pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 68
1.02M
| source
stringlengths 37
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.780866
| 0.780866
|
Home > Opinion > Skewed math of Telangana
Skewed math of Telangana
Harihar Swarup1 Aug 2013 9:25 PM GMT
Political expediency by the Congress leaders finally won over reasoning in deciding to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and creating the new state of Telengana. The question posed in political circles is: Will Andhra’s loss be Congress Party’s gain? Many in the ruling party say that dividing a prosperous state like Andhra Pradesh was a grave mistake. The creation of smaller states in the past has not shown the desired results and they were plunged in instability. Take the case of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh or recently carved out Uttarakhand, there are apprehensions that the 29th state may meet the same fate.
Also the theory that smaller states are better administered, has become outdated. In the days of information technology and e-governance, it is easy to govern bigger states with their vast resources. Large states can mobilize more resources, as Andhra Pradesh demonstrated, by being the most successful among the Indian states in tackling Maoism.
The best course, possibly, would have been to set up a second States’ Reorganization Commission to take into account the aspirations of the people, demanding bifurcation of their respective states and recommend steps to achieve that objective without political expediency being the guiding factor.
By carving out Andhra Pradesh, the Congress may gain a few more seats in next year’s Lok Sabha election but the damage it has done to the prosperous southern state will take many years to repair. The decision raises serious economic and political challenges.
On the economic front the division may change the fortunes of 85 million people. One of the fastest growing states in India, Andhra Pradesh has successfully brought down poverty level to 9.2 per cent, which is less than half the national average. Andhra has also emerged as one of the leading states in information technology, pharmaceuticals, health service and infrastructure. It is of vital importance to ensure that a break up would spur and not whittle down these achievements.
The most important political fallout of creation of Telengana will be in other states where regional aspirations have laid claim for statehood in Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Vidarbha, Harit Pradesh (comprising western Uttar Pradesh) and so on. There can also be backlash from proponents of a united Andhra Pradesh, unleashing turmoil. Claims regarding exclusive status of Hyderabad will remain a flash point for many years.
Andhra Pradesh returned 33 members of Parliament in 2009 Lok Sabha elections for the Congress, a figure that now appears a distant dream in 2014 elections for the reason that a strong support for the nascent YSR Congress Party, formed by the son of former chief minister and strongman Y S Rajashekhar Reddy may not be forthcoming.
With 17 of 42 Lok Sabha seats and 117 assembly seats from Telangana region at stake, the Congress hopes to cut its losses and anticipates reversal in other two regions— Seemaandhra (coastal Andhra) and Rayalaseema – where YSR Congress is expected to bag a majority of seats. Equally important consideration for the Congress was to deny the BJP an opportunity to steal the thunder. The BJP may lose if Telengana euphoria and gratitude to the Congress overwhelm its consistent support for the new state. BJP anyway is not a major player in coastal areas,
Though the BJP turned down the demand for a separate Telangana when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government was at the centre, subsequently it has been vociferous in supporting the demand. The leaders from coastal Andhra have been vehemently opposing the new state.
There is strong possibility of the Congress-TRS merger and this was confirmed by AICC general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, Digvijay Singh. ‘The TRS chief, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, is on record about it…. having said that they would merge with the congress party after the formation of the new state is declared’, he said. Rao has now reportedly said he was a man of words.
Political circles estimate that the Congress calculation is to sweep the Telangana region which has 17 Lok Sabha seats in alliance with TRS.
The number of Lok Sabha seats which the party can hope to win will swell to 21 if the districts of Ananthpur and Kurnool are clubbed with Telangana; a huge improvement for the party which appeared headed for a washout in the state.
Harihar Swarup
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2979
|
__label__wiki
| 0.840471
| 0.840471
|
Mossley Hill Athletics Club MHAC
The running club was founded as South Liverpool Athletic Club in 1977 with just six members to provide opportunities for the people of South Liverpool to participate in the sport of athletics, and quickly became a significant player on the Merseyside athletics scene. The club’s white vest with royal blue sash featured prominently in road, cross-country and track and field events, and membership grew rapidly throughout the 1980?s running boom.
The decline in later years saw South Liverpool experience increasing difficulty in retaining and recruiting members, making it harder to sustain the level of performance. By 2002 it was felt that changes were needed if the club was to enjoy significant progress on all fronts in the future.
A merger with the multi-sporting Mossley Hill Athletic Club offered the best way forward. Mossley Hill, previously without an athletics team, would plug a gap in its wide range of sporting activities, while South Liverpool’s members would gain a permanent home with superior facilities for both training and socialising (another activity close to our hearts!). Together with these benefits would come improved access to our activities for the people of Mossley Hill and South Liverpool, consistent with the original aims of our founders in 1977.
The club has gone from strength to strength with memberships increasing each year.
© 2021 Mossley Hill AC.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2981
|
__label__wiki
| 0.668232
| 0.668232
|
Justice, West of the Elbe...
Frederic Remington: "The Autumn of the Cowboy"
"Michael Kohlhaas" by Heinrich von Kleist
…he called himself “the viceregent of the Archangel Michael”
If Man’s Justice fails and Divine providence is blatantly absent, can one take Justice into one own hands? And if one does, what are the consequences? These are the themes Heinrich von Kleist develops in this old story, this “alten chronik”, recounting the dramatic destiny of Michael Kohlhaas.
Hans Kohlhaas is a historical figure. Kleist changed his first name into the one of the Archangel for dramatic effect. Kohlhaas was a sixteenth century horse-dealer who for a brief moment in history set fire to the Duchy of Saxony. Who could suspect that this hardworking man with a God-fearing and Family – loving reputation, would turn into the avenging Angel of Death?
Kleist presents his hero at once, already on the first page, with two paradoxes:
He was[…] the most honest, while at the same time he was one of the most terrible persons of his period.
The feeling of justice made him a robber and a murderer.
What had happened? On his way to a yearly trade fair, with some fine horses to sell, Kohlhaas had to cross the land of the Aristocratic family Von Tronka. He is stopped by a barrier across the road and a guard who prohibits him to travel further. First Kohlhaas is requested to pay a tribute and show some papers for passing. The horse-dealer is a bit surprised that he has not been warned of this but does not make too much of it. He agrees two leave two nice black horses as collateral at the castle of the local Lord, Wenzel von Tronka. Kohlhaas intends to proceed to the market, sell his horses, get the necessary papers and then collect the two black stallions on his way back. He leaves a servant behind with some money to take care of the horses.
When Koolhaas returns to the Von Tronka castle, he finds his horses and his man-servant in a dire state. The horses have been badly abused by Von Tronka’s men. They have badly abused them by using them to plough a field.
Kohlhaas, a man who strongly believes in justice, understandably does not accept this situation. He demands compensation through the local courts of Justice for the damage done to his animals and for his servant who has been badly manhandled when he wanted to protect the horses. Unfortunately the lawyers and the influential people in the area are all friends or in some way related to the von Tronka family. Most of them are genuinely disgusted by what has been done to the horses but no one intervenes and the Junker Wenzel von Tronka remains unpunished. Kohlhaas mood understandably darkens when he is time and again obstructed in his actions to recuperate his due. His wife gets worried by his obsession and proposes to ask Justice from the Prince of Saxony himself. As a woman she thinks she can get closer to this well-guarded man than her husband would. Don’t forget that we are still in feudal times and that the aristocrats cannot be bothered by normal people. But drama happens. At the moment that the Prince walks by, Kohlhaas’ wife surges forward but is caught by the Prince bodyguards and pushed back with the back of a lance into the crowd. While she is wounded in the chest by this brutal act, she still makes it back to her husband but dies in his arms.
Kohlhaas decides on the spot, to get retribution in a different way. He arms his servants, rides to the Von Tronka castle, takes it by surprise, sets fire to its buildings and slaughters everybody who crosses his path. He fails however to get Von Tronka, who in the commotion succeeds to flee to the neighboring town.
But Kohlhass keeps following him, burning down house after house. His army of renegades grows with new mercenaries paying themselves with the loot and living from the land. They soon turn the fertile farming communities into a wasteland.
By now the feudal establishment has taken notice and sits up. They arm themselves, hunt Kohlhaas but fail to corner and catch him. As the common people who have heard the story of the injustice start to grumble, Von Tronka and his allies change their strategy.
They ask the famous Martin Luther to intervene and to demand a cease-fire. He does, but has not been told the true story and unknowingly lures Kohlhaas into a situation of which he cannot escape.
The writer of this captivating story, Heinrich von Kleist, a key figure of the German Romantic literary tradition, was a paradox himself. At the age of twenty-one, he wrote a “Life plan”, a Lebensplan, which was supposed to give him a sense of security, confidence and happiness but unexplainably and ironically Kleist took a, non planned, early exit with his double suicide comitted with his lover Henriette Vögel. He died on the shore of the lake Wannsee (Wahnsinn?) near Potsdam on 21 November 1811. He had just turned 34.
Still, Von Kleist has left us many works and he is an author worth giving attention to. There is his famous “Prince of Homburg”, “The broken Jug” and “The Marquise of O”, but I especially love him for his short but brilliant philosophical essay: “On the theater of Marionette”.I have copied it in its entirety in my blog, for it is really a little gem of a text.
ooOo
There hangs some kind of “Western atmosphere” around the story. Some obvious ingredients are easily spotted: The lonely guy looking for compensation, the shocked reaction about the cruelty done to the horses and the wild riders trying to hunt down the bad but powerful Von Tronka who is the scion of an evil establishment. The story of Kohlhaas was turned into a “cowboy” movie in 1999, titled “The Jack Bull”, directed by John Badham and starring John Cussack as Kohlhaas.
Kleist touches deeper meanings too. Obviously the theme of Justice but there is more. By turning the individual Kohlhaas into the Archangel Michael and Martin Luther into a mediator in the Power struggle between the rising class of Burghers and the members of a crumbling Feudality, Kleist makes statements about the society around him. Himself a Junker, an officer educated in the Prussian military tradition, it seems that he left the Army because he had problems with the hierarchy trampling the rights of the individual.
Maybe the “old story”, this “alten chronik”, should even be read ironically, for at least in Von Kleist time, during the reactionary times that followed the French revolution, things had not changed that much.
Labels: Frederic Remington, Heinrich von Kleist, review
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2983
|
__label__wiki
| 0.930373
| 0.930373
|
Adventure: Forging Outdoor Community from the InsideKaty HelgesonDecember 23, 2020 December 28, 2020
How outdoor adventure is creating digital community.
BY AMANDA LOUDIN
Kim Myers is a two-time veteran of Run Wild Retreats, an all-female running and wellness group that hosts events at various locales around the world. The 45-year old from Missouri found them helpful to her running, but also to her connectedness to other like-minded women. While she maintained contact with some of her fellow attendees after the events, when the pandemic hit she wanted more. Luckily, “more” was in the works.
Run Wild Retreats is owned and operated by Carbondale, Colorado- based Elinor Fish. In March, as the pandemic took hold and ground many outdoor events to a halt, Fish found the very essence of her business model in jeopardy. She pivoted, hoping to not only keep her company operating, but also to continue providing the sense of community her clients desired. The result—a robust online platform called the Healthy Runners’ Community—has exceeded her expectations.
“We were getting messages from clients that with all kinds of events having to cancel, they were feeling cut off from the greater running community,” Fish explains. “This opened the door for us to create something online. While we couldn’t replicate the retreat experience virtually, we could create a space for people to connect.”
Run Wild is among several companies that, when faced with the stark reality that communal sharing of the outdoors is off the table for now, created an alternative. While none of these businesses suggests that virtual communities are on par with the real thing, in a time when nothing seems dependable, they are at least serving up viable options.
Myers says the platform is much deeper than a run-of-the-mill Facebook group, and is providing a valuable experience. “This is much more supportive, plus Elinor has brought in really knowledgeable speakers for us, too,” she says.
A GOOD ALTERNATIVE
Danielle Stamford, a 31-year-old marketing professional from the Boston area, has always been active in the outdoors. She and her husband Ross have long hiked, backpacked and camped. But once their son was born, they found themselves stymied: How to get outside with a baby in tow?
“We didn’t know which carrier to use, which tent might be safe or what gear we might need,” Stamford says. “With the pandemic, we couldn’t get out with other parents and young children to learn and ask these questions, so we were excited when we found WildKind.”
Created by Brooke Froelich Murray and Healther Balogh Rochfort, WildKind is an online community designed with adventurous families in mind. Its mission: “To educate and empower families to find their wild.”
While WildKind is off and running at nearly 300 members strong in just a few months, its original plan looked different than the iteration available today. “We wanted to build an outdoor community for families and offer in- person events, lessons and education,” says Rochfort. “Our plan was to launch in March, but obviously live events are no longer in play for the time being.”
Rochfort and Murray, like Fish, got creative and launched their plan B in the summer. At the moment, that includes six main components: helping member families
deal with the expense of gear by offering exclusive brand discounts; a community forum that allows parents to connect and ask questions; a private gear swap; a monthly online event covering a variety of topics; an online video course library; and access to a member directory.
WildKind struck a chord with families seeking not just information, but a sense of community. “Our dream goal had been 100 members in the first month, but we quickly exceeded that and had to close doors to new members in September,” says Rochfort. “We’ll reopen in late November and hope to eventually grow to a community of 1,000.”
Stamford says WildKind has been a lifeline while in-person connections aren’t available. “It’s been so nice to connect to like-minded people,” she says. “We feel very supported by this community.”
COMMUNITY FOR NOW AND LATER
In an effort to bring more women into the sports of trail running and hiking, Gina Lucrezi founded the Trail Sisters community in 2016. Her approach was multipronged and included women-only retreats, local communities, road tours and other live events. An interactive website has always been a part of the plan, but the pandemic has given Lucrezi the incentive to beef up that side of the community.
Currently with 3,000 members, Lucrezi says that when the pandemic began, her team migrated its platform and grew its community. “Virtual connection is so important right now,” she says. “We created a space where women can connect over their runs, send positive thoughts to each other and simply strengthen their camaraderie in the absence of live gatherings.”
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a licensed professional counselor in Connecticut, says virtual communities are essential right now and serve an important purpose. “You can absolutely build connections and engage with others in the virtual world,” she says. “Just like in person, if you are engaged and enthusiastic, others will see, hear and feel that.”
Key to finding real community in these sites, says Capanna-Hodge, is drilling down to the specificity you need. “Find that niche group so you can really find other people who like the same things,” she says.
The price range for joining these communities varies, from free in the case of Trail Sisters, which turns a profit from retreats, brand partnerships and a Patreon subscription model, to $29.99 a month for the Healthy Running Community, and a founders’ launch fee of $70 annually or $7 a month for WildKind, as of this report in mid-October.
When things eventually reach “normal” again and outdoor groups start returning in person, it’s unknown if these virtual communities will see the same success they currently enjoy. Run Wild has already begun a return to live retreats in a much smaller and more local way in Colorado. But Fish says the online options will remain as well.
“This isn’t like going to an online exercise class,” she says. “The value is in the true connection you make with people who understand you and your passions.”
Amanda Loudin is a Maryland-based freelancer who frequently covers her area of passion, the outdoors, and her work appears regularly in The Washington Post and Outside magazine. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her out on the trails running or hiking with two-legged and four-legged friends.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2985
|
__label__wiki
| 0.848042
| 0.848042
|
Our Trilogy of Industries
We are a manufacturing city. There has never been a doubt that this has been possible because of a labour force conditioned and trained in the many skills inherited from the steel industry. This industrial trait at all levels is part and parcel of the city; it is almost a "genetic" pathway. It is the culture of at least four generations of people to whom steel was a second nature, and the trilogy of coal, transport and steel represent 200 years of working class heritage.
Despite the closure of the steelworks Newcastle is still a major industrial city. One only has to look at the scenery from The Hill to grasp the sprawl of industry just across the river.
Present day Newcastle would not be the same without the contribution made by the people of the steel era. One can argue that the resilient coal trade would eventually have made Newcastle the great port it is today, but there can be no argument that the synergy of coal and steel did in fact produce the transition to diversified industries at a greater and faster pace. Six years after the closure of BHP Newcastle remains a busy port. Ships of very large tonnage negotiate the bar at the mouth of the river with safety, infrastructure is being upgraded both in the harbour and rail system. These changes must continue if the port is to remain one of the greatest in the southern hemisphere.
No matter how one looks at it, Newcastle has a colourful maritime history. The decision by BHP to cease steel making in Newcastle in 1999 has reduced shipping movements in the port. Almost a century of steelmaking had impacted on the past of a city renowned for its shipping trade. Now the past is catching up with the future. Shipping is increasing again. King coal will see to that. Notwithstanding the power of steel, coal had always been a serious competitor for the port use, mainly because of infrastructure shortage in the harbour and the transport system. Both railways and road transport have always lagged behind the efficiency of the mines to produce and shipping to deliver. This situation still exists today with the added critical shortage of loading infrastructure at Kooragang. The long line of ships at anchor outside the port is testimony to that.
Coal is now the main factor in the economy of the State of NSW, as it is, in addition to a source of foreign trade, the principal fuel used for electric power generation.
Coal is produced in more than twenty mines in the Hunter Valley. The mines production comes mainly from open cut operations, but highly efficient underground pits using the longwall mining technique also produce substantial coal tonnages. Various types of coal are produced, these include coking coal suitable for steel-making and low sulphur minimal residue steaming coal for energy production. The present plan for 17 new mines and significant extensions to 10 existing operational mines will add 60 million tonnes to the present 100 million tonnes of coal produced each year in the Hunter Region. The value of the extra coal produced is estimated to be about $4billion at today’s prices.
NB. The new development in the coal industry will generate about 2,500 new jobs: added to the existing workforce it will bring the total to 8,000 men employed in mining. Considering that at peak production in the last century the industry employed 11,000 men, employment of 8,000 in an industry dedicated to best practice mechanised technology producing 160 million tonnes PA is something to ponder about in terms of tonnes per man.
The heritage of coal is most evident in the Hunter Valley town of Cessnock, about 50km from Newcastle. Cessnock was once the home of 28 underground mines, they provided employment for 11,000 miners. Although the city is fast becoming a tourist resort and a wine buff destination, the contribution of those who worked the mines is not forgotten. The nearby village of Kurri Kurri is the site of a mining memorial. It features a statue of a coal miner with helmet, shovel and safety lamp. A nearby wall has an attached plaque that states "in recognition of the immeasurable contribution of all mine workers to the city".
Steel has played a major role in the Newcastle trilogy for nearly a century. It has provided the impetus needed for the development of the Australian Manufacturing Industry, more importantly it has pioneered the development of essential technologies in the fields of metallurgy and specialised ship design.
Today OneSteel, a spin-off of BHP steel making is the only reminder of the steel era in Newcastle. However, ships of the company's fleet are regular visitors and vessels like the purpose built bulk carrier Iron Pacific continue to carry Newcastle coal to many Asian countries. For nearly a century the port of Newcastle had grown and prospered, with coal providing the necessary stimulus.
The planned landing at Botany Bay was significant. It meant taking possession of the continent.
Subsequent unplanned events led to the discovery of Coal River which in due course became Newcastle. These events took place because of the availability of a suitable mode of conveyance, shipping transport.
The difficulties of a voyage to Terra Australis and the necessary logistics must have posed an unenviable task to the people of those times. On landfall, all transport was relegated to either human or animal traction. It was some time before technology would come to relieve man and beast of this burden.
As technology evolved mechanical devices improved all forms of transport, both on land and the seas. James Watt’s development of the “rotative beam principle” had enabled steam engines to directly drive machinery.
In 1814 George Stephenson’s invention of the steam locomotive was responsible for the first public railway in Great Britain, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the first propeller driven, ocean-going steamship in 1838.
However, the first practical overland transport was developed and applied in 1804 by Richard Trevithick when he operated the first railway locomotive at a Merthyr Tydfil coalfield in England.
This fact brings us back to the coal-fields of the Hunter Valley and Newcastle. Was it coincidence that the same happened here? The development of steam powered mechanical devices including locomotives for colliery railways was largely a coalfields event. Coincidence or not, steam was responsible for the technology that made the Industrial Revolution possible, coal being the essential element in the process. But railways, by connecting cities and factories, distributing manufactured goods and other materials in England and Europe made it possible. In our region this process followed a different path.
The growth of industry in our region or, for that matter in Australia, cannot be termed an Industrial Revolution, because it did not change an established system.
The birth of industry can be likened to an evolution from rudimentary to a mature state, in a progression of staged development as technology became available, was developed and adapted for local conditions. Thus industry followed the needs of settlement and development in the colony: The steel industry is an example.
The mining industry was a catalyst to the Industrial Evolution in Australia from the mid 1800s to the present. The birth of the steel industry, the largest industrial event of the last century, was needed in order to maintain technological momentum.
The fact that a company engaged in silver-lead mining, embarked in the economic exploitation of a secondary mineral (iron ore) which was first used as furnace flux, is a significant achievement, given that the industry was launched at the highest level of technological development in the circumstances of the time.
The pervasive ripple of progress generated by the actions of the Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd, stimulated Hoskins to do likewise at Port Kembla followed by a plethora of emerging industries, and a railway system designed to serve the needs of the interior. Manufactured steel derived products were able to promptly reach remote centres of primary industry, and return their products to national and world markets.
Our region has seen the birth of steelmaking in 1915. From an early date in its history Newcastle’s BHP plant produced a comprehensive range of rolled steel products. During World War II steelmaking answered and sustained the demands of war production. This involved duplicating unavailable strategic materials and developing new technologies, this prowess continued until closure.
Today, the steel industry is still part of Newcastle. Its diminished physical presence is supported by a culture developed over 85 years of “Hard Work” that makes its people unique in their resilience. One could be forgiven for mentioning a reference to “genetic heritage”.
Railways became an essential land transport mode and a major agent of social change. The mining industry still relies heavily on railways to deliver raw material to shipping. The port of Newcastle exports the largest coal tonnage in the world. Today, Williamtown airport is again being considered as the future airport of the
North, despite a major upgrade of the RAAF Base operational activity in the sky of the region.
Coal remains a prime source of energy, although other technologies have emerged which are claimed to be more environmentally acceptable. As an energy producer coal can claim to have provided the world with all that mankind has ever asked of it. Demand for coal is at record level and this trend appears to continue unchanged.
In the future, its use as a source of energy will depend on processing technology succeeding in reducing unwanted emissions. But the chemical industry’s dependence on coal is still unresolved.
Today, coal is the largest economic asset of the state of New South Wales. Newcastle gained prominence through mines and industries, but life had been hard and conditions poor for the first 150 years. The history of labour is synonymous with the lives of Newcastle’s working men and women. Their struggle had to overcome immeasurable hurdles set up by nature and economic forces to create a dynamic and modern city. Its heritage is proof of a rich and colourful history, its culture is the product of the people who embraced its ways at all levels, to build a society that bears a common banner in the spirit of tolerance and maturity.
In concluding, Coal, Transport and Steel, are the forces that shaped Newcastle and the Hunter for the past two centuries, a Trilogy of enterprise and progress that made a significant contribution to the economic emergence of Newcastle and Australia.
Victor Cattaneo 2006
Last Updated Monday, March 23 2009 @ 06:03 AM|8,425 Hits
To a Grand Final win with The Blue Bags....North Barry Brooks.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2989
|
__label__wiki
| 0.844364
| 0.844364
|
Rep Ro Khanna Signs ICAN Pledge
Rep Ro Khanna Signs ICAN…
Nuclear Ban’s Timmon Wallis shows US Representative Ro Khanna his new report, “Warheads to Windmills,” during Khanna’s visit to Northampton, Massachusetts in October. Photo by Vicki Elson.
On October 24th, Representative Ro Khanna became the ninth current member of Congress to sign the ICAN Parliamentary/Legislative Pledge. Khanna was invited by Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern to speak in Northampton, and, when approached by Tim Wallis and Vicki Elson of Nuclear Ban at their meeting, he agreed on the spot to sign the pledge.
Ro Khanna represents California’s 17th congressional district and is first vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. CPC co-chairs Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Pramila Jayapal have also signed the pledge. Members of the Progressive Caucus heard ICAN’s Executive Director Beatrice Fihn speak about the nuclear ban treaty at a CPC meeting in April of this year. Since then, supporters around the country have been urging all 98 members of the caucus to sign the pledge.
Rep. Khanna is one of six members of the House of Representatives and ten members of Congress who do not accept donations from PACs or corporations. He was one of the few US Representatives to endorse Bernie Sanders for president in 2016, and early this year was named co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 campaign.
About the ICAN Pledge and the UN Treaty
Over 1300 parliamentarians and congresspeople in 32 countries, 25 of which have yet to sign and ratify the treaty, have now signed the pledge, which was created by ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, to commit elected representatives around the world to work towards the signature and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. See a list of all US Congresspeople to sign the Pledge so far here. The treaty was adopted by 122 countries at the UN in July, 2017, and in October, 2017, ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize for the treaty, which calls for the first comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons under international law. So far, 80 countries have signed the treaty and 34 have ratified it, with another 18 ratifications underway.
Category: UncategorizedBy Arbor Dahlin December 30, 2019
Author: Arbor Dahlin
PreviousPrevious post:Business Aligns with Nuclear Ban TreatyNextNext post:New York Moves Closer to Nuclear Divestment
Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2990
|
__label__cc
| 0.672099
| 0.327901
|
Corrections Officer Manuel Ariza Gonzalez, Jr.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
End of Watch Monday, January 10, 2005
Manuel Ariza Gonzalez, Jr.
Corrections Officer Manuel Gonzalez was stabbed to death by an inmate while working in Sycamore Hall of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California.
The suspect, who was appointed as a spokesman for a portion of the prison population, had been permitted to leave his cell to speak with other inmates about their complaints. A short time later, a correctional officer observed the inmate attacking Officer Gonzalez and ordered him to get down. The suspect then walked away as Officer Gonzalez fell to the ground. Officer Gonzalez, who was not wearing a vest, had been stabbed with a shank. He succumbed to his wounds while being transported to a local hospital.
The inmate, believed to be a gang member, was kept in custody, transferred to a different facility, and charged with capital murder. He was serving a 75 year sentence for the attempted murder of a Los Angeles police officer in 2002. Two other inmates were also transferred as a result of the incident.
Six months later, Officer Gonzalez's brother-in-law, Deputy Sheriff Jerry Ortiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was shot and killed while conducting a gang related investigation in an apartment complex.
Officer Gonzalez had served with the California Department of Corrections for 17 years. He is survived by his wife and six children. He is buried in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Montebello, California.
Tour 17 years
Cause Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Shank
Offender Charged with capital murder
{"lat":"33.9811160","lon":"-117.6859220"}
Related LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Jerry Ortiz
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: June 24, 2005
View all 342 Reflections
It breaks my heart driving on the highway and seeing your name beside it. Although a great tribute, it is a constant reminder of the tragic events that took place over 15 years ago.
Thank you for your service, Officer Gonzalez. May you rest in peace.
Officer S. Rizvi
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2992
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823696
| 0.823696
|
An honest movie blog for true movie fans
25 Days of Christmas: KISS KISS BANG BANG
Welcome to Day 9 of our 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS series, where we will be taking a look at holiday classics each day in the lead up to Christmas. Today we're looking at the directorial debut of Shane Black, with the Neo-Noir Comedy Crime film, KISS KISS BANG BANG.
As typical of many Shane Black directed or written films, this film is set at Christmas time, which is one of the things I do really like about his films. It's a nice little touch, which in my opinion is just one of the features that adds a lot of flair to films he is involved with. I wouldn't call it a Christmas Classic yet, and would consider the film more of a cult film that's built up a following over the years, considering it barely made back it's budget of $15 million.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stars Robert Downey Jr., Michelle Monaghan, and Val Kilmer. I really think this cast is perfect and they all play their roles perfectly. I love the way that Robert Downey Jr. plays off Val Kilmers 'Gay Perry', and these provide most of the best laughs in the movie. The film's plots plays out quite complicated, but is well written so is quite easy to follow along as long as you are paying attention, but it surrounds Harry (Downey Jr) who accidentally gets an acting job due to accidentally entering an audition. He then meets Perry (Kilmer), who is a private investigator hired to give Harry on-the-job experience for his role. From here a murder happens, and Harry ends up investigating the murder to impress a girl (Monaghan).
As expected, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is written fantastically by Shane Black, it makes me laugh to no end, and this script really does help Robert Downey Jr.'s style as an actor, and Shane Black writes for him perfectly. This movie is also considered the movie that saved Downey Jr.'s career, as Shane Black said that if he wasn't sober upon turning up on set for the entire film, he would be fired and the film would be re-shot.
In many ways, the movie is in the same mould as The Nice Guys, also directed by Shane Black, which I also loved, and it really is a wholly original action film. Which by and large is hard to come by nowadays, and I feel as though the script has a lot to do with that. I also really think that often when films are written and directed by the same person, the film's ideas and concepts will be realised to a fuller extent. It's not really surprising that this film is done the way it is considering Shane Black wrote films like Lethal Weapon 1 and 2.
I always felt like this movie had a lot to say about other crime films and it takes some parts for comedic effect and other times satirically. At one point, Harry urinates on a corpse, which is one of the most creative scenes in the film, and this really reminds me of films like Pulp Fiction, putting the characters in situations they would never expect to be in and the audience hasn't seen before.
Ultimately, I have to say that although Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is not your typical classic Christmas film, it is a movie that will spice up your Christmas in the shape of a Die Hard rather than The Grinch, especially considering its R rating. It takes you for a ride and is a genuinely fantastic film rather than just a film that plays off Christmas Spirit, and can be watched at any other time of the year and not just Christmas. I think that's a testament to it's quality and I hope it will become even more appreciated over time. I for one can't wait to see the upcoming film, The Predator, written and directed by Black as well, as he is such a good director and writer it's a shame to me that he has only directed three films, especially considering that nobody quite writes a story like Shane Black.
Chris's Score: 9/10
Make sure to check us out and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all of our reviews, news, trailers, and much, much more!!!
Labels: 25 Days of Christmas, Action, Christmas, Crime, kiss kiss bang bang, Michelle Monaghan, Movie Reviews, Robert Downey Jr., Shane Black, Val Kilmer
Honored To Be #71
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line2995
|
__label__cc
| 0.672597
| 0.327403
|
Buy-to-Let Lender Expands Sales Team in North of England
Rose Jinks
Buy-to-let lender Foundation Home Loans is continuing to expand its sales team in the north of England, confirming the strength of the property market for landlords.
The firm has recently appointed Joanna Elton as the Regional Account Manager for the north of England.
Elton will take on responsibility for building key partnerships with Foundation Home Loans’ distribution partners in the north, working under the Business Development Director, Paul Brett.
Elton has a host of experience in the mortgage industry, after starting her career at Mortgage Trust as a New Business Administrator. She moved into account management when the company rebranded as First Active.
Her career then took her to Kensington Mortgages and Scottish Life Mortgages, where she stayed for a few years, before moving onto Mortgage Next as a Regional Account Manager for five years.
In 2010, Elton joined Sun Life as a Regional Account Manager, before moving to London and Colonial, and then Curtis Banks. Before her appointment at Foundation Home Loans, Elton was a Business Development Manager at Mortgage Intelligence.
Brett comments: “Joanna brings with her a strong background in business development and relationship management, and we are delighted to have her on board. Her role will be to enhance existing distribution partner relationships as well as maximise the opportunities for new business and develop fresh sources.
“We have identified that the buy-to-let market in the north of England holds particular opportunities for landlords and their advisers. Joanna is an ideal ambassador for Foundation Home Loans’ buy-to-let proposition.”
Landlords looking for new investments may find that the north of England is offering strong capital growth in the current market, as house price rises outpace London for the first time in years. Recent research by Hometrack also suggests that growth is showing no signs of slowing down.
In addition, a new study from Property Partner insists that cities in the north of the country are offering the highest yields for landlords of student properties.
Is the north of England proving a buy-to-let hotspot for you?
landlordnews.co.uk
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3001
|
__label__cc
| 0.706528
| 0.293472
|
Gen Con to Remain in Indianapolis an Additional Year
Posted by Thomas Deeny as Other
Chris Gral, the vice president of marketing for Visit Indy, announced that Gen Con will remain in Indianapolis through 2021 “and beyond”. Gen Con, the world’s largest analog gaming convention, had been looking at other cities to host the event after the current contract expires in 2020. “As Gen Con has grown, Indianapolis has grown,” Gral said. “We would have been devastated if another city had gained their business, so there’s a sense of honor, a sense of pride and a sense of relief that Gen Con is committing to Indianapolis.”
Gen Con’s estimated impact on the city is approximately $71 million. The Future Farmers of America convention, also with approximately the same attendance (estimated 60,000 to Gen Con 2016’s 60,819), has about half the impact on the city, according to former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard.
Gen Con 2017, the 50th anniversary of the convention, will be held on August 17-20, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3002
|
__label__wiki
| 0.764464
| 0.764464
|
Fatma Said, soprano
Malcolm Martineau, piano
Songs by Schumann, Duparc, Mohie El Din & Poulenc
Thursday 27 May 2021, 20.00 h
Palau de la Música Catalana. Petit Palau
Liederkreis, op. 39
Henri Duparc
Chanson triste
Le manoir de Rosemonde
Phidylé
L‘invitation au voyage
Sherif Mohie El Din
Egyptian cycle
Priez pour paix
Deux poèmes de Louis Aragon, FP. 122
Eqyptian soprano, Fatma Said, is one of the most exciting young artists of her generation. In 2016, she made her sensational role debut at Teatro alla Scala as Pamina (Die Zauberflöte). Fatma has established a reputation as an extraordinarily gifted recitalist and is currently a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist. This season, Fatma will perform Die Schöpfung at Tonhalle Düsseldorf and in Budapest and will give recitals in Birmingham, Perth, Leeds, Dresden, Bonn, Mallorca, and at Wigmore Hall. Fatma will make her debut at the Salzburg MozartWoche a production of Mozart’s T.H.A.M.O.S by La Fura del Baus, and will give gala concerts at The United Nations in Geneva, and in Muscat with Juan Diego Flórez. Recent highlights include L’Amour (Orphée et Eurydice) at Teatro alla Scala and concerts in Lucerne, Vienna and Salzburg with Rolando Villazón.
Malcolm Martineau
Born in Edinburgh, he studied at St. Catharine's College and the Royal College of Music. One of the leading piano accompanists of his generation, he has worked with many of the world’s greatest lieder singers. He has presented the complete Britten songs at Wigmore Hall, Debussy and Poulenc's at St. Johns Smith Square (which he has also recorded), and the Wolf lieder at the Edinburgh Festival. Martineau has performed in Europe’s most important festivals and concert halls, as well as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully in New York and the Sydney Opera House. In 2004 he was appointed Doctor Honoris Causa by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and International Fellow of Accompaniment in 2009. In 2011 he served as artistic director of the Leeds Lieder Festival.
Una coproducció amb
Schubertíada Barcelona
Natalie Pérez, mezzosoprano
Daniel Heide, piano
Songs by Schumann, Fauré, Bizet, Delage, Saint-Säens, Hahn, Debussy, Wolf & Mendelssohn
Anna Alàs i Jové, mezzosoprano
Alexander Fleischer, piano
Songs by Blancafort, Magrané, Montsalvatge & Schumann
València 209, semisoterrani 1a
info@schubertiada.cat
tickets and packages
archive of the Schubertíada
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3006
|
__label__wiki
| 0.756127
| 0.756127
|
Acceleration of Suguri X Edition
PS3 / Reviews / by Gerry Pagan /
Continuing the collaboration between Sony and Rockin’ Android, Acceleration of Suguri X Edition is the latest Japanese doujin title to be released on the PlayStation Network. In AoSXE, two players fight each other from top-down and isometric perspectives, attacking with a combination of long-range danmaku (bullet hell) patterns and close-range melee attacks, whittling each other’s life bar until the battle ends. It’s similar to G.rev’s Wartech: Senko no Ronde in execution, only with 2D visuals instead of 3D models.
As part of the SUGURI series, there is a bit of a disconnect in the game’s plot for players who only buy Acceleration of Suguri X Edition. Suguri, the series’ main character, is an android created to protect the Earth from an alien invasion that takes place during the first game, SUGURI, which is as of writing only available on PC. AoSXE takes place after that game, so it’s easy to get lost in the narrative with the characters talking about events that people assume we already know about. Most characters have an “Extra Story” that can be unlocked by clearing Arcade mode with each respective person, which shows a little extra back story on what each character does after the events of SUGURI.
The gameplay itself is rather fun. Each character has a varied play style and move set, ranging from close-ranged melee barrages to long-range ice barriers and shards which really mixes up the combat. You can dash around which prevents you from taking damage by projectiles, but this raises a heat % that makes you take more damage when you do get hit. Each character has multiple super attacks that are performed after you fill up a charge meter, which grows as you dodge attacks, perform attacks, etc. The stages themselves aren’t exactly varied, as they’re just a big circle with changing background environments depending on.
Visually, the game is pretty hit-or-miss. People who dislike the “cute anime” look best look elsewhere, as everything from the portraits to the in-game sprites are done with that style in mind. Even then, the art takes some getting used to and is rather off-putting at first glance. The story mode portraits do leave a little to be desired though, as they aren’t done as well as the main character shots.
Overall, the game is worth the low asking price. It’ll provide a few hours’ worth of entertainment for those into the whole arcade bullet hell genre, more so if you have a few local friends to play with. People looking for more substance and longevity should look elsewhere though, as the game’s story mode only really lasts for an hour or two. Acceleration of Suguri X-Edition really works best as a play once in a while type game, though at $6 you can’t go wrong getting involved in this “strange little war”.
Questions? Check out our review guide.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3013
|
__label__cc
| 0.66654
| 0.33346
|
Legal Intersections Research Centre
Leading Edge Interdisciplinary Research
Legal Fables and Fables of the Law
Posted on November 27, 2016 by Niamh Kinchin
A new book, Fables of the Law: Fairy Tales in a Legal Context, edited by Professor Daniela Carpi of the University of Verona, Italy, and Associate Professor Marett Leiboff has just been released. The book, published as volume 13 of the book series Law and Literature by the German publisher De Gruyter, contains contributions from legal scholars, jurisprudents, and literature and cultural studies scholars based in Italy, France, the UK, Australia and Austria.
The collection features two members of the Law and Popular Cultures theme of LIRC: Marett Leiboff and Dr Luis Gómez Romero. As well as her role as co-editor of the collection, Marett Leiboff contributes two chapters. The first, as part of the introduction to the idea that the law might ‘fable’, is called ‘Fabulous Law: Legal Fables’ in which she considers the dangers that occur to legal interpretation when the materialities, or realities of the circumstances that shape law and its principles are divorced from its interpretation. Through an examination of the meaning and etymology of the notion of the fable and its variants, she considers the ways in which law’s interpreters make new, perhaps incorrect, meanings through the veil of reason and rationality. She uses a well-known fable, ‘The Wolf and the Lamb’ and its reading as an abstract claim of power, building on the reading of Louis Marian, to one grounded in law and its practices, and its injustices in a highly material sense.
Dr Luis Gómez Romero’s chapter begins the second part of the collection, Part I: Fabulising Law, entitled ‘The Wondrous (Baroque) Gender Revolution, or the Rise and Fall of the Empire of Fairies’. Using Kantian ethics and the shaping of Enlightenment thought and practices, and the rise and loss of principles of justice and right, Gómez Romero draws on the fairytales published by Charles Perrault to consider the role that instruction in expectations of conduct and thought are shaped – including those of law and power. Gómez Romero reminds us that the fairytale in France was the plaything of the aristocracy, denied to children and workers, and only latterly allowed beyond that small circle into the wider social order. Drawn from the fairytales shaped in the salons of the aristocratic women of the court of Louis XIV of France, Perrault’s own version of the fairytales published at the end of the 17th century reshaped their purpose, taking on the role of instruction into civilité, as passed down through time – to obtain power and recognition.
Marett Leiboff’s second chapter, ‘The Good Old Rule, the Catspaw and a Two-Headed Baby’, appears in Part II: Contemporary Fables. Here, she builds on the meaning of fable, reason, and power that she developed earlier in the collection, to read how much a significant case like Doodeward v Spence has been fabled over time, We find that the facts as we retell them were not quite as they seem, and the patterns of thinking used by the courts speak to another French institution developed in the 17th century that remained tightly embedded into 19th century thinking – the Logic and Grammar of Port-Royal. We find strategies of power deployed by Griffith CJ over that of the reason shaped by the dissentient, Higgins J, and each justice uses the same reworked fable to amplify their reasoning. Neither member of the court identifies the text they use, and the meaning of the fable is shown, in the hands of present day lawyers, to mean something very different again.
This entry was posted in Cultural Legal Studies by Niamh Kinchin. Bookmark the permalink.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3018
|
__label__cc
| 0.593584
| 0.406416
|
Dominic Thiem reveals who made first move in relationship with Kristina Mladenovic
by Ajit Singh Khanna | Posted on Thursday, November 1st, 2018 | 0
More often than not, it’s the guy who makes the first move in a relationship. In Dominic Thiem’s case, however, it was the other way round as Kristina Mladenovic had approached him first.
Well, sort of… he claims so!
“She asked me for a warm up. So it’s her,” Thiem told during an interview at the Paris Masters.
“But I’m not sure she was looking for a date. But, there was a lot in between but it’s too long to answer, but that’s how it started,” he added.
The Austrian star has been seeing Frenchwoman Mladenovic since a couple of years. And during the course of time, his French has improved ‘a lot’, he says,
“Because I’m in a competition with Kiki and I need to improve much better than her. I’m learning everyday and I think it’s getting good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thiem defeated Gilles Simon of France 6-4 6-2 in the opener. He is now scheduled to lock horns with Croatia’s Borna Coric on Thursday.
Tags MladenovicTennisThiem
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3023
|
__label__wiki
| 0.71995
| 0.71995
|
//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=dc895610-d442-44f5-a78d-3fbebee0e0f4
The Centre Cannot Hold
May 25, 1961 — Kennedy pledges to put a man on the Moon by the decade’s end
By Loki 222 Content, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, Science, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World
It was a bold announcement at the time – at any time, really. When JFK addressed a joint session of Congress, and announced that the USA would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, he can’t have been sure it could be done. Sure, it was still only 1961 – technological utopianism was the order of the day – but the United States was lagging behind the Soviet Union at that point.
As we now all know, it turns out that it could be done – although with only six months to spare – and Armstrong and Aldrin’s walk on the moon in July 1969 is the most inspiring legacy that John F. Kennedy left behind him.
By NASA – Great Images in NASA Description, Public Domain, Link
As mentioned in:
Tomorrow Wendy — Andy Prieboy
Tomorrow Wendy — Concrete Blonde
Tagged 1961, Andy Prieboy, Apollo program, Concrete Blonde, JFK, John F Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, May 25, Moon shot, President Kennedy, Tomorrow Wendy
November 22, 1963 — U.S. President John F Kennedy is assassinated
By Loki 222 Content, Crime, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World
One of the defining events of its era, the assassination of President Kennedy remains a remarkably controversial one, even today. Conspiracy theories abound as to who shot Kennedy and why.
While the official story, that Lee Harvey Oswald did it, with the rifle, in the book depository, is plausible, it is also notably incomplete – there are any number of holes and anomalies in it. The murder of Oswald only two days later, before he could stand trial, has done nothing to quell these uncertainties.
On a symbolic level, the death of Kennedy was the end of an era in many ways. Quite aside from the idealism that he brought to the nation, his death marked a change in the way America saw itself – no longer the lily-white paladin, but more the grim avenger willing do the dirty work no one else would – although in fairness, this change of self-image would take the rest of the decade to be complete.
By Walt Cisco, Dallas Morning News – http://www.mojsrbac.info/media/articles/adde2-kenedi-ded.jpg, Public Domain, Link
She — The Misfits
Civil War — Guns n’ Roses
Tabloid Junkie — Michael Jackson
Tomorrow, Wendy — Andy Prieboy
Love Me, I’m a Liberal — Phil Ochs
We Didn’t Start the Fire — Billy Joel
Tomorrow, Wendy — Concrete Blonde
He was a Friend of Mine — The Byrds
Song for a Friend — The Kingston Trio
Purple Toupee — They Might Be Giants
She is Always Seventeen — Harry Chapin
Tagged 1963, Andy Prieboy, assassination, Billy Joel, Bullet, Civil War, Concrete Blonde, Guns n Roses, Harry Chapin, He Was A Friend of Mine, I'm a Liberal, JFK, John F Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, Love Me, Michael Jackson, Nov 22, Phil Ochs, President Kennedy, Purple Toupee, She Is Always Seventeen, Song for a Friend, Tabloid Junkie, The Byrds, The Kingston Trio, The Misfits, They Might Be Giants, TMBG, Tomorrow Wendy, We Didn't Start The Fire
The Annotated Ten Commandments
Daft Lyrics Database
"Keating! The Musical" Annotations
Pharmacopoeia Fantastica
The Rock’n’Roll History of the World
Role Playing Rules Conversions
Many links leading to external sites on this site are for affiliate program links, which allow us to help cover the costs of the site.
This is The Centre Cannot Hold, my assortment of various strange ideas that I've put on the internet to share with you all. I hope you enjoy them.
The Annotated Ten Commandments | Daft Lyrics Database | "Keating! The Musical" Annotations | Pharmacopoeia Fantastica | The Rock’n’Roll History of the World | Role Playing Rules Conversions | Where Are They Now?
Log in here!
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3026
|
__label__wiki
| 0.627324
| 0.627324
|
Lil Nas X Earns ‘First Award Ever’ With Song of the Year Win at 2019 MTV VMAs
Lil Nas X took home the award for Song of the Year at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, beating Drake, Ariana Grande, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and more.
The 20-year-old won for his summer hit "Old Town Road" remix which made history last month after completing its 17th straight week atop Billboard's Hot 100 chart. He holds the record for the longest-running No. 1 single of all time, taking the crown previously held by Mariah Carey and Boys II Men's "One Sweet Day."
During his acceptance speech, the rapper, who was decked out in a whole new red cowboy outfit, revealed this was his first-ever award before he thanked Billy Ray Cyrus for joining him on the record-breaking track. He even jokingly pulled out a long stroll of people to thank before passing the mic to his collaborator.
SEE THE 2019 MTV VMAS WINNERS LIST
Lil Nas X was also nominated for seven other awards, including Best New Artist, Best Editor and Best Hip Hop Video. He even took the stage to perform his song "Panini," which is the follow-up single to “Old Town Road.”
Watch Lil Nas X's VMAs performance, below:
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet
Source: Lil Nas X Earns ‘First Award Ever’ With Song of the Year Win at 2019 MTV VMAs
Filed Under: Lil Nas X, MTV Video Music Awards
Categories: Music News, TV
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3037
|
__label__wiki
| 0.971504
| 0.971504
|
Robert Fripp Disputes David Bowie's Estate over 'Heroes,' 'Scary Monsters' Credits
The King Crimson guitarist says he should be a "featured player"
By Calum Slingerland
In the late '70s and early '80s, King Crimson's Robert Fripp played lead guitar on a pair of David Bowie albums: 1977's "Heroes" and 1980's Scary Monsters. Now, Fripp says he's disputing his album credits with Bowie's estate, arguing that he should be credited on both efforts as a "featured player."
In a post on social media, Fripp claimed that Bowie's estate hasn't acknowledged him as a featured player due to rules of PPL, a U.K. music licensing company established in 1934. He wrote, "This accreditation as a Featured Player is supported by Brian Eno, Tony Visconti, David Bowie himself (although the terminology was not then in use), and the Court Of Public Opinion over four decades."
Fripp wrote, "The PPL's rules and MO perpetuate an historic injustice," and argued that "rules are not God-given laws to maintain the universe: they are created by people to organize and facilitate interactions in fair and equitable fashion; which in the nature of things, can never actually be foretold."
Turning his ire to the music industry, Fripp wrote, "Fifty-two years of direct, hands-on experience suggests to me that the majority of players who operate the system, operate the system to serve their own interests. There are a small number of players whose aim is ethical action in business; not directing the industry to promote their own personal interests; these assertions supported by decades of documentation."
Fripp and King Crimson are currently touring North America in celebration of their 50th anniversary. They also recently announced a reissue of their acclaimed debut album to mark the occasion.
Read Fripp's full post below. Read our Essential Guide to David Bowie here.
More David Bowie
More Robert Fripp
Khruangbin, Helado Negro, Jeff Parker Contribute to David Bowie Tribute Album
A new David Bowie tribute album will highlight the influence of Black music and culture on the late icon's catalogue. Modern Love will arriv...
Listen to David Bowie's Previously Unreleased John Lennon and Bob Dylan Covers
To mark what would have been David Bowie's 74th birthday today, two previously unreleased covers recorded by the late artist in 1998 have be...
David Bowie's Widow Iman on the Approaching Anniversary of His Death: "That's the Saddest Time"
Sadly, the fifth anniversary of David Bowie's passing is approaching, and as the world gets ready to mark that sombre milestone, his widow I...
David Bowie's Unreleased John Lennon and Bob Dylan Covers Set for New 7-inch
David Bowie is once again being treated to a special vinyl release, and this time it will be in celebration of what would have been his 74th...
The Cleveland Cavaliers' New Uniform Honours Rock Hall Inductees
Ahead of the NBA beginning its 2020-2021 season this month, teams around the league are rolling out City Edition uniforms that honour their...
Robert Fripp and Toyah's Livestream Series Features Covers, Costumes and Lots of Dancing
We here at Exclaim! recently listed our Best Livestream Concerts of 2020, but we shouldn't bring the year to a close without a look at the l...
Former King Crimson Vocalist Gordon Haskell Dead at 74
Gordon Haskell — an early member of King Crimson and a collaborator in Robert Fripp's group the League of Gentlemen — has passed away. He di...
R.I.P. Fairport Convention Singer and Robert Fripp Collaborator Judy Dyble
Fairport Convention singer and Robert Fripp collaborator Judy Dyble has died at age 71. According to her rep, the U.K. artist had been suffe...
Robert Fripp Launches Weekly "Music for Quiet Moments" Series
In the wake of King Crimson postponing North American tour plans, guitarist Robert Fripp has announced a new weekly music series that will p...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3039
|
__label__cc
| 0.743088
| 0.256912
|
Revision as of 17:48, 26 September 2020 by Amycjgrace (talk | contribs) (→End of the Game)
Three of a Kind Sum of all five dice 3,3,3,1,5 (15 points)
Chance (any roll of the dice) Sum of all five dice 6,3,5,3,1 (18 points)
Occasionally, you may roll more than one Yahtzee in a game. If so, and if you already have 50 points in the Yahtzee category, the computer automatically adds 100 points to your "Yahtzee" total. Then, if you have not already done so, you must also enter the total of the five die in the category corresponding to the die value in the first column. If you have already entered points in that category. you can enter points as Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind, Full House. Small Straight, Large Straight, or Chance in the second column.
Scoring Strategy
As you play Yahtzee, you'll realize that you don't always roll what you need, even with three tries. When this happens, you must still enter a score. However, some scoring strategy may help you win the game.
On the scoreboard one category is labeled "Chance." If, after the third roll, you don't have a combination you want to enter in a specific category, simply move the cursor to "Chance" and press ENTER. As an alternative, if you roll one or two ones, you could count that as your score for ones, saving the larger values to try to score enough points for the 35-point bonus.
Even with "Chance" and "Ones," you might still receive another roll which you cannot use. If so, you must enter a zero in one of the scoring categories. Some common places for entering a zero are "Yahtzee" and "Four of a Kind." Once a zero is entered, however, it cannot be changed.
Many rolls of the dice can be entered in more than one category. Both a "Four of a Kind" and a "Full House" roll can be scored as "Three of a Kind" or as the die value in the first column. Also a "Large Straight" can be counted as a "Small Straight" instead. The more you play Yahtzee, the more your scoring strategy should improve.
When the scoreboard is completed (after 13 rounds), the game is over. The computer flashes a red box around the winning score and plays a victory tune.
You are then asked if you want to replay the game. Press REDO to play again with the same options. To choose new options, press BACK and the player selection display appears.
When you have finished playing Yahtzee, press QUIT to return to the master title screen.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3041
|
__label__cc
| 0.716192
| 0.283808
|
Interview of Foster Sister
A personal adoption story interview featuring my foster sister, Dawn
Kandice Confer April 08, 2020
For this article, I asked to interview my foster sister, Dawn, to tell her adoption story. Dawn is a 38-year-old African American woman who was adopted 35 years ago. Dawn was born in the 1980s in the city of Newark, NJ. Dawn was in foster care as a baby due to her birth parents’ struggles with addiction, and it took the state three years to officially approve her adoption because they believed an African American child should only be raised in an African American household. This was overturned when a blind psychologist observed the bond that she and her Irish Catholic adoptive parents, the McLaughlins, had for each other. She was one of eight children (five biological and three adopted) and has had a very normal childhood.
On the topic of Dawn’s adoption process:
Can you tell me a little bit more on how you got adopted?
Dawn: “At 2 months old, I was placed with my foster parents who adopted me at 3 years old.”
Do you remember if your adoptive parents told you why you were adopted?
Dawn: “Yes, my birth parents were addicts.”
Was it hard for you to find out your birth parents were addicts? If it was, how did your adoptive parents help you through that information?
Dawn: “My adoptive parents always told me that they were sick and weren’t able to take care of me. The only time it was hard for me was when I met my birth family, and everyone else stayed with other family members.”
Was your adoption an open or closed adoption?
Dawn: “I am not sure if it was an open or closed adoption. My adoptive parents always told me that if and when I wanted to find them, we could do it through counseling and take the proper actions.”
How long had your adoptive parents been thinking about adoption?
Dawn: “I am not sure how long they were thinking about adoption. They were already foster parents.”
Dawn’s adoptive parents are also my and my twin sister’s foster parents. Since the 1970s, the McLaughlin’s have fostered many children, including children outside of their own race, and Dawn loved having a multitude of different foster siblings to grow up with.
About Dawn’s adoptive parents being foster parents:
How long have your adoptive parents been foster parents?
Dawn: “I believe they started in the 1970s.”
Did you like growing up with foster siblings coming and going throughout your life?
Dawn: “Yes. I feel like they were a part of my journey. It was interesting to meet new children. Even though my adoptive parents were their foster parents, they taught us how to love and accept everyone who came in the house.”
Did other people often ask your adoptive parents why they decided to foster and adopt children outside of their race?
Dawn: “From what I remember, they have been asked about fostering and adopting. I believe they’ve always wanted to help children in their community. To be honest, I really don’t know why they started.”
Dawn has had a great childhood filled with an abundance of love and fun experiences. She loved being a part of a big, diverse family. However, there were challenges she and her adoptive family had to face from struggling with fitting in, to diversity issues, and sometimes, not being accepted by others from the outside.
Growing up being an adoptee and the challenges that came with Dawn’s adolescent years:
How do you feel about your adoption?
Dawn: “Adoption is a beautiful thing, and it’s a courageous gift for both parties.”
How was your childhood with your adoptive family?
Dawn: “My childhood was great. I lived a very normal life. I was loved by a very big, diverse family, and I was the sixth of eight siblings. Their doors were open to everyone. I was exposed to all races and went on fun trips. I was extremely fortunate.”
What was your adopted family like, personality speaking? Did you all get along most of the time with all of your family members?
Dawn: “My adoptive family’s personality was great. They are very normal. I got along with all of my adoptive family members. We got into it like all siblings do.”
How did you feel about your adoption during adolescence?
Dawn: “During my adolescent years, I had a few challenges. These challenges came from my classmates in junior high. Some of the kids were cruel and didn’t understand “my situation.” I wasn’t always accepted. Some challenges my adoptive parents had to deal with as well were those of race. It was the 80s, and the state thought it would be best for black children to stay in black homes. I didn’t feel 100% complete. It took me a while to learn about myself, my culture, my ethnicity, and my background. I felt at times that I didn’t fit in.”
How did you and your adoptive parents overcome all of those challenges?
Dawn: “My adoptive parents overcame their situations regarding race, hair, and ancestors by reaching out to their African American friends to assist. I overcame challenges by just staying true to myself.”
Was it always easy for you to talk to your adoptive parents about diversity?
Dawn: “Yes. They were always open with everything about race.”
What’s it like being an adoptee who has experienced both great and not so great experiences because of your diversity and ethnic/cultural identities?
Dawn: “To deal with great and not so great challenges with race was a learning experience. I learned about culture as I grew up. I asked questions; I also was around all races.”
There’s a lot of adoptees that could relate to your struggle about diversity, culture, and not fitting in or feeling complete. What advice would you want to give them?
Dawn: “Don’t ever feel like you can’t fit in anywhere. Stick with those that make you feel comfortable and don’t be ashamed of your family no matter how diverse/different. Family is sometimes more than DNA and blood; it’s where love is.”
Did you find your life to be easier or harder once you were adopted?
Dawn: “The McLaughlins were the only family I knew. It was always easy for me. It got harder for me when I was curious about my birth family. I had questions but wanted to find them on my own.”
Was there ever a time when you had to tackle adoption-based stereotypes?
Dawn: “I don’t recall having to tackle any issues.”
As an adult, Dawn went on a long search to find out about where her birth mother and birth father were located. Though she was discouraged, she finally was successful in finding her birth mother and also found out about her birth siblings. Her adoptive family was very supportive when they knew Dawn had found her birth family and was curious about them.
On the topic of Dawn’s birth mother and family:
Did or do you have any contact with your birth parents?
Dawn: “Yes, only on my birth mom’s side: birth mom, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was 24 years old when I met my birth mother. I had a very hard and emotional time. I only knew my adoptive mother’s love growing up. I couldn’t adjust to anything else. I did find out that I had four other siblings. I do have a good relationship with them. I work on my relationship with my birth mother on a daily basis. It is very hard. I couldn’t find any info regarding my birth dad’s side.”
You’ve mentioned that you don’t feel 100% complete. Why is that?
Dawn: “I still don’t feel 100% complete because I have so many questions still about my birth father. Even to this day, I only feel about 75%. I have accepted the fact that there are still questions that I can’t get answered regarding my birth father. This is a hard challenge that I am learning to accept.”
How did you go about the search for your birth mom?
Dawn: “I looked in the phonebook and called everyone with the last name in that town. It took about 3-4 years.”
Wow, 3-4 years?! Did you ever get discouraged trying to track her down for so long?
Dawn: “I was extremely discouraged. I called a number, and it happened to be my aunt (her sister).”
How were you feeling once you got a hold of your aunt?
Dawn: “I was beyond excited, nervous, anxious, and happy.”
When did you get to talk and see your birth mom?
Dawn: “I talked to her that night. I saw her a month after because I moved out of state.”
Was she happy to hear from you?
Dawn: “Yes.”
How about your birth siblings? How did you feel about meeting them and how did they feel about meeting you? Did they welcome you with open arms?
Dawn: “I also talked to both of my birth siblings the same night. We were all excited to speak with each other. When I met my birth family, they were very welcoming with open arms.”
Do you have any other birth brothers and sisters that were adopted?
Dawn: “Yes, I have birth siblings: a brother and sister. I had two other brothers who passed away.”
How did your adoptive family react when you found out about your birth mom and family?
Dawn: “My adoptive family’s reaction when I found out about my birth mom was positive. They were happy and curious to know all of the details about our conversation and visit.”
Dawn has always had a big, loving family, and she’s very grateful to have an adoptive family who creates fun memories, warmly welcomes all kinds of diverse individuals, and authentically accepts her for who she is. She has very positive feelings about adoption as a whole and keeps all of her loved ones close whether it’s her birth, foster, or adopted family. Despite the outside appearances, it’s clear to see how much love she and her adoptive family show one another—both inside and out.
Dawn’s feelings on adoption and favorite memories of her adoptive family:
Do you feel like being adopted has affected your relationships?
Dawn: “Yes, I feel that my adoption has affected my relationships. Family and friends are important to me. I try and maintain all healthy relationships.”
What were your favorite memories with your adoptive family?
Dawn: “My favorite memories were the summers in the pool in the backyard, trips to the state of New York, and family gatherings.”
If you could dismiss an adoption myth, what would you say?
Dawn: “The adoption myth that I would dismiss would be when you find your birth parents, it’s not like the movies; it may not have a happy ending. The vision that you have of them may not be real. Prepare yourself to be happy and/or disappointed.”
Being adopted, do you believe that having your own children has an impact on the way you see adoption?
Dawn: “After having my own children, the impact on the way I see adoption is that it is extremely courageous to make that decision for someone else to care for your child, and it’s extremely courageous to love a child as your own that you didn’t birth. I try to also do for my kids what my birth mother couldn’t do for me.”
What do you want people to know about the best thing about being an adoptee?
Dawn: “The best thing about being an adoptee is family and someone loving you as much as matched DNA.”
What three words would you use to describe your adoptive family and why?
Dawn: “Loving, welcoming, caring. They are naturally all of these things and more. I was raised in an open home policy where anyone who needed anything could come to Quinby Place.”
Being a part of your adoptive family for a short while, I—of course—know there are so many more positive words to describe the McLaughlins. Even though they were only my foster parents, they meant so much to me, and the love they’ve shown Katrice and me, I’ll never forget it. Wanting to end this article on a very positive note, what other words would you use to describe your amazing adoptive family?
Dawn: “Forgiving, embracing, nonjudgmental, understanding, fun, large, and diverse.”
Kandice Confer
Kandice is an adopted twin, wife, and mother of two girls who loves spending time with her family and two rabbits. She loves reading and writing inspirational works of literature and loves telling stories.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3046
|
__label__cc
| 0.716934
| 0.283066
|
Category: social justice
Day 6: The Leadership of Indigenous People
On October 12, 2020 By AnnIn Earth care, Letters to Septanna, social justiceLeave a comment
Today is Monday, Tanna, and this particular Monday is an observed national holiday. Like many things taken for granted when I was a child, there is considerable contention surrounding this second Monday in October.
Long recognized as “Columbus Day,” it celebrates the historic voyage by Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. His destination was the far east and he gambled they would not sail off the edge of the world. And he was right. Earth is spherical. However, it’s much larger than he conjectured. He assumed he’d landed in India, when in reality, he anchored his ship in a cove off a Caribbean Island, the one we recognize today as Cuba.
But, in my school days, we all learned, “Columbus discovered America.”
The irony of this misleading historical fake fact is that he, himself, never set foot anywhere on the North American continent. He gets credit for discovery, however, even though the islands and the continents of the western hemisphere were occupied already by well-established cultures of native people.
Those he met at the end of his voyage must surely be residents of India, he reasoned. And so, though they were already known to each other by many other names, the First Peoples of North America came to be known as Indians.
This misappropriation became ludicrous in my mind the year I actually visited India and met genuine Indians. Since then, I resist the notion to call our indigenous nations by that term. Ojibway, Seminole, Cherokee, Choctaw, Kaw, Ponca, Apache, Lakota, Arapahoe, Tlingit, Haida, Hopi, Navajo (to name but a few)—each group formed its own nation with its own economy, culture, and government. The influx of Europeans ignored the autonomy of natives. European arrogance and entitlement have led to centuries of conflict and bloodshed.
Today there is a movement to recognize the dignity of the remaining indigenous populations, not only here, but indigenous people around the world. And that traditional holiday celebrating Columbus is now recognized in many hearts, and a few states and municipalities, as Indigenous People Day.
Our recognition and respect go far beyond one day, though. As the plight of our planet grows ever more dire, indigenous people raise their cry of dissention—and many others join them. Books on the native ways are available. Panels of indigenous leaders offer international online seminars in which the panelists share thoughts, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for moving forward.
I am listening. Perhaps in your day, Tanna, the Columbus celebrations will have retreated to a distant corner, like a demoralized dog, head down and tail between its legs.
Native peoples on every continent lead the way in our infant efforts to bind ourselves intimately with the natural world. Thomas Berry recognized this in his writings. “We have even forgotten our primordial capacity for language at the elementary level of song and dance.” He went on to point out how native Americans revere our wild neighbors through their musical and chanting ceremonies.
“One of the significant historical roles of the primal people of the world,” Berry wrote in The Dream of the Earth, “is to call the entire civilized world back to a more authentic mode of being. [Native peoples] are emerging as one of our surest guides into a viable future.”
Tanna, I struggle for words to describe what’s in my heart when Berry refers to native music from the wild places. One panel I experienced during the heat of this COVID summer included indigenous women of all ages, and from varied locations in the western hemisphere. The Ecuadorian woman, Patricia Gualinga, mentioned how the meetings her people hold always start with music, to create harmony, and that all participants—male or female, young or old—are treated with the same respect and consideration. All are equal in their councils.
Strangely, this draws my mind to our District 79 state representative race. Ken White, the man challenging the conservative incumbent, is a musician. He shows up at campaign events with a guitar strapped to his shoulders. And I think to myself, It wouldn’t hurt to bring a little music to ease the tension in our statehouse.
Happy Indigenous People Day, Tanna! I hope that in your time, it is without question or contention the focus of an October holiday. To the leaders of the people so long abused by our national and state policies, I say, “Lead on. It’s your turn now.”
And I truly hope they help us find the way back to a thriving relationship with the natural world.
Pardon me now, as I head off on my own private walk in celebration of Indigenous People Day, an effort publicized online as the Rising Hearts Run/Walk, located anywhere on Turtle Island.
With enduring love,
Your Seventh Generation Grandmother
Day 4: Hot Buttons and Getting Hotter
On October 9, 2020 October 9, 2020 By AnnIn Letters to Septanna, Loss and Grief, Nature, social justiceLeave a comment
Dear Tanna,
The top priority in changing the course of our nation for some people is to abolish abortion. But I don’t think it’s that simple. Abortion is not an either/or issue, not simply “yes” or “no.” It’s not black and white. There are many shades of gray. There always are with complicated issues.
For me, the environment is the hot button issue. Exploitation, degradation, and destruction of the natural systems we all rely on for basic necessities are the biggest problems we face. Environmental destruction will destroy us, if we don’t hearken to the urgency. And then it won’t matter if women can govern their own bodies, or if we can shop for the latest fashions, or a new car, or even if we have enough to eat.
It. Won’t. Matter.
My love of the natural world goes back to my childhood. We traveled and camped every chance we had, all over the western states. I hope, Tanna, that you will have access to the amazing redwood forests like I did. I hope you will experience awe as you look over magnificent mountain scenes, canyons, rivers, and oceans of grass. This is truly a remarkable land and I hope we find the ingenuity—and the will—to preserve it far beyond your generation. Like every other child, you deserve the chance to feel wonder at the annual butterfly migrations, to catch your breath when an unexpected wild visitor turns your head, to watch a white-tailed deer chew its cud, to fill your lungs with fresh, clean air in an autumn breeze.
The concern for our wanton destruction and exploitation of nature is not new. It was well documented before I was born. By the time I entered college, there were ecology classes focused on our careless destruction of the natural world, and what that would inevitably mean to every living thing on the planet.
We are some of those living things.
To me, nature is teacher and healer, a holy place where I retreat to seek the divine. Nature can be that for you, also, if you learn how to listen.
I once watched an exhausted moose lunge through shoulder-deep snow and I learned the dangers of choosing an easy path. In a downpour I heard the rain plummet from the heavens and it spoke to me of cycles in life. I watched a family of ducks chase madly from one point to another and back again and I saw human fads and opinions mirror the whimsical parade of a flock of ducks. I watched my best friend waste away in a losing battle with cancer and I understood how the growing demands of humanity sap the vitality of our home planet in a similar fashion. Meadowlarks leapt into the wind so they might gain lift and fly away. And I learned I must face the adversities in my life before I could ever rise above them. A stately and beautiful tree crashed to the ground in tornado-strength straight line winds, and whispered that sometimes our roots will not be able to support us against a barrage of adversity. Messages arrive on the dust of a sunbeam and the wings of the wind.
Long ago, I read books by Thor Heyerdahl. One was titled Fatu Hiva: Back to Nature. In the narrative of his return to simple life on a remote island, he described the music he found in nature. “There is fine music everywhere in nature between moss-covered stones and foliage. . .The lights, the colors, the sounds, the perfumes, the touch, the shapes were never the same, and were always playing on our minds like a vast orchestra. We could hardly take in more music—and I do not mean the singing of birds and the tinkling of a rivulet: . . .I mean music beyond the eardrums. We have had to create flutes and violins to leave impressions deeper in than the eardrums, where nature used to play.”
The musician inside me revels in the symphony of nature. I have delighted in taking piano students (and a grand piano) to outdoor recitals where every piece they played showed a musical glimpse of nature. Everything we humans have created has its source in nature, one way or another. I cannot find words to describe that inner union of my consciousness with the constant prairie symphony in my backyard. Without nature, I would be nothing.
Nature is not exactly constant. It is, if anything, constantly changing, providing variety in daily life. Even the sky presents many faces and no two are the same. We see a lot of sky out here above the prairie. It is our grandiose landscape. Clouds provide our mountains, the earth propels us forward, and the view changes hourly.
From observing my grandchildren, I realize fresh eyes see things as new and wondrous, no matter how much they have changed in my lifetime. My wish for my grandchildren—times seven generations and more—is that they never lose a sense of wonder. Natural processes continue. Even the Earth’s response to humanity’s bludgeoning of the biosphere is Nature’s way to restore a sort of balance. What will emerge from this process is something I can’t imagine, but will be awesome in its own right. Perhaps your generation, if there is one, Tanna, will be able to answer that question.
In the evolution of homo sapiens, our intellect seems to have surpassed our compassion. We have developed the ability to manipulate the physical world—to the point where we even create earthquakes—but not the will or the heart to care enough to halt in our tracks and find another path, a better path, a path that leads to sustainability and life for future generations.
Currently I am dealing with a sense of profound loss for what I once knew the natural world to be. In some ways, this can be compared to the radical loss a person feels after the death of a spouse and soulmate. The loss of a spouse is a radical loss, tearing a hole in the fabric of your being. You not only have lost a person, a partner, and a friend, you have lost a marriage, a relationship, the shared experiences, the dreams and plans you made together. Everything—Yes EVERYTHING—has changed.
What do you do? Widowhood can become a very empty place. In some respects, the changes occurring on Earth are like witnessing the last agonized moments of a beloved soulmate. Many of us are grieving already, to the point where we are paralyzed by hopelessness and inaction.
Grief is not possible without love. And, perhaps, love is not possible without grief. If you never feel sad, lonely, or in despair, you will never appreciate the times you feel ecstatic and joyful. I treasure the joyful memories of a vibrant natural world. The process of working through the sense of loss makes me wonder many things. Are things so far gone that there is no hope? In our final attempts to right the wrongs of humanity toward nature, are we merely playing as hospice workers in a futile attempt to ease that final decline?
“Hospice care is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for those who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness.” How can one person provide this kind of care for an entire dying planet? How can thousands of us? Millions? How can we restore quality to the living systems surrounding us?
That is a huge question. I think the answer begins with hope. And I will tell you more about that tomorrow.
With my enduring love,
Day 3: Of Love and Wind, Two Recurring Themes
On October 8, 2020 October 12, 2020 By AnnIn Activism, books, Earth care, Letters to Septanna, memoir, social justiceLeave a comment
Considering the power of love, scattered on the Wind of the Spirit, there was John Lewis, another hero who passed from this life on July 17 this past summer. All the publicity since George Floyd’s murder in late May–the demonstrations against police violence, Black Lives Matter, racism, and white privilege–bring social inequities front and center. With each successive generation, the wounds re-open. We were all reminded of John Lewis’s struggle to grant basic civil rights to all American citizens when he died. Our local library selected his memoir as part of the adult summer reading selection. With a Zoom meeting planned that included Lewis’s co-author Michael D’Orso, a man Lewis claimed was like a brother to him in the book’s introduction, I wanted to participate.
The book itself was daunting, 503 pages of relatively small print. But the metaphor in the prologue hooked me, a description of a wind storm Lewis experienced as a preschool boy. The wind blew so strong it lifted a corner of the shack his sharecropper aunt and uncle lived in. Harboring in the shack with his aunt and fifteen cousins, they held hands and walked from corner to corner, bringing the house down to the ground when the wind began to lift it. That became the metaphor for his life, and provided the title for his book, Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement.
Lewis was a teenager by the time I showed up in the world. I remember the events of the civil rights struggle of the early 60s as a child overhearing her parents discuss the nightly news. It was not until I read this book almost six decades later that I fully realized what had occurred during those years.
The chapters in the memoir flowed, easy to read. It was like sitting with John Lewis over coffee and listening to him tell about his life. And what a life! He personally knew the key players. John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr.
He told of the first time he heard MLK give a sermon on the radio. It was titled, “Paul’s Letter to American Christians.”
Wouldn’t it be cool, I thought, to read King’s words? An online search for his sermons produced a website—www.kinginstitute.stanford.edu—that includes his entire collection of sermons. So I did read “Paul’s Letter to American Christians,” in the year 2020.
Lewis was a key figure in all the civil rights actions: the restaurant sit-ins, freedom rides, marches, Selma’s Bloody Sunday, the efforts to safely register black people as voters. His premise was aligned with Ghandi and Nelson Mandela, a non-violent protest. Love your neighbor, even those who beat on you.
Why? We may ask.
Because they are victims of this unjust system too.
Imagine the strength of character needed to love someone who was busting your head open with a wooden club. How could a person manage that? Lewis shared one of his secrets. You imagine the oppressor as an infant, a precious child of God.
I was struck by the uncanny parallels to today’s social and political climate. Lewis, a genuine and unassuming man, shared lessons he’d learned from MLK. “People who hunger for fame don’t realize that if they’re in the spotlight today, somebody else will be tomorrow. Fame never lasts. The work you do, the things you accomplish—that’s what endures. That’s what really means something.”
Does this remind me of anyone in the spotlight today? Absolutely.
What rights are guaranteed by the Civil Rights Act of the late 60s? 1) The right to vote. 2) The right to a fair trial. 3) The right to receive government services. 4) The right to use public facilities. and 5) The right to a public education.
Sounds pretty basic to me, but for ages, a significant portion of our population was denied these rights. After the legislation, new practices skirting the edges effectively denied the same people basic human dignities others take for granted.
Has this changed in the 200 years separating you and me, Tanna? I desperately hope so. I hope that your generation experiences the blessings of Martin Luther King’s Beloved Community. Lewis never lost sight of the vision—one people, one family, one house, one nation. As a congressman from Georgia for the last years of his life, he answered to his conscience and worked toward policies that would benefit all people.
The last chapter in his memoir was a summary and a wish. “Onward” described the challenges he faced during the time when he wrote the book—1998—but it could well have been written during this last summer of 2020. The struggle for civil rights, for civility itself to be extended to all citizens in our country, indeed to all of the world’s inhabitants, seems never to end. Each generation must carry on and must learn and appreciate the sacrifices and struggles of the generations before. Slowly we may approach an equitable society, a new global economy that values not only human players, but the finite resources provided by our planet.
John Lewis devoted his entire life to a movement he firmly believed continued decades beyond the demonstrations of the 1960s. “I came to Congress with a legacy to uphold, with a commitment to carry on the spirit, the goals and the principles of nonviolence, social action, and a truly interracial democracy.
“We must realize that we are all in this together,” he said. “Not as black or white, Not as rich or poor. Not even as Americans or ‘non’ Americans. But as human beings. . .The next frontier for America lies in the direction of our spiritual strength as a community. . . It is not just materially or militarily that we must measure our might, but morally. . .”
“It does not profit a nation to gain the world if we must lose our soul—which includes our compassion. . . ”
“The alternative to reaching out is to allow the gaps between us to grow, and this is something we simply cannot afford to do. . . ”
“That sense of caring and sharing that makes us a society and not just a collection of isolated individuals living behind locked doors must never be lost, or it will be the end of us as a nation. . .”
I wonder, Septanna, how healthy is the nation in your day? How healthy is the planet?
John Lewis, a great man, concluded his final chapter with these words, “Talk is fine. Discussion is fine. But we must respond. We must act . . . As a nation, we must move our feet, our hands, our hearts, our resources to build and not to tear down, to reconcile and not to divide, to love and not to hate, to heal and not to kill. In the final analysis, we are one people, one family, one house. . .”
Tanna, this is what’s at stake even now, two decades after Lewis published his memoir. This has been a hard chapter for me to write. I have struggled with it for weeks. How do I, an ordinary grandmother living in conservative rural Kansas, attempt to share what this man’s life has planted in my own heart? It’s too important not to try, though. So I offer these thoughts in honor of John Lewis. I desperately hope that he and other notable leaders we lost during the last few months—George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,—will lend their essences to our continuing struggle for securing human dignity and basic rights for all.
And, Tanna, I hope that, two hundred years from now, you will realize the results of our efforts.
With enduring hope and love,
Your seventh-generation grandmother
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3048
|
__label__cc
| 0.607611
| 0.392389
|
Position ID: Cornell-MPH-INSTRUCTOR [#12770]
Position Title: Public Health Instructor (part-or full-time)
Position Type: Non tenure-track faculty
Position Location: Ithaca, New York 14853, United States [map]
Subject Areas: Curriculum and Instruction
Food Inequality and Insecurity
Appl Deadline: 2018/12/15 11:59PM ** finished (2018/11/15, finished 2019/06/16, listed until 2019/05/14)
*** this position has been closed and new applications are no longer being accepted. ***
* this map is a best-effort approximation. Open in Google Maps directly.
The candidate(s), in partnership with the MPH Program leadership, will have responsibility for teaching and mentoring a cohort of MPH students in formal classroom settings, via lectures and case-based learning, and field-based integrated learning. Some effort will be allocated for extramural public health service and engagement (allowing the candidates to be involved in public health practice work), and some effort may be allocated for scholarly activities, including primary or collaborative public health research, publication of case series or case reports and book chapters, as well as service to the college and professional associations.
The Instructor(s) will work with students in one of two of the concentration areas to help ensure student learning and application of knowledge and skills in case-based scenarios and real-world experiences. This will include teaching parts of the suite of already existing applied public health courses, and mentoring students in their multi-semester applied and community-engaged project work centered on the core functions of public health: Assessment, Program/Policy Planning, Program Monitoring/Evaluation/Performance Improvement. The Instructor(s) will also mentor students through their Capstone Project.
Public Health Instructor (part- or full-time)
Cornell University is looking for one-to-two Instructor(s) (part-time or full time) for the Master in Public Health (MPH) program. MPH program details are listed here: www.publichealth.cornell.edu. The instructor(s) will work with students in one of two of the concentration areas to help ensure student learning and application of knowledge and skills in case-based scenarios and real-world experiences. This will include teaching parts of the suite of already existing applied public health courses, and mentoring students in their multi-semester applied and community-engaged project work centered on the core functions of public health: Assessment, Program/Policy Planning, Program Monitoring/Evaluation/Performance Improvement. The instructor(s) will also mentor students through their Capstone Project.
The ideal candidate(s) will have: • A MPH (or similar degree) • At least five years of practical and relevant applied public health experience, such as working in a health department, working with a health agency, or working in a community-based organization planning and implementing public health programs. Candidates with additional professional (DrPH, DVM, MD, RN, RD, etc.) or research (PhD) degrees may be preferred, and may be exempt from two years of experience. • Experience teaching, mentoring, or building capacity, particularly related to public health (students, workforce, community collaborators) • Experience in the essential services of public health: assessing needs, measuring gaps, designing interventions, implementing programs, evaluating program, developing coalitions, leading teams, etc. • Interest in, and experience related to one of our two concentration areas:
o Infectious Disease Epidemiology, in which students learn how viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases transmit and cause disease in populations; explore control and diagnostic measures for infectious disease prevention and management; gain hands-on opportunities in infectious disease tracking and epidemiology; and engage in systems thinking to address established and emerging infectious diseases using One Health perspective. Students become prepared to address both established and emerging infectious diseases that have global, national and local impact on Public Health.
o Food Systems and Health, in which students learn to take a systems approach to assess and coordinate policies or interventions that ensure safe and sustainable land use, food production, food storage, food processing, food delivery, and consumption. This includes training in toxicology, food safety, food and water security, and/or nutrition. Students learn how to engage local and global communities to assess systems or needs, develop interventions from a One Health approach, and lead monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure public health needs are being met.
The candidate(s), in partnership with the MPH Program leadership, will have responsibility for teaching and mentoring a cohort of MPH students in formal classroom settings, via case-based learning, and field-based integrated learning. Some effort will be allocated for extramural public health service and engagement (allowing the candidates to be involved in public health practice work), and some effort may be allocated for scholarly activities, including primary or collaborative public health research, publication of case series or case reports and book chapters, as well as service to the college and professional associations.
These are non-tenure track faculty appointments, and may be offered at full time, or part-time with the possibility of growth. Joint appointments will be considered. Salary and title will be commensurate with credentials and experience.
For more information about this position or the search, contact Gen Meredith, Search Committee Chair, gmeredith@cornell.edu. Prospective candidates should upload their application materials (a one-to-two page personal statement summarizing their experience, concentration area of interest, and potential contribution to the MPH program; contributions to inclusion and diversity; curriculum vitae; and contact information for three professional references) to Academic Jobs Online (AJO) job #12770.
What is a Statement of Contribution to Diversity? A statement invites applicants to describe their past, present, and/or future aspirations to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their careers as researchers and educators, and/or to convey how they see these commitments continuing at Cornell. Such articulation can focus on teaching, research, or service, or all of three factors.
Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. The University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples and has a Dual Career program to assist with dual career searches.
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is recognized internationally as a leader in public health, biomedical research, animal medicine, and veterinary medical education. It has been consistently ranked as a top veterinary college in the nation by US News & World Report since 2000.
Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and an exceptional place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the new Cornell Tech campus to be built on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.
Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.
Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
Three references (no actual letters, just names and email addresses )
And anything else requested in the position description.
Further Info:
https://publichealth.cornell.edu/
Cornell Master of Public Health
S2005 Schurman Hall
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3058
|
__label__wiki
| 0.952931
| 0.952931
|
Bloomberg – Secret Fed Loans Helped Banks Net $13 Billion
November 27, 2011 · by aceloewgold · in Economics, Federal Reserve · Leave a comment
Secret Fed Loans Helped Banks Net $13 Billion
By Bob Ivry, Bradley Keoun and Phil Kuntz – Nov 27, 2011
Bloomberg Markets Magazine
The Federal Reserve and the big banks fought for more than two years to keep details of the largest bailout inU.S. history a secret. Now, the rest of the world can see what it was missing.
The Fed didn’t tell anyone which banks were in trouble so deep they required a combined $1.2 trillion on Dec. 5, 2008, their single neediest day. Bankers didn’t mention that they took tens of billions of dollars in emergency loans at the same time they were assuring investors their firms were healthy. And no one calculated until now that banks reaped an estimated $13 billion of income by taking advantage of the Fed’s below-market rates, Bloomberg Markets magazine reports in its January issue.
Saved by the bailout, bankers lobbied against government regulations, a job made easier by the Fed, which never disclosed the details of the rescue to lawmakers even as Congress doled out more money and debated new rules aimed at preventing the next collapse.
A fresh narrative of the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 emerges from 29,000 pages of Fed documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and central bank records of more than 21,000 transactions. While Fed officials say that almost all of the loans were repaid and there have been no losses, details suggest taxpayers paid a price beyond dollars as the secret funding helped preserve a broken status quo and enabled the biggest banks to grow even bigger.
‘Change Their Votes’
“When you see the dollars the banks got, it’s hard to make the case these were successful institutions,” says Sherrod Brown, a Democratic Senator from Ohio who in 2010 introduced an unsuccessful bill to limit bank size. “This is an issue that can unite the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street. There are lawmakers in both parties who would change their votes now.”
The size of the bailout came to light after Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, won a court case against the Fed and a group of the biggestU.S.banks called Clearing House Association LLC to force lending details into the open.
The Fed, headed by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, argued that revealing borrower details would create a stigma — investors and counterparties would shun firms that used the central bank as lender of last resort — and that needy institutions would be reluctant to borrow in the next crisis. Clearing House Association fought Bloomberg’s lawsuit up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the banks’ appeal in March 2011.
$7.77 Trillion
The amount of money the central bank parceled out was surprising even to Gary H. Stern, president of the Federal Reserve Bank ofMinneapolisfrom 1985 to 2009, who says he “wasn’t aware of the magnitude.” It dwarfed the Treasury Department’s better-known $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. Add up guarantees and lending limits, and the Fed had committed $7.77 trillion as of March 2009 to rescuing the financial system, more than half the value of everything produced in theU.S.that year.
“TARP at least had some strings attached,” says Brad Miller, a North Carolina Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, referring to the program’s executive-pay ceiling. “With the Fed programs, there was nothing.”
Bankers didn’t disclose the extent of their borrowing. On Nov. 26, 2008, then-Bank of America (BAC) Corp. Chief Executive Officer Kenneth D. Lewis wrote to shareholders that he headed “one of the strongest and most stable major banks in the world.” He didn’t say that his Charlotte, North Carolina-based firm owed the central bank $86 billion that day.
‘Motivate Others’
JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon told shareholders in a March 26, 2010, letter that his bank used the Fed’s Term Auction Facility “at the request of the Federal Reserve to help motivate others to use the system.” He didn’t say that the New York-based bank’s total TAF borrowings were almost twice its cash holdings or that its peak borrowing of $48 billion on Feb. 26, 2009, came more than a year after the program’s creation.
Howard Opinsky, a spokesman for JPMorgan (JPM), declined to comment about Dimon’s statement or the company’s Fed borrowings. Jerry Dubrowski, a spokesman for Bank of America, also declined to comment.
The Fed has been lending money to banks through its so- called discount window since just after its founding in 1913. Starting in August 2007, when confidence in banks began to wane, it created a variety of ways to bolster the financial system with cash or easily traded securities. By the end of 2008, the central bank had established or expanded 11 lending facilities catering to banks, securities firms and corporations that couldn’t get short-term loans from their usual sources.
‘Core Function’
“Supporting financial-market stability in times of extreme market stress is a core function of central banks,” says William B. English, director of the Fed’s Division of Monetary Affairs. “Our lending programs served to prevent a collapse of the financial system and to keep credit flowing to American families and businesses.”
The Fed has said that all loans were backed by appropriate collateral. That the central bank didn’t lose money should “lead to praise of the Fed, that they took this extraordinary step and they got it right,” says Phillip Swagel, a former assistant Treasury secretary under Henry M. Paulson and now a professor of international economic policy at the University of Maryland.
The Fed initially released lending data in aggregate form only. Information on which banks borrowed, when, how much and at what interest rate was kept from public view.
The secrecy extended even to members of President George W. Bush’s administration who managed TARP. Top aides to Paulson weren’t privy to Fed lending details during the creation of the program that provided crisis funding to more than 700 banks, say two former senior Treasury officials who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak.
The Treasury Department relied on the recommendations of the Fed to decide which banks were healthy enough to get TARP money and how much, the former officials say. The six biggestU.S.banks, which received $160 billion of TARP funds, borrowed as much as $460 billion from the Fed, measured by peak daily debt calculated by Bloomberg using data obtained from the central bank. Paulson didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The six — JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup Inc. (C), Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Morgan Stanley — accounted for 63 percent of the average daily debt to the Fed by all publicly traded U.S. banks, money managers and investment- services firms, the data show. By comparison, they had about half of the industry’s assets before the bailout, which lasted from August 2007 through April 2010. The daily debt figure excludes cash that banks passed along to money-market funds.
Bank Supervision
While the emergency response prevented financial collapse, the Fed shouldn’t have allowed conditions to get to that point, says Joshua Rosner, a banking analyst with Graham Fisher & Co. in New York who predicted problems from lax mortgage underwriting as far back as 2001. The Fed, the primary supervisor for large financial companies, should have been more vigilant as the housing bubble formed, and the scale of its lending shows the “supervision of the banks prior to the crisis was far worse than we had imagined,” Rosner says.
Bernanke in an April 2009 speech said that the Fed provided emergency loans only to “sound institutions,” even though its internal assessments described at least one of the biggest borrowers, Citigroup, as “marginal.”
On Jan. 14, 2009, six days before the company’s central bank loans peaked, the New York Fed gave CEO Vikram Pandit a report declaring Citigroup’s financial strength to be “superficial,” bolstered largely by its $45 billion of Treasury funds. The document was released in early 2011 by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, a panel empowered by Congress to probe the causes of the crisis.
‘Need Transparency’
Andrea Priest, a spokeswoman for the New York Fed, declined to comment, as did Jon Diat, a spokesman for Citigroup.
“I believe that the Fed should have independence in conducting highly technical monetary policy, but when they are putting taxpayer resources at risk, we need transparency and accountability,” says Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
Judd Gregg, a formerNew Hampshiresenator who was a lead Republican negotiator on TARP, and Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who chaired the House Financial Services Committee, both say they were kept in the dark.
“We didn’t know the specifics,” says Gregg, who’s now an adviser to Goldman Sachs.
“We were aware emergency efforts were going on,” Frank says. “We didn’t know the specifics.”
Disclose Lending
Frank co-sponsored the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, billed as a fix for financial-industry excesses. Congress debated that legislation in 2010 without a full understanding of how deeply the banks had depended on the Fed for survival.
It would have been “totally appropriate” to disclose the lending data by mid-2009, says David Jones, a former economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York who has written four books about the central bank.
“The Fed is the second-most-important appointed body in theU.S., next to the Supreme Court, and we’re dealing with a democracy,” Jones says. “Our representatives in Congress deserve to have this kind of information so they can oversee the Fed.”
The Dodd-Frank law required the Fed to release details of some emergency-lending programs in December 2010. It also mandated disclosure of discount-window borrowers after a two- year lag.
Protecting TARP
TARP and the Fed lending programs went “hand in hand,” says Sherrill Shaffer, a banking professor at theUniversityofWyominginLaramieand a former chief economist at the New York Fed. While the TARP money helped insulate the central bank from losses, the Fed’s willingness to supply seemingly unlimited financing to the banks assured they wouldn’t collapse, protecting the Treasury’s TARP investments, he says.
“Even though the Treasury was in the headlines, the Fed was really behind the scenes engineering it,” Shaffer says.
Congress, at the urging of Bernanke and Paulson, created TARP in October 2008 after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. made it difficult for financial institutions to get loans. Bank of America and New York-based Citigroup each received $45 billion from TARP. At the time, both were tapping the Fed. Citigroup hit its peak borrowing of $99.5 billion in January 2009, while Bank of America topped out in February 2009 at $91.4 billion.
Lawmakers knew none of this.
They had no clue that one bank, New York-based Morgan Stanley (MS), took $107 billion in Fed loans in September 2008, enough to pay off one-tenth of the country’s delinquent mortgages. The firm’s peak borrowing occurred the same day Congress rejected the proposed TARP bill, triggering the biggest point drop ever in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (INDU) The bill later passed, and Morgan Stanley got $10 billion of TARP funds, though Paulson said only “healthy institutions” were eligible.
MarkLake, a spokesman for Morgan Stanley, declined to comment, as did spokesmen for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
Had lawmakers known, it “could have changed the whole approach to reform legislation,” says Ted Kaufman, a former Democratic Senator fromDelawarewho, with Brown, introduced the bill to limit bank size.
Kaufman says some banks are so big that their failure could trigger a chain reaction in the financial system. The cost of borrowing for so-called too-big-to-fail banks is lower than that of smaller firms because lenders believe the government won’t let them go under. The perceived safety net creates what economists call moral hazard — the belief that bankers will take greater risks because they’ll enjoy any profits while shifting losses to taxpayers.
If Congress had been aware of the extent of the Fed rescue, Kaufman says, he would have been able to line up more support for breaking up the biggest banks.
Byron L. Dorgan, a former Democratic senator fromNorth Dakota, says the knowledge might have helped pass legislation to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, which for most of the last century separated customer deposits from the riskier practices of investment banking.
“Had people known about the hundreds of billions in loans to the biggest financial institutions, they would have demanded Congress take much more courageous actions to stop the practices that caused this near financial collapse,” says Dorgan, who retired in January.
Getting Bigger
Instead, the Fed and its secret financing helpedAmerica’s biggest financial firms get bigger and go on to pay employees as much as they did at the height of the housing bubble.
Total assets held by the six biggestU.S. banks increased 39 percent to $9.5 trillion on Sept. 30, 2011, from $6.8 trillion on the same day in 2006, according to Fed data.
For so few banks to hold so many assets is “un-American,” says Richard W. Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank ofDallas. “All of these gargantuan institutions are too big to regulate. I’m in favor of breaking them up and slimming them down.”
Employees at the six biggest banks made twice the average for allU.S.workers in 2010, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics hourly compensation cost data. The banks spent $146.3 billion on compensation in 2010, or an average of $126,342 per worker, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s up almost 20 percent from five years earlier compared with less than 15 percent for the average worker. Average pay at the banks in 2010 was about the same as in 2007, before the bailouts.
‘Wanted to Pretend’
“The pay levels came back so fast at some of these firms that it appeared they really wanted to pretend they hadn’t been bailed out,” says Anil Kashyap, a former Fed economist who’s now a professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. “They shouldn’t be surprised that a lot of people find some of the stuff that happened totally outrageous.”
Bank of America took over Merrill Lynch & Co. at the urging of then-Treasury Secretary Paulson after buying the biggestU.S.home lender, Countrywide Financial Corp. When the Merrill Lynch purchase was announced on Sept. 15, 2008, Bank of America had $14.4 billion in emergency Fed loans and Merrill Lynch had $8.1 billion. By the end of the month, Bank of America’s loans had reached $25 billion and Merrill Lynch’s had exceeded $60 billion, helping both firms keep the deal on track.
Prevent Collapse
Wells Fargo bought Wachovia Corp., the fourth-largest U.S. bank by deposits before the 2008 acquisition. Because depositors were pulling their money from Wachovia, the Fed channeled $50 billion in secret loans to the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank through two emergency-financing programs to prevent collapse before Wells Fargo could complete the purchase.
“These programs proved to be very successful at providing financial markets the additional liquidity and confidence they needed at a time of unprecedented uncertainty,” says Ancel Martinez, a spokesman for Wells Fargo.
JPMorgan absorbed the country’s largest savings and loan, Seattle-based Washington Mutual Inc., and investment bank Bear Stearns Cos. The New York Fed, then headed by Timothy F. Geithner, who’s now Treasury secretary, helped JPMorgan complete the Bear Stearns deal by providing $29 billion of financing, which was disclosed at the time. The Fed also supplied Bear Stearns with $30 billion of secret loans to keep the company from failing before the acquisition closed, central bank data show. The loans were made through a program set up to provide emergency funding to brokerage firms.
‘Regulatory Discretion’
“Some might claim that the Fed was picking winners and losers, but what the Fed was doing was exercising its professional regulatory discretion,” says John Dearie, a former speechwriter at the New York Fed who’s now executive vice president for policy at the Financial Services Forum, a Washington-based group consisting of the CEOs of 20 of the world’s biggest financial firms. “The Fed clearly felt it had what it needed within the requirements of the law to continue to lend to Bear and Wachovia.”
The bill introduced by Brown and Kaufman in April 2010 would have mandated shrinking the six largest firms.
“When a few banks have advantages, the little guys get squeezed,” Brown says. “That, to me, is not what capitalism should be.”
Kaufman says he’s passionate about curbing too-big-to-fail banks because he fears another crisis.
‘Can We Survive?’
“The amount of pain that people, through no fault of their own, had to endure — and the prospect of putting them through it again — is appalling,” Kaufman says. “The public has no more appetite for bailouts. What would happen tomorrow if one of these big banks got in trouble? Can we survive that?”
Lobbying expenditures by the six banks that would have been affected by the legislation rose to $29.4 million in 2010 compared with $22.1 million in 2006, the last full year before credit markets seized up — a gain of 33 percent, according to OpenSecrets.org, a research group that tracks money inU.S. politics. Lobbying by the American Bankers Association, a trade organization, increased at about the same rate, OpenSecrets.org reported.
Lobbyists argued the virtues of bigger banks. They’re more stable, better able to serve large companies and more competitive internationally, and breaking them up would cost jobs and cause “long-term damage to the U.S. economy,” according to a Nov. 13, 2009, letter to members of Congress from the FSF.
The group’s website cites Nobel Prize-winning economist Oliver E. Williamson, a professor emeritus at the University of California,Berkeley, for demonstrating the greater efficiency of large companies.
‘Serious Burden’
In an interview, Williamson says that the organization took his research out of context and that efficiency is only one factor in deciding whether to preserve too-big-to-fail banks.
“The banks that were too big got even bigger, and the problems that we had to begin with are magnified in the process,” Williamson says. “The big banks have incentives to take risks they wouldn’t take if they didn’t have government support. It’s a serious burden on the rest of the economy.”
Dearie says his group didn’t mean to imply that Williamson endorsed big banks.
Top officials in President Barack Obama’s administration sided with the FSF in arguing against legislative curbs on the size of banks.
Geithner, Kaufman
On May 4, 2010, Geithner visited Kaufman in his Capitol Hill office. As president of the New York Fed in 2007 and 2008, Geithner helped design and run the central bank’s lending programs. The New York Fed supervised four of the six biggestU.S.banks and, during the credit crunch, put together a daily confidential report on Wall Street’s financial condition. Geithner was copied on these reports, based on a sampling of e- mails released by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.
At the meeting with Kaufman, Geithner argued that the issue of limiting bank size was too complex for Congress and that people who know the markets should handle these decisions, Kaufman says. According to Kaufman, Geithner said he preferred that bank supervisors from around the world, meeting inBasel,Switzerland, make rules increasing the amount of money banks need to hold in reserve. Passing laws in theU.S.would undercut his efforts inBasel, Geithner said, according to Kaufman.
Anthony Coley, a spokesman for Geithner, declined to comment.
‘Punishing Success’
Lobbyists for the big banks made the winning case that forcing them to break up was “punishing success,” Brown says. Now that they can see how much the banks were borrowing from the Fed, senators might think differently, he says.
The Fed supported curbing too-big-to-fail banks, including giving regulators the power to close large financial firms and implementing tougher supervision for big banks, says Fed General Counsel Scott G. Alvarez. The Fed didn’t take a position on whether large banks should be dismantled before they get into trouble.
Dodd-Frank does provide a mechanism for regulators to break up the biggest banks. It established the Financial Stability Oversight Council that could order teetering banks to shut down in an orderly way. The council is headed by Geithner.
“Dodd-Frank does not solve the problem of too big to fail,” says Shelby, the Alabama Republican. “Moral hazard and taxpayer exposure still very much exist.”
Below Market
Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research inWashington, says banks “were either in bad shape or taking advantage of the Fed giving them a good deal. The former contradicts their public statements. The latter — getting loans at below-market rates during a financial crisis — is quite a gift.”
The Fed says it typically makes emergency loans more expensive than those available in the marketplace to discourage banks from abusing the privilege. During the crisis, Fed loans were among the cheapest around, with funding available for as low as 0.01 percent in December 2008, according to data from the central bank and money-market rates tracked by Bloomberg.
The Fed funds also benefited firms by allowing them to avoid selling assets to pay investors and depositors who pulled their money. So the assets stayed on the banks’ books, earning interest.
Banks report the difference between what they earn on loans and investments and their borrowing expenses. The figure, known as net interest margin, provides a clue to how much profit the firms turned on their Fed loans, the costs of which were included in those expenses. To calculate how much banks stood to make, Bloomberg multiplied their tax-adjusted net interest margins by their average Fed debt during reporting periods in which they took emergency loans.
Added Income
The 190 firms for which data were available would have produced income of $13 billion, assuming all of the bailout funds were invested at the margins reported, the data show.
The six biggestU.S.banks’ share of the estimated subsidy was $4.8 billion, or 23 percent of their combined net income during the time they were borrowing from the Fed. Citigroup would have taken in the most, with $1.8 billion.
“The net interest margin is an effective way of getting at the benefits that these large banks received from the Fed,” says Gerald A. Hanweck, a former Fed economist who’s now a finance professor atGeorgeMasonUniversityinFairfax,Virginia.
While the method isn’t perfect, it’s impossible to state the banks’ exact profits or savings from their Fed loans because the numbers aren’t disclosed and there isn’t enough publicly available data to figure it out.
Opinsky, the JPMorgan spokesman, says he doesn’t think the calculation is fair because “in all likelihood, such funds were likely invested in very short-term investments,” which typically bring lower returns.
Standing Access
Even without tapping the Fed, the banks get a subsidy by having standing access to the central bank’s money, says Viral Acharya, aNew YorkUniversityeconomics professor who has worked as an academic adviser to the New York Fed.
“Banks don’t give lines of credit to corporations for free,” he says. “Why should all these government guarantees and liquidity facilities be for free?”
In the September 2008 meeting at which Paulson and Bernanke briefed lawmakers on the need for TARP, Bernanke said that if nothing was done, “unemployment would rise — to 8 or 9 percent from the prevailing 6.1 percent,” Paulson wrote in “On the Brink” (Business Plus, 2010).
The U.S.jobless rate hasn’t dipped below 8.8 percent since March 2009, 3.6 million homes have been foreclosed since August 2007, according to data provider RealtyTrac Inc., and police have clashed withOccupy Wall Street protesters, who say government policies favor the wealthiest citizens, inNew York,Boston,Seattle andOakland,California.
The Tea Party, which supports a more limited role for government, has its roots in anger over the Wall Street bailouts, says Neil M. Barofsky, former TARP special inspector general and a Bloomberg Television contributing editor.
“The lack of transparency is not just frustrating; it really blocked accountability,” Barofsky says. “When people don’t know the details, they fill in the blanks. They believe in conspiracies.”
In the end, Geithner had his way. The Brown-Kaufman proposal to limit the size of banks was defeated, 60 to 31. Bank supervisors meeting in Switzerland did mandate minimum reserves that institutions will have to hold, with higher levels for the world’s largest banks, including the six biggest in theU.S. Those rules can be changed by individual countries.
They take full effect in 2019.
Meanwhile, Kaufman says, “we’re absolutely, totally, 100 percent not prepared for another financial crisis.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Bob Ivry in New Yorkat bivry@bloomberg.net; Bradley Keoun in New York at bkeoun@bloomberg.net; Phil Kuntz in New York at pkuntz1@bloomberg.net.
← Police State vs. Occupy Wall Street
Rumor: Large European Bank Almost Failed Last Night →
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3059
|
__label__wiki
| 0.949838
| 0.949838
|
Acivico Group News Moor Hall Primary School and World Renowned Saxophonist Work in Harmony for The School’s Grand Opening
Moor Hall Primary School and World Renowned Saxophonist Work in Harmony for The School’s Grand Opening
On Friday 4th October, Acivico joined the staff and students of Moor Hall Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, representatives from the local authorities and building contractor Balfour Beatty CSUK, to celebrate the opening of the school’s new educational facilities. The new school building, designed and project managed by Acivico, was officially opened with the unveiling of a school plaque by Amy Dickson, world renowned classical saxophonist.
To celebrate the event, Amy Dickson offered a rare private rendition to a select audience of delighted staff, students, construction team and members of the authority and local community.
The new £3.2m building boasts a two new storey block, containing eight classrooms and offering the community double the capacity of extremely well sought after student placements, in a fantastic environment.
The new block incorporates innovative design features, which are both economically designed with the use of light tunnels to areas of the building and a unique cladding design offering both an aesthetically pleasing and economical solution.
Andrew Steggall, Headteacher of Moor Hall Primary School said, ’We are delighted with our new building which presents new opportunities for our children. The children and staff now work in a clean, modern environment with much improved facilities. The design has provided us with a light and spacious environment which can only have a positive impact on children’s learning. In the past months, we have been working closely with BEP Arts and classical saxophonist Amy Dickson. The opening ceremony showcased some of the wonderful work the children produced, inspired by Amy Dickson’s music. We would like to thank the team from Acivico, Balfour Beatty and the local authority who did everything they could to ensure that the building process was smooth and caused minimal disruption.’
The event was completed with the cutting of the ribbon to consummate the ceremony and a celebratory cake, which was enjoyed by the students.
Alan McBeth, Principal Architect at Acivico said, ‘I am delighted with the result of the new extension to Moor Hall Primary School. It is a truly modern architectural building with specially designed internal and external features that give the building its own identity. The development has provided much needed new classrooms enabling an additional 210 pupils to join this ofsted ‘outstanding’ rated school this year. The building was designed and delivered on site by the Acivico team, who developed a very close relationship with the school that was crucial to the success of the project”.
Chris Davis, Site Manager at the school explains“ We at Balfour Beatty are extremely proud to be associated with the delivery of the new extension block at Moorhall primary school. Our close working relationship with the staff at the school was very special in delivering the vision and passion led by headmaster Andrew Steggall. We wish Andrew, his staff and all pupils every success in the future.”
Moor Hall Primary School Opening Ceremony
Read More About Acivico Technical Services
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3060
|
__label__cc
| 0.728501
| 0.271499
|
CSR Strategy Consulting
For NGOS
A history of helping
|By andressaadamhelpt
Adam Helpt is an organisation that has been around for a number of years, bringing people and companies together to not only help each other but support each other. To grow in the ability to reach out to a person or a project in need and to say “ Lets do this”. Providing a bridge between social projects and organizations, Adam Helpt has taken on the role of project coordination, creation as well as CSR strategy; thereby creating meaningful and impactful bonds between companies and the communities that need their support the most.
However, you may be surprised to discover that Adam Helpt was actually created by three different NGO’s. The story starts with three NGO’s based in Amsterdam. Burennetwerk, Serve the City Amsterdam and Stichting Present All three of these NGO’s have one thing in common: they are dedicated organizations who want to bring people and social volunteering together.
Burennetwerk is an organization that brings neighbors together to help each other out with small tasks. Especially now in the times of Corona, neighbors who can’t go outside because they are older or immune-compromised, have a hard time. So Burennetwerk organizes people in the neighborhood that would like to do shopping for them or even just give them a call. Other tasks like household handywork, walking the dog and giving lifts are also much appreciated. This is not only a way of supporting people in your neighborhood but being part of a strong community!
Serve the City Amsterdam is part of a worldwide movement that brings together individuals and homeless shelters, refugee centers, old age homes and other institutions that need help. Serve the City creates events with music, crafts or cooking that bring people together. Crossing the borders of nationality and language by linking people. People are encouraged to reach out with big and small acts of kindness to those who need it most. As a recent example, during the corona time, many bouquets of flowers were donated to the Menno Simonzhuis in Amsterdam to cheer up the elderly( a surprise organized by two friends in cooperation with a flower growing co-operative and Burennetwerk,Serve the City and Stichting Present).
Stichting Present is an organization that brings together volunteers and those individuals in the community that can can use support. For instance those that suffer from poverty, ill health or social isolation. They strive to build a bridge between those that may suffer in silence and those that want to reach out a helping hand in support. Nobody should have to be alone with their problems and Stichting Present is all about making sure that doesn’t happen.
These three NGO’s recognized a need for another kind of organization. An organization that would bring together companies and volunteering efforts. An organization that would focus on Corporate social responsibility , thereby fostering the link between social projects and companies. An organization like Adam Helpt.
Even today, Serve the City and Stichting Present work closely together with Adam Helpt on Corporate social responsibility projects. Many interested companies are able to find a project or direction for their team, through the support of these NGOs. In this way, they are not only making a difference in the lives of the people they help but also aiding to spread the idea of helping and of supporting those who need it most in the community.
Have you also become interested in contacting Adam Helpt or one of the other three NGO’s mentioned? Then don’t hesitate and call or contact us today! We will work together to create a plan that fits best with your individual needs. We know that these are hard times, but we also believe that only when we hold strong and stand together, can we really make a difference. Take the first step with us and make a difference in somebodys life today.
Written by: Monika Seyer
© 2021 Adam Helpt. All rights reserved
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3061
|
__label__wiki
| 0.8829
| 0.8829
|
by Malcolm Allbrook
This is a shared entry with Mungo Man
Mungo Lady and Mungo Man lived in the region now known as the Willandra Lakes, western New South Wales, around 42,000 years ago during the late Pleistocene era. Scholars have deduced from their skeletal remains all that is known to science about their biographies. Mungo Lady, also known as Mungo Woman or by the scientific identifier ‘Willandra Lakes Hominid 1’ (WLH 1), emerged, in fragments, from an eroding lunette on the downwind side of the now-dry Lake Mungo. She was found in July 1968 by Jim Bowler, a postgraduate student in geology at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, who was engaged on a geomorphological study of the series of thirteen interconnected former lakes comprising the Willandra, on the traditional lands of the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa, and Mutthi Mutthi peoples. In February 1974 Bowler found Mungo Man (WLH 3) nearby. His discoveries caused great excitement within the scientific community and the public sphere, as they demonstrated that Australia’s human history spans tens of thousands of years, not a few thousand as previously believed.
The remains of Mungo Lady, comprising ‘a deposit of burnt carbonate-encrusted bones’ (Bowler et al. 1970, 43), were salvaged in March 1969 by a team of archaeologists and taken to Canberra for investigation. Reconstruction by the paleoanthropologist Alan Thorne identified the remains, which included fragments from each part of the skeleton, as those of ‘a young adult woman of gracile build and small stature’ (Bowler et al. 1970, 56). The manner of her interment suggests a careful funerary process, implying ‘spiritual meaning and abstract thought’ (Mulvaney and Kamminga 1999, 357); her body had been cremated and her bones crushed into fragments before being buried in a shallow conical hole.
The almost complete skeleton of Mungo Man was found about 500 metres east of Mungo Lady’s cremation site. Laid to rest in a supine position with hands together in the lap, the corpse had been sprinkled with red ochre powder suggesting a ceremonial burial. Deposits of the mineral are not found locally, the nearest source being hundreds of kilometres away, and significant energy must have been expended to acquire and transport the material. Although the evidence of gender is inconclusive, the remains have been widely accepted as being those of a man of about fifty, of light build and 170 centimetres tall. Two lower canine teeth appear to have been removed some years before death, possibly in a ritual ceremony, while the outer (buccal) surfaces of his molars were worn in a pattern consistent with the stripping of plant fibre, perhaps in the preparation of fishing nets, baskets, or bags. His teeth did not show the kind of wear expected of a person dependent on ground-seed meal, indicating a diverse diet. The condition of his thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and his right elbow, show that he suffered from osteoarthritis, in the latter an extreme affliction that he bore for some years before his death. This would have caused chronic pain and restricted the movement of his right arm; certainly, it would have prevented the use of weapons associated with hunting and defence. The injury may have been related to repetitive stress, perhaps from throwing a spear, using a spear-thrower, or other activity such as canoeing, knapping, fighting, or arm wrestling. Alternatively, a chronic inflammatory condition may have been the cause.
The geomorphological history and the numerous archaeological sites of the Willandra Lakes provide context to the limited knowledge of the lives of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man. The region has been described as ‘a late Pleistocene archaeological record of grand proportions’ (Johnston and Clarke 1998, 110), providing ‘one of the best examples of ancient people-land interaction on time scales rarely matched anywhere in the world’ (Bowler 1998, 120). The ancient lakes and their associated lunettes preserve a detailed archive of the human, hydrological, and terrestrial history of the region. For long periods between 50,000 and 15,000 years BP the lakes were full, fed by a river (now known as the Lachlan) enlarged by run-off from the southern highlands, interspersed by periods when they were dry. The earliest record of human presence at Lake Mungo dates from about 50,000 years BP indicating that humans began using the site soon after the lake refilled. Bowler (1998, 150) has called it ‘Australia’s Eden’ for its capacity to illuminate the ancient human history of the region and more broadly the continent.
Mungo Lady and Mungo Man lived during a period when the lakes were full, their interment sites being adjacent to the lake margin, a habitat convenient for the harvesting of aquatic resources. Nearby is evidence of regular, perhaps at times intensive, human occupation, including hearths and ovens, silcrete stone tools, grindstones, and the detritus of cooked meals, including fish, crayfish, waterfowl, freshwater mussels, small mammals, and eggshells. The range of animal remains suggests that they were taken throughout the year rather than seasonally. Thus an image emerges of a Late Pleistocene community of modern humans, of which Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were a part. Moreover, the pattern of fireplaces and camps, and the remains and means of hunting and harvesting, together with the ritual burial of the dead, demonstrates that the ancient humans of the Willandra had a complex social and religious life.
The discovery of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man ignited a period of intensive scientific research, initially focused on the Lake Mungo lunette, later extending to the lunettes and shores of other ancient lakes in the Willandra. Many more cremated or buried skeletons were found; a total of 135 were removed to Canberra for investigation. The dates ascribed to these remains, together with those obtained from hearths and fireplaces, show that the region had been occupied almost continuously from the late Pleistocene into the modern era. Lake Mungo’s scientific value was recognised when it was gazetted a national park by the government of New South Wales in 1979; two years later the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the whole region a World Heritage Area, not only for its scientific value but also for its cultural significance.
It took some years for the interests of Aboriginal traditional owners of the Willandra Lakes to be recognised alongside those of the scientific community. For Aboriginal people throughout Australia, research on Lake Mungo confirmed that their ancestors had occupied the land since time immemorial and lent powerful legitimacy to their claims for land rights. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s a vigorous campaign by members of the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa, and Mutthi Mutthi traditional owners against the removal of ancestral remains highlighted the divisions between government and scientists on the one hand, and Aboriginal people on the other. While the former asserted the universal value of Lake Mungo for science and national identity, the latter sought to protect their cultural heritage. After a period in which scientific research virtually ceased, the parties agreed at a conference held at Lake Mungo in June 1989 to respect each other’s interests and to develop a collaborative approach. As part of this understanding, new finds of the often ceremonially interred human remains have since been left in situ.
In a symbolic act of reconciliation, Mungo Lady was repatriated to the custody of traditional owners in 1992, thereby recognising her personal and familiar connection to her descendants. They value her as a highly respected member of the community who, by reappearing on the Lake Mungo lunette, provided proof of a long-standing Aboriginal occupation of the country, and thus did much to strengthen their identity and sense of belonging and to enlighten a doubting Australian public. The remains of Mungo Man and the other ancient Willandra Lakes people were returned by the ANU to traditional owners in 2015, when Mutthi Mutthi elder Mary Pappin observed: ‘We are so grateful he is going to be coming home. He’s done his job. It is time for him to go home and rest now’ (Burgess 2015). The remains were stored at the National Museum of Australia until 2017 when they were moved to a secret keeping place in the vicinity of Lake Mungo.
Research edited by Samuel Furphy
Allbrook, Malcolm, and Ann McGrath. ‘Collaborative Histories of the Willandra Lakes: Deepening Histories and the Deep Past.’ In Long History, Deep Time: Deepening Histories of Place, edited by Anne McGrath and Mary Anne Jebb, 241–52. Canberra: ANU Press, 2015
Bowler, J. M. ‘Willandra Lakes Revisited: Environmental Framework for Human Occupation.’ Archaeology in Oceania 33, no. 3 (October 1998): 120–55
Bowler, J. M., and A. G. Thorne. ‘Human Remains from Lake Mungo: Discovery and Excavation of Lake Mungo III.’ In The Origin of Australians, edited by R. L. Kirk and A. G. Thorne, 127–38. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, 1976
Bowler, J. M., Rhys Jones, Harry Allen, and A. G. Thorne. ‘Pleistocene Human Remains from Australia: A Living Site and Human Cremation from Lake Mungo, Western New South Wales.’ World Archaeology 2, no. 1 (June 1970): 39–60
Bowler, J. M., Harvey Johnston, Jon M. Olley, John R. Prescott, Richard G. Roberts, Wilfred Shawcross, and Nigel A. Spooner. ‘New Ages for Human Occupation and Climatic Change at Lake Mungo, Australia.’ Nature 421 (20 February 2003): 837–40
Burgess, Katie. ‘Mungo Man to be Moved to National Museum of Australia’s Repatriation Unit.’ Canberra Times, 6 November 2015
Douglas, Kirsty. Pictures of Time Beneath: Science, Heritage and the Uses of the Deep Past. Canberra: CSIRO Publishing, 2010
Flood, Josephine. Archaeology of the Dreamtime. Sydney: Collins Publishers Australia, 1983
Johnston, Harvey, and Peter Clarke. ‘Willandra Lakes Archaeological Investigations, 1968–98.’ Archaeology in Oceania 33, no. 3 (October 1998): 105–19
Mulvaney, D. J., and Johan Kamminga. Prehistory of Australia. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999
Smith, Mike. The Archaeology of Australia’s Deserts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013
Webb, S. G. The Willandra Lakes Hominids. Canberra: Department of Prehistory, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, 1989
Lake Mungo research, Canberra Times, 10 August 1974, 9
Mungo Man (related entry)
Mulvaney, John (related entry)
Thorne, Alan Gordon (related entry)
Malcolm Allbrook, 'Mungo Lady ', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mungo-lady-27703/text35292, published online 2019, accessed online 16 January 2021.
Mungo Woman
Willandra Lakes Hominid 1
Indigenous Australian
symbolic figure
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3062
|
__label__cc
| 0.662945
| 0.337055
|
ITRI and Czech Republic Embark on New Chapter in Technology Diplomacy
September 2, 2020 [email protected]_84 NEW TECHNOLOGY ARTICLES
HSINCHU, Taiwan, Sept. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — An 89-memebr Czech delegation led by Senate President Miloš Vystrčil made a visit to the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) today in Hsinchu, where the delegation will learn about ITRI’s accomplishments in biomedical and pandemic prevention technologies, groundbreaking innovation-oriented R&D, and industrialization of research results. ITRI is the only R&D organization that Senate President Vystrčil has visited during his stay, which highlights the significance of ITRI’s role in technology diplomacy between Taiwan and the Czech Republic. The visit is expected to engage both sides in more technological cooperation based on their complementary strengths. Moreover, by leveraging the Czech Republic’s network in the EU, ITRI hopes to assist Taiwan industry in tapping into Europe’s innovation ecosystem and exploring new opportunities there.
ITRI President Edwin Liu welcomed the delegation’s visit with a Confucius’ quote, “It is a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar”. He indicated that ITRI, the largest applied research organization in Taiwan, has played an important role for driving Taiwan’s economic growth for the past 47 years. The institute, he stressed, conducts market-oriented research, acts as a bridge between Taiwan and international communities, and works with government research entities to support industry transformation.
According to Dr. Liu, ITRI’s dialogue with the Czech Republic started in 2013 with the support of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, followed by more than ten visits between both sides. In 2017, ITRI’s high-ranking officials visited the Czech Republic and signed an MoU with the Czech Academy of Sciences to establish a research collaboration platform. Moreover, the DELTA program has yielded several R&D cooperation projects. With the Czech Republic’s outstanding basic research capabilities and ITRI’s expertise in applied research, he believes that the joint collaboration will deliver the best technologies to the market and the society.
Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil indicated that visiting ITRI is one of the purposes of the delegation’s trip to Taiwan—to learn the area of research development and technology practice implementation. He mentioned that Prague has several prestigious universities and R&D institutes that have built ties with ITRI. The Academy of Sciences, for example, spoke highly of the cooperation with ITRI. Senate President Vystrčil thanked ITRI’s repeated invitation to Taiwan and concluded with the name of the Czech film Dobří holubi se vracejí (A Good Pigeon Always Returns Home) to expect future visits to come.
After a meeting with ITRI officials, the delegation had a showroom tour in which Mr. Vystrčil was especially impressed by ITRI’s tech innovations such as the iPMx Molecular Rapid Test System for COVID-19 virus detection which can generate results in less than an hour. In addition, the Senate President was also amazed at the Institute’s excellent performance in making ventilators within 17 days. Since the Czech Republic is also able to produce ventilators, he believes future collaboration in this area can be enhanced.
ITRI has joined hands with Taiwanese and Czech businesses along with Czech’s Academy of Sciences to work on the development of biomedical and green energy technologies. Collaborations include an artificial skin 3D printing project that incorporates ITRI’s skin tissue printing equipment, bio-inks and bionic skin technology to develop bionic products that can replace cosmetic testing on animals. Another project involves smart manufacturing and automated assembly for highly durable fuel cells. It is hoped that such joint cooperation will pave the way for entering the EU market.About ITRIIndustrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the world’s leading technology R&D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan’s industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. It focuses on the fields of Smart Living, Quality Health, and Sustainable Environment.
Over the years, ITRI has incubated over 300 innovative companies, including well-known names such as UMC and TSMC. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote opportunities for international cooperation around the world. For more information, please visit: http://www.itri.org/eng.
Media ContactIrene ShihOffice of Marketing Communications, ITRI+886-3-5912542 [email protected]
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/27da6160-9c84-41f2-b050-de207aa7a806
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd9e107c-4c57-40ed-b586-d4d1ca5e046f
Bombardier to supply eight additional eco-friendly ALP-45 dual-power locomotives to New Jersey
2020 IFA Product Technology Innovation Award Unveils Winners
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3064
|
__label__cc
| 0.725553
| 0.274447
|
The AHIMSA / NONVIOLENCE SEMINAR is a partnership between the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute and key members of the Greater Hartford Jain Center. Since 2001, this yearly seminar aspires to connect the principle of nonviolence with its practice to address contemporary concerns, holding as an ideal the Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy of social activism to achieve beneficial change in the world.
2016 “Religious Literacy and Ahimsa: Shared Means Toward the Goals of Justice and Peaceful Coexistence”
On Monday, October 3 Harvard University’s DIANE L. MOORE gave the keynote address “Religious Literacy and Ahimsa: Shared Means Toward the Goals of Justice and Peaceful Coexistence” for the Institute’s annual Ahimsa/Nonviolence Seminar. This event was also part of the UConn Reads series that focused its 2016 theme on “Religion in America.”
Dr. Moore directs Harvard Divinity’s Religious Literacy Project, coordinates the Religious Studies and Education Certificate, and serves on the Task Force for Training, Tools, and Methods at the US State Department through its Office of Religion and Global Affairs. Her current project is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) through HarvardX – a series entitled World Religions Through Their Scriptures. She is also the Principal Investigator for a three-year initiative entitled Religious Literacy and the Professions that is a collaboration between Harvard Divinity School and Boston University.
Opening her remarks with M.K. “Mahatma” Gandhi’s articulation of ahimsa as “nonviolence in thought, word and deed – a kind of humility that might not be easily met by the average human being, yet that aspiration guided his ‘Experiments with Truth’” and provides a framework and a means of achieving important goals. Moore’s focus on religious education is grounded in context/critical theory and seeks to cultivate (equip, inspire, empower) moral agency, such that “an open and flexible understanding of the complexity of religion helps us to understand modern affairs, the lack of which promotes negative consequences.” Her work is also informed by Paolo Freire and Johann Galtung’s optimistic view of human nature. So when we deeply examine (and not merely demonize) the conditions that create cultural violence and also examine how these conditions are allowed to be acceptable, she said, “challenging these assumptions can make way for cultural peace. We have pockets of cultural peace, but it’s not systemic.”
“Our agency matters in helping to create a hopeful view in difficult times … we have to be wholehearted and half-sure.”
In the Q&A – both Moore and several members of the audience find frustration with the combination of arrogance and impatience that both sides of the aisle expressed in conversations about violence and religion. She reminds us that there is internal diversity and we need to look at which interpretation is in ascendency – the “outcome” can’t be our only goal. “Our agency matters in helping to create a hopeful view in difficult times … we have to be wholehearted and half-sure.”
Diane L. Moore chaired the American Academy of Religion’s Task Force on Religion in the Schools, which conducted a three-year initiative to establish Religious Curriculum Guidelines for teaching about religion in K-12 public schools. Her book Overcoming Religious Illiteracy: A Cultural Studies Approach to the Study of Religion in Secondary Education was published by Palgrave in 2007 and she serves on the editorial boards of the journals Religion and Education and the British Journal of Religious Education. In 2014 she received the Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award from the Harvard Extension School and the Griffiths award from the Connecticut Council for Interfaith Understanding for her work promoting the public understanding of religion. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
2016 AHIMSA / NONVIOLENCE SEMINAR “Four Fathers, Four Journeys”
2015 AHIMSA / NONVIOLENCE SEMINAR “Bystander Intervention”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3065
|
__label__wiki
| 0.934614
| 0.934614
|
India Studies Hosts the Annual Radha Devi Joshi Lecture that brings distinguished speakers to the University of Connecticut who address important issues of global significance
2017, October 26 / Karuna Mantena, Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the South Asian Studies Council at Yale University / Title of Talk to be Announced / Arjona Lecture Hall Room 105
KARUNA MANTENA is Associate Professor of Political Science at Yale University. She holds a BSc(Econ) in International Relations from the London School of Economics (1995), an MA in Ideology and Discourse Analysis from the University of Essex (1996), and a PhD in Government from Harvard University (2004). Her research interests include modern political thought, modern social theory, the theory and history of empire, and South Asian politics and history.
Her first book, Alibis of Empire: Henry Maine and the Ends of Liberal Imperialism (Princeton Univ. Press, 2010), analyzed the transformation of nineteenth-century British imperial ideology. Her current work focuses on political realism and the political thought of M.K. Gandhi.
Since 2011, Professor Mantena has served as co-director of the International Conference for the Study of Political Thought. And she is also currently the Chair of the South Asian Studies Council at Yale University. Mantena Curriculum Vitae
CONTACT Betty.Hanson@uconn.edu or Cathy.Schlund-Vials@uconn.edu for updated information.
2017, March 6 / Amrita Basu, Paino Professor of Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies at Amherst College, “Women’s Dynastic Politics, Gender Inequality and Democracy in India”/ Konover Auditorium, Dodd Center
Professor Basu’s talk continues her exploration of the phenomenon of dynastic ties among women who are elected to political office in India, questioning the widely held view that the large numbers of female leaders and Members of Parliament whose family members precede them in office is a residue of tradition, and suggests that it is a product of democratic processes. She also questions the assumption that women’s dynasticism violates principles of democratic representation based on equal opportunities for qualified individuals. Instead, she argues that high levels of women’s dynasticism partially rectifies the historical under-representation of women in political office. Dynasticism is a result of societal prejudices, electoral processes and party biases and structures that have prevented women from attaining political office. While dynasticism accentuates certain forms of privilege, particularly related to social class, it also allows for greater representation of low caste and minority women. Until and unless India introduces legislative quotas for women, dynasticism functions as its surrogate.
AMRITA BASU Curriculum Vitae
2017 Joshi Lecture FLYER
2016, April 7 / Ashutosh Varshney, Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University, “India’s Democracy: Electoral Vibrancy, Liberal Deficits” / Konover Auditorium at Dodd Center
Since 1947, India has forged and consolidated the world’s largest democracy in the unlikely setting of low incomes and multiple ethnicities. But the electoral achievements of Indian democracy far outweigh its performance between elections, when basic liberal freedoms come into question and governance deficits accumulate. This year’s lecture addressed this paradox, situating India’s democratic experience comparatively and theoretically.
Ashutosh Varshney is Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University, where he also directs the Brown-India Initiative. His books include Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India; Democracy, Development and the Countryside: Urban-Rural Struggles in India; India in the Era of Economic Reforms; Midnight’s Diaspora; Collective Violence in Indonesia; and Battles Half Won: India’s Improbable Democracy (Copies were not available at the lecture because they’ve been sold out). His academic articles have appeared in the leading journals of political science and development. His honors include the Guggenheim, Carnegie, Luebbert and Lerner awards. He is a contributing editor for Indian Express, and his guest columns have appeared in many other newspapers, including the Financial Times. He served on the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Task Force on Millennium Development Goals, and has also served as adviser to the World Bank and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
2014, December 5 / Nirupama Rao, Former Ambassador of India to the United States and 2013-14 Meera & Vikram Gandhi Fellow at Brown University, “The Politics of History: India and China, 1949-1962” / Laurel Hall Room 101
President Obama shakes hands in 2011 with Ambassador of India to the United States Nirupama Rao
Nirupama Rao assumed her responsibilities as Ambassador of India to the United States in September 2011, a position she held until November 2013. She is currently at Brown University on a Meera and Vikram Gandhi Fellowship. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, Rao served as Foreign Secretary, the highest office in the Indian Foreign Service, for a two-year term until July 2011.
Rao has served previously in Washington in the capacity of Minister for Press and Cultural Affairs at the Indian Embassy from 1993 to 1995. She has also served in Moscow as Deputy Chief of Mission at her country’s embassy there, in the late nineties. On return to New Delhi, she was designated as Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in 2001, the first woman Indian Foreign Service officer to hold this post.
Rao joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1973. In a diplomatic career spanning four decades, she served in various world capitals, including Washington, Beijing and Moscow. She acquired extensive experience in India-China relations, having served in the East Asia Division of the Ministry at policy level capacities for several years, and later serving as India’s first woman Ambassador to China from 2006 to 2009. Her other ambassadorial assignments include Peru and Bolivia, and Sri Lanka (where also she was India’s first woman High Commissioner).
2013, November 13 / Miloon Kothari, Martin Luther King Visiting Professor at MIT, “India’s Urban Transformation” / Oak Hall Room 101
Miloon Kothari, former UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing and currently Visiting Scholar at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a leading voice at national, regional and international forums on human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights. He served (from 2000-2008) as the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council. During his tenure as Special Rapporteur Mr. Kothari led the process that resulted in the United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development based Evictions and Displacement – the current global operational human rights standard on the practice of forced evictions.
An architect by training, Mr. Kothari is the founder and former coordinator of the South Asian Regional Programme of the Habitat International Coalition’s Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN). In recent years, he has been particularly active on issues such as Women’s rights to land, inheritance, property, housing and globalization, trade liberalization and its impact on human rights and the UPR. Since 2009, Mr. Kothari has contributed significantly, as founding member and convener (from 2009-2013) to the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR), a national alliance that is particularly active on the UPR. He has recently been elected President of UPR Info.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3066
|
__label__wiki
| 0.604599
| 0.604599
|
A Street Near You
List and search all dates
100 years ago today
Royal Navy, HMS City of Belfast
Loading casualty records
Leading Seaman William Reid 155045 Royal Navy, HMS City of Belfast 15/10/1917 (aged 42)
Loading cemetery list
With Life Story links
GIBRALTAR (NORTH FRONT) CEMETERY Gibraltar 1 0 0
Loading list of dates
Monday 15 October 1917 1 0 0
Loading parish list
About this map
Whilst this personal project is just an attempt to explore the local legacy of the First World War, but at a global scale, it has struck me that it is much more than that. At the heart of it is the legacy of those who died in the conflict, and especially the scale of the imapct that that would have had on their local communities, it would also never have been possible without the significant legacy created by those who remained, from the families who sent in photographs of their loved ones and which formed the Imperial War Museum's founding Bond of Sacrifice Collection, through the people who diligently compiled official records in the early 1920s and which formed the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's records, right up to the modern-day professionals, volounteers and individuals who have shaped these records, shared them, and also significantly increased and enriched them, especially under the guise of First World War Centenary projects like Lives of the First World War
Data and Sources
This project simply wouldn't exist without the core assets that it draws on. It currently contains nearly 500,000 location records for 410,000 men and women who died whilst serving in the First World War.
Lives of the First World War - IWM's unique project enabling everyone to share their information, stories and images to compile Life Stories "on nearly 8 million men and women who served in uniform and worked on the home front".
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - a unique online collection of the details of every serviceman or woman. Many of the locations here are extracted from what they call the 'Additional information' field, which typically contains text such as "Son of Samuel and Sarah Morley, of Derby; husband of F. M. Morley, of 113, Peel St., Ashbourne Rd., Derby.". Note that this information was collected sevral years after the end of the war and it does not necessarily represent an address that the person had lived at.
Imperial War Museums Collections - one of the richest collections of First World War objects and images, most notably in this context the Bond of Sacrifice Collection and the Women's War Work Collection, togther comprising images of nearly 20,000 individuals who served
War Memorial Register - another unique record from the Imperial War Museum, comprising records of over 78,000 memorials in the British Isles, together with listings of over one million names that appear on them.
With specific regards to the images, these are from one of three sources - the incredible Bond of Sacrifice Collection, the Women's War Work Collection (both Imperial War Museums), or uploaded by volunteers and individuals to the Lives of the First World War site (which itself is run by IWM). I am grateful to them for making all these available under a non-commercial license.
Additional credits for the software and mapping resources that this is built on
Leaflet, the powerful open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps.
Contributing records, reporting errors
The data currently presented has all been extracted from official records or from user contributions to the Lives of the First World War site. I would strongly encourage anyone who wants to add further details to find the Life Story of the person and add details there, which can then in future be added to this site
The inherrent nature of historic records and using modern automated tools to extract information means there are bound to be issues. I will shortly be adding a 'report error' link to each record that can be used to flag an issue and will be queued up ready to be investigated and fixed. I'm afraid as this is a personal project created in my own time, I cannot respond to individual requests right now.
For information, questions and bug reports please contact James Morley @jamesinealing | [email protected]
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3069
|
__label__wiki
| 0.84586
| 0.84586
|
Portobello , United Kingdom weather forecast
Feels like: -2°
World news of the United Kingdom
Chroniclelive.co.uk
Digitalspy.com
Nasaspaceflight.com
Anandtech.com
Expressandstar.com
Talksport.com
Autocar.co.uk
Sunderlandecho.com
Gamesradar.com
Whatculture.com
Mylondon.news
You have entered the Portobello page, where there is no news. Be the first. Create article
Latest news Portobello - here are the news of nearby cities
Город (активный) Created with Sketch. Dundee
Weather DundeeNight: +1°
Dundee ( +2°) 21:11 2 August 2020
LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS
Life on other planets is almost impossible, the Milky Way is only one of millions of galaxies which makes it nearly impossible for there to be life on other planets. And I strongly believe that there is life in our solar system too!
,this is my first time writing an article what do you think?
Город (активный) Created with Sketch. Glasgow
Weather GlasgowNight: +3°
Chris Denton
Glasgow ( +3°) 20:52 18 May 2020
In Britain, residents will be able to find out the level of air pollution in the area before buying a house
British real estate agencies will now provide people ,who wish to purchase housing ,with information on the level of air pollution in a certain area.
The media shared that many Britons bought expensive housing, not knowing that it was located in an area with a high level of pollution. Researchers urge the government to monitor air quality continuously in every residential area.
They also insist on the introduction of stringent restrictions recommended by the World Health Organization, which will help reduce pollution.
According to scientists from the Royal College of Physicians, dirty air kills about 40,000 people a year in the UK.
Glasgow ready to accept Euro in 2021
This was reported by the press service of the Scottish Football Association.
The organizing committee of the European Championship in Glasgow has confirmed its readiness to held Euro matches in 2021, according to the press service of the Scottish Football Association. The tournament, to be held in 12 cities in 11 European countries, was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier in the British media there was information that Scotland could refuse to host Euro 2020 in 2021.
The final announcement of the Euro hosts will take place on May 27. In Glasgow there will be three tournament games in group D and one game of the 1/8 finals.
Found evidence of the hot bowels of Mars
Scientists claim that a meteorite formed deep beneath the surface of Mars is the first chemical evidence of magma convection (its constant movement) in the mantle layer.
For many years, we thought Mars was dead. A dusty, dry, barren planet where nothing happens. Only the winds blow. However, evidence has recently begun to appear that there is volcanic and geological activity on Mars.
Crystals of olivine (rock-forming mineral) in the Tissint meteorite, which fell to the Earth in 2011, could be formed only at temperature differences of about 574-582 million years ago. And this process can take place on the Red Planet today.
“Previously, there was no evidence of convection on Mars,” explains planetary geologist Nicola Marie of the University of Glasgow. “This is the first study that proves activity in the bowels of Mars from a chemical point of view and using a real Martian sample.”
When Marie and his colleagues began to study olivine crystals in the Tissint meteorite, they discovered something strange: the crystals were distributed unevenly in a piece of rock, forming phosphorus-rich veins. The same veins are found on Earth - a trap of solute. It was unexpected to find them on Mars.
“This happens when the crystal growth rate exceeds the rate at which phosphorus can be evenly distributed throughout the rock, penetrating its crystalline structure,” explained Nicola Marie. Traces of nickel and cobalt have confirmed previous evidence that a piece of rock came from the depths of the Martian crust - from 40 to 80 kilometers below the surface of Mars.
The Martian mantle probably had a temperature of about 1560 degrees Celsius. The Earth’s mantle (1650 degrees Celsius) 2.5-4 million years ago had the same temperature.
This does not mean that Mars is like the early Earth. But this means that Mars could store a lot of heat. “I think Mars can still be volcanically active - the results of the study indicate this,” said Marie. “We may not observe a volcanic eruption on Mars for the next 5 million years, but this does not mean that the planet is inactive. This may mean that the periods between eruptions on Mars and the Earth are different. "
Город (активный) Created with Sketch. Hebburn
Weather HebburnNight: +1°
Rob Viners
Hebburn ( +2°) 19:51 27 February 2020
Veromity. An artist born in Newcastle and raised in Newcastle. Is an astonishing young artist that is the producer of Electronic Dance music, best known for his ID The Fifth.
Город (активный) Created with Sketch. Liverpool
Weather LiverpoolNight: +2°
Steve Paulsen
Liverpool ( +2°) 20:39 18 May 2020
Britons during quarantine buy more alcohol than usual
During quarantine, the British began to buy more alcohol than usual.
According to official figures, in March, sales in specialized alcohol stores in the country grew by almost one third.
This is the largest increase in monthly sales for all the time of observation - since 1988. At the same time, statistics do not take into account alcohol purchased in food supermarkets, where alcohol is most often bought.
Specialized liquor stores in the UK continue to work in quarantine.
Oliver Ainsley
Britain extended the training mission for the AFU for three years
The program provides for training for thousands of Ukrainian troops.
The British military will train Ukrainian colleagues for another three years as part of the ORBITAL mission. The decision to extend the relevant program was made by the UK government, the press service of the Armed Forces General Staff reported on Monday, May 18.
"The UK Department of Defense has extended the training operation ORBITAL by March 2023," the report said.
UK has got ahead of Italy in COVID-19 infections
During the pandemic of the new corona virus, 219,070 people fell ill with COVID-19 in Italy. At the same time, 220,449 cases of the disease have already been recorded in the UK. In the UK, with 220,449 (+ 3,923 patients over the past day) cases, 31,855 people died, 1,002 patients have already recovered. The first two cases diagnosed with COVID-19 in the country were discovered on January 31.
In Italy, with 219,070 (+802) cases, 30,560 died, 105,186 people recovered. On February 7, the country confirmed the first case of corona virus.
Город (активный) Created with Sketch. Manchester
Weather ManchesterNight: +2°
Manchester ( +2°) 17:11 24 May 2020
In Britain, the corona virus has caused a deficiency of pets
Britain has faced an acute deficiency of domestic animals due to the virus. Lonely British who found themselves in isolation lined up to get pets.
According to breeders, need for animals has raised to 140 percent in April. At the same time, one can not even hope to get the long-awaited friend so quick - waiting lists usually consist of 100 to 400 people who want them too.
In turn, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Violence against Animals recorded an increase in the amount of visits to their shelters by 600 percent. It clears that especially quarantined Britons are interested in cocker poodles (cockapu), French bulldogs and other dog breeds, which are relatively easy to care for.
Residents of Britain reported about huge black cats who attack sheep
Photographs of a large black cat hiding in the bushes were published by residents of the village of Tedburn St. Mary. In addition, traces of paws were observed, presumably belonging to the same predator, next to the remains of a deer. The forest near the village is now rarely visited by residents due to the regime of self-isolation and this, as local residents suggest, could give courage to large predators.
Dr. Terry Moore, a specialist in large predators of the feline family, said that reports of large cats, presumably cougars and panthers, had been received several times before from Hertfordshire, a four-hour drive from Devon.
Among locals there is an opinion that the huge cats, which they call "Beasts of Bodmin" and "Beasts of Dartmoor", have been living in the swamps of Devon and Cornwall for more than a decade. In July 2019, the owner of the zoo in Dartmoor said that he personally observed three cougars freely walking in the wild, which should have been transferred to the zoo at least three decades ago.
It is believed that panther and cougar could be let out by circus artist Mary Chipperfield after the closure of her zoo in Plymouth in 1978. Since 2000, more than 200 reports of large cats walking through swamps have been recorded in Devon and Cornwall.
Manchester ( +2°) 19:55 8 May 2020
There is a new painting in the English infirmary, it is dedicated to doctors
A new painting by the famous street artist Banksy with gratitude to doctors appeared in an English infirmary in Southampton.
A monochrome picture of 1 square meter was hung in the lobby of the infirmary near the emergency room.
It portrays a boy playing with a nurse-superhero at the trash can, in which there are also Batman and Spiderman.
Banksy left a fraze: "Thanks for everything you do. I hope this will brighten up this place, even though it is black and white."
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3071
|
__label__cc
| 0.668801
| 0.331199
|
Air China to launch Shanghai-San Jose Route
Tis Meyer/PlanePics.org
On July 8, 2016, Air China held a press conference at Shanghai Xijiao State Guest Hotel, officially announcing that the Shanghai-San Jose route will be started on September 1, 2016.
The service is Air China’s first Shanghai-North America route, marking Air China the only airline in China providing non-stop Shanghai-San Jose services. In the future, business and tourism travellers can fly between the Capital of Silicon Valley and Shanghai with non-stop flights.
Shanghai is the largest market in terms of passengers flying between China and the US and has seen a total passenger flow of 990,000, with an average daily one-way flow of 3,909 in the first half of 2015. San Jose is the third largest city in the western coastal state of California. Located in the Santa Clara valley, south of the San Francisco Bay, 64km away from downtown San Francisco, San Jose is dubbed the “Capital of Silicon Valley.” As one of major emerging cities in the US and a leader in the tide of technical innovation around the world, San Jose integrates science, technology and production, and converges a large number of high-tech and business talents as the city is home to hundreds of world-famous companies including Cisco, Intel, HP, Lucent and Apple.
The Shanghai-San Jose service is set to not only bridge China and the US in the fields of finance and internet, but also inject new impetus into trade and cultural exchanges between these two talent pool of successful entrepreneurs and businessmen. With this service, passengers from San Jose can transfer in Shanghai to other Asian destinations such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
In 2016, Air China will continue to build an airline network with Beijing as a global hub, Chengdu, Chongqing and Shenzhen as regional hubs, and Shanghai as an international gateway. So far, Air China has opened routes to 11 cities in North America including Washington, New York (Kennedy Airport and Newark Airport), Vancouver, and Montreal. Air China’s services have covered six major cities in the US. In the west of the US, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose have seen the operations of Air China. Every week, Air China provides about 140 flights connecting China and the US, satisfying the increasing demands of the China-US aviation market.
The flight number of the Shanghai-San Jose service is CA829/30, three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The flight departs from Shanghai at local time 13:00 and arrives in San Jose at local time 10:10, and departs from San Jose at local time 12:00 and arrives in Shanghai at local time 16:40 (next day). The flight is set to be operated by Airbus A330-200.
Related Items:Air China, frontpage
Air China Flight Returns to Paris After Suspected Terrorist Threat
Air China and Air Canada Announce Joint Venture
Air China Poised to Launch a New Service Between Chengdu and London
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3072
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823022
| 0.823022
|
Passenger numbers grow for 11th consecutive month at London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport saw a 14.4% increase in passenger numbers during February 2015 compared to the same month last year.
This follows a record breaking year in 2014 and marks 11 months of consecutive growth.
Wizz Air, the 2nd largest carrier at the Airport, has also announced a new route to Ohrid, the second-largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, which is set to begin flying in June. This is the 13th new route at London Luton Airport to be confirmed for 2015 and comes at a time of significant growth for the recently listed airline, which saw a 31.7% increase in passengers in February compared with 2014.
The popular route to Waterford in south-east Ireland is due to be reinstated next month, with a twice daily service Monday to Friday and a daily service at the weekend. Dutch carrier VLM, a new airline for the airport, will operate the flights.
Growing demand for the Airport is being met by a £100 million transformation project that will increase annual capacity from 12 million to 18 million passengers by 2026, bringing about a raft of improvements including:
A major redesign of the terminal to create a quick, efficient, friendly and convenient passenger experience.
Major improvements to transport links, including better road access to the M1, new car parking facilities, a remodelled bus and coach interchange and improved rail links.
Exciting new shopping and eating options and the development of a new world-class executive lounge.
Nick Barton, CEO of London Luton Airport, said:
“2015 looks set to be a great year for London Luton. The Airport’s easy access from London and its great value air services are just some of the reasons why passengers choose to fly from LLA, and I am confident that the redevelopment project will only strengthen our position as a leading airport serving London, Luton and the surrounding regions.”
Related Items:London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport Extends Air Ambulance Support
London Luton Airport Appoints New Chairman
Light Aircraft Pilot Fined for Flying Over Luton Airport Without Permission
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3073
|
__label__wiki
| 0.708887
| 0.708887
|
Tag Archives: Earl Slick
David Bowie – Station to Station – Classic Music Review
By altrockchick on August 29, 2019 | 3 Comments
After changing persona from Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane to Halloween Jack to plastic soul guy, David Bowie decided to step into the phone booth one more time and emerge as The Thin White Duke, “A very Aryan fascist type” (as described in Peter Doggett’s book The Man Who Sold The World: David Bowie And The 1970s).
The real David Bowie had developed an enormous cocaine habit, lived on a diet of peppers and milk, and experienced life through a lens of psychic paranoia. According to Nicholas Pegg (another biographer), David remembered nothing about the recording sessions for Station to Station, noting that “I know it was in L. A. because I’ve read it was.” Guitarists Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick were also up to their noses in cocaine and recall very little about the recording experience.
Station to Station has been labeled a transitional album, as was Young Americans. The label “transitional album” is generally applied to situations where the album itself sucks but allegedly reveals a new and promising artistic direction. Bowie critics tend to be forgiving types, and very rarely dish out anything in the way of deserved, adverse criticism, so the “transitional” label gave them an out as well as an opportunity to concoct a variety of explanations for substandard performance without calling it substandard performance. One must always remember that David Bowie was a master at manipulating journalists, who generally adored him because he always gave them good copy.
Well, I certainly admire David Bowie and his many contributions to the arts, but he was as human as you or me, and in the immortal words of Jarvis Cocker, he had moments when he was “a fuck-up just like the rest of us.” My views are as follows: Young Americans just plain sucks, while Station to Station is . . . occasionally interesting but I don’t see much of a transitional connection between Station to Station and Low, and by this time the alternative persona act was getting tedious, a way for him to put off having to deal with his real-life problems.
And the various consequences of being a fuck-up.
David would eventually pull himself out of the muck and move on to record the so-called Berlin trilogy (so-called because only Heroes was entirely recorded in that city), exploring new sounds and lyrical modes thanks to the influences of Brian Eno, William Burroughs and Kraftwerk. I’ll cover the beginning of that transition in my review of Low, but first we’ll explore Station to Station, focusing on the quality of the listening experience and how it fits into Bowie’s artistic trajectory.
I will say upfront that Station to Station is a more exciting record than Young Americans. They may have been high on coke most of the time, but Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar kick fucking ass on this record, ripping out the power every chance they get. One could make the argument that the backing band pretty much carried Bowie on this album, as his lyrical contributions are generally sub-par, his vocals occasionally unfocused and his choice of material in one specific instance highly questionable.
The title track opens this 6-song album (some have classified Station to Station as an EP, but at thirty-nine minutes, it’s longer than both Rubber Soul and Revolver). It’s a very revealing track that highlights both the talent of the musicians and the lack of compositional discipline. A good chunk of the 10-plus minutes is filled with wasted space and excessive repetition: the synthetic train engine sounds at the beginning of the track eat up over a minute, followed by forty-five seconds of band warm-up set to two lousy chords on an electric piano and a long sustained note on electric guitar. Once the band finally engages with a coherent beat, a simple Am-F-G chord pattern with a clever organ figure on the F-G is repeated ten fucking times, killing the cleverness of the figure and leading the listener to start humming the tune to Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” It takes three minutes and nineteen seconds for the Duke to make his entrance, so goddamnit, he better blow us the fuck away!
Nah. He sounds more than a little tipsy to me . . . and what the fuck is he talking about?
The return of the Thin White Duke
Throwing darts in lovers’ eyes
Here are we, one magical moment, such is the stuff
From where dreams are woven
Bending sound, dredging the ocean, lost in my circles
Here am I, flashing no color
Tall in this room overlooking the ocean
O . . . kay! “Get dat bum off da stage!” I hear someone yell in my imagination, but I’m more annoyed by the reappearance of that damned Am-F-G chord pattern and the now completely irritating organ figure. David’s voice becomes more and more campy as the verse proceeds, but great camp works in sync with campy lyrics, not with pure gibberish. I’m beginning to question the veracity of his claim that he couldn’t remember recording Station to Station, sensing that it was more a matter of not wanting to remember ludicrous performances like this one.
The music does a 180 tempo-wise, turning into sort of an odd march, then flips again to something close to driving rock ‘n’ roll. The Duke continues to babble on and about fortune, the virtues of being grateful and European cannons, but once he passes out we FINALLY get some great music courtesy of Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar, who pair up on the instrumental passage with plenty of drive from the rhythm section of Dennis Davis and George Murray. “Go! Go! Go!” I yell, but fuck me if the Duke doesn’t get his ass off the floor and try to join in the fun. At first I’m pissed, but after a few deep breaths, I realize that it took David Bowie eight minutes and thirty seconds to come up with a decent vocal—he sounds much better once Earl and Carlos lit the fire under him.
Bowie gave some explanations for the song’s lyrics that would strain the credulity of even the dumbest Trump voter. “First, there’s the content, which nobody’s actually been terribly clear about. The ‘Station to Station’ track itself is very much concerned with the stations of the cross.” I defy anyone to find references to a death sentence, Jesus stumbling while carrying the cross, having the sweat wiped off his face, getting nailed to a cross . . . and if this song was about the stations of the cross, why does the song open with the sounds of trains? Bowie further explained that all the references in the song were to the Kabbalah, a conveniently esoteric offshoot of Judaism with a definition that “varies according to the tradition and aims of those following it.” Even the most generous interpretation of Bowie’s spin can only result in only one verdict: while the religious stuff may have been on his mind when he wrote it, he failed to communicate anything meaningful in any meaningful way. Perhaps his self-image as an artist wouldn’t allow him to admit the song was as shallow as a puddle. This is Bowie trying to make something out of a whole lotta nothin’.
The most coherent set of lyrics comes in the form of “Golden Years,” the album’s biggest hit. It’s not “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” but has some catchy lines, and except for an insert concerning Bowie’s wavering desire to embrace Christianity, generally tracks the erotic glamour echoed in the music. That music is sort of a beefed-up version of the plastic soul of Young Americans, strengthened by the tight guitars of Slick and Alomar and the dry-virgin-level tightness of the band. David sheds the stupefaction that marked his stylistic approach on the opening track and delivers a passionate vocal that extends over most of his range, reminding us that when he’s on his game, he is a top-tier lead singer.
Regarding “Word on a Wing,” let’s hear what David had to say about the song in an interview with NME:
There were days of such psychological terror when making the Roeg film that I nearly started to approach my reborn, born again thing. It was the first time I’d really seriously thought about Christ and God in any depth, and ‘Word on a Wing’ was a protection. It did come as a complete revolt against elements that I found in the film. The passion in the song was genuine . . . something I needed to produce from within myself to safeguard myself against some of the situations I felt were happening on the film set.”
The shorter and more to-the-point explanation is Bowie’s admission that during the filming of The Man Who Fell to Earth he “was totally insecure with about 10 grams [of cocaine] a day in me. I was stoned out of my mind from beginning to end.” The result is a truly dreadful song where the Duke goes full drama queen while failing to sort out the many knots that formed within his head as he engaged in a Hamlet-like struggle style whether or not to believe or not believe in a higher power. According to an unattributed quote on the song’s Wikipedia page, Bowie dismissed these Christian yearnings, explaining “There was a point when I very nearly got suckered into that narrow sort of looking . . . finding the cross as the salvation of mankind around the Roeg period.” To which I say, “Okay, but couldn’t you have written a more thoughtful, reflective piece about your crucible experience instead of whining aimlessly and unintelligibly for six fucking minutes?” “Word on a Wing” is not a total loss, however—I love the piano tone on this track.
“TVC 15” offers us the unusual premise of Iggy Pop hallucinating on who-knows-what and swearing to high heaven that the television was swallowing up his girlfriend. Now there’s an experience everyone can relate to! I can hear Graham Chapman now: “I mean, how many of us can honestly say that at one time or another we haven’t attended a drug-fueled soirée and watched in horror as the television set swallowed his date? I know I have!” Inspired by his buddy’s psychotropic vision, Bowie came up with a more believable story (at least to TNG fans) about the trials and tribulations of owning a holographic television. In his version, Iggy’s girlfriend enters the holodeck in the second verse, never to be seen again.
As silly as it sounds, silly can work when you fully embrace the silliness, and Bowie does exactly that in “TVC 15.” Playing the role of holographic American TV addict complete with a slurred vocal delivered in a country accent somewhere between Elvis and Carl Perkins, Bowie integrates his personal experience in the drug scene with a self-deprecating perspective on the absurdity of drug culture norms:
Maybe if I pray every, each night I sit there pleading
“Send back my dream test baby, she’s my main feature”
My TVC one five, he, he just stares back unblinking
So hologramic, oh my TVC one five
He stares unblinking at the TVC 15, and the TVC 15 returns the favor, both trapped an eternal loop of shared mindlessness: a sci-fi translation of Cheech and Chong’s “Dave’s Not Here” skit. The rollicking blues piano helps set a tongue-in-cheek tone, and David lives up to the demands of comedy by achieving a near-perfect balance between discipline and playfulness in his narrative. It’s a fun song, free of pretension and the slightest trace of the Thin White Duke.
As far as “Stay” is concerned . . . give me an instrumental version and it might be my favorite track on the album. The band really shines here, with Earl and Carlos in full command of phrasing and rhythm. The supporting music is as sexy as fuck, a perfect background for erotic posing and rough but loving foreplay.
[Heavy sigh]
If only I could blot out Bowie’s vocal. He’s just fine in the verses, delivering his lines in his natural voice with a touch of shakiness reflecting the fear of vulnerability described in the lyrics. I loathe it when he shifts to what I’ll call his Judy Garland voice in the chorus, as he sounds like a drag queen making fun of drag queens and I LOVE A GREAT DRAG QUEEN.
I also take great exception to the muddled view of romance in the lyrics, especially the chorus wrap-up line: “‘Cause you can never really tell when somebody wants something you want too.”
Oh, bullshit. I suppose that’s true if you have your head up your ass and lack the courtesy and the courage to give the object of your desires the honest truth about who you are and what you want. “Oh, but people don’t do that!” you reply. “They should!” I scream back. I hate to be religious on any subject, but when it comes to the necessity of clear, open, honest communication regarding sex, I’m Joan of Fucking Arc.
Ahem. I will return to my role as critic and give Bowie and the Boys a slightly tilted thumbs up for their performance on “Stay.”
The thumb flips in the other direction for the closing track, a cover of “Wild Is the Wind.” Bowie was (as am I) a great admirer of Nina Simone, and after meeting her in L. A. was “inspired” to record the Tiomkin-Washington classic that Simone covered in both live and studio recordings. It’s one thing to admire a great singer and a great song, but I’ve never understood the motivation to express one’s admiration by attempting your own cover version. That’s how we wound up with hundreds of shitty versions of “Yesterday!” Compared to either of Simone’s versions, Bowie’s rendition is pretty thin soup, all gloss and no substance.
David Bowie thought Station to Station (and Low) were “great, damned good albums.” As artists have a poor track record of objectivity when it comes to their own work, we can safely ignore his opinion. Brian Eno had a similar view, calling it “one of the great records of all time.” Well, of course he would say that—Station to Station has many of the qualities of a Roxy Music album and he’s certainly not going to knock an album that he claimed led to directly to Low, an album where he was a featured contributor. And as for the generally adoring summaries from mainstream critics . . . let’s just say I’m not impressed and highly skeptical about the motivation behind those reviews.
Station to Station is the work of a guy who was pretty fucked up at the time. The mixture of drugs and music is one of those wildly unpredictable variables that can result in a great album or a total disaster. Station to Station is somewhere in the middle—the band performed exceptionally well, and when Bowie showed up, he reminded listeners just how good he could be. Balance that with muddled lyrics, sloppy vocals and the unnecessary distraction of the Thin White Duke and it’s hard to view Station to Station as anywhere close to great or deny that his immersion in the L. A. drug scene compromised his better judgment.
The connections to Low are tenuous at best, and as a listening experience, Station to Station simply doesn’t measure up to Bowie’s best work.
Posted in: 1970's, Classic Music Reviews, David Bowie | Tagged: altrockchick, Carlos Alomar, David Bowie, Dennis Davis, Earl Slick, female music blogger, George Murray, Golden Years, music review, Station to Station, TVC 15
The Eighties
The Grateful Dead - Anthem of the Sun - Classic Music Review
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3076
|
__label__cc
| 0.697267
| 0.302733
|
Georgia Chapter
Torn between two lives
Posted byALZGA May 18, 2020 Posted inUncategorized
By Jamie Saunders
Many people in their 20’s are focused on their careers and possibly building families. Most are not thinking that at any minute they could become a caregiver for a parent or grandparent, but it is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society. According to the AARP, of the 40 million caregivers in the United States, one-fourth of them are millennials. Many of them are spending an average of 21 hours per week taking care of a loved one.
This category of millennials is commonly referred to as the sandwich generation. They are stuck between caring for their elders and their own families. It is a highly stressful situation that is extremely hard to plan for, and can often have long-term unintended consequences. It takes a toll on performance at work, relationships, and self-care. Many find themselves like, Wendy Beatty, torn between two lives.
At 21 years old, Wendy Beatty never imagined becoming a full time caregiver for her grandmother, Geraldine Creech. After divorce, she moved into Geraldine’s home in Thomasville, GA. It wasn’t long before Beatty began to notice something wasn’t right, especially later in the day.
A longtime member of Eastside Baptist Church, Creech was known to be kind to family, friends, and strangers. Family was the most important thing to her. She and her four sisters all settled in South Georgia and made sure to stay in contact regularly.
When Creech began acting out of character, others chalked it up to aging. Beatty felt it was more than that. Creech began burning dinner and getting angry, turning up the air conditioner to 80 degrees in the summer, getting her meds mixed up, and destroying the remote to the television. One afternoon, on a routine trip to the grocery store just 2-3 miles from her house, everything changed.
“Although she was confused “sometimes” she was still driving and would go and get her hair done on Fridays like many ladies in South Ga. It didn’t really seem like a big deal for her to be driving around her small town. Until she t-boned a family and severely broke her ankle. Everything changed that day,” says Beatty.
From that day forward, Beatty became her grandmother’s full-time caregiver. By that time, Beatty was 23 years old with a boyfriend and a full-time job. She had to find the time for bathing, dressing, cooking, medicinal management, laundry, household chores, and keeping her grandmother presentable with hair and make up. There were many sleepless nights and scary falls before something had to change.
Says Beatty, “At age 23, I was exhausted! I can’t imagine what it would be like later in life with a spouse as many people experience this. I started to become isolated, I tried to break up with my boyfriend, and I didn’t want to go out with my friends. No one really understood what it was like. Don’t get me wrong I would not take this chapter of my life back for anything in the world but… it was HARD.”
Beatty eventually hired a caregiver and then inevitably moved her into Camellia Gardens nursing home. “There was no question that she was going to Camellia Gardens. My grandmama went back to school in her early 40’s and became a nurse. She worked at Southwestern State Hospitals Rose Haven unit until she retired in 1996. Even after retirement, she worked as needed at Hospitality Care (now Thomasville City Health and Rehab) and Camellia Gardens,” explains Beatty.
“When dementia began to rob her of her memory, she decided that’s where she wanted to move. I think that due to her work there, she knew what was happening to her better than our family. We honored her request. My mama, Wanda Crew was dedicated in visiting her daily and making sure that all of her needs were met. My sister, Amanda McRae was always available when needed. My grandmother loved us all dearly and we her,” Beatty continues.
“She lived at Camilla Gardens for 6 years until her passing. During my visits, I observed and learned a lot about dementia and seniors in general. I gained many new grandparents, it lead me to my career path, and to new volunteer opportunities,” comments Beatty. Beatty is now a Community Education Coordinator at Archbold Northside Center for Behavioral and Psychiatric Care, for Signet Healthcare. She volunteers often as a community educator and speaks to Senior Centers, assisted livings, nursing homes, and any other organization where she can advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness.
But her passion is participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, representing “Team Thomasville”, in the Thomasville, GA walk location. Here she can both honor her grandmother’s memory and raise awareness for the disease. “I want to continue to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s in our community. On the day of the walk, I love to see people come together and share their stories. The relationships and connections are beautiful to watch form,” says Beatty.
Finishes Beatty, “It’s really important that people know about the resources available to them through the Alzheimer’s Association. I wish that I had known about the association when caring for my grandmother, especially the support groups. That would have been so helpful to me.”
Don’t struggle alone. The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way toward ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Our 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) is available around the clock, 365 days a year. Through this free service, specialists and master’s level clinicians offer confidential support and information to people living with the disease, caregivers, families and the public.
Want to learn more about participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s near you? Families facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia need us now more than ever — and with your help, we can be there for them. Every dollar you raise through Walk to End Alzheimer’s allows the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research. Register today to help those in your community and beyond.
We salute the health care professionals and long-term care staff who are dedicating themselves to tirelessly serve the Alzheimer’s community. You are making a difference, and we stand with you in this fight. Join us.
Published by ALZGA
Communications Manager, Alzheimer's Association, Georgia View more posts
My Mom and our journey through Alzheimer’s
Local Doctor Offers Valuable Opportunity for Help and Intervention with Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's Association, Website Powered by WordPress.com.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3077
|
__label__wiki
| 0.558138
| 0.558138
|
Maria Rosa Villalpando = Marie Rose Salle dit LaJoie
September 23, 2018 Jacques and Archuleta Familyancestryangel
I know I have previously written about Maria Rosa V. but there is so much ground to cover and she is just fascinating. To review, she was married to Jose Juan Xaquez (Jaquez) and on August 4, 1760, 3,000 Comanche Indians descended on the Taos Valley, killing most of the men, a lot of the women and children, then capturing others. Our ancestor, Jose Julian, about two years old at the time, was left behind. However, Maria Rosa was carried into captivity along with 56 other women and children. She spent ten years as a captive, during which she had another child that was half Native, then was traded to the Pawnee Indians. It was with this tribe that she was found by Jean Sale dit Lajoie in 1767. He lived with her for a few years and then he traded for her and they went to the small village being established which became St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 3rd, 1770, Jean married Marie Rose. Jean Sale dit Lajoie was considered one of the thirty original settlers of St. Louis. Her marriage contract identified her as Maria Rose Vidalpane. The child that Marie Rose had in captivity, Antoine Xavier, was given the last name of Sale dit Lajoie until he was old enough to live on his own but with the understanding that he would have no claim as an heir.
Marie Rose had another child, Lambert Sale dit Lajoie, and he was a child of Jean, before they were married. After that, she had daughter Helene Sale dit Lajoie.
Jean Sale dit Lajoie left St. Louis in 1792 and returned to France alone. He never returned to St. Louis.
Jose Julian, our ancestor, traveled to St. Louis upon the news that his mother was alive. He signed a document on August 3, 1803, 40 years after losing his mother, relinquishing his rights to his mother’s estate and giving them to his sister Helene.
So, I know you guys know all of that but here is the interesting thing…I had an email from a gentleman by the name of Mark Redohl. Mark is a descendant of Maria Rosa Villalpando through her son Lambert. Mark has kindly shared this map with us.
As you can see, this is a portion of the St. Louis map that was made in 1804. One block to the left of the Catholic Church is a house marked M.R.S.L.. This is the house that Marie Rose lived in with her family. I used to hear people say she was buried under the St. Louis Arch but I never really understood what they meant. Back in the 1800’s a Catholic Church was built on the banks of the Mississippi River. The current church, Basillica of St. Louis, King of France, was built in the same location in 1837.
Old Cathedral with the Arch of St. Louis just behind it
Many founders of St. Louis were buried in the cemetery attached to the church. The map hangs inside the museum for the St. Louis Arch. Maria Rosa Villalpando died on July 27, 1830 and was buried in the cemetery of the Cathedral Parish and her age was given as 104 years old.
Mark also shared a video that depicts what St. Louis would have looked like in 1804, including the church and cemetery where Maria Rosa would have been buried. Here is the link which takes you to the U.S. National Park Service website for the St. Louis Arch.
https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=2A9F3321-0B37-0379-6FCBE710DF6B844D
The Battle of St. Louis:
The Battle of St. Louis occurred on May 26, 1780 and involved the Native Americans and French Traders, who fought against the Spanish soldiers, colonists, merchants and slaves. This battle would have occurred at the steps of Maria Rosa’s home. I can’t imagine how frightening it would have been, after having been through the Native American raid twenty years prior, when she witnessed family and friends massacred, only to be held captive for ten years.
Helené Sale dite Lajoie was born shortly before she was baptized on August 11, 1773. She was the child of Jean Sale dite Lajoie and Marie Rose de Vial Pando (Villalpando). This is her picture.
Helene LeRoux
Helene Sale married was married to Benjamin Leroux D’Esneval at the Catholic church in January of 1792. Her children were Joaquine Leroux, Gregiore Leroux, Sylvester Leroux, Marie Angelique Leroux, Watkins Leroux and Helene Leroux.
Helene Sale’s grandson, Judge Wilson Primm, 1810 – 1878 was the first historian of St. Louis. He was baptized Jean Baptiste but his father didn’t like the French sounding of his name and thus called him Wilson.
Judge Primm’s residence in the late 1800’s
Same residence today, only the brick wall is left
So Mark Redohl’s father’s grandmother was a woman by the name of Myrtle, her father was John Lambert, his father and grandfather were both named Jean Lambert. Jean Lambert’s father was Jean Lambert Salle dit La Joie, the son of Rose Marie Salle dit La Joie and Jean Salle dit La Joie. The first Jean Lambert was born in a Pawnee village, where his father rescued his mother from captivity. Mark has DNA matches to Jaquez descendants. I always feel fortunate to find others who are researching the same subjects as I, others who are willing to pass on the nuggets of information to the benefit of all. We thank you Mark Redohl, for reaching out and sharing.
Myrtle V. Lambert
← The Bennetts – 2000’s and beyond A Gift →
12 thoughts on “Maria Rosa Villalpando = Marie Rose Salle dit LaJoie”
Mark Redohl says:
Yvonne, Thank you so much for posting this. Mark
Nila Campbell says:
Wow! It’s nice to know I come from a line of tough, resilient women who have had their trials and still persevered and lived to a ripe old age!
ancestryangel says:
Yes you do!!!
Alice Ulibarri Barnard says:
Thank you, this is a great article.
Maria Rosa is my 6X Great Grandmother.
Robin Rank Pickens says:
thank you for posting this. Mark is my 2nd cousin. Myrtle Lambert was my grandmother, marks great grandmother.
Melissa Armenta says:
This is my great, great great, grandmother
So nice to hear from you. I am working on another post so check back soon
Marie Chavez says:
Wonderful Dtory
David Villalpando says:
Very interesting and exciting to read. Special thanks to all who contributed. I’m from the Villalpando clan of Texas and California. Somewhere down the line we Villalpandos are probably all related in this great country of ours.
Leave a Reply to David Villalpando Cancel reply
If you would like to donate
paypal.me/ancestryangel
All funds will help procure ancestry research documents/information and travel. Walking in the steps of our ancestors to bring their stories to life.
Bennett/Bailey family
Burgess Family
Hardin Family
Jacques and Archuleta Family
Marshall, Adkins and Ashworth Family
Tim Jacques Family
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3078
|
__label__cc
| 0.666229
| 0.333771
|
The BBF possesses a comprehensive collection of library and archival holdings focusing on the history of education. The collection is systematically complemented according to its acquisition and collection policy.
Collection and Acquisition Policy of the Library
The BBF library provides sources and information aids that are necessary for national and international research on the history of education. Based on an interdisciplinary, theoretically and methodologically broad concept of educational history and educational research, the library is continually expanding its holdings concerning national and international publications on the history of childcare, education and socialization.
Target Groups of the Library
Researchers in Germany and abroad working in the field of educational history (with a priority on the German-speaking area)
Students of educational science (including prospective teachers) and other disciplines
Other individuals interested in the history of education
Collection Policy: Current Research Literature
Regarding the acquisition of current literature, the library places a priority on publications on the history of childcare, education and socialization. Amongst others, these are:
Pedagogical discourse and theory
History of childcare and growing up in the family and socialization
History of institutional education (including teacher education and history of individual school subjects)
History of individual pedagogical fields (vocational education and training, adult education, higher education etc.)
According to the acquisition policy, literature on general subjects is collected at a large scale. Regarding the history of individual institutions, a differentiation is made. While a broad selection is collected regarding the history of individual general education schools, only representative examples are collected for other types of institutions (kindergarten, care home, vocational schools, universities, adult education centers).
Theoretically and methodologically relevant publications are acquired also from related disciplines.
The selection criteria also apply to articles indexed individually in the library catalog.
Collection Policy: Sources
For historical reasons, the BBF presumably holds the largest collection of older pedagogical literature in Germany. Therefore, the second pillar of the acquisition policy is constituted by a retrospective acquisition of the existing holdings of sources, particularly regarding the collections of the German Teacher Library, and closure of gaps in the collection. In this regard, thematic areas that are relevant for current research on the history of education and the respective modern literature are complemented by the acquisition of original publications concerning the respective thematic areas that have in the course of time become historical sources themselves.
Collection Policy: Reference Works
Subject to a careful selection, the BBF provides a range of general reference works in its reading room. In this respect, reference works that are available online are preferred, subject to availability.
Countries/Languages
While the German language is clearly focused by the library collection, an important role can also be identified regarding English language publications. Furthermore, the library holds a limited number of items in Romanic languages and examples of literature in other languages, provided they focus on the history of education in Germany. The BBF documents international research discourses, particularly with respect to methodologically or theoretically progressive work and current trends in research.
Principally, all types of printed material are collected pursuant to the collection policy, regardless of their form. If available, the library also collects quality checked university theses and “grey literature”. Only in exceptional cases self-published works and published bachelor theses are acquired.
Electronic publications are treated equally to printed publications. Only in exceptional cases, we acquire printed copies of publication types that are particularly likely to benefit from retrieval opportunities offered by digital provisions or publication types that will soon be outdated (e.g. bibliographical and biographical compilations, reference works).
Stock Revision
The BBF principally works as an archive library aiming at longterm availability of its physical collection and all digital resources it has produced, with the exception of the reference holdings.
Collection and Acquisition Policy of the Archive
The BBF archive is a collecting specialized archive focusing on “history of education and educational research”. The archive stores mostly non-official material comprising 1,800 running meters.
Collection Profile
The BBF archive currently stores 100 legacies left by individuals who were active in education, in educational administration and educational policy-making areas, educational scientists in universities, together with modern-time records from 50 corporations and associations, and 40 collections with relevance for the history of education.
For historical reasons, the collection is highly heterogeneous. It reflects the processes of change the BBF underwent during its history including several changes of institutions hosting the library and archive.
The archive tectonics corresponds to the historical development and it is divided as follows:
A. Historical collection of the German Teacher Library from 1876 to 1950
B. Archive of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences in the GDR for the period from 1949 to 1990
C. Items added since 1992
D. Institutional Archive of DIPF from 1951 onwards
The oldest document dates to the 16th century, while the most recent document is from 2010. The temporal focus of the documents concerns the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century.
The acquisition policy corresponds to the archive’s historical task which was already formulated in the constitution of the predecessor, the German Teacher Library, in 1876. The BBF archive primarily stores written documents and images from private sources such as the papers left by important pedagogues, institutional records from associations that do not run their own archives, and collections that are relevant to the history of education. The BBF expressly refrains from limiting its collection to a particular period of time. By storing and providing unique sources, the BBF archive contributes significantly to the documentation of the history of education and educational practice.
Based on the collection profile, the BBF archive actively acquires archival material from non-state provenances with a national relevance and thus complements the documents that are already collected by state and local archives.
Delimitation of the Acquisition Profile
In accordance with the collection policy, it is essential to assure a high quality of documents regarding their relevance for future historical research. Apart from a few exceptions, the archive exclusively holds original documents. The BBF cannot acquire collections of photocopies and materials compiled by educational scientists or lecturers from related disciplines.
Material that does not meet the collection profile of the BBF archive is offered to relevant other archives. Likewise partial fonds completing holdings of other archives will be offered these institutions.
last modified Aug 04, 2020
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3081
|
__label__cc
| 0.703005
| 0.296995
|
Here We Stand, December 20, 2020
Trash a Temple for Jesus, and other Christmas reflections
Here We Stand with Reverend Kevin D. Annett
Topic: Trash a Temple for Jesus, and other Christmas reflections
Live intro by Rev. Annett to introduce a rerun dated 2020-02-09
Opening song: Ballad of the Carpenter, 3:54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmbdTLcbN3Q
Trash a Temple
Temple for Jesus
kevin annett
Reverend Annett
Rev Kevin D Annett
Here We Stand is the official voice of The Republic of Kanata and the Republican Party of Kanata. The weekly program is a platform to unite and mobilize the revolutionary remnant who are forming the basis of a new society based on equality, Common Law and liberty.
The Vision and Program of the Republicand the Party can be found here: Establishing Liberty: The Case for the Republic of Kanata - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1721282033
The Republic and the Party can be contacted at republicofkanata@gmail.com. Kevin's email is thecommonland@gmail.com .
See also http://murderbydecree.com/
See also https://republicofkanata.ca/
Donations to Here We Stand can be made by writing to the emails above or through paypal c/o pickwick88@yahoo.com .
Kevin's recent books, available through Amazon, are listed below:
Murder by Decree - The Crime of Genocide in Canada: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1530145619
Unrelenting: Between Sodom and Zion: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1523905778
Establishing the Reign of Natural Liberty: A Common Law Training Manual: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544239610
At the Mouth of a Cannon: Conquest and Cupidity on Canada's West Coast: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983790842 , https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZKNDJK
Truth Teller's Shield: A Manual for Whistle Blowers & Hell Raisers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1537363948
Establishing Liberty: The Case for the Republic of Kanata: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1721282033
Here We Stand: The Call of the New Protestant Reformation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1974273474
Fallen - The Story of the Vancouver Four: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1548152684
The Sacrifice - Of Family and Empire: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1727005961
1497 and so on: A History of White People in Canada or, The Caucasian Healing Fund:
The Border: A Post-Canadian Anthology - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1092763910
Kevin's award winning documentary film Unrepentant can be viewed at https://youtu.be/rCRrEqeWoOM. See also an insightful personal interview "Who is Kevin Annett?" (2013) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY4h3hDjOYM
Listen to Kevin live every Sunday at 6 pm eastern at https://bbsradio.com/herewestand . See the evidence of genocide in Canada and globally at http://murderbydecree.com/
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3082
|
__label__wiki
| 0.721397
| 0.721397
|
Honourary Members
Archival Fonds
Nursing Groups
UBC School of Nursing Historical Collection 1921-2004
Biographical Files
Biographical Files A-D
Biographical Files E-F
Biographical Files G-H
Biographical Files I-J-K
Biographical File L-M
Biographical File N-S
Biographical Files T-Z
Conferences and Photographs
Full List of Oral Histories
Donate Your Nursing Treasures
Forms for Access to Archives
Nursing Presentations
Awarded Bursaries formerly called Scholarships prior to 2019
Suggested Student Reading
Delphine Rose Alexander [nee Fletcher]
Home / Archives / Nurses / Delphine Rose Alexander [nee Fletcher]
Delphine Rose Alexander [nee Fletcher] 1896-1980
Delphine Rose Alexander was born February 2, 1896, in Kaslo, B.C. She was educated here and in Marysville, B.C., later attending a Catholic girls' school in Pincher Creek, Alberta. In 1913 Alexander entered nursing school at the Kootenay Lake General Hospital in Nelson, B.C. She graduated with a diploma in nursing in 1916 after completing the three year program.
On May 16, 1917 Alexander joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Victoria, B.C. After serving for a short time in Canada, she went overseas, serving as a nursing sister in England and France. While she was serving at the No. 1 Canadian Hospital in Etaples, France, the hospital was bombed by German forces four times on May 19, 1918, killing three nursing sisters, and many patients and orderlies.
Following her discharge from service on July 18, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec, she returned to British Columbia. She obtained her R.N. status in 1920, and took a course in surgery at the Vancouver General Hospital. After working in B.C. for a few months, she moved to Oregon State, and then to Los Angeles, where she worked for several years. It was during this time that she married S.T. Alexander, a Canadian soldier whom she had nursed in a field hospital in France in 1918. When the Alexanders moved to Kimberly, B.C. in 1926, she stopped nursing. She died in Victoria, B.C. on September 10, 1980.
The fonds consist of a centimeter of material relating to the nursing career of Delphine Rose Alexander. Most of it concerns her service in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in World War I, although some later information is available. It includes photocopies of forms and photographs relating to Alexander's service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI, including a group of fifteen photocopied photographs depicting the aftermath of four German air raids on the No. 1 Canadian hospital in Etaples, France on May 18, 1918. Biographical information has been supplied by her son.
No restrictions apply
A finding aid is available
1917 Canadian Army Medical Corps BCHNS
Archival Fonds: Nurses
Alexander, Delphine Rose
Blais, Lois
Beaudreau, (Margaret) Jill
Campbell, Dr. Margaret Amelia
Hatfield, Edith White
Jackson, Margaret Murray Campbell
McIlraith, Ruth [nee Littlejohn]
McIver, Vera
Niskala, Dr. Helen
Paulson, Esther
Ratsoy, M. Bernadet [nee Kiss]
Richmond, Mary
Rumen, Nina
Saunders, Ruth
Slaughter, Dorothy
Slevin, Muriel [nee Ellis]
Staples, Sara ‘Sally’ [nee Matties]
Upshall, (Edna) Muriel
Wilson, Florence
Wright, Alice
Welcome to the BC History of Nursing Society Website
Our mission is to discover, disseminate, and preserve BC's nursing history. In 1989 interested registered nurses banded together and formed the B.C. History of Nursing Professional Practice Group under the umbrella of the Registered Nurses Association of BC (now the College of Registered Nurses of BC.) In 2008 the organization became registered under the Society Act of BC and is now known as the B.C. History of Nursing Society (BCHNS).
Our Society is staffed with dedicated volunteers. We will do our best to respond to your inquiry within 2-3 business days – your patience is deeply appreciated. Fill out our Contact Form Here
Contact our Archives
The archives is open by appointment only as it is staffed by a part time archivist and volunteers.
© 2021 BCHNS Designed and Powered by Scarlet and Technica
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3084
|
__label__wiki
| 0.503521
| 0.503521
|
Staff Sign In
Referral Process Questionnaire
Funding & Insurance Verification
The directors, behavior analysts, and technicians at ABA Solutions are friendly and full of enthusiasm for delivering their skills and expertise in applied behavior analysis. Our wonderful team is made up of Registered Behavior Technicians, Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (each with at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavior Analysis), and our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (each with at least a Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis).
Lisa Scott, Office Administrator
Our administrator, Lisa Scott is involved in all facets of the administrative side of providing outstanding behavior services. She has been with ABA Solutions, Inc. since July 2009.
Lisa is integral to ABA Solutions’ ability to provide clients with the services that make a difference to their lives.
Kristin Dorsch, MA, BCBA
Regional Director of Central Florida
Kristin Dorsch earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology from the University of Florida. She completed her Master of Arts in Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida. Kristin joined ABA Solutions as a behavior analyst in 2010. Since then, she has devoted herself to the betterment of children here. She was promoted to regional director of Central Florida in 2015.
I am always amazed by an individual’s capacity to change. I feel honored to be able to serve my clients by helping them achieve and exceed their goals.
Kimberly Beck, MA, BCBA
Regional Director of New Jersey
Kimberly earned her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida in 2008. That same year, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and joined ABA Solutions. Her work has been instrumental in helping the lives of many children. Kimberly was promoted to regional director of New Jersey in 2014.
The most rewarding parts of my job are seeing a child make progress and feel proud of him or herself for accomplishing the goal and, watching a parent see the same success and feel relief and happiness.
Harvey Bayliss, MA, BCBA
Regional Director of Pasco/South Hernando
After discovering a passion for working with individuals with special needs, Harvey joined ABA Solutions in 2013. Harvey earned his Master of Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida in 2016 and has worked for ABA Solutions as a behavior analyst since that time. Harvey also has experience with Pasco County Public Schools as a school-based behavior analyst.
Seeing the joy that comes as an individual gains new skills and independence is a powerful experience. I love witnessing the hard work my clients put into reaching goals that once seemed beyond reach.
Medea Ehrlich, MA, BCBA
Regional Director of Sarasota
Medea earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida in 2001 and Master of Science in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2005. She became a BCBA in 2006. Medea joined ABA Solutions in 2011 and was promoted to regional director of the Sarasota Area in 2017.
I love my job and I feel privileged to help my clients reach their goals while supporting their parents and caregivers.
Carie English, PhD, BCBA-D
Clinical Director, Medicaid Waiver Services
Carie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, and her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from West Virginia University. A behavior analyst since 2001, she joined ABA Solutions in 2008.
I became a BCBA to effect change in the lives of individuals whose behavior lessens their ability to enjoy all of life’s opportunities.
Tracy Larson, MA, BCBA
Tracy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, and her Master of Arts with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from University of the Pacific. Tracy has over 10 years of experience working in the field and joined ABA Solutions in 2013.
I love being a behavior analyst and helping parents and caregivers become confident in their ability to manage difficult situations and facilitate learning and independence.
Kaitlin Sullivan, MA, BCBA
Clinical Director, Seffner and South Tampa private schools
Kaitlin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2014 from the University of South Florida. She joined ABA Solutions in 2013 as a behavior assistant and continued pursuing her career in the field by obtaining her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida in 2016. Kaitlin has a variety of experience working in family homes, public and private school settings, and teaching future behavior analysts in the principles of behavior analytic service delivery.
The best part of my day is seeing a client or caregiver obtain a goal or effectively implement a procedure they have been working towards and seeing the empowerment they receive. I became a behavior analyst to change the lives of clients and caregivers by assisting in teaching them what capacity for greatness they hold inside themselves.
Sindy Sanchez, Ph.D, BCBA
Clinical Director, Lighthouse Academy Location
Sindy discovered ABA while completing her undergraduate thesis in college. She earned her Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. She is particularly interested in teaching safety skills, the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors, and ABA applications in school settings.
ABA allows me to look and understand the world through a new, clear, set of lenses. I end each day knowing more than when I started, and that constant pursuit of knowledge is equally daunting, fascinating, and empowering.
Rebecca Stannis, MA, BCBA
Clinical Director, Tampa Clinic
Becca earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Child Development from Florida State University in Tallahassee, and her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2015 from the University of South Florida. Becca has over 9 years of experience and began working at ABA Solutions as a BCaBA in 2015. She worked as a Team Lead at Impact Academy for the 2017-2018 school year and has been promoted to the clinical director at our new clinic opening in Tampa in Fall of 2018.
I love helping clients and their families meet and maintain behavior change goals!
Taylor Narozanick, MA, BCBA
Assistant Director of Pasco/Hernando
Taylor Narozanick earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis at the
University of South Florida. Taylor joined ABA Solutions as a Behavior Assistant in 2013, became a BCBA in 2017, and promoted to Assistant Director in 2019 after gaining experience in private settings and as a district behavior analyst in Pasco Schools.
My passion is fueled by building the capacity of future behavior analysts and caregivers to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and disorders. Each day allows me an opportunity to learn more, make an impact in the community, and have fun!
7777 131st Street North
T: 727.492.5369 | F: 727.350.3255
For Referrals:
lisa@abasolutionsinc.com
Copyright © 2021 ABA Solutions | Terms and Conditions
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3087
|
__label__wiki
| 0.921392
| 0.921392
|
Lactation rooms available for parenting students in New York City schools: Department of Education
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Parenting students will now have access to lactation spaces within New York City schools on an as-needed basis, according to the Department of Education.
"A student can do what is best for them and their family and the health of their child, as well as pursue their education," said Ashley Sawyer, director of policy and government relations at Girls for Gender Equity.
The change is one of several made to the chancellor's regulation that deals with pregnant and parenting students and reproductive privacy.
Girls for Gender Equity officials, who worked with the DOE on suggested revisions, say these are the first significant changes since 2008.
According to 2016 figures, about 8,000 students in the system were pregnant.
"We see this as a win," Sawyer said. "This is an opportunity for the protections that are afforded to adults in the work place to be extended to the young people who are in school."
Under the lactation space provision, school officials shall:
Make a reasonable effort to find a lactation space. It must be a sanitary space, other than restroom. It's to be shielded from view and free from intrusion. It should include an electrical outlet, flat surface and a chair. The student should have access to running water and a refrigerator for storage.
"A lot of our buildings are very old so the logistics of this are where we have to be mindful," Sawyer said.
The DOE released a statement saying:
"We're committed to ensuring that all students, including those who are pregnant and parenting, feel comfortable and supported in our schools and we're thrilled that our regulations now codify this commitment. Providing a lactation space for students who need it will help make sure we are fostering a supportive environment where every student feels welcomed and every school is inclusive."
Sawyer says she sees this revision as an opportunity.
"We see this as an opportunity to ensure that students, regardless of their gender, are able to pursue their education, complete school and not have to feel they need to leave school because they are parenting," she said.
* More New York City news
educationnew york cityparentingschoolsnyc department of education
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3088
|
__label__wiki
| 0.964836
| 0.964836
|
How a North Korean attack could play out: Analysts
What happens if certain areas are targeted by North Korea.
By MEGHAN KENEALLY
Trump: 'Fire and fury' warning to North Korea 'wasn't tough enough'
The president doubled down on his earlier threat to Kim Jong Un.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
— -- The continuing escalation of verbal threats by North Korea and harsh warnings from American officials has sparked questions about whether military conflict between the U.S. and Pyongyang is possible, and if so, what it could look like.
Two foreign policy experts stressed in interviews with ABC News both that because North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's main priority will always be to ensure continuation of his family’s regime he will likely hesitate to take any steps that could threaten their control.
“The whole goal is regime survival,” said Steve Ganyard, an ABC News contributor and a former deputy assistant secretary of state.
Scott Snyder, a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told ABC News that Kim probably knows he can’t use nuclear weapons for offensive purposes if he wants to survive and “what we know of Kim Jong Un is that he wants to survive.”
Aside from Kim's interest in self-preservation, it remains unclear whether North Korea has all of the necessary technology to make an offensive strike possible.
Ganyard said North Korea would have to have four essentials in place before making nuclear strike: a nuclear weapon, missiles, technology that allows a missile to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere without igniting, and the capability to target missiles.
Kim "showed us that the rocket has the range” necessary to strike parts of the U.S. through recent missile tests, Ganyard said. And, a U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report cited the broader U.S. intelligence community's analysis that North Korea has a miniaturized nuclear weapon that could fit on a rocket. Separately, Japan's defense ministry came to a similar conclusion.
But it remains unknown if the North Koreans have the re-entry or target technology necessary for such an attack.
Inside the escalating war of words between the US and North Korea
North Korea details its missile threat to Guam, says 'only absolute force can work' on Trump
“At this stage, even with the [Defense Intelligence Agency] report out there, I would still say that they have an unproven capability to deliver because there has not been a judgment yet about their ability to master re-entry to the earth’s atmosphere, so that applies for now to the continental United States,” Snyder said.
“But that may not apply in months,” he added.
Despite the reasons why North Korea may be unlikely to mount a nuclear strike, the country's threatening rhetoric has not died down.
Several U.S. cities or territories are within a range which experts believe North Korea's missiles could potentially reach.
What happens if Guam is attacked?
Pyongyang's latest statement, read on state-run television today, said North Korea is "seriously examining the plan for an enveloping strike at Guam through simultaneous fire of four ... ballistic rockets" in the water about 18 to 24 miles off the coast of the U.S. territory.
Ganyard said that any such action would be viewed as an “act of war, even if [Kim] doesn’t hit it ... even if he shoots at it.”
“Shooting at Guam is no different than shooting at New York City,” he said.
Guam is home to several bases for U.S. armed forces, including the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Guam already has a defense system in place, -- the U.S. Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD -- which shoots down ballistic missiles. For this reason, Ganyard said, an attack on Guam “sort of doesn’t make sense.”
Snyder said North Korea’s current, announced threats and its earlier suggestions of possibly targeting Guam is unusual and a departure from the nation's penchant for secrecy.
“It’s odd given that they have threatened nuclear strike on the U.S. mainland before. Why are they ratcheting it down?” Snyder said.
What happens if Anchorage, Alaska, is attacked?
Ganyard said that if Anchorage or any part of the mainland United States were attacked, the response would be swift and destructive.
The U.S. response would involve intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear weapons "raining down on targets that have been predetermined since 1957.”
“U.S. policy since Eisenhower has been, ‘You come across the [demilitarized zone], or you attack the United States and you will immediately be obliterated by thermonuclear weapons,’” Ganyard said.
Another deterrent to an attack on Alaska is that it is protected by a ground-based interceptor system, which has just over a 50 percent success rate in intercepting incoming long-range missiles. There are 32 ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska, and an additional four at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
“[The interceptor] would have a hard time protecting Hawaii, but it would protect Alaska and the mainland,” Ganyard said. One problem, however, is that it “could not handle a barrage of 10 incoming missiles. It could pick off a few but we're not there yet. It’s too developmental a system,” he said.
What happens if Seattle, Washington, is attacked?
“If you’re looking for the shortest and closest place in the mainland to hit [with an intercontinental ballistic missile], it would be Seattle,” Snyder said.
Besides its geographic proximity to North Korea, there is a military reason why Seattle could an attractive target.
Snyder said any troops from U.S. Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state would be directed through Seattle if they “have a North Korea mission in mind.” So, a strike that cut off that route could make such American troop deployments difficult.
But, Snyder noted that the latest understanding of North Korean military capability is that the country may lack the re-entry technology necessary for an effective attack targeting specific parts of the U.S. mainland.
What if South Korea or Japan are attacked?
Both South Korea and Japan have been within range of North Korea's weapons for some time, so the threat to those countries is not new.
“They already have lived with the threats, whereas Americans are not living with the threats currently but may face it imminently,” Snyder said.
If South Korea were attacked, Ganyard said that “because [President Donald Trump is] bound by a treaty, we will defend them the same way we would defend the United States.”
How all of this could be avoided
The biggest inhibitor to any attack right now is that the North Korean military may still lack certain technological capabilities, which experts believe would, for the time being, keep the country from following through on some of its more specific and extreme threats.
“At present, still I’m not sure the capability is there,” Snyder said.
Rather than merely counting on a delay in Pyongnang's developing the needed technology, diplomatic routes are still available, Ganyard said.
He said it would be possible for the U.S. and other nations to “crack down on the sanctions on the illicit part of the economy,” of North Korea, which he said includes drug smuggling, money laundering, and components of their nuclear weapons program, all of which help fund the North Korean government. That strategy could exert enough economic pressure for Kim Jong Un's regime to reach a "certain pain point” that prompts him to make changes.
“He's learned the lesson of Saddam [Hussein] and Muammar [Gaddafi]," Ganyard said. "He's never going to give up his nukes, so I think at some point we go back to Cold War-style deterrence and containment the way we did with the Soviet Union successfully.”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3089
|
__label__wiki
| 0.722925
| 0.722925
|
Peter Frampton: Music Legend Reflects On An Amazing Career/Returns With All Blues By Todd Beebe
MICHAEL CHARLES: ALL HE REALLY KNOWS FROM A TO Z BY : TODD BEEBE
RENDAL WALL: GUITAR WIZARD
Robin Trower: Blues/Rock Master – On Top Of His Game In 2020 By Todd Beebe
Buddy Shows Gallery: January 16th – 19th 2020
Blues and Music News
Signed By Buddy
BGL
Todd beebe
National Blues Museum Named Affiliate of GRAMMY Museum
May 13, 2016 BGadmin bg, bg blues and music news, blues, blues music, Grammy, grammy museum, missouri, national blues museum, saint louis
St. Louis, MO – The National Blues Museum announced today that it has been designated an official Affiliate of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE.
As an affiliate, the National Blues Museum now has the opportunity to utilize the many technical and cultural facets of the GRAMMY Museum, including exhibitions, research and educational programs, internship programs for college students, and professional development seminars.
“We are so thrilled to extend the resources of the GRAMMY Museum and its affiliates into St. Louis by welcoming the National Blues Museum into our GRAMMY Museum Affiliate family,” says Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE. “As a music and blues historian myself, I am very excited about the opportunities that await us through our partnership with an institution that holds of high importance the historical significance of this genre of music.”
To date, only three other cultural exhibitions in the world — the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, The Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and The Beatles Story in Liverpool, England — have been named cultural affiliates.
“We are honored that the GRAMMY Museum recognizes the cultural importance of the blues and that they are supporting our efforts to preserve the history and celebrate the music,” says Executive Director Dion Brown. “As an affiliate, we recognize that having access to their resources and opportunities can only improve upon what the National Blues Museum offers to the art and its guests.”
Santelli and the entire GRAMMY Museum team were key advisors in helping plan the National Blues Museum since its inception phase, and will remain involved as the museum moves forward in mapping its growth and cultural outreach.
“We are excited to be a part of such a great, growing roster of affiliated museums,” says National Blues Museum board chair, Rob Endicott. “The relationship we have forged with the GRAMMY Museum has been key in helping to craft the vision and mission for the National Blues Museum. We are all looking forward to the amazing possibilities of what this relationship holds for the museum and the community.”
There will be an official ceremony held at the National Blues Museum on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10 a.m. At the ceremony, GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli will officially present the National Blues Museum with its affiliate plaque.
For more information, please contact Communications Coordinator Erin Williams:
E-mail: ewilliams@nationalbluesmuseum.org.
About the National Blues Museum
The National Blues Museum is dedicated to preserving and honoring the history and legacy of Blues music and its impact on American and world culture. Located in Downtown St. Louis in the Mercantile Exchange (MX) district, the museum is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to be the premier entertainment and educational resource focused on the blues as the foundation of American music. Voted as a top travel destination in 2016 by The New York Times, Smithsonian.com, and CNN, the National Blues Museum uses artifact-driven exhibits, live performances and interactive galleries to perpetuate blues culture for future generations of artists, fans and historians. Conveniently located at the center of St. Louis’s convention and tourism district, the museum is within walking distance of the iconic Gateway Arch, the home venues of the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals and the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and many other attractions and amenities.
About The GRAMMY Museum
The GRAMMY Museum is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created as a partnership between The Recording Academy and AEG. Paying tribute to music’s rich cultural history, the one-of-a-kind, 21st century Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the premier recognition of excellence in recorded music. The GRAMMY Museum features 30,000 square feet of interactive permanent and traveling exhibits, with four floors of dynamic and engaging multimedia presentations, and is located within L.A. LIVE, the downtown Los Angeles sports, entertainment and residential district. Through thought-provoking and dynamic public and educational programs and exhibits, guests will experience music from a never-before-seen insider perspective that only the GRAMMY Museum can deliver. For more information, please call 213-765-6800.
BGadmin
BG is a free magazine bringing you stories about Buddy Guy's Legends, blues music, and music generally. Please direct submissions to buddyguyslegends@gmail.com for consideration.
← Language of the Blues: Sharecropper
Remembering B.B. King – One Year Later →
Jeff Beck on Autonomous Cars: “Ridiculous”
August 26, 2016 September 27, 2016 BGadmin
Buddy Guy Returns to Australia in February 2018
December 24, 2017 January 4, 2018 Lea Jobson
Blues for Martin Luther King Jr.
January 23, 2016 March 14, 2016 BGadmin
Article Archives Select Month March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 May 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 January 2013 August 2012 May 2012 April 2012 July 2011 September 2010
Article Latest
March 30, 2020 Todd Beebe
Peter Frampton has carved out a musical legacy few can match. His early years saw him making music in bands
March 19, 2020 March 31, 2020 Todd Beebe
March 11, 2020 March 11, 2020 BGadmin
March 4, 2020 March 5, 2020 Todd Beebe
BG Blues and Music News is the online publication by Buddy Guys Legends
BGL Calendar
Buddy Guy TV
BG Blues and Music News is a subsidiary of Buddy Guy’s Legends. Any ideas or opinions expressed in content on this site are those of its creators and not of Buddy Guy or Buddy Guy’s Legends.
Copyright © 2021 Blues and Music News. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3090
|
__label__wiki
| 0.948862
| 0.948862
|
Dr R Rajani receives excellence Healthcare award
Dr Rajani has undergone extensive training in Melbourne, Australia at the St. Vincent’s Group of Hospitals.
Dr Rajesh Rajani, a Consultant Cardiologist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai was honoured with the" Excellence in Cardiology, Mumbai" award at India Today's Excellence Health Care Awards 2018 held recently in the city. The award was handed over by Maharashtra Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant.
Dr Rajani has undergone extensive training in Melbourne, Australia at the St. Vincent’s Group of Hospitals. During his tenure in Australia he performed more than 8,000 coronary angiograms and more than 2000 coronary angioplasties.
At Hinduja Hospital he performs approximately 500 – 600 procedures per year which include coronary angiographies, coronary angioplasties with stenting, balloon mitral valvuloplasties, permanent pacemaker implantation. He has already completed more than 2000 Trans Radial Interventions.
Dr Rajani is also serving as an Asst. Professor in Cardiology at the J.J. Group of Hospitals, Grant Medical College, Mumbai.
He has graduated from J.J. Group of Hospitals and the K.E.M. Hospital with MD and DM in Cardiology respectively.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3093
|
__label__wiki
| 0.975286
| 0.975286
|
InternetNZ retires NZRS brand to streamline operations
Ben Moore
InternetNZ and NZRS, the registry and operator for .nz domain names, have announced that they have merged as of April 1.
Previously, InternetNZ deputy chief executive Andrew Cushen says, NZRS was a wholly owned subsidiary of InternetNZ but the company has decided to retire the NZRS brand and integrate it into its parent company in order to streamline operations.
InternetNZ group chief executive Jordan Carter says the team plans to build on the strengths across the group, InternetNZ, NZRS and DNCL, to deliver more for the New Zealand internet community and to face the inevitable challenges as the potential of the internet grows.
"The integration of InternetNZ and NZRS is an important shift within the internet space in New Zealand,” he says.
“The change to our structure is designed to slimline our governance and (enable us) to deliver more for the internet and for New Zealanders. Our purpose is to support the benefits of the internet for all New Zealanders. This change will help us further that goal and we’re excited about it.”
InternetNZ has a history of outspoken advocacy, representing the people and helping to implement policy.
"The work InternetNZ does is important, and as the internet plays a bigger role in all our lives, our work will continue to reflect that. We speak on behalf of New Zealanders who use the internet, and the services we offer are essential for Kiwis who want to make the most of a free and open internet," Carter says.
Since its inception, over the past 20 years, the not-for-profit InternetNZ has delivered service to the public through the management of the .nz domain, returning over $2 million to the community through grants programmes, influencing a range of public and technical policy debates, and supporting and hosting a wide range of community events.
It has also contributed on the regional and global stage to the framework of a free and open internet, developing innovative products such as the National Broadband Map, and maintaining a technical research programme.
"I’m not taking these reigns lightly or on my own, we have strong foundations that we will continue to build on,” Carter says.
“That’s something the whole team is proud of, it’s why they turn up in the morning and continue to do the great work they do, often changing lives under the radar. This year, we will bring our organisations together and take a close look at our strategy.
“Our job is to serve our community and customers with leading technology, community support and fresh policy ideas. That will remain our focus."
InternetNZ urges political parties to commit to digital inclusion action plan
InternetNZ tackles increased cyberattacks with new partnership
Spark and Vodafone get behind InternetNZ's digital inclusion action plan
CERT NZ provides threat intelligence for InternetNZ's DNS Firewall
UPDATED: F5 being sued by company that claims to own NGINX
Support for InternetNZ's digital inclusion plan gathers momentum
InternetNZ NZRS Mergers and Acquisitions Domain names
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3094
|
__label__wiki
| 0.695429
| 0.695429
|
Inspiration, Tours and Destinations August 17, 2020 August 11, 2020
Austria Virtual Ride
From BikeTours.com president and founder, Jim Johnson
This video captures much of why I’ve been returning to Austria for more than 50 years: the majestic beauty of its mountains and lakes, the rich culture and history of its towns, and the scents, sights, and sounds of its peaceful countryside. See for yourself in this virtual ride!
As I’m sure you know I believe there’s no better way to experience a place than by bike.
So, that’s what I did with friends in October 2019, showing them some highlights of the Salzburg Lake District and the Tauern Bike Path–where I did my first European bicycle tour in 1994, researching articles as a freelance writer. And where I got hooked on the bike tour experience.
The video opens in the Lake District, overlooking the parish church in St. Wolfgang on Wolfgangsee, a picture-perfect lake with an alpine view on each side. That day, we’d been joined by our partners at Eurofun Touristik, who’d also put together a wonderful picnic.
The next day, we traveled to Hallstatt, a village tucked between lake and mountain. Although much of the village’s charm stems from its 16th-century buildings and alleyways, it’s been a center for the salt trade since prehistoric times.
We continued by car to the start of the Tauern Bike Path in Krimml, site of Europe’s tallest waterfalls–wild with the rains from the previous days. From there, the bike path follows the Salzach River to Salzburg and eventually to Passau, where the river enters the Danube, and the Tauern Bike Path transitions into the Danube.
In 1994, I wrote this introduction for an article in the Los Angeles Times: “The two-year-old Tauernradweg (Tauern bike path) in Austria is a bicyclist’s dream come true. It cuts across some of the world’s most mountainous terrain, yet it’s almost all downhill. It passes through dozens of picturesque towns and villages, yet it stays almost totally clear of the traffic of daily life and commerce–meandering instead through alpine meadows and woodland and along the banks of the Salzach River. And it’s clearly marked, with signs at every turn, for worry-free riding.”
The route hasn’t changed much in 25 years, an asphalt bike path following the river in some places and traversing farmlands in others. For nearly the whole ride to Salzburg, mountains rise on both sides, some snow-capped year-round, all deeply wooded. And, for the record, it’s not “almost all downhill”–perhaps a sign of my enthusiasm. But it’s greatly flat or downhill with few climbs, none substantial.
Just as I’d done in 1994, I ended this Tauern experience with a climb to Salzburg’s historic fortress. And just as I’d written a quarter-century earlier, “I could see the bicycle path along the Salzach disappear gradually into the mountains. Memories of the past four days came in a flood, buffeted by the bells of the city calling the faithful to Mass. Despite the glorious view below, however, the feeling that lingered was somewhat bittersweet; on a bicycle tour, after all, getting here is all the fun.”
Travel on the Tauern >
Tours featuring Salzburg >
See all tours in Austria >
Austria, Salzberg, Tauern
Hitting the road and accepting the challenges
Solo female travel: Advice and tips
Tauern Bike Path offers easy route through alpine valley
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3098
|
__label__wiki
| 0.6495
| 0.6495
|
Blog.SugarMan.org
All The Facts – The Official Rodriguez Website
SugarMan.org
Talk About Rodriguez
South African Tour 1998
Tour Programme
Dead Men Don’t Tour Film
Live Fact Album
South African Music News
The South African Rock Encyclopedia
The South African Rock Music Digest
The triumph and tragedy of Searching for Sugar Man – Telegraph
Searching for Sugar Man is a brilliant testament to the briefly glittering talents of its director and star
Fleeting fame: Malik Bendjelloul and Sixto Rodriguez at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Los Angeles in January 2013 Photo: Rex Features
In 2006, an aspiring young documentary maker called Malik Bendjelloul left his job at Swedish state TV and went to Africa in search of material for his first feature. He eventually found himself in Cape Town, where a record store owner told him the story of Sixto Rodriguez, a brilliant Mexican-American singer-songwriter whose two albums, released in the early 1970s, had unexpectedly bombed in the US — but, by some magic, later found an audience in apartheid South Africa, where they sold hundreds of thousands of copies. As a consequence, Rodriguez became more popular than Elvis in the country, and inspired a generation of anti-establishment songwriters.
For years, the store owner explained, listeners in South Africa had presumed that Rodriguez was dead: apartheid censorship laws meant that information about him was scant, and rumours circulated that he’d committed suicide on stage somewhere in America. But then, in the late 1990s, a resourceful South African music journalist called Craig Bartholomew-Strydom started digging — and made an astonishing discovery.
It was hardly surprising that Bendjelloul grabbed this story with both hands and set to work turning it into a documentary, Searching for Sugar Man, named after his most famous song and released in 2012. What was surprising, at least to those who didn’t know him, was that this offbeat debut feature – written, directed, edited and co-produced by Bendjelloul – turned out to be a film of such elegance, poignancy and directorial sure-footedness. It was a hit with audiences and won dozens of awards, including the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2013, and seemed to promise Bendjelloul the kind of long, glittering career that had been denied to his subject.
Sadly, this was not to be the case: earlier this month, Bendjelloul committed suicide back at home in Sweden. He was thirty-six, and working on a project based on the conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s book The Elephant Whisperer.
Read more at The triumph and tragedy of Searching for Sugar Man – Telegraph.
News, Newspapers & Magazines, Searching For Sugar Man Film
Craig Bartholomew Strydom, Malik Bendjelloul, sixto rodriguez, South Africa
‘Searching for Sugar Man’ Star Facing Trouble Over Dealmaking Exclusive – Hollywood Reporter
Searching for Sugarman in Manila | a+arax:a
2 thoughts on “The triumph and tragedy of Searching for Sugar Man – Telegraph”
joanfrankham says:
Reblogged this on Retirement and beyond and commented:
if you ever get a chance to see ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ watch it, it is a brilliant documentary about a great musician.
v27anya says:
Fame? Who wants it? No thank you ! Rodriguez wrote a beautiful body of work….an amazing story …. the fairytale doesn’t ‘to end here …. Sadly !!!
Brian Currin Music
South African Rock Digest
Archives Select Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 October 2018 August 2018 April 2018 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 January 2004 December 2001 November 1998 March 1998
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3102
|
__label__wiki
| 0.623491
| 0.623491
|
Subscribe to the Blunt Force Truth podcast
Low-Income Families Spend 40% Of Their Money On Luxuries
Posted on July 3, 2017 June 30, 2017
Share on Facebook Tweet This Story
It turns out that all Americans, regardless of income, spend a large percentage of their income on luxuries.
People who make the most money spend the biggest chunk of their incomes on luxury goods, but even the poorest households spend a significant amount for luxuries, according to an analysis released this week by Deutsche Bank Research.
The wealthiest families (the top fifth of earners) spend around 65% of their incomes on luxury goods and 35% on necessities, according to the study, which looked at spending habits between 1984 and 2014. Middle-income households weren’t far behind: They spend 50% on luxuries and 50% on necessities.
Even the lowest income families (the bottom fifth of earners) spend 40% on luxuries and 60% on necessities, according to the study’s author, Torsten Slok, chief international economist for Deutsche Bank Securities.
The median household income in the U.S. recently rose to $59,361.
The bottom fifth of earners made $47,300 or less in 2014, according the Tax Policy Center. The middle fifth made between $47,300 and $134,300 and the top fifth made more than $134,300.
The Deutsche Bank Research report defined luxuries as “goods or services consumed in greater proportions as a person’s income increases” and necessities as those goods or services that make up a smaller proportion of spending as a person’s income increases.
While we tend to think of spending on luxuries as an indulgence driven by emotions, recent research suggests consumers’ feelings play a key role in spending on necessities as well. “Consumers who experience a loss of control are more likely to buy products that are more functional in nature, such as screwdrivers and dish detergent, because these are typically associated with problem solving, which may enhance people’s sense of control,” the authors of an April 2017 study in the Journal of Consumer Research wrote.
Still, the richer you are, the more likely you are to overspend on unnecessary purchases with your credit card, a January 2017 NerdWallet survey found. Nearly half of Americans (49%) say their emotions have caused them to spend more than they can afford, it concluded.
Most Americans (86%) say it’s OK to go into credit card debt to pay for necessities such as emergency purchases, medical expenses and expenses related to unemployment. But about even more people (87%) said they would be embarrassed to go into debt to pay for unnecessary purchases they can’t afford, non-emergency travel expenses or cash advances, NerdWallet found.
Women are more likely than men to overspend because of stress (35% vs. 24%) while men say excitement leads them to spend too much, the NerdWallet survey found. Households at the bottom of the income ladder (less than $50,0000) are more likely to overspend because of stress than households who make $100,000 or more (34% vs. 24%).
(First reported by Market Watch)http://www.marketwatch.com/story/low-income-families-spend-40-of-their-money-on-luxuries-2017-06-28 (July 3, 2017)
Want more BFT? Leave us a voicemail on our page or follow us on Twitter @BFT_Podcast and Facebook @BluntForceTruthPodcast. We want to hear from you! There’s no better place to get the #BluntForceTruth.
Related Articles on Blunt Force Truth:
26-Yr-Old Mayor of Bankrupt City Will Give Free Money to the Poor, Implement ‘Universal Basic Income’
No Money to Arm Teachers, But Lots of Money to Confiscate Guns
A California City Is Trying Universal Basic Income. We’ve Already Seen Why It Doesn’t Work.
Jobless Claims In US Drop To 45 Year Low
Former Running Back Herschel Walker: The NFL Gave Players ‘Hush Money’ To Stand For Anthem (VIDEO)
Colin Kaepernick Raises Money From Celebrities For Group Honoring A Cop Killer
Send Us a Voicemail
Today's Popular Stories
About Blunt Force Truth
BFT Store
Follow BFT on Facebook @BFT_Podcast on Twitter
Copyright © 2018 Two and Two Broadcasting. By using this site you are accepting our Privacy Policy
Search Blunt Force Truth
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3109
|
__label__wiki
| 0.676796
| 0.676796
|
Launch of Readers Archive
Thursday 4th June, 7pm – 9pm
Readers Archive is an ongoing series that asks writers, artists and musicians to allow access to their processes of reading and research. Each month an invited contributor writes a text which discusses their own routes of investigation. Further insight into these followed avenues is given through a list of texts, lyrics or otherwise, that the selector considers to have been key on that journey.
By uncovering the links made by others, be they linear or tangential, Readers Archive offers up a list of possible turning points for further reading and departure.
Philip Hoare will be the first contributor in the series.
Hoare is the author of Serious Pleasures: The Life of Stephen Tennant (1990), Noel Coward: A Biography (1995), Wilde’s Last Stand (1997), Spike Island (2000), England’s Lost Eden (2005) and Leviathan or, The Whale (2008), which has just been short-listed for the Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction. He also wrote and presented Arena: The Hunt for Moby-Dick (BBC 2, 2008), and wrote and directed Philip Hoare’s Guide to Whales (BBC 4, 2008)
For more information email on editor@readersarchive.com
www.ReadersArchive.com
« Nature Poem
Launch of The Coelacanth Journal: Issue 3, The Moderns »
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3111
|
__label__cc
| 0.599444
| 0.400556
|
Tag Archive: Icons of the Realms
Latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign hits the streets of Waterdeep
Filed under: Comics & Books, Con Culture, Fantasy Realms — Leave a comment
Review by Art Schmidt
Dungeons & Dragons continues to enjoy an increased popularity among gamers and folks open to roleplaying experiences, and continuing the excellent line of campaign adventures is the latest offering, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. This is an excellent 224-page book and contains a large fold-out map of the massive city of Waterdeep in the back. The folks at Wizards of the Coast have listened to their community of players and dungeon masters, who have lamented past maps, which provided the DM with a numbered and heavily marked map–not that useful for players as it displayed all areas of interest. The map in Dragon Heist is two-sided: one side marked and numbered for use by the person running the campaign, and the flip side unmarked and for use with the players. Huzzah!
Waterdeep has always been the “City of Splendors,” once the most important and influential city in the Forgotten Realms, the imaginary world where the adventures of the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons all take place (but not for long!). The adventure Dragon Heist takes players from 1st to 5th level during a heavily investigative and dynamic mystery involving a missing treasure and evil villains who want to beat the players (and everyone else) to the prize. Unlike other adventures, Dragon Heist contains multiple paths to progress through the story, depending on the dungeon master’s choice of villain to pit the characters against.
This latest “season” adventure was announced during the live streaming weekend event The Stream of Many Eyes where several actors and D&D aficionados along with the Wizards of the Coast staff and some high-profile game streamers all played several games of D&D and discussed the new campaign book and associated gaming paraphernalia. Joe Manganiello (Rampage, Magic Mike XXL, True Blood), Deborah Ann Woll (Daredevil, True Blood, The Punisher), Matthew Lillard (Scooby-Doo, Bosch, Twin Peaks (2017)), Ashley Johnson (Blindspot, Teen Titans Go!, Marvel’s The Avengers) and Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, Attack on Titan, Overwatch) were just some of the celebrities involved in the three-day extravaganza.
Dragon Heist is the first in a set of two hardcover adventures, the second being Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (available November 13, 2018). It follows the adventurers as they perform a favor for famous explorer, raconteur, and part-time scoundrel Volothamp Geddarm. The favor nets them a base of operations in the middle of Waterdeep, and from there things escalate as the characters are caught up in a grand mystery concerning the whereabouts of a lost treasure hoard of golden coins (called “dragons,” hence the name of the adventure). The characters investigate some mysterious happenings and eventually can discover the whereabouts of the hoard and must battle other interested parties to try to claim it.
The adventure takes a cue from the previous hardcover campaign Storm King’s Thunder, offering dungeon masters four alternate ways to run the adventure for their groups. This choice comes in the form of four different villains which the party is pitted against in their race to discover what is going on in Waterdeep and eventually recovering the hoard of gold dragons. Each villain is assigned a season (winter, spring, summer or fall) and this choice dictates not only the time of year in which the adventure takes place, and the main villain, but the order in which various locations around the city are visited while in search of the clues. Continue reading →
Tags: Ashley Johnson, Deborah Ann Woll, Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Icons of the Realms, Joe Manganiello, Matthew Lillard, Matthew Mercer, Waterdeep Dragon Heist review, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage preview, Wizards of the Coast
Read More & Comment
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3113
|
__label__cc
| 0.532699
| 0.467301
|
The Importance of Sociology in Sports
bustedcoverage | Oct 13, 2020 12:20 pm | Oct 21, 2020 12:51 pm
Sport plays a massive role in today’s society. It is recognized as a means of making social changes. Fans become so emotional over their teams that they have been seen to trash a stadium if their team loses.
The sports sociologist looks at relationships between sport and the public and how sport influences so many areas of life.
Sport goes deeper than just taking part
Sport is tricky as the sociologist has to also look at how media portrays biases in sports. All sport is an important part of culture, and this differs from country to country. How the different sports are defined and integrated into social life differs from one society to another.
Being a sports sociologist is no easy task and they also have to look at all the costs involved with sport, focus on the performance of elite athletes and examine the whole meaning of sport in the lives of societies.
A large area that has required the involvement of a sports sociologist is gender inequality. It is crazy to think that in sport, the participation of women was banned. It was only in about 1850 that physical education was introduced for women in colleges.
Certain sports were considered too masculine for women and right up until the 1970s, women were banned from taking part in the marathon at the Olympics. The ban was lifted in the 1980s.
The history, sports, and sociology make an interesting combination and if you decide to write an academic paper on it, you are sure to receive great reviews. When your content writing needs essay samples to refer to, there’s https://eduzaurus.com/free-essay-samples/sociological-imagination/, a free resource used by students worldwide. It offers free samples for effective essay writing. With it, you will be easily able to write about sociological imagination in terms of sports and its role in actual life.
Changing gender inequality
Despite the advancement of women in sports and some of them being role models, a sports sociologist has to tackle the fact that these athletes in the media are often ignored and made invisible when making the headlines in the newspaper or on television.
Even in the 21st century, this is noticeable when compared to male sorts. Yes, there has been an increase of interest in sports where females take part, they are still considered inferior to male athletes and this is the realm of the sports sociologist – to change this.
<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/photos/paper’>Paper photo created by rawpixel.com – www.freepik.com</a>
Socialization into sports
One has to look at how young people are socialized to become involved in sports. Why do some with talents continue to be involved in them while others fall by the wayside? Is it the way young people are socialized into sports and how do they behave when an injury or even age brings their sports career to an end?
Socialization is when a child is familiarized with the way people ought to behave. Sport plays a part in the socialization process and sociologists have identified two stages in childhood socialization, one of which is to be competitive and to understand rules and regulations.
How emotions influence sport
Can you see all that the sports sociologist has to contend with? Another aspect is emotion, and all the emotions of sportspeople are described in the media. Norms for the display of emotions vary a lot and rugby players, for instance, are ’allowed’ to express their feelings while tennis players and golfers have a quieter way.
Emotion is important in sports, and athletes use them to convey certain information to their coaches and their opponents. Sportspeople can use these emotions to their advantage because the way they or their opponent reacts can impact performance and the result.
Sport is a major contributor to economic and social development too. The world over, we’ve seen how the COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, has disrupted sport. To safeguard the health of sportspeople, most sporting events at every level have been canceled or postponed – even the Olympic games, which will now be held in 2021.
There are social benefits that come with sports events and sports organizations are looking at ways that they can respond to problems faced by vulnerable people who usually participate in sporting programs in low-income communities, but who are now unable to. Also, the closure of educational institutions has impacted the sports education sector.
Sport in the 21st century has become massively politicized and people are reading books such as Sport and the Sociological Imagination by Nancy Theberge because they want more information on things such as the rights of athletes, the relationship between sports and politics, what political stances some athletes take as well as the relationship between sports and society.
Vendy Adams is a popular essay and coursework writer working with a popular online assignment service. She has a strong academic background and holds a rich experience of working in management positions and writing. In her free time, she looks after her lifestyle blog, reads bestseller novels and magazines and practices mindfulness.
Will Oakland Raiders’ Move to Las Vegas Bring Success to the Franchise?
Other Sports,Sports
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3117
|
__label__wiki
| 0.831513
| 0.831513
|
Our Newsroom /
High-powered magnet’s arrival brings Carle and the University closer to groundbreaking research
What if Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s could be detected earlier? What if we could more accurately localize the extent of a stroke? What if we understood how the brain responds during a heart attack?
The answers to these questions and more are coming thanks to physicians, technicians, radiologists, clinicians and scientific personnel united around the arrival of a state-of-the-art MRI scanner.
Thousands of patients will benefit from a special delivery Thursday. All the way from Germany, researchers and clinicians alike have been tracking its progress overseas, into the United States and now onto a semi making its way along I-74 to Carle.
The 37,000-pound magnet for the Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Terra 7 Tesla (7T) MRI scanner arrives after years of planning. Preparing for its arrival influences the future of healthcare in our community.
“It’s been a long journey, but we are excited to welcome the 7T and its team of experts to the region,” Jennifer Eardley, PhD, vice president of Research said.
Unique for a number of reasons, this collaboration brings together the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, with its rich history of MRI technology, and Stephens Family Clinical Research Institute, Carle’s research enterprise, which dedicates itself to supporting new discoveries to jointly address today’s critical healthcare challenges.
“The University of Illinois is internationally recognized for its innovation and impact in biomedical imaging technology,” professor Susan Martinis, who serves as the vice chancellor for research and innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said. “This investment with Carle, as one of our critical partners, will accelerate our broad efforts to advance healthcare and diagnostic technologies, to benefit patients in our local and global communities. The addition of the 7T MRI scanner will also contribute to our cutting-edge physician training at the Carle-Illinois College of Medicine—the first engineering infused medical school in the world.”
Planning teams have carefully laid out the details to ensure the unit can maintain its critical cooling mechanisms - a superconducting magnet, requiring it to be filled with more than 1000 gallons of liquid helium. Portions of Church Street in Urbana will temporarily close to accommodate the precious cargo from 7 – 11 a.m.
Following an extensive excavation, the basement of Carle Tower will transform into the home of the Carle Illinois Advanced Imaging Center, a research collaboration between Carle and the University of Illinois. The 7T will be the first MR scanner installed, but subsequent phases will follow with more MRIs added or relocated from throughout the system.
“The active collaboration with Siemens Healthineers is an important factor in the advancement and improvement of patient care,” Carle’s Andrew Webb, PhD, director of Clinical Imaging Research, said. “Results from the device will help doctors and patients make more informed decisions on treatment choices and determine the effectiveness of the treatment.”
A Siemens scientist will be on-site to provide a high level of technical expertise and real-time support for the project.
Eardley said the strong partnership between Carle and Illinois made the purchase of the 7T possible and will bring the promise of advancements in disease detection and treatment that will impact patients’ futures.
“With continued local community members who actively engage with and participates in clinical research studies, we’ll benefit generations to come.”
Paul Arnold, MD, associate medical director of the Carle Neuroscience Institute, is excited for the many benefits that will develop out of this meaningful alliance. He believes that the union will allow each to become greater than the sum of our parts and will bring significant strides in both clinical care and research.
“We will have the ability to see features of the brain and spinal cord that were previously imperceptible. This will allow us to better treat our patients going forward,” said Arnold. “The 7T MR scanner can help clinicians uncover abnormalities undetected by conventional, lower-strength MRI systems. And its use extends to patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, too.”
Offering high-quality care and access to research is part of Carle’s core mission.
“Using this innovative technology, we are elevating the care we provide,” Eardley said. “At the same time, we’re working alongside University researchers, the frontiers of modern neuroscience, to discover new properties of the human brain,” she said.
Together, Carle and the University of Illinois can begin to answer the many questions, offering hope.
Tracey Wszalek, PhD, director of the Biomedical Imaging Center at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, sums up the impact the partnership expects from this advanced 7T MRI scanner: “Our job is to develop and translate technology for the ultimate improvement of human health.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: cancer, community, epilepsy, MRI, neurosciences, partnerships, research, University of Illinois
Patients achieve successful results with pinpoint therapy
Research focuses on trust, engagement
The COVID symptom not mentioned on CDC’s list – fear
Innovative New Equipment Improves Patient Access, Image Quality
MAKE A DONATION SEE ALL STORIES
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3118
|
__label__wiki
| 0.630566
| 0.630566
|
ADVANCE TRANSFORMER CO v. SHAPIRO
ADVANCE TRANSFORMER CO., Petitioner, v. SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent; Joseph SHAPIRO and Margery A. Shapiro, Real Parties in Interest.
Decided: December 27, 1974
Alexander, Inman & Fine, and Lowell R. Wedemeyer, Beverly Hills, for petitioner. John H. Larson, County Counsel, Dwight V. Nelsen, Deputy County Counsel, Los Angeles, for respondent. Quittner, Stutman, Treister & Glatt, and Theodore B. Stolman, Los Angeles, for real parties in interest.
As the Return of respondent Superior Court states: ‘The instant petition presents an issue of first impression in this state’ respecting the availability of the remedy of attachment in actions against individual guarantors of the obligations of business corporations and accommodation makers of notes evidencing their business debts under the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure sections 537.1 and 537.2.1
Petitioner, a supplier of transformer components used in fluorescent lighting fixtures, brought suit against defendant Supreme Lighting Co., Inc. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Supreme Lighting’), and Joseph and Margery Shapiro (real parties in interest) upon a note in the principal sum of $108,410.27. The promissory note was executed by both of the Shapiros in behalf of ‘Supreme Lighting Co., Inc., Maker,’ as its president and secretary respectively, and by ‘Joseph Shapiro, Maker,’ and ‘Margery A. Shapiro, Maker,’ individually.
Petitioner applied for an attachment pursuant to section 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure. A notice of hearing was issued pursuant to section 538.1 and thereafter a hearing was conducted pursuant to section 538.4. The primary issue at the hearing was ‘whether the case is one in which an attachment is properly issuable’ (Code Civ.Proc., s 538.4) under the provisions of sections 537.1 and 537.2. The pertinent portions of these sections provide:
‘An action referred to in Section 537 is an action or actions by the same plaintiff in which the total sum claimed, exclusive of interest, attorneys' fees and costs, is five hundred dollars ($500) or more and which is one or more of the following:
‘(a) An action against a defendant described in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of Section 537.2 for a liquidated sum of money based upon
‘(1) Money loaned; or
‘(2) A negotiable instrument; or
‘(3) The sale or lease of, or a license to use, real or personal property (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, goods sold and delivered on open account); or
‘(4) Services rendered,
If the claim is not secured by any mortgage, deed of trust or security interest on real or personal property or, if originally so secured, such security has, without any act of the plaintiff, or the person to whom the security was given, become valueless. The fact that interest, attorneys' fees, costs or any combination thereof are claimed by the plaintiff in addition to the principal amount of the debt shall not make the claim unliquidated within the meaning of this section.
‘(b) . . ..’
(Code Civ.Proc., s 537.1.)
‘The defendants referred to in Section 537 are:
‘(a) All corporations organized under the General Corporation Law or under Part 4 (commencing with Section 13400) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, or organized under a law of any foreign state or jurisdiction authorizing the formation of business corporations.
‘(b) All partnerships organized under the Uniform Partnership Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 15001) of Title 2 of the Corporations Code) or the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15501) of Title 2 of the Corporations Code) or a law of any foreign state or jurisdiction authorizing the formation of general or limited partnerships.
‘(c) Individuals engaged in a trade or business.
‘(d) . . ..’
Joseph Shapiro was called as a witness for petitioner. After he identified the signatures on the note, he testified that Supreme Lighting was in the business of ‘the manufacture of fluorescent lighting fixtures,’ that he was the president and a director, and that all of the shares were owned by him or by Margery Shapiro. Margery and a son were the other two directors. According to Shapiro, the promissory note represented the amount due on account of a series of business transactions comprising the purchase of fluorescent lighting components by Supreme Lighting from petitioner. The following testimony then ensued:
‘Q Now, Mr. Shapiro, why did you sign this note?
A I signed the note as guarantor for the purchase of materials from Advance Transformer Company in order to postpone the payments and spread them out over a period of time and to keep my credit for future purchases open with the company.
Q So that the issuance of this note was in part designed to keep a continuing flow of the delivery of materials to the business?
A That's right.'
Further testimony of Shapiro related to guarantees signed by him in favor of other firms which extended credit to Supreme Lighting. His testimony in this respect was as follows:
‘Q BY MR. WEDEMEYER: Mr. Shapiro, have you given personal assurances or guarantees or promissory notes to other persons in the last six months? Have you signed any promissory notes?
A Not specifically as promissory notes. I have signed guarantees.
Q To whom did you sign such guarantees?
A Universal Manufacturing Company and Trans West Financial Company.
Q What was the business transaction in which you were involved with Universal?
A Purchase of fluorescent ballasts.
Q Where were those ballasts delivered?
A Beg pardon?
Q Where were they delivered?
A To Supreme Lighting Company.
Q What was the transaction with Trans West?
A To secure finances.'
At the conclusion of this testimony, petitioner indicated it was resting its case on the issue ‘whether the case is one in which an attachment is properly issuable.’ The court at this point stated:
‘I will tell you right now, we can go directly to the corporation, because based on the evidence submitted, I could not possibly find that he is engaged in the trade or business which would subject him to an attachment personally or Mrs. Shapiro, and therefore, let's not waste any more time on that. Go forward now.’
The court had already indicated the basis of this ruling at an earlier point in the proceedings where the following statement was made:
‘MR. WEDEMEYER: Well, your Honor, I am submitting, and I am prepared to go into a substantial argument on that.
‘THE COURT: We have had arguments at considerable length, and I have concluded that because a person is an officer, a director, or an employee, regardless of the size of his salary, does not constitute him engaged in the business of the corporation, nor if you add that he is the sole stockholder of a corporation unless you pierce the corporate veil is he engaged in the business of the corporation. He may be engaged in some other business, but he is not engaged in the business of the corporation unless you pierce the corporate veil.’
The same ground for the denial of the attachment as against the Shapiros was restated at the conclusion of the proceedings in the following form:
‘THE COURT: You would have to establish that you would probably recover against the individuals at the time of trial as the alter ego of the corporation in order to have an attachment.’
The application was granted insofar as it sought an attachment against attachable assets of the corporation and denied as to Joseph Shapiro and Margery A. Shapiro.
Petitioner bases the jurisdiction of this court in mandamus (1) upon its claim that under Code of Civil Procedure section 538.4 the court is required to direct the issuance of a writ of attachment when a plaintiff has established the statutory requisites therefor, (2) upon the lack of any right to appeal from the denial of a writ of attachment, and (3) upon the absence of a speedy and adequate remedy at law. By demurrer to the petition, real parties in interest have contested these claims. No extended discussion of this issue is necessary, however, inasmuch as the respondent court has filed a return to the alternative writ in which a clear basis for this court's jurisdiction is made manifest.
The return filed by respondent court states in effect that the action taken in this case was an implementation of a policy or practice of the court, the effect of which, if erroneous, is a refusal to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by Code of Civil Procedure section 538.4.
The practice of respondent court, according to its return, in a case in which an attachment is sought against a person other than the ‘primary obligor’2 (e.g., against a guarantor) based upon a transaction qualifying under section 537.1, is as follows:
‘(I)t has been respondent Court's practice, in the absence of any other guidelines, to require a showing of the traditional elements of alter ego warranting the ignoring of the corporate entity and justifying a finding that the individual is conducting the business of the corporation.’
The return of respondent court concludes as follows:
‘In the event this conclusion is deemed inaccurate, it is respectfully requested that this Honorable Court state guidelines for determining the scope and meaning of the phrase ‘individual engaged in a trade or business' (under CCP 537.2(c)) . . ..’
Under the circumstances, it is appropriate for this court to pass upon the propriety of respondent court's practice and direct the proper exercise of the superior court's function in this respect. The issues determinative of this proceeding may, therefore, be rather narrowly defined; they are:
1. Does section 537.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, by requiring that an individual defendant against whom an attachment is issued be ‘engaged in . . . business,’ limit the remedy to actions to enforce claims based upon transactions in which he is primary obligor or the primary obligor is his alter ego?
2. If, under such circumstances, the alter ego doctrine is not the proper standard to determine whether a defendant is ‘engaged in . . . business,’ what is the proper standard?
The phrase ‘engaged in business' has been employed in a veritable host of statutes, both federal and state, relating to a variety of different subjects. As early as 1910 the United States Supreme Court, in Flint v. Stone Tracy Co., 220 U.S. 107, 31 S.Ct. 342, 55 L.Ed. 389, in passing upon whether certain parties before it were engaged in business within the provisions of a federal excise tax upon the privilege of carrying on business as a corporation, stated as follows (220 U.S. at p. 171, 31 S.Ct. at p. 357):
‘It remains to consider whether these corporations are engaged in business. ‘Business' is a very comprehensive term and embraces everything about which a person can be employed. Black's Law Dict. 158, citing People v. Commissioners of Taxes, 23 N.Y. 242, 244. ‘That which occupies the time, attention and labor of men for the purpose of a livelihood or profit.’ Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Vol. I, p. 273.'
California decisions have ascribed the same comprehensive meaning to the term ‘business.’ For example, in Long v. City of Anaheim, 255 Cal.App.2d 191, at p. 197, 63 Cal.Rptr. 56 at p. 60, which involved the application of a business license tax, the court said:
‘Business in its broad sense embraces everything about which one can be employed; the word is often synonymous with calling, occupation, or trade engaged in for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood or profit or gain. (Mansfield v. Hyde, 112 Cal.App.2d 133, 137, 245 P.2d 577.) “Business' is defined to be that which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for the purpose of livelihood or profit . . . (citations). An occupation or employment will not be excluded from the classification of business merely because it actually results in loss instead of profit; but it is essential that livelihood or profit be at least one of the purposes for which the employment is pursued, in order to bring it within the accepted definition of the word . . ..’ (Deering v. Blair, 57 App.D.C. 367, 23 F.2d 975, 976.)'
The term ‘business,’ therefore, embraces any activity engaged in for profit or for gain. The phrase ‘engaged in business,’ however, generally is held to imply business activity of a frequent or continuous nature. In City of Los Angeles v. Cohen, 124 Cal.App.2d 225, 268 P.2d 183, this court affirmed a judgment in favor of the City of Los Angeles for unpaid license taxes imposed under a city ordinance upon ‘every person engaged in the business of loaning money, advancing credit, or loaning credit . . ..’ The judgment appealed from was against an accountant who, in addition to practicing his profession, ‘accommodated’ a friend who was a principal shareholder of a family-owned corporation which was having financial difficulties. This accommodation included the accountant's purchase of accounts receivable, embracing several thousand invoices over a three-year period, during which he also guaranteed one large account payable by the corporation. Holding that this constituted engaging in the business of advancing credit under the statute, the court said (124 Cal.App.2d at p. 228, 268 P.2d at p. 185):
‘In the Matter of Application of Smith, 33 Cal.App. 161, 163, 164 P. 618, 619, the court said: ‘Business is defined as that which occupies the time, attention, or labor of men for the purpose of profit or improvement.’ In 5 ‘Words and Phrases, Business, page 998 et seq., will be found a collection of cases from many jurisdictions which hold that “Business,’ in a legislative sense, is that which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for purposes of livelihood or for profit; a calling for the purpose of a livelihood.' It is used in the latter meaning in the statutes relating to license taxes. See, also, 12 C.J.S. Business, page 765 et seq. The words ‘engage,’ ‘engaged,’ and ‘engaging’ relate to and connote frequency and continuity of action. Cases so holding are collected in 14A Words and Phrases, page 188 et seq. It is, of course, well established that a single or occasional disconnected act does not constitute ‘engaging in business.’
‘Over a three year period plaintiff issued 190 checks in 190 transactions and purchased altogether 4,602 invoices under an agreement by which he bound himself for a period of one year to purchase Modern's accounts which were acceptable to him. There was both frequency and continuity in these transactions. Defendant derived substantial profits. The fact that he was at the same time accommodating a friend has no bearing upon the nature of the business, and since he derived profits from the business it is of no consequence whatever that he was led into the business by motives of friendship rather than the expectation of profit. He is deserving of credit, of course, but not on his tax liability. Neither is it of any consequence that he may not have been dependent upon the business for his livelihood, and devoted but little time to it. The fact that he had but a single client and did not solicit business from others has no bearing upon the nature of the business. In short, the question is not even a close one. Defendant had no tenable grounds nor reasonable excuse for refusing to pay the tax imposed by the ordinance.’ (Emphasis added.)
The meaning of the phrase ‘engaged in business' has been explored in a number of federal decisions dealing with a variety of federal statutes employing such language. In Van Der Elst v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (2d Cir. 1955) 223 F.2d 771, the statute involved was section 211(b) of the Internal Revenue Code which exempted from taxation the income of nonresident aliens who were not ‘engaged in trade or business within the United States.’ The petitioning taxpayer was a foreign diplomat on duty in the United States who accepted the office of vice-president of a New York candy company, for which he was to receive $100 per week compensation. During the tax period in question, however, he rendered no services. Nonetheless, he was held to be engaged in business in the United States. The court said (223 F.2d at p. 772):
‘Even if it be conceded that the petitioner rendered no services in 1946, although his presence in San Francisco would not have precluded his giving advice by telephone or letter as to the conduct of the company's business in New York, we think this fact is irrelevant. The argument presupposes that a corporate officer is engaged in business only while he is active in the work of the company. We cannot accept this assumption. A salary is paid not only to compensate for work performed but to secure a command over the employee's services. For instance, no one would say that an employee or corporate officer ceased to be engaged in business while on vacation, because he performed no active work during the vacation period. The statute should not be given a construction so limited. The taxpayer never decided to quit as vice-president of the company until he was called away to become Ambassador to Portugal. Up to that time he was receiving pay for services or for a call on his services. Hence he was ‘engaged in business' within the United States.’
The same exemption was involved in Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Nubar (4th Cir. 1950) 185 F.2d 584. In that case an Egyptian citizen, who was obliged to remain in the United States due to World War II and did not become a resident, was held liable for taxes on profits realized from his trading on his own account on the securities and commodities exchanges. The volume of his trading ran as high as 243 purchases and 60 sales of securities in one year and ‘was done on margin and required the attention of taxpayer while he was living in this country awaiting the end of the war.’ (185 F.2d at p. 586.)
Washburn v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (8th Cir. 1931) 51 F.2d 949, dealt with another provision of the Internal Revenue Act employing comparable language and which allowed a taxpayer to deduct from general income net loss ‘resulting from the operation of any trade or business regularly carried on by the taxpayer.’ The taxpayer was a retired lawyer who had heavily invested in various small, closely held corporations which had been organized by him and to which he devoted his entire time. One of them, a railroad, did not prosper and he sold his stock at a loss. The contentions of the parties were stated as follows (51 F.2d at p. 952):
‘Respondent contends that petitioner was a mere investor; that the statute is restricted in its application to taxpayers whose income is derived from regular trade with others, such as merchants, manufacturers, and those who have paid taxes on incomes reflected by inventories; that petitioner was not a dealer in securities, but was merely holding securities of corporations and enterprises in which he was interested; that his occupation was guarding his various investments in order to reap a harvest from past sowings; and that the loss was the result of an isolated transaction.
‘Petitioner does not claim that he was engaged in the railroad business or that he was a dealer in securities. His position is that his occupation was the personal attention given to the management of the various enterprises in which he had investments for the purpose of making those enterprises successful and profitable; that to this he gave his entire time, and was doing a great deal more than merely guarding his investments; that the loss on the sale of the railroad was occasioned in carrying on his general avocation.’ (Emphasis added.)
Deciding in favor of the taxpayer, the court said (51 F.2d at pp. 953—954):
‘Much is said in argument as to petitioner being engaged solely in holding the securities of the enterprises in which he was interested, and that he was a mere investor receiving the ordinary returns of ownership. A party may have investments in corporate stock, have no particular occupation, and live on the return of his investments. That would not constitute business under the statute in question. He may, however, take such an active part in the management of the enterprise in which he has investments as to amount to the carrying on of a business. In Ames v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 49 F.2d 853, this court said that an executor might carry on such activities for the purpose of earning profits as would constitute the doing of business. In Bedell v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (C.C.A.) 30 F.2d 622, 624, the court said: ‘A trader on an exchange, who makes a living in buying and selling securities or commodities, may be said to carry on a ‘business,’ a person who frequents brokers' offices, and continually dabbles in real estate is conceivably quite different. Most men who have capital change their investments, and may speculate all the time; we should hardly call this a business, though the line is undoubtedly hard to draw.' We think the line here is not difficult to draw. The business of petitioner was not merely looking after investments or reaping the return of past labor represented thereby. He had an office with a complete organization, and gave personal attention to, and participated in, the management of these various companies and enterprises in which he had the investments, not for the purpose of conserving them merely, but of carrying them on successfully and making them profitable. To this he gave his entire time, receiving no salary, except such as might cover his expenses. His work for these different enterprises was not merely sporadic, but was a continuous and regular carrying on. Petitioner testifies he worked as hard at his new line of work as he did when he was practicing law. His income was the result, not alone of his investments, but also of his labor expended in connection with the management of the companies in which he had such investments. The combination of the two is his vocation.
‘Can it be said that the numerous investment bankers, underwriters, manufacturers, promoters, and others, who, having large investments in enterprises, give their time and attention to assisting in the management of such enterprises in order to make them successful, are nothing but investors and not engaged in any business regularly carried on? We think not. Whether petitioner's business, viewing his entire activities, be regarded as a general one involving active participation in the supervision of the various companies in which he was interested, or whether he be regarded as carrying on a number of separate kinds of business, among which was the development of the timber holdings, the loss in question occurred in a business regularly carried on.’ (Emphasis added.)
Another federal statute employing the phrase ‘engaged in business' (section 14, subdivision (c)(3) of the Bankruptcy Law, which authorized the court to refuse a discharge to a bankrupt who had made a materially false statement in writing respecting his financial condition ‘while engaged in business . . .’) was involved in Clancy v. First National Bank of Colorado Springs (10th Cir. 1969) 408 F.2d 899. An order of the district court reversing the referee's action granting the bankrupt a discharge was affirmed by the Tenth Circuit. The bankrupt was engaged in trading on his own account on the securities market and he had obtained a loan from a bank by employing a knowingly false financial statement. The court said (408 F.2d at pp. 901—902):
‘The courts have long struggled with the term ‘business' and what is meant by it. It was stated in In re Green's Estate, 109 Misc. 112, 178 N.Y.S. 353, 360 (1919):
“How equivocal the noun ‘business' really is will be readily perceived by trite examples. * * * If I go a-fishing in this state, I am not a-doing business there; but if a fishmonger goes a-fishing to replenish his stall in this city, he is doing business within the Tax Law. It is because of the ambiguity denoted that the courts properly say that the colloquial word ‘business' if used in statutes is among the most indefinite in the English language.’
‘Though concluding that a bankrupt sharecrop farmer was not engaged in ‘business' within the purview of amended s 14, sub. c(3), the court in In re Simms, 202 F.Supp. 911 (E.D.Va.1962), examined the legislative history of the 1960 amendment in its effort to determine the intent of the Congress. The court states at pages 913, 914:
“The legislative history draws a clear line of demarcation between one engaged in ‘business' and one engaged in ‘non-commercial activities.’ * * *
“* * *gis
“We turn to what Congress intended by the use of the word ‘business' in amending s 14 of the Bankruptcy Act. The Committee reports, as suggested, contrast ‘business' activity with ‘noncommercial’ activity. * * * A fair interpretation of what Congress was attempting to do in amending s 14 and s 17 would lead to the reasonable conclusion that Congress meant to retain under s 14, sub. c(3) that type of business which is mercantile in character—one that is with regularity engaged in buying, selling and trading.'
‘Certainly, the bankrupt was engaged in business when professionally buying and selling stocks. He had no other source of income and no other job. This was his exclusive business. He also was required to keep records for all his transactions because of the tax consequences. It is significant that in the Simms case, Supra, the court uses the bankrupt who is covered by the 1960 amendment as the one ‘who would not be excused from keeping and preserving books of account or records under s 14, sub. c(2).’ Id. at 914.'
The foregoing California and federal authorities indicate that the phrase ‘engaged in business' is capable of a wide variety of meanings. And, as stated in Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Nubar, Supra, 185 F.2d at p. 586, its meaning in a given case ‘is to be determined not in vacuo, but with reference to the purpose for which the statute was passed.’ Thus, the phrase may be found to encompass almost any activity engaged in for profit with ‘frequency and continuity’ when such interpretation is consistent with the purpose of the statute in which it is embodied.
As employed in section 537.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the phrase ‘engaged in business' is a part of an act to establish an interim attachment remedy (Stats.1972, ch. 550, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’) pending a comprehensive revision of the entire area of creditors' remedies in this state in light of the decision of our Supreme Court in Randone v. Appellate Department, 5 Cal.3d 536, 96 Cal.Rptr. 709, 488 P.2d 13, which declared unconstitutional all of the California statutes providing for prejudgment attachment. According to its title, the Act was ‘(a)n act . . . relating to attachment in commercial actions.’ The provisions designed to implement the Act's concern with ‘commercial actions' are sections 537.1 and 537.3 Both the provisions of the Act and its legislative history indicate that its purpose was to restore, on an interim basis, the availability of attachments in commercial actions only and to limit its applicability even in such actions so as to eliminate specific objections voiced in Randone to the then existing attachment procedures. The purpose of the Act, which was Senate Bill 1048, is described in Comment, ‘Attachment in California,’ 4 Pacific Law Journal 146, 152, as follows:
‘The main purpose of Senate Bill 1048 is to restore the attachment remedy in commercial situations in which one business has furnished goods on credit or loaned money to another business.47
The memorandum referred to in footnote 47 in the above quotation is the only legislative history which is available to aid in the construction of the Act. It was submitted along with the initial draft of Senate Bill 1048 and accompanied it through the Legislature. The final form of the bill did not substantially deviate from the initial draft so the arguments stated in the memorandum must have been found persuasive by the Legislature. The memorandum contains a general statement of the purpose and need for the legislation. In describing the decision in Randone, the memorandum states:
‘This decision of the California Supreme Court in Randone has created an acute crisis in connection with the collection of obligations in the State of California, particularly with respect to obligations incurred in the course of the operation of all businesses in this State. While the Court in Randone was concerned about the plight of a poor consumer in rendering its decision, it considered it necessary to declare the attachment statutes unconstitutional In toto, and indicated that it was not the responsibility of the Court to revise the statute so as to save those portions which could constitutionally be applied.’
The memorandum continued by explaining the basic philosophy underlying the bill, saying in this respect:
‘Specifically, the principle upon which S.B. 1048 is based is that commercial cases can and should be dealt with separately from consumer cases and that the prejudgment remedy of attachment, with a modified procedure to meet the specific objections in Randone to the present procedures, should be preserved in those cases where credit is extended to a business.’
In a subsequent portion of the ‘philosophy’ section of the memorandum the legislation is said to deal with the ‘situation involving the loan of money or the furnishing of goods by one business to another, to which the remedy is basically restricted in S.B. 1048.’ In a detailed analysis of each of the sections of the bill, section 537.2 is discussed in the following terms:
‘This section provides that the remedy of attachment is available against all business corporations, all partnerships and all individuals engaged in a trade or business. For all practical purposes, this excludes actions based upon the sale of consumer goods.’
In light of the above legislative history, the provisions of sections 537.1 and 537.2 disclose the legislative purpose to restore (on an interim basis) the remedy of attachment in actions against resident defendants only for the enforcement of claims ‘involving the loan of money or the furnishing of goods by one business to another.’ The objective of such restoration was to permit the continuance of existing credit practices whereby unsecured credit was feasible based upon the creditor's ability to prevent dissipation of the debtor's assets pending trial of an action to collect. Also sought was the elimination of the Supreme Court's objection to the extreme hardship which the use of attachment procedures in consumer cases often entailed.
It is necessary to read sections 537.1 and 537.2 together to discern the mode by which the Act's purpose to restrict attachments to ‘commercial actions' is implemented. The transactions qualifying under section 537.1 are of a type generally engaged in by businesses. The obligors of the claims generated thereby are not always businesses; hence the requirement that the action be ‘against a defendant described in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of section 537.2.’ Section 537.2' then, deals with the matter solely from the point of view of the status of the defendant, ensuring that it is a ‘commercial action’ by requiring that the defendant be a business corporation, a partnership, or an individual ‘engaged in a trade or business.’
Neither section, however, expressly requires that there be a connection between the business in which the defendant is engaged and the transaction upon which the claim is based. The March 1973 Tentative Recommendation relating to Prejudgment Attachment of the California Law Revision Commission notes this omission as follows:
‘Unfortunately, the 1972 act does not specifically tie the types of alleged debts which may form the basis for attachment to the business activities of the defendant. Hence, for example, the 1972 act would not permit the attachment of the property of an ordinary resident wage earner in an action based on the furnishing of medical services or the sale of consumer goods to such individual. The act would, however, permit the attachment of the property of an individual doing business as a grocer or self-employed plumber on the same type of debt.10 This inconsistency should be
eliminated. The Commission recommends that the policy implicit in the 1972 act be continued by authorizing nonjurisdictional attachment only in those cases where the claim is based on an unsecured contract, whether express or implied, and arises out of the conduct by the defendant of a trade, business, or profession. (Fn. omitted.)' (Emphasis added.)
The constitutional question posed can and should be avoided by construing these sections as limiting the attachment to situations in which the claim arises out of defendant's conduct of his business.
So construed, these sections are confined to a subject expressed in the title of the Act. Such a construction also accommodates the hardship objection stated in Randone. As the Law Revision Commission's Tentative Recommendation stated, Supra at p. 522:
‘The situations where attachment may be authorized are limited by constitutional requirements. A dominant theme of the recent California and federal court decisions in the area of prejudgment remedies is that assets of an individual which are ‘necessities of life’ are constitutionally entitled to special protection because of the extreme hardship to the individual which results when he is deprived of their use.7 In its discussion of
‘necessities,’ the court in Randone referred in part to such consumer goods as ‘television sets, refrigerators, stoves, sewing machines and furniture of all kinds.'8 Certainly a partially effective,
if indirect, way of preventing attachment of such consumer necessities is to deny the use of the remedy in actions based on obligations generally and to authorize attachment only in actions to recover debts Arising out of the conduct by the defendant of a trade, business, or profession.'
This does not mean, however, that the claim sued upon must be based upon a transaction in which the defendant is the primary obligor. If such were the intended meaning, the section could simply have so provided. Subdivision (a) would have read in part:
‘(1) Money loaned to said defendant; or
‘(2) A negotiable instrument of said defendant; or
‘(3) The sale or lease of, or a license to use, real or personal properly (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, goods sold and delivered on open account) to said defendant; or
‘(4) Services rendered to said defendant.’
Of course, were the section so worded, it would fall short of achieving its purpose of authorizing attachments ‘in those cases where the claim is based on an unsecured contract, whether express or implied, and arises out of the conduct by the defendant of a trade, business, or profession.’ For example, a financier conducting a large scale operation, extending for a fee lines of credit to merchants by guaranteeing their accounts, would be exempt from attachment when sued on any such obligation because no money would have been loaned to him and no goods would have been sold to him. In the absence of express language so providing, it cannot be assumed any such arbitrary classification was intended. Identity between the primary obligor (borrower, maker, buyer or recipient of services) on the one hand, and defendant on the other hand, is therefore a false quantity, having no bearing upon the purpose of this legislation.
Such being the case, respondent court's policy of requiring the establishment of identity between the defendant guarantor and the primary obligor on the basis of the doctrine of alter ego is inappropriate and results in it declining to determine the facts which properly govern the determination ‘whether the case is one in which an attachment is properly issuable.’
The proper standard for determining whether a defendant guarantor or accommodation maker is engaged in business so as to make issuable an attachment against him is the application of the general principles stated in the authorities cited earlier in this opinion, giving due consideration to the purposes of the Act. If the defendant is engaged generally in the business of guaranteeing for a consideration the debts of others, that is, lending credit, any liability incurred as a result is a debt arising out of the conduct of his business. At the opposite extreme, a retired person, with no financial stake in the success of the primary obligor, cannot properly be held engaged in business solely by virtue of an isolated instance in which he guarantees a commercial obligation out of friendship and without compensation.
Cases falling between these extremes will require the exercise of judgment on a case-to-case basis to determine whether the activity of the defendant with respect either (1) to the extension of credit generally, or (2) to the business of the primary obligor is such as to justify the conclusion that the guarantee of the primary obligor's debt sued upon is part and parcel of an activity which occupies the time, attention and effort of the guarantor for the purpose of livelihood or profit on a continuing basis.
In cases involving guarantees by principal shareholders of closely held corporations, consideration will necessarily be given to the degree and continuity of the guarantor's involvement in the affairs of the primary obligor out of which the indebtedness has arisen. For example, (1) if a corporation has habitually been provided with operating capital through the medium of such guarantees by the defendant, or (2) the obligation sued upon has resulted from an extension of credit in reliance upon defendant's continuing guarantee, or (3) the defendant has extensively occupied himself in the management of the primary obligor on a continuing basis and has a major stake in its success, the required ‘frequency and continuity’ may be found to exist. In short, if the sum total of the circumstances justifies the conclusion that the guarantor occupied himself to a substantial degree and on a continuing basis in promoting his own profit through provision of credit or management to the primary obligor, a guarantee executed in the course of such activity may properly be considered an obligation arising out of the conduct of the guarantor's business.
The application of the foregoing standard will effectively foreclose attachments in any of the ‘consumer’ situations which the court found to raise special problems in Randone. Situations in which personal hardship may result to individual defendants are adequately dealt with by section 537.3 which allows the defendant to have excluded from the effect of the levy property ‘which the court finds is necessary for the support of the defendant and his family after taking into consideration all of his other income and assets not subject to levy or not levied upon.’ The other constitutional objections relating to the lack of any preattachment hearing to establish probable validity of the claim and the absence of any reasonable probability that a successful defense can be asserted are remedied by section 538.4.
It is apparent that the court's adoption of an erroneous standard for determining the availability of the attachment remedy effectively precluded petitioner from having the issue resolved on the basis of relevant evidence bearing thereon. The matter, therefore, should be reheard by respondent court and determined on the basis of the standards above set forth.
The alternative writ shall, therefore, be discharged and a peremptory writ of mandate shall issue directing respondent court to vacate and set aside its order denying petitioner's application and to grant petitioner a new hearing on said application.
1. All references herein to sections of the Code of Civil Procedure numbered between 537 and 542c are to the text operative until December 31, 1975.
2. Section 537.1 authorizes attachments in actions upon claims which are based upon loans, negotiable instruments, sales or services. The term ‘primary obligor’ will henceforth be employed in this opinion to refer respectively to the borrower, maker, purchaser, or person to whom services are rendered.
47. ‘See Memorandum in Support of S.B. 1048 by Harold Marsh, Jr., 1—4. (Mr. Marsh provided the initial draft of S.B. 1048 which was introduced into the Legislature by Senators Zenovich and Coombs).’
10. ‘There is a possibility that the 1972 statute is void insofar as it authorizes attachment in consumer—as distinguished from commercial—actions. The title to the 1972 enactment provides that it is one ‘relating to attachment in commercial actions.’ Section 9 of Article IV of the California Constitution provides in part: ‘A statute shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. If a statute embraces a subject not expressed in its title, only the part not expressed is void.‘‘
7. ‘See, E.g., Snaidach v. Family Finance Corp., 395 U.S. 337 (89 S.Ct. 1820, 23 L.Ed.2d 349) (1969); Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, (92 S.Ct. 1983, 32 L.Ed.2d 556) (1972); McCallop v. Carberry, 1 Cal.3d 903, 464 P.2d 122, 83 Cal.Rptr. 666 (1970); Randone v. Appellate Dep't, 5 Cal.3d 536, 488 P.2d 13, 96 Cal.Rptr. 709 (1971); Blair v. Pitchess, 5 Cal.3d 258, 486 P.2d 1242, 96 Cal.Rptr. 42 (1971).
8. ‘5 Cal.3d at 560, 488 P.2d at 29, 96 Cal.Rptr. at 725, quoting from Blair v. Pitchess, 5 Cal.3d 258, 279, 486 P.2d 1242, 1257, 96 Cal.Rptr. 42, 57 (1971).’
POTTER, Associate Justice.
FORD, P.J., and ALLPORT, J., concur.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3119
|
__label__wiki
| 0.978217
| 0.978217
|
Joe Kelly's Netflix Picks
Barefoot Country Music Festival
Keeping South Jersey Working
Cat Country Mornings
Jahna Michal
The 3rd Shift
WATCH: A Sneak Peek of Dolly Parton’s New A&E ‘Biography’ Documentary
Caitlin Tremblay
A&E is set to pay tribute to three legends of country music with a series of documentary specials, kicking off with one about Dolly Parton, People reports.
“I wanted to be seen, I wanted to be recognized, I wanted to be a star,” Parton says at the opening of the short clip, which readers can watch above.
Biography: Dolly will follow the “Jolene” singer’s journey from growing up in a one-room cabin in Sevier County, Tenn. to country music powerhouse, and will air April 12 at 8PM ET. The special will include exclusive interviews with Chris Stapleton, Linda Perry, Parton’s 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and Parton herself.
“You underestimate Dolly at your peril,” Fonda says in the clip.
The snapshot into the new film features images of Parton’s career through the years, highlighting some of her biggest hits and now-iconic fashion choices. "I know I look artificial, but I might surprise you,” Parton, who turned 74 in January, says in the clip. “I’m totally real inside.”
According to People, the special will also include footage of Parton at The Grand Ole Opry’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Parton has been an Opry member since 1969.
Parton has inspired or been directly involved with a number of film projects in the last few years. Parton leant her music to the 2018 Netflix rom-com Dumplin’, which told the story of a teenage girl who found solace and empowerment in Dolly Parton songs. In 2019, Parton narrated and acted in Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, also on Netflix, a TV series where each episode told the story of one of her hit songs
A&E will also air a special on Willie Nelson, right after Parton’s, at 10PM ET, titled Willie Nelson: American Outlaw. The third and final installment of the docu-series, titled Biography: Kenny Rogers, will air at 9PM ET on April 13.
Dolly Parton Through the Years
11 Unforgettable Dolly Parton Moments
NEXT: Top 10 Dolly Parton Songs
Source: WATCH: A Sneak Peek of Dolly Parton’s New A&E ‘Biography’ Documentary
Filed Under: Dolly Parton
Categories: Celebrity Dirt, Country, Entertainment
36 Most Anticipated Country Albums of 2021
2021 Cat Country 107.3, Townsquare Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3123
|
__label__cc
| 0.510571
| 0.489429
|
Mutual Exchange Radio, Podcast
Mutual Exchange Radio: Roderick Long on Class Theory
C4SS | @c4ssdotorg | Support this author on Patreon | February 13th, 2020
You can now subscribe to Mutual Exchange Radio on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This month’s discussion at the C4SS podcast Mutual Exchange centers around Long’s work on libertarian class theory, as well as the normative concerns that rise out of such a theory on balancing distributive and relational justice concerns with individual liberty. As we will discuss, libertarian class theory sees a primary creator and enforcer of class distinctions as the state. This is a wide-ranging discussion that touches on the economic and sociological analysis on class theory at the heart of Roderick’s work on the issue, the empirical plausibility of such a theory, whether class distinctions of this sort would continue to exist under market anarchism, and the ethical and normative framework of justice that motivates this theory. Roderick draws from Aristotelian virtue ethics to bring the seeming contradictions between a concern for individual property rights and a concern for equal treatment of all in society into balance in interesting ways.
Zachary Woodman: Welcome to this episode of Mutual Exchange Radio. I’m your host Zachary Woodman. Joining me today is Roderick Long from Auburn University. We are at the Eastern APA in Philadelphia, decided to get some extra podcasting done, or in addition to the Will-episode since we were all together for a Molinari panel.
So hello Roderick.
Roderick Long: Hi, good to be here.
Zachary Woodman: So today we’re going to discuss some of your work on libertarian class theory and what some of the normative implications of it are, how it differs from other class theories and maybe why it is a superior one to other possible class theories.
So maybe we should start before going into your account with a general idea of what a class theory is and what we want it to capture, what it should capture.
Roderick Long: Okay. So, a class theory is meant to explain certain kinds of power relationships among different groups in society. The one that’s best known is the Marxist theory of classes. According to which what determines the ruling class status is control over the access to the means production.
So under capitalism, the capitalist class controls the means of production. And the proletariat doesn’t have access to the means of production of factories, land, et cetera. This is the idea behind this and then just explain what’s wrong in society.
Why it is that some groups are systematically underprivileged or oppressed and what needs to be changed. Now, in fact, in the libertarian tradition, there are sort of two, at least two, different versions of libertarian class theory. So there’s one that is like a substitute, a switch…
Well, I say it’s a switch as though it’s a response to Marx’s class theory. It’s actually on the whole older than Marx’s. But there’s a version that simply says the basis for the ruling class isn’t access to the immediate production, it’s access to political power or the political means and…
Zachary Woodman: …the resources of the state.
Roderick Long: Yeah. So the idea is that, whereas on the classical Marxist view — although actually there turns out to be more than one classical Marxist view, at least I want to start a very familiar version of the Marxist view — classes emerged through the market and then the ruling class seizes power, seizes the state.
That’s not Marx’s only story, but that’s like one way the story seems to go. And then, so this is sort of traditional, libertarian, or classical liberal version, according to which it’s state privilege that creates this ruling class. And so the problem that needs to be addressed is state power and not the economic distribution. But there’s also more lefty version of the libertarian version which looks like a fusion of the Marxist and classical liberal versions.
Although all three are roughly theorizing around the same time. To some extent the Marxist view might be the latest of the three. So you get people like Thomas Hodgkin and so forth. Who were very early left-libertarian class theorists. And to put it anachronistically, this view looks like a cross between the classical liberal theory and the Marxist theory in that they see the concentration of ownership of the means of production as resulting from state power, but they do see kind of the constitution of ownership and things of production as the problem, as opposed to other sort of more right-wing versions of classical liberal theory that don’t really focus that much on ownership of the means of production, think it’s just a matter of state control and so forth.
So for a more right-wing version of classical liberalism, the oppressed classes might easily include, they might or might not depending on the details, people with vast economic resources on the grounds that they got those resources through market means not through the state.
Whereas the left-libertarian tends to be that in fact most vast disparities of wealth are the result of state privilege, not the result of the market. Now as I said, the Marxists sort of have two views because there’s attempts in the official Marxist theoretical view, according to which markets give right rise to economic inequality, and then the super-privileged on markets so then are in a position to get control of the state.
But then when Marx is talking about history, then he talks as though state privilege has been part of it all along and state privilege has been driving it. When he’s talking about history, Marx makes fun of the idea, that it felt like a bourgeoisie fairy tale or something, that it’s just through greater thrift in industry that the wealthy classes got their excess wealth. He says, no the history of capital cumulation has written the letters of blood and fire or whatever. But a lot of later Marxists have sometimes downplayed that. So for example in the ABC of communism by Bukharin and Preobrazhensky — two people that had the misfortune of being to the left and to the right of Stalin and paid the price both way in cases — but before that, they wrote what was sort of the Soviet Union’s standard intro Marxist textbook and in the ABC of communism they say, “Well look, capitalism isn’t the same thing as having a market with commodities and production for exchange and so forth. That’s not capitalism. You don’t have capitalism until you have a concentration of ownership of the means of production with a capitalist class everyone else is forced to work for.
Zachary Woodman: Markets Not Capitalism. *laughs*
Roderick Long: Right. But the problem, they say, with simple commodity production is that it’s unstable; that it automatically tends to turn into concentrated capitalism because some people are thrifter or smarter and so forth and they accumulate more and eventually they become super wealthy and they get control of everything. And they say, “We can see that that that’s what actually has happened”. And so they imply that the existing disparity and wealth actually arose out of a simple commodity production through just some people being thrifty and smarter — the very thing that Marx had dismissed as a bourgeoisie fairy tale. So there’s this kind of bifurcation in the Marxists as to exactly the state and state power crucial to serve accumulation when they’re trying to refute the people who say that the capitalist class got wealthy just through their own efforts. But then, when they’re trying to justify not having markets and private property, then the rule of the state seems to vanish. Then over on the classical liberal or libertarian sides, you got the early class theorists. In France, people like Charles Comte and Charles Dunoyer and Augustin Thierry who have this view about the state power, but they saw themselves as champions of the bourgeois class. Charles Comte for example says, “Some people are living in mansions, other people are living in hovels, your initial response is this is unjust. Once you realize that this is the result of the free market, then you’ll realize it’s okay.” Whereas someone like Hodgskin would have said, “What the hell are you talking about? Look at the actual history. They didn’t get this this way”. And then someone like Thierry ended up in a way being the same kind of champion for bourgeois class rule that Marx became for proletarian class rule.
He initially thought no one should be in charge of the state. He was, if not quite an anarchist, at least close to it. And the problem is just having anyone in charge of the state at all. We need to radically decrease state power, but by the end of his career he was saying, “Now that the French revolution has happened and now that the bourgeois classes is in control of the state, now it’s great and wonderful because they’re class that can be trusted.”
Because they are the third estate, their interests are identical with the interests of everyone. And so he has the same kind of what seems to me like the naivete that Marx had about the proletarians, he has about the bourgeois.
They’re thinking that once they’re in power, they’ll continue to represent society as a whole or something like that. So, my favourite class theory is more along the line of lines of Hodgskin. I think that vast disparities in wealth are difficult to maintain in a free market, because if you’ve got open competition, then if some people are getting much wealthier than other people, you can imitate what they’re doing and compete a lot of that wealth away from them. Things like intellectual property and so forth… The main function of intellectual property is to prevent you from imitating what other people are doing. And they would like to expand that as far as possible. Protectionism kind of. You know, I had the idea of building a restaurant here, so I don’t want anyone else to go to restaurant anywhere near me because it takes my idea away.
So on the left-libertarian version of class theory, the problem looks similar to what the Marxists identify as a problem, namely concentrations of capital ownership, ownership of the means of production, such that most people have no choice except to work, perform wage-labour for a smaller group of people. But their account of how it arose and what maintains it — and not just how it arose historically, but what continues to maintain it — it has a lot more to do with violent intervention, particularly, although not solely, but particularly by the state.
Zachary Woodman: So there’s a lot in there to unpack. I guess maybe the first question that one might have, especially when one comes from the more naive oor vulgar libertarian background, or maybe a more centrist liberal background, is, “Why should we want a class series to begin with?”
They might think all it is is bad social science, that all it is is this ideologically informed attempt to account for the distribution of income and all we need is to understand like certain economic processes to understand why income is distributed, or they might think that if we’re going to be methodological individualist, it doesn’t make sense to talk about classes as operating these large social features. So why should we want a class theory to begin with?
Roderick Long: Well, I mean, you shouldn’t want one, unless it’s true.
Zachary Woodman: *laughs*
Roderick Long: It’s not like, “Oh, you know, there’s just a general need for a class theory.” I think there’s good reason to think it’s true, but so let’s start with the last bit, “Is a class theory consistent with methodological individualism?”.
Of course, methological individualism is not always understood by everyone in exactly the same way but a class theory doesn’t have to say that classes act as some sort of agents over and above their members or anything like that.
Zachary Woodman: Although Marxists sometimes slip into that.
Roderick Long: They sometimes talk that way. They don’t always, when they’re being more careful. Heck, I think the libertarians sometimes talk that way too when they’re not being careful. But actually, to some extent, I think you could have many elements of a libertarian class theory, even if none of the people were intending anything. I don’t think that’s the case.
But… So here’s what I have in mind: suppose that the wealthy people have no intention of actually trying to maintain themselves as a class and suppose that the state isn’t actively trying to serve them. Imagine the state is just passing laws at random.
Just random laws, whatever. Some laws benefit the rich, some laws benefit the poor, some benefit them both, some harm them both… the state just generates things like a random number generator. I don’t think that’s what happens, but imagine it did. Then there’s going to be a filtering process. If something affects the interest of the rich, the rich have have lobbyists, they’ve got time, they’ve got lawyers, they’re in a position to be aware of what of what’s happening. They’ve got the resources to fight it and combat it and lobby against it. And so, it’s going to be harder for those laws to get passed or easier for them to get repealed.
Whereas the poor people are too busy working, they’re dispersed in interest. They don’t have the time or often they don’t have the education to know what to do. Don’t have the money to fight it. And so even if the government passed laws at random, I think there’d be a tendency for the laws to end up favoring the rich over the poor on average, for that reason. So, that doesn’t involve any conscious intentions for anything.
Zachary Woodman: That should be a basic insight of public trust.
Roderick Long: Yeah. And once you add conscious intentions, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all members of the ruling class have some strong feeling of class solidarity with each other. Because often they’re rivals. They may the cooperate to hold down any dangerous outsider, but in all of these coalitions each one wants more power than the others.
I don’t think that the capitalists are all marching arm in arm. And I don’t think the state is just a purely passive tool of the capitalist class. The people working within the state have their own interests that aren’t identical with, although they’re symbiotic, with the capitalist class.
It’s a partnership where each one would like to be the dominant partner, just like church and state in the middle ages. It says, “Look, there’s jockeying for power”. And so when people think that big government and big business are at odds, I think that’s mostly an illusion. But there’s a kernel of truth to it. There are genuine conflicts. There are cases where people in this side want one, people in this other side want something else. And likewise people in government and people in business are not completely unified either. But nevertheless, there are certain overall common tendencies. There are certain things that, if you lobby, if you’re trying to protect your company by law, to make the economy generally less competitive and make it harder for other people to come along and compete with you… That’s also gonna protect and other already established interests and so forth. And then there’ll be cooperation among these things. If a bunch of corporations get together and lobby, they can be more effective. And they will sort of trade favors with each other and then people in the government are trading favours with each other. You know, it’s, it’s not some kind of harmonious class solidarity. It’s not that the capital’s class as a whole, or that the government as a whole or anything as a whole acts as an agent. But nevertheless people’s incentives will often lead them to act in systematically coordinated ways.
Zachary Woodman: They might cultivate an ideology. Not that they act all uniformly, but that they have this sense of belonging.
Roderick Long: Yeah. I’m not saying that there’s no such thing as class solidarity. Part of what that means is that class solidarity isn’t necessary for this to happen.
Zachary Woodman: And class solidarity doesn’t undermine methodological individualism.
Roderick Long: Right. But certainly, it’s often likely that people in privileged groups tend to relate to other people in privileged groups and tend to think of themselves [as] naturally belonging where they’re belonging and tend to see outsiders as interlopers.
These people go to similar schools and similar functions and hang out together and they form friendships and social ties and form common views of the world often. Not always. I’m not saying that there’s no class solidarity, but there’s multiple things going on that reinforce the overall effect.
Zachary Woodman: So the overall answer to that objection is that — you know, there’s a line in Mises where he says like analysis of nations doesn’t undermine methodological individualism. And it’s for similar reasons to that, that you can have a group of individuals… not consciously interacting with each other, but the class can emerge as an emergent phenomenon to use Hayekian phraseology.
Roderick Long: And a lot of people criticize class theory… The two criticisms they often make… one is, they say, well, it’s just a conspiracy theory.
Zachary Woodman: Right.
Roderick Long: The answer is: well, sometimes these things are conspiracies. Sometimes you actually find evidence that these people are collaborating.
Because the more concentration of power that you have, the easier it is for these people to talk to each other and cooperate. And sometimes it doesn’t even count as a conspiracy instance, often they’re doing it fairly in the open. But also it doesn’t always need to be a conscious conspiracy. Often people’s economic interests will just lead them to act and the relevant way.
Zachary Woodman: And it seems like a confusion of like out latent functions — is a sociological term — of class with people thinking it’s an intended function of it.
Roderick Long: And the other criticism that you often hear, particularly on the right, of class theory, is it is driven by envy. If you think that the rich are getting rich illegitimately, you’re just saying it out of envy.
Well, then the answer is: well, let’s look and see why they’re getting rich. If it turns out, in fact, they’re getting rich through systematic government privilege, that is restricted…
Zachary Woodman: Or other illegitimate means.
Roderick Long: If it turns out that the highway man has a lot more money than the rest of us because he’s been robbing us all. Is it envy exactly that makes us resent him? It’s resentment, but it seems like it could be perfectly justified resentment. In any case, even if there’s envy involved, that is a motivation for getting people interested in class theory, that doesn’t make class theory false.
You have to look and see what the evidence is.
Zachary Woodman: So, the other objection one might make, and this is one that is not just a problem for class theory but for the broader project of left-market anarchists, is the possibility that we’re wrong about the empirical question, about what causes disparities in wealth.
Or that even if we’re right about that question under current economic conditions, that in a purely free market, there would be massive disparities that would recreate these sorts of classes. And you don’t necessarily have to be a Marxist to think that. You could find some mechanisms broadly within the neoclassical economics, like Piketty tries to explain that.
So what, what do you think are the arguments against those sorts of possibilities?
Roderick Long: Well, I mean obviously we don’t have complete detective knowledge of what would happen in a fully freed market. So I don’t think we can say with absolute certainty there’s nothing that would create this very large systematic disparities in wealth. But we can just look and say, “Well, look at what’s causing them now, look what the overall effect is.” If you see someone just hobbling along and they’ve got a 200 pound sack on their back and they’re hobbling along with difficulty, you can help them by getting that sack off the back.
And you would say, “Well, who knows if you’ve got the sack off their back? Maybe there would cause something else to make them probably even worse”. It’s possible. But it’s not initially the way we bet. The bet is, well, if there’s something that’s systematically causing a problem… getting rid of it will get rid the problem.
And of course sure social phenomena are complicated and interconnected and various ways and it’s not like you move one thing and, and you can just easily predict whatever everything else is gonna happen. We always have to go by our best guess and our best guess is that when we look at what actually seems to be causing these disparities, there always seems to be this hand of force involved.
Zachary Woodman: Let’s go into that best guess. Let’s go into the reasons you have for that and possible other reasons.
So let’s start with the reasons you have for thinking that. What are discrete empirical pieces of evidence that current disparities in wealth are caused largely by state control and intervention.
Roderick Long: Okay. So I mentioned IP as something that prevents people from imitating wealth generating activity. There’s more obvious kinds of subsidies to corporations, but there are also various indirect ones. Kevin Carson likes to talk about transportation subsidies. So for example, the fact that the the vast share of wear and tear on the roads is caused by these big shipping companies, but you don’t pay a proportional share of the taxes for maintaining the roads, which means in effect, tax funded highways end up being a subsidy from the everyone else to these big box companies and so forth. You’ve got various kinds of protectionist legislation that helps big companies. You’ve got…
Zachary Woodman: …certain sorts of trade restrictions.
Roderick Long: You know, you’ve got…
Zachary Woodman: …regulatory capture.
Roderick Long: …what I call the capture of the labour movement. More right traditional right wing libertarians see the labour movement as the beneficiary of the state. They think of the overall effect of liberal legislation is that it empowers unions at the expensive of employers. The left libertarian analysis is if you look at it in its totality, not just look at individual pieces of legislation that seem to be benefiting unions but look at it in its totality, in fact [it] indeed seems to have been intended to be in effect to de-fang the labour movement and make it a kind of junior partner in the big government business big business thing. Then you get these legalised unions but there are restrictions. Government can tell you when to strike and it can rule out sympathy strikes and various things. The right wing libertarian analysis of unions is, it’s just the cartels to raise labour prices. But in fact, traditionally, for a lot of the labour movement it was something more than that. There really was a the goal to try and get something more like labour control of industry. And it’s turned into a bunch of little labour cartels, because that was something easier for government to deal with. And so a lot of labour legislation has been driven in that direction. And then just sort of broadly there’s… I mean Kevin has another nice distinction of what he calls primary and secondary regulations.
So there are all these regulations that look as though they’re designed to help the less affluent. But often they turn out to be highly visible ways of mitigating the effects of less visible regulations that are just part of the basic framework.
So take a very straightforward example. Back in the Reagan administration,it had this deregulation of the savings and loan industry. They had lots of restrictions on how risky loans they could make. And they took those restrictions off.
So to a lot of people it looked like in the direction to free market move, and it caused a lot of problems. But from a more careful analysis to say, well look… What had happened was, first they gave them the federal deposit insurance saying, “If you, if you make excessively risky loans and you are in danger of going out of business, running out of money, the taxpayers will insure and cover your losses”. But given that, we want these regulations on you that you can’t do stuff that is too risky. So they gave them a government privilege and then restricted how they could use it. Then the deregulation comes along and what it does is… it took away the restriction without taking away the privilege!
So now the savings and loans were free to gamble with the taxpayer’s money, knowing that their losses would likely be covered.
Zachary Woodman: So that was worse than by bailouts…
Roderick Long: Yeah. So what looked like a move in the direction of less regulation really wasn’t.
Another example is liability caps for things like oil spills and so forth. Where if a company knows that there’s a limit to how much it can be sued in case of oil spill, they’re going to be less conscientious about avoiding those things and take more risks.
Just basic things like starting a business. The kinds of regulatory hoops you have to go through to start a business, which if you’re wealthy and established, it’s easy. You can jump through those hoops. You’ve got the lawyers you’ve got the time. But if you just a very small business or entrepreneur or you’re some of the inner city who just wants to start a hair braiding business. Or if you want to start your own taxi service, and all you’ve got is a car and a cell phone, which is all you need to run a taxi service, really… But are all these regulations, you know…
Zachary Woodman: …medallion services and what have you…
Roderick Long: Yeah, some of those medallions would cost like something [around] a hundred thousand dollars. [It] Is a big difference between… the number of people who can afford a business whose capital equipment is a car and a cell phone is a lot larger than those who could afford a car and a cell phone and a hundred thousand dollar license…
And although things like Uber and Lyft have liberalized that a little bit, there’s still…. no, there’s still a centralized corporation [with] a big advantage to get certain kinds of exemptions sometimes. It’s an ongoing fight.
Zachary Woodman: And they’re using their intellectual property to have barriers on who can use it.
Roderick Long: So Uber and Lyft and they haven’t made it such that just anyone can go and just start their own ride sharing service without any legal hassles. They’re an improvement over the preexisting section, but… Another thing that would be really easy for less affluent people to start is restaurants, if they could just start something in their own home and using their own kitchen, but zoning rules that out. Or another thing is daycare. Actually my mother wanted to start a daycare/sort of nursery school with some of her friends and they would take care of the kids while so some of the mothers would be working and others would be taking care of the kids of the other ones.
Anyway, it turned out that in order to do that, they’re supposed to have a lot of money upfront to pay various kinds of fees and licensing and they had to have degrees and education. They didn’t need a degree in education to take care of their own kid, but [they] had needed to [have] education to take care of each other kids.
So they couldn’t do it. And it just goes on and on
Zachary Woodman: My mother with therapy had to go into grad school just so she could be a therapist in the state, or be a social worker even in the state of Michigan. Go to a grad school that was licensed.
Not that the grad school was licensed, but they had to have a partnership with the Michigan state licensure so she could get the license directly through the grad school.
Roderick Long: [There] where all of cases where in order to have a hair braiding business, you have to get a certificate, that requires taking a course for doing lots and lots of different things with hair that they weren’t planning to do.
Zachary Woodman: Right, right.
Roderick Long: And of course, the course also costs a lot of money. I remember in — this was a while ago, I don’t know if it’s still true, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is — that in Louisiana, there was this controversy about how difficult was to enter the florist business. And you had to have this very difficult process of getting a license to be a florist because we all know the damage that people can do with unlicensed flower arrangements.
Roderick Long: And it turned out that the people in charge of granting licenses to new florists [were] a board staffed by people from existing florists who were being asked to authorize their competitors. And so of course they tended to be a little…
Zachary Woodman: Yeah. And there are examples in the drug industry, where to prove equivalence of a generic drug to a name brand drug, you have to prove the chemical equivalence. They have to send in a sample from the would be competitors like from Pfizer, who have you, and of course, Pfizer never sends you the samples.
Roderick Long: I’m talking about things in a very small scale likehair braiding or florists but also things like the government sending in the army to protect the interests of large corporations and countries.
This happens at every level of scale,
Zachary Woodman: Right. And this has the effect both of stopping the poor from accumulating wealth by starting their own business and stuff and stuff like that and also by increasing prices for various things. for them that disproportionately affect the worst off.
Roderick Long: Yeah.
Zachary Woodman: So, I mean these are all effects that you don’t need to be a left-libertarian to acknowledge. I think Rob Reich in his book on inequality acknowledges a lot of this and he’s like a progressive economist. Steven Teles and […] his coauthor [Brink Lindsey] for The Captured Economy has a whole book on this and then they’re relatively centrist progressives and libertarians. So, you don’t have to be a […] libertarian to acknowledge all that, but you still might think, “Yeah, that’s all true about our existing economy, but even if you had a purely freed market…”. Maybe they might cite Piketty’s analysis of how under markets the rate of return on capital is bigger than the growth rate, and so that causes disproportionate returns on those who already have capital… And they might think that therefore there are reasons to believe that even in a completely free market, you still have these problematic unequal distributions… So what’s your general thought on those types of accounts?
Roderick Long: Well, I think it underestimates the entrepreneurial potential of people working on their own, not working for these big firms, the ability to produce stuff that doesn’t rely on these guys. So, it’s one thing to have accumulated because it’s not just that you’ve accumulated capital in the past, but the ability to keep on doing it in the face of this massive storm of upstarts. Because look at all the businesses that people do start or try to start and get squashed down. I think there’s a massive entrepreneurial drive from where people are constantly trying to just start something. Everything from selling loose cigarettes in the streets to whatever, selling drugs, whatever it is. There are a lot of things that don’t require a lot of capital upfront. So it’s not just the accumulation of capital. It’s the prohibition on free entry into a lot of these things.
Zachary Woodman: Alright. So moving on a bit from that question, one might think that there are other ways, not just through the market, but through other cultural forces that classes are created. They might have an intersectional analysis of class in terms of gender, in terms of race. Probably race being the biggest one.
They’ll point out that in America poverty is largely a feminized phenomenon. It’s largely a racialized phenomenon. Historically disenfranchised racial groups tend to be poor. The poorest people tend to be single women with children. And they might think, maybe what’s going on a bit here is there’s an ideology that maybe the state helps use, but is largely independent of the apparatus of the state that stops these people from accumulating wealth.
So discrimination against these groups and what have you. And so to think that it’s largely just the state that creates these classes is to miss this large cultural, social explanation. So what’s the left-libertarian response to that, or how do they incorporate that insight?
Roderick Long: I mean there’s division among left-libertarians on this issue.
Zachary Woodman: What’s your take?
Roderick Long: Well, I’ll just say, I know some libertarians who remind me a bit of vulgar Marx’s in the sense of saying,”No, really it’s just the state” — sort of the left-libertarian analogue of vulgar Marxists — “It’s just the state”, and I don’t think that’s the case.
I definitely think that culture and ideology and so forth matter and also, of course, I don’t think that the state is the only form of violence. [When] we’re talking about gender politics… a lot of the male violence against women is not motivated by the state. It’s a freelance violence that helps to maintain power imbalance between men and women. I don’t discount that. But I think that having market incentives as opposed to governments incentives is very effective in combating it, even though if it’s not all you need. And here’s a distinction I’d want to make. So, a lot of libertarians who want to talk about discrimination, all of them will say, “Look, discrimination is costly because if you’re not hiring the best people or having the best customers, it hurts you economically”.
And so the market incentives will…
Zachary Woodman: That’s what Gary Becker and Milton Friedman say.
Roderick Long: Yeah and I think that hat’s overstated. I think there is a way that a market helps that problem, but not quite the way people think, because a lot of people… if they’re prejudiced and their peer group is also prejudiced, they may not want to go against their peer group. Suppose that you’re a white guy living in a racist, white community and you want to you pay your black employees more or you want to accept black customers who get more money, but then you know that you’re going to be shunned by your white peer group. You might not do it. Often the way that economics breaks up cartels in general — cause it’s a kind of a racial cartel — is not so much that it leads members of the cartel to cheat on each other, ’cause often they have non-monetary reasons to hang together, but then it brings in outsiders who aren’t part of that culture. Yeah. So here’s a story about my grandmother. So my grandmother lived in… she wasn’t from Florida, she was like from Chicago. She moved to Florida in the 1940s, maybe, in Daytona beach. She paid her black servants way more than her white neighbours did — not because she wasn’t racist, she was racist as hell but her flavor of racism was different from the local flavour. And she didn’t do it just to get the best employees. Although, in fact, that was the result and caused all the neighbours to complain.
She did just because she thought it was un-classy to pay people below a certain level. It was below her dignity to pay people that little. Her motives were not ideal. As a matter of fact, she did get economic benefits from getting the best of the local black employees. Because she wasn’t part of this local group. She wasn’t planning to live forever in Florida. She didn’t identify with this peer group. She didn’t give a crap what they thought about anything. And so, she wasn’t motivated primarily by the economic incentives, although that was probably part of it. I think in general, economic incentives break up cartels more successfully by luring competitors in from the outside than necessarily from breaking up the cartel from within. So I think those things can be effective, but also I think we shouldn’t think of the market as just a matter of sitting back and letting the price system take care of things. I mean, I think the price system is amazing. It can in fact take care of lots and lots of things, but also I think, you know, we think of market the markets as sort of the totality free exchanges, not all free exchanges are just matters of, you know, I want to get, you know, I want to maximize my monetary profit or something like that.
I think that there’s a vital role for deliberate social action to try and change the culture. I think that even if people did work like that, if everyone were just robotic profit maximizers, the market would, would have solved these things pretty well, but as long as you’ve go a lot of people who are being driven by bad non-monetary incentives, it’s really crucial to have people driven by good non-monetary incentives to combat it.
And so I think that’s one of the reasons I think that libertarians shouldn’t focus just on getting rid of state intervention, even though I think state intervention is a huge part of the story. But that they should also be focused on getting involved in these kinds of solidarity movements and sort of precisely the sorts of things that intersectional feminists and race theorists and so forth are interested in.
So, I think that, although we’re a lot more optimistic than a lot of more traditional leftists are about the power of markets and so forth, nevertheless I think that these other movements are absolutely crucial too and we should be supporting them.
Zachary Woodman: Right. And that’s very good. I guess that’s enough on the distinguishing [features] of libertarian class theory. I [would like] to go into the normative motivations for that project. Well, maybe we can go into what we care about with egalitarianism.
What sort of egalitarianism do you buy into, what do you think the point of distributive justice is? And why? There’s this classic libertarian view that distributed justice is, to paraphrase Hayek, a mirage of some sorts; that we shouldn’t care about it because free exchange can create an unequal wealth distributions, even if the free exchange is completely valid. Nozick made that argument with his Will Chamberlain example. So why should we care about [it]?
Roderick Long: I should say that my views have evolved somewhat since I wrote that. I’m not sure I disagree with anything I said in that article, but yeah. Probably the range of kinds of equality I’m interested in is probably greater now. So what I said back then in that article was that the libertarian conception of freedom is itself a form of a egalitarianism.
Roderick Long: The idea was a quality of authority and idea. An idea that goes back to Locke. When Locke and Jefferson say that we’re all created equal, […] the kind of equality they have in mind is a equality of authority. No one has the right to tell anyone else what to do.
Zachary Woodman: That’s something most liberal theories share in general.
Roderick Long: In principle, but they end up supporting an organization that… one criticism of the state is the state is an organization that is unequal. […] So, people think of the state’s job was to ensure na equality among the governed, but the question is: what about equality between the governed and the governors? There’s this inequality and power, and you can say, “Well, if it’s a democratic state, then somehow it’s really all just us” or, “We control it or we rotate into and out of it”, and so forth. In practice, you end up meeting […] either people in a political office or people with private political influence or people with badges and guns and truncheons, being in a position to impose stuff on us that we don’t have [?] to impose on them. So there’s a sense in which just the basic libertarians conception of freedom is itself a form of egalitarianism. But I wouldn’t limit my egalitarianism to that. I think that’s a very important form of egalitarianism. It would be, it worthwhile be having that, even if we didn’t get the kind of wealth quality that I would expect. But, I think the wealth equality, that I expect… I also think it’s valuable in its own right. People often say, a lot of right-libertarians say, “Well look, it’s not the degree of equality of wealth that matters. All it matters is sort of…
Zachary Woodman: …how it was attained.
Roderick Long: Yeah. Well also they’ll say how, what matters is, as long as it’s going up, it doesn’t matter.
And I think they’re half right. In the sense in that my ideal to getting rid of wealth inequality would not be… if I could do it by sort of reducing everyone to an equal level of poverty or something like that.
But of course that’s not what, you know… So take something like Rawl’s principal. Which is that deviations from equality are fine so long as the worst off people are better off than they would be under equality. So, that’s not the kind of egalitarianism that wants… that would get rid of equality of i by, reducing ourselves to some sort of Harrison Bridger on equality. [?]
A lot of libertarians say that they don’t see any value in…
Zachary Woodman: …in anything like that? Distributive justice.
Roderick Long: I see some value to it. I certainly don’t think it’s the whole story of justice. I don’t think that it trumps the kinds of property rights considerations that someone like Nozick has. Suppose we all became fantastic and much more wealthy than we are, but it was still massively unequal, I think, there’ll be a problem.
I mean, I take it but it’d be a problem because how we relate to each other in society, what all kinds of opportunities we have to interact and possibly being left out of things…
Zachary Woodman: The relational egalitarianism of Liz Anderson is what you have in mind…
Roderick Long: Maybe something like that. And of course, to a lot of right libertarians it’s just going to sound like envy, but it’s not envy in the sense of, “I resent you from having more and I want to take it away from you”.
It’s like, I want to be sort of a full participant in the society. Now, how does the value of that kind of concern relate to the value of something like Nozickian rights? Well, this is where my Aristotelianism comes in. So Eric, In the Aristotelian view, this as I interpret it, as I interpret the idea of the unity of virtue is that… The traditional way of putting that unity of virtue is that you can’t have one virtue completely without having them all. The strong version of it is that all the virtues are just different names for one virtue. That’s like Socrates’ view. That’s not Aristotle’s view. Aristotle’s view is there are different virtues.
Zachary Woodman: To be courageous, you will also…
Roderick Long: …to be fully courageous!
Zachary Woodman: Fully or, I guess the better example as giving is, to be fully benevolent, in certain situations, you’re going to have to do the courageous things, you have to be courageous.
Roderick Long: Yeah. So, he doesn’t rule out the possibility that you could be like 70% benevolent but only 40% courageous or something like that. I think that he would allow that. But you couldn’t be a hundred percent benevolent without being a hundred percent courageous because there are going to be cases where doing the benevolent thing requires facing some kind of danger. But for me, the most important point about the unity of virtue is not just that you can’t have one without having them all with it. You can’t settle what it means. We can’t settle what courage requires of you without figuring what benevolence requires of you and vice versa. So that the contents of the virtues are inter-defined. Each one has some sort of provisional content to begin with. But as you work out the details, there’s a kind of mutual adjustment to come up with our content.
So I think that there are some virtues that are very much social consequence oriented, like benevolence, and there’s some that are much more deontic rights oriented like justice. But if those two are standing in relationship of sort of reciprocal determination, that means that in filling in one, you also have to fill in the other so that you may have to adjust the content of justice to fit consequentialist concerns. But also, you may have to adjust the concept of what counts as a good result by concerns of justice.
Zachary Woodman: Okay. So, that’s a really fascinating… I hadn’t heard you make that argument for it. And that’s really fascinating use of the unity of virtue, which is a doctrine that I’m generally skeptical of cause I’m not much of an Aristotelian myself. But, one objection that comes to mind to that is that, well, it doesn’t look like we need to fully conceptually spell out what a just distributive society is. I guess the way you cash [?] that was in terms of what a benevolently distributive society would be, although in the literature it’s usually talked about in terms of justice. But since we’re in virtue theory, now we should keep those two distinct that guess.
Roderick Long: Well sometimes see with benevolence, benevolence feeds into determining the content of justice.
Zachary Woodman: Right. That’s that’s the claim. And it looks to me like, if what we mean by justice here is like non-aggression libertarian stuff, what justice demands of you is that you don’t initiate force or fraud bla bla bla in illegitimate ways. It doesn’t look like you need to make much reference to distributive justice to know what that is. And a Rawlsian would push back to say, “Well, I don’t really need to refer to a theory of property rights to know what a just society looks like distributively.” So, it looks like… why would we think that there’s this important sort of conceptual link to them in this unity of virtue way to explain them?
Roderick Long: Well, there are different ways of specifying the general libertarian principles. You’ve got general libertarian principles about rights and so forth for different ways of specifying the details.
And likewise, you can have general concerns about distributive justice and different ways of specifying the details. And the idea is that each one has some content of its own, it doesn’t start off as a blank slate because if they all start off with blank slates, then trying to mutually adjust blank slates wouldn’t get you anywhere.
But the idea is that it’s reasonable to take these distributive concerns into account when choosing among different ways of instantiating the basis libertarian principles and vice versa.
Zachary Woodman: So give me some examples.
Roderick Long: This isn’t really a matter of social policy, it’s more a matter of individual action but the question is like, “Is it [right] to steal bread when you’re starving”, or something like that. And so there’s this one right-libertarian view that would say, “No, it’s your duty to starve”. Back in the 90s, the Liberty magazine had this poll where they asked people, “If you are falling out of a building and you grab on to someone else’s balcony to prevent yourself from falling to your death and they say, ‘Get off my balcony.’ Are you obligated to let go and fall to your death?”. And there was a significant percentage that said yes. And in fact, that example ended up getting incorporated in one of L. Neil Smith’s science fiction libertarian novels, where he seemed to endorse that position.
And so the question is, well that’s one interpretation of the libertarian principle. We can also have the interpretation that in a situation like that, what you owe them is maybe something like reparation afterward, but not actually… if you’re breaking into someone’s cabin to avoid freezing to death or something, should we say that you’re just required to die or can we say that inemergency situations it’s alright to make use of their property but then you should do your best, if possible, to make restitution to them later. And I’d say, well, in choosing among those different interpretations, it makes sense to take into account considerations of benevolence and welfare and so forth.
And as you choose the less creepy answers to those questions that would be an example. Let’s say there are different ways of interpreting land rights…
Zachary Woodman: Occupancy & Use versus homesteading.
Roderick Long: Yeah. And also things like, even in cases where you don’t actually get full property title to something, what you have to do in order to get an easement. So there are some libertarians who will say, “Well look, if someone buys up all the land around your house well, you should have contractually acquired an easement before that. And if you didn’t, well, you’re just out of luck and you can just come in and out of a helicopter”, versus the view that, “Well no, by buying up all the land around your house, not letting you out, they’re imprisoning you.” and so they’re violating your liberty. So those are two different ways of interpreting the libertarian principle.
Well, it’s legitimate to bring in social welfare considerations to choose between them and say, “Well, in light of those, it’ll be more reasonable to take the one that they have to give you an easement.” And like I was talking about things like native American land rights, where someone will say, “Well look, in the cases of the nomadic tribes, maybe they weren’t alternative landscape enough to get full ownership, so could you just grab all that stuff?”, the thing that they hunted over or were they entitled to an easement, at least over the areas that they hunted, even if they didn’t have full property rights and you could say, “Well, if you take the benevolence seriously, it’s going to be in favor of giving them an easement as opposed to what actually happened.”
No, of course what actually happened was, even Indian tribes that had farms and settled, they had stuff that that would clearly have been private property, in extended Lockean views. The government took that too. […] The government was just sort of misapplying libertarian principles, but…
Roderick Long: But some libertarians have argued, “Well, this is for the nomadic tribes and nomadic tribes didn’t have any property rights as they did just take whatever.” And I think that’s going to be a less plausible interpretation once you bring in benevolence to choose among these different interpretations of the libertarian principle.
Zachary Woodman: Right. That’s really interesting. Other thing that came to mind is, that it’s pretty uncontroversial among mainstream political philosophers, as I take it, to adjust one’s view of distributive justice in light of other justice considerations. The famous objection to look at egalitarianism is it would require continual interventions, into your life, in problematic ways that violate liberal justice to correct for bad luck.
Maybe we need to control how people parent their kids or what have you. Alright, I think that’s really interesting. The other thought that I have, when you apply the doctrine of virtue to try to link a thick conception of distributive justice with a thinner libertarian view is one might think that virtue theory is something that should only apply to individuals. When we talk about the virtue of courage, benevolence, blah, blah, blah, that’s something that works with individuals that doesn’t really apply to whole societies to all polities. And it would be some sort of fallacy to start applying virtues to society, so why should we be using like a doctrine of the unity of virtue to try to link features that we want societies to have, and they’re not really virtuous proper.
Roderick Long: Well, all these decisions are made by individuals. So anyone who’s implementing, anyone who’s acting and doing a role in being part of a legal system or something, whether they’re a judge or a legal theorist or some kind of law enforcement person or light rights protector, whatever they are, all the people who are the agents of the legal system, be it a state or some kind of something more anarchic, you know… they’re individuals and the individual contact is government of virtues and everything the state does ultimately, or whatever any legal system, state or anarchic, happens in virtue of individuals making decisions and they’re always going to be governed by it by these virtue considerations. So, you don’t get off the hook for following the virtues, just because you’re acting as an agent of a legal system. Now of course, the traditional virtue theorists thought of the purpose of the state as to promote virtue. And so they were very paternalistic and intrusive, you know, not all of them as paternalistic and intrusive as Plato’s Republic…
Zachary Woodman: Cause it’s like Aristotle’s politics…
Roderick Long: So Aristotle’s politics… it looks very libertarian compared to Plato’s Republic, but it looks a lot like Plato’s Republic compared to libertarianism.
But I think that what they failed to think about was they were thinking about virtue as something to promote, but they are forgetting about the ways in which virtue should constrain the behavior of the people running the system. And so, suppose that I think that there’s this value of respect that you owe to all other people, something a lot of the ancient virtue theorists sometimes seem to think, sometimes not. And of course Aristotle explicitly didn’t think that, he thought that there were natural slaves. But you’ve got people like Cicero who says, we’re all equal parts of this — well, he didn’t say equal but — we’re all parts of humanity and everyone deserves respect and so forth, but he had no problem with slavery, he never explained it. But, they think of it as value of respect and so they would think, therefore, it’s the job of the state to promote, make people respectful, but you have to say, “Well look, the state is going to [viewing] this in virtue of individuals doing various things and they’re bound by that respect too. And so you can’t promote respect in ways that violate respect. So, the idea that the natural political implementation of virtue ethics is a state that promotes virtue is a mistake because virtue requires taking an attitude toward other people that’s inconsistent with the kind of paternalistic micromanaging that the traditional virtue ethical state was favoring.
Zachary Woodman: So, what I had in mind by giving voice to that objection was something somewhat different. I had in mind that Hayek in The Fatal Conceit…
Roderick Long: Oh yeah.
Zachary Woodman: …argues that we need to apply a different sort of… maybe putting it in terms of whether virtue applied as societies or state institutions was the wrong way to give voice to this line. But I had in mind that, you know, Hayek in The Fatal Conceit says that we now live in such a large, complicated society that we have to apply different ways of thinking about ethics, maybe different virtues, to our lives in our intimate orders and our intimate groupings, like families, relationships, blah, blah, blah, as opposed to the extended order of society, you know…
Zachary Woodman: …the world out there. And maybe we can catch this out in terms of virtue ethics by thinking about like how a lawyer has to exhibit virtues to different degrees in different ways, when he’s arguing in his court case, as opposed to when he’s talking to his wife. A lawyer who — and this is a very non-Aristotelian way of thinking about it as I see it — a lawyer…
Roderick Long: That’s a very Ciceronian way of thinking about it. *laughs*
Zachary Woodman: Maybe. The lawyer who were to treat his court case the way he treats a discussion with his wife, would very likely lose the court case. Whereas, if he were to go home and get in this combative debate with his wife, he’d probably get a divorce very quickly and we would view him as not a good husband and we wouldn’t feel him as not a good lawyer in the other case. So, why would we think that the way virtues work, work the same in the political realm as they do in the public space as they do in the private space of our intimate […] lives?
Roderick Long: Well, it’s part of virtue to recognize that one and the same virtue will have different manifestations in different social contexts. That’s been a part of virtue ethics forever. There’s this often disagreement of what those contexts are., I agree that there are differences in these contexts, but I think that people have tended to be too comfortable with allowing radical differences, like… basically all the things that cops are allowed to do.
Roderick Long: But also take another example that’s sort of similar to your example and that I think is partially right and partially wrong. So, in business ethics there is this famous art article by Albert Carr, I think called “Business Bluffing or something like that? [the title is Is Business Bluffing Ethical?] It often appears in business ethics textbooks, where he says you don’t use the same ethics in business that you do in dealing with personal friends and family. The operators claim different set of rules. What I think to some extent is right, but he takes it instead of saying, “Look, it’s like poker. In poker, you know they’re trying to deceive you.” And by playing the game, you’ve sort of consented to their deceiving you. So, likewise when you’re in business, when you’re engaging in economic transactions in the market, you know they’re trying to deceive you and you’ve sort of consented to that by entering these economic transactions. Which really seems… And it’s not just that they don’t have to be as bedeviled to you as you would be a family member, but actually they can deceive you as long as they don’t actively lie and so forth. They can manipulate you and so forth.
And I think it’s just wrong. This idea that we’ve consented, like consenting to play a poker game. I mean, there’s no such thing as consenting to engage in economic trade in the market, you just have to do it in order to survive. And so what they did really sounds more like sort of the social contract argument that somehow by just living in a place you’ve consented to all kinds of crap from the government. Likewise, they said by living in a place you’ve consented to all that kinds of crap from business people. So, I think there’s a limit to how far you can have these different roles mean different ethics things. Now of course, part of Hayek’s idea was, “Well, it doesn’t make any sense to talk about the justice of a distribution.”
Roderick Long: Because justice applies only to the actions of individuals and so it doesn’t apply to spontaneous orders. But of course you can always translate talk about the justice of a distribution into talk about the justice of what individuals either individually or in concert with each other should do in response to an existing distribution. So you can always translate talk about social justice into talk about what individuals should do.
Zachary Woodman: But at that point, haven’t you just conceded the point and gotten rid of the distributive justice. And gotten just back to the end…
Roderick Long: No, cause I think it’s [?] saying what people justly should do in response to a distribution, given distribution… whether they should try and change that distribution or not, that’s an issue of distributive justice.
Zachary Woodman: Okay.
Roderick Long: Now, it’s true that there’s a kind of communism that can work at the level of the family that I think can’t work at the level of society as a whole.
Zachary Woodman: Right. That’s what I also think […].
Roderick Long: And that’s fine, that’s right. And in fact, if you try to apply it to the level of the society as a whole, it’ll cause starvation and chaos and if you’re benevolent, you don’t want to do that. And so…
Zachary Woodman: The rest of that quote is, if we apply it or the ethics to our intimate groupings, we would demolish them and if we applied the intimate grouping ethics of the extended order, we would destroy it.
Roderick Long: Yeah. So, benevolence is when a simple minded application of benevolence to the social order would have horrific results, then a nuanced understanding of benevolence would say, “Well, don’t do that.” But nevertheless, I don’t think that’s a reason to think that there’s no reason to be concerned about systematic inequalities of wealth or thinking that there’s just not a problem. Now, if it’s true that the only way we could get rid of them is by some sort of intrusive violation of people’s property rights, then I’m saying, “Alright well, I guess then the worlds sucks, we don’t want to do that.”
But to the extent that you can combat these kinds of inequalities without violating libertarian rights, I think we should. It’s a better society if more people can participate on an equal well basis. Part of it is just that societies work better when more people’s ideas can enter into the competition. And if there’s a vast inequality of wealth between one group and another, then the lower group… they may be living comfortably, but they’re not able to participate as much in that conversation, I think the society as a whole suffers from that.
Zachary Woodman: Yeah. And not to mention that there might be something intrinsically wrong with excluding people from the conversation….
Roderick Long: Yes.
Zachary Woodman: …who would otherwise want to participate in it. Or excluding people from certain social practices, cultural rights etc.
Roderick Long: Yeah. To take an extreme example. A lot of people say, “Black people shouldn’t complain about the legacy of slavery because if the slavery never happened, then they would have been born back in Africa instead of here and so they would have been living in much worse poverty.” Well, actually they would never have been bored at all because this history meant that two different parents meant, but anyway.
Zachary Woodman: We don’t need to get into modal identity here. Transmodal identity. *laughs*
Roderick Long: Treating people like crap is not justified by the fact that your ability to do it is made possible by a series of events that had they happened otherwise those persons would have been worse off. It’s like if I come up to you and I punch you in the face and you fall over and then by sheer luck that means that you end up not being hit by a bullet that someone else was firing, I’ve actually benefited you by punching in the face.
I wasn’t trying to benefit you but as a matter of fact you’re better off. So now I might say, “Oh, instead of me owing you for punching in the face, you owe me for saving you from the bullet.” No. And so likewise when people are excluded from things you could say, “Well yeah, but under this regime where they’re excluded, they’re much better off and are much more comfortable than they would have ever been before.” What’s great. Want to keep them comfortable? Good. They wouldn’t want to impoverish everyone in the name of equality, but if people are excluded from things, it’s just not a respectful way to treat people.
And it doesn’t mean that you need all of it, you know… a bunch of stuff imposed by law?! Because that’s also not a respectful way to treat people but happily that’s not the only way we can deal with it.
Zachary Woodman: Alright. So the last question I always like to ask is what are three works, could be books, articles, documentaries. that people you think the listeners should read pertaining to this or generally to learn more about what you’re interested in.
Roderick Long: Okay. So on libertarian class theory, three books that I’d recommend. One is an anthology, I was a co-editor of it along with David Hart and Gary Chartier and Ross Kenyon. It’s titled Social Class and State Power: Exploring an Alternative Radical Tradition and it’s just a collection of various works in classical liberal class theory — both more lefty ones and more righty ones — from basically the 17th century through today. It gives us a range of different versions.
Then, specifically on the French liberal class theorists, in particular Charles Comte, Charles Dunoyer and Augustin Thierry, who wrote this journal in early 19th century France that developed a lot of these ideas early on. David Hart on his website has got a couple of different versions of his dissertation, and he’s got a couple of different titles depending on the version, but most of them have either as the title or the subtitle something like The Radical Liberalism of Charles Comte and Charles Dunoyer. And that’s useful because the class theory book that I mentioned before doesn’t have stuff from them. Well, it has like a little snippet or something but hardly anything from them has been translated. And so it’s a really useful account of them. And then, for the third thing, for more specifically the kind of class theory that left-libertarians go for in for these days, there’s yet another anthology: Markets Not Capitalism by Gary Chartier and Charles Johnson. It has a few older things like stuff from Benjamin Tucker in the 19th century but it’s mostly a recent — like from the last 20 years — left libertarian analysis of the interaction between state power and the power of big business and the corporate elite.
And so those are the three things that come to mind.
Zachary Woodman: Alright. Roderick Long, thank you for coming on the show. We hope to have you on again!
Roderick Long: Thanks, I enjoyed it!
MER, MER podcast, Mutual Exchange Radio, podcast, Roderick Long,
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3126
|
__label__wiki
| 0.996985
| 0.996985
|
How The Crown's new stars compare to their real-life royals
The Queen, played by Olivia Coleman
The Broadchurch star will take over where Claire Foy left off for the third and fourth seasons, stepping into Her Majesty's shoes during the tumultuous '60s and '70s.
Photos: © Getty Images
Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter
From Ocean's 8 to the palaces of the monarchy, Vanessa Kirby passed the Princess Margaret torch to Hollywood heavyweight Helena Bonham Carter.
Prince Philip, played by Tobias Menzies
Fans have bid adieu to Matt Smith for the third season, where the rebellious royal's shoes will be filled by the Game of Thrones actor.
Princess Anne, played by Erin Doherty
She's appeared on Call the Midwife, but this up-and-comer is set to tackle her biggest role yet as the Queen's daughter. The time frame covered in the third season may include a frightening kidnap attempt made on the princess in 1974.
The Queen Mother, played by Marion Bailey
The British actress joins the Royal Family for seasons three and four as the Queen's mom. "It’s a brilliant show and we have a tough act to follow, but what a gift to be playing the fascinating and greatly loved Queen Mother," the Allied actress told The Hollywood Reporter.
Prince Charles, played by Josh O'Connor
Josh couldn't be more excited to tackle the role of heir to the throne, especially in the '60s and '70s as he's coming of age. “Seasons 3 and 4 will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales’s life and our national story," the Florence Foster Jones star said in a statement, "and I’m excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all.
Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, played by Ben Daniels
Goodbye Matthew Goode, hello Ben Daniels! As Princess Margaret's photographer husband ages, he'll be played by the former Flesh & Bone star.
© 2001-2021, HELLO! - All rights reserved
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3127
|
__label__wiki
| 0.954967
| 0.954967
|
Exemplary Cases
menu filler
J. Austin Curry
acurry@caldwellcc.com
2121 N. Pearl St.
J.D. 2007
BS Electrical Engineering and BS Mathematics, 2004 summa cum laude.
John Austin Curry is a principal at Caldwell Cassady & Curry who focuses on patent infringement disputes and cases involving advanced technologies, including various technologies in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, oil field services, and medical devices. Mr. Curry has helped clients win verdicts at trial totaling more than $2 billion.
Mr. Curry’s work is consistently recognized by his peers in the legal community, including his selection to the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the 2016 Best Lawyers in Dallas list published by D Magazine. He also has been recognized on the annual Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list of the state’s top young attorneys since 2014, including being ranked among the state’s Top 100 in 2017.
Mr. Curry is licensed to practice before all Texas and New York state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Prior to founding Caldwell Cassady & Curry, Mr. Curry worked in industry at a semiconductor manufacturer where he developed a software application for secure near-range consumer transactions to demonstrate the potential of a reduced instruction set chipset.
Mr. Curry earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law after graduating valedictorian in his engineering and mathematics class at Southern Methodist University. He now serves as a member of SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board.
Firm Honors
Texas Intellectual Property Litigation Department of the Year (2017) – Texas Lawyer
#1 U.S. Plaintiffs’ Patent Firm – IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals
Top 100 U.S. Verdicts of 2016 (3 verdicts) – The National Law Journal/VerdictSearch
#1 Texas Intellectual Property Verdict (2016) – The National Law Journal/VerdictSearch
Top 50 Recoveries (2015-2016) – The National Law Journal
Best Law Firms (2017) – The Best Lawyers in America/U.S. News & World Report
Top Patent Damage Awards Won Since 2000 (2015) – Law360
Top 100 U.S. Verdicts of 2015 – The National Law Journal/VerdictSearch
SAS Institute Inc. v. World Programming Limited, et al.
Mr. Curry defends World Programming Limited, YUM! Brands, Inc., Luminex Software, Inc., Pizza Hut, Inc., and Shaw Industries Group, Inc., in a high-profile copyright and patent case brought against the companies by SAS Institute in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The lawsuit alleges that World Programming’s analytics software infringes intellectual property owned by SAS Institute. This is the latest in a decade-long string of lawsuits that SAS Institute has brought against its direct competitor, World Programming. In addition to defending against the copyright and patent allegations, Mr. Curry represents World Programming in the company’s antitrust counterclaims stemming from SAS Institute’s violations of the Sherman Act and the Lanham Act, as well as other state and federal laws. The case is set for trial before the Hon. Judge Rodney Gilstrap in August 2020.
Cellular Communications Equipment LLC v. Apple Inc.
Mr. Curry served trial counsel alongside fellow name principal Brad Caldwell on behalf of Cellular Communications Equipment LLC in a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc. over a network technology patent. Following a trial heard in September 2016 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, jurors found Apple to be a willful infringer and awarded a $22 million verdict in favor of CCE. The award represented a running royalty on Apple’s infringement through trial.
Acantha LLC v. DePuy Synthes
Mr. Curry served as trial counsel for Acantha LLP in a patent infringement lawsuit against medical device manufacturer DePuy Synthes, a subsidiary of healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson. DePuy was sued based on its infringement of an Acantha patent that covers an orthopedic implant assembly used in surgical procedures. Following the August 2018 trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, a jury of five women and three men delivered a unanimous $8.2 million verdict in favor of Mr. Curry’s client.
Smartflash Litigation
Mr. Curry represents Smartflash in its litigation against Apple, Samsung, Google, and other device manufacturers for infringement of Smartflash’s patents that cover data storage and access systems used by Apple’s iTunes and App Stores and Google Play. At trial against Apple, Mr. Curry presented Smartflash’s technical expert to prove infringement and validity. The jury returned a verdict of $532,900,000 and found Apple’s infringement to be willful.
VirnetX Inc. v. Apple Inc.
Mr. Curry represents VirnetX as trial counsel in the company’s ongoing litigation against Apple for infringement of VirnetX’s network security patents by Apple’s FaceTime, iMessage, and VPN On Demand features. In the first trial against Apple in 2012, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found VirnetX’s patents valid and awarded a $368 million verdict based on Apple’s infringement.
After the case was sent back for a new trial on damages, it was consolidated with a subsequent lawsuit covering newer products that Apple marketed after the first trial. In the consolidated trial, Mr. Curry and other attorneys at Caldwell Cassady & Curry won again; securing a $625 million verdict for VirnetX in February 2016 after another Eastern District jury found that Apple continued to infringe VirnetX’s patents following the first trial. The jury also found that Apple’s infringement was willful regarding FaceTime and VPN on Demand.
The court later vacated its order to consolidate the matters and set the cases covering newer and older products for two separate jury trials.
In the first new trial heard in October 2016, Mr. Curry helped VirnetX win once again, securing a $302 million verdict against Apple. The verdict was entered as a $439.7 million judgment in September 2017.
In the second new trial heard in April 2018, a different Eastern District jury awarded a unanimous verdict of $502.6 million in favor of VirnetX after finding Apple’s infringement was willful. The entire verdict amount was entered as a judgment in August 2018
Dr. Robert Morley v. Square Inc.
Mr. Curry represents Dr. Morley in his suit against Square, Inc., Jack Dorsey, and Jim McKelvey for patent infringement and breach of joint-venture and fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, and for exclusion of Dr. Morley from Square. Dr. Morley revolutionized the mobile payment industry with his invention of the Square card reader. A trial in the Eastern District of Missouri is scheduled for mid-2016.
VirnetX Inc. v. Microsoft Corp.
Mr. Curry was a member of the trial team representing VirnetX in its patent infringement action against Microsoft involving virtual private network technology. In 2011, a jury awarded VirnetX $105,000,000 in its verdict and found that Microsoft’s infringement had been willful. That case settled after VirnetX moved for a permanent injunction. In subsequent litigation involving additional infringement assertions, Microsoft settled before trial.
Bedrock Computer Techs. v. Google Inc.
Mr. Curry was a member of the trial team representing Bedrock in a suit filed against Google for patent infringement involving methods for efficiently removing expired data from information storage and retrieval systems. The case settled shortly after the jury awarded $5 million in favor of Bedrock.
i4i Limited Partnership v. Microsoft Corp.
Mr. Curry was a member of the trial team representing i4i in a suit filed against Microsoft Corporation for patent infringement involving methods for compiling and maintaining the architecture and content of a document separate from each other. The jury awarded i4i $200 million in its verdict, and i4i successfully defeated all of Microsoft’s appeals—including Microsoft’s appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the Supreme Court affirmed the clear and convincing burden for challenging the validity of a patent.
quick attorney navigation
Bradley W. Caldwell
Jason D. Cassady
Hamad M. Hamad
Warren J. McCarty
Justin T. Nemunaitis
Daniel R. Pearson
Chris S. Stewart
John F. Summers
Seth Reich
Bailey Blaies
Kevin Burgess
Alex Waldrop
Xu Zhou
Haley Grissom
© 2015 Caldwell Cassady & Curry
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3129
|
__label__wiki
| 0.892084
| 0.892084
|
Armelia McQueen, Known for Broadway’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, Dies at 68
October 5th, 2020 | By Lindsey Sullivan
Armelia McQueen, who had memorable turns in Broadway’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ and the movie Ghost, died on October 3 at the age of 68. The news was shared by friends on social media on October 4.
Born on January 6, 1952 in Southern Pines, North Carolina, McQueen attended Herbert Berghof’s Drama School. She made her Broadway debut in 1978 in the Tony-winning revue Ain’t Misbehavin’ alongside Charlayne Woodard, Ken Page, Nell Carter and André De Shields, who paid tribute to his former co-star on Twitter. McQueen also appered in the 1988 Broadway revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’. She also appeared on Broadway in Harrigan ‘n Hart.
Her screen numerous credits include playing Whoopi Goldberg’s sister in Ghost as well as the Red Queen in the Disney Channel’s 1990s series Adventures in Wonderland and the recurring role of Shula Whitaker in The CW’s Hart of Dixie. She also made appearances on screen in Sparkle, Bulworth, Life, Martin, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, That’s So Raven, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and more
Watch McQueen in Ain’t Misbehavin’‘s 1978 Tony performance below!
Tags: Obit
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3130
|
__label__cc
| 0.580078
| 0.419922
|
Archive Explorations
Cornelis van Eesteren And The Current Professional Debate
Cornelis van Eesteren, Weimar 1927. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, EEST 10 1324. Loan EFL-Stichting
Het Nieuwe Instituut and the Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen (EFL) foundation present Archive Explorations, an evening about architect and urban planner Cornelis van Eesteren. The event celebrates the occasion of the official transfer of the Van Eesteren archive to Het Nieuwe Instituut. The extensive archive is a source of inspiration and knowledge for researchers; it nurtures both historical stories and current issues. Floor Milikowski, Linda Vlassenrood and Suzanna Jansen discuss their research, and Hetty Berens (Conservator, Het Nieuwe Instituut) shows highlights from the Van Eesteren archive. The evening will be concluded with the official signing of the donation contract.
19:30 – 21:00
also this evening
18:00-19:30 Thursday Bite
19:00 -22:00 Opening Malware and lecture Jussi Parikka
19:00-21:00 Guest programme: The Spatial Impact of the Circular Economy
19:30-21:00 Fantasies On How To Strike
The museum is free of charge from 17:00-21:00
3015 CB Rotterdam
Standard€ 7,50
Students, CJP, Friends and Members of Het Nieuwe Instituut€ 3,75
Containing the collections of some of the most important architects and urban planners in the Netherlands, the State Archive for Architecture and Urban Planning provides an insight into the development of Dutch architecture and society over the past 130 years. Each item in the collection of the four million drawings, sketches, models, professional and personal correspondence, photos, posters and news clippings has a story to tell. But many of these stories have remained untold because nobody has yet uncovered them. For the series of evenings entitled Archive Explorations we invite a range of people to undertake a journey of discovery in the archive in order to introduce new perspectives.
EFL foundation
The Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen foundation manages the legacies of the architect and urban planner Professor C van Eesteren (1897 - 1988) and his colleagues and kindred urban planner Professor K van Lohuizen (1890 - 1956). Their names are forever linked to the AUB, or Algemeen Uitbreidingsplan (General expansion plan) for the city of Amsterdam in 1934, which provided a major expansion to the west and south of the city. The foundation uses subsidies to support the development of urban and city planning, and landscape architecture in the Netherlands.
Thursday Bite
Before the Thursday Night you can grab a bite to eat with the speakers and staff of Het Nieuwe Instituut. At 18:00 Het Nieuwe Café will serve a light vegetarian meal. Dinner vouchers are available for € 7.70 up to a day before the particular Thursday Night event via the Tickets link.
Become a Member of Het Nieuwe Instituut and you’ll support our mission to navigate the vast and evolving field of design. You’ll also be inspired by our special program of Members’ events, meeting up with other like-minded people as we invite you to reflect with us on design’s changing role in technology, economics, culture and society.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3139
|
__label__wiki
| 0.529261
| 0.529261
|
Revision as of 23:18, 28 February 2011 by 130.127.255.220 (talk) (→Student Life)
(diff) ?Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision? (diff)
2 Academic Overview
3 Student Life
4 Athletics
Statue of Clemson founder Thomas Green Clemson by A. Wolfe Davidson.
Clemson University was founded in 1889 as a land-grant institution in the upstate of South Carolina. It was donated by Thomas Green Clemson, who willed his house and the surrounding area to the state of South Carolina to create a technical and scientific university. When it first opened its doors in 1893, Clemson was a military institution with fewer than 500 students.
Clemson University is comprised of five colleges: the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities, the College of Business and Behavioral Science, the College of Engineering and Science, and the College of Health, Education and Human Development. There are more than 80 undergraduate degree programs. Students apply to, and are accepted in, a specific chosen college. Clemson's standards of admission have fluctuated in the past 5 years. When named Time Magazine's Public College of the Year in 2000, the resulting influx of applications, combined with President Barker's push to become a Top 20 school, resulted in a stiffening of entrance requirements. (It now appears, with hindsight, that the Time award was nothing more than a promotional sham - the publication has made no such designation either before or since.) Average SAT and GPA scores raised significantly for the freshmen class. Unfortunately, South Carolina higher education budget cuts in 2002, 2003, and 2004 resulted in a severe lack of funding to Clemson, but this has not affected the quality of applicants in the long term. The incoming freshman class of 2009 was the largest ever with a commensurate number of qualified students rejected. Clemson does not have fixed entrance score numbers, but selects the most qualified applicants each year.
Each college has its own demands, strengths and weaknesses. Clemson's Engineering department is very good, though demanding. The Architecture school is very time consuming.
Class sizes depend mostly on where you are in your curriculum. Lecture halls with 300 students for Chem 101 or your first Physics course, for example, are not unheard of. That said, generally by sophomore year you're back into classes with 30 or fewer people. Professors run the gamut of personalities, but very few are difficult to get along with or seek help from. Word of advice that is probably universal - if you're struggling, talk to your professor as soon as possible. There are a number of shining stars in the faculty. Eddie Smith is generally recognised by The Tiger as the students' favorite.
Typical Homecoming float
The social scene isn't necessarily dominated by fraternities and sororities, but they do make up a sizeable percentage (about 21 percent) of the students on campus. There are generally Greek parties aplenty on both weekdays and weekends, and the organizations hold all sorts of formal and informal soirees. This isn't to say that without Greek representation your social life is non-existent. There is a thriving and active GDI population on campus, and, depending on your interests and affiliations, plenty of people to get to know and events to go to. WSBF has the underground on lock and has a number of events for staff and friends. The Rugby Club guys party pretty hard. The list goes on.
Thursday nights are recognized as downtown nights, and those of age take the opportunity to head out. Be forewarned: bouncers are extremely strict and will card and catch fake IDs at almost every bar. If you're under 21, hit up the house parties instead. Clemson's reputation as a party school, though, is highly exaggerated (unless you count game days). Visions of kegs lining the streets and drunken debauchery being standard nightlife fare are fiction. The students are relatively hard working and dedicated, and know that they're at Clemson for the education. We'll cut loose when necessary, but rarely if ever forget about studying for exams or writing that paper.
Practically everyone is friendly and outgoing. If you are to believe College Prowler, the students are generally attractive. This is not an unfair generalization.
Clemson definitely exudes the small town, conservative southern atmosphere. Students go to church on Sundays in droves, dressed their best. A nontrivial percentage of guys wear Tucker Carlson-style bowties. If you're into that sort of thing, you'll fit right in. If you're not, it can be grating at times, though certainly avoidable. Head just a little bit out of town, to Seneca or Central, and you'll find yourself in the backcountry of the Confederacy very quickly.
Death Valley, home of the Clemson Tigers
Campus life is dominated by the fall Football season. Highways become impassable, roads on campus turn one way, the streets are flooded with cars and people, and there is orange everywhere you turn your head. Every home game Saturday is basically a campus-wide party and you've got some of the best seats available. Everyone is pretty friendly, there's food and beer everywhere -- take advantage of it, even if you don't like the game. Even the geekiest of computer nerds and most socially inept of us all have a good time at the games. Basketball, baseball, and to a lesser extent soccer are also major sports on campus, though none can compare to the 500 pound gorilla of the football season. It really is a spectacle.
Intramurals and club sports are pretty popular. The fields by Fike are usually packed with ultimate frisbee and soccer players during their respective seasons. If you're interested, it's very easy to get on an intramural team.
Official Clemson website
Wikipedia's article on Clemson University.
Retrieved from "https://clemsonwiki.com/index.php?title=Clemson_University&oldid=30318"
Articles with Wikipedia pages
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3142
|
__label__wiki
| 0.583908
| 0.583908
|
Experts tap into behavioral research to promote COVID-19 vaccination in the US
As the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out, it is still unclear whether enough Americans are willing to be vaccinated to allow the nation to return to normalcy. Many believe a key part of the equation lies in how effective vaccine communication teams are at convincing the public to get vaccinated. And the key to effective communication tactics in promoting the vaccines may lie in demonstrated behavioral economics and consumer behavior theory, experts say.
“The country has made an incredible investment in fast-tracking SARS-CoV-2 vaccines from conception to market, which would make it even more tragic if we fail to curtail the virus simply because Americans are hesitant to be vaccinated,” says Stacy Wood, an expert on how consumers respond to change and innovation, and first author of a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine titled “Beyond Politics – Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination in the U.S.” Wood is a professor of marketing and executive director of the Consumer Innovation Collaborative at the NC State Poole College of Management
Recent surveys indicate that the proportion of the U.S. population willing to be vaccinated has fluctuated in recent months – from a high of 72 percent in May, to 51 percent in September and increasing slightly to 60 percent in November. Of those respondents who indicated that they probably or definitely would not get the vaccine, less than half said they might be open to vaccination once others start getting it and more information becomes available.
Since Anthony Fauci has said that at least 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated to get the country back to normalcy, Wood notes that this means it will be necessary to get 100% follow-through from those who are more likely to get the vaccine and 100% conversion of those who are unlikely now but willing to keep an open mind. That’s a daunting prospect.
To address this challenge, Wood and her colleague Kevin Schulman of Stanford drew on their expertise in behavioral economics and consumer research to develop 12 strategies that could, collectively, create an effective vaccine-promotion effort.
Proposed strategies include:
Use Analogy: Many attitudes toward the current pandemic are responses to complex medical information. Analogies are short-cuts to conceptual understanding. Saying “the war against COVID” is a term rich in meaning-coming together, making sacrifices, doing tough things, and emerging on the other side with new improvements and inventions in hand. Or one can explain that mRNA vaccines are not weak doses of the virus, but instead are “instruction manuals” that teach the immune system how to defend itself.
Increase Observability: Studies have shown consumers’ ability to observe others’ choices can increase an innovation’s rate of adoption. Distributing tokens, such as Livestrong-style bracelets or stickers, or digital badges, such as social media profile frames, may prove to be effective in increasing consumer buy-in. They can even be specific to different populations (e.g. stickers that say “COVID-19 Frontline Hero — I’m Vaccinated!” or “America Honors Her Veterans — I’m Vaccinated!”)
Leverage Natural Scarcity: In consumer markets, scarcity often signals exclusivity and prompts greater interest or desirability. Communicators should frame early access to vaccines as a mark of honor or respect for people we want to protect, such as the elderly, teachers or essential workers. Leveraging scarcity, especially as the vaccine is slowly rolled out, may help to counteract many individuals’ natural hesitancy to “go first.”
Promote Compromise Options: Consider coffee shops that offer three serving sizes and typically sell more of the middle option. This decision rule-of-thumb is based on choice preferences for “compromise” or middle options. When it comes to the vaccine, communicators should not make vaccination seem like an either-or decision, but rather should frame it as three options where vaccination is in the middle. For instance, options could include allowing people to get the shot now, signing up for a later date, or not getting it at all. Or all three options could include the vaccine – such as get the shot now and donate plasma, simply get the shot now, or get the shot later. The key is to avoid depicting vaccination as the most extreme action in a range of choices.
For the full list of strategies, see the paper – which is published open access in the New England Journal of Medicine. The paper was authored by Stacy Wood, Langdon Distinguished University Professor of Marketing in NC State’s Poole College of Management, and Kevin Schulman, professor of medicine and, by courtesy, of economics, at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
Source: Experts tap into behavioral research to promote COVID-19 vaccination in the US
About half of media stories fail to label ‘preprint’ COVID-19 research — study
Mediterranean diet may decrease risk of prostate cancer progression
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3145
|
__label__wiki
| 0.552705
| 0.552705
|
Juventus to complete Szczesny deal in ‘coming days’
Wojciech Szczesny is reportedly set to complete his move to Juventus in the ‘coming days’.
Szczesny moves closer to ridiculous Arsenal exit
Szczesny says goodbye to Roma
Juventus prepare second rubbish Szczęsny bid
Old Lady keen to wrap up deal for Szczesny after Neto sale
Szczesny is set to return to Italy after spending two seasons on loan from Arsenal at Roma. However, this time, it’ll be to Serie A giants, Juventus, and Calcio Mercato claim this could happen in the ‘coming days’.
Now that Juve have sold Neto to Valencia for £8m – the same fee that they’re thought to be paying for Szczesny – they’re even more desperate to wrap up their deal for the Poland international.
The deal has been edging closer and closer now for a number of weeks, with the Old Lady apparently confident of signing the 27-year-old goalkeeper. However, Arsenal have been playing hardball and demanding £13m, which Juve aren’t willing to offer.
In fact, the Italian club were said to have only initially put forward around £4m for Szczesny, which was downright insulting.
Both clubs are said to be willing to meet in the middle though, with Juve allegedly following their first bid up with another offer of £7m.
Arsenal are reportedly holding out for £8m.
Juve are reportedly ready to hand Szczesny £67k-per-week to sit on the bench during the final year of Gianluigi Buffon’s contract, which still seems a little bid odd considering this is exactly what he said he didn’t want to do.
“The one thing I want to do is make sure I don’t stay still,” the shot-stopper said back in May.
“I am 27, the best I have ever been, I still have room to improve and I want to make sure that room doesn’t stay empty.
“I want to go into that room. It feels like a big moment.”
With the World Cup next year, you have to wonder what on earth Szczesny and Arsenal are thinking.
Previous articleKanu: We have the fame, the money, we have to help
Next articleFIFA create 100-overall Bendtner
A twenty-something writer living in North London. Likes caffeine, food that’s bad for her and Arsenal. Dislikes avocados, rudeness and Arsenal.
Arsenal 32-year-old’s transfer to Fenerbahce ruled out
Mesut Özil willing to make this compromise in Arsenal exit talks
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3150
|
__label__wiki
| 0.646755
| 0.646755
|
David Gantt Included in Best Lawyers in America 2021
By Web Admin | October 5, 2020
The David Gantt Law Office is pleased to announce that David Gantt has been included in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America© in the Workers’ Compensation – Claimants section. This is David’s seventh consecutive year named to the list. A Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law, David was named the Asheville Workers…
David Gantt included in North Carolina Super Lawyers 2020
By Web Admin | January 22, 2020
The David Gantt Law Office is pleased to announce that David Gantt has been included in North Carolina Super Lawyers 2020 Edition. This is David’s sixth appearance on the list, consecutively since 2017. David is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. He is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell and…
David Gantt Law Office selected to U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2020
By Web Admin | November 1, 2019
We are proud to share with you that the firm has been selected to the 2020 U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” as an Asheville Tier 1 Metropolitan firm in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants.
DAVID GANTT INCLUDED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2020 EDITION
By Web Admin | August 15, 2019
The firm is pleased to announce that David Gantt has been included in the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers in America© in the Workers’ Compensation – Claimants section. This is David’s sixth consecutive year named to the list. David is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law by the North Carolina State Bar. In…
David Gantt Listed in 2019 Best Lawyers in America
By David Gantt Law Office | August 24, 2018
We are happy to share with you that David Gantt has been included in the 2019 Best Lawyers in America Workers’ Compensation section. David has been continuously included in the list since 2015. In 2017 David was named Asheville’s Workers’ Compensation “Lawyer of the Year.” David is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law…
By Web Admin | November 28, 2017
David Gantt Law Office – Asheville, NC – The David Gantt Law Office is proud to announce that the firm has been selected to the 2018 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” as an Asheville Tier 1 Metropolitan firm in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. Firms included in the…
David Gantt included in 2018 Best Lawyers in America
The David Gantt Law Office is proud to announce that David Gantt has been included in the 2018 Best Lawyers in America Workers’ Compensation section. David has been continuously included in the list since 2015. In 2017 David was named Asheville’s “Lawyer of the Year.” David is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law…
David Gantt Inducted to the General Practice Hall of Fame
By Web Admin | June 27, 2017
David Gantt Law Office – Asheville, NC – The David Gantt Law Office is pleased to announce that David Gantt has been inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association’s General Practice Hall of Fame. General Practice Hall of Fame lawyers are general practitioners who are outstanding members of the legal profession and whose careers have…
David Gantt Receives the 2017 Community Humanitarian Award
The David Gantt Law Office is pleased to announce that David Gantt is the honored recipient of the 2017 Community Humanitarian Award dedicated by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County. The award has been bestowed in recognition of his exceptional and faithful commitment to upholding the legacy of Dr.…
DAVID GANTT RECEIVES 2017 COMMUNITY HUMANITARIAN AWARD
By David Gantt Law Office | January 23, 2017
Sign up for the David Gantt Law Newsletter!
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3156
|
__label__cc
| 0.655171
| 0.344829
|
Published in Child Law
August is Child Support Awareness Month, a national observance first initiated in 1995 by former President Bill Clinton. This month is a chance to recognize federal, state, and local agencies that work diligently to provide child support services to their communities and to also acknowledge the dedicated parents who uphold their parental responsibility of regularly paying child support.
As most of Illinois thinks of August as the last chance to enjoy summer before the season cools down, to those in the child support community, it means something different. Child Support Awareness Month is observed every year in August. At the Law Office of David A. King, P.C., we frequently think of the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”, as indeed, it can often take a community of support and resources to establish the most productive environment in which a child can grow. Child support agencies and compliant parents who consistently pay their child support play a vital role in creating this environment. Child Support Awareness Month exists to honor those who strive to ensure the well-being and support of all children, as well as to call attention to the importance of child support in a child’s life.
Why is Child Support So Important?
Child support plays a much larger role than people may realize. The most commonly known purpose is the economic support provided to the child and the parent with the majority of parenting time (the custodial parent). This holds great significance on its own for providing day-to-day financial support and necessities. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), child support also serves the following important goals:
Child support reduces poverty and financial insecurity among children and custodial parents.
Child support reduces public spending on welfare, preventing single-parent families from entering the system and helping those that do, leave the system more quickly.
Child support collection positively impacts family relationships and increases the involvement of noncustodial parents in children’s lives.
This last point is likely a lesser known benefit of child support. Children need to be supported by both parents, not just financially, but emotionally. Noncustodial parents who pay child support are often more involved in their child’s life. This helps to create a strong foundation that carries the child into adulthood. It also reinforces a child’s feeling of being important enough to both parents to receive care that supports their well-being.
Child Support in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Division of Child Support Services helps Illinois children, parents, and families by providing child support services to ensure children receive financial support from both parents. The department focuses on fairness to both parents and considers genuinely challenging circumstances that they may face, such as unemployment or disability. However, their primary focus is ensuring that children receive the support they deserve.
In Illinois, child support is calculated using the income shares method. This method is based on both parents’ income and the number of children included in the child support order using the Illinois child support guidelines. Each child support case is unique as additional factors, such as the percentage of parenting time, can affect the amount of support owed.
Failing to pay court-ordered Illinois child support comes with serious consequences, which may include wage garnishment, travel restrictions, penalties, and incarceration, not to mention, the financial and emotional damage it can impart onto the child who should be receiving support.
Leading Illinois Parents Through the Child Support Process
At the Law Office of David A. King, P.C., we truly understand the impact that child support has on the present and future well-being of children, and how important it is to the parents who come to us for legal assistance.
We work one on one with our clients to help them understand their child support rights within the Illinois court system. For parents who are behind on their support due to job loss or a similar challenge, we encourage you to reach out to us so that we can help you prevent further legal action and get caught up with your payments. If you are a parent who is intentionally evading child support payments, contact us before you are subject to further consequences, as they will catch up to you. Schedule a consultation by calling us at (630) 504-7210.
If you are seeking counsel to establish a new child support order, or modify an existing one, call us at the number above. We recognize that child support can be a complicated and contentious issue, yet we always strive for what is in the child’s best interest. Our top-rated divorce and family law attorneys serve Illinois clients throughout DuPage, Cook, Kane, and Will Counties.
And in honor of Child Support Awareness Month, for those parents who regularly pay child support and are actively involved in the lives of their children, the Law Office of David A. King, P.C. thanks you.
Celebrating Parents’ Day (July…
The fourth Sunday in July is Parents’ Day, recognizing the role of parents in rearing a child. This is a special day to celebrate being a parent, but how can…
I Just Got Divorced.…
When one parent wants to relocate with their child(ren) after a divorce, there are some strict requirements that may need to be met to do so lawfully in Illinois. Whether…
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3157
|
__label__cc
| 0.648585
| 0.351415
|
2 Social Media jobs
Supporter Engagement Manager (Activation)
£40,800 yearly
Parkinson's UK Remote (UK Office, London (Victoria) or home based)
We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. We actively encourage people with Parkinson's to apply. About the role We're working to build and grow a powerful movement of people to transform the experience of people living with Parkinson’s. A big part of how we will do that is by engaging and mobilising our supporters through a wide variety of channels. This role will be instrumental in devising and delivering the plans to achieve our ambition of delivering a first-class experience for every Parkinson’s UK supporter. What you'll do: Take the lead on developing and delivering the supporter activation strategy Work with teams across the organisation to ensure that we are prioritising the most impactful supporter engagement projects Work closely with the other supporter engagement manager to ensure a...
Digital Content and Communications Manager
£35,000 - £40,000 yearly
Youth Business International London, UK
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a Communications Team at the heart of a growing, global network. 2020 have been distinct year for Youth Business International (YBI) with unique opportunities. The role offers great scope for learning and development for an experienced and committed professional and will be instrumental in achieving our ambition to strengthen the Communications function within organisation as well as increasing its visibility in the international development and entrepreneurship context. As Digital Content and Communications Manager, your principal responsibility will be to increase the quality, reach and impact of YBI’s content across multiple digital platforms, including social media. About YBI Youth Business International (YBI) is the global network of expert organisations in over 50 countries supporting underserved young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful businesses, creating jobs and strengthening communities. Young people...
sales@charitydigitaljobs.org
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3161
|
__label__cc
| 0.589595
| 0.410405
|
George William Daniel 1870 – 1946
Uncle George Daniel, the eldest, was an ordinary sort without colour, who had only one son Glen who left no issue other than a daughter, of whom there is less known. I rarely saw anything of Uncle or Aunt and they passed on in due course without creating a ripple, a similar fate for cousin Glen.
George William Daniel at Ernest’s Wedding 1898.
From research we have discovered our George is George William Daniel and was a warehouseman then salesman.
He was born in England in 1870 to Clara and her first husband. When Clara married Thomas Daniel, George took the surname of his step father. As discussed earlier, in 1884 the young family emigrate to New Zealand when George was about 14 years old.
He married Helen Christina Mackay in 1903 (Certificate number 1903/5173) who also went by the name Nellie (refer electoral roll records 1911). They were married on 11 December 1903 in the house of William Mackay (her fathers house). The Certificate states that George was a Salesman and lived in Devonport and that Helen was a Dress Maker and lived in Onehunga.
They had two children.
The first child is recorded in the BMD records, we have George William Daniel and Nellie Christina Daniel having a still-born child in 1914 (Certificate number 1914/15025).
The second child was – George Glen Daniel in 1915 (Certificate number 1915/12353). It might appear that he went by his second name Glen as not to get mixed up with his father, hence Barney remembering his name as Glen.
George William Daniel passes away on 25 June 1946 aged 73 (Certificate number 1946/20591), and is ashes scattered at the Waikumete Cemetery. At the time of his death his address is recorded at 4 Shoal Bay Road, Devonport. (I believe they did not have his age correct he would have been 76 according to the English birth and census information we now have.
Helen Christina Daniel dies some 29 years later in 1975 (Certificate Number 1975/33770) aged 98 (DOB stated as 16/6/1877) – cemetery records state location as “unknown” but on the North Shore of Auckland.
George Daniel at Elsie’s Wedding 1908.
From the Archway records we have a George Glen Daniel mentioned a number of times – his probate and will appear in the Archway records dated 1971.
There is also a Divorce of a George Glen and Marjorie in 1940 (we have confirmation from the Electoral rolls before that year that George Glen and his first wife Marjorie lived with his parents in Devonport). We have not been able to track down and information on this first marriage.
Some time between 1940 and 1945 George Glen marries Yolanda Arley UNKNOWN (Certificate Unknown).
Archway also has George Glen Daniel and Yolande Arley Daniel (DOB 01/06/1919) mentioned in a land sale in 1948. This is confirm in later electoral rolls with both George Glen and Yolande being married.
George Glen Daniel passes away on 6 September 1971 aged 56 (Certificate number 1971/36884). From his will and probate we see he was a Commercial Traveller, and was based in Auckland.
Yolande passes away in 2004 aged 84 (Certificate Number 2004/2480)
No further information has been uncovered on George Daniel and his family, though we are endeavouring to track down Glen’s daughter.
The Assisted Passenger List from the “Victory”.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3162
|
__label__cc
| 0.560708
| 0.439292
|
Introduction to Literature
Module 5: Poetry Readings and Responses
Theodore Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz,” 1961
Click on the link below to read the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke.
“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, from Poetry Foundation
Theodore Huebner Roethke (May 25, 1908 – August 1, 1963) was an American poet. He published several volumes of award-winning and critically acclaimed poetry. Roethke is regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential poets of his generation.
Roethke’s work is characterized by its introspection, rhythm and natural imagery. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book The Waking, and he won the annual National Book Award for Poetry twice, in 1959 for Words for the Wind and posthumously in 1965 for The Far Field.
Licenses and Attributions
CC licensed content, Original
Introduction to My Poppa's Waltz. Provided by: Extended Learning Institute of Northern Virginia Community College. Located at: http://eli.nvcc.edu/. License: CC BY: Attribution
CC licensed content, Shared previously
Biography of Theodore Roethke. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roethke. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3164
|
__label__wiki
| 0.923012
| 0.923012
|
Coventry mum who spat in police officer's face during pandemic avoids jail
Coventry Editorial 27th Nov, 2020
A DRUNKEN woman spat right into the mouth of a police officer whilst in custody after being arrested for fighting in the street.
But, despite Katie Harvey having no fewer than four previous convictions for assaulting police officers, including one incident of spitting, she escaped jail.
For the sake of her young daughter, a Judge at Warwick Crown Court gave her a six-month sentence suspended for two years after she pleaded guilty to common assault on an emergency worker.
Harvey, aged 32, of Narberth Way, Walsgrave, was also made subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew for six weeks and ordered to take part in a rehabilitation activity for 35 days.
Prosecutor Sally Cairns said at one in the morning on May 21, during the first Covid-19 lockdown, the police were called to two women fighting in the street.
They found Harvey ‘very intoxicated’ after having had a lot to drink at a social gathering.
She was arguing with another woman and the officers tried to calm her down but she became volatile and aggressive towards the officers and was arrested.
At the police station when she had been told to sit down and keep calm she bared her teeth at officers and was taken to a cell.
As she walked past one of them she spat into his face, with some of it going into his mouth as well as hitting his face and uniform.
When Harvey was later interviewed, she was shown the CCTV recording of the incident in the cell area and was ‘horrified at her actions’, saying she could not remember doing it.
Mrs Cairns added Harvey had eight previous convictions, including four for assaulting police officers, of which one incident in 2008 had involved spitting.
After reading a pre-sentence report on Harvey, Judge Peter Cooke told her barrister Ian Windridge: “You will know the way in which judges deal with people who have been spitting at emergency workers during the health crisis.
“People have typically been finding themselves at the receiving end of nine-month sentences.
“This case presents me with the dilemma of whether a three-year-old girl is not going to be seeing her mummy for a few months.
“It is the fourth time she had assaulted a police officer.
“What she needs to understand is that, even if she escapes it today, she is going to make such a day in her daughter’s life inevitable if she doesn’t change her ways.”
Judge Cooke warned Harvey if she could not sort herself out once and for all her daughter would face a day when her mum was not returning home.
“It is the thought of that little girl that has stopped me from doing what I could so easily have done.
“The police officer is a family man who goes home to his family at night and has rights the same as the rest of us.”
assaulting emergency workers
assaulting police officer
baring her teeth at officers
Katie Harvey
lucky to escape jail
Narbeth Way
spat in police officer's face
very intoxicated
Walsgrave
Warwick Crown Court
Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.
Book your newspaper advert with our online advert creation tool.
Property Finder 24/7
Search for properties in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
Coventry mum who spat...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3165
|
__label__cc
| 0.706611
| 0.293389
|
Hidden Forge: Lucem Ac Tenebras
Chapter 6 Volume 1; What’s the Matter? Scene Six
Walking at a brisk pace, Ian made good time on the way to the last smithy mentioned by Aria, though not without bumping into a few people in the most crowded areas. However, due to a long day of constantly traveling on cobblestone road while weighed down by a fifteen-kilogram backpack, his feet burned with soreness. As a result, he greatly anticipated finality for his search.
The smithy happened to be located in the far southeastern corner of Conncinnata. Apparently, the area consisted mainly of residential areas. Because of that, he ended up having difficulty finding the smithy itself. When he finally discovered its location, he realized, to his dismay, that he had passed by it multiple times.
As it turned out, the smithy was hidden behind the owner’s house, which looked far nicer than the other homes in the neighborhood. Most of the nearby houses looked no bigger than a trailer home at best. However, the supposed blacksmith’s house obviously contained multiple rooms and even a second floor. Various gardens full of colorful flowers skirted the edges of the building. The lawn itself probably spanned at least a full acre. A stone wall taller than Ian surrounded the entire property.
A dirt path led from an opening in the wall to the front door. Another path split off from it and curved around the house to a small stone building, likely the smithy. Considering the eccentricity of the house compared to the other buildings in the vicinity, it came as no surprise that he had overlooked it.
Even though he felt awkward walking straight onto a person’s property, Ian decided to follow the dirt path to the smithy in the back. No other shops in the area had closed yet and countless people still milled about the streets, so it only followed that the owner would keep his smithy open as well. Without further ado, he opened the door to the stone building.
Inside, he discovered a shop area. Many types of armor and weapons were neatly displayed on racks and stands. Although the place did not compare in size to any of the previous smithies, something about the weapons seemed completely different from the other shops.
Curious, he picked up the nearest sword and examined it. Turning it around and glaring at it did not help him pinpoint why it felt different. All he knew was that these works of craftsmanship made everything else he had seen today look no better than butter knives.
“Can I help you?” a gruff voice asked from Ian’s left.
When he faced the counter, he saw a middle-aged man both taller and bulkier than himself by a good margin. Apparently, the man entered through a door behind the counter while Ian had been engrossed in studying the sword. The man looked curiously at Ian with purple eyes the color of late sunset.
Purple eyes? Ian wondered in amazement. Surely, colored contacts did not exist in this world. The unusual coloring threw him for a loop.
Another look verified that the rest of the man could be considered fairly normal. He had jet-black hair tied back in a short ponytail. A dark 5 o’clock shadow grew on his angular chin. His clothes, although similar to Allon Smithson’s, looked more used in comparison.
Responding to the man’s previous question, Ian said, “The girl at the Visitor Center told me about this place.” The man’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. However, Ian ignored it and continued speaking. “She said you don’t normally accept apprentices, but I’m at the end of my rope here, so I figured it would be worth asking if you would be willing to take me in.”
For a moment, the man remained silent with pursed lips and furrowed brows, his penetrating gave briefly sending a chill down Ian’s spine. Then, after a few moments, he asked, “Aria did tell you I don’t take apprentices, right?”
Seems he’s quite familiar with her… Ian noted. Shrugging, he answered, “Yes, but none of the other smithies would take me since I don’t have backing or money. Figured this was worth a shot.”
“I don’t take apprentices, so there wasn’t really a point for you to bother coming here.”
Truthfully, the man brought up a legitimate point. However, Ian had no idea why he had stubbornly decided to haphazardly charge over in order to give this place a shot even though he expected the man to decline anyway.
“Not sure what to tell you,” Ian straightforwardly replied, “other than I felt like it was worth trying.”
“Not the best reason,” The man said. “If you want to buy that sword, though, I don’t mind selling it to you.”
Well, the man at least had some business sense.
“Oh, I don’t really have money, so I was just looking at it,” Ian replied, regretting the fact he lacked the funds to buy such quality equipment. However, on a whim, he asked, “May I ask something?”
Seemingly unperturbed by Ian’s refusal to buy anything, the man answered, “Sure, ask away.”
For a second, Ian hesitated because he did not know if the difference only existed in his imagination, but he went out on a limb and asked, “Is there a reason your weapons feel so different from all the others I’ve seen today?”
To Ian’s astonishment, the question visibly interested the man.
Rubbing his chin, the man asked, “What exactly do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” Ian answered, shrugging, “They just feel different somehow. Maybe it’s just me, or maybe you’re the best blacksmith in town or something?”
The man chuckled at the polite insinuation, but quickly straightened his face and asked the follow-up question, “Are you familiar with Dark Matter?”
“Say what?” Ian responded, raising a brow. As he recalled, theories about dark matter existed but never reached the point of being proven.
“Hmm… What are your Innate Gifts?” the man asked, noticing Ian’s confusion.
Oh, so it has something to do with those Gifts, Ian realized. Answering the man’s question, he said, “I have no idea, but Aria tested me with a strange box, though she wouldn’t tell me what they were unless I paid five silver.”
“Really? That stingy girl lowered the price that much? Are we talking about the same person?”
“It actually was a discount? … Uh, well, anyway, yeah, pretty sure it’s the same person.”
“Hmm… alright, then,” the man muttered. He followed up by grumbling to himself for a few moments.
“So… are your weapons different, then?” Ian inquired in an attempt to steer the conversation back on track.
In response, the man stared at Ian with an unflinching gaze as he raised his right hand and asked, “Can you see this?”
“See wha-” Ian did not even finish his question before falling silent, for the man’s thick blistered hand began emitting little black particles similar to the ones he saw during that seizure session upon first arriving in this world. The particles drew his whole and utter attention as they danced around the blacksmith’s hand.
“Apparently, you can see them…” the man muttered as the particles swiftly retreated back into the man’s hand.
“Eh? Is that a bad thing? Wait, forget that. I have loads of questions right now.” Yeah, Ian had questions. If questions were bullets, he would need a Gatling gun ASAP.
“Ask later,” the man replied somewhat sternly. “I need to go speak with Aria for a bit. Wait here.”
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! I want my questions answered! Ian exclaimed within his mind. However, it was already too late, for the man brushed past before he was even aware of the guy’s movement.
“What just happened?” Ian muttered. Well, he would probably have a few minutes to himself, so he may as well admire all the shiny weapons and armor.
Aria sat on her stool behind the Visitor Center, calmly reading the last few pages of her book. It had been a wonderful tale full of adventure and romance and she highly anticipated the thrilling climax… only to be disturbed by a gust of wind that startled her into dropping the book on the floor. She stared at the poor book, mourning the fact that she had been so rudely interrupted. Knowing who stood on the other side of the counter without even having to look, she frowned and asked, “So, what can I do for you, Mr. Marlow?”
“You sent a kid over to my place. I need to know his Gifts,” the man bluntly answered.
Puzzled, Aria tilted her head and asked, “Are you talking about Ian? Don’t tell me… you actually plan on taking him in?”
“Yeah. I don’t really have a choice. Just let me know his Gifts.”
Aria was stunned speechless. Earlier, when she first mentioned Mr. Marlow to Ian, she had zero doubts he would be sent away in a heartbeat, not that she would ever let him know about it. Apparently, it turned out okay for him. Maybe Ian would even thank her and give her a tip… no, scratch that thought. Such a thing would probably never come to pass. From what she could tell, that guy lived as frugally as her, if not more so.
“Are you going to write it down for me or not?” Mr. Marlow sharply asked, breaking Aria from her musings.
“Oh, sure. That’ll be ten silver.”
Mr. Marlow cocked his brow and replied, “That kid mentioned you offered it to him for five.”
“Tch.” Aria clicked her tongue. Of all the things they had talked about, why did that fact have to be brought up? “Fine, five silver. This will never happen again, just so you know.”
“Sure, sure. I’m sure you’ll say the same thing the next time that kid comes here asking for something,” Mr. Marlow said, waving her off while sporting a sly grin.
In response, Aria stared the man down while grabbing some paper and a quill. Maintaining her glare, she proceeded to inscribe Ian’s Gifts on the paper. Even while writing, she wondered if there had ever been a time a conversation with Mr. Marlow that didn’t end with bickering. Usually, the old geezer somehow came out on top, which irritated her to no end. To some extent, they got along fine, but mostly because of his wife and daughter being such absolute angels.
As soon as she finished writing, she shoved the paper toward the man. Ignoring her sulking, the man swiped the paper and closely inspected it.
“Hmm… It’s no wonder he wanted to be a blacksmith. It’s basically hammered into his soul. Hehe,” Mr. Marlow said, chuckling at his own pun. Aria did not chuckle. Continuing with a more serious expression, the man muttered, “I suppose his Gifts are rather surprising, but the unknown Gift is there, just as I thought…”
“I noticed it, too. Is it important?” Aria asked.
“For me? Yes. For you? No.”
“Either way, do you happen to know where this kid came from?”
In reply, Aria shrugged and said, “I have no idea, but he probably came from some obscure village looking for work. You know, kinda like that Ice Queen everyone has been raving about for the past year?”
Without giving any hint of affirmation, Mr. Marlow kept his gaze trained on the sheet of paper. Although he somewhat expected the question marks, the other Gifts certainly took him by surprise. Such talent couldn’t be bought. What kind of idiots turned him down today? In fact, he almost felt jealous. If his own Gifts had been that high during his younger years, then…
“So, is that all you wanted?” Aria inquired.
“Oh, yes. By the way, will you be coming over to visit Bianca anytime soon?”
“Maybe when I have a day off,” Aria answered while brushing her hair away from her eyes.
“Alright, be sure to let her know. She gets lonely if you stay away for too long.”
Sighing, Aria replied, “Yeah, I know.”
“See you later, then,” Mr. Marlow said as he sauntered toward the door.
“See ya, you old fogey,” she replied, only to realize he had already vanished. “Tch… that wimp, running off before I could insult him… Still, to think he accepted Ian as an apprentice. The world won’t end, right?”
Shaking her head, she reached down to grab her book from the floor. She stopped.
“That geezer didn’t give me my money…”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3167
|
__label__wiki
| 0.589495
| 0.589495
|
Posted in los Cómics, NewsTagged ben marra, Connor Willumsen, Edd Muñoz, emma rios, Katherine Supnem, la polola, Mireia Perez, spanish fever
Aaron CockleAugust 21, 2017NewsAaron Cockle here today with Graphic Medicine; Santoro PDFs; Eclipse Comics ————————————————————————————————— Excerpts from Graphic Medicine #1 Due to the generosity of anonymous benefactors, CW has acquired a copy of the comic published in support of the most recent Comics and Medicine conference. ————————————————————————————————— Santoro Treasure Trove Please consider supporting Frank Santoro’s Indiegogo project. As a way of raising funds, he’s collected the past 10+ years of work he’s posted on various blogs, including Comics Comics. 666MB and counting. I took some quick screenshots from the first 3 PDFs that have been sent out. BEST OF COLD HEAT BLOG Layout Workbooks, Color Workbooks, and Notes on Scroll Comics BEST OF COMICS COMICS ————————————————————————————————— Eclipse Comics, not to be confused with Eclipse Comics ————————————————————————————————— A Cosmic Journey – 8-22-2017 – by Cameron Arthur ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 8-22-2017 – by Gabriella Tito ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 8-22-2017 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:04/03/201807/17/201806/14/2018Digital Ways of Seeing…...
Caleb OrecchioApril 1, 2018NewsCaleb Orecchio here with a nice little Ditko story, and other news. ————————————————————————————————— Aw man, lookit that splash page. I was digging through my back issues looking through my Kull the Destroyers I haven’t really looked at yet. Specifically, Kull the Destroyer #15 from 1974. It’s not a particularly interesting story. Those comics usually aren’t unless they feature some strange, spirited creature. So I flip through the entire issue, kind of disappointed, when I come across an interesting Ditko/Lee short story at the end. It’s a five-pager (six if you count the title page). I had a suspicion that this was a reprint of some back-up story to an old Kirby monster comic. After some digging, I found I was more or less right. “Help,” originally debuted in Strange Tales #94 in 1962. The story is real simple. A guy answers his phone and the person on the other line seems to desperately need help. The mysterious caller is supposedly trapped in some dark place and fears his death. Our hero doesn’t believe him, and thinks it’s a gag. Yet, stays on the phone in case it’s real. The tension is actually relatively convincing. It’s classic Ditko. He had knack for making clever little surreal stories that ended with a neat little twist in the last panel. No I’m not going to spoil it for you, you have to look for it yourself. Go. Go to your local place where back issues lay dorment, waiting to be mined. Drink from the fountain of newsprint and ink and mylar packaging and dusty cardboard boxes. Go True Believer, go. ————————————————————————————————— if you don’t know, now you know According to Don Harriosn at Richmond Magazine, Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden will be at Virginia Commonwealth University to give a lecture today! Looks like you’ll have to register if you want to go. Details here. I somehow missed Charles Hatfield’s review of the latest King-Cat collection, From Lone Mountain by John Porcellino, over at TCJ.com. I always enjoy reading Matt Seneca articles on comics. Rob Clough visited the Center for Cartoon Studies. Hey look, a popular comic strip. ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 4-2-18 – by Gabriella Tito ————————————————————————————————— Share this page:Read More:06/14/201805/21/201802/06/201810/10/2018...
Comics WorkbookMarch 14, 2018NewsSam Ombiri on Benjamin Marra’s Night Business. ————————————————————————————————— Sam Ombiri here: When I first read Night Business by Benjamin Marra I was really mesmerized. I was coming into the book with Terror Assaulter in the back of my mind – and it had blown my mind. Reading Night Business feels like trying to look up at the sky but then having your head forced to the ground, the ground that you were avoiding looking at because of the mess afoot. At the beginning of the comic, however, Marra gives good reason for the reader to engage with it. I mean it’s not like this isn’t a fun book to read, but the calamity that the characters face feels all too real, and the hope that they reach for seems even more real. At least until nearly the end of the book it does. How can I not keep reading; I can’t! For example, at the beginning we are introduced to a character who is just awful, but the death that she almost immediately suffers kind of counterbalances how awful she is, and I suddenly found myself really sympathetic to this character whom I had disliked. To me it’s just like “How?” I mean murder is such a horrific thing to witness, and Marra goes out of his way to present the murder (and really all the other murders in the book) in the most perverse extreme possible, but the narration of what happened and the way it happened was lyrical and unexpectedly heartfelt. The book was mourning for the tragedy it was indulging itself in a couple seconds ago and the “mourning”, so to speak, doesn’t feel any less heartfelt. There’s another character who sums up that while Krystal wasn’t the nicest person she didn’t deserve to die like she did. Then next time this killer strikes it’s with a much more likable character, and it’s more devastating. I’ll admit I was pretty suspicious of how well Ben Marra knew what my reaction was going to be towards the first character’s death. I’ve been going back and forth on whether the reader should be told what to feel so well; as in the proper reaction being dictated for the reader to have. It seems important for a maker to dictate or at least consider what the reader’s reaction should be, but there’s something that’s a bit disheartening, as reader, to know that the author has gone ahead of me to dictate what I should feel. At the same time, however, that’s what I kind of expect a maker to present to me; isn’t it? There’s this brilliant thing that Austin English said: “Cartooning is made up of artistic choices (like all art) but also information. Bad when info is used unsubtly (most biography comics), interesting when silently embedded into every choice.” That’s what constantly impresses me with Marra’s work – that the information, as Austin puts it, is “silently embedded into every choice.” The comic is also a constant rush, but with a lot of finesse. It’s like watching a Ballerina dance gracefully to heavy metal. The clock is ticking and with every panel I feel it ticking. The bodies are, sadly, piling. At points, one of the main characters (Johnny) keeps taking these pills that give him extra strength, so there’s a moment where he’s captured and we spend that part of the comic just waiting for the torture he’s going through to activate the effects of the pills he took. It’s really cool how this is an element – it’s like a countdown inserted in another count down which causes me to get more invested in the story. It reminds me a lot of Man O’ Metal, where the bulk of the comic is where this superhero is powerless unless electrocuted or set in flames. So there are moments in both these comics where everything becomes about waiting for the character’s powers to activate, to get him out of whatever hurdle he’s in. I resonate with this idea of being empowered by what would ordinarily kill you, which also feels like a major theme in Night Business. Especially with this other character, Cathy, who goes through the most radical shift after she’s been attacked and becomes this unstoppable vigilante. Her transformation is also really lyrical – both the words and the sequence of events and how they’re presented have this amazing feeling. I heard Marra describe Night Business as climbing a mountain after a lot of false starts in trying to make comics. I’m assuming he’s talking about the first part – he clearly feels no qualms in confronting any challenge, be it the way the story unfolds, or the subject matter, despite how impossible it might feel to execute. At no point does it feel like Marra was second guessing himself, but I did get the sense that what he was trying to pull off was difficult, and I could see all the work that went into certain moments when reading it. – Sam Ombiri ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 3-15-18 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:Comic Arts Brooklyn 201707/10/201804/19/201803/13/2018...
Sally IngrahamMarch 2, 2017NewsSam Ombiri is here today with thoughts on influences and his recent adventures in comics post-production – plus all the Comics Workbook Daily Strips! ————————————————————————————————— Sam Ombiri here – David O’Reilly said something like “it’s real cool for people to hide their influences and to not admit them“, and that “people who refrain from admitting their influences tend to have the most obvious ones“. I think he’s saying that it’s not so important how well one can hide their influence or not be obvious – it’s just a reflection of a certain attitude prominent in certain people. There is something to be said to not wanting to list influences. I recall both Claire Denis and Stefan Burnett saying “listing them seems boring/contrived” after mentioning 2 or 3 things when asked something akin to what other work has shaped their work? I remember reading about the guy who created Mr. Robot – he was listing all his influences in this way that kind of drove me nuts for some reason. He said something like “Taxi Driver for the narration, Breaking Bad for it’s character arc, Blade Runner for its introspection” and such and such. It makes me understand why Matthew Thurber said “All of these shows make me want to vomit in the face of the indoctrinated fool who invariably speaks of them in rapturous tones. I’d rather spend my time cleaning out a ten-year-old Rapidograph, or picking a scab!” (Maybe I don’t understand why but for a moment I can share his sentiment!) Sammy Harkham was saying something akin to “An influence is a thing that if a solution to a problem wasn’t found, it would be a longer winding road in order to find it.” The problem being, trying to figure out how to execute something that’s not entirely clear. It sounded like a really optimistic thing – that art is made with what is already in someone, and is not exactly dependent on what art a person encounters. It seemed a bit of a mystical idea. Sort of “the man at the end of the search” type of deal. It reminded me of the time in The Dance of Reality where Jodorowsky says “Everything you are is already inside you.” Something like that. I remember it more from the trailer than the movie. I don’t remember the movie too well as I haven’t seen it in a couple years, or at least it feels that way. I remember Jodorowsky’s Dad fighting a bunch of Nazis – and this one anarchist not wanting to live in world where dogs wore clothes. I remember other things. I must disagree with what Nicolas Winding Refn said about Jodorowsky’s movies being about what we don’t see. (What Refn actually said was that Jodorowsky’s movies remind him that all movies aren’t about what you see but what you don’t see. Trailers are to a huge extent how he executes this idea, I think. The movies our minds see when we see his trailers and the movies that we see on screen, and all the ideas floating around in the movie that aren’t fully uttered… I think Sammy Harkham said something like “Plot is like a coat room for one to hang ideas in.“ I think really often Sammy’s ideas of cartooning are almost similar to Robert Bresson. Not that his work is like Bresson’s, or completely like Bresson’s – they at times share similar traits. Or at least traits in what Bresson says. I think what Sammy was saying was about what fascinates him in horror films, which sounded very much like stuff that Bresson would talk about. Or this whole thing he says of demilitarized drama, and everything having the same weight, similar to how in Brian Chippendale’s Ninja things aren’t brought so much attention to. How Sammy was talking about cartooning was similar to how Bresson was talking about a virtuoso playing music and how their faces and composure are completely controlled. Or how Sammy was saying he’d rather people’s sadness not be on display for everyone to see – it echoes how Bresson said, “The sadness on people’s faces when you pass them on the street isn’t readily apparent.” They also share similarly mysterious triumphs strictly in themselves. That’s not to say that their work is, I don’t know, too too similar. Maybe Sammy is hiding Bresson’s influence to be cool, ha ha. I know that’s not the case. I think in a way that’s why I link Michael Haneke with Sammy a lot. I’m very certain Bresson had a ton of influence on Haneke. I always in my mind link Harkham with Haneke, for what are highly shallow reasons – not thinking that there are major connections, but a certain extremely specific similarity I see. – Sam Ombiri ————————————————————————————————— The Comics Workbook Rowhouse Residency is a space where cartoonists from out of town can come for a week or more of comics-making intensive – but it is also a space for Pittsburgh’s local cartoonists to “spar” and train. Sam Ombiri stopped by recently for an afternoon tutorial on final production – layout and printing. Over cups of tea and The Lounge Lizards spinning on the record player, he completed his comic Haunted VHS – debuting at the Pittsburgh Indy Comix Expo this April 9th! There’s always something interesting happening around the Rowhouse – comics to read and make and share. Learn more about the Residency program HERE or email santoroschool@gmail.com. ————————————————————————————————— The Spring Semester of the Santoro Correspondence Course for Comic Book Makers is about to start! Although we have a rolling start date this semester, the course will officially kick off on March 7th. We will continue taking applications past that date – Frank is always willing to make it work for your schedule. Just apply! The course is 8 weeks long – 500 bux – payment plans are available. Check out the comic Connor Willumsen made when he took the course – Calgary: Death Milks a Cow! More details can be found HERE or email santoroschool@gmail.com to apply. ————————————————————————————————— Blinkers – 3-2-2017 – by Jack Brougham ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 3-2-2017 – by Sally Ingraham ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 3-2-2017 – by Caleb Orecchio ————————————————————————————————— Cozytown – 3-2-2017 – by Juan Fernandez Share this page:Read More:05/03/201804/12/201802/08/201805/10/2018...
Caleb OrecchioApril 23, 2018NewsCaleb Orecchio here with Kyle Baker’s excellent cartooning on the 1990’s adaption of Dick Tracy, plus other news! ————————————————————————————————— I’m out on the road visiting my sister in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (aka Amish Country) so lots of horse pulling buggy alongside hasty drivers speedily swerving around the innocent carriage, narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic. Other than that, this weekend was essentially stress free, full of familial love and camaraderie and void of any care of the world; but I’m going back to Pittsburgh today, count up to thirty. Round that horn and ride that train, gonna thread up. Lo and behold, in the brisk departure for my sister’s, I forgot to bring the various incarnations of Mister Miracle Frank loaned me to look at and possibly write about. Lo! there will be a day when my wits and memory will work faster than my feet and CR-V, but until that day comes we are stuck with my forgetfulness. Be encouraged, however, that lately I’ve been carrying around Kyle Baker’s 1990 Dick Tracy series. It’s interesting because it more or less came out around the same time as Why I Hate Saturn, and was probably read by more people at the time than what has become Baker’s auteur calling card. Baker’s Dick Tracy has been the subject of my drawing studies lately. I really appreciate Baker’s strong, brisk lines that let the colors breathe. The forms are rendered in a Moebius-esque Upon a Star style contours that please the eyes with their simplicity and accuracy. It’s Moebius by way of Sergio Aragonés by way of Chester Gould, the real hero here. The colors themselves are very limited, they’re beautiful. Baker’s Dick Tracy is a great study of what one can achieve in a limited amount of time with a limited resources. The book very nearly lives up to the beautiful simplicity of Gould’s strips. Have you seen the original art for Gould’s Sundays? They look amazing. Obviously the drawings are fantastic, but the simple layouts speak volumes, particularly when compared to most other, more muddled (layout-wise) comic pages you find at a cartoon museum. Baker’s layouts more or less stick to a 6 to 9-panel layout, and with that, keep a really steady pace. The sequencing of images is natural and makes one feel that Baker’s inner metronome went uninterrupted. I highly recommend to the aspiring cartoonist (or, for that matter, the passive reader) to look for Kyle Baker’s fantastic Dick Tracy books. Baker’s lively lines are infectious, and the images teem with an energy that can be hard to harness in a comic book adaption starring Warren Beatty. ————————————————————————————————— if you don’t know, now you know Frank Santoro is going to Italy for Comicon in Naples. Jaime Hernandez is the latest cartoonist guest on Virtual Memories. I personally think the new Nancy is kind of funny. Really, anything other than Guy Gilchrist comics looks great to me. Keren Katz is the latest guest on Process Party. ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 4-23-2018 – by Sally Ingraham Share this page:Read More:03/13/201810/18/2018San Diego Comic-Con…Comic Arts Brooklyn 2017...
Aaron CockleNovember 28, 2016NewsAaron here today with the Micro-Press run-down; RESIST! Reminder; a look at Formalism and Historicity; Marlene Frontera; Gerhard Richter; CALA; O Correspondence Course, My Correspondence Course! ————————————————————————————————— Micro-Press Yearbook Robyn Chapman has released her third annual review of micro-presses. This one recaps 2015, which seems like such a quaint time as we stare down the last days of 2016. These books have been invaluable in assessing and giving some perspective to the current small-publishing comics landscape. ————————————————————————————————— RESIST! RESIST! will be published as a special issue of Gabe Fowler’s tabloid newspaper, Smoke Signal. We are aiming to make the print version an all-women issue though we’ll remain open-minded and we will consider all submissions. 30,000 copies will be distributed for free on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017, in Washington D.C. Further distribution will occur at the Women’s March on January 21st and throughout the United States. It is guest-edited by Françoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker, and writer Nadja Spiegelman. The site is updated on a daily basis, so be sure to check back, and please consider submitting work. ————————————————————————————————— “authoritarianism,” “proto-Fascis,” and a “seizure of state power” Paul Mullan reviews Benjamin H.D. Buchloh’s Formalism and Historicity: Models and Methods in Twentieth-Century Art at the Red Wedge Magazine blog: The initial analysis of neo-expressionism was weighted towards its national(ist) origins, whether German or Italian, given, again, fears of a new, continental “authoritarianism” and “proto-Fascis.” However, the analysis by 1984 is more weighted towards the painting’s engagement with abex, US abstract expressionism. The relation between the US and Europe is here explicitly characterized as “colonialized.” Abex had arisen by the end of the Second World War, and the dominant military and economic position of the US – given the destruction of much of Europe and Japan – allowed for a strong cultural position as well throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. (See the histories of CIA support for art exhibitions that traveled globally, as instruments in Cold War propaganda.) The real, objective conditions that can provide an explanatory framework for this change should be evident. There was a new primary political contradiction developing on the ground: the mass movement – spanning multiple, national borders – against the “euromissiles” and new, US imperialist offensive. ————————————————————————————————— I Go Go Back and Forth Marlene Frontera will be launching her new risograph book of illustrations this Wednesday, November 30, 6-8pm at Picture Room, 236 Mulberry Street, NYC. Drawing inspiration from a childhood picture book in which a girl is seen next to a rippling pond that grows as the pages progress, Frontera documents the evolution of a single drawing at different stages. Working alongside Jeremy Jams and Dominic Fortunato of Soft City Printing, Frontera captures the subtle construction of an illustration, filling space with environment around her centric female character. This beautiful risograph book is an edition of 200, and was printed in Brooklyn by Soft City Printing. ————————————————————————————————— ‘Looked at in this way, all that I am trying to do in each picture is to bring together the most disparate and mutually contradictory elements, alive and viable, in the greatest possible freedom. No paradises.’ An interview with Benjamin H. D. Buchloh and Gerhard Richter from 2009, via the MIT Press: BB: So, in 1966, when you started to paint nonfigurative pictures, Color Charts, did that also have something to do with a head-on confrontation with minimal art? Was that another conflict situation, a rejection of American dominance, or was it through an evolutionary process of your own, rooted in the immediate, local context here in Düsseldorf? Was it through meeting Palermo, perhaps? GR: Yes, it certainly did have something to do with Palermo and his interests, and later with minimal art as well; but when I painted my first Color Charts in 1966, that had more to do with pop art. They were copies of paint sample cards, and what was effective about them was that they were directed against the efforts of the neoconstructivists, Albers and the rest. ————————————————————————————————— Comic Arts Los Angeles 2016 ————————————————————————————————— The Winter Semester of the Santoro Correspondence Course for Comic Book Makers Starts December 29, 2016. 8 week course, $500, 10 spots available, apply by December 13, 2016 and get $100 off course fee. Share this page:Read More:03/09/201803/02/201804/20/201807/13/2018...
Sally IngrahamJune 24, 2016NewsSally here with a stack of news that’s taller than me… We’ve got a report on HeroesCon, an announcement from Jillian Fleck, NPR’s take on Lisa Hanawalt, Heidi MacDonald’s Fall 2016 release picks, insights on Patrick Kyle and Andrea Tsurumi, an exciting development from D+Q/ALA, and a celebration of Mutha Magazine. Let’s dig in before we lose the light! ————————————————————————————————— HeroesCon was last weekend, and we heard it was a great time from all who attended. Comics Workbook special correspondent Audra Stang went on Sunday and reported back some of her adventures and encounters. Check out her report below! http://comicsworkbook.com/heroescon-2016/ ————————————————————————————————— Jillian Fleck – Comics Workbook alumni and maker of the ongoing Bad Thoughtz comic – is releasing Lake Jehovah via Conundrum Press this autumn! Jillian writes – “Lake Jehovah has been my insane passion project for the past few years and it’s incredible to think it’s going to be a real thing.“ About the story – “Lake Jehovah is a small town in northern Alberta known for its allegedly bottomless lake. It is there that Jay, a genderqueer individual, experiences a crisis of meaning regarding love in the face of a series of apocalypses.” – via Conundrum Press For some teaser pages and more details, check out the complete announcement HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Lisa Hanawalt‘s Hot Dog Taste Test got a shoutout at NPR this week. “If you’re a fan of the Hot Dog Princess, you’re going to love Hot Dog Taste Test. Lisa Hanawalt’s lushly illustrated, stream-of-consciousness diary reveals a soul cut from the same vibrant cloth as that of the 6-year-old who wore a hot dog costume to a princess-themed dance recital. Both the 6-year-old and the grownup diarist understand that there’s only one option for a free spirit confronted by the forces of conformity: You’ve got to go completely orthogonal. For a non-princess in a tulle-clad world, that means making an instinctively Dadaist gesture (and making national news with it). For a cartoonist who covers gourmet food — and even won the James Beard award — but is determined not to succumb to gourmet pretensions, it means filling a food book with Dalí-esque surrealism.” – via ETELKA LEHOCZKY Read the whole review HERE – get a copy of the book HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Heidi MacDonald (who runs The Comics Beat) recently put together the Publishers Weekly list of comics and graphic novels coming out in Fall 2016. (Pictured above is Jessica Campbell‘s Hot or Not, coming from Koyama Press.) “Fall’s graphic novels are teeming with emerging cartoonists exploring life and meaning, while established creators return to favorite themes. Riad Sattouf’s memoir continues, Jason Shiga presents a mind-bending puzzle, Sarah Glidden examines refugee life in Iraq, and Margaret Atwood turns to a fantasy about a cat-bird-man.” – via HEIDI MACDONALD Check out the list HERE. Starting with Heidi’s Top 10, and following with the complete autumn offerings, it is sure to make you start squirreling away some spending money in anticipation…! ————————————————————————————————— Speaking of The Comics Beat, John Seven reviewed Patrick Kyle’s new book over there this week. “Sometimes it’s better to just give yourself to something rather than to seek out its meaning. Not everything has to have one clear meaning, and in some cases, to bring concrete meaning to a work might mean imposing clarity on something that was not meant to have any. That imposition might actually come off as an insult, and the better approach might be to accept it on its own presentation, to let it be what it is. I understand the above might be confusing, but it won’t be if you’ve read Patrick Kyle’s Don’t Come In Here. The first indication that attaching meaning to Kyle’s work is not the point of Kyle’s work is the title itself, a direct instruction to not go any further, to not enter within its insular space. No investigation, no interpretation required.” – via JOHN SEVEN Read the rest of the review HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Harvard Magazine featured Andrea Tsurumi in their July-August issue, calling her work “comics to chew on”. “In Tsurumi’s work, details explode from the page. Her cheeky maximalism packs a visual punch, whether she’s using hard lines or a hazier, impressionist approach. Encountering it can be as overwhelming, trippy, and thrilling as visiting a new place—allowing the reader to see things in a more fun and zany light. Her sensibility, delighting in what might seem mundane, can resonate with people of all ages. It’s almost as if Tsurumi is sharing secrets of the world’s possibilities, and it’s exciting to behold—even if how she discovers these secrets and develops them on paper can be difficult to pin down.” – via SAMANTHA MALDONADO Read the whole article HERE. Keep up with Andrea HERE (although according to Tsurumi’s literary agent, Stephen Barr, “There’s no way to get ahead of Andrea’s brain“…!) ————————————————————————————————— Drawn & Quarterly is tabling at the American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition for the first time this weekend in Orlando, FL. This is a pretty big deal! Comics Workbook correspondent extraordinaire Juan Fernández laid it out for me the other night: “D+Q at ALA hits home the idea of libraries being directly in the loop of comics publishing. They are by no means the cutting edge, but the fact that the middle of the cultural road is being paved directly into conversations at ALA’s annual conference is a big deal. Comics to schools – comics to libraries – comics in museums – those are the new pathways that comics as a publishing form can garner new audiences and grow (publishers have been at this for decades now, but this is just nice to see).” – via JUAN FERNANDEZ Find Drawn & Quarterly at table #2263, where they will be hosting giveaways all weekend, and check out the programming that they will be involved in: “D+Q’s two panels are both at the Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage, which can be found mid-aisle 400, near booths 424 and 426: “The Best Graphic Novels You Haven’t Heard of (Yet)” – Sunday June 26th from 2:30 to 3:20 pm Drawn & Quarterly, Groundwood Books, and Nobrow Press are three international publishing houses producing landmark graphic novels with impressive production values. D+Q publisher Peggy Burns, Groundwood publisher Sheila Barry, and Nobrow US Sales & Marketing Director Tucker Stone will discuss their approach to graphic novels, preview their forthcoming titles, and share what’s in the pipeline for 2017. “The State of Graphic Novels Today” – Monday June 27th from 9:30 am to 10:20 am Drawn & Quarterly has been publishing luminaries of the graphic novel medium for over 25 years. Comics and graphic novels make great entry points for low literacy users as well as readers of all stripes, and the fastpaced world of graphic novels is booming. Join D+Q publisher Peggy Burns and executive editor Tom Devlin for a rousing discussion on the state of graphic novels today.” – via D+Q ————————————————————————————————— I want to give a shoutout today to Mutha Magazine and all the fantastic work that Meg Lemke does as Editor there (while also programming the comics and graphic novels side of the Brooklyn Book Festival…!) The magazine explores “real-life motherhood, from every angle, at every stage” and one of the ways they do that is through comics. I’m still working my way through all the comics on the site – there’s a hefty list! A recent offering was A. K. Summers‘ Those OTHER Nurses: A Nursing While Butch Comic which you can check out HERE. Other work that caught my eye includes Sacha Mardou’s The State I’m In, Rachel Masilamani’s We Conceive, and Lauren Weinstein’s Reflections on the First Week of Kindergarten. There are also several comics each from Tyler Cohen, Glynnis Fawkes, and Keiler Roberts, among others. Check out the complete Mutha Magazine Comics Archive HERE! ————————————————————————————————— Well, we got through the stack and there’s still some daylight left – so enjoy your weekend, play outside, go to the pool, or curl up on the couch with a comic – then meet us back here on Monday for our next foray into the comics community! Cheers – Sally Share this page:Read More:07/09/201803/30/201804/06/201804/23/2018...
CXC 2016: 3 Questions for the Crew
Sally IngrahamOctober 23, 2016Festivals and ShowsCartoon Crossroads Columbus was an incredibly rich experience, and it left the attending Comics Workbook crew dizzy from new ideas, wonderful experiences, and filled with a renewed sense of belonging to a radically supportive and constantly evolving community. In an effort to process all of this, we asked ourselves a few questions – below are the first set of answers, supplied by Sacha Mardou, Caleb Orecchio, Juan Fernandez, and Phil Dokes. SACHA MARDOU 1) What is your biggest takeaway as a maker from the CXC experience? This was a a bench mark show for me in a lot of ways. CAKE 2016 was the first time I’ve been to a show and had a sense of people knowing my work in advance. This is still a new experience for me – I come from the St. Louis comics scene where until lately Dan Z, Kevin H and Ted May were the heavy hitters and I was there too, kinda. This show was a personal branch out for me and just as Sky in Stereo represents me finding my authors voice, CXC represents, on a personal level, me getting recognition and acceptance from my peers. It also had another level of me being there with Comics Workbook and cementing friendships and projects that have been fermenting for awhile. Without sounding sappy, it really was profound in terms of being there, part of a group of people that I admire and respect, who’ve been giving me feedback and a platform to find a wide audience. It was overwhelmingly positive, great and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. 2) What was something that you found and got excited about? (a book, artist, idea?) I saw an original Ronald Searle drawing at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum and it seemed to sum up why we’re all here and why we’re all doing this. It was an existential moment. I wanted so much to roll it up and stick it up my sleeve, but honesty and dignity won out. 3) Favorite moment? I had a lot of moments with very special people, too many to write about. Honestly, Alyssa Berg and I had a meeting of minds on Sunday and – I hope it god it was mutual- but yeah. I gotta new penpal out of CXC. That makes me so happy! Girl Power, etc. CALEB ORECCHIO 1) What is your biggest takeaway as a maker from the CXC experience? The biggest takeaway for me was the community. Being around cartoonists was very special to me. My typically introverted guise is abandoned around “my people.” Be it cartoonists in the same “generation” or pros and veterans, it’s nice to be around these people. And with having so much programming and two whole days available to network and mingle outside of exhibiting, it made CXC extremely hard to leave. I’m nostalgic already. 2) What was something that you found and got excited about? (a book, artist, idea?) Seeing Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo presentation by John Canemaker was a big deal for me. The genius of McCay is vast, and Canemaker displayed that well. It really energized me and colored my attitude through for the rest of the festival. ALSO, the State of the Industry panel moderated by Tom Spurgeon. It was a breath of fresh air to hear cartoonists and gatekeepers (a controversial term) talk about the nuts and bolts of making a living in the comics industry. I was particularly excited about King Features Syndicate general manager Brendan Burford’s point of view. He seems to see the big picture and is furiously optimistic about comics and cartoonists. AND AND I took a tour through The Billy Ireland’s archives, guided by Caitlin McGurk. That was a blast. 3) Favorite moment? Okay, since you asked, I have to admit this. I almost had a moment in front of Seth, Ben Katchor, and the rest of the tour party when Caitlin McGurk took us into part of the archives and, just sitting to my right was an original Krazy Kat sunday page. It was the most beautiful piece of art I’ve ever seen. Seeing it so big, and just sitting out in the open. I think it was floating? You could feel the cosmic energy surrounding it. It was like Herriman’s ghost put it there just for me to see (other people saw it too, I’m just being dramatic obviously). The beautiful lines, the design, the scratched out ink at the top of the tree to give it depth and texture, and Krazy just sitting peacefully under it. I’m not one to get emotional in public, but I thought I was going to cry like baby in front of these people. I can feel tears welling up as I type this. I will never speak of this again. JUAN FERNANDEZ 1) What is your biggest takeaway as a maker from the CXC experience? I was reminded of the joy of print. Sometimes these events are so draining that I forget how much I love these little books. The halls of the Billy and the floor of the Metropolitan filled my spirits and allowed me to run workshops, sell books AND soak up all the comics on the floor. I’ve been in a lull of production – financial reasons + I’ve been stretched too thin between my own comics making, community organizing and paying the bills that I haven’t brought any books into the world. The vast array of work on display at the Billy and at the Metropolitan Library has me raring to produce some quality comics for print. 2) What was something that you found and got excited about? (a book, artist, idea?) The careful and holistic planning to programming, scheduling and laying out of the festival had me thinking deeply about the future of comics festivals. It was like someone opened a window and let in the most delicious breeze. I was so inspired that I wrote a little about those thoughts! 3) Favorite moment? Honestly, visiting the Billy Ireland blew my mind. Among the stacks in the archives and the art on exhibit, seeing Richard Thompson’s strip in the “Good Grief!” exhibition blew my mind and had my in tears. Seeing Mr. Thompson’s work in the flesh reignited a flame that I’ve been tending in my personal comics making ever since here in Pittsburgh. PHIL DOKES 1) What is your biggest takeaway as a maker from the CXC experience? That the only limits in making comics are the ones you put upon yourself. Sally and Juan really do make it very easy to just let the no’s that normally pop up in my process, pretty quickly vanish and not trip up my progress. And before I know it, they’ve made me make a page. 2) What was something that you found and got excited about? (a book, artist, idea?) Scott Roberts’ Happy Trails. Beautiful risograph narrative flipbook. Whit Taylor’s Wallpaper. Worried about how strong it would hold together with no figures depicted – no worries needed. Sacha Mardou’s Long Form Fiction Planning talk – Came in figuring it would be good because of the natural flow of her work, but was blown way-away by the depth of her research & thoughtfulness in regards of her characters/story. Wowzers! 3) Favorite moment? Gonna give you two: One – Walking into the reading room with all the original art laid out for about the 3rd time that day. See some big older guy handling some art without the white gloves. I look around at the staff in disbelief. “This guy’s got a lot of &%&&^ nerve… let me go around this table and get a good look at thi-OHMYGADITSSERGIOFREAKINGARAGONES! Two – Right after Sacha’s Friday talk, me, Sally, Juan, Kurt were having some chit chat between events and, quite naturally, out came everyone’s index cards/sketchbooks and the pens were scratching away. Just felt so right. For the rest of our complete CXC coverage check out the special “round up” report HERE. Share this page:Read More:05/17/201807/11/201806/28/201810/01/2018...
8 1/2 by Roman Muradov
Chris Anthony DiazAugust 4, 2016The Diaz ArchiveRoman Muradov’s portrayal of Barbara Steele as Gloria Morin from Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 (Italy, 1963) for my ILLUSTRATED MOMENTS IN CINEMA/TELEVISION. Roman dressed up like TOBY DAMMIT and his candid along with Alison Dubois was taken at Mission: Comics & Art, San Francisco, Friday, October 12, 2012. And Graham Willcox did the color on Roman’s candid Share this page:Read More:03/16/201802/20/201810/12/201804/06/2018...
HarrisonJune 16, 2016NewsHarrison is here and the news follows. Today we venture beyond comics, get faster at drawing, and finish with fire. “Please, no more boring comics podcasts” Man can’t live off comics alone. https://longform.org/ nikolehannahjones.com “Choosing a School for My Daughter in a Segregated City” Secrets http://www.infiniteguest.org/secret-skin/ @Mike_Eagle Quickness “Recently I did an interview over at comicsverse.com that was conducted by Jake Grubman. In it, I talk a lot about how I’m trying to be “ruthlessly efficient” in my cartooning, ever since I finished Basewood. “Draw Comics Faster” has been sort of like my second motto (next to “Draw Comics EVERY Day”) based on the great drawing shown above that Nate Beaty sent me when I was still slogging through Basewood. As my time constraints constrict around me (new dad!) it is important that I make the most out of every available minute of drawing time.” Here. Pop “What does Gutter Pop refer to? That was a weird little journey. I was planning on doing a music zine called Gutter Pop, just sort of referring to my friends in the DIY scene that make kind of poppy music but it’s all underground, so I thought Gutter Pop was a fun play. And then I needed a name for the store and I thought it would be fun, because in between the panels is called a gutter, and then the pop is like the pop of pop art.” Read More. ? Share this page:Read More:The Alabaster Pizzo…09/11/201805/22/201806/22/2018...
Posted on August 31, 2016 September 1, 2016 by Juan Fernández
Juan here with your weekly Spanish language comics news round up! El fin del CW Composition Contest;Sol Díaz Castillo y Marcela Trujillo charlan con Katherine Supnem; la evolucion de Spanish Fever; Mireia Perez sobre Ben Marra; Edd Muñoz sobre El Publicadero en Manizales; el nuevo libro de Connor Willumsen, Portraits.
Le concours – C’est fini
The Comics Workbook Composition Competition 2016 is over! You can read all the entries HERE.
Entries were still pouring in until the stroke of midnight, but it is over! – we are trying to get everyone’s comic reblogged here and added to the master list – if you don’t see your comic on the list yet, today DO NOT WORRY – if it was in our email before 11:59pm EST tonight then you are officially entered in the competition! We will post the final list later today!
This has been the biggest explosion of comics we’ve ever gotten for this competition! We will be spending the next few days working with our judges to pick the winners – be patient – check out all the entries – reblog your favorites – AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS YEAR!
Escucha @lapololapodcast, un podcast del cómic femenino con Sol Díaz Castillo y Marcela Trujillo! It’s always a fun, relaxing and enlightening listen. If you haven’t tuned in to La Polola just yet, Póngale Play 😉
En este capítulo se habla de los discursos y el dibujo, de como cuestionar las cosas y a uno mismo en lo que hacemos, de la marginalidad, el underground, la filosofía y más. Las chicas conversan con Katherine Supnem, dibujante chilena, sobre estos temas y su experiencia como dibujante de cómics feminista, profesora de filosofía, dibujante de escenografías, under y marginal.
Emma Ríos, ilustradora y guionista de cómic. // EVA PERNAS VÁZQUEZ
Charlando con Emma Rios
Kaboom, la nueva seccion de El País dedicada a la exploracion del mundo del comic contemporaneo, compartió una mañana con la artista y arquitecta gallega, Emma Rios. Léanlo HOY!
Angel Luis Sucasas: ¿Cómo cambia tu método cuando escribes y cuando dibujas?
Emma Rios: Escribiendo, trabajo mucho desde los personajes pero al mismo tiempo soy muy conceptual. Nunca doy demasiadas explicaciones. Como escritora no me mola nada hacerlo. Lo que quiero es que el lector se sienta parte del mundo, que escuches cosas. Hablábamos antes de Dark souls y de cómo te enteras de las cosas por lo que dicen los personajes, por el contexto. En ID [novela gráfica de 80 páginas que Ríos dibuja y escribe en solitario] lo transmitía mucho a través de la gestualidad corporal.
Normalmente se trata de decidir de qué coño me apetece hablar. En ID estaba claro que quería hablar de la aceptación… Es un cómic muy político. Tiene mucho que ver con una situación en la que yo me encontraba en el curro. Yo trabajo para gente extranjera. Eso significa una barrera idiomática y cultural. Y soy relativamente introvertida y me cuesta enfrentarme a esto. Me cuesta ser el centro de atención y me cuesta tener esa actitud, que allí es tan natural, de “¡Compra mi tebeo, compra mi tebeo”. Así que acabé distribuyendo eso en varios personajes para enfrentarme a ello.
Yo estoy hasta las narices de que se me trate como alguien especial. Mira, lo que hago no es especial. Tu idea de lo que hacen las mujeres no es la realidad. Las mujeres hacen muchas cosas.
Portadas de Panorama (2013) y de Spanish Fever (2016)
Sobre Panorama//Spanish Fever – La Historia de su publicación, su importancia y mas…
La antología de cómics española, Panorama cruza el charco! Sergio Jiménez Foronda le da un gran vistazo a la nueva edición de Panorama (Astiberri 2013), ahora Spanish Fever (Fantagraphics 2016).
Los creadores han gozado de total libertad para producir sus trabajos, permitiéndoseles ser ellos mismos en cada palabra y en cada trazo. El resultado es una heterogénea panorámica de estilos y temáticas que hace más de un año llamó la atención de Fantagraphics, que se puso en contacto con Astiberri para exportar la obra. “Ha sido fundamental la participación de la Fundación Spain Arts & Culture de la Emabajada de España en Wahsington, que apoyó esta edición sufragando la traducción del libro y permitiendo que una selección de los autores que participan en el libro puedan viajar a EEUU y participar en diferentes eventos que servirán para promocionarlo”, explica García. Entre ellos se encuentra el festival de cómics norteamericano Small Press Expo, que se celebra en North Bethesda (Maryland), una cita a la que García ya había acudido numerosas veces y a la que le hace ilusión volver “para participar desde el otro lado de la mesa, para estar en el papel de profesional publicado en EEUU“.
Mireia Pérez sobre Ben Marra
Mireia Pérez escribe una carta de amor, bien merecida, a los comics del dibujante americano Ben Marra.
Llevo puestas las gafas violetas desde la facultad y ya nunca me las podré quitar. Este punto de vista me acompaña a donde voy, sea de paseo, al cine o a leer. Tienes que saber esto, querida lectora, porque los tebeos de Marra transcurren en un universo donde los hombres llevan armas y son siempre los protagonistas y las mujeres son casi siempre putas o stripers, van en ropa interior y suelen ser vejadas a la primera de cambio.
Y es que todo lo que fabrica Marra con sus manos (dibuja prácticamente sin boceto y a mano alzada cargada de tinta) emerge de la sátira y está cincelado con una pátina de ironía, algo que no tenían los tebeos en los ochenta y que viene exactamente de la misma cocina donde se fraguó la novela gráfica: el cómic undergraund americano.
Edd Muñoz y El Publicadero
En La Patria, Edd Muñoz nos cuenta sobre lo que nos podemos esperar en este segundo año de El Publicadero, encuentro de autoedición.
Hoy es común encontrar muchos cómics de autores colombianos en las librerías, lo que no ocurría antes. ¿Es un buen síntoma?
Claro. El Publicadero existe para debatir sobre el trabajo de esas personas y responde a unos eventos sobre cómic que se están realizando en Colombia, unos con más apoyo que otros. Hay una movida alrededor de la historieta y buscamos despertar el interés por los contenidos dibujados con una programación que incluye conversatorios y talleres.
Portraits by Connor Willumsen.
Este libro de 16 páginas bellamente impreso (por WestCan – que también imprimio el Manual de la Escuela Santoro) de retratos del gran Connor Willumsen está disponible para pre-pedido. De momento, sólo ofrecemos pre-pedidos para los Estados Unidos. Ofreceremos pre -pedidos para pedidos fuera de EEUU después de que mandemos el libro a los impresores.
Dalé click AQUI para pedir tu pre-order!
http://auction.comicsworkbook.com/2016/08/18/portraits-by-connor-willumsen-pre-order/
hasta la proxima!
The Hannah K. Lee Interview
A Comics Id is Tenderness: Notes on Cartoon Crossroads 2017
Comics WorkbookOctober 5, 2017Festivals and Showsby Adam Griffiths The first book I purchased on the expo floor at this year’s Cartoon Crossroads Columbus was Kyle Baker’s. Earlier this year, I had seen Baker speak at the Schomburg Center in New York about his book, Nat Turner to a roomful of kids. At the time, I had been struck by his ability to communicate; his engagement with the audience seemed intrinsically connected to his unabashed and explicitly mercantile use of language. Odd, how this seemed to captivate both his panel members and the audience, young and old. The persona of the salesman is an American motif – a motif that, under our current political climate, is being reduced to prideless status by the huckster in the Oval Office. When exactly did Americans need to believe that a good businessman’s success is dependent upon rhetorical violence and winner-take-all bullishness? I chose the term ‘A Comics Id is Tenderness’ for this write-up because Baker’s work revisited me several times during this expo. Over the course of the week, it became more and more clear to me that Baker has been a creator who has deftly championed the stories he feels are important to him alongside of his commercial work, who has kindly informed peers of his intentions, who brushes from shoulder the allegedly unforgivable concept of sacrificing creativity for financial gain. More on this later. To the lectures! (Editor: What follows are Adam’s notes and thoughts on the lectures and talks he attended in the two days of CXC programming held on the OSU campus (9-28/9-29), and the two days of the CXC expo which was held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library (9-30/10-1.) ————————————————————————————————— Dan Gearino on Research Methodology Applied to Comics-Making History (Thursday, Sept. 28th 2017, at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum) Dan Gearino on Phil Seuling: Phil Seuling is regarded as a pioneer of comics fandom during the late 60’s and early 70’s – first when serving as organizer of the annual New York Comic Art Convention and then with his Sea Gate Distributors Company, which laid the groundwork for the direct market system of distributing comics. Did Seuling’s arrest on March 11th, 1973 lead to the creation of the direct market as we know it today? Seemed so, but when Gearino went investigating, he found that the arrest, for ‘distribution of obscene material’, was nowhere near as simple as he thought. While fellow early comics distributors and champions of comics such as Jim Hanley sincerely believed that Seuling’s aggravation with censors was the spark for his history-making wholesale business venture, Seuling’s former business partner Jonnie Luvas could vouch for Seuling’s motivations more clearly. The tricky part here was that Luvas, less a comics fan and more a business ingenue, had moved on from comics. To find this person who could truly vouch for Seuling’s acumen in business, Gearino had to ‘go outside of existing source records,’ and penetrate several outlying personal networks of non-comics lovers. Luvas (yes, Johnny Thunder is named for her) was a key figure in Seuling’s business life who understood that Seuling was actually seeking to escape his passionless teaching gigs. The importance and meaning of this investigation has to do with progressive incarnations of the comics business. Before the direct market, Gearino explains, comics were sold indiscriminately as mass market objects; this was how comics ended up as a part of mainstream culture. You could find them anywhere – on newsstands, in grocery stores, dime shops. By the late sixties, however, this business model was crumbling, and store owners were clearing gluts of low-cost, low-selling comics from their retail spaces. Seuling’s creation of the direct market paved the way for the comics specialty shops of the 1970’s and 80’s. These specialty shops saved comics as we know them, as they could not only sell new comics being made, but also the comics of yesteryear. Comics hoarding found its reward in this new market. Back issues and loyal accumulations of forgotten works could be pulled out of obscurity. ————————————————————————————————— Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum Highlights Tales from the Vault: 40 Years / 40 Stories, curated by Jenny Robb and Caitlin McGurk Comics history is both creativity and industry, here illustrated by selections of original works and artifacts. “Creepy” was the first word that came to mind when regarding this bathing suit from 1950, scribbled on by cartoonists such as Ernie Bushmiller, Milton Caniff, Alfred Androla, Otto Soglow, Ham Fisher and others. The museum has six of these bathing suits, and they were drawn on by these superstar artists at a promotional party for a waterproof ink pen. Life magazine photographed the party and later, deciding the images were not family-oriented enough, declined to publish them. Roe v. Wade Comics Comics has a documented history in its deployment for use in the political arena. Here, we see two causes with inverse agendas using comics as propaganda. You can read either of these comics in full at http://www.ep.tc/junior/ Who Killed Junior? 1973 This comic, published by the organization Right to Life (the largest pro-life organization in the country, now called The National Right to Life), illustrates the abortion procedure from the viewpoint of a destroyed fetus. Abortion Eve, 1973 By “Chin Lyvley” (Lyn Chevli) and “Joyce Sutton” (Joyce Farmer) The hazards of promoting abortion in America in any way are evident here in the authors’ use of psuedonyms. The women both worked as birth control counselors at The Free Clinic in Laguna Beach, California. Under the heading of their company, Nanny Goat Productions, they published this comic which provides arguments for the legality of abortion, and also personal accounts from a diverse array of women about their abortion experiences. I Know! Let’s Drop Taxes Completely and Let Our Kids Worry About ‘Em! 1985 Jim Kammerud for Norfolk Daily Press / Times Herald ————————————————————————————————— Handwritten Notes from Talk and Teach Presentation: Kevin Huizenga on Depicting Time in Comics Form (Thursday, Sept. 28th 2017, at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum) ————————————————————————————————— SÕL-CON LUNCH BREAK AND TALK-BACK Kat Fajardo, Vicko Alvarez, Lisa Sheperd, Jiba Molei Anderson (Friday, Sept. 29th 2017, in Hal Hall, on the OSU campus) (Editor: Sol-Con is another comics festival that happens on the OSU campus simultaneously, allowing folks to move seamlessly from CXC events to Sol-Con events, as Adam did here and there. On Sat./Sun. the Sol-Con guests and exhibitors joined the CXC expo at the library.) “What is your favorite thing about comics?” was one of the questions asked by the large group of children attending SÕL-CON this year, which, in my year of absence had transformed into an intensive of workshops and instructionals on drawing and storytelling for youth. “My favorite thing,” said moderator Frederick Aldama, “is seeing the younger generations take up making comics.” A real standout during this talk was Chicago-based Tejana Vicko Alvarez, who couldn’t stress enough that the kids present recognize that their taking part in SÕL-CON probably meant that each and every kid there was interested in a life pursuit doing what they loved. “I tried to find a career and got bored of it real quick,” she says, and then admits, “the one thing I enjoyed I was told not to do. It was smartest decision I ever made to come back to art.” She continued, it helps that “I had a really pushy friend,” who encouraged her to follow her calling in comics. “How many of y’all have heard that art is gonna make you money?” Vicko asked the audience. All of the kids raised their hands. “How many of you like art?” All hands raised. At this point, Jiba Molei Anderson, who was watching the talk, joined the panelists onstage. “If I ignore something I love, my mental focus is gonna go out of whack, right?” Alvarez declared. The children agreed with her. “We are all here for the love,” Anderson says. “Even when we’re frustrated we’re not gonna quit. Creative people, to survive we really need to create…that hamster wheel never shuts down.” “But tethering that to real life is always a challenge to me,” said Lisa Sheperd. Lisa Sheperd talked about how doing this expo was moving her back towards comics. “Seeing that spark in you guys’ eyes reminded me of the spark I once had . That’s a great thing that doesn’t happen everyday! I’m putting my work out again because SÕL-CON encouraged me… Don’t let it slide by and let life get in the way.” More Quotes from SÕL-CON Panel “What don’t you like about comics?” was a question from a boy who remained behind with his mother after the other children left for workshops. – “I don’t like posers in art trying to tell me how to create,” said Jiba. -“I don’t like what I see when people not from my community try to tell my story,” Vicko Alvarez said.“What do you see when you see Latinas in the media?” she asked the audience. “Sexy hot mammas!” A woman called out. “Most Latina women look like my mom,” Alvarez continued, and “if you don’t tell your story, somebody else will, and they’ll base it off of stereotype.” -“Mainstream comics look to what we’re doing right here, right now. The problem is, there are not enough people of color working at DC at Marvel,” Jiba Andersen says. “the people here in this room today? Creators of color? We make our own. We do it this way because you have a community that has felt so maligned for so long… They see what we’ve been doing, we’re here and we’ve been here. The problem is that the push-back can’t be handled. They know that we can talk to people who cannot listen through our art.” -Vicko: ” …people put out tragedy porn and that’s not changing a thing.” ————————————————————————————————— Spotlight on Chris Ware (Friday, Sept. 29th 2017, at the Wexner Center, on the OSU campus) A near religious silence had fallen over everyone walking out of the Chris Ware dialogue at the Wexner Center. A masterful storyteller and illustrator, Ware’s talents have been visibly leading the illustration world, in the name of comics, for some time now. His discussion with Caitlin McGurk signaled that he remains unrelenting. As I was listening I realized that Chris Ware’s humorous import is indeed a formula, but that he definitely showed up at this discussion, and probably shows up at every discussion, trying to give away that formula, which is great. Any artist worth her/his salt is always acting within a spirit of generosity. Perhaps Ware is so incurably sad because of how bad he himself believes he is at communicating; a suitable contradiction for a person who has donated their life to creating works of art. The Chris Ware formula (or, American humor in a nutshell) 1) Declarative sentence. 2) Rebuttal of declaration (typically more complex and cruel than it needs to be, so, funny.) 3) Agreement with his own previous rebuttal finally, because self-rejection is an un-frightening, redundant horror that should make you smile warmly. So then what Ware does is he puts the formula to work. The guise here begins with Ware saying: 1) “Comics are an art of memory.” 2) But then, because everyone in the room including Ware is, y’know, kind of old, we then have to have a discussion about how terrible we all are at remembering things. Of course we have to bring this up, because in order to remember what we were just (just!) speaking about, we have to introduce dissonance tension to our brains through aural communication with other humans. We are becoming ridiculously complex here in the service of Ware’s humor: “When you become a cartoonist, you begin to lose track of your language.” We as an audience, are becoming redundant in order to allow Ware to mirror the brain’s experience of memory for us. Where did Ware get the concept of “comics as an art of memory?” Why in fact, Ware states, rather meekly, he got it from a paper that his stagemate, Caitlin McGurk wrote! The room warms to Ware as the surprised McGurk, suddenly joyful, becomes flustered and confused, flushed and slightly embarrassed. Ware has delivered his sweet, sweet punchline. It’s almost too saccharine, nearly syrupy! 3) The agreement that Ware has set us up for here is that we’ve been having a discussion about McGurk, not Ware, since we began, and that we will now remember, “Comics are an art of memory,” in all its redundant, charitable, pitiable human glory. Too clean! ————————————————————————————————— ————————————————————————————————— CXC Award ceremony (Friday, Sept. 29th 2017, at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum) (Editor: Kyle Baker was awarded the CXC Master Cartoonist Award, and Howard Cruse won the CXC Transformative Work award.) Revelations from the award ceremony: Tom Spurgeon praises Kyle Baker as a “Leticious learner.” After thanking Howard Cruse for his “Masterful work,” Tom Spurgeon asks Cruse to think about getting Stuck Rubber Baby back into print. ‘Oh my goodness, it is a shit-ton of work to re-release a treasured, nearly forgotten book,’ I scribbled. Then it dawned on me: Stuck Rubber Baby isn’t merely a political story about the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a teen mood sugar fiction that affects a whole country.” ————————————————————————————————— The Other Mainstream: Indy Creators on Non-Indy Books Jeff Smith, Peter Bagge, Kyle Baker, and Connor Willumsen (Saturday, Sept. 30th 2017, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library) In this dialogue, we are revisiting Kyle Baker again. What’s unfortunate in this particular discussion is that there is no visible female contribution. However, what ended up happening was that Kyle Baker – long known for his trademark crankiness – opened up to the audience in a way that is (apologies, meme) unexpected. Peter Bagge: “Spiderman (Bagge’s creation → Spider-Man, Startling Stories: The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man – a reinterpretation of the SP origin story) was the best-selling comic I had ever made and the worst-selling Spiderman Comic ever.” Kyle Baker laughs at Peter Bagge’s comment, then goes on to say: Robert Morales, when developing the script for the series “Captain America: Truth,” has used the term ‘drugs’ throughout the entire story. The story details a fictional declassified experiment in which African Americans are the precursor experiment to the secret project that creates Captain America. “We gave the manuscript and art to the publishers and they loved it, but they wanted to replace the term ‘drugs’ with ‘serum,’ so essentially the term “drugs” in Morales’ story came to stand less for something like the Tuskegee experiment and more for the alleged HIV conspiracy.” Baker then described how he revisited some of these themes from this book in Leticia Lerner, Superman’s Babysitter, a short comic he completed in 1999 for the DC Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1. I’m going to revisit Kyle Baker’s work again at length here, to describe, I guess, what sort of happens with modern commercial illustrators in regards to their relationship with their employers. Baker is willingly immersed in comics mythology – it has replaced any previous myths imbued in him in concern to civilization – everything from religion to gender. Somehow, this deep engagement has made him an indispensable employee within a mainstream corporate media outlet. It may seem that Baker retains a sort of power through publishing these stories that are really important to him and to his progression as a drawer. However, the full picture we don’t get from Baker when he is telling us about these industrial anomalies – these stories he most cares about – is that he’s also completing an insane amount of commissioned work as he gets the access to publish these stories that mean the most to him. To end here, I want to include some quotes by Connor Willumsen, a fresh cartoonist whose work I think represents the next wave of comics, which is COMICS LITERATURE. “You can never predict what people are gonna respect or not.” “With Witchlands, I tried to do it like uh, how these comics are invented?” “I always found out about these rules the hard way.” What was so calming about when Connor spoke of his experience in mainstream comics contemporaneously was that the industry-men sitting next to him quivered at hearing of Connor’s creative travails. Connor’s a young man, no children to take care of, no family to support; his focus remains on the mythology and drawing practice, not on salary. What luxury had those seasoned professionals grown to actually? Who cares? It was nice to see those older industry men loosen up – they all asked Connor if they could take a look at his books later. I don’t know who planned this discussion, or if anyone could foresee that this type of generational showdown might occur, but we were there to witness it. ————————————————————————————————— Howard Cruse, Emil Ferris, Mimi Pond, Derf Backderf: Quotes from Comic Memoir Discussion (Saturday, Sept. 30th 2017, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library) Below are a few quotes from this discussion, in which Emil Ferris, creator of My Favorite Things is Monsters, comes to the realization that these comics people are in fact, her people. “You can’t be afraid to make yourself look like an asshole” -Derf Backderf “That guy who wrote Stuck Rubber Baby is a different guy than who I am today. The guy who wrote that book exists within the soft glow of goodwill.” -Howard Cruse “I could see the danger of getting stuck in a place like that.” – Mimi Pond, on writing about being a waitress in Over Easy and The Customer is Always Wrong. “Fine art was a pile of bricks accompanied by a long explanation… I finally came to the fact that this story was going to be a graphic novel.” – Mimi Pond “When I first encountered Lynda Barry,’s work, I recognized an artist who goes to a place in her head that I’ve seen before in my own head.” – Emil Ferris A question that came up was: ‘Is the persistence of memoir comics a novelty of identity politics these days?’ “All those labels are out the window. If it’s good comics, we want it.” -Derf Backderf ————————————————————————————————— Quotes from SÕL-CON Panel Three: Creators of Color & Industry Moderated by Crystal Gonzalez, J.M Hunter, Carlos Perez, Albert Morales, Andres Vera, and Verzelle James (Sunday, Oct. 1st 2017, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library) “You have to be proactive about finding your market.” “They ask for diversity, and then they say,’uh, it’s a little too diverse.” – Carlos Perez “Respect is key. If you write a story without research, it’s all that you don’t know that gets left out.” -Michael Bendis, cited. When I saw Verzelle James’ comics earlier in the week at SOL-CON, I knew I had to have them. They were/are the best of what comics has to offer – symbology applied, in varied textures of ink, to the surface of a perfectly managed black and white newsprint surface. Seeing his work and getting to speak with him was like diving into a longbox, finding a floppy comic you like, and as you flip through it, the author sidles up and says, “Want me to sign that?” Only eight pages of comics here from 1991. James only had about four comics to sell, some reprints of pin-ups, and all of them were over a decade old. These were his passion projects. During this panel, James discussed how much commercial illustration work he had done. I realized, looking over his books, that whatever had happened to spur these floppies into being was something that he wished to revisit. How had he gotten this work into this conference? How do works of such creative fervor flame up again and manage to find their way into the eye-range of another creator? After the panel, James asked me how I felt about the discussion. “Insight from people in the industry is priceless,” I said. He didn’t seem to have a problem with that answer. Reasonably though, what does success really look like for people of color in the comics industry? I could bring up a few artists, one or two writers, sure! But progress, in and of itself, can masquerade too. I think that if Cartoon Crossroad Columbus is to continue upping the stakes for gender, age, and race inclusivity in comics, then something must be done about the SÕL-CON/CXC partnership. This year, the connection between the events became ever more evident, with Caitlin McGurk and Jenny Robb doing as much equal time as they could between both conferences, and SÕL-CON participants being flagrantly present at CXC events. The best innovation is how exhibitors from both cons are mixed in together during the expo and lectures that take place at the library during the weekend. This year, SÕL-CON took the step of educating youth about drawing, and CXC took the step of giving Kat Fajardo the emerging talent award. The first year of this conference, I remember running from one side of campus to another in order to get the most out of both cons. This year, I definitely did not have to do as much running, but I’m wondering if the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum couldn’t stand to create some dedicated programming to incubate talent outside of the OSU student body that will engage at a community and studio capacity with their collection and resources. ————————————————————————————————— Emil Ferris Spotlight (Sunday, Oct. 1st 2017, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library) First, if you don’t know about Emil Ferris’ My Favorite Things is Monsters, read this article so I don’t have to re-explain the miracle that this book is. Second, I have never read My Favorite Thing is Monsters. It was a book that came out to much acclaim this year, and it wasn’t until I saw Ferris herself, and most significantly, heard her speak that I now feel the impulse to go and get the book. It took Emil Ferris six years to write My Favorite Thing is Monsters. What sold me about the book is what Ferris means by Chicago. “The west is nothing like everywhere else in the world. Everywhere else, the wealth you have is in the older people in your life,” she says. Ferris means ‘old’ Chicago. In her own words, Ferris states that ‘there were all of these older actors and actresses from the silent film era, Georgette Leblanc types who were living alongside survivors of the Holocaust. It was a deeply haunted population…I realized I had access to all of these stories.” “As I was drawing forth my smaller self , love kept being the thing that kept me going…I realized that I wanted my kid to see me kick some ass, and we have to give our daughters badassery.” “The line creates secret unknown things to people from the heart of the creator.” “I began to see that each page I did had a taste. One page had a taste of rosemary and mint. Another tasted of syphillis, though I have never had syphillis…that’s what synthesia does.” ————————————————————————————————— Going to close on Kyle Baker’s work. The best reason to visit a conference like Cartoon Crossroads Columbus is that you get encounters with current and historical works about modern life that aren’t going to be seen elsewhere, all in one room. There is a cornucopia of independent comics creators from all walks of life here and let’s face it: The fine art world doesn’t accommodate unknown milestone creations from the world of comics, and the mainstream world of comics doesn’t accommodate emergent comics that might be unquantifiable within the canon of superbabes, superheroes, blood, guts, and uberships. It’s an in-between world where the sentiment of western middle-class expression is never treated condescendingly as ankle-browed nostalgia or visual brik-a-brak – a place where a commercial illustrator like Baker can let loose creatively, outside of his industrial obligations and have an audience, where an unconventional illustrator like Mimi Pond can fictionalize her own biography as a waitress without interpretational friction – a place where an established editorial cartoonist like Signe Wilkenson can introduce a new audience to her work within the appropriate context of its historical footnotes. It’s intellectual even when it’s pretending to be dumb. It’s philosophical even when it’s aping the pleasures of brain-vacancy. It’s irreverent without portending the inherent complacency of ‘fine.’ It’s comics, and it is the most central American art. ————————————————————————————————— Adam Griffiths is a comics artist from Takoma Park, MD. Catch his ongoing comic – American CRYO – HERE. Share this page:Read More:02/01/201807/24/201804/03/201807/10/2018...
Aaron CockleJanuary 30, 2018NewsAaron here today with Louise Nevelson; Jennifer Ley; Comic Contracts ————————————————————————————————— Louise Nevelson: Black & White Feb 01, 2018 – Mar 03, 2018 Pace Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Louise Nevelson, marking the gallery’s twenty-seventh solo show for the artist since 1963. The exhibition brings together approximately 20 of Nevelson’s iconic black and white painted wood sculptures, wall reliefs, and installations from the late 1950s through the late 1980s. Louise Nevelson: Black & White will be on view from February 1 through March 3, 2018 at 537 West 24th Street, with an opening reception on Thursday, February 1 from 6 – 8 pm. A full-color catalogue accompanies the exhibition. ————————————————————————————————— Inside Club 57: A Conversation with Artist Jennifer Ley Tuesday, February 13, 1:30pm, The Museum of Modern Art Join us for a conversation with artist Jennifer Ley, who moved to New York City and joined the circle around Club 57 in the late 1970s. An ad gal by day, she created fashion satire and early music videos by night. We will talk about her photo xerox series As Never Seen in Seventeen, handmade pins, and films. The discussion is moderated by educator Petra Pankow. ————————————————————————————————— Comic contracts and other ways to make the law understandable The above comic is a full non-disclosure agreement. Three pictures with text. And the result? Users actually read it and get the basic idea of non-disclosure. No more disputes arose. Are you wondering if this is all legally binding? The answer is yes. Contracts are about intention – and if it is actually made clearer and understandable by pictures then all the better. ————————————————————————————————— Collected from the thousands of pages of material that Frank has left scattered all over the digital landscape, these 4 PDF collections contain Frank’s best writing on comics and comics making from the past decade. Theory and process, reviews and discoveries, journeys both physical and spiritual. Check out the “Best of Frank Santoro” PDF collections, available HERE! ————————————————————————————————— Vision Box – 1-30-2018 – by Cameron Arthur ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 1-30-2018 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:San Diego Comic-Con…05/04/201801/22/2018Comic Arts Brooklyn 2017...
Comics WorkbookNovember 8, 2017NewsSam Ombiri with thoughts on Yuichi Yokoyama’s Garden, and Bryce Davidson with info on Grass Green, and South African comics! ————————————————————————————————— Sam Ombiri here: At first I struggled to read Garden more than any other Yuichi Yokoyama book. At one point, maybe out of frustration, I began just reading the images. In Garden, Yokoyama isn’t putting much effort into the emotional build up of his characters, or making their expressions stack up – unlike in World Map Room, where the enjoyment of the words, and what the characters say, is more immediate. The interactions in World Map Room culminate into something larger, something which pushes the rest of the book, and which is key to understanding what structure that the characters will enter next. In Garden, there is no guide, whereas in World Map Room we had Enterprise – and at the very beginning, those mysterious workers who were going across the river. In Garden there is no one to tell the characters what’s going on. After all, the whole book is about trespassing – how then can you have a guide? I like how the characters have no motivation beyond curiosity, and that their trespassing is presented purely as function. It makes their quest all the more unspecific, and therefore their run-ins unspecific. The inherent philosophical tone in their inquiry toward a foreign structure or force affecting them really resonates with me as a reader, and says a lot without saying anything directly, about the nature of the lives we live. It asks questions that are at the back of our minds, ones that don’t form. We can’t always, if ever, present all the attributes of being a human to every second in a story. We have to make concessions, because certain things will strike us automatically, and we like that for many reasons. One reason is that it makes it easier to make and read comics. It’s strange for Yokoyama to try to erase the typical feelings humans possess, and only surrender to certain ones, but, especially in comics we always do this – it always happens. Yokoyama’s concessions with portrayal aren’t concessions at all – he’s directing all his efforts to erase what we’d typically see as a concession, if we were to look. It’s important to note that he’s doing this purposefully, turning what we’d see as a concession into a primary function! (I feel this could make his readers distrustful of his work.) Yokoyama isn’t demanding a huge amount of reaction from doing this – it’s only because he’s interested in doing his work this way that it turns out this way. I think it was Derik Badman who said that World Map Room is basically Yokoyama in a rut. I think that’s a false assessment, just based on the way Yokoyama works. The strip with the copier in New Engineering tells it all – he has run out of ideas from the very beginning, and is creating a new function for the way we draw. It’s judging Yokoyama by the wrong criteria, because he doesn’t engage, as far as I know, with thrilling or entertaining the reader – which is not to say that he does or doesn’t. We as the readers are the ones who react to it. “Why would you be so selective with what emotions are put on display?!” we ask him. While Yokoyama isn’t exactly portraying the characters in a humanistic way, or rather is aiming to disconnect from a humanistic take on the characters (but even to this Yokoyama has to make concessions to his own goal, by making his characters inquisitive at times, as mild as it may be, and a microscopic amount of sentimentality shows up every now and then) he’s still presenting humans. They may not be attached to a specific culture – they are only the specific species of human. Even if the story is told from what he imagines to be the perspective of birds, animals don’t, as far as I know, have a real point of reference for our behavior. His goal is well realized here in Garden, again with no guide and with no one except the other characters to ask questions, the answer often being silence – since they’re trespassers. For those who haven’t read Garden I urge you to read it, not for what I’ve said above – but you have to visit these structures in Garden. Some of the most spectacular stuff is in there. It’s one of the easiest comics I’ve read, and continues to be. Just read the images, and if you feel lost just read what the characters are saying – their words are there simply to help you read the image. You’re traveling with them. – Sam Ombiri Get a copy of Garden (PictureBox, 2011) HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Bryce Davidson here with thoughts on Afri-comics, Grass Green, and tiger men. Before I start I want to introduce myself to the CW readers out there, as this is my first post. I am a cartoonist and illustrator from Boston. I have released multiple comics and anthologies showcasing my work, most of which can be found at my website. I am also a Santoro Correspondence Course alumni and had recently met Frank for the first time in person at SPX this past August. He was nice enough to ask if I wanted to write for the blog so here I am! Also thanks to Sally and the rest of the CW crew for having me. I had very little in mind when starting this article. Most of this was found doing research into the South African comic book market, which had interested me after I had seen images of what I would later know as Afri-comics – all South African comics in the style of popular American titles that were produced from 1976-1978 – on the website, southafricancomicbooks.blogspot.com, which, as far as I can tell is a very extensive, constantly updated, database of South African comics. Most of these appear to be reprints and imports of famous American comics like Superman, Batman, etc. You can look for yourself if you want. The site is credited to George van der Riet, of whom I can’t find much on. The Afri-comics I was finding on there seemed at first to be knockoffs of famous EC titles, re-branded to a South African market, with examples such as, “The Vault of Horror” being replaced by “The Witch Doctor’s Cave”, with really good art. The art was good enough to compete with most of the EC guys, and I thought some of the characters were nice too, Tiger Ingwe especially. While most of these titles had clear American analogues, the aforementioned EC rips and their most popular title, Mighty Man, a blatant Superman knock off. Tiger Ingwe on the other hand seemed kind of his own thing. Half-man, half-tiger, all action. It was a pretty straight-forward title – he went around going on Conan-esque adventures in the jungles of South Africa. Battling tribes, saving people, you get the idea. Still it was nice to see that quality work in a market I otherwise knew very little about. With this peaking my interest I did a little more research into the topic. Pretty much, up until the time that Afri-comics debuted, South Africa was saturated with “Photo Story Magazines.” Serial magazines which used photography and actors to tell stories in a comic format with word balloons and all. They were cheap and quick to produce and very popular. Other than reprints or imports of American comics, there was no official South African-made comics. New and existing artwork of high quality, paving the way for country’s comic scene! Who was making these? Who was this unknown pioneer from Apartheid era South Africa who was producing close to Wally Wood level work? Unfortunately, as it turns out that’s not quite the case. There was a reason it was such a superior EC knock off… It may have been drawn by them. While there are no creator credits listed in the books themselves, according to Nick Wood’s article, “Soweto’s Super Man: ‘Mighty Man’ and the mid-70s in South Africa”: “That funding for the comic had come from a group of Republican Americans, including the media magnate John McGoff – and was developed by Richard Manville, a New York marketing consultant with clients in South Africa. Manville had sold the idea to J. Van Zyl Alberts in South Africa, who ran the pro-government newsweekly ‘To The Point’. Manville had developed the stories with a team of free-lance cartoonists, which apparently included Joe Orlando.” Crazy capitalists pushing republican propaganda to South Africa in the form of Joe Orlando comics? Joe Orlando, for those unfamiliar, is one of the best members of the EC gang. IMHO his story, Judgment Day (1953), which focuses on race politics, still holds up as one of the best sci-fi comics ever. Hands down. The article continues: “ had said: ‘there were certain guidelines…Like not screwing around with the government.’ Orlando had wanted the comic to include one-page outlines of heroes for black readers to identify with, such as the slain leader of the anti- Portuguese struggle in West Africa’s Guinea-Bissau, Amilcar Cabral. Not surprisingly, this idea was turned down and extra short strips run were instead about African folk stories such as ‘Anansi Plays Dead’ and black soccer players in local leagues.” Come to think of it the laws that Mighty Man, “The Human Law Enforcing Dynamo” was enforcing were in fact apartheid laws. Tiger Ingwe on the other hand, whose stories focused on straight action/adventure themes, doesn’t suffer quite as bad; but you can see how awkward it is to have what should be a purely black African character, acting like they are cut out of a Buck Rogers strip. Well it’s a pretty big bummer without a doubt. My hopes of finding the South African Jim Davis were crushed, so I shifted my focus over to Richard “Grass” Green – notable for being the first black participant in the American underground comix scene of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. While his professional work is few and far between, mostly working for Charlatan comics, his fanzine work, most notably Xal-Kor: The Human Cat is great, crazy, trippy, interesting Afro-futurist stuff. Part Kirby, part Ditko, but definitely it’s own thing, Xal-Kor offers a slightly gentler super-hero experience then we are used to. It is defiantly worth reading if you are able to track down the issues. One thing I couldn’t help thinking though is how similar the design was for both Tiger Ingwe and Xal-Kor. Both were obviously tiger men, not exactly a new concept, yet the way they were both depicted in their beastliness was shockingly similar. I noticed the distinction because the other beast hybrid characters I can think of (mostly Japanese) are King from Tekken, Guin from Guin Saga, Tiger Mask, all completely replace the head with the animals’. Xal-Kor and Ingwe don’t do that. Instead the creators chose to retain many of the human features, most notably the noses and mouths. It is a neat choice and seems to push the man/beast metaphor further than purely replacing parts. I can’t say if Grass Green had ever seen Tiger Ingwe or would have known anything about it, but it stands out as a nice little design connection within comic book history. Overall it seems to me that the beast/man motif seems to play nice with a lot of the themes within both the political agendas being pushed into the Afri-comics and the Afro-futurist, civil rights message which rings throughout Xal-Kor. Both works grappling with the burdens of the world through the medium of comics. You can read more about Grass Green and see more of his work HERE. (Bibliography – Wood, Nick. “Soweto’s Super Man: ‘Mighty Man’ and the mid-70s in South Africa.” South African Comic Books, 2011, southafricancomicbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/sowetos-super-man-mighty-man-and-mid.html.) ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 11-9-2017 – by Sally Ingraham ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 11-9-2017 – by Caleb Orecchio ———————————————————————————————— Cozytown – 11-9-2017 – by Juan Fernandez ————————————————————————————————— Share this page:Read More:02/15/201807/23/201802/08/201806/28/2018...
Art Trip: Comics With O’Keeffe
Sally IngrahamMay 19, 2016Art Trip / EssaysI’m standing in the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, staring at an index card in startled delight. It holds O’Keeffe’s notes for a large painting she made in 1963, and it hangs beside that painting, nicely framed. A famous index card. I glance around at the other folks in the gallery, looking for some shared excitement. People circle, pressing earbuds into their heads so that the audio tour they downloaded to their smart phones can inform them about the stuff on the walls. They don’t seem impressed by the index card. I can’t stop staring at it. “Look!” I want to say, “It’s a panel! From a comic! Look everyone!” I was drawn to Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings of flowers and desert landscapes as a kid. Her love for New Mexico resonated with my own longing for that land, so when I traveled through Santa Fe in 2006, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum was at the top of my list of stops. I liked the flowers and the landscapes and the bleached white bones back then. Ten years later I am in this museum again, and now it is O’Keeffe’s tiny pencil drawings that pull me in. The sketches that prefaced paintings. First-take watercolor nudes that are mostly splashes of color. Small paintings that seem to be missing their black lines. That index card. Most of what I’m drawn to is work O’Keeffe did when she lived in Canyon, Texas, between 1916-1918. This period is considered the prelude to her career, the formative years when she really began to develop her abstractions. She was not quite 30. A little series she did of Palo Duro Canyon almost makes me cry. The simple, quick strokes seem similar to drawings I have made of the New Mexican landscapes around Santa Fe. I’m the same age that O’Keeffe was when she made them, and – this is “The Land of Enchantment” after all – I suddenly feel strongly connected to her spirit. I whip some index cards out of my bag and copy the series. For a minute, it’s like I’m there on the edge of the canyon with her, drawing in the sunshine… And I’m looking at her stuff and seeing comics, yes. That’s where my brain lives constantly, these days. The index card is a panel for a comic. The Palo Duro Canyon drawings aren’t a series – they’re a sequence. Her paintings without lines prove how lively comics can look without being pinned down by traditional inks. Her small “notes” for larger paintings tell me the story I’m truly interested in. “Colors and shapes make a more definite statement than words,” O’Keeffe wrote in 1976. Especially when they take on the shapes and colors of comics. The statement that O’Keeffe’s work is making to me is reflective of what’s in my own head and heart, but that’s the uniquely fluid exchange between a creator and and the person experiencing the creation. I went to the museum because I’m about to leave New Mexico and it seemed necessary to “check in with Georgia”. I expected to see her flowers and cattle skulls and cottonwood trees in front of blue mesas, and feel somewhat wistful about the land I’m leaving behind. Instead I discovered the comics in her work, and made the peculiar realization that my move back to the East Coast right now puts me on a similar path to the one O’Keeffe took when she left Canyon, TX, to move to New York City. The world recognized her as an artist to be reckon with there. Who knows what will happen to me? I left the museum feeling the opposite of wistful. After all, I had spent the afternoon drawing comics with O’Keeffe – just two gals, jotting down the world in quick, sure strokes, on simple – yet powerful – index cards. I’ll never leave home without them! ————————————————————————————————— (Palo Duro Canyon, TX, a few days later, standing in roughly the same spot that Georgia O’Keeffe stood to make her pencil drawings 100 years ago, perhaps to the day. Funny ol’world.) ————————————————————————————————— Art Trip is a series that features reflections on art and comics, and the adventures that transform those who seek it out. Experience more on Comics Workbook soon. ————————————————————————————————— Sally Ingraham makes comics wherever she ends up, and is currently making them (on index cards) as she moves from Santa Fe, NM, to Pittsburgh, PA. You can see her work HERE. Share this page:Read More:Rowhouse Residency…10/18/2018Comic Arts Brooklyn 201805/08/2018...
Juan FernándezOctober 24, 2016NewsJuan here with Comics Workbook’s ongoing CXC and LICAF coverage; my own thoughts on strip cartooning; HTML Flowers’ No Visitors – Issue One; Anya Davidson interviewed by Paste Magazine; a shout out to Good Comics by Kim; The Economist takes a look at the power of comics journalism; a Pepe oriented call to action from Matt Furie; Robyn Chapman soliciting stories about challenges or financial woes tabling at North American comics shows; Comics Assistant Professor Job opening at CCAD. One week out and we’re still thinking about CXC on our end! It was a hell of a weekend. Reports and thoughts seeded by CXC have been coming in left and right. I’ve wrangled them all for your convenience. Check them out and if you like what you read, consider making CXC part of your comics adventures in 2017. Here’s what we’ve got for you: The collective blow by blow take on the CXC experience, think of it as a Master post, if you will! Sacha Mardou’s personal CXC adventures Juan Fernandez’s (me ;)) CXC-inspired thoughts on expanding the “comics festival toolkit”. Kurt Ankeny’s post-CXC thoughts Alyssa Berg shares her first convention experience Caleb Orecchio’s detailed and hilarious tale of his CXC experience CXC 2016: 3 Questions for the Crew ⚡Frank and Niall Breen have taken some time to reflect on their experiences in Kendal during the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. You can check those out here to find out why if you’re anywhere near the UK, you’re going to want to add LICAF to your comics appreciation schedule next year. The Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2016 report by Frank Santoro Niall Breen on LICAF 2016 ⚡ On my end, I’ve been thinking about 4 panel comics. A lot. Reading them, drawing them, teaching them… Through all those thoughts,one that I keep coming back to is that of openness of narrative. In today’s cultural landscape of fractured narrative and more broadly the idea of narrative collapse, I’m finding I’m interested in constellations of narrative. Non-linear experiences through a narrative world. Just as how comics creates fertile liminal spaces between panels, it’s my belief that comic strips have the potential to foster inviting spaces between individual strips. No large structures, just small moments. Some link together. Many don’t. Think Cul de Sac, Moomin, Macanudos. All that said, I’m excited to announce that come Mid-November I’ll have a weekday comic strip going live online. I tried the experiment of Daily Comics from 2013-2014. But I fell off that horse. That was at the Center for Cartoon Studies. After I graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies I had to transition back into a more regular pattern of life. Life’s commitments made it very hard to find that time. I’ve used these past two years to work on different forms and to experiment with technique. I realized that when it comes to comics, I’m here for the bliss of creation. The strip is where I feel that bliss most strongly. I’m ready and I hope you are too! ⚡ It’s exciting to see that The Economist is running a piece on the power and vitality of comics journalism in the current news media environment. It’s great to see the ascendancy of work like Sacco’s and Glidden’s happen real time. Comics journalism is nothing new. It has been around for decades, kept alive by such talented artists as Joe Sacco, who has used the medium to depict everything from a war-torn town in the Gaza Strip to the Eastern Bosnian war. But it has only been in the last few years that it has really started to find its place in the mainstream media. The Nib, founded in September 2013, consists entirely of comics, many of which contain journalism and non-fiction. It has published more than 2,000 works on its website and released a popular 300-page book of its best offerings. The Cartoon Picayune has been around even longer—since April 2011—and showcases a variety of comics journalism online as well as in its yearly publication, which it offers to readers for $4. Even some of the more established publications, such as the New York Times, are making use of the format. In May, it published Patrick Chappatte’s moving five-part piece that takes an in-depth look at the lives of four death row inmates. It is surprising, in the age of tight newspaper budgets and the 24-hour news cycle, that comics journalism is thriving. Ms Glidden says it’s because “it can make people stop and take notice.” Everyone is constantly bombarded by so many images and text that they can simply grow numb to all of the information being thrown their way. It helps that comics journalism is still novel to many people; its format encourages people to take an extra minute to fully consider the information being presented. ⚡ I wanted to share a short and sweet letter from Matt Furie: Dear friends, I need your help making positive pepe the frog memes to battle against evil trolls: Please make a kid-friendly pepe in your style and send it to me at: hashtagsavepepe@gmail.com I’m creating a positive pepe artist database, so include your name. also, please share nice pepe’s with the hashtag: #savepepe thanks! -matt ⚡ Don’t miss this juicy interview with Anya Davidson over on Paste that goes into her work on Band for Life! Paste: I think that love for your characters really shows in the work. A lot of these characters—and it was what really struck me about School Spirit, which was the first work of yours that I encountered—already feel distinct and fully formed when you first meet them. I’d be curious to know more about your process, especially for something serialized like this. How much do you plan, how much just comes from working with them for a few strips, etc.? Davidson: I had a story arc for Band for Life, but I wrote the strips week to week. It kept the project fresh and spontaneous. Sometimes I’d write a few weeks ahead when I knew there was a thread I wanted to draw out. I had a lot of fun working that way. Lovers in the Garden, the book I just finished for Retrofit Comics, was scripted start to finish before I put pen to paper. And my next book is going to be fully scripted, too. For a graphic novel, in my case, just so I can keep everything straight, and so I can hone dialogue, I really prefer scripting. But the strip form uniquely gave me the freedom to improvise. Every cartoonist has their preferred methods—there’s no right way. As far as character development, all my characters are me. I went to see George Saunders speak and a woman asked him how he was able to write the adolescent girl so well in his short story “Victory Lap,” and he said, “Because she’s me.” I also think about people I know: their mannerisms and speech patterns and personal histories. So all of my characters have elements of friends, acquaintances and myself put in a blender. And I like to drop people into stories as they’re happening. I want people to feel like they’ve been dropped in a world that is fully formed—like the story started before they got there. I think that’s most engaging, most surprising. ⚡ If you’re a comics educator that is looking for a new opportunity, check out this job opening at CCAD – Assistant Professor – Comics & Narrative Practice, Illustration ⚡ I want to give the great Robyn Chapman of Paper Rocket Comics a signal boost for her “poll”. She is looking for your thoughts about challenges or financial woes tabling at North American comics shows. She does a great job at compiling small press and minicomics trends in her zine, The Tiny Report. Hey, micro-publishers. I’m looking for a quote or two about the challenges of tabling at conventions. I’d be happy to hear numbers or about financial woes. You can remain anonymous. Please PM me in the next few days if you’re interested. robertaraechapman@gmail.com ⚡ I want to give a shout out to Good Comics by Kim Joo Ha. <3 Kim’s always turning me onto the good stuff via their posts. Kim makes it easier to find art comics and wild zines in this crazy fractured hyperactive internet mediated comics landscape. What a godsend… If you don’t follow their twitter or the Good Comics by Kim blog, I’d check that out. I don’t know how they stay on top of everything, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating their eye on comics or their writing… Don’t sleep on Kim! Until next time! Juan Share this page:Read More:On Reselling Comics09/06/2018Rowhouse Residency…09/12/2018...
The Fantagraphics 40th Anniversary Party
Chris Anthony DiazDecember 13, 2016The Diaz ArchiveThe Fantagraphics 40th Anniversary celebration at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery and the Georgetown Stables, Saturday, December 10, 2016, Georgetown, Seattle. All photos colored by Graham WillcoxExhibit and display of the 40 year publishing history of Fantagraphics Books Fantagraphics Books co-founder Gary Groth (center) and Ellen Forney (rear, purple cap) Gilbert Hernandez, Ana Merino and Jaime HernandezFantagraphics Co-founder Mike CatronCharles Burns limited-edition prints for the Fantagraphics 40th anniversary exhibitSimon HanselmannDaniel Clowes and Richard Sala photoJacq Cohen and Simon HanselmannFantagraphics co-publisher Eric ReynoldsPeter BaggeTom SpurgeonTom Van Deusen and Josh SimmonsSimon Hanselman musical performanceSimon Hanselmann signingLarry ReidGeorgetown Christmas carolersJosh Simmons and Shanna MatuszakR.J. CaseyAfterparty at the Georgetown StablesJacq Cohen, Anna Pederson and Simon Hanselmann (front) Gary Groth (it woulda been something if Gary used a shotgun instead of a bat on that 40th anniversary piñata!!!)R.J. Casey, Kristy Valenti and Simon Hanselmann Share this page:Read More:Jaime Hernandez Talk…04/09/201802/12/2018MoCCA Arts Festival 2018...
Juan FernándezFebruary 7, 2018los Cómics / NewsJuan empieza el día con La Matadragones de Jaime Hernandez, La llegada de la Brigada, y una gira desde Lone Mountain! ————————————————————————————————— The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America – Jaime Hernandez with an introduction by F. Isabel Campoy In case, you’ve missed it, Jaime Hernandez is bringing a fresh take on timeless stories in his new collection of folktales,The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America . In classic TOON Books fashion, there’s a quality bibliography and appendix for those eager readers looking to dig deeper into these stories. As a great treat, it’s being released in Spanish and English editions, both paperback and hardcover. Guided by the classic works of F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, Hernandez’s first book for young readers brings the sights and stories of Latin America to a new generation of graphic novel fans around the world. Want to see how it all comes together? TOON Books has uploaded a nice selection of preview pages for you to dig into on their site. ————————————————————————————————— Sol Díaz Castillo y Marcela Trujillo tienen una nueva edicion de La Polola Podcast! “¡¡Último capítulo de la segunda temporada!! Y nos despedimos con una gran sorpresa; en abril publicaremos el primer número de nuestra revista de cómic hecho por mujeres, (¡al fin!) se llamará “Brígida” por Isabel Molina, Pati Aguilera, Marcela Trujillo(Maliki) y Sol Díaz.Les contamos de los detalles, las primeras colegas invitadas que nos acompañarán, las ideas para el futuro y mucho, mucho más. Además nos acompañan unos audios de un Patreon amigo, y un reporte de Panchulei desde Angoulême.” ————————————————————————————————— On a note of personal, North American interest: John Porcellino will be doing a small tour in support of his new D+Q book, From Lone Mountain (available March 20!). Please see below for dates. (Yes, Pittsburgh, lucky you, of course Porcellino will be stopping by Copacetic Comics.) Though I have some of the zines that this book brings together, I’m eagerly awaiting this collection of comics and stories by Porcellino. If anything, having this body of work together makes a nice package for non-comics readers to unravel into their lives. From Lone Mountain collects stories from Porcellino’s zine King-Cat—John enters a new phase of his life, as he remarries and decides to leave his beloved second home Colorado for San Francisco. Grand themes of King-Cat are visited and stated more eloquently than ever before: serendipity, memory, and the quest for meaning in the everyday. ————————————————————————————————— Collected from the thousands of pages of material that Frank has left scattered all over the digital landscape, these 4 PDF collections contain Frank’s best writing on comics and comics making from the past decade. Theory and process, reviews and discoveries, journeys both physical and spiritual. Check out the “Best of Frank Santoro” PDF collections, available HERE! ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil – 02-07-18 – by Sally Ingraham ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 02-07-18 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:04/18/201806/26/2018MoCCA Arts Festival 201802/01/2018...
Aaron CockleJune 12, 2018NewsMoore/Mendes; Drnaso & Kupperman; Regé, Jr. ————————————————————————————————— Understanding Detroit: The Nonfiction Work of Anne Elizabeth Moore & Melissa Mendes Sally linked to this last Friday, Alex Dueben’s interview with Anne Elizabeth Moore and Melissa Mendes, about their collaborative non-fiction comics: What do you two think comics can do that an essay or report couldn’t? Moore: This is a question I get a lot, since I’ve done both text-only reporting and comics journalism. There’s a particular story in Threadbare I did with Julia Gfrörer called “Let’s Go Shopping,” about fast fashion retail work. I went into a local H&M—it was years ago, now, so that worker’s not there anymore—and started chatting with one of the retail workers. Now, like factory workers, and many many other workers along the entire garment production and display assembly line, retail workers for most fast fashion outlets sign non-disclosure agreements stating that they agree that they have the right to be fired if they share information about their benefits or wages. This is a nutso clause in any contract designed to keep people from sharing information and organizing to improve their lives, and it’s basically a knife wound to the project of basic democracy, since it means that even though a LOT of people work in the garment industry, few people talk about what it’s like and so, for example, reporters usually struggle to write about it because no one will go on record. But no one knows, or cares, what comics journalism is, so I walked into this H&M and was like, “Yeah we draw this thing and it works like this and I do need a photo for reference but we can hide your identity to protect you and if you want we can draw you in your favorite outfit even if you aren’t wearing it right now, I just need to ask you a few questions that are in complete violation of your NDA are you OK with that?” And she answered everything I asked. Because with comics we were able to protect her, but also depict her in an interesting way, and she was invested in contributing to something she would be excited about. (That Julia drew it was super helpful. She is very very popular with models and fast fashion workers.) That’s an actual example of information that wouldn’t have been accessible without the form of comics. In “Scenes from the Foreclosure Crisis,” Melissa and I were able to do a very similar thing, depict a nonbinary figure, who still has a very clear personality, history, and set of concerns, in a way that wouldn’t bring them undue attention or frustration. Or violence, to be frank. (Detroit is very conservative, actually, so that’s a concern.) In text-based journalism, you’d have to give some kind of identifying distinction, and almost anything I could think of in this case would put my source in danger. Also audience, of course: comics journalism is read by a far less newsy crowd. More young people. I hear from a lot of students that this was sort of their gateway drug to text-based journalism. But it takes a long time, so you have to plan it all carefully. Mendes: Whenever I get this question I always think of Joe Sacco. There’s no way his work (Palestine, The Fixer, etc.) could ever be anything other than a comic. He’s going into these terrifying places, these war zones, and instead of just taking photos, which can be sort of voyeuristic, he’s drawing. There’s no question that it’s through his lens, that it’s his own point of view– he’s making those marks on the paper. There’s no way it could be taken as objective, while it’s possible to write or photograph or record in such a way that you forget there’s a person behind the camera or the keyboard. (I’m sure there are smarter words for what I’m trying to say but I haven’t written a college paper in like fourteen years so…) Does that make sense? Sacco is reporting, but it’s personal, and you feel that as a reader. You can’t escape it, it’s more raw somehow. The handmade aspect of cartooning makes it more human, and we are still able to protect identities, like Anne was saying. ————————————————————————————————— Can You Illustrate Emotional Absence? Ed Park looks at recent work by Nick Drnaso and Michael Kupperman: RE Drnaso: With his fluid framing — fitting anywhere from two to 24 panels to a page — he dictates information delivery, allowing the mind to breathe. His drawing style is at once poetically attuned to details of neighborhoods and interiors (the lit canopy of a gas station at night, the banquette at an antiseptic diner) and deceptively plain when it comes to the people who inhabit them. RE Kupperman: For an artist known for his off-kilter tableaus, this book has a static look, especially in its rendering of boldfaced names from the past. More problematic are the gaps: mysteries unsolved, re-creations that collapse under the weight of a disclaimer. Of a 1943 meeting between Joel and Henry Ford (once a vocal anti-Semite), Kupperman wonders, “What did they think of each other? There’s no way of knowing.” ————————————————————————————————— ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 6-12-18 – by Caleb Orecchio ————————————————————————————————— Share this page:Read More:02/27/201809/11/2018Comic Arts Brooklyn 201806/08/2018...
Sally IngrahamNovember 30, 2017NewsSam Ombiri on Carlos Gonzalez’s Test Tube, Meg Lemke and Gene Luen Yang in conversation, and a bit more diversity in comics news. ————————————————————————————————— Sam Ombiri here: I have been reading Test Tube by Carlos Gonzalez, and this comic feels like it’s mutating me and my reality. I wasn’t aware that a comic can wrap around my brain. It did this by using very familiar images, with unfamiliar modes of presentation that somehow mysteriously register. Carlos is bringing to attention how unfamiliar these familiar drawings are. He’s somehow simultaneously doing so much and so little to convey what objects, characters, and settings are, yet it all somehow renders so clearly. Which I guess is cartooning, but there seems to something in this system Carlos has introduced. He’s really mastered manipulating our mind at the bare minimum, but with the effort in design turned up to the maximum, to indicate at every turn of the story that something’s afoot. It also could just be satisfying at an aesthetic level. On my end it’s great to look at, but it simultaneously conveys the nature of the story. From what I’ve seen, it seems when Carlos is making comics he’s not always fully aware of where the story’s going to go. Of course there’s always an element of improvisation with most every art form. Whether it’s at the beginning or later down the road in the whole process, there’s always an element of improvisation. For Carlos it seems to be late in the whole process. Where it’s too late to make changes as a result of committing to a certain feeling. He seems to sacrifice control in order to stay true to the feeling he set out to express. For some makers this can cheapen their work, but it’s not the case for Carlos. I think it’s how welcoming and sensitive he is to surprises – these surprises that come along the way, that I’m guessing he ran with because of his commitment to satisfy that longing for a complete story. That’s what I get personally as a reader. It’s not just the way the story plays out – the jokes have this immediate, intuitive, and spontaneous punchiness to them that isn’t in anyway contrived. After wandering back and forth, back and forth through these characters lives, the story all leads to an event, unexpectedly. The way Carlos introduces us to all these elements that will eventually take shape is brilliant – he starts with when the event has already taken place, and then the one character whom we are familiar with is recounting. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be shocked, after seeing all the strange things that had happened to the characters before what happened towards the end. By the time I got towards the end of the book, I was convinced there wasn’t anything stranger that could happen. I was wrong. I had to know that something had to be building up. I did, but I didn’t expect it to be a smallish incident. Towards the end of the book the characters don’t feel like pawns in a big sci-fi epic as they did at the beginning. I imagined the book going that direction, that it’s in this claustrophobic, personal macro state, and it’ll expand and expand. However, the story to my surprise and to my delight stayed in the same scale, no matter what was going on. So even this scientist’s big experiment felt like a homemade experiment. “Low key” is the word for the event towards the end of the story, that’ll supposedly continue in our world. I was thinking about the ending to Videodrome – of course if you watch that movie in Pittsburgh, that movie’s going to have an even stranger effect on you. Basically Carlos made it seem like this character is somewhere out there, and she’s gotta do this thing to survive emotionally, so I sympathize with her, even though she’s going doom us all. Maybe I ought to be more optimistic about this higher form she’s going to turn us all into. Read this book if you can, you’ll be glad you did. There’s also a really cool intro by Noel Freibert at the beginning that’ll make you even more confused about this book than you thought you could be. Noel told me he included some stuff from knowing Carlos into the intro, so it might function more to introduce the reader to Carlos more than the book itself, which made it make more sense. – Sam Ombiri Get a copy of Test Tube by Carlos Gonzalas HERE. For another review of this comic, read Anya Davidson’s thoughts on The Comics Journal – HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Sally here – Mege Lemke interviews Gene Luen Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, over on Mutha Magazine. They talk about his project Reading Without Walls, and it’s mission to get kids and parents “exploring books about characters who look or live differently than you, topics you haven’t discovered, or formats that you haven’t tried.” They talk about how to get reluctant readers to read, how kids are now usually allowed to read comics in school, and the big issue of diversity in comics/publishing as a whole. “MUTHA: What’s your take on this: As I’m sure you’re aware, there’s a real focus in young adult publishing community right now on responding to the criticism from the Own Voices Movement, essentially the idea that there needs to be more space for people of color and people of different sexualities to write their own stories. Resulting in pushback against, say, white writers writing as another character of color, but also characters of color writing other characters of color. This has caused writers to become cautious about writing across cultures. GENE LUEN YANG: Here’s how I approach it. In my own writing life and in my work teaching writing, I believe that writing is an act of bravery. You have to get over so much fear just to put your story on the page. Facing that blank page is terrifying. When I sit down to write, I’ll want to do anything else. I’ll want to go wash dishes, I’ll want to go reorganize my label collection, anything, right? I am very reluctant, especially when I think about my students, of introducing more fear in their heads. So, I would never tell a writer that they cannot write outside of their experience. I almost think that it’s the defining job of a writer to be able to go outside of their own experience. But I would say: don’t let that fear that you feel allow you to stop writing the story you want to write. You should let that fear drive you to do homework. You should let that fear drive you to humility. Approaching experiences that aren’t your own with a certain humility. Including people who are insiders into your support group, either as editors or as beta readers. There is a greater responsibility. However, you’ll see like 80 percent of the stories told about minority demographics are told by outsiders. That is a problem. That is a problem.“ Yang goes on to say that ultimately it is on the publishers, the gatekeepers, to make sure they are publishing work by POC creators and not just asking their “stable” of white writers to toss some diversity into their work. Plenty of other interesting notes in the interview – read it HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Speaking of a white writer tossing some diversity into their work, The Comics Reporter has a breakdown of the recent shocker from Marvel’s new Editor-in-Chief, CB Cebulski – he once wrote comics under the pseudonym Akira Yoshida, and had a whole secret identity for this person. Understandable uproar has ensued. Tom Spurgeon writes: “Comics culture is not just a roll-your-eyes cattle prod these days, it’s as under fire as any individual publishing move. Rightfully so: comics culture dictates a lot in terms of how our industries operate. This latest looks like a series of actions possible only in the context of a broken professional culture. This is not just the case of a freelancer adopting a pseudonym to get more work. This was someone giving themselves work that could have gone to someone else, and creating a context for that work more attractive than the work would be by itself. By assuming a Japanese identity and writing stories soaked in orientalist stereotypes, Cebulski and Marvel slipped any blame that might be theirs for the content of such work, and avoided criticism for the general breakdown of creators being hired by the company. “ Read the rest of the story HERE. ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 11-30-2017 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:05/23/201803/29/201805/17/201803/01/2018...
Juan FernándezMay 31, 2017los Cómics / NewsEmpezamos el día con ‘Viñetas y bocadillos’; Calpurnio; Catherine Meurisse; Antonio Altarriba y Sergio García; Tercer Encuentro Internacional de Narrativas Dibujadas; Barbara Stok ; Jim Pluk y Alice Bohl y por supuesto los tebeos de Comics Workbook! ————————————————————————————————— Entrevista – José Domingo Aprovechando la reedición de “Aventuras de un oficinista japonés”, recuperamos entrevista a Jose Domingo en CuCo 5: José Domingo (Zaragoza, 1982) es uno de los autores más interesantes y rompedores del panorama nacional. Integrante tardío de la escena de la autoedición gallega centralizada en el colectivo Polaqia, su obra Aventuras de un oficinista japonés (Bang Ediciones, 2011) le valió el premio a mejor obra nacional en el Saló del Cómic de Barcelona y lo consagró como autor. Desde entonces ha desarrollado una actividad incesante, que incluso lo ha llevado a colaborar con la editorial inglesa Nobrow. Hace unas semanas, José tuvo la amabilidad de atender a los directores de CuCo, Cuadernos de cómic a través de videoconferencia, y contestar a una entrevista que repasa minuciosamente toda su carrera Léanlo aqui! Si te gusta esa entrevista, conoce el #crowdfunding de @CuCoCuadernos! CuCo, cuadernos de cómic es la revista digital de estudio y crítica de cómic, una de las mejores publicaciones de crítica de cómic en español! —> https://goo.gl/p1vqhu En septiembre de 2013 nació CuCo, Cuadernos de cómic, una revista digital de investigación y crítica de la historieta, codirigida por Octavio Beares y Gerardo Vilches. La revista surgió, principalmente, como una plataforma de publicación para todas las personas que están realizando su tesis doctoral o proyecto de investigación sobre algún aspecto relacionado con el cómic, desde cualquier disciplina científica. Hasta la fecha hemos publicado siete números disponibles en cuadernosdecomic.com, en los que han tenido cabida tanto artículos y ensayos como una sección de crítica con algunas de las firmas más interesantes del panorama nacional, además de entrevistas a autores nacionales e internacionales. Desde 2014, la revista está incluida en el índice de publicaciones académicas Latindex, y cumple 29 de sus criterios. CuCo, Cuadernos de cómic ha sido concebido desde su nacimiento como un proyecto sin ánimo de lucro, que surge desde la pasión por el cómic y la conciencia de que existe la necesidad de desarrollar una sólida labor teórica a su alrededor. ————————————————————————————————— Creadora de comics y ilustradora chilena, Fran Meneses les comparte su sabiduria con respeto al dibujo natural y las figuras en el espacio. Fran tiene una tronco de serie de videos… Póngale play! ————————————————————————————————— Cómics y noticias que me han llamado la atención esta semana: Todos los lunes en España Radio 5 y Radio 3, resumen lo mejor del mundo del comic: Esta semana en ‘Viñetas y bocadillos’ hablaron con Calpurnio (‘Cuttlas’) y Catherine Meurisse (‘La Levedad’). Además: La Hora del Bocadillo y Fallo de sistema. Escúchenlo aqui. En @JotDownSpain hablan de Cuerpos del Delito de Antonio Altarriba y Sergio García. Cuatro vidas diferentes entrelazadas en el Sarajevo de 1994. La Universidad de Santiago y @PLOPGaleria convocan al Tercer Encuentro Internacional de Narrativas Dibujadas! Para este año, el eje del Encuentro será Narrativas gráficas: sociedad, política y género, y el plazo para enviar las propuestas de ponencias es hasta el lunes 12 de junio de 2017. Elizabeth Casillas escribe sobre la biografía de Van Gogh que Barbara Stok ha llevado a cómic en Revista Cactus. Vean el fantástico trabajo de Jim Pluk y Alice Bohl en el pabellón de Francia en la @FILBogota. ————————————————————————————————— Blinkers – 5-31-2017 – by Jack Brougham ————————————————————————————————— Suzy and Cecil -05-31-2017- by Sally Ingraham ————————————————————————————————— Joanie and Jordie – 5-31-2017 – by Caleb Orecchio Share this page:Read More:01/17/201804/18/201805/08/201802/28/2018...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3171
|
__label__wiki
| 0.940519
| 0.940519
|
Baker hints at pay raise veto
But House passes bill with room to spare
Jack Sullivan Charlie Baker, Ethics and Open Government, Massachusetts Legislature, Massachusetts politics, Robert DeLeo, Stan Rosenberg, State Government, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Jan 25, 2017
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said little has changed to sway him since he threatened to veto a legislative pay raise bill two years ago, but said he’ll wait to see the final legislation now making its way through the Legislature before making his decision.
Baker’s comments on Wednesday came minutes after the House passed a controversial measure to jack up the compensation for the House Speaker and Senate president by more than 50 percent, including a robust increase in the expense stipend earmarked for all lawmakers. The vote was 116 to 44, with nine Democrats joining all 35 Republicans in voting no. The margin is nine votes more than the two-thirds vote needed to override a veto. It now moves to the Senate for a vote on Thursday and should be on Baker’s desk by Friday.
The bill had been based on a two-year-old report that had not been acted upon after it was released in December 2014, and then-incoming Gov. Baker said he would “probably veto” the measure because of a large budget gap facing the Commonwealth. On Wednesday, as he unveiled his fiscal 2018 budget, Baker said the same challenges are facing state officials.
“We said in 2014 that we didn’t think that a pay raise made sense at that time, and I don’t see a lot that’s changed with respect to that,” said Baker, adding he has a standard practice of not committing until he sees a final bill.
The bill, which was unveiled on Monday and made it through the House at breakneck speed without a public hearing and very little debate, also includes raises for all constitutional officers as well as members of the judicial branch, including judges, clerks, registers, and assistants. The measure proposes huge increases in stipends for leadership in both parties and for chairman, vice chairman, and ranking member posts as well as eliminating the controversial per diems but replacing them by doubling or tripling the expense stipend, depending on where a legislator lives.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg had concerns over potential ethics conflicts of legislators voting on their own pay. A letter from the Ethics Commission indicated that even though lawmakers would benefit from the measure, including raises for the other two branches qualified it as “general legislation,” which allowed them to vote on it.
The indication was that DeLeo and Rosenberg, who co-sponsored the bill, put the judiciary in to broaden the scope and allow the vote, even though the special commission that made the pay hike recommendations made no mention of judges, who received a hike just three years ago.
But on Wednesday, the Boston Globe reported a clause in the state’s constitution bars judges’ compensation from being subject to an initiative petition, meaning there can be no ballot question to repeal the raises in 2018.
House Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey said while the bill kept the increases recommended for the constitutional officers intact, drafters thought it was prudent to reduce the suggested $175,000 salaries for Senate president and House Speaker because of the need to bring other stipends in line. The legislative portion of the bill will cost $1.4 million for the remainder of the fiscal year and $5 million for the other branches.
“We felt that it was important to take into consideration the need to make some changes, but do so in a way that is sensitive to the challenges we face,” Dempsey said in arguing for passage on the floor.
Jack Sullivan
Senior Investigative Reporter, CommonWealth
E-mail @reportah
About Jack Sullivan
Jack Sullivan is now retired. A veteran of the Boston newspaper scene for nearly three decades. Prior to joining CommonWealth, he was editorial page editor of The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, a part of the GateHouse Media chain. Prior to that he was news editor at another GateHouse paper, The Enterprise of Brockton, and also was city edition editor at the Ledger. Jack was an investigative and enterprise reporter and executive city editor at the Boston Herald and a reporter at The Boston Globe.
He has reported stories such as the federal investigation into the Teamsters, the workings of the Yawkey Trust and sale of the Red Sox, organized crime, the church sex abuse scandal and the September 11 terrorist attacks. He has covered the State House, state and local politics, K-16 education, courts, crime, and general assignment.
Jack received the New England Press Association award for investigative reporting for a series on unused properties owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and shared the association's award for business for his reporting on the sale of the Boston Red Sox. As the Ledger editorial page editor, he won second place in 2007 for editorial writing from the Inland Press Association, the nation's oldest national journalism association of nearly 900 newspapers as members.
At CommonWealth, Jack and editor Bruce Mohl won first place for In-Depth Reporting from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors for a look at special education funding in Massachusetts. The same organization also awarded first place to a unique collaboration between WFXT-TV (FOX25) and CommonWealth for a series of stories on the Boston Redevelopment Authority and city employees getting affordable housing units, written by Jack and Bruce.
Though all Republicans held rank in voting against the measure, there was little floor opposition. Only five amendments were filed and three were withdrawn. The two remaining came from Rep. James Lyons, who asked for the raises to be delayed until 2019 if passed and also to limit the increases in stipends to 4 percent, roughly the same increase lawmakers got in their base salary last month.
“This is changing the rules in the middle of the game,” the Andover Republican said. “To suggest to the taxpayers that it is fair to give out 40 and 50 percent raises when we’re looking at [budget] cuts and declining revenues is simply unfair.”
Tagged in: Charlie Baker/ Ethics and Open Government/ Massachusetts Legislature/ Massachusetts politics/ Robert DeLeo/ Stan Rosenberg/ State Government/ Taxes and Budget Issues
‹ Hungry for more than education Baker explains, addresses budget disconnect ›
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3172
|
__label__wiki
| 0.958014
| 0.958014
|
(director/writer: Alfred Hitchcock; screenwriters: Charles Bennett/Benn W. Levy/Garnett Weston/based on the play by Charles Bennett; cinematographer: Jack Cox; editor: Emile de Ruelle; music: Campbell and Connelly/arranged by Hubert Bath and Harry Stafford; cast: Anny Ondra (Alice White), Sara Allgood (Mrs. White), Charles Paton (Mr.White), John Longden (Detective Frank Webber), Donald Calthrop (Tracy), Cyril Ritchard (Crewe, The Artist), Hannah Jones (The Landlady), Harvey Braban (The Chief Inspector), Phyllis Monkman (Gossip); Runtime: 82; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: John Maxwell; Alpha Video Distributors; 1929-UK)
“It’s a more than adequate though primitive murder mystery story that’s enhanced by a series of marvelous technical innovations for its time.”
Alfred Hitchcock (“Vertigo”/”The Lodger”/”Psycho”) directs his first sound film (also England’s first complete talkie, though a few part-talkies were produced around the same time), which was at first shot as a silent (a silent version still exists but was not as popular as the talkie and is rarely seen today). It’s a more than adequate though primitive murder mystery story that’s enhanced by a series of marvelous technical innovations for its time and equally innovative experiments in narrative storytelling. But it can even be further faulted because the pacing is poor and the psychological thriller aspect lacks suspense. Hitchcock was not yet the “master of suspense” that he was soon to become, but this film helped establish his rep as someone who knows how to shoot thrillers. Because lead actress Anny Ondra, born in Poland, possessed a thick Eastern European accent, her voice was dubbed by British actress Joan Barry. The film is based on the play by Charles Bennett.
Alice White (Anny Ondra), the daughter of a tobacco shopkeeper, is the girlfriend of the competent New Scotland Yard detective Frank Webber (John Longden). While dining in a crowded restaurant, they have a row over his not being on time and she does not go to the movies with him. Instead she meets at the restaurant her flirtatious artist neighbor, Crewe (Cyril Ritchard), who takes her to his flat to see his etchings. Once there he tries to rape her after she models for him, but she stabs him to death with a bread knife to protect her honor. Frank is one of the investigators of the murder, and when he finds her glove at the crime scene he conceals it. An opportunistic jailbird, Tracy (Donald Calthrop), was also at the scene and found Alice’s other glove and blackmails the detective for concealing evidence. It’s most appealing visual sequence is a first-rate chase along the British Museum, as Tracy is on the run from the cops and falls to his death.
Hitchcock deferred to the studio’s request to change the play’s tragic ending (supposedly for commercial reasons) to a happy ending for the young couple. All-in-all the flawed film still bears the Master’s trademark in storytelling, and the motif introduced of the “guilty woman” has also come into play in many of his later films and has become part of Hitchcock’s signature.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3187
|
__label__wiki
| 0.608182
| 0.608182
|
Snap or screenshot
Discover Jeddah
Destination Riyadh
Destination Sharqiya
Destination Listing
Explore KSA
Big Show – The world’s largest WWE athlete is in Jeddah and here’s what he has to say!
October 10, 2015 Destination
Mohammed Mirza
By Aabiya Baqai
About: Paul Donald Wight Jr. born February 8, 1972 (age 43) is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Big Show. He is signed to WWE, where he has performed since 1999, and was previously in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he was known as The Giant.
What got you into wrestling?
I was always a fan as a kid while growing up. That’s how it usually starts. Most of the wrestlers were fans and I got an opportunity to get into WCW at a young age and it was one of those things I enjoyed to do. I was a good athlete, I like to make people laugh, I like to entertain people and it was just one of those things that I was meant to do.
Tell us about your journey from ‘The Giant’ to ‘Big Show’.
At the time there was the World Championship Wrestling and then there was WWE. So when I was doing WCW I was ‘The Giant’. I was the supposed son of Andre, and I was this young 24/25 year old kid that was this ‘big monster’ and that was the name they gave me. When I changed companies, the other company owned that name so I couldn’t take that name with me. When I started WWE, I was Paul Wight and then my boss who is pretty smart with marketing came by me after a couple of weeks and called me ‘Big Show’ and that was a my whole transition. He just went like ‘how’s the Big Show today?’ And I’m like, ‘the Big Show? Well okay!’ And now it’s been 17 years, it’s how people know me and it’s great to be called the ‘Big Show’. I’m very thankful.
What has been one of your favorite moments in the ring?
Oh my goodness, my favorite moment in the ring, that’s a tough question! There are probably 5000 different moments in the ring! I think some of my favorite moments are my first championship moments, few title matches I’ve had in WWE, winning the WWE championship, my title runs with Kane, the Undertaker, and Jericho. I’ve been pretty fortunate to have a pretty full, pretty exciting career. I’m thankful every day that I get to do what I love and travel the world so there are so many great moments, if I sat down and talked about them it would be a lot to think about.
If there could be anything you could change about the wrestling industry, what would it be?
One thing I would want to change about the wrestling industry, I think I don’t want to change anything. All the changes I would make in the industry would be between the ways the athletes are taken care of, between the ways the athletes are being helped with their training, medical help, advice. When I first started in this business, you were much more on your own, you were your own little business, but now WWE has gone out of the way to do so many things to protect the athletes and protect the superstars so when they retire, they will have something to show for it. Because a lot of times you retire but you don’t have something to show for it so the one thing I’ve always wanted to change is actually being implemented. The only thing I’d want to change now is wish I was 20 years younger and do what I’m doing now. laughs
Could you tell us a little bit about the experience of starring in feature films such as Star Trek, Water Boy and then doing a lead role in the film Knucklehead?
Well I think it’s a natural transition when you do a lot of entertainment like we do, getting an opportunity to do a film was a natural transition that I had so I’ve been very lucky to have had the opportunity to do films and I’m looking forward to even more. Maybe I can’t wrestle as good as I used to, I don’t know but eventually it’s all going to stop so what else can you do to entertain your fans, keep yourself healthy and busy, so for me, doing more TV and films is what I’m planning to do.
Who were some of your favorite wrestlers growing up?
I grew up watching Arn Anderson. He was a member of the 4 horsemen with Ric Flair, Ole Anderson etc
Any message for your Saudi fans?
I’m very happy about the shows there. If the fans are excited about seeing a 7 foot 4, 60 pound giant person, they’re going to have a good time!
4 Nutella Recipes To Perk Up Your Weekend
Holiday Aftermath: Back to Fitness After the Eid Indulgence
Ferrari to unveil 488 GTB at EXCS Luxury Motor Show in Riyadh
Experts tackle HR challenges at the 3rd Talent and Diversity Leadership Forum
Social Media Trend Makers
These Are The International Celebs Attending The Saudi Comic Con
The All-New BISR Campus At the DQ
Re-purposed for a Purpose
Saudi Sports for All Federation’s Move to Donate generates SAR125,000 for Saudi Food Bank
Rosewood Jeddah Launches ‘Sunrise Breakfast’ at Sky Lounge
Bain & Company Promotes A New Partner in the Middle East
Blast from The Past , Wonder Woman 1984
Giordano Opens New Mega Flagship Store in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Global Expansion Continues
AlUla – The World’s Masterpiece
Destination Jeddah
Rumman Co.
© 2015 Destination KSA. All Rights Reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3188
|
__label__cc
| 0.697622
| 0.302378
|
Transitioning to Renewable Energy Isn’t So Simple. Just Look at California.
“We thought there would be adequate power to supply the demand…We were wrong.”
Will Peischel
Solar panel array in Irwindale, California.Ringo Chiu/Zuma
This piece was originally published in Slate and appears here as part of our Climate Desk Partnership.
The recent “heat storm” in California has pushed grid operators to impose rolling blackouts for the first time since 2001. A combination of heavy air conditioning usage, the unplanned unavailability of some power plants, limited options for importing power from neighboring states, and insufficient solar and wind generation have led to an imbalance of electricity generation and consumption. As Stephen Berberich, president of the California Independent System Operator, or CAISO, which oversees operation of the state’s electric grid, told Sammy Roth of the Los Angeles Times, “We thought there would be adequate power to supply the demand…We were wrong.”
The blackouts are designed to affect customers for no more than an hour or two. Some may find that little more than mildly inconvenient. Others more prone to heat stress or in possession of medicines that require refrigeration might be more worried, with good reason. The aggregate reaction could prove substantial, especially if we face more rounds of shortages in the coming months and years. The last time this happened to us Californians, we altered long-held plans to partially deregulate electricity systems, recalled Gov. Gray Davis, and pushed Enron, one of the energy services providers found guilty of gaming electricity markets, into bankruptcy.
This time, what we’re seeing should give renewable energy advocates pause.
For years, renewable energy enthusiasts have insisted that most of the problems of the electric grid were caused by outdated and inflexible coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy technologies. A system built on solar panels and wind turbines, smart meters, electricity storage, and payments for flexible demand would lower costs and improve reliability for everyone. Some academic studies showed that renewables could easily supply 80 percent or more of an electric grid’s demands.
But with non-hydroelectric renewable technologies, mostly solar and wind, generating about 30 percent of California’s electricity today, we are witnessing the types of obstacles and problems that these new technologies introduce.
Solar power, of course, is well matched with high demand for air conditioning in the middle of the day. That advantage disappears when the sun goes down but the temperature doesn’t. Distributed and centralized electricity storage technologies can shift some power generation toward later in the day. But lithium-ion battery systems are usually designed for only a few hours of storage—enough to accommodate much of the daily swings in solar generation, but not the type of extreme surges in demand we’ve seen this week. Storage technologies that last a few days would help, but truly high-renewables systems will likely require seasonal storage technologies that can shift consumption from the hot months to the cool months. Beyond geographically constrained, pumped hydroelectric storage systems, those technologies are largely nonexistent.
Advocates emphasize that solar and wind complement each other; the wind usually blows while the sun doesn’t shine, and vice versa. And even if a renewable resource is less available in one part of the country, long-distance power lines can transmit electricity from other regions. These are features of a wind-and-solar-heavy system—until they’re bugs. In California this week, the heat pushed power demand to near record highs, solar generation plummeted in the evening, the winds slowed faster than expected, and the same thing happened in Nevada, Arizona, and other states we usually import electricity from. The result was predictable to anyone who hasn’t been heralding a seamless transition to renewable energy technologies.
Part of the problem here is how much solar generation drops as the sun goes down and how much flexible generation needs to fire up to compensate.
Part of the problem here is how much solar generation drops as the sun goes down and how much flexible generation needs to fire up to compensate. The amount of solar power has increased substantially in California over the last decade. The required summer “ramp-up” of firm generation (generators like natural gas plants that can be turned on and kept on) between the middle of the day and the evening—when the sun sets and many people turn on lights and appliances—has more than doubled. California shifts from using a large amount of solar during the day to a large amount of natural gas and imports during the evening, and the size of this shift is growing. This puts stress on the rest of the electricity grid and increases the risk that disruptions in either in-state power generation or imports could lead to shortfalls. About two-thirds of the generation ramp-up comes from natural gas plants in California, while the remaining third comes from imports from neighboring states.
In this case, blackouts resulted from a combination of less available imports—neighboring states also had extreme demand associated with the heat wave—and a number of natural gas plants unexpectedly going offline. More gas plants or battery storage can be added in the short term to hedge against future energy use spikes, but having resources that sit idle for the vast majority of the time increases the overall cost of generating electricity.
California’s challenges are exacerbated by the declining availability of reliable, always-on nuclear capacity in the state. In 2012, San Diego Gas & Electric closed the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, or SONGS, taking 2,200 megawatts off the grid in one fell swoop. The power once generated by SONGS was largely replaced by natural gas, causing a jump in carbon emissions and a squeeze in electric capacity reserve margins. A similar fate now awaits the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the last nuclear plant in the state. In 2016, Pacific Gas & Electric announced that it would not seek a license extension for Diablo Canyon.
Replacing California’s nuclear power plants reveals the difference between modeling a renewable energy future and building one. The Natural Resources Defense Council, which pushed to close Diablo Canyon, argued at the time that the plant’s electricity would “be replaced with gains in energy efficiency, renewable power, and pollution-free energy technologies.” But an initial California Public Utility Commission replacement plan included substantial natural gas capacity. (The NRDC called the plan “deeply flawed.”) In 2018, the state Legislature passed a law directing the California Public Utilities Commission to ensure that no greenhouse-emissions increase results after Diablo Canyon shuts down in 2025. How this will all unfold in practice remains to be seen.
Solar, wind, and battery storage technologies have gotten significantly cheaper over the last decade. They are modular and have proven much easier to deploy and build than, say, new nuclear power plants, which have become expensive megaprojects (and are actually illegal to build in California until federal lawmakers create a long-term solution for storing nuclear spent fuel). And of course renewables do not emit air pollution or carbon dioxide. The reasons to support the deployment of solar and wind are myriad and valid.
And the challenges we describe above, which states like California and countries like Germany are increasingly grappling with, are at least partially surmountable. Future advances in long-duration electric storage capacity could allow grid operators to shift supply to meet demand. “Demand response” arrangements, or payments to customers who temporarily reduce their consumption, could help smooth imbalances. Continent-spanning transmission would help move electrons from where they’re more reliably generated to where they’re more reliably consumed.
But California’s experience also underscores a growing consensus among energy scholars: that variable renewable energy technologies are unlikely to meet the grid’s power demand by themselves. They will play an important role, but more firm generating sources, like next-generation nuclear reactors, natural gas plants with carbon capture technologies, enhanced geothermal, and others that can balance out variable renewables, will be required.
To be clear: Rising energy costs and the ongoing reliability crisis cannot be blamed entirely on California’s growing solar and wind sectors. But this month’s challenges surface the complexities and difficulties of energy transitions, and the imperative of maintaining a flexible and diverse supply of energy technologies. If this month’s blackouts continue, there is a risk California’s ratepayers will come to associate them with the state’s clean energy transition.
Climate Desk
Report: By 2035, 90 Percent of the US Could Be Powered by Renewables
The Shift Toward Renewable Energy Is Coming. Western States Aren’t Ready.
Nicole Javorsky
Fish and Wildlife Officials Want a Word With the Trump Fan Who Defaced This Gentle Manatee
22 Disasters, 262 Dead, $95B in Damages: 2020 Set Records for US Climate Mayhem
Oliver Milman
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3189
|
__label__wiki
| 0.712294
| 0.712294
|
Blackhawks stop 8-game slide by topping Blues 1-0
Posted about two years ago
Jeremy Colliton got his first win as an NHL coach when Corey Crawford made 28 saves to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 1-0 on Wednesday night, stopping an eight-game losing streak.
Chicago's slide began with a 7-3 loss at St. Louis on Oct. 27, and Colliton took over after Joel Quenneville was fired on Nov. 6. The Blackhawks then dropped his first three games behind the bench before shutting down the Blues in the opener of a three-game homestand.
It was Crawford's first shutout in more than a year and No. 24 for his career. He missed most of last year and the start of this season because of a concussion.
Chicago got the game's only goal when it caught a break after St. Louis star Vladimir Tarasenko was penalized for hooking in the second period. Jonathan Toews set up Brent Seabrook for an open look that was stopped by Jake Allen, but Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester kicked it into the net at 4:05.
Allen was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:14 remaining, and Crawford turned away David Perron's drive to the net with about 18 seconds left.
Allen finished with 18 saves for St. Louis, which has dropped two in a row after a stretch of four wins in five games. Ryan O'Reilly lost a 10-game point streak.
Defenseman Colton Parayko had the best scoring opportunity for the Blues, banging a shot off the inside of the left post in the second. Tarasenko also was denied by Crawford on a 2-on-1 opportunity during a mostly dull opening period.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3191
|
__label__cc
| 0.628063
| 0.371937
|
Recent and Forthcoming
by David Brooks
The Grass Library will shortly appear in a North American edition, published by Ashland Creek Press (Oregon).
‘Writing Animals’ (essay) was published in the November/December 2019 ‘Activism’ issue of the Kenyon Review (USA) edited by John Kinsella and Rita Dove.
‘The Rats of Lord Howe: What kind of Biodiversity is Achieved through Biocide?’ (essay) appeared on the ABC Religion and Ethics page on July 12, 2019.
‘The Pozzo Sonnet: Rilke and the Killing of the Doves’ (essay) was published in Rilke’s Sonnets to Orpheus, ed. Hannah Vandegrift Eldridge and Luke Fischer (Oxford University Press, 2019).
Animal Dreams, an extensive collection of David’s essays on animals in contemporary philosophy, literary theory, Australian literature, etc., is due for publication by Sydney University Press in late 2020/early 2021.
KANGAROOS – the 100 DAYS PROJECT: Over a period of one hundred days in late 2017 and early 2018 David wrote and/or curated 100 posts concerning the historical treatment of kangaroos and the predicament of kangaroos in contemporary Australia. These posts, and some exquisite photography, can be accessed here.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3192
|
__label__wiki
| 0.5851
| 0.5851
|
What We’re Reading: Oct. 20, 2014
November 8, 2016 by Claudia Paoletto
Tech pros with disabilities use creativity to level the field (Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology, Oct. 20)
To companies considering hiring people with disabilities, Laureen Summers says this: “Disabled employees bring a unique perspective and creativity to problem solving that can enhance everyone’s lives.”
Research: Study connects police tactics and mental health concerns (MSNBC, Oct. 16)
A new study in the American Journal of Public Health suggests that there may be a connection between intrusive police practices and mental health. The study found that the people who dealt with the police more also reported dealing with symptoms of trauma and anxiety, and that those symptoms were greater when their interactions with police were more intrusive.
Research: Teens may be taking ADHD meds in response to academic pressure (Huffington Post, Oct. 16)
According to research published this month in the American Sociological Review, middle and high school students are 30 percent more likely to have a prescription filled for stimulant medication during the school year than they are during the summer. However, these rates aren’t uniform across class or location. Students from higher-income families, and students who live in states whose governments more closely monitor school performance, are more likely to only take medication when school is in session.
Opinion: Eight steps schools can take to prevent Autism-elopement tragedy (Huffington Post, Oct. 16)
Most school districts do not have an elopement protocol… After consulting with both local law enforcement and Police and Autism: Bridging the Gap, here’s a protocol I’m suggesting to my child’s school district. I’m calling it the SPECTRUM Alert for Schools. It’s important to note that this alert/code will necessarily look different for each school.
Council gathering information on disability services (Gazette, Oct. 15)
The Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council is trying to collect information about disability-related programs in the state. The council wants to hear from people with disabilities, as well as their family, friends and caregivers. A survey is posted at www.surveymonkey.com/s/KRS3KWZ.
App turns a smartphone into a speech translator for the deaf (Engadget, Oct. 15)
Transcense can translate speech into written words and transcribe it on screen in near real time. To make that possible, the app connects to several phones and activates their mics to capture what everyone’s saying, then it uses voice recognition to assign each person in the group a color for their speech bubbles.
Tennessee families work for disability employment (Daily News Journal, Oct. 14)
Tennessee’s Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities held an Employment First conference October 15 to bring stakeholders together as a part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
White House to spotlight disability employment (Disability Scoop, Oct. 13)
Ten people from across the country will be honored at the White House this week for their efforts to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities… include[ing] a veteran with a disability who runs his own organic egg business, managers from Walgreens, Procter & Gamble and Microsoft who have taken steps to boost disability employment within their ranks and the founder of a company that helps ensure that the digital systems businesses use are accessible.
Opinion: Fixing the broken mental health system (Huffington Post, Oct. 13)
Access to humane mental health and substance use treatment must be provided in local, community-based treatment settings, not jails or prisons, nursing homes, shelters, or long-term hospitals.
Connecticut renews efforts to find employers for persons with disabilities (The Day, Oct. 11)
Jonathan Slifka, just named this week as chairman of the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, said he is hoping to convince more companies statewide that hiring the disabled is a sound business practice.
Breaking the taboo: It’s time to talk about mental health (CNN, Oct. 10)
On World Mental Health Day, around the globe many of us, perhaps hundreds of thousands or even millions, will be raising awareness of mental health issues to challenge outdated views, and to put an end to life-limiting, and sometimes life-threatening, stigma and discrimination that’s still attached to having a mental health problem in so many countries and communities.
Mental illness, homelessness, drug addiction: Do these sound like crimes? (The Nation, Oct. 9)
As mental-health services disappear across the country, it is the police departments, the court system and the prisons that, more and more, are charged with care for those with mental illnesses.
Government makes disability employment agreement universal (Bloomberg, Oct. 9)
[Israeli] Economy Minister Naftali Bennett has expanded a union-inspired agreement on hiring of people with disabilities to the entire Israeli workforce… Bennett has now required all Israeli workplaces with at least 100 employees to ensure that the[y] comprise at least 2 percent of their workforces within a year and 3 percent within two years.
Vermont closed workshops for people with disabilities; what happened next? (Public Source, Sep. 28)
The sheltered workshops that are still prevalent in Pennsylvania were shut down in Vermont more than a decade ago. And now, the employment rate of people with developmental disabilities in the New England state is twice the national average.
Filed Under: Employment, Mental Health, News, Technology
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3193
|
__label__wiki
| 0.729926
| 0.729926
|
The Dutch justice system is cutting the prison population by offering specialist rehabilitation to people with mental illnesses. Since 2014, this has allowed 23 prisons to be shut, turning them into temporary asylum centres, housing and hotels. Holland now has Europe’s third-lowest incarceration rate, at 54.4 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants. In July 2019, New Zealand’s incarceration rate was 201 inmates per 100,000.
When the Labour led coalition government came to power two years ago, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced that Labour intended to reduce the prison population by 30% over the next 15 years. The prison population at the time was 10,394. Two years later it’s still 10,200. This is expensive. The cost of keeping one person in prison in New Zealand is over $100,000 per year.
Psychiatrist Melina Rakic says the backgrounds of people who go through the Dutch psychological rehabilitation programme are always complex
The article below is an except from the Guardian on 12 December 2019. For the full article go here.
Why are there so few prisoners in the Netherlands?
When Stefan Koning, who has a history of psychosis, was found guilty of threatening a stranger with a knife, a long custodial sentence might have felt like the only answer.
In fact, after a short spell in jail, he is back at his home in Amsterdam.
“Bob is a character from Twin Peaks, a murderer who creeps into the skin of innocent people and makes them do terrible things like murder,” says Koning. “There’s a Bob in me who says ‘kill this person’, that sort of thing. If I take my medicines, Bob is quiet.”
Koning is a beneficiary of a growing tendency in the Netherlands to avoid jailing people unless it is necessary. One key aspect of this is a prodigious programme of care in the community for people with psychiatric problems.
“We work on two aims: number one, preventing another crime, and then on psychiatric suffering and the social problems that come with it,” says Hommo Folkerts, a forensic psychologist and outreach worker who helps Koning.
“We don’t treat people with just depression – it’s people with psychotic vulnerability, autism, severe learning difficulties, often in combination with severe personality disorders, addictions, financial problems, no good home or links with family, and often they are traumatised.
“Nobody would approve of the crimes or violence they have committed, but there is a very sad world behind them. If you want to mend all this, it will take a long time.”
In 1988, the UK criminologist David Downes contrasted a relatively humane Dutch prison system favourably against those in England and Wales. Today plummeting prison sentences have left the Netherlands with an unusual problem: it doesn’t have enough inmates to fill its prisons, even after renting out places to Norway and Belgium.
Since 2014, 23 prisons have been shut, turning into temporary asylum centres, housing and hotels. The country has Europe’s third-lowest incarceration rate, at 54.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. According to the justice ministry’s WODC Research and Documentation Centre, the number of prison sentences imposed fell from 42,000 in 2008 to 31,000 in 2018 – along with a two-thirds drop in jail terms for young offenders. Registered crimes plummeted by 40% in the same period, to 785,000 in 2018.
Miranda Boone, a professor of criminology at Leiden University, has studied the collapse in the prison population. “There is no doubt that the prison population has been reduced very significantly in the last 13 years – an amazing and, in the western world, unparalleled development,” she says.
Half of the people in Dutch prisons have received a one-month sentence, she says, and almost half entering detention in 2018 were actually awaiting trial. Experts attribute the decline to a variety of factors, including more sentencing before reaching or outside of the court system – such as fines – than other countries and the use of court-ordered mediation.
But there is also a special psychological rehabilitation programme known as TBS.
“TBS is a rather unique institution in the world,” Boone says. “In many countries there’s a limited choice: people can either be held accountable for their deeds and sentenced to prison; or held not accountable and put into a psychiatric institution. We have a psychiatric institution that is part of the criminal justice system for people who can be held not [accountable] or only partly accountable.”
Unlike high-security hospitals in the UK or the Netherlands, TBS has very specific conditions. People must have committed a crime with a minimum prison term of four years and have a high chance of recidivism: the programme works on specifically on their reintegration into society. If this is not deemed possible, or they refuse to cooperate, they can eventually move to a normal high-security hospital and be confined indefinitely.
There were 1,300 people detained with a TBS ruling in 2018: people stay in a treatment centre, sometimes after a jail term, and are treated for the psychological conditions that are thought to have played a role in their crime. Every two years, judges assess whether the treatment should be extended, and the average stay is two years.
For the full article in The Guardian go here.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 1 Comment December 13, 2019 December 13, 2019 3 Minutes
Kelvin Davis: another billion bucks down a bottomless hole
In 1985, there were 2,775 prisoners in New Zealand. On 29 November 2016, Corrections Opposition spokesperson, Kelvin Davis (now the Corrections Minister), posted a message on his Facebook page stating that the muster had just passed 10,000 – an increase of 364% in 30 years – and the National Government was planning to build a new prison. Davis wrote:
We’re spending a billion dollars to build a new prison and I have just one question: what happens when that is full? Build another? That will be another billion bucks poured down a bottomless hole.
The reality is that the prison population had been on the rise for 70 years and was projected to hit 12,000 by 2022. Kelvin Davis and the Labour team aren’t keen on building an expensive new prison every three years so when the current coalition government took over, Justice Minister, Andrew Little announced he intended to reduce the prison population by 30 per cent over the next 15 years.
It’s not that hard
Little even said “It’s actually not that hard if we choose to resource it properly.” The prison population at the time was 10,394. Two years later it’s still at 10,200, which the NZ Herald described as a prison system bursting at the seams.
Andrew Little: “reducing the prison population is not that hard”
So despite Andrew Little’s claim that reducing the prison population is “not that hard”, the coalition government has made no progress towards that goal whatsoever – we still have over 10,000 people in prison. But to give credit where credit is due – at least the muster has stopped going up – for the moment.
The Corrections Department clearly does not expect this pause in the upward trajectory to last. In response to an OIA, Corrections advised that, even though they are not building a new prison, they are in the process of expanding capacity at eight existing prisons using Chinese made modular (prefab) ‘rapid deployment cells’ – although according to Corrections Association president, Alan Whitley, the deployment has been far from rapid.
The extra beds will be at the following prisons and cost $406 million:
Prison New beds
Rolleston 244
Tongariro 122
Christchurch Womens 122
Christchurch Mens 244
Rimutaka 244
Total new beds 976
Three other “prisons also have capacity projects in progress” budgeted at $916 million. Corrections claims the new beds in these three prisons “do not all represent expansions” as these new units will allow older units at these prisons to be disestablished. Obviously, older units are unlikely to be disestablished if there is a blowout in inmate numbers.
Waikeria 600
Mt Eden 318
Arohata 69
Total new prison beds
Altogether, the Government is adding a total of 1,890 new beds. Currently, each of the four largest prisons in the country holds approximately 950 prisoners. By adding another 1,890 beds, the Government is surreptitiously constructing the equivalent of two large prisons – at a cost of just under $1.5 billion. This covert expansion in prison capacity highlights the hypocrisy of Kelvin Davis’ hope that Labour would do things differently.
Winston Peters: “No you can’t repeal three strikes”
I agree with Andrew Little that reducing the prison population is not that difficult. But to do so requires legislative changes such as repealing the disastrous Bail Amendment Act which doubled the number of prisoners on remand within two years. The problem is that to pass the necessary legislation, Labour requires support from NZ First – and when Andrew Little proposed repealing the repugnant three strikes law, Winston Peters rapidly pulled the rug out from under his feet.
The coalition agreement
The problem is that when the Labour Party went into this alliance with New Zealand First, it failed to make justice and prison reform a part of the coalition agreement. The only law and order related issue in the agreement was to:
Strive towards adding 1800 new Police officers over three years and commit to a serious focus on combatting organised crime and drugs.
Not only did Labour fail to address prison reform with its coalition partners when forming a government, nor did it seek cross-party agreement with the National party on any of these issues. Given that National takes a ‘tough on crime’ law and order approach (which inevitably involves building new prisons), establishing a 15-year goal without cross party agreement is unbelievably naive. New Zealand has a three-year election cycle. Labour would have to win five elections in a row to make progress towards such a long-term goal.
You can’t win with two captains
Since we’re all Kiwis, let’s use a sporting analogy. Setting a 15-year goal to reduce the prison population by 30% without cross-party agreement is like playing an endless game of rugby without a referee. When they get possession of the ball (i.e. the power to govern), each side just does whatever it wants. The goals and strategies of previous governments are cast aside.
Similarly, a coalition agreement with New Zealand First which does not include an agreement to reform the justice system is like an All Black team with two captains (in this case, Jacinda and Winston). Jacinda captains the forwards and they want to attack (to reform the justice system and reduce the prison population). Winston captains the backs and when it comes to law and order, he just wants to play defence (and lock em up). When the backs and the forwards have different captains and opposing strategies, it’s a struggle to move the ball forward, let alone score a try.
This situation highlights the difficulty of introducing radical reform in a democracy with elections every three years. 90% of democratic countries have four or five-year terms which give governments more time to make changes. And the prison population could be reduced by 50% within five years. But even that wouldn’t solve the problem facing Jacinda Ardern when the other captain is constantly undermining the team.
The lesson that Labour should learn from this is that they should have been a lot tougher negotiating with Winston Peters before they got into bed with him and agreed to form a team (apologies for the mixed metaphors). In the justice arena, getting into bed with Winston has been an abortion – with billions still getting poured down a bottomless hole.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 2 Comments November 17, 2019 November 17, 2019 4 Minutes
Criminologists want name change – to Climate Crisis Response Bill
Criminology graduates and a senior criminology lecturer at VUW are calling for the Climate Change Amendment Bill currently before Parliament to be totally transformed so that it reflects the reality that the world is facing an existential crisis.
Graduates taking CRIM 417 (an Honours level course called Crimes against the Environment) and their Course Coordinator have crafted a comprehensive submission to Parliament. The criminologists are calling for the name of the Bill to be changed to the Climate Crisis Response Bill and the Climate Change Commission proposed in the Bill to be called the Climate Crisis Commission.
The submission is supported by Ollie Langridge who has been conducting a one-man protest outside Parliament for the last two months calling on the Government to declare a climate emergency.
The submission also recommends that strategies adopted by Parliament based on the Commission’s recommendations should be made compulsory – with financial penalties for industries, agencies and individuals who fail to comply.
Finally, the criminologists are suggesting that regulatory impact statements (RIS) for all future legislation proposed by Parliament, relating to any matter whatsoever, should be required to describe the likely contribution of any new policies, procedures or regulations (resulting from the proposed legislation) to future greenhouse gas emissions.
This would ensure that in the future, Parliament would be required to take the climate crisis into consideration with every single Bill that comes before it. So, for instance, if the Government wanted to build a new prison at a likely cost of $1 billion, it would need to produce a regulatory impact statement describing how much carbon dioxide building and operating such a prison would emit. In other words, it would need to be sure that a new prison was compatible with the goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Another example is that it would require the Government to justify decisions such as giving $50 million to Te Papa (announced in the budget for 2019) when the building will likely suffer irreparable damage from rising seas by the end of the century.
Highlighting the emergency – huskies appear to be walking on water in northwest Greenland.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized Leave a comment July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019 1 Minute
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 1 Comment March 19, 2019 March 19, 2019 3 Minutes
More people killed by drink drivers under the limit than over it
Julie Anne Genter wants a zero road toll but says it will take decades to reduce it
In 2017, 378 people died on New Zealand roads. In June last year, the Automobile Association followed up with a media release claiming “We now have more crash deaths where people test positive for a drug than (test positive for) alcohol”.
This statement was simply not true. In fact, twice as many deaths were caused by drink drivers than drivers under the influence of (other) drugs.
The AA got its figures by making an OIA request to the New Zealand Transport Authority. NZTA’s response stated that in 2017, out of 378 deaths, 79 people died in drug-related accidents and 70 people were killed by drink drivers who were over the legal limit (or who refused to supply a sample). The point to note here is that the AA didn’t ask NZTA how many people were killed by drivers under the influence of alcohol; they asked how many were killed by drivers over the legal limit.
Based on this response, AA mistakenly concluded that drugged-up drivers were killing more people than drink-drivers.
The media bought this erroneous conclusion hook, line and sinker. Stuff headlined the story: Drug-impaired drivers now involved in more fatal crashes than drink-drivers. The Herald said: Automobile Association study finds drugs cause more fatal crashes than alcohol. The misinformation even made it to an international audience after the Guardian agreed: New Zealand drug-driving deaths surpass drink-driving toll for first time. None of these media did any fact checking.
All of these stories were, in Trumpian vernacular, ‘fake news’ – because the AA forgot to ask how many people were killed by drink drivers who were under the legal limit in addition to those who were over it. So I asked NZTA the question. They then disclosed that, in fact, 154 people were killed by drink drivers in 2017. This is almost double the number killed in drug-related accidents. See the NZTA’s response to one of my questions below:
Answer by NZTA to OIA question: how many people were killed by drink drivers who were under the legal limit in 2017?
The AA used their dodgy data about drug deaths to argue that police should be given saliva testing kits to tackle what they called this ‘silent killer’. A spokesperson for the AA, was quoted as saying:
“The AA has called drugged driving a silent killer on our roads for years and these latest figures confirm how prevalent drugs are in fatal crashes.”
There is no doubt that the number of deaths on the road related to drug use is rising. However, it is still nowhere near the number killed by drink-drivers.
Remarkably, the figures also show that slightly more people were killed by drink drivers under the legal limit (80) than were killed by drivers over the limit (74). What this suggests is that the decision to lower the legal limit from 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath to 250 micrograms in 2014 has had no impact on the road toll – which, in fact, has been going up for the last six years (see chart).
Alcohol & drug use contributes to over half of all road deaths
In 2017, 154 alcohol related deaths plus 79 drug related deaths suggests a total of 233 people were killed by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Deducting 21 cases where the driver was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, that’s 212 or 56% of all road deaths that year. Because the AA has been misinterpreting the data for years, it mistakenly claims on its website that alcohol and drugs contribute to only one third of deaths on New Zealand roads.
A zero solution
This leads to an obvious, but politically unpalatable, policy recommendation. If we want to cut the road toll, we need to cut the legal limit for adults to zero – just as we did for teenagers in 2011. This might seem radical but the idea is even supported by those who make a habit of drink driving. At the Make A Plan (MAP) programme for repeat drink drivers in Wellington, participants are asked why they chose to drive after they had been drinking. Often they say: “I thought I was alright to drive”.
In other words, although they had been drinking, they didn’t feel drunk; they were unable to judge whether or not their drinking may have put them over the limit. Participants generally agree that if the limit was zero, the situation would be crystal clear and it would be much easier to make the decision – one drink and they would not be allowed to drive.
Obviously, this would not stop everyone. There are plenty of ‘bloody idiots’ who just don’t care. But for the generally law-abiding citizens among us, legal clarity is helpful. If you intend to go drinking, don’t drive. Such a move would demonstrate the Government was serious about the audacious target of zero deaths on New Zealand roads set by Julie Anne Genter in April 2018. Remarkably, in January 2019 Ms Genter changed tack 180 degrees and said it would be many decades before the road toll would be significantly reduced. It seems like she’s given up.
I know something that might help. Reduce the legal limit to zero. Any road safety strategy with a higher than zero alcohol limit has zero hope of achieving zero road deaths.
rogerbrooking Drink Driving, Uncategorized 2 Comments February 16, 2019 February 17, 2019 4 Minutes
Public reaction to murder of Grace Millane racist, sexist & politically dangerous
New Zealanders like their murder victims to be young, attractive, female – and white. When they are, we make a real fuss. Look at the publicity currently generated by the murder of 18-year-old Christie Marceau in 2011 and 22-year-old British backpacker, Grace Millane, just two weeks ago. Here’s just a few of the recent headlines: Grace’s legacy – Prominent women challenge men and Govt and ‘Senseless killing’ – Grace’s death was like my daughters.
Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, felt it necessary to make a national apology claiming All New Zealanders ‘will feel heartbreak for that family’. The Guardian summed it up claiming that Grace Millane murder prompts outpouring of grief in New Zealand.
‘Missing white woman syndrome’
It’s intense. Writing on Stuff, Alison Mau pointed out that ‘plentiful pictures of gorgeous Grace were available’ in this plethora of publicity and implied that all this attention is inherently racist. She noted that social scientists call it ‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’ defined by…
“the media’s undue focus on upper-middle-class white women who disappear, with the disproportionate degree of coverage they receive being compared to cases of missing men or boys, women of colour, and women of lower social classes.”
Mau reports that in Western countries like New Zealand, numerous studies reveal “viewers will stay glued to the set to hear endlessly about young, photogenic missing women – but only if they’re white” and can be depicted as “innocent” and “angelic”.
Mau makes the point that Grace is the 15th woman to be murdered in New Zealand this year. But none of the other murders acquired anywhere near the same amount of attention – bearing in mind 31% of homicide victims are Maori and 62% of victims are male. Paul Little argued in Grace Millane case highlights a terrible double standard that:
“Grace Millane and her memory deserve every tribute, and her whānau deserve every iota of sympathy that comes their way. But so did those other victims… we act as though all lives aren’t created equal.”
Christie Marceau – innocent & angelic
The murder of Christie Marceau
The media’s response to the murder of Christie Marceau was equally intense. She was also young, attractive, female and white. Christie was killed by Ashkay Chand who two months earlier had already threatened to rape and kill her. Much of the subsequent outrage, driven by Garth McVicar, was directed at the judge who allowed Chand out of prison on bail. McVicar even started a campaign to have the bail laws amended so this would never happen again.
Sure enough, two years later, National passed the Bail Amendment Act which doubled the number of prisoners on remand in three years and created a crisis in prison capacity. In response, Justice Minister, Andrew Little, said Labour wanted to reduce the prison population by 30%.
One of the concerns about the Grace Millane case is that Google and British media breached the temporary suppression order and named the alleged perpetrator. Peter Williams claimed the internet has compromised justice and wondered whether he can get a fair trial. Williams also found it totally inappropriate that the Prime Minister made a public apology to the Millane family. He wrote:
“Has a New Zealand political leader ever made such an emotional comment about a homicide victim before? More pertinently, why would the Prime Minister think it appropriate to comment on one homicide victim in a week when there were at least three other homicides in the country? Politicising a homicide case is not appropriate. Do it for one, and you really should do it for all.”
And not just for the families of attractive, young, white females. Each year approximately 50 people are murdered in New Zealand – giving us one of the lowest homicide rates in the world. No one in the Government has ever apologised to any of these families – not even to the family of Christie Marceau where a judge was (incorrectly) accused of being at fault.
Media commentator, Jim Tucker, thinks the outpouring of outrage is because Grace’s murder has embarrassed us overseas. It seems we’re so embarrassed that a …
“cohort of prominent women including former Prime Ministers Helen Clarke and Jenny Shipley signed an open letter to the men and government of New Zealand and submitted it to the Prime Minister’s office. The letter stated that New Zealand had some of the worst statistics for violence against women in the OECD and listed actions each party could take to make our country a safer place.”
Of course, different countries define and report violence using a variety of methodologies so it is not clear how reliable these statistics actually are. Nevertheless, in yet another headline, the ‘Government says it is listening’.
That’s a worry. Ever since the law and order referendum initiated by Norm Withers in 1999, New Zealand has been listening to populists with a penchant for punitive legislation. Just this year, a Bill was introduced requiring judges to impose a six-month prison sentence on anyone who attacks a paramedic or other first responder. At the beginning of December, new legislation came into effect penalising attempted strangulation. Both of these will put more people in prison.
Why is this politically dangerous?
It’s dangerous because it risks escalating the pathetic competition between political parties to be tough on crime which has gone on for the last 20 years – and because it will undermine Andrew Little’s aborted attempts to reduce the prison population.
So how will politicians respond to the murder of Grace Millane? Chances are some right-wing MP will try to re-introduce a private member’s Bill advocating the death penalty for the murder of attractive, young, white women. Further down the track, some other MPs could decide to hang the killers of less attractive, young, white women – or even wrinkled, older, white women. That would keep the prison population down.
Gavin Hawthorn: sending him to prison does not make us any safer
Gavin Hawthorn: 13 convictions for drink driving
News that Gavin Hawthorn has recently been convicted of drink driving yet again has caused oodles of outrage in the media. Hawthorn has already killed four people in two separate accidents. In 2004 he was convicted of manslaughter over the death of his friend Lance Fryer and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released in 2013 and has now been caught drink-driving again – for the 13th time. On this occasion Judge Johnston sentenced him to six months home detention and disqualified him from driving for two years.
The headlines were horrified. Stuff stated it like this: Recidivist drink-driver Gavin Hawthorn convicted again, leading to call for permanent driving ban. Newshub harrumphed that it was ‘Appalling’: Porirua man Gavin Hawthorn escapes jail after 12th drink-driving conviction. The Herald highlighted: NZ’s worst drink driver caught drunk behind the wheel again. Duncan Garner was especially incensed arguing that:
“This judge has failed to keep us safe as New Zealanders. We’ve been let down by his profession once again. He has let us down, now we are in harm’s way.” He went on to say the case was an example of why the public “have little confidence in the justice system”.
Blaming judges is misguided and myopic. This is what Garth McVicar and the senseless sentencing trust have been doing for years. All that has achieved is a burgeoning prison population and a crisis in capacity. At $100,000 per prisoner, per year and a reoffending rate of 60% within two years of release, clearly this is a failed strategy – and a massive waste of taxpayer money.
Keeping us safe
The justification for all this moral outrage is the dubious assumption that sending ‘dangerous’ people to prison ‘keeps us safe’. Does it? Let’s look at the facts.
Gavin Hawthorn killed his last victim in 2003. Between 2003 and 2017, another 5,402 people have died on New Zealand roads – an average of 360 people a year – or nearly one every day. Half of these deaths are caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both.
The point is that most of these people died during the ten years that Hawthorn was in prison. Clearly his incarceration did not make us any safer. Giving the judge a hard time for not sending him to prison on his current conviction does not change this reality.
So, what’s the solution? The only intelligent comments in the media came from Andrew Dickens on NewstalkZB who asked rather quaintly: What to do with our drinkiest drink driver? He argued with considerable insight that:
“Indefinite incarceration and licence deprivation is not what this man needs. What he needs is to STOP FREAKING DRINKING.”
Dickens’ answer to the problems posed by the likes of Gavin Hawthorn is to put him into a drug court (in New Zealand known as AODTC – Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Courts). To be eligible, defendants must be alcohol or drug dependent and facing a prison sentence. A treatment plan for each participant is developed by the judge, taking into account the views of treatment providers, support workers and lawyers; it involves rehabilitation, counselling, drug-testing, community service and making amends to victims.
Dickens describes the process like this:
“They’re a three-phase, 18-month-long programme designed for high-needs and high-risk addicts who are facing prison, or who have tried but failed treatment programmes in the past.”
Drug courts have the potential to help thousands of offenders, not just drink drivers. And there is no shortage of available candidates in New Zealand. In 2011, judges told the Law Commission that 80% of all offending was alcohol and drug related. In 2017, Northland district court judge, Greg Davis, who sees a lot of methamphetamine related crime, said up to 90% of all offending was related to issues with addiction.
Currently, the only two drug courts in the country are both in Auckland. Hawthorn is serving his sentence of Home Detention in Paraparaumu – so a drug court in Wellington would be helpful. We need such courts in all our major cities.
Compulsory AOD assessment
Another strategy is available to target drink drivers in particular – one that also involves assessment and treatment. Currently out of 20,000 people convicted of this offence each year, only 5% – those disqualified indefinitely – are required to have an alcohol and drug assessment to see if they have their drinking under control before getting their driver’s licence back. Many of the remainder are sent to prison – just like Gavin Hawthorn. If any drink driver who incurred a second conviction was required by law to have an AOD assessment before their disqualification could be lifted, fully half of the 20,000 drink drivers would be assessed. As a result, there would be a lot less people in prison.
An evaluation of the NZ drug courts shows they also reduce imprisonment – 282 participants have been kept out of prison during the six years the two Auckland courts have been operating.
So if the government implemented these two strategies, this would shift the focus of our justice system away from punishing alcohol and drug addicted offenders towards treating them instead. This would surely help Justice Minister, Andrew Little, get closer to the Government goal of reducing the prison population by 30%. Maybe it would even moderate the media to tone down their moral outrage.
rogerbrooking Alcohol, drugs and crime, Lack of rehabilitation, Media bias, Uncategorized Leave a comment November 29, 2018 November 30, 2018 4 Minutes
It’s not the Justice system that’s broken – it’s the political system
Chester Borrows, head of the Justice Advisory Panel
Writing in Newsroom last week, Laura Walters discusses the work being done by the Justice Advisory Panel appointed by Andrew Little. She says the Panel has found that:
“there is widespread acceptance that New Zealand has a broken justice system”.
She says the head of the advisory panel, Chester Burrows, claims there needs to be a change of focus from punishment to healing and quotes him as saying:
“the type of changes being promised would take at least a generation to be delivered.”
Apparently, Justice Minister, Andrew Little, and National Party justice spokesman Mark Mitchell agreed with Borrows that transformative change like this would take time.
The notion that the justice system is broken is based on three key statistics. The first is that prison population recently hit an all-time high of 10,800 – although it may have dropped a bit since then. The second is that 50% of inmates are Maori even though they make up only 15% of the general population. The third is that rehabilitation programmes are ineffective with the result that 60% of prison inmates re-offend within two years of being released.
Graph showing the growth of the NZ prison population 1900 to 2016
Rather than ‘broken’, the number of Kiwis in prison suggests the system is far too efficient. It has been locking up Kiwis in record numbers, currently 220 inmates per 100,000 of the general population. The reality is that New Zealand incarcerates more people than corrupt, undemocratic countries such as Honduras – which has the highest murder rate in the world but a prison rate of only 200. We also lock up more than other western democracies like Australia where the rate of imprisonment is 167 per 100,000; England & Wales (143); Canada (114); Finland (57); and Iceland (38) – which is rated the safest country in the world and has exactly the same number of murders per head of population as New Zealand.
Solving the primary problem
So, if we solved the first problem – that there are too many Kiwis in prison – that would largely solve the other two. For instance, if there were only 5,000 people in prison instead of 10,000, only 2,500 would be Maori instead of 5,000. Similarly, even if 60% continued to reoffend, that would be 3,000 reoffenders instead of 6,000. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t tackle institutional racism in the justice system or try to reduce re-offending, but the greatest gains will be achieved by quick-fix measures which reduce the prison population.
Once upon a time, Andrew Little would have agreed. He said he wanted to reduce the muster by 30% within 15 years. He seems to have given up on that goal. Instead of reducing the prison muster, now he wants to fix the entire justice system and claims it will take a generation – which is about 30 years.
That’s a shame – because the prison population could be easily be reduced by 30% within three years. All the government has to do is repeal the Bail Amendment Act of 2013 which led to an extra 1,500 people sent to prison on remand (i.e. not yet convicted); and allow 1,500 low risk prisoners to be released automatically half way through their sentence – instead of making them go before the Parole Board which, according to Mike Williams, has lost the plot.
The need for public support
Unfortunately, after failing to repeal the three strikes law, Andrew Little seems to have given up on amending any legislation at all. Instead, it seems he wants to change the punitive culture that Garth McVicar, the media and the two major political parties have generated in the last 20 years by talking ‘tough on crime’ – a process known as penal populism. Instead of using legislation, it seems Mr Little now wants public support to change the public narrative – but admits he’ll have to wait 30 years to get it. This text he sent me a few days ago demonstrates his shift of focus.
Andrew Little needs to get on with it
The problem is, Little doesn’t have 30 years. He doesn’t even have 15. This coalition government has two years to run. Simon Bridges is not doing well as leader of the Nats and so Labour may get another three years. So if Little is serious about cutting the prison muster, or reforming the justice system, he needs to get on with it.
And he’s dead wrong when he says it’s not about the legislation. The current crisis in the prison muster is a direct result of a raft of tough on crime bills passed by both National and Labour in the last 20 years; both parties have been all too willing to jump on Garth McVicar’s bandwagon to ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key’.
Andrew Little seems to have realised the futility of this approach; he recently referred to McVicar as ‘loopy’. But there is no doubt that the current crisis in our prison system is the direct result of 20 years of fear-mongering and scare tactics about keeping the community safe. Now Mr Little wants to reverse course. But he can’t repeal any of these measures because Labour doesn’t even have the support of coalition partner, NZ First, let alone the New Zealand public. I rest my case. It’s not the justice system that’s broken. It’s the political system.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized Leave a comment October 29, 2018 October 29, 2018 4 Minutes
Kelvin Davis has a cunning plan
Baldrick: “I have a cunning plan!”
When Blackadder and Baldrick were in a difficult situation, Baldrick would come up with a turn of phrase which became a standing joke: “I have a cunning plan” he would say.
The Labour government is also in a tricky situation with regard to justice reform. Andrew Little and Kelvin Davis want to reduce the prison population by 30%. The fly in the ointment is NZ First which shot down Little’s recent proposal to repeal the three strikes law.
Given NZ First’s uncompromising stance on law and order, Labour is unlikely to pass any legislative proposals related to crime and punishment in this parliamentary term. But just as Baldrick used to do, Kelvin Davis and Corrections have come up with a cunning plan.
Instead of repealing the three strikes law or the Bail Amendment Act, Davis has persuaded management in the Department to alleviate obstacles in the way offenders are processed in prison. Corrections deputy national commissioner, Leigh Marsh (below), was put in charge of the project and has come up with two main strategies.
Leigh Marsh, deputy national commissioner – the man with a plan.
Bail Support Service
One is to assist the growing number of defendants on remand apply for bail in the community instead of spending months in prison waiting for their case to come up.
Since the Bail Amendment Act was passed in 2013 making it more difficult for defendants to get bail, offenders are now far more likely to be remanded in prison. However, they may be eligible to apply for electronically monitored bail (known as ebail); the defendant has to come up with a suitable address, and whoever lives there (usually family), has to give their permission.
To apply, the offender has to write to the people in the house and ask if he can stay there on ebail. He may not know the exact address which is another obstacle. Even if he does, whoever he writes to might not bother to reply. If they say ‘no’, then the prisoner has to come up with someone else to write to. Of course, all this assumes the prisoner can read and write – when the reality is that 70% of those in prison struggle with basic literacy. In other words, this is a slow frustrating procedure and most of those on remand just give up and wait till their day in court.
According to Corrections deputy national commissioner, Leigh Marsh, Corrections has put a rocket under remand by creating a Bail Support Service and a bail phone App. Bail Officers visit the prisoner the day after he is remanded in prison to assist with the paperwork, and contact the appropriate support people. They also liase with defence counsel and try to get the defendant’s bail application before a judge within a week. This has cut dramatically the amount of time that prisoners spend on remand. Once offenders get out, they get their cell phone back and the App helps them stay on track with their bail conditions.
Parole ready
Sir Ron Young – parole board chairman
Corrections’ other new strategy is to help sentenced prisoners become ‘parole ready’. The background to this is that the Parole Board will not generally release any prisoner until he, or she, has completed a criminogenic rehabilitation programme. Often the Board insists that prisoners must do two rehab programmes before they are considered ready for release.
The problem was that until Kelvin Davis got involved, Corrections made little effort to put prisoners into programmes until they were near the end of their sentence. That means most prisoners would end up serving almost their entire sentence, even though they became eligible for parole after completing one third.
By failing to put prisoners into programs early on in their sentence, Corrections was actively preventing them from being paroled – including low to medium risk prisoners who make up the bulk of the prison population.
Leigh Marsh says that Corrections is now making more of an effort to place prisoners into programs before their first parole hearing – something they have never done before. As a result, in the last 12 months approximately 5% more prisoners have been released on parole.
These changes have made a significant difference. According to Newsroom:
The population peaked in March at 10,820 and on 3 October had dropped to 10,035 – a 7.3% fall.
Two days later Stuff reported:
“The prison population has dipped below 10,000 for the first time in more than two years”.
Given that prison numbers have been rising steadily for over 50 years, it is too early to tell whether this is just a temporary blip or part of a new trend. One thing is clear. This new approach involves a great deal more respect and humanity for offenders and a much greater commitment to due process. Instead of chucking offenders into prison to take their chances with an unresponsive system riddled with insurmountable obstacles, now Corrections is actively trying to help offenders get out and stay out.
I have to say – that’s a novel idea – one that has never been tried before in New Zealand.
But wait, there’s more. It costs $110,000 a year to keep someone in prison. Since there are already 800 less prisoners, that’s a potential saving of $88 million in one year. If these initiatives had been introduced 20 years ago, the savings would have been $1.7 billion. If these initiatives continue to work and eventually cut the prison population by Labour’s goal of 3,000, that would save $330 million a year. Over the next 20 years, we would save $6.6 billion.
Even Blackadder would agree – this is a very cunning plan. It’s called common sense.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 2 Comments October 7, 2018 October 8, 2018 4 Minutes
How to cut the prison population by 50% – long term solutions
Andrew Little wants to roll out “therapeutic courts” to treat offenders with addictions
Cutting the prison population by 30% is easy: repeal the Bail Amendment Act and allow more short-term prisoners to be released after serving half their sentence. These suggestions are discussed in How to cut the prison population by 50% – quick fix solutions.
But to get to 50%, we also need to stop putting so many people in prison in the first place. And we need to reduce the re-offending rate.
Unlike the quick fixes, some long-term solutions will require financial investment. Others, such as raising the price of alcohol will actually increase government revenues.
Increase the price of alcohol and decriminalise cannabis
Despite the endless scaremongering about methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids, alcohol is by far the biggest drug problem in the country. In Alcohol in our Lives, the Law Commission said 80% of all offending is alcohol and drug related. The Commission concluded that increasing the price of alcohol 10% (by raising the taxation component) was the single most effective intervention to reduce alcohol related harm and would raise $350 million in revenue.
It also recommended an increase in the legal age of purchase to 20, restricting the sale of alcohol in supermarkets (which now account for 70% of all alcohol sold in New Zealand), and an increase in funding for addiction and mental health treatment. The National Government ignored all these recommendations.
Decriminalising cannabis would also help keep drug users out of prison. If the Government wanted to be really bold, it could decriminalise possession of all drugs as Portugal has done. In July this year, the New Zealand Drug Foundation released a similar policy, Whakawatea Te Huarahi. The Foundation describes this as:
“a model for drug law reform which aims to replace conviction with treatment and prohibition with regulation… under this model, all drugs would be decriminalised. Cannabis would be strictly regulated and government spending on education and treatment increased.”
This would make a big difference. In 2015, offenders with drug offences accounted for 13% of all sentenced prisoners. So apart from a few big time drug dealers who would remain in prison, if personal possession was decriminalised, that’s another 800 people or so that could be treated in the community instead of in prison.
Increase the number of drug courts
Decriminalisation needs to be aligned with a significant increase in funding for ‘drug courts’. Here’s how they work. When someone appears in court with alcohol or drug related offending, the judge gives him a choice. Instead of sending him to prison for the umpteenth time, if the offender agrees to be dealt with in the drug court and go to treatment, he may avoid going to prison.
The offender comes back to court every two weeks so the judge can monitor his progress. The whole process usually takes about 18 months. If the offender successfully completes everything he’s told to do, he avoids a prison sentence. Those who ‘graduate’ say this process is much tougher than going to prison.
This is a highly effective intervention. But right now, there are only two drug courts in the whole country, and they ‘treat’ only 100 offenders a year. Over the next five years, New Zealand needs to increase the number of Drug Courts to at least ten. Justice Minister, Andrew Little, has already agreed to ‘roll them out’. This will require a significant increase in funding for AOD treatment services in the community, but it would keep at least 500 offenders a year out of prison. If drug courts were rolled out nationwide, even more could be managed in the community.
Increase funding for reintegration services
Sending less people to prison is paramount. Reducing the risk of reoffending is equally important. Currently, within twelve months, 28% of ex-prisoners are back inside. After two years, 41% are back in prison. These figures have changed little in the last 20 years, despite a massive increase in the availability of alcohol and drug treatment in prison; and despite a concerted effort by Corrections in the last few years to reduce reoffending by 25%.
The problem is Corrections spends approximately $150 million a year on rehabilitation programmes in prison – on programmes that don’t work. There’s a reason they don’t work. The reality is that 15,000 people (most on short sentences) are released from prison every year. Many are alienated from family and have nowhere to live. Very few have jobs to go to. Hundreds have no ID, no bank account and struggle to register for the dole. In Beyond the Prison Gate, the Salvation Army recommended…
“that the Department of Corrections ensures all ex-prisoners are provided with six months of accommodation… and create industry schemes that will employ prisoners for … 12 months post release if they have no other employment.”
Here’s the crux of the problem. While the Department spends $150 million on rehabilitation in prison every year, in 2017 only $3 million was budgeted for supported accommodation – for an estimated 640 ex-prisoners. Until $150 million is also spent on half-way houses and reintegration services, the funding spent on rehabilitation in prison is money down the toilet.
There are many other options available. But until we have a Government with the courage to ignore the moral panic perpetuated by the Senseless Sentencing Trust over the last 20 years, our prison muster will continue to multiply; and millions of taxpayer dollars will be squandered on the dubious delusion that locking citizens away creates a safer society.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 9 Comments December 25, 2017 December 25, 2017 4 Minutes
How to cut the prison population by 50% in five years – quick fix solutions
Andrew Little wants to reduce the prison population by 30%
In September 2017, New Zealand’s prison population hit an all-time high of 10,470, of whom 2,983 or 28% were on remand. The background to this boom is covered in Explaining NZ’s record high prison population.
Whatever the causes, the situation is clearly out of control. The operating cost of our prison system is about $100,000 per prisoner or $1.5 billion a year. The National Government was planning a new prison at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. According to the new Justice Minister, Andrew Little, unless we start doing things differently, New Zealand will need to build a new prison every two or three years.
At the 2017 election, Gareth Morgan proposed reducing the prison muster by 40% over ten years. The Labour coalition wants to reduce it by 30% over 15 years. However, both Kelvin Davis, the new Corrections Minister and Andrew Little have been very vague about how they intend to achieve this. Both also seemed to think it was complicated and would take a long time.
Reducing the prison population is not difficult. The simplest approach is to repeal most of the ‘tough on crime’ legislation that has been passed in the last 25 years. There are also some easy administrative fixes which will reduce the prison population by up to 3,000 very quickly. This article describes some of the quick fix solutions. (Also see Roger Brooking interviewed by Hilary Barry on Breakfast on this subject.)
Reduce the number of prisoners on remand
Of all the punitive legislation passed since 1980, the Bail Amendment Act in 2013 produced the biggest bump in prison numbers. This disastrous piece of legislation was introduced after the murder of Christie Marceau by 18-year-old Akshay Chand – while on bail. However, this was not a failure of the existing bail laws. It was the result of an inadequate risk assessment by the mental health services dealing with Chand, who was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and found unfit to stand trial. He was released after a forensic health nurse advised Judge McNaughton that Chand had been taking anti-depressant medication for two weeks and could be “safely and successfully” treated in the community.
In response to the media outrage at the murder led by Garth McVicar, National passed the Bail Amendment Act making it much tougher for defendants to be granted bail. Projections by the Ministry of Justice claimed the new Bill would increase the number of prisoners on remand by less than 60. But three years later, there are 1,500 new prisoners on remand. None of them have yet been convicted of a crime. They’re being held in prison because a mental health nurse, not a judge, got it wrong and because National gave in to the moral outrage perpetrated by McVicar. As a result, the Corrections Department says we need a new prison. We don’t. We just need to repeal the Bail Amendment Act.
Release more short-term, low risk prisoners
The other quick fix is to let out more short-term prisoners early. The Parole Act defines a short-term prison sentence as one of two years or less. Short-term prisoners don’t go before the parole board – they’re automatically released after serving half their sentence. In 2015, there were nearly 6,000 short-term inmates on a given day (although thousands more than this cycle through the prison within a 12 month period). The Board would be totally overwhelmed if it had to see all these inmates, many of whom are in prison for quite minor offences. So automatic release at the half-way mark is an administrative convenience.
Graph showing the number of short term prisons has remained constant while the number of long term prisoners continues to rise – 1980 to 2009
A long-term sentence is anything over two years (from two years up to life). Since 1985 ‘tough on crime’ legislation has significantly increased the number of long term prisoners (see chart above); the number of people given ‘long term’ sentences between two and three years went up 475%. In 2015, there were 765 inmates in this group, out of a total of nearly 5,000 long term prisoners.
These prisoners can only be released before the end of their sentence if the Parole Board decides they no longer pose an ‘undue risk’ to the community. Most attend their first parole hearing after completing one third of their sentence. But that doesn’t mean they get out. In the last few years, the Parole Board has become increasingly risk averse and now less than 5% of inmates are released at their first hearing – after which they serve the rest of their sentence in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. Most long-term prisoners now serve approximately 75% of their sentence. The remainder serve their entire sentence.
So if the definition of ‘short-term’ was changed from two years to three years. That would allow an additional 765 inmates to be released automatically after serving half their sentence. Prisoners serving four or five years could be automatically released after serving two thirds. In 2015, there were 1,645 inmates serving between two and five years. Add this to the 1,500 no longer being held on remand and within five years, the population would be down about 3,000 – which is 30% within five years.
Prisoners also need accommodation and jobs when they get out. That requires long-term solutions, which would reduce the prison population by a further 20%. These solutions are addressed in How to cut the prison population by 50% – long term solutions.
Open letter to Andrew Little & Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern promised “to bring kindness back”.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister
Andrew Little, Minister of Justice
Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Dear Ms Ardern and Mr Little,
Your new government has taken some really positive steps in the justice arena after just a few short days in office.
Ms Ardern: On 26 October, 2017, in your first comments as Prime Minister, you said ‘I want the government … to bring kindness back’. In the Guardian newspaper read by millions around the world, you were quoted as promising to form an “active” government that would be “focused, empathetic and strong”.
Mr Little: On your first day on the job as the new Minister of Justice you announced that Teina Pora’s $2.5m compensation for wrongful imprisonment would be increased to allow for inflation. That was the decent thing to do.
In the past you also voiced support for David Bain’s compensation claim. On 27 June 2013, you were quoted as saying that Ms Collins’ handling of the case had cost the taxpayer a “hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, just because she’s made a mistake. And we’re all paying for it”. You said she had acted too fast and without proper consideration of the facts, and that: “I think she’s going to be on the wrong side of this.” On 28 June you repeated your view that Justice Minister Judith Collins had “buggered it up”.
You also advocated for the establishment of an independent commission to review miscarriages of justice. On 27 October 2017, it was announced that such a body will be established under the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First. That’s good news – and long overdue.
But this is too late to help David Bain who, after 13 years in prison and another six years fighting for compensation, received $925,000 provided he agreed to cease all further legal action. The National Government stated that the payment was NOT compensation and Mr Bain would NOT receive an official apology. That was hardly a sympathetic response to Mr Bain’s drawn out legal battle for freedom and compensation.
Questions to Ms Ardern & Mr Little:
Given the compassionate response of the new government to Mr Teina Pora’s situation, will your government respond in a similarly empathic and active manner to Mr Bain. More specifically, is your new government willing to:
Advise Mr Bain that the payment he received is, in fact, compensation for the 13 years he spent in prison?
Increase the amount of compensation he received so it is in line with Cabinet guidelines of $100,000 per year spent in prison? This should take his payment from $925,000 to about $1.3 million.
Adjust the $1.3 million for inflation in line with the courageous Teina Pora decision?
Offer Mr Bain an official apology for the egregious mistakes made by the New Zealand police (as identified by Justice Ian Binnie and ignored by Justice Ian Callinan) which contributed to his imprisonment.
Roger Brooking
P.O. Box 29-075, Ngaio, Wellington
rogerbrooking Uncategorized Leave a comment November 5, 2017 November 7, 2017 2 Minutes
An unlikely conversation between Gareth Morgan and Garth McVicar
One TOP party policy that hasn’t received much attention in the run up to the election is Gareth Morgan’s wish to reduce the prison population. He argues that rather than rehabilitating inmates, “prisons nurture crime”.
The Corrections Department’s own figures confirm the fundamental ineffectiveness of their rehabilitation programmes. This means that prisons don’t keep us safe either because these unrehabilitated prisoners are almost all released eventually. And prisons are incredibly expensive chewing up billions of hard earned taxpayer dollars that you could be used to fund more teachers, doctors, social workers and infrastructure.
Morgan: Garth we need to reduce the prison population by 50%. We need the money that Corrections spends on locking up prison inmates for other things like housing the homeless, treating drug addiction and improving mental health services in the community
McVicar: No, you’ve got it all wrong, Gareth. That’s what the prisons are for – to provide shelter for the homeless and take care of people with addictions and mental health problems. We need to put more of these losers in prison and get them off the streets.
Morgan: Yeah but that doesn’t solve the problem, does it? These guys don’t get any help in prison and eventually they get released on parole or at the end of their sentence. So, at the end of the day we’re no better off.
McVicar: That’s easily fixed Gareth. First, we need to abolish parole so these scum serve their whole sentence. We have to stop letting them out early. Second, we need to impose much longer sentences so hopefully these crims just die in prison. After all, life should mean life – not three years then out on parole after one year.
Morgan: But only 0.01% of prisoners have killed someone, you know, committed murder. We can’t lock up robbers, shoplifters, drug addicts and drink drivers for life. Sentencing has to be proportionate – you know what I mean – the punishment should fit the crime. And they need help with their addictions.
McVicar: That left-wing claptrap is all well and good – but we have to lock these crims up for a long time to deter other people from drinking and stealing our stuff – otherwise everyone will be doing it.
“Prison isn’t the solution to crime”
Morgan: But the academics say that this so-called theory of deterrence doesn’t really work – because most crims are mentally ill, brain damaged or addicted to alcohol or crack. They mostly commit crimes when they’re high as kites or drunk as skunks or to feed their addiction and the possibility of going to prison doesn’t even dawn on them.
McVicar: Don’t talk to me about academics. They’re the ones that got us into this mess by claiming that crime is the result of childhood abuse and dysfunctional parenting. It’s got nothing to do with parenting. My parents beat the crap out of me and look how I turned out. I don’t need an academic to tell me right from wrong. Crime is a personal choice made by people with no moral fibre. Bugger this namby pamby approach, we need to use more corporal punishment on our children – that’s what turns them into real men.
Morgan: But it’s not just men Garth. There’s more and more women going to prison now as well. The vast majority of them have been sexually abused as children and because they’re psychologically damaged, they team up with abusive partners who beat the crap out of them.
McVicar: Well if you choose an abusive partner, you’re deliberately choosing to get beaten up. So, getting beaten up is a personal choice – just like crime. We have to take responsibility for our lives and stop blaming everyone else for our problems. The middle-class intellectuals have been coddling crims for way too long.
Morgan: But we can’t keep locking up more and more people Garth. Prisons are expensive. The prison population is at an all-time high. We’ve got 10,000 inmates. It costs $100,000 a year to lock up just one inmate and National wants to build another prison. When’s it going to stop?
McVicar: It’ll stop when the perverts are all locked up and the streets are safe to live in again…
Morgan: What do you mean? New Zealand is the second safest country in the world.
McVicar: That’s what I’m saying – locking up the bad guys is the only thing that works. Prisons create peace and harmony in society.
Morgan: (after a long pause with a look of bewilderment on his face) Yeah right!
rogerbrooking Uncategorized Leave a comment September 19, 2017 September 19, 2017 3 Minutes
‘Black hands’ – Stuff & van Beynen making money out of murder
Martin van Beynen
Martin Van Beynen is a columnist for the The Press in Christchurch. He’s followed the David Bain case from the beginning and is clearly obsessed with it. Right from the start, he was convinced David was the murderer. Twenty years later, despite the Privy Council declaration that there was a miscarriage of justice and the finding of the second jury that David was not guilty, Van Beynen has been unable to accept reality. And the reality is – he got it wrong.
But there’s money to be made. So in July 2017, Stuff released a 10 part podcast Van Beynen put together about the case: Why the David Bain story needed to be told one more time. Van Beynen examines the evidence in detail – in minute detail. In the process, he loses all perspective. He’s so busy looking at the individual trees, he fails to see the forest – or that half of it is missing because of the well-documented incompetence of the Dunedin police.
Let’s not forget that during their investigation, the police allowed some crucial trees to be burnt down (eg: the house where the murders took place). And those incest allegations against Robin Bain were fertile soil in which the trees of the forest were growing – but the police threw them out as seedlings before they even got planted. So Van Beynen only examines the decrepit, well worn trees that are still standing. He only sees what he wants to see – just like the police, who at the time of the crime, turned a blind eye towards the allegations of incest.
Using these myopic methods, Van Beynen still thinks David was the murderer. So do the police of course. One has to wonder – after all these years, why Van Beynen can’t admit he got it wrong? He has a reputation for solid investigative journalism. So why is he still in denial about the Bain case? Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he has a brother who works for the police – the same police who destroyed half the trees in the forest. Or perhaps its because Van Beynen works for Stuff, and this is an opportunity for them to take his obsession with the case and make more money off it.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized July 30, 2017 September 16, 2017 2 Minutes
Bill English admits his Government is a moral & fiscal failure
Prisons are a moral and fiscal failure
In 2011, Bill English claimed that prisons were “a moral and fiscal failure” and New Zealand should never build another one. Well said – and achievable – but only if Governments stop pandering to the so-called Sensible Sentencing Trust and the moral panic manufactured by the media whenever a violent crime occurs.
Later that year, the Government set the Corrections Department a goal – to reduce reoffending by 25% (by 2017). Perhaps Mr English thought that if reoffending declined, so would the prison population – or at least it wouldn’t go up.
In October this year, Mr English and the Government had to admit total defeat on both counts. Reoffending has been reduced a little (by about 8%) – but only in the first 12 months after completion of a rehabilitation programme. After that, the reoffending rate is back to normal – which means 52% of prisoners return to prison within five years. The long-term reoffending rate has not changed in years.
In the meantime, the prison population has hit an all-time high and the government says it is going to build yet another prison. This increase in prison capacity is going to cost you and me, the taxpayer, an additional $1 billion. Imagine what the education sector could do with another billion dollars – more teachers, better pay, smaller class sizes, with staff satisfaction and retention improved. Imagine what the health sector could do with another billion dollars – reduced waiting lists, better access to mental health care and addiction treatment, better support for those on low incomes and a reduction in New Zealand’s escalating poverty statistics – all of which would likely lead to less crime.
We have to provide the capacity – yeah right!
Announcing his Government’s moral and fiscal failure, Finance Minister Bill English contradicted his 2011 statement about no more prisons saying: “This is something that has to be done. We have to provide the capacity.”
No – we don’t. There is absolutely nothing inevitable about this increase in our prison population. It is entirely the result of penal policies passed by both Labour and National governments in the last few years – policies which have been getting more and more draconian. In a press release in 2002, Tougher laws driving up prison population, Justice Minister Phil Goff said tougher sentencing and parole laws enacted by the Labour government would increase the prison population by over 20% in the next seven years.
This year Judith Collins said the continuing increase was due to tougher laws passed by National. She said criminals are getting longer sentences but that the muster blowout since 2014 has mostly been driven by a 40% increase in the number of prisoners on remand. That blowout stems from changes to the Bail, Sentencing and Victim’s Rights Acts.
There is absolutely nothing inevitable about this. Prof John Pratt of Victoria University would say it is entirely due to political populism – whereby politicians follow the dubious wisdom of victims groups and the media instead of taking advice from criminologists and justice sector experts.
How Finland cut its prison population
Finland is an example of what can happen when politicians listen to academics. In 2006 in Little done to break cycle of offending, Simon Collins wrote:
“Finland has cut its imprisonment rate by two-thirds in the past 50 years, with no apparent effect on the crime rate.”
He quotes Tapio Lappi-Seppala of the Finnish Institute of Legal Policy who said Finnish judges, lawyers and politicians were ashamed of their high rate of imprisonment compared with other Nordic countries which had quite low rates.
In the 1960s, on their own initiative, judges in Finland started imposing shorter sentences on a variety of offenders. In the 1970s, politicians backed up the judges with two key law changes: imprisonment for theft and drink driving were abolished and replaced by fines and ‘conditional imprisonment’ – offenders stayed out of jail as long as they did not reoffend. Then in 1994, a new sentence of community service was introduced to replace short jail terms.
The result was a dramatic drop in the rate of imprisonment from 195 down to 66 inmates per 100,000 of the population. This proves it can be done. During this same period (1960 to now) New Zealand’s rate of imprisonment has gone up and up. In 2016, it topped 200 people per 100,000 – four times higher than Finland’s. This puts us on a par with Mexico (204) and way above Australia (152), the United Kingdom (146), China (118) and Canada (114). Altogether New Zealand locks up more people per head of population than 150 other countries.
Dr Liam Martin: “Its time to start making different choices.”
Attempts have even been made in New Zealand to turn this around. In Lessons from youth justice for our prison policy, VUW criminology lecturer Dr Liam Martin notes:
“It’s time to start making different choices. Our history of youth justice is a reminder we have changed paths before: in less than a decade between 1988 and 1996, we cut the number of children in state institutions from 2000 to fewer than 100.”
If we can reduce the number of children in state institutions (and the number of psychiatric patients in state care), surely we reduce the number of adults in our prison system. Spending $1 billion to increase prison capacity is an irresponsible and appalling waste of taxpayers’ money. It would be much better spent in the education and health sectors – where it would actually contribute to reduced offending.
rogerbrooking Uncategorized 6 Comments October 30, 2016 October 30, 2016 4 Minutes
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3201
|
__label__wiki
| 0.559884
| 0.559884
|
Discover BCFS
Youth and Teens
International Relief
Sixth Annual Project Cinderella
Project Cinderella Helps Youth Achieve Prom Elegance
Project Cinderella invites the Tyler community to support the sixth annual campaign to gather formal wear to help youth in foster care attend the 2018 prom organized by BCFS Health and Human Services-Tyler. Project Cinderella seeks donations of evening gowns, shoes, jewelry, or monetary donations to help with tuxedo rentals or the purchase of shoes and accessories.
Project Cinderella is an annual effort by BCFS-Tyler that helps youth from foster care and those who have experienced abuse or neglect enjoy the tradition of a high school prom. Tyler community partners Brides and Belles and The Men’s Wearhouse are again helping youth in foster care obtain evening gowns, tuxedos, and fashion accessories to ensure youth look their absolute best for prom. To complete the formal looks, Project Cinderella is reaching out to the Tyler community for help. A gift of $25 can provide a tuxedo rental or enable a youth to shop for his or her own accessories or shoes to celebrate prom exquisitely dressed. Gently used ladies’ shoes and jewelry are also on the wish list.
“Project Cinderella and the prom event make a lasting impression on our youth,” explains BCFS Director Carla McCalope. “Many of them have grown up facing very challenging obstacles, so we work to reinforce positive self-image, strong self-confidence, and to let them know that they are loved. The Tyler community has fiercely supported our past prom events, and we hope this year will be no exception.”
BCFS-Tyler provides youth from foster care and those struggling to transition to adulthood with a support system they can count on, and the tools to become self-sufficient, positive contributors to the community. Often, youth in our care have dropped out of high school, but through our services pursue alternative means to education, including charter schools, GED classes, or online coursework. Unfortunately, these labor-intensive endeavors, while rewarding, come without the social opportunities of a traditional high school experience—no basketball games, no homecoming, and certainly no prom.
“Though these youth have grown up in very unique circumstances,” says McCalope, “we work to provide them with some of the same experiences as other youth their age. Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime, coming-of-age tradition and we don’t want them to miss out.”
The Project Cinderella campaign will last from January 2 through February 28 with the goal to raise $5,000 in monetary donations. The luau-themed prom is set for March 3, 2018.
BCFS Health and Human Services helps Tyler youth from the foster care system, as well as other young adults facing homelessness, poverty, and other challenges. The center provides counseling, case management and assistance with education, employment, housing location and medical care.
Make a donation to Project Cinderella. Or, find out more about the special event by visiting DiscoverBCFS.net/ProjectCinderella
Tags: foster care, tyler, youth and teen programs
BCFS Receives $200,000 Grant to Update Youth Apartments
The Cailloux Foundation has awarded $200,000 to BCFS Health and Human Services to update and carry out general repairs for the organization’s apartment complex that provides safe, affordable housing to local youth aging out of foster care, and young adults 18 to 25 who are battling homelessness.
This is the second grant BCFS has received from The Cailloux Foundation that addresses the housing needs of Kerrville youth. In 2008, the Foundation awarded BCFS a grant to purchase the apartment complex.
Current work is being done by Kerrville-based Anderson Steadham Construction, Inc., and will include sheetrock and air conditioning repair, as well as electricity updates, and upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms. Each unit will be able to house one young adult, or a single mother with her children.
“The apartments provide so much more than just a safe roof over our residents’ heads,” says BCFS Development Officer Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie. “The youth work with BCFS case managers to save money and create a transition plan to get out on their own. Renovating the units helps them take pride in the facility and ultimately in themselves.”
Tenants at the drug and alcohol-free facility are provided case management, counseling, and help with education and employment. For more information about BCFS’ work with youth in the Hill Country, visit DiscoverBCFS.net/Kerrville or call (830) 896-0993.
Tags: at-risk youth, homeless youth, housing, Kerrville, Kerrville Transition Center, youth and teen programs
Men’s Breakfast Speaker Hits It Out of the Ballpark!
Jimmy “The Rookie” Morris has lived a life of inspiration; which made him the perfect speakers for BCFS Health and Human Services’ annual Men’s Breakfast hosted in Kerrville.
The sky was dark and the air was crisp in Kerrville. The thoroughfares seemed empty, but the community turned out in a show of early morning support for BCFS Health and Human Services’ Kerrville Men’s Breakfast. The event, which raised funds to help complete the organization’s new Texas Hill Country Resource Center for children, youth and families, featured uplifting words from former Major League Baseball pitcher Jimmy Morris.
Morris was a high school baseball coach who preached to his team to always follow their dreams, and to be undeterred by naysayers.
“There are two types of people: those that want to see you fail, and those that want to see you succeed. The people at BCFS want you to succeed,” he said to nearly 200 community and business leaders, supporters and youth as day broke in the Texas Hill Country.
Morris coached baseball at Reagan County High School in the 1990s in Big Lake, Texas, a west-Texas oil drilling community. When his team challenged him to follow his own message of never giving up on your dreams, they made a friendly wager: If his team won district, he would try out for the majors again, reigniting a dream extinguished ten years prior due to injury.
Believing in his own hard work and his grandfather’s encouraging words, Coach Morris gave the big leagues another shot and, at age 35, made his rookie debut as a starting pitcher with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. While his major league career only lasted a few years due to persistent tendonitis, , Morris became a living testament for having a can-do attitude and following your dreams. His memoir, The Oldest Rookie, led to yet another first – his Hollywood debut – inspiring the 2002 feature film “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid.
Having fulfilled his dream of playing major league baseball, Morris returned to his passion of working with youth and inspiring others to live out their dreams. Thanks to Morris’ support, more than $31,000 was raised for the new BCFS center, which will impact the lives of thousands each year.
Tags: community services division, donation, foster care, Kerrville, Kerrville Transition Center, life after foster care, youth and teen programs
Kerrville Men Gather for a Hearty Breakfast, Raising More Than $31,000 for Local Youth
Nearly 200 local community and business leaders gathered for the Men’s “Field of Dreams” Steak and Eggs Benefit Breakfast, hosted by BCFS Health and Human Services. The event raised more than $31,000 toward furnishing BCFS’ new Texas Hill Country Resource Center, which will house multiple local non-profits with a common mission to serve youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system; families that are struggling; and those facing other challenges, like homelessness, substance abuse and unemployment.
Guest speaker Jimmy “The Rookie” Morris, whose life inspired the book and movie The Rookie, attended the breakfast to share inspirational words about not giving up on your dreams. Guests enjoyed a steak and eggs breakfast, live music and a viewing of classic cars at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Several major sponsors helped make the second annual event a great success, including Cecil Atkission Motors; Family Practice Associates; Trade-Mark Air Conditioning; The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country; and the Kerrville Public Utility Board.
“BCFS is proud to be part of a community that is so in tune with the needs of its youth,” said Kevin Dinnin, BCFS President & CEO. “When we provide young men and women with educational and economic opportunity, and serve as a stabilizing force in their tumultuous lives, it’s good for the entire Hill Country community. The men that enjoyed breakfast with us are part of that stabilizing force for the next generation in Kerrville and beyond.”
Thanks to the support of many private foundations, individual philanthropists, and BCFS Health and Human Services’ own parent company – BCFS – the organization is building a new “one stop” resource center that will serve thousands of children and families annually and house several additional non-profits, including Art-2-Heart; Families & Literacy, Inc.; and New Hope Counseling Services.
The new “one stop center,” which will open its doors in 2015, will be a safe-haven and comprehensive place for resources that help local children, youth and families, many who are at-risk of homelessness, poverty or other challenges that could inhibit a successful transition into adulthood and independence. The center will provide case management, counseling, mentorships, assistance with education, employment and housing location.
Morris shared his story – brought to the big screen starring actor Dennis Quaid – recalling how he dreamed of playing major league baseball growing up, but injuries and life got in the way. Ten years after he walked away from the minor leagues, became a father and a high school baseball coach, he told his team if they won their local championship he would try out again for the big leagues. When he kept his word and tried out, he finally achieved his Big League, childhood dreams at the age of 35.
“Many of the youth we serve have suffered some kind of abuse or neglect in their past,” said Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie, BCFS Director of Development. “So Jimmy’s advice to never give up really resonates with our youth. This event will go a long way towards helping us continue our work with young people who are struggling.”
To support the work of the transition center by donating, contact Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie at (830) 928-9387, give securely online, or send checks to 550 Earl Garrett Suite 114, Kerrville, TX 78028.
Tags: case management, foster youth, Hill Country Resource Center, Kerrville, Kerrville Transition Center, youth and teen programs
Construction Underway for BCFS’ Texas Hill Country Resource Center
If you’re stopping by the 1100 block of Main Street anytime soon make sure you have on your hard hat. Construction is moving full speed ahead on Kerrville’s new center, known as the “BCFS Health and Human Services Texas Hill Country Resource Center.”
The building, which will open its doors in 2015, will serve more than 4,000 children and families annually and house several different non-profits. The nearly 20,000 square foot center will be the centerpiece of the non-profit block, constructed by Kerrville-based JM Lowe & Company.
“It’s exciting to see the center begin to take shape,” said Ben Delgado, BCFS Executive Vice President – International and Community Operations, who is overseeing the project. “The ripple effect this facility will have once completed is profound, lifting up not only youth and families in need but the larger Hill Country community as well.”
BCFS’ new Texas Hill Country Resource Center will serve youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system; families that are struggling; and those facing other challenges, like homelessness, substance abuse and unemployment. The shared space model emphasizes accountability in the youth it serves, ensures non-duplication of existing services, and promotes efficiency through the leveraging of shared talents and resources. In the new center, teens, young adults and families will be able to receive counseling, case management, access to medical care, emergency housing assistance, life skills training, literacy training, educational support, and connections to employment and educational opportunities all under one roof.
The “one stop” service model that was first established by BCFS Health and Human Services in Kerrville in 2007 no longer exists due to program and partner growth, as well as a significant increase in demand for services. To reestablish the efficient and effective “one stop” model, The Cailloux Foundation set forth a $500,000 challenge grant to build a larger center. Several private foundations and individual philanthropists throughout the Hill Country contributed to the capital campaign, including BCFS – the parent company of BCFS Health and Human Services – which committed $1.3 million. The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation also contributed $300,000 to complete the center, in addition to major gifts given by the Ruby and Perry Stevens Foundation and Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation.
For more information about BCFS’ resource center services, visit DiscoverBCFS.net/Kerrville or call (830) 896-0993.
To support the work of the resource center by donating, contact Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie at (830) 928-9387, give securely online, or send checks to: 550 Earl Garrett, Suite 114, Kerrville, Texas 78028.
Tags: capital campaign, homeless teens, Kerrville, Kerrville Transition Center, transitional living, youth and teen programs
Lubbock Men’s “Steak n’ Eggs” Breakfast Raises $70,000 for Local Youth
The inaugural Men’s “Field of Dreams” Steak and Eggs Benefit Breakfast raised $70,000 toward much-needed services for local teens and young adults provided at BCFS’ Lubbock Transition Center.
Local community and business leaders – including Representative John Frullo, County Judge Tom Head, Judge Kevin Hart, Judge Kara Darnell, and Juvenile Justice Chief William Carter – gathered for the Men’s “Field of Dreams” Steak and Eggs Benefit Breakfast, hosted by BCFS Health and Human Services. The event raised $70,000, which includes a dollar-for-dollar match by the organization’s parent agency, BCFS, a system of health and human services organizations with locations and programs from coast-to-coast and around the world. The funds raised will be put toward much-needed services for local teens and young adults provided at BCFS’ Lubbock Transition Center.
Guest speaker Jimmy “The Rookie” Morris, whose life inspired the book and movie “The Rookie,” attended the breakfast to share inspirational words about not giving up on your dreams. Approximately 125 guests enjoyed a steak and eggs breakfast, live music and a viewing of classic cars at the Mckenzie-Merket Alumni Center. Title sponsor, Reagor-Dykes Auto, and ASCO Equipment Company – who was also a sponsor – helped make the inaugural benefit a great success.
“BCFS is proud to come alongside several private foundations, businesses and individual philanthropists that have invested in the life-changing work happening at our transition center,” said BCFS CEO Kevin Dinnin, surprising the crowd by announcing a match of every dollar raised during the breakfast. “Without question, this center makes a profound impact in the lives of children and young adults who are struggling. In turn, we raise the tide for the community as a whole, making Lubbock and surrounding areas a safer and more prosperous place to call home.”
The BCFS Lubbock Transition Center is a safe-haven for local youth, many of whom are at-risk of homelessness, poverty or other challenges that could inhibit a successful transition into adulthood and independence. The center serves youth in foster care, those in the juvenile justice system, and other young adults who are struggling by providing case management, counseling, mentorships, assistance with education, employment and housing location.
“BCFS is proud to be part of a community that is so in tune with the needs of its youth,” said Kami Jackson, director of the BCFS center. “When we provide young men and women with educational and economic opportunity, and serve as a stabilizing force in their tumultuous lives, it’s good for the entire Lubbock community. The men that enjoyed breakfast with us are part of that stabilizing force for the next generation in Lubbock.”
“Many of the youth we serve have suffered some kind of abuse or neglect in their past,” said Jackson. “So Jimmy’s advice to never give up really resonates with our youth. This event will go a long way towards helping us continue our work with young people who are struggling.”
For more information about BCFS Lubbock Transition Center services, visit DiscoverBCFS.net/Lubbock or call (806) 792-0526.
To support the work of the transition center by donating, contact Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie at (806) 792-0526, give securely online, or send checks to 125 Chicago Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79416.
Tags: BCFS Lubbock Transition Center, community services division, homeless teens, Lubbock, prevention, youth and teen programs
“One Stop” Community Center Opens for Children and Families on the Westside
Senator Leticia Van de Putte and Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales were joined by children and families, business leaders and community supporters for the grand opening of BCFS Health and Human Services’ new Westside Community Center.
For more than seven years, BCFS Health and Human Services has led programs on the Westside aimed at getting children and students off the streets and away from gangs, while also boosting their success in school and connecting them with positive extracurricular activities. For many years, that outlet doubled as a hip, local coffee shop known as Guadalupe Street Coffee. Now, thanks to the availability of a larger space across the street and a restaurant partner that was able to take over café operations, BCFS Health and Human Services has reopened its doors as a comprehensive, “one stop” community center.
The organization’s move allows it to expand its programming and collaboration with several community partners, including Youth for Christ, Life Restored, Urban Connection, Roll Models, Lanier High School, Rhodes Technology Media Charter School, City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health, The Texas Hunger Project, and more. The center will now be a “one stop shop” for local children and families, providing everything from parenting classes and mentoring, to community garden activities! It will also offer space to community organizations and businesses – at no charge – so they can hold meetings, team building exercises, and other activities that support business success and growth on the Westside.
“For seven years, BCFS Health and Human Services has been proud to be part of the heartbeat of the revitalization of the Westside,” said Krista Piferrer, Executive Vice President of External Affairs. “Together with our many partners and neighbors, we are making the Westside a safer, healthier and more prosperous place for families to live, work and raise their families.”
Tags: community development, community services division, youth and teen programs
Community Leaders Break Ground on New BCFS Transition Center
Kerrville’s civic and community leaders came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of Kerrville’s new youth transition center. The building, which is set to open in early 2015, will serve more than 4,000 children and families annually, house five non-profits, and be known as the BCFS Health and Human Services Hill Country Transition Center.
Transition center will be “one stop shop” for services that break cycles of poverty and foster self-sufficiency in young adults
Civic and community leaders – including Kerr County Judge Tom Pollard, County Commissioner Tom Moser, Mayor Jack Pratt, City Manager Todd Parton, City Councilmen Stacie Keeble and Carson Conklin, and Superintendent Dr. Dan Troxell – today came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of Kerrville’s new youth transition center. The building, which is set to open in early 2015, will serve more than 4,000 children and families annually, house five non-profits, and be known as the BCFS Health and Human Services Hill Country Transition Center.
The nearly 20,000 square foot center will be the centerpiece of the non-profit block located on Main Street. The land is being provided by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and JM Lowe & Company will construct the facility, which will be home to BCFS Health and Human Services, Partners in Ministry-Vision Youth, Families & Literacy, Inc., and Art2Heart.
The “one stop” service model that was first established by BCFS Health and Human Services in Kerrville in 2007 no longer exists due to program and partner growth, as well as a significant increase in demand for services. To reestablish the efficient and effective “one stop” model, The Cailloux Foundation set forth a $500,000 challenge grant to build a larger center. Several private foundations and individual philanthropists have also contributed to the capital campaign. Last month, BCFS – the parent company of BCFS Health and Human Services – announced an investment of up to $1.3 million to build the facility. BCFS Board of Trustees Chairman Bobby Feather said that gift was made in honor of Babs Baugh, who has served on the BCFS board for more than 25 years and was described as the organization’s “matriarch.”
BCFS Health and Human Services’ new Hill Country Transition Center will serve youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system, struggling families, and those facing other challenges impeding their success. The shared space model emphasizes accountability in the youth it serves; ensures non-duplication of existing services; and promotes efficiency through the leveraging of shared talents and resources. In the new center, teens, young adults and families will be able to receive counseling, case management, access to medical care, emergency housing assistance, life skills training, literacy training, educational support, and connections to employment and educational opportunities all under one roof.
Tags: foster youth, Hill Country Transition Center, homeless youth, juvenile justice, Kerrville Transition Center, youth and teen programs
BCFS Invests $1.3 Million in New Transition Center in Kerrville
Transition center will serve at-risk youth in efforts to break cycles of poverty and foster self-sufficiency
BCFS, a global system of health and human service non-profit organizations, has committed up to $1.3 million to complete the capital campaign for a new youth transition center in Kerrville. The building, which is set to open in early 2015, will serve more than 4,000 children and families annually, house five non-profits, and be known as the BCFS Health and Human Services Hill Country Transition Center.
BCFS President and CEO Kevin C. Dinnin announced the funds would be made available immediately for the construction of the new center. A ceremonial groundbreaking will take place in April.
“BCFS is proud to join many private foundations, businesses and individual philanthropists in supporting the establishment of this facility,” says BCFS CEO Kevin Dinnin. “Without question, this BCFS transition center will make a profound impact in the lives of children and young adults who are struggling. This will, in turn, raise the tide for the community as a whole, making Kerrville and surrounding areas a safe and prosperous place to call home.”
BCFS Health and Human Services, a subsidiary of BCFS, established Kerrville’s youth transition center in 2007 as a “one stop shop” where youth in foster care or those who face the potential of homelessness could receive counseling, case management, access to medical care, emergency housing assistance, life skills training, literacy training, educational support, and connections to employment and educational opportunities. Through the years, demand for services at the center exploded beyond original projections, causing programs to have to relocate throughout the city; thereby negating the ease of “one stop” services.
Building a new transition center was fueled by a $500,000 challenge grant from the Cailloux Foundation. The new center will be built by JM Lowe & Company on a site provided by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and will also house Partners in Ministry-Vision Youth, Families & Literacy, Inc. and Art 2 Heart. Together, BCFS Health and Human Services and its partners will serve more than 4,000 youth, young adults and families annually.
“Supporting the Hill Country Transition Center has at least five-times the impact thanks to all the partners that will use this location to serve those in need,” said Terri Hipps, BCFS Health and Human Services’ Executive Director – Community Services Division. “By leveraging and maximizing our shared talents and resources, our new center will be able to serve more deserving youth and families through even more effective means.”
Tags: foster youth, Kerrville Transition Center, transition center, transitional living, youth and teen programs
Dodge Jones Foundation Awards $200,000 to BCFS Health and Human Services’ Abilene Transition Center
The Dodge Jones Foundation awarded $200,000 to BCFS Health and Human Services’ (BCFS HHS) Abilene Transition Center to expand the facility’s physical footprint and, therefore, it’s capacity to serve more youth and young adults in need throughout the Big Country.
Since opening in 2010, the transition center has quadrupled the number of lives it touches annually. Currently, the center serves approximately 200 youth and families each month, offering support services that include case management; counseling; assistance with education, employment and housing; life skills training; college preparation; and transition planning. It is a “one-stop-shop” for youth in or aging out of foster care, those in the juvenile justice system, or others struggling with challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and more.
“The growth we’ve experienced in such a short time is truly a testament to the need and effectiveness of the ‘one stop’ model of delivering care,” said Terri Hipps, executive director of BCFS’ Community Services Division.
“The Dodge Jones Foundation has been one of our greatest champions, supporters and partners since opening our doors three years ago,” she continued. “Our shared philosophy recognizes that the investment they are making today is not in BCFS HHS, but rather in the belief that every child in our community, regardless of their past, can be part of the fabric that makes Abilene a safe and prosperous place to call home.”
Collocating with community partners, such as the Texas Workforce Commission and local universities, allows the BCFS HHS center to offer comprehensive – and non-duplicated – services in an effective and cost-efficient manner. Expansion of the center will nearly double its size, making it possible to dedicate more space for partners, as well as bolster the center’s capacity to reach a larger number of youth and families. Construction is planned to begin in January and be completed by springtime.
Tags: Abilene, Abilene Transition Center, foster youth, homeless youth, youth and teen programs
Learn more about BCFS System and its global network of health and human service non-profits.
1506 Bexar Crossing
San Antonio, Texas, 78232
Copyright 2018. BCFS Health and Human Services.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3203
|
__label__wiki
| 0.912016
| 0.912016
|
People, American people, Actors,
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
Teamo Supremo
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
People from California
Disney Channel Actors and Actresses
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Motorcity
My Friends Tigger and Pooh
Pepper Ann
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
Pixar actors and actresses
Video game voice actors
Disney Junior Actors and Actresses
Disney XD Actors and Actresses
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny
Big City Greens
Performance models
Star Wars Anthology Series
Mark Richard Hamill
September 25, 1951 (age 69)
Actor, voice actor, writer, director, producer
Marilou York (1978-present)
Nathan, Griffin, and Chelsea
Mark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice actor, writer, director, and producer. He is probably most famous for playing Luke Skywalker in the original and sequel Star Wars trilogies, which Disney would later own. He also appeared as both himself and Luke Skywalker with some of the Star Wars cast members in Episode 417 of The Muppet Show (where he sung "When You Wish Upon a Star"), and voiced the Skeleton King in Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!. Along with reprising his role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he also voiced Dobbu Skay and Boolio. He also voiced Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Forces of Destiny and EV-9D9 in The Mandalorian, and provided additional voices for Rogue One & Solo, under the pseudonym of William M. Patrick.
He also lent his voice to Master Eraqus in the English version of the video games Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts III. Additionally, he provided some additional voices in My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and voiced Colonel Muska in Castle in the Sky, Mayor of Pejite in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Flint in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Zeus and Hans Christian Andersen in The Little Mermaid TV series, Bats Biker and the Shape Shifter in Gravity Falls, ShiverJack in Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Gadfly Garnett in Miles from Tomorrowland, Nightmare in Ultimate Spider-Man, and Ulysses Klaw in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
He attended the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
Outside of Disney, he frequently voiced the Joker in varying incarnations of the Batman franchise from 1992 onward. He also voiced Niju, the main antagonist of Balto II: Wolf Quest, Ozai in the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Undergrowth in the Danny Phantom episode Urban Jungle, Malefor in the video game The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of The Dragon, Skips in the Cartoon Network series Regular Show, and Chucky in the 2019 film, Child's Play.
Hamill was officially named a Disney Legend at the 2017 D23 Expo.
1 Disney Roles
Disney Roles
(Star Wars franchise)
Dobbu Skay
(Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
Master Eraqus
(Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts III)
Colonel Muska
(Castle in the Sky; Disney dub)
Pejite Mayor
(Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind; Disney dub)
The Skeleton King
(Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!)
The Birthday Bandit
(Teamo Supremo)
Lord Druid
Abraham Kane
(Motorcity)
(My Friends Tigger & Pooh)
(The Little Mermaid: The Series)
(Buzz Lightyear of Star Command)
Bats Biker
(Gravity Falls)
Mysterious Old Man/Shapeshifter
Ulysses Klaw
(The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes)
ShiverJack
(Jake and the Never Land Pirates)
Gadfly Garnett
(Miles from Tomorrowland)
(Ultimate Spider-Man)
(Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble)
(Tasty Time With ZeFronk)
Dr. Block
(Milo Murphy's Law)
Adam (Tom-Cat) Badawy
(Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero)
Dr. Ponderstein
(Big City Greens; Deleted character)
(Pepper Ann)
EV-9D9
(The Mandalorian)
Mark Hamill and Yoda with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy on the set of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Mark Hamill speaks at the 2011 New York Comic Con.
Mark Hamill with Mickey Mouse holding lightsabers at Disney's Hollywood Studios in June 2014.
Mark Hamill speaks at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con.
Mark Hamill at the Hollywood premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December 2015.
Daisy Ridley carrying Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker carries Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, photo shared by Mark Hamill on his twitter in April 2016 to promote The Last Jedi.[1]
Mark Hamill visiting The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in November 2016.
Mark Hamill speaks onstage at the 71st annual Tony Awards in June 2017.
Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley attending the 2017 D23 Expo.
Mark Hamill named a Disney Legend at the 2017 D23 Expo.
Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, and Daisy Ridley photo for New York Times promoting Star Wars: The Last Jedi film in December 2017.
Mark Hamill poses at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in March 2018.
Mark Hamill speaks at the Knightfall panel at the 2019 Winter TCA Tour.
Mark Hamill and Star Wars cast members attend the opening of Galaxy's Edge in 2019.
Mark Hamill at the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019.
Tetsuya Nomura, the director of Birth by Sleep, stated in an interview that he chose Hamill for the part specifically because of his role as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films. Eraqus is rivals with Xehanort, who is voiced by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, essentially making their rivalry Star Wars VS Star Trek to Nomura.
Hamill stated at Comic-Con 2010 that playing as Luke Skywalker was his overall favorite role.
Hamill originally wanted to play The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, only in the case if Michael Keaton didn't accept the offer. Keaton initially turned down the offer to play The Vulture, but at the end, he entered in re-negotiations and ended up portraying the character in the film. However, Hamill had stated that he could play another role in a further Marvel Cinematic Universe in the near future.[2]
Of his characters, Hamill plays the Joker with a high, squeaky tone, and Luke with a lower, more mature tone.
↑ Hamill, Mark (April 10, 2016). "A long time ago (last week I think) In a galaxy far, far way(@PinewoodStudios) THIS happened! Happy Birthday Daisy!" (tweet). Twitter.
↑ STAR WARS Star Mark Hamill Really Wanted To Play The Vulture In SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING at ComicBookMovie.com
Retrieved from "https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Mark_Hamill?oldid=4350961"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3204
|
__label__cc
| 0.579188
| 0.420812
|
Disneyland Resort More Disneyland Resort Stories
The 1964 New York World’s Fair – A New Disney Technology is Born
by Erin Glover, Director, Publicity, Walt Disney Animation Studios
As a new member of the Disney Parks Blog team, I will be updating readers on some of the latest events and news from the Disneyland Resort. Today, I’m excited to share a special piece of Disney history with you.
As Michelle Harker shared yesterday, we’re marking a historic time for Disney Parks this week with the anniversary of the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair, which opened on April 22, 1964. The Fair featured four spectacular attractions, produced by Walt Disney and his creative team, which went on to become the beloved Disney Parks experiences.
In a 1964 episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” Walt Disney previewed the attractions being developed for the Fair, featuring a new, innovative form of animation. He explained that “…Disneyland gave us a new art and a new type of artist – one that works with a slide rule and blow torch instead of pencil and brush. Just as we had to learn to make our animated cartoons talk, we had to find a way to make attraction figures talk, too. We created a new field of animation.”
This new form of animation was so advanced, a name had to be developed for it: “Audio-Animatronics technology.”
Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers from WED Enterprises (the original name for Walt Disney Imagineering) developed this breakthrough technology for the creation of what would become legendary Disney Parks attractions:
“it’s a small world” was the centerpiece of the UNICEF pavilion and took visitors to more than 100 countries with child-like Audio-Animatronics figures singing the tune written by Disney Legends Richard and Robert Sherman.
“Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” was Walt Disney’s personal tribute to the 16th president. “Ever since I was a small boy in Illinois, I’ve had a great personal admiration for Abraham Lincoln,” said Walt Disney in his introduction for the attraction, created for the State of Illinois pavilion.
The Carousel Theater of Progress was developed with the assistance of General Electric and told the story of man’s progress and the rise of “push-button living.” The Carousel of Progress was a Disneyland park attraction from 1967 to 1973. The show then moved to Magic Kingdom Park in 1975, where it was rewritten and restaged with the new name, “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress,” in 1994.
Ford’s Magic Skyway took audiences back in time to the world of the dinosaur, populated by enormous Audio-Animatronics figures. Guests of Ford’s Magic Skyway travelled through the vignettes using technology that would later be the inspiration for the PeopleMover, a Tomorrowland attraction in Disneyland park from 1967 to 1995.
What is your favorite Audio-Animatronics figure at the Disneyland Resort?
Share The 1964 New York World’s Fair – A New Disney Technology is Born
Destinations: Disneyland Resort
Topics: Disney History
I remember the 1964 NY World’s Fair as I went many times. It’s a Small World was my mothers and fathers favorite and I think this is where my love of Disney started!!
Barbara on May 5, 2011 at 3:51 pm
My fave Audio-Animatronics is the dolls on its a small world. They are just so precious and cute
megaugust on April 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Welcome to the blog Ms. Erin!
Skip on April 23, 2011 at 12:18 am
Yeah, they are the same dinosaurs.
Nate on April 22, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Are the dinosaurs along the Disneyland railroad the same ones from Ford’s magic skyway?
If you like the Fantasmic dragon, you should watch him (her?) from next to the Columbia’s dock. Watching the dragon from a sideways angle you can really see the neck move. It’s amazing!
Katherine on April 22, 2011 at 11:35 am
Nate is correct – the Audio-Animatronic dinosaurs that guests see while riding the Disneyland Railroad between the Tomorrowland and Main Street Stations are the same figures that appeared on Ford’s Magic Skyway during the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair. Great catch!
Thanks so much for this memory Erin!
I too saw all the Disney exhibits at the 1964 World’s Fair. I can still remember the awe that I felt as a 14 year old Boy Scout riding in that Ford Fairlane into time and space at the conclusion of the Ford’s Magic Skyway attraction. And to this day, the Carousel of Progress is still one of my favorite things to do at the parks.
What wonderful memories and what I wouldn’t give to be able to go back in time and do it all again. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that I still enjoy the Disney Parks as much as I do.
Thanks for the memory!
Thomas on April 22, 2011 at 10:45 am
We lived in Queens not too far from the World’s Fair. I went 13 times over the two years of the Fair. My favorite was the Carousel of Progress and I know I saw it at least once every time we went. I remember sitting near the middle upfront during my first ride and when the dog barked I jumped (Hey I was 8 years old). It wasn’t until 1977 during my honeymoon at Walt Disney World that I got to see it again, although I missed the original song.
Lincoln was also amazing. When he stood up for the first time the audience gasped. No one believed he wasn’t an actor. Such great memories.
Salvatore on April 22, 2011 at 10:16 am
I know they are not the most high tech but I love the tiki birds!
Wendy on April 22, 2011 at 10:04 am
The 1964 World’s Fair was such an important chapter to Disney history. Arguably there would have been no Florida Project at all if Disney would not have been involved. Without the tremendous efforts of people like Rolly Crump, Mary Blair, Claude Coates, Blaine Gibson, Paul Frees, Bob Gurr, The Sherman Brothers and many more The Fair would not have been the huge stepping stone for Disney. Great job Erin!
Nate on April 22, 2011 at 9:36 am
We saw all of these things at the Fair in 1964. My Dad enjoyed it so much, we went back to the Fair in 1965! (we lived in Michigan).
I was 10 years old and I remember trying to figure out if the family in the Car. of Progress were robots, or people pretending to be robots!
nancy on April 22, 2011 at 3:35 am
I thought that audio-animatronics technology was born before the 1964 World’s Fair…like in the 1963 Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. The use at the fair would be more of an evolution than a new development.
Gregory on April 22, 2011 at 2:07 am
We love the Carousel of progress, we love to sing the tune along with them…would be nice to update a bit.
Would love to see Figment updated and done the way it used to be with all the flowers blowing the smells like in the 80’s or early 90’s liked it better than now.
We also LOVE the hall of presidents and the American Adventure.
DENISE on April 21, 2011 at 11:14 pm
My favorite is in Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s sitting on top of a bridge as the boat goes by, drunkenly singing and laughing. He has dirty legs and feet and you can see the leg hair as you pass under him. He’s a hilarious character. =)
Michael on April 21, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Welcome Erin!
This is a hard one, because I really love the audio-animatronics in general!
I have to say that I love Pirates of the Caribbean and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. (I love the new Lincoln figure) And I love the dragon in Fantasmic, its awesome!
As I understand it, the Disney family is very protective of the use of Walt’s image, so that may be one of the reasons why there has not been an audio-animatronics figure of Walt.
Fred on April 21, 2011 at 8:11 pm
America Sings! no longer around.
Kristi on April 21, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Clinton, you are lucky! I would of loved to see these in 1964, but i was only 3 yrs old. They were probably so ground breaking at that time.
I Love the Carousel of Progress today. It takes me back to a simpler America, which was great.
Jeff on April 21, 2011 at 7:03 pm
If Murphy the advanced Fantasmic Dragon counts, then it is that fire breathing Audio-Animatronic figure.
My favorites no longer exists in the park. I loved the Country Bear Jamboree esp. the mounted buffalo head on the wall and the littlest bear that sat on the edge of the stage holding his teddy bear (and after every number he would squeeze it and it would squeak). lol
LauraLynn on April 21, 2011 at 6:09 pm
I love all the Audio-Animatronics at Disney but I have alway wondered why that haven’t made one of Walt Disney, himself. Now that would be something to see!
Kim on April 21, 2011 at 5:13 pm
My favorite is the rocket to the moon. I remember as a youngster walking through the Que watching the engineers preparing the ship for take off and then the alarm sounds when a duck comes in for an emergency landing, too cool. I miss that attraction and I know my daughter (10 y/o) and her many season pass friends would’ve loved it too.
Mike on April 21, 2011 at 4:48 pm
My favorites are probably all in Pirates. I never saw the old Pirates but I love the current rendition in Disneyland
Sean on April 21, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Welcome Erin.
Nice story.
Lori on April 21, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Thank you, Lori! I’m very excited to join the team.
I saw all these attractions *at the Fair!* Woot!
Clinton on April 21, 2011 at 3:40 pm
First Look of Snow White’s Enchanted Wish at Disneyland Park
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
#DisneyMagicMoments: Cooking Up the Magic — A Sweet Holiday Recipe for Peppermint Marshmallow Wands from Marceline’s Confectionery
by Karen McClintock, Food & Beverage Content Relations Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Tue, December 8, 2020
#DisneyMagicMoments: Go Behind the Magic of Holidays at Disney Parks Around the World
Tue, March 20, 2018 Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Avengers and Other Super Heroes to Assemble in New Themed Areas at Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland
Mon, March 19, 2018 Disneyland Resort
Tips for Enjoying a Rainy Day at the Disneyland Resort
Fri, March 16, 2018 Disneyland Resort
Disneyland After Dark Event Series Continues May 3 with Star Wars Nite
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3205
|
__label__wiki
| 0.650562
| 0.650562
|
Wisconsin Idea
This refers to former UW president Charles Van Hise’s declaration that “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every home [some sources say family] in the state”; that is, he wanted the work of the university to extend to the boundaries of the state and beyond. Today this is viewed as global reach and influence. Lowercase the in the Wisconsin Idea. There is some debate as to when Van Hise made this declaration: some sources say 1904; others say 1905. Cite a date at your own risk.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3215
|
__label__cc
| 0.69156
| 0.30844
|
Sal Castro
In Glogpedia
by Liz007
Social Studies Subject:
Historical biographies Grade:
Lizzette Barrios-Gracian (Olivares)Summer 2014 EDSC 541-70 11440 Culture and Education of Latino Studies (Sec. 70)
Sal CastroEducator and Activist
Introductory Video of the Chicano Blow Outs/Walk Outs
Time LineBorn Oct. 25, 19331961 - Graduates Cal State L.A. as a business major and obtains teaching credential 1963 - Founder of the Chicano Youth Leadership Conference 1968 - Organizes L.A. Student Walkout 2006 - "Walkout" HBO movie about Sal's life come out 2009 - Belmont Middle School is renamed Salvador B. Castro Middle School Died April 15, 2013
Sal Castro has set the bar for me as an educator. He not only taught his students history; he taught them how to analyze their world, reflect on their present conditions, and take action to better their future. As a Mexican American, Sal Castro,lived the discrimination and poor educational standards that California's school districts offered Chicanos and other minorities before the Civil Rights Movement. However, he managed to graduate high school in 1952. After serving in the Korean War, he obtained a bachelors degree in business and a teaching credential from Cal State L.A. in 1961. It is at this point that Castro will be tested and tried and become a part of history.
Sal's Humble Beginnings
While Latinos are familiar with the Civil Rights Movement through the struggle of Martin Luther King Jr. and the African-American community, they are rarely aware of the Chicano movement. Becoming aware of the battles fought and the price so many young Chicanos paid, for later generations to have a better education, is eye-opening. The courage of all involved is inspiring and allows for our students to feel they have a strong foundation built throughout history. In other words, Chicanos have a history in the United States. Sal Castro is relevant because he led the way to end what Moreno (1999) identifies as the strategies to deal with the "Mexican Problem". Moreno states, "The first was the segregation of Mexicans into 'Mexican Schools'...The second strategy was the use of scientifically flawed intelligence testing...The third strategy involved the development of a differentiated curriculum for Mexican children legitimized by their mismeasured intelligence" (p.xv).He changed educators' views about Chicanos by forcing them to see that the community had the capability of being much more than blue collar workers. Latinos today are enrolled in A-G courses because of the risks he took to demand a change in educational policy.
Why Sal's Story Matters
Teacher's ResourcesText:Blowout! Sal Castro & the Chicano Struggle for Educational JusticeVideos:Sal Castro and the 1968 East L.A. Walkouts (YouTube)"Walkout" HBO Movie
Contributions Approach: Students will be introduced to the subject as part of the Civil Rights Movement lesson.The Additive Approach: Students will watch the documentary and read Blowout! Sal Castro & the Chicano Struggle for Educational Justice.The Transformational Approach: Students will be expected to compare and contrast the Chicano Movement to that of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.The Social Action Approach: Students will be asked to analyze their education and come up with a list of improvements, needs, or challenges they think should be addressed. Next, they will be asked to explain the necessary steps they deem necessary to make the changes happen.
Works Cited:Guzman-Lopez, A.(2013, April 15).Iconic LA teacher Sal Castro, who led East LA walkouts in the 1960s, dies. Pass/Fail: So Cal education, LAUSD, the Cal States and the UCs. Retrieved from http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2013/04/15/13315/iconic-l-a-teacher-sal-castro-who-led-east-l-a-wal/Ochoa, G. (2010).Teaching Is a Fight • An Interview with Sal Castro. Rethinking Schools, 25 (2). Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/25_02/25_02_ochoa.shtmlSotomayor, A. (2013, April 18).Sal Castro and the 1968 East L.A. Walkouts. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3TKnj0fXZsWatanabe, T.(2013, April 15). Sal Castro, teacher who led '68 Chicano student walkouts, dies at 79. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/15/news/la-sal- castro-teacher-who-led-68-chicano student-walkouts-dies-at-79-20130415
Login to rate this Glog
Embed into your page
Add to prepared Glogs
You can embed this Glog Copied
Full size Glog 960x1300
Blog size Glog 480x650
More from: You
1 Glogs - see all
Login to comment on this Glog
There are no comments for this Glog.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3216
|
__label__cc
| 0.650015
| 0.349985
|
Answer all three questions given below. Draw on the textbook readings, the Study Guide commentary, your own experience, and other resources as appropriate. Use the APA style to list and cite any sources you use. 1.Write about 1000 words to answer this question. Do you agree that “Strategic HRM is crucially interested in HRD and employee participation”? In your answer, discuss the problems and tensions embedded within HRD and employee participation. 2.Write about 500 words to answer this question. How might organizations work with unions to achieve strategic HRM goals, and how might unions prepare to represent their members in a strategic HRM environment? 3.Write about 500–750 words to answer this question (You will need to read the articles provided to help answer this question—please take care in referencing any quotes). Argue both for and against the argument that employers exploiting ‘emotional labour’ are contravening employee rights and reinforcing gendered, classed, and raced social relations. ***Using reference to the text book as well as the commentary, which I will forward to you, as well as other references. Textbook is: Bratton & Gold 5th edition. Human Resource Management theory and practice. The commentaries: Commentary This discussion connects the previous unit readings and commentaries to a more critical understanding of issues of human resource development, and in the next section, to employment relations. You should note that the national training frameworks in the UK, and elsewhere as discussed in the text, are generally more impressive than those in Canada—this partly reflects the provincial/federal divide that exists in Canada over higher education (college and university) policy and practice, and overarching training/education policy. The Pedagogics of Work and Learning In September 1999, the First International Conference on Researching Work and Learning was held at Leeds University, England. It was hosted by the School of Continuing Education, the location of more than twenty years of research, with and by working people, into the conditions of work, unemployment, and the relationship between work and community. Much of the work at Leeds was conducted directly with labour unions and union members in the workplace. Given this context, it is somewhat surprising to hear Keith Forrester, the leading Leeds researcher, admit that: “we too have not attached sufficient weight to the inter-relationship between employee learning, new management practices and the wider ‘modernising’ strategies currently being pursued by New Labour in this country, and to a lesser extent, in a number of other countries.” (Forrester, 1999, p. 188) If they missed the connection between workplace learning, new HRM, and neo-liberal economic policies at Leeds, with its focus on workers’ interests, it is perhaps more understandable to consider how it has been generally overlooked in the workplace learning literature, much of which claims either a neutral position or assumes more overtly a managerial perspective. The enthusiasm for lifelong learning, the learning society, and the learning organization has dulled researchers’ critical gaze as to what exactly is going on in workplace learning. Forrester defines the problem in the following terms: “In the increased competitive pressure on management to improve the quality and quantity of the labour input, the notion of employee subjectivity (affective elements such as initiative, ‘emotional labour’ [customer care], values and attitudes, intra-individual management, self actualisation and adaptability) has emerged as a key area of new management and thinking and that workplace or work-related learning is often seen as an essential part of ‘capturing’ employee subjectivity in achieving corporate objectives. The wider socio-economic changes of recent decades has resulted in many workplaces questioning aspects of the traditionalist ‘Taylorist’ division between thinking and doing along with the rigidities characteristic of a Fordist workplace regime. However, instead of the brave new world of employee ‘empowerment’, ‘autonomy’, satisfaction and fulfilment within those ‘new workplaces’ or ‘workplaces of the future’ there is just as likely, we suggest, to emerge new mechanisms of oppression and managerial control. If this is the case, or at least a possibility, then there is the danger that the equally brave new world of pedagogics in relation to ‘work and learning’ will become part of the new forms of oppression and control in the workplace.” (Forrester, 1999, p. 188. Emphasis added.) Of importance here is Keith Forrester’s observation that the increased competitive pressure on management to improve the quality and quantity of labour input can result in “new forms of oppression and control in the workplace,” rather than empowerment or increased worker control (Forrester, 1999, p. 88). Forrester’s observation is supported by a study of workplace skills training policies in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand: “the resulting reforms have had a remarkably unilateral effect: they move control over and benefits from skill training away from individuals and unions and into the hands of private capital” (Jackson & Jordan, 2000, p. 195). Evidence from the UK also suggests that strong union organization is needed to take advantage of more expansive workplace learning opportunities, and even the newly legislated Union Learning Representatives are in danger of becoming corporate or state rather than worker conduits for learning (Shelley & Calveley, 2007). Learning for Whose Interests? Few of the writers on workplace learning have adequately answered the criticism that they largely ignore these issues of power and control. For example, David Boud and John Garrick discuss some of the negative impacts of workplace learning’s “market-driven emphasis” in their introduction to Understanding Learning at Work, but they also argue for the close connection between “productivity and the operation of contemporary enterprises” without viewing this as a core contradiction (Boud and Garrick, 1999, p. 5). A classic example of this attitude is found in Victoria Marsick and Karen Watkins’ (1999) chapter in the same book. They spend thirteen pages “envisioning new organizations for learning,” and then turn to a number of key criticisms that they try to undermine in a couple of pages without dealing with the key issues raised by the critics. They then conclude by expressing the desire for a learning system “tailored to the needs of the industry, the organization, the division, and the individuals who work in this organizational culture” (p. 214) as if these fundamental criticisms had never been raised, and as if all involved share the same needs! With all the rhetoric surrounding new workplace organization, the knowledge economy, and the claim that we live in a post-industrial, even post-capitalist, global economy, it is easy to forget that the basic structure and purpose of large corporations has not changed; unless, as Perkins suggests, you want to argue that the modern “corporatocracy that exploits desperate people and is executing history’s most brutal, selfish, and ultimately self-destructive resource-grab” is a new post-1970s phenomenon (Perkins, 2006, p. 255). Once we acknowledge that there are different interpretations of workplace learning, and that organizations are not unitary but pluralist in nature, we can begin to examine different interests and outcomes. Laurie Field, a proponent of organizational learning for ten years, has rethought his commitment to the idea. He considers that the weakness in the conception of the learning organization stems first from confusion about and ambiguous use of the terms “organization” and “learning,” second from the focus on “learning associated with technical and economic interests,” and third from the assumption that organizations are unitary (Field, 2004, p. 204–205). He concludes that “whole organisations rarely learn. A great deal of what has been referred to in the literature as ‘organisational learning’ is actually learning by shared-interest groups within organisations” (Field, 2004, p. 216). Others have gone further. Michael Welton, a one-time advocate of the value of workplace learning as “development work” (Welton, 1991), has commented: “harnessed to the money-code the business organisation is actually learning disabled. It is intensely pressurised to learn along a single trajectory: to enhance shareholder profits and interests” (Welton, 2005, p. 100). If Welton’s judgment appears harsh, see Perkins (2006) for an insightful insider view of global corporate behaviour. There is some interesting information in the 2007 Conference Board of Canada report that might suggest the learning organization is on the wane: Canadian companies have moved away from describing themselves as learning organizations (Hughes & Grant, 2007). The reasons for this change are unknown: it could easily be that the management fad has passed, and that companies are back to describing themselves as oil companies or insurance companies, rather than as learning organizations. Hughes and Grant, the report’s authors, suggest it has more to do with the recognition of what’s involved in being a learning organization, and some companies believe they are not there yet. But they have no evidence to support this view (Hughes & Grant, 2007, p. 2). Another problem in the mainstream work and learning literature is the tendency to treat all organizations the same. This partly reflects the imposition of business rhetoric on non-business organizations, such as public services, universities, hospitals, and non-profit and non-governmental organizations: all are seen as dealing with clients or customers within the context of a business plan, and having to apply business principles to the bottom line. Scant regard is paid to the notion of the public good or the quasi-democratic structures that govern these organisations and distinguish them from corporate capital. Given nurturing circumstances and organizational structures, these organizations may well be capable of more democratic, less hierarchical control involving citizens, workers, their unions, and managers. Nor does the literature compare the workplace democracy claimed for corporate learning organizations to that in the non-profit sector, including worker-owned co-operatives, with workers participating in major decisions that could include appointing the CEO, and holding him/her accountable to the worker-owners (Salamon, 2003). It must also be noted that being a worker in a “learning organization” carries no guarantee of job security. It may be true that the company’s competitive position depends on a more effective and intelligent use of its human resources, but this does not mean that a corporate decision about location or product development will benefit a particular work group, or that the rewards from the collective effort will be equitably distributed among the workers. Even where employees are given a small stake in the company they can lose. In the Enron case, employee shareholdings were locked in and became worthless, while some of the senior executives bailed, taking their inflated funds with them. The decision to close a worksite, for example, may have absolutely nothing to do with how that particular workforce has performed, or how committed they were to the “learning organization.” Although some writers acknowledge different interests, they still reduce workplace learning to a list of knowledge issues to be resolved. In the process they treat it as a reified, value-free activity, independent of the profit motive, with the hope that “perhaps somewhere can be struck a balance between employees’ and employers’ interests in creating the goals of workplace learning” (Fenwick, 2006, p. 195). While this may be an honourable objective, and possibly applicable to the non-profit and voluntary economic sectors, it is difficult to see exactly where workers’, citizens’, or Third World interests figure in the corporate conception of the “goals of workplace learning.” 2. Union and Employee Relations Commentary Union influence has declined in recent years, but it is a mistake to believe that unions no longer matter; unions continue to play a key role in many larger corporations, in the public sector, and in some countries. Unions seek to influence key aspects of the employment relationship, and continue to influence non-union organizations by establishing benchmark conditions for pay and benefits, training, and involvement in decision making. Internationally, unions are faced with the difficult question of the globalization of production, and the impact it has on working conditions in the “economic south”—economically less-developed countries (sometimes referred to as the Third World or developing countries). The movement of production to economically less-developed countries by some transnational corporations does provide a challenge to international agencies and unions concerned with establishing decent work and conditions. Production that is relocated tends to go to countries with low labour costs, no tradition of independent unionization, and no minimum labour laws, situated within economic or free trade zones, isolated from other settlements, and set up to attract foreign investment with the promise of a cheap, compliant workforce. In many cases, these are assembly plants using young female employees who have to live in the zone area where they may be subject to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. To combat these conditions, international union federations and some individual unions (sometimes working with NGOs and international agencies) have pursued parent company compliance with codes of practice, or “social auditing,” by which companies agree to monitor the working conditions of their suppliers. More recently, international union federations have reached what they call framework agreements with corporation head offices. These agreements push corporations to only do business with suppliers who recognize workers’ rights and independent unions. It is difficult to predict whether these and other measures—including the UN ‘Protect, Respect, Remedy’ Framework for Business and Human Rights, which was still being developed at the time of writing (December 2012)—will be successful at accelerating working conditions in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and China, but we cannot celebrate a new approach to learning organizations or “quality work” if the food we eat, the shoes on our feet, and the clothes on our backs are produced under sweatshop conditions. It should be acknowledged that some companies have been more active than others in working with unions to establish good conditions and social support for workers in the economic south. In some cases, these leading companies have been chastised by other corporations as setting the bar too high. One example is Inditex, which set up a voluntary relief scheme to provide much-needed support to workers who were injured and to the families of those who died when the Spectrum Sweater factory collapsed on April 11, 2005, and invited other companies to contribute. They were opposed by companies who did not accept that they should share responsibility for failures in local factory conditions (Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, 2006; Miller, 2012). Textile factory fires in Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2012 have again raised the question of buyers’ responsibilities for ensuring safe workplaces and safe management practices in the plants they use to make their products. Some European buyers are accepting responsibility for the fire in Bagladesh—where more than 100 employees died—but North American buyers, particularly Wal-Mart, are refusing to abide by the recommendations made by NGOs, international unions, and others seeking safe, regulated off-shore workplaces. This discussion of unions accepts the contradictory nature of unionism (as both a force for opposition and accommodation): that there is a tendency towards union incorporation into managerial goals (at both local and national levels of the union), and that unions tend towards bureaucratization and oligarchic structures, and so on. But we also argue that independent active unionism may provide the best chance to democratize the corporate workplace. To paraphrase Hugh Clegg (1978), collective bargaining is a form of industrial democracy. With the decline of union influence in many developed economies, other forms of representation and participation have emerged—bolstered in Europe by EU legislation favouring worker participation—but the results are mixed. “[I]n most cases, employee representatives [in the participatory structures] are merely informed of upcoming changes by management with no input into decision making” (Freeman, Boxall, & Haynes, 2007, p. 177). While participation/learning organization strategies may be successful in helping employers fight off unions (particularly in the United States and the UK), the evidence supports the view that participation is much greater in organizations that do recognize unions. This, in turn, supports the view that unionization and employee involvement may be complementary (Freeman, Boxall, & Haynes, 2007, p. 196). It is also noteworthy that union membership in the United States would triple immediately if workers were free to choose union membership (Freeman, Boxall, & Haynes, 2007). Perhaps we should not be surprised to find that union organization is concerned with broader issues of worker influence over management policies, since workplace insecurity goes hand in hand with globalization. Workers are asked to embrace the idea that there are no permanent jobs any more: they have to be flexible, to move from job to job, and to build a “learning profile” rather than a career. As noted above, an international survey of employee voice in six Anglo-American countries reports that, while workers do engage in learning and knowledge creation activities at work, many would like to have more union representation and more participation in management decision making (Freeman, Boxall, & Haynes, 2007). This lack of representation and access causes workers to be more guarded and less trustful of employers; those with most access are most loyal. Another new development is the establishment of union learning representatives (ULR) and a union learning fund in the UK (Shelley & Calveley, 2007). The ULRs are intended to help connect workers to learning opportunities (essentially occupation-related) and help organize employee learning opportunities. Studies to date suggest that, in a number of situations, these representatives can make a difference, particularly in terms of training opportunities, although it is too early in the process to be definitive. Major questions remain to be answered: is union involvement in new neo-liberal global economic agendas merely incorporation, or can unions and ULRs moderate the impact of these policies and turn these resources to meet broader social goals? Are ULRs worker representatives, or are they primarily agents of government and corporate policy? Also, do they threaten or enhance the tradition of independent union education? After four years of ULRs, only about ten percent of workplace representatives bargained about learning provision (Kersley et al., 2006, pp. 20, 153). These developments are taking place at the same time as freely negotiated recognition agreements, and collective bargaining structures are being displaced by so-called “partnership agreements” that emphasize employer rights, including in some cases denying the rights of work groups to democratically determine their own union representatives (Wray, 2001). New Developments in Labour Education The majority provision of continuing core labour education is targeted at local union representatives. This important work is ever changing, with differing examples evident in all countries where unions are active. There may be more emphasis on peer tutoring in one country and significant content changes in another. There are particular examples of new specific forms of representative training, such as that for European Works Council representatives in Europe; and examples of union representative training in difficult circumstances, such as those in South Africa, where unions are coming to terms with recognition and bargaining after years of opposition under apartheid. We also have reports of more sophisticated educational provision for full-time officers, an under-reported area of representative training. Training for recruiters is another new development. The educational components of the US Organizing Institute, the Australian Organising Works, and the UK Organising Academy are important labour education responses to the decline of union influence and shifting employment patterns. The work undertaken in organizing immigrant workers in Los Angeles is a particular example that has been successful in linking union activity to community groups and community-based organizations, with labour education playing a key role. The Justice for Janitors campaigns have been most impressive, and have relied on educational support to bolster activity, recruitment, and contract negotiation. The region around Los Angeles has bucked the trend in the United States, providing a leading example of union growth. Some of this educational and organizing work involves existing union representatives, and some of it is targeted at new members and would-be representatives. In Brazil, Programa Integrar has come to offer relevant vocational training and educational opportunities for the unemployed and the employed. The program illustrates that, even in a hostile climate, union education can succeed. It provides an example to other countries of how to build community links, and how to argue for alternative co-operative employment for union members in opposition to global corporate power. This example links with others in South America, where union members are taking back closed factories and building local economic networks (in Argentina the number of worker-run co-operatives has grown from a few hundred ten years ago to thousands, with reportedly more than 233,000 individuals employed in co-ops). In Canada, there are 155,000 workers in co-operatives and credit unions (International Co-operative Alliance, 2010). Although the use of research circles (workers conducting their own research into workplace or sector problems) has been around for some time, it is clear from Swedish experience that this approach has a bright future in terms of strengthening union activity internally and externally. Research circles represent an important alternative for union members wishing to conduct independent “workplace learning” projects. (All of the above examples of new developments in labour education are discussed in more detail in Spencer, 2002.) The development of ULRs in the UK, and the tradition of joint programs in, for example, the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, UAW-Ford University, and other collaborative union-company schemes point to another direction in workers’ education. Many of the joint programs are concerned with employee development in relation to employment, and most are specifically aimed at improving vocational skills. In some cases, these programs have been boosted by the desire to develop workers’ skills in order to keep them employed (up-skilling). In others, they are designed to provide employment opportunities for workers who have been made redundant. There is, of course, no guarantee that re-skilling and broader educational upgrading will lead to new jobs. An example of a regional joint union-employer-state program is the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, which claims success in both creating new employment opportunities, and improving existing employment (Bernhardt, Dresser, & Rogers, 2001). Another development in the same vein is organized labour’s Working for America Institute, a non-profit workforce development initiative by which the AFL-CIO hopes employer and other partnerships will boost high skills, knowledge work, and good jobs—the so-called “high road” to future employment opportunities. Many of the labour education initiatives have elements of both accommodation and resistance to current corporate globalization trends. Some courses and programs can be seen as proactive and others as adaptive, while much of labour education remains reactive (for some example, see Spencer, 2002; International Labour Organization, 2007; and Byrd and Nissen, June 30, 2003). Overall, unions remain an important and positive social organization for working people. It’s the absence of strong independent unions that remains a problem for workers in the majority of the world. Some of the skills-training programs offered through unions may appear to be little different from employer-provided schemes, but unions are concerned with portable generic skills, not just employer-specific training. The thrust of mainstream labour education is towards social purpose and social action. It is aimed at equipping workers with the analytical and organizational knowledge needed to participate democratically in the workplace and in society. 3. Employee Relations and Involvement Commentary A number of the issues already discussed in the sections above are applicable to this section on employee involvement and relations. Issues of managerial control and employee commitment/loyalty underpin strategic HRM. The points made above will not be repeated here. In some cases, employers have recognized that some control may have to be conceded if employees are to have more “say” (employee/union voice) over their work life, and the benefits of having a more involved workforce may show up in the bottom line. In other cases, managers (at different levels) may struggle to cede control of some decisions, and resist meaningful employee involvement; restricting it to low-level decision making.
Do you consort that “Strategic HRM is crucially zealous in HRD and employee free-trade”? In your defense, argue the problems and tensions embedded floating HRD and employee retention
I quite consort that strategic HRM is crucially zealous in Human wealth outgrowth and free-trade of employees. SHRM has promotive a chance of heed floating managers and employees. This is ascribable to the advantages of SHRM nature mutual and multiple. For pattern, on single subject-matter of scene, SHRM purposes on forming a high-performance result enhancement and attaining cost-reduction methods, which should enliven companies to help and confirm this belief in the instal
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3217
|
__label__cc
| 0.545423
| 0.454577
|
Delegation of the European Union to Costa Rica
https://www.instagram.com/ueencostarica/?hl=es
https://twitter.com/UEenCostaRica
https://www.facebook.com/UEenCostaRica
EEAS homepage > Costa Rica > EEAS LANGUAGE POLICY
EEAS LANGUAGE POLICY
EEAS social media
Public Consultations, Requests for information and access to documents
The European External Action Service communicates on European external policies and actions with EU citizens and audiences around the world.
We aim to make our content as accessible as possible to users. Nevertheless, we have to strike a reasonable balance between respect for speakers of the EU's many languages and non-EU local languages, and practical considerations such as timeliness, efficiency and the cost of translation, which is funded by EU taxpayers.
Some types of content, such as EU legislation, Council Conclusions or EU Statements are available in all EU languages. Other content may be available in one language only or in a combination of languages, depending on the given target audience(s) and our assessment of how to reach the largest audience in the most efficient and effective manner.
The language policy of the EEAS website is based on the following 3 criteria:
content published in all 24 official EU languages, e.g. Statements on behalf of the EU, Council Conclusions, the “About us” section
content published only in English and French, e.g. Statements by the High Representative / Vice-President and by the Spokespersons
content published in English and any other relevant languages, e.g. Press releases, press statements, speeches and remarks, blog posts by the HR/VP, selected web features
The webpages of the EEAS Delegations to third countries, Military and Civilian missions and operations and Electoral Observation missions, hosted on the EEAS website, provide information in English and the local language(s) of the respective countries. Local press statements are normally in one EU official language and the local language.
The EEAS also operates a Russian-language website.
The language in which users are viewing the website is indicated at the top of each webpage. Clicking on the icon allows users to switch to another language. The language in which a webpage is available is specified.
New content is continually being added and updated on this website. This means that if a translation is not available, it might simply still be going through the translation process. We publish translations as they become available.
The EEAS website will progressively take the following approach:
Straightforward information with a long time span for the general public will be gradually offered in all EU official languages, besides other relevant language(s) depending on the readership.
The use of machine translation for EU official languages will be considered for informative texts as long as the user is duly informed of the process.
Short-lived or very specialised information will generally appear in a few languages – or even just one – depending on the audience.
The EEAS HQ social media accounts operate primarily in English. To the extent possible, we diversify our content language-wise and depending on the audience, for dissemination by EU Representations, Delegations or other partners.
EEAS Delegations engage in social media outreach in the relevant local languages.
Requests for information, managed by the Europe Direct Contact Centre, can be submitted in any EU official language. The EEAS reply is provided in the same language.
Requests for Access to Documents can also be made in any EU official language. For reasons of efficiency and to ensure rapid response, the EEAS policy is to ask the requestor whether a response in either English or French is acceptable. In case of a negative response, the reply is provided in the language of the requestor.
Public Consultations, in the form on online questionnaires open to EU citizens in order to allow them to participate in the EU policy-making process, are always available in at least English, French and German and often in most EU languages. Responses can be submitted in any official EU language. EEAS stakeholder consultations targeting external audiences are available in the relevant languages.
Syrian foreign affairs minister added to EU sanctions list
EUBAM Libya: new Head of Mission appointed
MEPP: Statement by the Spokesperson on the appointment of new UN Special Coordinator Wennesland The European Union congratulates Tor Wennesland for his appointment as the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Ambassador Wennesland replaces the outgoing UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov who made a significant contribution during his mandate, in particular
Gender Action Plan III: Remarks by the High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell at the Joint meeting of the DEVE-AFET-FEMM Committees of the European Parliament Check against delivery! Thank you dear Chair [Member of the European Parliament, David McAllister] and members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Development and Women’s rights and Gender equality. Gender equality is a word that is highly disputed in the Council, I will talk about it later.
Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)- factsheet In light of a changing security environment, the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS) started a process of closer cooperation in security and defence. EU Member States agreed to step up the European Union’s work in this area and acknowledged the need for enhanced coordination,
European Defence Agency: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the annual virtual conference Check against delivery! Good morning everybody, Thank you Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues on the defence field, It is my real pleasure to address you today at what is my first European Defence Agency Annual Conference. We are gathering some 800 participants from all over Europe and
Ofiplaza del Este, Edificio D-Tercer piso / 50 metros oeste Rotonda de la Bandera
11501 San José
Apdo. 836-1007, San José, Costa Rica
Fax.(506) 2283-2960
Delegation-costa-rica@eeas.europa.eu
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3218
|
__label__wiki
| 0.58975
| 0.58975
|
NextThe Clash of the Titans Event: *Speakers announced!*- 5th December 2018
Chart of the Week: UK Trade Balance with Largest Commonwealth Economies
Already existent strong trade ties between neighbouring nations could potentially prove limiting for Britain’s trade expansion …
Aimée Allam on November 1, 2018
UK Trade Balance with Largest Commonwealth Economies
The average of combined exports to the selected countries has increased 1.7 times, while the average imports from them have increased by 2.7 times over the time period shown. The largest increase in imports to the UK was from Nigeria, where there was an almost 10-fold increase between 2005 and 2017. The highest increase in exports from the UK was to Singapore, an increase of 2.5-fold over the same period. The shifting of the trade balance from deficit to surplus with Singapore has resulted in an increase of almost £4 billion to the UK economy since 2005. Australia is the only economy shown where the UK was consistently a net exporter between 2005 and 2017. The UK was consistently a net importer from Canada and predominantly a net importer from South Africa, with short periods of change in 2011 and between 2013 and 2014. Britain is also a net importer from India, the largest commonwealth economy, with significant peaks and troughs in their trade balance every two years.
What does the chart show?
The chart shows the trade balance between the UK and selected commonwealth countries, focusing on the six largest commonwealth economies. The data measures both goods and services in £ millions seasonally adjusted, between 2005 and 2017. The data originates from the Office of National Statistics.
Why is the chart interesting?
Approaching Brexit, there has been a strong emphasis on strengthening Britain’s global trade ties, particularly with its former colonies. The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London earlier this year discussed the importance of intra-commonwealth trade, focusing on boosting employment and investment, and including the smaller economies.
The UK currently exports almost five times as much to the EU than all of the commonwealth nations combined. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of commonwealth members expressed desire for the UK to remain inside the EU. This could be because the UK is viewed as a potential gateway to European trade. The commonwealth nations’ diverse economies and large, ever wealthier population (one third of the world’s population) could be a boon to UK exports post Brexit, tempering any impact from Brexit-related limitations to UK-EU trade. As a net importer, it would be prudent for UK’s trade policy to prioritise the securing of low-tariff goods on which to rely should a need for retaliatory tariffs on EU goods arise.
Looking at the Asian nations shown on the chart, the UK appears to view Singapore as a gateway to the ASEAN market. In 2018, 4,000 British companies employed over 50,000 people in the city-state, although UK trade with Singapore has been predominantly financial services -focussed. While India may be the largest commonwealth economy, its markets have high barriers to entry and their leadership have expressed ambivalent attitudes towards trade deals with non-Asian markets. India’s tariffs on whisky, access to legal and insurance markets, and restrictions on work visas pose the largest hurdles in the way of stronger UK-India trade ties.
On a visit to Nigeria this past summer, UK Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt expressed desires to shift from the current aid-based relationship towards a stronger trade and investment environment with the nation. The UK currently spends £300m on foreign aid in Nigeria, the third largest recipient of British aid after Pakistan and Ethiopia. Theresa May also made a visit to Sub-Saharan Africa this past summer. During her speech in South Africa, she announced that the UK aims to be the top investor in Africa out of the G7 nations. UK imports fuel, precious stones and fresh fruit from these nations and is increasingly interested in investing in their energy sector, a shared interest with the US.
Already existent strong trade ties between neighbouring nations could potentially prove limiting for Britain’s trade expansion. For example, Canada’s strongest trading partner is the US, with much of their existing trade policy oriented towards them. Australia and New Zealand are strong trading partners amongst themselves, and historically have seemed more interested in trade and investment with China and other emerging Asian markets. These trends relate to the ‘gravity model’ of trade, means that the larger and closer trading partners are, the higher their volume of trade. However, apart from geographical proximity, shared language, historical links and free trade association membership are also significantly influential factors.
Britain could potentially look to China as a model for expanding trade with the commonwealth nations. In the decade starting 2006, China’s trade with all commonwealth nations grew by over 8-fold, and is currently valued at almost £200 billion. This appears largely due to Chinese interest in power plants, motorways, food, steel and solar panels. However, it is important to consider the vast differences in economic policy, population, resources and geography between the two countries as potential limitations for Britain.
Posted in: Chart of the Week
Tagged in: australia, Brexit, Canada, China, commonwealth, GDP, India, investment, new zealand, nigeria, policy, south africa, trade, trade balance
Posted by Aimée Allam
The Clash of the Titans Event: *Speakers announced!*- 5th December 2018
Chart of the Week: European Home Ownership vs Population Density
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3219
|
__label__wiki
| 0.827786
| 0.827786
|
Explosion at Domodedovo Airport
An explosion occurred this afternoon at 16:40 in Moscow's international Domodedovo Airport, with reports of at least 35 dead and some 130 injured. Of the injured, 20 are said to be in serious condition.
Witnesses say that in the international arrivals baggage area two suicide bombers set off the explosion. Afterwards there was heavy smoke in the airport. The head of an Arabic man was found in the blast area.
The blast is said to have been equivalent to 7 kilograms of TNT.
Workers at the airport broke the wall between the arrivals and baggage claim to allow travelers to escape the scene. Following the explosion, the area was sealed off, but planes continued to land and take off, with only a few flights prevented from landing.
Security was increased at the other Moscow airports, as well as the Metro and other transportation hub areas of the city.
The airport is used by numerous international carriers, so victims could very well include some foreign travelers. A reporter on the scene described the airport operations following the blast. "Everything is running pretty efficiently, no panic of any kind of the people was apparent".
Domodedovo is Russia's most modern airport, but it is also its busiest, perhaps too busy. Last month during an ice storm, the airport suffered a massive power outage.
Dmitry Medvedev said those responsible would be tracked down and punished. "Security will be strengthened at large transport hubs," he wrote. "We mourn the victims of the terrorist attack at Domodedovo airport. The organisers will be tracked down and punished."
Psychological and Medical Assistance Office Established in Domodedovo Airport
A dedicated operational office of psychological and medical assistance for injured in the explosion act was established in Moscow Domodedovo airport.
All those who need such assistance may ask for help at the Information Desk (grey and orange desk) located between two escalators on the ground floor of the passenger terminal building.
The injured delivered to hospitals of Moscow, Domodedovo and Vidnoye.
Security measures in the whole territory of the airport have been tightened.
+ 7 495 626 37 07 (hotline of EMERCOM)
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3222
|
__label__cc
| 0.542247
| 0.457753
|
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 640/2014 of 11 March 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the integrated administration and control system and conditions for refusal or withdrawal of payments and administrative penalties applicable to direct payments, rural development support and cross compliance
OJ L 181, 20.6.2014, p. 48–73 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
In force: This act has been changed. Current consolidated version: 16/10/2017
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2014/640/oj
Official Journal of the European Union
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) No 640/2014
of 11 March 2014
supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the integrated administration and control system and conditions for refusal or withdrawal of payments and administrative penalties applicable to direct payments, rural development support and cross compliance
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008 (1), and in particular Articles 63(4), 64(6) and 72(5), Article 76, Articles 77(7), 93(4) and 101(1), and Article 120 thereof,
Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 repeals and replaces, among others, Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 (2). Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 empowers the Commission to adopt delegated and implementing acts. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the system in the new legal framework, certain rules have to be adopted by means of such acts. Those acts should replace in particular the rules laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 (3).
In particular, rules should be established to supplement certain non-essential elements of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in relation to the functioning of the integrated administration and control system (integrated system), the time limits for the submission of aid applications or payment claims, the conditions for the partial or total refusal of aid and the partial or total withdrawal of undue aid or support and the determination of administrative penalties to deal with non-compliances related to conditions for receiving aid under schemes established by Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and conditions for receiving support under rural development measures established by Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5), and rules on the maintenance of permanent pasture and calculation of administrative penalties as regards the cross-compliance obligations.
Supplementary definitions are needed to ensure a harmonised implementation of the integrated system, in addition to the definitions provided for in Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013. Furthermore, it is necessary to define certain terms applicable to cross-compliance rules.
The application of administrative penalties and the refusals or withdrawals of aid or support provided for in this Regulation should not prevent Member States from applying national criminal penalties, if national law so provides.
Article 2(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 defines certain cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances to be recognised by the Member States. Supplementary rules should be laid down enabling Member States to recognise cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances in relation to direct payments, rural development support and cross-compliance. A deadline within which such cases are to be notified by the beneficiary should be fixed.
Supplementary rules are also needed with regard to the system for the identification of agricultural parcels to be operated by the Member States in accordance with Article 70 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. According to that provision, use has to be made of computerised geographical information system (GIS) techniques. It is necessary to clarify which are the basic requirements and quality targets to be met by the system and which particular information is to be available in the GIS to ensure effective administrative cross-checks. Therefore, the identification system for agricultural parcels should be regularly updated to exclude clearly ineligible features and area. However, in order to avoid instability of the system, flexibility should be given to the Member States in view of small changes in the maximum eligible area due to the uncertainty of photo-interpretation, inter alia, caused by the outline and condition of reference parcels.
In order to allow Member States to identify pro-actively possible weaknesses in the system and to take remedial action when required, the quality of the identification system of agricultural parcels should be annually assessed.
In order to ensure a proper implementation of the basic payment scheme and related payments as provided for in Title III of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, Member States should establish an identification and registration system for payment entitlements which ensures that the payment entitlements are traceable and which allows, inter alia, to cross-check areas declared for the purposes of the basic payment scheme with the payment entitlements available to each farmer and between the different payment entitlements as such.
In order to allow effective control and to prevent the submission of multiple aid applications to different paying agencies within one Member State, Member States should provide for a single system to record the identity of farmers submitting aid applications subject to the integrated system.
Experience has shown that certain landscape features of the fields, in particular hedges, ditches and stonewalls, should be considered part of the eligible area for area-related direct payments. It is necessary to define the acceptable width of landscape features in the field. In view of specific environmental needs, it is appropriate to provide Member States with some flexibility as regards the limits to be taken into account when the regional yields were fixed for the purpose of former area payments for crops. However, Member States should be allowed to apply a different method for permanent grassland with scattered landscape features and trees where this option does not apply.
Given their importance for sustainable agriculture, any landscape features subject to the requirements and standards listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 which form part of the total area of an agricultural parcel should be considered eligible.
As regards agricultural parcels taken up by arable land or by permanent grassland containing trees, conditions should be established for the presence of trees on these areas and their impact on the eligibility of such areas. For the sake of legal certainty, a maximum density of trees should be laid down, which is to be defined by Member States on the basis of traditional cropping practices, natural conditions and environmental reasons.
For reasons of simplification and to favour observability and controllability of direct payments, Member States should be allowed to apply a pro-rata system in order to establish the eligible area of permanent grassland with scattered ineligible features, such as landscape features and trees, other than landscape features subject to the requirements and standards listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. The eligible area is determined for each reference parcel according to pre-established thresholds applied at the level of the homogeneous land cover type. Scattered features which cover up to a certain percentage of the reference parcel can be considered as being part of the eligible area. Therefore, it should be provided that no deductions need to be made for the area of scattered features in the first category representing the lowest percentage of ineligible area.
Rules should be established to deal with the situations where the latest date for the submission of various applications, claims, documents or amendments is a public holiday, a Saturday or a Sunday.
Respecting the time limits for the submission of aid applications, payment claims and other declarations, for the amendment of area-related aid applications or payment claims and for any supporting documents or contracts is indispensable to enable the national authorities to program and, subsequently, carry out effective controls on the correctness of the aid applications, payment claims or other documents. Rules should, therefore, be laid down regarding the time limits within which late submissions are acceptable. In order to encourage beneficiaries to respect the time limits, a dissuasive reduction should be applied in case of late submission, unless the delay is due to cases of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.
The timely submission of applications for allocation of payment entitlements or, where applicable, the increase of the value of payment entitlements by beneficiaries is essential for the Member States with a view to the timely establishment of the payment entitlements. Late submissions of those applications should therefore only be permitted within the same additional time limit as for the late submission of any aid applications. A dissuasive reduction should also be applied, unless the delay is due to cases of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.
Beneficiaries who give notice to the competent national authorities at any time of incorrect aid applications or payment claims should not be subject to any administrative penalties irrespective of the reason of the non-compliance, unless the beneficiary has been informed of the competent authority’s intention to carry out an on-the-spot check or the authority has already informed the beneficiary of any non-compliance in the aid application or payment claim.
Supplementary rules for the basis of calculation of area-related aid schemes and area-related support measures, and for the basis of calculation of voluntary coupled support based on livestock aid applications under animal aid schemes or rural development support based on payment claims under animal-related support measures should be laid down.
Administrative penalties should be established having regard to the principles of dissuasiveness and proportionality and the specific problems linked to cases of force majeure as well as exceptional circumstances. Administrative penalties should be graded according to the seriousness of the non-compliance committed and should go as far as the total exclusion from one or several area-related aid schemes or area-related support measures for a specified period. They should take into account the particularities of the various aid schemes or support measures with regard to the eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations or the possibility that a beneficiary might not declare all his areas to artificially create the condition to be exempted from the greening obligations. The administrative penalties under this Regulation should be considered dissuasive enough to discourage intentional non-compliance.
In order to enable Member States to carry out checks effectively, with particular respect to controls of cross-compliance obligations, it is necessary to provide for the obligation of beneficiaries to declare all the areas at their disposal, whether or not they claim aid for such areas in accordance with Article 72(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.
For the sake of determining the eligible areas and to calculate the applicable reductions, it is necessary to define the areas falling within the same crop group. An area should be taken into account several times if it is declared for aid or support under more than one aid scheme or support measure. For the purpose of greening, however, it is necessary to distinguish between crop groups.
Payment of aid under the basic payment scheme requires an equal number of payment entitlements and eligible hectares. For the purpose of this scheme it is therefore appropriate to provide that the calculation of the payment in the case of discrepancies between the number of payment entitlements declared and the area declared should be based on the lower figure. To avoid that the calculation is based on non-existing entitlements, it should be provided that the number of payment entitlements used for the calculation should not exceed the number of payment entitlements at the beneficiary’s disposal.
In relation to area aid applications and/or payment claims, non-compliances usually affect parts of areas. Over-declarations in respect of one parcel may, therefore, be off-set against under-declarations of other parcels of the same crop-group. Within a certain margin of tolerance, it should be provided that administrative penalties only become applicable once this margin has been exceeded.
Furthermore, in relation to aid applications and/or payment claims for area-related payments, differences between the total area declared in the aid application and/or payment claim and the total area determined as eligible are often insignificant. To avoid a high number of minor adjustments of applications it should be provided that the aid application and/or payment claims do not have to be adjusted to the area determined unless a certain level of differences is exceeded.
Given the particularities of the aid scheme for cotton, special provisions for administrative penalties in relation to that scheme should be established.
Administrative penalties in case of intentional or negligent non-compliance with eligibility requirements should be established having regard to the principles of dissuasiveness and proportionality for cases where a beneficiary applying for the young farmer scheme, does not comply with his obligations.
Administrative penalties should be established for animal aid schemes and animal-related support measures having regard to the principles of dissuasiveness and proportionality and the special problems linked to cases of natural circumstances. The administrative penalties should be graded according to the seriousness of the non-compliance committed and should go as far as the total exclusion from one or several aid schemes or support measures for a specified period. With regard to the eligibility criteria, they should take into account the particularities of the various aid schemes or support measures. The administrative penalties under this Regulation should be set at a sufficiently dissuasive level so as to discourage intentional over-declaration.
As far as aid applications under animal aid schemes or payment claims under animal-related support measures are concerned, non-compliances lead to the ineligibility of the animal concerned. Reductions should be provided for as from the first animal found with non-compliances but, irrespective of the level of the reduction, there should be a less harsh administrative penalty where three animals or less are found with non-compliances. In all other cases the severity of the administrative penalty should depend on the percentage of animals found with non-compliances.
As a general rule, Member States should take any further measures necessary to ensure a proper functioning of the integrated system. Member States should be allowed to impose additional national penalties where necessary.
The possibility to make corrections without leading to the administrative penalty provided for the aid application and payment claim should also apply in relation to incorrect data contained in the computerised database in respect of declared bovine animals for which such non-compliances constitute a breach of an eligibility criterion, unless the beneficiary has been informed of the competent authority’s intention to carry out an on-the-spot check or the authority has not already informed the beneficiary of any non-compliance in the aid application or payment claim.
Refusals and withdrawals of support and administrative penalties should be established for rural development support measures having regard to the principles of dissuasiveness and proportionality. Refusals and withdrawals of support should be graded on the basis of the severity, extent, duration and reoccurrence of the non-compliance found. Refusals and withdrawals of support and administrative penalties should, with regard to the eligibility criteria, commitments and other obligations, take into account the particularities of the various support measures. In the case of serious non-compliance or in the case the beneficiary provided false evidence for the purpose of receiving the support, the support should be refused and an administrative penalty should be imposed. Administrative penalties should go as far as the total exclusion from one or several support measures or types of operations for a specified period.
For rural development support measures the administrative penalties should be without the prejudice to the possibility of temporarily suspending the support affected by non-compliance. Rules should be laid down to define cases where the non-compliance can be expected to be addressed by the beneficiary within a reasonable time.
Article 93(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 provides, as regards the years 2015 and 2016, that the rules on cross-compliance also comprise the maintenance of permanent pasture. In this regard, it is necessary to specify that Member States should continue to fulfil their obligations in 2015 and 2016 according to the ratio established in 2014.
For the sake of clarity and in order to establish a harmonized basis for the assessment of non-compliances and calculation and application of administrative penalties due to cross-compliance, it is necessary to provide indications on the meaning of the terms reoccurrence, extent, severity and permanence of a non-compliance. In addition it is necessary to explain when a non-compliance is deemed to be determined.
As regards the non-compliance with cross-compliance obligations, administrative penalties should be established having regard to the principle of proportionality. They should only be applied where the farmer acted negligently or intentionally and should be graded according to the seriousness of the non-compliance committed.
With regard to cross-compliance obligations, apart from grading administrative penalties in view of the principle of proportionality, it should be provided that starting from a certain moment, repeated infringements of the same cross-compliance obligation should, after a prior warning to the farmer, be treated as an intentional non-compliance.
Furthermore, where in particular conditions the possibility not to apply any administrative penalties for non-compliances pursuant to Articles 97(3) and 99(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 is applied by a Member State, requirements regarding the remediation of the relevant non-compliance should be established.
As regards in particular the early warning system, as referred to in Article 99(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, in case the beneficiary does not fulfil the obligation to take remedial action the reduction should be applied retroactively in respect of the year for which the early warning system was applied. The calculation of the administrative penalties should also take into account the reoccurrence of the non-compliance in question in the year of the subsequent check, if applicable. In order to give legal certainty to beneficiaries, a time limit for the retroactive application of administrative penalties should be established.
With regard to beneficiaries of multiannual operations started under rural development programmes approved pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (6) and who are under the cross-compliance obligations, it should be established that the new control system and administrative penalties apply, in order to reduce the administrative burden of the national authorities in charge of checking their compliance and ensure simplification of procedures.
With regard to non-compliances with cross-compliance obligations, for which an administrative penalty was not applied since they were falling under de minimis rule provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (7) or Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, but for which Member States had to ensure that beneficiaries remedy the non-compliance, transitional rules should be established to ensure consistency between the obligation of follow-up existing prior to the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the new rules in that respect in that Regulation.
For reasons of clarity and legal certainty, Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 should be repealed. Commission Regulation (EU) No 65/2011 (8) should also be repealed.
Having regard to the second subparagraph of Article 119(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, this Regulation should apply to aid applications or payment claims relating to marketing years or premium periods starting as from 1 January 2015,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
This Regulation lays down provisions supplementing certain non-essential elements of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in relation to:
conditions for the partial or total refusal or withdrawal of the aid or support;
identifying the administrative penalty and determining the specific rate to be imposed;
identifying the cases in which the administrative penalty is not applied;
rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits where the final date for submission of applications or amendments is a public holiday, a Saturday or a Sunday;
specific definitions needed to ensure a harmonised implementation of the integrated system;
basic features and technical rules for the identification system for agricultural parcels and identification of beneficiaries;
basic features, technical rules and quality requirements of the system for the identification and registration of payment entitlements;
the basis for the calculation of aid, including rules on how to deal with certain cases in which eligible areas contain landscape features or trees;
additional rules for intermediates such as services, bodies and organisations, which are involved in the procedure for granting the aid or support;
the maintenance of permanent pasture in relation to cross-compliance;
a harmonised basis for the calculation of administrative penalties related to cross-compliance;
conditions for the application and calculation of the administrative penalties related to cross-compliance;
an addition to the rules provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in order to ensure a smooth transition from repealed rules to the new rules.
1. For the purposes of the integrated system referred to in Article 67(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the definitions in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 and in Article 67(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall apply.
‘beneficiary’ means a farmer as defined in Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 and referred to in Article 9 of that Regulation, the beneficiary subject to cross-compliance within the meaning of Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and/or the beneficiary receiving rural development support as referred to in Article 2(10) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9);
‘non-compliance’ means:
for eligibility criteria, commitments or other obligations relating to the conditions for the granting of the aid or support referred to in Article 67(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, any non-respect of those eligibility criteria, commitments or other obligations; or
for cross-compliance, non-compliance with the statutory management requirements under Union legislation, with the standards for good agricultural and environmental condition of land defined by the Member States in accordance with Article 94 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, or with the maintenance of permanent pasture referred to in Article 93(3) of that Regulation;
‘application for support’ means an application for support or to enter a measure under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;
‘payment claim’ means an application by a beneficiary for payment by the national authorities under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;
‘other declaration’ means any declaration or document, other than applications for support or payment claims, which has to be submitted or kept by a beneficiary or a third party in order to comply with specific requirements of certain rural development measures;
‘rural development measures in the scope of the integrated system’ means the support measures granted in accordance with Article 21(1)(a) and (b) and Articles 28 to 31, 33, 34 and 40 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 and where applicable Article 35(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, with the exception of measures referred to in Article 28(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, and measures under Article 21(1)(a) and (b) of that Regulation as far as the establishment cost is concerned;
‘system for the identification and registration of animals’ means the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals established by Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10) and/or the system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals established by Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 (11) respectively;
‘ear tag’ means the ear tag to identify bovine animals individually referred to in Article 3(a) and Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and/or the ear tag to identify ovine and caprine animals individually referred to in point A.3 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 respectively;
‘computerised database for animals’ means the computerised database referred to in Article 3(b) and Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and/or the central register or computerised database referred to in Article 3(1)(d), Article 7 and Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 respectively;
‘animal passport’ means the animal passport referred to in Article 3(c) and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;
‘register’ in relation to animals means the register kept by the animal keeper referred to in Article 3(d) and Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and/or the register referred to in Article 3(1)(b) and Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 respectively;
‘identification code’ means the identification code referred to in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and/or the codes referred to in point A.2 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 respectively;
‘animal aid scheme’ means a voluntary coupled support measure provided for in Chapter 1 of Title IV of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 where the annual payment to be granted within defined quantitative limits is based on a fixed number of animals;
‘animal-related support measures’ means rural development measures or types of operations for which support is based on the number of animals or number of livestock units declared;
‘livestock aid application’ means the applications for the payment of aid where the annual payment to be granted within defined quantitative limits is based on a fixed number of animals under the voluntary coupled support provided for in Chapter 1 of Title IV of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013;
‘declared animals’ means animals subject to a livestock aid application under the animal aid scheme or subject to a payment claim for an animal-related support measure;
‘potentially eligible animal’ means an animal that could a priori potentially fulfil the eligibility criteria for receiving the aid under the animal aid scheme or support under an animal-related support measure in the claim year in question;
‘animal determined’ means:
for an animal aid scheme, an animal for which all conditions laid down in the rules for granting the aid have been met; or
for an animal-related support measure, an animal identified by means of administrative or on-the-spot checks;
‘animal keeper’ means any natural or legal person responsible for animals whether on a permanent or on a temporary basis, including during transportation or at a market;
‘area-related aid schemes’ means the area-related direct payments within the meaning of Article 67(4)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1306/2013, excluding specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union as referred to in Chapter IV of Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12) and specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands as referred to in Chapter IV of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (13);
‘area-related support measures’ means rural development measures or type of operations for which support is based on the size of the area declared;
‘use’ in relation to area means the use of area in terms of the type of crop as referred to in Article 44(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, type of permanent grassland as defined in Article 4(1)(h) of that Regulation, permanent pasture referred to in Article 45(2)(a) of that Regulation or areas of grassland, other than permanent grassland or permanent pasture, or ground cover or the absence of a crop;
‘area determined’ means:
for area-related aid schemes, the area for which all eligibility criteria or other obligations relating to the conditions for the granting of the aid have been met, regardless of the number of the payment entitlements at the beneficiary’s disposal; or
for area-related support measures, the area of plots or parcels as identified by means of administrative or on-the-spot checks;
‘Geographical Information System’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘GIS’) means the computerised geographical information system techniques referred to in Article 70 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013;
‘reference parcel’ means a geographically delimited area retaining a unique identification as registered in the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in Article 70 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013;
‘geographical material’ means maps or other documents used to communicate the contents of the GIS between the applicants for aid or support and the Member States.
2. For the purpose of Title IV of this Regulation, the definitions in Title VI of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall apply.
In addition, ‘standards’ means any of the standards as defined by the Member States in accordance with Article 94 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 as well as the obligations in relation to permanent pasture as laid down in Article 93(3) of that Regulation.
Application of criminal penalties
The application of the administrative penalties and the refusal or withdrawal of aid or support as provided for in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to the application of criminal penalties, should national law so provide.
Force majeure and exceptional circumstances
1. As regards direct payments, if a beneficiary has been unable to comply with the eligibility criteria or other obligations as a result of force majeure or exceptional circumstances he shall retain his right to aid in respect of the area or animals eligible at the time when the case of force majeure or the exceptional circumstance occurred.
As regards rural development support measures under Articles 28, 29, 33 and 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, if a beneficiary has been unable to fulfil the commitment as a result of force majeure or exceptional circumstances, the respective payment shall be proportionally withdrawn for the years during which the case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances occurred. The withdrawal shall concern only those parts of the commitment for which additional costs or income foregone did not take place before the force majeure or exceptional circumstances occurred. No withdrawal shall apply in relation to the eligibility criteria and other obligations and no administrative penalty shall apply.
As regards other rural development support measures, Member States shall not require the partial or full reimbursement of the support in case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances. In case of multiannual commitments or payments, reimbursement of the support received in previous years shall not be required and the commitment or payment shall be continued in the subsequent years in accordance with its original duration.
When the non-compliance resulting from such force majeure or exceptional circumstances concerns cross-compliance, the corresponding administrative penalty as referred to in Article 91(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall not be applied.
2. Cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances shall be notified in writing to the competent authority, with relevant evidence to the satisfaction of the competent authority, within fifteen working days from the date on which the beneficiary or the person entitled through him, is in a position to do so.
THE INTEGRATED ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM
SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS
Identification of agricultural parcels
1. The identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in Article 70 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall operate at reference parcel level. A reference parcel shall contain a unit of land representing agricultural area as defined in Article 4(1)(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013. Where appropriate, a reference parcel shall also include areas as referred to in Article 32(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 and agricultural land as referred to in Article 28(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.
Member States shall delimit the reference parcel in such a way as to ensure that the reference parcel is measurable, enables the unique and unambiguous localisation of each agricultural parcel annually declared and as a principle, is stable in time.
2. Member States shall also ensure that agricultural parcels that are declared are reliably identified. They shall in particular require the aid applications and payment claims to be furnished with particular information or accompanied by documents specified by the competent authority that enable each agricultural parcel to be located and measured. For each reference parcel, Member States shall:
determine a maximum eligible area for the purpose of the support schemes listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013;
determine a maximum eligible area for the purpose of the area-related measures referred to in Articles 28 to 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;
locate and determine the size of those ecological focus areas listed in Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 for which the Member State has decided that they shall be considered as ecological focus area. For that purpose, Member States shall apply the conversion and/or weighting factors set out in Annex X to Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, where appropriate;
determine whether provisions for mountain areas, areas facing significant natural constraints and other areas affected by specific constraints as referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, Natura 2000 areas, areas covered by Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (14), agricultural land authorised for cotton production pursuant to Article 57 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, areas naturally kept in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation as referred to in Article 4(1)(c)(iii) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, areas designated by Member States for the regional and/or collective implementation of ecological focus areas in accordance with Article 46(5) and (6) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, areas which have been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, areas covered with permanent grasslands which are environmentally sensitive in areas covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC (15) or Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (16) and further sensitive areas referred to in Article 45(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 and/or areas designated by the Member States in accordance with Article 48 of that Regulation apply.
3. Member States shall ensure that the maximum eligible area per reference parcel as referred to in paragraph 2(a) is correctly quantified within a margin of maximum 2 %, thereby taking into account the outline and condition of the reference parcel.
4. For the measures referred to in Article 21(1)(a) and Articles 30 and 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, Member States may establish appropriate alternative systems to uniquely identify the land subject to support where that land is covered by forest.
5. The GIS shall operate on the basis of a national coordinate reference system as defined in Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (17) which permits standardised measurement and unique identification of agricultural parcels throughout the Member State concerned. Where different coordinate systems are used, they shall be mutually exclusive and each of them shall ensure the consistency between items of information which refer to the same location.
Quality assessment of the identification system for agricultural parcels
1. Member States shall annually assess the quality of the identification system for agricultural parcels for the purpose of the basic payment scheme and the single area payment scheme as referred to in Chapter 1 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013. That assessment shall encompass two conformance classes.
The first conformance class shall cover the following elements in order to assess the quality of the identification system for agricultural parcels:
the correct quantification of the maximum eligible area;
the proportion and distribution of reference parcels where the maximum eligible area takes ineligible areas into account or where it does not take agricultural area into account;
the occurrence of reference parcels with critical defects.
The second conformance class shall cover the following quality elements in order to identify possible weaknesses in the identification system for agricultural parcels:
the categorisation of reference parcels where the maximum eligible area takes ineligible areas into account, where it does not take agricultural area into account or reveals a critical defect;
the ratio of declared area in relation to the maximum eligible area inside the reference parcels;
the percentage of reference parcels which have been subject to change, accumulated over the years.
Where the results of the quality assessment reveal deficiencies in the system, the Member State shall take appropriate remedial action.
2. Member States shall perform the assessment referred to in the paragraph 1 on the basis of a sample of reference parcels to be selected and provided by the Commission. They shall use data allowing to assess the current situation on the ground.
3. An assessment report and, where appropriate, the remedial actions and the timetable for their implementation shall be sent to the Commission by 31 January following the calendar year in question.
Identification and registration of payment entitlements
1. The system for the identification and registration of payment entitlements provided for in Article 71 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall be an electronic register at Member State level and shall, in particular with regard to the cross-checks provided for in paragraph 1 of that Article, ensure effective traceability of the payment entitlements as regards the following elements:
the holder;
the annual values;
the date of establishment;
the date of last activation;
the origin, in particular with regard to its attribution, original, national or regional reserves, as well as purchase, lease and inheritance;
where Article 21(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 is applied, the entitlements maintained by virtue of that provision;
where applicable, regional restrictions.
2. Member States having more than one paying agency, may decide to operate the electronic register at paying agency level. In that case, the Member State concerned shall ensure that the different registers are compatible with each other.
Identification of beneficiaries
Without prejudice to Article 72(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the single system for recording the identity of each beneficiary provided for in Article 73 of that Regulation shall guarantee a unique identification with regard to all aid applications and payment claims or other declarations submitted by the same beneficiary.
AGRICULTURAL PARCELS WITH LANDSCAPE FEATURES AND TREES
Determination of areas where the agricultural parcel contains landscape features and trees
1. Where certain landscape features, in particular hedges, ditches and walls, are traditionally part of good agriculture cropping or utilisation practices on agricultural area in certain regions, Member States may decide that the corresponding area shall be considered part of the eligible area of an agricultural parcel within the meaning of Article 67(4)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 provided that it does not exceed a total width to be determined by the Member State concerned. That width shall correspond to a traditional width in the region concerned and shall not exceed 2 metres.
However, where Member States notified to the Commission before 9 December 2009 of a width greater than 2 metres in conformity with the third subparagraph of Article 30(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 (18), that width may still be applied.
The first and the second subparagraph shall not apply to permanent grassland with scattered landscape features and trees where the Member State concerned has decided to apply a pro-rata system in accordance with Article 10.
2. Any landscape features subject to the requirements and standards listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 which form part of the total area of an agricultural parcel shall be considered part of the eligible area of that agricultural parcel.
3. An agricultural parcel that contains scattered trees shall be considered as eligible area provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:
agricultural activities can be carried out in a similar way as on parcels without trees in the same area; and
the number of trees per hectare does not exceed a maximum density.
The maximum density referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be defined by Member States and notified on the basis of traditional cropping practices, natural conditions and environmental reasons. It shall not exceed 100 trees per hectare. However, that limit shall not apply in relation to the measures referred to in Articles 28 and 30 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.
This paragraph shall not apply to scattered fruit trees which yield repeated harvests, to scattered trees which can be grazed in permanent grassland and to permanent grassland with scattered landscape features and trees where the Member State concerned has decided to apply a pro-rata system in accordance with Article 10.
Pro-rata system for permanent grassland containing landscape features and trees
1. As regards permanent grassland with scattered ineligible features, such as landscape features and trees, Member States may decide to apply a pro-rata system to determine the eligible area within the reference parcel.
The pro-rata system referred to in the first subparagraph shall consist of different categories of homogeneous land cover types for which a fixed reduction coefficient based on the percentage of ineligible area is applied. The category representing the lowest percentage of ineligible area shall not exceed 10 % of ineligible area and no reduction coefficient shall apply to that category.
2. Any landscape features subject to the requirements and standards listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 which form part of the total area of an agricultural parcel shall be considered part of the eligible area.
3. This Article shall not apply to permanent grassland containing fruit trees which yield repeated harvests.
AID APPLICATIONS AND PAYMENT CLAIMS
The single application
The single application shall at least cover the application for direct payments referred to in Article 72(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in respect of the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme and other area-related aid schemes.
Derogation for the final date for submission
By way of derogation from Article 5(1) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 (19), where the final date for the submission of an aid application, application for support, payment claim or other declarations or any supporting documents or contracts, or the final date for amendments to the single application or to the payment claim, is a public holiday, a Saturday or a Sunday, it shall be deemed to fall on the first following working day.
The first paragraph shall also apply to the latest possible date for late submission referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 13(1) and to the latest possible date for late submission referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 14 for the submission of applications by beneficiaries for allocation or increase of payment entitlements.
Late submission
1. Except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances as referred to in Article 4, the submission of an aid application or payment claim pursuant to this Regulation after the final date for such submission as fixed by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall lead to a 1 % reduction per working day of the amounts to which the beneficiary would have been entitled if the application or claim had been submitted within the time limit.
Without prejudice to any particular measures to be taken by the Member States with regard to the need for the submission of any supporting documents in due time to allow effective controls to be scheduled and carried out, the first subparagraph shall also apply with regard to applications for support, documents, contracts or other declarations to be submitted to the competent authority where such applications for support, documents, contracts or declarations are constitutive for the eligibility for the aid or support in question. In that case, the reduction shall be applied on the amount payable for the aid or support concerned.
If such delay amounts to more than 25 calendar days, the application or claim shall be considered inadmissible and no aid or support shall be granted to the beneficiary.
2. Except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances as referred to in Article 4, where the beneficiary of the schemes provided for in Articles 46 and 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (20) who is also subject to cross-compliance obligations in accordance with Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 does not submit the single application form within the final date as referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this article, a 1 % reduction per working day shall apply. The maximum reduction shall be limited to 25 %. The reduction percentage shall apply to the total amount of payments related to measures under Articles 46 and 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, divided by 3 for restructuring and conversion.
3. Except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances as referred to in Article 4, the submission of an amendment to the single application or payment claim after the final date for such submission as fixed by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall lead to a 1 % reduction per working day of the amounts relating to the actual use of the agricultural parcels concerned.
Amendments to the single application or payment claim shall only be admissible until the latest possible date for late submission of the single application or payment claim as specified in the third subparagraph of paragraph 1. However, where that date is earlier than, or the same as the final date for the submission of an amendment to the single application or payment claim as referred in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, amendments to the single application or payment claim shall be considered inadmissible after that date.
Late submission of an application related to payment entitlements
Except in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances referred to in Article 4, the submission of an application for allocation or, when applicable, increase of the value of payment entitlements after the final date fixed for this purpose by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, shall lead in that year to a 3 % reduction per working day of the amounts to be paid in respect of the payment entitlements or, when applicable, in respect of the increase of the value of payment entitlements to be allocated to the beneficiary.
If such delay amounts to more than 25 calendar days, the application shall be considered inadmissible and no payment entitlements or, when applicable, no increase of the value of payment entitlements shall be allocated to the beneficiary.
CALCULATION OF AID AND ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES RELATING TO DIRECT PAYMENTS SCHEMES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MEASURES IN THE SCOPE OF THE INTEGRATED SYSTEM
Exceptions from the application of administrative penalties
1. The administrative penalties provided for in this Chapter shall not apply with regard to the part of the aid application or payment claim as to which the beneficiary informs the competent authority in writing that the aid application or payment claim is incorrect or has become incorrect since it was lodged, provided that the beneficiary has not been informed of the competent authority’s intention to carry out an on-the-spot check and that the authority has not already informed the beneficiary of any non-compliances in the aid application or payment claim.
2. The information given by the beneficiary as referred to in paragraph 1 shall have the effect that the aid application or payment claim is adjusted to the actual situation.
Non-declaration of all areas
1. If, for a given year, a beneficiary does not declare all the agricultural parcels related to the areas referred to in Article 72(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the difference between the overall area declared in the single application and/or payment claim on the one hand and the area declared plus the overall area of the parcels not declared, on the other, is more than 3 % of the area declared, the overall amount of area-related direct payments and/or support under area-related support measures payable to that beneficiary for that year shall be reduced by up to 3 % depending on the severity of the omission.
The penalty calculated in accordance with the first subparagraph shall be reduced by the amount of any administrative penalty applied in accordance with Article 28(2).
2. Paragraph 1 shall also apply to payments related to the schemes provided for in Articles 46 and 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, where the beneficiary is subject to cross-compliance obligations in accordance with Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. The reduction percentage shall apply to the total amount of payments related to measures under Articles 46 and 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 divided by 3 for restructuring and conversion.
3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to payments under the small farmers scheme provided for in Title V of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013.
Area-related aid schemes, except the payment for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment, or area-related support measures
1. For the purposes of this Section, the following crop groups shall be distinguished as appropriate:
areas declared for the purposes of activation of payment entitlements under the basic payment scheme or for the purpose of being granted the single area payment;
a group for each of the areas declared for the purpose of any other area-related aid scheme or support measure, for which a different rate of aid or support is applicable;
areas declared under the heading ‘other uses’.
2. Where the same area serves as the basis for an aid application and/or payment claim under more than one area-related aid scheme or support measure, that area shall be taken into account separately for each of those aid schemes or support measures.
Basis of calculation in respect of area-related payments
1. With regard to an aid applications under the basic payment scheme, the small farmers scheme, the re-distributive payment, the payment for areas with natural constraints and, where applicable, the young farmer scheme and where the Member State applies the basic payment scheme, the following shall apply:
if the number of payment entitlements declared exceeds the number of payment entitlements at the beneficiary’s disposal, the number of payment entitlements declared shall be reduced to the number of payment entitlements at the beneficiary’s disposal;
if there is a difference between the number of payment entitlements declared and the area declared, the area declared shall be adjusted to the lowest figure.
This paragraph shall not apply in the first year of allocation of payment entitlements.
2. In case of the payment for young farmers and where the Member State opts for the payment method laid down in Article 50(6), (7) and (8) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013; if the area declared under the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme exceeds the limit set by the Member State in accordance with Article 50(9) of that Regulation, the area declared shall be reduced to that limit.
3. In case of the re-distributive payment, if the area declared under the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme exceeds the limits set by the Member State in accordance with Article 41(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the area declared shall be reduced to that limit.
4. In case of the payment for areas with natural constraints and where the Member State opts for the payment method laid down in Article 48(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, if the area declared under the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme exceeds the maximum number of hectares set by the Member State, the area declared shall be reduced to that number.
5. In case of aid applications and/or payment claims under area-related aid schemes or support measures, if the area of a crop group determined is established to be greater than the area declared in the aid application, the area declared shall be used for the calculation of the aid.
6. Without prejudice to administrative penalties in accordance with Article 19, in the case of aid applications and/or payment claims under area-related aid schemes or support measures, if the area declared exceeds the area determined for a crop group as referred to in Article 17(1), the aid shall be calculated on the basis of the area determined for that crop group.
However, without prejudice to Article 60 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, if the difference between the total area determined and the total area declared for payment under the direct aid schemes established in Titles III, IV and V of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 or the total area declared for payment under an area-related support measure is less than or equal to 0,1 hectare, the area determined shall be set equal to the area declared. For this calculation only over-declarations of areas at the level of a crop group as referred to in Article 17(1) shall be taken into account.
The second subparagraph shall not apply where that difference represents more than 20 % of the total area declared for payments.
7. For the purpose of calculating the aid under the basic payment scheme, the average of the values of different payment entitlements in relation to the respective area declared shall be taken into account.
Administrative penalties in cases of over-declaration
1. If, in respect of a crop group as referred to in Article 17(1), the area declared for the purposes of any area-related aid schemes or support measures exceeds the area determined in accordance with Article 18, the aid shall be calculated on the basis of the area determined reduced by twice the difference found if that difference is more than either 3 % or two hectares, but no more than 20 % of the area determined.
If the difference is more than 20 % of the area determined, no area-related aid or support shall be granted for the crop group concerned.
2. If the difference is more than 50 %, no area-related aid or support shall be granted for the crop group concerned. Moreover, the beneficiary shall be subject to an additional penalty equal to the amount of aid or support corresponding to the difference between the area declared and the area determined in accordance with Article 18.
3. If the amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 cannot be fully off-set in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the outstanding balance shall be cancelled.
Administrative penalties concerning the crop specific payment for cotton
Without prejudice to the administrative penalties applicable accordance with Article 19 of this Regulation, where it is established that the beneficiary does not respect the obligations resulting from Article 61(1) and (2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 (21), the beneficiary shall lose the right to the increase of the aid provided for in Article 60(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013. Moreover, the aid for cotton per eligible hectare pursuant to Article 57 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 shall be reduced by the amount of the increase that the beneficiary would otherwise have been granted in accordance with Article 60(2) of that Regulation.
Administrative penalties, other than over-declarations of areas, concerning the payments for young farmers under Chapter V of Title III of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013
1. Without prejudice to the administrative penalties applicable in accordance with Article 19, where it is established that the beneficiary does not comply with the obligations referred to in Article 50(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 and Article 49 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014, the aid for young farmers shall not be paid or shall be withdrawn in full. Moreover, where it is established that the beneficiary provided false evidence for the purpose of proving compliance with the obligations, a penalty corresponding to 20 % of the amount the beneficiary has, or would otherwise have received as a payment for young farmers pursuant to Article 50(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 shall be applied.
2. If the amount of the undue payments and the administrative penalties referred to in paragraph 1 cannot be fully off-set in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the outstanding balance shall be cancelled.
Payment for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment
each group of areas declared as a certain crop as referred to in Article 44(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013;
areas declared as permanent grassland and which are environmentally sensitive as referred to in Article 45(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013;
other areas than those referred to in point (b) declared as permanent grassland; and
areas declared as ecological focus area as referred to in Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013.
2. Where the same area is declared for more than one crop group, that area shall be taken into account separately for each of those crop groups.
Basis of calculation of the payment for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment in respect of the eligible hectares declared under the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme
1. Where the Member State applies the basic payment scheme, the following shall apply:
2. Without prejudice to the administrative penalties applicable in accordance with Article 28, if the area declared in a single application for the basic payment or the single area payment exceeds the area determined, the area determined shall be used for the calculation of the greening payment for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment hereinafter referred to as ‘the greening payment’.
However, if the area determined for the basic payment scheme or the single area payment scheme is found to be greater than the area declared in the aid application, the area declared shall be used for the calculation of the greening payment.
Reduction of the greening payment in case of non-compliance with crop diversification
1. Where Article 44 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 requires that the main crop shall not cover more than 75 % of the total area of arable land, but the area that has been determined for the main crop group covers more than 75 %, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by 50 % of the total area of arable land determined multiplied by the ratio of difference.
The ratio of difference referred to in the first subparagraph shall be the share of the area of the main crop group that goes beyond 75 % of the total arable land determined in the total area required for the other crop groups.
2. Where Article 44 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 requires that the two main crops shall not cover more than 95 % of the total area of arable land determined, but the area that has been determined for the two main crop groups covers more than 95 %, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by 50 % of the total area of arable land determined multiplied by the ratio of difference.
The ratio of difference referred to in the first subparagraph shall be the share of the area of the two main crop groups that goes beyond 95 % of the total area of arable land determined in the total area required for the other crop groups.
3. Where Article 44 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 requires that the main crop shall not cover more than 75 % of the total area of arable land determined and the two main crops shall not cover more than 95 %, but the area that has been determined for the main crop group covers more than 75 % and the area that has been determined for the two main crop groups covers more than 95 %, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by 50 % of the total area of arable land determined multiplied by the ratio of difference.
The ratio of difference referred to in the first subparagraph shall be the sum of the ratios of difference calculated under paragraph 1 and 2. However, the value of this ratio shall not exceed 1.
4. Where a beneficiary has been found non-compliant with crop diversification as described in this Article for three years, the area by which the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment is to be reduced in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 for the subsequent years shall be the total area of arable land determined multiplied by the applicable ratio of difference.
Reduction of the greening payment in case of non-compliance with the permanent grassland requirements
1. If a non-compliance with the third subparagraph of Article 45(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 has been determined, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by the area determined as non-compliant with the requirements in the third subparagraph of Article 45(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013.
2. If a non-compliance with the obligations as referred to in Article 44 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 has been determined, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by the area determined as non-compliant with the obligations as referred to in Article 44 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014.
3. Non-compliances shall be deemed to be ‘determined’ if they are established as a consequence of any kind of checks carried out in accordance with Article 74 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 or after having been brought to the attention of the competent control authority or paying agency in whatever other way.
Reduction of the greening payment in case of non-compliance with the ecological focus area requirements
1. The ecological focus area required in accordance with Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, hereinafter referred to as ‘the ecological focus area required’, shall be calculated on the basis of the total area of arable land determined and including, if applicable pursuant to Article 46(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the areas determined as referred to in points (c), (d), (g) and (h) of the first subparagraph of Article 46(2) of that Regulation.
2. If the ecological focus area required exceeds the ecological focus area determined taking account of the weighting of ecological focus areas provided for in Article 46(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation shall be reduced by 50 % of the total arable land determined and including, if applicable pursuant to Article 46(2) of that Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the areas determined as referred to in points (c), (d), (g) and (h) of the first subparagraph of Article 46(2) of that Regulation, multiplied by the ratio of difference.
The ratio of difference referred to in the first subparagraph shall be the share of the difference between the ecological focus area required and the ecological focus area determined in the ecological focus area required.
3. Where a beneficiary has been found non-compliant with the ecological focus area requirements as described in this Article for three years, the area by which the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment is to be reduced in accordance with paragraph 2 for the subsequent years shall be the total area of arable land determined and including, if applicable pursuant to Article 46(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the areas determined as referred to in points (c), (d), (g) and (h) of the first subparagraph of Article 46(2) of that Regulation, multiplied by the ratio of difference.
Maximum reduction of the greening payment
1. The sum of the reductions calculated in accordance with Articles 24 and 26 expressed in hectares shall not exceed the total number of hectares of arable land determined including, if applicable pursuant to Article 46(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, the areas determined as referred to in points (c), (d), (g) and (h) of the first subparagraph of Article 46(2) of that Regulation.
2. Without prejudice to the application of administrative penalties applicable in accordance with Article 28, the total reduction calculated in accordance with Articles 24 to 26 shall not exceed the greening payment calculated in accordance with Article 23.
Administrative penalties as regards the greening payment
1. If the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 differs from the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment after application of Articles 24 to 27, the greening payment shall be calculated on this later area reduced by twice the difference established if that difference is more than either 3 % or two hectares, but no more than 20 % of the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment after application of Articles 24 to 27.
If the difference is more than 20 %, no aid shall be granted.
If the difference is more than 50 %, no aid shall be granted. Moreover, the beneficiary shall be subject to an additional penalty equal to the amount of aid corresponding to the difference between the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment in accordance with Article 23 and the area to be used for calculation of the greening payment after application of Articles 24 to 27.
2. If the beneficiary does not declare all his area under arable land with the result that he would have been exempted from the obligations provided for in Articles 44, 45 and 46 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, and/or he does not declare all his permanent grassland which is environmentally sensitive in accordance with Article 45(1) of that Regulation and the non-declared area is more than 0,1 ha, the area to be used for the calculation of the greening payment after application of Articles 24 to 27 of this Regulation shall be further reduced by 10 %.
3. In accordance with Article 77(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the administrative penalty calculated in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not be applied in claim years 2015 and 2016. The administrative penalty calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 and 2 shall be divided by 5 and limited to 20 % of the amount of the greening payment to which the farmer concerned would have been entitled in accordance with Article 23 in claim year 2017, and divided by 4 and limited to 25 % of the same amount for claim years 2018 and onwards.
4. If the amount of the administrative penalties calculated in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 cannot be fully off-set in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the outstanding balance shall be cancelled.
Applicable rules for equivalent practices
This Section shall apply mutatis mutandis to the equivalent practices referred to in Article 43(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013.
Voluntary coupled support based on livestock aid applications under animal aid schemes or rural development support based on payment claims under animal-related support measures
Basis of calculation
1. In no case aid or support shall be granted for a number of animals greater than that shown in the aid application or in the payment claim.
2. Animals present on the holding shall only be considered as determined if they are identified in the aid application or in the payment claim. Identified animals may be replaced without the loss of the right to payment of the aid or support, provided that the beneficiary has not yet been informed by the competent authority of a non-compliance in the application or claim or has not yet been given notice of the authority’s intention to carry out an on-the-spot check. Where a Member State does not make use of the possibility of having a claimless system, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, it shall ensure by any means that there are no doubts as to which animals are covered by the beneficiaries’ applications or claims.
3. Without prejudice to Article 31, if the number of animals declared in an aid application or payment claim exceeds that determined as a result of administrative checks or on-the-spot checks, the aid or support shall be calculated on the basis of the animals determined.
4. Where cases of non-compliances with regard to the system for the identification and registration for bovine animals are found, the following shall apply:
a bovine animal present on the holding which has lost one of the two ear tags shall be considered as determined provided that it is clearly and individually identified by the other elements of the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals referred to in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first paragraph of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000;
where one single bovine animal present on the holding has lost two ear tags it shall be considered as determined provided that the animal can still be identified by the register, animal passport, database or other means laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and provided that the animal keeper can provide evidence that he has already taken action to remedy the situation before the announcement of the on-the-spot check;
where the non-compliances found relate to incorrect entries in the register or the animal passports, the animal concerned shall only be considered as not determined if such errors are found on at least two checks within a period of 24 months. In all other cases the animals concerned shall be considered as not determined after the first finding.
The entries in, and notifications to, the system for the identification and registration of bovine animals may be adjusted at any time in cases of obvious errors recognised by the competent authority.
5. An ovine or caprine animal present on the holding which has lost one ear tag shall be considered as determined provided that the animal can still be identified by a first means of identification in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 and provided that all other requirements of the system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals are fulfilled.
Administrative penalties in respect of declared animals under the animal aid schemes or animal-related support measures
1. Where, in respect of an aid application under an animal aid scheme or in respect of a payment claim under an animal-related support measure, a difference is found between the number of animals declared and that determined in accordance with Article 30(3), the total amount of aid or support to which the beneficiary is entitled under that aid scheme or support measure for the claim year concerned shall be reduced by the percentage to be established in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article, if no more than three animals are found with non-compliances.
2. If more than three animals are found with non-compliances the total amount of aid or support to which the beneficiary is entitled under the aid scheme or support measure referred to in paragraph 1 for the claim year concerned shall be reduced by:
the percentage to be established in accordance with paragraph 3, if it is not more than 10 %;
twice the percentage to be established in accordance with paragraph 3, if it is more than 10 % but not more than 20 %.
If the percentage established in accordance with paragraph 3 is more than 20 %, no aid or support to which the beneficiary would have been entitled pursuant to Article 30(3) shall be granted under the aid scheme or support measure for the claim year concerned.
If the percentage established in accordance with paragraph 3 is more than 50 %, no aid or support to which the beneficiary would have been entitled pursuant to Article 30(3) shall be granted under the aid scheme or support measure for the claim year concerned. Moreover, the beneficiary shall be subject to an additional penalty of an amount equal to the amount corresponding to the difference between the number of animals declared and the number of animals determined in accordance with Article 30(3). If that amount cannot be fully off-set in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the outstanding balance shall be cancelled.
3. In order to establish the percentages referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the number of animals declared under an animal aid scheme or animal-related support measure and found with non-compliances shall be divided by the number of animals determined for that animal aid scheme or support measure in respect of the aid application or payment claim for the claim year concerned.
Where a Member State makes use of the possibility of having a claimless system, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, potentially eligible animals found not to be correctly identified or registered in the system for identification and registration for animals shall count as animals found with non-compliances.
Exceptions from the application of administrative penalties in cases of natural circumstances
The administrative penalties provided for in Article 31 shall not apply in cases where the beneficiary is unable to comply with the eligibility criteria, commitments or other obligations as a result of natural circumstances affecting the herd or flock, provided that he has informed the competent authority in writing within ten working days of finding any reduction in the number of animals.
Without prejudice to the actual circumstances to be taken into account in individual cases, the competent authorities may recognise natural circumstances affecting the herd or flock consisting of
the death of an animal as a consequence of a disease; or
the death of an animal following an accident for which the beneficiary cannot be held responsible.
Additional penalties and measures
1. Member States may provide additional national penalties to be applied to intermediates, involved in the procedure of obtaining aid or support, in order to ensure the compliance with control requirements including the respect of notification obligations.
2. As regards the evidence provided by services, bodies or organisations other than the competent authorities in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 78(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, if it is found that incorrect evidence has been provided as a result of negligence or intentionally, the Member State concerned shall apply appropriate penalties in accordance with national legislation. Where such non-compliances are found a second time, the service, body or organisation involved shall be excluded for a period of at least one year from the right to provide evidence valid for support purposes.
Amendments and adjustments of entries in the computerised database for bovine animals
In respect of declared bovine animals, Article 15 shall apply to errors and omissions in relation to entries in the computerised database for bovine animals made from the moment the aid application or payment claim is submitted.
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT MEASURES
Non-compliance with the eligibility criteria other than the size of area or number of animals, commitments or other obligations
1. The support claimed shall be refused or withdrawn in full where the eligibility criteria are not complied with.
2. The support claimed shall be refused or be withdrawn in full or in part where the following commitments or other obligations are not complied with:
commitments established in the rural development programme; or
where relevant, other obligations of the operation established by Union or national law or established in the rural development programme, in particular public procurement, State aid and other obligatory standards and requirements.
3. When deciding on the rate of refusal or withdrawal of support following the non-compliance with the commitments or other obligations referred to in paragraph 2, the Member State shall take account of the severity, extent, duration and reoccurrence of the non-compliance related to conditions for support referred to in paragraph 2.
The severity of the non-compliance shall depend, in particular, on the importance of the consequences of the non-compliance, taking into account the objectives of the commitments or obligations that were not met.
The extent of the non-compliance shall depend, in particular, on its effect on the operation as a whole.
The duration shall depend, in particular, on the length of time for which the effect lasts or the possibility of terminating this effect by reasonable means.
The reoccurrence shall depend on whether similar non-compliances have been found earlier during the last four years or during the whole programming period 2014-2020 in case of the same beneficiary and the same measure or type of operation or in the case of the programming period 2007-2013, the similar measure.
4. In case of multiannual commitments or payments, withdrawals based on the criteria referred to in paragraph 3 shall also apply to the amounts already paid in the previous years for the same operation.
5. In case the overall assessment based on the criteria referred to in paragraph 3 leads to establishing a serious non-compliance, the support shall be refused or withdrawn in full. Furthermore, the beneficiary shall be excluded from the same measure or type of operation for the calendar year of the finding and for the following calendar year.
6. Where it is established that the beneficiary provided false evidence for the purpose of receiving the support or failed to provide the necessary information due to negligence, the support shall be refused or withdrawn in full. Furthermore, the beneficiary shall be excluded from the same measure or type of operation for the calendar year of finding and for the following calendar year.
7. If the withdrawals and administrative penalties referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 cannot be fully off-set in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, the outstanding balance shall be cancelled.
Suspending the support
The paying agency may suspend the support relating to certain expenditure where a non-compliance resulting in an administrative penalty is detected. The suspension shall be lifted by the paying agency as soon as the beneficiary proves to the satisfaction of the competent authority that the situation has been remedied. The maximum period of suspension shall not exceed three months. The Member States may also set shorter maximum periods depending on the type of operations and the effects of the non-compliance in question.
The paying agency may only suspend support where the non-compliance does not prejudice the achievement of the overall purpose of the operation concerned, and if it is expected that the beneficiary is able to remedy the situation during the maximum period defined.
CONTROL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES IN RELATION TO CROSS-COMPLIANCE
MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT PASTURE
Permanent pasture obligations
1. Where it is established that the ratio referred to in Article 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 has decreased in 2014 at national or regional level, the Member State concerned may provide for the obligation of beneficiaries applying for any aid under the direct payment schemes in 2015 not to convert land under permanent pasture without prior authorisation.
Where it is established that that ratio has decreased by more than 5 % in 2014, the Member State concerned shall provide for such obligation.
If the authorisation referred to in the first and second subparagraphs is subject to the condition that an area of land is established as permanent pasture, such land shall, as of the first day of conversion, be considered as permanent pasture by way of derogation from the definition laid down in point (2) of the second paragraph of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009. That area shall be used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage for the five consecutive years following the date of conversion.
2. The obligation for beneficiaries set out in paragraph 1 shall not apply where beneficiaries created land under permanent pasture in accordance with Council Regulations (EEC) No 2078/92 (22), (EC) 1257/1999 (23) and (EC) No 1698/2005.
3. Where it is established that the obligation referred to in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 cannot be ensured in 2014, the Member State concerned shall, further to the measures to be taken in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, provide, at national or regional level, for the obligation of beneficiaries applying for aid under any of the direct payment schemes in 2015 to re-convert land into land under permanent pasture.
The first subparagraph shall only apply to beneficiaries having land at their disposal which was converted from land under permanent pasture into land for other uses.
The first subparagraph shall apply with regard to an area of land thus converted since the date of the start of the 24-month period preceding the last date at which the single applications had to be submitted at the latest in accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 in the Member State concerned.
In such case, farmers shall re-convert a percentage of that area into permanent pasture or establish such an amount of area as permanent pasture. That percentage shall be calculated on the basis of the amount of area thus converted by the farmer and the amount of area needed to re-establish the balance.
However, where such area was subject to a transfer after it had been converted into land for other uses, the first subparagraph shall only apply if the transfer took place after 6 May 2004.
Areas re-converted or established as permanent pasture shall, as of the first day of the re-conversion or establishment, be considered as ‘permanent pasture’ by way of derogation from point (2) of the second paragraph of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009. Those areas shall be used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage for the five consecutive years following the date of conversion.
4. Paragraphs 1 and 3 shall apply only during the year 2015.
5. Member States shall carry out checks in 2015 and 2016 to ensure that paragraphs 1 and 3 are complied with.
CALCULATION AND APPLICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES
General rules concerning non-compliance
1. The ‘reoccurrence’ of a non-compliance means the non-compliance with the same requirement or standard determined more than once within a consecutive period of three calendar years, provided that the beneficiary has been informed of a previous non-compliance and, as the case may be, has had the possibility to take the necessary measures to terminate that previous non-compliance. For the purpose of determining the reoccurrence of a non-compliance, non-compliances determined in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 shall be taken into account and, in particular, GAEC 3, as listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, shall be considered equivalent to SMR 2 of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 in its version in force on 21 December 2013.
2. The ‘extent’ of a non-compliance shall be determined taking account, in particular, of whether the non-compliance has a far-reaching impact or whether it is limited to the farm itself.
3. The ‘severity’ of a non-compliance shall depend, in particular, on the importance of the consequences of the non-compliance taking account of the aims of the requirement or standard concerned.
4. Whether a non-compliance is of ‘permanence’ shall depend, in particular, on the length of time for which the effect lasts or the potential for terminating those effects by reasonable means.
5. For the purposes of this Chapter, non-compliances shall be deemed to be ‘determined’ if they are established as a consequence of any kind of controls carried out in accordance with this Regulation or after having been brought to the attention of the competent control authority or, where applicable, the paying agency, in whatever other way.
Calculation and application of administrative penalties in the case of negligence
1. Where a non-compliance determined results from the negligence of the beneficiary, a reduction shall be applied. That reduction shall, as a general rule, be 3 % of the total amount resulting from the payments and annual premiums indicated in Article 92 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.
However, the paying agency may, on the basis of the assessment of the importance of the non-compliance provided by the competent control authority in the evaluation part of the control report taking into account the criteria referred to in Article 38(1) to (4), decide either to reduce that percentage to 1 % or to increase it to 5 % of the total amount referred to in the first subparagraph or, in the cases where provisions relating to the requirement or standard in question leave a margin not to further pursue the non-compliance found or in the cases for which support is granted according to Article 17(5) and (6) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, not to impose any reductions at all.
2. Where a Member State decides not to apply an administrative penalty pursuant to Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the beneficiary has not remedied the situation within a deadline set by the competent authority, the administrative penalty shall be applied.
The deadline set by the competent authority shall not be later than the end of the year following the one in which the finding was made.
3. Where a Member State makes use of the option provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 99(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and the beneficiary has not remedied the situation within a deadline set by the competent authority, a reduction of at least 1 % as provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be applied retroactively in relation to the year of the initial finding when the early warning system was applied, if the non-compliance is found not to have been remedied during a maximum period of three consecutive calendar years calculated from and including that year.
A non-compliance which has been remedied by the beneficiary within the deadline set shall not be considered as a non-compliance for the purpose of establishing reoccurrence in accordance with paragraph 4.
4. Without prejudice to cases of intentional non-compliance, the reduction to be applied in respect of the first reoccurrence of the same non-compliance in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be multiplied by the factor three.
In case of further reoccurrences, the multiplication factor three shall be applied each time to the result of the reduction fixed in respect of the previous reoccurrence. The maximum reduction shall, however, not exceed 15 % of the total amount referred to in paragraph 1.
Once the maximum percentage of 15 % has been reached, the paying agency shall inform the beneficiary concerned that if the same non-compliance is determined again, the beneficiary shall be considered to have acted intentionally within the meaning of Article 40.
Calculation and application of administrative penalties in cases of intentional non-compliance
Where the non-compliance determined has been committed intentionally by the beneficiary, the reduction to be applied to the total amount referred to in Article 39(1) shall, as a general rule, be 20 % of that total amount.
However, the paying agency may, on the basis of the assessment of the importance of the non-compliance provided by the competent control authority in the evaluation part of the control report taking into account the criteria referred to in Article 38(1) to (4), decide to reduce that percentage to no less than 15 % or to increase that percentage to up to 100 % of that total amount.
Cumulation of administrative penalties
Where a case of non-compliance within the meaning of point (2)(b) of the second subparagraph of Article 2(1) also constitutes a non-compliance within the meaning of point (2)(a) of the second subparagraph of Article 2(1), the administrative penalties shall be applied in accordance with the rules laid down by the Commission on the basis of Article 77(8)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Transitional rules as regards cross-compliance
1. As regards cross-compliance obligations of beneficiaries of measures implemented pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, the rules on the control system and administrative penalties laid down in this Regulation and in the implementing acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall apply.
2. For non-compliances with cross-compliance obligations for which administrative penalties were not applied since they were falling under de minimis rule referred to in Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 or in Article 51(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 respectively, the second subparagraph of Article 97(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall apply as regards the obligation on the control authority to take actions necessary to verify that the beneficiary has remedied the findings of non-compliance.
Regulations (EC) No 1122/2009 and (EU) No 65/2011 are repealed with effect from 1 January 2015.
However, those Regulations shall continue to apply to:
aid applications for direct payments lodged in respect of premium periods starting before 1 January 2015;
payment claims made in relation to the year 2014; and
the control system and administrative penalties as regards cross-compliance obligations of farmers under Articles 85t and 103z of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (24).
Entry into force and application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply to aid applications or payment claims relating to claim years or premium periods starting as from the 1 January 2015.
Done at Brussels, 11 March 2014.
For the Commission
José Manuel BARROSO
(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 549.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 1).
(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 of 30 November 2009 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 as regards cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system, under the direct support schemes for farmers provided for that Regulation, as well as for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards cross-compliance under the support scheme provided for the wine sector (OJ L 316, 2.12.2009, p. 65).
(4) Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 and Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 608).
(5) Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487).
(6) Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1).
(7) Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 247/2006, (EC) No 378/2007 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (OJ L 30, 31.1.2009, p. 16).
(8) Commission Regulation (EU) No 65/2011 of 27 January 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, as regards the implementation of control procedures as well as cross-compliance in respect of rural development support measures (OJ L 25, 28.1.2011, p. 8).
(9) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320).
(10) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1).
(11) Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 of 17 December 2003 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Directives 92/102/EEC and 64/432/EEC (OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 8).
(12) Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 247/2006 (OJ L 78, 20.3.2013, p. 23).
(13) Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 (OJ L 78, 20.3.2013, p. 41).
(14) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).
(15) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7).
(16) Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7).
(17) Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (OJ L 108, 25.4.2007, p. 1).
(18) Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 of 21 April 2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system provided for in of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers (OJ L 141, 30.4.2004, p. 18).
(19) Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits (OJ L 124, 8.6.1971, p. 1).
(20) Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).
(21) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 of 11 March 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy and amending Annex X to that Regulation (see page 1 of this Official Journal).
(22) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside (OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 85).
(23) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80).
(24) Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1).
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3226
|
__label__wiki
| 0.725811
| 0.725811
|
Giant solar farm plans for countryside near Exmouth approved
Posted: 31.07.20 at 12:11 by Daniel Clark
One of the fields where the solar farm will be located on.
Where the new solar farm will be located.
Plans for a giant solar farm in the East Devon countryside that will provide power for 5,000 homes have been approved.
East Devon District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday granted planning permission for the scheme on land to the south of Rockbeare Hill in Marsh Green for the 15MW solar farm.
The site was chosen due to the availability of a connection to the grid within 2km of it, at Marsh Green substation, and permission would last for 40 years and at the end of its life, will be returned to agricultural use.
While 55 per cent of the site does consist of good quality agricultural land, councillors heard that the land is not currently used for crop production, the good quality land is no clearly split between the fields, and that sheep grazing will continue to be possible while the solar farm is in operation.
Recommending approval be granted, Chris Rose, the council’s development manager, said: “It is considered that the benefits of the scheme outweigh the temporary loss of agricultural land.”
Councillor Philip Skinner called for the plans to be approved. He said: “If we are going to drive the climate change agenda, applications like this need to be given the right weight, and renewable energy and clean energy like this is something I can get behind and support.”
Councillor Geoff Pook added there were two issues that concerned him – the negative visual impact which would be mitigated, and the loss of the agricultural land.
He said: “The loss of agricultural land is more of a concern to me but it is not in perpetuity and there is going to be grazing on there anyway. I think the important thing is with solar sites, they’ve got limited opportunity where they be site and they have to be somewhere, relatively close to a major substation.
“Food production, although it’s nice good land, there’s many more opportunities for food production than there are suitable places for solar sites. Personally, I’m not in favour of the industrialisation of the countryside and this is, I consider this sort of an industrialisation and urbanisation, but when you look at environmental concerns and the carbon neutral targets and considerations, I will be supporting it.”
Councillor Tony Woodward added: “Sometimes we have to make sacrifices but the benefits will outweigh them and we have to make the right decision to approve this.”
West Hill and Aylesbeare ward councillor Jess Bailey said that she was not convinced the officers had drawn the correct balance between the need to retain the best quality and diverse agricultural land with the environmental benefits of the solar farm scheme.
But the committee agreed the officer recommendation and unanimously granted planning permission.
UPDATE: 78-year-old man left with ‘life changing injuries’ after Knowle Hill crash
Police are appealing for witnesses and a 78 year-old cyclist is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3228
|
__label__wiki
| 0.927761
| 0.927761
|
Exploring Democracy
Milestones in Australian democracy
Creating a Nation
Political movements
Global democracy - 2500 BCE to 1770 CE
Australia Abroad
Choose a subject
The freedoms of speech, association, assembly, religion, and movement are regarded as essential to a healthy democracy and strong civil society. A strong civil society develops when the public is encouraged to discuss and debate issues, when access to information and education is freely available, and when ordinary people are encouraged to be involved in community issues and local decision making processes.
Australians generally enjoy such freedoms, within the bounds of the law, but tensions often arise when governments make decisions that limit individual freedoms in order to protect national interests.
{{ groupedMilestones.decade }}
{{milestone.name_html}} {{milestone.name_html}}
{{milestone.name_html}}
{{ milestone.date | bcDate:'yyyy' | bcYear }}
{{milestone.description_html}}
Displaying results for '{{ search.$ }}'
First welfare institutions
NSW Governor Philip King establishes Australia’s first welfare institution — a girls' Orphan School. The first private welfare organisation — the Benevolent Society of New South Wales — forms on 8 May 1813 to aid the poor.
First Mechanics Institute and School of Arts
The Mechanics Institute and School of Arts is founded in Hobart and is one of Australia’s first public education institutions.
Execution for sodomy
The first executions for the crime of sodomy take place in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. According to Governor Arthur Phillip, murder and sodomy are the only crimes to warrant execution at the time of colonisation. The death penalty for sodomy is finally removed in 1883 but homosexual sex between males remains illegal in every state and territory in Australia until 1972.
Churches receive equal funding
Having witnessed the effects of sectarian intolerance in Ireland, NSW Governor Richard Bourke introduces the Church Act 1836 to provide subsidies to Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian churches on an equal basis.
National Board of Education
The first National Board of Education is established to regulate schools set up and managed under Lord Stanley’s system of education. Its aim is to create an efficient system of elementary education for a scattered population of different religious denominations (excluding Indigenous children). The Board reports that it is ‘impracticable to attempt to provide any form of education for the children of the blacks’ and from 1883, Indigenous children could be barred from public schools if white parents object to their presence. This regulation remains in the Teacher’s Handbook until 1972.
South Australia initiates church and state separation
South Australia is the first place in the British Empire to formally separate church and state by ending government aid to churches. The move is supported by George Fife Angas, Member for Barossa and sponsor of the first groups of German Lutheran exiles, who are opposed to church taxes.
Secret ballot introduced
Victoria is the first Australian colony to pass a law adopting the secret ballot, a system already successfully used in France and some American states. It involves people voting at elections by casting their vote on paper and putting it in a ballot box, rather than voting by a public show of hands. Voting by ballot has a long history. It was a key element in the British Chartist Movement of the 1830s along with one person one vote, manhood suffrage, equal representation of electoral districts and annual elections. The secret ballot is used in the Victorian elections for the Legislative Assembly in September–October 1856, and is also adopted by Tasmania and South Australia in the same year. It remains a controversial issue in Britain, with advocates seeing it as a way of promoting democracy while opponents fear it will lead to fraud or, at worst, undermine the need for a man to publicly defend his political choice.
Australian ballot
The secret ballot, first used in Victoria’s Legislative Assembly elections and adopted by Tasmania and South Australia in 1856, evolves into the ‘Australian ballot’ by 1858. This innovative version of the secret ballot features the distribution of government-printed official ballot slips by electoral officials, ensuring absolute secrecy of people’s voting preferences and limiting the opportunity for corruption. The Australian ballot is a form of the secret ballot and its features are subsequently adopted by many other countries. It remains an important element of the Australian electoral system today.
Law for neglected children
South Australia is the first colony to de-institutionalise children under government control. The Destitute Persons Relief Act 1866–67 (SA) introduces the concept of ‘boarding out’ for children in asylums, following a proposal by philanthropist Caroline Emily Clark that neglected children should be placed in ‘respectable poor families’ supported by a government subsidy. The Act also introduces industrial and reformatory schools. The boarding out system is a success and is subsequently adopted in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
The Bulletin begins publication
The Bulletin journal, founded by J F Archibald, combines news, politics and economics, and offers an Australian perspective to an Australian audience. Famous for publishing the work of promising Australian writers such as Henry Lawson, it becomes a radically nationalistic magazine. Its original masthead proclaims ‘Australia for the Australians’ then, in 1908, it adopts the logo ‘Australia for the White Man’. The Bulletin ceases publication in 2007 after 127 years.
Taking care of the poor
South Australia passes the Destitute Persons Act 1881, the first legislation for the state relief of poverty in Australia. Many immigrants to Australia have painful memories of the English poor laws and the hated workhouse, and regard the absence of poor laws in Australia as a sign of social progress. During the 1880s several colonies begin to supplement the funds of religious and charitable organisations to relieve poverty.
First Australian women’s newspaper
Louisa Lawson, poet, novelist and mother of Henry Lawson, establishes Dawn magazine to promote women’s independence and rights. In the previous year Louisa had bought the ailing Republican journal which she co-edited with her son Henry under the pseudonym ‘Archie Lawson’. However, Dawn remains a commercial success for 17 years, and is the only Australian newspaper to be printed and published by women.
National pension scheme
The Commonwealth exercises its Constitutional power to introduce the Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 — a means-tested flat-rate age and invalid pension scheme for men aged from 65 and (from 1910) for women aged from 60. Aliens, ‘Asiatics’ (except those born in Australia), and certain groups of ‘aboriginal natives’ are ineligible for a pension. A pension is not granted to an inmate of a benevolent asylum or charitable institution. This scheme replaces state aged pension schemes in New South Wales and Victoria (1900) and Queensland (1908).
As a result of effective lobbying by women, the Maternity Allowance Act 1912 (Cth) is introduced by Labor Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. It provides for payment of £5 to all white mothers, including unmarried mothers, on the birth of a child. The provision for unmarried mothers causes outrage amongst church groups. The Act excludes mothers of ‘Asiatic’, Indigenous, Papuan or Pacific Islander origin in line with the White Australia Policy. Indigenous women become eligible for the allowance in 1942, except those living a ‘nomadic or primitive’ life.
Wartime censorship
As a wartime measure, the government of Billy Hughes introduces Regulation 28A, which gives it the power to force newspaper editors to submit articles to the censor for clearance before publication.
James Joyce’s Ulysses is banned
James Joyce’s book Ulysses reflects changing trends in censorship. It is banned in 1919, unbanned in 1937 and re-banned in 1941. Despite protests in parliament in 1967, the Minister for Customs refuses to over-rule the Censorship Board’s ban on the film Ulysses, which the it rules as obscene and indecent.
Journalists in federal parliament
The new federal Parliament House in Canberra is one of the first parliamentary buildings in the world to provide specially built accommodation for journalists within the legislative chamber, indicating the increasing importance of the media to parliament and in everyday life.
Censorship and the ‘talkies’
The federal government decides that silent and sound versions of film are to be treated as separate items for censorship purposes. The Censorship Board regrets the advent of sound, stating that the ‘soul of the film was its eloquent and vital silence and the old mystery and beauty are giving way more and more to the depiction of the sordid and vulgar with tiresome emphasis on incidents drawn from stage life’.
Public broadcasting commences
The Australian Broadcasting Commission, established in 1929, goes to air on 1 July. It begins with 12 stations broadcasting music, sport and information programs for about 11 hours each day.
Australian Council for Civil Liberties
A group of prominent citizens, lawyers and writers, including Brian Fitzpatrick, Herbert Burton, Max Meldrum, Sir John Barry and Sir Eugene Gorman, form the Australian Council for Civil Liberties. The Council is formed initially to lobby against censorship restrictions. It publishes booklets to promote its cause, including Yvonne Nicholls’ Not Slaves, Not Citizens in 1952. Branches of the Council are established in every state.
The Department of Social Services is established in 1939, but does not function as a separate department until 1941. It assumes responsibility for national social services from the Treasury.
National child endowment scheme
The Child Endowment Act 1941 creates a Commonwealth Child Endowment Scheme following the first child endowment scheme introduced in NSW in 1927. The federal scheme provides an allowance to be paid to families for each child (after the first) under 16 years in families and each child under 16 years in approved non-government institutions. It is subsequently expanded and renamed family allowance.
Widows' pension
The government introduces the Widows Pensions Act 1942 and the Widows Pensions Act 1943 when it acknowledges that many widows are forced to work to provide for their children.
Broadcasting powers regulated
The Australian Broadcasting Act gives the Australian Broadcasting Commission power to decide when, and in what circumstances, political speeches should be broadcast. Directions from the Minister to broadcast, or refrain from broadcasting, any matter now has to be made in writing. That power remains in force until 1992, and is used only once in 1963 when the Postmaster-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, directs the ABC not to broadcast an interview with the former Prime Minister of France, Georges Bidault.
The Commonwealth Parliament passes the Unemployment and Sickness Benefits Act 1944. However, Indigenous Australians, however, are disqualified from benefits unless the Department is satisfied that by reason of their ‘character, standard of intelligence and development’ they receive the benefit. The provision disqualifying ‘aboriginal natives of Australia’ is repealed in 1960 but those deemed ‘nomadic or primitive’ remain ineligible until 1966.
Parliamentary broadcasting
The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) broadcasts the proceedings of federal parliament for the first time, with Acting Prime Minister Ben Chifley’s announcement of the end of World War II in Europe. Regular broadcasts of parliament begin on ABC Radio the following year.
Australia joins the United Nations
Australia sends a delegation (including feminist activist Jessie Street) led by HV ‘Doc’ Evatt to the San Francisco conference, which opens on 25 April, to establish the United Nations. Australia is one of the 51 founding members, and plays a key role in the conception of its UN Charter, which is signed on 26 June 1945. Evatt is subsequently appointed to chair the General Assembly in 1948 at which the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is adopted. The United Nations aims to promote and encourage ‘respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion’, and becomes a powerful force in the pursuit of international peace and security.
Australia signs UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
At its third session, the UN General Assembly adopts the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its President, Australia’s Foreign Minister and Attorney-General, HV ‘Doc’ Evatt, predicts that ‘millions of people, men, women and children all over the world would turn to it for help, guidance and inspiration’. Australia, together with the United Kingdom, subsequently leads the way in advocating the adoption of the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Civil and Political Rights in 1966 (in force from 1976).
Korean War (1950-53)
Towards the end of World War II, US and Soviet forces occupy the Korean peninsula, having liberated it from Japan. The two powers divide responsibility for Korea between themselves at the 38th parallel. A Soviet-supported communist regime emerges in the north and a US-backed one in the south. Both regimes seek reunification — but under their respective governments. On 25 June, the North Korean army pushes south. The United States sends in support to the south and the United Nations enlists 21 nations against the north. When the UN force enters the north, the Chinese move in with several army divisions. More than 1.5 million people die in various battles. A peace agreement is reached on 27 July 1953.
Government and commercial television
The Television Act 1953 provides for both government and commercial stations.
First televised broadcast of federal parliament
Federal parliament is televised by the Australian Broadcasting Commission for the first time on 17 February at the official opening of the 23rd Australian Commonwealth Parliament in Canberra.
Federal funding for schools
The Commonwealth States Grants (Science Laboratories and Technical Training) Act 1964 allows the Menzies government to directly fund state and private schools.
Lady Chattlerley’s Lover
An account of the 1961 obscenity trial for DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover is banned. The novel, first published in Italy in 1928, is one of a number of books banned from circulation in Australia because of its sexually explicit themes. The bans reflect literary and artistic censorship policies in the post-war era, and highlight the role of the Commonwealth and state governments in controlling the flow of sexually and politically controversial material into Australia. Such bans begin to decline by the late 1960s as federal and state governments introduce more liberal policies, although censorship remains a controversial issue.
Copyright introduced
The Copyright Act 1968 gives individuals the right to protect their moral and economic interests arising from their work, including works of art and literature, which cannot be used or copied without the owner/creator’s permission.
Censorship laws challenged
For the first time, a private citizen, Mr Dennis Altman, successfully challenges a ministerial decision to ban a book. The American novel Totem Pole by Sandord Friedman tells of a man’s gradual acceptance of his homosexuality.
Campaign against Moral Persecution
The Campaign against Moral Persecution (CAMP) forms to oppose discrimination against homosexual people, and organises the first demonstrations in Sydney in 1971.
The Gay Liberation political activist group is launched in Sydney.
Human Rights Bill
After the success of the 1967 referendum, Senator Lionel Murphy, Attorney-General in the Whitlam Labor government, introduces the Human Rights Bill 1973 (Cth) into the federal parliament. The Bill seeks to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 in Australia on the basis that the Australian Constitution provides scant protection of rights. The Bill is strongly opposed and never enacted, although Murphy is subsequently appointed to the High Court where he broadly interprets the express rights in the Constitution and holds that a number of other rights can be implied.
Joint sitting of parliament televised
A historic joint sitting of parliament is held shortly after the double dissolution election of 18 May, and becomes the first parliamentary debate to be televised in Australia.
National health care system
Medicare is introduced to address dissatisfaction with the existing voluntary health insurance scheme. Medicare is a Commonwealth-funded health insurance scheme that provides free or subsidised health care services to Australians. It provides free hospital services for patients in public hospitals through the Australian health care agreements with the states, subsidises private patients for hospital services (75 per cent of the schedule fee) and provides benefits for out-of-hospital medical services such as consultations with general practitioners or specialists (85 per cent of the schedule fee). The scheme commences on 1 July, following a joint sitting of parliament on 7 August 1974.
Homosexuality decriminalised
South Australia is the first jurisdiction in Australia to decriminalise some homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. Similar reforms are introduced in the ACT (1976), Victoria (1980), Northern Territory (1983), New South Wales (1984) and Western Australia (1989). The Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists eliminates homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1974 and the Australian Medical Association does the same in 1984.
Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
Australia ratifies the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in 1980, the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Australia plays a key role, along with the United Kingdom, in arguing for such covenants that would bind nations that adopt it with the force of international law. Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides the principal framework for the universal right to health. As a state party to this Covenant, Australia is obliged to submit five-yearly reports to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on how these and other rights are being implemented.
Gay rights protest
The largest gay rights march in Australia is held in Sydney to commemorate the US Stonewall riots in 1969. The march becomes an annual event and is eventually known as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Federal human rights laws
The federal Human Rights Commission Act 1981 comes into force, based on the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Freedom of information laws
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) creates a legally enforceable right of public access to documents in the possession of Commonwealth ministers and agencies. The new law aims to increase transparency in government decision-making and to improve the accountability of government for administrative decision-making.
Anti-discrimination law against homosexuals
New South Wales is the first state to pass laws prohibiting discrimination against homosexual people.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) provides a legal avenue for addressing discriminatory practices based on gender and sexuality.
Gay Rights Lobby
The NSW Parliament legislates to decriminalise homosexuality between consenting adults. The Gay Rights Lobby, formed in 1981, officially disbands after the historic Act. In the same year, three openly gay men are elected to the Sydney City Council.
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 is enacted. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is established and replaces the existing Human Rights Commission.
Referendum on rights
Following two unsuccessful attempts to enact a bill of rights, the Hawke government establishes a Constitutional Commission in 1985. Before the Commission completes its report, the Hawke government calls a referendum putting four proposals for constitutional change to the Australian people. These include four-year maximum terms for the federal parliament, recognition of local government, guarantee of the right to vote and ‘one vote one value’, and a guarantee of basic freedoms by extending the operation of existing guarantees in the Constitution. All four proposals are defeated nationally. Some critics argue that the best defence of civil liberties lies in the common law rather than in a specific legal instrument.
Parliamentary proceedings televised
Despite the advent of television in 1956, permission to televise proceedings of both parliamentary houses is not given until 1990. Broadcasting in the Senate begins immediately and in the House of Representatives in 1991. Senate Committee Hearings are also televised, enabling the public to see their representatives at work.
Children’s rights protected
Australia ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations in 1989.
Protection for people with disabilities
The federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination on the basis of disability.
Film censorship to protect children
A new classification — Mature Accompanied (MA) — is added to film classifications that divide movies into age and taste groupings. MA bans children under 15 from viewing films unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Same-sex relationships recognised
The ACT, through its Domestic Relationships Act 1994, is the first jurisdiction to give same-sex relationships the same legal standing as heterosexual de facto relationships.
Sexual conduct laws
The federal government passes the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994, legalising sexual activity between consenting adults in private throughout Australia. The UN Human Rights Commission rules that Tasmanian laws prohibiting homosexual sex is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Euthanasia laws
The Northern Territory Parliament passes a law making voluntary euthanasia legal. It allows physicians to prescribe and administer lethal substances to terminally ill patients who formally request assistance in ending their lives. The passage of the Bill — one of the first of its kind in the world — provokes a furore in Australia and across the world. It receives support from ‘death with dignity’ groups and widespread condemnation from euthanasia opponents, who see it as opening the way to involuntary homicide. The federal parliament subsequently passes the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, withdrawing the Northern Territory Parliament’s powers to pass laws that purport to legalise euthanasia.
The federal government legislates to control access to explicit material on the internet with the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Bill 1999.
Parliament goes live
Live video broadcasts of federal parliamentary proceedings commence via the internet. The Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings, responsible for arranging parliamentary broadcasting, aims to help people to understand and become involved in the workings of the House of Representatives and its committees. Hansard is also made available on the internet via the Australian Parliament House website.
David Hicks prosecuted on terrorism charges
David Hicks, an Australian who has undertaken combat training in Al-Qaeda-linked camps and served with the ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001, is detained by the US Government in Guantanamo Bay until 2007, when he becomes the first person to be tried and convicted under the US Military Commissions Act of 2006. Hicks’ treatment under the newly created legal system draws widespread criticism and political controversy.
Charter of a Free Press
The Australian Press Council, a leading advocate for the freedom and the responsibility of the press in Australia, adopts a Charter of a Free Press in the absence of any laws that guarantee press freedom and free speech. The only ‘guarantee’ of free speech arises from an implication found in the Australian Constitution, but the Charter recognises Australia’s endorsement of Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating the right to the free flow of information to enable news and opinion of public interest to be freely available to citizens.
Age is no barrier
The Australian Government passes the Age Discrimination Act 2004 to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of age and to ensure equal rights before the law.
GetUp
GetUp, an independent, grass-roots community advocacy organisation, is founded by Jeremy Heimans and David Madden, Australian graduates of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Its success demonstrates the increasing power of ‘e-democracy’. In its first three years, GetUp attracts over 300,000 members and its campaigns include bringing David Hicks to Australia from US detention, changing the laws on media ownership, achieving equal rights for same-sex couples, and supporting the Parliamentary Apology to the Stolen Generations. They subsequently establish Avaaz.org, a global online political community inspired by the success of GetUp and the US group MoveOn.org.
UN Convention on Disabilities and Indigenous Peoples
Australia ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (July 2008), and formally supports the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia
Manuka ACT 2603
Open daily 9am—5pm
Enquiries: info@moadoph.gov.au
If the museum is closed due to an emergency, call for new opening times: 1800 716 066
Access for people with disabilities
School bookings
Zine lounge
Objects and rooms
Onsite schools programs
Documenting a democracy
Defining democracy
Australian democracy
View our recruitment opportunities.
View our copyright policy.
View our ticketing terms and conditions.
Questions about the website:
website@moadoph.gov.au
Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Communications and the Arts portfolio.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3229
|
__label__wiki
| 0.560523
| 0.560523
|
Benetti Launches Three New Watercrafts
The Monaco Yacht Show sees the global launch of its three new watercrafts
Each year, the Italian shipyard never fails to attend this major international boating show, where it showcased M/Y “Metis”, a 63-metre-long custom yacht boasting a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure, and two composite boats from the Class range: BM005 Mediterraneo 116 M/Y “Big Five”, a 35.5-metre-long displacement yacht, and 29-metre-long BD104 Delfino 95 M/Y “Eurus”.
M/Y “Metis”, a 63-metre-long custom yacht boasting a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure stretching over 5 decks, with a maximum beam of 10.6 metres, a draught of 3.1 metres and a gross tonnage of 1,245 tons, will hit the Monegasque territorial waters in all its elegance. The exteriors are the work of Giorgio M. Cassetta, the interiors and the structure were designed by English studio Bannenberg&Rowell, who worked in partnership with Birgit Otte on the décor. Benetti’s outstanding design and engineering expertise is immediately striking and, in partnership with Giorgio M. Cassetta, it has proven its worth by building a custom gym on the Fly Deck, designed by Kurt Lehman of Yachts Moments, consultant to the owner, and commissioned by the latter when the boat was already in the advanced stages of development. To allow guests to work out both indoors and outdoors, the gym is fitted with sliding bow and stern doors and tinted side windows that provide complete privacy and an unbeatable sea view.
Shaded by the Fly Deck, the Bridge Deck houses the pilothouse and the captain’s cabin. The outdoor areas, complete with dining area and recreational area, are designed to enjoy the outdoors at all hours of the day.
The Upper Deck features a charming lounge area with grand piano and bar corner. Its interiors are rotated by 30° compared to traditional layouts and offer new and striking viewpoints. Behind this area, large outdoor areas feature a round dining table and a lounge, while the ship’s centre and bow are reserved for the owner. Stretching over an area of over 160 square metres, the owner’s cabin is almost entirely surrounded by full-height windows offering a panoramic view and plenty of light. Equipped with two bathrooms (his and hers), one fitted with a sauna and a shower and the other with a bathtub, the apartment is completed by a 55 m² level external terrace and a touch and go helipad.
The Main Deck features an original design that includes a children’s play area and their double cabin with bathroom, matching the baby-sitter’s cabin, which also features a small lounge with armchairs and a private terrace overlooking the sea. The main lounge, on the same deck, features a large sitting area, a backgammon table and a dining area with a long rectangular table.
In the foredeck of the yacht, there is a garage that can be accessed from the side door at a height of almost two metres and can house a tender and two jet skis. Its unusual location was selected to facilitate landing operations regardless of sea weather conditions.
The main feature of the Lower Deck, which houses 4 large guest cabins and a crew area that can accommodate up to 12 people, is the aft beach club & cabana, with a special arrangement of furniture and two side terraces that can be opened to adjoin the aft deck, converting the area into an original lounge overlooking the sea.
The motorisation is provided by a pair of MTU 12V engines with a power of 1,380 kW, which allow a maximum speed of 16 knots, while the range, at 12 knots, is 5,000 nautical miles.
M/Y “Metis” will be joined at the dock by M/Y “Big Five”, the fifth watercraft of Mediterraneo 116. The exteriors of this 35.5-metre displacement yacht boasting a fibreglass hull and carbon fibre superstructure were designed by designer Giorgio M. Cassetta, while the interiors were designed by Benetti’s Interior Style Department.
The layout of the yacht, designed to accommodate 12 guests and 7 crew members, was tailored to the needs of the owner who suggested the use of light opaque woods combined with greyscale and dark ash woods that add a sophisticated and elegant feel. While, marbles such as Zebrino Apuano and Olimpico Striato add a touch of modernity.
The main lounge in the Main Deck, featuring high windows that provide an amazing sea view, houses a comfortable oval table that can accommodate up to 10 people after lunch or dinner you can comfortably relax on the large sofas of the living area. On the same deck, the owner’s cabin, which is just as bright as the lounge, is preceded by a private studio, separating it from the common areas of the boat and providing an appropriate level of privacy. The bathroom (his and hers) is dominated by a large centrally positioned shower area complete with a comfortable marble-panelled bench.
The other 4 cabins are located on the Lower Deck: 2 VIP double cabins, 1 Guest cabin with 2 single beds and 1 Guest cabin with 2 single beds, including one sliding bed. Both Guest cabins are equipped with 1 Pullman Bed each.
The Upper Deck, which houses the bridge and the captain’s cabin, features a sky lounge overlooking the aft with a teak table for 12 people and a sofa. Guests can relax in the sunbathing area and the Jacuzzi in the bow. On the M/Y “Big Five”, however, the recreational and convivial areas never seem to be enough and aft of the Sun Deck a second sunbathing area is complemented by a large barbecue and a bar area.
The propulsion is provided by a pair of MAN V12-1400 engines with a power of 1400 hp/1029 kW. The high dependability is matched by the compact dimensions that facilitate the activities in the engine room.
The third yacht that will be on show is the Dolphin 95 M/Y “Eurus”, boasting a fibreglass displacement hull and a carbon fibre superstructure.
At first glance, the elegant and luxury interiors are immediately striking and blend well with its streamlined design by Giorgio M. Cassetta. This 29-metre-long boat is laid out on four decks and features 5 cabins that can accommodate 10 people. The colours chosen for the interiors, echoing subtle shades of pink, green and blue, create a relaxing atmosphere in the rooms, which is perfect for a boat designed for families.
Particularly noteworthy are the stylish chrome finishes and the wooden floors, installed alternating light and dark oak. Zebrino and Limestone marble floors in the bathrooms adorn the owner’s and the guest cabins.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3230
|
__label__wiki
| 0.685115
| 0.685115
|
India is considering buying military aircraft
India can purchase and produce 106 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 training aircraft for the training of the Indian Air Force pilots, yesterday reported the publication Times of India.
The final decision will be made at a meeting of the Defense Purchases Board (DAC) under the leadership of the new Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday. The project cost is estimated at 70 billion rupees (more than 1,1 billion dollars).
The decision is made after the attempt of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to develop its own training aircraft HTT-40 failed: the Ministry of Defense rejected the aircraft because of its higher cost and because the developers could not meet the deadlines.
At the same time, India can only buy 38 ready aircraft, while another 68 can be produced at the Indian Air Force base in Sulure in the state of Tamil Nadu in the south of the country. Another option involves the purchase of all 10 machines, while 96 will be produced in India.
In September 2009, the Defense Procurement Board approved the purchase of 75 training aircraft in the foreign market, and another 106 aircraft was planned to be manufactured in India to bring the total number of such aircraft to 181. Then in May 2012 India signed a contract for the purchase of 75 Pilatus PC-7 machines worth 28,96 billion rupees (almost half a billion dollars). Since then, the Indian Air Force has received 53 training aircraft.
The urgent acquisition of Pilatus aircraft for the Indian Air Force took after the flight training schedule for young pilots was violated in August 2009. The cause of this was the crash of one of the HPT-32 aircraft, the pilot was killed, after which flights of all training aircraft of this type were suspended.
Since 1970, there have been more than 1100 plane crashes involving Indian Air Force aircraft. More than 39% of accidents occurred due to "crew error", the second of the most common reasons - "technical defects" caused by wear and tear of cars and poor maintenance.
Success story FPV resident paved his way with good asphalt
Tiger Mix produced about 200 thousand tons of mixture for seaside sidewalks and roads in a year
Sakhalin Region "Latitude Crimean, longitude Kolyma"
Who got land in the Far East
Interview From resources to value added
And about. Deputy Chairman of the Government - Minister of Economic Development of Transbaikalia Andrey Kefer - on the support and development of small and medium-sized businesses in the region
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3232
|
__label__cc
| 0.654941
| 0.345059
|
Russia has interests both in the West and in the East - Matvienko
Russia in no way plans to develop cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region and China to the detriment of relations with Europe, said the chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matvienko, reports the Xinhua news agency.
According to V. Matvienko, "Russia has its interests both in the West and in the East." The Russian authorities are focused on developing multi-vector, mutually beneficial relations in all regions. The increased attention of Russia to the Asia-Pacific countries is a strategy that was outlined in 2012 by the head of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Analytics “The booming demand for a DV mortgage will probably not be long”
Portal experts Zhilfin.rf told in Yakutsk about the intricacies of a housing loan at 2%
Opinions "The market has completely changed"
Analytics Incentive for export
How to build border crossings in the Far East
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3233
|
__label__wiki
| 0.779117
| 0.779117
|
In Yakutia signed an agreement on cooperation in the implementation of language policy
On September 23, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Feodosia Gabysheva took part in the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education (FSBEI HPE) State Institute of the Russian Language named after
The purpose of the signed document is to provide support for the Russian language as the state language of the Russian Federation, as well as promoting the idea of preserving the linguistic and cultural heritage of the peoples living in the country, the press service of the regional government said.
The parties agreed to implement the subprogram "Preservation, study and development of state and official languages in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)" of the state program "Development of education in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) for 2012-2016" and the Program for the development of open education and promotion of the Russian language of the Institute.
The next stage of cooperation should be the development of a joint work plan.
The Moscow Institute plans to organize scientific and methodological work on remote training of Russian teachers, to provide consulting and methodological assistance in the development and implementation of educational programs and educational resources in the native languages of the indigenous peoples of Yakutia, including children and adults with disabilities.
For its part, the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is committed to attracting educational, cultural and scientific organizations to cooperation, recommending partner organizations from other regions of Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation.
Further in the plans is the creation of the Multifunctional language center for collective use in Yakutsk, in which it would be possible to organize the training of those interested in various languages, including migrants, immigrants - the Russian language.
Analytics Instead of raw materials - products
How are projects on the creation in the Far East of oil and gas chemistry production oriented towards the APR countries progressing?
Analytics The second wind of the Annunciation CHP
The first "swallow" of the new regional power engineering is put into operation
Neighbors "There is a chance, and it's not a big one ..."
Will Russia fit into China's projects?
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3235
|
__label__wiki
| 0.816339
| 0.816339
|
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Confessions of a Nazi Spy is a 1939 American spy thriller film. It was the first blatantly anti-Nazi film to be produced by a major Hollywood studio.[1] The film stars Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, George Sanders, Paul Lukas, and a large cast of German actors, including some who had emigrated from their country after the rise of Adolf Hitler. Many of the German actors who appeared in the film changed their names for fear of reprisals against relatives still living in Germany.[2]
1939 Theatrical Poster
Anatole Litvak
Hal B. Wallis
Jack L. Warner
Robert Lord
Leon G. Turrou (articles)
Milton Krims
John Wexley (screenplay)
Max Steiner (uncredited)
Sol Polito
Ernest Haller
Owen Marks
May 6, 1939 (1939-05-06)
4 Reception and ban
Scotland, 1937 The postman asks Mrs. MacLaughlin to save him stamps from the letters she receives from all over the world. MacLaughlin forwards the contents of one envelope to Dr. Karl Kassel in New York City. Cut to Kassel (Paul Lukas), at the Café Nuremberg, haranguing an audience of German Americans. Most of the men wear the uniform of the German American Bund. He informs them that the Führer has declared war on the evils of democracy and that, as Germans, they should carry out his wishes and claim power. The crowd salutes, Sieg Heil!
Kurt Schneider (Francis Lederer), an unemployed malcontent, is inspired to become a spy and writes to Hitler's personal newspaper. German Naval Intelligence know he is not a double agent: The Americans don't have a counter-espionage system. Naval officer Franz Schlager, sailing to New York on the steamship Bismarck, is ordered to contact Schneider.
On board the Bismarck, we see the power of the Gestapo. Beauty operator Hilda Kleinhauer (Dorothy Tree) informs on her clients and carries material for Schlager.
An unnamed American Legionaire (Ward Bond) challenges Kessel at a meeting. He and others speaking out for democracy are attacked.
Schneider boasts to his pal Werner (Joe Sawyer), now a private in the Air Corps, that he receives instructions from Hitler. Werner gets the Z code and Schneider obtains medical records that will reveal troop strength in New York. Schneider proudly gives Schlager the information and receives $50 a month, Mrs. MacLaughlin's address, and a list of new objectives.
Kessel is called back to Germany and takes his mistress, Erika Wolff (Lya Lys), leaving his wife behind. The narrator provides a dramatic description of the fascist system of life. Kessel is put in charge of all Nazi activities in the United States. Under the slogan, “America for Americans,“ the country is swamped by propaganda while spies target military operations.
Thanks to the postman's curiosity, Mrs. MacLaughlin's role as a post office for a worldwide network of spies is uncovered by British Military Intelligence, and she is arrested. (In a moment that is chilling in hindsight, one letter is from Japan.) American military intelligence in New York consists of Major Williams and one assistant. Williams turns to the FBI for help, although they have never played this role before. FBI Agent Ed Renard (Edward G. Robinson) takes the case.
A horrifying scene shows Camp Horst Wessel, where German-American children are trained in Nazi ideals and military skills.
Schneider uses an alias, Mitchell, to obtain passports. He arouses suspicion, and the FBI follow the package and arrest him. Once they know his true identity, they realize that they have the letter he sent to MacLaughlin. Renard flatters his ego for hours, extracting a full, detailed confession. Through Schneider, Renard finds Wenz, Kleinhauer and Kassel. Kassel proudly shows Renard his files on important Americans, documenting racial impurity. He tries to burn the code key, but Renard stops him. Renard confronts him with Kleinhauer, who confirms his link with Schlager. When Renard reveals that he knows about Erika, Kassel tells Renard everything he knows about the German spy organization, revealing the intricacy and scope of the network. He is released. The Gestapo are waiting. He swears that he revealed nothing, but they are arrested outside his apartment building.
A federal dragnet captures many agents and their accomplices. On March 13, 1938, Hitler invades Austria. Renard warns Kassell's wife that the Gestapo men have made bail. Karl returns home from meeting Erika and lies to his wife. He packs, refusing to take her with him. She does not warn him, and when he goes out, the Gestapo capture him and take him to the Bismarck. In Germany, he is told to claim that he was tortured. In New York, Hilda is given the same instructions.
Eighteen people are indicted. Four are in custody: Schneider, Wenz, Kleinhauer and Helldorf. Meanwhile, Hitler's march continues, as “the democracies are given still another demonstration of the supremacy of organized propaganda backed by force.” U.S. Attorney Kellogg describes the role of fifth columnists in the Nazi conquest of Europe, calling for the United States to take a lesson. After a long trial, the spies are convicted. Over coffee, Kellogg and Renard talk about the “nightmare”. Kellogg observes that “when our basic liberties are threatened, we wake up.”
The closing credits roll to “America the Beautiful”.
Edward G. Robinson as Edward Renard
Francis Lederer as Kurt Schneider
George Sanders as Franz Schlager
Paul Lukas as Dr. Karl Kassel
Henry O'Neill as U.S. Atty. Kellogg
Dorothy Tree as Hilda Kleinhauer
Lya Lys as Erika Wolff
Grace Stafford as Helen Schneider
James Stephenson as British Military Intelligence agent
Celia Sibelius as Lisa Kassel
Joe Sawyer as Werner Renz
Sig Ruman as Dr. Julius Krogmann
Lionel Royce as Hintze
Henry Victor as Hans Wildebrandt
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Max Helldorf
Wolfgang Zilzer as Johann Westphal
Rudolph Anders as Capt. Wilhelm Straubel
Eily Malyon as Mrs. MacLaughlin
Ward Bond as American Legionnaire (uncredited)
Creighton Hale as Draftsman (uncredited)
Screenwriter John Wexley based his script on real events and the articles of former FBI agent Leon G. Turrou, who had been active in investigating Nazi spy rings in the United States prior to the war, and lost his position at the Bureau when he published the articles without permission.[3] Authors Paul Buhle and David Wagner of Radical Hollywood wrote that it "treated a real-life case" and that Warner Brothers had been warned by the Dies Committee "against slurring a 'friendly country'".[4]
Parts of the movie were a fictionalized account of a real-life espionage case, the Rumrich Nazi Spy Case, and the eventual trial in 1938 involving individuals convicted of spying for German government.[5][6][7] The FBI says Rumrich Nazi Spy Case was their "first major international spy case" and that Leon Turrou "was placed in charge" and eventually fired. Guenther Gustave Maria Rumrich was arrested on February 14, 1938, and charged with spying for Germany. He came to the FBI's attention when he attempted to obtain 50 passport application forms from the Passport Office in New York City.[8][9] In the film, Francis Lederer, as Schneider, plays the role equivalent to the real Rumrich.
The scene where an unnamed American Legionaire played by Ward Bond challenges Kessel at a meeting, is supported by others speaking out for democracy, provoking an attack by Bundists, is based on an actual event that occurred in late April 1938. when approximately 30 World War I American Legion Veterans stood up to the Bund in New York City during a celebration of Hitler's birthday. The veterans were severely beaten and later Cecil Schubert, who suffered a fractured skull, was personally recognized for his bravery by Mayor La Guardia.
The film was the first anti-Nazi film from a major American studio. At the premier, there were almost as many policemen and special agents in the audience as customers.[10] Wexley's script made a point of following the facts and real-life events of the Rumrich Nazi Spy Case whose participants went to trial in 1938.[11][12][13][14]
Reception and banEdit
The film failed at the box office.[15] Nonetheless, it won the 1939 National Board of Review Award for Best Film. The film was re-released in 1940 with scenes describing events that had taken place since the initial release, such as the invasions of Norway and the Netherlands. Scenes from Confessions of a Nazi Spy are shown in War Comes to America, the last of the Why We Fight propaganda film series, as well as the 2004 documentary film Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust.
Confessions of a Nazi Spy was banned in Germany, Japan, and many Latin American and European countries.[16][17] Adolf Hitler in particular banned all Warner Bros. productions from being shown in Nazi Germany as a result of the studio's work on the film.[18]
1939 Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden
Duquesne Spy Ring – 1941 case
Confusions of a Nutzy Spy
The Stranger (1946) – another film with an anti-Nazi theme also starring Edward G. Robinson
^ Joseph D'Onofrio. "Confessions of a Nazi Spy". tcm.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2006-01-23.
^ "Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)".
^ Fox, John (FBI historian) on Turner Classic Movies broadcast, 24 July 2008
^ Radical Hollywood: The Untold Story Behind America's Favorite Movies Hardcover – May 1, 2002 by Paul Buhle (Author), David Wagner (Author) (publisher) The New Press ISBN 1-56584-718-0 PPS 212-213
^ "Rumrich Nazi Spy Case".
^ https://listverse.com/2013/06/12/10-nazi-spies-and-their-espionage-plots-in-america/ #7 Guenther Rumrich’s Passport Ploy
^ "Chapter One". 2012-12-18.
^ The Warners Bros. Story, Clive Hirschhorn, ISBN 0-517-53834-2, 1986 edition, Crown Publishers pg. 198
^ The Films of World War II (1973) by Joe Morella (Author),
^ Birdwell, Michael E. (1 February 2000). Celluloid Soldiers: Warner Bros. Campaign Against Nazism. NYU Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8147-9871-3.
^ Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust, 2004 documentary film, Daniel Anker
^ "Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)" – via www.imdb.com.
Confessions of a Nazi Spy at the American Film Institute Catalog
Confessions of a Nazi Spy on IMDb
Confessions of a Nazi Spy at the TCM Movie Database
Confessions of a Nazi Spy at AllMovie
Confessions of a Nazi Spy: Warner Bros., Anti-Fascism and the Politicization of Hollywood at The Norman Lear Center
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Confessions_of_a_Nazi_Spy&oldid=992278947"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3236
|
__label__wiki
| 0.881023
| 0.881023
|
1905 Russian Revolution
(Redirected from First Russian Revolution)
The Russian Revolution of 1905,[a] also known as the First Russian Revolution,[b] was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire, some of which was directed at the government. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies. It led to constitutional reform (namely the "October Manifesto"), including the establishment of the State Duma, the multi-party system, and the Russian Constitution of 1906.
Russian Revolution of 1905
Demonstrations before Bloody Sunday
22 January 1905 – 16 June 1907
(2 years, 4 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Revolutionaries defeated
Nicholas II retains the throne
October Manifesto
Constitution enacted
Establishment of the State Duma
Russian Imperial Government
Russian Army
Okhrana
Black Hundreds
Russian nobility
Gentry assembly
Industrial workers
Saint Petersburg Soviet
Moscow City Duma
Chita Republic
Party of Socialist Revolutionaries
Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
Sergei Witte
Viktor Chernov
3,611 killed or wounded[1]
15,000 killed[1]
20,000 wounded[1]
38,000 captured[1]
1 battleship surrendered to Romania
The 1905 revolution was spurred by the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, which ended in the same year, but also by the growing realization by a variety of sectors of society of the need for reform. Politicians such as Sergei Witte had failed to accomplish this. While the Tsar managed to keep his rule, the events foreshadowed those of the Russian revolutions in 1917, which resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy, execution of the imperial family, and creation of the Soviet Union by the Bolsheviks.
Some historians contend that the 1905 revolution set the stage for the 1917 Russian Revolutions, and enabled Bolshevism to emerge as a distinct political movement in Russia, although it was still a minority. Lenin, as later head of the USSR, called it "The Great Dress Rehearsal", without which the "victory of the October Revolution in 1917 would have been impossible".[2]
1 Causes
1.1 Agrarian problem
1.2 Nationality problem
1.3 Labour problem
1.4 Educated class as a problem
2 Rise of the opposition
3 Start of the revolution
3.1 Government response
4 Height of the Revolution
5.1 Creation of Duma and appointment of Stolypin
5.2 October Manifesto
5.3 Russian Constitution of 1906
6 Rise of political violence
7 Repression
8 Ivanovo Soviet
11 Estonia
12 Latvia
CausesEdit
According to Sidney Harcave, author of The Russian Revolution of 1905 (1970), four problems in Russian society contributed to the revolution. Newly emancipated peasants earned too little and were not allowed to sell or mortgage their allotted land. Ethnic and national minorities resented the government because of its "Russification" of the Empire: it practiced discrimination and repression against national minorities, such as banning them from voting; serving in the Imperial Guard or Navy; and limiting their attendance in schools. A nascent industrial working class resented the government for doing too little to protect them, as it banned strikes and organizing into labor unions. Finally, university students developed a new consciousness, after discipline was relaxed in the institutions, and they were fascinated by increasingly radical ideas, which spread among them.
Also, disaffected soldiers returning from an appallingly disgraceful defeat with Japan, who found inadequate factory pay, shortages, and general disarray, organized in protest.
Taken individually, these issues might not have affected the course of Russian history, but together they created the conditions for a potential revolution.[3]
At the turn of the century, discontent with the Tsar’s dictatorship was manifested not only through the growth of political parties dedicated to the overthrow of the monarchy but also through industrial strikes for better wages and working conditions, protests and riots among peasants, university demonstrations, and the assassination of government officials, often done by Socialist Revolutionaries.[4]
Subdivisions of the Russian Empire in 1897 (uyezd level)
Because the Russian economy was tied to European finances, the contraction of Western money markets in 1899–1900 plunged Russian industry into a deep and prolonged crisis; it outlasted the dip in European industrial production. This setback aggravated social unrest during the five years preceding the revolution of 1905.[5]
The government finally recognized these problems, albeit in a shortsighted and narrow-minded way. The Minister of the Interior Vyacheslav von Plehve said in 1903 that, after the agrarian problem, the most serious issues plaguing the country were those of the Jews, the schools, and the workers, in that order.[6]
One of the major contributing factors that changed Russia from a country in unrest to a country in revolt was "Bloody Sunday". Loyalty to the tsar Nicholas II was lost on 22 January 1905, when his soldiers fired upon a group of people, led by Georgy Gapon, who were attempting to present a petition.
Agrarian problemEdit
Every year, thousands of nobles in debt mortgaged their estates to the noble land bank or sold them to municipalities, merchants, or peasants. By the time of the revolution, the nobility had sold off one-third of its land and mortgaged another third. The peasants had been freed by the emancipation reform of 1861, but their lives were generally quite limited. The government hoped to develop the peasants as a politically conservative, land-holding class by enacting laws to enable them to buy land from nobility, by paying small installments over many decades.[7]
Such land, known as "allotment land", would not be owned by individual peasants, but by the community of peasants; individual peasants would have rights to strips of land to be assigned to them under the open field system. A peasant could not sell or mortgage this land, so in practice he could not renounce his rights to his land, and he would be required to pay his share of redemption dues to the village commune.[7] This plan was intended to prevent peasants from becoming part of the proletariat. However, the peasants were not given enough land to provide for their needs.[8]
Their earnings were often so small that they could neither buy the food they needed nor keep up the payment of taxes and redemption dues they owed the government for their land allotments. By 1903 their total arrears in payments of taxes and dues was 118 million rubles.[8]
The situation worsened, as masses of hungry peasants roamed the countryside looking for work, and sometimes walked hundreds of kilometres to find it. Desperate peasants proved capable of violence.[8] "In the provinces of Kharkov and Poltava in 1902, thousands of them, ignoring restraints and authority, burst out in a rebellious fury that led to extensive destruction of property and looting of noble homes before troops could be brought to subdue and punish them."[8]
These violent outbreaks caught the attention of the government, so it created many committees to investigate the causes.[8] The committees concluded that no part of the countryside was prosperous; some parts, especially the fertile areas known as the "black-soil region", were in decline.[9] Although cultivated acreage had increased in the last half century, the increase had not been proportionate to the growth of the peasant population, which had doubled.[9] "There was general agreement at the turn of the century that Russia faced a grave and intensifying agrarian crisis due mainly to rural overpopulation with an annual excess of fifteen to eighteen live births over deaths per 1,000 inhabitants."[10] The investigations revealed many difficulties but the committees could not find solutions that were both sensible and "acceptable" to the government.[9]
Nationality problemEdit
Ethnic map of European Russia before World War I
Russia was a multi-ethnic empire. Nineteenth-century Russians saw cultures and religions in a clear hierarchy. Non-Russian cultures were tolerated in the empire but were not necessarily respected.[11] Culturally, Europe was favoured over Asia, as was Orthodox Christianity over other religions.[11]
For generations, Russian Jews had been considered a special problem.[9] Jews constituted only about 4% of the population, but were concentrated in the western borderlands.[12] Like other minorities in Russia, the Jews lived "miserable and circumscribed lives, forbidden to settle or acquire land outside the cities and towns, legally limited in attendance at secondary school and higher schools, virtually barred from legal professions, denied the right to vote for municipal councilors, and excluded from services in the Navy or the Guards".[13]
The government's treatment of Jews, although considered a separate issue, was similar to its policies in dealing with all national and religious minorities.[13] Historian Theodore Weeks notes: "Russian administrators, who never succeeded in coming up with a legal definition of 'Pole', despite the decades of restrictions on that ethnic group, regularly spoke of individuals 'of Polish descent' or, alternatively, 'of Russian descent', making identity a function of birth."[14] This policy only succeeded in producing or aggravating feelings of disloyalty. There was growing impatience with their inferior status and resentment against "Russification".[13] Russification is cultural assimilation definable as "a process culminating in the disappearance of a given group as a recognisably distinct element within a larger society".[15]
Besides the imposition of a uniform Russian culture throughout the empire, the government's pursuit of Russification, especially during the second half of the nineteenth century, had political motives. After the emancipation of the serfs in 1861, the Russian state was compelled to take into account public opinion, but the government failed to gain the public's support.[16] Another motive for Russification policies was the Polish uprising of 1863. Unlike other minority nationalities, the Poles, in the eyes of the Tsar, were a direct threat to the empire's stability. After the rebellion was crushed, the government implemented policies to reduce Polish cultural influences.[16] In the 1870s the government began to distrust German elements on the western border. The Russian government felt that the unification of Germany would upset the power balance among the great powers of Europe and that Germany would use its strength against Russia. The government thought that the borders would be defended better if the borderland were more "Russian" in character.[17] The culmination of cultural diversity created a cumbersome nationality problem that plagued the Russian government in the years leading up to the revolution.
Labour problemEdit
The economic situation in Russia before the revolution presented a grim picture. The government had experimented with laissez-faire capitalist policies, but this strategy largely failed to gain traction within the Russian economy until the 1890s. Meanwhile, "agricultural productivity stagnated, while international prices for grain dropped, and Russia’s foreign debt and need for imports grew. War and military preparations continued to consume government revenues. At the same time, the peasant taxpayers' ability to pay was strained to the utmost, leading to widespread famine in 1891."[18]
In the 1890s, under Finance Minister Sergei Witte, a crash governmental programme was proposed to promote industrialization. His policies included heavy government expenditures for railroad building and operations, subsidies and supporting services for private industrialists, high protective tariffs for Russian industries (especially heavy industry), an increase in exports, currency stabilization, and encouragement of foreign investments.[19] His plan was successful and during the 1890s "Russian industrial growth averaged 8 percent per year. Railroad mileage grew from a very substantial base by 40 percent between 1892 and 1902."[19] Ironically, Witte's success in implementing this program helped spur the 1905 revolution and eventually the 1917 revolution because it exacerbated social tensions. "Besides dangerously concentrating a proletariat, a professional and a rebellious student body in centers of political power, industrialization infuriated both these new forces and the traditional rural classes."[20] The government policy of financing industrialization through taxing peasants forced millions of peasants to work in towns. The "peasant worker" saw his labour in the factory as the means to consolidate his family's economic position in the village and played a role in determining the social consciousness of the urban proletariat. The new concentrations and flows of peasants spread urban ideas to the countryside, breaking down isolation of peasants on communes.[21]
Industrial workers began to feel dissatisfaction with the Tsarist government despite the protective labour laws the government decreed. Some of those laws included the prohibition of children under 12 from working, with the exception of night work in glass factories. Employment of children aged 12 to 15 was prohibited on Sundays and holidays. Workers had to be paid in cash at least once a month, and limits were placed on the size and bases of fines for workers who were tardy. Employers were prohibited from charging workers for the cost of lighting of the shops and plants.[13] Despite these labor protections, the workers believed that the laws were not enough to free them from unfair and inhumane practices. At the start of the 20th century, Russian industrial workers worked on average an 11-hour day (10 hours on Saturday), factory conditions were perceived as grueling and often unsafe, and attempts at independent unions were often not accepted.[22] Many workers were forced to work beyond the maximum of 11 and a half hours per day. Others were still subject to arbitrary and excessive fines for tardiness, mistakes in their work, or absence.[23] Russian industrial workers were also the lowest-wage workers in Europe. Although the cost of living in Russia was low, "the average worker's 16 rubles per month could not buy the equal of what the French worker's 110 francs would buy for him."[23] Furthermore, the same labour laws prohibited organization of trade unions and strikes. Dissatisfaction turned into despair for many impoverished workers, which made them more sympathetic to radical ideas.[23] These discontented, radicalized workers became key to the revolution by participating in illegal strikes and revolutionary protests.
The government responded by arresting labour agitators and enacting more "paternalistic" legislation.[24] Introduced in 1900 by Sergei Zubatov, head of the Moscow security department, "police socialism" planned to have workers form workers' societies with police approval to "provide healthful, fraternal activities and opportunities for cooperative self-help together with 'protection' against influences that might have inimical effect on loyalty to job or country".[24] Some of these groups organized in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev, Nikolayev (Ukraine), and Kharkov, but these groups and the idea of police socialism failed.[24]
In 1900–1903, the period of industrial depression caused many firm bankruptcies and a reduction in the employment rate. Employees were restive: they would join legal organizations but turn the organizations toward an end that the organizations' sponsors did not intend. Workers used legitimate means to organize strikes or to draw support for striking workers outside these groups.[24] A strike that began in 1902 by workers in the railroad shops in Vladikavkaz and Rostov-on-Don created such a response that by the next summer, 225,000 in various industries in southern Russia and Transcaucasia were on strike.[25] These were not the first illegal strikes in the country's history but their aims, and the political awareness and support among workers and non-workers, made them more troubling to the government than earlier strikes. The government responded by closing all legal organizations by the end of 1903.[25]
Educated class as a problemEdit
Troops in St. Petersburg
The Minister of the Interior, Plehve, designated schools as a pressing problem for the government, but he did not realize it was only a symptom of antigovernment feelings among the educated class. Students of universities, other schools of higher learning, and occasionally of secondary schools and theological seminaries were part of this group.[25]
Student radicalism began around the time Tsar Alexander II came to power. Alexander abolished serfdom and enacted fundamental reforms in the legal and administrative structure of the Russian empire, which were revolutionary for their time.[26] He lifted many restrictions on universities and abolished obligatory uniforms and military discipline. This ushered in a new freedom in the content and reading lists of academic courses.[27] In turn, that created student subcultures, as youth were willing to live in poverty in order to receive an education.[28] As universities expanded, there was a rapid growth of newspapers, journals, and an organization of public lectures and professional societies. The 1860s was a time when the emergence of a new public sphere was created in social life and professional groups. This created the idea of their right to have an independent opinion.[27]
The government was alarmed by these communities, and in 1861 tightened restrictions on admission and prohibited student organizations; these restrictions resulted in the first ever student demonstration, held in St. Petersburg, which led to a two-year closure of the university.[27] The consequent conflict with the state was an important factor in the chronic student protests over subsequent decades. The atmosphere of the early 1860s gave rise to political engagement by students outside universities that became a tenet of student radicalism by the 1870s. Student radicals described "the special duty and mission of the student as such to spread the new word of liberty. Students were called upon to extend their freedoms into society, to repay the privilege of learning by serving the people, and to become in Nikolai Ogarev's phrase 'apostles of knowledge'."[attribution needed][29] During the next two decades, universities produced a significant share of Russia's revolutionaries. Prosecution records from the 1860s and 1870s show that more than half of all political offences were committed by students despite being a minute proportion of the population.[29] "The tactics of the left-wing students proved to be remarkably effective, far beyond anyone's dreams. Sensing that neither the university administrations nor the government any longer possessed the will or authority to enforce regulations, radicals simply went ahead with their plans to turn the schools into centres of political activity for students and non-students alike."[attribution needed][30]
They took up problems that were unrelated to their "proper employment", and displayed defiance and radicalism by boycotting examinations, rioting, arranging marches in sympathy with strikers and political prisoners, circulating petitions, and writing anti-government propaganda.[25]
This disturbed the government, but it believed the cause was lack of training in patriotism and religion. Therefore, the curriculum was "toughened up" to emphasize classical language and mathematics in secondary schools, but defiance continued.[31] Expulsion, exile, and forced military service also did not stop students. "In fact, when the official decision to overhaul the whole educational system was finally made, in 1904, and to that end Vladimir Glazov, head of General Staff Academy, was selected as Minister of Education, the students had grown bolder and more resistant than ever."[attribution needed][31]
Rise of the oppositionEdit
The events of 1905 were preceded by a Progressive and academic agitation for more political democracy and limits to Tsarist rule in Russia, and an increase in strikes by workers against employers for radical economic demands and union recognition, (especially in southern Russia). Many socialists view this as a period when the rising revolutionary movement was met with rising reactionary movements. As Rosa Luxemburg stated in The Mass Strike, when collective strike activity was met with what is perceived as repression from an autocratic state, economic and political demands grew into and reinforced each other.[32]
Russian progressives formed the Union of Zemstvo Constitutionalists in 1903 and the Union of Liberation in 1904, which called for a constitutional monarchy. Russian socialists formed two major groups: the Socialist Revolutionary Party, following the Russian populist tradition, and the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party.
In late 1904, liberals started a series of banquets, nominally celebrating the 40th anniversary of the liberal court statutes, but actually an attempt to circumvent laws against political gatherings (modeled on the campagne des banquets leading up to the French Revolution of 1848). The banquets resulted in calls for political reforms and a constitution. On 13 December [O.S. 30 November] 1904, the Moscow City Duma passed a resolution demanding establishment of an elected national legislature, full freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. Similar resolutions and appeals from other city dumas and zemstvo councils followed.
Tsar Nicholas II made a move to fulfill many of these demands, appointing liberal Pyotr Dmitrievich Sviatopolk-Mirsky Minister of the Interior after the assassination of Vyacheslav von Plehve. On 25 December [O.S. 12 December] 1904, the Tsar issued a manifesto promising the broadening of the Zemstvo and more authority local municipal councils, insurance for industrial workers, the emancipation of Inorodtsy and the abolition of censorship. The crucial demand of representative national legislature was missing in the manifesto.
Worker strikes in Caucasus broke out in March 1902 and strikes on the railway originating from pay disputes took on other issues and drew in other industries, culminating in a general strike at Rostov-on-Don in November. Daily meetings of 15,000 to 20,000 heard openly revolutionary appeals for the first time, before a massacre defeated the strikes. But reaction to the massacres brought political demands to purely economic ones. Luxemburg described the situation in 1903 by saying: "the whole of South Russia in May, June and July was aflame",[33] including Baku where separate wage struggles culminated in a citywide general strike, and Tiflis, where commercial workers gained a reduction in the working day, and were joined by factory workers. In 1904, massive strike waves broke out in Odessa in the spring, Kiev in July, and Baku in December. This all set the stage for the strikes in St. Petersburg in December 1904 to January 1905 seen as the first step in the 1905 revolution.
Average annual strikes[34]
Start of the revolutionEdit
Artistic impression of Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg
In December 1904, a strike occurred at the Putilov plant (a railway and artillery supplier) in St. Petersburg. Sympathy strikes in other parts of the city raised the number of strikers to 150,000 workers in 382 factories.[35] By 21 January [O.S. 8 January] 1905, the city had no electricity and newspaper distribution was halted. All public areas were declared closed.
Controversial Orthodox priest Georgy Gapon, who headed a police-sponsored workers' association, led a huge workers' procession to the Winter Palace to deliver a petition[36] to the Tsar on Sunday, 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1905. The troops guarding the Palace were ordered to tell the demonstrators not to pass a certain point, according to Sergei Witte, and at some point, troops opened fire on the demonstrators, causing between 200 (according to Witte) and 1,000 deaths. The event became known as Bloody Sunday, and is considered by many scholars as the start of the active phase of the revolution.
The events in St. Petersburg provoked public indignation and a series of massive strikes that spread quickly throughout the industrial centers of the Russian Empire. Polish socialists—both the PPS and the SDKPiL—called for a general strike. By the end of January 1905, over 400,000 workers in Russian Poland were on strike (see Revolution in the Kingdom of Poland (1905–1907)). Half of European Russia's industrial workers went on strike in 1905, and 93.2% in Poland.[37] There were also strikes in Finland and the Baltic coast. In Riga, 130 protesters were killed on 26 January [O.S. 13 January] 1905, and in Warsaw a few days later over 100 strikers were shot on the streets. By February, there were strikes in the Caucasus, and by April, in the Urals and beyond. In March, all higher academic institutions were forcibly closed for the remainder of the year, adding radical students to the striking workers. A strike by railway workers on 21 October [O.S. 8 October] 1905 quickly developed into a general strike in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. This prompted the setting up of the short-lived Saint Petersburg Soviet of Workers' Delegates, an admixture of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks headed by Khrustalev-Nossar and despite the Iskra split would see the likes of Julius Martov and Georgi Plekhanov spar with Lenin. Leon Trotsky, who felt a strong connection to the Bolsheviki, had not given up a compromise but spearheaded strike action in over 200 factories.[38] By 26 October [O.S. 13 October] 1905, over 2 million workers were on strike and there were almost no active railways in all of Russia. Growing inter-ethnic confrontation throughout the Caucasus resulted in Armenian–Tatar massacres, heavily damaging the cities and the Baku oilfields.
Artistic impression of the mutiny by the crew of the battleship Potemkin against the ship's officers on 14 June 1905
With the unsuccessful and bloody Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) there was unrest in army reserve units. On 2 January 1905, Port Arthur was lost; in February 1905, the Russian army was defeated at Mukden, losing almost 80,000 men. On 27–28 May 1905, the Russian Baltic Fleet was defeated at Tsushima. Witte was dispatched to make peace, negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth (signed 5 September [O.S. 23 August] 1905). In 1905, there were naval mutinies at Sevastopol (see Sevastopol Uprising), Vladivostok, and Kronstadt, peaking in June with the mutiny aboard the battleship Potemkin. The mutineers eventually surrendered the battleship to Romanian authorities on 8 July in exchange for asylum, then the Romanians returned her to Imperial Russian authorities on the following day.[39] Some sources claim over 2,000 sailors died in the suppression.[40] The mutinies were disorganised and quickly crushed. Despite these mutinies, the armed forces were largely apolitical and remained mostly loyal, if dissatisfied—and were widely used by the government to control the 1905 unrest.
A barricade erected by revolutionaries in Moscow during Moscow uprising of 1905
Nationalist groups had been angered by the Russification undertaken since Alexander II. The Poles, Finns, and the Baltic provinces all sought autonomy, and also freedom to use their national languages and promote their own culture.[41] Muslim groups were also active, founding the Union of the Muslims of Russia in August 1905. Certain groups took the opportunity to settle differences with each other rather than the government. Some nationalists undertook anti-Jewish pogroms, possibly with government aid, and in total over 3,000 Jews were killed.[42]
The number of prisoners throughout the Russian Empire, which had peaked at 116,376 in 1893, fell by over a third to a record low of 75,009 in January 1905, chiefly because of several mass amnesties granted by the Tsar;[43] the historian S G Wheatcroft has wondered what role these released criminals played in the 1905–06 social unrest.[43]
Government responseEdit
On 12 January, the Tsar appointed Dmitri Feodorovich Trepov as governor in St Petersburg and dismissed the Minister of the Interior, Pyotr Sviatopolk-Mirskii, on 18 February [O.S. 5 February] 1905. He appointed a government commission "to enquire without delay into the causes of discontent among the workers in the city of St Petersburg and its suburbs"[attribution needed] in view of the strike movement. The commission was headed by Senator NV Shidlovsky, a member of the State Council, and included officials, chiefs of government factories, and private factory owners. It was also meant to have included workers' delegates elected according to a two-stage system. Elections of the workers delegates were, however, blocked by the socialists who wanted to divert the workers from the elections to the armed struggle. On 5 March [O.S. 20 February] 1905, the Commission was dissolved without having started work. Following the assassination of his uncle, the Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovich, on 17 February [O.S. 4 February] 1905, the Tsar made new concessions. On 2 March [O.S. 18 February] 1905 he published the Bulygin Rescript, which promised the formation of a consultative assembly, religious tolerance, freedom of speech (in the form of language rights for the Polish minority) and a reduction in the peasants' redemption payments. On 24 and 25 May [O.S. 11 and 12 May] 1905, about 300 Zemstvo and municipal representatives held three meetings in Moscow, which passed a resolution, asking for popular representation at the national level. On 6 June [O.S. 24 May] 1905, Nicholas II had received a Zemstvo deputation. Responding to speeches by Prince Sergei Trubetskoi and Mr Fyodrov, the Tsar confirmed his promise to convene an assembly of people's representatives.
Height of the RevolutionEdit
Tsar Nicholas II agreed on 2 March [O.S. 18 February] to the creation of a State Duma of the Russian Empire but with consultative powers only. When its slight powers and limits on the electorate were revealed, unrest redoubled. The Saint Petersburg Soviet was formed and called for a general strike in October, refusal to pay taxes, and the en masse withdrawal of bank deposits.
In June and July 1905, there were many peasant uprisings in which peasants seized land and tools.[44] Disturbances in the Russian-controlled Congress Poland culminated in June 1905 in the Łódź insurrection. Surprisingly, only one landlord was recorded as killed.[45] Far more violence was inflicted on peasants outside the commune: 50 deaths were recorded.
Barricades in Nizhny Novgorod, during the December uprising of 1905
The October Manifesto, written by Sergei Witte and Alexis Obolenskii, was presented to the Tsar on 14 October [O.S. 1 October]. It closely followed the demands of the Zemstvo Congress in September, granting basic civil rights, allowing the formation of political parties, extending the franchise towards universal suffrage, and establishing the Duma as the central legislative body. The Tsar waited and argued for three days, but finally signed the manifesto on 30 October [O.S. 17 October] 1905, citing his desire to avoid a massacre and his realisation that there was insufficient military force available to pursue alternative options. He regretted signing the document, saying that he felt "sick with shame at this betrayal of the dynasty ... the betrayal was complete".
When the manifesto was proclaimed, there were spontaneous demonstrations of support in all the major cities. The strikes in Saint Petersburg and elsewhere officially ended or quickly collapsed. A political amnesty was also offered. The concessions came hand-in-hand with renewed, and brutal, action against the unrest. There was also a backlash from the conservative elements of society, with right-wing attacks on strikers, left-wingers, and Jews.
While the Russian liberals were satisfied by the October Manifesto and prepared for upcoming Duma elections, radical socialists and revolutionaries denounced the elections and called for an armed uprising to destroy the Empire.
A locomotive overturned by striking workers at the main railway depot in Tiflis in 1905
Some of the November uprising of 1905 in Sevastopol, headed by retired naval Lieutenant Pyotr Schmidt, was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included terrorism, worker strikes, peasant unrest and military mutinies, and was only suppressed after a fierce battle. The Trans-Baikal railroad fell into the hands of striker committees and demobilised soldiers returning from Manchuria after the Russo–Japanese War. The Tsar had to send a special detachment of loyal troops along the Trans-Siberian Railway to restore order.
Between 5 and 7 December [O.S. 22 and 24 November], there was a general strike by Russian workers. The government sent troops on 7 December, and a bitter street-by-street fight began. A week later, the Semyonovsky Regiment was deployed, and used artillery to break up demonstrations and to shell workers' districts. On 18 December [O.S. 5 December], with around a thousand people dead and parts of the city in ruins, the workers surrendered. After a final spasm in Moscow, the uprisings ended in December 1905. According to figures presented in the Duma by Professor Maksim Kovalevsky, by April 1906, more than 14,000 people had been executed and 75,000 imprisoned.[46] Historian Brian Taylor states the number of deaths in the 1905 Revolution was in the "thousands", and notes one source that puts the figure at over 13,000 deaths.[42]
This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Ilya Repin, 17 October 1905. Russians celebrating the granting of the October Manifesto by Nicholas II, which led to the granting of the 1906 Constitution.
Following the Revolution of 1905, the Tsar made last attempts to save his regime, and offered reforms similar to most rulers when pressured by a revolutionary movement. The military remained loyal throughout the Revolution of 1905, as shown by their shooting of revolutionaries when ordered by the Tsar, making overthrow difficult. These reforms were outlined in a precursor to the Constitution of 1906 known as the October Manifesto which created the Imperial Duma. The Russian Constitution of 1906, also known as the Fundamental Laws, set up a multiparty system and a limited constitutional monarchy. The revolutionaries were quelled and satisfied with the reforms, but it was not enough to prevent the 1917 revolution that would later topple the Tsar's regime.
Creation of Duma and appointment of StolypinEdit
There had been earlier attempts in establishing a Russian Duma before the October Manifesto, but these attempts faced dogged resistance. One attempt in July 1905, called the Bulygin Duma, tried to reduce the assembly into a consultative body. It also proposed limiting voting rights to those with a higher property qualification, excluding industrial workers. Both sides—the opposition and the conservatives—were not pleased with the results.[47] Another attempt in August 1905 was almost successful, but that too died when Nicholas insisted on the Duma's functions be relegated to an advisory position.[48] The October Manifesto, aside from granting the population the freedom of speech and assembly, proclaimed that no law would be passed without examination and approval by the Imperial Duma. The Manifesto also extended the suffrage to universal proportions, allowing for greater participation in the Duma, though the electoral law in 11 December still excluded women.[49] Nevertheless, the tsar retained the power of veto.
Propositions for restrictions to the Duma's legislative powers remained persistent. A decree on 20 February 1906 transformed the State Council, the advisory body, into a second chamber with legislative powers "equal to those of the Duma".[49] Not only did this transformation violate the Manifesto, but the Council became a buffer zone between the tsar and Duma, slowing whatever progress the latter could achieve. Even three days before the Duma's first session, on 24 April 1906, the Fundamental Laws further limited the assembly's movement by giving the tsar the sole power to appoint/dismiss ministers.[50] Adding insult was the indication that the Tsar alone had control over many facets of political reins—all without the Duma's expressed permission. The trap seemed perfectly set for the unsuspecting Duma: by the time the assembly convened in 27 April, it quickly found itself unable to do much without violating the Fundamental Laws. Defeated and frustrated, the majority of the assembly voted no confidence and handed in their resignations after a few weeks on 13 May.[51]
Speech by Emperor Nicholas II on the opening of the First State Duma of the Russian Empire, 27 April 1906
The attacks on the Duma were not confined to its legislative powers. By the time the Duma opened, it was missing crucial support from its populace, thanks in no small part to the government's return to Pre-Manifesto levels of suppression. The Soviets were forced to lay low for a long time, while the zemstvos turned against the Duma when the issue of land appropriation came up. The issue of land appropriation was the most contentious of the Duma's appeals. The Duma proposed that the government distribute its treasury, "monastic and imperial lands", and seize private estates as well.[51] The Duma, in fact, was preparing to alienate some of its more affluent supporters, a decision that left the assembly without the necessary political power to be efficient.
Nicholas II remained wary of having to share power with reform-minded bureaucrats. When the pendulum in 1906 elections swung to the left, Nicholas immediately ordered the Duma's dissolution just after 73 days.[52] Hoping to further squeeze the life out of the assembly, he appointed a tougher prime minister in Petr Stolypin as the liberal Witte's replacement. Much to Nicholas's chagrin, Stolypin attempted to bring about acts of reform (land reform), while retaining measures favorable to the regime (stepping up the number of executions of revolutionaries). After the revolution subsided, he was able to bring economic growth back to Russia's industries, a period which lasted until 1914. But Stolypin's efforts did nothing to prevent the collapse of the monarchy, nor seemed to satisfy the conservatives. Stolypin died from a bullet wound by a revolutionary, Dmitry Bogrov, on 5 September 1911.[53]
October ManifestoEdit
Even after Bloody Sunday and defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Nicholas II had been slow to offer a meaningful solution to the social and political crisis. At this point, he became more concerned with his personal affairs such as the illness of his son, whose struggle with haemophilia was overseen by Rasputin. Nicholas also refused to believe that the population was demanding changes in the autocratic regime, seeing "public opinion" as mainly the "intelligentsia"[54] and believing himself to be the patronly 'father figure' to the Russian people. Sergei Witte, the minister of Russia, frustratingly argued with the Tsar that an immediate implementation of reforms was needed to retain order in the country. It was only after the Revolution started picking up steam that Nicholas was forced to make concessions by writing the October Manifesto.
Issued on 17 October 1905, the Manifesto stated that the government would grant the population reforms such as the right to vote and to convene in assemblies. Its main provisions were:
The granting of the population "inviolable personal rights" including freedom of conscience, speech, and assemblage
Giving the population who were previously cut off from doing so participation in the newly formed Duma
Ensuring that no law would be passed without the consent of the Imperial Duma.[55]
Despite what seemed to be a moment for celebration for Russia's population and the reformists, the Manifesto was rife with problems. Aside from the absence of the word "constitution", one issue with the manifesto was its timing. By October 1905, Nicholas was already dealing with a revolution. Another problem surfaced in the conscience of Nicholas himself: Witte said in 1911 that the manifesto was written only to get the pressure off the monarch's back, that it was not a "voluntary act".[56] In fact, the writers hoped that the Manifesto would sow discord into "the camp of the autocracy’s enemies" and bring order back to Russia.[57]
One immediate effect it did have, for a while, was the start of the Days of Freedom, a six-week period from 17 October to early December. This period witnessed an unprecedented level of freedom on all publications—revolutionary papers, brochures, etc.—even though the tsar officially retained the power to censor provocative material. This opportunity allowed the press to address the tsar, and government officials, in a harsh, critical tone previously unheard of. The freedom of speech also opened the floodgates for meetings and organized political parties. In Moscow alone, over 400 meetings took place in the first four weeks. Some of the political parties that came out of these meetings were the Constitutional Democrats (Kadets), Social Democrats, Socialist Revolutionaries, Octobrists, and the far-rightist Union of Russian People.[58]
Among all the groups that benefited most from the Days of Freedoms were the labor unions. In fact, the Days of Freedom witnessed unionization in the history of the Russian Empire at its apex. At least 67 unions were established in Moscow, as well as 58 in St. Petersburg; the majority of both combined were formed in November 1905 alone. For the Soviets, it was a watershed period of time: nearly 50 of the unions in St. Petersburg came under Soviet control, while in Moscow, the Soviets had around 80000 members. This large sector of power allowed the Soviets enough clout to form their own militias. In St. Petersburg alone, the Soviets claimed around 6,000 armed members with the purpose of protecting the meetings.[59]
Perhaps empowered in their newfound window of opportunity, the St. Petersburg Soviets, along with other socialist parties, called for armed struggles against the Tsarist government, a war call that no doubt alarmed the government. Not only were the workers motivated, but the Days of Freedom also had an earthquake-like effect on the peasant collective as well. Seeing an opening in the autocracy's waning authority thanks to the Manifesto, the peasants, with a political organization, took to the streets in revolt. In response, the government exerted its forces in campaigns to subdue and repress both the peasants and the workers. Consequences were now in full force: with a pretext in their hands, the government spent the month of December 1905 regaining the level of authority once lost to Bloody Sunday.[60]
Ironically, the writers of the October Manifesto were caught off guard by the surge in revolts. One of the main reasons for writing the October Manifesto bordered on the government's "fear of the revolutionary movement".[61] In fact, many officials believed this fear was practically the sole reason for the Manifesto's creation in the first place. Among those more scared was Dmitri Feodorovich Trepov, governor general of St. Petersburg and deputy minister of the interior. Trepov urged Nicholas II to stick to the principles in the Manifesto, for "every retreat ... would be hazardous to the dynasty".[61]
Russian Constitution of 1906Edit
The Russian Constitution of 1906 was published on the eve of the convocation of the First Duma. The new Fundamental Law was enacted to institute promises of the October Manifesto as well as add new reforms. The Tsar was confirmed as absolute leader, with complete control of the executive, foreign policy, church, and the armed forces. The structure of the Duma was changed, becoming a lower chamber below the Council of Ministers, and was half-elected, half-appointed by the Tsar. Legislations had to be approved by the Duma, the Council, and the Tsar to become law. The Fundamental State Laws were the "culmination of the whole sequence of events set in motion in October 1905 and which consolidated the new status quo". The introduction of The Russian Constitution of 1906 was not simply an institution of the October Manifesto. The introduction of the constitution states (and thus emphasizes) the following:
The Russian State is one and indivisible.
The Grand Duchy of Finland, while comprising an inseparable part of the Russian State, is governed in its internal affairs by special decrees based on special legislation.
The Russian language is the common language of the state, and its use is compulsory in the army, the navy and all state and public institutions. The use of local (regional) languages and dialects in state and public institutions are determined by special legislation.
The Constitution did not mention any of the provisions of the October Manifesto. While it did enact the provisions laid out previously, its sole purpose seems again to be the propaganda for the monarchy and to simply not fall back on prior promises. The provisions and the new constitutional monarchy did not satisfy Russians and Lenin. The Constitution lasted until the fall of the empire in 1917.
Rise of political violenceEdit
The years 1904 and 1907 saw a decline of mass movements, strikes and protests, and a rise of overt political violence. Combat groups such as the SR Combat Organization carried out many assassinations targeting civil servants and police, and robberies. Between 1906 and 1909, revolutionaries killed 7,293 people, of whom 2,640 were officials, and wounded 8,061.[62] Notable victims included:
Nikolai Bobrikov – Governor-General of Finland. Killed 30 June [O.S. 17 June] 1904 in Helsinki.
Vyacheslav von Plehve – Minister of Interior. Killed 10 August [O.S. 28 July] 1904 in Saint Petersburg.
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia – Killed 17 February [O.S. 4 February] 1905 in Moscow.
Eliel Soisalon-Soininen – Procurator of Justice of Finland. Killed 19 February [O.S. 6 February] 1905 in Helsinki.
Viktor Sakharov – former war minister. Killed 5 December [O.S. 22 November] 1905.
Admiral Chukhnin – the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Killed 24 July [O.S. 11 July] 1906.
Aleksey Ignatyev – Killed 22 December [O.S. 9 December] 1906.
RepressionEdit
The years of revolution were marked by a dramatic rise in the numbers of death sentences and executions. Different figures on the number of executions were compared by Senator Nikolai Tagantsev,[63] and are listed in the table.
Number of executions by different accounts
Report by Ministry of Internal Affairs Police Department to the State Duma on 19 February [O.S. 6 February] 1909 Report by Ministry of War Military Justice department By Oscar Gruzenberg Report by Mikhail Borovitinov, assistant head of Ministry of Justice Chief Prison Administration, at the International Prison Congress in Washington, 1910.
1907 456 627 624 1,139
1908 825 1,330 1,349 825
Total 1,435 + 683[64] = 2,118 2,212 2,235 2,628
Number of executions
These numbers reflect only executions of civilians,[65] and do not include a large number of summary executions by punitive army detachments and executions of military mutineers.[66] Peter Kropotkin, an anarchist, noted that official statistics excluded executions conducted during punitive expeditions, especially in Siberia, Caucasus and the Baltic provinces.[65] By 1906 some 4,509 political prisoners were incarcerated in Russian Poland, 20 percent of the empire's total.[67]
Ivanovo SovietEdit
Ivanovo Voznesensk was known as the 'Russian Manchester' for its textile mills. In 1905, its local revolutionaries were overwhelmingly Bolshevik. It was the first Bolshevik branch in which workers outnumbered intellectuals.
11 May 1905: The 'Group', the revolutionary leadership, called for the workers at all the textile mills to strike.
12 May: The strike begins. Strike leaders meet in the local woods.
13 May: 40,000 workers assemble before the Administration Building to give Svirskii, the regional factory inspector, a list of demands.
14 May: Workers' delegates are elected. Svirskii had suggested they do so, as he wanted people to negotiate with.[68] A mass meeting is held in Administration Square. Svirskii tells them the mill owners will not meet their demands but will negotiate with elected mill delegates, who will be immune to prosecution, according to the governor.
15 May: Svirskii tells the strikers they can negotiate only about each factory in turn, but they can hold elections wherever. The strikers elect delegates to represent each mill while they are still out in the streets. Later the delegates elect a chairman.
17 May: The meetings are moved to the bank of the Talka River, on suggestion by the police chief.
27 May: The delegates' meeting house is closed.
3 June: Cossacks break up a workers' meeting, arresting over 20 men. Workers start sabotaging telephone wires and burn down a mill.
9 June: The police chief resigns.
12 June: All prisoners are released. Most mill owners flee to Moscow. Neither side gives in.
27 June: Workers agree to stop striking 1 July.
PolandEdit
Main article: Revolution in the Kingdom of Poland (1905–1907)
FinlandEdit
Demonstrators in Jakobstad
In the Grand Duchy of Finland, the Social Democrats organised the general strike of 1905 (12–19 November [O.S. 30 October – 6 November]). The Red Guards were formed, led by captain Johan Kock. During the general strike, the Red Declaration, written by Finnish politician and journalist Yrjö Mäkelin, was published in Tampere, demanding dissolution of the Senate of Finland, universal suffrage, political freedoms, and abolition of censorship. Leo Mechelin, leader of the constitutionalists, crafted the November Manifesto: the revolution resulted in the abolition of the Diet of Finland and of the four Estates, and to the creation of the modern Parliament of Finland. It also resulted in a temporary halt to the Russification policy that Russia had started in 1899.
On 12 August [O.S. 30 July] 1906, Russian artillerymen and military engineers rose in revolt in the fortress of Sveaborg (later called Suomenlinna), Helsinki. The Finnish Red Guards supported the Sveaborg Rebellion with a general strike, but the mutiny was quelled within 60 hours by loyal troops and ships of the Baltic Fleet.
EstoniaEdit
In the Governorate of Estonia, Estonians called for freedom of the press and assembly, for universal suffrage, and for national autonomy. On 29 October [O.S. 16 October], the Russian army opened fire in a meeting on a street market in Tallinn in which about 8 000-10 000 people participated, killing 94 and injuring over 200. The October Manifesto was supported in Estonia and the Estonian flag was displayed publicly for the first time. Jaan Tõnisson used the new political freedoms to widen the rights of Estonians by establishing the first Estonian political party – National Progress Party.
Another, more radical political organisation, the Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Union was founded as well. The moderate supporters of Tõnisson and the more radical supporters of Jaan Teemant could not agree about how to continue with the revolution, and only agreed that both wanted to limit the rights of Baltic Germans and to end Russification. The radical views were publicly welcomed and in December 1905, martial law was declared in Tallinn. A total of 160 manors were looted, resulting in ca. 400 workers and peasants being killed by the army. Estonian gains from the revolution were minimal, but the tense stability that prevailed between 1905 and 1917 allowed Estonians to advance the aspiration of national statehood.
LatviaEdit
Bloody Sunday Monument in Riga on the Daugava
Following the shooting of demonstrators in St. Petersburg, a wide-scale general strike began in Riga. On 26 January [O.S. 13 January], Russian army troops opened fire on demonstrators killing 73 and injuring 200 people. During the middle of 1905, the focus of revolutionary events moved to the countryside with mass meetings and demonstrations. 470 new parish administrative bodies were elected in 94% of the parishes in Latvia. The Congress of Parish Representatives was held in Riga in November. In autumn 1905, armed conflict between the Baltic German nobility and the Latvian peasants began in the rural areas of Livonia and Courland. In Courland, the peasants seized or surrounded several towns. In Livonia, the fighters controlled the Rūjiena-Pärnu railway line.[69] Martial law was declared in Courland in August 1905, and in Livonia in late November. Special punitive expeditions were dispatched in mid-December to suppress the movement. They executed 1170 people without trial or investigation and burned 300 peasant homes. Thousands were exiled to Siberia. Many Latvian intellectuals only escaped by fleeing to Western Europe or USA. In 1906, the revolutionary movement gradually subsided.
Bibliography of the Russian Revolution and Civil War § The Revolution of 1905
Battleship Potemkin, Sergei Eisenstein originally intended this film to be a pro-Bolshevik narrative of the 1905 Russian Revolution[70][71][72]
Doctor Zhivago, which takes place from the years between 1902 and World War II.
Łódź insurrection (1905)
Symphony No. 11 (Shostakovich), subtitled The Year 1905
^ Russian: Революция 1905 года.
^ Russian: Первая Русская Революция.
^ a b c d Clodfelter, M. (2017). Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015. McFarland. p. 340. ISBN 9781476625850.
^ Ascher, Abraham (1994). The Revolution of 1905: Russia in Disarray. Stanford University Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-8047-2327-5.
^ Harcave, Sidney (1970). The Russian Revolution. London: Collier Books. OCLC 293897.
^ Defronzo, James (2011). Revolutions and Revolutionary Moments. New York: Westview Press. ISBN 978-1-85109-798-2.
^ Skocpol, Theda (1979). States and Social Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of France, Russia and China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 93. ISBN 978-0-521-22439-0.
^ Harcave 1990, 21
^ a b Harcave 1970, 19
^ a b c d e Harcave 1970, 20
^ a b c d Harcave 1970, 21
^ Pipes, Richard (1996). A Concise History of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage. p. 8.
^ a b Weeks 2004, 472
^ Conroy, Mary (2006). "Civil Society in Late Imperial Russia". In Henry, Laura; Sundstrom, Lisa; Evans Jr., Albert (eds.). Russian Civil Society: A Critical Assessment. New York: M. E. Sharpe. p. 12.
^ Weeks, Theodore (December 2004). "Russification: Word and Practice 1863–1914". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 148: 473.
^ Staliūnas, Darius (2007). "Between Russification and Divide and Rule: Russian Nationality Policy in the Western Borderlands in Mid-19th Century". Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas, Neue Folge. 3. 55.
^ Weeks 2004, 475–476
^ Skocpol 1979, 90
^ a b Skocpol 1979, 91
^ Perrie, Maureen (November 1972). "The Russian Peasant Movement of 1905–1907: Its Social Composition and Revolutionary Significance". Past and Present. 57: 124–125. doi:10.1093/past/57.1.123.
^ John Simkin (ed), "1905 Russian Revolution Archived 4 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine", Spartacus Educational, undated.
^ a b c Harcave 1970, 23
^ Morrissey, Susan (1998). Heralds of Revolution: Russian Students and the Mythologies of Radicalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 20.
^ a b c Morrissey 1998, 22
^ Morrissey 1998, 20
^ a b Morrissey 1998, 23
^ Ascher, Abraham (1994). The Revolution of 1905: Russia in Disarray. Stanford University Press. p. 202.
^ Rosa Luxemburg, The Mass Strike, the Political Party and the Trade Unions, 1906 [English translation Patrick Lavin, 1925]. Chapter 4, "The Interaction of the Political and the Economic Struggle."
^ Rosa Luxemburg, The Mass Strike, the Political Party and the Trade Unions, 1906 Chapter 3, "Development of the Mass Strike Movement in Russia".
^ Abraham Ascher, The Revolution of 1905: A Short History, page 6
^ Salisbury, Harrison E. (1981). Black Night White Snow. Da Capo Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-306-80154-9.
^ This petition asked for "an eight-hour day, a minimum daily wage of one ruble (fifty cents), a repudiation of bungling bureaucrats, and a democratically elected Constituend Assembly to introduce representative government into the empire." R.R. Palmer, A History of the Modern World, second edition, Alfred A. Knopf (New York) 1960, p. 715
^ Robert Blobaum, Feliks Dzierzynski and the SDKPiL: A Study of the Origins of Polish Communism, page 123
^ Voline (2004). Unknown Revolution, Chapter 2: The Birth of the "Soviets"
^ Neal Bascomb, Red Mutiny: Eleven Fateful Days on the Battleship Potemkin, pp. 286–99
^ Bascomb, N (2007). Red Mutiny: Eleven Fateful Days on the Battleship Potemkin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
^ Kevin O'Connor, The History of the Baltic States, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-32355-0, Google Print, p.58
^ a b Taylor, BD (2003). Politics and the Russian Army: Civil-Military Relations, 1689–2000. Cambridge University Press. p.69.
^ a b Wheatcroft, SG (2002). Challenging Traditional Views of Russian History. Palgrave Macmillan. The Pre-Revolutionary Period, p.34.
^ Paul Barnes, R. Paul Evans, Peris Jones-Evans (2003). GCSE History for WJEC Specification A. Heinemann. p. 68
^ Richard Pipes, The Russian Revolution, page 48
^ Larned, J. N. (1910). History for ready reference, Vol VII, p. 574. Springfield, Massachusetts: The C. A. Nicholson Co., Publishers. (The original source for this information, according to the book, was Professor Maksim Kovalevsky, who presented these figures in the Duma on 2 May 1906, "in the presence of M. Stolypin, who did not contest it".)
^ Sohrabi, Nader (May 1995). "Historicizing Revolutions: Constitutional Revolutions in the Ottoman Empire, Iran, Russia, 1905–1908". American Journal of Sociology. The University of Chicago Press. 100 (6): 1424–1425. doi:10.1086/230667. JSTOR 2782676.
^ Sixsmith, Martin (31 December 2013). Russia:A 1,000 Year Chronicle of the Wild East. New York: The Overlook Press,Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-4683-0501-2.
^ a b Nader Sohrabi, Historicizing Revolutions, pages 1425
^ Nader Sohrabi, Historicizing Revolutions, pages 1426
^ Martin Sixsmith, Russia: A 1,000 Year Chronicle of the Wild East, pages 173
^ Kropotkin, G. M. (Spring 2008). "The Ruling Bureaucracy and the "New Order" of Russian Statehood After the Manifesto of 17 October 1905". Russian Studies in History. 46 (4): 6–33. doi:10.2753/RSH1061-1983460401.
^ G. M. Kropotkin, The Ruling Bureaucracy and the "New Order" of Russian Statehood, pages 9
^ Nader Sohrabi, Historicizing Revolutions, page 1407
^ Nader Sohrabi, Historicizing Revolutions, pages 1407–1408
^ a b G. M. Kropotkin, The Ruling Bureaucracy and the "New Order" of Russian Statehood, pages 23
^ Galina Mikhaĭlovna Ivanova, Carol Apollonio Flath and Donald J. Raleigh, Labour camp socialism: the Gulag in the Soviet totalitarian system (2000), p.6
^ Article Death penalty in Russia.
^ 683 executions by sentences of Field Courts Martial, acting from 1 September [O.S. 19 August] 1906, to 3 May [O.S. 20 April] 1907 were listed separately and not subdivided by year.
^ a b "Executions". Dwardmac.pitzer.edu. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
^ Death penalty in Russia.
^ Robert Blobaum: Feliks Dzierzynsky and the SDKPiL: A study of the Origins of Polish Communism, page 149
^ Solomon Schwarz, The Russian Revolution of 1905, pages 135–7 335–8
^ Bleiere, Daina; Ilgvars Butulis; Antonijs Zunda; Aivars Stranga; Inesis Feldmanis (2006). History of Latvia : the 20th century. Riga: Jumava. p. 68. ISBN 978-9984-38-038-4. OCLC 70240317.
^ Клейман, Наум И.; Левина, К. Б. (eds.). Броненосец "Потемкин.". Шедевры советского кино. p. 24.
^ Marie Seton (1960). Sergei M. Eisenstein: a biography. Grove Press. p. 74.
^ Jay Leyda (1960). Kino: A History of the Russian and Soviet Film. George Allen & Unwin. pp. 193–199.
Abraham Ascher; The Revolution of 1905, vol. 1: Russia in Disarray; Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1988; ISBN 0804714363, ISBN 9780804714365.
Abraham Ascher; The Revolution of 1905, vol. 2: Authority Restored; Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1994
Abraham Ascher; The Revolution of 1905: A Short History; Stanford University Press, Stanford, 2004
Donald C. Rawson; Russian Rightists and the Revolution of 1905; Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995
François-Xavier Coquin; 1905, La Révolution russe manquée; Editions Complexe, Paris, 1999
François-Xavier Coquin and Céline Gervais-Francelle (Editors); 1905 : La première révolution russe (Actes du colloque sur la révolution de 1905), Publications de la Sorbonne et Institut d'Études Slaves, Paris, 1986
John Bushnell; Mutiny amid Repression: Russian Soldiers in the Revolution of 1905–1906; Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1985
Anna Geifman. Thou Shalt Kill: Revolutionary Terrorism in Russia, 1894–1917.
Pete Glatter ed., The Russian Revolution of 1905: Change Through Struggle, Revolutionary History Vol 9 No 1 (Editorial: Pete Glatter; Introduction; The Road to Bloody Sunday (Introduced by Pete Glatter); A Revolution Takes Shape (Introduced by Pete Glatter); The Decisive Days (Introduced by Pete Glatter and Philip Ruff); Rosa Luxemburg and the 1905 Revolution (Introduced by Mark Thomas); Mike Haynes, Patterns of Conflict in the 1905 Revolution)
Pete Glatter (17 October 2005). "1905 The consciousness factor". International Socialism (108).
Scott Ury, Barricades and Banners: The Revolution of 1905 and the Transformation of Warsaw Jewry, Stanford University Press, Stanford, 2012. ISBN 978-0-804763-83-7
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russian Revolution of 1905.
Russian Chronology 1904–1914, including the Revolution of 1905 and its aftermath
The Mass Strike. Rosa Luxemburg, 1906.
The Year 1905 by Leon Trotsky
Russia and reform (1907) by Bernard Pares
1905 An article on the events of 1905 from an anarchist perspective (Anarcho-Syndicalist Review, no. 42/3, Winter 2005)
Estonia during the Russian Revolution of 1905 (in Estonian)
Russian Graphic Art and the Revolution of 1905. From the collection of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University
Revolution of 1905 in Poland (in Polish)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1905_Russian_Revolution&oldid=998700842"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3237
|
__label__wiki
| 0.832471
| 0.832471
|
Temple of Augustus, Pula
For other places with the same name, see Temple of Augustus.
The Temple of Augustus (Croatian: Augustov hram)[a] is a well-preserved[4] Roman temple in the city of Pula, Croatia (known in Roman times as Pola). Dedicated to the first Roman emperor, Augustus, it was probably built during the emperor's lifetime at some point between 27 BC and his death in AD 14.[5] It was built on a podium with a tetrastyle prostyle porch of Corinthian columns and measures about 8 by 17.3 m (26 by 57 ft), and 14 m (46 ft) high.[6] The richly decorated frieze is similar to that of a somewhat larger and more recent temple, the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France.[7] These two temples are considered the two best complete Roman monuments outside Italy.[8]
Temple of Augustus
Location within Croatia
44°52′13″N 13°50′30″E / 44.8702°N 13.8418°E / 44.8702; 13.8418Coordinates: 44°52′13″N 13°50′30″E / 44.8702°N 13.8418°E / 44.8702; 13.8418
Pula, Istria, Croatia
Roman temple
17.85 metres (58.6 ft)[1]
8.05 metres (26.4 ft)[1]
14 metres (46 ft)[2]
circa 2 BC
circa 14 AD
1.1 Dedication
The temple was part of a triad consisting of three temples. The Temple of Augustus stood at the left side of the central temple, and the similar temple of the goddess Diana stood on the other side of the main temple. Although the larger central temple has not survived, the whole back side of the Temple of Diana is still clearly visible due to its incorporation into the Communal Palace, built in 1296.
If still in use by the 4th-century, the temple would have been closed during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire. Under Byzantine rule, the temple was converted into a church, accounting for its survival to modern times, and was later used as a granary.
In the 16th century, Andrea Palladio included the description of the temple in his I quattro libri dell'architettura, a highly influential book on the principles of Classical architecture.
By the late 19th century, the temple stood at the corner of the marketplace of Pula and was partly concealed by houses, "so that the visitor cannot obtain a view till he is close to it."[2]
It was struck by a bomb during an Allied air raid in 1944, almost totally destroying it, but was reconstructed in 1947.[8] It is today used as a lapidarium to display items of Roman sculpture.[9][10]
DedicationEdit
The temple's dedication originally consisted of bronze letters affixed by nails to the stones of the architrave.[11] Only the attachment holes now remain and much of the text has been destroyed over time. However, it consisted of a standard dedication also found on other Augustan temples, which read:
ROMAE · ET · AVGVSTO · CAESARI · DIVI · F · PATRI · PATRIAE[12][11]
To Roma and Augustus Caesar, son of the deity, father of the fatherland
In honour of Rome and Augustus Caesar, son of the deified [Julius], father of his country.[11]
This indicates that the temple was originally also co-dedicated to the goddess Roma, the personification of the city of Rome.[13] Unlike later temples, such as the Temple of Divus Augustus in Rome, the temple was not dedicated to divus (the deified) Augustus - a title only given to the emperor after his death. This, the title Pater Patriae that was voted to Augustus in 2 BC., and the temple's architectural style, have allowed archaeologists to date the temple to the late Augustan period, prior to Augustus' death in AD 14.[14]
GalleryEdit
The temple next to the Pula Communal Palace
A 1924 painting by Enrico Fonda
An engraving from the 1760s
List of Ancient Roman temples
Pula Arena
Temple of Augustus in Barcelona
Monumentum Ancyranum
Temple of Divus Augustus
^ Also known as the Temple of Augustus and Roma[1] or the Temple of Rome and Augustus[3]
^ a b c Džin 2012, p. 389.
^ a b Lewis 1892, p. 243.
^ Lewis 1892, p. 241.
^ Curtis, Benjamin (2010). A Traveller's History of Croatia. Interlink Books. p. 33. ISBN 9781566568081. ...including several temples (one of which, the first-century Temple of Augustus, is magnificently preserved)...
^ Radovan Radovinovic (ed.), The Croatian Adriatic, pp. 48-49. Naklada Naprijed, 1999. ISBN 953-178-097-8
^ Lewis 1892, pp. 242-243.
^ Donald S. Robertson, Greek and Roman Architecture, p. 214. Cambridge University Press, 1969. ISBN 0-521-09452-6
^ a b Letcher, Piers (2013). Croatia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 214. ISBN 9781841624532.
^ Jane Foster, Footprint Croatia, p. 106. Footprint Travel Guides, 2004. ISBN 1-903471-79-6
^ Jeanne Oliver, Croatia. Lonely Planet, 2005. ISBN 1-74059-487-8
^ a b c Lewis 1892, pp. 241-242.
^ CIL V, 00018
^ Duncan Fishwick, The Imperial Cult in the Latin West, p. 437. BRILL, 1990. ISBN 90-04-07105-9
^ Ittai Gradel, Emperor Worship and Roman Religion, pp. 92-93. Oxford Classical Monographs, Clarendon Press, 2002. ISBN 0-19-815275-2
BibliographyEdit
Džin, Kristina (2012). "Roman Forum Temples in Pula - Religious and Public Use". Hortus Artium Medievalium. Brepols. 18 (2): 389–394. doi:10.1484/J.HAM.1.102823. CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Urošević, Nataša (2012). "Cultural identity and cultural tourism - between the local and the global (a case study of Pula, Croatia)" (PDF). European Journal of Applied Economics. Singidunum University. 9 (1): 67–76. Archived from the original on 2016-07-16. CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Lewis, Bunnell (1892). "The Antiquities of Pola and Aquileia". The Archaeological Journal. 44: 234–396. Archived from the original on 2016-07-18. CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) PDF version[dead link]
Media related to Temple of Roma and Augustus (Pula) at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Temple_of_Augustus,_Pula&oldid=964049961"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3238
|
__label__wiki
| 0.596774
| 0.596774
|
Z-variant
This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.
In Unicode, two glyphs are said to be Z-variants (often spelled zVariants) if they share the same etymology but have slightly different appearances and different Unicode code points. For example, the Unicode characters U+8AAA 說 and U+8AAC 説 are Z-variants. The notion of Z-variance is only applicable to the "CJKV scripts"—Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese—and is a subtopic of Han unification.
1 Differences on the Z-axis
2 Confusion
Differences on the Z-axisEdit
The Unicode philosophy of code point allocation for CJK languages is organized along three "axes." The X-axis represents differences in semantics; for example, the Latin capital A (U+0041 A) and the Greek capital alpha (U+0391 Α) are represented by two distinct code points in Unicode, and might be termed "X-variants" (though this term is not common). The Y-axis represents significant differences in appearance though not in semantics; for example, the traditional Chinese character māo "cat" (U+8C93 貓) and the simplified Chinese character (U+732B 猫) are Y-variants.[1]
The Z-axis represents minor typographical differences. For example, the Chinese characters (U+838A 莊) and (U+8358 荘) are Z-variants, as are (U+8AAA 說) and (U+8AAC 説). The glossary at Unicode.org defines "Z-variant" as "Two CJK unified ideographs with identical semantics and unifiable shapes,"[1] where "unifiable" is taken in the sense of Han unification.
Thus, were Han unification perfectly successful, Z-variants would not exist. They exist in Unicode because it was deemed useful to be able to "round-trip" documents between Unicode and other CJK encodings such as Big5 and CCCII. For example, the character 莊 has CCCII encoding 21552D, while its Z-variant 荘 has CCCII encoding 2D552D. Therefore, these two variants were given distinct Unicode code points, so that converting a CCCII document to Unicode and back would be a lossless operation.
ConfusionEdit
There is some confusion over the exact definition of "Z-variant." For example, in an Internet draft (of RFC 3743) dated 2002,[2] one finds bù "no" (U+4E0D 不) and (U+F967 不) described as "font variants," the term "Z-variant" being apparently reserved for interlanguage pairs such as the Mandarin Chinese tù "rabbit" (U+5154 兔) and the Japanese to "rabbit" (U+514E 兎). However, the Unicode Consortium's Unihan database [3] treats both pairs as Z-variants.
Look up z-variant in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^ a b "Glossary". www.unicode.org.
^ Huang, K.; Ko, Y.; Konishi, K.; Qian, H. "Joint Engineering Team (JET) Guidelines for Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) Registration and Administration for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean". tools.ietf.org.
^ "Unihan Database Lookup". www.unicode.org.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Z-variant&oldid=988564100"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3239
|
__label__wiki
| 0.608076
| 0.608076
|
ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2
(Redirected from Coronavirus outbreak)
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
The pandemic shutdown has shown us the problem. It has revealed what the world looks like without as much pollution, without the chaos and roar of mostly meaningless "work" performed by the exploited, using materials stolen from the abused, for the benefit of the pampered and oblivious. Another world is possible, and we've just gotten a glimpse of it. ~Lee Camp
This could be the moment when we begin to see ourselves, once more, as governed by biology and physics, and dependent on a habitable planet. Never again should we listen to the liars and the deniers. Never again should we allow a comforting falsehood to trounce a painful truth. No longer can we afford to be dominated by those who put money ahead of life. ~George Monbiot
We believe that Spain will not have, at most, beyond a diagnosed case. Hopefully there will be no local transmission. If there is, it will be very limited and very controlled. ~Fernando Simon Soria
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z · See also · External links
"...developed countries are as naïve as developing countries in facing this crisis. One distinct feature of Asia Pacific and South Asia is high population and high population density, which makes them harder to manage..."
Dr Shamshad Akhtar, as quoted in " 'Developed, developing countries equally naïve to face COVID-19 crisis' " (30 April 2020) by Rasheed Khalid, The News International
و وباء #كورونا يجتاح العالم مهددا للبشريةندعو مجلس الأمن والأمين العام للأمم المتحدة انتونيو غوتيرش @antoniojuterres
لايقاف القوى المعتدية عن عدوانها على الشعب اليمني وفك الحصار عليه
فالوباء ينتشر بكافة أنحاء العالم ويجب أن تنعم شعوب العالم بالسلام وتتمكن من مكافحة الوباء الخطير
As Coronavirus has invaded the world and is threatening humanity, we ask UN security council and also the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres to stop aggressive forces from attacking Yemeni people and end the siege of the country. The virus is spreading all over the world and nations of the world should have peace to fight with this dangerous virus.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, on a Twitter post (23 March 2020). Translated by The Guardian
BEdit
You know, one of the things that continues to bother us in the way in which the moderators don’t even bring up an issue that, before COVID-19, was impacting 43% of this nation. A hundred forty million people, before COVID, were poor and low-wealth, and 62 million people working for less than a living wage. And since COVID, we know that millions have been added to the poverty and low-wealth numbers. We’re well over 50% because of the new poor. We know we had 87 million people before COVID that were either uninsured or underinsured, and now some 20 million people have been added because of people who have lost their insurance because they’ve lost their jobs. Forty percent of the jobs that make $40,000 a year have been lost.
Rev. William Barber II quoted in Rev. William Barber: Millions Are Struggling. So Why Do the Debates Ignore Poverty?, DemocracyNow, (8 October 2020)
We have to stop saying things were well before COVID. It’s almost as though we give that away to the Trump and Pence. The reality is, Wall Street was well. The reality is, those who got his tax cuts were well. The reality is, though, that before COVID, they were trying to overturn healthcare. Before COVID, they were blocking living wages. Before COVID, we were not addressing the issue of poor and low-wealth people.
When we look at COVID-19, we know that the fissures of systemic racism and systemic poverty have actually allowed this pandemic to have a greater hold on our American society. We know that when we talk about death, we have to be exact, that it’s not just people are dying, poor people are dying. People who make less than $50,000 a year are dying. People are dying who are among the poor, whether it be white, Black —disproportionately among Black and Brown and Indigenous people, and that COVID has killed more people in the U.S. than Americans were killed in battle in five of our most recent wars — Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, the War in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf War. I mean, this is what we’re talking about when we’re talking about this devastation that’s happening among poor and low-wealth people.
It is these very conditions that facilitate the emergence of new infectious diseases and that also inflict horrific harms on animals — being kept in confined conditions and then butchered. Simply put, the coronavirus pandemic is a result of our gross maltreatment of animals.
David Benatar, "Our Cruel Treatment of Animals Led to the Coronavirus" (13 April 2020), The New York Times
Like humans, pathogens do not respect species boundaries. Overall, nearly eight billion people, many with advanced technologies and rapacious appetites, are tearing ecosystems apart and within these ecosystems live millions of different kinds of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. As Sonia Shah observes in her book Pandemic, society operates with an erroneous paradigm of disease, treating diseases as foreign invaders into our territory (a mentality she describes as “microbial xenophobia”), when in fact we are the invading species encroaching on the habitat and communities of animals and ecosystems. It is wrong to say that these diseases are happening to us, rather they are the unintended results of what we are doing to the natural world. Speculations about accidental laboratory origins of outbreaks and COVID-19 conspiracy plots of bioterrorism draw attention away from actual systemic structures and dynamics of human exploitation of nature, especially as driven by the growth-addicted world system of capitalism. Hardly unexpected or accidental, viral outbreaks are the inevitable consequences of human growth and expansion. All too often, we are the causes, not effects, the culprits, not victims, of pandemic-inducing pathogens.
Steven Best, "How To Destroy Civilization: COVID-19 and the Exploitation of Animals and the Earth" (23 June 2020)
When the UN security council and the G7 group sought to agree a global response to the coronavirus pandemic, the efforts stumbled on the US insistence on describing the threat as distinctively Chinese... the focus on labelling the virus Chinese and blaming China pursued by the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, helped ensure there would be no meaningful collective response from the world's most powerful nations...
For some US allies, the fixation on words at a time when the international order was arguably facing its greatest challenge since the second world war encapsulated the glaring absence of US leadership. And that absence was illustrated just as vividly by news coverage of planes full of medical supplies from China arriving in Italy, at a time when the US was quietly flying in half a million Italian-made diagnostic swabs for use in its own under-equipped health system and Donald Trump was on the phone to the South Korean president pressing him to send test kits.
Julian Borger, "US awol from world stage as China tries on global leadership for size (29 March 2020), The Guardian
This pandemic is not just a crisis, it's also a gift. It allows us the oxygen to notice the things we've been ignoring were the truly essential:
– Learning and creating
– Enjoying clean water, clean air, clean food, and making sure every human has that right
– Forming a world that will last longer than an NFL season
– Spending a lot of time with your beautiful family (or a little time with an unsightly one)
Point is — the stuff that truly matters is the stuff we were completely ignoring, blithely pushing it to the back of our minds as our planet is eaten for corporate profit. But now, during "life on hold" the natural world reclaims spaces. Beaches around the globe teem with millions of birds and wildlife, no longer flooded by undulating masses of fleshy apes with our frisbees, and snorkels, and beer coolers and entitlement.
Lee Camp, "Lee Camp: Pandemic is Not Just a Crisis, It's Also a Gift" (23 April 2020), Consortium News
Like cancer, capitalism grows until it murders the host body. During this pandemic shutdown, it's not getting the growth it needs and parts of it are becoming benign... For years...we've been lost in the frenetic pace of lives based on non-events, never pausing to reassess or recess. The spastic motion of avoidance filled the ether — afraid if we stop to truly think about it, we may find our scant few years of consciousness are pissed away as slaves at often meaningless jobs. They, the pustulant corporate owners, suck away our lives... And now, with life on holiday, we see almost none of it was essential... As our planet disintegrates under the weight of consumption and greed, most people are trapped in extreme poverty. And that's how the system of capitalism is designed. Slightly altering capitalism will not change this reality... If we take away the false promises of capitalism and just say to people, "Private luxury is only for a few humans. You will never have it and won't even have the chance at getting it" – if we admit that – then the entire justification for capitalism evaporates... The pandemic shutdown has shown us the problem. It has revealed what the world looks like without as much pollution, without the chaos and roar of mostly meaningless "work" performed by the exploited, using materials stolen from the abused, for the benefit of the pampered and oblivious. Another world is possible, and we've just gotten a glimpse of it.
The Coronavirus is serious enough but it's worth recalling that there is a much greater horror approaching, we are racing to the edge of disaster, far worse than anything that's ever happened in human history... the corona virus is a horrible... can have terrifying consequences but there will be recovery, while the others won't be recovered... If we don't deal with them we're done.
Noam Chomsky: Coronavirus - What is at stake? | Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) 28 Mar 2020
The scale of the plague is surprising, indeed shocking, but not its appearance. Nor the fact that the U.S. has the worst record in responding to the crisis. Scientists have been warning of a pandemic for years, insistently so since the SARS epidemic of 2003, also caused by a coronavirus, for which vaccines were developed but did not proceed beyond the pre-clinical level. That was the time to begin to put in place rapid-response systems in preparation for an outbreak and to set aside spare capacity that would be needed. Initiatives could also have been undertaken to develop defenses and modes of treatment for a likely recurrence with a related virus. But scientific understanding is not enough. There has to be someone to pick up the ball and run with it. That option was barred by the pathology of the contemporary socioeconomic order. Market signals were clear: There’s no profit in preventing a future catastrophe.
Noam Chomsky in an interview with C.J. Polychroniou, Chomsky: Ventilator Shortage Exposes the Cruelty of Neoliberal Capitalism (April 1, 2020), Truthout
There will be recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, at severe and possibly horrendous cost, particularly for the poor and more vulnerable.
Put your hand on that television set. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord Jesus. He received your healing. Now say it: "I take it. I have it. It's mine. I thank you and praise you for it. [...] I consider not symptoms in my own body, but only that which God has promised. Only that what the Word has said. And by His stripes, I was healed. And by His stripes, I am healed now. I am not the sick trying to get healed. I am the healed, and the Devil is trying to give me the flu!"
Kenneth Copeland, 2020-03-12, quoted in Greg Evans, "A controversial televangelist actually attempted to heal people with coronavirus through their televisions", indy100
The most commonly reported mainstream media account of the creation of the Coronavirus suggests that it was derived from an animal borne microorganism... But there appears to be some evidence to dispute that... Because of that and other factors, there has also been considerable speculation that the Coronavirus did not occur naturally through mutation but rather was produced in a laboratory, possibly as a biological warfare agent.
Several reports suggest that there are components of the virus that are related to HIV that could not have occurred naturally. If it is correct that the virus had either been developed or even produced to be weaponized it would further suggest that its escape from the Wuhan Institute of Virology Lab and into the animal and human population could have been accidental. Technicians who work in such environments are aware that "leaks" from laboratories occur frequently.
Philip Giraldi, "Who Made Coronavirus? Was It the U.S., Israel or China Itself?" (6 March 2020), Council for the National Interest
There is, of course and inevitably, another theory. There has been some speculation that as the Trump Administration has been constantly raising the issue of growing Chinese global competitiveness as a direct threat to American national security and economic dominance, it must might be possible that Washington has created and unleashed the virus in a bid to bring Beijing's growing economy and military might down a few notches. It is, to be sure, hard to believe that even the Trump White House would do something so reckless, but there are precedents for that type of behavior.
I've never seen a particular situation during my professional experience anything like this...
I'm not convinced at all that we have enough information to know how to deal with this type of problem
Alan Geenspan, long-time Chair of the Federal Reserve, talking about the COVID pandemc according to Alan Greenspan: I've never seen anything like this published November 20, 2020
[A] pandemic thrives on human inequities and it is inextricable from the society, economy, knowledge, and politics of human existence. During any infection outbreak such as COVID–19, it is the poorer and weaker fractions of a society that remain disproportionately affected and ultimately bear an additional burden of early death.
Surya Gupta and Armin Rosencranz, "COVID-19, the Government’s Response, and India’s Sustainable Development Goals" (22 May 2020), edited by Tim Zubizarreta, JURIST
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, unfolding around the world as I write these words, will likely be remembered as an epochal shift. In this extended winter, as borders close, as lockdowns and quarantines multiply, as people succumb and recover, there is a strong sense that, when the spring finally arrives we will awaken in a drastically changed landscape.
Max Haiven, "No return to normal: for a post-pandemic liberation" (23 March 2020), ROAR Magazine
Those of us now in isolation, in spite of our fear and frustrations, in spite of our grief — for those who have died or may die, for the life we once lived, for the future we once hoped for — there is also a sense we are cocooned, transforming, waiting, dreaming. True: Terrors stalk the global landscape, notably the way the virus — or our countermeasures — will endanger those among us whom we, as a society, have already abandoned or devalued. So many of us are already disposable. So many of us are only learning it now, too late. Then there is the dangerous blurring of the line between humanitarian and authoritarian measures. There is the geopolitical weaponization of the pandemic. But when the Spring comes, as it must, when we emerge from hibernation, it might be a time of profound global struggle against both the drive to "return to normal" — the same normal that set the stage for this tragedy — and the "new normal" which might be even worse. Let us prepare as best we can, for we have a world to win.
After months of chaos, isolation and fear, the desire to return to normal, even if normal is an abusive system, may be extremely strong. The stage is set for this desire to be accompanied by a frantic revanchism. Will we want someone to blame, especially those of us who lose loved ones? Must there be blood, figurative or literal?: a baptism by fire so that the old order — which, of course, created the conditions of austerity and inequality that made this plague so devastating — can be reborn in purified form. Of course, things will never be "normal" again: some of us, the privileged and wealthy, may be afforded the illusion, but this illusion is likely to be carried on the backs of the vast majority who will work harder, longer and for less, suffer greater risks and fewer rewards. The debts of the pandemic, literal and figurative, will have to be repaid. On the other hand — or maybe at the same time — we can also expect that, among the powerful and among the rest of us, there will be calls to reject the "return to normal," but in order to embrace something even worse. It is likely that the chaos and deaths of the pandemic will be blamed on too much democracy, liberalism and empathy. Now that states are flexing their muscles and taking full command of society, there will be many who do not want the sleeve to be rolled back down. We may yet see, in this crisis, the use of repressive force on civilians — as it is already being used on migrants and incarcerated people — and I fear that it will be seen by many as justified, a human sacrifice to feed the Gods of fear. In the wake of the pandemic we can be sure that fascists and reactionaries will seek to mobilize tropes of — racial, national, economic — purity, purification, parasitism, and pollution to impose their long-festering dreams on reality.
Against all these fateful outcomes there will be those among us who refuse to return to normal, or to embrace the "new normal," those of us who know that "the trouble with normal is it only gets worse." Already, in the state of emergency that the crisis has unleashed, we are seeing extraordinary measures emerge that reveal that much of the neoliberal regime's claims to necessity and austerity were transparent lies. The God-like market has fallen, again. In different places a variety of measures are being introduced that would have been unimaginable even weeks ago. These have included the suspension of rents and mortgages, the free provision of public transit, the deployment of basic incomes, a hiatus in debt payments, the commandeering of privatized hospitals and other once-public infrastructure for the public good, the liberation of incarcerated people, and governments compelling private industries to reorient production to common needs. We hear news of significant numbers of people refusing to work, taking wildcat labor action, and demanding their right to live in radical ways. In some places, the underhoused are seizing vacant homes. We are discovering, against the upside-down capitalist value paradigm which has enriched the few at the expense of the many, whose labor is truly valuable: care, service, and frontline public sector workers. There has been a proliferation of grassroots radical demands for policies of care and solidarity not only as emergency measures, but in perpetuity.
Meanwhile, the quarantined and semi-isolated are discovering, using digital tools, new ways to mobilize to provide care and mutual aid to those in our communities in need. We are slowly recovering our lost powers of life in common, hidden in plain sight, our secret inheritance. We are learning again to become a cooperative species, shedding the claustrophobic skin of homo oeconomicus. In the suspension of a capitalist order of competition, distrust and endless, pointless hustle, our ingenuity and compassion are resurfacing like the birds to the smog-free sky. When the Spring arrives, the struggle will be to preserve, enhance, network and organize this ingenuity and compassion to demand no return to normal and no new normal. [...] We have learned how to bring a capitalist economy to its knees through non-violent protest in the face of overwhelming, technologically augmented oppression. We are learning how to become ungovernable by either states or markets. Equally important, we have learned new ways to care for one another without waiting for the state or for authorities. We are rediscovering the power of mutual aid and solidarity. We are learning how to communicate and cooperate anew. We have learned how to organize and to respond quickly, how to make collective decisions and to take responsibility for our fate. Like the heroes of all good epics, we are not ready, our training was not completed, yet fate will not wait. Like all true heroes, we must make do with what we have: one another and nothing else. As the world closes its eyes for this strange, dreamlike quarantine — save of course for those frontline health, service and care workers who, in the service of humanity, cannot rest, or those who have no safe place to dream — we must make ready for the waking. We are on the cusp of a great refusal of a return to normal and of a new normal, a vengeful normalcy that brought us this catastrophe and that will only lead to more catastrophe. In the weeks to come, it will be time to mourn and to dream, to prepare, to learn, and to connect as best we can. When the isolation is over, we will awaken to a world where competing regimes of vindictive normalization will be at war with one another, a time of profound danger and opportunity. It will be a time to rise and to look one another in the eye.
In the face of the COVID-19 tsunami, our lives are changing in ways that were inconceivable just a few short weeks ago. Not since the 2008–9 economic collapse has the world collectively shared an experience of this kind: a single, rapidly mutating global crisis, structuring the rhythm of our daily lives within a complex calculus of risk and competing probabilities. In response, numerous social movements have put forward demands that take seriously the potentially disastrous consequences of the virus, while also tackling the incapacity of capitalist governments to adequately address the crisis itself. These demands include questions of worker safety, the necessity of neighborhood-level organizing, income and social security, the rights of those on zero-hour contracts or in precarious employment, and the need to protect renters and those living in poverty.
Adam Hanieh, "This is a Global Pandemic – Let's Treat it as Such" (27 March 2020), Verso Books
In this sense, the COVID-19 crisis has sharply underscored the irrational nature of health care systems structured around corporate profit — the almost universal cutbacks to public hospital staffing and infrastructure (including critical care beds and ventilators), the lack of public health provision and the prohibitive cost of access to medical services in many countries, and the ways in which the property rights of pharmaceutical companies serve to restrict widespread access to potential therapeutic treatments and the development of vaccines. However, the global dimensions of COVID-19 have figured less prominently in much of the left discussion. [...] Even inside Europe there is extreme unevenness in the capacity of states to deal with this crisis — as the juxtaposition of Germany and Greece illustrates — but a much greater disaster is about to envelop the rest of the world. In response, our perspective on this pandemic must become truly global, based on an understanding of how the public health aspects of this virus intersect with larger questions of political economy (including the likelihood of a prolonged and severe global economic downturn). This is not the time to pull up the (national) hatches and speak simply of the fight against the virus inside our own borders.
As with all so-called humanitarian crises, it is essential to remember that the social conditions found across most of the countries of the South are the direct product of how these states are inserted into the hierarchies of the world market. Historically, this included a long encounter with Western colonialism, which has continued, into contemporary times, with the subordination of poorer countries to the interests of the world's wealthiest states and largest transnational corporations. [...] Foregrounding these historical and global dimensions helps make clear that the enormous scale of the current crisis is not simply a question of viral epidemiology and a lack of biological resistance to a novel pathogen. The ways that most people across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia will experience the coming pandemic is a direct consequence of a global economy systemically structured around the exploitation of the resources and peoples of the South. In this sense, the pandemic is very much a social and human-made disaster — not simply a calamity arising from natural or biological causes. One clear example of how this disaster is human-made is the poor state of public health systems across most countries in the South, which tend to be underfunded and lacking in adequate medicines, equipment, and staff. This is particularly significant for understanding the threat presented by COVID-19 due to the rapid and very large surge in serious and critical cases that typically require hospital admission as a result of the virus (currently estimated at around 15–20 percent of confirmed cases). This fact is now widely discussed in the context of Europe and the United States, and lies behind the strategy of "flattening the curve" in order to alleviate the pressure on hospital critical care capacity.
Yet, while we rightly point to the lack of ICU beds, ventilators, and trained medical staff across many Western states, we must recognize that the situation in most of the rest of the world is immeasurably worse. Malawi, for example, has about 25 ICU beds for a population of 17 million people. There are less than 2.8 critical care beds per 100,000 people on average across South Asia, with Bangladesh possessing around 1,100 such beds for a population of over 157 million (0.7 critical care beds per 100,000 people). In comparison, the shocking pictures coming out of Italy are occurring in an advanced health care system with an average 12.5 ICU beds per 100,000 (and the ability to bring more online). The situation is so serious that many poorer countries do not even have information on ICU availability. [...] Of course, the question of ICU and hospital capacity is one part of a much larger set of issues including a widespread lack of basic resources (e.g., clean water, food, and electricity), adequate access to primary medical care, and the presence of other comorbidities (such as high rates of HIV and tuberculosis). Taken as a whole, all of these factors will undoubtedly mean a vastly higher prevalence of critically ill patients (and hence overall fatalities) across poorer countries as a result of COVID-19.
Debates around how best to respond to COVID-19 in Europe and the United States have illustrated the mutually reinforcing relationship between effective public health measures and conditions of labor, precarity, and poverty. Calls for people to self-isolate when sick — or the enforcement of longer periods of mandatory lockdowns — are economically impossible for the many people who cannot easily shift their work online, or those in the service sector who work in zero-hour contracts or other kinds of temporary employment. Recognizing the fundamental consequences of these work patterns for public health, many European governments have announced sweeping promises around compensation for those made unemployed or forced to stay at home during this crisis. It remains to be seen how effective these schemes will be, and to what degree they will actually meet the needs of the very large numbers of people who will lose their jobs as a result of the crisis. Nonetheless, we must recognize that such schemes will simply not exist for most of the world's population. In countries where the majority of the labor force is engaged in informal work or depends upon unpredictable daily wages — much of the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia — there is no feasible way that people can choose to stay home or self-isolate. This must be viewed alongside the fact that there will almost certainly be very large increases in the "working poor" as a direct result of the crisis.
Without the mitigation effects offered through quarantine and isolation, the actual progress of the disease in the rest of the world will certainly be much more devastating than the harrowing scenes witnessed to date in China, Europe, and the United States. Moreover, workers involved in informal and precarious labor often live in slums and overcrowded housing — ideal conditions for the explosive spread of the virus. [...] Similarly disastrous scenarios face the many millions of people currently displaced through war and conflict. The Middle East, for example, is the site of the largest forced displacement since the Second World War, with massive numbers of refugees and internally displaced people as a result of the ongoing wars in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Iraq. Most of these people live in refugee camps or overcrowded urban spaces, and often lack the rudimentary rights to health care typically associated with citizenship. The widespread prevalence of malnutrition and other diseases (such as the reappearance of cholera in Yemen) make these displaced communities particularly susceptible to the virus itself.
One microcosm of this can be seen in the Gaza Strip, where over 70 percent of the population are refugees living in one of the most densely packed areas in the world. The first two cases of COVID-19 were identified in Gaza on March 20 (a lack of testing equipment, however, has meant that only 92 people out of the 2-million-strong population have been tested for the virus). Reeling from thirteen years of Israeli siege and the systematic destruction of essential infrastructure, living conditions in the Strip are marked by extreme poverty, poor sanitation, and a chronic lack of drugs and medical equipment (there are, for example, only sixty-two ventilators in Gaza, and just fifteen of these are currently available for use). Under blockade and closure for most of the past decade, Gaza has been shut to the world long before the current pandemic. The region could be the proverbial canary in the COVID-19 coalmine — foreshadowing the future path of the infection among refugee communities across the Middle East and elsewhere.
It is not enough to speak of solidarity and mutual self-help in our own neighborhoods, communities, and within our national borders — without raising the much greater threat that this virus presents to the rest of the world. Of course, high levels of poverty, precarious conditions of labor and housing, and a lack of adequate health infrastructure also threaten the ability of populations across Europe and the United States to mitigate this infection. But grassroots campaigns in the South are building coalitions that tackle these issues in interesting and internationalist ways. Without a global orientation, we risk reinforcing the ways that the virus has seamlessly fed into the discursive political rhetoric of nativist and xenophobic movements — a politics deeply seeped in authoritarianism, an obsession with border controls, and a "my country first" national patriotism.
As the coronavirus epidemic stretches on, working people are facing an economic collapse, the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression. Organizing to fight for an immediate ban on all layoffs has to be an essential part of any program to protect the working class and to make the capitalist's pay for their crisis.
James Dennis Hoff, "Freeze Layoffs: Make the Capitalists Pay" (23 March 2020), Left Voice
Vladimir Putin's government has also been accused of downplaying the severity of the outbreak. Officially, there have been 2,337 cases in Russia—very low by international standards—but low testing rates make it hard to know for sure. Critics suggest that a suspiciously nationwide uptick in pneumonia cases in recent weeks actually consists of undiagnosed COVID-19 cases. Aggressive measures put in place to punish the spread of "false" information on the outbreak online may also be preventing media outlets from publishing accurate information. After moving much more slowly than other governments to order lockdowns and social distancing measures, Russia is finally implementing new rules as the number of cases has grown rapidly in recent days. Putin, who was highly visible while touting the government's efforts to contain the disease's spread early on, was conspicuously absent when it was time to deliver the bad news. The impending crisis has not stopped Russia's government from scoring a propaganda coup by shipping medical supplies to other countries—including the U.S.
Joshua Keating, "Strongman Medicine: Suspicious Numbers and Brutal Quarantines" (2 April 2020), Slate
It may not just be dictatorships that are playing this game. Given its proximity to China, high elderly population, and high smoking rate, Japan would seem to be highly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet the number of cases and deaths in the country has been conspicuously low until recent days—perhaps suspiciously low. Japan, which has not adopted widespread testing or the kinds of strict social distancing measures seen elsewhere, saw the number of cases spike dramatically since it was announced last week that the 2020 Olympics would be postponed.
Hungary's parliament on Monday passed the emergency law, [...] allowing President Viktor Orbán to rule by decree for an indefinite period. This arguably makes Hungary the first dictatorship within the EU and the first democracy to fall victim to the coronavirus.
While Malaysians are concerned about the spread of the (COVID-19) virus to our shores, we are equally sympathetic towards China, especially given that the two countries share deep cultural and business ties which have been built over decades.
Teresa Kok (2020) cited in "Coronavirus: Malaysia to donate 18 million medical gloves to China" on The Star Online, 31 January 2020.
Whether it will be contained or not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the disease X category.
Marion Koopmans, as quoted in "Coronavirus May Be ‘Disease X' Health Experts Warned About" (21 February 2020) by Jason Gale, Bloomberg News
The pandemic has demonstrated the bankruptcy of national sovereignty. The major threats to humanity are global in character, so mutual aid, cooperation and solidarity must be too.
Christian Laval and Pierre Dardot, The pandemic as political trial: the case for a global commons (March 28, 2020), ROAR Magazine
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global health, social and economic crisis. Historical comparisons are few, particularly in recent decades. This tragedy constitutes nothing less than a trial for all humanity. The two meanings of the French word "épreuve" captures the dual significance of what we now confront: épreuve in the sense of an ordeal, an immense and painful undertaking, but also a test, an evaluation, or a judgment. The pandemic, in other words, is now testing the capacity of our political and economic systems to cope with a global problem situated at the level of our individual interdependence, which is to say at the very foundation of our social life. Like a dystopia made real, the current situation provides us with a glimpse of what soon awaits humanity if global economic and political structures are unable to radically and rapidly transform in order to confront the climate change crisis.
First observation: around the world, we are all willing to rely on the sovereign power of the nation state to respond to this global epidemic in two more or less complimentary ways: on the one hand, we count on the state to enact authoritarian measures to limit personal contact, largely by establishing "states of emergency" (whether officially declared or not) as in Italy, Spain, France and elsewhere. On the other hand, we expect the state to protect citizens by preventing the virus being "imported" from abroad. Social discipline and national protectionism are thus the two primary weapons deployed in our fight against the pandemic. Here, we see the two faces of state sovereignty: internal domination and external independence.
What we have witnessed so far is cause for alarm. The institutional xenophobia of the state form is becoming especially manifest just as we are gaining increasing awareness of the lethal danger the virus poses for all humanity. The European states responded to the initial spread of the coronavirus in a totally uncoordinated fashion. Very quickly, most European states — Central Europe in particular — locked themselves behind the administrative walls of their national territory in order to protect their population from the "foreign virus," and the first countries in Europe to cloister themselves in were also the most xenophobic. This set the tone throughout Europe and the rest of the world: every state must look after their own — to the delight of the extreme right in Europe and elsewhere. And nothing has been more abject than the lack of solidarity with the most affected countries. Italy's abandonment by France and Germany — who pushed selfishness to new heights by refusing to send Italy medical equipment and protective masks — sounded the death knell for a Europe built on a foundation of generalized competition between states.
The WHO has been financially weakened for the past several decades, and is now largely dependent on private donors, with 80 percent of its funding coming from private businesses or foundations. But despite its weakened condition, the WHO could have still provided an initial framework for global cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, not only because of the reliable information it had gathered since the beginning of January, but also because its recommendations for radical and early control of the epidemic were ultimately correct. According to the Director-General of the WHO, the choice to abandon systematic testing and contract tracing, which were effective in Korea and Taiwan, was a major mistake that contributed to the spread of the virus in virtually every country. The ultimate cause of this alarming delay were strategic choices. Italy was quickly forced to adopt a strategy of absolute confinement in order to halt the epidemic, as China had previously done. Other countries waited far too long to react, largely on the basis of the fatalist and crypto-Darwinian strategy of "herd immunity." Boris Johnson's United Kingdom was entirely passive in its initial approach, and other countries equivocated and delayed their restrictive measures, such as France and Germany, not to mention the United States.
By adopting a strategy of "mitigation," or epidemic delay by "flattening the curve," these countries have de facto renounced any serious attempt to keep the virus under control from the start through the use of systematic screening and general confinement of the population, as was done in Wuhan and Hubei province. According to the forecasts of the German and French governments, the strategy of collective immunity necessitates 50 to 80 percent contamination across the entire population. This amounts to accepting the deaths of hundreds of thousands — even millions — of people who are supposedly the "most fragile." All the while, the WHO's recommendations were very clear: states must not abandon systematic screening and contact tracing of anyone who tests positive for the virus.
What has since become abundantly apparent is the destructive influence of behavioral economics and the so-called "nudge theory" of political decision-making, which relies on incentives and stimuli to steer individual behavior, rather than coercion or restraint. We now know that the "nudge unit," or the "Behavioural Insights Team," that advises the British Government successfully convinced the state of their theory that individuals who are too quickly constrained by severe measures will tire and relax their discipline when the epidemic reaches its peak, which is precisely when discipline is needed most. Since 2010, Richard Thaler's economic theory — which he outlines in the book Nudge (2009) — is widely thought to be the best means for producing "efficient state governance." This approach tells us to encourage people, without coercing them, to make the best decisions through the use of "nudges": by using gentle, indirect, comfortable and optional influences upon individuals who are still ultimately free to make their own choices. The application of this "libertarian paternalism" in the fight against the epidemic has been two-fold: (a) the rejection of any coercive measures to regulate individual behavior and (b) a preference for "barrier gestures": keep your distance, wash your hands, cough into your elbow, self-isolate if you have a fever and all for your own benefit. This wager to rely on soft, voluntary measures was risky: there is no scientific or empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach in the context of an epidemic. And it is now all too clear that this approach entirely failed.
The public service is a mechanism by which the governors become the servants of the governed. These obligations, which are imposed on those who govern as well as the agents of government, form the basis of what Duguit calls "public responsibility." This is why the public service is a principle of social solidarity, one which is imposed on all, and not a principle of sovereignty, inasmuch as the latter is incompatible with the very idea of public responsibility. This conception of the public service has largely been suppressed by the fiction of state sovereignty. But the public service nonetheless continues to make itself felt by virtue of the strong connection citizens feel toward what they still consider to be a fundamental right. For the citizen's right to public services is the strict corollary of the duty or obligation of state representatives to provide public services. This why the citizens of various European countries affected by the current crisis have demonstrated, in diverse ways, their attachment to public services in their daily fight against the coronavirus: for instance, the citizens of numerous Spanish cities have applauded their healthcare workers from their balconies, regardless of their political attitude toward the centralized unitary state. [...] Two relations must therefore be carefully separated here: the citizenry’s attachment to the public service, and healthcare in particular, in no way suggests adherence to public authority or public power in its various forms, but rather suggests an attachment to services whose essential function is to meet the public's need. Far from disclosing an underlying identification with the nation, this attachment gestures toward a sense of a universal that crosses borders, and accordingly renders us sensitive to the trials our "pandemic co-citizens" are enduring, whether they are Italian, Spanish, or live beyond European borders. We are extremely skeptical of Macron's promise to be the first leader to question "our developmental model" after the crisis is over, and there are plenty of reasons to think that the drastic economic measures currently in place will eventually share the same fate as those enacted during the 2008 economic crisis: we will likely see a concerted effort to "return to normal" — i.e., return to our otherwise uninterrupted destruction of the planet amidst increasingly conditions of social inequality. And we fear the enormous stimulus packages designed to "save the economy" will once again be borne on the backs of the lowest-paid workers and taxpayers.
This coronavirus, they're just — all of this panic is just not warranted. This, I'm telling you, when I tell you — when I've told you that this virus is the common cold. When I said that, it was based on the number of cases. It's also based on the kind of virus this is.
Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 2020-03-11
Three years ago, experts were saying that bat coronaviruses could become a new pandemic. Almost two months ago, experts were saying that the new virus in Wuhan was potentially a global threat. One month ago, experts were saying that it was likely to be pandemic, and the White House's response was that this was under control, despite the fact that the US's testing was demonstrably giving a false picture of the extent of infection. This was foreseeable, and foreseen, weeks and months ago, and only now is the White House coming out of denial and heading straight into saying it could not have been foreseen.
Marc Lipsitch, as quoted in "Contrary to Trump's Claim, A Pandemic Was Widely Expected at Some Point" (20 March 2020) by Rem Rieder, FactCheck.org
Governments around the world say they’re engaged in a war against the coronavirus. [...] This kill-or-die idiom is more than casual rhetorical overkill. Many governments are symbolically but very deliberately calling, in this time of fear and uncertainty, for general conscription along military lines. This is so they can, while pointing to an insidious foreign enemy, aim their firepower against some of the most valuable institutions of domestic public life. They have been very successful so far. [...] In addition to economic and military mobilization, wartime measures typically encourage a high degree of political, social and intellectual conformity. The general idea is that, in the face of an existential challenge from a vicious enemy, criticism of the government ought to cease. The media tends to become more patriotic, as do former political partisans. Such was the case in the United States during the early stages of its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, when most journalists and even Democratic politicians rallied around the Republican George W. Bush administration. The trouble is that the "war" against Covid-19 is actually not a war at all. And no one should feel obliged to sign up for it. The loss of, and separation from, loved ones, and the fear and anxiety that is devastating many lives is not an opportunity to fantasize about heroism in battle. The pandemic is, primarily, a global public health emergency; it is made potentially lethal as much by long neglected and underfunded social welfare systems as by a highly contagious virus. A plain description like this is not as stirring as a call to arms — and doesn’t justify the more extreme actions governments have taken against critics during the crisis. It does, however, open up a line of inquiry that journalists ought to pursue, now as well as in the future.
Pankaj Mishra, From Modi to Johnson, leaders are using the pandemic to suppress their critics (9 May, 2020), ThePrint
Awakening late to the pandemic, authoritarian or authoritarian-minded leaders have turned it into an opportunity both to shore up their power and to conceal their stunning ineptitude. To fail to see through their manufactured fog of war, as many in the media are doing, can only further endanger the long-term moral and political health of their societies.
During the pandemic, many of us have begun to discover how much of our travel is unnecessary. Governments can build on this to create plans for reducing the need to move, while investing in walking, cycling and – when physical distancing is less necessary – public transport. This means wider pavements, better cycle lanes, buses run for service not profit. They should invest heavily in green energy, and even more heavily in reducing energy demand – through, for example, home insulation and better heating and lighting. The pandemic exposes the need for better neighbourhood design, with less public space given to cars and more to people. It also shows how badly we need the kind of security that a lightly taxed, deregulated economy cannot deliver.
George Monbiot, "Airlines and oil giants are on the brink. No government should offer them a lifeline" (29 April 2020), The Guardian
Let's have what many people were calling for long before this disaster hit: a green new deal. But please let's stop describing it as a stimulus package. We have stimulated consumption too much over the past century, which is why we face environmental disaster. Let us call it a survival package, whose purpose is to provide incomes, distribute wealth and avoid catastrophe, without stoking perpetual economic growth. Bail out the people, not the corporations. Bail out the living world, not its destroyers.
There are two ways this could go. We could, as some people have done, double down on denial. Some of those who have dismissed other threats, such as climate breakdown, also seek to downplay the threat of Covid-19... Or this could be the moment when we begin to see ourselves, once more, as governed by biology and physics, and dependent on a habitable planet. Never again should we listen to the liars and the deniers. Never again should we allow a comforting falsehood to trounce a painful truth. No longer can we afford to be dominated by those who put money ahead of life.
George Monbiot, "Covid-19 is nature's wake-up call to complacent civilisation" (25 March 2020), The Guardian
OEdit
And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
Kitty O'Meara, "In the Time of Pandemic" (16 March 2020), The Daily Round
A pandemic has been declared, but not for the 24,600 who die every day from unnecessary starvation, and not for 3,000 children who die every day from preventable malaria, and not for the 10,000 people who die every day because they are denied publicly-funded healthcare, and not for the hundreds of Venezuelans and Iranians who die every day because America's blockade denies them life-saving medicines, and not for the hundreds of mostly children bombed or starved to death every day in Yemen, in a war supplied and kept going, profitably, by America and Britain. Before you panic, consider them.
John Pilger, quoted in Here is what legendary journalist John Pilger said about coronavirus outbreak Pilger decries inattention to hunger, malaria and American wars and blockades, The Week, 12 March 2020
If I had to sum it up, I would say sheer madness. It's obscene. It's strictly political, really, an attempt to divert from what we all know has been a gross mismanagement of the prevention phase of this in the United States and the response phase, and it's tragic because the World Health Organization now is moving into a phase where it is going to try to help avert a catastrophe in the developing world. If we think about how difficult it has been for us in the United States with our sophisticated healthcare system to manage this crisis, imagine living in a slum in a developing country or in a refugee camp. And in places like that, the only place you really have to turn for expertise and for financial support is the World Health Organization when governments themselves can't provide the resources. So the timing of this is particularly catastrophic because it is just about to wallop parts of the world in vulnerable communities that really can't handle it. I mean, Trump has a point about aspects of the World Health Organization's response that have been problematic. The problem is his very criticisms are ones that you could levy just as easily at him, overreliance on China, flattery of China, sucking up to China, to put it in an undiplomatic way. I mean, that's something that we saw it characterize the early phase of the U.S. response led by President Trump, and downplaying the crisis until it was too late, missing the month of February, as he did, to get the testing apparatuses in place and put in place the kinds of guidelines that we have now but at the time when it's already spread across the country.
Samantha Power, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, on President Trump's plan to halt the half a billion dollars to the WHO, interview in CNN's New Day on 15 April 2020. Transcript online at CNN.
The moment that the Chinese scientists and doctors announced that the coronavirus could be transmitted between human beings on Jan. 20, 2020, the socialist governments went into action to monitor ports of entry and to test and trace key parts of the population. They set up task forces and procedures to immediately make sure that the infection would not go out of control amongst their people. They did not wait till the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on March 11.
This is in stark contrast to governments in the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, and other capitalist states, where there has been a hallucinatory attitude towards the Chinese government and the WHO. There is no comparison between the stance of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and U.S. President Donald Trump: the former had a sober, science-based attitude, while the latter has consistently laughed off the coronavirus as a simple flu as recently as June 24.
Vijay Prashad in COVID-19: Why Laos, Vietnam & China Have Beaten the Virus and India, Brazil and the US Have Not, Consortium News (16 July 2020)
We will get through corona (virus).
Hassan Rouhani (2020) cited in "Iran's deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi has tested positive to coronavirus" on ABC News, 26 February 2020.
When I started this site I never thought I’d see the deceased number reach 1 million but here we are. Hopefully we have a better 2021.
Avi Schiffmann creator of ncov2019.live (Coronavirus dashboard) from his twitter account
A lot has been written about how this pandemic is exacerbating social inequalities. But what if it's because our societies are so unequal that this pandemic happened? There is a school of thought that, historically, {pandemics have been more likely to occur at times of social inequality and discord. As the poor get poorer, the thinking goes, their baseline health suffers, making them more prone to infection. At the same time they are forced to move more, in search of work, and to gravitate to cities. The rich, meanwhile, have more to spend on luxuries, including products that hail from far-flung places. The world becomes more tightly connected through trade, and germs, people and luxury goods travel together along trade routes that connect cities. On paper, it looks like a perfect storm.
Laura Spinney, "Inequality doesn't just make pandemics worse – it could cause them" (12 April 2020), The Guardian
Pandemics don't always trigger social unrest, but they can do, by throwing into relief the very inequalities that caused them. That's because they hit the poor hardest – those in low-paid or unstable employment, who live in crowded accommodation, have underlying health issues, and for whom healthcare is less affordable or less accessible. This was true in the past and remains so today. During the 2009 flu pandemic the death rate was three times higher in the poorest fifth of England's population than in the richest. Covid-19 is showing no signs of departing from the pattern, which, because of the way the socioeconomic dice fall, also has a racial dimension. But there is something brand new about this pandemic, which has never been seen before in the history of humanity – and that is our unprecedented global experiment in lockdown. These lockdown measures are designed to slow the spread of the disease, relieve the burden on health systems and ultimately save lives – and it looks as if they may be doing that. But they may also be exacerbating social inequalities themselves.
In India there have been reports of deaths among unemployed migrant workers returning home in search of food; many countries, including the US, have seen workers taking industrial action, and anger has been expressed in rural communities over wealthy city-dwellers retreating to their second homes for the duration. Governments should keep an eye on these developments, in weighing up when and how to lift the lockdown, because even if it's difficult to argue today that the cure is worse than the disease, the cure might provoke an entirely different malaise – and history teaches us that no society is immune to that. That's the symptomatic treatment. In the long term, of course, they – and we – should address the dreadful inequality in our societies, which this pandemic is picking apart with a lethal scalpel.
We believe that Spain will not have, at most, beyond a diagnosed case. Hopefully there will be no local transmission. If there is, it will be very limited and very controlled
Fernando Simon Soria, [1] (31 January 2020)
Humans wield more power over the planet than ever before. In the wake of COVID-19, record-breaking temperatures and spiraling inequality, it is time to use that power to redefine what we mean by progress, where our carbon and consumption footprints are no longer hidden.
Achim Steiner, "Broken societies put people and planet on collision course, says UNDP". undp.org, December 15, 2020.
People in quarantine should not think they won't be fined for leaving their hotel room.
Taiwan department of health Man fined $5000 for breaking Taiwan Covid-19 quarantine for 8 seconds December 7, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic and the environmental crisis share the same roots: humans' success as a species in arrogating global resources for themselves and the consequent ecological disturbance. This is increasing viral exchanges – first from animal to human, then from human to human – on a pandemic scale. Our environmental footprint is too large for the planet, leading to accelerated species extinctions and atmospheric chaos. Both the Covid and climate catastrophes are not misfortunes that befell us. They are part of a pattern of decisions that we humans are taking. We need to make different choices.
The Guardian, "The Guardian view on climate and Covid: time to make different choices" (22 May 2020)
Revolutionary socialist organizations from the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Peru, members and sympathizers of the Trotskyist Fraction for the Fourth International, are publishing the following statement at a time when the crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic is developing rapidly. The disastrous situation of healthcare systems in the great majority of countries is preventing adequate responses (such as massive testing), causing thousands of avoidable deaths, and providing confusing information about the reality of the pandemic in each country. The economic and financial effects of the crisis will likely be unloaded onto the shoulders of the workers and the poor, who in turn are the most vulnerable to the danger of infection. We propose urgent measures so that large companies pay the costs of this crisis. They are the ones who have always profited from the degradation of public health and precarious working conditions, the measures carried out by the governments, states, and parties in their service. These are banners of struggle for the organization of workers and youth. Great crises require great solutions.
Trotskyist Fraction – Fourth International, "Coronavirus and the Healthcare Crisis: Our Lives Are Worth More than Their Profits!" (14 March 2020), Left Voice
The governments that have been negligent from the beginning (the U.S., Iran, Italy, and so many others) are reacting with measures that are limited to banning flights and strengthening quarantines and isolation, without more profound responses that would reduce deaths as much as possible. They are afraid of demonstrating their ineptitude in the face of such a health crisis. At the last minute, Trump declared a "national emergency" and agreed with the Democrats in Congress on a special package for sick leave and rapid testing. If he appears incompetent in the face of a crisis and thousands of people die, he could lose the U.S. presidency, even to Biden. The same applies to any other government. In the meantime, measures of police control are imposed on the population. The Chinese government currently appears "successful" in its response, but in the first weeks that the new coronavirus appeared, the government offered the denialism typical of restorationist capitalist bureaucracy, ignoring the warnings that could have reduced the number of deaths (including that of Li Wenliang, a doctor who warned about the epidemic and was consequently accused by the authorities of "spreading rumors" before he died from COVID-19). China is the most extreme example of authoritarianism around the world, with its tight bureaucratic control that prevents vital news from leaving Wuhan and other affected areas.
In different countries, especially where there is more class struggle, governments will seek to make political use of the COVID-19 health crisis, with the aim of restricting democratic freedoms and preventing demonstrations of discontent and struggle. The case of Chile is illustrative: the government of Sebastián Piñera went from complete idleness to a discourse about the enormous consequences of the virus, demanding measures like the cancellation of massive events while refusing to discuss the fact that working people still will not have access to free testing and the Chilean public health system remains enormously unfunded and in crisis. Thus, the government is creating a climate that discourages the mobilizations that take place every week in the country's main cities. Piñera will attempt to use the health argument to pass repressive laws such as one that would authorize the president to decree the militarization of "critical infrastructure" (hospitals, ports, etc.). We reject any repressive measure that is disguised as health policy and is directed against the masses and their mobilizations (whether organized or spontaneous). It should not be the government that decides whether or not to hold a demonstration, but the organizations in struggle with the advice of healthcare professionals and researchers.
...I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?..So it'd be interesting to check that...
from Donald Trump according to "Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment" (BBC)
In an interview with The Economist last month, Bill Gates stated that millions of people in developing countries would die before the COVID-19 pandemic was over. He noted, importantly, that 90 percent of the deaths would not result from the virus itself, but from “indirect” effects. These include most prominently the economic impact of the pandemic, as well as other causes such as the overwhelming of medical and public health resources, which increases fatalities from other diseases. Gates was not exaggerating at all. It’s easy to see how this horror will materialize, if we project forward from the current situation.
Mark Weisbrot, If you could save a million lives, would you do it?, The Hill (1 October 2020)
The World Food Program projects that the number of people facing acute hunger will nearly double this year, from 135 to 260 million. This is mainly a result of the economic impact of the pandemic: as the World Bank has noted, this is the worst global recession since the end of World War II, and the worst ever (since 1870) in terms of the number of countries pushed into recession. It creates poverty, extreme poverty and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people in developing countries.
In the light of the coronavirus pandemic, I focus criticism on capitalism and the vulnerabilities it has accumulated for several reasons. Viruses are part of nature. They have attacked human beings—sometimes dangerously—in both distant and recent history. [...] Alternative systems—those not driven by a profit-first logic—could manage viruses better. While not profitable to produce and stockpile everything needed for a viral pandemic, it is efficient. The wealth already lost in this pandemic far exceeds the cost to have produced and stockpiled the tests and ventilators, the lack of which is contributing so much to today's disaster. Capitalism often pursues profit at the expense of more urgent social needs and values. In this, capitalism is grossly inefficient. This pandemic is now bringing that truth home to people.
Richard D. Wolff, "COVID-19 and the Failures of Capitalism" (6 April 2020), CounterPunch
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
COVID-19 pandemic in France
COVID-19 pandemic in India
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion
Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Wikinews has news related to this article:
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for:
Authority control: WorldCat search
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=COVID-19_pandemic&oldid=2915130"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3240
|
__label__cc
| 0.590988
| 0.409012
|
Park Chung-hee
Korean Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979
Park Chung-hee (Korean: 박정희; 30 September 1917 – 26 October 1979) was president of South Korea during the 1960s and 1970s, after forcibly taking charge of the country through a coup. He was assassinated in 1979.
I had to rise above this pessimism to rehabilitate the household. I had to destroy, once and for all, the vicious circle of poverty and economic stagnation.
2 Quotes about Park
In May 1961 when I took over power as the leader of the revolutionary group, I honestly felt as if I had been given a pilfered household or bankrupt firm to manage. Around me I could find little hope of encouragement. The outlook was bleak. But I had to rise above this pessimism to rehabilitate the household. I had to destroy, once and for all, the vicious circle of poverty and economic stagnation. Only by reforming the economic structure would we lay a foundation for decent living standards.
As quoted in An economy in armor; in Korea's quiet revolution (1992), by Frank B. Gibney, New York: Walker and Company, p. 50
1960sEdit
We have been born into this land, charged with the historic mission of regenerating the nation.
우리는 민족 중흥의 역사적 사명을 띠고 이 땅에 태어났다
The Charter of National Education of Korea(국민교육헌장) (1968)
Like a Long Magnolia Blossom Bending to the Wind. Under heavy silence. Of a house in mourning. Only the cry of cicadas. Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am. Seem to long for you who is now gone. Under the August sun. The Indian Lilacs turn crimson. As if trying to heal the wounds of the mind. My wife has departed alone. Only I am left. Like a lone magnolia blossom bending to the wind. Where can I appeal. The sadness of a broken heart.
Poem (August 1974), as quoted in Brothers at War: The Unending Conflict in Korea (2013), by Sheila Miyoshi Jager, London: Profile Books, p. 414.
Already into the last week of October! The dying fall holds only loneliness. In the garden the chrysanthemums bloom, beautiful, peaceful, as they did a year ago, but the autumn leaves, falling one by one, only make me sad.
Diary entry (October 1974), as quoted in The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History Revised and Updated (2001), by Don Oberdorfer, p. 55.
A year ago on this day around 9:45 a.m. you came downstairs dressed in an orange Korean dress and we left together for the ceremonies. You were leaving the Blue House for the last time in your life. This day a year ago was the longest of my life, the most painful and sad. My mind went blank with grief and despair. I felt as though I had lost everything in the world. All things became a burden and I lost my courage and will. A year has passed since then. And during that year I have cried alone in secret too many times to count.
Diary entry (15 August 1975), as quoted in The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History Revised and Updated (2001), by Don Oberdorfer, p. 56.
If we are weak, our country will be in jeopardy. It is the living lesson of human history of the rise and fall of nations. In order for a country not to fall, it must cultivate its own strength.
As quoted in Toward Peaceful Unification: Selected Speeches & Interviews (1978), Kwangmyong Publishing Company, p. 31.
But the challenge must be faced squarely. I believe we can overcome it through our own efforts. We must do so. They key is our national power. Take courage from our national pride and traditions, no matter how thorny the road to independence may be.
As quoted in Toward Peaceful Unification: Selected Speeches & Interviews (1978), Kwangmyong Publishing Company, pp. 47-48.
Quotes about ParkEdit
The war is a huge embarrassment. While the Chinese, Americans, and even the Filipinos got to fight, we were torn between ineffectual partisans and collaborators. So many collaborators in fact, that our country is still turned upside down by this issue a hundred years later. The dictator-president who put us on the map was a collaborator too.
Robert E. Kelly, "What Asia's leaders should (but won't) say about the 70th anniversary of the Pacific War" (8 April 2015), The Interpreter
Encyclopedic article on Park Chung-hee at Wikipedia
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Park_Chung-hee&oldid=2866833"
Last edited on 1 October 2020, at 10:59
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3241
|
__label__wiki
| 0.921115
| 0.921115
|
English poet and cultural critic
This article is about the poet. For other uses, see Matthew Arnold (disambiguation).
Matthew Arnold, by Elliott & Fry, circa 1883.
24 December 1822 (1822-12-24)
Laleham, England
15 April 1888 (1888-04-16) (aged 65)
Liverpool, England
Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools
Poetry; literary, social and religious criticism
"Dover Beach", "The Scholar-Gipsy", "Thyrsis", Culture and Anarchy, Literature and Dogma
Frances Lucy
List of liberal theorists (contributions to liberal theory)
Civil and political rights
Cultural liberalism
Democratic capitalism
Freedom of the press
Harm principle
Natural and legal rights
Negative/positive liberty
Non-aggression Principle
Permissive society
Radical liberalism
Geolibertarianism
Conservative liberalism
Democratic liberalism
Green liberalism
Liberal autocracy
Liberal Catholicism
Liberal conservatism
Liberal feminism
Equity feminism
Liberal internationalism
Liberal nationalism
National liberalism
Ordoliberalism
Radical centrism
Religious liberalism
Secular liberalism
Social liberalism
Technoliberalism
Whiggism
Alembert
Broglie
Čapek
Chicherin
Chydenius
Collingdood
Dahrendorf
Decy
Dongsun
Dunoyer
Eötvös
Galbraith
Gobetti
Guizot
Hobhouse
Holbach
Jubani
Kelsen
Korais
Korwin-Mikke
Kymlicka
Lufti
Mill (father)
Mill (son)
Mises
Mommsen
Montalembert
Mouffe
Naoroji
Naumann
Nozick
Ohlin
Quesnay
Rathenau
Renouvier
Röpke
Rorthy
Rosselli
Ruggiero
Earl of Shaftesbury
Shklar
Sieyès
Sismondi
Soto Polar
Staël
Tahtawi
Villemain
Zambrano
Africa Liberal Network
Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe
and Democrats for Europe Party
Arab Liberal Federation
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
European Democratic Party
European Liberal Youth
European Party for Individual Liberty
International Alliance of Libertarian Parties
International Federation of Liberal Youth
Liberal International
Liberal Network for Latin America
Liberal parties
Liberal South East European Network
Regional variants
Arizona School
Bias in academia
Bias in the media
Liberalism portal
Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the celebrated headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator. Matthew Arnold has been characterised as a sage writer, a type of writer who chastises and instructs the reader on contemporary social issues.[1] He was also an inspector of schools for thirty-five years, and supported the concept of state-regulated secondary education.[2]
1 Early years
2 Marriage and career
3 Literary career
6 Poetry
7 Prose
7.1 Literary criticism
7.2 Social criticism
7.3 Journalistic criticism
7.4 Religious criticism
8 Reputation
10 Selected bibliography
10.1 Poetry
10.2 Prose
Early years[edit]
He was the eldest son of Thomas Arnold and his wife Mary Penrose Arnold (1791–1873), born on 24 December 1822 at Laleham-on-Thames, Middlesex.[3] John Keble stood as godfather to Matthew.
In 1828, Thomas Arnold was appointed Headmaster of Rugby School, where the family took up residence, that year. From 1831, Arnold was tutored by his clerical uncle, John Buckland, in Laleham. In 1834, the Arnolds occupied a holiday home, Fox How, in the Lake District. There William Wordsworth was a neighbour and close friend.
In 1836, Arnold was sent to Winchester College, but in 1837 he returned to Rugby School. He moved to the sixth form in 1838 and so came under the direct tutelage of his father. He wrote verse for a family magazine, and won school prizes, His prize poem, "Alaric at Rome", was printed at Rugby.
In November 1840, aged 17, Arnold matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, where in 1841 he won an open scholarship, graduating B.A. in 1844.[3][4] During his student years at Oxford, his friendship became stronger with Arthur Hugh Clough, a Rugby pupil who had been one of his father's favourites. He attended John Henry Newman's sermons at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin but did not join the Oxford Movement. His father died suddenly of heart disease in 1842, and Fox How became the family's permanent residence. His poem Cromwell won the 1843 Newdigate prize.[5] He graduated in the following year with second class honours in Literae Humaniores.
In 1845, after a short interlude of teaching at Rugby, Arnold was elected Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. In 1847, he became Private Secretary to Lord Lansdowne, Lord President of the Council. In 1849, he published his first book of poetry, The Strayed Reveller. In 1850 Wordsworth died; Arnold published his "Memorial Verses" on the older poet in Fraser's Magazine.
Marriage and career[edit]
Wishing to marry but unable to support a family on the wages of a private secretary, Arnold sought the position of and was appointed in April 1851 one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. Two months later, he married Frances Lucy, daughter of Sir William Wightman, Justice of the Queen's Bench.
Arnold often described his duties as a school inspector as "drudgery" although "at other times he acknowledged the benefit of regular work."[6] The inspectorship required him, at least at first, to travel constantly and across much of England. "Initially, Arnold was responsible for inspecting Nonconformist schools across a broad swath of central England. He spent many dreary hours during the 1850s in railway waiting-rooms and small-town hotels, and longer hours still in listening to children reciting their lessons and parents reciting their grievances. But that also meant that he, among the first generation of the railway age, travelled across more of England than any man of letters had ever done. Although his duties were later confined to a smaller area, Arnold knew the society of provincial England better than most of the metropolitan authors and politicians of the day."[7]
Literary career[edit]
Caricature by James Tissot published in Vanity Fair in 1871
In 1852, Arnold published his second volume of poems, Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems. In 1853, he published Poems: A New Edition, a selection from the two earlier volumes famously excluding Empedocles on Etna, but adding new poems, Sohrab and Rustum and The Scholar Gipsy. In 1854, Poems: Second Series appeared; also a selection, it included the new poem, Balder Dead.
Arnold was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford in 1857, and he was the first in this position to deliver his lectures in English rather than in Latin.[8] He was re-elected in 1862. On Translating Homer (1861) and the initial thoughts that Arnold would transform into Culture and Anarchy were among the fruits of the Oxford lectures. In 1859, he conducted the first of three trips to the continent at the behest of parliament to study European educational practices. He self-published The Popular Education of France (1861), the introduction to which was later published under the title Democracy (1879).[9]
Matthew Arnold's grave at All Saints' Church, Laleham, Surrey.
In 1865, Arnold published Essays in Criticism: First Series. Essays in Criticism: Second Series would not appear until November 1888, shortly after his untimely death. In 1866, he published Thyrsis, his elegy to Clough who had died in 1861. Culture and Anarchy, Arnold's major work in social criticism (and one of the few pieces of his prose work currently in print) was published in 1869. Literature and Dogma, Arnold's major work in religious criticism appeared in 1873. In 1883 and 1884, Arnold toured the United States and Canada[10] delivering lectures on education, democracy and Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1883.[11] In 1886, he retired from school inspection and made another trip to America. An edition of Poems by Matthew Arnold, with an introduction by A. C. Benson and illustrations by Henry Ospovat, was published in 1900 by John Lane.[12]
Arnold died suddenly in 1888 of heart failure whilst running to meet a train that would have taken him to the Liverpool Landing Stage to see his daughter, who was visiting from the United States where she had moved after marrying an American. He was survived by his wife, who died in June 1901.[13]
Character[edit]
Caricature from Punch, 1881: "Admit that Homer sometimes nods, That poets do write trash, Our Bard has written "Balder Dead," And also Balder-dash"
"Matthew Arnold," wrote G. W. E. Russell in Portraits of the Seventies, is "a man of the world entirely free from worldliness and a man of letters without the faintest trace of pedantry".[14] Arnold was a familiar figure at the Athenaeum Club, a frequent diner-out and guest at great country houses, charming, fond of fishing (but not of shooting),[15] and a lively conversationalist, with a self-consciously cultivated air combining foppishness and Olympian grandeur. He read constantly, widely, and deeply, and in the intervals of supporting himself and his family by the quiet drudgery of school inspecting, filled notebook after notebook with meditations of an almost monastic tone. In his writings, he often baffled and sometimes annoyed his contemporaries by the apparent contradiction between his urbane, even frivolous manner in controversy, and the "high seriousness" of his critical views and the melancholy, almost plaintive note of much of his poetry. "A voice poking fun in the wilderness" was T. H. Warren's description of him.
Poetry[edit]
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Matthew Arnold" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Arnold is sometimes called the third great Victorian poet, along with Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning.[16] Arnold was keenly aware of his place in poetry. In an 1869 letter to his mother, he wrote:
My poems represent, on the whole, the main movement of mind of the last quarter of a century, and thus they will probably have their day as people become conscious to themselves of what that movement of mind is, and interested in the literary productions which reflect it. It might be fairly urged that I have less poetical sentiment than Tennyson and less intellectual vigour and abundance than Browning; yet because I have perhaps more of a fusion of the two than either of them, and have more regularly applied that fusion to the main line of modern development, I am likely enough to have my turn as they have had theirs.[17]
Stefan Collini regards this as "an exceptionally frank, but not unjust, self-assessment. ... Arnold's poetry continues to have scholarly attention lavished upon it, in part because it seems to furnish such striking evidence for several central aspects of the intellectual history of the nineteenth century, especially the corrosion of 'Faith' by 'Doubt'. No poet, presumably, would wish to be summoned by later ages merely as an historical witness, but the sheer intellectual grasp of Arnold's verse renders it peculiarly liable to this treatment."[18]
Harold Bloom echoes Arnold's self-characterization in his introduction (as series editor) to the Modern Critical Views volume on Arnold: "Arnold got into his poetry what Tennyson and Browning scarcely needed (but absorbed anyway), the main march of mind of his time." Of his poetry, Bloom says,
Whatever his achievement as a critic of literature, society, or religion, his work as a poet may not merit the reputation it has continued to hold in the twentieth century. Arnold is, at his best, a very good but highly derivative poet. ... As with Tennyson, Hopkins, and Rossetti, Arnold's dominant precursor was Keats, but this is an unhappy puzzle, since Arnold (unlike the others) professed not to admire Keats greatly, while writing his own elegiac poems in a diction, meter, imagistic procedure, that are embarrassingly close to Keats.[19]
Sir Edmund Chambers noted that "in a comparison between the best works of Matthew Arnold and that of his six greatest contemporaries ... the proportion of work which endures is greater in the case of Matthew Arnold than in any one of them."[20] Chambers judged Arnold's poetic vision by
its simplicity, lucidity, and straightforwardness; its literalness ... ; the sparing use of aureate words, or of far-fetched words, which are all the more effective when they come; the avoidance of inversions, and the general directness of syntax, which gives full value to the delicacies of a varied rhythm, and makes it, of all verse that I know, the easiest to read aloud.[21]
His literary career — leaving out the two prize poems — had begun in 1849 with the publication of The Strayed Reveller and Other Poems by A., which attracted little notice and was soon withdrawn. It contained what is perhaps Arnold's most purely poetical poem, "The Forsaken Merman." Empedocles on Etna and Other Poems (among them "Tristram and Iseult"), published in 1852, had a similar fate. In 1858 he published his tragedy of Merope, calculated, he wrote to a friend, "rather to inaugurate my Professorship with dignity than to move deeply the present race of humans," and chiefly remarkable for some experiments in unusual – and unsuccessful – metres.
His 1867 poem, "Dover Beach," depicted a nightmarish world from which the old religious verities have receded. It is sometimes held up as an early, if not the first, example of the modern sensibility. In a famous preface to a selection of the poems of William Wordsworth, Arnold identified, a little ironically, as a "Wordsworthian." The influence of Wordsworth, both in ideas and in diction, is unmistakable in Arnold's best poetry. Arnold's poem, "Dover Beach" was included in Ray Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451, and is also featured prominently in the novel Saturday by Ian McEwan. It has also been quoted or alluded to in a variety of other contexts (see Dover Beach). Henry James wrote that Matthew Arnold's poetry will appeal to those who "like their pleasures rare" and who like to hear the poet "taking breath." In his poetry he derived not only the subject matter of his narrative poems from traditional or literary sources, and much of the romantic melancholy of his earlier poems from Senancour's "Obermann".
Prose[edit]
Assessing the importance of Arnold's prose work in 1988, Stefan Collini stated, "for reasons to do with our own cultural preoccupations as much as with the merits of his writing, the best of his prose has a claim on us today that cannot be matched by his poetry."[22] "Certainly there may still be some readers who, vaguely recalling 'Dover Beach' or 'The Scholar Gipsy' from school anthologies, are surprised to find he 'also' wrote prose."[23]
George Watson follows George Saintsbury in dividing Arnold's career as a prose writer into three phases: 1) early literary criticism that begins with his preface to the 1853 edition of his poems and ends with the first series of Essays in Criticism (1865); 2) a prolonged middle period (overlapping the first and third phases) characterised by social, political and religious writing (roughly 1860–1875); 3) a return to literary criticism with the selecting and editing of collections of Wordsworth's and Byron's poetry and the second series of Essays in Criticism.[24] Both Watson and Saintsbury declare their preference for Arnold's literary criticism over his social or religious criticism. More recent writers, such as Collini, have shown a greater interest in his social writing,[25] while over the years a significant second tier of criticism has focused on Arnold's religious writing.[26] His writing on education has not drawn a significant critical endeavour separable from the criticism of his social writings.[27]
Selections from the Prose Work of Matthew Arnold[28]
Literary criticism[edit]
Arnold's work as a literary critic began with the 1853 "Preface to the Poems". In it, he attempted to explain his extreme act of self-censorship in excluding the dramatic poem "Empedocles on Etna". With its emphasis on the importance of subject in poetry, on "clearness of arrangement, rigor of development, simplicity of style" learned from the Greeks, and in the strong imprint of Goethe and Wordsworth, may be observed nearly all the essential elements in his critical theory. George Watson described the preface, written by the thirty-one-year-old Arnold, as "oddly stiff and graceless when we think of the elegance of his later prose."[29]
Criticism began to take first place in Arnold's writing with his appointment in 1857 to the professorship of poetry at Oxford, which he held for two successive terms of five years. In 1861 his lectures On Translating Homer were published, to be followed in 1862 by Last Words on Translating Homer, both volumes admirable in style and full of striking judgments and suggestive remarks, but built on rather arbitrary assumptions and reaching no well-established conclusions.[citation needed] Especially characteristic, both of his defects and his qualities, are on the one hand, Arnold's unconvincing advocacy of English hexameters and his creation of a kind of literary absolute in the "grand style," and, on the other, his keen feeling of the need for a disinterested and intelligent criticism in England.
Although Arnold's poetry received only mixed reviews and attention during his lifetime, his forays into literary criticism were more successful. Arnold is famous for introducing a methodology of literary criticism somewhere between the historicist approach common to many critics at the time and the personal essay; he often moved quickly and easily from literary subjects to political and social issues. His Essays in Criticism (1865, 1888), remains a significant influence on critics to this day, and his prefatory essay to that collection, "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time", is one of the most influential essays written on the role of the critic in identifying and elevating literature — even while admitting, "The critical power is of lower rank than the creative." Comparing himself to the French liberal essayist Ernest Renan, who sought to inculcate morality in France, Arnold saw his role as inculcating intelligence in England.[30] In one of his most famous essays on the topic, "The Study of Poetry", Arnold wrote that, "Without poetry, our science will appear incomplete; and most of what now passes with us for religion and philosophy will be replaced by poetry". He considered the most important criteria used to judge the value of a poem were "high truth" and "high seriousness". By this standard, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales did not merit Arnold's approval. Further, Arnold thought the works that had been proven to possess both "high truth" and "high seriousness", such as those of Shakespeare and Milton, could be used as a basis of comparison to determine the merit of other works of poetry. He also sought for literary criticism to remain disinterested, and said that the appreciation should be of "the object as in itself it really is."
Social criticism[edit]
He was led on from literary criticism to a more general critique of the spirit of his age. Between 1867 and 1869 he wrote Culture and Anarchy, famous for the term he popularised for the middle class of the English Victorian era population: "Philistines", a word which derives its modern cultural meaning (in English – the German-language usage was well established) from him. Culture and Anarchy is also famous for its popularisation of the phrase "sweetness and light," first coined by Jonathan Swift.[31]
In Culture and Anarchy, Arnold identifies himself as a Liberal and "a believer in culture" and takes up what historian Richard Bellamy calls the "broadly Gladstonian effort to transform the Liberal Party into a vehicle of political moralism."[32][33] Arnold viewed with skepticism the plutocratic grasping in socioeconomic affairs, and engaged the questions which vexed many Victorian liberals on the nature of power and the state's role in moral guidance.[34] Arnold vigorously attacked the Nonconformists and the arrogance of "the great Philistine middle-class, the master force in our politics."[35] The Philistines were "humdrum people, slaves to routine, enemies to light" who believed that England's greatness was due to her material wealth alone and took little interest in culture.[35] Liberal education was essential, and by that Arnold meant a close reading and attachment to the cultural classics, coupled with critical reflection.[36] Arnold saw the "experience" and "reflection" of Liberalism as naturally leading to the ethical end of "renouncement," as evoking the "best self" to suppress one's "ordinary self."[33] Despite his quarrels with the Nonconformists, Arnold remained a loyal Liberal throughout his life, and in 1883, William Gladstone awarded him an annual pension of 250 pounds "as a public recognition of service to the poetry and literature of England."[37][38][39]
Many subsequent critics such as Edward Alexander, Lionel Trilling, George Scialabba, and Russell Jacoby have emphasized the liberal character of Arnold's thought.[40][41][42] Hugh Stuart Jones describes Arnold's work as a "liberal critique of Victorian liberalism" while Alan S. Kahan places Arnold's critique of middle-class philistinism, materialism, and mediocrity within the tradition of 'aristocratic liberalism' as exemplified by liberal thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville.[43][44]
Arnold's "want of logic and thoroughness of thought" as noted by John M. Robertson in Modern Humanists was an aspect of the inconsistency of which Arnold was accused.[45] Few of his ideas were his own, and he failed to reconcile the conflicting influences which moved him so strongly. "There are four people, in especial," he once wrote to Cardinal Newman, "from whom I am conscious of having learnt – a very different thing from merely receiving a strong impression – learnt habits, methods, ruling ideas, which are constantly with me; and the four are – Goethe, Wordsworth, Sainte-Beuve, and yourself." Dr. Arnold must be added; the son's fundamental likeness to the father was early pointed out by Swinburne, and was later attested by Matthew Arnold's grandson, Mr. Arnold Whitridge. Others such as Stefan Collini suggest that much of the criticism aimed at Arnold is based on "a convenient parody of what he is supposed to have stood for" rather than the genuine article.[33]
Journalistic criticism[edit]
In 1887, Arnold was credited with coining the phrase "New Journalism", a term that went on to define an entire genre of newspaper history, particularly Lord Northcliffe's turn-of-the-century press empire. However, at the time, the target of Arnold's irritation was not Northcliffe, but the sensational journalism of Pall Mall Gazette editor, W.T. Stead.[46] Arnold had enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial association with the Pall Mall Gazette since its inception in 1865. As an occasional contributor, he had formed a particular friendship with its first editor, Frederick Greenwood and a close acquaintance with its second, John Morley. But he strongly disapproved of the muck-raking Stead, and declared that, under Stead, "the P.M.G., whatever may be its merits, is fast ceasing to be literature."[47]
He was appalled at the shamelessness of the sensationalistic new journalism of the sort he witnessed on his tour the United States in 1886. In his account of that tour, "Civilization in the United States", he observed, "if one were searching for the best means to efface and kill in a whole nation the discipline of self-respect, the feeling for what is elevated, he could do no better than take the American newspapers."[48]
Religious criticism[edit]
His religious views were unusual for his time and caused sorrow to some of his best friends.[49] Scholars of Arnold's works disagree on the nature of Arnold's personal religious beliefs. Under the influence of Baruch Spinoza and his father, Dr. Thomas Arnold, he rejected the supernatural elements in religion,[50] even while retaining a fascination for church rituals. In the preface to God and the Bible, written in 1875, Arnold recounts a powerful sermon he attended discussing the "salvation by Jesus Christ", he writes: "Never let us deny to this story power and pathos, or treat with hostility ideas which have entered so deep into the life of Christendom. But the story is not true; it never really happened".[51]
He continues to express his concern with Biblical truth explaining that "The personages of the Christian heaven and their conversations are no more matter of fact than the personages of the Greek Olympus and their conversations."[51] He also wrote in Literature and Dogma: "The word 'God' is used in most cases as by no means a term of science or exact knowledge, but a term of poetry and eloquence, a term thrown out, so to speak, as a not fully grasped object of the speaker's consciousness – a literary term, in short; and mankind mean different things by it as their consciousness differs."[52] He defined religion as "morality touched with emotion".[53]
However, he also wrote in the same book, "to pass from a Christianity relying on its miracles to a Christianity relying on its natural truth is a great change. It can only be brought about by those whose attachment to Christianity is such, that they cannot part with it, and yet cannot but deal with it sincerely."[54]
A London County Council blue plaque for Arnold at 2 Chester Square, Belgravia
Reputation[edit]
Harold Bloom writes that "Whatever his achievement as a critic of literature, society or religion, his work as a poet may not merit the reputation it has continued to hold in the twentieth century. Arnold is, at his best, a very good, but highly derivative poet, unlike Tennyson, Browning, Hopkins, Swinburne and Rossetti, all of whom individualized their voices." [55]
The writer John Cowper Powys, an admirer, wrote that, "with the possible exception of Merope, Matthew Arnold's poetry is arresting from cover to cover – [he] is the great amateur of English poetry [he] always has the air of an ironic and urbane scholar chatting freely, perhaps a little indiscreetly, with his not very respectful pupils."[56]
Frances Lucy Arnold—"Flu" to Matthew—1883 photograph
The Arnolds had six children: Thomas (1852–1868); Trevenen William (1853–1872); Richard Penrose (1855–1908), an inspector of factories;[note 1] Lucy Charlotte (1858–1934) who married Frederick W. Whitridge of New York, whom she had met during Arnold's American lecture tour; Eleanore Mary Caroline (1861–1936) married (1) Hon. Armine Wodehouse (MP) in 1889, (2) William Mansfield, 1st Viscount Sandhurst, in 1909; Basil Francis (1866–1868).
Selected bibliography[edit]
Stanzas in Memory of the Author of "Obermann" (1849)
The Strayed Reveller, and Other Poems (1849)
Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems (1852)
Sohrab and Rustum (1853)
The Scholar-Gipsy (1853)
Stanzas from the Grande Chartreuse (1855)
Memorial Verses to Wordsworth
Rugby Chapel (1867)
Thyrsis (1865)
Essays in Criticism (1865, 1888)
Culture and Anarchy (1869)
Friendship's Garland (1871)
Literature and Dogma (1873)
God and the Bible (1875)
English translations of Homer: Matthew Arnold
^ Composer Edward Elgar dedicated one of the Enigma Variations to Richard.
Citations[edit]
^ Landow, George. Elegant Jeremiahs: The Sage from Carlyle to Mailer. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1986.
^ Oxford illustrated encyclopedia. Judge, Harry George., Toyne, Anthony. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. 1985–1993. p. 22. ISBN 0-19-869129-7. OCLC 11814265. CS1 maint: others (link)
^ a b Collini, Stefan. "Arnold, Matthew". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/679. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Arnold, Matthew (2)" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
^ Cromwell: A Prize Poem, Recited in the Theatre, Oxford; June 28, 1843 at Google Books
^ Collini, 1988, p. 21.
^ Collini, 1988, p. 21
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014. CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Super, CPW, II, p. 330.
^ "Literary Gossip". The Week : A Canadian Journal of Politics, Literature, Science and Arts. 1. 1: 13. 6 December 1883.
^ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter A" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
^ Poems by Matthew Arnold. London: John Lane. 1900. pp. xxxiv+375; with an introduction by A. C. Benson; illustrated by Henry Ospovat
^ "Obituary – Mrs. Matthew Arnold". The Times (36495). London. 1 July 1901. p. 11.
^ Russell, 1916[page needed]
^ Andrew Carnegie described him as the most charming man that he ever knew (Autobiography, p 298) and said, "Arnold visited us in Scotland in 1887, and talking one day of sport he said he did not shoot, he could not kill anything that had wings and could soar in the clear blue sky; but, he added, he could not give up fishing — 'the accessories are so delightful.'" Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie, The Riverside Press Cambridge (1920), p 301; https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17976
^ Collini, 1988, p. 2.
^ Lang, Volume 3, p. 347.
^ Bloom, 1987, pp. 1–2.
^ Chambers, 1933, p. 159.
^ Collini, 1988, p. vii.
^ Watson, 1962, pp. 150–160. Saintsbury, 1899, p. 78 passim.
^ Collini, 1988. Also see the introduction to Culture and Anarchy and other writings, Collini, 1993.
^ See "The Critical Reception of Arnold's Religious Writings" in Mazzeno, 1999.
^ Mazzeno, 1999.
^ Arnold, Matthew (1913). William S. Johnson (ed.). Selections from the Prose Work of Matthew Arnold. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9781414233802.
^ Watson, 1962, p. 147.
^ Machann, C (1998). Matthew Arnold: A Literary Life. Springer. pp. 45–61.
^ The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Sweetness and light. Houghton Mifflin Company.
^ Born, Daniel (1995). The Birth of Liberal Guilt in the English Novel: Charles Dickens to H.G. Wells. UNC Press Books. p. 165.
^ a b c Caufield, James Walter (2016). Overcoming Matthew Arnold: Ethics in Culture and Criticism. Routledge. pp. 3–7.
^ Malachuk, D. (2005). Perfection, the State, and Victorian Liberalism. Springer. pp. 87–88.
^ a b Brendan A. Rapple (2017). Matthew Arnold and English Education: The Poet's Pioneering Advocacy in Middle Class Instruction. McFarland. pp. 98–99.
^ Brendan A. Rapple (2017). Matthew Arnold and English Education: The Poet's Pioneering Advocacy in Middle Class Instruction. McFarland. p. 116. ISBN 9781476663593.
^ Machann, C (1998). Matthew Arnold: A Literary Life. Springer. p. 19.
^ Bush, Douglas (1971). Matthew Arnold: A Survey of His Poetry and Prose. Springer. p. 15.
^ Jones, Richard (2002). "Arnold "at Full Stretch"". Virginia Quarterly Review. 78 (2).
^ Jacoby, Russell (2005). Picture Imperfect: Utopian Thought for an Anti-Utopian Age. Columbia University Press. p. 67.
^ Alexander, Edward (2014). Matthew Arnold and John Stuart Mill. Routledge. I have tried to show to what a considerable extent each shared the convictions of the other; how much of a liberal Arnold was and how much of a humanist Mill was.
^ Rodden, John (1999). Lionel Trilling and the Critics. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 215–222.
^ Campbell, Kate (2018). Matthew Arnold. Oxford University Press. p. 93.
^ Kahan, Alan S. (2012). "Arnold, Nietzsche and the Aristocratic Vision". History of Political Thought. 33 (1): 125–143.
^ Robertson, John M. (1901). Modern Humanists. S. Sonnenschein. p. 145. If, then, a man come to the criticism of life as Arnold did, with neither a faculty nor a training for logic ... it is impossible that he should escape frequent error or inconsistency ...
^ We have had opportunities of observing a new journalism which a clever and energetic man has lately invented. It has much to recommend it; it is full of ability, novelty, variety, sensation, sympathy, generous instincts; its one great fault is that it is feather-brained." Mathew Arnold, The Nineteenth century No. CXXIII. (May 1887) pp. 629–643. Available online at attackingthedevil.co.uk
^ Quoted in Harold Begbie, The Life of General William Booth Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, (2 vols., New York, 1920). Available [online]
^ Gurstein, Rochelle (2016). The Repeal of Reticence: America's Cultural and Legal Struggles Over Free Speech, Obscenity, Sexual Liberation, and Modern Art. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 57–58.
^ When visiting the grave of his godfather, Bishop Keble, in about 1880 with Andrew Carnegie, he said 'Ah, dear, dear Keble! I caused him much sorrow by my views upon theological subjects, which caused me sorrow also, but notwithstanding he was deeply grieved, dear friend as he was, he travelled to Oxford and voted for me for Professor of English Poetry.' "Later the subject of his theological views was referred to. He said they had caused sorrow to his best friends."Mr. Gladstone once gave expression to his deep disappointment, or to something like displeasure, saying I ought to have been a bishop. No doubt my writings prevented my promotion, as well as grieved my friends, but I could not help it. I had to express my views." Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie, The Riverside Press Cambridge (1920), p 298; https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17976
^ Andrew Carnegie, who knew and admired him, said Arnold was a "seriously religious man ... No irreverent word ever escaped his lips ... and yet he had in one short sentence slain the supernatural. 'The case against miracles is closed. They do not happen.'". Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie, The Riverside Press Cambridge (1920), p 299; https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17976
^ a b Super, CPW, VII, p. 384.
^ Super, CPW, VI, p. 171.
^ Poets and Poems, Harold Bloom, p. 203.
^ The Pleasures of Literature, John Cowper Powys, pp. 397–398.
Abbreviation: CPW stands for Robert H. Super (editor), The Complete Prose Works of Matthew Arnold, see Bibliography.
George W. E. Russell (editor), Letters of Matthew Arnold, 1849–88, 2 vols. (London and New York: Macmillan, 1895)
Published seven years after their author's death these letters were heavily edited by Arnold's family.
Howard F. Lowry (editor), The Letters of Matthew Arnold to Arthur Hugh Clough (New York: Oxford University Press, 1932)
C. B. Tinker and H. F. Lowry (editors), The Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold, Oxford University Press, 1950 standard edition, OCLC 556893161
Kenneth Allott (editor), The Poems of Matthew Arnold (London and New York: Longman Norton, 1965) ISBN 0-393-04377-0
Part of the "Annotated English Poets Series," Allott includes 145 poems (with fragments and juvenilia) all fully annotated.
Robert H. Super (editor), The Complete Prose Works of Matthew Arnold in eleven volumes (Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1960–1977)
Miriam Allott and Robert H. Super (editors), The Oxford Authors: Matthew Arnold (Oxford: Oxford university Press, 1986)
A strong selection from Miriam Allot, who had (silently) assisted her husband in editing the Longman Norton annotated edition of Arnold's poems, and Robert H. Super, editor of the eleven volume complete prose.
Stefan Collini (editor), Culture and Anarchy and other writings (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993) part of the Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought series.
Collini's introduction to this edition attempts to show that "Culture and Anarchy, first published in 1869, has left a lasting impress upon subsequent debate about the relation between politics and culture" —Introduction, p. ix.
Cecil Y. Lang (editor), The Letters of Matthew Arnold in six volumes (Charlottesville and London: The University Press of Virginia, 1996–2001)
Biographies (by publication date)
George Saintsbury, Matthew Arnold (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1899)
Saintsbury combines biography with critical appraisal. In his view, "Arnold's greatness lies in 'his general literary position' (p. 227). Neither the greatest poet nor the greatest critic, Arnold was able to achieve distinction in both areas, making his contributions to literature greater than those of virtually any other writer before him." Mazzeno, 1999, p. 8.
Herbert W. Paul, Mathew Arnold (London: Macmillan, 1902)
G. W. E. Russell, Matthew Arnold (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1904)
Lionel Trilling, Matthew Arnold (New York: Norton, 1939)
Trilling called his study a "biography of a mind."
Park Honan, Matthew Arnold, a life (New York, McGraw–Hill, 1981) ISBN 0-07-029697-9
"Trilling's book challenged and delighted me but failed to take me close to Matthew Arnold's life. ... I decided in 1970 to write a definitive biography ... Three-quarters of the biographical data in this book, I may say, has not appeared in a previous study of Arnold." —Preface, pp. viii–ix.
Stefan Collini, Arnold (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988)
A good starting point for those new to Arnold's prose. "Like many late century scholars, Collini believes Arnold's chief contribution to English literature is as a critic. ... Collini insists Arnold remains a force in literary criticism because 'he characterizes in unforgettable ways' the role that literary and cultural criticism 'can and must play in modern societies'" (p. 67). Mazzeno, 1999, pp. 103–104.
Nicholas Murray, A Life of Matthew Arnold (New York: St. Martin's, 1996)
"...focuses on the conflicts between Arnold's public and private lives. A poet himself, Murray believes Arnold was a superb poet who turned to criticism when he realised his gift for verse was fading." Mazzeno, 1999, p. 118.
Ian Hamilton, A Gift Imprisoned: A Poetic Life of Matthew Arnold (London: Bloomsbury, 1998)
"Choosing to concentrate on the development of Arnold's talents as a poet, Hamilton takes great pains to explore the biographical and literary sources of Arnold's verse." Mazzeno, 1999, p. 118.
Thomas Burnett Smart, The Bibliography of Matthew Arnold 1892, (reprinted New York: Burt Franklin, 1968, Burt Franklin Bibliography and Reference Series #159)
Laurence W. Mazzeno, Matthew Arnold: The Critical Legacy (Woodbridge: Camden House, 1999)
Not a true bibliography, nonetheless, it provides thorough coverage and intelligent commentary for the critical writings on Arnold.
Writings on Matthew Arnold or containing significant discussion of Arnold (by publication date)
Stephen, Leslie (1898). "Matthew Arnold". Studies of a Biographer. 2. London: Duckworth and Co. pp. 76–122.
G. W. E. Russell, Portraits of the Seventies (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1916)
Sir Edmund Chambers, "Matthew Arnold," Watson Lecture on English Poetry, 1932, in English Critical Essays: Twentieth century, Phyllis M. Jones (editor) (London: Oxford University Press, 1933)
T. S. Eliot, "Matthew Arnold" in The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1933)
This is Eliot's second essay on Matthew Arnold. The title of the series consciously echoes Arnold's essay, "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time" (1864).
Professors Chauncey Brewster Tinker and Howard Foster Lowry, The Poetry of Matthew Arnold: A Commentary (New York: Oxford University Press, 1940) Alibris ID 8235403151
W. F. Connell, The Educational Thought and Influence of Matthew Arnold (London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, Ltd, 1950)
Mazzeno describes this as the "definitive word" on Arnold's educational thought. Mazzeno, 1999, p. 42.
George Watson, "Matthew Arnold" in The Literary Critics: A Study of English Descriptive Criticism (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1962)
A. Dwight Culler, "Imaginative Reason: The Poetry of Matthew Arnold" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1966).
Described by Stefan Collini as "the most comprehensive discussion" of the poetry in his "Arnold" Past Masters, p. 121.
David J. DeLaura, "Hebrew and Hellene in Victorian England: Newman, Arnold, and Pater" (Austin: University of Texas Pr, 1969).
This celebrated study brilliantly situates Arnold in the intellectual history of his time.
Northrop Frye, The Critical Path: An Essay on the Social Context of Literary Criticism (in "Daedalus", 99, 2, pp. 268–342, Spring 1970; then New York: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1983) ISBN 0-7108-0641-8
Joseph Carroll, The Cultural Theory of Matthew Arnold. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1981)
Ruth apRoberts, Arnold and God (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983)
Harold Bloom (editor), W. H. Auden, J. Hillis Miller, Geoffrey Tillotson, G. Wilson Knight, William Robbins, William E. Buckler, Ruth apRoberts, A. Dwight Culler, and Sara Suleri, Modern Critical Views: Matthew Arnold (New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987)
David G. Riede, Matthew Arnold and the Betrayal of Language (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988)
"...explores Arnold's attempts to find an authoratative language, and argues that his occasional claims for such language reveal more uneasiness than confidence in the value of 'letters.' ... Riede argues that Arnold's determined efforts to write with authority, combined with his deep-seated suspicion of his medium, result in an exciting if often agonised tension in his poetic language." –from the book flap.
Donald Stone, Communications with the Future: Matthew Arnold in Dialogue (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1997)
Linda Ray Pratt, Matthew Arnold Revisited, (New York: Twayne Publishers, 2000) ISBN 0-8057-1698-X
Francesco Marroni, Miti e mondi vittoriani (Rome: Carocci, 2004)
Renzo D'Agnillo, The Poetry of Matthew Arnold (Rome: Aracne, 2005)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Arnold.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Matthew Arnold
Wikisource has original works written by or about:
Portraits of Matthew Arnold at the National Portrait Gallery, London
"MATTHEW ARNOLD (Obituary Notice, Tuesday, April 17, 1888)". Eminent Persons: Biographies reprinted from The Times. IV (1887-1890). London: Macmillan and Co., Limited. 1893. pp. 87-96. Retrieved 12 March 2019 – via Internet Archive.
Works by Matthew Arnold at Project Gutenberg
Works by Matthew Arnold at Faded Page (Canada)
Works by or about Matthew Arnold at Internet Archive
Works by Matthew Arnold at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
Full text of 'The Function of Criticism at the Present Time' at The Fortnightly Review.
Poetry of Matthew Arnold at Poetseers
Matthew Arnold, by G. W. E. Russell, at Project Gutenberg
The Letters of Matthew Arnold Digital Edition, at the University of Virginia Press
"Archival material relating to Matthew Arnold". UK National Archives.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons – via Wikisource.
A Bibliography of the Works of Matthew Arnold by Tod E. Jones
Plaque #38 on Open Plaques
Anonymous (1873). Cartoon portraits and biographical sketches of men of the day. Illustrated by Frederick Waddy. London: Tinsley Brothers. pp. 136–37. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
Matthew Arnold at University of Toronto Libraries
Literature and Science (1882)
Mathew Arnold Letters and Works at Texas Tech University Libraries
Matthew Arnold Collection. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
On Translating Homer (1861)
Tristram and Iseult (1852)
"To Marguerite: Continued" (1852)
"The Scholar Gipsy" (1853)
Balder Dead (1855)
"Thyrsis" (1865)
"Dover Beach" (1867)
Tom Arnold (brother)
Thomas Arnold (father)
William Delafield Arnold (brother)
BNF: cb12031515q (data)
MBA: 453c9b0c-b08a-4d51-b2fb-1f98b3b5603c
NLG: 145315
SNAC: w6vx0hgc
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_Arnold&oldid=1000188914"
Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
English Anglicans
Members of The Club
English essayists
English literary critics
19th-century English educators
Huxley family
Literary critics of English
People educated at Rugby School
Fellows of Oriel College, Oxford
People from Laleham
English people of Cornish descent
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Victorian poets
19th-century English non-fiction writers
Burials in Surrey
Oxford Professors of Poetry
19th-century British journalists
English male journalists
Male essayists
Members of the Athenaeum Club, London
People educated at Winchester College
CS1 maint: others
Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB
CS1: Julian–Gregorian uncertainty
Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2017
EngvarB from August 2014
CS1: long volume value
Articles with Project Gutenberg links
Articles with LibriVox links
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0003.json.gz/line3244
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.