a human being and all that, I don’t want anything bad for people. But I mean, seriously, we have a huge brain, we don’t have fur, we don’t have claws or teeth, but we have a damn huge brain. Let’s use it! A lot of opinions, there’s that saying that everybody is entitled to their opinion. Yeah, kind of.
Cryptic Rock – Well, when your opinions are killing the planet, directly harming individuals and species . . .
Øystein Brun – Yeah, that is a very good example. That’s basically my point – or if your opinion makes war, for example. You know, if I wonder about something about climate change or whatever is happening, I will talk to the scientists, to the people who actually spend their whole lives trying to find the truth about this.
And the same thing, if my car breaks down, I don’t go to a shaman: I go to a guy who is able to fix my car, if you get my point. That’s kind of the message I wanted to flag on that song. That’s enough. Let’s leave the bullshit behind and let’s move forward with the big brains we actually have.
Cryptic Rock – That makes perfect sense. As a whole, Borknagar has been portraying that reverence for nature, evolution, and observation of processes for years. True North does feel more personal than merely talking about these subjects in the more explanatory sense.
Øystein Brun – Yeah, I would say, to end the whole thing about this, it’s more acted on this album. You know before it was more pure, in that the music was a kind of paint the picture type of thing, more like that. But on this album, I would say there is a lot more attitude in a sense.
Cryptic Rock – The difference is palpable. In noticing the artwork for True North, one can see that it is a lot more straightforward – the mountain, the forest. Many Borknagar album covers have featured a fantastical sort of element, but the True North cover takes you back to the first album and to 1997’s Olden Domain in the sense that it’s a much more natural scene. Was that deliberate? Do you think that was more in line with the real, straightforward, stripped down, no bullshit of the album, or do you think it just happened to be what you picked?
Øystein Brun – That was something we totally agreed on and was a deliberate plan. When we did Winter Thrice, I had a little bit of a kick back to Olden Domain for various reasons. Always when I do a new album I want to take a step further, but taking a step further means that I have to take a step even further back in a sense. Even if you look closely, very closely on the last side, down in the corner you can actually see the Olden Domain cover, it’s a little tiny element; you can see this branch with a sort of dragon head. I love details like that.
From the early process with creating True North, we wanted a more clean, organic picture, and also because I was looking back to the debut album. Not to do anything, any sort of copy and paste or anything like that, and not recycling riffs, but I wanted what was the signature of that album, what made that album kind of be that album in a sense – what was good. I think we tried to pick up a little bit on that. I was clear from the very beginning that we wanted to have a (non-fantasy) picture. The cool thing is this is actually a place you can go and see in real life; you can touch it if you want. So quite a lot about the cover and the album themes is more focused on reality.
Cryptic Rock – The synthesis of ideas between the music and the cover art is a powerful vehicle of expression, for sure. Borknagar has had its share of lineup changes over the years, with you being the main, unchanging force of the band. You have been blessed with some amazing talents over the years, and working other artists into your vision is something you have learned to relish. How does it enhance or challenge Borknagar to have input from so many minds?
Øystein Brun – You know, I always try to make changes a good thing. At the beginning when we started out with the project, I was the sole force in the band making all the music and the other guys were on the wagon just for the fun of it, that is, for the first album. They have become more serious since then, and it just went from there. I always try to make something positive out of losing people. For example, with the loss of my father, I had to find something to make out of that. It is similar with lineup changes. Sometimes it’s good to part ways with members, and we have remained good friends and all that, but usually it always turns out for the better. It might sound a little bit harsh to say it’s, sometimes it’s like a kind of musical selection in a sense, you know, evolution.
So the changes we had now was kind of something we saw coming with the drummer and guitarist, and also with Andreas. Not complicated at all really: we saw that coming for quite a long time. Bringing new guys into the band, Bjorn (Rennow – drums) and then Jostein (Thomassen) on guitar was awesome. I gave them a lot of space to leave their footprint on the music, to use their best abilities. I’ve always had this idea about having all these great musicians and vocalists in the band. My thought process was how should I go about making them shine and do the best they can, because there’s no reason to not do that. If we have awesome vocalists, why not use them?
Cryptic Rock – With Borknagar, it certainly has been an embarrassment of riches in terms of musicians and especially vocalists. On Winter Thrice, you had a lot of Lars (Nedland – keys, vocals), Vintersorg (Andreas Hedlund – vocals) a great deal of Vortex (Simon Hestnæs – bass guitar, vocals) and some of Garm (Krystopher Rygg – guest vocals).
On True North, it is only Vortex and Lars, and that may be the strongest formula yet. The song “Up North” raises goosebumps in much the same way as “Colossus” and “Frostrite.” Vortex’ voice is a big reason why. And it’s interesting that you have had all these vibrant musicians involved, and yet one can always tell that it’s Borknagar – just like you stated earlier regarding Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd. One can listen to a Borknagar album from 1999 or 2019, and even though they may not sound the same, it is obvious that it is Borknagar.
Øystein Brun – That’s awesome feedback for me because that’s always been my plan, in a sense, to be a little bit outside everything, to be independent in our own musical world. I think that’s a good point, because maybe that’s a little bit of the reason for the musical success I’ve had, because I always strive to make music that is a bit bigger than any one or two musicians. I guess if I quit the band a lot of things would probably not happen, but it doesn’t really harm the band if you get a new drummer or a new guitarist.
The framework of the music is such a strong entity in and of itself in some way that it doesn’t really matter if it’s Simon or Krys doing vocals, if you get my point. I think music should be a little bit above … I’m not really into this term at all, but almost god–like in a sense that it’s a bit, it’s untouchable; it should be a little bit more than just mundane folk music, if you get my point. Something spiritual. I’m an atheist, hard–boiled atheist, but if you get my point. I’ve always tried to reach for the stars with the music in a sense. Not in terms of being a rock star or famous and all that, but in terms of music I’ve always been reaching for the stars.
Cryptic Rock – Well, it would seem you are succeeding in that endeavor. The power and feeling behind Borknagar’s music is both beautiful and undeniable. For many people, that experience can only be found in music.
Øystein Brun – I have very much respect for what you’re saying, because I am familiar with that feeling. I appreciate it a lot, to get this kind of feedback is almost overwhelming. Not because it boosts my self- esteem, but because I know the same feeling. You know I have the same relationship towards, let’s say, Pink Floyd. I remember back in the day I was at a Pink Floyd concert with my father back in ‘94: I just had this emotional reaction to that concert; I’d been growing up with Pink Floyd. I had this kind of personal relationship to it, even though Pink Floyd is one of the most popular bands, everybody has a piece of it kind of, but I still feel very personal about it.
Cryptic Rock – Proof positive of how powerful music really is.
Øystein Brun – I mean it’s so damn powerful. Sometimes, I’ve been doing this since I was a kid and the music business is a shitty business at times, but at times it’s beautiful as well. I mean, we are able to travel, but there is a lot of shit we have to deal with in the music business. Sometimes I wonder why do I do this? At this point I can lean back, I can just – I have a house, I have a wife, I have kids. I have everything I need in life basically. But you know, there’s this driving force in music. I don’t know what to call it really.
Cryptic Rock – It is a way of life for so many of us.
Øystein Brun – Yeah, really. Exactly. My wife nowadays for the last so many, many years, when I go grumpy when things start kind of, you know, everything is gray and it’s raining outside, she’s like, “Yeah, just get your ass into the studio and make some music and then come back.” Because she knows perfectly well the thing that actually makes me in a good mood and gets the power back for me. Of course I have to eat, I have to drink, I have to go to the toilet, but except for that I really need music; I can’t really survive without music.
Also, you know, when traveling around the world playing festivals, I remember Panama City for example. It’s so different, and people might speak a different language, but music unifies. It’s almost a big family in a sense.
Cryptic Rock – It really is. Another form of entertainment that unifies many peoples is that of Horror or Sci-Fi cinema. If you are a fan of either genre, do you have any favorites?
Øystein Brun – For Sci-Fi movies, my big thing has always been and will always be Star Wars. It’s commercial, it’s maybe cheesy, but I’ve been really fascinated by the whole Star Wars concept. Saying that, I would say that I’m the old generation, so I of course prefer the first movies. I still watch them. It’s a completely different world, a bubble of something; the logo, the soundtrack, the vibe, I love it.
BORKNAGAR TOUR DATES:
December 6 – Madrid, Spain – Madrid Is The Dark
For more on Borknagar: borknagar.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Purchase True North:
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Bergen, black metal, Borknagar, Borknagar interview, Century Media Records, folk metal, Heavy Metal, ICS Vortex, Interview, Lars Nedland, metal, Norway, Øystein Brun, Progressive Metal, True North, Viking Metal
Nicholas Franco
Nick has been writing for CrypticRock.com since October of 2013, covering mainly artists and albums from slightly more obscure corners of the musical realm. From interviews and live event reviews to retrospective analyses and album reviews for new releases, Nick enjoys sharing a fresh perspective from a fan's point of view. He is also counted on as an occasional editor and proofreader. In addition to his work with CrypticRock.com, Nick is a contributing writer at Metalinjection.net and SeaofTranquility.org.
Leroy Najatahn
Oh Cryptic Rock, you disappoint me. The man offered a proverbial olive branch to Christians, basically saying “I’m not a Christian and I don’t believe in your God, but I have no ill will towards you” and you fucked it up with that “well, when your views are killing the planet” shit. It must be nice to be so incredibly naive and blindly anti-Christian.
Otherwise good interview.
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DGCX to Launch Base Metals Product Suite
Aluminum and Zinc Futures contracts will be listed to satisfy investor appetite
The Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) and Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation (DCCC) today announced an expansion to their existing portfolio of metals products with the launch of new base metal products. The two new products, Aluminium Futures and Zinc Futures, will go live on Friday 22nd March, 2019.
The new products will provide investors with an opportunity to mitigate the risks involved in the base metal markets, and appeal to global participants by enabling them to hedge prices efficiently. The size of each Aluminium Futures and Zinc Futures contract will be 5 metric tons (MT), denominated and traded in US dollars.
Les Male, CEO of DGCX, commented: “We are excited to introduce new products to meet the ever-growing needs of our member community. The imminent launch of these two products is a response to growing demands and investor feedback, and will play an important role in the DGCX Group’s growth strategy moving forward. We are confident that they will further strengthen our value proposition to all participants across the non-ferrous metals supply chain, while complementing our existing portfolio of diverse products.”
The new products will be cash settled in US Dollars, and EFS, EFP and Block trading will be permissible in the contracts.
“All trades in the new contracts will be cleared by our wholly-owned and regulated clearing house, the Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation (DCCC). The DCCC is recognized by ESMA as a Third-Country Central Counter Party and has rightfully earned itself a credible reputation acting as a guarantor to all trades executed on the DGCX,” Male added.
Trading Activity in February 2019
The DGCX traded over 1.62 million contracts in February, valued at USD 31.1 billion. DGCX’s currency portfolio saw robust trading activity throughout February. Euro Futures and Rupee Mini Futures recorded their highest monthly Average Open Interest (AOI) of 2,919 and 119,173 contracts respectively. Open Interest is defined as the number of contracts outstanding in derivatives (such as futures and options) trading at any time on a market and is a definitive measure of a product’s and wider exchanges success.
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Home » Music » Greta Van Fleet Takes On The World
by The Wolf with the Headphones
in Music, Reviews
Interview and Show Review
***Re-edited and posted from an interview of August 2017.
Blood is thicker than water and talent is greater than trend. I arrived in time to hear some of the warm-up and was immediately immersed into the nu-retro sounds, though they weren’t quite happy with the technical aspects just yet. It was clear that the live show was going to be a real experience. So, this is Greta Van Fleet. Touted as the next big name in rock music and (more recently) even familiar to the likes of Robert Plant and Tom Hanks, I see a stage of talented youth who might know what they want more than they know who they are, but with the world willing to wait and see, they have it all the the palm of their blistered hands.
The instrumentalists left the stage, while Josh stays behind to finalize some details, and I get my first face-to-face with the band members.
Danny and Sam, these neo-flower children, with a peace sign necklace on the former and hippie-long locks all around, are the first that I meet. A couple of handshakes later, we’re immersed in a conversation about Abbey Road, which is a just delightful conversational topic at any time, but it’s especially nice with musicians. They apologize for the warm-up running late and I assure them that it’s all fine, glad to see their meteoric shoot to rock stardom have left them still as polite as you’d expect some guys from the Polka capital of Michigan to be.
Jake, guitar in hand, walks over, “This was all Sam’s fault. I don’t know how yet, but it was.” He also apologizes for running late, because we’re working with gentlemen here. Long-haired freaky people need not worry about applying themselves; we’re a lot more accepting these days. Picking up on the Beatles conversation, he begins to strum a bit of Blackbird, stylized. We joke about how I’m going to title the article “It Was All Sam’s Fault” [Editor’s Note: We’re not doing that.] and we get back into our love and respect of the Beatles and other musicians. There’s a greenness to this experience. They still have that enthusiasm of the newness of being interviewed as band members that makes the excitement infectious, even though we’re just shooting the breeze at this point.
Midconversation with the instrumentalists and I hear someone try to introduce themselves to me with my own name. The lead singer, Josh, joined our little cohort. My sarcastometer was not ready for this. I quickly learned that while every member of Greta Van Fleet has a personality that could fill a room, Josh has something to say about everything and he usually does it in an unexpected way.
After failing to complete the joke and introduce myself as him, we had a laugh, then were told that we would need to relocate for the interview.
We chit-chat in an over-full elevator to the basement. There are worse ways to break the ice as we already establish a humor to the situation at hand. Soon enough, seated in a rough circle, we are ready to begin.
“It’s like a Breakfast Club,” begins Josh. If you had any doubts about the authenticity of the retro feel this band exudes, you lose it within 10-seconds of being around them. References to years far past are commonplace among them, especially outspoken Josh. At one point, he even refers to me as “Baba Wawa” in a Gilda Radner throwback voice. They come as close to having an understanding of the era that made the music theirs echoes popular as they can for people born years after it ended, but there’s still an edge that reminds you that they are in or barely out of their teenage years in this modern era as the time passes. This edge gives a hope for their future music, it says they will grow into themselves and their sound, even more than how well they own it now.
The pre-show energy is evident, as they tend to answer questions as a unit. This interview has been edited and condensed in an attempt to provide some sense of order and because there aren’t enough letters in the Latin alphabet for all of the sounds and noises they made.
As a background, if you are unaware, Greta Van Fleet is made up of twins Jake (lead guitar, 21) & Josh (lead vocals, 21), their brother, Sam (bass & keyboard, 18), and their friend Danny (drums, 18). They’ve all been playing most of their lives. That, along with some natural talent and creativity, accounts for the amazing skill they have at a remarkable age. Their sound is often compared to Led Zeppelin, particularly due to the lead singer’s wailing vocals and penchant for hitting high pitches, so that’s what I start with in…
The Interview.
Interviewer (to Josh): So how do you feel about the Robert Plant comparisons?
Josh: I’m alright with that, you know? He’s probably one of the better singers.
Interviewer: It didn’t get old yet?
Josh: No, no. I mean, anything can get old, but I get it, because it sounds a lot alike. Probably because when I was listening to Led Zeppelin, I was like, “There’s a lot of power behind that, how does he do that?” and a lot of those soul singers do that, where they can just belt that stuff. So it was like that is the best way to sing to get that power behind it. He’s one of my favorite singers, too, one of my heroes.
Interviewer (to all): How has your experience been with fans so far?
They all answered in a jumble of grateful comments, so I asked a more direct question.
Interviewer: You already have a decent following, is there anything you’d like your fans to know about how to interact at signings or meet-and-greets?
Jake: I like when they’re not as, you know, overbearing, because it’s easier to connect.
Josh: Ultimately, it’s like, they love what we do and it’s the appreciation of our art and our work, so it’s kind of a huge compliment- the fact that they appreciate that, so I think that we’re all super grateful for it, we like to talk to them.
Interviewer: You’ve talked about having a very organic song-writing process. How would things change if a member of the band took over as a dictator of the creative lead?
Josh: Well, it wouldn’t be art anymore. It would be SHIT!
Interviewer: How do you balance shows and being on the road with life and sleep?
Jake: We don’t. We arrived at our hotel at 4 in the morning. It’s good that we’re young. We have to do all of this while we’re young, when we can kind of bounce back from it.
Josh: Just get as much sleep as you can and just deal with it.
Danny: It was hard at first, but it’s so fun. It’s so overwhelming and fun, you don’t even think about the sleep. Until after the tour, that’s when you crash, but during it all, it’s just *clap, clap* you get a momentum going. It’s fun. It’s not as hard as you think.
Josh: Not when you’re in it. I mean, if you’re thinking about it, the process itself, then it becomes intimidating, or it can be, but then when you’re surrounded by it all the time and it becomes your world, you accept it. If you fought it, you’d burn yourself out.
Interviewer (to Danny): I’ve read in other interviews that the Kiszca’s father was in the music scene and “gets” the band lifestyle. How have your parents taken to you being on the road?
Danny: Rather well.
Josh: Your mother plays the guitar
Danny: My mom plays the guitar. That’s kind of how I started. I started playing the guitar. She had an old 12-stringer she had since the ‘70s and she took lessons as a kid. Her dad, my grandfather, he got her into lessons. I feel like the music part of me comes from my mom’s side of the family.
Sam: His dad actually told me one time, he said, “I always thought it would be so cool if Daniel was in a band.”
Danny: Really?
S: Yeah, and he was like, “and not only a band now, but now it’s really going somewhere.” He always thought that, I always thought that that was funny.
Danny: I never heard that; that’s cool.
Interviewer: That’s awesome. Okay, guys, this one is important. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or one hundred duck-sized horses?
Danny: One horse sized duck. Definitely. Then you’d only have one thing to worry about.
Jake: I’d feel bad. Horses are beautiful. Ducks aren’t as beautiful.
Jake: Well, what’s our weapon?
Interviewer: What weapon would you like?
Jake: If I was fighting a duck the size of a horse, I would want a 12-gauge.
Danny: How about a fencing sword. I would fence the duck.
Josh: *funny voice* It would bite your leg off.
Jake: It would swallow you whole.
Danny: It could try.
Josh: *focusing again* That’s the answer we’ve got for ya.
Interviewer: Do any of you have any secret talents?
[I can not account for how much of the following is accurate and how much was sarcastic or joking. You have been warned.]
Sam: I can play the fiddle… with my feet.
Interviewer: Can you really?
Sam: No.
Jake: I’m accurate with a bottle cap.
Interviewer: Why don’t you use that to take out the horse-sized duck?
Danny: I was just thinking about the horse sized duck.
Josh: Yeah, flaming bottle caps! *machine gun noises*
Jake: I’m the tortilla tossing champion of Michigan.
Interviewer: Of all of Michigan?
Jake:Yeah.
Josh: Yeah. Digest that!
Danny: Sam plays the swinette.
Sam: I do play the swinette. I can also eat 12 hot dogs in a minute.
Danny: Are you kidding?
Sam: No. I’m dead serious.
Josh: I won the first place for the dugout shelter of Michigan … championship. Basically, if there was a fallout, I’d be the one you’d want to go to.
Interviewer: Does Michigan just have a bunch of random championships as a state?
Jake: Yeah, I guess. There’s not much… I mean, you can just chop wood up there. You’ve got that.
They begin talking faster and over each other.
Danny: Sam can tie the most knots in a minute.
Sam: That’s true. (pause) I was a boy scout. I know my knots.
Josh: Danny, were you a boy scout?
Danny: No.
Jake: We were all boy scouts.
Josh: And I was the dugout shelter champion.
Danny: You guys were cub scouts.
Josh: The, uh, tri-city regional champion.
The conversation begins to get weird, which can be fun, but I attempt to get us back on track, due to time constraints.
Interviewer: What about Weird habits.
Sam: I bit my toenails.
Interviewer: That means you can reach your foot to your face.
Sam: (pause) Yeah.
Jake: So, that’s a good one.
Josh: Weird habits, weird habits. Not any strange ones. Like I think too much, that’s a habit, right?
Interviewer: I think that counts. That’s pretty common among musicians.
Jake: We all do that. I have a habit of sleepwalking at night, so whoever’s room I’m in, I’ll be standing above them with a bow and arrow stretched out. *laughing* Actually, as a real one, when I’ve been asleep before, I have a habit of playing.
Josh: Actually, yeah, I’ve seen that, like maybe once or twice, I’ve seen him doing this *air guitar*. He’s playing the guitar in his sleep.
Dan: Josh, you’ll hum melodies in your sleep.
Josh: Really? We all make music in our sleep!
Danny: Remember that one time you walked in and you said I was drumming?
Josh: Your foot was moving, too. Sam’s the only one I don’t think I ever saw doing it.
Sam: ‘Cause I’m too focused when I sleep.
Josh: Sam’s the only one out of all of us that can just lay down on a pillow and be out.
Interviewer: That is definitely a talent to me.
Danny: I just fall asleep randomly. *laughs*
Interviewer: That’s called narcolepsy.
Josh: You should probably get that checked out.
Danny: Yeah, before I just fall asleep onstage. *laughs*
Interviewer (to Sam): What about the not wearing shoes, is that a habit?
Danny: Yes.
Sam: It’s not really a habit, it just kind of happens.
Danny: We probably have 50 pictures of him like that.
Sam: My feet were really hot.
Jake: We would have mentioned it earlier, but it’s just so… we’re immune to it. We don’t really notice it.
Josh: Yeah.
S: My feet were really hot, so I just took my shoes off. That’s how that really happens.
Interviewer: Do you think that learning to play in a more organic setting affected your technique?
Everyone: Absolutely.
Sam: When you’re taught something by a music teacher, they’re teaching you, basically, how to play, and I think that when you’re given the ability to try to learn something on your own that you basically have a moredirect connection to some of your influences.
Josh: I think a good analogy is when Orson Welles was asked, “How is it you could make Citizen Kane?” something like that, and he said “Ignorance, sheer ignorance.” Not knowing how to make a movie is the reason he made those choices he made.
Jake: I think when you learn things by ear, they’re more instilled in your soul, rather than just knowing it in your brain, when somebody shows you how to do something. It wasn’t really a choice, that we said, “Oh, I’m going to learn to play bass, you know, on my own.” My dad had one sitting around and I started playing with it a little bit.
Sam: Then Daniel started to play drums last week.
Interviewer: Which is weird, because the tour was longer than that.
Daniel: Yeah, it’s a weird thing where I just tend to forget and relearn all of it.
Interviewer: If you had an unlimited budget and resources, what would your dream video be for any of your songs?
Josh: Anywhere that we would be able to travel outside of the United States.
Jake: I think going through a Safari in Africa. Thick jungle.
Josh Maybe shooting with some of the ancient tribes.
Danny: Maybe South America, in the rainforest.
Josh: Discovering ancient societies. Could be f***in’ dangerous.
Jake: *Nods to me.* We’ll take her, too, she’s a journalist. She knows what she’s doing.
Interviewer: I’m game. Let’s go, haha.
Jake: That’s all you need.
Josh: You just need a journalist and a film crew.
Jake: I’d like to film a video in space.
Danny: No one’s ever done that.
Interviewer: That would be fantastic.
We get the 5 minute signal, so I move on to my last question.
Interviewer: What message or advice would you give to young musicians working towards making a career out of music?
Josh: Don’t do it. Don’t do it! Nah, I think persistence, really. I think if you have great passion and great truth in what you’re doing, if it means that much to you, then persistence and never stopping is probably the most important thing that you can do.
Danny: Don’t ever let anyone tell you how to do what you do good.
Jake: Play, play, play, play, and never stop playing.
Josh: If it feels right, follow it, and never stop. If you do, the whole universe will conspire to your advantage.
With that hopeful end and overhearing that this was “definitely the most entertaining interview we’ve ever gotten” (*pats self on the back*), we parted ways and I went back upstairs to wait for the show to begin.
Catch some bonus facts at the end of the article that were discussed apart from the main interview questions.
Opening Acts
The opening bands were far from what you’d expect to open for a band that is being touted as the next Led Zeppelin. The first opener, Rahway, was like late nineties garage metal trickled into the present.
The second opener was another complete change in direction. Goodbye June is another band that, while undeniably now, have that heavy, classic, Southern rock sound. I later found out that the lead singer and guitarists are cousins, so they have more in common with GVF than just having a lot of talent and energy playing a throwback sound.
The Headliner: Greta Van Fleet
Then our headliner took to the stage. In vintage-style outfits that they looked surprisingly natural in, the four of them were ready to play.
They began with the energetic “Talk on the Street”, showing off a barrage of guitar and drum beats that almost fight with the vocals for attention. Though the song is not on the EP and not as well known, it got everyone’s attention and set the mood for the rest of the performance. Their EP’s namesake, “Black Smoke Rising”, rose out of that energy. The crowd really got into it then, singing along with every word.
The subsequent songs, “Edge of Darkness”, where Jake skillfully plays his guitar behind his head, and “When the Cold Wind Blows” kept the energy up, even though being lesser known. The thing is, these songs speak for themselves. You don’t need to know the words, you don’t need to know the melody, you don’t need to have heard them before. They are infectious. They are what live music is supposed to be- youthful, classic, rock. Could they be more refined? Sure. Should they be? No. Not yet. Let these kids be young and play music that possesses the energy of their predecessors. The room to grow is one of the most exciting parts for a new band, but even if this is to be all the music they ever release (knock on wood), it’s amazing for what it is. Skillful, raw rock and roll. I don’t need anything more than that.
Another EP hit, “Flower Power”, induced a total light and airy feeling in the room. A love ballad may seem premature for such a young band, but you have to remember that they have been playing together for four years (the Kiszca brothers, even longer than that) and grew up on the classics- literally using the classics to learn and hone their craft. Besides, the phrase “out of sight” is used effortlessly and you can not find fault in that. I’ll be openly biased here. I’m a huge proponent for bringing back certain phrases to common vernacular and “outta sight” is fairly high on that list, but Flower Power is amazing even aside from those words.
They played another lovey song, “You’re the One”, before a rendition of Willie Dixon’s’ “Evil”. The Dixon song choice, considering that he was also a known inspiration of Led Zeppelin, was nicely meta. As Josh’s vocals are far from the only comparable quality to Zep, the next song, Mountain of the Sun, played on some of those classic, transcendental lyrics that they were so known for, which was followed by dreamy “Watching Over”, which has a stop/start quality that goes right through your whole being.
They played another one of my favorites, Lover Leaver Taker Believer, before ending with the final two songs from their EP, “Highway Tune” and “Safari Song”. “Safari Song” may not have the deepest or most original song, but the way Josh enunciates “your heart” while shrieking the chorus is one of the most head-bangable parts of any song in their line up.
These guys are born performers.
Josh, who demands control of the stage, has an innate character quality that he is sure of himself in. Almost snarling between verses and smiling in what must be an almost unconscious reverie at times, exposing enviably nice teeth, he clearly enjoys what he does. His twin, Jake, has an obvious comfort in his practiced playing and has an equally powerful, if not quite as overt, stage presence. He chooses his moments to shine to meld with the music naturally. Their little brother, Sam, has a quiet quality that reminded me of a young George Harrison, which is no minor quality in my book. Watch out for this one, especially if he ever takes a spiritual journey. He might take his effortless exchange from bass to keys (and swinette?) over to the sitar next and I’ll look forward to hearing all of the music that comes out of it. Finally, Danny, their band-brother. This kid makes a drum solo worth paying attention to. His energy adds to the energy that penetrates the performance and is definitely not one to follow the drummer stereotype of just sitting in the background. I can’t speak for the entire room of fans, but the girls next to me were very vocal about their adoration for the drummer.
Led Zeppelin is the obvious comparison, but there are notes of many other bands here, as well as their own style. You have a replacement drummer, the potential for more complex songwriting skills, and a fabulous number of band members, which is very Beatles.
At the end of the day, you have to remember that this is GVF’s first foray into rock stardom. So the melodies and lyrics are very reminiscent of bands that could feature easily in Woodstock with a heavier, almost metal, aspect mixed in, but that gives them room to grow from their roots. There has been a lot of noise surrounding these dudes and it is worthwhile, but as we could really use a good rock music renaissance, let’s not let this one burn out. I, for one, am going to keep my eye out for what comes next and I more than hope, I expect that their music and performances will get more intense, more unique, and more themselves as time goes on. They have their whole future ahead of them and they really have every opportunity to grab hold of it and take it for all that it’s worth. It would be easy for them to rest on their laurels and comparisons to an idyllic time past, but if they want to make it or grow as musicians, they wouldn’t do that and I don’t see it happening. That’s exciting. Anything could be coming next.
Let’s all give them the support and hope that they will take it and run, because we will all be better off for it.
Rock on, my dreamers, and give these kittens another listen.
You’ll be glad you did. I am.
Josh is the older twin, beating Jake out by about 5 minutes.
The band has a goal to sell out Madison Square Garden.
Jake rewired some of his wrist muscles by continuing to play guitar after a wrestling-related injury Despite the protest of his mother, it ended up being pretty therapeutic.
Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin knows who they are and talked about them in a recent Rolling Stones article.
Their song writing style is organic and usually happens quickly.
Danny is the only band member who isn’t related by blood, but he is essentially a brother to the rest at this point.
They have many inspirations for lyrics, including some “nerdy” ones, such as Nietzsche.
Sam is most comfortable playing without shoes on. A true hero.
Since the initial writing of this article, the band’s music has been featured on Spotify, in various TV shows, from Shameless to Lucifer and even The Tonight Show, played dozens of sold out shows and festivals, including Coachella, where they won the approval of Tom Hanks (what more do you really need in life?), and released their second EP, From the Fires.
Their highly anticipated first album comes out tomorrow!
Go and listen.
Now, please.
The Wolf with the Headphones
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Kansas: A Unit Study
State Unit Studies
On January 29, 1861, Kansas became the 34th state in the Union, an event which had long been delayed due to intense conflict between free-state and pro-slavery proponents.
Kansas History
The first white man to explore Kansas was Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who came through in 1541. He left in disappointment when he found no gold, and few Spaniards set foot in Kansas thereafter. The first Europeans to take a lasting interest in Kansas were the French. In 1691, La Salle discovered the mouth of the Mississippi River, giving him the right to claim for France the lands located within its drainage system—including all of Kansas. At first, Spain resented this intrusion on the lands they had conquered, but a massacre in 1720 brought them to acknowledge French claims. For several decades the French enjoyed the right to trap and trade furs across the area that they called Louisiana after Louis XIV, but at the end of the Seven Years’ War in 1763 this broad territory went back to Spain. Napoleon later reclaimed French rights to the area and sold the land to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.
Explorers were soon sent out to examine the new Louisiana Territory. Lewis and Clark passed through the northeastern corner of the state in 1804, but a more thorough exploration was led by Zebulon Pike in 1806. When he mapped Kansas, he labeled it as the “Great American Desert.” Since few Americans had any cause to doubt the word of a prestigious explorer such as Zebulon Pike, when the young nation began its course of westward expansion, it tended to avoid Kansas as much as possible.
In 1830 the Indian Removal Act was passed, which populated the eastern part of the territory with tribes from other states. But the white man could not be kept out of the new Indian Territory. Beginning in the early 1840s, covered wagons began to cut across northeastern Kansas on their way to Oregon and California. As the stream of emigrants increased, more and more people began to realize that Pike had been somewhat mistaken, at least about the eastern part of the area. Squatters happily relinquished their visions of the Pacific Coast and set up illegal claims in Indian Territory, meanwhile suggesting to Congress that the region should be opened for settlement.
At the same time, Congress was seriously considering a number of proposals to build a transcontinental railroad. Reclaiming part of Indian Territory would make construction easier, so once again the native tribes were moved to new homes, this time in present-day Oklahoma. Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois next proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act to organize two new United States territories and pave the way for railroad building. This law was passed in 1854.
However, there was a critical flaw with the Kansas-Nebraska Act that temporarily thwarted the railroad plans: it repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had kept the uneasy nation together for over 30 years. This agreement had outlawed slavery in territories north of 36º 30’ in latitude, the southern boundary of Missouri. Senator Douglas replaced the restriction with the concept of “popular sovereignty,” often bitterly referred to as “squatter sovereignty” in the years to follow—the people of the territory would decide whether or not to allow slavery.
Then began the infamous epoch of Bleeding Kansas. A pro-slavery raid was launched on the free-state town of Lawrence, which was instantly followed up by several murders committed by the notorious abolitionist John Brown. One violent act provoked another, and, as the chaos proceeded, an early form of yellow journalism prevailed, making matters worse.
Several attempts were made to write a constitution for Kansas and make it a state, but national gridlock kept these efforts from moving forward until the South seceded from the Union. Then at last Kansas became the 34th state. A jubilant spirit can be felt in the words of the new state’s motto: Ad astra per aspera, “To the stars through difficulty.”
Guerrilla conflict continued throughout the Civil War, but Kansas was soon set for prosperity. In 1863, construction began on the Kansas Pacific, a branch of the Transcontinental Railroad. This line and several others, most notably the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, crept their way across the state, bringing significant changes to what was still a rather sparsely settled area. For instance, new markets led to the frequently romanticized era of cowboys and cattle drives. The railroads also brought the quieter but more lasting influence of homesteaders, who slowly populated the state and firmly established its agricultural bent.
Much has changed since those times. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, farming became mechanized and industry began to prevail. This trend was hastened by the onset of World War II, which increased the need not only for grains but for various manufactures, as well. After the war was over, farms continued to increase in size, but more and more people migrated to urban areas within the state.
Kansas Geography
Kansas is almost a rectangle, missing a bit of the northeast corner where the Missouri River marks the state line. Its neighbors are Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. Kansas is the center of the 48 contiguous states. Principle rivers include the Missouri, the Kansas, and the Arkansas.
Contrary to popular notion, Kansas is not flat. The eastern third of the state is part of the Central Lowlands. This part of Kansas is rolling overall, with numerous river valleys. The western two thirds belong to the Great Plains, which are more level. However, areas of valleys, buttes, and even sand dunes provide some topographical relief.
Kansas Climate
Being located inland, away from any large bodies of water, the climate of Kansas can fluctuate wildly. Overall, however, annual precipitation steadily decreases from east to west, as the state is influenced by the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation may exceed 40 inches annually in the humid southeastern corner of the state, and it may plummet below 16 inches near the Colorado border.
Temperatures tend toward extremes in all parts of Kansas, with summers being hot and winters being cold. There is another gradient in this case, however, this one ranging from the slightly colder northwest to the slightly hotter southeast.
Because it is an area where hot and cold air intercept each other frequently, Kansas is in the somewhat tumultuous “Tornado Alley” region of the country. Severe thunderstorms are common in the spring, while strong winds blow across the state much of the time. Blizzards can occur in some regions.
Kansas Flora and Fauna
Kansas is a broad transition zone between the humid forests of the East and the sparse vegetation of the West. Most of the forests are located on the extreme eastern edge, creeping out a little farther along rivers and streams. Next comes tallgrass prairie, a region of thick grasses with deep roots to resist droughts. Kansas is home to the Flint Hills, the largest swath of native tallgrass prairie remaining in North America. Farther west, the tall grasses give way to a prairie made up of shorter grasses dotted with cacti and yucca.
Partly because of its diverse array of habitats and partly because of its convenient central location, Kansas is home to an impressive variety of wildlife. A wide diversity of birds migrate through or nest within the state, and many fish can be found, as well. Mammals range from the fox, squirrel, and raccoon familiar to the East to the coyote, jackrabbit, and prairie dog associated with the plains of the West. Some mammals once thought to be extirpated from the state in their wild form have recently reappeared, including the black bear, the gray wolf, and the cougar or mountain lion. The largest mammals, elk and bison, are usually found only in captivity now, although a few of the former still roam free.
Although agriculture is still important to the Kansas economy, it has largely been surpassed by services and manufacturing. Examples of important manufactures in the state are transportation equipment, machinery, computer equipment, milling, meat packing, publishing, and printing.
The beef industry the centerpiece of Kansas agriculture. Hogs and dairy production are also important. Key crops are wheat, sorghum, corn, soybeans, hay, and sunflowers.
Almost every county in Kansas boasts natural resources of some variety. Oil and natural gas are major resources within the state, as is helium. Other mineral products that come from Kansas are salt, gypsum, and limestone.
Interesting Kansas Facts
The dominant Indian tribes prior to white settlement were the Osage and Kansa in the east, the Pawnee in the north, and the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Comanche in the west.
The name Kansas comes from the Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind,” referring to the Kansa Indians.
The Santa Fe Trail crossed the state beginning in 1821.
The Pony Express crossed the northeastern corner of the state; in fact, Kansas is still home to the only unaltered Pony Express building in the nation, the Hollenberg Station.
Post rock limestone was cut into fence posts by early Kansas settlers due to a lack of timber.
Kansas became famous for wheat through the influence of Mennonite settlers who arrived in 1874, bringing with them a new variety of wheat that was ideally suited to the climate.
In the 1890s Kansas became a stronghold for the Populist party, which influenced progressive reforms nationwide.
The Dust Bowl hit hard in western Kansas in the 1930s.
Kansas is in the center of the original 48 states. The geodetic center of the contiguous U.S. is near Osborne.
Kansas leads the world in the production of helium.
Label the following on a map of Kansas (see Notebooking Pages below):
Topeka (state capital)
Bordering states
Further Investigation
The 34th State
Admitted to the Union January 29, 1861
Nickname: “Sunflower State”
State Flag and State Flag Information
State Quarter
State Bird
State Seal
Kansas elected officials.
Kansas Map and Quiz Printout
From Enchanted Learning.
Interactive Writing Tool {Free}
Create a state brochure using this interactive printing press.
USA Map Puzzle
Free download from Owl & Mouse Software.
Interactive Map Maker
Make and label your own map of Kansas.
Kansas Symbols Bingo
Really an entire 8-page activity pack around that theme from the Kansas Historical Society.
Food in Kansas
A 50-page “cookbook for young Kansans” from the Kansas Historical Society that includes everything from jerky and hardtack of the early Indians and settlers, to … hamburgers! (The first fast food hamburgers were sold in Kansas in 1921.)
“Pierce — The Story of ‘Bleeding Kansas'”
Chapter from This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall covering Kansas’s rocky start and admission to the Union as a free state.
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Beloved book telling the adventures of Laura and her family as they set out from the Big Woods and settle in Kansas.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Classic Kansas tale. Available free in the public domain.
The Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
The tree begins as a lone cottonwood sapling on the Kansas plain near Cow Creek. And what history it sees. Highly recommended! Read our full review with suggested activities.
Big Brother by Annie Fellows Johnston
Free title in the public domain that tells of two young orphans who make their way to Kansas on the orphan trains. Read our full review with go-along resources.
Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale by
Devin Scillain
Kansas has its own tall tale to rival Paul Bunyan: warm-hearted Johnny Kaw!
My State Notebook
From A Beka. “A basic guide to help students collect and learn the facts that are unique to their state as well as beginning research skills.”
Civics Activity Book
Also from A Beka, but written for a higher level than the above title, this activity book guides state research “in a study of national, state, and local government with a brief overview of the Constitution and a variety of interesting activity sheets. In addition to government, students also study the history, geography, and other characteristics of their state and local areas.” We have enjoyed many of the activities in this book, which include writing letters to state officials, researching the state history and other activities.
Unit Studies & Lesson Plans
State Seal and Flag
5-page lesson plan from the Kansas Historical Society.
Bleeding Kansas: Sparks of War
Research-oriented lesson plan from the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The Louisiana Purchase: A Unit Study
More about the land deal of which Kansas was a part.
Free History Studies: Lewis and Clark
The first explorers of the new land.
Pike’s Peak: A Unit Study
More about the explorer who termed Kansas, “The Great American Desert.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Unit Study
Our unit her life and books — Little House on the Prairie telling of her family’s move to Indian territory in Kansas.
The Pony Express: A Unit Study
The pony express route ran through the northeastern corner of Kansas, home of the only pony express station still standing in its original location.
Free Nature Studies: Our Daily Bread (Wheat)
Still the “bread basket of the world.” Our free nature studies includes a look at the wheat harvest in Kansas.
My State {Free Unit Study}
A recommended state study unit that covers civics, history, geography, language arts, applied math, science, and art, culminating in a personalized state notebook. We have also included additional go-along resources.
State History Outline & Projects
A wealth of original ideas and projects for making any state study a work of art!
Studying the 50 United States
Suggestions for a unit on any state from LearningTreasures.com.
Printables & Notebooking Pages
Kansas State Maps for Notebook
19th Century Kansas Trails
Population Map
Federal Lands and Indian Reservations
Blank Outline Map
Kansas State Facts Coloring Pages for Notebook
Kansas Symbols Coloring Book
Free download from the Kansas Historical Society.
State Flag Sheet
At Flags-to-Print.com.
State Bird & Flower Sheet
State Flower Sheet
State Bird Sheet
State Coloring Page (Combined facts and symbols)
U.S. States and Capitals Map
Color Kansas and write in the capital on this printable at PrintableMaps.net.
Kansas Notebooking Pages
Simple pages for copywork, narrations, recording state facts, or wrapping up.
View all of our state unit studies:
Tagged: Geography, History, Unit Studies
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NFL flexes Vikings-Bears to prime time on Nov. 18
The NFL has moved the Vikings game at Chicago from Sunday afternoon to prime time on NBC on Nov. 18.
That bumps Steelers at Jaguars to 1 p.m. EST on CBS. Also moving that days is the matchup between the Eagles and Saints in New Orleans, now a 4:25 p.m. game on Fox rather than at 1 p.m.
Chicago currently leads the NFC North at 5-3, a half-game in front of Minnesota, which has a bye this week. The Bears will play the early game at Detroit on Thanksgiving less than four days after the night game with the Vikings.
It's the second time this season the league flexed a Sunday game to prime time. Previously it did so to Cincinnati at Kansas City on Oct. 21.
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Conversation with Our Local BLM Leader: Noel Riby-Williams
Credit: Sawyer Loftus, Seven Days
There has been a recent explosion of energy around racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd on May 25th. Well, it just so happens that our local leader of Black Lives Matter is a Barre resident who, until recently, lived in one of Downstreet’s apartment homes: Noel Riby-Williams. We reached out to have a conversation with Ms. Riby-Williams about Black Lives Matter and the fight for racial justice in Vermont, and here’s what she had to say:
How did you first get involved with Black Lives Matter?
When I was in high school, my cousin and I we were at an assembly that Major Jackson was talking at, and a student behind us was using the N-word, while we were listening to a black man, a black poet. And so my cousin Joelyn turns around and she tells the students to stop saying that and that she doesn’t feel comfortable and that that was an inappropriate time and they said “oh, it’s freedom of speech, we can say whatever we want.” So she left the assembly really hurt and upset and in tears. She had a conversation with a social worker at the time, Mary Ellen Solon, and they created what is now the Racial Justice Alliance at Montpelier High School. I think that was really my starting point because I was the vice-president of the club, and from there on I just kind of jumped into this work. We rose the Black Lives Matter flag [at Montpelier High School] on February 1st in 2018.
Not long after that, during my first two years of college, I was the vice president of the African Students Association, which was created my freshman year by a friend of mine. And then for the next two years I was the president of the club. Now I’m involved in a lot of policing conversations and Womxn of Color Coalition at UVM, and so I think I’m jumping into that more now than in the past. I’ve always lived my day-to-day life, trying to educate my inner circle of friends and family, but I think with more of the protests and policing reform, I’m getting more comfortable and in the loop now.
College was a lot better because I was in a club with other African and Ghanaian Students students, and we all supported each other through everything. That was a kind of support I had never had before, and that felt really, really nice. My cousin was the only one in high school who I could talk to about racism and share things like that that white people take for granted. I felt like I could be myself a lot more in college. I felt more supported, that’s the difference.
What do you wish others to know about BLM?
It really frustrates me that people believe that it’s so politicized. To me it’s just a statement: “Black lives matter.” For example, I was sending the Brianna Taylor link to have a petition signed and I sent it to all my friends on Facebook through a message. A guy I know from middle school – I don’t even really talk to him anymore, and didn’t even know him that well in middle school – he messaged back “Trump 2020.” And I was like, “This has nothing to do with Trump.” I think it’s frustrating how people just can’t separate the two and really focus on what matters. When you think about it, [the statement is] so simple. It’s scary and it’s sad, but a lot of people don’t understand the statement.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while organizing and attending events.
MaryAnn Songhurst and Mandy Abu Aziz, the current president and co-president of the Racial Justice Alliance at MHS helped me a lot in organizing the protests. It felt really awesome to do something big with them being at the high school, also being their senior year, and I don’t think they had much of a senior year, so that felt nice.
And I enjoyed connecting with some other students around the state who wanted to do the same or needed advice, it felt good to push the momentum forward to students who are my age or younger who got inspired.
Out of the protests, I connected with Conor Casey. He was the [Montpelier City Council Member] who reached out about the [Black Lives Matter] mural, so out of that protest came that really big statement, which is awesome. And lastly, to make Juneteenth a state holiday, the lobbyist David Mickenberg is advocating for that.
Also, local businesses have been really supportive, either donating stuff for the protests, or donating time – I think it takes a village.
What is your personal philosophy about what needs to be done in Vermont for racial justice?
I think racism in Vermont is very tricky – it’s pretty hidden. It isn’t out necessarily all the time. It’s in the roots. I always say it’s really, really important to start within yourself – things within yourself that you may do to perpetuate racism, like stereotypes or biases. And then once you think you have educated yourself and done some of the work, I really think it’s your family and then your friends. It matters a lot and if you’re sticking by someone who is hurting people you love, in an indirect way, like voting for somebody who believes in laws that hurt them – I think it’s important to reach out to those people and try to help them understand and educate them. It’s a team work – it’s not going to change overnight, it’s going to be hard and there will be tears and screaming and people upset, by doing things that involve that, but what are the possibilities of everybody coming together and being stronger at the end – it’s really important.
After friends and family, I think definitely diving more into community and laws, and policing – resources are out there for people to get involved in Black Lives Matter. And voting – not everyone votes, and I do understand the frustration with voting that some people feel like they don’t have anyone to vote for, but it’s important not just nationally, but locally, voting for your senators and mayors. That’s something I am working on too – that also is important. I think it’s a chain of events, and you have to start somewhere.
Interest in and support of the BLM movement seems to be growing – why do you think that is?
I think there’s just been a tipping point, really. I mean this has always been going on, and we’ve seen it happen time and time again to black people of all ages. So I’m not really sure why George Floyd’s death was the one to tip the waterfall. I’m glad that sadly his death was the one to get people talking about racial justice.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about getting involved in BLM?
Do research of racism in the US – it goes all the way back before slavery. I feel like it’s really damaging how in school, most of the black people we learn about were the slaves, and that perpetuates the idea about black people that they didn’t come from anything and that they were just slaves, which is not true. In Africa these slaves were kings and queens, and there was just so much culture and beauty in Africa, and they came from that. I think it’s really important to go back before slavery and learn about cultures and black people in any way you can, and then work your way up through history and into slavery and Jim Crow laws and really understand the systems that were put in place to dehumanize and make sure black people can’t and won’t succeed. There are really subtle ways, like the 13th Amendment that says that if you’re in prison, you lose all your rights. It’s a small but huge thing that people may not realize has had a huge impact on black people. So I think just starting off reading a lot of history, and there are documentaries – “The 13th” really does break down our prison system and that it really is modern day slavery.
Recommended books:
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Waking Up White by Debby Irving
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
To get started on your journey of self-education and anti-racism, try these 21-day challenges:
21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge©
21-Day Racial Equity Challenge – Protest and Rebellion
21-Day Activism Self-Care Challenge
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The Sound of Healing – The Dragontree Apothecary
Home / Notes from Our Founders / The Sound of Healing
The Sound of Healing
Last week I wrote about the power of the voice, how the voice connects us and enables us to expand. Our voice is really quite a unique power, in that it gives us the ability to emanate energy in the form of sound. Sound is technically a kind of vibratory energy that flows as a mechanical wave of pressure, and it moves the things it comes into contact with. When it moves the ear drum, we perceive it as sound. When it moves the body of a string instrument, it causes a resonance in that instrument. If it moves a wine glass vigorously enough, it can cause the glass to shatter. Not only can we broadcast sound energy, we can precisely control the frequency of this broadcast. It’s really amazing, if you think about it.
As a resonant form of energy, it shouldn’t be a surprise that sound can affect human health. Persistent noise can disturb us, raising stress levels, increasing blood pressure, and disrupting sleep. Nobody likes the sound of a jackhammer or a barking dog, but even more subtle sounds, like the whirring of our refrigerator and furnace, have the potential to irritate us. I remember a night several years ago when I suddenly became hypersensitive to a humming sound in my house. Not able to track it down, I went to my breaker panel and started turning off circuits. Only after I had turned off nearly every one was the house finally silent. The next day the sound didn’t bother me anymore, but it made me aware of just how much noise pollution we’ve become accustomed to, and it made me feel for those who never get a break from this form of sensitivity.
On the other hand, different forms of sound can influence our moods in a positive way, even producing transcendent states. My mother-in-law, a nurse who owns hospices in Utah and Montana, was a pioneer in the use of music-thanatology to help dying patients feel better. Music-thanatologists use harps and their voices to produce live music in response to the patient’s state, creating sounds that are alleviate pain and emotional discomfort. Even more profound is the music’s alleged ability to assist the patient to ease into their transition out of their dying body.
Once, I was in San Francisco for an important acupuncture seminar and I came down with the flu. I felt absolutely horrendous. My chest and head were full of phlegm and my body ached like I’d just come out of the ring with Muhammad Ali. I was staying at the apartment of a classmate, and I felt kind of guilty about being so ill in her tiny space. I didn’t want to get her sick, but she was very relaxed about it. She told me that when her boyfriend came over, he’d do some sound healing on me.
Now, I’m open to pretty much any healing modality. I’ve tried some things that mainstream folks would never believe. But, honestly, the reason you don’t hear much about most fringe modalities isn’t because of a conspiracy by pharmaceutical companies to suppress them, but because they’re subtle. As it happened, I had done sound healing before. One of my former teachers was a practicing shaman, and she taught a group of us how to use our voices to direct our energy at a recipient, using certain tones to first “open” the patient’s energetic field, other tones to rectify whatever was out of balance, and then a third series of tones to “close” their field and sort of seal them up. It was really a beautiful thing to be part of, but I must admit, the effects were hard to measure. So, while I thought it was nice that my classmate’s boyfriend wanted to help, I wasn’t exactly full of optimism.
When he arrived, he had five or six didgeridoos with him. He told me to lie on the floor and he looked me over, poked around a bit, and then selected one of the didgeridoos. Next, he ceremoniously laid a towel over me. I asked him what the towel was for. “Spit,” he answered.
As I closed my eyes, he began playing the didge, aiming the end of it a few inches away from my chest. I could feel that primal earthy drone reverberating through my body, right into the floor. As he moved the instrument around, I felt as if he was breaking up and dispelling the heat and congestion in me. After a while, he selected a different didge and as he playing this one, it felt as if a different layer was being addressed. This went on for perhaps half and hour, and then he removed the drool-soaked towel and asked me how I felt. Hmmm, I thought, this was a really nice thing of him to do for me. I should probably be kind. “Good,” I replied. Wait. Good? Yes. “Good! Really good! Much better!” I exclaimed. I think I was as surprised as I was relieved. And that’s the power of healing intention mixed with resonant energy.
Meanwhile, even the scientific community has found medical uses for sound, particularly ultrasound. Ultrasound refers to sound waves in frequencies higher than our ears can perceive, and we use its vibratory power to soothe sore muscles, to break up kidney stones, and to visualize things in the body such as a growing baby. The most exciting use of ultrasound I’ve heard of recently is in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). A key feature of AD is the presence of sticky protein fragments called amyloid beta which clump around and damage the nerve cells of the brain. In a recent study, mice were bred to develop these amyloid plaques, and as the disease progressed, they forgot the path they had previously learned to get through a maze. At this point, the researchers directed ultrasound waves at their heads, which cleared the amyloid from their brains without causing any damage, and 75 percent of the mice regained their memories!
Another effect of sound on the brain can be seen in the application of binaural beats. Binaural beats are created by playing tones in the two ears that vary slightly in their frequencies, which creates the perception of a pulsation or beat. As we listen to a binaural beat recording, the brain is gently coaxed to produce brainwaves that match the frequency difference of the two tones. Recordings are aimed at inducing specific states, such as the theta waves that signal a deep level of relaxation.
While we may not have the ability to produce ultrasound and binaural beats with our mouths, the fact is our voices have healing potential – both through the sonic energy we emanate and the ideas conveyed by our words. Hindu mantras are something of a convergence of these concepts, where the combination of the tone and its underlying meaning are thought to work together to produce a spiritual experience or therapeutic effect.
Next week we’ll explore how words figure into this equation. Until then, I encourage you to tune in to the sounds around you and feel how they affect you. Do certain people’s voices feel different to you than others’, and if so, can you tell if it’s due to the timbre – the tonal quality – or the significance of their words, or something beneath the words themselves? If you’re feeling less than optimal, are you able to tune in to an unpleasant bodily sensation and then sing or tone into this part of your body? What do deep tones do? What do high tones do? Are you able to shift the sensation in some way? I’d love to hear your feedback. ;)
Dr. Peter Borten
Dr. Borten
You’re welcome, Julie! I’m glad to hear it was useful!
Wonderful article! I’m getting over a head cold and still have some residual neck tightness, sore throat and congestion. After reading this, I tried some toning that I learned at a yoga studio. It really did provide relief. My neck feels looser and throat less sore after just a few minutes. Thank you Dr Borten.
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Leonardo Fibonacci
by solicito
Calculus Grade:
CONNECTION TO REAL LIFEThe Fibonacci sequence’s connection to real life is evident throughout nature. Fibonacci numbers apply to the growth of living things, such as the petals on a flower and the spirals on a snail shell.
BIOGRAPHYFibonacci was one of the most talented number theorists of the middle ages. He was born in Italy in approximately 1170 and he died in 1250. With his father, a wealthy merchant, he traveled to North Africa, where he was educated.
ACCOMPLISHMENT: The Fibonacci SequenceThe sequence of numbers: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21Each number equals the sum of the two numbers before it. The sequence can be represented with this spiral.
THE TIME PERIOD: The Middle Ages Merchants were given a lot of autonomy to travel, so Fibonacci could move freely throughout the Byzantine Empire and Africa. European study of secular fields, like mathematics, literature, and science, was limited, because people focused primarily on fulfilling their religious expectations. Fibonacci’s lifetime was also the time of the Crusades, bitter holy ways fought by Catholics to regain the holy land from Muslims. Arabic concepts were taken in warily, making it difficult for Fibonacci to promote the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. Because of the Crusades, interactions with countries outside of Europe increased, leading to more trade and expansion of knowledge.
INTERESTING FACTSHe popularized the Hindu-Arabic number system in Europe. His real last name was Pisano. He wrote many impressive works. One book, called Liber Abaci, meaning “Book of Calculations,” introduced the Hindu-Arabic number system, and dealt with many different types of linear equations. Another novel, Liber Quadratorum, the "Book of Squares,” makes important contributions to number theory.
In any daisy, the combination of counterclockwise and clockwise spirals generally consists of successive terms of the Fibonacci sequence.
By: Ciara O'Riordan
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By pranathi d on 24 Sep 2020
Differences between Harry Potter Novels and Movies
J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is so magical and would be impossible to present all the magics described in books on screen. Let us now see some major differences of Harry Potter novels and movies.
R. A. B
R. A. B already popped up in the films a very few times and they covered the very basics pertaining to his character which was necessary to move the story along. But there was a lot left out and it’s honestly one of the most interesting stories in the series. Regulus Arcturus black was Sirius’s younger brother. We learned that he became a Death Eater but then turned his back on the Dark Lord and unknown to anyone he was the first to discover Voldemort secret that he had made a Horcrux. Allthis was not added in the movies.
The first task
Having a tribe as a tournament on the big screen is a daunting task and for the most part, the movie did a great job. The first task however was not good as the filmmakers decided to add a bunch of stuff in the film that was never in the books.
Polyjuice potion
Polyjuice potion, the thing that allows you to turn into anyone is something that pops up a lot in the Harry Potter series. But, in the films it’s very inconsistent. The first time where we see polyjuice potion used I the books is we follow Harry drinks it and turns into Goyle and it clearly says when he speaks Goyle’s low rasp of a voice issued from his mouth. However, when adapting the scene to the second movie, the characters had their own voice despite the changing into someone else.
The Obstacles Guarding the Philosopher’s Stone
One of the best parts of the first film was seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione get through the obstacles to get the stone. Each had their moment to shine. In the films we saw almost all of the obstacles Haggard three-headed dog fluffy, sprouts double snare that wakes flying keys, McGonigle’s chess board and Dumbledore’s mirror of Erised. But in the books there were two more obstacles on the top of thosethose, they had to get passed a troll which was setup by Quirrell and they had to get passed a potion rental made by Snape making there be seven obstacles.
Bellatrix in the half-blood Prince
Helena Bonham Carter has simply put incredible as Bellatrix. She’s so out there and really brings the characters craziness to life. She’s probably one of the best parts of the later films. So, the film makers milked her character in the movies. She did have an appearance in the sixth book in the chapter called spinners end where she forces Snape to make the unbreakable vow which we of course saw in the movie. But, other than that, Bellatrix doesn’t appear in the rest of the book. But, there were scenes in the movie those were never there in the book.
Physical fights
There are magical duels and magical fights in almost all the films. But, the films were made much more kid-friendly leading them cut many fistfights out. In the first film, they had cut the fight between Ron, Neville and Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in the stands of the Quidditch match. In the second film, they cut the fight between Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy and flourish and Blatz. A fistfight was cut from the order of the Phoenix.
Dobby The House Elf
Dobby played a huge role in the books and appeared in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh book. But in the films, he only appeared in the second and seventh movie. The films actually gave many of the Dobby’s part in the books to nephel. Most notably giving Harry the gillyweed so he could breathe underwater during the second task of the Triwizard tournament and showing Harry and the others the Room of Requirement for the DEA meetings. In the books he works in the Hogwarts kitchen after being freed from the mouth voice. He also had many more interactions with creature past the seventh book like when Harry sent both of them to spy on Malfoy to find out what he was doing during the half-blood prince and ultimately this lead to a fight between Dobby and the creature and because he was in most of the books, we also watched his relationship with Harry grow and gets stronger. But in movies, audiences hadn’t seen Dobby in eight years.
Ravenclaw’s Crest
In the books, the coat of arms of Ravenclaw is an eagle and the eagle was paired with blue and bronze. In the film, so after they changed the coat of arms to a Raven and they made their colours blue and silver rather than blue and bronze.
The Importance of Leadership during Remote Work
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By Dan Wyant
At this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference, I attended a session honoring three great Michigan businessmen and philanthropists who died last year: Art Van Elslander, John Barfield and Richard DeVos. During the session, sons David Van Eslander, David Barfield and Dan DeVos discussed their legacies and lessons learned, such as if you’re lucky enough to be successful, you have an obligation to give back. As I listened, I was struck by the similarities in their fathers’ stories and Ed Lowe’s own entrepreneurial journey.
No wealthy scion, Ed was born in 1920 and grew up during the Great Depression when his family struggled to make ends meet. Even as a boy, Ed was always looking for economic opportunities. He collected popsicle sticks that littered the local park after music concerts, redeeming them for prizes. He shoveled snow, mowed yards, searched alleys for items to salvage and sell, and trapped small nuisance animals for 10 cents per captive.
After serving in the Navy, Ed joined his father’s business, which sold industrial absorbents and other commodities. A turning point in Ed’s life came in 1947 when one of his neighbors asked for some sand to use in her cat’s litter box. Instead of sand, Ed followed a hunch and gave her a package of fuller’s earth granules, a new absorbent he had been trying to sell to poultry farmers as a nesting material. After rave reviews from the woman and other neighbors, Ed began marketing the absorbent as “Kitty Litter” in pet shops and at cat shows. In 1949 he left his father’s business and devoted himself to building demand for Kitty Litter. By the time he sold Edward Lowe Industries (ELI) in 1990, the company had grown to about 600 employees and $165 million in annual sales.
Like DeVos, Barfield and Van Eslander, Ed believed in giving back. He was devoted to his hometown and supported the Cassopolis community not only with his pocketbook, but also his time. For example, he launched a county planning commission, was a director at the First National Bank, a board member of the local hospital and Cassopolis’s mayor for two terms. He was also active in his industry, serving as an officer of numerous trade associations. Yet of all his extracurricular activities, Ed was most passionate about supporting entrepreneurship.
Championing the entrepreneurial spirit
Ed believed that entrepreneurs were a special breed of individuals, much like the mountaineers who pioneered our western states before the arrival of cowboys or settlers. Feeling that he had succeeded in spite of the odds, Ed believed more resources should be available to business owners, especially opportunities to connect with like-minded peers. One of his dreams was to transform Big Rock Valley, a large tract of property he owned near Cassopolis, into a haven for entrepreneurs.
Acting on this goal, Ed and his wife, Darlene, launched the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1985 to accelerate support and recognition for entrepreneurs, and Big Rock Valley became the foundation’s headquarters.
Although the foundation began as a grant-making institution, within a few years it restructured as an operating foundation that could run its own programs. In the late 1990s we began to focus on second-stage entrepreneurs (those who have moved past startup but have the aptitude and appetite for continued growth). Today key programs include CEO roundtables, leadership development retreats and the System for Integrated Growth, which provides just-in-time expertise to help second-stage companies solve critical business challenges.
Many people don’t realize that Darlene Lowe is an entrepreneur in her own right. Founder of Haymarket Designs, she ran this interior design business out of her Dowagiac farmhouse for many years, juggling a dozen clients at a time while raising three children, 100 hogs and 3,000 chickens.
After meeting Ed in the early 1970s, Darlene began to work on ELI projects. She became ELI’s vice president of design and facilities in 1981, while also expanding Haymarket with a retail location that sold antiques. During her lifetime, Darlene has worked on more than 100 design projects, ranging from the renovation of guest houses at Big Rock Valley to brand new facilities, such as our Tower of Tomorrow conference center and a new headquarters building.
And though the foundation is named after Ed, Darlene has been a full partner in its creation. After Ed’s death in 1995, she became chairman and CEO, and our work with second-stage companies has intensified under her leadership. It’s also important to note that Darlene’s aesthetical stamp can be seen throughout Big Rock Valley — extending from the quality of our buildings and landscaping to superior guest service. Visitors to the property are always remarking on our high standards and give us rave reviews.
Another piece of our legacy is land stewardship as Ed and Darlene shared a great love for conservation and historic preservation. Big Rock Valley began with a 160-acre parcel that Ed purchased in the 1960s (his favorite site for mushroom hunting). Over the years, Ed continued to buy adjacent land and today Big Rock Valley comprises 2,000 acres. The property is an unusual mix of woodland, farmland, wetland and prairies, and in addition to making it available to academic researchers, we carefully manage the land to preserve its biodiversity.
The power of heritage
For any organization, there’s a great deal of value in knowing where you come from. For starters, understanding your founders’ history and intent helps you build upon previous successes — and avoid repeating mistakes. Heritage impacts people inside and outside your organization, from current employees, customers and partners to future generations.
When it comes to legacy, leaders have three options from my perspective: Be forgotten as soon as they leave an organization, be remembered in a negative light — or have a lasting, positive influence. If you’re aiming for the third one, it’s time to start working on your legacy today.
Not all entrepreneurs are alike: the 4 phases of second stage
Beyond the buzzword: employee empowerment in action
Leading through unprecedented change
GLLA road trip: Seeing exceptional leadership in action
Dan Wyant
President of Edward Lowe Foundation
“To me, leadership is about building a team, trying to get the best out of others, and helping them be successful,” says Dan Wyant, president and chief operating officer of the Edward Lowe Foundation.
“If done right, the impact should be lasting.” In this series of articles, Wyant shares insights about leadership gleaned from more than three decades of managing entrepreneurial and conservation organizations in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
‹ Sheila Haring John “Big John” Wilson ›
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Informed Procurement
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Cookies and Applets: We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. These cookies allow us to increase your security by storing your session ID and are a way of monitoring single user access. This aggregate, non-personal information is collated and provided to us to assist in analysing the usage of the site.
We will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to keep secure any information which we hold about you, and to keep this information accurate and up to date. If, at any time, you discover that information held about you is incorrect, you may contact us to have the information corrected.
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English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. It only takes a minute to sign up.
What does “rogue killers” mean?
US President Donald Trump has recently described the murder of a journalist in Saudi embassy in Turkey as being committed by "rogue killers". I first came across rogue in the context of rogue planets, which seem to be orbiting no mother star. I've looked up the word rogue in multiple dictionaries and yet I couldn't confirm what he meant by rogue killers, that's when I thought, "maybe a bit of etymology could help decode the word." One etymology theory links the noun rogue with roger “a beggar pretending to be a poor student”, but that doesn't explain why a a rogue elephant or planet came to mean living apart, separate, unusual and/or dangerous. Does rogue killer mean a dishonest killer, an uncontrolled killer (perhaps rogue killer robots?) or something else?
word-meaning phrase-meaning
SaraSara
The astronomical use of "rogue" is somewhat based on the original dictionary meaning:
rogue (n): 2. An elephant or other large wild animal living apart from the herd and having savage or destructive tendencies. 2.1 A person or thing that behaves in an aberrant or unpredictable way, typically with damaging or dangerous effects.
When something is described as "rogue", it normally implies it acts under its own volition, without constraint from some governing body or authority. A "rogue killer" is someone who works alone and who kills in an unpredictable way or for obscure reasons. Trump calls Khashoggi's killers "rogue" to suggest they were not acting under any official orders (presumably from the Saudi royal family).
A "rogue planet" is one that is similarly unattached to any sun or solar system, although obviously without any sinister or dangerous agenda.
edited Oct 16 '18 at 4:24
(a somewhat implausible idea in this instance) – Strawberry Oct 16 '18 at 15:38
@Strawberry Alas, I can only answer based on the intended meaning of Trump's statements, and not their veracity. That would be ... a somewhat longer answer. :) – Andrew Oct 16 '18 at 16:51
The etymology puts "rogue" close to "outlaw" (see dictionary.com/browse/rogue); "rogue cop" is a long-standing usage (see the 1954 film with George Raft). – AbuNassar Oct 17 '18 at 13:59
@AbuNassar "rogue" can have many nuanced meanings, for example Han Solo from Star Wars is often referred to in various ways as a "charming rogue". Context is important. – Andrew Oct 17 '18 at 15:38
Here, rogue refers to the phrase going rogue. See https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/were-going-rogue
The expression today is more likely to be used to indicate that someone is displaying some degree of independence or failing to follow an expected script.
Rogue planets are planets where we don't expect. Every planet should orbit a star, right? Killer robots are going rogue when they don't follow their programming. So here, I'm guessing Trump is saying the killers were not sent by the Saudi government, but they acted independently.
HiddenBabelHiddenBabel
Rogue means acting independently, on their own initiative, not responsible to authority. He means the killers were rogues; not that they were killers of rogues.
The US is politically friendly with Saudi Arabia, Trump had a cordial visit with the Saudi administration, and there's a lot of high-dollar business between the two countries. If it turned out that the Saudi government was behind the murder of a man within one of their own embassies, it would be politically impossible to continue this level of coziness. It would be effectively a case of state-sponsored terrorism, probably an act of war. Trump does not want to put Saudi Arabia on a list of sponsors of terrorism. So it would be far more convenient if the act were "rogue".
Of course none of this is known to the public; it hasn't been concretely proven that this fellow was even killed. All we know is that he's disappeared. So I think what Trump is saying is, "If it turns out he's dead, we expect Saudi Arabia to deny that they are at fault, and we are prepared to believe that, and continue our full relationship with them."
CCTOCCTO
Regardless of what the in depth definition of what the term 'rouge killers' means, effectively his use of the term is meant to shield the Saudi government from human rights violations. If Khashoggi was ordered to be killed at the behest of the leaders of Saudi Arabia, then they should be punished for this obvious violation of human rights and planned murder of a permanent American resident and respected journalist.
The Global Magnitsky Act extends the sanctions stipulated by the original Magnitsky Act to human rights violators outside of Russia. Unlike the first law, this second law does not require the president to impose any sanctions. Instead, the global version gives the president the legal authority to institute a travel ban and asset freeze on human rights violators in any country, while leaving the president with the discretion to determine whether to do so.
But to make it more difficult for the president to ignore the law, Congress included in the Global Magnitsky Act a requirement that the president respond within four months to requests from the heads of certain congressional committees for the executive branch to determine whether particular individuals engaged in human rights violations. This week’s letter, initiated by Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), triggers this requirement for the president to respond.
So if the murder was carried out by 'rogue killers' then it shifts the blame away from the government and would allow Trump to give them a pass for this murder.
The term 'rogue killers' in his usage of the phrase is meant to imply the killers were acting outside of the control of the Saudi government.
zbowmanzbowman
That's all interesting stuff but remember that this is English Language Learners, not Politics. We're looking for answers that explain the phrase "rogue killers", not detailed explanations of the politics behind his choice of phrase. Obviously the political background is relevant, but I don't think it should constitute 90% of an answer on this site. – David Richerby Oct 17 '18 at 13:47
@DavidRicherby I understand that this is not a politics section of the site; however, the context around the phrase 'rogue killers' is very political. The explanation of the phrase benefits from having information to support not only the definition of what the phrase means, but also outline the possible reasons why that phrase was used, and possible motivations for why the choice of those words carry additional meaning. – zbowman Oct 17 '18 at 17:23
I agree that the context is important. However, I think it's enough to state that the context is that Trump/the US would be obliged to take certain actions if the Saudi government were responsible. If they were "Rogue killers", then the Saudi government wasn't responsible, so the obligation wouldn't exist. From an English-language point of view, it's not necessary to spend two long paragraphs explaining just what those obligations are and what US laws they come from -- that's all politics, not learning English. – David Richerby Oct 17 '18 at 17:37
Anyway, you disagree, which is fine. (The downvote wasn't mine, FWIW.) – David Richerby Oct 17 '18 at 17:40
"to go rogue" means one or more of a group of people who operate outside the relevant existing institutions. When a government agent "goes rogue", they are no longer operating on their official orders. Therefore a "rogue killer" would be someone who is killing outside of government orders.
However, it is ambiguous, even for native English speakers. I spent the last few days thinking it meant that the journalist was being called a "rogue" and that he was being hunted down and killed for being a rogue.
I was picturing in my head a Saudi prince saying "this man is a rogue and we must kill him", that would make his killers "rogue killers". But although it is grammatically possible and not incorrect, that is not how it is being used.
Jamie ClintonJamie Clinton
I don't think it's really ambiguous. It's pretty common to describe people operating outside their authority as "rogue" (adjective) but it's pretty unusual to describe somebody as "a rogue" (noun) in this day and age. You're absolutely right that they could be killers of rogues (just as "cop killers" are people who kill cops, rather than cops who kill) but I don't think that's an interpretation that many native speakers would come to. – David Richerby Oct 15 '18 at 18:30
@DavidRicherby maybe too many rpg's – Jamie Clinton Oct 15 '18 at 18:31
Ha! Yes, that might explain it! – David Richerby Oct 15 '18 at 18:33
Killers that are "on a frolic of their own". Not acting "within arms length" and without the explicit complicity of their handlers.
..not officially anyway. Plausible deniability and all that.
You can kill meddlesome priests and not be rogue, requiring some sort of atonement, pilgrimage etc. for the misunderstanding.
There is a thin line between over zealous and rogue, and it really boils down to them being thrown under the bus or not (disavowed) if it is good for the team.
mckenzmmckenzm
It is quite likely that an English language learner will not be familiar with the (alleged) exclamation of "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" which led to the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170. – Martin Bonner supports Monica Oct 16 '18 at 7:15
More generally, I think this whole answer would be very difficult to understand for a non-native speaker who is learning the language. Almost every phrase you use is either idiomatic or overly complicated (e.g., "complicity of their handlers" instead of "instructions of their leader"). – David Richerby Oct 17 '18 at 13:52
In Italian rough killer would translate something as 'unleashed dog' so a killer with no affiliation to any group of any sort (political, terror, etc.).
Lucio AndriuloLucio Andriulo
I assume "rough" for "rogue" is a typo? In any case, the question is asking about the meaning of the phrase in English, not about the meaning of related phrases in other languages. Also, this is not what the phrase means. It refers to somebody who killed by their own decision, rather than being ordered to do so. For example, if Saudi officials had been told to interview Khashoggi and they instead (or also) killed him, that would be a "rogue" killing. It has nothing to do with being unaffiliated to any group. – David Richerby Oct 17 '18 at 13:50
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Hebrew Roots/Neglected Commandments/Idolatry/Halloween
< Hebrew Roots | Neglected Commandments/Idolatry
1 Halloween
2 The Origins
3 Incorporated into the Church
4 The Origin of Trick-or-Treating
5 The Scriptural Stand on Halloween
HalloweenEdit
Every October 31st, hundreds of thousands of children dress in costumes, which range from the cute and sweet to the macabre and satanic. Every year this custom is repeated because it has always been done. That is what makes it a ritual. After all, it is all harmless fun.
But where did the rituals come from?
Why do people carve jack-o-lanterns?
Why do children dress in costumes?
Where did the tradition of bobbing for apples at parties originate?
Why, when children approach a stranger's door, do they enthusiastically exclaim, "trick or treat"?
How did the custom of orange and black as the colors of Halloween get started?
The OriginsEdit
Some form of Halloween was observed by the ancient Romans and Greeks and many others all kept a Halloween festival.
The Druids of Britain, celebrated Samhain, a festival that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year, which began on November 1st. The fall harvest was complete and winter loomed ahead. The Druids believed the power of the sun was fading. For the next several months, darkness would prevail.
"Because the Celtic day started at sunset, and ran to the following sunset, the festival began on the eve of 1 November, when the souls of the departed were supposed to revisit their old homes in order to warm themselves by the fire and to comfort themselves with the good cheer provided for them in the kitchen or the parlor by their affectionate kinsfolk. All Hallows Eve, as the beginning of winter and the dying time of the old year, was a night when the dead stalked the countryside. Offerings of food and drink were put out for the ghosts," Man, Myth and Magic, Vol. 1, p. 67.
It was believed by the Druids that during Samhain, the dead would play "tricks on mankind and caused panic and destruction. They had then to be appeased. Part of this appeasement process involved the giving of food to the spirits as they visited the homes. This formed the foundation of the modern practice of "trick or treat." Man, Myth and Magic, Vol. 4, p. 440
The ceremony of Halloween underwent an infusion of other pagan influences when the Celt homeland was absorbed by the Roman Empire. While Rome allowed the Druid priests to continue all their ceremonies, "except human sacrifice," new rituals of Roman origins were also incorporated. "Chief among them was the worship of Pomona, goddess of the harvest. Representing bounty and fecundity, Pomona was shown in art sitting on a great basket of fruits and flowers, a horn of plenty at her feet. Apples were the sacred fruit of the goddess, and many games of divination involving apples entered the Samhain customs through her influence. One of the most popular involved bobbing for apples," Common Boundary, Sep./Oct. 1993, p. 30.
Michael Judge, writing for the New Age periodical Common Boundary, explains, Halloween probably began between 1000 and 100 B.C., among the Celtic people. The actual holiday was a commemoration of their new year (Sep./Oct. 1993, p. 29). It was at this time of the year that Baal, the Celtic god of Spring and Summer, ended his reign. It was also when the Lord of the Dead, Samhain, began his reign.
The History Channel reports some interesting background on Halloween: "The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter."
Incorporated into the ChurchEdit
"Grafted onto one of the Church's great holy days, Samhain became All Hallows Eve, contracted over years of usage to All Hallows Een and, ultimately, Halloween," Common Boundary, Sep./Oct. 1993, p. 31.
Celebrations were marked by bonfires, parades, and people dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils.
There isn't a lot that has changed from the past. During the 19th century, there was a move to center Halloween on family and community, but the roots and traditions of it proved to be too entrenched to change it.
The Origin of Trick-or-TreatingEdit
It's been suspected that the act of going from door to door to get candy traces back to the All Saint's day parades when during the festivities, the poor would go around to peoples' houses begging for food. Families who answered the door would give them pastries called "Soul cakes" in return for their promise that they would pray for family's dead relatives. This practice was eventually given over to children and intended to replace the tradition of leaving out food for "roaming spirits".
Halloween also serves as a time for those involved in the occult, witchcraft, and demonism commemorate their own sacred rituals. Covens gather and the worshiping of spirits commences.
The Scriptural Stand on HalloweenEdit
Aside from trick-or-treating, the fruit of this holiday is arguably not heavily weighted towards "community". The abundance of haunted houses, witches, devil, and ghost costumes, seances, scary stories, and the general presence of "death" is not something edifying for believers to be engaged in.
As a Christian, we are not to make idols of the dead. We honor the dead, but we don't worship the dead. There is only one who gets the "worship" in this deal and it's God. The dead are dead. Let their bodies be in the grave and their souls rest in heaven or hell.
Occult practices are an abomination to Yahweh, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and Witchcraft was something that Yahweh determined should be completely eliminated from a believing community, Exodus 22:18.
The New Testament Scriptures also gives several examples of what our response to the Occult should be - Acts 19:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14 ( sources for research ) http://www.remnantofgod.org/halloween.htm
Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Hebrew_Roots/Neglected_Commandments/Idolatry/Halloween&oldid=3582782"
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Vietnam highlights significance of ensuring regional peace at ARF meeting
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted the significance of ensuring peace and stability, including maritime security, as the shared interest of all states in and outside the region.
VNA Monday, August 07, 2017 21:24
Vietnam attends 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Saturday, August 05, 2017 16:05
Philippines rejects expulsion of DPRK from regional forum
Deputy PM: Vietnam works for more prosperous ASEAN
Tuesday, August 01, 2017 16:39
Philippines ready for 14th Security Policy Conference
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 18:09
Illustrative image. Source: ASEAN.org)
Manila (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted the significance of ensuring peace and stability, including maritime security, as the shared interest of all states in and outside the region.
Addressing the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, the Philippines, on August 7, the Deputy PM underlined concerns about reinforcement, construction and militarisation activities at sea.
He proposed the maintenance of the existing principles and stances on the East Sea that are stated in the documents of ASEAN and between the association its partners, especially those related to the settlement of disputes through peaceful methods without using or threatening to use forces, and the respect for international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as diplomatic and legal processes.
He called on partners and the international community to continue supporting efforts of ASEAN and China, speeding up the negotiation on the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea in an effective and legally binding manner.
He also suggested the reinforcement and expansion of dialogue and trust-building measures, forming a common perspective as well as capacity in implementing preventive diplomacy.
At the forum, the ministers agreed on the need to promote the role of the ARF as the leading forum on dialogue and security cooperation as well as the building of trust and preventive diplomacy, contributing to ensuring peace, stability and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
They concurred to continue implementing the Hanoi Plan of Action and the ARF Vision Statement and partnership in prioritised areas such as combating terrorism and trans-national crimes, as well as maritime security, natural disaster relief, weapon non-proliferation, disarmament and peacekeeping.
They committed to continuing to promote measures to build trust, while considering and developing preventive diplomatic measures, and maintaining fundamental principles and orientations of the forum.
They also approved a list of activities for the 2017-2018 mid-period, with Vietnam chairing two conference on cooperation among law enforcement agencies at sea and the building of capacity for peace-keeping forces.
At the same time, the ministers agreed on the establishment of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Information and Communication Technologies (ISM-ICTs) to meet the increasing requirements of the region in the field.
They also adopted two ARF Foreign Ministers’ declarations on illegal fishing and drug prevention.
The 24th ARF meeting is one of the important events of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting from August 2-8 in Manila, the Philippines, with the participation of 10 ASEAN members and 17 partners.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh ASEAN Regional Forum Manila the Philippines ASEAN 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Code of Conduct ARF Vietnam Vietnam news Vietnamplus Vietnam News Agency Related stories Philippines
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung on January 15 called on correspondents from foreign press agencies and cultural and press attachés as well as representatives from foreign agencies in Vietnam to help in promoting the country’s image among international friends.
COVID-19 vaccine trials in Vietnam strictly follow WHO’s guidance
The trials of COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam strictly follow the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international organisations in terms of safety and immunity, said Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang at a press conference in Hanoi on January 14.
Vietnam reaps many diplomatic achievements: Foreign Ministry spokesperson
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has reaped encouraging achievements in pandemic control, socio-economic development and particularly external relations, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) which will be held virtually on January 21, said Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang at a press briefing on January 14.
Binh Phuoc asked to maximise advantages in agriculture
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the southern province of Binh Phuoc to work harder to deal with existing problems and optimise its advantages and potential, especially in agriculture.
VUFO to step up peace, solidarity, friendship activities
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) plans to step up peace, solidarity, and friendship activities with foreign countries, strategic and comprehensive partners, and international friends in 2021, heard a conference in Hanoi on January 14.
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Informal logic
Argument terminology used in logic
Informal logic encompasses the principles of logic and logical thought outside of a formal setting. However, perhaps because of the "informal" in the title, the precise definition of "informal logic" is a matter of some dispute.[1] Ralph H. Johnson and J. Anthony Blair define informal logic as "a branch of logic whose task is to develop non-formal standards, criteria, procedures for the analysis, interpretation, evaluation, criticism and construction of argumentation."[2] This definition reflects what had been implicit in their practice and what others were doing in their informal logic texts.
Informal logic is associated with (informal) fallacies, critical thinking, the thinking skills movement[3] and the interdisciplinary inquiry known as argumentation theory. Frans H. van Eemeren writes that the label "informal logic" covers a "collection of normative approaches to the study of reasoning in ordinary language that remain closer to the practice of argumentation than formal logic."[4]
2 Proposed definitions
3 Criticisms
4 Relation to critical thinking
5 Relation to argumentation theory
8.1 Special journal issue
8.2 Textbooks
This section may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. Please help improve it by rewriting it in a balanced fashion that contextualizes different points of view. (August 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Informal logic as a distinguished enterprise under this name emerged roughly in the late 1970s as a sub-field of philosophy. The naming of the field was preceded by the appearance of a number of textbooks that rejected the symbolic approach to logic on pedagogical grounds as inappropriate and unhelpful for introductory textbooks on logic for a general audience, for example Howard Kahane's Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric, subtitled "The Use of Reason in Everyday Life", first published in 1971. Kahane's textbook was described on the notice of his death in the Proceedings And Addresses of the American Philosophical Association (2002) as "a text in informal logic, [that] was intended to enable students to cope with the misleading rhetoric one frequently finds in the media and in political discourse. It was organized around a discussion of fallacies, and was meant to be a practical instrument for dealing with the problems of everyday life. [It has] ... gone through many editions; [it is] ... still in print; and the thousands upon thousands of students who have taken courses in which his text [was] ... used can thank Howard for contributing to their ability to dissect arguments and avoid the deceptions of deceitful rhetoric. He tried to put into practice the ideal of discourse that aims at truth rather than merely at persuasion. (Hausman et al. 2002)"[5][6] Other textbooks from the era taking this approach were Michael Scriven's Reasoning (Edgepress, 1976) and Logical Self-Defense by Ralph Johnson and J. Anthony Blair, first published in 1977.[5] Earlier precursors in this tradition can be considered Monroe Beardsley's Practical Logic (1950) and Stephen Toulmin's The Uses of Argument (1958).[7]
The field perhaps became recognized under its current name with the First International Symposium on Informal Logic held in 1978. Although initially motivated by a new pedagogical approach to undergraduate logic textbooks, the scope of the field was basically defined by a list of 13 problems and issues which Blair and Johnson included as an appendix to their keynote address at this symposium:[5][8]
the theory of logical criticism
the theory of argument
the theory of fallacy
the fallacy approach vs. the critical thinking approach
the viability of the inductive/deductive dichotomy
the ethics of argumentation and logical criticism
the problem of assumptions and missing premises
the problem of context
methods of extracting arguments from context
methods of displaying arguments
the problem of pedagogy
the nature, division and scope of informal logic
the relationship of informal logic to other inquiries
David Hitchcock argues that the naming of the field was unfortunate, and that philosophy of argument would have been more appropriate. He argues that more undergraduate students in North America study informal logic than any other branch of philosophy, but that as of 2003 informal logic (or philosophy of argument) was not recognized as separate sub-field by the World Congress of Philosophy.[5] Frans H. van Eemeren wrote that "informal logic" is mainly an approach to argumentation advanced by a group of US and Canadian philosophers and largely based on the previous works of Stephen Toulmin and to a lesser extent those of Chaïm Perelman.[4]
Alongside the symposia, since 1983 the journal Informal Logic has been the publication of record of the field, with Blair and Johnson as initial editors, with the editorial board now including two other colleagues from the University of Windsor—Christopher Tindale and Hans V. Hansen.[9] Other journals that regularly publish articles on informal logic include Argumentation (founded in 1986), Philosophy and Rhetoric, Argumentation and Advocacy (the journal of the American Forensic Association), and Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines (founded in 1988).[10]
Proposed definitions[edit]
Johnson and Blair (2000) proposed the following definition: "Informal logic designates that branch of logic whose task is to develop non-formal2 standards, criteria, procedures for the analysis, interpretation, evaluation, critique and construction of argumentation in everyday discourse." Their meaning of non-formal2 is taken from Barth and Krabbe (1982), which is explained below.
To understand the definition above, one must understand "informal" which takes its meaning in contrast to its counterpart "formal." (This point was not made for a very long time, hence the nature of informal logic remained opaque, even to those involved in it, for a period of time.) Here it is helpful to have recourse[11] to Barth and Krabbe (1982:14f) where they distinguish three senses of the term "form." By "form1," Barth and Krabbe mean the sense of the term which derives from the Platonic idea of form—the ultimate metaphysical unit. Barth and Krabbe claim that most traditional logic is formal in this sense. That is, syllogistic logic is a logic of terms where the terms could naturally be understood as place-holders for Platonic (or Aristotelian) forms. In this first sense of "form," almost all logic is informal (not-formal). Understanding informal logic this way would be much too broad to be useful.
By "form2," Barth and Krabbe mean the form of sentences and statements as these are understood in modern systems of logic. Here validity is the focus: if the premises are true, the conclusion must then also be true. Now validity has to do with the logical form of the statement that makes up the argument. In this sense of "formal," most modern and contemporary logic is "formal." That is, such logics canonize the notion of logical form, and the notion of validity plays the central normative role. In this second sense of form, informal logic is not-formal, because it abandons the notion of logical form as the key to understanding the structure of arguments, and likewise retires validity as normative for the purposes of the evaluation of argument. It seems to many that validity is too stringent a requirement, that there are good arguments in which the conclusion is supported by the premises even though it does not follow necessarily from them (as validity requires). An argument in which the conclusion is thought to be "beyond reasonable doubt, given the premises" is sufficient in law to cause a person to be sentenced to death, even though it does not meet the standard of logical validity. This type of argument, based on accumulation of evidence rather than pure deduction, is called a conductive argument.
By "form3," Barth and Krabbe mean to refer to "procedures which are somehow regulated or regimented, which take place according to some set of rules." Barth and Krabbe say that "we do not defend formality3 of all kinds and under all circumstances." Rather "we defend the thesis that verbal dialectics must have a certain form (i.e., must proceed according to certain rules) in order that one can speak of the discussion as being won or lost" (19). In this third sense of "form", informal logic can be formal, for there is nothing in the informal logic enterprise that stands opposed to the idea that argumentative discourse should be subject to norms, i.e., subject to rules, criteria, standards or procedures. Informal logic does present standards for the evaluation of argument, procedures for detecting missing premises etc.
Johnson and Blair (2000) noticed a limitation of their own definition, particularly with respect to "everyday discourse", which could indicate that it does not seek to understand specialized, domain-specific arguments made in natural languages. Consequently, they have argued that the crucial divide is between arguments made in formal languages and those made in natural languages.
Fisher and Scriven (1997) proposed a more encompassing definition, seeing informal logic as "the discipline which studies the practice of critical thinking and provides its intellectual spine". By "critical thinking" they understand "skilled and active interpretation and evaluation of observations and communications, information and argumentation."[12]
Criticisms[edit]
Some hold the view that informal logic is not a branch or subdiscipline of logic, or even the view that there cannot be such a thing as informal logic.[13][14][15] Massey criticizes informal logic on the grounds that it has no theory underpinning it. Informal logic, he says, requires detailed classification schemes to organize it, which in other disciplines is provided by the underlying theory. He maintains that there is no method of establishing the invalidity of an argument aside from the formal method, and that the study of fallacies may be of more interest to other disciplines, like psychology, than to philosophy and logic.[13]
Relation to critical thinking[edit]
See also: Critical thinking
Since the 1980s, informal logic has been partnered and even equated,[16] in the minds of many, with critical thinking. The precise definition of "critical thinking" is a subject of much dispute.[17] Critical thinking, as defined by Johnson, is the evaluation of an intellectual product (an argument, an explanation, a theory) in terms of its strengths and weaknesses.[17] While critical thinking will include evaluation of arguments and hence require skills of argumentation including informal logic, critical thinking requires additional abilities not supplied by informal logic, such as the ability to obtain and assess information and to clarify meaning. Also, many believe that critical thinking requires certain dispositions.[18] Understood in this way, "critical thinking" is a broad term for the attitudes and skills that are involved in analyzing and evaluating arguments. The critical thinking movement promotes critical thinking as an educational ideal. The movement emerged with great force in the '80s in North America as part of an ongoing critique of education as regards the thinking skills not being taught.
Relation to argumentation theory[edit]
See also: Argumentation theory
The social, communicative practice of argumentation can and should be distinguished from implication (or entailment)—a relationship between propositions; and from inference—a mental activity typically thought of as the drawing of a conclusion from premises. Informal logic may thus be said to be a logic of argumentation, as distinguished from implication and inference.[19]
Argumentation theory is interdisciplinary in the sense that no one discipline will be able to provide a complete account. A full appreciation of argumentation requires insights from logic (both formal and informal), rhetoric, communication theory, linguistics, psychology, and, increasingly, computer science. Since the 1970s, there has been significant agreement that there are three basic approaches to argumentation theory: the logical, the rhetorical and the dialectical. According to Wenzel,[20] the logical approach deals with the product, the dialectical with the process, and the rhetorical with the procedure. Thus, informal logic is one contributor to this inquiry, being most especially concerned with the norms of argument.
Philosophy portal
Argument map
Informal fallacy
Informal inferential reasoning
Inference objection
Footnotes[edit]
^ See Johnson 1999 for a survey of definitions.
^ Johnson, Ralph H., and Blair, J. Anthony (1987), "The Current State of Informal Logic", Informal Logic, 9(2–3), 147–151. Johnson & Blair added "... in everyday discourse" but in (2000), modified their definition, and broadened the focus now to include the sorts of argument that occurs not just in everyday discourse but also disciplined inquiry—what Weinstein (1990) calls "stylized discourse."
^ Resnick, 1989
^ a b Frans H. van Eemeren (2009). "The Study of Argumentation". In Andrea A. Lunsford; Kirt H. Wilson; Rosa A. Eberly (eds.). The SAGE handbook of rhetorical studies. SAGE. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-4129-0950-1.
^ a b c d David Hitchcock, Informal logic 25 years later in Informal Logic at 25: Proceedings of the Windsor Conference (OSSA 2003)
^ Hausman, Alan; Landesman, Charles; Seamon, Roger (2002). "Howard Kahane, 1928-2001". Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association. 75 (5): 191–193. JSTOR 3218569.
^ Fisher (2004) p. vii
^ J. Anthony Blair and Ralph H. Johnson (eds.), Informal Logic: The First International Symposium, 3-28. Pt. Reyes, CA: Edgepress
^ http://ojs.uwindsor.ca/ojs/leddy/index.php/informal_logic/about/editorialTeam
^ Johnson and Blair (2000), p. 100
^ As Johnson (1999) does.
^ Johnson and Blair (2000), p. 95
^ a b Massey, 1981
^ Woods, 1980
^ Johnson (2000) takes the conflation to be part of the Network Problem and holds that settling the issue will require a theory of reasoning.
^ a b Johnson, 1992
^ Ennis, 1987
^ Johnson, 1999
^ Wenzel (1990)
Barth, E. M., & Krabbe, E. C. W. (Eds.). (1982). From axiom to dialogue: A philosophical study of logics and argumentation. Berlin: Walter De Gruyter.
Blair, J. A & Johnson, R.H. (1980). The recent development of informal logic. In J. Anthony Blair and Ralph H. Johnson (Eds.). Informal logic: The first international symposium, (pp. 3–28). Inverness, CA: Edgepress.
Ennis, R.H. (1987). A taxonomy of critical thinking dispositions and abilities. In J.B. Baron and R.J. Sternberg (Eds.), Teaching critical thinking skills: Theory and practice, (pp. 9–26). New York: Freeman.
Eemeren, F. H. van, & Grootendorst, R. (1992). Argumentation, communication and fallacies. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Fisher, A. and Scriven, M. (1997). Critical thinking: Its definition and assessment. Point Reyes, CA: Edgepress
Fisher, Alec (2004). The logic of real arguments (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-65481-4.
Govier, T. (1987). Problems in argument analysis and evaluation. Dordrecht: Foris.
Govier, T. (1999). The Philosophy of Argument. Newport News, VA: Vale Press.
Groarke, L. (2006). Informal Logic. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logic-informal/
Hitchcock, David (2007). "Informal logic and the concept of argument". In Jacquette, Dale (ed.). Philosophy of logic. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-444-51541-4. preprint
Johnson, R. H. (1992). The problem of defining critical thinking. In S. P. Norris (Ed.), The generalizability of critical thinking (pp. 38–53). New York: Teachers College Press. (Reprinted in Johnson (1996).)
Johnson, R. H. (1996). The rise of informal logic. Newport News, VA: Vale Press
Johnson, R. H. (1999). The relation between formal and informal logic. Argumentation, 13(3) 265–74.
Johnson, R. H. (2000). Manifest rationality: A pragmatic theory of argument. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Johnson, R. H. & Blair, J. A. (1987). The current state of informal logic. Informal Logic 9, 147–51.
Johnson, R. H. & Blair, J. A. (1996). Informal logic and critical thinking. In F. van Eemeren, R. Grootendorst, & F. Snoeck Henkemans (Eds.), Fundamentals of argumentation theory (pp. 383–86). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Johnson, R. H. & Blair, J. A. (2002). Informal logic and the reconfiguration of logic. In D. Gabbay, R. H. Johnson, H.-J. Ohlbach and J. Woods (Eds.). Handbook of the logic of argument and inference: The turn towards the practical (pp. 339–396). Elsivier: North Holland.
MacFarlane, J. (2005). Logical Constants. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Massey, G. (1981). The fallacy behind fallacies. Midwest Studies of Philosophy, 6, 489–500.
Munson, R. (1976). The way of words: an informal logic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Resnick, L. (1987). Education and learning to think. Washington, DC: National Academy Press..
Walton, D. N. (1990). What is reasoning? What is an argument? The Journal of Philosophy, 87, 399–419.
Weinstein, M. (1990) Towards a research agenda for informal logic and critical thinking. Informal Logic, 12, 121–143.
Wenzel, J. 1990 Three perspectives on argumentation. In R Trapp and J Scheutz, (Eds.), Perspectives on argumentation: Essays in honour of Wayne Brockreide, 9-26 Waveland Press: Prospect Heights, IL
Woods, J. (1980). What is informal logic? In J.A. Blair & R. H. Johnson (Eds.), Informal Logic: The First International Symposium (pp. 57–68). Point Reyes, CA: Edgepress.
Special journal issue[edit]
The open access issue 20(2) of Informal Logic from year 2000 groups a number of papers addressing foundational issues, based on the Panel on Informal Logic that was held at the 1998 World Congress of Philosophy, including:
Hitchcock, D. (2000) The significance of informal logic for philosophy. Informal Logic 20(2), 129–138.
Johnson, R. H. & Blair, J. A. (2000). Informal logic: An overview. Informal Logic 20(2): 93–99.
Woods, J. (2000). How Philosophical is Informal Logic? Informal Logic 20(2): 139–167. 2000
Textbooks[edit]
Kahane, H. (1971). Logic and contemporary rhetoric:The use of reasoning in everyday life. Belmont: Wadsworth. Still in print as Nancy Cavender; Howard Kahane (2009). Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-80411-6.
Scriven, M. (1976). Reasoning. New York. McGraw Hill.
Johnson, R. H. & Blair, J. A. (1977). Logical self-defense. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. US Edition. (2006). New York: Idebate Press.
Fogelin, R.J. (1978). Understanding arguments: An introduction to informal logic. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. Still in print as Sinnott-Armstrong, Walter; Fogelin, Robert (2010), Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic (8th ed.), Belmont, California: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, ISBN 978-0-495-60395-5
Stephen N. Thomas (1997). Practical reasoning in natural language (4th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-678269-8.
Irving M. Copi; Keith Burgess-Jackson (1996). Informal logic (3rd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-229048-7.
Woods, John, Andrew Irvine and Douglas Walton, 2004. Argument: Critical Thinking, Logic and the Fallacies. Toronto: Prentice Hall
Groarke, Leo and Christopher Tindale, 2004. Good Reasoning Matters! (3rd edition). Toronto: Oxford University Press
Douglas N. Walton (2008). Informal logic: a pragmatic approach (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-71380-1.
Trudy Govier (2009). A Practical Study of Argument (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-60340-5.
David Carl Wilson (2020) A Guide to Good Reasoning: Cultivating Intellectual Virtues (2nd edition) University of Minnesota Libraries Ebook ISBN 978-1-946135-66-7 Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, at https://open.lib.umn.edu/goodreasoning/
Groarke, Leo. "Informal Logic". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
An Outline for Verbal Logic
Philosophical logic
Critical thinking and
Explanatory power
Parsimony (Occam's razor)
Vagueness
Theories of deduction
Dialetheism
Fictionalism
Finitism
Intuitionism
Logical atomism
Platonic realism
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Informal_logic&oldid=994172237"
Articles needing POV-check from August 2014
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Why the United States Needs the “Human Trafficking Research Act of 2020”
Human trafficking remains a major threat to public safety, health, and human rights throughout the United States, but the absence of solid data about its true scope and character impairs efforts to effectively respond. It’s been 20 years since the Trafficking Victims Protection Act established human trafficking as a distinct form of crime, but there are still no solid sources of data. Consequently, no consensus has formed around fundamental issues such as its national scope (in regards to both prevalence and incidence), trends, regional variations, and more. Senator Josh Hawley’s bill, the “Human Trafficking Research Act of 2020,” would fund research on human trafficking victims in order to help shed light on the issue.
Among the challenges faced by agencies and organizations seeking to understand and then prevent these crimes are the inherently covert and deceptive nature of criminal enterprises as well as the work of criminals to control and silence victims. However, such challenges are not unique to human trafficking and solutions have been developed for overcoming similar obstacles when investigating and understanding other forms of “hidden crime.”
The Importance of Good Data for Winning the Fight Against Human Trafficking
The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report of 2019 identifies “the lack of standardization” and “poor data management practices and systems” as among the many problems with existing data. These problems are exacerbated by a lack of consensus about what, exactly, constitutes human trafficking. Senator Hawley’s bill would provide funding to fill such voids in the data.
As Patrick A. Trueman, president and CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, has said, “Fifteen years ago, we knew too little about human trafficking to conduct a successful human trafficking prevalence study, which Congress first mandated in 2005. The time to conduct these studies is now, and Senator Hawley’s bill is an important step in shining a light on vulnerable members of our society who are often overlooked.”
Senator Hawley tweeted, “Human trafficking is a heinous evil that affects almost every community in America. But we have no data on how many victims there are and who are the criminals exploiting victims.” This gap in crime statistics amplifies the difficulty in identifying victims and bringing traffickers to justice.
This is particularly troubling when the data that does exist, such as this report put out by The Polaris Project, is indicating that many of the victims are the most vulnerable members of our society: young children. Law enforcement relies on crime statistics to educate themselves and the public on the prevalence of issues. Data is needed for understanding who the at-risk groups are and ways to help those already ensnared in trafficking.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation encourages individuals to contact their elected officials in the U.S. Senate and advocate that they support the Human Trafficking Research Act of 2020.
STATEMENT – 40+ Sex Trafficking Survivors Rightly Seek Justice From Pornhub
STATEMENT – Pornhub Removes 10+ million Videos; Ignores Fact that Abuse Still Happens on Verified Accounts
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Home | News | Myanmar
Asian Nations Vow to Reduce Number of Stateless People
Rohingya children shout slogans at the Unchiprang refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov. 15, 2018.
Asia-Pacific nations have pledged at talks in Bangkok to take steps, including legal reforms, to tackle statelessness, a key issue in the region.
More than half of the world’s 10 million people who are stateless live in Asia, with at least 1 million of them Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
Government officials from 16 Asian countries “have made commitments to take further steps aimed at preventing and reducing statelessness,” a statement from the U.N.’s refugee agency, UNHCR, said Friday at the end of a two-day meeting in the Thai capital.
“A number of states committed to taking specific steps, including measures to achieve universal birth registration and targeting hard-to-reach populations. Others said they would be tackling legal reforms, especially on issues related to childhood statelessness,” UNHCR said.
People who are not formally recognized as a national of any state under the operation of its laws are considered stateless.
Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia are among countries in the region grappling with the issue of stateless people living within their borders.
“One of the key things that I was inspired by today was that several states have said that they will not allow children on their territory to be stateless any more,” said Carol Batchelor, UNHCR’s Special Advisor on Statelessness.
The Bangkok meeting came ahead of high-level, global talks to be held in Geneva in October, as part of UNHCR’s 10-year #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness.
Since the campaign was launched more than four years ago, governments have moved swiftly to contain the statelessness problem, U.N. officials said.
“In this region, some 50,000 people at least, that are known to us, now have a nationality that they didn’t have before this campaign was launched 4½ years ago. So that is a tangible example of some of the progress that’s been made,” Caroline Gluck, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, told BenarNews.
According to Jelvas Musau, senior regional protection officer (statelessness) at UNHCR, one of the main obstacles to addressing the issue is simply understanding it. People often confuse stateless individuals with refugees, he said.
“Refugees are not stateless people. They have their nationalities of where they came from and they will return to those countries. So statelessness is slightly different and once it’s understood properly, I think states will be very keen and eager to address it,” he told BenarNews. Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh are an exception, as they are both refugees and stateless.
More than 700,000 Rohingya who fled a bloody military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in 2017 are languishing in camps in southeastern Bangladesh. About 800,000 stateless Rohingya remain in Myanmar.
In Thailand, hundreds of thousands of people who have no official citizenship from any state are living in Thai territory, including tribespeople who have come from neighboring countries like Myanmar and Laos.
In Malaysia, authorities are dealing with stateless Rohingya as well as stateless children of Thais who crossed into Malaysian territory to flee from violence in Thailand’s insurgency-hit Deep South. And in the southern Philippines, there are stateless Indonesians living there who came over from Sulawesi island in Indonesia.
In their efforts to reduce the number of stateless people, it is important for countries to share information in their databases about such persons, Batchelor said.
“I think the way forward in improving data is to … have a procedure to determine if somebody is stateless,” she said. “If they are on the territory and they are not a national and they don’t have nationality anywhere else, then they are probably stateless.”
“So having a procedure that identifies and allows for numbers and statistics and data, so once the problem is identified, the solution can be brought to bear. It will be very helpful for the UNHCR and others to have improved statistical information.”
‘One of the proudest moments of my life’
At the Bangkok conference on Friday, an 18-year-old woman, who just a few weeks ago received Thai citizenship, told officials from 16 nations about how her life had changed.
Namphung Panya said she was able to travel to the United States to compete in a science and engineering fair a few days after receiving her citizenship, and would be able to continue her education at the university level.
“It was one of the proudest moments of my life,” she told the conference, according to UNHCR.
Namphung was born in Thailand and lives in Chiang Rai province near the border with Myanmar, the Bangkok Post reported. She is classified as stateless because her parents are from the Thai Yai ethnic group.
Thailand’s strict Nationality Act does not automatically confer citizenship at birth.
In June and July 2018, a small group of stateless people in Thailand drew international attention and scores of TV satellite trucks to a deep cave where a soccer coach and the 12 members of youth team were rescued more than two weeks after they became trapped by rising water.
The world soon learned that the coach and three team members were among the nearly one-half million stateless people registered in Thailand.
In less than a month, the Thai government awarded citizenship to the coach and players. Local reports at the time noted all four were born in Thailand, but were not declared citizens because of the Nationality Act.
Thai Human Rights Commissioner Tuenjai Deetes, who attended the meeting, said Thailand was working to register people but was limited by manpower issues.
“We registered more than 500,000 stateless people, but we have few officials to interview, document and fill in the nationality request which must be solid,” Tuenjai told BenarNews. “The civil service commission could not provide us with more manpower.”
A widespread issue
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia are also facing issues involving stateless people.
Decades ago, Indonesians sailed from North Sulawesi Province to remote sections of Mindanao island in the Philippines where they are undocumented and stateless, and therefore unable to return home.
In 2018, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that thousands of passports were issued to Indonesians and Filipino-Indonesians to allow them to travel to their home country.
A Philippine Department of Justice official said that while his country did not have a specific law pertaining to statelessness, it managed to solve the issue with Indonesia. Adonis P. Sulit, an assistant secretary at the department, offered tips to other nations that could have similar concerns.
“It will be helpful if you have a particular person or group or office to deal with the stateless issue,” he told the meeting in Bangkok. “We were able to reduce statelessness through strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia.”
The Philippines was able to naturalize a large group of stateless persons, while Indonesia did the same for another group and a third was granted dual citizenship.
In 2016, Thai government officials traveled to Malaysia to discuss efforts to help stateless children of parents who escaped from the insurgency-wracked Deep South. Officials at the time did not say how many people would be affected by the efforts.
To combat the plight of statelessness involving children, Malaysia has declared that any baby born in the country is a Malaysian citizen if such citizenship to another country does not carry over through the child’s parents, according to officials at the meeting.
Childhood statelessness has a variety of causes including being born to a stateless parent, lack of registration at birth, migration and gender discrimination that prevents some women from passing their nationality to their children.
Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
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Bangladeshi Police Probe Reported Abduction of Christian Rohingya Family
Bangladesh Agrees to Allow UNICEF to Educate Rohingya Child Refugees From Myanmar
Bangladesh Orders Cellphone Operators to Block Internet Services in Rohingya Camps
ICC Delegation Head Wraps up Visit to Bangladesh, Rohingya Camps
India: Two Rohingya Groups in Custody after Trying to Cross Into Bangladesh
Bangladesh Officials Blame Myanmar Minister for ‘Disinformation Campaign’
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Hunter S Thompson’s widow wants to get you high on his personal supply
EP4PRO, November 30th, 2016, in ep4records
Anita Thompson says she has found a legal method to extract DNA from six of the gonzo journalists personal strains of marijuana
Fans of gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson may one day get to smoke his own brand of marijuana, thanks to the efforts of his widow, Anita Thompson.
Anita told the Aspen Times that she has six strains of her late husbands preferred marijuana saved and is working with a cannabis company to grow them for public sale.
I have found a legal method to extract the DNA from Hunters personal marijuana and hashish that I saved for 12-15 years, Anita claimed in a post on her Facebook page. I am in the process of making the strains available to those who would like to enjoy the authentic Gonzo strains in legal states.
Recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado, where Anita lives, in 2012 one of the first states to legalize the drug, alongside Washington.
Before deciding to become a drug lord, as Anita jokingly told the Aspen Times, she said she had been approached multiple times by growers looking to use her husbands name on their product and follow in the footsteps of other celebrity brands such as the controversial Bob Marley-referencing strain, Marley Natural. Ive had probably 10 meetings in the last three years and I always ended up saying no because its the same story every time: somebody wants to slap Hunters name on their strain, she said.
Thompson, famed inventor of gonzo journalism, once said: I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits and millions of Americans agree with me.
He committed suicide in 2005 at age 67. According to the Aspen Times, a trust was established before his death that allowed Anita to live on his Owl Farm property in Colorado, though it would be owned by the Gonzo Trust, a legal entity overseen by his appointed attorneys and trustees.
Earlier this year, Anita purchased Owl Farm and also gained access to Thompsons name and likeness. Profits from the sale of the Gonzo brand of marijuana would support renovations to the property as well as Anitas plans to establish a private museum and writers retreat.
Anita said she had been trying to keep the focus on her late husbands legacy as a writer in the years after his death. I was always steering toward his work and away from his lifestyle, but now I feel like I can talk more openly about his lifestyle, she told the newspaper. Im proud to do it now. Before, it was a little too risky.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/29/hunter-s-thompson-marijuana-supply-widow
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Crop Value Chains: Bananas and Plantains in West Africa
This research brief provides an overview of the banana and plantain value chains in West Africa. Because of the greater production and consumption of plantains than bananas in the region, the brief focuses on plantains and concentrates on the major plantain-producing countries of Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. The brief is divided into the following sections: Key Statistics (trends in banana and plantain production, consumption, and trade since 1990), Production, Post-Harvest Practices and Challenges, Marketing Systems, and Importance (including household consumption and nutrition). West Africa is one of the major plantain-producing regions of the world, accounting for approximately 32% of worldwide production. Plantains are an important staple crop in the region with a high nutritional content, variety of preparation methods, and a production cycle that is less labor-intensive than many other crops. In addition to plantains, bananas are also grown in West Africa, but they account for only 2.3% of worldwide production. Bananas are more likely than plantains to be grown for export rather than local consumption. Major constraints to banana and plantain production include pests and disease, short shelf life, and damage during transportation.
Crop Value Chains: Yams in Nigeria
This report provides a general overview of the markets for yams in Nigeria. The first section describes trends in yam production and consumption and international trade since 1990. The second section summarizes the varieties grown in Nigeria and their uses, followed by a discussion of the importance of yams as a source of nutrition and household income. The final section provides details about the production and marketing systems for yams in Nigeria, including environmental and gender considerations. Nigeria is the world’s largest yam producer in terms of quantity. Yam production and consumption have increased over the past twenty years, though more recently, production has been somewhat in decline and yields have been stagnant. The Nigerian government has played a more active role in improving agricultural production and export of root and tuber crops including yams in recent years, but so far with limited success. Yam producers and traders report diverse constraints to their full participation in the market, including high cost of inputs, planting materials and labor, lack of credit, limited access to proper, secure storage facilities, and high transportation costs.
Crop Value Chains: Yams in Ghana
This report provides a general overview of the market for yams in Ghana. We begin by describing historical trends in yam production and consumption since 1996, recent international trade, and prices. The second section summarizes the varieties grown in Ghana and their uses. The next several sections review available information about the production and marketing systems, followed by a discussion of the importance of yams as a source of nutrition and household income. The limited information available on sweet potato production in Ghana is presented in the appendix. We find that yam production in Ghana has increased steadily over the last 15 years, and that while yam yields have increased from 12.8 MT/Ha in 1996 to 15.6 MT/Ha in 2011, an estimated yield gap of 33.4 MT/Ha persists. Yam export levels have varied over the past 15 years, but show a generally positive trend. Most yam farmers are male smallholders with low levels of education, while most retailers, wholesalers and cross-border traders are women.
Crop Value Chains: Cassava Global Analysis
Cassava is a tuber crop originating in South America and grown in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. Cassava use varies significantly by region. In Africa, cassava is primarily grown for food. In Asia, production is typically for industrial purposes, including ethanol, while in Latin America and the Caribbean it is commonly used in animal feed. Both roots and leaves are consumed, though most information on production focuses on roots. There are bitter and sweet varieties; bitter cassava has a high cyanide content and must be processed prior to consumption, while sweet varieties can be eaten directly. This report presents information about current production, constraints, and future potential of cassava. We discuss cassava’s importance in Africa, current worldwide production, projections for supply and demand, production constraints, and current policies affecting cassava production and trade. We include global information but focus on Africa, particularly Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania.
EPAR Research Brief #78
Political Economy of Fertilizer Policy in Côte d’Ivoire
In the decades following independence in 1960, Côte d’Ivoire stood out as a shining example of economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. GDP increased at an annual average of 8.1 percent from 1960 to 1979, led largely by cocoa and coffee exports. Low export earnings from a fall in world cocoa prices and a heavy public debt burden halted this growth in the 1980s, followed by civil conflict beginning in 1999. Three decades of focus on export crops rather than food crops also left Côte d’Ivoire with a growing food deficit. This literature review examines the state of agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire and the history of government involvement in the agricultural sector. We find that while the country is poised to reemerge from a decade of economic stagnation and civil war after signing the Ouagadougou Political Accord in 2007, the political economy of Côte d’Ivoire is still heavily dependent upon and influenced by the production of cocoa. Cocoa is the top export, and cocoa export taxes provide one of the largest sources of revenue for the Government of Côte d’Ivoire (GoCI). Cocoa is not heavily dependent on fertilizer inputs and growers have increased production by expanding cropland. The small contribution of fertilizer to the production of this essential crop may help explain the GoCI’s low priority on expanding fertilizer production and use. Given that a large part of government revenue comes from the export of cocoa and coffee, the government has chosen to focus resources on crops that increase revenue. Even with the food riots in 2008, the GoCI has not made increasing domestic food production an important focus of agricultural policy.
Political Economy of Fertilizer Policy in Ghana
Agriculture is the most important sector in the Ghanaian economy. In 2008, it accounted for over 32 percent of GDP and employed over half of the labor force. Economic development in Ghana has historically been dependent on the success of agriculture, particularly the main export crop, cocoa. Despite the sector’s importance, Ghanaian farmers have one of the lowest fertilizer application rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. The combination of a dominant agricultural sector, nutrient-poor soils, low fertilizer use among smallholder farmers, and the absence of locally produced inorganic fertilizers has prompted the government of Ghana (GoG) to intervene in the fertilizer market. This literature review examines the state of agriculture in Ghana, the history of the fertilizer market, and the current market structure. We find that the GoG has been a major actor in the inorganic fertilizer market over the past 50 years, from exercising total control of the domestic supply chain in the 1960s and 1970s to more indirect interventions in later years. In recent years, agricultural growth has averaged 5.5 percent as compared to 5.2 percent growth in the rest of the economy. However, most of this growth has been due to land expansion and favorable weather conditions rather than increased productivity. Increased fertilizer use among smallholder farmers has the potential to contribute to future agricultural growth and continued economic success.
Political Economy of Fertilizer Policy in Senegal
Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have often intervened in the fertilizer sector to promote more optimal levels of fertilizer use. Many West African nations, in particular, have inherited a legacy of government involvement, stemming from French colonial policies that encouraged state participation in the agricultural sector. Senegal's colonial past has influenced much of its present economy, from its principal export crop (peanuts) to its major food import (rice). The colonial legacy includes a relatively high degree of urbanization; limited domestic industrial capacity; institutions, policies, and agricultural networks focused on supporting a single export crop; and a history of state intervention into markets. After government intervention in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a period of liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s, Senegal is again defining its agricultural policy. This literature review examines the state of agriculture in Senegal and the history of Senegalese agricultural policy in order to understand past and current trends in fertilizer usage. We find that Senegal continues to experience a high level of food price fluctuations as it imports increasing amounts of rice to cover its food deficit. Increased use of fertilizer, along with irrigation technology may help improve rice production and increase food security. To achieve this goal, the Government of Senegal (GoS) has embarked on several initiatives, notably the Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Law (LOASP) and the Grande Offensive Agricole pour la Nourriture et l’Abondance (GOANA), employing subsidies to increase fertilizer demand and making food sovereignty a national priority. In the coming years, GoS will need to determine what role the government should play in the agricultural sector, and what level of intervention can be sustained in the long-term.
Political Economy of Fertilizer Policy in Nigeria
Nigeria’s experience with fertilizer subsidy programs has been different than that of other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is one of the only African countries capable of producing fertilizer domestically. But Nigeria is also large and densely populated. This makes national agricultural policy difficult due to logistical problems with implementation and the unique fertilizer needs of the various agro-ecological zones. This research brief discusses the effects of Nigeria’s input subsidy programs on maize production and fertilizer consumption. It focuses on the years 2000 to 2007, but also includes a discussion of Nigeria’s subsidy history from the early 1970s to 2009. Researchers have had difficulty studying Nigeria’s subsidy schemes due to a lack of data. In spite of decades of authoritarian, centralized leadership, Nigeria’s states have significant power to implement their own subsidies. This complicates any evaluation of a program’s effectiveness, in part due to the variety of subsidies at any given time, as well as inconsistent accounting practices.
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Bel Lazar
Bel Lazar brings 30+ years of experience in the semiconductor, aerospace, and defense technology fields. In addition to his role as CEO of EPC Space, Bel currently serves as COO of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation. Most recently, Bel served as an Acting CEO of Freebird Semiconductor Corp. Prior to joining EPC, Bel was President & Chief Executive Officer at API Technologies Corp. Prior to API Technologies, Bel was Senior Vice President of Operations, Corporate, at Microsemi Corporation, now Microchip Technology. Prior to Microsemi, Bel spent over 22 years at International Rectifier, now Infineon Technologies AG, where he was the Vice President and General Manager of Aerospace & Defense business unit. Bel has completed 17 M&A transactions throughout his career.
Bel graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Engineering, majoring in Electrical Engineering, from California State University, Northridge and is a member of national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. Bel also holds an M.S. degree in Computer Engineering, with focus on artificial intelligence, from the University of Southern California, a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law.
Max Zafrani
Max Zafrani has over 30 years in the power semiconductor and Hi Rel industry. Max was the co-founder and CTO of Freebird Semiconductor concentrating on radiation effects of GaN. Max started his career at RCA-Harris in 1985 and held multiple positions in diffusion, test and development of Power Rectifier and IGBT. He also worked at CPClare now Littlefuse in the development of solid state relay and SCRs. Prior to starting Freebird Semiconductor he worked at International Rectifier for 15 years as the Senior Director of Engineering for the Product Development of Radiation Hardened Mosfets. During these years with his team he introduced the R6 Rad Hard Mosfet generation and the first Rad Hard Logic Level Power FET R7 platforms. Max received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Wilkes University. He has been granted 3 US patents in the area of power semiconductor.
Stephen Kelly
Stephen studied at Northeastern University Boston Ma.
Prior to accepting a position with EPC Space Stephen spent most of his carrier at Microsemi Corp. 1985- 2015. Starting as a Mechanical engineer, working up to New package design , Manager of Engineering service, and ended up working for Microsemi’s CFO specializing in Overseas Operations.
Jim Brandt
Principle Product Engineer
Jim received his MSEE from the University of New Hampshire.
Prior to joining EPC Space Jim has held positions involving new product development in the HiRel divisions of International Rectifier Corporation and Microsemi Corporation
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Aside | February 19, 2018 February 19, 2018 | Epileptic Explorer
We all know that people with Epilepsy, and those who support them are superheroes every single day. But one epileptic explorer out there has taken things to the next level by creating and becoming the crime fighting, epilepsy battling superhero ToteMan.
ToteMan, a superhero who fights crime with his signature flaming screwdriver goes beyond the call of duty by not only battling villains but by spreading the word about epilepsy awareness, helping people with seizures, and informing others of what to do when they see someone who may be suffering from an epileptic episode. ToteMan was created by John McLaren, who suffers from epilepsy, in 2002 as a way to explain his own condition to his then 7 year old son. Although the original short story was written specifically for John’s son it quickly began to impact others’ lives. As he explained to me, “The person that left the biggest impression was a young girl in college who read the story.” She had epilepsy herself, and upon reading John’s initial short story starring ToteMan in a class they took together, she told him that it moved her to tears and made her realize that she was not alone in her battle with epilepsy. It was that moment that made McLaren realize just how important ToteMan’s message was, and how vast of an audience he could reach with the story. This young woman’s response inspired John to work with a comic artist to conceptualize the look of ToteMan and create his first comic, fittingly titled “You Are Not Alone.”
I won’t sully you with any spoilers. The comic, which is free to download, print and share (actions that are highly encouraged by John by the way) is available at ToteMansworld.com. The site also includes video of ToteMan aiding a child who is having a seizure and additional illustrated comics starring other characters from the ToteMan world and their differing experiences with epilepsy.
John’s sons think it is very cool to have an epileptic superhero for a father. One son has even followed in his footsteps by creating his own character, and another dons the much-loved ToteMan costume from time to time at Epilepsy Foundation events and awareness walks. ToteMan has led John to become a spokesman for epilepsy himself. He has been invited to be a guest at the 2010 Epilepsy Walk in Washington D.C. and a speaker at the Kids Speak Up event.
John has big things planned for ToteMan. “I am working on a few origin stories for characters in the ToteMan Universe that promote positive messages like friendship, individuality, and global awareness.” He is searching for a way to produce more hard copies of the comic to give out for free in order to continue to spread ToteMan’s message about epilepsy safety and inclusiveness. He is even seeking funding for a cartoon based off of the comics. I can say with great certainty, that this epileptic explorer would love to see that show happen.
We should all take a page from John and the world he’s created through ToteMan. He is truly an inspiration, a reminder that we are all superheroes in our own ways. We are made stronger by our epilepsy, not weaker, and we are capable of an immeasurable amount amazing things.
If you would like to learn more about ToteMan and ways you can support the mission to spread epilepsy awareness in this amazingly unique way just click here and shoot John a message.
You are all superheroes.
– The Epileptic Explorer
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Home Columbia Business School Enterprising Families: Learning and Leading Together
Enterprising Families: Learning and Leading Together
FormatIn person
All dates June 3-5, 2021
LocationColumbia Business School, New York, US
CategoryEntrepreneurship, Leadership, Small Business
Family enterprises are the oldest and most common form of business. Yet in today’s fast-changing, volatile, and global business environment, enterprising families face unique challenges that are often complicated by factors specific to their structure and to families’ traditions, cultures, and interests.
Designed and delivered by the faculty who created Columbia Business School's Family Business Program that enables students to understand all aspects of owning, managing, and working with family enterprises, this three-day executive education program is delivered by faculty with decades of experience advising family-owned firms.
Members of families who own assets together, including operating businesses, family offices, investments, philanthropy, and more, will learn how to view their business situation through time-tested frameworks that provide best practices and lessons learned from academia and practice.
Participants coming from all over the world enter a personalized, confidential, and safe setting in a small-group environment and receive a learning experience that is research-based and objective.
The programs faculty's sole agenda is to help family members succeed with their family business. By learning together, family members will be able to lead all that they do together more effectively, efficiently, and harmoniously.
This course is designed for members of a family that own, operate, and/or govern a complex family enterprise. The family enterprise may include one or more shared assets including an operating business, investments, joint philanthropy, or a family office. This program draws families from around the globe who share common challenges across cultures. Multiple family members are encouraged to attend together.
Better understand the unique opportunities and challenges of your enterprising family through analytical frameworks
Create an action plan tailored to your specific situation
Share your experience and learn from similarly situated families
Identify common goals with your family members, regardless of role, age, or gender
Understand how to be an active and engaged owner
Learn how to read and analyze financial statements, speak a common finance language, and gain strategic insights into family investments and operating businesses
Learn how to implement structure and integrate best practices into your existing family enterprise
Patricia Angus
Adjunct Professor of Business
Patricia Angus, JD, MIA, TEP, is Founder and CEO of Angus Advisory Group LLC, an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, and Director, Family Business Program. A recognized thought leader in multi-generational family governance and wealth, she has advised families with businesses, trusts, and charitable foundations for more than two decades.
Ms. Angus helps clients navigate some of life's most complex issues, through critical analysis, strategic planning, and compassionate guidance. She practiced law at trusts and estates boutique Hughes and Whitaker (now Day Pitney) and Coudert Brothers international law firm (now Baker & McKenzie). She served as Principal/ Chief Wealth Advisory Officer of Shelterwood Financial Services LLC and Family Wealth Advisor at GenSpring and JP Morgan Private Bank.
Along with Professor Angus, additional Columbia Business School faculty contribute to and teach in the program.
Daniel Wolfenzon
Professor of Finance and Economics
Daniel Wolfenzon is the Stefan H. Robock Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School.
He received a Masters and a PhD in economics from Harvard University and holds a BS in economics and a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT.
Professor Wolfenzon previously taught at the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago and NYU.
He is also a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His work has been published in top economic and finance journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Finance, and the Journal of Financial Economics.
Professor Wolfenzon received the Jensen Prize (second place) for best paper on corporate finance and organizations published in the Journal of Financial Economics both in 2002 and 2005.
Joshua Baron
Josh Baron is a co-founder and Partner at BanyanGlobal. For the last decade, he has worked closely with families who own assets together, such as operating companies, family foundations, and family offices. He helps these families to define their purpose as owners and to establish the structures, strategies, and skills they need to accomplish their goals.
During his career, Josh has worked with clients in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Josh publishes and speaks frequently on subjects concerning family enterprises. He has a particular interest in how ownership creates a competitive advantage, how families can escape major conflicts, and how philanthropy can help families achieve their broader goals.
Get directions on google
February 2 - April 27, 2021 12 weeks
Corporate Governance Program: Developing Exceptional Board Leaders (Live Online)
January 25-29, 2021 5 days
Leading Strategic Growth and Change
May 10-14, 2021 5 days
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Pick a district 1st District of Texas (Rep. Louis Gohmert) 2nd District of Texas (Rep. Dan Crenshaw) 3rd District of Texas (Rep. Van Taylor) 4th District of Texas (Rep. John Ratcliffe) 5th District of Texas (Rep. Lance Gooden) 6th District of Texas (Rep. Ron Wright) 7th District of Texas (Rep. Lizzie Fletcher) 8th District of Texas (Rep. Kevin Brady) 9th District of Texas (Rep. Al Green) 10th District of Texas (Rep. Michael McCaul) 11th District of Texas (Rep. Michael Conaway) 12th District of Texas (Rep. Kay Granger) 13th District of Texas (Rep. Mac Thornberry) 14th District of Texas (Rep. Randy Weber) 15th District of Texas (Rep. Vicente Gonzalez) 16th District of Texas (Rep. Veronica Escobar) 17th District of Texas (Rep. Bill Flores) 18th District of Texas (Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee) 19th District of Texas (Rep. Jodey Arrington) 20th District of Texas (Rep. Joaquin Castro) 21st District of Texas (Rep. Chip Roy) 22nd District of Texas (Rep. Pete Olson) 23rd District of Texas (Rep. Will Hurd) 24th District of Texas (Rep. Kenny Marchant) 25th District of Texas (Rep. Roger Williams) 26th District of Texas (Rep. Michael Burgess) 27th District of Texas (Rep. Michael Cloud) 28th District of Texas (Rep. Henry Cuellar) 29th District of Texas (Rep. Sylvia Garcia) 30th District of Texas (Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson) 31st District of Texas (Rep. John Carter) 32nd District of Texas (Rep. Colin Allred) 33rd District of Texas (Rep. Marc Veasey) 34th District of Texas (Rep. Filemon Vela) 35th District of Texas (Rep. LLoyd Doggett) 36th District of Texas (Rep. Brian Babin)
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments in Texas totaled $246 million in 2020‡
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments $246,089,427
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Oral-History:Harold S. Black
Revision as of 18:11, 7 May 2009 by EMW (talk | contribs)
About Harold S. Black
HAROLD S. [STEPHEN] BLACK: An Interview Conducted by Michael Wolff, IEEE History Center, 20 May and 29 June 1977
Interview #456 for the IEEE History Center, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Request for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to the IEEE History Center Oral History Program, Rutgers - the State University, 39 Union Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8538 USA. It should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user.
Harold S. Black, an oral history conducted in 1977 by Michael Wolff, IEEE History Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
INTERVIEW: Harold S. Black
INTERVIEWER: Michael Wolff
PLACE: Unknown
[Referring to a paper he wrote] Do you want to retain the title of the article?
Wolff:
That's the last thing on my mind. We have a long way to go before that.
When it comes to my last paragraph about the historical importance of the thing, I was very modest there. It is used for very type of communication, whether by land, microwave, underground, outer space or submarine. And then it has applications in fields completely unrelated to communications. It has completely transcended application there.
Let's go chronologically and start by setting the scene.
Memory is a peculiar thing. Quite a long time has elapsed since I wrote this. In my patent and in all the work that I did when two lines joined together I joined them with a dot.
We are going to end up with a manuscript about three times the length of this. Your story is interesting and there is a great deal that is important enough that there is a great deal more we want to crowd into it if we possibly can. To set the scene, I want to know really when it all began, so let's talk about Thanksgiving Day, 1921.
I joined the laboratories on the 5th of July, 1921.
From which college had you just graduated?
I got a BSS in electrical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Was this your first job?
Yes. I wanted a job in Minnesota or South America where they make those giant turbogenerators that take fifteen years to make.
What company?
I don't recall, though I delivered a good many lectures there afterwards. However, they wouldn't take me.
Did you ever find out why?
That was shortly after a small economic depression. It was not as easy to get a job. J. J. Pilliod and the personnel director at 463 West Street – that was Western Electric Company – had a job for me. They picked me up right away and paid me $32 a week.
How did you connect with AT&T? In those days did they come to visit colleges or had you written to them?
That's a good question. About four weeks prior to graduation, which I think was the early part of June, I was approached by two people. One was the personnel director of the Western Electric Company at 463 West Street and the other one was J. J. Pilliod. Pilliod was the assistant chief engineer of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) at 195 Broadway. That is where it has always been and still is today.
Had you written to them?
No. I had not written or applied anywhere.
Except the place in Minnesota?
Yes. I have no recollection of how that came about. Education was very different than it is today. It is vastly superior [now] to my day. However I had hydraulic engineering, mechanical engineering, surveying, mathematics and physics.
All that went into being an electrical engineer?
Yes. I had to do work with my hands – pattern making, drop forge, machinery, milling machines, lathes – ergo, practical.
Had you always been interested in engineering?
I had always been interested in being an electrical engineer.
It was a pretty new field in those days. Do you remember what intrigued you with electrical engineering rather than for instance building bridges?
I didn't have very much money.
Nobody did.
Nobody did, but I came from poor parents. My father only went through the eighth grade and my mother was stenographer and had graduated from high school. Naturally they wanted to see me get an education.
What did your father do?
He was a shipper. That was his title at a shirt shop.
Had you always been interested in electrical engineering?
That came about after I purchased a series of small books. I think there were ten or fifteen volumes. They dealt with all phases of electricity – magnetism, motors and things like that. As is mentioned in that book that I gave you, one summer when I worked for the American Steel & Wire Company, I worked trimming arc lights. They were all 220 volts or higher. When I put a red sign over the switch, somebody would close it while I was out working. Therefore when I climbed the poles I always was prepared to get a shock and protected myself accordingly.
That was during college?
Do you remember how old you were when you bought those little books? It says here that as a boy you had always been interested in setting up telegraph systems, telephones and microphones.
That is correct. My first telecommunications system was probably in 1914, a year before I graduated from high school. I was sixteen years old. In the attic of the second story of small house that my father rented I had electrical things I had gathered from the town dump. That was my great source of supply. Across the street was the editor of the Lamister Enterprise. He had five daughters. I made a microphone that was two pieces of wood at right angles and then from a battery I had sawed two pieces of carbon. Then I used a tin can that I cut to make a spring so the two were in contact. That was a sensitive microphone. I could hear a watch tick and conversations all over the house. I took a piece of very fine wire that I could throw across the street and catch onto the two poles and bring it downstairs. Up in the attic I had an old telephone receiver that someone had discarded. Therefore I was able not only to hear a watch tick – because they put one on the table – but I was able to hear every word of conversation all over their house. That worked fine until a little after 5 o'clock when the father came home. He destroyed the microphone, tore down the wires and said, "No more." Therefore my first telecommunications system didn't last very long.
It was in their house?
I could hear everything that was in their house. It was not two-way. They could not hear things in our house. That didn't please the father.
That's a delightful story. You said you got interested in electrical things when you bought this series of books. Do you remember when that was?
That was before.
Was it sometime as a teenager?
Yes. They were advertised and the price was very small, but they were full of information. I didn't graduate from college until 1921 because my father lost his job and I had to support a family of four. By good fortune I was able to earn $12 and [unintelligible phrase] a week working at the same factory at which my father had worked.
Working at the Steel & Wire?
No, I worked at the shirt shop ironing shirts and things. They had automatic machinery for pressing. And there were woolen pajamas for men. That was all piecework, and I did pretty well.
Did that give you enough money to go back to college?
That gave me enough money to take care of that year. When I was 16 or 17 there was World War I. Nottin Grinding Company, although my father had never done that kind of work in his life, gave my father very good pay and the entire family moved to Worcester. I however kept on working in the shirt shop, because even with a 10-cents-a-day carfare I could make more money that way. That was all the work I did at that time.
Then you went to Worcester Polytechnic Institute because you wanted to study electrical engineering?
Yes. I was bound and determined to become an electrical engineer.
Was this partly because you felt it was a good profession?
I guess the truth is because I was interested in electricity.
Let's come back to Pilliod and the other fellow from AT&T.
They made me good offers.
What I don't understand is how they knew about you if you didn't write to them.
They were looking and they interviewed me as well as others.
How did they know you were there?
They went to Worcester Tech because they turned out electrical engineers. At that time they had no graduate courses. They turned out electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and civil engineers.
And they made you an offer at $32 a week.
After they interviewed me and made me an offer and I accepted it right on the spot.
Did you start work at Bell Labs then?
It was called the Western Electric Company. I started there on July 5th. They didn't work on July 4th. There was a delay of a couple of hours. I had to pass a physical examination to settle the fact that I was in good health.
What was your job there when you started?
First I had to go through an 8-week training course. That was to familiarize me with the organization of the Bell System and where the Western Electric Company, AT&T, Long Lines and the associated companies fit in with it. In addition there was a little practical work. I had to work as a telephone operator and use the cards and things like that and listen to lectures by different departments at 463 West Street. The department that I chose, which answers your other question, was Systems Engineering. I became a systems engineer punching a time clock. After my other factory experience I did not care for that.
Was this after the 8-week training course that you began the systems engineering?
Even in the 8-week training course we punched a time card.
Systems Engineering Department
Did you become a systems engineer after the training?
After the training course I was interviewed [by] heads of different departments. There were 150 people total that entered that particular year. There was a systems engineering department, an apparatus department and a research department. They were rather limited. The systems department was the one that appealed to me because it involved contacts with all the others and made complete systems.
Did you start working in that department after the training?
Yes. That department was headed by Amos Dickson. He graduated from the eighth grade but then took correspondence courses and worked up to the head of that department in a position that would correspond today to vice president. I was interviewed by B. W. (Burton W.) Kendall.
How many engineers were in the systems department? Was it small or large?
It was fairly large. The only way that I could answer that question accurately would be to get out the organization chart, but that department occupied the entire 9th floor at 463 West Street. That was where I met "Hi" [Haakon I.] Romnes, who later became president of the Western Electric Company and after that became president and chairman of the board of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company.
Was Rommes in the systems engineering department?
Yes, but he did not stay very long. He moved fast.
That brings us up to September of 1921. The summer was the training and then you started. What was your first assignment in the department?
That is a good question. I went out in the laboratories to make myself useful to people who reported to someone by the name of Slaughter. Slaughter's position was later taken by Charlie (C. W.) Green. One morning I given a set of tools that I did not succeed in keeping. Then I leaned against a battery and it burned the bottom of my trousers. Fortunately I came down to New York with $75, so that when they stopped work in the middle of Saturday afternoon I had time to buy another suit of clothes.
Was your first day at work in systems engineering on a Saturday?
No. I got along as best I could with a poor-looking suit. Saturday was the only day I could do any shopping. I made myself useful and helped anyone who was working. As a result I was finally given a succession of problem-solving assignments. You would find it hard to believe, but at that time in the Bell Laboratories and the systems engineering department nobody ever used as much as a slide rule. Everything was empirical.
Do you remember some of the assignments you had? Were they empirical assignments?
Yes. I was concerned with the design of the first carrier system. It was a four-channel system that had already been designed for President Woodrow Wilson so he could communicate with Pittsburgh. That was rather unsuccessful because there were some directional filters that did not have enough singing margin between the two directions. That is where I became familiar with the terms "singing margin" and "phase margin," which were no mystery to me when I got around to inventing the negative feedback amplifier. It is explained in some of the references that I gave in this paper. So-called directional filters. In order to get two-way transmission and a number of channels involved, aside from this first example that I mentioned to you, were three. This triangle was the amplifier. In front of that was an equalizer, which I could almost have left out. That is because the attenuation of the line varies as the square root of the frequency and there is a very clever and important technical reason for pointing there. Then to get transmission in the other direction they use a second amplifier.
What is this diagram? Is this the four-channel system?
This is a diagram of the three-channel system, and it wasn't working at all. The second three-channel system is the one to which I am referring. The first three-channel system transmitted the carrier and so that if one talked on one channel everything on the other three channels could be heard as well. The AT&T didn't think much of that, so this was being worked upon by Slaughter. After, Slaughter was replaced by C.W. Green, who came as a professor from MIT.
I had better interrupt you or I'll get lost. You were telling me that you worked on a four-channel system that had been designed for President Wilson.
No, I did not work on that. I said that was prior to the three-channel system. We had a four-channel system somebody else designed. That was a complete failure because these two high-pass and low-pass filters, if this is the frequency band that is for the low-pass filter then you have a guard space as it was called, and then there is a high-pass filter. Therefore the low one would go here and the high would go here. Then of course as frequencies got very high and very low they would become virtually [unintelligible word]. If the gain at the crossover points is more than this attenuation, the thing will sing [i.e., break into oscillations], and if the gain is a little less than that but doesn't have a good singing margin such as 15 dB or higher, the result is serious distortion – which is what that four-channel system for President Wilson had.
This had been worked on at the lab when you started to work there. Is that right?
Memoranda files
One thing I didn't tell you is that after I had been working for the Western Electric Company for a little less than six months the time came for a raise. Everybody who started at $27 got a $3 raise, but I got nothing. I said to myself, "By golly I'm going to resign tomorrow morning and work my way to go to Harvard Business School." Had I done that it would have been the biggest mistake of my life. I could never have been a businessman. However I thought better of the idea by the next morning. Instead I said, "I am going to go to work and learn everything that I can about the business." At that time the company had memoranda for file that had been written by everyone there. The records extended back all the way to Dr. George Ashley Campbell, the first professional mathematician the AT&T ever hired. I went all the way back to 1898 – which was the year I was born – and read everything that had been written by employees of the Western Electric Company in the form of a memorandum for file. By the time I got to the memorandums from 1921 I was hitting payday. I was learning what happened on all twelve floors at 463 West Street. In that way, and in due time, I became well acquainted with the names of the engineers and the supervisors and to whom they reported. In addition to that they had a cafeteria where food could be bought almost nothing. I ate my three meals a day there. That was very good food at a cost measured in pennies. For instance ice cream was a penny. I would sit down three times a day, particularly with the 150 people with whom I came in, and became well acquainted with people by eating there and by these memoranda. I read them all that I could without interfering with my work. I was of course gradually getting more and more responsible assignments. I would read them all day on Sundays in particular. You notice a pipe there. That was around '34. Smoking was forbidden. I had a pass that permitted me to get in and the guard would examine my briefcase or whatever I was carrying to see that I didn't take anything out. I went in as early as I could on Sunday mornings and worked up until 8 or 9 o'clock. However I would always get caught.
With what would you get caught?
Smoking a pipe.
On Sundays when you were reading?
When I was reading. I was reading these memoranda for file in my office. The first week it was reported to my immediate supervisor, who oversaw about six people. The second week it was reported to Slaughter, who couldn't have cared less. The third week it was reported to B. W. Kendall. The fourth week it went up to Amos Dixon. Dixon said to me, "Harold, I understand that you are one of the most promising engineers in the systems department. How is it that you cannot manage to smoke without getting caught?" I said, "Amos, I'll tell you a very simple solution. Why don't you let me smoke in Slaughter's office? That's a private office where smoking is permitted." He said, "That is a good idea, and that is what we will do." That solved that problem. At any rate, in reading these memoranda for file I became acquainted with all the supervisors and department heads and fondillas [spelling?] – that's the apparatus – and other departments that I was called upon to work with as a systems engineer.
Type C three-channel system and amplifiers
That's very interesting. Let's come back to the fall of 1921. I want to get up to that Thanksgiving Day when you actually started to look into the reasons for the imperfect performance. After your training program, which lasted July and August, you started in the systems group in September.
One of the first things with which you became acquainted was this four-channel system.
Three-channel. I learned from my reading about the four-channel system that was not a success. I also knew what a failure the four-channel system, which was called a Type A system, had been. The next three-channel system was a Type B, and that was a complete failure as well. The next system after that was being worked upon.
When you started there in the fall was the main project this Type C system?
Yes. That is where I learned that everything in the system – and particularly the amplifiers – was causing trouble. That's the first reference that I made in the manuscript.
When you started there in the systems department in the fall of 1921, was this Type C system the major problem in the department and was it the first major assignment in you got involved?
The first major assignment that I had was to get involved with the Type C. Prior to that I had to fix one of the amplifiers in a Type B three-channel system in the laboratory. That took me a week. I wasn't very quick at finding trouble. They never let those go into commercial service because they were so poor. That was not a major assignment, and I was just a beginner at that point. By that time they had gotten hold of C.W. Green, and it was his job to make the Type C system work. It took him about four years to do it. However the amplifier is what caught my eye. For the three channels in the short distance that they was going – and it was going on open-wire line – it would get by and do its job. I envisioned something entirely different. I thought of amplifiers that would carry one to three thousand channels – such things as I described in the manuscript.
I don't want to get too far ahead here. Your first major assignment was to get involved with this Type C system.
And particularly the amplifiers, which were causing trouble.
There was little that could be done about the amplifiers that were causing trouble. I was able to point out that the third harmonics generated by the input and output transformers and the iron core coils in the filters were making the thing unworkable.
I thought it was the second harmonics that were the problem.
Turning to the amplifier I found the importance of the second harmonics. Theoretically they would cancel out, but practically they did what I said: [unintelligible word].
The third harmonics had to do with what?
They are the odd order. Any nonlinear device.
Did the amplifier generate them?
They were generated by [tape turned over at this point; sentence not completed in recording].... [H. J.] van der Bijl's book on vacuum-tube amplifiers showed me the curve characteristic and all that was wrong.
It's a little puzzling. You started the article by saying you remember investigating the reasons why the amplifiers did not perform well on Thanksgiving Day.
What was it about that day that you remember doing?
I did that at home. I had to do what I was supposed to do on working days.
What were you supposed to be doing the day before that?
I was contacting the transformer people so that they would make more linear amplifiers and also do a better shielding job for the Type C system. That was a specific assignment.
Good. That was your assignment.
That was my real job.
Thanksgiving Day, 1921 breakthrough on amplifier performance
Then what happened on Thanksgiving Day?
I let my imagination take over. I felt that I could foresee that we were going to need many, many channels going through an amplifier. I prepared a chart, based on push-pull and this poor performance, of how that requirement would go up as a function of the number of channels. They would add in random. I assumed that the third harmonics would behave the same way. That caused me to describe that to Ralph [Vinton Lyon] Hartley. About a day later he wrote me a little private note. It was not a memorandum for file. He showed me that push-pull amplifier or not, with any kind of an amplifier the big problem was the third harmonics. Therefore the amplifier had two jobs. With this new information, I had to change my chart to show how the requirements on a single amplifier would vary as a function of the number of channels. There I let the number of channels vary from one to three thousand.
I am not that familiar with this material and a little confused. I'm still back on Thanksgiving Day. What was it specifically that you started to do on Thanksgiving Day?
I was investigating the reasons for the imperfect performance of the amplifiers used in the Type C system.
By investigating do you mean you were at home reading?
No. I was calculating what this curve would look like.
What curve is that?
In this case it was a three-channel push-pull amplifier. I was worrying about what requirements it would have to meet.
You were doing this on your on time at home on Thanksgiving Day.
What did you discover?
I discovered that the requirements were very, very severe and went up as the square root of the number of channels.
What about the square root?
If you had four channels instead of two the thing would go up 3 dB – that is, the square root of 2 rather than by going to 4. The curve would be built up that way. It would vary [according to the number of channels]. The reason is that in a push-pull amplifier the two sides are never the same – particularly with the poor vacuum tubes available at that time, which were designed by Dr. [Mervin J.] Kelly. That was how they would go, and it was not anywhere need good enough to meet this requirement of a few percent that I mentioned. However I kept the curve going.
What requirement of a few percent did you mention?
I said somewhere in this paper that the second order instead of disappearing were only reduced by 10% to 18%.
That is a little confusing because a word is missing.
They were reduced.
Is the distortion reduced by 10% or to 10%?
It is reduced to 10%. That would be 1/10th. I guess the word "to" should be in there.
Yes. I have marked it.
That escaped my notice. Knowing that the law of addition for that kind of an amplifier was the square root of the number enabled me to draw my first incorrect curve. Step number was to consult with Hartley. Employees at the laboratory at that time were permitted walk all over the laboratory and talk to anyone they liked. Ralph Hartley was in the research department. He was somebody that I liked very much. I had read his memorandum, admired the work he did, and this was in his field. He had done some work on third harmonic modulators. I explained to him what I was doing, and he turned right around and told me what would happen. The reason that I substituted a carepegs [correct word?] for the little "n" was that I thought that having two n's in this thing was going to be a matter of confusion. Hartley told me in a single-sided amplifier the value of the nonlinear distortion in any such amplifier – regardless of the kind, good or bad – it would be twice as much. If there were four of them, it would be four; if there were three thousand, then three thousand times as much. That is more than 60 dB. Now that is getting into some sledding that is really tough. This is a technical point, but unfortunately third orbit distortion appears as understandable speech in the adjacent channel. The AT&T requirement was 70 decibel. That is 3,000 to 1 on a power basis or more than a million. That was a terrific requirement. Therefore I had to redraw my curves.
You paper explains that this amplifier reduced the second harmonics to 10% to 18%.
You thought that the third harmonics would also be reduced to 10%.
A similar figure.
Okay. Then Hartley said that was wrong.
Very wrong.
He said that it builds up as the number of amplifiers. Is that right?
Yes. It sure does.
I don't understand this sentence where you say "independent."
That is independent of the type of amplifier. If there are a lot of amplifiers in parallel and big power is obtained that way, no matter how you get it, [the same rule applies]. In multiplied systems we only use a single tube. Therefore no matter how the amplifier is made and no matter what kind of an amplifier the third harmonic, the third harmonic is more serious than the fifth or seventh harmonic. When the term "harmonics" is used, it really means third order products too. There is a lot of literature on that. That goes directly. If there are a thousand amplifiers where a 60-dB improvement is needed, and there is 70 dB that is already sought, it could be seen right away that this was a tough problem.
Would you paraphrase this sentence you wrote to make it clearer? No matter what kind of amplifier, what is it that happens to the third harmonics?
The third harmonics. The things you didn't want would double in size when you came out on number two.
The harmonics would be double as big?
The harmonics. The things you didn't want.
After a thousand it would be a thousand times.
It would be a thousand as big, and a thousand is 60 dB.
Three thousand is about 70 dB. That was what hurt. That really hurt. It was bad enough to have a lot of channels going through one amplifier, but then to pile on top of that the fact that the thing was going to go up with the number, boy, that gave you something.
When you say the thing is going up as a number you mean the distortion, right?
Yes. I didn't think this paper would want to get that technical, but in the adjacent channels that distortion appears as clean speech. You see, you also get cross-talk between wires and things. AT&T's view was that a conversation should be private. If one picks up the telephone someone's talking that is not a part of that line or circuit should not be heard.
Was Hartley a Rhodes Scholar at that time?
Yes. He had come back from Cambridge. He was much older than I.
Was he in the systems department?
No, he was in the research department, but all I had to do was walk to his office.
Now we are down to the last paragraph. I think I understand this now. What were you determined to accomplish? After Hartley told you this, what did you say to yourself?
I was determined to solve this problem if it was the last thing I ever did.
What was the problem? To find a workable free channel?
Just what that sentence said in the paper.
Having "many amplifiers in tandem," that means in series, right?
Was this to make the Type C system workable?
No, it had nothing to do with the Type C system. This invention was no accident, but I did not get any encouragement.
You started off investigating why the amplifiers didn't work well.
Yes. That's true.
Is it correct to say that your discovery of why it didn't work well was because of the second harmonics?
Yes. I thought the third harmonics were going to cause less trouble than the second.
All right. Your first discovery was that it was the second harmonics.
You thought the third harmonics would cause less trouble and then you found they caused more. Hartley explained to you how serious it was.
Precisely. Yes.
Multichannel amplifiers and cross-country telephone communications
After that you were started to think about something very different.
Yes. I had given up the idea of a push-pull amplifier. I had to find some way. There was nothing at that point in time to indicate that I could make this last paragraph in my paper come true.
It is kind of elementary, though I didn't realize it, that the basic point of the type C system was that it used a push-pull amplifier.
That's right. And that was good enough for what it had to do.
Your brainstorm, if you will, was to forget about push-pull amplifiers and to put aftertreatments in tandem.
In a long, long string.
All right. A string of amplifiers. What confused me was I thought that in the type C these were repeaters.
They were. It did have repeaters, but they were many miles apart because they went on something like 16-gauge. They were hundreds of miles apart and they never expected it to go any further than a thousand miles. Therefore there were not very many repeaters on a string on that system.
That was not what you thinking about as repeaters.
No. My idea was to use many, many repeaters.
In tandem.
Yes, in tandem. That is what I meant by the word "string." That was precisely why I switched to a clearer explanation of what I really meant. You may be able to improve on that explanation.
Okay. At this point you were starting to think about amplifiers in tandem and each amplifier handling many channels.
That's right – even up to three thousand.
The first thing you did on November 30th was to plot the distortion and linearity requirements.
That's right. Thanks to Ralph L. V. Harley I was able to do that. He could have prepared that chart too, but I did it.
I think this is clearer here. [Jake] Jammer said, "A beautiful piece of work, but why bother about so many channels?"
Three was the biggest he had ever heard anybody bother about at that stage. Four channels had been forgotten.
What was your reaction?
It didn't surprise me, because Jake was a happy-go-lucky person. He wondered why I concerned myself with three thousand channels when no one else was bothering about any more than three.
You asked to work on this on December 27th?
Yes. I had to get permission to do a thing like this.
Let's talk a little bit about this period. That they didn't understand.
They couldn't understand why I would be interested in anything of this sort. No one could.
Why were you interested?
I knew that there would be a demand for many channels. A single coaxial today transmits 1,028 and a waveguide transmits almost half a million. By making a simple terminal change that half a million can be expanded to almost a million. Optical fiber has thousands of times more transmission.
You didn't foresee optical fibers at that time.
No, I sure did not. I recommended the inventor of fiber optics for a research corporation prize. I got one of those awards myself.
Do you remember why or how you knew there would be a demand for many channels?
The shortest distance across this country was 4,000 miles, and of course in telephony there has to be regulars and spares. To use a big network efficiently a straight line is not always the shortest distance. Dr. [Frank B.] Jewett came long a year later and envisioned 4,000-mile system. That was the first job that made use of my amplifiers.
Why did you think there would be so many channels?
It's a big country. Certainly the wires were not going to be put overhead because grounds and everything interfere. The coaxial incidentally had already been invented.
Maybe I'm missing the point. When you say "many channels" is that synonymous with a coaxial cable?
No. On July 1st of 1975, 66% of our long distance communications was via microwave radio relay systems. Incidentally, I was the first to introduce that.
We'll get to that, but I want to press you about why you thought there would be a demand for so many channels.
It's a big country and I couldn't conceive of using open wire. I could not conceive of not wanting to hop across the country.
Let me put the question this way. Does open wire mean single channel?
I used the original Blackwell as a textbook in one of my courses. The disadvantages of open wire would be so many that it would never be used to hop the country. We did hop the country with open wire. That was where we got our first transcontinental thing before we had repeaters, but there you just got one channel. You didn't get a lot of channels.
That's what I don't understand. When I asked you how you appreciated that there would be a need for many channels and you said because open wires could not be used.
I knew that you could not have a telephone system and not be able to go from coast to coast.
Does that mean that an open-wire system is synonymous with single channel?
You would never get three channels. The only number that was ever gotten – and it was not very good – was one channel.
That's what I'm trying to see.
You see the little picture there?
That's a single-channel system?
Are what you have on telephone poles single-channel systems?
That all depends on the pole that you look at, because this is not 1921. As you look on these things [in this photo] here, that is a group of a large number of paper-insulated wires. They are twisted together to prevent cross-talk between wires. That is actually a cable. It used to be lead, and now it is laminated with plastic in such a way to get the necessary shielding. That is the open-wire cable of today. It is used to hop only very short distances, such as to bring the telephone into this house.
Was the idea of putting in more than one channel very difficult on open wires back in 1921?
It was not practical. We had the one channel to Denver. That was before Dr. Harold DeForest Arnold invented the hard-vacuum tube. If you wanted to talk over open wire you could as far Denver. If you yelled to the top of your voice from Boston, the message heard in Denver would be a faint whisper. With the advent of Dr. Arnold – and there was some litigation there with Dr. [Irving] Langmuir at GE, but we were the first – with the hard-vacuum tube we got a single voice channel from coast to coast. I have forgotten the spacing, but that was a landmark. I would be able to find the answer to your question somewhere in the blue four-volume set of books from Bell Systems I have on the shelf there, but I can tell you in my own words. That was considered a great accomplish in 1915 or whatever the exact date. They got a two-way telephone conversation from coast to coast. It was ocean to ocean. It wasn't good. The bandwidth was about 2,000 cycles as opposed to 3,000 cycles today.
Let me see if I understand the point. It was not practical to have more than one channel in an open-wire system. Is that right?
That's right. Not the way things were done at the time.
Right. You said to yourself there is a need for many channels.
Many, many channels.
And it's synonymous with the fact that it could not be an open-wire system.
That is for sure.
There are many other alternatives, but it sure was not going to be open wire.
Going to the second paragraph on the page, you asked to work on linearizing, stabilizing and improving amplifiers.
I asked permission to do that.
This was so that you could have a large number of multichannel amplifiers.
And I did not get much encouragement.
Was this because people did not see the need for many channels?
You wrote, "I studied the available material listed in topics not treated."
Yes. That's in a book that I wrote called Modulation Theory.
I looked that up, and what you say here is that you studied everything you could on the unwanted generation of products of modulation through the nonlinear response and the design theory of modulation and related nonlinearity. Right?
Yes. That was a natural thing to do. Having read all of these memos before, I just went back and read a particular group. There are memoranda for file, and this is true even today. Most of them are papers that are candidates for publication but for patent or other reasons they were not for the public, whether they are classified or not.
I don't understand is why the people there didn't see right away that there would be a need for many channels.
I cannot read their minds of course. You will see from this manuscript that I got 50 dB of feedback over a certain frequency range. That was at the end of the year after I got it all done.
That was six years later.
Six years later than '21, yes. That's right. What page number is that?
I'm on page 2 in the second paragraph where they said you could do it if it didn't interfere with your other work.
You wanted to work on a multichannel amplifier.
Yes. An imaginary one.
And you say they did not appreciate the importance of many channels.
Well, I wouldn't say that. They said, "Go right ahead, Harold, but don't let it interfere with your other work." I was paid a salary and had to do some work.
Jammer did not think it was very important to do. Right?
He sure didn't. Less than eight months later he went off to Australia. He gathered with him every memorandum for file that had ever been written that he could lay his hands on, and after he did the Australian job he became vice president of IT&T and never came back to the Bell System.
You started this reading.
That was a first and natural step.
There is something here I don't understand. You asked to be assigned this task and they said, "Okay." Who was it that told you it was all right as long as it did not interfere with your other work? Was that Jammer?
That happened to be Jake Jammer. Yes. The reason for my wording is that by that time Slaughter had left and Charlie (C. W.) Green had come down from MIT. He didn't think much of Worcester. He thought MIT was better. However he was ill. He had a critical illness and had to stay home, though it didn't affect his salary, for about four months. Lindridge was my supervisor, but Jake Jammer was taking Green's place so I thought I should ask him. I showed the charts to Jammer too. Anyway, that was J. S. (Jake) Jammer's response.
He was your supervisor?
He was my boss's supervisor.
You asked Jammer to allow you to work on linearizing.
That's right. That was the exact question that I put to him.
And that's his answer.
That's his answer.
Push-pull amplifier design; amplifier interference
Do you remember what your main job was at the time?
Yes. They had some other push-pull amplifiers that had been designed for another system that had not been made obsolete because there were some in the field. They were also push-pull amplifiers, and there were fifty-seven kinds. In the interest of the Western Electric Company, who had to supply all of these things, I replaced those by a single design. That was a job on which I was working at that time.
Was that an assigned job?
Yes. That was assigned. I also got another assigned job. There was an amplifier in use for some purpose I don't remember. While the tubes were warmed up by a 24-volt storage battery they were picking up some 60-cycle hum. They wanted to know how to get rid of that. I made a sort of Wheatstone bridge with an extremely high resistance to parallel the other and pick the two midpoints of that so that the 60-cycle did not interfere with the amplifier. I very rapidly reached the point where I didn't just walk around and fill pails with water. I was given small problems to solve.
Meanwhile you started to reading about these other topics in the evenings?
That's right. Saturdays, Sundays and anytime that I felt like it.
You said there were many other researchers in 1922 who—
That was in the research department. Dr. Eugene Peterson was one. I could name people.
We don't need all that.
Within the Bell System, within Western Electric, I was not the only one.
I understand that.
They were aware of the need.
You were reading and thinking about this at the same time as other people in Bell Labs.
Did Mervin Kelly in particular work closely with you?
Yes. We were great friends. Every vacuum tube that Western Electric manufactured was designed by Dr. Mervin Kelly and people working for him on Hudson Street, which is about a block from 180 Varick Street. It is only a quarter mile from 463 West Street, which is where I was at that time. During this period I went to Kelly and told him what I wanted. For quite a few months he worked with me until it became evident that it was hopeless.
Linear vacuum tube
What exactly was hopeless?
To make a linear vacuum tube was hopeless. To give you an example, if you plotted the voltage to the grid as a function of the amplification of the voltage out, if you plotted the output against the input in terms of current – and I square this pump [correct phrase?], if you made yourself a drawing that was 1 mile square and drew it using the hardest pencil chiseled to a straight line and made that line straight, the nonlinearity would be too much to meet my requirement. Therefore there was no earthly way of getting it by a linear vacuum tube. There are a lot of tricks one can try.
What was your requirement again? You said you said you could not get it to your requirement.
My requirement was modest. It was 50 dB. Dr. Jewett scaled that down to 40 dB for the first commercial application.
When you say 50 dB are you talking about distortion?
Distortion. Nonlinearity.
It had to be less than 50 dB?
As good as 50 dB is what I asked Kelly.
Then 50 decibels is a low distortion?
That is a low distortion. I gave a figure. I think it's three thousand maybe.
You and Kelly were working together trying to get 50-dB distortion from the tube.
And you could not do that.
Why was that?
It was just a fundamental limitation. It was inconceivable that one could make a vacuum tube that linear.
When you say fundamental, was it a theoretical limitation or was it because the techniques or materials were not good enough?
Remember this was in the early '20s. I have the date of the invention of the transistor. The techniques for making that [unintelligible phrase] used negative feedback. It would be no good if it didn't.
I'm talking about this 50-dB distortion. You said it was a fundamental limitation and I'm asking if it was a theoretical limit.
No, that was a practical limitation. There was no way it could be done.
Was it because the materials were not good enough?
We knew electrons and that they went opposite from the currents that we could conventionally draw using a triode or a pentode or any of the vacuum-tubes available at that time. No one in the world could get it, and they don't get it today either.
All right. I was wondering if it was because of imperfect materials or techniques.
No, it is just the fundamental property.
Is it theoretical?
Not theoretical. I mean no vacuum tube. I can pick up any book you want on vacuum tubes and no vacuum tube like that exists.
Okay. You and Kelly worked on the tubes but it just didn't work.
Yes. He was very patient, but it didn't and couldn't work. No way.
Invention of negative feedback amplifier
Let's talk about this photograph.
That's entirely different, but it is curious.
What does it show? Is this 1927?
Let me see. When did I finish this job? I think it was in '27.
Are you talking about when you invented the negative feedback?
That was 1927.
Oh yes, by the end of the year. The beginning of the next year, in January, Dr. Jewett came along. This paper does not cover this at all. Jewett wanted to take 16-gauge paper-insulated cables, which existed to carry voice, and use the frequency band 4 kHz to 40 kHz to travel a distance of 4,000 miles with repeaters spaced every 25 miles. With that requirement it could be done if the power level of the amplifiers that I finished up with were about 8 dB to 10 dB. They were ten times as powerful on a power basis as that amplifier. To achieve that result we used pentodes in the first two stages. I had used pentodes throughout at a lower level in the first two stages. Then, because the Bell System would not hear of having a B battery – if that means anything to you, a plate voltage – higher than 130 volts.
My first proposal was to use a filamentary or an indirectly heated triode. I have forgotten which one. However it was to have two grids, one positive and one negative, so as to get more swing without increasing the voltage. [J. O.] McNally, who worked for Dr. Kelly, constructed some models. I tried them out and they were not linear enough. Therefore we had to go to 260 volts.
You built seventy amplifiers.
Yes. This one shows their stability.
Okay. We are on page 15 of the Bell Systems— This is the 1934 paper, right?
I was not permitted to publish this early.
This photograph was taken in 1927 and it's one of the amplifiers you built for Jewett?
No. The year of 1928 was consumed me designing this amplifier in my own laboratory and getting models made. Then in 1929 the Western Electric Company made seventy of them. They made few more too. The trial was all over in 1930.
Jewett asked you to do this, right?
Yes. That was for Dr. Jewett.
This is a stupid question, but is this the negative feedback amplifier?
There it is. It isn't very small either.
This is your invention that you are showing then.
This is the first application of my invention.
Oh, well we want to use that photograph in the article.
That's a field trial. That was not made for the public. As a matter of fact it was used publicly for another purpose.
It was the first application of your negative feedback amplifier.
Yes. The custom was always to make a large-scale trial before they were turned over to the public for use.
Where was the photograph taken?
That was taken at Morristown, New Jersey in my laboratory. This picture would have been taken in about 1929.
On page 3 you said that by this time when you came back to New Jersey at 2:00 a.m. you had come to the conclusion that anything that was not part of the output was what? Do you want to say that again?
I regarded as distortion anything in the output that was not a replica of the input, irregardless of whether it was due to nonlinearity, variation in vacuum-tube gains or anything else. That's a broad interpretation that I placed upon the thing. Contrary to a statement in a book by Dr. Terman, that can only be done by using two biconjugate circuits. I think I will have to add some words here. A Wheatstone bridge is a biconjugate circuit. That means that if the arms are balanced and you apply a battery and get no current in the galvanometer circuit. That is a biconjugate circuit. Now I have a large book by Dr. [George] Campbell. He's the first professional mathematician ever to be hired by the Bell System. In this book he listed all of the biconjugate circuits used most widely in telephony at the time of which I speak. They get them in other ways with integrated circuits today. It was with a transformer. At the time, the Bell System could make better transformers than anybody else anywhere in the world. Campbell listed the maximum number of biconjugate circuits of the transformer type that didn't have unnecessary elements. The simplest one of all was the one that I used. I used them always to separate the µ and circuits.
Do I understand correctly that you got the idea to use them from his listing? Or did you know this before?
I knew it before I ever saw this book. The first thing dealing with voice frequency circuits, for instance an ordinary house telephone uses just a single pair of wire. It has a biconjugate circuit to separate the transmitter from the receiver. It's slightly unbalanced, so you'll hear a little head-through, but the moment you get your central office and begin to go somewhere else the transformers – or hybrid coils as they are known to communication engineers – are used to change from two-wire to four-wire. They have the property of doing that. Then as you go longer distances, unless you are mixing up and getting into multiplexing and many channels, that's where the hybrid comes from. I learned about that by the time I had been around for a couple of weeks outside the training course. At that time any engineer worth his salt would try to do something with the hybrid coil. It was impossible. I remember trying one of those things, and Dr. Harry Nyquist explained to me the error of my ways.
We can get into all that next time.
We are at our second meeting now with Dr. Black on the June 29th, 1977. The first thing I want to clear up is something that it is one of the turning points of the article. On November 24th, 1921 you had just started to think about improving the amplifiers and you had gone home and were working there on your own time. We talked about what you were doing there, and I got mixed up because we kept jumping back and forth between before and after you talked to Hartley, so that sequence is not clear. Before you talked to Hartley you went home and you were trying to draw a curve. You were coming up with the wrong thing because you were assuming that third order harmonics would act the same as second order harmonics. Right?
While you had this erroneous idea on the 24th and before you talked to Hartley and he disabused you of this, you said, "I prepared a chart based on push-pull and its poor performance of how that requirement would go up as a function of the number of channels."
And number of amplifiers in tandem. See, there were two things I was doing there.
This Hartley thing had to do with the number of amplifiers in tandem.
Before you talked to Hartley, on Thanksgiving Day, 1921, and with this erroneous understanding in your mind what were you trying to draw? What kind of curve were you trying to draw?
There were two curves. The first was how the requirements on an amplifier changed as the number of channels varied from one to three thousand. That is a matter of how many voice frequency channels I was considering.
What was the second curve on that same day?
The second had to do with what additional requirements – linearity really – had to be placed on the same amplifier. Likewise to the function of the number of channels, but primarily with respect to how many amplifiers were to be connected in tandem. Obviously the more amplifiers that come one right after another the more severe the requirement. It was at that latter point that I made my error.
Is it correct that your error was that you assumed that the third order harmonics and other unwanted products would also be reduced to between 10% and 18% just like second order?
Yes, whatever the figures were on that.
Yes. Just like second order.
Just like second order.
All right. That was your error.
To state it differently, it would sort of add up on an RMS basis, but because no push-pull amplifier is perfect even the RMS spaces instead of being random addition was the figure I mentioned. Well I guess that's a technical detail we'll leave out.
I don't understand what you mean there. What do you mean when you say it would add up on a random basis?
If there were a hundred amplifiers in a row, instead of a three linearity requirement increasing a hundred-fold as it actually does it would only increase by the square root of hundred, or ten.
Wait a minute. N is the number of amplifiers.
Yes. N is the number of amplifiers. First you have to figure out how good an amplifier has to be, depending on how many channels. Number two, you have to figure out what is the additional requirement. Here is the one that hurts: when you put a big number in series one right after another.
Are you saying that the distortion would only increase according to the square root of the number of amplifiers if what you believed were true?
Statistics might give a little different answer, but in a rough way yes.
If what you believed was true, namely that the third harmonic was 10% to 18%. Okay. I think I am beginning to see where this got confused. You are talking about doing two different things.
One is the number of channels and the other is the number of amplifiers.
That got all mixed up last time we talked. All right. Coming back to your first curve, you were trying to find out how the requirement on an amplifier varies. What do you mean by the requirement? If n is one axis, what is on the other axis – n now being the number of channels?
The other is how linear it needed to be. To put it another way, the nonlinearity of a vacuum tube of the kind described by van der Bijl in his book on the vacuum tubes available at that time.
You are talking about a push-pull type C system amplifier..
That was the first one I ever saw.
Yes. This is your push-pull amplifier. You were concerned with how its linearity varied with the number channels? Is that it?
Yes. It was only carrying three channels and was doing a poor job, so it would be rather obvious if it carried three thousand channels it would have to perform a lot better.
Is the curve you drew regarding linearity versus number of channels?
That way I put it was decibels of improvement.
Is it correct to say that what you were trying to figure out was how the linearity varied with the number of channels?
Okay. Was the second thing how the linearity would be affected by putting more than one amplifier in series?
That's right. If you had two in series, regardless of the number of channels it would have to be 6 dB four times as linear.
Are you using the terms linearity and distortion synonymously?
Okay. Then you believed that the distortion in a string of amplifiers would increase as the square root of n.
Right. If you put the word approximately in front of the square root that would be a little bit more accurate.
This is what you told Hartley you had done?
That's right. I went down to his office and showed him what I had done.
And Hartley corrected you by saying no?
He didn't say no right away. He came to my office the next day and handed me a handwritten note that said exactly what I wrote in the paper. It's important to note that he was not talking about push-pull; it was regardless of the kind of amplifier.
To paraphrase what he said, is it correct to say that he told you that the distortion in a string of amplifiers would increase in direct proportion to the number of amplifiers?
That is correct. The most important thing of all is where he said "independent of the type of amplifier." From that day on, push-pull amplifiers were out. They take twice as many tubes and don't do any good. The third harmonics and all third-order distortion contributed by a string of X amplifiers is virtually X times that contributed by one.
I want to expand on this. Is this the same as saying that the distortion in the whole string will increase in direct proportion to the number of amplifiers?
Will a thousand amplifiers produce a thousand times as much distortion as one?
Yes. And I might say voltage distortion. There would be a million if we were talking about power distortion. In other words the linearity would have to be improved by the example you gave by 60 decibels. That would mean that if you took about 10 acres and plotted input against the output, the line could not vary a thousandth of an inch. That is a tough requirement. I'd like to add another remark in passing. L5 is single sideband and is the latest and more efficient coaxial [cable]. A single tube, which carries I think 1,028 channels, has two negative feedback amplifiers every mile so that in 5,000 miles there would be 10,000 amplifiers in tandem.
Are you talking about a system that exists now?
The most efficient coaxial system of today.
I don't know how to reconcile what you just told me about distortion with what you did on November 30th. Your attachment says the business that you "then found for a string of X amplifiers, the distortion contributed by each amplifier must be divided by X."
Is that saying the same thing?
The thousand was when they were all added together. Right?
That's the net distortion.
That's the net distortion. That is voltage distortion too. If you were thinking of power it would be a million. That statement is precise as it stands.
That's voltage distortion?
It is voltage or current, whichever way you want to view it.
That's the distortion of each amplifier. It must be divided by X, so the total is going to be X. Right?
That's right. If you are carrying a thousand channels the thing that had to be divided by X had to be awfully good to even handle the thousand. You get hit twice. The hard one is the number in series because it didn't take long before we had long strings.
Before Hartley corrected you, you believed that if you had a thousand amplifiers in series then the total or net distortion across the whole thousand would only be the square root of that. Right?
All right. I think I got that straight. Good. That's important to understand. Now let's clear up a couple of other points. You told me a story about how you nearly quit. You were passed over for a raise and you were angry and you were thinking of going to Harvard Business School but you didn't. Did that happen before that Thanksgiving?
That was very early, well before Thanksgiving. I reported for work on the 5th of July. My salary had been fixed ahead of time. Then along in September of 1921, out of 150 people everybody got a raise but me.
You had just started then.
I had just started. I started with 150 other people.
And they all started they got a raise?
The day they were hired all of them that I knew – and I knew virtually everyone – got $27. I got $32. That was no secret. Then in September they got a $3 raise and I didn't get a raise. It was as simple as that.
That's when you got angry.
I wouldn't say that made me angry. I just didn't exactly like it.
You were thinking of quitting, so it made you angry. Why shouldn't it?
I'll tell you another story that has nothing to do with this paper. Dr. John R. Carson is a very famous mathematician. In 1925 he heard that he was going to be transferred from AT&T to Bell Telephone Laboratory. Dr. Jewett did that when he was president and drew up a chart for the laboratories. Then Dr. Carson went home and decided that he was not going to work for the Bell System if he couldn't work at 195 Broadway at least on the organizational chart. However the next morning he changed his mind. He too decided that he was going to stick with the Bell System. I'm not the only one to do something like that. If I had been that stupid, it would have affected my life. I still hold that luck plays a part in many things, and I would never have been a businessman. Absolutely no way.
You were talking about the older four-channel systems that you saw when you first came to work there. You used the term "singing margin." Is that the same as the phenomenon of singing? They talked about amplifiers singing in those days.
Yes, that is correct. The terms "singing margin" and "phase margin" were used by Dr. [Hendrik W.] Bode many decades later in his book on amplifier design. Those were two terms that I had introduced not in connection with amplifiers but with filters and two-directional transmission. I guess here I was talking about the stability of a negative feedback amplifier.
This was before the negative feedback amplifier. You were talking about the first carrier system that had been designed for President Wilson.
It was unsuccessful because there were some directional filters that didn't have enough singing margin between the two directions.
Use of the word unsuccessful in this case is a little bit relative. The system did not fail, but didn't work as well as it should. It met his requirements. It served the President. I'll put it that way.
I'm trying to understand this term "singing margin." It is synonymous with the term "singing"?
Well, we don't need to get into it.
To get into it I would have to make you a diagram that is not concerned with amplifiers.
That one system was the only one of its kind that the Western Electric Company ever manufactured. That was called type A. The next one manufactured was type B. They were both open-wire systems. The type B didn't work for an entirely different reason. A few of those were installed. They were not removed from service, but if you listened on channel 2 you could also hear channel 1 or channel 3. That was not considered good. The reason that happened was because it was a carrier transmission system. It transmitted the carrier and one sideband, though not both. With the amplifiers that were available at the time that gave a non-workable system. Therefore very few were produced. The next step was where I came into the picture really. C. W. Green was my boss's boss. I did not report to Green. I reported to a supervisor who in turn reported to Charlie Green, but Charlie and I talked together. He was working on a three-channel amplifier for open-wire lines that would work. That's where I saw and observed the poor performance of push-pull amplifiers. I did not mention it in my text, but everything else was causing trouble.
Let me interrupt you.
Yes. You ask questions. Ask me simply.
One more background question about when you came to work in the fall of 1921 at AT&T.
I was working for the Western Electric Company in New York. I never worked for AT&T.
Okay. I should correct that. Did you hear any talk about the work of [Lee] de Forest and [E. Howard] Armstrong?
Yes. Let me put it this way. I have to think very carefully. Lee de Forest invented the soft vacuum tube. It's a delightful patent, which I have read. That came up in 1915. That was before I was a member of anything.
That was the decade before you got there.
Yes. When I got there, because I read every memorandum for file that had ever been written, I soon learned about all of these things.
You read about de Forest's work?
I read about Dr. Lee de Forest's work. Somewhere between 1913 and 1915, Harold DeForest Arnold introduced a hard vacuum. He beat [Irving] Langmuir of General Electric (GE).
This is Arnold?
Was he related to de Forest?
No. That is peculiar. If I took you out to the Bell Telephone Laboratories you would see the Arnold Auditorium. It was named in his honor because he was the first director of research. If you have good eyesight you will read his definition of research, which is inscribed in marble.
You read about the work of both these men?
Yes. Incidentally, at that time at 463 West Street they had a small library measured by today's standards. Within that library was a book by [H.J.] van der Bijl on vacuum-tube amplifiers, which I took from the library and asked if I could keep it. They said yes, and I have it over there in my bookcase.
Did you read about Armstong's work?
My first contact there was when I received the [John Price] Wetherell Medal from the Franklin Institute in 1941. That was a very formal affair. I had to wear afternoon clothes, then a black tie followed for a cocktail hour and then a white-tie affair for the evening. I was sort of ashamed that I was taking time off from work to receive that medal, so I didn't tell anyone. I was rather delighted in the evening to see Abe Clark (A. B. Clark), who occupied a position that today would correspond to vice president and Roy Chestnut ,who was the supervisor on the same level as I but in a different phase of work. In other words, friends from the Bell Labs were there. All during the afternoon I talked to [E. Howard] Armstrong, and that was where I first became familiar not only with his superheterodyne but also his invention of FM. That has a very interesting story.
Didn't Armstrong invent regenerative feedback?
Yes. Superheterodyne regenerative feedback.
That's positive feedback.
Yes. That makes the modulation worse, dB for dB.
He invented or discovered this positive feedback, which he applied to his superheterodyne receiver.
And he was only receiving one channel.
I think he did that before you came to Western Electric.
[Transcriptionist's Note: Here is where Tape 2, Side A ends. Side B of this same tape is a recording of others and not this interview. However, Tape 3, Side A appears to pick up where the above left off. – Michele Deradune]
When you started at Western in 1921 and you were reading all the memorandum for file, did you read any of Armstrong's first papers on his positive feedback?
Yes, I did. Those papers were available to me. If you will read my basic patent, I mentioned that in the patent as something to be avoided. Well, I would have to see what the patent said.
Here is the patent. Do you think you can find it?
I'm not certain if I had any reason to make any reference to Armstrong's suggestion – which found wide application until better methods were developed.
This is all part of setting the stage. You came to Western and you read about Armstrong's work.
Yes. I could say something that worked for Western Electric for about three years.
After you had worked for them?
After I had worked for the Western Electric Company in New York for about three years, I rented a room in Roselle Park from a woman. She rented out rooms to two people. We were both from Worcester Tech. Across in the next house someone lived, whose name escapes me at the moment, whose brother was president of the Western Electric Company at Kearny, New Jersey. He very much wanted a high-quality radio receiver. Ed Beamus, who was a radio ham, built one for him that I didn't think was very good, so I asked if he would like me to try to build one using a cone loudspeaker. I used Armstrong's circuit. The parts were only resistors and capacitors, and as long as I didn't steal any vacuum tubes I was permitted to get that working in the laboratory on Sundays. That was a personal experience that I had with Armstrong's [ideas], but it had nothing to do with my patent.
Let's take up now we left off last week with the manuscript. You said you were able to reduce unwanted distortion by more than 50 dB. Is that distortion in a single tube or in an amplifier?
I defined distortion there very broadly. I regarded the input as what was wanted, and then in the output, were that to be attenuated, until it would be of the same magnitude as the input. Anything that was there I would regard as distortion, whether it was change in gain due to a power supply or anything else. I regarded a perfect amplifier as one in which the input was an enlarged copy of the output. In those days the frequency bands were so narrow that the time of transmission across the amplifier was not a practical factor.
You explained that. You said that you could cancel out the distortion in the original output.
Then you said unwanted distortion could be reduced by upwards of 40 dB.
That was the result of our experiment that next morning.
That was distortion in what? That was in a single amplifier, right?
A single amplifier, regardless of the number of stages or type – although my patent shows the two embodiments that I set up.
In a single amplifier you could reduce the distortion by upwards of 40 dB. It's at the bottom of page 3. On the next page you said, "Over a period of four more years I struggled with the problem." What problem was that?
The problem of developing a perfect amplifier.
What do you mean by a perfect amplifier?
One that would be viable to manufacture and would overcome all of the distortion, fulfilling the severe requirements that I had set out to meet.
What I don't understand is, this embodiment worked so well. You demonstrated it could reduce the distortion by this much.
Yes, but it was impractical for two very important reasons. Every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day, someone had to come around and adjust the filament turn to its correct value. They were permitting plus or minus or half a dB or a dB variation in amplifier gain, whereas for this purpose the amplifier gain had to be absolutely perfect. On top of that, four times a day – every six hours – it became necessary to adjust the B battery voltage because the amplifier gain would be out of hand. Those are two practical reasons. There were other complications too, but that's enough to show you.
That's very clearly put.
For 40 dB, one-thousandth of a decibel change in gain would throw that thing in error by 6 making it poorer by 6 dB. That was just a laboratory demonstration.
That was a 6 dB error in what?
Instead of getting a 40-dB improvement it was a 34-dB improvement.
That's clearly put and important.
The amplifier of those days.
It had these two drawbacks.
That's right. However for me it was wonderful, because it showed that theoretically it would be possible to get a solution.
A solution to what?
The problem of a superlatively perfect amplifier.
By that you mean that it had no distortion?
No distortion of any kind.
You wanted to put in a string of them.
Yes. I wanted a tremendous improvement.
Now we come up to 1927 and the ferryboat ride. This is of course the most important part of your article. What I don't understand here and want to get you to expand upon is what you were thinking about that day. What was the problem? You said you conceived the analysis of the negative feedback amplifier. Can you remember what you were still trying to do?
What I had been trying to do for years was to come up with something good. The idea of negative feedback and the drawing of the conautical circuit and the equations I wrote came to me all of a sudden as I looked back over the things I had done and published prior to that. I had produced an open-wire system that added one additional talking circuit. There I had designed the filters, and from Heaviside work I achieved superstability in many things. There I actually had a µ. If you understood it carefully enough, I actually had a µ of six or eight. However I cannot connect that in any way with a negative feedback amplifier. I have tried to remember for fifty years, again and again, why the idea came to me. I couldn't tell you today any more than I could that morning. It just came to me.
What exactly was the idea that came to you? This was your sketch.
This is the sketch. The idea was, here comes an input and then there's an output. The reason I call this µ was due to having read the book by van der Bijl. However, µ here is a complex quantity like Steinmetz first introduced: A + AB. The reason I used the symbol was because in some book in my library was the transmission characteristic of a circuit. I guess it was really Maxwell's Equation. It had to do with the electrical properties of electromagnetic waves. If they were on a pair of wires or a coax […ial cable], the attenuation would vary as the square root of frequency. In other words, was a term that was usually expressed E to the I, to put it in complex form. I noticed here that if was the attenuation of the line it would be an equalizer and would serve two purposes for one. Of course I didn't get any of that information on the sketch. It took a long to get that. You asked what was the reason for my choice of these two Greek letters.
No. I asked you what it was you actually thought. What was this flash that came to you?
It came to me that if I fed the output back to the input in reverse phase and kept the device from singing I would have exactly what I wanted and I could write this equation. The whole idea came to me.
What did you want?
You notice that the improvement is substantially equal to the absolute magnitude of µ.
The improvement in what?
In distortion of any kind – variation in power supply, you name it and this does it.
You said another important thing, if you could keep it from singing. What do you mean by singing?
Ordinarily when you connect an amplifier that has a large amount of gain back to the input, which has less loss, you are liable to get singing.
Do you mean self-oscillation?
Yes. There I do mean self-oscillation. I explain here why I knew and what I had to do in order to avoid that. That is all explained, and I would not know how to improve on that.
At the top of page 5 you put that in quotes. Why is that in quotes?
The quotation marks should certainly be deleted. The only thing would be to decide whether to bother to put that in italics or not.
Okay. You knew that you could prevent self-oscillation by having the loop transfer factor real positive greater than unity [real positive > unity].
A lot of people doubted that it would be stable. Is that correct?
I guess that it wasn't until [Harry] Nyquist and [Hendrik] Bode did their mathematical work that people were convinced. Is that right?
I would like to abolish that idea at once.
Okay. What is the story there?
Since Nyquist published first, I will point out that it wasn't until after 1930 that Nyquist even knew that I had developed a negative feedback amplifier. And the same for Bode. I thought the best way to keep others from taking credit away from me was to just go merrily ahead and do it and make believe there was no secret about it at all. I didn't tell anyone.
What did you not tell?
That I was building a negative feedback amplifier. The Western Electric Company had built seventy-five negative feedback amplifiers in the year 1929 before either Dr. Nyquist or Dr. Bode had even heard of it. They did not know a thing about what I did. By the way, I would like to tell you – since I have this right here and I can also show this to you in an Italian publication that is in three volumes. It lists 3600 people like Einstein – that is, they are not all alive – and I am among the list. The thing that it shows as being the most important figure of my patent – because it does have many figures – is Figure 2. The first that Nyquist ever heard about this thing was in 1930. I asked him why I got these symmetries beyond the one-zero point that I avoided. I think it's in one of my patents. I have got them all and I am going to look and find which one. I think it's my Case #18. I asked him to explain this.
Is that curve number 1 there?
Yes, or any of these curves, because everything looks to be so symmetrical. To get one of those, you have to have a looped-over amplifier. Of the 10,000 learned papers that I have read, I know of no one but me who used a looped-over amplifier. Bode never did.
I did not make my question clear. I understand that you built the amplifier before they did their work. The point was that a lot of people, as you just said, doubted your amplifier would be stable.
That is right.
Was it this mathematical work that Nyquist later did later on that convinced people?
What was Nyquist's contribution?
His contribution was a paper. I read the memoranda that preceded that paper. That was an intuition and ability to think of something original that is given to very few men. However, his mathematical derivation of the thing is very poor because there are so many other ways of deriving it that are vastly simpler.
Let me ask the question in a different way. How does what Nyquist did relate to what you do?
In no way.
You mentioned him in your paper. You said, "It was tested before Nyquist developed the stability criterion which bears his name." Didn't that stability criteria have something to do with negative feedback amplifiers?
It did. It had to do with those that were like the one that I built. As a matter of generality, he introduced a second kind. Yes. He produced a mathematical derivation of what I did. What I would say about that is that it was one that I didn't have any idea existed. It was new to me. I made good use of it ten years later. He derived it, it bears his name, it's known the world over, and that part is right. However I believe that if you look at one of my patents you will find that the part of it that has been used by everyone was something I had already put in a patent. That too is regarded as a publication.
I see. I was just trying to relate it. Who was Blessing? What he the patent attorney?
No. Let me explain. He was a supervisor of a group of people. Earl C. Blessing reported to me.
Before that famous ferryboat ride, while struggling with that problem with the feedforward amplifier, you said you used circuits and approaches that were far too complex to be practical. Could you give me an example?
Not offhand. I could probably sit down and draw a few, but they might not be the ones that I had tried.
That's all right.
I completely unsuccessful. You can believe that.
Meyer started gathering parts for the model.
You said a fundamental requirement of a repeater amplifier is that its input and output impedance must match accurately. Was this a very difficult thing to do?
Yes. It had been thought so. It's not an impossible to do. Don't misunderstand me. Before the advent of negative feedback and some of my other inventions it was accomplished at the expense of loss of signal at the input and loss of power in the output. It is a necessary thing to do. I might note in passing that Dr. K. C. Black in the research department was at the same time, around 1936, working on coaxial cables.
Wait a minute. We're back in 1927.
Yes, so it was not exactly the same time. When he did that I asked him to turn the job over to me, which he refused to do. He was not matching impedances. I told him that if he didn't do that the system would not work. He built a system fromPhiladelphia in '36. Don Qualls,who was high up in the company, found it and fired him. That's what happened to him.
That's another story. This was a difficult thing to do, but then on the ferryboat ride you sketched the details of how to do this.
That's the figure you have there.
That's the figure you have given me. You say it employed a simple novel biconjugate network.
Is that what you've sketched?
You have to use a little imagination here. I might find a clearer example. This isn't too bad. If you would regard this E as the voltage acting in series with the plate resistance of a vacuum tube and then envision these three things here which carries the—
What three things?
These are general impedances.
That's rr0, kr and r, right?
That's right. Those are the things that are the Wheatstone bridge with respect to the galvanometer, which is here and goes back to the input. Z is the load impedance. Then the feedback amplifier is done. It gets a little reflected signal here, and negative feedback eliminates it. The impedances are matched, and the only loss is the loss in this Wheatstone bridge which can be made about a tenth of a decibel.
Where is the amplifier again?
Regard this as the plate of the last tube of a three-stage amplifier.
Regard what? Where are you pointing?
This first point.
Number 4?
Right. This would be the input voltage.
E is the input voltage.
Yes. Multiplied by the µ of the three-stage amplifier. I warned you this wasn't too clear.
I just want to be able to explain it in the caption. I think that's good enough.
And you have to do the same thing on the input in order to match impedances.
All right. My question about December 1927. You said you reduced distortion by 50 dB. Is that a single amplifier?
That is a single amplifier. That used two tetrodes and a pentode. The output of that amplifier was about 10 dB less than Dr. Jewett required in January of the next year. He was satisfied with 40 dB of feedback.
Where does Dr. Jewett come in now? In Morristown?
That's in Morristown. I did not put that in there at all.
I think it should be in there.
That was why I wrote something for you. You may want a reference to that paper describing those experiments.
Before we get to 1928, let's come back to the top of page 6. You said you submitted an application on August 1928 to the Patent Office.
I submitted a drawing. I had many people working on this, so I don't recall whether it was Steve Meyer or a different engineer. I submitted a drawing of the amplifier that accomplished this, and that was the basis of the main patent.
The patent that was then filed in 1932?
That's right. All the work that had preceded that occupied a large amount of time. That one had the biconjugate networks and 6 dB improvement and matching impedances and everything else.
In January 1928 the carrier system for transcontinental cables began to be developed. I think we should describe that.
What page are we on now?
We're not on any page because you didn't write it up, but I found this in what you gave [Julian] Tebo , and I think we ought to include that. This is about the Morristown experiment.
You have given me some material on it here. The interesting thing is that Dr. Arnold didn't believe your amplifier would work.
What do you know about that. Now you got right to the Bell Labs. Not to all the other people and not to England, but Dr. Jewett for the most highly prized possession in the Bell Labs. I thought you might perhaps want to include that. Or maybe you wouldn't.
I do. It's all very interesting.
It's all very true. Did I write it in a way that you can understand?
Was Arnold Dr. Jewett's boss?
No. Dr. Jewett was president. Dr. Arnold was not a vice president. He was the director of research, third down in the line.
Okay. Arnold did not believe it would work and he instructed you to build a powerful Colpitts amplifier.
What is the point of this? You proceeded to assemble the parts for this Colpitts amplifier.
I got them all together. In the meantime, every engineer I had was working on this other job.
The other job being the negative feedback amplifier?
The negative feedback amplifier for Dr. Jewett.
You were working on two amplifiers.
All that I did – and I did no more – was to have A. G. Garns design the transformers and collected the condensers and inductors. I got the parts necessary to built one Colpitts amplifier if that proved necessary. I didn't feel that it was going to be necessary, but I did exactly what he told me to do.
That's fascinating. Meanwhile you went ahead with your own and found out that it worked.
That's what that photograph is that you gave me last week. Right?
Yes. That is a physical picture.
That's the Morristown experiment.
Yes. I am taking out one of the condensers there. Charlie Green thought I should be fired.
Because I had a come-and-go trouble in it, and he thought that I had done something wrong. The people who made the condenser said that if there was anything wrong I would have to find it. It cost me about $100,000 of my engineer's salary. I found that the method of making the contact between the foil which was insulated to get a capacitor was loose. It would go on and off. I don't think that it would be pertinent to do that, but you can notice I was looking at the animal sort of seriously.]
That's an interesting detail to put in the article.
Then I was on to confirm that with F. A. Brooks because I designed more than one amplifier.
Wait. I'm confused. This is a photograph.
What I am taking out in that photograph looks to me to be a condenser. If that is true, then I believe that it is this faulty condenser that I had so much difficulty troubleshooting.
The important thing to clarify is that when you tested these amplifiers there was a problem with the condenser. Is that it? I don't think it's important whether it was that particular condenser. I just want to tell the story of this Morristown experiment.
Fred Brooks is alive, and unless he is on vacation I will be able to reach him by telephone and find out whether what I am saying is true or false. I would never put that in unless I could prove it. This part however is the absolute truth. I built the push-pull.
During 1928 you tested eight models of a negative feedback amplifier.
Was it one of those models that had this trouble with the condenser?
No. There was no trouble there.
Where was there trouble with the condenser?
I don't remember. I'll have to check up on that. Regardless of whether or not that condenser was at fault – and if it was it was quickly fixed in just about a week and a half – the experiment was a complete success. It is fully described in a brief paper that you could make reference to if you like.
Have you got that paper?
We aim to please. [recording turned off, then back on...]
On page 6 where you are talking about the patent. You said, "The concept was so contrary to established beliefs that the U.S. Patent Office reported that experts the world over delivered lengthy opinions stating it wouldn't work." To whom did they report this?
When an invention is submitted to the Patent Office the first thing they do is make a search. They are well equipped to do that in a hurry. They want to make sure that the same idea has not been patented by anyone else in this or any other country. Next, they want to make sure that it is not already described in any book, technical paper or article. Finally, they undertake to decide for themselves whether or not it satisfies their requirements. It was in that process that they found papers in France, Italy and other countries saying that the output could not be connected back to the input unless the loop gain was less than 1. Whereas my loop-gain was 40. Actually I experimentally got 50 in because I allowed for manufacturing variations and so on.
Is loop gain a product of µ?
That is exactly right. It is the absolute value of the product of µ. The U.S. Patent Office found those papers, and each one and said it could not be done. Did I tell you what the British post office said?
Here in the United States one makes an invention of what is the old-fashioned idea of perpetual motion. Some very intriguing things have been so proposed. I was taught in school never to do that. The U.S. Patent Office then – and only then – says, "Submit a working model." That is then the last that is ever heard of that invention. My inventions were patented in many foreign countries. That's very costly and important, and they have to go into use within [a certain period of time]. Now my invention was clearly in the field of electronics. Curiously, Great Britain has a rule that in electronics that if they have reason to believe that it does not work they may request the inventor to submit a working model. In my case they said the negative feedback amplifier would not work and asked me to kindly submit a working model. Harry A. Burgess then got affidavits that seventy such amplifiers were working in the telephone building at Morristown, New Jersey.
That's fascinating.
He also sent pictures. In view of that and the fact that it had been described in two publications by that time – my own plus the other to which you just referred – they conceded that it could be patented in Great Britain.
That's very nice. All of this kind of material would be nice to work into the article. There were objections to the length and arguments about the claims.
Who objected to the length and what kinds of arguments were made about the claims?
Every time the U.S. Patent Office objected to a claim, I stoutly refused to concede the thing and immediately proceeded to add one more claim. In that way I gradually built the number of claims up to 126. Burgess would not allow what would have been Claim 127 because he thought it would not stand up and might thereby invalidate the entire patent. As to their objection to the length, well they just thought that it was complex and long.
All right. That's clear. Did they argue with you about claims before the patent was issued?
That's right. They – and only they – decide how many claims are going to go into it.
Why would they argue about a claim?
They can for instance argue that it is too broad. The patent starts out with wave translation. That can be electrical, acoustical, mechanical or hydrodynamical. Any medium that will transmit a wave is a wave translation system. Those are the first words in the description of my invention.
I was interested in that. That is what you meant by the new material you wrote for me about applications. You envisioned broad applications.
That's right. That of course is where the claims come in. I would say that the value of a patent lies in its claims. The reason for the long description was that this was a new field, so I gave a lot of examples. The examples I gave were amplifiers I had set up in the laboratory.
Are there wave translation systems in the claims that are not electrical?
When it comes to claims, there are technicalities. By the way, here is a little detail where I told in my text how much of the patent was devoted figures, how much to description and how much was claims. The first three lines of the second claim are mainly description. The last page of the claim is vacant, so that I don't know just how you would say where the description ends and the claim begins.
I'll figure something out about that.
I never realized that situation existed until the other day. There is another thing I would like to mention having to do with the figures. If you look at some of these figures, if they are examined and if for instance you call this Figure 35, some of these can really be different from others. If the figures were counted the way an engineer would count them it would come to a larger number.
Why would Dr. Arnold have been doubtful that your amplifier would work? Was it the stability concern again?
My only answer to that is that I could not read his mind, but he was convinced. The most natural reason would be the one you suggest. I boldly suggested putting a tremendous amount of gain into the µ rule. Yet I was claiming that the amplifier would not sing. He was educated as a physicist. He got his Ph.D. from Chicago and came to work for Western Electric in 1911. He was hand picked by Dr. Jewett. My answer is that I don't know. I don't even know why the British post office and or other people in other countries thought it would not work.
I am trying to get a sense of whether there were many people in the laboratory who were skeptical that your amplifier would work.
No, not in the Bell Laboratories. The reason for that is that I was about the only one who was concerned. I was not consulting with anyone else. In those days if I wanted a transformer, a condenser, a resistor or anything else, I got it from the apparatus department. That was under William Fondella. If I wanted to get my amplifier mounted I went to the equipment department.
You are saying that you did it yourself.
I assembled the things in the laboratory. First I got all parts of the apparatus and placed requirements on that. Therefore that if the apparatus met its requirements, then the system – in this case was the amplifier – would meet its requirements. It would be all right. I took into account a liberal amount for variations – manufacture, temperature of offices and all factors including changes with time. I then had to cooperate and change the way that I mounted it to conform to the way the equipment division wanted it mounted. They had the final say on that before for the Western Electric Company manufactured these amplifiers. That laboratory trial involved a great many things.
Are you talking now about your first one?
The eight amplifiers that we got together.
I just realized that there is a gap we need to fill. You said that on December 29, 1927 you demonstrated that the amplifier "was more than sufficient to do the job I undertook six years earlier." What job was that? Was then when you realized this was an amplifier with which you could put a hundred of them in a string?
I sure did. I envisioned hopping across the nation.
And it was at this point that you knew that you could do that?
I knew that I could do that. Yes.
With this test. All right.
The thing that I did not realize was that it did not have enough power. That was the main difference between the first working model and what I built for Dr. Jewett.
Let me get to Dr. Jewett now. You built this first model with Meyers ?
Yes, and my other colleagues.
What happened after that? Why did Dr. Jewett, on the next page, suggest to Arnold that you build this amplifier?
I was very friendly with Dr. Jewett, and he knew that I was working on a negative feedback amplifier. He also found out that I had succeeded. It was pure coincidence that my success, which was at the end of the year, coincided with his suggestion in January.
Were you still in the systems group?
Was this at West Street?
That was at West Street, and the head of that group was Amos (A. F.) Dixon. I could show you that on the organizational chart.
That's important. That was a gap we had here. You were friendly with Dr. Jewett and told him what you had done?
Sure. You bet.
What was his reaction? He believed you?
Oh yes. Well, I am complimented that he had that faith in me.
Why wasn't he worried about stability?
I told him that I had already gotten one and it had worked.
Did you demonstrate it to him?
No. I went to work for the laboratories in1921. I had belonged to Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Si while going through college. I don't know whether he was president at the time, but I believe it was AT&T that brought together a large group of people who belonged to Tau Beta Pi. That was when and where I was first introduced to Dr. Jewett.
Frank B. Jewett. That was my first meeting with him. He was very friendly. Of course at that early date I had not yet gotten into this feedback or anything, but that was my first contact with him.
Were the eight models of the amplifier powerful enough?
Yes. It took two tries to get that power. Dr. Kelly designed every vacuum tube I ever used in any amplifier I ever made or with which I wanted to experiment. Kelly gave me two high-grade pentodes having a little more power than any of the tubes I had used in December. Then we came to the stickler. What I was going to use in the last stage? At that time there existed no directly heated pentode in Morristown that would deliver the power. Fortunately they only wanted 40 dB of negative feedback. The equalizer was designed by F. A. Brooks. He reported to me. To my disappointment, however, the equalizer was not in the feedback path. Therefore all I needed was the amount of gain shown by that. Let's see. The slanting is the low loss and then the equalizer goes this way and those two losses cancel out. One could figure it out. Anyhow, I needed only modest amount of gain, practically enough for the two pentodes given to me by Dr. Kelly. When we came to the last tube we decided that would be a triode. Then I made a suggestion. Now a suggestion is not a patent, and McNally is the one who got the patent. The [unintelligible word] vacuum tube has a grid, a filament that is not indirectly heated and a plate. I proposed that we put in two grids. We worked fast on this job. One good thing about Kelly is that he was a fast worker. And he expected those who worked for him to do likewise. We put two grids in the same plane. We gave one of them 60-volt wires that were negative and the other 30-volt wires were positive. They were given the opposite polarity. In that way we got a wider swing without increasing the distortion.
A wider swing in what?
On the voltage that was put on the grid. If there were only one grid instead of two, only half as much swing could be achieved. We expected a 6-dB improvement that way.
Is this what gave you a higher output?
It gave me 6 dB higher output, but unfortunately that was not enough. The next step was to do what the Bell System had refused to do for one hundred years. They raised the B battery voltage from 130 volts to 250 or 260 volts – whatever my paper showed. In other words, we did it by brute force. That gave the required power and completed the success.
To close the loop on this whole article, what you have not told me is how many channels such an amplifier could have.
Nine channels. That's given in the paper.
And you could put 160 of them in tandem?
Yes, with spacing at every 25 miles, as Dr. Jewett's requirement was 4,000 miles. The transmission, due to any and every cause, was not to be out by more than 1 dB. Today they permit 4 dB because of the improved handsets and other reasons.
Okay. That takes care of it.
The frequency allocation and everything is given in that article.
Was your patent ever challenged?
Yes. It was challenged once. I licked it in a day. Let me see who did that. [Inaudible name; Tillet?] challenged it. They produced a patent, and I showed that the patent they produced would not work. It had never even been set up in a laboratory.
Somehow I had it in my head the idea that there was some problem with Zenith.
That was something entirely different. Zenith manufactured radios, television and a lot of electronic equipment, including some stereophonic. They had a patent attorney who told the president of Zenith that there was no patent issued by the U.S. Patent Office that he could not break. He told Zenith to advertise in newspapers, magazine articles and all over the place that they were using my patent, the negative feedback amplifiers. They did that and showed the places they were using them and so on. Then that same patent attorney died, leaving Zenith to battle it out without him.
Did Bell bring a suit against them?
Yes, they did. Incidentally, most of my patents have been in the communication field. [recording turned off, then back on...]
Your testimony lasted for years?
I think it lasted about five years.
Was this was on how you invented the negative feedback amplifier?
It was on this patent. That was a very peculiar arrangement. There was a long, huge table. The opposition sat on one side and I sat all alone on the other side. Then to one side was the court stenographer and the person running the tape Coincidentally, the next person there was a man by the name of Kelly who used to be in the same office with me at 183rd Street. During the Depression he got fired, went to South America, didn't make out well there and subsequently got tied up with Zenith. The first morning they asked me a question having to do with radio broadcasting. I proceeded to answer the question at great length. Every sentence, and some phrases, of my answer led to six or more questions. We began about 10 o'clock in the morning and it lasted until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. When there was a break, the AT&T attorneys would all descend upon me at once. They said, "Harold, to any and every question that you are ever asked, say 'yes' or 'no'. And before you do that, take a good long time. And if you hear one of us cough, say nothing." We adjourned for lunch, and then in the afternoon came question number one. I think it had to do with why there were so many claims, being 126. I heard a cough, so I said nothing. Then they repeated the question. After about five times the attorney for Zenith said, "The stenographer will kindly take note that the witness is highly uncooperative." Then he said a few other disparaging remarks about the patent and then said, "At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning I shall bring this to the attention of a certain judge in the City of New York." Then AT&T attorneys said to me, "Well, you just see to it that you don't appear. We will appear for you." They argued the question that day without me there. I was told that the attorney said, "Mr. Black is a very busy man and valuable to the laboratories and it was an unreasonable question," and the judge said, "Yes. I agree with you. He proves the entire patent." He said, "I will make two suggestions. One is that Mr. Black be given ten days to prepare the answer. Secondly, that he be allowed to have a typewritten copy of the answer to the question." Then six of us worked the entire ten days for 12 or 20 hours a day and typed up an answer that took me over two weeks to deliver.
When was this case? Was it in the '30s or '40s?
No, it was probably starting about 1948 and lasting until '53.
Was this a suit brought by AT&T against Zenith and RCA?
RCA and Bell (or AT&T) were suing Zenith.
It was not against RCA? It was against Zenith?
RCA had a couple of patents and they didn't care much about, but when it came to my patent the Bell System was prepared to carry that all the way to the Supreme Court.
Did Bell sue RCA?
No. Bell sued Zenith. RCA sued Zenith too, but they didn't get anywhere.
Good. I think this takes care of it. Do you have any general thoughts looking back over this work that started more than fifty years ago? I imagine that the wide success of the negative feedback has been very gratifying to you.
Was it surprising too?
No, I wouldn't say it was surprising, because I understood its importance from the beginning. Time moves very swiftly over a period of fifty years. I will give a few examples. Thanks to negative feedback, half a billion people watched man take his first steps on the Moon. It was really a lot more than that, because even the launch itself involved feedback. In the picture you have of one of my amplifiers, you can see that the length of my feedback path was almost a yard and a half. [Nowadays] the length of the feedback path in the coaxial is the thickness of a piece of cardboard and the size of two amplifiers. They couldn't do it in one step because they were handling so many channels and the thing varies as the square root of S, so they had to use two amplifiers every one mile.
When was this?
Coaxial?
No. Two amplifiers every mile. I lost the point. Were you talking about coaxial cable today?
The coaxial cable of today. The coax has a long history starting in '36, but with the coaxial of today a single pipe carries about 1,028 analog voice circuits, and at every mile they have to put in a repeater. Due to the large number of circuits, that really has to be two three-stages amplifiers having about 150 dB of negative feedback – as compared to my 60 or 65 over a 12-channel K.
Over a 12-channel what?
K1 and K2 transmitter, the 12-voice circuit. The coax. I'd have to check on the exact number, but I think it's 1,028.
What is K1? Was that your first system?
K1 is a 12-channel.
When was that made?
The K1 was made in 1940, and the K2 was made in 1942. Each one had the equalizer in the feedback circuit, but the K2, in order to get more out of things, used a looped-over amplifier. Twelve channels was the most I ever did, and my amplifiers were bulky.
This is important. I want to make sure we understand it. Your negative feedback amplifier eventually got to where in 1940 it could transmit twelve channels.
Instead of nine channels.
And you are saying that today the negative feedback amplifier and coax systems can transmit over a thousand. Right?
You are contrasting the improvement.
And I am calling attention to the fact that the two amplifiers are about the size of the palm of my hand – 3 or 4 inches.
These are the amplifiers in today's coax system, right?
Yes. And the length of the feedback path was a little thinner than a piece of cardboard. The bulk would differ by more than 10,000 to 1.
The size of the amplifiers in bulk between 1940 and today?
Differ by more than 10,000 to 1. That's beautiful. That's nice to have that comparison.
I would like to tell you about another amplifier I designed, which was for an 8-channel open-wire system. That was the best negative feedback amplifier I ever designed, because everything was fed back through the transformers. There were three transformers. It did the impedance matching and had some very unique properties. It had equipment that went with it to deal with the fact that in some parts of the country the ice would form an inch around. These were used in fairly large quantity. It was a horrible system really, but the amplifier was a beautiful one. During World War II a hundred or more of them were given to Russia – of all places.
For use in what? Anything in particular?
I suppose it was due to the fact that they have a lot of open country there.
Did you ever have the experience that the inventors of the computer had? Initially they couldn't sell them because people didn't think they would ever be practical. Did you run into the resistance like that in the beginning?
No. It has sold from the beginning.
Only some skepticism by Arnold and a few others.
That and the Patent Office and the articles that had been published for entirely different reasons.
It's an exciting story. I appreciate all your time.
Retrieved from "https://ethw.org/w/index.php?title=Oral-History:Harold_S._Black&oldid=26152"
1 About Harold S. Black
4.2 Western Electric Company
4.2.1 Recruitment and training
4.2.2 Systems Engineering Department
4.2.3 Memoranda files
4.2.4 Type C three-channel system and amplifiers
4.2.5 Thanksgiving Day, 1921 breakthrough on amplifier performance
4.2.6 Multichannel amplifiers and cross-country telephone communications
4.2.7 Push-pull amplifier design; amplifier interference
4.2.8 Collaboration
4.2.9 Linear vacuum tube
4.2.10 Invention of negative feedback amplifier
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by: Ross Tanenbaum
Jason Derulo, Jawsh 685, BTS: How they made ‘Savage Love’
It’s impressive how much TikTok has influenced the music industry. Simple dances created by users have sent songs flying to the top of the charts as the dance trends grow in popularity. One of the most popular dance trends featured a song called “Laxed (Siren Beat)”, created by Jawsh 685.
Famous pop star Jason Derulo is now a prominent figure on TikTok. Derulo recently made a new song in a collaboration with Jawsh 685, using the “Savage Love” which Jawsh 685 created. Now, a new version of “Savage Love” has been released, featuring K-pop sensation, BTS. Here’s how this epic collaboration came to fruition.
Jawsh 685
Jawsh 685, born Joshua Nanai, is from Auckland, New Zealand. The 685 in his name is the country code for Samoa, his father’s ethnicity. In 2019, Jawsh posted a snappy music track to YouTube titled “Laxed (Siren Beat)”. The track is a catchy earworm that caught the attention of plenty of TikTok users.
The track became a viral dance challenge on TikTok early this year. The dance consisted of simple movements that everyone can follow – a couple of shoulder and chest taps followed by some hip shimmying. “Laxed” became a part of a #culturedance challenge which involved users doing the dance while wearing cultural garb.
The dance trend became a global phenomenon with all of the most prominent TikTok users performing their own versions of the dance. This includes Addison Rae & Charli D’Amelio, two of the biggest influencers on TikTok. However, the sound truly took on new life after Derulo discovered it.
Derulo and Jawsh team up
Derulo is much more active on TikTok for a celebrity of his status and for someone over the age of thirty. Derulo continues to get in on the latest TikTok trend while also promoting his music. He has even brought other celebrities onto his TikToks, including Will Smith.
In May, Derulo released his single “Savage Love,” which clearly sounded like “Laxed,” but the song only had Derulo credited. Within a day of the “Savage Love” release, Derulo tagged Jawsh in a TikTok video of himself performing his own variation of the #culturedance challenge. Derulo called “Savage Love” a remix and Jawsh was initially annoyed by the lack of credit.
However, after negotiations, the two came to an agreement and Jawsh signed a deal with Columbia Records. “Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)” was officially released a month later with the official artist name being Jawsh 685 X Jason Derulo. The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in late June. By August, “Savage Love” hit the top ten, giving Derulo another hit song and Jawsh justice.
BTS adds to the success
After sixteen weeks in the Hot 100, BTS hopped on to “Savage Love” for another remix. BTS recently joined the Billboard Hot 100 with their latest track “Dynamite,” hitting number one on the charts. BTS is one of the most powerful artists in the world with the BTS ARMY providing lots of fuel for BTS’s train to the top.
The BTS addition worked as “Savage Love” hopped from number eight to number one in its seventeenth week in the Hot 100. The single’s weekly streams grew by thirty-two percent and its download sales went up by a staggering 814 percent. The power of the BTS ARMY took the song’s already strong success and made it even stronger.
This song is now BTS’s second number one track on the Hot 100 and the first which includes some Korean in it. “Dynamite” saw BTS gain more popularity with a U.S. audience as it was their first fully English track. “Savage Love” can be a way for BTS to build upon that and include more of the Korean language as well.
What started out as a meme on TikTok has quickly grown to become one of the most successful songs in the world. The collaboration of Jawsh, Derulo & BTS is not one many expected, but it’s having an endless amount of success.
BTSJason DeruloJawsh 685K-popMusicSavage LoveTikTok
Ross Tanenbaum
Ross is a major movie buff, and especially likes Marvel, 'Star Wars', and Quentin Tarantino films. In his free time, he's usually writing reviews for his blog, binging TV shows, or planning his next trip to an amusement park.
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Mahindra & Mahindra
Last modified by Asif Farooqui on 2020/06/16 18:26
Agri Industry
Insurance Broking
Rural Housing Finance
Outlook:
Mahindra & Mahindra (NSE: M&M) commenced its journey in 1945 with it getting into the steel business, and over time, the company expanded to 22 key industries. A need for change in the agricultural practices pushed it to foray into that sector right before the agriculture revolution began in India. The company became one of the key torch-bearers of the IT revolution in its country. The company's focus now lies in developing alternate energy sources because the company believe energy conservation will play a huge role in ensuring a better future – for not just its country and communities, but the entire world.1
The company have multiple business segments
Airplanes speed up mobility, ensuring help is received when it’s most required. The company's planes act as air ambulances, supporting in rescuing animals and putting out wildfires, apart from serving as aircraft for adventure. The company also make airframe parts and assemblies for reputed aircraft platforms. So, the next airplane you board may have Mahindra parts in it.2
Why shouldn't a used vehicle guarantee the quality of a new one? Mahindra Aftermarket represents its pioneering efforts to professionalise the pre-owned car and car service industry. The company's range of offerings, from financing and exchange platforms, maintenance and repair, and other services meet nearly every automotive need.
The company empower farmers with the most relevant technology and agricultural know-how, and link them to the market, so they get better returns. The company's agricultural inputs, advisory services, and output procurement businesses equip them to deliver continued Farm Prosperity, while its Farm-to-Fork model ensures stringent quality checks throughout the supply chain.
The company wanted to make the commute from point A to B, smoother. So, the company introduced to India its first utility vehicle. The company's desire to keep identifying ways to enhance the automotive experience, pushed it to foray into electric vehicles, pickups, and commercial vehicles. Today, Mahindra & Mahindra is preferred for delivering on durability, reliability, environment-friendliness, and fuel-efficiency.
The best way to explore open seas and water bodies is through its watercrafts. As India’s first boat builder in the organised sector, the company offer a bespoke fleet of state-of-the-art personal and commercial crafts that effortlessly combine modern luxury with stellar performance. Having created a new standard for watercrafts, we’ve now established an ISO 9001:2008 certified by TUV Austria facility to manufacture its sizeable fleet.
The company see tremendous opportunity for producing clean energy by harnessing the abundant sunshine India receives. Mahindra Susten, its solar energy business is already a leader in the Solar EPC space, offering extensive expertise in Solar PV EPC; both Utility Scale and Distributed, Build Solutions, Operations and Maintenance and other Innovative offerings.
The company's foray into this industry comes on the back of seven decades of experience in making tough, rugged and durable utility vehicles, and tractors. Manufactured at its state-of-the-art facility at Chakan, Pune, the Mahindra EarthMasterTM embodies its promise of providing world-class construction equipment and services, backed by its famed and extensive dealer-network.
With the aim to positively impact its partners, the company offer world-class consulting services in three key verticals: information security and risk management, engineering consulting, and business process management. The company also work to better protect the information assets, strengthen physical security and reduce risk for organisation, while offering BPM and advisory services.
The company aim to protect those who protect it. The company's gamut of defence offerings encompasses land systems, naval systems, defence electronics and security consulting. Aligned to the Government of India’s defence policy, making its forces self-sufficient is a key pillar for it. To this end, we’re aggressively scaling up its capabilities to meet the requirements of a nation on the rise.
Farm prosperity remains at the heart of all its agri-related endeavours. The company's tough and durable tractors and implements raise productivity in farms across all continents on earth. The world's largest selling tractor brand by volume, and India's no.1 tractor maker for over three decades, Mahindra & Mahindra is the only tractor company to have won the Deming Prize and Japan Quality Medal.
The company entered the Hospitality industry in 1996 to offer Indian families fun-filled and affordable vacations in some of the most exotic locations in the country. Two decades later, Mahindra & Mahindra is amongst the largest vacation ownership brands in the world. With over 46 resorts in India and abroad, the company aim to keep this number growing and extend this experience to more families.
Mahindra & Mahindra has a leading presence in the fast-paced information technology (IT) industry. With global expertise and seamless cross-platform functionality, the company create IT solutions that empower companies to focus on, and enhance their core businesses. Leveraging nearly three decades of experience, the company offer innovative solutions that integrate technology with business for several Fortune 100 and 500 companies. The company's services are delivered by a triage of companies: Tech Mahindra, Bristlecone and Mahindra Comviva, with each of these companies being a leader in their respective areas.
The company understand the importance of securing the future. So, the company forayed into the business of insurance, offering direct insurance and reinsurance broking services to corporate, retail and individual clients. From standard policies to special solutions, from children’s plans to retirement plans and more, the company hope to fulfil its customer needs through its bouquet of solutions.
As one of India’s largest 3PL solutions providers, the company operate in two distinct business segments, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and corporate People Transport Solutions (PTS). The company service 400+ customers across Automotive, Engineering, Consumer Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Ecommerce, Bulk sectors for SCM and IT, ITES, Manufacturing, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Consulting businesses for the PTS business.
The company know that power cuts eating into profits and inefficient DG sets cause losses. So, the company got into the gensets business to save businesses unnecessarily losses. As a result, Mahindra & Mahindra is today the leading manufacturing brand of diesel & gas generator sets across India.
The company entered India’s real estate in 1994, aiming at re-defining sustainable urbanization. With its green residential spaces and smart infrastructure, the company work towards providing high-quality affordable housing to Indians.
On one hand, its e-commerce platform M2All brings together the varied portfolio of all its products together, on one platform. On the other, the company aim to bring to its customers the convenience of doorstep delivery of groceries too – fresh, organic produce, straight from the farm.
The company aim to transform rural lives by helping people arrange funds for constructing, renovating, and extending their houses. Set-up in 2007, Mahindra & Mahindra has today become the largest home finance company serving rural India. In 2014, the company were awarded the ‘Most Admired Service Provider in Financial Sector’ at the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance Awards.
Founded in 1945 as a Steel trading company, the company continue to blaze new trails in the Steel business, with a presence in specialty steel making, steel processing and trading. Mahindra Sanyo Steel (earlier known as MUSCO), a tripartite venture between Mahindra, Sanyo and Mitsui, Japan, are India’s leading maker of alloy and specialty steels. Mahindra Intertrade is India’s largest non-captive steel processor in the organized sector, catering to the needs of a variety of customers in the automotive, non-automotive and power industries.
Indian highways are notorious for their rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and unpaved paths. So, the company build its trucks and buses in India, for India. Combined with European safety standards and state-of-the-art M-Power engines, its trucks and buses come in many shapes and sizes, but with an unchanging promise: the goods will be delivered.
From bringing back the iconic JAWA, to introducing the all-electric GenZe, Mahindra & Mahindra is working to enhance the two-wheeler experience for its customers. Since the inception of this industry in 2008, Mahindra & Mahindra has built a range of two-wheelers that offer distinctive styling, solid performance, great mileage and superior ride quality on tough Indian roads.
By offering Vehicle and Asset Finance to rural Indians, the company continue to empower millions of customers across the country. The company finance the purchase of new and pre-owned tractors, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and two wheelers, and also provide specialised assistance for hassle-free documentation and quick disbursal of loan amounts.
Mahindra & Mahindra has a business presence in 100+ countries with 49% revenue from outside india3
57 manufacturing facilities around the world
USA: R&D Facilities for Electric Mobility with GenZe, along with Automotive & Farm Technologies, Digitalisation, AI and IoT
UK: R&D Facilities for Digitalisation, Smart Cities and Electric Racing Technology
SPAIN: R&D Facilities for Electric Racing Technology
FRANCE: R&D Facilities for 2-Wheelers Technology
FINLAND: R&D Facilities for Harvester Technologies with Sampo-Rosenlew
TURKEY: R&D Facilities for Farm Mechanisation with Hisarlar & Erkunt
SOUTH KOREA: R&D Facilities for Automotive Technology with SsangYong
ITALY: R&D Facilities for Automotive Engineering & Design and Advanced EV Technologies with Pininfarina
INDIA: Automotive Engineering & Design, Connected Cars & Electric Vehicle Technology, Aerospace & Defence, Digitalisation, AI and IoT
AUSTRALIA: R&D Facilities for Aeroplanes
JAPAN: R&D Facilities for Rice Value Chain with Mitsubishi
Plant Locations in india
The company’s manufacturing facilities are located at Kandivali, Nashik, Igatpuri, Nagpur, Chakan, Zaheerabad, Jaipur, Rudrapur, Haridwar, Mohali and Pithampur.
12 June 2020 Mahindra & Mahindra Limited announced the financial results for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2020 of the Company and the consolidated Mahindra Group.4
Operating profits (PBT before EI) were Rs. 5,402 crores for F2020, down 23% from the previous year. These were affected due to the lower industry volumes in both automotive and tractor segments, transition to BS VI and the abrupt lockdown due to the COVID situation. Operating Margins were maintained at 14.2% even in this challenging environment. The Company generated operating cash of Rs. 3,946 crores. Market share for tractors increased 1% and auto LCV less than 3.5 ton share increased 1.2%, while auto PV share decreased by 0.8%. PAT after EI was primarily impacted due to write down of investment in Ssangyong and some other international subsidiaries. As announced earlier Mahindra Board had decided not to infuse any fresh capital into Ssangyong and is re-examining the business outlook of other International subsidiaries, in view of the current environment, to decide on future capital allocation.
Automotive industry performance for Q4 F2020 was a reversal in trend compared with from Q3 F2020, when some green shoots were seen in the economy and the consumer sentiment. In Q4 F2020, the Indian automotive industry (excluding 2W) posted a decline of 28.6%. This decline was driven by the continued slowdown in economy, the transition to BSVI from 1st April 2020 and concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak and ensuing lockdown for seven days in March 2020. The Commercial Vehicle (CV) industry posted a reduction of 48.3%, with the Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) goods industry posting a decline of 66.4%. Even in such challenging circumstances the Company grew its market share in the less than 3.5 ton CV by 3.5% to 48.1% as compared to the corresponding quarter previous year.
In Q4 F2020, the domestic tractor industry witnessed a decline of 9% with sales of 1,46,313 tractors, against 1,60,836 tractors sold during Q4 F2019. After the continued slowdown in Q1 and Q2 F2020, the tractor industry started showing some green shoots from December 2019 onwards, with good growth in January & February of 5% and 21% respectively. Industry growth in December 2019 to February 2020 was a result of good Rabi outlook, supported by increased government spend in rural, along with better liquidity conditions in the market leading to improved sentiments in agri and rural economy. Similar momentum was expected in March 2020. However, the industry was adversely impacted in March because of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. The Company increased its market share in the domestic tractor market to 39.1% in Q4 F2020 a growth of 3.7% over corresponding quarter previous year and continued to maintain its operating margin.
A full summation of Gross Revenue and other income of all the group companies taken together for the year ended 31 st March 2020 is Rs. 137,334 crores (USD 19.4 billion)
The lockdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus have curtailed both supply and demand. Added to this, a combination of lower incomes and heightened uncertainty has added to the drag on consumer spending and business investment.
To mitigate the economic impact of Coronavirus the Indian government has announced a Rs 20 trillion package comprising fiscal, monetary and regulatory measures, which should help put a floor under growth. The package enables more credit, guarantees and forbearances along with a medium-term reforms push. Importantly, the government has also begun allowing a gradual but cautious reopening of the economy, which should help business and economic activity improve going forward. As restrictions ease, and the economy at large, adapts to operating and living in a post-Covid era, it is expected that there will be a gradual recovery in the second half of the fiscal.
Even as restrictions are gradually lifted in phases, there will be a ramp up in production, supply chain and distribution from June onwards, which will aid economic activity. While the overall services and manufacturing sectors are likely to see a slower recovery, the agriculture/farm equipment sector will be relatively less impacted, aided by several positive factors such as record Rabi production, higher Government procurement, timely announcement of higher MSPs and outlook of a normal monsoon. One can expect a quicker recovery in rural India, as is evidend from tractor sales of the company in the month of May. The urban segment may take longer to come back to normalcy. Having said that, while the outlook is heavily contingent upon the intensity, duration and spread of the pandemic, a smooth normalisation and efficacy of policy measures will be the key to any recovery in F2021.
^ https://www.mahindra.com/about-mahindra-company
^ https://www.mahindra.com/mahindra-services-and-businesses
^ https://www.bseindia.com/bseplus/AnnualReport/500520/5005200319.pdf
^ https://www.mahindra.com/resources/investor-reports/FY20/Earnings%20Update/M-M-Q4FY20-and-full-year-Results-pack.pdf
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Public Support for the Public Option
UPDATED at 5:45 PM to include Lake/HCAN poll
A major, though by no means the only, substantive point of debate regarding health care reform is whether the plan considered by Congress will include a “public option” — a government-run insurance program that would compete with private plans. Barack Obama’s plan on the campaign trail included a public option: “any American will have the opportunity to enroll in the new public plan or an approved private plan,” it said.
Inclusion of a public option is a sine qua non for many progressives, who believe it would lower costs by increasing competition, or who may have an objection to the notion of requiring that people (since health care would have an individual mandate) purchase something through a private, for-profit entity. On the other hand, the public option has drawn the ire of conservatives and industry groups, who believe that it would gobble up profit margins from private industry and that it might have unfair competitive advantages. Both liberals and conservatives seem to acknowledge some possibility that a public option might gradually evolve into a version of a single-payer system; for liberals this is a big plus and for conservatives a big minus. The revised plan released by Max Baucus’s Senate Finance Committee on Thursday did not include a public option, although the House’s latest version does.
It is worth evaluating polling on the public option, which has begun to be widely cited in the blogosphere, particularly by liberals who believe most of the polling favors them. The balance of this post contains a summary of the five six polls that I am aware of on the public option, which produce widely disparate results and all of which require careful interpretation.
1. Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: A California based non-profit founded in 1948 by Henry J. Kaiser. The Foundation no longer has any association with Kaiser Permanente, which operates hospitals and insurance programs mostly in the South and the West. KFF released numerous materials on the candidates’ positions on health care in advance of the 2008 election which generally took a neutral tone. KFF itself has not given money to political candidates, although its employees collectively donated $11,700 in 2008 and $9,550 in 2006 to Judith Feder, a public policy expert who is an adviser to KFF and ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a Democrat in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
Specifications: 1,205 American adults, including cellphone and Spanish-language samples, conducted from June 1-June 8. The sample was split in half, however, for the two formulations of the public option question as expressed below, and so sample sizes for each one are closer to 600.
Question Wording and Results:
“Now I’m going to read you some different ways to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance. As I read each one, please tell me whether you would favor it or oppose it […]
“Creating a public health insurance option similar to Medicare to compete with private health insurance plans.”
Favor: 68% (40% strongly favor)
Oppose: 28% (17% strongly oppose)
“Creating a public health insurance option to compete with private health insurance plans.”
Discussion: One suspects that KFF is pro-reform, but they seem to have taken care to frame their materials in ways that avoid partisan scrutiny. Their question wording is fairly straightforward but does not include the phrase “government”, which might provide more clarity to the respondent about exactly what the public option is. Note, however, that they phrase the question in two different ways: to half their sample they include the phrase “similar to Medicare” and to the other half they don’t. Responses were about the same between the two question wordings, although the half that had the Medicare language included were notably more likely to strongly favor the public option. Including a sample of cellphones and Spanish-language interviewers are nice perks. Although the sample sizes are not huge, particularly since the sample was split into halves, KFF found nearly identical results in their April tracking poll.
Non-partisanship rating:
Question wording:
Sample size, sample selection and disclosure:
Overall informativeness:
2. Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI)
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: A Washington, D.C. – based nonprofit, which is focused — as their name implies — on research on employee benefit programs. I can find no evidence of lobbying activities or campaign contributions by ERBI. They are funded by a largely corporate set of donors such as American Express, Chevron, IBM, Shell Oil and Towers Perrin, although they also receive financing from noncorporate groups like AARP and Blue Cross Blue Shield. An issue brief that EBRI prepared on the public option was neutral to slightly skeptical about it. The poll was conducted in conjunction with Mathew Greenwald & Associates.
Specifications: 1,000 American adults aged 21 and over. Interviews conducted from May 8th through June 2nd.
“Creating a new public health insurance plan that anyone can purchase.”
Support: 83% (53% strongly support)
Oppose: 14% (9% strongly oppose)
Discussion: Information about this poll was a little bit harder to come by than it probably should be. For example, I had to look in a separate press release to find details about its sample size. Nor is it clear that the entire battery of questions was released in ERBI’s summary brief. The selection of adults 21+, rather than 18+, is also unorthodox, and is a strange enough choice that I wonder about the other decisions ERBI made in constructing its sample. EBRI’s poll was also the only one which did not specify that the public option would be designed to compete with private plans.
3. Consumers Union
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: Not a labor union; Consumers’ Union is instead a Yonkers, NY-based non-profit group and the publisher of Consumer Reports. They take a somewhat unabashedly liberal view on health care reform and the poll was released in conjunction with Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer. The Consumers Union’ generally spends several hundred thousand dollars on lobbying activities each year.
Specifications: 2,009 American adults aged 18 and over. Interviews conducted from April 2nd to April 6th, 2009.
“Congress is discussing several ideas to address healthcare reform. One proposal provides everyone, whether insured or uninsured, an additional choice: the option of a public health plan that people can count on to cover what they need at more affordable rates. This option would allow people with good insurance that they like to keep it. Those without good insurance can gain access to reliable healthcare, regardless of preexisting medical conditions, and obtain a consistent menu of benefits. This public plan would be paid for by enrollees. Those that cannot afford to pay the full premiums would be subsidized based on their income.
Please rate your level of support for this proposal.”
Discussion: This is more or less an explicitly partisan poll, both in terms of the organization backing it and in its question wording, which is leading and highly favorable to the public option. The large sample size is nice, but Consumers Union’ should have picked more neutral phrasing.
4. Rasmussen Reports
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: Regular readers of this website will be very familiar with Rasmussen Reports, a standalone polling firm that releases a prolific amount of polling data on elections and public policy issues. Past FiveThirtyEight.com analyses have generally found Rasmussen’s electoral polling to be quite reliable. However, some observers have questioned its issue-based polling, which frequently tends to elicit responses that are more conservative than those found on other national surveys. Rasmussen Reports’ founder, Scott Rasmussen, is a Republican, although neither he nor Rasmussen Reports have appear to have contributed to political candidates in recent years. Nor to my awareness does Rasmussen Reports conduct a significant amount of polling directly on behalf of political candidates.
Specifications: 1,000 American adults on June 12th and 13th. Assuming that procedures here were the same as for other Rasmussen polling, surveys were conducted via the IVR (“robocall”) method and were weighted for partisan identification and other factors.
“Would it be a good idea to set up a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurance companies?”
Yes: 41%
No: 41%
Discussion: I am not particularly fond of this question wording. For one thing, unlike the other polls, it focuses on the action of setting up the “government health insurance company” rather than the choice of insurance plans this ultimately presents to the consumer. For another, it is not clear that a new program would have to be “set up” in order to provide for a public option (i.e. an existing program like Medicare could be expanded), nor that any such entity would properly be described as a “company”. The poll seems designed to juxtapose the terms “government” and “company” in a way that might elicit a negative response. (Note that I actually like the inclusion of the term “government” in conjunction with, or perhaps instead of, the term “public”. The problem is not with the term “government” itself but instead with the overall way that the question is phrased.)
5. NBC / Wall Street Journal
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: Presumably you are familiar with NBC News and the Wall Street Journal. The NBC/WSJ polls themselves are conducted by Hart/McInturff, a pairing of Democratic pollster Peter Hart and Republican pollster Bill McInturff. Likewise, the NBC/WSJ pairing itself is a collaboration between a somewhat left-leaning and somewhat right-leaning news organization. This is an excellent model to avoid partisanship, both in appearance and in practice.
Specifications: 1,008 American adults on June 12th-15th, including a cellphone sample.
“In any health care proposal, how important do you feel it is to give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance––extremely important, quite important, not that important, or not at all important?
Extremely Important: 41%
Quite Important: 35% (76% Extremely or Quite Important)
Not That Important: 12%
Not At All Important: 8% (20% Not That or Not At All Important)
Discussion: I have no problem with the formulation of the question; in fact, I particularly like the wording “a public plan administered by the federal government” which makes clear that the public plan is in fact government-run. But I have a big problem with the choice of answers. “Importance” is a notoriously vague concept in public opinion polling and may be separate and distinct from asking someone whether or not they support a particular policy. How might someone respond to this question, for instance, if they had particularly strong feelings against a public option? Would they say that it was “not at all important”, or would they say that it was “extremely important”? Conversely, how would someone respond if they had a weak preference for a public option, but didn’t consider it an especially important component of health care reform? The 1,008 random adults that NBC/WSJ surveyed are going to interpret these dilemmas in a variety of different ways. In addition, the particular category of “quite important” is somewhat ambiguous and probably falls somewhere in between a favorable response and a neutral one.
6. Lake Research / HCAN
Who They Are / What’s Their Angle: Lake Research Partners is a Democratic polling firm. Their poll was conducted on behalf of Health Care for America Now! (HCAN), an advocacy group that wants comprehensive health care reform and strongly favors the public option.
Specifications: Sample of 800 likely voters from January 8-13th, 2009.
“Which of the following three approaches to health care reform do you prefer: one, everyone getting health insurance through private health insurance plans; two, everyone getting health insurance through a public health insurance plan; or three, everyone having a choice of private health insurance or a public health insurance plan?”
73% choice of public or private
15% private only
9% public only
Discussion: Celinda Lake is an excellent pollster, but she is a Democratic pollster and this is a Democratic poll. I don’t hate the question wording, but it really emphasizes the option part of the public option and somewhat de-emphasizes the public part; in this sense, it is sort of the alter ego to the Rasmussen poll. As in some of these other polls, it also may not be immediately obvious to the respondent that “public” means administered by the government. A couple of additional points of critique: the use of a likely voter model (as opposed to all adults or registered voters) is a bit unusual this far out of an election cycle, particularly when it regards how the public feels about a particular policy rather than how they want their elected officials to vote on it. And the poll is now a bit outdated, having been conducted in January.
Summary: The only poll I have a particularly high degree of confidence in is the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, which finds that between 65 and 68 percent of the public support a public option depending on how the question is phrased. The only thing I would change about their poll is to specify, as NBC/WSJ does, that the public plan would be administered by the government.
The other polls have one or more characteristics that give me pause about them. The question wording in the Consumers Union’ poll is push-y and explicitly partisan; the question wording in the Rasmussen and Lake/HCAN polls is strange and probably implicitly partisan. The NBC/WSJ poll is otherwise terrific, but very difficult to interpret because they ask people about the importance of a public option, and not necessarily their support for one. I might be more comfortable with the ERBI poll if I learned more about it, but the comparative lack of disclosure coupled with the unusual choice to exclude adults 18-20 from the sample and a result that appears to be a mild outlier gives me some concerns about it.
Overall, polling points toward the public option being at least mildly popular and indeed perhaps quite popular. But more polling is required on this question, particularly by the news organizations and other unaffiliated groups like Pew and Gallup, and more care should be taken to frame both questions and answers in a neutral and informative way.
Health Care (347 posts) Methodology (116) Rasmussen (30) Question Wording (8)
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Belarusian authorities raid Belgazprombank over money laundering charges
Belarusian authorities on Monday took control of a Russia-owned commercial bank that was led by a man who is now running to challenge Belarus’ authoritarian leader.
President Alexander Lukashenko, who is seeking a sixth term in an Aug. 9 election, has accused Belgazprombank chief executive Viktor Babariko of corruption and called him a “scoundrel.”
Babariko, who stepped down as the bank’s chief to take part in the election race, denounced Sunday’s searches at the bank and the arrest of its 15 executives on charges of tax evasion and money laundering as part of an intimidation campaign conducted on “political orders.”
Belgazprombank is majority owned by Russia’s state-run Gazprom natural gas company and Gazprombank, which is affiliated with it. The raid on the bank highlighted growing frictions between Lukashenko and the Kremllin.
The Russian owners criticized the Belarusian authorities’ decision on Monday to introduce temporary administration at the bank, describing the move as a “flagrant violation” of Belarusian law and rules of the Russia-led economic alliance.
Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than a quarter-century, tolerating no dissent and cracking down on independent media. He has relied on cheap Russian energy and other subsidies to keep Belarus’ Soviet-style economy afloat, but his relations with the Kremlin have grown increasingly tense in recent years.
Lukashenko has accused the Kremlin of trying to force Belarus to abandon its post-Soviet independence and vowed to resist the pressure.
The presidential vote comes as the Belarusian economy is facing damage from the coronavirus pandemic. Belarus has been one of the few countries that hasn’t shut its borders and didn’t impose any restrictions to stem the outbreak.
As the election approaches, authorities have intensified a crackdown on the opposition, detaining about 100 opposition activists across the country, including popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovski, who was collecting signatures for his wife’s nomination as a presidential candidate.
Nikolai Statkevich, a prominent opposition leader who was due to be released Monday after serving a 15-day sentence for taking part in a protest against Lukashenko, was handed another 15-day sentence.
“The economic crisis and a sharp drop in ratings caused by the authorities’ actions during the pandemic made Lukashenko nervous and prompted him to show his fist right at the start of the campaign,” said Alexander Klaskovsky, a Minsk-based independent political analyst.
Original article on yourcentralvalley.com
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Former Maryland lawmaker Tawanna Gaines sentenced to 6 months for wire fraud
A former Maryland state lawmaker was sentenced Friday to six months in prison followed by two months of home detention for misusing campaign funds for her personal benefit.
Tawanna Gaines, a Democrat who had served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2001, also must pay $22,565 in restitution.
Gaines, of Berwyn Heights, pleaded guilty in October to one count of wire fraud. She faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but federal sentencing guidelines called for a range of eight to 14 months. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang wasn’t bound by those guidelines when he sentenced Gaines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Windom has said Gaines spent campaign money on personal expenses including fast food, hair styling, dental work, a cover for her swimming pool and an Amazon Prime membership.
Gaines resigned less than a week before she was charged in a criminal information. The Oct. 7 court filing accused Gaines of defrauding her campaign and its contributors out of more than $22,000.
Since June 2002, Gaines had used a campaign committee called “Friends of Tawanna P. Gaines” to raise money for her political campaigns. It was a regulated state election campaign committee with a designated bank account. Separately, Gaines controlled a PayPal account for donations that weren’t disclosed in state campaign finance filings, a court filing said.
Gaines, who was vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, submitted her resignation to House Speaker Adrienne Jones on Oct. 4.
Gov. Larry Hogan appointed a new delegate, attorney Nicole Williams, to replace Gaines and represent District 22 in Prince George’s County.
Gaines’ daughter and former campaign treasurer, Anitra Edmond, pleaded guilty in November to a related charge of wire fraud. Edmond is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24. Edmond also took campaign funds for her personal use and failed to disclose contributions on state campaign finance reports, according to a court filing.
House Speaker Adrienne Jones told The Associated Press on Thursday that a measure banning a family member from serving as a legislative candidate’s campaign treasurer will be introduced.
Before the sentencing hearing, Gaines’ attorney submitted more than a dozen “character letters” from her supporters, including Jones.
“I have always admired the way that, as important as her political life was, her family was always of paramount importance,” Jones wrote.
Gaines’ case marked the latest in a string of criminal charges against current or former state legislators in Maryland in recent years.
Last month, federal authorities unsealed charges against a former state lawmaker who represented Baltimore for allegedly taking more than $33,000 in bribes in exchange for various legislative actions, including voting to increase the number of medical marijuana grower and processing licenses available to an out-of-state company. Cheryl Diane Glenn, a Democrat, was charged with honest services wire fraud and bribery.
Former Sen. Nathaniel Oaks, a Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2018 to two federal counts of fraud for accepting $15,300 in bribes. His indictment in 2017 came amid a flurry of state and federal charges against would-be, former and sitting lawmakers who ended up in legal trouble.
Gary Brown, a Democrat, was indicted by state prosecutors on charges of making illegal campaign contributions, one day before he was scheduled to be sworn in as a Baltimore delegate. A day later, federal prosecutors announced a former delegate, William Campos, had pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy in a public corruption case involving the liquor industry in Prince George’s County.
And the very next day, just before the legislative session began, another Prince George’s County Democrat, Del. Michael Vaughn, abruptly announced his resignation. Vaughn was indicted in the same federal case as Campos.
Original article on www.nbcwashington.com
Taiwan prosecutors charge former judge for corruption
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L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology founder, apartheid supporter and “neighbour”
February 26, 2014 February 26, 2014 freshlyworded
L Ron Hubbard in 1950
I’ve always found Scientology, the “religion” founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard creepy. For one thing, there’s those people standing outside train stations and shopping centres offering free “stress” tests via a device called an “e-meter”.
Then there’s the wacko celebrity endorsement from devotees like Tom Cruise (who infamously claimed in 2005 in a television interview that neither psychology nor psychiatry “worked”) and the claim at the core of Scientology that through elimination of the “reactive mind” (the unconscious mind) devotees can increase intelligence, eliminate unwanted emotions and alleviate a wide range of illnesses (including asthma, arthritis and sexual deviance, which is deemed to include homosexuality).
A Scientologist carries out a stress test using an e-meter
But did you also know that L. Ron Hubbard was a supporter of South Africa’s white supremest apartheid government during its darkest days?
I came across this little-known fact while reading a book about alleged ponzi scheme mastermind Barry Tannenbaum called “The Grand Scam” by investigative journalist Rob Rose.
I also discovered that in 1960, L. Ron Hubbard lived in a house on Linksfield Ridge, Johannesburg just a few minutes drive from where our family once lived, though of course, separated in time by more than three decades. In a sense, we were neighbours, and I never knew it.
L Ron Hubbard came to South Africa in September 1960 and made his home on Linksfield Ridge, an outcrop of grass and rock. rising up over Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, dotted with gated townhouse complexes and multi-storey mansions.
(During rugby practice, I remember having to run up a windy, steep road to the top of the ridge, all the blokes complaining as our calves and thighs burned.)
Map showing L Ron Hubbard House, our family home at 50 Club Street and location of my high school, King David High School, Linksfield Ridge
The L Ron Hubbard House, Linksfield Ridge
The Scientology house on Hannaben Street, which has impressive views over the tree-lined northern suburbs towards upmarket Rosebank and Sandton, has been restored as a museum. Had I known I would surely have visited.
Of course the L. Ron Hubbard website, which has a special section devoted to Johannesburg, makes no mention of his admiration for former South African prime minister Dr Hendrik Verwoed, the architect of apartheid’s harshest laws.
A polished, sycophantic video confirms Hubbard arrived in Johannesburg in September 1960, but that the home was a place for him and others to discuss and send off letters to the South African government detailing “his plans for equality in South Africa”.
Quite, how he planned to do just that, cocooned in his luxurious castle in the heart of white Johannesburg is not explained though it does include the highly duplicitous claim that while there he delivered “Scientology spiritual counselling to the improve the lives of his African domestic staff”.
Clearly then, L Ron Hubbard, was content to not just to live in luxurious surroundings, far, far away from the liberation struggle, but he was also happy to enforce the master-servant relationship that existed between white South Africans and black domestic workers, in his own home. This irony is not noted on the website either.
Rob Rose writes: “What Scientologists don’t want you to know is exactly what was in those letters to the South African ministers. He continues:
They’ve gone out of their way to airbrush Hubbard’s craven fawning over the apartheid government, specifically, his gushing praise for the father of the racist ideology, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd.
Rose goes on to quote from a letter written by Hubbard to the Verwoerd government:
May I state that you have conceived and created in the Johannesburg townships what is probably the most impressive and adequate resettlement in existence. Any criticism of it could only be engaged upon by scoundrels or madmen, and I know now your enemies to be both.
For those wishing to verify this quote, you can find it here in a digital version of the Kotze Commission. This was set up in 1970 to investigate Scientology, and which then banned it for two decades (one of the few intelligent things the government at the time did).
Of course, even if you dispute this transcript, it would take some distorted logic to understand why someone who claimed to believe in racial equality would choose to move to South Africa during the height of apartheid and live in an affluent white neighbourhood with black servants tending him hand and foot, rather than choose to live amongst African people in Soweto.
Sadly, many South Africans are unaware of this fawning over the apartheid regime or choose to ignore it.
According Rob Rose, since its unbanning in the 1990s, Scientology has gained 150,000 devotees in South Africa and earns about $10 million a year for L. Ron Hubbard’s church and estate.
Categories: Journalism and media, Politics Tags: Johannesburg, Kotze Commission, L. Ron Hubbard, L. Ron Hubbard in South Africa, scientology, south africa
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11 thoughts on “L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology founder, apartheid supporter and “neighbour””
Reinhard Rieder says:
L. Ron Hubbard Scientology founder was not a supporter of the south african apartheid regime. In late 1960, L. Ron Hubbard traveled from his home at Saint Hill Manor for an extended stay in Johannesburg, South Africa. Among other milestones from his South African sojourn: He authored a “one man, one vote” constitution for apartheid-shackled South Africa. He likewise presented a bill of rights and penal code for equality and justice. See http://bit.ly/1kJasqf
Then why employ black servants? And live in a white exclusive suburb and pander to the apartheid government? See the link in my blog
kenwestmoreland says:
For the record, Hubbard did not author a constitution for South Africa, he authored one for Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, not that it would have endeared him to people there,black or white.
It envisaged a parliament in which the lower house would be elected by universal suffrage (in other words, the black majority) while the upper house was elected by ‘qualified citizens with a good standard of English, knowledge of the
constitution and financial standing verified by a bank’ (ie: whites). Guess which one had actual power?
Zoltan Nagy says:
Scientology is a cover up organisation working for the US intelligence comunity on the side of the Democrats. Hubbard was a double agent in the 60s, sadly enough without his being aware of. He’s been forced out from US in 1958 by certain business circles with close political contacts. In 1958 Hubbard escaped to England was paranoid, bankrupted and in Oct. Had nerves brackdown. Some upper forces used him to spy on the SA and Rodesian givornement. He was scisofrenic and not even being aware of what is he politically doing at that time. Simple political game. That’s it.
The crazy Scios will do everything to justify or flat out ignore your great article. Thanks for exposing what a sick person lrh was. Scientolgy: It’s always worse than you think.
Thanks Lisa, they would find it hard to justify why he was living in a mansion in a white suburb during the height of apartheid
Scientology is a cover up organisation working for the US intelligence comunity on the side of the Democrats. Hubbard was a double agent in the 60s, sadly enough without his being aware of. He’s been forced out from US in 1958 by certain business circles with close political contacts. In 1958 Hubbard escaped to England was paranoid, bankrupted and in Oct. Had nerves brackdown. Some upper forces used him to spy on the SA and Rodesian givornement. He was scisofrenic and not even being aware of what he is doing. Simple political game. That’s it.
A TENTATIVE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATION OF RHODESIA
http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/rhoconst.htm
basketballjane says:
Here’s how L Ron Hubbard prescribed for #Scientology “handle” gay people http://bit.ly/1FTSiO9 only hours left to help our channel http://kck.st/1FHl8Cc Not only was he a racist but he was a homophobe as well.
Karen Bredenhann says:
https://scientology101.org/scientology-secrets/l-ron-hubbard/on-race/
Thanks for the link Karen
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A Record 60% of Americans Say They Could Vote for an Atheist President May 9, 2019 Hemant Mehta
A Record 60% of Americans Say They Could Vote for an Atheist President
Every few years, Gallup asks Americans a version of this question: “If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be _____, would you vote for that person?”
Just about every time they’ve asked that question, “atheist” has been at the bottom of the list. (Atheists are unelectable! the headlines always say.)
In 2012, there was cause for celebration simply because more than half of those surveyed said they wouldn’t hold atheism against a politician. Then, in 2015, for the first time ever, “atheist” wasn’t the worst trait in a presidential candidate. A “Socialist” performed slightly worse. (Thanks, Bernie Sanders!)
In a poll released today, there’s been no change in the unpopularity of “Socialist” — only 47% of Americans would support that candidate — but “atheist” received another tiny jump. A record 60% of Americans say they would now consider voting for an atheist. It’s still next to last on the list. But it’s clearly becoming less of a stigma.
While just about every category Gallup asked about saw an increase in support — suggesting Americans are becoming comfortable with a more diverse group of candidates — “atheist” saw the smallest increase, an uptick of only 2%. But that may be because we just don’t hear that conversation discussed very much in the media. Without an atheist candidate to talk about, there’s no reason to bring it up.
Eighty percent of U.S. adults would vote for an evangelical Christian for president — up from 73% in 2015. Meanwhile, the percentage of Americans who would vote for a Muslim has grown from 58% in 2012 to 66% today.
Atheist presidential candidates would face more resistance from voters than candidates of other religious backgrounds. But Americans have warmed to the idea of an atheist candidate over the past several decades. The current 60% who would vote for an atheist is more than three times the 18% Gallup recorded in its first measure on atheist candidates in 1958.
We still have a long way to go, but it’s worth acknowledging just how far we’ve come given where we started. That’s a huge change in terms of acceptability.
In case you’re wondering, 71% of Democrats would be fine an atheist candidate, while only 42% of Republicans would say the same thing. When it comes to the age breakdown, 72% of all voters under 34 could support an atheist while that number drops to 54% for those older than 55. Also, the more formal education you have, the more likely you are to support the atheist.
The bottom line?
Religious identification may be becoming less relevant in national politics, as most Americans are open to voting for all groups Gallup asks about. If these trends continue, evangelicals, Muslims and atheists may one day find their electability on par with that of Catholics and Jews — both of which were once much more contentious for a presidential candidate. Gallup’s first poll on the question in 1937, for example, found that 47% of Americans would vote for a Jewish candidate — a far cry from the 93% today.
That’s good news for atheists, even if we won’t see one on a major party’s presidential ticket in 2020. Remember: There are dozens of openly non-religious politicians at the state level. Once some of them trickle up into national politics, and people just get used to the idea of an atheist politician, it’ll become even less of a concern. Sanders shows how you can change the perception of Socialists within a single presidential cycle. It may just take a formidable openly atheist candidate to do the same for us.
Kellyanne Conway's Polling Helped Inform New Discriminatory Health Care Rules
May 9, 2019 This Christian Claims No One Said "Merry Christmas" at Drive-Thrus Under Obama
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There must come a winter for every seed. There must come that which protects and shields the seed toward spring, that which indeed gives its life and absorbs the hatred of winter for life, that mysterious essence which is the sacrificial aspect of life. It made the seed possible. It keeps the seed growing in the hidden ways of winter. It takes upon its heart the pangs of Christ-birth, the furor of all the Herods who represent that part of the race which bitterly had died, which had become death incarnate. She understood. He did not speak of such things. They must not be spoken within the seed. But every particle of it must know from within, in the silence.
~ from RANIA by Dane Rudhyar
WISDOM KEEPERS
Spiritual consciousness is the highest form of politics
Harvey Arden, Leon Shenandoah, and Steve Wall | April 1995 (Vol. VIII, No. 4)
A chief must never forget the Creator, never forget to ask for help. The Creator will guide our thoughts and strengthen us as we work to be faithful to our sacred trust and restore harmony among all peoples, all living creatures, and Mother Earth. We were instructed to carry a love for one another and to show great respect for all the beings of this earth. In our ways, spiritual consciousness is the highest form of politics. When people cease to respect and express gratitude for these many things, then all life will be destroyed... These are our times and our responsibilities. Every human being has a sacred duty to protect the welfare of our Mother Earth, from whom all life comes. In order to do this, we must recognize the enemy -- the one within us. We must begin with ourselves.
~ Leon Shenandoah, in WISDOM KEEPERS by Steve Wall and Harvey Arden
Harvey Arden
Leon Shenandoah
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Wearing the Mark of the Beast
July 27, 2020 Editor 2 Comments
“…and no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, the number, or the name of the beast.”
Revelations 13:17
by Laramie Hirsch
As I said way back in March, people are going to come to obsess about the Coronavirus. You know, that Chinese Flu that was first cooked up in a North Carolina lab, exported up into Canada, and then later smuggled into a Wuhan bio lab? By now, most people understand the idea of a pandemic. However, the biggest reactionaries to this—more than the average person—are corporations. The Catholic Church is no exception, as it’s capitulated to this great fear faster than anyone else. And, of course, let’s now forget the Left as a whole, which idolizes the transformation of society through oppressive systemic controls. Covid-19 is a wondrous opportunity for them.
Since these institutions are in control of just about everything, you can now only buy, sell, or trade with the mark of this beast. And that mark of submission? It is the very mask you have to wear in public. It is doubly punitive to those people who are forced to wear the mask for entire shifts at their job, only to have to continue to wear it when they go to the store to buy what they need. That is not to say that we are wearing the literal “mark” for the literal “Beast of Revelations,” although it is clear to most faithful Catholics that we are trapped beneath an oppressive system that is anti-Christ. There can be no doubt about that. Yet, we can say certainly that we are wearing a type of mark for a type of beast.
And so, we find ourselves in an excellent training ground for what is to come. While these times may be a dress rehearsal for enemies who excitedly wait for the final last gasp of Christian resistance, these days can also serve as a training ground for the rest of us. Yet, what do we see when we go out in public? We see almost complete capitulation and submission. To refuse to wear the mask is to become an outlier and a pariah. If you dare to go into a store and not wear the mask, you will be like Charlton Heston discovering that “Soylent Green is people,” or Officer Logan 5, who just discovers that people can live past their middle age years without having to be euthanized. You become a member of an out-group.
For now, the punishment is social ostracization and the denial of commerce. In some places, though, online video shows people are physically restrained and arrested for not wearing the mark.
Pay Homage To The Gods
As we proceed into the 21st-century, it becomes increasingly clear that Americans idolize their technology. They give themselves completely to creature comforts, vice, convenience, and all the baubles offered by extremely powerful corporations. This arrangement has put extremely wealthy and influential organizations and corporations in a kind of divinity status. On paper, they are simply businesses that are doing well economically. But in practice, these organizations are like the ancient Caesars who thought themselves demigods.
Everyone must pay homage to these Caesars. All must submit to the imperial cult. The masses must bring forth divine honors to their leader, corporate America. For, the super organisms we call corporations have actually morphed and coagulated into one, single, mono-organism. For big business, solve et coagula has been accomplished. And this multi-headed hydra, this oligarchy, has attained a status similar to Caesar’s divi filius, which translates to “divine son”, or son of a god. And who can deny this idea that these companies who sell you soft drinks and digital movies ultimately pay homage to the Dark Prince, himself—the Evil One who fancies himself as the god of the universe? Are Christians not told year after year to boycott most of the commercialized products peddled to us on a minute-by-minute basis? Don’t these companies take part in a kind of secular religion that honors homosexuality, abortion, feminism, globalism, and other modernist ideals?
Modern American commerce is a “cult of the emperor”, and it is not hard to figure out the nature of this religion—particularly when we consider all of the recent rumors swirling around these past few years of satanic, pedophile sacrifices taking place among the very powerful and monied powers of our society. Corporate America has become your imperial deity, much like the Caesars of old.
Christians vs The Imperial Deity
It would do well for us to remember the times of the ancient Romans, when the first Christians began to spread the message of Christ throughout Rome. Many have heard stories about early Christianity, but many also have forgotten the literature:
The Christians were not so fortunate. Yet their position was logical and was clearly and consistently maintained. They honored the emperor as ruler but declined to recognize him as a god. This distinction the Roman authorities refused to admit. They insisted that the worship of the national gods and the emperor in particular was the duty of every citizen and that to refuse was an act of disloyalty. Hence the mere profession of Christianity was regarded as a crime against the state. One who was accused of that crime might clear himself by the simplest act or word implying reverence for the gods or acceptance of the divinity of the emperor. Several notable instances are recorded in which this test of loyalty was applied to the Christians. Pliny in his well-known letter to Trajan reports that as governor of Bithynia he required them to worship the gods and to offer wine and incense before the emperor’s statue. Polycarp, the aged bishop of Smyrna, when commanded by the proconsul as the condition of his release, to swear by the Genius of the emperor, replied, “You do not know what I am. I am a Christian.”
The Biblical World, Volume 40, edited by William Rainey Harper, Ernest DeWitt Burton, and Shailer Mathews
The Christians would not be tolerated. They were ordered to worship caesar as a god and add a pinch of incense to the fire in his honor. It was just a simple little thing. They could have done this, and moved on to take advantage of the fruits of the Roman Empire. After all, it was not as if these early Christians were like Roman pagan families who participated in private worship, burning incense before the images of the emperor and leaving offerings of food and drink to him and the other household gods. And it was not as if these early Christians were rushing to take part in elaborate and costly public worship rituals of their ruling “demigod.”
Yet, quite a few of those early Christians gave in. They avoided sacrificing themselves and completely betrayed their loyalty to Christ, as we can see in the exchange between Pliny and Trajan:
Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.
Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ–none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do–these I thought should be discharged.
Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.
They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food–but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.
From a Letter by Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan, in approx. 112 AD
The wishes of corporate moguls are strapped across the mouth of everyone’s face. Many people now realize that the medical mask fiasco has nothing to do with a virus. For most people, those deemed “asymptomatic“, they do not even notice that this bio weapon is in their system. It is a benign phenomenon, observable only by chemical testing. Less than a half a percent of the people with this virus die. It has been shown that hospitals and governments are inflating the death count in order to score higher numbers. Yet, Americans continue to wear the mask, fearful of one another’s cooties.
The Romans did not distinguish their religion from their politics. Religion was a function of the state. And so, too, is it with us. We live under a “sanitary dictatorship,” as Bishop Athanasius Schneider once called it. And the dark sacrament for the New Wisdom is to cover your face, become a part of the herd, and cancel out your individuality.
Defy Caesar’s Claim To Divinity
Corporations, governments, and the corrupted hierarchy of the Catholic Church—these principalities and powers, all of them, have turned the facemask issue into a religio-political situation. They have abolished normal society and transformed everyone and everything into a desolate abomination of its former self. The 21st Century has become a Bizzaro Land nightmare for any time travelers unfortunate enough to land here. And to make sure that you comply with Caesar’s edict, there is a legion of Karens, hall monitors, tattletales, and neo-Stasi acolytes just waiting to turn you in, slap you around, shame you in public, and write you citations for non-compliance.
This must not stand. This must be protested. This must be resisted.
If the people of our society do not resist this new cult in all-but-name-only, then we have witnessed “the camel nose under the tent.” Once that camel raises his head and starts walking around in the tent, your world will be mangled and destroyed forever. Therefore, civil disobedience and defiance must be put into practice. If you must shop at a store, and a “health officer” tries to make you conform, make a scene. Do not let the moment pass without doing anything. The time to be bold is now. The time to be the salt of the Earth has arrived. Put away your cowardice, and do not be afraid to let everyone else know that two plus two is four.
Walking around without a facemask in a masked-up world can be unnerving. It makes one feel like the only human being on the Planet of the Apes. You silently ask yourself, “What the hell is wrong with these people?” Meanwhile, the muzzled masses continue looking down at their phones. Do not be scared. I am with you in this. A lot of us are. You are not the only one. Your refusal to submit to pressure shows that you have a powerful will to do what is sane. It demonstrates that while most are weak, you are not. This simple act of not giving in will become a more commonly discussed topic in the future. Be at the head of the wave. Ahead of the curve. The tip of the spear.
When you go out in public, and you see everyone in a facemask, know that everyone there is not afraid of germs. Realize that everyone hiding behind a face diaper is not terrified of a virus. They are wearing it so that they do not look out of place. They are wearing them so that they will not become a pariah. Bring your own face with you, and remind the cowards that they were human beings once. Your spiritual ancestors, the first Christians, did this very thing. Your opportunity has arrived today.
You owe nothing to corporate America. Caesar is not a god.
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2 thoughts on “Wearing the Mark of the Beast”
Michael Dowd says:
Thanks Laramie for the encouragement. Yes, we should denounce the masks and the insidious plan behind them at every opportunity.
Masks are required at Mass here in Venice, Florida. I would like to see about 25 or so Catholics show up without masks and all sit together. My guess is that the police, (who are paid by a wealthy parish member to be present at all Masses), would be told to ask us to leave. A that point we should not leave but wait for more police to escort us out. My guess is this demonstration would find its way into the papers giving us an opportunity to explain our position. What do you or anyone else think of this idea? My problem with the idea is finding 25 parish members willing to do this.
My ‘like’ star means that I like the fact that your well written and informative article is here for me to read. I don’t like the contents because I am elderly : )
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Brindisi! — FromRome.Info marks 1 year of cutting News & Commentary January 15, 2021
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A Republican Congressman Just Threatened Michael Cohen on Twitter. Did He Break the Law?
The tweet by Rep. Matt Gaetz has raised questions about potential witness tampering.
Tom Williams/AP
Did a Republican member of Congress just commit a felony crime?
On Tuesday afternoon, on the eve of Michael Cohen’s public appearance before the House oversight committee, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tweeted out this threatening message: “Hey @MichaelCohen212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot…”
https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1100503846386835456
Commenters on Twitter immediately raised the question of whether Gaetz had engaged in witness tampering, which is a federal crime. Within minutes, Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted out the part of the federal criminal code that could apply:
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1100508004665962496
It notes, “Whoever knowingly uses intimidation, threatens, or corruptly persuades another person, or attempts to do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person, with intent to…influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”
The code’s definition of an “official proceeding” includes congressional proceedings.
Gaetz has been one of the most vocal Trump backers in the House, scheming with other Republican legislators to undermine the Trump-Russia investigation by promoting false conspiracy theories about the deep state. But this move goes beyond the deployment of diversionary distraction. It’s a heavy-handed and brazen attempt to intimidate a witness poised to provide explosive testimony about President Donald Trump. And it’s possible it’s a crime—which makes it a very Trumpy way of dealing with the president’s Cohen problem.
Gaetz’s office did not respond to a request for comment, but the Florida Republican denied to a Vox reporter that he was tampering with a congressional witness. “I’m witness testing,” Gaetz said. “We still are allowed to test the veracity and character of witnesses, I think.”
Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, said in a statement, “We will not respond to Mr. Gaetz’s despicable lies and personal smears, except to say we trust that his colleagues in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, will repudiate his words and his conduct. I also trust that his constituents will not appreciate that their congressman has set a new low—which in today’s political culture is hard to imagine as possible.”
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From a dark past to a bright future
Lynn was living in Alabama when she reached her breaking point. She had spent 35 years in addiction, periods of homelessness, and abuse. She cried out to God.
“Lord, I can’t do this no more,” she prayed. “You’ve got to help me. If you don’t help me, I don’t know what’s going to happen. If you don’t heal me right now, just let me die. I can’t live like this anymore.”
For the first time in decades, a peace swept over Lynn, and she knew what she needed to do. She called her sister, came back to Fort Wayne, and was ready to make a change.
“I have three beautiful children,” Lynn said. “My addiction was more important to me than they were. I hate to say that, but I have to be transparent. The truth is, my addiction took over my life so fast that it became more important to me than my own children.”
Lynn was officially ready for her days in addiction to be over. She tried a few different recovery programs in Fort Wayne, but nothing was working out. Then, she got the call that Charis House had an opening.
“When I got to Charis House, I was so broken. I was battered, I had just been attacked. I was bruised. I was desperate, and I was depressed,” she said. “I was riddled with guilt and shame. Most of all, I felt unloved.”
God used Charis House to change everything for Lynn. She worked her steps, listened in class, attended chapel every morning, and made life-long friendships.
Lynn gets emotional when she talks about how she feels about Rescue Mission staff. She said they are true angels and vessels used by God to change lives.
“It wasn’t until I came to Charis house that I really found out what love was, because of the grace of God and the obedience of the people here who sacrifice and work at The Rescue Mission,” she said. “They showed me what being loved really means and what it looks like.”
Lynn is looking forward to a future where she doesn’t have to do anything outside of God’s will ever again. She thanks God for His amazing love and for keeping her alive through the darkest moments of her life.
“I’m so glad that it’s over, finally,” she said of her 35 years of addiction. “They say you can never say ‘never,’ but I disagree. I have a God that tells me I don’t ever have to use drugs again. I never have to be homeless again.”
Each day, Lynn thanks God that she’s not who she used to be. She’s who God says she is.
“I am an original masterpiece, a woman of God, wonderfully and fearfully made. I am blessed and highly favored, and I will carry this message to others who are still struggling.”
© 2020 The Rescue Mission ™ Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 35-1054670
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Home Garden City News The Man Who Would Be Mark Twain
The Man Who Would Be Mark Twain
Rob Alvey returns with a one-man show about Samuel Clemens
Rob Alvey as Mark Twain
(Photo by Suzie Alvey)
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Rob Alvey has raised the bar considerably when it comes to legendary American humorist and lecturer Samuel Clemens, who was better known as Mark Twain. For nearly a decade, Alvey has been donning a white suit and taking to the stage doing readings, not unlike actor Hal Holbrook, who has been doing a similar show since he debuted it in 1954. With a full head of hair and his bushy white mustache, Alvey is pretty convincing and will be coming north from his new home in South Florida to reprise Twain in a free event sponsored by the Garden City Recreation Department at the Garden City Senior Center on Friday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. Alvey will be in town to celebrate the 50th reunion of the Garden City High School Class of 1969. Attendees can expect Alvey to take center stage as Twain, something that he’s done roughly 20 different times dating back to 2008.
“I will be dressed up as Mark Twain and have my cigar. There will be some Clemens-type remarks and some of mine, because I try to bring it up to contemporary standards in terms of what Mark Twain would say if he was alive in the 21st century,” he explained. “I have so much information that I could talk about with the most recent presidential election. Politics is the same, but let people laugh a little bit. So that’s what it’s going to be about.”
Alvey has spent the bulk of his adult life as a geologist employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the person who spearheaded the creation of the nine-acre Garden City Bird Sanctuary back in 1996 and a professor at York College. But it wasn’t until his middle daughter, Erin, who was a photography major, came home and needed to do a project and recruited her father to be a model that the Clemens bug, or what Alvey calls “Twainitis,” bit the former Garden City resident.
Rob Alvey in his element as Mark Twain at the Hear Now Festival
“She desperately needed a model, so she dressed me up as Einstein and as Kurt Vonnegut and the pictures were phenomenal. Then she dressed me up as Mark Twain and I thought I could do something with that,” Alvey recalled. “Right away I booked the parlor at the Garden City Community Church and I thought I could do Hal Holbrook’s play. After booking the room and starting to sell some tickets for the Garden City Bird Sanctuary fundraiser, I realized there was no script. I thought I could just rent the script. It turned out that Hal Holbrook had memorized 50 hours of material from his research starting from when he was doing it in the 1950s. So I had to do the same thing. Of course I did some different things, but it went really well.”
Alvey’s dalliance with Clemens couldn’t come at a better time given his recent retirement. He had a major wake-up call when he underwent open heart surgery back in September 2017. While he knew that the blockage in his aorta was an affliction his mother and grandfather dealt with, Alvey had been monitoring the condition, which had also driven his blood pressure up over the years and resulted in him having to be on medication. That said, he was feeling chronically fatigued and having trouble walking, despite being active as a dedicated gardener and walker. It was an experience a fellow EPA colleague was also going through.
Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) grabbing a moment of relaxation
“In summer 2017, I was starting to feel tired and then to be honest, a coworker was retiring. In June, I was helping him pack up his stuff. He said he was feeling tired and I was feeling tired. He was having trouble walking and I was having trouble walking. Everything he had was the same thing I had. Then I went to his wake in August,” he explained. “I thought that wasn’t right. He’d fallen. I was worried about falling, so I went and did more tests. My other regular doctor said I had every symptom and that I needed surgery. I really didn’t want the surgery and I was also scheduled to go out to Denver to attend this EPA meeting. I asked if it could wait until the spring when I came back from Denver and he said that I wouldn’t be around to operate on.”
Alvey got a cow valve transplant and has been feeling hale and hearty ever since. Part of transitioning into the Mark Twain chapter of his life involved booking a Mississippi River paddle boat cruise that went from New Orleans to Memphis as a retirement gift to himself. During the trip, he performed and shared the stage with fellow Clemons impersonator McAvoy Layne, who encouraged Alvey to go down this path.
“[McAvoy] got a contract years ago with the California State Department of Education and he goes into schools. I never even thought about something like that,” Alvey admitted. “As my science career and York College career ends, I want to be active. He said this is what keeps you young and he’s 76.”
Rob Alvey will appearing as Mark Twain on Oct. 25 at the Garden City Senior Center, located at 6 Golf Club Lane in Garden City. Visit www.gardencityrecreation.org or call 516-385-8006 for more information. Visit www.gardencity-life.com to read a longer version of this story.
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Rob Alvey November 5, 2019 at 6:45 pm
Will miss Dave, but looking forward to continued excellent work by the new editor, william l.
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Tag Archives: peter tompkins
by Jean Eisenhower Leave a comment
Each person possesses latent powers
“Each person possesses within himself [or herself] the powers and latent faculties necessary to become aware of a many-dimensioned universe.”
— Paracelsus
I so agree with this!
And much more that I found in the wonderful book I wrote about at this link on my personal website: http://jeaneisenhower.com/writereditor/paracelsus-rudolph-steiner-and-aliens/
In case you don’t want to visit that site, I’ll paste it all here as well:
“Paracelsus, Rudolph Steiner and Aliens”
an essay by Jean Eisenhower
inspired by the Secret Life of Nature by Peter Tompkins
Rebel Western scientists of antiquity have left important work behind which sheds light on the UFO/ET subject. The work of Paracelsus and Rudolph Steiner was included in a fascinating book published in 1997 by best-selling author Peter Tompkins, titled The Secret Life of Nature: Living in Harmony with the Hidden World of Nature Spirits from Fairies to Quarks.
Paracelsus was born in the Swiss canton of Schwyz in 1490, where he was given the impressive and maybe, to those with Western sensibilities, humorous birth name Phillipus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim. A contemporary of Martin Luther, he became an alchemist, which means he was born into a family with connections to power, as alchemy was taught only within a secret society, pledged to keep those secrets from common folk. Nevertheless, Paracelsus broke from those strictures.
According to Tompkins, Paracelsus may have been a greater reformer than Martin Luther, as he tackled not only religion but medicine and physics as well. In his society, academic writing was done exclusively in Latin, for one’s fellow academicians to approve or disapprove, with no involvement of common people. Paracelsus flaunted this tradition and wrote a treatise on nature spirits in the common German vernacular used by his local community, making his wisdom available to all. For centuries afterward, his work was used as a primary source for innumerable writings by others.
Paracelsus gathered his data by going straight to his source, Nature, in which he steeped himself deeply. He also asked herbalists, faith healers, gypsies, hermits, witches and anyone else who claimed knowledge of the healing arts – aside from doctors – what they knew. He discovered that their lore had a form and structure which matched his own experiences of intelligent, immaterial beings working within nature.
The rebel alchemist defined these spiritual intelligences as “elementals,” which he explained perform important tasks, that we in the first world today call “forces of nature.” These elementals are also identical with the beings that mystics and primitive societies call spirits of mountain, sea, storm, etc.
Paracelsus went so far as to publicly burn the books of Galen – ! – whose writings had held the course of medicine for over twelve-hundred years in a highly rational track limited to certain precepts, along with the books of Avicenna, the Persian physician whose textbook was a standard in Europe for the previous couple hundred years.
Paracelsus further scandalized his fellow doctors and academicians by telling them that “each person possesses within himself the powers and latent faculties necessary to become aware of a many-dimensioned universe.”
This radical idea, that humans have the potential to perceive a multi-dimensional universe, we still wrestle with today, at least in “first world” cultures. Many would also argue that authorities in this very culture are working hard to keep this awareness from us.
Four hundred years after Paracelsus, in the same Swiss canton of Schwyz, Rudolph Steiner expanded on Paracelsus’ work with lectures on the role of “nature intelligences” in the growth and development of the material world.
Steiner was born in 1847, in Croatia, in a village so remote that nature was a powerful force for him as a child. He became highly clairvoyant in his young years, perceiving a world far beyond that which his parents could conceive. To master both worlds and communicate about the one to the other, he trained himself thoroughly at the Technical University of Vienna in physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, optics, botany, and anatomy and gained a doctoral degree in philosophy. His doctoral thesis was that clairvoyance – the practice of seeing into other realms – would have to be integrated into the scientific approach if “the half-truths of materialism were not to drag the world into a materialist and mechanistic disaster.”
Steiner wrote prolifically about the spiritual realms, defining “spiritual science,” which includes everything in creation, including humans and their psychic powers, all in a “symphony of life” created and maintained by natural intelligences who work according to patterns passed down by higher intelligent beings, everything ultimately a manifestation of the Source of Creation.
The upshot for humans, according to Steiner, is that if we ignore the nature beings, we cut ourselves off from understanding anything real, including our own health and how to heal. Alternatively, understanding our relationship to the “invisible” realms and participating in them will assure our individual and collective survival.
Intelligent information moves through everything, according to Steiner, including things Western science defines as “not alive,” such as rocks, rivers and sky. Communication from extra-terrestrial worlds, he said, is conveyed from the cosmos down to certain nature beings, whom he called sylphs, and by them into the leaves and petals of plants, through their trunks and roots, and thereby to beings who live underground, whom he called gnomes, who traverse that realm of earth and mineral as freely as we move through our atmosphere.
Any element of nature can convey this extra-terrestrial wisdom to humans, including gnomes, though those beings, in particular, don’t have much respect for us and often laugh at humans, stuck as we are in our rational concepts which frame and limit what we can perceive.
As our culture has been trained for millennia to perceive only the materialistic world authorized by Science and Academia and to deny all precepts of what’s dismissed as “animism,” we struggle today with concepts of alien beings and vehicles that don’t fit into the paradigms of what we’ve been taught.
According to Steiner, mankind’s “fall” came about with this denial of our ability to communicate with nature intelligences. This denial cut off communication to extra-terrestrial and other higher intelligences of Creation. Our destiny, however, is to expand our minds to include contact with these beings, including those nearest us in nature, and also beyond to extra-terrestrial and the intelligences above them, until we eventually accept responsibility for managing and designing material life on this Earth.
Of course, many in the halls of Science and Academia would say that this is exactly what they are about; and they would deny any role in cutting us off from basic wisdom. However, it was precisely their materialistic “half truths” that Paracelsus warned would lead us to disaster.
As someone who has experienced the profoundly destructive outer edges of Science (as a CIA mind control subject as a child) and who has also experienced the healing powers of Nature in a “shamanic initiation” (which included alien contact, typical of shamanic initiations), I can’t help but ask the hottest contemporary, if simplistic, questions: What about the stuff we call evil? Are some of the spiritual hierarchies not working for our best interests? Are some of the aliens “good guys” and others “bad guys” – maybe angels and demons?
My inclination for the last few years has been to assume that alien beings are trans-dimensional (spiritual) beings, some of them working in our best interests, and some of them seeming to work against us. Further, I’ve contended, it’s our very important work to learn to discern which is which – which I have famously failed to do at times. So I was keenly interested to see where Rudolph Steiner came down on the question of evil.
Paracelsus denied the existence of demons. Similarly, Steiner refused to categorize things we call evil as evil. Rather, he said, certain hierarchies of intelligence above us, called angels in the modern Western world, gods in the ancient, devas in the Hindu, and other names in every culture, chose to deviate from the program of perfection by which they’d always been patterned – and limited – and allowed themselves free will, thereby allowing humans this possibility too. It opened up profound transformative possibilities for Creation – and with it risk.
We’ve seen this risk played out nearly to completion in our world today, with nuclear bombs, multiple wars, ongoing slavery, global child sex industries, global economic thievery, mind control, and more. And it is into this world, coinciding quite precisely with the advent of atomic bombs and institutionalized mind control, that these apparently trans-dimensional vehicles and beings have suddenly come in great numbers into human awareness.
The question in my mind, in part prompted by other writers on this subject, has lately been: Are these beings responding to the horrors we’ve unleashed, hoping to mitigate or correct them, or are they orchestrating them? Writers on the subject of alien contact today come down on both sides of this question.
The shamans from every continent who came to visit Harvard psychiatrist John Mack, when he was working with alien contactees, answered this question of evil regarding the nature of ET beings in a less polarized fashion. The African shaman Credo Mutwa said the mantindane (African term for what we call the “gray aliens”) were seen as unwelcome but necessary “troublemakers,” often required to wake up an individual in a shamanic initiation. The shamans prompted Mack to interpret the entire alien phenomenon as a “wake-up call to humanity” or, more cynically, a “consciousness program for the spiritually impaired.
Many primitive cultures have also softened the concept of evil, focusing instead on lessons taught through “trickery” – depicted by characters throughout time, from the Celtic Loki, Native American Heyoka, and Greek Cupid to the beings I’ve experienced, who gave me powerful “spiritual” signs, leading me to go exactly where I didn’t want to go and shouldn’t have gone – all apparently lessons to teach me discernment. So I’ve also begun to drop my knee-jerk reaction to think of them as evil, in favor of simply recognizing that they taught me invaluable lessons by trickery.
According to Dionysus, student of Plato, spiritual beings fill the entirety of space, in “realm upon realm,” and some followers assert that there is nothing in existence but these intelligences, which usually are invisible but sometimes take forms that we can see. A curandero acquaintance of mine put it this way: We live in an ocean of spirit. A student of Dionysus, as well as a follower of Chris, was Paul of Tarsus, whose writings survive in the New Testament, where he is quoted as asserting that we must learn to “discern the spirits.”
Today, as we watch the world unfold in dramas almost beyond belief, strange shapes appear in the sky, change colors and morph into different forms. People from every walk of life, from Peruvian tribespeople to American Presidents, pilots and police officers report things we’ve come to call UFOs and alien beings, and we forget that they’ve been reported, along with healings and other favors, throughout history in every culture.
Hippocrates induced people for thousands of years to call these phenomena and the healings and other favors that often attended them “mythology” and “superstition,” effectively putting a lid on any public discourse; but the lid has been jumping now for decades, and it won’t stay down. Gardeners in Findhorn have been talking to devas, churches spring up around teachings of Swedenborg and Blavatsky, books by Blake and Goethe enjoy a renaissance, and Christians reconsider Jesus’ response to his followers that we would “do all these things [healing miracles] and more.”
While many of us have freed ourselves from mainstream constrictions, we still wonder: Are some of the aliens in league with structures of power, such as our governments? Undoubtedly. Are others trying to wake us out of our educated and entertained entrancement? I’m sure of this also. And I also believe the evidence is strong that “aliens” exist in great diversity, and their story is far more nuanced than a simple good-versus-evil drama.
Our personal and collective work, it seems, is to learn to discern these elements of the drama, these elemental beings, if you will, and work with them. According to Paracelsus and Steiner, the many mystics they consulted, and those who’ve followed them through the centuries, the beings we perceive can take any form they want, usually choosing a pattern pre-existing in the mind of the person who perceives them. So, whether they be tricksters and liars or pure helpers, they spring in form from our own minds, but are by purpose and intention leading us from higher dimensions, following the patterns of Creation, into our next phase of evolution, whatever it will be.
To help us create a better world from the mess that we find around us, the words of Paracelsus and Steiner – as well as Paul and Christ – have application to this issue: immaterial beings are everywhere and can take form at will (though not everyone sees them), and we are charged with learning to discern them and work with them to create a better future.
As the natural world is destroyed by misguided “half-truths of materialism,” we have less communion with nature and less potential access to those intelligences, so beings who want to help us must get our attention in new and novel ways. Perhaps this explains the increasing numbers of UFOs in the skies today and alien beings in our bedrooms.
Paracelsus and Steiner encourage us to drop our constrictions of rational thought and engage in this subject experientially. Rather than sticking to the nuts and bolts of the UFO phenomenon, as if it were the “safest” approach and might provide the “rational” proof most needed, I believe we should listen to the experiencers who’ve spoken to the beings and consider what their messages might be for us. Paracelsus said, centuries ago, that we had the latent ability. It’s time to wake it up.
It was, after all, because of the experiencers that shamans traveled from the jungles and forests to visit Mack and say to him, “We were wondering when you white people would begin to get it.”
Tompkins is also author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Secret Life of Plants.
Thompson 111
Thompson, p 111.
Mack, Passport to the Cosmos, p. __
Tompkins, p 135.
Categories: Counsel | Tags: aliens, Credo Mutwa, healing power, longread, medical history, paracelsus, peter tompkins, rudoph steiner, shamanism, spiritual healing, spiritual power, spirituality | Permalink.
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== Is there really a need for this? We already have so many licenses. == The Free Content and Expression Definition is not a license, it is a list of conditions under which a work must be available in order to be considered "free". In other words, it is a way to classify existing licenses. At the time the first draft of the definition was published (Jun 30, 2010), no such definition existed for free content (two definitions existed for free software). == So what do I need to put my work under this definition then? == As the definition is not a license, but only classifies which licenses can be considered free, you have to pick one of these [[licenses]] and apply them to your work (usually by attaching a text such as "This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY-SA-3.0 license" with a link to the license text). If you want to express your support for free content, you can [[logos and buttons|help us design logos and buttons]]. == What are the primary uses of this definition? == There are two primary goals: # To bring unity and clarity to the growing free content and free expression movements. We believe that a successful social movement must first define its goals and its vision and then communicate these to others. The definition helps with the first part while logos and other awareness materials can help with the second. Finally, while this website is not a community site in the traditional sense, it may help to bring together people from different free content projects, and could lead to new web sites and organizations specifically targeted at the free content movement. # To make communications with copyright holders more effective. Often, people state that their work is "free", "open content", or "open access", without qualifying this. The Creative Commons licenses are a good example of this: the Creative Commons logo simply states, generically, "Some Rights Reserved", and you have to click on the logo to find out which ones. It is very common for people to simply say that their work is [http://www.google.com/search?q=%22under+a+Creative+Commons+license%22 "under a Creative Commons license"]. This can mean many things, including, in the extreme cases, licenses which restrict the use of a work to certain world regions, or which forbid both commercial use and derivative works. This definition allows you to simply ask: "Is it ''free content''?". When the answer is "yes", you'll know precisely which rights you have. == Aren't you pretty arrogant for wanting to decide for everyone what's free? == We do not attempt to monopolize the definition of "free"; we just define [[Definition|what "free" means according to '''freedomdefined.org''']] only (not to everyone), and we propose this definition as a "default meaning" in discussions to avoid ambiguity, ease communication and make discussions more productive. To ensure that this is a reasonable and widely accepted definition, we are basing our work on the existing philosophies of free software and open source, on the existing policies of projects like [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]], and on a strong moral conviction that as many works as reasonably possible should be available to all human beings, as freely as possible. People are welcome to release their works as something other than Free Content or Free Expression. In the short term, most people will. Many will try to use "semi-free" licenses. Of course, we do not claim or seek a monopoly on the word "free". You are free (no pun intended) to use these terms as you wish, to argue for a different set of essential freedoms, or to attempt to redirect this definition by working with us. You are welcome to create your own term, defined differently, and use that. == Why don't you have any moderators who are professional (NAME PROFESSION)? == It may be that the right person hasn't volunteered yet. More importantly though, it's important to realize that we can't have a professional novelist, and a musician, and a lawyer, and a DJ, and a painter, and a collage artist, and a dancer, etc. There aren't that many spaces for moderators. Of course, we welcome feedback from every individual or group and are especially careful to take into account viewpoints that we think are unrepresented or new. With that said, everyone involved in this project, and especially the moderators, produces, consumes, and distributes content or expression every day. While some of the freedoms listed here are freedoms designed primarily for the producers, we are also talking about the consumers of content and working hard to blur the lines between the two groups. We are all stakeholders in the process and we all -- creators, consumers, and most of us that are both -- have a voice that should be heard. The moderators have been picked not because they are particular representative of the world of creators as a group but because they respected, principled, in touch with much larger groups of creators, and willing to take into account others' opinions. == But how will people make money under this definition? == There are many ways that people make money distributing free content and expression. They tend to differ based on the type of work and many other factors. Of course, the point of this definition is not to list these (although someone could create a page in this wiki to do exactly that). The point is to describe essential freedom. Once we have challenged ourselves to produce and consume content and expression more ethically, it becomes our ''responsibility'' to find ways to do so that are economically sustainable. Unless we challenge ourselves, there is a much lower incentive to ever go out on a limb and try. We also want to point out that the exact same question can be asked about the current copyright system. Most authors do not make a substantial amount of money from their works (many do not even make money at all). Some authors do manage to make money, but at the price of totally giving up control of their works to large publishers (especially in the USA, where total transfer of all rights by contract is possible and moral rights do not exist practically). Many artists of high value remained poor during much of their life, because their talent was recognized too late. Thus the question of ''how authors can make money from their work'' is not tied to the mere licensing model of the work (free vs. not free), but to the economic system surrounding authorship and to the social and cultural conditions of recognition. == What about logos? Why do all open source / free content-supportive organisations currently have copyrighted logos? == Many organisations like Creative Commons, the Open Source Initiative, or Wikimedia like to protect their identity using trademarks and copyrights. It should be noted that relatively few people in these organisations are opposed to copyright ''per se''; in fact, the [[w:copyleft|copyleft]] principle makes use of copyright to protect the freedom of works. The argument of these organisations is not one against copyright, but one for additional freedoms. Nevertheless, a case can be made that logos and symbols should be freely shared, and that trademarks should be avoided -- taking the [http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?RightToFork "right to fork"] to an extreme. Under this model, the identity of the project is not protected by law, and anyone can try to assume the same identity by adopting it for a different project. The marketplace of ideas is the final arbiter of success. This is true for the free content logo we're trying to create, which will be in the public domain. == What about other kinds of commons, like grains, electromagnetic spectrum, genetic information ? They need a "freedom" definition, too. == The Free Content Definition is about works of the human mind (and craft). This category is legally but also philosophically justified: creation of works - art works, free software works, free hardware design, machine design, whatever - is a well-defined philosophical concept. Various other kinds of commons (like material commons) do not belong to this category. Since we are not proposing a Manifesto (which can be vague, broad, and very encompassing) but a Definition (which must be based on firm conceptual ground ;-)), trying to find a "one-size-fits-all" ethical message would destroy the meaning of the message and transform it into a meaningless slogan. But staying inside the boundaries of a clearly defined category of things helps us remain meaningful, and powerful. We encourage other people to try and give a definition for "freedom of genetic information", "freedom of water resources", "freedom of electromagnetic spectrum", etc. But we cannot do it in the framework of this Definition, because the issues are very different and it would be sterile to try to explain them in the same terms as free contents. == Who wrote this? Who administers the site? == → [[Moderators]] == Why isn't a Non-Commercial restriction considered free?== Some ideas: * [http://robmyers.org/weblog/2006/11/why-the-nc-permission-culture-simply-doesnt-work.html Why the NC permission culture simply doesn't work] * [http://robmyers.org/weblog/2008/02/noncommercial-sharealike-is-not-copyleft.html Non-commercial ShareAlike is not copyleft] * [http://www.opensourcejahrbuch.de/download/jb2006/chapter_06/osjb2006-06-02-en-moeller.pdf ''Erik Möller'', The Case for Free Use: Reasons Not to Use a Creative Commons NC License] (also [[Licenses/NC|on this wiki]] with some translations) ==Why isn't a NoDerivatives restriction considered free?==
Retrieved from "https://freedomdefined.org/FAQ"
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Movie Review: Solo: A Star Wars Story
Posted on May 24, 2018 by Brett
We’ve all heard the rumors and know the reality that Solo: A Star Wars Story, the latest entry into the yearly Star Wars movie release schedule, was a full on production disaster. Directors were replaced. Rumors of actors unable to do the basics and in need of coaches. A script that was a mess. With all of that you’d expect what has wound up on screen to be an utter disaster. But, that’s the farthest thing from reality. Solo: A Star Wars Story is actually pretty fun.
Is it high art? No. Is it as good as the original trilogy? No. But, it’s a solid popcorn film that has enough new and enough winks and nods to make Star Wars fans and non-fans happy.
If you go into the film expecting what has come before, you’l be disappointed. Solo: A Star Wars Story is a departure from what has been released in many ways. While it is the second stand-alone film, Rogue One being the first, it’s also the first real stand alone film. Rogue One was a prequel to the original trilogy tying directly into it with its final scene and delivering a pretty key story to the adventure. Solo is something different. While the film obviously ties into everything that has happened, it also isn’t a vital tie-in. It’s a film set in the Star Wars universe as opposed to a film that’s a must watch fleshing out the story of the original trilogy.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is interesting in so many ways because of all of this. The film is the right direction for the franchise and while it stumbles at times, it’s entertaining. The story follows Solo as he joins the criminal underworld and we see key moments of his career. There’s his meeting of Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian but there’s also a lot that’s new. There’s also some interesting fleshing out of the Star Wars universe with hints and direct tie-ins that should make long time fans happy.
Solo is a gangster/crime/heist film set in the Star Wars universe. At its heart there’s little that’s new. A job is screwed up and the crew must make up for it with a bigger heist. That plot has been seen before. But, it hasn’t been seen in a Star Wars film. The heist plot has been seen in the animated spin-offs though and this film feels like it has more in common with Star Wars: Rebels, the latest animated television series, than anything else.
The film hits the right notes and at times things feel like a checklist when it comes to that. We get Chewie, Lando, and the Kessel run. None of it is surprising and it’s all fan service. But, it’s a fun ride with some great visuals and a presentation that feels unique.
The cast is all over in their ability. Alden Ehrenreich steps into the role Harrison Ford made as Han Solo and at times he channels Ford and at other times he’s about as far away in delivery as one can get. It’s not bad but it’s also not a star-making turn. Joonas Suotamo repeats as Chewbacca and the character feels appropriately younger and more physical. Woody Harrelson as Becket is the gang leader and he brings his curled smile that he delivers in so many roles. Emilia Clarke is the love interest who is good but something is missing that we get at the end of the film. Where her character goes is what we should have seen more of. Donald Glover steals the show as Lando Calrissian. He channels Billy Dee Williams at times sounding exactly like Williams. Glover’s performance emphasizes how off Ehrenreich’s Solo is at times. Glover is so good it makes every else look far behind (other than Suotamo). Thandie Newton‘s Val is underused and Paul Bettany‘s creepy Dryden Vos is a sleezy mob boss and great on screen. The film’s break out star is Phoebe Waller-Bridge‘s L3-37, the film’s robot compadre. L3-37’s belief in robot rights and being convinced of Lando’s crush is the thing of entertainment and delivers something special to a film which would be so much less without.
As I mentioned, the film visually is great and the characters and sets look fantastic. This is a grittier film in many ways showing the coldness of space and the Empire’s machine. This is a Star Wars universe I want to see more of. We can have stories set in the world that isn’t just an extension of the original trilogy’s story. We need spin-offs that can stand on their own.
The film isn’t perfect, far from it, but it is fun and entertaining. There’s some great sequences and it’s possible my lowered expectations due to the on-set drama may have had me expecting very little. While it may nit be as good as the original trilogy it’s definitely better than the prequels and well worth the price of admission. And, the film has me wanting to see what’s next.
tagged with alden ehrenreich, disney, donald glover, Emilia clarke, joonas suotamo, lucasfilm, paul bettany, phoebe waller-bridge, solo: a star wars story, star wars, thandie newton, woody harrelson
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Cinco De Mayo History: 5 Fascinating Facts
Cinco de Mayo is a HUGE holiday in the United States, typically celebrated over Mexican food and many margaritas or cervezas.
But why do we celebrate it? The truth is that there are a lot of myths about the holiday (namely, that it’s a celebration of Mexico’s independence).
So here are a few facts about Cinco De Mayo history that may surprise you…
READ MORE: Top 20 Festivals in the World (World Travel Bucket List)
What’s the Story Behind Cinco De Mayo’s History?
Ask 100 people the true meaning behind Cinco de Mayo and half of them will say it’s the national holiday for downing margaritas and eating jalapeno poppers.
The other, soberer half will insist it’s the celebration of Mexico’s independence.
But the truth is that Mexico attained its independence way back on September 16, 1810.
All the revelry for Cinco de Mayo actually centers around an unlikely battle that Mexico won against the French on May 5, 1862.
READ MORE: The Top 20 Things to Do in Cancun/Riviera Maya
Why Was This Battle So Special?
Between 1858 and 1861, Mexico was in the midst of all kinds of civil unrest.
The country borrowed money from England, Spain and France in order to help with their growing debts.
Mexico stalled repayments to England and Spain with vouchers that were essentially glorified IOUs.
France wasn’t so understanding. The European nation brought in 8,000 soldiers. Mexico’s 4,500 fighters stood tall for four hours and won the battle.
READ MORE: Museo Maya de Cancun (The Mayan Museum of Archaeology)
Why Does the U.S. Care?
It is believed that celebrating Cinco de Mayo got its start in the United States in 1967, when some California State University students decided to commemorate the victory.
They saw the celebration as a good way to remember Mexico’s historical win, but also as an opportunity to get a Chicano Studies program going on campus and help a Hispanic holiday gain some sort of nationwide presence.
READ MORE: Exploring Rio Secreto, Mexico’s Incredible Underground River
Does Mexico Care About Cinco de Mayo?
While Mexican residents in the Puebla region where the battle was waged commemorate the holiday with celebratory events every year, it’s not actually a major Mexican holiday.
In fact, the U.S.A. makes a much bigger deal of Cinco de Mayo than its neighbors to the south.
As one might expect, Hispanic-rich cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio throw huge annual celebrations.
What you might not know is that St. Paul, Minnesota also hosts one of the country’s biggest and most beloved Cinco de Mayo fiestas!
READ MORE: The 16 Best Mayan Ruins to Explore
Where Did All the Piñatas Come In?
Know who to thank for the piñatas at your Cinco de Mayo party? The Chinese, of course.
It is believed that famed explorer Marco Polo noticed Asians decorating cow and ox figures with colored paper and stuffing them with seeds. The tradition ultimately made its way back to Europe.
At the turn of the 16th century, missionaries from Spain reportedly brought piñatas with them to North America and used them to attract converts to their ceremonies. –DeMarco Williams
Filed Under: North America, UNESCO SITES/HISTORY
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We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others.
Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast.
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The scandalous, selfish demands we make on our children
The smallest and most powerless have been the biggest victims of COVID-19 in America
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
In 1985, Sting released a song in which he hoped “the Russians love their children too.” At the time, we were at the height of the Cold War. Glasnost had yet to take hold, and with the aggressive posturing on both sides of the Atlantic, we legitimately feared for the survival of the human species. Sting, however, didn’t buy the demonization of the Soviets. How could they want to destroy the world, he reasoned, because they must love their children as we do.
Nowadays though, it is not the Russians whose love for their children I wonder about. Instead, it is our American children, imprisoned in their homes to protect older folks from a pandemic, being left a world that we have used and abused. …
Merrick Garland as AG… Is that really the best we can do?
He seems like a nice guy, but is that what we need today?
President Barack Obama nominating Judge Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court. By The White House. Wikipedia.
Like most progressives, I nurture an enduring resentment over the theft of Barack Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court in 2016. I must admit that news of Antonin Scalia’s death took my breath away, and I briefly fantasized about a progressive Supreme Court majority.
Even though Obama nominated DC Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland to Scalia’s Supreme Court vacancy in February 2016, a full 269 days prior to the 2016 election, Mitch McConnell and his Republican henchmen refused to grant Garland even a hearing, claiming falsely that a tradition existed of not confirming Supreme Court Justice nominations in an election year. …
Published in Digital Diplomacy
A simple thing you can do to save the world: use Linux
How you can reward innovation, energize our economy, and protect our environment all with one simple act
Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash
There’s an old joke I once heard. A helicopter was flying through the fog, completely lost. In an act of desperation, the pilot called down to someone on the ground asking where they were.
“You’re in a helicopter,” the passerby responded.
“Ah, we’re over Microsoft,” the pilot exclaimed.
Puzzled, the passenger asked “how do you know that?” The pilot explained that whenever you ask anything of Microsoft, technically they’re correct, but they’re never of any help.
That joke probably suffered in the retelling, but it joins my physician jokes (what do you call the physician who graduated last in his class in medical school? Doctor) and my Democratic party jokes (as Will Rogers said, I’m not a member of an organized political party, I’m a Democrat) to express my frustration with flawed institutions I am forced to rely upon. …
Read more in Digital Diplomacy · 8 min read
Published in Data Driven Investor
The United States vs. China… what’s the prognosis?
Is America doomed to also-ran status?
Shanghai at night. Photo by Li Yang on Unsplash
Back in the early 1990s, when I was a much younger man, while working as a Congressional staffer in Washington, I witnessed a hearing that has vividly stayed with me since then. In an early morning meeting, the committee my boss served on heard from experts on American competitiveness. After hearing from one witness after another that America was doomed to fall behind Japan, one of the members verbalized what many of us were feeling at the time: “when I woke up this morning, I was in a pretty good mood.”
That morning, we left the hearing room feeling down and discouraged. Of course, we could not know what was about to occur. Within months of that hearing in 1991, the United States would start a revolution in many respects as disruptive as the invention of the printing press. The internet and technology revolution of the era would launch the longest recorded economic expansion in the history of the United States until July 2019, almost doubling the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1991 through 2000 with an average growth rate of 3.85 …
Read more in Data Driven Investor · 6 min read
What the Dr. Biden editorial says about its writer and the Wall Street Journal
Hint: It ain’t pretty
By Phil Roeder, Wikipedia.
Sometimes, an article says as much about the author as it does about its subject-matter. A case in point is the column published in the Wall Street Journal written by Joseph Epstein. And what it says about him, and the editorial board of the Journal, isn’t pretty.
To be fair, I had never heard of Epstein until I saw critical tweets on Twitter. I couldn’t believe what people were saying, so I had to follow the link and read the column myself. If anything, the tweets were tame.
For those of you who missed it, Epstein argued in the Journal, that Dr. Jill Biden, who legitimately earned a doctorate at a legitimate American research university, should not call herself “doctor.” Most of the tweets focused on the blatant misogyny displayed by Epstein, questioning the earned qualifications of a woman when he would likely raise no such objections for a man. He also disrespected Dr. Biden, calling her “kiddo,” and concluded by telling her that she should be satisfied being the First Lady rather than pursuing her own career. …
What’s the deal with Obama-Trump voters?
And what they tell us about what should be Biden’s priorities
Photo by Stephen Mayes on Unsplash
It appears that the Supreme Court has finally put to bed the absurd claims of Trump and his supporters that Joe Biden did not win the election. Thank Goodness for that. Settling the legal questions does not unfortunately reduce the anger of Trump’s most die-hard supporters, who engaged in violent confrontations over the weekend. So much for Antifa being the problem.
Certainly, the people who continue to openly fight Biden’s inevitable ascension to the presidency are the nuttiest of MAGAers. It is shocking to realize how much of the Republican establishment was afraid of this small but vocal group, backed up as they are by Trump’s Twitter feed. Indeed, 120 Republican members of Congress, a solid majority of their conference, signed on to an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the votes of millions of people in four states, including my home state of Michigan. As far as I’m concerned, Republicans have now lost all claims on patriotism and moral superiority. …
How not to reform our electoral system
Our system needs reform, but some things work surprisingly well
Election day in Iowa, 2020. By Phil Roeder, Wikipedia.
In his classic text, Democracy in America, Alexis de Toqueville wrote about American individualism, describing it as “self-interest, properly understood.” It’s amazing to think that a 19th century aristocratic French diplomat in the 1830s could have understood us so well.
De Toqueville was not a fan of individualism per se, but he marveled at how Americans as individualists could work together in a way that perpetuated a civil society. He admired our civic organizations, our local governments, our lack of central authority, a seemingly disorganized mess somehow working together.
Much of our system is set up to harness individual self interest in a way that it advances the common good. Indeed, this philosophy is a central tenet to capitalism itself, the “invisible hand” Adam Smith described. …
Who should the Democrats have nominated for President?
It was never about Joe Biden
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
After the election, some commentators were quick to point out that Joe Biden is likely the only Democrat who could have defeated Trump. After all, the results were far closer in key states than the recent polls had led us to believe.
Defeating Trump, after all, was a national emergency. All hands had to be on deck. Thank God he was defeated. Could we have risked any other result with any other candidate?
To be sure, after running a mediocre primary campaign, Biden ran a nearly flawless general election campaign. The task Biden had, however, was easier than Trump’s. Trump was behind the entire campaign. Biden had to simply not make any mistakes and he would be elected. …
The American way: making it seem like you’re doing something when you’re not really
The pandemic once again reveals one of the truisms of American life: political power is what matters
Photo by David Veksler on Unsplash
So once again our lives are thrown into chaos with my grandson’s school closing again. He is now expected to do his kindergarten schoolwork online, a tall order for a five-year old. Where he once was excited to learn, couldn’t wait to go to school, now he dreads the online meetings he has to attend.
If it seems that he’s a little young to be getting burned out, you’re right. But online schooling is no substitute for young children, for whom playing with other kids is their primary means to learn. Depriving them of that interaction is seriously harmful, and we will be dealing with the ramifications of these lost years far into the future. …
Time for Democrats to play hardball
A legislative strategy for Joe Biden
Photo by Chris Briggs on Unsplash
For the past few years, Democrats have been completely outmaneuvered by Republicans. Don’t believe me? Consider that in the last fifty years, Democrats have nominated and confirmed only four Supreme Court Justices. Despite losing the popular vote in 6 of the last 7 elections, Republicans have appointed 15 of the last 19 Supreme Court Justices. Legislatively, we’re getting killed.
I would argue that the key moment this trend started was under the leadership of Tip O’Neill (D-MA). According to his autobiography Man of the House, then-Speaker O’Neill believed Americans would rebel against the drastic cuts in services proposed by then-President Ronald Reagan. As a result, he and the Democratic-controlled House passed Reagan’s budget package. …
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Home > News > Press Releases > James Martin: ‘Plates, Mates And Automobiles’ A cooking, talking, speed extravaganza! – Live Tour 2016
James Martin: ‘Plates, Mates And Automobiles’ A cooking, talking, speed extravaganza! – Live Tour 2016
JAMES MARTIN ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER UK TOUR
‘PLATES, MATES AND AUTOMOBILES’
BRITAINS FAVOURITE CHEF CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN TELEVISION
TOUR KICKS OFF IN GLASGOW, FEBRUARY 2016
VISITS 25 VENUES ACROSS THE UK
London, 15 October: Celebrated chef and TV personality James Martin today announced his very first UK tour. Kicking off in Glasgow on 22 February 2016, he will visit 25 venues across the UK including London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo with his interactive live show. All tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am via Livenation.co.uk/artist/james-martin-tickets
The tour marks 20 years since James first graced our TV screens, winning the hearts of the nation. His show will be a fast-paced, interactive and high tech extravaganza. Packed with James’ signature cooking demonstrations, full of surprises and not to mention some very special guests, audiences across the country will be thrilled as this multi- media production is brought live to the big stage.
James Martin said: “I’ve been cooking live on TV for 20 years now and I felt it was time to do something I’ve never done before that was truly special. I’m so excited to be heading out on my first ever tour, doing what I do best but on the big stage. I can’t wait to get out there and visit so many great parts of the UK, this show is going to be super cool. I’m pulling out my favourite recipes and mixing in plenty of surprises and special guests in what I hope is going to be feast of a live show. Hope to see you there!”
James Martin begun catering college at 16 and went on to open his first restaurant at the extraordinary age of just 22 years old. His television career started in 1996 and he’s rarely been off the screen since. James has become a true household favourite, presenting and taking part in some of the nations most loved programmes. His Saturday morning TV show currently attracts viewers in excess of 3.5 million every week.
James is also the author of 15 best-selling and award winning cookbooks as well as being a car and motorbike enthusiast and. In honour to his cooking roots as a pastry chef, James’ new recipe book, Sweet, is out now.
www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk
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Shrestha, Sabin
Mr Sabin Shrestha is an Advocate and Executive Director of Forum for Women, Law & Development (FWLD). During his career he has been deeply involved in the field of law reformation and policy development primarily on matters relating to discrimination against women and marginalised groups. He is also known as a champion advocating for legal identity and citizenship rights and has been involved in research projects regarding citizenship, such as Acquisition of Citizenship Certificate in Nepal: Estimated Prevalence (2013), Analysis of Nepalese Citizenship Laws from a Gender Perspective (2014), Acquisition of Citizenship Certificate in Nepal: Understanding Trends, Barrier & Impacts (2014), among others. Apart from this, he also works in the promotion and protection of economic and social rights in Nepal. Along with years of experience in public interest litigation on various human rights issues, he was involved in providing paralegal trainings and preparing various para-legal training packages.
More recently, after the devastating earthquake in Nepal, Mr. Shrestha has been involved in leading and providing technical backstopping to legal assistance desks which were established in the 14 most affected districts. He has been equally instrumental in analysing disaster management laws from a human rights perspective and advocating for right-based responses to disaster-affected people. He is also currently engaged in Gender and Social Inclusion Monitoring of Post Earthquake Response and Reconstruction.
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Khaldunia Centre for Historical Research
Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies
LOGO-Our Logo is inspired from Humagol which is a traditional design South Asian craftesmen use in decorating buildings. Humagol has all types of flowers and fruits symbolizing insan-e-kamil (a perfect human being) who is respected because of his knowledge.
The influx of so-called Western discourses, collisions of modernity and tradition, and divide of secularism and religion have considerably displaced the worldviews of individual human beings and their societies in the modern world. Divided between the polarities such as tradition/modernity, professional/non-professional, scholarly/commercially, western/oriental, colonial/postcolonial, religious/secular, communist/capitalist, we are lost in our own world. By interrogating and moving away from these polarities, Khaldunia Centre for Historical Research aims to produce knowledge and publish academic works helpful in explaining our past and its contradictions.
The word Khaldunia is derived from Ibn-e-Khaldun (1332-1406), a renowned Arab Muslim scholar, whose works considerably influenced the medieval understanding of History, Sociology and Politics. Famous Pakistani scholar, Eqbal Ahmed (1933-1999), who taught at University of Illinois at Chicago and Cornell University, wished to establish a liberal arts university, Khaldunia, in Islamabad patterned on Hamshire College in Amherst. Eqbal Ahmed’s idea was to make students “creators and producers of knowledge, rather than passive consumers of information”. Due to red-tapism in the country, he could not realize his dream.
By establishing Khaldunia Centre for Historical Research, we aim to introduce and disseminate new trends in political, social, cultural, art and architectural histories. At our Centre, seasoned scholars assist young historians in research and publications. At the same time, renowned historians disseminate new and innovative ideas through lectures, workshops, conferences along with publishing cutting-edge research under the auspices of the Centre.
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Telefilm Canada and Birks Celebrate The 5th Anniversary Of The Birks Diamond Tribute To The Year’s Women In Film At TIFF
Telefilm Canada and Birks partner once again for the fifth edition of the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This year’s honourees reflect Canada’s rich talent and the diversity of our storytellers from coast-to-coast-to-coast: directors Alethea Arnaquq-Baril,Ashley McKenzie, Catherine Bainbridge, Chloé Leriche, and Mina Shum; actors Amanda Brugel, Ellen Wong, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Mylène Mackay, and Shailyn Pierre-Dixon; and screenwriters Joanne Arseneau and Sherry White.
The 12 Canadian female actors, directors, and screenwriters were selected by a pan-Canadian jury of 27 journalists and bloggers covering the world of art, culture and entertainment. The recipients will be honoured on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at a private event at The Spoke Club, Toronto.
“High-profile events such as the Birks Tribute are important because they contribute to raising the media profile of female talent, to reinforcing their notoriety, and to helping advance their careers,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “This inspires the next generation of female creators and shows them that success is indeed possible. Telefilm Canada is thrilled to partner with Birks for a fifth year to spotlight women creators at TIFF.”
“Our yearly celebration of women in the screen industries has become a staple in the TIFF event calendar,” said Eva Hartling, Vice President, Birks Brand and Chief Marketing Officer. “It gives us an opportunity to applaud the best female talent in Canada and Birks has been proud to support this important initiative since the start. We are thrilled to be hosting the 5th edition of our Tribute while also celebrating the 150th anniversary of Canada this year; this promises to be a very special evening.”
This year’s group of women join a diverse group of 50 past honourees which include: Alanis Obomsawin, Sarah Polley, Evelyne Brochu, Tatiana Maslany, Sarah Gadon, Jennifer Baichwal, Karine Vanasse, Deepa Mehta, Catherine O’Hara, Léa Pool, Sandra Oh, Caroline Dhavernas, Patricia Rozema, Emma Donoghue, among others.
Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, director, is an Inuit filmmaker from the Canadian arctic where she runs Unikkaat Studios Inc. In her award-winning APTN documentary Tunniit: Retracing The Lines Of Inuit Tattoos (ImagineNATIVE 2011 premiere) Alethea traveled across the arctic to speak with elders about Inuit tattoo practices and the causes of their near disappearance, before getting her own traditional face tattoos. Most recently, Alethea directed Aviliaq: Entwined as part of the Embargo Project, premiering at ImagineNATIVE 2014. Alethea premiered her latest film, Angry Inuk (NFB co-production in association with EyeSteelFilm), a feature doc for broadcast on Superchannel about how Inuit are coming up with new and provocative ways to deal with international seal hunting controversies, at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival. At Hot Docs, Angry Inuk received the most viewer ballots to take home the Vimeo on Demand Audience Award and the Canadian Documentary Promotion Award.
Ashley McKenzie, director, lives on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Her debut feature film Werewolf was made there with an entirely local cast. Werewolf premiered at TIFF (’16) and the Berlinale (’17), won the Grand Prix Focus QC/Canada at Festival du nouveau cinema (’16), and was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Features by TIFF. McKenzie is the latest recipient of the Jay Scott Prize, which recognizes an emerging talent who is positively affecting the direction of Canadian cinema. Her short-film work includes Rhonda’s Party (’10), When You Sleep (’12), Stray (’13), and 4 Quarters (’15). She formed grassfire films with lifelong friend and producer, Nelson MacDonald, in order to bring personal dramas from their own slice of the world to international audiences.
Catherine Bainbridge, director, is a director/ writer/ executive producer/ producer,
on Rumble, and Co-founder of Rezolution Pictures, with an accomplished career in
media. She has brought her signature enthusiasm and passion for storytelling to
countless documentary, drama, comedy, and interactive media projects, notably the
Peabody award-winning documentary Reel Injun, about Native stereotypes in
Hollywood films. Her role as director on Rumble encapsulates her love and devotion
to music, history, politics, and bringing important Indigenous stories to the mainstream.
Chloé Leriche, director, has written, directed, edited and produced Before the Streets with the support of the three Atikamekw communities, a nation she worked with through Wapikoni Mobile, encouraging native youth to express themselves by means of documentaries and music videos. The film premiered at the 66th Berlinale in the Generation competition and has since won 10 awards and 5 mentions in different film festival. It was nominated in 6 categories such as Best Film at the Canadian Screen Awards and at the Gala Québec Cinéma where toward its eight nominations, the main actor, the Atikamekw Rykko Bellemare, won “Revelation of the Year”.
Mina Shum, director, has written and directed five award-winning feature films, from her first feature Double Happiness (Fine Line Features) to her recent feature documentary, Ninth Floor(Itunes/NFB). Meditation Park, her latest feature will have its world premiere at TIFF 2017. Shum has also found success in television. Her episodic directing work includes: About A Girl, Noah’s Arc, Exes and Oh’s, Bliss, The Shield Stories and Da Vinci’s Inquest for which she was nominated for a Director’s Guild Award.
Amanda Brugel, actor, voted one of Hello! Canada magazines 50 Most Beautiful, multi-award winning actor Amanda Brugel made her film debut alongside Christopher Walken in Vendetta. Fast forward to 2014, Brugel won the “Outstanding Performance Female” Actra Award Award for the indie comedy, Sex After Kids. Immediately following, Brugel broke onto the international stage, playing the highly acclaimed role of “Officer Parker” in the Academy Award winning sensationRoom. This year, she can be spotted Kodachrome opposite Jason Sudeikus and Ed Harris. In 2016, Brugel dominated television screens with supporting roles in three wildly different series, including the hit comedy Kim’s Convenience, the GLAAD Award winning drama, Eyewitness and the Emmy award nominated phenomenon, The Handmaid’s Tale. Brugel has just joined the cast of Catherine Reitman’s Workin’ Moms, while filming Kim’s Convenience Season 2 and prepping for the much anticipated second season of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Ellen Wong, actor, was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. After early appearances on Canadian TV shows such as This is Wonderland, she landed her breakout role as “Knives Chau” opposite Michael Cera in Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Since then, Ellen has been cast in numerous TV shows and films, including her starring turn as “Jill Chen” on the CW’s Carrie Diaries. She also received an ACTRA award nomination for Best Female Performance for her standout role in the film Silent Cargo. Momentum continues to build for Ellen as she recently recurred on Syfy’s Dark Matter, and MGM TV’s upcoming series Condor, starring William Hurt. Currently, she’s playing “Jenny Chey (aka Fortune Cookie)” in all ten episodes of Netflix’s critically acclaimed and hit show GLOW, from executive producer Jenji Kohan (Orange is the New Black, Weeds).
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, actor, was born and raised on the Mohawk reservation of Kahnawake, QC, which has shaped her passion for Indigenous rights activism and interest in politically-charged roles in film. Her debut leading role as Aila in the award-winning feature film, Rhymes for Young Ghouls (2013), resulted in Jacobs being nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. She also won Best Performance in a Canadian Film at the 2016 Whistler Film Fest for her work in the feature film The Sun at Midnight (2016) and has completed production on her third leading role in the feature film, The Road Behind (2018).
Mylène Mackay, actor, is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. She garnered a Canadian Screen Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards for her performance in Endorphine. In 2016, she appeared as Nelly Arcan in Anne Émond’s film Nelly, and as Marguerite in André Forcier’s film Kiss Me Like a Lover (Embrasse-moi comme tu m’aimes). She was named one of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Rising Stars of 2016, alongside Grace Glowicki, Jared Abrahamson and Sophie Nélisse. In 2017, she won the Prix Iris for Best Actress for Nelly.
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon, actor, is best known for her role as “Zoe”, daughter of Will Smith’s character (Deadshot), in the 2016 Hollywood blockbuster Suicide Squad; as well as “Young Aminata” in the 2015 award-winning mini-series The Book of Negroes, an adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s highly acclaimed novel of the same title. Shailyn’s powerful performance as “Young Aminata” won her a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Golden Maple Award nomination for Newcomer of the Year, and ACTRA Award nomination for Outstanding Performance. Also a star of the hit television & Netflix series Between, Shailyn was once again nominated for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Franny”.
Joanne Arseneau, screenwriter, is a versatile author who moves easily between humour and drama and from television series to cinema. Faits Divers, her most recent TV series, will be broadcast this fall (2017) in primetime on SRC (CBC). She is currently developing another series project for SRC (Vent d’Ouest) and also plans to write a screenplay for an historical film. Rights to the format of her Le Clan TV series, broadcast on SRC in 2016, were picked up in the US and Germany. Co-author of Season 2 of the Rescapés, she was also head of creative and writing for Season 1 of the 19-2 police series, which received unanimous critical acclaim. In addition to television series, she has written feature-length screenplays for Le dernier soufflé/The Last Breath (Richard Ciupka, 1999), La loi du cochon/The Pig’s Law (Érik Canuel, 2001), and Sans Elle/Without Her (Jean Beaudin, 2006). When her schedule permits, she also works as a script consultant on film and television series projects.
Sherry White, screenwriter, has written the recently produced feature film, Maudie, starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins, which premiered at Telluride in 2016 and released through Mongrel and Sony Pictures Classics this June 2017. Other film writing credits include Relative Happiness,Down to the Dirt, and The Breadmaker. She also wrote and directed the Genie nominated feature film Crackie, which screened at over thirty festivals worldwide, including Toronto International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary, and Torino Film Festival, where it took home the jury prize. It was also named one of the top ten films in Canada for 2009, and screened at the MOMA in New York City March 2010. Sherry has also directed several award winning short films that played at various festivals across the globe.
Nomination process and jury
In addition to an internal committee, Telefilm and Birks called upon the following organizations to be part of the nomination process for the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film: theAssociation des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).
Telefilm and Birks brought together a jury of 27 people, making this year’s panel the largest in the event’s history. The pan-Canadian jury is made up of the following renowned journalists and bloggers who cover art, culture, and entertainment: Victoria Ahearn (The Canadian Press), Ilana Banks (CBC), Linda Barnard (freelance), Catherine Beauchamp (Tapis Rose), Martin Bilodeau (Media Film), Jenn Cox (CraveOnline), Richard Crouse (Metro News), Laura deCarufel (TheKit.ca), Manon Dumais (freelance), Helen Faradji (Radio-Canada), Noreen Flanagan (Fashion Magazine), Teri Hart (CityTV), Randall King (Winnipeg Free Press), Peter Knegt (CBC), Marc-André Lussier (La Presse), Adrian Mack (Georgia Straight), Jen McNeely (She Does the City), Katherine Monk (Global/CBC/Corus), Éric Moreault (Le Soleil), Ryan Porter (freelance), Ingrid Randoja (Cineplex Magazine), Regan Reid (Playback), Alex Rose (Cult Montreal), Johanna Schneller (The Globe and Mail), Odile Tremblay (Le Devoir), Will Wong (Mr. Will Wong), and Natalie Wysocka (Métro Montréal).
About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Created in 1967, Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund and the Talent Fund, a private donation initiative. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
About Birks
Founded in 1879, Birks has over the years become one of Canada’s leading retailers, designers and manufacturers of high-end jewellery, watches, sterling and silver-plated silverware, as well as gifts. Birks Group is a leading operator of luxury jewellery stores in Canada and southeastern United States. The Company operates 26 stores under the Birks brand in most major metropolitan markets in Canada, 16 stores in Florida and Georgia under the Mayors brand, one store under the Rolex brand name and two retail locations in Calgary and Vancouver under the Brinkhaus brand.To find out more, visit birks.com.
Source: Telefilm Canada and Birks
Posted in Arts & EntertainmentTagged Movies & Film, Toronto International Film Festival
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MQA And Universal Music Group To Collaborate On Advancing Hi-Res On-Demand Streaming
16. February 2017 · Write a comment · Categories: Hifi News · Tags: audiophile, hi fi news, hi res, hifi news, High Res, music streaming, technology
Music technology company MQA and Universal Music Group (UMG), announced today that the two companies have entered into a multi-year agreement that will encode UMG’s extensive catalogue of master recordings in MQA’s technology, promising to make some of the world’s most celebrated recordings available for the first time in Hi-Res Audio streaming.
The announcement comes shortly after the launch of the cross-industry marketing campaign “Stream the Studio”, launched at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and spearheaded by The DEG: the Digital Entertainment Group, to raise awareness of the advantages of Hi-Res Audio streaming.
Mike Jbara, CEO of MQA, commented, “We’re very pleased to be working with Universal Music to achieve our goal of moving studio-quality sound into the mainstream. Universal’s timeless catalogue and impressive artist roster will fuel music streaming services worldwide and enable the premium listening experience for all music fans.”
Michael Nash, Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy at UMG, said, “The promise of Hi-Res Audio streaming is becoming a reality, with one service already in the market and several more committed to launching this year. With MQA, we are working with a partner whose technology is among the best solutions for streaming Hi-Res Audio, and one that doesn’t ask music fans to compromise on sound quality for convenience. We’re looking forward to working with Mike and his team at MQA to make our industry-leading roster of artists and recordings available to music fans in the highest quality possible.”
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Interview with Music Duo The Tibet Patient: We Are All Patients in Between Dreams and Reality
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High Peaks Pure Earth presents the English translation of an interview with Tibetan music duo who call themselves The Tibet Patient. The interview was originally published online at this URL last year but is no longer online.
The Tibet Patient are two friends Jigshed Kyab and Pema Dorje who hail from Amdo and met at University. In recent years, High Peaks Pure Earth has been translating a lot of Tibetan pop and hip hop music videos, this post marks a change of pace and introduces alternative contemporary guitar-based music.
Thank you Palden Gyal for translating the interview into English and watch this space for English translations of their songs will be posted soon in a follow up!
The Tibet Patient: We Are All Patients in Between Dreams and Reality
The two young musicians, using a quiet and calm style, conquered the Moments feed of many Tibetans on WeChat. The name of the duo, “The Tibet Patient,” sounds like a secret signal, and their songs are also just as cryptic. After the release of their second album “The Butcher on the Pilgrim’s Path” this year, their fan base grew rapidly and sooner than later they exploded onto the WeChat Moments of many Tibetans. Everyday it records over ten thousand listeners to the song “Empty Room” on NetEase. The strange thing is that the song so fiery, yet its lead creator is somewhat mysterious. Mr. Ti Hu conducted this interview with Pema Dorje, who reveals his face, removes the masks and let everyone meet the “secret signal” once.
Many of the songs of The Tibet Patient can be searched and accessed on the music portal NetEase. The band consists of Jigshed Kyab and Pema Dorje, the former is the lead vocalist and the latter the guitarist. Since the formation of the band, they have released two albums titled, “The Tibet Patient and “The Butcher on the Pilgrim’s Path,” respectively. Our interview begins by discussing the origins of the band – “Our friendship and affection towards each other is so strong that every time we part ways it brings tears to our eyes.”
Mr. Ti Hu (TH): What are your primary professions?
Mr. Pema Dorje (PD): Jigshed does Tibetan and Chinese translation work in Machu County in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu. I am a judge in a courthouse in Qinghai.
TH: How did The Tibet Patient begin? How did you find each other to form the band?
PD: We set up time to work together during the days when we had no official responsibilities. We released our first album on January 1, 2015, but the band was actually formed following our graduation in 2011. I have known Jigshed Kyab since 2007, we both attended the Qinghai University for Nationalities. I was a year senior to him. He studied Tibetan language and literature and I studied law. He is the main vocalist of the band. In the beginning of 2009, I hoped to form a rock’n roll metal band, so we made a small attempt at it once, but in that process, we both realized that our musical sense and sensibility wasn’t penetrating enough, our ability to mix genres and create music wasn’t good enough. So we temporarily put aside the pursuit. In 2011, I was already working for two years in Qinghai and him too for a year in Gansu. One day, when we were idly chatting, Jigshed suddenly proposed that we should try and play folk songs. In those days, there wasn’t a single serious folk band in Tibetan music circles. I told him that he has a great voice and that he should be the lead vocalist, and that I play guitar. So, it was started just like that.
TH: Why did you form a new band again?
PD: The lead vocalist (referring to Jigshed) is a very calm and composed person. He likes to read books. He attended college in Qinghai (which is an unfamiliar place for someone who grew up in Gansu). He believes that I am the only friend he has. I also consider him to be a very important and cherished friend in my life. I told him once that men and women could have beautiful romantic relationships, but we could also create beautiful works together. Our friendship and affection towards each other is very strong. Everytime he comes to Qinghai to see me, he cries when it is time for him to leave. Therefore, we decided to create and produce an EP together. He writes lyrics, I compose melodies.
TH: Why did it take four years for the first album to come out?
PD: In 2012, Jigshed took a leave of absence from work and came to stay at my place for three months in Xinghai County, Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. During the day when I went to the office, he just stayed at home and during the night we created our music, wrote lyrics and composed melodies. First, together we reworked and refined the incomplete melodies he had in his head and thus created complete songs. “Dear Child” and “Those Birds” were composed and created during that time. Afterwards, because of his job I let him return to his city. Since I have some facility for recording techniques, I planned to record and try these songs as an experimental project. After finishing recording the third song, I just got so dissatisfied and disappointed with it. Except these two songs, even I myself couldn’t bear to listen the others. So I told him that we should continue to remain at and retain our professional jobs, and perhaps we could return to creation and production of music in the future. In May 2014, Jigshed came again to my place and stayed for six months. For the first three months we created and composed songs in my dormitory. In the next three months, we were able to successfully create and finish recording our first album. He left to go back home after that. I then made some light post-production refining and decided to release it on our lucky day, i.e. the first day of 2015.
TH: How were the circumstances in those early days?
PD: In the early days of this journey, it was just pure joy and love for music, we were brimming with excitement and enthusiasm. It is not that the conditions and resources weren’t good, we simply didn’t have any. What we had was just the ardent love for music.
TH: The cover of the your second album features two monks in masks, yet the title is “The Butcher on the Pilgrim’s Path,” many people use this as their profile photo or as the display picture of their friend circles, how did this come about?
PD: It is originally an actual photograph. It was taken by a foreigner in the 30’s or 40’s of the last century. There is a painter by the name of Mr. Liu Yi in Lanzhou, who drew and oil-painted the original photograph. We really loved this image, so with Mr. Liu Yi’s permission, we used it for the cover. We are grateful to him for his generosity and support. After all, we are an unknown and obscure band that no one will ever recognize us even when we are in the middle of a crowd.
TH: Can you describe the creative process of this album?
PD: After the release of our first album, the response was pretty good. Most listeners and admirers happen to be fairly educated individuals who would often come to us and say: “It is pretty good.” As a result, in early 2016, Jigshed’s gift of poetic imagination and creative power exploded in writing songs. He called me one day and suggested that we should record some songs this year. I told him that we should take advantage of my time and independence to work on and release our second album before I get married. So, in April 2016, Jigshed came to my place and stayed for two weeks during which we made the songs: “Dudul Dorje,” “The Moon of Those Nights” and “The Scream of the Mute.” Actually, the last song was originally titled as “The Third Crow on Earth.” Jigshed thought the name is a little absurd, so we changed it. After these three songs, he had to return home because he wasn’t able to secure a longer leave of absence from work. We would frequently do video calls to discuss and improve the details of certain songs.
In December, we entered my brother’s recording studio, we recorded some songs, created and composed others all along. The recording studio is in Guide county, which is about 300km from where I work. In the beginning, I would go to work during the weekdays, and we go to Guide on weekends to record. We even worked on some songs on the road. For instance, one day at dusk, while on the road from Xining to Guide to the studio, we were taking a rest and relieving ourselves by the roadside when we saw a couple holding each other far away. That very scene invited us to write a song as we talked about it later. Thus, “I am your toy, tomorrow” was created. Jigshed originally entitled it as “The Prince,” but I told him that it doesn’t go well with our grown-up temperament, so we renamed it. In reality, regarding this song, there is a small story behind and beyond the scene itself. It concerns Jigshed. He once met a young girl of around 20 years old at a banquet, after knowing that he is the lead singer of The Tibet Patient, she asked for his number. They started chatting and immediately they both had feelings of “regret for not having met earlier” towards each other. However, Jigshed is not only married, he is also a father to two kids. Since he has to take responsibility for his family, he knew he could never be with that girl. Afterwards, he stopped talking to her. At that time, when we saw the couple holding each other, precisely at dusk, not far from the straight and long road in an expansive and open landscape, the road scene looked like the American highways we have seen in films. It was a feast for the eyes. He right away wrote some things down. We recorded the song that very night. In fact, there is an undertone of mild pessimism to the song.
TH: Do other songs have such interesting stories behind them?
PD: I will tell you one secret. My favorite song is “The End of Autumn.” The song is written for someone who really loved me once. It describes the episode of our tryst and some beautiful wishes of mine. At the time of writing, I shared our story with Jigshed, and accordingly, he composed it. Right now, besides us two, only that girl and you know what this song is about. I really like this song! Jigshed wrote “The Butcher on the Pilgrim’s Path” in early 2016, but from the beginning of its composition we couldn’t really arrive at a comfortable version of it, so we composed a few different versions and every time we felt that it somehow wasn’t in harmony with the spirit of the song. On the last day of recording, we thought we should just go with the most uncomplicated composition for this song. In the end, we recorded and finalized it as a rather slightly dark folk song. However, we both were already satisfied, because our style isn’t simple folk music.
TH: How was the public reaction and response to this album?
PD: There weren’t many comments or feedback from that many people, but the few we received were all positive and it seemed they liked the songs. Some people who have listened to the second album after listening to our first say that the second album isn’t much of a success. Also, one older female fan told us that her eyes welled up as soon as she started listening to the songs. That was really touching to me. With our rather relaxed and gentle style, we tried to express relatively ordinary but real events in our lives. Even in Qinghai there are not many people who seem to understand or like the songs in this album. But these are records of the events in our real lives. We aren’t able to make any money with it, but in the future, when our children grow up, we can tell them proudly: “Your father released an album in those days.” That is good enough.
TH: In contrast to the first album, in what ways the style, sentiment or the songs themselves are different?
PD: The style of the songs in the first album is more unified, yet the expression of emotions is very plain and unsophisticated. The compositions are also simple and relatively crude without any gaudy techniques. After all, we didn’t have the resources or qualifications. In the second album, we made our attempts at a few different styles. For instance, while working on “I am your toy, tomorrow,” we were very diligent and careful from the prelude to the final stage of the song. We tried to integrate and add small skills with a wooden guitar. Perhaps the prelude of the song, which I composed, came out pleasantly distinctive to listen to; actually it is the result of overlaying the two guitars. In connection to trying out various special techniques and styles, I even had a quarrel with the recording engineer. More concretely, in terms of the songs, “The End of Autumn” is aimed at creating a sad romantic scene and sense, using an accordion to give it a warm touch –a feeling like that of seeing autumn leaves falling down a tree. We also spent a lot of time thinking about its composition and arrangements.
“Scream of the Mute” has quite the reggae effect to it; while “Jojo” is really a result of my imagination ran wild. The protagonist in “Jojo” is the main character in a novel by Jigshed’s elementary school Tibetan teacher. “Empty Room” is right now the most listened song, but we actually considered this song to be one of the most ordinary songs. The very first song we released is “I am your toy, tomorrow,” that is because we felt that it is the most lyrical song. Afterwards, we decided to release another song, a less tuneful one, which was “Empty Room.” The result, to our surprise, is that everyone liked “Empty Room.” These days, about seven thousand people listen to the song everyday on the Wang Yi music portal. For the first three months of its release, it was listened over ten thousand times everyday. We are extremely pleased and satisfied.
TH: Do you still plan to make more music videos?
PD: Probably not. To make a good music video, it requires you to have a lot of resources at your disposal. We do not have funds. Not making any music video is better than making shoddy ones that no one will enjoy. However, we talked about not having our photos out on the Internet before the success of our songs subsided but later we posted our photos anyway.
TH: Normally, what genre of music do you personally like?
PD: I somewhat like rock’n’roll, for example, Linkin Park, One OK Rock, and Gary Moore etc. Now, as I get older, I like hard rock’n’roll, rap metal, and more recently, also some Japanese bands. So it is mixed, but all totally leaning towards the genre of rock’n’roll. I think if we try to sing rock’n’roll, we won’t be that good at it, there will be a heavy smell of cow dung.
TH: I heard that you also like blues music, is that true?
PD: I feel that through blues I can express the thoughts and emotions of this foolish being more effectively.
TH: What about Jigshed? What genre or style has influenced him the most?
PD: With regard to composition of lyrics and poems, primarily, certain works of literature influences him. For instance, the works of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges is a huge of source of inspiration for him.
TH: How do you look at the relationship between your music and the Tibetan traditional music?
PD: Whenever I talk about an issue with regard to a nationality, I invariably become very serious and solemn, because such comments could easily give rise to disputes with other people. We both are of Tibetan identity and we grew up in the Tibetan regions. We studied in the city for a few years. With our appreciation of all kinds of music accompanied by all sorts of our thoughts and feelings toward life in general, we composed and released our first album before we turned thirty. I guess that can be considered an achievement in itself. We are now persons with a story. Additionally, with regard to Tibetan traditional music, it definitely has a lot of imperceptible influences on our thoughts and feelings, and sometimes I feel like even when we pass wind a part of it smells like tsampa (laughs). No need to be alone to prove that. Every generation of Tibetans has its definite and respective role and responsibility like our passion for music and capability for creating and composing songs in our mother tongue. Regardless of its quality, it is a contribution to the nationality in the field of music and arts, perhaps to create an uproar of some kind.
TH: How do you look at the state Tibetan music at the moment?
PD: There are just too many cover songs. Our music suffers from a dearth of original singers. At the moment, people have no idea as far as originality and innovation is concerned. In speaking of cause, perhaps, it is related to our limited economic circumstances and conditions. For instance, nowadays, there are many youth who learn guitar in Lhasa, but there are very few in this part of the Tibetan region. We Tibetans must have more youth who love to read books and play musical instruments. In this way, it is possible to make even better Tibetan music.
TH: A comment on the NetEase music portal goes: “Many people go to Tibet to cure diseases, but they don’t know that in reality Tibet is also diseased,” how to make sense of this comment?
PD: The dude is probably too pessimistic.
TH: Then, why do you call yourself The Tibet Patient?
PD: We picked this name with the purpose of attempting to express the human condition and pain that linger in between dreams and realities of our lives. We both didn’t pursue the lives or professions we are passionate about. I talked about this to Jigshed before. I told him that I thought about going to work and live in Beijing as a migrant worker, but my family didn’t agree, and nowadays my job muddle-heads me. He said he feels the same. He thinks he married and became a father too early. So, in a sense, we are both in conditions of depressed or sickly state of affairs – we are patients in between dreams and reality.
At first, when we were discussing the name of the band, we named it as “The Machu Patient”. Later we didn’t like it. We thought it was too small-minded. “Tibet” has a broad meaning, although it has a narrow sense too. The broad sense refers to the entire Tibetan region including Qinghai, Gansu etc. We also thought about calling the band “Mr. Stupid,” but realized that it is not good either. In the end, we named it The Tibet Patient.
TH: Have you ever thought about your songs curing “patients”?
PD: Cure patients? I think we have not cured any patient; we haven’t cured our own illnesses. Perhaps we can only be an example for letting people know that, as “patients beyond cure,” we have never stopped, renounced or refused treatment. We are still taking medication.
TH: Have you been to Lhasa?
PD: I haven’t, but Jigshed has. I am looking forward to my first visit to Lhasa, I want to sing a song at the gateway of the Potala Palace, an offering from the bottom of my heart.
TH: Do you plan to continue to create and produce songs? Will you try out any other genre or style?
PD: Yes, we will continue to make music. We plan to release our third album next year. Right now we are in a mode of complete rest, after all, we still need to take care of certain professional and family matters. I hope our style changes slightly more towards rock’n’roll.
Amdo
Contemporary Tibetan Music
Jigshed Kyab
Kanlho
Pema Dorje
The Tibet Patient
Tibetan Music
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AANDAHL, Fred George
82nd (1951–1953)
AANDAHL, Fred George, A Representative from North Dakota; born in Litchville, Barnes County, N.Dak., April 9, 1897; graduated from Litchville High School, Litchville, N.Dak.; graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.Dak., 1921; farmer; superintendent of schools, Litchville, N.Dak., 1922-1927; member of the North Dakota state senate, 1931, 1939, and 1941; governor of North Dakota, 1945-1950; elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second Congress (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1953); was not a candidate for the Eighty-third Congress in 1952, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate; appointed Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, 1953-1961; died April 7, 1966, in Fargo, N.Dak.; interment in Hillside Cemetery, Valley City, N.Dak.
Photographs: In the Fred G. Aandahl family photograph collection, ca. 1910-1958, 26 photographs. The collection consists of original and copy photographic prints of the Fred G. Aandahl family, the S.J. (Sam) Aandahl family (his parents), formal studio portraits of Mr. Aandahl and a series of images, taken in 1944 for an article in the Fargo Forum newspaper, of the family at their Litchville, N.D. farm including of his wife Luella and daughters. Another series of snapshots documents the three daughters, Louise, Margaret and Marilyn, taken on the farm in the 1930s and 1940s.
Papers: In the Biographical records, 1942-1966, 15 items. The biographical records include items relating to Fred Aandahl, including two 1946 campaign cards, election literature, 1948 certificate of election (photocopy), and newspaper obituaries.
Papers: In the John D. Paulson papers, ca. 1932-1998, 0.6 linear foot. Persons represented include Fred Aandahl.
Papers: 1944-1952, 92 items. The papers include speeches and 10 issues of Fred Aandahl's "Report from Washington."
Papers: In the Kenneth W. Simons Papers, 1933-1951, 1.25 linear feet. Correspondents include Fred Aandahl. An inventory is available in the repository.
Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library
Papers: 1928-1960, 12.5 linear feet. The papers of Fred Aandahl contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, speeches, general files, documents, and other material relating chiefly to his years as a congressman and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior. A finding aid is available in the repository and online.
Papers: In the Garrison Reservoir Papers, 1944-1949, amount unknown. Correspondence between Fred Aandahl, Governor of North Dakota, and Congressman William R. Lemke regarding lands to be covered by Garrison Reservoir.
Aandahl, Frederick and John P. Glennon. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951: Korea and China. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1983.
Rendahl, Stephen E. "The Persuasion of Fred Aandahl in the 1952 Primary Campaign Against Senator William Langer." Master's thesis, University of North Dakota, 1969.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “AANDAHL, Fred George,” https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/A/AANDAHL,-Fred-George-(A000001)/ (January 15, 2021)
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ALLISON, Burgess
BAGBY, Edward B.
BARCLAY, John M.
BASCOM, Henry Biddleman
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BLAIR, Samuel
BOYNTON, Charles B.
BRASKAMP, Bernard
BRAXTON, Thomas C.
BROWN, Obadiah Bruen
BROWN, William Holmes
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “People Search,” https://history.house.gov/People/Search (January 15, 2021)
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Farmstead Chef: Interview with John Ivanko of Inn Serendipity
In Their Own Words by Tricia Cornell 01/16/2012 01/16/2012
Images courtesy of John Ivanko
John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist run Inn Serendipity, an eco-friendly bed and breakfast on their farm in southwestern Wisconsin. It’s where they grow most of their own food, raise their son Liam, earn their living, educate others, write their books, and live their passions.
Ivanko and Kivirist’s passions are many: sustainable energy, integrated communities, vibrant rural life, lively conversations, and, of course, good food.
The couple’s latest book, Farmstead Chef (New Society Publishers, 2011) includes 150 recipes inspired by life on the farm, dishes they cook for their guests and their family. These are homey, personal dishes, some of which, like Latvian pirages (bacon rolls), pierogies, and sauerkraut, reach back into their Baltic and Eastern European heritage. Others are international favorites that have become staples on the American table, like sushi and spring rolls. For the most part, they are temptingly familiar and unintimidating recipes, light on technique and easy to accomplish with ingredients right out of your fridge — or farm.
Tricia Cornell / Heavy Table
Scattered among the recipes are 10 profiles of people from around the country who have inspired — or been inspired by — the principles Ivanko and Kivirist practice at Inn Serendipity.
We talked with John about their new book, their life in an eco-tourism haven, and eating well through a Midwestern winter.
Tell us the story of how Farmstead Chef came to be.
It is the culmination of years of effort here, of experimenting and relearning how to eat local, seasonal, sustainable, fresh foods, and to do it year-round. We’re always limited in resources, so we learned frugality and self-reliance, how to be more mindful and incorporate local foods into recipes over the years.
Our backgrounds are not rural. I grew up in Detroit and Lisa in the Chicago suburbs. The scope of our growing things was annual flowers you put in a pot. Our backgrounds are in marketing; we met in Chicago at an ad agency. Then we went through a really premature midlife crisis. I decided I’d better go walk about and figure out what I wanted to do with my life — and it wasn’t selling Super Nintendo entertainment systems, which is what I was doing at the time.
The first three or four years [on the farm] were bumpy. We managed to actually kill zucchini and then we froze our potatoes on the front porch. Now we grow enough food to supply about 70 percent of our food needs on the farm and for the B&B, and we over-produce renewable energy on site. Our first collaborative book, Rural Renaissance, goes into that whole story.
We’ve spent the last 15 years working out what works in the kitchen. For example, strawberries freeze well, so we have the berry smoothie recipe [in Farmstead Chef].
But the truth is, we shouldn’t be eating strawberries in this part of the country in January and February. We have to sit on our hands and wait until mid-June and that makes them taste better. And we do eat them at just about every meal. Same with asparagus. We like that kind of seasonality in eating and want more people to experience it. You really are able to savor food at its peak ripeness. When you’re doing that, it’s pretty hard to mess up.
Well, right now we’re looking ahead to a long Midwestern winter. What are you and your family planning to cook and eat this winter? [Note: We talked with John in mid-December.]
A lot of it is doing some preparations. If you haven’t made those preparations and didn’t stock up and tray-freeze strawberries in June, it becomes a little more challenging.
Another thing is focusing on what is available locally, like pumpkin. We love pumpkin. We make pumpkin and winter squash fritters. (Yes, they’re fried. We’re healthy in an everything-in-moderation way, unlike other cookbooks that stay away from sugar and oil. A little fried food as a treat every once in a while is fine.) It’s all about thinking things through in a different way, rather than just thinking jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pie.
I’m still eating raw [foods]. I’m eating our five-gallon pail of carrots that we yanked out of the garden a week ago. We have a number of potatoes and other root crops that are still quite accessible. And more and more winter farmers markets are growing quite a bit. In Madison, there are quite a few people doing microgreens, Swiss chard, and other things year-round.
With freezing things, most of the nutrient value is still there. We’re still eating the summer, we’re just eating it in the middle of the winter. We have enough zucchini bread in the freezer to last me for months. That’s my breakfast, and for lunch we’re doing stir-fries because we have the carrots and frozen peas. That’s how we strategize — mixing things up that way. Leveraging things that we have with things we’ve preserved.
What’s the role of Inn Serendipity in your sustainability adventures?
It is very central. It’s about 30 to 35 percent of our livelihood. And it’s very much tied to what we do, especially in the spring, summer, and fall. The B&B has a seasonality to it. We don’t have nearly as much traffic now through April. Business slackens off, as does the garden, so that’s when we do more writing and photography and consulting.
We see the business as the engine that allows us to reinvest into the air and the water and the environment, allowing us to put in, say, more cover crops, rather than spraying [pesticides and herbicides]. It’s a different approach that requires more time and energy on a personal level.
On many occasions, after guests pull out of the farmstead driveway, we think about new things to try. We never know when guests show up what kind of conversations we’ll have — and, conversely, they will think about things differently when they go away from here.
John IvankoLisa KiviristSerendipity
WI Meat on the Move and Morning Roundup
Steel-Cut Oatmeal Bread and Recipe Roundup
Yo Mama on 01/16/2012 at 1:23 PM
Lovely story. Sometimes, many times I wanna do this. Forget big city life and connect with soil…
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Hollywood Hills Suites
Hollywood Vacation Rental
1762-68 Vista Del Mar Ave.
Hollywood, CA, 90028, United States
Have questions? Contact us:
++1(323) 218-0090
Suite Selections
The Capitol Records
The Kodak
The Pantages
Hollywood Guide
Check Availability & Book
Hollywood Hills Suites Receives 2013 Los Angeles Award – Los Angeles Award Program Honors the Achievement
LOS ANGELES December 3, 2013 — Hollywood Hills Suites has been selected for the 2013 Los Angeles Award in the Vacation Home Rental Agency category by the Los Angeles Award Program.
Each year, the Los Angeles Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Los Angeles area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 Los Angeles Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Los Angeles Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About Los Angeles Award Program
The Los Angeles Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Los Angeles area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Los Angeles Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: Los Angeles Award Program
1762-68 Vista Del Mar Ave
Copyright © 2021 Hollywood Hills Suites All Rights Reserved.
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Brynn Gingras
Quick Facts of Brynn Gingras
Full NameBrynn Gingras
NicknameBrynn
BirthplaceUnited States of America
ProfessionJournalist
Eye colourHazel
Online PresenceInstagram, Facebook and Twitter
Brynn Gingras is an American journalist who has worked with news channels like CNN, CBS, NBC and KMIZ in Columbia. Gingras has served as a news correspondent on television and radio. Brynn has been working in this industry for more than two decades.
Within her long term career span, she has covered all over the country and world’s news. To find out more about Brynn Gingras’s profession and her net worth, keep reading this article.
Early Life of Gingras
Brynn Gingras was born on 12 May 1982 in Wallingford, Connecticut, the United States. Similarly, she is the daughter of Mark Gingras of Italy and Christine Gingras of Aborigines. Brynn grew up in Wallingford along with her older sister Margaux. She holds an American nationality and belongs to white ethnicity.
Brynn attended Lyman Hall High School, where she played in the women’s basketball team as a competitive student. She was the basketball team’s four-year-old letter-winner and senior captain.
She enrolled in 2000 at Yale University and graduated in 2004 from American Studies and Sociology. Gingras continued to play in the basketball team at the university during her studies.
Career as a Journalist
Soon after graduation, Brynn began working at CBS News Production as a broadcast associate. Gingras covered the news related to the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, the Michael Jackson profess and the detention of the BTK while working for CBS. Similarly, she became anchor and broadcaster for JW Broadcasting in 2006.
CNN reporter Brynn Gingras, Photo Source: Insta Stalker
However, she left the channel in February 2010 and began working with NBC. With her exclusive interview with the New Jersey government, which was unfairly sued by a gay former Marine, she gained international attention at NBC. As a CNN journalist, Gingras covered the 2016 presidential election, the shooting at the Orlando gay nightclub, the devastating flooding in West Virginia, and the consequences of international terrorist attacks.
Brynn’s Net Worth and Salary
Brynn is working in the industry for more than a decade now. So, her long term journalism career has helped her to earn a hefty amount of money. Gingras’ estimated net worth is around $1 million as of 2019. Although the star hasn’t revealed her exact salary, the national correspondent wage at CNN is $114310.
In addition, the lower-ranking reporter earns around $104762 while the highest-ranking correspondent has $132180. She might be earning more than the estimated salary since she is working in the field for many years.
The New York-based CNN reporter is happily married to a husband Adrian. The couple tied the knot in a destinated wedding ceromany in Ireland. However, Brynn lives a lowkey life and there are no proper details about her husband. In fact, she hasn’t shared the precise date of their wedding.
Brynn Gingras’ wedding picture, Image Source: her Instagram @brynncnn
But, according to her Instagram account, it seems like they exchanged their wedding vows in August 2019. Famous WNBCreports like Michael George and Marci Gonzalez attended their wedding. Brynn is a frequent social media user and often shares her partner’s picture on the media. Since they have just tied the knot, there is a long way for them to go as a couple.
Mother of a Son
Well, it’s no secret that Gingras loves to keep her personal details behind the curtains. Brynn hasn’t talked about having any kids in the media. However, on February 2019, she has shared a picture of a baby and her husband. It seems like the cute little baby is their own child.
Brynn Gingras’ husband and son, Photo Source: Instagram
Also, her friend has recently congratulated Brynn and her husband in a picture where we can see that Brynn is flaunting her baby bump. But, as per her low key life, we are unable to confirm any information related to her children.
American journalistBrynn GingrasChristine GingrasMark Gingras
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‘Gazelles’ Accelerate Oklahoma’s Economy
Home Entrepreneur ‘Gazelles’ Accelerate Oklahoma’s Economy
By Scott Meacham
Copyright © 2015, Oklahoma Publishing Company
Oklahoma is a great state for gazelles.
I don’t mean the fast little antelopes that are found in tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa. (Although with Oklahoma’s summers, they might feel right at home.)
I’m talking about gazelle companies — those high-growth firms, as defined by Investopedia, that increase revenues by at least 20 percent annually for four years or more, starting from a revenue base of at least $1 million. At that pace, a “gazelle” company doubles its revenues over 48 months.
The majority of net new jobs in this country — two-thirds according to the Small Business Administration — come from entrepreneurship and new businesses. Most of that growth (some reports state as much as 70 percent) comes from the gazelles.
Gazelle companies, like the graceful antelopes that outrun cheetahs and lions, are noted for their pace of growth, not their size.
Sustainable gazelles are not only faster at creating jobs and wealth in the early years, they really tend to add jobs and revenue in years five through 10. And that drives the demand for houses, cars, and other goods and services.
Gazelles draw in established firms in the industry. They attract top students to a state’s universities; they also create challenging, high-paying jobs that keep those students employed after graduation.
It would be great if we could look at 20 or even 40 deals and pick out the next one or two gazelles. But with startups, it doesn’t work like that.
More startups fail that don’t. About 20 percent don’t survive the first year. About a third are gone after two years, and 50 percent don’t make it after five.
A state needs a continuous pipeline of deals to gain even a single gazelle and then a front-end focus (like we deliver through the Venture Assessment Program) to help the most promising startups break out from the herd.
But first there has to be a herd.
Last year was America’s best year of job growth since 1999. Yet, since the Great Recession in 2008, for the first time since Gallup began tracking, we are in a phase where there are less business starts than business closings.
That means there have been fewer entrepreneurs starting up the next gazelle.
Entrepreneurship is still bubbling in Silicon Valley, of course. And in Boston and New York City … and also in Utah, Colorado, and Washington State.
In these states, both government and business are doing more. They have aligned resources — without duplication — to build out robust entrepreneurial ecosystems. Their public-private partnerships are gaining steam, jobs, and wealth.
We Oklahomans need to put our shoulders to the same wheel.
Scott Meacham is president and CEO of i2E Inc., a nonprofit corporation that mentors many of the state’s technology-based startup companies. i2E receives state appropriations from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Contact Meacham at i2E_Comments@i2E.org.
Did You Know? Entrepreneurs create two out of three net new jobs and have for the last 15 years. SOURCE: Fortune
gazelles, Scott Meacham
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