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__label__wiki	0.656098	0.656098	Georgia Elections 2020 In Recognition of Georgia Senators’ Chiefs of Staff //Georgia’s two female Senatorial chiefs of staff: Loyal Trumpists to the end!// It occurred to IndieDems that probably few average Georgians know that both our United States Senators have female chiefs of staffs: Megan Whittemore for David Perdue and Joan Kirchner Carr for Johnny Isakson. (Her husband is Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, himself a former Isakson aide). Now, we don’t know exactly how unique this is, since we don’t know how many other Senators have female chiefs of staff. But–let’s celebrate it for what it is, an affirmation of growing women’s power in politics. Joan Kirchner Carr Megan Whittemore In fact, IndieDems thought it was a good time to give credit where credit is due by devoting a post to how these two achieving females have joined their bosses in showing unqualified loyalty to their President, Donald Trump. Their fidelity has not wavered, even as Trump critics point out that he is unique in being the only President who has reached this chronological point in his term without ever gaining at least a 50 percent approval rating. Along the way, Whittemore and Carr have given their stamp of approval to Trump’s bragging about sexually assaulting women and calling various women bimbo, fat, ugly horse-faced, of low intellect, Pocahontas, and dog. Whittemore and Carr, of course, have also stood by Trump despite his demeaning the military service of John McCain, lying about Barack Obama’s birthplace, making 12,000 other false or misleading statements, locking up migrant children in wire cases, having words of praise for neo-fascist demonstrators marching through Charlottesville chanting “Jews will not replace us,” and mocking a handicapped person. Out intention to bring you up to date on Whittemore/Carr’s endorsement of Trump’s recent words and deeds that have led many to conclude that he is psychologically unhinged has been made easier by Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank. His column Let’s ‘gut check’ all of Trump’s vulgar, unpresidential statements provides the item-by-item list of Trump’s actions that Whittemore and Carr have accepted as normal. ________________________________________________________________________________________/ Let’s ‘gut check all of Trump’s vulgar, unpresidential statements by Dana Milbank It was an exemplary week for presidential misbehavior. President Trump had an international tantrum over Denmark’s refusal to sell him Greenland. He invoked the anti-Semitic trope that American Jews have a dual loyalty to Israel. He proclaimed himself the Messiah. Along the way, he used shooting victims for self-promotion, said he wanted a medal for military valor, and more. In this divided land, there is broad agreement on one thing: Our president is unpresidential.A Post/ABC News poll released last month found that two-thirds of Americans find Trump “unpresidential” and only 28 percent say his actions are “fitting and proper.” Trump himself has acknowledged that some of his behavior is “not at all ‘Presidential’.” Carr & Whittemore say: Re-elect that man President! It’s hard to say for sure whether Trump was more undignified this week compared with most others. This is, after all, a man who boasted publicly about his genitals, uses words such as “bull—-,” “p—y,” “goddamn” and “little Schitt” in public, misspells tweets, talks of women bleeding, proclaims himself a “stable genius” with a “very large brain,” “fell in love” with North Korea’s dictator, paid hush money to a porn actress, shoved a prime minister, wore an ill-fitting vest to visit Queen Elizabeth and praised the “shape” of France’s first lady. He also let Kanye West loose in the Oval Office, prayed for higher ratings for “The Apprentice” at a prayer breakfast , spoke of “raking” forests, hugged an American flag, dragged toilet paper from his shoe, suggested the Clintons murdered Jeffrey Epstein, described neo-Nazis as “very fine people,” and, when told by a rape victim that the Islamic State killed her family, replied: “Where are they now?” Carr & Whittmore say: Re-elect that man President! But maybe there is a way to calibrate vulgarity. Post Fact Checker Glenn Kessler and his team have documented more than 12,000 false or misleading statements by Trump using the Pinocchio system: from one Pinocchio for “shading” facts to four for “whoppers.” Rare, unexpectedly true statements earn a Geppetto. Instead of a fact check, I propose a “gut check” of how unpresidential Trump is. Instead of Geppetto and Pinocchio, this uses Beauty and the Beast. Where Kessler’s work is objective and researched, this will be arbitrary and slapdash — like Trump’s policies. One Beast: Routinely unpresidential. Two Beasts: Extra gross, vulgar, narcissistic. Three Beasts: Downright beastly, uncouth, uncivilized. Four Beasts: A wild rumpus. We weep for our country. On the rare instances when he behaves in a “presidential” manner (usually a teleprompter is involved), he will be assigned a “Beauty.” This week, the Gut Checker awards Trump one Beast each for: ● Again describing the “evil” free press with the Stalinist phrase “Enemy of the People.” ● Promoting Sean Spicer on “Dancing With the Stars.” ● Boasting about breaking Elton John’s crowd-size record. ● Badgering the Federal Reserve chairman he appointed as the “enemy” and “a golfer who can’t putt.” ● Describing Fox News’s Juan Williams as “pathetic,” sycophantic, “nasty and wrong.” ● Threatening not to let Fox News host a presidential debate because he didn’t like his favorite network’s latest poll. ● Threatening to release Islamic State fighters into Germany and France. ● Claiming Google “manipulated” some 16 million votes in 2016. All routine breaches of decorum for Trump. All unpresidential. Based on their track record, Carr & Whittmore say: “We just love our unpresidential President!” The Gut Checker awards two Beasts each for: ● Telling reporters he might not vacate the White House for “maybe 10 or maybe 14” years — regardless of what the Constitution says; and using imaginary powers to say U.S. companies are “hereby ordered” to find alternatives to Chinese markets. ● Resuming his attacks on four nonwhite women in Congress, mocking one’s “tears” and accusing her of being “violent.” ● Calling former aide Anthony Scaramucci a “highly unstable ‘nut job’ ” and a “mental wreck” guilty of “gross incompetence.” Carr & Whittmore say: We look forward to four additional years of this! Three Beasts: ● Saying hospitalized victims of mass shootings paid tribute to him. “They love their president,” he said, in an “unparalleled” way. “They were pouring out of the rooms. The doctors were coming out of the operating rooms.” ● Expressing desire to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor against an enemy force, despite draft deferments for bone spurs. “I wanted one, but they told me I don’t qualify. . . . I’d say, ‘Can I give it to myself anyway?’ They said, ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ ” ● Tweeting the words of a racist conspiracy theorist who said Israelis view Trump like “the King of Israel” and “the second coming of God.” He later claimed he’s “the chosen one.” Carr & Whittmore say: Four more years! Four more years! Four Beasts: ● Canceling his trip to Denmark and twice calling its prime minister “nasty” because she labeled as “absurd” Trump’s absurd plan to buy Greenland. ● Accusing nearly 80 percent of American Jews of ignorance or “great disloyalty,” and after an outcry by Jewish leaders, repeating the slander. One week, zero beauties and 31 beasts — a full herd and, by any measure, an impressive stable of rude, crude and undignified behavior. But if we as a nation can agree that our president is unpresidential, experience should also allow us to agree on this: Next week might well be worse. Carr & Whittmore say: Somebody’s got to tell it like it is! _________________________________________________________________________________________________/ IndieDems comment: We believe you will agree with us. Joan Kirchner Carr and Megan Whittemore represent the very epitome of Republican Woman 2019. They reflect the heart and soul of the Republican Party. The Party would not be what it is today without women like them. No matter how many racist, misogynist, xenophobic, white nationalist statements Trump might make, he can count on the Joans and Megans of the world to remain his faithful subalterns. After all, it takes a real man to call those shithole countries what they are–and to call for sending those four Congresswomen back to them. August 24, 2019 / In / By barkstm / Leave a comment	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1543
__label__wiki	0.525614	0.525614	That just means he's in his private suite. The President goes to WR for all medical care. Yeah, but less than 12 hours before moving to WR the white house stated they'd be convalescing at the white house. So, that changed in a hurry. Not that it is a bad idea to be at the hospital for a septuagenarian with some complicating factors who is having symptoms bad enough to warrant an experimental treatment. The White House is capable of providing care up to a classified level, but likely equivalent to an icu if needed. This is based on a lecture given during my training by a former White House medical unit staff member in preparation for when President Obama visited Chicago since we would be the receiving unit for any trauma involving presidents visiting the city. I’m not sure if that is still the case. However the president will generally go to Walter Reed for inpatient care in non-crisis situations. They will not go for outpatient visits since the White House medical unit can handle those things. The confusion and abrupt change in plans is par for the course with this administration, and with covid treatment in general, so I wouldn’t read much into it. However, it is very concerning given his age and obesity. Most likely he will survive, given the resources at disposal. Whether he will be in a state to lead the country is a big question. Ugh, 2020 sucks. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8800389/Chris-Wallace-Donald-Trump-family-arrived-debate-venue-late-COVID-19-test.html Quote from: sherr on October 02, 2020, 11:41:08 AM The all-time favorite of the overspecific denial. The most famous one in Germany is that of Ulbricht I think 2 weeks before they build the Berlin Wall. He was asked about a possible "border at the Brandenburger Tor" and his answer was "nobody has the intention to build a wall". btw. it was the only woman under the journalists who asked that. « Last Edit: October 03, 2020, 12:52:07 AM by LennStar » Interesting article regarding "depraved indifference" and potential for a "reckless manslaughter" charge in NJ. https://www.rawstory.com/2020/10/when-did-trump-get-19-and-when-did-he-know-it/ Quote from: Omy on October 03, 2020, 08:35:07 AM You can charge him with whatever you want, but the president is above the law as long as the senate is made up of Republicans who refuse to hold him accountable. Bloop Bloop Does anyone reckon there's a chance that the lack of news coming out means that Trump might have deteriorated and be near death's door? I was suspicious at first but now believe it. Too many people would need to be involved and that never goes well. I also think that he is worse off than stated. Not shedding any tears considering he called soldiers losers and suckers and people that died from the virus “nobody’s” which are only 2 of the horrible things he has done. Quote from: Bloop Bloop on October 03, 2020, 09:10:21 AM Thought crossed my mind, but then video of him walking to the helicopter to go to the hospital. More likely dude is just scared shitless (Trump is a bit of a germaphobe, and he now has contracted a disease that he knows could well kill him in relatively short order), and he really, really doesn't want to be shown on TV with even the sniffles. Quote from: dandarc on October 03, 2020, 10:18:26 AM Hmm. I have my fingers crossed. Well, according to a doctors update, Trump is doing well. Mmmmm... https://nypost.com/2020/10/03/trump-fever-free-and-doing-very-well-in-covid-19-battle-doctor/ Now Chris, Christy had Covid-19! It's spreading in the GOP like it's a frat party or something. I don't really wish covid on anyone, because it seems to genuinely suck. But the schadenfreude is a bit difficult to suppress given the callousness the GOP has shown towards the covid impacts to others. Jeebus is this a screwy year to live through. John Galt incarnate! Location: On Cloud Nine Many people of Trump's age have died within a few days of becoming infected so it's not far-fetched to speculate that Trump may have been near death prior to this morning's reportage about his condition. Look at the Barrett press conference. Everyone is seated close together and maybe 80% aren't wearing masks. These are educated people, too. They apparently bought the line that it's all a hoax; or maybe there's so much pressure from the top that they're willing to take the risk. I wonder why, when the Prez was only in the hospital less than 24 hours they had a whole gaggle of doctors and other medical people giving updates on him? Isn't it a bit premature to give updates when Covid takes time to either get better or get worse? Not sure what to think about this. A political ploy? We've always been at war with Eastasia. NY Times: ‘We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery,’ a person familiar with the president’s health said. President Trump’s vital signs on Saturday were concerning as doctors mounted an aggressive effort to treat him and he was not out of danger, a person close to the situation said, even as the coronavirus infected an ever widening swath of the president’s aides and allies. While doctors maintained during a televised briefing that Mr. Trump was “doing very well” after a night at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, they refused to provide critical details and left open the impression that the president was known to be sick a day earlier than previously reported. Shortly after the upbeat briefing by the doctors, a person familiar with the president’s health gave a more sober assessment to reporters at Walter Reed on the condition of anonymity. “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care,” this person said. “We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.” Two people close to the White House said in separate interviews with The New York Times that the president had trouble breathing on Friday and that his oxygen level dropped, prompting his doctors to give him supplemental oxygen while at the White House and decide to transfer him to Walter Reed where he could be monitored with better equipment and treated more rapidly in case of trouble. Thank you OtherJen for that update! It's hard to know what to believe, even now - Moments earlier on Saturday morning, the President's physician, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley, had offered an upbeat assessment of the President's condition stating that he was feeling well, that he had been "fever-free" for 24 hours and that his symptoms -- which included an "extremely mild cough," nasal congestion and fatigue -- "are resolving and improving." Conley was evasive about when and if Trump had received supplemental oxygen, saying, "He is not on oxygen." https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/03/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-walter-reed/index.html And the question of fact vs. alternative fact remains. Seems appropriate, given the last few years. At least we should have some peace and quiet from all the tweeting the next couple weeks. I'll take that. « Last Edit: October 03, 2020, 02:35:39 PM by partgypsy » Apparently the NY Times' source was Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows (article has been updated). Psychstache Things is, regardless of who is president, I would expect public updates to be overly rosy regardless of the reality. Quote from: Psychstache on October 03, 2020, 02:47:29 PM Yeah, Boris Johnson was in worse shape than was revealed at the time. Quote from: bacchi on October 03, 2020, 03:40:37 PM I could be wrong since I don't live in the UK, but I don't recall anyone lying about Boris Johnson's condition either. Certainly nothing like, "... feeling well, that he had been "fever-free" for 24 hours and that his symptoms -- which included an "extremely mild cough," nasal congestion and fatigue -- "are resolving and improving." and "He is not on oxygen." I felt like I knew Johnson was struggling and didn't need more info. With Trump, I really don't know if he's still struggling or if he is, as has been reported today, up and about... recovering nicely... Same old Donny...What a joke this guy is... https://nypost.com/2020/10/03/trump-tells-rudy-giuliani-im-going-to-beat-covid-19/ That sounds like a scripted "conversation." Why isn't he taking that hydroxychloroquine? He said it was a cure all. Trudeau did his job quarantined at home. One would think Trump's suite at Walter Reed would be set up to carry on work. After all, what if he broke his leg badly and was in hospital for weeks, like a friend of mine was? Her brain was fine, she was just stuck in bed. Reporters are now going over last week's timeline with a fine toothed comb trying to figure out when he was exposed and who he then subsequently exposed it to. There's a good chance he was infected before the debate (where he and Melania showed up late and didn't get tested). We can probably attribute this latest spread to Hicks, but if she gave it to him it's tough to say when he was actually infected. He got tested the day after her results came back and except for the debate night he seems to be tested almost daily. You don't show up positive the day after exposure though. The White House's virus-handling procedures are a joke. They seem to be in line with the rhetoric though (half assed measures). Hicks was quarantined on board Air Force One which is fucking preposterous. When my soldiers are quarantined, they're escorted to an isolated building and not allowed out. Who the fuck decided that a metal tube full of people with shared air for several hours counts as a quarantine? Everyone on that plane should be working from home right now. Quote from: John Galt incarnate! on October 03, 2020, 11:17:58 AM Hmm, the positive reporting about his condition seems to indicate that he is not at death's door. :-/ Quote from: Bloop Bloop on October 03, 2020, 06:43:07 PM They are throwing the anti-viral drugs at him. And ending up oxygen doesn't always happen right away. Some people get really sick really fast, some people get really sick much more slowly, and some people just don't get really sick. Quote from: RetiredAt63 on October 03, 2020, 08:19:33 PM We are very obviously being lied to at some level. Was he on oxygen at the White House or not? Sources say yes, his doctor only said "not today", meaning Saturday. I suspect he may have been given oxygen before going to hospital on Friday so that he could look and sound better in the pre-hospital video and walking to and from the helicopter, as well as being more comfortable/safer on the journey. But who really knows? As to how he is now, I suspect that there are a number of obstacles to the truth. One is the ingrained medical behaviour of not disclosing personal medical details of patients. Another is that this particular patient will be very forceful about his doctors only disclosing upbeat information. Sources less immediately under Trump's control seem to be giving out information that things are more serious than are his doctors. Of what his own doctors did disclose one firm detail was his oxygen sats at 96%, so we do know the virus is affecting his lung function. They are throwing every possible treatment at him, which might mean there are worrying signs or it might be the "abundance of caution". Given his age and general health (apparently less good than we have previously been led to believe) they have to be worried about a cardiovascular failure of some sort, which could be one of the reasons for him going to hospital even if he's not bad enough for a normal person in his condition to be hospitalised: they will want to be close to all the best resuscitation treatments just in case. Perhaps one of the doctors on the boards might weigh in? @Abe maybe? Sorry if this is out of order, no obligation implied. Quote from: jim555 on October 03, 2020, 04:48:25 PM And I hear that Mexico will pay for it! 96% oxygen saturation is fine. When I had mine last done it wobbled between 96% and 97%. At 90% it is concerning. I saw a good comment on one of Stephen Colbert's online posts. Living in Canada is like living in an apartment where the apartment below you has a meth lab on fire. SunnyDays @former player, "throwing every possible treatment at him" apparently isn't always a good idea. A doctor from Johns Hopkins mad a point on The National last night, that bumping up the immune system can actually backfire and cause it's own problems. So it might be a case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't." I'm a doctor, and I saw hundreds of covid patients in an outpatient setting back in April. Just watched the briefing Trump's medical team gave today (Sunday): totally agree that we're being given mixed messages. They have an upbeat tone & emphasize how he's improving, but they also report they're treating him with dexamethasone, which is reserved for patients sick enough to need oxygen support. The medical team now reports that on Friday, he had a high fever, and an episode where his sat went below 94%, and he was on supplemental oxygen for about an hour. He apparently also had an episode where his sat went down to 93% yesterday (Saturday), and they were evasive about whether or not he received oxygen. If that second desat episode was real (more than a minute or two), of course he got oxygen again. Plus, why start him on dexamethasone, which actually showed a trend toward harm in patients not needing oxygen at time of randomization: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2021436#:~:text=The%20RECOVERY%20trial%20provides%20evidence,who%20did%20not%20require%20oxygen. Note the CI crosses 1 for that group, so I say trend toward harm. I do understand it's sort of a soft call, and the tendency of medical professionals is to do something rather than nothing, in case the patient later deteriorates. Still, I believe he probably had two real episodes of de-sating. Remdesivir is an anti-viral originally designed to treat hepatitis C that has shown a statistically significant, though modest, benefit in days to recovery and a trend toward survival benefit. The wildcard in my mind is how much the polyclonal antibody cocktail Trump received could benefit. Unlike pre-existing drugs such as dexamethasone, remdesivir, or hydroxychloroquine, this therapeutic was specifically designed to target covid (in the form of neutralizing antibodies), and has the potential to be a game-changer. We only have preliminary data on 275 patients released by the company Regeneron (not peer-reviewed) showing significantly reduced viral loads and faster time to recovery. It's a promising therapeutic with biological plausibility, but at this time the data is still being gathered, so we don't have a clear answer. Some people have said that Trump looks pale and fatigued in videos. Lots of people with mild-moderate courses are fatigued, and that's not necessarily a warning sign. He's speaking in full sentences, and there's nothing about his appearance that's a red flag to me. What is concerning are the episodes of de-sating. The episode on Friday described by his doctors today did warrant hospitalization, especially in a 74yo man with BMI just over 30. How are things going to play out in the next few days? I have no idea. « Last Edit: October 04, 2020, 12:40:53 PM by Mariposa » Thanks Mariposa, that's very helpful. It's just a shame we can't rely on getting accurate information from official sources and have to read the tea leaves instead. My guess is that he tested positive a week or more ago, but they were hoping to hide it. But Friday he got so sick that they couldn't hide it anymore. The interesting thing will be how many republican senators will get sick, and whether any of them will die. Many of them are old enough to be at risk. And if this causes them to lose the appointment to the supreme court; will it be enough to get republican voters upset? gaja, I think you are 100% right and it really makes a lot of sense when you think about it. He announces he and Melania have it on Friday at midnight-ish and he is in the hospital Saturday early evening? Not too many people get that sick so quickly after a Covid-19 diagnosis. If that's true, that's completely reckless behavior considering he attended numerous fundraising events, and not to mention the DEBATE -- where his entire family made a scene to NOT wear masks! Appreciate the shout-out, but I’d be remiss to provide a strong opinion on what is going on with an individual with the very limited information provided on the president’s status. I will raise three general points, though: 1) it is hard to avoid over-treating a “VIP”, but efforts should be made to avoid this. In general, changes to standard practice due to a patient’s perceived importance is usually harmful. Standard practices are generally standardized to maximize efficacy. 2) providing experimental therapies outside of a clinical trial is unethical except under the most dire circumstances. Compassionate use is reserved for people with no other options. This suggests either favoritism towards the president without clear need for the antibodies, or severe illness. 3) patients with severe enough covid to be admitted tend to have unusually rocky courses, even outside of the ICU. It would not be surprising if the president’s clinical status fluctuates wildly, and would explain the mixed messages. I know from first-hand experience that you may be updating the family that the patient is ok at 3pm, and calling them in to say goodbye at 3am. This is true in all critical illness, but covid seems to kick it up a notch. So, I think he probably is having a standard course of COVId for someone his age and health. It is appropriate for there to be limited information and temper expectations. If he’s not intubated, that’s a good sign. I don’t think any further speculation on his status or prognosis is possible. « Last Edit: October 04, 2020, 08:46:17 PM by Abe » It looks like he's trying to get back to the White House right away and pissed that Meadows was more forthright with information than the doctors briefing. The docs admit they kept the worst news out of the brief on purpose and there's disagreement whether him going to the hospital was his idea or someone else's. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/04/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-alternate-reality/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2H0TvQc-cwyYHUWsAIGA22IjjoVhZlmsNC4iomYbPL0oStTynQS9hE8co/ Quote from: rantk81 on October 04, 2020, 03:50:05 PM And thanks to this delay he may have infected dozens. Folks from the White House staff and Congress are showing up sick and all roads point to last week's various events. This little stunt today - making the Secret Service guys drive him around the hospital grounds so he could wave at the “patriots” - was too much! Someone needs to tell him no sometime! From the WaPo this evening: Current and former Secret Service agents and medical professionals were aghast Sunday night at President Trump’s Sunday evening trip outside the hospital where he is being treated for the coronavirus, saying the president endangered those inside his SUV for a publicity stunt. As the backlash grew, multiple aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations also called Trump’s outing to wave at supportive crowds an unnecessary risk — but said the move was not surprising. Trump had said he was bored in the hospital, advisers said. He wanted to show strength after his chief of staff offered a grimmer assessment of his health than doctors, according to campaign and White House officials. A growing number of Secret Service agents have been concerned about the president’s seeming indifference to the health risks they face when traveling with him in public, and a few reacted with outrage to the trip, asking how Trump’s desire to be seen outside of his hospital suite justified the jeopardy to agents protecting the president. The president’s coronavirus diagnosis has already brought new scrutiny to his lax approach to social distancing, as public health officials scramble to trace those he may have exposed at large in-person events. “He’s not even pretending to care now,” said one agent after the president’s jaunt outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “Where are the adults?” said a former Secret Service member. They spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/04/trump-hospital-drive-criticism/ It looks like he is getting better, which would give him the best of two worls: 1) He could say "See, it is not that bad, even I with all my stress and my age won it after a few days". 2) I am a hero! I was hospitalized and I still won!! For his publicity stand I actually had to laugh. That is so much an autocrat thing (remember Putin ice bathing?)! It is a show (mostly to the own side) of "See, I am still healthy, no reasont to pick a successor and start a revolution" (For more information about that topic read the book in my signature.) I personally can’t see this as anything but a net-negative for his re-election campaign. For months team Trump has tried to talk about anything BUT Covid, and now - five weeks to go - it’s all anyone is focused on. Three GOP senators plus a handful of high-profile aids in addition to Trump have come down from this event so far. Even if Trump leaves the hospital today with no further symptoms or ill effects the focus will be on this ‘super-spreader’ event for the first half of October, if not longer. Meanwhile, people are already voting in droves... He also very publicly put his Secret Service detail at significant risk of infection yesterday. That doesn’t seem to be playing out as well as he’d hoped across the country. Poundwise I think this is my first post in this long thread. I find the inconsideration of the other guests of this hotel, especially doctors and families of patients of the Cleveland Clinic, monstrously selfish: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-family-aides-flouted-cleveland-hotel-mask-mandate/story?id=73409582	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1548
__label__cc	0.563579	0.436421	An Effort Towards Understanding the LGBTQ Community Monday, Jul. 4th 2016 12:01 AM http://media.blubrry.com/frankrelationships/p/franklove.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FR-112-LGBTQ-1.mp3 Subscribe: Apple Podcasts \| Stitcher \| RSS FRANK RELATIONSHIPS: AN EFFORT TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY Guests: Fr. Joe Muth, CJ Jones, Mezei Jefferson, Adrian and Marie Frank: There’s a lot going on in the LGBTQ community and it affects all of us whether you’re comfortable with it or not. Are you struggling o reconcile a loved one’s choices, preferences and beliefs with yours? We’re discussing as many LGBTQ lifestyle issues as we can on this edition of Frank Relationships. Yeah. As always, those are my babies. Thanks for getting daddy’s daughter today. What are some of the difficulties that the LGBTQ community are facing that are unique to them these days? I’m going to throw that question to Fr. Joe. Fr. Joe? Fr. Joe: Yes, good morning. Frank: Weigh in. Fr. Joe: Well some of the… I’m pastor of the Catholic Church in Baltimore and some of the unique struggles of the LGBTQ community is whether Catholic Church would / does accept that in parishes and trying to find their place. So many Catholic gay and there’s been few people seek for a church where they can just be a part of a church community like anybody else would want to be. There are a couple of churches in the Baltimore area that are known as a gay-friendly churches but that’s only about 4 or 5 churches, I think. So a few years ago, we started a gay-lesbian outreach group in our church. It’s called LEAD which stands for LGBTQ Educating and Affirming Diversity. So we used that as a vehicle to which gay-lesbian people can find their place in the church and just be—what I might say as normal, ordinary Catholic parish parishioners and get involved in the life of the church. Frank: Okay, and my stylist friendwho’s on the line, we’re going to introduce him in just a moment but what are some of the political and spiritual implications of the LGBTQ lifestyle? Fr. Joe: Some of the spiritual implications are as they come together at church community, some of them are couples in a relationship, some of them are couples who want to be married because of their relationship. The Catholic Church is not allowed at the current time to do a lesbian-gay weddings. So many of the people who do get married, get married by a minister of another denomination or the justice as a peace but they still keep their membership as a part of the same [unclear] community. So that’s somewhat of a political and spiritual struggle for them and for an individual parish church like our own. Frank: Does anyone else want to weigh in on that? I’d like to. My name is CJ Jones. It’s not just an issue in the Catholic community but in church in general. I am a member of… Well, first of all, my company is Blue Diamond Entertainment. It is a quality events for mature women in their life, host events for lesbians, women mostly and as a Christian and a Baptist Church, I am blessed to be a part of the ministry of love and acceptance. In Atlanta, there are a few affirming churches but it is still a struggle for the LGBTQ community to practice religion, Christianity and peace. So I’m thankful that I am a member of the church because it is a problem. People want to worship and they are identified as LGBTQ to be comfortable in a safe place [unclear]. Frank: We’ve got a robust line-up to help, to develop our understanding of all things LGBTQ. The first has been the head of the St. Matthew Catholic Church for over 25 years and he’s no stranger to grappling with the issues that trouble a community. 4 years ago, his church started a gay-lesbian outreach group known as LEAD. It provides a community of marginalized people that can support one another and discuss their relationship with the church. Through his work, it appears that the line between supporting the LGBTQ community and remaining loyal to the Catholic Church has been found by using one key concept, maybe two: love and acceptance. To tell us all about is Fr. Joe Muth, Jr. We’re also joined by the newly married, same-sex couple and members of Fr. Joe’s parish and benefactors of LEAD, they are Adrian and Marie. And we also have the stylist to the stars. With 23 years of experience and service to the hair care industry and a resume that includes styles that have graced the pages of Hair Color and Design, and Modern Salon Magazines, as well as decorated the Mtv and Comedy Central networks, he’s no stranger to the LGBTQ community because he’s also a gay man. He’s here to share some of the challenges and victories that he’s encountered along his journey. He is Mezei Jefferson. And rounding out our all-star cast is an events and party planner extraordinaire. Her niche market is what she terms “mature women in the life”. She had her first party when she was 5 and she’s been partying ever since. And she’s currently preparing for the largest black pride event in the country, if not the world, during this upcoming labor day weekend. She is CJ Jones. Frank: So… CJ: Hello everyone. Frank: If you want to learn how married life is going for the LGBTQ-ers, how the community is dealing with the aftermath of the tragic events at the Pulse Night Club and how you can gain a more compassionate perspective on the challenges that come with those who live this lifestyle, then stay tuned as your Frank Relationships Team raises LGBTQ awareness on this edition of Frank Relationships. Welcome to the show, everybody. Fr. Joe: Good morning, again. CJ: Good morning, thank you. Frank: Before we get deep into today’s subject matter, I want to check in to see what’s going on in the news. That’s a short segment that we do that I’d like everybody to participate in. So guests, don’t be bashful. We want you to… We don’t want to be the only ones running our mouth during the segment. And Fr. Joe, you may get plenty of times in the confessional with this topic. The first up is there’s a… Nancy tells me about the Steve Harvey’s Summer Sex Challenge. Nancy: Okay, okay, okay, let’s just like cut the crap right now. you see how he preface this? CJ: Yes. Frank: I put it on you. Nancy: He said “Nancy, tells me…” Frank: I don’t know anything about it other than… I don’t know… Nancy: Now if it was a… I don’t want to say “politically correct” because Frank has politically correct challenges. He’s challenged in that regard. But he… If he felt like truly in his shoes with it, he would just announce it. Frank: I’m not in my shoes with… I don’t know anything about it. Nancy: Now he’s clueless… Well Nancy said… Frank: Okay. Nancy: Yes… Frank: Here to stipulatations. Nancy: Yes. Frank: If you’re in a new relationship, Steve Harvey is suggesting no sex for 90 days so that you get to know each other on a deeper level and if you’re married or in a long term committed relationship, have sex everyday for 90 days to brighten the spark in your relationship. Frank: I’ma toss this to the married folks on the line. Well, the two married people on the line, Adrian and Marie. What you got? What do you say about this? Nancy: They’re not talking. And I would like to say Mezei is also married so feel free Mezei to jump in. Mezei: Well, actually I agree with it. I think sex is a big part of a relationship. It’s not everything but it is a big part because it brings that intimacy and that connection that… you know, that I think if you’re not having sex really you don’t have… As far as being single and not having sex for 90 days, actually I also agree with that. I’m kind of old-fashioned and I’ve never been one who just want to jump into bed. I would like to get to know somebody and my motto’s always kind of been, I want someone that can stimulate my mind as well as everything else. You know, so that things [unclear] when we’re having sex, I want to have that when we’re not having sex. So I think in that 90 days, that gives you time to really know somebody and still [unclear] and just not give your body away to whoever comes along. Frank: Does that have any—does your belief there have any religious ref—is it connected to a religion at all? Or is it simply your belief? Nancy: Yeah, what works for you? Mezei: I assume it gets really… Well, a little bit of both. You know, being black, growing up in a black church, you are taught that and then… I’m not going to lie, as of a young person, we all had our wild day, one night [unclear] but most of us had our wild days but as an adult, I really realized this isn’t the life that I want to live and especially being a gay man, I saw that we were always stereotyped that we just want to have sex and we have sex with everybody in anywhere, and I never felt that. That wasn’t me. So I think that was part of it… One, I didn’t want to live up to the stereotypes; two, for religious reasons; and three, just because my parents did good and brought me up right. Nancy: Nice. Frank: And—what’d you got, Nancy? Nancy: Actually, I think we’re having like a little bit of click, click on the line and Fr. Joe, you’re the only person on the land line so I think you’re going to have like be super still… and maybe— Fr. Joe: To be super still? Nancy: Yeah, I think it might be— Fr. Joe: Because of the question or because of the landline? Nancy: No, no… Catholic Church: Yeah, yes… Nancy: Oh no, I don’t want you to be still because of the question but we’re getting like a little teeny bit of feedback and I’m only suspicious because you’re the only one on the landline that it could be you. It could be. Fr. Joe: Okay. Alright. Nancy: But no worries, no worries. Jeff’s not worried, we’re not worried. So… But I want to interject that one of the reasons that I thought was particularly cool to bring this in the news topic to this show is number one, pre-marital sex, I think is antique now in terms of challenging the church and face traditions because people, that’s just where they are now. Nobody even—there’s been this resurgence of waiting until you get married. It’s like the next new old thing is waiting until you get married to have sex. Fr. Joe: Yeah, that’s some of that… Nancy: Yes, and I think that it’s important that while a lot of people cast dispersions and they judge the LGBTQ community on a lot of different issues and what I think that this pre-marital sex conversation, because ultimately that’s what it is, when to have it, when not to have it especially if you’re just meeting somebody. It really highlights for me the places where we judge a community for the way they live but we forget that we aren’t exactly living biblical lives either. You know? Fr. Joe: Exactly. Nancy: Yeah, and to me, this particular challenge highlights the fact that we’ve gotten so comfortable with the way we have— Frank: One aspect. Nancy: Yeah, one aspect of the way we’re not going to do what the book says do or atleast what the teachings say do and yet we want to glare at somebody else who’s trying to live the best life they can live also. Frank: I got to stress that I don’t know what the book says… Nancy: Oh. It’s quite alright. Most of the people that are living by don’t know what it is either… Nkenge Cunningham: One of the things that strikes me as a little odd is that—because I’m a teacher. My name is… I’m a teacher and I work with young people. Nancy: You can tell your name. Nkenge: Sure. My name is Nancy Cunningham. I work for D.C. public schools. I actually teach at Roosevelt Senior High School. Nancy: Okay. Nkenge: And one of the things that contradicts this belief is that the sex education that students see at. Whether they want to or not— Nancy: Wow. Nkenge: —whether their parents want them to or not. So the health department comes into the schools and teaches children how to have safe sex in their presentation. There may be one slide on abstinence and the remaining slides are about safe sex. And then they give them the tools before they live to have safe sex. Nancy: Condoms. Nkenge: Exactly. Condoms, dental dam, all… I mean, I learned a lot. Nkenge: And sometimes you look at the faces of the students and you’re clear that some of them are clueless about sex. Nancy: Yeah. Nkenge: And so, to me, how we are preparing these up and coming adults to even take on this challenge, I think we’re contradicting what it is that we’re doing by teaching them about it… Nancy: Right. Nkenge: And telling them to wait [unclear]… Nancy: Right, right. Nkenge: So that’s—it’s a big contradiction there. Fr. Joe: And the presentations, is anything talked about terms of abstinence? Is that a consideration or is it just the tools of having safe sex? Nkenge: When I say there’s like one slide out of 20 on abstinence,— Nancy: There’s one. Nkenge: —literally, there’s one slide and I’ve actually gone to the percentages in. You realize you have one slide that says you can also abstain… Nancy: Yeah… Nkenge: Everything else is showing them that these are the precautions… Nancy: [unclear]. Fr. Joe: Sure. Nkenge: They don’t claim that they claim that because the numbers are high with sexually transmitted disease is there are preventing, but you know, coming from that [unclear] of abstaining as prevention, they really don’t push that. Fr. Joe: Abstinence is considered only on a religious part of the question or is it considered something as necessary even in relationships of people that are not particularly religious? Nkenge Yeah… There is no… Nancy: Separation of church… Nkenge: Yeah… Nancy: …and churches. [unclear] not really just conversation going on. Nkenge: No religious conversation. Nancy: Got it. Frank: Do you have a suggestion on what you would like to see happen with your children? Nkenge: I do because I’m a teacher and a mother of 4. None of my children are having sex. Nancy: And for the record, she looks like16. Still wish you got 4 kids wants to be adoption… Frank: But to make your conversation what you just said, relevant, how old are your children? Nkenge: Right. So my oldest— Frank: If your 30, that would be… Nancy: Yeah, problematic. Nkenge: My oldest is 17. Frank/Nancy: Okay. Nkenge: And she’s just graduated from high school so… Sex is something that we talk about quite often. The one right under her is 14 and then there’s a 12, and then a 10 year old. So sex is definitely happening. Nancy: Happening. Yeah. Nkenge: I mean, the conversation. Nancy: The conversation, right. Got it. Nkenge: They’ve been asking me about my first time and I’m not sure I’m ready to even share but… Frank: How could you not share that with your 17 year old? Nkenge: It’s coming. Nkenge: It’s coming. It’s going to come. Frank: Alright. Nkenge: Yeah. Frank: And I applaud her for even asking. Frank: Like I… Nkenge: Right. Frank: Wow. My daughter, if she asked me that, I would be— Nancy: Intimidated? Frank: I’d be amazed. Frank: I’d appreciate her asking that. So you know… Nkenge: Absolutely. And I think that’s one of the ways that we can start having these conversations about our experiences because our experiences, I mean, I’m proud of my experience with sex whether they were decisions I made that I—at that time I wasn’t very proud of. I’m always willing to share those things and those are the things that we are forgetting to do to share those real life experiences when it came to sex, the regrettable experiences and those that we really cherish. Instead, we put it in a box of, you know, what is right versus wrong when no, this is my experience with it. I think that’s one of the ways that we can actually help make these relationships healthy. Yeah. CJ: I’d like to chime in on that a little bit. Frank; Please. CJ: I went to Wilson High School in Washington D.C. Frank: Ah, what year did you come out? CJ: I’m 45 years old. Frank: We might have been in school together. CJ: And I just go to that sex education class. I think the assumption with the schools is that the children are going to be exposed to it whether they have the class or not and I do not have any children but I can kind of sort of put myself in that situation wondering “is my child is having sex?” or are they thinking about it? I like to be on the other side and tell parents that you may not think they are, but a lot of times they are or they’re thinking about it and it just needs to be addressed. I did not have a sex conversation at all with my mother and I probably wasn’t the best child as far as being educated sexually. So in situations, I’ve involved myself in situations that maybe I probably shouldn’t have been involved in as well as being afraid to get pregnant because that was the sex education that I got. CJ: I did not get pregnant. CJ: I don’t want to take care of a child. So there was a fear attached to mine which was not necessarily the reason why a person should not have sex. They should be educated on the ramifications of having sex and possibly getting pregnant or… and sex with some type of the [unclear] having sex. It’s a very important conversation for children and the best person to have it is your parents even though it’s a very uncomfortable subject, probably for your child and the parent. I would encourage parents to go ahead and start the conversation. CJ: You don’t wait for your child to do it. That’s speaking from a child’s perspective as an adult, not from a parent’s perspective because I’m not a parent. So… Frank: Welcome to Frank Relationships, a show for you my brethren who like me, are too young to be considered old and too old to be considered young. It’s also for those of you that love and support us. We’re here to provide weekly wisdom, conversation and the information that’ll help create better parents and partners. I’m Frank Love and you can find me, my blog and my various social media incarnations at franklove.com. You can also find me on ABC’s Good Morning Washington most Friday mornings during the 9 o’ clock hour. If you’re listening to the show on Blog Talk Radio, please follow us and if via iTunes, please subscribe so that you can effortlessly get each week’s show. Also, if you’re enjoying the show and of course you are, please share with your family and/or friends on your favourite social media platform. We are looking to add new friends to our social media family over the course of the next week so please help us, help our community by spreading the word about the show. Greetings to my super duper co-host, Nancy Goldring. Nancy: Good morning, Frank. Frank: The consummate generalist. Nancy: Indeed. Frank: We’re also joined by today’s visiting co-host, Nkenge Cunningham. Greetings, Nkenge. Nkenge: Greetings. Frank: Well, I would ask you who are you and what do you do but you already… [cross talking] Yes, we already know that. alright, alright. Moving on… Nancy: He’s a little slow in the intake today. Go on… Frank: AS is the case this week with Nkenge, there’s a visiting guest co-host chair available every week here in the studio. If you’re in the Washington D.C. area or travelling to the D.C. area and want to join us in the studio on a given Thursday morning, email me at frank@franklove.com and let me know. Nancy: So Frank, before we go into further, I just need to know something. Frank: Kick it. Nancy: So… Nkenge, I don’t know if you know, and its only kind of leaked out to me recently, but Frank travels like a lot. Nkenge: Okay. Nancy: A lot. So I’m on the brink of saying… Where’ve you been Frank and where’re you going? Nkenge: Hey. Nancy: Women love to ask like that. Nkenge: That’s nice, that’s nice…. Nancy: Where’ve you been? And where’re you going? Nkenge: And where’re you going? Frank: You getting that text right now from my wife? Nancy: Because she wants to know too. Frank: She knows. Thank you. Nancy: Awesome. Frank: She actually rolls with me sometimes. Frank: Last week, I was in New Hide Park, New York and last week I was also in German Town, Tennessee which is right outside of Memphis. Frank: Soon as the show’s finished recording today, I’m in Cleveland. And then next week, I’m going to Dallas… Nkenge: Wow. Frank: And then the following week, I’m going to some place like Harvey, Illinois. Nancy: Deep. Frank: You ever heard of Harvey, Illinois? Nancy: I have not. Nkenge: Never. Frank: Yeah, so… Frank: Well I’ll be there. Nancy: You know, he gets to do all those travelling… Frank: Frank in the house. Nancy: …and what do I do? Hammer away— Frank: Yes. Nancy: —getting this show down… Frank: Thank you. Nancy: You know… Nkenge: Thank you, that’s right. Good response. Nancy: I think that’s cool. Frank: Well… And if anybody wants me to come visit, book club, church, whatever have you… Frank: Email me at frank@franklove.com. Thanks for setting that up, Nancy. Nancy: Oh. See, see… I try to like… Nancy: And he always manages to make it work for himself. It’s just killer. I’m telling you… Frank: Okay. Alright. Fr. Joe, would you tell us about the evolution of you and your church as an advocate for the LGBTQ community? Fr. Joe: Yeah about 6 years ago, we were invited to a cook-out actually at my brother’s house and there’s an organization in the Washington area called New Ways Ministry and they wanted to kind of—and they’re a liaison group between the LGBTQ community and the Catholic Church. They just wanted to kind of talk to people about their mission and what they’re doing. And so we had a number of people from the church come to this gathering. At the end of the gathering, somebody said “So what are we going to do?” the woman who asked that question, she’s a woman in the parish. She has 5 children and has a gay son and a lesbian daughter. She said, “We need to sit down and talk about this.” So we started to sit down to talk about it and eventually, our group LEAD started out of that small little gathering of conversation. So LEAD is made up of people that are gay, people that are lesbian, people that are couples and parents of gay and lesbian children, and people referred to us as allies who support the gay and lesbian people on the issues. We’ve been meeting now once a month for about 5 years. Frank: Got any story of success how you received? Fr. Joe: Well when we started, it was during the… initially around the same-sex marriage debate in the state of Maryland. But the LEAD group was very conscientious about going around to the other parish groups and say “This is who we are, this is why we’re here, we want to be a part of a church like anybody else and…” You know there were some conversations about people whether they were going to accept them or not but they were very forthright, open and the conversations developed and they’re another parish group right now… and it’s been very accepted on the parish level and I meet with bishop on a regular basis to let him know what’s going on and he’s been very gracious and accepting of this group and things like that. so we’ve had a number of interesting developments along these lines. It’s kind of—help us grow and develop along these ways. Frank: Nice. Mezei… Mezei: Yes? Frank: June 26 marked the one year anniversary of the passing of the supreme court’s decision on gay marriage equality. Why did that… Are you married? Oh no, you… Frank: You are married. Okay. Mezei: Yes. Frank: Why did that matter so much? Mezei: Well it mattered because gay people want to have the same rights and should have rights as everyone else and not being able to visit your partner in the hospital or if they die and have a house or home together, it was very hard to really keep this because sometimes the family maybe didn’t agree with the situation or agreed with it just because that you were, both alive but they wants one of the partner’s past, they might come and take the house away. I mean, this has happened to numerous friends of mine. And I mean, that wasn’t the reason why I got married but those are some of the key things and you want someone that you can grow old with, spend your life with and have it recognized by everyone. That was mainly one of the reasons why I got married. You know it was the right person. I know this person, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and I wanted the world to know that and have it be legally binding as well. Frank: Another powerful date is June 28, which is the 47th anniversary of the Stone Wall Rights. Admittedly, up until a few days ago, I didn’t know what the Stone Wall Rights were. I never heard of it. I guess call me ignorant or— Nancy: Unaware. Frank: —unaware. Whatever you want to call it. Nancy: Well to cut you some slack. Frank: Yeah. But… Jeff: Ignorant. Nancy: Oh man… Frank: Okay. But see… see, Jeff [unclear]… Nancy: [unclear] Frank: Jeff’s got a different persp—he’s got a different like positioning because he’s got his 3 in New York. So… Nancy: Right… Frank: I mean, I’ve just been to New York a million times but I don’t know… Nkenge: Visiting… Frank: I don’t know the landmarks in New York other than Central Park. Nkenge: Times Square. Nancy: He needs to get back to the city. Fr. Joe: Yeah… Nancy: So much more there. Frank: So why—maybe CJ, well CJ, why was that significant? Why was Stone Wall significant? CJ: Well, it was significant because a lot of people lost their lives… the hatred. Frank: A lot like what? A lot like 5? CJ: Anytime that happens, whether it’s gay or straight or religious reason, it’s a tragedy. So just to remember that occurrence is… just remembering the people who were involved [unclear]… Mezei: It was also at the beginning of the gay and liberation movement, a lot of ways to this country. Fr. Joe: It was really gay people who were tired of being harassed by police and tired of being secretively going to places without being known. It gave them a chance to kind of step out and begin to say, “You know, we are people too. We need to have our rights recognized” and people stood up to begin to say “We’re not taking the harassment anymore and gay liberation was born out of that.” Frank: And can anybody weigh in on what happened? Because although I know something happened and President Obama named it a national landmark—I believe—I don’t know the story. So can somebody, anyone? Nancy: Well, I can tell you not because I was there, however… Nancy: Because I know the way he likes to roll… So but what I learned recently actually, was that the police raids of places like Stone Wall was common and what made Stone Wall uncommon and correct me if I’m wrong, anyone on the line—was that it was one of the… it may be the first time documented, first time, that the people fought back. Fr. Joe: That’s right. Nancy: And said “no more.” Mezei: Correct. Yes. Nkenge: [unclear]. Frank: And… there’s a movie that I’m thinking about. I don’t remember the name of it but it was an Al Pacino movie. Somebody’s got to remember the name of it. It was an Al Pacino movie where he was a police officer and he was sent into the gay community— Fr. Joe: Was it Serpico? Frank: No, that’s another one but that’s one about police corruption. But this was an Al Pacino movie where he was sent into the gay community. He was a heterosexual and to investigate something but at the end of the movie, he ended up becoming gay. Nancy: Really? Frank: Yeah. I don’t remember the name… CJ: He was probably already gay. Frank: Well okay, alright. Nancy: As a whole other show, CJ. [Cross talking] Fr. Joe: Frank? Frank: Yes? Fr. Joe: Frank, I would say that probably I don’t remember that specific movie but he probably did become gay, he probably recognized that he was gay. Nancy: That he was gay, right… Jeff: It’s called “Cruising.” Frank: Cruising. That’s—okay. Nancy: Cruising, wow… Jeff: 1980. Frank: 1980, alright. Interesting. And so, is anybody familiar with this movie other than, I guess me? Nancy: On to the next question. Frank: Wow. Frank: Okay, okay. Nancy: Interesting, interesting. Frank: Okay. I would love—I can’t believe I know a movie… Nancy: Don’t rest on your [unclear] right? Frank: Okay. But Fr. Joe though, the church’s position has remained consistent over many, many years to say the least. But how have you managed to create a line between the church and the LGBTQ community that’s able to remain and sustain? Fr. Joe: Well I can say something about that but then maybe Adrian and Marie want to say something about that because they’ve walked that line themselves. Fr. Joe: But I’ve maintained the line by reaching out to gayness with people myself and having them know that St. Matthew is a welcoming place but also on let’s say on the other side, the hierarchy side going down on a regular basis to talk to the bishop to let him know what we’re doing. So that he doesn’t get surprised or sandbagged or hear what’s going on and have to call me in or something. So I just let him know upfront beforehand in what we’re doing and he appreciates that as a different way of handling things rather than finding out you might say about what we’re doing and all that kind of stuff. So it’s been a fairly healthy relationship on both sides with the gay and lesbian community and with the bishop of the diocese but Adrian and Marie might have something to say about that because they are the ones who have actually weather the storm in their life and are coming to terms to [unclear] and the parish community. Frank: Adrian and Marie, what say you? Adrian: Yeah, I mean there are a lot of layers to our church, a lot of layers to our humanity, if you will and the way Marie and I came to the church was—came back to the Catholic Church if you will. We were kind of raised Catholic a little bit but then came back really—because there’s this beautiful thing about the Catholic Church. It’s called these Catholic social principle, Catholic social teaching. And the one thing that I really embrace from those is that everyone has god-given dignity within themselves and if we have the ability to have our own dignity and then we get the dignity of everybody else, then we are truly within the gospel. And so that’s what we believed in. We believe that our church has the opportunity to model that to other communities as well. [unclear] we try to live our life, going down the street, going into church, going into work. It really is—everybody has this beautiful part of them that we really want to [unclear]. Frank: And how has the face of advocacy changed over the years for individuals like yourselves? So Fr. Joe, how has it changed over the years in the church? And Adrian and—or anyone, how have you seen it changed as a member of the community? Fr. Joe: Well… I’ll go first. In the community’s changed because of real stricture against gay and lesbian people years ago and some of that still exist but there’s more of a welcoming presence at some parish communities—not just Catholic but another church communities throughout the Baltimore area. There’s a number of Methodist churches and [unclear] churches and [unclear] churches that are very open to the gay and lesbian community, and more on a public way not so much privately of past to saying “by the way, you’re welcome here.” So it’s become more of a public welcoming of gay and lesbian community and that’s been one big shift over the years. Nancy: Adrian and Marie? Marie: I mean I think definitely when Pope Francis became the pope, he made a big difference as far as the tone of the institutional church which has a huge impact globally. I mean, I think that’s the thing that we have to remember right is that the global Catholic Church had just so many countries, and countries and different places socially in regards to the human rights and in regards to LGBTQ people. So for example, I believe it was 2013 or 2014 like the advocate, the gay magazine made Pope Francis like [unclear] for them and lots of people in the gay community, like it ruffled their feathers. They were kind of upset that just because the pope said “who am I to judge?” he was then on the cover of the advocate. But you know… there’s such a huge impact to the pope saying that. I mean, in our country—I mean it may make a huge difference in our country but you have to remember like in countries like my own, like Dominican Republic for the pope to say, you know mostly Catholic country, for the pope to say “who am I to judge?” It might be the difference of somebody being killed or beat up or… you know, it’s a matter of survival in this country. And so, I think that there’s been a [unclear] in the tone of the institutional church which I think lends itself for communities to then, you know, for the small feature to be [unclear] for the people to be able to claim their space in the church and live their lives authentically and begin coming out of the closet in the church. Because like, [unclear] there’s so many people in the church that are feeling various roles or keeping things running who are gay, who are lesbian, who are trans, who are queer, who are bisexual. So I think that there’s been a big shift, I mean I think there’s a long way to go still but you know, progress is [unclear]… Frank: There’s— Fr. Joe: What Marie says is important for us at St. Matthew because we have people in our church. 45 different countries. Fr. Joe: We have a big immigrant mix of people across the world that come here who made their home at Baltimore and it’s really important that we address this because of the great mix of people that we have here in our parish. Frank: Something you said Marie,that I want to piggyback on… We did a show years ago with a gentleman who was talking about the gay and lesbian community in Jamaica and some of the things that he’s dealt with, he was saying that you can be killed in Jamaica for being gay. I mean, for those of you who want to listen to that show, you can check out the archives of the show. Another aspect that we haven’t quite touched on yet is that there are people in your church I would assume—because it’s just a microcosm of larger society that are not okay with LEAD. Is that correct or not okay with the gay and lesbian lifestyle or the LGBTQ community. Well first, verify that. Is that true? And if it is, what’s that interaction like? Fr. Joe: Yeah, there are some people and there have been—they are handful of people who have talked to me and some of them have gone to another parish because they felt that comfortable about a church, a welcoming gay and lesbian people in an open way and they’ve gone to another parish but when they’ve left, I said to them, “Are you going to another parish because you think there’s no gay and lesbian people there either?” Fr. Joe: “Or do you just think you’re going there because you’re not as publicly aware?” So that some have left the church, gone to another Catholic parish because they have [unclear] we thought which is fine. People are free to go where they want depending on the parish that they’re connected to. But there has been some [unclear] that hasn’t been a public outcry but it has most of the time, people would either come and talk to me or they would just leave and I would have to track them down to find out where they are and have a conversation about that. Nancy: You know Fr. Joe… Fr. Joe: Yes? Nancy; I had a brief conversation with Adrian and Marie last night and one of the things that came up in conversation was this whole idea of homosexuality in nature. And one of the brief videos you sent us, you make a comment about the birds and trees and you say there [unclear] birds and there are ravens versus there are gay person like the tree is to hold all birds and there was some illusion to the fact that there is homosexuality in nature. Can yuo give us some background on where you were going in that particular homily? Fr. Joe: Yes, from my deep scientific background… Nancy: Come on… Fr. Joe: I was just a [unclear] fact, I mean I wasn’t saying that based on a scientific evidence. I was [unclear] to the fact that in nature, there is homosexuality of all levels. I mean, that’s I get [unclear] studies in percentages and all that but just my own basic knowledge of the world and of life and I was just using that in the homily to kind of bring that message home to people that people are welcome to all the birds [unclear] to the tree and all of the people are welcome to the church… Nancy: Got it, got it. Fr. Joe: …no matter what condition or circumstance may be. Yeah. Frank: You’re listening to Frank Relationships and we’re joined by Fr. Joe Muth of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Baltimore. His parish has a gay and lesbian outreach known as LEAD. It provides a community of marginalized people that can support one another and discuss their relationship with the church. We also have 2 of Fr. Joe’s parishioners. They’re same-sex newlyweds, Adrian and Marie and then we have the stylist to the stars, Mezei Jefferon who’s a guy’s man and the restaurateur and event party planner extraordinaire, CJ Jones. We’re discussing issues related to the LGBTQ community. Fr. Joe, can you please tell us what you’re up to and how we can find you? Fr. Joe: Yes, you can find me at the St. Matthew’s in Baltimore. Would you like my address or—? Frank: Sure. Whatever you’d like to give. Fr. Joe: the address is 5401 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD. The phone is 410-433-2300. You’re welcome to call or come by to visit. We have church services on the weekend at 8:45 and 11 on Sunday. You’re welcome to come by and visit and see what’s going on. Frank: And Mezei? Fr. Joe: We have a pretty lively experience and you’re welcome to be a part of it. Frank: Nice. And Mezei, what are you up to? Mezei: Actually right now, we are in essence. So we have activation at Essence weekend. So anybody is down here, stop by our booth [unclear] Carson booth and say what’s up, get some product and some consultations. Nancy: Oh. Consultations… Frank: One of the things that rolls right into my next question… and you are knee-deep into the entertainment and beauty… Yeah, I guess the [unclear]— Nancy: Fashion… Frank: Fashion community. How is… It is to someone like myself, I’m heterosexual, married, I watch tv once in a while but there’s so much—when I see someone getting their hair done, it appears that that person is—if it’s a male, it is often someone who seems to identify… I don’t even know how to say this right. It’s someone who identifies— Nancy: Help us out, Mezei… Frank: —with the gay community or with the LGBTQ community. Please, talk about that coexistence, your experience there, anything you want to say because I need education. Mezei: Okay, well you know… I agree with you to a point. When I was a stylist in the salon, a lot of other men that were in the salon or that I knew that did hair were gay males. The— Frank: Give it a percentage. Mezei: —interesting part… Frank: Give it a loose percentage. We’re not holding you to it. Mezei: Yeah, yeah. Frank: But 80? 30? 100? Mezei: I would say a good 50-50. Nancy: 50-50? Mezei: Or a 60-40. Frank: 60-40 on the… which side? Mezei: 60 – gay, 40 – straight. Mezei: [unclear] a lot of hairdressers are straight. Mezei: Straight males. Mezei; But the thing that I found interesting when I started doing education and kind of took my career to a higher level, I was one of the minorities as far as homosexual male. Nancy: Oh really? Frank: So when you decided to up your game, you feel like it changed the landscape? The landscape changed? Frank: Really? Mezei: It did. Yeah. And obviously I’m speaking just for my career path. I was on a team of stylists and there was… I would say 15-20 guys out of maybe 100 people that were on the team nationwide and I was one of only 2 that were openly gay. Now if someone was closeted, then I don’t know but out of openly gay, there was only 2 of us. Frank: You got any speculation of how many might have been closeted? Nancy: Mezei… Nkenge: Looking for stats… Mezei: I’m not going to touch that. Nancy: Thank you. Thank you. Frank: I mean it’s a real… Nancy: Thank you. Frank: It’s real. It’s a real component of the conversation. And I’ve got to—there’s a question that I—or there’s an issue that I hear people talk about all the time and it’s what is up wih the very feminine aspect of being a gay male? So you have… there seems to be different qua—or segments of being a gay male. You have men who have… Well see— Nancy: But there’s a polarity, there’s an extreme… Frank: Yeah. Nancy; There are men that you would never dream were homosexual and then there are men that they— Frank: Very feminine and almost what some call “flaming”. Nancy: They accentuate the fun. Mezei: Right. Frank/Nancy: Yes. Frank: And then you have men who have sex with men and they don’t considered themselves “gay”… So please, help me out. Mezei: Okay. Frank: What you got? Mezei: So… Well I’ll speak for myself. Frank: Nkenge is looking at me like “what?” Mezei: But I think when you’re growing up gay, you don’t have a lot of visibility to role models—atleast not in my time. In this day and age, you have a lot more which is great. But in my time, only gays you saw on tv or in the news were the very effeminate men. Frank: No, that’s not true. That’s not true. Nancy: In the movies? Frank: The Rock Huds— Nancy: In the movies. Frank: No, Rock Hudson who was a—he was a man-man. Nancy: No, he’s saying “who we’re openly gay”… Frank: Okay. You didn’t say “openly”, he said “gay.” Nancy: Right. Yeah, that were open. Frank: The only gay men. But see, there’s a difference. Frank: Openly gay and gay are— Mezei: Right. True, openly gay. Mezei: So I think sometimes people lean towards being more feminine just because they think that when you’re gay or when you come out as gay, you have to fall into a category. But for me, I’ve always felt that—you know, you have to be true to yourself and I never wanted to dress up in drag, not that there’s anything wrong with it. And I just was never openly feminine and a lot of people, a lot of co-workers for years, didn’t know I was gay until I would say something. So I just think it’s how you feel and sometimes it is your surroundings and what you see, you kind of gravitate towards one side or the other. Now for the [unclear] guys, I just think that they’re just not ready to come out or they’re afraid of what society is going to say. I have a hard time with that just because I feel like once I came out to my family and my family and friends accepted me, then I felt felt good inside that I can’t be around those type of people like there’s nothing against them and I’m not one of those people that would ever out anybody but the closeted that’s fine but I feel it’s negativity because you have to be true to yourself and if you’re not living your truth self then how can you ever be truly happy? Nancy: In your professional life, now I know you say where you are now you’re one of just 2 openly gay men. Talk to us like about the challenges and the victories of your life as a gay man. Mezei: I have been fortunate and I wouldn’t say the challenges were just more [unclear]… Bullying and people calling names and things like that… when I was not—I didn’t consider myself gay then so them seeing it really bothered me. Nancy It was hurtful. Mezei: And then—because I was having the internal struggle as well. So I would say that was the hardest part but with that being said, it was no way near what gay youths are going through today. Mezei: There’s nothing like that. My heart goes out to the youth of today because I don’t know if I could deal with them. [unclear] that they deal with considering now we have social media, and all of that so like that as a big elemnt to it. Mezei: So that would probably be my most negative. My most positive is my family and friends. Like I come from a big family, I have 7 brothers, all of which were very accepting and all of my best friends are straight. So they were very accepting and my family, I always tell my family like “ Sometimes I wish you were one of those families that they just—“ I came out and then we never discussed it because my family is overly involved in [unclear] and who [unclear]. Yeah. Before my wedding, my mother said, “So we started talking to adoption agencies…” and I was like, “[unclear] the wedding have to wait?” Nancy: She wants grandchildren. Nkenge: That’s right. Mezei: Yeah, well she’s got 7 other boys so she’s [unclear]… Mezei: So I would say that’s my biggest success. It’s just maintaining a relationship with my family and friends and not having to hide who I am. You know, they are all very involved in my life and that has helped me in not making so like I have to hide who I am or when I’m around my family, I can’t talk about who I’m dating or what’s going on in my life. They’ve always been very involved. Nancy: Beautiful. Mezei: Career-wise, I really—if it has ever [unclear] my career, I don’t know. Like I’ve never felt as work ostracized or criticized behind my back for anything like that. Everybody’s been pretty… it’s been pretty well received and I feel like the people that didn’t receive it well kept it to themselves. Nancy: Got it. Got it. That’s fabulous. Frank: I know you got a job off the line so thanks for joining us, Mezei. Mezei: Oh thanks for having me. Nancy: Yes, thank you, thank you so much. We really appreciate it. Good luck with the event. Mezei: Thank you, buh-bye. Nn: Okay. Nkenge: Buh-bye. Frank: Marie and Adrian, how long had you guys been together before the marriage equality legislations passed? Marie: So we’ve been together—oh [unclear] know these things don’t I… Frank: No you don’t… No… Nkenge: Somebody did their homework. Frank: Yeah. I’m like you, I don’t know how long I was… Marie: [unclear] backwards very well. I got to work on that. yeah, it’s like 3 ½ years now. Marie: And so we came around right when these things were starting to peak… Marie: …in a way. But I will say… So we were able to get legally married in the state of Maryland. Thank you to a lot of folks who did a lot of hard work on that, on the frontline on that piece. But you know… I didn’t want to say something real quick, you know we’re on the radio and we were talking about our friend [unclear]… and we don’t look like Rosie O’Donnell or Ellen, you know… like they’re these iconic lesbians out there but like there’s a lot of images of what everybody looks like. I just don’t know—and [unclear] I think about is Michael Saccomanno as an athlete and what’s that going to mean for young guys coming up as athletes and being gay and finally having a voice out there that sounds like their’s and that they can relate to. I don’t want to go back there but I just think about those images that we’ve been said into our heads of what gay and lesbian people look like, what they sound like, what they act like, well you’ll never know who you’re coming across or what they live in. I don’t know, just treat everybody with respect if we can. Frank: Absolutely. Fr. Joe: We talk about LEAD here at the parish. We really talk about the fact that we’re saving lives, young people that struggle with their sexuality, their sexual identity. Sometimes, the suicide rate is pretty high and we try to provide an opportunity for people to atleast be able to talk and talk through what they’re going through. So we see ourselves as sometimes saving lives, not just having a parish group that kind of help people get along with each other. Frank: Nice. Nkenge: Yeah, so I just—Mezei shared about his family being a big anchor of support. I wanted to ask Marie and Adrian, how does your family show support in your relationship? Frank: If they do. Marie: Our families have been incredibly supportive actually. They were crucial part of our wedding, so important for us that they were there. I mean actually, still a lot of my family’s still in the Dominican Republic and so… we weren’t sure how many of them were going to show up just because it’s a long track from there to Baltimore. And so we made sure they knew they were invited but we also made sure that they knew that they weren’t expected to come. And a little bit too also… I knew it would be, although they supported us and they love us, I think it’s also culturally difficult, right? But oh my gosh, we thought like we were going to have like between 120 to 130 people at our wedding. We ended up with 156 which is crazy. Marie: And so much in my family came up and even my grandmother who I have a very special relationship with, who I think is still reconciling the fact that I’m gay, she made it. She came even though she didn’t totally agree with it. She loves me and she loves Adrian and it was important for her to be there. so we’ve been very lucky, I would say—I mean not without struggles but definitely very lucky. Well [unclear] but yeah, we invited people and if they wanted to come, they’re welcome too and if they don’t want to come, that’s alright. We can’t decide what’s in their heart. We can just decide in ours and open it up as best we can. Nkenge: Nice. Frank: You guys may remember at the beginning of the year, we did a show with Master Yao Nyamakye— Frank: —on tantra. Nancy: Sure. Nkenge: Tantra. Frank: You can check out the show in our archives. Well he’s got a full weekend of full workshops coming up in the D.C. area during the weekend of July 22 and you’re invited to join him. For more information, visit masteryao57.eventbrite.com. That’s amsteryao57.eventbrite.com I’ll also post the link on this show on franklove.com. This is Frank Relationships, a show for you, my brethren who, like me, are too young to be considered old and too old to be considered young. It’s also for those of you that love and support us. We’re here to provide weekly wisdom, conversation and the information that will help you be a better parent and partner. You can find this in our archive shows. They’re well over a hundred at franklove.com on Blog Talk, iTunes and Stitcher. And once again, Miko’s here to give us some financial wisdom. Take it away, Miko. Miko: In our society, folks who are making it rain, those engaged in an excessive spending are highly favored and publicized. Many people are joined to them and consider them desirable. However, there’s another group of people who are amazingly sexy. They are the financial intelligent. So why are financially intelligent people so sexy? Here are three reasons: 1. They understand that their self-worth is not connected to their net worth. Financially intelligent people know they are fabulously unique and are valuable no matter what they earn. They are confident about their inherent talents and know that what have to offer is priceless. 2. They determine what success looks like for themselves. They are clear on the life they want, their financial goals and priorities. They don’t let friends, or family or society to determine what success is for them. Instead, they design and implement their own personalized image of success. They are truly comfortable in their own skin. 3. They understand that love is the most valuable currency. They choose friends based on their character, not their titles or status in society. They avlue relationships more than money. If you are struggling in finding your financial sexiness, Miko’s Money Matters is here to help. Call me at 202-695-2404. And remember, it is never too late to rescue your financial future. Frank: Thanks, Miko. It’s important that we pay respects, atleast in my eyes, it’s important that we pay respects to the folks who are affected by the recent shooting at The Pulse Nightclub. And so, I want to just open the floor and have—is there anything or anyone would like to say because 50 people were killed? Nancy: 49. Frank: 49 people were killed. That’s such an impact. I mean, that’s huge. When I found out about the story, someone said to me, 15 people. I thought I heard 15 and then he said, “No, 50.” Nkenge: 50, right. Frank: And I said, What?!” I mean that’s the number is just—I mean 1 is plenty; 2, wow; 15… 50? Nancy: Absurd. Frank: Please. CJ: Terrible, terrible tragedy. I was sharing Nancy just last night that… But I do in community is I provide a safe haven for LGBTQ community, specifically more lesbian women. So when the community comes to my events, they know they’re going to be safe and the issue is that any people—we just odnt have a lot of places to go where we can fellowship, congregate, have fun, network. So the place that’s more common for that over the years has been the nightclubs, bars, the special parties that we have because within those walls, you can be your true self. Now other people, we can do that to other places. I try to live with the most authentic life that I can whether I’m at church, whether I’m at an event, whether I’m working at my own bar. So the tragedy is that could have been my event. That could have been my party. And so so many of us identify with that and we were so hurt because we’ve been in those situations for a lot of our lives. It was more so a violation and to know that someone can come inside your place of peace, your place of comfort and just wreck that ideology is just scary. That’s why it resonated all over the world with not just the LGBTQ community, but I’m sure the straight community also. There were some people that had plenty of compassion and could understand the ramifications of that act. It’s just the tragedy but we’ve decided at Atlanta that we won’t live in fear and we will continue on with our pride [unclear] celebrations. Of course, the community at Atlanta and the mayor and the chief of police have agreed to beef up security, mayor, so that just in case there’s any out there thinking that they can do something like that in Atlanta that atleast we may be a little bit more prepared and I think [unclear] at Atlanta but that’s not something that we would think would happen when we go out. CJ: To prepare something like that is saying that “we are not safe in our safe haven, [unclear].” [unclear] 22, you want to be safe? But ou dot want to be safe because people are bombing, and shooting, and disrupting your place of… Nancy: your lifestyle and everything… CJ:…your place of your lifestyle, exactly. So… Frank: It’s— CJ: It’s just terrible. Hopefully it will have it open the eyes of people who didn’t even consider the fact that there are issues like that everyday. People just don’t go around shooting guns but they say things out of their mouths, their ideologies, the things they preach are against us, the hate. I was telling Nancy also that a common fear is leaving the club. CJ; Not necessarily in the club but walking home to your car, walking to the train… There are several incidents where LGBTQ individuals are harassed. I have a bar, I have a young lesbian. She’s 18 years old. She just cleans up for me, she does hookah, she was harassed walking home. And then I don’t even have a gay club. This is a regular bar, by some street thug, walking home from work. It’s just a shame that someone would have to worry about that because of their sexuality and they’ve just assumed she was because she was more… not as feminine as [unclear] but it just saddens me that I feel responsible for her and she was thumped going home— CJ: [unclear] some work at my restaurant. So it is a fear, it is a concern but we can’t live in fear. We have to try to go on as best we know how so that other people watching know that they can’t just bomb us and shoot us and think that we’re just not going to be in existence and not go on as we were before. CJ: So it’s important to remember those victims, that their lives are not in vain. They have… that action has started conversation, politicians have to talk about it. Minister and preachers have to talk about it. I mean, if you don’t, you’re not being sensitive. So my pastor says that something good is going to come out of that tragedy. Things happen that are tragic, however, how we handle them—I just don’t want those individuals, supporting our individuals’ lives to be in vain. Right? Frank: Indeed. CJ: Way to… CJ: …to spark conversation because of those tragedies. Nancy: Okay so… the thing I like about what you said is that those people need to be remembered and just last night, Fr. Joe’s parish did a candlelight vigil. You want to tell us a little bit about how it went? Fr. Joe: Yeah, we had a great vigil, probably over 200 people last night. There were Muslims, Jews, Christians, gay people, lesbian people, a whole mix of the [unclear] of our community came together with a solid candlelight prayer to remember folks who were killed in Orlando. One of the things about that is the clergy gathering I was at [unclear] Baptist Minister said, “Isn’t it kind of a shame that gay and lesbian people felt more comfortable in a bar than they did in the church? They felt safer at a bar than they did in the church.” That’s really is kind of an [unclear] of the church that has to be more welcoming to people to say, “No, you can feel safe here.” We want to create churches that are safe places for gay and lesbian people too and that’s part of the reason that we have LEAD and part of the reason that we’re trying to develop this outreach. But yeah, last night we had a great conversation and it’s not a privilege but to honor those who were killed and to remember them in a special way so that what’s just being said, we can move and do a more positive relational approach to the gay and lesbian community in a welcoming spirit. Frank: Now, god, I mean, Jeff just raised the issue. I have to… I got to touch on it, because when you guys were talking about the safe place in the nightclubs, I was thinking to myself “Wow, because if I go to a nightclub, I don’t feel safe.” I mean, the individuals in that community feel… they got something that I don’t have, and that’s great. Now, ironically when we’re in—when someone like myself… and I don’t really go to the clubs but a heterosexual like myself may go to a club. If there’s a shooting, it’s probably by another heterosexual. Now, at this club where there was a shooting of 50 people—who presumably were gay or lesbian—they were shot by someone who was gay. Nancy: But not openly gay. Frank: Well— CJ: Yeah. Kind of struggled. CJ: Like when [unclear] he struggled with his own probably sexuality. Frank: So you have some of the same dynamic in the heterosexual community of violence within that community, spilling over into the gay community. That’s interesting. Fr. Joe: But there’s a different [unclear/cross talking] like random violence of somebody shooting somebody and targeted violence is somebody targeting a particular— Nancy: Community. Fr. Joe: —community because they’re gay or lesbian. Frank: Well, we… in the black community, it could be argued that we’re shooting each other in the club because we’re black. Even black people. I mean, it’s… Frank: There’s a lot to be—there’s a lot of levels to that conversation but you know… Marie: Well the common [unclear] usually is that these people don’t have anywhere to belong themselves. They got no other reason to live, they’re angry, they’re frustrated and they’re not being heard by somebody. So they’re going to make a big thing to get heard. And so they don’t believe so [unclear]—it’s not even like, I mean, you don’t want to like live with all these things. I mean I think the core issue behind a lot of these shootings is just that we aren’t making basis for enough people to feel safe, enough people to belong in their own community. Nkenge: Yes. Marie: So if we can give them a better reason to live, and oppose to a higher reason to die almost… Nancy: Great. Frank: You— Nancy: Great point. Frank: What? CJ: Someone would have affirmed this young man in his life. He probably wouldn’t have ended up doing such a heinous act. There’s somewhere—there was disconnect somewhere where he was not alright with who he was because when you attack people generally an inward feeling somehow, whether it’s words, [unclear] and type of violence, there’s an inner struggle there. Frank: Unfortunately— CJ: And he was just not affirmed and that which that is so important to be affirmed, to be accepted and say “You are okay in your skin. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, we love who you choose to have sex with. You are okay.” And people are more happy causing [unclear] than inclusion. And I think people that do that just don’t feel included. They just don’t [unclear/cross talking]— Marie: May I chime in… CJ: —they don’t feel good about themselves. Frank: Yes, please quickly… because I got to— Nancy: We got to wrap up. This is awesome but we got to wrap up. Nkenge: Start at something… Marie: Just a touch on the safe [unclear] thing, you know I think we can’t talk about The Pulse Nightclub shooting without talking about that it was Latino night at the club. And what that means is… so that means that people in the Latino community that were gay and lesbian and trans and bisexual who were at that nightclub probably some of them were not even out in their own community and in their family. I cannot emphasize like what if these days that kind of club is. And that’s evidenced by the fact that some of the parents—which doesn’t surprise me at all as a Latina, some of the parents are finding out that their kids have been killed while at the same time they were finding out that they were gay, you know? Marie: And that just says so much about how far are we to come in all of our communities to have these conversations and like you were saying Nancy, and feel loved and accepted in our own skin. Nancy: Yeah, yeah. Frank: You’ve been listening to Frank Relationships and we’ve been joined by Fr. Joe Muth of the St. Matthew Catholic Church in Baltimore. His parish has a gay and lesbian outreach group known as LEAD and it provides a community of marginalized people that can support one another and discuss their relationship with the church. Fr. Muth, can you give us that phone number one more time? Fr. Joe: It’s 410-433-2300. Frank: Thanks for joining us. I know you got to go. Fr. Joe: Yup. I very much appreciate it. Frank: You bet. Frank: We also have got two of Fr. Joe’s parishioners. They’re same-sex newlyweds, Adrian and Marie. Adrian and Marie, thanks for joining us. We had the stylist to the stars, Mezei Jefferson and the restauranteur, event and party planner extraordinaire, CJ Jones. Along today’s journey, we’ve discussed The Pulse Nightclub, the many faces of the LGBTQ community and the Catholic Church. Thank you to my guest co-host, Nkenge. Nkenge: Anytime. Thank you. Frank: Thank you to my co-host, Nancy. Nancy: Thank you, Frank. Frank: Thanks to Jeff Newman, my engineer and thank you to my great guest, Fr. Joe Muth. His parishioners Adrian and Marie, Mezei Jefferson and CJ Jones. You’ve been great. I hope you’ve had as much fun and learned as much as I have hanging out with today’s all-star ensemble. As always, it’s my wish for you to walk away from this conversation with a heaping helping of useful information that I hope you create a relation that’s as loving and accepting as possible. Let us know what you think of today’s show at facebook.com/relationshipflove, on Twitter at @mrfranklove or at franklove.com. If you’re listening via Blog Talk Radio, make sure you like us there and if via iTunes, make sure you subscribe so that you can receive each week’s show. This is Frank love. Posted by FrankLove \| in Gay, Lesbian, LGBT, LGBTQ, Radio Show \| No Comments »	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1550
__label__cc	0.500385	0.499615	Just a World Away Book and movie reviews by Kriti Godey “The Core” by Peter V. Brett Posted on November 25, 2017 by Kriti Godey Spoiler warning: This post may contain spoilers for the first four books of the series. I’ve been following the Demon Cycle series for a few years now ever since my husband surprised me with the first book when I was going through a reading slump. The Core is the fifth and final book of the series and I was eager to find out how it all wrapped up. Ahmann Jardir and Arlen Bales are preparing to do the unthinkable: lead an assault on the demons’ home deep underground in an effort to put an end to constant war. They must do it quickly since the demon queen is about to hatch and turn a single hive into many more, but they also need to make sure that their own people don’t tear each other apart in their absence. Meanwhile, the people of Thesa, including Hollow County’s new countess Leesha Paper and Jardir’s wife Inevara are preparing for an all-out attack by the demons. I thought The Core did a good job of wrapping up the story and providing resolutions to most arcs. It almost felt a little too neat but it was fulfilling so I don’t mind. Unlike the earlier books, there are no flashback sequences so the book is fully devoted to resolving the current conflict. Significant portions of the narrative were told through the viewpoint of some of the newer characters which I thought was refreshing because the main characters are significantly overpowered and don’t have much conflict or growth left. We get to see the war from the points of view of various parts of Thesa through these characters. We even get some perspectives from the demons. This book isn’t perfect, the pacing seemed a little off. We don’t get to the journey to the Core until hundreds of pages have passed, and what we do get instead with Ahmann and Arlen seems a little too much like fanservice. Abban’s viewpoint is extremely uncomfortable to read and I’ not sure why he was such a big part of this book given his role (or lack thereof) in the book’s events. And there are things about this series that annoyed me from the very beginning and they continued to annoy me – the way that Arlen, Renna, and other Hollow County people’s accent is translated, the Krasian language with its extremely similar sounding words, the occasional crassness, but I knew all that going in so I don’t think it’s fair to complain too much about it. Even though this book concludes the story satisfactorily, it’s blatantly obvious that there will be a new series (I’m calling it Demon Cycle: The Next Generation in my head) since pretty much every woman is pregnant and we’re introduced to about eight babies towards the end. We’re also reminded that this is only one hive of demons and there are probably more out there. I am looking forward to seeing the world of the books expanded and meeting the new characters. The Core by Peter V. Brett (Demon Cycle, #5) Del Rey, 2017 \| Buy the book Posted in Books, Reviews \| Tagged book 5, fantasy, fiction \| Leave a reply Set in medieval Russia, The Bear and the Nightingale follows Vasalisa (Vasya) Petrovna, the young daughter of a country noble. Vasya was born with a destiny; her mother sacrificed her own life so that she could inherit her family’s magical heritage. She can see and communicate with the household and woodland spirits around her. However, when her father marries a new devoutly Christian woman, her arrival puts an end to the traditional offerings to the spirits and their protection weakens just as an ancient evil is breaking free of his bonds. The Bear and the Nightingale is quiet and slow, focusing on Vasya’s domestic life for the first two-thirds, but it’s never boring. It completely immerses you the atmosphere of the place and time that it’s set in in a way that few other books do. There’s the obvious comparison to Hild by Nicola Griffth, another story that takes real-life historical figures who are dealing with the advent of Christianity pushing out indigenous religious beliefs and tells their story with an incredible amount of detail about their day-to-day life. But the book reminded me most of the movie Whale Rider in tone, the protagonists of both are young women who know who they are and the world around them must eventually give up trying to contain them and instead bow to their convictions. Vasya is a remarkable protagonist, she acts and thinks like a woman of her time but she’s still almost a force of nature. The other characters in the book are just as rich as Vasya, even the antagonists. You can’t bring yourself to despise Vasya’s hysterical stepmother Anna or the overzealous village priest Father Konstantin despite the awful things they do because their actions are so obviously motivated by their fear and unhappiness with parts of their life that they could not control. Vasya’s family loves her, but they are people of their time and their adherence to tradition stifles Vasya just as effectively as the more antagonistic characters. But they are still characters you grow to love. I’ve always been captivated by Russian folklore with its guardian spirits that are an inseparable part of daily life. This book perfectly captures the feeling of living in a such a world and it’s hard to tell where the real world begins and what’s magical because it’s all reality to Vasya. It mixes medieval slice-of-life with fairy tale conventions effortlessly. Morozko the winter-king says to Vasya at some point that magic is just choosing to believe that the world is the way you want it to be and I think that conveys the tone of this book rather well. The worldbuilding is only enhanced by the author’s beautiful prose that conjures up vivid imagery from very few words. The Bear and the Nightingale was one of my favorite books of the year. I particularly appreciated that this book tells a satisfying story by itself. If I didn’t already know there was a sequel, I would have assumed it was a standalone. But I’m so glad that there is a sequel and I have an early copy of it because I can’t wait to spend more time in this world. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Winternight, #1) I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher or author. “An Echo of Things to Come” by James Islington Spoiler warning: This post contains spoilers for the first book in this series, The Shadow of What Was Lost. An Echo of Things to Come is the second book in James Islington’s Licanius trilogy. I loved the first book of this series when I read it last year so I was impatiently looking forward to this one. We pick up fairly soon after the events of the previous book; our heroes are settling into their new roles working against the impending invasion. Davian is at Tol Shen where he hopes to gather Augurs to help repair the spells protecting the Boundary, Wirr, the new Northwarden, is fighting an uphill battle to convince a resentful Administration that he can be trusted as their leader. Asha advocates for the failing Boundary to be taken seriously at court, and Caeden uses his portal box to finally get some answers about who he is and what his plan was before wiping his own memory. All the characters have good arcs in this book, although Caeden’s is the most interesting for the same reason that Memento is such a compelling movie (and an arc in a certain anime that I don’t want to name since it would be a spoiler). The trope of a character making plans that involve them losing all knowledge of the plan but still succeeding has been done before but it’s executed skillfully here. It goes well enough that we appreciate Caeden’s foresight but there are a lot of variables involved and it would have been hard to suspend disbelief if it had been realized perfectly. The slow reveal of his flashbacks gives you just enough to be satisfied to wait until the next one happens but still eagerly anticipating the continuation. The previous book had many scenes that were reminiscent of the Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan books it’s so clearly inspired by, (much like how The Eye of the World borrowed heavily from Tolkien). This book steps out of their shadow and feels considerably more original while still maintaining the comforting classic fantasy tone that made the last one so good. It’s a slower book than the first, though; it’s clearly setting up plots and characters for the third book. Some subplots dragged on for a little too long, especially Davian’s difficulties with a new Augur at Tol Shen, but it was a well structured book otherwise. And it answered a bunch of open questions about the world and its history which I wasn’t expecting until the last book, so that was great. Now I get to wait impatiently all over again for the third book, The Light of All That Falls. An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington (The Licanius Trilogy, #3) Orbit Books, 2017 \| Buy the book I’m a big fan of Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch series (see my reviews of Ancillary Justice and Ancillary Mercy) and I was ridiculously excited about Provenance, which is a standalone story set in the same universe but focusing on entirely different characters. Ingray, the daughter of an influential politician on the planet Hwae, has spent her whole life trying to prove to her mother than she is worthy of being named her heir. She comes up with a brilliant but risky plan – breaking notorious thief Pahlad Budrakim out of prison and convincing them to reveal the location of the historically significant items (“vestiges”) they stole, which would make her a hero on Hwae. However, her plans are derailed when an important dignitary from another planet (and her mother’s house-guest) gets murdered and the newly recovered Pahlad is the prime suspect. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Ingray; she is one of the least power-hungry characters I’ve encountered but her initial motivation is to be named her mother’s heir. Plus she constantly doubts herself and her emotions overwhelm her at several points (it makes sense because she keeps going from situation to situation where she is out of her element, but most science-fiction books don’t focus on the emotional ramifications of a character being under continuous stress). She does change over the book in a realistic way and comes to terms with who she is so I found her arc ultimately satisfying. As with Ancillary Justice, you can’t rely on your assumptions about gender conventions; humans on Hwae have a third gender and that’s just part of Ingray’s world. The book throws you straight into Ingray’s life and leaves it up to you to figure out her world and culture from context clues. There isn’t much exposition in the rest of the book either, which took a little bit of getting used to but I appreciated it in the end. Provenance reminded me more of Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers books (The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit) than Leckie’s previous trilogy. Despite its setting, It’s more of a coming-of-age story and a cozy mystery than a space opera. The characters are mostly all nice people that care about doing their job well, which is refreshing to read about but also lowers stakes and sucks much of the tension out of the story. But Leckie’s core strengths of creating an immersive world and setting up political intrigue with characters you care about make this a great read anyway. Posted in Books, Reviews \| Tagged fiction, science fiction, standalone \| Leave a reply Weekly Movie Reviews: Oct 22-28, 2017 Posted on November 5, 2017 by Kriti Godey Favorite Movie of the Week Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), an English aristocrat, arrives in Australia to encourage her husband to sell Faraway Downs, their cattle ranch, and return to the U.K. with her. She is escorted to the ranch by boorish stockman Drover (Hugh Jackman) only to find that her husband is murdered in takeover attempt by King Carney, who would enjoy a monopoly on beef if not for Faraway Downs. She becomes determined to finish her husband’s work but she will need the help of Drover as well as the Aboriginal people that work on the ranch to do so. I absolutely loved Australia. It feels like a sweeping epic, even though it only focuses on a few events; it’s got adventure, war, drama, romance, tragedy, a good sense of humour, heartwarming relationships, reprehensible villains, and tells an enormously satisfying story with it all. I don’t know much about Aboriginal culture and having Aboriginal characters be such a critical part of the movie was both educational and contributed to the epic tone of the movie. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman’s chemistry is undeniable and they’re both very good actors on their own, too. I’m not sure how they found the kid who plays Nullah but he’s the perfect mix of precocious and childlike and you both trust him with adult responsibilities and want to protect him at the same time. I think the title of this movie is fantastic and conveys a good idea of what the movie aims to do – it’s a paean to Australia – its people, its history, the beautiful landscapes, and a whole lot more. It makes you fall in love with it just as Lady Ashley does. I can see myself wanting to re-watch this movie fairly often and I’m already looking forward to it! Other Movies Watched Steamboy (2004) Steamboy is set in a steampunk versions of the 1860s and follows a young British inventor, James Ray Steam, who comes from a family of inventors working mainly on steam-powered technology. His father and grandfather are off in Alaska working on a new prototype of the “steam ball”, which can pressurize steam and store energy more efficiently than any other technology of the era. One day Ray receives a package containing the steam ball from his grandfather with strict instructions to keep it safe and is thrust into adventure trying to do so. This is director Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s next movie after the critically acclaimed Akira and is just as spectacular although the tone and style are quite different. It’s a classic adventure story with one of the best depictions of a steampunk world I’ve seen on film. It does a splendid job of showing the wonder and passion experienced by the main characters and inspiring the audience to feel it too. The story has a lot of action and the characters are mostly predictable but that’s okay because you’re so mesmerized by the other elements on the movie. The animation is beautiful too. The French steampunk animated film April and the Extraordinary World (which I saw and loved in the beginning of this year) is clearly inspired heavily by Steamboy and you should watch that one too. Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) and Sal Naturale (John Cazale) decide to rob a bank but their plan goes awry and the situation turns into a media circus. The police’s attempts to resolve the situation are complicated by a crowd of onlookers expressing support for the robbers and the hostages’ growing rapport with Sonny. Dog Day Afternoon is based on a true story, including some of the more seemingly outlandish details like Sonny’s motivation for the robbery. It juggles tones admirably; sometimes it seems like a comedy, especially when we (and the characters themselves) realize that Sonny and Sal are in way over their head, other times it’s a subtle farce of how the media covers stories, but there is an undercurrent of seriousness all the way through. Al Pacino practically oozes charisma and wins over the onlookers, the hostages, and the audience alike and that’s a big part of the charm of this movie. Actually, all the actors speak volumes even when they aren’t saying anything.The storytelling is taut, keeping up the tension without heading into thriller territory. It feels surprisingly modern, especially the treatment of Sonny’s sexuality and personal life. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) A couple of days after the events of John Wick, John heads back home to bury his guns and try and figure out what he’s going to do with his life. But his brief return to the criminal world has not passed unnoticed, and an old acquaintance comes knocking on the door to call in a marker. John is forced to take the job but that sucks him in further and he soon finds himself on the run and surrounded by enemies at every turn. This is one of those rare sequels that is as good as if not better than the original movie. It takes everything interesting about John Wick and expands on it. The worldbuilding continues to be compelling, we see a lot more of the world as John travels to Italy and has to replenish his stocks heavily. I love the characters too – John’s taciturn professionalism is delightful and Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Laurence Fishburne (among others) steal every scene they are in. The action is stylish and fun, which makes sense since these movies are directed by Chad Stahelski, who has had a long career working on stunts (fun fact: he was Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in the Matrix series). The ending is fantastic and establishes a cohensive universe with characters that actually change in response to the events around them, which is something action franchises don’t traditionally do; usually it’s just a repetition of the same formula in each sequel. After watching that ending, I can’t wait for John Wick: Chapter 3 in 2019, especially since the same writer and director as the first two movies are working on them. Young couple Adam and Barbara Maitland die suddenly in a car crash but continue living in their house as ghosts as they adjust to being dead and all the rules that come with it. They are quite happy until their home is sold and the (living) Deetz family moves in and start to redecorate the house. The Maitlands attempt to scare them away but all the things they do just intrigue the Deetzes more, especially their teenage daughter Lydia. In desperation they turn to Betelgeuse, a “bio-exorcist”, but he’s got his own sinister agenda. This movie is bananas and I mean that as a compliment. It’s got director Tim Burton’s signature bizarre/creepy aesthetic and surreal atmosphere, but from before it started to feel stale. Michael Keaton chews scenery like a pro as Betelgeuse and makes ample use of his terrific comic timing. The other actors seem like they’re having a blast too, especially (a young and handsome) Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis at the Maitlands and Winona Ryder as the goth-ish Lydia Deetz. There a bunch of memorable scenes that are great even without any context, see this scene at a dinner party given by the Deetzes for instance. Hollywood just doesn’t make movies that are proudly wacky like this anymore; I wish they did! Beatriz at Dinner (2017) Masseuse Beatriz (Salma Hayek) has just finished a session with Kathy, one of her wealthy clients, but her car won’t start as she’s leaving to go home. Kathy is hosting a dinner party for her husband’s clients and invites Beatriz to stay for it. Beatriz considers herself a holistic healer living in harmony with the world around her, but her worldview clashes violently with that of the other dinner guests, especially real estate mogul Doug Strutt (John Lithgow). Both Beatriz and Doug are not shy about volunteering their opinions, leaving the other guests caught in the crossfire. Beatriz at Dinner does an excellent job of showing us the world as Beatriz sees it – uncomfortable, missing obvious truths, and somehow filled with pain – without much judgement or agenda. Whether you find Beatriz sympathetic and the guests around her morally reprehensible, or you think she is going off the deep end and taking things too seriously, the film still works for you. There are a thousand different things under the surface of the characters’ conversations and it all feels almost viscerally awkward to watch because it’s so realistic. The ending was not what I expected of this movie at all but I thought it worked perfectly. Taken (2008) Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) has retired from the CIA and moved to California in order to spend more time with his estranged daughter, Kim. When she leaves for a trip around Europe, he finds it hard to let her go and not be over-protective of her. When she reaches Paris, his worst nightmares come true when she is kidnapped by a gang of human traffickers. He must use his “particular set of skills” acquired during his time in the CIA to get her back. I was skeptical of Liam Neeson as an action star but finding out that this movie was written by Luc Besson made me a little more interested in watching it (especially since I loved 3 Days to Kill, another movie written by Besson about an older CIA agent reuniting with his daughter in Paris, and I just love Besson in general). I’m not sure why this movie got all the hype it did (and two sequels and a TV show). Maybe because Neeson’s character is a soft-spoken and innocuous seeming guy that can quickly switch to being deadly (this was also when Breaking Bad started airing and Walter White was popular for similar reasons)? In my opinion, Taken is a run-of-the-mill action thriller with no real attention to detail and nothing that stood out as particularly special. Posted in Movies, Reviews \| 1 Reply The Fall (2006) In a 1920s Los Angeles hospital, injured stuntman Roy Walker and Alexandria, a five year old girl with a broken arm, strike up a friendship. Roy begins to tell her the story of a band of legendary heroes battling an evil general and her vibrant imagination brings it to life. Although his initial motivation is to entertain Alexandria, he soon realizes that she could steal him the morphine he craves and starts trading pieces of the story for favors. The Fall is almost impossible to describe, it’s a unique movie and I doubt there will ever be anything else like it. The cinematography is beyond spectacular, the heroes travel from one breathtaking location to another and the movie does not seem to be bound by any real-world rules other than the strength of Alexandria’s imagination. It’s not just the backgrounds either, the character design and the framing are also striking and evocative. The music is arresting, especially the use of Beethoven’s seventh symphony. There is also some good examination on the nature of storytelling, especially with the seamless transition between reality and fantasy, the way Roy’s story evolves in response to real-world events, and the obvious differences between the words that Roy speaks and the images that Alexandria associates them with (such as Roy describing a Native American when he says “Indian” but Alexandria picturing the character as someone from India since she is more familiar with them). The acting by the two protagonists (Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru) is extraordinary. I’ve never seen a young actor that acted so realistically (she was six!) and I believe large parts of the movie were improvised so that they could allow her to be herself. I read that they even allowed her to believe that Lee Pace was a real quadriplegic so that she would respond naturally to him. Roy’s story is subtly told and all the more poignant for it; his anguish is both easy to sympathize with and unsettling to watch in the context of his relationship with Alexandria. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen The Fall and I have this reaction to it every time. I could keep gushing about it forever. I think it is one of the most visionary and memorable movies I’ve ever seen and am likely to see. If I was asked about the best movie I’d ever seen, this would probably be it because it takes advantage of its format to tell a story that no other medium could tell anywhere near as effectively. The Boy and the Beast (2015) A young homeless boy living on the streets of Tokyo finds a portal to a magical world of beasts. He is taken in as an apprentice by the coarse and surly warrior Kumatetsu and christened Kyuta by his new master. Kyuta and Kumetetsu squabble constantly but learn from each other and eventually develop a deep bond. But Kyuta never forgets the human world either and his ties to both worlds are tested by various events. This is the fourth and latest movie (as of now) by award-winning Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda. I’ve loved all his previous work (see reviews of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children) and he’s only getting better with every movie he makes. The Boy and the Beast has drama, comedy, and adventure in just the right proportions, and every bit of it is heartwarming. It doesn’t shy away from putting its characters through real difficulty, though. Like Wolf Children, it’s about being torn between two worlds and giving up something important no matter what choice is made. It is fundamentally a coming of age story for both for Kyuta and Kumetetsu though, and so it’s also about finding your place and being content with it. Having watched this movie means that I have no more new Hosoda to watch, but he’s making a new movie, Mirai, that’s hopefully coming out in 2018! Somewhere (2010) Johnny Marco is an actor that seems to have everything figured out on the surface – he’s getting more famous, he’s winning awards, and he’s rich. He’s overcome by ennui though and can’t bring himself to care about or enjoy anything. When his ex-wife needs to get away for a while, his eleven-year-old daughter comes to stay with him and that experience slowly chips away at his apathy. If you’ve read my previous movie reviews, you may have noticed that Sofia Coppola is one of my favorite directors and Somewhere only heightens that. It has a distinctive style, lingering for what feels like too long on every shot but perfectly capturing the weight of the character’s boredom and lethargy. Just like Lost in Translation there is some subtle satire of how show business works, especially publicity. Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning do an excellent job as the main characters and sell the father-daughter rapport admirably. It’s hard to describe this movie because not a lot of stuff happens but everything that does seems much more intimate than you’re used to from other movies. I read that it was criticized because it focused on the problems of a successful actor but I actually liked that part; it’s a good reminder that no matter what things look like on the outside, everybody needs to figure out their own meaning and purpose for their life. John Wick (2014) John Wick used to be a hitman before he left the criminal world behind to make a fresh start with his wife. She has just died of an illness and he finds himself adrift. When he incidentally crosses paths with some gangsters, they take away what little he has left and he finds purpose again – hunting down and killing them all. I’d heard a lot of good things about John Wick but I’m always slightly skeptical about Keanu Reeves (I’m not sure why, he’s been in a couple of clunkers but he’s a fine actor). It turned out to live up to the hype, though. If we hadn’t watched so many other good movies this week, it probably would have ended up being my favorite. John Wick is one of those movies that is pure fun to watch. The character is already legendary by the time we meet him and he doesn’t need an emotional growth arc to make his story engrossing. Just seeing him kicking ass and taking names is mesmerizing. There is none of the cloying sentimentality that other “my wife just got killed” characters often have. And he doesn’t talk unless he’s got something to say and that makes him far less annoying than most characters. The movie reminded me stylistically a little of The Boondock Saints but it’s not as outrageous and much better. One of the other things I really enjoyed was how the infrastructure of the criminal underworld was set up; it made for a compelling world that I wanted to see more of. Luckily, John Wick: Chapter 2 exists and there is a third movie in production. Eleven-year-old Jake Chambers has been plagued by apocalyptic visions that show him the Dark Tower that keeps the universe safe, the Man in Black that wants to destroy it, and the lone Gunslinger that opposes him, Roland Deschain. Roland is the last of the Gunslingers and he was abandoned his duty in order to seek vengeance upon the Man in Black who has murdered the rest of his compatriots. Walter, the Man in Black, has his own plans – has been hunting children with psychic powers since they are the only ones capable of bringing down the tower. Eventually his attention turns to Jake, who manages to run away into another world where he meets Roland. Together they must figure out how to stop Walter’s plans for good. This movie tells a simple and familiar story – a young misfit meets a world-weary adult, makes him care about the world again, and together they fight against an undeniably evil villain. I haven’t read the Dark Tower books (yet) but I’m sure that it’s far more complex and the movie is probably not a great adaptation and/or sequel. I thought it was a pretty good, though. It establishes an interesting world without too much exposition, it’s got likeable characters and talented actors (Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, among others), it’s got good pacing, and it tells a cohesive story. It’s not an outstanding movie but it’s not bad, either. And it definitely made me interested in reading the books. This is the second movie based on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan books. I think it is supposed to be a sequel to The Hunt for Red October but most of the characters are played by different actors, including Harrison Ford taking over the title role. When Jack and his family are visiting London for a conference, he happens to be in the right place at the right time to save a member of the royal family from IRA assassins. One of the terrorists is killed and his brother (Sean Bean) becomes fixated on getting back at Jack no matter what the consequences will be. I didn’t expect this movie to be as good as The Hunt for Red October but I was still disappointed by it. It’s actually a decent action movie but it was too generic. The appeal of Jack Ryan as a character is that he’s an analyst, not a field agent and he solves problems using his mind. This movie has no room for a character like that because the bad guys keep showing up wherever he is, there isn’t anything he needs to figure out. Plus Alec Baldwin played the character with a sense of thoughtfulness and deep resolve and I can’t think of many other similar movie characters. On the other hand, Harrison Ford’s Jack is indistinguishable from his other action roles. I could see his character becoming president a few years later and kicking Gary Oldman off his plane. What Happened To Monday (2017) In the future, fertility rates have rocketed and overpopulation has caused a global crisis. The Child Allocation Bureau strictly enforces a “one child per family” law, taking away any siblings to put into cryosleep. When Karen Settman dies after giving birth to septuplets, her father cannot bring himself to abandon any of his grandchildren and brings them up to make sure only one of them is ever outside the house at any given time so that they can all pose as a single person. This system works well until one of the sisters, Monday, doesn’t come back home as usual and the rest of the sisters have to figure out what happened. I thought this movie had an intriguing premise but unfortunately it didn’t live up to its potential. Noomi Rapace does a passable job playing all seven sisters but she didn’t make them distinctive enough and I couldn’t tell a lot of the sisters apart (she’s no Tatiana Maslany). The plot has a couple of surprises but many of the twists felt predictable and stale. I wasn’t expecting the movie to be as violent as it was. Some movies can pull that off but it felt gratuitous in this one. Posted in Movies, Reviews \| 3 Replies Weekly Movie Reviews: Oct 8-14, 2017 Posted on October 31, 2017 by Kriti Godey I’m not sure how I’d never seen The Sound of Music, I’ve known songs from it ever since I can remember and I know it’s one of best-known classic movies all around the world. Maria, a young Austrian woman, is a nun in training in a convent in Salzburg. She is excitable and easily distracted though, which are not qualities that nuns usually possess. So the abbess of her convent decides to send her to the Von Trapp family as a governess for a few months to help her decide if she really wants to be a nun. Maria finds seven lovely children who are desperate to get their father’s attention since he has been extremely strict and aloof since their mother died. She brings joy back to the family’s life but fresh difficulties for them arise as Austria is annexed to Nazi Germany. I find that older movies don’t hold my attention quite as easily as newer ones do, but I didn’t have that problem at all with The Sound of Music, despite it being over fifty years old and about three hours long. The songs are fabulous and I still have a couple stuck in my head. The pacing is perfect, just as you’re starting to wish a conflict in the movie was solved, it does and the movie throws something else at you. The actors are wonderful, adding both humor and drama without either feeling disingenuous. The whole movie has a cozy warmth to it that I can’t quite describe. I know why everyone loves it so much now! Sin Nombre (2009) Sin Nombre follows Sayra, a Honduran teenager, and Willy, a young Mexican gangster. Sayra and her family (including her father that she hasn’t seen since she was very young) are on a perilous journey through Mexico to attempt crossing the border into the United States. Casper is growing disillusioned with gang life and is looking for a way out so that he can keep his girlfriend safe. Both their stories eventually intersect on the train that Sayra is traveling on. This is a exceptional movie. It is not always easy to watch; it is brutally violent (but in realistic ways) and some bad things happen to people, including children. But it also has moments of beauty and hope. First-time writer/director Cary Fukunaga (later famous for True Detective and Beasts of No Nation) is phenomenal, the writing, the pacing, the atmosphere, the acting, and everything else was outstanding. Everything about the movie seems authentic (I read that Fukunaga spent two years researching the movie by spending time with real gangsters and with people looking to move to the United States), especially the people in it. The cast features several non-professional actors so that helps. The story that the movie tells is a huge part of its success, it offers an unrelentingly realistic view of people whose situations are so hopeless that illegal immigration seems like a good option. Jumanji (1995) Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game named Jumanji on a construction site and starts playing a game with his friend Sarah. Jumanji isn’t just a game, though. It can actually affect the real world and they find this out the hard way when Alan vanishes while Sarah flees from a horde of bats. Decades later, siblings Judy and Peter move into Alan’s old house and inadvertently resume Alan and Sarah’s old game and release a grown-up Alan from 26 years of being alone in the jungle. Now the four of them must finish the game and brave all the dangers that entails so that things can return to normal. Jumanji is a classic for a good reason. It’s often chaotic and cacophonous and sometimes a little scary but it’s got all the ingredients that make a good story – humor, heart, romance, adventure, and a little bit of the unexpected. Also Robin Williams is a genius and movies like this one where he works with kids are perfect for him to show off his unique skills (see also: Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire). Kirsten Dunst has been a great actor since she was a child (she’s even better in 1994’s Interview with a Vampire) and she’s a hoot in pretty much every scene she’s in. I wish they still made wacky movies like this! Death Becomes Her (1992) Narcissistic actress Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) has always outdone her rival, aspiring writer Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn). She’s prettier, more successful at her chosen profession, and she’s even managed to steal Helen’s fiancé, Dr. Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis). That was all in the past, though, and Madeline is aging and being quickly forgotten. When Helen reappears in her life with all the success that Madeline has lost, she decides to one-up her by taking an immortality treatment from the mysterious Lisle (Isabella Rossellini). Things don’t quite go quite as well as she planned, though. This is one of those horror-comedy campy movies that seemed to exist mostly around the late ’80s and early ’90s (like Beetlejuice and The Frighteners) and it is a lot of fun. Meryl Streep steals pretty much every scene she’s in (the very first scene in the movie is a ridiculous musical number). and I never knew that Bruce Willis could play a mousy and unassertive guy as well as he does here. Isabella Rossellini and Goldie Hawn are no slouches either, they were just as good but I haven’t seen as many movies with them so I wasn’t as amused by them. This movie is right in director Robert Zemeckis’s wheelhouse – he thrives with plenty of humor and special effects, and this is no exception. The ending of the movie was just perfect, too. Mamma Mia! is a musical based entirely on ABBA songs. Sophie has grown up on a colorful Greek island helping her mother Donna run a quaint hotel. She’s never known who her father is, but as she’s planning her wedding, she finds her mother’s old journal in which she writes about her romances with three different men at around the same time. Sophie knows that one of them must be her father so she decides to invite them all to the wedding and figure out which one it is so that he can walk her down the aisle. Hilarity and singing ensues. My husband and I both grew up listening to the same ABBA CD (Gold: Greatest Hits) and after watching Muriel’s Wedding (which features ABBA heavily) and Rock of Ages, an ABBA musical sounded fantastic to us. The cast is terrific, Meryl Streep plays Donna, Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, the three potential fathers are Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård, and Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, are all in it too. They all seem like they’re having so much fun hamming it up (especially Christine Baranski) and it’s infectious – I’m pretty sure both Joseph and I were singing through half of it. How Do You Know (2010) Professional softball player Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) has just been cut from the US national team and she has to figure out what to do with her life now that she is too old to be a successful athlete. To make things even more confusing, she ends up caught in a love triangle between her boyfriend, baseball player Matty (Owen Wilson), and corporate executive George (Paul Rudd), who is managing a crisis of his own. I’ve talked about my love for James L. Brooks before and this movie has a lot of the good things that his other movies do. It’s just not as good, though. I feel like I didn’t get to know any of the characters very well and since it is a character-focused drama, that’s a problem. It also focused too much on the romance aspect, the premise of Lisa needing to figure out her whole life is compelling but other than some vague mentions of graduate school, we only see her decide between the two men in her life. Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, and Owen Wilson are all great in it and I would not call it a bad movie but it just didn’t meet my expectations. In & Out (1997) High school English teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) is thrilled when his former student, actor Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon), wins an Academy Award for his performance as a gay soldier. However, he’s not prepared for Cameron’s acceptance speech thanking him for being an inspirational gay man in his life. Howard’s wedding (to a woman) is only a few days away and he has never considered the possibility that he is not attracted to women. His life changes drastically and he starts to reevaluate everything. This movie seemed like it had good intentions but the execution was sloppy. It vacillated between being a drama about an important issue and a light-hearted comedy where nothing had any consequences. Kevin Kline (as always) does his best with the material he’s given and whenever he’s on screen the movie gets more watchable, but even he can’t save it. It’s not like any of the other actors did a bad job though. The movie just needed to decide what it wanted to be and tell a tighter story. “Paradox Bound” by Peter Clines I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately because I’ve been really busy at work. I hadn’t read anything by Peter Clines before, but when Paradox Bound showed up in the mail one day billed as an “outrageously fun time-travel adventure”, it seemed like the perfect book to get me out of my slump. Eli Teague lives in the small, dead-end town of Sanders in Maine. He has an uneventful life working as the IT manager for the local bank and he’s fairly content except for one thing – he keeps thinking about Harry, the mysterious stranger he met twice years and years ago. When Harry shows up in Sanders a third time, he wants answers. But that conversation doesn’t go anything like he planned and he finds himself pulled into a whole new world beyond his wildest imaginations – a hidden society of time travelers, faceless (and murderous) men, and the truth behind the American Dream. This book lived up to its “outrageously fun” marketing; it’s fast paced, it has an interesting world, and the characters are entertaining. I enjoyed the mechanics of how time travel works. Magic systems that are based on deriving power from the identity of objects or places are fascinating (one of my favorite authors, Brandon Sanderson, does this a lot) and pretty much everything magical in this book fits that description. Most fantasy books I read derive their inspiration from ancient or medieval cultures and myths so it was refreshing to see America’s own mythos come to life, complete with folk heroes like John Henry. I would love to see a movie version of this book, it reads like a sci-fi action movie (one of my favorite genres). I kept imagining how scenes from it would look like, which is pretty rare for me. I’m not sure how to explain why a book felt like a movie – I think part of it was that its structure. It tells a simple story with only a few characters, but it’s tight and cohesive and almost everything you learn becomes relevant later in the book. The characters aren’t too complicated but Eli has a solid and satisfying arc. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Peter Clines’ work. I’ll also be posting an interview with Peter Clines and giving away two copies of Paradox Bound soon, so keep your eyes out. I’ll link it here once that post is up. Crown, 2017 \| Buy the book Posted in Books, Reviews \| Tagged fantasy, fiction, science fiction \| 1 Reply Weekly Movie Reviews: Oct 1-7, 2017 Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) I’ve seen all of John Hughes’ teen movies that’s he’s famous for (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and so on) but I hadn’t seen any of his later movies until I saw this one. We follow New York City executive Neal Page (Steve Martin) who is trying to make it home for Thanksgiving but is plagued by transportation delays and cancellations. He also cannot shake off his traveling companion, garrulous shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (John Candy). I haven’t seen Steve Martin in too many things but his reputation as a comedian is well-deserved if his comic timing in this movie is anything to judge by. Neal Page’s frustration throughout the movie is entirely relatable, most of us have been through transportation snafus, been around people who just don’t know when to shut up, and dealt with all the other annoyances he runs into; we just (hopefully) haven’t had to deal with all of them at the same time. There are a bunch of memorable scenes, but my favorite is probably when he’s just had enough when his rental car goes missing (NSFW for profanity). That scene is hilarious on its own but its placement in the movie is extremely cathartic. One of the things that makes this movie so fantastic is that it does an amazing job of making you feel the way the character does almost viscerally, but for some reason you still enjoy it. Plus it’s got heart! Obsessive-compulsive and misanthropic author Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) has a predictable life, he lives alone, he keeps his house neat and precisely organized, and he eats breakfast at the same table at the same restaurant served by the same waitress every day. His life suddenly changes when two things happen – his regular waitress Carol (Helen Hunt) quits to take care of her sick son, and his gay artist neighbor, Simon (Greg Kinnear), gets beaten and robbed, leaving Melvin to take care of his dog. He begins to form an unlikely friendship with both of them but his habitual insensitivity threatens to get in the way. As Good As It Gets is a wonderful movie. I’m used to thinking about Jack Nicholson as someone who plays powerful and confident characters that are usually in control of whatever situation they are in but this movie made me realize what a good actor he was. He’s simultaneously cantankerous and vulnerable and you can’t help but feel for him even when he says and does the most outrageously rude things. I’m a big fan of Helen Hunt and she’s excellent as usual. This is apparently the most recent movie that has won both the Best Actor and the Best Actress Oscars (Greg Kinnear also got nominated for Best Supporting Actor). And Cuba Gooding Jr. was delightful in his part as Simon’s boyfriend. I’ve just been focusing on the acting but everything else about it is good too. The acting wouldn’t have mattered if the movie hadn’t been as well-written as it is, the way that the characters grow over the movie is deeply satisfying. I am fond of the trope where two broken people end up fixing themselves through helping the other one with their problems and this is one of the best things I’ve seen with that narrative. I was looking forward to watching this movie because after watching Broadcast News, Spanglish, and As Good As It Gets, I think James L Brooks is one of those directors (like Ang Lee) that really knows how to get nuanced and subtle performances from actors. Plus I’ve been tracking how many Oscar Best Picture Winners I’ve watched so far, and this was on the list. We follow Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) for a few years of their lives, starting with Emma’s wedding. They go through a lot (both separately and together) and their stubbornness means their relationship is often contentious. They have a bond that’s not broken easily though and that keeps them going even when everything around them is falling apart. This movie reminded me of Steel Magnolias; although Steel Magnolias followed a group of women, two of the main characters are a mother and a daughter and it begins with the daughter’s wedding just as in this one (and Shirley MacLaine is in both). Terms of Endearment just follows the lives of Aurora and Emma without an overarching story, just an emotional arc. It’s often funny and sometimes quite sad, and it makes you feel like you know these people in real life. The actors do a superb job and the chemistry between them is palpable. Although this movie is primarily about the women, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels also stand out in their supporting character roles as well. Mighty Aphrodite (1995) Woody Allen directs, writes, and stars in this movie about sportswriter Lenny who is a little bored with his life. When he discovers that his adopted son Max has a genius level intellect, he decides to find Max’s biological parents since he believes that he must have inherited it from them. Instead he finds Linda Ash (Mira Sorvino), a prostitute and occasional porn star who is one of the most empty-headed people he has met, but he still feels inexplicably drawn to her. Mighty Aphrodite is structured like an ancient Greek play (and named after a Greek goddess too), it has a Greek chorus (led by F. Murray Abraham) who help tell the story by breaking the fourth wall, both talking directly to us and talking to the characters as well. It’s an interesting device and I thought it seemed pretentious at first but it fits the story and the movie well. This is only the second Woody Allen movie I’ve seen (after Annie Hall) and I’m not sure if he plays a similarly neurotic character in all of them, but it works for this one. Mira Sorvino is marvelous in her role as an extremely vacuous but indisputably nice woman, she won a well-deserved Oscar for it. Helena Bonham Carter actually plays it straight as Lenny’s bored wife and she’s good at it. It’s definitely a quirky movie but I’d recommend it. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Spider-Man: Homecoming features the third new movie version of Spider-Man in the last fifteen years, but this time he’s part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and played by someone closer to being an actual teenager (Tom Holland). And thankfully it’s not an origin story; Spider-Man has been fighting crime for a while and has already been noticed by the Avengers (as we saw in Captain America: Civil War last year). While this movie features the trademark Marvel style (including the constant quips which I used to find funny but seem obnoxious now), it also takes a lot of inspiration from classic teen movies. Yes, Peter Parker is coming to terms with his superhero identity, but he also needs to get his homework done, ask the girl he likes out to homecoming, and try to not let down his school’s science trivia (I think) team competing in the nationals. And it’s a decent teen movie! Apparently the cast and crew were drawing heavily from John Hughes movies so that makes sense. I’m not sure if it was a great superhero movie or not, but I liked that it wasn’t just a superhero movie and I liked Michael Keaton as the villain (he sure does like his winged super-roles – Batman, Birdman, The Vulture). I do wish Iron Man wasn’t such a big part of the movie, though. As likable as Robert Downey Jr. is as Iron Man, needs to stop invading other superheroes’ movies and making them all about him (see also Captain America: Civil War). It detracted from Spider-Man’s arc, turning his motivations for fighting crime from his idealistic roots to just wanting to be accepted by someone he admires. Brokeback Mountain (2005) Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) meet when they’re both hired as sheep herders on the remote Brokeback Mountain. They spend months together and as they get to know each other, they end up forming a deeper relationship (I’m not sure how to describe it; “falling in love” seems too extreme and “having sex” seems too cold). They go their separate ways after the season ends but keep being drawn to each other and continue their relationship clandestinely for years afterward. I’m not sure how I haven’t seen this movie until now, given its acclaim and my love for Ang Lee. It’s a very well-made movie but I did not like it as much as I like most of his movies, primarily because I found it boring. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal did a terrific job, the direction, the writing, and the cinematography was outstanding, and I can’t find any notable flaws with the movie so I’m not sure why I found it boring. Maybe it’s because it’s a romance and I find most romances boring, I didn’t feel close to or invested in either of them and so I couldn’t understand why they were even drawn to each other. Two New York City narcotic cops, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle and his partner Buddy Russo, are trying to intercept a large drug shipment that’s being smuggled in from France by suave businessman Alain Charnier. That pretty much summarizes the movie, it’s a slow moving thriller that focuses on the characters and the cat-and-mouse game they play. Our primary hero, Popeye (played with his characteristic intensity by Gene Hackman) is an irascible and bigoted alcoholic, but he takes his job extremely seriously. The man he is tracking down, Charnier, seems like a cultured gentleman but he’s also a hardened criminal. The way the movie focuses on their opposing personalities gives it a lot of its character. The chase sequences are tightly executed, giving the movie a sense of real tension that modern action movies don’t have. The movie’s design and cinematography add to the tone it’s established, everything about the movie is dirty and gritty. The French Connection won the Best Picture Oscar when it came out and it seems like one of those movies that transformed a genre entirely (or maybe created a new one?) I can see its influences in so many movies. But it seems a little unpolished, as pioneering movies often do; it uses a new way of telling a story but which hasn’t been perfected through repetition yet. Weekly Movie Reviews: Sep 24-30, 2017 Ride with the Devil (1999) Another Ang Lee movie that I had never really heard of! And one of my favorite genres too – a period drama. The Civil War has just begun and Missouri natives Jake Roedel (Tobey Maguire) and Jack Bull Chiles (Skeet Ulrich) join the fight out of a desire for revenge after Union soldiers kill Jack Bull’s father. They join the Bushwhackers, a vigilante army that opposes the Union-loyalist Jayhawkers from across the border in Kansas. As the war progresses, however, their sense of purpose grows murkier and their priorities start to change. Ang Lee is amazing at getting nuanced performances from his actors and this movie is no exception. The characters never seem like they’re in a movie, they sometimes surprise you and other times they’re predictable, just like real people. I liked that the protagonists were Confederate soldiers and their story was told without being moralistic in any way; they are just people trying to do the right thing – protect their community and avenge their losses, not fight to defend political ideals. 20th Century Women (2016) 20th Century Women tells the story of a group of people living in a boarding house in late seventies Southern California. The house is owned by Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), who is growing increasingly baffled by her teenage son Jamie and enlists the remaining members of the household as well as Jamie’s friend Julie to provide other influences in his life. This movie is hard to describe, but it’s really good. You could describe it as a standard independent dramedy; it centers on a group of quirky characters that all grow in different ways throughout the movie, but it’s done well enough that it doesn’t feel standard. Annette Bening’s performance as the contradictory and irrepressible Dorothea is excellent. I read that the movie is based on writer/director Mike Mills’ mother so of course the characterization is well done. Parts of 20th Century Women reminded me a lot of another semi-autobiographical movie, Almost Famous, but it also focuses on the women around Jamie rather than just telling one coming of age story (hence the title) and that makes it even more compelling. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) The Pursuit of Happyness is based on entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s struggle with homelessness as he was raising his young son on his own and trying to start a new career as a stockbroker. It stars real-life father-son duo Will and Jaden Smith (and is thankfully much better than After Earth, the other movie that they play a father and son in). I didn’t know anything about this movie before going in and I was surprised that it was a fairly serious drama. On the surface it seems just another inspirational story of a person being successful through hard work but the details and the acting make it more than the sum of its parts. I’m a big fan of Will Smith (especially in his more dramatic roles) and he’s as good as ever. He does get to use his signature comic timing even though he goes through a lot of awful things. He also has great chemistry with his son and that’s the emotional heart of the movie. Romancing the Stone (1984) Joan Wilder is a successful New York City author who writes adventurous romance novels. She’s absolutely the last person who would get mixed up in any trouble… until her sister is kidnapped in Colombia, anyway. She travels to Colombia to arrange for her sister’s ransom but events soon get out of hand and she must go on the run with roguish soldier of fortune Jack Colton to get away from the corrupt Colonel Zolo. If I had to use one word to describe Romancing the Stone, it would be “fun”. It is so much fun that if dictionaries had pictures, the entry for “fun” would have a Romancing the Stone poster under it. I enjoy the trope where a creator gets tossed into a situation that relates to their work and this is a great example of it. Michael Douglas hams it up wonderfully as Jack Colton (he reminded me of his character in The Ghost and the Darkness). And who doesn’t love a classic adventure story involving jungles, treasure, a vile villain, drug lords, a crocodile pit, and so on? As if there weren’t enough reasons to like this movie already, its unexpected success launched director Robert Zemeckis’s career and enabled him to make his next movie (and one of my favorites of all time), Back to the Future. Falling Down follows William Foster (Michael Douglas) as he makes his way across Los Angeles to visit his daughter on her birthday. Recent events have left him teetering on the edge of sanity and when his day starts off with a traffic jam and a shopkeeper that refuses to give him the change he needs to make a phone call, he is pushed right off that edge. In parallel we follow retiring police sergeant Martin Prendergast (Robert Duvall) who is tracking Foster by the string of crimes committed along his path. I thought this movie would be comedic but it plays it straight. Foster is clearly mentally ill and treated as such throughout. Michael Douglas does a fantastic job; he’s said it’s his favorite performance of his career and I can see why – he portrays a nuanced character that I both empathized with and was terrified of. The movie also has a great oppressive and uncomfortable atmosphere that pushes you to side with Foster even more. It’s not the most cheerful movie but it has some terrific scenes (this scene at a fast food restaurant is probably the most famous) and is definitely worth watching. Muriel’s Wedding (1994) Muriel’s life isn’t great – she’s constantly berated by her demanding father, she has no real friends, and she’s stuck in her dead end hometown of Porpoise Spit. She spends her days listening to ABBA and dreaming of having a beautiful wedding and a husband that will help her escape her life. She is nowhere near achieving that goal until one day she has an opportunity to steal some money from her family and get away from them. I wasn’t sure about whether I would like Muriel’s Wedding for the first half of the movie; Muriel is a a fairly pathetic character in the beginning. But this movie has plenty of heart and it eventually completely won me over. Toni Collette is perfect as Muriel (although I barely recognized her, she put on 40 lb for the role). And the movie wasn’t just a quirky comedy, it had realistic character development in some unexpected ways. Julie & Julia (2009) This movie is based on two sources – the book My Life in France by Julia Child and a blog by Julie Powell, a woman who decided to cook every recipe from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year. It follows both women’s lives in parallel as they go from uncertainty about their direction in life to success. I loved the parts of the movie that focused on Julia Child. Meryl Streep plays her and does as a good job as anyone could, although she is a bit stiffer than the real Julia. Stanley Tucci is also fantastic as Julia’s husband Paul. I didn’t really care for the Julie segments, the character seemed too self-involved and annoyed me. Amy Adams is a great actress and I probably would have disliked her character much more if she hadn’t been the one to play her. The movie is well made but I just found myself wishing that it was a Julia Child biopic instead. Posted in Movies, Reviews \| Leave a reply Books I own	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1552
__label__cc	0.614219	0.385781	malcolm marler on a mission to embody grace and compassion in all relationships Spirit Photo of the Day Homosexuality – One Christian Pastor’s View Lenten Stories Lessons from my Father, Lewis Marler Heartsong Stories Simplicity Journey Heartsong Stories — Harry April 9, 2009 / Malcolm / 0 Comments Harry C.S. Wingfield As our annual Heartsong Retreat is coming up in a couple of weeks, I am thinking about Harry Wingfield. Soon after I began at the clinic in ’94, Harry came to my office and said enthusiastically, “I want you to know about a spiritual retreat I went to in Louisiana for persons living with HIV. We had the first one in Alabama last year. Would you like to coordinate the next one and get the clinic to be its sponsor?” I was still trying to find my way around the clinic and I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights. I said, “That’s great Harry, but I need a few months to get my feet on the ground,” hoping that I could put him off so that he would forget about it. I didn’t know about Harry’s persistance. A few months later he was back in my office and I knew then that I better learn about this spiritual retreat. He and another patient, Alan, met with me to talk about their ideas, where we could have it, what the retreat should be like, and how our retreat could be “even better.” They worked out most of the details and invited friends and patients from Alabama and Georgia to attend. Harry added, “I play the guitar and sing some. I’ll bring my guitar if you want.” I learned that Harry was a gifted songwriter and musician who had sung all over the United States. He had written and performed an album called “But I Have Promises to Keep” about what it was like to live with HIV. Some songs were hilarious, others were sad about the friends he had lost, while others connected one’s heart to the Creator. All of them were “heart songs.” When Harry sang, I knew I made the right choice to come home from New England to work in an HIV clinic. Joe Elmore and I led discussions in the large group during the four-day, three-night Heartsong Retreat at The Bendictine Sisters Retreat Center in Cullman, AL. The Sisters welcomed us and showered us with love and hospitality. We asked Harry to sing, a lot. We also had a talent show, a memorial service to remember those who had died, art activities to express ourselves, and even a bonfire to let go of the grief we were carrying. I discovered that Heartsong was all about hope. Heartsong was and is a safe place for persons living with HIV to just be. Harry’s health changed for the worse the next year. His T-Cell count dropped to 4. He didn’t lose his sense of humor when he said that he had named all “four of his T-Cells, John, Paul, George, and Ringo.” He lost weight and became weaker and short of breath. We developed a “Support Team” from a local church to give him extra support for meals, transportation, tending his flower garden, and friendship. I wondered if this would be his last Heartsong. During the next annual retreat, a frail woman introduced herself to Harry. The two of them had gone to high school together, dated, and had been close friends. Harry had not recognized her until she spoke because HIV had devastated her body. They embraced and held one another. When it came time for the talent show, Harry asked “Holly” if she would come forward with him so that he could sing a song to her he had written about their relationship years before. Tears flowed. It was a tender, sacred moment. Holly died a few months later. Listen to the song, “Hollywood” that Harry sang to “Holly” at The Heartsong Retreat here. Another year during one of our retreats, Harry participated in a “journaling workshop” at Heartsong. He decided to write a letter, “just as an exercise,” to a former employer who had let him go not long after disclosing he was HIV positive. The letter expressed his forgiveness of his boss, even though it had not been requested. He decided to mail that letter. It was a significant turning point in his life. Over the next few years, Harry got better rather than worse. He discontinued his disability benefits and got a job full-time at our clinic in the research department, and later moved to another job at UAB where he still works. We held a “graduation party” for his Support Team at his house because he didn’t need their help in the same way anymore. He is still friends with many of them a decade later. Harry still lives in Birmingham, AL with his partner, Vern, of 21 years. He recently said the following about Vern, “He took care of me when I was sick with AIDS, and I’ve taken care of him when he broke his foot and when he broke his wrist. We are both ready for less of the “in sickness,” and more of the “and in health!'” The Alabama Heartsong Retreat has flourished as the 16th annual retreat will be held April 27-30, 2009. How could Harry have known that more than 750 persons living with HIV would experience Heartsong? When asked why he wanted to start Heartsong so many years ago, he said recently, “My hopes were that it would help me and others with HIV, and that we could use each others’ strength to find a spiritual connection once again with God. A lot of people weren’t finding what they needed in organized religion. Many of us had been wounded by the church. Since so much of HIV is lonely, a spiritual emphasis is needed to remind us we are not alone. A neutral spiritual setting is what I hoped for, a safe place where we could discover that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” All Posts, Heartsong Heartsong Stories — Andy Part VIII — Gay Marriage © 2021 malcolm marler	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1555
__label__wiki	0.534018	0.534018	Hublot opens a second boutique in Abu Dhabi in the majestic Marina Mall La Cote des Montres - November 9th, 2012 The Grand Opening took place on the same weekend as the Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and was attended by Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot. Abu Dhabi. With the 56th Hublot boutique, momentum continues to build. The Swiss watch brand can currently boast a boutique opening almost every 15 days, and these continue to be at the most prestigious locations across the globe. To mark the Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi on the Yas Marina circuit – Hublot is the Official Watch of Formula 1TM - Abu Dhabi’s second Hublot boutique was opened on 3rd November 2012. A traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, attended by Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, and the Seddiqi family, long-standing partners and friends of the brand in the UAE. They were joined by friends of the brand, clients and journalists, just before the last Grand Prix practice race, starting at noon on Saturday and ending with a dinner at Cipriani, the famed New York restaurant which is now one of the most sought-after tables in the city. "It’s a really exciting time to be opening a new Hublot boutique in Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi soon after our recent acquisition of Al Manara International Jewellery in partnership with HAMG, especially given the presence of such immense local demand for what the brand offers” comments Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Vice-Chairman, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Al Manara International Jewellery. "Abu Dhabi is home to a large number of major watch collectors. They fully appreciate the expertise of the Swiss watchmaking art, expressed through our watch collections. I wish our teams every success and the best of luck, and would be delighted to come and visit them often" said Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot. Located in the magnificent Marina Mall (the first boutique is on Khalidiya Street and is currently being refurbished), this boutique-lounge set over 50 square metres has been designed in line with the concept so dear to the brand - The Art of Fusion: the fusion of materials such as natural buckskin and ebony which create a warm yet hushed atmosphere. Amongst the notable features is an extremely elegant floor with leather tiles, created by a master craftsman and artist, which is now one of the signatures of the Hublot boutiques, with the ensemble completed by a wall of screens which immediately immerse the visitor in the brand’s world, with films on events, the latest new products and the ambassadors. Hublot Boutique Abu Dhabi Tel.: 02-6811822	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1557
__label__wiki	0.854211	0.854211	As the seasons change and we start heading into the cooler months, there are two words that start getting thrown around the industry. 1. Splendour in the Grass and 2. BIGSOUND. Both are the biggest events on the Australian music calendar and we will see a lot of buzz around the acts that have been chosen. When it comes to Australian music, there’s a great mix of huge (Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Dean Lewis) and exciting up and coming acts. (Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Ruby Fields, Hatchie). Of course, tickets will be hard to get and with a killer top line, it will surely sell fast this year. As for BIGSOUND, the September event today announced that artist applications are open and it is going to be great to see how they use the new conference space and which artists and speakers will be chosen for the premiere Australian music conference. Every year I just get blown away by the calibre of artists that are chosen, but I will again try to get my head around them! Alex Lahey’s path in music has been exciting to watch. It’s hard to believe that the first we heard of her was a little song called Air Mail uploaded to triple j’s Unearthed in August 2015. In under four years, she’s not only released a killer debut EP, an even bigger album, but has toured the country and the world more than once, shared the stage with Paul Kelly and takes it all seemingly in her stride. Am I Doing It Right? touches on that feeling of stopping and reflecting on her journey. Is she making the right decisions? Should she be doing things differently? As long as she keeps making songs like this, a driving pop-punk song that carries on her honest and fun lyrics, then she’s got a long and successful pass ahead of her. Her second albu, The Best Of Luck Club is out Friday the 17th May. Don’t say that I have nothing to prove I stay in every cheap hotel room You may think I’ve got nothing lose But am I doing it right when I make everyone move? There’s a feeling of nature, sun and the carefree in everything Homeward Bound makes. Their singles have so far been a complete about-turn for Jimblah, purposely exploring a bold new avenue of hip-hop, different to anything you’ll hear in Australia right now. Along with singer, Goji and her crisp cracker of a voice, the pair have released their 4th track, Float, that will come from their debut album, Whatever You Do, Don’t Panic, out on the 3rd of May. It’s a mix of the old-school, combined with a simple beat and a hook. Such a clever combination that is exciting to hear. There’s no doubting the writing and lyrical skills of Miss Blanks. She has never held back with her words; biting, explicit, sharp and very, very clever. With latest track, Tommy, we stay on a similar path, but with a more melodic chorus than previously and some kick-arse production from Alice Ivy, it feels like a new direction. Oh, it bops like hell, but I think it makes the artist a little more accessible, which I’m not saying is necessary, especially seeing as though Miss Blanks has supported some huge acts (Channel Tres, Little Simz, Le1f, Nadia Rose), but I love the fact that her music will be noticed and embraced by more people. 2019 will an exciting year. Look, I have been all about Julia Why? for bloody years now, but with their last couple of releases they are really stepping it up to a new notch. New song, Starman, takes a slightly left turn to the rockier stuff we’ve heard in the past. Reverbed vocals overlay a grungey, but dreamy guitar and I feel like it really explores the sound of an old-school Veruca Salt or The Breeders track. It’s also exciting to see Sarah Fenn (aka Le Pie) featuring in their new promo shots, which seemingly puts her into a more permanent position as the trio’s drummer. Get lost in this new track and don’t worry about finding your way back. I was either going to go for Hot Chip or Hot Pink in this slot, but how could I resist this pulsing new track from Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird? Starting with the unique syncopation of an organ, Hot Pink is an upbeat exploration in indie-pop-rock that’ll get you dancing along the backdrop of reminiscing on the good memories in your life. The baritone voice of front-man, Lachlan Rose, (OMG, I started thinking of the singer from The Crash Test Dummies on this ), sits atop this driving track that sits in the upbeat camp of their catalogue and will bring a smile to your face. The Melbourne band are working their way around the country (Sydney this Saturday!) before taking off for their first ever UK shows in May. There are two very excellent albums coming out this Friday and you need to know about them! Jess Ribeiro‘s third album, LOVE HATE, has been a long time in the making – like two years long – so it’s great to finally be hearing it in full. Dylan, the final track to be released before the album drops is seemingly the title track of the album, quoting the letters of the album name hypnotically in the chorus. With the ghostly vocals over a simple strumming guitar with bandmates, Dave Mudie (Courtney Barnett) and Jade Imagine takes an interesting turn in the last part, fading out to a fog of nothingness. Dark, cool and sensitive. It’s an excellent album (fyi, the second album, you’ll find out about next week!) From between Byron and Brisbane comes four-piece, Moreton. Their new track, Circles, is a melancholic journey of a track, giving the vocal of Georgia Potter the chance to dance over the minor tendencies of the guitar. I love the build up and release of the song and will be keeping track of the group. As winners of the inaugural Carol Lloyd award in 2017, the band have been working on a follow-up to their first EP and their new EP, The Dog Years, produced by Matthew Neighbour (Matt Corby, Jen Cloher) and Alex Henriksson will be released in July. Since the apparent downfall of The Smith Street Band, there’s been a gap in the Aussie emo indie-punk scene, but never fear, we’ve got Sly Withers and their new track, Sad Guy perfectly fits the bill! Having just signed to the Dew Process label (Alice Ivy, The Beths, Mallrat, Tkay Maidza), the Perth quartet are about to embark on their biggest tour yet on the back of this track. It’s got a slow sensitive start before the chugging guitar comes in and the story that is the well-coined lyrics from Jono Mata keeps you interested. I think I can feel my emotions welling up and that’s what you want. Digging it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzbxcKVVYRw This is the very first single from a new electro-pop duo, Beachwood. It’s a endearing little bop that introduces us to the slick work of multi-platinum selling producer/writer Jarrad Rogers (whose credits include Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, Lana Del Rey, Lauren Hill + Icona Pop) and Angeline Armstrong, a critically acclaimed Filipina-Kiwi-Australian filmmaker, writer and musician. Miracle is a great start to what could be a beautiful mesh of a-grade electronica and oozy vocals to make you tingle. Another new artist to taste is No Label Necessary, a hip-hop duo out of Sydney’s underground scene. As it says in their bio, “No Label Necessary has been created as a result from the current state of society and its stereotypes.” Teaming up with Kudzai (who you may remember from Week 34 last year), Like You, is a slick and playful track that’s accompanied by a similarly fun clip. Tapping into a west-coast sound that is huge around the world right now and in the shadow of Nipsey Hussle’s sad death, it’s a poignant time to launch something like this, which feels pretty fresh in a Sydney scene that may not be ‘underground’ for long. MickRad’s Rad Mix – 2018 – Week 9	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1560
__label__cc	0.67242	0.32758	What’s the fuss over the backpacker tax? Rashida Yosufzai WHAT’S THE BACKPACKER TAX? The government wants to ensure backpackers picking fruit in farms across the country are paying taxes at the rate of non-residents. It originally slated 32.5 per cent in the 2015 budget but has since changed that to 19 per cent after an 18-month-long saga and interest group pressure. SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Farmers were worried the 32.5 per cent rate would drive away the labour they need for harvest season. They estimated it would have cut their labour market by a quarter overnight and leave produce rotting on the ground. So the government caved in and reduced it to 19 per cent. WHY CAN’T THEY JUST INPUT THAT RATE? Labor doesn’t agree with the 19 per cent rate and is teaming up with Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie to reduce that even further to 10.5 per cent. The government isn’t copping that, so now there is uncertainty about what will happen to the draft laws. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BILL DOESN’T PASS? Backpackers will be charged 32.5 per cent from the first dollar they earn if they claim to be non-residents when they fill out their tax forms. But most of them right now are self-assessing as residents, thereby paying absolutely no tax if they earn less than the tax-free threshold of $18,200. BUT THERE’S A CATCH From the start the problem has been backpackers claiming to be residents and minimising their tax. The government’s original budget proposal created a storm of controversy because of the 32.5 per cent rate. But it was always about compliance – ensuring that all backpackers are treated as non-residents. WHAT WILL BACKPACKERS BE CHARGED? There are scenarios: 1) They’ll pay 10.5 per cent if Labor’s amendments are supported in the Senate, and if at least one government MP – most likely a Nationals – in the House of Representatives crosses the floor when the amended bill returns to the lower house. 2) Labor caves in and supports 19 per cent. 3) The bill fails and the government gives up on the issue, the status quo will prevail – that is, backpackers will be able continue to self-assess as residents and pay no tax. BUT THERE’S ANOTHER CATCH If the bill fails the Australian Tax Office has the authority to change the rules and treat all working holiday visa makers as non-residents, therefore taxing them 32.5 per cent. But that in itself could subsequently be overturned in a court. Categories: Tax	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1562
__label__wiki	0.698506	0.698506	OHM Developments has fresh plans for Kitchener’s old American hotel Posted on December 9, 2016 February 13, 2017 by OHM KITCHENER — High-end condos above an urban grocery store are planned for the former American Hotel at King and Queen streets. A Guelph-based developer, OHM Development Group, has big plans for the three-storey building at 1 Queen St. N. Now known as the American Block, it was built in 1862 by Louis Breithaupt, a leading figure among the city’s early industrialists. Kannan Kanagiah, the chief executive officer and president of OHM, said he wants to preserve the historic features of the building while 22 luxury condos are constructed on the second and third floors. “We are looking at a mid-sized supermarket on the ground floor,” said Kanagiah. OHM hopes to attract a high-quality urban grocer to the 7,400-square-feet of space. The building’s only occupant today, Capers Sportsbar, will be moving out to make way for the redevelopment. “We are looking at a mixed-use, commercial-residential development for that building,” Kanagiah said in an interview. The condos will be a mixture of bachelor, one-bedroom, one-bedroom and den and two-bedroom units. High-end finishes — granite counter tops and stainless steel fixtures — will be marketed to young professionals working in the core’s growing technology scene. The main floor could also include a restaurant and a coffee shop. “Those options are open for us,” Kanagiah said. Preliminary planning and work are underway, and the renovations should begin in earnest early in 2016. Kanagiah said his company appreciates the historic significance of the property and will work closely with the city’s heritage advisory committee. He wants to maintain good relations with city officials as he eyes two other King Street properties in the downtown. “We will be very careful what we are doing with the historical aspect,” Kanagiah said. OHM’s plans underscore a trend that is slowly and steadily changing parts of the city core. As startups and technology companies expand in the city centre, housing, office space and amenities are following. Most of the new development and restorations are located in the downtown’s west end, but OHM’s project is the third significant redevelopment to happen around the intersection of King and Queen streets. Across the street, at 8 Queen St. N., Brick by Brick Developments and Voisin Capital bought a 90-year-old building that is being transformed into a high-tech workplace for the fast-growing startup Vidyard. This building’s history tells the story of downtown’s economic decline and renewal. It was part of the Goudies department store that sat empty for years after the business closed in the late 1980s. The city could not sell the property for back taxes. Nobody was interested. Later, Themuseum located in one half, and an artist bought the other half that fronted on Queen Street for his studio and shop. Nearby, Perimeter Development is doing a complete renovation and restoration of the historic Walper Hotel. Terry Riddoch closely followed the changes to the downtown real estate market. He is the ReMax broker who represented OHM in this deal. And Riddoch stressed OHM is interested in other properties in the core. “This is one of many that are coming down the pipe,” he said. During the past few years, startups and tech firms began leasing space in the downtown. This activity is attracting the interest of developers and investors from the Toronto area. They are seeing the right mixture of people and work that can support redevelopment, Riddoch said. The transformation is being driven by the “late 20s, early 30s, university-educated professionals” who are now working downtown, Riddoch said. Two large condo projects, one beside City Hall and the other at King and Victoria streets, will be occupied in the coming months. “All these people in the condos need a place to shop,” Riddoch said. The historic building at 1 Queen St. N. attracted offers from two other interested developers since OHM purchased it a few months ago. But OHM is not interested in selling. “They are in for the long haul, both in this building as well as other projects they are moving on in downtown Kitchener,” Riddoch said. Posted in Press Release OHM Developments presents Thaalam – the Ultimate Gaana CompetitionHow Vancouver’s Foreign Buyer Tax is Helping Toronto’s Housing Market 3 Recent Trends in Residential Construction OHM – Why we love what we do Suite 406 – 3950 14th Avenue Markham ON, L3R 0A9, Canada info@ohmdevelopment.ca © 2017 OHM Developments.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1565
__label__cc	0.553886	0.446114	Posts tagged "Antman" “Avengers: Endgame” Is a dynamic, dramatic, and hilarious film worth all 181 minutes April 24th, 2019 Posted by pamela Review 0 thoughts on ““Avengers: Endgame” Is a dynamic, dramatic, and hilarious film worth all 181 minutes” “Avengers: Endgame” is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year as the answers to all the fans’ questions come into clear focus and the super hero worlds not only overlap, but collide in surprising ways. It’s an all-star arena filled with “marvel”ous characters in a fight for life, humanity, and the future of the world and the universe. (Don’t worry–no spoilers ahead!) The evil Thanos (Josh Brolin) possesses all the Infinity Stones making him the most powerful being in the universe. And with that power, he has cursed the world, culling the population by 50%. “Endgame” picks up exactly where “Infinity War” left off and it’s an affective beginning as we see Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) with his loving family enjoying their time together only to be turned to dust. The impact of this emotionally loaded initial scene is unexpectedly shocking and not only are we hooked, we care about and relate to this family and Hawkeye’s devastation. And then the opening credits begin to roll. Fast forward to 5 years later and the catastrophic results of Thanos’ work is more than evident— cities are in a state of shambles, but the oceans and natural environment are beginning to balance once again. The remaining super hero allies band together in what seems to be a losing battle to right this sinking ship and not a spark of hope is detected among them…until an Avenger thought to be dead, resurfaces. And this is where the fun begins! From the depths of an emotionally heavy load, we are immediately bouyed into hilarious one-liners, side notes, and quick-paced dialogue and antics to remind us why we love comic books. Without giving one surprise away (I fear losing friends if I do), “Endgame” ranks up in the comedy hierarchy with the hilarity of stand alone super hero films like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Ironman.” With references to some of our favorite films of the last 40 years and costuming that transforms these heroes into unexpected yet disturbingly funny renditions of themselves, for most of the 3 hour 1 minute (yes, you read that correctly) running time, it’s a captivatingly intriguing and funny film while it still creates an entertainingly entangled story to wrap your head around. The story truly needed most of that 3 hour time period in order to create the thorough and emotionally dynamic storyline, although the last 30 minutes could have been edited quite a bit as the CGI begins to feel a bit mundane. (But that’s my issue with every super hero film.) I must admit that it’s a complicated story that intellectually makes sense as it delves into the waters of our environment and the cost of humanity and our memories. It is these memories that make us human and compassionate; an element that adheres us to one another. The writers cover all their bases, leaving no possible stone unturned, pulling you into their vortex of logic and reason while they connect you to the characters. Every past story is covered in well-balanced detail and of course, we have the directors and actors to thank for bringing such textured performances to those words on the page. Watching this all-star cast in their respective roles feels like a family reunion, everyone knowing each other like family, the good and the bad. They love one another and have their squabbles, only to have each others’ backs when they need to. They are family. There’s a comfort in seeing this relaxed and familiar camaraderie even during times of dire situations and it is this interaction among and between the characters that not only propels the story, but engages us. We have become an invested part of this family. “Endgame” showcases female empowerment, too, as we watch them rise to any challenge, physically, emotionally, and intellectually, and these women shine. To single out any particular female super hero would be to spoil the film, so I won’t. Suffice it to say, the it’s a male-female gender balanced film. This is also a visually powerful film. The action is impressive as are the special effects and while this is what makes fans of this genre happy, it’s the levity that Ironman, Thor, Rocket, Ant Man and Quill bring to the table. When Robert Downey, Jr. Paul Rudd, and Chris Hemsworth interact, you have a comedy team that could make the Queen of England belly laugh. All three of these actors have the comedic timing and pacing to get the most from their lines and scenes, but when the dramatic elements are needed, they are at the ready, adding just the right touch and never doing so in a heavy-handed way. “Avengers: Endgame” was a wonderful surprise, filling almost each and every minute with excitement, drama, humor and visually interesting and entertaining intrigue. While the 3 hour running time was a bit long, needing a 10-minute edit, that’s not a huge detractor from the film. It’s a strong story, great acting and directing, and a wonderfully well-balanced film on every level. If you’ve seen all of the Marvel movies, and this truly is a must to get full enjoyment from “Endgame,” the film is perfect escapism and an all ‘round good time. (No need to stay after the credits roll.) Tags: Antman, Avengers, Brolin, Comedy, Endgame, Environment, Hemsworth, Ironman, Marvel, Rudd, super hero, THanos, Thor, Universe	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1568
__label__wiki	0.924238	0.924238	Political Jason GOP-led states back Trump’s legal drive to challenge election November 10, 2020 PJGAdmin Republican-controlled state governments on Monday began throwing their weight behind President Donald Trump’s legal drive to challenge the results of last week’s presidential election. A coalition of Republican attorneys general filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to formally take up and resolve a dispute from Pennsylvania over a ruling that the state’s Supreme Court issued in September granting three extra days for the receipt of mail-in ballots cast in last Tuesday’s election. The 10 attorneys general aligned their states with arguments from Trump’s presidential campaign, the Pennsylvania Republican Party and a pair of GOP state legislative leaders that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision usurped powers that the Constitution reserves for state legislatures. “The power is specifically granted to state legislatures to direct time, place and manner [and] frameworks for their state’s election,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who led the brief, said at a news conference on Monday. The Pennsylvania state Supreme Court “overstepped their bounds and encroached on the legislature’s authority,” he added. Additionally, the states embraced the president’s arguments about widespread election fraud, citing isolated cases from past elections and a database from a conservative think tank that an investigative report from the PBS investigative program “Frontline” recently described as overhyped. While the brief was prepared under the auspices of the Republican Attorneys General Association, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter insisted the submission did not amount to a political intervention on behalf of Trump. “This is a horrible precedent,” Hunter said of the Pennsylvania court ruling. “This is not a political exercise.” The brief argues that mail balloting is most susceptible to fraud, highlighting prominent cases from past elections. Election administrators do, generally, agree that mail voting has a slightly higher risk associated with it compared with in-person voting. However, they say that American elections are largely fraud-free, that isolated and sporadic cases do not prove widespread fraud, and that various safeguards in place protect the integrity of the election. Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow suggested on Monday that many of the states would argue that their interests are affected by the outcome of the Pennsylvania fight and other election-related litigation because malfeasance in any state dilutes the votes of electors in other states. “These other states are impacted by what happens in Pennsylvania if there is in fact things that have happened in Pennsylvania that are not appropriate, that are illegal — violate the law, the electors of these other states … end up basically having their votes depressed,” Sekulow said on his daily webcast and radio show. Later Monday, the Trump campaign broadened its legal assault on the electoral results in Pennsylvania by filing a new federal lawsuit challenging the state’s procedures for mail-in voting, as well as what the campaign calls illegal and unfair treatment of its poll watchers. The suit seeks to block Pennsylvania officials from certifying the outcome of the election until mail-in and absentee votes are verified through some unspecified process. The 85-page complaint names as defendants Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and seven “Democrat-heavy” counties. “Nothing less than the integrity of the 2020 Presidential election is at stake in this action,” the Trump suit declares. The suit complains of various practices, including decisions by some counties to notify voters whose mail-in ballots appeared to be packaged incorrectly of that fact so that they could “cure“ their ballot or seek to cast a new one. Some of the counties have said that was their longstanding practice and that lists of such ballots were sent to representatives of both political parties. The campaign’s complaint also includes anecdotal allegations of voters receiving ballots they didn’t request, of arriving at the polls and being told their ballots had already been cast by mail, and of ballots being thrown away. However, the suit does not allege that there were enough such instances to overcome the more than 45,000-vote lead that President-elect Biden currently enjoys in the Pennsylvania tally. The only claim in the suit that seems to get into that numerical range is an assertion that more than 680,000 ballots were processed in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties “without review” by political parties or candidates. But the suit even admits that poll watchers were in the room, while contending that observers were placed “far away from the action” in large rooms. Critics of the suit said many of the things the campaign is complaining about about the state’s mail-in voting process were evident months ago. That could undercut the suit’s demand for urgent relief. “If candidates could challenge pre-existing procedures after the election, for the first time, it would allow gaming of the system, in which candidates would sue only when they lose,” Robert Kelner, a Republican election lawyer, wrote on Twitter. “That’s not how it works.” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said he was confident the new suit would find no traction. “This is the latest meritless lawsuit to challenge Pennsylvania’s election, which was overseen by bipartisan election officials and was lawful, fair and secure,” Shapiro said. “For months, the vast majority of these lawsuits have been dismissed and found to have no merit by Courts at all levels, and this one is no different. I am confident Pennsylvania law will be upheld.” The new federal suit from the Trump campaign was assigned to Scranton-based U.S. District Court Judge Michael Brann, an appointee of President Barack Obama. No immediate hearing on the case was set. During his radio appearance on Monday, Sekulow argued for patience from the president’s allies as his legal team seeks to coordinate lawsuits in various states. So far, it’s far from clear that the cases threaten sizable leads Biden has established in pivotal battleground states. Sekulow also urged patience from the president’s allies as his legal team seeks to coordinate lawsuits in various states. So far, the suits don’t seem capable of reversing the sizable leads President-elect Joe Biden has established in pivotal battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin and elsewhere. Sekulow also appeared to acknowledge that Trump’s legal team faced an uphill fight. “I understand the anxiety and the frustration, but there are not going to be decisions that come down in the next two or three days that are going to end this one way or another or overturn this,” Sekulow said on “Jay Sekulow Live,” which is produced by the conservative legal nonprofit American Center for Law and Justice. “The electors have not met. The Electoral College has not met.” “There are going to be … additional lawsuits filed in the next several days,” the lawyer and frequent Supreme Court litigator said. “It could be the end of the week for some of them. I need to tell everybody this: that this is not a simple task. It’s a tall order. … It’d be a miracle, in one sense, because everything has to line up, but you don’t stop fighting until there’s a point where the courts rule against you. That’s it. We respect the rule of law.” Addressing the prospect of the litigation reversing the result in favor of Biden, Sekulow was circumspect: “You have to line up a lot of dominoes, as we say, would have to fall in the right direction for that to happen.” The number of late-arriving ballots in Pennsylvania — those postmarked by Election Day but received between the close of polls and Friday, along with those received in that timeframe without a postmark unless a preponderance of evidence indicated they were mailed after Nov. 3 — is unlikely to sway the final result in the state. Pennsylvania officials had already begun to set aside those ballots, even before Justice Samuel Alito’s order on Friday requiring them to do so. Biden currently sits on a lead of more than 45,000 votes. The brief from the Republican attorneys general also targeted ballots that arrive after Election Day, regardless of when they were postmarked, as particularly problematic. “The Pennsylvania decision here extended that post-Election Day deadline to many more voters in Pennsylvania,” Schmitt wrote in the brief. “And, in the process, it stripped away critical safeguards against fraud.” A separate friend-of-the-court brief filed earlier on Monday by Ohio Attorney General Mike Yost struck a more restrained tone than the multi-state, brief from the Republican attorneys general, taking care not to endorse the president’s team’s claims of widespread electoral fraud, or to suggest that ballots that arrive after Election Day shouldn’t be counted. Ohio, in fact, allows ballots that are postmarked by the Monday before Election Day and received after the fact to count. Yost, a Republican, aligned his state with arguments about the so-called independent legislature theory, which argues that state legislatures have the authority to dictate election laws in states, and that there’s been significant judicial overreach when courts decide otherwise. That theory was advanced perhaps most famously in then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s concurring opinion in Bush v. Gore, the Supreme Court fight that effectively decided the 2000 presidential election. Four current justices have either outright endorsed or signaled some level of support for Rehnquist’s theory: Clarence Thomas (who signed on to Rehnquist’s original concurring opinion), Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Alito. “Ohio’s interest in this case also has nothing to do with any abstract concern about counting ballots received after Election Day,” Yost wrote. “Ohio is interested in this case because reversal is crucial to protecting the Constitution’s division of authority over state election laws.” One prominent election law expert questioned Sekulow’s statement that the results in Pennsylvania and the manner in which that state selects its electors affect other states. “I don’t even understand the concept here,” said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California at Irvine. “Each state has its way of choosing its own electors. Even if Pennsylvania were reversed, that has no effect on the electoral votes of other states.” Sekulow did not predict victory in the legal battle over the election, but he did say he expected the Supreme Court to wind up being the arbiter of whether Trump is reelected or defeated. “This is the very beginning of this, way in the beginning,” the Trump attorney said. “The ultimate determination of this I do not believe is going to be made by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or Arizona, actually, or the Supreme Court of Wisconsin or Michigan. I think the ultimate determinations are going to be here, at the Supreme Court of the United States. I think that’s the end result of where this goes.” Political, Politico Barr memo authorizes DOJ to open election-fraud investigations Democracy Required Kind of a Lot of Patience, Actually Biden Outlines $1.9 Trillion Economic Rescue Package Officials Assure the Public That Inauguration Will Be Safe	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1570
__label__wiki	0.671617	0.671617	Alla Leukavets Alla Leukavets joined the Tension project in September 2013 to carry out a research on integration dynamics in Eastern European region. After obtaining a degree in law from the Belarusian State Economics University in 2008, she pursued an MA programme in Human Rights (law/political sciences pathway) at the University of Manchester, UK. After successful completion of her studies in 2009 (with Merit) Alla received a coveted scholarship from the British Council/OSF to participate in the Hansard Research Scholars Programme. She took a course in Democracy and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and interned at the UK Parliament, Joint Committee on Human Rights. Between 2010 and 2011 Alla worked as an Open Society Institute (OSI) researcher at a human rights NGO in Serbia. Her research focused on the problems of the Roma minority in the area of education. In addition, Alla has work experience in the NGO sector in her home country, Belarus, where she worked in 2011 at the main human rights organisation (the Belarusian Helsinki Committee). In September 2011 Alla received an ENP scholarship from the European Commission to pursue a further postgraduate programme at the leading European university in EU studies, the College of Europe (Bruges campus). After finalising her studies in 2012 she received a Robert Schuman Scholarship and did her traineeship at the European Parliament in Brussels, DG of External Policies (EXPO). Currently, Alla is based at University of Bremen in Germany conducting her PhD research on the topic “Puzzles of integration policy in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova: politics of two-level games”.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1572
__label__cc	0.735304	0.264696	info@rhm.ae +97143542941 Support Ticket Enquire Here About RHM IT Telephony and Convergence IT Wireless Network IT Home Workers & VPN IT Data and Voice Cabling IT Systems Migration IT Project Manangement Network Installation & Support Network Analysis & Troubleshooting Mobility is no longer a barrier to productivity and efficiency but now provides a true competitive advantage. Accessing real-time data whilst at a customer site, whilst travelling or whilst working outside of normal office hours now allows a more flexible and efficient approach to business processes. Wireless networking technology, fuelled by the emergence of cross-vendor industry standards such as IEEE 802.11, has produced a number of affordable solutions that are fast becoming a realistic business benefit for all types of industries where the installation of network cabling is not practical. 802.11. A group of specifications, developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), for wireless networks that are used to manage packet traffic over a network and ensure that packets do not collide – which could result in loss of data – while travelling from their point of origin to their destination. These are: 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. Each access point typically covers 50-100 metres of open space with current specs for 1, 2, 11 and 54 Mbps. It is intended to provide for interoperability of wireless LAN products from different manufacturers. For security and privacy, 802.11 accommodates the use of Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), a wireless authentication protocol based on I.D. keys and bit-encryption. Benefits for the organisation: Reduction in total cost of ownership as costs such as cabling and office space can be radically reduced. Business processes can be improved and the organisation becomes more efficient as productivity rises. Customer meetings are more informed and therefore more productive. Improving data availability, decision making and account management processes will improve customer satisfaction. Geographical and time restrictions are lifted, providing another competitive advantage. Temporary wireless networks can be easily set up for temporary office facilities, exhibitions and events. Easily scalable and portable A wireless network access point can be installed without the disruption and costs associated with a cabled network point. The wireless network can be extended or moved to areas where a cabled infrastructure wouldn’t be cost-effective or practical to do so (a warehouse for example). Businesses operating in listed buildings can adhere to restrictions that may effect the installation of a fixed-cable network. Benefits for the user: No need for training on new devices as existing mobile devices can be used. Freedom and flexibility in where they can work and when. Improved client account management away from the office as real-time data can be made available at the client site. Access to real-time data enabling more efficient and informed decision-making. From day one, RHM Computers has strived to serve its clients with honesty and integrity while providing them with the best technology solutions for their business needs. In doing so, we evoke teamwork and client collaboration, along with hard work and accountability, to earn the privilege to be “Your Partner in Technology Solutions.” We also pride ourselves on relationships that produce results. Working together with clients, our long-term alliances bring success to all parties involved. Get in touch if you do have any questions. Call up on the given below mobile number. Office # 2M, AL Souq AL Kabeer Bldg # 3 Al Fahidi, 25c Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE Copyright © 2021 RHM Gulf Proudly Powered by RHM Gulf	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1575
__label__wiki	0.668043	0.668043	Canadian Music Festival Profiles North by Northeast — otherwise known as NXNE — has taken over Toronto annually since its inception in 1995. It was based on the highly successful South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, TX. The festival sprawls across various venues all over Toronto connecting music, comedy, film, video games and an interactive media conference together. In its first year, NXNE brought 300 bands to the city, which were mostly local and unsigned acts at the time. Since then, the festival has grown exponentially, now taking place over ten days every year in venues ranging from the smallest of clubs to the flagship, free headlining stage at Yonge-Dundas Square. Lights, CHVRCHES, U.S. Girls, the Flaming Lips and Billy Talent are just a few names among many that have headlined the festival over the years. In recent years, NXNE has tried new experiments to keep up with the ever-changing festival landscape. In 2016 and 2017, the festival retooled their headlining stage into a ticketed event in the Port Lands, but returned to the free format at Yonge-Dundas Square for 2018. In 2017, NXNE introduced the Club Land Curator Series, featuring up-and-coming artists as selected by local tastemakers, including Shad, Cadence Weapon, and members of Broken Social Scene and July Talk. NXNE is about more than just music. It hosts one of Canada’s largest eSports events through their Game Land sector of the festival, kicking off with online tournaments before culminating in a weekend-long live event. Additionally, NXNE also hosts film and comedy festivals, running concurrently with the music festival. NXNE has brought top comedy acts such as Marc Maron, Martha Chaves, Dave Foley and Lucy DeCoutere to their comedy tent, which is programmed by Toronto’s legendary Comedy Bar. Local bars and venues participate in the fun with extended last call until 4am, and the festival routinely shuts down Yonge Street for their Festival Village, which boasts several booths from sponsors, gaming stations and buskers. Though there are plenty of free events throughout NXNE, you can also purchase a wristband to gain access to every festival event across the city. Exclaim! @ NXNE NXNE Reveals 2019 Festival Village Lineup with Santigold, Cold War Kids, Killy NXNE returns to Toronto next month, and the latest wave of performers has just been announced. The Festival Village lineup has been reve... Royal Mountain Records Announces NXNE Day Party with Dizzy, Haviah Mighty, Dusted Earlier this year, Toronto's Royal Mountain Records created a fund to assist its acts in getting treatment for mental health and addictions... NXNE Announces 2019 Lineup with American Football, CupcakKe NXNE is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and organizers behind the fest have now made an initial lineup announcement for the 2019... NXNE Adds Tinashe, Odd Future's Taco to 2018 LIneup After steadily rolling out the bulk of their 2018 lineup earlier in the month, organizers behind NXNE have made a few more key additions bef... NXNE Announces 2018 Lineup with Jazz Cartier, Azealia Banks, Big Freedia NXNE returns to Toronto again next month, and the first round of performers has just been revealed. The festival runs from June 8 to 17,... NXNE Reveals 2018 Club Land Curators Series with July Talk, K-os, Jim Cuddy After featuring guest-curated shows as part of its Club Land programming last year, NXNE has announced the return of the series for its 2018... NXNE Details Plans for 2018 Edition After bringing Kaytranada, Post Malone and more to Toronto's Port Lands last year, organizers behind North by Northeast have begun to gear u... NXNE Details Future Land Conference After detailing their Port Lands and guest-curated Club Land lineups, organizers behind Toronto's North By Northeast festival have lifted th... NXNE Reveals Guest-Curated Club Land Lineups As previously reported, the Club Land portion of North by Northeast's 2017 programming will feature a series of guest-curated shows taking p... Tyler, the Creator Drops Out of NXNE, Replaced by Kaytranada As part of NXNE's Port Lands programming this year, Tyler, the Creator was set to headline the waterfront portion of the festival alongside... Peaches to Kick Off NXNE With North by Northeast returning to Toronto next month, organizers have revealed a launch show featuring beloved Canadian pop provocateur P...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1578
__label__cc	0.693051	0.306949	Like what you see? Contact me at stefan@stefanhengst.com graphic + interior surface design Feuille d’or. Collection Noblesse ........................................................................................ previous \| next wallcovering About COLLECTION NOBLESSE This collection of contemporary wallcoverings (on metallic and regular white papers) is drawing on the refined opulence of the Louis XVI style, as well as the more neoclassical architectural forms and decorative motifs of the Directoire Style. Introduced at the ICFF 2016 in New York. COLLECTION NOBLESSE is available in the series DENTELLE DE MARBRE, JARDIN ROYAL, ROI DE SOLEIL, MOULURE DE PARIS and FEUILLE D’OR and made to order to accommodate almost any kind of customization to meet your creative vision. For trade at $146 per yard (48″ width). The FEUILLE D’OR series as shown above is available in the following colors: - DARK COPPER \| 16.NOFD.DCPR.01 - COPPER \| 16.NOFD.CPR.01 - DARK STEEL \| 16.NOFD.DSTL.01 - NATURAL \| 16.NOFD.NTL.01 - LIGHT GREY \| 16.NOFD.LGR.01 - GREY \| 16.NOFD.GRY.01 Want to get a quote? More details about the paper or turn around time? Stefan Hengst © Copyright 2021 Stefan Hengst	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1583
__label__wiki	0.829359	0.829359	Robinson and Salmond Launch Climate Justice Fund Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, today joined First Minister Alex Salmond, to launch Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund and called for other countries to share Scotland’s ambition on climate change – by both reducing their carbon emissions and implementing climate justice. Climate justice is a response to the injustice that the world’s poorest communities, who have done least to cause climate change, are bearing the brunt of its impact, due to increasingly erratic weather patterns and more climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts. The Scottish Government is providing £3 million for the fund – one million per year for the next three years - which will support water projects in Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia – increasing communities’ resilience to the impacts of climate change. At today’s launch, a short film was released highlighting support for climate justice from across Scottish society. It included endorsements from: SCIAF, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Oxfam Scotland, Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Cardinal Keith O’Brian, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scottish Power Renewables, Islamic Relief, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, the STUC, Friends of the Earth Scotland and WWF Scotland. The fund is also supported by the 2020 Climate Group, and the Network of International Development Organisations of Scotland (NIDOS), and has attracted cross-party support from the Scottish Parliament. First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The huge injustice of climate change is that it is those who have done the least to cause the problem - the most vulnerable from the world’s poorest communities - who are hardest hit by it. That is why Scotland is committed to supporting climate justice and why we are launching Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund. “In launching this fund we are all too aware that one country cannot win the battle against climate change alone. Collective action is not an option but an imperative, and we need to ensure our actions and our message inspires others to act. "Mary Robinson’s support is testament to the key international role Scotland is playing in delivering climate justice. Scotland is providing strong leadership – sending a clear message to other industrialised nations that urgent action is needed and calling on them to share Scotland’s ambition on climate justice.“ Mary Robinson, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice said: “Creating a new narrative based on climate justice, which amplifies the voices of the vulnerable, can inject the necessary urgency and ambition into the international negotiations to reach a new legally binding agreement by 2015. We will know that we have achieved an equitable solution when the human rights of the most vulnerable are upheld and protected. “Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund acknowledges that those who contributed least to the causes of climate change are bearing the brunt of its impacts. To address this injustice, Scotland is delivering on commitments to build resilience of the world’s poorest communities to the impacts of climate change. Importantly, delivering these commitments builds trust between developed and developing countries who need to work together to solve the problem of climate change.” Speaking in support of action on climate justice, Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission said: “We welcome the launch of the Climate Justice Fund today. There must be broad recognition that the people who have contributed the least to climate change are suffering the most through extreme weather, desertification, crop failures, water shortages and newly spreading diseases – this situation violates their human rights and simply cannot continue.” Ian Marchant, Chair of 2020 Climate Group said: "The 2020 Climate Group warmly welcomes the Scottish Government's climate justice fund. Dealing with climate change is fundamentally a matter of justice. The Climate Justice Fund recognises our moral responsibility to show leadership and support those countries in the global South that are suffering from the impacts of climate change. Scotland already has world leading climate change legislation, this is a great next step towards ensuring that Scotland is a key player in tackling climate change." Gillian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Network of International Development Organisations of Scotland, said: “NIDOS warmly welcomes the announcement of the Climate Justice Fund which shows the Scottish Government’s recognition of our ’climate debt’ to poorer countries. Many communities in these countries are already facing crop failure, dwindling water sources and increased disease incidence due to climate change. We hope the Fund will grow and welcome that the funds are in addition to the Scottish Government’s International Development Funds, given the still vital need to improve access to quality education, health services and enterprise development in these countries.” Mr Salmond also announced that Scotland’s Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson will attend the United Nation Summit in Rio next month, and will champion climate justice in support of Mary Robinson and developing country governments. Scotland’s involvement has been welcomed by leading environmental organisations. Commenting Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said: “It is only because of the original Rio conference that we have international action on climate, forests and nature, so Rio+20 is a vital opportunity to see what has been achieved and agree to do more. It is only right for Scotland to have an official seat at Rio+20 because the Scottish Parliament unanimously agreed the strongest climate laws anywhere in the world. I'm sure Stewart Stevenson will use every opportunity at the Rio conference to promote Scotland's world-leading example." Machrihanish Community Flying High A long awaited community buyout of the former RAF Machrihanish air base was confirmed today The Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) has purchased the former RAF base. This is the culmination of the largest and most complicated community buyout under current Scottish land reform legislation, which has been completed with support and financial assistance from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Water and the Ministry of Defence. Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson visited the site today and met with senior members of MACC as well as other members of the board. He was given a tour of the site and heard about future plans. Benefits of the buyout include: £1.7 million investment in local infrastructure £300,000 to address issues relating to the condition of the base (e.g. road maintenance) and other costs 137 former MoD houses and commercial properties connected to water supply for the first time Upgrade of the private sewage system and electrical infrastructure MACC future plans for the site include commercial and industrial use – renewable energy and biomass plans – as well as residential and recreational purposes “Land ownership is key to building independent, resilient rural communities and creating a sense of confidence and community empowerment. That’s why the Scottish Government fully support buyouts and are committed to providing opportunities for rural communities to acquire land. “The MACC buyout will benefit both the local community and businesses. Benefits will include improvements to the water, sewage and electrical infrastructure at the site. “The transfer would not have been achieved without the commitment of members the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company. They were quick to see the benefits that community ownership could bring, ensured the community supported their vision and have worked tirelessly to deliver the base into community ownership.” Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Flourishing communities are essential to building sustainable economic growth for Scotland and The Scottish Government has supported the Machrihanish Community throughout the buyout process and will continue to do so. "There is potential now for Machrihanish to reap the benefits of the expansion of the renewables industry in Scotland and build growth in the tourism and leisure sectors and this will benefit Kintyre as a whole. "Highlands and Islands Enterprise will remain on hand to offer their expertise and I know that the local community will grasp every opportunity that comes their way." MACC Chairman Ian Wardrop said: "It has been a long road but all the hard work has finally paid off. I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support we have had from the community, and the ongoing help, advice and financial support from our partners in Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council. “I am also personally very grateful for the unstinting support of my fellow Directors who have all given so freely of their time during these protracted negotiations." Douglas Cowan, Area Manager at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "We wish to congratulate MACC on the purchase of the air base on behalf of the local community. The base has tremendous potential which will be able to be developed over the coming years through community ownership and management. “The buyout has had strong local support and, following recent multi-million pound investments in tourism and wind tower manufacturing, is another exciting development for the long term future of Kintyre. HIE will continue to work closely with MACC to shape and support their ambitions." The former RAF base at Machrihanish was declared surplus to defence requirements in October 2008. Covering an area of over 1,025 acres on the Kintyre peninsula, it is a key site in phase one of the National Renewable Infrastructure Plan. It is the site of a wind tower manufacturing facility, recently acquired by a joint venture of SSE and March Wind Technology and the site of Highlands and Islands Airport Limited Campbeltown airport. The disposal of the base has been the subject of a long running right to buy process. The deal was concluded on 11 May. The Scottish Government and HIE will continue to work with MACC to ensure the economic development potential of the base is achieved. Scottish Water is currently undertaking detailed exploratory work prior to starting work to connect the properties to the base. It is planning an information day at Machrihanish to give customers the opportunity to discuss what is being planned. The work is expected to be completed by spring 2013. Chair Appointment to SNH Extended The Minister for Environment and Climate Change today announced an extension to the appointment of Andrew Thin as Chair to the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Stewart Stevenson said: “I am very pleased that Andrew Thin has agreed to accept an extension to his term of appointment. Andrew has been a very effective chair of the SNH Board. His leadership, strong principles of sound governance and excellent skills in advocacy have proved invaluable over the past six years. “Andrew will provide the SNH Board with continuity of leadership as the organisation adjusts to the changes in how it carries out its work over the next three years, following the outcome of the Spending Review in 2011.” SNH is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) which is funded by the Government and Board Members are appointed by Scottish Ministers. SNH is the Government’s advisor on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. SNH’s role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland’s nature now and in the future. Andrew Thin – Chairman of SNH, having formerly been Convener of the Cairngorms National Park. Andrew has a strong track record in the public and voluntary sectors as Chairman of the John Muir Trust, Member of SNH’s North Areas Board and Member of the Crofters Commission Board. He is also a Member of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Director of JNCC Ltd the subsidiary trading company. Andrew has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science and Masters Degree in Business Administration. Mr Thin is also a non-executive director within the core Scottish Government, and is a member of the Scottish Government Audit and Risk Committee. This extension will be for 19 months and will run from 1 August 2012 to 28 February 2014. This extension to the appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £325.22 per day for a time commitment of 12 days per month (144 days per annum). This extension to appointment was made in partial accordance with the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland's Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. This extension to appointment met the Code requirements with the exception of paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Code relating to succession planning. All extensions to appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the extension process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. No political activity has been declared by Mr Thin. Mr Thin has a second Ministerial Public Appointment as a member of Children’s Hearings Scotland, for which his remuneration is £3,864 per annum. The Scottish Government expects to invite applications later this year for appointment to the SNH Board to fill Board member vacancies arising on 31 July 2012 and 31 March 2013. The appointments will run from 1 April 2013. Local MSP Welcomes Passing of Alcohol Minimum Pricing Law MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the vote by the Scottish Parliament to enact a minimum price for alcohol. Mr Stevenson said that it was time the sale of ultra-cheap forms of alcohol, priced with young people especially in mind, was curtailed in Scotland’s shops. The bill to ban the sale of alcohol at under 50p a unit (a unit being roughly equivalent to a shot of spirits, a small glass of wine, or half a pint of beer) passed at Holyrood. The Labour Party, once again, abstained. Commenting after the vote, Stewart Stevenson said: “I previously served on the Parliament’s Justice Committee. I remember well a series of visits we undertook to various towns looking at anti-social behaviour. Among them was Lossiemouth and the message which came across loud and clear was that something needed to be done about the availability of cheap alcohol, which was a major factor in making people’s lives a misery through the anti-social behaviour it led to. “Medical professionals and the police also regularly tell me of the pressures on emergency services caused by drunken and abusive behaviour. “This behaviour is not acceptable and Scotland’s relationship with booze has to change. “In Scotland we have some alarmingly high levels of alcoholism, which is incredibly damaging to the drinker themselves, their families, friends and the wider community. Children in households where excessive alcohol consumption occurs are at significant risk. “With this new legislation in place the minimum price per unit of alcohol is to be 50p. That is a significant step forward. “Let’s not forget where we’ve come from in this debate, though. When minimum pricing was first mooted by the SNP, all of the opposition parties in Holyrood opposed it and voted it down. Now, just a couple of years on, we see the Tories and the Liberal Democrats making a complete u-turn and backing the policy. So it is now only the Labour Party that seem isolated in their position of wanting more talk but no action. “The sad reality is that too many of us are drinking too much. The problem affects people in all walks of life. As alcohol has become relatively cheap, alcohol-related hospital admissions have quadrupled, and it is shocking that half of our prisoners now say they were drunk when they committed the offence. It is time for this to stop and I hope that this new piece of legislation will be a step forward to tackling this woeful relationship with drink. “Minimum pricing is not a magic bullet – we need education and lots more as well, but there is widespread support for trying minimum pricing – from the medical profession, police forces, charities and from significant parts of the drinks and licensed trade industry.” Stevenson Backs Volunteers Week Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson is highlighting the importance of Volunteers’ Week, which takes place from 1st – 7th June. “This is a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution that millions of volunteers make across Scotland each year. “Without volunteers, many facilities in our local communities would not be able to provide a service and I am grateful for all volunteers who give their time willingly for the benefit of others. Their contribution to the community should never be underestimated.” Stewart Stevenson, the Scottish Government Minister for the Environment and Climate Change got a look at the latest generation of tractors - and a quick demonstration of driving one - when he visited Oatridge. There to launch the College's new Scottish Rural Employers' Forum, as part of Skills Development Scotland's Modern Apprenticeship Week, the Minister could not resist the temptation to climb aboard the massive Case IH 315, thought to be the only one of its kind in Scotland. The massive machine, with six-foot high wheels, is designed primarily for the wheat fields of North America, but has been loaned to Oatridge for students to get a chance to learn about it, before it features at the upcoming Royal Highland Show. Mr Stevenson was most impressed that 21 year old Kevin Sutherland, from Elgin, who is about to complete a National Certificate in Landbased Engineering and begin a Modern Apprenticeship, has learned to drive the tractor. He can also be reassured that in spite of its size, the 315 is one of the most environmentally friendly around. Kevin, who is from a farming family, is to start work with Mark Garrick Engineering in Elgin when his National Certificate course is over. He will travel back to Oatridge on block release during his Modern Apprenticeship. He is no stranger to being away from home, having spent a year in Australia to gain farming experience. "Although I really enjoy farming, I've always been fascinated by messing around with machines", he says. "The Oatridge course has been fantastic and it just made me more determined to become an engineer." Rural employers from all over Scotland attended the new Forum where, after the official launch the main speaker was Danny Logue, the Operations Director at Skills Development Scotland. It is planned to make the Forum an annual event, where businesses across the wide rural industry spectrum can learn about the latest teaching and training available and influence the development of future courses. The event, which was held in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, builds on the successful work of the College's industrial liaison groups, which have and will continue to concentrate on specific sectors like agriculture, horticulture, animal care, countryside management, equestrianism, horticulture and landscaping. Brian Williams, the College Business Training Manager and part of the team which drew up plans for the Forum, says: "At Oatridge we are fully committed to expanding the range of employers we are working with, because we want to maximise, where possible, the opportunities for young people to benefit from the opportunities available through Skills Development Scotland's Modern Apprenticeship programme. "We want to hear from employers what we can do for them and for their employees, including future employees, while bringing them up to date with what we are already doing and of course, giving them an excellent opportunity to network with other businesses in their own and other sectors." Danny Logue says: "Many rural employers have quite specific challenges, which make the flexibility of the Modern Apprenticeship programme particularly beneficial. Smaller employers operating on tight margins recognise the advantage of having an apprentice contributing to productivity from day one, while learning the specialisms of their employer." "I was delighted to visit Oatridge College to open the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Employers Forum during Scottish Apprenticeship Week. This week offers a great chance to showcase what Modern Apprenticeships can provide for both employees and employers across the whole of Scotland. "The Scottish Government wants all of Scotland to be a successful country where people want to live and work. Jobs are our top priority and the record-breaking 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships we delivered last year shows the kind of meaningful and lasting opportunities we are providing and will continue to build on. "Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors in all areas of Scotland by offering a route to harness fresh new talent. They ensure that business has the practical skills and qualifications needed both now and in the future and the mixture of on and off job training ensures young people learn the skills that work best." Stevenson Welcomes Victim's Rights Bill Consultation Banffshire & Buchan Coast SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the Scottish Government’s consultation on their proposed Victims’ Rights Bill. The proposed Bill aims to introduce new measure to help further protect those affected by crime and to allow further openness and transparency between victims of crime and the Scottish justice system. Commenting Mr Stevenson said: “The role of the Scottish justice system is to protect the victims of crimes as well as ensuring those who perpetrate crime are held to account for their actions. “The Scottish Government has already made improvements to the way victims of crime and witnesses are treated by the judicial system. Courts can now award higher compensation payments and the Government also continues to support the work of Victim Support Scotland. “The consultation contains a wide range of proposals that aim to further improve the experience of the justice system for victims and witnesses and offer them additional support. It aim to make sure victims, witnesses and their families feel better prepared to give evidence, ensure that they are more informed about any court proceedings and better ensure that victims and witnesses needs remain a priority. “I would urge as many people as possible in Banffshire & Buchan Coast to respond to the consultation, as their opinions could be vital in ensuring that this bill goes further to protect those affected by crime.” Stevenson Welcomes the Cornhill Highland Games Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the Cornhill Highland Games which takes place on Saturday 2nd June. “I am delighted to raise awareness of the Cornhill Highland Games and hope that many families will be able to support the event which starts at 11.00am and held in the Cornhill Playing Field. “For those attending, they will be able to observe events such as; heavy weights, wrestling and highland dancing. “I hope that the weather proves favourable and I’m sure that a good time will be had by all those attending and for those wishing further information, please contact: (01466) 751 407 or visit www.cornhillgames.org.uk.” Plan set for Aquaculture & Fisheries Bill ENVIRONMENT MINISTER IN SHETLAND AS AUTUMN DATE CONFIRMED FOR NEW BILL Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson has confirmed that new legislation on aquaculture and freshwater fisheries will be introduced in autumn 2012. Mr Stevenson undertook a series of engagements in Shetland today – the key location for Scotland’s fish and shellfish farming sectors – including a meeting with Shetland Aquaculture to discuss their views on the Scottish Government proposals for the new Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill. The Environment Minister reassured Shetland industry that a thorough analysis of all responses received to the recent consultation on the Bill is currently underway. Further stakeholder engagement will take place during the summer recess, with legislation set to be introduced this autumn. (l to r) David Sandison, Shetland Aquaculture Stewart Stevenson MSP Michael Stark, Grieg Seafood Hjaltland “The Scottish Government is firmly committed to ensuring a viable, long-term future for aquaculture and freshwater fisheries, with effective management of interactions between these two sectors. Both these sectors play an important role in supporting continued economic growth in our rural communities, particularly in Shetland. “That’s why we consulted on proposals for introducing new legislation. The consultation attracted a lot of interest and it’s only right that we take the time to reflect and ensure that the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill is fit for purpose. “We remain very supportive of the aquaculture industry. The proposals outlined in our consultation back the industry’s aspiration, set in 2009, to increase fish production by 50 per cent and double shellfish production by 2020. “I’m sure all those with an interest in the Bill will welcome our commitment to further stakeholder engagement over the summer, with an intention to introduce the Bill to Parliament in the autumn. “To facilitate further discussion around the consultation proposals and consider how these might be reflected in the final Bill, a series of meetings of the Ministerial Group on Aquaculture will now be organised. This provides an excellent forum to talk through the proposals and reactions in greater detail." Scottish Birdfair Takes Flight Wildlife enthusiasts will be flocking to South Queensferry this weekend for the first annual Scottish Birdfair at Hopetoun House. Organised by RSPB Scotland, the event features expert talks, guided walks, children’s activities and over 80 wildlife related exhibiting stands, ranging from the latest in wildlife technology, to holidays, optics, books and more. Exhibitors from across the UK and as far afield as Texas will be at the fair. With the growing interest in ‘green tourism’, it is hoped the event will attract up to 5000 people, generating new revenue for the region and raising vital funds for Scottish conservation. Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson, is set to tour the Scottish Birdfair on Sunday, May 20. Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Stevenson said: “Scotland is world renowned for having a spectacular and diverse range of wild birds from golden eagles and sea eagles to corncrakes, puffins and ptarmigan. The Scottish Government is very keen to support ways of getting people outdoors to explore the Scottish countryside and see nature-based tourism continue to develop. This first Scottish Birdfair is a wonderful opportunity for experts and beginners to find out more about Scotland's birds and other wildlife.” Director of RSPB Scotland, Stuart Housden, said: “We look forward to welcoming thousands of wildlife enthusiasts to the Scottish Birdfair this weekend. Scotland has a real opportunity and we hope to see wildlife conservation, care for the environment and tourism develop sustainably in the years ahead. This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scotland’s unique natural environment, wildlife and the great work of wildlife charities and volunteers up and down the country.” Stevenson Hails Success As Portsoy Boat Festival Scoops Tourism Prize Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has expressed his delight after the hugely popular Portsoy Scottish Traditional Boat Festival won the Best Cultural Event category of VisitScotland’s Scottish Thistle Awards regional finals. The winners of the regional finals will now face off for the national awards event which will be held in November. “The Traditional Boat Festival has been going from strength to strength in recent years and winning this award is the perfect recognition of that fact. Like so many other residents of Banffshire & Buchan Coast, attending the festival has become something I look forward to immensely. “Scooping this award is testament to the hard work and dedication that the team behind the festival put in to the event and I offer them my warm congratulations on their success. I’m sure it will put a spring in everybody’s step as this year’s festival draws closer. “I know that everybody in Banffshire & Buchan Coast will be rooting for them to go on and claim the national award in this category later this year.” Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson: 'ACP invaluable in our fight to reduce carbon in Scotland' The challenges of meeting Scotland's aggressive carbon reduction targets were highlighted at the launch of the newly formed Association of Carbon Professionals in Edinburgh yesterday evening at the Lothian Chambers just off the Royal Mile. Around 100 business leaders, carbon professionals, investors, academics and students joined Mr Stevenson and the ACP Board to celebrate the launch and mark the beginning of an exciting new professional association supporting the transition to a low carbon economy. The ACP has been set up by a group of professionals working in carbon management and carbon finance to fill a much-needed platform for discussion, training and sharing of experiences. The British Council, the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), Carbon Masters and Edinburgh University is supporting it. Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson presented the first accreditation awards in Scotland to Edinburgh Napier University and Edinburgh Airport, two organisations that have achieved stiff carbon reduction targets. Founding board members Andy Kerr & Kevin Houston listen on as Mr Stevenson launches the ACP ”We are committed to tackling climate change and already Scotland is leading the way developing a low carbon, sustainable society. Greater collaboration between organisations from across industries and sectors is crucial to support the transition to a low carbon economy. I welcome the launch of the Association of Carbon Professionals – the expertise and support of the new body will be invaluable in our fight to reduce carbon emissions in Scotland.” Andy Kerr, Executive Director of the Edinburgh Centre is a founding member of the ACP Board. He said: ”Scotland is leading the world in the race to a low carbon economy with a policy framework, carbon targets and critical mass of carbon-reducing professionals that cannot be rivalled anywhere else. The launch of the Association of Carbon Professionals is essential in harnessing the power of these groups so that they can address the challenges of meeting Scotland's aggressive carbon reduction targets together.” The launch event follows the ACP Annual Conference 2012 which brought together a wide range of professionals working to reduce carbon emissions; from carbon and energy managers, traders, investors, offset providers, legal experts and accountants, through to consultants, policy makers and academic researchers. Among the issues addressed were mandatory carbon reporting and labelling for products, carbon footprinting, and the implementation of the Green Deal for businesses and homes. Speakers hailed from organisations ranging from Scottish Power, DECC, Scottish Government, Carbon Masters, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and the Carbon Trust. Join the ACP and find out more about membership benefits & upcoming events: www.carbonprofessional.org/ Scottish Bakers Have Just Completed the 121st Annual Conference: Supporting our Craft The event took place over this weekend 11th-13th May 2012 at the Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld near Glasgow. Scottish Bakers are pleased to say it was a great success with 200 delegates at Friday dinner, Saturday conference and 300 guests at Saturday Presidential Installation & Dinner and the first ever Scottish Baker of the Year Awards!! The conference theme was Supporting our Craft with key note addresses from: Stewart Stevenson, MSP the Minister for Environment and Climate Change who talked about supporting the bakery sector in Scotland and passing on the love of good food to the next generation. Ken McMeikan, Chief Executive of Greggs Plc tackled the thorny issue of combatting the rise of the supermarket and offered high street bakers hope for the future and ideas for creative thinking to widen the services high street bakers offer their loyal customers. Ken joined Greggs PLC in 2008 as Chief Executive after a long and distinguished retail career with the Sears Group, Tesco and Sainsbury which included a spell as CEO of Tesco in Japan. Under Ken’s leadership, Greggs has delivered record underlying profits in 2010 and 2011, and is on track to deliver ambitious growth plans to open another 600+ shops in the UK, creating around 6,000 new retail jobs. Ken is HRH Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for the North East, as a result of his commitment to socially responsible business practice and work in local communities. He is also the Regional Chairman of the CBI North East. Paul Hollywood spoke about how to capitalise on the increased interest in home and commercial baking by delivering the products customers want to a consistently high standard. Paul is well known as a judge alongside Mary Berry on BBC’s Great British Bake Off. The son of a baker with a chain of shops on the East Coast of England, he has worked as head baker at some of the UK’s most exclusive hotels including Cliveden, Chester Grosvenor and The Dorchester. He went on to establish the Paul Hollywood Artisan Bread Company and now supplies Harrods, amongst others, with his own branded bread. In 2005, he authored a best-selling book ‘100 Great Breads’ which has been published in ten countries and seven languages, and was voted ‘top bread and pastry book’ by the Gourmand Academy. His second book ‘How to Bake’ will be published by Bloomsbury in May 2012. Mr Stevenson commented "Scotland has an impressive reputation world-wide as a land of food and drink. The bakery sector continues to contribute to that. It is now incumbent on us all to energise the next generation and show how baking is central to people's lives." Ken McKeikan stated "Small and medium sized bakers have a choice, to let the supermarkets corner the convenience market or fight back by continuing to offer customers a unique and quality experience. We need to think creatively and explore new opportunities to meet customer needs and delight them with every visit." Paul Hollywood said "I am and will always be a baker and I believe in the contribution bakers make to people's lives. I will always promote the high street baker as I believe the quality of baked goods more than justifies stopping into a local baker, I want to see queues out of the doors again. And to see the industry in Scotland come together in one place with a view to delivering even better quality and creativity is really heartening." Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers said "We are delighted with the number of new faces we saw in the room over the last three days and committed to our members and bakers in Scotland to promote their work and continuously support the bakery trade. Supporting our Craft is what Scottish Bakers has been and will continue doing in the future. We are confident that the first ever Scottish Baker of the Year Awards that Paul compered on Saturday will help raising the profile of craft bakers in Scotland". Scottish Bakers has represented and promoted the interests of the bakery trade in Scotland since 1891. The Association believes that it is an integral part of each members business operation. As such it can be called upon to provide a valuable source of advice. Stevenson Backs National Epilepsy Week Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson is highlighting the importance of National Epilepsy Week, which takes places from 20th-26th May. "I am pleased to highlight the importance of this initiative week which has a theme of 'achievement' to coincide with the 2012 Olympics. "Epilepsy can be a challenging condition, leaving sufferers unsure of when their next seizure will strike. It touches the lives of many so it's important that people are aware of Epilepsy Scotland and the help that they can provide. "I trust that this initiative will enable people to have a greater understanding of epilepsy and encourage sufferers to seek available support. "For those seeking further information, please visit: http://www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk/." The increasing appetite for ‘grow your own’ was served up a cash boost today by Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson. Mr Stevenson announced a £600,000 package of support to encourage the development of more community growing and support the growth of Scotland’s grow your own sector. £450,000 of the funding has been allocated to the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund and will be distributed to community growing projects over three years. The remaining £177,500 has been allocated to organisations to support the growth of the community growing. Some of the organisations which received funding are: Federation of City Farms and Gardens - £40,000 annually for three years. This will support core services, including the provision of training, advice and publications - benefitting over 120 community farms and gardens in Scotland, improving the knowledge and skills of 3,000 volunteers and more than 100,000 visitors Trellis - £35,500 to provide training, field visits, demostrations sessions at care homes and health facilities, publication of guidance and advice with a focus on therapeutic gardening and the contribution that Grow Your Own makes to positive health outcomes Greenspace Scotland – £19,000 to create a map of a ‘typical’ Scottish settlement illustrating where different types of community growing can happen. They have already increased awareness and opportunities for community growing in urban Scotland Mr. Stevenson also launched a new website this morning - http://www.growyourownscotland.info/. Developed by the Federation of City Farms and Gardens, the site brings together all the organisations and grow your own resources that are available for people in Scotland. Speaking at a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) community growing event at Battleby, near Perth, Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “With the hunger for allotments currently outstripping availability in Scotland the Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting people that are interested in grow your own initiatives and projects. Our National Food and Drink Policy highlights the importance of grow your own initiatives and this funding will help communities all over Scotland increase access to healthy and sustainable food for all.” Helen Pank from the Federation of City Farms and Gardens. “We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government has awarded the FCFCG funding to continue our work. We support new and emerging community growing projects across Scotland, helping them become more effective, efficient and sustainable, and we make sure the benefits of community growing, to the environment, community cohesion, people’s health and the local economy, are better understood and publicised. “This grant from the Scottish Government will allow us to continue to provide an advice service, networking and training events, travel bursaries, site visits and promotional work, all of which will encourage and enable communities to start, and continue, growing projects” ISA Restrictions to be Lifted Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson today welcomed confirmation that movement restrictions for infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) on fish farms in the south west Shetland mainland area are to be revoked. ISA is a serious listed disease and the restrictions had been in place since 2009. ‘This is clearly good news for the reputation of the Scottish aquaculture industry and is a healthy reflection of close cooperation between the Scottish salmon aquaculture industry and Marine Scotland following the outbreak of ISA in 2009. “Scotland is now recognised as being free of ISA. This makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Scottish salmon aquaculture industry and helps maintain the high health status of Scotland's farmed fish. “Going forward we all need to remain vigilant to ensure that we can minimise the potential for any further occurrence.“ Scott Landsburgh, Chief Executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO) said: "It is very good news that the two year surveillance is now over and Shetland resumes its full health status. The Scottish Government's pragmatic approach to handling the issue and working with the industry has been an excellent example of timely, efficient collaboration." Branson Launches Green Energy Prize A global green energy competition with a £400,000 prize will be launched in Scotland's capital today. Sir Richard Branson is supporting the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable business ideas and inventions. The winner will receive £400,000 to develop and create their product within two years and Sir Richard is calling on all entrepreneurs to enter the online competition. "The UK has long been a nation of inventors, creating ideas that last a lifetime. The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is about using that innovation to make a real difference to climate change and we are calling on all British entrepreneurs to enter the competition. "A great British idea could be the next thing to shake up the way we do business and help tackle climate change. "We want as many UK entrepreneurs to enter as possible - the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is about showcasing sustainable invention and ideas, sharing expertise and knowledge." Dean Gregory won the competition in 2009 for his RidgeBlade MicroGeneration design, a rooftop turbine which harnesses wind power to produce renewable electricity for homes. Dean Gregory (left) with at Royal Botanic Gardens, Mr Gregory, 49, said: "The moment of inspiration came from frustration at the current formats available for micro-turbines and we wanted to develop a product that could be used almost anywhere without attracting planning objections. "To have reached the finals and receive feedback and encouragement from a panel that included Niklas Zennstrom, founder of Skype, was fantastic. "To go on to win the top prize has given us the freedom to spend time refining and developing the product and we are now at the stage where we are ready to bring the product to market." Entrants can submit business plans online for products or services which are able to directly reduce CO2 emissions. The Scottish Government is supporting the project, which is now in its sixth year, as it continues towards meeting its own green energy targets. Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "The achievements of previous competition winners illustrate what an incredible impact seemingly simple ideas can have. "With a strong history of invention and innovation in our country, I'm sure we'll see more entries from Scotland in this year's challenge - and perhaps even a Scottish winner." A panel of business leaders will select the finalists to present their ideas at an international conference in Amsterdam in September. Entrepreneurs can download an application form at http://www.greenchallenge.info/. Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, said: "Scotland has an amazing history of inventing things, and this is a great opportunity to showcase our creative talents to come up with new solutions to help tackle climate change. "In the week that WWF published its health check on the planet, its biennial Living Planet Report, it is clear we need to act urgently to slow down our plundering of the earth's natural resources. "We hope the Postcode Lottery's Green Challenge inspires people throughout Scotland to come up with the ideas that will contribute to saving our wonderful planet." Achieving Diversity in Scotland’s Forest Landscapes Helping to make Scotland’s forests better able to meet the business and environmental challenges of the future is the aim behind a new Forestry Commission Scotland publication, ‘Achieving diversity in Scotland’s forest landscapes’. Aimed at the owners and managers of conifer woodlands, the Practice Guide offers advice, ideas and case studies that relate to the decisions which managers need to make when they are preparing a Forest Plan. The advice is also intended to be useful to those developing their plans for new forests and woodlands. Stewart Stevenson, Minister for the Environment & Climate Change, said: “Most of Scotland’s woodlands are 20th century conifer forests. They were planted primarily for commercial benefits and with little thought to their impact on local landscapes or their contribution to biodiversity. “These forests are reaching maturity and are being felled and replanted – and this provides a perfect opportunity to restructure them. With careful design and planning these forests can be made more resilient to climate change and other associated risks whilst becoming more diverse habitats and enhancing the local landscape. “Such restructured forests would continue to provide the nation with quality timber and other wood products – but by incorporating other tree species suited to the site they could also present new business – and recreation - opportunities." The new UK Forestry Standard and suite of Guidelines promote the benefits of diversity throughout all aspects of the forest environment. Drawn up with input from landscape architects, forest ecologists and professional foresters, the guidance addresses the challenges facing forest managers in achieving the requirements of the UKFS and offers integrated management options for delivering diversity in a range of situations. For example, climate change is likely to mean changed site conditions in some areas – and this will impact on the growth of some tree species. Selecting alternative species that are better suited to the projected conditions – and adopting appropriate silvicultural systems – could create different economic opportunities. Achieving this is one of the key challenges for sustainable forest management. Nicholas Shepherd, the Commission’s landscape and culture advisor, and project manager during the preparation of the Practice Guide, said; “Despite all the challenges facing forest managers in the future, developing a thorough and well thought out Forest Plan offers the best opportunity for establishing and sustaining a diverse forest that is resilient to climate change whilst also delivering biodiversity, landscape, operational and other benefits. “This guidance aims to inspire managers and help them select the options to both meet their objectives and are appropriate for their forest.” The guidance comes in two parts. Part 1 offers practical advice and ideas – illustrated with case studies – on making the best use of diversity in forest management while preparing a Forest Plan. Part 2 offers illustrated examples of how the advice might come together in four different forest landscapes. Countdown to Destruction for Scotland's Corals? With the oceans warming and moving towards acidity, will Scotland's cold-water corals die out within a hundred years, as some predict, or do they have the capacity to adapt and survive? These are the key questions facing a team of top international scientists about to set off on a month long research voyage in the waters around Scotland using the latest robotic submersible technology. The researchers will be aboard the Natural Environment Research Council’s Royal Research Ship James Cook. The 'Changing Oceans' expedition is part of the £12m UK Ocean Acidification Research programme (UKOA) jointly funded by NERC, DECC and Defra. It will study how these unique deep sea ecosystems function, how they may be impacted by changes in sea temperature and ocean chemistry and provide new information on how they might best be protected into the future. Stewart Stevenson, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, who was briefed by the 'Changing Oceans' team onboard before they set out said: "The Changing Oceans Expedition will help us understand how these ancient ecosystems function which is vital information for a sound scientific basis for their future conservation. "It's less than ten years since the discovery of the Mingulay coral reefs by a team also led by Professor Roberts. Since then understanding of this marine ecosystem has developed considerably. "It is also very encouraging to see that the voyage is allowing school pupils first-hand experience of the amazing ecosystems in our offshore waters, and the opportunity to share this understanding with other pupils around the country." At the start of the voyage schoolchildren from Sgoil Lionacleit in Benbecula, will visit the ship to watch the expedition’s robotic submarines explore the deep sea coral reefs growing on the Hebridean seabed. The team will also be working with the pupils and educational specialists from Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh to develop environmental workshop materials for use in schools around Scotland. The research: Expedition leader Murray Roberts, Professor of Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, said, "For Scotland's coral reefs the key questions are: will these changes in sea water chemistry make it impossible for the corals to grow, or can they somehow adapt to changing conditions and survive? "Over the past 100 years, human activities including the burning of oil, coal and gas have increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, causing the oceans to become warmer and lower in pH. For cold-water corals, these changes mean that they may start to grow slower, need more food to survive, and may not even be able to grow in some areas. There may also be changes in how much food is available, as the whole marine food web is likely to be altered, unpredictably, in a future, warmer, lower pH ocean. "We need to learn more about how these corals will react to the changes, by studying how they survive now, and by doing laboratory experiments to see how they respond to different conditions. There are also a myriad of other animals and microorganisms which live on and around these coral reefs – we will be examining how these creatures will be affected by changes in their environment. Our work will also characterise the carbonate chemistry and environmental conditions surrounding the reef areas, and map the seabed. We will also collect cores of the seabed that can take us back thousands of years in time." In a month-long sea voyage the Changing Oceans team will visit a number of key sites in UK, Irish and international waters, using remote-controlled underwater vehicles to film ecosystems like cold-water coral reefs and deep-sea sponge grounds. The team plans to visit several sites, including the shallow reefs off Mingulay, and the deeper reefs on Rockall Bank and the Logachev Mounds. The scientists will also conduct seabed experiments and collect samples which will be transported in large specialised sea water tanks for further study in the lab. They will also be running a blog covering details of the voyage, the research and their findings on: http://www.changingoceans2012.blogspot.co.uk/ Local MSP Backs Green Office Week Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson is highlighting Green Office Week, which takes place between 14th – 18th May. “When it comes to ‘going green’ even the smallest of actions can have a massive impact. “At our places of work we should all consider and encourage the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. In addition, we should also take steps to reduce energy consumption by making sure that lights and electrical equipment are turned off when not in use. “For those wishing further information, please visit: www.greenofficeweek.eu.” Local MSP Welcomes Dramatic Drop In Peterhead Unemployment Figures provided by the Scottish Parliament's Information Centre have revealed that the number of of unemployed claimants in the Peterhead travel to work area has dropped since the election of Alex Salmond as the SNP member for Banff & Buchan 25 years ago. In February 1987 there were 1,840 claimants while February this year saw less than a third of that number, 566, now claiming due to unemployment. Welcoming this news, local SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said; “Over the years, Peterhead has risen to the challenge of changing times. Many new and expanded businesses, in the oil industry, food production and increasingly in renewables have more than filled the gaps caused by the closure of older traditional employers. “While a single person unemployed and able to work is one too many, we have seen a very steady rise in employment in the area. Indeed many employers are now much concerned about recruiting suitable staff. “Alex Salmond set the standard with his efforts to protect jobs over the last quarter century and MP Eilidh Whiteford and I have sought to follow his lead.” Speaking about today's challenges, Stevenson continued; “The Scottish Government has faced hard decisions with a Tory/Liberal Democrat administration at Westminster dramatically cutting funding for Scotland. “Nonetheless we have maintained capital spending through, for example, the creation of the Scottish Futures Trust. This has been key to reducing the effects of the Tory cuts. “Over the next years, we shall debate what additional powers Scotland should have. I shall argue for our having the full economic powers to enable us to do even better in the challenging times we face.” Local MSP Welcomes Passing of Alcohol Minimum Pric... Stewart Stevenson, the Scottish Government Ministe... Stevenson Hails Success As Portsoy Boat Festival S... Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson: 'ACP inval... Scottish Bakers Have Just Completed the 121st Annu... Local MSP Welcomes Dramatic Drop In Peterhead Unem...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1584
__label__cc	0.560526	0.439474	Entertainment Law & Litigation Entertainment law involves a diverse body of enterprises, ranging from traditional areas such as film, television, and music to new and constantly developing areas and mediums such as the Internet, interactive software, and multimedia. While “Entertainment” litigation is not one specialized field of law, it draws upon the law of intellectual property with increasing attention attention and value to technology and intellectual property rights .Entertainment law may involve intellectual property issues involving copyright, trademark, publicity rights, and patent rights. Entertainment disputes arise in a variety of settings and may involve complex, multi-party, contractual and licensing issues, new media rights, income and profitability disputes, ownership or distribution rights, labor-management disputes, work-for-hire disputes, merchandising disputes, artist/player contract issues and fee disputes, and claims for defamation or libel. We have long history of engagement in entertainment litigation, creative and artist’s rights, and related litigation. We have been engaged in entertainment based litigation in media, motion picture, music, DVD, video, software, and related industries for many years. We have served as lead counsel in domestic and international copyright, distribution, royalty, license, credit and net profits matters in the US and abroad. We are selective in the cases we accept, making an effort to work on a smaller volume of matters that present important issues and substantial claims. We have been involved in major motion picture disputes involving major Hollywood studios, leading international film distribution companies, and leading media executives in North America and Europe with proceedings throughout the United States and Canada. We have also been involved in representing entities or individuals before industry organization such as the Directors’ Guild, Screen Actor’s Guild, and other entertainment and production trade organizations. Entertainment clients: Our entertainment clients have been business entities involved in production of major motion pictures, music, and television. We have also represented individual producers, directors and artists. Entertainment lawyers: We have handled disputes and litigation in a wide range of areas, including: work for hire disputes right of publicity and privacy licensing and merchandising disputes defamation (slander/libel) trade libel domain name disputes and other Internet-related matters misappropriation pay or play disputes motion picture underwriting net profit distributions Home Internet Copyright Trademark Entertainment New Media Patent Unfair Competition Contact Technology Litigation is a legal newsletter. Intellectual property and technology lawyers litigate various intellectual property, technology, and media related matters including technology, licensing, trade secrets, hardware and software systems, infringement, common development, circumvention, new media, Internet, misappropriation, false advertising, domain name, class action, copyright, trademark, patent, unfair competition, and entertainment lawsuits and disputes. We practice law in federal courts across the United States, before the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and in jurisdictions or states where licensed to practice.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1587
__label__wiki	0.931691	0.931691	M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14,[1] is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62 51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970.[2] The M14 rifle was used for U.S. Army and Marine Corps basic and advanced individual training, and was the standard issue infantry rifle for U.S. military personnel in the Contiguous United States, Europe, and South Korea, until it was replaced by the M16 rifle, in 1970. The M14 rifle remains in limited front line service within all branches of the U.S. military, and is also used as a ceremonial weapon by honor guards, color guards, drill teams, ceremonial guards, and the like. The M14 rifle was also the last American "battle rifle" (a term applied to weapons firing full-power rifle ammunition, such as the 7.62mm cartridge) issued in quantity to U.S. military personnel. The M14 rifle also provides the basis for the M21 and M25 sniper rifles. Infantry Board Service Rifle trials Production contracts National Match M14 Post-1970 U.S. military service Service with non-U.S. nations Variants and related designs M14E1 M14E2/M14A1 M14M (Modified)/M14NM (National Match) M14 SMUD Mk 14 EBR M14 Tactical M14 Designated Marksman Rifle M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle M89SR Model 89 Sniper Rifle AWC G2A Sniper Rifle M21, M25 sniper rifles Commercial production Armscorp M14 Federal Ordnance La France Specialties M14K Rifle design Receiver markings Rifling Types of sights The M14 was developed from a long line of experimental weapons based upon the M1 rifle. Although the M1 was among the most advanced infantry rifles of the late 1930s, it was not a perfect weapon. Modifications were beginning to be made to the basic M1 rifle's design since the twilight of World War II. Changes included adding fully automatic firing capability and replacing the 8-round en bloc clips with a detachable box magazine holding 20 rounds. Winchester, Remington, and Springfield Armory's own John Garand offered different conversions. Garand's design, the T20, was the most popular, and T20 prototypes served as the basis for a number of Springfield test rifles from 1945 through the early 1950s. In 1945, Earle Harvey of Springfield Armory designed a completely different rifle, the T25, for the new T65 .30 Light Rifle cartridge at the direction of Col. Rene Studler, then serving in the Pentagon.[3] In late 1945 the two men were transferred to Springfield Armory, where work on the T25 continued.[3] The T-25 was designed to use the T65 service cartridge, a Frankford Arsenal design based upon .30-06 cartridge case used in the M1 service rifle, but shortened to the length of the .300 Savage case.[3] Although shorter than the .30-06, with less powder capacity, the T65 cartridge retained the ballistics and energy of the .30-06 due to the use of a recently developed ball powder made by Olin Industries.[3][4] After experimenting with several bullet designs, the T65 was finalized for adoption as the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge.[3] Olin Industries later marketed the cartridge on the commercial market as the commercial .308 Winchester round.[3] After a series of revisions by Earle Harvey and other members of the .30 Light Rifle design group following the 1950 Ft. Benning tests, the T25 was renamed the T47.[3] In contrast, the T44 prototype service rifle was not principally designed by any single engineer at Springfield Armory, but rather was a conventional design developed on a shoestring budget as an alternative to the T47.[3] With only minimal funds available, the earliest T44 prototypes simply used T20E2 receivers fitted with magazine filler blocks and re-barreled for 7.62mm NATO, with the long operating rod/piston of the M1 replaced by the T47's gas cut-off system.[3] Lloyd Corbett, an engineer in Earle Harvey's rifle design group, added various refinements to the T44 design, including a straight operating rod and a bolt roller to reduce friction.[3] The T44 participated in a competitive service rifle competition conducted by the Infantry Board at Ft. Benning, Georgia against the Springfield T47 (a modified T25) and Fabrique Nationale's "Fusil Automatique Leger" (French for "Light Automatic Rifle"), designated T48.[5] The T47, which did not have a bolt roller and performed worse in dust and cold weather tests than either the T44 or the T48 was dropped from consideration in 1953.[3] During 1952-53, testing proved the T48 and the T44 roughly comparable in performance, with the T48 holding an advantage in ease of field stripping and dust resistance, as well as a longer product development lead time.[5][3] A Newsweek article in July 1953 hinted that the T48/FAL might be selected over the T44.[3][6] During the winter of 1953-54, both rifles competed in the winter rifle trials at U.S. Army facilities in the Arctic.[5][7] Springfield Armory engineers, anxious to ensure the selection of the T44, had been specially preparing and modifying the test T44 rifles for weeks with the aid of the Armory's Cold Chamber, including redesign of the T44 gas regulator and custom modifications to magazines and other parts to reduce friction and seizing in extreme cold.[5][7]. The T48 rifles received no such special preparation, and in the continued cold weather testing began to experience sluggish gas system functioning, aggravated by the T48's close-fitting surfaces between bolt and carrier and carrier and receiver.[5][7][3] FN engineers opened the gas ports in an attempt to improve functioning, but this caused early/violent extraction and broken parts as a result of the increased pressures.[5][7][3] As a result, the T44 was ranked superior in cold weather operation to the T48 in cold weather operation.[5] The Arctic Test Board report made it clear that the T48 needed improvement and that the U.S. would not adopt the T48 until it had successfully completed another round of Arctic tests the following winter.[5][3] In June 1954, funding was finally made available to manufacture newly fabricated T44 receivers specially designed for the shorter T65 cartridge.[3] This one change to the T44 design saved a pound in rifle weight over that of the M1 Garand.[3] Tests at Ft. Benning with the T44 and T48 continued through the summer and fall of 1956.[3] By this time, the T48/FAL rifles had been so improved that malfunction rates were almost as low as the T44.[3] In the end, the T44 was selected over the T48/FAL primarily because of weight (the T44 was a pound lighter than the T48), simplicity (the T44 had fewer parts), the T44's self-compensating gas system, and the argument that the T44 could be manufactured on existing machinery built for the M1 rifle (a concept that later turned out to be unworkable).[5][7][3][8] In 1957, the U.S. formally adopted the T44 as the U.S. infantry service rifle, designated M14.[3] Initial production contracts for the M-14 were awarded to the Springfield Armory, Winchester, and Harrington & Richardson.[9] Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge Inc. (TRW) would later be awarded a production contract for the rifle as well.[9] 1,376,031 M-14 service rifles were produced from 1959 to 1964.[9] Springfield Armory produced 6,641 new M14 NM rifles in 1962 and 1963, while TRW produced 4,874 new M14 NM rifles in 1964.[9] Springfield Armory later upgraded 2,094 M14 rifles in 1965 and 2,395 M14 rifles in 1966 to National Match specifications, while 2,462 M14 rifles were rebuilt to National Match standards in 1967 at the Rock Island Arsenal.[9] A total of 11,130 National Match rifles were delivered by Springfield Armory, Rock Island Arsenal, and TRW during 1962-1967.[9] Production M14 rifles made by Springfield Armory and Winchester used forged receivers and bolts milled from AINSI 8620 steel, a low-carbon molybdenum-chromium steel.[9] Harrington & Richardson M-14 production used AINSI 8620 steel as well, except for ten receivers milled from AINSI 1330 low-carbon steel and a single receiver made from high-nickel-content alloy steel.[9] Experimental T47 rifle After the M14's adoption, Springfield Armory began tooling a new production line in 1958, delivering the first service rifles to the U.S. Army in July 1959. However, long production delays resulted in the 101st Airborne Division being the only unit in the Army fully equipped with the M14 by the end of 1961. The Fleet Marine Force finally completed the change from M1 to M14 in late 1962. Springfield Armory records reflect that M14 manufacture ended as TRW, fulfilling its second contract, delivered its final production increment in Fiscal Year 1965 (1 July '64 30 June '65). The Springfield archive also indicates the 1.38 million rifles were acquired for just over $143 million, for a unit cost of about $104.[10][11] A U.S. soldier with an M14 watches as supplies are dropped in Vietnam during 1967. The rifle served adequately during its brief tour of duty in Vietnam.[12] Though it was unwieldy in the thick brush due to its length and weight, the power of the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge allowed it to penetrate cover quite well and reach out to extended range, developing 2,470 ft lbf (3,350 J) of muzzle energy. However, there were several drawbacks to the M14. The traditional wood stock of the rifle had a tendency to swell and expand in the heavy moisture of the jungle, adversely affecting accuracy. Fiberglass stocks were produced to resolve this problem, but the rifle was discontinued before very many could be distributed for field use. Also, because of the M14's powerful 7.62x51 mm cartridge, the weapon was deemed virtually uncontrollable in fully automatic mode, so most M14s were permanently set to semi-automatic fire only to avoid wasting ammunition in combat.[13][14][15] The M14 was developed as a means of taking the place of four different weapons systems the M1 rifle, the M1 Carbine, the M3 "Grease Gun" and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). It was thought that in this manner the M14 could simplify the logistical requirements of the troops if it took the place of four weapons. It proved to be an impossible task to replace all four, and the weapon was even deemed "completely inferior" to the World War II M1 in a September 1962 report by the comptroller of the Department of Defense.[16] The cartridge was too powerful for the submachine gun role and the weapon was simply too light to serve as a light machine gun replacement for the BAR. (The M60 machine gun better served this specific task.) A rare M14 presentation model, serial #0010 The M14 remained the primary infantry weapon in Vietnam until it was replaced by the M16 in 1966 1967. Further procurement of the M14 was abruptly halted in late 1963 due to the above mentioned Department of Defense report which had also stated that the AR-15 (soon to be M16) was superior to the M14 (DOD did not cancel FY 1963 orders not yet delivered). After the report, a series of tests and reports by the United States Department of the Army followed that resulted in the decision to cancel the M14.[16] The M16 was then ordered as a replacement for the M14 by direction of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1964, over the objection of those Army officers who had backed the M14 (other factions within the Army research and development community had opposed the M14 and the 7.62x51 mm round from the start). Though production of the M14 was officially discontinued, some disgruntled troops still managed to hang on to them while deriding the M16 as a frail and under-powered "Mattel toy"[17] or "poodle shooter". In late 1967, the U.S. Army designated the M16 as the "Standard A" rifle, and the M14 became a "Limited Standard" weapon. The M14 rifle remained the standard rifle for U.S. Army Basic Training and troops stationed in Europe until 1970. The U.S. Army also converted several M14s into the M21 sniper rifle, which remained standard issue for this purpose until the adoption of the M24 SWS in 1988. Leupold]] LR/T 10 40 mm M3. In the mid-1990s, the Marine Corps chose a new rifle for DM use, an M14 modified by the Precision Weapons Shop in Marine Corps Base Quantico called the Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). It is intended for use by security teams (SRTs, FAST companies), and Marine Scout Snipers in the cases where a semi-automatic rifle would be more appropriate than the standard bolt-action M40A1/A3 rifle. The USMC Rifle Team uses the M14 in shooting competitions. Although the M14 was phased out as the standard-issue rifle by 1970, M14 variants are still used by various branches of the U.S. Military as well as other armed forces, especially as a sniper rifle and as a designated marksman rifle, due to its excellent accuracy and effectiveness at long range. Special active units such as the OPFOR units of the Joint Readiness Training Center use M14s. Few M14s were in use in the Army until the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Since the start of these conflicts, many M14s have been employed as designated marksman and sniper rifles. These are not M21 rifles, but original production M14s. Common modifications include scopes, fiberglass stocks, and other accessories.[18] A 2009 study conducted by the U.S. Army revealed that half of the engagements in Afghanistan occurred from beyond .[19] America s 5.56x45 mm NATO service rifles are ineffective at these ranges; this has prompted the reissue of thousands of M14s.[20] USMC Designated Marksman Rifle]] (DMR) in use A Gunner's Mate using an M14 rifle to fire a shot line from the to . The 1st Battalion of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") in the Military District of Washington is the sole remaining regular United States Army combat field unit where the M14 is still issued as the standard rifle, along with a chromed bayonet and an extra wooden stock with white sling for military funerals, parades, and other ceremonies. The United States Air Force Honor Guard uses a version of the M14.[21] The United States Navy Ceremonial Guard and Base Honor Guards also use the M14 for 3-volley salutes in military funerals. It is also the drill and parade rifle of the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, The Citadel, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, and North Georgia College and State University.[22] U.S. Navy ships carry several M14s in their armories. They are issued to sailors going on watch out on deck in port, and to Backup Alert Forces. The M14 is also used to shoot a large rubber projectile to another ship when underway to start the lines over for alongside refueling and replenishment. A SEAL operator with an M14 rifle participating in maritime interdiction enforcement during Operation Desert Storm. Various sniper variants have been used by the United States Navy SEALs, often mistaken with M21 in the overt literature, only one of them has received a standard name in the U.S. military designations system: the M25, developed by the Special Forces. These sniper variants have probably been replaced by the Mk 11 Mod 0, selected in 2000. SEALs also use the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) for close-quarters battle and in a designated marksman role. "Delta Force" units are known to have used M14 sniper variants. According to Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, the well-known account of the Battle of Mogadishu, at least one of the "D-Boys", Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, used an M14 for sniping from helicopters to provide support fire to ground troops. His M14 was possibly fitted with an Aimpoint 3000 sight. The U.S. Army Special Forces ("Green Berets") have made some use of the M25 "spotter rifle". The M25 was developed in the late 1980s within the 10th Special Forces Group, which was charged to support Special Forces sniper weapons as well as the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC). The M25 was first planned as a replacement for the old M21, but after the Army adoption of the M24 SWS as its standard sniper rifle, the M25 was intended to be used by spotters of the sniper teams, while the snipers would use the bolt-action M24. Tests had shown that the M24 and M25 have the same precision when using the same M118 ammunition. Though the M14 has remained in service longer than any U.S. infantry rifle with the exception of the Springfield M1903 rifle, it also holds the distinction of serving as the standard infantry rifle of the U.S. Army for a shorter span of time than almost any other service rifle, staying as standard issue two years longer than the Springfield Model 1892-99. The Philippine government issues M14 rifles, as well as M1 carbines, M1 rifles and M16 rifles, to their civilian defense forces and to various cadet corps in their service academies. The Greek Navy also uses the M14. M14 production tooling was sold in 1967 to the Republic of China (Taiwan), who in 1968 began producing their Type 57 Rifle. The State Arsenal of the Republic of China produced over 1 million of these rifles from 1969 to the present under model numbers of M305 and M14S. In China, Norinco and Poly Technologies have produced M14 variants in the past for export, which were sold in the United States prior to the enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.[23] They are currently being sold in Canada and New Zealand only.[24] They have been marketed under the M14S[25] and M305[26] names. The M15 was a modified M14 developed as a replacement for the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle for use as a squad automatic weapon. It added a heavier barrel and stock, a hinged buttplate, a selector switch for fully automatic fire, and a bipod. The sling was from the BAR. Like the M14, it was chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO. Firing tests showed that the M14, when equipped with the selector switch, hinged buttplate and bipod, performed as well as the M15. As a result, the M15 was dropped and the modified M14 became the squad automatic weapon. Accuracy and control problems with this variant led to the addition of a pistol grip, a folding rubber covered metal foregrip and a muzzle stabilizer. The final design was designated as the M14A1. The M14E1 was tested with a variety of folding stocks to provide better maneuverability and the like for armored infantry, paratroopers and others. No variant was standardized. Selective fire version of the standard M14 used as a squad automatic weapon. Successor to the short-lived M15 rifle. The developmental model was known as the M14E2. First designated as M14E2 when it was issued in 1963 and redesignated as M14A1 in 1966. The M14M is a semi-automatic only version of the standard M14 and was developed for use in civilian rifle marksmanship activities such as the Civilian Marksmanship Program. M14M rifles were converted from existing M14 rifles by welding the select-fire mechanism to prevent full-automatic firing. The M14NM (National Match) is an M14M rifle built to National Match accuracy standards. The M14M and M14NM rifles are described in a (now-obsolete) Army regulation, AR 920-25, "Rifles, M14M and M14NM, For Civilian Marksmanship Use," dated 8 February 1965. Paragraph 2, among other things, stated that the Director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury (predecessor to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) had ruled that M14M and M14NM rifles so modified would not be subject to the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) and, as such, could be sold or issued to civilians. However, with the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the NFA was amended to prohibit sales of previously modified automatic weapons such as the M14M and M14NM to civilians. Mod 0 EBR]] equipped with a Sage M14ALCS chassis stock provides security in Iraq, 2006. Stand-off Munition Disruption, used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel to destroy unexploded ordnance. Essentially an M14 National Match rifle with scope. Shorter (18 inch barrel), more tactical version of the M14, with a retractable stock and multiple rails for more accessories. Modified M14 using the same stock as the Mk 14 but with a 22 inch barrel and a Smith Enterprise muzzle brake, used by the U.S. Coast Guard. Modified designated marksman version of the M14, used by the U.S. Marine Corps. Modified M14 DMR fitted with the same stock as Mk 14, used by the U.S. Marine Corps. An M14 in bullpup configuration first introduced by Sardius in the 1980s. Later produced by Technical Equipment International (TEI) for the IDF Modified M14 with bullpup stock designed by Lynn McWilliams and Gale McMillian in the late 1990s. Produced and delivered for testing at the Fort Bragg sniper school. The M21 and M25 are accurized sniper rifle versions, built to closer tolerances than the standard M14. These are the more-standard sniper rifle variants of the M14. U.S. Border Patrol]] Agent with M14 during a law enforcement memorial service. From 1987 to 1994, Armscorp of America aks Armscorp USA produced investment-cast semi-auto M14 receivers. During the first year of production, Armscorp receivers were supplied by Smith Manufacturing of Holland, Ohio, which were heat treated and finish machined by Armscorp. From 1988 to 1994, Armscorp made its own investment cast receivers of AISI 8620 steel. A few receivers with an 'S' serial number prefix were made of stainless steel. From approximately 1994 until 2008, Armscorps receiver castings were supplied by the Lamothermic Corporation of Brewster, New York. From 1984 to 1991, Federal Ordnance of South El Monte, California sold a semi-auto version of the M14 rifle.[27] Initially named the M14 or M-14A, the rifle utilized an aftermarket semi-auto receiver fitted with new surplus USGI M-14 parts.[27] All receivers were machined from castings of AISI 8620 alloy steel. Except for the first fifty receivers, the castings were supplied by Electro Crisol Metal, S.A. of Santander, Spain, then imported to the USA for finish machining, heat treatment, and exterior phosphate treatment.[27] Federal Ordnance M14 and M14A receivers were heat treated and carburized according to USGI drawing F7790189.[27] Each completed production rifle was proof fired, then tested for functioning by firing three rounds.[27] USGI parts and bolts were used extensively in Federal Ordnance rifles through at least serial number 88XX.[27] In 1989 Federal Ordnance renamed the rifle the M14SA and M14CSA. Rifles in the 93XX serial range and higher utilized modified receivers designed to accept Chinese-made bolts, barrels, and other parts owing to a shortage of original USGI components.[27] Approximately 51,000 complete Federal Ordnance M-14 rifles and at least 60,000 receivers were manufactured before production was halted in late 1991.[27] The M14K is a commercial version of the M14 designed and built by Timothy F. LaFrance of La France Specialties of San Diego, California, most using forged receivers produced by Smith Enterprise of Tempe, Arizona. This rifle has a custom-made short barrel with a custom-made flash suppressor, shortened operating rod, and employs a unique gas tube system. Fully automatic versions have a removable flash suppressor. Semi-automatic versions (of which very few were made) have a silver-brazed flash hider to comply with the requirement that Title I firearms have a 16" barrel. Most M14Ks employ the M60 gas tube system. Some late-model M14Ks employ a custom-designed and manufactured gas system. Both are intended to control the rate of fire in fully automatic mode. The rear sight is a custom-made National Match type aperture, and the front sight is a custom-made narrow blade, wing-protected sight to take advantage of the additional accuracy afforded by the special barrel. The stocks and handguards on M14Ks are shortened versions of the GI birch or walnut stock, but make use of the original front ferrule. The front sling mount is relocated slightly to rear, to accommodate the shortened stock. Most handguards are of the solid, fiberglass variety (albeit shortened), but a limited number were made with shortened wood handguards. The steel buttplate was deleted in favor of a rubber recoil paid, that greatly reduces perceived recoil. A limited number of M14Ks were manufactured with the BM-59 Alpine / Para folding stock. These too had the shortened stocks and handguards, making for an extremely compact package especially suited to vehicular and airborne operations. A couple of M14Ks were built for SEAL Team members using the tubular folding stock assembly on a cut-down M14E2 stock found on some of the Team's full-size M14s prior to adoption of the Sage International EBR stock for M14 applications. These are by far one of the rarest variants of the M14K. Springfield Armory, Inc. of Geneseo, IL, produces a semi-automatic-only version of the M14 rifle. The standard rifle is known as the M1A. The company produces several variations of the basic rifle with different stocks, barrel weights, barrel lengths, and other optional features. The Springfield M1A and its model variants have been widely distributed in the U.S. civilian market. Springfield Armory, Inc. also produce the SOCOM series and the Scout Squad Rifle, based on the short-barreled version of the M14. The SOCOM 16 comes with provisions to mount a red dot sight and the SOCOM II adds railed handguards to the package. Springfield Armory's M21 tactical is a civilian version of the M21 Sniper Weapon System currently in use by the U.S. military.[28] Iraqi Highway Patrol (IHP)]] police officers during training in Iraq, 2006. Stamped into receiver heel: U.S. Rifle 7.62-MM M14 Springfield Armory (or commercial contractor name) The M14 rifle was first furnished with a walnut stock, then with birch and finally with a synthetic stock. Original equipment walnut and birch stocks carry the Department of Defense acceptance stamp or cartouche (an arc of three stars above a spread-winged eagle). These stocks also carried a proof stamp, a P within a circle, applied after successful test-firing. Rifles manufactured through late 1960 were provided with walnut handguards. Thereafter synthetic, slotted (ventilated) hand guards were furnished but proved too fragile for military use. These were replaced by the solid synthetic part still in use, usually in dark brown, black or a camouflage pattern. An International Security Assistance Force soldier scans for activity during a combat patrol in Afghanistan, 2009. Standard M14 rifling has right-hand twist in 1:12 inches with 4 grooves. Although M14 rifle production ended in 1964, the limited standard status of the weapon resulted in the continued manufacture of accessories and spare parts into the late 1960s and beyond. M6 bayonet with M8A1 sheath M2 Bandolier Sling [one-piece cotton or nylon webbing or M1907 (two-piece leather)] Cleaning kit (butt-trap) included a combination tool, ratchet chamber brush, plastic lubricant case, brass bore brush, four cleaning rod sections, cleaning rod case, and a cleaning rod patch-holding tip. M5 winter trigger and winter safety M12 blank firing attachment and M3 breech shield Cartridge clip (five cartridges) and magazine filler for charging magazines M1961 ammunition magazine pouch M2 bipod M79 grenade launcher M15 grenade launcher sight Mk 87 Mod 0/1 line (rope) throwing kit Rear peep, front blade, metric Rear National Match peep with hood, front National Match blade, metric A soldier with an M14 equipped with a Sage M14ALCS chassis stock. : Used by Argentine soldiers of C Company, Regimento (Especial) de Infanteria 25 in the Falklands War at the Battle of Goose Green and San Carlos.[13] : M14 SAGE EBR used in limited number by the Special Air Service Regiment/Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan.[29][30][31] : Adopted by Estonian military as marksman's rifle, modified by E-Arsenal called the T psusp ss M14-TP (Precision Rifle M14-PR), with heavy barrel, bipod, synthetic stock, and optical 4X sight.[33][34] : Hellenic Navy : Used by Haitian security forces in the 2004 Haitian coup d' tat.[13] : Used as sniper rifle with eventual conversion and production as M89SR.[13][35] : Lithuanian Armed Forces.[36] : Unknown number provided by the United States under military assistance program.[37] In limited use with reserve forces and for ceremonial duties.[38] : Made under license as the Type 57.[13] : Uses the M14SE, manufactured by Smith Enterprises, in SDM roles[39] and has purchased M14s from other manufacturers. Also uses M14s custom built or modified in military armories, such as the M14 DMR. The M14 is issued to crew members on Military Sealift Command vessels.[40] The rifle is also used by the United States Border Patrol and by the Park Rangers of U.S. National Park Service.[41] List of battle rifles M1A rifle Duff, Scott A., John M. Miller, and contributing editor David C. Clark. The M14 Owner's Guide and Match Conditioning Instructions. Export, Penn.: Scott A. Duff Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-888722-07-X. Murphy, Edward F. The Hill Fights: The First Battle of Khe Sanh. Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 2003. ISBN 0-89141-747-8. Pisor, Robert L. The End of the Line: The Siege of Khe Sanh. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-393-32269-6. Rose, Alexander. American Rifle: A Biography. New York: Bantam Dell Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-553-80517-8. Stevens, R. Blake. U.S. Rifle M14: From John Garand to the M21. Toronto: Collector Grade Publications, Inc., 1995. ISBN 0-88935-110-4. Field Manual No. 23-8 U.S. Rifle, 7.62mm, M14 and M14E2 (1965) Guide to National Match Accurizing as Performed by U.S. Army Shooting Team Gunsmiths Modern Firearms Site The M14/M1A Magazine FAQ Different's M1A Site U.S. Rifle, cal. 7.62mm, M14 7.62 NATO Battle Rifles M14 Rifle Pictures Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide (FILM) M14 "Squad automatic weapon" (.wmv) be-x-old:M14 ( ) bg:M14 ( ) cs:M14 (pu ka) da:M14 de:M14 (Gewehr) es:Fusil M14 fa: fr:M14 (fusil) ko:M14 id:M14 (senapan) it:M14 (fucile) he: M-14 lt:M14 hu:M14 g pkarab ly ms:M14 nl:M14 (vuurwapen) ja: M14 no:M14 pl:Karabin M14 ru:M14 ( ) sk:M14 (pu ka) fi:M14 sv:M14 (gev r) zh:M14 Search for M14 rifle in Tutorials Search for M14 rifle in Encyclopedia Search for M14 rifle in Videos Search for M14 rifle in Books Search for M14 rifle in Software Search for M14 rifle in DVDs Search for M14 rifle in Store M14 rifle in Encyclopedia	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1588
__label__cc	0.59877	0.40123	I Am the Traditional Traditionalist "Independent" Priests? My Writings on the Web Only one offense is now vigorously punished, an accurate observance of our fathers' traditions. (St. Basil the Great, Epistle 243). [I]t is not the part of prudence to neglect that which antiquity in its long experience has approved and which is also taught by apostolic authority. (Leo XIII, Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae) The phrase "traditional Catholic" and the shorter description "traditionalist" may endear a few, but they set off warning bells for many. Given the byline of this site, it's pretty important to define what I mean when I continue to self-identify as a traditionalist Catholic. Before getting down to the brass tacks of a definition, however, perhaps a little justification of the need of any such designation is in order. I can easily imagine someone saying, "Why do we need the labels anyway? Isn't just 'Catholic' enough?" Well, it ought to be. But we live in a time when Charles Curran, Hans Küng, Ted Kennedy, and John Kerry all call themselves "Catholic" and no bishop in the Church says otherwise. So we take to calling ourselves "orthodox Catholics" or "faithful Catholics" or some other such modified phrase, to distinguish ourselves from self-styled Catholics who have yet to be informed that they are no Catholics at all. But even within the relative minority of orthodox, faithful Catholics there is another distinction to be made, primarily concerning the nature of the "reforms" that have taken place since the Second Vatican Council. There exists a small, but definitely growing, movement that in its broad outlines can be identified and is commonly described as the "traditionalist Catholic movement"; its adherents are naturally called "traditional Catholics". Now as a formal movement, as embodied in certain publications and groups, there are a lot of serious problems. I hope to comment on these difficulties more in the months to come and I will most certainly step on some toes by doing so. But as a more general turning of peoples' hearts to the foundations of our Faith, especially as embodied in such venerable outward expressions as the traditional Latin Mass, I believe that the importance of this movement should not be underestimated. Its impact is being felt even in the Vatican and there is more than ample evidence that prelates there, including the present Pope, take serious notice of the phenomenon. But the movement generates plenty of concern, too, and there are loud and bitter denunciations from certain parties. Cries of "schismatics", "dissenters on the Right", and "Rad Trads" abound in neo-conservative Catholic Internet sites and publications. One Catholic apologist has a three-fold test to try to separate what he would consider the good Catholic wheat from the "Rad-Trad" chaff. He asks: 1. Is the Novus Ordo Mass valid? 2. Is Vatican II a valid and binding Ecumenical Council? 3. Is Pope John Paul II a valid pope? [Now, I presume, he would update this to Benedict XVI.] These are perfectly good and necessary questions. And I should be free from all suspicion of being a Rad Trad, since I answer yes to all three. Yes, the Novus Ordo Mass (or, as I will often abreviate it on this site, the NOM) was licitly promulgated and it is valid, when said according to the official rubrics and the text of the typical edition (no one can vouch carte blanche for the validity of Masses not said according to official rubrics and typical texts.) Yes, the Second Vatican Council was a valid and binding ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. And yes, Benedict XVI is the validly reigning Pope, the Vicar of Christ. As with a lot of things in life, though, the matters raised by seemingly simple questions turn out to be not quite so simple. Yes, the NOM is valid, but there are concerns about its creation, its relationship to the larger liturgical tradition, and its effect on the life of the Church. Yes, Vatican II is a valid and binding ecumenical Council, but there are a lot of legitimate questions about the precise level of magisterial authority with which the various documents are invested and exactly how certain portions can be reconciled with the Church's pre-conciliar teaching, to say nothing of the prudence of the inclusions, omissions, and pastoral approach embodied in the documents. And yes, Benedict XVI and John Paul II and Paul VI and John XXIII are/were validly reigning Popes, but this bare fact does not place their every word and action beyond all analysis and evaluation. Still less does it guarantee that the course set by their words and actions has had the desired effect of renewing and invigorating the Church. There is a pithy saying that is oft repeated in traditionalist circles that captures well the dynamic between those who define their Catholic identity to a great extent by what has transpired since 1964 and those who seek to maintain more continuity with the perennial doctrinal, liturgical, and disciplinary tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. We are what you once were. We believe what you once believed. We worship like you once worshipped. If you believe you were wrong then, what makes you believe you are right now. If you were right then, we are right now. It's over-simplistic, but it captures the heart of the matter admirably. We live in a time of crisis (and rebuilding) in the Catholic Church. I think every orthodox Catholic can agree on that. But the precise nature of that crisis—its root causes, the dynamics behind its present manifestation and unfolding, and the appropriate solutions—are all matters of intense debate. And here, although there is plenty of infighting within the movement, traditionalists firm up into a more unified front. What I think all traditionalists can agree upon is that behind the crisis stands in large part a de facto—and sometimes de jure—abandonment of numerous liturgical and disciplinary traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, traditions that had held her in good stead for centuries, if not millennia. As I have pondered the difference between self-styled traditionalist Catholics and other orthodox Catholics I have concluded that the primary difference is in their respective attitude toward change. If one does any significant reading in the Church Fathers, Doctors, and Popes one consistently finds a truly conservative attitude. That is, one sees that the attitude of orthodox Catholics through the centuries has been to cling tenaciously to that which has been handed on, both in belief and observance. Change itself is looked upon with suspicion and change for the sake of change or even to "get with the times" is unthinkable. Now here I can sense anti-traditionalist apologists ready to pounce, so let me say up front that I don't in the least deny that there has been lots of legitimate development in the Catholic Church over the centuries, both doctrinal and practical. The Catholic Church is a living organism, animated by the Holy Spirit, and she has certainly developed and changed over the centuries while retaining in its fullness the deposit of revelation handed on to her by our Lord Jesus. This I readily grant. What I am talking about instead is one's prevailing attitude toward change. The Fathers, Doctors, and Popes did not see themselves primarily as innovators, but as conservators. They saw the Faith and those practices by which it was expressed, passed on, and guarded as an inheritance to be passed on to the next generation intact and, indeed, inviolate. They were not anxious to update the Faith, or to change perennial and venerable practices. For the most part, they viewed change—whether doctrinal or practical—with grave suspicion. They knew both instinctively and often by hard experience that changes in religious matters—even if seemingly minor—frequently bring about considerable upheaval in the life of the Church. This fundamentally conservative attitude can be illustrated from literally dozens of passages, but I have selected just a few here spanning many centuries. St. Vincent of Lerins, writing in the fifth century, notes that the totality of the Catholic Faith—both beliefs and observances—is something that we humbly receive from those before us and faithfully pass on intact to those who come after: For it has always been the case in the Church, that the more a man is under the influence of religion, so much the more prompt is he to oppose innovations. . . . In fine, in an epistle sent at the time to Africa, he [Pope St. Stephen] laid down this rule: "Let there be no innovation—nothing but what has been handed down." For that holy and prudent man well knew that true piety admits no other rule than that whatsoever things have been faithfully received from our fathers the same are to be faithfully consigned to our children; and that it is our duty, not to lead religion whither we would, but rather to follow religion whither it leads; and that it is the part of Christian modesty and gravity not to hand down our own beliefs or observances to those who come after us, but to preserve and keep what we have received from those who went before us. (Commonitory 6). St. John Chrysostom, around the same time, states that it is precisely in matters of divine worship that change is most likely to cause great distress and upheaval: For nothing so much disturbs the mind, though it be done for some beneficial purpose, as to innovate and introduce strange things, and most of all when this is done in matters relating to divine worship and the glory of God. (Homilies on the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, hom.7, v.14) St. Thomas Aquinas lays out what is really simple common sense, namely, that changes even in purely human matters have a tendency to disrupt the common good and that changes in laws have a tendency to diminish "the binding power of the law." And therefore, any changes that affect the body politic had better be enacted based on the redress of some injustice or for some other good that will more than compensate for the harm done by virture of change itself. How much more care must be taken in changing matters ecclesiastical, since religion lies more closely to the heart of man than politics: [H]uman law is rightly changed, in so far as such change is conducive to the common weal. But, to a certain extent, the mere change of law is of itself prejudicial to the common good: because custom avails much for the observance of laws, seeing that what is done contrary to general custom, even in slight matters, is looked upon as grave. Consequently, when a law is changed, the binding power of the law is siminished, in so far as custom is abolished. Wherefore human law should never be changed, unless, in some way or other, the common weal be compensated according to the extent of the harm done in this respect. Such compensation may arise either from some very great and very evident benefit conferred by the new enactment; or from the extreme urgency of the case, due to the fact that either the existing law is clearly unjust, or its observance extremely harmful. Wherefore the jurist says . . . that "in establishing new laws, there should be evidence of the benefit to be derived, before departing from a law which has long been considered just" (Summa Theologiae Ia Iiae q.97 a.2). Finally, here is one quote among many that could be cited from the Popes to the effect that the authentic attitude of a Catholic is one which clings tenaciously to that which is tried and true, venerable and established. This is from Pope Benedict XV, addressing the modernist threat of his day that has exploded into the modernist crisis of our own. Note well that the Holy Father sees a fundamentally conservative attitude as applying every bit as much to the Church's perennial practices as to her doctrine: Those who are infected by that [modernist] spirit develop a keen dislike for all that savours of antiquity and become eager searchers after novelties in everything: in the way in which they carry out religious functions, in the ruling of Catholic institutions, and even in private exercises of piety. Therefore it is our will that the law of our forefathers should still be held sacred: "Let there be no innovation; keep to what has been handed down" (Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum, §25). So I see Catholic traditionalism fundamentally as a conscious adoption of this attitude of our fathers with regard to change. If someone wishes to challenge me on this, then he will have to bring forth more than a bare list of things that have indeed changed in the Catholic Church, for I have already readily granted the existence of such legitimate change. Rather, he will have to prove that I am wrong about this fundamentally conservative attitude toward change on the part of the Fathers, Doctors, and Popes. Let him bring forth counter-examples, if he can, of our fathers in the Faith revelling in change and advancing it as a thing good and helpful in itself. I am fairly confident that case cannot be made, but I am open to being corrected. Put simply, a Catholic traditionalist wishes to believe as his fathers believed, to worship as his fathers worshipped, and to pass on this belief and worship intact to his children. He does not oppose legitimate and organic developments. But he sees what is perennial, venerable, and established as a treasury of godly and holy wisdom and he views attempts to change or "update" this treasury of belief and practice with guarded reserve, if not suspicion. And this is precisely where there is an immediate application to our present day. In the last forty years the Catholic Church has experienced unprecedented change in nearly every aspect of her life. Certainly those who made the changes and those who now defend them seek to argue that they were for the Church's benefit. But as we saw from the Angelic Doctor, it is not sufficient that changes to fundamental aspects of the Church's life be merely beneficial. Significant changes should only be enacted either in response to some harm or injustice or if the changes will certainly provide "very great and very evident benefit" to the common good. And this observation gives rise to two central questions—did so much really have to change and have all these changes really brought about the promised good? Traditionalists are united in answering no to both questions. It is dawning on more and more Catholics that too much change, never-ending change, has harmed the equilibrium of the Roman Catholic Church. And they are beginning to see that in too many cases there are no real positive results at all, let alone "very great and very evident benefit". Or, to put it positively, they are realizing that in the tried and true ways of believing and behaving lie a holy wisdom that may just point the way out of the present crisis. So now we have at least a broad idea of what characterizes a Catholic traditionalist. This leads us to another matter of terminology. What do we call those orthodox Catholics who more closely align themselves with the whole panoply of changes that have been enacted by the Vatican since the 1960s and often set themselves quite in opposition to the traditionalist movement? Some have dubbed them "conservative" Catholics. But this label is inaccurate, as a comparison to the secular order will illustrate. Some years ago I started (and won, if I do say) a debate with my extended family in which I asserted that, by any reasonable historical standard, George W. Bush is not a conservative but a liberal. Although this notion might be strange to some, it is easily demonstrated. For it has always been held, in political matters, that the truly conservative attitude toward the duties of a governor toward the governed is that "he who legislates least, legislates best." Political conservatives have always held for greater personal freedom, smaller government, and less government intervention both domestically and abroad. But by those standards the proof is all around us that those who ostensibly hold the place of "conservatives" in the American political realm are no conservatives at all. Under their governance personal freedoms erode, government grows by leaps and bounds, and it intervenes more and more into foreign and domestic affairs. By any historical standard, then, todays so-called conservatives are really quite liberal. What has happened is that the whole political spectrum has shifted. Today's liberals are so radically liberal by historical standards that yesterday's liberals look conservative by comparison. It is more appropriate, then, to describe yesterday's liberals, who are today's so-called conservatives, as "neo-conservatives", with the caveat that they are really only moderately and selectively conservative at best. Similarly, in the Church those Catholics who are ostensibly conservative but who embrace every single change that comes down the pike (as long as it comes backed by ecclesiastical authority and ofttimes even if it does not) have no legitimate claim to the label "conservative", for they do not conserve the Faith and the observances that have embodied and protected it over the centuries. Rather, they are by historical standards quite liberal and so, in my own writings if a distinction is necessary I will refer to them as "neo-conservative Catholics" or just "neo-conservatives", with the caveat that they are really only moderately and selective conservative at best (but with the emphasis that they are, of course, certainly Catholics!) Hopefully such definitions answer certain questions, but I have been very broad in sketching the outlines of the traditionalist position. And obviously I leaves lots of questions unanswered, questions concerning the Mass, Vatican II, ecumenism, the Society of Pius X and "independent" priests, and so on. All of those issues will receive more detailed attention on this site but one issue in particular requires a bit more treatment here, namely, traditionalist attitude toward the papacy. The papacy was established by our Lord Jesus Christ for the right governance of His Church. Traditionalism is not—or at least had better not be!—an attitude of fundamental opposition to the Pope. The traditionalist Catholic should be the last person on earth who would jeopardize his right relationship to the Pope through a cavalier dismissal of his authority or rejection of his lawful commands. After all, the entire Catholic Tradition witnesses that communion with the Pope of Rome is necessary for right standing in the Catholic Church. And the traditionalist, of all people, knows that outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation. Rather, as I have said, traditionalism is characterized by an historically Catholic attitude toward change. Unfortunately, in our present day this attitude brings us into tension with many prelates in the Catholic Church, including at times even the Popes. There may be times in which we sincerely disagree with the courses adopted by the Roman Pontiff, but I believe such conclusions should only come after serious reflection mingled with holy fear. Still, as Dietrich von Hildebrand wrote, the traditionalist who vigorously upholds the theoretical authority of the Pope may, at times, find himself in serious disagreement with a particular exercise of that authority: [O]bedience to the practical disciplinary decisions of the pope does not always imply approval of them. When such a decision has the character of compromise or is the result of pressure or the weakness of the individual person of the pope, we cannot and should not say: Roma locuta: causa finita. That is, we cannot see in it the will of God; we must recognize that God only permits it, just as He has permitted the unworthiness or weakness of several popes in the history of the Church. . . . Our unconditional submission to the theoretical authority of the Church, because Our Lord has entrusted to it His divine revelation, manifests itself primarily in our faithfulness to the deposit of Catholic faith. Let us, as we answer the call to defend orthodoxy, reflect on the glorious history of the Church. Let us take faith from the fact that no pope has ever proclaimed anything heretical, anything contrary to the deposit of Catholic faith; and let us also recall the innumerable graces flowing from the Church into the souls of the faithful throughout the centuries. Let us remember the innumerable saints to whom the Church has given birth. Let our hearts be filled with ardent love for the Church, the Bride of Christ. But when this love inevitably fills our hearts with deep sorrow over a practical decision imposed on us—which we cannot but think unfortunate and dangerous in its consequences—let us not fall into despairing confusion. Let us realize that it would be disastrous to identify the God-willed response of faith to the infallible theoretical authority of the Church with the completely different response of obedience to the practical authority of the Church. Though we must obey such a practical decision, we must not approve it; nay, we must even pray for its revocation, and, in full respect, strive with all legitimate measures to persuade the Holy Father of its danger, all the while proclaiming wholeheartedly: Credo in unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam ecclesiam! (Devastated Vineyard). The raison d'être of this site is to seek understanding in the midst of crisis and rebuilding. So there will be articles here that seek to explain what's wrong in the Catholic Church and how they got that way. And such articles have their place, for there are many good and faithful Catholics who are greatly troubled by what they see around than and are seeking understanding in the midst of this terrible confusion. But there must be a positive side to Catholic traditionalism as well, or else our whole existence will become defined by the negative, by what we are not rather than by what we are. These are difficult days, yes, but the Catholic Faith is the pearl of great price, a precious gift beyond all reckoning. I am an adult convert to that Faith and I thank God every day from the bottom of my heart for giving me the grace to be a Catholic. And so I hope that you will see on this site that the Catholic traditionalist is one who can glory in what he has, for he stands firm on the doctrinal certitude, the liturgical precision and beauty, and the wise discipline that has sustained the Roman Catholic Church for all these centuries since our Lord's Advent. May it please God to utilize this site in some small measure to bring greater renewal to His Holy Church. Other summaries of Traditionalism: A Brief Defense of Traditionalism by Peter A. Miller Posted by thepalmhq at 4:45 PM Darwin said... Having just read down all your posts to date, I wanted to thank you for your clear thinking. A thought that struck me in reading this post in particular: I might describe myself as being "traditionally-minded" as a Catholic, though perhaps you would assess me as more of a "neo-Catholic". As such, I think that Bugnini and his committee went vastly too far in their reforms of the mass and the Divine Office. I of course consider them valid but I think that the changes made in many cases engaged in "change for change's sake" far beyond what was suggested by Vatican II itself. However, as someone active in a "novus ordo" parish (indeed, I'm on the parish council) in which the current missal is celebrated reverently and exactly according to the rubrics, I am in some ways torn over the "going back" issue -- and for conservative reasons. I do very strongly want to see more Latin in the liturgy and want to see the missal moved back much more in keeping with the old one. And yet, having see the incredible damage caused by the sudden changes in 1965-1972, I have certain fears as to what some sort of sudden switch would do. My hope is that Benedict XVI, as hinted at in his recent motu proprio, is beginning a process of bringing our liturgy slowly back into line with tradition, and that this will be done with sufficient catechesis and wisdom (and perhaps some welcome use of strength against the more resistant bishops and priests) that we can go about returning to tradition in a truly conservative manner. As you note in your piece about "independant priests", one of the things that worries me at times when reading more stridently Traditionalist stuff is that in an attachment to traditional forms, people have lost a conservative and traditional attitude. Laurie Myers said... Dear Mr Miller, You have posed three questions, namely: You have answered "Yes" to each question. I think a more accurate series of answers is: 1. Yes. Provided the celebrating priest uses the right Form, Matter and has the Right Intention. 2. No. It is easily demonstrated that VII was not a dogmatic Council and made no binding decrees. 3. Yes. But I think a better question is "Was Pope John Paul II a validly elected Pope". Many of his actions as Pope have been decidedly uncatholic. Incidentally, I prefer the title Traditional Catholic rather than the wimpish traditional Catholic. Yours in the Names of Jesus and Mary Lawrence (aka Laurie) Myers website: http://www.capd.com.au email: info@capd.com.au Forward Boldly said... Excellent post. Your wrote: "We live in a time of crisis (and rebuilding) in the Catholic Church. I think every orthodox Catholic can agree on that." You'd be amazed how many orthodox Catholics deny there is any real crisis in the Church. Nevermind the fact that 90% of European Catholics don't attend Mass, and 75% of American Catholics do not--and of those who do, 2/3 of them don't even believe in the Real Presence. If that isn't a crisis, I don't know what is. Ben Anderson said... "Why do we need the labels anyway? Isn't just 'Catholic' enough?" you'd think. and you nailed it that it's not. In our diocese (as I'm sure others) to be "Catholic" means just about nothing - even if you happen to be a daily mass goer. I would say that a significant portion of our parishes and priests are actually protestant. By that I mean that they do not accept the orthodox Catholic faith. It's sad. I wish it were not this way, but it's true. Darwin wrote: "I have certain fears as to what some sort of sudden switch would do." I laugh. No fear of that, as long as the powers that be remain. There are still so many bishops opposed to the Traditional Latin Mass that many continue to disobey and ignore the Motu proprio. Then you've got mainstream Catholics who have had little experience with the TLM and many misconceptions about it, and frankly are largely ignorant of their patrimony, who will oppose any "sudden switch". That'll never happen.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1592
__label__wiki	0.986748	0.986748	Shania Twain Returns with First Album in 15 Years, Debuts New Single Life's about to get good for Shania Twain fans, because the singer has just unveiled a new song called "Life's About to Get Good." The brand new single will appear on the Canadian country superstar's upcoming album Now, which will arrive later. Specifically, on September 29 via Mercury Nashville. It marks the singer's first full-length record since Up back in 2002. The latest offering was produced by Matthew Koma, whose previous songwriting credits include work with Carly Rae Jepsen, Tiesto, Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff and Zedd. It's hardly surprising then that Twain's latest single takes things to the poppier side of the musical spectrum. Hear it for yourself by giving "Life's About to Get Good" a listen down below. Pre-order Now on vinyl and deluxe CD via Umusic. More Shania Twain Watch Orville Peck and Shania Twain Perform "Legends Never Die" on 'Fallon' Country legend-in-training Orville Peck may have only released his new EP Show Pony last week, but it's already getting a ton of attention.... Watch Orville Peck and Shania Twain Tear Up an Outdoor Stage in "Legends Never Die" Video Today marks the arrival of Show Pony, the new EP from tasselled country crooner Orville Peck. Its most anticipated track is the big Shania T... With 'Show Pony,' Orville Peck Solidifies His Place as One of Country's Greats In the two short years since releasing his debut single "Big Sky," masked heartthrob Orville Peck has experienced a meteoric rise from local... Orville Peck Proves His Shania Twain Collab Is Very Real with New Pics After delaying the arrival of his Show Pony EP, Orville Peck has set a new release date for the effort, as well as offered up some photograp... Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Arkells Unite for Canadian COVID-19 Benefit Canadian media giants have banded together for a new one-night-only, star-studded event called Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble in support o...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1599
__label__cc	0.657622	0.342378	What is Airzone? IDENTIFICATION DATA In compliance with the provisions of article 10 of Law 34/2002, of July 11, on Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce (LSSICE, for its initials in Spanish), identification data for the holder of the website www.airzoneusa.com can be found below: Business name: CORPORACIÓN EMPRESARIAL ALTRA, S.L. (here in after, ALTRA CORPORATION) Registration in the Companies Registry: Registered in the Malaga Companies Registry, Volume 4601, Book 3509, Paper 31, Sheet MA-100008, Entry 1. Address: Calle Marie Curie, No. 21, CP 29590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain. Email: info@airzoneusa.com All content on this website is provided to the User for informational purposes, as well as to manage the online sales of our products and services. 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__label__wiki	0.519315	0.519315	Sébastien Chauvin, Peter Clegg & Bruno Cousin (Eds.) Euro-Caribbean Societies in the 21st Century – Offshore finance, local élites and contentious politics This edited collection examines the realities of the last remnants of the European colonial empires in the Caribbean, namely the British, Dutch and French overseas territories. Euro-Caribbean Societies in the 21st Century – Offshore finance, local élites and contentious politics – Edited by Sébastien Chauvin, Peter Clegg, Bruno Cousin. ISBN 9781857438697 (Hardback) – 9781351248877 (eBook) – Routledge, London, 2018 Order: https://www.amazon.com/Euro-Caribbean-Societies-21st-Century-Perspectives/dp/1857438698 With chapters by Matthew L. Bishop, J. A. Roy Bodden, Audrey Célestine, Peter Clegg, Gérard Collomb, Justin Daniel, Lammert de Jong, May Hen, Edenz Maurice, Guy Numa, Genève Phillip, Chelsea Schields, Ron van der Veer, Wouter Veenendaal and William Vlcek. Table of Contents + Introduction Although known and perhaps infamous for their role as high-end tourist destinations and financial centres, these small jurisdictions are complex and multifaceted places. While this volume considers their role as financial centres, it does so from alternative and original perspectives by examining how the sector shapes the internal dynamics of these Caribbean societies, and how it is itself shaped by global trends. A range of contributions is included that highlight other key issues. Political relations between the territories and their metropolitan centres and with the European Union are the focus of several chapters, highlighting the stresses and strains, and in many cases the unfulfilled expectations of devolved governance. Further chapters describe the economic instability and factors of political conflict faced by some of these societies and the available options to address them. Finally, several chapters reflect more specifically on the territories’ internal social and ethnic dynamics, and the hierarchies and inequalities that result. Bringing together a variety of different disciplinary perspectives, from political science to sociology, and from anthropology to geography, this book will be of great interest to any academic or student who wishes to see how an often overlooked part of the world is actually a key site of socio-economic transformation and a crucial nexus in global affairs. Introduction – Offshore Europe on the move – Sébastien Chauvin, Peter Clegg and Bruno Cousin Part I: Institutional, Political and Regulatory Processes: The transformation of relations with the metropolitan states, the EU, and the international community 1 The British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and their quest for further autonomy – Peter Clegg 2 Status Change in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: What for? – Lammert de Jong and Ron van der Veer 3 The French Caribbean between egalitarian aspirations and identity assertions: Towards a realisation of difference? – Justin Daniel 4 From Brussels with love: Shifting governance and the evolution of ‘Overseas Europe’ – Matthew Louis Bishop and Genève Phillip 5 Brexit and the Overseas Territories: Repercussions for the periphery – Peter Clegg 6 Global financial governance and the Euro-Caribbean overseas territories: First and second order effects for offshore finance – William Vlcek Part II: Economic Transformations, Roles of the Local Elites and the Current Dynamics of Inequality 7 Colonial heritages and continuities in Guadeloupe and Martinique: An economic perspective – Guy Numa 8 A postcolonial economy? Protesters, lobbyists and small-business-owners in Martinique after 2009 – Audrey Célestine 9 French Guiana – A ‘Plural Society’ in a post-colonial context – Gérard Collomb and Edenz Maurice 10 Deconstructing development: immigration, society and economy in early 21st century Cayman – Roy Bodden 11 Sub-elites as fiduciary gatekeepers of global elites: A fiscal anthropology of the Cayman Islands as an offshore financial centre – May Hen 12 Integration with the Metropolis: The Dutch Caribbean ‘municipalities’ after 2010 – Wouter Veenendaal 13 Intimacy and integration: The ambivalent achievement of marriage equality in the Dutch Caribbean, 2007-12 – Chelsea Schields For the majority of Europeans, as for the rest of the world, the British, Dutch and French overseas territories (OTs) are part of a fragmentary and blindspotted reality. In addition to making the news when hit by a particularly devastating natural disaster, they are often reduced to exotic holiday destinations or avenues for undermining global financial standards and the efforts of sovereign states in tax collection and resource redistribution. Following these two alternative perspectives, they are thus mainly mentioned by gossip columnists tracking celebrities during their winter holidays or when investigative journalists report about finance-related leaks and scandals. Nevertheless, and despite the substantial progress achieved over the past few years with the macroeconomic analysis of offshoring, the magnitude of the role of these tax havens in the global economic system remains largely underestimated or hidden to the general public. While explaining the causes of the financial crisis of 2007–2008 and more specifically the structuration of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), neither the director of Inside Job (2010) nor Ryan Gosling boldly illustrating securitization with an unstable pile of dominoes in The Big Short (2015) deemed it relevant to mention that most CDOs had been issued by special purpose entities based in the Cayman Islands. Moreover, as imagined paradise islands and offshore financial centres, the Euro-Caribbean territories are generally seen as quite immune to the effects of global political and economic turmoil, as if the main historical trends and events could only marginally affect them. This book challenges such preconceptions with the methods and analytical tools of the social sciences by investigating the different aspects of the transatlantic relationship between these territories and their respective metropolitan centres, as well as the ways in which the global and regional dynamics of power and financial and migratory flows contribute to the shaping of local societies and inequalities. Despite the fact that much of the region is characterized by significant development challenges, Europe’s OTs in the Caribbean, with relatively high per capita gross domestic products (GDPs) and more stable political and social systems, appear to be doing considerably better than independent countries. However, reality is more complex. There are stark inequalities within the territories, and between the territories and their respective sovereign countries – sometimes they are richer, but often they are significantly poorer – and this has a considerable effect on their societies more generally. Due to their non-sovereignty, the territories are shaped and defined by an array of external forces. The book thus considers the situation whereby the British, Dutch and French West Indies are among the last examples of empire that are still institutionally dependent, in one way or another, on their metropoles. They inherited a (post-)colonial and racialized social order that is typically studied by anthropologists and sociologists at the local level, while their key role in structuring financial and human flows is addressed by political scientists, economists and geographers on a global and/or national scale. These methodologies are important and inspire several chapters, but the volume also incorporates additional original approaches. For instance, the book considers the agency of local actors and the ways in which they participate in global dynamics; it explores how global influences help to structure power relations and interactions between natives, immigrants and non-residents; and it gauges how a specific hierarchy of citizenship statuses or an accurately tailored institutional semi-autonomy can be mobilized as a collective and individual resource. Thus, if several chapters are interventions in specific disciplinary and national sub-fields (and debates), many others are part of a project of scientific decompartmentalization reaching across the usual boundaries of disciplines. In addition, the book addresses the causes and effects of the major institutional changes that have taken place recently, some of which have redefined the status of the territories within their respective national states and, sometimes, vis-à-vis the European Union (EU). It also analyses the local effects of the global economic crisis – both direct, from its impact on local economies to the contentious politics it created, and indirect, such as how reinvigorated international pressure to ensure financial transparency has affected the activity of offshore centres. These issues are very important in their own right, but the book goes further by drawing out the deeper impacts of these developments, in considering how they affect issues such as inequality, class structure and inter-ethnic relations that define the specificity of each island territory.[1] The first part of the book details the recent changes that have been made to the political arrangements in place between the territories, their respective metropolitan powers, and the EU. It also evaluates how the international community has impacted on the territories, in particular through its attempts to better regulate offshore finance, which are having consequences for the territories’ (post-)colonial relations and their position within the current world-system. The opening chapters consider the governance arrangements that are in place for the British, Dutch and French OTs and how they have slowly altered over time. In Chapter 1, Peter Clegg analyses the position of the British OTs, a legacy of an almost complete process of decolonization which took place between the early 1960s and early 1980s. Five territories remain (six if one includes Bermuda in the West Atlantic), and they have traditionally claimed more autonomy than those overseen by France and the Netherlands. This is in part due to a looser approach taken by successive British governments, and because many of the territories are economically self-sufficient with lucrative offshore financial industries. Over the last 20 years there has been moderate political reform, but Clegg doubts that full decolonization will take place in the foreseeable future. One reason for this is the British government’s strong support for the OTs’ offshore sector. The subsequent two chapters by Lammert de Jong and Ron van der Veer, and Justin Daniel focus on the Dutch and French territories, respectively. Both sets of territories have recently witnessed more substantial changes than those overseen by Britain. For the Dutch territories, a key change took place on 10 October 2010 (known as 10/10/10) with the Netherlands Antilles disappearing as a country. In its place, various autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and special municipalities of the Netherlands were created. This resulted in a kind of jigsaw puzzle, not only in geographic terms, as the closest islands do not necessarily share the same administrative status, but also for the people themselves. De Jong and van der Veer examine whether 10/10/10 should be judged as a continuation of a form of colonization, or whether it can be framed in a post-post-colonial vocabulary. It is clear that with disagreements over the degree of supervision by the Kingdom (in short, by the Netherlands) and concerns over freedom of movement across the Kingdom, a sense of colonialism still appears to be deeply embedded. For France too, combining post-colonial consolidation in the region with the uniformization of the administrative state has been a challenge, as Justin Daniel explains. He considers the administrative and discursive categories through which the metropole constructs its relationships with the various OTs, regulated by Article 73 of the French Constitution and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. His chapter focuses on France’s declared will to proceed with the transfiguration of a subordinate relationship into a partnership. Policy discourses went from the negative image of remote, costly territories to the promotion of the ‘competitiveness and sustainable development potential’ of OTs. Furthermore, the advent of a neoliberal policy framework has led to the metropole encouraging horizontal regional development and exchanges within the Caribbean more than before. Combined with the dynamics of decentralization and Europeanization of public policies, there is now a greater emphasis on the territorialization of public action and participative democracy. Chapter 4 by Matthew Louis Bishop and Genève Phillip expands the book’s focus on the EU and considers how developments initiated by the metropoles now often overlap with a process of Europeanization. New administrative categories and financial streams have come from Brussels towards ‘Overseas Europe’, in particular with a development purpose. The Overseas Countries and Territories Association directly engages the European Commission and European Parliament on behalf of 22 OCTs. However, these flows are being challenged by EU enlargement, since the inclusion of poorer Eastern European countries has brought many Caribbean territories above the threshold of 75 per cent of the average European per capita GDP which determines access to structural help. Another feature of the Europeanization process has been the importance of securing and maintaining EU citizenship and the related freedom to travel, work and live in the EU. A further issue is related to trade policies. Since the 1990s independent countries belonging to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group have seen their relations with the EU become ever more reliant on neoliberal norms of free trade and market fundamentalism. However, during the same period, and at complete variance with that approach, the EU has accepted greater protectionism in its dealings with the non-sovereign territories (such as tolerance for the octroi de mer import duty). As Bishop and Phillip argue, this has resulted in ‘jarring acts of cognitive dissonance’ with the EU seemingly admitting that successful development rests both on post-colonial protectionism and market-mediated neoliberalism. The next chapter addresses the process of Europeanization from a different view – that of Britain’s decision in June 2016 to leave the EU (known as Brexit). In his second contribution, Clegg evaluates the likely consequences of the Brexit decision on the OTs. The latter were in favour of ‘remain’, but they had no official voice as their citizens could not vote in the referendum. The territories wish to maintain a link with the EU, as they receive a range of bene- fits, such as development assistance and free access to the continent for their goods, services and investments. They also wish to preserve the advantages they enjoy in the areas of environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable energy. As the United Kingdom (UK) exits the EU, its OTs will almost certainly lose some of these advantages, as well as free mobility of its citizens within the Union. The final outcome of Brexit and its impact on the OTs are as yet unknown, but there are serious concerns that the latter will lose out and any losses incurred will not be covered by Britain. Clegg analyses these issues and provides an account of the initial talks between the OTs and Britain on a possible post-Brexit future. The focus broadens again for the final chapter of Part I. William Vlcek analyses the global efforts, via the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other actors, to constrain the impact of offshore financial centres of the Caribbean on larger states’ ability to collect tax revenues. Particular consideration is given to developments taking place since the 2008 financial crisis, and to the ‘second-order’ effects of international regulation on the jurisdictions of the Caribbean, for example the decision by a number of international banks in Hong Kong to refuse to provide accounts to corporations registered in the British Virgin Islands owing to the risk of money laundering. More broadly, the chapter describes the efforts to address non-taxation in the digital economy and the use of corporate entities registered in offshore locations in this multinational corporate structure. The Euro-Caribbean space is and remains not simply a relationship of the post-colonial territories to Europe, but is also a key site for the transactions and transfers that comprise global networks of capital. The second part of the book provides case studies of how these post-colonial and global reconfigurations are affecting the internal economic, class and ethno-racial relations of the OTs. This is achieved through considering several social groups enjoying various levels of privilege, but who are now being faced by greater competing and opposing interests. Nowhere is the connection between the ruling class of the colonial period and the propertied class of today more manifest than in Guadeloupe and Martinique, where the békés (the white descendants of the first European planters) own quasi-economic monopolies in sectors such as retail and petrol stations. In consequence, as Guy Numa explains in Chapter 7, the civil society-backed protests that took place in the two islands in 2009 had a common theme: the struggle against the high cost of living. Over a period of 44 days protesters criticized price levels and demanded higher wages. Numa considers the economic ramifications of the protests, highlighting the structural deficiencies of the local economies. In particular, he identifies that the French government does not preserve freedom of commerce and business in the islands, and fails to protect Caribbean consumers. Public authorities accept horizontal and vertical monopolies in key sectors and do not enforce anti-trust legislation. Chapter 8 by Audrey Célestine delves deeper into the unrest in Martinique and particularly the mobilization of business owners’ federations and interest groups to define their role in the economy in the aftermath of the 2009 movement. By framing their revolt in terms of a fight against ‘pwofitasion’ (profiteering), social movement leaders successfully designated the békés as a problematic social and racial group within the Martinique ownership structure. In response, business élites tried to create a new narrative based on Martinican ‘entrepreneurship’, via promotional campaigns both locally and in Metropolitan France. In addition to economic arguments, the racial frame was therefore an unavoidable dimension of the 2009 protests: race and class have been so intertwined in the history of Martinique that the former often stands as a short cut for the latter, even though this can occasionally draw accusations of hate speech. Small business owners on the island occupied a somewhat intermediary position in this highly politicized representation of society, a position that both groups in conflict have sought to co-opt. Although it is located much further south on the continent, French Guiana shares many of the challenges facing the French Caribbean islands. However, as Gérard Collomb and Edenz Maurice illustrate in Chapter 9, the remarkable (and increasing) cultural diversity of the Guianese population, resulting in the expression of complex ethnic claims, has contributed to the specificity of the territory’s nation-building process. The authors assess the role of teachers in French Guiana, who played an important political part from the late 1950s onwards, in redefining the contours of Guianese identity and achieving a symbolic transition from a colonial European society to a post-colonial American society. In so doing, they placed at the core of Guianese nationbuilding the process of Creolization, which had allowed French Guiana to integrate the successive waves of migrations experienced since the second half of the 19th century. However, this lone identity around being Creole partially replicated the French modernist model of integration. Ironically, by the 1970s new and more substantial migrations were then accused of being part of a Metropolitan plot to alter the structure of the Guianese population. Today, these social relations are being challenged by formerly marginalized populations, chiefly Amerindians and Businenge, whose symbolic and political weight is increasing. More importantly, the process of Creolization itself has reached its limits, despite attempts by the Creole élites to bring other ethnicities into the fold. It no longer represents cohesion and integration, as the numerous newly arrived populations now refuse to identify with it. As the authors suggest, beyond its political union with France, French Guiana must now try to imagine a public space for the articulation of all groups. Chapter 10 by J. A. Roy Bodden considers the Cayman Islands and how its internal social structure has been profoundly reshaped by globalization and transnational flows over recent decades. Cayman is a ‘totally imported society’ argues the author, in the sense that there was no indigenous population before the arrival of the first Europeans. Economic activity remained low until the 1950s, when Caymanian sailors hired by US companies began to send remittances that helped to develop the country. These developments prompted wealthy North American investors to take a keen interest in what they considered a tropical paradise. It also spawned an influx of British expatriate attorneys, bankers and speculators, and then large numbers of cheap skilled and semi-skilled labourers to service the booming tourism and construction industries. As a consequence, the number of people living in the Cayman Islands quadrupled between 1960 and the end of the 1990s. Bodden contends that as a result of failed immigration and economic planning policies, the Cayman Islands is on the cusp of upheaval. He argues that the importation of cheap labour continues unabated and ‘voluntary colonialism’ has spawned an identity crisis among established Caymanians. This situation is further compounded by wage stagnation and income inequality which place established Caymanians and low-income immigrant labourers at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the white-collar expatriates. In reality, these expatriates are often considered ‘paper Caymanians’ after acquiring ‘belonger’ status, bestowing among other privileges the right to vote and fuller access to the labour market. Conversely, expatriates decry what they see as the ‘entitlement culture’ of the native population. Such a toxic mixture has spawned an unhealthy duality (‘us’ Caymanians against ‘them‘ expatriates), which, with no prospects for a rapprochement, leaves Cayman as a society at risk. The focus on the Cayman Islands continues in Chapter 11 as May Hen delves deeper into the relationship between Caymanians and expatriates in relation to the territory’s offshore financial industry. Little is understood about their complex sociopolitical relations both locally and globally. The chapter thus looks at the fiscal anthropology and sociology of offshore finance by studying the technocratic professionals that the author defines as sub-élites. These are the organisers, experts and mediators who serve to bridge the gap between the local economy and the international interests of global élites, while guarding the barriers to entry into the financial industry. Hen considers how these sub- élites have changed a small maritime and plantation economy into a powerful offshore financial hub. As the chapter shows, class and race are integral concerns: sub-élites are imagined to be white expatriates from the Global North, thereby overshadowing the role of indigenous Caymanians and nationals from Latin America. Expat employment is constructed as a temporary situation, but it is more permanenti n reality. The official policy of hiring locals is often not enforced, particularly as permit renewal fees represent a significant source of income to the government. Moreover, expats reinforce their position by the need for highly specialized professional qualifications (many of which can only be gained abroad). The purpose of the chapter is to understand how indigenous and expatriate populations collaborate with each other, often with some hostility and unease, to communicate their professional expectations and consolidate the competitive position of their territory as an international financial centre. The last two chapters deal with the Dutch territories. Chapter 12 by Wouter Veenendaal examines public opinion in the three islands that became special municipalities of the Netherlands (Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba). While they have a total population of only 20,000, the integration of these islands not only represents a significant change in Dutch post-war decolonization policies, but arguably also constitutes the most dramatic status change in the non-sovereign Caribbean in recent decades. Seven years on, dissatisfaction with the new constitutional status is the predominant sentiment among the island populations, as many people resist the perceived ‘recolonization’ of their islands. In an attempt to (re)gain greater political autonomy, both Bonaire and St Eustatius have organized new status referendums, which so far have not resulted in any changes. In October 2015 the Dutch government presented its own evaluation of the constitutional reforms and concluded that the overall outcome has been disappointing. Veenendaal examines the effects of the 2010 reforms on the attitudes and opinions of citizens, politicians and bureaucrats in the three municipalities. It is apparent that divisions within the populations and political élites as to the outcome of the status change are refracted through the broader political climate of the islands, which is characterized by strongly personalized forms of competition, a polarized and hostile relationship between political parties, and a legacy of patron-client linkages. These divisions create difficulty in dealing with The Hague as one voice, and further exacerbate dissatisfaction in the islands. Finally, Chelsea Schields deals with one emblematic aspect of this discontent – the introduction of marriage equality in the municipalities. Two years after 10.10.10, the Parliament in The Hague applied Dutch laws on same-sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia to the BES. Situating sex and gender at the centre of studies of non-sovereignty, Schields focuses on marriage. In 2012 Saba became the site of the first same-sex marriage officially performed in the Caribbean. Heralding the occasion, the international media linked marriage equality on Saba to the island’s new political status as a Dutch municipality. However, the imposition of marriage law and the broader terms of integration in which sexual politics were embedded polarized politicians, residents and activists on both sides of the Atlantic. Schields examines this protracted debate through press and parliamentary discussions. In particular, she considers the range of alliances mobilized as a result of the marriage equality debate. On the one hand, island leaders who criticized the law as an infraction of the islands’ right to self-determination found unlikely allies in the Dutch Christian right, who leveraged their rejection of gay rights as a defence against neocolonialism. On the other hand, a coalition of Dutch populist, leftist and liberal parties converged in their support for marriage equality. Yet, as politicians improvized the terms of integration to include sexual liberties, they circumvented other rights such as equal social welfare spending. Furthermore, by grounding the integration process in The Hague, this coalition marginalized both a home-grown Antillean gay rights movement and island leadership. The result of these cleavages, as the chapter shows, was to render incompatible the goals of sexual progressivism and anti-imperialism. Many noted the irony that the former colonial power was now, in the name of sexual progress, proposing to educate former colonies about the protection of human rights, while during the colonial period notions of hyper-sexuality functioned to justify European coercion based on racial difference. Today, it is the region’s perceived conservatism that rationalizes Dutch activism in the Antilles. Thus, it is the intention of the volume to go beyond the sometimes unflattering headlines and to critique the multidimensional relationships and political, economic and social trends that exist within ‘offshore Europe’. As the Introduction has shown and the subsequent chapters will illustrate, there are three key sets of often interlinked influences – the international, particularly in relation to offshore financial regulation; the metropole, with the still influential role of Britain, France and the Netherlands shaping and often restraining the actions and aspirations of the territories; and the internal social, ethnic and racial dynamics that can offer both opportunities and risks. The perceived relative affluence and stability of ‘offshore Europe’ shrouds a more nuanced picture of political dissonance, economic vulnerability and inequality, and social conflict, all of which must be addressed in order to fully understand the current embeddedness of Caribbean societies in the world economy. The Introduction was going to end with the previous paragraph, but as the final words were being written (in September 2017) Hurricane Irma swept across the Euro-Caribbean islands badly affecting several of the territories, in particular Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, St-Barthélemy and St-Martin/Sint Maarten. Less than two weeks later, Guadeloupe was hit by Maria, another category 5 hurricane. Irma caused the death of 20 people and perhaps US $6–7 billion of damage in these small territories alone. The impact was so great that the British, Dutch and French governments had to intervene. There were concerns that all three could have done more, but particular criticism was levelled at the British response. Comments such as ‘pathetic’, ‘sorely lacking’, and ‘too slow’ were made; the latter coming from Members of Parliament representing the governing Conservative Party. Humanitarian aid was provided by the British, but there was a sense that the more devolved relationship between the UK and its territories were not helpful in managing such a crisis. The comment by Alan Duncan, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that ‘We do not directly govern the overseas territories; they govern themselves’ illustrated the point, despite the fact that Britain has clear commitments to assist territories when they are facing a disaster. Furthermore, based on Britain’s immediate response there are concerns about its support for the longer-term reconstruction effort. Doubts are being raised whether Britain has the sustained commitment and resources at its disposal (within the shadow of Brexit), and whether the territories can make their case for funds in an effective way. There have already been suggestions that funds for reconstruction should be provided only if the territories move away from their offshore status. The response of all three metropolitan powers to Irma has been brought into sharp relief; so too has the way in which their respective governance arrangements have played their part. Concerning Britain and its overseas islands, it is not infeasible that a more fundamental review of political and economic ties will be undertaken in the coming months and years. [1] This book originated from a large symposium during the 22nd International Conference of Europeanists held in Paris, France, in July 2015. We would like to thank all the participants and discussants that made the Paris symposium a fruitful moment of academic exchange, including Jennifer Fredette, Ronen Palan, Aurélie Roger and Patrick Weil. David van Reybrouck - Revolusi. Indonesië en het ontstaan van de moderne wereld Papiaments - Van taal, status en een Comité Thijs Brocades Zaalberg & Bart Luttikhuis ~ Extreem geweld tijdens dekolonisatieoorlogen in vergelijkend perspectief, 1945-1962 De vrouw in Nederlandsch Westindië John G. Schermer ~ Bonaire families Unesco ~ Global Open Access Portal ~ Caribbean Countries ~ English & French Speaking Category: Dutch Colonial History Recent Dutch Colonial History David van Reybrouck – Revolusi. Indonesië en het ontstaan van de moderne wereld Papiaments – Van taal, status en een Comité Random Dutch Colonial History articles – refresh page to renew Extended Statehood In The Caribbean ~ The French Départements D’Outre Mer. Guadeloupe And Martinique How China Studies Started In The Dutch East Indies The Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean ~ Introduction Professional Blindness And Missing The Mark – Postscript Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire ~ Onderwijs Wouter Veenendaal ~ Smallness And Status Debates In Overseas Territories: Evidence From The Dutch Caribbean John Jansen van Galen ~ Afscheid van de koloniën. Het Nederlandse dekolonisatiebeleid 1942-2010 De toekomst van de relatie Nederland – Suriname VI: Opgezegde verantwoordelijkheid en mislukte hoop Einde van het stenen tijdperk – Voorwoord Extended Statehood in the Caribbean ~ Fifty Years of Commonwealth ~ The Contradictions Of Free Associated Statehood in Puerto Rico	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1602
__label__wiki	0.873375	0.873375	isiphotos.com Young Yanks Showing Their Potential in Overseas Action This was a near-perfect weekend abroad as young players completely stood out. When going through the list of impressive performances, it was nearly impossible to squeeze it into one column. Parks debuts for Benfica Keaton Parks, 20, has toiled away at the lower levels in Portugal over the first few years of his career but now appears to be knocking on the doors of some serious soccer. Over the summer the American signed for Benfica to play for the club’s second team but after impressing there he was called up to the first team for a cup matchup against Victoria Setubal. A tall central midfielder, Parks was subbed into the game in the 69th minute and played very well. In the 80th minute he contributed in the buildup to Filip Krovinovi?'s goal when he was the first to send the ball dangerously into the box. Continuing to feature will be tough for Parks but the upside of doing so would be enormous. You can add Parks into the mix of a long list of young central midfielders that includes Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Jonathan Gonzalez, Luca de la Torre, Kellyn Acosta, and Cristian Roldan. Carter-Vickers gets an assist Most serious soccer supporters now know how well Cameron Carter-Vickers, 19, is doing on loan for the Sheffield United. He has been a rock for United, playing in a three-man backline and lately he has been making key passes out of the back that have resulted in opportunities. Shortly before the international break, Carter-Vickers notched his first assist in a 4-1 win over Hull City when he burst down the right side and fired in a perfect cross. On Friday, Carter-Vickers hit a splendid through-ball in a 3-1 away win over Burton Albion for his second assist of the season. With the win Sheffield United remained in second place in the English Championship. After a very strong second half in his debut for the United States national team in a 1-1 draw with Portugal, it has been a great month for the English-born Carter-Vickers. What a great pass from Cameron Carter-Vickers for his assist today for Sheffield United. #USMNT pic.twitter.com/DT4m0VdeR2 — Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 17, 2017 The ideal situation now for Carter-Vickers would be featuring for Sheffield United the rest of the season and helping the club to promotion and then work out a permanent transfer from Tottenham. McKennie developing offensive skills After scoring a goal in his first cap for the United States on Tuesday, Weston McKennie kept the ball rolling with another strong full-90 performance for Schalke on Sunday in a 2-0 win over Hamburg. With that win, Schalke jumped to second place in the Bundesliga. McKennie, 19, seems to be talking a more offensive role within Schalke in recent games as opposed to deeper roles in the midfield. On Sunday, he was in a more advanced position and took three shots on goal while still managing 60 touches over 90 minutes. It was a different and more exciting role for the youngster. On the flip side, Bobby Wood played the final 21 minutes for Hamburg. The Hawaiian missed the international break with lingering knee issues which must surely be of concern for Hamburg and U.S. national team fans as this has been a problem dating back to 2011. But in addition to the knee problems, Wood is completely devoid of a midfield that can play the ball to him in dangerous positions. The end result is yet another relegation battle ahead for HSV. De La Torre gets meaningful minutes Another 19-year-old, Luca de la Torre, joined Fulham as a very young player in 2013 but so far he has seen limited minutes for the first team. Last year he played in a League Cup game and earlier this month he played in stoppage time for his Championship debut. On Saturday, de la Torre played his first meaningful Championship minutes when he came on in the 63rd minute of a 1-1 draw against Derby County at Craven Cottage. In his 27 minutes on the field the San Diego native was very active with 25 touches and a nearly 90% pass accuracy rate. After advancing to the Championship playoff places last season, Fulham has disappointed this year as it is winless in six games and sits in 17th place. But amid the struggles lies an opportunity for de la Torre to get more minutes in the weeks ahead. As a veteran of the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, de la Torre is a very promising prospect and looks set to finally get going with his professional career. Moore gets first start for Levante The 2015 U-20 World Cup veteran Shaq Moore has been making inroads lately with Levante of La Liga. After appearances off the bench in both cup and league play, Moore finally got his first start on Sunday when Levante visited Las Palmas. Moore, 21, ended up going the distance in Levante's 2-0 victory and was strong throughout his full-90 effort. The Georgia native was active with 53 touches from the right back position and nearly had an assist in the first half. Defensively he had three interceptions and four clearances. With the win, Levante moved into 11th place. Next Saturday a big challenge awaits when it hosts fourth-place Atletico Madrid. Gonzalez stands out in Monterrey win On Saturday, Jonathan Gonzalez got the start for Liga MX leaders Monterrey in a massive game against second place Tigres. On Wednesday, the California native was subbed out of Monterrey’s Copa MX semifinal shootout win over Club America with an injury. But on Saturday, Gonzalez was able to go the distance. Gonzalez, 18, ended up having one of his best games of the season in what has been a breakout year for the youngster. In the end, Monterrey won the game 2-0 to clinch the first overall spot in Liga MX in the regular season. Since July, Gonzalez has played in 20 games (18 starts) between Liga MX and Copa MX for a total of 1,411 minutes. Brooks stands tall in Wolfsburg win John Brooks is not a young player anymore, but at 24 he is about to enter his prime. Along with DeAndre Yedlin, Brooks should be emerging as a leader of the U.S. team given his extended experience in a top league—along with having played in the 2014 World Cup. Brooks has been injured for most of this season but is on his way back. He played well for the United States on Tuesday against Portugal and on Saturday he was strong for Wolfsburg in a 3-1 win over Freiburg. On the heels of four straight draws, Wolfsburg got back on track but are still in 13th place in the Bundesliga. Brooks was sharp all around with 73 touches and a 92% pass completion rate. He was credited with six clearances and four interceptions. If Wolfsburg is going to push into the top half of the standings, having Brooks back will be a huge bonus. Amon wins penalty off the bench Looking ahead to the 2019 U-20 national team, South Carolina native Jonathan Amon, 18, is making inroads in the Danish Superliga with third place Nordsjaelland. The left winger has seen his playing time increase lately and he came off the bench on Saturday with Nordsjaelland down 3-0 against first place Brondby. Nordsjaelland ended up losing 4-2 but Amon was solid where he drew a penalty which was converted and was also a handful for Brondby to defend. As Nordsjaelland look to return to European play, Amon’s status will be one to watch. Horvath, Sabbi, and Wright struggle Despite massive successes for Americans abroad, several players who had rough weekends. Ethan Horvath had a blunder with the U.S. team midweek but his situation at Club Brugge is also on shaky ground as he has let in some soft goals the past month for the league-leading team. On Sunday he was benched in a game where Brugge prevailed 3-0 Waasland-Beveren. Horvath’s replacement, Guillaume Hubert, is just 23 years old. On the national team level, Horvath could get pushed out by Columbus Crew standout Zack Steffen or even Bill Hamid who just made a move to Denmark. Haji Wright’s loan to Sandhausen started off well with a quick goal but he quickly lost his starting spot. Now he’s struggling to get on the field. He has 10 appearances so far for just 459 minutes and one goal. He did not play on Saturday in a 2-1 win over Darmstadt 2017 U-20 World Cup forward Emmanuel Sabbi earned his first start for Hobro in the Danish Superliga but did not impress and was pulled at halftime with the game scoreless. Hobro ended up winning 1-0 with a stoppage time goal. Meanwhile, Matt Miazga is a regular starter for Vitesse in the Eredivisie and is in the mix to become a starter for the United States national team. But the New Jersey native will probably want to forget this weekend when he went the full 90 in a 4-2 loss to Groningen. Expectations for Green and Rubin? Even with some players abroad struggling, two athletes stand out for all the wrong reasons. Julian Green and Rubio Rubin once carried high expectations among American coaches and fans. It was thought that both would be a huge part of the future. Jurgen Klinsmann brought Green to the 2014 World Cup and praised Rubin’s potential when he was a starter for FC Utrecht. This weekend was a good glimpse as to how far both have fallen. Green is now on loan at Greuther Furth which sits in 17th place in the 18-team 2.Bundesliga. When he was sent there on loan from Stuttgart, Furth did not even have a coach. That alone questions the seriousness of this loan as typically players are brought into a club that has a specific need. Furth had no direction at the time Green arrived. Now Green is struggling to even get on the field and was an unused substitute on Saturday's 1-1 draw against Bochum. Meanwhile Rubio Rubin’s career has been in a tailspin. After fading away at Utrecht, he joined Silkeborg in Demark where he couldn’t see the field. Earlier this year, he moved to Stabaek in Norway which is very far below the level expected of him. Since joining, he has been a seldom-used bench option. On Sunday he played the final three minutes of Stabaek’s 1-1 draw with Sogndal. With just one game remaining in the season, Stabaek will finish midtable. Rubin has made just seven substitute appearances for a paltry 109 minutes and no goals. Rubin and Green are in bad places but still have time to resurrect their careers. American fans should wish them well but also realize that while the next generation looks promising so far, things can go bad quickly.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1607
__label__wiki	0.578359	0.578359	square perches How big is 354.20 square meters? It's about as big as an IMAX screen An IMAX movie theater screen measures 22 m (72 ft) by 16 m (52 ft) for a total area of 350 sq. m. Because the film used in an IMAX movie is more than eight times larger than regular film, the platters of a two-and-a-half hour feature film can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lbs). It's about one-and-one-third times as big as a Tennis court In other words, 354.20 square meters is 1.35775530 times the size of a Tennis court, and the size of a Tennis court is 0.736509740 times that amount. (per ITF specification; for doubles) Per International Tennis Federation Rules of Tennis 2009, a doubles tennis court should measure 23.7744 m long by 10.9728 m, for a total area of about 260.87174 sq. m. Courts may be surfaced with crushed red stone, shale, brick, hard-soil grass, or asphalt. It's about seven-tenths as big as a Basketball court In other words, 354.20 square meters is 0.71463487720 times the size of a Basketball court, and the size of a Basketball court is 1.3993159750 times that amount. (per NBA regulation) Per NBA rules , a basketball court should measure 29.5656 m long by 16.764 m wide, for a total area of 495.6377184 sq. m. The first basketball game, held in a Springfield Massachusetts YMCA, was played on a court half the size of today's NBA standard and ended with a score of 1-0. It's about three-tenths as big as Fort Knox In other words, the size of Fort Knox is 3.330 times 354.20 square meters. (a.k.a. the United States Bullion Depository, a.k.a. "Gold Vault") (Kentucky) The United States Bullion Depository, commonly referred to by the metonym "Fort Knox" (in spite of the fact that the Depository is not located on the Fort proper), measures 32.0 m (105 ft) by 36.9 m (121 ft), for a total area of about 1,180 sq. m. The Depository is most famous for housing the largest portion of the national gold reserve, but has also temporarily housed the original US Declaration of Independence, an original copy of the US Constitution, and other important documents, kept there for safe keeping during World War II. It's about three-tenths as big as Manchester Cathedral In other words, 354.20 square meters is 0.28610 times the size of Manchester Cathedral, and the size of Manchester Cathedral is 3.4950 times that amount. (a.k.a. Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George) (Manchester, England, United Kingdom) (total interior area of Nave, Chapel, Library, Chapter House, and Rectory) Manchester Cathedral includes a total interior area of 1,238 sq. m between the Nave, Chapel, Library, Chapter House, and Rectory. The height of the Cathedral's bell tower is 41.1 m. It's about one-fourth as big as a Hockey rink In other words, 354.20 square meters is 0.2335135080 times the size of a Hockey rink, and the size of a Hockey rink is 4.282407510 times that amount. (per NHL specification) Per National Hockey League Official Rules, a hockey rink should measure 60.96 m long by 25.908 m wide with a corner arc radius of 8.5344 m, for a total area of about 1,516.82874 sq. m. Ice hockey is believed to have developed from field hockey after players began holding games on ice rinks, which had been traditionally used for the sport of curling. It's about one-fifteenth as big as Bill Gates' Home In other words, 354.20 square meters is 0.07917 times the size of Bill Gates' Home, and the size of Bill Gates' Home is 12.630 times that amount. (Medina, Washington) One of the largest homes in the world, Bill and Melinda Gates' home has a total area of 4,474 sq. m, including 7 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, 6 kitchens, 6 fireplaces, a 230 sq. m gym, a 90 sq. m dining room, and a 190 sq. m library. It was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the same architectural firm responsible for the design of one of Apple Inc's flagship stores on Fifth Avenue in New York City.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1610
__label__wiki	0.964887	0.964887	André Onana: It wasn’t to be 0 Manchester United claimed their second major trophy of the season and secured Champions League football as they overcame Ajax and Cameroonian keeper Andre Onana to win the Europa League final in Stockholm. On an emotional night following the attack which killed 22 people at Ariana Grande’s concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday, United’s fans were allowed a measure of celebration as Jose Mourinho’s side won in comfort. Paul Pogba’s deflected shot put them ahead in the 18th minute and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s sixth Europa League goal of the campaign, flicked in from Chris Smalling’s header at a corner, confirmed they would add to the EFL Cup won against Southampton earlier this season. Wayne Rooney made a brief appearance as a substitute with a minute left and the game won, being handed the captain’s armband by Antonio Valencia on what could well be his farewell appearance for United. And as the final whistle sounded and United’s celebrations began, chants of “Manchester” rang around the Friends Arena in tribute to those who died and were injured in the attack which cast a shadow over this showpiece occasion.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1613
__label__wiki	0.981997	0.981997	Pentagon cautions White House: Syria strike could trigger wider war 0 US Defense Secretary James Mattis has warned that a military strike on Syria carried the risk of spiraling out of control, cautioning the White House as it weighs how to respond to a suspected chemical attack outside Damascus last weekend. Speaking before a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Mattis said his primary concern in planning military action was avoiding anything that would trigger a wider war. “On a strategic level, it’s how do we keep this from escalating out of control,” he said. President Donald Trump initially threatened this week that he was committed to attacking the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which he accused of using chemical weapons in Douma. However, Trump later softened his rhetoric, suggesting he was awaiting further advice and assessment before a final decision was made. “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place,” he tweeted. “Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” Mattis insisted the US policy in Syria still remained the same, which was the total defeat of the Daesh terrorist group without getting directly involved in the conflict. “Our strategy remains the same as a year ago,” he said. “It is to drive this to a U.N.-brokered peace but, at the same time, keep our foot on the neck of ISIS until we suffocate it,” referring to Daesh. The terror organization has been driven from most of the territory it held in Iraq and Syria, but pockets of militants remain. On Thursday, Russia announced that the Syrian army had liberated Douma less than two months into its counter-terrorism operation in Eastern Ghouta. “With every victory achieved on the field, the voices of some Western states are raised and actions are intensified in an attempt by them to change the course of events,” President Assad said after the announcement. “These voices and any possible action will contribute nothing but an increase in instability in the region, threatening international peace and security,” he was quoted by Syrian state TV as saying. The US has been in close consultations with Britain and France about launching a military operation in Syria as early as the end of this week, officials said. French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday France had proof the Assad government launched chlorine gas attacks, and that it would not tolerate “regimes that think everything is permitted.” British Prime Minister Theresa May met with her cabinet, agreeing that it was “highly likely” President Assad was responsible for Saturday’s alleged chemical attack in Douma. May’s cabinet agreed on the need to “take action” against the Syrian government, but added that the prime minister would continue to coordinate with allies. Mattis, however, told lawmakers that the United States still had no hard proof, but he believed the Syrian government was responsible for Saturday’s attack. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in the Netherlands, announced it was deploying a fact-finding team to Douma, which was expected to arrive Saturday. US officials have not said whether the presence of the international investigators could affect the timing of a potential military strike. The plans for military action have especially been complicated because of the presence of roughly 2,000 Russian troops, who have been stationed in the country since 2015. Russia has raised the possibility of a military confrontation with the United States if Syria is attacked. Russia also has sophisticated air defense systems in Syria and has threatened to shoot down American missiles. Source: Presstv	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1614
__label__wiki	0.505251	0.505251	Revised: The Gates of Our Souls The epic Battle of Lepanto took place on this date four hundred forty-three years ago. Pope Saint Pius V, a member of the Order of Preachers whose founder, Saint Dominic de Guzman, was given the Holy Rosary by Our Lady herself in 1208, urged the whole Christian world to pray the Rosary that the heavily outnumbered fleet of ships under the command of Don Juan of Austria would defeat the fleet under the command of the Mohammedan Turks. Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary won the day in the Battle of Lepanto just as it had won the day against the Albigenses, that strange sect, whose members actually killed lots of Catholics and burned their homes and farms, that harkened back to the Manicheans and were forerunners of the heretical Jansenists, three hundred fifty years before. How dastardly it was of Giovanni Montini/Paul VI, ever the appeaser of the forces (Judeo-Masonic, Communist, Protestant, Mohammedan), to return in 1965 one of the Turkish flags, one that had been on display in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, captured in the Battle of Lepanto to the successors of the infidels. Our Lady's Holy Rosary was victorious this day four hundred forty-one years ago. It was prayed throughout Europe, led by the Pope of the Rosary, Pope Saint Pius V. It was prayed on the ships of the Christian fleet both before and during the battle with the Turkish forces. One of the admirals of the Christian fleet, Gian Andrea Doria, the nephew of the famed Andrea Doria, carried a small image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with him during the Battle of Lepanto. Our Lady had conquered the barbaric Aztecs and Mayans in the Americas after she left the miraculous image of herself on the tilma of the Venerable Juan Diego. That image had become so revered in the space of less than forty-five years that the King Philip II of Spain had given it to the Genoese admiral Gian Andrea Dora to be used in the battle against the Mohammedan infidels Our Lady was thus demonstrating how her Divine Son had assigned to her the task of crushing barbarians and infidels just as much as she had been assigned the task of crushing heresies when she gave the Rosary to Saint Dominic de Guzman. It was but less than one hundred twelve years after the Battle of Lepanto that Polish King Jan Sobieski used Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary to defeat the Turks at the Battle of the Gates of Vienna. That same Rosary would be used by Austrians in the 1950s to pray for the withdrawal of the forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that occupied half of their country, marking only the second time that Soviet forces had withdrawn voluntarily from a country before the events of 1989-1991 (the other time was in late-1946 when Soviet forces withdrew from the Azerbaijan region of northern Iran). Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary continues to vanquish the demons that plague the gates of our very souls, which is why we must be assiduous in a fervent and recollected recitation of at least one set of its mysteries each and every day of our lives without fail. Our Lady hates what her Divine Son hates. She hate all evil. Although she, as the Mother of Mercy (Mater Misericordia), has compassion on us erring sinners, she hates sin. She wants us to detest all sin and evil, having experienced in the very depths of her Immaculate Heart and soul the horror of what each one of our sins did to her Divine Son, Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in His Sacred Humanity during His Passion and Death. She was sent to three shepherd children in the Cova da Iria near Fatima, Portugal, nearly ninety years ago as a final effort on the part of her Divine Son to save erring sinners from Hell, explaining to Lucia dos Santos on July 13, 1917, that she desired to have instituted in a most particular way devotion to her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart by the practice of the Five First Saturdays. Our Lord, Who gave us His Most Blessed Mother to be our Mother as He was dying as a result of our sins on the wood of the Holy Cross, has sent His Blessed Mother to us in these our own very days to rescue us from sins and lukewarmness and indifference and all of the errors of Modernity in the world, represented by the anti-Incarnational errors of Russia, and of Modernism (which is why the conciliarists have been demonically feverish in helping to deconstruct the Third Secret of Fatima). We must be earnest in our efforts to use Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary and devotion to her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, and through that Heart, which we pierced by our sins with Seven Swords of Sorrow, to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to make reparation for our own sins and those of the whole world. We must make sacrifices to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary for the conversion of sinners. We must be truly sorry for our own sins and to grow to despise them so much that we lose all attachment even to our least venial sins, which is, after all, one of the conditions for gaining a Plenary Indulgence (and those who are totally consecrated to Jesus through Mary, either according to the formula of Saint Louis de Montfort or Father Maximilian Kolbe, recognize that whatever merits they gain, including Plenary Indulgences, as a result of their prayers and actions are not theirs, that they belong totally to Our Lady to be disposed of as she sees fit to make use of them). We must also understand that even the slightest attachment to heresy and error is displeasing to God and makes our souls less capable of seeing the world clearly through the eyes of the true Faith and of choosing the good in accordance with that same Holy Faith. Our Lady hates heresy and error because her Divine Son is Truth Incarnate. There is no contradiction in truth, whether natural or supernatural. There is no contradiction in the Blessed Trinity. Our Lord became Flesh in Our Lady's Virginal and Immaculate Womb by the power of the Holy Ghost to bear witness to the Truth, something that confounded Pontius Pilate on Good Friday and that has been deconstructed by heretics throughout the ages, including the conciliarists, who are wedded to the condemned Modernist propositions that truth is only perceived in the mind and is thus subject to reinterpretation in light of changing circumstances and the alleged "needs" of "modern" man. Pope Saint Pius X condemned the madness of this attack upon truth, which is indeed an attack upon Truth Incarnate Himself, in Pascendi Dominci Gregis, September 8, 1907: Hence [for the Modernists] it is quite impossible to maintain that they [dogmatic statements] absolutely contain the truth: for, in so far as they are symbols, they are the images of truth, and so must be adapted to the religious sense in its relation to man; and as instruments, they are the vehicles of truth, and must therefore in their turn be adapted to man in his relation to the religious sense. But the object of the religious sense, as something contained in the absolute, possesses an infinite variety of aspects, of which now one, now another, may present itself. In like manner he who believes can avail himself of varying conditions. Consequently, the formulas which we call dogma must be subject to these vicissitudes, and are, therefore, liable to change. Thus the way is open to the intrinsic evolution of dogma. Here we have an immense structure of sophisms which ruin and wreck all religion. Dogma is not only able, but ought to evolve and to be changed. This is strongly affirmed by the Modernists, and clearly flows from their principles. For among the chief points of their teaching is the following, which they deduce from the principle of vital immanence, namely, that religious formulas if they are to be really religious and not merely intellectual speculations, ought to be living and to live the life of the religious sense. This is not to be understood to mean that these formulas, especially if merely imaginative, were to be invented for the religious sense. Their origin matters nothing, any more than their number or quality. What is necessary is that the religious sense -- with some modification when needful -- should vitally assimilate them. In other words, it is necessary that the primitive formula be accepted and sanctioned by the heart; and similarly the subsequent work from which are brought forth the .secondary formulas must proceed under the guidance of the heart. Hence it comes that these formulas, in order to be living, should be, and should remain, adapted to the faith and to him who believes. Wherefore, if for any reason this adaptation should cease to exist, they lose their first meaning and accordingly need to be changed. In view of the fact that the character and lot of dogmatic formulas are so unstable, it is no wonder that Modernists should regard them so lightly and in such open disrespect, and have no consideration or praise for anything but the religious sense and for the religious life. In this way, with consummate audacity, they criticize the Church, as having strayed from the true path by failing to distinguish between the religious and moral sense of formulas and their surface meaning, and by clinging vainly and tenaciously to meaningless formulas, while religion itself is allowed to go to ruin. "Blind'- they are, and "leaders of the blind" puffed up with the proud name of science, they have reached that pitch of folly at which they pervert the eternal concept of truth and the true meaning of religion; in introducing a new system in which "they are seen to be under the sway of a blind and unchecked passion for novelty, thinking not at all of finding some solid foundation of truth, but despising the holy and apostolic traditions, they embrace other and vain, futile, uncertain doctrines, unapproved by the Church, on which, in the height of their vanity, they think they can base and maintain truth itself." (Pope Saint Pius X, Pascendi Dominci Gregis, September 8, 1907.) Once again, compare this condemnation of the proposition of the ability of truth to contradict itself with its very assertion by the now-retired Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI in his address to the curia of the conciliar Vatican on December 22, 2005: It is clear that this commitment to expressing a specific truth in a new way demands new thinking on this truth and a new and vital relationship with it; it is also clear that new words can only develop if they come from an informed understanding of the truth expressed, and on the other hand, that a reflection on faith also requires that this faith be lived. In this regard, the programme that Pope John XXIII proposed was extremely demanding, indeed, just as the synthesis of fidelity and dynamic is demanding. . . . It is precisely in this combination of continuity and discontinuity at different levels that the very nature of true reform consists. In this process of innovation in continuity we must learn to understand more practically than before that the Church's decisions on contingent matters - for example, certain practical forms of liberalism or a free interpretation of the Bible - should necessarily be contingent themselves, precisely because they refer to a specific reality that is changeable in itself. It was necessary to learn to recognize that in these decisions it is only the principles that express the permanent aspect, since they remain as an undercurrent, motivating decisions from within: On the other hand, not so permanent are the practical forms that depend on the historical situation and are therefore subject to change. (Christmas greetings to the Members of the Roman Curia and Prelature, December 22, 2005.) Jorge Mario Bergoglio/Francis, of course, has his own "hermeneutic," so to speak, that simply dispenses with anything he does not like about the "no church" of the "past," which is pretty much just about everything, some that he has made clear in his daily unscripted screeds at the Casa Santa Marta. Anyone who thinks that such condemned absurdities as spoken throughout Joseph Ratzinger's priesthood, including the nearly eight years of his reign over the counterfeit church of conciliarism, are looked upon favorably by the Mother of God is fooling himself. Our Lady hates all heresy. The belief that truth is contingent upon perception and the circumstances of the moment, a belief that is the cornerstone of Modernism and hence of conciliarism's view of doctrine and the liturgy, is heretical, condemned by pope after pope of the Catholic Church and anathematized in no uncertain terms by the [First] Vatican Council, 1869-1870 (see the appendix below for yet another recitation of the decree issued by the Vatican Council on April 24, 1870). We must, therefore, beseech Our Lady through her Most Holy Rosary to protect us from the ways in which the adversary seeks to attack the gates of our very souls by tempting us into believing that the errors of Modernity in the world or of Modernism in the counterfeit church of conciliarism will just "go away" all on their own. We must protect ourselves from these pernicious errors by relying upon the graces that have been won for us by the shedding of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's Most Precious Blood on the wood of the Holy Cross and that flow into our hearts and souls through the loving hands of Our Lady, the Mediatrix of All Graces and by using the Most Holy Rosary as the most powerful weapon after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass itself to defeat the propagators of these pernicious errors. Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary is as powerful now as it was when she gave it to Saint Dominic to fight the Albigenses. We must use against those, including Jorge Mario Bergoglio/Francis, who dare to defy anathematized propositions as they promote condemned novelties and beliefs that offend God and harm the souls for whom He gave up His very life on the wood of the Holy Cross. In using Our Lady's Rosary to defeat the errors of Modernity and Modernism that seek to knock down and invade with violence the very gates of our souls we must keep in mind the virtues of the saints who have employed it through the better part of the past eight centuries. The great client of Our Lady and her Most Holy Rosary, Saint Louis de Montfort, provided us with a summary of these virtues in his writings: Among the virtues of the saints, we must imitate: the splendor of their humility, the charm of their tenderness, the excellence of their obedience, their strength of patience, the beauty of their virginity, the necessity of their penance, the tenderness of their brotherly charity, their joy of pardon, their blessed solitude, the frequency of their prayer, their power of fasting, the generosity of their alms, their love for the Cross, the treasures of their poverty, the flame of their zeal, the wisdom of their silence, their experience of the presence of God, the pleasant appeal of their modesty, their thankfulness (H 26:8), their abandonment to Providence, and even their innocent games. (Jesus Living in Mary: Handbook of the Spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort, Litchfield, Connecticut, Montfort Publications, 1994). As the Queen of All Saints, Our Lady exhibited these virtues to their consummate perfection. We need her maternal intercession from Heaven to help us to do so in order that our efforts to oppose the errors of our day and our method of dealing with others on a one-on-one basis will not be founded on our own disordered pride but in a true love of the majesty and the rights of God Himself and in a desire to help souls quit offending Him and His Most Blessed Mother, begging pardon of her Divine Son and of her for the times when our efforts have been disordered and caused more scandal than have been a true help to plant seeds for the eternal good of souls and for the honor and glory of God Himself. One of the ways we can be most effective, both spiritually and temporally, in combating by means of the Most Holy Rosary the demons that knock on the very gates of our souls from so many different directions is to join forces with others who are relying upon what the late Padre Pio called our most powerful weapon. To this end, you see, it is important to take seriously our enrollment in (or to enroll for the first time in) the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, which was established by Saint Dominic himself. Pope Leo XIII himself reaffirmed the papal approbation that had been given to this Confraternity by previous pontiffs. Pope Leo's words, contained in Augustissimae Virginis Mariae, September 12, 1897, should encourage each of us to join the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary and to exhort others to do so as well: We do not hesitate to assign a pre-eminent place among these societies to that known as the Society of the Holy Rosary. If we regard its origin, we find it distinguished by its antiquity, for St. Dominic himself is said to have been its founder. If we estimate its privileges, we see it enriched with a vast number of them granted by the munificence of our predecessors. The form of the association, its very soul, is the Rosary of Our Lady, of the excellence of which We have elsewhere spoken at length. Still the virtue and efficacy of the Rosary appear all the greater when considered as the special office of the Sodality which bears its name. Everyone knows how necessary prayer is for all men; not that God's decrees can be changed, but, as St. Gregory says, "that men by asking may merit to receive what Almighty God hath decreed from eternity to grant them" (Dialog., lib. i., c. 8). And St. Augustine says, "He who knoweth how to pray aright, knoweth how to live aright" (In Ps. cxviii). But prayers acquire their greatest efficacy in obtaining God's assistance when offered publicly, by large numbers, constantly, and unanimously, so as to form as it were a single chorus of supplication; as those words of the Acts of the Apostles clearly declare wherein the disciples of Christ, awaiting the coming of the Holy Ghost, are said to have been "persevering with one mind in prayer" (Acts i., 14). Those who practice this manner of prayer will never fail to obtain certain fruit. Such is certainly the case with members of the Rosary Sodality. Just as by the recitation of the Divine Office, priests offer a public, constant, and most efficacious supplication; so the supplication offered by the members of this Sodality in the recitation of the Rosary, or "Psalter of Our Lady," as it has been styled by some of the Popes, is also in a way public, constant, and universal. Since, as We have said, public prayers are much more excellent and more efficacious than private ones, so ecclesiastical writers have given to the Rosary Sodality the title of "the army of prayer, enrolled by St. Dominic, under the banner of the Mother of God," - of her, whom sacred literature and the history of the Church salute as the conqueror of the Evil One and of all errors. The Rosary unites together all who join the Sodality in a common bond of paternal or military comradeship; so that a mighty host is thereby formed, duly marshalled and arrayed, to repel the assaults of the enemy, both from within and without. Wherefore may the members of this pious society take to themselves the words of St. Cyprian: "Our prayer is public and in common; and when we pray, we pray not for one, but for the whole people, for we, the entire people, are one" (De Orat. Domin.). The history of the Church bears testimony to the power and efficacy of this form of prayer, recording as it does the rout of the Turkish forces at the naval battle of Lepanto, and the victories gained over the same in the last century at Temesvar in Hungary and in the island of Corfu. Our predecessor, Gregory XIII., in order to perpetuate the memory of the first-named victory, established the feast of Our Lady of Victories, which later on Clement XI. distinguished by the title of Rosary Sunday and commanded to be celebrated throughout the universal Church. From the fact that this warfare of prayer is "enrolled under the name of the Mother of God," fresh efficacy and fresh honour are thereby added to it. Hence the frequent repetition in the Rosary of the "Hail Mary" after each "Our Father." So far from this derogating in any way from the honour due to God, as though it indicated that we placed greater confidence in Mary's patronage than in God's power, it is rather this which especially moves God, and wins His mercy for us. We are taught by the Catholic faith that we may pray not only to God himself, but also to the Blessed in heaven (Conc. Trid. Sess. xxv.), though in different manner; because we ask from God as from the Source of all good, but from the Saints as from intercessors. "Prayer," says St. Thomas, "is offered to a person in two ways - one as though to be granted by himself; another, as to be obtained through him. In the first way we pray to God alone, because all our prayers ought to be directed to obtaining grace and glory, which God alone gives, according to those words of Psalm Ixxxiii., 12, "The Lord will give grace and glory." But in the second way we pray to holy angels and men, not that God may learn our petition through them, but that by their prayers and merits our prayers may be efficacious. Wherefore, it is said in the Apocalypse (viii., 4): "The smoke of the incense of the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel" (Summa Theol. 2a 2ae, q. Ixxxiii. a. iv.). Now, of all the blessed in heaven, who can compare with the august Mother of God in obtaining grace? Who seeth more clearly in the Eternal Word what troubles oppress us, what are our needs? Who is allowed more power in moving God? Who can compare with her in maternal affection? We do not pray to the Blessed in the same way as to God; for we ask the Holy Trinity to have mercy on us, but we ask all the Saints to pray for us (Ibid.). Yet our manner of praying to the Blessed Virgin has something in common with our worship of God, so that the Church even addresses to her the words with which we pray to God: "Have mercy on sinners." The members of the Rosary Sodality, therefore, do exceedingly well in weaving together, as in a crown, so many salutations and prayers to Mary. For, so great is her dignity, so great her favour before God, that whosoever in his need will not have recourse to her is trying to fly without wings. We must not omit to mention another excellence of this Sodality. As often as, in reciting the Rosary, we meditate upon the mysteries of our Redemption, so often do we in a manner emulate the sacred duties once committed to the Angelic hosts. The Angels revealed each of these mysteries in its due time; they played a great part in them; they were constantly present at them, with countenances indicative now of joy, now of sorrow, now of triumphant exultation. Gabriel was sent to announce the Incarnation of the Eternal Word to the Virgin. In the cave of Bethlehem, Angels sang the glory of the new-born Saviour. The Angel gave Joseph command to fly with the Child into Egypt. An Angel consoled, with his loving words, Jesus in His bloody sweat in the garden. Angels announced His resurrection, after He had triumphed over death, to the women. Angels carried Him up into Heaven; and foretold His second coming, surrounded by Angelic hosts, unto whom He will associate the souls of the elect, and carry them aloft with Him to the heavenly choirs, "above whom the Holy Mother of God is exalted." To those, therefore, who make use of the pious prayers of the Rosary in this Sodality, may be well applied the words with which St. Paul addressed the new Christians: "You are come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of Angels" (Heb. xii., 22). What more divine, what more delightful, than to meditate and pray with the Angels? With what confidence may we not hope that those who on earth have united with the Angels in this ministry will one day enjoy their blessed company in Heaven? For these reasons the Roman Pontiffs have ever given the highest praise to this Sodality of Our Lady. Innocent VIII. calls it "a most devout confraternity" (Splendor Paternae Gloriae, Feb. 26, 1491.) Pius V declares that by its virtue "Christians began suddenly to be transformed into other men, the darkness of heresy to be dispelled, and the light of Catholic faith to shine forth" (Consueverunt Romani Pontifices, September 17, 1569). Sixtus V, noting how fruitful for religion this Sodality was, professed himself most devoted to it. Many others, too, enriched it with numerous and very special indulgences, or took it under their particular patronage, enrolling themselves in it and giving it many testimonies of their goodwill. We also, Venerable Brethren, moved by the example of Our predecessors, earnestly exhort and conjure you, as We have so often done, to devote special care to this sacred warfare, so that by your efforts fresh forces may be daily enrolled on every side. Through you and those of your clergy who have care of souls, let the people know and duly appreciate the efficacy of this Sodality and its usefulness for man's salvation. This We beg all the more earnestly as of late that beautiful devotion to our Blessed Mother, called "the living Rosary," has once more become popular. We have gladly blessed this devotion, and We earnestly desire that you would sedulously and strenuously encourage its growth. We cherish the strongest hope that these prayers and praises, rising incessantly from the lips and hearts of so great a multitude, will be most efficacious. Alternately rising by night and by day, throughout the different countries of the earth, they combine a harmony of vocal prayer with meditation upon the divine mysteries. In ages long past this perennial stream of praise and prayer was foretold in those inspired words with which Ozias in his song addressed Judith: "Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord, the Most High God, above all women upon the earth . . . because He hath so magnified thy name this day that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of man." And all the people of Israel acclaimed him in these words: "So be it, so be it!" Judith xiii., 23, 24, 26). (Pope Leo XIII, Augustissimae Virginis Mariae, September 12, 1897.) Please ask your true bishop or your true priest in your own chapel in the Catholic catacombs to enroll you and your family members in the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Enrollees are obliged to pray the fifteen mysteries, each of which contains such great food for prayerful reflection on how our Redemption was wrought for us by Our Lord and His Most Blessed Mother, of the Holy Rosary every week. As we should strive, where at all possible, to say all fifteen decades every day, fifteen in a week is not a burdensome obligation. Members must also have their names enrolled in Confraternity of the Holy Rosary register. The benefits are Heavenly. They are eternal, including sharing in the prayers of all of the members, both living and deceased, of the Confraternity. This is one very concrete way by which we can quite literally join forces with our fellow Catholics in combating by means of Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary all of the demons--personal, social, ecclesiastical--that seek entry at the gates of our very souls. The Rosary is hated by the adversary with the same degree of passion with which he hates the Immemorial Mass of Tradition in all of its unvarnished splendor and beauty. The devil knows how the Rosary has defeated him and his wiles in the past. This is what he, the ultimate trickster of darkness who hates our souls because they are made in the image and likeness of the One He hates, the Blessed Trinity, will use every trick he has in his dirty book to trap us into thinking that we are too tired or too busy or, God forbid, too "sophisticated" to pray the Rosary well or to promote it publicly as the signal means by which a just social order according to the Mind of Christ the King as He has discharged It exclusively in His Catholic Church can be established, maintained and renewed with constant spiritual vigor. The devil will seek to discourage us from carrying extra Rosaries (and Rosary instruction pamphlets) on our person to hand out to the lost souls who are the victims of Modernity's and Modernism's assaults against the Deposit of Faith. The adversary will attempt to convince us that it is "just too much" for us to carry Green Scapulars and blessed Miraculous Medals to hand out to those whom God's Holy Providence puts in our lives on a daily basis. We must call upon Saint Michael the Archangel and to recite the August Queen of Heaven Prayer to resist these demonic efforts to dissuade us in our own devotion to Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary and its public promotion. Make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen: the public promotion of the Rosary, which consists, as the Psalter of Our Lady, fifteen decades of ten Hail Marys each, is feared by the adversary, who prowls about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Pope Leo XIII, writing to Italian Catholics in the midst of the ongoing assaults by the Judeo-Masonic regime that had overthrown the Papal States on September 20, 1870, exhorted his fellow Catholics to embrace penance and mortification and fasting a desire to eschew all human respect in order to defend the Holy Faith, words that are as applicable in our day as in his 110 years ago now: We ardently exhort you, venerable brethren, devote all your care and zeal to kindle among those committed to your charge a strong, living and active faith, and to call on all to return by penance to grace and to the faithful fulfillment of; all their duties. Among such duties, considering the state of the times, must be reckoned as paramount an open and sincere profession of the fait and teaching of Jesus Christ, casting aside all human respect, and considering before all things the interest of religion and the salvation of souls. It cannot be concealed that, although thanks to the mercy of God religious feeling is strong and widely spread among Italians, nevertheless by the evil influence of men and the times religious indifference is on the increase, and hence there is lessening of that respect and filial love for the Church which was the glory of our ancestors and in which they placed their highest ambition. Let it be your work, venerable brethren, to revive this Christian feeling among your people, an interest in the Catholic cause, a confidence in Our Lady' help, and a spirit of prayer. It is certain that the august Queen, invoked thus well by her man sons, would deign to hear their prayer, console Us in Our sorrow, and crown Our efforts for the Church and for Italy, by granting better times to both. With these desires, We bestow on you venerable brethren, and the clergy and people committed to your care, the Apostolic Benediction as a promise of graces and favors of the highest kind from heaven. (Vi E Ben Noto, September 20, 1887, the seventeenth anniversary of the overthrow of the Papal States.) The work of changing the world and of combating the errors of the day, both of Modernity and Modernism, depends upon our desire to give up sin forever. Our Lord cannot reign as King of nations if he does not reign first as King in the hearts and souls of men, starting with our own. Saint Louis de Montfort's reminder of this truth should encourage us to get to Confession weekly and to recognize that the state of our own immortal souls will influence the degree to which our efforts to restore all things in Christ the King through Mary our Immaculate Queen will bear fruit: It is not so much the length of a prayer, but the fervor with which it is said which pleases Almighty God and touches His Heart. One single Hail Mary that is said properly is worth more than one hundred fifty that are badly said. Most Catholics say the Rosary, the whole fifteen mysteries or five of them anyway, or least a few decades. So why is it then that so few of them give up their sins and go forward in the spiritual life? Surely it must be because they are not saying them as they should. It is a good thing to think over how we should pray if we really want to please God and become more holy. To say the Holy Rosary to advantage one must be in a state of grace or at the very least be fully determined to give up mortal sin. This we know because all our theology teaches us that good works and prayers are only dead works if they are done in a state of mortal sin. Therefore they can neither be pleasing to God nor help us gain eternal life. This is why Ecclesiastes says: "Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner." Praise of God and the salutation of an angel and the very Prayer of Jesus Christ are not pleasing to God when they are said by unrepentant sinners. Our Lord said: "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." It is as though He was saying: "Those who join My Confraternity and say their Rosary every day (even perhaps the fifteen decades), but without being sorry for their sins offer Me lip service only and their hearts are far from me." I have just said that to say the Rosary to advantage one must be in a state of grace "or at least be fully determined to give up mortal sin;" first of all, because if it were true that God only heard the prayers of those in a state of grace it would follow that people in a state of mortal sin should not pray at all. This is an erroneous teaching which has been condemned by Holy Mother Church, because of course sinners need to pray far more than good people do. Were this horrible doctrine true, it would then be useless and futile to tell a sinner to say all, or even part of his Rosary, because it would never help him. Secondly, because if they join one of Our Lady's confraternities and recite the Rosary or some other prayer, but without having the slightest intention of giving up sin, they join the ranks of her false devotees. These presumptuous and impenitent devotees, hiding under her mantle, wearing the scapular and with rosary in hand, cry out: "Blessed Virgin, good Mother--Hail, Mary! . . ." And yet at the same time, by their sins, they are crucifying Our Lord Jesus Christ and tearing His flesh anew. It is a a great tragedy, but from the very ranks of Our Lady's most holy Confraternities souls are falling into the fires of hell. We earnestly beg everyone to say the Holy Rosary: the just that they may persevere and grow in God's grace; the sinners that they may rise from their sins. But God forbid that we should ever encourage a sinner to think that Our Lady will protect him with Her mantle if he continues to love sin, for then it will only turn into a mantle of damnation which will hide his sins from the public eye. The Rosary, which is a cure for all our ills, would then be turned into deadly poison. "A corruption of what is best is worst." The learned Cardinal Hughes says: "One should really be as pure as an angel to approach the Blessed Virgin and to say the Angelic Salutation." One day Our Lady appeared to an immoral man who used to always say his Rosary every day. She showed him a bowl of beautiful fruit, but the bowl itself was covered with filth. The man was horrified to see this, and Our Lady said: "This is the way you are honoring me! You are giving me beautiful roses in a filthy bowl. Do you think that I can accept presents of this kind?" (Saint Louis de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary, pp. 87-88.) Powerful words, are they not? We should take them most seriously. The members of Judeo-Masonic lodges and other of their naturalist allies and the conciliarists, who certainly bear much responsibility for the evils of our days, are perhaps less to blame for the state of the world and the confusion that exists amongst most Catholics today than perhaps we are. This is something we should ponder during this month of Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary as we seek to use this weapon well for our own advantage and for that of our fellow sinners and for the restoration of the Social Reign of Christ the King and Mary our Immaculate Queen. And for all those "conservatives" and traditionally-minded Catholics still attached to the structures of the counterfeit church of concilairism in the false belief that they are being "loyal" to the Catholic Church as part of the "resistance, we must remember that it is no accident at all that Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI almost never spoke of the Rosary, refusing to do during his pilgrimage to the United States of America in 2008 or his pilgrimages to Jordan and Israel and the Czech Republic in 2009 year or in his own native Germany in 2011. That he did not do so on a regular basis, especially when addressing the young, was a crime against Our Lady and against the souls redeemed by the shedding of every single drop of the Most Precious Blood of her Divine Son, Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To refuse to exhort Catholics on a regular basis to pray the Rosary is to contribute to the worsening of the state of souls and thus of the world. And no one can claim that Jorge Mario Bergoglio has a "Marian devotion of the most traditional sort" as the current universal public face of apostasy dares to blaspheme her Divine Son by proclaiming his adherence to one false doctrine after another and by profaning her own altar at the Basilica di Santa Maggiore in Rome, Italy, by placing a beach ball and a jersey from World Youth Day in Rio di Janiero, Brazil, on Monday, July 29, 2013, the Feast of Saint Martha, and blaspheming her regularly by means of the sewer of apostasy that never ceases to flow out of this figure of Antichrist's foul mouth (see No Special Privileges?) Saint Louis de Montfort's The Secret of the Rosary reminds us to avoid all worldliness and worldly souls, which includes all immersion in the seemingly never-ending permutations of naturalism, and to never give up on the praying of Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary: Predestinate souls, you who are of God, cut yourselves adrift from those who are damning themselves by their impious lives, laziness and lack of devotion--and, without delay, recite often your Rosary, with faith, with humility, with confidence and with perseverance. . . . Dear Rosary Confraternity members, if you want to lead a fashionable life and belong to the world--by this I mean if you do not mind falling into mortal sin from time to time and then going to Confession, and if you with to avoid conspicuous sins which the world considers vile and yet at the same time commit "respectable sins"--then, of course, there is no need for you to say many prayers and Rosaries. You only need to do very little be "respectable": a tiny prayer at night and morning, an occasional Rosary which may be given to you for your penance, a few decades of Hail Marys said on your Rosary (but haphazardly and without concentration) when it suits your fancy to say them--this is quite enough. If you did less, you might be branded as a freethinker or a profligate; if you did more, you would be eccentric and a fanatic. But if you want to lead a true Christian life and genuinely want to save your soul and walk in the saints' footsteps and never, never, fall into mortal sin--if you wish to break Satan's traps and divert his flaming darts, you must always pray as Our Lord taught and commanded you to do. If you really have this wish at heart, then you must at least say your Rosary or the equivalent, every day. I have said "at least" because probably all that you will accomplish through your Rosary will be to avoid mortal sin and to overcome temptation. This is because you are so exposed to the strong current of the world's wickedness by which many a strong soul is swept away; you are in the midst of the thick, clinging darkness which often blinds even the most enlightened souls; you are surrounded by evil spirits who being more experienced than ever and knowing that their time is short are more cunning and more effective in tempting you. It will indeed be a marvel of grace wrought by the Most Holy Rosary if you manage to keep out of the clutches of the world, the devil and the flesh and avoid mortal sin and gain heaven! If you do not want to believe me, at least learn from your own experience. I should like to ask you, if when you were in the habit of saying no more prayers than people usually say in the world and saying them they way they usually say them, you were able to avid serious faults and sins that were grievous but which seemed nothing much to you in your blindness. Now at last you must wake up, and if you want to live and die without sin, at least mortal sin, pray unceasingly; say your Rosary every day as members always used to do in the early days of the Confraternity. . . . Even if you suffer from dryness of soul, boredom and interior discouragement, never give up even the least little bit of your Rosary--for this would be a sure sign of pride and faithlessness. On the contrary, like a real champion of Jesus and Mary, you should say your Our Fathers and Hail Marys quite drily if you have to, without seeing, hearing or feeling any consolation whatsoever, and concentrating as best you can on the mysteries. You ought not to look for candy or jam to eat with your daily bread, as children do--but you should even say your Rosary more slowly sometimes when you particularly find it hard to say. Do this to imitate Our Lord more perfectly in His agony in the garden: "Being in agony, he prayed the longer," so that what was said of Our Lord (when He was in His agony of prayer) may be said of you too: He prayed even longer. Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray. The Eternal Father yearns for nothing so much as to share the life-giving waters of His grace and mercy with us. He is entreating us: "All you that thirst, come to the waters . . ." This means "Come and drink of My spring through prayer," and when we do not pray to Him He sorrowfully says that we are forsaking Him: "They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water." (Saint Louis de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary; pp. 99-101; 103) Let us not forsake Our Lord. Let us go to Him through the very instrument His Most Blessed Mother gave to Saint Dominic, the Holy Rosary. Let us take seriously the words that Our Lady told Jacinta and Francisco Marto and Lucia dos Santos in the Cova da Iria to pray many Rosaries and to do penance for the conversion of poor sinners and to save them from Hell. We are poor sinners in need of conversion! We need to be saved from the fires of Hell. We must use the spiritual weapon that Our Lord has given us through His Most Blessed Mother to defeat the enemies of our salvation at the very gates of our soul this day and every day our lives as we lift high the standard of His Most Holy Cross, which is adorned to every Rosary of His Most Blessed Mother, as we seek to spread devotion to this paramount weapon against all sin and heresy. Isn't it time to pray a Rosary now? Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us now and the hour of our deaths. Amen. All to thee, Blessed Mother. All to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we love you. Save souls! Viva Cristo Rey! Vivat Christus Rex! Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Saint Therese Lisieux, pray for us. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us. Pope Saint Mark I, pray for us. Saints Sergius, Bacchus, Marcellus, and Apuleius, pray for us. Saint Dominic de Guzman, pray for us. Blessed Alan de la Roche, pray for us. Saint Louis de Montfort, pray for us. Vatican Council, Session III, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chapter 4, On Faith and Reason, April 24, 1870 For the doctrine of the faith which God has revealed is put forward not as some philosophical discovery capable of being perfected by human intelligence, but as a divine deposit committed to the spouse of Christ to be faithfully protected and infallibly promulgated. Hence, too, that meaning of the sacred dogmas is ever to be maintained which has once been declared by holy mother church, and there must never be any abandonment of this sense under the pretext or in the name of a more profound understanding. God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever be in opposition to truth. The appearance of this kind of specious contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either: the dogmas of faith are not understood and explained in accordance with the mind of the church, or unsound views are mistaken for the conclusions of reason. Therefore we define that every assertion contrary to the truth of enlightened faith is totally false. . . . 3. If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the church which is different from that which the church has understood and understands: let him be anathema. And so in the performance of our supreme pastoral office, we beseech for the love of Jesus Christ and we command, by the authority of him who is also our God and saviour, all faithful Christians, especially those in authority or who have the duty of teaching, that they contribute their zeal and labour to the warding off and elimination of these errors from the church and to the spreading of the light of the pure faith. But since it is not enough to avoid the contamination of heresy unless those errors are carefully shunned which approach it in greater or less degree, we warn all of their duty to observe the constitutions and decrees in which such wrong opinions, though not expressly mentioned in this document, have been banned and forbidden by this holy see. (Pope Pius IX, Vatican Council, Session III, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chapter 4, On Faith and Reason, April 24, 1870. SESSION 3 : 24 April 1870.)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1621
__label__wiki	0.613601	0.613601	Misleading UN report confuses Paris climate talks outcome of 3.5C by 2100 by Joe Romm, Climate Progress Memo to media: If countries go no further than their current global climate pledges, the earth will warm a total of 3.5°C by 2100. A very misleading news release from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — coupled with an opaque UNFCCC report on those pledges, which are called intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) — has, understandably, left the global media thinking the climate talks in Paris get us much closer to 2°C than they actually do. Indeed, the news release contains this too-cleverly worded paragraph quoting UNFCCC Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary: The INDCs have the capability of limiting the forecast temperature rise to around 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, by no means enough but a lot lower than the estimated four, five, or more degrees of warming projected by many prior to the INDCs,” said Ms. Figueres. I’m a fan of Figueres and all that she has accomplished in the lead-up to Paris. Indeed, as I’ve written, “the INDCs have bought us another five to 10 years of staying close to the 2°C path,” which is the defense line against very dangerous-to-catastrophic global warming. But, to repeat, assuming countries meet their current global climate pledges — but go no further — the earth will warm a total of 3.5°C by 2100 (but see note at the end). Climate Interactive has added up the latest commitments and here is where they lead: Significantly, while China has agreed to peak CO2 emissions by 2030, “total GHG emissions are likely to continue increasing until 2030, as China has not yet implemented sufficient policies addressing non-CO2 GHG emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, HFCs etc.),” as the analytical team at Climate Action Tracker explains. Also, India has specifically not committed to peak its CO2 emissions yet (nor have some other developing countries that are not yet at India’s stage of economic growth). I have no doubt that countries will make stronger pledges in the future — indeed, China just announced with France that it wants every country to have five-year check-ins to assess progress on the climate commitments. But those pledges have not been made yet, we do not know what they might be, and we certainly should not count them in any analysis of what Paris will achieve. So why does Figueres say the Paris pledges will limit warming to 2.7°C by 2100? In fact, she doesn’t say that. She says they “have the capability of limiting the forecast temperature rise to around 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100.” What does that mean? It means that the overwhelming majority of the pledges end by 2030 — but most of them imply a rate of reduction in CO2 emissions between now and 2030. So, if you assume countries will commit in the future to keep reducing emissions after 2030 at the rate they did before 2030 — and make a bunch of other optimistic assumptions — you can limit warming to 2.7°C in 2100. Here’s a quick analogy. You weigh 400 pounds with many weight-related health problems, and a team of doctors say you need to cut your weight sharply. You agree to go on a supervised weight loss regime for two years that will take you down to 300. Should you start telling all of your friends that you’ll weigh 200 pounds in 4 years? Of course not. You’ve got a long way to go. Heck, you’re not even at 300 yet. Actually, it is worse than that because the 2.7°C scenario requires a whole other level of effort. Here’s one possible 2.7°C pathway: As you can see, India would have to plateau around 2030 (as would other developing countries). India has has not made such a commitment yet. One of the country’s leading politicians says it can do it. Indeed, I believe the combination of ever worsening climate impacts and rapidly dropping costs for clean energy make it all but inevitable that India will ultimately do so — and that the vast majority of other countries will also make stronger pledges in the years to come. But India has not made a pledge to peak yet, nor have other major developing countries, nor has China agreed to start slashing emissions in 2030, nor has our country agreed to steady reductions in CO2 emissions post-2025. Here’s another analogy. You weigh 400 pounds with weight-related health problems, and a team of doctors say you have to lose weight sharply. But you are still gaining 10 pounds a month. You agree to go on a supervised diet and exercise regime that will stop your weight from rising beyond 450 pounds in twelve months. Should you tell everyone that you’ll weigh 300 pounds in 3 years? And the UNFCCC understands all this, which is why, immediately after Figueres’ quote in the news release, the very next paragraph is: The secretariat report does not directly assess implications for temperature change by the end of the century under the INDCs because information on emissions beyond 2030 is required. However, other independent analyses have, based on a range of assumptions, methodologies and data sources, attempted to estimate the impact of the INDCs on temperature leading to a range of average estimates below, at or above 3 degrees C. That means the UK Guardian had the story wrong when they wrote: “Pledges by most of the world’s countries on climate change are likely to lead to less than 3C of global warming over the century, analysis of the data by the United Nations suggests.” The UNFCCC never made any such analysis or claim. And the only way to make such a claim is to go far beyond the current pledges. But, again, the mistake is understandable since the news release was very misleading on this point. The best we can say right now is that, if we consider the Paris climate pledges and nothing further, the earth will warm a total of 3.5°C by 2100. Of course, we can continue to say that keeping total warming to 2°C is super cheap because we know that is also true. Note to nerdtastic readers: Yes, the 3.5°C calculation does assume that no unmodeled carbon cycle feedbacks kick in — such as the permafrost melting. I’ll cover issue that in a later post. How 2015's record-breaking El Niño emerged on a wa... Misleading UN report confuses Paris climate talks ...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1622
__label__wiki	0.623515	0.623515	Originalists in Space Last week, Vice President Pence announced the creation of a "Space Command," a first step towards what President Trump hopes to obtain from Congress: a "Space Force" as a full-fledged new branch of the military to take its place alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Despite the appeal of a Space Force to pre-adolescent boys whose mommies and/or daddies tuck them into Star Wars-themed blankets (and to a president whose emotional age matches the youngest of these boys), a Space Force is a terrible idea. Our armed forces already suffer due to inter-branch rivalry. Although inter-branch competition can lead to some benefits (in much the way that a monopolistic company can benefit from the added incentives that come from competing one division against another), such competition within the military is a net loser: extra cost due to redundancy and coordination difficulties are the main problems. Creation of yet another branch would only exacerbate these problems. Further, although the mere existence of a Space Force would not violate the Outer Space Treaty, which the US signed and ratified over a half century ago, some tasks that the Space Force might undertake in the future could violate the treaty. Even before we reach that point, however, the Space Force creation signals a US commitment to militarize space and thus could spur a dangerous arms race. But maybe I'm wrong about all of that. Or maybe the idea of a Space Force is just so cool that its costs are worth bearing for the boon in recruiting. Let's put the policy questions aside for now. Instead, I want to ask a different question: Would a Space Force be constitutional? Here's the relevant text of the Constitution from Article I, Section 8: "The Congress shall have the power . . . To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; To provide and maintain a navy; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces . . . ." A literal reading of that language would mean that Congress lacks the power to create a Space Force or, for that matter, an Air Force. Back in 2007, Ilya Somin responded (here) to an argument against originalism that poses the question "what about the Air Force?" Somin (and others in the comments on his post) offered a number of ways in which an originalist might justify the existence of an Air Force. Some readers responded that Somin's response took aim at a straw man. No serious nonoriginalist relied on the "Air Force problem" as a critique of originalism, these readers said. Somin responded by citing some serious scholars who in fact had leveled that critique. He also linked a couple of posts by Michael Rappaport. (Interested readers can find the illuminating exchange at the link above.) Before going further, I want to be clear that I don't think the Air (or Space) Force problem fatally undercuts originalism. But I do want to note that the example is not quite as easy to dismiss as one might think just based on the fact that a no-Air-Force reading of the Constitution would have potentially disastrous consequences. The problem for originalists is not that they can't justify the Air (or Space) Force; the problem is that the analytical moves needed to do so render originalism indistinguishable from living Constitutionalism and other nonoriginalist approaches. What about the Air Force? thus poses for originalists the same problem that is posed by questions like What about Brown v. Board? and What about sex discrimination? Now, onto the Air and Space particulars. Somin and others offered two pretty good arguments for reconciling the existence of an Air Force or Space Force with the original meaning of the language of Art. I, Sec. 8. One is that an Air Force may be necessary and proper to Congress carrying out its enumerated powers, including its raising and supporting of armies, which, under conditions of modern warfare, need air support. That works well enough for an Air Force. It might also work for various aspects of the mission of a Space Force. Troops on the ground frequently use satellite images for targeting and satellites for communications, so securing those satellites against attack seems necessary and proper to carrying out military operations (as well as various satellite-dependent civilian functions of the federal government that are legitimate exercises of other powers of Congress). Still, there's a potential problem with using the N&P Clause this way that's rooted in CJ Roberts's opinion in NFIB v. Sebelius. He argues there, based on language in McCulloch v. Maryland, that certain "great substantive and independent powers" can only be granted in terms, not by implication from the N&P Clause. Neither John Marshall in McCulloch nor John Roberts in NFIB provides much guidance as to how exactly one is supposed to go about determining which powers fall within this category, but one textually-minded way of thinking about it would be to take cues from the language of the Constitution itself. If the framers and ratifiers had thought that the need for support from one type of military force was sufficient to make that force fall within the scope of a N&P inference, then they would not have needed to provide for the power to create both "armies" and "naval forces." After all, "naval forces" will often be necessary (and thus, a fortiori, "necessary and proper") to transport armies by water or to provide protection for land forces against an attack from the sea. So the enumeration of both categories of forces tends to rule out an inference of other kinds of forces via the N&P Clause--at least if one accepts the "great substantive and independent powers" line drawn by the Chief Justice in Seblius. I don't accept that line, but others who do may have a difficulty here. A second line of argument relies on the use of the word "armies" to mean something broader than land forces. Under this line of reasoning, "armies" means something like "military forces." But this line of reasoning is vulnerable to the same critique as the N&P inference: If "armies" simply meant "military forces," then there would be no need for a separate enumeration of a power to provide and maintain a navy. At this point, we might expect an originalist to say something like this: If we could ask the framers and ratifiers whether they intended to preclude the creation of military forces that operate in the atmosphere or space when such technology becomes available, they would surely say no, of course Congress can do that. Yet that path is not available to most contemporary originalists, who, for good reasons, believe that the original meaning of the Constitution, not the subjective intentions of the framers and ratifiers, governs. The relevant question for most contemporary originalists, therefore, is what the terms "armies" and "navy" meant at the Founding. A website provides a corpus of Founding-era sources. Searching it, admit that I found a handful of uses of "armies" that included forces that occasionally ventured into bodies of water. Those could indeed support the broader understanding of "armies." So far so good for the Air Force and Space Force on originalist grounds. I also looked at the 1828 edition of Webster's, which the Court cited in NLRB v. Canning as an authoritative "founding-era dictionary." Here's its definition of "army": 1. A collection or body of men armed for war, and organized in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions, under proper officers. In general, an army in modern times consists of infantry and cavalry, with artillery; although the union of all is not essential to the constitution of an army Among savages, armies are differently formed. 2. A great number; a vast multitude; as an army of locusts or caterpillars. Putting aside the bugs in the second definition, the first phrase in the first definition is sufficiently general to encompass an Air Force, a Space Force, and, for that matter, a Navy. So, can the originalists breathe a sigh of relief? I'm afraid not. The second sentence of the first definition seems to refer specifically to land forces. Thus, it is at least a fair inference that in 1789 the semantic content of "armies" was something like "military forces that operate primarily on land." Moreover, even if one takes full advantage of the fact that "armies" in 1789 sometimes could refer to water-going as well as land-only forces, that does not appear to be the way it is used in Article I, Sec. 8. Accordingly, the most common ordinary meaning of armies as "chiefly land-based military forces" is reinforced by its juxtaposition in the Constitution with "navy" and "naval forces." The originalist case for an Air or Space Force looks like it's on the rocks. Does that mean that there's no way one could massage "armies" and "navy" to encompass air and space forces? No, they can be so massaged. But here's the rub: The arguments that Somin and other self-described originalists made in 2007 when they were discussing this question didn't even try to put the meaning of the relevant words in historical context. To be sure, we are talking about a short blog post and some comments on it, not a comprehensive law review article. Perhaps a careful historical study going beyond what any of the participants in the 2007 exchange or I have undertaken here would produce a different result. Still, one clearly senses that the impulse to say "of course Congress can create an Air Force" precedes any serious effort to unpack the 1789 meaning of the relevant constitutional terms. It does so because, to quote the late Justice Scalia, most people who call themselves originalists are not "nuts." They consider the ways in which modern warfare differs from late 18th-century warfare and conclude that the language of the Constitution should therefore be deemed broad enough for Congress to protect against contemporary threats. That's entirely sensible, but it is not originalism as a distinctive approach to constitutional interpretation or construction. To reiterate, my point is not that self-described originalists must now invalidate the Air Force. My point is that the sorts of arguments available to avoid invalidating the Air Force either rely on a discredited what-would-James-Madison-say-if-we-had-a-time-machine? form of intentions-based originalism or on de facto living Constitutionalism that undercuts the sorts of deterministic claims originalists make in other contexts. I'll conclude with a question to illustrate the stakes: If changes in available weaponry can expand the coverage of "armies" and "navy" in Art. I, Sec. 8 in order for the government to have greater power to protect the People against new threats, then why doesn't modern weaponry (now I'm referring to automatic and semiautomatic weapons that are more lethal and more accurate than 18th century analogues) also lead to greater power of the government to protect the People against new threats, even if we make the controversial assumption that the Supreme Court got the original meaning of the Second Amendment right in DC v. Heller? Might this give rise to "Faith-Based Spaced-Out Originalism" or "Universal Originalism"? My older brother was drafted back in WW II after the hostilities with Japan had ended and served in the Army Air Corps' Transportation Command, frequently on flights into occupied Japan. The Navy had its own air group at the time. This was all before the Air Force was established as a separate armed force. I'm not aware of any arguments being made that the Army and Navy use of airplanes violated the Constitution. The public seemed to accept the use of air power, which was supported in the many patriotic popular songs of the early 1940s praising America's "sky pilots" in "Praise the Lord, and Pass the Ammunition, and We'll All Stay Free." As to the "Space Force," during the late 1930s early 1940s I was exposed to "Buck Rogers" on radio and movies and magazines. And recently on Jimmy Kimmel's late nite show he featured an old sit-com starring Fred Willard that was called "Space Force." The Revengelicals (FKA Evangelicals) may readily accept Trump's "Space Force" while singing "Nearer My God With Thee." Fred Willard made an appearance on Kimmel's show displaying that he still has his comic chops. Regarding Mike's closing references to Heller, I would like to point out a recent Harvard Law Blog by Josh Blackman and another on a second look at the 2nd A based upon the use of corpus linguistics in support of originalism, raising some doubts on the originalism basis of Heller that the authors had originally accepted. Maybe corpus linguistics might be utilized to test original public meaning of Congress' powers under the Constitution regarding armies and navies. To my knowledge there was no Buck Rogers back in the days of the Constitutional Convention, unless Ben Franklin's kite flying configured air and space travel. I'm still a fan of Mel Brooks' "Space Balls" that may have also impressed Trump's "Space Force." Brooks not only gave us the "Two Thousand Year Old Man" but took us into the future with satire and parody as well. Perhaps Mike's post will provide Ilya Simin with the "force" to respond. Patrick S. O'Donnell said... By way of returning to the the question of weaponization of space (distinguishable to some extent from the 'militarization' of space, which has already taken place) and international law (which I realize is not the principal focus of this post), I would like to share some introductory material that I've found helpful. “The fact that a large number of States have been calling for the adoption of a treaty on the prevention of an arms race in space for decades now, and more recently with renewed vigour, demonstrates the international community’s belief that the existing legal regime is inadequate for halting the encroaching militarization of space. This should serve as a reason to re-examine what existing space law actually has to say on this issue.” “The peculiar circumstances which gave birth to the entire branch of international space law imply that the international community saw a chance for a new beginning in the ascendance of mankind to the stars. It was this perception that brought about the prohibition of claims of sovereignty on celestial objects, or the obligation to help astronauts regardless of their national origin. The same is true when it comes to mandating the ‘peaceful uses of outer space.’ Militarization should be seen as antithetical to the inspired goals and ideals set by space law treaties. While many scholars would conclude that ‘the final frontier’ is increasingly militarized, the law clearly places a number of limits on the military activities of States in outer space. The ‘pacifist’ approach to the law is therefore more than just idealism. But simply interpreting the law is not enough. International law provides a framework for any scientific, commercial or even military activities in space. As such, it can restrict specific activities, but it may not direct them. The latter remains primarily the domain of policy. If the exploration of space is truly to provide humanity with a chance to start over, it needs to be guided by the principles of true equality, solidarity and cooperation between all States — and they exclude all forms of militarism.”—Pavle Kilibarda (Pavle Kilibarda holds a LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. He previously worked at the ICRC’s legal training sector, the UNHCR office in Belgrade and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, engaging principally with the legal position of refugees and asylum-seekers in Serbia.) See the material at the Union of Concerned Scientists: https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/space-weapons/international-legal-agreements#.W3QlesInb4Y See the analysis by Kilibarda (above) on the IRC’s blog on Humanitarian Law & Policy: (i) http://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2016/11/07/space-law-peaceful-uses/ (ii) http://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2016/12/21/space-law-weapons-mass-destruction/ (iii) http://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2017/04/27/space-law-revisited-international-liability/ The "support" rationale as noted in the discussion could cover the navy too and the Civil War had various instances of the army and the navy working hand in hand to defeat enemy targets. The argument has some force but listing "army" and "navy" separately -- at least using the sort of minimalist arguments of many originalists (generally a fools game to play with them since they tend to at least be Calvinball curious) use - is fairly telling. After all, at some point, any number of enumerated powers is redundant if used in that way. Why list the need to coin money? Isn't that simply necessary and proper to regulate commerce? Ditto postal roads? We would then go into the level of generality game. I don't think "space force" arguments alone defeat originalism but at some point a military body does raise new complexities to at least be concerned, including fighting in outer space. At least going by their rules, but again, the rules are flexible. Maybe even "living." http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Calvinball "Originalists in Space" sounds like a TV Trope -- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RecycledINSPACE TruePath said... What is the justification for connecting the constitutional authorization to raise and support armies and navies with the bureaucratic organization of the Department of Defense. The constitution doesn't grant congress the power to raise a BRANCH of the armed forces but to raise armies and it's other powers (along with the fact Armies is plural) obviously let it organized those units into whatever command structures it wants be it 3 branches of the armed forces or reporting to the secretary of treasury. So shouldn't an originalist be asking if the battalions in the Air Force or Space force can be validly raised/supported as part of the raise armies/navies clause and end the inquiry there? Seems to me that the Armies and Navies clause gives congress the power to both raise masses of troops from the land (i.e. call out huge bodies of people from their homes) under generals and the like as well as to authorize more independent, permanent and capital focused (ship not men) instruments of war as used by navies. Since those cover both air and space forces we're good. I'd point out once you focuse on the raising/support of the armies not which department they report to there is no longer a way to interpret army/navy broadly enough not to be obviously absurd to the ratifiers but narrowly enough to cause problems for the air force. After all they would have understood that scouts, mules, wagons, etc.. etc... were all covered to assist the army and I see no reason that air power or even space power would be any different. In other words if your units take up positions occupying (for significant periods) the ground they are army, the sea, navy and even with Trump's space force it is primarily designed to assist other units to occupy and defend either parts of the land or parts of the sea. Also, the N&P clause could be non-superfluous in the sense that it foreclosed the argument that the kind of people who saw militia's as bulwarks of freedom and standing militaries as potential oppressors would have likely made against spending money to send warships around the world if they hadn't. They didn't have to believe the argument they were foreclosing was good, merely disruptive. Finally, I'd argue that you're being a bit unfair to originalists here by trying to force them all to be narrow literal textualists. The original public meaning people could just assert that it wasn't read as limitive at all in the original public meaning because that wouldn't have occurred to anyone. Over at the VC Ilya Somin has responded to Mike's post. Somin begins his closing paragraph with this: "The fact that Trump's Space Force may be constitutional does not, of course, mean that it is a good idea. I am very skeptical that it is." I suspect that both Mike's post and Ilya's response each have a tad of tongue in cheek, a bit of relief from the Omarosa diversions. Perhaps Netflix has a "Space Farce" in development. If so, Mike and Ilya deserve credits. "May the Farce be with you!" It is interesting that Star Trek and the like treat space as a sort of celestial sea with "Captain Kirk" and "ships" and so forth. Perhaps, space force should just be part of the navy. I think overall that "what about the air force" sort of arguments only take you so far, but reading over the recent comments, still think some originalists (a flexible bunch, to be sure) as a matter of theory (if they didn't realize they had to fit an actual thing into the originalist box) would argue that there is a point there is an "army" and "navy," and if you are going to set up a whole new branch of the military which is after all a third place, the right thing to do is to amend the Constitution. It is not that something cannot be done to fit the air/space force in. It is the reasoning takes you to places that lead to the open-ended places some originalists find troubling. It is not that the text doesn't quite reasonably get us where liberals (so-called "living constitutionalists") want to go. Perhaps the New Originalism might accommodate a "Space Zone" within its "Construction Zone" when the original public meaning is not clear. r_r said... Your article went to the 1828 dictionary for army, but seems to have declined to do so for navy. , "NAVY, noun [Gr. From to swim. To swim then is to move up and down.] 1. A fleet of ships; an assemblage of merchantmen, or so many as sail in company. The navy of Hiram brought gold from Ophir. 1 Kings 10:11. 2. The whole of the ships of war belonging to a nation or king. The navy of Great Britain is the defense of the kingdom and its commerce. This is the usual acceptation of the word", This, of course, brings us to the question of what a ship, and what a ship of war is. , "Ship SHIP, as a termination, denotes state or office; as in lordship. SHIP. [See Shape.] SHIP, noun [Latin scapha; from the root of shape.] In a general sense, a vessel or building of a peculiar structure, adapted to navigation, or floating on water by means of sails. In an appropriate sense, a building of a structure or form fitted for navigation, furnished with a bowsprit and three masts, a main-mast, a fore-mast and a mizen-mast, each of which is composed a lower-mast, a top-mast and top-gallant-mast, and square rigged. Ships are of various sizes and are for various uses; most of them however fall under the denomination of ships of war and merchant's ships. SHIP, verb transitive 1. To put on board of a ship or vessel of any kind; as, to ship goods at Liverpoll for New York. 2. To transport in a ship; to convey by water. The sun shall no sooner the mountains touch, But we will ship him hence. Shak. 3. To receive into a ship or vessel; as, to ship at sea. To ship the oars, to place them in the rowlocks. To ship off, to send away by water; as, to ship off convicts.", A ship under what seems to be the most relevant definition merely has to be adapted to navigation OR floating on water, not AND. I think that, shown a military airplane and it's function, a reasonable person at the time of the founding would regard it as being a ship, specifically a ship of war, albeit an unusual one-- and therefore a force consisting of them as a navy. The same would be applicable to spacefaring war vessels. Asher Steinberg said... I'm sorry; what 1828 "ships" were adapted to navigation but incapable of floating on water? It's nice that the dictionary said or but I can't see why. Trump's Unwarranted & Dangerous Attack on Google I... 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__label__wiki	0.583297	0.583297	DUAL CITIZEN ggei Mobile Web Design in New York - Hue Perception Survey The GGEI methodology draws from guidelines published through the OECD Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators, which can be accessed here. We have also consulted extensively with the publishers of other leading indices in this field to learn from their methodological approaches to similar measurement challenges. Publishing an index like the GGEI is ultimately a series of decisions, often balancing the depth and breadth of issues covered against the available data. Furthermore, the concept of "green economy" is still a nascent one, gradually becoming more defined as the theoretical and practical parts of it are tested and developed. The sections below offer more background on how we have addressed methodological steps and challenges in calculating the 2018 GGEI. Pour lire cette section en francais, cliquez ici. In the year before the publication of the first edition of the GGEI in late 2010, the Dual Citizen LLC team assembled a group of experts to define the theoretical framework of what became known as the Global Green Economy Index. These experts - with backgrounds in climate change negotiations, renewable energy, policy advocacy on green economy and branding and communications - defined four main dimensions around which perceptions would be assessed: political leadership, policy, investment and tourism. This first edition of the GGEI only calculated perceptions in a generalized manner, asking how respondents perceived national green reputations in these four areas. The subsequent editions of the GGEI in 2011 and 2012 expanded upon this foundation in two important ways. The first was to measure performance of the same values being polled in the survey, using datasets from third party sources and where appropriate, qualitative measures generated internally. The second development was to expand the sub-categories of each of the four dimensions such that instead of just one measure for each dimension, an aggregate result could be generated from a series of related sub-categories (e.g. Political Leadership became defined by heads of state, media coverage, international forums etc.) In early 2014, Dual Citizen LLC commissioned a strategic review of the GGEI with the purpose of revising its methodology and framework to more accurately reflect the different aspects of a green economy. This process yielded two important changes. The first was to expand the sectors covered beyond tourism to include other efficiency sectors like buildings, transport and energy. The second was to integrate environmental performance to the GGEI such that both the economic and environmental pillars of green economy could be explored through the perception and performance results. This review also lead to a more explicit linkage between leadership and climate change, such that linkages could be explored around whether national political rhetoric and policy was actually having a positive impact on the country's climate change performance. The GGEI leverages data that best satisfy two central criteria: quality and coverage. Creating an index like the GGEI, one quickly absorbs the reality that datasets are often less complete than it may appear at first glance, and rarely cover a wide enough range of countries in a uniform manner. Part of this is due to the manner in which countries are organized (i.e. the EU, OECD, the G20) whereby these organizing bodies lead data gathering efforts, and their associated parameters. For example, robust datasets may exist for OECD countries but not for the entire G20. Furthermore, not all countries are compliant in reporting data in a timely manner, meaning that even if there is complete data coverage for a grouping of countries, the time series may be inconsistent with some countries having more recent data than others. Given these realities, our approach to data selection has assumed a "top down" method, as opposed to a "bottom up" one. This means that we first defined the most important dimensions and associated sub-categories to measure given the purpose and goals of the Global Green Economy Index. Then, based on this framework, we identified third party datasets that provided the best value measure given the required GGEI country coverage or, where appropriate, generated a system for calculating a qualitative scoring. We advocate for this "top down" approach to data selection for two main reasons. The first is that existing data are not necessarily the most important values to measure related to a particularly topic. Sometimes, data exist due to approaches or processes that may be outdated, or institutional priorities that no longer reflect the more important issues of the day. Determining first what the overall framework is ensures that an index be defined by the topics that matter most, not simply the ones that are easiest to measure. The second reason validating this "top down" approach is that it applies focus on areas where data are incomplete, providing incentive to statistical agencies, country ministries and international institutions to make collecting them a priority. Admittedly, this "top down" approach has its limitations, and it is important to highlight them in the context of the green economy topic. There remain vital components to understanding a green economy that simply can't be measured in a sound manner today. One example is green jobs, where a working definition remains elusive and data are inconsistent across different country profiles. Another example is manufacturing - a vital efficiency sector - where due to the complexity of supply chains and the diverse inputs required to create a reliable dataset, no sound approach exists yet to estimate the extent to which domestic manufacturing is "green." In these cases, it would be imprudent to force a performance measure through an index like the GGEI, although we hope these limitations will change for future editions. Imputation of Missing Data While best efforts are made to identify data sources that provide adequate country coverage, it is inevitable that some data will be missing. In the 2016 GGEI, this issue came up mostly on the Markets & Investment dimension where due to the diversity of the 80 country profiles between more advanced economies and emerging ones, it was sometimes impossible to find complete data sources for the four sub-categories. On this dimension, our approach to imputing missing data was to make approximate scores for countries with missing data based on averaging scores from the five closest countries in terms of factors we could deduce. For example, if a composite indicator estimating country attractiveness for renewable energy investment referenced in part a country's result on the World Bank's Doing Business report, a missing value would be estimated by looking at the scores of the five nations closest to it on the Doing Business report, and then averaging their scores on the composite indicator to compute the missing data point for the country in question. Like any approach to estimation, this method is imperfect and makes certain assumptions about national performance in one aspect of the economy based on results from another related one. But in terms of best practices for index creation and data aggregation, this is a more responsible approach than leaving the value blank or arbitrarily giving a mean score to countries with missing data. To a lesser extent, we also grappled with missing data issues on the Environment & Natural Capital dimension, but for different reasons. In these cases, missing data resulted from the natural characteristics of each country. For example, it is impossible to generate a value for Forests if a country doesn't have them or for Fisheries if a country is landlocked. In these limited cases, countries in question received the highest score from the category. Again, this approach is imperfect in that it basically credits a country for top performance on an environmental category that simply does not exist, potentially skewing overall results in its favor. But the alternatives to our approach are less appealing, and expose the GGEI results to greater risk of imbalance. Excluding these categories for the countries in question would weight the other sub-categories more in the aggregate result, and create a situation where the internal weightings differed on a country by country basis. Alternatively, leaving these values blank would in effect punish these countries for natural characteristics of their territory beyond their control. Normalization, Weighting and Aggregation We applied a consistent normalization approach using GDP (PPP) to expressed values with inherent imbalances based on the size of the country economy. Based on the "top down" approach to data selection, we generally applied equal weightings to both the four dimensions and their sub-categories. One exception to this is on the Leadership & Climate Change dimension, where we lessened the weighting for the head of state and media coverage sub-categories, which in turn more heavily weighted international forums and climate change performance. Obviously, the GGEI draws from a wide range of underlying datasets, and it is important to assume a consistent method for aggregating them. Our approach was to calculate the mean and standard deviation for each indicator or dataset, which in turn enables calculating a z-score and associated percentile. Then, these percentile values can be aggregated in a uniform manner, generating a country score that is expressed on the spectrum of 0-100. Data Visualization and Results The GGEI is a robust tool that enables a wide range of meaningful viewpoints into green economic performance and expert perceptions of it. In the public report released in September 2016 sharing the latest results, we will share a variety of graphs, charts and other visualizations to help readers digest these results and their linkages to other topics. We encourage individuals and institutions to integrate these visuals to their own reporting and will create an image library accessible through the Usage section of this website to facilitate this. 233 West 21st Street #3A New York, NY 10011 jeremy@dualcitizeninc.com © 2021 Dual Citizen LLC	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1626
__label__cc	0.625537	0.374463	Women in SF&F Month: Rin Chupeco Today I’m excited to welcome young adult fantasy and horror writer Rin Chupeco! She is the author of The Girl from the Well and its sequel, The Suffering. The Bone Witch, her latest novel and the first book in a new series, was just released in March (and has one of the most striking covers I’ve seen lately!). You can read more about The Bone Witch, including a sample from the book, on her website and you can also follow her on Twitter. I was always the tomboy of the family. My younger sister was tall, pretty, and enjoyed fashion and other girly things. My earliest memories of play involved invading her Barbie dollhouse with various Ninja Turtle and Ghostbuster action figures and declaring hostile takeovers. I wore baggy pants and oversized shirts for irony. I didn’t pay attention to what I wore so long as it was comfy. That changed as I grew older. I played basketball and took up taekwondo and arnis. I also started wearing skirts and dresses, and fell in love with mascara. I love long dresses and dangling earrings. I enjoyed watching wrestling and had a Boyzone phase. I have a small obsession with kimono. I didn’t have to let go of my “tomboyish” tendencies to be more feminine, and I never felt like I had to give one up in order to become the other. And that’s why I feel it’s about time we need to retire all these definitions of “strong” heroine, or at least change people’s perspectives of what it should mean. All too often “strong” is associated with girls who exhibit generally masculine characteristics: girls who dress like boys and fight like boys. What’s so wrong about fighting like a girl? Femininity doesn’t have to take a backseat if it’s about heroines kicking ass. I wrote Tea, my protagonist from The Bone Witch, with this in mind. Tea is exceedingly feminine. She likes pretty things, fancy dresses, and dancing. That doesn’t stop her from embracing her taboo abilities of summoning and controlling the dead, from learning to fight with a sword, and from being a rebellious teenager constantly trying to push back at a society that wants her to conform. She’s also extremely stubborn, more than willing to push against the boundaries set in place by the society of asha that she finds herself living in. As the only healthy bone witch left in the land, Tea is frequently forgiven for reckless behavior that any other asha would have been severely punished for. Rather than striving to meet them halfway, Tea often responds by pushing back harder in her desire to explore the fullest extent of her abilities beyond the safety restrictions set in place by bone witches before her. One could argue that her complete disregard for the rules is the very reason Tea finds herself an exile at the start of the novel. But what other asha consider a serious flaw is actually what makes her compelling—bone witches do not live long, and it is that fear of dying that motivates her to seek out other alternatives beyond the fate other asha have determined for her. Just as important as a feminine kick-ass heroine is also a flawed kick-ass heroine, which might not be as rare, but is more commonly disliked. There’s still a general fear that all characters in teen novels must be perfect with as little fault as possible, perhaps to serve as a role model for girls to look up to. I wasn’t a juvenile delinquent as a teenager, but I had my dumb moments. I never got into trouble with the law, but I’ve made a lot of bad decisions, a few of them rather publicly and rather stupidly. I’ve never met a perfect teenager—heck, I’ve never met a perfect adult. It’s important to write about girls who might have impressive and noteworthy traits, but nonetheless have stupid crushes and get into inappropriate situations and make choices you know they’re going to regret later on. It’s very important for girls to read stories about girls who aren’t perfect. Flawed heroines in fiction can be and are interesting—Laurel Thatcher Ulrich once said that well-behaved women seldom make history. Scarlett O’Hara was selfish and rather foolish at times, but that’s part of what made her such a compelling character. She is exceptionally intense and passionate, and throws all of herself into every project she endeavors to scheme at, and you come away with the impression that for all her faults, she believes wholeheartedly in what she does, even if you don’t agree with her. Frieda from Only Ever Yours responds to her inability to dictate her life in a dystopian boarding school by embracing it; she was, after all, raised in a misogynistic society where girls are bred solely to reproduce and pander to men—so what’s everyone else’s excuse? And people like Gossip Girl‘s Blair Waldorf exist to remind us that happy endings are never straight lines. Sometimes it takes fighting for social dominance against your rival/best friend, sleeping with said best friend’s boyfriend, bulimia, and learning to stay true to yourself in the face of peer pressure, even if being true to yourself means going against the crowd. Write girls who can be brave, but who sometimes aren’t. Write girls who fall in love with the wrong boys, and write how those relationships aren’t the sum of who they are. Write girls who won’t let the occasional bloodshed get in the way of an exquisitely made dress. Female protagonists are constantly reaching for the moon, but crashing and burning makes them even more heroic if they can find the courage to stand up and dust themselves off. Bouncing back from tragedies and mistakes is what makes them strong, no matter their flaws. There is no formula for writing girls like these, and it can be a harder road than most—but when has writing ever been an easy path? Rin Chupeco wrote obscure manuals for complicated computer programs, talked people out of their money at event shows, and did many other terrible things. She now writes about ghosts and fairy tales but is still sometimes mistaken for a revenant. She wrote The Girl from the Well, its sequel, The Suffering, and The Bone Witch, the first book of a new YA Fantasy trilogy. Find her at rinchupeco.com. Tags: Heroines, Rin Chupeco, The Bone Witch, Women In Fantasy, Women in Horror, Women in SF&F Month 2017 « Women in SF&F Month: T. Frohock Women in SF&F Month: Sarah Ash »	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1629
__label__wiki	0.917765	0.917765	Iran calls for total nuclear disarmament Reuters 20 Febbraio 2009 Iran called today for global negotiations aimed at total nuclear disarmament, saying that the elimination of atomic weapons was the only guarantee against their use or threatened use. Alireza Moaiyeri, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, addressed the Conference on Disarmament shortly before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was expected to issue its latest watchdog report on Iran. Western powers suspect Iran is secretly trying to develop the capacity to make atomic bombs. Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is only to meet growing electricity needs. "The existence of nuclear weapons simply means that all states will continue to live with a permanent sense of insecurity," Mr Moaiyeri told the Conference on Disarmament (CD). "Along that line, the primary goal for the CD should be to remove this source of insecurity and to establish a world free of nuclear weapons." IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei said in Paris on Tuesday that Iran was still not helping UN inspectors find whether it worked on developing an atom bomb in the past but that Tehran had slowed its expansion of a key nuclear facility. Mr ElBaradei's remarks suggested that progress on installing more centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site was much slower than had been expected. Mr Moaiyeri said Tehran supported the start of talks on a fissile material "cut-off" treaty to ban production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium used for making nuclear bombs. The pact should cover existing stocks of fissile material as well as future production, according to its envoy. Iran also backed negotiations on preventing an arms race in outer space and on a legally binding instrument to provide security assurances to non-nuclear weapon states, he said. The Geneva disarmament forum has failed to reach consensus needed to launch talks on any issue since clinching global pacts banning chemical weapons and underground nuclear explosions in the 1990s. Diplomats hope the new US administration will offer initiatives to revive the conference, given president Barack Obama's public commitment to furthering nuclear disarmament. The CD's 65 members include the five official nuclear weapon powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- as well as nuclear-capable India, Pakistan and Israel, which is widely believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arms. Source > Irish Times \| Feb 19	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1630
__label__cc	0.525418	0.474582	Shoe View The State Of Bioware Posted By: Kat Todd To anyone who knows me or listens to our podcast, it’s no secret that I adore RPGs with Bioware’s unique brand sitting right at the top. While my disappointment in Mass Effect 3’s ending has been well documented and is not a horse I intended to beat today. My disappointment with Dragon Age is, shockingly, less well documented and while my disappointment in Mass Effect Andromeda has been recorded in three different podcasts, I don’t think any of them were actually published. Great, because they, alongside Anthem and Casey Hudson’s most recent blog post, are what we will be discussing today. Last Monday, April 16th, Casey Hudson posted a blog about his large scale wish-list for Bioware’s latest project, Anthem. In this blog post he talked a big game about “the importance of the world, character, and storytelling elements that players expect from our games.” and how they were working super, extra hard to incorporate that into Anthem. My feelings about Casey Hudson about a manager, producer, and writer aside: I don’t think Bioware can deliver. What we know so far about Anthem is that it’s a third person, multi-player action game. The footage released at 2017’s E3 event showcased one player meeting up with two of their friends, and going on a neat adventure filled with pretty landscapes, jetpacks, and a middle-eastern themed bazaar. It had a very similar look to Destiny, and Anthem has gained a pre-reputation of being a “destiny knockoff” because of this. My primary issue lies here: Bioware made their name in single-player RPGs. Their bread and butter has been the “Chosen One” style of RPG in which the Player Character is the one with all the power, and the game universe bends to their will. In the past Bioware has excelled at allowing players to craft their own story inside of a story, while cultivating worlds and characters that we all love and want to return to time and time again. Controversial Opinion: I don’t actually think Mass Effect 3 was the end of this era. When it was released, Dragon Age Inquisition was criticized for many different aspects, some of which are still valid. It’s open-world nature, Corypheus’ weak antagonism, the poorly crafted ending that boiled well developed characters down to NPCs. The problem is that by the time Dragon Age: Inquisition was released, Bioware had a way to avoid addressing any criticism fans had. With Mass Effect 3, Bioware attempted to “fix” the biggest issues. They released a new patch, updated the ending with a voice over, and added a fourth end-game option. None of which fixed the core issues of bad writing and poor management, but to some offered a decent bandaid. When Dragon Age: Inquisition was released and it was also met with harsh criticism, Bioware took their easy way out: they shrugged and thought “you can’t please everyone”. That’s not the say that people were wrong for being upset with Mass Effect 3 or Dragon Age: Inquisition. They weren’t. But the Mass Effect 3 blowback was so harsh and so pervasive that I don’t think Bioware had any PR response left in them. They took the easy road out of ignoring any and all criticisms and instead of seriously looking inward at any of the complaints they simply plugged and chugged that same formula into a new game, except this one had guns and space. And was decidedly worse. Mass Effect Andromeda was a failure on nearly all fronts of Bioware’s development. Like Corypheus, the Archon as an antagonist was flimsy at best and down right ignorable at worst. The ending wasn’t so much an ending as a pause mid-way, that cut off your access to certain parts of the map. Characters were shallow and had only weak attempts at character arcs (Cora) if any at all (Vetra). The gameplay was a lot of fun, and the scenery was beautiful, but for an RPG a weak story and shallow characters are a death warrant. By the time the criticism for Mass Effect Andromeda came out, Bioware was already done. Developers fought with players on twitter, and Bioware pulled the plug on all single-player DLC and expansions. They didn’t want to hear why we were upset, they figured they’d tried their best and nothing they did would make us happy, so why bother. Now they’re claiming that they did pay attention, and that all of those things (extensive world building, unique characters, interesting story) will be included in their new multiplayer game. Except they have already proven three times to be absolutely tone-deaf to what it actually is their players are looking for, and I simply don’t believe that a multiplayer game that requires the cooperation of other players, can appropriately facilitate the tone I’m looking for in my RPG gameplay. I, personally, do not want to experience my RPGs with others. I want to play them on my own, at my own pace where I am allowed to digest the content before voicing my experiences. I also fail to see how stories, world-building, and characters can be a focus of any game that is required to have a multiplayer-first vision. Multiplayers are, by nature, very fighting-heavy because there’s not much else for more than one player to do in a video game. While the worlds presented at E3 looked visually stunning, there was no evidence given of any depth to them, nor anything more than a baseline story that gives reference to the adventures you have with your friends. I want to state that I certainly don’t think they can’t or shouldn’t try new things. But these new things should not come at the expense of their already existing franchises. I have already mentioned that the plug was pulled on Mass Effect Andromeda, and the entire series was effectively iced (for the moment). Dragon Age, however, has not experienced that yet. It still has a loyal fanbase who, despite its flaws, still love it and are looking forward to Dragon Age 4. Unfortunately, Dragon Age staff have been slowly leaving the studio, and each time they point to Anthem, citing that the game’s production has all but halted any work on Dragon Age while Bioware pours every inch it can into development. Bioware, this is called putting all your eggs in one basket. Anthem has already been delayed once to “early 2019”, which bodes poorly for the game given Bioware’s track record. I honestly and truly believe in Bioware’s capabilities as a studio, and want them to succeed, but at this point I fear that they have repeatedly shot themselves in the foot and no manner of tourniquet will stop the bleeding. Gameshoe Staff	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1636
__label__wiki	0.889374	0.889374	Home Research > Members > 1660-1690 > DUDLEY, Sir William (c.1607-70) DUDLEY, Sir William, 1st Bt. (c.1607-70), of Clopton, Northants. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983 9 Mar. - 9 Apr. 1663 b. c.1607, 3rd s. of Edward Dudley of Clopton by Elizabeth, da. of Robert Wood of Lambley, Notts. m. (1) Hester, da. of Edward de Pleurs of Westminster, s.p.; (2) 11 Sept. 1651, Jane, da. of Sir Roger Smith of Edmondthorpe, Leics., s.p.; (3) Mary, da. and h. of Paul Pindar of Bishopsgate, London, 2s. 1da. suc. bro. 1641; cr. Bt. 1 Aug. 1660.1 Member, Merchant Taylors’ Co. 1630, Hon. Artillery Co. 1635; commr. of array, Northants. 1642; alderman, London July-Aug. 1651, commr. for assessment, Northants. 1657, Jun. 1660, 1661-9; j.p. Northants. July 1660-5, 1670-d., Hunts. 1661-5; sheriff, Northants. Nov. 1660-1; commr. for complaints, Bedford level 1663.2 Dudley’s ancestors had held land in Clopton astride the Huntingdonshire border since 1395, but had never entered Parliament. As one of six brothers he was expected to carve out a career for himself, and to that end was apprenticed to a London Merchant Taylor in 1623. On his master’s death seven years later he took over the business and traded at the sign of the Black Raven in St. Paul’s Churchyard. Among his customers was Thomas Wentworth, the chronically impecunious son of the 1st Earl of Cleveland, who bought ‘divers parcels of cloth at hard and dear rates’ and found himself dunned before the Privy Council when he failed to pay. Such persistence brought its own reward, and Dudley was already a wealthy man, reckoned in the second class of London citizens, when he succeeded to the family estate. During the Civil War, he was alleged to have escorted the plate sent to the King from the Cambridge colleges, and he was certainly present, with all his tenants, when the commission of array was read at Kettering in 1642. Later he claimed to have acted only under constraint; it was suggested ‘that he might have took his horse and rid away, to which he replied not, but hummed’. His youngest brother Gamaliel fought for the King in both wars, and was knighted. Repeated attempts by the informers to have Dudley classified as a delinquent all failed, thanks to mysteriously glowing certificates in his favour from the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire committees. His first wife he appears to have obtained by abducting her from the custody of her grand-parents; the Council of State reversed its decision twice, eventually ordering him to return her, but presumably the marriage had already been consummated. He fined for alderman in 1651, and in the following year was elected master of his Company, though he had never taken livery or held any other office, but again he preferred to fine off.3 At the Restoration Dudley was created a baronet and pricked sheriff of Northamptonshire, in which capacity he supervised the general election of 1661, and prevented the Presbyterian Richard Knightley from regaining his seat. After his defeat by Sir James Langham in 1662, he seems to have been responsible for purging the Northampton corporation of dissenters and modifying the charter. On petition, Langham’s election was declared void, and Dudley, with the support of the mayor and ‘the loyal party’, defeated Christopher Hatton. He was unseated a month later without having taken any ascertainable part in the business of the House. Presumably it was the Montagus who procured Dudley’s removal from the commission of the peace in 1665. When he was taken seriously ill in 1667 he expressed himself anxious to be reconciled with Lord Montagu, but he was not restored until shortly before his death on 18 Sept. 1670. On the memorial erected by his widow at Clapton he was said to be 73 years of age, probably a mistake for 63. His son Matthew, after contesting Higham Ferrers in 1685, sat for Northampton as a Whig from 1702 to 1705.4 Author: John. P. Ferris 1. Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 86; PCC 187 Twine; CSP Dom. 1649-50, p. 475; St. Clement Eastcheap (Harl. Soc. Reg. lxvii), 92; Bridges, Northants. ii. 372. 2. Information from Col. G. F. H. Archer, clerk of the Merchant Taylors’ Co.; Ancient Vellum Bk. of Hon. Artillery Co. ed. Raikes, 50. 3. Bridges, 369; Inhabitants of London ed. Dale, 65; CSP Dom. 1639-40, p. 171, 1649-50, pp. 428, 429, 433, 475; Misc. Gen. et Her. (ser. 2), ii. 71; information from Col. Archer; SP19/112/119-20. 4. Diary of Thomas Isham, 12-13; Add. 29551, ff. 8, 12, 18; CSP Dom. 1663-4, pp. 204, 223, 603; HMC Buccleuch, i. 316.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1641
__label__cc	0.569443	0.430557	This 'n That 'n Thigpen I don’t usually post a compilation of short takes on two consecutive weeks, but with a few timely notes on my desk, today I offer a brief exception of additional briefs. Drummer Ed Thigpen died last week, on January 13th. His web site is here. Ed Thigpen was best known for his years drumming with the Oscar Peterson Trio, with Ella Fitzgerald, with Billy Taylor. And he has a Kansas City connection. His father, Ben Thigpen, was the drummer for Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy from 1930 to 1947. Andy wrote in his autobiography: “…We played waltzes, too…. Ben Thigpen never could get that Viennese beat - da-rrrmp, da, da - though he was a fine drummer, with me 17 years. His son, Ed, traveled with us before he was born." Those would have been years that legendary pianist Mary Lou Williams swung the band. No wonder Ed Thigpen knew swing…he heard it at its best while still in the womb. Count Basie’s hat is about to go on tour, courtesy of UMKC. The Smithsonian is putting together an exhibition on Basie and has borrowed the captain’s hat that Count Basie wore from UMKC’s LaBudde Special Collections. It’s to be sent off for display in Washington, DC at the end of the month. The exhibit later travels to New York. When the hat returns, the university says, it will be “available for anyone to stop by to take a peek.” The complete UMKC release is here. (I never knew UMKC had Basie’s hat.) Jazz and metal? New York Times music writer Ben Ratliff finds more similarities than dissimilarities in the current state of each of those music types. He writes, “Both have become increasingly local and international at the same time; they depend on the scenes of certain communities...but their audiences are everywhere. As of the late ’00s both have been the subject of serious academic conferences. And aside from a few tanklike, old-favorite examples…if you want to keep up with either, you have to listen to cuts on MySpace pages and go to gigs.” I know little enough about metal to recognize if the comparison rings true. But his comments on the state of national jazz recognition certainly do: “Currently, making it in jazz means playing a circuit of sit-down supper clubs and comfortable midsize theaters booked by nonprofit arts presenters, and, in summer, at European festivals.” The complete commentary is here. Labels: Andy Kirk, Ben Thigpen, jazz, kansas city, UMKC In Lieu of 1000 Words: Deborah Brown at The Blue Room kcjazzlark on Flickr Festival Tales 4 Good Job, Folly This 'n That 'n Wonderful Winterlude Night After New Year: Bobby Watson & Horizon In Lieu of 1000 Words: Diverse at the Record Bar	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1645
__label__cc	0.656296	0.343704	Legal Three 3 Years To Go… Law School Outlines Attack Sheets Restatement 2nd K Crypto Currency Law RULE 302. APPLYING STATE LAW TO PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES In a civil case, state law governs the effect of a presumption regarding a claim or defense for which state law supplies the rule of decision. (Pub. L. 93–595, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1931; Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.) Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed Rules A series of Supreme Court decisions in diversity cases leaves no doubt of the relevance of Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938), to questions of burden of proof. These decisions are Cities Service Oil Co. v. Dunlap, 308 U.S. 208, 60 S.Ct. 201, 84 L.Ed. 196 (1939), Palmer v. Hoffman, 318 U.S. 109, 63 S.Ct. 477, 87 L.Ed. 645 (1943), and Dick v. New York Life Ins. Co., 359 U.S. 437, 79 S.Ct. 921, 3 L.Ed.2d 935 (1959). They involved burden of proof, respectively, as to status as bona fide purchasers, contributory negligence, and non-accidental death (suicide) of an insured. In each instance the state rule was held to be applicable. It does not follow, however, that all presumptions in diversity cases are governed by state law. In each case cited, the burden of proof question had to do with a substantive element of the claim or defense. Application of the state law is called for only when the presumption operates upon such an element. Accordingly the rule does not apply state law when the presumption operates upon a lesser aspect of the case, i.e. “tactical” presumptions. The situations in which the state law is applied have been tagged for convenience in the preceding discussion as “diversity cases.” The designation is not a completely accurate one since Erie applies to any claim or issue having its source in state law, regardless of the basis of federal jurisdiction, and does not apply to a federal claim or issue, even though jurisdiction is based on diversity. Vestal, Erie R.R. v. Tompkins: A Projection, 48 Iowa L.Rev. 248, 257 (1963); Hart and Wechsler, The Federal Courts and the Federal System, 697 (1953); 1A Moore, Federal Practice 0.305[3] (2d ed. 1965); Wright, Federal Courts, 217–218 (1963). Hence the rule employs, as appropriately descriptive, the phrase “as to which state law supplies the rule of decision.” See A.L.I. Study of the Division of Jurisdiction Between State and Federal Courts, §2344(c), p. 40, P.F.D. No. 1 (1965). Committee Notes on Rules—2011 Amendment The language of Rule 302 has been amended as part of the restyling of the Evidence Rules to make them more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. There is no intent to change any result in any ruling on evidence admissibility. « RULE 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES GENERALLY RULE 401. TEST FOR RELEVANT EVIDENCE » Category: ARTICLE III. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES, Federal Rules of Evidence \| RSS 2.0 Both comments and pings are currently closed. Attack Sheet Court Opinions Delaware Corporate Law Law School Notes Law School Resources MagZine powered by WordPress © 2021 Legal Three all rights reserved. Get $50 FREE to try banking with SoFi Get $50	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1649
__label__wiki	0.810466	0.810466	Latchkey Games – Analogue: A Hate Story Latchkey Games is a weekly column that takes a look at games that perhaps didn’t quite get the amount of love they deserved: whether it was a game that was panned on its initial release only to become a cult classic, one that stirred the ire of series fans, or simply a game that fell through the cracks and was forgotten by time or overshadowed by a more popular release. This time I’ll be discussing Analogue: A Hate Story, a PC indie game that tackles a lot of issues that most games go out of their way to avoid. I’ll admit it, I’m usually the last guy to play a game for the story — while I do think there are games out there with interesting narratives, and while I love RPG’s and point and click adventures, I still think the writing in most videogames is still leagues behind the level of sophistication you’ll find in more traditional media. While there are some exceptions to that generalization, such as the wonderful, witty dialogue in Valve’s Portal series or the surprisingly subversive Spec-Ops: The Line, in general video game narratives are about as deep or nuanced as your average prime time TV drama or summer blockbuster. Most of the time the story exists solely to set up the action, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; gameplay should always take precedence over everything else, and while I do appreciate a good story, narrative has always been a secondary concern for me. If a game has great gameplay with a terrible (or possibly even non-existent) story, then that’s completely fine with me. If a game has great gameplay and also happens to have a good story too, well, that’s just icing on the cake. The way I see it, if you play video games solely “for the story,” then you’re missing the whole point of video games being an interactive medium. Which is why I’m so confused about Analogue: A Hate Story. The game represents the complete antithesis of what I normally like: gameplay definitely takes a back seat to Analogue’s deftly crafted narrative, but despite that, I’m absolutely in love with this game. Analogue: A Hate Story is technically a visual novel — a style of adventure game where you read through a pre-set story and make choices that effect the outcome of the story during key moments. Basically, a text adventure with illustrations. Gamers in the West are probably most familiar with the genre via handheld titles like 9 Persons, 9 Hours, 9 Doors and Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward. While visual novels are niche products in the West, they’re big business in Japan, where the majority of PC games are low-budget visual novels made by small teams. Unfortunately, this has given the genre a bit of a stigma in the West, as a lot of the visual novels to come out of Japan are well… basically interactive pornography involving schoolgirls and tentacles, and as such, it’s hard to talk to about “visual novels” without a lot of people automatically assuming you’re talking about creepy dating sims or porn games. On the surface, Analogue: A Hate Story looks like one of those games. It’s filled with cute anime girls (one of whom you can dress up in a variety of costumes,) who stereotypically blush beat-red when you complement them and nervously dance around the topic of your affection towards them, but trust me, Analogue: A Hate Story is not a game about wooing 2D facsimiles of women. It is not a game for the “sho’ ronery” anime-pillow collecting crowd. It is a painful, horrifying tale of cruelty, objectification, and selfishness, and it’s also one of my favorite games of the year. Analogue’s story takes place in the far future, where a long lost colony ship Mungunghwa has suddenly reappeared in deep space. Its crew is missing, and the only living “souls” on board are two computer AI’s, the shy and demure Hyun-Ae and the more abrasive and gossipy Mute. Your job is to figure out what happened to Mungunghwa and its crew. You do this by hacking the ship’s computer and reading through the old personal logs and correspondences of the people who who used to live on the ship, and with the help of your two AI partners, you gradually unlock more and more bits and pieces of the horrific story that unfolded onboard. As you’d expect from a genre labelled with the name “visual novel,” you’re going to have to do a lot of reading in Analogue: A Hate Story. Similar to Capcom’s Phoenix Wright games, you’ll spend a lot of time reading through the accounts of the people who witnesses the Mungunghwa’s downfall firsthand, and you’ll be able to select specific passages to ask your AI partners about — pick the right topics to press them on and you’ll unlock more of the story. As with most games in the genre, you’re given a few choices during the story that’ll ultimately effect which of the game’s five endings you get, but for the most part, most of Analogue: A Hate Story’s “gameplay” revolves around reading lots and lots of text and picking out which topics merit further research. There is one very challenging and well designed puzzle that pops up midway through Analogue’s main story, but even that is almost entirely text based. Normally this would bother me, because like I said earlier, gameplay always takes precedence over narrative, at least for me. But despite my usual preferences, I was completely engrossed in Analogue’s story by the time I had completed the game’s first “act,” which requires you to dig through a few text logs in order to discover the password that unlocks the rest of the derelict ship’s records. Analogue’s story is simply one of the best that I’ve ever seen in a game, and while I really wish I could talk about what makes the game’s story so great, doing so would spoil a lot of the surprises and twists in the game. The story tackles issues concerning female objectification and misogyny, topics that a lot of male gamers seem to be uncomfortable with and strangely and vindictively defensive about, and the fact that it tackles these issues in a visual novel – a genre that’s often stereotyped as glorifying female objectification and misogyny – is amazing. In the end, I’m still having a hard time reconciling my personal philosophy regarding game design with Analogue’s completely narrative focused structure, but I can’t deny that I was just as enthralled reading through the game’s walls of text as I am when I play through a firefight in Halo or explore a dungeon in Zelda. Perhaps I should look at it this way: the story is the gameplay in Analogue: A Hate Story: piecing together what exactly happened on board the Mungunghwa was easily one of the most engaging and well designed puzzles that I’ve ever experienced in a game. Slowly unraveling what happened aboard the ship by reading key tidbits of info in each log is certainly a lot more satisfying and intellectually stimulating than your average block puzzle, anyway. You’d be doing yourself a disservice by ignoring Analogue because of the game’s cute look or text-based gameplay: it’s honestly one of the most entertaining experiences I’ve ever had, and anyone who approaches the game with an open mind or who’s looking for another game to use an example in the never ending “games are art” debate should give Analogue: A Hate Story a fair shot. Analogue: A Hate Story is available for $9.99 on Steam; though as I write this Analogue is currently available as part of Steam’s Autumn 2012 sale for a paltry $2.49. Latchkey Games is a weekly article that takes a look … Latchkey Games 10/07/12: Mega Man Network Transmission The gaming console wars seem to be heating up quite … PS3 Outsells Xbox 360 For 2010; Looks To Get Ahead In 2011	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1652
__label__wiki	0.706791	0.706791	Geological History First Hawaiians Western Contact Hawai'i Today Lava Explodes As It Enters The Ocean Lava Oozes From The Ground Photographing A Lava River Honolulu Landing in Puna Hāpu'u Fern Unfolds Hawaiian Nēnē Goose Petroglyph Of Hawaiian Canoe Koa Wood Canoe Native Hawaiian Ceremony Warrior's Footprint In Lava Beautiful Ferns Merrie Monarch Royal Court Post Western Contact Petroglyph Of Schooner Hawaiian Burial Mound 'Ōhi'a Lehua Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement A Rainbow Moment In Celebration Of Hula Plumeria Flowers Merrie Monarch Riders Rare Lenticular Cloud Beautiful Hawai'i Sunset A Very Brief History Of Hawai'i Geological History The Big Island of Hawai'i is the most southern and eastern island in the Hawaiian Island chain. The Big Island is also the most southern state in the United States. As with all the islands in the chain, the Big Island is completely formed from volcanoes. The Hawaiian Islands sit over a hotspot in the earth's crust. As the plate slowly drifts west-northwest the hotspot generates new islands. The Big Island is the youngest of the islands in the chain and is still forming by active volcano. The Big Island consists of five volcanoes. The oldest is the Kohala volcano in the northern part of the Big Island and emerged from the ocean about 460,000 years old and is now extinct. The second volcano, Mauna Kea is dormant and last erupted about 4,500 years ago. Mauna Kea is also the world's tallest mountain measured from its base - at over 33,480 ft tall. Only the top 13,840 ft. of Mauna Kea is above sea level. The third oldest volcano is Hualālai in the Kailua-Kona area. Hualālai, which is still considered active, last erupted about 200 years ago and could erupt again. Fourth on our list is Mauna Loa which last erupted in 1984 and is considered active and is currently inflating and may erupt again in the near future. Mauna Loa also is the world's most massive mountain and according to a study done by Grant Kaye, a geology doctoral student at OSU, "Mauna Loa is so massive that it deforms the oceanic plate on which it sits and forms sort of an inverted cone which is almost as large below the sea floor as the portion that extends above it." The youngest volcano on the Big Island is Kilauea, which has been erupting non-stop since January 1983. Kilauea is also the most active volcano on the planet and hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to its highly accessible lava flows each year. The Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park near the town of Volcano is the second largest tourist attraction in the state, bested only by Pearl Harbor. The island chains continue to grow. Just 20 miles off the south east coast of the Big Island, a new volcano is forming under the ocean. Named Lō'ihi, this new island is still about 3000 ft below sea level and is currently active and growing. The First Hawaiians Little is known about the exact date of the arrival of the first Hawaiians. From scant archeological clues a rough date is that first contact occurred approximately 1,600 years ago. The first voyagers were most likely from the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti. The early explorers were not lost fishermen but instead were highly skilled navigators and explorers. The early explorers had outstanding knowledge and skill at navigating by the stars and ocean currents, and used them to chart passages through the vast ocean. The first contact with Hawai'i was thought to have been at South Point on the Big Island. Certainly, once the explorers were close to the islands, the glow of the active volcanoes would have brought them to the Big Island. The oldest recorded Heiau (temple) on the Big Island has been dated to 500 AD. By about 900 AD it is believed that Hawaiians had occupied all the other major islands in the chain. Because of the lack of mammals on the Islands the early Hawaiians ate mostly vegetables, fish and seaweeds. Many of their favorite foods were brought to the islands in their canoes in the form of seeds and seedlings, to be planted upon arrival. To be sure, the Hawaiians also brought chickens and pigs along with the vegetables, thus introducing land mammals to the islands. Around 1175 AD a priest from Tahiti arrived on the Big Islands. Ancient chants call him Pa'ao, and he initiated the high-priest line and the ruling kings for each island. One of the kings that came from Tahiti was Pili who started the royal line that led to the great Hawaiian King Kamehameha. Pa'ao did great damage to the peaceful Hawaiian culture of the time. He was upset that the Hawaiians had eased up on their religion and ceremonies and invaded the land killing most of the priests, changing the religion and introducing the kapu system of forbidden objects and actions. At this point the Hawaiians had four major Gods and many minor and family Gods (thanks to Pa'ao). The four major Gods were: Kane - provider of nature, the sun and water. Ku - the God of war. Kanaloa - the God of the ocean Lono - the God of agriculture, fertility, peace and natural phenomena. In 1758 the great King Kamehameha I was born on the Kohala coast of the Big Island. He was a unifier of the islands and brought the various kingdoms together through both war and skillful negotiations. Though there is some evidence that Hawai'i was visited by Spanish sailors around 1627 AD, the first true recorded arrival of westerners occurred in 1778 when Captain James Cook and his crews on the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery see O'ahu. Cook officially names the islands the Sandwich Islands. At the time of his arrival the population of the islands were estimated to be between 400,000 and 800,000 Hawaiians. About a year later, on January 17, 1779, Captain Cook and his boats sail into Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island. The timing was extraordinary because at that very moment the Hawaiians were celebrating a festival to their God Lono. Part of the celebration included a banner made of white cloth draped on a tall pole. When Captain Cook sailed into the bay the sails of his ship resembled the banner and led the Hawaiians to think that Captain Cook was Lono. Captain Cook was honored as their God and was given many gifts from King Kalaniopuu. After about a week on the Big Island, Captain Cook and his men sailed out of the bay. About a week after leaving Kealakekua Bay, Captain Cook returned with a broken sail. This time things did not work out so well as before. After a serious argument occurred, Captain Cook showed a moment of weakness that convinced the Hawaiians that he was not their God Lono. The Hawaiians attacked and Captain Cook was killed on the shore. The monument to his landing and death is on the shores of Kealakekua Bay. The small area of land that the monument sits on is official land of Britain and a British warship comes each year to clean and preserve the monument. Unfortunately, not only did contact with western civilization destroy a robust and strong culture, it also introduced diseases to the Hawaiians that they had never been in contact with before. Simple diseases that most every western child has killed hundreds of thousands of strong Hawaiians and brought their population to chilling numbers - as low as 40,000 by 1890. In 1793 the British began trading with King Kahekiki of O'hau. A year later King Kamehameha granted power of the Big Island to Captain George Vancouver and Britain (this in part is where the Hawaiian flag, with the British coat of arms on it, comes from). In 1794 King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands and ruled them until his death in 1819. The death of Kamehameha I divided his power and made way for the missionaries to arrive. Six missionaries arrived shortly after 1819 to begin to convert the native Hawaiians to Christianity. In order to rid the Hawaiians of their heathen (as viewed by the missionaries) ways, much of the native culture was banned. Speaking in Hawaiian was greatly discouraged and hula and chanting were strictly banned. Hawaiians were often forced to wear European clothing and were taught to view their Hawaiian heritage as bad. From 1874 through 1891 King David Kalakaua attempted to preserve the culture, science, and art of the Hawaiians. It was his efforts of the time that preserved quite a bit of the knowledge we have today about the ancient ways and customs. Throughout the late 1800s Hawai'i was exporting cane sugar and coconuts around the world. Many of the missionary sons and daughters became plantation owners and possessed quite a bit of the land, and most of the crops that were being exported. However, in 1826 the United States had recognized Hawai'i as a sovereign nation and thus had imposed tariffs on products coming from the islands. This, of course, upset the plantation owners who, as Americans viewed this as an improper taxation - the solution of which was for them to have Hawai'i absorbed into the United States. On January 17, 1893, the Hawai'i government was illegally overthrown by a group of mostly American men living on the islands, with the backup of American troops that were on a warship docked in Honolulu Harbor. The men were pushing for annexation and were encouraged by then President Benjamin Harrison. At the time the ruler was Queen Lili'uokalani who gave up, under protest, in order to avoid bloodshed. That evening, Queen Lili'uokalani wrote these famous words: I, Lili`uokalani, by the grace of God and under the constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom. That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America, whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said Provisional Government. Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps loss of life, I do, under this protest, and impelled by said forces, yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands. Because the Queen surrendered Hawaii's sovereignty to the US it put the US in the position of having illegally invaded and overthrown a foreign nation without cause. However, Harrison's term in office was just about over and the new President, Grover Cleveland realized the illegality of the situation and withdrew the treaty. However, when the provisional government (run by Sanford Dole, brother to the Dole Pineapple owner) was told to give power back to the queen they refused. President Cleveland did all he could to champion the cause to restore Hawai'i to the Hawaiians but unfortunately the American Congress took no action to annex or restore Hawai'i. The inaction of the US forced Dole and his puppet government to declare himself President of a new Republic of Hawai'i. This resulted in a huge uprising in 1895. Queen Lili'uokalani was charged with treason and arrested and was made a prisoner in her own palace. She was finally freed late in 1896. Upon her freedom she immediately went to Washington DC to talk with President Cleveland, but he could at that time be of no further help. Hawai'i was annexed by the next president, William McKinley on August 12, 1898 - with Dole as the new governor. Life continued, after the overthrow, but power was now in the hands of the Americans and mostly white plantation owners. Hawaiians were hired as workers to toil in the hard, hot fields for their plantation masters. However, in order to control the Hawaiians, workers were imported from other countries. When any one group started getting large enough in population to cause a threat to the plantation owners, they would merely import new labor from somewhere else in the world. This caused a huge influx of different societies, from all over Asia and even Mexico. The variety of groups in the island meant that eventually intermarriage would begin - greatly diluting the various races and decreasing even more the number of pure Hawaiians as well as the purity of the language and culture. Sadly, Hawaiian language and customs continued into decline up until about 1970. In 1978 the US recognized Hawaiian as the second official language of the state (Hawai'i is the only state in the US to have two official languages, English and Hawaiian). A large push went underway to preserve the language and culture and that push continues today as more and more people are once again speaking the Hawaiian language. At the same time another push, from the native Hawaiian population itself, also began to try to undo the wrongs that had been committed against Hawai'i by the US in the illegal overthrow of the nation. It is very important to note that in 1993, President Bill Clinton and Congress signed a law that formally apologized to the Hawaiian Nation for false imprisonment of their Queen and the illegal takeover. However, the US government stopped short of offering any reparations or fixing the situation. Currently there are several movements underway to try to restore at least some Hawaiian sovereignty. Various government groups as well as local Hawaiian groups are all attempting to correct and restore the proper order. Unfortunately the US government seems bent on classifying Hawaiians as Native American Indians and putting them under the control of the Bureau of Indian Affairs - something that is not only laughable - but so obviously wrong. Click here to read more about Hawaiian Sovereignty issues. However, the Hawaiians know how to do it correctly. Akahi Nui, a direct descendant of Queen Lili'uokalani's sister was crowned King of Hawai'i in 1998 by the Hawaiian people. He has been recognized by the United Nations as the true representative of Hawai'i and the Hawaiian people and he has renewed treaties with other nations with the exception of the US. His Majesty Akahi Nui travels the world with a Kingdom of Hawai'i passport that is recognized by most nations. Today, Hawai'i is emerging to once again to be the jewel of the Pacific it originally was. Attempts to maintain the culture, language and heritage of the islands are undertaken not only by locals, but also by people from all over the world. Hula has spread to Japan and the mainland and the language is being taught in schools and spoken more and more. Both local and haole alike are pushing together for the preservation of the Hawaiian culture. Only time will tell if Hawai'i can once again become an independent nation, out from under the shadow of the US - we can only hope. Hawai'i: A History of the Big Island (Making of America) Shoal of Time a History of the Hawaiian Islands A Concise History of the Hawaiian Islands Voices of Wisdom Hawaiian Elders Speak In the Name of Hawaiians: Native Identities and Cultural Politics Paradise Remade: The Politics of Culture and History in Hawaii Ancient Hawaii The Betrayal of Liliuokalani: Last Queen of Hawai'i 1838-1917 Hawaiian Sovereignty: Do the Facts Matter? Hawaii a History Hawaiian Nation: Man, Gods and Nature Land and Power in Hawaii: The Democratic Years This page is named 'Hawaii'. Can't Find It? http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hi?Hawaii	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1654
__label__wiki	0.685702	0.685702	Home Hardware iPad Hype Hangover Follows Buzz Binge iPad Hype Hangover Follows Buzz Binge By David Needle \| January 29, 2010 The glow is starting to fade a bit following Apple's splashy unveiling of its still-to-be-shipped iPad tablet. CEO Steve Jobs took the wraps off the highly anticipated device at an event that lit up the twittersphere, blogosphere and innumerable Web sites that reported it both as breaking news and with live-blogging accounts. Many of those initial accounts raved about the sleek form factor, the low cost of the data plan and $499 price point, access to virtually all of the iPhone apps, etc. But that was yesterday. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) appears to be keeping a tight hold on the hardware for now with nary an early hands-on review to be found except for those who had a bit of time to play with the iPad at the event. That said, based on the announcement and release of the specs, there's been no lack of criticism tarring the debut as the "iFail" and "iDisappointment." Here's a selection of some of the more pointed observations. In a post titled "8 Things That Suck About the iPad," Gizmodo said the device had "... backbreaking failures that will make buying one the last thing I would want to do ... If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document?" Numerous other posts also slammed the lack of multitasking, which may already be the most popular iPad critique, if not the device's lack of support for Adobe's Flash. Joe Wilcox at betanews said he couldn't keep his complaints to his preferred list of 10 in his "12 reasons why I won't buy an Apple iPad." Developers might take particular note of his No. 12: "Apple has brought back the onerous developer non-disclosure agreement. Apple had lifted NDAs for App Store, but they're b-a-a-a-ck! At a time when Google and Nokia are pushing open source operating systems and mobile applications stacks, Apple's approach ranks of last-century software development practices." Blogger Tim Lee, an admitted "Apple fan-boy," slammed the company's media strategy in his "The case against the iPad" post: "Apple seems determined to replicate the 20th century business model of paying for copies of content in an age where those copies have a marginal cost of zero. Analysts often point to the strategy as a success, but I think this is a misreading of the last decade. The parts of the iTunes store that have had the most success -- music and apps -- are tied to devices that are strong products in their own right. Recall that the iPod was introduced 18 months before the iTunes Store, and that the iPhone had no app store for its first year. In contrast, the Apple TV, which is basically limited to only playing content purchased from the iTunes Store, has been a conspicuous failure." Over at T-Break Tech, writer Abbas Jaffar Ali ended his long list of criticisms concluding, "I still believe in Apple. And at $500, I will probably end up getting one." That said, he found plenty of things wrong in his "iDisappointed in the iPad" column, including: "…the lack on a front face camera totally destroys the chances of me video chatting with my kids at home while I'm on a business trip. Lastly, the screen resolution of 1024×768 (786.5k pixels) is just shy of 720p HD capability of 1280×720 (921.5k pixels). That means that you're going to have to re-encode all your movies separately for your iMac, your AppleTV, your iPad and your iPhone -- not very Apple-like." Finally, well-known Apple fan and New York Times tech columnist David Pogue is one of the last folks you'd expect to find on a list criticizing an Apple product. In fact he had mostly positive things to say in his "First Impressions" blog, including: "The iPad as an e-book reader is a no-brainer. It's just infinitely better-looking and more responsive than the Kindle, not to mention it has color and doesn't require external illumination." And : "Overall, the iPad seems like a dream screen for reading and watching -- at some loss of convenience in creating." But he did have some strong criticism, not of the device, but of the growing chorus of iPad complaints: "... hyperventilating is not yet the appropriate reaction," said Pogue. "At the same time, the bashers should be careful, too. As we enter Phase 2, remember how silly you all looked when you all predicted the iPhone's demise in that period before it went on sale. "Like the iPhone, the iPad is really a vessel, a tool, a 1.5-pound sack of potential. It may become many things. It may change an industry or two, or it may not. It may introduce a new category -- something between phone and laptop -- or it may not. And anyone who claims to know what will happen will wind up looking like a fool." David Needle is the West Coast bureau chief at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1655
__label__wiki	0.657518	0.657518	Climate Change, Development & Aid, Energy, Environment, Global Governance, Headlines, Latin America & the Caribbean Cuba on the Road to Clean Energy Development By Patricia Grogg Reprint \| \| Print \| HAVANA, Feb 7 2012 (IPS) - More than a decade ago, solar electricity changed the lives of several mountain communities in Cuba. Now this and other renewable power sources are emerging as the best options available to develop sustainable energy across the island. Luis Bérriz, a renewable energy advocate, performing control tasks. Credit: Jorge Luis Baños/IPS “If the world’s clean energy potential exceeds our consumption needs, why do we insist on using the polluting kind?” asked Luis Bérriz, head of the Cuban Society for the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources and Respect for the Environment (CUBASOLAR), a non- governmental organisation that promotes the use of alternative and environmentally-friendly power sources. According to his calculations, the amount of solar radiation Cuba receives is equivalent to 50 million tonnes of oil a day. “If we covered the 1,000-kilometre-long national highway with solar panels we would generate all the power currently used, without using fossil fuels or occupying a single square metre of agricultural land,” Bérriz said to IPS in an interview. Moreover, “nobody can block the sun; it belongs to all of us,” he added. CUBA: Sugarcane – Source of Renewable Energy, But Not Ethanol SOUTH AFRICA: Sound Policy Key to Renewable Energy CENTRAL AMERICA: Doors Wide Open for Renewable Energy – 2010 CLIMATE CHANGE-CUBA: "Energy is an Instrument of Power" – 2009 Bérriz is a researcher and long-time advocate of renewable power sources who prefers to talk about “reversing” climate change – which he says is caused by “the destructive actions of today’s societies” – instead of “adapting” to it. In his opinion, adapting to what others destroy sounds more like “conformism”. Industrialised countries are responsible for 75 percent of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which cause global warming. The leading GHG is carbon dioxide (CO2). For Bérriz, the best course of action is to move from oil to clean energy sources, which exceed power needs. The way to do this is to develop the knowledge, technology and industry necessary to tap into the various renewable energy sources most available in each area, he says. Key components of this process, Bérriz argues, are the training of scientists, technicians and skilled workers to cover human resource needs, and the creation of an energy and environmental culture that will raise the awareness essential for the development of solar power based on “fairness and solidarity”. Cuba’s greatest achievement in this sense is in the field of scientific development and education, which it shares with other countries of the region through cooperation efforts. The contribution of wind power, hydroelectric and sugarcane biomass equipment to Cuba’s National Electric Power System in 2010 was 178.1 gigawatt-hours, which is equivalent to four days worth of power generation and replaces almost 46,000 tonnes of oil. According to the official statistics table published by CUBASOLAR’s magazine Energía y Tú, Cuba has 9,624 solar panels, 8,677 windmills, 6,447 solar heaters, 554 biogas plants, 173 hydroelectric plants, four wind farms with 20 wind turbines, and 608 stoves for wood biomass pellet production. In addition, the island has 57 turbo generators and 67 boilers in 61 sugar mills. The new boost to the sugar industry – managed by a business group since 2011 – includes increasing the potential for power generation based on bagasse and other sugarcane byproducts to supply the sector year round. Experts see as a good sign the government’s decision to tap into the range of renewable power sources, giving priority to those with the greatest economic impact, as established in an extensive programme aimed at modernising the economy and enhancing its efficiency, launched in April 2011. “The country is improving in terms of organisation. Work and planning efforts for the next few years are under way in this and other renewable energy-related lines of work,” Bérriz said, insisting that Cuba has all the conditions to move forward in the use of clean energy infrastructure. Plans include reactivating windmill factories, revitalising the hydroelectric turbine industry, and further developing solar panel production, as much as possible, as these have been the best options in a rural electrification programme implemented over the past 10 years. “We can’t move at a faster pace (in the industry’s development) due to the country’s huge financial limitations. With more resources we could advance much faster on the path to renewable energy and share it with other nations,” the expert says. Other experts note that Cuba needs a specific support mechanism to speed up the introduction and use of alternative generators “towards a sustainable energy development” that does not overburden the state, is an attractive and reliable option for foreign investors, and encourages national industries to use these sources. In this sense, Conrado Moreno, a researcher and member of CUBASOLAR’s board, points to agricultural cooperatives as a “yet untapped niche” where, along with food production and sale, renewable energy sources emerge as “a promising solution in the economic model that is approaching.” According to Moreno, this form of production will receive incentives through legislation that is currently being discussed and will be passed shortly. Several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, already have legal frameworks in place to provide policy and financial support for the development of environmentally-friendly power generators. World Bank studies reveal that this region produces only six percent of the world’s GHG emissions from the power industry, and only 13 percent if deforestation and agriculture are factored in. This relatively low proportion is due to a great extent to the widespread use of hydroelectric power. However, as industry and transportation continue to expand the situation may change in the next 25 years, said Ede Ijjasz-Vásquez, World Bank director of sustainable development for Latin America and the Caribbean. If the current trends continue, by 2030 CO2 emissions from energy use will have increased by 33 percent per capita in the region, as compared to a global average of 24 percent, he said. With such prospects ahead, power diversification is the best option. Follow @patricia_grogg Cuba Revolution: Chapter 2? From Spanish Wire	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1656
__label__wiki	0.749941	0.749941	Africa, Africa's Young Farmers Seeding the Future, Development & Aid, Featured, Food & Agriculture, Headlines, Projects, Regional Categories Africa's Young Farmers Seeding the Future Developing Senegal’s Urban Agriculture By Koffigan E. Adigbli Reprint \| \| Print \| DAKAR, Nov 26 2012 (IPS) - Watering cans in hand, men and women move back and forth between the wells and water storage tanks and the crops they’re watering: carrots, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and potatoes, as well as fruit trees like palm, coconut, papaya and banana trees. Growers like Ahmadou Sene are working tirelessly to produce vegetables in and around the Senegalese capital. Sene, in his forties, has a one-hectare plot. For three months of the year, he has a dozen young people to hoe and weed the garden, and for four months a group of 20 women work to harvest and sell his produce. “Vegetables make up more than 80 percent of my crops,” he said, gesturing towards his garden. He cultivates his field year round, and harvests nearly 12 tonnes of vegetables each quarter. According to the 2011 census conducted by the Regional Office for Statistics and Demographics (SRSD), some 3,200 people work in horticulture in the Dakar region, spread across 113 production sites. Around 6,000 people work in horticulture, which supports more than 40,000 people in the capital, and a million people across the country. Senegal Villages Aspire to Self-Sufficiency in Rice Small Farmers in West Africa Need Support – Despite Good Rains Senegal Finds the Cooperative Way to More Food Thousands of Senegalese Producers Living off Market Gardening Senegal’s Investment in Rural Youth Bearing Fruit The SRSD’s report for last October showed that between 2010 and 2011, the cultivated area in the Dakar region grew from 5,098 hectares to 8,700 hectares. Horticultural production in the area rose from 750,000 to 860,000 tonnes during the same period. This year, the area being cultivated in and around Dakar is 11,300 hectares, and production, accounting for all crops, is estimated at 1,780,000 tonnes. According to the same report, urban agriculture in the Dakar region alone generated 450 million dollars in 2011, supplying 45 percent of the city’s food supply. But while urban farming is growing, farmers are facing difficulties linked to access to land, the marketing of vegetables, the recycling of water for irrigation, and access to financing. Even as the cultivated area is growing, some farmers are struggling to find land to expand their operations. “In 2010, I had an 800 square metre field. I was able to turn a profit of 600,000 CFA (about 1,200 dollars). But this year, I’ve only got 350 square metres to farm, because the government has taken over a large portion of my land for a dam to hold water,” said Cheikh Mor Ndiaye, a grower at Cambérène, one of the sprawling suburbs on the outskirts of the capital. The president of the administrative council of the Federated Cooperative of Horticulturalists of Senegal (CFAHS), Cheikh Ngane, told IPS that while garden farming provides livelihoods for a good number of Senegalese, it is undermined by the recurring problem of access to land. “Most horticulturalists are working with land that belongs to the state. To develop horticulture, it’s important to resolve the problem of land,” he said, adding that the problem is aggravated by competing claims from developers working on residential housing developments. The issue of land ownership can also lead to problems obtaining credit. “For example, if someone has their own plot, assigned to them by the rural community, bankers are not confident when they ask for a loan,” said Cheikh Ngane. Ababacar Sy Gaye, director of horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Infrastructure, said “We have outlined measures to ensure the promotion of horticultural crops, particularly with regard to inputs and good agricultural practices.” His department is responsible for implementing the national policy for development of horticultural production. Despite these difficulties, the farmers are passionate about their work — no surprise, given the profitability of market gardening. “With my little plot, I put away at least 400,000 francs per year (around 800 dollars) after covering costs like buying inputs,” said Cheikh Mor. According to Jean-Marie Sambou, a grower at Patte d’Oie, wholesalers have some advantages in buying their produce when compared to retailers. “We sell a kilo of onions to the wholesalers at 150 CFA, and they later re-sell this to retailers at 250 francs or more, and in the market, the same kilo sells for 350 CFA (68 U.S. cents),” he said. “Buyers from hotel and restaurant kitchens in Dakar regularly come out to my field to buy produce,” Ahmadou told IPS. “On average, I sell three tonnes of vegetables (every quarter) to women who resell them in local markets. I earn one million CFA francs per year after the sale of my produce and paying out the people who work for me.” Koffigan E. Adigbli Would you please provide your references as well, like I looked for this Regional Office for Statistics and Demographics report, and I couldnt find it, TNX	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1657
__label__cc	0.724176	0.275824	Adoption Act, 1998 Open Pdf Oscail PDF Amendment (new section 19A) of Principal Act. 6.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion of the following after section 19: “Post-placement consultation. 19A.—(1) This section— (a) applies in respect of the adoption of a child by a person who is not the father or the person who believes himself to be the father of the child (in this section referred to as the ‘father’), and (b) does not apply in respect of the adoption of a child where the placement of the child for adoption was arranged by an adoption agency. (2) Subject to this section, on the receipt of an application for an adoption order, the Board shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to consult the father of the child in relation to the matter of the adoption. (3) Where the Board is satisfied that, having regard to the nature of the relationship between the father and mother or the circumstances of the conception of the child, it would be inappropriate for the Board to consult the father in respect of the adoption of the child, the Board may make the adoption order without consulting the father. (4) If the identity of the father of a child is unknown to the Board and the mother refuses to reveal his identity, the Board— (a) shall counsel the mother to attempt to obtain her co-operation, indicating to her— (i) that the adoption may be delayed, (ii) the possibility of the father contesting the adoption at some later date, (iii) that the absence of information about the medical, genetic and social background of the father may be detrimental to the health, development or welfare of the child, and (iv) such other matters as the Board deems are appropriate in the circumstances, (b) may, if the mother, after counselling, continues to refuse to reveal the identity of the father, make the adoption order without consulting the father if it has no other practical way of ascertaining his identity. (5) Where the mother of a child provides the Board with a statutory declaration stating that she is unable to identify the father, the Board may make the adoption order without consulting the father if it has no other practical way of ascertaining his identity. (6) A health board shall, if so requested by the Board, assist the Board in carrying out its functions under this section.”.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1658
__label__wiki	0.555667	0.555667	New Quartet Records: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY 3CD (Ennio Morricone) General Discussions » New Quartet Records: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY 3CD (Ennio Morricone) (Posts 1 to 11 of 11) CommentTimeDec 10th 2020 edited Quartet Records, in collaboration with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Capitol Records and Universal Music Enterprises, is proud to present a mammoth 3-CD expanded edition of Ennio Morricone’s iconic score for the no-less iconic 1966 epic western by Sergio Leone: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY features what is probably the most instantly recognizable and famous of Morricone’s themes. But there is much more to admire in this score, such as the inventive motifs, formation of thematic material and adroit orchestrations (which the Maestro considered possibly even more important than the act of composition). The composer created his own genre and utilized the recording studio as an instrument in achieving his vision by layering trumpets and varying echo to create a sense of depth. This score is a kaleidoscope of nature call-and-response symbols, agonized shouts, grunting male chorus, epic wordless female voice, haunting harmonica, spiritual bugling trumpets, tolling chimes, vivid surf-rock Fender guitar, and sounds imitating gunfire. It is stylized yet cinematic. It is avant-garde yet embraces traditional film scoring—with some cues scored reverently for trumpet, harmonica, strings and chorus. The original 34-minute album has seen countless releases on LP and CD since 1966. An expanded 55-minute CD edition was released in 2001, but it was still far from including all the material that Morricone had conceived for the film. For this new Quartet release we have included all this material thanks to newly discovered original recording sessions vaulted in mono at MGM, which also include a large number of alternates, revised cues and music that was ultimately not included in the film. The original album has been included on Disc 3 for its historical value, although it has been remastered for the first time from the first-generation stereo master tapes. The entire collection has been painstakingly restored and mastered by Chris Malone. The package includes a richly illustrated 24-page booklet with liner notes by Tim Greiving, who offers a detailed analysis of the film and score, including quotes from an exclusive interview with Clint Eastwood given especially for this release. This album is a loving tribute to the memory and impressive legacy of one of the greatest geniuses in film music history: Maestro Ennio Morricone. DISC 1. The Film Score 1. Prologo / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (titoli) (2:47) 2. Il brutto / Il tramonto (1:21) 3. Morte di Stevens (0:55) 4. Morte di Baker / Il cattivo (0:27) 5. Una taglia sulla testa / Un angelo biondo (0:52) 6. Fuga a cavallo (0:45) 7. Il buono / Il biondo abbandona Tuco nel deserto (0:37) 8. La confessione di Maria (1:14) 9. Il ponte di corde (0:50) 10. Tuco fa la colletta (1:05) 11. Suspense (1:14) 12. I tre desperados / Una cannonata provvindenziale (1:10) 13. Il forte (2:21) 14. All’inseguimento del biondo (2:25) 15. Il deserto (5:16) 16. Il deserto secondo (2:39) 17. Lo stivale (0:59) 18. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:07) 19. Biondo… non morire! (0:56) 20. La missione di San Antonio / Il mio miglior nemico veglia su di me (2:23) 21. Incontro con Padre Ramirez / Perdonami fratello / Ti aiuterà a difenderti (2:38) 22. Il Canyon dei Morti / Dio è con noi (0:26) 23. Marcetta prima / Marcetta seconda (2:45) 24. Il campo di prigionia di Betterville (1:25) 25. La storia di un soldato (5:34) 26. Un treno per la forca / Partenza del treno militare (1:56) 27. Tuco e Wallace (La storia di un soldato) (3:52) 28. Tuco scappa / Arrivo nella cittadina / Fine di una spia (1:16) 29. Il bandito monco (2:52) 30. Inseguilo! (0:56) 31. Il bagnoschiuma di Tuco (0:46) 32. Due contro cinque / Verso duecentomilla dollari (4:06) DISC 2. The Film Score (Cont.) 1. Il capitano nordista (3:12) 2. Due assalti al giorno (2:08) 3. Il capitano e’ ferito (1:20) 4. Marcetta senza speranza (1:51) 5. L’ esplosione del ponte (0:48) 6. Morte di un soldato (3:17) 7. L’estasi dell’oro (3:23) 8. In due scaverete più presto! / Il triello (2:50) 9. Il triello seconda parte (2:20) 10. Non e’ uno scherzo, e’una corda / Nella linea del mirino / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (0:56) 11. Finale (2:01) 12. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata) (2:46) 13. La storia di un soldato (Orchestral Version) (2:54) 14. Il tramonto (Alternate) (0:58) 15. Morte di Stevens (Alternate) (0:54) 16. Fuga a cavallo (Film Version) (0:45) 17. Intermezzo musicale (0:23) 18. Il forte (Alternate) (0:56) 19. Marcetta (Alternate) (2:44) 20. Organo (0:16) 21. Organo secondo (1:33) 22. L’estasi dell’oro (Mono Album Mix) (3:23) 23. Il triello (Alternate) (3:15) 24. Il triello / Il triello seconda parte (Extended Version) (7:13) 25. La storia di un soldato (Alternate) (3:56) 26. Lo stivale (Extended Sustain) (2:17) 27. Uahuah & effetti (2:04) 28. La storia di un soldato (Extended Stereo Version) (7:29) 29. Il triello (Alternate – Stereo Mix) (3:15) 30. La storia di un soldato (Extended Version) (3:55) 31. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata – Stereo Mix) (2:47) DISC 3. Original Soundtrack Album 1. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (2:42) 2. Il tramonto (1:16) 3. Il forte (2:23) 4. Il deserto (5:18) 5. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:08) 6. Marcetta (2:50) 7. La storia di un soldato (3:54) 10. L’estasi dell’oro (3:24) 11. Il triello (4:57) https://quartetrecords.com/product/the- … ugly-3-cd/ CommentTimeDec 10th 2020 Despite already having the old RCA Records release (released with some music from the first two movies of the trilogy), the short release featuring this score in isolation, the expanded GDM CD Club release, and the (frankly) bizarre 'complete' Recording Arts release, seeing this 3CD set being released was a bit exciting. Looking forward to hearing Morricone's inventiveness in all its glory. Is anyone here going to go for this one? If not, I would be interested to know why not. No interest in the composer or movie? Or another reason. Let's assume some won't want it because it's too much music.) CommentAuthorJoep I'm not. The main reason is that I do not entirely like some of Morricone's most popular works anymore, including this one. It's'the overuse in popular culture that has kept me from listening to any of the music, even the fine GDM release, and watching the film, for a long time. Saturation. Any new analysis, review, release, mention leaves me cold. I think that overuse in popular culture is something that's a problem. I can't listen to 'Gabriel's Oboe' anymore because of its overuse. That's another example. Do you know the Carel Kraayenhof/Morricone version? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGAhGcma87A As such, it still works for me. I don't think I do. I will check it out. Let me know. It's a very different approach. CommentAuthorbigjimwilson Listening through to this now, and I think it's a wonderful sounding set. The mono tracks sound great, but the remix of the OST on disc 3 is really fantastic. bigjimwilson wrote I had read how sound on disc 3 was improved - and had some very minor additions to finish off some tracks previously lacking. Finally got round to listening to the OST mono tracks. Hearing the entire score adds so much to the listening experience offered by the 'highlights' disc versions previously available. And, as said above, the mono tracks sound excellent - so much detail, particularly in the quieter tracks, and a very rewarding listen.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1663
__label__cc	0.60632	0.39368	By Nate Offard Ted Cruz is a Republican presidential candidate. You often hear of arguments between him and Donald Trump in the media. He and the front runner differ on many things. In order to effectively judge a candidate, you really need to review their policies. Securing the border with Mexico has been a major platform for many of the candidates. Like all of the other candidates, Ted Cruz has a plan for this. He states, “It’s not that we don’t know how to solve illegal immigration. What is missing is the political will to get it done. And, as president, I will get it done. We will secure the borders.” Cruz also tends to strongly support second amendment rights. He seems to stand by the idea that second amendment rights can be used not only for hunting and for recreation but also for defending our nation. He believes that the right Americans have to defend themselves and their families is very crucial to our freedom and safety as a nation. Job creation is always a trending topic in presidential races, and this race is no different, yet Cruz has his own ideas on the subject. Cruz thinks the best way to increase growth is through fundamental tax reform. “Imagine 4.9 million new jobs. Instead of Obama’s income stagnation, imagine average wages rising 12.2 percent over the next decade. Capital investment rising 43.9 percent. And every income-level seeing double-digit increases in after-tax income. Imagine exports and manufacturing jobs booming. Our trade deficit falling as the tax bias against American made goods is eliminated. Imagine a 10 percent income tax, with every American filling out his or her taxes on a postcard or iPhone app. This would abolish the IRS as we know it.” Another common issue that is frequently brought up with the candidate is the issue of ISIS. This terrorist organization has been responsible for attacks all around the world and is a pressing and recurring issue. Cruz states that he defends the strategy of carpet bombing. "You claim it is tough talk to discuss carpet bombing," he says. "It is not tough talk. It is a different fundamental military strategy than what we've seen from Barack Obama." He claims he would bomb ISIS "into oblivion," and "apologize to nobody for the vigorousness." When asked about her opinion of Ted Cruz, Bethany Thomas says simply, “He lies”. Lauren Bergner expresses, “I personally think Ted is a little wishy-washy in his policies, but I think he has some potential. He isn't crazy like Donald Trump, but he does have his downfalls. But that's every candidate this year; they all have their pros and cons. It will be interesting to see how the election turns out. “ Michael McKernan declares, “He is okay, but he isn't one of my favorite candidates. He has some flaws.” Ted Cruz is currently behind Donald Trump in polls but still has a very loyal supporter base; as far as what happens now, only time will tell.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1668
__label__wiki	0.939305	0.939305	The History of the New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints Team Rosters New Orleans Saints Statistics Yearly Summaries Past New Orleans Saints NFL Seasons All Time Saints Records Passing Records New Orleans Saints Rushing Records New Orleans Saints All-Time Receiving Records New Orleans Saints Defensive Records Saints of Old Past Saint Players Saints Yearbooks The Dome Patrol New Orleans Saints Videos Saints Fans Videos New Orleans Saints History Image Complete Gallery New Orleans Saints Trading Cards New Orleans Saints Trading Cards By Years New Orleans Saints History Facebook Thumbnails New Orleans Saints 1987 Image Gallery New Orleans Saints Versus the Atlanta Falcons Image Gallery Saints Versus Eagles Image Gallery Projects in Elementor Memories of the New Orleans Saints check out page MLA Gallery Test Test Gallery Testing MLA Gallery Templates by Phil Pat Swilling - Vaughan Johnson - Sam Mills - Rickey Jackson Just the very mention of it brings a smile to the face of devout New Orleans Saints fans. The words are spoken with an almost hushed reverence and respect among the WhoDat faithful. The name conjures up memories of goal line stands, bone jarring tackles, and ball carriers being swarmed over by hosts of black and gold-clad defenders. The name reminds us of a time when we were respected in the NFL. The traditional term, The Dome Patrol, is usually given to the four linebackers who typified the aggressive nature of the Saints defense of the late 80s and early 90s. Without a doubt, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson and Pat Swilling were the heart and soul of one of the best defenses of its day. It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints were a team that couldn’t shake the loser stigma they had obtained since they joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1967. In 1969, it appeared the Saints were on their way to glory in the world of professional football. Finishing their third season, they had posted a total of 13 wins- the most yet for an expansion team in 3 years. The defense, at the time, had earned a reputation of playing tough, hard-nosed football. With such names as Doug Atkins, Steve Stonebreaker, Dave Rowe and Dave Whitsell (who, by the way, still holds the Saints team record of 10 interceptions in a season). The Saints had, if nothing else, a respectable hard-hitting defense. The 6 foot, 8 inch Hall of Famer, Atkins reportedly would inform opposing offenses after games, “We may have lost the game, but you’ll be hurting tomorrow.” But something happened in the 70s. The progress that was made during the late 60s seemed to fade away as established veterans on both sides of the ball left the team. A total of 7 different people held the title of “Head Coach” during this time period as some of the largest margins of defeat in Saints history happened. Finally, the decade of frustration and heart-breaking losses came to a climax with the disaster of 1980. The 1-15 season. The year of the Bagheads. Faith, Hope and Bum Following the debacle of 1980, John Mecom (once again) cleaned house and brought in coaching legend Bum Phillips. Phillips had built championship caliber teams at Houston. And though he’s best remembered for bringing in offensive talent like George Rogers and Ken Stabler, he began to put in place the pieces that would be the dominating defense to come. The previous year’s regime had more problems than it could deal with. One such problem was Chuck Muncie. Dick Nolan dealt the talented-but-troubled All-Pro running back to San Diego for the Chargers’ second pick of the 1981 draft. It was with that pick that the Saints took a defensive end from Pittsburgh named Rickey Jackson. Now Rickey Jackson was known as the “Other Guy” at Pittsburgh. He had played the opposite side of the defense from All-Everything Hugh Green. Despite leading the team in tackles in 1980, Jackson could never get the kind of publicity Green did. The attention he lacked at Pitt was made up for almost immediately. Leading the team with 8 sacks compiling 125 tackles. The Saints defense ranked in the top 5 every season Bum was there, but without an offense to put points on the board, winning seasons still eluded the Saints. When Bum suddenly resigned in 1985, after a 30-23 upset of Minnesota, the Saints were once again forced with a change of regime situation. But things were a little different this time. Along with a new regime would come something else that was desperately needed- a new owner. In the past the Saints had made many changes. Coaches, personnel, stadiums, uniforms, mascots had all been changed at one time or another. Now the man at the top was going to be different. Tom Benson bought the team for $70 million after former owner John Mecom Jr., had just had enough. Benson’s first order of business was to bring in someone who knew football. That someone was Jim Finks. As general manager, Finks had built dynasties at Minnesota and assembled a Super Bowl winner in Chicago, and after a falling out between he and Bears owner George Halas, Finks became available. Finks began by looking for a replacement for the departed Bum. He didn’t have to look far. The rival USFL had dissolved and a migration of talent had ensued. He tabbed disciplinarian Jim Mora to be head coach. Mora had no experience in the NFL, but had coached the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Cardinals were courting Mora, but Finks got him. Mora began to instill a sense of discipline had that had yet to be experienced in New Orleans. His “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” speech after a close loss to San Francisco in 1987, will always be engraved in Saints History. With their first ever playoff appearance in 1987, the Saints had emerged as contender in the NFL. This team that had 4 playoff appearances between 1987 and 1992 and a Western Division title in 1991. They were no longer the losers of the 1970s. They proved they could compete in the NFL. And this success can be attributed to a tenacious defense that led the league in points surrendered in 1991 and 1992; a defense that led the league in turnovers in 1991, and a defense that had given up 10 or less points in 27 games since 1987– 5 of them being shut outs. And at the forefront of this defense was the Dome Patrol. By 1987, Rickey Jackson was joined by former USFL players Sam Mills and Vaughn Johnson, and Pat Swilling (a third draft pick in 1987) to form the Dome Patrol. These four linebackers would make NFL history by all four being named to the Pro Bowl in 1992. Rickey Jackson The original member of the Dome Patrol and arguably, the most prolific Saint of his time frame. The 6-time Pro-Bowler was acquired via the Chuck Muncie trade of 1980, Jackson was a second round pick. He played 13 seasons as a Saint and still holds the team career record of 115 sacks. He started 195 games in a Saint uniform. In his entire career, he missed only 2 games due to injury. And those were due to an auto accident he suffered in 1989. He played the greater part of that season with a wired jaw – and still recorded 7 1/2 sacks. As a rookie in 1981, he led the team in sacks with 8. He also recorded 125 tackles and 10 passes defensed. He either led, or shared the team lead in sacks 6 times as a Saint. Twice had games with 4 sacks during his career. Against Atlanta in 1986, and Detroit in 1988. In 1987, he chalked up three sacks against Cincinnati. During his first Pro-Bowl year, in 1983, he had 11 sacks on the year, with three different games with at least two sacks. In 1984, his second Pro-Bowl year, he led all NFL linebackers with 12 sacks, had at least 1 sack in 10 different games, 16 passes defensed on the year and 4 fumble recoveries. Against the Rams,he had 11 solo tackles. In 1985, the year of his third Pro-Bowl, Jackson had 3 games with 2 sacks and 11 on the year, 107 tackles and 15 passes defensed. In 1986, he had 114 stops (11 in the same Atlanta game where he had 4 sacks), and 6 forced fumbles on the year. In 1989, following the accident, he was supposed to miss 4-6 weeks. He was out only 2. In the third game after his return, against the Jets, he recorded 7 tackles and 2 sacks. Against Detroit, in game 13, he had another 2 sacks. Following the 1993 season, Rickey’s contract expired in 1993 and he opted to sign on with the San Francisco 49ers. He became the starter for their 1994 Super Bowl Championship team. Mills had been an All-American at Division II sized Montclair State when he tried out with the Cleveland Browns in 1981. After being cut by the Browns, he then tried to find a spot with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and failed to make the team with them. He was teaching high school in 1982 when he made the roster of Jim Mora’s Philadelphia Stars of the USFL. The Stars made it to the league title game three times while winning the championship twice. Mills was the leading tackler in each of those three years. When Mora took over the Saints, Mills was immediately brought on board in 1986. By week 4, Mills was the starting linebacker and would hold that position until 1994. At 5 foot, 9 inches, Sam Mills was one of the shortest men to ever star at linebacker in the NFL. Proving that big things can come in small packages, Mills was named to 5 Pro Bowls as a Saints. He also led the team in tackles in 1989. In 1995, Mills left the Dome Patrol and joined the expansion Carolina Panthers and intercepted the pass that set up the Panthers’ first-ever win against the Jets. The teams leading tackler in 1995 and 1996, he made the Pro-Bowl in 1996. After retiring after the 1996 season, he continued as a coach with the Panthers’ organization and is currently the only member of the Panthers Hall of Fame. In 2003, Sam was diagnosed with intestinal cancer and continued to coach for the Panthers until he passed away in April of 2005. Pat Swilling A 3rd round draft pick in 1986 from Georgia Tech, Pat Swilling had 15 sacks his senior season playing defensive end. His rookie season was uneventful as he played mostly on special teams. By his second season, he earned the starting right outside linebacker spot, leading the team with 10.5 sacks. In 1988, he had a three-sack day and forced 2 fumbles against the Giants. In 1989 he made the Pro Bowl while setting a new team record of 16.5 sacks on the season. That year he had 2 consecutive 3 sack games, against the Rams and Falcons. In 1991 he led the league with 17 sacks and was named NFL Defensive player of the year. After the 1992 season, Swilling was traded to Detroit. It was with that pick that Willie Roaf was drafted. After 2 seasons in Detroit, Swilling played 3 in Oakland before retiring in 1999 after 12 years in the NFL. Vaughn Johnson Like teammate Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson had a sensational career in the USFL before joining the Dome Patrol, tallying 154 tackles in 1984 with the Jacksonville Bulls. Johnson was chosen number 1 by the Saints in the 1985 Supplemental Draft. By 1987 he had become one of the starting inside linebackers, leading the team with 87 tackles. In 1988 he had an 18-tackle game against the Redskins in route to leading the team in tackles again with 114, along with 2 sacks and an interception for the season, and he was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team. He was named All-Pro every year from 1989 to 1992, but he left the Saints after the 1993 season and had a brief stay with the Philadelphia Eagles. Share Some Who Dat History! Categories Past Saint Players Tags The Dome Patrol Post navigation The New Orleans Saints: An Emotional History Top 10 All-Time Saints Leaders – Most Catches in a Career 2 thoughts on “The Dome Patrol” Patsy Phillips I need a Pat Swilling trading card. I have the rest of the Dome Patrol. I live in North Central Texas (Cowboys Country). Please send address and price to obtain a card to complete my collection. Who DAT. Patsy, try Ebay. There’s tons of old Saints cards available there. Categories at Saints History…. All Time New Orleans Saints Leaders Big Moments in Saints History falcons hate week New Orleans Saints Art New Orleans Saints Football Cards New Orleans Saints History Stuff saints audio Saints Pictures Yearly Highlights © 2021 New Orleans Saints History • Built with GeneratePress	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1670
__label__wiki	0.70052	0.70052	Trustee from the Toolroom An appreciation by Helen Yeomans What on earth was Nevil Shute thinking when he spun this wonderful tale? Did he know it would be his last? Did he want to celebrate in miniature his first profession? Or was this work in the nature of a warm-up exercise for some meatier project? Whatever the case, Trustee from the Toolroom is a rollicking good read from beginning to end, a paean to a modest man living a modest life doing the work he loves, and with more friends than he would ever dare to imagine. There's scarcely a dark cloud from start to finish; the pessimism of On the Beach and Requiem for a Wren is wholly absent here. Keith and Katie Stewart live in a heavily mortgaged house in the London suburb of Ealing. Katie works at a department store while Keith makes tiny models of engines and clocks and other mechanical contrivances in his basement workshop, and writes about them for the magazine Miniature Mechanic. Into their childless life a 10-year-old niece, Janice, comes to stay while her parents sail halfway round the world to make a new life on Vancouver Island. But disaster strikes: the parents are drowned and their entire estate is lost, buried in the cement keel of a boat wrecked on an island in the south Pacific. Armed with only a hundred pounds, one of his tiny models and Katie's advice ("You must buy a pith helmet"), Keith sets out to recover Janice's inheritance. Along the way, Trustee offers us the richest cast of characters of any of Shute's books: industrialist Chuck Ferris and his nymphomaniac daughter; lumber magnate Sol Hirzhorn and his family; literature professor and closet model maker Cyrus Shawn O'Leary; and Jack Donelly, the slow-witted lusty sailor seeking his mother's home in "the Islands." If ever Nevil Shute's writing could be characterized as off the wall it is in this book. He comes perilously close to caricature in Jack, yet how skillfully he avoids it, giving us an endearing portrait of an obstinate, obtuse giant entranced with "Mr. Keats'" tiny invention. There's a fascinating passage where Keith must decide whether to embark on the long journey from Hawaii to Tahiti in a small sailboat with this man, widely regarded as almost wholly witless. Put yourself in his position. How do you judge someone? How do you decide whether to put your life in his hands? Shute takes his time with the scene where they meet, and bit by bit, Donelly's character and Keith's reasoning are revealed. At the end, we may privately decide we'd never have taken the chance ourselves, but we can see nevertheless why Keith does. Jack's unorthodox travel arrangements land them in deep trouble in Tahiti, but just when it seems as though Keith will never reach the shipwreck, an international network of Keith Stewart admirers mobilizes, helping him to complete his journey and begin the long trip home. But not without detours - in fact it's a toss up which is more entertaining: the journey out or the return. Replete with details of model-making and basement workshops, Trustee from the Toolroom will delight the heart of anyone who has ever messed about with bits of wood or metal. Regardless of how much or little you know of model engineering (I know nothing), you're likely to come away from this book thinking, "God bless all engineers" - and perhaps that was all the legacy Shute wanted to leave.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1672
__label__wiki	0.813699	0.813699	▸ Baseball ▸ MLB ▸ Lefthanders ▸ Left-handers who played catcher, post-1920 Left-handers who played catcher, post-1920 Lefthanders by Jeremy Snyder - July 19, 2006 August 7, 2017 0 1. Benny Distefano, Pittsburgh Pirates, May 14, June 13, and August 18, 1989. Distefano, a 1st baseman/outfielder who had spent most of the previous 5 years in the minors after making his major league debut in 1984, spent 3 weeks in the Florida Instructional League in the fall of 1988 learning how to catch in an effort to stay in the majors. In the May 14 game, the Pirates pinch-hit for starting catcher Tom Prince (batting .129 at the time) in the 6th inning, down 3-2, and backup Junior Ortiz (batting .228) in the 8th, down 5-2. Distefano moved from 1st base to catch the 9th, a 1-2-3 inning including a strikeout. In the June 13 game, Distefano came in off the bench to catch in the 8th inning, replacing starter Donn Bilardello, who had been pinch-hit for, down 7-2. He caught the last 2 innings without incident, though the Phillies would score 3 times in the 8th to win 10-2. In the August 18 game, Distefano pinch-hit for starter Junior Ortiz in the top of the 6th inning, down 9-4, driving in 2 runs with a single. He would stay on to catch the final 3 innings, but would not perform well; he allowed a stolen base, a passed ball, and a wild pitch. 2. Mike Squires, Chicago White Sox, May 4 and May 7, 1980. Like Distefano, Squires was a 1st baseman looking to stay in the major leagues. During a spring training conversation with White Sox vice president Roland Hemond, Squires asked to catch. After special-ordering a left-handed catcher’s glove, Squires caught a couple intrasquad games, but was not used there in the majors until he asked Tony LaRussa for a chance so that he could be ready for an emergency. On May 4, Squires got his chance, catching the 9th inning against the Brewers, down 11-1. By all accounts, he caught well, with pitcher Ed Farmer shaking him off only once during a 1-2-3 inning. Three days later, Squires was used again in the 9th against Kansas City, down 12-5. The Royals were surprised to see a left-handed catcher; according to Squires, “Pete LaCock started laughing when he came to bat, and Frank White shook his head and said, ‘Now I’ve seen everything.'” The inning again went well for Squires, the Royals managing only a single. 3. Chris Short, Philadelphia Phillies, June 29, 1961 (Game 1 of doubleheader). Short didn’t actually play an inning at catcher, but was listed as such for one game by Phillie manager Gene Mauch. The day before, the Phillies and Giants had battled to a 15-inning 7-7 tie, with the game cut short by a Philadelphia curfew that didn’t allow an inning to begin after 12:50 AM. This necessitated a double-header the next day, and neither the Phillies nor the Giants knew who the opposing starting pitcher would be for the first (extra) game. The Phillies protected themselves by submitting a starting lineup with 3 pitchers playing other positions: Short at catcher, Don Ferrarese at center field, and Jim Owens in right field. After the Giants submitted a starting lineup with lefty Billy O’Dell at pitcher, the Phillies replaced Short, Ferrarese, and Owens with righty-batting starters, all before the first pitch was thrown. The Giants had a trick up their sleeve, however. After O’Dell allowed a single to the Phillies leadoff batter in the bottom of the 1st, he was replaced by righty Sam Jones. (The Phillies had done something similar in the top of the 1st, replacing lefty Ken Lehman with righty Don Larsen after two batters.) The Phillies would pinch-hit for two of the three righty batters in the first inning, leaving them with a short bench for the rest of the game. 4. Dale Long, Chicago Cubs, August 20 (Game 1 of doubleheader) and September 21, 1958. Long was normally a first baseman, pressed into service twice at catcher by emergencies. In the August 20 game, starting catcher Sammy Taylor was pinch-hit for in bottom of the 8th, down 3-2. He was replaced by backup Cal Neeman of the 9th, but Neeman was ejected with 1 out in the 9th, and third catcher Morris Thacker was out with a knee injury (he would undergo season-ending surgery the next day). The Cubs, out of catchers, switched Long from first to catcher for the next 2 outs. I’m not sure if Neeman was suspended; the Chicago Tribune makes no mention of it, but he didn’t play for the next week, and Taylor played every inning of the next 7 games, including both halves of an August 24 doubleheader. In the September 21 game, the Cubs, down 2-1 to the Dodgers in the 8th with 2 outs and the bases loaded, pinch-hit the lefty-batting Taylor for righty-batting Neeman against the righty-throwing Roger Craig. When the Dodgers switching lefty-throwing Fred Kipp, the Cubs pinch-hit righty-batting Frank Ernaga for Taylor. With the Cubs out of catchers, Long again switched from 1st base to catcher for the 9th. Left-handers who played SS, post-1920: Fantasy football projection comparison, 2005: Defense/Special Teams Fantasy football projection comparison, 2005: Wide Receiver Statistics, Table 1 Fun with Old Newspapers (Part 2) Who will be the referee for Super Bowl LV? We’ve narrowed it down to these 2 Cam Filipe and Mark Schultz look at who will likely wear the white hat in Tampa for Super Bowl LV.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1675
__label__cc	0.660863	0.339137	The Green Hour From Screen Time to Green Time: L.L.Bean, National Wildlife Federation Team Up to Help Parents Get Their Kids Outdoors Jessica Ordóñez-Lancet Introducing the “Green Hour,” a program with easy, enriching activities for kids FREEPORT, Maine – L.L.Bean and the National Wildlife Federation are teaming up to provide fun and easy ways for kids to go from ‘screen time’ to ‘green time.’ The program, called “The Green Hour,” includes seasonal activities designed to encourage kids to spend more time outdoors. Parents with younger children are struggling with a challenging pandemic paradigm: work at home, school at home, play at home. Research from the American Psychological Association shows parents with children are experiencing higher levels of stress as they struggle with how to make it all work. Furthermore, between remote learning and more unstructured leisure time, kids are spending significantly more time online. In a Parents Together Survey, nearly half of respondents’ kids (48%) are currently spending more than six hours per day online. “Exploring the outdoors and connecting with nature has been a lifeline for many American families — and especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “The National Wildlife Federation wants to connect more families with the outdoors through the Green Hour Movement by providing seasonal activities for kids and providing resources to help parents get their families playing and learning in nature on a regular basis. We are proud to team up with L.L.Bean to support families across America in their quest to discover the solace, health benefits, and sense of wonder that nature and wildlife provide.” “Our purpose is to inspire and enable people to experience the restorative power of being outside,” said Shawn Gorman, Executive Chairman and great-grandson of L.L.Bean. “The stresses of the pandemic make outdoor time even more important. Our partnership with the National Wildlife Federation is intended to provide parents with some relief, and kids with some fun ways to play outside.” As the colder months approach, it is hard not to imagine both stress and screen time increasing. Through this partnership, L.L.Bean and the National Wildlife Federation are committed to helping parents by providing kids with different activities each week starting this week. The activities – which include playing bird bingo, going on a leaf patrol, becoming a wildlife detective and identifying animal tracks – provide simple ways for kids to connect with nature throughout each season. To make their outdoor experiences more meaningful, kids are encouraged to keep a Nature Notebook to guide their discoveries and document their new knowledge of the natural world. The idea of a "Green Hour” comes from research on creative play and health by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Research also shows the best way to connect young people to a lifelong concern for nature, wildlife and the outdoors is through regular positive experiences with nature. Research from the National Wildlife Federation shows that getting outside and connecting with nature on a regular basis has important emotional, mental and physical health benefits, especially for children. Recent studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imagination and attention spans, decreases aggression and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment. Green Hour content will be distributed by both L.L.Bean and the National Wildlife Federation through newsletters, social media, on the L.L.Bean Outside web page, as well as the Green Hour website. While content is delivered online, all activities are designed to get kids and families outside and to shape habits of connecting with nature at home safely. For more information on The Green Hour, please visit www.thegreenhour.org. About L.L.Bean, Inc. L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean operates 54 stores in 19 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1677
__label__cc	0.589147	0.410853	Fixed Income Essentials Guide to Fixed Income Bonds Fixed Income Essentials Repurchase Agreement (Repo) By Nathan Reiff Reviewed By Gordon Scott What Is a Repurchase Agreement? A repurchase agreement (repo) is a form of short-term borrowing for dealers in government securities. In the case of a repo, a dealer sells government securities to investors, usually on an overnight basis, and buys them back the following day at a slightly higher price. That small difference in price is the implicit overnight interest rate. Repos are typically used to raise short-term capital. They are also a common tool of central bank open market operations. For the party selling the security and agreeing to repurchase it in the future, it is a repo; for the party on the other end of the transaction, buying the security and agreeing to sell in the future, it is a reverse repurchase agreement. A repurchase agreement, or 'repo', is a short-term agreement to sell securities in order to buy them back at a slightly higher price. The one selling the repo is effectively borrowing and the other party is lending, since the lender is credited the implicit interest in the difference in prices from initiation to repurchase. Repos and reverse repos are thus used for short-term borrowing and lending, often with a tenor of overnight to 48 hours. The implicit interest rate on these agreements is known as the repo rate, a proxy for the overnight risk-free rate. Repurchase Agreement Understanding Repurchase Agreements Repurchase agreements are generally considered safe investments because the security in question functions as collateral, which is why most agreements involve U.S. Treasury bonds. Classified as a money-market instrument, a repurchase agreement functions in effect as a short-term, collateral-backed, interest-bearing loan. The buyer acts as a short-term lender, while the seller acts as a short-term borrower.?? The securities being sold are the collateral. Thus the goals of both parties, secured funding and liquidity, are met. Repurchase agreements can take place between a variety of parties. The Federal Reserve enters into repurchase agreements to regulate the money supply and bank reserves. Individuals normally use these agreements to finance the purchase of debt securities or other investments. Repurchase agreements are strictly short-term investments, and their maturity period is called the "rate," the "term" or the "tenor."?? Despite the similarities to collateralized loans, repos are actual purchases. However, since the buyer only has temporary ownership of the security, these agreements are often treated as loans for tax and accounting purposes. In the case of bankruptcy, in most cases repo investors can sell their collateral. This is another distinction between repo and collateralized loans; in the case of most collateralized loans, bankrupt investors would be subject to an automatic stay.?? Term vs. Open Repurchase Agreements The major difference between a term and an open repo lies in the amount of time between the sale and the repurchase of the securities. Repos that have a specified maturity date (usually the following day or week) are term repurchase agreements. A dealer sells securities to a counterparty with the agreement that he will buy them back at a higher price on a specific date. In this agreement, the counterparty gets the use of the securities for the term of the transaction, and will earn interest stated as the difference between the initial sale price and the buyback price. The interest rate is fixed, and interest will be paid at maturity by the dealer. A term repo is used to invest cash or finance assets when the parties know how long they will need to do so.?? An open repurchase agreement (also known as on-demand repo) works the same way as a term repo except that the dealer and the counterparty agree to the transaction without setting the maturity date. Rather, the trade can be terminated by either party by giving notice to the other party prior to an agreed-upon daily deadline. If an open repo is not terminated, it automatically rolls over each day. Interest is paid monthly, and the interest rate is periodically repriced by mutual agreement. The interest rate on an open repo is generally close to the federal funds rate. An open repo is used to invest cash or finance assets when the parties do not know how long they will need to do so. But nearly all open agreements conclude within one or two years.?? The Significance of the Tenor Repos with longer tenors are usually considered higher risk. During a longer tenor, more factors can affect repurchaser creditworthiness, and interest rate fluctuations are more likely to have an impact on the value of the repurchased asset.?? It's similar to the factors that affect bond interest rates. In normal credit market conditions, a longer-duration bond yields higher interest. Long-term bond purchases are bets that interest rates will not rise substantially during the life of the bond. Over a longer duration, it is more likely that a tail event will occur, driving interest rates above forecasted ranges. If there is a period of high inflation, the interest paid on bonds preceding that period will be worth less in real terms. This same principle applies to repos. The longer the term of the repo, the more likely that the value of the collateral securities will fluctuate prior to the repurchase, and business activities will affect the repurchaser's ability to fulfill the contract. In fact, counterparty credit risk is the primary risk involved in repos. As with any loan, the creditor bears the risk that the debtor will be unable to repay the principal. Repos function as collateralized debt, which reduces the total risk. And because the repo price exceeds the value of collateral, these agreements remain mutually beneficial to buyers and sellers.?? Types of Repurchase Agreements There are three main types of repurchase agreements. The most common type is a third-party repo (also known as a tri-party repo). In this arrangement, a clearing agent or bank conducts the transactions between the buyer and seller and protects the interests of each. It holds the securities and ensures that the seller receives cash at the onset of the agreement and that the buyer transfers funds for the benefit of the seller and delivers the securities at maturation. The primary clearing banks for tri-party repo in the United States are JPMorgan Chase and Bank of New York Mellon. In addition to taking custody of the securities involved in the transaction, these clearing agents also value the securities and ensure that a specified margin is applied.?? They settle the transaction on their books and assist dealers in optimizing collateral. What clearing banks do not do, however, is act as matchmakers; these agents do not find dealers for cash investors or vice versa, and they do not act as a broker. Typically, clearing banks settle repos early in the day, although a delay in settlement usually means that billions of dollars of intraday credit are extended to dealers each day. These agreements constitute between?80%–90% of the repurchase agreement market, which held approximately $1.6 trillion as of 2016.?? ?? In a specialized delivery repo, the transaction requires a bond guarantee at the beginning of the agreement and upon maturity. This type of agreement is not very common. In a held-in-custody repo, the seller receives cash for the sale of the security, but holds it in a custodial account for the buyer. This type of agreement is even less common because there is a risk the seller may become insolvent and the borrower may not have access to the collateral. Near and Far Legs Like many other corners of the financial world, repurchase agreements involve terminology that is not commonly found elsewhere. One of the most common terms in the repo space is the “leg.” There are different types of legs: for instance, the portion of the repurchase agreement transaction in which the security is initially sold is sometimes referred to as the “start leg,” while the repurchase which follows is the “close leg.”?? These terms are also sometimes exchanged for “near leg” and “far leg,” respectively. In the near leg of a repo transaction, the security is sold. In the far leg, it is repurchased.?? The Significance of the Repo Rate When government central banks repurchase securities from private banks, they do so at a discounted rate, known as the repo rate. Like prime rates, repo rates are set by central banks. The repo rate system allows governments to control the money supply within economies by increasing or decreasing available funds. A decrease in repo rates encourages banks to sell securities back to the government in return for cash. This increases the money supply available to the general economy. Conversely, by increasing repo rates, central banks can effectively decrease the money supply by discouraging banks from reselling these securities.?? In order to determine the true costs and benefits of a repurchase agreement, a buyer or seller interested in participating in the transaction must consider three different calculations: ???????????1) Cash paid in the initial security sale ???????????2) Cash to be paid in the repurchase of the security ???????????3) Implied interest rate The cash paid in the initial security sale and the cash paid in the repurchase will be dependent upon the value and type of security involved in the repo. In the case of a bond, for instance, both of these values will need to take into consideration the clean price and the value of the accrued interest for the bond. A crucial calculation in any repo agreement is the implied rate of interest. If the interest rate is not favorable, a repo agreement may not be the most efficient way of gaining access to short-term cash. A formula which can be used to calculate the real rate of interest is below: Interest rate = [(future value/present value) – 1] x year/number of days between consecutive legs Once the real interest rate has been calculated, a comparison of the rate against those pertaining to other types of funding will reveal whether or not the repurchase agreement is a good deal. Generally, as a secured form of lending, repurchase agreements offer better terms than money market cash lending agreements. From the perspective of a reverse repo participant, the agreement can generate extra income on excess cash reserves as well.?? Risks of Repo Repurchase agreements are generally seen as credit-risk mitigated instruments. The largest risk in a repo is that the seller may fail to hold up its end of the agreement by not repurchasing the securities which it sold at the maturity date. In these situations, the buyer of the security may then liquidate the security in order to attempt to recover the cash that it paid out initially. Why this constitutes an inherent risk, though, is that the value of the security may have declined since the initial sale, and it thus may leave the buyer with no option but to either hold the security which it never intended to maintain over the long term or to sell it for a loss. On the other hand, there is a risk for the borrower in this transaction as well; if the value of the security rises above the agreed-upon terms, the creditor may not sell the security back. There are mechanisms built into the repurchase agreement space to help mitigate this risk. For instance, many repos are over-collateralized. In many cases, if the collateral falls in value, a margin call can take effect to ask the borrower to amend the securities offered. In situations in which it appears likely that the value of the security may rise and the creditor may not sell it back to the borrower, under-collateralization can be utilized to mitigate risk.?? Generally, credit risk for repurchase agreements is dependent upon many factors, including the terms of the transaction, the liquidity of the security, the specifics of the counterparties involved, and much more. The Financial Crisis and the Repo Market Following the 2008 financial crisis, investors focused on a particular type of repo known as repo 105. There was speculation that these repos had played a part in Lehman Brothers’ attempts at hiding its declining financial health leading up to the crisis.?? In the years immediately following the crisis, the repo market in the U.S. and abroad contracted significantly. However, in more recent years it has recovered and continued to grow. The crisis revealed problems with the repo market in general. Since that time, the Fed has stepped in to analyze and mitigate systemic risk. The Fed identified at least three areas of concern:?? ???????????1) The tri-party repo market’s reliance on the intraday credit which the clearing banks provide ???????????2) A lack of effective plans to help liquidate the collateral when a dealer defaults ???????????3) A shortage of viable risk management practices Starting in late 2008, the Fed and other regulators established new rules to address these and other concerns. Among the effects of these regulations was an increased pressure on banks to maintain their safest assets, such as Treasuries.?? They are incentivized to not lend them out through repo agreements. Per Bloomberg, the impact of the regulations has been significant: up through late 2008, the estimated value of global securities loaned in this fashion stood close to $4 trillion. Since that time, though, the figure has hovered closer to $2 trillion. Further, the Fed has increasingly entered into repurchase (or reverse repurchase) agreements as a means of offsetting temporary swings in bank reserves.?? ?? Nonetheless, in spite of regulatory changes over the last decade, there remain systemic risks to the repo space. The Fed continues to worry about a default by a major repo dealer that might inspire a fire sale among money funds which could then negatively impact the broader market. The future of the repo space may involve continued regulations to limit the actions of these transactors, or it may even eventually involve a shift toward a central clearinghouse system. For the time being, though, repurchase agreements remain an important means of facilitating short-term borrowing.?? Federal Reserve Bank of New York. "Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Transactions." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Manhattan College. "Repurchase agreements and the law: how legislative changes fueled the housing bubble," Page 3. Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. New York University. "The Repo Market," Page 5. Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Cornell Law School. "Counterparty credit risk of repo-style transactions, eligible margin loans, and OTC derivative contracts." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Federal Reserve Bank of New York. "Tri-Party/GCF Repo." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "U.S. Insurance Industry's Exposure to Securities Lending and Repurchase Agreements Decreased in 2018," Page 5. Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. International Capital Market Association. "Frequently Asked Questions on Repo," Page 10. Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. DTCC. "Repo Services." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Robinhood. "What are the near and far legs in a repurchase agreement?" Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Federal Reserve Bank of New York. "Treasury Repo Reference Rates." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. International Capital Market Association. "15. Is repo riskless?" Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. National Public Radio. "Repo 105: Lehman's 'Accounting Gimmick' Explained." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Johns Hopkins University. "The Fed and Lehman Brothers." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Bloomberg. "Fed Said to Press BNY Mellon to Speed Repo Market Change." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Bloomberg. "Goldman Sachs Took Biggest Loan from Undisclosed Fed Program." Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Reuters. "Explainer: The Fed has a repo problem. What's that?" Accessed Aug. 14, 2020. Term Repurchase Agreement Under a term repurchase agreement, a bank will agree to buy securities from a dealer and then resell them a short time later at a specified price. Reverse Repurchase Agreement Definition A reverse repurchase agreement is the purchase of securities with the agreement to sell them at a higher price at a specific future date. Retail Repurchase Agreement A retail repurchase agreement is an alternative to a traditional savings deposit in which the investor purchases a pool of securities for a short term. Implied Repo Rate The implied repo rate is calculated by owning a bond and shorting a future or forward on that bond. A derivative is a securitized contract between two or more parties whose value is dependent upon or derived from one or more underlying assets. Its price is determined by fluctuations in that asset, which can be stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, or market indexes. General Collateral Financing Trades (GCF) Definition General collateral financing (GCF) trades are a type of repurchase agreement executed without the designation of specific securities as collateral. Repo vs. Reverse Repo: What's the Difference? The Fed's Tools for Influencing the Economy Banker's Acceptance 101 Government Spending & Debt How Do the Fed's Open Market Operations Affect the U.S. Money Supply? How Interest Rates Affect Mutual Funds An In-Depth Look at the Swap Market	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1681
__label__cc	0.588926	0.411074	Organizations Who Donate and Provide Aid to the Muslim People in the Islamic Regions Ramon Green August 2, 2017 Business, News Many of the countries in the Middle East are in desperate need of assistance. Thousands of families were forced to flee from Mosul and there were numerous organizations supplying medical teams, fresh water, food, and many other critical items. One of these organizations is Relief International based out of Washington D.C. They work in refugee camps, areas that are difficult to reach, and urban centers and provide economic opportunities, education, and basic necessities to the refugees. The crisis in the Middle East has celebrities taking notice and trying to help the people. Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen were responsible for a $1 million donation they split between the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children. Their generosity provided 250,000 children in Syria with vaccinations for the measles, health care, education, sanitation and clothing. Many of the organizations dedicated to helping the families forced to run from their homes in the Middle East are located in Washington D.C. and Virginia. This includes the American Near East Refugee, the Northern Virginia Refugee Fund, Hamdy Radwan, and the AMAR Foundation. Many of the families in the Middle East have reached unacceptable levels of desperation. Their children need to have a schools where they can receive educations and they are suffering from severe psychological impact caused by the disruption and conflict. These families deserve to be treated with the decency and care they deserve. Andy Murray is also dedicated to helping the Middle Eastern refugees. This tennis star is making a donation for every ace he hits in the entire season. He says this will increase his sense of satisfaction because in addition to helping him win he will be aiding the children who desperately need help. Many individuals are familiar with J.K. Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter series. Most do not realize she has lent her support to the refugees in the Middle East. Her Twitter account is devoted to the refugee families and children and she has asked the United Kingdom to begin accepting more refugees. Mandy Patinkin admits the crisis is terrifying on a humanitarian level and equates it with World War II. His work with the International Rescue Committee has been of tremendous benefit. Through no fault of their own refugees including children no longer have homes. Necessities most people take for granted such as clothing, food, water and basic supplies needed for survival have become nearly impossible for them to obtain. They need and deserve help. ← How Construction Companies are Transforming Washington D.C into a Timeless City A New Approach to Studying →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1684
__label__wiki	0.830182	0.830182	Get Samuel P. Huntington essential facts below. View Videos or join the Samuel P. Huntington discussion. Add Samuel P. Huntington to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media. American political scientist Samuel Huntington pictured during the "When Cultures Conflict" session at the 2004 meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (1927-04-18)April 18, 1927 December 24, 2008(2008-12-24) (aged 81) Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S. Democratic[1] The Clash of Civilizations Fukuyama, Mearsheimer Samuel Phillips Huntington (April 18, 1927 - December 24, 2008) was an American political scientist, adviser and academic. He spent more than half a century at Harvard University, where he was director of Harvard's Center for International Affairs and the Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor. During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, Huntington was the White House Coordinator of Security Planning for the National Security Council. During the 1980s Apartheid era in South Africa, he served as an adviser to P. W. Botha's Security Services. He is best known for his 1993 theory, the "Clash of Civilizations", of a post-Cold War new world order. He argued that future wars would be fought not between countries, but between cultures, and that Islamic extremism would become the biggest threat to Western domination of the world. Huntington is credited with helping to shape U.S. views on civilian-military relations, political development, and comparative government.[1] According to the Open Syllabus Project, Huntington is the second most frequently cited author on college syllabi for political science courses.[2] Huntington was born on April 18, 1927, in New York City, the son of Dorothy Sanborn (née Phillips), a short-story writer, and Richard Thomas Huntington, a publisher of hotel trade journals.[3][4] His grandfather was publisher John Sanborn Phillips. He graduated with distinction from Yale University at age 18, served in the U.S. Army, earned his Master's degree from the University of Chicago, and completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University where he began teaching at age 23.[5] Huntington was a member of Harvard's department of government from 1950 until he was denied tenure in 1959.[6] Along with Zbigniew Brzezinski, who had also been denied tenure, he moved to Columbia University in New York. From 1959 to 1962 he was an associate professor of government at Columbia, where he was also deputy director of their Institute of War and Peace Studies. Huntington was invited to return to Harvard with tenure in 1963 and remained there until his death. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1965.[7] Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel co-founded and co-edited Foreign Policy. Huntington stayed as co-editor until 1977.[8] Huntington's first major book was The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations (1957), which was highly controversial when it was published, but presently is regarded as the most influential book on American civil-military relations.[9][10][11] He became prominent with his Political Order in Changing Societies (1968), a work that challenged the conventional opinion of modernization theorists, that economic and social progress would produce stable democracies in recently decolonized countries. He also was co-author of The Crisis of Democracy: On the Governability of Democracies, a report issued by the Trilateral Commission in 1976. In 1977, his friend Brzezinski - who had been appointed National Security Adviser in the administration of Jimmy Carter - invited Huntington to become White House Coordinator of Security Planning for the National Security Council. He served in this position until the end of 1978. Huntington continued to teach undergraduates until his retirement in 2007. Huntington met his wife, Nancy Arkelyan, when they were working together on a speech for 1956 presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. They had two sons, Nicholas and Timothy.[1] After several years of declining health, Huntington died on December 24, 2008, at age 81 on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.[3] Notable arguments Political Order in Changing Societies During 1968, just as the United States' war in Vietnam was becoming most intense, Huntington published Political Order in Changing Societies, which was a critique of the modernization theory which had affected much U.S. policy regarding the developing world during the prior decade. Huntington argues that as societies modernize, they become more complex and disordered. If the process of social modernization that produces this disorder is not matched by a process of political and institutional modernization--a process which produces political institutions capable of managing the stress of modernization--the result may be violence. During the 1970s, Huntington was an advisor to governments, both democratic and dictatorial. During 1972, he met with Medici government representatives in Brazil; a year later he published the report "Approaches to Political Decompression", warning against the risks of a too-rapid political liberalization, proposing gradual liberalization, and a strong party state modeled upon the image of the Mexican Institutional Revolutionary Party. After a prolonged transition, Brazil became democratic during 1985. During the 1980s, he became a valued adviser to the South African regime, which used his ideas on political order to craft its "total strategy" to reform apartheid and suppress growing resistance. He assured South Africa's rulers that increasing the repressive power of the state (which at that time included police violence, detention without trial, and torture) can be necessary to effect reform. The reform process, he told his South African audience, often requires "duplicity, deceit, faulty assumptions and purposeful blindness." He thus gave his imprimatur to his hosts' project of "reforming" apartheid rather than eliminating it.[12] Huntington frequently cited Brazil as a success, alluding to his role in his 1988 presidential address to the American Political Science Association, commenting that political science played a modest role in this process. Critics, such as British political scientist Alan Hooper, note that contemporary Brazil has an especially unstable party system, wherein the best institutionalized party, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Workers' Party, emerged in opposition to controlled transition. Moreover, Hooper claims that the lack of civil participation in contemporary Brazil results from that top-down process of political participation transitions. In his 1991 book The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, Huntington made the argument that beginning with Portugal's revolution during 1974, there has been a third wave of democratization which describes a global trend which includes more than 60 countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa which have undergone some form of democratic transition. Huntington won the 1992 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for this book.[13] "The Clash of Civilizations" Map of the nine "civilizations" from Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations." During 1993, Huntington provoked great debate among international relations theorists with the interrogatively titled "The Clash of Civilizations?", an influential, oft-cited article published in Foreign Affairs magazine. In the article, he argued that, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Islam would become the biggest obstacle to Western domination of the world. The West's next big war therefore, he said, would inevitably be with Islam.[14] Its description of post-Cold War geopolitics and the "inevitability of instability" contrasted with the influential "End of History" thesis advocated by Francis Fukuyama. Huntington expanded "The Clash of Civilizations?" to book length and published it as The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order in 1996. The article and the book posit that post-Cold War conflict would most frequently and violently occur because of cultural rather than ideological differences. That, whilst in the Cold War, conflict occurred between the Capitalist West and the Communist Bloc East, it now was most likely to occur between the world's major civilizations--identifying seven, and a possible eighth: (i) Western, (ii) Latin American, (iii) Islamic, (iv) Sinic (Chinese), (v) Hindu, (vi) Orthodox, (vii) Japanese, and (viii) African. This cultural organization contrasts the contemporary world with the classical notion of sovereign states. To understand current and future conflict, cultural rifts must be understood, and culture--rather than the State--must be accepted as the reason for war. Thus, Western nations will lose predominance if they fail to recognize the irreconcilable nature of cultural tensions. Huntington argued that this post-Cold War shift in geopolitical organization and structure requires the West to strengthen itself culturally, by abandoning the imposition of its ideal of democratic universalism and its incessant military interventionism. Underscoring this point, Huntington wrote in the 1996 expansion, "In the emerging world of ethnic conflict and civilizational clash, Western belief in the universality of Western culture suffers three problems: it is false; it is immoral; and it is dangerous."[15] The identification of Western Civilization with Western Christianity (Catholic-Protestant) was not Huntington's original idea, it was rather the traditional Western opinion and subdivision before the Cold War era.[16] Critics (for example articles in Le Monde Diplomatique) call The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order the theoretical legitimization of American-caused Western aggression against China and the world's Islamic and Orthodox cultures. Other critics argue that Huntington's taxonomy is simplistic and arbitrary, and does not take account of the internal dynamics and partisan tensions within civilizations. Furthermore, critics argue that Huntington neglects ideological mobilization by elites and unfulfilled socioeconomic needs of the population as the real causal factors driving conflict, that he ignores conflicts that do not fit well with the civilizational borders identified by him, and they charge that his new paradigm is nothing but realist thinking in which "states" became replaced by "civilizations".[17] Huntington's influence upon U.S. policy has been likened to that of historian Arnold Toynbee's controversial religious theories about Asian leaders during the early twentieth century. The New York Times obituary on Huntington states that his "emphasis on ancient religious empires, as opposed to states or ethnicities, [as sources of global conflict] gained ... more cachet after the Sept. 11 attacks."[18] Huntington wrote that Ukraine might divide along the cultural line between the more Catholic western Ukraine and Orthodox eastern Ukraine: While a statist approach highlights the possibility of a Russian-Ukrainian war, a civilizational approach minimizes that and instead highlights the possibility of Ukraine splitting in half, a separation which cultural factors would lead one to predict might be more violent than that of Czechoslovakia but far less bloody than that of Yugoslavia.[19] Who Are We and immigration Huntington's last book, Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity, was published in May 2004. Its subject is the meaning of American national identity and what he describes as a cultural threat from large-scale immigration by Latinos, which Huntington says could "divide the United States into two peoples, two cultures, and two languages". In this book, he called for America to force immigrants to "adopt English" and the U.S. to turn to "Protestant religions" to "save itself against the threats" of Latino and Islamic immigrants. In a book review for the academic journal Perspectives on Politics, Gary M. Segura, Dean of the UCLA School of Public Affairs,[20] asserted that the book should not be considered social science because of its divisive views and rhetoric.[21] Segura also called Huntington's writing of the book unforgivable on account of Huntington's academic position, saying that the work was a polemic rather than a work of scholarship.[21] Huntington is credited with inventing the phrase Davos Man, referring to global elites who "have little need for national loyalty, view national boundaries as obstacles that thankfully are vanishing, and see national governments as residues from the past whose only useful function is to facilitate the elite's global operations". The phrase refers to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where leaders of the global economy meet.[22] During the 1980s, the South African apartheid government of P. W. Botha became increasingly preoccupied with security. On Huntington's advice, Botha's government established a powerful state security apparatus to "protect" the state against an anticipated upsurge in political violence that the reforms were expected to cause. The 1980s became a period of considerable political unrest, with the government becoming increasingly dominated by Botha's circle of generals and police chiefs (known as securocrats), who managed the various States of Emergencies.[23] National Academy of Sciences controversy In 1986, Huntington was nominated for membership to the National Academy of Sciences. The nomination was opposed by Professor Serge Lang, a Yale University mathematician inspired by the writings of mathematician Neal Koblitz, who had accused Huntington of misusing mathematics and engaging in pseudo-science. Lang claimed that Huntington distorted the historical record and used pseudo-mathematics to make his conclusions seem convincing. Lang's campaign succeeded; Huntington was twice nominated and twice rejected. A detailed description of these events was published by Lang in "Academia, Journalism, and Politics: A Case Study: The Huntington Case" which occupies the first 222 pages of his 1998 book Challenges.[24] Huntington's prominence as a Harvard professor and director of Harvard's Center for International Affairs led to significant media coverage of his defeated nomination to the NAS, including by The New York Times and The New Republic.[] His supporters included Herbert A. Simon, a 1978 laureate of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The Mathematical Intelligencer offered Simon and Koblitz an opportunity to engage in a written debate, which they accepted.[][clarification needed] The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations (1957) The Common Defense: Strategic Programs in National Politics (1961) Political Order in Changing Societies (1968) The Crisis of Democracy: On the Governability of Democracies with Michel Crozier and Joji Watanuki (1976) Political Power: USA USSR - Similarities and contrasts, Convergence or evolution with Zbigniew Brzezinski (1977) American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony (1981) "Democracy's third wave." Journal of democracy 2.2 (1991): 12-34. online The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century (1991) The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (1996) "After twenty years: the future of the third wave." Journal of democracy 8.4 (1997): 3-12. online Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity (2004), based on the article The Hispanic Challenge, Foreign Policy, March/April 2004[25] As editor: Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress with Lawrence E. Harrison (2000) Many Globalizations : Cultural Diversity in the Contemporary World with Peter L. Berger (2002) Historical institutionalism Historical sociology Intermediate Region International relations theory Modernization theory New institutionalism ^ a b c Lewin, Tamar (December 28, 2008). "Samuel P. Huntington, 81, Political Scientist, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015. ^ "Open Syllabus Project". ^ a b Hart, Dan (December 27, 2008). "Samuel Huntington, Harvard Political Scientist, Dies". Bloomberg News. ^ "POINTER - Journals - 2009 - Vol 35 No. 1 - Featured Author: Samuel P Huntington". Mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 2012. ^ "Samuel Huntington, Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor". Department of Government, Harvard University. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008. ^ "Professor Samuel Huntington author of The Clash of Civilizations". The Times. London. December 29, 2008. ^ "Book of Members, 1780-2010: Chapter H" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2011. ^ "Samuel Huntington, 81, political scientist, scholar \| Harvard Gazette". News.harvard.edu. February 5, 2009. Retrieved 2012. ^ Michael C. Desch. 1998. "Soldiers, States, and Structures: The End of the Cold War and Weakening U.S. Civilian Control." Armed Forces & Society. 24(3): 389-405. ^ Michael C. Desch. 2001. Civilian Control of the Military: The Changing Security Environment. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ^ Peter D. Feaver. 1996. "An American Crisis in Civilian Control and Civil-Military Relations?" The Tocqueville Review. 17(1): 159. ^ Joseph Lelyveld, Move Your Shadow (New York, 1985), 68-69; Shula Marks and Stanley Trapido, "South Africa Since 1976: an historical perspective," in Shaun Johnson, ed., South Africa: No Turning Back (London, 1988), 28-29 ^ "1992- Samuel Huntington, Herman Daly and John Cobb". Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. ^ Haruna, Mohammed (September 26, 2001). "Nigeria: September 11 And Huntington's Prophecy". Daily Trust. ^ "A Guide to the Work of Samuel Huntington". contemporarythinkers.org. ^ Peter Harrison, An Eccentric Tradition: The Paradox of 'Western Values' ^ see Richard E. Rubenstein and Jarle Crocker (1994): Challenging Huntington, in: Foreign Policy, No. 96 (Autumn, 1994), pp. 113-28 ^ Samuel P. Huntington of Harvard Dies at 81, The New York Times, December 27, 2008 ^ "Testing Huntington in Ukraine". European Tribune. ^ "Gary Segura Dean UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs". ^ a b Segura, Gary M. (2005). "Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity". Perspectives on Politics. 3 (3). doi:10.1017/S1537592705460259. ^ Davos man's death wish, The Guardian, 3 February 2006 ^ Fox, William; Fourie, Marius; Van Wyk, Belinda (1998). Police Management in South Africa. Juta and Company Limited. p. 167. ^ Lang, Serge (1999). Challenges. New York: Springer. ISBN 978-0-387-94861-4. ^ Previous location, archived link Samuel Huntington explaining himself his book and thesis about the clash of civilization in a 1997 interview with Charlie Rose The Crisis of Democracy Trilateral Commission report Appearances on C-SPAN Sam Huntington discusses "Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity" with Jenny Attiyeh on Thoughtcast "Interview with Sam Huntington" by Amina R. Chaudary - a 2006 interview with Islamica Magazine Samuel Huntington: Ideas Have Consequences by James Kurth Samuel Huntington, a prophet for the Trump era by Carlos Lozada, Washington Post, July 18, 2017 Le choc des civilisations PDF Qui veut le Choc des civilisations [Doc] Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress About for Book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order [Read's_O.n.l.i.n.e] Il n'y a pas de choc des civilisations (ARTE)(2002) Full version Le Choc des civilisations Best Sellers Rank : #1 Full E-book Der Untergang des Abendlandes: Umrisse einer Morphologie der Weltgeschichte Best Rebellunion #5: An die Mitlaufer der PEGIDA KenFM: Me, Myself and Media #1 - Reaktionen auf PEGIDA The Dialogue of Civilizations ( Dr. Badawi's Opening Statements - 1 of 3 ) Samuel_P._Huntington	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1686
__label__wiki	0.611081	0.611081	SHAT & THAT First, a quick note, in case you saw The Monkees piece on the Previews page before it was updated. There is going to be a Target Exclusive version of "Christmas Party" (street date 10/19) which will include two bonus tracks--"Riu Chiu" and "Christmas Is My Time of Year". The former of those, of course, is from The Monkees TV show and is the only full Christmas song recorded by The Monkees during their chart-topping days. Hardcore fans of the group had long said that no Christmas album by The Monkees could be considered complete without it. The latter is the single that the group (minus Mike Nesmith) released in 1976 (a remixed version released in 1986). Not sure which version of "Christmas Is My Time of Year" will be released (or if, perhaps, they've remixed it again). But I fully anticipate that the a capella "Riu Chiu" will be the original. Anyway...link included in the updated post. Now... If you haven't already heard it, here's our first taste of William Shatner's "Shatner Claus". Here's "Jingle Bells" (featuring Henry Rollins). This, of course, is the regular "Jingle Bells", not the Punk Rock single version. Didn't know what to expect from this album and....still don't, really. But that was fun. And kinda the approach I was hoping for. I didn't at all care for the recent Country album. That was more like a Jeff Cook album with a drunk heckler miked up in the audience. Sorry, just honestly saying what I thought about it. Hey, what does he care; he could already buy and sell me a million times over and he's gonna sell a ton. But, if the rest of "Shatner Claus" is like this, yeah, I could like that. I feel for the Old 97's...coming in after both The Monkees and William Shatner in this post. But, hey, the Shat had available audio. What was I supposed to do? 1. Love The Holidays 2. I Believe in Santa Claus 3. Gotta Love Being A Kid (Merry Christmas) 4. Snow Angels 5. Christmas Is Coming 6. Wintertime In The City 7. Rudolph Was Blue 8. Here It Is Christmastime 9. Hobo Christmas Song 10. Auld Lang Syne 11. Angels We Have Heard On High 14. Blue Christmas PRE-ORDER FROM ATO RECORDS Formed in 1993, the Texas Alt Country Old 97's have never done a Christmas album before, though they've released a track, here and there, now and again. And, according to frontman Rhett Miller, the rest of the band was reluctant to do so now. But Miller felt the band needed a "palate cleanser" before they embarked on their next non-holiday album, and he eventually sold the band on the idea by writing "I Believe In Santa Claus" on the fly in the dressing room. "Love The Holidays" includes 9 original songs and "Auld Lang Syne". The title track was co-written with Kevin Russell (The Gourds, Shinyribs), “Gotta Love Being A Kid (Merry Christmas)” and “Snow Angels" were both co-written with Ben Greenman, and the guy with the nose that glows gets another tale in “Rudolph Was Blue," co-written by Old 97’s and Dan Bern. Though the album is considered complete at 10 tracks, the band also recorded some holiday favorites--4 of them--which appear on the CD and digital formats. Though the "bonus tracks" do not appear on the vinyl LPs, purchase of the LPs through ATO Records (and possibly everywhere, though I don't have confirmation of that, yet) includes a download of the full album and the bonus tracks. There are a few different options, here. There's the CD of course. But the vinyl comes in two varieties. The standard vinyl is Red & Green Holiday Splatter. There is also a Candy Cane pinwheel color version, limited to 1500 units and, for the moment anyway, exclusively available through ATO Records. And then there's the Blue Christmas bundle, which includes your choice of CD or LP plus a 7" blue vinyl 45rpm single featuring "Blue Christmas" on the A-side and "Up On The Housetop" on the flip. The Blue Christmas bundle is limited to just 400 units. "Love The Holidays" officially drops November 16. This isn't my personal wheelhouse but, from what I can gather, Central Live is sort of the Worship & Praise version of Mannheim Steamroller (though with vocals). Everything they do is very big, very dramatic, very orchestral, lots of special effects, lights, smoke, the whole shootin' match. You go see a Central Live show, you're likely going to get your money's worth. Central Live represents from Central Church in Las Vegas and their stated mission is crating a "Wow" experience to introduce people to Jesus Christ. They do have a bunch of albums under their belts, but "Thrill of Hope" is their first Christmas album. They have certainly done Christmas live shows before and "Thrill of Hope" is a very popular number at those shows. And, even though it's a bit over the top (OK, it's a lot over the top), I do like that one. I was a little less impressed with their other "O Holy Night" take off, "This Moment". Most of the album, though is pretty straight forward and very well done. Given a choice between Central Live and Clapton, I'm taking Clapton (or The Monkees, for that matter), but then again I lost my taste for Mannheim Steamroller after their first record (which was brilliant) and certainly after their second. And who says you have to choose? There's absolutely a place for "Thrill of Hope" in your holiday library, especially if you like your holiday music big (like the old orchestral Christmas albums) yet contemporary. And the good news is that "Thrill of Hope" by Central Live is out now (release date September 21). No waiting on a pre-order necessary. Well, that's my idea of "the good news"; I'm sure Central Live would have a different definition. But be aware that quantities are limited. 1. Joy to the World 3. Hark the Herald Angels Sing 5. O Come All Ye Faithful 6. This Moment (O Holy Night) 7. Thrill of Hope 8. Do You Hear What I Hear 10. The First Noel 11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 12. Hope for All (O Come Let Us Adore Him) 13. I Lift My Eyes (Noel) CENTRAL LIVE WEB SITE PURCHASE FROM CENTRAL LIVE DIGITAL AT AMAZON 1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Carrie Underwood 2. There’s A New Kid In Town – Chris Young (feat. Alan Jackson) 3. Do Not Be Afraid – John Berry 4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Kelsea Ballerini 5. Little Drummer Boy – Hank Williams Jr. 6. What Child Is This – Phil Vassar 7. Mary, Did You Know? – Dylan Scott 8. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Liddy Clark 9. Let’s Make A Baby King – Wynonna 10. A Soldier’s King – Kenny Rogers 11. Christmas Eve In Bethlehem – Hannah Kerr 12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Rodney Atkins 13. What God Wants For Christmas – Darius Rucker 14. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee 15. Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year – The Bellamy Brothers 16. The Christmas Story From The Book Of Luke (Luke 2:1-11) – Charlie Daniels I always enjoy finding out what the season's "exclusives" are gonna be. Cuz, you know, they're exclusive. And this year's exclusive from Cracker Barrel is "Country Faith Christmas, Vol. 2". The album collects up 16 songs of the season, most focused on the religious aspects of the holiday. Not exactly sure what Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is doing on there, but alright. That is the album's oldest track. The Rodney Atkins video above represents one of the newest. But THE newest is actually Liddy Clark's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" It's new this year and it's exclusive to this exclusive release. Barely 20 years old, Liddy's a rising star in the modern Country landscape. And yet she's a veteran, having written songs and opened for artists like Scotty McCreery and Joe Nichols since her mid-teens. She built a considerable fanbase over the last 3 years or so via Radio Disney and iHeart Radio. And you know I love Radio Disney. Liddy's new EP, "Testing The Waters," was released this past July. "Country Faith Christmas, Vol. 2" releases September 28. Not sure if it will be offered through their online store, but you look like you could use a good meal anyway (go on, eat, eat, have a cookie). So pick one up at your local Cracker Barrel the next time you're there. You know, back when I heard Bill Shatner was making a Christmas album, I knew better but I kinda hoped this would be on it. Hmm. Maybe Bill could do a Target exclusive version and this could be the bonus track. It's still Shat at his Christmas best. I love Christmas, music, and cats. What more do you need to know? Anyone wishing to contact Stubby's for any reason may do so by emailing: stubbyschristmas@gmail.com. Readers should assume that any item reviewed on this site has been provided by the artist or label in exchange for promotional consideration, whether or not that is actually the case. If you are the copyright holder for any song or image appearing here and wish that item to be removed, please let me know via email and I will remove it forthwith. My intentions are to inform and interest people in your work, so that they might purchase it; not to provide anyone a way to avoid doing so. 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Rumble Pop Santastic Snowflakes Singles Ten Perfect Xmas Albums Trio Jazz Ukulele Soul Vinyl Reissue Worship & Praise	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1695
__label__cc	0.726299	0.273701	Home > WATER SPORTS > Sailing > Baltimore, Cork Baltimore, Cork / Ireland Sailing in Baltimore, Cork, Ireland Best Periods: County Cork is situated in the South-West Region of Ireland and is the largest of all Irish counties. The climate here, like the rest of Ireland, is classified as a maritime climate, usually with cool summers, mild winters and abundant rainfall. Cork enchants visitors with its beautiful landscapes, historic towns and magnificent coastline. In addition, it provides a number of sporting and leisure activities to perform and remember forever. Baltimore is a beautiful, fishing village that sits on the southwest coast of County Cork. Apart from the stunning natural surroundings, Baltimore offers a rich variety of maritime activities to locals and visitors. There is no doubt that Baltimore is home of sailing. The natural harbour is a safe anchorage for numerous boats and yachts. But, the real pleasure of sailing in Baltimore is to visit the magnificent sea coves and some of the many wonderful islands. In addition, the location hosts several options of training schools, providing courses and lessons for novice sailors, who want to enjoy the beauty of the southwest coast from the sea. Some schools offer the opportunity for people with disabilities to enjoy a sailing ride. Water temperature ranges from 7°C/45°F in winter to a maximum of 15°C/59°F in summer and early autumn months. Keep in mind that, you can get involved as much as you like, you can help sail the boat or hire a captain. Last but not least, the ideal periods are in spring and summer. Honokohau Harbor, Kailua Kona / Hawaii USA Kailua Kona is located in the North Kona District, Hawaii. It is a lively seaside town with sunny tropical weather all year long and lies at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano. Manly, Sydney / New South Wales Australia Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney. Historic landmarks, sandy beaches, hidden coves and impressive National Parks are certainly part of the charm of this destination. Sailing is one of many activities that visitors can choose from. Almeria, Andalusia / Andalusia Spain Almeria is a province of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, between Enix, Pechina and Nijar. Almeria enjoys a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and warm winters. Cronulla, Sydney Cronulla is a beach-side suburb in southern Sydney, at about 26 km/16 mi in the south of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Cronulla lies on a peninsula, between Botany Bay on the north and Port Hacking on the south. Cronulla is a popular tourist location and attracts many beach enthusiasts. Balmoral is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman, at about 8 km/5 mi in the north-east of Sydney's CBD. Balmoral Beach lies on the northern side of Sydney Harbor and provides with a number of local facilities, restaurants and cafes. It also offers a plethora of activities, such as surfing, sailing, diving and snorkeling. El Ejido, Almeria El Ejido is a municipality of Almeria province, in the autonomous community of west Andalusia. It lies between the mountain range of Sierra de Gador and the Mediterranean Sea. Neighboring municipalities are Dalias and Vicar, Berja and Roquetas de Mar. Cork / Ownahincha Beach, Cork County Cork is situated in the South-West Region of Ireland and it is the largest of all Irish counties. The climate here, like the rest of Ireland, is classified as a maritime climate, usually with cool summers, mild winters and abundant rainfall. Cork enchants visitors with its beautiful landscapes, historic towns and magnificent coastline. In addition, it provides with a number of sporting and leisure activities to perform and remember forever. Garretstown Beach, Cork Mt. Gabriel, Cork Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing Inchydoney Beach, Cork Zetland Pier, Cork U-260 Wreck, Cork Kowloon Bridge, Cork Inchydoney, Cork	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1697
__label__wiki	0.811645	0.811645	World's video Iguazu Falls - Power of Nature Iguazu Falls in HD - Argentina the marine wildlife in around the Valdes Peninsula, Argentina 2009 Episode 18 - Sydney Opera House World's 10 best beaches ECOTOURISM: travel green & responsible! Tripblend News (English version) Tripblend promotion The World > Africa > Sudan I would like to go Suggest a new point of interest Nubian pyramids Al Jazirah Al Qadarif Blue Nile River Gharb Darfur Janub Darfur Kassala North Darfur North Kordofan River Nile Sennar South Darfur South Kurdufan West Darfur West Kordofan White Nile \| Average rating: 0 Write a review officially the Republic of the Sudan (Arabic: جمهورية السودان‎, Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān), sometimes called North Sudan, is a country in North Africa that is often considered to be part of the Middle East as well. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. The population of Sudan is a combination of indigenous Nilo-Saharan-speaking Africans, and descendants of migrants from the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the process of Arabisation common throughout the rest of the Arab World, today Arab culture predominates in Sudan. The majority of the population of Sudan adheres to Islam. The Nile divides the country between east and west sides. The people of Sudan have a long history extending from antiquity which is intertwined with the history of Egypt. Sudan suffered seventeen years of civil war during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) followed by ethnic, religious and economic conflicts between the Muslim Arab northern Sudanese and the mostly animist and Christian Nilotes of Southern Sudan. This led to the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983. Because of continuing political and military struggles, Sudan was seized in a bloodless coup d'état by colonel Omar al-Bashir in 1989, who thereafter proclaimed himself President of Sudan. The civil war ended with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement which granted autonomy to what was then the southern region of the country. Following a referendum held in January 2011, South Sudan seceded on 9 July 2011 with the consent of Sudan's President al-Bashir. A member of the United Nations, Sudan also maintains membership with the African Union, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as serving as an observer in the World Trade Organization. Its capital is Khartoum, which serves as the political, cultural and commercial centre of the nation. Officially a federal presidential representative democratic republic, the politics of Sudan are widely considered by the international community to take place within an authoritarian system due to the control of the National Congress Party (NCP) of the judiciary, executive and legislative branches of government. Capital KHARTOUM Currency Dinaro sudanese (DS) Country code 00249 Spoken languages arabic, english necessary, with residual validity of at least six months after the date of departure for the country. For any changes to this rule, we recommend that you inquire beforehand at the Embassy or Consulate of the country present in Italy or at your travel agent. Hospital/medical facilities in the country do not reflect Western standards. The health situation is particularly difficult because there is a risk of contracting diseases typical of the equatorial areas: malaria, typhus, Amoeba, hepatitis A and B, cholera, meningitis, yellow fever. The AIDS cases are increasing. In recent years were reported frequent cases of Rift Valley fever "; generally speaking, frequent infections are caused by direct contact with infected animals, ingestion of unpasteurised milk or from insect stings. Although the risk is higher in rural areas, the frequent displacements of population towards urban areas make you ' that even the urban populations have liable to exposure to these diseases. You should consult regularly the website of World Health Organisation (www.who.org) for updates on the health situation. We recommend that you take out, before embarking on your trip, health insurance include, in addition to the coverage of medical costs, including any return air health or transfer in any other country. Warnings: We recommend that you: -After consulting a doctor, vaccinations against yellow fever, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus; We recommend, in addition, anti-malarial drugs; -travel with a stash of drugs and those necessities that you need; -drink only water filtered and disinfected and fumigating with fruits and vegetables. scorching heat typical of desert areas, with temperatures that can exceed 50° C (May-July) and with sporadic rains (August-October); The best period to visit the country goes from November to February. Driving Licence: Italian license presented upon arrival to the authorities Customs documents required: the "carnet customs passage" for the temporarily imported vehicles. Transportation: the ordinary road network is approximately Km motorway beamwidth 73577 is non-existent. Its rail network stretches about Km 4765. Ports: Port Sudan International airports: Khartoum, Port Sudan. Airlines: there are no direct flights between Italy and the Sudan; Some companies connecting Italy with a stopover in Sudan are: Lufthansa, Emirates Airlines, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, British Midlands Yemenya, and KLM. Car: there is no fix for the hire of machines. Fuel: in the big centres can be found with ease diesel (6.5 Sudanese Pounds per gallon) and gasoline (8.5 Sudanese Pounds per gallon), while outside major cities, you may encounter some difficulty in finding the fuel prices also increased. Share your experience: Upload an image of Sudan Add video for Sudan Upload an album of Sudan Write new diary Are you a journalist, photographer or videoreporter travel and have material for Sudan? Sign up add Sudan to the list of places where you've been Or register to write a comment for this diary Languages: English - Italiano About us - Conditions - Create a Business Account - Careers - Help - Privacy legacy - Tripblend © 2012 - All rights reserved - Tripblend is property of Imagina Studio - P.Iva IT01083440329 - For more information: info@tripblend.com Cookies help us deliver our services. Using these services, you agree to the use of cookies on our part. Ok Information	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1700
__label__cc	0.663481	0.336519	[Video] ‘Underneath The Surface’ with @MrsSole Most of us might think of Sole as the foul-mouthed rapper featured on J.T. Money’s #1 single “Who Dat”, but thanks to The Deep End Network we get a chance to get Underneath the Surface and find out who she really is. The former raptress opens up about her rise to fame, why she decided to walk away from it all, her marriage to R&B singer Ginuwine and a plethora of other topics. The Deep End Network is committed to bringing viewers content of depth that showcases the world in all of its brilliant diversity. Their programming highlights the textures, layers, and nuances of the human experience. Sit back and get to know Sole like never before:	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1701
__label__cc	0.693348	0.306652	Project Work‎ > ‎Graphics and Animation‎ > ‎ Critique of New Captain Scarlet Computer Animation (CS 527) - Final Exam Season 2 - Episode 11 - "Shape-Shifter" 5:12 to 5:33 and 5:53 to 6:00 Gerry Anderson’s New Captain Scarlet was a flourishing attempt to take a puppet show, remaking it using Computer Generated Imagery and calling it “Hypermarionation”. I chose to critique the following portions of the Season 2 episode “Shape-Shifters”: 5:12 to 5:33 and 5:53 to 6:00. (Henceforth, I shall refer to this time frame of the clip as 0 to 30 seconds, for the sake of convenience). Click here to see the clip. A Mysteron replica of Captain Scarlet brings the real (shot dead) Captain Scarlet into a forest and dumps him into a swamp. A hick saves the Captain’s body from being eaten up by an alligator. Any animated video encompasses several techniques and ideas combined to form a sequence that looks as realistic as possible. Here, I try to dissect the methodologies used in the animation clip that I've chosen. Model Design Models have been designed masterfully in the New Captain Scarlet. They have been kept to low polygons counts, probably to speed up rendering. The car in my scene looks futuristic. Although I don’t know what purpose is served by having lights pointing upwards, it looks cool and shiny. Ferrari red colored two-seater cars with upward opening doors are pretty common these days, but that is a good point to start designing a car of the future. The other vehicles in the series are better and look awesome, especially the motorbike that can fly and the mars rover with lots of wheels and hyper-sensitive shock absorbers. There is also a boat in this clip that belongs to the hick, which looks old and small. It gives you a feeling about the intentions of the people using it. The people are designed pretty well. Most of the clothing is usually armor, which makes life a lot simpler for the animator / designer. The hick and his father have good physique. The hick looks dumb, something that might have gone in intentionally. The faces look blotchy when you compare it to something like Dr. Aki Ross from Final Fantasy. Apart from the actual talent of the model designers and animators, rendering a face with very high detail can take up CPU and time, all of which translates into money. The faces try to show emotions to an extent, "and that's all I have to say about that". Guns, for some reason, have not been an important thing for the animators. Although they never appear in this clip, the guns that the officers carry look like pipes with handles. Thankfully, the shotgun that the hick carries looks real. The alligator has been modeled beautifully. A lot of attention has been paid to its rugged surface and scary teeth. Although it stays for a very short period of time, its presence and threat is felt. Small things haven’t been paid too much attention. It is probably not worth it, because of the short duration of their appearance. These things are hardly noticed, like the motor of the boat exposes the polygons that went into its making. Lighting and Shadows The environment is mostly a flat texture and gives very minimalistic scope for animation within it; some textures (like the background in the one in with the boat) look very obviously like a landscape painting. It would have looked nice if there were a couple of actual tree models in the front with a textured background. Lighting and shadows are incorporated into the background texture, so there's nothing to bother about on that front. The animated objects are ray-traced and shadows are generated based on the position of lights. This is where another problem crops in: In the first sequence (00:00 - 00:11), the background suggests that the sun (the light source) is at the top right hand corner of the scene. When the car moves in, the shadow is casted on the left hand side, which is perfect. Then, the fake Captain Scarlet gets out of his car and walks to the passenger side of the car. By the time he gets there, the shadow of the car has magically moved to the right. The two character models also cast shadows to their right. Then, the fake Captain Scarlet carries the dead body to the river (00:12 - 00:16). Initially, the shadows are to the objects' left, and by the time they reach the stream, the shadow moves to the right. This is a classic case of having more than one light source and not specifying their properties correctly. In an outdoor scene, one light should cast shadows (unless there is a lamp or something similar nearby), while the other lights should not. Setting a simple property on the light objects would have prevented such discrepancies. Another way to avoid this problem is by using a single light source. Then, we may have to depend on the ambient light to light up the polygons not in front of main point / directional light. Using Radiosity is also good solution to light up scenes, but it would take an enormous amount of time to come up with so many frames. Motion Capture is clearly the obvious method to use to implement walking and other human motions. This is a pretty straight forward modus operandi where you put sensors on an actor, record his motions and transfer the same on the CG Model. In the clip that I’ve chosen, the fake Captain Scarlet walks more like a wrestler than like a Captain (00:04 to 00:10). He seems to be jumping up and down, and keeps his hands away from his body, both of which are not natural. This could be because of several possible reasons: Acting: The actor has to get the feel of the character and has to walk with pride like a fake captain who has no guilt, as opposed to someone who’s scared of the sin he’s just committed. Mo-Cap: The mo-cap sensors and the limited space available to carry out the actions could have prevented the actor from acting naturally. Mapping: When mapping the model to the mo-cap data; the scale factor might not have been used properly. Dead Man Falling If you closely observe the two seconds of the clip where the fake Captain Scarlet opens to door to let the real (dead) Captain Scarlet out (00:10 to 00:11), the dead man magically lifts his hand and throws it out before letting the rest of the body fall on the ground. This is something that could have been easily avoided, simply by re-enacting the sequence correctly. Mo-Cap while carrying objects During motion capture, the weights carried by the characters in the scene have not been taken into consideration. The fake Captain may be strong, but that doesn't mean that he can walk around carrying a dead man with heavy armor on his shoulders without slouching, or slowing down. More on weightlessness will follow. Key Frame Animation Key Frame Animation is pretty straight-forward. The "key" frames are put in the correct, required frames and the engine will simply interpolate (move / rotate / skew / morph) the objects for the frames in between. But this can get tricky at times. Face Shots and Lip Sync There are a lot of scenes in this series with close up shots showing people talk. The characters talk a lot and most of the talking is shown up-close. The characters look like they are saying whatever is being said. Using Key Frames is the best way-to-go to implement facial animation. Create a database of frames consisting of the various possibilities of lip positions, eye look and feel, and overall face expressions; put the right combination at the right place; let the computer interpolate the remaining frames; and viola - you have perfect lip sync and face expressions. There are algorithms out there that take in voice audio for the character and generate the lip movements automatically. I don't believe that any such thing has been used in this series. In my clip, there are only two words, and it has come out well! The face model itself can be a lot more detailed. Some men (including Captain Scarlet) have a one-day-old beard, which is good. The teeth are not one long white patch; it can actually be seen as separate teeth, but in an attempt to over-emphasize this fact, they have made it look worse than the single white patch. The eyes, to some level, try to show the emotion of the person. For something that was done recently, it is not unfair to expect a higher level of detail. The skin tone can be much more realistic. The hair can be separate strands of hair (like in Shrek 2) rather than one big lump of black / gray / white colored hay. But then again, time and money are factors that would have restricted such eye-candy. Putting caps on their heads is a brilliant way to minimize the amount of hair visible. When you think about it, they could have had a character with a clean-shaved head - it would have looked different, and less work for the programmers / animators. Alligator Wiggling When the hick shoots at the alligator, the response to the three gun-shots has been animated masterfully (00:22 - 00:26). The alligator responds to the three shots distinctively. It would have been cool if a little blood sprouted out right away; it still looks realistic. The water splashing has complimented the alligator's motion each time the tail or the head beats the surface of the water. A lot of key frames must have gone into this small piece, and it is a job well done. Just when it seems like it almost came out perfectly, the tire skips a few degrees of rotation (00:00 - 00:02). This could be because there were more than two key-frames for the rotation of the tire. This problem can be overcome easily by reducing the number of key frames as much as possible. Particles, Fog and Water Particles in my scene have made its presence felt to a great extent. Fog has been used effectively for two reasons... 1. Fog and lighting makes the scene look closer to reality with little effort on the part of the programmer. 2. Fog implies that intricate details are hidden, which means that some error in the animation can easily go unnoticed. Example: water, collision, etc. I believe the blast effect from the gun are sprites, and gives the right kind of effect. The smoke that comes out at the end of the gunshot makes it look all the more real. The splashing water looks good, with particles flying off to form ripples far away. The splashing looks good when the dead body is thrown into water, and even more believable when the shot alligator is struggling. Unfortunately, the water itself in the river / stream looks more like oil. It reminds me of one of the viscous liquid animations that we saw in class. It is so highly reflective, just like everything else in the episodes, and is simply not ready to budge when a Captain falls into it – so not watery. In short, it would have been awesome if the water was a lot less viscous. When the alligator dies, the blood does not look like another liquid being amidst water. One big red patch - you have to force yourself to believe that it is blood by looking at the color. The objects, people, vehicles and animal lack weight in the animation. None of them have a feeling of heaviness. When the fake Captain Scarlet is carrying the dead (real) Captain Scarlet, he doesn't slouch or feel the weight at all. He still continues to spring up and down in spite of the weight on his shoulders. When he reaches the bank of the river, he throws the dead body off like a brick that he was carrying in his hand. This is not intuitive. When doing the motion capture for this sequence, the actor should have carried a sand bag or something similar to get a feel of the weight. And when the dead body falls into the water, it starts floating right away (this could be expected behavior, because of the properties of the armor); something I doubt would happen in real life (this could be expected behavior because of the high viscosity of the "futuristic water"). Making objects heavy is very difficult in an animation; and hence, it is something that defines a superior quality product. When objects interact with each other (Example: Touch, Carry, etc), there are two things that can be done: 1. Keep the camera far away or block the view to the point of interaction, so that you don't have to sit and intricately match the edges of the two interacting bodies. This has been done well in a couple of places in the clip. For example, when the car comes in (00:00 - 00:01) there is a bush that blocks the view of the bottom of the tire. So, the tire need not be exactly touching the surface of the ground; it can be a little above or below the ground and it is impossible to notice it. 2. Make sure that the interaction is well set up so that the two objects just touch each other. This also has been done at places in the clip. For example, Zachary's father holding his gun (00:20 - 00:21) has been done with high intricacy. It looks so intuitive and beautiful. But when you don't implement either of the above two, the result looks displeasing. Even this has been done by the team. When the fake Captain Scarlet opens the passenger-side door of the car, his hand is at least two inches away. This looks so weird. In this example, they could have put a touch sensor on the car and made the fake Captain Scarlet touch it, and the door opens automatically (may be that is what they ARE trying to show); that way, you don't have to run your hand all the way to the top along with the door during motion capture and there will be no synchronization issues. An even better idea would be to open both doors automatically when the car stopped; then you don't even have to touch the door at all. Small Things that matter There will always be several small things that would make a big difference when implemented in the scene; two are below: Interaction with the background The animators should have given thought for some kind of interaction between or amidst the background objects. The forest, for example, in this clip looks haunted, with no animals or birds except for the alligator. When the car moves in or out, if some dust woke up, it would look great. It would be too much to ask for interactive grass. However, if the leaves and branches swayed a little, it would have given life to the rest of the scene. When he walks, the character could sift through a bush or a low branch and make it move / shake a little. This will blend the character with the environment and make the whole scene more realistic and enjoyable. It is very rare that a car goes through a forest and only one side of it becomes dirty. In this clip, the driver-side of the car has become dirty with mud splashes, et al. But the passenger-side, for some reason, is bright, shiny and untouched. Putting some dirt on this side too would make things consistent. The product is still rough and can take in a lot of fine tuning, an exercise that takes more and more time and effort as the detail and complexity of the scene increases; but the pains would pay off really very well. Considering the fact that this was done for an early morning kids' show, it is better than good.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1702
__label__wiki	0.848672	0.848672	December 24, 1974 — Cyclone Tracy hits Darwin By Loki Rock n Roll History of the World, Science, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World It’s sometimes referred to as ‘The Night That Santa Never Came‘. What came instead were howlling winds of more than 200km an hour, tearing Darwin to pieces and having a similar effect on nearby towns in the Northern Territory. In the end, the death toll would reach 71, of whom 22 were caught at sea by the storm. It destroyed 80% of all buildings in Darwin and left tens of thousands of people homeless, most of whom were evacuated to other cities. Cyclone Tracy remains the greatest natural disaster in Australian history. Darwin today bears little resemblance to pre-Tracy Darwin, and although its population has long since surpassed the 49,000 residents at the time of the cyclone, the majority of them are new immigrants to the city or born since 1974. Referenced in: Tojo — Hoodoo Gurus Song For Darwin — Ayers Rock Santa Never Made it into Darwin — Bill and Boyd Tagged 1974, Ayer's Rock, Bill and Boyd, Cyclone Tracy, Darwin, Dec 24, Hoodoo Gurus, Northern Territory, Santa Never made it into Darwin, Song For Darwin, Tojo August 17, 1980 — Azaria Chamberlain disappears By Loki 222 Content, Crime, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World It became one of the most controversial court cases in Australian history. On August 17, 1980, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain were camping with friends in the Australian Outback, not far from Uluru (Ayers Rock). Lindy had been in one of the tents with the infant Azaria, when suddenly she came rushing back into the main part of the campsite, crying “A dingo’s got my baby!” What followed would be a long series of investigations, claims and counterclaims. Eventually, Lindy would be convicted of Azaria’s murder, and served several years in prison for it. Azaria Chamberlain, whatever her true fate, was never seen again, alive or dead, although the clothes she was allegedly wearing at the time of her disappearance were found near a dingo lair, torn and blood-stained, a week later. Party Down — Reel Big Fish Tagged 1980, Aug 17, Ayer's Rock, Azaria Chamberlain, Dingo, Lindy Chamberlain, Party Down, Reel Big Fish, Uluru	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1707
__label__cc	0.568451	0.431549	War Round Up Holy Jesus! What sort of slimy, walrus-looking, piece of shit round up is this? In which we call a disparate group of war films to attention and see which of them has a killer war face and which have major malfunctions. Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war. It seems man’s capacity for violence and cruelty to fellow man on the battlefield holds an endless fascination for us, with virtually every major human conflict in history dramatised for the screen at one stage or another. Here’s an eclectic (dirty) dozen to get you started. All Quiet on the Western Front (Lewis Milestone, 1930) is a superb adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's devastating WWI novel, and still the anti-war movie all others look up to. The tragic waste of young life is brilliantly captured in the technically inventive, harrowing battle scenes, whilst the superb sound design is all the more remarkable coming at a time when sound in films was not commonplace. The final image of a soldier reaching to touch a butterfly is desperately poignant and justifiably celebrated. In Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick, 1957), the lottery of death and the cruel injustices of war are also painfully demonstrated as three innocent French soldiers are court-martialled for cowardice following the failure of their regiments to take a German fortress. Their commanding officer (Kirk Douglas) fights their cause, bringing him into conflict with his aloof and bureaucratic superiors, leading Kubrick to consider his film not so much "anti-war” as "anti-authoritarian ignorance”. Either way, it is a classy, well-acted affair and more emotionally involving than much of Kubrick's later work. Joyeaux Noel (Christian Carion, 2005) is a diplomatic, multi-national production recounting the famous Christmas truce in the trenches of WWI in 1914, when opposing troops set down their guns and mixed together in No Man’s Land. Well played, although a female character seems rather shoehorned in for dramatic purposes, a wholly unnecessary addition as the events depicted are moving and dramatic enough in themselves. With scant regard for time or geography, we now train our gunsights on Iraq. Jarhead (Sam Mendes, 2005) recounts the experience of Marines during the First Gulf War and is rather underwhelming, despite a fantastic soundtrack and some standout moments. There's no denying that the film looks wonderful, with great shots of the desert by day and by night - it almost becomes a character in its own right. Just as well, because the human characters are a bit distant and superficial , making it hard to empathise with them, and the whole affair seems to suggest that war is all a bit pointless. Although maybe that is the point. The aftermath of the Second Gulf War and the search for WMDs provides the backdrop for Green Zone (Paul Greengrass, 2010), a surprisingly toothless thriller, given the talent involved. Well-staged and action-packed, but offering little to engage the brain - I suspect the makers had more interesting discussions about it all off-camera than they managed to put on film. The same setting for The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008), which focuses on the experiences of bomb-disposal experts in Iraq. It doesn't really carry much emotional impact, but each individual set-piece is suitably tense and sweaty and the performances very good. To be honest, though, it's most likely to be remembered for being the film that finally won a woman the Best Director Oscar. A woman, no less! Anyway, if it's the Iraq War that gets your juices flowing, you’d be better off with the TV mini-series Generation Kill, which blows all of the above away. A couple of recent efforts based on experiences in the 1982 Lebanon War. Lebanon (Samuel Maoz, 2009), a much-lauded film set entirely inside the belly of a tank. Remember Paul the Psychic Octopus from the World Cup in 2010? This is similar; based in a tank, moves fairly slowly and is quite predictable. And, like Paul, when the end finally comes, you wonder what all the fuss was about. Waltz with Bashir (Ari Folman, 2008), in which the director deals with his memories and nightmares of war, is much better. The striking animation injects something new into material that may have been seen in countless other war films, helped by a terrific soundtrack and some sobering accounts of the horrors of war. Such modern warfare is in stark contrast to events in The Red Badge of Courage (John Huston, 1951), based on Stephen Crane’s famous novel about a young soldier taking part in the American Civil War. Huston’s direction is efficient and the battle scenes are expertly staged, but at only 70 mins long the whole effort feels rather underdone and is unlikely to stick long in the memory. Moving on to WWII, Patton (Franklin J Schaffner, 1970) is an epic biopic about the fascinating General George S Patton, most renowned for a barnstorming Oscar-winning (and refusing) central performance from George C Scott. Loses focus a bit in the second half of the film but still a fine war film featuring some great battle scenes and especially notable for being historically accurate. And for being Elvis’ favourite film. Fact. Black Book (Paul Verhoeven, 2006) is a watchable thriller based on the activities of the Dutch Resistance during WWII. Some good action is undermined by a plot which features too many implausible twists, but the delectable breasts of Carice van Houten make regular appearances throughout to make up for the plot contrivances. Of course, it’s worth remembering war is not all about breasts. In fact, war is hell and the proof is seen in the devastating Come and See (Elem Klimov, 1985), which focuses on the Nazi occupation of Belarus in 1943. It’s a brutal, unflinching affair, featuring a haunting performance from 14-year old Alexei Kravchenko as the innocent boy scarred forever by war. It took so much out of the director, he never made another film and it’ll probably leave you a bit shaken also. Maybe that’s the way all war films should be. Posted by Declan on 2.6.11	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1709
__label__wiki	0.958698	0.958698	VIDEO: NPP declared majority in Parliament Gallas urges Ozil to leave Arsenal – NOW Man Utd boss Solskjaer: We’re a stronger proposition going to Liverpool now Ibrahimovic happy with terms of short-term contract at AC Milan Tottenham teammates want to see Mourinho play Bale more Akufo-Addo told to avoid family and friends in upcoming ministerial appointments Sekondi Eleven Wise announce Isaac Appiah as new head coach NDC MPs will have no difficulty occupying the minority seats – Haruna Iddrisu President Akufo-Addo I Am Yet To Tell Party Whether I Will Run Again – Akufo-Addo By MILLS on October 9, 2018 0 Comments President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed moves by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to get him to contest as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2020 polls. He, however, said he was yet to give a firm answer to the calls from the rank and file of the party. Speaking on a visit to his alma mater — Lancing Secondary School in the United Kingdom — last Sunday, he said: “My party is keen on the agenda that I go again in 2020; we will see.” On December 7, 2016, then candidate Akufo-Addo, on his third attempt to occupy the highest office of the land, led the NPP to its greatest electoral victory in history when he polled 5,716,026 votes, representing 53.9 per cent of the popular votes cast, to beat the incumbent John Dramani Mahama, who garnered 4,713,277 votes, representing 44.4 per cent of the votes cast. The President, who addressed the students and some of his former classmates during the visit, said his administration was working assiduously to put the country on the right footing towards development. The President, who completed his studies at the school 56 years ago, was invited to share his experiences with the current students and interact with some of his classmates, as well as his cricket and football teammates. He was the only Black student during his time and was affectionately called Billy by his peers. During the visit, President Akufo-Addo was taken on a tour of the school and was presented with framed group pictures of his football and cricket teams by his classmates, led by Sir Christopher John Rome Meyer, a former British Ambassador to the United States and Germany and former Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission of the UK. The President said Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to engage in the process of development. He said the current challenge to the country was an exciting and difficult one because the kind of decisions that were taken in Korea and China during the authoritarian regimes were not available to Ghana. President Akufo-Addo stated that the people of Ghana had stuck with the democratic path, open society and government, respect for human rights and individual liberties for the past two and a half decades and believed that development must take place within that context. Ghana, he indicated, had also led the continent in many spheres of development, particularly in the process of restoring democracy after several decades of authoritarian rule, largely military rule. He gave an assurance that the country would continue to lead the way in democratic entrenchment to attain the transition from poverty to prosperity. Africa’s development President Akufo-Addo described as offensive and unacceptable the posture of African nations with cup in hand begging for alms in the midst of rich and abundant natural and human resources. He explained that if Africa’s untapped wealth, coupled with its position as a bread basket, was properly managed and judiciously redirected for the benefit of the people, the continent would assume its rightful position and engender the required progress and development. The President said the challenge of moving Ghana away from relying on handouts was one of the challenges that had engaged his time and efforts. Answering questions from some of the students, he said his landmark free senior high school (SHS) policy enabled 90,000 more students to gain access to SHS education in the first year and 180,000 more students in the second year. On who his role model was, President Akufo-Addo mentioned the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, and explained that Mandela implemented what he pledged and that made him (the President) look up to Mandela. The President said strict discipline and the multi-tasking imbibed in him during his school days at Lancing had built him into a disciplined and hardworking person over the years. He explained that as the only Black person in the school at the time, interacting with people from diverse backgrounds on a common platform, exchanging ideas, attitudes and sentiments played a crucial role in shaping him to become a very accommodating politician. President Akufo-Addo said looking at the number of West Africans who had attended the school, it was time the school established its presence in West Africa. “Headmaster, I would have thought that there will be an arrangement to have a school in West Africa, at least in Ghana,” he said. Sir Christopher Sir Christopher, in response, described their 1957 class as a “glorious class” and his classmate, President Akufo-Addo, as a fine mind, very intelligent and a person whose eloquence, clarity of speech and wit made him to stand out. He read portions of the 1961 copy of the school magazine which contained some of the works of the President, saying that was a testament to the mark of students from the school who continued to impact positively and impress society. -Graphic.com.gh	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1713
__label__wiki	0.721848	0.721848	The Legacy of Zerubbabel Reflections on Revealed Scripture About Zerubbabel The Name Zerubbabel The name Zerubbabel is of Biblical origin, and is believed to mean “seed of Babylon”, or roughly “born in Babylon”. In Hebrew the name is זְרֻבָּבֶל; common variants on the name include Zorobabel (in Latin and in many New Testament translations), Zorovavel, or Ζοροβαβέλ (in Greek).1 It also happens to be my name, hence my interest in it! Pronunciations of the name vary, but I prefer zuh-ROO-buh-bell ([zəˈru bʌˌbɛl] in IPA). The Historic Zerubbabel The historic Zerubbabel was an Israelite who lived in Biblical times (generally around 550 to 500 BC), and who is mentioned several times in the Bible, in both the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament. Although his exact lineage is uncertain, he is known to be of the tribe of Judah, and was widely recognized to be of the Davidic (royal) lineage. In the Hebrew Bible, he is most noted for leading the return of many Jews from Babylon to the Province of Judah, and for the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem. In the Hebrew Bible, most references to Zerubbabel can be found in Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah.2 In the New Testament, he is included in the genealogy of Jesus, as a link between Jesus’ immediate ancestors and the Davidic line of kings. Historic references to Zerubbabel are limited to the Bible; there are some additional apocryphal references, but they are believed to be of a much later date, and are generally considered to be unreliable.3 Zerubbabel may also be the same person as a Sheshbazzar who is also mentioned in the Bible, though it is not perfectly clear that they are the same person.4 The Importance of Zerubbabel in Judaism The primary importance of Zerubbabel as a historic figure is primarily in his connection to the Temple at Jerusalem, and it is this connection which is emphasized most in Biblical sources. The Hebrew faith prior to the Babylonian captivity was centered first around the Tabernacle (a portable building the Israelites carried with them through the wilderness and into the land of Israel5), and then later around the Temple at Jerusalem built by Solomon.6 Both buildings figure prominently in the Old Testament as the centers of worship (see, e.g., Exodus 25 and 1 Kings 8). When the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel, they destroyed the Temple at Jerusalem, and with it, the center of worship for the Jews. While the Jews continued to practice their faith while in captivity in Babylon, they did so without a center of worship, and without a clearly defined leadership. That changed with the return of Jews from Babylon to the province of Judah, led by Ezra as the prophet and spiritual leader, Zerubbabel as the political leader, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak as High Priest, among others. With the support and authority of the Persians, and with encouragement from Ezra, Zerubbabel began the reconstruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, called the Second Temple (see the entry at Wikipedia). The reconstruction of the Temple allowed for a more complete version of the Hebrew faith to be restored. While the practices of the faith may have shifted somewhat since the destruction of the First Temple, the restored faith was seen as the functional equivalent of the original. As such, Zerubbabel was seen as a critical agent in restoring the faith as it had been before the Babylonian conquest. The Second Temple would eventually fall into disrepair, until it was restored and largely rebuilt under the rein of Herod the Great, just prior to the Christian era. The Temple of the Christian era is sometimes referred to as the Temple of Herod, but this is not quite correct, as it technically was still the Second Temple, only having undergone significant renovation. It was still standing during Jesus’ ministry, and as such is mentioned in many places in the New Testament, where it was clearly a center of worship for Jews and Christians (see, e.g., Mark 11:15-17 and Acts 2:46-47). It was totally destroyed by the Romans, however, in 70 CE during the Siege of Jerusalem, and was not rebuilt. Various Islamic shrines now stand on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with the Dome of the Rock standing where it is believed the First Temple and Second Temple once stood (see the entry at Wikipedia). With the Temple once again destroyed, Judaism entered a period of crisis regarding its identity and the nature of worship. That crisis was largely resolved through a shift toward worship centered on the home and on the synagogue, with rabbis as the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people. Rabbinical Judaism as it is called remains the dominant form of Judaism in the modern era, but the influence of the Temple is still felt in Jewish thought. Zerubbabel in Prophecy It is in connection with his role in rebuilding the Temple that Zerubbabel is mentioned in a number of prophecies issued by the prophets of his era. While these relate directly to the rebuilding of the Temple (for instance, Haggai 1:1-11 and Zechariah 4:8-10), they can be more broadly read as referring to a future figure who will restore the proper way of worship for the Israelite people. Zerubbabel is mentioned in the prophetic writings in connection with Joshua the son of Jehozadak, who was the High Priest at the time. Joshua is also mentioned in connection with an enigmatic figure called the Branch, who appears to be a Messianic figure, a future ruler who will restore the kingdom as it was previously (see Zechariah 6:9-15). This figure seems to have some traits in common with the historic Zerubbabel, specifically, that he will rebuild the Temple, and not just rebuild it, but rule in it. Zechariah’s prophecy regarding the Branch looked forward to a figure who would unite the roles of priest and king; thus, “he shall be a priest upon his throne”. The Importance of Zerubbabel in Christianity In light of the place of Zerubbabel in the history and prophesies of the Jews, it is important that he and his ancestors back to David are listed in the genealogy of Jesus (see Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). While Jesus was widely recognized to be of the kingly lineage of Israel, it is important that his followers would emphasis that lineage in their accounts, which may have drawn attention to prophesies connected both to David and to Zerubbabel. The prophesies of Zechariah, in particular, have connections to the accounts of Jesus given in the New Testament. Prophecies connected to the Branch included both direct references to Joshua the High Priest (note that the name “Jesus” is a Hellenized derivation of the name “Joshua”) and indirect references to Zerubbabel as the builder of the Temple. In the account given in the Gospels, Jesus directly assumed the role of a builder of temples, albeit in a deeper sense, as in John 2:18-22. Most significantly, Jesus’ declaration of his role as the builder of the temple was in response to a challenge to his authority. That connection – between the building of the temple and the kingly authority – can be found in the prophecy of Zechariah, which looked forward to the Messianic figure who would come and complete the work of restoring the faith that had begun with Joshua the son of Jehozadak and Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel in Freemasonry Zerubbabel is a prominent figure within the lore of freemasonry. His rebuilding of the Temple brings together two subjects of special interest to freemasons, architecture and religion, and he is directly connected to a subject of particular interest to freemasons, the Temple at Jerusalem. Consequently, Zerubbabel is often referenced in masonic lore, rites, and orders. Wikipedia: Zerubbabel Bible Hub: Zerubbabel Masonic Dictionary: Zerubbabel John C. Reeves at UNC Charlotte: Sefer Zerubbabel [Apocalypse of Zerubbabel] Wikipedia contributors, “Zerubbabel.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Jul. 2013. Web. 11 Aug. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerubbabel ↩ See the Bible Hub entry under External Links for a comprehensive list of references to Zerubbabel in the Bible. ↩ See, e.g., the Sefer Zerubbabel, under External Links. ↩ For additional information on the history of Zerubbabel, see the Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerubbabel). ↩ Wikipedia contributors, “Tabernacle.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 Jul. 2013. Web. 12 Aug. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabernacle ↩ Wikipedia contributors. “Solomon’s Temple.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Aug. 2013. Web. 12 Aug. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Temple ↩ This entry was posted in New Testament, Old Testament, Prophecy, Temple, Zechariah, Zerubbabel on August 11, 2013 by Z. ← Standards and Sources Standards and Sources About ZerubbabelThe Legacy of Zerubbabel on Standards and Sources	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1715
__label__wiki	0.534791	0.534791	In Hong Kong, protests and precautions at Chinese New Year The pandemic was raging in mainland China, but in Hong Kong, protesters still filled the streets. Herb Mintz My wife (she prefers that label) and I travel to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region each year to visit her relatives, in particular, her aging mother. This year, like the last four years, our visit occurred during the lunar Chinese New Year. CNY in Hong Kong is a time of heightened activity for most families. Large family and social gatherings, special foods, timely rituals, visits to the temple or cemetery, the distributing of red lai seepackets containing “lucky money” to friends and family, dragon and lion dances, a huge parade and fireworks typically punctuate the widely celebrated holiday. This time there was nothing normal about visiting Hong Kong during CNY. In fact, since 1991, it was the strangest visit we’ve ever made. A largely empty train station in Hong Kong is covered with protest posters. For the last eight months before the 2020 holiday, peaceful demonstrators with numbers as high as two million were in the streets demanding changes to many of their government’s policies, in particular, the Extradition Bill. Also, intense street battles between black clad youth and police had become a regular nightly event. Furthermore, when we arrived in Hong Kong in the early morning of February 3, there were already 15 known cases of COVID-19 in the region. The first ten cases were thought to have arrived in HK from mainland China. The locked down city of Wuhan, China, the epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic, is only 530 miles from Hong Kong. We each wore a mask upon arriving at SFO and once inside the cabin, we sanitized our seating area, too. Upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, I saw that practically everyone in the vast arrival terminal was wearing a mask of some kind; the exceptions, Westerners. In previous years, only local people with an illness tended to wear a mask. When we checked into our hotel in the New Territories town of Sha Tin, we learned that the occupancy rate was about 20 percent and that the floor where our room was located was closed. The hotel had already begun to sanitize interior spaces, had closed its restaurants and swimming pool, and imposed mandatory temperature checks upon entering the building. The hotel itself is situated inside the Sha Tin New Town Center complex. With 300 to 500 people residing normally in the hotel and thousands of residents living in the apartment blocks attached to the complex, there is routine competition for access to the elevators and the escalators. That wasn’t happening that morning. In the past, during Chinese New Year, the New Town complex was replete with the trappings of the celebration. The year’s animal sign was deployed in small and large colorful displays, Choi Sun Doe characters made the rounds handing out lucky money, lion dances with those pounding drums and clapping hand cymbals were present, locals returning from temples proudly carried “luck changing” pinwheels, shoppers vied for special foods and families passed spiritedly through the complex on their way to visit relatives or a shrine. That ambience generated a constant flow of people through the complex. As we entered the New Town Center Complex that morning, it was nearly empty. Even without New Year celebrations, typically, the complex is a vibrant commercial center with more than two hundred boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and banks. Add the New Year to the complex and it is very, very crowded. So, where was everyone? Later, we learned that schools were already closed, and government workers were staying at home as a result of COVID-19. Many residents were staying at home as well. And the probability of demonstrators and police mixing it up kept shoppers away. Most importantly for us, the Sha Tin New Town Center complex has an train station on the East Rail Line which takes us directly to Fanling, another New Territories town, where my wife’s mother lives. Normally busy at all times as not many residents own or drive a car, the station platform looked abandoned. Once out of the train and into the Fanlng station, there were signs of a struggle as several walls and ceilings had not been so completely stripped of a massive amount of protest posters. Later, as we would go back and forth to Mom’s place, a wall full of posters criticizing government leaders, their policies and the police, would go up in the afternoon and then get taken down early the next morning. Protest posters cover an ad at New Town Center. During our first visit to her mother’s small apartment in Fanling, we learned the senior center she uses was closed. But there was no government order to shelter in place. On that same day, we unloaded about one half of the items we brought for her mom to use as well as set in motion a plan to deal with maintenance and equipment issues. Also, we went out for dim sum, let Mom take a serious nap, played a little Mahjong, watched Cantonese “golden oldie” TV programs, went for a short walk and took care of essential quality-of-life errands for her. Later, upon our return to Sha Tin that evening, as soon as we departed the train station, we walked into a small demonstration in progress inside the New Town Center Complex. There were now protest posters attached to two of the main columns in the New Town Center Plaza. Two women wearing masks were handing out fliers and small white ribbons in support of a strike by a 3,000-member hospital workers’ union seeking better protective gear to fight the virus and demanding that the Hong Kong government close the border with mainland China, the source of many people ill with the virus who were arriving in Hong Kong. Hong Kong shares a 19-mile land border with mainland China. That night, on a local Cantonese cable news channel, there were extensive medical reports, interviews with striking nurses, government leaders and demonstrators expressing their points of view about the virus, talk of government action or inaction, protests at proposed quarantine sites, sanitation workers complaining about the lack of protective gear as well as updates about mainland China’s latest efforts to contain the virus. This was not going to be a time of celebrations for prosperous new year. That was just the first day. Almost every day that followed for nearly five weeks had a simple routine as our raison d’etrefor visiting Hong Kong was to improve the quality of life for my wife’s mother. We had a job to do. And we had only so many days to complete the job. And so, we moved between contested and living spaces each day. Typically, we awoke early. Before leaving for breakfast, we put on put our masks. We ate breakfast in a special room in the hotel in a controlled space where our temperatures were checked before we entered. After breakfast, we sanitized our hands. We prepared for our Mom visit by bringing with us extra masks and sanitizer. Before departing, we washed and sanitized our hands again. After riding the train, we applied more hand sanitizer and walked 20 minutes to her apartment. We took off our masks while visiting. Our visiting hours were generally from 11am to 5pm. That when completed our errands, too. We would return by train to Sha Tin in late afternoon or early evening to find some small demonstration occurring at the New Town Center Plaza. Typically, more than100 posters were taped to the two main columns in the plaza. The messages on the posters made fun or government leaders or opposed to the policies of the Hong Kong government. There were always people reading the posters. There were security personnel wearing yellow wind breakers with security badges standing not far from this scene (photo #8). After eating dinner, each night on a cable news channel or on the Hong Kong public TV cable channels, that is, Radio Television Hong Kong, there were extensive local reports of the impact of the virus, reports on actions taken by mainland China to contain the virus, criticism of the lack of decisive action by Hong Kong government and reports internationally regarding the impact of the virus. Hong Kong was a British Crown colony for over 140 years. So there is plenty of English language media available to westerners. When that media wasn’t available, my wife, born and raised in Hong Kong, was an excellent translator of the Cantonese dialect. Beside the experiences encountered by the regularly of our schedule, there were some surprises. On Saturday, February 8, inside the New Town Center Plaza, black clad demonstrators wearing masks with a microphone and small speaker and many small folding chairs momentarily seized a piece of the plaza. According to my wife, they were making a proclamation in support of front line workers struggling to protect themselves from the COVID-19. The front page of the South China Morning Post tracks every case. In the Tuesday, February 11 edition of the English language South China Morning Post, a graphic covered an entire page detailing each case to date with the age, gender, place of residence, possible contact source, how each case got to Hong Kong, relations to other case, the source of the infection and the status of the infected person. At that point, there were 49 cases of infection and one death. The morning of Saturday, February 15, my wife left very early to take her mother to an eye specialist. About an hour later, from our hotel room, I heard shouting outside my window. I looked out to see demonstrators holding signs and chanting in Cantonese as police vehicles moved slowly through the crowd. In five minutes, I was in the protest space. I learned that in July 2019 in the New Town Center, a man (now in one the police vans) had been arrested for poking a police officer with an umbrella during a pitched battle between police and demonstrations. The man was being sentenced today and there about 60 – 80 people of all ages gathered outside the Law Court supporting the man. The protest lasted about another 90 minutes. Demonstrators hand out leaflets at the New Town Center. On Friday, February 21, it was widely reported that a police officer, who had been infected with the virus at a noodle shop in Yau Dong, had attended a farewell banquet party for a retiring officer with 59 other officers. Four came down with the COVID-19 symptoms and the rest went into quarantine. Not only did the infected officer not wear a mask to the event but he also attended a gathering of a large number of people. At the time, there were government guidelines in place for wearing a mask in public and avoiding large social gatherings. On Friday, February 28, demonstrators momentarily seized a piece of the New Town Center plaza but this time a taped recording played over a laptop computer. Again, demonstrators wearing masks had seized a piece of the plaza and were counting the claims made by the HK government that the demonstrators were rioters. Their statements were made in the presence of the New Town security personnel in the yellow windbreakers. The evening of Saturday, February 29, for about three hours, we watched a live feed of a roving protest across the Mong Kok District of Hong Kong on RTHK, the public TV station. Police and demonstrators were alternatively confronting and moving away from each other. There was generally little audio as the use of expletives was extensive. When there was audio, the crowds on the sidewalks watching events were cursing the police. Sunday, March 1, the protest posters in the New Town Center Plaza had a noticeable addition: A yellow flier from the 2014 Umbrella Movement. An echo of an earlier passive resistance struggle for greater democracy in Hong Kong, when demands for universal suffrage were ignored by the government, that effort could claim to be the roots for the current upheaval across Hong Kong. Demonstrators watch a police bus as it carries a protester away. As we preparing to depart for San Francisco on March 5, our thoughts were on our own possible quarantine. Even though we exhibited no symptoms of the virus, the incubation period was still an issue. My expectations, due in part to media coverage of the virus infections in the bay area and of precautions at SFO in the case of passengers arriving from Mainland China, were such that we’d be quarantined for a least 14 days upon arrival. We didn’t know if Hong Kong would be considered a part of mainland China or apart from Mainland China. At customs and immigration at SFO, we were only asked if we had recently visited Iran or mainland China. We replied no. That was it. We were allowed to walk into the baggage claim area and then headed home. Now that we are under the shelter in place order issued by Mayor Breed, we understand that there is no such order in Hong Kong. Herb Mintz lives in San Francisco. Previous articleHowdy, neighbor! Storied: San Francisco podcast bridges divide Next articleFive supes push to put homeless in vacant hotel rooms	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1717
__label__wiki	0.615907	0.615907	Ze Frank on Imaginary Audiences We chat with the Internet's most notorious mass-collaboration instigator Ze Frank about idea execution and how to build armies of "sportsracers." By Jocelyn K. Glei If there’s anyone who knows how to marshal an online audience, it’s Ze Frank. Ze is best-known for his 2006 program “The Show,” in which he made a new 2-3 minute video every day for 1 year. Topics ranged from “fingers in food” to the mysteries of airport signage to a tour de force summary of creatives’ addiction to un-executed ideas, aka brain crack. Ze constantly sourced ideas for The Show from his audience, and since then he’s gone on to toy with group collaboration in new ways. 52 to 48 with Love called on McCain and Obama voters to exchange messages of reconciliation, while the summer camp-like Color Wars harnessed Twitter to bring ad-hoc groups of users together to complete large-scale, creative projects in limited time frames. These days, as ever, Ze is executing lots of ideas and seeing what sticks. A pilot for the Discovery Channel is in the works, “The Show” has been reincarnated (in a slightly more buttoned-down fashion) for TIME magazine, and he’s collaborating with a team of developers on the next iteration of Color Wars. In a wide-ranging conversation that encompassed everything from a discourse on 5th-century theologian St Augustine to a brainstorming session on “zombie golf,” we talked with Ze about how he gets his ideas off the ground and the art of designing for mass participation and collaboration. These are the highlights: I’ve heard you speak about “morphological synthesis” as part of your idea development process before. How does that sort of free association function for you in taking the first few steps on a project? Morphological synthesis is a way of trying to segment your thinking process into parts. I definitely use it quite a bit. (Though not in the strictest sense of the word.) You take 4-5 adjectives or characteristics and then brainstorm in that direction. Generally, when I have an idea I start with a sense of scale. Let’s say Procter & Gamble has a new toilet paper. If I’m trying to generate ideas around it, the first thing I’d do is take a general imagination run into scale. What happens if you have no toilet paper? What happens if you have way, way too much toilet paper? What’s the smallest type of toilet paper that you would ever use? What would an incredibly large toilet paper look like? Who is someone that never uses toilet paper? Who is someone that uses it constantly? What can you do with 10,000 rolls of toilet paper? What would a world with no toilet paper look like? I flip back and forth between the extremes until something interesting comes out of it. And then you repeat the process based on that new idea. It’s a super-cool exercise only in that it forces you to explore the outside boundaries of things. What kind of a role does collaboration – for example, how you interact with your enthusiastic online audience – play in your ability to keep producing work? I don’t feel like participating and collaboration is fundamental. But I do feel like it’s certainly one of the more exciting parts of the digital age. And I think that there’s a lot of really cool stuff to do in that arena. For me, there are two facets: one is creating the work fast, and the other is publishing the work fast. Those are two different things. Publishing it fast, for me, certainly in the early stages from 2000-2006, was super-important, because I was trying to understand the relationship between the genesis idea, the work itself, and the audience – and how those three things interplay with each other. I say make it as quickly and faithfully as possible. ‘Quickly’ and ‘faithfully’ kind of pull in opposite directions. I find that that’s a nice tension to work in. What I was finding was that there was an opportunity for me to explore this creative process that normally all happens internally, in a different way where you release work, and then you allow the frameworks that emerge from the way people respond to the work as some kind of feedback cycle. It’s incredible, and it gets talked about a lot now, as people try to open up the work that way, allowing people to react, respond. The second thing is making the work fast. I usually try to say ‘make it as quickly and faithfully as possible.’ ‘Quickly’ and ‘faithfully’ kind of pull in opposite directions. I find that that’s a nice tension to work in – try and get it out as fast as possible, but don’t take shortcuts just for time. Try to stay true to the original concept. I find that that is important because you end up making more stuff. And for me, the most difficult part of the process is the first 50%. Do you find it harder to complete work when that audience isn’t present? Or is the process just different? If there is one sea-change that’s happening in the world of creativity, in a broad spectrum kind of way, it is the awareness that more and more people have of the fact that there IS an audience. When people become aware of some sort of sense of audience, it changes the dynamics of making things. What I’m interested in is how your imagination of the potential audience changes your work. For me, audience has become what Walt Disney would call that third voice, that critical voice. As I’m working, I’m using my impression of all the different times that I’ve interacted with the audience, all those voices that I’ve heard over time, and they come back into the work. It’s like I’m bouncing the idea around between all of these different factional voice-blocks. The people who think you suck no matter what you do, the people who obviously just want you to feel bad, the people who like what you do regardless, the people who are constantly thinking your work is bigger than it is. So all those kinds of voices become these critical frameworks, or lenses, to look at your work through, even before you publish. For me, audience has become what Walt Disney would call that third voice, that critical voice. You look at the random YouTube or you look at the random blogger, and you can almost reverse engineer what that notion of audience was. Some people think the world is populated by people just like them, some people imagine their audience to be far, far greater than it really is, some people seem to be completely unaware. It’s almost this pastiche of internal representations of audience that’s creating such a confusing media landscape right now. You look at one single comments train on a political blog and it becomes so jarring. Some people are speaking to the world, some people are speaking to just one other person. It’s almost as if, with each comment, the size of the room changes. I long ago stripped away the notion that a creative person’s life is just about satisfying oneself. I don’t think that that’s a reasonable way of going about your work. And I think it’s a very romantic and broken way of thinking about creativity. Read thoughts from Imogen Heap, Ben Stiller, Clay Shirky, and more creatives on their relationship to audience, courtesy of Ze. Photo courtesy of Scott Beale/Laughing Squid. More Posts by Jocelyn K. Glei A writer and the founding editor of 99U, Jocelyn K. Glei is obsessed with how to make great creative work in the Age of Distraction. Her latest book is Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distraction, and Get Real Work Done. Her previous works include the 99U’s own bestselling book series: Manage Your Day-to-Day, Maximize Your Potential, and Make Your Mark. Follow her @jkglei. http://naturalprofessional.com/ Shawn Tuttle Thanks for this interview, Jocelyn. I find Ze to be quite brilliant and I dug getting a little behind-the-scenes glimpse into his take on the audience. His wide and diverse perspective on this (and any) subject makes for such an interesting POV. More articles on Big Ideas Highlights from the 12th Annual 99U Conference: The Creative Self Our speakers at the 2020 99U Conference explored the theme of The Creative Self with insight, wit, and compassion. Here's a look at the keynotes, master classes, and workshops from our first virtual 99U Conference, filmed at a production studio in Brooklyn and in our speakers' homes across the world. Mia Pinjuh - June 2020 Is Imposter Syndrome Blocking Your Creative Potential? “Fake it until you make it” may be the worst advice. Here’s how to regain confidence and clarity in your career instead. Kristina Libby - June 2020 Building a Career from Different Income Streams A guide to a less traditional approach to earning a living. Anne Ditmeyer - June 2020 Brainstorming from a Distance: How Distributed Teams Collaborate We asked six creative leaders how they set the scene for creative exchanges and productive collaboration in the age of remote work and distributed teams. Mia Pinjuh - April 2020 99U Conference Speaker Spotlight: John S. Couch Questions the Status Quo The author, artist, and Hulu's VP of Product Design shares the surprisingly simple philosophy that drives his restless creativity. The 99U Team - March 2020 How to Overcome Creative Obstacles Advice from determined creatives on pushing past blocks and making a long-standing idea a reality. Mia Pinjuh - February 2020 How to Recover After Burnout What to do when you feel as if you have no energy left. Laura Entis - February 2020	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1719
__label__wiki	0.815449	0.815449	Governor’s State of Sports Award 2015 Vote for your favorite local athletes and teams for the 2015 Governor’s State Of Sports Awards! From Logan to St. George, the state of Utah boasts a long history of athletic excellence at all levels of competition. From Logan to St. George, the state of Utah boasts a long history of athletic excellence at all levels of competition. The Governor’s State of Sport Awards showcase the highest achievements in Utah individual and team sports during the 2014 calendar year, as voted on by you, the fans and citizens of the Great State of Utah. Governor Gary R. Herbert will speak at the ceremony and present awards to winners in nine categories. World-renowned entertainer and motorsports enthusiast Jay Leno will be our special guest, along with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Stein Eriksen. Together with its presenting sponsors, the Utah Sports Commission is proud to host the 2015 Governor’s State of Sport Awards as we celebrate Utah: The State of Sport. Flashback Friday! 2008: Lady Gaga “Just Dance” The Ultimate Mailman Delivery	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1720
__label__wiki	0.584051	0.584051	A handout photo made available by the Santa Barbara County Fire department shows Kerry Mann navigate the large boulders and mudflow that destroyed the home of her friend who has not been seen since the early hours of 09 January following heavy rains in Montecito, California, USA, 10 January 2018. Death toll from California mudslides climbs to... By EFE The number of confirmed deaths from flooding and mudslides in Montecito, north west of Los Angeles, is currently standing at 17, as Californian authorities on Wednesday are stepping up their search for at least 20 missing persons. Santa Barbara County's sheriff Bill Brown said that the rescue teams have worked tirelessly since Tuesday night searching for the missing, adding that 28 people were injured in the event. "While we hope it will not, we expect that this number will increase as we continue to look for people who are still missing and unaccounted for," the sheriff said at a press conference. The mudslides struck an area that suffered already in last month's Thomas wildfire, and was spurred by torrential downpours that dropped nearly an inch (2.54 cm) of rain in less than 15 minutes. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) reported Wednesday that nearly 100 homes were destroyed and 300 others were damaged. In some of the areas flooded Tuesday, the authorities had ordered evacuation and recommended that the residents move to high areas, although many did not consider the risk to be so serious and decided to stay in their homes. The mudslides in some areas reached a height of five feet (1.5 meters), a spokesperson for SBCFD told EFE, while more than 500 firefighters are involved in rescue operations which managed to save dozens of people by helicopter and many more by land. "Residents are allowed to shelter-in-place in their homes but will not be allowed to move about the area. Persons failing to abide by the order are subject to arrest for this misdemeanor violation," the Santa Barbara County Joint Information Center warned. Floods and mudslides also inundated a part of Highway 101, forcing the Highway Patrol to shut down a 50-kilometer stretch between Santa Barbara and Ventura, including the part that runs through Montecito, until Thursday night. The affected area is one of California's tourist attractions and the price of houses in the area ranges between $1.4 and $4 million, some of them are owned by celebrities, including TV hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey and actor Rob Lowe, among others. All of them will be without clean water and electricity "for a long period of time," the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management announced Wednesday. Who wants to be California’s next Senator?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1726
__label__cc	0.700545	0.299455	Home / Cat Rabies Cat Rabies Rabies is a severe, invariably fatal viral infection of the nervous system which can affect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The medical term for the effects of a rabies infection is polioencephalitis. How Rabies Affects Cats The clinical signs of rabies can be quite variable, and atypical presentations are often more common than typical ones. The constellation of clinical signs in what is called the "prodromal" or early form of rabies can include attitude and behavioral changes (becoming more solitary, anxious, apprehensive, nervous, shy or aggressive) and other types of erratic behavior (snapping, licking, chewing, biting at a crate or kennel, wandering and roaming aimlessly, becoming excitable and/or irritable). The paralytic or "dumb" form or phase of rabies – which is less common in cats but more common in dogs - can include lethargy, disorientation, muscular incoordination, excess salivation, impaired ability to swallow, "frothing at the mouth" and changes in the tone of vocalization. The so-called "furious" form of rabies is seen in the majority of cat cases and the minority of canine cases. It includes aggression, viciousness, biting, paralysis, seizures and hypersensitivity to sound and touch. Most affected cats develop an ascending paralysis preceded by a period of mania and aggression. Some or all of these signs and forms of rabies can (and often do) occur in the same animal. Causes & Prevention Causes of Rabies in Cats The rabies rhabdovirus usually is transmitted in the saliva of an infected animal, typically through a bite or through some entry into disrupted mucous membranes. It is possible but uncommon for the virus to be aerosolized and transmitted upon exposure to large colonies of infected bats. Also rare but possible is transmission through organ transplantation and by ingestion of infected tissues. Regardless of the mode of entry, the virus replicates in muscle cells called "myocytes" and from there spreads into the peripheral and central nervous systems. The virus is susceptible to destruction by vaccine-induced immune mechanisms when replicating in local tissue around the site of infection. However, once it enters the nervous system, it is protected and will replicate rapidly. By this point, infected animals have tremendous loads of virus in their saliva, which reportedly can be shed and infect other mammals up to 2-weeks before the animal shows clinical signs of disease. It can take from 2 weeks to 6 months for clinical signs to appear from the time of the bite or other inciting incident. Unfortunately, once clinical signs are apparent, death almost universally occurs within 10 days. Preventing Feline Rabies All cats (and dogs) should be vaccinated against the rabies virus normally after 12 weeks of age, again 12 months later and then every 3 years thereafter (or otherwise in compliance with applicable state regulations). Vaccination protocols are subject to change, so it is important to rely on your veterinarian for the appropriate vaccination schedule for your pet. Cats should be given killed or inactivated vaccines; experts advise against using modified live virus vaccines in cats. The rabies vaccine is very effective and is the best way to prevent this deadly disease in domestic animals. Cats in areas where bats, foxes, skunks or raccoons are present should not be allowed to roam freely. Rabies is one of the most important zoonotic diseases, because it is so highly contagious and inevitably fatal in pets and people. In the United States, rabies is primarily a disease of wildlife, with the most important strains of rabies found in fox, raccoon, skunk, and bat populations. Each of these strains can be transmitted to domestic cats and dogs, and to humans. Infected raccoons are mainly in the eastern United States. Infected skunks are also found there, as well as in the Midwestern states and in California. Infected bats live in all of the states except Hawaii. Rabid foxes are found primarily in Alaska, Texas, and the Southwest. Rabies is untreatable and almost always fatal. Animals infected with the virus invariably die within 7 to 10 days after their clinical signs appear. The only way to conclusively diagnose rabies in cats is through post-mortem examination of brain tissue. The current veterinary recommendation is that cats exposed to the virus (i.e., bitten by a known rabid animal) be humanely euthanized. However, again depending on local or state regulations, pet owners may have the option of having their cat securely quarantined in strict isolation for 6 months, so that medical professionals can assess whether clinical signs of rabies develop. A clinically normal cat that bites or scratches a person should be confined and isolated for at least 10 days (probably under inpatient veterinary care) to see whether it develops any mood change, attitude alteration, or other clinical signs suggestive of rabies. If no signs occur within 10 days of the bite or scratch, then there has been no exposure to the rabies virus.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1727
__label__wiki	0.784868	0.784868	Home World Pope Calls Coronavirus Vaccinations an Ethical Obligation Pope Calls Coronavirus Vaccinations an Ethical Obligation ROME — Pope Francis said he would be vaccinated against the coronavirus as early as next week, calling it a lifesaving, ethical obligation and the refusal to do so suicidal, according to remarks made to an Italian television news program. He also said the storming of the United States Capitol astonished him and should be condemned. In an interview with the newscast Tg5 that is expected to air Sunday evening, Francis called on everyone to get the vaccine. A transcript of the pope’s vaccination remarks, which were not immediately confirmed by the Vatican, was provided by Fabio Luca Marchese Ragona, the TG5 Vatican reporter who conducted the interview. “It’s an ethical choice, because you are playing with health, life, but you are also playing with the lives of others,” Francis told the station. “I’ve signed up. One must do it.” According to the transcript, the pope added, “I don’t understand why some say, ‘No, vaccines are dangerous.’ If it is presented by doctors as a thing that can go well, that has no special dangers, why not take it? There is a suicidal denial that I wouldn’t know how to explain.” Francis has sometimes come under criticism for not wearing a mask during the pandemic, and some have expressed concern that world leaders and other attendees at papal audiences could be putting him, or themselves, in danger. The Vatican has insisted that social distancing measures and testing are employed to maintain safety, though some prelates, including cardinals, have tested positive for the virus within days of interacting with Francis. The virus has forced Francis, who is energized by travel, to stay home during much of the past year, and the Vatican has had to cancel or severely limit even its most important celebrations. By presiding over ceremonies before a vast, empty St. Peter’s Square, the pope has underlined not only the way the virus has changed people’s daily lives, but also the life of the church. Covid-19 Vaccines › Answers to Your Vaccine Questions If I live in the U.S., when can I get the vaccine? While the exact order of vaccine recipients may vary by state, most will likely put medical workers and residents of long-term care facilities first. If you want to understand how this decision is getting made, this article will help. When can I return to normal life after being vaccinated? Life will return to normal only when society as a whole gains enough protection against the coronavirus. Once countries authorize a vaccine, they’ll only be able to vaccinate a few percent of their citizens at most in the first couple months. The unvaccinated majority will still remain vulnerable to getting infected. A growing number of coronavirus vaccines are showing robust protection against becoming sick. But it’s also possible for people to spread the virus without even knowing they’re infected because they experience only mild symptoms or none at all. Scientists don’t yet know if the vaccines also block the transmission of the coronavirus. So for the time being, even vaccinated people will need to wear masks, avoid indoor crowds, and so on. Once enough people get vaccinated, it will become very difficult for the coronavirus to find vulnerable people to infect. Depending on how quickly we as a society achieve that goal, life might start approaching something like normal by the fall 2021. If I’ve been vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask? Yes, but not forever. The two vaccines that will potentially get authorized this month clearly protect people from getting sick with Covid-19. But the clinical trials that delivered these results were not designed to determine whether vaccinated people could still spread the coronavirus without developing symptoms. That remains a possibility. We know that people who are naturally infected by the coronavirus can spread it while they’re not experiencing any cough or other symptoms. Researchers will be intensely studying this question as the vaccines roll out. In the meantime, even vaccinated people will need to think of themselves as possible spreaders. Will it hurt? What are the side effects? The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine is delivered as a shot in the arm, like other typical vaccines. The injection won’t be any different from ones you’ve gotten before. Tens of thousands of people have already received the vaccines, and none of them have reported any serious health problems. But some of them have felt short-lived discomfort, including aches and flu-like symptoms that typically last a day. It’s possible that people may need to plan to take a day off work or school after the second shot. While these experiences aren’t pleasant, they are a good sign: they are the result of your own immune system encountering the vaccine and mounting a potent response that will provide long-lasting immunity. Will mRNA vaccines change my genes? No. The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer use a genetic molecule to prime the immune system. That molecule, known as mRNA, is eventually destroyed by the body. The mRNA is packaged in an oily bubble that can fuse to a cell, allowing the molecule to slip in. The cell uses the mRNA to make proteins from the coronavirus, which can stimulate the immune system. At any moment, each of our cells may contain hundreds of thousands of mRNA molecules, which they produce in order to make proteins of their own. Once those proteins are made, our cells then shred the mRNA with special enzymes. The mRNA molecules our cells make can only survive a matter of minutes. The mRNA in vaccines is engineered to withstand the cell’s enzymes a bit longer, so that the cells can make extra virus proteins and prompt a stronger immune response. But the mRNA can only last for a few days at most before they are destroyed. Footage of some of the pope’s remarks was made public in a clip promoting the interview, including his reaction to the storming on Wednesday of the U.S. Capitol by a mob supporting President Trump. “I was astonished,” Francis said, “because it is a people so disciplined in democracy, no?” But even in a mature society, he added, there is always “something that isn’t right, something with people who take a path against the community, against democracy, against the common good.” “This should be condemned, this movement, regardless of the people,” the pope said, clarifying that he meant the violence. “Violence is always like this, no?” He said that all societies have been afflicted by violence over time and that people should learn from history so the seeds of discontent are understood. “We must understand it well, not to repeat it. To learn from history,” Francis said. “These noncompliant groups not well integrated in society will sooner or later” turn to violence. In the interview transcript, Francis also reflected on his own experience with vaccines, recalling a polio crisis when he was a child that led to desperation among mothers to find a vaccine. “We grew up in the shadow of vaccines, for measles, for this and that, vaccines that they gave us as children,” he added. In his “Urbi er Orbi” message on On Christmas Day, Francis for “vaccines for all,” especially the world’s most vulnerable people. “Today, at this time of darkness and uncertainty because of the pandemic, there appear different lights of hope,” he said in his Christmas remarks, “such as the discovery of vaccines.” Previous articlePelosi asked the Pentagon about preventing Trump from using the nuclear codes. Next article‘Our President Wants Us Here’: The Mob That Stormed the Capitol	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1728
__label__cc	0.685137	0.314863	ArtCommunicationsHumanities Marketing Mix Assignment CONTENTS PAGE CASE STUDY- Isetan Singapore (Scotts) 1a)Description and evaluation of target market, product assortment, store atmosphere and store activities/experiences…………………………………………….. 3 b)Product map for the Isetan to illustrate its market profile. Two product lines (Men’s Apparels, Golf Equipments) Three competitors (Tangs, Takashimaya, John Little, Keppel Club, Liang Court) Two attributes (Price & Quality), (Service & Availability)……………………………….. 7 2. Integrated Marketing Communications Implementation………………………………………… 9 3. Recommendation of four new marketing mix developments. (Price, Place, Promotion, and Product)……………………………………………………………….. 11 A. References ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 14 Question 1a) The Isetan Group started trading in Singapore on 31 January 1971 after which they made history in 1972 by being the first Japanese department store in Singapore at Havelock. Today they operate four stores and a stand-alone Mango boutique, strategically located across the island and catering to a wide spectrum of customers. Successfully located from Isetan Havelock to Shaw House in 1993, Isetan Scotts is a full line department store that caters to shoppers from all walks of life. In 2000, Isetan began operating its first full-scale supermarket located at the basement. (The Isetan Singapore, 2007 & 2008, Annual Report, Online) When Isetan first started out in the early 1970s, it was clearly seen that they are trying to target into the hearts of Singaporeans with Japanese products. Having the foresight of the potential market for the future premier shopping belt, the flagship store was shifted to Orchard Road from Havelock Road. They had their market target set on the tourists along with consumers, mainly targeted at women, (highlights in the later part) who have higher purchasing power and are more style savvy. Having to first introduced Mango, (the internationally famous multinational which designs, manufactures and markets women’s and men’s clothing and accessories) into Singapore, Isetan clearly prudence the prospective fashion trend available for this unknown brand then. Isetan focus towards medium to high-income & price-sensitive consumers, zooming into the different prospects obtainable. Launching its very own in-house credit card, the Isetan Credit Card (ICC), consumers with a minimum income of $20,000 per annum, age 21 and above can apply. Members are entitled to 30 days’ interest-free credit term, along with a maximum of three supplementary cards for their immediate family members above age 18. Discounts of up to 5% for purchases are given, including dining in the restaurants located in Isetan Scotts at the fourth level. They saw the likelihood of the ever-increasing number of young working adults and growing influence of spending power the teenagers has on their parents nowadays. Isetan Scotts occupies five levels of Shaw House along with its Japanese supermarket at the basement. The supermarket with its emphasis on high quality Japanese products is especially popular, offering Japanese lifestyle concepts to the Singapore market through various food festivals. The Japanese supermarket introduces not only food delicacies from the Land of Rising Sun but also holds events like the current Swiss Fair to introduce food products and fresh food from Switzerland. The Isetan group does not restrict themselves only to promoting Japanese products but foresees the opportunities to bring in and promote products coming from other regions. The product assortment in Isetan Scotts matches with its target market’s shopping expectations. Isetan Scotts not only cater shoppers with the convenience of grocery shopping at the basement, but also offers them a variety of merchandise on the next four levels of the mall. The store boasts a wide collection of international fashion designer lines, cosmetics and family-oriented merchandise catering to the local and tourist markets. With commodities ranging from international brands of cosmetics, fragrances, ladies’ accessories on the first two levels, following men’s apparels and sports apparels on the third level; to household items, children and expecting mothers’ apparels on the fourth. Out of the four levels of the shopping mall, two levels are specially catered to the likes of ladies, not forgetting the sports section at the third level which offers ladies’ sports apparels and the fourth level which too. The first level presents a wide variety of ladies’ apparels, costume jewellery, international brands like Celine, Chanel, Christian Dior, Coach, Fendi, Loewe, Salvatore Ferragamo accessories, Polo Ralph Lauren’s collection to affordable accessories from bags, shoes to various accessories of rings, necklaces, earrings, etc. The latest appendage of international fashion at the second level is the local designer, All Dressed Up section exclusively at the second level. With immense success from its inaugural launch collection in 2005, it has steadily achieved its objectives through marketing and distributing its seasonal collections internationally. (www. alldressedup. com) Other than the two stand alone boutiques locations at Paragon Singapore and ION Orchard, All Dressed Up can be found only in Isetan Scotts, nowhere in other department stores. With the recent revamped of Men’s section at the third level in 2008, it now focus on targeting the likes of men, introducing international brands like Agnes B Homme, Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Polo Jeans, Springfield and Timberland, and exclusive brands only available in Isetan Scotts, Croquis, HE by Mango, Rossi, Morpho, Oro Bianco, A. I. P. (An American in Paris). Designed for the new age cosmopolitan men with sharp sartorial senses who appreciate the finer touches of quality merchandise, the new Isetan Men’s @ Isetan Scotts caters to the different aspects of their lifestyles, from business to leisure to sports. (www. isetan. com. sg) Delicate services are provided to the men, with staff trained in both shirt measurement and shoe fitting, ensuring that customers get the most flattering fit across all the brands available at Isetan Men’s. There are several entrances into Isetan Scotts, making no miss to the brands available at all levels. The direct entrance at basement level brings consumers directly to the supermarket and a bakery on their left, or to proceeds to the right for chic fast food restaurants, MOS Burger and Pepper Lunch, also not forgetting McCafe, that is located at the dome shape area right outside. The left side entrance when facing Shaw House at ground level allows a full view of the sophisticated brands of accessories and bags. The right entrance linking from Shaw Centre brings consumers straight into the haven of cosmetics, skincare products like SK II. etc. The main entrance leads consumers into the beauty session, with MAC on the left and Bobby Brown on the right. There are three escalators located within Shaw House, one that allow consumers to proceed from the basement level all the way up to the fourth level, which falls on the inner side of Isetan Scotts, to which they would have to go round each level before they are able to proceed to the next level. Another escalator is located within level 1 right beside Origins-Powered by Nature, Proven by Science, bringing the consumers to the next level, not without passing by Laura Ashley and Marc by Marc. Lastly, the stretched escalator from the ground level that links directly to the third level, and continues on the third level which leads to the fifth level where the cinema is located. Though conveniently designed for patrons going straight for the movies, they would not be given a chance to overlook the promotions or brands available in Isetan Scotts at every level. The structure of Shaw House, a clear round structure at the heart of the main escalator allows the consumers to have obvious view at the international brands, restaurants on the respective levels, the Promotion Gallery on the third level and what’s new and hot at the Event Hall on the fourth level. Clear lightings are lit throughout the whole store making it impossible to see anything at a glance, the sign boards of the respective brands are well positioned enough not to be missed from any corner. The fourth level is clearly divided into the household section, with tableware, kitchenware, home appliances, etc, clearly positioned on one side and the children’s section, clothing, toys, electronic game section located on the other side along with the famous Hello Kitty merchandises and an exclusive stationery section which offers kawaii Japanese stationeries. Other than promotion events and Japan fairs that they held regularly, Isetan does not forget special holiday’s seasons like Halloween, celebrated annually on the 31st of October. A special Halloween section was designed at the fourth level right beside the inner escalator between the household items and toys section. Special demonstrations of household appliances are available at the household departments, where you can see and feel for yourself the sharpness of the knives collections at the kitchenware section, or smell the fragrance from the air fresher that clears any polluted air, or feel the softness of the exclusive bed sheets at the bedroom section. Right at the main entrance, joint events with cosmetics, beauty skincare products, can be seen, where consumers are given a chance to have makeovers by elite makeup artists. Both the Event Hall and Promotion Gallery holds regular price appealing offers to yearn for. Consumers are always given the chance to see, feel, taste and smell for themselves true to what Isetan Singapore has promised and states in their vision, “Only by sharing with others – our feelings, our ideas, and our joy – can we create new and better lifestyles for tomorrow. ” (1436 words) Question 1b) GOLF EQUIPMENTS & APPARELS MEN’S SECTION Perceived quality appears to be associated consistently with high prestige stores, high prices, and physical attributes of products such as colour. Consumer income and educational level also affect perceptions of quality. These consumer demographic characteristics interact with each other and with the marketing mix in a complex manner. Isetan Scotts offers exclusively range of men’s wear, intimate and accessories, all out to create a shopping paradise for the new age men after the total makeover in November 2008. Looking at the competitors involved, Tangs, Takashimaya and John Little offers men’s wear too. But comparing the service and exclusivity of the ranges provided by Tangs, it stands in a strong position in the market, with their wide range of brands available. John Little’s men section normally provides the consumers the mentality of self service is better, as the clothing are packed in racks for convenient searching. Looking at the range of golf apparels and equipment available, Isetan has a higher wide positioning in the market. Like Takashimaya, they have the stimulator available for the golfers to work their swing. Isetan Scotts is well known for its Golf sale occasionally among golfers, who are looking for an affordable pricing for expensive golf equipments. Other than the two Japanese department stores, golf equipments are probably available only at golf clubs like Keppel Club. (220 words) Question 2 Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is a process which involves the management and organization of all “agents” in the analysis, planning, implementation and control of all marketing communications contacts, media, messages and promotional tools focused at selected target audiences in such a way as to derive the greatest enhancement and coherence of marketing communications effort in achieving predetermined product and corporate marketing communications objectives (Pickton & Broderick, 2005, p26). IMC is a straightforward concept, where it makes certain that all forms of communications and messages, which are the promotional tools, so that are carefully linked together in synchronization to establish a bridge from the brand image to the consumers. The marketing communication mix consists of six major modes of communication; advertising, sales promotion, events and experiences, public relations and publicity, direct marketing and personal selling. (P. Kotler et al, 2009, p392). Isetan Scotts has successful implemented the IMC into their daily operations, with regular sales promotion for a period of 5-10 days. For instance, the current Sports Fever promotion, showcasing of various ranges of sports gear, apparels and equipments. Activities and events are held in conjunction with the promotion, where national soccer players are invited for an autograph session, not forgetting a soccer clinic session, allowing children aged 8-12 to be coached on the basics of soccer game. They have successfully gained the attention of the consumers with numerous in house activities, including a distinct invitation for them to participant into the events. Not forgetting the frequent Isetan Sales, a day of closed door events, entitling only members, accompanying by no more than 2 guests to have exclusive entry to enjoy low offers, where queues into the store was seen as early as an hour before the door is opened. In the early 1980s and 1990s, Isetan had participated and sponsored in a number of events. They sponsored Singapore’s 25th National Day Book to share its commitment in pursue of excellence. As part of the Isetan’s 25th anniversary, they had sponsored Singapore’s third sitcom then, “Can I Help You? And during 1998, Isetan was the proud sponsor of this amazing debut, “Isetan, A Summer Story” showing on the then Channel Premier 12. They had created a different path, the ability to catch consumers in a different channel, probably not from shopping experiences, but right from their home, where they were least on guard. Isetan Scotts sends Newsletters on a fortnightly basis to its consumers, highlighting the upcoming events, promotions along with irresistible coupons offers. The direct marketing allows them to update the consumers on the happenings of the store. The Newsletters are also sent through emails address of the consumers for easy forwarding to other parties. The internet service is becoming significant channel of advertising and brings along a whole new meaning to word-of-mouth marketing. Other than talking to each other through the phone, or in person, consumers have started interacting on line, through instant messaging channels. Short message services (SMS) are also sent to the consumers’ mobile phones to create an up-to-date awareness. This brings about the quick and convenience way for consumers to inform their friends or family just by forwarding the SMS. Isetan Scotts does not neglect the traditional marketing tool of personal selling, as seen by the figures of sales personnel in the store for the respective brands and sections. Their smiles and services elicit personal interaction between the consumers whom may have no intentions of purchasing for example, unsought goods. Personal selling builds up the buyer’s preference, conviction and action and the most effective tool at later stage of buying process, the ultimate tool in closing the deal. (601 words) Question 3 With the current economic environment, the retail scene in Singapore has become even more competitive. In an increasingly competitive and transnational arena, companies will have to ponder more and more about not just an offering that is different or better, but one that is an expression of Marketing Insight. (S. Ramachander, 2009) Constant improvement has to be integrated into the operations. Looking into the Product, Pricing, Place and Promotion aspects (the marketing mix developments), Isetan can go into improvising the product assortment and service strategies for its children’s section. Other than the available toys, clothing, expectancy mothers’ clothing and infant apparels, they can also consider bringing in innovation, education books or toys from Japan or other regions to development the growth of the young generation. Considering the possibilities, there is an interaction corner where by toddlers are well taken care of, through education corner of books, or “playground”. Isetan can also consider having joint events with clinics or hospitals to hold classes for expecting mothers to have a better understanding of themselves and their babies at the interaction corner. And a mini cafe corner suitable for the whole family, the parents enjoying coffee while their kids are enjoying themselves with other kids under one or more adults’ supervision. The parents may consider leaving the kids there while they enjoy their moment of time around the store. By creating this improvement to develop the children’s section, it positions Isetan Scotts to be on par, or closer market level with department stores already having such facilities. Parents would consider this their first choice for a true shopping paradise for the whole family. Creating a store atmosphere for anyone and everyone can be challenging. Isetan might consider looking into the necessary facilities for the handicapped group. There are currently no proper facilities convenient within the store for the handicaps. Their family members while considering the fact that they need to get some products exclusive in Isetan Scotts, would still restraint themselves from going to Isetan, to the main fact of inconvenience. Though there are lifts located in Isetan Scotts, but they are not prominent enough for the consumers to consider taking the lifts. Another consideration is to have an online purchase service. The e-buying process is the latest trend whereby consumers purchase their orders with a click of the mouse and have them delivered to their doorsteps. That will be a convenience for consumers who are not able to proceed to the store physically. This conveying an extra sales channel, with variety of products shown on the website for purchases. Consumers might even find products they have never seen at the store, but they will be able to find everything at their own pace of time. Developing the website is a critical act, as the internet plays an important role for another massive target market. The website might consider a page for interested consumers to register for the mailing lists, so as to updated of the latest promotions and news in the stores, for example the development of the New Isetan located at Serangoon Central. Residents staying around the area would want to know the insights of the store right at their sub-urban area. In views of the current global warming situation, it is time to play a part in this environmental project. Isetan can promote the importance of being environmentally friendly to the earth; bring your own groceries/carrier bag to carry your purchases, and discounts off the purchase, in conjunction, Isetan can introduce their very own in house groceries/carrier bags in the apparels section to create the awareness of saving earth. After which, joint events with brands can be developed for promotion pricing. Developments of the save the earth campaign can be primed as an annual event, further enhancement can be made to the event, in which exchanging their old products, toys, entitles discounts or promising products in return. Isetan can teach the younger generation the importance of saving the earth, with activities involving their favourite cartoon characters, Hello Kitty for instance, to educate them, acquire them to bring along old toys for the charity, have mini visits to the charity association. The younger generation holds the key to the future of the Earth. (701 words) AREFERENCES 1. Kotler, P. , Keller, K. E, Ang, S. H. , Leong, S. M. , Tan, C. T. , (2009), Marketing Management an Asian perspective, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, Singapore 2. MKT203 Marketing Mix Management Study Guide, (2010), 2nd Edition, Pearson Education South Asia, Singapore . The Isetan Singapore, 2009 Available at: http://www. isetan. com. sg/index. jsp (Accessed 16th October 2009) 4. The Isetan Singapore, (123 years of Excellence, Newsletter) Available at: http://www. isetan. com. sg/newsletter/index. jsp? newsletter=123 (Accessed 16th October 2009) 5. The Isetan Singapore, 2007 & 2008. Annual Report (Online) Available at: http://www. sgx. com/wps/portal/marketplace/mp-en/listed_companies_info/annual_reports_financial_reports (Accessed 16th October 2009) 6. Mango, 2009, Behind the Brand Available at: http://mango. com/oi/index. html (Accessed 17th October 2009) 7. All Dressed Up, 2009, Profile/ Brand Story Available at: http://www. alldressedup. com/index_Main. php#/Profile/Brand-Story (Accessed 17th October 2009) 8. What is IMC? (Article) Available at: http://www. multimediamarketing. com/mkc/marketingcommunications/ (Accessed 24th October 2009) 9. David Pickton and Amanda Broderick (2005), Integrated Marketing Communications, 2nd Edition 10. Integrated marketing as management of holistic consumer experience (Online) Business Horizons, Volume 48, Issue 5, September-October 2005, Pages 431-441 Shu-pei Tsai (Accessed 17th October 2009) Available at: http://www. nisim. edu. sg 11. The Effects of Price, Store Image, and Product and Respondent Characteristics on Perceptions of Quality, Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 14, No. 2 (May, 1977), pp. 181-186 John J. Wheatley and John S. Y. Chiu (Online) by: American Marketing Association Available at: http://www. jstor. org/stable/3150467 (Accessed 17th October 2009) 12. Journal of Business Research 58 (2005) 1112??? 1120 Recapturing store image in customer-based store equity:a construct conceptualization Katherine B. Hartman*, Rosann L. Spiro1 Available at: http://www. unisim. edu. sg (Accessed 24th October 2009) 3. The Concept of Marketing Insight: Linking Innovation to Business Goals S. Ramachander, Director Academy for Management Excellence (ACME) Division of Institute for Financial Management & Research Chennai, INDIA (Accessed 24th October 2009) ———————– A B A C Availability – Exclusive Medium High Low C C Low B A A A Medium D C Service High Quality Legend: A: Isetan ScottsB: Keppel ClubC: TakashimayaD: Liang Court (For Golf Equipments & Apparels) A: Isetan ScottsB: TangsC: TakashimayaD: John Little (For Men’s Clothing) Medium High Low C Low B D D Medium A D A D Price D High B Marketing Mix Assignment. (2020, Nov 28). Retrieved January 15, 2021, from https://anyassignment.com/art/marketing-mix-assignment-33716/ Marketing Mix Report Assignment Emotional Marketing: Necessity of Today’s Marketing Management Assignment Previous Post Financial Derivatives Market India Assignment Next Post What is The Role of Government Assignment Descartes’ Dualism Assignment	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1738
__label__wiki	0.887204	0.887204	Dover 5.6.18 by info_pq6043wo \| May 2, 2018 Looking To Dominate at Dover KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina (May 2, 2018) – Aric Almirola and the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend coming off of his fourth top-10 result this season. This weekend’s stop at Dover, affectionately known as the “Monster Mile,” marks the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season in the northeast region of the United States. Almirola heads to the Delmarva Peninsula Thursday morning to participate in Artie Kempner’s Drive for Autism Awareness golf tournament, marking the 17th year of the celebrity pro-am event that is Autism Delaware’s largest single fundraiser. A No. 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion will greet fans at the Monster Monument in Victory Plaza as they enter the front grounds of the Delaware track. A replica of the Almirola’s racecar was hoisted 46 feet off the ground and into Miles the Monster’s right hand April 17 as part of a media and fan event at the track. Sunday, Almirola and team SHR co-owner Tony Stewart will gather in front of Miles to unveil a customized Ford Mustang as part of Smithfield’s Smoke Machine Mustang giveaway. Almirola and Stewart will both be made available to the media beginning at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Fans can enter for their chance to win the Mustang designed by Stewart with the help of drifting champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. They built a one-of-a-kind Ford Mustang RTR Spec 3 that will be given away to one lucky fan. Fans can begin registering Sunday for their chance to win the supped-up Mustang and a trip to November’s Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway by visiting SmithfieldRacing.com, or by texting SMOKE to 82257. Fans also continue to have the opportunity to enter Smithfield’s “Hero of the Grill” contest that Almirola and five-time world-champion barbecue pitmaster Tuffy Stone helped launch last week to kick off the summer grilling season. Almirola and Stone launched Smithfield’s “Hero of the Grill” campaign, in which fans are encouraged to nominate their favorite grill hero by visiting SmithfieldGetGrilling.com. One “Hero of the Grill” nominee will win $5,000. Plus, the first 10,000 nominees will have the chance to see their name featured on Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in September. Dover marks the ninth weekend the Smithfield livery has adorned Almirola’s No. 10 Ford Fusion. Smithfield, a brand of Smithfield Foods, which is based approximately five hours northeast of SHR headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia, is in its seventh season with Almirola and its first with SHR. Founded in 1936, Smithfield is a leading provider of high-quality pork products, with a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts. The concrete mile oval at Dover, with a horse track circling inside it, is one of Almirola’s favorite tracks on the circuit to pilot his 3,300-pound stock car around. He’s accumulated two top-five finishes and three top-10s there, and has completed 98.6 percent of all possible laps in 11 starts. SHR has two victories at Dover – Stewart in June 2013 and Kevin Harvick in October 2015 – and has amassed five top-fives and 15 top-10s in 54 starts. Almirola, the Tampa native, has four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover and finished inside the top-15 each time. He has two starts in the Camping World Truck Series at Dover, capturing his second NASCAR national series win by driving a Truck into victory lane there in May 2010. His only other Dover start in the series resulted in a 12th-place finish. Ford has earned 25 all-time Cup Series wins at Dover. Last weekend’s win at Talladega Superspeedway by Ford driver Joey Logano gave the blue oval a series-best five victories this season, with four of those being earned by SHR – Harvick has three wins and Clint Bowyer one. Aric Almirola: Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing: What’s it like to race at Dover? “Really, really high banking and it’s just a fun place to go to. Dover is the one place we go where we are running 170 mph but it feels like you’re going 300 mph. The sensation of speed at Dover is incredible.” Are you having fun this year? “I’m having a blast. I’m having the time of my life. Every time I get on the airplane, I have a shot to win. The SHR organization from the top down is incredible. The amount of people who go every day to the shop to figure out how to make the cars go faster is amazing.” How do you stay motivated as a driver? “It’s all self-driven. I’ll go and rewatch the old race footage of the racetrack that we’re going to. I’ll look at my driver data and compare it to my teammates. I write notes every single weekend, throughout the weekend. I’ll log it into my laptop and, after the race is over, I’ll go in and write a race report about how the race went, what happened in the race, how I thought the track changed, how the line changed and my driving style changed to adapt to the changing track conditions. I go in and write very detailed reports after practices and the race, and then I’ll study that leading into the next event at the track.” Dover International Speedway Notes of Interest: Aric Almirola will make his 12th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend to bring his total of career Cup Series starts to 255. The Smithfield driver has two top-five finishes and three top-10s at the concrete mile oval. He has an average starting position of 19.5 and an average finishing position of 17.0. The 34-year-old has made four NASCAR Xfinity Series and two Camping World Truck Series starts at Dover. In Almirola’s four Xfinity Series starts, he’s hasn’t finished outside the top-15. The Tampa native has one win in his two Truck Series starts at the Monster Mile and a 12th-place result. At 11 a.m. EDT Saturday, Almirola will appear at Smithfield’s Smokin’ Showdown activation stage in Dover’s fan midway. At 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, Almirola will participate in a Q&A at Dover’s AAA stage located near Victory Plaza. In addition to the fan Q&A Sunday, Almirola will be joined by team co-owner Tony Stewart at 11:15 a.m. EDT in front of the Monster Monument in Victory Plaza to unveil the Ford Mustang designed by Stewart and drifting champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. for Smithfield’s Mustang giveaway. Fans can enter beginning Sunday for their chance to win the tricked-out street car and a trip to November’s Ford Championship weekend at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway by visiting SmithfieldRacing.com. Smithfield has launched its summer “Hero of the Grill” contest, during which fans are encouraged to submit their grilling hero nominee and for a chance to win $5,000. The first 10,000 nominees will have the chance to have their name featured on Almirola’s No. 10 Ford Fusion at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in September. To nominate a grilling hero, visit SmithfieldGetGrilling.com. Ford has a series-best five wins this season, with four of the victories coming from the SHR camp – Kevin Harvick with three and Clint Bowyer with one. Johnny Klausmeier is in his first full-time season as a Cup Series crew chief. The native of Perry Hall, Maryland transitioned from an engineer to Almirola’s crew chief for the 2018 season. Klausmeier has one win as a substitute crew chief while filling in for Tony Gibson at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June 2016. As a race engineer at SHR, Klausmeier has worked with drivers Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick and, most recently, Kurt Busch. Smithfield joined SHR this season and will be the primary partner for the majority of the season on the No. 10 Ford Fusion piloted by Almirola. Founded in 1936, Smithfield is a leading provider of high-quality pork products, with a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts. The 2018 season marks the 10th anniversary of SHR. The Kannapolis, North-Carolina-based team is co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas and has recorded 43 victories and 35 poles since its inception in 2009. Stewart won the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series title and Harvick gave SHR its second title in 2014. SHR’s Kurt Busch won last year’s Daytona 500, and Harvick won June 25 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and Nov. 5 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Harvick is coming off of back-to-back-to-back victories – Feb. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, March 4 at Las Vegas and March 11 at ISM Raceway near Phoenix. Bowyer scored the organization’s fourth win of the season March 26 at Martinsville. SHR has accrued two wins at Dover – Stewart in June 2013 and Harvick in October 2015 – the team has five top-five finishes and 15 top-10s in 54 starts at the concrete mile oval.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1744
__label__wiki	0.8167	0.8167	bakersfield-payday-loan.com Question: Does I 70 Go Through The Rockies? How far west does I 70 go? What is the steepest grade highway in America? Is Rabbit Ears Pass scary? What is the deadliest road in the world? What is the highest elevation on I 70 in Colorado? What is the busiest road in America? How dangerous is Wolf Creek Pass? How long is I 70 in Colorado? Is I 70 in Colorado open yet? What is the highest pass in Colorado? What is the most dangerous road in America? What is the longest interstate in the US? What President started interstate highway system? What is the most dangerous mountain pass in the United States? How long does it take to drive through the Eisenhower Tunnel? What is the steepest grade in Colorado? How many miles is Route 80? Is I 70 in Colorado dangerous? 3,462 kmInterstate 70/Length. Canton AvenueCanton Avenue, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Beechview neighborhood, is the steepest officially recorded public street in the United States. Canton Avenue is 630 ft (190 m) long (the hill is about 65 meters long) and is claimed to include a 37 percent grade 21 ft (6.4 m) feet long. Why it’s dangerous: If you want to make the trip from Denver to Steamboat Springs for some sweet skiing and hot spring fun, you better watch out—Rabbit Ears Pass sounds like a green circle run, but it is actually an icy slip-and-slide down a mountain. North Yungas RoadNorth Yungas Road, Bolivia The North Yungas Road in Bolivia, also known as the ‘Road of Death’, is said to be the most dangerous road in the world. 11,158 ftThe construction of I-70 in Colorado and Utah is considered an engineering marvel, as the route passes through the Eisenhower Tunnel, Glenwood Canyon, and the San Rafael Swell. The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest point along the Interstate Highway system, with an elevation of 11,158 ft (3,401 m). Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest and one of the busiest highways in America. Read the story behind this well-traveled road. When you think of the most famous and busiest highways in America, the Interstate 90 (or I-90) will come to mind for many people. The west side of the Pass is at a 7% downhill grade. The Pass features a dangerous hairpin curve six-and-a-half miles from the summit. Drivers will travel more than eight miles from the summit (near the Wolf Creek Ski Area) to the west base of the Pass (near Treasure Falls). 723.5 kmInterstate 70 in Colorado/Length Courtesy CDOT Interstate 70 reopened to traffic early on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. The Colorado Department of Transportation reopened Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon early Monday. Mount Evans Scenic BywayColorado’s Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America. While ranking at number one for this list, I-45 is actually listed as the most dangerous in Texas and one of the most dangerous roads in the world, as reported by Popular Mechanics. Back in 2016, Interstate 45 was the second deadliest highway in the U.S. Related: Interstate 45 ranked as second-deadliest highway in U.S. I-90I-90: 3,020.44 miles Interstate 90, America’s longest Interstate Highway, spans from Boston, Massachusetts, to Seattle, Washington. President Dwight D. EisenhowerHighway History From the day President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the Interstate System has been a part of our culture as construction projects, as transportation in our daily lives, and as an integral part of the American way of life. Red Mountain Pass#1 – Red Mountain Pass, CO Colorado Route 550 is known as the Million Dollar Highway. The Eisenhower Memorial Bore (westbound tunnel) is 1.693 miles (2.72 km) long, while the Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Bore (eastbound tunnel) is 1.697 miles (2.73 km) long. The tunnels are sloped with a 1.64% grade, with an elevation of 11,013 feet (3,357 m) at the east portal and 11,158 feet (3,401 m) at the west portal. Slumgullion Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.514m (11,530ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, in southwestern Colorado, USA. It claims the steepest grades of any fully paved and maintained road in Colorado. Located in the San Juan Mountains, the road over the pass is asphalted. 4,666 kmInterstate 80/Length Connecting Grand Junction to Denver is Interstate 70 that passes over the continental divide via Loveland Pass at an altitude of 11,990 ft. This is the highest point anywhere in the U.S. interstate highway system. The route is known for stretches of steep grades, twisting turns and treacherous winter conditions. Question: How Do I Change Incorrect Information On Google Maps? Why does my Google maps keep closing? Google Maps keeps Question: Which Plant Is Good For Money? Is money plant dangerous? 3- One of the most interesting Quick Answer: Did Shaw Killed Han In Fast And Furious? How is Han still alive in fast and furious? What Can I Use Instead Of Kerosene? Can you use diesel fuel in place of kerosene? What Is The Currency Of Italy? How much is a dollar in Italian lira? US dollars to What Is The Benefit Of Cappuccino? What are the side effects of cappuccino? Coffee containing Quick Answer: How Can I Drive Cross Country Cheap? How much would a 2 week road trip cost? So the overall Question: Can Google Maps Optimize My Route? Does Google Maps have route planner? Google Maps does © 2021 bakersfield-payday-loan.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1748
__label__wiki	0.525794	0.525794	Posted inContributors, Opinion The American eel’s ‘endangered’ designation isn’t backed up by the science by Contributed January 26, 2015 Over the past decade, eel fishermen in Maine and all along the Atlantic coast have been part of a responsibly managed fishery, adhering to stringent regulations developed across state, provincial and international lines. Even as demand for eels has spiked in the last few years, the fishery has set a course of proactive management, with sustainable catch limits helping to secure the future of the stock. Despite these notable management efforts, in late 2014, the environmental group International Union for the Conservation of Nature placed American eel on its “Red List” of endangered species. But a close examination of all of the available evidence — including a 2007 report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which the agency has called “the most comprehensive analysis of the American eel’s range wide status ever undertaken” — reveals that the IUCN designation is misplaced, at best. Some researchers predicted a species-wide collapse following a steep decline in the number of Great Lakes eels beginning in the 1980s. But after decades of observation, this prediction has not borne out for the rest of the population. Instead, populations have remained resilient. This was noted by the Fish and Wildlife Service in its report, which stated that “the species currently appears stable.” The key measurement here is the recruitment — the number of new eels that are born and enter the eel population — of younger glass eels. It’s one of the best indicators of the health of the eel stock and was recognized by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s report as the measurement that “best represents the species status range-wide.” One of the more important records of eel recruitment is out of the East River in Nova Scotia, where scientists, community organizations and fishermen have worked together since 1995 to measure glass eel recruitment in the region. Similarly, since 2000, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has required its member states to measure glass eel recruitment in their waters. These studies have, on the whole, shown a similar pattern: while the number of glass eels reaching the coast is highly variable from year to year, there has been no sustained downward trend over time. To the contrary, five of the state surveys, including one conducted in Maine, detected record high numbers in glass eel recruitment in 2012. The East River survey set a recruitment record of its own in 2014. Inexplicably, the IUCN ignores these unambiguously positive developments. They also ignore mounting evidence that the potentially vast numbers of American eels located in saltwater habitats may contribute much more to the species’ ability to reproduce than previously recognized. Most studies of eels focus on freshwater habitats, even as a large portion of the species’ overall range is located in saltwater. Some scientists who currently study American eels speculate that that there may be as many as 50-100 million adult eels breeding each year. Even with soaring prices for sought-after glass eels — which have sold for thousands of dollars per pound as international demand has reached all-time highs — the region’s many eel fishermen have supported efforts by the ASMFC to make sure that eels are not being overfished. Given the relatively small geographic footprint of the eel fishery compared with the vast range of eel habitats, eel fishermen are not endangering the species or its habitat, and fishing does not represent a significant threat to the eel species. It can credibly be argued that more can be done to protect eels, especially with regard to restoring freshwater habitat that has been lost. But by incorrectly declaring eels to be endangered and at “very high risk” of extinction, the IUCN’s listing asserts that eels are under a level of threat that is simply not supported by the preponderance of the scientific evidence. This inaccurate, sensationalized designation stands in stark contrast to the current realities of the eel stock and the eel fishery. Julie Keene is an eel harvester from North Trescott and secretary of the Maine Elver Fishermen Association. Tim Larochelle of Woolwich is an eel harvester, commercial fishing boat captain and member of the American Eel Sustainability Association.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1750
__label__cc	0.748169	0.251831	MINI Designs an Exclusive One-Off Car. A special MINI to mark a special occasion. MINI designs an exclusive one-off car for charity to toast the royal wedding. MINI is to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a one-off MINI Hatch designed specifically to commemorate the special occasion and to be donated to one of the couple’s chosen charities. After the wedding day on 19 May, this one-of-a-kind MINI will be handed over to The Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) for public auction. “As an iconic British brand with almost 60 years of history in the UK, we are pleased to mark the royal wedding with this special charitable gift,” explains Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “The MINI Design team has created a one-off MINI Hatch for the occasion. Its specially designed roof graphic combines with 3D-printed personalised interior and exterior details as well as special embroidery to make this a MINI like no other.” The exterior. This unique car is finished in Crystal White. Silver-blue accent strips lend the body a distinctive look and the black band that wraps around the car features a blue-tinted matt silver paint finish. Recognisable MINI design features in chrome, such as the frame for the hexagonal radiator grille, the door handles and the surrounds for the headlights and rear lights are topped off with a blue-black tinted clear coat, bringing modernity and a freshness of detail to the MINI. Rear lights in Union Jack design and dark-blue matt metallic wheel rims put the finishing touches to its external appearance. Hand-made roof graphic and 3D printing. A particular highlight of the exterior is the roof’s paint finish, which uses multiple colours. The roof graphic is applied meticulously by hand in several layers and brings together elements of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s national flags – the Union Jack and the Stars & Stripes. The special MINI’s side scuttles around the side turn signal indicators have been 3D-printed and embellish the initials M and H with a heart and rings. When the car is opened, they project an exclusive “Just Married” welcome onto the ground in front of the driver’s door and front-passenger door. Over the last few weeks, the MINI Yours Customised programme has given MINI customers in selected markets the option of turning their MINI into an absolute one-off with the help of 3D-printed side scuttles, door sill plates and individual light projection. The interior. Satellite Grey leather has been chosen for the interior and provides the ideal backdrop against which to accentuate the bespoke elements of the MINI. The blue-black tinted clear coat of the chrome exterior elements can also be found on selected chrome interior features. The first names of the bride and groom, plus the wedding date and good wishes to the newlyweds have been added to the large trim strip ahead of the front passenger seat. Another special feature of the interior is an accent inspired by the roof graphic, which is integrated into the trim strips in the doors, behind the steering wheel and into the head restraints. On the latter, there is an abstract take on the Union Jack on one side and a Stars & Stripes perforation and stitching on the other. MINI X DARK MOFO: UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCES. MINI Australia partnered with Tourism Tasmania and Spirit of Tasmania to celebrate Dark Mofo - Mona's winter solstice festival. Pack maximum fun with the MINI Designated Driver service. Book your seat on the ultimate epicurean escape this winter when MINI teams up with Western Australia’s Cabin Fever Festival from July 13-22. MINI and The Woolmark Company Announce Partnership. MINI and The Woolmark Company kick off the new year by announcing their partnership for 2018 to promote the work of young designers.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1751
__label__wiki	0.516449	0.516449	Bespoke Traders Purveyors of Fine Automobiles & Motorcycles 1998 TVR 1998 Griffith 500 – SOLD A great piece of British motoring providing a sensational drive coupled with rather attractive looks the Griffith 500 delivers a great deal of enjoyment for a car at this end of the market, providing performance that one would expect from higher-priced marques. Also with the tired and test original rover/Buick v8 as the basis for the powertrain it certainly sounds as good as it looks. This particular has been cherished from new receiving a great deal of time and money spent on ensuring that is in perfect and ready to go condition. Starmist green metallic Rover 5.0L 340BHP The TVR’s first owner took delivery the car on the 14th March 1998 from the supplying dealer, TMS TVR of Melton Mowbray. Since then every single owner seems to have fallen in love with the car and cherished it like their first-born child. Having returned to the UK after twenty years in California, the seller decided to treat himself to the TVR Griffith he’d always yearned for. He found this one after a wide-ranging search and has now owned it for seven years, during which time he has invested a lot of time and money to keep it in the condition you see today. He’s kept it garaged when it wasn’t being used and only used it sparingly in good weather, covering around 3,500 miles in seven years. As a result, he’s come to realise that he’s not really appreciating in the way it deserves and so would like to see it go to someone who is in a position to use it more frequently. The Starmist Green coachwork is in fine fettle, thanks to a combination of TVR production engineering, understanding owners and a front end refresh in 2000, which comprised a partial respray to remove the stonechips. A rear light conversion was then carried out in March 2012, and the two upgrades are not only extremely subtle but lift the look of the car slap-bang into the 21st century, evoking the look of the final, limited-edition Griffiths. It looks so good that we think it finally puts to rest the theory that it is impossible to get tight, even shutlines on a glassfibre car. I mean, just look at it; it’s taut and lithe and looks as good now as the day it did when it rolled off the production lines in Blackpool. Please arrange a viewing to see for yourself prior to auction end. A new beige mohair hood was fitted in 2009 and it is still in very good condition, being water-tight and free of rips, tears and other damage. The leather seats are also free of rips and tears but they are a little bit cracked and lightly patinated. Having taken a close look, a decent upholsterer/trimmer could bring them back to a more presentable condition without too great an expenditure or you could, of course, just leave them as they are and get on with the important business of enjoying simply being behind the wheel of a true British classic. The rest of the interior is in very good condition and all the gauges, switches and toys work as they should with the exception of the electric mirrors. The owner understands that this is a common fault but this was the one thing he hasn’t got round to sorting it out himself. Also the clock has a habit of running backwards…. The comprehensive service history is extraordinarily detailed and records the many minor remedial works that were carried out as part of its servicing regimen. No expense appears to have been spared over the years, resulting in what might just be the most sorted TVR we’ve ever driven. Every routine servicing bill from Mole Valley TVR in the early noughties was for well over four-figures, which must have made for uncomfortable viewing by its then owner but is exactly the sort of thing the canny TVR buyer likes to see when considering a purchase. The previous owner had the Rover V8 engine overhauled in 2012 and it now starts perfectly, ticks over evenly and opens the gates of Hell when you prod the throttle. Seriously, turn up the volume and listen to end of the video; glorious, isn’t it? Gaz Pro dampers were fitted at the same time as the engine work was carried out, and the underside was professionally cleaned and Waxoyled. The previous owner had the car professionally checked and the current ownercommissioned further chassis work in 2013, including the replacement of a pair of outriggers and some repairs to some of the mounting points in the glassfibre floor. A few other bits and bobs were sorted while it was there, including exhaust manifold repairs, some minor chassis fettling, and a full service. In total, this work cost almost £6,500 and has seriously refreshed the car, leaving it fighting fit and ready to face the next decade in uncommonly good condition. As always with any TVR (or maybe any low-volume British sports car for that matter), none of this guarantees a trouble-free future, but it does start to weight the odds in your favour. It’s also had matching new front tyres fitted recently. The TVR comes with two sets of keys and the original leatherette wallet containing the service history book and the owner’s manual. The service book itself meticulously documents the work that has been carried out on it, from its initial 1,000-mile inspection after only a month of ownership and 931 miles through to its last service on the 18th May 2019 at 61,677 miles. In all, 13 services stamps are present spanning the lifetime of the vehicle. Not many left that can claim that. The car will also be supplied with an original sales brochure for the model, along with a sales invoice for its purchase in 1999 for £28,000 – or £47,000 in today’s money. There are also a number of old invoices and bills that detail the owners’ meticulous stewardship of the TVR over the years as well as a number of expired MOT certificates. by Alexy Van Kimmenade VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY EMAIL: ALEXY@BESPOKETRADERS.COM PhONE:+44(0)7773377870 2018 Audi RS6 Avant – £SOLD 1996 Daimler Double six 6.0 V12 – £12,000 E: info@BESPOKETRADERS.COM PL27 7LR Hawksfield Wadebridge	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1756
__label__cc	0.540004	0.459996	Tag Archive: Charles M. Schulz Hey, Charlie Brown! The Great Pumpkin turns 50 Filed under: Fantasy Realms, Retro Fix, TV — Leave a comment On Halloween night the Great Pumpkin rises out of his pumpkin patch and flies through the air with his bag of toys for all the children. Sally was Lucy. Kathy was Sally. Chris was Charlie. Peter was Linus. And Bill was Snoopy. For fifty years Charles M. Schulz’s Linus Van Pelt has been trying to convince us all to believe in The Great Pumpkin in The Peanuts holiday special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Following on the success of the Peanuts Christmas special, Schulz was tapped to pick a holiday and subject and went with Halloween over Thanksgiving and the Great Pumpkin was destined for the small screen in October 1966. It’s the one time Charlie Brown wasn’t the only ostracized kid in the neighborhood (although he’s the one who gets rocks every year and we never learn why). Remember when all the little kids dressed up in the same costumes? Here the costumes of choice were ghosts and witches. And a World War I flying ace–Snoopy took his first flight on the screen in his Sopwith Camel in The Great Pumpkin. Chris Shea voiced Linus, Kathy Steinberg voiced Sally, Peter Robbins was Charlie Brown, and Lucy was voiced by Sally Dryer. And Bill Melendez was the voice of Snoopy. Who knew Sally was such a little lawyer? You don’t remember that? Watch it again and see. And who saves the day? Big sister Lucy. If you missed the annual television viewing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, don’t fret, you can watch the entire show here: Tags: Bill Melendez, Charles M. Schulz, Chris Shea, Great Pumpkin 50th anniversary, Halloween 2016, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, Kathy Steinberg, Peanuts, Peter Robbins, Sally Dryer Review–The Peanuts Movie, a big family hit now on digital, 3D, DVD, and Blu-ray Filed under: Comics & Books, Fantasy Realms, Movies, Retro Fix — Leave a comment It’s something that fans of Charlie Brown and Snoopy have been waiting for, for several reasons. The Peanuts Movie hit theaters late last year, but it was lost in the movie season among the spectacle that was Star Wars released just weeks later. Yet if you saw it in the theater, you realize this movie was a keeper. The Peanuts Movie is what all family movies strive for: classic characters, good-natured humor, something to enjoy for every moviegoer. The very young will love Snoopy and understand the relationship of the Peanuts kids that we older folks have known and loved for years, in newspaper funnies, in paperback editions, and the many Peanuts specials. The Peanuts Movie does something else–it provides the best version of Charlie Brown and friends we’ve seen since the original 1965 favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas. The Peanuts Movie gets it right from the beginning, in its pedigree. It’s written by Craig Schulz, Charles M. Schulz’s son and a writer on the Community comedy series, and Charles’ grandson, Bryan. So, unlike the onslaught of lackluster adaptations that have plagued the Dr. Seuss properties after his death, the same heart and soul of Charles’ creation is as powerful as ever. The writers have turned to the source material for many interactions in the film, like Lucy’s converted lemonade stand/psychiatry office and the famous wall where Charlie and Linus ponder the worlds’ problems, and yet they have updated the story in subtle and important ways that are both loyal to the original and still give loyalists a satisfying pay-off. And don’t worry, the updating ends with the inclusion of standardized tests–you won’t find any cell phones, smart phones or texting issues for the kids in this movie. The story centers around Charlie Brown’s attraction to the little red-haired girl who moves in across the street and the lengths he will go to to try to impress her. This love affair was the core of many original Peanuts comic strips, based on Charles Schulz’s real-life attraction from afar with a red-haired girl. Snoopy’s parallel exploits in this movie mirror this love affair, as he pursues his own love story on paper, revealed to us as a story of a dog trying to win over air pilot Fifi in his World War I Sopwith Camel fighter plane on a mission in France, also taking on the famous Red Baron. The Peanuts Movie hails from Blue Sky Studios, who brought us the Ice Age franchise. Even without a 3D television the depth of field here is spectacular, and with the 3D effect director Steve Martino does not shell out standard 3D gimmicks, but lets the characters simply float off the comic strip and into their own full-color, beautiful “real” world. The backgrounds look like the homes and backyards of any American town cul de sac. And if you look close enough you’ll see Snoopy finally has fur. Tags: 3D Blu-ray, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Bill Melendez, Blue Sky Studios, Bryan Schulz, Charles M. Schulz, Craig Schulz, Peanuts, Steve Martino, The Peanuts Movie, The Peanuts Movie review Previews–Comic Shop Wednesday offers six new books from BOOM! Filed under: Comics & Books, Fantasy Realms, Sci-Fi Café, Superheroes — Leave a comment It’s Comic Shop Wednesday! Haven’t been to your comic book shop lately? We have six hi-res previews for borg.com readers courtesy of BOOM! Studios of what you’ll find in stores today–so you can see what you’re missing. Look for Venus from writer Rick Loverd and artist Huang Danlan. Pauline and the rest of the survivors from the Mayflower take stock of the base on Venus, but there’s a saboteur in their midst who’s sowing tension in the ranks. We love writer Dan Abnett and artist I.N.J. Culbard’s Wild’s End: The Enemy Within. The group of anthropomorphic townspeople is scattered in the woods of Lower Crowchurch as an alien threat returns. In The Spire from writer Simon Spurrier and artist Jeff Stokely, Meera is held by the Zoarim at their camp as part of the Pax proceedings. But she’s not alone. In the ongoing sequel to John Carpenter’s Escape from New York by writer Christopher Sebela and artist Maxim Simic, Snake Plisskin prepares to defend his property from the government. At any cost. BOOM! Box, the BOOM! Studios imprint for kids titles, has two great issues out today from Peanuts and Munchkin. Tags: Boom Studios, Charles M. Schulz, Christopher Sebela, Dan Abnett, Derek Fridolfs, Escape from New York, Huang Danlan, I.N.J. Culbard, Jason Cooper, Jeff Stokely, John Carpenter, Maddi Gonzalez, Maxim Simic, Munchkin, Munchkin comic book preview, Peanuts comic book preview, Rick Loverd, Sam Sykes, Scott Jeralds, Scott Maynard, Simon Spurrier, The Spire preview, Venus comic book preview, Vicki Scott, Wild's End preview Kristen Bell hosts A Charlie Brown Christmas 50th anniversary special tonight Filed under: Backstage Pass, Retro Fix, TV — Leave a comment A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired December 9, 1965, and tonight ABC will mark its 50th anniversary with an airing of the holiday classic and a new special about the show. It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown, will be hosted by Kristen Bell and feature several celebrities including singer Sarah McLachlan. As with each year since 1965, the most beloved Christmas classic of all time is airing early in December, so early that it’s always so easy to miss. Set the DVR now to catch both the show and the documentary. It will feature details about the creation of the show and creators Charles M. Schulz, Bill Melendez, Lee Mendelson, and Vince Guaraldi. If you miss the show tonight, pick up this DVD anniversary edition of the classic here from Amazon.com and the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack re-mastered in 2012 here . It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs tonight, November 30, 2015. at 7 p.m. Central on ABC, followed by the original A Charlie Brown Christmas at 8 p.m. C.J. Bunce borg.com Tags: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Bill Melendez, Charles M. Schulz, It's Your 50th Christmas Charlie Brown, Kristen Bell, Lee Mendelson, Sarah McLachlan, Vince Guaraldi	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1758
__label__wiki	0.940829	0.940829	Yellow Nineties 2.0 Database of Ornament Y90s Personography Y90s Classroom Original Website XML PDF Graham R. Tomson (Rosamund Marriott Watson). Photograph, Frontispiece for The Poems of Rosamund Marriott Watson. John Lane, London, 1912. Graham R. Tomson (Rosamund Marriott Watson) This poet, aesthete, woman of letters and serial divorcée was born Rosamond Ball, daughter of an accountant, in the London borough of Hackney. Informally educated, she read freely in the library of her father, a bibliophile and amateur poet. Later, she claimed she could not remember a time when she did not read or rhyme. She counted Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909), William Morris (1834-1896), Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), and D. G. Rossetti (1828-1882) among her early influences. At nineteen she married the wealthy Australian George Francis Armytage (1853-1921), who had attended Cambridge University, where he was a member of the winning university boat team, and with whom she had two daughters. Her first poems, Tares, a volume of melancholy lyrics about love’s transience with epigraphs from François Villon and D. G. Rossetti, appeared anonymously in 1884. By late 1884 she was legally separated from Armytage, and in October 1886 she eloped with painter Arthur Tomson (1859-1905), later a member of the New English Art Club. Armytage promptly divorced Rosamond, and she married Arthur in September 1887; less than six weeks later their son Graham [“Tommy”] was born. Well before then she had taken to calling herself Graham R. Tomson. The pseudonym was her lifeline to publishing success and her eventual appearance in The Yellow Book. Though she had placed several poems in magazines as R. Armytage, that poet was not well known, and she could veil her identity as a divorcée—even as a woman—under the signature “Graham R. Tomson.” Andrew Lang (1844-1912) thought he was promoting a rising young man when he announced a new poet in Longman’s Magazine in July 1887, and from that time she quickly entered key publishing networks and venues of the 1890s. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) as well as Lang and W. E. Henley (1849-1903) were friends, along with Katharine Tynan (1861-1931), Alice Meynell (1847-1922), Violet Hunt (1862-1942), and above all Elizabeth Pennell (1855-1936). Most likely through her brother Wilfred Ball (1853-1917), another painter, she also became acquainted with John Lane (1854-1925), Wilfred’s “brother” in Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, the literary men’s club to which both belonged. Tomson’s The Bird-Bride: A Volume of Ballads and Sonnets (1889) is aligned with aestheticism in its emphasis on ballads and sonnets and with new women in its exploration of marriage themes, as in the title poem. A Summer Night (1891) is suggestive of decadence in its turn to literary impressionism and its recurring representation of female desire. By 1892 Tomson had become poetry critic for the Academy, art critic for the Morning Leader, President of the Literary Ladies, and the newly appointed editor of Sylvia’s Journal . In 1893 she joined Meynell, Hunt, and others as regular contributors to the “Wares of Autolycus” column in the Pall Mall Gazette , which provided the basis for her later book on interior decoration, The Art of the House (1897). Tomson’s life and career took another radical turn when she began an affair with one of Henley’s protégés on the staff of the National Observer , Australian-born H. B. Marriott Watson (1863-1921). In June 1894 she left Arthur and their son Tommy and moved in with Marriott Watson. In April 1894 she had contacted John Lane with a poem for The Yellow Book; perhaps Lane took satisfaction in printing the decadent “ Vespertilia,” about a seductive female vampire, next to Marriott Watson’s “ The House of Shame” in Volume 4 (January 1895). Though “Vespertilia” appeared under the signature of Graham R. Tomson, its author had renamed herself Rosamund Marriott Watson six months earlier, her substitute for a marriage ceremony. (Though Tomson divorced her in 1895, she never remarried.) Richard Marriott Watson was born in October 1895, the same month that Vespertilia, and Other Verses, by Rosamond Marriott Watson, was published by John Lane The Bodley Head. Lane always stood by her as poet and friend, but she never recovered the prominence enjoyed by Graham R. Tomson. If Vespertilia contains some of her best poems, her work as a whole, like her reputation, declined after this volume, as did her health from 1903 onward. She died of uterine cancer on 29 December 1911. © 2011, Linda K. Hughes Linda K. Hughes is Addie Levy Professor of Literature at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. She is the author of Graham R.: Rosamund Marriott Watson, Woman of Letters (2005), The Cambridge Introduction to Victorian Poetry (2010), and numerous essays on the literature and culture of the 1890s in essay collections and in Victorian Poetry, Victorian Periodicals Review, SEL: Studies in English Literature, Victorian Literature and Culture, and Philological Quarterly . Selected Publications of Tomson/Watson [Armytage, Rosamond.] Tares. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner, 1884. Tomson, Graham R. The Bird-Bride: A Volume of Ballads and Sonnets . London: Longmans, 1889. —. A Summer Night, and Other Poems. London: Methuen, 1891. Watson, Rosamund Marriott. Vespertilia, and Other Verses . London: John Lane The Bodley Head, 1895. —. The Art of the House. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1897. —. After Sunset. London: John Lane The Bodley Head, 1904. —. The Poems of Rosamund Marriott Watson. London: John Lane The Bodley Head, 1912. Selected Publications about Tomson/Watson Bristow, Joseph. “‘The Armytage-Tomson-Watson Sequence’: Poetic Illustrations in the Periodical Press, 1886-1896.” Victorian Literature and Culture 34.2 (2006): 519-51. Frankel, Nicholas. “Embodying the City in A London Garland.” Victorian Poetry 48.1 (Spring 2010): 95-136. Houston, Natalie M. “Towards a New History: Fin-de-Siècle Women Poets and the Sonnet.” Victorian Women Poets. Ed. Alison Chapman. Woodbridge, England: D. S. Brewer, 2003. 145-64. Hughes, Linda K. “‘Fair Hyman Holdeth Hid a World of Woes’: Myth and Marriage in Poems by ‘Graham R. Tomson’ (Rosamund Marriott Watson).” Victorian Poetry 32.2 (Summer 1994): 97-120. —. “A Fin-de-Siecle Beauty and the Beast: Configuring the Body in Works by ‘Graham R. Tomson’ (Rosamund Marriott Watson).” Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature 14.1 (Spring 1995): 95-121. —. “Feminizing Decadence: Poems by Graham R. Tomson.” Women and British Aestheticism. Ed. Talia Schaffer and Kathy Alexis Psomiades. Charlottesville: UP of Virginia, 1999. 119-38. —. Graham R.: Rosamund Marriott Watson, Woman of Letters . Athens: Ohio UP, 2005. —. “Women Poets and Contested Spaces in The Yellow Book.” SEL: Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 44.4 (Autumn 2004): 849-72. O’Brien, Lee. “Uncanny Transactions and Canny Forms: Rosamund Marriott Watson’s Märchen.” Victorian Poetry 46.4 (Winter 2008): 429-50. Schaffer, Talia. The Forgotten Female Aesthetes: Literary Culture in Late Victorian England . Charlottesville: UP of Virginia, 2000. Vadillo, Ana Parejo. Women Poets and Urban Aestheticism: Passengers of Modernity . Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Hughes, Linda K. “Graham R. Tomson [Rosamund Marriott Watson] (1860-1911),” Y90s Biographies, 2011. Yellow Nineties 2.0, edited by Lorraine Janzen Kooistra, Ryerson University Centre for Digital Humanities, 2019, https://1890s.ca/tomson_bio/. biography Linda K. Hughes	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1761
__label__wiki	0.742649	0.742649	Google's Nexus phone gets second chance thanks to Samsung By Ed Oswald As previously rumored, Google on Monday confirmed that it had tapped Samsung to manufacture the second incarnation of its Nexus Android phone, which will be the first to run the company's Android 2.3 "Gingerbread OS." The Nexus S will sell for $199 with a two-year service contract through T-Mobile here in the US beginning December 16. It will also be offered without a contract for $529. Either way, Google has hopes that the second incarnation does a whole lot better than the first. Google offered the Nexus One both as its second testing tool for its Android development partners, and as a regular consumer smartphone. It is believed that the Nexus One only sold about 100,000 units, and much of the blame for its poor sales could be Google's own strategy. Rather than sell it through a carrier, the company exclusively sold the Nexus One through its own Web-based store for most of its lifespan. Google shut down that Web-based store last May. Google's next incarnation includes several enhancements over the original version, including front and rear-facing cameras and a "contour display" aimed at fitting comfortably in the palm of the hand and on the side of the face. It also includes 16GB of memory and support for NFC (near-field communication). Other features include HD video recording and playback; Bluetooth support; Gryoscope, accelerometer and proximity sensors; and 802.11n support. "As part of the Nexus brand, Nexus S delivers what we call a "pure Google" experience: unlocked, unfiltered access to the best Google mobile services and the latest and greatest Android releases and updates," VP of engineering Andy Rubin said in a blog post. Unbeknown to most consumers, Android actually leads a double life. Devices like the Nexus S are built "with Google," meaning they show off all of the capabilities of a free open-source Android operating system, but polished up with all of Google's specialty services that aren't open source. The far more common versions of Android are based on the open source branch and given the stamp of the OEM or the carrier. Carriers have increasingly begun to exert their own control over these devices, either locking out standard functionality, or worse yet replacing Google's own services with those of its competitors. Verizon is an example of this new threat to Android: the Samsung Fascinate features Bing rather than Google as the device's primary web search. 10 Responses to Google's Nexus phone gets second chance thanks to Samsung	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1762
__label__cc	0.554881	0.445119	A Revolta da Chibata – ‘The Revolt of the Lash’, November 22nd 1910 On this day 100 years ago, 22nd November 1910, sailors on board the Brazilian battleship, Minas Gerais, mutinied and took control of their ship. So, you might reasonably ask, what has that got to do with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums? Well, four ships took part in the revolt of which Minas Gerais, and the light cruiser, Bahia, were both built by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick (a district of Newcastle) on the River Tyne. At the time Minas Gerais was the most powerful dreadnought battleship in the world and Bahia was the fastest cruiser. Artist’s impression of ‘Minas Gerais’ on the launch card The revolt was so serious because of the huge destructive power that would have been unleashed if Minas Gerais had fired her broadside of ten 12 inch guns at Rio de Janeiro. The crews of both Minas Gerais and Bahia had been sent to Newcastle to learn how to operate their ships and then to sail them back to Brazil. It is believed that the men’s experience on Tyneside, including their exposure to trade unionism, may have influenced their decision to revolt. After fitting out and sea trials both ships sailed for Brazil early in 1910. Minas Gerais firing a broadside of her 12 inch guns Leaving aside the Newcastle connection the mutiny itself is of great interest. A large proportion of ordinary Brazilian sailors were black and were either freed slaves or more often the sons of freed slaves – slavery was only made illegal in Brazil in 1888. They were badly treated, not able to become officers, badly paid and badly fed. They were also subject to severe punishment floggings, even though this form of punishment was illegal. Some months after the ships returned to Brazil the crew of the Minas Gerais mutinied following a particularly brutal flogging of a black sailor on November 22nd 1910. They were quickly joined by the crews of the Bahia and two other ships. The mutineers were led by an experienced and clearly charismatic black sailor, Joao Candido, who the press named ‘The Black Admiral’. He ordered normal drills to be continued and threw all supplies of alcohol overboard. The mutineers demanded better pay and conditions and the end to flogging. They backed up their claims with a threat to shell Rio de Janeiro. As the ships moved through Guanabara Bay on the morning of the 23rd November they discharged their 4.7 inch guns as a signal that the revolt had begun. One of the 4.7 inch guns on the museum’s model of Bahia The government gave in after a few days and granted the rebellious sailors amnesty. However it did not take long before the rebels were being persecuted, forced out of the Navy, imprisoned and even killed. Joao Candido (fourth from left) with reporters, officers and sailors on the battleship, Minas Gerais, 26 November 1910, the final day of the mutiny Less than a month after the revolt Candido was imprisoned in a small cell with 17 other sailors. Only he and one other man survived the first weekend of confinement. He was later sent to a mental hospital before spending the next 40 years working as a fish market porter. Two years ago a statue of him was erected on the waterfront in Rio. So today I salute Joao Candido and his comrades, who, 100 years ago today, threatened to use the most mighty instruments of war to pursue just treatment and the end to flogging. 6 Responses to A Revolta da Chibata – ‘The Revolt of the Lash’, November 22nd 1910	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1766
__label__wiki	0.945207	0.945207	Lutherans find common ground with Catholics on Obama mandate ST. LOUIS (RNS) — Lutherans and Catholics are not historically known for their theological sympathy, but in February the president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) told the U.S. House that he will “stand with our friends in the Catholic Church” in opposition to a recent government ruling on contraception. History aside, the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison made it clear that the Missouri Synod now has “large consensus with the Roman Catholic Church on moral issues.” “The Christian church is a billion times beyond the Missouri Synod,” Harrison said. “Without the Roman Catholic Church in this country, our way would be infinitely more difficult.” So when Harrison, who was elected president of the LCMS in 2010, received an invitation to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he reluctantly agreed. He sat on a panel with other religious leaders and scholars, including Roman Catholic Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Yeshiva University in New York. Harrison delivered a fiery indictment on Feb. 16 before lawmakers, venturing past the issue of contraception and deep into broad issues of intolerance and righteousness. President Obama’s administration triggered the battle over the contraception mandate last month when it ruled that religiously affiliated institutions, like universities and hospitals, must include free birth control coverage in their employee health coverage. Houses of worship and their organizing authorities were exempted from the requirement, but Catholic bishops nevertheless coordinated a firestorm of protest, arguing that the ruling would force Catholics to violate their consciences and was therefore an infringement on their First Amendment right to free religious expression. They were joined by some Orthodox rabbis, evangelical Christian leaders and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The White House and women’s groups argued that the mandate had nothing to do with the First Amendment. It was, they said, about improving women’s health. The surge of protest was large enough, however, that earlier this month the administration modified the ruling so that the organizations’ insurance companies — not the religious organizations themselves — would pay for birth control costs. The roots of the Catholic Church’s opposition to contraception can be traced to the second century. In the modern age, that opposition was most famously reaffirmed by Pope Paul VI in his 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae, or “Of Human Life.” The Catholic Church teaches that because artificial contraception suppresses the possibility of procreation, and therefore violates the natural law, it is always wrong. Most other Christian churches — including The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod — accept artificial contraception as a responsible method of family planning. But, like the Catholic Church, the Missouri Synod does oppose so-called abortifacients, chemical substances that interfere with the ability of a newly fertilized egg to implant in the mother’s womb. While the administration has said drugs that cause abortion are not covered under the plan, there is some disagreement among church leaders and administration officials on the definition of an abortifacient. Harrison told lawmakers that the synod’s opposition to “abortion-causing drugs” was one reason the denomination maintains its own health plan. A provision in the government’s new ruling would “grandfather” the Missouri Synod’s plan, meaning its 50,000 members would not have to participate in the new mandate. But the “grandfather” clause doesn’t mollify Harrison. He’s still aching from a recent legal clash with the Obama administration — a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victory last month for the church involving a school owned and operated by a Missouri Synod member congregation. The ruling, known as Hosanna-Tabor, said religious employees of a church cannot sue for employment discrimination. But the battle — with the Obama administration arguing the other side — exposed for Harrison a White House that he now believes is hostile to religious institutions, and it left him bitter because of it. Hosanna-Tabor “gives us no comfort that this administration will be concerned to guard our free-exercise rights,” Harrison told Congress. Missouri Synod Lutherans and Roman Catholics agree on other issues. Both, for instance, are opposed to a new Illinois law that grants same-sex couples the right to seek civil unions and disrupted the work of Catholic agencies working in foster care and adoption. During his five-minute testimony, Harrison was visibly angry. His goal, he said, was to tell Congress to “get the federal government out of matters of conscience for religious people, particularly in life issues where there’s long-standing moral and ethical church precedent.” But he also wanted to drive home the intense feeling of alienation that, he said, conservative people of faith feel under the Obama administration. He said he would rather go to jail than comply with even the modified mandate, and that he would “give up my sons to fight” for the First Amendment. Later, he explained those comments: “We’ve laid down our blood to have a free exercise of religion in this country and will continue to do so.” — Tim Townsend, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis © 2012 St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Used with permission. First synodwide campus conference in 10 years planned Items wanted, available (March 2012)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1767
__label__wiki	0.966022	0.966022	Only living Minnesota recipient of Medal of Honor during Vietnam dies at 85 Bob Collins May 3, 2017, 3:53 PM May 3, 2017 Leo Thorsness, a Walnut Grove, Minn., native and recipient of the Medal of Honor, has died at 85. He enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from college in South Dakota, serving in the Strategic Air Command. “I grew up in a farm between Walnut Grove and Storden, Minnesota, we were farm people. I was brought up with discipline, I learned how to work hard; it was just expected of us,” he told MPR’s Mark Steil in 2007 interview. Listen Leo Thorsness’ flight into history But in 1967, his wingman was shot down over North Vietnam was shot down over North Vietnam. Thorness, flying an F-105, stuck around, according to the citation when his Medal of Honor was presented. As pilot of an F- 105 aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness was on a surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness and his wingman attacked and silenced a surface-to-air missile site with air-to-ground missiles, and then destroyed a second surface-to-air missile site with bombs. In the attack on the second missile site, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ wingman was shot down by intensive anti-aircraft fire, and the two crewmembers abandoned their aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness circled the descending parachutes to keep the crewmembers in sight and relay their position to the Search and Rescue Center. During this maneuver, a MIG-17 was sighted in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness immediately initiated an attack and destroyed the MIG. Because his aircraft was low on fuel, he was forced to depart the area in search of a tanker. Upon being advised that two helicopters were orbiting over the downed crew’s position and that there were hostile MlGs in the area posing a serious threat to the helicopters, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, despite his low fuel condition, decided to return alone through a hostile environment of surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defenses to the downed crew’s position. As he approached the area, he spotted four MIG-17 aircraft and immediately initiated an attack on the MlGs, damaging one and driving the others away from the rescue scene. When it became apparent that an aircraft in the area was critically low on fuel and the crew would have to abandon the aircraft unless they could reach a tanker, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, although critically short on fuel himself, helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing the aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice, and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. Thorsness spent six years in a POW camp and was awarded the Medal by President Nixon when the war ended. “Being tortured is just horrendously painful,” Thorsness told Steil. “It’s hard to believe how inhumane one person can be to another.” He returned to South Dakota and lost a 1974 Senate race to George McGovern, a hero from an earlier war. And he lost a race to Tom Daschle in 1978 before leaving the region. Five people from Minnesota received the Medal of Honor for their service in Vietnam, four of them posthumously. ‹ Older What is TV without the trolls in the audience? Newer › Republicans about to score big win by dismantling health care access Meet the country’s newest Medal of Honor recipient What Sgt. Petry can teach Minnesota’s kids Meet Flo Groberg, Medal of Honor recipient	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1768
__label__wiki	0.564384	0.564384	Clinical characteristics of Epstein–Barr virus infection in the pediatric nervous system Huan Cheng1,2,3,4,5 na1, Doudou Chen1,2,3,4,5 na1, Xiaoling Peng6, Peng Wu1,2,3,4,5, Li Jiang1,2,3,4,5 & Yue Hu1,2,3,4,5 To investigate the clinical characteristics of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in the pediatric nervous system (NS). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and follow-up results of 89 children with neurological damage caused by EBV who were hospitalized in the children’s hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2008 to April 2019. EBV infection of the NS can occur at any time of the year. The highest incidence was seen in the age group of 0–4 years. Fever is the main clinical feature (74/89, 83.1%). The main clinical types were encephalitis/meningoencephalitis (64/89, 71.9%), acute myelitis (2/89, 2.2%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (3/89, 3.4%), Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) (15/89, 16.9%), neurological damage caused by EBV-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) (4/89, 4.5%), and NS-post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (NS-PTLD) (1/89, 1.1%). Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis was found during the convalescence of EBV encephalitis. EBV encephalitis/meningitis showed no symptoms of tonsillitis, lymph node enlargement, skin rash, hepatosplenomegaly. Acute motor axonal neuropathy is the chief complication in GBS caused by EBV. There were significant differences in neurological complications caused by EBV. The prognosis of EBV infection in the NS is generally good. These illnesses are often self-limiting. A few cases may show residual sequelae. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a common lymphocytic human herpesvirus, formally belonging to the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily. EBV infection in children is non-specific, mainly characterized by respiratory symptoms. The neurological complications of EBV infection are relatively rare, about 0.4–7.5% [1]. The pathogenesis of neurological diseases associated with EBV infection is not fully understood. Currently, three modes of pathogenesis are identified: (1) The virus directly invades the nervous system (NS): most children with EBV viral encephalitis have no symptoms of EBV infection outside of the NS, such as tonsillitis, enlarged lymph nodes, skin rash, and hepatosplenomegaly. EBV encephalitis in children is suggested to be a primary neurological infection [2]. The viral DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disappears when the neurological symptoms of the disease improve, especially before the decrease of leukocytes in the CSF, which proves that neurological diseases are caused by direct virus invasion. (2) Immune-mediated infection: compared with other herpesviruses, EBV can cause immune-mediated symptoms in the NS, which may be related to the age and immune status of the host. EBV may share a common antigen with neurological myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein [3], which makes the immune system produce autoimmune T lymphocytes and anti-neuronal antibodies to autoantigens [4]. (3) Reactivation of latent infection: when the ratio of EBV antibody titer in the CSF and serum is larger than the ratio of serum gamma globulin concentration in the CSF and serum, suggesting that the specific EBV antibody is produced in the sheath, and EBV infection in the NS is reactivated after primary infection. Reactivation of latent infection may be the main pathogenic mechanism of neurological disease, especially when the patient is in a state of immunosuppression [5]. About 25% children with EBV infection could test positive for CSF antibodies but without obvious neurological symptoms. Most EBV infections are not specific and only cause mild neurological symptoms. Therefore, the neurological damage caused by EBV infection can be underestimated in the clinic. This article analyzes the retrospective clinical data and follow-up results of 89 children with neurological damage caused by EBV infection and provides evidence for diagnosis and treatment of neurological damage caused by EBV virus infection. Patient enrollment and diagnosis We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, auxiliary examination results, treatment, and prognosis of 89 children with neurological damage caused by EBV in the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2008 to April 2019. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Children’s Hospital affiliated with Chongqing Medical University. Informed consent was obtained from the subjects and their legal guardians via signed consent forms. EBV neurological infection diagnosis was confirmed by the positive antibodies of EBV capsule antigen IgM in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). EBV encephalitis/meningitis: The diagnostic criteria of viral meningitis were based on guidelines published in a 2010 issue of the European Journal of Neurology [6]. Acute myelitis, EBV-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), NS-post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (NS-PTLD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) were diagnosed based on clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, and the clinical diagnostic criteria [7,8,9,10,11]. We used the anti-EBV capsule antigen antibody IgM kit (Euroimmun Medical Laboratory Diagnostics Stock Company, Zhejiang China) to detect EBV antibodies, and detected blood and CSF samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). EBV-PCR detection was carried out using an EBV nucleic acid quantitative kit (Sansure Biotech, Hunan, China), and the PCR-fluorescence probe method was used to detect blood and CSF samples. The results were analyzed by SPSS 21 statistical software. Normally distributed data were expressed as−means±standard deviation, and non-normally distributed data were expressed as medians (interquartile range). Numerical data were expressed as the number of cases and percentage (%), categorical variables were compared by chi-square test, and intergroup numerical variables were compared by independent samples t-test. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Patient demographics and seasonal infection The study included 46 male and 43 female patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.07:1. Patient demographics are summarized in Fig. 1. The median age was 3 years (range: 1–191 months). The frequency of EBV infection with neurologic complications significantly varied between age groups (χ2 = 28.854, P < 0.001), peaking at 0–4 years (57/89, 64%). The EBV infection rate seemed well distributed across all seasons, but the months from December to February of the second year (winter) accounted for 36% of the total cases (spring: from March to May, 29.2%; summer: from June to August, 20.2%; autumn: from September to November, 14.6%), indicating a significant seasonality to the epidemic (P < 0.001, χ2 = 12.749, Fig. 2). Age distribution of EBV cases involving the CNS Monthly distribution of EBV cases involving the CNS Fever and fever duration The definition of fever was an axillary temperature > 37.5 °C. Among the 89 cases, 74 cases (83.1%) had different degrees of fever. The mean fever duration was 9.31 ± 9.24 days (median: 8 days), and the thermal spike was 39.41 ± 0.84 °C (median: 39.5 °C). Details of the thermal spike and thermal duration are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Table 1 Fever characteristics of pediatric patients with nervous system EBV infection Table 2 The duration of fever in children with neurological impairment caused by EBV infection Clinical manifestations of specific neurologic complications The frequency of neurologic complications caused by EBV varied significantly (χ2 = 245.191, P < 0.001). The viral encephalitis/meningoencephalitis (71.9%) was the most common, followed by GBS (16.9%), neurologic damage caused by EBV-HLH (4.5%), ADEM (3.4%), acute myelitis (2.2%), and NS-PTLD (1.1%). (Table 3). Table 3 Major clinical manifestations of nervous system damage caused by EBV One viral encephalitis patient developed recurrent convulsions and progressive disturbance of consciousness during the recovery period, secondary anti-NMDAR encephalitis was diagnosed 6 weeks after disease onset. In two patients with acute myelitis, one had root pain that manifested as limb and back pain, while the other patient had diaphragm paralysis and constipation. Neither patient had encephalopathy or paresthesia. One patient with ADEM and further complicated with peripheral nerve involvement was diagnosed as having acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and polyneuropathies (ADEMP). Laboratory test results In all, 32 patients (36.0%) showed high peripheral blood leukocytes (range: 10.27–44.41 × 109/L). Lymphocytes were dominant in the peripheral blood of 26 patients (29.2%). Twenty-one children (23.6%) had abnormal liver function. Cardiac markers and myocardial enzymes showed abnormal results in 16 patients (16/82, 14.3%). All included patients underwent complete CSF and blood examination. All the patients had positive antibodies of EBV capsule antigen IgM in the CSF. Further, 51 children (51/89, 57.3%) patients had positive antibodies of EBV capsule antigen IgM in the blood. Cerebrospinal fluid examination of EBV encephalitis/meningitis showed abnormal results in 46 cases (46/64, 71.9%); in 19 patients (19/64, 29.7%), the WBC count was mildly raised, 7 patients (7/64, 10.9%) had leukocyte count of > 100 × 106/L, 16 patients (16/23, 69.6%) had mainly monocytes. The protein content was slightly increased in 24 patients (24/64, 37.5%); it was > 1 g/L in 14 patients (14/64, 21.9%). Two children with myelitis had a slight increase in the number of cells and proteins concentration, and monocytes were predominantly found in their WBC count. Among those with EBV-HLH, one patient had no CSF abnormality, one had increased leukocyte count in the CSF (mostly monocytes), one had slightly increased proteins, and one showed a significant increase in both protein content and number of nucleated cells. The leukocyte count increased slightly in children with NS-PTLD, and monocytes accounted for most of the leukocytes. The increase of CSF protein was noted in three cases of ADEM, and a slight increase of CSF cells (mainly monocytes) was only seen in two cases. The CSF protein level was increased in all 15 patients with GBS; 13 of these 15 patients (86.7%) had > 1 g/L protein, 14 (93.3%) had normal CSF cells, and one patient showed a slight increase in the CSF cell number (6.7%, 56 × 106/L). Levels of CSF glucose and chloride were normal in all children. Six patients underwent CSF EBV-PCR examination, and 11 underwent blood EBV-PCR examination. Cerebrospinal fluid EBV-PCR was positive in three cases (50%), and blood EBV-PCR was positive in five (45.54%). The EBV loads in CSF and blood are presented in Table 4. Table 4 The EBV loads in CSF and blood In all, 53 encephalitis/meningitis patients were examined with brain MRI. The MRI results of 22 encephalitis/meningitis patients (41.5%) were abnormal, including 18 acute inflammatory edema, two cerebral atrophy, one encephalomalacia and cerebral atrophy, and one intracranial hemorrhage. The MRI results of three children with ADEM showed demyelination and blurred boundary of the lesion. Of these children, one showed involvement of white matter, deep nucleus, and brainstem, and another one had extensive brain lesions with signs of cerebral hernia. Spinal cord MRI examination was performed in 12 children. The spinal cord and nerve root were involved in two patients with acute myelitis. In the patients with GBS, nerve roots were involved in five patients, spinal cord involvement was seen in one patient, and three patients showed normal MRI. Peripheral nerve conduction: 17 patients were examined by peripheral nerve conduction, including 15 patients with GBS, one with acute myelitis, and another with ADEMP. All 17 cases showed decreased amplitude of peripheral motor nerve, and the conduction velocity decreased significantly in 6 of 17 cases (40%). Electroencephalogram (EEG): EEG was performed in 64 patients, of whom 55 had encephalitis/meningitis. EEG was abnormal in 36 cases with encephalitis/meningitis: 29 cases showed background moderation and the remaining 7 showed epileptic discharge. Four cases of EBV-HLH showed background moderation. Three cases of ADEM showed significant background moderation, wherein one case was complicated with epileptic discharge. The EEG was normal in two children with GBS. Treatment and prognosis After admission to the hospital, all the patients were given symptomatic support treatment, mainly for pyrexia, sedation, nerve nutrition, and to lower intracranial pressure. Eighteen patients with severe viral encephalitis were treated with IVIG, and 25 patients with EBV encephalitis and one with myelitis received antiviral therapy with acyclovir or ganciclovir. All cases were followed up from 3 months to 139 months. The prognosis is shown in Table 5. Table 5 Prognosis of different neurologic complications caused by EBV The gold standard of encephalitis diagnosis is virus isolation in cell culture, but it has now been replaced by the detection of specific nucleic acid from the CSF or brain (Class Ia). Additionally, intrathecal antibody production to a specific virus is also strong evidence for etiology (Class Ib) [6]. However, virus detection from blood as well as systemic serological responses such as seroconversion or a specific IgM detection provides less strong evidence. Antibodies to EBV are measured from serum and CSF by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests. These tests are sensitive enough to detect even low amounts of CSF antibodies. Antibody levels in serum and CSF are compared at the same dilution of 1:200. If the ratio of antibody levels is < 20, it indicates intrathecal antibody production, provided that no other antibodies are present in the CSF [6]. The presence of specific IgM in the CSF indicates CNS disease. Besides, detection of specific nucleic acid from the CSF is dependent on the timing of the CSF sample, and PCR is associated with false-positive and false-negative results in EBV [12]. EBV-VCA-IgM in CSF was used as the diagnostic criteria of EBV neurological infection in our study. All included patients underwent complete examination of the CSF and blood. All patients had positive antibodies of EBV capsule antigen IgM in the CSF. Moreover, 57.3% (51/89) patients had positive antibodies of EBV capsule antigen IgM in the blood. Positive results of EBV-PCR were seen more in the middle and late stages than early stages. EBV infection occurs worldwide, wherein about 90–95% of adults show positive titers for EBV serum antibodies. The seroepidemiological investigation of EBV infection in hospitalized children showed that the cumulative infection rate of EBV was nearly half of all preschool children, and the peak age of infection was 3–5 years. The infection rate was higher in March, September, and October. A serological study of 1364 children infected with EBV in Xinjiang showed that autumn and winter were the epidemic seasons [13]. In Shanxi, China, EBV infection rates show an increasing trend in autumn and winter as compared to spring and summer [14]. Our study showed that winter (December–February of the second year) was the epidemic season. This is likely related to the geographical differences between different regions, and we included children with neurologic damage caused by EBV infection as our study subjects. The disease can affect people of all ages, and the peak age among pediatric infection cases was 0–4 years, accounting for 64%, which is consistent with the epidemiological data from other studies. There were significant clinical differences in neurological complications caused by EBV, including viral encephalitis/meningoencephalitis in 64 cases (71.9%), acute myelitis in two cases (2.2%), ADEM in three cases (3.4%), and GBS in 15 cases (16.9%). Neurologic damage caused by EBV-HLH was observed in four cases (4.5%) and NS-PTLD in 1 case (1.1%). 1. Viral encephalitis/meningitis: in our study, viral encephalitis/meningoencephalitis accounted for 71.9% (64/89), which was the most common neurological complication caused by EBV infection. A study about viral encephalitis in northern China showed that among the meningitis-encephalitis spectrum with definite etiology, the proportion of EBV infection is 5.8–6.6% [15]. In Hainan of China, a study about etiological analysis of viral encephalitis showed that the proportion of encephalitis caused by EBV was 6.5% (6/92) [16]. A clinical study in the University of Toronto, Canada, showed that 9.7% (21/216) of children with viral encephalitis were serologically positive and/or PCR positive for EBV [17]. In the etiological analysis of encephalitis reported by Alexandra Maille in France in 2007, encephalitis caused by EBV was about 2% (3/131) [18]. A study by Hamad Medical Center in Qatar show that EBV encephalitis was as high as 31% (65/218) in viral encephalitis due to identified pathogens [19]. Therefore, EBV should be included as a routine etiological test for suspected NS infection. Our study found that the clinical manifestations of EBV encephalitis were not specific. The main manifestations were acute onset fever seen in 93.8% cases (60/64). The symptoms of intracranial hypertension such as headache and vomiting were seen in 37/64 patients (57.8%): some of them were accompanied with different degrees of consciousness disturbance (22/64, 34.4%); convulsions (29/64, 45.3%); and even status epilepticus (8/64, 12.5%), similar to the results reported by Doja [17]. Some patients showed ataxia (3/64, 4.7%) or were complicated with cranial nerve involvement (5/64, 7.8%). Central respiratory failure can occur when the brainstem is involved. Cranial nerve involvement could be the first symptom of EBV encephalitis [20]. In this study, the children with EBV-related encephalitis/meningitis had no symptoms of EBV infection outside the NS, such as tonsillitis, lymph node enlargement, skin rash, and hepatosplenomegaly. It is suggested that EBV encephalitis in children may be a primary infection of the NS, which supports the notion that neurological damage is caused by direct invasion of EBV. However, pediatric infectious mononucleosis may be considered less severe if they have only mild neurological symptoms such as simple mental fatigue and self-limited encephalitis. One patient developed anti-NMDAR encephalitis during the recovery period of viral encephalitis. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis may be related to infection. The pathogens reported at present include herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, human herpes zoster virus, enterovirus, measles virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus. Among them, herpes simplex virus has been considered to be most closely related to anti-NMDAR encephalitis in recent years. It is speculated that the appearance of anti-NMDAR antibody after virus infection may be the result of brain infiltration of inflammatory, injured, and necrotic neuronal cells’ exposed surface antigen, a break in the immune tolerance, and subsequent production of corresponding antibodies. Other receptor proteins on the surface of neurons may also be involved. Similar to the role of Enterobacter jejuni infection in GBS, viral infection may cause the body to directly produce antibodies to synaptic proteins through the mechanism of viral molecular mimicry or exposure to common antigen. Therefore, patients with delayed or recurrent encephalitis should be screened for anti-NMDAR and/or other synaptic protein antibodies to make a timely diagnosis, adjust the treatment plan, and improve prognosis. The MRI results of 22 encephalitis/meningitis patients (22/53,41.5%) were abnormal, with the main manifestation being cytotoxic edema accounting for 33.9% (18/53). The other imaging findings included demyelination, cerebral atrophy, encephalomalacia, and hemorrhage. A study about the location of imaging and prognosis in Lund University, Sweden, showed that patients with focal gray matter or white matter involvement have a good prognosis, half the patients with thalamic involvement have sequelae, and patients with brainstem involvement have a high mortality rate. Abul-Kasim suggested that the neuroanatomic distribution of the radiological abnormalities in EBV encephalitis may be useful as a prognostic marker [21]. Brain MRI has important clinical significance. The EEG results were abnormal in 65.5% (36/55) of encephalitis/meningitis cases, including 29 cases with background moderation and seven with epileptic discharge. EEG changes in viral encephalitis are usually nonspecific, and background changes can occur before imaging abnormalities can be detected. The detection rate of abnormal CSF was 71.9% (46/64), which was similar to 84.2% [22] reported in the literature. The CSF of encephalitis/meningitis caused by EBV showed non-specific changes. Cerebrospinal fluid routing showed a slight increase in leukocytes, generally < 100 × 106 L, the majority of which were lymphocytes. The normal or slightly increase in CSF protein levels may be because of the increase of blood-brain barrier permeability that allowed plasma proteins into the CSF or an increase in the intrathecal inflammatory factors or structural proteins. The content of glucose in the CSF was normal or increased. In our study, the overall prognosis of EBV encephalitis/meningitis was good, as 68.7% (44/64) patients recovered completely, and 14% (9/64) were left with varying degrees of sequelae including mental retardation, motor disorders, language disorders, defecation disorders, and secondary epilepsy. The main cause of death was respiratory and circulatory failure caused by brainstem involvement. 2. Guillain–Barré Syndrome: EBV infection can also lead to GBS, mainly caused by an abnormal immune cross response, resulting in peripheral nerve axonal injury and demyelination [23]. In our study, four children had fever in the course of disease, and 80.0% (12/15) of the children showed further complications with multiple cranial nerve damage, mainly damaged glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, and facial nerve, which was consistent with a previous report [24]. GBS can be complicated with autonomic nerve damage such as hyperactivity of hands and feet, tachycardia or bradycardia, changes in blood pressure, and defecation disorders [25]. One patient had transient urinary retention in our study. Peripheral nerve conduction suggests that the main abnormality is peripheral nerve axonal neuropathy, about half of which is associated with abnormal myelin, considered as acute motor axonal neuropathy, also the main type of GBS in China, Japan, and other Asian countries [26]. Three patients (3/15, 20%) showed slight gait abnormality. 3.Others: Acute myelitis, ADEM, neurological damage caused by EBV-HLH, and EBV-related NS-post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder case numbers were small. The main spinal cord injury caused by EBV infection was incomplete spinal cord injury [7]. The thoracic spinal cord was the most common segment of the spinal cord involved in EBV infection [27]. In this study, one case showed involvement of cervicothoracic spinal cord and the other, of the whole spinal cord. EBV infection of the NS can cause demyelination of the central NS or peripheral NS, or both simultaneously [28]. Molecular mimicry is recognized as a mechanism of NS demyelination induced by EBV. The peripheral NS myelin antigen P2 protein in GBS are attacked, and the myelin basic protein of the NS is attacked in ADEM. However, the attack of myelin antigen P1 protein in peripheral NS of ADEMP can cause demyelination of both the central and peripheral nerves [29]. Some researchers have speculated that GBS, Miller–Fisher syndrome, and ADEM are all acute immune neuropathies. The clinical manifestations of the children in this group were complex and diverse, and the degree of inflammation and prognosis were different, which were related to the location and severity of inflammatory demyelination [30]. A recent study showed no consensus on the definition of HLH-related NS diseases such as NS-HLH. Most experts reported that NS-HLH is activated lymphocytes and macrophages infiltrating the meninges and brain tissue; the CSF and/or brain MRI is abnormal, with or without obvious neurological signs/symptoms [31, 32]. In the study by Anna Carin Horne, 63% patients with HLH may have had neurological symptoms and/or abnormal CSF (122/193), including meningoencephalitis and severe neurological sequelae [33]. In the study of 89 children with HLH, 39 patients showed NS involvement [34]. The incidence of EBV-associated PTLD was about 5–15% [35]. The main manifestations were dizziness, headache, epilepsy, disturbance of consciousness, fever, fatigue, weight loss, and other systemic symptoms [36]. Most early-onset PTLD (occurred within 1 year after transplantation) was associated with recent EBV infection, and the correlation between late-onset PTLD and EBV infection was unremarkable [37]. The neurological involvement of PTLD patients in this study was seen 50 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In our study, 25 patients with EBV encephalitis and one with myelitis received antiviral therapy. There are no guidelines for the treatment of EBV infection in the NS. The main treatment includes antiviral and symptomatic support therapy. Acyclovir and ganciclovir can effectively inhibit EBV replication, but the clinical therapeutic effect is limited. Ganciclovir is good at penetrating the blood-brain barrier, and the concentration in the brain tissue can reach 60% of the blood concentration, thus making it more effective than acyclovir in the treatment of EBV infection in the NS [38, 39]. According to the guidelines of the American Society of Infectious Diseases, intravenous acyclovir is not recommended for EBV-associated encephalitis [40]. At present, the main clinical application is using ganciclovir. However, liver function should be monitored when using antiviral drugs [41]. All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. EBV: Epstein–Barr virus CSF: ADEM: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis GBS: Guillain–Barré Syndrome EBV-HLH: EBV-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis NS-PTLD: NS-post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder EEG: Electroencephalogram Baldwin KJ, Cummings CL. Herpesvirus infections of the NS. Neuroinfectious Dis. 2018;24(5):1349–69. De la Riva P, Martínez-Zabaleta MT, Arruti M, et al. Cerebelitis aguda por virus de Epstein-Barr en dos mujeres jóvenes. Rev Neurol. 2013;56:252–3 [Article in Spanish]. Wang H, Munger KL, Reindl M, et al. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies and multiple sclerosis in healthy young adults. Neurology. 2008;71:1142–6. Nakamura Y, Nakajima H, Tani H, et al. Anti-MOG antibody-positive ADEM following infectious mononucleosis due to a primary EBV infection: a case report. BMC Neurol. 2017;17(76):1–4. Obel N, MIMI HÃ˜IER-MADSEN, Kangro H. Serological and clinical findings in patients with serological evidence of reactivated Epstein-Barr virus infection. Apmis. 1996;104(1–6):424–8. Steiner I, Budka H, Chaudhuri A, et al. Viral meningoencephalitis: a review of diagnostic methods and guidelines for management. Eur J Neurol. 2010;17(8):999–e57. Group T M C W. Proposed diagnostic criteria and nosology of acute transverse myelitis. Neurology. 2002;59(4):499–505. Henter J. HLH-2004: diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007:124–31. Swerdlow SH, Webber SA, Chadburn A, et al. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. WHO classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. Lyon: IARC Press; 2008. p. 343–9. Li HF, Wang Q. International pediatric mutiple sclerosis study group criteria for pediatric multiple sclerosis and immune-mediated NS demyelinating disorders: revisions to the 2007 definitions. Chin J Neroimmunol Neurol. 2013;20(6):441–2. Pestronk A. Autoimmune Polyneuropathies. http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/antibody/gbs.htm Accessed 6 Dec 2010. Costa BKD, Sato DK. Viral encephalitis: a practical review on diagnostic approach and treatment. J Pediatr. 2020;96:12–9. Li HY. Serum epidemiological survey and clinical analysis of recent EBV infection in the hospitalized children with infection: Xin Jiang Medical University; 2014. Zhang LZ, Wang RX, Zhou YN, et al. Status of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Shanxi province. Chin Remedies Clin. 2018;18(11):1882–4. Ai J, Xie Z, Liu G, et al. Etiology and prognosis of acute viral encephalitis and meningitis in Chinese children: a multicentre prospective study [J]. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):494. Fu YF, Huang CB, Huang ZF. Clinical analysis and pathogenic study on 126 cases of viral encephalitis. Chin J Aesthet Med. 2012;21(10):71–3. Doja A, Bitnun A, Jones EF, et al. Pediatric Epstein-Barr virus—associated encephalitis: 10-year review. J Child Neurol. 2006;21(5):384–91. Mailles A, Stahl, Jean-Paul. Infectious encephalitis in France in 2007: A national prospective study. Clin Infect Dis. 2009;49(12):1838–47. Ben AF, Mohammed A, Hafedh G, et al. Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of viral NS infections. Int J Infect Dis. 2018;73(1):85–90. Hu YW, Zhou CX, Xiong SY. A case of EB viral meningoencephalitis with cranial nerve symptoms as the first symptom. Chin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2003;10(3):196. Abul-Kasim K, Palm L, Maly P, et al. The neuroanatomic localization of Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis may be a predictive factor for its clinical outcome: a case report and review of 100 cases in 28 reports. J Child Neurol. 2009;24(6):720–6. Yan B, Zhang JT, Zhao W, et al. Viral encephalitis: An analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from 124 cases. Acad J Chin PLA M ed Sch. 2014;35(5):430–2. Donofrio PD. Guillain-Barré syndrome. Continuum. 2017;23(5):1295–309. Gai Q, Leng CM, Cong SY. Clinical analysis of 35 cases of Guillain - Barré syndrome spectrum disorders with cranial nerve involvement. J China Med Univ. 2018;(9):769–72. Anandan C, Khuder SA, Koffman BM. Prevalence of autonomic dysfunction in hospitalized patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2017;56(2):331–3. Chan YC, Punzalan-Sotelo AM, Kannan TA, et al. Electrodiagnosis of reversible conduction failure in Guillain-Barré syndrome: diagnosing conduction failure. Muscle Nerve. 2017;56(5):919–24. Xu JF, Zhu MY, Du TT, et al. Analysis of related factors of spinal cord injury caused by transverse myelitis. Chin J Geriatr Care. 2018;16(02):3–5. Khosrou SN, Kamrani K, Mahvelati SF, et al. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in childhood: epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory features. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(8):756–64. Zhao XP, Li L, He JB, et al. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. Guide China Med. 2011;09(30):354–6. Ruan J, Cheng M, Li XJ. Clinical features of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis related recurrence factors. Chin J Contemp Pediatr. 2019;21(03):223–8. Akima M, Sumi SM. Neuropathology of familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: six cases and review of the literature. Hum Pathol. 1984;15:161–8. Trottestam H, Berglof E, Horne A, et al. Risk factors for early death in children with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Acta Paediatr. 2012;101(3):313–8. Horne AC, Trottestam H, Aricò M, et al. Frequency and spectrum of NS involvement in 193 children with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Br J Haematol. 2008;140(3):327–35. Wen FY, Xiao L, Yu J, et al. Clinical features and prognosis of NS involvement in patients with Epstein -Barr virus associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Chin J Appl Clin Pediatr. 2018;6:453–7. Kempf C, Tinguely M, Rushing EJ. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder of the NS. Pathobiology. 2013;80(6):310–8. Chen J, Chen J, Gu J. Research progress on diagnosis and therapy of Epstein-Barr virus associated NS post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Int J Blood Transfus Hematol. 2016;39(1):71. Green M, Michaels MG. Epstein-Barr virus infection and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Am J Transplant. 2013;13(3):41–54. Joseph P, Christopher W, Graciela A. Antiviral drugs for EBV. Cancers. 2018;10(6):197. Wu XR, Wang JL, Duan ZY. Current advances in the pathogenesis research of chronic active Epstein Barr virus infection. Prog Biochem Biophys. 2016;43(10):980–9. Fnu Z, Mashal S, Mohammad AH, et al. Encephalitis treatment – a case report with long-term follow-up of EBV PCR in cerebrospinal fluid. Int J Gen Med. 2017;10:371–3. Dyachenko P, Smiianova O, Dyachenko A, et al. Epstein-Barr virus-associated encephalitis in a case-series of more than 40 patients. Wiad Lek. 2018;71(6):1224–30. We sincerely thank all the children and their parents for their cooperation during this study. None received. Huan Cheng and Doudou Chen contributed equally to this work. Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400014, China Huan Cheng, Doudou Chen, Peng Wu, Li Jiang & Yue Hu Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Chongqing, China China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China Division of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University-Hongkong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai, China Xiaoling Peng Huan Cheng Doudou Chen Peng Wu Yue Hu All authors contributed to the study conception and design. HC and DDC were responsible for material preparation, PW collected data, and XLP analyzed the data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by HC and YH. LJ reviewed the manuscript. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Correspondence to Yue Hu. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee for the Children’s Hospital affiliated with Chongqing Medical University. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients and their legal guardians via signed consent forms. And informed consent was obtained from the patients/guardians of the minors included in this study. Cheng, H., Chen, D., Peng, X. et al. Clinical characteristics of Epstein–Barr virus infection in the pediatric nervous system. BMC Infect Dis 20, 886 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05623-1 Hematological system	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1770
__label__cc	0.533228	0.466772	« Cutting Industrial Meat and Dairy Production Essential to Tackling Climate Crisis Legal Opinion Concludes that Monsanto’s Activities Impact Human Rights, Better Regulation Needed to Protect Victims » The Deep Roots of the Agroecological Movement in Latin America and Spain A special issue of the journal, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, sheds light on how the agroecological movement has spread to many other countries from its roots in Spain and Latin America several decades ago. Articles in the issue cover the origins of agroecology and the growth of the agroecological movement in Spain and various countries in Latin America.They share in common how agroecology has developed as an alternative and a form of resistance to the industrial model of agriculture that focuses on simplification, industrialization, monoculture and export markets. The agroecological foundations imbedded in traditional knowledge, cultural expression, and long-term farming experiences have created this resistance. In all the case studies, agroecology is developing important education, research, and training programs, and in some, public policy which promotes agroecology. Agroecology appears to be most developed in the countries with deep local and traditional agrarian culture, such as Spain and Mexico. In countries like Brazil, it is well advanced due to strong social movements that have linked agroecology to the demand for land, protection of local seeds and their free exchange, and resistance to the introduction of proprietary genetically engineered organisms. Meanwhile, it has also gained popularity due to promotion by NGOs and other social organizations such as cooperatives in countries like Nicaragua. In order to develop the alternative food and farming systems needed to make the transition away from the current non-sustainable industrial models, agroecologists have a lot of work to do, and it is hoped that this exchange of experiences will help this process. The editorial for the issue is reproduced below. Websites: http://www.twn.my/andhttps://biosafety-info.net/ A BRIEF HISTORY OF AGROECOLOGY IN SPAIN AND LATIN AMERICA Steve Gliessman Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Our journal, with the word “agroecology” in the title, is an indication that the field of agroecology has emerged as an important approach for moving food and farming systems toward sustainability. We have become a site for the publication of participatory, action-oriented, and transdisciplinary research that has a goal of linking science, practice, and the social change process needed to design, test, and implement the alternative vision many of us hold for the food systems of the future. But where did agroecology come from? How did it develop, what were the issues it was addressing, and how far has it come? This special issue sheds light on these questions for a particular part of the world where a movement began several decades ago, and has spread to many other countries from its roots in Spain and Latin America. Something that all of the contributions to this special issue share in common is how agroecology has developed as an alternative and a form of resistance to the industrial model of agriculture that focuses on simplification, industrialization, monoculture, and export markets. The agroecological foundations imbedded in traditional knowledge, cultural expression, and long-term farming experiences have created this resistance. The history of agroecology varies from country to country, with some well developed and others in the incipient early stages. Agroecology seems most developed in the countries with a deep local and traditional agrarian culture, such as Spain and Mexico. Others are well advanced thanks to strong social movements that have linked agroecology to the demand of access to land, protection of local seeds and their free exchange, and resistance to the introduction of proprietary genetically engineered organisms, such as Brazil. NGOs and social organizations such as cooperatives have promoted it in others, such as Nicaragua. In all of the case studies, agroecology is developing important education, research, and training programs, and in some, public policy that promotes agroecology. There is no doubt that the strong base of agriculture in small-holder systems, along with the continued predominance of rural populations, have also been factors. Spain is included in this collection, partly because it is directly linked by language and culture. It is also included, however, in order to call attention to the long history of development of agroecology in Spain, with its interdisciplinary roots in both the natural and social sciences, its commitment to social change, and the important role it has played in training many of the agroecologists who have led the agroecological movements in Latin America. It is curious that this strong and important movement in agroecology has had such limited impact on the development of agroecology in the rest of Europe where the movement is just beginning (e.g., in France). It is hoped that presenting this history in English will provide others in Europe with broader elements for growing their movement. Except for the Spanish case, all of the papers in this issue have been adapted and translated from a special issue focused on Latin America that recently appeared in the journal Agroecología, published by the University of Múrcia. We generously received permission for publication in English from its editor Dr. José M. Egea. Dr. Miguel A. Altieri, with assistance from the Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology (SOCLA), was the editor of the special issue in Agroecologia, and played a key role in guiding the translation and submission of the papers appearing in ASFS. His important long-term role in promoting agroecology throughout the region is strongly acknowledged. It is hoped that this translation of important historical seeds and roots of agroecology will reach a broad audience, and further contribute to and stimulate the current emergence of the “agroecology movement” everywhere. In order to develop the alternative food and farming systems needed to make the transition away from the current non-sustainable industrial models, agroecologists have a lot of work to do, and we hope that this exchange of experiences will help in this process. ASFS stands ready to support and distribute the continued advances of this movement. May 12th, 2017 \| Category: Ecological Agriculture & Food Security	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1773
__label__cc	0.653571	0.346429	View from the Mirror History, trivia, stories & more from Robert Lordan, author of 'The Knowledge, Train Your Brain Like a Cabbie'. The Knowledge of London: Training to be a London Cabbie My brain training book The Archive: Links to all previous articles A History of the Elephant & Castle (Part One) By View from the Mirror on October 23, 2012 A south London landmark… the Elephant and Castle statue As well as being one of London’s major transport hubs, the Elephant and Castle (or, more simply, the ‘Elephant’ as locals like to call it) is one of the capital’s more peculiarly named areas. A typical Elephant and Castle scene Thanks to its post-war jumble of tower blocks, roaring traffic and gloomy pedestrian subways, Elephant and Castle has become rather unloved over the years… which, when you consider the area’s long and fascinating history, is a sentiment nothing short of travesty. Before the Elephant Before acquiring its unique name, the land which would eventually become the Elephant and Castle was occupied by a village known as Newington which came under Walworth; a manor listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as being part of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s portfolio. Today, the name of the early settlement lives on in two roads- Newington Causeway and Newington Butts which lie either side of the present day junction. Roads named after Newington (A-Z imaging) Many historians believe that ‘Butts’ is a reference to archery butts; a strip of land dedicated to practising bow and arrow firing. Medieval archery butts where weekly practice was compulsory During the Medieval era, such exercise grounds existed all over the kingdom thanks to a law drawn up in 1252 which stated all Englishmen between the ages of 15 and 60 were required to own a bow and to practice their shooting skills every Sunday! The Elephant stomps in The Elephant and Castle eponym evolved thanks to a tavern which established itself in the area (to this day, a pub by the same name operates on the junction’s northern roundabout). The most recent incarnation of the Elephant & Castle pub Although the image of an elephant partnered with a castle was fairly common at the time, what the pub’s owner was precisely referring to when they named their boozer remains a mystery. Perhaps it was an allusion to a heraldic symbol? Or an early chess piece? Elephant & Castle imagery on a chess piece and as a symbol of heraldry Then again, the landlord may have been aligning the tavern with the Worshipful Company of Cutlers; the guild responsible for regulating the manufacture of weapons and cutlery who, for many years, incorporated ivory into the handles of their wares- hence their coat of arms bearing the Elephant and Castle icon: Elephant and castle imagery on the sign for Cutlers Hall, Warwick Lane. Or perhaps the unusual name was a reference to the time when Louis IX of France presented King Henry III with an elephant as a gift; the donated jumbo being gladly received and placed in the Royal Menagerie which, in those days, was housed in the Tower of London. A mid 13th century sketch of King Henry’s elephant, drawn by a monk called Matthew Paris (Image: University of Cambridge) Sadly, this celebrated pachyderm somehow managed to wangle its trunk into a large rake of wine… an indulgence which evidently killed the sorry beast after three years spent in the tower. At least it died happy… A very early reference to the district’s now famous name can be found in Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night, penned circa 1601. In the play, Antonio informs Sebastian that a good place to lodge for the night is “in the south suburbs, at the Elephant.” William Shakespeare, one of the first writers to refer to the Elephant and Castle by its current name. Although Twelfth Night is set nowhere near London (or even England), it is likely that Shakespeare slotted the name in as a cheeky local reference which most of the audience would have understood- the Bard’s Globe Theatre being situated just under a mile away from the area. It is also possible that the allusion may have been included as an early form of advertising for the tavern, especially as it was within staggering distance of sinful Southwark’s playhouses and debauchery! The area begins to boom In 1760, a blacksmith’s workshop in the village was enlarged and converted into a tavern which adopted the Elephant and Castle title. The newly established premises gradually developed into an important coaching inn, with traffic and trade boosted by the opening of nearby Westminster Bridge (in 1751) and Blackfriars Bridge (in 1769). With London’s road network expanding around these two new and vital river crossings, the Elephant and Castle quickly became an important hub in the capital’s burgeoning transport network. Early traffic at the Elephant In 1861 and encouraged by the Elephant’s growing prominence, the Reformed Baptist church decided to build their main place of worship in the area- the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The Metropolitan Tabernacle, 1861 (image: Grosvenor Prints) As well as the growing importance of the Elephant and Castle, the Reformed Baptists also chose the location as it marks the approximate site where the ‘Southwark Martyrs’ (a group of Protestants executed during the reign of Mary I for their faith) were suffered the brutal fate of being burnt at the stake. Religious dissenters about to be burned alive… When it first opened, the Metropolitan Tabernacle had a congregation numbering over 5,000 people. The Metropolitan Tabernacle’s original interior (image: Wikipedia) Despite being destroyed by fire in 1898 and Nazi bombs in 1941, the main front portico survived and remains a prominent Elephant and Castle landmark. Rebuilt in 1957, the interior now hosts religious sermons which are broadcast on Sky Television every Saturday afternoon. The Metropolitan Tabernacle today The role of Elephant and Castle as a major transport hub developed even further with the arrival of the railways (in 1863) and the Underground in 1904- with the Bakerloo line making the Elephant their southern terminal. Elephant and Castle tube station, southern terminal for the Bakerloo Line The Elephant also became a vital cog in London’s sprawling tram network. Elephant and Castle bustling with trams in the 1920s (image: BBC) Thanks to its multitude of transport links, Elephant and Castle grew into a major shopping and entertainment destination during the early 20th century, earning it the nickname; the ‘Piccadilly of South London.’ A short, moving film from the early 1950s entitled ‘The Elephant Will Never Forget‘ which details the end of tram services in London can be viewed below: Glamour at the Elephant Two of the most popular destinations in the Elephant’s glitzy heyday were the large department store, William Tarn and Co, and the mighty Trocadero cinema. The Trocadero at Elephant and Castle, 1931 Opened in 1930, the Trocadero (which stood on the present site of the modern Elephant and Castle pub), was a glorious picture-house, capable of seating 3,000 movie-goers. It also boasted Europe’s largest Wurlitzer organ. Inside the Trocadero; a true film palace (image: Cinema Museum) In 1932, the Trocadero was joined by a second cinema; the Coronet; an art-deco 2,000 seater picture house which opened up on the opposite side of the road after being converted from the Victorian built, Theatre Royal. The Theatre Royal (aka the Elephant Theatre), originally built in 1882 which later went onto become the Coronet cinema. (Photo: The Coronet website) The theatre (known then as the ‘Elephant Theatre’) can be seen in the following 1920s clip, London at Night, filmed a few years before its conversion to a cinema: Despite the glitz, the Elephant was still home to many of London’s impoverished, including a large number of down and outs, footage of whom was also included in London at Night: Although the Elephant’s colossal Trocadero has long since vanished, the Coronet is still going strong, now employed as a venue for many varied events ranging from club nights to boxing. The Coronet today (image: Google Streetview) A very famous resident Despite being no longer able to provide an evening out at the pictures, Elephant and Castle is now home to The Cinema Museum which can be found on Dugard Way. The Cinema Museum Although discreet (at present, if you wish to visit, a tour must be booked), this museum maintains a vast collection of historical cinematic artefacts ranging from the 1890s to the present day; everything from usher’s uniforms and vintage cinema fittings, to publicity shots and rare celluloid reels. The Cinema Museum is housed within a rather extraordinary building… it was once the administration block for Lambeth’s former Victorian Workhouse. Wider view of the former Lambeth Workhouse In the late 1890s, one of the many poor Londoners to spend time within this depressing institution was a young child called Charles Spencer Chaplin. Charles Spencer Chaplin A few years later, and under the more informal version of his name, this former young workhouse inmate would go onto become the world’s first movie superstar… Charlie Chaplin. Charles Spencer Chaplin, 1889-1977 (photo: Wikipedia) Charlie was very much a local lad, born less than half a mile away from the Elephant on East Street which, to this day, is still home to a popular market. A quiet East Street today, the road which saw the birth of Charlie Chaplin in 1889. (Image: Google Street View) Growing up in South London, Charlie’s childhood was defined by crushing poverty. Women inside Lambeth Workhouse. Along with a chronic lack of cash, his mother, Hannah Chaplin, also suffered from poor mental health; a condition which led to her spending time in the Bedlam Lunatic Asylum. Hannah Chaplin; Charlie’s tormented mother Today, you can still visit the hospital in which Charlie’s mother was incarcerated… it is now the Imperial War Museum, a short walk away from the heart of Elephant and Castle. The Imperial War Museum, Lambeth- the former Bedlam mental asylum where Charlie Chaplin’s mother was interned (image: Wikipedia) Charlie Chaplin’s childhood experiences of growing up in the area would later influence his famous film work which was characterized by a mixture of working-class humour and heart-breaking pathos, with those in authority often portrayed as bullying jobsworths. This influence is well demonstrated in his 1921 masterpiece, The Kid. In this feature length silent film, Charlie’s ‘Little Tramp’ has raised an abandoned child from infanthood, the pair very much becoming father and son. However, when the authorities discover the pair living in hardship , they see fit to cart the child away… Promotional photo for ‘The Kid’, 1921 Although filmed in Los Angeles, the following famous sequence contains profound and deeply moving echoes of Chaplin’s south London childhood, especially the desperation he would have experienced whilst being forcefully parted from his mother at the gates of Lambeth workhouse. Please click here for part two… Posted in: London History, Roads of Renown \| Tagged: Charlie Chaplin, Cinema Museum, Elephant and Castle, London, London Taxi Driver, Newington, South London, Trams, Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare, Worshipful Company of Cutlers Rose London October 23, 2012 at 12:12 pm \| Reply This was my favouite post ever. I loved it. Well done! View from the Mirror October 23, 2012 at 12:19 pm \| Reply Thank you so much, Rose. How are you plans to move to London coming along? You’ll be able to visit the Cinema Museum when you arrive 😉 Rose London October 23, 2012 at 1:54 pm \| Reply I would like to arrive in London by autumn 2013. At the absolute latest, February 2014. Right now, my plans are moving along well. The immigration minister has not made any funny backhanded moves lately, and if things remain the way they are, I will be reunited with my beloved city soon. Cinema museum will be added to my list today 🙂 View from the Mirror October 23, 2012 at 3:51 pm \| Reply Good luck, Rose. I’m sure the time will pass very quickly and you’ll be here before you know it 🙂 SmittenbyBritain (@SmittnbyBritain) October 23, 2012 at 2:56 pm \| Reply Brilliant as always Robert! That blasted Razor building is the first thing I spotted in the second image. Hands down the ugliest building in London IMHO, soon to be knocked off the top by the Walkie Talkie. Ah well, progress. Many thanks, Melissa 🙂 In part two I’ll be looking at the Elephant and Castle’s more recent architecture… A History of the Elephant & Castle (Part Two) « View from the Mirror October 26, 2012 at 3:21 pm \| Reply […] To read part one of this history, please click here […] Darren M Gomes (@IamTheDoctor) October 31, 2012 at 8:35 pm \| Reply When I was a London tour guide, the story about how the area got the name Elephant and Castle was connected to Queen Eleanor of Castille, daughter of Henry II, but I’ve since found that there’s no connection at all. But there was a programme on telly a couple of years ago that did shed some light on it. It turns out that the symbol of the elephant and castle was used to symbolise the union of blacksmiths in England. This is how the tavern adopted the name of Elephant and Castle. Anon April 25, 2013 at 12:56 pm \| Reply Yes I always thought it was named after the Infanta de Castille. The Faraday Memorial at the ElephantCabbieBlog November 16, 2012 at 1:50 pm \| Reply […] For more about post-war Elephant and Castle check out my colleague’s View from the Mirror. […] The elephant in the room December 19, 2012 at 4:05 pm \| Reply clementsgeoff March 12, 2013 at 7:08 am \| Reply Reblogged this on clementsgeoff and commented: What history there is to be found in London if one looks for it. Stephen Liddell March 12, 2013 at 9:15 am \| Reply What a fascinating post. Thank-you! View from the Mirror March 13, 2013 at 12:20 am \| Reply Thanks, Stephen 🙂 Lucia March 19, 2013 at 11:39 pm \| Reply Hi! I have been wanting to know what the story behind Elephant and Castle’s name was for a while now, but this blog gave me so much more than I expected! I love this blog! Where do you get all this information? It does not come fron The Knowledge, does it? Otherwise I will be soon studying to become a cabbie… 🙂 View from the Mirror March 22, 2013 at 8:57 am \| Reply Thanks, Lucia that’s really kind of you. When you study the Knowledge, you do pick up quite a lot of info on London’s history! If you find it interesting, you just take it from there. Quite a few London cabbies go on to train as tour guides thanks to the love of history which they develop. David Walsh March 21, 2013 at 10:17 pm \| Reply Thanks for this site, I’m always trying to find out more about my neighbourhood, I find it fascinating. I’d love to get hold of an old map of the area. Thanks, David. If you google ‘old London maps’, you’ll find a selection of sites which have maps of London. Some are large enough to depict the Elephant and Castle area. Terence Tumber April 2, 2013 at 6:59 pm \| Reply Hi, David, a very intresting site that has brought back quite a few memories. My father was the master builder on the shopping centre and tower, and I remember going on the roof (the view was fantastic) in the early sixties with him for a progress meeting, I was 6 or 7 and met the architect who was very tall, I now believe he was Goldfinger, he bought me an ice cream, later we went for lunch to a pie counter in a hole in the wall, which i found again in 1999, it was in Borough Market. Fiftry years have gone by and my dad has long since passed away. Best wishes to you View from the Mirror April 2, 2013 at 11:05 pm \| Reply Thanks for the lovely comment. I always enjoy hearing from people who have a close connection with the places I write about and see on a regular basis. I met someone recently whose father also worked with Goldfinger and subsequently met him in their young age. They said he was a lovely fellow and a true gentleman. Hearing that he bought you an ice cream enforces my belief that he was a soft-hearted chap deep down! You must be very proud of your father; he is one of those admirable people who’ve played their part in forging London. -Robert duke brooks April 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm \| Reply i loved it but i dont get how charlie chaplin grew up in east street market View from the Mirror April 29, 2013 at 3:29 pm \| Reply Hi Duke, Thanks for the comment. Charlie Chaplin was born on East Street which is still famous for its market today. You can see a blue plaque recording this association at the junction with Walworth Road. The main house associated with his childhood is on Cleaver Street, Kennington just south of the Elephant and Castle. Sapper July 26, 2015 at 5:11 pm \| Reply See logo of Royal African Company 1660 . This logo could have been adopted by one of the returning soldiers setting up a tavern after services in Africa . It also appears on guinea coins from 1660 as a type of hallmark. View from the Mirror July 26, 2015 at 6:35 pm \| Reply That’s really interesting, Sapper. Many thanks. Scott MacLeod July 13, 2016 at 1:32 am \| Reply My convict ancestor, Matthew Lock(e), was found guilty of theft and transported to Australia for 7 years. His court documents mention him collecting his ‘boxes’ from the ‘Elephant and Castle’ at Newington. He did well in Hawkesbury area, Sydney but never saw his country again. He married my other convict, Eupham “Elizabeth” Graham (7 years Perth court) and had children. Matthew even became a Police constable. How’s that. View from the Mirror July 19, 2016 at 12:06 pm \| Reply That’s an incredible history, Scott thanks so much for sharing. The Beast from the East \| THE MORE THINGS CHANGE … March 15, 2018 at 1:34 am \| Reply […] to Fleet Street and then Farringdon Road across Blackfriars Bridge, along Blackfriars Bridge Road to Elephant & Castle station on London Road, then to Tower Bridge Road and to my son’s flat. Dinner followed at a […] Why you should visit the regenerated areas of London April 9, 2018 at 4:16 pm \| Reply […] districts. An important staging post since the Roman times, the area was even known as the ‘Picadilly of the South’ between the 1890s and 1940, as wealthy residents enjoyed the latest entertainment, and new shopping […] New job! Joining UAL in September – Dr Zoetanya Sujon July 23, 2018 at 4:22 pm \| Reply […] and many different kinds of creative works. Between the distinct history and urban buzz around Elephant & Castle, it will be a very different place to work than the idyllic gardens surrounding Regent’s […] Neverwhere \| Read @ Joe’s August 27, 2018 at 7:20 pm \| Reply […] into the fantastical and eye-winkingly comical land of London Below, complete with black friars and elephants within castles, and where Richard, looking for an exit back to his terribly-mundane and beautifully-predictable […] Ever wondered how Elephant & Castle got its unusual name? September 20, 2018 at 4:25 pm \| Reply […] Elephant & Castle has been a major road junction in the capital since Roman times. […] When Buddy came to London \| View from the Mirror February 3, 2019 at 1:33 am \| Reply […] The very first show they played was on the 1st of that month and took place at the former Trocadero Cinema which was located on the New Kent Road, Elephant and Castle. […] teia55Teia October 23, 2019 at 1:45 pm \| Reply I love your post! I had the great opportunity to live for a week in this awesome area – somewhere on Fontenoy Road – in September this year and I saw all the streets, roads and lanes and visited many places there. I love London! It is a great city, full of amazing history. I would like to come and visit London again some time in the near future. I have always dreamed to visit London and if possible Great Britain, as well. My dream has come true but I am sure I will not stop here because I feel fully connected to this country. View from the Mirror November 10, 2019 at 9:48 pm \| Reply Thank you so much for the kind comments Teia, hope you make it back to London soon 🙂 Leave a Reply to The elephant in the room Cancel reply The Knowledge: Train Your Brain Like a Cabbie. Available now online & in bookshops Welcome aboard: Please select language Follow that Taxi! Thank you so much for flagging down my virtual cab. Please enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Follow View from the Mirror on WordPress.com Plying for hire Talk of the town: popular posts Category Smog Cabbie's Curios Candid Capital Glimpse of the past In the Back Legendary Londoners London History London Music London on Film Metro Blogs Roads of Renown Spooky London Stressful Streets Tales From the Terminals The Cruel Capital Time Out blog Uncategorized WW1 100: London's Memorials Street Snaps: Instagram #CabbiesLondon Where to, Guv? 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__label__wiki	0.967648	0.967648	Album Notes Black Eye Affair Where Do You Stream? If you're like most of the civilized world, you listen to music on a streaming platform mare than any other source. Which do you use? Do you have a favorite? You can find Black Eye Affair on most major streaming services; including Apple Music, and Spotify. The algorithms of these services depend on people liking, sharing, and saving tracks to playlists to determine what music is worth putting in front of new listeners. If you enjoy Bridges Burned and Other Such Disasters, take a moment to show it on these streaming services. Follow or subscribe to Black Eye Affair, then make sure you click "like" on your favorite track. If you take a moment to add a track to a playlist or share it with others, you would be helping build momentum for music that you enjoy and supporting Black Eye Affair in a meaningful way! ZacharyZerce Malaysia Carlton's warnock to miss rest of afl season with shoulder in pain "In the middle of the year there have been many injuries, and we had a few players miss the rest of the season with injuries," he said. "It was unfortunate that those injuries were so quickly reported by media. "The club was looking at every option that we could use to try to get our key players to the field and I'd like to acknowledge that effort from the players and coaching staff as they were at every step." The Eagles are now 10 points behind sixth-placed Richmond with four rounds to play. Sydney's five points lead the top eight, with the Brisbane Lions three points clear of fifth-placed Melbourne. The Magpies need just five more wins (two away and one away and one home) to become the top-ranked team, and they meet Melbourne at ANZ Stadium on Sunday (4.20pm AEDT). But it's a three-quarter match after that. AFL Power's Nick Bontempelli said he did not expect Richmond to hold onto the top spot, given the loss of key defenders Joel Selwood and Tom Nicholls in the loss to Melbourne. "It's disappointing not to retain our top spot as it's going to be a tricky week in the competition as we go into this weekend," Bontempelli said. "We'll be hoping that we'll get a bit of that momentum at the weekend to get ourselves going." Melbourne coach Damien Hardwick was not impressed by the Eagles' season. "That's what you expect from winning at this level," he said. "I thought we lost a few key players (without Selwood and Nicholls) and we lost a few key players in the grand final so it wasn't all that inspiring to me to concede so many points." The Magpies are currently fourth in the competition with three wins from their opening four matches, and one loss in that period. Melbourne coach John Longmire has not announced his squad since he announced his 23-man list to the media at its weekly media briefing on Monday morning. Essendon will not make any changes until after its loss to Melbourne. 바카라 Turkish politicians trade kicks punches during parliament brawl: report The scene at the party meeting. Protesters also shouted slogans like "I don't want any more cuts, the people want jobs". (Photo: AP) Police used batons and stun grenades against the opposition lawmakers in the parliament clash, state-run media reported. "There was a violent clash that lasted for 30 minutes at an opposition lawmaker's position and also at a party meeting. Dozens of protesters threw bottles and stones at the lawmakers," Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Nastya Zitina said, as cited by Reuters news agency. Protesters from the Left Movement opposition faction, and also members of the opposition party All Russia Socialist Movement (ALMAS), attacked the opposition lawmakers' positions as they were trying to hold a public discussion on the economic and social situation of Russia. The opposition leaders were reportedly hit on their faces by bottles and at least one person died in the clash, Zitina added. The attack took place despite the suspension of the state security chief, Vyacheslav Molotov, because of the violent reaction in which the group allegedly hit a senior state official on the head, she added. 바카라사이트 Carlton's warnock to miss rest of afl season with shoulder in pain "In the middle of the year there have been many injuries, and we had a few players miss the rest of the season with injuries," he said. "It was unfortunate that those injuries were so quickly reported by media. "The club was looking at every option that we could use to try to get our key players to the field and I'd like to acknowledge that effort from the players and coaching staff as they were at every step." The Eagles are now 10 points behind sixth-placed Richmond with four rounds to play. Sydney's five points lead the top eight, with the Brisbane Lions three points clear of fifth-placed Melbourne. The Magpies need just five more wins (two away and one away and one home) to become the top-ranked team, and they meet Melbourne at ANZ Stadium on Sunday (4.20pm AEDT). But it's a three-quarter match after that. AFL Power's Nick Bontempelli said he did not expect Richmond to hold onto the top spot, given the loss of key defenders Joel Selwood and Tom Nicholls in the loss to Melbourne. "It's disappointing not to retain our top spot as it's going to be a tricky week in the competition as we go into this weekend," Bontempelli said. "We'll be hoping that we'll get a bit of that momentum at the weekend to get ourselves going." Melbourne coach Damien Hardwick was not impressed by the Eagles' season. "That's what you expect from winning at this level," he said. "I thought we lost a few key players (without Selwood and Nicholls) and we lost a few key players in the grand final so it wasn't all that inspiring to me to concede so many points." The Magpies are currently fourth in the competition with three wins from their opening four matches, and one loss in that period. Melbourne coach John Longmire has not announced his squad since he announced his 23-man list to the media at its weekly media briefing on Monday morning. Essendon will not make any changes until after its loss to Melbourne. Turkish politicians trade kicks punches during parliament brawl: report The scene at the party meeting. Protesters also shouted slogans like "I don't want any more cuts, the people want jobs". (Photo: AP) Police used batons and stun grenades against the opposition lawmakers in the parliament clash, state-run media reported. "There was a violent clash that lasted for 30 minutes at an opposition lawmaker's position and also at a party meeting. Dozens of protesters threw bottles and stones at the lawmakers," Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Nastya Zitina said, as cited by Reuters news agency. Protesters from the Left Movement opposition faction, and also members of the opposition party All Russia Socialist Movement (ALMAS), attacked the opposition lawmakers' positions as they were trying to hold a public discussion on the economic and social situation of Russia. The opposition leaders were reportedly hit on their faces by bottles and at least one person died in the clash, Zitina added. The attack took place despite the suspension of the state security chief, Vyacheslav Molotov, because of the violent reaction in which the group allegedly hit a senior state official on the head, she added. Thomaszer Cook Islands Hi, I recently came to the CSShop - Cheap Software Store. They sell OEM Microsoft software, prices are actually low, I read reviews and decided to buy Office Standard 2019, the price difference with the official website is 25%!!! Tell us, do you think this is a good buy? order windows 10 home full version The technician who helped me was just great. Very competent employee. Hi, I recently came to the CSShop - Cheap Software Store. They sell OEM Microsoft software, prices are actually low, I read reviews and decided to buy Office Standard 2019, the price difference with the official website is 25%!!! Tell us, do you think this is a good buy? order windows 10 home full version The technician who helped me was just great. Very competent employee.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1776
__label__cc	0.522366	0.477634	Home » Reviews » Fiction » Darwin’s Sword Darwin’s Sword Author: D. L. Whitehead Publisher: LeRue Press Fiction, Reviews, Science Fiction, Thriller Frankenstein, Genomics, Mary Shelley Two-thirds of the way through his science fiction novel, Darwin’s Sword, D. L. Whitehead acknowledges a Frankenstein parallel. Long before that, I had already decided that a more appropriate title for his book would have been “Frankenstein’s Doppelganger” because Whitehead brings Mary Shelley’s creation into the twenty-first century. Antagonist Dr. Jonathan Masters is a clone of the mad Dr. Frankenstein, while his genetic look-alike mutates into the evil, larger-than-life, out-of-control monster. All this is done by way of genetics and DNA and governmental subsidies, strands unimaginable in the early nineteenth century. Darwin’s Sword reads like a modern-day thriller, a non-stop rendition of scientific postulations and militaristic confrontations. The single-minded Dr. Masters is the founder of Genetisource, a secret research hub whose employees are pursuing highly classified genomic projects. The novel opens with the discovery of a body. One of the scientists is dead, her mutilated corpse deposited in a basement dumpster. Given Genetisource’s tight security, the murder must be an inside job. Or is it the result of an experiment gone bad? What are her fellow researchers, led by Dr. Masters, hiding? Jake Storm, retired from the “Agency,” runs Consolidated Specialty Security, Inc., which is responsible for security at Genetisource. His team begins to investigate the situation, but almost immediately a mysterious government team from NSA takes over the scene and whitewashes the crime. When Jake probes further, the plot thickens. More mysterious government bureaucrats and even heavily-armed combatants appear, knots of men more interested in permanently eliminating Jake and his team than in solving the crime. But Jake has his own cadre of ex-Navy SEALS and computer experts, all willing to skirt the law in order to uncover what increasing looks like a wide-spread cover-up. As the action heats up, the body count increases. At times, in fact, the body count exceeds the page count, so Darwin’s Sword is not for the faint-of-heart. It’s a lively read, however, one that keeps the reader turning the pages faster and faster. It also raises more questions than it answers. I found myself puzzling over some of the unsolved strands of the plot. Masters’ daughter, for example, has been a subject for her father’s research. How and why and to what end is not exactly apparent. The demise of the clone seemed rather far-fetched to me, too, as did the gratuitous ending that tied all the pieces together a little too neatly. Yet I’m recommending Whitehead’s novel because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The characters are well-drawn; the action is fast-paced; the key settings (Seattle and Bellevue, Las Vegas and Mount Charleston) are dear to my heart. I wish Whitehead had been a bit more careful with his narrative details, but that quibble doesn’t make this thriller less thrilling. I might even take back my question about the title. Darwin’s Sword, of course, is an allusion to evolutionary haste, hoist on its own petard, and that fits this novel every bit as well as “Frankenstein’s Doppelganger.” – Ann Ronald PrevHow the Scots Invented the Modern World Night WatchNext Support local booksellers, buy Darwin’s Sword at Bookshop	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1781
__label__wiki	0.84458	0.84458	seems to infer that the transfer of Private Bill business from Committees to a “permanent tribunal of a judicial character" would also be attended with benefit. It is, however, quite conceivable that the transfer of such casescases in which members of the House were in fact trying members of the House—to a judicial tribunal might be beneficial, while any similar transfer of Private Bill legislation proper would be quite the reverse. But apart from the weight of the observation there is not much truth in it. If it was universally admitted to be beneficial, why did Parliament pass an Act, quite recently, making it necessary that two judges should hear such petitions ? As to the universal admission of the economy of the change, we should like some further evidence. The fees given to counsel upon Election Inquiries are, as a rule, five times greater than those which are given to Parliamentary counsel for much heavier cases, or than those which used to be given when the Petitions were heard before Committees of the House. Any case which requires the best legal talent, and which necessitates the absence from town of the counsel possessing it, must necessarily be expensive. The comparatively small fees given at the Parliamentary Bar are acceptable to counsel who can attend to a considerable number of cases in the same day, and consequently the fact that a large number of Committees are sitting at the same time has the effect of cheapening Parliamentary proceedings to the promoters and opponents of Private Bills. Mr. Dodson's scheme involved, as we have seen, local inquiries, and he supported his opinion as to the expediency of these, by assuring the House that "the nearer home the inquiry took place the cheaper it would be.” This argument has long ago been refuted. Mr. Dodson himself seemed to be aware that his statement was not wholly accurate, for he informed the House that the cases in which the expense of the inquiry would be greater in the provinces than in London, were exceptional. But had he taken the trouble to inquire into the matter, he would have found that the principal items of the cost of Private Bills must be incurred, before whatever tribunal the matter is ultimately heard. The heaviest expenses in connexion with Private Bills is incurred in connexion with the referencing, surveying, and engineering; and all that work must be done whether the Bill comes before a Parliamentary Committee or permanent tribunal of a judicial character.” A return showing what a small proportion of the costs were incurred in relation to the actual hearing of any important Bill would be exceedingly instructive. But assume that the Bill is important; is it possible to conceive that the fact that it is heard at Sligo, at Perth, or at Newcastle will make the costs less ? Anyone who has any acquaintance with such cases will tell you that the expensive witnesses are not the local ones, but the experts or skilled witnesses. Eminent engineers or chemists would still be employed in every important inquiry and their charges for attendance on a local inquiry will be much more exhorbitant than they have been in connexion with an inquiry in London. At the present time their charges are by no means modest, but their fees for going to Sligo, Perth, or Newcastle would be very large, and, whenever the matter was an important one, they would be paid. The view of Mr. St. George Burke, Q.C., after he retired from the Parliamentary Bar, when he had no longer any interest in the bolstering of a bad system, was that there would be an increase of the expenses if inquiries were held locally.* It is too, we believe, a motto of the Parliamentary Bar that Provisional Orders are better than Bills, if they are big enough, for in that case there are three briefs and three inquiries instead of two. But if the * Letter to The Standard, 3rd April, 1872. measure is unimportant, it would pass through Parliament cheaply enough were it not for the House fees which are doubtless heavy. But, strange to say, in his anxiety for economy, Mr. Dodson does not propose any diminution of these fees, indeed he takes credit for these fees, and proposes to pay the commissioners of his permanent tribunal out of them. It might have been worth while to inquire whether the whole amount of these fees was not already necessary in connexion with the permanent staff and expenses of the House. But apart from that, it is a curious economy to substitute a highly paid tribunal for one which does its work gratuitously. But there is, as we have seen, another expense in connexion with the hearing before the Committee, and that is, the expense of counsel and agents. These, at the Parliamentary Bar, are by no means excessive. Measured by comparison with the fees given on Election Petitions or Arbitrations they are very small. Is there any reason to suppose that these would be diminished if the inquiry was held locally before a Court of Commissioners ? Suppose the Hull and Barnsley Railway and Dock Bill, which passed through Parliament in the last Session, had been transferred to such a tribunal and heard locallyalthough where “locally” is, in the case of a railway about sixty miles long with a dock at one end, it would be difficult to say ; but suppose it had been heard at Hull or Barnsley, is it possible to believe that the expenses in relation to counsel and agents would have been less than they in fact were ? They must, it is evident, have been immensely increased. But we are not left to surmises for an estimate of the expenses of such a case. We know that under the cheap Provisional Order system there was an inquiry held this spring as to the expediency of sanctioning a scheme for the disposal of the sewage of the Lower Thames Valley. The inquiry was held by one of the Inspectors of the Local Government Board, at Richmond. It lasted for forty-five days, and is stated to have cost £45,000.* But passing to Mr. Dodson's last argument, we find that he thinks his plan would relieve Parliament of an immense amount of work which its members are not well qualified to perform, and would enable them to devote more time to the public business which, year by year, makes more demands upon them. One of these demands is doubtless the attendance upon Select Committees which, according to Col. Wilson Patten (now Lord Winmarleigh), have unduly increased in dimensions. While formerly these were constituted by fifteen members they now frequently consist of twenty or twenty-one. But apart from such duties it seems certain that the time of Parliament is more fully occupied, although possibly not more profitably employed than in former years. Now we have Mr. Dodson's scheme and arguments before The cheme is that there is to be a tribunal composed of lawyers of ability and experience, who are to investigate into the expediency of passing Private Bills into Law. Their inquiry is to be held locally, and there is, with the consent of Parliament, to be an appeal to a Joint Committee of both Houses. The reasons for the change, put shortly, are, that the time of Parliament is much occupied, that members are not qualified to undertake the investigation into the truth of the preambles of Private Bills, which involve quasi-judicial inquiries. That the proceedings are long, the costs enormous, and the results unsatisfactory. This subject was of course discussed at the time when the proposals were first made, and many very able criticisms were made the scheme. Those who are most familiar with the practice of Parliament as to Private Bills are of The experience of all is that it is no cheaper to go for a Provisional Order than for a Bill in a matter of any importance. It is in such a case likely to necessitate three inquiries instead of two. In unimportant matters no doubt it is cheaper, but that is only because the charges made by the House are smaller. course entitled to be heard, although Mr. Dodson seemed to deprecate any advice being sought from such sources. Sir Edmund Beckett, however, forcibly protested against this exclusion. Though he [Mr. Dodson],” said Sir Edmund, "assured the House, probably with truth, that the worst thing they could do towards furthering his scheme would be to inquire of those who do the work at present, I did not observe that he gave any reason why this should be the only business in the world which is better understood by those who do not conduct it than by those who do. The public have no idea of the fact that 'the authorities of the House,' who are assumed to have special knowledge of the business, have nothing at all to do with it in a litigious form, except on mere technicalities which have no relation to the merits and are as often fatal to good Bills as to bad ones.” (Letter in Times, 21st May, 1872.) But although Mr. Dodson wished to exclude from the consideration of the House the opinion of such counsel as Sir Edmund Beckett, Mr. Calvert, Q.C., Mr. Burke, Q.C., and such an experienced agent as Sir Theodore Martin, the public, we believe, would desire to have some information as to their views. We conclude that Mr. Dodson himself would like to have the public informed of what was said by Sir William Harcourt, because he for the most part was favourable to the scheme, and would doubtless like it to be stated that Sir William had at one time a large practice at the Parliamentary Bar. But while the present Home Secretary on the whole approved of Mr. Dodson's proposals he was of opinion that the appeal from the “Permanent Tribunal” should be one of right, and not an appeal conditioned by the consent of Parliament, or left to the discretion of any intermediate tribunal. He also seemed to think that the proposal of a Joint Committee of both Houses instead of separate Committees of each House was not, if carried out, likely to be an improvement. He said : “Objections had	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1782
__label__cc	0.741873	0.258127	You are at:Home»WEEKLY PREVIEW»Stocks return to the real world Stocks return to the real world Now that Trump is on his way out and a vaccine is on its way in, the stock market has taken off once again. Today I’d like to take a look at where there may be some value for those who are interested in getting into the market. The main theme in the stock market recently has been a reversal of the big trend of the year: a move from the virtual world to the real world. In doing so, smaller stocks are suddenly outperforming the large-capitalization stocks as investors seek more exposure to sectors that are responsive to the normal business cycle, such as industrials and consumer discretionary. Value stocks have started to pick up relative to growth stocks, which have far-and-away dominated so far this year. And demand for income-producing dividend stocks, as opposed to growth stocks, has jumped as well. Which sectors have been performing the best? The graph below shows the relative performance of the ten major sectors that comprise the S&P 500. This does not show the absolute performance but rather the relative performance: how that sector’s rise or fall compared to that of the S&P500 overall. Thus a sector could be up, but if it wasn’t up as much as the overall index, it would appear as a negative on this graph. But as we all know, past performance is no guarantee of future performance. We should divide the year up into two: until end-October, before the election and the vaccine announcements, and then after. If we look at the performance before the end of October, the graph isn’t that much different than for the year as a whole. But if we look at it for November only, it’s very different indeed: Energy, financials and industrials were the three worst-performing sectors until the end of October, in that order. Since then, they’ve been the best-performing sectors, again in that order. We can combine the two graphs into one: Three of the sectors that outperformed before are now underperforming (consumer discretionary, info tech, and telecom services) while three that underperformed before are now outperforming (energy, financials, and industrials). Utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples are the three sad ones that underperformed both before & after, while materials is the most consistent – it outperformed before (slightly) and is outperforming now, too (slightly). That doesn’t mean it’s the best performer, however. Looking at the market in finer detail, the S&P 500 is divided into 115 sub-sectors. Here are the 15 that performed the worst up until end-October, vs how they’ve performed since then. These sectors may well still have room to rebound. (I should caution you on the “drug retailers” sector, which is probably affected more by the announcement that Amazon is getting into that business than by anything else.) Perhaps you want to invest outside the US? Which country’s stock market is the most bombed out? Within Europe, the German DAX has rebounded the most. That makes sense, given Germany’s high beta to international economic activity. Note how the FTSE 100, which is mostly comprised of international companies, has underperformed the FTSE 250, which is more domestic stocks. I assume that’s because the more domestic stocks won’t be affected directly by Brexit – it doesn’t matter as much if their exports fall. I’m not sure I buy this logic, because the majors also have activities outside of the UK that will be unaffected by Brexit, but I think everyone in the country will be affected regardless of whether they export anything to the continent. Next week’s events: OPEC+, RBA We’re coming into the last month of the year, but activity remains high and there are a lot of risk events next week. Oil ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plus other major exporters such as Russia and Kazakhstan, known as OPEC+, meet on Monday and Tuesday. They are due to decide whether to extend their current output cuts of 7.7mn barrels a day (b/d) into next year or to reduce them – that is, increase production – from the start of January by 1.9mn b/d, as was originally planned. The consensus is that they will extend the current level of cuts, probably through Q1 of next year. The recent surge in prices has cast some doubt on that conclusion. On the other hand, OPEC’s own analysts calculate that there’s something like 1.3bn barrels more oil in storage above ground than there was at the beginning of the year, enough to meet any surge in demand. (OPEC’s current output is estimated at between 23.2mn and 24.7mn b/d.) They need to keep prices below the level that would allow North American shale producers to start pumping oil again (estimated to be $45-$55/bbl, which is almost where the market is now) but to keep it high enough to satisfy countries that are strapped for cash – as well as allowing some space for those countries that want to produce more. It’s a delicate balancing act. Keeping output at the current level is already discounted in the market; increasing it (i.e., reducing the output cuts) would probably come as a surprise and depress oil prices and oil-linked currencies, such as CAD. At its meeting last month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided on a package of measures consisting of: A reduction in the cash rate target to 0.1% from 0.25% Similarly, a reduction in the target for the yield on the 3-year Australian Government bond to around 0.1% from 0.2%% Also a reduction in the interest rate on new drawings under the Term Funding Facility to 0.1% A reduction in the interest rate on Exchange Settlement balances to zero; and The purchase of AUD 100bn of government bonds of maturities of around 5 to 10 years over the next six months. Dayenu! as we say. That’s enough for now. I don’t expect any more changes at next Tuesday’s meeting. They will probably just update everyone on how these measures are working. The market will also wait to hear how they view the new vaccines and the near-elimination of the virus in the country (down to an average of 12 new cases a day from a peak of 541 in August – this in a country of 25mn people). As for central bankers, Fed Chair Powell appears in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday and the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday to discuss the CARES Act. We all know what he’s going to say: give me more! Fed officials have unanimously stressed the need for continued fiscal support for the US economy, particularly as the CARES Act unemployment insurance will run out at the end of December. His pleas are bound to fall on deaf ears though as the Senate Republicans are determined to implement a “scorched earth” policy ahead of the transition, sabotaging the economy to make life as difficult as possible for the incoming Biden administration. The talkative European Central Bank (ECB) President Lagarde speaks twice, once at some European Policy Forum on Monday and then on Tuesday at the opening of some GeoEconomics Center, part of the Atlantic Council. It doesn’t look too fascinating. The Fed released the Beige Book on Wednesday, two weeks before its last Open Market Committee meeting of the year. While it’s entirely anecdotal, some people try to make a “Beige Book index” by counting how many times certain words appear. For example, check how many times the word “uncertain” occurs in it. That’s a good guide to the tone. It was 23 times in the last one (October) vs 27 in September, so maybe things are getting better. But then again the word appeared 24 times in April, and I’d say things were a lot more uncertain back in April. Finally, we will have our ear to the ground listening for any news out of the Brexit talks as we get really, really down to the very thin wire. The talks are in a difficult plaice right now – with only 33 days left to go, they need to make some progress fast. EU Chief Negotiator Barnier is supposed to brief EU officials today about the fishing dispute, but it’s unclear whether he’s going to reveal a breakthrough or breakdown. It’s so stupid that the talks are stymied over an inconsequential bunch of fish while the UK just abandoned the financial industry, which accounts for somewhere north of 7% of GDP. But there you are. Indicators: NFP, EU CPI, end-of-month Japan indicators The big event of the week is on Friday, when we get the US nonfarm payrolls (NFP). Those have been somewhat overtaken by the weekly jobless claims, which come out every Thursday, but there still seems to be significant, if fleeting, interest in the NFP. The market forecast is for a derisory increase of just a lousy 500k jobs, the fifth consecutive month of decrease in the number of new jobs. This compares with what will probably be some 4.6mn new cases of the COVID-19 virus during the month. So much winning! Give me a break. The unemployment rate is expected to fall just a tiny bit to 6.8% from 6.9%. My guess is that these numbers would not be particularly encouraging, although given that initial jobless claims have risen for the last two weeks, they might be seen as better than the alternative: a fall in payrolls and a rise in the unemployment rate. Wednesday as always we get the monthly estimate of the NFP figures from Automated Data Processing Inc. (ADP), another highlight although the ADP report is notoriously unreliable as a forecast of the NFP figure. We get the final purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) for those countries that release preliminary versions, and the one-and-only figures for those that don’t – manufacturing on Tuesday and service-sector on Thursday. With these come the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) version of the PMIs in the US, which are always closely watched, largely out of habit since the Markit versions are better gauges of the US economy (or so Markit says – you can evaluate their claim yourself. It seems convincing to me.) Meanwhile, China announces its official PMIs on Monday and the Caixin manufacturing version on Tuesday. In Europe, Germany announces its inflation data on Monday and as day follows night, so too does the EU-wide inflation data follow the German inflation data the next day, as always. Both are expected to be up bit but to remain in deflation. No news there and no impact on the ECB, which is already planning an impressive package of easing measures that will no doubt blow your socks off when they unveil it at their next meeting on 10 December. Japan as usual has its end-of-month onslaught of indicators. Monday morning it announces industrial production and retail sales, while Tuesday the employment data and capital spending (among others I don’t bother with). Industrial production for October is expected to be up a pretty solid 2.0% mom, but that would still leave it some 6.2% below pre-pandemic levels. That’s not too bad – it’s Germany in September was 8.2% below pre-pandemic levels, while the US in October was 5.6% below. So Japan is pretty much on par for the course. I don’t understand why Japan’s unemployment figures are so closely watched – they never change very much. The unemployment rate is expected to rise a bit to 3.1% from 3.0%, while the job-offers-to-applicants ratio is expected to be unchanged at 1.03. That’s also the same as the forecast last month. As good a guess as any, I’d say. Probably no effect on JPY. Switzerland and Canada release their first estimates of Q3 GDP on Tuesday, while Australia releases its on Wednesday. BDSwiss COVID-19 DAX EU Markets finance Forex Japan NFP OPEC Stocks Previous ArticleJPY Higher in Lackluster holiday Trading; Not much more Action likely Today Next Article “Risk-on” mood in FX but “Risk-off” in Stocks; OPEC, RBA Meetings What inflation? Tying up the year’s loose ends	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1786
__label__cc	0.643311	0.356689	なんでもない Yoshida Uncensored Yoshida Uncensored 2 428 Post-Game Guide P3D Guide Persona O.A. Guide ← [Translation] FFXIV Yoshida Uncensored 2 – #78 [Translation] FFXIV Yoshida Uncensored 2 – #80 → [Translation] FFXIV Yoshida Uncensored 2 – #79 #79: “Risk & Return” Published in 2017/03/09 issue To be honest, I wonder if game developers want higher salaries. For the record, I earn quite a bit, so I have no complaints on that front myself. Just to be clear. The average salary for a console game developer has certainly skyrocketed compared to the late ’90s. I believe that it’s done a good job of catching up to the standard salary by age group in regular businesses. In fact, salaries might even be a bit higher in the game industry. Saying this might make you think, “Oh, so they are getting paid enough,” but that’s not true. When you take the nature of the work and the operational risk into consideration, I still can’t say that the standard compensation system balances those out. Some people fear that if they suddenly pay too much, the workers will lose their aspiration and slack off. They figure if they’re going to raise the salaries, they should prioritize increasing the base salary bit by bit every year, keeping it in line with regular businesses. Perhaps they still think that our industry has a lower social status than the others. But, the industry’s social standing will never rise so long as they think that. Now, from a company’s perspective, they’re paying out a respectable amount, and it does seem so when you look at the averages. But, what do the employees think…? As I’ve written about countless times in this column, there is a huge amount of risk in developing console-exclusive games. The development costs are tremendous and it’s easy for the development time to get extended. But, do the companies realize that that’s a risk for the workers, too? It takes far too long to develop a console game these days. The development time easily spans years, and for a big title, 3 years get eaten up like it’s nothing. Frankly, this is abnormal. It’s troubling how many people have stories where in the span of developing two games, their son in elementary school was suddenly graduating from middle school. There’s also a considerable amount of regret if those two games weren’t even successful. As I mentioned previously, their salaries during that time continued to rise a bit year by year. The company sees it as providing stability for their employees, but they also always say that you need to produce good results in order to get ahead. Now, of course, if you want to earn a sizeable bonus, then you need to produce results. However, even if you do concern yourself with results, you can’t make any claims when the game hasn’t been released yet. It’s not that rare for a problem to come up with the project manager, leading to two or three project revisions, during which development doesn’t make any progress at all. If you work on a project for two years and development gets put on hold, then you don’t have results to show for that time. This is a constant risk for those working at the forefront of game development. As console games rise in scale, problems crop up: extended development time, inflated work volume, and technological inflexibility. Oftentimes, when continuing to work on the same game for a long time, the techniques that were cutting-edge at the start of development become obsolete by the time development finishes. Companies rarely want to take on the risk of updating techniques mid-development, so the staff assigned to the project are stuck at that skill level for a while. They suffer and suffer and when they’ve reached the peak of their suffering, the project is finally complete, the game is released, and their ability as an engineer may now be dead. For FFXIV, we have an additional operational risk in addition to those. I could write about this forever, but at any rate, our technology and development pipelines are fixed in place and optimization is prioritized instead. We’ve accumulated a lot of “experience,” but it’s growing more and more distant from the challenges we face. FFXIV’s graphical pipeline is already two generations behind; it’s just that we work hard to find ways to hide it. Game sales and stable online game management bring in a lot of profit for the company. Like, it’s probably way more than what you’re all imagining. Since I’m also on the administrative side, I know all of the numbers. A large-scale game is built on the steady efforts of many developers, so if they leave, the damage to profits will be immeasurable. I feel that if we don’t revise the balance between profit and investment, it’ll become an industry that no one wants to work in. I don’t think it’s necessary to give large raises to game developers every year. Change should come gradually, so I think it’s fine to stick with the gradated system. Instead, I want the end-of-term bonuses and incentives to be several times more than what they are now. If the company made a lot of profit, then around 3% of that should go back to the developers. For example, if my department made 10 billion yen in profit during the fiscal year, 3% of that would be 300 million yen. Divide that by 200 people and it’d be 1.5 million yen (approx. $13,500 USD) per person. Using that as a baseline, those who contributed a lot will receive several million, while those who didn’t contribute much will get zero. This reward system is sure to get people motivated. Actually, without a system like this in place, I think that maintaining a game long-term in the Japanese market is too risky for all but the upper echelon of developers. Since you can just not pay the bonus for years where the company did poorly or didn’t release the game yet, this is the most suitable method for modern game development. The young generation is especially likely to interpret it as working hard for their salary, and I think that that should be the natural line of thought. If you know you’ll earn a lot of money, you’ll work harder to achieve that, and you’ll be motivated to work harder next time too, to earn it again. I also feel that if you were looking for “stability,” you wouldn’t be in the game industry in the first place. Social game business has become commonplace, and the companies that gained prominence through them make a conscious effort to share their profits with their developers. On the other hand, there is little emphasis on lifetime employment. It’s hard to say whether that’s for better or worse, because once you’ve entered the lifetime employment system, there’s no turning back. That said, the young generation probably prefers the former approach. During the game development bubble era, companies gave their so-called “creators” special treatment—the likes of which you’d never imagine today. I think it was a huge mistake to give them authority over such large sums of money. Many of them would spend their company’s money like water, under the guise of “entertainment expenses.” They wouldn’t be so frivolous with their own money… It’s better to think of that as an example of failure. I want us to stop making sensational assumptions like, “It’s over when you lose your thirst.” Believe it or not, there are still many people who think that way in the gaming industry. At any rate, I want to pay our staff more. Whenever the end of the fiscal year comes around, I’m battling with the system to achieve that. Risks become enjoyable when there are returns, and since we’re creating games, I want to at least be able to dream about that. Games, Translations • Tags: ffxiv, yoshida uncensored Figures/Merchandise	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1789
__label__cc	0.748032	0.251968	What are the Airports in the UK? by Ciara Gillan Travelling can often be a stressful experience. Early start times, crowded airports, uncomfortable flights. Long journeys even if you are only going a short distance. Not to mention navigating the airport itself with what you can and can’t bring through security. What about the best airports to fly to to shorten your journey? Or the words you can expect to encounter when you don’t speak the language? So what are the main airports in the UK and what keywords should we be looking out for? The main UK airports In the UK, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are 38 airports. 24 in England, 10 in Scotland, 1 in Wales and 3 in Northern Ireland. But like everything in life, not all airports are made equal. So we’ve broken down the UK into key areas and picked out the main airports you might encounter on your travels. 1. London A large percentage of the UK’s population live in and around London. So this highly condensed area needs all the airports it has. From Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, which you should avoid with as much passion as one would for their disgust of brown sauce, especially if you’re taking a connecting flight, to Gatwick, Stansted and the lovely and dinky little City airport. There are lots to choose from. If money is no problem, many high flying airlines route through London City airport. The Ryanairs of the world i.e. low cost airlines, are more likely to fly through Gatwick and Stansted. Unfortunately what you save in flight prices you lose paying for transport into the city. That said, Gatwick would be the one to choose over Stansted as it is that little bit closer to the city. UK Dialect and Accent Differences 2. North of England If you’re travelling more north but still in England, then you might look at Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds Bradford International airport. Manchester is one of the biggest airports in the UK, aside from Heathrow and Gatwick. It will also provide you with lots of different options if you choose to travel on from there. The Liverpool John Lennon airport, named after the great Beatles man, is your gateway to the west of England. Leeds is your better choice if you’re heading to the North Yorkshire Moors or looking to discover the far east side of the UK. 3. Central England While Birmingham city is not known for its beauty and is possibly not the most touristic place you’ll visit in the UK, their airport is smack bang in the middle of England. Birmingham’s airport has a long history and was used for flight training during World War II. Nowadays it’s a hot spot for many domestic flights to take you all over the UK and certainly worth a consideration if you’re interested in travelling to Nottingham, Leicester or Coventry. How to Use Sorry the British Way 4. South West England West of London and right beside the water is the historic and picturesque city of Bristol and along with it, Bristol Airport. The main airport serving the West of England, it is the pathway to many historic towns and villages including Glastonbury. Which, of course, is home to the infamous Glastonbury Festival. 5. Scotland If you’re venturing to the north of the UK, to the wild and picturesque lands of Scotland, then you can either fly into Glasgow, Aberdeen or Edinburgh. Your choice will depend on where you ultimately plan to rest your head. For views of the North Sea and possibly Norway, head to Aberdeen. For a wealth of history and access to the east and lower part of Scotland, Edinburgh is a perfect destination. And if you’re looking for the life and soul of the Scottish party, Glasgow is where you will want to be. Glasgow will also take you close to Scotland’s national park, Loch Lommond. UK Accents and Intonation 6. Wales Wales’s main airport is based in the city of Cardiff. Located at the bottom of the country, it is perfectly positioned to take you around the coast line of this beautiful landscape. However, if your plans take you further north, it might make more sense to fly into Liverpool or Manchester airports and travel down from there. 7. Northern Ireland Across the water is the picturesque and complex Northern Ireland. Consisting of 6 different counties, the main international airport is located in Belfast, on the east side of the country, right beside Lough Neagh. Northern Ireland is quite a small country and so the remaining counties are easily accessible from Belfast airport. The city of Derry does have a little airport that services the whole of the UK as well. So if you’re keen to see the very north of Ireland and venture to Derry’s luscious neighbour, Donegal (which is actually a part of the Republic of Ireland), a flight to Derry might be your best bet. How to Get a Perfect Irish Accent Key words you will find in UK airports While all these airports will have their signs in English, they may well be in Welsh and Scottish as well. Arrivals – this is where you arrive in an airport. Departures – where to go when you’re leaving the country. Delayed – your flight will be late. Boarding – time to get on your flight. Go to gate – time to go to the place your flight will be leaving from. Cancelled – your flight is going nowhere today. Lost Luggage – where to go when your bags have not turned up in your destination. Check-in – where you register for your flight and leave your bags. Boarding pass – the document you receive once you’ve checked in. Do you want to travel to the UK soon? Prep your English skills beforehand and book your free 7-day trial with Lingoda. Our native speaking English teachers will help you with everything from pronunciation to grammar! 6 top networking tips guaranteed to boost your career Why learning languages has real mental health benefits	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1790
__label__wiki	0.938102	0.938102	Attorney speaks to students By Patrick Doolin The Institute for Political Studies hosted its second event of the semester with a lecture on affirmative action by Frank Hill, a civil rights attorney. The IPS theme for the semester is “What inspires a person to take political action?” Hill was involved in segregation cases during the 1960s and has litigated in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Hill’s area of expertise includes general civil litigation, constitutional law, employment law and school law arbitration. Hill began his lecture by speaking on the importance of the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education. It was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Hill said the case’s ruling did not take effect in schools until the 1960s and that it was very difficult to promote change in the Deep South and rid the area of violence against minorities that occurred during the period of desegregation. “Undoing the residual effects of past governmental discrimination is what affirmative action is all about, then and now,” Hill said. He described how affirmative action affects the modern- day workplace. Hill also said the Dallas County Community College District was founded on policies free of racial discrimination for its faculty and student body. Ahad Hayaud-Din, government professor, said Hill was able to share his thoughts in a way the audience could understand. Hayaud-Din said students could benefit from the lecture in personal ways. “I hope it empowers students to take action and feel confident in advocating issues they feel are important,” he said. Student Danyeil Townzen attended the lecture for her political science class. “It was extremely informative in regard to the future of affirmative action and how the purpose is changing with the times,” she said. Dr. Patricia Dodd, English professor, said she thought the lecture was refreshing and informative. “Affirmative action can be a challenging issue with much to consider,” she said. Hill said his personal thoughts on affirmative action are that it should be in place, carefully tailored and monitored to promote diversity.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1792
__label__wiki	0.729993	0.729993	IPS guest speaker recounts human trafficking nightmares By Sara Prendergast Photo by Ravin Lee \| Bill Bernstein, deputy director of Mosaic Family Services, speaks to Brookhaven College Students about human trafficking. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and can affect people from different demographics. Its injustice can be seen throughout the U.S. and has prompted some to speak up against its violence. The Brookhaven College Institute of Political Studies invited Bill Bernstein, deputy director of Mosaic Family Services, to speak to students, faculty and staff about human trafficking on Oct. 14. Bernstein began the presentation with a story of a boys choir brought to North Texas from Zambia by a pastor. The pastor promised the children an opportunity to come to America, where they would be educated and raise money that would go back to their village. The living situations were not what they were promised. They were packed into trailer homes and slept several to one bed. They were punished by having electricity shut off. The majority of funds raised were ultimately given back to the pastor to pay for food and rent. “This [story] shows you the reality of human trafficking,” Bernstein said. “It isn’t necessarily about people being locked in a basement somewhere or being chained. The only thing that kept these boys from leaving was psychological control. They really felt that they couldn’t get away.” Bernstein said psychological control is almost always more powerful than physical control. Traffickers know the tactics that will lead their victims to submission. These tactics may be violent but may also include blackmail, false promises, deception, manipulation and debt bondage, according to traffickingresourcecenter.org. Bernstein added that people who are trafficked might not realize they are enslaved. During counseling sessions at Mosaic, victims would say that they chose this situation for themselves. “They may have owed money in their native country and took a job in America to repay that debt and send the rest back to their families,” Bernstein said. Bernstein and Mosaic aim to empower victims. “Our services include legal representation, shelter, counseling, advocacy and community education,” Bernstein said. “Our objective is to empower these people. To give them a voice and the ability to make a choice – something that they hadn’t been able to do before.” The presentation was part of the Open Book Project. According to brookhavencollege.edu, the project started in 2010 and began as a common reader initiative. The goal of the project is to “create a sense of community among students, faculty and staff through the reading of a single book,” according to the website. This year, the book is “A Crime So Monstrous” by E. Benjamin Skinner. The book is about the realities of human trafficking around the world. Mosaic is partnering with the Service Learning Office to host events throughout the year that will benefit those affected by human trafficking. Andrew Deibert, BHC Service Learning and Civic Engagement Coordinator, said, “This year, we built teddy bears for the children of Mosaic, and we’re hosting the Bear Necessities Drive that will collect household items for the families in the shelter.” Deibert also said he asks students to provide encouraging or inspirational notes to the victims. For more information on human trafficking and ways to support Mosaic Family Services, readers can stop by the Office of Service Learning in S201 or visit Mosaic’s website, mosaicservices.org.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1793
__label__wiki	0.891901	0.891901	BubbleStream Ashok Gupta a book bubble about Vladimir Putin - Top Leader of Modern Humankind As one of the most powerful people on Earth, Vladimir Putin has his fair share of unconditional supporters and sworn enemies. It’s often hard to distinguish fact from fiction and reality from propaganda, especially considering how the West routinely demonizes Russia. Ashok Gupta’s Vladimir Putin - Top Leader of Modern Humankind attempts to showcase an alternative view while increasing the reader’s knowledge of modern Russia. The book presents a concise historical overview of Russia from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 to the present days, with an emphasis on Putin’s political career; explains the country’s internal and foreign policies; and analyses various global issues, especially from the perspective of Russia. The author’s observations and conclusions are crucial for all of us. Editor of this English version of this book believes that if many people from the planet named “Earth” will read this honest book - the World will become a better place…The second smashing part of the Book is coming this year. Supporting our author - you are supporting the whole world because people around the globe deserve to hear the truth. Amazon Barnes&Noble GooglePlay iBookstore IndieBound Kobo Author Insight Top Leader of Humanity Most of the world's presidents care more about their personal public image rather than caring about their country and the image of the country they represent. Sorry for such a complexity. I'd like to say that Vladimir Putin is trying to lift Russian's economical positions in the world's arena. Russia always played the key role linking the Asia with the European countries. Russian leader also comes to countries with humanitarian aid and military help, not to make war, but to make peace. Vladimir Putin's image is true, he is popular because of things he does for his country and the whole world. According to public opinion polls in June 2007, Putin’s popularity rating was 81%, the second most significant leader in the world. The popularity rating of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in September 1997 was 93%. In January 2013, Putin’s popularity rating fell to 62%, to the lowest level since 2000. He fell 10 points in the last two years. However, in May 2014, his rating rose to 85.9%. According to foreign observers, V. Putin’s rating has grown as a result of significant improvements in the life of the Russian people and the revival of Russia's dominant position in the international arena during his presidency. According to one estimate, Putin’s popularity, in particular, is supported by state-controlled or state-controlled television channels. A study conducted in 2005 showed that the majority of the Russian people considered their country “more democratic” under Putin’s leadership at that time than it was during the Yeltsin or Gorbachev years; the same proportion of Russians thought that human rights were better protected Putin than under Yeltsin. In 2007, Time magazine called V. Putin the man of the year. In April 2008, he entered the list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 he was recognised as the most influential person in the world by Forbes. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev wrote about Putin that he “pulled Russia out of chaos,” although he criticises him for restricting press freedom and for running for a third term in the presidency. According to opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, V. Putin is turning Russia into a “raw materials colony” of China. Especially much criticism of Putin is spreading in Russia via the Internet, saying that Russian youth organisations are funding a whole network of pro-government bloggers. At the end of 2010, WikiLeaks published a statement by the US attache of the US Diplomatic Society: Putin’s Russia became “a corrupt, dictatorial kleptocracy centred under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, where officials, oligarchs and organised crime joined together to create a real-life criminal state". Naturally, Putin called these attacks “slanderous.” In St. Petersburg, during the presidential campaign of 2012, a protest rally was held against V. Putin, on which banners were depicting old Putin in full dress Leonid Brezhnev, with a hint of another Russian president who would come to power in 2024 Comment on this Bubble Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed. © 2021 Bublish and respective copyright holders bublish.com Send a Bubble to your Friends! Enter your friends’ email addresses, and we will send them an email with a link to this Bubble. Your Friend's Email Address(s) Separate multiple addresses with , (comma) Greeting Name How your name will show in the email to your friend(s). Send a note with the link Click Follow to receive emails when this author adds content on Bublish Sign in to follow this author. Not a member? Use our Quick Signup! Sign up to join Bublish and follow this author. Already a member? Sign in! Choose Password * By submitting this form, you accept the Bublish Terms of Service © 2021 bublish - all rights reserved FAQs & Tutorials We use cookies so you get the best experience on our website. By using our site, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy. ACCEPT COOKIES	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1799
__label__wiki	0.508971	0.508971	2007/08 Ireland Home Rugby Shirt (XL) Manufacturer: Canterbury Colour: Green, white trim Material: 60% Cotton 40% Polyester Official Canterbury Ireland home rugby shirt from the 2007/08 international season. In 2007, the IRFU created the "High Performance Select Group" of up-and-coming Irish players. With the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road, a new venue was required; Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, hosted two 2007 Six Nations games against France and England. Ireland's 2008 Six Nations campaign included three losses. Eddie O'Sullivan resigned as Ireland coach and Declan Kidney was appointed. Ireland won the 2009 Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam, their first Six Nations win since 1985 and first Grand Slam since 1948. After an Autumn Series victory against South Africa and a draw against Australia, Ireland ended 2009 unbeaten. ‹ See more Ireland Shirts.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1801
__label__wiki	0.63409	0.63409	May 8, 2020 #41-129 KDJ Parkhurst wants 79th District separate from By Stephanie Markham smarkham@daily-journal.com Gov. J.B. Pritzker is taking “under serious consideration” a request to leave Kankakee County and surrounding areas out of the Chicago region in his plan to reopen the state, Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst said Thursday. Parkhurst, a Republican representative of the 79th District, said Pritzker called her Wednesday evening in response to a letter she wrote explaining her disagreements with the plan. She said the plan “blindsided” legislators, as they were not consulted regarding their regions. Parkhurst argued in her letter that Kankakee and Grundy counties and Peotone in southeastern Will County represent significantly fewer COVID-19 cases (less than 1 percent of the state’s total) than Chicago and its surrounding suburbs (92 percent of the state’s total). She goes on to argue that the reopen plan would be “an economic death sentence” to the 79th District, since the Chicago region would be last to reopen, and this area would not have the same ability to rebound as metropolitan Chicago. She also asks Pritzker to call the General Assembly back to session to create regional reopening plans at the local level. Parkhurst said Thursday that she is working with local leaders in her district on ways to safely and responsibly reopen communities while paying close attention to scientific data regarding COVID-19. “We have to be supportive of business,” she said. “If Menards can open as a big box store with social distancing and the amount of people that go in there, we should be able to have smaller businesses open with the social distancing precautions.” Parkhurst also said it is important that the Legislature is allowed to reconvene to maintain the system of checks and balances in the state government. “Because of the pandemic, the governor has some executive emergency powers, but he can’t just run the state as one man and not call us back into session,” she said. “These decisions that are being made have long-lasting effects on the state and the voters of the state, and they need to be made by their senators and their representatives who represent them and know their communities. Stephanie Markham	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1803
__label__wiki	0.875771	0.875771	COVID's impact goes beyond infected By Lee Provost lprovost@daily-journal.com KANKAKEE — One way of tracking the impact the COVID-19 virus has had on Kankakee County is to follow the county health department’s daily update. The updates note the age and sex of those confirmed with the coronavirus. The information sheet also tracks the number of deaths which are determined to be “COVID-19 related.” Of the 1,220 cases of virus infection, there have been 60 deaths listed as virus-related. But for those in the health care industry, the number of deaths which could very well be associated with the coronavirus could even be much higher. How high could that number be? There is no way of knowing for sure, but Phil Kambic, Riverside Healthcare president and CEO, notes that it would be significant. “There are more people dying at home,” Kambic said. He said his wife reads through the obituaries in the Daily Journal on a daily basis, noting the ages and location of the deaths. Many recent deaths have been individuals in their 50s and 60s, and they are passing away at their homes. “They are not seeking care at our hospitals,” Kambic said. “We are seeing this over and over again.” Basically, people are so fearful of contracting COVID-19 that they are staying at home rather than taking a trip to a hospital’s emergency room or their doctor’s office to be examined. They are waiting so long to have a health problem addressed that many people are simply dying in their easy chair for a condition which could have more certainly been addressed and treated. “We are having people come in who have said they have had chest pains for three days in a row,” Kambic said. That is a heart attack taking place, the CEO said. “People are waiting too long.” He said the situation not only exists for those with chest pains, but also people having strokes. People with cancer symptoms. The list goes on and on. Dr. Kalisha Hill, chief medical officer at AMITA Health St. Mary’s Hospital, said there is no question the COVID-19 pandemic has been two-fold. There have the been the illnesses and deaths from those who contracted the virus, but there is damage beyond the disease itself. “The second-fold damage has been the delayed care. We are so focused on preventative medicine and we can identify illnesses or conditions early now that they can be dealt with. But COVID prevented that from happening,” she acknowledged. On May 11, the local hospital reopened its operating rooms to elective procedures. The mission is getting the patient back to the hospitals so concerns can be managed as best as possible. “Patients are starting to come back,” she said. “But it’s always in the back on my mind, ‘Was that lymph node positive a couple weeks ago?’” The lymph node is an immune system gland that usually enlarges in response to a bacterial or viral infection, but sudden swelling may indicate cancer. One of the truly unfortunate situations regarding this problem is that hospitals have put in place areas for patients to come into a hospital or medical office which are separate from where a person dealing with COVID-19 would be. During the early stages of the pandemic, Hill said patient fears regarding the virus were appropriate. “But that time has passed. [Non-COVID] patients are going no where near any COVID area,” she said. She notes numbers are rising in terms of patients seeking treatment for other issues and that is a positive sign. “It very important,” she said. “Our hospitals are safe. We want people to come in so we can take care of them.” People are dying of coronavirus-related illness and the illness had nothing to do with the virus at all, but rather the fear it has spread. Matt McBurnie, Riverside’s vice president of institutional advancement, said it is time for people back to the mindset that hospital staffs are here to serve. “We want to provide the greatest quality of life for them as we can,” he said, adding that the end goal is to not have COVID-19 lead to long-term disabilities as a result of delayed treatment. Regarding COVID-19, Riverside officials noted staff has completed more than 12,000 tests — or tested just over 10 percent of Kankakee County’s total population. Figures from AMITA were not available. “In order to mitigate this pandemic and its ongoing effects on our community’s health, testing is key,” Kambic said. “Particularly as our community opens up more fully, testing gives us critical insight to do so safely. Lee Provost	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1804
__label__wiki	0.540024	0.540024	Press Office of First Lady Remarks by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton At Brooklyn College Commencement MRS. CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you all so very much for making me feel so welcome here at Brooklyn College. (Applause.) I am delighted that I had this opportunity on this glorious day to be part of this commencement celebration. I want to thank President Lattin, the administrators and faculty, the alumnae and trustees all who support this great college. Thank you for being committed to educating all of our people. (Applause.) But most of all I want to thank the honored members of the Class of 1995 for inviting me to participate in your celebration. And I want to thank and congratulate all of the parents, relatives and friends who are gathered here today. Let's give all of them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Your support and encouragement are reflected in the degrees that will be awarded today, and the investment you have made in these students' education is one of the soundest and most important investments you can make. It is also one of the smartest investments any society can make, and I hope that both families and societies will continue to understand that education must remain our most important priority if we want to build strong and good citizens and strong and good societies now and into the future. I have been asked several times why I am making a commencement address here at Brooklyn College. Well, I think it is self-evident. And every one who is associated with the college knows that this is a great public college. It is also a college that represents the full diversity and possibility of America. It is a college that takes the education of all people seriously -- men, women, minorities, immigrants, refugees, anyone willing to take responsibility and work is welcome here at Brooklyn College. I was also delighted to see that Brooklyn College honors its very strong tradition, by having with us today in the very front rows, graduates from fifty years ago. And I remember a novel written more than fifty years ago, called, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". Perhaps some of you do as well. Well, today we see that it is not just trees that grow in Brooklyn. We see that minds grow in Brooklyn, ideals and dreams grow in Brooklyn, and futures grow in Brooklyn. And that is why I am here, because I wanted to thank all of you for doing what you do to educate and build strong students and citizens. Clearly what you have confronted and overcome in reaching this day is considerable. Many of you in this class are older than the average graduating student around the country today. You are already skilled in many ways of the world and you have already paid your dues. Many of you have worked full-time or part-time, have raised families, have taken on all kinds of additional responsibilities. And I think the motto of this college speaks to the reality of a worthwhile life -- "nothing without great effort". Your efforts are what led you to this campus in the first place. Without great effort, without great discipline and sacrifice you would not be sitting here today. I would like to spend a few minutes talking about why your experiences here at Brooklyn College are critical to not only for yourselves but for those who will come after you. Our society and our nation have historically believed that education was a collective repsonsibility. Americans have always understood that education was a gateway to opportunity that could make an important difference in the lives of all our people. I know that you can extend opportunity, and it has to be met half-way by the acceptance of responsibility in order for education to mean anything. Yet today, we see the opportunity for education under attack. We know there are those among us who would knock down the ladders of opportunity after they, themselves, have already reached the top rung. Today, as we celebrate your commencement we have to be committed to making sure that education does not deteriorate in America today. We have to tke a strong stand on behalf of the importance of learning and training, on behalf of universities and colleges like this one. I know that many of you have already spoken out against efforts to make your educations more costly and less accessible. I hope all of you who are graduating today and all of your family members and friends who have sacrificed to bring you to this point, will continue to raise your voices to safeguard education and the opportunities for the progress it represents in our society. You know, education is not only important for acquiring facts or knowledge. It is not only important for acquiring skills to prepare oneself for making a living. It is also about learning how to meet the challenges of one's time -- how to solve problems and adapt to new circumstances. It is about building a broader understanding of our world, and building one's capacity for tolerance and compassion and responsible behavior. It is about defining one's place in the world and creating one's personal identity against the back-drop of how others have lived throughout history. And education is not, if it ever were, a one-shot experience. There are all kinds of people in our society today who need to and to want to learn more. They range from the very young to the old. Just consider Enid Elder who graduates today in the Class of 1995, she is eighty years young. (Applause.) She is earning a degree in elementary education and has already begun teaching at a day care center here in Brooklyn. There are hundreds and hundreds of stories like Enid's that could be told. So instead of shrinking educational opportunities we should be expanding them, beginning in childhood and carrying on throughout life. But tragically, as you know, there is a movement afoot in state capitals and the nation's capital, to retreat on education funding. A retreat that is marked by a rather unusual argument, The argument goes that "slashing education funding is for the good of our children." That cutting back on education will enable us in some miraculous way, to provide more and better opportunities than we now enjoy. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we sound the retreat on education in America, we deny the opportunity of pre-school and Head Start to hundreds of thousands of children. We deny tens of thousands of elementary school students the resources they need to improve their reading and math skills. We deny summer jobs and learning opportunities to young people. We deny the opportunity for college to millions of Americans by shrinking the availability of loans, making them less flexible and raising interest payments and tuition beyond the reach of many working families in America. Here at this college, the president has told me that more than half of the student body come from families that earn an income of less than $20,000 dollars a year. More than sixty percent of the student body have some kind of financial aid. I think we should be extending a helping hand, not holding out a stop sign to the children of working families who want to better themselves and build a better future for our country. (Applause.) Denying opportunities of education to individual Americans also does not help us as a society. It is particularly ironic, that those who profess to worry about the loss of civility and character in our society are on a crusade to cut back federal support for education, and obliterate the national service program known as Americorps that the President kicked off here a year ago at this college. You know about community service at Brooklyn College. Not only was the President's Public Safety and National Service Forum held here but students from this College are tutoring and mentoring children in area schools, helping with programs to reduce violence. Throughout this community Americorps members are teaching peer mediation, patrolling schools, working with police officers through the Cadetcorps and acting as safety escorts for older citizens. National service is an idea that the President made into a program. It is built on very old-fashioned values of hard work, discipline, sacrifice and community service. It is about rewarding people for being good citizens. The men and women participating in Americorps and other service programs are doing so because they really want to help people in need. They want to serve, and all they get in return is assistnce with college tuition. But now there are some that want to tell these young men and women, that their mission of service, helping others and caring about the larger community isn't valued much in our society. They are being told that education and service are not, afterall, noble goals we should stand behind. Well, I think we ought to stand up and say that education and service do matter. They are about building character. Character is one of the anchors of society. And when we talk about character we don't just mean talk, we mean action. Building a civil society that actually lives up to its ideals. It is not that Americans lack character, it is just that society has too often stopped rewarding it. Just look around and you will see the effects of what one political scientist has called, "turbo-charged capitalism". Consumerism and materialism go unchecked, run rampant through our culture dictating our tastes and desires, our values and dreams. We are fed, through the media, a daily diet of sex and violence and social dysfunction and unrealizable fantasies. We live too often in a disposable, throw-away society, where the yearning for profits and instant gratification, overshadows the need for moderation, and restraint and investing for the long-term. So the question for us as individuals and as a society is -- "Do we define ourselves by style or by substance?" By the logo on our sneakers or the generosity in our hearts? By the celebrity we crave or the reputation we earn? Every one of us, especially those graduating will have to ask yourselves these questions. Years from now, as you are faced with decisions about whether or how to make contributions to the larger community, I hope you will think about a young woman who is with us today, a graduate of Brooklyn College, Lisette Nieves, a Rhodes Scholar from Brooklyn College and a member now of the Corporation for National Service in Washington. I hope you will think of all of the distinguished graduates of this College and build on their experience to serve communities. As you go forward from this college, remember that the path open to you now, is the one you that choose to make. As Gloria Naylor, another distinguished graduate of this college, whose novels have so enriched the American literary landscape, told an interviewer a few years ago, "My father instilled in us the sense that you make your own path and let no one tell you that you can't." You now have the opportunities to make that path. Our society now has opportunities to chart a new path into the twenty-first century. Our choices and decisions do matter, and so does our sense of ourselves. We were recently reminded by the tragedy in Oklahoma City of the horrendous and horrific damage that hatred can cause. But we also saw a generosity of spirit. We did see our national character at work. We could feel the same sense of responsibility that always comes in time of need -- when the artificial barriers of race, and ethnicity and religion and region are knocked over in a common pursuit to help one another, and to rebuild for each other. Many of you know that I recently returned from a trip to South Asia with my daughter. I had the opportunity to visit countries that are struggling to become full-fledged, free market economies to provide real opportunity for their own people. There is something very humbling about shaking the hands of men and women who have paid the ultimate price for democracy. People whose husbands, and mothers, and sons and fathers have been assassinated because they worked to bring people together, to build a stronger and freer society. People who have paid the price in torture, exile and imprisonment. It was humbling to know that all over the world today, from the many countries whose graduates are represented here as first-generation Americans, people are trying to build societies based on the ideas we Americans espouse. When I came home from South Asia, I c	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1807
__label__wiki	0.61841	0.61841	Ford populism and the 2018 Ontario election in Federal Feature Posts, Ontario Feature Posts, Ontario Politics While there is an element of economic resentment in Ford populism, economic elites are not its targets and it is first and foremost an appeal to Ontarians who feel ignored and disrespected by what might be called Ontario’s “professional class”. However, there is also considerable support in Ontario for a very different sort of populism – an economic populism – that would actually improve the lives of working and middle class Ontarians. Andrea Horwath’s NDP are in a good position to capture that vote. This is the first in a series of articles on the upcoming June 7, Ontario election. The series will look at both the partisan political strategies and policy issues at play during the election. This article takes an in-depth look at the dynamics of Ford populism and the basis of its appeal to its supporters. The basic argument is that the core appeal of Ford populism is cultural resentment against the professional class as opposed to an economic populism in which the resentment is directed against the wealthy and large corporations. The article argues that the two kinds of populism appeal to voters without university degrees with broadly similar social values. However, when it comes to voting intentions, those not affiliated with a union nor living in a community with a strong labour tradition, lean towards a Ford-style cultural populism. In contrast, those with a union affiliation (or living in a community with a strong labour tradition), lean towards an anti-corporate, economic populism. The PC’s seem destined for at least a plurality of seats All Ontario polls done since Doug Ford was elected PC leader suggest a solid, PC majority government on June 7. These polls are relatively consistent with polls done before the Ford PC leadership victory although the consistency likely masks at least some shifts in PC support at the riding level (i.e. PC support has likely gone up in working class ridings in the GTA and down in affluent, well-educated ridings in central Toronto and Ottawa). As of this writing (May 10), CBC’s Poll Tracker (which combines and weights recent polls) gave the Ford PC’s 41.1% of the vote, the Horwath New Democrats 27.2%, and the Wynne Liberal’s 25.7%. The Poll Tracker gives the PC’s a 90% chance of winning a majority government and a 95% chance of winning a plurality of seats. Ford populism vs. Trump populism Populism always plays stronger amongst less educated voters and this is certainly true of the populism of Ford Nation. In fact, a Forum poll (P. 8) conducted on April 18, had support for Ford at 56% for those with secondary school or less, 51% for those with some college or university, 45% for those who had completed college or university and 35% for those with post-graduate studies. As such, Ford populism is similar to Trump populism in that at its core, its appeal is to voters who feel looked down upon by “elites” who think “they are better than me”. While there is an element of economic anxiety in the Ford populist mix, it is the contention of this article that the real appeal of Ford populism to its supporters is that Doug Ford is “one of us”, that he speaks for the “common man”, and that he wouldn’t “look down on me if I sat down and talked politics with him over a beer”. Politicians such as Tom Mulcair, Hillary Clinton and Kathleen Wynne don’t pass this test – Trump and Ford do. In other words, cultural resentment against “know-it-all”, professional types is more central to Ford populism than economic resentment against the wealthy and large corporations. As such, Doug Ford’s tirades against “elites” are not mainly (if at all) aimed at corporate, economic elites. They are aimed at bureaucrats, academics, lawyers, journalists and professionals more generally. In other words, the term “elites” in Ford rhetoric is aimed at professionals who presumably have high-brow cultural tastes. In the eyes of Ford supporters, these elites don’t respect the hard work that average Ontarians do to pay the bills and put food on the table. Ford supporters also think elites look down on Ford Nations’ tastes in TV, music, books, food, etc. Respect is the operative word here. Ford populism portrays a world of good family folk who work hard and play by the rules and still don’t get any respect from “elites”. In the Ford rhetorical universe, elites value all sorts of details and facts that don’t seem to have any relevance to Ford populists’ everyday lives. More importantly, in the eyes of Ford Nation, elites think they’re better than average Ontarians because they know these irrelevant details and facts. Ford populists pride themselves on “going with their gut” and react negatively to be being told by politicians that they “have their facts wrong” and don’t “appreciate the complexity of the issues”. Kathleen Wynne, fairly or unfairly, strikes Ford populists as precisely that kind of politician. Ford Nation also likes blunt talk that makes it clear that there are good people and bad people in this world and that the good people work hard and look after their families while the bad people want everything handed to them on a silver platter (the “takers” – who elites support). Ford supporters think that elites use weasel words when it comes to talking about what’s good and bad – that they make everything related to good and bad behaviour over-complicated. Ford Nation’s view is that the “takers” are simply bad and that “elites” are soft on the “takers”. In summary, in the world of Doug Ford populism, elites are snots who “don’t think their shit stinks”. Elites also like to tax hard-working Ontarians and support governments that hand their tax dollars over to the “takers”. There is, of course, considerable truth in the perception that the professional class looks down on average Ontarians and is indifferent to their everyday, pocketbook concerns. But that lack of respect and empathy – which needs to be criticized and is a serious problem in Ontario political culture – is nothing new. What is new is that there is an Ontario party leader who is likely to be Premier in four weeks, that is manipulating the legitimate resentment felt by average Ontarians for his own political gain. And like billionaire Donald Trump, that leader has considerable personal wealth and no real empathy for his working class and middle-income supporters. Nor does he have any intention of making the lives of these supporters better should he form a government! The truth of the matter is that those who truly wield economic power in Ontario don’t play much of a role in Doug Ford’s rhetorical version of elites. It is these economic elites – the people who run large, multi-national corporations – who actually have the power to determine whether Ford supporters have good paying, full-time jobs with benefits or whether they have low-wage, part-time jobs without benefits. Why are the wealthy and large corporations completely absent from Ford’s rhetoric on elites? Because talking about who really has economic power in Ontario would shift the emphasis away from the professional class’ lack of respect for average Ontarians and towards the real source of Ford Nation’s economic insecurity – the corporate business practices that lead to low-wage jobs and growing inequality. And Doug Ford, a pro-business, rich man’s son, can’t afford to have the focus be on the real source of his supporters’ economic insecurity. If there was ever any question that corporate elites don’t figure into Ford’s broader critique of elites, there should be no question now with the first two major economic announcements by the Ford campaign being: 1) a rejection of the legislated minimum wage increase from $14/hr. to $15/hr. scheduled for Jan. 1, 2019 which, even when combined with Ford’s promise to eliminate personal income taxes on workers earning under $28,000, still leaves low-income workers $694 worse off annually; and 2) a big business corporate tax cut lowering the provincial Corporate Income Tax rate to 10.5 percent from 11.5 percent. It is important to note that while there is a separate small business tax rate of 3.5% in Ontario, Ford has no plans to cut that. The above description of Ford populism essentially describes the ways in which Ford populism overlaps with Trump populism. There are, however, two big differences between the appeal of Ford populism and Trump populism: Ford populism does not have a racial/ethnic component. That is because the core message of Ford populism has to appeal to the traditional 35 or so (mostly) rural, white, PC ridings and to the heavily ethnic/visibility ridings of Ford Nation in the 416/905. Ford populism can’t equate “real Ontarians” with (white) families who create backyard skating rinks for their kids and invite (white) neighbourhood kids over to use the rink. That’s because talking about “real Ontarians” in this way would seem like an attack on a good part of the 416/905 component of Ford Nation who consider themselves “real Ontarians” but who are mostly visible minorities and have lives that have nothing to do with backyard skating rinks. Social conservatism probably plays a bigger role in Ford populism than in Trump populism in that it unites the two very different constituencies that must vote PC if there is to be a Ford victory (i.e. rural, white Ontario and ethnic 416/905). Ergo the prominence in Ford rhetoric of repealing the provincial Ministry of Education’s sex-ed curriculum. Strategic voting in Ontario in recent elections. While a Ford majority government seems likely and a PC plurality almost certain, there could be one stumbling block to the seeming inevitability of the election of a Ford government. A key feature of Ontario politics over the past 25 years or so is that the centre-left portion of the electorate (around 55-60%) increasingly sees little difference between a Liberal and NDP government. In other words, for several decades, many anti-Conservative voters were equally happy with either party in power as long as the government they formed seemed to be relatively inclusive, supported public services such as health and education, and was open to a modestly active role for government. What they didn’t want was a Harris-like Conservative government that they thought would be intolerant of minorities, likely to implement harsh cuts to health and education, and be overly dogmatic when it came to pro-market, anti-government, and privatization policies. Therefore, when faced with the prospects of such a government, a good part of the centre-left segment of the electorate voted strategically for whichever of the two parties they believed was in the best position to keep the PC’s out of power. They did not see three distinct visions corresponding to the Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP. They saw only two: The Conservative vision and the centre-left Liberal/NDP vision. While in Ontario the Liberals benefited from strategic voting much more often than the NDP, the NDP did sometimes benefit from strategic voting in other provinces. For example, in the past Alberta election, the NDP vote went from 10% to 40% when the Liberal vote collapsed and centre-left voters united behind Rachel Notley’s NDP. On the other hand, it is the Liberals who benefited from this dynamic in almost all federal and provincial elections in Ontario – witness the October 2015 federal election where the NDP vote shifted hard to the Liberals in the last 3 weeks of the campaign to ensure that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were soundly defeated. Much of the same dynamic played out in Ontario provincial elections starting with the 1999 election in which a stampede of NDP voters to the Liberals to stop the PC’s resulted in the NDP losing Official Party status in both the 1999 and 2003 elections and barely achieving status in 2007. Economic populism and the possibility of a different pattern of strategic voting – was 2014 just the start? However, the 2014, Ontario election began to show some differences in the anti-Conservative vote that were there all along but that were somewhat hidden by the consolidation of the anti-Conservative voters behind the provincial Liberals in elections since 1995. These divisions in the anti-PC voting block might be characterized as the difference between working class voters who embrace a kind of pocket-book, “anti-elite”, economic populism and voters who are socially liberal, well educated, environmentally-oriented and profoundly hostile to populism of any sort. In Ontario, both kinds of voters have been voting strategically to prevent a PC government since the Mike Harris era but have very different political concerns and social values. This returns us to the central thesis on the nature of Ford populism detailed above: namely that it is primarily a cultural (as opposed to economic) populism demanding respect for average, hard-working Ontarians. More specifically, Ford populism is aimed at bringing down “snotty”, tax and spend “elites” sympathetic to the “takers”, while simultaneously excluding powerful corporations and the wealthy from its critique of elites. But in Ontario as in all provinces, there has always been significant support for a very different sort of populism – a pocketbook, economic populism in which the practices of large corporations and the rich and the powerful, are the problem. In Ontario, anti-elite, pocket-book populism of this sort still holds sway in traditional union strongholds – mostly in ridings where industrial unions such as Unifor and the United Steelworkers have historically had a strong base. In these ridings, NDP leader Andrea Horwath’s folksy personality played well in 2014 and the populist campaign she ran proved to be very popular. While there was a collapse of NDP support to the Liberals in central Toronto and Ottawa (and amongst well-educated, progressive voters more generally), NDP support actually went up 1% province-wide in an election where the turn-out was also somewhat up from 2011. One could give many examples of how this dynamic played out in individual ridings but the obvious example is the collapse of NDP support in the central Toronto lakeshore ridings cited above (resulting in the loss of 3 NDP seats) while first-time, NDP candidate Jennifer French coasted to an unexpected landslide victory in working class Oshawa with 47% of the vote – burying the incumbent PC who came in at 31%. To give the reader the extent of the resonance that this sort of economic populism had in working class ridings with strong union traditions in 2014, NDP MPP Percy Hatfield received an astonishing 62% of the vote in Windsor-Tecumseh with the Liberals and PC’s each getting approximately 15% of the vote. This in a riding that until recently was held by the high-profile Liberal Cabinet Minister Dwight Duncan! In fact, the NDP swept all three Windsor area ridings by large margins and it is no coincidence that an EKOS study ranked Windsor as the most populist municipality in Canada. Therefore, should the sorting out between the two, different types of anti-Ford voter strengthen at the riding level during the current election, the “strategic voting” question of the 2018 election may not be whether the 60% or so of the electorate strongly opposed to a Ford government will consolidate behind one of the Liberals or the NDP province-wide – but rather whether they will consolidate behind one party at the riding level. As an example of this possible dynamic at the riding level, in Thornhill in 2014, the Liberals lost to the PC’s by only 100 votes – roughly .1% of the vote. The third-place NDP candidate received 8.2% of the vote or just over 4,000 votes. Presumably, those 4,000 NDP voters in Thornhill will strongly oppose a Ford government in the 2018 election and will be well aware that the Liberals are in a much better position than the NDP to take the Thornhill riding from the PC’s. The question then becomes the extent to which those voters will switch to the Liberals in a riding where Doug Ford populism is not a particularly good fit even with PC voters – and give the Liberals the win. Another example of where this dynamic could play out is in Oshawa where Doug Ford is likely to be a good fit with a riding that went PC consistently until the NDP’s Jennifer French took it in 2014. The Liberals took 19% of the vote in the 2014 election and the question in Oshawa is the extent to which the Liberal vote might shift to the NDP in a very tight NDP-PC race in which the PC candidate is unlikely to receive less than 40% of the vote. In other words, one scenario might be for there to be no province-wide, anti-Ford voter consolidation behind one party and for both the Liberals and the NDP to finish in the 25%-30% range with the PC’s finishing in the 35% – 40% range. However, there could be an anti-Ford consolidation behind one anti-Ford candidate in individual ridings where either the Liberals or the NDP are clearly destined for third place and traditional supporters of the third-place party shift strongly behind the candidate best able to beat the PC candidate in that particular riding. In other words, it is possible that anti-Ford voters in ridings with a significant proportion of working class, economically populist voters will consolidate behind the Horwath New Democrats while ridings with a significant proportion of socially-minded, well-educated voters will consolidate behind the Wynne Liberals. Should this occur, there is at least some chance of the end result being the PC’s falling just short of a majority government. While there is an element of economic anxiety in Ford populism, it is first and foremost a cultural appeal to those who feel ignored and disrespected by what might be called the “professional class”. Respect for hard work and traditional values is at the heart of Ford Nation populism and snotty, know-it-all, “elites” who think they are “better than me”, are the enemy. As suggested above, there is considerable truth to the perception that the professional class in Ontario does not take the pocketbook concerns of ordinary working people seriously and this is indeed a problem. That said, teachers, academics, lawyers, social workers, journalists and civil servants can hardly be blamed for the dramatic increase in private sector, low wage work that is the source of much of Ford’s Nation’s economic anxiety. It is corporate Ontario’s business practices that have led to these changes in the labour market and it is an indisputable fact that Ford rhetoric and policy does not portray large corporations and the wealthy as part of the despised elites. Put bluntly, a Doug Ford government would do nothing to help the lives of its working class supporters and, in fact, its policies would actually hurt them. Co-existing with Ford populism in Ontario is a labour-based, explicitly economic populism that directs working class resentment towards the wealthy and large corporations and rightly blames them for the economic problems of working people. The parallel with U.S. politics is the cultural populism of the Trump sort vs. the economic populism of the Bernie Sanders sort. Both rail against “elites” on behalf of ordinary working people but the elites they are railing against represent very different segments of society. However, while the two kinds of elites may represent completely different worlds, the voters attracted to the two strains of populism have considerable overlap with those voters with union affiliations leaning towards economic populism while those without a union affiliation leaning towards Ford/Trump style populism. In the 2014 election, Andrea Horwath’s NDP made significant gains amongst Ontarians with pocket-book concerns with landslide wins in blue-collar Windsor, Hamilton, Oshawa, Niagara and Northern Ontario. It should be noted that while in 2018, Horwath’s rhetoric hasn’t been as explicitly populist as it was in the 2014 election, the official NDP platform is probably more populist (and certainly more substantive) than in 2014. Economically populist platform planks include an increase in the corporate tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 13 per cent, an increase in the personal income tax on income over $220,000 by one per cent and an increase in the rate on income earned over $300,000 of two percent. The NDP would also implement a new, three per cent surcharge on luxury cars that cost more than $90,000. In summary, while the Liberals seem likely to hold onto their well-educated, professional base in central Toronto, Ottawa, Guelph, Kingston, etc. and the NDP seem likely to run strongly in union strongholds in the North, Southwest, Hamilton/Niagara, Oshawa, and perhaps the northwest GTA, it seems unlikely that the anti-Ford 60% of the Ontario electorate will consolidate on a province-wide basis behind either the Liberals or the NDP. As such, at this point in time, the only possibility of preventing a Ford majority government would appear to be a sweeping anti-Ford consolidation at the individual riding level which would give the Liberals and NDP just enough seats combined to deprive the Ford PC’s of a majority government. Under this scenario, given that Liberal support would be restricted primarily to socially liberal, well-educated voters in central and north Toronto, Ottawa and public sector towns such as Guelph and Kingston, it is likely that the NDP would end up holding more seats than the Liberals. What organized groups opposed to a Ford government might do to make sure that the PC’s falling just short of a majority doesn’t result in a Doug Ford minority government, will be the subject of a subsequent article. Access Premium Canada Fact Check Content by Subscribing or by Downloading Individual Premium Posts! To access all of the site, including in-depth Premium Content, click here to subscribe. For individual downloads of Premium Content articles, click here! The Ontario election: Why Doug Ford is the enemy of the "little guy" MaryLS says: While claiming that the populist Ford supporters are motivated primarily by a sense that they are looked down upon by the elites, the article portrays those same populists as a bunch of bumpkins. Clearly many academics, bureaucrats, etc. do sneer at ordinary folk. No wonder they are resented. Yet, I do not think that is primarily what is motivating people to support Ford. Bluntly stated, people are sick of Wynne and think Liberals have made a mess of things, especially energy and economy. Bunnie says: Agree – it’s really the hatred of Wynne and the Liberals propelling this. IMHO I think if Elliot or Brown had been leader the PCs would be even further ahead. I shudder to think what will happen if Ford gets a majority, which it looks like at this particular point in time. I hope others within the party keep this thug under wraps – he is definitely not the person to run this province. But the PC Conservatives will BE WORSE. Remember MIKE HARRIS CORRUPTION. He sold off the 407 built with tax payer money to a CRONY CONSORTIUM for a song. Dough will sell off most Government assets SAYING HE NEEDS THE MONEY. HE IS A SCUMBAG JUST LIKE HIS BROTHER AND A FROM A FORMER DRUG PEDDLING FAMILY TURNED POLITICIAN. THEY HAVE NO MORALS OR ETHICS. JUST LIKE WHATS HAPPENING DOWN SOUTH. IT WILL BE TOTAL SHAMBLES! John Spoelstra says: Leave it to the leftist liberal CBC. Your comments do not surprise me in any way shape or form. And to put it real blunt “you all are as stupid as the ads of a pig”. You basically said that if you don’t have a university degree were stupid. Fact highest hydro rates in North America. Wind hydro billions of dollars flopped. Fact more businesses closed or left province. Check that facts for Trump. Lowest unemployment rate for all races of people. Lowest taxes. You r bought and paid to lie JimboJones says: The author didn’t need to call you stupid. You made it painfully obvious for anyone that was willing to power through that dumpster fire of a paragraph. Yeah the States should be really thankful that Obama gave Trump that economy. Agree. Its that wave the current corrupt republican conman president is riding, but claiming its his. What a scumbag liar! It has been more than a year since trump took power so I am pretty sure the trump administration is doing something right Adam Sobolak says: One interesting thing about Oshawa in 2014 which contradicts the typical unite-the-left strategic-vote narrative: the third-place Liberal share actually went up from 2011. This guy FORD is now playing the RACE card just like TRUMP – when he says ‘we will first take care of our own ‘ – that’s straight from the racist TRUMP PLAYBOOK. So who is he referring to “OUR OWN” Is he going to discriminate a section of Ontarians against another rather than unite all Ontarians? We don’t need another TRUMP CLONE in Ontario! TKH says: Typical Liberal propaganda…conservative = populist! The elephant in the room is the debt. Borrowing for infrastructure is fine, but we are borrowing to pay salaries. HERE’S A FACT CHECK FOR YOU – cuts are coming. They’ll either happen now under Ford, or if not they’ll happen the hard way in the next recession when rating agencies turn the taps off. Hudak was honest about it and lost, Ford won’t make the same mistake. Ontarians know this. Calling them populist is disingenuous. Tom Stern says: I am/was a member of the Ontario Conservative Party but, because of Doug Ford, I will not be voting conservative. I have decided to vote Liberal to make sure my riding does not fall into the clutches of the Ford Nation. How are the liberals better? Do you want more debt Lillian Smith says: I do not agree that that Ford Populism is not about race and ethnicity. Primarily, the White Anglo-Saxon demographic feel threatened by the waves of immigration from non-White, non-European countries and is therefore very much akin to Trump’s populism. Although in Canada it is left unstated and the Media is happy to go along with this charade. The idea that we at a perfect multicultural country and everybody is happy has to be put to rest.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1811
__label__cc	0.564539	0.435461	Another Civil War Story, Part 2 April 20, 2017 / M. J. McKinley Continuing from last time, Clark Millikan was drafted into the Confederate Army and enlisted November 15, 1864. He was in Company A of the 6th North Carolina Infantry. The story of his short time in the Infantry has been recounted through the years. For the most part, the story is the same each time it is told, however, there are a few additions that I have found. The most common account is the one printed in the book, The History of Hamilton County, Indiana, by John F. Haines, 1915, B.F. Bowen & Co, Indianapolis, IN. The book includes a biographical sketch of Clark Millikan. The Civil War part of that sketch follows: Mr. Millikan and his family were still living in North Carolina at the opening of the Civil War. He was reared in the Friends church and was opposed to war and slavery. He was drafted for service in the Confederate Army, but hired a substitute to take his place. The limit age was raised later in the war and he was drafted and sent to the front. Before this he and three other members of the Friends church had paid a man $40 to a memorial to the Confederate Congress, asking that Friends be allowed to pay $500 and be relieved from war duty. He and his three friends were ordered to drill and refused to do so until they heard from Congress. They were arrested and tied up by their thumbs for half a day in the rain and snow. During the forenoon that they were thus suspended the water ran down their arms into their shoes, and after dinner they were bucked and bound and punished until one of their member declared he would die if the punishment was not stopped. To save their comrade, the other three agreed to drill. They drilled but watched closely for a chance to escape. After several months at detail work near home, for which they received 65¢ a day and board, they were sent to a regiment and within a month, while on picket duty near Petersburg, Mr. Millikan and a number of others left the lines and slipped over to the Yankee lines, more than one-half mile away. This happened one night while they were on duty and was probably the most exciting night’s experience through which Mr. Millikan ever passed. On this particular night when he made his escape, Mr. Millikan and three others were guarding with a campfire behind a screen of limbs. Other guards were stationed in little groups along the lines with a fire to each group. In the group of guards next to Mr. Millikan and his friends was stationed one man whose duty was to watch the Friends constantly. About midnight this man who was watching Mr. Millikan and his friends drew his cape up over his head to protect himself from the cold wind and leaned down over the fire to warm. Immediately the four men, of whom Mr. Millikan was one, made a dash for liberty. They crawled rapidly as close to the ground as possible until they were 30 or 40 yards over into the pine brush, then jumped to their feet and made a dash for the Yankee lines, going up to the first Yankee sentry and surrendering. The four men, Millikan, Bell, Stewart and Beckerdite, immediately made themselves known. When they got to the guard and the Yankees saw the Confederate uniforms, the sentry shook hands and said, “Howdy, Johnnies,” and treated them well. The four men had been on one-fourth rations and were now given the first good meal they had had for several days. After they had fully explained their position the United States government took them in charge and pursuant to a proclamation just issued by President Lincoln they were sent where they would be safe from the Confederates. Mr. Millikan and about 80 others accepted the offer of the United States government and Mr. Millikan, along with some of the others, asked to be sent to Hamilton County, Indiana, where he had friends. Thus closed the war experience of Mr. Millikan, and certainly he should be honored as much as those who fought for the flag. This account almost word for word shows up in the Noblesville Ledger at the time of his 100th birthday in 1925. Now to add a few more tidbits to the story. First, the reference to communication to the Confederate Congress. The Guilford College Hege Library in Greensboro, NC has a collection of papers from John B. Crenshaw. He was a prominent Quaker minister who had connections with Union and Confederate government officials during the Civil War. The manuscript collection includes letters sent to Crenshaw from many Quakers who were conscripted into the Confederate Army. They asked for his help with their situations. The collection is digitized and available on the library’s website <library.guilford.edu>. Three letters in the collection were written by Clark & his companions. (transcribed below with no changes to spelling or grammar) The first letter, written November 13, 1864: Dear Friend Crenshaw We the under signed have bin arrested and brought hear under arrest for servis and assined to the sixth N.C. Regt. we the under signed friends wants thee to do something for us if the possibly can as soon as thee can hear we will gave the ouer names and meeting we be long to Back Creeke Henry Stuart, William F. Bell Molboro Clark Millikan, John R. Beckerdite The second letter, written November 15, 1864 (page has piece torn off it): Stanton Va Friend Crenshaw We the under signed Friends of N.C. have bin taken under arrest and brought heare for field servis we want thee to doo somthing to releave us ef thee posible can as thee posiblely kno soon as thee can we are …signed to the sixth North Carolina Regt William F. Bell …nry Stuart Belongs Baccreak Clark Millikan …Beckerdite Belongs at Molboro we may stay hear several days be fore we go to the Regt. we ar assined we would be glad the would write to us as soon as those lines comes to hand The third letter, written November 19, 1864: camp near New Market Va Friend Crenshaw we the under signed of N.C. Randolph Co. belongs to the Friends Sosiety and was taken by a reste and brought hear for field servis the officers show us no favors we wante the ef they is any thing don or can be don for us we want thee to let us kno it as soon thee possiblely can please come or write and let us kno what can be don for us soon Henry Stuart, Wm. F. Bell, Clarke Millikan, L.R. Beckerdite Derect thy letter Co A 6 Regt N.C. Troopes in care of leutenant Harden Richmond Va or Army Northern Va There is no indication that Crenshaw was able to help the soldiers. The statement that they worked near home for several months doesn’t make much sense in timing. As they enlisted on November 15 and deserted on December 11, 1864. However, perhaps they worked somewhere before being required to enlist. I found another account of the story. It was William Bell’s story, recounted in the Fairmount News, from Fairmount Indiana, June 7, 1907. He says he worked for 2 years in the salt mines to avoid bearing arms. (There were salt mines in Wilmington, NC) But this work was “onerous and disagreeable” and he returned home. Then he was required to enlist. Another article from the same newspaper July 6, 1914 tells of a visit between Clark and Mr. Bell, who were “forced into service hauling saltpetre for the Confederate army.” So maybe Clark worked in the salt mines at some time before he enlisted. Mr. Bell’s story also mentions how the men were hung by their thumbs for 3 hours and then bound for 3 more hours “in uncomfortable positions with ropes.” The practice of “bucking” was to have the man sit with his knees bent & arms out straight, a pole was placed under the knees and over the elbows. The hands and feet were then bound. So the man could not move out of this position. I’m sure it became quite painful after a while. Mr. Bell also said that the Quakers refused to wear the Confederate uniforms. They were allowed to wear their own plain clothes. He said they were hungry & at one time they subsisted for 3 days on “a spoonful of green coffee and a slice of fat meat.” He said that he and Henry Stewart deserted together. I found Clark’s service record at a local college library collection & took grainy copies from the microfilm. Now, his Compiled Service record is available on-line at Fold3.com In essence, it consists of 7 cards containing basic information. His name is s pelled differently on some of the cards. The Confederate Muster Roll lists him as “C. Milichan” a private in Company A of the 6th Regiment of North Carolina Infantry. Enlisted November 15, 1864 at Camp Stokes, deserted Petersburg Va December 11, 1864. Union Provost Marshal forms spell his name as “Milliken” and indicate that he took the Oath of Amnesty at City Point, Va. on December 13, 1864 & was sent to Indianapolis, IN. He had a Dark Complexion, Black hair and Brown eyes. He was 6ft tall. (copies of records from Fold3.com, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina) Clark Millikan’s Oath of Amnesty With the fact that Clark deserted from the Confederate Army, then signed the Oath of Amnesty to support the Union, he was better off staying in Indiana after the War. His family eventually joined him there. As far as I know, he did not go back to North Carolina when his parents died in 1869 & 1871. With War wounds still fresh, I doubt he would have been very welcome in the South. He did eventually visit again in 1903. So there we have it, what we know right now of Clark Millikan’s Civil War story. © MJM 2017 Millikan ← Another Civil War Story Enjoying a Beautiful Day →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1816
__label__cc	0.527453	0.472547	Reviews, News & more from WPL Check It Out WPL January 17, 2019 Action, Autobiography, Biography, Books, Drama, DVD-Movies, films, History, movies, Non-Fiction, Uncategorized Hillary : Everest & Beyond Recently, the Waterloo Public Library added the DVD Hillary: Everest and Beyond to its feature film collection. It’s a fictionalized version of the life of New Zealand adventurer and philanthropist Sir Edmund Percival Hillary. I wanted to try something different (I usually prefer mysteries or action packed thrillers) so I took this one home. To my surprise it was quite good. In Hillary it was very interesting to learn that as early as 1885 there were suggestions that climbing Everest would be possible. People were eager to scale the mountain. Some of the earlier attempts are briefly dealt with in the film and feature the northern approach which was discovered in 1921 by Brits George Mallory and Guy Bullock even though they were not equipped for such an attempt. In 1922, Mallory and Bullock returned with George Finch. They climbed using oxygen which allowed the team to travel at a pace of more than 951 feet per hour but still they did not reach the summit. In 1924, Mallory and Geoffrey Bruce’s attempt was cancelled due to poor weather conditions but Norton and Somervell, who climbed without oxygen and had good weather, managed to reach 28,050 feet. They attempted to finish the climb using oxygen but did not succeed. On June 8, 1924 Mallory (this time with Andrew Irvine) tried again via the North Col-North Ridge-Northeast Ridge route but never returned. On May 1, 1999 Mallory’s body was found by the Mallory-Irvine Expedition. Irvine’s was never recovered. There were several other early yet unsuccessful expeditions in the 1920s also mentioned in the film, as well as attempts in 1933 and 1936 via the North Face. Also in 1933 (and not mentioned in the movie) British Millionaire Lady Huston financed the Houston-Mount Everest Flight Expedition, in which aircraft flew over the summit of Everest for the first time. In 1950 access to the north-to-west route was closed after China took control of Tibet. Bill Tilman and a small party made an attempt using the route which has become the standard approach to Everest (or what the Tibetans call “Chomolungma,” or “Holy Mother”) from the South. A Swiss expedition in 1952 led by Edouard Wyss-Dunant was granted permission, taking the Khumbu Icefall and ascending to an elevation of 26,201 feet. Raymond Lambert and Nepali-Indian born Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached 28,199 feet on the southeast ridge setting a new climbing altitude record. As a result of Norgay’s experience he was hired to be part of the British expedition in 1953. After all the build-up from the other expeditions and Hillary’s sheer determination (which is depicted marvelously in the film) at 11:30am local time on May 29, 1953 the then unknown man, Hillary from South Auckland, New Zealand, along with trusty Sherpa Norgay, successfully made it to the summit of Mount Everest. News of the expedition reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Several days later Hillary, along with Col. John Hunt (who led the expedition), received knighthoods. Although there were parts of Hillary’s life that the film didn’t depict it is a worthwhile watch and made me want to find out more about this fascinating man. If you want to learn more about his exploits and philanthropy check out the following titles from WPL’s collection. They will fill in the gaps left by the film and help readers better understand the tall, shy, sensitive man who loved to read and also to push life’s limits. “High Adventure: true story of the first ascent of Everest” – in this autobiography, Sir Edmund Hillary recounts his life, his ascent of Everest and the history of mountaineering expeditions in China and Nepal. “To the Top! Climbing the World’s Highest Mountain” – in this eBook for kids, author S.A. Kramer describes how Hillary and his Sherpa reached Everest. “View from the Summit” – another autobiography where Sir Edmund Hillary recounts more about his life including jet boating up the Ganges and initiating a building program which included schools, clinics, airstrips and bridges in Nepal. “Sir Edmund Hillary & the People of Everest” – this coffee table book illustrates the social life and customs of the Nepalese people, as well as the life of Hillary and mountaineering. It’s filled with beautiful photos and celebrates 50 years and the golden anniversary of the conquest of Everest. — Teresa N-P Posted in Action, Autobiography, Biography, Books, Drama, DVD-Movies, films, History, movies, Non-Fiction, Uncategorized and tagged Biography, Books, Everest, films, movies, Teresa NP. Bookmark the permalink. Meet Jane Harper Graphic Memoirs & True Stories Red Maple Reads Getting Organized With GoodReads Howl’s Moving Castle and Comfort Watching Studio Ghibli Waterloo Public Library Main Library, 35 Albert Street Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 5E2 wpl.ca Hay! It’s Worth a Look.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1817
__label__cc	0.601038	0.398962	(-) Institut Jean Nicod (16) Evolution et Cognition Sociale (1) (-) Perception, Mémoire, Représentations (13) (-) Executive Functions (2) Ouvrage (1) (-) Executive Functions Chambon, V., Thero, H., Findling, C. & Koechlin, E. (2018). Believing in one's power: a counterfactual heuristic for goal-directed control. bioRxiv, 498675. doi:10.1101/498675 Chambon, V., Domenech, P., Jacquet, P., Barbalat, G., Bouton, S., Pacherie, E., Koechlin, E. & Farrer, C. (2017). Neural coding of prior expectations in hierarchical intention inference. Scientific reports, 7(1), 1278. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01414-y Bernal Velasquez, R., Jacob, P., Kistler, M., Papineau, D. & Dokic, J. (2013). Précis of "E-Physicalism-a Physicalist Theory of Phenomenal Consciousness" Ideas Y Valores, 62(152 ), 268–297 Casati, R. & Cavanagh, P. (2019). The Visual World of Shadows. MIT Press Fortier, M. & Kim, S. (2017). From the impossible to the improbable: A probabilistic account of magical beliefs and practices across development and cultures. In C. Zedelius, B. Müller & J. Schooler (Eds.), The science of lay theories: How beliefs shape our cognition, behavior, and health (pp. 265-315). New York: Springer Arcangeli, M. & Dokic, J. (2020). A plea for the Sublime in science. In S. French & M. Ivanova (Eds.), The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination and Understanding (Routledge ed., pp. 104-124). Fernandez-Velasco, P. & Casati, R. (2020). Disorientation and GIS-Informed Wilderness Search and Rescue. The Philosophy of GIS Switzerland: Springer Nature Varzi, A. & Casati, R. (2020). Ballot Ontology. In Sara Bernstein & Tyron Goldschmidt (Eds.), Non-Being: New Essay on the Metaphysics of Non-ExistenceOxford University Press Tambassi, T., Fernandez-Velasco, P. & Casati, R. (2019). Disorientation and GIS-Informed Wilderness Search and Rescue. In Springer International Publishing (Eds.), The Philosophy of GIS (pp. 241-251).Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16829-2_11 Casati, R. & Tonello, F. (2018). Voto elettronico e partecipazione democratica. Web e società democratica (pp. 3-15). Turin: Accademia University Press Casati, R. (2018). Shadows, objects and the lexicon: On some lexicalized and non-lexicalized concepts of shadow and light. In C. Mac Cumhaill, Thomas Crowther (Eds.), Perceptual Ephemera Oxford: OUP. doi:10.1080/13875868.2017.1377204 de Vignemont, F. (2018). The first-person in pain. In Bain, D., Brady, M., Corns, J. (Eds.), Philosophy of Pain: Unpleasantness, Emotion, and DevianceRoutledge	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1818
__label__wiki	0.581399	0.581399	3,000 young people land in Adelaide to celebrate their Catholic faith Travelling from dioceses across Australia, around 3,000 young people arrived in Adelaide overnight by air, rail and road to celebrate a three-day faith filled festival. The Australian Catholic Youth... Very Rev Peter G Williams with the ACYF Pilgrims. Photo: Adrian Middeldorp. Travelling from dioceses across Australia, around 3,000 young people arrived in Adelaide overnight by air, rail and road to celebrate a three-day faith filled festival. The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) takes place from Thursday 3 December to Saturday 5 December 2015 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. As the final rehearsals are underway and set up concludes, the excitement is building amongst volunteers and staff as they await the arrival of thousands of young people at the opening plenary this afternoon. The Festival is being hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in partnership with the Archdiocese of Adelaide. Young people from Year 9 to 25 years will participate in five plenary gatherings where everyone will come together and celebrate as the young Church in Australia. The final plenary will culminate with a closing Mass. Over 60 exhibitors, from a diverse range of Catholic organisations, have set up interactive stalls and demonstrations to allow young people to experience the breath of the Church in its many expressions. Bishops, priests and religious from around Australia are attending the Festival. International speakers include, Jason Evert, Founder of the Chastity Project, and singer-songwriter Steve Angrisano. National talent includes, Sr Hilda Scott OSB, Fr Rob Galea, Genevieve Bryant and Gary Pinto. Director of the Office for Youth, Malcolm Hart, said, ‘the Festival offers young people an extraordinary opportunity to encounter the diversity and work of the Catholic Church. I wholeheartedly encourage young people to engage and explore all aspects of the Youth Festival through workshops, prayers and of course fun’. For anyone unable to attend the festival, please join us online via a live stream from Xt3: http://www.xt3.com/acyf/live.php Very Rev Peter G William’s Homily at the ACYF Commissioning Mass – Listen here: https://catholicoutlook.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1002-1-1_01.mp3 The Diocese of Parramatta goes to Adelaide! A group of 170 young people from the Diocese of Parramatta is attending the Festival – the largest gathering of Catholic youth in Australia. The event is part of a new strategy of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference whereby national youth events will be held on a three-year cycle involving World Youth Day, the Youth Festival and the Youth Ministry Convention. In our Diocese we have made a significant commitment to treating this cycle of events as part of a broad plan for youth evangelisation in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. The financial support of individual parishes, schools, Catholic Education Parramatta and Catholic Youth Parramatta have made it possible for a large number of young people to attend this week’s Festival. Some might never receive an interstate or international Catholic experience of this kind. https://www.flickr.com/photos/parracatholic/sets/72157659497106324 Before our youth and young adults started out on their journey to Adelaide, they were commissioned by the Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter Williams, at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 29 November 2015 with their family and friends present. He challenged delegates to overcome fear in our world with hope for a peaceful future and to show the other young people of Australia the vibrancy of our Diocese as they attend the plenary sessions and multitude of workshops at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Festival exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia. One of the unique opportunities is for young people to dialogue in small groups with bishops from across the country on hot topic issues and questions of faith and culture. For more images of the Diocese of Parramatta’s Commissioning Mass, please click here ACYFAdelaideCatholic Youth	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1822
__label__wiki	0.812506	0.812506	3L Stephanie Patton Balances Work, School, Family and Volunteering Stephanie Patton was working in finance at a Department of Defense installation near Harrisburg in 2017 when she decided she wanted to do something more with her life. “I felt I could do more and could make a difference,” said Patton, a third-year evening school student who will graduate in 2021. Patton took the LSAT, aced it and zeroed in on her one choice for law school: Widener Law Commonwealth. “It had the only evening program in the area,” she said. “I didn’t have the option to quit my job or travel because I was working and had two small children.” Today Patton balances a fulltime job at the Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg (four ten-hour days) and one day working at the Harrisburg law firm Mette, Evans and Woodside, with her studies and family obligations. Widener Law Commonwealth, she said, allows her to take classes three evenings a week. “The professors are good and understanding about schedules,” she said. “Every student has challenges. You have to be strategic with time.” Patton, who has a BA from Shippensburg University and a masters’ degree in public administration from Penn State, says she wants to pursue litigation work after graduation. Patton also finds time to work as an editor on the Widener Law Commonwealth law review and participate in the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program of the Dauphin County Bar Association. Patton, who grew up in Dillsburg, PA, is finishing up her first article for the law review on the tuition “claw back” provision by universities should parents file for bankruptcy. “I argued that education should win,” she said. “I’m the first person in my family to go to college and I’ve fought tooth and nail for my education.” Interview was conducted in Spring 2020.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0002.json.gz/line1824

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